Prologue

by Miles S. Philbeck

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

All documentation was provided by Joe Gold in his book

Hamrick Genealogy:

Descendants of Samuel & Mary Hamrick.

In 1993 Mills Y. Bridges of Chapel Hill, North Carolina published his compiled documentation on the immediate ancestors of Samuel Hamrick in the Bulletin of the Genealogical Society of Old Tryon County ‎(Vol. 21, Number 2, pp. 64-92)‎.  Since then no serious argument could or can be made that Samuel Hamrick descended from anyone other than Patrick Hamrick who with his “cousin” and “shipmate” Rodger Day, they being brother and sister’s children, were living in colonial Virginia in the early 1700’s ‎(King George County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 300 )‎

On 4 May 1722 in King George County, Virginia Patrick Hamrick produced a certificate under the hand of John Travis, sub sheriff of Stafford County, Virginia indicating that the sheriff had pressed ‎(taken into possession due to some immediate need)‎ a mare belonging to Patrick for ten days without any payment having been made.  The claim was referred to the Virginia General Assembly for allowance ‎(King George County, Virginia Order Book, 1722, p. 50)‎.  On 5 February 1724 and 1725 Patrick Hamrick was appointed to appraise and estate in King George County ‎(King George County Order Book, 1724 and 1725, p. 233)‎.

A preponderance of evidence indicates that Patrick Hamrick’s wife was Margaret English, daughter of Robert and Sarah Cox English.  On 20 October 1709 Lem Cox granted to Robert Ingles 100 acres in Stafford County with the provision that upon the death of Sarah, wife of Robert, the land fall to the use of Margaret Ingles, daughter of Robert, for her natural life ‎(Richmond County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 157)‎.  On 17 December 1726

Patrick Hamrick and wife Margaret of King George County and Robert Inglish and wife Sarah of Stafford County sold the 100 acres of Samuel Skinker of King George County ‎(King George County Deed Book 1, p. 410)‎.  On 2 August 1734 Samuel Skinker of King George County leased to Patrick Hamrick and wife Margaret of Brunswick Parish in King George County a tract of land in King George County ‎(King George County Deed Book 1-A, p 304)‎.

A Northern Neck land warrant ‎(order to survey)‎ was issued to James Thomas on 10 January 1739 to survey a tract of about 100 acres of land for Patrick Hamrick of King George County, being waste and ungranted lands in Prince William County, Virginia near joining the lines of Thomas Eaves, William Davis, Richard Melton, Edward Grayham and land formerly belonging to Roger Day and now claimed by Patrick Hamrick as the heir of Day.  This land was surveyed on 28 April 1740 as 118 acres and was granted to Patrick Hamrick on 10 December 1740 ‎(Northern Neck Grant loose papers at the Virginia Archives)‎.  This land is in the vicinity of Manassas, Virginia.

The 1747 list of tithables of Prince William County includes Patrick Hamrick Senr. And others include Robert Hamrick.  Robert was almost certainly named for his grandfather Robert English.  The 1752 list of tithables shows Robert Hamrick in possession of Patrick Hamrick’s 118 acres Northern Neck grant.  Patrick Hamrick was still alive and had surely deeded the land to his son.  On 24 November 1755 Patrick Hamrick petitioned the Prince William County court to be levy free, which was granted ