This history of the Lenoir County BYRD family was researched by the late Charles Holloman, well known Lenoir County Genealogist. Prepared by Charles R. Holloman, Sr., July, 1978
The Colony of
Carolina was first settled by Englishmen who came down to the area of
present Albemarle Sound from earlier English settlements on the James
River and Chesapeake Bay in the Virginia Colony. The first permanent
English settlements were made in the Albemarle Sound area about 1650.
Until the Carolina Charter of 1663, these settlers looked to
Virginia, and particularly to Lower Norfolk County, for governance.
It is possible to find in the records of Lower Norfolk County,
Virginia, the earliest records of settlers living in the Albemarle
Sound area of what is now North Carolina. No research has been
conducted in Lower Norfolk County or other Virginia records for the
purpose of this research paper.
The Carolina Charter
of 1663 resulted in plans to set up four counties in a Carolina
Colony: Albemarle County, Bath County, Clarendon County, and Craven
County. Of these only Albemarle County became fully organized; and
for many years the precincts of that county extended southward from
Virginia as far as white settlements could be found or until the
banks of the Cape Fear River was reached. The precincts of Old
Albemarle were at first given names of English noblemen: Carteret,
Berkley, and Shaftsbury; but around 1671 some sort of action was
taken (documentation of which has not been found and probably is
lost) to give officially to the precincts the Indian names by which
the settlers preferred to call them anyway. Thus, the precincts of
old Albemarle County officially became Currituck (formerly Carteret,
not to be confused with present Carteret south of the Neuse),
Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Chowan. The Indian names are all names of
rivers upon which tribes with those names were living at the time of
the first English settlements. Most if not all of these rivers had
their fountainheads in what are now the lower counties of Virginia
and flowed southward to the Albemarle Sound, each forming a colonial
waterway down which settlers could travel conveniently in boats and
small ships to penetrate the coastal swamps and ridges of Carolina.
The Blackwater Swamp of Virginia's Isle of Wight County (the southern
part of which is now Southampton County) is a primary source of the
Chowan River which becomes a broad stream before reaching Edenton,
county seat of Chowan Precinct (now County) and the broad waters of
Albemarle Sound. On the way down, the Chowan River is joined from the
west by Wiccacon Creek the upper reaches of which are called Ahoskie
(formerly Chorsqui) Swamp. Indians in the coastal plain set up tribal
boundaries along streams and lakes, using part or all of a drainage
basin to establish the outermost boundary line. Thus, different
lengths of a stream came to have different names. This accounts for
the anomalies of such river names as the Tar (Indian Tor) which turns
into the Pamlico and the Yadkin which turns into the Pee Dee.
In 1696 the territory
south of the Albemarle Sound (River) was partly organized into Bath
County (a full scale County government was never set up). Bath County
extended at first as far southward as Cape Fear River and as far
westward as there were white settlements. Three precinct governments
were organized in Bath County in 1705: Wickham, Pamptecough, and
Archdale. On December 7, 1710, Carolina was formally divided into
North Carolina and South Carolina by the Lords Proprietors. Upon that
division, the counties of Clarendon and Craven fell into the South
Province, leaving North Carolina without a Craven County. Lord Craven
was held in esteem by North Carolinians. They promptly changed the
name of Archdale Precinct to Craven Precinct to perpetuate his memory
in the geography of North Carolina. The boundaries of Archdale
Precinct had been established Indian style by extending the Precinct
to all lands drained by the Neuse River and its tributaries and in
addition all lands extending southward as far as Cape Fear River.
Craven County fell heir to these bounds when it and other Precincts
were elevated to the status of counties in 1739 at which time the old
counties of Albemarle and Bath were abandoned. In 1722 the western
portion of Chowan Precinct (that portion west of Chowan River) was
used to set up a new Precinct called Bertie (pronounced Ber-TEA). In
1746, early in the year, the up-the-Neuse-River area of Craven County
was used to erect a new county called Johnston. Only the eastern
boundaries of Johnston was specifically laid out. This was done by
running a line due north from the mouth of the Southwest-of-Neuse
Creek on Neuse River (a mile or two down river from present Kinston)
until the line intersected the boundary of Edgecombe County (which
had been erected out of western Bertie). On the outside of Neuse
River, the new Johnston County line was required to run up the
Southwest Creek "to the uppermost part of the County". About six
miles upriver from the mouth of Southwest Creek, a stream called
Falling Creek enters Neuse River on the northern side. This stream is
the Falling Creek referred to in records of the BYRD family of
Craven, Johnston, Dobbs, and Lenoir Counties. This stream and its
drainage basin shifted from county to county as new counties were
formed from older counties; but, of course, the stream and the BYRD
settlers along it did not migrate merely because a new county had
been formed around them. The BYRDs came to Falling Creek and settled
in the latter half of the 1730s when the area was in Craven Precinct
of Bath County. They were there when Bath County was abolished and
Craven Precinct became Craven County in 1739. They were there when
upper Craven County was used to create Johnston County in 1746. They
were still there when the eastern part of Johnston County was used to
create the county of Dobbs in the spring of 1759; and they were still
there when Dobbs County was abolished to create Lenoir County and
Glasgow (now Greene) in February 1792. Wayne County had been created
out of western Dobbs in 1779, and its eastern boundary ran only a few
miles westward of where the BYRD families had plantations in old
Dobbs. The Lenoir County community known as The Institute (formerly
Lenoir Collegiate Institute's location) is in the general vicinity
where the BYRD families settled and long lived on Falling Creek and
its tributaries. It is not to be confused with another Upper
Falling Creek, formerly in Dobbs but now in Wayne, which enters Neuse
River on the South side in the general vicinity of
Goldsboro.
One further
geographical note will complete the political geography in which the
early BYRD families under research in this article made their homes:
The remnant of Johnston County lies westward of Wayne County and
still to this day constitutes a fairly large county on the Neuse
River. It was to this "new" Johnston County that the BYRD ancestor in
this lineage eventually migrated from Falling Creek in Lenoir County.
Richard BYRD who appears in the 1796 Dobbs County tax list as son of
Richard BYRD the elder, migrated with other members of his family
about 1807 to the southwestern area of present Johnston County and
settled there in Mingo Swamp and Mill Branch, not far from the then
Cumberland County line which is now Harnett County line with Johnston
County. This researcher has visited among the BYRD families still
there, in search of information on the BYRD family. Indeed, Mrs.
Holloman's family at Coats Harnett County is related to these BYRDs.
The late Willie BYRD of Coats was grandson of Lemuel D. BYRD, a son
of Richard BYRD, Jr., who died in Harnett County in July 1876 who was
son of Richard BYRD of the 1769 Dobbs County tax list. The latter
Richard BYRD died at this plantation on Mingo Swamp in Johnston
County in 1818. An abstract of his will appears later in this
research.
John BYRD - ca. 1675-1716
In North Carolina
Colonial Court Records, miscellaneous papers #187, are several lists
of headrights presented to the County Clerk of Albemarle County in
Carolina during the period ca. 1680-1704. Among these is an undated
list which reads as follows:
"John BIRD,
Headrights: For ye Honorable Court the Humble Petition of John BIRD
Humbly Sheweth
That he hath six
rights, viz.: himselfe, Mathew Anderson, Mary his wife, Jno.
BIRD, Junr., James Bassford & Richard Wiggins."
