BROOKS FAMILY

1.    Richard¹ Brooks, born about February 1661/2, was the white servant of Madam Elizabeth Reade on 10 February 1677/8 when the York County court adjudged him to be sixteen years of age and ordered him to serve his mistress until the age of twenty-four. He was probably the father of a "Mollatto boy named Dick" the son of "Black Betty" who were slaves which Madam Reade left to her son Robert Reade by her 10 February 1685/6 York County will [DOW 6:35; 7:257]. Richard was probably the father of

2        i. ?James¹, born say 1679.

ii. Richard², born say 1682, a "Malatto Man named Dick Brookes" who was willed by Robert Reade to his son Thomas Reade in 1712. His two free children by a white woman named Mary Hanson were listed in the 7 April inventory of Robert Reade's estate: "James & Richard Hanson indented Mulattoes" [DOW 14:241, 251-3]. Mary identified "Dick Broo_ a Malatto slave belonging to Robert Read" as the father of her illegitimate child when she appeared in court on 2 July 1706 [DOW 12:414, 424]. Richard Hanson may have been identical to the Richard Hanson whose suit for debt against John Cooper was dismissed by the Southampton County court at the defendant's costs on 13 August 1762 [Orders 1759-63, 233].

 

2.    James¹ Brooks, born say 1679, had property of (his son?) William Brooks valued at 3 pounds currency on 17 January 1731/2 when the York County court ordered an attachment on the property to pay a debt William owed John Byrd. The court called James the "slave" of John Buckner when Buckner was ordered to bring him into court [OW 17:256, 262]. On 13 June 1754 he (called James Brooks, Sr.) was one of fourteen heads of household who were sued in Southampton County court by William Bynum (informer) for failing to pay the discriminatory tax on free African American and Indian women. He died before 8 March 1759 when a writing purporting to be his last will was presented to the Southampton County court for proof but was ordered to be lodged in the office because James Brooks (Jr.) entered a caveat against it. On 13 March 1760 the court ruled that the will was not valid because at the time he made it, he was the slave of his son James Brooks, Jr. The court based its ruling on the York County bill of sale by which James Brooks, Jr., purchased his father from John Buckner on 9 March 1733/4; the deposition of Young Moreland who testified that James Brooks, Sr., "mullattoe," was once a slave of Major John Buckner of York County but was purchased by his son James Brooks in exchange for a "negroe" slave named David; and the deposition of Charles Hansford, Sr., of York County who testified that he knew a "mullattoe called Jemmy Brookes" who lived as a servant or slave with Mr. John Buckner of Yorktown but left those parts and was said to have been freed by his son [Orders 1749-54, 500, 512; 1754-9, 24-5, 34-5, 502; 1759-63, 24]. James was the father of

3        i. ?William¹, born say 1705.

4        ii. James², born say 1707.

5        iii. Mary, born say 1709.

 

3.    William¹ Brooks, born say 1705, was presented by the York County court on 20 November 1727 for failing to list his "Mulatto" sister Mary as a tithable. On 17 January 1731/2 John Byrd sued him in York County court for a three pound currency debt for which the sheriff attached his estate in the hands of (his father?) James Brooks [OW 16:489; 17:256, 262]. He received a patent for 190 acres on the south side of the Nottoway River in Isle of Wight County adjoining land of William Killygrew on 20 May 1742 [Patents 20:280]. He sued William Bittle in Isle of Wight County on 11 June 1747 [Orders 1746-52, 23, 24]. He was living in Southampton County on 13 June 1754 when he was one of fourteen heads of household who were sued by William Bynum (informer) for failing to pay the discriminatory tax on free African American and Indian women. The court dismissed the suit against him on 13 February 1755, perhaps due to his old age. On 11 August 1757 he was among the freeholders who were ordered to work on a road in Southampton County for which Joseph Delk was surveyor [Orders 1754-9, 25, 38, 372]. In Isle of Wight County he was sued by Charles Jones on 3 September 1761 and sued for 22 pounds, 19 shillings by Archibald Dunlop and David Ralston on 4 March 1762 [Orders 1759-63, 257, 283, 328, 330, 347]. He was witness to the Southampton County will of John Byrd, proved 12 April 1781 [WB 3:322]. On 14 October 1784 the court presented him for failing to list a tithable and exempted him from paying taxes on 12 May 1785 [Orders 1778-84, 513; 1784-9, 67]. He was taxable St. Luke's Parish, Southampton County, from 1782 to 1788: taxable on 4 horses and 16 cattle in 1782 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-92, frames 504, 515, 544, 559, 638, 656]. He was living in St. Luke's Parish when he made his 9 May 1788 Southampton County will, proved 9 October 1788. He gave ten pounds to his daughter Ann Dunkin, five pounds and half his plantation to his wife Hannah Swett during her lifetime, and the remainder to his son William Swett "begotten of the body of Hannah Swett" [WB 4:276]. Hannah Brooks was taxable on a horse from 1799 to 1812. Bill Hunt and his wife Lucy were living on her land in 1813 [Personal Property Tax List 1792-1806, frames 373, 407, 838; 1807-21, 47, 68, 166, 187, 287, 319]. Hannah's will was proved in Southampton County on 21 July 1817 [Minutes 1816-9, unpaged]. William was the father of

i. Ann Dunkin (Duncan), perhaps identical to Ann Brooks who was granted a patent in Isle of Wight County for 150 acres on the north side of the Meherrin River adjoining James Brooks' land near Brook's Branch on 1 April 1749 [Patents 28:543]. She was fined 500 pounds of tobacco in Southampton County on 13 February 1755 for failing to list herself as a tithable. She pled not guilty at first but changed her plea when both James Brooks, Jr., and James Brooks, Sr., were found guilty [Orders 1749-54, 501, 513; 1754-9, 25, 39]. She and William Brooks paid 5 shillings to the Southampton County estate of James Powell on 9 December 1773 [WB 3:88].

ii. ?Jesse¹, born say 1740, sued in Southampton County for a debt of 7 pounds, 14 shillings which he owed Joseph Delk from 9 April 1767. He had left the county or was avoiding a summons on 8 March 1770 when the court attached his goods that were said to have been in the hands of (his father?) William Brooks [Orders 1768-72, 257, 276]. He was a "Mix Blood" taxable on himself and Daniel Dolvin in Bladen County, North Carolina, in 1774 [Byrd, Bladen County Tax Lists, I:123, 134].

iii. William Swett, probably identical to William S. Brooks who was taxable in Southampton County in 1789 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-9, frames 704, 754].

 

4.    James² Brooks, born say 1707, purchased his father from Major John Buckner by a 9 March 1733/4 York County bill of sale [Southampton County Orders 1759-63, 24]. He was called James Brooks, Jr., when he was granted 200 acres in Isle of Wight County on the north side of the Meherrin River by the side of Pine Pole Branch on 12 January 1746 [Patents 24:620]. He sued Richard Taylor, Jr., in Southampton County on 8 March 1753 for a 6 pound, 9 shilling debt. And on 11 January 1754 Richard Taylor, Jr., sued him for trespass, assault and battery. The case was dismissed on agreement of the parties. On 13 June 1754 he (called James Brooks, Jr.) was one of fourteen heads of household who were sued in Southampton County court by William Bynum (informer) for failing to pay the discriminatory tax on free African American and Indian women. Samuel Kindred testified against him. On 14 July 1757 he was ordered to pay William and Thomas Francis as witnesses for him in his suit against Hollowell Denson. He sued William Banks for 5 pounds, 5 shillings on 10 July 1761, sued Ann Banks on 11 September 1761, and on 10 December 1762 was fined 5 shillings for assaulting Ann Banks. He was sued by Thomas Tabor for trespass, assault and battery on 13 May 1762 and ordered to pay Tabor 20 shillings. His suit against James Byrd was dismissed on agreement between the parties on 9 September 1762 [Orders 1749-54, 333, 355, 500, 512; 1754-9, 24-5, 34-5, 40, 370; 1759-63, 128, 151, 219, 221, 234, 238, 272, 284]. He (signing) and his wife Martha sold 200 acres adjoining Brooks Branch and Sweathouse Swamp in Southampton County on 12 November 1761 [DB 3:98]. He was taxable in St. Luke's Parish, Southampton County, on a horse in 1786 and 2 horses from 1787 to 1797, taxable on John Brooks' tithe and 3 horses in 1794 and 1795 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-92, frames 586, 632, 655, 705, 755, 870; 1792-1806, frames 47, 74, 156, 184, 261]. By his 5 February 1798 Southampton County will he lent half his land on the east side of the county road to his wife Hannah during her lifetime, and gave the other half on the same side of the road to his grandson John Chavos, "commonly called John Brocks, son of Elizabeth Brocks." His land on the east side of the county road was to be sold by his daughter Sarah Reed who was executor of the will [WB 5:58]. Hannah Brooks was taxable in Southampton County on a horse from 1798 to 1800 [Personal Property Tax List 1792-1806, frames 261, 312, 373, 407]. She was head of a Southampton County household of 11 "other free" in 1810 [VA:88]. James was the father of

6        i. Elizabeth, born say 1730.

ii. Sarah, married John Reed and was mentioned in his 23 August 1790 Southampton County will [WB 4:395].

 

5.    Mary Brooks, born say 1709, was a "Mulatto" tithable in York County on 20 November 1727. On 16 March 1740/1 she was presented by the court for having a bastard child on the information of Ellyson Armistead, one of the churchwardens of Yorkhampton Parish, and she confessed to the offense on 18 May 1741. John Cornelius was security for payment of her fine. She may have been the mother of John Brookes who was ordered bound apprentice to Thomas Dulaney of Charles Parish on 19 January 1746/7. The court made the indenture official when Richard Limas complained that Dulaney was harboring John Brookes. Limas had been presented for not listing his wife as a tithable, but when he appeared in that same session of the court he was ordered to pay the taxes for his sons [OW 16:489; W&I 19:12, 486-7]. Mary was probably the mother of

i. John¹, born before 16 March 1740/1, living in Southampton County on 13 May 1762 when he and Ed Heathcock (Haithcock) were sued by Samuel Sands for debt. The sheriff reported that he was no longer an inhabitant of the county when he and John Reed were sued by John Wilkinson for 9 pounds, 17 shillings on 9 September 1762 [Orders 1759-63, 219, 239].

 

6.    Elizabeth Brooks, born say 1730, sued John Brooks in a Southampton County chancery case on 14 May 1773 [Orders 1772-7, 181]. She was probably the common-law wife of a member of the Chavis family since her son was called "John Chavos commonly called John Brocks" in his grandfather's 1798 Southampton County will. Elizabeth may have been the Betty Brooks who was head of a Robeson County, North Carolina household of 4 "other free" in 1790 [NC:48] and the Elizabeth Brooks who was head of a Duplin County household of 2 "other free" in 1800. Her children were

i. John Brooks, born say 1752, called John Brooks when he was taxable in Southampton County in 1789 and 1790, taxable on a horse in 1799 [Personal Property Tax List 1782-92, frames 707, 756; 1792-1806, frame 370].

 

They were probably the ancestors of the Brooks family of North Carolina:

i. John², born about 1758, a Revolutionary War pensioner [Clark, State Records of North Carolina, XXII:571], head of a Robeson County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [NC:367] and 7 in 1810 [NC:147]. He claimed to be ninety-five or ninety-six years old on 30 May 1853 when he applied for a pension for service in the Revolution and was still living in Robeson County on 22 March 1858 when he applied for (and received) bounty land [Pension File S-6732].

ii. John³/ Jack, born about 1772, a twelve-year-old "Mulatto boy" apprenticed to George Logan in New Hanover County on 9 January 1784.

iii. Solomon, born about 1774, a ten-year-old "Mulatto boy" bound apprentice to William Ewans in New Hanover County on 9 January 1784 [Minutes 1779-92, 116].

iv. James³, head of an Edgecombe County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [NC:715] and 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:117].

v. Major, born before 1776, head of an Orange County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [NC:831] and 7 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:352].

vi. Mary², born before 1776, head of a Hyde County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [NC:114] and 7 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:244].

vii. Jesse², born before 1776, charged with begetting a bastard child by Polly Archer in Halifax County, North Carolina, on 20 February 1800 [Minutes 1799-1802, 96]. He was head of a Washington County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [NC:790] and 7 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:405].

viii. Bartley, head of a Bertie County household of 2 "other free" and a 26-forty-five-year-old white woman in 1810 [NC:172].

 

Essex County

1.    Elizabeth Brooks, born say 1685, appeared in Essex County court on 22 January 1712/3 to bind her daughter Frances, "a Mulato Child," to Edward Hudson until the age of thirty-one [W&D 1711-4, 103]. She was the mother of

i. Frances, born say 1712.

 

Henrico County

1.    Penelopy Brooks, born say 1702, petitioned the Henrico County court in 1741 on behalf of her son William against Henry Royall. In January 1741/2 the court ordered Royall to discharge her son James Brooks [Orders 1737-46]. Her son William may have been identical to "Moll." William who was born in Henry Royall's house and bound to him by the churchwardens of Bristol Parish on 9 October 1724 [Chamberlayne, Register of Bristol Parish, 18-19]. Penelopy was the mother of

i. William, born say 1720.

ii. James, born say 1722.

 

They may have been the ancestors of

i. John, born say 1758, taxable on a horse in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, in 1788 and 1789: taxable on 2 tithes in 1788 [Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1799, frames 149, 194; 1800-1813, frames].

2        ii. William, born say 1760.

 

2.    William Brooks, born say 1760, was taxable in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, from 1788 to 1801: taxable on 2 tithes and a horse in 1789 [Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1799, frames 149, 194, 244, 292, 343, 383, 416, 446, 478, 512, 551, 586; 1800-1813, frames 24, 68]. Perhaps his widow was Mary Brock who was taxable in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, from 1802 to 1813: taxable on her unnamed son and a horse in 1803; called a "Mulatto" starting in 1805; taxable on a free male tithable in 1813 [Personal Property Tax List, 1800-1813, frames 113, 155, 246, 291, 427, 472, 518, 560]. She was head of an Albemarle County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:186]. They may have been the parents of

i. William Brocks, born say 1786, taxable on a horse in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, from 1804 to 1810; called a "Mulatto" from 1806 to 1808 [Personal Property Tax List, 1800-1813, frames 201, 292, 339, 382, 429]. He married Milly Tyree 5 January 1807 Albemarle County bond, with the consent of Jonathan Tyree. He was head of an Albemarle County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:187].

ii. John Brocks, born say 1789, a Mulatto" taxable in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, from 1807 to 1811 [Personal Property Tax List, 1800-1813, frames 340, 382, 428, 472, 518]. He married Nancy Tyree, 6 January 1807 Albemarle County bond, William Brock bondsman. He was head of an Albemarle County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:186].

iii. Olly Brock, a "Mulatto" taxable in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, in 1813 [Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1799, frames; 1800-1813, frame 560].

 

Other members of the Brooks family in Virginia were

i. William, "marriner," counted in the 1800 census for Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife Mary, "both Free Negroes," in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 4:55]

ii. Sam¹, head of a Frederick County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:562].

iii. Sam², head of a New Kent County household of 1 "other free" and a slave in 1810 [VA:744].

iv. William, head of a Petersburg Town household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:119a].

 

BROWN FAMILY

1.    William¹ Brown, born say 1670, was called "William Brown Negro" on 28 April 1715 when he was security for "William Brown Mulatto" and on 31 July 1718 when he admitted in Westmoreland County, Virginia court that he owed Henry Roe 225 pounds of tobacco. And he was called "William Brown Negro the next of kin to William Brown Mulatto decd." on 30 March 1726 when he testified in Westmoreland County court that (his son?) William died without leaving a will. He was appointed administrator of the estate. The appraisers, William Brown Wroe and Original Wroe, found an old chest, 6 plates and some old cooper's, joiner's and carpenter's tools at William Brown "Negroe's" (house). As administrator, William sued Richard Morton for a debt of 1,300 pounds of tobacco on 28 August 1729. The estate of William Brown (Senior) was taken by Original Brown on court order of 24 February 1740 and included 3 horses, a feather bed, cows, 11 barrels of corn, shoes, a gun and candlesticks [Orders 1705-21, 266, 353a; 1721-31, 113, 293; Estate Settlements 1723-46, 26, 243]. He was probably the father of

2        i. William², born say 1690.

 

2.    William² Brown, born say 1690, was called "William Brown Mulatto" when he was sued in Westmoreland County court for a debt of 1,820 pounds of tobacco on 28 April 1715. He died before 30 March 1726 when "William Brown Negro" was granted administration on his Westmoreland County estate. [Orders 1705-21, 266; 1721-31, 113, 266, 312, 341, 344a, 359a]. He was the father of

i. Abraham¹, born about 1718, a "Mulato Lad (Son of Wm Brown Mulato decd.)" bound as an apprentice goldsmith to Allin Horton in Westmoreland County for the term of five years on 27 August 1729 [Orders 1721-31, 287a]. He may have been the Abraham Brown, Sr., who Abraham Brown, Jr., called his uncle in his 11 July 1789 Charles City County will. Abraham, Jr., directed that Abraham, Sr., should be maintained by his estate [WB 1:16-7].

ii. William³, born about 1719, a ten-year-old "Mulatto boy, ... Son of Wm Brown Decd.," bound as an apprentice farmer to Sarah Monroe until the age of twenty-one by the Westmoreland County court on 26 February 1728/9 [Orders 1721-31, 246].

3        iii. ?Elizabeth, born say 1722.

iv. Susanna, born about 1724, "an orphan Child of Wm Brown Malato decd. ... adjudged Six years old," who was bound as an apprentice to John Binks until the age of eighteen years by the Westmoreland County court on 25 February 1729/30 [Orders 1721-31, 307a].

 

3.    Elizabeth Brown, born say 1722, was living in Charles City County in February 1743/4 when the court ordered the churchwardens to bind out her sons John and Abraham, no race indicated, to Jacob Danzee. She was called "a Molatto" in May 1744 when the court ordered the churchwardens of Westover Parish to bind her son Will Brown to John Jacob Danzee [Orders 1737-51, 288, 299]. She was the mother of

i. John¹, born say 1739.

4        ii. Abraham², born say 1741.

5        iii. ?Edward¹, born say 1742.

iv. William⁴, born say 1743, son of Elizabeth, bound out in May 1744, perhaps the William Brown who was paid 1 pound on 28 June 1787 for acting as crier at the sale of the Charles City County estate of Thomas Cowles, deceased [WB 1:173].

6        v. ?Dixon¹, Sr., born say 1745.

vi. ?Freeman¹, born say 1748, paid 2 pounds by the Charles City County estate of John Gregory, Jr., for looking after a slave named Savery and her children during the year 1778 [WB 1:342-3]. He was taxable in Charles City County from 1784 to 1807 [Personal Property Tax List 1783-7; 1788-1814], taxable on 40 acres in 1782 [Land Tax List, 1782-1830], and head of a household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:959]. He was a man of color from Charles City County who served in the Revolution [Charles City County historical Society Newsletter 6:10-14 cited by NSDAR, African American Patriots, 148]. On 3 December 1811 he sold 1 acre on the cross road leading from the courthouse road to Swineyard's Road for $1 to Ishmael Carter "to have and to hold provided he leaves lawful issue." He sold 40 acres in Charles City County bounded by George Hubbard, Nancy Smith and Bowling Gills to Terrell Crew on 20 January 1831 [DB 5:560; 7:489].

7        vii. ?Benjamin, born say 1755.

8        viii. ?Isaac, born about 1760.

 

4.    Abraham² Brown, born say 1741, purchased 156 acres in Westover Parish, Charles City County, from William Tyree and John Wayles on 27 September 1769 for 96 pounds currency. And he purchased two slaves named Sarah and Phillis for 60 pounds on 8 December 1770 [DW 1766-74, 155-6, 274]. He was taxable in Charles City County on slaves Silvey and Isaac, 5 horses and 15 cattle in 1784 and taxable on slaves Silvey, Isaac and Jane in 1785 [Personal Property Tax List, 1783-7]. He was paid 12 pounds, 15 shillings by the Charles City County estate of Samuel Harwood on 15 June 1778 and 13 pounds, 11 shillings by the estate of William Merry, deceased, in 1784 [WB 1:177, 355]. He called himself Abraham Brown, Jr., in his 11 July 1789 will which was proved 17 June 1790. He left his wife Sarah Brown 25 pounds specie, son John Brown 118 acres he had purchased from Samuel Riddlehurst, left daughter Mary Brown a slave named Jany, left sons Abraham and William all his remaining land which he had purchased from William Tyree to be divided between them when they came of age, left daughter Elizabeth Brown a slave named Sall and divided the remainder of his estate equally among his wife Sarah and children John, Mary, Abraham, William and Elizabeth Brown, ordered that his uncle Abraham Brown, Sr., should be maintained out of his estate and allowed Elizabeth Syldom the use of the house and garden on his land during her lifetime [WB 1:16-17]. His wife Sarah left a 1 June 1791 Charles City County will which was proved 15 December 1791. She left a slave named Silvy and a horse to her son Abram, left a slave girl named Mary to her son William, left a feather bed to her youngest daughter Elizabeth and divided the remainder among her surviving children. Elizabeth Seldon, Benjamin Brown and Frances Harris were witnesses [WB 1:70]. Abraham was the father of

9        i. John, born say 1764.

ii. Mary, "daughter of Abram Brown deceased," married Abram Thomas (alias Cumbo) by marriage agreement of 13 April 1791 proved in Charles City County court on 15 December 1791 by which he recognized her right to slaves Isaac and Jane, two feather beds, and some stock of cattle and hogs which were in her possession [DB 4:66]. Administration on her estate was granted to Abraham Brown on 17 March 1836 with Morris Harris providing $90 security [Minutes 1830-7, 270].

10      iii. Abraham², born say 1769.

iv. William⁶, born say 1772, taxable in Charles City County in 1793 [Personal Property Tax List 1788-1814] and taxable on two tracts of land in 1790 and 1800, one of 92-1/2 acres and the other of 30 acres [Land Tax List, 1790, p.1; 1800, p.1]. On 17 July 1800 he (signing) swapped 125-1/2 acres with 115-1/2 acres which his brother Abraham Brown received by the will of their father. That same day he sold 20 acres in Westover Parish on the dividing line between his land and John Brown's to Abraham Thomas (alias Cumbo) [DB 4:514, 516, 520]. He and his wife Lucy (both signing) sold 41-1/2 acres he received by his father's will to Abraham Thomas for 65 pounds on 20 February 1806 [DB 5:118]. He was head of a household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [VA:958]. He was called William Brown, Sr., "a man of colour," on 1 August 1817 when he made a deed of trust for 80 acres to secure a debt of $38 he owed William F. Walker. He and his wife Lucy (both signing) sold 20 acres bounded by his own land, the land of John Brown, and the land of George Jones to George Jones for $150 on 8 May 1821 [DB 6:91, 458]. He may have been the William Brown, Sr., who made a deed of trust for a horse on 20 October 1830 [DB 7:472]. He was head of a head of a Charles City County household of 13 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:4].

v. Elizabeth, born before 1776, head of a Charles City County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:953] and 6 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:8]. She may have been the mother of Sally Brown who registered in Charles City County on 20 October 1836: daughter of Betsy Brown the midwife, brown complexioned, twenty-seven the 9 December last [Minutes 1830-7, 297].

