(Note: This was originally published on March 15, 2016, but I have updated it with relationship information and a list of the actual spellings of the names in this transcription.) The spellings in the following transcription are true to what was there, but they are abysmal in comparison to the actual names. The individuals named […]
Is Harriet Morris a relative of Laban Morris?
More interesting things turning up in some of our family’s DNA matches over at Ancestry… a few matches to descendants of Harriet MORRIS (specifically through her daughter, Alvana MORRIS). There aren’t enough for me to say that Harriet is a daughter of Laban, although based on her age, she certainly could be. She might be […]
Select Craven County Griffin Items (Court minutes, deeds, wills, etc.)
I do descend from the GRIFFIN family of Pitt County, though I’ll admit I haven’t spent much time researching them beyond my direct line (If you’re curious: James GRIFFIN > Josiah GRIFFIN + Patsey WHITEHEAD > James GRIFFIN + Rebecca Ann SMITH > Harriet A.E. GRIFFIN + Allen MILLS > James Allen MILLS + Ann […]
Research Hodge Podge – Part 1
I’ve been researching a bunch of different things lately and I’m trying to compartmentalize them into a handful of posts that might be helpful (and easily accessible) in the future. This will be the first in a series of random items for random families I’ve spent time researching. Items below include abstracts from Dr. A.B. […]
David K. Roach sends a letter to his mother in Swift Creek from Fort Hawkins, Jones County, Georgia
The following is a transcription of a letter from David K. ROACH to his mother, Mary “Polly” (Sommers) ROACH. His father was Charles ROACH. It was written in July 1822 and it refers to other Swift Creek friends: Charles KINION (married Elizabeth DUBBERLY or Elizabeth PRITCHETT) Hannah & Pearce (probably David’s sister, Hannah ROACH, and […]
If your people come from the Craven County, Pitt County, or Beaufort County area, please read this!
Surnames mentioned: KING, FORNES, BOYD, HODGES, WILLIAMS, MORRIS, WITHERINGTON, RIGGS, LEE, KEMP, MCCAFFERTY, SMITH, DRAKE, BARTLETT, SUMMERELL, ROBERTSON, HOLLAND & MORE Have you tested yet at either AncestryDNA or FamilyTreeDNA? If so, please comment below with your name (or the name associated with your kit), or if you prefer, you can send a private message […]
Craven County Bastardy Bonds & related items in County Court Minutes (1764-1791)
I have the complete set of Craven County Court Minutes books by the late Weynette Parks Haun, and while I LOVE them— and I recognize them as an amazing resource — there are some index items that I wish she would have included, for instance, Craven County Bastardy Bonds. There are plenty of them in […]
King mentions in Craven County Court Minutes 1767-1791 & other items of interest
As was the case with the FORNES court minute items, this is not a comprehensive list of every mention of KINGS in Weynette Parks Haun’s Craven County Court Minutes series, but this list does include many items that seem to reveal something about times and relationships. KING Items in Craven County Court Minutes Jun 1751 […]
Fornes mentions in Craven County Court Minutes 1765-1785 & other items of interest
Can you tell I’ve taken special interest in the FORNES family now? 😀 After all, I’m trying to learn all I can about the family of my 5th great-grandmother Elizabeth FORNES (?), wife of Emanuel EDWARDS of Beaufort County. (You’ll notice I have the question mark after her name only because I’m basing my assumption on […]
Early Rountree (Roundtree) Items – Mostly Chowan County
The following items are pulled from the North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, 2, & 3. I’ve only chosen items that predate 1800, as my own research focus related to the Rountree family is in the early 18th century. Feel free to add more information in the comments if you have it. The […]
Jarrell (Gerrell) Research
This file will not be an exhaustive record of Jarrell/Gerrell-related research for Craven, Pitt, and Beaufort Counties, but it will include as many items as I have in my own files, as I am able to add them. From Craven County Deeds Henry JARRELL to Hugh PUGH (31 Mar 1764) – £30. 100 acres. Where Joseph […]
John Mills Estate Records (1809) – Names heirs, includes detailed map with Swift Creek landmarks
(This article was originally posted April 10, 2014. I’ve found new information since then, however, so I’m updating it. I’ve also transcribed much of what’s found in John MILLS’s estate records folder. Please note, there are a few pages mixed in erroneously— pp 5-10 — that are actually for a different man named Capt. John […]
1789 Beaufort County Tax List
Below I have transcribed the entire Beaufort County tax listing for 1789, including various rural districts, the town of Washington, and the town of Bath. If you would like to see all of the original images of this and many other early North Carolina tax lists, please click here to visit the NCDCR website. Hint: These […]
John Holmes sells wife’s interest in slaves to Church Chapman (1833)
Below I have transcribed a deed from my 4th great-grandfather John HOLMES to Church CHAPMAN of Craven County. In the deed, John HOLMES is selling his wife’s (and by extension, his) interest in four slaves who were originally the property of David AVERITT, but who were lent to David’s wife Sally during her widowhood in […]
Will of David Averitt and selected items from his estate (1828) – Craven County
Below I have transcribed the will of David Averitt, my 5th great-grandfather. His children by his first wife were: Elizabeth “Betsy” AVERITT m. Thomas ANDERSON Enoch AVERITT m. Leta McINTOSH Selah AVERITT m. John HOLMES He later married Sarah “Sally” BUTLER, daughter of Arthur BUTLER and Sarah “Sally” JOHNSON. Their children were: Arthur J. AVERITT […]
John Chapman vs. Joel Wall (1810) – Civil action papers (C.R.028.325.6)
The following is a collection of civil action papers from a suit involving John Chapman and Joel Wall, both of Craven County. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find anything else about this case so I’m not sure exactly what it was about other than that Chapman was suing Wall. Witnesses summoned to appear as […]
Will of John Hill (1801) – Beaufort County
Below I have transcribed the will of John Hill of Beaufort County, North Carolina. It was written and probated in 1801. John Hill’s wife was Keziah GRIFFIN, daughter of Benjamin GRIFFIN and Mary BRYAN. His children (as named in the will) are: Wilea (aka “Willie” or “Wiley”) – married Sally KNOX (9 Mar 1818, Craven; Bondsman: […]
The Mystery of Jemima Mills
Who knew Jemima was such a popular name in Craven and Pitt Counties in the 18th century? Turns out it apparently was! While trying to figure out who Jemima Mills Pettit is, and who her children were, I kept coming across entries that claim she died in Craven County in 1816 because a Jemima Mills left […]
Will of John Morris (Craven County, NC; Leon County, FL) – 1866/1869
Below, I have transcribed the last will and testament of John O. Morris (1807-1868). John Oliver Morris was the son of Laban MORRIS and Caroline “Kitty “WILLIAMS of Craven County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth (Last name unknown) sometime before 1832 and they had the following children: Mary Morris – b. 1832 (Craven County); married Thomas […]
Laban Morris Family
If you have followed this site at all over the years, you know our family’s greatest mystery is the identity of the mother of our LABAN MORRIS of Swift Creek (modern-day Vanceboro) in Craven County. We know (or are at least as certain as we can be) that his father was ROWLAND LEDBETTER. We had the […]
