Where was Boston's Branch?

Location! Location! Location!

The mantra for real estate agents worldwide has implications in  genealogy circles,too.

I recall when I was in the D.A.R., an individual attempting to prove her lineage using decendancy of land records and proof of bordering properties in a case of the lack of a Will, or estate records to prove the connection between generations. Simply put, would they accept the fact that these individuals of the same generation who owned adjoining properties and had the same Surname, qualify as proof that they had inherited it as heirs at law of the man of an older generation who  lived there prior?

I don't know if her submitted application and the hard work she had done to provide proof, or whatever ragged shards of it remained, was accepted, but it was suffice for this descendant to know who 'her people' were. 

In the case of Isham Robbins, who shows up suddenly in the first tax list of Stanly County, North Carolina, dated 1841, as owning 150 acres on Cucumber Creek, without even a trace of him before, I wondered if there could be a link in the descendacy of the land that would tie him to the Robbins family who had dwelled there decades earlier?

Isham Robbins isn't in the 1840 census of Montgomery County, North Carolina, the parent county of Stanly. Neither is his son, Solomon Franklin Robbins, despite being active in the earliest court records just a year or so later. There is no grant or deed showing how the land he was taxed for came into his hands. So my thoughts turn to the possibility of it having had been inherited, and as the Montgomery County Courthouse was known to have been the victim of arsonists several times over, any records could have, and probably had been, destroyed.

Isham Robbins estate was settled in 1843, a mere two years after he was taxed, by his widow, Frances Caroline Whitley Robbins and John Honeycutt, who was in the least, her neighbor. Two years after that, John Honeycutt was taxed for 300 acres on Stony Run Creek. Solomon Robbins also owned land on Stony Run Creek, but Fanny's property was said to be located on Bear Creek. Cucumber Creek, which still holds the same name all of these 180 years later, was located primarily in the same township, but in a different location than those two. Was the property inherited from Fanny's Whitley family,  or could they have been inherited from the earlier Robbins? 

I began searching old maps. The history room at our local museum has an excellent collection of maps. Among them were two, where a team of local historians, some years ago, had begun mapping early land grants and naming landmarks. I zeroed in on this location shown above. Little Bear Creek flows from north to south down the middle of the screen. To its east is Long Creek and southeast Little Creek. Midways near the middle of the map is Saint Martins Church. Saint Martin's Church is a Lutheran congregation that was established in the early 1820's, beginning with meetings held at the home of the Swiss Jacob Efird (Efrect or Eoforheard). Just to the left of where 'St. Martin' is labeled, you see "Exodus" for Exodus Whitley. Exodus Whitley also owned property across the Rocky River in Anson County on Richardson's Creek, which bordered that of old John Robbins. The Creek that rises north from his name is Big Bear Creek. West of the name of Exodus Whitley is Stony Run Creek. Traveling up Big Bear from Exodus Whitley's grant, crossing Hwy 24/27 is another stream, or two. The stream to the west of Big Bear shows George Whitley's grant and is called Whitley's Branch and the stream to the east of Bear is called Ramsey's Creek, or "Big Branch". Although my ancestor, Samuel Ramsey lived near, and is buried at, Saint Martin's, I believe that stream was probably named for William Ramsey, who lived early in this area. 

I keep running into my Ramsey relatives while researching my Faulkner lines, and now, by digging into the Robbins. I've never attempted to find out anything about William Ramsey, early Stanly County settler, and kept my eyes on Anson, and a little bit into Richmond Counties. This is neglectful on my part, especially since Samuel Ramsey's father, Starkey Ramsey, is another one of my brickwalls, and really didn't live far south of the Rocky River. The only clue was on one of his land grants, his property bordered that of a John Ramsey. John Ramsey was older, and shows up in the 1790 census of Anson, when Stark doesn't show up until 1800. There were a few other Ramsey's that showed up in those early years, including a Samuel Ramsey, before his son, Samuel was born. Stark, and his children, were the only ones who remained in the area. The rest disappear, probably having migrated on, south or west, as was the trend in those days. 

On March 2, 1780, John Robins recieved a 150 acre Grant, Warrant 140, issued by Benjamin Baird, on the SW side of the Yadkin River and on Boston's Branch. The border began at a Red Oak along the branch near where a path crosses "from Parmours towards Robins'. It was surveyed 5 years later, 1785, by Edmund Lilly. William Ramsey, whom I just mentioned, and John Robbins, Jr. were chain carriers. John Jr. would have been in his teens at this point. The grant, pictured below, is difficult to read, #342, issued August 9, 1786.

In all honesty, there were not that many grants given for Boston's Branch. It must have been a small stream. The other one dated 1780 was that of William Baird, for 200 acres, Warrant 292 issued on June 26, by Benjamin Baird to William Baird on Boston's Branch on the Waters of Long Creek and includes Andrew Bankston's or John Kelly's improvement. It was surveyed in 1785 by Mark Allen, on the SW side of  the Yadkin River between Deep Creek and Long Creek and began at  a pine on Parmer's line. Zachariah Hogon and Mark Allen were chain carriers. Grant 422 issued Nov. 26, 1789

There's that name, 'Parmer" or 'Parmour' again, as well as Baird. Another intestesting thing is the part where it includes the improvements of Andrew Bankston or John Kelly. John Robbins Sr. must have gotten anscious after  his young son, John Jr. was drafted into service during the Revolutionary War, and hired a substitute named William Bankston to take his place. My bets would be that William Bankston was related somehow to the above mentioned Andrew Bankston. This was a family that did not remain in the area. A quick search of just Land Grants shows grants being in 1779, the year Montgomery was cut from Anson, and the names of Jacob, Lawrence, Daniel and Andrew Bankston, with Andrew recieving a whopping 5 grants, all located in what would become Stanly County. Switch the search to Anson and I found 5 more for Andrew, beginning in 1775, all on the West Side of the Yadkin, the first on the east side of the Long Branch of theYadkin River, two on the Middle Fork of Mountain Creek and two on Deep Creek, which is in modern Anson. 

Another interesting deed, not on Boston Branch, but included here because of the date, was a 150 acre grant received of Henry 'Munger' (Mounger) in 1782 on the Northeast side of Bear Creek, and includes a springhead at the head of Little Creek, beginning at a pine, whereinThomas Reynolds and John Robins were chain carriers. This must have been John Jr. as John Sr. was declared an invalid in the 1782 tax records. 

Inspecting a terrain map, Little Creek seems to be born off the runoff from a ridge to the east of Tyson Road and begins near Western Road, fed by hills along the side of it. Henry Mounger, like Benjamin Baird, was an early land prospector. He was continually cutting grants from his larger tracts.

Next up, on Christmas Eve, 1785 was Hezekiah Dollarhide,shown above,recieving a 100 acre grant from John Crump on Boston's Branch of Long Creek and included 'young John Robbins improvement'. Grant 403 was issued on August 7, 1787 and John Pamer and Edmund Lilly, Jr. were chain carriers. It appears John Jr. was clearing and cultivating this land before Hezekiah Dollarhide recieved the grant. 

Two years later, in 1787, Hezekiah Dollarhide recieved a second grant, to property on Little River in Randolph County, NC, as an assignee of John Knight.  There were two Hezekiah Dollarhides, one born in 1745 and the other in 1783. This would have had to be Hezekiah Sr. The family left Randolph County before 1820 and settled in Wayne County, Indiana. He died there after 1830.

Hezekiah Dollarhide
Home in 1820 (City, County, State)	Wayne, Indiana
Enumeration Date	August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over	1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25	1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over	1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture	1
Free White Persons - Over 25	2
Total Free White Persons	3
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other	3

When John Robbins Jr. stated in his pension application that he had lived in Indiana for awhile after his service, I wondered if that had had anything to do with Hezekiah Dollarhide, or if he had travelled with him. 

Then came the Smiths. On October 3, 1800, warrant 5391 was issued by John Neal to "Sherrid" Smith for 150 acres that began at Sherrod Smiths (also seen as Sherwood) own corner tree on Boston's Branch of Long Creek, surveyed on May 4, 1801 by Thomas Cotton. It was on the southwest side of the Yadkin River, on Bostons' Branch of Long Creek, and joined the property of Asa Smith, 'near' Castle. Sherrod and Asa Smith were the chain carriers. It then stated that on November 24, 1801 Sherrod Smith paid purchase money for 150 acres in entry #5391, signed by the comptroller, grant 1785. 

The very next grant, No 5392, was to the aforementioned Asa Smith. While his property was not on Boston Branch, I've included it because he had property that bordered that of Sherrod Smith that was on Boston's Branch.

Asa Smith recieved a grant for 200 acres on each side of "Bear" Creek, that was SW of the Yadkin River and on both sides of Little Bear Creek bordering a post oak in his own 100 acre tract. Richard Green and Sherrod Smith were chain carriers.

I kept looking for a spot where a branch off off Long Creek might lend itself to allowing joinng properties close enough to touch a 150 acres property that straddled Little Bear Creek. 

Asa Smith owned several properties. The below deed has an interesting northern border that looks very difficult to plat. This was the one that straddled Little Bear Creek.

But we're not done with the Smiths, oh no! 

In 1814, Phillip Smith received a warrant of 100 acres, issued on June 8 by Will Stone, on the waters of Long Creek, on Boston's Branch, joining the lands of Sherrod Smith and Andrew Bankston, Surveyed in 1814 by David Cochran on the waters of  Long Creek, the border beginning at a pine in 'Sharwood' Smith's line, joined Phillips own line and that of Lloyd Rowland. Sherwood and Phillip Smith were chain carriers. 

