According to his obituary, naming exactly how many years, months and days old he was upon the day of his death, John Peter Winfield was born on September 3, 1832 in what is now Stanly County, North Carolina, along the shores of the Yadkin/PeeDee River north of its confluence with the Rocky River and close to where the Swift Island Ferry would eventually cross. I determined the area from knowing the location of some of the neighbors of his father Peter II, son of Edward, grandson of Peter, great grandson of Edward, son of Jarvis Winfield of Sussex County, Virginia. Peter was shown in the 1830 census near the Kirks, Boysworths, William Craven Thompson and the Meltons, who lived off of what is now Hwy 24/27 between Albemarle and Troy in the Stanly County part of what was then known as the "West PeeDee" part of Montgomery County.
Peter is shown in the census as a young man with a young woman and two little boys in his house under the age of 5. This would have been his wife Mary "Polly" Goldston Winfield and two sons. It would make since that these two boys would be William Winfield, born in 1829, and John Peter. However, if John Peter was truly born in 1832, he would not have been counted in the 1830 census, so there may have been another son who died as a child.
The Grand Opening of the Swift Island Bridge across the Pee Dee River from Stanly to Montgomery Counties in North Carolina in December 1922, courtesy of The Federal Highway Administration. The bridge had to be demolished just a few years later due to construction of a dam downstream near Norwood, NC.
Peter died as a young man, at the age of 27, leaving a 21 year old wife and two little boys, William and John Peter. Mary Goldston Winfield, known as many Mary's were by the cub name of 'Polly', was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Goldston, who had been born in Chatham County where the Goldstons hived, and Lydia "Liddie" Waddell, of Randolph County. Peter was the brother of her first cousin, Mary Louise Burroughs' (Bryan Burroughs and Sally Waddell Burroughs) husband Arthur Freeman Winfield. Polly and Peter had married on November 7, 1825 in Randolph County at the tender age of 16.
After the death of her first husband, Peter, Mary married John Richardson Barber, three years later in 1833. In addition to her sons with Peter Winfield, she had 8 children with John R. Barber:
Lydia Ann Barber Mills (1834 - 1869)
Robert Barber (1836 - 1863) Civil War casualty as well.
Sarah "Sallie" Barber Briley (1838 - 1922)
Rev. James Alfred Barber (1840 - 1872)
George Barber (1842 - 1864) Civil War Casualty.
Sidney R Barber (1844 -1911) Died in Lousiana.
Walter Jones Barber (1848 - 1893)
Mary Adeline Barber (1853 - Unknown)
In the 1850 census, a 20 year old "Peter High" was also living with the family and caused the transcriber to name all of the family "High", but the children were Barbers.
By 1860, J P Winfield had married Susanna Virginia Liles, daughter of Jesse Jones Liles and Eleanor Dumas McClendon. They married in 1851, at the ages of 19 and 16. Teenaged marriages were not uncommon in those days, and in fact, necessary, due to the fragility of life and lack of urgent medical care. The average lifespan was much lower than it is today and the infant mortality rate was extremely high.
Susan was a spirited young woman and from accounts from the Thomas family, of which she later became a member, very beautiful. She and John P. Winfield would have 4 sons together:
Edward Kerr Winfield 1852 -1864 Died as a child at the age of 12
William Liles Winfield 1855 - 1923 married Irana Lucy Furr , 4 children
John Goldston Winfield 1858 -1942 married Dora Caudle, 6 children
Robert Jesse Winfield 1861 -1947 married cousin Ella Davis, 7 children, married second Annie Knight, 2 children. All living Winfields in the Anson and surrounding counties are descended from the 3 sons of John Peter Winfield who lived to adulthood. Peter's brother Milton died childless and his older brothers John and Freeman migrated to Alabama and Arkansas.
When the Confederate Army was formed in 1861, John Peter Winfield met the call to service, along with all of his Barber half-brothers with the exception of William Jones Barber, who was only 13. Even 16 year old Sidney joined up. JP Winfield, along with Robert and George, would loose their lives in the war. Older brother, William Winfield, would die in 1864 of typhoid fever and is buried in the Brown Creek Baptist Church cemetery with his mother and stepfather. Surviving brother James Alfred Barber, would become a minister there later.