 

5.    Edward¹ Brown, born say 1742, was taxable in Charles City County from 1784 to 1794 [Personal Property Tax List 1783-7; 1788-1814] and taxable on 200 acres from 1782 to 1793 [Land Tax List, 1782-1830]. He was the father of

i. Edward³, born say 1763, called Edward, Jr., when he was taxable in the household of Edward Brown in 1784 and called "son of Ned" in 1809 when he was taxable on two tithes [Personal Property Tax List, 1783-7; 1788-1814]. He may have been the Edward Brown whose wife Rebecca was named in the 12 November 1803 Charles City County will of Frances Harris [WB 1:650]. He was head of a Charles City County household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [VA:957] and was a man of color from Charles City County who served in the Revolution [Charles City County historical Society Newsletter 6:10-14 cited by NSDAR, African American Patriots, 148].

ii. William⁵, born say 1765, taxable in Charles City County in 1787, called "son of Ned" when he was taxable in 1804 and 1806 [Personal Property Tax List 1783-7; 1788-1814].

iii. Freeman², born say 1767, taxable on a horse in 1787 and taxable on his own tithe and a horse in 1788, called "son of Ned" when he was taxable in 1806 [Personal Property Tax List, 1783-7, 1788-1814].

iv. James¹, born say 1771, taxable in Charles City County (called James Brown, Jr.) from 1792 to 1799 [Personal Property Tax List, 1788-1814].

v. John, born say 1789, called "son of Ned" when he was taxable in 1810 [Personal Property Tax List 1788-1814].

 

6.    Dixon¹ Brown, Sr., born say 1745, was taxable in Charles City County on his own tithe, (his son) Edward Brown, two horses and 11 cattle in 1784 [Personal Property Tax List 1783-7]. He was witness to the 29 July 1784 Charles City County will of James Harris [WB 1:55]. He purchased 50 acres on the road leading from Soans's Bridge to the Charles City courthouse joining his own land for 50 pounds on 11 September 1790 and another 72 acres in the same area for 90 pounds on 2 February 1797. He purchased 70 acres at the mouth of Lennard's Mill Run adjoining Isabella Lennard and Soans's line on 19 December 1796 for 77 pounds, and he and his wife Susannah (making their marks) sold this land on 2 February 1797 for 80 pounds [DB 4:28, 323, 331, 332]. His wife Susanna was named in the 12 November 1803 Charles City County will of her mother Frances Harris [WB 1:650]. He was taxable on 220 acres near the Charity School from 1797 to 1821 [Land Tax List 1782-1830] and head of a household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:938]. He made a 24 January 1811 Charles City County will, proved 18 January 1821. He left 40 acres to be divided between his son Dixon Brown and daughter Susannah Harris (wife of Chavis Harris) which was the land they were then living on, left his house and 75 acres to be divided among his daughter Catherine Brown, son James Brown and son Peter Brown, left 30 acres to his illegitimate children Polly Harris, Susannah Harris (wife of James Harris), and Peggy Bowman which was the land they were then living on, left 10 acres each to his daughters Elizabeth and Milly Brown, left 10 acres to his son Edward Brown's children Polly, Lucy and Rachel Brown, left 10 acres to be divided between his daughter Sally Brown's children Betsey Harris, Cornelius Brown, Polly Brown, Sabrina Brown, Lucy Brown, Reuben Brown and Elizabeth Brown, 10 acres to be divided among his daughter Lucy Brown's children Dancy, Locey, Henry, Edward and Eliza Brown, a bed and furniture to his daughter Catherine, and appointed his son Dixon Brown and Henry C. Harris his executors. James Harris, Peter Brown, Edward Bowman, James Brown, Jr., Billy Brown, Milly Brown and Dixon Brown posted 500 pounds security for Henry C. Harris's administration of the estate [WB 2:471]. He was the father of

i. Edward², born say 1763, taxable in the Charles City County household of Dixon Brown in 1783, called "son of Dixon" in 1790 and 1793 [Personal Property Tax List, 1783-7; 1788-1814]. He was probably deceased by 24 January 1811 when his children Polly, Lucy and Rachel were left 10 acres by the will of their grandfather Dixon Brown.

11      ii. Dixon², Jr., born say 1766.

12      iii. Sally, born say 1768.

iv. James², born say 1770, taxable in Charles City County in 1791, called James Brown, Sr., when he was taxable from 1792 to 1799, a "Mulattoe" taxable on 2 tithes and 3 horses in 1812 [Personal Property Tax List, 1788-1814]. He was head of a Charles City County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:959] and 4 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:13].

v. Lucy, mother of Dancy, Locey, Henry, Edward, and Eliza Brown. Dancy was living in Albemarle County on 31 December 1821 when he sold his part of Dixon Brown's estate to Locky Goin (wife of David) for $10 [DB 6:501].

vi. Catherine, married to Edward Bowman by 13 June 1825 when he was paid $20 as her legacy of a bed and furniture [WB 3:115].

13      vii. Elizabeth, born say 1785.

viii. Milly, born say 1788, head of a Charles City County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:953]. She made a 14 September 1827 Charles City County will, proved 17 July 1834, leaving 10 acres she was living on to her brother Dixon during his lifetime and then to be divided between her niece Patsey Harris and Cyrus Brown [WB 4:80].

14      ix. Peter, born about 1797.

 

And he was the father of illegitimate children which he recognized:

i. Polly Harris.

ii. Susannah Harris, illegitimate daughter of Dixon Brown and wife of James Harris, received 10 acres of land by the 24 January 1811 Charles City County will of her father. She died intestate without a living child before October 1826 when Polly Harris, Morris Harris and Patsy his wife, Pegg Bowman, James Brown, Jr. ("son of Dixon"), and his wife Sally, and Peter Brown and his wife Susan appointed James Brown to sell the land. Edward Brown was the highest bidder at $32 [DB 7:371].

iii. Peggy Bowman.

 

7.    Benjamin Brown, born say 1755, was taxable on his own tithe and a horse in Waynoke Precinct of Charles City County in 1784 [Personal Property Tax List, 1783-7]. He was paid 10 shillings for shoes he provided Elizabeth Christian in 1782 [WB 1:79]. He was witness to the 1 June 1791 Charles City County will of Sarah Brown [WB 1:70] and head of a household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:958]. He was the father of

i. William⁷, born say 1784, called "son of Ben" when he was taxable in 1805 and 1807 [Personal Property Tax List 1788-1814].

 

8.    Isaac Brown, born about 1760, was taxable in Lower Westover Precinct of Charles City County in 1786 [Personal Property Tax List, 1783-7], and head of a Charles City County household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [VA:959] and 4 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:13]. He purchased 75 acres in Charles City County from Peter Ladd for $200 on 15 February 1804 [DB 5:34]. He applied for a pension in Charles City County at the age of sixty-nine on 19 May 1829 when he was living on his 70 acres of land with his unnamed wife, twenty-year-old son, twenty-one year-old daughter and her four-year-old child. He stated that he enlisted in Charles City County in 1780 and served eighteen months [M804-366]. He made a deed of trust (making his mark) for 75 acres of land adjoining Peter Ladd and the Cellar Run as well as all his personal estate for the benefit of Peter Ladd, Jr., on 22 January 1829 [DB 7:366]. He made a 10 April 1830 Charles City County will, which was proved 19 August 1830. He left one third his estate to his wife Sarah, to be divided among his children at her decease, left the remaining two thirds to son Micajah and daughter Sally Ann Brown, noted that his sons Carver and Travis were able to get their own living since they were able bodied unlike their brother Micajah, and noted that his daughters Maria and Clarissa were married and had already been provided for [WB 3:407-8]. He was the father of

i. Maria.

ii. Clarissa.

15      iii. Carver, born about 1791.

iv. Travis, born about 1793, taxable in Charles City County in 1814 [Personal Property Tax List 1788-1814].

v. Sally Ann, born about 1807, twenty-one years old on 29 January 1829.

vi. Micajah, born about 1809, twenty years old on 29 January 1829. His sister Sally Ann sold land to him by deed proved in Charles City County on 19 December 1833, and he sold 7 acres by deed proved on 16 April 1835 [Minutes 1830-9, 149, 230].

 

9.    John Brown, born say 1764, was taxable in the Charles City County household of (his father) Abraham Brown in 1785 [Personal Property Tax List, 1783-7], taxable on 118 acres in 1790 and 1800 [Land Tax List, 1790, p.1; 1800, p.1], and head of a household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:958]. He was the father of Rebecca Brown, granddaughter of Frances Harris who left her a spinning wheel by her 12 November 1803 Charles City County will [WB 1:650]. On 6 October 1804 he (signing) made a deed of trust to Wyatt Walker for 118 acres which he received by the will of his father Abraham Brown to secure a bond which Dixon Brown had posted for him to satisfy an execution against his estate by Thomas Blanks [DB 5:65]. He was a "man of colour" who made a deed of trust (signing) on 28 May 1817 for 80 acres which was all the land he was then living on which descended to him by the will of his father Abraham. He and his wife Priscilla (both signing) sold 16 acres adjoining his land and Abraham Brown's to George Jones for $96 on 8 May 1821 [DB 6:92]. The account of his Charles City County estate was taken by Abraham Brown and had its first entry on 1 November 1825. Abraham distributed about $11 to James Brown, Sr., and Carver Brown who was also paid $1.62 for accommodations furnished the appraisers of the estate [WB 3:236]. John was the father of

i. James, born say 1785, taxable in Charles City County in 1806, called "son of John" in 1810 [Personal Property Tax List, 1788-1814].

ii. Rebecca, granddaughter of Frances Harris who left her a spinning wheel in 1804.

 

10.    Abraham² Brown, born say 1769, "son of Abraham," was taxable in Charles City County in 1790, a "Mulattoe" taxable in 1813 [Personal Property Tax List, 1788-1814], taxable on two tracts of land, one of 92-1/2 acres and the other of 30 acres in 1790 and 1800 [Land Tax List, 1790, p.1; 1800, p.1], and head of a Charles City County household of 10 "other free" and 3 slaves in 1810 [VA:957] and 9 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:3]. He was a man of color from Charles City County who served in the Revolution [Charles City County historical Society Newsletter 6:10-14 cited by NSDAR, African American Patriots, 148]. On 17 July 1800 he and his wife Susannah (both signing) swapped the 115-1/2 acres he received by his father's will with 125-1/2 acres which his brother William received by the will [DB 4:514, 516]. He and his wife Susanna made a deed of gift to Cornelius Brown, John Brown, Henry C. Harris and Dixon Brown, Jr., as trustees for a tract of land adjoining John Brown upon which a meeting house known as "Elam" was to be set apart expressly for the use of the Baptist Church on 20 November 1818 ("but when unoccupied by the baptist to be free for any minister of the Gospel to preach us") [DB 6:214]. He was granted administration on the Charles City County estate of his brother John Brown, Sr., on 20 October 1825 [Minutes 1823-9, 141]. He left a 12 April 1836 Charles City County will (signing), proved 19 November 1840. He left his son Christopher the house where Christopher then lived and 20 acres of land on the north side of his plantation, left the remainder of his land to his three sons Allen, Abraham James, and Samuel Brown, and left the remainder of his estate to his children Allen, Abraham James, Christopher and Samuel Brown, Patsy Thompson, Polly Brown, Susanna Brown, and his grandson Robert Brown, son of his daughter Nancy Jones [WB 4:375]. He died in Charles City in August 1840 [Register of Free Negroes, 1835-64, no. 11]. His children were

i. Allen.

ii. Abraham James, called James A. Brown in the settlement of his father's estate [WB 4:423].

iii. Christopher.

iv. Samuel.

v. Patsy Thompson.

vi. Polly.

vii. Susanna.

viii. Nancy Jones, mother of Robert Brown.

