Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

This is my grandson and his buddy… yours truly with the obligatory can of beer.

We are on the outskirts of a lake just north of Lake Okeechobee in central Florida.

We had just passed by a small island with a small herd of cattle… not an everyday sight for me. Lunchtime we powered the airboat up next to a picnic table, had a sandwich and a beer and then continued the Saturday saga.

I lost my hat somewhere in the excitement…

This is preliminary… I do not have enough patents to really make associations. So do not hold my feet to the fire as to where “exactly” these folks settled.

Several of us are looking for the “historical” Beard’s Creek (which I think is in this area, but do not know). It probably may not exist on modern maps. See the blurb for a historical reference to one Capt. James Beard (of which the creek name is attributed).

So… where the hell is Beard’s Creek?

...click the blue filename below to open in a new page (better to zoom in)

I am presently searching on Familysearch.org for the original James Beard patent…

Wait while I pick my jaw up off the floor…

I mean… really… someone has to be pulling my leg here… aside from the fact that Edward Thatch or Teach was the pirate’s name. I am still laughing at any association with the name “Beard” to Blackbeard the Pirate.

https://www.bairdcreekpoint.com/Historic.html

AHA! Traci the Librarian has saved the day… Beard’s Creek in all its glory… just off my map, lower right

Now… who was this Martin Franck character? And did his daughter play around with pirates? C’mon you folks know I love this kind of intrigue… laughing

________________________________________________________________________________________

“A” John Bryan in the Town of New Bern (still trying to figure out which John Bryan)… this map mentions a date of 1713 but it is much more modern that that… Bryan somehow traded for these lots (both of which had direct water access. Note that I am hunting for a “merchant” John Bryan who may be associated with a “mariner” Edward Bryan.

Here is the court case of which I pulled the information:

http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/craven/deeds/cogdel10.txt

