Person:Elizabeth Russell (18)

From "Carolina Cradle" Page 183 "In April, 1755, ELIZABETH DEASON (or DEACON), widow of the JAMES DEACON mentioned earlier in this study, petitioned the Court to grant her the guardianship of the orphans of JOSEPH REED, "she being the mother of said children" (Rowan Court Minutes I 1.). JAMES CARTER and JAMES CARSON presented as her security thereby."

From "ABSTRACTS of THE MINUTES OF THE COURT OF PLEAS and QUARTER SESSIONS, ROWAN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 1753-1762" by Jo White Linn: 11:68 17 April 1755. ELIZABETH DEACON Petitioned this Court to have the Guardianship of Two Orphan Children of JOS. REED Deceased, She being Mother of sd Children She Having given Security to this Court to keep the Sd Orphans of this Parish and to Provide for Sd Orphans, with out any Expence or Charge to the sd Estate Security Proposed JAMES CARTER, Esqr and JAMES CARSON. Ordred that the Sd ELIZABETH DEACON have the Guardianship of Sd Orphans until Complaint be Given to this Court Against Sd Guardian, Seting forth that the Sd Orphans is Not Brought up in A Christian Like Manner and Provide Sufficient Cloathing & Apperil and Meat and Drink &c Dureing her Guardianship.

JLB Note: The two orphan children were probably JOSEPH and AGNES REED while WILLIAM REED was placed in the custody of JAMES CARTER on Oct. 10, 1754. This JAMES CARTER is probably the Major JAMES CARTER listed in "Colonial Soldiers of the South, 1732-1774" by Murtie June Clark, page 635 as part of the Rowan Co., NC Militia 1754-1760.

From "Carolina Cradle" Page 60. "In 1731, Thomas Sharp of Duck Creek, Kent County, Maryland referred in his will to his "friend, ELIZABETH DEACON" (Philadelphia Wills II, 577). Although the available evidence is insufficient, it indicates that JAMES and ELIZABETH DEACON came from the narrow strip of territory lying within the bounds of Kent counties, one in Delaware, the other in Maryland. On June 24, 1751, the DEACONS obtained a 640 acre tract of land "beginning at DAVID FULLERTON's easternmost corner ... This land part of 4,480 acres acquired by JAMES McMANUS of Northhampton Co., N.C., was situated on Sill's Creek less than three miles downstream from THOMAS GILLESPIE." JLB Note: The 1731 reference may refer to the mother of JAMES DEACON, since ELIZABETH REED married him in early 1751 after the death of JOSEPH REED in 1750.

From "Carolina Cradle" Page 183: JAMES CARTER and JAMES CARSON presented themselves as her security (for ELIZABETH DEACON, mother of the orphen REED children), thereby making themselves equally liable with her for any ill treatment which should befall the children.

From the Carolina Cradle Page 97: Other pioneer settlers in the Fourth Creek settlement who migrated from Chester County were: ...WILLIAM and ROBERT CARSON (Caln or Londonderry township)... Footnote 26: ... Records of Augusta County, III, 9,18,55; N.C. Land Grants, VI, 132; Rowan Deeds, V,439. WILLIAM and ROBERT CARSON were sons of WILLIAM, senior, who died in 1760 or 1761. Rowan Wills, A,49; Rowan Court Minutes, I,78. WILLIAM CARSON, JR., was The grandfather of CHRISTOPHER (KIT) CARSON, the famous scout.

Page 111: THOMAS and WILLIAM CARSON, probably brothers, settled very near the Cecil-Chester border in 1737 or 1738. WILLIAM lived in Pencader Hundred, New Castle County, until his death in 1762. THOMAS moved from East Nottingham township, Chester County, to Lancaster borough, Lancaster County, in 1744, and thence to the Shenandoah Valley. In 1748, the list of tax delinquents for Augusta County recorded the fact that THOMAS CARSON had "gone to Carolina". CARSON may well have died en route to the Yadkin, for his name does not appear in Anson or Rowan records. JAMES and JOHN CARSON, his sons or nephews, did settle in present day Rowan, JOHN on the South Yadkin in the Irish Settlement, and JAMES in the Trading Camp Settlement.

Page 121: At least thirty of the pioneers who made their homes in the Irish settlement after 1752 emigrated from Chester County. WILLIAM BAILEY, from Kennet township bought 120 acres from ROBERT TATE in 1757. JOHN BIGGS, originally from county Antrim, Ireland (Footnote 35: Tombstone of John Biggs [1699-1763] in Thyatira Cemetery), evidently removed to Carolina from Chester County, as his son-in-law, JAMES CARSON, originally lived there.

Page 128: JOHN SMITH may have emigrated from Nottingham township, Chester County. He died before 1763, and FRANCIS JOHNSTON and JAMES CARSON (both of whom originated in East Nottingham) acted as securities in the administration of his estate. SMITH's home was on a tract of land bought from PETER ARNDT in 1757.