Apparently another
entry of the same headrights differently stated and clearing up some
ambiguities in the first, is reported in the recently published
Volume 2 of The Colonial Records of North Carolina (Second
Series) edited by Mrs. Mattie Erma (Edwards) Parker and comprised of
documents dating approximately 1697-1701. At page 14 of Vol. 2, it is
recorded:
"John BYRD proves
Rights to 300 acres of importation of himself, Mathew Anderson, Mary
BYRD, James Basford & Rich. Wiggins."
Furthermore, at page
70 is transcribed from the File CCR #187:
"Apr. - June 1697:
Petition of John BIRD humbly sheweth That he hath six headrights,
viz.: himself, Mathew Anderson, Mary his wife, Jno. BIRD, Junior;
James Bassford, Richard Wiggins."
The fact of the
matter is that it is not possible to determine from the documents now
existant the date at which John BYRD imported himself and the persons
named. For each headright 'imported' into the Carolina Colony at that
time, the person importing was entitled to claim the headrights and
could receive, upon application to a court of record, fifty acres of
land by landgrant. Obviously, the headrights found for John BYRD
(alias BIRD) were a single imported group. It is noted that the name
of John BIRD, Junior, was inadvertently omitted from the record on
page 14 of Vol. 2 and from the manuscript there recorded. This may
account for the headrights having to be proved again later. On the
other hand, the transcription on that page proves that the phase
'Mary his wife' (which in the first transcription appears to make
this female the wife of Mathew Anderson whose name precedes the
phrase) is actually the wife of the rights claimant, John BYRD
himself. Nothing further is heard of this Mary BYRD. Certain facts
and circumstances now to be presented and examined provide possible
evidence though not positive proof, that the John BYRD who earned
these headrights might have been born as early as 1655 and the first
had a wife Mary by whom he had at least two children of the names
Hannah and John, Junior. The Colonial Records of North
Carolina (Second Series) Vol. 1 (1670-1696) at page 344 shows the
'Hannah BIRD, daughter of John BIRD.'
"At a Court held
April 2nd 1684...Upon the petition of Richard Byer, Ordered that
Hannah BIRD, daughter of John BIRD, live with him the said Richard
Byer till she comes of age of one and twenty years or day of
Marriage." (CCR #189 in file in N.C. Archives). It will be noted,
however, that no daughter Hannah is shown on either copy of the
headrights, but an apparent son, John BYRD (BIRD), Junior is shown on
one copy.
This researcher has
found only three men of the name BYRD or BIRD in records of Albemarle
County prior to 1700. Two of these are John BYRD and John BYRD,
Junior heretofore noted in the headrights. The other is Valentine
BIRD (or BYRD) Esquire, a Council Member of the Carolina Colony and
Collector of Customs. Valentine BIRD died prior to March 29, 1680.
(See The Colonial Records of North Carolina (Second Series)
(1670-1696), Ibid. In 1675 Valentine BYRD was appointed Collector of
Customs by the rebel General Assembly of Carolina (ibid. p. xliii).
An order to appraise his decedent estate was issued by a Court of
Grand Council (Chancery) on March 29, 1680, and there is some
indication that he had orphans, though this is not proved certain.
Valentine BIRD had died intestate apparently, since nothing has been
found to indicate that he had a will. The Court of Grand Council
entry reads:
"Ordered that Mrs.
Culpeper's inventory of the estate of Valentine BIRD be appraised,
appoints Wm. Nowell, Samuel Davis, and Jno. Dye the appraisers."
The Colonial and
State Records of North Carolina (First Series) published between
1892 and 1914 provide additional information about Valentine BIRD in
Volume I. Other information will almost certainly be found in records
of some of the original precincts of old Albemarle County. Valentine
BIRD served in the Carolina General Assembly. He was a leader in the
Culpeper Rebellion which occurred shortly before his death. The 'Mrs.
Culpeper' who prepared the inventory of his estate was almost
certainly the wife or widow of John Culpeper who gave the ill-fated
Culpeper Rebellion its name.
No effort has yet
been made to establish whether John BYRD or John BYRD, Junior,
mentioned in the headrights, were descendants or relatives of
Colonial Council Member Valentine BIRD. It does seem certain that a
John BYRD had married before 1684 by which year he had a daughter old
enough to be assigned to a guardian. It is noted that the daughter
Hannah BIRD was not made a apprentice, though this has been implied
by other researchers. Nothing is said of a responsibility to teach
her nor of what she is to be taught, nor is it mentioned that she is
being apprenticed or placed under a guardian. It is as if she is
being placed with a close relative with consent of her father; but
the kinship, if any to Richard Byer, is not stated. She is to live
with Byer until she comes to age 21 or marries. There is no
uncertainty about the year this occurred, 1684.
More definite
information is known about the John BYRD who is proved to be the
patriarch of the lineage in this research, even though it is
uncertain whether he should be called John BYRD or John BYRD, Junior,
in the phrasing of the claim for headrights. Hathaway's North
Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, published in three
volumes from 1901 to 1903, published records and abstracts of records
then found by the author in various North Carolina courthouses. In
Volume 3, p. 408 appears "Births, Deaths & Marriages in Berkeley
Precinct." Present Perquimans County was an early colonial precinct
along the Perquimans River, named for the local Indian tribe. The
Precinct was first named Berkeley in honor of the Lord Proprietor and
Governor of the Virginia Colony; but inasmuch as the settlers in
'Perquimans' persisted in using the Indian name, the Precinct name
was changed to Perquimans about 1672. A similar thing happened to
neighboring Carolina precincts at the same time. In those days the
precincts were also part or all of an Anglican parish and were
supposed to keep church records. At the time of the Revolution, the
parish Anglican Church records of some parishes were either in the
local courthouse (which served for religious services in parishes
where there was no church edifice) or were deposited in the court
clerk's office as public records. For example, it is known from
information in a Bertie County case tried and appealed to the North
Carolina Supreme Court about 1818, that the Anglican Parish records
of Society Parish in Bertie County were still in existence there in
1818 and that they spread over the period 1715 to as late as the
Revolution. The Births, Deaths & Marriages in Berkeley Precinct
comprised abstracts by Hathaway of similar records which had been
preserved in Perquimans. These records show that John BIRD and
Rebecca Peterson were married in that parish on August 24, 1697 by
John Burnet, Minister. Also, John BIRD, son of John BIRD and wife
Rebecca was born July 22, 1698. Edward BIRD, son of John BIRD and
wife Rebecca was born January 6, 1701/2 (ie 1702 - the
official 'Court year' ended on March 25 rather than with the calendar
year). Also, of interest because of kinship connection later to be
noted: Dennis Odeare, son of Denis Odear and wife Mary was born April
29, 1685. Also Rebecka Suton, the daughter of Nathaniel Suton and
Deborah his wife was born ye 8th of Agust 1676 (Hathaway Vol. 3, p.
208, 373, 370). The records transcribed are found in Vol. 3 pp. 199
to 220; 363 - 410 and 368 - 401. Nathaniel Sutton of Perquimans
Precinct died 29 Dec. 1682. His daughter Rebecca, married first to
Jacob Peterson, Junior, who died young in 1797, the day and month of
his will not being stated thereon. (See Grimes's Abstracts of North
Carolina Wills, page 286, or see the original will in N.C. Archives).
