Go to The Two Jesses – Part 1
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Court Records
It seems apparent that one of the Jesse’s died before October 1796, because at the October sessions of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions at Cumberland County, deeds that Jesse had been a party to are finally being brought to court to be proved. Walt also noted that Jesse died about 1797 in The Thames Family of North Carolina. The three court records where deeds were brought to court to be proven include the following deeds:
- John Newberry to Jesse Thembs (deed dated 1784) Cumberland Co NC Order Book 1791-1797
- Jesse Theames to Malachi Burges (deed dated 1787) Cumberland Co NC Order Book 1791-1797
- John, Martha and Jesse Theams to Joseph Theams (deed dated 22 Jul 1795) (this is Joseph Sr’s 500-acre tract) (Cumberland Co NC Deed Book 16 p 156) Cumberland Co NC Order Book 1797-1797
Tax Records
Surviving tax records for both Bladen and Cumberland counties are incomplete. Records for Jesse Thames include (Draft mode – still being reviewed):
1776 Bladen – Jesse Themes – White 1, Male Slaves 1, Female Slave 1, remainder torn
1779 Bladen – Jesse Thims – Bladen lands 900, Slaves 2, Horses 3, Cattle 14, Total £3115
1784 Bladen – Jesse Themes – One white poll only, no other property (here is the link at the NC Archives – scroll to image 13)
1786 Bladen – Jesse Thims – White Males 21-60 1, WM <21 and >60 3; White Females 4, Blacks >50 and <12, 1; Total amount 9
1788 Bladen – No entry for Jesse
1789 Bladen – Jesse Thims (no further data)
Deed Records
These deeds are presented in chronological order, and I’ve assigned them to one or the other of the Jesses based on my own analysis. If you interpret them differently, please collaborate with me in the Comments section below.
Son of Thomas Sr or Cornelius | Son of Joseph |
---|---|
Assigned to this Jesse because Jesse the son of Joseph/Martha would have been too young to purchase land (minimum 21 years old, Walt assigns birth year of 1753/1754). Espies Creek is now known as Gray’s Creek. 21 Apr 1773 – Jesse Newberry of Bladen to Joseph Thames and Jesse Thames of Bladen – Bladen DB 37 p 179 – 17 pounds – SW side NW river lower side of Espies Creek 200 acres a part of a 300 acres patent to me granted 17 Apr 1767 – Witnesses James McDaniel, Joseph Ray – proved Aug 1777 | |
Assigned to this Jesse because in a later deed for this property, Jesse sells a portion of the land but reserves timber rights for “my father Joseph Thames” 11 Mar 1775 – Jesse Thembs no. 2525 – Land warrant, 640 acres between Plummers and Epies Creeks, book 25 p 255, grant 1031 – Bladen Co, between Plummers and Espies Creeks SoW of the NoW River Beginning at a pine Isaac Simm’s Beginning at Joseph Thembs corner and runs thence with Thimbs line So 38 Et 100 Chains and 25 links to a stake among three pines his other corner then West 40 Chains Then So 51 Wt 52 Chains and 50 links then No 29 Wt 87 Chains to Stephen Butlers lower back corner then with his and Simms line No 80 (60?) E 74 Chains and 73 links to a stake among two pines a white oak and black oak Simm’s corner then with his other line No. 10 Wt to the Beginning. 11 Mar 1775 – Jesse Thembs no. 2783 land warrant, 640 acres in Bladen County between Plummer’s & Espie’s Creeks SW of the NW River beginning at a pine Isaac Simm’s beginning and Joseph Thimbs Corner & runs thence with Thimbs Bladen… Grant 1031 issued 11 Mar 1775 book 25 p 171 – this warrant is identical to the warrant and grant no. 2525 above | |
4 May 1776 – Bladen DB 37 p 37 – proved Nov 1778 – Witnesses Will Godfrey, Benj Cooper Joseph and Martha Thames of Bladen to Jesse Thames – 300 pounds – one parcel on Espies where the sd Jesse Thames now lives, beginning at a stake on the creek bank, runs up the creek bank various courses to a stake near sd creek, then E 5 W 14.17 ch to a stake at he road, S 83 W to the Marsh, the number of acres no known and one saw mill standing thereon. Also one half of the survey of 167 acres in the Marsh And over also one half of another tract of land on the fore part of a tract of land containing 640 acres situate on the back of land patent by McDaniel & Gray on the lower or western side of sd Creek, beginning at a pine west of McDaniel’s back line, the beginning of Joseph Cooper’s corner patent to McDaniel’s line, S 20 E 1.45 ch to a stake in Gray’s upper line no of that S 70 W 60.25 Ch to his corner, then with his back S 20.50 chains to Neill Gray’s upper line with that and sd Cooper’s line of another survey S 70 W 33.47 chains then with the back line of sd patent no. 20 75.50 chains to Jesse Newberry’s corner, then with his line S 85 30 E 18 to the beginning, containing 320 acres more or less, begining one half thereof conveyed by these present to Jesse Thames | |
Assigned to this Jesse because he is the only Jesse who could have acquired this land (law of primogeniture). See the Discussion section above. 2 May 1776 – Jesse Thames and Elizabeth his wife of Bladen Co to Joseph Thames of Bladen Co – Bladen Co NC DB 37 p 181 – 100 pounds – Witnesses Benjamin Cooper, Richard Wilkerson – Proved May 1777 – Two parcels: 1. SW side of NW river between Grays & Dunns lines being part of a tract of land patented by Henry Sims bearing date 1753 and by him conveyed to John Stevens and by sd Stephens the small part conveyed to Jesse Thames and by sd Jesse Thames conveyed to Joseph Thames the premises intended to be granted begins at a white oak on the river bank Gray’s upper line and runs then S70 W20 chains to John Newberrys line and with it N 20 W 15.18 chains to Duns line and with it to the river and down the river to the beginning containing 40 acres +/- 2. SW side of the NW river of Cape Fear at a small distance below Dunns Creek beginning at a stake by the river side then N 80 W 116 Ch then S 40 W 10 ch, then S80 E 116 chs to the river then the various courses of the river to the beginning, 100 acres, part of a tract of land granted to Jno Dunn by patent and by Jno Dunn to Richd Dunn and by Richd Dunn to Robt Dunn, by Robt Dunn to Thomas Thames, and by sd Thos Thames in his last Will gave the same to his son Saml Thames & he dying under age it became the property of the afsd Jesse Thames as by Record may appear & the sd Jesse Thames being so lawfully seized and possessed of the same sd Two Tracts of Land as above mentioned… [conveys to Joseph Thames] | |
1778 – Bladen DB 37 p 29 – John Newberry and Mary his wife of Bladen to Jesse Thames of same W side of the NW River and on the W side of Ellis Creek where the old saw mill stood below the sd Jesse Thames. 15 acres – Beginning at a stake near Jesse Thames spring, S 10 W 12 12.24 chains, S 80 W 12.24 Chs, N 10 W 12.24, N 80 E 12.24 to the beginning, part of Grey’s survey. Witness Solomon Glass, proved Nov 1778 | |
Assigned to this Jesse because it refers to the 640 acres and he mentions his father by name. 20 Feb 1779 – Bladen County NC Deed Book 37 p 107 – Jesse Thames of Bladen Co to John Beard, 100 lbs, 320 acres, which is the eastern part of a tract of land in Bladen Co on the SW side of the NW River which was granted to Jesse by patent dated 11 Mar 1775, recorded in the Secty’s office in Book xxx[sic] p 172, said patent being for 640 acres. Jesse makes stipulations in the deed, saying he is transferring the property to Beard “except the duties thereon now due & to become due & the pine timber fit for the saw mill is hereby reserved for my father Joseph Thames on 220 acres if he shall take them away when required.” Witnesses: William Thames and William Clark. Proved May Term 1779. This Jesse is clearly the son of Joseph and Martha. | |
Assigned to this Jesse because it refers to the 640 acre patent 2 ___ 1779 (month of deed not written in the deed book) – Bladen County NC Deed Book 37 p 121 – Jesse Thimbs of Bladen Co to Jas Marsh of same, on the SW side of the NW River 2 or 3 miles from the river being the southern side of a patent of 640 acres Granted by patent dated March 11th 1775, the part hereby intended to be conveyed begins at a stake among 3 pines the SE corner of sd patent & runs with the line thereof W 40 chs then with the other line So 51 W 52 chs & 50 lks then with another of the patent line a stake among 3 pines then So 38 E 22 Chs & 95 lks to the beginning containing by estimation 160 acres more or less… No witnesses, proved by Jesse at May Term 1779 court. | |
25 Dec 1779 – Bladen County Land Entries 1778-1780 – Jesse Thims, no. 1307, patented 200 acres “Lying in the Great marsh joining Robert Rozar’s Line and Isaac Rozar Senr’s line and running down the marsh [“down” would be southeastwardly] for Complement.” If I am interpreting this correctly, this property was located in what is now Robeson County (formed from Bladen County in 1787), the “great marsh” now called “Big Swamp.” There is a road that runs along the south side of the Big Swamp called “Great Marsh Baptist Church Road.” | |
27 Aug 1783 – Jesse Thims is issued Revolutionary War Pay Voucher no. 4387 in the Wilmington District for militia service, signed by Thomas Sewell and Thomas Routledge, and Lewis Holmes, Clerk. | |
16 Mar 1784 – John Newberry of Bladen to Jesse Thembs Sawyer of Bladen – Cumberland DB 16 p 155 – 50 pounds – 50 acres – lower side of Espies Creek SW of the NW river patented by William or Neal Gray or otherwise a part of both which patents were both passed 1735 – Witnesses Joseph Theames, Malachi Burgess – proved Oct term 1796 | |
Nov 1784 – Jesse Themes and wife Elizabeth of Bladen Co to Joseph Thames of Bladen – 100 pounds – Esbey’s creek where the said Jesse now lives – beginning at a stake on the creek side and runs up the various courses of the creek to a stake near said creek then S 65 W14 chains 17 lines to a stake at the road thence S80W to the mark. Also one half of that survey of 100 acres and sixty-seven [167 acres] in The Marsh and over and also one-half of another tract of land or the fourth part of a tract of land containing 640 acres joining on the back of land patented by McDaniel and Gray on the lower or wester side of said creek beginning at a pine total 320 acres – No date on deed – Witnesses John Beard, John Newberry – Proved Nov 1784 at Bladen – Bladen Co DB 15 p 590 | Nov 1784 – Jesse Themes and wife Elizabeth of Bladen Co to Joseph Thames of Bladen – 100 pounds – Esbey’s creek where the said Jesse now lives – beginning at a stake on the creek side and runs up the various courses of the creek to a stake near said creek then S 65 W14 chains 17 lines to a stake at the road thence S80W to the mark. Also one half of that survey of 100 acres and sixty-seven [167 acres] in The Marsh and over and also one-half of another tract of land or the fourth part of a tract of land containing 640 acres joining on the back of land patented by McDaniel and Gray on the lower or wester side of said creek beginning at a pine total 320 acres – No date on deed – Witnesses John Beard, John Newberry – Proved Nov 1784 at Bladen – Bladen Co DB 15 p 590 |
4 Jun 1787 – Jesse Theames of Bladen Co to Malachi Burges of Bladen Co – Cumberland DB 16 p 167 – 30 pounds – 50 acres – SW of NW river lower side Espeys Creek being part of the patent containing 300a to Jesse Newbery granted 27 Apr 1767 and sold to Jesse Theames & Joseph Theames by Newberry by deed dated 21 Apr 1773 registered in Bladen Co. Witnesses William Champion. Proved by William Champion Oct 1796. | |
29 Mar 1791 – Jesse Thims of Cumberland Co to James Marsh – Cumberland DB 11 p 451 – for twenty [pounds] – 160 acres – SW side of the NW river, drains of Aspies Creek on the lower side of sd creek about 5 or 6 miles from the river being of a survey of 640 acres of land granted to me 11 Mar 177X. Witnesses Jn Jackson, Luke Clark. Proved Oct term 1791. | |
12 Apr 1797 – Robinson Mumford Sheriff to Samuel Wilson – Cumberland DB 16 p 251 – 50 acres – 4.4.7 pounds recovered by Michael Bullard of Jesse Thames – finding no goods or chattels [to satisfy the debt] a tract or parcel of land lower side of Espies Creek SW of the NW river patented by William or Neal Gray or otherwise a part of both which patents were both passed 1735 13 Apr 1797 – Samuel C Wilson to Joseph Theames – Cumberland Co DB 16 p 241 (another copy here) One day later, Samuel Wilson sells this land to Joseph Thames for 2 pounds – “on the lower side of Espies Creek SW of NW River beginning at a black jack the back corner of a 50 acre survey sold to Theames by Jno Newberry & runs then S 80 W 41 chs then N 10 W 12 chains 24 links then N 80 E 41 chains along the old line between Newberry’s & [space] then to a stake in the road 40 E 12 chains 24 links to the beginning… patented by William Gray 1735… |
So far I’ve not found record of Jesse disposing of the 200 acre tract granted in 1779. If I’m understanding it correctly, the Great Marsh lies in what is now Robeson County – unless there was another one. The 1808 Strother map of North Carolina shows the location of the marsh. Here’s a zoomed image, Great Marsh positioned more or less in the center:
27 Aug 1783 – Jesse Thims is issued Revolutionary War Pay Voucher no. 4387 in the Wilmington District for militia service, signed by Thomas Sewell and Thomas Routledge, and Lewis Holmes, Clerk.
Go to The Two Jesses – Part 1
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