Gentry's Branch and the James Gordon Grant

The following map is a small excerpt from a Judy Cardwell map where she has plotted the 1784 NC land grant to James Gordon (modern day Forsyth Co, NC). The actual location of the plot may be off a little one direction or the other, but Judy has done an excellent job in getting these old land grants very close to their actual location. So, until this is proven to be off, I'm running with it as she has plotted it.

image no longer available

I am in the process of tracing modern tracts which are anchored to modern roads and boundaries, and therefore I should eventually be able to accurately place this tract in its exact location (and Judy may already have it there, mind you).

Notice Meadowlark Rd at the far right as it runs north into Robinhood Rd. The latter road runs west across the northern section of the Gordon grant and continues another couple miles west to the Yadkin River. There are three (3) main branches that intersect within Gordon's tract. One from the north, one from the northwest, and one from west, all joining together and flowing south through the southeast corner of Gordon's tract.

Not too distant south from Gordon the fourth branch (to the right) also flows into this creek known as Stewarts Creek, eventually dumping into Muddy Creek about a mile (or less) south of Gordon's tract, having traversed Brookberry Farm in the process. All of these branches are part of Stewarts Creek, but are there other names for these branches? The following map may help you get a better idea of where this tract was. The northern edge of it is along Robinhood Rd at Chickasha Rd.


View Larger Map (Click and drag map to move around)

I believe the branch coming down from the northwest of Gordon's tract to be Gentry's Branch. The following details will help explain why.

When this 350 acre grant was issued to James Gordon on 3 Nov 1784 this location was situated in Surry Co NC. It was later in Stokes County once it was formed in 1789, and then Forsyth County beginning 1849.

Gordon didn't keep this tract long, as it was sold by Gordon's heir to George Lash just two months later on 2 Jan 1785. George Lash (Loesch) was the brother of Jacob Lash and was also the father of Nathaniel Lash. While on the subject of family connections, it should be noted that Nathaniel Lash married Aggie Brooks, daughter of Matthew Brooks Sr. Nathaniel and Aggie Brooks Lash are both buried on Brookberry Farm, not far to the southeast of this Gordon tract.

Continuing with the history of this tract, George Lash divided it into two sections, which later are described as 165 acres and 195 acres, which doesn't equal 350, but welcome to the world of metes and bounds! In 1788 George Lash sold 165 acres to George Hauser, who in turn sold it to William Alford in 1792.

This 1792 deed is important for several reasons. From it we learn that it was described as being on "Gentry's Branch of Muddy Creek", and that it also bordered Henry Holder's SW corner and Jacob Null's line. It also points out that it was part of 350 ac. granted to James Gordon 3 Nov 1784, that it passed from Seth Gordon heir of sd James Gordon to George Lash 22 Jan 1785, and from George Lash to George Hauser 20 Feb 1788. The witnesses of this 11 Sept 1792 sale to Alford were Abm. Steiner and Laughlin (X) Flin.

14 July 1797, William Alford sold two tracts to Matthew Brooks. One was 100 acres sold to Alford on 23 July 1791 from Samuel Soward (Seward); the other tract was for "175" acres on Gentry's Branch, previously obtained from George Hauser on 11 Sept 1792. Here we go with Matthew Brooks again. There are dozens of deeds that need to be meticulously scanned to determine when and to whom Brooks disposed of this property.

Some people have listed Soward as Seward, but many of the deeds involving him list him as "Soward". However, his name WAS Samuel Seward. He and his family were intermarried multiple times with the Billiter family. Samuel Seward was even a granduncle of William Henry Seward of "Seward's Folly" fame... supposedly. As for Alford, get ready for this... We've seen Alford listed as Olford, but in this 1791 deed where Soward sold the 100 acres to him, he is listed as William Elford two or more times, and then later in the same deed he's listed multiple times as William Elrod - a name I've seen many times before. So, William Alford is the same person as Elrod, Elford, Olford. My goodness!

The 1791 Soward to Elford deed (Stokes, Bk 1 Pg 319) describes this 100 acre tract as being on "Lashes, otherwise called Stewarts Branch". It also described it as being the westernmost half of a 200 acre NC grant to Henry Holder (east of the Gordon grant), who conveyed the 100 acres to Wintle Krouse, who in turn conveyed it to Samuel Soward.

But what about the other "195" acres? In 1806 (Stokes Co Deeds, Bk 5 Pg 83), Nathaniel Lash sold 195 acres to John Doub, described as being on Gentry's Branch of Muddy Creek, and having passed from George Lash to Nathaniel Lash. It goes on to describe it as "beginning at a white oak formerly Carver's corner", then it runs south along Carver's line, then east to a former corner of George Hauser, then it runs north along Hauser's line to another corner of Hauser in Jacob Null's line, then comes back west and south to More's corner and then "Olford's" corner. (John Doub sold this 195 acre tract to Jacob Doub in 1808. Haven't found any further sale as of yet.)

So clearly we're dealing with another part of the same 350 acres given the common names within the boundaries of both tracts. Given that Carver is to the southwest, I am confident in Judy Cardwell's placement of the Gordon grant, relative to the other surrounding grants. This placement leads me to believe, then, that the northwest branch of Stewarts Creek is known as Gentry's Branch. If anyone has any evidence to refute or substantiate this claim I would certainly appreciate hearing from you. Thank you.

Brookberry Farm Deed Mapping

The main 200 acre tract in the center of the farm (includes the Gray mansion, and the southern half of the developed area, and everything south from there), can definitively be traced back to an original land grant from the state of NC to John Hauser. I confirmed this conclusively on 22 Jan 2010.

John Hauser's grant (still need more details on it, but this much I do know) contained about 600 acres. After his death in the late 1700's his land was devised to his heirs, who in turn sold the 3 tracts of 200 acres each to various parties. The northern most 200 acre tract was sold to Matthew Brooks (possibly "Jr") in 1799 (Stokes Deed Book 3 Page 227). This includes the land from Hundley Rd at the back side of Meadowlark Downs, running north behind Meadowlark Downs to Brookberry Farm Rd. From there it runs west all the way to the Gray mansion and just a little west of that (but not all the way to Ketner Rd, however). Then it runs south to a point even with Hundley Rd and then back east to the backside of Meadowlark Downs.

The above tract contained 200 (actually about 204.75) acres.

Also in 1799, another 200 acre tract on the SOUTH side of Brooks' tract was sold to Samuel Vest (Stokes Deed Book 3 Page 202). Beauchamp Rd runs into the heart of that tract. The southern line of this tract, however, ran a little north of Country Club Rd.

Ten years prior to this, in 1789, the other 200 acre tract was sold to Christian Hauser (Stokes Deed Book 1 Page 52). This tract is south of Vest's tract and crossed over Country Club Rd and encompassed Lewisville Motor Company, etc.

As for Matthew Brooks, he sold his 200 acres to Nathaniel Lash (probably his brother-in-law) on 19 Feb 1802 (Stokes Deed Book 4 Page 149). The cemetery where Nathaniel Lash, and his wife Aggie Brooks Lash, are buried is located in the NW section of this very same tract of land, originally owned by John Hauser.

Debbie... you live on this tract of land, by the way.

Wes

Conrads of Lewisville, NC

The following notes are simply a compilation of scattered notes I'm pulling together concerning the Conrads who lived on or near the Stewarts Creek region of Lewisville / Vienna.

http://www.fmoran.com/conrad.html

Leonard Conrad (1787-1865) m. 1) Annie Vest, 2) Rebecca Lash, probably d/o George Lash Jr. and Nancy Wall

Children of Johann Jacob Conrad (1751-1818) and Catharina Weybrecht Johann Conrad:
Jacob Conrad (1779-?)
Daniel Conrad (1783-?)
Leonard Conrad (1787-1865) m. 1) Annie Vest, 2) Rebecca Lash, probably d/o George Lash Jr. and Nancy Wall
Elisabeth Conrad (1789-aft. 1850) m. Martin Leinbach (1791-1848)
Johann Jacob and Catharina married in Pennsylvania in 1775, and probably didn't arrive in NC until 1777.

