DAVIS FAMILY

One Davis family may have descended from Hugh Davis who was ordered to be whipped "before an assembly of Negroes and others for abusing himself to the dishonor of God and shame of Christians, by defiling his body by lying with a negro" in 1630 [Hening, Statutes at Large, III:459-460].

 

1.    Mary¹ Davis, born say 1700, was living in Surry County, Virginia, on 22 April 1742 when her daughters Mary and Isabella (no race indicated) appealed to the court that Richard Parker was detaining them as servants. The court ruled that they were free women and should be discharged from any further servitude. The same court bound out her children Jacob, David, and Lucy Davis [Orders 1741-42, 22]. She was the mother of

2    i. Mary², born say 1721.

ii. Isabella¹, born say 1723.

iii. Jacob, born say 1730.

iv. David, born say 1733.

v. Lucy, born say 1735.

 

2.    Mary² Davis, born say 1721, was a "free Mulatto" whose unnamed children were ordered bound out by the churchwardens of Southampton County in September 1749. She was probably the Moll Davis whose "Mulatto" son Daniel was bound out in Southampton County ten years later on 11 May 1759 [Orders 1749-54, 19; 1754-59]. And she may have been the Mary Davis who was a taxable head of household in the eastern division of the Borough of Norfolk in 1765 [Wingo, Norfolk County Tithables 1751-65, 217]. Her children were

i. ?John³, born say 1746, "Mulatto" head of a Nansemond County household with no whites in 1784 [VA:74], head of a Norfolk County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:815], perhaps the father of Nancy Davis who registered in Norfolk County on 16 August 1815: 5 feet 4 Inc, 22 Years of age, of a dark Complexion, Born free in Southampton County [Registry of Free Negros & Mulattos, no.101].

ii. Daniel, born say 1748, bound apprentice in Southampton County on 11 May 1759.

iii. ?Isabel², head of a Southampton County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [VA:79].

 

Westmoreland County

1.    Peter Davis, born say 1700, was deceased by 26 May 1741 when his "Mulatto" son John petitioned the Westmoreland County court for his freedom from his indenture [Orders 1739-43, 98a]. He was the father of

i. ?Sarah, born say 1719, the servant of Captain John Elliott of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County, on 29 July 1735 when she confessed in court that her "Masters Negro man Fan" was the father of her "Mulatto" child. The court ordered that after her indenture was completed she should be sold by the churchwardens for five years [Orders 1731-9, 176a, 263, 270a].

ii. John¹, born say 1723, called the "Mulatto son of Peter Davis, decd." on 26 May 1741 when he appeared in Westmoreland County court and petitioned for his freedom from his indenture to his master John Bushrod, Gentleman. The court viewed the indenture and ordered John to serve the remainder of his time [Orders 1739-43, 98a].

 

They may have been the ancestors of

i. Daniel, born say 1756, "a mulatto," born in Lancaster County, who enlisted for the war and deserted from the ship Gloucester near Warwick with William Smith, a Creole born in Barbados, according to an advertisement in the 2 August 1780 issue of the Virginia Gazette [Virginia Genealogist 4:136]. Daniel was listed as a private aboard the ship Dragon on 2 September 1779 and a seaman who served for 3 years and was entitled to bounty land [Brumbaugh, Revolutionary War Records, Virginia, 8, 68].

ii. John², born about 1758, listed as a private aboard the Dragon on 2 September 1779 [Brumbaugh, Revolutionary War Records, Virginia, 8]. He appeared in Westmoreland County court on 30 June 1818 at the age of 60 and testified that he enlisted with Captain Callender, commander of the ship Dragon, for 3 years. Captain Eleaszer Callander certified that John Davise entered on board the ship on 3 September 1777 as a landsman and was paid until 20 January 1779. Ambrose Lewis, "a Blackman" and pensioner, testified that he found Davise on board when he first boarded the ship. John could not come to court but made an affidavit for the pension application of James Jennings of Richmond County that was proved in Westmoreland County court on 7 February 1834. When asked if there had ever been any objection to his oath in consequence of his "not being as white as many others," he replied, "My mother was a white woman and my Father was a red man, not entirely white, something near my own color" [Revolutionary War Bounty Warrants, Jennings, James, pp. 6-9, Digital Collection, LVA]. John died on 9 March 1838, and his widow Amy applied for a survivor's pension, including certification from the Westmoreland County court that John Davis and Amy Griffis were married by 13 December 1786 Westmoreland County bond [NARA, W.19138, M804, roll 770, frame 15 of 717]. He and his wife Amea were "Molattoes" farming in Westmoreland County in 1801 with two children of the Locus family in their household [Virginia Genealogist 31:40]. He was head of a Westmoreland County household of 4 "other free" in 1810, and 2 "free colored" persons: a male and female age 55-99 in 1830.

iii. Winnie, born say 1780, married Jarrard McCoy, 17 March 1801 Westmoreland County bond, with the consent of Winney Davis dated the same day.

iv. Deborah, head of a Norfolk County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:894].

 

North Carolina

1.    Robert Davis, born say 1715, was a "Black" taxable in 1753 in Osborn Jeffreys's Granville County list in 1753. In 1754 he was head of a household of 4 "Black" taxables including (his wife?) Margaret, (his children?) Ephraim, and Sarah Davis in Gideon Macon's list [CR 44.701.1]. He was listed as a "Mulatto" in the muster of Colonel William Eaton on 8 October 1754 [T.R., Box 1, folder 37, p. 3; http://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p16062coll26/id/146/rec/229]. His children may have been

i. John¹, born say 1733, a "Black" taxable in the 1754 list of Gideon Macon and a "mulatto" taxable with Margaret Davis in the 1761 list of James Paine for Cross Road District. He may have been the John Davis who purchased 400 acres in Granville County on both sides of Beaver Pond Creek on 5 March 1754 [DB B:294].

ii. Ephraim, born before 1743 since he was taxable in 1754.

iii. Sarah, born before 1743 since she was taxable in 1754.

iv. Simon, head of a Granville County household of 15 "free colored" in County Line District in 1820 [NC:35].

 

2.    William Davis, born say 1725, a "Molatto," was listed with 180 acres at the head of Chinquopin Creek in a 1753 Craven County list of landowners [Craven Wills, Deeds, Bonds, Inventories, Accounts of Sales, 306] and was head of a Craven County household of 1 "Black" male taxable and 3 "Black" female taxables in 1769 [SS 837]. His descendants may have been

i. John², born say 1743, head of a Craven County household of 1 "Black" male and 1 "Black" female taxable in 1769 [SS 837]. He married Nancy Godet, another "Black" taxable in Craven County in 1769, by 12 November 1796 Craven County bond, William Dove surety.

ii. Ephraim, head of a Jones County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [NC:257].

iii. Michael, head of a Jones County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [NC:257].

iv. Luzana, married William Godett, 24 May 1805 Craven County bond, Peter George surety.

v. Shadrack, married Mary Moore, 27 March 1806 Craven County bond, John Moore surety.

vi. George, head of a Pasquotank County household of 4 "other free" and 3 slaves in 1800 [NC:627], 5 "other free" in 1810 [NC:895], and 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:247].

 

Another member of a Davis family was

i. Richard, head of a Brunswick County, North Carolina household of 8 "other free" in 1800 [NC:13] and 5 "other free" in 1810 (R. Davis) [NC:236]. In 1791 his mother Grace petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly, stating that she had been emancipated by John Davis in 1764, her son Richard had served as an artilleryman in the Revolution, and that she had other children as well. She asked that the assembly confirm her freedom and that of her children [N.C. Archives, GASR Dec 1791-Jan 1792, Box 3; Schweninger, Race, Slavery, and Free Blacks, Series 1, 63].

 

DAY FAMILY

1.    Mary Day, born say 1671, was an indentured servant for whom Peter Cotanceau claimed transportation rights in Northumberland County court on 21 September 1699. On 22 November 1689 the Northumberland County court indicted her for having an illegitimate child, and on 21 December 1692 she was the servant of John Webb when the court indicted her for having twin "molatta" children John and Rachel who were born on 17 February 1692. On 22 November 1694 the court bound her "molatto" son Samuel Webb alias Day as an apprentice to William Yarratt. Samuel may have been the son of Daniel² Webb who was called the "molatto" son of an English woman servant in the Northumberland County court on 6 October 1687 when he was freed from his indenture to the orphans of Major John Mottron. Daniel had a child by another English servant woman named Margaret Lawson before 16 July 1701 when she confessed in court that the father of her illegitimate child was "a Negro called Daniell Webb." In May 1703 the court indicted Mary for having another child [Orders 1678-98, 405, 412, 494, 681; 1699-1713, part 1, 167, 247]. Mary was the mother of

i. John¹, born 17 February 1692, bound to John Webb until the age of thirty, called "Mulatto Jack" on 18 April 1716 when he was sued in Northumberland County court by one of the executors of John Webb. He may have been identical to John Day who was the servant of William Grinstead on 18 June 1719 when the court ordered him to serve his master another six months for running away [Orders 1713-9, 153, 323].

2    ii. Rachel¹, born 17 February 1692.

iii. Samuel¹, born say 1694, called "Sam^l Webb al^s Day a Mulatto Serv^t. to Mrs. Jane Yarratt on 20 July 1715 when he sued for his freedom in Northumberland County court [Orders 1713-19, 126].

 

2.    Rachel¹ Day, born 17 February 1692, was bound to John Webb until the age of thirty years. She was called "Rachell a Molatto Girle belonging to the estate of John Webb, deceased" on 22 September 1709 when she testified in Northumberland County court that Arthur Thomas was the father of her illegitimate child. On 17 December 1712 she was called "Rachel Day A Mulatto Servant to the Orph^ts of John Webb deceased" when she was presented by the court for having a child by a slave of Captain Kenner named "Negro Will." On 18 February 1712/3 she was called Rachel Webb alias Day when Sarah Webb, daughter of John Webb, deceased, reported to the court that Rachel had a child named Winnifred by "a Negro," and the churchwardens of St. Stephen's Parish bound Winnifred to Sarah Webb until the age of thirty-one. She was apparently identical to "___ Day al^s Webb Servt. to Sarah Webb" whose "Mulatto" child was ordered bound to Sarah Webb on 15 June 1715 [Orders 1699-1713, Part 2, 627, 803, 809, 815; Record Book 1710-3, 269-70; Orders 1713-19, 114]. Rachel was the mother of

3    i. Winnifred¹, born in June 1712.

4    ii. ?Ann, born say 1720.

 

3.    Winnifred¹ Day, born in June 1712, was bound by the Northumberland County court to Sarah Webb until the age of thirty-one on 15 June 1715. She may have been the ancestor of

i. David, born say 1745, a "Mulatto" who ran away from Augustine Smith of Middlesex County about 1766 according to the 27 July 1769 issue of the Virginia Gazette [Purdie and Dixon edition, p. 3, col. 1].

5    ii.  Stephen, born say 1770.

6    iii. Samuel², born say 1770.

 

4.    Ann Day, born say 1720, was the "Mallato" servant of Griffen Fauntleroy who left a 3 June 1750 Northumberland County will. He gave "Mallato" Benjamin Day, Elizabeth Day and Thomas Day to his daughter Nanney Fauntleroy and gave "negro" George Day to his daughter Elizabeth Edwards. They were listed in the 8 October 1750 inventory of his estate:

Mallato woman Nan Day          , 0.4

Mallato Boy Benjamin Day    , 15

Mallato Garl Elizabeth Day    , 10

Mallato Boy Thomas Day , 5 [Record Book 1749-51, 97-8, 122].

Ann was probably near to completing her indenture since she was valued at only 4 shillings. She may have been the mother of

i. Benjamin, born say 1736, taxable in Northumberland County from 1787 to 1796: listed by Jesse Crowder in 1787 and 1790, charged with his own tax in 1788 and from 1794 to 1796 [PPTL 1782-1812, frames 308, 334, 357, 417, 431, 452].

7    ii. Elizabeth, born say 1738.

8    iii. George¹, born say 1743.

iv. Thomas, born say 1745, perhaps the Thomas Day who enlisted as a mariner in the Virginia Navy on 7 July 1777 and served as a seaman for 3 years according to a certificate signed by Captain John Thomas on 5 April 1785. Thomas assigned his rights to the pay and bounty land to Matthew Pate [Revolutionary War Bounty Warrants; Day, Thomas, Seaman, Voucher 1785, Digital Collection, LVA].

 

5.    Stephen Day, born say 1770, and his wife Jinney Day and children Naney, Suckey, and Lucy were listed among the "Free Mulattoes & Negroes in Westmoreland County" in 1801 [Virginia Genealogist 31:40]. He was a "Blk" taxable in Northumberland County from 1809 to 1813 [PPTL 1782-1812, frames 635, 653, 668, 683] and a "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland County household of 7 "other free" in 1810. His children were

i. Naney/ Nancy³ married Joseph Kelly, 18 December 1812 Northumberland County bond, Stephen Day security.

ii. Suckey.

iii. Lucy⁴, registered in Northumberland County on 16 May 1821: Bright Mulatto, 19 years old, 5 feet 3 Inches high [Register, no. 133].

 

6.    Samuel² Day, born say 1770, was a farmer living in Westmoreland County in 1801 when he and his wife Jinney Day were listed among the "Free Mulattoes & Negroes" living on James Rice's land [Virginia Genealogist 31:40]. He was head of a Westmoreland County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:770] and 5 "free colored" in 1830. He may have been the father of

i. Samuel⁴, Jr., born about 1793, a child listed in the 1801 list of "Free Molattoes in Westmoreland County" [Virginia Genealogist 31:40], married Lotty Ashton, 7 January 1818 Westmoreland County bond, Samuel Tate security. He was head of a Westmoreland County household of 6 "free colored" in 1830. He registered in Westmoreland County in May 1838: a Mulatto man, five feet four and three fourths inches high, aged forty five, born free. Charlotte Day registered in April 1838: a woman of light complexion, five feet three & 3/4 inches high, aged forty years [Register of Free Negroes, 1828-1849, pp.31-2, nos, 265, 269].

 

7.    Elizabeth Day, born say 1738, was the "Mallato" servant of Griffen Fauntleroy who gave her to his daughter Nanney Fauntleroy by his 3 June 1750 Northumberland County will. She was a "Mallato" girl valued at ,10 in the 8 October 1750 inventory of his estate [Record Book 1749-51, 97-8, 122]. She was the "free Negro" mother of Reuben Day, an illegitimate child bound to Edward Lewis by the Orange County, Virginia court on 23 November 1775 [Orders 1769-77, 354]. She was the mother of

9    i. ?Winnifred², born about 1759.

10   ii. ?Judith¹, born about 1766.

iii. Reuben, bound out in Orange County, Virginia, on 23 November 1775.

 

8.    George¹ Day, born say 1743, was among a group of Revolutionary War seamen who deserted from the ship Tartar and for each of whom a $100 reward was offered by Thomas Grant of the Chickahominy Shipyard in the 11 September 1779 issue of the Virginia Gazette: ...George Day, and Augustine Boyd, all of Wicomico parish, Northumberland county [Dixon and Nicholson edition, p. 3, col. 2]. George apparently returned to his ship and served out his term because Captain John Thomas certified in February 1780 that George Day enlisted th 10 February 1777, served 3 years, and discharged his duty truly and faithfully [Revolutionary War Bounty Warrants; Day, George; Sailor, 1780, Digital Collection, LVA]. He enlisted again from Northumberland County in September 1780 as a substitute for 18 months and was sized at the Chesterfield Courthouse: age 40, 5 Feet 9^1/2 Inches, occupation farmer [The Chesterfield Supplement or Size Roll of Troops at Chesterfield Court House, LVA accession no. 23816, by http://revwarapps.org/b81.pdf (p. 5); Eckenrode, List of the Revolutionary Soldiers of Virginia (Supplement), 88, citing (Northumberland) Rev. War vol. 1, Reg. 5]. On 14 June 1784 the Northumberland county court referred his suit against Samuel Haynie to arbitration. Cuthburt Harcum sued him and his security James Sorrell for a debt of 500 pounds of tobacco on 13 September 1784 [Orders 1783-5, 173, 239, 297]. He was taxable in Northumberland County from 1787 to 1813: listed next to Willoughby Day in 1801, listed with 2 tithables in 1805 [PPTL 1782-1812, frames 320, 349, 364, 379, 422, 436, 444, 458, 491, 506, 536, 550, 573, 603, 623, 635, 654] and a "free negro" head of a Northumberland County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:976]. He and his wife Nancy, no race indicated, registered the birth of their son Willoughby in St. Stephen's Parish, Northumberland County. They were the parents of

i. ?Jane, born about 1775, registered in Northumberland County on 11 March 1822: Mulatto woman, about 47 yrs. 5 feet 3 Inches high, Born of free parents in N^d County [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 137].

ii. Willoughby, born 13 November 1778 [Fleet, Northumberland County Record of Births], taxable in Northumberland County in 1801 [PPTL 1782-1812, frame 515].

iii. ?Jesse, born say 1790, taxable in Northumberland County from 1809 to 1812 [PPTL 1782-1812, frames 635, 654, 668].

 

9.    Winnifred² Day, born about 1759, "a free Malatto," registered the birth of her children Judith, Isaac, and Winnie in St. Stephen's Parish, Northumberland County [Fleet, Northumberland County Record of Births, 42]. On 10 June 1799 the Northumberland County court certified that she, called Winney Day, Senr^r, and Judith Day, Nanny Day, and Winny Day, J^r., were free born "Mulattoes" [Orders 1793-1800, 80]. She registered in Northumberland County on 1 August 1814: Mulatto, about 55 years, 5 feet & 1/2 an inch high, Born of free parents in North^d County [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 78]. Her children were

i. Judith², born 3 September 1778, registered in Northumberland County on 10 May 1819: Judy Day, jr., Black woman, about 40 years old, 5 feet 3^1/4 Inches hight, born of free parents in North^d County, presented her children, James, Polly, Sally, & Betsy, between the ages of 9 & 2. Her daughter Harriet Day registered the same day: Dark girl, about 12 years old, 5 feet 2^1/2 Inches high [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, nos. 120, 121].

ii. Isaac, born 21 June 1780.

iii. Winnie³, born 11 January 1784, registered in Northumberland County on 1 August 1814: Black woman, about 22 years old, 5 feet 2 & 1/4 Inches, Born of free parents in North^d County [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 82].

iv. ?Samuel³, born about 1791, registered in Northumberland County on 10 February 1806: Black, nearly 15 years old, 5 feet 4 Inches high, Born free [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 20].

v. ?William³, born about 1805, registered in Northumberland County on 11 March 1822: Black man, 19 years old, 5 feet 7^1/2 Inches high, Born of free parents in North^d County [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 136].