Craven County, NC - John Rice to Richard Cogdell, 1762

                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS INDENTURE, made the 4th day of October, in the year of our Lord, 
1762, between John Rice, Coroner of the County of Craven in the 
Province of North Carolina, of the one part, and Richard Cogdell of New 
Bern in the said County and Province, Esq., of the other part: Whereas, 
a writ of Feesi-Taeeas, issued out of his majestys Inferior Court of 
Pleas and Quarter Session held at New Bern for the County of Craven 
tested the 10th day of July in the second year of his Reign of his 
majestys, George, the said King of Great-Brittain, ect., and returnable 
into the said Court on the 1st Tuesday of October, Instant and derected 
to the said coroner, commanding him that of the goods and chattels, 
lands and tenements of John Bryan, he should cause to be made the sum 
of Thirty-Five Pounds fifteen shillings, Proc. Money, debt which the 
said Richard Cogdell in the said Court, recorded for his debt, and also 
the sum of Two Pounds 4 shillings and 5 pence, Proc. Money adjudged and 
taxed for costs; and whereas, Cullen Pollock and Walter Lane, 
Commissioners of the Town of New Bern, did by their deed bearing date 
some time in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and 
Thirty-One among other things, grant and convey unto John Rodgers, one 
Lot or half an acre of land in the Town of New Bern, known in the plan 
of said Town by Number 44; and whereas, the said John Rodgers and 
Sarah, his wife, did by an instrument in writing, bearing date on or 
about the 15th day of December, in the year of our Lord, the said Lot 
#44 in the old plan to William Norwood, which said Lot is marked or 
known in the new plan by #50; and whereas, the said William Norwood by 
deed bearing date some time in the month of December, 1739, for the 
consideration therein mentioned, grant and convey the said Lot # 44 
unto Thomas Norwood; and whereas, the said Thomas Norwood did by a deed 
or instrument bearing date the 30th day of March, 1750, in 
consideration of 50 pounds old tomer equal in value to 6 pounds 
thirteen shillings and 4 pence, Proc. Money, grant, bargain and sell 
unto the said John Bryan, the Lot or half an acre of land in the said 
Town of New Bern, #44.
To hold the said Lot or half acre of land, together with all and 
singular the houses, gardens and farmes, and also the appurtenances to 
the same belonging or appertaining to the said John Bryan, his heirs 
and assigns forever; and whereas, Cullen Pollock of Tyrrell County in 
the said Province, by his deed, poll or instrument in writing bearing 
date the 6th day of March, in the year of our Lord, 1746, in 
consideration of 12 pounds to him in hand paid by the said John Bryan, 
give, grant, bargain and sell unto the said John Bryan, among other 
things, a certain parcel of land, adjoining the Town of New Bern, being 
the front of a Lot belonging to the said John Bryan in the said Town 
numbered in the plan of the said Town, #17, to hold to the said John 
Bryan, his heirs and assigns forever; and whereas, the said coroner in 
persuance of the said writ of Fieri-Faieas, and by virtue of his said 
office and by form of and act of parliment made in Great Britain in the 
5th year of the Reign of his majestys, King George, the second Juliet 
an Act for the more easy remaining debts is his majestys, plantations 
and belongs in America did seized and take into his hands and 
possession the said Lot or half acre of land in the Town of New Bern, 
known in the plan of the said Town by #44; and also the said certain 
parcel of land, adjoining the said Town of New Bern, being the front of 
a Lot #17 in order to raise and levy the said debt and costs and 
exposed the same to sale at Public Venue and at that sale sold the same 
to the said Richard Cogdell for the sum of 40 pounds, Proc. Money, 
being the highest or greatest sum bid or offered by any person for the 
same at the said sale, as in and by the said several hereinbefore 
recited deeds remaining of record in the register's Office of the said 
Craven County, and also the said writ of Fieri-Faieas and return 
relation being to them respectively had may more fully and at large 
appear
NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, that the said John Rice, Coroner, of the 
said County of Craven in persuance of his Office, and by virtue of said 
writ of Fieri-Faieas and also by virtue and in persuance of the said 
Act of Parliment and for and in consideration of the sum of 40 pounds, 
Proc. Money to him in hand paid by the said Richard Cogdell before the 
sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, sold, transfur and assigns, and 
set over, convey and confirm, and by virtue of his said Office, and by 
these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, transfer, assigns, set-over, 
convey and confirm unto the said Richard Cogdell, all that and those 
the said Lot or half acre of land in the Town of New Bern and known in 
the plan of the said Town by number 44, and also the said certain 
parcel of land, adjoining to New Bern Town, being the front of Lot #17, 
so heretofore conveyed to the said John Bryan, together with all 
houses, edifices, buildings and improvements executed or made on them 
respectively and other appurtenances to them or either of them 
belonging or appertaining
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Lot or half acre of land in the said Town 
of New Bern, #44, and the said certain parcel of land, being the front 
of Lot #17, and all other the premises as hereinbefore mentioned or 
intended to be granted unto the said Richard Cogdell, his heirs and 
assigns forever, in as free and ample a manner as the said John Rice, 
Coroner, of the said County of Craven by virtue of his office, and of 
the said writ of Fieri-Faieas and Act of Parliment is enabled and 
empowered to convey the same. And the said John Rice, doth hereby 
covenant, promise and agree to and with the said Richard Cogdell, his 
heirs and assigns, that he, the said Richard Cogdell, his heirs and 
assigns, shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter 
peaceably and quietly have, hold, occupy, possess, enjoy the said 
premises and every part hereof, free and clear of and from all manner 
of incumberances whatsoever, held, made, committed or done by the said 
John Rice, or by any other person or persons by his measure or 
pronouncement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said parties of these presents have hereunto 
interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above 
written

Signed, sealed and delivered in           John Rice, Coroner {Seal}
the presence of us:
A.M. Fenner
Rich'd Fenner

I do hereby acknowledge to have received of him, the named Richard 
Cogdell, the sum of 40 pounds, Proc. Money, being the consideration 
Money the within deed mentioned, as Witness my hand, this 4th day of 
October, 1762
                                             £--40--0--0
Witness Present:
A.M. Fenner
Richard Fenner


North Carolina, November 13th, 1762, personally appeared John Rice, 
Coroner of Craven County, and party to the within deed before me, and 
acknowledged the within deed of bargain and sale from him to Richard 
Cogdell to be the act and deed of him, the said John Rice. Let it be 
registered

                                             Chas. Berry, J.P.