Which John Conrad was the POA (1825) for John Stewart (son of David Stewart)? Was it Leonard's brother? It wasn't Leonard's father as he died in 1818. Leonard's father was probably known as Jacob Conrad Jr.

His parents were Johann Jacob Conrad and Maria Catharina Royer.

Must also consider the following families of Christian and John Conrad, uncles of Leonard.

Probable children of Christian Conrad and Maria Boeckel:
Maria Catharina Conrad (1772-1830) m. Johann Christian Hauser (1766-?)
John Conrad (1774-1841) m. Catharina Spainhour (1775-1862)
Peter Conrad (1777-1850) m. 1) Maria Magdalena Schumacher? (1781-1818), 2) Catharina Spainhour (1787-1866)
Anna Magdalena Conrad (1782-1863) m. Peter Pfaff (1773-1865)

Christian Conrad came to NC in 1769 and settled on the land his father had purchased the preceding year. Maria Boeckel was originally listed on this page as Boeke. We now think she may be a Boeckel - but who were her parents? And were there other children in this family?

We are not entirely sure that John and Peter Conrad are their sons, but they fit nicely into the sequence of children. Also, Peter named a son Christian.

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Children of Johannes Conrad and Catharina Romig:
John Conrad (1778-1850) m. 1) Elizabeth Miller (1782-1837), 2) Mrs. Margaret Grimes (abt. 1806-?) was she the Margaret Harris who married Benjamin Grimes in 1825?
Anna Elisabeth Conrad (1780-1781)
Jacob Conrad (1782-1839). Did he marry Catharina Krause in 1809? and/or Catharina Krieger?
Abraham Conrad (1784-1869) m. Phillipina Christina Loesch (1788-1847)
Isaac Conrad (1790-1832) m. Charity Wolff (1804-1857)

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So we have a John Conrad brother of Leonard we know nothing about. Then there's two other John Conrads who were 1st cousins of Leonard, one of whom married a Spainhour and the other married a Miller. Both are eligible to have been the John Conrad who acquired part of David Stewart's lands.

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The Sharon UMC site says that Leonard Conrad was the son of Jacob Conrad, one of the 3 brothers who came to this area.

Leonard's wife, Annie/Janie/Chanie Vest, was the daughter of Samuel Vest Sr, and sister of Charles Vest Jr, as shown on Judy Cardwell's page at http://home.windstream.net/judyscard/sandj.htm

Leonard and Chaney are both buried at Sharon UMC.

Stewarts who remained in Stewarts Creek area

David Stewart, oldest son of Samuel and Lydia Harrison Stewart, was the first of the clan to move from the Harrisonburg, Va region to the Stewarts Creek location of modern day Forsyth Co NC. This was about 1748 when David and his wife Abigail moved to what was then Anson County (later Rowan, then Surry, then Stokes when they died, now Forsyth).

There is mention of Swan Creek, Snow Creek, Stewarts Creek. Were they all the same?

It appears that of all of Samuel's sons, his two oldest remained in this general area for the duration of their lives, i.e. David Stewart and Samuel Stewart Jr. There was a Reuben Stewart who was the son of David who also remained here for some time. Further research needs to be done to learn about these families. (see below)

STOKES COUNTY NC WILLS 1790-1864. Will of David Stewart (Stuart) Nov 24, 1801. Pr Dec 1807. Jamiah (Jemima) Harrison, Hezekiah Rankin, Lydia Potter and Abigail Curd, 20 shillings each. Five sons: John, David, Reuben, Samuel and Thomas, all my estate, also negroes (6 of them) Wife Abigail Stewart to be maintained, Execs John and Reuben Stewart. Wit: Thompson Glenn, Frederick Miller, and Henry Holder. Signed David (X) Stewart.

Dr Johnson says "Isaiah [Harrison] Jr was b Sept 27, 1689 and would have been 61 years old in 1750 and 64 when he entered land in 1753 (Swan Ponds) and in 1761 he would have been 72 when Isaiah appears on the tax list above.. pretty old for those days."

He further states "Joseph Harrison bought land from Anthony Furlerburg in 1758 on the E side Yadkin. In 1762 Thomas Harrison was a witness to a deed from Jacob Lash both sides Town Fork Creek, and in that same year Thomas was a witness to deed of Jacob Lash from Granville, on Mill Creek of Gargabs Creek, which Mrs Hulse takes to mean Gargales Creek, which later is called Muddy Creek and is located in SW Stokes Co."

Dr Johnson continues... "From THE STEWART CLAN MAGAZINE, Dec 1938. Article, STEWARTS OF OLD ROWAN COUNTY, NC -SAMUEL AND LYDIA STEWART OF YADKIN COUNTY. David Stewart, son of Samuel b c 1722 was in Augusta Co. VA 1747-48 when he "beat the bounds" (processioning boundaries I presume). About 1748 he got a Granville grant for 138 acres on the Yadkin in Anson Co. NC, later Rowan, then Surry... It was surveyed Jan 10, 1748-9 with chain carriers Abraham Potter and Anthony Heavely. David settled on Swan Creek probably before his parents came. He had a constable's beat on the north side of the Yadkin from Muddy Creek upward as shown in the minutes of the court 1753-1756. In 1757 he was granted 380 acres on the east side of Yadkin which he sold in 1779 to John Lynch. David and Samuel Stewart sureties 1762 on the marriage bond of JOSEPH HARRISON and ANN BALLS of Rowan. David and Samuel Stewart were execs of their father's will in 1770 and their mother's will in 1772. David Stewart had a daughter Lydia.

"Samuel Stewart, son of Samuel and brother of David b c 1724 m Elizabeth _____. He moved from VA to NC about 1751 probably before his parents. He obtained a grant of 646 acres 1751 with survey 1753. Later in 1762 he got another grant on the east side of the Yadkin on both sides of Swan Creek adjacent to his brother David. John Harrison was a witness. He and David may have been living in Stokes Co in 1790 for the census. There was also a Thomas Stewart, a Rev. War Vet in Surry who m Jane Potter."

Samuel Stewart later obtained a second grant for 332 acres, apparently on Swan Creek. "Will of Lydia Stewart. 11 Jan 1771, widow of Samuel Stewart. Surry Co. NC. It reveals a possible defect in title to the Swan Creek property. She states that if a clear title can be obtained, the land should be sold and divided equally among her sons David, Samuel, John and Isaiah. Samuel Stewart had left the other property to the two younger sons."

ROWAN COUNTY NC MARRIAGE BONDS: "Joseph (X) Harrison and Arms Bawls 30 June 1762 with David Stewart, Samuel (X) Steward and Jacob Losh (Loesch or Lash)." This is very interesting to find these Stewarts WITH Jacob Lash so many times.

Another source sheds more light on David Stewart's family:

"David Stewart left a will dated 24 Nov 1801 in Stokes County, North Carolina. Researcher: Joyce Lindstrom."

This source also states "On June 5, 1781, David bought of John Lynch 200 acres on south fork of Stewart's Creek. David's land was in Stokes County when that county was formed. He was surety on the marriage of Thomas Stewart and Prudence Busey on May 4, 1791. He made his will on Nov. 24, 1801. He appointed his sons, John and Reuben Stewart as executors.