Location of Brown Creek in comparison with other creeks and counties.
Excerpts from the "Wadesborough Argus": 1862 -1863
Thurs. July 10, 1862 List of Killed and Wounded in Co. C 14th Regiment, as far as known: Killed - Daniel McKay, Frank McLendon, mortally wounded, Jesse Sibley, since dead.
Casualties, in PeeDee Wildcats, J P Winfield, in arm, severely.
May 30, 1864 Corp. George Barber, Co K, 43rd NC Reg. of Brown Creek. To be buried.
NC Argus, Thursday, Feb. 3, 1863 (Wadesborough, North Carolina)
Killed: At Rawls Mill, Martin County, NC, 2nd November, 1862
John P Winfield of Anson County, aged 32 years, 2 months and 29 days. He was a private in Capt. J McLauchlins Co. K, 26th Regiment of NC troops. In May last, he bid adieu to friends and relatives to go forth in defense of country and loved ones at home. After spending a few weeks in peace and quietude on the tented field, the company had an engagement with the enemy in which engagement he was instantly killed by a shell. He leaves a wife and four children besides many other friends and relations to mourn his untimely loss. I would say to them, weep not, believe that he has changed a world of wars, for one of eternal bliss. In August of 1836, he made a public profession of religion, joined the church and was baptized. He was a consistent member up to the day on which he was killed. We all have reason to believe he was nearly a pure Christian as this earth affords. And I doubt not that he is to-day on the peaceful shores of eternal happiness, singing praises to God, with those who have gone before him. May those left behind prepare to meet him.
Signed A Friend
The following link is from a story on the PeeDee Wildcats:
The Story of Company K 26th North Carolina Infantry Transcribed from the NC Argus Newspaper by David M. Edwards Military Order of the Stars & Bars Captain Henry C. Grady Chapter 296 Wadesboro, NC CASUALTIES IN PEE DEE WILDCATS Killed Geo. Bowman S.F. Gathings, slightly wounded in the breast. J.P. Winfield, in arm severely. H. Willoughby, in head severely. Corporal W.H. Dabbs, in arm, severely. P.W. McGugan, arm, severely. J.T. Henly, bruised in the side by a limb cut from a tree by a shell. E. Hildreth is missing, but it is thought will come up yet. The 26th was in some of the hottest of the fights. In Company K Cap. McLauchlin, was wounded in the head, while gallantly leading his men against the foe, but still remains with his company. Wild Cats at Seven Pines North Carolina Argus Thursday, July 10, 1862 Banks Chickahominy, July 4, 1862 One of our company was killed instantly, George Bowman. J.P. Winfield and H. Willoughby, were wounded slightly. List of Casualties in 26th NC Regt in the Battles near Richmond, Va, from 25th June to 4th July North Carolina Argus July 31, 1862 Com K - Private George Bowman killed; Capt. J.C. McLauchlin, Corpl W.H. Cabbs and privates S.F. Gathings, J.F. Hienly, W.J. Horn, P.W. McGougan, H. Willoughby, and J.D. Windfield wounded. The regiment suffered 8 killed, 61 wounded, 5 missing, 3 wounded have since died.
Most people have overlooked the brief life and scarce records of young Peter Winfield. His appearance in the 1830 census of Montgomery County, North Carolina, they take it as a nod to his grandfather, Peter Winfield I, without realizing through the benefit of a timeline, that his grandfather, per land records and estate records that name a will, that must have burned in one of the many Montgomery County Courthouse fires, reveal that Peter Winfield, the grandfather, died in 1802, before his grandson Peter was ever born.
Peter was the son of Peter Seniors only son Edward. The only son that lived to adulthood, perchance. There are no records of any other sons being born in Virginia prior to their journey to North Carolina.
Peter Winfield, son of Edward, and his wife Charlotte Freeman Winfield, daughter of Arthur and Agnes Freeman, had resided in Mecklenburg County, Virginia where their 4 known children were born; Edward and his 3 sisters, Sarah, Ancena (or Arena) and Virginia.
