Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS THOMAS ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY VIRGINIA and NASH COUNTY N. C. The first one of this family in Isle of Wight County was PHILIP THOMAS who came to Virginia before 1635. He and his family consisting of himself, EVAN and SARAH THOMAS, were brought over by WILLIAM HUNT who received a grant of 800 acres at the head of Beverdam Branch, a branch of the Western Branch of the Nansemond, on Dec. 16, 1635, for the transportation of sixteen persons, among whom were the Scott family, who later became Quakers (C.P. 238). WILLIAM BODDIE, upon coming to Isle of Wight some thirty years later, evidently received a grant of 3350 acres adjacent or near WILLIAM HUNT's for BODDIE's grant was "at the head of the Cypress and Western Branches of the Nazemond beginning at Beaver Dam Branch. (C. P. 475) WILLIAM HUNT's daughter, MARY married (1) ROBERT EDWARDS, (2) OWEN GRIFFIN; (3) WILLIAM BODDIE as his third wife. PHILIP THOMAS was a creditor of the estate of NICHOLAS WEST in 1668. In October 1677, he signed a petition to the King's Commissioners, then in Virginia, praying for the pardon of WILLIAM WEST, "a rebel taken in arms, whose father had been barbarously murdered by the Indians." (17 C. p. 163). In 1679 he witnessed the will of JOHN DANIEL. PHILIP THOMAS, evidently aged, made his will Nov. 3, 1702, and same was probated Feb. 9, 1702/3. He gave one shilling to his daughter MARY GOODSON and the same to his son WILLIAM. To son JOHN he gave "all that I die seized of that pertains to me and mine." (W.B. 2p. 456). JOHN THOMAS, his son, was executor and the witnesses were MARGARET and JUDY EDWARDS. They were the step- daughters of WILLIAM BODDIE who had married their mother MARY (HUNT) EDWARDS. Children of PHILIP THOMAS. I. JOHN, m. SUSANNE, dau. of JOHN PORTIS, and relict of JOHN FRIZZEL. (see later). II. WILLIAM, (2) m. ELIZABETH HILL, dau. of SYLVESTRA (BENNET) and Col. NICHOLAS HILL. (see later). III. MARY (2), m. EDWARD GOODSON before 1702 and removed to Bertie county, N. C., later Northampton. In 1737, EDWARD GOODSON, probably a son of the above, married MARY, dau. of THOMAS MANDUE, of Bertie, formerly of Isle of Wight. (I. W. D. B. 5-152) Also in 1737 GEORGE GOODSON, probably another son, married SARAH MANDUE. A GEORGE GOODSON was a juror in Bertie in 1740. Page 1 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS I. JOHN THOMAS, son of PHILIP THOMAS, married SUSANNA, dau. Of JOHN PORTIS and relict of JOHN FRIZZELL. On October 9, 1693, the court ordered "that JOHN THOMAS and SUSANNA his wife, the late wife of JOHN FRIZZELL, decd., JOHN PORTIS Jr., WILLIAM FRIZZELL and THOMAS SAWYER come to the next court for the presentation of the estate of said FRIZZELL." (O. B. 1693-1695 p. 2). In 1693 JOHN PORTIS, Sr., made a deed of gift to his daughter SUSANNA THOMAS of land next to THOMAS MOORE and THOMAS TOOKE. (D.B. 1-65) On Nov. 22, 1704, DEBORA PORTIS, widow of JOHN PORTIS, Jr., deeded a certain tract of land given by JOHN PORTIS, Sr., to SUSANNA wife of JOHN THOMAS on April 4 1693, which was afterwards assigned to JOHN PORTIS Jr. by JOHN THOMAS and his wife, (D. B. 2- 238). On Sept. 2, 1697, JOHN THOMAS of L. P. made a deed of gift of 100 acres, lying between Col. SMITH and THOMAS PARNELL, to HENRY and MARY MARTIN his wife. (D. B. 1-228). About twenty years previously, WILLIAM BODDIE made a deed of gift of cattle to THOMAS DIXON, HENRY DIXON and HENRY MARTIN, the children of HENRY and MARY MARTIN, and her former husband, THOMAS DIXON. (D. B. 2-205). There appears to be a relationship between these families. In 1699, HENRY and MARY MARTIN deeded three hundred acres, to ROBERT BROCK, part of a patent of 2100 acres to EDMUND PALMER, 700 of which had been granted to his father HENRY MARTIN next to JOHN THOMAS 100 A., to line of HUGH BRASSY and WILLIAM BODDIE. In 1697 and 1698 JOHN THOMAS deeded land "lying next to Mr. WILLIAM BODDIE" (D. B. 1-232,281) On June. 9, 1705, JOHN THOMAS witnessed a deed from WILLIAM BODDIE to JAMES MERCER for 4000 lbs. tobacco paid by JAMES for purchase of a plantation which JAMES MERCER bought of WILLIAM BODDIE, June 2, 1704 - now assigned by MERCER to LOWRY (D. B. 2, 1704-1715, -2) JOHN THOMAS bought 580 acres from JOSEPH PARNELL, part of a patent of 2800 acres to EDMUND PALMER, Feb. 8, 1672, and deeded by said PALMER to THOMAS PARNELL father of JOSEPH in 1679. Deed was dated Oct. 7, 1707. On August 8, 1710, JOHN THOMAS appointed JOHN GILES to represent him in a law suit. Witness - WILLIAM THOMAS. (D. B. 2- 7, 13) On Feb. 9, 1711, THOMAS PITT sold MATTHEW LOWRY 100 acres, part of a patent granted WILLIAM BODDIE July 12, 1665, for 3350 acres, witnessed by ARTHUR SMITH and JOHN THOMAS. (Do. 14). JOHN PORTIS Sr., father of SUSANNA THOMAS, together with HENRY WEST, patented 900 acres of land, next to JOHN SHERRER, Sept. 25, 1673. (17c. -690.) JOHN PORTIS' will was probated in Isle of Wight in 1707, and JOHN Jr's in 1704. Page 2 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS JOHN THOMAS made his will Dec. 12, 1725- His wife named in will appears to