Bailey Francis Smith

Bailey Francis Smith was the son-in-law of my 4th Great Grandfather James Palmer.

I believe if we just look at Bailey, he tells us exactly who he is. Not only that, he may help solve two other mysteries in my family trees involving Smith's, like the origins of Mary Smith Mauldin, and maybe which Smith Mary Davis, daughter of Henry Davis and Martha Palmer Davis, married. Bailey had married Mary Palmer, daughter of James and Martha Atkins Palmer, and sister of Martha Palmer Davis. This family, like many others I've researched in the past, liked keeping it in the family. 

The leading graphic is a transcription of the Will of Bailey F. Smith, dated July 10, 1872. He wanted the proceeds of the sale of his property to be divided between three people, Bailey Francis Blalock, his namesake, Mary Elizabeth Blalock and Willis Jones Blalock, 'heirs of William C Blalock.'  These three were the children of Martha Elizabeth Smith, who had married William C. Blalock, and were his niece and nephews.

He also made reference of another sister, Margaret Smith Dry, a widow of Daniel Dry. These were not his only siblings, nieces or nephews, but only the ones he felt needed his aid. 

Bailey first appears, for certain, in the 1840 census of Montgomery County, NC, the year before 'West Pee Dee' becomes Stanly County.

Name	Bailey Smith
Residence Date	1840
Home in 1840 (City, County, State)	West Pee Dee River, Montgomery, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9	1 Edward
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29	1 Bailey
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29	1 Mary Palmer Smith
Persons Employed in Agriculture	1
Free White Persons - Under 20	1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49	2
Total Free White Persons	3
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves	3

He is shown as a man in his 20's, a wife in her 20's and one male between 5 and 9. These were easy to identify. They were himself, his wife, Mary Palmer Smith, sister to my Martha Palmer Davis, and their son, Edward Palmer Smith.

Name	Baily Smith
Gender	Male
Race	White
Residence Age	42
Birth Date	abt 1808
Birthplace	North Carolina
Residence Date	1850
Home in 1850	Freemans, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
Occupation	Farmer
Industry	Agriculture
Real Estate	600
Line Number	38
Dwelling Number	202
Family Number	203
Inferred Spouse	Mary Smith
Inferred Child	Edward Smith

Household members

Name	Age
Baily Smith	42
Mary Smith	41
Edward Smith	17

In 1850, you can see them by name. But look at the actual script and check out the line up.

Bailey's family is next to the household of 56 year old Elizabeth Smith, and there is Margaret, 23, his sister. Above them, is the family of James Smith, 44, and Joseph Pickler above that and John Smith above them.

So let's dive into the land records during this decade to see what is going on and possibly how these folks relate. We'll start in 1851, and then we are going to back up a little bit. In Stanly County Deed Book 3, Page 129, William H. Randle to B. F. Smith dated the 3rd day of October, 1851.

"Between John Ward, Jeremiah Adderton, James Adderton of the County of Davidson and Daniel Freeman of Stanly County of the one part and Bailey F. Smith of the County of Stanly of the other part........for the sum of $140 paid in hand by Bailey F. Smith.......tract of land in Stanly County.....(not trying to locate it so the sweet gum trees and chain and corner post don't matter)  2 post oaks D. Freemans corner of his 127 acres tract.....near Dr Smith's house.........Joseph Picklers line.........280 acres more or less....  In the presence of J. O. Ross.....signed by John Ward, Jeremiah Adderton, Daniel Freeman, James Adderton by W. H. Randle, attorney.

So you can see above, Bailey Smith, and other Smiths, are living near Joseph Pickler already. So the next year, he purchased a tract that bordered Joseph Pickler, and also bordered Daniel Freeman's property. Daniel Freeman, a merchant, owned several properties upon which he did not live, but acquired likely through debts and investments. But there is also something interesting in family lore concerning Daniel Freeman.

Book 3 Page 119 Bayley F. Smith to John G. Forrest dated 24 November, 1851, one month after the above document.for the sum of $550....sold a tract of land....descriptions fitting exactly to the deed mentioned above in Book 3, page 129...bordering Joseph Pickler and containing 280 acres.

Those really don't tell us much, but the next one is a kicker....

Elizabeth Smith and others to James Smith

'Know all men by these presents that we Elizabeth Smith, M Smith, W Blalock B Smith AC Smith AF Atkins R Smith & D Freeman are held and firmly bounden unto James Smith in the sum of $500 to which payment we bind ourselves and each of our heirs executors and administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents signed with our hands and seals the the  (blank) day of  (blank) 1848.

........James Smith as executor of the last Will and Testament of William Smith decd late of Stanly County......delivered to .....Elizabeth Smith.....papers belonging to the estate of William Smith...whereas James Smith purchased of  William Smith during his lifetime a certian tract of land situated in the county...which said James Smith executed an agreement in writing payable to....William Smith and all of the above bounden Elizabeth Smith jointly a part of which tract of land is said to be covered by another claim or title called the Big Survey.......if.....Elizabeth shall faithfully & truley save  harmless & indemify to ..James Smith from all loss......by delivering to Elizabeth the papers belonging to the estate of William Smith .....which may hereafter be effected against him by the elements....of the Big Survey on this tract of land purchased by him of ..William Smith....then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and effect. 