"He gave 20 shillings each to Jemima Harrison, Keziah Rankin, Lydia Potter, and Abigail Curd, and left to John, David, Reuben, Samuel, and Thomas Stewart, 'all my estate, land, negroes, and stock all kinds & household goods & plantation tools to be equally divided. My five sons are to have no division until the death of my wife Abigail whom they are to maintain.' John Stewart, one of the executors, moved to Knox County, Ky., where he gave power-of-attorney on July 19, 1819, to John Conrad of Stokes County and to attend his interest in his father's estate. Reuben Stewart, the remaining executor, sold on Mar 14, 1825 to Frederick Miller, for $450, 138 acres of land."

This tells us that the 138 acres on Swan Creek was what was sold to Frederick Miller in 1825. This is very important!!! It's equally important to note that David's son John assigned POA authority to a Conrad, likewise a resident of the region currently around Brookberry Farm and Stewarts Creek.

Samuel Stewart Jr was issued a land grant for 640 acres "above the head of Stewarts Run", named for David Stewart. It goes on to say "The tract had been entered on Oct. 9, 1751, in Granville's office, and a deed was issued Jan. 10, 1761, according to a notation on the order of survey... The surveyor's certificate, dated Apr. 23, 1753, says, 'I have surveyed for Samuel Stewart, junior, a plantation on the north side of the Yadkin and on the waters of Reedy [Muddy] Creek, beginning at a hickory David Stewart's corner, running from thence South...chain carriers: David and John Stewart. Ent'd 9th Oct. 1751.' The plat showed 646 acres, surveyed for Samuel Stewart, Junr."

This places David and his brother Samuel Jr next to each other, on Stewarts Creek in the 1750s (therefore not the modern day Surry Co lands). At this early date, David only owned land on what was later referred to as Swan Creek according to some sources. There are two major branches of Stewarts Creek that begin with a bunch of lakes or ponds, and then flow south, cross modern day Robinhood Rd and then come together, then join up with Lashes Branch or Creek, then flow east and then south into the modern day Brookberry Farm, south across Country Club Rd, joins Tomahawk Branch and then flows into Muddy Creek.

It was May 9, 1757 when their father, Samuel Stewart Sr, obtained his land grant for 508 acres on the E side of the Yadkin River. All of this is east of the Yadkin.

One more observation concerning "Lashes Creek". Looking at Judy Cardwell's page again, it appears that what she's referring to as Lashes Creek must be the creek flowing east from Beauchamp Lake into Stewarts Creek. This is on the southern end of Brookberry Farm. The 3 tracts of 200 acres each must make up the original 600 acre grant to John Hauser. I need to dig into that further. I can pull the 1789 deed to Christian Hauser, and both 1799 deeds to Samuel Vest and Matthew Brooks, all for 200 acres each, all three occurring in Stokes county, which means it's available online.

I also need to do some follow up research on Frederick Miller (any relation to Jacob Miller?) and the 1825 deed from Reuben Stewart to him, for 138 acres originally granted to David Stewart. I also need to identify this John Conrad.

More later...

Stewarts Creek, Tomahawk Creek, Lashes Creek

Judy Cardwell has helped me get a better understanding of where these creeks are today, and why all the confusion in modern maps.

Bottom line... the creek that runs N to S through Brookberry Farm is Stewarts Creek. Further upstream, toward Robinhood Rd, a couple creeks flow into it from the west. The largest tributary, according to Judy, is Lashes Creek. This is important to remember. This is also along the northern part of Brookberry Farm, and even to the north and west of the farm.

As Stewarts Creek runs S and approaches Country Club Rd, another creek flows into it from the west. On some maps that is referred to as Little Tomahawk Creek, and flows from Beauchamp Lake into Stewarts Creek.

Some modern maps refer to Stewarts Creek as Tomahawk Creek or Reynolds Creek, but it's really Stewarts Creek.

Then, as the main branch flows S and under Country Club Rd (formerly Shallow Ford Rd, from Old Salem to Lewisville), yet another large creek flows into it from the west, just before it dumps into Muddy Creek. This westerly creek in the old deeds is THE Tomahawk Branch or Tomahawk Creek. A couple modern maps show the same thing, but most modern maps label this as Reynolds Creek. That could be because just west of Stewarts Creek, this westerly creek flows under Styers Ferry Rd and passes beside the L.A. Reynolds Nursery. Nonetheless, it really is Tomahawk Creek.

Therefore, my past assumptions were incorrect as to the proper location of Tomahawk Creek. I want to thank Judy for helping me with this, as she has done extensive research on the Vest family and others along all of these creeks. There is no question as to the location of Tomahawk Creek.

That said, I have always believed Stewarts Creek (Branch, Run) was where it is. And, it runs a long way, beginning at the lakes along Lake Forest Rd some two miles or so north of Brookberry Farm. Somewhere along this creek, and I now presume it to have been further north from the modern Brookberry Farm, the Stewarts lived during the 1750s - 1770s. David and Abigail Stewart are thought to have lived there first near some "ponds", and then later his parents, Samuel and Lydia Harrison Stewart, also lived there, beginning about 1754, roughly. Other family members most likely lived here also, but for now I'm simply trying to document the Brookberry Farm owners, and then I can work my way up the creek later.

Another important historical tidbit... During the 1750's, the Great Wagon Road traversed this section of the country. Later, a newer part of the Great Wagon Road was laid out along the modern Yadkinville Highway. But during these early years, it snaked across this part of the country on a path lost long ago. That said, it crossed Stewarts Creek SOMEWHERE along the way between the northern end at the ponds and the southern end at the modern day Brookberry Farm. That was the early route from Bethania to Lewisville to the Shallow Ford of the Yadkin River.

Wes

Brookberry Conrad Pedigree

Faye Moran has an excellent history on the genealogy of many families of Stokes and Forsyth counties, and in this case, sheds light on the Conrads of Forsyth County in general, and Rufus and Robert C Conrad in particular. I don't find Vance E Conrad in this pedigree however, so there may not be any connection between him and these other Conrads. Really, the only Conrad who's lands were later in Brookberry was Robert C Conrad, but Rufus appears to be his 1st cousin.

Here are some genealogy details:

Children of Calvin Conrad and Edna Brown
Lucas Isaac Conrad (1866-1913)
Luther Conrad (1868-1878)
Robert Curtis Conrad (1872-1936) m. Della Sheets (1877-1936)
Mary Conrad
Titus Conrad

Then, going back one generation:

Children of Isaac D. Conrad and Sarah Maria Shamel
Selesta Conrad (abt. 1837-?) m. Elisha McKnight (abt. 1834-?), prob. s/o George McKnight and Lydia Elrod
Calvin Conrad (1838-1895) m. Edna Brown (1839-1908)
Gideon Conrad (1844-1886) m. Mary Jane Livengood (1846-1909)
George Dallas Conrad (1847-1917) m. Clementine Rebecca Cornish (1851-1934)
Lewis Conrad (abt. 1850-?)
Augusta Conrad (1852-1937) m. John Livengood
Regina Conrad (1853-1926) m. Julius Sylvester Norman (1851-1943)

Notice above that the McKnights and Elrods start showing up. Let's go one more generation back:

Children of Leonard Conrad and Annie Vest
Joseph G. Conrad (abt. 1808-aft. 1870) m. Nancy Stolz (abt. 1816-aft. 1870). Who were her parents?
Sarah Conrad (1810-1898) m. Nathaniel Ketner (1810-1879)
Isaac D. Conrad (1814-1882) m. Sarah Maria Shamel (1817-1905)
Samuel Conrad; named in his father's will (1865) as deceased, but left heirs
Susan Conrad (1818-1855) m. Nathaniel Hartman (abt. 1812-?)
Fizy or Fisa W. Conrad (1820-1905) m. George H. Flynt (1818-1893)

Children of Leonard Conrad and Rebecca Lash
Delphia Conrad (1827-1877) m. Milton Hartman (1821-1870)
John Leonard Conrad (1832-1862) m. Caroline L. Conrad (1836-1925)
Lucetta Conrad (1833-1873) m. 1) Lewis Hartman (abt. 1825-1865, 2) Joseph Brewer, s/o Henry Brewer and Elizabeth Boeckel
Julia Sybilla Conrad (1835-1902) m. Julius Abraham Transou (1832-1930)
James H. Conrad (abt. 1837-1911) m. Emily L. Gamble (1839-1911), d/o Andrew Gamble
Mary Ann Conrad (abt. 1844-?) m. Jesse Marshall (abt. 1840-?), s/o Tandy Marshall

The above family group shows that Isaac's step mother was Rebecca Lash, presumed niece of Nathaniel Lash, who is buried on Brookberry Farm! Robert C Conrad's land is known to have come from Leonard Conrad, as well. Flynts live just north of Brookberry, and Ketners were on the western edge of, and part of, Brookberry.