 

10.    Judith¹ Day, born about 1766, was living in Northumberland County on 10 June 1799 when the county court certified that she, Winney Day, Senr., Nanny Day, and Winny Day, Jr., were free born "Mulattoes" [Orders 1793-1800, 80]. She was a "free mulatto" head of a Northumberland County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [VA:977]. She registered in Northumberland County on 17 April 1819: Dark mulatto, about 53 years old, 5 feet three inches high, born of free parents in North^d County [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 119]. Her children were

i. ?Presly, born about 1788, registered in Northumberland County on 10 February 1806: bright mulatto, about 18 years old, 5 feet 6^1/4 Inches high, Born free [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 19].

ii. ?Sally, born about 1795, registered in Northumberland County on 16 May 1821: Bright Mulatto, 26 years old, 5 feet 6 inches high, Born of free parents in North^d County [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 132].

iii. ?Nancy Taylor, born about 1799, registered in Northumberland County on 6 June 1818: Bright Mulatto, about 19 years old, 5 feet three Inches high [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 111].

iv. Spencer, born about 1805, registered in Northumberland County on 16 May 1821: son of Judy Day, Mulatto boy, 16 years of age, 5 feet one Inch high [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 130].

v. James Stokely, born about 1809, registered in Northumberland County on 16 May 1821: son of Judy Day, Mulatto, 4 feet 8 inches high [Register of Free Negroes, 1803-50, no. 131].

 

Virginia-North Carolina state line

Members of a Day family who lived in Southampton and Greensville counties were

i. John¹, born say 1740, purchased 100 acres on both sides of Lick Creek in Meherrin Parish, Brunswick County, from William and Lucy Robinson for , 10 on 8 June 1769 [DB 9:505]. He was head of a Greensville County household of 1 "white" (free) person in the 1783 census [VA:55] and was taxable in Greensville County from 1782 to 1802: called John Day, Sr., from 1795 to 1797 [PPTL, 1782-1850, frames 3, 14, 34, 41, 62, 81, 187, 200, 217, 230, 243, 258, 273, 286]. He married Agnes Sexton, 3 January 1787 Greensville County bond, perhaps the Agnes Sexton who was fined 500 pounds of tobacco in Brunswick County on 24 July 1765 [Orders 1765, 339; 1765-8, 267-8]. John voted in Greensville County in 1792, 1794, and 1795. He and his wife Agga Day (making their marks) sold 35 acres adjoining the road from Hicks Ford (Emporia) to Eaton's Ferry in Greensville County on 8 February 1797. His 12 October 1801 Greensville County will was proved in October 1802 and witnessed by Henry and William Wyche. He left his land and estate to his wife Agnes during her lifetime and then to Joseph Sexton. Joseph and his wife Penny Sexton sold the land in 1803 [DB 1:450; 2:134, 192; 3:266, 283-4; WB 1:471]. Agnes Sexton may have been identical to Hagai Sexton, a "Mulatto" woman who ran away from the man to whom she was indentured in Spotsylvania County in 1771.

ii. Nancy¹, born say 1742.

 

1.    Nancy¹ Day, born say 1742, had an illegitimate child named Lucy Day and later married a member of the Hargrove family according to a document used to verify the "free Negro" certificate issued to Lucy's daughter Thena Artis in Greensville County, Virginia:

April 3^rd 1821. Dear Sir These lines are to certify that Lucy Day was born of free parents as far as we know or believe as to her Mother we were well acquainted with her for many years and have frequently heard her Mother own the said Lucy Day as her Child to her Mother, Nanny Hargrove her Maden name Nancy Day where the said Lucy Day got her name. We are with Respect your &c.

Karenton Ellis, Thomas Williford, John Foster [Loose documents recorded with Free Negro Register, 1803-32; http://familysearch.org/search/catalog, film 1976193, images 409, 451]. Thomas Williford was taxable in St. Luke's Parish, Southampton County in 1790 [PPTL 1782-92].

Nancy was apparently the mother of the Lucy Day who was bound out by the Southampton County court on 12 March 1762, and identical to Ann Hargrove who received a pension by order of the Southampton County court from 1777 to 1815 because her husband Michael Hargrove died in the Continental service. He was a white man who served on a jury in 1772 [Orders 1759-63, 196; 1768-72, 539; 1772-7, 466, 489; 1813-16, 159]. She was the mother of

2    i. Lucy¹, born say 1760.

3    ii. ?John³, born about 1764.

 

2.    Lucy¹ Day, born say 1760, was bound apprentice in Southampton County on 12 March 1762 (no parent or race named) [Orders 1759-63, 196]. On 28 May 1789 the grand jury of Greensville County presented her for living in fornication with John Turner's slave Cudger. She was called only "Lucy" on 25 August 1791 when the court dismissed the presentment. The court discontinued her case against Drury and Dorothy Peebles for trespass, assault and battery at defendants' costs on 23 July 1789 after the parties reached agreement. James Binford was her witness [Orders 1781-9, 412, 422, 427; 1790-9, 88]. She was taxable in Meherrin Parish, Greensville County, from 1791 to 1799 and from 1804 to 1820: taxable on a slave above the age of 16 and 2 horses in 1791, taxable on a slave and a free male aged 16-21 in 1793 and 1794, not listed from 1800 to 1803, called "Lucy Day & Cudger Day" from 1804 to 1812, "Lucy Day & Cudgoe Mulattos" in 1813, "Cudjoe & Lucy Day Free Negros" in 1814 [PPTL, 1782-1850, frames 126, 178, 187, 200, 217, 230, 243, 320, 336, 352, 371, 386, 401, 414, 432, 446, 461, 481, 578, 602]. On 25 April 1793 the Greensville County court ordered the overseers of the poor to bind out her children Edmund, Cudger, and Lucy. She appealed the ruling, and on 25 July 1793 the court rescinded the order to bind Cudger to Stephen Ragland [Orders 1790-9, 195, 210, 212]. Her Greensville County land in the area between Great Swamp Branch to Fountain's Creek up to Halifax Road adjoining Richard Sills was among those processioned in May 1800 [Processioners' Returns, 1796-1820, LVA film 25, p. 27]. She was head of a Greensville County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 with "Cudjoe" [VA:261]. Lucy was the mother of

i. ?Lewis, taxable in Greensville County on his own tithe in 1795.

3    ii. ?Susannah, born say 1777.

iii. Edmund, born say 1784.

iv. Cudger, born say 1785.

v. Lucy³, born say 1787.

vi. Thena Artis, born about 1787, registered in Greensville County on 7 February 1832: born free of a yellow complexion, about forty five years of age, five feet four & 1/2 inches high. She was the wife of Willie Artis who registered the same day. Her son Henry Day also registered the same day: son of Thena Artis, formerly Day, born free of a dark complexion, about twenty two years of age, five feet seven inches high, by occupation a farmer [Register of Free Negroes, 1805-1832, nos. 192, 195]. Thena received her certificate on documentation by Edmund Mason that she was the daughter of Lucy Day [http://familysearch.org/search/catalog, film 8414494, image 451].

vii. Nathaniel, born in 1789, registered in Greensville County on 14 April 1821: Son of Lucy Day, light dark Complexion, about 32 years of age, five feet 4 inches high (in Shoes), a planter, & Shingle gator & coarse shoe maker [Register of Free Negroes, no. 89]. He was a "free Negro" taxable in Southampton County in 1812 [PPTL, 1807-21, frame 289] and head of a Greensville County household of 6 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:261].

 

3.    John³ Day, born say 1764, was taxable in Meherrin Parish, Greensville County, from 1794 to 1799: taxable on a slave in 1795 and 1796, called a "workman" in 1798 and 1799 when he was taxable on 2 free male tithes age 16-21 who may have been his brothers-in-law [PPTL 1782-1850, frames 178, 187, 200, 217, 230, 243]. He married Mourning Stewart, daughter of Dr. Thomas Stewart of Dinwiddie County [Dinwiddie County Chancery Orders 1832-52, 12-13] and was a "free" taxable in Dinwiddie County from 1800 to 1802: charged with the tax for his brothers-in-law Henry and Armstead Stewart in 1800, his brother-in-law Armstead Stewart in 1801, and his brothers-in-law Armstead and John Stewart in 1802 [PPTL, 1800-19, 1800B, p. 4; 1801A, p. 4; 1802A, p. 4]. He was taxable in St. Andrew's Parish, Greensville County, in 1803 and 1804: called a "workman" in 1803 [PPTL 1782-1850, frames 296, 314]. (His brother-in-law) Thomas Stewart was called a cabinetmaker "living with John Day" in the "List of Free Negroes and Mulattoes" for the lower district of Sussex County in 1806, but John was not included in this list [List of Free Negroes and Mulattoes, 1801-1812, frame 32, LVA microfilm no. 221]. He was taxable in Sussex County on a horse from 1806 to 1812: taxable on a slave in 1810 and 1811, 2 tithes and 2 horses in 1812 [PPTL, 1800-19, frames 676, 700, 748, 781, 814]. According to the recollection of his son John, he purchased a small plantation in Sussex County near Edward Whitehorne's house in 1807, but later sold the land and moved back to Dinwiddie County, and then moved to North Carolina in 1817 [Sneed & Westfall, History of Thomas Day, 7]. The sale of his Sussex County land apparently took place in 1810 when the tax assessments on two parcels of land in Sussex County were transferred from John Day to George Dowden and William Parham (26^1/2 acres and 34 acres) [Land Tax List, 1810; DB L:249, 252]. John was listed as a cabinetmaker in the Dinwiddie County list of "Free Negroes and Their Occupations" between 1814 and 1817 [PPTL, 1800-19, 1814A, p. 4; 1817A, p. 23]. He was head of a Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina household of 5 "free colored" in 1820: a male and female over 45, a male under 14 and 2 males 14-25 who were likely his sons John and Thomas [NC:808], and a "free colored male and female aged 55-100 and a male slave aged 10-24 in Nutbush District of Warren County in 1830. The administrator of his estate sold his tools for $69.25 on 5 January 1833 [WB 34:254]. He died at the age of 68 according to the recollection of his son John [Sneed & Westfall, History of Thomas Day, 10]. His widow Mourning was an 84-year-old "Mulatto" woman living in the household of her son Thomas Day in the 1850 census for Caswell County [NC:193a]. John and Mourning were the parents of

i. John⁶, born on 18 February 1797 in Hicksford (Emporia), Greensville County. When his family moved to Sussex County, he boarded with his neighbor Edward Whitehorne and went to school with Whitehorne's children. In 1804 his grandfather Dr. Thomas Stewart gave him a slave named Rhoda by his Dinwiddie County will which was proved in 1810 [Loose Wills, 1801-69]. In 1817 he was living with his family in a rented house in Dinwiddie County when his father moved to North Carolina. He remained in Dinwiddie and carried on a small cabinetmaking business, but "associating myself with ___ young white men, who were fond of playing cards, contracted that habit" [Rev. John Day Letters, 1847-59 by Sneed & Westfall, History of Thomas Day, 5-8]. He was a "F.N." taxable in Greensville County on 2 slaves in 1827 and a slave and a horse in 1830 [PPTL 1782-1850, frames 827, 851]. He was a 33-year-old cabinetmaker from Hicksford who emigrated to Liberia aboard the ship Carolinian in 1830 with Mary Day (28), Evelina Day (7), Parthenia Ann (5), Armenia (2), and John Abner Day (2^1/2 months) https://www.fold3.com/image/46670297]. He became a Baptist minister and was superintendent of the Baptist Mission and later chief justice of the Liberia Supreme Court [African Repository 35 (1859):158; and 37 (1861):154-58 by Wiley, Slaves No More].

ii. Thomas², born about 1801, operated the Yellow Tavern in Milton, Caswell County, the third largest furniture factory in the state, from 1823 to 1858. He married Acquilla Wilson in Virginia in 1829 but needed special dispensation from the legislature to allow her to migrate into North Carolina since a North Carolina law of 1827 made it illegal for free African Americans to enter the state. The Yellow Tavern is a National Historic Landmark. He was listed as a 49-year-old "Mulatto" cabinet-maker with $8,000 in real estate with 44-year-old Aquila Day in the 1850 census for Caswell County. His land near the main road from Milton to Yanceyville near County Line Creek was mentioned in a 3 April 1851 Caswell County land entry [Entry no. 1418].

 

4.    Susannah Day, born say 1777, was living in Southampton County on 11 December 1795 when the court ordered the overseers of the poor to bind out her son Solomon Day to Enos James. The court repeated the order on 14 July 1796 [Minutes 1793-9, 198, 225]. Susannah was the mother of

i. ?Davis/ David, born about 1789, registered in Southampton County on 3 August 1810: Davy Day, age 21, Blk, 5 feet 9 inches high, free born [Register of Free Negroes, no. 824]. He was a "free Negro" taxable in Southampton County on Ben Whitfield's land in 1812, taxable on a horse in 1813 and 1814, living with his sisters Silvia and Cherry on Ben Whitfield's land in 1813 [PPTL 1807-21, frames 289, 316, 416]. He married Peggy Byrd, daughter of Susanna Byrd, 7 January 1818 Southampton County bond.

ii. Solomon, born about 1790, married Julia Artis, daughter of Myrna Artis, 16 March 1812 Southampton County bond. He was taxable in Southampton County with wife Julia on William Whitehead's land in 1813 and 1814 [PPTL 1807-21, frames 316, 416]. They registered in Southampton County on 29 March 1823: Solomon Day, mulatto man, age 33, 5 feet 6 inches high, free born in S^o. Julia Day Mulatto woman, 26, 5 feet 6^1/2 inches high, born in S^o. [Register of Free Negroes, nos. 1376, 1377].

 

The Greensville County Days may have been related to the other members of the Day family who lived near the North Carolina/ Virginia state line:

5    i. Ann, born say 1759.

ii. John², born say 1760, enlisted in Armstrong's Company of the 2^nd North Carolina Regiment in 1777 and died at Valley Forge on 14 January 1778 [NARA, M246, roll 79, http://fold3.com/image/10199665; Clark, The State Records of North Carolina, XVI:1040]. His unnamed heirs were issued a warrant for 640 acres for his service in the Revolution with the note that it was vested in Tignal Jones by assignment on 11 January 1822 [North Carolina and Tennessee, Revolutionary War Land Warrants, 1783-1843, Roll 14: William Hill Warrants, 1811-1837 (Nos. 676-1131), 1064; http://ancestry.com]. His heirs, sons of his brother Jesse Day, sued Jesse's attorney Tignal Jones and recovered the money Jones had received for the warrant [North Carolina, Estate Files, 1663-1979, John Day, Orange County, 1830, http://familysearch.org/search/catalog/543585, film 7384076, image 113].

6    iii. Rachel², born say 1760.

7    iv. Jesse¹, born say 1761.

8    v. Nancy², born say 1768.

 

5.    Ann Day, born say 1759, was living in Caswell County, North Carolina, in 1780 when her children were bound out as apprentices [CR 20.101.1]. They were

i. George, born in 1776, 4-year-old son of Nan Day, bound apprentice in Caswell County to Samuel Winstead on 20 June 1780. He was head of a Person County household of 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:498].

ii. Lucy², born about March 1779, 1 year old when she was bound to Drury Allen in Caswell County on 20 March 1780, bound to David Allen on 3 March 1783 [Minutes 1777-81, 141; 1781-8, n.p.].

 

6.    Rachel Day, born say 1760, was living in Caswell County, North Carolina, in 1780 when her children were bound as apprentices. They were

i. Thomas¹, born about August 1776, 3 years and 10 months old on 20 June 1780 when he was bound apprentice to Samuel Winstead in Caswell County court [Minutes, 1777-81, 135; CR 20.101.1]. He was head of a Person County household of 7 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:498], an 80-year-old "Black" man living with Milly Day (age 70) in Person County in 1850.

ii. Jesse², born about September 1779, "Base born Child" of Rachel, bound an apprentice to Drury Allen in Caswell County on 20 March 1780 and to David Allen on 3 March court 1783 [Minutes 1771-8, 141; 1781-8, n.p.]. He married Love Pettiford, 27 January 1819 Orange County bond, William Day surety, and was head of an Orange County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:306].

iii. ?Nancy³, born in January 1783, 2 months old on 3 March 1783, no parent named when she was bound apprentice in Caswell County to David Allen [Minutes, 1781-8, n.p.], perhaps identical to Nancy Day who registered in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, on 17 November 1812: a light Mulatto Woman about twenty eight years old and about five feet five inches high, said to have been born free but held in slavery by Moses Hodges...I hereby release Nancy Day a Mulatto Woman and her children. 16 November 1812-Moses Hodges [Griffith, Pittsylvania County Register, 2].