be "HANNAH" instead of "SUSANNA" so he may have been married the second time. He gave wife HANNAH 100 acres "I now live on son RICHARD 100 acres between WEST, PORTIS, JOHN CLARKE and JOHN SHERRER; son SAMUEL I have already given him land; to be taken care of by JOSEPH WESTON, JOSEPH WESTON to be executor". (G. B. -196) Children: I. RICHARD, m. ELINOR SHERRER (SHERROD or SHERWOOD). He bought 250 acres on the Western Branch from JOHN BODDIE, Jan. 21, 1737. (D. B. 5—223) In 1738 he returned the inventory of ELIZABETH SHERWOOD; also in 1738 he and his wife ELINOR deeded land bought from JOHN BODDIE to RICHARD HURST of Gloucester. In 1743 ROBERT SHERROD deeded him land. In 1745 he bought land of GILES KELLY. RICHARD THOMAS made a deed of gift to his son JOHN in 1757. He mentions MARY GALE, SARAH HAYWOOD and MOSES EXUM in his will but the relationship is not shown Children: (1) JOHN m. MARY dau. of PHILIP MOODY; (2) WILLIAM; (3) dau. m. MOSES EXUM; (4) TABITHA m. WILLIAM GALE; (5) RICHARD, who as son of RICHARD THOMAS, made a deed of gift in 1756 to "WILLIAM HAYWOOD and SARAH his wife, my niece". He may have been dead in 1761 as he is not mentioned in his father's will. (6) MARY, m. WHITNEY GALE. She is mentioned as "my niece" in deed of SAMUEL THOMAS of N. C. in 1764. II. SAMUEL, m. ELIZABETH SHERRER and removed to Northampton County, N. C. In 1754 he sold 100 acres to WHITNEY GALE which had been given him by his father JOHN THOMAS. He is said to have had a daughter ALICE, who married a BRYAN. III. JACOB, m. MARY NORSWORTHY. In 1767 TRISTRAM NORSWORTHY was guardian of his orphan children. Anne and Tabitha THOMAS were called "Grand-daughters" in the will of ELIZABETH HARRISON in 1773. His orphans were: JOHN, ANNE, HAYWOOD, TABITHA and POLLY THOMAS. An important NORSWORTHY deed was found in Norfolk county, inasmuch as the records of Nansemond County are destroyed. JOHN NORSWORTHY, gent., of Nansemond Co., on Nov. 6, 1717, as "eldest son of Col. GEORGE NORSWORTHY, of the same county, who was eldest son of Major GEORGE NORSWORTHY, who was eldest son of TRISTRAM NORSWORTHY" deeded to GEORGE NEWTON for 44 shillings 73 1/2 acres, part of land patented by "my great Grandfather, TRISTRAM NORSWORTHY, 19 August. 1650 in Lower Norfolk." (D. B. 9-633). Page 3 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS II. WILLIAM THOMAS, son of PHILIP THOMAS lived in the Lawne's Creek district or Upper Parish of Isle of Wight. He married before 1692, ELIZABETH HILL, daughter of Col. NICHOLAS HILL, Burgess for Isle of Wight 1659-1666. This marriage is shown in the will of JOHN JENNINGS, Jr., son of the old Clerk of Isle of Wight, who was ordered to be banished by Berkeley for taking part in Bacon's Rebellion. JOHN JENNINGS Sr. died before his transportation could be effected. ELIZABETH HILL's mother was SYLVESTRA BENNETT, daughter of EDWARD BENNETT, the wealthy London merchant, who established the first permanent plantation in 1622. (see 17c.) EDWARD represented his plantation, "Bennett's Welcome", in the House of Burgesses in 1628. The plantation of EDWARD BENNETT was divided between his two daughters and co- heirs, SYLVESTRA BENNETT and MARY BLAND. MARY had been married previously to JAMES DAY. This division is shown in a grant to Major NICHOLAS HILL and SYLVESTRA, his wife, for 750 acres in the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight "being a moiety of 1500 acres appertaining unto SILVESTRA and her sister MARY BLAND, who were daughters and co-heirs to Mr. EDWARD BENNETT, decd., beginning upon the top of a bank of James River and running to a place called 'The Rocks.'" (C. P. 144) NICHOLAS HILL patented 100 acres in Elizabeth City county, Nov. 26, 1637. (C. P. -77), and sold same to WILLIAM’s ap. THOMAS who repatented same June 2, 1648 (C. P. 175). NICHOLAS was Burgess for Isle of Wight 1659-60, 1663-1666. (17c-102, 703). In 1666 Peter Green of Surrey sold him 70 acres in Surry, part of a patent of 160 acres granted GREENE Feb. 21, 1663. In 1667 he was a Justice of the County Court, Adjutant and Major of Militia. (do. -704) In 1670 he patented 670 acres at Blackwater near Parson's bridge on the Beaver Dam Branch. (do. -6910) Page 4 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS Col. HILL's will was dated April 19, 1675, probated Oct. 20, 1675 He desired to be buried as near his deceased wife and children as may be; to wife SILVESTRA for life my plantation in Isle of Wight being bounded between the cart path that goes from the well of Mr. GEORGE HARDY towards the church and swamp commonly called the Meadows with liberty to use the timber on land bought of Col. WILLIAM BERNARD, decd. after her death to my son RICHARD HILL and his heirs, together. with the woodland on West of said swamp by Mr. RICHARD Briggs' and EDWARD BECKENO's land; to son RALPH HILL land bounded by cart path that goes from the mill towards the church at the head of Lawn's Creek, with all woodland of 70 acres bought of Mr. PETER GREEN decd. on north side of said creek in Surry County; to son RALPH HILL the codd of land at Blackwater between Branch and WILLIAM MILES, from