From Franklin to Montgomery

 

Great Wagon Road via Wikipedia

In my previous post, I explored the family tree of the three Solomon Brothers who had migrated from Franklin County, North Carolina to the Yadkin Valley, specifically, the area where the Uwharrie River and the Yadkin River join to form the Pee Dee River, in what is now Stanly County, and was then, a part of Montgomery, and before that,  Anson. When did they leave and when did they arrive? Perhaps a look at the land records from both counties can give us some clues.

Green Hill was the publisher and registrar of some of the early deed books in Franklin County.  He also had interactions with some of the Solomon family. There was a marriage between a Peggy Hill and Goodwin Solomon, a younger Goodwin Solomon than the one who left Franklin for Montgomery County, NC, in Tennesee, and I have wondered if Peggy was related to Green Hill and that the family link ran back to Franklin. 

Solomons appear in many records in old Franklin, some of them nominal, as witnesses or such, and I've not included all. Chosing to focus only on ones that I felt offered information, insight, or show a connection with other names, I present a list of pertinent land records that may offer up some clues for a later examination of the possibilties. 

July 24, 1782 Book 5 P. 85 

John Edwards of Montgomery County, NC to William Solomon Jr of Franklin County, NC, for 35 pounds current money the tract of 200 acres whereupon Solomon now lives adjoining Joshua Richards, Jacob Crocker, Collier, Hawkins, and Huckaby. Witnesses: Jacob Crocker and Gaad Pearce.

In the above transaction, we see an early Montgomery County,  North Carolina connection. The Solomon Brothers did not set off randomly. They knew people who were already here. William Jr. here was William the 2nd, not the son who left for Montgomery County. 

November 30, 1784 Book 4 P. 111

William Solomon of Edgecomb County, NC to William Solomon Jr of Franklin County, for 20 pounds current money, a tract of 400 acres in Franklin County on the road adjoining Huckaby and Seawell. Witnesses were Joshua Gordon and Darkis Gordon. 

In the above transaction, we see a transaction between father and son, with Sr. being in Edgecomb still. The Huckaby family were neighbors and close associates. Joshua and Darkis Gordon were members of Deanna Gordon Solomons family. Darkis was a female.

June 9, 1785 Book 5 P 109

William Solomon of Edgecomb County North Carolina, to Durham Hall of Franklin County NC, for 20 pounds..a tract of 100 acres in Franklin County NC, beginning at a white oak on the road, Seawell's line, and adjoining William Solomon Jr, and Seawell. Witnesses: James Ross and John Hall. 

This shows William the first selling land to Durham Hall, a property that borders the land of William II. Durham Hall will sell this property shortly.

September 10, 1789 Book 5 P.105

John Solomon of North Hampton County, NC to Evan Andrews of Franklin County NC, for 20 pounds..a tract of 100 acres in Franklin lying on the waters of Bear Branch adjoining Bustian, Hill and Hall. Signed by Mary Solomon. Witness was Joseph Andreas.

This was John, the brother of William II.

Deed  1061 Book 5 Page124 James Huckaby of Franklin County to Joseph Williams of Wilkes County, Georgia, January 13, 1791, for 400 pounds Virginia currency, two tracts of land in Franklin County, NC. One, 300 acres on the northwest side of Bear Swamp joining Charles Ivey and Wynn (formerly the property of Pearce). Two 153 acres joining William Goodwin, Michajah Davis, Isaac Gorden and Goodwin Solomon, it being part of a tract granted to William Russell bearing the date February 6, 1762. Witnesses were Bennett Hill and W. B. Hill.

In the above deed, we see one of the three brothers, Goodwin Solomon, living on a tract of land that adjoined that of John Huckaby. The Huckabee or Huckaby family was one we know was connected to both the Solomons and McGregor's. They probably migrated to Montgomery County together. Also adjoining the property was the lands of an Isaac Gordon, Gordon being the maiden name of Goodwin's mother, and William Goodwin, who may have also been related at some point back. I also highlighted the name of Micajah Davis, as this was another family the Solomons married into. With the witnesses, we again see the name Hill. 

January 29, 1791 Book 5 P. 107

Durham Hall of Franklin County to John Melton of same for 18 pounds VA. currency a tract of 100 acres beginning at a white oak on the road and adjoining Bell and William Solomon Jr. Witnesses were Jordan Hill and James Ross.

This deed is important to show a connection or neighboring relationship between John Melton and the Solomons. Another will come up soon. John Melton also would migrate to Montgomery County. This is the same tract that William the first had sold to Durham Hall six years prior.

Ramblin' Man, Our State Magazine

In 1804, there was an estate sale of the property of Micajah Davis, named in a deed above. Among the buyers were Goodwin Solomon and William Solomon. Also Green Hill, James Seawell and a number of Iveys. 

In an Account of the Estate of Thomas K. Wynne, deceased, final date September 8, 1804, there were mentions of the following names: John Ramsey, Goodwin Solomon, William Solomon, Baxter Ragsdale.

Sale of the Estate of Charles Ivey, deceased on April 20, 1809, listed William Solomon, John Huckaby and Jordan Hill, as buyers.

In June of 1810, William Solomon is found in a transaction with Jordan Hill. *Note, by this time the three brothers who migrated to Montgomery County were gone, so this would have had to be William II.

. By 1810, the three Solomon Brothers, William, Goodwin and Bennett  are in the census for Montgomery County, North Carolina. 

Montgomery County, North Carolina

January  14, 1800, John Neal to William "McGregar" Sr., 150 acres on the West side of the Pee Dee River, joins McLesters old line, and Neals. Bennett Solomon and Willis "McGrigger' were chain carriers. 