Children of Johann Jacob Conrad and Catharina Weybrecht
Johann Conrad
Jacob Conrad (1779-?)
Daniel Conrad (1783-?)
Leonard Conrad (1787-1865) m. 1) Annie Vest, 2) Rebecca Lash, probably d/o George Lash Jr. and Nancy Wall
Elisabeth Conrad (1789-aft. 1850) m. Martin Leinbach (1791-1848)

So, we see that the Conrads were intricately connected with these other Moravian and Brookberry Farm families.

Israel George Lash 1810-1878

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Israel_G._Lash

"Israel George Lash (1810 - 1878) was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born in Bethania, North Carolina, August 18, 1810. He attended the common schools and the local academy in his native city; engaged in mercantile pursuits and subsequently became a cigar manufacturer; also engaged in banking in Salem, North Carolina; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1868; upon the readmission of the State of North Carolina to representation was elected as a Republican to the Fortieth Congress; reelected to the Forty-first Congress and served from July 20, 1868, to March 4, 1871; was not a candidate for renomination in 1870; again engaged in banking in Salem (now Winston-Salem) N.C., until his death there on April 1, 1878; interment in the Moravian Cemetery, Bethania, N.C."

What is significant about this man to me is that he is connected to the Lash family of Brookberry Farm, off Meadowlark Drive in Winston-Salem, NC.

Another source at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8059680 has this to say, and even has a picture of him:

"US Congressman. Banker and cigar maker Lash was elected as a U.S. Representative from North Carolina from 1868 to 1871."

The following photo was taken in 1865.

Another source is http://www.historync.org/BankCapeFear.htm where we learn the following about Israel Lash:

"Salem branch: There were three individuals initially appointed in 1815 to act as agents for the Bank of Cape Fear in Salem. Charles F. Bagge, cashier (July 1815+), in some records also referred to as president, even though this was an agency operation until 1847; Emanuel Schober (July 1815), John Christian Blum, agent (July 1815 -1827); Friedrich Heinrich (Henry) Schumann, agent & cashier (1828 -1847), a physician who also was involved with the Salem Manufacturing Company and its cotton mill in Salem; Israel George Lash, cashier (1847 - 1866)."

Some very interesting information concerning banking, and connections between the Lash and Gray families. See http://www.archive.org/stream/forsythcountyonm00frie/forsythcountyonm00frie_djvu.txt. This source says the following:

"As early as 1815 the Bank of Cape Fear, Wilmington, N.C., appointed agents in Salem. Two years before the founding of Winston, the formal business of banking was launched in Salem with the establishment of a branqh of the same Bank. Israel G. Loesch, or Lash, was the first banker. The bank was housed in a brick building located at what is now the southwest corner of Bank and Main streets. This branch bank seems to have prospered until it went down in the general financial crash of the Civil War. In 1866, Lash opened a bank of his own, the First National Bank of Salem, using the same building which had sheltered the branch of the Bank of Cape Fear. Following the death of Israel Lash in 1879, the bank closed its doors and the banking center of the community moved into the new village of Winston.

"The Wachovia Bank & Trust Company dates back to the establishment of the Wachovia National Bank in June, 1879. This institution had as its president Wyatt F. Bowman, E. Belo as vice-president, W. A. Lemly (formerly associated with Israel Lash in Salem) as cashier, and James A. Gray as assistant cashier. Lemly was president of this flourishing institution from 1882 to 1906 and James A. Gray from the latter date to 1911. The bank started business with a capital of $100,000 and in about two months it was increased to $150,000. In 1888 the bank was moved from its original build- ing on Main Street to the corner of Main and Third streets, where it occupied a three-story building on the present site of the Main office of the Wachovia Bank and Trust Company.

"In 1893, the Wachovia Loan and Trust Company was organized by F. H. Fries and his nephew, H. F. Shaifner. Its first home was in a modest one-story wooden building on the east side of Main Street between Second and Third in Winston. The directors were James A. Gray, J. E. Gihner, C. H. Fogle, J. C. Buxton, J. H. Millis, T. L. Vaughn and R. J. Reynolds. Two of these directors, Messrs. Gray and Buxton, were closely identified with the Wachovia National Bank! Gray was elected a vice-president of the Trust Company at the beginning but was not active until later."

Another tidbit about Lash and Gray, Debbie McCann found an 1878 deed in which Israel G Lash sold a plot of land to James A Gray.

More later...

BBF Timeline

The following records are in chronological order and serve as an event timeline related to Brookberry Farm (BBF) and Stewarts Creek.

