Dear Larry:
I have a lot of material so far but have not been able to totally clinch the deal so to speak. I ordered most of the Killingsworth wills from DE, including James Anderson's (connected to Nathaniel through Nathaniel's wife Elizabeth, d/o James Anderson), Nathaniel Killingsworth's and John Killingsworth's, who named as a son Nathaniel. I also ordered several more Killingsworth probates that were on the list of probate records from Kent County including a George Killingsworth who I believe was a second son to the above John as well as Rebecca Killingsworth, who I believe to be the d/o Nathaniel & Elizabeth Killingsworth but so far have not followed in that direction. Have been concentrating on Nathaniel Killingsworth's son, Anderson since I would like to connect him as my ggg grandfather who met and married Mary Sweet in 1796 in Guilford County, NC.
Anderson Killingsworth, s/o Nathaniel Killingsworth was named in Nathaniel's will. Nathaniel died 1773 and his will was not distributed until 1792 or 93, I can't remember which (I'm going on memory here so bear with me). The original will was witnessed by Jehu Jester and Francis Jester and Martin Pegg. I am assuming that it was held for distribution for that long until the youngest child attained majority (which was probably Phebe). I have not been able to obtain the dates of birth for the children of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Anderson Killingsworth, only their names which is a real hardship. There was a son John as well as the son Anderson and then daughters Ann, Mary, Sarah, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Phebe (all named in the distributive account of the will in 1793). One thing that I did obtain were some names which popped up along with the legatees. The Distributive Account states: "To Cash Paid Joseph Lister, Anderson Killingsworth, Legacy as (and I think it has a symbol which denotes pd or paid) Receipt and then it lists amount. Under Ann's name it states: To Cash pd Ann Killingsworth, legacy as __ (pd?) Isaac Straten. These two names appeared again, Joseph Lister for Mary and Isaac Stratton for Elizabeth. It is my assumption that these men must have been guardians in some way for these particular children (and I'm hoping that the connections might have stretched further and these particular children might have lived with said guardian but cannot prove that in any way.
I did not follow these leads until later when upon examining the marriage certificate of my Anderson Killingsworth, I noted that a Nathaniel Lister had signed the marriage bond with him. I knew I had seen that name somewhere before and when I recalled where, I thought, Hmm, I might be on to something here. I found a Joseph Lister in Guilford County NC (the place where my Anderson Killingsworth and my Mary Sweet married in 1796). This was provided by Ruth B. Davidson, who stated that: I am not positive but I think that Nathan Lister went to Guilford County, NC from Maryland with several other Lister Family members. William Lister 1760 MD-1848 AL served in Revolutionary War from Caroline County, MD and got a pension. He lived over three years in Guilford Co. NC before moving to Marlborough District SC. Also living in Guilford Co at same time was Joseph and Mary Lister who had sons named Elias, Nathaniel and Rueben Lister. They moved to Marlborough District, SC at same time as William Lister. Joseph Lister died in 1797 and his will was witnessed by William Lister. He named his three sons and also three daughters and his wife Kary.By who moved onto Marlborough. I have not however been able to find any proof that Joseph and Nathan was in Guilford, but have found two deeds from Guilford County listing William Lester (Lister). Ruth continues on and states that there were three Listers in Guilford County, Joseph (the older and possibly an uncle), William and Nathan. I have found no confirmation on all of that as of yet. However, I have ordered Joseph Lister's Will from Marlborough County, SC and in it he names his sons, Nathaniel, Reuben & Elias (which are coincidentally all DE Anderson and Killingsworth family names). He also names his daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, Louisa and Sarah. What's even stranger is that Joseph acted as a guardian???? for Nathaniel Killingsworth's daughters Elizabeth as well as Anderson, but there are the names Mary, and Sarah which I keep coming back to which were the names of the minor children of Nathaniel Killingsworth. I know -- that's a long stretch but stranger things have happened. What's even more interesting is that Joseph names as his executors, Mary, his wife, Elias, his son and my trusty and loving friend John Killingsworth. That would be too crazy wouldn't it -- to wonder if all the children of Nathaniel Killingsworth followed Joseph Lister on his migration to NC and then SC. Sarah Killingsworth signs Joseph's Will as a witness along with a William Lister. I have the Will of Rebecca Killingsworth, most likely the other minor child of Nathaniel Killingsworth who died in Kent County, DE in 1789. If she is Nathaniel's daughter, (and I'm almost positive it is since the name Isaac Stratton appears on this probate as administrator as well as on Nathaniel's distributive account), it would explain why she is not named in Joseph Lister's will. I know,it would be TOO MUCH of a coincidence.
I have found a lot of informative materialon on the migration of many of the Nicholite families from DE/MD to Guilford County, NC, all settling close to the Sweet family of my Anderson Killingsworth's wife, Mary Sweet, Jr.. The Sweets and Gardners (Mary Sweet, Sr's maiden name) were all Quakers who had migrated from up north (the Gardners from Nantucket, MD). See info on Sweet Family that I located:
Quaker Notes for the Sweet Family
· Event: Religious Notes: 7 SEP 1778 John Sweet was listed as one of the original members of the preparative meeting of Deep River, Guilford Co., NC. This mtg. had been under the jurisdiction of New Garden MM & the 1st meeting was held Sep. 7, 1778, after authorization on Aug. 8, 1778. · Event: Religious Notes: 1 JAN 1781 On Jan. 1, 1781, at Deep River MM, NC, John Sweet was condemned for or condemned himself for taking the Affirmation of Fidelity. · Event: Religious Notes: 3 SEP 1791 On Sep.3, 1791, a John Sweet was granted a cert. from Springfield MM, Guilford Co., NC to New Garden MM, NC. · Event: Religious Notes: 5 MAY 1792 On May 5, 1792, it was remarked at Springfield MM, NC that John Sweet had been disowned. · Event: Settled: 29 AUG 1772 On Aug. 29, 1772, a John Sweet was rcvd. at New Garden MM, Guilford Co., NC, on cert. from Nantucket MM, New England, dated May 21, 1772. The women's records prior to 1790 were destroyed in a fire, so there is no notation of his wife Mary or children. · Still no mention of Mary Sweet being disowned ... wonder what the poor girl did ???
· Event: Religious Notes: 28 DEC 1793 On Dec. 28, 1793, a Mary Sweet with children Mary, Rhoda, Edith & Abigail were rcvd. at Back Creek MM, NC on cert. from Springfield MM, NC, dated Nov. 2, 1793. On the same day, Stephen, Isaac & Garner Sweet, minors were also rcvd. with same date of cert.
· Event: Religious Notes: 30 AUG 1794 On Aug. 30, 1794, Mary Sweet, Jr. was disowned at Back Creek MM, Randolph Co., NC.
Does NOT say why she was dis-owned though !
Back to the Nicholites. First there is Valentine and Martin Pegg (who signed Nathaniel Killingsworth's will as witnesses) who are found as residents of Guilford County perhaps as early as 1780. Jesters are also found in Guilford (I have not investigated whether I can find Jehu, but Jehu Jester also witnessed Nathaniel Killingsworth's will.) See the following on the Peggs and other Nicholites in Guilford County, NC:
From: CRKucera@aol.com > Subject: PEGG, Valentine - Nicholite/Quaker Date: Sun, 1 Dec 1996 06:02:43 -0500
Is anyone else working on the Pegg family? I'm looking for ANY info! My Valentine PEGG may have been born in the area of Mispillon Hundred, Kent Co., DE around 1760. The son of William and Margaret PEGG, he was in Guilford Co., NC at least by 1784, when he bought land on the East Fork of the Deep River, West of the New Garden M.M.. These Peggs didn't start out as Quakers. Valentine, and possibly his parents, were members of the Nicolite sect, the "White Quakers" who were so well described here on Quaker Roots recently. Who was Valentine's 1st wife? And their children? He married #2 1806, Deep River M.M. to Mary Mills Cook, widow of Thomas, Jr. When did he become a Quaker? Kin to Martin, Isaac, Caleb, Eliz., and Jane? How?
QUAKER-ROOTS-L Archives
Archiver > QUAKER-ROOTS > 1996-12 > 0849444619
From: Barbara Petty bpetty@pop.erols.com > Subject: Re: PEGG, Valentine - Nicholite/Quaker Date: Sun, 1 Dec 1996 07:50:19 -0500 (EST)
Is anyone else working on the Pegg family? I'm looking for ANY info! I'm not working on the PEGGs but I have a little information about them from HISTORY HELPS by Jack L. Perdue, NC Collecion Pamphlet File: Nicholites NC/HP, North Carolina Room, The High Point (NC) Neal F. Austin Public Library. This is titled: "The Nicholites of Jamestown and Deep River". My Valentine PEGG may have been born in the area of Mispillon Hundred, Kent Co., DE around 1760. The son of William and Margaret PEGG, he was in Guilford Co., NC at least by 1784, when he bought land on the East Fork of the Deep River, West of the New Garden M.M.. The Nicholite movement was founded the same year your Valentine PEGG was born if he was b. in 1760. Martin and Valentine PEGG were witnesses to marriages in Delaware. It almost seems he must have been b. prior to 1760, unless young boys could be witnesses. Valentine PEGG is said to have witnessed the Nicholite marriages of Thomas WILLIS and Siny RICHETS in 1767, and Daniel SULLAVANE and Margaret MELVIN in 1768 in the Delaware-Maryland area. By 1778 he was in Guilford County and was one of the signers of the Nicholite Petition to the NC General Assembly. His dau. Mary, married Richard MENDENHALL. Kenneth L. Carroll did a lot of research on the Nicholites and publishedseveral things on them. One, appearing in The Southern Friend, Vol. V., No. 2, Autumn, 1983 "Another Look At The Nicholites" on pp. 12-13 - states that Noble COVEY, one of the people who signed the 1774 decision to organize the Nicholite Society. Noble COVEY of Caroline County, Maryland and Mary (PEGG) BICHAM of Delaware were m. in 1775. The COVEYs settled just across the border in Rowan (now Davidson) County (NC), where he is listed in the 1790 census. His widow Mary, left a 1799 Guilford will in which she mentions Valentine PEGG and Martin PEGG as brothers, and a sister Elizabeth, and step-children named SAPP. (some omitted which does not apply to PEGG) Several units of the PEGG family were also to be found in the Nicholite community in western Guilford. Valentine PEGG, one of the signers of the 1778 Nicholite petition*, settled on Deep River several miles to the north of the CALDWELLS and the HORNEYS. His brother Martin and wife Rebecca (ADAMS/ADDAMS) PEGG located nearby, and his sister Mary COVEY was also a part of this colony. The 1790 census shows Valentine PEGG's family containing six males and five females, while Martin's family at home was composed of two males and one female, with Isaac PEGG (who was listed next to Martin) and his wife having one son. *On August 4, 1778 - nine Nicholites signed a petition to the NC Gen. Assembly for relief from taking oaths and bearing arms. The nine signers were: James CALDWELL, Levin CHARLES, William CHARLES, Paris CHIPMAN, John HORNEY, William HORNEY, Valentine PEGG, Joseph STANDLEY and William WHEELER. Apparently Mr. Carroll never learned the identity of Valentine PEGG's wife. He also did an article indicating Witnesses to Nicholite Marriages in Vol. LII of the Maryland Historical Magazine. He gave each marriage a number, not listing the ones marrying, and he showed Valentine PEGG attending marriages #1 and #3. In checking over the guest lists myself (to see who else attended these marriages with him) I found some names which might be a clue to the identity of his wife. Also attending each of these marriages with Valentine PEGG were: Isaac CHARLES and Lemuel and Levin WRIGHT. But that may also just be coincidental. Other than those names in common, the two guest lists varied as far as the rest of the list. You might want to track down more things by Mr. Carroll? He is the expert on the Nicholites. A handrawn map of S.W. Guilford Co. ca. 1790 shows Valentine PEGG living in close proximity to John WHEELER and Levin CHARLES. Like the three live in a row respectively with Valentine's place the top (to the north), Wheeler's the second to the south, and Charles the third to the south. Not too far distant to the east on another creek is Joseph Standley's property and to the west is Paris CHIPMAN's property on another creek. Paris CHIPMAN is supposed to have been a brother of my ancestress, but other than oral tradition I can't prove that. These Peggs didn't start out as Quakers. Valentine, and possibly his parents, were members of the Nicolite sect, the "White Quakers" who were so well described here on Quaker Roots recently. Who was Valentine's 1st wife? And their children? He married #2 1806, Deep River M.M. to Mary Mills Cook, widow of Thomas, Jr. When did he become a Quaker? Kin to Martin, Isaac, Caleb, Eliz., and Jane? How? I don't know if the above is too much help, but I hope it's some help. At least you know a couple of the siblings now of Valentine: Martin, Mary and Elizabeth. Barb Petty bpetty@erols.com