                                                                                                   Elizabeth Smith (her mark)

                                                                                                   Margaret Smith (her mark)

                                                                                                   William Blalock 

                                                                                                   AC Smith

                                                                                                    Bailey Smith

                                                                                                   Arthur F. Atkins

                                                                                                   Robert Smith

                                                                                                   Daniel Freeman

Attest

John J Freeman

 

Registered Feby 9th 1852 by the oath of  John J. Freeman

This deed is clear, but then again, it's not. Who was William Smith?

He left a will in 1845, naming his widow, Elizabeth, his daughters, Mary and Margaret, and names his son, James, as executor. In the above list then, is his widow, Elizabeth, his daughter, Margaret, followed by William Blalock, who married Mary Smith, so, a son-in-law. Then, A. C. Smith, Bailey Smith, Arthur F. Atkins, Robert Smith and Daniel Freeman. I know that Arthur F. Atkins was a cousin of Bailey Smiths wife, Mary Palmer, but I don't know yet exactly how or why he would be included in this group, in this document. And Daniel Freeman? This one is a real mystery, but on closer look, Robert Smith married Polly Freeman, then you have Arthur Freeman Atkins, then Daniel Freeman. Is there any meaning to that coincidence?

There exists a Smith DNA project, and the above mentioned William Smith is part of the DNA project. 

William Smith

b c 1755 NC

d Mar 1845 Stanly NC

NC Soldier

DAR A106108 

He is estimated to have been born about 1755 and died in Stanly County in 1845, 90 years old. A copy of his will is included, which names his son, James as Executor, his wife Elizabeth, and his two daughters, Margaret and Martha. He served in the Revolutionary War and is assigned a DAR number. William is a post of his own. For this moment, however,  I just want to report that this William , was not  William "Billy" Smith of Cabarrus County, who lived about the same time,  and was also in the DNA study. This William died in Stanly County, was married to Elizabeth, and has two Genetically proven lines attached to him, Robert Smith and Littleton Smith.

I know nothing of Littleton Smith, and he very well may have died before his father, but he left a straight line of male descendants. As did Robert Smith, who is mentioned in the above document. Robert outlived William Smith by a few years, passing away in 1848, in Stanly County. He left a will naming 10 children:

Parham Smith

Alsey Smith

Tabitha (or Tobitha) Nash, wife of Edmund Nash

Wincy Snuggs, wife of Richmond G. Snuggs

Martha Bell, wife of Jonathan Bell

Children of deceased son Henry Smith

Archibald Smith

Children of deceased daughter, Elizabeth Calloway, wife of John Calloway, excepting her son, Robert.

Heirs of son John, deceased

Daughter Nancy Kendall, wife of Elums Kendall

So there explains AC Smith, or does it? I believe there may have been an older AC Smith. Another thing that makes one go Hmmm, Daniel Freeman also had a son named Archibald C. Freeman. Given the fact that Robert Smith married Polly Freeman.....another connection? Like William, Robert deserves a closer look, but this post is about Bailey.

Bailey Smith names the two daughters, Margaret and Martha, of William Smith in his will, naming him as his sisters. So if Bailey Smith was a son of William Smith, why was he not mentioned in the Will, and why is he not represented in the DNA test? 

1) He didn't mention Robert or Littleton either.

2) James, who he did mention, is not in the DNA lineage either, which is a males only test.

William appears to have named only his youngest children in his will, as it was their care and well-being he wanted to ensure. His widow Elizabeth was also obviously not old enough to have been the mother of all of his children. She was a much younger, and later, wife. There may have even been more than two. 

But I know why Bailey Smith did not show up in the list of descent from a Y-DNa study.

Edward Palmer Smith

Bailey Smith and Mary Palmer Smith had one child, Edward Palmer Smith. I find the following two records of him in the land records.

Edward P Smith's Grant No 59

State of NC Know ye that for the sum of $5 for every hundred acres hereby granted paid into our Treasury by Edward P. Smith.....a tract of land containing 100 acres on Camp Branch of Mountain Creek, adjoining William Smiths and Joseph Picklers line ...beginning at Joseph Picklers corner......50 links to William Smiths corner....Entered 15th day of December 1841...witness John M. Morehead...Recorded 21st Feb. 1845.

Now, Edward was very young when recieving this grant, but I've seen it before. His granted land met that of William, (his grandfather?), and Joseph Pickler. If one was to scroll back up to the 1850 census, you will see Joseph Pickler, followed by James Smith, followed by Elizabeth Smith, widow of William, followed by Bailey Smith, his wife Mary and son Edward P. Smith.

January 15th 1852 Allen Ross to Edward P Smith for $135 ,beginning at a white oak, containing 129 acres. Witnessed by P. W. Wooley and AC Freeman. Registered the 8th of February 1853.