Page 159: Mentions JAMES CARSON as one of nine who obtained deeds to lots in Salisbury in the spring of 1755. Page 160: CARSON, a tanner by trade, purchased a 640 acre tract in November, 1753, adjoining the land of JOHN DUNN. He bought a lot in Salisbury in May, 1755, and obtained two more the following year. As stated above, the majority of these acquisitions probably represented efforts at speculation.

Extrapolating from the Rowan County Court Minutes at the beginning of this chronology and the above mentioned will of James Deacon, we could infer that Elizabeth Deacon, the widow of Joseph Reed was the mother of Joseph Reed and other Reeds, with Joseph being identified by James Deacon, her son, as a half brother, and that James Deacon was the son of James Deacon who died in Rowan County before 1755 leaving his widow, Elizabeth, who asked the court for custody of the orphans of Joseph Reed.

Rowan County Deed Abstracts 4:50. 24 June 1751. Granville to JAMES DEACON of Anson Co. for 10 sh sterl, 640 A in Anson adj. DAVID FULLERTON. RICHARD HELLIER, JAMES CARTER. Prvd. Jan. Court 1759. Assigned to JOHN COWIN 5 Sept. 1753. ELIZABETH (X) DEACON relinquishes her dower interest 30 Nov. 1758.

Rowan County Deed Abstracts 4:53. 5 Feb 1753. JAMES and ELIZABETH (X) DEACON to JOHN COWIN for #30 VA money, land adj. DAVID FULLERTON, DENNIS LAVERTY, WILLIAM CRAWFORD, ALEXANDER DOBBIN. ALEXANDER DOBBIN, JOHN FROHOCK, DENNIS LAVERTY. JLB Note: This land seems different than the piece granted to JAMES DEACON in 1751 and may have been adjacent to it and originally owned by JOSEPH REED.

Page 162 "HORAH, originally from Cecil Co. Maryland asked to keep a tavern "at his dwelling house where DEACON formerly lived". The reference to James Deacon indicates that the inn may have been located on Second Creek, twelve miles west of Salisbury, for both DEACON and HORAH possessed land along that creek. On the other hand, Horah's Inn (and Deacon's home) might have been in the town, for the former obtained title to four lots in 1757 and 1762. Horah operated a weaver's shop on one of his lots -------." Page 166: Those who owned lots in Salisbury but whose actual residence there cannot be established were SAMUEL KIRKPATRICK, JOHN JOHNSTON, WILLIAM REED, WILLIAM McKNIGHT, JOHN HOWARD, JOHN BRALY, and JOHN BREVARD. JLB Note: Rowan Co., Marriages. John Johnston to Elizabeth Lock 17 May 1762\\\; Francis Lock and George Lock were bondsmen\\\; William Reed and Jacob Nichols were witnesses.

Ordered that DAVID JONES Esqr. have & Receive out of the Estate of JAMES DEACON #5.15.4 Proc. money for removing Goods Attached belonging to the Estate of the sd JAMES DEACON and keeping a Negro man Seven months the Negro man being rendered incapable of working or being of any service to him. Minutes signed by EDWD HUGHS, WM BUIS & JOSEPH TEATE. Court adjourned until tomorrow at 8.

II:132 (Held 24 April 1756) JAMES DEACON vs HUGH DAVIS & WILLIAM DAVIS. Same jury as preceding case. Evidence: REBECCA JOHNSTON. Rule for Plaintiff #11.O.O. JLB Note: My guess is that this Rebecca is the married sister of James Deacon, Sr. The jury was probably JAS DAVIS, JOHN TURNER, WM LUCKY, ROBT FORBUS, JAS TENNIN, SAML BRYAN, PAT LOGAN, HENRY HENDRY, JNO GARDNER, WM GILES, JAS ERWIN & SAM BLYTHE. Need to get a copy of this suit.

II:215 (cont.) 21 Jan. 1758 II:16 Ordered P Cur that WILLIAM REID is Discharged from JAMES CARTER, he having served out his Year Pursuant to a former Order of Court &c. Ordered P Cur that WILLIAM REED Serve Mr. JOHN DUNN for & During the Term of One Year from this present January 21st 1758 and the said JOHN DUNN is to instruct him in all things agreeable to his Present Ability and give him all Necessary Clothing & find him Sufficient Diett During sd Term and at the Expiration of sd Term to give him the sum of #10 Proc., he giving Security for the Performance of the above. JLB Note: From other minutes, it appears this JOHN DUNN was an attorney. Also, it could be that WILLIAM REED was born about 1738, if he would be 21 by January 21st 1759.

On Motion Mr. JAMES CARTER came into Open Court and Offered to Produce Securities for his Compliance with a Former Order of Court Concerning WILLIAM REED an Orphan of JOSEPH REED Decd which sd Order was made when he the said WILLIAM REED Chose the sd CARTER for his Guardian. Motion Rejected P Cur. Orphans Court adjourned. County Court met & Justices present: JNO HANBY, JOHN BREVARD & ALEXR CATHEY, Esqrs.