Boston's branch was becoming a regular little Smithville. 

And above is Phillip Smiths plat of land, a simple rectangle with an anchor. I am not able to tell which side of it was on Boston's Branch, and where it met the property of Sherwood Smith or Andrew Bankston. My best guess would be that 'toe' was sticking in the creek. 

Then below, we have Sherwood Smith's land on Bear Creek, meeting Whitfields line and was 50 yards east of Little Bear Creek It also met the property of William Capel and William Capel and 'Sherwood' Smith were the chain carriers

I keep coming back to this area of the county, and these creeks and roads, flipping them one way or another, and looking at the current county GIS maps to see if any shapes look familiar. As of yet, this puzzle remains scattered on the table in so many pieces. 

Asa Smith owned another tract which bordered the property of Brittain Chappel. I begin to notice that some of these mulitiple tracts to the same individuals were not that close together. This wasn't a small farmer adding to his already owned property widen his purvey, this seemed more like an investor, grabbing up property, perhaps as people moved on, and maybe capitalizing by renting it out, but they certainily were not driving that oxteam up a dirt road for 10 miles every day to plow their second field. 

Asa Smiths grant that neighbored Brittain Chappel named Elijah and David Smith as chain carriers. This was certainly a family venture. 

The Smiths seemed to have a bit of an enclave on, or near, Bostons Branch, so it is time to take a close look at who they were.

Asa Smith was counted in the 1790, 1800 and 1810 census records of Montgomery County, North Carolina.

He recieved several land grants in Montgomery County. The first, Grant Number 1786, in 1801, was located on the Southwest side of the Yadkin River, on both sides of Little Bear Creek. This grant of 200 acres included Sherrod Smith and Richard Green as chain carriers.

His second grant, shown above. 7629, dated 1817, joined the property of Brittain Chappel, joined his own property on Long Creek.

His third grant, Number 2529, Dated December 5, 1818, was on the waters of Long Creek. Elijah and David Smith were chain carriers. 

Asa may have removed to Tennesee. I can not be certain. I am also not certain of his relationship with Sherrod, or Sherwood Smith, but the chances are pretty good that they were related in some way, the most likely being brothers, as they were not parent/child. This is just a possibility.

Sherwood or Sherrod Smith, is a little better known. He was born in Viriginia and was also in Montgomery County, North Carolina by the 1790 census, but did not stay here. He married his wife, Faith "Faithy" Holmes in Mecklenburg County, Virginia on December 21, 1786. By 1830, he was in Carroll County, Tennesee and he is in Willamson County, Tennesee in 1840 and 1850. He was also on the 1816 petition concerning the county courthouse location, along with his sons, Phillip and Sherwood Jr. 

Will of Sherwood Smith

Sherwood Smith died in Williamson County, Tennessee in 1851 and left a will., menitioning two of his sons living in Illinois. One of them was Phillip.

Name	Philip Smith
Gender	Male
Birth Date	1780
Birth Place	Montgomery County, North Carolina, United States of Jo
Death Date	14 Sep 1860
Death Place	Blueville, Christian County, Illinois, United States of America
Cemetery	Taylor Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place	Riverton, Sangamon County, Illinois, United States of America
Has Bio?	N
Spouse	Nancy Smith
Children	Nancy Ann WestIrvin Milton SmithLevi SmithEphraim SmithTilman SmithPhilip Smith

Phillip Smith was the oldest son of  Sherrod Smith. He was born in Montgomery County, North Carolina in 1780 and married Nancy Cooper, daughter of John and Elizabeth Carter Cooper. He first shows up in the 1810 census of Montgomery County, on the West Side of the Pee Dee River and recieves his grant on Boston's Branch of Long Creek in 1814. By 1820, he was in Sangamo, Madison County, Illinois, where he chose to raise his family.  He died there in 1860.

In 1810, however, the Smiths were in Montgomery County, North Carolina. The above list is the census page that Sherwood, Asa and Phillip Smith all appear on. The complete list is a little difficult to read in spots and since I am familiar with most of these names, I will retype it here:

James Casles (Cassels/ Castles)

Sherwood Smith (also seen as Sherrod)

David Rowland

Asa Smith

Richard Greene (Chain Carrier mentioned in Asa's grant)

Daniel McLester

Andrew Bankston (also mentioned in several of the above deeds. Land bordered Smith land on Boston's branch)

John Palmer  (see * note below. Very important)

Robert Stokes

Ambrose Stokes

Allen Stokes

James Coleman

Phillip Smith (son of Sherwood, on Bostons' Branch)

Henry Carter

Samuel Mann

Henry Mann

Solomon Holt

Malachi Mann

Richard Stokes, or Stoker

I thought WOW!, I know these people! No, I don't literally know them. I'm not that old. I am familiar with these names having came across them in prior research adventures. How's that?