But by the 1860 census,  Bailey is a widower. Both Mary and Edward have died.

Name	Baily F Smith
Age	51
Birth Year	abt 1809
Gender	Male
Race	White
Birth Place	North Carolina
Home in 1860	Stanly, North Carolina
Post Office	Albemarle
Dwelling Number	624
Family Number	633
Occupation	Farmer
Real Estate Value	3000
Personal Estate Value	14000

Household members

Name	Age
Lovina Smith	65
Eliza Smith	40
Camoline Smith	16
Baily F Smith	51

He is living next to Lovina Smith, widow of John Smith, with Green Smith above them. More about that later.

There are more land records that sort of build a map of connections, and a picture of what was happening in the life of Bailey Smith, and the other Smiths. Backing up to 1842, there are a few transactions I want to look at.

On November 9th, 1842, William Smith,  (three years before his death), sold to James Smith, (his son who would become this executor), for $400, 'parts of several tracts of land'.....on the waters of Mountain Creek, joining the lands of Robert Smith, Archy Smith, Joseph Pickler, and others. "Beginning on a post oak on the top of a mountain" ...corner of a 60 acres tract that runs with Smith's line...Joseph Picklers line....Robert Smiths line...opposite the center of the mountain...containing 200 acres .signed William Smith, John F Miller, witness, Samuel P. Morton , Registrar.

April 25th, 1843 Bailey Smith to James Palmer:

Bailey was 'Justly indebited ' to James Palmer, his father-in-law, in the sum of $36.92 1/2 cents. Being honestly 'desirous' to prevent James Palmer from suffering loss, Bailey, secured property to David Kendall 'for one dollar in hand', a Bay horse, a Bay Filly, 5 head of cattle, 8 hogs, one sheep, 3 beds and matching furniture, one large table, one small table, and various tools, tubs, chairs, looms, saddles and tack... until Bailey satisfies  judgement...etc. Signed Baily Smith, James Palmer and David Kendall.

Stanly County Court of Pleas and Quarters

November Session 1844

Elisha and William Smith to James Smith, proved by Bailey Smith.

June 6, 1846 Bailey Smith to James Smith

For $5.00 paid in hand by James to Bailey 'a certain tract of land on which Bailey now resides...trees..corner of the 60 acre tract.'  There is a mention of a Marburys line, and the lot running along Mountain Creek. "Whereas the said James Smith has become security for the prosecution of a suit now pending in Superior Court of Stanly' where Bailey was the plaintiff and his father-in-law James Palmer and brother-in-law Henry Davis, were the defendants. Bailey had married Mary Palmer and Henry had married Martha Palmer. The land was subject to a $20 lein of sorts, that Bailey owed Atlas J. Dargan. Signed by Bailey Smith, Witnessed by A. C. Freeman, Davidson Hearne was Clerk, Samuel P. Morton, Registrar.

Side note: Maybe why I am so tied to the land, three of the above names, Samuel Morton, James Palmer and Henry Davis, are my direct ancestors.

September 23rd, 1847  Bailey Smith to James Huckabee

For one dollar in hand to James Huckabee, Bailey recieved a loan on some personal property, a few horses, three cows, 12 hogs, four sheep, 150 bushels of corn, and his kitchen furniture. James and Brittain Huckabee secured a note of Baileys. There is mention of a note owed to Eben Hearne,  and a bill owed to the company of Daniel Freeman and Son. Signed by Bailey and James Huckabee, and Witnessed by John O. Ross. D Hearne, Clerk, S. P. Morton , Registrar.

Mountain Creek farm in the West Pee Dee Uwharrie range

Bailey seems to have gotten himself in a bit of debt. That may have been why he had his young son to apply for a Grant. It continued into the 1850's...

Bailey F. Smith to Henry Marshall, Esq., March 5, 1852

This time, five years later, Bailey had improved his situation somewhat. He listed two wagons, one buggy, three Horses, 8 hogs, five cows, 20 barrels of corn, 35 bushels of wheat, followed by all the legal swelling and twisting. Signed by B. F. Smith and witnesses by Atlas J. Dargon. 

During the 1850's, the decade in which he lost his wife and his son, Bailey Smith seemed to pick up speed.

Valentines Day, 1859 Reuben Harris to B F Smith:

Bailey paid $600 to Reuben Harris for property on Mountain Creek, called the 'old Harris tract', containing 200 acres. Signed by Reuben Harris and witnessed by W. H. Randle and J. C. Fry. This property was nowhere near where he was living, he was expanding his holdings.

March 2, 1861 Joseph Marshall to Bailey F. Smith:

Bailey paid $147 to Joseph Marshall for a tract of land that began at a stake on the Southside of Naked Mountain in Martin Rushs' line. It ran with Rushs' line to a high-land pond, then to the corner of an old  200 acre tract referred to as the Shankle tract. It continued meeting Reuben Harris's line, John J. Freeman's line, Thomas Biles line, to a 'large pine in the old stand on the north side of Naked Mountain'. It contained 346 acres. So Bailey Smith had just bought a part of Morrow Mountain, as Naked Mountain would become to be known. It was noted that it had passed to Joseph Marsall by Biles, trustee of James Boysworth.