This was a nuncupative will - the kind spoken by a person on his
deathbed and reduced to writing very promptly thereafter by the
witnesses who must not themselves be legatees. A nuncupative will
could pass only personalty. Jacob Peterson, Junior, left everything
to his wife 'Bebekah'. Jacob Peterson, the father of Rebecca's
deceased husband, made his will on January 13th, 1697/98 (1698). The
will of Jacob Peterson, the elder was in writing and was probated at
July Court, Albemarle County, 1698. In it he gave one shilling in
silver to 'Rebonah Boord, my daughter-in-law', according to Grimes's
Abstract. My own reading of the manuscript renders the name 'Rebakah
Burd'. The senior Peterson also gives one shilling to each of his
daughters Elizabeth and Constant and leaves to go to his daughter Ann
Peterson a plantation which he had bought from Jno. Durant. His
Executrix was Mary Peterson. His will, therefore, provides evidence
that by January 13, 1698, Rebecca had married John BYRD and her name
was no longer Peterson.
In Vol. 2 of The
Colonial Records of North Carolina (Second Series) (1697-1701)
several lawsuits are noted to which John BYRD (BIRD) was a party in
the Colonial Court. One of these was John BIRD and Rebecca his wife,
Administratix of Jacob Peterson, Jr., v. James Cole, in the summer of
1698. In CCR file #102, N.C. Archives, on a list of cases in the
Colonial Court term in early 1697/98 the list refers to her as
Rebecca Peterson alias BIRD (p. 181 of Vol. 2 printed records cited
above) and on page 180 is a listing dated January 28, 1697/98 showing
Jno. BIRD & his wife Rebecca, Administratix of the Goods and
Chattels of Jacob Peterson, Junior vs Jacob Peterson the Elder in a
plea of trover for two Swine of 30 shillings value.
CCR file #310 N.C.
Archives shows a conveyance (deed) of a tract of land in Perquimans
Precinct from John BYRD and wife Rebecca to a Mr. Harvey. This deed
was signed for Rebecca by Clerk of the Court, Nathaniel Chevin, under
a power of attorney from Rebecca who had been privately examined for
assurance that she freely consented to sell the property. (Vol. 2 op.
cit. pp. 33). This indicates that the land almost certainly had been
hers by descent from some blood kinsman and that John BYRD's interest
in it was acquired by virtue of the fact that he was her husband and
had had born by her one child at least by a live birth, as the law
required for the right of courtesy to attach. It has already been
seen that her earlier husband, Jacob Peterson, Junior, left no heir
and that his father, Jacob Peterson, Senior left no male heir.
John BYRD served as
deputy marshal of Albemarle County (p. 77 of Vol. IV, Second Series,
NCCR - 1702-1708). He was one of the executors of Dennis McLendon,
the Elder, in 1706 (CCR 104, N.C. Archives) and of William Rowlinson
in March, 1716 (See case of Richard Pickering v. John BYRD, Executor
of the last Will and Testament of William Rowlinson, Deceased, noted
in Vol. V - 1709-1723 - of Second Series, NCCR).
In September 1712 and
at other times John BYRD was judge of the Admiralty Court in the
County of Albemarle (Vol. V, op. cit. p. 469); and he is often shown
to be a Captain in the militia of Albemarle County (e.g. Vol.
V, op. cit. p. 81 (1714) Captain John BIRD v. Thomas Everett, lawsuit
on a promissory note and p. 56 Captain John BYRD v. James Curlee,
lawsuit for a debt.
The deeds of Chowan
County, though well preserved, are poorly microfilmed in the North
Carolina Archives. Furthermore, the indexing and recording system
prior to 1848 culminated in a General Index being prepared for the
period from 1702 to 1848 which is nothing but a conundrum. A few
deeds of John BYRD (BIRD) were found in Chowan but they contribute
little to the genealogical information of this family.
The will of John BYRD
of Chowan County is abstracted on page 59 of Abstract of North
Carolina Wills compiled from Original and Recorded Wills in the
Office of the Secretary of State (now in N.C. Archives) by J. Bryan
Grimes, Secretary of State, Raleigh. 1910, otherwise referred to
herein as Grimes' ABSTRACTS. I have also examined the original
manuscript. The will was made on September 13, 1716 and was probated
at October Court 1716, of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter
Sessions of Chowan Precinct (now Chowan County). Eldest son John BYRD
is given a tract of land comprising 640 acres lying at New Market.
Son Edward BYRD is given 365 acres of land. Son William BYRD is given
365 acres land. Youngest son Richard BYRD is to receive the home
plantation, following the widowhood of wife Rebecca. Daughter Anne
BYRD receives a legacy. No other daughter is mentioned nor the
children of any deceased child. It is known when this John BYRD's son
John was born and that he died in 1744 long after his father had
died. Among witnesses to the will in 1716 is Susannah Williams. Other
witnesses are Jno. Crambie and Mary Damrell, according to Grimes'
reading of the script. The Executors named in the will are wife
Rebecca and John Hardy.
Nothing has been
found in the Chowan County records to disclose when youngest son
Richard came into possession of the home plantation or whether he
ever came into possession of it. No deed can be found in Chowan
records by which Richard or his mother or anyone on their behalf
conveyed the land to someone else in the Chowan County Deed
Registers. It is observed by this researcher that the best evidence
be found indicates that Richard was born in or very near the year
1711 and reached his majority in or about the year 1732. In 1722,
when Richard was about eleven years old, the western area of Chowan
(across the Chowan River) was used to create the new precinct of
Bertie. It is only in Bertie Precinct (now County) records that any
deed with Richard BYRD (or BIRD) as a party has been found in this
research. Bertie County Court Minutes for May 9, 1732, show probate
of a Power of Attorney given to James Curree by John BYRD and William
BYRD authorizing their attorney-in-fact to execute a deed of sale to
Richard BYRD. This record was made Tuesday ye 9th day of May 1732
A.D. (See page 26 and opposite in the mounted pages of the minute
book in North Carolina Archives). By the same Power of Attorney,
William BYRD conveyed through James Curree his attorney-in-fact
certain property to George Bell on the same date. (Bell married
BYRD's sister).
The only deed in
Bertie Deed records from 1720 to 1796 with a Richard BYRD shown as
grantor to another person named BYRD or BIRD in is Bertie Deed
Book E, p. 11. This deed is dated Feb. 6, 1735. In it "Richard BYRD
of Bertie Precinct, planter..." conveys "to Edward BYRD of the same
precinct and Province...for £500 lawful money of North
Carolina...200 acres...located on Miery Branch near lands of Colonel
Robert West...lines adjoin Folly Branch...Beaverdam Swamp..." This
deed is witnessed by Robert (Thomas?), Richard S. P. Pickering, and
John BYRD. It was proved in Bertie County Court at August Term
1736 before Jno Wynns, Clerk of County Court. This deed makes no
mention of the source from which the grantor obtained the land. The
very next deed in the deed book is one made by Edward BYRD to Michael
King on May 5, 1736, for lands patented "to said Edward BYRD by
patent dated October 9, 1716 (which would seem to be almost exactly
when Edward and Richard's father, John BYRD, died in (then) Chowan,
bearing in mind that John BYRD's will was made September 13, 1716 and
probated at October Court of Chowan Precinct 1716. The land conveyed
to King by Edward BYRD lay "on the fork of Maple Branch in
Bertie Precinct. Witnesses were Robert Sharman, John Butter &
William BYRD. This deed was probated at August County Court of
Bertie, 1736. It should be noted that these two deeds in 1735/1736
involve all four of the sons of Captain John BYRD who died in October
1716. They are all four evidently still living in Bertie Precinct at
that time, though the tendency scribes, lawyers, and clerks to show
parties to an instrument as being resident in the local precinct
as a mere matter of form cannot be ignored when we have the
place of residence indicated only by one or two documents of a highly
formal character. A tax list would be preferable but none could be
found of appropriate dates for Bertie Precinct.
