JESSE PIPKIN OF LENOIR COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA One More Opinion Considering the sadly inadequate conditions of Lenoir County records, a good deal has been learned about Jesse. However, I suspect that we have only uncovered the tip of the iceberg and many things may never be found. If he was twenty-one when he bought land in Johnston County, 1759-1761, he would have been born 1740 at the latest. There are estimates that he was born as early as 1720-1725. By these reckonings he could have been anywhere from seventy-five to ninety when he granted to Arthur Branch in 1815. He is a DAR certified Revolutionary patriot (Vol. 9, p. 115, Folio 4, Revolutionary Services, North Carolina State Archives) "for hauling supplies, housing the militia and supplying meat for the Army." That "he was too old to serve in the Army," as has been said, is not necessarily true. For various reasons, many who were not too old did not go; but if he had been born before 1725 he would have been too old. I would guess he was well into his eighties in January 1815 and that he died before his son Isaac went to South Carolina in 1816. Elisha was twenty-seven and his first child was on the way when Jesse gave him land on Panther Creek for "love, good will and natural affection." I believe this tended to be a family pattern, possibly started by John of Chowan. When a young person showed signs of being ready, the parents tried to get him established. There are many such deeds on record--notably among the Joseph of Wayne family. Elisha, born 1774, is the oldest one of Jesse's children for whom we have a birth date. Depending on which date you fancy for Jesse's birth, he would be 34-49 in 1774. It is unlikely that Elisha was the first child or that Fereba was the first wife. We have only started to unravel Jesse of Lenoir and opened up a wonderful area for speculation. Very early, before 1775, Jesse granted land to Margaret Benton (Dobbs County deed book April 1771-April 1775). Was Margaret kin or just another real estate developer? I feel sure she must have been a Pipkin daughter, no less than 18 years old, so born no later than 1753. Of course, this may have not been the Jesse who bought land from Joseph Benton, recorded Johnson County deed book 5, pg. 534 (1758-61); but it very possibly may be. Not wishing things to become too simple, Col. B.R. McBride uncovered a will of Moses Stanley, Wayne County, 1811. Moses provides an inheritance for his grandson, Jesse Pipkin, which "if he should prove a disorderly person" shall go to Moses' widowed daughter, Elizabeth Pipkin. The Stanley land was across the river from Jesse. Both Jesse Pipkin and Elizabeth Pipkin bought at Stanley's estate sale and one wonders about the crop of wild oats that young Jesse must have cultivated to make his grandfather so suspicious. A John Pipkin was living next to Jesse in 1790 census. He witnessed a deed for Lewis Pipkin in 27 January 1794 and has not been found in any transaction or census after that. Was he, perhaps,the deceased husband of Elizabeth Stanley, father of Jesss Pipkin who might be a disorderly person. Or is the husband of Elizabeth Stanley unguessed and lost? One irresistable puzzle tickles the imagination: 15 January 1806 Jesse Pipkin sold to Stewart Pipkin a slave boy. Jesse was listed as "being of ... unreadable .. ." but some think "Lincoln County, North Carolina." Recorded Smith County, Tennessee, Will Bk. 5, pg. 172 - (1805-1809) Witnessed: Joel Hines and Lewis Pipkin. 15 January 1806 Archelaus Pipkin of Lenoir County, North Carolina sold to Isaac Pipkin of Lenoir County 135 acres at Head of Wolf Branch, Recorded Duplin County, North Carolina, Deed Book O, pg. 280, Witnessed Joel Hines and Alex Keaton. 8 August 1806 Joel Hines, still in Duplin County, witnessed a deed for Daniel Hines. Recorded Duplin County. There was very little jet travel in those days so for at least one day these people were mighty close together. Elisha named his sons--Lewis, Jesse, Elisha, Archelaus and Stewart. Of those sons, Jesse and Lewis named sons Archelaus and Stewart. I do not find another such concentration of activity but there was much communication and business among them. 27 January 1794 Jesse Pipkin of Lenoir and Lewis Pipkin of New Hanover sold separate, adjoining tracts on Buck Swamp to Jonathan Keathley. John Pipkin witness. 