A photo of Naked Mountain before it was named Morrow, from the Stanly County Museum Collection

Let's see what else we may be able to discover.

1860 Census 

In this cross section of the 1860 census Henry Bird leads the lineup.  There were cross marriages in between the Bird and Smith families.

Next, Mary Mauldin - to be exact - Mary Smith Mauldin - aged 62, with her son , Frank, in the household. A 5 year old Elizabeth, lived with them. Who was she? A grandchild, perhaps? Then 21 year old Ellen Smith and 1 year old Mary F. Smith. This looks likd a mother and infant. Who were they? Was she an Ellen Mauldin Smith tragically widowed young? No one seems to know. Where did she come from and where did she go? There must be some hints here.

Next, Parham Mauldin, another son of Mary. Robert Smith also had a son named Parham.

Green Smith, with wife Mary and small children.

Lovina Smith, whom we know from the 1850 census, is the widow of John.

Then lastly, Bailey F. Smith, age 51, and alone. 

That's a long list of Smith and Smith relatives. Too much for coincidence? 

Bailey makes a few more significant purchases in the 1860's. Remember, of course, the country and state were in turmoil and  chaos at this time. The news of death came often. Crops lie neglected in the fields. Widows and orphans abound. People were starving, desperate.

January 26, 1867 Britton H. Huckabee to Bailey F. Smith:

Britton was in debt to Bailey, (quite a reversal from 20 years prior). One note of $25.50 was due in February. Another for $160.85 from February of 1865, another of $16.00 that was overdue, a year late, and another for $100.25 dated April of 1861, that R. Harris was security due to Daniel Freeman. Yet another note for $10.00 due in 1866 to Bailey,  and lastly a note  payable to John O. and W. J. Ross for $89.21. To cover his debts, he sold to Bailey the land he lived on constisting of 250 acres adjoining the lands of A. C. Smith and W. McAlester on Camp Branch. Also, a mule, a cow, 13 sheep, 9 hogs, household and kitchen items and a crop wheat and corn, a two-horse wagon, harnesses and farming tools. Signed by Britton and Bailey, and witnessed by AC Smith.

November 25, 1867 W. F. Nash to B. F. Smith:

For $60,  W.F. Nash sold to Bailey F. Smith,  a tract of land that sounds like it started at a tract Bailey had bought in the 1850's, at a stake on the south side of of a "Nob" on Naked Mountain (now Morrow Mountain) in Martin Rushes lines. It met the corner of the old 200 acre Shankle tract. It met Bailey's 150 acres tract, JJ Freemans' property, Thomas Biles, now R. S. Nashes line, back to the north side of Naked Mountain, containing  346 acres. Yes,  that sounds familiar. Signed Whitson F. and Nancy J. Nash. Witnesses by John W. Morton.

William Charles Blalock, born about 1825, was the son of William David Blalock, Jr. and wife Patsy Dennis. He is also my 3rd Great Granduncle as I am descended from his sister, Mary "Polly" Blalock, who married Thomas Alexander Mauldin, son of the above mentioned Mary Smith Mauldin. W. C. Blalock married Martha Smith, sister of Bailey F. Smith and daughter of William and Elizabeth Smith.  On June 3, 1863, W. C. Blalock became a casualty of the Civil War, dying in Lynchburg, Virginia at the age of  38. 

To begin with, Arthur Freeman Atkins was appointed the Guardian for the minor children of W. C. Blalock in February Term of Court, 1865. There's that name again! He had previously been named guardian a William Kirk, heir of George, in 1845. 

Martha Elizabeth "Patsey" Smith Blalock would pass away in 1868, leaving the children as complete orphans. Bailey F. Smith then became guardian of the younger three, his namesake, Bailey Francis Blalock, Mary Elizabeth , and Willis Jones Blalock.

1870 

 The census is a bit different this year. The formerly enslaved individuals, who had always lived among them, are now listed by name, the ones who remained. As families were broken into pieces, the surviving individuals were redistributed.

The following listing begins with a John Hinson family, who has 25 year old Robert Smith, a farm hand, black, living with them. Then another African American family, that, Allen Freeman. J. W. Pickler appears where Joseph Pickler was, followed by the household of Bailey Smith. He had purchased property around the Naked Morrow Mountain, but he was not living on it. 

Bailey's household was broken in half by the pages. He was now 61 years old. He had taken in a 4 year old little girl named Rebecca Kirk, an African American. She is followed by 70 year old Elizabeth Smith, whom by now I have deduced was most likely his stepmother. After Elizabeth is her daughter, Margaret Smith Dry, named in Bailey's will as his sister. Following Margaret are the three Blalock children, children of W. C. and Martha Smith Blalock: Bailey 18, Mary 14 and Jones 11. The next household in the line is that of Arthur Freeman Atkins, whom I know at this point was a first cousin of Bailey's wife, Mary Palmer Smith. Rev. Atkins has now taken in a young widow, Mary Kirk and her young son, Charles.

1880

Name	B. F. Smith
Age	72
Birth Date	Abt 1808
Birthplace	North Carolina
Home in 1880	Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina, USA
House Number	3
Dwelling Number	240
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Self (Head)
Marital Status	Widower
Father's Birthplace	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace	North Carolina
Occupation	Farmer
Neighbors	View others on page

Household members

Name	Age
B. F. Smith	72
Marget Dry	40
Jones Blalock	22

Bailey is now 72 and growing tired. His household now consists only of himself, his youngest half-sister, Margaret Dry, widow of Daniel Dry and the youngest of his nieces and nephews by his other half-sister, Martha Blalock, Jones. 

Bailey Francis Smith died two years later at about 74 years old. His will was probated on July 10, 1882. He must have seen the shadow of the sheath. After the typical admission of sanity and coherance, he requests a decent burial and his debts paid, "if any",and notes due him collected, "the many".  He requests his Executor to sell almost all of his properties, and distribute the proceeds between Bailey Francis Blalock, Mary Elizabeth Blalock and Willis Jones Blalock, heirs of W. C. Blalock. He states that his sister,  Margaret Dry, widow of Daniel Dry, is to have a home on his property as long as she remains a widow. Lastly, he appoints " my trusty and worthy nephew Bailey Francis Blalock" as Executor.

The will is certified on January 16, 1883 by A. C. Freeman.

The estate papers reveal nothing out of the ordinary. He seemed solidly middle-class for the era, not wealthy but well-suited. Buyers seen most often were neighbors and relatives, T. A. Fesperman, Moses Stoker, Thomas and W. H. Russell, Margaret Dry, M Rush, Isom Davis, Sandy Burns, Martin Bird, John F. Lilly, Jackson Underwood and James Neal.

The one mystery was how  Minty Stokes , or Stoker,  wife of Moses, an Heir. She was not mentioned in the Will. Who was she?

On the flipside, I  was able to access a part of the DAR records of Patriot William Smith, who died in Stanly County, NC in 1845. D. A. R. lineages must be proven by documentation, which is sometimes difficult to do, but some years ago, a Mrs. Hathcock had proven her decent from William Smith and his wife, first wife, Elizabeth Bailey. 

She was the daughter of Edward J. Freeman, born 1851, died 1917, and Winnie Smith (1844-1910).

Winnie was the daughter of A.C. Smith, seen mentioned several times in this post.

Archibald Smith, born about 1804, was the son of Robert Smith (1780-1848) and Polly Freeman (1785-1840).

Robert was the son of William Smith circa 1755 to 1845 and Elizabeth Bailey Smith, circa 1758. Second wife said by some to be Elizabeth York.

Could this be the family of Mary Smith Mauldin? Why did she move up with them in the more northern part of the County after her husband, James, died, from Jacobs Creek in the south? Could this family still hold the clues of which Smith Mary Davis married? Are they all tied back in to my Freeman ancestors, Arthur Freeman, father of Charlotte Freeman who married Peter Winfield? I fully believe so. Family Lore has it that Daniel Freeman, merchant, was her nephew or Great Nephew, called 'a relation' in some old papers of Neddy Davis. 

I do not know where Bailey F. Smith, 'husband of (my) 4th great aunt' is buried, but I believe he is much more than that connection. If you look closely at Bailey Smith, I believe he tells us exactly who he was.

A Trip to Chatham

I recently made a trip to Chatham County, North Carolina to do research, along with one of my distant cousins that I've met through genealogy. We met in Pittsboro, an historic little town with a beautiful old courthouse, built in 1881, sitting right in the middle of town, with a traffic circle around it, used as a museum, and rightly so.

Historic Chatham County Courthouse in Pittsboro

Chatham makes my 33rd county I have visited to have tracked family either to or from. Why I waited so long, I am not certain, as several families from the Stanly/Montgomery/Anson County area, where my ancestors all landed, resided in Chatham for awhile before migrating westward here. 

My Marks and Murray lines most definately and my Ramsey and Lambert lines possibly. 

So far, I have had the priviledge of visiting the courthouses, museums, libraries and history centers of Stanly, Montgomery, Anson, Cabarrus, Union, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Iredell, Burke, Davidson, Randolph, Davie, Guilford, Forsyth, Wake, Moore, Hoke, Cumberland, Brunswick Counties of North Carolina and Marlboro, Chesterfield, Chester, Lancaster and York Counties of South Carolina; Mecklenburg, Brunswick and Luneburg Counties in Virigina; Lauderdale, Limestone and Lawrence in Alabama; and White and Lumpkin Counties in Georgia. 

How I missed Chatham in all of that, I do not know. 

Chatham is a beautiful place with rolling hills and wide streams. It's difficult not to wonder why ancestors left there and came here. We live in a beautiful area, too, but in Chatham, you get the feeling of "Why leave"?

The Marks brothers lived here and it was also home to ancestors Isham and Esther (Hester) Gunter, whose daughters Mary and Catherine "Caty" Gunter married the Marks, John and James. 

