Richard Caswell Sr. Decendants  

Richard Dallam and his wife, Elizabeth Martin, were neighbors. The Dallams had two children, William and Christian who was only 8. Richard and his Uncle became close friends of the Dallam family. Richard Dallam passed away and after a few months, William married the widow Dallam.  They had children, Winstone Smith, William Smith, Jr., and Elizabeth Smith (who married John Paca and became the parents of William Paca who became an early Governor of Maryland, he was one of the signers of the Declaration and his signature is below John Hancocks)

When Richard was approximately. 38 years old, he married Christian Dallam who was now 18. They were married on 12 JAN 1723.  They had Elizabeth (b. 27 OCT 1724 d. 25 NOV 1725), Willaim (b. 1726  d. 10 AUG 1755), Richard Caswell Jr. (b. 03 AUG 1729 d. 10 NOV 1789), Mary Caswell (b. 01 MAY 1731 no other info available), Martin Caswell (b. 15 FEB 1733 d. June 1789), Infant Caswell (b/d 03 MAY 1736), Twins,; Christian and Benjamin b. 20 APR 1737 (Christian died 01 AUG 1758 and Ben died 1791), Joseph Winstone Caswell (b. 01 DEC 1742 ,d. 1785) and Twins; Samuel and Ann Caswell b. 28 MAY 1742, (Sam died 05 JAN 1785 and Ann died 11 JAN 1784)

They were all born in Maryland. They attended St. Johns Anglican Church of Joppa, Maryland. The elder Caswell was a vestryman and served as Justice of the Baltimore County Court and was a Captain of the Militia.

Richard married Christian DALLAM. Christian was born ca1705 in Joppa, Md. (Mulberry Point).

They had the following children:

i.   Elizabeth CASWELL was born on 27 Oct 1724 in Joppa, Md. She died on 25 Nov 1725.

ii.  William CASWELL was born in 1725 in Joppa, Md. (Mulberry Point). He died on 10 Aug 1755 in Dobbs Co. (now Greene or Lenoir) NC. WILLIAM  b. ca. 1726. d. 1755 was the oldest brother of Gov. Richard Caswell. He traveled with his brother Richard Jr. from Joppa, Maryland to NC at his father's bidding in 1745. He served as clerk of the court in Johnston County NC in 1746.  No record has been found of a wife or any children.

iii. Governor Richard CASWELL was born on 3 Aug 1729 in Joppa, Md. (Mulberry Point). He died on 10 Nov 1789 in Fayetteville, NC and was buried in Kinston, NC. Richard married (1) Mary MCILWEAN on 21 Apr 1752. Mary was born in 1732. Richard also married (2) Sarah HERITAGE , daughter of William HERITAGE and Susannah MOORE, on 20 Jun 1758. Sarah was born in 1740. She died in 1794.

**NOTE-By 1828 William Croom was in possession of most or all of Gov. Richard Caswell's properties.

WILL of WILLIAM CROOM - June 2, 1828 from original at the NC Archives, Raleigh, NC. Abstracted and contributed by Guy Potts

SOURCE: Dobbs County, NC 1780 tax list:  Martin Caswell is enumerated in the Kennedy District [ (1) Lenoir County,NC,from Kinston west, but north of the Neuse River] "4. Martin (Col.) Caswell 4,045"

SOURCE: Colony of North Carolina 1735-1764 Abstract of land Patents Vol. 1 by Margaret M. Hoffman, p.377:"5320 pg. 254 MARTIN CASWELL 3 March 1759. 250 acres in Johnston Co on the south side of Great Contentey, joining Edwards Mill Run, John Suggs, Thos. Edwards, William Lewis, Wm. Ham, and Robert Hill. NOTE of Dixie Ferris: Nancy "Anne"Murphrey Caswell's sister, Elizabeth "Betsy" Murphrey married John Sugg and Nancy Caswell's sister Patsey "Martha" Murphrey married Robert Hill *Note-Thanks to Dixie Caulder for supplying this deed. SOURCE: Elizabeth Murphrey's will of 1788..."My daughter Nancy Caswell and her heirs are to have the track of woodlands at Sandy Bottom adjoining Croom and the river..."

Martin married (1) Anne(Nancy) E. MCILWEAN, daughter of James MCILWEAN and Elinore SHINE ?, 1754 ca. Anne(Nancy)E. was born in 1730. She died before1780. This marriage is not proved. Martin also married (2) Nancy MURPHREY, daughter of Capt. John MURPHREY and Elizabeth HARRISON. SOURCE: Quarterly Review of E. Carolina Genealogical Society, vol.4, pp.21-25

Papers pertaining to the settlement of the estate of  John Murphrey found among some old papers formerly belonging to William Lyman Murphry. These papers were typewritten in about 1920 and were in bad condition. The originals were into there and had probably deteriorated with age, thus causing the typed copies to be made.