 

11.    Dixon² Brown, born say 1766, was head of a Charles City County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:938] and 2 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:8]. He died before 21 February 1833 when (his son?) James Brown was granted administration on his estate [Minutes 1830-7, 144]. His widow Lucy Brown sold the land she was allotted from his estate to James Brown by deed acknowledged on 19 July 1836 [Minutes 1830-7, 284]. He was the father of

16      i. ?Dixon³, born say 1792.

ii. James, born 2 July 1794, registered as a "free Negro" in Charles City County about 1810 and renewed his registration in 1842 and 1859: son of old Dixon, brown complexion, 48 the 2 July 1842 [Register of Free Negroes, 1835-64, no. 51]. He married Sally Stewart ("colored"), 11 March 1816 Charles City County bond [Wm & Mary Quarterly Historical Papers Vol. 8, No.3, p.194]. He was head of a Charles City County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:7]. He ("son of Dixon"), William T. Brown and Will Brown ware called "people of color" on 21 February 1828 when the Charles City County court allowed them to keep a gun [Minutes 1823-9, 284]. He (called James Brown, Jr.) and Edward Bowman were attorneys for Elizabeth Brown's sale of 10 acres of land she received by the will of her father Dixon Brown. She was living in Liberia on 18 December 1828 when they paid $20 to her son Richard B. Brown who was living in Petersburg. James purchased the land on the same day from the buyer for $20 [DB 7:359, 360]. He sold 7 acres adjoining his land and land of Peter Brown to Peter Brown on 15 May 1828 [DB 7:291]. He was called son of Dixon Brown on 17 July 1834 when he was granted administration on the estate of Milly Brown with Reuben Brown, Jr., as his security. He and others brought a suit in chancery against Edward Bowman's children on 19 February 1835. On 16 April 1835 he was granted administration on the estate of Thomas Harris with Abraham Brown and Edward Bowman as his securities [Minutes 1830-7, 223, 234].

 

12.    Sally Brown, born say 1768, was head of a Charles City County household of 5 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:11]. She was named in the 24 January 1811 Charles City County will of her father Dixon Brown which was proved 18 January 1821 [WB 2:471]. According to the will, she was the mother of

i. Reuben, born say 1785, taxable in Charles City County in 1806 [Personal Property Tax List, 1788-1814]. He obtained a certificate of freedom in Charles City County (no date): dark brown (at a later date): dead [Register of Free Negroes 1835-64, no.71]. He made an 11 February 1839 Charles City County will, proved 21 March 1839, leaving a walnut table to his sister Lucy's daughter Airanna Brown and dividing the remainder of his estate between his "kinsman" Mitchel Harris and friend Barnet Harris who he named executors. Ned Bowman was paid for digging the grave and Jesse Brown was paid $4 for making the coffin [WB 4:333, 363].

ii. Cornelius, born say 1787, taxable in Charles City County in 1809 [Personal Property Tax List 1788-1814], head of a household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [VA:940]. He purchased 50 acres in Charles City County for $200 on 20 March 1819, and he and his wife Polly Brown (both making their mark) sold 3-1/3 acres in Charles City County known as "Binns" bounded by Henry Adams and Chavis Harris (devised to Cornelius by Dixon Brown) to Chavis Harris for $11 on 4 January 1825 [DB 6:246; 7:41]. He was living in Africa (Liberia) when he was taxable on 50 acres on Wilcox's Mill Road, Charles City County, from 1826 to 1830 [Land Tax List 1782-1830].

iii. Betsey Harris, born say 1788.

iv. Polly. She, Elizabeth Brown, and Edward Bowman were attorneys in fact for a deed from Cornelius Brown to Reuben Brown proved in court on 20 December 1832 [Minutes 1830-9, 136].

v. Sabrina.

vi. Lucy, mother of Arianna Brown who registered in Charles City County on 16 June 1831: daughter of Lucy S. Brown, Mulatto girl, eleven years old 3d last month [Minutes 1830-7, 59].

vii. Elizabeth.

 

13.    Elizabeth Brown, born say 1785, daughter of Dixon Brown, made James Brown, Jr., and (her brother-in-law) Edward Bowman her attorneys to sell 10 acres of land she received by the will of her father Dixon Brown. She was living in Liberia on 18 December 1828 when they paid $20 from the sale of the land to her son Richard B. Brown who was living in Petersburg [DB 1:359]. She was the mother of

i. Richard B., born say 1805, living in Petersburg on 18 December 1828. He was probably the Richard Brown whose account of sales was recorded in Charles City County on 3 March 1832 and included buyers Oliver Bowman, Molly Brown, Valentine Harris, Daniel Harris, James Brown, Peter Brown, Ed Bowman, James Brown, Jr., Burwell Harris, Mitchel Harris, Austin Brown and Reuben Brown [WB 3:467]. On 16 February 1832 the court appointed James Brown guardian to his orphans Pleasant and Cyrus Brown [Minutes 1830-7, 91]. However, Cyrus and Pleasant were called children of Dixon Brown, Jr., when they registered in Charles City County on 19 January 1832 [Minutes 1830-9, 89].

 

14.    Peter Brown, born about 1797, received one-third part of 75 acres by his father Dixon Brown's 24 January 1811 Charles City County will which was proved 18 January 1821 [WB 2:471]. In October 1826 he and his wife Susan appointed James Brown to sell their rights to 10 acres which Susannah Harris, deceased, received by Dixon's will [DB 7:371]. He purchased 7 acres adjoining his land from (his brother) James Brown on 15 May 1828 [DB 7:291]. He obtained a certificate of freedom in Charles City County on 18 August 1814 and renewed it in August 1832: aged thirty five, born free in this county, died 1842 [Register of Free Negroes 1835-64, p.2, no.70]. He made a 1 November 1841 Charles City County will, proved 15 December 1842. He left 10 acres which he received by the will of his father Dixon Brown as well as $30 to his daughter Harriet Harris but noted that her husband Valentine Harris was to have no other control over the land than to live on it and cultivate it during her lifetime. He left a heifer to Harriet's son James Harris, left a horse and cart to his son Albert Brown, left his wife Sarah one third of the balance of the estate and the remainder to his son Albert who he named as executor [WB 4:447]. He was the father of

i. Harriet, born 17 November 1819, obtained a certificate of freedom in Charles City County on 17 November 1831: daughter of Peter Brown, yellow complexion, twelve years old 4th April last [Minutes 1830-7, 83]. She married Valentine Harris.

ii. Albert, born 22 November 1821, obtained a certificate of freedom in Charles City County on 17 November 1831: yellow complexion, son of Peter Brown, ten years old 22nd November [Minutes 1830-7, 83].

 

15.    Carver Brown, born about 1791, obtained a certificate of freedom in Charles City County on 20 November 1817 and renewed it on 20 June 1825: bright Mulatto, aged thirty four, born free in this county [Register of Free Negroes 1835-64, no.101]. He was head of a Charles City County household of 6 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:10]. He was named in the 10 April 1830 Charles City County will of his father Isaac Brown. He was the father of

i. Walker, born 9 April 1813, registered in Charles City County on 16 March 1835: son of Carver Brown, brown complexion, aged twenty one 9 April last [Minutes 1830-9, 222].

ii. Pryor, born about 1818, registered in Charles City County on 16 March 1835: son of Carver Brown, brown complexion, aged seventeen [Minutes 1830-9, 222].

 

16.    Dixon³ Brown, born say 1792, was head of a Charles City County household of 5 "free colored" in 1820 (called Dixon Brown, Jr.) [VA:8]. He was the father of

i. Cyrus, born 24 July 1816, obtained a certificate of freedom in Charles City County on 19 January 1832: son of Dixon Brown, Jr., brown complexion, fifteen years old 24th July last, born free in this county [Minutes 1830-7, 89].

ii. Pleasant, born 17 April 1821, obtained a certificate of freedom in Charles City County on 19 January 1832: son of Dixon Brown, Jr., yellowish complexion, ten years old 17th April last, born free in this county [Minutes 1830-7, 89].

 

Other members of the Brown family in Charles City County were

i. Samuel, born about 1770, registered in Petersburg on 19 June 1810: a dark brown Mulatto man, five feet four inches high, forty years old, born free in Charles City County [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 614].

ii. Cranston, born say 1782, taxable in Charles City County in 1803 and a "Mulattoe" taxable in 1814 [Personal Property Tax List, 1788-1814]. He was head of a Charles City County household of 6 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:11].

 

Other members of the Brown family in Virginia were

i. Sarah, born say 1725, "Mulatto" mother of Elizabeth Brown who was born 28 March 1745 in Bristol Parish [Chamberlayne, Register of Bristol Parish, 290].

ii. Elizabeth, born about 1752, registered in Petersburg on 21 May 1802: a dark brown Mulatto woman, five feet four inches high, fifty years old, born free & raised in the Town of Petersburg [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 232]. She was head of a Petersburg Town household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:125a].

iii. Ann, mother of Peter Brown "a Molatto base born child" bound out to John Snath by order of the Shenandoah County court on 27 August 1776 [Minutes 1774-80, 21].

iv. Charles, born about 1764, registered in Petersburg on 30 June 1804: a dark brown Mulatto man, five feet seven inches high, forty years old, straight and well made, born free & raised in the County of Prince George [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 276].

v. John, born say 1768, head of a Chesterfield County household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [VA:1062]. He may have been identical to Jack Brown, husband of Nancy Brown who registered in Petersburg on 26 January 1798: a light brown Mulatto woman, short bushy hair, five feet high, twenty seven years old the 9 Dec. 1797, daughter of Elizabeth Muns of this town a free woman & now wife of Jack Brown a free man [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 128].

vi. Sally, born about 1781, registered in Petersburg on 15 August 1800: a brown Mulatto woman ... five feet seven inches high with bushy hair, nineteen years old, born free & raised in the County of Prince George [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 184].

vii. James, born about 1787, registered as a "Free Negro" in Greensville County, Virginia, on 1 April 1825: free born of a yellow Complexion about 38 years old 5'6-3/4 Inches high (in shoes) ... a hatter & planter, and his wife Temperance registered on 7 April 1825: (wife of James Brown) free born of yellowish Complexion, Thirty Six years old, five feet 5 Inches high in Shoes ... & her 5 children viz. Berry, Dixon, & Wm Green boys & Arrian, Delina, & Francis Ann daughters [Register of Free Persons of Colour, nos.139, 144].

 

Bertie County, North Carolina

1.    Francis Brown, born perhaps 1720, was a witness (with Benjamin Wynn) to the 1742 deed by which Gabriel Manly purchased 100 acres of land in Bertie County [DB F:339]. Francis was head of a Bertie County household in 1758 and 1759, counted with Moses Manly as two "Black" taxables in the list of John Brickell [CR 10.702.1]. In 1759 this part of Bertie County became Hertford County which lost most of its early records in courthouse fires of 1830 and 1862. However, a 1779 Tax List filed with the central government has survived, and he may have been the Francis Brown who was taxable in District 4 of this list on 140 acres and a horse [G.A.30.1, p.71]. His descendants may have been

i. John, born say 1750, perhaps the John Brown who was taxable on one poll in Hertford County in 1779 (adjacent to Francis Brown). He received a patent for 260 acres on Hardy Pace's Mill Swamp in Northampton County, North Carolina, on 29 October 1782 [DB 7:154] and purchased 30 acres adjoining this on Urahaw Swamp in October 1798 [DB 10:393]. He was head of a Northampton County household of 5 "other free" in 1790 [NC:72].

ii. Robert, born perhaps 1755, head of a Northampton County household of 7 "other free" in 1790 [NC:72] and 3 in 1800 [NC:430]. Perhaps his widow was Mary Brown, born before 1776, head of a Northampton County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [NC:712] and 4 in Halifax County, North Carolina, in 1830. On 3 March 1818 the Northampton County court ordered her to show cause why (her children?) Aaron and Allen Brown should not be bound apprentices [Minutes 1813-21].

iii. Beverly, born perhaps 1760, married Hannah Parham, 15 November 1785 Greensville County, Virginia bond, William Batte security. They were married 20 November by Rev. William Andrews, a Methodist minister. Beverly was living in Greensville County on 27 March 1788 when the sheriff credited him for overcharging tax on five more horses than he owned in 1787 [Orders 1781-9, 356]. He was head of a Northampton County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [NC:712]. The 7 June 1812 session of the Northampton County court ordered John and Fanny Dungill, children of color, bound to him to be a blacksmith and spinster respectively. William Walden provided security of 500 pounds for the indenture. He was declared an insolvent debtor in District 6 of Halifax County on 15 August 1842 [Minutes 1832-46].

iv. William, born before 1776, head of a Hertford County household of 9 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:188]. His December 1848 Hertford County will was proved in February 1849 with Daniel Valentine as executor. He named his wife Margaret and children: Isaac, Winney, Rebecca, Tyley, Armesia, Jeremiah, Allen.

v. John, born perhaps 1770, head of a Pasquotank County household of 2 "other free" in 1790 [NC:27], 3 in 1800, and 7 "other free" and 1 slave in 1810 [NC:883].

vi. James, born about 1787, registered as a "Free Negro" in Greensville County, Virginia, on 1 April 1825: free born of a yellow Complexion about 38 years old 5'6-3/4 Inches high (in shoes) ... a hatter & planter, and his wife Temperance registered on 7 April 1825: (wife of James Brown) free born of yellowish Complexion, Thirty Six years old, five feet 5 Inches high in Shoes ... & her 5 children viz. Berry, Dixon(?), & Wm Green boys & Arrian, Delina, & Francis Ann daughters [Register, no.139, p.144].

 

BRUCE FAMILY

1.    James¹ Bruce, born say 1728, purchased 100 acres on Clay's Branch in Southwarke Parish, Surry County, Virginia, on 18 July 1749 and purchased another 50 acres adjoining this land on 1 December 1760 [DB 5:431; 8:64]. This adjoined land of the Banks family [Hopkins, Surry County Deeds, 1756-1787, 91 (DB 12:219)]. He was head of a Surry County household of 8 whites (free persons) in 1782 and 9 in 1784 [VA:43, 78]. He was taxable in Surry County from 1783 to 1802: charged with Sampson Walden's tithe, a slave named Isaac, 2 horses and 8 cattle in 1787; charged with Jacob Bruce's tithe in 1794; charged with Jacob and James Bruce, Jr.'s tithes in 1797 [Personal Property Tax List, 1782-90, frames 371, 402, 409, 517; 1791-1816, 76, 175, 284, 361, 440, 475]. He was taxable on 120 acres in Surry County in 1790 [1790 Land Tax List, p.3]. His will, recorded in Surry County on 25 January 1803, named his children Jemima, Lucy, Jacob, Sarah, James, and John Bruce. He left land on the east side of John Cocke's and Nathaniel Savedge's lines to his son James, left land on the west side of those lines to his son John, and left the remainder of his estate to his wife Elizabeth. His son James was executor [WB 1:583-5]. Elizabeth was taxable from 1803 to 1815: taxable on (her son) James Bruce's tithe in 1803 and 1804; listed as a "free Negro & Mulatto" in 1813; taxable on a free male and 2 cattle in 1815 [Personal Property Tax List, 1791-1816, 514, 555, 610, 648, 666, 726, 804] and head of a Surry County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:601]. They were the parents of

i. Jemima, listed as a "free Negro & Mulatto" in Surry County in 1813 [Personal Property Tax List, 1791-1816, frame 726].

ii. Jacob, born say 1778, taxable in Surry County from 1794 to 1816: listed with (his father) James Bruce in 1794 and 1797; charged with his own tax from 1798; listed as a "free Negro" in 1815 [Personal Property Tax List, 1791-1816, frames 175, 284, 318, 399, 475, 555, 610, 648, 685, 807, 847].

iii. James², born say 1780, taxable in Surry County from 1797 to 1805: listed with (his father) James Bruce from 1797 to 1802; listed with (his mother) Elizabeth Bruce in 1803 and 1804; taxable on 2 tithes in 1805 [Personal Property Tax List, 1791-1816, frames 284, 318, 399, 475, 514, 588]. His Surry County will was witnessed by Saeca Cypress and Edith Thompson and was proved 24 April 1806. He left ten dollars to Benjamin Bailey Bruce and the remainder of his estate to Robert Bailey Bruce [WB 2:98].

iv. Lucy, born say 1782, daughter of Elizabeth Bruce, married Benjamin Banks, 22 January 1803 Surry County bond, 19 February marriage, James Roberts surety.

v. John, born say 1790, taxable in Surry County from 1809 to 1816: listed with 2 "free Negroes & Mulattoes above the age of 16" in 1813; taxable on a slave and 2 horses in 1815 [Personal Property Tax List, 1791-1816, 648, 685, 726, 807, 848]. He married Elizabeth Cypress, 24 December 1812 Surry County bond, Benjamin Banks surety, Samuel Blizzard witness. Their son William Bruce registered in Surry County on 23 December 1842: a mullatoe boy, son of Betsy Cypress ... is a spare make, bushy hair ... aged about 24 years and is 5'8-1/4" high [Hudgins, Surry County Register of Free Negroes, 106, 164].

vi. Sarah.

 

BRUMEJUM/ BRUMAGEN FAMILY

1.    Eliza Brumejum, born say 1692, was presented by the court in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in August 1712 for having a "Mallato" bastard child. She confessed that "a Negroe man called James belonging to Stephen Warman" was the father of the child, and the court ordered that she be sold for seven years and bound her unnamed son to her master for thirty-one years [Judgment Records 1712-15, Liber TB, no. 3, p.5]. She was probably the ancestor of

2        i. James, born say 1712.

ii. R. Brumager, head of a Baltimore City household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [MD:75].

 

2.    James Brumigem, born say 1712, was tried by the Frederick County, Virginia court on 24 January 1746/7 for breaking into the house of Captain John Hite and taking some gunpowder. He was found not guilty of felony but found guilty of petty larceny and given thirty-one lashes, made to stand in the pillory and ordered to post bond of 40 pounds currency for his good behavior. He was called a "Mulatto" on 5 March 1746/7 when the court ordered that he receive twenty-five lashes for abusing Lawrence Stevens in a very ill manner. On 6 March 1746/7 the court ordered that the sheriff sell James' goods: a horse, saddle, bridle, coat jacket, leather jacket, rifle, gun powder horn, silver buckles, silver clasps, three axes, a cross-cut saw, and a hand saw for a debt of about 8 pounds he owed Jost Hite, John Hite and Lewis Stephens. His estate was attached for debt again on 7 August 1747, 7 June 1748 and 3 August 1748. He died before 6 September 1748 when the court granted administration of his estate to Peter Tostee, his greatest creditor [Orders 1745-8, 201, 213, 224, 301-2, 435, 462, 488]. He may have been the ancestor of

3        i. Thomas Brumagen, born say 1740.

 

3.    Thomas Brumagen, born say 1740, was indicted with Jane Clark for fornication by the Frederick County, Virginia court on 7 September 1762. Jane was discharged but Thomas was ordered to pay a fine of 500 pounds of tobacco. Richard Pearis, Gent., undertook to pay his fine. He was sued by William and Jane Phillips on 5 November 1762, but the case was agreed before coming to trial. He was convicted of stealing a steer belonging to John Shearer on 2 September 1766 and chose to receive 39 lashes corporal punishment rather than be tried at the General court. Seth Dungen sued him for 3 pounds, 10 shillings on 8 October 1766 [Orders 1762-3, 156, 393; 1765-7, 172, 224]. He may have been the father of

i. George Brumagam, born say 1760, taxable in Frederick County, Virginia, in 1787 and 1788 [PPTL 1782-1802]. He enlisted as a soldier in the Revolution from Virginia: George Brumma, yellow complexioned, born in Australia [NSDAR, African American Patriots, 148].

 

BRYAN FAMILY

Joan Bryan, born say 1683, was the servant of Mary Dudley of Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, on 30 June 1703 when she confessed to the court that she had a "mulatto" child. And on 25 July 1705 she confessed to having a child by a white man [Orders 1698-1705, 194, 269a, 270].

Mary Bryan, born say 1687, was the servant of John Sergenton on 24 May 1707 when she confessed to the York County court that she had a "Mulato" child. The court ordered the churchwardens of Bruton Parish to sell her for five years when she completed her service to her master [DOW 13:66].

Their descendants may have been

1        i. William¹, born about 1748.

ii. Sarah, head of a Currituck County, North Carolina household of 4 "other free" in 1790 [NC:20].

iii. Bridgett, "Free Colored" living alone in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, in 1790 [NC:34].

 

1.    William¹ Bryan, Jr., born about 1748, was a taxable "Malletor Servant" in Thomason Bass's household in the 1769 Bertie County tax list of David Standley, and in John Standley's 1770 tax list [CR 10.702.1]. He was head of a Charleston District, St. Bartholomew's Parish, South Carolina household of 5 "other free" in 1790. His children may have been

i. Kedar, perhaps named for Thomasin Bass' son Cader. He married Mary Evans, 1 May 1817 Cumberland County, North Carolina bond. He was head of a Fayetteville household of 4 "other free" in 1790 (Kedar Bryant) [NC:42], 4 in New Hanover County in 1800 (Cato Bryan) [NC:311], and 7 "free colored" in Fayetteville in 1820 (Cader Briant) [NC:189]. He and Curtis Chesnutt were found not guilty of unspecified charges in Cumberland County court on 5 September 1828. He was acquitted of petty larceny in Cumberland County court on 6 March 1829, but his codefendant, a slave named Moses, was found guilty. On 3 June 1829 he was ordered to bring his sons Jesse Parker and Luke Bryant to court and show cause why they should not be bound out [Minutes 1827-31, n.p.]

ii. Andrew, who established what would become the First African Baptist Church of Savannah [Berlin, Slaves Without Masters, 70].

 

BRYANT FAMILY

1.    Martha Bryant, born say 1730, confessed to the churchwardens of St. Stephens Parish in Northumberland County, Virginia court on 14 February 1748 that she had a bastard child which was a "Mulatto" [Orders 1743-49, 421]. She may have been the ancestor of

i. Samuel, "F. Negro" head of a Culpeper County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [VA:7].

ii. Sylvana, head of a New Hanover County, North Carolina household of 4 "free colored" in 1820.

iii. Sally, head of a Halifax County, North Carolina household of 7 in "free colored" in 1830.