Note: Bennett Solomon was Rev. William McGregor's son-in-law and Willis was his son.

Rev. William McGregor was from Scotland,  and had been ordained in the Eastern part of the state as a Baptist Minister. He settled in what is now Morrow Mountain State Park, on Attaway Hill and founded the "Mouth of the Uwharrie Baptist Church", whose congregation became that of Stony Hill, still in existence. His daughter, Ava, married Bennett Solomon. 

September 7, 1805 Joseph Parsons to George Crowell, 200 acres on the southwest side of the Yadkin River, on the waters of Long Creek, joined the property of Samuel Kendall, Goodwin Solomon, and John Howell and 150 acres surveyed in 1806 by James Chappelle, on the waters of Cloverfork Creek of Long Creek, began at a white oak in Edward Moore's line and joined Drake Horn. Rowland Kimball and Jesse Pickler were chain carriers.

This shows Goodwin Solomon in Stanly County (then Montgomery), as early as 1805. 

December 11, 1809 Will Stone to "Benitt" Solomon for 100 acres. Joins Samuel Carter  and his own lines where Goodwin Solomon lives on the southwest side of the Yadkin River. Began at a poplar in Goodwin Solomon's line, joins George Crowell, and near Samuel Carter. Samuel Carter and John Bruster chain carriers. Bennett Solomon paid purchase money for 100 acres in entry #6721.

The above is an extremely important document. It not only shows that Bennett and his brother, Goodwin, had adjoining properties, has the ongoing Carter connection, but it also has the Bruster connection. The Bruster family is a crucial link in tying some of the 'loose end' Solomons together and also shows a connection between the Stanly and Cabarrus County Solomons, as I will get to at a later date. 

November 30, 1811 Will Stone to James Freeman, 100 acres joining Thomas Cox and Peter Davis on the waters of Mountain Creek. William Solomon and William Freeman were chain carriers. 

This shows William Solomon III in Montgomery County, but I wonder how he ended up as a chain carrier. William Freeman was no doubt related to the purchaser, James Freeman. I wonder if Peter Davis, who is a mystery, and not connected to my Davis family, could have came from Franklin County, and perhaps be related to Micajah Davis who died there.

September 8, 1812 Will Stone to William Solomon 30 acres, joins his own land and Thomas Cox, on the waters of Mountain Creek, begins at his own corner pine on a hill on the east side of the creek. Peter Davis & Thomas Noble chain carriers.

March 29, 1813 Will Stone to Bennett Solomon, 5 acres including a small island in the Yadkin River called "The Islands land" and a rock called the sluse rock and joins William McGregor, deceased, surveyed Jan. 12, 1814 by David Cochran on the southwest side of the Yadkin River, beginning at a white oak in William McGregor, deceased 's line. James Milton and Moses Curtice chain carriers. Plat shows land includes part of the river.

This deed showed a small, but important, transaction. Bennett Solomon is my direct ancestor. The name has been in my family even into the 20th century. My mother had an Uncle Bennett whom I remember well.

 I've known for decades that Bennett Solomon and Ava McGregor Solomon lived within the boundaries of what is now Morrow Mountain State Park. The Rev. McGregor, 

ava's father,  has now passed and Bennett has purchased this small island and 'sluce' rock. A sluice was a rock that caused the separation of the water, and was a term used in gold mining. I wonder if this spot had something to do with that. There is also the Melton/Milton mention here, again.

July 7, 1814 Will Stone to Bennett Solomon, 25 acres that joins Moses Curtice and McGregor's old place,...begins at a mountain oak ona side of a steep hill near the branch, joins side of steep hollow & Will McGregor deceased, includes an island. James Freeman and James Melton chain carriers.

So Bennett is acquiring small tracts along the river. I can picture the land and hills as they are today and the 5 old mountains that are within the park, part of the ancient Uwharries, and the Solomon family walking among them, with their neighbors, the Curtis's, Melton's, Freemans and McGregor's. 

January 16, 1815 Will Stone to  Sally (Sarah) Curtice for 25 acres, joins Moses Curtice deceased and included part of William McGregor's old place on the Yadkin River. Begins at William McGregor deceased's upper corner willow oak of the old plantation on the river bank and joins Bennett Solomon. Bennett Solomon and James Melton were chain carriers.

So Rev. William McGregor has passed on. Bennett and Ava Solomon lived just above where the Rev. McGregor rests to this day and saw the sun shining down upon his grave from their door. I have encountered the names of the Curtis's, (or Curtice),  in other deeds involving other families. Now I can place almost exactly where they lived. They lived in Tindallsville. They were neighbors of Bennett and Ava Solomon and of Rev. McGregor. James Melton also came from Franklin County, NC. There will be more mention of them later. 

May 5, 1815 Will Stone to George Crowell Jr., 100 acres joining John Kirk, Goodwin Solomon, Samuel Carter and his own lines, begins at John Kirk's corner spanish oak, east of a small branch, join Samuel Carter and Bennett Solomon. William Crowell and Bennett Solomon were the chain carriers.

The Kirks and the Carters are two families the Solomons made contact with in Montgomery County, along Mountain Creek. They also come into play later. 

Beautiful Yadkin Valley, Our State Magazine

April 7, 1818 Will Stone to George Crowell, 50 acres joining John Kirk and James Watkins, southwest side of Yadkin River, begins at John Kirks Spanish Oak, east of a small branch, joining Samuel Carter, and Bennett Solomon. William Crowell and Bennett Solomon chain carriers. 

