|
a.
|
Note: e woman.
A family story as related to me by NAOMI RODGERS, who was told this by her father, JOSEPH/JOE RODGERS, is that EDIE's father/slaveowner decided to marry off his daughter to the "darkest" looking slave on the plantation, and that apparently was NATHANIEL. There is speculation, too, about who may have been EDIE's mother, as to whether or not she may have been part Native American. At this time, I do not know, but it is entirely possible because there are strong Native American features in the children of JOE RODGERS; however, that may also have been from his wife, MARY ELLEN EVANS, side, too, since her lineage is known to have descended from Native American ancestry.
According to a recording of my grandmother, MARY ELLEN RODGERS-EVANS, made about 1989, she said that EDIE had been married 1st to a slave who had been sold, and that NAT ROGERS was her 2nd husband. That explains why the first of her known children were born prior to 1858, the year of her marriage to NAT. Another thing said on the recording is one related to MARY by her father, JOE RODGERS, where he said that when he was a young man still in school, an old man showed up at the family's door claiming to be EDIE's 1st husband. Unfortunately, nothing else was said about that encounter, but I sure would like to know what EDIE's reaction was, as well as what else happened at the time. EDIE's 1900 Census record indicates that she had given birth to 15 children, with only 9 still living. I have only found the names of 9 of those children, and I do wonder what may have happened to some of the others.
=================
Info from cousin Cynthia Kelly via Facebook about EDIE's family (July 2, 2016)
There was also, according to aunt Mary a sister named Sidney who they had to put in the field (Grandma Edie and here children were house slaves, Aunt Mary said.
=================
EDITH's father is listed as GRAY JEFFREYS, on her death certificate and my research has turned up this on him:
He was actually SIMON GRAY JEFFREYS, b. abt 1775 Bute County, North Carolina/d. 1854 Wake County, North Carolina, the son of WILLIAM JEFFREYS, b. abt 1743 Northampton Co.,North Carolina / d. Oct. 11, 1802 Franklin Co.,NC and MARY GRAY, b. abt.1753 /d. abt. March 1827 Franklin County, North Carolina, who were married on July 30, 1773 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina (bondsman: SIMON GRAY, wit: JAMES GRAY, JOHN HALL); WILLIAM JEFFREYS was the son of OSBORNE JEFFREYS, b. 1716 James City, Virginia/d. 1793 Franklin Co.,NC, at one time Sheriff of Bute County, NC, and PATIENCE SPIER (OSBORNE JEFFREYS, died around November 13, 1793, the date of his will which was probated in December Court 1793 in Franklin County, NC, where he left this portion to son WILLIAM: To son WILLIAM JEFFREYS "Old MINGO & Old NAN with all NANS increase children and grandchildren and all their increase, also DEMPS Old MOLLS son, now all in his possession but DEMPS;" 4 tracts of land "joining of both sides of Little River part in Wake and part in Franklin County containing about twenty four hundred acres with all the other lands on both sides of Little [sic] below OSBORN JEFFREYS part on the said river;" 400 acres, a part of two tracts of 1440 acres on both sides of Crooked Creek in Franklin, joining the lands of JOSEPH BRIDGES JOHN GREEN; also all stock of cattle, hogs and horses on Little River plantations, all of which already in WILLIAM JEFFREYS possession. Franklin Co.,NC, Will Book A, 1785-1797, Pg.16).