1. 1748, David Stewart received 138 acres on the Yadkin River, Anson Co., surveyed 10 Jan 1748/49. As the first to settle on this branch of Muddy Creek, the branch (creek) took his name, Stewart's Creek. Other names for this same creek are Gentry's Branch, Lash's Creek, Stewarts Branch, even Tomahawk Branch, but the latter branch is more properly located south of Country Club Rd. On the other hand, Stewarts Creek begins just south of Yadkinville Hwy (modern day Forsyth Co, NC), between Olivet Church Rd and Lewisville-Vienna Rd. It flows south, crossing Robinhood Rd, through Brookberry Farm, and crosses Country Club Rd immediately to the west of Meadowlark Rd.
2. 1753, Rowan County formed from Anson County.
3. 1753, the Moravians are granted almost 99,000 acres in Anson/Rowan County (modern day Forsyth County). The call this tract Wachovia. The old western boundary of Wachovia is roughly the eastern boundary of modern day Brookberry Farm (just west of Meadowlark Rd).
4. 1770 (Feb 15), James Glenn, Joseph Harrison, James Buck, Samuel and David Stewart, Georg Lash, Martin Houser, of the Yadkin, Henry Spoonhour [Spainhour] and Michael Houser of Bethany, Jacob Stoner, Jacob Blecken and John Ranke of Bethabara, and George and Charles Holder of Salem to lay off a road from the Shallow ford of the Yadkin to cross the North Fork of Muddy Creek a little above the mouth of Steward's Creek to the town of Salem. [Muddy Creek a little above the mouth of Stewarts Creek is Shallowford / Country Club Rd. The old wagon road came into Lewisville at Shallowford Rd near Lewisville-Vienna Rd. The part of Shallowford Rd that runs from there to Old Salem was not laid out until this time in 1770 apparently. Sam Stewart Sr had already died, so this was Samuel Jr and his brother David.]
5. 1771, Surry County formed from Rowan County.
6. 1771 (May 3), Deed from George Lash (father of Nathaniel Lash) and his wife to Spencer Altum for 100 acres. (Rowan Co) [We know this is on Stewarts Branch based on Altum's 1785 sale of this property... see below.]
7. 1772, William Gentry hired by Moravians to build a bridge across Muddy Creek on the road to the Shallow Ford. This location is now Country Club Rd in Winston-Salem, crossing Muddy Creek just .1 mile from Meadowlark Rd and therefore about .1 mile from southern edge of BBF.
8. 1775 (Aug), Proceedings of the Safety Committee in Surry County (NC). Committee met according to appointment 25th August 1775. Present: Benjamin Cleaveland, John Hamlin, Jesse Walton, Samuel Freeman, Benjamin Herndon, Charles Lynch, John Armstrong, James Hampton, Richard Gorde, Augustus Blackburn, James Doke, Matthew Brooks, John Hudsbeth, George Lash, John Snead, Malcom Curry.
9. 1785 (Mar 14), Spencer Altum of Mongomery Co, to Zebedee Billator 70 pds. 100 acres Stewarts branch adj. Mr. Cosart's land on northwest. Witnesses: Nathaniel Lash, James Reynolds, William (mark) Garrot. Signed: Spencer (mark) Altum s/Ann Altum. (Surry Co, NC Deed Bk C, pp 199-200) [Nathaniel Lash is buried in "Cemetery #1"]
10. 1785, Surry Co., Record of Estates (1809-1818); Hauser, George & others - pp. 6, 8; 30 Jul 1785 - executors bond w/ Matthew Brooks & George Lash. [Remember that George Lash's son Nathaniel married Aggie Brooks nine months after this record, and both are buried in "Cemetery #1". Was she the daughter of Matthew Brooks? And, Matthew Brooks had bought all of Samuel Stewart's 508 acres by 1779.]
11. 1786 (Apr 24), Nathaniel Lash obtained marriage license, Surry Co. [We know that he married Aggie Brooks, as both are buried in "Cemetery #1".]
12. 1789, Stokes County formed from Surry County.
13. 1789 (Aug 18), WILL: A true inventory of the Estate of Michael Hauser, deceased.
    ... four hundred acres of land on Stewarts Branch, one hundred and twenty seven acres upon Mill Creek, ... August the 18th 1789.
14. 1789 (Dec 9), bet. Michael Howser & Peter Howser of Surry Co., Execs. of Michael Howser, decd., and Christian Howser of Surry Co., legatees of the sd. decd... 5 sh.. 200 ac in Surry Co. Stewarts Branch.. waters of Muddy Cr (part of land orig granted by the State to John Howser - from John to Michael)... Witnesses: Wm. Thornton and Jos. Howser. Signed: Michel Howser and Peter Howser. (Stokes Co Deed Bk 1)
15. 1792 (Sept 11), bet. William Elrod and John Krouse.. 200 pds.. 200 ac. Stewarts Branch... Millars corner... Bolejacks (Bulitscheck) and Lashs lines. Carvers line... (orig. granted to Matthew Brooks and from him to Aquilla Matthews 16 Feb 1787, and from Matthews to sd Elrod 14 Nov 1787)... Witnesses: Geo. Hauser and Peter Hauser. Signed: William Elrod. (Stokes Co Deed Bk 1)
16. 1792 (Sept 11), bet. George Hauser and William Alford (Elford / Elrod).. 114 pds., 165 ac. Gentrys Branch of Muddy Creek.. Henry Holders SW corner.. Jacob Nulls line.. (part of 350 ac. granted to James Gordon 3 Nov 1784; from Seth Gordon heir of sd James Gordon to George Lash 22 Jan 1785; and from George Lash to George Hauser 20 Feb 1788; Witnesses: Abm. Steiner and Laughlin (X) Flin. Signed: George Hauser. (Stokes Co Deed Bk 1) [WP note: George Lash was father of Nathaniel Lash]
17. 1793 (Oct 22), Stokes Co., NC, Will of "Jeams" Crook: Oct. 22, 1793 -Wife: Elizabeth (5 slaves plus land); sons: Bignal, Jeamy, Jeremiah (all land on Stewart's Branch, Stokes County), William; daughter: Mary, wife of Richard Bennet. Executors: wife and son Bignal; witnesses: Christian Lash and John Shemel. Probated: December Term, 1793. March term, 1794, Stokes County, NC: Inventory of Estate of James Crook in detail. [one source indicates that Jeremiah Crook was born circa 1767]
18. circa 1794, Zebdiel Billiter [sic] was one of several appointed by Stokes County NC court to a jury to straighten the road from Matthew Brooks to Harveys and make report thereof. (Carol Leonard Snow, STOKES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS &QUARTER SESSIONS, VOL. ii, 1793-1795, P. 28) [Wes Patterson note: Samuel Stewart's 508 acres were sold to Matthew Brooks in the 1770s. Stewart's 1768 will was witnessed by a Mr. Harvey.]
19. 1801 (Nov 24), Will of David Stewart (Stuart). Proved Dec 1807. Jamiah Harrison [Jemima, wife of Nathaniel Harrison], Hezekiah Rankin, Lydia Potter and Abigail Curd, 20 shillings each. Five sons: John, David, Reuben, Samuel and Thomas, all my estate, also negroes (6 of them) Wife Abigail Stewart to be maintained, Execs John and Reuben Stewart. Wit: Thompson Glenn, Frederick Miller, and Henry Holder. Signed David (X) Stewart. (STOKES COUNTY NC WILLS 1790-1864)
20. 1819, The will of George Lash, Sr. appears in Surry Co., NC, Will Book 3-143 and is dated 15 Jul 1819, but was not proved. The will names his sons: Nathaniel, John, George, James, Harmon. His daughters were Margaret Garner, Elizabeth Lash, Mary Holliman, Susanna Lash, and Nancy Groce. George Groce son of Allen Groce [Grace] Executors: Christian Lash, John Conrod [Conrad]. Wit: S. Speera and Nicklas Bean.
21. 1822 (July 21), Aggie Brooks Lash buried in "Cemetery #1" (born 26 May 1767).
22. 1826 (Nov 3), Nathaniel Lash buried in "Cemetery #1" (born 20 Feb 1763).
23. 1849, Forsyth County formed from Stokes County.
24. 1946 (May 1), Gordon Gray and Bowman Gray Jr began buying the land that would become Brookberry Farm, encompassing some 900+ acres, depending on the source. This farm is on both sides of Stewarts Creek. This land is immediately to the west of Muddy Creek and the old Moravian "Wachovia Tract", and is a few miles east of the Yadkin River, which is synonymous with "north of the Yadkin", based on the way the river flows.
25. 1949, Bowman Gray Jr builds mansion.
26. 1950 (March), Family of Bowman Gray Jr moves into mansion, per Lyons Gray, one of the five sons of Bowman Gray Jr and Libby, his wife.
27. 1962 (May 11), Bowman Gray and his wife Elizabeth acquire the 25th and final tract of land that make up Brookberry Farm. Other deeds transpire from time to time with adjustments to the overall boundaries, but no further significant additions are made to the overall farm.
    
    
    
    
    View Larger Map
28. 2009 (April), Debbie McCann and Wes Patterson begin meeting with Bo Gray to learn more about the farm regarding our respective research projects. Mrs. McCann is writing a book on the history of Brookberry Farm, while Wes Patterson is working to pinpoint the exact location of Samuel Stewart Sr's 508 acre farm.
29. 2009 (Nov), Using the Forsyth County, NC Online Deeds web site, 25 deeds have been located involving Brookberry Farm in regards to Bowman and/or Gordon Gray purchasing land for the farm. Wes is now tracking these deeds back in time through their previous owners in an attempt to connect the farm to it's original owner(s).
30. 2010 (Jan), Wes Patterson has determined that Samuel Stewart's 508 acre farm was NOT located within the boundaries of Brookberry Farm. Rather, it must be further north on the waters of Stewarts Creek. Will continue that project after completing the Brookberry Farm history.

