Month: February 2019

Moore County Towns

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MOORE COUNTY TOWNS (all information below was originally submitted by James Vann Comer taken from his central NC collection; reprinted from November 1988/January/November 1989 MCGS Newsletters ):

ABERDEEN: According to The Pine Knot, Southern Pines, NC, Saturday Morning, 26 November 1887 “Blue’s Crossing” – The name of this place will be changed to Aberdeen on January 1st. A very pretty name we think.”

JACKSON SPRINGS: According to the North Carolina Gazette, Fayetteville, NC, Thursday, 2 August 1877 – “For The Gazette, Jackson Springs, Moore County, NC – Messr Editor—- ‘the good old Jackson Springs’ – the richest treasure the county affords ••• They are situated on a small branch known as ‘The Mineral Branch’, in the western extremity of Moore County, and on the road leading from Carthage to Rockingham, and about half way between the two places. They present quite a romantic appearance to the traveler, who seldom passes within tasting their water, and, when he has once tasted it, ‘not a full, gushing goblet could tempt him to leave it, though niled with the nectar Jupiter sips.’

The Springs are always thronged with visitors from different parts of the State, in the summer and fall seasons. Some come for the benefit to be derived from the water, which is surpassed by none in the State, or perhaps in the U S, for the curing of certain chronic diseases; and such are always benefited, and often entirely cured thereby ••• There is a school going on here under the Supervision of Mr Clark, a graduate of Chapel Hill, a competent teacher, and, upon the whole, a very clever man. This school is intended to prepare boys and young men for college ••• ”

According to the North Carolina Gazette, Fayetteville, NC, Thursday, 6 September 1877 – “Visit to Moore -… The water of Jackson’s Springs is undoubtedly possessed of rare medicinal and health restoring properties, from the testimony given by intelligent persons who have used it, and from the cures it has accomplished. It is especially beneficial in all disorders of the liver, and it is claimed to be an almost unfailing specific for dyspepsia. The stream gushes forth from a fissure of the rock hardly large enough to admit of the entrance of a gourd, but this heathful fountain is inexhaustable and all the afflicted may drink without stint or price …..

MANLY:  According to The Chatham Record, Pittsboro, Chatham County, NC, Thursday, 29 January 1880 – “Town of Manly  is the name of a station in Moore County on the R & A A L RR and the correspondent of the Raleigh News says is the shipping point of quite a number of saw mills and turpentine distilleries. There are in the vicinity 15 of these distilleries and 11 saw mills, and the agent says that during the past year (1879) 30,000 barrels of naval stores were billed at that depot.” According to The Chatham Record, Pittsboro, NC, Thursday, 10 June 1880 – “From the Piney Woods – A correspondent for the new town of Manly, on the R & A A L RR, writes to The Record of follows: ‘This is a beautiful sand hill country located 67 miles from Raleigh, with immense pine forest to back it up. There are 16 turpentine stills located in the neighborhood of this place, together with about as many saw mills, affording employment to a large number of hands.'”

PARKWOOD: According to The Chatham Record, Pittsboro, NC, Thursday, 9 October 1879 – “Moore-County Grind-stones – J E Taylor, President of the Taylor Manufacturing Company, of Westminster, Maryland, was in this city (Charlotte) yesterday. We learn that he has bought millstone quarry in Moore County, about five miles from Carthage, which contains a stone that was discovered some 75 years ago, and has been worked by several parties in a primitive way, some ten quarries having been operated for years. The store has gained quite a local notoriety as Moore County Grit. It is a blue cement-colored rock filled with white flint, and it is claimed for it that it grinds corn in a manner superior to the French burr or esophus. The grit being so much sharper than that in the ordinary mill-stone makes a fine granulation instead of a pasty or floury meal. lilt is also claimed that it grinds with much less power than any other. Mr Taylor purchased the entire vein some five miles long, together with 350 acres of land, and has formed a company called the ‘Moore County Millstone Company’, which will put in all the improved machinery to put the stones on the market in quantities. The deposit is said by all acquainted with it to be inexhaustible. – Charlotte Observer.” According to The Chatham Record, Pittsboro, NC, Thursday, 5 August 1880 -“Telephone Line – Arrangements are now on foot by which this place (Carthage) will be connected with the railroad by a telephone. The Taylor Manufacturing Company, together with our citizens, will establish the line from the Rock Quarry via Carthage to Cameron, thus placing us in direct communication with the world. – Moore Index.” According to the Moore Gazette, Carthage, NC, Thursday, 22 September 1881 The Quarry – Last Saturday afternoon: Mr Robert McNeill took us out to Parkwood, where we found a perfect hive of industry and hard work about the quarry. New mills were being made, lumber sawed, and the hotel is rapidly approaching completion. This is a large building, finely located, and constructed with an eye to convenience and taste. The company is expending a large amount on this valuable property, which will doubtless be returned many fold. The yard is being prepared for making brick, and operations will commence in a few days. Superintendent Grimm tells us that he has an order for mills from South America, and the business is increasing beyond their sanguine expectations.”