Peter appears to have traveled back and forth between Anson County, where he bought property along the Rocky River from Hugh Ross on April 7, 1787 near White Oak Branch. He also was named as a witness on deeds in Mecklenburg and Brunswick County, Virginia.
Edward, son of Peter and Charlotte and named for his paternal grandfather, was born about 1866 or 1867 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. He married Sussannah Lee, the daughter of Robert Lee, Jr. and Argent Culpepper. The Lee's had also migrated from Virginia to Anson County along the Rocky and PeeDee Rivers.
The first census of the United States in 1790, shows Edward with one male over 16, one male under 16 and one female in his household. These figures would most likely represent Edward and wife Sussanah and their firstborn son, Arthur Freeman Winfield, named for Edwards maternal grandfather, Arthur Freeman.
Name:
Edward Winfield
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:
1
Free White Persons - Females:
1
Number of Household Members:
3
By 1800, the family had grown considerably.
Edward Winfield
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):
Fayetteville, Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:
1
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44:
1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:
1
Number of All Other Free Persons:
5
Number of Slaves:
3
Number of Household Members Under 16:
3
Number of Household Members Over 25:
2
Number of Household Members:
13
The adults between 26 and 44 would have had to have been Edward and Susannah. The male 10 to 15 would have been Arthur Freeman Winfield and the male under 10, John Winfield, second born son. The female under 10 would have had to have been only daughter Eliza.
Ten years later, the family had grown again. Slaves had increased from 3 to 13 and children from 3 to 4.
Name:
Edward Winfield
Home in 1810 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:
2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 :
1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:
1
Numbers of Slaves:
13
Number of Household Members Under 16:
3
Number of Household Members Over 25:
2
Number of Household Members:
19
Edward and Sussanah are still between 26 and 44. Arthur Freeman Winfield between 16 and 25 and John and third born son Peter under 10. John, born in 1800, was a newborn during the 1800 census, and was still counted as under 10 in 1810, but probably had just turned 10. Peter, next to the youngest had been born.
The 1820 cenus of Anson County lists Edward "Edw" and Freeman Winfield next to each other. The image can be pulled up on ancestry. com, but is not transcribed. It also exists in the book "1790-1840 Census of Anson County, North Carolina". Edward was no males under 10 in his household. The next category is 10 to 16, he has one. The next category is 16 to 26. He has one. The next category is over 26, he has 2. For females, he has one 10 to 16 and one over 26. The youngest male would be youngest son Milton. The one 16 to 26 would have been Peter. The two over 26 would be Edward and second son John. The female 10 to 16 would be Eliza and the one over 26, Susannah.
Freeman had married Mary Burroughs, daughter of Bryan Boroughs and Sarah Waddell in 1818. This is important in the brief life of Peter II.
The 1820 shows Freeman with just 2 adults, himself and wife Mary or Polly, and the oldest of their daughters having been born.
This would have been Susan Lee Winfield, born 1819.
Freeman Winfield
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39:
1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:
3
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:
1
Slaves - Males - Under 10:
5
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:
1
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35:
1
Slaves - Females - Under 10:
5
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23:
3
Free White Persons - Under 20:
5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
2
Total Free White Persons:
7
Total Slaves:
15
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):
22
By 1830, Freeman had 5 daughters and 15 slaves. Freeman served in the War of 1812. He was a Quarter Master Sergeant. As thus, he qualified in the Alabama land lottery, and relocated his family to Perry County, Alabama. He is shown as obtaining 6 land patents near the community of Sprott between 1835 and 1837. He likely traveled with relatives, William Boroughs and Thomas Billingsley, among others.
By 1830, Susannah had passed and father Edward was living with only youngest son Milton Winfield, who would own property in both Anson and Stanly County, and marry Mary Ann Pickler, a German girl, and remain childless. Milton would be the last Winfield in the area, except for the sons of Peter. His widow would marry first cousin, Marriott Freeman Davis.