Brooks, Lash connections to Stewarts & Brookberry Farm

Wit. to Samuel's will of 1768 were Elizabeth Winscott, [Preston] Crafford and I. Carvey [actually was O. Harvey]. Elizabeth Winscott later married Benjamin Stewart, one of Samuel and Lydia's sons. Lydia received all of the movable estate in Samuel's will 1768/1770, and sons Benjamin and Joseph received the land. Lydia left a will of 1771/72 The land was 508 acres and sold in two separate transactions. May 1775 Matthew Brooks bought 124 acres and the sale is recorded in Surry Co. NC. Book A p 169. The remaining 384 acres was also sold to Matthew Brooks 1779. (According to the Harrison Online Repository, Matthew Brooks had Jacob Brooks Sr. as an ancestor, who was a Judge and held out for the rights of the oppressed Regulators and was heavily involved with a bunch of NC Regulators)

Matthew Brooks was involved in records with the Lash family, as well, but mainly because of their local, legal standing. Matthew Brooks was an attorney and Justice of the Peace.

********************

Debbie, you mentioned on the phone about someone ... with the name Brooks, didn't you? Bo has mentioned ... the Lash family, also.

The Stewarts I'm researching were close relatives with the Harrison family, and they all moved from Harrisonburg, Va to the Yadkin River valley in the 1750s, together. Various members of these Harrisons and Stewarts had legal dealings in the 1750s and later with Jacob Lash (Loesch) and Matthew Brooks. Brooks was an attorney and Justice of the Peace, and even he and Christian Lash were appraisers of estates together, among other things.

Get this, though. Samuel and Lydia Harrison Stewart owned 508 acres. In 1775 (after Sam and Lydia had both died), two of their sons sold 124 acres of this land to none other than Matthew Brooks. Then, in 1779, they sold the remainder of the 508 acres to the same man, Matthew Brooks. So all 508 acres of Samuel Stewart's land was sold in the 1770s to Matthew Brooks.

When the Stewarts got the land it was Rowan Co. By 1771 it was in Surry Co. Then in 1789 it became Stokes Co, and then in 1849 it became Forsyth Co. From some research I've seen, Tomahawk Branch was also known as Stewart's Run or Stewart's Branch at times.

Is this whetting your appetite any?

Wes

****************************

http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/NCROWAN/2007-08/1187212477

From: Hdanw@aol.com
Subject: [NCROWAN] Miscellaneous Notes on One George Hauser of Early RowanCo., NC
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007

In trying to sort out some of my colonial ancestors, I often collect notes on associated families. These notes which I have collected MAY help someone else. I was interested in this man [or perhaps several men of the same name] who was associated with one Christian Lash.

One of my ancestresses was a Lash--Nancy Lash, daughter of one George Lash, also known as Loesch. The Loeschs were originally Moravian. Jacob Loesch got many land grants from the office of Lord Granville before the American Revolution.

If you are interested in the Lash of Loesch family or families of early Rowan Co., let us compare notes.

Oh, yes. If you use the cited material in your own work, please incorporate the source--the citation which I have tried to include. Instead of footnotes, I embed the source material notes, as I cut and paste these bios a LOT, many times to arrange the events chronologically. If you are a skilled genealogist, you know by now to include citations. (In other words, did you dream up this material, or are you gathering the information from a published source or from a film of an original record? Your descendants will want to know. I have inherited several flawed family histories without citations. Wasted countless hours!! Save your descendants from wasted hours!!!)

Another favor to ask: If you know the bride of Christian Lash, will you send me an e-mail? Thanks in advance.

E.W.Wallace

GEORGE HAUSER. (8 Feb 1730 nr. Conshohocken, PA-d. ca 28 Feb 1801 Bethania, Stokes Co., NC [not verified].

George Hauser, Sr. may be son or brother of Michael Hauser who is associated with Jacob Lash (Loesch) in land grants of Lord Granville in western North Carolina in 1761 and 1762, in Rowan Co., NC. In fact, one Michael Houser appears in Patent Bk 6-155 as acquiring land (patent) in Rowan County on the Yadkin Waters on or about 6 December 1753.

(Margaret M. Hofmann GRANVILLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, 1748-1763, ABSTRACTS OF MISCELLANEOUS LAND OFFICE RECORDS, VOLUME FIVE [Roanoke News: 1995] p. 367.)

Martin Houser got another patent 1762 in Rowan Co. on both sides of Bashaba creek. (Ibid, p. 369)

George Hauser is also associated with Lash or Loesch family members and with Michael Hauser. Lash was frequently a deputy surveyor, and at times both the Hausers were sworn chain carriers. In 1761, Hauser's patent of 22 Jan 1761 joined William Linvill and the North Bank of Yadkin River.

(Margaret M. Hofmann, THE GRANVILLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, 1748-1763, ABSTRACTS OF LAND GRANTS, VOL. THREE [Weldon NC: Roanoke News, ca 1986]

According to abstracts of deeds of Rowan Co., NC, George Houser/Hauser already owned land in Jan 1755 on or near the NE side of Yadkin River as his lines are referenced in a grant from Granville to Robert Elrod, which had been proved in May Court 1753.

According to the Granville grant of Robert Ellrod, 27 Jan 1755, Ellrods grant on the N East Side of the Yadking River, Rowan Co., adjoined the land of George Houser [sic].

(Margaret M. Hofmann, THE GRANVILLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, 1748-1763, VOL. 3 [Weldon, NC: Roanoke News, 1986?], p. 62)

Later Elrods and Hausers are found in Stokes Co., NC deeds. In fact, one of the Hausers was married to a bride named Elrod.

There was a George Hauser, Jr. in Stokes Co., NC, according to records of that county, and it is probably he who appears in records of that county in later years.

George Hauser was one of the justices of the peace in Stokes Co. in 1793. One Christian Lash appears in the minutes of the court Sept 1793, as does Richard Linvill[e] and Nathaniel Lash.

(Carol Leonard Snow, STOKES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS & QUARTER SESSIONS, VOL II, 1793-1795 [US CAN 975.664 p28S, V 2]

George Hauser and Peter Houser were witnesses to this deed in late 1792:

Stokes Co., DB 1 11 Sept. 1792 bet. William Elrod and John Krouse.. 200 pds.. 200 ac. Stewarts Branch...Millars corner...Bolejacks (Bulitscheck) and Lashs lines. Carvers line...[wp note: was this Harvey's line?] (orig. granted to Matthew Brooks and from him to Aquilla Matthews 16 Feb 1787, and from Matthews to sd Elrod 14 Nov 1787)..
Geo. Hauser)
Peter Hauser)
William Elrod

(Mrs. W. O. Absher & Mrs. Robert K. Hayes, STOKES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA RECORD OF DEEDS, VOL. 1 (1787-1793) [North Wilkesboro, NC, n.d.), p. 29)

11 Sept 1792 bet George Hauser and William Alford.. 114 pds., 165 ac. Gentrys Branch of Muddy Creek.. Henry Holders SW corner.. Jacob Nulls line.. (part of 350 ac. granted to James Gordon 3 Nov 1784; from Seth Gordon heir of sd James Gordon to George Lash 22 Jan 1785; and from George Lash to George Hauser 20 Feb 1788
Abm. Steiner) George Hauser
Laughlin X Flin

(Ibid., p. 34)

V. I, page 178 "28 February 1800. Will of George HAUSER, Senr. March Term 1800. Wife Barbara. Son Lorenz, my dwelling house and lott in case he can be admitted as inhabitant of this Town; in case he is not, then any other of my Sons who may be admitted, etc. My 12 children: Henry, George, Sarah or her heirs, Anna, Catherine, Gertraut or her heirs, Elizabeth, Frederic, Hanna, Johny, Peter and Lorenz. Mentions owning 1/4 Grist Mill at Bethania; also 2 tracts of land on Townfork and 500 acres in Western Waters in Mississippi; also house and lotts in Germanton. Executors: Brother, Peter HAUSER, Son-in-law Christian LASH and Son George HAUSER. Witnesses: Jacob LASH and Joseph HAUSER, Jurat. Signed: George HAUSER.