PINEBLUFF: According to The Pine Knot, Southern Pines, NC, Saturday morning, 19 November-1887 “The Town of Pine Bluff – Six miles south of Southern Pines, on the R & AAL RR is a high bluff, a little back from the railroad. It is well wooded with oak and long-leaf pine, and the round, sloping in all directions, assures perfect natural drainage. Here Messrs R M Couch and J FAllen, both of New Hampshire, have established a new town which they have named Pine Bluff. The same plan will be adopted as has been in use here (Southern Pines), with slight modifications ••• ” According to The Pine Knot, Southern Pines, NC, Saturday morning, 3 December- l887. George Biddell is surveying this new town. The present survey covers about 75 acres but over six hundred acres will be added to this. The blocks are 500 feet square, and are like the blocks at the (Southern) Pines, except that there are 12 lots instead of 24 to the blocks. At the intersection of each street and avenue is a public park and the streets & avenues are one hundred feet wide each. Except the main avenue which is 130 feet wide with a 30 foot park running the whole length down the centre. On a beautiful eminent Seminary Hill, a graded school will be built so that Northern people settling here will have good advantages for their children who may be unable to attend school at home on account of the cold winters. The lake covers over twenty acres and will have a two story pavilion facing it. The lake is fed by a brook of pure water flowing over a pebble bed. The main road from Southern Pines to Keyser runs through Pine Bluff and will run over the dam. A beautiful bridge will span the gate.”

SOUTHERN PINES: According to the Moore Gazette, Carthage, NC, Thursday, 16 October 1884 – “The new winter resort near Manly is still being laid off and cleared up. The hotel will soon be completed and will be filled with boarders during the coming winter. Its name has been changed from ‘Vineland’ to ‘Southern Pines’. There is a winter resort in New Jersey by the name of ‘Vineland’ so they changed the name to prevent mistakes.”

WEST END: According to the Diary of the Rev William Henry Harrison Lawhon – “Friday, 7 June 1889 – Took dinner and spent two hours with Brother A B Coving at West End – a town that has grown up in a few months. Spend a short while at Jackson Springs.” According to the Diary of the Rev William Henry Harrison Lawhon – “Monday, 3 April 1893 – Last Saturday (1 April 1893) everything from Jackson Springs to D.Hannon was burned in West End – three stores and some other houses was burned. The wind was high and dry & c. A big rain at night.”

CAMERON AND CARTHAGE: According to The Carthaginian, Carthage, NC, Thursday, 31 January 1878 – “Cameron, NC, Editors Carthaginian Our little city is still progressing, our people are healthy and all seem happy. By way of diversity, we have added to our many interesting avocations, the spark of electricity (telegram) by which we are in a moments communication with the balance of civilization ••• ” According to The Chatham Record, Pittsboro, Chatham County, NC, Thursday, 10 February 1881 – “State News Moore Gazette: The N. C. Mill-Stone Company have now almost completed telephonic communication between their (Parkwood) quarry and Cameron, and an arrangement is being made by which the business men of Carthage can also have the benefit of the line.” According to The Sanford Express, Sanford, NC, Thursday, 21 June 1894 – “Town and Vicinity – The people of Raleigh and Durham are happy. The two towns are now connected by the telephone .This reminds us that Cameron and Carthage were once connected by the telephone. For several years this was the only means of quick communication between the two towns. But when Carthage Railroad was built the ‘phone went out of use, the telegraph taking its place. Cameron and Carthage were the first two towns in the State to be connected”by the long distance telephone.” According to The Chatham Record, Pittsboro, Chatham County, NC, Thursday, 26 November 1885 – “Local Records Railroad to Carthage We are pleased to learn that our neighbors over in Moore (County) are taking steps to build a railroad to their county town (Carthage). The last Legislature passed an act incorporating a company for that purpose, and on Monday of last week, the incorporators held a meeting at Carthage, and appointed persons to open books of subscription to the capital stock of the company ••• ” According to The Chatham Record, Pittsboro, Chatham County, NC, Thursday, 18 February 1886 – “Local Records On the 8th instant (Feb 1886), an election was held in the Carthage Township, Moore County, upon the question of subscribing $10,000 to aid in the construction of a railroad from some point (Cameron) on the R. & A. A. L. road. The vote stood 265 for subscription and 99 against.”

CARTHAGE: According to The Carthage Blade, Carthage, NC, Thursday, 23 August 1888 – “Localets – Our railroad is now a fixed fact. It is well equipped, and rides as smoothly as the main line of the R. & A. We took our first trip over it, since its completion, last Saturday afternoon. We were agreeably surprised to find it in such a good condition. It shows beyond doubt that Capt. Holman, who superintended tracklaying, is no novice in railroad building, and that he did his full duty by our people.”

FEAGANSVILLE: According to the North Carolina Gazette, Fayetteville, NC, Thursday, 12 April 1877 – “Moore County – The November Term, 1785, was held at the dwelling-house of Richardson Feagan the site selected for the county seat ••• The place was called ‘Feagansville’, in honor of Richardson Feagan, Esq., who furnished the site, and who was a man of means and influence in the county ••• Feagansville did not grow to be a place of much importance, and, as the county was sparsely settled, it is probable that the mercantile business was quite limited. R. Feagan, Esq., was nabob of the town, being Sheriff and ordinary (hotel-keeper) ••• Feagansville was situated about 3/4 of a mile from the present site of Carthage; a little west of south, and while there is nothing about the locality that would indicate to a stranger that it had ever been used as a seat of justice, yet the identical spot where the old court-house stood can be pointed out by some of the older citizens. The court was held here for twelve years, the last term held here being May, 1798 ••• via Rowland.” According to the North Carolina Gazette, Fayetteville, NC, Thursday, 19 April 1877 – “Moore County – The new County seat was called Carthage from 1798 to 1806, and Feagansville from 1806 to 1818. ” ••• The name Carthage was fixed by an act of the Legislature in 1818, at the instance of Benjamin Person, Esq., one of the Representatives from this (Moore) county via Rowland.” [Note: also spelled Fagansville, Faginville]

GLENDON: According to The Sanford Express, Sanford, NC, Thursday, Thursday, 19 April 1894 – “Town and Vicinity – A new post office, called Glendon has been established in this (Moore) county at the southern terminus of the Glendon and Gulf railroad.” According to The Sanford Express, Sanford, NC, Thursday, 28 June 1894 – “Town and Vicinity – Mr. J. R. Jones, of Carbonton, was here yesterday. He says a daily mail system was recently established by the government over the new line of railroad from Gulf to Glendon. The people of Glendon are now in touch with the outside world and are posted on the daily happenings.”