 

7.    Jesse¹ Day, born say 1761, married Prissey Bass, 6 November 1782 Granville County, North Carolina bond, Solomon Walker surety. He was head of a Granville County household of 10 "other free" in 1810 [NC:916], 5 "free colored" in Orange County, North Carolina, in 1820 [NC:312] and 1 "free colored" male 55-99 in Granville County in 1830. His sons Reuben Day (administrator of his estate), James Day and Henderson Day sued Tignal and Westwood A. Jones in November 1837 in Granville County court, alleging that their father was cheated out of the bounty land due him from the service of John Day by the fault of his attorney. The case included papers in a March 1836 case where Jesse Day sued Westwood and Tignal Jones for his brother John's warrant, called himself a "man of Colour," and included a 22 February 1822 power of attorney from Jesse Day to Tignal Jones to receive the lands for him. Reuben Day was awarded $650 and court costs when it was shown that Jones had sold the warrant and kept the money. The case included testimony on 23 August 1830 from deponents who stated that Jesse and his wife lived with Dempsey Bass, their daughter Fereby's husband, in Granville County and moved to Orange County in September 1827 to live in a small house at his son Reuben Day's where he assisted at Reuben's harvest. He also made a crop with his daughter in Greensville (County, Virginia), but his wife remained with Reuben [North Carolina, Estate Files, 1663-1979, John Day, Orange County, 1830, http://familysearch.org/search/catalog/543585, film 7384076, image 113]. Jesse's children were

i. ?John⁴, born say 1785, head of a Granville County household of 2 "other free" in 1810 [NC:916].

ii. Reuben, born about 1786, witness to the 4 October 1808 Granville County marriage bond of Phereby Day and Dempsey Bass, head of an Orange County household of 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:288] and a 64-year-old "Mulatto" in the 1850 Orange County census with Nancy Day (age 50), Jesse Day (17), Anderson Day (13) and Mary Day (12).

iii. Phereby, born say 1790, married Dempsey Bass, 4 October 1808 Granville County bond.

iv. ?Jerry, born about 1790, a "Mulatto" laborer living with Nicey Day and their children in District 1 of Orange County in 1850.

v. James, born about 1800, a 50-year-old "Mulatto" farmer living in Tar River, Granville County, in 1850 with children Anne and Henriette Day and Robert and Frances Taborn.

vi. ?William², married Jinsey Pettiford, 6 October 1818 Orange County bond, James Hopkins surety. He was head of an Orange County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:306].

vii. Benjamin³, married Bedy Pettiford, 19 November 1819 Orange County bond, William Pettiford surety. He was head of an Orange County household of 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:354].

viii. Henderson, born about 1810, married Happy Cousins, 9 July 1823 Granville County bond, Jesse Day surety. He and Happy were "Mulattos" living with their children in Oxford District of Granville County in 1850.

 

8.    Nancy² Day, born say 1768, was living in Person County, North Carolina, on 3 December 1794 when she consented to the court binding her "Negro" sons Jesse and John to Charles Allen [Minutes 1792-6, 3 December 1794; 1796-7, 22]. Her children were

i. Jesse, born 2 August 1786, head of a Person County household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [NC:629]. He registered in Gallatin County, Illinois, on 25 November 1828: a man of colour, forty years of age or near as can be recollected, five feet eleven inches and a quarter high, well made, dark Complection tho not Black, born free in Person County, North Carolina. His wife Sina obtained a certificate in Giles County, Tennessee, on 31 May 1824: Sina Day wife of Jesse Day, formerly Sina Jones, a mulatto woman now residing in the town of Pulaski, was born free. She recorded the certificate in Gallatin County: Sina Day enters her five children Arenna, 17 years of age five feet five inches high, light complexion of the black cast, rather small features; Nancy, 15 years of age, dark complexion, nearly black; John, 13 years of age, dark complexion, nearly Black; Wilson, 8 years old, light colour tho not quite light enough for a mulatto; Elizabeth, six years old of the Colour of Wilson [Gallatin County Servitude Register 1815-39, 114, 122].

ii. John⁵, born 9 August 1788, head of a Person County household of 1 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:498].

iii. ?Betty, born say 1792, no parent named when she was ordered bound out by the 5 June 1797 Person County court [Minutes 1797-1802, 1].

 

Other members of a Day family in Virginia were

i. Tempy, head of a Botetourt County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [VA:617].

ii. Samuel, a "Mulatto" laborer living near Fincastle in a List of Free Negroes for Botetourt County in 1802.

iii. Benjamin, born about 1785, a shoemaker in a list of Free Negroes and Mulattos in Fincastle, Botetourt County, in 1812 with (wife) Rebecca Day and children Stephen (8), Sally (2) and Even Day (1/6) [List of Free Negroes and Mulattoes 1812, 1812, African American Narrative Digital Collection, LVA]. He was head of a Botetourt County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:618].

iv. Judy, born about 1780, registered in Essex County on 8 December 1810: born free by cert. of the clerk of Essex County, dark Mulattoe, about 30 years of age, 5 feet 1^3/4 inches high [Register of Free Negroes 1810-43, 3p.7, no.13].

v. George, head of a Middlesex County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [VA:472].

vi. Elijah, born about 1790, married Judith² Banks, 21-year-old daughter of John Banks, 28 December 1815 Goochland County bond, Jacob Martin surety [Ministers' Returns, 127]. He registered in Goochland County on 2 September 1829: yellowish complexion, about thirty nine years of age, and his wife Judy registered on 17 September 1829: yellow complexion, about thirty nine years of age, about five foot three & an half inches high [Register of Free Negroes, pp.201, 204].

 

Endnote:

1.    It is difficult to determine "race" in communities like the one that existed in Meherrin Parish, Greensville County, at that time. Edmund Going of that parish married another daughter of Dr. Thomas Stewart, and Benjamin Going of that parish was appointed deputy sheriff in 1801.

 

DEAN FAMILY

The Dean family may have originated in Maryland since they were not mentioned in the colonial records of King George or adjoining counties. Members of the family in Virginia were

i. Thornton¹, head of a King George County household of 13 "other free" in 1810 [VA:196].

ii. Frances, born about 1751, registered in King George County on 3 August 1801: a dark mulatto woman, aged about fifty years, about five feet high, was born free [Register of Free Persons 1785-1799, no.27].

iii. John, born about 1767, taxable in King George County from 1793 to 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1830, frames 117, 168, 303, 339], registered in King George County on 8 August 1801: a bright mulatto man aged about thirty four years, five feet seven inches high having descended from a free woman. His wife Betsy registered the same day [Register of Free Persons 1785-1799, nos.33, 34]. He was head of a King George County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [VA:196].

iv. William Hall, born about 1769, taxable in King George County from 1789 to 1807: called William, Sr., in 1791, 1792, 1795, and 1797 [PPTL, 1782-1830, frames 70, 87, 104, 135, 154, 228, 276], registered in King George County on 18 November 1799: William Hall alias Dean a Mulattoe Man aged about Thirty Years & about five feet Seven Inches high, was born free [Register of Free Persons 1785-1799, no.11]. He was indicted in King George County on 6 June 1799 for retailing liquor without a license [Orders 1790-9, 657].

v. Susan, head of a Richmond City household of 2 "other free" and 5 slaves in 1810 [VA:335].

vi. Philip, head of a Goochland County household of 1 "other free" and a slave in 1810 [VA:690].

vii. Jane, born about 1777, registered in King George County on 3 August 1801: a light mulatto woman, aged about twenty four years, five feet & one inch high, was born in this County of a free woman [Register of Free Negroes no.26].

viii. Elijah Hall, born about 1779, registered in King George County on 14 October 1800: Elijah Hall alias Deen, a dark Mulatto man aged about twenty one years, & about five feet seven Inches high, was born in this County of a free Woman [Register of Free Negroes no.15]. He may have been related to Reuben and Rapple Hall, both heads of Fairfax County households of 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:261, 268].

ix. James Hall, born about 1781, registered in King George County on 4 December 1800: James Hall alias Deen, a bright mulatto man aged about nineteen years and about five feet five inches high, was born in this County of a free woman [Register of Free Persons 1785-1799, no.19], perhaps identical to James Dean. born about 1780, who registered in Amherst County in August 1814: Lewis Dawson came into Court and proved that James Dean, a Mulatto Negro Man about five feet six Inches high and 34 years of age, was born a free Man [Dean, James (M, 34): Free Negro Certificate African American Narrative Digital Collection, LVA].

x. Dicey, born about 1788, registered in King George County on 17 August 1801: a bright mulatto woman aged about twenty three years, four feet ten inches high, having descended from a free woman [Register of Free Negroes no.32].

xi. Thornton², born about 1790, a poor orphan bound by the overseers of the poor to Peter Hansbrough in King George County on 3 December 1795 [Orders 1790-9, 428]. He registered in King George County on 3 December 1807: a dark mulatto man about sixteen or seventeen years old, five feet high, stout made...born free [Register of Free Negroes no.42].

xii. Ceiley, a "poor orphan Molatto" bound by the overseers of the poor to Peter Hansbrough in King George County on 3 December 1795 [Orders 1790-9, 428].

 

DEAS FAMILY

Members of the Deas family were

1    i. William, born say 1740.

2    ii. Benjamin, born say 1745.

 

1.    William Deas, born say 1748, and Mary (his wife or sister?), "two adult Negroes," were baptized on 9 August 1772 in St. Thomas and Dennis Parishes, South Carolina [Parochial Register of the Parishes of St. Thomas & St. Denis, n.p. (alphabetical listing under D)]. They may have been the parents of

i. Joseph, married Venus Caunou, "Blacks," at St. Philip's and Michael's Parish, Charleston on 13 June 1806.

ii. Lucy, born before 1776, head of a Charleston household of 9 "free colored" and 5 slaves in 1820.

iii. William, married Ann Timothy, "free people of color," at St. Philip's and Michael's Parish, Charleston on 7 October 1812.

iv. Lydia, married Joseph Bull, 6 April 1815, "Col'd persons, free," at St. Philip's and Michael's Parish, Charleston.

v. Ann, paid the "free Negro" capitation tax while living at Jehu Jone s's Inn at Broad Street in Charleston in 1821 [Free Negro Capitation Tax Book, 1821, p.7]. Ann was Jones's stepdaughter. Jehu Jones, born about 1769, was a "Mulatto Man" who was manumitted by Christopher Rogers of Charleston on 22 January 1798. He worked as a tailor and was able to purchase a house on Broad Street behind St. Michael's Church for $2,000 in 1809. In 1815 he purchased the adjacent lot and house at 33 Broad Street for $13,000 and owned at least six slaves. The hotel became popular with Charleston's elite white society. Jehu was a trustee of the Brown Fellowship Society. Jehu's wife Abigail and Ann Deas visited New York about 1822 and were not allowed to return because of a law passed in 1823 barring the return of free Negroes who left the state. Jehu died in 1833 leaving an estate estimated at $40,000. Ann returned in 1835, bought the inn from the estate, received a pardon from the governor for entering the state without permission, and ran the inn for the next twelve years [S.C. Dept. of Archives & History, "Jehu Jones: Free Black Entrepreneur"].

 

2.    Benjamin Dees, born say 1745, purchased 200 acres in Anson County, North Carolina, on the north side of the Pee Dee River on the Falling Creek branch of Hitchcock's Creek from Jordan Gibson on 15 November 1768 by deed witnessed by Gideon Gibson [DB 7:224]. He was a white taxable in Bladen County in 1770 and 1772 when he had "Mulato" Benjamin Sweat in his household [Byrd, Bladen County Tax Lists, I:44, 78, 143]. On 13 October 1773 it was reported to the governor of the colony that he was among a group of "free Negors and Mullatus" living on "the Kings land" in what was then Bladen County [G.A. 1773, box 7]. Other mixed-race families in the group were Chavis, Grant, Groom, Ivey, Kersey, Locklear, and Sweat. Many of these families had title to their land. He may have been the father of

i. Nancy, living with Thomas Lowry on 24 November 1812 when the Robeson County court ordered her to bring two of her illegitimate children by James Lowry to the next court [Minutes 1806-13, 351].

 

DEBAPTIST FAMILY

1.    John De Baptist, born about 1740, served in the Revolution as a seaman aboard the Dragon. He was born in St. Kitts in the West Indies, and moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia. After the Revolution, he owned property in Fredericksburg, including one of the ferries [http://www.waymarking.com]. He sued Giles Bush for , 4.18 on 7 July 1788, sued Edward Wells on 28 August 1789 and was sued by Callender & Henderson for , 32 on 27 March 1789 in Fredericksburg Hustings Court [Minutes 1787-1800, 63, 86, 101, 119]. He was living in Fredericksburg on 17 July 1790 when he advertised in a Delaware paper that

his wife Frances DeBaptist has eloped from his bed and board, apparently with a certain Charles Travis, late his clerk, she is 5 feet 5 inch, bright yellow complexion, small scar on edge of upper lip, long black hair and has a waddle in her walk; said Travis is about 5 feet 4 inch, of a swarthy complexion, dark brown hair, limps a little in his walk, talks very mild, assumes much of the gentleman and generally carries a loaded whip. They crossed Hoe's ferry on Potowmac river, Saturday evening am informed they are going to Sugar Lands where her father resides [Wright, Delaware Newspaper Abstracts, 94].

Frances apparently returned because she testified for the certificate of freedom of her son Benjamin on 25 June 1808. John died on 3 September 1804 and was buried in the Falmouth cemetery with a tombstone giving his age and date of death. An SAR marker was placed on his grave, honoring his contribution to American independence. The American Legion normally gives a flag to descendants of the person so honored; however, to date no descendants of John De Baptist have been located, though he had at least six children. Franky Baptist was head of a Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County household of 6 "other free" and 2 slaves in 1810 [VA:113b]. They were the parents of

i. Benjamin, born about 1783, charged in Fredericksburg with stealing ten bushels of wheat, the property of Stephen Winchester, but found not guilty on 9 November 1799 [Orders 1787-1800, 352-3]. He registered in Fredericksburg on 25 June 1808: Franky DeBaptist made oath that Benjamin De Baptist a man of Colour aged twenty seven years is her son and born Free, and on 2 July 1813: John Hall of Fredericksburg made oath that Benj DeBaptist was born free in this town. Aged 31, 5 ft 10 inches high [Fredericksburg City Certificates and Registry of Free Negroes, 1790-1862, 126, 165]. He sold property to John DeBaptist and Peter Smock by deed proved in Fredericksburg on 11 November 1813 [Orders 1812-19, 74] and was head of a Spotsylvania County household of 11 "free colored" and 3 slaves in 1820 [VA:86b].

ii. John, perhaps the John Baptist who was a "FN" taxable in the upper district of Henrico County in 1801 [PPTL 1782-1814, frame 441]. He registered in Fredericksburg on 25 June 1808: Franky DeBaptist personally appeared and made oath that John DeBaptist a man of color aged twenty five years is her son and born Free. He testified for the Fredericksburg certificate of freedom of James Campbell on 17 February 1809: John D Baptist made oath that James Campell a bright Mulatto twenty one years old was born in the family of said DeBaptist of Free parents. 17 February 1809 [Fredericksburg City Certificates and Registry of Free Negroes, 1790-1862, 126, 142]. He was called John Baptist when he was listed in the 115^th Virginia Regiment from July 1807 to January 1808 [NARA, M905, https://www.fold3.com/image/286918890].

iii. William, petitioned the legislature on 16 March 1838 to authorize a school in Fredericksburg for the instruction of free people of color as they had to send their children out of state for their education, moved with his wife and seven children to Michigan in the late 1840s.

iv. Edward, head of a Spotsylvania County household of 2 "free colored" and a slave in 1820 [VA:87b]. He was called Edward Baptist when he was listed in the 115^th Virginia Regiment from July 1807 to January 1808 [NARA, M905, https://www.fold3.com/image/286918882]. He petitioned the legislature on 16 March 1838 to authorize a school in Fredericksburg for the instruction of free people of color as they had to send their children out of state for their education [Legislative Petitions, LVA PAR #11683834].

v. George.

vi. Polly

 

DEBRIX FAMILY

Two members of the Debrix family, perhaps brothers, were living in Surry County, Virginia, about 1760. They were

1    i. John¹, born say 1725.

2    ii. David¹, born say 1735.

 

1.    John¹ Deverix, born say 1725, was one of fourteen free African Americans in Surry County who were presented by the court on 21 November 1758 for failing to pay taxes on their "Mulatto wives." The inventory of his Surry County estate was taken on 12 February 1772. On 25 March 1783 the court summoned the administrators of his estate, William Collins and Benjamin Putney, to give their account on motion of (his son?) John Debereaux [Orders 1757-64, 135; 1764-74, 211; 1775-85, 207]. He was probably the father of

3    i. John², born say 1745.

ii. Burrell, born say 1766, taxable in Surry County from 1787 to 1805; his tax charged to John Debrix in 1787 [PPTL, 1782-90, frames 451; 1791-1816, frames 289, 326, 407, 560, 591].