(Mrs. W. O. Absher, STOKES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA WILLS VOLUMES I-IV, 1790-1864 [?] pages 23-24)

Other Houser or Hauser males in this area, Rowan Co., during this time period, were Martin Houser [both sides of Barsheba Creek]

Other Hausers or Howsers in Stokes Co., NC

Stokes Co. DB 1... 9 Dec 1789.. bet. Michael Howser & Peter Howser of Surry Co., Execs. of Michael Howser, decd., and Christian Howser of Surry Co., legatees of the sd. decd... 5 sh.. 200 ac in Surry Co. Stewarts Branch.. waters of Muddy Cr (part of land orig granted by the State to John Howser - from John to Michael)..
Wm. Thornton)
Jos. Howser)
Michel Howser
Peter Howser

(Mrs. W. O. Absher & Mrs. Robert K. Hayes, STOKES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA RECORD OF DEEDS, VOL. 1 (1787-1793) [North Wilkesboror, NC, n.d.), p. 7)

Michl. Hauswer and Geo. Hauser [genertions unknown] were witnesses to Stokes Co. DB 1, dated 5 Sept 1791 between Henry Shores, Ex. of Frederick Shores, decd. and John Shores... Mill Creek, waters of Muddy Creek adj the Moravian land... Benjamin Milners line... (Absher & Hayes, p. 13)

Submitted by E.W.Wallace

********************

From: Hdanw@aol.com
Subject: [NCGEN] Billator
Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008

I did a google.com search for Billator family. I came across a timeline for a Haltom family, who had a similar migration trail as the Grace family, it seems. They came from Maryland to the area around Rowan Co., NC.

Here is an excerpt from the Haltom family history which I tripped over on the internet:

Mar. 14, 1785 Surry Co. N.C. Deed Book C, p.199-200: Spencer Altum of Montgomery Co. to Zebedee Billator 70 lbs. 100 acres Stewarts branch adj. Mr. Cosart’s land on northwest. Signed: Spencer (mark) Altum, Ann Altum.

E.W.Wallace

Here is a little additional material:

1785, March 14...Surry Co... NC deed BK C pg 199-200. ...Spencer Altum of Mongomery Co, to Zebedee Billator 70pds. 100 acres Stewarts branch adj. Mr. Cosart's land on northwest. Witnesses: Nathaniel Lash, James Reynolds, William (mark) Garrot. Signed: Spencer (mark) Altum s/Ann Altum. (Note: addition courtesy of Mike Barr)

Ca. 1794, Zebdiel Billiter [sic] was one of several appointed by Stokes County NC court to a jury to straighten the road from Matthew Brooks to Harveys and make report thereof &C &C

[Carol Leonard Snow, STOKES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS &

QUARTER SESSIONS, VOL. ii, 1793-1795, P. 28]

Wes Patterson note: O. Harvey (possibly an Oney or Onesiphorus Harvey) was one of the witnesses of Samual Stewart's 1768 will.

********************

Debbie,

Oh, I've had some of this since early April after talking to Bo, but other pieces of it I just got today. Bo told me about the Lash name ... That's why I'm researching them.

Have you seen the article about Bowman Gray Jr (actually a chapter from a book, I think) that was posted online by the WS Journal last year? It's at http://extras.journalnow.com/lostempire/tob6b.htm. What's interesting is one part that says "Gray wanted a more rural setting, and in 1946 he started buying land in western Forsyth County. By 1949 he had acquired 840 acres and built a Georgian mansion on the property. He called the place Brookberry Farm." Now Bo has said that Jr's brother (Gordon) started buying it first, and then the next year Jr started buying from him, so perhaps he continued adding to it until 1949, when the family moved to the farm.

My thought is that we need start back in the 1940s at when BG Jr bought up the land. Since then it has been in his hands, and then the trust, and then the developer, and some new homeowners such as you. I'm certainly gonna be most interested in who he bought it from, and then tracing back in time who each of those men bought their pieces from, and so on. That will eventually take us back to pre-1849, and we'll then have to start checking the Stokes County records as Forsyth will no longer be any good for us (prior to 1849).

Same is true once we get to 1789, we'll have to start looking in Surry County records, and then prior to 1771 it will be Rowan County records. However, I'm betting that we'll find a lot in Forsyth, Stokes and Surry, given the time frames.

Anyway, I look forward to meeting you tomorrow. See ya then.

Wes

*********************

The following records shed light on some key issues.

Surry Co. DB C:199-200: 14 Mar 1785 Spencer Altum, Montgomery County, North Carolina, to Zebedee Billator 70 pds 100 ac Stewarts branch adj Mr. Cosart's land on NW. It was signed by Spencer X Altum and Ann Altum. Witnesses: Nathaniel Lash, James Reynolds, William X Garrot

Ca. 1794, Zebdiel Billiter [sic] was one of several appointed by Stokes County NC court to a jury to straighten the road from Matthew Brooks to Harveys and make report thereof &C &C [Carol Leonard Snow, STOKES COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS & QUARTER SESSIONS, VOL. ii, 1793-1795, P. 28]

In 1785, the eventual Brookberry Farm would have been in Surry Co. By 1794, Stokes Co.

Mr. Billator bought 100 ac on Stewarts Branch in 1785, witnessed by Nathaniel Lash. We know that Nathaniel Lash is [associated with] Brookberry Farm.

Furthermore, one clue is that Stewarts Branch was sometimes called Tomahawk Branch as seen at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rdanner/Samuel.html which tells us "The creek on Samuel's land took his name. Stewart's (also Steward and Stuart) Creek is described as being on the west side of the Wachovia Tract and 'sometimes called Tomahawk Branch.' Stewarts Creek was a northwestern branch of large Muddy Creek."

Additionally, we know that Samuel Stewart's sons (executors) sold his Tomahawk Branch property, 508 acres, to Matthew Brooks in the 1770s. And above, we see that Mr. Billator was appointed to straighten out the road from Matthew Brooks to Harveys. So we know we're dealing with the same Nathaniel Lash and the same Matthew Brooks and the same Stewarts Branch aka Tomahawk Branch. That typically occurred within a region around your own property.