1801 Jesse for "natural love" granted 350 acres on Panther Creek to Elisha. 1 December 1803 Jesse granted land on Wolf Branch to Archelaus. 24 December 1804 Elisha and Stewart were chain bearers in survey of land for Elisha. 8 November 1807 Archelaus and Elisha were chain bearers to survey land for Elisha. 12 February 1808 Jesse sold slaves to Elisha. Archelaus witness. 23 November 1811 Isaac sold Wolf Branch back to Archelaus. 23 January 1815 Jesse granted to Arthur Branch. 1817 Archelaus of Lenoir sold to John Tisdal, Elisha witnessing. 1 November 1823 Elisha chain bearer for survey for heirs of Archelaus--Willis, Jesse and Julian. Possible the last transaction of Jesse Pipkin was the grant he made to Arthur Branch 23 January 1815. Clarissa Branch was born that year, daughter of Arthur Branch and Sarah Keathley, born 1797. Sarah was the daughter of Mark and Elizabeth Pipkin Keathley. By the old rule of thumb, Elizabeth would have been born about 1776 and could have been one of the females in the 1790 census of Jesss. This would make Sarah Keathley Branch a granddaughter of of Jesse and I think it likely that if Sarah, who was expecting a child at the age of 18, was not too comfortably situated (or had possibly been deprived of her parents) Jesse would try to provide for her. Clarlssa later married Jesse Pipkin, son of Elisha. Perhaps more relevant, Ann Branch born 1820 probably a sister of Clarissa, lived from 1850 to 1860 (at least) with the family of Lewis Pipkin, also son of Elisha. | Arthur Branch | b 1787 | Clarissa Branch --- | | Mark Keathley b 1815 | | | | | Sarah Keathley --- | | b 1797 | | | Elizabeth Pipkin I feel sure that this Elizabeth was a daughter of Jesse. Lewis remains a puzzlement. The state census taken April 1786 shows only one Lewis, living in Duplin County. But this census is very hit and miss. 116-31 #21 Lewis Hines Jr 2 WM 21-60 2 WF #22 Lewis Pipkin 1 WM 21-60 3 WF 1 Black #23 Wm. Albertson 1 WM 21-60 #24 Daniel Hines 1 WM 21-60 1 WF Nearby was a Samuel Tanner. In 1785 Tanner had sold to Jesse adjacent to Isaac Hines and the land that Jesse granted Archelaus in 1803 had once been Tanner land. In 1788 Isaac Hines "for love and affection" granted to Lewis Hines "a hundred acres in New Hanover County" a note on the abstract that I have says "now Duplin County." I don't know what this means. Duplin was formed 1750. But I don't think Lewis was as far away as Hew Hanover sounds. In the 1790 census at first I could find only one Lewis Pipkin, Newbern District, Dobbs County. Then, in Wilmington District, Duplin County, I found: Pepkin, Lewis 2 whites males over 16 - 3 white females 1 slave 2 white males ander 16 No idea about the extra male but 2 males under 16 could have been born after 1786. Nearby are Lewis and Daniel Hines. In 1794 on deed to Keathley he is called "Lewis Pipkin of New Hanover County," and served in the jury there in 1797. He is not found in Index to 1800 Census of North Carolina. Daniel Hines is in Duplin, Isaac Hines in Lenoir, Lewis Hines in Nash. It is possible or even probable that he was the Lewis who married Clemeny Hughs and was in Smith County, Tennessee at the time of 1800 census. If he was, and the father of Jesse of Hardman County, born 1785; Lewis would be born about 1764. Jesse could have been born after the state census in 1785. Mr. Hoops reports: 1800 - No Lewis Pipkin in any North Carolina County No Hughes of any spelling in New Hanover or Sampson 1810 - No Pipkin or Hughes in Sampson. Census of New Hanover lost. Elisha named his oldest son Lewis in 1801 and I think it would have been for an older brother who had set off on the romantic western adventure. Probably not long after 1797. Of Stewart (or Steward) we have only two mentions--one in 1804 when Stewart and Elisha were chain bearers in a survey made for Elisha; the second when Jesse