 

BUGG FAMILY

1.    Betty Bugg, alias Doss, born perhaps 1726, was the daughter of a white woman and a "negro" slave according to a case heard before the Halifax County, Virginia court. Betty had a son Silvester during her term of indenture to Robert Turner. Her children were

i. Silvester, born about 1743, twenty-six years old in June 1769 when he petitioned the Halifax County, Virginia court for release from his indenture to George Hoomes Gwyn. He won his case in Halifax County court, but he lost the appeal in the General Court of Williamsburg. He had to serve five more years to complete his full thirty-one year indenture before he was released [Halifax County Pleas 6:378-9; Catterall, Judicial Cases Concerning American Slavery, I:88-90].

ii. ?Frank, born perhaps 1768, "free Negro" head of a 96 District, Edgefield County, South Carolina household of one "other free" in 1790 [SC:65] and 2 in Newberry District in 1810 [SC:122a].

iii. ?Samuel, born perhaps 1770, head of a 96 District, Newberry County, South Carolina household of 6 "other free" in 1790 [SC:65] and 8 in Edgefield County in 1810 [SC:788].

iv. ?Benjamin, born perhaps 1784, married Tabitha Walden, 3 May 1805 Mecklenburg County, Virginia bond, James Noel security.

v. ?Tony, "free Negro" head of a Sussex County household in 1810.

vi. ?Pleasant, born perhaps 1785, "free Negro" head of a Brunswick County, Virginia household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:707] and 7 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:594].

vii. ?Bats, a "free Negro" head of a Newberry District, South Carolina household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [SC:122].

 

BULLARD FAMILY

1.    John Bullard, born say 1745, was taxable in Bladen County, North Carolina, in the same household with Gutridge Locklear ("Molatoes") in 1770 [Byrd, Bladen County Tax Lists, I:33]. He may have been the ancestor of

i. Jordan, born about 1791, a twelve-year-old "boy of colour" who was bound apprentice to William McNeill by the Robeson County court on 3 January 1803 [Minutes 1797-1806, 231].

 

BUNCH FAMILY

The Bunch family probably descended from John Bunch, born say 1630, who received a patent for 450 acres in New Kent County on 18 March 1662 [Patents 5:152]. He may have been the ancestor of several mixed-race members of the family:

1        i. Paul¹, born say 1675.

2        ii. John¹. born say 1684.

3        iii. Henry¹, born say 1690.

 

1.    Paul¹ Bunch, born perhaps 1675, received a patent for 265 acres in North Carolina on the south side of the Roanoke River joining Quankey Pocosin and Gideon Gibson on 1 January 1725, and he bought a further 300 acres joining this land [Halifax DB 8:283]. He may have been the same Paul Bunch who was listed in the King William County, Virginia Rent Roll in 1704.

His Chowan County will was written on 16 November 1726 and probated on 10 March 1726/7 [SS 876, 3:138-9]. He left his land and eight slaves to his son John and to Fortune Holdbee and her daughters Keziah and Jemima. Elizabeth Bunch (no relationship stated) and his daughter Russell received only one shilling each.(1) He did not mention a wife nor did he mention his relationship to Fortune Holdbee. She may have been his common-law wife since he gave her one slave as long as she remained single.

The May 1734 Bertie court minutes referred to Keziah as "an orphan Child Entitled to a considerable Estate ... (by the will of Paul Bunch) bound to Capt. Thos. Bryant till the age of Thirty one contrary to law," and the August 1735 Bertie County court Minutes referred to the estate of "a Mulatto woman, Keziah Holdebee, and three children [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, I:135, 154]. Paul¹ Bunch had the following children:

4        i. John², born say 1692.

ii. Russell, a daughter, received one shilling by her father's will.

iii. ?Keziah Holdebee.

iv. ?Jemima Holdebee.

 

2.    John¹ Bunch, born say 1684, "a Mulatto," and Sarah Slayden, a white woman, petitioned the Council of Virginia on 16 August 1705 to allow them to marry because the Minister of Blisland Parish (in New Kent and James City counties) had refused to marry them. The Attorney General was undecided whether the petition came within the intent of the Law to prevent Negros and White Persons intermarrying" because he could not resolve "Whether the issue begotten on a White woman by a Mulatto man can properly be called a Mulatto, that name as I conceive being only appropriated to the Child of a Negro man begotten upon a white woman or a white man upon a negro woman, and as I am told the issue of a Mulatto by or upon a white person has another name viz. that of Mustee; w^ch if so, I conceive it wholly out of the Letter (tho it may be conjectured to be within ye intent) of the s^d act, to which (as aboves^d being Penal) is, as I conceive, not to be construed beyond ye letter thereof." The matter was referred to the court to decide [McIlwaine, Executive Journals of the Council, III:28, 31]. He was called John Bunch, Jr., when he received a patent for 400 acres in Hanover County on the upper side of Taylor's Creek on 18 February 1722 and called John Bunch on 2 July 1724 when he received a patent for another 400 acres adjoining his land. He patented another 400 acres adjoining his land on 17 August 1725 and another 400 acres on both sides of the Southana River on 28 September 1728 [Patents 11:162; 343; 12:244; 14:3]. He may have been the father of

i. Samuel, born say 1720, living in Louisa County on 28 May 1745 when he, Thomas Collins, Samuel Collins, William Collins, George Gibson, Thomas Gibson, William Donathan, and Benjamin Branham were presented by the court for failing to list a tithable (probably their wives) [Orders 1742-8, 152, 157, 172]. He received a patent for 400 acres in Louisa County on the Newfound Branch of Camp Creek on 8 April 1767 [Patents 36:1037].

 

3.    Henry¹ Bunch Sr., probably born about 1690, was a resident of Chowan County on 18 December 1727 when he purchased 200 acres in Bertie County on Reedy Branch. On 30 May 1729 he purchased 640 acres in Bertie on Conaritsat Swamp from Thomas Pollock [DB C:21, 266]. He was taxed on himself and two slaves in the 1750 Bertie County summary tax list and was a "Free Mulatto" taxable with two slaves in John Hill's 1763 Bertie tax list. Henry made a will in Bertie on 21 April 1775, proved in August 1775. He had already deeded 840 acres of land on Conaritsat and Mulberry to his grandson Jeremiah, Jr., in 1765, and in his will left most of the remainder of his land to his grandson Cader Bass [WB B:34-7]. Henry Sr. named as heirs the following children:

5        i. Jeremiah¹, Sr., born say 1715.

ii. Tamerson, married Thomas Bass.

iii. Susannah, married Lazarus Summerlin.

iv. Rachel, married Joseph Collins.

v. Nancy, married Isaac Bass.

6        vi. Embrey, born say 1730/35.

 

4.    John² Bunch, born say 1692, owned land adjoining Gideon Gibson's land, and he probably named his son Gideon for him. He sold the land that "my father Paul Bunch bought of James Kelly on Occaneche" on 28 August 1728 and purchased 100 acres in Bertie County on the south side of the Roanoke River near Tuckahoe Marsh on 12 May 1729. He purchased 270 acres in Bertie on the south side of the river on 8 February 1728/9, and another 50 acres on the south side of the river, and sold these two plots as one parcel of 320 acres on 4 November 1732 [Bertie DB C:21, 142, 146, 288; Edgecombe DB 1:19]. Like the Gibsons he moved to Berkeley County, South Carolina, where he recorded a Plat for 350 acres northeast of the Santee River and lot 177 in Amelia Township on 15 November 1735 [Colonial Plats 13:425]. He recorded a plat for a further 100 acres on the Santee River and a half-acre town lot in Amelia Township a month later on 13 December 1735 [Colonial Plats 2:461]. On 15 December 1755 he and his wife Mary made a deed of gift of half this land to their son John, Junior [Charleston DB Q-Q:193-4]. Their children were

7        i. Gideon, born say 1713.

ii. John³, Jr., received half his father's land on 15 December 1755.

iii. ?Jacob, who recorded a plat for 200 acres in St. Matthew's Parish on 2 June 1772 which was land adjoining Gideon and John Bunch [Colonial Plats 13:425].

iv. ?James, who lived on land adjoining John Bunch in St. Matthew's Parish, Berkeley County [Colonial Plats 13:425].

v. ?Naomy, married John Joyner, Junr., 23 December 1754 (both of Amelia Township) [History of Orangeburg, S.C., 137].

 

5.    Jeremiah¹ Bunch, Sr., born say 1715, made a will in Bertie on 8 Mar. 1797, proved a few days later. It did not identify his wife, who predeceased him, but named his children:

i. William, probably born about 1740, but did not marry until middle age, bond 23 December 1785 Mary Bunch, with Frederick Bunch bondsman. He left a will in Bertie in 1816.

8        ii. Henry², born perhaps 1743.

iii. Jeremiah², born about 1745, married, bond 14 January 1765 Judah Hill, Micajah Bunch bondsman. He died intestate in Bertie in 1809.

iv. Nehemiah, left a will in Bertie County in 1815.

v. Frederick, born about 1745/8, left a will in Bertie County in 1810.

vi. Nanny, married Collins.

 

6.    Embrey Bunch, born say 1730/35, made a will in Bertie County on 20 July 1780, proved May 1789. He left a wife Elizabeth and children:

i. Micajah² Sr., born circa 1760/65, married bond 8 April 1791 Levinia Holder, with Elisha Holder bondsman, and secondly, bond 17 November 1801 Teletha Smith, with Micajah Bunch Jr. bondsman. He moved to Christian County, Kentucky about 1803.

ii. Mary, married _____ Williams.

iii. Zadock, born before 1775. Unmarried, made his will 30 January 1801, proved May 1801.

iv. Nanny, married Rigdon Pritchard, 29 February 1792 Bertie County bond.

v. Milley, unmarried in 1801.

 

7.    Gideon Bunch, born perhaps 1713, was probably John² Bunch's son since he sold the land John inherited. He was living in Brunswick County, Virginia, in 1740 [Orders 1732-41, 253; 1737-44, 41, 64]. He was a defendant in a June 1747 Lunenburg County, Virginia court case [Orders 1746-48, 209] and was taxable in Lunenburg County on himself and Cage Bunch (his son Micajah?) in 1749 [Bell, Sunlight on the Southside, 114]. He was taxed as "Gibion" Bunch on 2 polls in the 1750 Granville County, North Carolina tax list of Samuel Henderson [CR 44.701.19]. He was taxable on one black poll in 1755 in Orange County, North Carolina:

 

Bunch, Gideon a Molata 0/1 [T&C Box 1, p.4].

 

Members of the Gibson family were also taxed as "Molatas" in Orange County in 1755. He was indebted to Samuel Benton of Orange County for 3 pounds, 11 shillings in June 1756 [Haun, Orange County Court Minutes, I:171]. He moved to Berkeley County, South Carolina, where he recorded a plat for 100 acres on the northeast side of Four Hole Swamp on 5 December 1758 [Colonial Plats 8:30], and he was listed with (son?) Ephraim Bunch in the Berkeley County Detachment under command of Captain Benjamin Elliot: drafted 8 November 1759 and discharged 8 January 1760 [Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 938]. He and his son William were "Black" taxables in Fishing Creek District, Granville County, in 1761 and in 1762 with the notation, Refs. to list his wife &c.

On 15 March 1763 while a resident of Berkeley County he sold 565 acres in Halifax County, North Carolina, of which 265 acres had been patented to Paul Bunch on 1 Jan 1725, the remaining acreage having been purchased by Paul Bunch from Thomas Wilkins on the south side of the Roanoke River joining Quankey Pocoson, Sims, and Gideon Gibson. William and Temperance Bunch were witnesses to the deed [DB 8:283].