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NCSTOKES/2005-02/1109448299 shows us that Nathaniel Lash got married around 24 April 1786 in Surry County.

http://juliemorrison.com/gen/banner/rr01/rr01_001.htm shows us another connection between the Lash family and Matthew Brooks:

1792 Jun 7 - Stokes Co., NC - From the Estate of Henry Banner:
We the committee appointed to settle with executor of the estate of Henry Banner deceased have fully examined the several accounts and vouchers find that the four Legatees have each of them received their equal shares being 312 pounds, 2 shillings and 8 and 1/2 pence to each share. It also appears by the within amount that there is a balance of 5 pounds,14 shilllings and 8 pence due to the Legatees to be equally divided. Signed Christian Lash and Matthew Brooks.

http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/NCROWAN/2007-08/1187212477 again this collection of notes shows that Brooks lived near the Lash family and on Stewarts Branch:

Stokes Co., DB 1 11 Sept. 1792 bet. William Elrod and John Krouse.. 200 pds.. 200 ac. Stewarts Branch...Millars corner...Bolejacks (Bulitscheck) and Lashs lines. Carvers line.. (orig. granted to Matthew Brooks and from him to Aquilla Matthews 16 Feb 1787, and from Matthews to sd Elrod 14 Nov 1787)..
Geo. Hauser)
Peter Hauser) William Elrod

http://www.gentryjournal.org/archives/jgg0208.htm this page shows a lot of relationships between Matthew Brooks and the Gentry families. Most of the Gentrys lived right along the Yadkin River, west of Brookberry Farm. Matthew Brooks even owned a ferry along the river. Why is this a clue? Brooks obviously had interests closer to the Wachovia Tract (in that he bought land from Sam Stewart). On my website http://wespatterson.com/patt/samuel.stewart.asp I have notes concerning a William Gentry who was paid by the Moravians to build a bridge across Muddy Creek on the Shallow Ford Rd. This is the bridge [location] on Country Club Rd today!!!! This William Gentry had a son named Claburn Gentry who lived next to a Douthitt, and Douthitt lived next to Samuel Stewart Jr in the 1790s, and his land was also next to Claburn Gentry, and the Wachovia Tract (western border was Muddy Creek). All of this means we're dealing with individuals who had interests not only along the Yadkin but also east of there at Muddy Creek.... which is where Brookberry Farm is.

So what was the relationship of Aggie Brooks Lash (wife of Nathaniel Lash) to Matthew Brooks? Don't know yet. ... they were both born in the 1760s and both died in the 1820s. This almost suggests that Agge / Aggie may have been a granddaughter, or at least a younger daughter of Matthew Brooks.

More later...

*************************

The following rec's indicates that George Lash (father of Nathaniel Lash) owned the 100 acres that he sold to Altum in 1771, who then sold it to Billator in 1785, which was then witnessed by Nathaniel Lash, and was on Stewarts Branch.

Spencer Altum originally got this 100 ac from George Lash in 1771, Rowan Co. See http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/1844/nconnections.html "1771, May 3... Rowan County Court Book... Deed from George Lash and his wife to Spencer Altum for 100 acres".

The will of George Lash, Sr. appears in Surry Co., NC, Will Book 3-143 and is dated 15 Jul 1819, but was not proved. The will names his sons: Nathaniel, John, George, James, Harmon. His daughters were Margaret Garner, Elizabeth Lash, Mary Holliman, Susanna Lash, and Nancy Groce. George Groce son of Allen Groce [Grace?] Executors: Christian Lash, John Conrod. Wit: S Speer; Nicklas Bean

Matthew Brooks and George Lash connections:

Surry Co., Record of Estates (1809-1818)
Hauser, George & others - pp. 6, 8
30 Jul 1785 - executors bond w/ Matthew Brooks & George Lash

The above record is big, I think. We know that George Lash's son, Nathaniel Lash, married Aggie Brooks, and both are [associated with] Brookberry Farm. The family is not well documented for Matthew Brooks, but he did have several sons and daughters, that is known.

Here is a Revolutionary War period, actually 1775, document involving both men and their support of the Independence movement: http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr10-0093

Proceedings of the Safety Committee in Surry County.
LIBERTY OR DEATH.
GOD SAVE THE KING.

August 25th 1775.

North Carolina
Surry County. }

Committee met according to appointment 25th August 1775.

Present: Benjamin Cleaveland, John Hamlin, Jesse Walton, Samuel Freeman, Benjamin Herndon, Charles Lynch, John Armstrong, James Hampton, Richard Gorde, Augustus Blackburn, James Doke, Matthew Brooks, John Hudsbeth, George Lash, John Snead, Malcom Curry.

Benjamin Cleaveland was elected Chairman.

Resolved, We think proper to Declare our disapprobation and Abhorrance of certain papers by the name of Protests &c., signed and transmitted to Govr Martin in opposition to the common cause of Liberty; some of which Papers contain many Falsehoods and matters of Encouragement to the most wicked Ministers and Tools of Government in their most wicked Measures and designs; the said papers being calculated to Divide the good People of this Province and destroy its internal peace and Occasion the Effusion of Blood.

Resolved, We Determine by all Lawful ways and means to Discountenance and suppress such mischievous and beneful Papers and all such combinations against the common cause of American Liberty;

-------------------- page 229 --------------------
and do our utmost Endeavours to support the Congress in Defending our Just Rights and Liberties.

Resolved, That whatever Britains may claim as their Birth Right we may justly claim as our Birth Right; and that all the Natural Rights of British Subjects are confirmed to us by Charter and the Faith of Kings and the free Constitution of Great Britain and this Province.

Resolved, That those who now would subject all America or this Province to a Dependency on the Parliament of Great Britain are guilty of a very Dangerous Innovation injurious to the Crown and inconsistant with the Liberty of the American Subjects.

Resolved, That by the Law of Nature and the British Constitution no man can be Legally Taxed or have his property taken from him without his consent, given by himself or his Representatives.

Resolved, That the late Acts of the British Parliament for raising a Revenue in America by laying Taxes on us without our Consent and against our Protestation, are Opposite to our Ideas of Property, and inconsistant with the spirit of the Constitution, and does in Fact at one Stroke Deprive this whole Continent of all property; and of their most invaluable Rights and Liberties.

Capt Charles Lynch and Mr William Merridith, Members of the Committee, came in and took their seats.

Resolved, That this Committee highly approve of the Proceedings of the Continental Congress held in Philadelphia in Septr last, and that we will endeavor to carry their Recommendations into Execution.

Resolved, That the Worthy Delegates who represented this Province in said Congress Deserve our warmest and most Grateful thanks for the faithful Discharge of their Office and that Colo Armstrong present them in our names and in behalf of this county.

The Committee Adjourns till to-morrow 7 O'clock.

Brookberry Farm Tour

Saturday, April 25, I had the privilege of "touring" a major section of Brookberry Farm with Bo Gray and also Debbie McCann and her husband. Debbie is writing a book on the history of the farm. We are both fortunate enough to have been brought together by Bo at this time, as both of us should be able to pool our resources in researching various aspects of the history of the farm.

Debbie, by necessity, is focusing on just the farm. I understand that and support her efforts in that regard in order to get her book published. I am more interested in finding the land on which Sam and Lydia Harrison Stewart lived, died, and were buried. Before this is over with, I suspect I will end up mapping out the original owners of the entire Tomahawk Branch, aka Stewarts Branch, section of land. This region encompasses property as far north as Yadkinville Hwy (almost), lying between Olivet Church Rd and Robinhood Rd, and then as far south as where it feeds into Muddy Creek between Country Club Rd and Phillips Bridge Rd.

Saturday, we also had the privilege of meeting Lyons Gray and his family. Lyons is Bo's uncle, and one of the five sons of Bowman Gray Jr. Lyons was telling us how his father began buying the land around 1946, built the house in 1949, and they moved into the house in March of 1950.

We also discussed Nathaniel Lash and Aggie Brooks Lash and their slaves...

We then went down a path to the creek (one of the creeks), then back around to the north and west in the lower fields, eventually coming back to the gravel entrance from Ketner Rd, and back up the house. We took a few pictures and video footage, which I'll post later.

Lyons gave Debbie some names which we can use to look for the 1940s deeds. I'll refrain from posting that info here for now. I am scouring the Internet looking for anything and everything I can find on Stewart, Lash, Brooks, and any other name that comes up in the course of researching these farms (Stewart's farm and Brookberry farm). I will start posting those details in subsequent posts and will then begin to assimilate those findings into something more concise and to the point. This is a work in progress...