(From Genealogy.com-NORTH CAROLINA GENEALOGY FORUM, posted March 7, 2002, by Beth Gay,
http://genforum.genealogy.com/nc/messages/18117.html )
Will Book B, p. 69, Franklin Co, North Carolina. Will of Capt. William JEFFREYS. To wife Mary JEFFREYS during her life or widowhood the 6 negroes Old Jeffry, Roger, Anacha, Moll, Ishmael, Tiny; 1 feather bed and furniture; "the main plantation whereon I now live to include 300 acres of land"; after her death, these to go to youngest son William JEFFREYS. To son Simon Gray JEFFREYS 1000 acres in Franklin County on north side of Little River, "joining the land of Osborn JEFFREYS and the land devised by my father Osborn JEFFREYS deceased to Nathaniel HUNT"; also 200 acres in Wake County on north side of Neuse River, land which had been purchsed from Joseph SALISBURY; and the 17 negroes Randal, Big Nannah, Mingow, Anderson, Dick, Davy, Emperor, Peter, Alfred, Burwell, Old Nanny, Ned, Old MIngow, Becky, Sindilla, Lewis, Banar. To son Robert N. JEFFREYS 1000 acres in Wake and Franklin counties on south side of Little River including millstone tract of land in Wake County, lands formerly belonging to Col. William ALSTON dec'd. and Osborn JEFFREYS, and all the land on the south side of Neuse River on Mannings Creek excepting what is left to son Simon JEFFREYS, which land adjoins lands of my father Osborn JEFFREYS deceased lying and being in Onslow County" on Queen's Creek; the 21 negroes Isaac, Tillar, Jo, Alen, Demsey, Cougar, Dempsy, Lydia, Reuben, Andrew, Osborn, Myma, Paul, Olive, Essex, Sarah, Ferry, Offy, Isham, Polley, Milley, Sim[I count 22]. To daughter Mary ALSTON and her husband Nathaniel ALSTON 3 negroes Young Aaron, Jimmy, Betsey; 1 mare or gelding, 5 cattle. To daughter Leah JEFFREYS 6 negroes Violett, Solomon, Nathan, Clary, Harry, Kuon[?]. To son William JEFFREYS 500 acres in Franklin County to include the mill seat on Little River; the land in Wake and Franklin counties not already devised to sons Simon G. and Robert N. JEFFREYS; 11 negroes Zebb, Nelson, Aggy, Rhody, Fill, Old Aaron, Banter[?], Judy, Wfight, Hicksey, Charity. All other property not willed away to be sold by executors and after debts of estate paid proceeds to be divided equally among wife Mary JEFFREYS, son Simon Gray JEFFREYS, son Robert N. JEFFREYS, daughter Leah JEFFREYS, and youngest son William JEFFREYS. Executors: Sons Simon G. JEFFREYS and Robert N. JEFFREYS, Edwin HOLDING, wife Mary JEFFREYS. March 25, 1802. Signed . Witnessed: Wm. RICHARDS, Willis RICHARDS, John WINTERS, William WILLIAMS. Undated.
SIMON GRAY JEFFREYS apparently inherited some of the bordering lands between the counties because he alternated in living in one or the other Counties of Franklin & Wake during his lifetime. He married NANCY CHEVES, according to an undated Marriage bond, taken out in Wake Co., Bond Number: 154561, bondsman: WILLIAM CHEVES, Wit; H. LANE. From other bonds filed around the same time, the bond date probably was about the middle of February 1790. It is likely that NANCY was a daughter of the WILLIAM CHEVES, who was the Bondsman.
Census records show: 1800 Wake County, North Carolina, Hillsborough, Image 27:
GRAY JEFFREYS
1 -WM = 10 1 - WF = 10
1 - WM = 26 -44 1 - WF = 16 -25
9 SLAVES
----------------------------
1810 Franklin County, North Carolina, Image 31,: SIMON G. JEFFREYS
1 - WM = 10 3 - WF = 10
1 - WM = 10 -15 1 - WF = 26 -44
1 - WM = 26 -44
33 SLAVES
Next to him was his mother;
MRS. MARY JEFFREYS
1 - WM =16 -25 1 -WF = 45+
12 SLAVES
---------------------------------
The 1820 Franklin County Census has been lost, however there are many deed and court records during that time period right up into the early 1830's that included entries for SIMON G. JEFFREYS.