___________________________________________________________________

Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Guy Potts <gpotts1@nc.rr.com>
___________________________________________________________________

Note below that in the will of “one” Edward Bryan in 1745, this Edward leaves to his son Edward a lot in New Bern. The Bryans were heavily invested in New bern

BRYAN, EDWARD

January 28, 1745. May 9, 1746. Sons: JOHN BRYAN (220 acres land bought of Martin and Edward Frank, called “New Germany”), WILLIAM BRYAN (300 acres land, called “New Germany”), EDWARD BRYAN (lot in Newbern). Daughter: PENELIPY BRYAN (lot in Newbern). Wife: ANN BRYAN (“one plantation, called paradice”). Executors: ANN BRYAN (wife), HARDY BRYAN (brother), LEWIS BRYAN (brother). Witnesses: WM. WHITFORD, JANE HAND, RICHARD HART. Will proven before E. HALL, Chief Justice of North Carolina.

(Source: Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, By: J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State, 1910, Page 53)

Edward Bryan d.1745 wife Ann

son John
son William
son Edward

dau Penelipy

brother Hardy

brother Lewis

Note in the will above the name Martin Frank (Franck)… note also that Martin Franck is all over the place in the deed notes surrounding the area of “Beard’s Creek” that I chronicle in the Beards Creek Clues above. There is a lot of undiscovered history here…

Martin Franck bio

https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/franck-john-martin

…Bryan deeds… stolen from here:

http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/craven/deeds/bryan01.txt

Craven Co., NC Bryan Deed Abstracts  1742-1786

For ease in listing these abstracts have been grouped by individual names with 
all transactions under this name being either the grantor or grantee. 

Lewis Bryan
Deed Book 1, Pg 153    Dated 21 Dec 1742   sells 100 acres on Maul's Run, 
Swift Creek

Deed Book 1, Pg 159    Dated 21 Dec 1742   sells 75 acres on Maul Run, Swift
Creek which Lewis Bryan holds by patent 23 Nov. 1739.  

Deed Book 1, Pg 563    Dated 22 Dec. 1743   buys  75 acres on Maul's Run,
Swift Creek (witness William Bryan)

Deed book 3, pg  212     Dated 17 Mar 1745-46   "Lewis Bryan son of John
Bryan, deceased" sells  "390 acres  of which my father held by deed from John
Simmons, on North side of Neuse River. . .."  Wit. Lewis Bryan, Sen.

" book" 3, pg 45       Dated 6 May 1745  sells "parcel of land on Maul's Run,
Swift Creek including saw mill, with five acres which said Lewis Bryan holds
by patented dated 23 Nov. 1739."  (Witness John Blount)

Deed Book 4, Pg 13   Dated 18 Jun 1747 sells to Wardens of Parish of Christ
Church "a parcel of land adjoining the mill land on Swift Creek, one acre . .
.part of a 275 acre patent from his Majesty King, George second." 

Deed Book 1, pg 385    Dated 2 Feb 1749   sells to Hardy Bryan "land on the
West side of Beaver Creek formerly belonging Martin Franck. . .."  Witness
Joseph Bryan and Hardy Bush - Proved March 20, 1749

Deed Book 1, Pg 400    Dated ____Feb 1749   sells 165 acres on Maul's Run
"being the branch by which said Lewis Hart  now lives to the plantation where
said Lewis Bryan did live.   Was called 175 acres, one acre for Chapel and
five for mill taken out, part of Lewis Bryan patent for 275, dated 23 Nov.
1739.