*Note: Now I know who "John Parmer" or "Parmour" was, the dude with the path. Palmer, not Parmer. Not only do I know him, somewhere in my dna are pieces that John Palmer shared. He's my 5th Great Grandfather. John Palmer (1746- 1817)  was born in Maryland and the son of Thomas Palmer and Susanna Hunt. The Palmers were a very, very old New England family.  He married Janice Tamer and settled along the upper part of Long Creek in what is now Stanly County, and was then, Montgomery. Henry Davis, son of Job Davis, whom this blog is named for, married Martha Palmer, a granddaughter of John Palmer, as his second wife, and became my third Great Grandparents. This was at the inception of the new county of Stanly and Henry had moved from the Rocky River and purchased land on Cloverfork Creek, to be closer to his business in helping found the infant town of Albemarle.

James and Martha Atkins Palmer

I don't know exactly where John Palmer lived, but I do know exactly where his son James Palmer and wife, Patsy Atkins Palmer lived, and where Martha Palmer Davis had grown up. I also know the general location of where the Holts and Manns, listed at the bottom of the page, lived. 

Now, census takers used a methodology of taking count that I am not familiar with, but I do know they didn't count one family, and then ride 15 miles in another direction to count the next. The people listed were centrically located near enough to each other. Given, the population was sparse and neighbors could be far more than " hollering distance" away. Still, the neighborhood is suggesting a location more along the northern part of  Long Creek, an entirely different location than I was looking at. 

Could Boston Branch have been, literally, in my own backyard?

Plats assembled by George Thomas

I have a distant cousin on the Burris side who has an inate talent for assembling these little snippets of plats, and had already some of the Smiths.  Now we have a visual of  where Phillip Smith's  little point of land belonged.

Now I have new names to cut out and stare at like so many pieces of a jigsaw, and try to place them on a map.

And we are back to John Robbins barely visible grant on Boston's Branch. While in Anson County, I can find mention of properties adjoining that of John Robbins into the 1830's, long after I expect John Robbins Sr. was deceased, the latest mention of John Robbins, which I expect was John the Younger, in Montgomery County, was in 1814.

I will attempt to track his course from Montgomery County, North Carolina into Tennesee and Indiana and finally, to Spadra, Johnson County, Arkansas.

Which Branch was Boston's Branch and where did it go? Did it dry up and just disappear from record, or did it just gain a new name? Why was it called "Boston" in the first place? Did one of the early settlers upon it come from Boston? I keep looking at Gilberts Creek, shown on the left side of the map. In other deeds and records, the Robbins were very involved with a family of Gilberts, both in Montgomery County and in Anson. John Gilbert, Jesse Gilbert, Samson Gilbert, for the most part. I've found in other families that I've delved into that when two families seem particularly intwined and involved in one anothers business, that they are in fact, one family, intermarried and connected, usually, generationally, sometimes in several ways. 

William Ramsey is another man I want to look into. Maybe, just maybe, there was a connection to Stark or to John Ramsey the elder, (as Starkey had a son named John). Another little tidbit, is that signature of John the Younger, (and of even a younger John Robbins who appears to be John III) as Jno (squiggly) Robbins Jr. The squiggly is not a J, as it looks nothing like a J. I believe it might be an I.

The location of Boston' branch has not been acertained. I'm tossing this missive into the metasphere to see if anyone out there has any more information about it. Was it renamed, or did it dry up due to changes in the environment? Was it on the northern end or southern end of Long Creek? Only just a handfull of men had grants located on it, so it must have been a small, short branch. The only thing I am sure of, Boston Branch was nowhere near Cucumber Creek.

When the jigsaw is assembled, I will be back. I will be looking at those men in the 1810 census located nearest to the known occupants along Boston Branch. Until then, I'm going to Clarksville.

The Origins of Isham Robbins: One Theory

Isham Robbins was a man of whom I know very little. He is first seen in the 1841 tax listing of the newly minted Stanly County, North Carolina. Isham Robbins was taxed for .40 cents for 100 acres of land owned on Cucumber Creek. Cucumber Creek is located in the western part of Stanly County near Red Cross and runs in a  south/ southwest projectory between Stanfield and Oakboro towards the Rocky River, which forms the southern boundary of Stanly County with Union and Anson below. 

Then there is his Will. 

Probated in November of 1843, Isham's Will does not give us a great deal of information. He quotes the old adage that " it is appointed for all men once to die", commends his body to God, asks for a decent burial, requests that his debts be paid, praises God and pleads for his immortal soul. Lastly, he adds, "all the rest of my estate I Will to my dearly beloved wife Fanny Robins". The document was witnessed by Temple Whitley and David Udy (Eudy). 

In the November Session of the 1843 Court of Pleas and Quarters of the County of Stanly, Frances Robbins and John Honeycutt were appointed Administrators of the Estate of Isham Robins and gave $300 bond. That is all the mentions of Isham Robbins or Robins. 