 

2.    David¹ Debrix /Debricks, born say 1735, was security for Frederick Walden when Ann Flood sued him in Surry County court on 17 October 1758 [Orders 1757-63, 131]. He purchased 43 acres on the south side of Cypress Swamp in Surry County from William Walden on 14 June 1762 [DB 8:129] and was taxable on 47 acres in Surry County in 1787 [Land Tax Lists, 1782-1820]. He was head of a Surry County household of 11 persons in the 1782 census [VA:43], 10 in 1784 (called David Debereaux) [VA:78] and 2 "other free" in 1810 [VA:605]. He was taxable in Surry County from 1782 to 1813: charged with Howell and David Debrix's tithes in 1787; charged with David Debreaux, Jr.'s tithe from 1790 to 1792; charged with Richard Deborix's tax in 1797; taxable on a slave named Isham, aged 12-16, in 1798 and 1799; taxable on a slave named Ratley in 1803; taxable on 2 free males in 1807 and 1809; listed with 2 "free Negroes & Mulattoes" in 1813 (himself and a female over the age of 16) [PPTL, 1782-90, frames 358, 398, 598; 1791-1816, frames 10, 108, 237, 326, 407, 446, 522, 591, 630, 650, 688, 735]. He was a "free Molatto" planter living on his own land in Surry County in 1803 with Richard Debrix, a labourer, and Pamelia Debrix, a weaver [A List of Molatto's in Surry County in the Year 1803, http://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog, film no. 4121845, frame 8 of 16]. He left a 24 December 1808 Surry County will, proved on 25 September 1815, by which he left his land and plantation to his daughter Pamela Debrix and divided the remainder of his estate among his unnamed children [WB 3:95]. He was the father of

i. ?Howell, born about 1770, taxable in Surry County from 1787 to 1796: his tax charged to David Debrix in 1787 [PPTL, 1782-90, frames 450, 473, 551; 1791-1816, frames 10, 161, 257]. He purchased 75 acres in Surry County on 22 February 1790 from John Banks, Henry and Judy Charity, Susanna Howell, and Joseph and Hannah Roberts, being the land descended to them from Matthew Banks [DB 1792-9, 296]. Howell was executor of the 18 December 1796 Surry County will of William Cypress, and on 3 September 1796 Mary Andrews left him one-third of her estate for waiting on her during her sickness [WB 1:183, 186]. He was living in James City County in 1798 when he was listed as an insolvent Surry County taxable on 75 acres of land [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog, film no. 4131875, frame 32 of 137] and was taxable in James City County on a slave from 1798 to 1809, a "mulato" taxable there in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-99; 1800-24]. His children William Debrix and Mary More Debrix were the heirs of John Jones of York County whose house and lots were sold and divided among Howell's children, John Jones Jarvis (son of William Jarvis), Samuel Evans (son of Anna Rollison/ Rawlinson), and William Jones who was represented by David Debrix. Howell purchased the property for $201 in 1820. After deducting for costs, each party received $31 [Orders 1815-20, 250, 497-8]. William Debriess, a shoemaker, his wife Sophia and children Henry, Adelaide and Catherine were in "A list of free Negroes and Mulattoes" for Williamsburg in 1834 [1834 Williamsburg Commrs list of free negroes, African American Narrative Digital Collection, LVA].

ii. ?David², born say 1771, taxable in Surry County from 1787 to 1794: listed with (his father?) David Debrix in 1787 (aged 16-21) and from 1790 to 1792 [PPTL, 1782-90, frames 480, 598; 1791-1816, frames 10, 59]. He was taxable in James City County from 1805 to 1812, a "cold." taxable in 1814 [PPTL, 1800-24].

iii. Richard, born about 1776, registered in Surry County on 22 May 1798: Richard Debereaux son of David Debereaux a mulatto resident yellowish complexion, straight made 5'10", 22 years of age, born of free parents [Back of Guardian Accounts Book, 1783-1804, no.29]. He was taxable in Surry County from 1797 to 1816: listed in his father's household in 1797, counted as a "free Negro & Mulatto" in 1813 [PPTL, 1791-1816, frames 289, 369, 447, 812, 852]. He married Anna Peters, 21 January 1817 Surry County bond, with the consent of her father Jesse Peters.

iv. Pamela, born about 1778, thirty-five years old on 6 November 1813 when she married James Williams, Surry  County bond, Nicholas Scott surety.

v. ?Edy, born say 1779, married Samuel Thompson, 18 September 1790 Surry County bond, Howell Debrix surety.

vi. ?Lurany, married William Gilchrist, 20 December 1798 Surry County bond.

vii. ?John⁵, born about 1787, registered in Surry County on 11 June 1810: a Mulatto man aged about 23 years is 5'5" high, pretty stout and well made, of a bright complexion [Hudgins, Surry County Register of Free Negroes, 41].

 

3.    John² Debrix, born say 1745, was head of a Surry County household of 13 persons in the 1782 census [VA:43] and was taxable on 280 acres in Surry County in 1782 [Land Tax Lists, 1782-1820]. On 28 December 1790 he sold 160 acres in Surry County to Armistead Peters [DB 1788-92, 236]. He was taxable in Surry County from 1782 to 1816: called John Debereaux, Jr., in 1782; charged with Burrell and John Debrix's tax in Cabin Point District in 1787; charged with Major Debreaux's tax in 1790; charged with Major and Moses Debrix's tax in 1791; called John Deborix, Sr., in 1794; charged with John Deborix, Jr.'s tax in 1795 [PPTL, 1782-90, frames 350, 451, 598; 1791-1816, frames 10, 161, 326]. He was head of a Surry County household of 18 "other free" in 1810 [VA:605] and 3 "free colored" in 1830. By his 1829 Surry County will, proved 26 November 1832, he left to his son Major 50 acres adjoining the lands of John and David Debrix, left his daughter-in-law Anna Debrix 30 acres which which was to descend to the children of Moses Debrix at her death, and left Nancy Bowser the residue of his land which was to descend to Henry Debrix, the son of Major Debrix. And he left the residue of his estate to his children David Debrix, John Debrix, Sally Peters, and Nancy Elliott [Wills, etc., 6:384]. He was the father of

4     i. Major, born about 1766.

ii. John⁴, born about 1774, taxable in John Debrix's Cabin Point, Surry County household in 1795, charged with his own tax in 1797, called "son of John" in 1802 [PPTL, 1791-1816, frames 237, 289, 326, 481]. He was a 25-year-old waiter and (his wife) Abby was a washer in Petersburg in 1803 [List of People of Color in Petersburg 1803, African American Narrative Digital Collection, LVA]. He registered in Petersburg on 3 July 1810: a brown Mulatto man, five feet six inches high, thirty six years old, born of free parents in the County of Surry p. certificate. And Abby Devereux registered on 14 October 1815: a dark brown Negro woman, 5'1-1/2" high in shoes, 46 yrs old, emancipated by David Bradley in ct of Isle of Wight County [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, nos. 629, 787]. John was taxable in Petersburg in 1803 and 1810, called a "free Black" in 1813 [PPTL 1800-33, frames 90, 284, 399] and head of a Petersburg household of 2 "other free" in 1810 (John Devereux) [VA:123b].

iii. Sally, born about 1775, married Jesse Peters, 9 January 1796 Surry County bond, Armstead Peters surety, 15 January marriage. She registered in Surry county on 20 August 1804: wife of Jesse, born of free parents (John Debrix and Lucy his wife); bright complexion, ca 30 yrs. old, 5'3/4" high [Registry of Free Negroes, Surry County courthouse].

iv. Moses, born say 1779, taxable in Surry County from 1791 to 1816: listed with (his father?) John Debrix in 1791 and 1792; head of a household of 2 "free Negroes & Mulattoes" over the age of 16 in 1813 [PPTL, 1791-1816, frames 10, 60, 237, 561, 612, 650, 688, 735, 812, 853]. He married Anne Charity, 30 December 1800 Surry County bond, Davis Charity surety. Anna Debrix (a spinner) and Moses Debrix, a labourer, were "free Molattos" living on John Debrix's land in Surry County in 1803 [A List of Molatto's in Surry County in the Year 1803, http://familysearch.org/search/catalog, film no. 4121845, frame 8 of 16]. Anne may have been the Anny Debrix who was head of a Surry County household of 5 "free colored" in 1830.

v. Henry¹, born about 1782, registered in Surry County on 24 July 1805: a mulatto man (son of John Debrix a free mulatto of the county of Surry) is of a bright complexion aged 23 years or thereabouts, 5'1/4" high, has a projecting mouth [Hudgins, Surry County Register of Free Negroes, 27]. His 1 June 1810 Surry County will was recorded on 24 July 1810 and left "Mr. William Allen's Negro woman Fanny, whom I have for a wife" all his property [WB 2:357].

vi. Polly, born say 1784, "daughter of John Debrix," married Elick Charity, 12 June 1800 Surry County bond, Aaron Taylor surety.

vii. David³, taxable in Surry County from 1801 to 1809, called the son of John Debrix [PPTL, 1791-1816, frames 447, 523, 591, 630, 650]. He married Nancy Scott, 25 December 1802 Surry County bond, William Scott, surety, 26 December marriage. He was a "free Molatto" house servant counted in Surry County in 1803 at Cabin Point with Nancy Debrix, a spinner [A List of Molatto's in Surry County in the Year 1803, http://familysearch.org/search/catalog, film no. 4121845, frame 8 of 16].

viii. ?Nancy, married Robert Elliott, 19 September 1798 Surry County bond, John Debereux surety, 20 September marriage.

 

4.    Major Debrix, born about 1766, registered in Surry County on 25 November 1822: son of John and Lucy Debrix, free persons of this county aged about 56 is 5'6" high of yellow Complexion, has a large mouth and prominent teeth, and has hair rather long than otherwise [Hudgins, Surry County Register of Free Negroes, 75]. He was taxable in Surry County from 1790 to 1816: listed in John Debrix's household in 1790; listed with Peter Fagan, Jr., in 1792; called Major Deborix, Sr., in 1797; listed with a slave named John, aged 12-16, in 1800; head of a household of 1 "free Negro & Mulatto" in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-90, frame 598; 1791-1816, frames 65, 161, 257, 289, 406, 481, 560, 612, 650, 688, 735, 853]. He married Silvey Cannady, 7 February 1797 Sussex County bond, Joseph Cannady surety and was a "free Molatto" sawyer counted in Surry County in 1803 on John Debrix's land with Silvy Debrix (a spinner) and his children Davy and Betsy Debrix [A List of Molatto's in Surry County in the Year 1803, http://familysearch.org/search/catalog, film no. 4121845, frame 7 of 16]. He married, second, Polly Walden, 18 March 1814 Surry County bond, Nicholas Scott surety and was head of a Surry County household of 6 "free colored" in 1830. By his 22 March 1837 Surry County will, he left his land to his wife Polly and after her death, to his son Thomas Debrix and also named his daughter Caroline Debrix. He left the remainder of his estate to his daughter Lucy Debrix and his sister Sarah Peters [WB 7:410]. His children were

i. David⁴, born about 1797, registered in Surry County on 26 June 1820: a Mulatto Man the son of Major Debrix of this County was born free of a bright Complexion aged about 23 years is 5'8" High Well made.

ii. Betsy, born in June 1802, married Robert Bailey, 26 May 1823 Surry County bond, Isham Inman surety, "Robert a free negro and Betsy a mulatto." She registered in Surry County on 28 February 1825: Betsy alias Betsy Bailey, the Daughter of Major Debrix & Sylvia Debrix free Mulattoes of Surry County, the said Betsy was born free. She was 22 years old in June 1824 of a bright complexion is 5'6-3/4" high has pretty straight hair [Hudgins, Register of Free Negroes, 80].

iii. John⁶, born in August 1803, registered on 28 February 1825: the Son of Major Debrix & Sylvia Debrix free Mulattoes of Surry County the said John Debrix was born free, he was 21 years old in August 1824 of a bright complexion rather down look, his Head projected forward, distended Nostrils, tho' not remarkably large...is 5'8-3/4 high, pretty straight and well proportioned.

iv. Henry², born about 1807, registered in Surry County on 28 July 1828: son of Major Debrix...about 21 years of age of a bright complexion, well made...5'8" high.

v. Caroline.

vi. Lucy.

vii. Thomas, born about 1823, registered in Surry County on 28 July 1845: son of Major Debrix and Polly his wife...of a bright complexion, bushy hair...aged about 22 years and is 5'8-3/4" high [Hudgins, Surry County Register of Free Negroes, 72, 80, 87, 166].

 

Other members of the family were

i. John³, born say 1760, a "Negro" taxable in Blisland Parish, James City County, in 1786 [PPTL 1782-1791], said to have served in the Revolution [Jackson, Virginia Negro Soldiers].

ii. William, born about 1805, a "Mulatto" seaman counted in the 1850 census for Richmond.

 

DeCOUDREY FAMILY

1.    Israel DeCoudrey, born about 1764, registered in Petersburg on 7 April 1794: a light Mulatto Man 30 yrs old, 5^1/2" high, stout made. Born on the Island of St. Domingo at Port O Prince, came into the State of Virginia from Bristol in England as a free man in the year 1783 [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 5]. He purchased his wife and children from Charles Duncan for , 90 by Petersburg deed of 7 November 1797 and emancipated Sucky Ellis and her children Israel and Alexander by deed of 2 July 1798. On 10 October 1801 he purchased lot nos. 65 and 67 in Pocahantas for $1,000 [DB 2:565, 623]. Sucky registered in Petersburg on 13 June 1810: a light brown Mulatto woman, 5'4" high in shoes, supposed 39 yrs old, very stout and fat...Emancipated by Israel De Coudray in Petersburg [Register of Free Negroes, 1794-1819, no. 596]. He was a tailor in the List of Free People of Color of Petersburg in 1821 [List of Free People of Color in Petersburg, 1821, African American Narrative, LVA]. He was the father of

i. Israel.

ii. Alexander.

iii. Benjamin, born about 1798, registered in Petersburg on 22 October 1817: a free man of color, about 19 yrs old, rather above 5'8" high in shoes, brown complection, a waterman by profession. Born free in Chesterfield County. Son of Israel DeCondray a free man [Register of Free Negroes, 1794-1819, no. 879].

iv. Marian, born about 1805, registered in Petersburg on 10 February 1827: about 22 yrs old, 5 feet 2^1/2 " high, light brown complection...long black strait hair [Register of Free Negroes, 1819-33, no. 1068].

v. Susanna, born say 1809, a child listed after Polly Lee in the 1821 List of Free People of Color in Petersburg [List of People of Color in the Town of Petersburg (p. 1), 1821, African American Narrative, LVA], married Champion Hill, "free people of color," 10 May 1827 Petersburg bond, Ned Brown surety.

 

DEMERY FAMILY

1.    John¹ Demerea, born say 1685, was called a "Negro belonging to John Lear of Nansemond County" when he was allowed to sue for his freedom in the General Court of Virginia. On 13 June 1711 he complained that, contrary to instructions from the court, Lear had severely beaten him. The Council of Colonial Virginia ordered the attorney general to prosecute Lear for his contempt of court [McIlwaine, Minutes of the Council, III:277-8]. He purchased 118 acres on the south side of Seacock Swamp in Isle of Wight County adjoining Bartholomew Andrews on 8 September 1732 (called John Demaris); he sold 43 acres on the south side of Blackwater Swamp adjoining John Warren and Randal Revel on 21 February 1742 (called John Dimrea); and on 28 October 1745 he and his wife Bridget Demmira sold 97 acres to John Portis. This was land on the south side of Lightwood Swamp which was part of the 118 acres he had purchased in 1732 [DB 4:233; 6:198; 7:205]. He was called John Demira on 12 November 1747 when the Isle of Wight County court exempted him from paying taxes due to his old age and infirmity [Orders 1746-52, 57]. On 13 June 1754 he 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 pled not guilty at first but withdrew his plea and confessed when Francis Locust, James Brooks, James Brooks, Jr., John Byrd and John Byrd, Jr., were found guilty. He was fined 1,000 pounds of tobacco, the fine for concealing two tithables, so he probably had two women in his household over the age of 16 [Orders 1749-54, 501, 512; 1754-9, 25, 39]. He was called John Demaree of Northampton County in the 3 May 1758 session of the North Carolina Assembly when he was excused from paying taxes because he was old and disabled [Saunders, Colonial Records of North Carolina, V:1008]. He was probably the ancestor of

i. Frederick, born say 1732, served as a soldier in the infantry in Virginia. Mr. Ridley received his final pay of , 23 on 23 November 1785 [NARA, M881, Roll 1091, frame 1641 of 2235; https://www.fold3.com/image/286702949]. He was living in Southampton County, Virginia, on 28 August 1780, when he made his will, proved 8 November 1781, David Demmery executor [WB 3:348]. He named Richard, Tempy, Micajah, Day and Collin Demmery as beneficiaries but did not state his relationship to them.

2    ii. John², born say 1735.

3    iii. Daniel, born say 1740.

4     iv. David¹, born say 1742.

v. Lucy, born about 1757, head of a Northampton County household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:226]. She registered in Southampton County on 15 March 1827: Lucy Dimmery, age 70, light complexion, 5 feet 4-3/4 inches, free born [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1832, no. 1757].

 

2.    John² Demery, born say 1735, purchased 100 acres near Corduroy Swamp in Northampton County, North Carolina, on 8 January 1757 and another 100 acres adjoining this on 16 April 1771 [DB 2:345, 5:93]. He voted for Joseph Sikes in the Northampton County election of 1762 [SS 837 by NCGSJ XII:170]. He was one of the "Black" members of the undated colonial muster of Captain James Fason's Northampton County Militia [T.R., Box 1, Folder 3]. He sold his Northampton County land on 15 February 1778 [DB 6:227]. He received military land warrant no. 3901 of 640 acres for his service in the Revolution. He was called John Dimery of Liberty County, South Carolina, late of North Carolina and County Bladen, on 8 October 1795 when he made over his rights to the land warrant to Benjamin Fitzrandolph. John Dimory (signing) was a witness [North Carolina and Tennessee, Revolutionary War Land Warrants, 1783-1843, Roll 06: Revolutionary Warrants, frame 288 of 597 http://www.ancestry.com]. He was taxed on 350 acres and a black poll in Captain Dupree's District of Bladen County in 1784 [GA 64.1] and was a taxable head of a Bladen County household of a "white" (free) male from 21-60 years old, 6 under 21 or over 60, and a white female in 1786, and taxable on 550 acres in 1779 and 450 acres in 1789 [Byrd, Bladen County Tax Lists, II:142, 171, 201]. He was head of a Bladen County household of 9 "other free" in 1790 [NC:188]. On 9 February 1809 he sold 200 acres in Marion District on the south side of the Little Pee Dee River for $200 [DB E:21]. His probable children were

i. Allen¹, born say 1758, a taxable "Black Male" in Matthew Moore's Bladen County household in 1770 and head of a "white" (free) household in 1786: 1 male 21-60 years old, 2 males under 21 or over 60, and 3 females [Byrd, Bladen County Tax Lists, I:50; II:174]. He entered land in Anson County on 5 July 1779 and received a patent on 14 October 1783 for 200 acres on the south west side of the Pee Dee River [Land Patent Book 52:40; http://www.nclandgrants.com]. He was head of an Anson County household of 7 "other free" in 1790 [NC:35] and 5 in 1800 [NC:203]. He enlisted in Brevard's Company of the 10^th North Carolina Regiment on 25 May 1781 and left the service on 25 May 1782 [Clark, Colonial and State Records, 16:1047]. He received an Anson County grant for land on Savannah Creek on 21 January 1800 and sold this land on 27 August 1806, 20 February 1807, and 2 April 1807 [DB 12:170, S:167, N&O:142, T:39, 90]. He was called a "Mulatto man" on 8 August 1800 when he and a white man named James Porter were charged in Southampton County, Virginia court with the murder of Jacob Artis at Jacob's house in Southampton County on 30 July that year. The court heard testimony from five white witnesses and Rebecca Artis and sent the prisoners to Suffolk for trial [Minutes 1799-1803, 109-10, 123, 213].

ii. Derinda, head of a Bladen County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 and 4 "free colored" women in 1820 [NC:132].