By now, it's easy to see that Will Stone was a land prospector, or baron. This may have been the younger Bennett as a chain carrier.

January 1, 1821 Duncan McRae to John Parker, 18 acres joining his own line, began at Bennett Solomon's corner red oak. David Kendall and Newton Howell were chain carriers. Newton Howell became a merchant in Albemarle. One of his sons would marry into the Solomon family. I believe he may have been a son of Thomas Howell. 

June 8, 1826 Duncan McRae to George Kirk, 5 acres joining his own line and that of Thomas Huckabee on the waters of the Yadkin River, includes an island in the Yadkin River, beginning at a water oak at the uppermost end of the island near George Kirks fish traps and joins the lower extremity of the island, with a plat showing land in island joins the "thurrifare" (sic), or the Fayetteville Road. William Solomon and John Marks were chain carriers. 

By this time, the Kirk family are taking over the lands bordering the Yadkin in the Tindallsville area. This William Solomon was Bennett Sr.'s son, not his brother, who married Tabitha Marks, daugther of James Marks and wife Catherine Gunter, who came from Chatham County and settled on Clodfelter Hill. John Marks would have been his brother-in-law. He has his own story coming. William's mother, Ava McGregor Solomon, is now a widow and has gone with some of her younger children to Warren County, Tennesee, where a few of her brothers have already settled. Only William, who took over the ministry when his father died, and his sister, Fanny, who married Jarrett Russell, stayed in this area, that would become Stanly County. 

In the Montgomery County, NC Land Warrants adn Surveys 1833-1950,  there are several deeds involving members of the Carter family of Mountain Creek, all in a row. 

No 4586       108 acres survey on the west side of the Fayetteville Road, joins Mark Jones, George Carter, deceased, Joseph Ingram and Marcus Carter were chain carriers. I've tried to find proof of the parents of Marcus Princeton Carter for years, with no luck Perhaps he was a child of the deceased George Carter. Marcus married my 4th Great Aunt, Nancy Marks Carter and Joseph Ingram married my 3rd Great Aunt, Nancy Baldwin Davis. 

No 4587 Jacob Carter was granted 100 acres between Mountain Creek and Cloverfork Creek, beiginning with his own line and joined the property of William Noble and Samuel Carter. Watson Rigs and Barlett Carter were chain carriers. 

William Noble was one of the Noble family from Noble Mountain which sits just outside Morrow Mountain State Park and north of Mountain Creek, before running into Huckabee Hill. There is Samuel Carter, the known Carter patriarch of the Mountain Creek Carters, and there was also a younger Samuel Carter. And then the name Bartlett. Bartlett was a Franklin County name. There was a Bartlett Huckabee and a Barlett McGregor. I wonder who this guy was? Was he a grandson of Samuel Carter with possibly a McGregor or Huckabee mother?

4588 Jacob Carter Jr.  received a 50 acre grant in 1809 on the waters of Mountain Creek and joined Joshua Carter Sr., Labon Carter and Jacob Carter Sr. Began at a post oak near Labon Carter's corner, near George Stiles, near Chisholms corner. Littleton Fisher and John Carter were chain carriers.

There were several generations of Carters, it seems, living on Mountain Creek, connected to each other, in one big Carterville hive. Yet, look online and you will only see Samuel Carter, who recieved the original grant for his service, having 3 sons. This family was much larger than that, obviously. Who were all of these Carters and how were they connected?

4589 Joshua Carter, Jr.  50 acres on the waters of Mountain Creek, 1809, joins Joshua Carter, Sr., Harris Allen, Boler Allen, and began at the third corner of Joshua Carter, Sr's 25 acre tract. Daniel Shad and Thomas Howell were chain carriers. 

4590 Finally, we have Travis Carter's 100 acres, joined his own line and David Safely's, on the waters of Mountain Creek, joining Labon Carter & David Safely. Bennett Solomon and Henry Carter were chain carriers. 

This one was several years later in 1828, so this was Bennett Solomon Jr. Probably a second generation Henry Carter, as well, and not the son of Samuel. What's interesting is that in 1821, Bennett Solomon Jr. had fathered an illegitmate child with an Elizabeth Carter. Was she a daughter of Labon or Travis? Bennett Jr.'s brother, Willis Lymon Solomon married a lady named Myrick Safely, probably a relation of David. 

The Solomons may have appeared in the Montgomery County Court records, but because of courthouse fires, so many records were lost. But they also appeared in the Court records of Cabarrus County. They had a Cabarrus County connection and may have went there to avoid crossing the river. 

In the Cabarrus County Pleas and Quarters Sessions, on October 17, 1821, Bennett Solomon (Jr.) posted a $200 bond against the charge of a bastardy that he had fathered a child, "begat on the body of Elizabeth Carter." I am searching for more information of Elizabeth Carter and who the child could possibly be. 

Also going on in 1821 was a suit between William Solomon and Joseph and John Reid. This was not my ancestor, Rev. William Soloman, son of Bennett. This was a different William Solomon. Was this his uncle, William Solomon III, or had he already gone west to join his brother, Jordan Solomon, in Lincoln County, Tennesee? This William in the lawsuit had to be the one in the census below, living in Cabarrus County, NC in 1820.

The William Solomon/ Reed brothers lawsuit continued into October Session 1822. William Solomon was also brought up on a peace warrant that year and was discharged from his bond.