Book of Deeds 4 pg 171   Dated 22 June 1748   Hardy Bryan, Lewis Bryan, Ann
Bryan, Executors of Edward Bryan, deceased, sells land on East side of Swift
Creek, patented to Edward Bryan, deceased, 8 May 1742." 

Book of Deeds  4 pg 272  Dated 1 July 1748 " Lewis Bryan, son of Edward Bryan"
buys 550 acres on Rattlesnake Branch, William Isler's corner,  Frederick
Isler's corner,  South side of Vine Swamp."  Wit: Hardy Bryan and Hardy Bush

Book of Deeds 4 pg 314   Dated 19 June 1749   buys 100 acres North side of
Neuse River . . . part of Lee's patent for 315 acres of 22  May 1745  (this
land went to Patrick Maule Bryan according to his father's will, Lewis Bryan
1816.) 

Book of Deeds 4  pg 238   Dated _____ _____ 1749 sells130 acres "part of a
survey to John Bryan by his Majesty in 1739, on east side of Goose Creek . . .
reserving 10 feet square from center of spot of land where said Edward Bryan
and wife are buried.  Wit Hardy Bush.

Deed Book 7 pg 3        Dated 11 Oct. 1750   buys 550 acres beginning at the
mouth of Rattlesnake branch, to Vine Swamp, Wit Hardy Bush

Book of Deeds 1 Pg 466   Dated 1 Jan 1751  buys 200 acres on North side of
Neuse River called Beasley's Island  (this land went to Patrick Maule Bryan
according to his father's will, Lewis Bryan 1816.)

Deed Book 11, pg 65   Dated 2 Apr 1763   sells to "William Bryan, his son" 200
acres on north side of Neuse River, Beasley's Island.  


John Bryan

Deed Book 3 pg 56   Dated____  ____ 1744  "John Bryan of Craven County,
Merchant to Lewis Bryan, son of Edward Bryan, late of Craven County,
Providence aforesaid, deceased, Planter, . . . John Bryan and Cady, his wife .
. .130 acres of land part of survey granted to John Bryan by his Majesty's
patent, 1739. . . east side if Goose Creek"  sells to Lewis Bryan, son of
Edward Bryan late of Craven Co. . ."reserves 10 square feet from the center of
the spot of land, where said Edward and his wife are buried"   (witness Edward
Bryan) [does this read that John Bryan was son of Edward or that Lewis is son
of Edward?]

Deed Book 4, pg 210   Dated 10 Oct 1748 Commissioners of Town of New Bern to
John Joseph Bryan "Lot beginning at Paul Palmer's corner on Water Street #113,
Town of New Bern."

Deed Book 6, pg 279   Dated 16 Aug 1754  Hardy Bryan to Sally Bryan daughter
of John and Ann Cady Bryan, his wife  Lot 376 "conveyed to Francis Fontaine by
. . . Commissioners of New Bern, Nov. 2, 1751 and assigned by Francis
Fontaine, 16 Feb 1754 to Hardy Bryan, Reserving to Ann Cady Bryan, wife of
said John Bryan, the use of the said lot during her natural life, also
reserving to Hardy Bryan ten feet square, WHERE THE GRAVES ARE NOW ON THE SAID
LOT."  