John Honeycutt is an important key in the discovery of the family of Isham Robbins. He had a close relationship with Isham's widow, Fanny. He paid her taxes when she became insolvent and took care of her, an elderly lady, in multiple ways and manners. 

John Honeycutt was my 4th Great Grandfather.He was born in 1803 and Fanny Robbins was born about 1780. In both the 1850 and 1860 census records, Fanny and her unmarried daugther, Elizabeth "Betsy" Robbins are shown living next to, or below, the family of John Honeycutt. 

Although unmarried, Besty Robbins was the mother of two sons, Lindsey, by Samuel Coley as is reported in a bastardy bond and the younger, Green H. Robbins by John Honeycutt. I am assuming, by virtue of his age,  that  this John was John Timothy Honeycutt, son of John and Sylvia Honeycutt, born in 1832, as John was married and known as a pious man.  But there seems more to this relationship than that connection.

In the 1860 census, in Big Lick Township, we find the family of John Honeycutt listed following that of Charles Cagle. After which is 80 year old Fanny Robbins, with her daughter,  Betsy and Betsy's two sons, Lyndsey and Green. After that is 55 year old Susy Honeycutt, whom I believe was John's sister. In her home is her daughter, Sylvia and a 14 year old Fanny Robbins. They are then followed by John's son Edmund Honeycutt and family. 

Susy, or Susan Honeycutt, never married, but via court records and bastardy bonds, I've determined she was the mother of 4 children by Joshua Christian Burris. Sylvia names him as her father on her marriage certificate. Some have speculated that the young Fanny Robbins was the daughter of Isham and Fanny's son, Solomon Franklin Robbins, but his daughter Frances Caroline, is listed in his home that year at age 11. It's still possible, I guess, but for now, 14 year old Fanny is a bit of a mystery. 

My theory (I'm full of them), is that Fanny was the mother-in-law of John Honeycutt. Truth be told, the parentage of his wife, Sylvia, remains unknown. However, I am not the only one with this theory. Others suspect she was a Cagle, and that's quite possible as well, they are living right beside Charles Cagle. 

To put my theory to the test, some time ago, I entered the Robbins as parents of Sylvia Honeycutt in my Family Tree and let the algorithms of Thru-Lines at ancestry.com work its magic. The results were an impressive number of matches to descendants of Solomon Franklin Robbins, both his children by his first wife, Sarah Hinson Robbins and by his wife in Tennesee, Mary Laton Robbins. The matches to his North Carolina born offspring, I don't take as seriously, as many of them married into the West Stanly mileau, to which I have multiple connections of Burris, Honeycutt, Lambert and others. Several of his children married into these families, so I could have connection to these matches in other ways. It's the matches to descendants of his Mississippi and Tennesee born children that intrigues me the most, as I've not found any connections to his wife or the families these children married into. Of note, Elizabeth Clementine "Lizzie" Robbins, does not show up in my Thru-lines as having any descendant matches to me, despite everyone having her listed as Solomon's daughter. Lizzy was born several years after Solomon left for Mississippi and Tennesee. However, the next child up, son George Washington Robbins, born in 1860, does have many descendants that are related to me. Solomon Robbins bought, yes bought, a tract of land from Needham Whitley in February of 1860, and is counted in Tishomingo County, Mississippi in 1860, where his second wife was living. They were then married the next year in McNairy County, Tennesee. So, Sarah was pregnant with George when Solomon left. 

Elizabeth "Betsy" Robbins doesn't show up as having any descendants who match me either. This is because in the Mortality Schedules of 1870, her oldest son, Lyndsey, is showing as having died of pneumonia in Big Lick Township of at age17. Her younger son, Green H. Robbins, is listed as working as a farm laborer for J. C. Burroughs (Burris) that year and Elizabeth is living with the Davidson Burroughs family. Fanny has obviously died. Betsy and Green show up no more, so its easy to assume both of her sons died young and left no heirs. 

In the 1845 Tax Listing of Stanly County, John Honeycutt is shown as owning 300 acres on Stony Run Creek, Fanny Robbins is listed as owning 100 acres on Bear Creek and her son, Solomon, is shown as owning 125 acres on Stonly Run Creek. Stony Run flows southwest from the larger stream, Big Bear Creek and both lie to the east of the town of Oakboro. 

Cucumber Creek, where Isham owned land, flows to the west of the town of Oakboro and Big Lick. Two entirely different locations. What happened to Isham's property? My guess would be that it was sold for debts and expenses, and Fanny, his only beneficiary, may have purchased the property on Bear to be close to her son and to John Honeycutt. 

The identity of Fanny Robbins is much more clear. She was Frances Caroline Whitley Robbins. 

There are several histories written by descendants, on the George Whitley Family, mostly similar in content. The one I will be quoting is called "George Whitley Family", compiled by Walter Charles Whitley of Little Rock, Arkansas.