Also of interest in these sessions was another bastardy bond, this one between a man named John Baugh. and Eleanor Bruster, a single woman. There was also the case of James Bruster and Culpepper Lee, who was from Anson County. James Bruster was from Cabarrus County, and may have lived in Stanly (Montgomery) for awhile. He was a chain carrier in one of the above deeds with Bennett Solomon, he was the bondsman for marriage of Drury (Drew) Solomon and Eleanor Killough in Cabarrus County and was named as the father of John W. Solomon, son of Nancy Solomon, when John married. Nancy lived in Stanly (Montgomery) county. These are names not yet mentioned, but there will be more on them later. The Brusters tie them all together. 

We know Bennett Solomon married Ava McGregor, daughter of Rev. William McGregor. We know William Solomon married Harty Bridges, daugther of William Bridges of Franklin County, NC, but it's not known at this point who Goodwin Solomon  married.

Back in Franklin, several Solomon marriages were recorded, but none for Goodwin.

Amos Solomon married Sally Porch in 1820.

James Solomon married Milley Upchurch in 1820.

John Solomon married Cressy Wrenn in 1795.

These were cousins of the children of William Solomon II and Deanna Gordon.

Jeremiah Solomon married Betsey Bridges in 1818. His uncle, Jesse Gordon was bondsman.

Jordan Solomon married Martha Davis in 1843. William Solomon was bondsman.

Jeremiah and Jordan were brothers of the three who came to Montgomery. 

Goodwin Solomon was the bondsman for the marriage of Joseph Milton and Abbygal Bass in 1796. But his own marriage in unknown. Joseph Milton also moved to Montgomery County. 

Now, it's time to look at the three brothers separately, with the question in mind, who could have been the progenitor of the three Stanly County Solomons who married the three Iredell County Dancy Solomons?

All of these threes!

Another Trip Another Pictorial

When I began this blog, every trip I made to a new county, a new courthouse,  history center or Library Genealogy room, became another post. Whether a beautiful old Courthouse or a dusty basement full of precarious books, each was a new adventure.

These days I rarely do that anymore, as my trips are usually the third or tenth or 110th trip to that particular vault of treats and surprises. This time is a little different. 

I needed to go to both Lincoln and Chesterfield Counties in South Carolina. That took me down through Union and back up through Anson in North Carolina. 

I always find unique, quaint, historic or beautiful spots when I do this and today was no exception.

LANEY FAMILY CEMETERY 

The family of Titus and Hannah Laney arrived on these shores in 1832 and twenty years later settled along the border of Lancaster County, South Carolina and Union County, North Carolina. They contributed six sons to fight in the Revolutionary War

A collapsing old structure decays slowly near the remains of a beloved and well kept family cemetery. Many graves remain unmarked

The old house is surrounded by fields and large oak trees. 

The grave of J. H. and Polly Laney are among those preserved in the cemetery. Several generations of Laney occupied this ground.

A Beautiful OLD CHURCH with unique architecture. Above is Trinity United Methodist Church. The steeple is located above an alcove, where two wings seem forged together in an Ell angle. Located on Wolf Pond Road in Union County, NC

An old Rock Building constructed of dimension stones. Was it built for storage or some other purpose? It boasts a metal roof and red door. The little red fire hydrant is the perfect accessory. 

A SLICE Of AMERICANA on the State line.

A parking lot as pretty as the building itself.

A truck and tractor become roof ornaments.

HISTORIC CROSSROADS 

THE STATE LINE 

A beautiful old log cabin next to a chimney left from a building long gone.

AN OLD COUNTRY STORE 

MARSHVILLE WATER TOWER 

Cows grazing next to the road without a fence in sight.

Leonidas Lafayette Polk was North Carolina's first Commisioner of Agriculture. He founded the town of Polkton, in Anson County, where the Polk Homestead is now under reconstruction. I applaud Anson Counties preservation of historical sites.

Polk was also a writer. He had a weekly newspaper in Anson County, that he called "The Ansonians", and because of his interest in agriculture, he started another paper called, The Progressive Farmer", which is published to this day.

As a politician, Polk also built a house in Raleigh, which has been preserved. He died in 1892 in Washington, DC, but was returned home to Raleigh to be buried. He was also heavily involved in religion and education and was instrumental in the founding of a number of schools and churches. The house, as it is, remains a thing of beauty under the old trees holding reverence. 

A view of some of the white buildings of Polkton town from view of the House.

I've never seen American flags with German Shepherds on them as well. I'm a big German Shepherd fan and these black German Shepherd prints are interesting. 

Genealogy  and history can not be separated. Each trip, whether far or near, I always learn a little more and I thouroughly enjoy seeing these little bits of Americana and historic places. 

Three Brothers

Why is it, when you come across the tale of a families early settlement in an area, or arrival from "The Old Country", it always starts with three brothers as in ,"Three Brothers followed the Old Wagon Road south into Central HereWeAreNow"?

Never two brothers or four brothers or fourteen brothers but 3!

Well, quite coincidentally , this is going to be one of those stories of three brothers, and there really were three, not two, not four, although they certainly had other brothers, but 3. Their names were William, Bennett and Goodwin Solomon.

Franklin County, North Carolina was formed in 1779 from the southern part of the now defunct Butte County. It's sandwiched in between Nash, Johnston, Wake, Granville, Vance, Warren and Halifax Counties, yes, all of those. If you want to research someone who lived in Franklin County, it's best to look into not only Butte, and Franklin, of course, but also all of its above listed neighbors. 

The Solomon Brothers hailed from Franklin County, but they joined a migration west to Montgomery County, NC, which had been formed from Anson in 1799. They settled along the Yadkin River, close to its conjunction with the Uwharrie River, whereupon its name changed to the Pee Dee River. 

Their father left a Will, and these earliest years of the family have been fairly well researched.  They left adequate records, so that something can be known of these earliest generations, even more so than some of the later ones. 

This particular line of Solomons began with a man named Nicholas Solomon, born somewhere in England prior to 1490.

He married Estmi Coleman. 

They became the parents of Nycholas Sloman b 1515, who married Margaret Goodwyn.  They lived in the village of Rotherfield in Sussex, England. The Goodwyn name would be passed down through the family for numerous generations

Nycholas and Margaret would have a son named John Sloman born around 1541, who married Agnes Purnell. Among their four children was a son named Bartholomew Solomon who was born in 1571 in the village of Worth, still in Sussex. He married a lady named Margaret Pratt on April 30, 1606, in a village named Buxted, where they would settle and raise a family. Bartholomew had returned to the original spelling of the name Solomon. It is unknown why they changed it to start with. 

Sussex, England location

Bartholomew Solomon died on December 30, 1868 at Mountfield, in Sussex, at the age of 57.

Bartholomew and Margaret were the parents of a son named Giles who was born in 1610 in Buxted. He married twice, first to a lady named Margaret, maiden name unknown. Second to Ealce Booker in 1648. They would become the parents of 7 children, the third being a son named Stephen.

Stephen Solomon was born before January 13, 1654 in Buxted, Sussex, England, the day he was baptized.

On January 12, 1673, he married Elizabeth Barden. Stephen died about 1740 in Buxted. He had four known children. One was a son named Lewis O. Solomon, who was our immigrant ancestor.

Lewis O Solomon was born about 1676 in Colan, Cornwall, England. Sometime before leaving Cornwall, Lewis married Martha King. Martha was born in 1695 in

Castlemorton, Worcestershire, England, daughter of Henry and Mary Carpenter King. 

They probably landed in Jamestown before making their way to Albemarle Parrish, in Surry County, Virginia. Lewis would die there on July 20, 1743.

They were the parents of four children; Mary Elizabeth Solomon Asbill, William James Solomon, Charles Emmett Solomon and Lewis Solomon Jr.

Albemarle Parrish, Surry, Virginia

William James Solomon was born around 1717 in Albemarle Parrish, Surry, Virginia.

In 1736, he married Ruth Hay, daughter of Gilbert and Susan Ivey Hay.  William and Ruth would have six children: Judith, William, Ursula, Isham, John and Sukey. 

William moved his family to North Carolina and died in 1796, at the age of 79, in Edgecomb County, North Carolina.

William Solomon II was born on December 22, 1738, in Albemarle Parrish, Surrey, VA. Around 1770, he married Diana Gordon. She was the daughter of John and Lucy Churchill Gordon. They would live in Edgecomb County, North Carolina and later in Franklin County, North Carolina.  

William Solomon, Jr. and Diana would have 10 children: Goodwin, Bennett, Luke, Elizabeth Solomon Judd, Dica Solomon Hall, Jordan, Sally Solomon Solomon, William III, Jane Solomon Lewis and Jeremiah Solomon.

William Solomon Jr died on December 9, 1814, at the age of 75, in Franklin County, NC, leaving the following Will.

April 16, 1814

" In the name of God Amen, I William Solomon of the County of Frankllin and State of North Carolina do make and Constitute this my last Will and Testament.

Imprimus. My wish and desire is that my negro man Will shall remain with my wife for her use, during her life and after her Death, I wish him to be the property of any of my children to whom he shall chose.

Item I wish a sufficiency of my crops to be alotted off by my Executors for the support of wife and family (Sally and Jeremiah Solomon included) for one year.

Item I lend unto my beloved wife Deanna Solomon, during her natural life the following Negroes, (to wit) Lucy, Jack, Rachel, Annaky, Chance, Patty, Silvia and Mary and their increase. I likewise wish my two Negroe men, Sam and Robin, to be hired out by my Executors, till they think proper to call them in, and the money arizin from the hire of the said Negroes to go to the Discharge of my just debts. I also lend to my wife during her Natural Life, the Land and Planataion whereupon I now live, together with all my plantation utensils, three work horses, six cows and calves, one Yoke of Oxen and cart and wheels, and three sows and pigs, ^ and my stock of sheep. I lend to my wife all my Household and Kitchen furniture except two beds & furniture, which I intend for my daughter Sally Solomon and my son Jeremiah Solomon together with as much of my other Household and Kitchen furniture as will make them equal to those who have married and gone off.

Item I wish my daughter Sally Solomon and my son Jeremiah Solomon (if they think Proper) to live with my wife as long as they remain single, and to be supported, and when they or either of them marry or go off, I give them one Horse, one Cow and one Calf apiece.

I wish at the death of my wife the Land to be equally divided between my two sons William Solomon and Jeremiah Solomon to them and their heirs forever.

My Will and Desire is that my Negroes hereforto mentioned and their increase after the death of my wife be divided by Lot after evaluation by two or more disinterested persons and to be Equally divided between my children as follows, Goodwyn Solomon, Luke Solomon, Bennett Solomon, Eliza Judd, Dica Hall, Sally Solomon, William Solomon, Jinny Lewis, and Jeremiah Solomon, to them and their heirs forever.

Item, I give unto my son Jordon Solomon a negroe boy now in his possession by the name of Dick to him and his heirs forever.

Item I wish for my present crop and stock which I have ^ not left my wife after she takes her support, as before mentioned to be sold at the expiration of the year on twelve months credit and the money arising there from to go to the discharge of my just debts.

Item It's my Will and Desire at the Death of my Wife for all my stock of every kind, Household and Kitchen furniture and plantation utensils to be sold on twelve months credit and the money arising there from to be Equally divided between the whole of my children to them and their heirs forever.

Item I apppoint my beloved wife and my sons Luke Solomon and Jeremiah Solomon my Executors to this my Last Will and Testament. 

Lastly, it's my will that if  either my children should decend from this my Last Will and Testament or in other words, bring on a Lawsuit they shall have been cut off with 5 shillings.

16 April 1814   William Solomon (seal)

Signed Sealed and Acknowledge in presence of

 John Perry

Chas. Deberum (jurat)

J Denson (jurat)

In the estate records, on December 9, 1814, the property of William Solomon was put up for sale by this two sons, Jeremiah and Luke Solomon. Sons, sons-in-law, other relatives and persons of interest or involvement with the family are highligted.

Buyers were Jordan Denson,  John Emery, Ezekial Fuller, James K. Goodloe, Jesse Gordon, Simon Green, Richard Hall,  Benjamin Hawkings, John Huckaby, Elijah Jones, Capt. John Perry, Jeremiah Solomon, Luke Solomon.

Three years later, on Jan 1817, there was another Estate sale after the death of Deanna Gordon Solomon, who outlived her husband by 3 years. Among the buyers were: William Judd, Riall Pinnell, Luke Solomon,  Willilam P. Williams, Stephen Davis, Jesse Gordon, Hicks Wynne, Guilford Lewis, Alexander Falconer, John Huckabey, Jeremiah Solomon, William Waddle.

On March 1, 1818 a Division of the Negroes, per William Solomon's wishes, after the death of Deanna, was performed. 

Richard Hall, in lieu of his wife, Dica, drew Lucy and Patt.

William Solomon, Jr. drew Rachel.

Guilford Lewis, in lieuof his wife Jane (Jinny) drew Robin

Bennett Solomon excr drew China

William Judd, in lieu of wife Eliza, drew Mary

Goodwin Solomon drew Anaky

William Solomon, in lieu of his wife Sally, drew Sam (Sally Solomon had married a cousin named William Solomon in the years following her father's death).

Luke Solomon drew Jack

Jeremiah Solomon drew Sylvia.

There was an addendum, or an inquiry, by a J.S. Solomon, if anything had been left for Sally Solomon, the widow of Lewis Solomon, Lewis being the brother of William Solomon, deceased. This cousin had written, " The old Jentleman (sic) died some 10 or 12 years ago....do not recollect his given name but he had 1 son Elijah & 1 son Lewis & 1 son James...only James still living in Franklin County." from Loose Estate Papers Volume II, Franklin County, NC.

James Solomon, the son of Lewis and Sally Solomon, and a nephew of William Solomon II, who married Deanna Gordon, wrote his Will on September 7, 1822. He seems to have managed to hang on about four years longer than the illness or disability that prompted him to write a will in the first place predicted. His Will was probated in the March Term of Court of Franklin County in the year 1826. He mentions a wife, Elizabeth, and children, James Jr., Rebecca (spelled Rebecker), Lucy, (Lewceey), Elijah, (Eligah), Lewis, Betsy, Eatha and Amos Solomon.

As all but the one son, James, of Lewis Solomon Jr had "gone off", as William had put it in his Will, looking for greener pastures, so it was with Williams own sons. Only the youngest, Jeremiah, remained in Franklin County. His own Will was probated there in 1852.

Jeremiah Solomon had written his will on June 14, 1852 and his death must have been imminent, as it was probated in the fall term of court in September of that year. He named his children Levenia Powel, Josiah B. Solomon, son William and a wife, but not named.

So, the Solomon family that remained in Franklin County were descendants of either Jeremiah or his cousin, James.

The others, like dandelion fluff in a strong wind, took to the paths west and south, looking for a paradise of their own. 

Three Brothers, William III, Bennett and Goodwin ended up in Montgomery County, NC, near the end of the Yadkin River.

Jarrett

Among early Stanly County records, even beyond Stanly, into the days she was part of Montgomery, I had come across men with the first name, Jarrett. There was Jarrett Russell and Jarrett Carter, and of course, both would spawn younger Jarretts in their wake.

Jarrett Carter is well researched and has many living descendants. Born on Valentines Day, 1800, in the Palestine area of Stanly County, Jarrett was the son of Clement and Annice Arnold Carter. Jarrett had grown to be a man along the banks of Mountain Creek. The Carter clan, as a whole, seem to have prospered along Mountain Creek,  between the Yadkin River and what is now Albemarle, in a beautiful area of quiet rolling hills and plentiful streams. 

There was another Jarrett Carter, just five years younger than this one, born in Halifax County, who was the son of a Harris Carter and wife, Sarah Tuttle, who left North Carolina and settled in Tennesee. Our Stanly County Jarrett married a Sarah Holt and they had about 7 children. One daugther married into my Marks family, another married a Laton, and a third didn't marry, but left her name afixed to the cemetery wherein most of her family was buried, the 'Tishie Carter Cemetery", Tishie being a nickname of Letisha.

Jarrett Carter tombstone at the Tishie Carter Cemetery.

Jarrett Carter died and was buried there in 1882. Then there was Jarrett Russell.

Jarrett Russell ties more directly into my family tree. He was born in what is now Stanly County on October 4, 1793, just seven years older than Jarrett Carter. The son of Aaron Russell and wife "Lizla" (MNU), Jarrett would marry my third Great Aunt, Frances "Fanny" Solomon, daughter of Bennett Solomon, Sr. and Ava McGregor Solomon, my fourth Great Grandparents. I descend from her brother, William.