Deed Book 2 Pg 318   Dated 11 Apr 1760  John Bryan  sells part of a tract
"being a grant to Edward Bryan 20 April 1740. . .east side of Swift Creek on
Watery Branch, Palmetto Swamp, with houses, out houses, stables, barns,
orchards, gardens, &c."  Wit Joseph Bryan, Juret Proven in open court by oath
of Joseph Bryan

I think I have posted this before and recently pulled it up again in my notes. I dug down to some fine print at the end of my rant and began to mull it all over again. My commenter friend Justin Petrone is interested in this guy also… he may have found some new morsels…

I have the pertinent part of the article posted below if you are not interested in the Atkins/McDaniel background …

as usual, click the blue filename below to open in a new page (works better for me)

I just randomly threw all this together above kind of as an afterthought… it was collected sources that I did not properly document (my bad)…

(d) Thomas Busby an Indian (born 1674)
He was identified in 1684 as being 10 years old. In 1690, he was
identified as being a tithable for the first time, which was precisely
on time, since he then was 16 years old.
(e) Thomas Busby (died in North Carolina ca. 1738)
He and his wife (presumably Catherine (Bryan?)) had at least
one daughter, who married John Page, Jr., prior to 1728.
Another presumed daughter, Hester, married Theophilus
Williams.
Numerous land transactions in Bertie County court included the
name of Thomas Busby in the period, ca. 1720-1738.
Thomas Busby witnessed the drawing of George Clements’ will in
1729.
Other records mentioning Thomas Busby and other Busby’s in
North Carolina include:
1715 John Busby died in Bertie County, N. C., in 1715. Inventory of his
estate is recorded in North Carolina State Wills 1712-1722, Book 2, pp. 208-09.
1712 to 1722: Richard Falk, Chowan precinct, made a will which was
witnessed by Thomas Busbe. (Later on, in South Carolina, Falk and Busby
families lived in the same section. Benjamin Clement Busby married Eve Falk.)
(Abstract of Wills, Grimes, 1690-1760, p. 117)
SOME OF THE BUZBEES AND THEIR BEST FRIENDS 230 VOLUME 1: BEYOND THE OLD WORLD 1725: Thomas Busby bought 174 acres on the east side of Cashi Swamp,
from Henry Roades, of Bertie Precinct.
(Abstract of Bertie County Deeds, Vol. 2, p. 53)
“Busby’s line” was used to describe a land grant to John Dew by the Lords
Proprietors. Another adjacent property owner was John Bond. 1 February 1725
Thomas Busby’s land was adjacent to 640 acres sold by Richard Milton to
Francis Parker (for 15 pounds). Other neighbor was John Blount. 3 January
1725. Thomas Busby, Nedham Bryan and John Protis witnessed the sale of 320
acres on Horse Pasture Creek and Dogwood Neck by John Page and his wife
Hanner to Samuel Garland. 9 November 1725.
Thomas Busbie and George Smith witnessed the sale of 640 acres on NS
Roduis, a branch of Casia, adjacent to Martin Gardner, John Edwards and Theo.
Williams. 25 October 1725. Thomas Busby’s land was used to describe the sale
of land by Henry Roads and wife Elizabeth to James Blount. 6 August 1725. In
the same sitting of the court, Roads sold 170 acres to Thomas Busby (for 10
pounds) on the east side Cashie Swamp. Owen O’Daniel and James Murry
witnessed. And still in the same court, Henry Roads sold 150 acres on the same
swamp to Peter Parker, using Henry Roads’ and Thomas Busby’s land for
descriptive purposes.
(Ibid., pp. 32, 33, 35)
1726: Thomas Busby’s land was used to describe land sold by William
Ricks and wife Esther to Thomas Kirby, Sr., 2 May 1726.
1728: Busbes line was mentioned in the sale of land by Henry Roads and
wife of Chowan Precinct to John Page. February court, 1728. Thomas Busby’s
land on the branch of Casiey River was mentioned as a boundary in the sale of
640 acres by Jacob Oldham of Nansemond County to Richard Meadling. 14 May
1728. Also in 1728: Thomas Busby gave 170 acres to John Page, Jr., for “…..love
good will and affection I have and do bare toward my loving son in law John
Page, Jun…..” The land was ES Cashie Swamp. Witnesses: John Duffield, John