5    iii. John³, born about 1774.

iv. Wiley, born say 1777, neglected to give in his list of tithables in Wake County in 1794 [CR 099.701.1 (microfilm), frame 212], head of an Anson County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [NC:207], and counted a second time as Wiley Young [NC:203], called William Demery in 1810: head of a Marion District, South Carolina household of 3 "other free" [SC:80].

 

3.    Daniel Demery, born say 1740, may have been identical to Daniel Dimory of Southampton County whose wife (no race indicated) gave birth to triplets, Jemima, Kezia (who died a few days after birth), and Karenhappuch, in October 1768 according to the 3 November 1768 issue of the Virginia Gazette [Purdie and Dixon edition, p. 2, col. 3]. He was living in Southampton County on 8 June 1769 when he purchased a shoat from Nathaniel Tatum for 6 shillings, 5 pence [Judgment Papers, 1768-9, frame 920]. On 12 September 1771 he was sued by Shadrack Kennebrough for , 1.12, and he sued Simon Turner, executor of Exum Williamson, for a debt of , 6.19 on 10 June 1773 [Orders 1768-72, 449; 1772-7, 204, 221, 356]. He was taxable in Northampton County, North Carolina, in 1780 [G.A. 46.1] and head of a household of 7 "Black" persons 12-50 years old and 8 "Black" persons less than 12 or over 50 years old in Captain Dupree's District in 1786 for the state census for Northampton County. He was head of a Northampton County household of 10 "other free" in 1790 [NC:74]. The administration of his Northampton County estate was granted to Edward Lawry on 1 June 1795 on security of , 100 [Minutes 1772-96, 172]. His children may have been

i. Shadrack, born say 1775, married Charlotte Hicks, 8 February 1794 Southampton County bond, Aaron Heathcock (Haithcock) surety. He was taxable in Southampton County in John Robertson's household in 1792 and in Thomas Taylor's household in 1795 [PPTL 1782-92, frame 883; 1792-1806, frame 171] and head of a Northampton County household of 7 "other free" in 1810 [NC:718].

6    ii. Wright, born say 1777.

iii. James, head of a Halifax County, North Carolina household of 11 "other free" in 1810. Perhaps his widow was Winny, born before 1776, head of a Halifax County household of 4 "free colored" females in 1820 [NC:145].

iv. John⁴, born about 1783, registered in Southampton County on 31 February 1804: age 21, yellow 5 feet 4 3/4 inches, Free born [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1832, no. 303]. He married Rebecca Stewart, 10 February 1806 Greensville County, Virginia bond, Frederick Shelton surety. He registered in Greensville County on 9 May 1807: Born free as appears from a Certificate of Norfolk County, aged twenty four years...five feet five Inches & 3/4 high [Register of Free Negroes, no.10]. He and his wife Rebecca were living in Northampton County, North Carolina, on 8 November 1806 when they sold 91 acres in Greensville County to Henry Stewart with Benjamin Gowing as witness [DB 3:523]. He was taxable in Meherrin Parish, Greensville County, in 1806. He apparently died before 1810 since Rebecca was taxable in Greensville County on a horse in 1810 and was listed by herself as a "Mulatto" in 1813 [PPTL 1782-1850, frames 352, 432, 401, 446, 461, 487].

v. Beehy, head of a Greensville County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:261], perhaps the mother of John Dimmery who registered in Surry County, Virginia, on 27 October 1845: a negro man of dark Complexion, about 36 years of age 5'9" high...born of free parents as appears from a register from the County Court of Greensville [Hudgins, Register of Free Negroes, 168].

 

4.    David¹ Demery, born say 1742, was living in Southampton County on 18 March 1765 when John Wilkerson sued him for a debt of , 9.7 due by note of 7 June 1763. The grand jury in Southampton County presented him in 1766 for not listing himself as a tithable, and Shadrack Kennebrough sued him for 1 pound 12 shillings for a gun [Judgment Papers, 1765-6, frames 185-188, 1026; 1773-4, 595-7]. He sued Moses Haisty in Southampton County court on 12 October 1773 for , 2.16 due by account which included 32 gallons of cider, a side of shoe leather, a cow, and four days work. His suit against William Brooks was dismissed on 12 August 1779 by agreement of the parties. He was executor of the 28 August 1780 Southampton County will of Frederick Demmery [WB 3:348]. On 9 July 1784 he was a co-defendant with Abraham Freeman in a Southampton County suit brought by the administrator of Burwell Barnes, deceased, and he sued John and Britain Bowers for , 2.18 on 13 August 1787 [Orders 1772-7, 302; 1778-84, 84, 439; 1784-9, 317; Judgment Papers, 1773, frames 918-923]. He was taxable in St. Luke's Parish, Southampton County, from 1782 to 1788: taxable on 3 horses and 17 cattle in 1782, charged with Richard Demery's tax in 1787, charged with Micajah Demery's tax in 1788 [PPTL 1782-92, frames 504, 545, 569, 635, 658]. He may have been the father of

i. Richard, born say 1762, sued in Southampton County court by Lewis Artis for a debt of 4,000 pounds of tobacco. On 9 December 1784 the court attached his goods which included two feather beds and furniture, two spinning wheels, a chest, table, frying pan, pot, 20 weight of cotton, 20 barrels of corn, 250 pounds of tobacco, a plow hoe, four weeding hoes, two tubs, three water pails, and two brandy barrels [Orders 1784-9, 7]. He was taxable in Southampton County in Jacob Newsum's household in 1784, charged with his own tax in 1785, taxable in David Dimmory's household in 1787, in Drew Powell's household in 1788 and 1789, and in Thomas Holladay's household in 1792 [PPTL 1782-92, frames 549, 563, 635, 667, 716, 876]. He was head of a Northampton County, North Carolina household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [NC:435].

ii. Tempy, named in the will of Frederick Demmery.

iii. Micajah¹, born say 1765, a "Black" person 12-50 years old living alone in Captain Dupree's District of Northampton County in 1786 for the North Carolina state census. He was taxable in St. Luke's Parish, Southampton County, in David Demery's household in 1788 and was called Micajah Y. Dimory when he was charged with his own tax in 1789 [PPTL 1782-92, frames 658, 708]. He called himself Micajah Young on 30 April 1794 when he married Elizabeth Evans, Wake County, North Carolina bond. He was head of a Wake County household of 2 "other free" in 1790 (abstracted as Micajah Dempsey) [NC:106], head of an Anson County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [NC:207], counted a second time as Micajah Young [NC:203], 7 in 1810 (as Micajah Demery) [NC:44], and 11 "free colored" in 1820, called "Micajah Demery alias Young" [NC:12].

iv. Day, born say 1773, probably identical to David² Demery who was ordered bound out by the overseers of the poor in St. Luke's Parish, Southampton County, on 11 September 1789 [Minutes 1786-90, n.p.]. David was over the age of 16 when he was listed as a taxable in John Kindred's St. Luke's Parish household from 1794 to 1796 [PPTL 1792-1806, frames 84, 164, 194]. He was head of a Wilson County, Tennessee household of 6 "free colored" in 1820. He married Sally Murray, 23 June 1814 Wilson County, Tennessee bond, David Demery and Mark Murry bondsmen. She was a "free woman of color" living in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, on 24 February 1841 when the legislature passed an act allowing her as widow of David Demery, a "free man of color" who had served as a soldier in the siege of New Orleans, to remain in the state. Satisfactory evidence was presented that David had three brothers who had also served in the War of 1812 [Acts Passed at the First Session of the Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Louisiana, 27-8; https://books.google.com].

v. Collin, born say 1775, ordered bound out by the overseers of the poor in St. Luke's Parish, Southampton County, on 11 September 1789 [Minutes 1786-90, n.p.]. He was taxable in St. Luke's Parish in Howell Vaughn's household in 1795 [PPTL 1792-1806, frame 172].

vi. John, born before 1776, head of a Grainger County, Tennessee household of 6 "other free" and a white woman in 1810. He served in the 1^st West Tennessee Militia in the War of 1812 [NARA, M602, https://www.fold3.com/image/307532426]. He may have been the John Demery who was head of a St. Clair County, Illinois household of 9 "free colored" in 1830.

vii. Allen², born about 1782, served as a private in the 3^rd West Tennessee Militia in the War of 1812 [NARA, M602, Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers who Served During the War of 1812, https://www.fold3.com/image/308157409] and was head of a Rutherford County, Tennessee household of 7 "free colored" in 1820. He was a "free person of color" residing in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in 1840 when he petitioned to remain in the state, stating that he had been living there at the time of the Declaration of Independence on 2 March 1836 [Schweninger, Race, Slavery and Free Blacks, Series 1:217]. He was called the brother of David Demery on 24 February 1841 when he and Sally Demery were allowed by the legislature to remain in Louisiana [Acts Passed at the First Session of the Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Louisiana, 27-8; https://books.google.com]. He was a 78-year-old "Mulatto" in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, in 1860.

viii. Stephen, head of a Rutherford County, Tennessee household of 6 "free colored" in 1820. He was a private in the 3^rd West Tennessee Militia in the War of 1812 [NARA, M602, Roll 58 (Stephen Dimary), https://www.fold3.com/image/307532394].

 

5.    John³ Demery, born about 1774 in Charleston, South Carolina, married Sarah Robinson in Anson County, North Carolina, in 1801 according to his own recollection [History of Randolph County, Indiana, 137]. He was head of a Bladen County household of 4 "other free" in 1800, 3 in Marion District, South Carolina, in 1810 [SC:80], and 5 "free colored" in Anson County in 1820 [NC:12]. He purchased land in Anson County on Island Creek on 12 January 1824 and sold it three months later on 6 April 1824 [DB V:108, 140]. He was the first African American to settle in the western part of Randolph County, Indiana. He came to Randolph County with Lemuel Vestal in 1825 and settled in Stony Creek. He had 80 acres of land and a house and lot in Winchester at the time of his death in 1860 [History of Randolph County, Indiana, 137]. John Dimery was a 69-year-old "Mulatto" head of a Whiteriver Township, Randolph County, Indiana household with Polly (60 years old) and son Maston (13 years old) in 1850. His children were

i. Mary, married William Weaver.

ii. Irvin.

iii. John⁵, born say 1805.

iv. Hannah, married James Scott, son of Robert Scott who was emancipated in 1779 in North Carolina. They came to Randolph County from Wayne County in 1832. They had fourteen children.

v. Robert, who lived in Cabin Creek Settlement.

vi. Charles.

vii. Coleman.

viii. William H., born say 1830, told his life story to the author of the History of Randolph County in 1888 as follows: He started life at sea in 1845 as servant to Commodore Perry aboard the James K. Polk which burned at the Strait of Gibraltar. In 1847 he worked as a steward on a steamer to Europe, the Middle East, and the West Indies. In 1852 he worked on several Mississippi steamboats and later returned to farm life in Randolph County [History of Randolph County, 137-138].

ix. Zachary.

x. Phebe Ann, married Jacob Felters.

xi. Maston, born about 1837, thirteen years old in 1850.

 

6.    Wright Demery, born say 1777, was head of a Northampton County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [NC:718]. His children may have been

i. William, born say 1798, married Tamer Wilkins, 31 January 1816 Northampton County marriage bond, Wright Demery surety. William and Tamer were found dead six years later on 5 March 1822 when a coroner's jury was appointed by the Northampton County court to determine the cause of death [Minutes 1821-25, 84].

ii. Micajah², born 1814, married Nancy Roberts, 20 August 1833 Northampton County bond. They were counted in household no. 231 in the census for Jefferson Township, Logan County, Ohio, in 1850.

 

Other members of the family were

i. John, born before 1776, head of a Chesterfield County, South Carolina household of 7 "free colored" in 1830.

ii. John, born before 1776, head of a Liberty County, South Carolina household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [SC:779], one of two John Dimerys counted as 3 "other free" in Marion District in 1810 [SC:84a] and head of a Horry District, South Carolina household of 9 "free colored" in 1830. He was taxed on 300 acres and 2 free Negroes in Horry District in 1824 [Comptroller General, Returns 1824, no.311].

 

DEMPSEY FAMILY

1.    Patience¹ Dempsey, born say 1700, purchased 50 acres on Salmon Creek in Bertie County on 6 May 1743 and another 50 acres adjoining this land on 23 April 1759. She may have been the daughter of Mary Dempsey who also purchased land on Salmon Creek in Bertie a few years earlier on 4 June 1739 [DB F:84, 425; I:224]. Mary died shortly after, before November that year, when (her son?) George Dempsey proved an inventory of her estate in Bertie County court [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, I:267]. George lived in the vicinity of Patience and her family but was taxed as white in all the extant Bertie tax lists. Patience was taxable on 1 tithe in the 1751 summary tax list for Bertie [CCR 190] and taxable in the 1756 list of Constable John Reddit, adjacent to George and Joseph Dempsey [CR 10.702.1, Box 1]. She was a white woman who was taxable on her children. In 1759 she was listed in John Brickell's list, not taxed on herself, but taxable on her "sons Thorogood, James, Joshua," and "Negro Kate" (her daughter Catherine, named in her will). Her 12 February 1764 Bertie County will was proved in August 1764. She left 50 acres where she was then living to her son Thorough Good Dempsey, left 50 acres on Salmon Creek to be divided among her sons James and Joshua Dempsey and grandson Isaac Dempsey, a cow and a calf to each of her daughters Amey Dempsey, Cate, and Mary; a cow and calf to her grandchild--written as Billy Dempsey in the recorded will and Betty Dempsey in the original; and a cow and calf to Patience Dempsey, raised from her unnamed mother's cow. She also gave her daughter Amey a horse "in trust for her father" [WB A:58]. However, there is no further record of him in the Bertie County records.

A June 1849 Bertie County court case provides a description of the family. A Dempsey descendant, accused of carrying his gun without a license, gave evidence of his parentage. A witness deposed that he heard "barncastle, a very old man now deceased," say that the defendant's great grandfather, Joseph Dempsey, alias Darby, was a "coal black negro;" his wife a white woman (Patience?); their child Joseph, a reddish copper colored man with curly red hair and blue eyes; his wife a white woman; their child William married a white woman; their son Whitmel married a white woman, and they were the parents of the defendant [Catterall, Judicial Cases Concerning American Slavery, II:132].

William, the defendant's grandfather, was taxed in Joseph Dempsey's household about 1772 [CR 10.702.1, box 3]. Barncastle may have been Richard Barnecaster who was counted in the 1790 census for Bertie County [NC:11]. "Whitmel" may have been Whitand Demsey, head of a Bertie County household of 13 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:68]. Patience's children were

2    i. Joseph, born say 1720, died after 1788.

3    ii. Amy, born say 1724.

4    iii. Catherine/ Kate, born say 1734.

5    iv. Thoroughgood¹, born say 1740.

6    v. James¹, born say 1742.

vi. Joshua¹, born say 1745, taxed as a single "free Mulatto" in the 1763 list of John Nichols, and in 1764 with wife, identified as Mary in the 1766 list of John Crickett. He purchased land of unstated acreage in Bertie County on the south side of Salmon Creek and Waters Branch for , 15 on 1 October 1767 [DB L:101]. He was ordered to work on the road from Duckinfield's in May 1782, and his sons were ordered to work on the road from the "middle swamp to Hootins" in November 1787 along with the other freeholders of that district [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, V:680]. He sold for 150 silver dollars two tracts of land: one of 50 acres on the south side of Salmon Creek and the other of 41 acres on Salmon Creek and Waters Branch on 15 November 1797, and purchased 70 acres in Bertie County on Green Branch near Duckinfield's line for , 70 on 29 December 1797 [DB R:514; S:50]. He was head of a Bertie County household of 9 "other free" in 1790 [NC:12], 7 in 1800 [NC:40], and 12 in 1810 [NC:147]. On 14 July 1807 he made a deposition, stating that five or six years previous, he had entered into an agreement with George Ryan of Bertie County to sell him land at a purchase price valued by four men agreeable to each party, but Ryan obtained possession of the land before it could be valued or the price paid. He owed Ryan $10 which was to be part of the purchase price. When Ryan died, Joshua took possession of the land. Captain Cornelius Ryan, son of George Ryan, deposed on 23 April 1808 that sometime in the year 1792 or 1793 Joshua came to his house to buy some beef and said that there was still something due him from the land he had sold his father, about , 20 [North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, Dempsey, Joshua: George L. Ryan vs Joshua Dempsey, Ancestry.com].

7    vii. Mary Brantly, born say 1744, married Peter Brantly.

 

2.    Joseph Dempsey, born say 1720, was not named in Patience Dempsey's will but may have been her son. He was taxable in Bertie County on 2 tithes in the 1754 summary list, and was a "Mul." insolvent taxpayer in 1758. He was taxable with his son George in 1759; with son William in 1770 and 1772, and with Keziah in 1774 and 1775 [CR 10.702.1, box 3]. He bought 78 acres on the south side of Bucklesberry Pocosin in Bertie County on 10 August 1742, sold this land to Robert West on 11 May 1752, and repurchased it again on 5 April 1756 [DB F:377; G:527; I:242]. His wife Eleanor Dempsey signed the dower release for the 11 May 1752 sale. Since she was not tithed in any of the tax lists, she was probably white as claimed in the 1849 court case. He sold the remainder of his land by a deed proved in the August 1788 Bertie County court [DB O:241]. His children were

i. George², born before 1748, taxed in his father's household in the list of William Gray in 1759: "Joseph Dempsey and George his son" 2 black tithes. He was head of a Bertie County household of 9 "other free" in 1790 [NC:12].

8    ii. William¹, born about 1760.

iii. Keziah, born 1762, taxable in Joseph's household in 1774.

iv. ?Johnson, born say 1763, received voucher no. 2428 on 26 August 1783 for , 7 pay in Edenton District for military service in the Revolution [North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-5MF1, Dempseys, Johnson]. He was among the freeholders ordered by the May 1792 Bertie court to work on the road from Luke Collins Ferry to Sprewell Road with William and George Dempsey [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, VI:942]. He was head of a Bertie County household of 7 "other free" in 1800 [NC:40], 5 in Halifax County, North Carolina, in 1810 [NC:16], and 8 "free colored" in Halifax County in 1830.

v. ___emiah (Jeremiah?), received voucher no. 1646 for  , 9 on 20 May 1783 in Edenton District for military service in the Revolution [North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-5T8Y,   Dempseys, *Miah].

 

3.    Amy Dempsey, born say 1724, was called "Amey Demsey of Bertie County Spinster" when she sued Samuel Ormes, agent for Nathaniel Duckingfield, for her freedom on 29 March 1745 in Chowan County General Court [General Court Dockets, 1742-45, 2^nd and 3^rd pages from the end of reel]. She was taxed as a "free molato" in John Nichols's list for Bertie County in 1763. By her mother's Bertie County will, she was allowed to keep a cow, a calf, and a mare previously lent to her. In her will Patience also named a granddaughter Patience Dempsey, who was to receive the first calf from the cow she had given her unnamed mother. Both Amy and Catherine received cows, so one of them was Patience²'s mother. Amy's children were

i. Jesse¹, born about 1748, the eight-year-old son of Amy Demsey a "Free Mullatoe," bound to Margaret Dukinfield to learn husbandry on 27 January 1756 [N.C. Apprentice bonds and records, Bertie County, [North Carolina Apprentice bonds and records, Bertie County, 1750-1799, frame 541 of 2002; http://familysearch.org/search/catalog/766317]. He was taxable in 1767 in John Pearson's household in the tax list of William Nichols. He was listed in the 1778 Bertie tax summary list, assessment blank.

ii. George³, born about 1748, the eight-year-old son of Amy Demsey a "Free Mullattoe," bound to Margaret Dukinfield to learn husbandry on 27 January 1756.

iii. Squire, born about 1750, the six-year-old son of Amy Demsey a "Free Mullattoe," bound to Margaret Dukinfield to learn husbandry on 27 January 1756 [CR 010.101.7 by NCGSJ XIII:168, 169, 170]. He enlisted in Williams's Company of the 5^th North Carolina Regiment in 1777 and died 17 May 1778 [Clark, The State Records of North Carolina, XVI:1042].

iv. ?Patience², head of a Perquimans County household of 11 "other free" and 2 white women in 1810 [NC:948].

 

4.    Catherine/ Kate Dempsey, born say 1734, was taxable in Thomas Ashley's household in the summary list for Bertie County in 1751 [CCR 190]. She was a "free Mulatto" taxable in her own household in the constable's list of Benjamin Ashburn(?) in 1762 and taxed for the last time in the list of William Nichols in 1767. Her son was

i. George⁴, born about 1750, ordered by the August 1763 Bertie court bound an apprentice to John Nichols, one of the executor's of his grandmother's will [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, III:631]. George was a taxable "free Mulatto" in John Nichol household in the 1766 list of John Crickett.

 

5.    Thoroughgood¹ Dempsey, born say 1740, was taxed in the 1763 list of John Nichols with Elizabeth Dempsey, identified as his wife in the 1764 summary and later Bertie tax lists. He received 50 acres by his mother's will. He and Elizabeth were last taxed in the 1770 list of Edward Rasor. He purchased a bed from the Bertie County estate of William Ashley on 25 November 1776 [North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979, https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1911121]. He was taxable in District 9 of Halifax County, North Carolina, in 1783 [GA 64.1] and head of a household of 5 free males and 5 free females in District 3 of Halifax County in 1786 for the state census. He purchased 40 acres in Halifax County on Little Quankey Creek on 20 November 1792 [DB 17:465] and was head of a Halifax County household of 8 "other free" in 1790 [NC:61] and 5 in 1800 [NC:307]. He may have been the ancestor of the many Dempseys who were living in Halifax County in the early nineteenth century:

i. James², head of a Halifax County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [NC:306], 11 in 1810 [NC:16], and 10 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:145].

ii. Melvin, head of a Halifax County household of 9 "other free" in 1810 [NC:16].

iii. Uriah, born before 1776, head of a Halifax County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [NC:16], 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:145], and 4 "free colored" in 1830.

iv. William², head of a Halifax County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [NC:17] and 11 "free colored" in Bertie County in 1820 [NC:68].

v. John, head of a Halifax County household of 3 "other free" in 1810 [NC:17] and 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:145].

vi. Eliza, head of a Halifax County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [NC:17].

 

6.    James¹ Dempsey, born say 1742, was a "free molatto" taxed in the Bertie County list of John Nichols in 1763 with "free molatto" Rebecca Dempsey, identified as his wife in the 1764 summary and later Bertie lists. He purchased 75 acres in Bertie County on Sams Branch adjoining his land and George¹ Dempsey's on 13 October 1762 and sold this land to William James on 5 September 1772 [DB K:217; L:349]. He was taxed on a valuation of , 513 in the 1779 list of Ryan and Hardy. He moved to Halifax County where he was head of a household of 3 "other free" in 1790 [NC:12] and 7 in 1800 [NC:304]. His children may have been

i. Thurogood², born say 1760, head of a Bertie County household of 7 "other free" in 1790 [NC:12], 10 in 1800 [NC:40], and 7 in Martin County in 1810 [NC:433].

ii. Edmund, head of a Bertie County household of 14 "other free" in 1810 [NC:147].

iii. Josiah, born 1776-94, head of a Bertie County household of 10 "free colored" in 1830 [NC:68].

 

7.    Mary Brantly, born say 1744, was probably the "daughter Mary" named in Patience Dempsey's 1764 will. She was taxable with Patience's grandson Isaac in the 1764 summary list, and she was taxable in her own household in the 1766 summary list and the 1767 list of William Nichols. Her children and husband were identified in the Bertie County court and indenture records:

i. Sarah, born about 1760, called orphan of Peter Brantly, deceased, in Mary's September 1771 Bertie County court petition to have her bound as an apprentice to John Pearson, the executor of Patience's will [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, III:982]. The indenture was signed the same month [NCGSJ XIV:34]. She received "one Motherless Calf" by the will of her grandmother Patience.

ii. Darby, born about 1768, also called orphan of Peter Brantly, bound out with his sister Sarah. He was head of a Bertie County household of 4 "other free" in 1790 [NC:11].

iii. ?Jeremiah, born 10 January 1774, bound to be a shoemaker on 16 May 1791 (no parent named) [NCGSJ XIV:165].

iv. Rachel, born February 1776, daughter of Mary Brantly, bound an apprentice in May 1786 [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, V:582]. She married King Sanderlin, 21 December 1805 Bertie County bond, Richard Dempsey surety.

v. Joshua, born January 1778, bound an apprentice cooper in May 1786 [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, V:582], head of a Bertie County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [NC:147].

 

8.    William¹ Dempsey, born about 1760, was taxable in the household of (his father?) Joseph Dempsey in 1772. He enlisted as a private in Baker's Regiment for 9 months on 20 July 1778 and deserted on 30 August 1778 [Clark, State Records of North Carolina, XVI:1046]. He received voucher no. 2228 for , 11 in Edenton District on 26 August 1783 for military service in the Revolution [North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-GSLD, Demseys, William]. He was head of a Bertie County household of 8 "other free" in 1800 [NC:41] and 11 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:68]. He died before 27 February 1826 when his estate was sold in Bertie County. Thomas Dempsey, Kesiah Dempsey, and Jonson Dempsey were buyers at the sale of the estate [North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, Ancestry.com database on-line]. According to the 1849 court case mentioned above, his son was probably

i. Whitand/Whitmel, born 1776-94, called Whitand Demsey, head of a Bertie County household of 13 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:68]. He was called Whitmell Demsey when he married Anna Bowen (who was most likely white), 17 June 1801 Bertie County bond, Elisha Dempsey surety.

 

Other Demseys

9.    Parthena Dempsey, born say 1760, had several of her children, "mulatto Bastards," indentured by the Bertie court. They were

i. Dick, born 1775, ordered bound to Zedekiah Stone in November 1778.

ii. Rendah, born 1777, ordered bound to Zedekiah Stone [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, IV:274].

iii. Bristol, born 1779, bound to Zedekiah Stone to be a shoemaker on 9 February 1780 [NCGSJ XIV:36].

iv. ?Thomas, born about 1779, no parent named when he was ordered bound by the August 1790 Bertie County court to David James to be a blacksmith [Haun, Bertie County Court Minutes, V:458]. He was head of a Bertie County household of 4 "other free" in 1800 [NC:40]. He died before February term 1805 when a member of the grand jury of Bertie County informed the court that a "young lad of coler" by the name of William Dempsey, about ten or twelve years old, was Thomas Dempsey's son [North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, Dempsey, Thomas, Ancestry.com database-on-lne].

 

10.    Ann Dempsey, born say 1770, was head of a Bertie County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 [NC:41] and 3 in Halifax County in 1810 [NC:17]. Her children were

i. Johnston, son of Ann, no age or race stated when he was bound to Jehu Nichols to be a blacksmith on 3 February 1794 [NCGSJ XV:34]. He was head of a Bertie County household of 2 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:68] and 1 "free colored" in Halifax County in 1830.

ii. ?William³, bound an apprentice on 3 February 1794, no parent named [NCGSJ XV:34]. He was head of a Bertie County household of 6 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:68].

iii. ?Elisha, born before 1776, bound an apprentice on 3 February 1794, no age or parent named [NCGSJ XV:34]. He was head of a Bertie County household of 12 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:68].

 

11.    Henry¹/ Harry Dempsey, born about 1770, was head of a Northampton County, North Carolina household of 2 "other free" in 1800 [NC:436]. He obtained free papers in Northampton County on 11 October 1839, and registered in Logan county, Ohio, on 1 October 1847. The papers described him and his wife as

yellow complexion, 65 or 70, 5 foot nine and one half inches high, right leg missing, wife Tabitha, yellow complexion [Turpin, Register of Black, Mulatto, and Poor Persons, 12].

They were living in Urbana Township, Champaign County, Ohio, in 1850 [Census p.831]. Their children were

i. Wesley, born about 1817, married Sally Anders, 2 June 1838 Northampton County bond, Squire Walden surety. He obtained free papers in Northampton County on 9 October 1838: son of Henry and Tabitha Dempsy...five feet nine or ten inches high of brown complexion well set...married to Sally Andus daughter of Archer Andus. His wife Sally was born about 1820, of free parentage...of bright complexion. They recorded their free papers in Champaign County, Ohio, on 22 December 1841.

ii. Henry², born 28 December 1821.

iii. Eliza, born 28 May 1824.

iv. Elisha, born 22 February 1827.

v. Harrison, born 4 January 1829.

vi. Elizabeth, born 5 April 1832 [Turpin, Register of Black, Mulatto, and Poor Persons, 12].

 

12.    Jesse² Dempsey, born about 1773, was head of a Northampton County household of 7 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:224] and counted in the 1850 Ohio census for Logan County in Monroe Township, household number 155, page 20: 77 year-old, Male Mulatto, with 60-year-old Angeline, 20-year-old Willis, 17-year-old Rachel, and 7-year-old Edward, all born in North Carolina. Perhaps his other children were the Dempseys living in the nearby households:

i. James³, born in North Carolina about 1823, counted with Kiturah Dempsey who was 30 years old.

ii. Dillard, born in North Carolina about 1825, counted with Anna Dempsey. Like a number of other free African Americans he moved to Canada where his children were born. They were listed with him in his 1860 Logan County household: 6-year-old Thomas, 7-year-old Angeline, and 3-year-old Joseph. He had real estate worth $1,800 and personal estate of $300 in 1860.

 

DENNIS FAMILY

1.    Elizabeth Dennis, born say 1736, was living in Brunswick County, Virginia, on 24 June 1765 when she was sued for debt by the churchwardens of Meherrin Parish. She may have been the mother of Robert and Catherine Dennis, "mullata Bastard Children," who were bound out by the churchwardens of St. Andrew's Parish, Brunswick County, on 23 July 1759 [Orders 1765, 270; 1757-9, 374]. And she may have been related to Diverz Dennis, head of a Bertie County household of 9 "other free" in 1800 [NC:42]. Perhaps she was the mother of

i. Robert, born say 1754, called "a Certain Molatto Boy, Bob," in Chatham County, North Carolina court on 14 February 1775 when he complained that Pritteman Berry was unlawfully detaining him as a servant. He was called Robert Dennis "molatto" when the court ordered him released from his indenture to Berry about a month later on 9 May. He died about May 1795 when an inquest on his dead body was returned to court by the coroner [Minutes 1774-9, 51, 54, 61; 1794-1800, 43b].

2    ii. Catherine, born say 1756.

 

2.    Catherine Dennis, born say 1756, was living in Chatham County when her daughter Mary Dennis was bound to Joseph Griffin. She was the mother of

i. Mary, born about 1772, eleven years old when she was bound out by the Chatham County court on 13 May 1783 [Minutes 1781-5, 31b].

ii. ?Phillis, a "free woman of colour," living in Cumberland County, North Carolina, on 10 June 1841 when the court gave her permission to use her gun in the county [Minutes 1840-2].

 

Another member of a Dennis family was

i. Andrew, born 22 February 1755, a sixteen-year-old "Mulatto" bound to Daniel Roberts in Norborne Parish, Frederick County, Virginia, on 7 August 1771 [Orders 1770-2, 239].

 

DENNUM/ DENHAM FAMILY

 

1.    Hannah Dennam, born say 1690, received slaves Jack and Peter by the 2 March 1726/7 Charles City County will of (her father?) Gibson Gibson [DW 1724-31, 122, 161-2, 166-7]. She may have been the mother of

2    i. Philip, born say 1730.

 

2.    Philip Denham, born say 1730, was taxable on his own tithe and John Going's tithe in Goochland County in 1754 in the list of William Burton [Tithables, 1730-1755, frame 282]. He was living in Halifax County, Virginia, when he and William Donathan were among those ordered to clear a road from Burches Creek to Mirey Creek. On 21 March 1765 his bill of sale to James Roberts, Jr., Gentleman, was proved, and on 16 May 1765 the court presented him, Shadrack Gowin, and Peter Rickman for concealing a tithable on information of John Bates, Gentleman. The tithables were probably their wives. Their cases were dismissed in August 1766, perhaps on payment of the tax. He was sued for debt seven times between June 1769 and 23 April 1774. In October 1770 the court awarded one of Philip's debtors 10 shillings for carpentry work that he had performed for Moses Echols [Pleas 1763-4, 303; 1764-7, 46, 358; 369, 415, 491, 528; 1770-2, 55, 86, 114, 147-8; 1774-9, 43]. He may have been the father of

i. David, born about 1754, head of a Claiborne County, Tennessee household of 9 "free colored" in 1830. He was about 80 years old on 1 December 1834 when he appeared in Hawkins County, Tennessee court to apply for a pension for services in the Revolution. He stated that he was born in Louisa County, Virginia, and enlisted in Guilford County, North Carolina. His wife Fanny, age 80 years, applied for a widow's pension in Hancock County, Tennessee, on 2 July 1856, giving evidence that they were married in September 1811, that her maiden name was Fanny Lucas, they had nine children, and her husband died on 14 June 1850. His payments for military service listed his name as David Dunham/ Dennam/ Dennan [NARA, W.27540, M804, https://www.fold3.com/image/1/20148333].

ii. Harden, born about 1760, head of a Harrison County, Indiana household of 10 "free colored" in 1830. He was about seventy three when he appeared in Jackson County, Tennessee court on 11 November 1833 to apply for a pension for his service in the Revolution. He entered the service in Guilford and Washington counties, North Carolina, for several terms of 2-6 months and served as a substitute for his brother David Denham. He stated that he was born in Hanover County, Virginia, and was living in North Carolina when he entered the service. He moved to Kentucky, near Lexington, then to Warren County, Kentucky, then to Harrison County, Indiana, and then to Jackson County in the fall of the year 1832 [NARA, S.30985, M804, https://www.fold3.com/image/246/20148444].

 

DE ROSARIO FAMILY

1.    Lawrence De Rosario, born say 1735, and his wife Susannah, "free Negros," were the parents of Mary De Rozaras who was born 30 August and baptized 6 October 1765 in Bruton Parish in Williamsburg [Bruton Parish Register, 26]. He was probably related to Mary Rosarro/ Rozarro who was taxable in James City County in 1768 and 1769 [Tax Book, 1768-1769; http://familysearch.org/search/catalog, film 8359391, images 59, 136 of 163]. He was paid , 2 by Timson Crawley, orphan of Robert Crawley, in 1771 and paid Crawley 6 shillings for the hire of a slave girl in 1773 [Guardians' Accounts 1736-80, 485, 496]. He purchased 25 acres in York County on 15 December 1780 [DB 6:117], and he proved a deed from Sarah Cumbo to Simon Gillett in York County court on 18 October 1784 [Orders 1784-7, 86; DB 6:252]. He was taxable in York County from 1782 to 1793 and taxable on 2 free tithes and a slave in 1794, taxable on 21 acres in 1791. His widow Susanna Derozario was taxable on a horse in 1796, a horse and a slave in 1797 and head of a household of a "free Negro & mulatto over 16" in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1841, frames 69, 92, 107, 140, 191, 201, 220, 229, 387; Land Tax, 1782-1831]. A report of the allotment of Susanna's dower in the lands of her late husband Lawrence was returned to York County court on 19 June 1797 [Orders 1795-1803, 180]. He was the father of

i. ?Elizabeth Rozario, born say 1760, head of a household of 3 "free" black persons in Williamsburg in 1782 [VA:45], probably the mother of Caroline and Suckey Rosara who were counted in a list of "Free Negroes and mulattoes" in Williamsburg in 1813 [PPTL, 1783-1827]. See also the Rosario family.

ii. Mary, born 30 August 1765, registered in York County on 26 April 1798: a Short Black Negro aged about 30 years with a Pleasant Countenance when Spoken to [Guardians' Accounts 1780-1823, following index, No. 1].

iii. ?Clary Rozorro, born before 1776, head of a James City County household of 4 free colored" in 1820 [VA:119].

iv. John, born say 1770, a "free black Man" taxable with his wife Rachel, slave Jack and 2 horses in Elizabeth City County in 1785: called John Rosario [PPTL 1782-1820, frames 40, 80], and taxable as John W. DeRozario in York County in 1796, 1804, 1805, 1807, 1812, 1814, and 1816, head of a household of a "free Negro & mulatto over 16" in 1814 [PPTL, 1782-1841, frames 219, 296, 305, 327, 375, 405]. He was married to Nancy, the widow of John Jones by 15 October 1804 when they were summoned by the court to give security to Charles Carter for the administration of John Jones's estate. As security, they mortgaged property to Carter by indenture recorded in court on 18 February 1804. On 15 May 1809 the court ruled that John W. was a "free negro" and should not have been issued permission to keep a gun [Orders 1804-14, 46-7, 56, 331, 337]. On 10 March 1830 he made a deed of trust for 20 acres adjoining the lands of the estate of Lawrence Rozarow for a debt of $22.05 [DB 11:201].