The Russells lived very near the Carters, just a tad northeast of "Carterland" in what we now call the "Harris" area, in an area between Badin and New London. Jarrett and Fanny had nine children, although one is in debate and is a post of his own, which I had attempted to tackle some time ago, but now, as they stand, the list is:

1810 George W. Russell (Jane MNU) 

1819 McGlemery "Mack" Russell (Araminta Morton)

1820 Arena Russell Carter (Allen A. Carter)

1820 William Washington Russell (Priscilla or Prissy)

1827 Farlinda Russell (Thomas Franklin Hopkins)

1827 Ava Ann "Avy" Russell (John L. Pennington)

1827 James Solomon Russell (Lucinda McLester and Holly Hudson)

1832 Bennett Lee Russell (Emaline Sell)

1833 Carolina Russell (Samuel D. Austin and Lewis Carter)

Jarrett Russell died in 1856, and is buried in the Labon Carter Cemetery, this is how close the Russell/Carter connection was. Fanny Solomon Russell survived him by a few decades and lived until 1875. She and her brother, Rev. William S. Solomon, were the only two children of Bennett and Ava McGregor Solomon who remained in Stanly County. The others, including their mother, migrated to Tennesee. 

I hadn't given a flung handkerchief of a thought to the connection between the Carters and the Russells, or even their connection to the Solomons until I dove back into the mysterious triad of three Stanly County Solomons who married three Iredell County Dancy siblings. Lucinda Solomon married Willliam Edward Dancy in 1848. In age, she was the middle of the three. The eldest of the three, John E. Solomon, married William's younger sister, Eliza, in 1849. The youngest of the three was Jarrett Thomas Solomon, and he married Margaret Dancy, a sister of the other two, in 1855. Now, I do not have any document or proof that John, Lucinda or Jarrett were themselves siblings, but the further and longer I look into them, the stronger the belief that they were becomes. 

Then when I start back at the Solomon origins in Franklin County, North Carolina, I come across a large family with the surname of "Jarrett" and begin to wonder if there is a Solomon, Russell and Carter connection back to this Eastern North Carolina Jarrett family. Also, I had not really researched the Russell and Carter families in reference to any possible connection to each other, besides the obvious 19th century marriages.

For now, I am only at the tips of the grasslands. I've not ventured into those roots. I've covered the lives and families of John E and Eliza and that of W. E. and Lucinda. With this post, I wanted to look a little closer at Jarrett and Margaret.

Jarrett begins, and ends, with question marks. To begin with him, I must first repeat a little information about John E. Solomon, because it was through John that I found that Jarrett even existed. 

In some of the earliest court records in  Stanly County, North Carolina in 1841, the year of it's inception, John E Solomon, a teenager at the time, was ordered to be brought to court to be bound out. It was also noted that he was, or had been, living with Edmund Lilly. 

Edmund Lilly was a wealthy man. It was not explained why he was living with Edmund Lilly, or why that arrangement was being changed. The practice of bonding out was a type of apprenticeship reserved for illegitimate children or orphans. Considering John's age, about 17, he was most likely an orphan. 

Around this time, in the 1840 census, John Dancy is living in Wilkes County, NC. Within the decade, John Dancy would become the father-in-law of John E Solomon. John E Solomon would buy and sell a tract of land in Stanly County in the later years of the 1840's and in 1849, he would marry Eliza, the daughter of John Dancy and in the summer of 1850, John and Eliza are living in the mining town of Gold Hill, in Rowan County. 

John Dancy, sometime between 1840 and 1850, would move from Wilkes County to Iredell County. Both Wilkes and Rowan border Iredell, on different sides. 

It's in the household of John Dancy that we first encounter Jarrett Thomas Solomon. He's a 15 year old boy, appearing to help the 60 year old Dancy on the farm. Also in the home is John's wife, Frances, his second, and not the mother of his children, and his 17 year old daughter, Margaret. Two of John's sons, William and Enos, are living next door, and William was married to Lucinda Solomon, known as Lucy. Those were the three Solomons who married the three Dancy's. In five years, Jarrett would marry Margaret Dancy.

Next, in the 1860 census, Jarrett and his bride, Margaret, are living in Rowan County, but in Deep Well, not Gold Hill, where John and Eliza Solomon were. Jarrett, or J.T., was a laborer, at 26, Margaret was now 28, and they had a 4 year old son, John Frank. 

Name	Jerry T Solomon
Enlistment Age	27
Birth Date	1835
Birth Place	Stanly County, North Carolina, USA
Enlistment Date	13 Aug 1862
Enlistment Place	Northampton County, North Carolina
Enlistment Rank	Private
Muster Date	13 Aug 1862
Muster Place	North Carolina
Muster Company	G
Muster Regiment	5th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type	Infantry
Muster Information	Enlisted
Casualty Date	2 May 1863
Casualty Place	Chancellorsville, Virginia
Type of Casualty	Wounded
Muster Out Date	3 Feb 1865
Muster Out Information	Transferred
Side of War	Confederacy
Survived War?	Yes
Residence Place	Iredell County, North Carolina
Occupation	Farmer
Additional Notes 2	Muster 2 Date: 03 Feb 1865; Muster 2 Place: North Carolina; Muster 2 Information: Transferred;
Title	North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster

In August of 1862, Jerry, as he was called, enlisted in the 5th Regiment, NC Infantry, Johnston's Brigade, for the Confederate Army and term of the War. He roported that he was a farmer and had been born in Stanly County, NC and at the time of his enlistment, he was living in Iredell County. He had enlisted in Northhampton County, and I wondered why he had enlisted so far away, but in his petition for a pension, it was noted that he had been recruited by a Captain J C McRae of Statesville, so he had followed the Captain there, most likely.