Page, Sr. 6 August 1728.
(Ibid., p. 43, p. 86, p. 68, p. 77)
1729: The will of George Clement, proven in May Court, 1730, was witnessed by
Thomas Busby, George French, William Smith. The sons of George Clements were
Benjamin and George. (Later on, a (presumed) grandson of
Thomas Busby, John Jacob Busby, in South Carolina, was to name his son Benjamin
Clement Busby; and another in that generation was to be named Clem.
Busby). (Abstract of Wills, 1690-1760, p. 74)
1734: The land of Thomas Busby and John Blunt were used to described the
sale of 640 acres on the north side of Morattock River by Francis Parker (“of
fishing creek in Edgecombe precinct”) to Henry Everard. 12 February 1735).
The Everards apparently didn’t keep the land long. They sold it to Joseph
Thomas for 92 pounds, 10 shillings, 12 May 1735.
(Bertie County Deeds, Abstracts, vol. 3, p. 153)
The will of Thomas Mann made Thomas Busbey and George Williams, Sr.,
the executors of the Mann estate in Bertie County. George Williams, Jr., was
listed in the will as a grandson.
(Abstract of Wills, 1690-1760, Grimes, p. 236)
1736: Thomas Busby’s land was used to describe the sale of 200 acres at
Jumping Run and Flagg Run by Owen McDaniel to Edward Toole. 1 August
1736.
1738: Thomas Busby’s land was used to describe the sale of 220 acres on
NS Norrattock River by Littleton Spivey to Ealee Thomas. 13 November 1738.
(Bertie County Deeds, Vol. 3, Abstract, p. 169, p. 198)
1738: The will of Catherine Busbey, proven in court in Bertie Precinct in
February 1738, left “my plantation being on the North side of Roenoke River, to
Theophilus Williams, husband of my daughter, Hester.” (An abstract of this will
by Grimes is confusing: To Theophilus Williams (“my plantation liing on the
North side of Roneoake River”). Hester Williams (daughter of Theophilus), Jesse
Page (1 cow and calf). Executor: Theophilus Williams. Witnesses: Needham
Bryan, H. Bate, Susan Bryan.) January 22, 1738-9. Catherine may have been the
daughter of Needham Bryan, and probably the wife of Thomas Busbey. Thomas
SOME OF THE BUZBEES AND THEIR BEST FRIENDS 231 VOLUME 1: BEYOND THE OLD WORLD Busby’s sons (if any) are not known, but a researcher in the Prince family
speculates that one of Thomas’ grandsons was Needham Busby (born 1752 in
Johnston County, N. C.)
(Abstract of Wills, 1690-1760, Grimes, p. 57)
Wake County, N. C., records disclose the presence of Thomas, Sr., Thomas,
Jr., Henry, Isham, James, Jessee, and William Busby during the period 1771-1784.
1765 Thomas Busby (born ca. 1720) made his mark on marriage licenses
issued 29 May 1765 between Winnowfred Busby (b. ca. 1745?) and Robert
Thomas; and 14 May 1782 between Thomas Busbey, Jr. (b. ca. 1740?, d. 1815),
and Winney Prince. In the earlier wedding, the others who signed on the bond
were Jeremiah Hendrick and Robert Rowan. In the bond with Thomas, Jr., the
other signer was Nicholas Atkins.
1815 The date of death of Thomas, Sr., is not indicated. However, the will
of Thomas, Jr., was filed 29 September 1815 in Wake County. The wife, Winifred,
was listed, as were the sons: Johnson Busbee, Jonathan Busbee, Wilson Busbee,
Kinchen Busbee and James Busbee. A daughter was Cedy Smith. Grandson:
Edwin Smith. Johnson Busbee was executor. The widow, Winifred, died a year
later. Her will, however, also mentioned her son, John Prince, from her earlier
marriage. (John Prince would have been about 32 years old at the time, if he had
been an infant at the time his (presumably) widowed mother married Thomas
Busby, Jr., on 14 May 1782. Thomas Busby, Jr., however, did not mention the boy
in his will.)
(Johnson Busbee, Esq., died 2 June 1859 in Wake County, N. C., about 13
years after his wife, Christiana, died.)
(Also included among the North Carolina data of the mid 1700s in North
Carolina is a Warrant for 665 acres of land to Nathaniel Busby, Planter, in
Johnson County, on 13 January 1761. Parish of St. Patrick on a branch of Swift
Creek, called White Oak.
(Some of this data was compiled by Mrs. Mary Cloninger Boggs,
Charleston, S. C.)