PINEHURST: According to The Sanford Express, Sanford, NC, Thursday, 8 August 1895 – “Local Laconics – Speaking of the new town that is building in this (Moore) county, the Aberdeen Telegram says: ‘Mr. Frederick Law Olmstead, the greatest landscape architect in America and one of the finest in the world, is laying off the grounds. Mr. H. E. Knox, of Charlotte, has the contract and is now boring an artesian well. Mr Tufts proposes to make this a model town for health and beauty. ‘ A Southern Pines gentleman tells the Express that the car line to connect the new town with Southern Pines will be commenced at once. New Florida is not the name of the place, as was reported. It is yet without a name.” According to The Sanford Express, Sanford, NC, Thursday, 5 September 1895 – Pinehurst Mr. James W. Tufts (Boston millionaire), who is building a new town in the southern part of this (Moore) county, has named it ‘Pinehurst’ ….. According to The Sanford Express, December 1895 – “Sanford Expressions” – Mr. Tufts is going to fence in his property at Pinehurst. He just bought 900 rods of wire fence for that purpose.

ROSELAND: According to The Sanford Express, Sanford, NC, Thursday, 1 November 1894 – “A New Town .!.£. ~ Established i.E.. Moore County Roselands is a new town to be established in Moore County, on the Moore County railroad, four miles from Aberdeen. A land improvement company has purchased 4,000 acres of land lying on both sides of the railroad, and intends securing a number of settlers to go into the fruit and grape business on a considerable scale. The company also owns 5,000 acres of land which will be utilized for the same purpose as fast as the timber is cut and marketed via Fayetteville Observer.” According to The Sanford Express, Sanford, NC, Thursday, 4 July 1895 – ‘Local Laconics – The prospects are that in a few years the southern part of Moore County will be a community of towns and villages. Recently an Express reporter was shown a map of Roselands by Surveryor Francis Deaton, of Carthage. Roselands is a high plateau of forest land containing about 2,000 acres owned by a northern syndicate, who propose to establish thereon a health resort and fruit growing villa on a similar plan to that adopted at Southern Pines. land.” Town lots have been laid off on this land.

VASS: According to The Carthage Blade, Carthage, Moore County, NC, Tuesday, 26 April 1892 – “Cameron News – Our neighbor town Winder has had her name changed to Vass, in honor of W. W. Vass of the R. & A. Rail Road.”

ALLISON: According to the Central Express, Sanford, NC, Saturday, 2 February 1889 –  “Local Expressions” Moore County has a new village and post-office named Allison. It is three miles from Jackson Springs at the present terminus of the Aberdeen and West End Railroad. It manufactures and sells spirits of turpentine.”

CAVINESS CROSSROADS: According to the Moore Gazette, Carthage, NC, Thursday, 31 July 1884 – “Caviness Bros., Crain’s Creek, NC, Feb. 7 – 1y – Heavy and Fancy Groceries: Coffee, Sugar, Syrup, Flour, Bacon; Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots and Shoes; Hardware, Crockery, Glassware and Willow-ware; Tobacco and Cigars.

CHALMERSVILLE: According to the Record of Appointments of Postmasters (1~451856); “Name 2..! Post Office Chalmersville, Name of Postmaster, – Uriah Schermerhorn, Date of Establishment–April 12, 1854.”

VILLANOW:  According to Miss Meade Seawell of Carthage, NC, – “Villanow was named by her grandfather, Dr Virgil Newton Seawell for his Villa (or home) now.”
According to the Record of Appointments of Postmasters (18771889): “Name of Post Office Villanow, Name of Postmaster Virgil Newton Seawell Date of establishment April  22 , 1887. (Note): Formerly – Crain’s-Creek. According to the Record of Appointments of Postmasters (1890-1929): “Name of Post Office Villanow, Date Discontinued October 19,  1906.(Note): Mail to Sanford, NC.

GREENWOOD: According to the Record of Appointments of Postmasters (1877-1889): “Name of Post Office Greenwood, Name of Postmaster James M. Cole date of establishment August 13, 1877. Discontinued August 19, 1904. Mail to Gilbert, NC.

KEYSER: According to The Chatham Record, Pittsboro, Chatham County, NC, Thursday. 20 December 1888 – “State News: News and Observer News reached here (Raleigh) yesterday of the destruction by fire on the night before of the railroad warehouse at Keyser, on the R. & A.R.R. The warehouse and freight which was stored in it were totally consumed and also a car load of lumber which was standing close by. The agent who was sleeping in the warehouse came near losing his life in the flames. Most of the property it is stated was covered by insurance.”

VICTOR: According to the Central Express, Sanford, NC, Saturday, 27 April 1889 – “Local Expressions – A post office has been established at the western terminus of the Aberdeen and West End Rail Road. The office is called Victor, for Victor Dockery. We heard that Mr. Frank Page the owner of the road says he will control the politics of the postal clerk on his road. We venture to say that when Harrison and his gang go, the post office name of Victor will go too.”

All About Moore County Folks

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Reprinted from September 1985 MCGS Newsletter:
[Note: The Carthage Blade was a newspaper published in Carthage, NC, Moore County. Digital volumes available on line for the years 1887-1907.]
THE CARTHAGE BLADE, March 29, 1905
Reminiscences of “W” of going to school to Rev. Angus McNeill in Carthage:
” •• • I remember a fine looking young man, William H. Wiley, at school. I was a boy – he a grown man. I never saw or heard any more of him, but one day a short time after the bloody battle of 7 pines, our regiment, during the Seven Days fight, marched over the battle ground and I saw a piece of board at the head of a grave, inscribed “Lt. William H. Wiley, 5th Ala. Reg •• • ”

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MOORE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING Thurs 4 Apr 1878 (reprinted from MCGS May 1987 newsletter):
John C Buie allowed $100 for keeping John Buie.
Malcolm Kelly released from paying .75 tax on land in Bensalem Twnsp.
Released from paying double tax for 1877: A S Kelly (under age), Aaron Cole, D Hall.
J W Morrison released from double tax on poll for 1877.
K Ray released from paying $1.53 tax for 1877.
Samuel Barrett released from paying $18.37 tax for 1874-listed twice.
William Murchison, pauper allowed $3 per month for support.
B L Johnson allowed $3 per month for J Davis, pauper.
Ads: M M Fry Exc. of Lockhart Fry against Archie Ray adm of Kenneth Black.
John Shaw and John Jackson adms of W M Parson.

Misc. Church News from MCGS Newsletters

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ABSTRACTS from “The Carthaginian”, published at Carthage, NC. (reprinted from November 1986 MCGS newsletter):
In West End, NC, the CULDEE Presbyterian Church celebrated its 100th anniversary with a big Homecoming program on Sep 21. An article by Woodrow Wilhoit in the Southern Pines PILOT of Sep 25th 1985 described the historic occasion. He described a petition signed on the 7th of April 1886 at Lumber Bridge presented to the Fayetteville Presbytery asking for a church to be organized. The list given in his article shows a preponderance of Scottish names and may be of interest to our readers. Some were M D McCrummen, D P McDonald, Margaret Vuncannon, W S Bailey, M L Morris, J L McKeithen, and several Blues, Wickers, McKenzies, McNeills and Pattersons.

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A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY, CHRONICLES AND RECORDS OF MINERAL SPRINGS CHURCH (originally transcribed and indexed by Marie Smith Gordon; reprinted from September 1988 MCGS Newsletter):  Mineral Springs Presbyterian Church is today known as Jackson Springs (North Carolina) Presbyterian Church. The Founding Elders and early members lived along Drowning Creek which separates Moore County from Montgomery and Richmond Counties. They were descendants of a group of Scots who chose to side with the British in the American Revolution. In about 1813 the Scots near Mineral Springs started holding church services there during the summer months. In 1819 the Rev John Paterson organized the church and ordained the following Elders: Duncan Patterson, Kenneth Clark, Malcolm McCrummen and Hugh McDonald. The minutes of the church record trials for drunkeness, slander and several other offenses that would not draw much attention today. Scots taking the most room in the index are Bailey, Black, Brown, Campbell, Clark, Curry, Dawkins, Graham, McCaskill, McDonald, McFarland, McInnis, McKay, Monroe, Patterson, Ray, Robeson and Stewart. These are descendants of people mentioned in the Rev Caruthers book – “Wade, Culp and Captain Bogan came down into this country to avenge the Piney Bottom Massacre. They tortured Piper Patterson who lived in Richmond County opposite the old Kenneth Clark’s houseplace; and forced him to give up the names of all he knew to be engaged in that crime. It is said that the Piper named Kenneth Clarks’s sons and Alexander McLeod and possibly Daniel McMillian as being implicated in Piney Bottom. Captain Bogan’s men crossed over the creek and killed Alexander McLeod, Daniel McMillian and John Clark. Kenneth Clark was at that time a very old man, but he and his women folks were ordered to bury the corpses by the next day.”  [Note: Mrs. Gordon published A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY, CHRONICLES AND RECORDS OF MINERAL SPRINGS CHURCH in 1988 in soft cover.  It was 116 pages in length and available for purchase from her. It is now available to read on-line.  Just Google the above title.]

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Misc. Marriage/Death Records from MCGS Newsletters

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EARLY MARRIAGE RECORDS – CUMBERLAND COUNTY – 1834-50 (Originally transcribed and submitted by Florence Hardy from Cypress Presbyterian Church located on Harnett/Moore line; reprinted from November 1986 newsletter):
John Ferguson married Catharine Priest – 23 Jan 1834.
Neill Shaw married Flora Cameron – 27 Feb 1834.
Daniel McIntosh of Buffalow Ch married Margaret Shaw – 29 Mar 1834.
Allen Cameron married Catharine McLean – 30 Sep 1834.
James Jackson married Jennet McGoigor – 15 Oct 1834.
A F (J) L Cameron married Isabella McFayden of Cumberland Co Longstreet Ch – 7 May 1835 by Rev E McNair.
William Cameron married Margaret Cameron (John’s dau) by Daniel McCormick.
– 12 Mar 1835
William Keith married Sara J (I) Matthews by Rev A McCollum.
Arch McCollum married Mary McLeo – no date.
Peter Munroe married Mary Cameron – no date.
Samuel Cameron married Catharine Blue – no date.
Daniel Johnson married Anabella Cameron – no date.
Neill Graham of Union (church) married Catharine McGrigor – no date.

Peter Munroe married Isabella Jane Cameron – no date.
A A McKeithen married Catharine McLeod 20 Dec 1950 by Rev. McAlister

Joseph Bynum married Mary Ann Stuart  22 Jan 1950 by A J Cameron, Esquire.

L E Johnson married Amanda Worthy – no date.

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Marriage Record, Moore County (reprinted from March 1988 MCGS newsletter):
This is a narrow, rather small book, which contains the earliest marriages (other than those found in the back of the Will Book A) recorded in Moore County. In the back of this book is a list of marriages which are labeled, “Unofficially Recorded”. These marriages, on five pages, are as follows:
Page I-Gideon A Thompson and Nicey P Oates married 5 Sep 1843. Wm John Kelly and Lovedy McKeithan married 4 Oct 1843. Isaac H Rowan and Sarah McIver were married 16 Nov 1843. D R Shaw and Lovedy Jane Blue were married 26 Feb 1846. Dani~ McDonald and Mary J McNeill married 24 Dec 1846. A A McKeithan and Catherine McLeod married 20 Dec 1849. Joseph H M Bynum and Mary Ann Stewart married 22 Jan 1850. Daniel Turner and Lydia Blue were married 28 Oct 1847.
Page 2-Alex McNeill and Julia Rowan were married 1 Sep 1842. Daniel McKeithan and Lovedy Black married 17 Dec 1846. Daniel B Black and Ann McNeill were married 24 Mar 1842. Lemuel Slone and Catharine Campbell married 10 ___ 1842. Patrick Munroe and C Margaret McNeill married 21 Nov 1842. Patrick A McKeithan and Margaret Black married 20 Jan 1842 Neill Currie and Jennet Leach were married 3 Oct 1844. Dougald McDougald and Elizabeth Jane McNeill were married 21 Oct 1844. John A McKeithan and C C Smith were married 16 Apr 1846.
Page 3-Archibald Ray and Ann C Blue were married 4 Mar 1847. Patrick M Blue and Sarah E McNeill married 26 Dec 1844.
Page 4-Alexander Leach and Christian Blue lawfully joined 5 Mar 1812. Whose age is 27, 15 May-!812. Whose age is 19, 20 Dec 1812. Duncan Johnston records his marriage with Margaret McNeill agreeable to law being consumated 30 Aug 1792. Malcolm McNeill and Catherine McDonald were married the 31st of Aug 1792.
Page 5-Alexander J Monroe and Christian M Johnson, daughter of Alexander Johnson were married 21 Jan 1836. John M Gaster and Mary Margaret Morris married 14 Dec 1854 A A McKeithan and Catherine McLeod married 20 Dec 1849.

State Archives, Raleigh, NC
“Moore County Misc. Records, 1823-1828”, CR 068.928.4 “Marriage Licenses, 1823-1828” Needham Bryant and Margaret Black, 2 Jan 1843. Alexander Campbell and Flora McDonald, 25 Feb 1821. James ~ and Florah Black, 12 Dec 1822.
Submitted by Eloise Knight

Reprinted from March 1989 MCGS Newsletter:

Moore County Marriages, 1851-1867, continued from July 1988 ••• 15 Aug 1852 – Daniel Riddle & Catherine Kelly; John McNeill, JP 22 Aug 1852 – Daniel 0 Warner & Mary Jane Willis. John Shaw, JP 28 -Sep 1852 – Benjamin D Black & Mary Elizabeth Ann Savage. John McNeill, JP 23 Sep 1852 – Mathew H Godfrey: & Mary Cimbre?. J R Sloan, JP

20 Oct 1852 – Henry J Thomas & Sarah Ann Elizabeth Agnes Eleaner Wicker. Wm R Berryman, JP 13 Oct 1852 – William 0 Harrington & Eliza Frances Patterson. John R McIntosh, JP 17 Sep 1852 – William Wicker & Margaret Parrish. Abel Kelly, JP 9 Sep[1852]- John McIver & Nancy Blackmon. Thomas Rillins, JP 16 Dec 1852 – Pleasant P Terry(?) & Otelia A Alston. John Shaw, JP 8 May 1852 – Elisha R Harrington & Elizabeth Alston.
19 Aug 1852
19 Dec 1852
R W Goldston, JP – Alexander M!.!.1.. & (wifels name not given). In 1860 census it is “Fannie”. J Bean, JP – Noah Auman & Martha Golahorn(?).
25 Nov 1852 – Andrew K Wicker & 28 Oct 1852 – William Kennedy &
George W Cagle, Esq Sarah A McLennan. T Rollins, JP Susannah Teaque 6 Dec 1852
George Cagle, Esq – William Brown & Priscila Thomas. Absolam Kelly, JP – Pleasant Smith & Mary Fry. J Bean, JP

Andrew K. Wicker and Sarah A. McLennan 25 Nov 1852 T. Rollins, JP; Jackson Crabtree/Emily Fry 2 Jan 1853, Jesse Bean, JP; Lockhart Fry/Margaret E. Fry 15 Jan 1853 Jesse Bean, JP

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DEATHS:

The Carthaginian, published at Carthage, Submitted by Eloise Wicker Knight
Thurs, 28 Feb 1878 (reprinted from May 1987 MCGS Newsletter):
Deaths; 1) Sophia B Arnett of diptheria, 25 Sep 1877. 7 yrs, 9 days, 8 mos.
2) Mrs Elizabeth Ann McKenzie, 26 Jan 1878. 24 yrs, 10 mos, 4 days. Leaves 2 small children, Nellie 4 and Charlie 2. Buried Union Church.

Originally submitted by James Vann Comer (reprited from January 1989 MCGS Newsletter) Wed.10 August 1881 — Cherry Cox died today with dropsy. Thurs. 11 August 1881 — Cherry Cox was buried at Bethlehem. She was a member of that Church.

Tues. 29 Nov. 1881 — Mrs. Cassie McIntosh was buried at Bensalem today. She died Sunday Night [Nov 27th] with consumption.

Miscellaneous Bits and Pieces from MCGS Newsletters

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GENEALOGICAL TIPS (Originally submitted by Jo White Linn of Salisbury, N. C. and printed in the Caldwell County Newsletter; reprinted from May 1985 MCGS newsletter):
1. A man who receives by a will cannot be a witness to it.
2. A nuncupative will can dispose only of personal property.
3. A married woman could not make a will without her husband’s consent and even so could dispose only of personal property unless there had been a prenuptial agreement.
4. Title to land could be conveyed either by inheritance or deed or marriage.
5. There are extant marriage bonds for only about 20% of the marriages that took place in N.C. prior to 1868; many people were married in the church by banns~ many bonds have been lost to natural disasters. The absence of a N.C. Marriage Bond does not mean that the marriage did not take place in N.C.
6. A man did not have to be 21 to buy land, but he did have to, be 21 to sell. He did not have to own property to vote, but he did have to be a free man. He had to be 21 to serve on a jury, but he did not have to own property.
7. A woman was never taxable. If her name appears on a tax list, it is because one has a male of taxable age in her household or a slave of taxable age.
8. Quakers used numerical dating and did not take oaths and were not married in a civil service. A Quaker will does not begin “In the name of God, Amen.” and there are no marriage bonds for Quakers.
9. There are excellent indexed records for Moravians and Quakers; many records of both Lutheran and Reformed Churches and Ministers are being translated and published.

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MOORE COUNTY COURT HOUSE BURNED  From THE CARTHAGE BLADE, Thursday, September 12, 1889 (reprinted from January 1987 MCGS Newsletter):

The Fire Thought to be of Incendiary Origin, Estimated Loss $15,000
All the records in the Register’s and Supt. Instructions’ and about half of those in the Clerks’s office were wiped out of existence.
At 4 o’clock a.m. last Thursday the usually quiet town of Carthage was thrown into wild excitement by being awakened from its slumbers by the ringing of bells and the loud cries of FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!!
Every household was in a stir in a jiffy, and in a very few seconds men, women and children could be seen rapidly hastening toward the point from which the alarm came. The fire proved to be at the Court House. We were among the first to arrive on the scene, and found the Register’s office a solid sheet of flames from back to front. There being no fire department and the fire already having such headway, everyone seemed appalled and knew not what to do. Finally some thought of the Clerk’s office and passed the word that good work could be done there. A rush was made for that office and the crowd worked manfully and succeeded in saving many valuable records, but they had to work rapidly, as the angry flames soon reached that door. The loss from this office was about 500 judgment rolls, all probate papers, most of the old court minutes and dockets, all guardian books and bonds, all administrator’s bond books, all Supreme Court reports and Acts of the Legislature. All other books and papers are saved.
Every paper and book in the Register’s office, including tax books (which had not yet been quite finished) was lost. everything in the County Superintendent’s office also lost. was little in the Sheriff’s office, there was nothing lost.
the 1889 So was As there
After the fire had spent its fury, we found Mr Mathew Cagle, M “upperend” farmer, who was camping on the public square about 50 or 75 yards distant from the Court House and who gave the alarm, upon inquiry as to the origin of the fire, we elicited the following information from him. He said, “About 2 hours before the fire broke out I noticed a light about as large as that of a candle in the Register of Deed’s office. I thought nothing of the circumstance, and again went to sleep. The next thing I heard, my son called me and said the Court House was on fire. I hurriedly ran up there and into the building and noticed that the fire was issuing from the Register’s office door. I pushed the door, which was slightly ajar, open and saw a large pile of books burning very rapidly as if saturated with oil or spirits of turpentine. I ran to the public well to get water, and believe I could have stopped the fire with a few buckets of water, but found the ropes cut and the buckets in the well. I then gave the alarm. Before the fire broke out I heard someone walking in the Register’s office.” Two or three other men who got there just after Mr Cagle substantiate what he says. Therefore, we have no doubt that the fire was the work of an incendiary. And it was evidently someone who wanted to be rid of some paper that was on record against him. The fact that the well rope was cut in the strongest circumstance of incendiarism. The Court House was almost new, having been put in thorough repair and enlarged about t~ years ago. The building was worth about $15,000, $5,500 of which is yet to be paid. The loss is a heavy blow to the county and no end of litigation will result from it.
Note-
The above was copied at the Moore County Library on 6 November 19&6 by James Vann Comer.
On 25 November 1986 there appeared in the Southern Pines Pilot in the Carthage section edited by Woodrow Wilhoit a similar article about the same event–the fire of 1889. Mr Wilhoit had recently read an article written in 1922 by Mr Jacob Fulton Cole in which he recalled the night vividly. He too had been sleeping nearby, in the back room of the little drug store on the circle, and was one of those who helped Mr Cagle save papers out of the Clerks’s office. He too told about the cut ropes of the well that prevented any water being used to quench the fire. He also mentioned the reason Mr Cagle was there on the grounds–the farmer had brought a load of hay to town and needed to stay with it till delivered the next morning.
This news article by Mr Cole can be seen in the issue of the Moore County News of 27 July 1922. Two other men named as helpers were Ralph Tyson and W H Branson. Cole remembered A H McNeill who had been Clerk of Court for many years, saying that as a small boy he helped make brick for the old court house for thirty cents a day.

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MOORE COUNTY MASONIC LODGE (originally submitted by James Vann Comer, reprinted from July 1988 MCGS Newletter – names did not fully print):

From The Carthage Blade, Carthage, NC, Thursday, 26 February 1903-7

“Where was Pansophia?, Carbonton, NC, February 23rd-Mr. Editor, About 1798 there was a Masonic Lodge in Moore County named “Pansophia”. The place of meeting was afterwards moved to Malcom McNeill’s. It was a large, influential lodge at that time, made up of Scots principally, judging from the names-McNeill McLeod, Smith, Black, Martin and Tyson. 1 would like to know where “Pansophia” Lodge was first located and where Malcom McNeill lived, where it was moved to; also, if there are any old records of said lodge anywhere in the county among Masons, or other citizens of the county? I would be very glad to find out anything about this old lodge from anyone thro(sic) The Blade and would be very glad if there be found any of the old-records of said lodge. George Wilcox.”

According to A History of Moore County, NC, 1747-1847, by Blackwell P. Robinson on pages 146-151 provide-s-material on the members of Pansophia Lodge Number 25 in 1793. He adds this lodge was chartered in 1793 and surrendered its charter in 1819. The original returns for Pansophia Lodge N~ 25 are housed in the Grand Lodge, AF&AM, of North Carolina, 2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC. I will include each list of our newsletter- one per newsletter. Returns for 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1807, 1818 and 1819 are available.
“A list of the officers and members of Pansophia Lodge–October 20, 1797
Malcom McNeill, Master; Neil Smith,Senior Warden; John Rea, Jr. Warden; Hector McNeil, Treasurer; Malcolm Black, Secretary; Duncan Paterson, Sr. Deacon; Dougald McFarlane, Jr. Deacon; John McLeod & Duncan Johnston, Stewards

Members: Neil McLeod Thomas Harden Purkins Francis Bullock Duncan Smith Archibald Rea Laughlan McNeil Daniel McIntosh Peter McEachran Alexander Nicholason Dougald McMillan Peter Blew John McCrimman Jacob Gaster Daniel Smith William Mears 16 William Martin 17 John McNeil 18 John Dabney 19 John Matthews 20 James Matthews 21 Thomas Tyson 22 Archibald McNeil 23 Neil Mc Leo d 24 William McSween 25 Normand McLeod 26 John Blew 27 Jacob Hartman 28 Allen Morison
Submitted: William McSween Secretary

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Legal Abstracts from MCGS Archived Newsletters

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The current Moore County Genealogical Society has been reviewing some of its archived newsletters. The following legal abstracts were originally compiled by charter member, Eloise W. Knight, Pinehurst, NC.

Moore County Court Minutes November 1823 (reprinted from June 1984 newsletter):

Committee appointed to settle with William McAulay, guardian of Elizah Carmichael. Committee appointed to take examination of Nancy Wicker wife of Anderson for deed of land to John Gunter (95 acres). John Thomas appointed guardian to Penelope, Benjamin V. and Isabella Thomas in place of John Gunter. Nancy Shephard vs. William Oliver and Benjamin Tyson, Jr.  Benjamin Person vs. Heirs of Kindred Birckhead Dr . Kinneth B. McIver appointed guardian to infant heirs of Kindred Birckhead, dec’d to defend those six suits. 1) Benj . Person vs. Heirs of Kindred Birckhead. 2) Same vs. same. 3) Fredrick Siler vs. same. 4) John Siler vs. same. 5) Joseph Johnson vs. same 6) Eleazor Birckhead vs. same.  Archibald Gillis, Jr. to Archibald Gillis, Sr. by oath of Archibald Blue. Tobias Fry to Hugh Moore by oath of Benjamin Person. William Dickerson to Duncan McIver, acknowledged. Daniel McNeill as Sheriff to William Weldon by oath of Druray Bobbitt. Samuel Barby to John Hicks by oath of William Campbell. Bill of sale from William T. England to Antony Graham, acknowledged. Daniel McNeill as Sheriff to Jacob Gaster, acknowledged. Jacob Gaster to Hector McNeill, acknowledged. Bill of sale from George and Florah Campbell to William T. England by oath of Duncan Murchison. George A. Muse to John B. Kelly, acknowledged.  Neill McLeod to John B 0 Kelly, acknowledged. Thomas P. Muse to John B. Kelly, acknowledged. Angus McAulay to John McDonald by oath of Murdoch Martin. John Thomas to PriscillaThomas by oath of John Gunter. Jesse Bean to Susanah Bean, acknowledged. Alexander C. Curry to Hugh Moore by oath of Benjamin Parson. Jesse Bean to Daniel Caddell, acknowledged. James S. Muse and Jesse F. Muse to Isaac Smith by oath of Benjamin Parson. Willam Barrett to Tobias Fry, acknowledged. Miller Sexton, Absolom Sexton, Allin Sexton, Lunsfield Sexton, Clarcey Sexton, Gilford Carpenter, Marthy Carpenter, Matthew Oliver and Elizabeth Oliver to William Weldon by oath of Moses Oliver. Clary Sexton to William Weldon by oath of William Campbell.

Moore County Court Minutes August 1823 (reprinted from November 1984 newsletter):
Ordered that an orphan child named Susan Stone now of the age of seven years be bound to John Deaton who shall give said Susan Stone one year school, and when free, a good suit of “cloath”.  Ordered that Elias Burkhead be exempted from paying a poll tax on account of his being a cripple.  Ordered that Malcolm Buie be appointed guardian to Charles Johnson and Alexander Johnson with Alexander Cameron and William Wadsworth, Securities.  Ordered that Samuel Johnson be appointed guardian to Fanny Johnson with Alexander Cameron and Angus McDonald, Securities.
State of NC, Moore Co.: This day came Archibald McBryde into open Court (it being a Court of records) and maketh that he has long been acquainted with John McLennan and with William McLennan, dec’ d late of the U. S. Army and who is said to have died at Sachetts Harbour and that he believes that said William McLennan was never married and that said John McLennan is a brother and one of the heirs at law of this said brother William McLennan, dec’ d. Sworn and Subscribed in open court this the 21st August 1823.
Ordered that James Muse (little) be exempt from paying a poll tax on account of his infirmities. Ordered that Nehemiah Burkhead be appointed guardian to Belany and John Burkhead. Ordered that Malcolm Blue, Esq. be appointed guardian to Jane., Caleb(?), Maryan, Charles, John, Isabel and Alexander Campbell. Ordered that William Campbell be appointed guardian to Mary, Daniel, John, Malcolm, (or Nancy, Alexander, Florah, Duncan, Catharine and Archibald McFarland. Ordered that Kinneth McCaskill be appointed guardian to Nancy, Roderick and Malcolm D. Mathewson.
DEEDS (reprinted from September 1984 newsletter): Thomas Thompson to Archibald Dalrymple, by oath of Duncan McIver. Malcolm Shaw to Archibald McGilvery, acknowledged. Samuel and Sarah Campbell to Charles Gilchrist, by oath of William T. England. William Crawford to David Reed, by oath of Drurary Bobbitt, Sr. Absolum Sexton to David Reed, by oath of Stephen Beryman. Archibald Campbell to William Spoon, oath of Murdoch McAulay. James Autray to Norman Mathewson, by oath of Murdoch McKenzie. Thomas Ritter to John Rouse, by oath of Miles Rouse. Bradly Garner to John Maness, by oath of Bradly Garner, Sr. Henry Craven and John B. Kelly to Alexander C. Curry, by oath of Hugh Moore.

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Moore County Court Minutes dated November 1823 (reprinted from May 1986 newsletter):

Administration of estate of John Campbell. dec’d granted to Elizabeth Campbell.
Committee appointed to settle with William McAulay as administrator of Gracy l?) Carmical.
Administrators of the estate of James Hicks, dec’~ to the use of William Crump vs. Owen Dowd. Committee appointed to settle with the surviving administrator of estate of Adam Finch. dec’d last will and testament of James Ramsey. dec’d duly proved in open court.
Administrations on the estate of James Ramsey granted to Atlas Jones, Esq.
Executors of William Martin. dec’d vs. Thomas M. Reed Others.
Committee appointed to settle with Ann Graham and John McLeod. administrators of the estate of Daniel Graham. Dec’d.

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Reprinted from the November 1985 newsletter:

JOHN SHEFFIELD’S WILL FROM WILL BOOK A Pages 186-187 MOORE CO.
Written in 1794 in Moore Co. N.C. with the usual first paragraph about committing his soul to the Lord from whence it came then- “Principally and first of all to my well-beloved wife Hannah Sheffield the plantation whereupon I now do live with the buildings and orchards and improvements thereon with 100 acres of land during her widowhood with all my stock and cattle. I leave and bequeath to my son Mark Sheffield one shilling sterling.
I leave and bequeath to my son John [nothing written here]
I leave and bequeath to my son Adam 100 ac land lying on Rattle Snake branch. I leave and bequeath to my son Isham the land and plantation whereon he now lives containing 100 acres.  I leave and bequeath to my son Averitt Sheffield land and the plantation whereon I do not live to enjoy after his mother’s decease containing 100 acres. I leave and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Dennis one shilling sterling [same one shilling to daughters Lucretia Dun, Rebecca Autry, Hannah Autry, Elizabeth Autry],and to my youngest daughter Lydia and Milly Sheffield I leave and bequeath one shilling sterling each.
My goods and chattels and stock etc. I leave for the support of my beloved Wife Hannah Sheffield during her life-time I then to dispose of the same as she may think proper. I renounce all wills and legacies made by me formerly and acknowledge this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof.  Signed by John Sheffield (his mark)
E:xecutors: wife Hannah Sheffield and Averi tt  Smith
Could be Isham Sheffield, Windsor Pearce (or Pierce)

Proved by court February 1796

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Moore County Court Minutes November 1823 (reprinted from May 1986 newsletter):
Administration of estate of John Campbell. dec’d granted to Elizabeth Campbell.
Committee appointed to settle with William McAulay as administrator of Gracy l?) Carmical.
Administrators of the estate of James Hicks, dec’d to the use of William Crump vs. Owen Dowd. Committee appointed to settle with the surviving administrator of estate of Adam Finch. dec’d last will and testament of James Ramsey. dec’d duly proved in open court.
Administrations on the estate of James Ramsey granted to Atlas Jones, Esq.
Executors of William Martin. dec’d vs. Thomas M. Reed Others.
Committee appointed to settle with Ann Graham and John McLeod. administrators of the estate of Daniel Graham. Dec’d.