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Note: Walter's will was written in 1758, one son George, was already deceased. The will was probated in 1766. In 1767, all his children had passed away, except Bridgett Draughon Ward. Thomasin, the other daughter died of the measles., no indication of what the others died from.
The Draughon name is Scot-Irish. The Irish name was "Dronons". The Gaelic name was "
O'Drwoghane".
In England, the name was changed to "Draughton". The holdings of this family and pictures of their castles are recorded in the Victoria Volumes with four volumes on Northhamptonshire and Leicestershire. These volumes can be found at Duke University in Durham, NC.
There was a passenger, Elizabeth Drawton, who came in the ship with Captain Pierce to Elizabeth Citie, Virginia.
The Draughon ancestors are thought to have come to North Carolina from the southeastern part of Virgina-probably the Nansemond County area-but the Nansemond County records burned in 1735.
The ancestors probably came to North Carolina by way of the Green Trail, an Indian Trial-that later became a stagecoach trail from Nansemond County, Virginia to Edenton, and another from the Nansemond County area to the Edgecomb area of Bertie County.
Walter Draughon was in Chowan County, North Carolina by 1716 and in 1716 purchased land in Chowan County for 20 barrels of turpentine. In a deed dated January 08, 1716, Walter Draughon of Chowan Precinct purchased 150 acres of land from Thomas Garrett, Sr. in Chowan Precinct Book W, page 419.
The 1739 tax list of Chowan County listed Walter Draughon with four tithables.
Chowan County Deed Book B, #1
#968 page 437
Thomas Garrett, Sr. of Chowan Precinct and Bethiah his wife to Walter Draughn of ye Precinct, aforesaid
08 January 1716
for 1 (?) and 20 barrels of pitch
150 acres on the South side of Katherine Creek joining Michael Brinkley near the fork of a Great Branch of the creek, the land the said Garrett lives on, a small Pocosin, Thomas Garrett, Jr., Walnut Neck Branch, so I think William Dudley's line, William Thompson, and Thomas Rountree,
being part of 3 patents granted to said Garrett 15 May 1697, 14 Sept 1701, and 10 October 1712
Witness: Thomas Garrett, Jr., James Fleming, his mark, Thomas Rountree
Reg: 20 April 1717
Chowan County, North Carolina
Chowan Precinct, 1696-1723, Hofmann, page 117-118.)
On February 14, 1739/40, Walter Draughon petitioned the Governor's Council at New Bern for a patent of 640 acres in Bertie County. The Chowan County land was sold in 1742 ( Book A, p. 164 ) and in 1743, Walter Draughon purchased 200 acres on the west side of Barbeque Swamp in Bertie County from Thomas Howell.
( Book F, p. 415 ).
There are several land transactions of Colonial Bertie with Walter Draughon's name. The following are taken from Colonial Bertie by Mary Best Bell:
1) Bertie County Deed Book F, page 282, Walter Draughon is a witness in a deed between Thomas Martin and Joseph Oates. July Court 1741.
Colonial Bertie by Mary Best Bell, page 168.
2) Bertie County Deed Book G, page 198, Walter Draughon is a witness in a deed between John Crickett, and Francis Penrice. August Court, 1749.
Colonial Bertie by Mary Best Bell, page 200.
3) Bertie County Deed Book G, page 495, Walter Draughon is mentioned as a land owner on Barbeque Swamp. May Court 1753.
Colonial Bertie by Mary Best Bell, page 222.
4) Bertie County Deed Book H, page 225. Walter Draughon to John Draughon,
mentions land on Barbury (Barbeque) Swamp granted to Walter Draughon.
October Court 1755.
20 October 1755
Walter Draughon to John Draughon (son)
10 pds. for 320 acres on Barbury (Barbeque) Swamp
Being part of a tract granted Walter Draughon for 649 acres in 1739
Adj. Jonathan Miler, Richard Freeman (formerly Thomas McClandon's) on Miry Branch
Witness: James Cotton, Joseph Thomas, Thomas Boswell,
October Court 1755
Colonial Bertie by Mary Best Bell, page 242
Walter Draughon's will was written in 1758 and probated in 1766 in Bertie County, North Carolina. He mentions three sons: James, John, Robert.
He mentions two daughters: Tamasin, and Bridget.
Walter Draughon concludes his will with the words, "in witness whearof I have hearunto set my hand and affixed my Seale this thirty first day of December Anno Domminy one thousand Seven hundred fifty Eight." Signed Sealed and Del.d in presents of us John Cake Jurt. John Outlaw Jurt. Edward E. Outlaw Walle Draughan Bertie County Sept. Ct. 1766."
(NC Wills by Mitchell, the will of Walter Draughon is at NC Archives, Raleigh, Will Book A74.)
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Will of Walter Draughon
In the name of God Amen, I Walter Draughon of Bertie County, North Carolina, planter being sick and weak of body but perfect and sound of mind and memory thanks be to Almightly God for the same and calling to mind the mortality and frailty of man and that it is appointed for all men once to die I do therefore make, constitute, appoint, ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following first my soul I recommend into the hands of Almighty God that gave it hoping through the merits of my Blessed Redeemer to receive a joyful resurrection at the Last Day my body to be buried in such Christian like manner as to my Executors hereafter named shall
seem meet and as touching such wordly estate as it hath pleased Almightly to bestow upon me in this transitory world I dispose of in manner and form following,
Imprimis to my two daughters Tamasin and Bridget I give 100 acres of land with my manor plantation during their natural lives and after their decease to my grandson Thomas Draughon and his heirs forever,
And likewise I give to my grandson Robert Draughon 100 acres of land with the plantation they now live on to be divided at the old spring the said land I give to my grandson Robert and his heirs forever his mother not to be disturbed during her widowhood,
Item, I give to my daughter Bridget I give 1 cow and calf,
And the rest of my estate I give to be divided among my sons John and Robert, my daughter Tamasin, and my sons James, his children,
I do appoint my well beloved sons John and Robert who me constitute, appoint, and ordain to be Executors to this my last will and testament utterly revoking and making void all former wills by me made irrelevant and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament,
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this thirty first day of December Anno Domminy
One thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Eight
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us
John Cake, Jurt
John Outlaw, Jurt
Edward E. Outlaw
Walle Draughn
Bertie County
September Court 1766
The above will was proved in due form of Law by the Oaths of John Cake, and John Outlaw and ordered to be recorded.
Test: John Johnston CC
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