A goldmine of information is noted below concerning many of the folks I study around what I call the Tuscarora Town… I think this author prefers to call it Indian Woods. Our interests are the same and I really enjoy the website.

Catherine Bryan Ellis, nee King ?

I am working with Traci the Librarian, Jennifer from California and David Gammon to try to sort out a John Bryan(t) / wife Alice of the early 1700s era. This is where the stars line up with the above Catharine Bryan Ellis in particular and Martin Gardner… they all are related in some manner still unraveled.

I’m just sticking up a wet finger to see which way the winds are blowing… comments are welcome.

map for reference…

This link is to some info collected around 1999 by Cathy Farris. It relates to the area I mention above around the “Tuscarora Town” or Indian Woods. It is a study of the early settlers…

http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie/deeds/flagrun.txt

My friend Jennifer from California sent a link which caught my attention.

Colonial Maps: How Accurate Are They?

Not to steal the author’s thunder, but instead of a simple comment, I can’t help but do a Post of my own. I try to put myself in the circumstances of the colonial map maker himself. They had no knowledge of any kind of say, an aerial map… not even a balloon. If they were familiar with the North Star they could grasp the NSEW coordinates… my point without further remarks is that it was all a rudimentary task. More to my point, imagine yourself canoeing up a river (paper and pen in hand) and draft a map. The existing maps are almost comical by today’s standards. But give the old boys a break… they served their purpose pretty well at the time.

But to the point of “How Accurate Are They?”. My opinion is that they are extremely accurate. And I do not take the term “extremely” lightly. They old boys were as accurate in their surveys as we are today… in some cases almost to a foot and inches. Examine almost any of my maps and note that I build on the basis of a modern “aerial” map… but the actual “survey” coordinates (metes and bounds) are hundreds of years old. My Isle of Wight map or Nansemond, as examples, date to the 1600s. I take immense pride in the fact that I am slowly resurrecting the “burned” county of Nansemond. You be the judge of how “accurate” it is…. the surveys are from the original records found at the Library of Virginia.

Indeed it was stated by a prominent NC colonist (Moseley) that his 1733 map “was based on actual surveys”… he just did not have that many surveys. I remember the old saying “close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades”. I would add Colonial Maps. They got you to the ballpark… it was up to you to find the batter’s box.

……………I think Jennifer sent this link as well a while back

“All this Land is Called Pantego and Neus”

I don’t think I have published this particular iteration of my early Chowan “Precinct”… but several of my friends and cohorts are delving in to the early Bryan(t)s of Nansemond…

Note the early settlers around the Chowan River near Maul’s Haven… and then venture westward to near what I refer to as the “Tuscarora Town”. In my opinion, these folks are related and “VERY” confusing to figure out. Which we (my cohorts and co-consprators) are hot on the trail but constantly perplexed.

Also, and adding more confusion, in what I could call the “central” Bryan(t)s along say, the Catawhiskie Creek area (roughly) and extending westward and eastward.

And not to help the situation… are some Bryan(t)s around the Meherrin River area.

But more to my friends’ study at the moment is the area around the Tuscarora Town area… I think

a “what the heck” and “good grief” tidbit is say, the Edward Brayon of Catawathee Meadow in 1714…under him is a James Bryant of 1715… I suspect these dudes may be related to another Bryant tribe of Nansemond who ventured southwestward from Nansemond while some other brothers ventured southeastward from Nansemond… confused yet?