granted him the slave 1806. The grant was recorded Smith County Tennessee 1805-1809, so I think he probably went to Tennessee with Lewis who was in North Carolina, at least temporarily, at that time. He is given as born 1784, North Carolina. One odd bit that comes to light--Charles Pipkin (probably son of Elisha, son of Joseph) married Annie Pipkin of Lillington not long after 1820. In the 1820 census there were no Pipkins in Cumberland County; so it seems likely that Annie migrated with / because Elisha moved there in 1822. She was not a daughter. Sister? Widowed sister-in-law? Niece? There is a mention of Anne, widow of Archelaus son of Jesse. Another - 1850 census of Wayne Jno. D. Pipkin, 27 M Farmer, $1000, b. Cumberland Co., N.C. Patience Pipkin, 22 F, Lenoir County Julia Pipkin, 1 F, Wayne Mary Fish, 16 F, Lenoir County John Fish, 14 M, Lenoir County Unless this was Daniel Pipkin, son of Elizabeth Hines and Elisha, this is hard to explain also for there were no Pipkins in Cumberland until Elisha arrived 1822. Daniel did have a wife named Patience who applied for his part of Stewart's estate. Alice Pipkin (granddaughter of Elisha) on 14 May 1868, wrote her sister Betty, that she was going to see Cousin Sallie Anne Rasberry and she wished Betty was there so they could get to know more of Pa's kin. I, at first, assumed that one of Elisha's daughters had married a Rasberry. As they are now all accounted for, I think that one of Elisha's sisters had become a Rasberry. For whatever - 1850 Census, Sampson County Pipkin, Lewis, 63 Farmer, b. North Carolina Stephen, 26 Aisley, 24 Eli, 21 Lewis, 19 Col. McBride gives a very bare born family sheet of Jesse of Lenoir--but probably accurate. Jesse Pipkin (b before 1755, d before 1820 - Lenoir County. md. about 1773 Fereba) 1. Elisha Pipkin b 1774 d 1824 Cumberland Co. m 1. Betsy Benton ca 1800 m 2. Elizabeth Hines See Newsletter Vol.VI #6 1972 2. Isaac Pipkin b 1 April 1786 Lenoir County, d 10 September 1854 Marlboro County, South Carolina m. Mary Benton See Newsletter Vol. VI #4 1972 3. Archelaus Pipkin b 1785-1790 d before 1820 Lenoir County, m. Ann ca 1814 (b 1803-4) a. Willis b ca 1815 m Winfred Davis b. Jesse c. Julian [I think this timing on Archelaus is off. Jesse granted Archelaus land in 1803 and I think he would have been over twenty, amont the "over 16" in 1790 census. The 1850 census does give Willis 1815 but I think he would be the youngest child.] Now, Department of fools rushing in, etc., I would like to offer following revision of Jesss's children as published February 1972--subject to further revision by other fiction writers. I will not include Margaret Benton, b about 1754, though I think she possibly belongs. Lewis, born ca 1764, I feel strongly does belong but will not include. CHILDREN OF JESSE PIPKIN AND HIS WIFE OR WIVES FEREBA MOTHER OF ISAAC 1. John Pipkin of 1790 census, born prior to 1774 and very probably prior 1765 as he has two males under 16 and was probably about 25. No proof that he was a son. Witnessed a deed for Lewis January 1794, unknown after that. 2. Elisha Pipkin b. 1774. md ca 1800. Out of house by 1800. 3. Archelaus Pipkin b 1774-1784 as listed as under 16 in 1790 and 16-25 in 1800. Married and moved away 1810. 4. Elizabeth Pipkin b ca 1776 md Mark Keathley, dau Sarah b 1797. 5. Stewart Pipkin b 1784 if it is he who went to Smith County Tennessee in 1806-7. 6. Female Pipkin. Listed in 1790 census. Move away or dead in 1800 census. 7. Isaac Pipkin b 1 April 1786 in Dobbs County North Carolina. I know of nothing that connects Jesse of Lenoir with John of Chowan but can't resist a comment on the will of 1745. The idea of giving a slave to a minor child is an absurdity. A slave was a valuable property, equall to a tractor or truck and acquired for the same reason. Rarely to mind the baby or help the young wife with the chores. There were also a constant and ongoing responsibility--in no way resembling a bearer bond that could be put in the book. A very unhandy inheritance for a five year old. Contributed to the Pipkin Association by Clara B. Henderson, Santa Cruz, CA