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NORTH CAROLINA  DOBBS COUNTY July Session 1776 To the Worshipful the Justices of the Couny Aforsd. The petition of Elizabeth Murphry her late husband depart'd this life in the Month of May inst., a greatly lamented event caused by his being thrown from his riding chair, which accident fractured his scull. Your Petitioness sheweth that her late husband died intestate and being duly distressed as to the nature of these times and he distibution of her sd, husband's estate amongst herself and orphans she is advised she is entitled to her Dower and the Orphans to their inheritance in the lands which said John Murphry died possessed of and also to a distribution share of his personal Estate, She further sheweth her sd. Husband at his death was seized in fee simple and possessed of sundry lots tracks or parcels of land lying and being in Dobbs County, to Witt: One Track in the Beare Swamp quarter adjacent (now in the tenure of Michael Murphry), one othr adjacent called and known as Sweetnin quarter, two Tracks adjoining the Mansion farm, the Meadow track on Mill Swamp and Muskettoe quarter on Contentney River whereon stand the mill landing and and the Dutch house sd, quartr now in the tenure of John Murphrey the Younger, also Two other tracks, one purchased of William Wade (in the tenure of William Murphry and one called and known by the name of Longbridge adjacent to Nahuney Swamp (for a more particular description of all the sd, lands she begs leave to refer to the title papers of the said John Murphry, decd. She also sheweth that her said husband at his death left children ten of whom are still living within this Government vizc. Michael, John, William, Patsey, wife of Robert Hill, Elizabeth, wife of John Sugg, ANNE, WIFE OF MARTIN CASWELL, Gale of Lawful age, Jethra, Eleanor and Sarah under lawfull age of 21 years who on acct. of their infancy are unable to assign to Your Petitioness her Dower or claim their just portion of sd, Estate without the assistance of this court to the end therefore that Your Petitioness may have her Dower and also a distribution share of his estate, real and personal set off to and allotted sd, Petitioness and sd, orphans. May it please your Worships to grant a writ or writs of sub Poena to the sd. Michael, John, William, Jethra, Patsey, Elizabeth, Ann, Elleanor, Gale, Sarah, and any other children that may be found still living outside this government commanding their answer or appearance and that Your Worship would make such order respectful of sd, infant children as may be right & proper to be directed to Benja. Caswell, Sheriff to Dobbs County commanding him to summons a lawfull Jury to lay off and allot to your Petitioness her Dower in the land of sd, John Murphry decd, and also her share of his personal estate.         Benja. Exum  Att'y. for Petr - Note: Murphrey Dixon, cousin to the dec'd. named and appt. Guardian pro hoc vice for the children being under age

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NOTE: In the October Sessions 1776 the above Inventory and allotment was approved and registered. Twelve free holders "connected with the parties within by consanguinity or affinity" were summoned and sworn by the sheriff to lay off the proportioned parts of  the estate. They were: Murphrey Dixon,  Saml. Hollady, George Mewborn, Speyers Singleton, Richard Caswell, jr., Richard Hill, Drew. Aldridge, Thos. Aldridge, Nicholas Smith, Samuel Caswell, Jos. Halladay, John Hampton

v. Benjamin CASWELL was born on 20 Apr 1737 in Joppa, Md. (Mulberry Point). He died calculated Nov 1791.

BENJAMIN b.ca 1735 was listed among the Militia of Dobbs County as an Ensign (2nd Lt.) 1761-2. He married Martha Singleton, daughter of Samuel Singleton, and sister of Speyers Singleton of Dobbs County. Their plantation stood about 14 miles north of Kinston on the south side of Rainbow Creek. (now in Greene Co.) During the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Caswell served in the Millitia, New Bern district; he was a Capt. Of the Light Foot in the State Regiment. Benjamin was a Justice of Dobbs County before and after the Revolutionary War. He served several terms as Sheriff of Dobbs Co. (these terms included the Revolutionary War period). The property tax list of 1780 shows his property valued at 3,058 pounds (5th highest taxpayer in Capt. John Grainger's District, southwest of Hookerton; his mother in law, Hannah Singleton, was one of the four having higher property valuation.) He and his eldest son Samuel were on a list of voters in a Glasgow Co. election in 1793.

Wayne County, NC records identify two sons of Benjamin Caswell: Benjamin W. Caswell and Matthew Caswell. Benjamin W. Caswell married Elizabeth Foley June 20, 1812 Wayne Co., NC. Wayne Co. records carry the death record (Oct 1815) and land division of Benjamin W. Caswell, Esq. therein naming his children. Son Matthew was living in Greene Co. in 1810. Benjamin Caswell's  eldest son Samuel and his widow, Martha Singleton, migrated to KY in 1793

Benjamin married Martha SINGLETON in Dec 1762 in Dobbs Co NC.

vi.   Christian twin to Benjamin CASWELL was born on 20 Apr 1737.

vii.   Anne - twin to Samuel CASWELL was born on 28 May 1742.

viii.  Samuel CASWELL was born on 28 May 1742 in Joppa, Md. (Mulberry Point). He died on 5 Jan 1785.

SAMUEL b.ca 1740 served in the Revolutionary War in the militia  As Commander of the guard at Kinston, he was responsible for the large powder magazine located there. In 1779, 1780 and 1783 records show that he was also Register of Deeds of  Dobbs Co. Samuel married first Mary Irons,d. 1767. they had one son, John,b. Nov. 1765 Samuel married second Elinore "Lany" Shine June22, 1775; evidence indicates she was the daughter of  Francis Shine, a close friend of Gov. Caswell. The couple lived near the Tower Hill plantation. They had one son, Shine Caswell, B.1784, and three daughters, 1. Charlotte, b. March 3, 1776, 2. Sally, b. July 3, 1778, and 3. Elizabeth, b. July 22, 1783. Property transactions in Lenoir and Craven show Shine was alive in 1813.

Samuel married (1) Mary IRONS in 1764. Mary died in 1767.

Samuel also married (2) Elinore "Lany" Shine on 22 Jun 1775 in Dobbs Co NC.