Between 1720 and 1725
another set of BYRDs came to North Carolina and settled in Bertie
Precinct. This was a Thomas BYRD family. It is mentioned here for two
reasons: (1) There was only one set of BYRDs in Chowan-Bertie
Precincts prior to the arrival of the family of Thomas BYRD and that
original set consisted of John BYRD and his sons and descendants. (2)
The Thomas BYRD had a daughter Margaret who married in Isle of
Wight County Christopher Holloman (variously spelled) whose
plantation was on the Blackwater Swamp until the Holloman family
migrated to Bertie County and settled near the present town of
Ahoskie and left several sons and a multitude of other descendants in
that area and across the nation. The names of the BYRD sons and other
relatives named BYRD in his household can be gleaned from the
following records, among others:
In Bertie County
Court Minutes dated Feb. 8, 1742, it is recorded: "Thomas BYRD
proved his (head)rights with Thomas BYRD, (*Junior),
Elizabeth BYRD, Ledia BYRD, Jane BYRD, Isabell
BYRD, Rachel BYRD, Gabriel BYRD" (and other persons
whose names I omit here - CRH).
In Bertie County
Court Minutes Feb. 8, 1742, (same date as above) it is stated that
the last will and testament of Thomas BYRD was proved by Anthony
Wedd, a subscribing evidence thereto. A County Court order to lay off
a road from Quiaucoson Road through Loosing Swamp into Cashy near
Beaverdam Swamp was issued May 11, 1742 and persons named in the
order included two BYRDs; namely, Thomas BYRD, Junior and
William BYRD. This William is most certainly the son of old
John BYRD. The Thomas BYRD is certainly the son of Thomas who claimed
another Thomas BYRD in his headrights. The fact appears to be that
Thomas, Junior, submitted the headright claims to the same court that
probated his father's will. The will itself has not been found; and
the records show that Elizabeth, the widow of Thomas BYRD, was issued
letters of administration on his estate. This would happen in the
case of a will only if the will named no executor of if the executor
named was deceased or refused to serve. Further information is found
in a deed of gift made by Thomas BYRD of Bertie County in 1735 and
recorded in Deed Book D at page 198. In this deed he names three sons
Henry BYRD, Edmond BYRD, and Thomas BYRD, Junior.
I am correct in
saying above that the will of Thomas BYRD has not been found. It is
of record in the records of the Secretary of State and is abstracted
by Grimes as follows:
Thomas BYRD of Bertie
County, will made December 14, 1742, proved at February Court of
Bertie, 1742. Sons: Thomas (water mill); Edman (still); Daughters:
Honer Baker, Elizabeth Jones, Margerrit Holloman, Sarah BIRD, Ann
BIRD. Wife: Elizabeth, Executrix. Witnesses: Chrisfor Halloman,
Thomas Baker, Antho. Webb. Clerk of the County Henry Deson
(DeLon-CRH). It is noted that a deed made by Charles Jones and wife
to Thomas BYRD is dated in 1725 and is recorded in Bertie County Deed
Book A, p. 431 for lands located in the modern county of Hertford
which was formed largely from Bertie County territory in 1759. The
county line of Hertford and Bertie runs east and west a short
distance south of Ahoskie and the most southerly portion of Ahoskie
Swamp in Hertford County. This land was later conveyed to Christopher
Holloman who passed it to a son by deed with warranties against all
persons "other than the heirs of Charles Jones and wife".
Richard BYRD, son of
John BYRD of old Albemarle County, married at least twice. The name
of his first wife has not been found; but he must have married her
about the time that he reached majority age, which is believed to
have occurred about 1732. His son Richard BYRD, Junior, was born of a
second wife of whom more is known. This wife was Mary O'Dyer (or
Odyer) daughter of Dennis Odyer who at the time of his death in 1746
had been for some years a resident of the Falling Creek (near The
Institute) area of Craven County, which area became part of newly
created Johnston County in the early part of 1746. Dennis Odyer wrote
his will on February 16, 1746, and it was probated in Johnston County
Court at June Term 1746. It names a daughter, Mary Odyer who is
evidently unmarried then. No other child is named in the will. The
widow Ann Odyer is named. Executors are Ambrose Aris (Ayres) and John
Clark. Clerk of the Court is Will Hodges and the court is noted as
held at the house of Francis Stringer on Nuce River. There is no
mention of any BYRD or BIRD in this will. However, John Stewart then
of Craven County (and obviously of the Falling Creek section) wrote
his will October 13, 1741. It was probated June 22, 1742. He
evidently had neither wife nor child then surviving. His will names
only legatees (persons who take personal property by bequest in a
will as contrasted with devisees who are persons that take
real property by bequest in a will). His legatees named are Jacob
Tomson; John, son of Richard BYRD: Elizabeth, daughter of
Samuel (Present*). Executors named are Dennis Odyer
(father-in-law of the testator) and Richard BYRD.
Witnesses are John Herring and Richard BYRD. The Registrar is
Edward Griffith.
In the records of the
Secretary of State are reports of cases in which the docking of fee
tail estates were judicially determined. One of these cases involved
lands inherited by Mary Odyer from her father in a fee tail estate.
This restriction upon freedom of alienation (conveying) by deed to
another party caused trouble in later years and resulted in a
petition to dock the entail. The record shows that Mary Odyer married
Richard BYRD and had children by him. It seems that this marriage
must have occurred prior to the date when Dennis Odyer wrote his will
on February 16, 1746; otherwise, how can one explain the legacy given
by Dennis Odyer's son-in-law John Stewart on October 13, 1741, to
John, son of Richard BYRD which Richard BYRD is named together with
Dennis Odyer as an executor of said John Stewart? Furthermore, it is
evident that Richard BYRD must have been married a considerable time
prior to October 13, 1741, in order to have a son John BYRD old
enough to strike the fancy of testator John Stewart. The possibility
that Richard BYRD had some close relationship to John Stewart through
an earlier marriage of BYRD or of Stewart was not overlooked; but a
considerable search disclosed nothing to support the idea. In
passing, it may be noted that the other legatee of John Stewart, a
man named Jacob Tomson, made his will May 25, 1750, and it was
probated in Johnston County in June Court 1750. In it he names his
sons Thomas and Jacob Thomson, his wife Mary, and his Executors he
names Thomas Lewis and Richard BYRD. Witnesses are Mikel
Rasher and Robert BYRD. Clerk of the Court is Richard Caswell,
and the courthouse is located on Walnut Creek. (This is near
Goldsboro now in Wayne County and the site is marked). Johnston
County Landgrants in the office of the Secretary of State shows that
Robert BYRD of Johnston County was issued a grant for 300 acres on 10
April 1761. The date of entry is missing from the record. The land
lay "in Johnston County....on east side of Falling Creek" and this
statement proves that it must have been entered before the latter
part of 1758 because it was then that an Act was passed in the North
Carolina General Assembly setting up Dobbs County in the eastern
territory of Johnston County and thus putting Falling Creek into the
new County of Dobbs. This Act became effective in March of 1759
whereas the grant did not issue to Robert BYRD until April 10, 1761,
long after the land applied for had fallen into Dobbs County. Little
is found in Johnston or Dobbs records of this Robert BYRD. The old
Grantee Index of Deeds indicates the approximate date of this
disappearance from Dobbs County records.