The most prominent Marks was William, who we know married Margaret Salter from Bladen County. We know that there must be a link between John, James and William. They were most likely brothers, but we've not found proof of that yet. We also found a George Marks, and from a land division, we know he married into the Kennon family, but he made a brief appearance, in the 1800 census and in the land division, and then he disappears. Where did he go? It might be of interest to research his wifes family to see if he followed them west. It's a constant search for dna matches to see if we can tie all of these folks together. 

The Revelation Deed borrowed from Cousin Cyndi

But perhaps the most astonishing find my cousin and I made was found in a deed.  My cousin and I had been functioning on the presumption that John Marks had married Caty Gunter, as both of them show up in Stanly/Montgomery County, in ledgers, petitions and Caty is in the 1830 census. John was in Montgomery/Stanly as late as 1837. James never does. And Mary Gunter Marks lived a long life in Chatham. 

But this deed broke that theory in two, clearly showing that John was married to Mary, not James. It also explains why Caty is alone in 1830 and why John shows up in Chatham up until 1840.

When I line up the 1800, 1810 and 1820 census records with the suspected children of each couple, it also makes more sense that the couples were John and Mary and James and Caty. 

Chatham County was formed in 1771 from Orange County. It was named in honor of  William Pitt, the First Earl of Chatham. The county seat, Pittsboro, was also named for the Pitt family. 

Some of the earliest settlers in the area were Quakers. A large Quaker settlement established itself in the area of Siler City about 1751, two decades before the county was established. Early Settlers arrived to Chatham from the north, following a Catawba Indian trading route south through the Cape Fear Valley.

Chatham was a virtual Eden of Waterways. It contained not one or two, but 5 major waterways.  First, there was the Haw River running from the north central part of the county to the beginning of the Cape Fear River. Then there was Deep River, coming in from the South and West through Randolph and Moore Counties to join the Haw River and become the Cape Fear. Then of course, the Cape Fear in its Southeastern corner. Then there was the Rocky River, whose many contributaries, including Bear Creek, that fanned out over the western half of the county and became a contributary of the Deep River and on the eastern side of the Haw River was New Hope Creek and all of its contributary branches, reaching the Haw just before it's union with the Deep and creating a water coverage for the county's Eastern border. 

New Hope became Jordan Lake and covers nearly 14,000 acres. But in the early days, the abundance of water and waterways made Chatham an attractive destination. 

It was a hotbed of activity during the Revolution and that may have been why many families left and relocated in along the Yadkin/Pee Dee instead. 

One bit of information I picked up in Chatham was the influx and influence of the Argyll Colony, a group of Scots who arrived in Brunwick and Wilmington and made their way to the Cape Fear Valley to Cross Creek (which later became Fayetteville) in present day Cumberland County. A generation later, they would make their way up the Cape Fear, to its origin in Chatham. This interests me in particular, because several of my family lines that originated in Chatham, or may have originated in Chatham, like the Murrays, Ramsey's and Lamberts, have Scottish origins. 

Among the other treasures I discovered in Chatham was the 1815 tax list. Why would someone get excited over a tax list, you might ask? Well, it was who was found on it. And there were many. 

In the early pages, I kept seeing the name of a person with adjoining propert as "A. Carloss". I gasped. "Archelaus Carloss", I muttered, just wondering, and I few pages later my wondering ceased. I was right. It was indeed Archelaus Carloss, the younger. He had landed in Chatham County and made a comfortable home for himself. 

I became acquainted with the Carloss family in my research of my Southside Virginia families of Davis, Winfield, Freeman and Floyd. 

Two sons of Edward Winfield and wife Mary Harris , Peter and Joshua, had married two sisters, Charlotte and Jemimia Freeman, daughters of Arthur Freeman and wife, Agnes Stokes.  Peter and his wife Charlotte would migrate to the Rocky River area of Anson/Montgomery/Stanly County along with many friends, relatives and neighbors, including Stokes, Freemans, Laniers and Marshalls. Joshua remained in Virginia. When his first wife, Jemima Freeman Winfield died, Joshua remarried to Rebecca Thrower Carloss, daughter of Hezekiah Thrower and widow of one Edward Carloss. She came as the mother of two young sons, Robertson (or Robinson) and Archelaus. 

When the large group of Virginians set forth to Anson County, NC, it included Joel Winfield, son of Joshua and Jemima Winfield, John Thrower Winfield, his half-brother, son of Joshua and second wife Rebecca and Robertson Carloss, Joshua's stepson and stepbrother to Joel and half-brother to John Thrower Winfield. Three daughters of Joshua also migrated, Dorothy, who married a Walker, Mary, who married Drury Robertson Jr and Martha, who married James Robertson, sons of Drurry Robertson, Sr. 

After about 10 or 12 years, the younger generation crossed the state line into Marlboro County, SC. Joel Winfield would make his mark in politics, operate an Ordinary and establish his own little town of "Winfieldville" which would morph into Bennettsville. When he died, John T. Winfield took over his duties for awhile as Postmaster and such, but would eventually migrate on to Charleston. The Robertson brothers with their Winfield wives would become sucessful planters and businessmen while their wives would be the hostesses of Marlboro society. Robertson Carloss would not create as many waves as his stepsiblings, but became a land owner. But I often wondered what became of Archelaus. Now I know. 