JOHN PARSON's bridge to Left. George Branch; to son GEORGE HILL all my woodland between the land Col. Bacon bought of THOMAS Harris and my land; to son 'GEORGE HILL "after my wife's decease, or sooner, if she please," that plantation of 750 acres granted to me and my loving wife in Upper Parish of Isle of Wight commonly called "The Rocks" and running for breadth down towards Pagan Creek; two negroes to wife SILVESTRA for life then to son GEORGE; negro to son RALPH; 8000 lbs. Tobacco, to dau. AGNES HILL, to dau. MARTHA one scarlet mantle; to wife SILVESTRA my silver tankard with what money and rings she is possessed of; to wife one third of personalty, residue to my children GEORGE, MARTHA, MARY, ANNA, RICHARD and ELIZABETH HILL; to son NICHOLAS 10,000 lbs. Tobacco; to son Ralph 5,000 lbs. of Tobacco; to my wife and her six children all my lands monies etc. not mentioned in this will belonging to me either in England or Virginia; my three children by a former wife having an equal proportion of what may fall to me in the Bay; wife extrx. for that part of the estate belonging to her and her six children; friends Mr. THOMAS TABERER, Major JAMES POWELL, Mr. WILLIAM. BRISSEY and JOHN JENNINGS to be overseers. (7W-238). JOHN JENNINGS, Jr. who married MARY, daughter of SILVESTRA and Col. HILL, made his will Dec. 31, 1692, same probated in 1695. (Bk. 1688-1704, 261.) He gave to sister SARAH LUCK "a gold ring"; (She married, first JOHN LUCK, who died in 1711. She then married PHILIP WEADON) (G. B. -646); to "son GEORGE JENNINGS all land at Warrisqueak Bay at Lawne's Creek, to mother SILVESTRA HILL, 40 shillings". He made her executrix and "BROTHER WILLIAM THOMAS" executor. The witnesses were FRANCIS MANGUM, MARTHA THROPP and WILLIAM THOMAS. WILLIAM THOMAS' marriage to ELIZABETH HILL is shown in Mrs. CHAPMAN's "Marriages of Isle of Wight" (p. 50). The authorities given for same are "D. B. 1, p. 201, and W. D. Bk. 2. p. 408 ." WILLIAM THOMAS' wife was named "ELIZABETH" as shown by the following transaction. On Jan. 2, 1696, WILLIAM PROSSER of Surry deeded to WILLIAM THOMAS "the tract of land I now live on" containing 50 acres (Surry D. B. 1694-1709-252). On Nov. 27, 1702 "WILLIAM THOMAS and his wife ELIZABETH" sold JOSEPH THROPP of Surry the above mentioned 50 acres. (do. 252). Mrs. SILVESTRA HILL, on June 9, 1701, made a deed of gift to WILLIAM THOMAS as follows "Articles of agreement between Mrs. SILVESTRA HILL, Upper Parish of Page 5 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS Isle of Wight, and WILLIAM THOMAS, same Parish. Mrs. HILL lets to WILLIAM THOMAS land on the James River adjoining Mr. DAY‘s land running south along river side to THOMAS ELMES, and from the river southerly by the plantation which WILLIAM THOMAS formerly lived upon, at. his death to return to Mrs. HILL, the said WILLIAM THOMAS paying one ear of corn every New Years day". Wits. CHARLES EDWARDS, MARTHA THROPP. (Bk. 1, 1688-1704, #355.) THOMAS ELMES, who will be mentioned in a later deed. bought land adjacent to RICHARD BENNETT, esq. (17c-277). This was next to the patent for 750 acres Mrs. HILL had received in 1664 from her father EDWARD BENNETT. (17c.-277.) Col. NICHOLAS HILL in his will in 1675 gave the plantation he lived upon to his wife SILVESTRA for her life, and after her death to his son GEORGE. On Sept. 12, 1695, SILVESTRA deeded her life interest to LEWIS BURWELL as follows: "SILVESTRA HILL widow, relict of Lt. Col. NICHOLAS HILL, for £20 - paid by LEWIS BURWELL, sells a little above Lawne's Creek, the plantation where Col. HILL formerly lived and by his will gave to SILVESTRA for life." (17c-623) Mrs. HILL in her will dated Oct. 17, 1706, (will indistinct) probated Jan. 9, 1707, gave to her Goddaughter, MARY BAKER, land she lives upon, known as The Rocks, and all the rest of that neck of land, that is to say the plantation of WILLIAM THOMAS and others. She also gave 300 acres to the poor of Isle of Wight. This land was sold by the Trustee of the Charity, the Reverend ALEXANDER FORBES, Oct. 26, 1714 to THOMAS HILL who owned land adjacent to same and who may have been a grandson of Col. HILL by his first wife. (D. B. 2, 1704-15). The above mentioned "Plantation of WILLIAM THOMAS" does not appear to be the one Mrs. HILL deeded to WILLIAM THOMAS for his life, as he outlived her. It seems to be the plantation he "Formerly lived upon" which was adjoining the one she gave him. The one given to WILLIAM THOMAS seems to be the one deeded later by his son JOHN in 1719. The 300 acres bought by THOMAS HILL is mentioned in his will, dated May 23, 1719, as follows: "I give and bequeath the plantation I now live on, together with all my land bought from Mr. ALEXANDER FORBES containing by estimation 300 acres formerly belonging to Mrs. SILVESTRA HILL, I give the whole tract to my son THOMAS HILL and for want of heirs to my son JOSEPH HILL, then to daus. ANN and MARY; to son THOMAS pistole, belt, trumpet and colors and silver headed cane, except things given by my mother unto my children, son THOMAS to come of age or marry." That Col. HILL had other children living at the time