"George Whitley was born about 1735. Settled originally on Big Bear Creek in Montgomery County, now Stanly County, North Carolina."

"Given a grant of land by the British Government, 10,00 acres, between Stony Run and Big Bear Creek. He and two of his sons were soldiers in the American Revolution. George Whitley married twice. By the first wife, he had sons George II, born 1760 and Needham, born 1762. By his second wife, he had sons John, born 1772 and William (Uncle Billy), born 1775." 

George Whitley II had a daughter named Fanny Robbins. There was only one Fanny Robbins in the area. So Fanny was likely born in the area of Bear Creek and Stony Run, and probably died there too. 

I'm not discounting the Cagle connection. It too, is quite possible. Fanny's brother, George Whitley III, married a Rebecca Cagle, daughter of  George and Rebecca Kegel. I have a known Cagle ancestor in my family tree, Rebecca Cagle who married Caleb Aldridge II. Many online family trees have merged Rebecca Cagle Aldridge and Rebecca Cagle Whitley into one person. They were not, they were two different women, related, both descendants of German immigrant Leonhardt Kegel (1684-1754). This family seemed to like the name Rebecca for their daughters, from an early matriarch, I bet. 

I may also have another Whitley connection. My ancestor, Rev. John Lambert, arrived to the Bear Creek/ Meadow Creek area of Stanly, then Montgomery County, about 1822. Before then, he had a close association with several Whitleys in Franklin and Johnston Counties, where he was from. He even attended a Conference with a Needham Whitley, who was not the Needham Whitley in Stanly/Montgomery. There were several Needham Whitleys, several generations worth, in both areas, as well as Exodus Whitley, too. While George and John are names one would see anywhere, Needham and Exodus are not. These two branches must be connected. There were plenty of Honeycutts in that area as well, and John Lambert may have arrived here with members of either or both families. He was married and his children grown before they arrived, so his wife Piety (many trees use the transcription error of "Phida"), was probably either a Whitley or a Huneycutt. The more I look into it, the more I believe she was a Whitley and John in the tutelage of his father-in-law as a young man. This is all speculation and a bone-gut feeling delved from the several years I've been digging in the old records of that area when I can.

But I've strayed. We know who Fanny was, but who was Isham?

One of the oddest facts about Isham is that he was in the 1841 Tax List of Stanly County, but just one year earlier, was not in the 1840 census of Montgomery County, it's parent county. He wasn't there, nor were any Robbins. There were plenty of Robbins in Randolph County, but no Ishams. We don't know just how old Isham was, but his wife was born around 1780, and his two definite children were born in the 1820's. I believe they were only his youngest. 1770-1775 is a pretty good guess of the time of his birth. Not only should he have been in the 1840 census, somewhere, but he should have been in several of them, from 1800 to 1840. Where was he hiding? As his wife was born here in all liklihood, where had they concealed Isham?

My theory begins with my own research, not of him, but of a young woman named Mary Whitley. You can read the story in its entirety at the following link. 

Mary Whitley

Mary Whitley, I met while researching a sad tale from the other side of the Rocky River, just south of the Stanly County border, on the border of Anson and Union Counties was about the murder of Martha "Patsy" Beasley, a tale that had garnered its own Murder Ballad. Patsy had given birth to a little girl by an evil and arrogant young man named Thomas Nash. Thomas was in love with Mary Whitley, who wouldn't marry him because of Patsy Beasley. In anger, he mudered Patsy in the most ghastly and horrific manner, leaving his daughter, Drusilla, alone. Mary Whitley still did not marry him. So what does this have to do with Isham Robbins?

While trying to discover who Mary Whitley was, I examined some land records trying to discover what, if any Whitley's, lived in the area where these families, the Beasleys, Newtons and Nashes all lived.  One of those concerned the previously mentioned Exodus Whitley. 

On March 18, 1809, Exodus Whitley of Montgomery County bought a tract of land from Daniel Hinson of Anson County on Cedar Branch. The property bordered the land of one John Robbins and went to Gurleys corner stake.

There's those three names of Whitley, Hinson and Robbins together again.

Another deed, in Book Y, Page 472, dated October 28, 1833, Exodus Whitley sold the property on Cedar Branch to Walker Nash, father of murderer Tom Nash. It was still bordering the property of John Robbins and the Gurleys and was witnessed by Isham Whitley and Wyatt Nance, Isham supposedly a son of Exodus. 

So, who was John Robbins of Anson and Montgomery County, NC?

First I looked into North Carolina Land Grants. There were none for Isham, but 4 for John Robbinses. Two were in Edgecomb, and because of the years, this must have been a different John. But there was one in Anson and one in Montgomery. I believe these were the same man. 

Montgomery County File number 351 shows that on August 9, John Robbins was granted 150 acres on the South West side of the Yadkin River on Bostons's Branch. This grant was recorded in Book 65, Page 37 as Grant Number 342. The original request was entered on March 28, 1780 as Entry number 140. It took over 6 years for the Grant to be issued. 