It seems to me there are at least 3 generations of intermingled relatives to figure out… perhaps my map can help. No one has succeeded yet… so there is that.

…a “colonial” grist mill

I’m known to simplify things to my level of understanding… I don’t grind my own flour or cornmeal so this is my version of “flour grinding for Dummies”. This is the simplest explanation of how mill stones work that I have run across… indeed, even I understood it. (the stones part)

If you simply add running water in place of that handle…then you have a water mill. First… get some stones…

…this has to happen before you turn the crank…. this is my favorite gardener…

This is all an introduction to my “where was the preacher’s Mill?” Post… perhaps coming shortly…

…

OK… so my head is all filled up with fancy 2 story brick water mills… horse manure… I’m researching the 1600s when things were more primitive and scarce.

As I start to realize…. the first Mill was constructed in 1621 near Jamestown. Mention is made “In the same year, the Treasurer of the Virginia Colony was commanded to construct a water mill.” As you see, I have my mind centered around what might be a very “primitive” and practical water mill.

And the land was pretty flat near the Old Brick Church. So I envision a pretty small affair with these very first Mills.

Here is a no “frills” run of the mill Mill. Of course this has a “modern” vertical setup… so my purpose here is to try to show a possible setup for an early Mill. I’m curious if this little setup could actually have used that rather LARGE millstone.

I also think the Race was On to construct the best mill prototypes. The Colonists did very well on their own… but they did have to import the machine gears and such. The best stones could be imported from France. I heard that sawmills were better quality in the Colonies simply because the British were loathe to introduce new sawmill technology that might disrupt the employment of the overhead and underhead sawmen. They tried to protect buggywhips!

It seems Robert Bracewell, Clerke (minister)… upon his deathbed, desired to leave a Mill for the sake of posterity…. and his sonne.

I am left ruminating about the details of that enterprise… and I am not convinced that there was not some earlier attempts to build a Mill near the same spot. I am still searching for clues…

But this is about the Mill… and these details seem pretty impressive…. meaning a substantial Mill….

It wasn’t that long ago this was a trip to the library. I’ve seen hints that Publishers are really pissed about copyright issues and may be suing. It looks like an avalanche of technology that can’t be stopped to me. In the meantime between lawsuits… enjoy

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062947882&view=1up&seq=98&q1=west

…had a helluva time finding this… Jennifer from California helped me out…

So the Big Dark Cloud hanging over this Will is that it was “Imbezelled“. Man…I needed some scandal to get my juices flowing…

So with that in the background, perhaps you puzzle solvers might take a crack at dissecting this puppy…

hey…if you really think it is 1702 just say it…

…and click the blue filename above for a better view   I ain’t gonna ask who you think the Imbezeller was…

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That was the warm up…

Roger Bagnall’s wife was a Rebecca…….. no one seems to have identified this woman… I really suspect this woman was “somehow” connected to Robert Bracewell the preacher.

Roger’s son was James Bagnall… wife Ann Bracewell (daughter of the preacher)…James Bagnall had a daughter Rebecca/Rebeka

Roger’s grandson was Robert Bagnall… wife Rebecca This Roger Bagnall had a sister Rebeka/Rebecca Bagnall   (one Rebeka Bagnall stays around the area as of 1755… I have not dissected her as yet)

Has anyone identified these Rebeccas? Of course, to add to the puzzle, the preacher also had a daughter Rebecca that married William West “the Rebel” and seems to have stayed with him until her death (but I still do not rule her out of the puzzle.)    …with that being said…

I’ve been focused on the older part of IOW lately… notably I have been trying to find the preacher’s house.

Who was Rebeca West in Rev Robert Bracewell’s will?

This is a Post about a Post… my apologies to the purists…

This is about the Wrights of Isle of Wight…

…to Ella, a commenter

This is my attempt to fulfill the promise to provide more information”:

I have provided my research….what is your next question?