Carloss is not a native Virginian name. The Carloss legend supposedly came from a Juan or John Carloss (someone at some point inserted the name "Don"), who, according to tale, was exciled from Spain or Portugal, as a "royal persona non grata" and arrived to the America's via Cuba. John first shows up in New Kent, Virginia in 1722. Born about 1695, John was the father of :

 Archaelus I (b 1734 in New Kent, Va. Died in Caswell County, NC

John Jr. b 1729 in New Kent, Va. , found in Dinwiddie and Brunswick Counties of Virginia and later, Edgecomb and Franklin Counties in North Carolina. 

Edward (b about 1840, lived in Brunswick County, Virginia. Married Rebecca Thrower, daughter of Hezekiah Thrower, father of Robertson Carloss and Archaelus II. 

The 1815 Tax List of Chatham lists Archelaus as being taxed for 1 white poll and 3 black polls. He owned 1275 adjoining Joseph Buchanon, a town lot in Haywood adjoining  Joseph Lane, two uninproved (vacant) town lots in Haywood adjoining Theopas Hunter, and as Guardian of Hannah Stokes, another unimproved town lot in Haywood. 

The community of Haywood is shown in Haw River township near the birthplace of the Cape Fear.

The story of Hannah Stokes is an interesting one and made the history books.  It also brings into play my Stokes relatives.

Sylvanus Stokes was born about 1660 in Charles City, Virginia and died February 6, 1748 in Sussex County, Virginia. He married Agnes Hamblin and among his many children was a son name Hamblin Stokes, born in 1683. Hamblin Stokes married Cecilia Walker and named one of his daughters Agnes, born in 1720, after his mother. Agnes Stokes married Arthur Freeman and they were the parents of Charlotte Freeman Winfield and Jemima Freeman Winfield and many of their children and grandchildren would migrate to North Carolina. 

Sylvanus Stokes was my 8th Great Grandfather. He would spur off many younger Sylvanus Stokes, a son, multiple Grandsons and Great Grandsons. Some of these descendants ended up in Chatham County. 

According to this book, 

Reports of Cases in Equity Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of North Carolina..., Volume 1,

Thomas Stokes of Chatham County, NC died in the year 1811 leaving three sons, William B. Stokes, Sylvanus Stokes (one of a hive), and administration of his estate was left to Archlaus Carloss. He died intestate, meaning he did not leave a will. His oldest son, William B. Stokes, was a young man and had recently married. He died shortly after his father. He left a widow and a little girl. The little girl was Hannah and was about 3 years old when she came under the guardianship of Archelaus Carloss. 

Hannah grew up in the care of Archelaus Carloss, but during some point, also lived with her mother, who remarried, but Archelaus was still in charge of her estate. On January 2, 1824, she married Robert Carloss, a son of Archelaus. The young couple had 3 children in 3 years and then Robert passed away. Life expectancy was not very high in those days. In October of 1830, she remarried to one George H. Shutt and they filed a bill against Archelaus Carloss in March of the next year. 

Their complaint was this, according to a North Carolina law, a girl under 15 was not allowed to marry without permission from their father. As Hannah's father was dead, that permission was impossible. The couple complained that since Hannah was born on March 14, 1810, she had not yet reached the age of 14 when she married Robert Carloss. They accused Archelaus Carloss of having arranged the marriage to the benefit of his son, who owned little on his own, in order for Robert to obtain his wifes inheritance and assets. 

The Shutt's claimed Robert blew much of the money and lost a great deal of the rest to debts, and that after his death, the rest had reverted to his father, being the heir of his son. Archeleus had a significant amount of property of his own and Hannah intended to retain that which was hers, on the basis that she was forced into marriage below the legal age for the benefit of the Carlosses. 

In his defence, Archelaus gave an account of his appointment as the adminsitrator of Thomas Stokes, as it was recorded in the Chatham County court records, and on the petition of Jordan and Sylvanus Stokes, Hannah's uncles, it appeared that he was due a balance of over $700 and that the account was true and just. He had settled in full with Jordan and Sylvanus, and upon his death, William B had no property or assets, save the inheritance from his father, and was very much in debt. He had also settled in full with Hardy Christian and his wife Ruth, Ruth being the widow of William B. Stokes and the mother of Hannah. 

He claimed that after Hannah's marriage to his son, he had delivered the balance of her inheritance to Robert, as was the law of the times, and that his guardianship and  administrative duties had ended. He also claimed that at the time of the marriage, he did not know that Hannah was under 15, and neither did his son, her being a "well-grown and stout young woman". 

Much of the trial was based on proof or disproof of that last part. Did or did he not know Hannah was under age. The defence asked a number of witnesses, "Was not Hannah Stokes a large and uncommonly well grown girl before her intermarriage with Robert Carloss?"