 

They may have been the ancestors of

i. Laurence Rosarran, born about 1804, registered in Charles City County on 19 February 1824: twenty years of age, 5 feet 4-1/2 inches, dark complexion [Minutes 1823-9, 25].

 

DIXON FAMILY

Members of the Dixon family of Virginia were

i. Richard Dickson, born say 1760, a "Mul" head of household in Buxton's District of Nansemond County in 1784 [VA:74].

ii. Francis, Sr., taxable on 30 acres on North Run in Charles City County from 1787 to 1817 [Land Tax List 1782-1830].

iii. Francis, Jr., a "Mulattoe" taxable in Charles City County in 1813.

iv. Henry, head of a Charles City County household of 1 "other free" in 1810 [VA:959].

 

DOBBINS FAMILY

1.    George¹ Dobbins, born say 1710, and his wife Mary were the parents of Elizabeth and Mary Dobbins, "poor orphans" of Southam Parish, who were bound out by the Cumberland County, Virginia court on 26 August 1752 [Orders 1752-8, 37]. They were the parents of

2    i. ?Sarah, born say 1730.

3    ii. ?Jane¹, born say 1740.

4    iii. Elizabeth, born say 1747.

iv. Mary, born say 1749.

v. ?Lydia, mother of Jane, an orphan who the Powhatan County court ordered bound by the overseers of the poor to Stephen Hix on 20 September 1797. Earlier, on 16 November 1792 the court called her Jane, "Molatto orphan of ____ Dobbins deceased," when it ordered the overseers to bind her to Mary McCraw [Orders 1791-4, 198; 1794-8, 391].

 

2.    Sarah Dobbins, born say 1730, petitioned the Cumberland County court on 27 August 1751 for her freedom from Thomas Walker and was granted her petition on 26 August 1752. She was called Sarah Dobbins alias Young on 27 August 1751 when the court ordered the churchwardens of Southam Parish to bind out her son Will. On 23 March 1761 the court ordered the churchwardens to bind her son Charles Dobbyns to Philip Dunford, and on 27 July 1761 the court ordered the churchwardens to bind her children William and George Dobbyns to William Clarke [Orders 1749-51, 316; 1752-8, 40; 1758-62, 371]. She was old and infirm in 1811 when she was living at Belmead in Powhatan County [A List of Free Negroes and Mulattoes within the County of Powhatan, 1811, African American Narrative Digital Collection, LVA]. She was the mother of

i. William¹, born say 1751, discharged from the service of William Clarke by the Cumberland County court on testimony of Joseph Robinson on 27 July 1772. On 23 November 1772 the court ordered William Clarke and his wife Martha to pay him his freedom dues [Orders 1770-2, 315]. On 27 October 1784 William Gatewood received his final pay of ,15 for serving in the Revolution [NARA, M881, Roll 1024, frame 871 of 1650 https://www.fold3.com/image/286702733].

ii. Charles, born about 1762, living in Dinwiddie county when he enlisted in the Revolution as a substitute on 6 June 1782 and was sized the same month: age 20, 5'6-2/4" high, yellow complexion, a planter [The Chesterfield Supplement or Size Roll of Troops at Chesterfield Court House, LVA accession no. 23816, by http://revwarapps.org/b81.pdf (p.101)]. He was listed in the roll and muster of the 3^rd Company commanded by Major Samuel Finley from 1 December 1782 to 1 May 1783. A Charles Dobbins was listed as sick and absent in the 9 July 1778 muster of the 9^th Virginia Regiment in Brunswick and in the muster of Captain Peter Minor's Company of the 5^th Virginia Regiment at Pompton Plains, New Jersey, on 1 December 1778 as having died on 15 October 1778 [NARA, M246, roll 113, frames 674, 752; roll 102, frames 347, 419]. He was taxable in Powhatan County in 1794, 1795 and a "M^o" taxable there from 1802 to 1806 [PPTL, 1787-1825, frames 105, 117, 239, 255, 277, 293, 316]. Henry Skipwith of Cumberland County, Virginia, placed an ad in the 19 April 1783 issue of the Virginia Gazette, claiming that "a tall slim mulatto man named Tom, about twenty years of age, five feet six and three quarters high...and resembles an Indian from whom he is descended," had run away and been received as a substitute in Dinwiddie County, brought to Cumberland Old Court-house with the recruits of that county, re-inlisted for the war the previous fall, went by the name of Charles Dobbins, then cut off his forefinger in order to marry a free woman, near Fine Creek Mill in Powhatan County, who had determined never to have a husband in the Continental Army, and supposed this mutilation would procure him a discharge [Virginia Gazette (Hayes); http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/gos/explore.html].

iii. George², sued in Powhatan County by William Clarke on 16 December 1784, by Drury Hudgons for , 2 on 16 June 1785, and sued as codefendant with Edward Gwyn for , 4 by Archer Pledge on 16 March 1786 [Orders 1784-6, 90, 132, 251, 295]. The suit was also heard in Goochland County on 19 March 1787 [Orders 1786, 344]. He was taxable in Powhatan County on 2 horses in 1787 and 1788 [PPTL, 1787-1825, frames 5, 18] and head of a Nelson County household of 6 "other free" in 1810 [VA:689].

 

3.    Jane¹ Dobbins, born say 1740, was the mother of Benjamin Branham (no race indicated) who was bound by the Cumberland County court to Robert Moore on 24 August 1761. He was called Benjamin Branum, a "Mulattoe Boy," on 23 May 1763 when the court ordered the churchwardens of Southam Parish to bind him to Absalom Davenport [Orders 1758-62, 391, 477; 1762-4, 219]. She was the mother of

i. Benjamin Branham, a "Mulattoe" boy bound out in 1763.

ii. William², son of Jane Dobbins, bound to Joseph Harris in Cumberland County on 27 August 1764, no race indicated [Orders 1764-7, 4].

 

4.    Elizabeth Dobbins, born say 1747, was living in Cumberland County on 23 January 1769 when the court ordered the churchwardens of Southam Parish to bind out her son James Dobbins to James Bryden. On 28 August 1775 the court bound her "mulattoe" children Henry and John Dobbins to Hans Stegar [Orders 1774-8, 339]. On 16 May 1782 the Powhatan County court ordered the churchwardens of Southam Parish to bind out her orphan Harry Dobbins to John Cheatwood and to bind John and Richard Dobbins to Francis Cousins [Orders 1777-84, 225]. She was the mother of

i. James, born say 1766, ordered bound to James Bryden on 23 January 1769 and was a "poor orphan" bound to Francis Stegar on 26 April 1773 [Orders 1772-4, 178].

5    ii. Richard, born about 1768.

iii. Henry, born say 1772, taxable in John Chitwood's Powhatan County household in 1791 [PPTL, 1787-1825, frame 58], perhaps the Harry Dobbin who was head of a Greenville Township, Muhlenberg County, Tennessee household of 1 "free colored" in 1830.

iv. John, born say 1774, called "John Colly alias John Dobbins" when he sued Richard Baugh for trespass, assault and battery in Powhatan County on 21 February 1799. He was awarded $50 damages [Orders 1798-1802, 12, 75, 109]. He was a blacksmith at Scottville, Powhatan County, in 1801 [List Mulattoes and Free Negroes in Powhatan County in the year 1801, African American Narrative Digital Collection, LVA]. He was taxable in Powhatan County in 1801, a "F.B." taxable there in 1812, called John Colly, "F.B." in 1811 and 1813 [PPTL, 1787-1825, frames 222, 397, 419, 437]. On 19 September 1804 he was called John Colly alias Dobbins when the court ordered the clerk to furnish him and Richard Dobbins, "free born Mulattos," with certificates of their freedom [Orders 1802-4, 604].

 

5.   Richard Dobbins, born about 1768, son of Betty Dobbyns, was bound by the churchwardens of Southam Parish in Cumberland County to John Skip Harris on 23 September 1771 [Orders 1770-2, 320]. He was a "free Black" taxable in Powhatan County in 1792 [PPTL, 1787-1825, frame 76], a miller in a "List of free Negroes & Molattoes" in Stephen Bedford's District of Charlotte County with wife Jenny and a male child in 1802, a ditcher listed with George, James and Jenny Dobbins in 1803 [PPTL 1782-1813, frames 542, 580]. On 19 September 1804 the Powhatan County court ordered the clerk to furnish Richard and John Colly Dobbins, "free born Mulattos," with certificates of their freedom [Orders 1802-4, 604]. He was a "Mulatto" ditcher in the upper district of Goochland County in 1805 and 1806 [PPTL, 1782-1809, frames 739, 779] and a "free Negro" listed with a male and female (probably his wife) in Prince Edward County in 1813 [PPTL 1809-31, frame 97]. He registered in Petersburg on 8 July 1818: a free man of Colour, five feet seven and a half inches high, fifty years old, yellowish brown Complection, born free p. cert. of Registry from Prince Edward County [Register of Free Negroes 1794-1819, no. 920]. He was the father of

i. ?Jane², married Anthony Jenkins, 26 October 1815 Goochland County bond, Austin Isaacs surety. On 16 July 1795 the Powhatan County court bound Anthony, son of Jenny Jenkins, to John Moss to be a shoemaker commencing 15 October 1795 for twelve years [Orders 1794-8, 123].

ii. George³, born say 1800.

iii. James, born say 1802.

 

DOLBY/ DOBY FAMILY

1.    John¹ Daulby, born say 1740, and his wife Mary, were "F.N." taxables in St. Brides Parish, Edmonds Bridge District, Norfolk County, Virginia, in 1767 [Wingo, Norfolk County Tithables, 1766-1780, p.27]. They were probably the parents of

i. Jarrot Doby/ Dalbey/ Dolby, born say 1760, head of a Northampton County, North Carolina household of 7 "other free" in 1790 [NC:75], 10 in 1800 [NC:435] and 7 in 1810 [NC:719].

ii. John² Dobby, head of a Northampton County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [NC:718].

 

DONATHAN FAMILY

1.    Catherine Donathan, born say 1685, the white servant of Major Robert Bristow, had a "bastard Child born of her body begotten by a negroe man" in Lancaster County, Virginia, on 10 March 1703/4 [Orders 1702-13, 23]. Her child was apparently

2    i. William¹, born 28 February 1704.

 

2.    William¹ Donathan, born 28 February 1704, a "Mullatto," petitioned the Spotsylvania County court for his freedom from his master John Grayson, claiming that he was over thirty-one years of age. However, Grayson convinced the court that William would not be thirty-one until 28 February 1735 [Orders 1734-5, 285]. He was sued for debt in Orange County, Virginia court in May 1738, but the case was dismissed on agreement of both parties. He was living in St. Thomas's Parish when the sub-sheriff reported that "he will not be taken" when he attempted to arrest William for a debt of , 6.11 which he owed James Patten, Gentleman. The case was dismissed the following month on agreement of both parties. In July 1741 he purchased land by deed recorded in Orange County court. On 27 May 1742 he was living in St. Thomas's Parish when the Orange County court presented him and Elizabeth Hawkins for committing fornication. The charges were dismissed on 28 August when it was reported that they had run away. And on 1 December 1742 the sheriff reported that he could not be found when he tried to execute an order to seize 57 acres of land William owned in order to satisfy a debt of , 68.8 which he owed Joseph Morton, Gentleman, by promissory note [Orders 1734-9, 324, 339; 1739-41, 429; 1741-3, 153, 223, 344; Judgments, February 1741 (LVA microfilm no. 81), frames 244-9; January 1742 (LVA film no. 83), frames 611-6]. He purchased 90 acres in Louisa County on the south side of Gilbert's Creek from George and Susanna Gibson for ,7 on 26 March 1745 (called William Dollithan) [DB 1:374]. He was living in Louisa County on 28 May 1745 when he was presented by the court for failing to list a tithable (probably his wife) [Orders 1742-8, 140, 152, 157, 172]. He was granted 200 acres in Louisa County on both sides of Gibby's Creek adjoining his own land and George Gibson on 7 August 1752 [Patents 31:183]. He was in Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, by 14 November 1753 when he purchased 227 acres on Fucking Creek. He sold this land on 31 July 1758 and purchased another tract of 200 acres in Lunenburg County on the head branches of Little Creek [DB 4:66; 6:82]. He purchased land in Halifax County, Virginia, by deed proved in August 1766 and was added to the list of tithables in September 1769 but exempted (due to old age) from paying taxes in June 1770. He was permitted to build a water grist mill on his property in July 1770 [Pleas 5:265; 6:461, 506, 512]. He was living in Halifax County on 16 July 1773 when he sold his 200 acre tract in Mecklenburg County to Jacob Chavis [DB 4:144]. He and his wife Betty sold 400 acres of land by deed proved in Halifax County on 17 February 1780 and 21 February 1782 [Pleas 1779-83, 114, 231]. He was taxable in Henry County on slaves Rose and Nance from 1782 to 1784 [PPTL, 1782-1830, frames 10, 33, 82]. He was probably the ancestor of

i. William², head of a Wilkes County, North Carolina household of 1 white male over 16, 1 under 16, and 4 slaves in 1790 [NC:124].

ii. Sarah, born say 1750, living in Halifax County, Virginia, on 17 March 1774 when the court ordered the churchwardens to bind out her illegitimate son Frederick Donathan [Pleas 1772-4, 393] who was counted as white in Wilkes County in 1790 [NC:124].

iii. Elijah, and Rachel Donathan sold 80 acres in Henry County on the south fork of the Little Dan River on 13 December 1787 for , 100 [DB 1:432]. His widow Rachel (Wells) Donathan applied for a pension for his service in the Revolution when she was 97 years old on 4 December 1850 in Wayne County, Virginia. A year later she applied in Lawrence County, Kentucky. She deposed that Elijah was drafted from Wilkes County, Georgia, in 1776 or 1777, that they were married on 4 October 1777, and that her husband died on 18 January 1824. Their son Holson was born 20 December 1778 [NARA, R.3004, M804, https://www.fold3.com/image/17545326, accessed October 1, 2015].

iv. Nelson, sued jointly with William Donathan in Halifax County, Virginia court on 17 December 1773 for a debt of , 2.12 [Pleas 1772-4, 322]. He received voucher nos. 1398 and 5049 in Salisbury District for a total of 23 pounds specie for public claims on 8 August 1782 and 23 September 1784 [North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-P12F]. He was counted as white in Wilkes County, North Carolina, in 1790 [NC:122].

v. Benjamin, born say 1765, head of a Wilkes County household of 1 male over 16 and 3 females (counted as white along with the Gibson, Collins, Wooten, and Underwood families) [NC:124], 7 "other free" and 2 slaves in 1800 [NC:35] and 9 "other free," a white woman, and 3 slaves in 1810 [NC:886].

vi. Jacob, born before 1776, head of a Surry County, North Carolina household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [SC:654] and 12 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:740]. He left a 1 August 1858 Surry County will, proved November 1859, by which he gave land to his wife Nancy and grandson Jacob W. Donathan, son of his daughter Sally Donathan [WB 5:45].

vii. Reuben, head of a Wilkes County household of 1 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:531].

 

DOVE FAMILY

The Dove family of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, was probably related to John Dove, the "Mallatto slave" of Doctor Gustavus Brown, who was brought before the Charles County, Maryland court on suspicion of burglary on 14 November 1727 [Court Records 1727-31, 42]. Vincent Askin, by his 1 October 1745 Charles County will, proved 22 October 1745, directed that, at his death, his "mulatto man John Dove" was to have his freedom [Prerogative Court (Wills), 1744-6, Liber 24, folio 229]. And "John Dove Mullatto" was valued at , 60 in the inventory of Askins's estate in 1745 [Prerogative Court (Inventories), 1745-6, Liber 32, pp. 36-7].

 

1.    Mary Dove, born say 1710, was probably identical to Molly, a "Negro woman" slave listed in the Anne Arundel County, Maryland inventory of the estate of Eleazer Birkhead on 28 April 1744 [Prerogative Court (inventories) 1744-5, 43]. Birkhead's widow married Leonard Thomas, and Mary Dove sued him in Anne Arundel County court for her freedom in June 1746 [Judgment Record 1746-8, 118]. The outcome of the suit is not recorded, apparently because Thomas took her with him when he moved to Craven County, North Carolina.

In September 1749 the Dove family was living in Craven County when William Smith complained to the court on their behalf that Leonard Thomas was detaining them as slaves:

Moll, Nell, Sue, Sall, & Will, Negroes Detained as Slaves by Leonard Thomas That they are free born Persons in the Province of Maryland and brought to this Province by the said Leonard Thomas

William Smith traveled to Maryland to prove their claim, and they were free by November 1756 when James Dove, a "Negro Servant," complained to the Craven County court that Smith was mistreating him, Nelly, Sue, Sarah, Moll, and William Dove [Haun, Craven County Court Minutes, IV:11-12, 366].