The search of early
deeds of Craven County in hope of finding earliest official records
of the arrival of Richard BYRD and his family upon their migration
from Bertie to Craven's Falling Creek settlement has not been as
productive as ought to be expected. The condition of the Craven early
deed records makes research in them tedious and time consuming.
Resort to the County Court Minutes - and particularly to the setting
up of crews to work roads or lay off roads in the vicinity of what is
now Lenoir County - also produced little or nothing concerning the
BYRDs or many of their known neighbors. From a report of a
processioning of lands in Craven Precinct found in fragmented
condition in Secretary of State's Papers file Box SS 751 in North
Carolina Archives, it is found that Richard BYRD of Bath County and
Craven Precinct was issued a landgrant for 250 acres on November 18,
1739. The land lay on Falling Creek, Joyning Ambros Ayres land and
running up (the Creek?) for ye Complement. Under column headed "To
Whom Directed to Survey and by Whom Survey Returned" appears the name
Jno. Powell, Novbr 18, 1739. (It is of interest that the John Herring
family of Bertie who migrated to Craven's Falling Creek section at
about the same time as did Richard BYRD is mentioned as one of the
grantors of a deed to William BYRD in Bertie County in 1738. This
deed is recorded in Bertie Deed Book E, p. 328 - deed to William BYRD
from John Herring and Others.) Since application for a landgrant was
often preceded for varying periods of time by an entry and the making
of improvements upon the land desired and reducing parts of it to
tenancy or cultivation, we need not assume that Richard BYRD had
arrived very recently at the time he received the landgrant in
November 1739. He could have been there several months; but earlier
proof of his being there remains to be unearthed. The County Court
Minutes for the period from about 1717 to about 1737 are exceedingly
difficult to decipher and are, for the most part, too faded to read
by ordinary means and need to be recovered by some such enhancement
method as is used by the Space Agency to bring greater definition to
photographs of the surface of other planets.
The next earliest
record found thus far of Richard BYRD after his arrival in Old Craven
County is noted in the State Landgrant Office Book 5, page 280, and
envelope file #354. This record indicates a grant was issued on March
17, 1740 to Richard BYRD of Craven County for 150 acres on the
northside of Neuse River and eastside of Bear Creek. The location
given is not very definitive, not to say specific and could be
referring to the same Falling Creek vicinity which also is on the the
northside of Neuse River and on the east side of Bear Creek which
latter is a much larger stream than Falling Creek and therefore was
used more frequently in early times as a general reference point in
similar manner to Neuse River. Bear Creek runs generally from north
to south until it enters the Neuse which itself has a course lying
generally west to east. Richard BYRD next appears in the will of John
Stewart made October 13, 1741, as heretofore noted.
Recorded in the State
Landgrant Office in Book 10, p 112 under date October 9, 1747 and
referring to warrant, plat, etc., in envelope #1, 163 for Johnston
County is a grant for 250 acres located on the north side of Falling
Creek...Beginning at a water oak on the north side of Falling Creek
(says the duplicate record in Book 5, page 272, file 335)
...Beginning at a water oak on the northside of Falling
Creek...adjoining a corner of lands of Ambrose Ayris. Duplicate
records were file to cross-check landgranting - a set of books in the
office of the Secretary of the Province (later of State) and another
set in the office of the Treasurer (later State Auditor). The
landgrant recorded here under date October 9, 1747, sounds much as if
it is the same or very near the one processioned in November 1739 as
having been surveyed for Richard BYRD. (See above for comparison of
information on boundaries). Reference has already been made to
appearance of Richard BYRD in connection with the will of Jacob
Tomson (Thomson) of Johnston County in May/June 1750. A Johnston
County landgrant was issued January 7, 1755, for 200 acres granted to
Richard BYRD of Johnston Count...the land lying on the east side of
Falling Creek in Johnston County. The landgrant is recorded in LGO
Book 15, p. 87 and the envelope file is #885. The entry was made
February 20, 1754. There are a number of other landgrants and also
the Grantees Index of Johnston, Dobbs, and Lenoir County deeds
contain numerous entries with Richard BYRD as a party. Reference will
be made only to a few of these which are particularly pertinent and
generally relate to extant manuscripts of original deeds or certified
copies originating before the courthouse fires which so largely
destroyed Johnston County deeds from 1746 to 1759, Dobbs County deeds
throughout the life of the County; ie, 1759 - Jan. 1792; and
Lenoir County from Feb. 1792 to April 1880.
Richard BYRD served
in his county militia. As a rule few lists of non-commissioned
militia personnel are to be found for most counties, especially at
such early date as have so far entered this report. However, Richard
BYRD appears as a commissioned militia officer on a report filed by
Colonel Lewis DeRosset, commander of the Johnston County Regiment,
for a date in the year 1754. The month and day are not
distinguishable. (See N.C. Archives, Military Collection, Troop
Returns 1747 - 1868 - Various Counties, Box #1). The 1754 return for
Johnston County shows names and numbers of commissioned officers but
numbers only of non-commissioned officers and other soldiers. For
Company #7 the report shows: Captain Benjamin Herring, Lieutenant
Richard BYRD, Ensign (now 2nd Lt.) Michael Risher. There are
eleven companies in this report. No other named BYRD is shown. The
name of Richard BYRD is NOT followed by the word senior or junior.
There is a report also of a troop of horse. Richard BYRD continued to
serve as a Lieutenant in the Johnston County militia; and when Dobbs
County was formed effective in the spring of 1759, he became a
lieutenant in the militia of that county. In Governor's Office Papers
Number 146 (now in N.C. Archives) page 66, is a list of the militia
officers of Dobbs County dated March 11, 1761. The first few on the
list show as follow: Richard Caswell, Colonel; Abraham Sheppard,
Junior, Lieutenant Colonel; William McTyree, Major; Charles Young,
Captain "Died during this year"; Richard BYRD, Lieutenant "Promoted
to Captain during this year."* (*BYRD replaced Charles Young who had
been killed accidentally at Johnston Courthouse while he slept in his
bed in an upstairs room. Someone in a bar below accidentally fired a
musket. The ball penetrated the ceiling, the upstairs floor, the bed,
and the body of the sleeping Charles Young.) Richard BYRD was
approximately fifty years old when he became Captain in the Dobbs
militia. His exact age has not yet been reported on any document
found.
It may be well to
note here that Richard BYRD received a landgrant on May 23, 1757 for
170 acres on the northside of Neuse River (no other description). It
is recorded in Book 15 LGO at page 224 (file #972) and also in Book
13, p. 157.
There exists, so far
as is known, no countywide tax list for Craven County from one in
1719 to one in 1769. There is no tax list of taxables by name in
Johnston County for the period when lower Falling Creek was in that
County (1746 to 1759). The first countywide tax list extant for Dobbs
County is for the year 1769. The list is in the North Carolina
Archives and a transcription of it appears in The Story of Kinston
and Lenoir County by T.C. Johnson and Charles R. Holloman,
Edwards & Broughton Company, Raleigh, N.C., 1954, pages 360-385.