The justice of the peace who married them stated, "She had size enough for an ordinary woman, but in most other appearances looked quite young". Another claimed, "I think I recollect her weight and it was 118 lbs". (Who was weighing her and why?) Yet another stated, "She was very 'taul' for her age and tolerable well grown. So, it looks like Hannah was tall, healthy and mature for a 13 year old. Having came from the upper classes, she was no doubt well-fed. Having 3 infants immediatley after marriage in rapid succession testifies to the fact that she was healthy and mature for her age. But having arrived in Archelaus's care at the tender age of 3, I hardly can believe he didn't know how young she was. 

At any rate, he won. The judge stated, "It does not appear to this fact nor known either to the father or the son", meaning the judge sided with Archelaus that neither he nor Robert knew Hannah was under 15. He devised that Hannah had also spent  some time living with her mother and stepfather and implied that Ruth approved of the marriage, but Ruth denied this in trial. 

In the same district as Archeleus was the property of this Sylvanus Stokes, even larger than that of Archelous, with over 20 properties totaling 4703 acres, including town lots in Haywood. 

But the treasures did not end there. There were several Pilkentons in Farrar's district. Possible ancestors as it is thought Isham Gunter was married to Hester (or Esther) Pilkenton. 

There was a Benjamin Murray living in Smith's District. Was he related to my ancestor Jesse Murray, who was from Chatham and shows up in Anson in 1820 and in Stanly (West Pee Dee, Montgomery) in 1830? His two sons were named James and Benjamin. 

Also in Smith's district was John Lambert, pegged by many to be our Stanly County Lambert progenitor, Rev. John Lambert, who makes his first appearance in the 1830 census of Stanly. This John Lambert was the son-in-law of Henry Bray, a prominate Chatham citizen, but was he our John Lambert? 

We find James Marks in Brantley's district with one poll, himself, but so was Richard Kennon, who estate names a son-in-law, George Marks. 

We found that most of our Gunter kin lived in Captain Cotten's district, which according to the map was right around, and to the south of, Pittsboro. We discovered that Isham Gunter, our known ancestor, lived on Stinking Creek, adjoining William Marks. William Marks married Margaret Salter of Bladen County, not one of Isham Gunter's daughters, as John and James did. This really suggests a close connection between the three Marks. 

We found that the Marks: William, John and James (I so have an urge to call them the Marx brothers.) served quite often on juries and that John was listed as insolvent in 1806.

I discovered my ancestor, Jesse Murray, was indicted for Assaut and Battery in 1809, but was later found not guilty. The prosecuting witness, William Mince, was to pay all court costs. 

There were records of migrations to and from Chatham, with a number of Murrays who were from Augusta County, Virginia, buying land in Chatham before thier settlement. 

There were Ramsey's from Augusta County Virginia migrating to Anson and Mecklenburg Counties, which suggests these two sets of Ramsey's were related. 

I discovered that in addition to all of the familiar sounding names (some undoubtedly the same individuals found in Virginia previously,  or Anson records, later.), there was one poor guy named "Green Flowers". Why couldn't Green Flowers have been my ancestor. He would be much easier to trace down than "John Lambert". (He could be related as it was said my ancestor (or his father of the same name, also an ancestor, William McGregor, married a Flowers). 

But one of my favorite discoveries, besides the mind-blowing fact of John Marks being the husband of Mary Gunter, was a Deed, book D, page 613 between Isham Davis and one Joseph Bell. 

Isham Davis of Halifax County, to Joseph Bell of Chatham, a tract lying in Chatham, beginning at Sugar Tree "gut', granted by deed to Benjamin Clemmons by the Honorable Lord Earl Granville, and bordered the Haw River. Not a big deal in and of itself, but it was the testators: John Long, Edward Jordan, Sterling Wright and.....Silvia Wright. I know them!!!!

These were more of my Virginians. Silvia Davis was the youngest child of my ancestors, Henry Davis and wife, Mary Marriott Davis. They lived in Surry County, Virginia, but most of their children had ended up and Mecklenburg and Brunswick Counties in Virginia. Not Mecklenburg OR, but Mecklenburg AND Brunswick, lining up along Taylors Creek with the Winfields and Floyds, straddling the county line, the county where my Job was born on April 10, 1773. Silvia was his AUNT, Sterling and Silvia Wright were my GGGGGGGG Aunt and Uncle!!! Silvia was a minor when her father died and Joshua Winfield, my GGGGGGGG Uncle, mentioned earlier, had been appointed her guardian. 

There may have been more than one Isham Davis, but there was only one Sterling and Silvia Davis Wright. So, this meant Isham had to be my GGGGGGG Uncle Isham Davis. 

If Isham had lived in Chatham and Halifax, did Job and Mary Tillman Floyd, his first cousin, pass through there on the way to Stanly County? Did they tarry there? Did they even live there for awhile? 

I looked into Isham a while back and most folks had him going off to Kentucky, but it looks like that was the wrong Isham Davis. 

At any rate, it was a very fruitful trip. Bye Chatham! What other surprises will you hold for me in the future?