On 26 June 1765 he recorded a memorial for 100 acres on Four Hole Samp in Berkeley County [S.C. Archives series S111001, vol. 6:455]. He was the plaintiff in a suit in Granville County, North Carolina, on 11 August 1765 in which he accused William Bowling of trespass, but Gideon did not appear [Minutes 1754-70, 138]. On 2 March 1773 he recorded a plat for 200 acres in St. Matthew's Parish, Berkeley County on a branch of Four Holes called Target, adjoining Jacob and John Bunch [Colonial Plats, 13:424]. Perhaps he was the Gidian Bunch whose 17 March 1804 St. James, Goose Creek, Charleston County, South Carolina will was proved 7 May the same year [WB 29:629]. His children were

9        i. Micajah¹, born say 1733.

ii. ?Ephraim, born say 1738, in the Berkeley County, South Carolina detachment under command of Captain Benjamin Elliot: drafted 8 November 1759, discharged 8 January 1760 [Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, 938]. He married Lydia Crier, daughter of Thomas Crier/ Cryer and Elizabeth Powell. Ephraim and Lydia had three children according to testimony in Charleston District on 26 August 1813: Elizabeth Powell married Thomas Crier and they Begat a Daughter by name Lydia Crier who married Ephraim Bunch and they begat two daughters and a son, that is now living by name Martha, Deborah and Elisha Bunch, the deponents say that Elizabeth Powell before mentioned and all their family were white people clear of any mixt blood and that neither of them ever heard any reflections Cast on their Colour or Blood, William (X) Kennedy, Jesse Joyner [South Carolina Archives, Miscellaneous Records (Main Series), Volume 4-G, p. 207, cited by The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research XVI:27].

iii. William, born perhaps 1740, an over sixteen-year-old taxable in his father's household in the 1762 list for Fishing Creek District: "Son William." A 7 November 1763 Granville County deed of sale for land from Henry Fuller to William Chavers refers to land on the north side of Tar River adjoining Chavis and William Bunch, and in 1764 he was a "Black" taxable in Henry Fuller's household in the Granville County list of Samuel Benton. He may have been the William Bunch who witnessed Gideon Bunch's sale of land in Halifax County on 15 March 1763 and owned land in St. Matthew's, Berkeley County, South Carolina, on 2 June 1772 [Colonial Plats, 13:425].

iv. ?Liddy, born before 1743, taxable in the 1754 Granville County tax list of Gideon Macon with (her brother?) Micajah Bunch in John Stroud's household.

v. ?Fanny, born about 1745-49, a 12-16 year-old taxable in the Fishing Creek District, Granville County household of John Griffin and his wife Miles Griffin in 1761.

 

Gideon's children named in the South Carolina will were

vi. Jeremiah, who purchased land from John Bunch by deed recorded in Charleston District between 1800 and 1801 [Lucas, Index to Deeds of South Carolina, D-7:224].

vii. Hester Chern.

viii. Mary Chamberlain.

ix. Daniel, head of a white Charleston County household of 10 persons in 1800 [SC:60].

x. David.

 

8.    Henry² Bunch, born perhaps 1743, was taxed as a "Free Mulatto" in his father's Bertie County household in the 1763 list of John Hill. He married Eleanor Bayson, 29 February 1764 Bertie County bond with Thomas Bass bondsman. In 1764 he was taxed on himself in his own household in Jonathan Standley's list, in 1767 on one slave, and he was taxed for the last time in Bertie County in 1769 in the household of Abraham Moses. He moved to Orange County by 1780 when he was taxable on a 2,179 pounds assessment in St. Mary's District [CR 073.701.1 by NCGSJ XI:155]. He was head of an Orange County household of 3 "other free," 1 white woman, and 3 slaves in 1800 [NC:550] and 5 "other free" and 1 slave in 1810 [NC:953]. He may have been the father of

i. Thomas, head of an Orange County household of 3 "other free" and a white woman in 1800 [NC:550].

ii. Eleanor, married John Perry on 2 March 1797, (her brother?) Thomas Bunch bondsman. She obtained a divorce from the General Assembly in December 1798. In her petition she claimed that John Perry took to card playing, wasting his property, and abusing her soon after they married. She and her child moved to her father's house [NCGSJ XVII:206].

 

9.    Micajah¹ Bunch, born say 1733, was probably identical to Cage Bunch who was taxable in Gideon Bunch's Lunenburg County household in 1749 [Bell, Sunlight on the Southside, 114]. He was taxable in 1754 in the Granville County list of Gideon Macon in John Stroud's household [CR 44.702.19]. He was called "Micager Bunch Molata" when he was taxed on 1 "Black" tithe in Orange County in 1755 [T&C Box, p.19]. He was a defendant for debt in Halifax County, Virginia, in June 1764, and in June 1769 the Halifax County court ordered that an attachment against his estate be dismissed [Pleas 4:312; 6:341]. He may have been the Micajah Bunch who was a delinquent taxpayer on "Indian Land" in Fincastle County, Virginia, in 1773. This probably meant that he was living in present-day Tennessee or Ohio [Magazine of Virginia Genealogy 34:10]. He was taxable on an estate of 42 pounds in present-day Ashe County in 1778 [NCGSJ X:15-18]. He may have been the father of

i. Clement, born perhaps 1770, an orphan boy bound to Anthony Cozart by the Orange County court on 25 November 1777. He was surrendered to the Granville County court by his bondsman, John Wilburn, on 1 November 1790 [Minutes 1789-91]. In December 1798 he posted a bastardy bond in Granville County for a child he had by Mildred Bass [Camin, N.C. Bastardy Bonds, 87].

 

Others in South Carolina

i. Lovet, head of a South Orangeburg District household of 8 "other free" in 1790 [SC:99]. He lived for a while in Robeson County, North Carolina, since "Lovec Bunches old field" was mentioned in the 1 March 1811 will of John Hammons [WB 1:125].

ii. Gib., a taxable "free negro" in the District between Broad and Catawba River, South Carolina, in 1784 [South Carolina Tax List 1783-1800, frame 37].

iii. Paul², head of a Union District, South Carolina household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [SC:241].

iv. Henry³, head of a Newberry District, South Carolina household of 2 "other free" in 1800 [SC:66].

v. Ralph J., Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1950, probably descended from the South Carolina branch of the family, but this has not been proved. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on 7 August 1904, son of Fred and Olive Bunche. The 1900 and 1910 census for Detroit lists several members of the Bunch family who were born in South Carolina, but Fred Bunch was not among them.

 

Endnotes:

1.    Fortune Holdebee sold her land, "plantation where I now live ... formerly Paul Bunches," on 5 July 1727 [Bertie DB B:276] and received a patent for 640 acres in New Hanover County in August 1735 [Saunders, Colonial Records of North Carolina, III:52].

2.    A runaway "Mallatto Man Slave" named Jack, who belonged to Samuel Harwood, Jr., of Charles City County, Virginia, apparently knew of John Bunch since he went by his name when he was living in South Carolina. George Rives, who had lived on Harwood's plantation, stated in a deposition recorded in Prince George County court on 8 September 1719 that he had met Jack while trading in South Carolina in April 1719 and that Jack had been in the company of a trader from Prince George County named Robert Hix [Deeds, Wills, Etc. 1713-28, 350].

 

BUNDAY FAMILY

1.    Ann¹ Bunday, born say 1703, was the servant of John Perry of Essex County on 18 July 1721 when she was ordered to serve her master an additional year for having a "Mulatto Child" [Orders 1716-23, 104]. She was apparently the ancestor of the members of the Bunday family listed in the inventory of the Essex County estate of Robert Brooke, Gent., which was proved in court on 16 April 1745:

Elleanor Bunday a Molatto 11 pounds

Nanny Bunday Ditto 9 pounds

John Bunday 7 pounds

James Bunday 6 pounds

Sarah Bunday 3 pounds

Robert Brooke gave an unnamed "Mollato Girl During her Indentured time" to his son Robert Brooke by his 25 April 1736 Essex County will [WB 7:265-6, 303-13]. Ann was probably the mother or grandmother of

2        i. Eleanor, born say 1730.

ii. Nanny, born say 1740.

iii. Thomas¹, born about October 1734, a "Mulatto Man" with between twelve and thirteen years to serve on 18 March 1763 when he was listed in the Culpeper County estate of Humphrey Brooke, dec^d [WB A:394]. Thomas Bunda was a "Free Negro" head of a Culpeper County household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [VA:14].

3        iv. James, born about 1744.

v. Sarah, born say 1745, head of an Essex County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202].

vi. Francis, born about 1758, living in Essex County on 16 January 1786 when he and Henry Cook, "free Mulattoes," were accused of entering the lumber house of Lott and Higby Merchants in the City of Richmond on 21 December 1785 and stealing a large quantity of cloth valued at over 200 pounds currency. James Higbee testified that he had found part of the goods in the possession of the defendants, and Richard Covington testified that he had purchased about five yards of material from Francis Bunday. Other remnants were found on or purchased from Mary Bunday, Lucy Bunday and Cenn Bunday; and Sukey Bunday purchased a remnant from Mary Bunday. The defendants were sent to Richmond for further trial [Orders 1784-7, 177-8]. He was taxable in King and Queen County in 1791 and 1792 [PPTL, 1782-1803] and taxable in Essex County from 1794 to 1803 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 256, 260, 272, 285, 297, 308, 357] and a "Free Negro" head of a Culpeper County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:7]. He was a sixty-year-old resident of Culpeper County on 21 April 1818 when he applied for a pension for his services in the Revolution. According to his deposition of 17 October 1820 he was a sixty-seven or sixty-eight-year-old painter whose only family was a boy of about twelve or thirteen years [M805-139, frames 554-7]. He sold property to Isaac Bundy by Culpeper County bill of sale on 25 September 1820 [DB LL:450].

 

2.    Eleanor Bunday, born say 1730, was a "Molatto" valued at 11 pounds in the inventory of the Essex County estate of Robert Brooke on 16 April 1745 [WB 7:303-13]. She was paid 7 shillings by the Essex County estate of William Thomas on 18 May 1772 [WB 7:303-13; 12:535]. She may have been the mother of

i. Harry¹, born say 1748, a "Molatto man" valued at 6 pence in the inventory of the Essex County estate of William Thomas on 27 July 1771 [DB 12:429-4]. He was a "Mulatto" bound by one of the churchwardens of St. Ann's Parish, Essex County, to William Thomas. On 20 January 1772 the court ruled that he and (his sister?) Cate should not be detained as servants by the executors of Thomas' estate because the indenture was illegal [Orders 1770-3, 224]. Henry was taxable in St. Ann's Parish, Essex County, in 1802, 1811 and 1812 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 357, 460, 480]. Harry was called Harry Bunday, Sr., in 1810, head of an Essex County household of 3 "other free" [VA:202].

ii. Catherine¹/ Cate, born say 1750, a "Molatto woman" listed with her child Betty in the 27 July 1771 Essex County estate of William Thomas, valued at 1 shilling. She was paid 1 shilling for beans by the estate of William Thomas in December 1771. She was a "Mulatto" indentured to William Thomas on 20 January 1772 when the Essex County court ruled that the indenture was illegal [DB 12:492-4, 535; Orders 1770-3, 224]. She may have been the Catherine Bunday who was head of an Essex County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202]. And her daughter Betty may have been the Betty Bundy who was head of a Spotsylvania County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:113a].

iii. Susan, born say 1752, deceased by 18 July 1796 when the Essex County court ordered the overseers of the poor to bind her daughter Fanny to Humphrey B. Brooke [Orders 1795-7, 330].

iv. Ursula, born say 1766, a "free Mulatto" whose sons Ryburn, Achillis, Jerdon and Alexander were ordered bound to Humphrey B. Brooke in Essex County on 18 July 1796 [Orders 1795-7, 330].

