Granville County Beaver Dam School Census (NC)

The Granville County Beaver Dam School Census is undated but probably from about 1840. Several of my direct ancestors appear on the census.

Beaver Dam was a rural farming district in very southern Granville County very near the Wake County line. It first came into use about 1778.

I've seen the document when researching at the NC Archives. Sure wish I'd made a copy of it! It's a real treasure to me because it lists three different families in my direct line:

• Israel Dillard (my 3rd great grandfather) had three children enrolled:  Eliza (Elijah?), Narcissa, and Cornelia (my 2nd great grandmother).  
• John Davis (my 3rd great grandfather) had three children enrolled: Sugar, Mary, Johnathan (my 2nd great grand father who married Cornelia, above), Sary, and Precilla
• Nancy Allen (my 4th great grandmother) had two children enrolled: Joseph (my 3rd great grandfather) and Mary
• Sherod Wilson (my 4th great grandfather) had 7 children enrolled: Nancy, Malissa, Sarah, William, John, Betsy, and Amanda. 

I'm pretty sure I can also draw a dotted line to many of the other families on the census.  But it's very cool to see FOUR of my direct lines on this one document.

Just SO cool!

Will of Sherwood Wilson, October 28, 1840

Know all men by these presents that I Sherwood Wilson of the County of Warren and State of North Carolina being of sane mind and memory do this 28th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty make the publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit.

Item 1st. I lend to my wife Peggy the whole of my estate both real and personal during her natural life should she see cause to give to any one of my daughters any article such as a bed cow & calf during her life she is hereby authorized to do so & after my death my wish & desire  is that the whole of my estate both real & personal be equally divided in the following manner to my daughter Nancy to have one fifth part & my daughter Jane one fifth part & my daughter Polly one fifth part & my daughter Ellenor to have one fifth part & my granddaughter Julia Catherine Wilson the remaining fifth & should  my granddaughter who is an infant die leaving no lawful issue my wish is for the part left to her to be divided among my surviving children & their heirs. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this day & date above. 

In the presence of:
Edw. White
John D. Tucker

Sherwood Wilson (his mark)

Codicil to this my will made this 9 day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty four.

Item 1st, my wish is that if my granddaughter Julia Catherine Wilson while an infant have my daughters & their ? then & and in that case she is to forfit and lose her interest in the land left to her on the other page of this my will given under my hand & seal this day & date above.

Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of 

Edw. White
I Lo’ke (?) Mayfield

Source:  North Carolina Archives

William R. R. Husketh and wife Lincy Ellen Mariah Wilson - GGG Grandparents

After much research - and at long last - I'd love to introduce you to my great great great grandparents William R. R. HUSKETH and his lovely wife Lincy Ellen Mariah WILSON. 

William was born about 1817 in Granville County, NC as the first child of Archibald HUSKETH and his bride Claery BAILEY. He died some time after 1882 in Yancey County, NC. When he was 19, he married Lincy Ellen Mariah WILSON, beloved daughter of Sherwood WILSON and Stacy HUTSON, on 18 Nov 1836 in Granville County, NC.

William lived in the Beaver Dam and Cedar Creek areas of Granville County until he enrolled in the Confederate army on August 10, 1861. He served in Co. D of the 30th Infantry Regiment. He was likely a little older than most when he enlisted at the age of 44.

Once the war was over, he did not return home to his family in Granville County. The 1880 census finds him in Jacks Creek in Yancey County, NC married to Rhoda Mayfield. Rhoda was nearly half his age. I can't find any evidence of a divorce from his first wife, but need to do much more research. 

At the moment, it appears he left his first family when he enlisted and never returned to them, although a cousin has a letter indicating he was regretful about not seeing his children with Lincy. I've read that it's possible Lincy died around the time William entered the war, so there may a connection.

William and first wife Lincy had the following children:

• Armeda HUSKETH was born about 1840 in Granville County and died about 1910. She married Henry ALLEN on 23 Aug 1870. These are my great great grandparents. 
• John HUSKETH was born about 1840.
• Arrilda HUSKETH was born about 1847.
• Eugene Archibald Wilson HUSKETH was born on 07 Aug 1857 in Granville County and died on 01 May 1931 in Franklin Co. He is buried in the Lewis Augustus Wilson Cemetery in New Light,NC. He married Della HUSKETH on 07 Nov 1895.
• Anterour T.

William and 2nd wife Rhoda MAYFIELD had the following children:

• Lincy Ellen HUSKETH was born on 06 Dec 1866 and died on 29 Oct 1913 in Yancey County, NC. (Isn't it peculiar that William and 2nd wife named their first child after his 1st wife??)
• Annis HUSKETH was born in May 1876 in North Carolina.
• David HUSKETH was born in Sep 1882 in North Carolina.

I am sure there is way more to this story than I know currently, but stay tuned and I'll be sure to update you with any juicy details that may come my way!

Will of Jonathan F. Davis, Jan. 27, 1896, Granville County, NC

State of North Carolina
Granville County

I, Jon. F. DAVIS of the County and State aforesaid, bring of feeble health but of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this my last will and testament I the manner and form following.

First, that my executor hereafter named shall provide for my body a decent burial and pay all of my just debts howsoever and to whomever owing out of the first money that shall come into his hands.

I give my beloved wife Cornelia DAVIS all of my real and personal property and ? of what nature or kind and wheresoever the same shall be at the time of my death living her natural life or widowhood. After her death or marriage it is my will that the aforesaid property be divided between my seven children as follows.

I give and devise to my daughter Genetta WILSON Ninety Dollars less than a full share. 

I give and devise to my daughter Augusta HASWELL Fifty Five Dollars less than a full share.

I give and devise to my daughter Aramenta PLEASANTS Fifty Dollars less than a full share. 

Owing to advances made to the three above named with the above deductions. It is my will that the aforesaid property be equally divided between my seven children: Genetta WILSON, Augusta HASWELL, Aramenta PLEASANTS, Cordelia DAVIS, Seraftner INSCORE, Larrance DAVIS, Cora DAVIS. 

And lastly, I do hereby appoint my friend J.L. DAVIS my lawful Executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intent of the same. I hereby revoke and declare utterly invalid all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof the said Jonathan F. DAVIS do hereunto set my hand and seal this 27th day of January, 1896.

Jonathan F. DAVIS (seal)

Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said Jonathan F. DAVIS to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence do declare our names as witnesses thereto. 

John L. JOYNER
P.R. ALLEN

****
Handwritten note

J. D. Davis Executor of Johnathan F. DAVIS Dec'd.
Inventory
1 track of land and home track - 146 acres
1 track of land Good Hope track 50 acres
1 track of land Bragg track 56 acres
1 mule, 1 cow, 9 hogs
1 wagon, 3 plows, 2 ho?, 2 wheat cradles
2 feather beds, 1 desk, 1 workstand, 1 clock, 6 chairs
1 folding table, 1 cook stove, 2 tables, small lot of table ware,
1 old buggy

J. D. DAVIS, Executor
Sworn to and subscribed before me this Sept. 18, 1900. J. G. ?? (CREECH?), C.S.C