If your genealogical research has largely been limited to Ancestry.com, the NC GenWeb and perusing county records at your local library, court house or Register of Deeds, then perhaps it’s time to go a bit deeper with your research.
If you can take your ancestors back before the mid-1800s, then you might need to start researching in the Colonial and State Records of North Carolina (the first series is available online, the second series is available only in print form), and other resources for historical documents such as J.R.B. Hathaway’s North Carolina Historical & Genealogical Register (three volumes) or Francis Hawks’ History of North Carolina (2 volumes).
You might find your ancestors signed a petition to establish a new county, or perhaps they were assigned to assist with the building of a new road, or maybe you’ll find they played a role in early North Carolina politics or warfare, such as the Indian war references below from Hathaway’s North Carolina Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 1 (pp 437-439).
Researching one’s genealogy is rewarding enough, but being able to place one’s ancestors at specific events in history adds a whole new layer of depth to family tree research.
ITEMS RELATING TO THE INDIAN TROUBLES OUT OF
WHICH CAME THE INDIAN WAR OF 1711-12.
(Originals in Court House at Edenton, N. C.)
“Honourable G’r, October ye 20th, 1704.
These comes to acquaint your honour about the bare river Indians,
that come on Thursday last to my house. There was about sixteen;
with King Lowther all with their guns; I was at worke in the woods
and one Christopher Gold; I made what haste I could, but they ware
too quick for me; for my wife and children had left the house, they
took away several things that we miss, they haven taken all Aminition;
King Lowther struck me with a bow. I told him I would tell
yr honour off it, he said you might **** *** ***. They stood
with there guns cocked so yt I cold not gett into my house tell they
had Done, what they pleased; I believe itt is through the Instigation
of one John Eldredge; for he told the Indians when I brough a letter
to your honour from Mr. Lawson; that it was cut them of; which made
them lhy wait for me at Sedar Island, as they told me then. They
called *** ** * ***** & said they would burne my house & when it
was Light Moon the would gether my corne & ye Englishmans corne;
Eldredge told them further yt the Englishmen would not sell them no
Amunition because they would cut them of. So we humbly crave that
your honour would Take some Corse or other with them or else here
will be no living. So no more to trouble yr honour with but yr humble
Srvt to Command.”
WILLIAM POWELL.
“And further John Fulford; has to acquaint yr honour: that they
where asleep att the Inlett : in the Night: There where three in Com
pany : They went there a fishing at Drum Inlett: & there came two
Indians as they found nex morning by there Track : on the Sand:
They took with them one Matt : Two fishing lines: one blanckett &
-one broad axe: & one stuff West: & two pr of Linned Drawes: & the
Majert part of there provision. No More att present to Acquaint yr
honour, but ye humble servant to Command.”
JOHN FULFORD,
OBADIAH RICH,
JAMES WALKER.
Order of Hon. Edward Hyde to Capt. — Palin of Pascotank.
“August 3rd, 1712.”
Capt.
“Whereas I am informed yt Severall of ye Militia of this Govern
mt. have deserted and withdrawn themselves out of it to ye great weak:·
ening of ita strength, and that I may be the better informed who they
be yt have done so, I do hereby require that you return to me with all
speed the names of all such yt has so withdrawn themselves out of
your district, though they have been gone five months ago & not yet re
turned back, and that upon Wednesday the 13th of August at Mrs.
Hunts you cause your whole Company of Militia from sixteen to sixty
to appear under arms with good sufficient firelocks where I will in per
son review them, and make such a draft out of every Company in this
county as I shall think necessary to take into the Warr, and shall at
the head of the main body of the forces of this County march myself
into Bath County or assuredly follow them, as soon as the Assembly
breaks up & shall at Bath Town and Neuse fix my quarters during
this war, that I may be nearer at hand to give such necessary orders,
ae shall be necessary for the better prosecution of Warr and I shall al·
ways be ready to do the country, the best service even to the hazarding
of my life for them, so I hope I shall have ***** the necessary quan·
tity of my militia forces as shall enable to end the war with honour or
make such a peace as shall not reflect upon the British Glory and will
at the next Assembly wch meets ye 15th of this month, do all in my
power to obtain you all encouragement possible. I shall till the House
of Burgesses meet dispense with the oath of the ****, wch I doubt
not will secure volunteers enough to enlist themselves on their own
accord. And that you take particular care that every person have at
least ten days bread or flour along with him to march, fail not pun~
tually to observe these orders from Yr humble Servant,
EDWARD HYDE.
To Capt. Palin or in his absence to the next Commanding Of-
ficer in Pascotank.
Dec. 29th, 1712. Then received of Edward Moseley Thirty bush·
eis of Indian Corn by order Maj. Gale for the Public Service.
Per JOHN SMITHWICK.
Dec. 30th, 1712. Then received of Edward Moseley thirty bushels
of Indian Com by order of Major Gale for the Publick Service.
Rec’d per WILLIAM SHARP.
Dec. 31st, 1712. Then received of Edward Moseley forty-five
bushels of Indian Corn, by order of Maj. Gale for the Publick Service.·
Rec’d by WILLIAM SHARP.
Jan’y 1st, 17’12 (evidently 1712-13). Then received of Edward
Moseley Thirty bushels of Indian Corn by order of Major Gale for the
public service. Rec’d by JOHN SMITHWICK.
Corn received (Dec. 11th) from Capt. Nicholas Crisp 6 Bushels;
Charles Wilkins 3 do; Edwin Standin 6 do; (Dec. 12th) Thomas
Hoskins 6 do; (Dec. 13th) John Goreham 3 do; Henry Bonner 3 do;
Joseph Gilburd 3 do; Nicholas Blackman 3 do; William Tanner 3 do;
William Charlton 3 do; (Dec. 15th) William Charlton 3 do; Capt.
Bonner 3 do; Smithwick Warburton 3 do; Sam’l Patchett 12 do; Jno.
Jones, Jr., 3 do; Richard Lewis 3 do; Francis Branch 3 do; William
Davis 3 do; John Porter 3 do; John Taylor 3 do; Jeremiah Vail 12
do; Argyle Simons 3 do; William Branch 6 do; (Dec. 16th) Thos.
Houth (Routh?) 3 do; Geo Moye 3 do; John Porter 3 do; William Haughton
6 do; Thomas Haughton 3 do; John Watkins 3 do; James Benbury 3
do; Jno. Jones 6 do; Edward Moseley 6 do; (Dec. 17th) Edward
Moseley 12 do; T. Johnson 3 do; Conrad Eichhorn 3 do; Thos. Jones
3 do; John Bentley 3 do; Thos. Peterson 9 do; William Sadler 3 do;
William Jones 3 do; Thos. Williams 3 do; Mr. Porter 12 do; .John
Lillington 4 do; John Yelverton 6 do; Thos. Edge 3 do; Wm. Yeates
3 do; Jno. Marks 3 do; Wm. Fallaugh 3 do; John Stevens 3 do; Robt.
Warburton 3 do; John Lilington 2 do; John Blount 18 do; Capt.
Fred Jones 9 do. A true account of corn received by Edward :Moseley
for the Publick Account. Attested Dec. 29th, 1712 and signed by
EDWARD MOSELEY.
These are to certify that Mr. William Charlton hath been eight
days in the Country’s service as interpreter for the laying’ out of the
Tuscaroras Lands, as witness .my hand this 27th June, 1722.
THOS. POLLOCK.
To Capt. John Worley, please to satisfy him.
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