The names of poll taxables are given for each household. Households
are listed with name of the household. These names were alphabetized
by the clerk of the County Court but only to the first letter of the
surname. Sometimes the occupation of the taxable or some other
descriptive note was entered to distinguish between persons of the
same name; and occasionally the unemancipated minor sons of the head
of household and living at home are noted with their kinship. On this
list all of the households of the BYRD (BIRDs) then residing in Dobbs
County are given. The BYRD (BIRD) entries are as follow:
BIRD, Thomas one white poll; one total polls
Next are two households of the Barwick family and then the
following
BIRD, Richard & son Richard; Negroes Green, Paul &
Jude 2 white polls; 3 black polls; 5 total polls
BIRD, Benjamin one white poll; one total polls
Next are two other households then more BIRDs as follows:
BIRD, John; Negroes Hannah & Lucy one white poll; 2 black polls;
3 total polls
BIRD, Nathaniel one white poll; one total polls
Then follows 29 households other than BIRDs and then another BIRD as
follows:
BIRD, Joshua one white poll; one total polls
There are no other
persons named BIRD or BYRD on this tax list. This tax list is
submitted in proof of the paternity relationship of Richard BYRD,
Junior, son of Richard BYRD who came to Falling Creek area from
Bertie County, son of John BYRD of Old Albemarle County. Inasmuch as
the name Richard BYRD passed down from father to son and sometimes
occurred in families of other sons of a Richard BYRD, hereafter in
this report, the Richard BYRDs will be assigned Roman numerals;
viz., Richard BYRD I, Richard BYRD II, etc.
Between 1769 tax list
and the next countywide extant Dobbs County tax list in 1780, there
are several lists of many of the men in Dobbs County but very little
information of a more specific and genealogically significant
character. There are full lists of seven of the ten Dobbs militia
companies that marched under the command of Governor Tryon to make
war upon the Regulars, an expedition which ended in the Battle of
Alamance in 1771. There are lists of ten Dobbs militia companies that
marched to battle the Tories at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in
February 1776. These name every man showing rank, function, days
served, in what company, and how much pay, and some other occasional
happenings. Also, commissioned officers are shown for Dobbs Minute
Men Units and at least one Company of Continentals from Dobbs. Some
of these companies are shown by name for other expeditions early in
the Revolution. There is a list of freeholders of Dobbs who voted for
members of the General Assembly in March 1779 (before Wayne County
was formed from Western Dobbs in December, 1779. The 1780 tax list
covers all of Dobbs that was left after Wayne was formed. It is not a
poll tax list but a list of freeholders resident in Dobbs showing the
valuation of their taxable estates. I believe there is not a single
instance of a kinship relation being shown on this list between any
two or more persons. Virtually the same list is found in the form of
a tax assessment list to be paid in commodities during the year
1780.
Thomas BIRD and
Robert BIRD are listed among soldiers drafted from Captain Kennedy's
Company of Dobbs County Militia July 20, 1777, to be sent out of the
State on expeditions under Continental command. Benjamin BYRD and
Jesse BYRD also had some Continental service. Benjamin also served in
the War of the Regulation. Nathan BYRD was a drummer in Captain Jesse
Cobb's company of Minutemen of Dobbs County in the Minutemen
Battalion from the New Bern District participating in expeditions
against Tory insurgents and the threat of British invasion in 1776
and thereafter. Nathaniel BYRD is at the same time serving in Captain
Joseph Green's Company of Dobbs Militia on the expedition to the
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in February-March 1776.
Richard BYRD II
needed to be age 16 or above to be a poll taxable in 1769. He was
probably not over age 16 inasmuch as he is not in the Grantee Index
of deeds until several years later as grantee receiving a deed. This
researcher estimates that he was born about 1752. He died in 1818 in
Johnston County. The best evidence available shows that his father,
Richard BYRD (I) died in Lenoir County (successor to Dobbs) sometime
between April 9, 1796, and November 6, 1797, as evidenced by two more
deeds passed between members of the BYRD family of Dobbs-Lenoir which
are preserved in original copies or certified copies made several
years before the Dobbs-Lenoir records were burned. The original
copies are now in the North Carolina Archives in the Brooks-Darden
Collection and in the Hines Collections. They have been copied into a
record book in Lenoir County Register of Deeds Office entitled
Colonial Records of Lenoir County and a microfilm of that book
is in North Carolina Archives and in the library of a number of
educational institutions including Lenoir Community College at
Kinston, Lenoir County. In studying these deeds for genealogical
proofs, it is extremely necessary to read closely and to plat any
large tracts of land described. Otherwise, the repetition of the name
Richard BYRD, Richard BYRD, Senr., and Richard BYRD, Jr., will prove
baffling. Specific deeds to establish proof of identities of the
Richards are as follows:
Page 258 of Colonial
Records of Lenoir County: Deed of sale for 376 acres by Joshua BYRD,
Thomas BYRD, Richard BYRD, Junior, and Sammuel BYRD of the
State of North Carolina and the County of Lenoir, planters, to
Richard BYRD, Senior, of the County and State aforesaid,
planter...Witnesseth: Whereas the said Joshua BYRD, Thomas BYRD,
Richard BYRD and Sammuel BYRD for and in consideration of the sum of
one hundred pounds specie money to us in hand paid by Richard BYRD,
Senr., before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the
receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge ourselves therewith fully
satisfied (etc...) convey unto the said Richard BYRD, Senr. (etc.) a
certain plantation tract or parcel of land...three hundred seventy
six acres situate, lying and being ... Beginning at a black gum
standing at the mouth of a branch in the plantation, runs up the
various courses of the branch to a gum in the patent (landgrant)
line, thence (other description...) Also one other tract of land
beginning at a pine Richard BYRD, Senior's third corner and on
the North side of Jumping Run and the patent line reversed North 68
East 136 poles to a lightwood stump (etc. other descriptive data
given...) to a pine the beginning of said patent, with the
given line reversed to the last corner of said patent being Nathan
BYRD's legatees corner ... ... down the Branch to where
Richard BYRD's line crosses the same thence South 20° East
to the beginning - 376 acres in the two adjoining tracts. THIS DEED
DOES NOT SAY WHAT KIN THE FOUR GRANTORS ARE TO THE GRANTEE. See also
on page 260 of the same volume a deed dated 26 June 1793 from William
Aldridge to Richard BYRD, Junr. which refers to the same line of
Nathan BYRD (who was then still living) and the line of Richard BYRD,
Senior (who was then still living). This deed is witnessed by another
Richard BYRD (with no suffix of Junior or Senior whereas the
two internally in this deed are identified as Junior (the
grantee) and Senior (the adjacent owner). Deed originally enrolled in
Lenoir Feb. 1796.
