About a week ago, I was poking around in Currituck County land records. I don't even remember why. While skimming through the index, I stumbled over something, or someone, unexpected. John Vindrick! That's right! A Vendrick in Currituck. I was every bit as astonished as you are now. You better believe I immediately navigated to the book and page indicated. Currituck County … [Read more...] about John Vendrick, his wife, and his mother
Deeds, Grants and Patents
Some Eastern North Carolina counties now have their deeds (or at least their deed indices) online.
- Beaufort County - Index to real estate conveyances, 1696-1959; deeds & mortgages, 1700-1960
- Carteret County (No historic deeds yet)
- Craven County - Index, Deeds, and Land Grants from 1739
- Duplin County - Deeds, Land Grants, Maps, Marriage Records, Slave Records, Co-Habitation Records
- Edgecombe County - Sign in as guest, then click on Online Index Books. That will let you search index for 1759-1920.
- Johnston County - Index, Deeds, Co-Habitation records
- Jones County (No historic deeds yet)
- Lenoir County (No historic deeds yet)
- Martin County - Index, Deeds, and Land Grants from 1771 (Index books mention date range beginning with 1762, but county wasn't formed until 1774)
- Onslow County - Index, Deeds and Land Grants from 1734
- Pitt County - Old Index Books and Deeds dating back to 1762
An Odd Turn of Phrase
Samuel Lawson received a deed of gift from his stepfather, John James, 25 May 1770. In the deed, Mr. James uses a phrase that, both baffles and intrigues me. From Craven County Deed Book 18, p. 1 and 2 (emphasis mine). What did he mean by “as I stile him”? At the time, son-in-law was the correct term for stepson, so I doubt that that is to what he referred. Samuel was … [Read more...] about An Odd Turn of Phrase
The Family of Boaz Squires
Boaz Squires is a rather enigmatic figure. Appropriate, wouldn't you say, for a man legend says was a wizard? Local stories claim he was a rather lazy fellow who made demons build boats while he lounged beneath the pines smoking his pipe. He even fought the Devil, on occasion, when Satan objected to Boaz's use of his minions. His end came when his wife opened an old chest … [Read more...] about The Family of Boaz Squires
William Bright of Craven: There Were Two
There were, demonstrably, two William Brights living within, what was then, Craven County during the mid 1700s. Look at the Petition to Change the Seat of Government of 1733. Among the signatories of this document were William Brite and William Bright. So, how do we differentiate between them? When examining records, read them carefully. Pay attention to details like dates, … [Read more...] about William Bright of Craven: There Were Two
Family Tree Fact Check: Miranda Ross Gaskins
While Ancestry is notorious for spreading false information, you should also be wary of Find-a-Grave (link to her page). Remember, both sites depend on users, who are human, to create family trees/bios. Always, always, always check the facts against contemporary documents. Take, for example, my 4th great-grandmother, Miranda Ross Gaskins. Her Personal Profile Let's begin … [Read more...] about Family Tree Fact Check: Miranda Ross Gaskins
Rowland Ledbetter’s father was most likely John Ledbetter
Researcher Sherry Mirkovic had done extensive research on Rowland Ledbetter and his parentage several years ago. My cousin Mike Morris and I both wound up with a document she had prepared with all of her Rowland data and it strongly suggested that John Ledbetter was Rowland's father rather than Drury Ledbetter or Henry Ledbetter, both of whom had been previously floated by … [Read more...] about Rowland Ledbetter’s father was most likely John Ledbetter
The Brother-in-Law Conundrum
The word "brother-in-law" is becoming the bane of my research. In earlier times, the term "in-law" had a broader scope than is now the case. Pretty much anyone related to you by marriage was an in-law. Therefore, a brother-in-law could be one in the modern sense, a stepbrother, or even the brother of your brother's wife/sister's husband! Unfortunately for me, this word has … [Read more...] about The Brother-in-Law Conundrum
Duplin County Register of Deeds Land Grant Maps
A really cool feature of the Duplin County Register of Deeds site, duplinrod.com, is the land grant map. How many times have you read a grant or deed and tried to figure out where the land was located? Well, when it comes to grants made in Duplin County and are now Sampson and Wayne Counties, you don't have to. These maps were not drawn by a professional surveyor and are not … [Read more...] about Duplin County Register of Deeds Land Grant Maps
A Deed of Gift from James McIntosh to his Children
I found this deed proving that Leta McIntosh Averitt, my possible 5th great-grandmother, and Lovey McIntosh Hendricks, wife of my 5th great-uncle, James Hendricks, were his daughters. This relationship makes Lovey my 6th great-aunt as well as my 5th. From Craven County Deed Book 52, pg. 253 State of North Carolina Craven Know all men by these presents that I James … [Read more...] about A Deed of Gift from James McIntosh to his Children
Spear, Speir, Spire, Spyers, Spears Deeds (Craven and Beaufort Counties)
The following are Craven County Spear deeds(and all related spellings). This is not a comprehensive list. The following are Beaufort County JOHN SPEIR deeds. … [Read more...] about Spear, Speir, Spire, Spyers, Spears Deeds (Craven and Beaufort Counties)
Craven County Anderson Deeds & Grants
I'm organizing my genealogy files for the ten millionth time. I thought since I've downloaded so many deeds from the Craven, Beaufort, and Pitt County Register of Deeds I might start posting them here, beginning with Craven County Anderson Deeds & Grants. No, I'm not transcribing all of these, and this is obviously not a comprehensive collection of deeds, but it may still … [Read more...] about Craven County Anderson Deeds & Grants
Deed naming the children of James Lewis of Beaufort County, 1824
The following is a transcription of a deed conveying the land that was inherited by the children of James LEWIS to his widow, Nancy LEWIS. (Found in Beaufort County Deed Book 13, p. 303) The children are named as follows: Elisha LEWIS (married Alice BUCK; moved to Posey County, Indiana) Nathan LEWIS (married Sidney JONES; lived in Beaufort County) William LEWIS … [Read more...] about Deed naming the children of James Lewis of Beaufort County, 1824