It appears that John Robbins lived in Montgomery County before crossing the River into Anson County. This grant gives no more specifics about the location than Bostons' branch and the size of the grant.

The Anson County Grant, Number 5728, was issued on December 14, 1803. It was for 100 acres on the Waters of Rocky River. Recorded in Land Patent Book, Page 118, Page 40 as Grant # 1844. John had originally requested the land on January 24, 1797. It took nearly 7 years to be issued. The Anson County grant doesn't give much more explantion, but does declare that the property was on the banks of the Rocky River, so just across this small river, bordering Stanly County, which was Montgomery at the time. it also states that it begins at his corner white oak, or property he already owned. From what I had found when researching Mary Whitley, I knew that John's property in Anson bordered that of Exodus Whitley and his family, the Gurleys and Daniel Hinson. Also James Gilbert. 

There was another Grant for another Robbins in Montgomery County, and that one was for a Charles Robbins. Further research will show Charles was the son of John, and a very important key. 

Charles Robbins was issued 100 acres of land in Montgomery County on July 10, 1797, on the Southwest side of the PeeDee River. This puts him in "West Pee Dee", which became Stanly County, and the south of it, which would place him near the border, the border consisting of the Rocky River. This grant was in Land Patent Book 94 Page 81 as Grant #1060 and was assigned Entry #1459. He first requested it on October 20, 1794, so it took over 2 years to issue it. 

Charles's grant is a little more informative than those of his father , John.

"No. 1060 State of North Carolina

Know Ye that we have Granted unto Charles Robbins One hundred acres of land in Montgomery County on the Southwest side of the Pee Dee River on the waters of Long Creek beginning at a pine in John Robbins line to a post oak by a pine north one hundred and seventy-nine poles to a red oak by two post oaks east ninety to a red oak by two pines south one hundred and seventy nine poles with said Robbins to the beginning to hold to the said Charles Robbins, his heirs......"

So Charles Robbins land bordered that of his father John Robbins, and was located along Long Creek. That was not the only clue and item of interest. There are three grants recorded on the page with that of Charles.

Charles's grant was in the middle of the page. The one above, No. 1059 was a grant of 25 acres to George Whitley on the waters of Big Bear Creek and the one below, No. 1061, was also to George Whitley for 100 acres on the East side of Big Bear Creek. Just a coincidence? Maybe, but the Robbins/ Whitley connection was strong. 

I've seen members of my Rocky River family tree and associated families, also own land on both sides of the river at the same time, the Davis's, the Winfields, Howells, Lee, Marshalls, Allens, among them. Not to say John Robbins was a member of my family, only to point out that many did cross the Rocky River back and forth. It's a small river. In many places, during certain times of year, they could have just pulled the teams of mules across to plow. 

In deeds, I first find John Robbins on March 2, 1780, with Benjamin Baird issuing 150 acres, warrant 140 for 150 acres on the Southwest side of the Yadkin River on Bostons Branch (the earlier grant), surveyed on April 22, 1785 by Edmund Lilly, "begins at a Red Oak on said Branch near where the path crosses from Parmours towards Robins'. Chain Carriers were William Ramsey and John Robbins, Jr. 

There was a John Jr.! The mention of a William Ramsey also piques my interest as I descend from a Starkey Ramsey who is one of my brickwall ancestors. As Boston Branch was named as being on the southwest side of the Yadkin River, it seems to have been located before the mouth of the Uwharrie River, which is where the Yadkin ends and the Pee Dee begins. 

On January 28, 1782 John Crump sold Henry Mounger 150 acres on the Northeast side of Bear Creek, which included a springhead at the head of Little Creek. Thomas Reynolds and John Robins were chain carriers. Was this the younger John Robins/Robbins? Evidence to be shone shortly that it might have been. This one was definately on the Stanly County side of the river.

On Christmas Eve, 1785, a very interesting transaction occurred. John Crump sold 100 acres to Hezekiah Dollarhide on Boston's Branch of Long Creek, including young John Robbins improvement, surveryed by Edmund Lilly in 1786, on Bostons Branch, waters of Long Creek, includes young John Robbins improvement (yes, they said that twice). John Parmer and Edmund Lilly Jr. were chain carriers. 

A couple of observations, first, Bostons Branch sprang off of Long Creek. Second, the land sold included property that had been improved, or cleared / cultivated by 'young John Robbins'. Can we assume John  Jr.?

John Parmer may have been the "Parmours" mentioned in the previous deed. 

Hezekiah Dollarhide had a 1779 grant in Randolph County as an assignee of John Knight on Little River and another in Montgomery County in 1785 on Long Creek. 

On October 20, 1794 John Crump to Charles Robbins  for 100 acres "taking in an improvement I had joining my father's line where he lives on waters of Long Creek".....on south west side of Pee Dee River and on waters of Long Creek, border beggining at a  a pine in John Robbins line, Hosea Rowland and Thomas Mainard chain carriers. 

The above plot is from the grant of Hezekiah Dollarhide that included young John Robbins improvements. Hezekiah Dollarhide would remove to Wayne County, Indiana and then was in Randolph County, Indiana when it was formed off of Wayne. This fact will come into play as an important piece of the puzzle. 

The above is the plat of John Robbins in Anson County on Rocky River. It is no surprise that John and Stephen Gilbert were chain carriers. 

In the sheath of  Hezekiah Dollarhides grant, there is mention of some work having been done by Hosea Rowland. 

On October 20, 1794, John Crump to "Hose" Rowland 100 acres on both sides of Turkey Creek, beginning on Buzzard's Branch, with Charles Robbins and Thomas Mainanrd as Chain Carriers. 

On December 27, 1796, John Crump warrented  to Lewis Beard 300 acres on the Waters of Curltail Creek that included 'Rocky Ford', and joined the property of Charles Robbins, the description went on to describe a pine in Robbins line and and Stokers line. Barnaba Dunn and John Atkins were chain carriers. We're getting closer to determing about where Charles Robbins lived. 

In September of 1799 John Neal sold 100 acres on Bear Creek to Hamblet Underwood. It joined Whitmill Harringtons old line and Thomas Nearon, located on the SW side of Yadkin River on  Bear Creek and joined Dunn. Charles Robbins and Samson Gilbert were chain carriers. Gilbert being a reoccuring name.

Five years later on  February 1, 1804, Joseph Parsons sold to John Gilbert 50 acres on the NW of Bear Creek, begins near said creek on his own line and joins Charles Robbins. Richard Wenleby and Neehham Smith were chain carriers. Recall there was a John Gilbert who lived near John Robbins the elder in Anson County. 

Charles Robbins would settle in Henry County, Tennesee. 

Besides the Grant, there's only one deed involving John Robbins in Anson County to be found, excluding all of the deeds involving properties that bordered on his. 

Book H Page 321  John Robbins to Charles Harrington  (any relation to Whittmill Harrington?) 

" This Indenture made the 5th day  of April  in the Year of our Lord 1784 between John Robbins of the County of Montgomery in the State of North Carolina and Charles Harrington of Anson County in the state afore mentioned". This shows that John Robbins resided in Montgomery (Stanly) County and was the same man as had recieved both Montgomery and Anson grants. The descriptions met those of the Anson Grant with the exception of a mention of Richardsons Creek. Witnesses were James Hudson, Benjamin Thomas and Jesse Gilbert, all familiar names. 

There is one more document that gives an insight into the life of John Robbins. In the 1782 tax list of Montgomery County, John Robbins is listed as an invalid. 

But John Robbins status as an invalid was a cause of impending death, as one might think.

And then I found this beautiful piece of information.

"State of North Carolina Auditors for the Countys of Anson, Montgomery and Richmond. This May (hole punch) that John Robbins - Exhibited His Claim to us and was allowed Fourteen Pounds Eighteen and six pence specie. Test. Thomas B Wade, John Auld and Stephen Miller, Auditors."

John Robbins, born 1866 in Anson County, served in the Revolutionary War under Major James Crump.

The American Revolution in North Carolina

---

Capt. James Crump
Known Regiment(s) Associated With:		Known Year(s) as a Captain:
Montgomery County Regiment		1779-1781
Known Lieutenants:	Known Ensigns:	Known Sergeants:	Known Corporals:
William Boyd Moses Curtis	William Boyd -	None Known	None Known
Known Privates, Drummers, Fifers, etc.:
George Adams	Jesse Bean	James Collins	Russell Curtis
Edward Hall	Joshua Hurley	James Kell	Thomas Newman
Joseph Parsons	Kinchen Pennington	Isham Randle	John Robbins
Rowland Ware	-	-	John Wilson
Date(s):	Known Battles / Skirmishes:
7/21/1780	Colson's Mill
8/16/1780	Camden (SC)
9/1781	Brown Marsh

In his application for a pension for his service during the Revolutionar War, John Robbins revealed that he had been born in Anson County, North Carolina in 1766 and that he had then lived in Montgomery County, NC, when he was 'draughted' into the War, under the leadership of Major John Crump. He then lived in the Sequatchie Valley of Tennesee, and then moved to Indiana and lastly, at 78 in 1846, he was residing in the town of Spadra in Johnson County, Tennesee. 

All of the coincidences were not entirely coincidental, when it came to where he had lived and who he had interacted with. The reason Isham Robbins wasn't in the 1840 census of Montgomery County was that he wasn't in Montgomery County in 1840, although he was likely born there, on the west side of the river. 

My theory is that Isham Robbins was a member of  this Anson/Montgomery family of Robbins and was just returning home. 

The story of John Robbins continues.