 

3.    James Bunday, born about 1744, was a "mulatto man" with about twelve or thirteen more years to serve when he was listed in the 18 March 1763 Essex County estate of Humphrey Brooke [Dorman, Culpeper County Will Books. Will Book A: 1749-1770, 102]. On 17 May 1784 the Essex County court presented him for failing to list his tithables, and on 16 May 1785 the court presented him for failing to list (his sons?) Henry and David as tithables [Orders 1784-7, 9, 85]. He was head of an Essex County household of 7 "Black" persons in 1783 [VA:52] and was taxable in Essex County from 1783 to 1803: taxable on 2 free persons, 2 horses and 2 cattle in 1783 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 40, 74, 155, 210, 234, 246, 297, 308, 343, 357]. He may have been the father of

i. William, born say 1761, taxable on a tithe and a horse in Essex County in 1787 (called Willm. Bond) and taxable in Essex County from 1809 to 1816 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 155, 425, 510, 528, 616].

ii. John, born say 1763, head of an Essex County household of 1 "Black" person in 1783 [VA:52]. The Essex County court presented him on 17 May 1784 for failing to list his tithables, and the court ordered that he be listed on the tax list of Muscoe Livingston, Gent., on 18 October 1785 [Orders 1784-7, 9, 56]. He was taxable in Essex County from 1783 to 1803: his tax charged to Abner Cox in 1787, taxable on a horse in 1790 and taxable in Essex County from 1809 to 1813: called "John Bunday Senr." in 1811, "John Bunday Yellow" in 1812, listed with a male and female "free Negro" over the age of sixteen in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 40, 74, 195, 210, 234, 246, 273, 285, 297, 308, 343, 425, 439, 510]. He was head of an Essex County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202].

iii. David, born say 1764, taxable in Essex County from 1785 to 1800 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 75, 210, 234, 246, 260, 273, 285, 297, 308].

iv. James, Jr., taxable in Essex County in 1802 and 1803 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 343, 357].

 

Other members of the Bunday family were

i. Thomas¹, taxable in Shenandoah County from 1793 to 1813: taxable on a slave from 1794 to 1809, taxable on 2 tithes in 1811 when he was called a "free man," taxable on a young slave in 1813 when he was listed as a "Free Black" [PPTL 1782-1799, frames 590, 617, 647, 691, 733, 778, 816; 1800-18, frames 146, 216, 258, 299, 381, 423, 442, 563].

ii. Violet, taxable in Essex County on a slave above the age of 16 and 2 horses in 1809 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 425].

iii. Qisler, head of an Essex County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202].

iv. Harry², Jr., taxable in Essex County from 1811 to 1819, listed with a "free Negro" male and female over the age of sixteen and a horse in St. Ann's Parish in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 460, 480, 528, 616, 769], head of an Essex County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202].

v. Polly, head of an Essex County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202].

vi. Christian, born about 1780, registered in Petersburg on 5 August 1812: a brown Mulatto woman, five feet four inches high, thirty two years old, born free in the County of Essex [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 716].

vii. Catherine², born about 1781, registered in Petersburg on 10 August 1805: a brown Mulatto woman, five feet four inches high, twenty four years old, holes in her ears, born free per certificate of Registry from the County of Essex [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 352]. And she registered in Chesterfield County on 8 September 1806 [Register of Free Negroes 1804-53, 36].

viii. Nelson, taxable in St. Ann's Parish, Essex County, from 1811 to 1819: taxable on a male and female "free Negro" over the age of sixteen in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 460, 480, 510, 528, 617, 769], head of an Essex County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202].

ix. Lewis, taxable in St. Ann's Parish, Essex County, from 1811 to 1814: taxable on a male and female "free Negro" over the age of sixteen and a horse in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1819, frames 460, 480, 510, 528], head of an Essex County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202].

x. Ann², head of an Essex County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:202].

xi. Sylvia, head of a Spotsylvania County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:113a].

xii. Nancy Bunda, "Free Negro" head of Culpeper County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:8].

xiii. Sally Bunda, "Free Molatto" head of a Culpeper County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:8].

xiv. Thomas² Bunda, "Free Negro" head of a Culpeper County household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [VA:14].

xv. William, taxable in Culpeper County in Reuben Zimmerman's household in 1787, a "Mulatto" taxable in 1793, 1796 and 1797 [PPTL 1782-1802, frames 200, 490, 598, 640]. He was a Revolutionary soldier who lived in Culpeper County [Jackson, Virginia Negro Soldiers, 32]. He was a "Free Mulatto" head of a Culpeper County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 (called William Bunda) [VA:8].

xvi. Samuel², born 1776-94, head of a Guilford County, North Carolina household of 11 "free colored" in 1830.

 

BURDEN/ BURDINE FAMILY

1.    Priscilla Timbers, born 19 March 1757, a "mollato girl," was the daughter of Sarah Timbers of Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia [Overwharton Parish Register, 1724-1774, 189]. On 3 July 1805 a Mrs. Mary McCalanahan appeared in Greenville County, South Carolina court and testified that Sarah Timbers and her daughter Priscilla had lived with her in Virginia and that Priscilla was the mother of David, Thomas, Lewis, James, John, Patsy, and Charlotte Burden/ Burdin [DB R:162]. Priscilla was the mother of

i. David, counted as a "free colored" head of a Pendleton District, South Carolina household with a slave in 1820.

ii. Thomas.

iii. Lewis. His biography was published in Randolph County, Indiana, in 1882 [Tucker, History of Randolph County].

iv. James.

v. John, born 1785-1804, head of a Wayne Township, Wayne County, Indiana household of 11 "free colored" in 1840.

vi. Patsy.

vii. Charlotte.

 

Another member of the family was

i. Mary Peggy Berden, married James Nickens, 17 July 1793 Culpeper County bond.

 

BURKE FAMILY

Members of the Burke family in Virginia and Maryland were

i. John, born about 1686, a "Mollatto" servant of Mrs. Elizabeth Hawkins, who was twenty-one years old on 10 June 1707 when the Charles County, Maryland court ordered that he be set free. Mary Elliott, wife of William Elliott, testified that he had been sold to Henry Hawkins by her former husband Henry Brawner [Court Record 1704-10, 326].

1        ii. Ann¹, born say 1688.

 

1.    Ann¹ Burk, born say 1688, a "Mulatto" servant of Burditt Ashton, Gent., petitioned the Westmoreland County, Virginia court for her freedom on 28 October 1709. The court ruled that she should serve until the age of thirty-one, but it reconsidered the case on 28 June 1711 and decided that she should be free because she was born before the law was passed which bound mixed-race children until the age of thirty-one [Orders 1705-21, 132a, 143a, 162a]. She may have been the mother of

i. Ann², born say 1713, indicted by the Westmoreland County court on 28 May 1734 for having an illegitimate child (no race indicated) [Orders 1731-9, 137a, 146].

 

Other members of the Burke family were

2        i. Judah, born say 1734.

3        ii. Betty, born say 1750.

iii. Enoch, head of a Loudoun County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:308].

iv. Polly, head of a Prince William County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [VA:507].

 

2.    Judah Burke, born say 1734, was called "Juda a Molatta woman" and was the servant of Joseph Herron, Esq., in January 1756 when the Chowan County court bound her "Mollatta" son Frank to serve her master until the age of thirty-one. In January 1764 Frank and (his brother) Jacob and (sister) Lucy were called "Mulatto" children of " ____ a free wench" when they were bound to Lydia Herron. She was called "Mulatto" Judy on 29 January when the court bound her "Free Mulatto" daughter Lucy to Richard Brownrigg, Esq., until the age of twenty-one. And she was called "Judah Burke a Mulattoe Woman" on 21 March 1771 when she petitioned the court to be discharged from the service of William Boyd, Esq. The court granted her petition but ordered her to bring her children into court to be bound out, and the court bound her "Negroe" sons Frank and Jacob to Samuel and William Topping to be house carpenters and joiners [Minutes 1755-61, 26; 1761-6, 193; 1766-72, 318; 591, 594, 605]. She was head of an Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [NC:116]. She was the mother of

i. Frank, born 5 July 1755, bound apprentice in Chowan County in January 1756 and bound to Lydia Herron to be a sawyer in January 1764. He was sixteen years old on 29 January 1771 when the court bound him to Samuel Topping to be a house carpenter and joiner [Minutes 1755-61, 26; 1761-6, 193; 1766-72, 605].

ii. Jacob, born about 1759, a four-year-old "Free Mulatto" boy bound by the Chowan County court to Lydia Herron to be a sawyer in January 1764. He was twelve years old on 29 January 1771 when the court bound him to William Topping to be a house carpenter and joiner [Minutes 1755-61, 26; 1761-6, 193; 1766-72, 605].

iii. Lucy, born about July 1763, a one-year-old "Free Mulatto" bound by the Chowan County court to Lydia Herron to learn to spin and weave in January 1764. She was called "Lucy a Free Mulatto child born of the body of Mulatto Judy" on 29 January 1767 when the court bound her to Richard Brownrigg, Esq., until the age of twenty-one, "now three years & six months of age" [Minutes 1761-6, 193; 1766-72, 318]. She was head of an Edenton, Chowan County household of 1 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:130].

iv. Patrick, born about 1765, one year and six months old on 29 January 1767 when the Chowan County court bound him to Richard Brownrigg to be a planter [Minutes 1766-72, 318].

 

3.    Betty Burk, born say 1750, was a "Mulatto" woman given by George Neavil to his wife Mary by his 26 February 1774 Fauquier County will, proved 27 June 1774. She was valued at 15 pounds in the 24 October 1774 inventory of Neavil's estate [WB 1:250-3, 264]. She was probably the mother of

i. Rachel, born say 1767, a "mulatto" living in Hamilton Parish, Fauquier County, on 25 May 1767 when the court ordered the churchwardens to bind her to George Neavil [Orders 1764-8, 268].

ii. Ben, born about January 1774, a "Mulatto of six months" living in Hamilton Parish, Fauquier County, on 27 June 1774 when the court ordered the churchwardens to bind him to Lucy Jones [Minutes 1773-80, 198].

 

Their descendants were

i. Thomas, born 1776-1794, head of an Edenton household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:130].

ii. Nancy, head of a Chowan County, North Carolina household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [NC:534].

iii. Ephy Birk, born about 1784, a five-year-old "base born mulatto" daughter of Catherine Bush, who was bound apprentice to Neill Leech in Cumberland County, North Carolina, on 31 January 1789 [Minutes 1787-91, Friday minutes].

iv. Henry, born 1794-1806, head of an Edenton, Chowan County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 with one woman over forty-five years of age [NC:130].

v. Hager, born 1794-1806, head of a Chowan County household of 1 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:129].

 

BURKETT FAMILY

1.    Joan Burkett, born say 1684, was the servant of John Jones on 7 May 1702 when she confessed in Richmond County, Virginia court that her illegitimate child "was gott by a Negro" [Orders 1702-04, 164]. She was probably the ancestor of

i. Solomon, born say 1750, taxable on two "mulattos" in Bertie County in 1770 in the list of James Moore [CR 10.702.1].

2        ii. Peggy, born say 1755.

3        iii. Elizabeth, born say 1765.

 

2.    Peggy Burkett, born say 1755, was head of a Nansemond County household of 5 "black" persons in 1783 [VA:57]. She may have been the mother of

i. Jim, a "free Negro" taxable on two horses in Nansemond County in 1815.

ii. Gibson, a "free Negro"