SILVESTRA died is shown in a deed made in 1710 by RALPH HILL of Prince George and NICHOLAS HILL of Norfolk, son and heir of RALPH. They sold the 70 acres in Surry that Col. HILL had bought from PETER GREENE in 1666. (7 W (1) -262.) THOMAS HILL could have been a second son of RALPH and therefore not an heir under the law of primogeniture. Previous to this, in 1686, RALPH HILL and HANNA his wife sold to NICHOLAS WILSON a parcel of land at the head of Lawne's Creek (17c. -585). Also in 1688 Page 6 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS RALPH sold to HENRY BAKER a parcel of land at GEORGE HARDY's mill. (do. -597). RICHARD HILL, son of Col. NICHOLAS, died before 1680. (do. -585.) A further connection between the HILL and THOMAS families is shown in the will of HUMPHREY MARSHALL made on Dec. 18, 1711. He gave three silver spoons to JOHN THOMAS, son of ELIZABETH THOMAS; and E 20 to his mother ELIZABETH THOMAS. (G. B. 2-533) MARY HILL, wife of THOMAS HILL of the above will, was a daughter of HUMPHREY MARSHALL. In 1719, JOHN THOMAS of the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight, gent., had a lawsuit with PHILIP WHEADON and SARAH his wife concerning the boundries of their property. The suit was decided by an Isle of Wight jury. SARAH WHEADON was formerly SARAH LUCK, the sister of JOHN JENNINGS, Jr. JENNINGS' wife was MARY HILL. daughter of SILVESTRA and Col. NICHOLAS HILL, and heretofore stated. JOHN JENNINGS, Jr. had bequeathed his wife's inherited property to his only son GEORGE who later died intestate. GEORGE's heir would be his only sister, SARAH (LUCK) WHEADON. On Nov. 7, 1719, "JOHN THOMAS of the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight, gent., deeded to THOMAS DAY" a plantation lying and being in the U. P. of Isle of Wight bounded as follows: Beginning at ye head line of the land whereon THOMAS DAY now liveth (Which land was purchased by him of WILLIAM DELOACH and ELINOR his wife, and FRANCIS LEE) running south along a line of marked trees which parts this land from the land of JAMES BURWELL to a red oak on JOHN HARRISON's line and along the said line to a corner tree of JOHN MURREY's and PHILIP WHEADON's in Bayly's Swamp and from thence to ye dividing line the jury made between the land of JOHN THOMAS and PHILIP WHEADON and his wife SARAH, and along the line to the head line of THOMAS DAY's to the planation whereon JOHN HOBBS now liveth, now is in possession of said JOHN THOMAS. Nov. 7, 1719. Wits: SAMUEL DAVIS, WILLIAM DREW, JOHN CHAPMAN. (G. B. -321-22). Page 7 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS WILLIAM THOMAS held 250 acres in Isle of Wight in the Quit Rents of 1704. He was the only person named "THOMAS" holding land in Isle of Wight or Surry. His last appearance in the records seems to be as a witness to a deed of JOHN THOMAS his brother, in 1710. (ante). He was evidently deceased by 1711, when his wife ELIZABETH was mentioned in HUMPHREY MARSHALL's will. There is no record of the administration of his estate. Most of the order books of Isle of Wight are missing. The known children of WILLIAM and ELIZABETH THOMAS were: (I) JOHN, who is mentioned as a son of ELIZABETH THOMAS in HUMPHREY MARSHALL's will which is also proven by JOHN THOMAS' subsequent deed of 1719 to the HILL- BENNETT lands; (II) ELIZABETH, who married (1) JOHN BODDIE, (2) Col. JOHN DAWSON. (III) BARNABY THOMAS, who in his will, 1735, calls Col. JOHN DAWSON his "brother in law", also mentions his "brother PHILLIP THOMAS." The witnesses to his will were: WILLIAM THOMAS, JOHN DAWSON, and JACOB THOMAS. (IV) PHILLIP, who was mentioned as a "brother" in the will of BARNABY THOMAS. (V) WILLIAM, who was closely associated with the other four children in North Carolina. (See below #I to V consecutively.) Children of ELIZABETH (HILL) and WILLIAM THOMAS. I. JOHN. After the sale of the Bennett-Hill lands in 1719, heretofore mentioned, JOHN THOMAS moved with his three brothers and his sister, ELIZABETH BODDIE DAWSON to the fertile river valleys of North Carolina and settled in what was Bertie county, now Northampton. He married ANNE COTTON, Daughter of JOHN and MARTHA (GODWIN) COTTON. JOHN COTTON made his will in Bertie in 1728 and mentioned his son in law "Captain JOHN THOMAS". JOHN COTTON's children named in the will were, JOHN, WILLIAM, THOMAS, SAMUEL, JAMES, ARTHUR, JOSEPH, ALEXANDER, PRISCILLA, SUSANNA, and ANN who married Captain JOHN THOMAS. JAMES COTTON, son of JOHN and MARTHA COTTON, made his will in Bertie County Jan. 14, 1758, same was probated April 1758. He gave "plantation where I now live” to son JAMES, and legacies to other sons, HENRY, SOLOMON, THEOPHILUS, and daughter CHRISTIAN COTTON. Wife and executrix, SARAH, with brothers ARTHUR and JOHN COTTON, executors. Wits.: SAMUEL COTTON, THOMAS ROCHE, MARY ROCHE. (Grimes 78.) SAMUEL COTTON, the above witness and also brother of JAMES, made his will in Northampton, Jan. 16, 1774 probated May 18, 1774. He gave son SAMUEL his manor plantation, and legacies to son JOHN COTTON and THOMAS THOMAS. Executrix was wife Lidia together with ROBERT HILLIARD, executor. Wife's