Name:
Edward Winfield
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59:
1
Slaves - Males - Under 10:
3
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:
4
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35:
3
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54:
3
Slaves - Females - Under 10:
4
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35:
3
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54:
2
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
1
Total Free White Persons:
2
Total Slaves:
22
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):
24
On November 14, 1822, thirty year old John M. Winfield started his own family by marrying Eliza Beard, daughter of Micheal Beard of Rowan County. Her brother John Beard would also join the family by marrying the Winfield's cousin Annabelle Morrison, daughter of Ancena Winfield, Edwards sister.
John remained in North Carolina most of his life, but would migrate to Pope County, Arkansas in the 1850's, while he was in his 50's. John and Eliza had 10 children.
1830 was the only census Peter would be in as head of his own household. He is shown with a wife and two little boys under 5 in his household, and 6 slaves. He was a farmer and lumberman. His plan was to float lumber down the river to South Carolina. He was shown as living in Montgomery County, meaning he lived in what is now the Stanly County side of the Rocky River.
Name:
Peter Winfield
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):
Montgomery, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:
2
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29:
1
Slaves - Males - Under 10:
2
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:
1
Slaves - Females - Under 10:
1
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23:
2
Free White Persons - Under 20:
2
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
2
Total Free White Persons:
4
Total Slaves:
6
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):
10
Peter had went to Randolph County to find his bride.
ame:
Peter Winfield
Gender:
Male
Spouse:
Polley Goldston
Spouse Gender:
Female
Bond Date:
7 Nov 1825
Bond #:
000115195
Level Info:
North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum:
002999
County:
Randolph
Record #:
01 299
Bondsman:
Bryan Boroughs
Bryan Boroughs was the bondsman. Bryan was the father of Peter's sister-in-law, Mary Burroughs Winfield, wife of his older brother Freeman.
Polly, whose Christian name was Mary, as many Mary's were called Polly instead, was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Goldston and Lydia Waddell. If you recall, Bryan Burroughs was married to Sarah "Sally" Waddell. Both were daughters of Edmund Waddell and Lucy Birdsong. Both families made important marks in Virginia and North Carolina history. Edmund Waddell was a member of the 1788 Ratification Commitee, fought in the Revolutionary War, serving as a Lieutenant and was a State Senator from North Carolina between 1793 and 1798. His wife Lucy, was the daughter of Major John Birdsong and his wife Mary Armstead. Major Birdsong was a member of the Provencial Congress, Served as sheriff of Chatham County, a Member of the Assemby, and a member of the House of Commons, among other offices and honors.
So Mary Bouroughs Winfield's mothers Sarah "Sally" Waddell Bourgouhs and Mary "Polly" Goldston Winfields mother Lydia Waddell Goldston, were sisters. That is how Peter found his wife from Randolph County. Family connections were of great importance in those days.
The Goldston or Gholston family was centered in Chatham county, North Carolina, not far from the counties of Moore, Montgomery and Randolph.
There is even a small town named for the family.
Chatham is a mostly rural county, but a very early, political county in North Carolina. Many families of central N. C. camped out in Chatham before spreading out. It's green, hilly and full of grand old homes that have been abandoned as citizens have left for larger venues that Chathams small towns.
Some times important things can be found while looking for something entirely different. While attempting to find information on Mary A. Davis, daughter of Henry Davis and wife Martha Palmer, my great, great, great grandparents whom I have been concentrating on recently, I came across these little gems in a book on excepts from The Carolina Watchman, an early Salisbury, Rowan County, Newspaper.
Death Notices: Peter Wintfield, aged about 27, Aug. 23 1830, on Rocky River in Rowan County. (Sept 7, 1830 issue).
Note: The Rocky River does not flow through Rowan County and did not at that time either. They likely meant Montgomery County as Stanly did not yet exist. It does also flow through Cabarrus County, but the Winfield family did not live in this area. The Rivers connected the early families of North Carolina and the rivers were also the cause of death as many people attempted crossing or in transporting goods and animals up or down them. Rivers became common county boundaries to prevent death while attempting to get to the county courthouse, as in the case of the split between Montgomery and Stanly County, NC in 1841.
