Early Settlers"THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: THEIR ORIGINS, SETTLEMENT, AND LEGACY"
HtLEN F.M. LEARY, C.G.
516 E. Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
"The North Carolina colony in the eighteenth century w as a child of
England. It shared with the mother country a common language,
political institutions, social systems, and other concepts and
perceptions so fundamentally English that the American Revolution was
in many ways a civil war. Yet there were undeniable differences
between parent and child:"
"North Carolina in the First British Empire: Economy and Society
in an Eighteenth -Century Colony," William S. Price, Jr. Butler
and Watson, The North Carolina Experience.
A. Preparing for settlement of North Carolina
1. In England
a. Doctrine of "Effective Occupation" and drive for political dominance in
Europe - need to get settlers "on the ground"
b. Theory of "Merchantilism" - an empire, with raw materials produced in
colonies and manufactured goods produced in mother country; limita-
tions on colonial exports; severe limitations on money supply in
colonies; legislation promoting production of certain products in
specified colonies (e.g.,Naval Stores Act of 1705)
c. A workforce ready for departure (early Virginia settlements)
1). previous European habits of migration
a). local
b). regional
c). to London and other port cities
2). overpopulation, poverty, and dislocation of jobless (early 1600s)
a). the colonies an extension of English home labor market
b). poor malnourished, disease -prone, disease carriers
i. infected American native population (Indians)
ii. succumbed to American diseases (e.g., malaria)
c). unable to pay passage money - indentured servants, redemtioners
3). changes in English labor market, 1660s - plague, fire, war
a). changing nature of emigrants - fewer poor, more artisans
b). beginning of "magnet" effect of colonies
i. American & English land speculators
ii. ships' captains - "cargo" for return voyages
iii. earlier emigrant reports
d. "Knowhow" developed from earlier failures (e.g. lists of "what to bring")
e. English Civil War, Commonwealth, and Restoration
1). .James I died 1625; succeeded by Charles I (hiaitus in support for
colonization)
2) . 1642 - beginning of civil war led by Cromwell
3). Charles I defeated, beheaded 1649
4). Commonwealth until Crom w ell's defeat in 1659 - Virginia remained
ci royalist; safe haven for C.of E. clergy, et al
t. 5). 1660 - Restoration; Charles II assumes throne; C.of E. clergy no
longer endangered so not eager to emigrate; affected attempts to
establish church in NC
` Davie County Public Library
-� Mocksville, N
im- wunin unnUL11VM t1MbL15H: I11LIR ORIGINS, SETTLEMENT, AND LEGACY"
page 2
2. In Virginia r
a. Virginia Company Charters, 1606, 1609, 1612 - included land south to
Cape Fear
b. 1607 - successful settlement at Jamestown
c. 1618 - reorganization of Virginia government and beginning of House of
Burgesses
d. 1624 - Virginia Company charter declared void in English Court;
Virginia became a Royal colony
d. Growth of the Virginia plantation
English class system present among immigrants
a). upper - nobility, gentlemen adventurers, govt officials
b). middle - merchants, entreprenuers, professional men
C). lower - indentured servants
d). a new class - Indian and African slaves
2). Population growth
a). Gradual growth of native-born of English stock; began to
outnumber surviving immigrants
b). Completion of periods of indenture - former servants looking
for land, competing with former masters
c). Growing black labor force (2% in 1680. 15% 1690, 25% 1710)
3). Hostile Indians to the west - expansion limited to seaboard
e. Activities specific to North Carolina
1). 1608, 1610, 1614, 16221, etc. - attempts to find Lost Colonists;
explorations of "southern Virginia"
2). 1646-1651 - expedition against Indians on Chowan River; publica-
tion of tracts to attract settlers; additional exploration
3. In.North Carolina
a. 1584 - Charter to Walter Raleigh (settlement attempts 1585-1587)
b. 1629 - Robert Heath's Charter (preparations with French Huguenots; no
settlers sent); "Carolana" from s. side Albemarle to ca. lower Georgia
c. 1632 - Heath sold to Lord M altravers and others (their Carolina
interests finally settled 1768 with 100,000 grant in w. New York)
d. Restoration - Charles II looking for suitable reward for those who helped
4. The Indians
a. Hunting practices - use of fire had preserved virgin forests in
wetlands (naval stores; grazing for livestock)
b. Farming practices - slash -and -burn clearing techniques; field rotation
rather than crop rotation on same field - "natural meadows" seen by
explorers were fallow Indian farmlands
Ce Theories of land ownership - land for communal use vs. English - land
for personal use
B. First Permanent Settlement of North Carolina, 1650-1663
1. Who were the settlers
a. Trappers and traders
b. Livestock raisers (cattle and hogs)
c. Families
d. Officials
e. Merchants, etc.
d. Ordinary folk
1) . freemen
2). indentured servants
2. The influence of geography
a. The Dismal Swamp - no overland roads; travel difficult
b. The Outer Banks - no deepsea ports; promoted coastal -travel
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: THEIR ORIGINS, SETTLEMENT, AND LEGACY" page 3
c.
The Albemarle Sound - unifying waterway
3. Evidence of Earliest Settlement
a.
1653 - Virginia grant to Roger Green for 10,000 acres between Roanoke
and Chowan "next to those persons who have had a former grant"
b.
1655 - Brodman begins to build Nathaniel Batts's house (in present
Bertie Co.) - house noted on 1657 Comberford map
c.
1662 - Va. Gov. Berkley appointed Maj. Samuel Stephens "commander of
the southern plantation"
d.
1663 - Albemarle population at ca. 500
1). distance from Virginia oversight
2). developing own social, governmental systems
C. Beginnings of Government and Continuation of Settlement, 1663-1700
1. The
Government - 1663 to ca. 1672
a.
The documents
16630 1665 - Carolina Charters (second one expanded area to cover
Albemarle settlements; regularized Proprietors' title)
1664 - Berkley's appointment of Drummond as first Gov. of Albemarle
1664 - Proprietors' Appointment of Peter Carteret, Asst. Gov.
1665 - Concessions and Agreement
1668 - Great Deed of Grant
b.
Settlement incentives contained in the documents (many included also in
Heath Charter)
1). provision for support of C.of E. out of public funds, but
guarantees of religious freedom to dissenters (Protestant -not
Catholic), including recognition (but not support) of their clergy
provided dissenters did not disturb the peace
2). grants of land (amounts varied) for immigrants: freemen for
themselves, their families, and their servants (white or black);
indentured servants for themselves at end of indentures
3). laws to be made only with "advice, assent and approbation" of
freemen or a majority of them, or their Delegates (i.e., a repre-
sentative legislature); legislature given right to decide them-
selves when they would meet and adjourn
4). quiet possession of lands by freemen
5). provisions for naturalization of non-English immigrants, and all
citizens to have same rights in colony as Englishmen at home
6). provisions for appointment of surveyors, registers to record
grants and also settler -to -settler deeds; established legality of
first -recorded deed/grant over all others, even if date of
unrecorded was earlier (recordation not required in England until
20th Century)
7). provisions for establishment of local govt units
c.
BUT:
1). Lords Proprietors given power in NC equal to the greatest ever
enjoyed by the Bishop of Durham County in England (virtually
royal power]
2). provided for establishment of feudal courts (Courts Baron, Views
of Frankpledge, Courts Leet)
3). Lords Proprietors given power to determine the "terms" of
settlers' land ownership and purchase
2. The
Government 1670-1700
a.
Fundamental Constitutions (and amendments, changes, revisions, and
other tinkerings; some formal, some in instructions to governors -
.County p ubk Library
Davle
mocksville, NC
+++c +vuR i n UhMUL114H tIVV.LISH: I HLIR ORIGINS, SETTLEMENT, AND LEGACY" page 4
implementation begun ca. 1672;. abandoned 1693; revived 1698 but not
enforced; final abandonment by 1700)
1). formulated to "avoid erecting a numerous Democracy" - too late!
2). establishment of feudal social/land system (unsuccessful)
3). establishment of state church (unsuccessful)
4). establishment of court system (successful)
5). establishment of system for local government (successful)
5). establishment of system for colony -wide governmental system (only
partially successful; led to strife; weak governor and virtually
powerless assembly, strong Council; no chanel for complaints or
for changes originating with settlers)
b. Trade
1). tobacco economy in NC as in VA
a). competition with VA
b). lack of export ports - shipping through VA (roads begun; most
transfers to VA ports via waterways)
c). 1679 - Virginia closed ports to NC tobacco; not reopened
until 1731
d). NC shipping to/through New England, also Phila., NY
2). 1672 Navigation Acts - high taxes imposed on trade not directly
with England and not shipped in English hulls - tobacco excepted
3). 1573 - tobacco included in Navigation Acts; NC-N.Eng.
"cooperation" in avoiding tarrifs
4). 1677 - Culpepper's Rebellion.
conflict between Proprietors' representatives' efforts to enforce
Fundamental Constitutions and Navigation Acts vs. pre -proprietary
settlers efforts to return to earlier guarantees and free trade;
results mixed and temporary
c. Land
1). first land grants (grantees given 13 years to "plant") began to
lapse in 1680s; petitions for re -grants
2). liberalized policies in 1690s - many patents deliberately allowed
to lapse for re -granting under new policies; headrights re -proved
(often named)
3). Virginia grants - disputed territory
4). English surveying practices used
d. Settlement
1). Colony continuing to grow in spite of problems, especially in
peace period after 1677; Quakers gained control of legislature,
many public offices, peaceful influence - also with Indians (pop.
in 1675 about 4,000)
2). Some indentured servants, but few compared with VA, MD, PA
3). Mainly families
a). overland and by coastal vessel: Virginia, New England,
Barbados, other colonies (SC, MD, PA, NY)
b). natural increase - 2d and 3d generation (and later) not as
prone to sickness
C). some from abroad
i. England - officials, free families, and indentured servants
ii. France - directly or indirectly; Huguenots to Pamlico,
1690 and early 1700s to Trent
iii. Switzerland and the Palatinates - DeGraffenreid to Neuse, 171C
4). Spreading south and west; second NC County Palatine, Bath Co., 1696
5). Growth beyond Albemarle recognised in 1689 - designation of Philip
Ludw ell as governor of "that part of Carolina lying north and
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: THEIR ORIGINS, -SETTLEMENT, AND_ LEGACY" page 5
east of Cape Fear" - resulting problems with SC over border
( formal recognition of separate NC -SC in 1 712)
6). Absence of settlement on Cape Fear - still no deepwater port
D. North Carolina, 1700-1720
1. Government
a. Representative assembly with power to originate legislation re-established
b. Local -government units (precincts of Counties Palatine) proliferated;
role in the structure re -affirmed
c. 1715 - revision and codification of "ancient standing laws of this
government"; 60 new laws passed for promotion of 'peace and welfare of
the province"; provision that in all things not covered, English
Common Law would prevail
d. End of governor -pirate -smuggler coalitions; Stede Bonnet and Edward
Teach captured and executed 1718
2. Religion
a. End of Quaker political power: 1704 Oaths of Loyalty required;
1711 Cary Rebellion
b. 1701 - Vestry Act, later repealed (insufficient clergy, indifferent
populace)
C. Growth of other "dissenting" religious groups
3. Loney - Scarcity of specie dictated by m erchantilist policy
a. Use in colonies of non-English coins
1). values inflated
2) . 1704 - Queen Anne "Proclamation" re: value of pieces of eight
3). beginning in 1712, series of issues of paper money -
"proclamation money" - term applied to coin and paper
4). 1714 - first counterfeiting law: punishable by death "without
benefit of clergy"; 1745-1756 - for first offense: 2 hours in
pillory and loss of both ears, later 40 lashes added to punish-
ment, for first offense only; 1756-1775 death penalty reinstated
b. Establishment of "book credit" system
c. Direct barter system
d. Rated commodities (x amt. of someting = y amt. of money)
1694 - pork, tobacco, dry hides, tallow
1709 - corn, pork, pitch, tar "chief" among rated com modoties
1715 - tobacco, Indian corn, wheat, cheese, raw and dressed deerskins,
beaver, otter and wildcat skins, butter, feathers, tar, pitch,
whale oil, beef, and pork
1723 - added to above: rice, hemp, turpentine
1741 - commodity notes
1748 - legislature abandoned use of commodities as payment of public
debts; continued in private use. Taxes and fees thereafter must
be paid IN CASH
e. NC paper money - beset by inflation; widespread use of Virginia money
in private transactions
4. Trade
a. Exports
1). 1705 - Naval Stores Bounty Act
2)• Pamlico settlements - fur trade with Indians
3). Tobacco, etc.; continuing tariff problems
b. Imports
1). Salt, coffee, tea, etc.; manufactured goods
2). People - land speculation and imported settlers in groups;
beginning of the "boom"
Davie ,oUnt�+ PublIC Lib�arY
moasvitle, NC
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: THEIR ORIGINS, SETTLEMENT, AND LEGACY" page 6
5. War
a. 1711 -171 5 - Tuscarora Indian Wars in NC
b. 1718 - Yamassee War in SC
c. Effects:
1). removing "barrier" to westward expansion
2). removing "barrier" to settlement of Cape Fear; introduction to
Cape Fear area by Gen. Maurice Moore, et al
E. On the Eve of the Population Explosion, 1720-1740
1. Government:
a. Settlement of border controversies
1). Survey of Virginia/NC border, 1728; finished in 1749
2). Survey of SC/NC border, 1736-1737; additional sections
surveyed 1'754; 1772; 1816 ( southern border with Georgia surveyed 1831
b. End of Proprietary Period
1) . 1719 in SC
2). 1729 in NC - stabiliztion of worries over land titles; unification
of the "rules" with other Royal colonies
c. Granville District - final survey 17430 grants 1744-1763; did not have
governmental rights (or costs); profits from grants and quitrents of
the most populated 1/2 of NC went to Granville, not to NC gov't
2. Settlement
a. Cape 'Fear begun, 1725
1). uncertain definition of border, and land grant jurisdiction -
conflict with SC, a problem, but:
2). elimination of Indian threat during 1718 Yamassee War - safe land
available
3). elimination of pirate threat 1718 - safe access by sea
4). availability deepwater port, with water access to interior
b. Westward expansion to the falls by 1735
c. Population expansion all along coast and "leapfrog" expansion inland
d. Characteristics
1). few indentured servants - labor by forced immigration from Africa
2). families and family-oriented
3). fortune -seekers, many of ability and education
4). still primarily from other colonies; first trickle of Highlanders
begins 1732; some importation to settle speculation lands
5). the Virginians - 1731 opening of northeastern NC tobacco lands to
Virginia ports; influx of Virginians of wealth, education, poli-
tical experience - of English stock or acclimated to English
legal/govt/social systems; origins of new power "elite" and shift
of power center from Edenton
F. The Population Explosion
1. Elements in place in NC
a. System of local government
b. Legal and judicial system
c. Established language
d. Evolving social custom
e. Established land systems: surveying, ownership rights, etc:
f. Established requirement for naturalization
g. Large Speculation tracts in place, with need to attract settlers
2. Conditions in other colonies
a. Population growth by immigration and natural increase
b. Running out of land
IHE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: THEIR ORIGINS, SETTLEMENT, AND LEGACY" page 7
c. Established systems, power structures, economic structures - not
anxious to accomodate competitive newcomers
3. Highland Scots
a. Events in British Isles
1) . Act of Union (Scotland, England, and Wales, 1704); First Jacobite
Rebellion defeated, 1715; second defeated, Battle of Culloden, 1746
2). Lairds executed, clans broken up, people disoriented
3). Conversion of traditional land practices/ownership to large
commercialized tracts, people displaced
4). Short-term leases "racked" (auctioned off to highest bidders when
lease expired), people unable to pay rents, taxes, fees
b. Colonial conditions
1). Shipping from NC of naval stores through
Wilmington/Brunswick; destination the shipbuilding areas - Scotland
and adjacent England; need to find "cargo" for return voyages
2). Newly opened settlement lands on Cape Fear - inland; prior settle-
ments at mouth of Cape Fear by wealthy South Carolina and
Albemarle families
3). Religious freedom
3. Ulster Scots (Scotch -Irish)
a. Scots "planted" in Ireland - beginning with Mary I, continued by
Elizabeth I. James I - in central Ireland
b. Irish revolts in late 1500s led by Shane O'Neill, later by nephew Hugh
O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (northern Ireland - Ulster), defeated 1603
c. Plantation of Ulster (1610) under James I, coincided with plantation of
Virginia (1 607 )
d. English absentee landlords, rack renting, protectionist trade laws,
depression of linen industry; plantation Scots poor, out of work,
oppressed - ready to leave
e. Opening of new lands in western areas of colonies by "pacification" of
Indians; desire of eastern colonists for "buffer" settlements between
them and Indians
f. Trade exports from first arrivals (e.g., flax seed) through Philadelphia,
destined for Irish ports; need for "cargo" on return voyages; snowballed
g. Constant extension of Wagon Road as settlers moved farther west and
south - arrived in NC in early 1750s
4. Germans - the only NC immigration group not already experienced with English
law and custom; adaptation necessary for land ownership, an overiding
consideration
"The English settlers.«occupied the territory [North Carolina's Coastal
Plain from ca. 1655 to ca. 1735) without interruption, thereby fastening
the English political and social institutions upon the colony. English
customs molded the form of local government, the system of judicature,
and the whole body of legislation. So deeply embedded were these insti-
tutions that they endured despite the later coming of different ethnic
elements into the colony."
Camp, The Influence of Geography Upon Early North Carolina.
vie County Public librarY
Ba
mocMville, NC
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: THEIR ORIGINS, SETTLEMENT, AND LEGACY" page 8
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anscombe, Francis C. I Have Called You Friends; The Stoly of Quakerism in North
Carolina. Boston: 1959. -"
Bailyn, Bernard. The Peopling of British North America on the Eve of the Revolution.
New York: Knopf, 1986.- -
Bailyn, Bernard. Voyagers to the West: A Passage in the Peopling of British North
America on the Eve of the Revolution. New York: Knopf, 1986.
Blethen, Tyler and Curtis Wood, Jr. From Ulster to Carolina: The Migration of the
Scotch -Irish to Southwestern North Carolina. 2d ed. [n.p.]: Western Carolina Univ.,
Mountain Heritage Center, 1986.
Butler, Lindley S. and Alan D. Watson, ed. The North Carolina Experience: An
Interpretive and Documentary History. Chapel Hill and London: The Univ. of NC
Press, 1984. _
Camp, Cordelia. The Influence of Geography Upon Earl North Carolina. Raleigh: The
Carolina Charter Tercentenary Com mission, 1963.
Cumming, William P. North Carolina in Maps. Raleigh: State Dept. of Archives and
History, 1966. _
Fenn, Elizabeth A. and Peter H. Wood. Natives & Newcomers: The Way We Livedin North
Carolina Before 11770. Chapel Hill: Univ. of NC Press for the NX Dept. of Cultural
Resources, 1983.
Hooker, Richard J., ed. The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of the Revolution: The
Journal and Other Writings of Charles W oodmason, Anglican Itinerant. Chapel Hill:
Univ. of NC Press for the Institute of Early American History and Culture at
Williamsburg, VA, 1953.
Lefler, Hugh T. and William S. Powell. Colonial North Carolina: A History. New
York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1973. -
Lefler, Hugh T. and Albert Ray Newsome. The History of a Southern State: North
Carolina. 3d. ed. Chapel Hill: Univ of NC Press, 1973.
Parker, Mattie Erma Edwards, William S. Price, Jr., and Robert J. Cain, eds. The
Colonial Records of North Carolina Second Seriesl: tLcLher Court Records. Raleigh:
Div. of Archives and History, 1963 - 7 vols. of a projected multi -volume
series have been published.
Parramore, Thomas C. and Douglas C. Wilms. North Carolina: The History of an
American State. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice -Hall 983.
� Inc.,., Testbook for NC
8th grade history course.
Powell, William S., ed. Ye Countie of Albemarle _ in Caroina: A Collection of
Documents, 1164-1675. Raleigh: State Department of Archives and History, 1958.
Watson, Alan D. Money and Monetary Problems in Early North Carolina. Raleigh:
North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Div. of Archives and History, 1980.
"THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: THEIR LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY"
HELEN F.M. LEARY, C.G.
516 E. Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
INTRODUCTION TO LECTURE:
1. Recapitulation of the English legacy
a. Language - and its influence on thought patterns
b. Social structure - habituation to a class system
c. Family structure - the nuclear family
d. Land practices - metes and bounds survey; recordation; quiet possession
e. Governmental theories - representative, responsive legislature;
responsible executive branch; interpretive judicial branch
f. A system of legal premises, laws, and courts
2. The law affects:
a. records created under it
what's in the record, where to find it, & why it was created
b. individual personal behavior
c. group/social behavior
3. The law is affected by:
a. changes in custom and usage - time period, 'there oughta be a law..."
b. individual leaders - their response to abuses or crises
c. place - history, precedent, local conditions
INTRODUCTION TO
1. Common
Those
COMMON LAW:
Law
principles and
and the security
solely from:
rules of action developed for orderly government
of people and property, whose authority is derived
1). usages and customs of immemorial antiquity (precedent)
2). court judgments affirming/enforcing such ancient usages;
I.e., The ancient unwritten law of England
2. Statutory Law: enactments of legislature, "An Act for the..."
3. American colonial law:
a. Beginnings: "English common law" - was actually a combination of
statutory law, case law (common law confirmed by court action) and
customary practices
b. Development in each colony was affected by:
1). the evolutionary state of English law when colony founded (e.g.,
VA 1607; Carolina 1663; GA 1733)
2). whether colony founded by the "establishment" or the "anti-
establishment"
3). whether the settlers arrived ahead of the law, or vice -versa
4). conditions here:
a). immense continent & plenty of land
b). imigration of non-English
c). distance from English/Virginia oversight
e). emergence of "North Carolina identity"
aavi2 Counti �ubll� Lib�a�l
Mo&sville, NC
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY
page 2
THE SYSTEM: Two concurrent systems for remedy of injuries to person, property,
or reputation or for prevention of same:
1. Equity
a. "Suits in equity" were brought to determine was fair and just based on
the facts of a particular situation; cases not covered by law forms or
causes that would result in hardship if law forms followed (e.g.,
(Suits to set aside a legal will were heard in equity; actions to
prove invalidity/illegality of will were brought at law.)
b. Abolished in some states (e.g. NC in 1868, SC) retained in others (e.g.
TN, MD).
c. Facts dedided by and judgment rendered by chancellor - no jury;
chancellor could issue writ halting a case being heard at law or to
suspend judgment/execution of a law court.
d. Chief administrative officer "Clerk and Master in Equity".
e. Equity forms: "orator/oratrix" vs. "defendant", "in equity," "on
petition of
f. Courts called "Chancery Courts" or "Courts of Equity"; sometimes same
personnel as on "Court of Law" but jurisdictions (and usually dockets)
kept separate
2. Law
a. Basic premises of English common law at settlement of American colonies
1). property rights ("a man's home is -his castle"; i.e., "quiet possession")
a). to acquire
b). to retain
c). to maintain
d). to devise - not as well established as others; many restrictions
e). doctrine of ancestral property - limitations on and establish-
ment of orderly descent of lands of intestates
2). individual rights ("life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness")
a). limited by common good, governmental convenience
b). equality before the law (more or less)
c). jury of his peers
d). freedom from undue interference of govt. bodies or officials
e). "rights of an Englishman" - nebulous concept often invoked by
both sides of a controversy (e.g., Stamp Act); promised in
NC Charters
b. Criminal side
1) . Injuries to the King's peace ("Dom Rex vs. Roe" - later "State
vs. Roe"). Action begun by grand jury on it's own "presentment"
or on"bill of indictment" brought to it, stating offence; on
return of "true bill" by jury (i.e., there is sufficient cause
for prosecution) moved to trial; on conviction, sentence passed
by judge and executed by Sheriff.
2). Criminal offenses: treason, murder, stealing, robbery, fornication,
adultery, counterfeiting, witchcraft, assault (threat of violence
against defendant's body) , battery ( doing of •violence...), etc.,
and (varying from colony to colony) swearing, horseracing,
drunkeness, wife -beating, and hen-pecking, and/or all the above
on the Sabbath.
3). Penalties: death, loss of limb, branding, disfigurement of ear(s)
or nose (which is why you see petitions to a court to recognize
that loss of ear or nose was result of fight, not of judicial
action), flogging, and time in the stocks.
a). Not imprisonment - jails/goals were "holding" facilities for
criminals awaiting trial.
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY
page 3
b). Capital crimes of slaves heard by special courts; murder of
slave/indentured servant or "wanton" maiming also a criminal
offense in most jurisdictions - and a civil matter if murderer/
m aim er was not owner
c. Civil side '
1). "Actions at law" brought according to narrowly -defined, rigid
forms, depending on the nature of the offense and/or the remedy
sought.
2). Disputes between persons ("Doe vs. Roe") for recovery of damages
to person, property or reputation. Initiated on "declaration" of
plaintiff stating nature of offense and choice of "action" form;
resulted in court's "capias writ" to Sheriff to take into custody
and produce defendant; "recognizance" bond by defendant, secured
by "sureties" by which defendant guaranteed his appearance;
"Plea" of defendant; "rejoinder" and "surre joinder", etc. =
further pleadings; "issue joined" when plaintiff and defendant
agreed on point of law in dispute - facts of cause used to
determine point of law, not to determine court judgment; judgment
of court resulted in writ to Sheriff to execute judgment - kind
of writ depending on nature of judgment ("fi fa" = "fiere
facias", most common - order to Sheriff to raise sum of judgment
and court costs out of the "goods and chattels, lands and tene-
ments" of loser).
3). Forms of actions at law Lif "declaration" named wrong form and
defendant proved it, cause was lost regardless of where
"fairness" lays:
1). Account: brought to require fiduciary to render account
(e.g., ward vs. guardian; heir vs. administrator)
2). Assumpsit: brought to recover when defendant broke an implied
promise to do or not do. Verdict "he did/did not assume."
Various forms depending on whether promise arose out of debt
or was oral or written.
3). "Case": short form of "Trespass on the Case" - most liberal
form of action to recover damages resulting from indirect
action of defendant - not used if there was violence against
person or property; ancestor of modern Negligence cause of
action.
4). Covenant: brought to recover when defendant broke a sealed
agreement (e.g., failed to honor a deed)
5) . Debt: brought to recover specific sum of money owed by defendant
6). Detinue: brought to recover damages from defendants unlaw-
full keeping of my property - regardless of how he aquired
it or who has property now (e.g., he kept my cow for 2
months and I had to buy milk - want the cost of the milk
from him)
7). Ejectment: brought to prove ownership of contested land -
elaborate form pretending a rental ("demise") of the land
and unlawfull retention of it by leasee. Form "Doe on the
Demise of Johnson vs. Roe on the Demise of Adams" - note
that Johnson and Adams aren't dead.
8). Replevin: brought to recover specific personal property
taken or detained by defendant. Personal Replevin brought
to get an individual released from prison or custody of
another person. ( e.g., husband sues father of runaway wife
who's harboring her to get her back to "home and hearth")
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY page 4
9) . Trespass: various forms - what we call "trespass" was
"Trespass quare clausam fregit Lwherefore he broke the
close, or boundaries of my land]. If he came and carried
away my cow I sued under "Trespass de bonis asportatis" but
if I wanted that cow back I sued under Replevin. If he
committed direct violence against me or my property I sued
under "Trespass vi et armis."
10). Trover: if I'd "lost" the cow and he'd "found" her but not
returned it, converting it to his own use, I sued under
Trover to get it back, i.e., action brought for damages
arising from unlawful interference with identifiable
personal property
3. Courts of record (those required by law to record actions - e.g.,
Magistrate's Courts not "of record")
a. Inferior Courts - limitations on amount involved (civil) and severity of
penalty (criminal)
b. Higher Courts/Superior Courts - larger amounts involved (civil) or
penalties of loss of life or limb (criminal)
c. (In some colonies: intermediate courts of appeal, equity,
special jurisdiction)
c. Administrative Courts (Governor and•Council)
1). Equity/Chancery (see #2, above)
2). Appelate (appeals from decisions of lower courts)
3). Ordinary - probate of wills and oversight of intestate
estates (all at first, later just large estates)
4). Special - Admiralty, Claims, Palatines, etc.
NOTE: each colony met its own needs (or followed its own whims) in
establishing its court system. Above is general and does not
apply uniformly.
IN NORTH CAROLINA:
+ INFERIOR COURTS: called, for most of their history, Courts of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions (pleas - civil; sessions - criminal;
quarterly - met once every three months (once per quarter-yearj).
Each county had own inferior court until 1868. Courts of law
(minor civil/criminal); acted as administrative and as welfare
arms of the state at the local level. RECORDS CREATED: Master
record was Minutes. Subsidiary records: recordation of wills,
deeds, fiduciary matters (guardians, administrators, powers of
attorney); trial, appearance, recognizance, etc. dockets; records
of tax collection, law enforcement, county administration ( roads,
bridges, ferries, ordinaries and inns, mills), welfare actions
(payment for scalps, records of poor, orphans, widows, indigent,
veterans (in some cases), elderly); preservation of loose
original records. DID NOT have equity jurisdiction. LOCATION:
County courthouses, State Archives, some in private manuscript
collections.
+ INTERMEDIATE COURTS: none (1670-1806)
County Superior Courts of Law and Equity (1806-1868), q.v., below.
+ HIGHER COURTS:
General Court (1670-1754). Court of law (original jurisdiction in
civil cases concerning larger amounts of money/damages, and
criminal cases with penalty of loss of life or limb); court of
appeal ( cases appealed from inferior courts); court of probate
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY
page 5
(usually, but not always, limited to larger or cross -county -line
estates); appeals from inferior courts. DID NOT HAVE equity
jurisdiction. Three circuit courts added in 1739. RECORDS:
Minutes (not as informative as P&QS - researcher needs to know
legal terms and their abbreviations); loose papers (valuable -
include documents that originated at lower court level, caveated
wills based on points of law, depositions of witnesses (often
giving age of witness, death date and age of victim of crime,
origins of witness or principals, and the like - need to be able
to read archaic handwriting forms). LOCATION: State Archives in
Colonial Court Records (CCR) series. many published: NCGS
Journal, The colonial Records of North Carolina: Second Series,
The colonial and State Records of North Carolina.
Colonial District Superior Courts (1754-1778). Successor to
General Court with same powers. RECORDS: similar to General
Court. LOCATION: State Archives in District Superior Court
series (DCR) filed by district. Some published (see General
Court; also many county genealogical and historical society
journals; books published by individuals - see Stevensons's
...Select B ib li ography).
State District Superior Courts (1778-1806). Successors to Colonial
District Courts with same powers except probate, which was
transferred to P&QS in each county. DID HAVE Equity jurisdiction
after 1782). RECORDS: generally same as Colonial District
Superior Courts. LOCATION: State Archives in District Superior
Court series (DCR) filed by District (see 1790 census for names
of districts).
(County Superior Courts of Law and Equity (1806-1868). Successors
to State District Superior Courts BUT as intermediate courts -
same general comment BUT DID HAVE EQUITY JURISDICTION until the
distinction between law and equity was abolished in NC in 1868.
LOCATION: some may still be in county courthouses; vast majority
at State Archives in County Records Series (CR) filed by county.
Some decisions published in annual North Carolina Reports (seek
advice of law librarian for location and use.)
State Supreme Court (1806*- ). Highest appeals court in North
Carolina. Had law and equity jurisdiction until 1868. RECORDS
AND LOCATION: case papers to 1929 at NC State Archives, filed by
case number, indexed by name of plaintiff and defendant (only the
first name if there were many plaintiffs or defendants). For
later case papers, seek advice of Clerk of Supreme Court,
Raleigh. Decisions published in annual North Carolina Reports.
+ ADMINISTRATIVE COURTS:
Court of Chancery (1670-1775). Only NC Colonial court of equity.
Governor was Chancellor. RECORDS: Minutes, Dockets, and loose
papers. LOCATION: NC State Archives - Minutes, Dockets and
loose case papers in Colonial Court Records series (CCR) and
Secretary of State series (S5).
Court of Ordinary (1670-1775). An appelate court with probate
jurisdiction - wills, administration of estates of deceased and
orphans; also acted as court of original jurisdiction when
Governor acting as Ordinary of the Colony. RECORDS: original
wills, administration bonds, inventories, Minutes. LOCATION:
State Archives in Secretary of State records (SS - wills, admini-
stration bonds, inventories, etc.) and Governoor's Office Records (G0;
Davie County Public Library
MOCksville, NC
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY page 6
COMMON-LAW CUSTOMS AND USAGES (some confirmed by statute) - only those most
likely to affect genealogical research discussed.
1. Realty -
land, tenements Lroughly, rents], hereditaments [roughly,
inheritabiness], included slaves in Virginia after 1727
a. Feudal theory (Wm. the Conqueror, 10b6)
1).
by Divine Right all land title vested in King
2).
individuals held land at pleasure of King
a). land not devisable or distributable to heirs - reverted
to King at death
b). use of land carried obligations to King - various kinds
of land tenure holding] according to obligations/
restrictions
3).
gradual disuse latter half of 14th century - remnants
remained (e.g. Knight's Service in effect until 1660)
4).
attempts to resurrect system in Carolinas - unsuccessful in
NC, mildly successful for a "time in SC
b. The Church
1072 Wm. the Conqueror established seperate Ecclesiastical
Courts, which had jurisdiction over personal property in-
heritance - resulted in different set of rules for inheri-
tance of real property (land and its appurtenances) and
personal property '
2).
Rise in power and acquisition of lands
a). Various statutes of mortmain - prevented disposition of
land to "corporations" (i.e.,' Church)
a). Doctrine of usage (to avoid consequences of mortmain acts)
use of land separate from ownership of land
("enfoeff" = transfer the use/benefit of land)
b). Statute of Uses (.37 Henry VIII, c. 10)# 1536 use =
ownership (gave rise to deeds of "lease and release" -
a lease of the use for a year, carried with it
immediately - under the statute - ownership for that
year with remainder to the original owner; original
owner then released the remainder to lessee and both
actions effectively transferred the land without the
need for recording fees. Term used in early colonial
deeds but as a formality - such deeds were, in fact,
recorded)
*37th year of the reign of Henry the Eighth, chapter 10 o.f
acts passed by Parliament that year.
C* Inheritability
of realty
1).
Statute of Wills (32 Henry VIII, c.1) 1540:
a). lands devisable only by written will signed by testator or
his agent
b) . minors, insane, married women ( f em es covert), and persons of
non -sane memory (lunatics) could not devise
c). could devise 2/3 of lands held "in chivalry" ("Knights
Service")*; all of lands held "in socage"*#.
2).
Act for the Explanation of Wills (34 Henry VIII, c. 5), 1542:
beneficiary of a will could not be a corporation (i.e., The
Church) - affected Am. colonial wills ("to John Roe, Henry
Doe, and William Goodtitle, for the use and benefit of the
.... Church"
*Knight's Service ("in chilvalry", "in chief"): Norman Conquest
all England divided into ca. 609000 Knights "fees"; for each
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY
page 7
"fee" Knight obliged for 40 day/year war service; evolved to
money & support & other service; abolished 1660 - thereafter
all land devisable
"fee" = what you held; "tenure" how you held it (i.e.,
the adjectives attached to word fee)
**Free and common socage ("as of the manor"): tenure by any
certain and determinate service (e.g., annual rents);
service determined by which manor specified, in Am.
colonies, usually East Greenwich. i.e., fee simple tenure
with annual "quit rents" (money or produce) - usual manner
of holding land in Am. colonies.
d. Alienability of land (its ability to be sold):
1). Definitions:
Estate: the degree and extent of a person's interest in real
property (in this sense, it does not mean the property, real
and personal, of the deceased)
Fee: derived from earlier definition ( see above); came to
apply to ownership in real property, the adjective describes
the degree or type of ownership (e.g., fee tail)
Curtesy: a husband's right in all the realty of his wife pro-
vided they have had a child born alive; curtesy was
"initiate" during the wife's lifetime and "consummate" at
her death. Curtesy was a life estate in the land; at his
death it reverted to his wife's heirs. He was obliged not
to waste it or encumber it to the detriment of her heirs.
Dower by common law: a wife's right in one third of the realty
her husband owned during coverture [the duration of the
marriage]; it was "inchoate" during his life (i.e., she did
not have title to the realty) but she had a conveyable
interest which had to be released for him to make clear
title to a purchaser; it became "consummate" at his death.
Dower was a life estate and at her death the realty reverted
to her husband's heirs. Neither she nor her second/third/etc.
husband could waste or encumber the property to the detri-
ment of the heirs. (In some colonies, the dower tract
returned to husband's heirs if widow remarried). The "dower
tract" included the dwelling house, outbuildings- pertinent
to it, and enough land to support it (even though
occasionally this was slightly more than a third). In NC
between 1764 and 1867 dower was not "by common law"; all
provisions described above were in effect except: the 1/3
interest extended only to lands her husband owned at the
time of his death, and she had to petition the court to have
the dower tract surveyed and laid off to her - the legal
form being "Mary Roe vs. John Roe et al, in dower," John Roe
et al being her husband's children.
2) . Statute of Frauds (29 Carl Charles ] 119 c. 3). 1677: real &
personal property must be devised in writing, signed by testator
or his agent, and witnessed by 3 or 4 "credible" witnesses -
primarily a wills act, to correct frauds and perjuries, also
applied to deeds and other contracts. Note date of enactment.
NC was under Lords Proprietors who had established slightly
different requirements (proving by 2 witnesses); Virginia under
Royal rule, adopted the new requirements.
WAD CQUnty Pub it .. t„I,-Y
Mock�ville,
a
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY page S
3). Realty that could - or could not - be sold:
a). Freehold Estates of Inheritance: (realty that could be in-
herited by one's heirs, not had been inherited by oneself)
i. Fee simple ("fee simple absolute", held "in fee"): highest
estate in realty - could be sold, devised, wasted,
given, etc. Legal form "to and his/her heirs and
assigns [forever]," COULD be sold.
ii. Fee base, qualified, or conditional - some condition had
to be met at its inheritance or land reverted to donor;
normally applied only to Indian lands in America.
COULD NOT be sold
iii. Fee tail ("entailed", held "in tail"): Inheritable only
by -certain designated heirs ("tail male" = inheritable
only by oldest son in each succeeding generation, usual
form of entail) - COULD NOT be sold. Slaves in VA
after 1727 could be (and sometimes were) entailed; land
in GA prior to 1750 was granted in tail male (after
1750 in fee simple). Legal form "heirs of his/her body
Llawfully begotten] forever." Document (will or deed)
entailing land required "remainder" clause designating
heir(s) in the event the line failed. "Remainder-
man/men" the person(s) so designated.
tail general - "to and the heirs...."
tail special - "to and wife A and heirs..."
b). Freehold Estates not of Inheritance:
i. Tenant in tail after possibility of qualified heirs is
extinct (e.g., Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice - had
only daughters and w as livi_ng___on. land held in _tail
male) - COULD NOT be sold.
ii. Tenant in dower; tenant in curtesy; tenant for life:
estate in land only for lifetime. Not inheritable but
COULD be sold (buyer bought only the life estate, not
clear title). Legal form for life estate "to
[without word 'heirs' J".
iii. Tenant for another person's lifetime ("pur autre vie") -
e.g., purchaser of land from tenant in dower, curtesy,
or for life, C OULD. b e sold.
c}. Estates less than freehold:
i. Tenant in statute merchant, in statute staple, in
statute elegit - creditor holding lands of a debtor in
order to collect debt out of proceeds of sale or out of
rents. English forms, rarely used in Am. colonies -
COULU NOT be sold by holder, only by Sheriff or mayor.
ii. Tenant for years, tenant from year to year, tenant at
will, tenant by sufferance - various kinds of lease
arrangements - COULD NOT be sold by leaseholder.
e. Freehold ownership required for most privileges of citizenship: voting,
office -holding, vestry service
f. Responsibilities of freehold ownership: jury duty, taxes
g. Age to sell land (i.e., enter into a legal contract), "of age" as
defined in each colony; in NC, 21
2. Personalty (personal property: moveables, crops or the money arising from
their sale, household furnishings, farm implements, livestock, and slaves
a. bought and sold by bill of sale, witnessed, recorded/not recorded
depending on time period and locality
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY
page 9
b. husband's marital right extended to personal property of wife -
except for her "paraphanalia" (jewelry, toilet articles, clothing)
immediately upon marriage
COMMON-LAW DOCUMENT'S (those most often used for genealogical research)
1. Wills (devised realty) and testament (bequeathed personalty):
a. Attested: in writing, signed, sealed, - and "delivered".- [i.e.,
proclaimed by testator to be a will], and witnessed by 2-4 persons
depending on time period and place. Realty held in fee tail could not
be disposed of by will but was sometimes mentioned. Heir to whom
entailed property would go (normally eldest son) was sometimes not
mentioned in colonial wills.
1). Could be changed - "first grant and last will" took precedence
2). Could be amended by codicil, signed, sealed, and witnessed.
3). Statute of Frauds (see above) said "competent" witnesses, not
"disinterested" - courts began to rule that signature by
"interested" witnesses (i.e. who received under the will)
invalidated will. To correct abuses, 1752 statute (25 Geo II, c.
3) said witnesses who received under the will did not invalidate
it and they could attest it as subscribing witnesses, but gifts
were invalid. Section 10 of this statute extended provisions to
American colonies.
4). Unless a "residue" provision was in the will, all undevised realty
went to "heir at law"; all undevised personalty to widow and
children as if by intestacy.
b. Holographic: in handwriting of testator and signed but un -witnessed, and
must be found in "valuable papers"; sufficient to transfer personalty,
insufficient to transfer realty in most jurisdictions, but insuf-
ficiency often overlooked by heirs and executor. Technically, all
realty went to "heir at law."
c. Nuncupative: oral, deathbed statement, witnessed, but not reduced to
writing in lifetime of testator. Insufficient to transfer realty, but
insufficiency often overlooked by heirs and executor. Technically,
all realty went to "heir at law".
d. Limitations on testator - in NC:
1). Age: 21 or over to devise realty; 18 or over to bequeath personalty
2). Prohibited from devising realty: idiots, minors, married women,
persons of "non -sane memory". Married women could bequeath
personalty only with permission of husband at time will executed
and further permission of widower at time of probate.
3). Aliens could not devise realty, alien friends could bequeath
personal property, alien enemies could do neither. 1740
Eng. law: aliens could become British subjects after 7 years
residence in the colonies.
NOTE: Restrictions on married women (femes covert) t -o own, sell, or devise
real and personal property lifted by: pre -marital agreement with
husband; or action of the court/legislature to declare her "fem e
sole"/"free trader"
2. Intestacies - Realty: Heirs inherited according to Canons of Descent:
a. Inheritances shall lineally descend to the issue of the person last
erseized" (i.e., who had fee simple estate) in infinitum but never
shall lineally ascend (last provision altered in some colonies, e.g.,
NC).
b. The male issue shall be admitted before the female (altered in all states)
c. Where there are 2 or more males in equal degree, the eldest only shall
THE NORTH CAROLINA ENGLISH: LEGAL AND JUDICIAL LEGACY page 10
inherit; but the females all together. (i.e., oldest son inherited
land from intestate to exclusion of other sons ["law of primogeni-
tune"J as "heir at law"; if no sons,. daughters inherited
equally as "heiresses" - i.e., an "heir at law" may have innumerable
siblings, male and female; an "heiress" has no brothers living and
none deceased who had issue) (see h, below).
d. The lineal descendants in infinitum of any person deceased shall
represent their ancestor ... and stand in the same place as he
would have done if he had been living. e. On failure of
lineal descendants, inheritance is to his collateral relations being
of the blood of the "first purchaser" ("Doctrine of Ancestral Land" -
first purchaser was first person who brought land into family of
deceased, whether on ancestral maternal or paternal lines) (altered in
all states - in NC not until 1959).
f. Collateral heirs of the person last seized must be his next collateral
kinsman of the whole blood (also altered by states).
g. In collateral inheritances, male stock will be preferred to
female; kindred derived from blood of the male ancestor however
remote shall be admitted before those from the blood of the
female however near (altered by states).
END English Canons of Descent.
h. Primogeniture abolished in MD in 1715, appeared in different form in
NE, PA, & DE ("birthright" portion double amt. both real & personal
property); abolished in all states during/after Revolution, followed
shortly thereafter by abolition of preference for male over female
heirs. After all male children/all children were made co-heirs of
realty, they inherited as "tenants in common" until the land was
divided; were "tenants in severalty" after division. Legal form for
petitions to divide lands "John Roe et al ex parte" if all were in
agreement (i.e., no defendant); "John Roe et al vs. Henry Roe et all"
(if there were problems).
i. A posthumous child inherited as if alive at death of father (provided it
was born within 10 months of father's death); illegitimate children
could not inherit from either father or mother, and subsequent
marriage of parents did not legitimate child (post -Rev. laws usually
provided a means for legitimation, and many provided for inheritance
from mother if she had no legitimate children). Adoption was not
recognized in England until 1929 and not until late 19th century in
America.
j. Many other provisions of the Canon were altered in the colonies - check
laws of each colony for specific inheritance laws, usually called
"Canon of Descent" or "Statute of Divisions" or like title.
5. Intestacy - Personalty:
a. 1670 English Statute of Distributions (22 & 23 Car II, c. 10): gave
Ecclesiastical Courts the right to compel administration and division,
and secondarily established way personal estate was to be divided:
1). 1/3 to widow, rest to children, divided equally among them, but:
a). any child who was not the "heir at law" was to have deducted
from his/her portion the value of any land given him/her by
the deceased so.the portions of all children would be equal.
b). the "heir at law" was to receive an equal share of personalty
regardless of any.landed inheritance either in fee simple or
fee tail.
2). if no widow, equally among children
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THE ENGLISH AND THEIR NAMES
a bibliography
by
Jane Smith Hitt
BOOKS DEALING WITH SURNAMES, THEIR MEANINGS, AND THEIR LOCATIONS.
•Sabine Baring -Gould, FAMILY NAMES AND THEIR STORY. (.London: Seeley & CO.
1910 )
Charles Wareing Bardsley, A DICTIO14ARY OF ENGLISH AND WELSH SURNAMES WITH
SPECIAL AMERICAN INSTANCES. (Baltimore: Genealoaical Pub. Co.. Inc.
1967) [the introduction is very helpful]
=-----ENGLISH SURNAMES, THEIR SOURCES AND SIGNIFICATIONS. (.London: Chatto
and Windus 1889) -(9th impression, London: 1915)
Samuel L. Brown, comp., SURNAMES ARE THE FOSSILS OF SPEECH. (n. pub. 1965)
-Joseph L. Chester, COL. CHESTER'S LONDON MARRIAGE LICENSES, 1521-1869. ed.
by Joseph Foster. (London: Bernard Quaritch 1887) [ a rare book,
gives name of bride & groom with parish and ages. one copy is in the
NC Room of the Forsyth County Public Library]
Augustus Wilfrid Dellquest, THESE NAMES OF OURS, A BOOK OF SURNAMES. (New
York: Thomas Y. Crowell 1938) [gives some locations of surnames]
" E. Ekwall, THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH PLACE NAMES. (Oxford:
1960)
Cecil Lestrange Ewen, A GUIDE TO THE ORIGIN OF BRITISH SURNAMES. (London:
John Gefford, 1938)
Henry Brougham Guppy, HOMES OF FAMILY NAMES IN GREAT BRITAIN. (Baltimore:
Genealogical Pub. Co., Inca 1968) (originally pub. London: 1890)
[gives an index of family names & their locations;'very good for the
names listed. not all names are covered.]
Julius Nicholas Hook, FAMILY NAMES, HOW OUR SURNAMES CAME TO AMERICA. (New
York: Macmillan Pub. Co., Inc. 1982)
Mark Anthony Lower, ENGLISH SURNAMES AN ESSAY ON FAMILY NOMENCLATURE,
HISTORICAL, ETYMOLOGICAL AND HUMOUROUS, in 2 volumes. (London: John
Russell Smith 1875)
Constance M. Matthews, ENGLISH SURNAMES. (New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons. 19.66 c. 1967)
i
- a
Y Leslie G. Pine, THE STORY OF SURNAMES. (Rutland, VT: Charles E. Tuttle
Co., Inc. 1966) [read the introduction]
Percy H. Reaney, A DICTIONARY OF BRITISH SURNA14ES. (London: Routledge and
Kegan Paul 1958)(2nd ed. 1976) [rather scholarly, but good. read the
introduction]
-------THE ORIGIN OF ENGLISH SURNAMES. (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul
1967) [rather scholarly, but good. merits study]
Elsdon C. Smith, A.M.ERICAN SURNAMES. (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co.,
Inc. 1986)
-------NEW DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN FAMILY NAMES. (New York: Harper & Row
1956, 1973) [read introduction]
-------THE STORY OF OUR NAMES. (Detroit: Gale Research Co. 1970)
Ernest Weekley, SURNAMES. (New York: E. P. Dutton & Co. 1916) [very good]
BOOKS DEALING WITH RESEARCH IN ENGLAND
Angus Baxter, IN SEARCH OF YOUR BRITISH AND IRISH ROOTS. A COMPLETE GUIDE
TO TRACING YOUR ENGLISH, WELSH, SCOTTISH, AND IRISH ANCESTORS. (New
York: William Morrow & Co. 1982) [read every word of his good
advice; use the bibliography included]
Timothy Field Beard, HOW TO FIND YOUR FAMILY ROOTS. (New York: McGraw-
Hill
cGraw-
Hill Book Co. 19 7 7 )
Noel Currer-Briggs, DEBRETT`S FAMILY HISTORIAN. A GUIDE TO TRACING YOUR
ANCESTRY. (Exeter: Webb & Bower 1981)
J. S. W. Gibson, comp., WILLS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM. (Baltimore:
Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc. 1974) [covers counties of England and
explains backgrounds to wills]
Gerald Hamilton -Edwards, IN SEARCH OF BRITISH ANCESTRY. (Baltimore:
Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc. 1974)
-------TRACING YOUR BRITISH ANCESTORS, A GUIDE TO GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES. -
(New York: Walker and Co. 1966, 19671
Anthony Richard Wagner, Garter King of Arms, ENGLISH GENEALOGY. 2nd ed.
enlarged. (Oxford: Clarendon Press 1972) (social and historical
background]
DOMESDAY BOOK / text and t anata t i.on . John MoAA.Z&, g envwt editors. DOMESDAY BOOK,
A SURVEY OF THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND. (First published Winchester,
England 1086; this edition published Chichester: Phillimore 1986)
[in English and Latin. arranged by counties or shires; index of
persons and places. no surnames here]
aavie Cou�',ty Public� �.,nrary
MO&SVille, NC
Henry Ellis, A GENERAL -INTRODUCTION TO DOMESDAY BOOK: ACCOMPANIED BY j
INDEXES OF THE TENANTS IN CHIEF, A1VD UNDER
THE SURVEY: AS WELL AS THE HOLDERS* R TENANTS , AT THE TIME .OF
OF LA,.dDS . 2 Volumes .
Genealogical pub, Co,� Inc. 1973 (Baltimore.
[use this with DOMESDAY BOOK]
ATLASES AND GAZETTEERS
David E. Gardner, Derek Harland, & Frank Smith, comps., A GENEALOGICAL
ATLAS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. (Salt Lake Cit
Cecil R. Humphery-S�thf ed., THE PHILLIM y' Deseret Book Co. 1960)
ORE ATLAS AND INDEX OF PARISH
REGISTERS. (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co.,
Of England & Wales Inc' 1984% [parishes
g ; Must Read Introduction And All Notes;
addresses] list of
Frank Smith, comp.', A GENEALOGICAL GAZETTEER
ARY QF PLACES WITH THEIR OF ENGLAND,
DICTIONAN ALPHABETICAL
LOCATION, ECCLESIASTICAL, JURISDICTION,
POPULATION, AND THE DATE OF THE EARLIEST ENTRY
EVERY ANCIENT PARISH IN ENGLAND. (Baltimore:
IN THE REGISTERS -OF
more: Genealogical Pub.*Co.,
Inc. 1977) [use this with the Phillimore
ATLAS]
BOOKS DEALING WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Henry Bradley, THE MAKING OF ENGLISH. With an Int
and additional material and notes by Professor Bergen Evans and
Simeon Potter. (New York: Walker & Co., 1967) (1st published 1904
and reprinted 19 times)
Robert McCrum, William Cran, & Robert MacNeil, THE STORY OF ENGLISH. (New
York: Viking Penguin, Inc. 1986) (this is the co
television series and concerns language mpanion to the PBS -
rather than names, but should
be studied, especially the maps. see the PBS
TV series to hear' -the
sounds.)
John Moore, YOU ENGLISH WORDS. (Philadelphia & New York: J. B. Lippincott
Co. 1962)
Joseph T. Shipley, DICTIONARY OF WORD ORIGINS. RIGINS. {Paterson: Littlefield,
dams.& Co. 1961 edition
(c. 1945)
OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY, 12 Volumes. (Oxford: Clarendon Press 1933, .
1961, 1970, 1978) [excellent source for most anything]
BOOKS DEALING WITH HISTORY (Without which, tt iz nod ops '
Bernard Bailyn, THE PEpPLING OF p .a.c6.�e to . 6.Lnd your ance6ton)
BRITISH NORTH AMERICA: AN INTRODUCTION.
(New York: Alfred A. Knopt 1986)
Carl Bridenbaugh, VEXED AND TROUBLED ENGLISHMEN
Oxford University Press 1968)1590-1642. (New York:
3
• Thad W. Tate and David L. Ammerman, eds.-,, THE CHESAPEAKE IN THE SEVENTEENTH
CENTURY. ESSAYS IN ANGLO-AMERICAN SOCIETY. (Chapel Hill: UNC Press
1979) [these are superior essays on several aspects of early life]
BOOKS DEALING WITH LISTS OF NAMES OF EARLY EMIGRANTS
Peter Wilson Coldham, BONDED PASSENGERS TO AMERICA. 3 Volumes (Baltimore:
Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc. 1983)
-------THE COMPLETE BOOK OF F24IGRANTS, 1607-1660. (Baltimore: Geneali,cal
Pub. Co., .Inc. 1987)
------[many other books by this author. He specializes in early emigrants, -
and often shows places of origin]
Harry Wright Newman, TO MARYLAND FROM OVERSEAS, A COMPLETE DIGEST OF THE
JACOBITE LOYALISTS SOLD INTO WHITE SLAVERY IN MARYLAND, AND THE
BRITISH AND CONTINENTAL BACKGROUND OF APPROXIMATELY 1400 MARYLAND
SETTLERS FROM 1634 TO THE EARLY FEDERAL PERIOD WITH SOURCE DOCUMEN-
TATION. (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. -Co., Inc. 1985)
BOOKS DEALING WITH TRAVEL IN ENGLAND
Francis R. Banks, ENGLISH VILLAGES. (.London: B. T. Batsford 1963)
Philip A. Crowl,THE INTELLIGENT TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO HISTORIC BRITAIN.
(New York: Congdon & Weed, Inc. 1983) [the cover man is from
this book]
Kate Simon, ENGLAND'S GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND. (New York: Alfred A. Knopt..
1974)
BROCHURES
THE SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS, 14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London,
EC1M 7BA, England [to obtain a brochure, enclose a stamped addressed label
or envelope and two international reply coupons, which may be obtained from
post offices]
TRACING YOUR ANCESTORS, British Tourist Authority, 64 St. James's Street,
London, SW1A 1NF, England [2 international reply coupons and SASE]
IN LONDON
THE SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS [see above]
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LR
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU
[The PRO has information circulars covering their holdings.]
The registers of the SOCIETY OF FRIENDS held in the PRO in the Class RG6,
which include some from the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, have been.
indexed. The'-in'dexes are in the custody of: SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, Friends'
House, Euston Road, LONDON NW1 2BJ England.
4
A SAMPLING OF SOME HOLDINGS OF THF ASH6BORO PUBLIC LIBRARY 9 RANDOLPH ROOM ASHFBORO NC
1courtesy of 2-irs. Carolyn Neely Hager] '
GENEALOGISTS' MAGAZINE, Journal of the Society of Genealogists
Trace Your Ancestors With FAMILY TREE MAGAZINE, The British Magazine With
The International Flavour
Cecil R. Humphery-Smith, A GENEALOGIST'S BIBLIOGRAPHY. (Chichester:
Phillimore & Co. Ltd. 19 8 5 )
C. C. Webb, A GUIDE TO GENEALOGICAL SOURCES IN THE BORTHWICK INSTITUTE
OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH. ( Borthwick, York: 1981, reprinted 1983)
Terrick V. H. Fitzhugh, THE DICTIONARY OF GENEALOGY. (Sherbourne, Dorset:
Alphabooks 1986)
[Books published by Phillimore deal with British genealogical research]
DEVON AND CORNWALL RECORD SOCIETY, Extra Series, Vol. II. (n. pub. 1982)
[parish registers]
Henry Blackwell, A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WELSH AMERICANA. (New York: Aberystwyth
1977) Second Edition. [contains some Welsh names and their
equivalents and diminutives]
[other books on Welsh, Irish, and Scottish names]
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday and Thursday nights, 6:00 - 8:30
Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
The library is closed on Saturdays close to holidays.
Other books in this bibliography were seen at:
Wake Forest University Library
Forsyth County Public Library
Greensboro Public Library
North Carolina State Library
E