His mother died during that time period:
MARY JEFFREYS - 1 -Nov 1822 - Mar Ct 1827
"weak in body..."
To my daughter MARY ALSTON wife of NATHANIEL ALSTON - lend to her for life negroes TELLETHA & her 2 children JIM & SALLY; & after death the sd negroes to go to my grandson WILLIAM J. ALSTON, & my granddaughter MARY GRAY ALSTON, son and daughter of sd NATHANIEL ALSTON. To my daughter LEAH STRICKLAND wife of JOHN PERRY STRICKLAND of Wake Co. - lend to her for life negroes BILLY, HANNAH, REDDICK, PATIENCE, CANDACE & ANDREW, & after her death I give them to her children; also I give to sd LEAH the balance of my estate. Should my son SIMON GRAY JEFFREYS not have discharged his debts to me, then I bequeath the debts to him.
(there are other provisions)
Ex: my son WILLIAM JEFFREYS, my son-in-law JOHN P. STRICKLAND
Wit: D. L. BARRINGER, JAMES JORDAN
---------------------------------
1830 Franklin County, North Carolina, Alfords, Images 7 & 8:
SIMON G. JEFFREYS
1- WM = 20 -30 1 - WF =20 -30
1 - WM = 50 - 60 1 - WF = 50 - 60
SLAVES:
2 - M = 10 7 - F = 10
1 - M = 10 -24 1 - F = 10 -24
2 - M = 24 -36 2 - F = 24 -36
1 - M = 36 -55 1 - F = 36 -55
1 - M = 55 -100
--------------------------------
1840 Wake County, North Carolina, Images 86 & 87:
SIMON G. JEFFREYS
1 -WM = 10 -15 1 - WF = 20 -30
1 - WM = 60 - 70 1 - WF = 60 - 70
SLAVES:
6 - M = 10 1 - F = 10
4 - M = 10 -24 4 - F = 10 -24
1 - M = 36 -55 2 - F = 24 -36
1 - F = 55 -100 --------------------------------
1850 Wake County, North Carolia, St. Mathews District, Image 3,#281/281 SIMON G. JEFFREYS - 75 - M - FARMER - NC
1850 Slave Census for SIMON G. JEFFREYS:
1 - M = 75 - B
1 - M = 54 - B
1 - F = 50 - B
1 - M = 19 - B
1 - F = 21 - B
1 - F = 6 - B
1 - F = 3 - B
1 - F = 1 - B
-----------------------------------
Currently, I don"t know what happened to his slaves after his death, I must try to locate an estate record or something for him. It is very likely that the last group of slaves included EDIE, although I am not so sure about NATHANIEL because none of the ages seem to match. Also, since EDITH & NAT were recorded as married in 1858 in Wake County Cohabitation Records, it is likely that she may have been married off after the death of her father, lending credence to the family story about EDITH; unfortunately, there does not appear to be a will for SIMON GRAY JEFFREYS. It may also be possible, that some of the earlier slaves inherited by WILLIAM JEFFREYS from his father, OSBORNE, could have been the ancestors of EDIE & her mother, whoever that may have been. And so, the quest continues...
-----------------------------------
I've found deeds that indicate that SIMON GRAY JEFFREYS' daughter was NARCISSA JEFFREYS, who married SION ROGERS in Wake Co. on March 20, 1824; the deeds show that SIMON G. was starting to give his children gifts of slaves in the 1840s. In 1870, SION ROGERS, b. 1801, was apparently dead, but NARCISSA ROGERS, b. 1805, was head of household only a few doors from NATHANIEL ROGERS and his family. I now believe that NATHANIEL was probably a former slave of SION ROGERS, it is known that SIMON G. married his slave daughter, EDIE, off to NATHANIEL, and it makes sense that it would have been a slave belonging to someone in his family.
Note: EDIE ROGERS was the daughter of the white landowner, SIMON GRAY JEFFREYS, and an Unknown Slav
|