children: ELIZABETH COTTON EWELL, SALLY COTTON EWELL, RODERICK COTTON EWELL, were mentioned. (Grimes 33)- SAMUEL, Jr., had a son named MICAJAH THOMAS COTTON. SOLOMON COTTON and SAMUEL COTTON were mentioned in the will of MICAJAH THOMAS, Jr. in 1788. (see later). Page 8 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS MARTHA COTTON, wife of JOHN, Sr., by Nov. 10, 1731 had married WILLIAM GREEN. They prayed for a division of JOHN COTTON's estate according to his will. Capt. THOMAS BRYANT and WILLIAM BENNETT were executors. (O. B.) The three brothers, JOHN, PHILIP, and WILLIAM THOMAS, had the following acreage in the Quit Rents in Bertie in 1729-32, JOHN 200, PHILIP, 337, WILLIAM, 170. (N.C. Col. Rec. 22, p. 243..) On May 1, 1736, WILLIAM Evans sold JOHN THOMAS 350 acres east of Mill Creek swamp in Bertie for £35 (D. B. "D"-270.) On Dec. 8, 1736, for £80, JOHN THOMAS sold the 200 acres he held in 1732 to ISACC SANDERS. Wit., PHILIP THOMAS. JOHN THOMAS made his will in Northampton March 18, 1745, pro. May 1746. He gave his plantation to his son JOSEPH and made his wife ANN his executrix. Witnesses were INDIA EDWARDS, JOHN GOODSON, MATTHEW LOWRY. Names are similar to those of his relatives and neighbors in Virginia. (Grimes -374) On July 3, 1759, JOSEPH THOMAS, gent., of St. GEORGE Parish, Northampton, and Anne his wife, sold to WILLIAM FLEMING for £200, 350 acres which had been granted to WILLIAM POPE Apl. 1, 1723, who deeded same to WILLIAM EVANS and said Evans deeded to JOHN THOMAS, father of JOSEPH THOMAS, and JOHN THOMAS in his last will left to his son JOSEPH. (D. B. 3 -25) On May 21, 1759, JOSEPH sold 100 acres to THOMAS GODBY. Wits. BARNABY THOMAS. The known children of JOHN THOMAS were (1) JOSEPH THOMAS who moved to Johnston county, N. C. (2) MICAJAH THOMAS of Edgecombe and Nash, probably eldest son and heir at law, was a wealthy man. His son, MICAJAH, Jr., willed property to his COTTON relatives. A JOSEPH THOMAS made his will in Edgecombe Oct. 15, 1757, pro. June court 1758. He names daughters, MARY, PRISCILLA, CHARITY, and MOURNING. His wife MOURNING and brother JOHN THOMAS were executrix and executor. Witnesses were MICAJAH THOMAS and MOURNING THOMAS. The MOURNING THOMAS who witnessed the will was not the testators wife as has been stated. She was the wife of MICAJAH THOMAS. Also it will be noted that JOSEPH THOMAS, son of JOHN THOMAS of Northampton, made a deed the year after this JOSEPH was deceased. He was probably a relative of MICAJAH's. GEORGE CRUDUP, son of MOURNING CRUDUP - THOMAS by her first husband JOHN CRUDUP, married PRISCILLA THOMAS daughter of the above JOSEPH THOMAS, May 3, 1761, in Edgecombe county. (Bible record) GEORGE CRUDUP made his will Mar. 21, 1764, and mentioned his wife, PRISCILLA, brother JOSIAH, and daughter MARY CRUDUP. Page 9 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS MICAJAH THOMAS' Bible is now in the possession of Mrs. JENKINS COOPER of Nashville, N. C. and some of the entries have been previously quoted. (Boddie Family p. 91). A few are mentioned below as follows: MICAJAH THOMAS was born the 13th day of February 1725. He married ELIZABETH VEALE 11th day of April 1751 which ELIZABETH THOMAS died on the 7th day of July 1752. MICAJAH THOMAS was married to Mrs. MOURNING CRUDUP, October 9, 1753. MOURNING THOMAS was born November 10th, 1722. MOURNING CRUDUP was MOURNING DIXON of Isle of Wight, daughter of PENELOPE and THOMAS DIXON. THOMAS DIXON made his will in Isle of Wight in 1747. (W. B. 5 - 141) This THOMAS DIXON was the son of THOMAS DIXON who died in Isle of Wight in 1670 leaving wife MARIE and sons THOMAS and HENRY. An appraisal of this estate was sworn to Oct. 25, 1670, by HENRY MARTIN who had married the relict. (17c ~220) MOURNING DIXON's first husband was JOHN CRUDUP who died in 1752. She presented the inventory of his estate Aug. 17 53. MOURNING CRUDUP then married Captain MICAJAH THOMAS who died in 1769. She then married JAMES SMITH. By her first husband, JOHN CRUDUP, she had GEORGE CRUDUP, JOSIAH CRUDUP and CHLOE CRUDUP. By her second she had BATHESHEBA THOMAS and MICAJAH THOMAS, Jr. CHLOE CRUDUP was reared by her mother and stepfather, MICAJAH THOMAS, Sr. MICAJAH's step-daughter, CHLOE CRUDUP, in 1760 married Nathaniel BODDIE. The deaths of MOURNING SMITH and her daughter CHLOE BODDIE are recorded in the Thomas Bible. "MOURNING SMITH, mother of MICAJAH THOMAS, 2nd, deceased on Friday on the 29th of June, A. D. 1781, about six o'clock in the afternoon. She died of a flux sick thirteen days." CHLOE BODDIE did not long survive her mother. "CHLOE BODDIE died of the Hysterical fever enjoined with a fever on Wednesday the 12th of September, 1781, about eight o'clock at night. She lingered near seven months." Page 10 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS The births and deaths of the children of MOURNING and MICAJAH THOMAS are recorded in the Bible as follows: BATHESHEBA THOMAS, born November 3, 1754, died April 12, 1770. MICAJAH THOMAS, Jr., born January 3, 1757. Captain MICAJAH THOMAS deceased November 14, 1769. MICAJAH THOMAS, Jr., married ANN HAWKINS sister of U. S. Senator BENJAMIN HAWKINS. Their marriage and children are shown as follows: MICAJAH THOMAS married ANNE HAWKINS 7th day of June, 1778. She was born the 5th of June, 1754. BASHEBA THOMAS, daughter of MICAJAH THOMAS and ANN his wife was born 19th of September, 1778, and died 23 November, 1778, about one o'clock. PHILEMON HAWKINS THOMAS, son of MICAJAH THOMAS and ANN his wife was born 19th day of February, 1780, and died the 10th of June, 1780, about midnight, of convulsions. ANNE THOMAS deceased on Monday the 12th day of March about twelve o'clock in the forenoon in 1781. She dyed of the most violent consumption which had been seized upon her for the space of two years but blessed with her senses until the last moment. Parson Crupples, preached the funeral service over her on Wednesday the 2nd of May. He took for his text out of the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians and 18th verse, 'wherefore comfort one another'. Captain MICAJAH THOMAS, Sr., represented Edgecombe in the Provincial Congress. He made his will Dec. 4, 1769, proved Feb., 1770, as follows: "wife MOURNING, negroes and use of plantation; where I now live and one other plantation on Tar River bought from THOMAS KEARNEY, also use of the other plantation bought of THOMAS POLLARD. To dau. BATHESHEBA negroes and the tract bought of THOMAS HENDERSON and two bought of WILLIAM HARRIS lying on Peach Tree creek in Edgecombe containing 1340 acres, also one other tract bought of WILLOUGHBY TUCKER, 200 A. on Back swamp, 100 A. bought from PETER HEDGEPATH on Pig Basket, 700 bought from JOSHUA WOMBELL, 5-40 from THOMAS RICHARDSON. To son MICAJAH all the land not given away and remaining negroes. ELISHA BATTLE and NATHAN BODDIE, exrs. Wits: DUNCAN LAMON, NATHAN BODDIE, WILLIAM BODDIE." MICAJAH THOMAS, Jr., married, first, ELIZABETH CRAFFORD of Surry county, Va., June 5, 1776. (Col. Surry - 220). His second wife was ANN HAWKINS whom he married Jan. 7, 1778. She was a sister of Col. BENJAMIN HAWKINS, the first United States Senator from North Carolina. MICAJAH THOMAS, Jr., represented Nash county in the General Assembly from 1784 to 1787. Page 11 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS Wheeler, in his "History of North Carolina" (p. 430), has the following to say about MICAJAH THOMAS, "As an additional evidence of Col. BENJAMIN's disinterestedness, MICAJAH THOMAS, Jr., who had married his sister ANN and received by her a handsome patrimony, and who (ANN) had died long before leaving no child, and was a man of very large fortune sent especially for Col. HAWKINS, when upon his death bed, to visit him. He told him upon his arrival. that, he had sent for him to write his will and give him a large portion of his estate. Mr. THOMAS was surrounded by many respectable friends at that time. Col. HAWKINS told him he would write no such will; that he valued his friendly feelings thus expressed, but that he was sufficiently provided for, and as Mr. THOMAS had blood relations he advised him to give his estate to them. When Mr. THOMAS found he could not get him to accept of the offered legacy he entreated him to accept of five hundred guineas, which he also positively refused, and he wrote his will giving his property to his relatives." Mr. THOMAS' will was a very long one. Among his relatives he remembered GEORGE BODDIE with 5,000 acres and gave 1,000 acres and two years schooling to SOLOMON COTTON, his first cousin. His will was dated and probated in 1788 (pp. 32-35). He bequeathed to, "my half brother JOSIAH CRUDUP one sorrel horse raised on my plantation near Capt. SAMUEL BRYANT’s, and wearing apparel; to my niece MOURNING ARRINGTON two negroes, to my niece RHODA RICKS small negro girl and bay mare; to my nieces TEMPERANCE PERRY and MARY PERRY a suit of mourning; to my father-in-law PHILEMON HAWKINS, negroes; to my daughter MARY CRAWFORD, child of the late ELIZABETH CRAWFORD (CRAFFORD) in Surry County, Virginia, all my slaves on the north side of the Roanoke River in Northampton county and land which I purchased of SAMUEL COTTON and estate of FREDERICK RUFFIN containing 1500 acres; if she dies before marriage then to MARGARET THOMAS JACKSON, if she dies to her sisters MOURNING THOMAS and TEMPERANCE THOMAS JACKSON. XXX. To - King 200 acres; to SOLOMON COTTON 1000 acres and two years schooling; to nephew GEORGE BODDIE 5,000 acres in Tennessee; to nephew BENNETT BODDIE a gray mare and my favorite gray horse."XXX. II. ELIZABETH, daughter of WILLIAM THOMAS and ELIZABETH (HILL) THOMAS, m. (1) JOHN BODDIE of Isle of Wight who died 1720, (2) Col. JOHN DAWSON. Her children by her first husband were JOHN and WILLIAM BODDIE who came to North Carolina with their mother and step-father Colonel JOHN DAWSON. WILLIAM BODDIE married MARY BENNETT, daughter of Captain WILLIAM BENNETT of Northampton heretofore I mentioned as an executor of JOHN COTTON's estate. WILLIAM and MARY BODDIE were the parents of NATHANIEL BODDIE who married CHLOE CRUDUP, step—daughter of MICAJAH THOMAS, Sr. Explanation of some relationships shown in the will of MICAJAH THOMAS, Jr. (See “Scan” for chart) III. BARNABY THOMAS, m. SARAH On March 16, 1723, he paid £15 to LAZARUS WHITEHEAD for 250 acres in Bertie Precinct (D. B. "A" 83). In 1726 he bought land from Col. JOHN DAWSON, his brother in law. (D. B. "B" - 95). On Aug. 2, 1729, he patented 170 acres in Bertie in the woods north of Morratock. (G. B. Page 12 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS 3 - 211). BARNABY made his will in Bertie Oct. 5, 1735, same probated Dec. 11, 1735, as follows: "as to all my barren cattle my will is that my brother PHILIP sell same for ready money or a slave. I give my negroes to be equally divided between my son ELISHA THOMAS my plantation whereon I now live. As for my plantation where MARY and JOSHUA LAMB now dwelleth if they fail to make payment according to reasonable time after notice to be given them by my brother in law JOHN DAWSON then I give plantation to my child unborn. I give use of my plantation to my wife SARAH for twenty years. my children to have schooling to be paid out of my estate. My loving brother PHILIP THOMAS to be sole executor. Teste. WILLIAM THOMAS JOHN DAWSON JACOB CARR Children: 1. ELISHA of Northampton on May 12, 1760, for £76 sold to BRITTON DAWSON of Southampton Co., Va., 170 acres granted to BARNABY THOMAS Aug. 1, 1729, adjoining JOHN BRIDGERS. (D. B. 3-72). ELISHA moved to Johnston County, N. C. in 1761. 2. BARNABY was the unborn child mentioned in BARNABY THOMAS' will, 1735. On Sept. 7, 1762. BARNABY. THOMAS deeded 200 acres to SOLOMON PACE in Northampton, "part of a tract said THOMAS' father bought of JOHN DAWSON." (Do., 206.) IV. PHILIP was executor of his brother BARNABY's will in 1735. On Sept. 8, 1722, PHILIP patented 337 acres in Yamahaw Woods, beginning at a white oak on HENRY SIMS' corner. (G- B. 3‘ )- This tract was sold later by his son, MATHEW THOMAS. In 1739 PHILIP was overseer of the road from Bridger's Creek to Wheeler's Mill. On May 1, 1736, he witnessed a deed from WILLIAM EVANS to JOHN THOMAS for 350 acres east of Mill Creek Swamp in Bertie. (D. B. "B." -270.) On July 22, 1739, PHILIP THOMAS, "living in Bertie, " for £40 bought 180 acres from WILLIAM THOMAS (See WILLIAM THOMAS), being half of the tract granted HENRY SIMS by patent March 1, 1719, lying in Wamahaw Woods north side of Moratuck Woods. Wits. JOHN DAWSON, JOHN BODDIE. (Bk. E-474.-) This tract of 360 acres had been sold by HENRY SIMS to WILLIAM THOMAS Aug. 20, 1722, and evidently joined upon the land of his brother PHILIP. (Bk. A-Z.) Page 13 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS PHILIP was deceased before February 16, 1749. Children: 1. Mathew evidently was the oldest son of PHILIP, for on Feb. 27, 1749, he sold to PHILIP WINBOURNE [WINBORN] for £50 337 acres which belonged to his father, PHILIP THOMAS, decd. (D. B. I, 259.) On Oct. 4, 1756, he also sold to PHILIP WINBOURNE the 180 acres deeded PHILIP THOMAS by WILLIAM THOMAS (Do. - 372.) Also, on February 26, 1749, he paid WILLIAM and ANN HALL a certain sum for the right of dower in the land of PHILIP THOMAS, decd., father of the said MATHEW in Northampton County. (Do-411) His mother had evidently married WILLIAM HALL. 2. PHILIP was evidently another son, for on March 16, 1744/45 he patented land in Northampton county "beginning at a corner white oak in his FATHER PHILIP THOMAS' line and RICHARD PACE's to an oak tree on WILLIAM THOMAS' line, along line to said father's corner in WILLIAM THOMAS' line, then along father's line to beginning." (G. B. 5-149.) V. WILLIAM THOMAS, m. CHRISTIAN ----. On April 9, 1705. THOMAS JOYNER sold him 200 acres on Seacock Swamp in Isle of Wight County. (DB 2, 1704-16, p. 10.) This land was adjacent to the grant of 3350 acres to WILLIAM BODDIE in 1665 whose patent ran to the corner of THOMAS JOYNER. (17 c-682.) WILLIAM THOMAS on Sept. 5, 1723, patented 290 acres on the east side of Seacock Swamp adjacent to "WILLIAM THOMAS' old lines and THOMAS WILLIAMS and JAMES BARNES." (G. B'. XI.-257.) On the same day he also patented 130 acres on east side of Seacock Swamp to corner tree of RANDELL REVELS. (Do. 459.) WILLIAM THOMAS soon afterwards moved to North Carolina. for on the "2nd day of the 9th month, 1725, " as "WILLIAM THOMAS of N. C. ", he deeded THOMAS SUMMERALL 490 acres in Isle Of Wight, 200 acres bought of THOMAS JOYNER in 1706 and 290 acres granted by patent Sept. 5, 1723. (Great Bk. - 724.) On Nov. 23. 1725, CHRISTIAN THOMAS, his wife, relinquished her dower rights (Do. - 725). On August 20, 1722, HENRY SIMS of Chowan County, N. C., sold 360 acres in Bertie to "WILLIAM THOMAS of Isle of Wight." (A-2.) From September 29 to March, 1732, WILLIAM THOMAS was in arrears in Quit Rents for 337 acres in Bertie. (N. C. Col. Rec. 22, -243.) In 1735 WILLIAM THOMAS witnessed BARNABY THOMAS' will. On July 22, 1739, WILLIAM THOMAS sold to PHILIP THOMAS "living in Bertie, " for £40, 180 acres "being half of the tract granted HENRY SIMS by patent March 1, 1719, lying in Yamamaw Woods north side of Moratuck Woods. Wits. JOHN DAWSON, JOHN BODDIE". (E. -474.) This deed was evidently made to his brother PHILIP and not to his son PHILIP as has been stated, for there was a consideration involved. Page 14 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS On October 4, 1745, he sold for £44 another 180 acres to MATTHEW THOMAS (ante) "being the plantation I lately lived on." This was evidently the other half of the tract mentioned in the above deed. MATTHEW was a son of PHILIP. WILLIAM THOMAS patented 200 acres in Bertie March I, 1742/43. (G. B. 5 - 114.) He left a will which has been lost. Children: 1. JOHN. On February 29, 1756, JOHN THOMAS sold to BARTHOLOMEW FIGURES 100 acres, part of a patent granted HENRY CHARLES, 1714, and devised to him by his father, WILLIAM THOMAS, in his last will and testament, situated on S. side of Meherrin River and north side of land granted HENRY CHARLES. (B. 2, 1741-51, 259.) 2. PHILIP evidently moved out of the county, for on Jan. 4, 1762, as "PHILIP THOMAS of Granville County, N. C. ", he sold to WILLIAM WINBOURNE for £25, 200 acres in Northampton County, "running to a white oak on his father WILLIAM THOMAS' line", and RICHARD PACES, being a patent of March 1, 1742/43 and an estate of inheritance. (D. B. 3-174.) NOTE: Mr. SOLOMON BUXTON WILLIAMS furnished the Bible records of the BENNETT family shown in the "Bennetts" on Pages 85 and 86 of Boddie and Allied families." Also the data in the footnote on page 305 of "17th Century Isle of Wight", and in the text of page 332 of the same book. His information seems to have been very correct. He also at that time stated that the mother of WILLIAM BODDIE, (1710-1772) who married MARY, daughter of WILLIAM BENNETT, was also a "BENNETT." He said that WILLIAM BENNETT's three daughters were "double Bennetts" and were called "the three Graces." (The Youngest daughter was named "GRACE".) The two BENNETT families, according to his narrative, came from London, and were kin. It now seems this information was incorrect only in the respect that WILLIAM BODDIE's grandmother was a "BENNETT", and not his mother. He said this information came from his own mother. At the time his long ago notes were read it was considered best not to leave anything to tradition. (See last phrase of preface to "Boddie and Allied Families.": "… nothing is left to tradition.") A book called "The Lost Tribes of Carolina" has much erroneous information on the THOMAS and HAWKINS families. The descendants of the THOMAS families of Isle of Wight, Nansemond, and Surry are mixed together. No authorities are shown or citations given. They are so involved there is no object in mentioning them. However, the ancestry of the Hawkins family of Granville appears incorrect. (p. 287.) PHILEMON HAWKINS probably came from Spottsylvania County, Virginia, for on November 16, 1742, JOSEPH HAWKINS, son and heir of JOHN HAWKINS, late Page 15 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS of Spottsylvania, made a deed to his brother PHILEMON HAWKIS of said county. JOSEPH stated that the last will of JOHN HAWKINS was recorded in King WILLIAM. He mentions his mother, MARY HAWKINS, GEORGE SMITH and ELIZABETH, his wife, and PHEBE HAWKINS. This family probably connects with Hawkins of Spottsylvania and Orange. (I T 255.) Capt. THOMAS HAWKINS (d. 1677) was Burgess, from Warwick, and JOHN HAWKINS (d. 1728) Burgess from Essex. EDWARD JONES' will was proved in Warren Co., N. C. in April, 1750. He names wife ABIGAIL and children: SUGAR, JAMES, EDWARD, DANIEL, SARAH OBEDIENCE, Kabon and Priscilla Mason. ("Lost Tribes," p. 216.) SUGAR JONES' will was probated in Granville July 15, 1761.) In "Lost Tribes" it is stated that "The name of EDWARD JONES' wife was ABIGAIL SUGRE, a member of a Huguenot family at Manikintown," and that EDWARD JONES came from Richmond County, Va. Now on page 32 of Blanch Adams-Chapman's abstracts of "Isle of Wight Wills" is the will of JOHN SUGARS (sometimes spelled "SHEUGAR"), recorded September 25, 1727. His legacies were: daughter, ELIZABETH BYNUM, daughter ABIGAIL JONES' land upon which EDWARD JONES lives; dau. PRISCILLA; grandson SUGAR JONES, wife ELIZABETH. The above JOHN SUGARS is probably the JOHN SUGAR or SHUGAR who married about 1680 (1) ELIZABETH, relict of THOMAS CLAY in Surry. (W. B. 2, p. 40.) His second wife was also named "ELIZABETH." She was the widow of JOHN DREW. (B. K. -1711, p. 48.) BENNETT - BODDIE CHART (See “Scan” for chart) Page 16 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK ** Family, NC, Johnston, JOSEPH THOMAS ###### # # ##### ####### # # ##### ####### # # # # ## ## # # # ## # # # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # #### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### # # # # # # ###### # # ##### ####### # # ### ##### ####### # # Transcribed from original documents by Brent R. Brian & Martha M. Brian. This document and others can be found on our website: BMGEN We claim COPYLEFT on the documents that we publish that are our original work. COPYLEFT “rules” can be reviewed on the web site: GNU Free Documentation License In short, use what you like. But if you use our stuff, mention us as the source. Brent R. Brian Martha M. Brian BrianMitchellGenealogy@gmail.com Page 17 of 17 ** PAGE BREAK **