Isle of Wight

Just across the river from the first settlement of Jamestown, VA is Isle of Wight (IOW).  It was discovered by James Smith, no less, and became an important jumping off point for many of our early ancestors.

For example, one of my immigrant ancestors, John Stancil, indentured himself to a Virginia planter to pay for his ride from England to America. He landed in the Isle of Wight area and worked off his obligation. Once free of the indenture, his sons and grandchildren find their way into NC.

I've always wanted to visit IOW, and it's perfectly ridiculous that I haven't already done so seeing that it's only a few hours from Raleigh. I'm finally going to do it! This upcoming weekend, I'll snake my way from coastal North Carolina to coastal Virginia and immerse myself in all things Isle of Wight!

I'll start with the Isle of Wight Visitor Center, move on to the museum, and spend some time in the library. I'll visit historic St. Lukes Church and the old courthouse of 1750. 

What a geeky weekend!  Aren't you glad you're not going with me? Hehe.

I'll post on it next week and let you know how it went!

Pearce Family of Franklin County, NC

Martha Hawkins Pearce
1872 - 1953

 According to family lore and scanty documentation, the Pearce family migrated into Franklin County sometime prior to 1780 via Northhampton County, NC, Isle of Wight, Virginia, and Bristol, England. Although the family and descendants spent many years in Franklin County (about 1780 – about 1840), family members after 1840 migrated back and forth among Franklin, Wake, and Granville Counties. This was likely due to the shifting county lines and that the family lived very near the “3 corners” where the three counties share a common boundary line.

Jeffrey Pearce was born about 1780 in Franklin Co., NC, and died after 1860 in Franklin Co., NC. He married his first wife, Anna Dent, 13 Sep 1808 in Franklin County, NC. Anna, born about 1790, was the daughter of John Dent and Sarah Hutchinson. Upon Anna’s death, he married Adaline Falkner 23 Dec 1840 in Franklin Co., NC. Jeffrey and Anna raised a large and prosperous family in Franklin County. Their 11 children included John, Martha (Patsy) Kearney, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Enoch, Henry, James Thomas, Benjamin, Joseph, Willis, and Samuel.

Jeffrey’s marriage to Anna is mentioned in her mother’s will. Probated in Franklin County on 16 December 1824, Sarah Dent leaves all of her property – including cattle, hogs, household, and kitchen furniture - to “Jeffrey Pearce and his wife Anne for the purpose of maintaining my daughter Mary and after the death of Mary my will is that the above property shall go to above said Jeffrey and his wife Anna and their Heirs”.

Jeffrey’s will dated 27 January 1838 recorded in Franklin County is very generous to his family and clearly delineates his place in society as a plantation owner. He leaves all his real and personal property to his “beloved wife” Annie Pearce to support herself and their daughter Elizabeth. On the death of her mother, Elizabeth will inherit all his land and plantation. He leaves money as well to Elizabeth, Enoch, James, and Mary. He asks that his slaves be divided among Elizabeth, Enoch, James, Willis, and Joseph. Children Patsy, Mary Ann, William, Henry, and Benjamin each inherit a sum equivalent to the slaves’ cash value. He names Henry, Enoch and James as executors. On 13 November 1859, Jeffrey signs a codicil leaving 1/8 of his estate to his daughter Patsy and her children, presumably because she was widowed.

According to the Extracts of Franklin Co., NC Court Minutes, 1838-1839, Jeffrey served on a jury in an apparent criminal trial of Thomas E. Yarborough et al, who was charged with Affray (modern day assault). The jury found the defendants not guilty and ordered that the prosecutor in the case pay all costs.

The family appears on the 1840 and 1860 US Federal Census in Franklin, NC. The 1860 Slave Schedule shows five slaves as belonging to the family ranging in age 9 to 53.

John Pearce, son of Jeffrey Pearce and Anna Dent, was born 1812 in Franklinton, Franklin County, NC, and died 08 Mar 1882 in Wake County, NC. He married Martha Williams 19 Jul 1831 in Franklin County, she was born 1810 in Wake County, NC, and died 1858. John and Martha appear on the 1850 and 1860 federal census in New Light District of Wake County, NC, which is just across the Franklin County line. He is listed as a farmer and carpenter. Their children, all born in Wake County, include James, Marcellus, John, Angeline, George, Sarah, and Vandelia. Son Marcellus served in the Civil War with Co I, 1st NC State Troops, was taken prisoner at Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864 and was released from the infamous Elmira Prison a year later.

George Wesley Pearce, son of John Pearce and Martha Williams, was born Jan 1843 in Wake County, NC, and died 1916 in Wake County, NC. He married Elizabeth Caroline Perry 14 Feb 1866 in Wake County, NC, daughter of William Perry and Delia Harrison. She was born 27 Mar 1831 in Wake County, NC, and died 16 Aug 1903 in Wake County, NC. George served in the Civil War with Co. D, 23rd Reg. NC Troops. George and Elizabeth had 6 children: Martha Hawkins, Dillithea, John, George, Annie, and Joseph.

Martha Hawkins Pearce, daughter of George Wesley Pearce and Elizabeth Caroline Perry, was born Sep 1870 in Wake County, NC. She married Allan H. Ray 03 Dec 1885 in Wake County, NC. Their children included Elizabeth, Loretta, Mary, and James.

Elizabeth Ray, daughter of Martha Hawkins Pearce and Allan Ray, was born 24 Dec 1886 in Wake County, NC. She married Eugene Narron Allen 02 Jul 1904 in Wake County, NC. Eugene (Bud) served in World War I. Elizabeth (Sissy) and Eugene had seven children: Vada Atlas, Mamie, Lois, Henrietta, Lucie, John, and Eugene. Sissy died in childbirth with Eugene on 18 Apr 1928 in Wake County.

Ethel Davis Allen and
Vada Atlas Allen

Vada Atlas Allen, son of Elizabeth Ray and Eugene Allen, was born 27 Jun 1905 in Wake Co., NC, and died 21 Oct 1964 in Raleigh, NC. He married Ethel Davis 14 Oct 1926 in New Light Township, Wake County, NC, daughter of Sidney Davis and Cordelia Davis. She was born 27 Dec 1906 in Granville Co, NC, and died 30 Jun 1965 in Raleigh, NC. At various points in their life together, they lived in Granville, Franklin and Wake Counties. Their oldest daughter, Ann Gladys, was born in Franklin County. Additionally, they had two other daughters, Elizabeth (Lib) Grace and Mary Joyce.

Ann Gladys Allen, daughter of Vada Atlas Allen and Ethel Davis, was born 01 Jul 1929 in Franklin County, NC, and died 13 Apr 1997 in Wake County, NC. She married Carl Donald Stancil, son of Jesse Stancil and Lou Ada Johnson, 03 May 1952 in North Street Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC. He was born 29 Jun 1930 in Wake Co., NC, and died 02 Feb 1997 in Wake Co., NC. 

Sources: Census Records, Court Records, Wills, Clerk of Courts,

Marriage Records, Military Records, NC Archives Records,

Family Information. 

This article was originally composed by Carla Stancil for inclusion in the Franklin County Heritage Book.

Will of Ralph Matthews, 1687

Nuncupative (oral) Will of RALPH MATTHEWS

Isle of Wight County, Virginia Will and Deed Book 2, p. 269. 
Registered August 13, 1687.

An account of what RALPH MATTHEWS gave his three children before his departure to each: one bed and bedstead, to each six pewter dishes, to each one [an] Iron pot, to each one [a] frying pan, to each one a dozen of spoons, to each two por-ringers?, to one a skinner, to the next a flesh fork, and the other a ladle, and that had the lade to give her one salt tiller to equalize the skinner and flesh fork, and this he did desire. Should be at his wife's disposing till they come of age to ____ it themselves, furthermore he did desire that Col. Smith or his sonne Arthur Smith to take some care that this which he gave his children may not be imbezled and for the children be defrauded of it, and furthermore that his wife should have the remainder herself paying his debts out of it. This RALPH MATTHEWS desired as we have set our hands and hereunto to take notice of as to be his Will. Col Smith being present at that time, it being some two days before his death. Attested by Boaz Gwin, Robert Brock. Proved in open court held for the Isle of Wight County, August ye 13th 1687 by the oaths of Boaz Gwin and Robert Brock.

Test. John Pitt Ct. Clerk 
Isle of Wight County, Virginia Administrations and Probates, p. 61. 
[Abstract]

RALPH MATTHEWS by will appointed his relict, ALICE MATTHEWS, Executrix, August 13, 1687. Registered October 21, 1687

Source:  "Nimrod and Amanda Johnson Stephenson of Pleasant Grove Township, Johnston County, North Carolina:  Their Ancestors and Descendants". 1991 by James Mark Valsame, Raleigh, NC.

Will of Ezekiel Fuller - 1722

Ezekiel Fuller's will ---1722

In the name of God Amen I Ezekiel Fuller of the Isle of Wight county being of perfect Mind & Memory Thanks be to almighty God make this my Last will and Testament in a Manner and for me following Imprimts I Submit my Soul to god. 

Hoping Through the merrits of my blessed saviour To have pardon of all my Sinns. 

Item I Give to my Loving wife the use of all my Estate what so ever Dureing her widowhood or Naturall Life and the day of Marriage or Death my will is that this is 

Item I Give and Bequeath to my son Ezekiell and Sollomon all my Land to be Equaly Divided Betweene Them and their Heirs forever 

Item I give to my son Ezekiell all my Carpenters Tools. 

Item I Give the remainder of my Estate to my wife marriage or Death 

to my Loving Children 

To my daughter Ann my Son Ezekiell my Daughter Mary my Sons Sollomon, Benjamin, John, Joseph, Arthur, & Timothy to be equally divided Betweene them. 

Item I give to my son Henry Twenty Five Shillings to be paid by executrix. 

Item I give to my Daughter Martha Whitley and my Daughter Honor Allen a half a Pence and I do make my Loving Wife Deborah my Whole and Sole executrix of this my Last will and Testament in Witness my hand and seale this 19 day of November 1722.

His Marke
Ezekiel (EF) Fuller

Signed Sealed and Delivered to be the Last Will and Testament
in the presence of.
Arthur Smith
Matthew Lowry his W ( ) W Ward
marke

2nd Court held for Isle of Wight County, The 24 June 1723

The Last will & Testament of Ezekiell Fuller presented unto Court by the Executrix who made oath_______and being proved in Court by the oathes of Matthew Lowry & Wm. Ward Wittnesses is admitted to record
____Lightfoot___ ___

Recorded in Deeds and Wills of Isle of Wight Co, Va. Great Book Vol 2 part 2 1715-1726 page 133

Note: Will has no reference to children Benjamin or Ann. Additionally, the family group sheet submitted to the LDS Ancestral Files only lists nine children: Henry, Ezekial, Martha, Honour, Mary, John, Joseph, Arthur, and Timothy; leaving out Benjamin, Ann and Solomon (Solomon is in the Will however).