Now see the information I have found on a deed between a Jester and John Sweet, father of my Mary Sweet Killingsworth:
Guilford County NcArchives Deed.....Jester, Isaac - Sweet, John 1791
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http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.org/nc/ncfiles.htm
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contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
C. P. Jester CPJester@aol.com January 5, 2008 , 1:49 am
Written: 1791
Guilford County Deeds - Book E p. 524
John Sweet to Isaac Jester, 1791
This indenture made this fourteenth day of December in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety one between John Sweet of the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina of the one part and Isaac Jester of the county and state aforesaid o the other part witnesseth that the said John Sweet for and consideration of the sum of twenty pounds current money of the said state in hand paid by the said Isaac Jester the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted bargains and sells aliened confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain and sell alien and confirm unto the said Isaac Jester his heirs and assigns forever all that messuage land and tenement lying an being in the county aforesaid on the waters of Deep River and including one survey of sixty acres beginning at a Hickory in Coutches line turning west one hundred sixty poles to a hickory thence north sixty poles to a Hickory on Smith Moses line thence east one hundred and sixty poles to a stone on William Coutch's corner thence south to the first stations containing in all sixty acres together with all mines minerals woods water ways
commodities ----legs and appurtenance whatsoever to the said Messuage belonging or in any way appertaining Also the inersion and inusion remainder and remainders unto and services of the said premises and of any part thereof and all the estate right either? interest claim and demand whatsoever of his the said John Sweet of in and to the said Messuage land and premises and may ---- thereof to have and to hold the said messuage land and premises and every part thereof with the appurtenance unto the said Isaac Jester his heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Isaac Jester his heirs and assigns forever be the said John Sweet for himself and his heirs and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever --- the said Isaac Jester his heirs and assigns shall warrant and
forever defend by these presents in witness whereof the said John Sweet hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year above written
signed sealed and delivered John Sweet
in presence of
George Mendenhall
William Waite
In addition to these Nicholite connections, I have found the following Anderson Family connection:
Am researching the James and Major (Majour) ANDERSON families. They were on the Sussex Co., DE. 1790 census. Major Anderson died 1805, Guilford Co., North Carolina, and a John PAVEY was his administrator. I believe John PAVEY's wife was a daughter of either James or Major (given name, not a military rank) ANDERSON. Did these ANDERSON's convert (like most of the other Nicolites) to Quakerism? Believe John PAVEY and ? Anderson were the parents of my Anderson PAVEY (b:1790, Caroline Co., MD.) Can anyone help? Will gladly exchange what I have. Thank-you families. They were on the Sussex Co., DE.
1790 census. Major Anderson died 1805, Guilford Co., North Carolina , and a John PAVEY was his administrator. I believe John PAVEY's wife was a daughter of either James or Major (given name, not a military rank) ANDERSON. Did these ANDERSON 's convert (like most of the other Nicolites) to Quakerism? Believe John PAVEY and ? Anderson were the parents of my Anderson PAVEY (b:1790, Caroline Co.,
MD.) Can anyone help? Will gladly exchange what I have. Thank-you.
This should be enough reading for you for one night. I'm sure I have probably left out quite a bit but it is a start, hopefully. My hope is that I can get all this information in the form of proofs with sources listed, etc. rather than the large degree of supposition I have at the moment.
Will talk more tomorrow,
Rebecca