J. T. Solomon had been wounded severly at Chancelorville on May 3, 1863. Three Surgeons signed a statement that he had fractured the tibia and dislocated the fibula of his left leg, rendering him severly handicapped. He had spent time in two hospitals and a prisoner of war camp.

The papers also gave a general description of him as being five foot six and a half inches tall, of a light complexion, with blue eyes and sandy hair.

Between 1862 and 1870, Jerry and Margaret had added another child to the family, a girl named Ida. The 1870 census finds the family together in Deep Well still, a community on the border of Iredell and Rowan, as the 1860 census had declared that they lived in the same community, but in Rowan County. This would place them in Mount Ulla and close to Prospect Presbyterian Church, where many of the Dancy and Solomon family is buried. At this time, Jerry was 35, Margaret was 37, John Frank was 15 and Ida was 3.

In October of 1874, Jerry and Margaret are named in a suit involving the esate of Margaret's father, John Dancy, as he had passed away.

Statesville Record And Landmark

Statesville, North Carolina • Sat, Oct 24, 1874Page 2

By 1880, Jerry and Margaret were now in their 40's and still living in Mount Ulla, whether on the Rowan or Iredell side of the county line, I'm not sure. I suppose it depended on which census taker was working. I believe their property lay right upon the line.

Name	Joret Solomon
Age	45
Birth Date	Abt 1835
Birthplace	North Carolina
Home in 1880	Mount Ulla, Rowan, North Carolina, USA
Dwelling Number	22
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Self (Head)
Marital Status	Married
Spouse's Name	Margaret Solomon
Father's Birthplace	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace	North Carolina
Occupation	Farmer
Neighbors
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship Joret Solomon 45 Self (Head) Margaret Solomon 45 Wife Ida E. Solomon 14 Daughter Agnes Solomon 8 Daughter Leonidas Solomon 4 Son

Two more children have joined the family, Agnes and Leonidas, and John Frank, now an adult, was on his own. They spaced their family rather far apart, and despite their age, they were not finished.

1900 census 

Twenty years later, not much has changed. Jerry and Margaret are still farming in Mount Ulla. They are living with their two youngest sons, Leondias, now 24 and Robert, 17, the last and final Solomon. In this record, Robert is recorded as a grandson, in others, he lists Jerry and Margaret as his parents. He was probably a biological grandson, raised by his grandparensts.

Oldest of their two daughters, Ida E. Solomon, married on February 8, 1892 to William Edgar Thompson. She was 14 years old. On April 9, 1883, she gave birth to two children, a  son, Walter Eugene Thompson and a daughter Katherine Marian Thompson. I discovered from a descendant of Katherine Thompson White that she was named for her Aunt, E. C. Solomon, who left her an inheritance in her will. This would have been Eliza, the wife of John E. Solomon, as they were a childless couple. This adds a middle name for Eliza. Her full name was then Elizabeth Catherine Solomon, and Ida just changed the C to a K for her daughter's name, 'Katherine'.

Ida died on August 17, 1887, in Kannapolis, NC. She was 20 years old and buried at the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery in Cleveland, Rowan County.

The turn of the century was something both Jerry and Margaret got to experience, but not for long. The next loss was that of Margaret. Evidence suggests that the couple left Mount Ulla for Kannapolis in Cabarrus County, where some of their children had settled, a Textile Industry town. 

Margaret Dancy Solomon passed away on May 23, 1907, according to Dancy family records, in Cabarrus County. She was 74.

Jarrett Thomas Solomon had appeared in the newspapers of Iredell, Rowan and Cabarrus Counties for nominal issues; taxes, tags, newpapers subscriptions, Civil War Veterans reunions between the years of1880 and the early 1900's.

His last mention was in 1909.

He seems to have become a cantankerous old Vet. 

Neither Jarrett T. Solomon or his son, Leonidas M. Solomon are found in the 1910 census or any records afterwards. It's unknown when either of them died or are buried.

The children of Jarrette T. Solomon and Margaret Dancy Soloman were:

John Frank Solomon (11 Jul 1855 - 24 April 1926) 

     Married 1st Mary Laura Erwin : Three Children: 

     A) 1875-1913  Julie Blanche Solomon Belk

     B) 1878-1930  Minnie Laura Solomon Hudson

     C) 1882-1978  Robert Thomas Solomon (who was raised by his grandparents and commonly accepted as theirs.

The Statesville Sentinel

Statesville, North Carolina • Thu, Jan 23, 1913Page 1

    Married 2nd: Maggie Levi Foil (1869-1955) Two daughters:

    D) 1894-1964 Margaret Evelyn "EvieLou" Solomon Howell

    E) 1897-1974 Ida Estelle Solomon 

The Charlotte Observer

Charlotte, North Carolina • Fri, Nov 29, 1974Page 4

Ida Estelle Solomon (Sr.) (21 Feb. 1867 - 17 August 1867)

    Married William Edgar Thompson (1861-1939) Buncombe County, N.C., Two children:

    1883-1940 Walter Eugene Thompson

    1884-1977 Katherine Marion Thompson White

   

Agnes Cornelia Solomon (27 Oct 1872 - 24 Dec 1908) 

     Married John Henry May (1871-1922) Four Children:

     1895-1979 Leila Ida May Graham

     1899-1903 Laura Ola May

     1901-1986 Mary Ethel May Beaver

     1906-1986 Pearl Marie May Holt

Leonidas M. Solomon (1876- Unknown) Leonidas made it to adulthood as he is last shown at age 24. No more infromation.