In Lenoir Colonial
Records p. 233 is a deed from Nathaniel BYRD to Richard BYRD, Senior
made 6 Nov. 1797 (Registered originally 5 June 1798 in Lenoir
County). "This Indenture this sixth day of November in the year of
our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven between
Nathaniel BYRD of the State of South Carolina and County of
Orange to Richard BYRD (the senior is omitted here but is in
below in the same deed) of State of North Carolina and County of
Lenoir ...for consideration of thirty-three pounds, six shillings and
eight pence to mein hand paid by said Richard BYRD, Senr. before the
sealing and delivery of these presents.... .... convey to said
Richard BYRD ....a certain plantation tract or parcel of land
containing by estimation three hundred and seventy-five acres,
situate, lying and being in Lenoir County and in the East side of
Falling Creek, beginning at a Black gum standing in the mouth of a
branch in the plantation and runs up the various courses of the
Branch so far as will make 164 poles ....in a straight line to a gum
in the patent line, thence with Samuel Thomas's paten Line South
20° East 116 poles to a post oak, thence South 70° West 160
poles, thence to the Beginning. Also one other tract of land,
beginning at a pine Richard BYRD, Senior*, deceased's, third
corner and in the north side of Jumping Run and run the patent line
reversed North 68° East 136 poles to a lightwood stump, thence
South 36° East 100 poles to a pine, the beginning of said
patent, thence with the ----line reversed to the last corner
of said patent, being Nathan BYRD's Legatees corner, thence with
their line South 88 West 246 poles to a post oak, theence North 45
West 44 poles to a pine in the Branch, then down the branch to where
Richard BYRD's line crosses the same, thence South 20 East to the
beginning; for three hundred and seventy-six acres ...warrant etc. to
the said Richard BYRD, Senior* etc. etc. Witnesseed by Sam BYRD and
Edward (his mark) BYRD. Enrolled in Lenoir Registry 5 June 1798.
* Note that after the
old Richard BYRD, Senior, became deceased, the one hitherto called
Richard BYRD, Junior began to be called Richard BYRD,
Senior. However the third Richard, grandson of the first,
seems not to have taken up the Junior. In the same volume at p. 237
is a deed from Benjamin BYRD to John BYRD made Aug. 9, 1802, ...a
tract or plantation in Lenior County on north side of Jumping Run
containing by estimate 100 acres more or less...beginning at a red
oak in Thomas BYRD's line...refers to Huckleberry Pond...refers to a
part of a patent granted to Sammuel Thomas and says this particular
land is part of two patents, one granted to Richard BYRD, the other
to John Moseley. There are Mosely family deeds which tie in with
these BYRD deeds and have also been saved. Witnesses Sam BYRD and
Simon Herring.
Page 239 is a quit
claim deed from Fereby BYRD widow of Thomas BYRD. This one is made 5
Jan. 1815 who for consideration of $118 quit claims her right, title
and interest in fifty nine acres of land, being one third part of my
dower in the lands of my dead husband, Thomas BYRD to be laid off on
the South or lower East of said land joining the lands of Jesse BYRD,
deceased by a line South 70 east from said Herrings line to Falling
Creek ...for and during the term of my natural life. Witness Sam BYRD
and Wm. Croom.
Page 255 of same
source has a deed made 28 Feb 1804 between Richard BYRD and John BYRD
of Lenoir Co to Rachel (BYRD - widow) Bryan for $2,000 sold a piece
of land in Lenoir County on Falling Creek and Jumping Run being part
of four surveys: ONE granted to Samuel Thomas; ONE to
Richard BYRD, Senr.; ONE to Richard BYRD, Junr.; and ONE to
John Aldridge (These are all identifiable I the State Landgrant
records - CRH) beginning at a pine MILLER BYRDS corner on a small
branch and runs with his line South 45° east 44 poles to a post
oak his his corner, then with his other line North 88° east 198
poles to a maple at the run of Jumping Run Branch, thence down the
same so far as will make 235 poles on a straight averse to a stake
JESSE BYRD's corner, then with his line South 68° West 79 poles
to THOMAS BYRD's line, then with his other line north 20° West
100 poles to a post oak his corner, thence South 70° West 160
poles, then north 20° West 132 poles to the mouth of the branch
MILLER BYRD's Line, then up the various courses of the Branch, being
MILLER BYRD's line to the beginning, containing 380 acres INCLUDING
THE PLANTATION WHERE THE SAID RICHARD BYRD AND JOHN BYRD NOW LIVES,
THE GRAVEYARD EXCEPTED.
Page 251 of same
Lenoir Colonial Records Vol. has a deed from MILLER BYRD TO WILLIAM
HERRING, both of Lenoir County, Made 8 Nov. 1816...for $1,772 sells
Herring 202 acres on North side of Neuse River and the lower side of
Falling Creek, being part of TWO surveys: one granted to Samuel
Thomas dated 1745 ONE granted to RICHARD BYRD, SENIOR date 1767.
....Samuel Mewborne's
line mentioned...also Jumping Run and Falling Creek. Witnesses Jno.
Meyer and John Shirley. Proved in open court by the grantor at
Lenoir County Court, January Term 1817. Enrolled 15 Jan. 1817.
ENTRIES IN THE OLD GRANTEE DEED INDEX SHOWING PERIOD WHEN ENTRY WAS
MADE AND ALL BYRD GRANTEES FROM VOLUME 1 which began in January 1746
in Johnston County TO VOLUME 21 (inclusive) which was in use in
Lenoir County beginning Jan. 1804:
Original Deed Book
Number - Page
1
|
26
|
Richard BYRD from Samuel Thomas
|
in Feb. 1746
|
1
|
72
|
Richard BYRD to Henry Garrett
|
March 1746
|
2
|
294
|
Richard BYRD to Joshua Herring
|
about 1753
|
3
|
336
|
Richard BYRD from Charles Holmes
|
about 1754/55
|
No other BYRD
grantees in the Johnston County period of present Lenoir County. That
period ran from Jan 1746 to April 1759 at which time the Dobbs County
period of present Lenoir began and ran unntil Feb. 1792 at which time
Lenoir period of Lenoir Began and the records of all periods weere
burned Oct. 1878 (as to Clerks and all records but deeds) and April
1880 (as to all deed records and Clerk's records accumulated since
Oct. 1878 - CRH)
7
|
431
|
Nathan BYRD from Williams (FIRST APPEARANCE OF NATHAN
BYRD) about 1763
|
8
|
38
|
Benjamin BYRD from John BYRD (FIRST APPEARANCE OF
BENJAMIN BYRD) about 1765
|
|
|
(Recall that this John is mentioned in the Will of
Stewart)
|
9
|
156
|
Thomas BYRD from William & John T. Miller
|
about 1766/67 FIRST OF THOMAS
|
10
|
122
|
Thomas BYRD from Richard BYRD
|
about 1772
|
11
|
303
|
JOSHUA BYRD from John Creek
|
about 1775 or a little later FIRST OF JOSHUA
|
|
|
(The firsts means only in the Deed Grantee Index - see
also 1769 tax list
|
|
13
|
201
|
Richard BYRD from John Creel
|
About 1779
|
|
13
|
198
|
Richard BYRD from Elijah Hinson
|
About 1779
|
|
14
|
478
|
Archibald BYRD from William W. Vining
|
About 1781
|
|
14
|
356
|
Richard BYRD from Moses Parker
|
About 1781
|
|
16
|
12
|
Nathan BYRD form Richard BYRD, Senior
|
About 1786
|
FIRST TIME USED Senior
|
16
|
156
|
Nnathan BYRD from Benjamin Sheppard
|
About 1786 - 1792
|
|
17
|
464
|
Richard BYRD from Nathaniel BYRD About 1797 FIRST MENTION
OF NATHANIEL
|
|
|
17
|
474
|
Richard BYRD from Jonathan BYRD
|
ca 1797 FIRST MENTION OF JONATHAN
|
|
17
|
274
|
Lemuel BYRD from John Garland
|
About 1796/97 FIRST MENTION LEMUEL
|
|
18
|
159
|
RICHARD BYRD, SR. from WILLIAM Aldridge, Jr. Enrolled
June 1797
|
|
|
18
|
245
|
Lemuel BYRD from Archibald BYRD about Aug 1796 (SECOND
MENTION OF ARCHIBALD)
|
|
|
18
|
258
|
Richard BYRD, Jr. from Archibald BYRD
|
|
|
18
|
365
|
Joshua BYRD from Major Croom
|
|
|
18
|
368
|
Joshua BYRD from same
|
|
|
18
|
99
|
Nathan BYRD from Jesse Farmer
|
|
|
18
|
252
|
Lemuel BYRD from John Caile
|
|
|
18
|
7
|
Elijah BYRD from Frederick Jones (FIRST MENTION OF ELIJAH
BYRD) ca 1796
|
|
|
19
|
19
|
Nathan BYRD from William Aldridge
|
ca 1797-1799
|
|
19
|
136
|
Thomas BYRD from Drewry Aldridge
|
This deed exists but have misplaced it.
