This autumn marks the 300th anniversary of the final battle of the man who was arguably the most famous pirate who ever lived. The Blackbeard 300 will take place in Bath, North Carolina — his home town — the weekend of Oct. 19-20, 2018. And Blackbeard wasn’t the only one from Bath. Some of his […]
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, bastardy items. There are plenty of them in the court […]
The parents of Stephen AVERY of Beaufort and Craven Counties are…
This article relates to Stephen AVERY (Stephen AVERITT) of Craven and Beaufort Counties, husband of Nancy GARDNER and later Nancy Ada FOY, and father of Nancy, Enoch, Allen, Lewis, Noah, William, Patsy, Julia Ann, Susan, Pollie Ann, and Nancy Augusta AVERY, all of Beaufort County.
Bastardy Bonds for Selah Averitt of Craven County
This article was originally published August 28, 2016, but I’ve updated it today (May 23, 2017) because I’ve just found new information. I found the following while researching one of my ancestors, Celia AVERY, the wife of John HOLMES. I was looking for all variations of the name since I have seen both spelled many different […]
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 […]
Petition for relief from taxes for William McIntosh and wife (1786) – Craven County
I found the following while browsing through the Craven County Estates, wills, 1786, 1794, 1858, 1869-1921 (p. 352-353) at FamilySearch. It interested me because my 5th great-grandfather is James McIntosh of Craven County (abt. 1765-1837) and I’ve wondered if William McIntosh could be his father, though I have to admit this document makes me wonder if that’s […]
Colonial Coroners’ Inquests for Beaufort, Craven, and Pitt Counties
Next to genealogy and history research, my second favorite obsession is watching MeTV. I love those old shows, from Andy Griffith to Macgyver, and I especially love courtroom and mystery shows, like Perry Mason and Matlock, Diagnosis Murder and Columbo. Perhaps that’s why I like poring over old court records — whether it’s apprentice bonds, or depositions given during […]
Will of Willoughby MOORE – Beaufort County (Feb 1824)
The following is from Beaufort Orphans — 1808-1828. Willoughby Moore and this particular Moore family were listed as “Other Free” in the Beaufort County census. In 1810 Willoughby’s household also lists one slave. North Carolina ) Beaufort County) In the name of God Amen. I Willoughby MOORE of the County and State aforesaid being some […]
Researching Apprentice Records
When researching one’s genealogy, an often neglected resource is a county’s apprenticeship bonds. At times, children apprenticed out were poor orphans. Many other times, the children being bound out simply had the misfortune of being born to non-white parents, or of having a father who died without specifying in a will that the children’s mother […]
Five things you DIDN’T know about Blackbeard
Most of what is known about Blackbeard today goes back to a single source — A General History of the Robberies & Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates by Charles Captain Johnson (pseudonym), more popularly known as A General History of the Pyrates, published in 1724 and often attributed to Robinson Crusoe author, Daniel Defoe. This is […]