Martha Patsy Murphrey

  General Notes:

Patsey and Robert lived on a plantation inherited from her parents named "Hurricanes". It was in the vicinity of Hookerton, one half mile from Contentnea Creek.


From http://members.aol.com/emurphrey/murph.html
Lived on a plantation inherited by Patsy called "Hurricanes Plantation."
Sources: Index of N. C. Ancestors, Vol 1. Descendant information is available in the book "My Hill Family and Allied Lines" by Fannie Lee (Hill) Prescott located in the North Carolina State Library


NCLENOIR-L Archives

From: Clair Hadley < [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: [NCLENOIR] Caswell,McIlwean,Murphrey,Harrison,Wooten. Jackson,Jones,Hines, Reading,Cannon,Gardner

Jewelle-Thanks for responding. Here is the information I have on William
Caswell-his family, the property deeds, and where he is in the 1810 Pitt
census. I'm actually pleased that he is not on the 1815 Pitt tax list,
as I think he took his earnings from the sale of his property and moved
to Craven sometime between 1810 and 1820.

William Caswell of Dobbs, Pitt, Craven & Lenoir Co, NC was the youngest
son of Martin Caswell, younger bro. of Gov. Richard Caswell. His mother
was Nancy Murphrey, daughter of Capt. John Murphrey and Elizabeth
Harrison Murphrey.There is some evidence that Elizabeth Harrison was
connected to the Ben Harrisons of VA, "the James River Harrisons" and
thus to presidents Ben Harrison and William Harrison. (not proven). Wm.
appears in the 1790 census of Dobbs with his mother Nancy.Wm would be
the youngest son of
Martin and born abt 1780. He was under 16 in 1790 Dobbs census and
between
26-45 in 1810 Pitt census. He then went to Pitt Co. where several Pitt
deeds-Deed books Q &V (1805,6 &8)-show that he sold his land there for
$1100 except for 2 acres of dower lands to mother Nancy. Most of his
siblings moved to GA. He is not married in 1809 (re:deeds) but is
married in 1810 Pitt with one infant son . I think but have not found
hard proof that Wm married Harriett McIlwean Emery ,daughter of Thos.
James Emery and Hannah
McIlwean, in 1809. Her family was from New Bern and I think Wm. moved to
N.Bern as he was
there in 1820 census of Craven and the ages of his family match the Wm.
Caswell in Pitt Census 1810.When wife Harriett died (in 1827 a
Mrs-----Caswell was buried at Christ church N.B.) Wm. moved back to
Lenoir and remained
there as late as 1844. He is 40-50 in Lenoir 1830 census and 50-60 in
1840 Lenoir census.He appears to be on property left him by his mother
at Sandy Bottom . He left his 2 daughters Harriett and Rosaline in New
Bern; they are there
alone in the 1830 census(Harriett is head of house, with Roz and 1
slave) and are the only Caswells in
Craven.
1. SOURCE: Genealogy library, NC ARCHIVES-compiled by ELLIS
Deed book Q (1804-1807) Pitt has the following transactions
concerning William Caswell, son of Martin Caswell and nephew of
Gov.
Richard Caswell. Page 111 10-14-1805
Grantor-Reading Jackson Grantee-William Caswell 200a. 700 pounds.
Adj. Joseph Jackson, William Wooten. Wit; William Wooten,John
Jackson

Page 339 1-6-1806 Grantor-William Caswell Grantee-Nancy Caswell
the Elder (LENO) 2 A for life; dower lands. Wit;
Ambrose Jones, Former Owner: Martin Caswell,
dec., father of William Caswell,grantor, and
former husband of Nancy Caswell the Elder,
grantee.

DEED BOOK V p. 26 12-25-1808 Grantor-William Caswell
Grantee-William
Wooten 200 A; $1150. Men,:Nancy
Caswell, mother of William Caswell. wit;Wm.
Broome, Sherwood Hines.

  Research Notes:

Martha (Patsy) Murphrey
Born: c1750 in Dobbs County, North Carolina
Died: c1825
Buried:
Father: John (Captain Jack) Murphrey <http://www.members.aol.com/emurphrey/>
Mother: Elizabeth Harrison <http://www.members.aol.com/emurphrey/>
Spouse: Robert Hill, Jr. <http://www.members.aol.com/emurphrey/>
Children:
Other: Lived on a plantation inherited by Patsy called "Hurricanes Plantation."
Sources: Index of N. C. Ancestors, Vol 1. Descendant information is available in the book "My Hill Family and Allied Lines" by Fannie Lee (Hill) Prescott located in the North Carolina State Library.


From "The Heritage of Craven County":

Their children were listed in a bible now in the possession of Charles H. Harper (1962) of Snow Hill, NC.

Martha married Robert Hill Jr., son of Robert Hill Sr. and Hannah Briggs, about 1770. (Robert Hill Jr. was born about 1741-1730 in Bertie Co. and died in 1847.)

*******************************************************************************
http://members.aol.com/emurphrey/letters.html

Letter from Elizabeth Murphrey, wife of Captain John Murphrey, to her daughter-in-law Mary (Polly)Murphrey

Hurricanes April 12, 1776

My Dearest Daughter

I had a safe and very pleasant journey home to find all the jasamine & fruit trees in bloom. And have been devoting much time to the garden no doubt to the better ment of both my health & attitude. Mary has asked for help preparing her garden. As you know she is but a midling gardner. At your mothers urging she has written for seeds from Simpson. Your Mother has already sent over several packets of spring peas and lilac. I am in as fine a health & strength as could be expected at my time of age. I ride or walk about the plantation twice a day morning and evening according to the weather. I would love to have you with me occasionally in these excursions. I am much drawn to you for your resemblence to myself at that age. I am so lonely these times. Most of my chicks have fled the nest & the old cock has gone on. It is hard to have built almost 50 years of life around one man only to be left alone in old age. it seems that even despite ourselves life is still no more than a brief song on the wind that lingers for a bit and is no more. I see the children frequently but they all have their own lives to live and very little time to spend on an old tit like myself tho the love between us all is strong and binding. Sohee ran off from me a fortnight ago & is now lurking about God knows where. He greatly offended Patsey when she came visiting & she threatened him with a beating. He ran off to avoid it& so has left me with no one to wait table. If it were not for the economy & the need to have Negras to maintain ones position in life I would rid myself of them this moment. It is so hard sometimes to care for the every need of both a white & black family. I am often stifled by the burden it places on my scant patience & wisdom. But for old Titch I would run off myself sometimes. I bless the day Papa gave her to me. I am with Patsey at present. She had a miscarriage this friday will be most a week. She was delivered of a fine boy tho stillborn. She is quite well but distraught as any mother who looses a small one is. Health wise she glows. She attributes the misfortune to a very bad trip by charriott last week to visit Nancy at Chelsea. Please write more. These old ears pine for news of you & yours.

Your loveing Mother

Elizabeth

Mrs. Mary Murphry
Mr. Cox
at New Bern