|
|
19
|
153
|
Richard BYRD from Drewry Aldridge
|
|
|
19
|
246
|
Richard BYRD from John Aldridge
|
|
|
19
|
124
|
Lemuel BYRD from John BYRD
|
|
|
19
|
254
|
Richard BYRD from Lemuel BYRD
|
|
|
19
|
45
|
Nathan BYRD from Moses Gooding
|
|
|
19
|
162
|
Lemuel BYRD from James Glasgow
|
|
|
20
|
192
|
John BYRD from Benjamin BYRD
|
deed extant ca. 1802
|
|
20
|
247
|
Elijah BYRD from Joshua BYRD SECOND APPEARANCE OF
ELIJAH
|
|
|
20
|
244
|
Elisha BYRD from Joshua BYRD FIRST APPEARANCE OF
ELISHA
|
|
|
20
|
252
|
William BYRD from Joshua FIRST APPEARANCE OF WILLIAM
|
|
|
20
|
251
|
Thomas BYRD from Joshua BYRD
|
|
|
20
|
261
|
Lemuel BYRD from Spencer Caldwell
|
|
|
21
|
174
|
Rachel BYRD from Richard and John BYRD
|
deed extant made 28 Feb 1804
|
|
21
|
182
|
SUTTON BYRD FROM JOSHUA BYRD
|
FIRST OF SUTTON BYRD
|
|
21
|
184
|
Joshua BYRD, Jr. from Joshua BYRD
|
FIRST OF JOSHUA, JR.
|
|
21
|
35
|
Lemuel BYRD from William Copeland
|
|
|
Other BYRD entries
in the Grantee Index are in my notes down to 1870 - CRH
There is a
countrywide list of Dobbs Voters (freeholders who voted in an
election for the General Assembly in March 1779. No BYRD-BIRD
voted:
A list of taxables
with their valuation of their taxable estates for the year 1780
(after Wayne was cut off) shows the follow BYRDs with their
valuations:
In District #
1: Benjamine BIRD
£1,021; Nathan BIRD £774; Richard BIRD £1 3,092;
Thomas BIRD £400
In District #
2: Joshua BIRD
£624 and Nathaniel BIRD (Hatter) £1,205
There was no BIRD/BYRD on the 1786 tax list for Wayne County.
Dobbs County
freeholders who voted in an election for Constitutional Convention
representation in March 1788 show the following BYRD/BIRD
members:
#129
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Richard BYRD
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#290
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Richard BYRD, Junior
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#150
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Robert BYRD
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#301
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Nathaniel BYRD
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#167
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Thos. BYRD
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#302
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Lam. BYRD (Lemuel)
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#199
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Richard BYRD, Senr.
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The age minimum for voting was age 21
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#212
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Joshua BYRD
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Each voter had to own at least 50 acres of land
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#286 Archibald
BYRD
A petition from Dobbs
County on behalf of holding a new election to replace a disputed
election and proposing it to be held 14 and 15 July 1788 contained
signatures of the following BYRDs in Dobbs:
#138 Thomas his mark
BYRD
#140 Joshua BYRD
#146 Joshua BYRD,
Senr.
#192 Thomas BYRD (no
difference in the two)
#204 Richard his mark
BYRD
#206 Nathan BYRD
#244
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Archibell BYRD
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Papers in N.C.Arch File SS907
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JESSE BYRD of N. C.
was applicant for Rev. War Service Pension but his application was
rejected by U. S. National Archives File Rev. War Applications
R-1574.
THOMAS BIRD born in
Duplin Co. N. C. widow Nancy, a Rev. War Pensioner in his service
right. Her U. S. Pension Number indexed as W-8183 She also received
bounty land warrant No. 56942 for 160 acres in 1855. U. S.
Archives.
The deed records of
present Johnston County are in good condition back to March 1759 and
were burned at Lenoir Courthouse for all prior dates. BYRD Deeds from
1790 to 1818 have been reviewed successfully.
*The above BRIGHT
BYRD is ancestor of Mrs. Tera BYRD Averett, 100 North Ouida Street,
Enterprise, Ala. 36330.
From 1760 to 1776,
the Provincial government required that certain information with
respect to Wills probated and Administrations granted be sent by the
Clerk of County Court to the Treasurer and many of these list showing
the testator or intestate, the executors or administrators, the
securities and their bonds and the date letters issued or the Court
Term when probated are shown. The lists for Dobbs County from 1763
through 1774 have been examined and no testate or intestate of the
name BYRD was found on any of them. Also there is nothing in the
Grantee Index or other records found prior to 1792 to suggest the
death of an adult male in the BYRD family within Johnston, 1746-1759
or Dobbs 1759-1792- who left an estate in land or in other property
of consequence. The case papers of the Superior Court for the New
Bern Districts and the Minutes Books of that Court have been gleaned
for information on the BYRD family and these also show no death of a
male BYRD as stated above for the period 1746 to 1792 when Nathan
BYRD died. Consequently, this researcher can affirm with confidence
that Richard BYRD, Sr. who was born about 1711 in Chowan County died
in Lenoir in 1796 or 97, that his son Richard BYRD, Junior, born
about 1752 in Johnston County (now Lenoir) died in 1818 in Johnston
County (now Johnston) and that the latter had at the date he wrote
his will in 1807 a young son named BRIGHT BYRD who was still of
school age but who survived and became a prominent planter in
Johnston County.
((John BYRD, b CA 1655 m(1) Mary and m(2) Rebecca Peterson He died in
1716. His youngest son, Richard, was born in or near 1711 and reached
his majority in or about the year 1732, at which time he received a
deed of sale from John BYRD and William BYRD. Richard married twice.
The name of his first wife has not been found. But his son, Richard,
Jr. was born of a second wife, Mary O'Dyrs (or Odyer), daughter of
Dennis Odyer. Richard, Sr. was deceased by 1797. Richard, Jr. died in
1818. The wills of John BYRD (BIRD) and of Richard BYRD, Jr. are
shown below. We are concerned with the two sons of Richard BYRD, Jr.
who came to Dale County, Alabama, in the 1820s from North Carolina,
namesly, Bright BYRD and Redding BYRD. A chapter of genealogy has
been devoted to each - TBA))
Surname Projects A-L
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