Chatham County Courthouse
The Carolina Watchman also mentioned the marriage of brother John Winfield to Eliza Beard in 1822, as her family hailed from Rowan County. Other marriage of notes were those of the Crump sisters, a family closely associated to the Davis's and Winfields: Miss Ann Crump to William Allen 1835 Miss Camiline Crump to Newberry F Hall 1840 Miss Caroline Crump to Shepherd Lee 1840 Note: Shepherd Lee was the son of William "Rocky River Bill" Lee and Rosa Crump. Also, a relation of Sussanna Lee Winfield and Rowena Lee Davis, wife of James M. Davis, Sarah Winfield Davis's son. Another interesting marriage I found announced in this paper was that of Bethany Delamothe to Willis Morgan in 1839. This couple was feature in my post: Jobs Children: Bethany. As a lesson hard learned, always remember to record your sources when researching your family history. I have stacks of papers from years past of looking into the Winfields', are they were one of the first families I dug into very thoroughly. I remember finding in some old record, of Peter Winfield being killed in a logging accident. It did not mention his age, or give his date of death, as the newspaper article did. The age of 27 also synchs his year of birth. Peter's life was short but important. Every current Anson County Winfield is descended from him. Freeman moved his family to Alabama and John to Arkansas. Milton died childless as his wife was barren. Peter was the only one to leave descendants along the Rocky River. He and Mary had two sons. Those two sons were John Peter Winfield and Willilam Winfield. In 1833, 3 years after her husbands death, Mary Polly Goldston Winfield married a farmer and minister, John Richardson Barber. Mary had been a young bride, only 16 when marrying Peter Winfield. She was also a young widow, only 22 when Peter died, and 25 when she married John Richardson Barber. John R. Barber was a farmer, but also performed many marriages. He may have even taught at Brown Creek Church, where the family is buried. After having 2 sons with Peter Winfield, Polly and Rev. Barber had 8 children of their own. The Barbers are another post. Since Peter died while Stanly was still Montgomery and Montgomery is a "Burnt County", his estate records do not exist that is known. Mary and sons probably inherited whatever propery he had accumulated, as both Mary and sons are seen in later census records as owning slaves.
Name:
JohnBarber
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5:
2
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:
2
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39:
1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:
2
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:
1
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23:
2
Slaves - Females - Under 10:
1
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35:
1
Persons Employed in Agriculture:
4
Free White Persons - Under 20:
7
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:
2
Total Free White Persons:
9
Total Slaves:
4
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:
13
The 1840 census shows the John Barber residence with 7 children. This would include John Peter Winfield , William Winfield, Lydia and Sarah Barber, Robert Barber and James Barber, born in 1840.
The 1850 census shows the young Winfield men still living with their mother and stepfather. A Peter High was living with the family and the transcriptionist incorrectly listed the Barber children as "Hights". Peter was the son of Benjamin High and Polly Richardson High, a relative of John R. Barber. The High family of Anson are also tied into the Davis family later on.
In 1851, at age 19, John Peter Winfield married a young lady with a considerable family history and a long southern name "Sussanah Sarah Virginia Liles". The Liles were one of the leading families of Anson county, founding the town of Lilesville. Susan was the daughter of Jesse Liles and wife Eleanor Dumas McClendon. The Dumas and McClendons were also Anson county royalty, along with the Wades, the Walls, the Ingrams, the Flakes, the Lilly's, the Burns, the Kikers and the Thomas's. And the small, but affluent Winfields.
In 1860, the oldest 3 of the 4 sons of John Peter and Susan were born. In all the 4 were: Edward, William Liles, John Goldston, and Robert Jesse. These 4 would be the source of all the current Winfields in Anson. John Peter, like his father before him, would not live a long life. He would die in the Civil War. His widow would marry a Thomas and his brother would also die young, and without issue. The tale of John Peter and his sons are another post. But without the short life of Peter Winfield II, no Winfields would be found in these parts today.
grandfather, died in 1802, before his grandson Peter was ever born.
The Rivers connected the early families of North Carolina and the rivers were also the cause of death as many people attempted crossing or in transporting goods and animals up or down them. Rivers became common county boundaries to prevent death while attempting to get to the county courthouse, as in the case of the split between Montgomery and Stanly County, NC in 1841.