A grandson of Mary Dove named William Dowry was still held in slavery in Anne Arundel County in 1791 when he sued for his freedom in the General Court of Maryland. In October 1791 Ann Ridgely (born about 1734), the daughter of Eleazar Birkhead and step daughter of Leonard Thomas, testified in Anne Arundel County that William was the grandson of Mary Dove, a brown complexioned woman who was the slave of her grandfather Abraham Birkhead. Ridgely had "always understood" her great grandfather had imported Mary's grandmother, a "Yellow Woman" who had long black hair and was called "Malaga Moll." Ridgely testified that Mary Dove had a daughter named Fanny who was the mother of William Dowry. She also testified that Mary Dove sued Leonard Thomas for freedom in Maryland, but before the suit was decided he moved with his family about twenty miles from New Bern, North Carolina, and took Mary, her three children, and her grandchildren Will and Sal with him. Leonard Thomas told Ridgely that a certain Alexander Sands, the son of an East Indian woman, was a witness for Mary Dove in her suit in Craven County, North Carolina, in 1749 and testified that Mary's grandmother was an East Indian woman [Craven County Miscellaneous Records, CR 28.928.10; https://familysearch.org, film no. 008358133, Pre-Civil War slave related papers, frames 1063-4 of 1209].

Mary died before 6 April 1763 when the Craven County court appointed her son James Dove administrator of her estate on security of , 100. On 6 April 1765 the court appointed George Hays administrator as greatest creditor on security of , 200 [Minutes 1762-66, 13d, 21b]. Her descendants were

i. Fanny, born about 1734, mother of William Dowry according to testimony by Ann Ridgely.

ii. James, born say 1737, described as "a free negro a Negro Servant" in Craven County court in November 1756 when he complained on behalf of himself, Nelly, Sue, Sarah, Moll, and William Dove for mistreatment by William Smith, their master [Haun, Craven County Court Minutes, IV:366]. He complained in court again on 17 February 1759 that he had not received his freedom dues [Minutes 1758-61, 22a].

2    iii. Nelly, born say 1738.

iv. Lucy, born say 1742, a servant girl, no age or race mentioned, who was ordered by the Craven County court to serve her master, Thomas Hasline, Esquire, another five months more than her indenture in July 1763 - perhaps as punishment for having a child during her indenture [Minutes 1762-64, 28c].

v. Susan, born say 1746.

vi. Sally, born say 1747.

3    vii. William¹, born say 1748.

viii. Pompey, born say 1770, head of a Craven County household of 1 "other free" in 1790 [NC:131].

ix. John, born before 1776, head of a Craven County household of 2 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:69].

x. Keziah, married Richard Lewis, 16 March 1798 Craven County bond, Thomas Lewis surety.

xi. Simon, married Anna Carter, 16 January 1802 Craven County bond, Abel Carter and Isaac Perkins bondsmen. He was head of an Onslow County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [NC:775] and 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:338].

xii. Mary, married John Martin, 28 December 1802 Craven County bond, Jeremiah Powers surety.

xiii. Hester, head of a Craven County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:70].

 

2.    Nelly Dove, born say 1738, complained to the Craven County court on 17 February 1759 that she had not received her freedom dues, but the court ruled that she should not be freed since she had two children during her indenture [Minutes 1758-61, 22a]. She was head of a Craven County household of 2 "other free" in 1790 [NC:131]. One of her children may have been

4    i. Susan, born 25 December 1768.

 

3.    William¹ Dove, born say 1748, was the grandson of Mary Dove according to testimony by Ann Ridgely of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in 1791. He purchased 90 acres on the east side of Hancock's Creek on Cahoque Creek in Craven County from Martin Black on 6 February 1775 [DB 22:73]. He received , 4 pay for 40 days service in the Craven County Militia under Major John Tillman in an expedition to Wilmington [Haun, Revolutionary Army Accounts, Journal "A", 141]. He enlisted for 3 years in Stevenson's Company of the 10^th North Carolina Regiment on 14 Jun 1777 and was at White Plains on 9 September 1778 [Clark, The State Records of North Carolina, XVI:1045; XIII:516]. He assigned his rights to military land warrant no. 3202, issued 26 November 1789 for 264 acres, to John Craddock [N.C. Archives S.S. file 1526, call no. S.108.357; http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov]. He purchased 8 acres in Craven County for , 6 on 13 June 1790 [DB 32:794] and was head of a Craven County household of 9 "other free" in 1790 [NC:131]. He may have been the father of

i. Isaac¹, born 5 May 1771, bound as an apprentice tanner to Bartholomew Howard by the 14 March 1775 Craven County court [Minutes 1772-84, vol. 1, 29d]. He was head of a Craven County household of 9 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:67]. He died before 4 February 1826 when 234 acres on Cahooque Creek which he held in common with Anthony Brown were divided between Isaac's heirs: William Dove (adjoining his own land), George and his wife Susanna Carter, Stephen and his wife Mary Godett, Gambo and his wife Deborah Fenner, and Jacob Dove [North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, Wills and Estate Papers, Craven County, Isaac Carter, Ancestry.com database-on-line]. Anthony Brown married Frances Sampson, 3 September 1808 Craven County bond, Peter George surety, and was head of a Craven County household of 5 "free colored" in 1820.

ii. William², born about 1780, married June Moore, 13 March 1805 Craven County bond, Isaac Dove bondsman. He was head of a Craven County household of 8 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:65]. He and his wife June were named in the 1816 Craven County will of her father John Moore. He married, second, Rebecca Gaudett (Godett), 1 May 1816 Craven County bond, Stephen Gaudett surety. William was a "Black" farmer with $20 real estate, counted in the 1850 census for Craven County with 74-year-old "Mulatto" Rebecca.

iii. Susanna, married George Carter, 20 August 1811 Craven County bond. He was head of a Craven County household of 8 "free colored" and a slave in 1820.

iv. Jacob, born about 1785, married Charity Carter, 3 June 1815 Craven County bond, George Carter bondsman. On 4 November 1821 Jacob and Charity Dove sold land in Craven County which she inherited from her father, George Carter, and she and other heirs of William George sold land to John George by deed proved in Craven County in 1829 [DB 43:82; 52:179]. Jacob and Charity were "Black" farmers listed in the 1850 census for Craven County with $200 in real estate.

v. Mary, born about 1788, married Stephen Godett, head of a Craven County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820. Stephen and Mary were "Black" farmers counted in the 1850 census for Craven County with $70 in real estate.

vi. Deborah, born about 1795, married Gambo Fenner, 29 April 1812 Craven County bond. He was head of a Craven County household of 7 "free colored" in 1820. Deborah Fenner was a "Black" woman listed in the household of 25-year-old Jacob Fenner with $50 real estate in the 1850 census for Craven County.

 

4.    Susan Dove, born 25 December 1768, was a "Free Base Born Negroe Girl" bound to Bartholomew and Ruth Howard in Craven County on 14 March 1771 [Minutes 1767-75, 167b]. She was head of a Craven County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:70]. On 20 July 1793 she was called "Susannah Dove, free Negro" when she bound out her sons to John Brown of Craven County [DB 31:97, 99]. They were

i. Isaac², born 4 April 1787, perhaps the Isaac Doves ("colored") who married Silvey Richards ("colored"), 24 September 1803 Carteret County bond. He was head of a Craven County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [NC:70]. Silvey was probably related to Silas Richards, head of a Carteret County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [NC:450] and 7 "free colored" in Craven County in 1820 [NC:65].

ii. Thomas, born 4 May 1790.

 

Endnotes:

1.    Claiming descent from an East Indian in order to minimize the African ancestry of a petitioner was not without precedent in Maryland. In August 1781 Rosamond Bentley brought suit in Prince George's County, Maryland court for her freedom based on descent from a white woman and an East Indian man [Judgment Record 1777-82, 731-5]. However, Rosamond's grandmother Rose Davis had already brought an unsuccessful suit for her freedom in Anne Arundel County in August 1715 based on a family bible which stated that Rose was the daughter of a white English woman who was married to "Negroe man Domingo," the slave of Joseph Tilley of Calvert County [Court Judgments 1715-7, 93, 178].

 

DRAKE FAMILY

Members of the Drake family were

1     i. Aaron¹, born say 1745.

ii. Susanna, a "Mulatto" ordered bound by the churchwardens of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County, Virginia, to William Mitchell on 24 September 1776 [Orders 1776-86, 6].

 

1.    Aaron¹ Drake, born say 1745, was a "Mulato" taxable in Bladen County, North Carolina, in 1768 and 1772 [Byrd, Bladen County Tax Lists, I:5, 82]. John Aaron Drake, "Mulato libre" of "Elisabeth, Virginia," and his wife Charity Chaves (Chavis), "Mulato libre" native of Virginia, had been living in the parish of Saint Martin Attapakas in Louisiana for fourteen years on 10 May 1800 when their son John Drake, a "Mulato libre natural de Carolina" (free Mulatto native of Carolina), married Rosalie Abcher (Abshier) [Hebert, Rev. Donald J., Southeastern Louisiana Records, 1750-1900 (1999), IV:195]. Charity Chavis was taxable in the Granville County, North Carolina household of her parents Richard and Luraina Chavis in 1762 [CR 44.701.20]. Aaron and Charity were the parents of

2    i. John, born say 1775.

2.    John Drake, born say 1775, was baptized in St. Martin of Tours Parish in St. Martinville, Louisiana, in 1800. He married Rosalie Abshier at the church on 18 May 1800 [Hebert, Rev. Donald J., Southeastern Louisiana Records, 1750-1900 (1999), Vol 13, entry 461]. He was head of a St. Martin, Louisiana household of a 16-26 year-old white male and female and 9 free colored, including a male over 45 and 3 females 26-45. And he was head of a Calcasieu Parish household of 9 "free colored" in 1840, listed near the Bass, Perkins and Ashworth families. John and Rosalie were the parents of

i. Seraphia.

ii. ?Marie Rachel,  married John Dial, 30 August 1822 Opelousas marriage [Opelousas courthouse license nos. 46, 79].

iii. ?Aaron², born 1794-1806, head of a St. Landry Parish, Louisiana household of 3 "free colored" in 1830 [LA:26]. He married Sarah Ashworth, 26 November 1831 Opelousas marriage.

 

DREW FAMILY

1.    Faithy Drew, born say 1734, was indicted by the Surry County court on 19 December 1752 for having a bastard child, did not appear, and was fined 500 pounds of tobacco [Orders 1751-3, 466-7, 500]. She may have been the mother of

1    i. Ephraim¹, born say 1752.

2    ii. John, born say 1757.

 

1.    Ephraim¹ Drew, born say 1752, was taxable in Lunenburg County, Virginia, in the household of William Stewart in 1772, head of a household with George Chavers in 1775 [Bell, Sunlight on the Southside, 299, 351], and head of a Mecklenburg County household of 4 "whites" and 2 "blacks" (slaves) in the 1782 Virginia census [VA:33]. On 12 May 1783 the Mecklenburg County court ordered his male laboring tithables to work on a road with William Stewart (shoemaker) and William Stewart (blacksmith) [Orders 1779-84, 300]. He was taxable on slaves Beck and Jim and 2 other slaves 12-16 years old in 1782, taxable on 2 horses in 1784, taxable on Titus Stewart in 1785, taxable on a slave named Charles in 1786. An exempt tithable named Alexander Williams was in his household in 1787. He was taxable on a 12-16-year-old slave named Jemima in 1788, taxable on Edward Chavis in 1789, taxable on an emancipated slave named Charles (probably Charles Durham) in 1790 and 1792, taxable on only his own tithe in 1791, and taxable on his own tithe and his son Pinson in 1799 [PPTL, 1782-1805, frames 12, 61, 86, 99, 164, 213, 318, 442, 369]. James Chavous was security for him when he was sued for , 23 in Mecklenburg County on 8 January 1798. William Stewart was security for him when Robert Birchett & Company sued him on 11 May 1801. Frederick Ivy sued him on 10 September 1804 for a debt of , 5 due by note of hand and on 8 April 1805 for a bond of , 15 [Orders 1795-8, 387; 1798-1801, 582; 1803-5, 267, 360]. He was surety for the 20 December 1800 Mecklenburg County marriage of Nancy Brandon and Frederick Graves. He was taxable on his son James, Frederick Drew and Hutchins Mayo in 1805 [PPTL, 1782-1805, frame 1082]. His wife may have been identical to Caty Drew who deposed in Mecklenburg County court that Peggy Going came to her house after drawing water from a nearby spring on 3 August 1811 and complained to her daughter Polly Drew that Matthew Flood had raped her at the spring [Orders 1809-11, 7]. Ephraim was listed as a "free Negro and Mulatto" in 1813 and 1814, with 2 females over the age of 16 in his household in 1813 [PPTL, 1806-28, frames 307, 418]. His son James Drew's administration of his estate on 6 October 1818 included an item from 5 January 1815 [WB 8:484-5]. He was the father of

i. Pinson, born say 1780, over the age of 16 when he was taxable in his father's Mecklenburg County household from 1796 to 1799, taxable in 1806 [PPTL, 1782-1805; 1806-28, frame 7]. Frederick Ivy was his security when he was sued for debt in Mecklenburg County court on 10 March 1806 [Orders 1805-6, 104].

ii. ?Priscilla, born say 1784, married William Chavis, 29 January 1806 Mecklenburg County bond.

iii. Claiborne, born say 1785, over the age of 16 when he was taxable in his father's Mecklenburg County household from 1801 to 1803. He was taxable in his own household from 1804 to 1812 [PPTL, 1782-1805, 871, 971, 996; 1806-28, frames 7, 84, 108, 286].

iv. James, born about 1786, registered in Mecklenburg County on 19 June 1820: five feet two and a half Inches high, of a light Complexion about thirty four years old...born of a free woman [Free Person of Colour, #5, p.15]. He was called the son of Ephraim when he was a taxable in his father's household from 1804 to 1806 [PPTL, 1782-1805, frames 996, 1082; 1806-28, frame 6]. He was indicted on 14 August 1814 for retailing spirituous liquors at Sarah Naish's house in Mecklenburg County, but the case was dismissed [Orders 1809-11, 10, 29]. He was taxable on a lot in Clarksville, Mecklenburg County, from 1819 to 1822 [Land Tax List 1811A-1824B, B lists].

v. Frederick, born say 1789, over the age of 16 in 1805 when he was taxable in his father's household [PPTL, 1782-1805, 1082].

vi. Ephraim², Jr., born about 1793, registered in Mecklenburg County on 18 September 1814: born in the County of Mecklenburg...free by birth, is five feet 11-1/2 Inches high of a yellow Complexion about Twenty one years old...has Supported good character from his youth up as I have been acquainted with him nearly all his life & never heard anything to the Contrary...a Shoemaker by Trade J. T. { Jos. Towers, Jun. [Free Person of Colour, #9, p.5]. He was called the son of Ephraim when he was listed as a taxable in his father's household in 1812 [PPTL, 1806-28, frame 286]. He purchased 7 acres on the waters of Gum Branch adjoining William Stewart from William Avery in 1820 and was taxable on the land until 1824 [Land Tax List 1806B-1824A, A lists].

vii. ?Polly, born say 1795, probably a teenager in August 1811 when she testified with her mother Caty Drew in the Mecklenburg County trial of Matthew Flood [Orders 1809-11, 7].

 

2.    John Drew, born say 1757, was taxable in Abraham Cuttillo's Lunenburg County household in 1774 [Bell, Sunlight on the Southside, 299, 330]. He was taxable in Mecklenburg County on his own tithe and his son Benjamin in 1799, was a "mulatto" taxable from 1806 to 1814 [PPTL, 1782-1805; 1806-28, frames 33, 60, 134, 258, 336, 387] and was taxable on 100 acres in the lower district of Mecklenburg County on Fox's Road near the Warren County line from 1804 to 1823 [Land Tax List 1782-1811A, 1811B-1824A, B lists]. His 8 May 1827 Warren County will was proved in August 1827. He named his wife Althew and children. He divided his land, part of which was in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, among his sons Hardaway and Anderson [WB 31:50]. He was the father of

i. Nancy, born say 1780, married George Guy, 11 December 1799 Mecklenburg County bond.

ii. Benjamin, born before 1776, over the age of 16 when he was taxable in his father's Mecklenburg County household from 1799 to 1803 [PPTL, 1782-1805, frames 758, 795, 845, 944]. He married Mason Griffiths, 10 May 1804 Orange County, North Carolina bond. He was head of an Ashe County, North Carolina household of 11 "free colored" in 1830.

iii. Kesiah, born say 1784, married Matthew Stewart, 20 June 1804 Warren County bond, Stanfield Drew surety.

iv. Stanfield, born say 1785, over the age of 16 when he was taxable in his father's Mecklenburg County household from 1801 to 1803 [PPTL, 1782-1805, frames 845, 917, 944], a "mulatto" Mecklenburg County taxable from 1806 to 1815 [PPTL, 1806-28, frames 33, 134, 161, 258, 387, 504].

v. Elizabeth, born say 1787, married Bartlett Stewart, 21 October 1807 Mecklenburg County, Virginia bond, George Guy surety.

vi. Hardaway, born say 1790, married Polly Guy, 1813 Mecklenburg County bond, and was head of a Mecklenburg County household of 5 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:159b]. In 1831 he sold the land he inherited from his father [DB 24:327].

vii. Anderson, born say 1795, head of a Mecklenburg County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [VA:159b].

viii. William, born about 1797, called Buck Drew when he married Betsy Griffis, 16 June 1812 Orange County, North Carolina bond. He was called "Buck Drew alias William Kersey" on 22 November 1879 when he applied for a pension (which was rejected) for service in the War of 1812. He stated that he enlisted in Oxford, North Carolina, on 1 March 1813 with the description: age 16 years, hair Black eyes Black, Complexion fair hight about 5 feet 5 inches and his occupation that of carriage maker [NARA, Roll RG15-1812PB-Bx1985; https://www.fold3.com/image/314835897].

ix. Didamy, called Daisy Drew when she married Philemon Harris, 22 January 1816 Warren County bond.

x. Parthenia, married Jesse Brandom, 2 July 1822 Warren County bond.

 

Go to next family:   Driggers-Dutchfield

Return to Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina