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Edgecombe Precinct near the Virginia border was split into Halifax County and Edgecombe County about 1758. Halifax was the northern part and Edgecombe the southern part. A large part of Martin County was taken form Edgecombe Precinct. About 1800, a slice of Martin was shifted to Edgecombe County. The Edmondsons around Conetoe Creek did not move but were affected by the change in county boundary. Several Edmondson families took up land in this area in the 1750's, some of them from Lunenburg County, some from Caroline County, and some from unknown sites, possibly descendants of Edmondsons who settled early in New Kent and Isle of Wight. The following items for Martin County might help any who are researching that area.
MARTIN COUNTY, N.C.
Early Halifax County included the greater part of Martin County. Martin was formed in 1774 from Halifax which was taken in 1758 from original Edgecombe, taken in 1741 from Bertie. The area of Fishing Creek was settled about 1735, many of the settlers from Virginia. Elegant homes for that time were built by these settlers. Lord Granville kept his rights when the other seven Carolina proprietors gave theirs up in 1729. Land buyers had to deal with his agents and paid quit rents to them as well as taxes to the state. The agents were dishonest and cheated both Granville and the settlers. Howard Edmondson, Falkville, AL, stated the county line between Martin and Edgecombe was changed about 1800, placing the John Edmundson family in Edgecombe. The current county seat is Williamson. The county lies about 60 miles north of New Bern.
In Martin County in 1777:
William Edmondson
Thomas Edmondson
In Martin County in 1779:
Thomas Edmondson
William Edmondson
Will of William Mansell Crisp, Martin County, dated 1783, lists 18 children by his first wife, Sarah Edmondson. Will Book I, p. 107. His daughter Sarah Crisp married an Edmondson and moved to Burke County, N.C., possibly James Edmondson/Edminston who was a juror in 1793. (William Edmundson, editor of Edmondson Family Bulletin for many years, thought the Crisps were Quakers who came to present day Caswell and Person counties. William Crisp bought land from John Watson and paid for it with Virginia currency in old Tyrell County See EFAB, No. 29, No. 93).
In Martin in 1787, N.C. State Census:
In unnamed district enumerated by William Barden.
Nathan Edmondson, head of household.
1 wm 21-60; 2 wf all ages.
In District 5, p. 90, taken by Macajah Mayo, to June Court, 1787:
Thomas Edmondson, Head of household
1 wm 21-60 years old; 3 wm under 21 and above 60; 3 wf all ages.
William Edmondson, Head of household.
1 wm 21-60 years old; 1 wm under 21 or above 60; 3 wf all ages.
Listed five households down from Thomas:
Jno. Edmondson. 1 wm 21-60 years. 2 wm under 21 and above 60. 2 wf all ages.
(Thomas, William and John are likely sons of Thomas whose will follows. SWE)
Will of Thomas Edmundson of Martin County, dated November 30, 1789.
“In the name of God Amen I Thomas Edmundson of Martin County & State of North Carolina of the one faith being of sound mind & perfect memory blessed be God and Calling to mind this short gift of life and knowing it is appointed to all men once to die do this 30th day of November in the year of our lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Nine make publish and declare this my last Will & Testament in Manner and form following that is to say first
Item I give and bequeath to my son John Edmundson one mare two cows & calves one feather bed & furniture all which I give unto my son John Edmundson to him & his heirs forever—
Item I give and beqeath unto my son Thomas Edmundson one horse two cows & calves one feather bed & furniture one pewter Dish one pewter basin half a Doz. Pewter plaits One gun one plough one ax one working hoe one sow and pigs & three hundred weights of pork & if my son Thomas should decease without heirs then his legacy to be equally divided between his 2 eldest brothers to William and John Edmundson all that I give unto my son Thomas Edmundson to take his legacy at the age of eighteen years--
Wife: Ann, (daughter of Stephen Howard. Apparently a widow when she married Thomas as she had a son named James Hodge).
Sons: William, John, Thomas, Pollard
Daughter: Penny
Child in utero: if a daughter, to be called Ann. If a son, to be called Rudolph (Randolph?)
Witnesses: Isaac Hill, James Rainer, John Norris (Morris) and Thomas Edmondson.
(Wills I, pp. 159-60. Ref. Col. # 230.6, East Carolina University Manuscripts)
(Thomas and Ann did have a son named Randolph. He died young. See Edgecombe County Deed Book 14, p. 322. Thomas Edmundson, administrator of Randolph Edmundson, sold to Pollard Edmondson of Edgecombe for 492 pounds 7 shillings a negro boy named Peter, about 20 years old and a negro girl Sall about 14. (From Nancy Wood, 2008).
William Edmondson of Edgecombe whose will was probated in 1804 appears to be the son named in Thomas’s will above.
Ann Edmondson, widow of Thomas, is possibly the Ann Edmondson whose will in Edgecombe County in 1820 named a son Pollard. In my opinion, she was a second wife and not the mother of Thomas, William and John.
Census of Martin County, 1790:
James Edmondson: 2 m over 16; 2 m under 16; 4 wf. Halifax District.
James Edmondson: 3 m over 16; 3 wf. Halifax District.
John Edmondson: 1 m over 16; 4 m under 16; 2 wf.
Joseph Edmondson: 1 m under 16; 3 wf
Nathan Edmondson: 1 m over 16; 1 m under 16; 2 wf.
Thomas Edmondson: 1 m over 16; 2 m under 16; 2 wf; 2 slaves.
William Edmondson: 1 m over 16; 1 m under 16; 4 wf.
(From Barbara Yarberry’s abstract) John, William and Thomas are probably brothers.
December 10, 1792. Will of Thomas Edmundson, Martin County. Wills I, p. 191.
Wife: Mary. Daughters: Nance, Jessie and Sarah. Bequest to Elizabeth Powell. Executor: Martin Joyce. Witnesses: Elizabeth Edmundson and Reuben Edmundson.
(This man seems to be of a different line, probably related to Reuben, Nathan, Wiley. SWE)
June 26, 1797. Will of Reuben Edmundson, Martin County, Wills I, p. 347.
Youngest brothers: James and Wiley. Sisters: Mary Edmundson, Penny Edmundson, Elizabeth Edmundson. Aged mother, Elizabeth. Brother’s son, Canna? (He appears to be a son of John and Elizabeth Edmundson who signed a deed together in 1774 with their (x).
Will of Penny Edmundson, Martin County, September 9, 1799, Wills I, p. 408.
To Wiley Edmundson, one third of money left by brother Reuben; To mother and sister Betsy Edmundson. Executor: Stephen Bonner, Jr., John Gardner. Witnesses: Stapleton Bonner, Betsy Edmundson.
(See: North Carolina Wills, Book A, Martin County, Williamson Courthouse, abstracted by Caroline P. Wilson, State Archives, Atlanta, Georgia)
Census of 1800, Martin County.
Elizabeth Edmondson
Mary Edmondson
Micajah Edmondson
Nathan Edmondson
The 1800 Census of Martin does not show Thomas, John and William, brothers, who appear to be sons of Thomas whose will was signed in 1789. The shift of land to Edgecombe County occurred about this time. See Edgecombe records in a later posting.
Any further information or genealogical theories on these families in Martin County would be valuable to me and others. Please post if you have any.
Stephen W. Edmondson, Clayton, GA
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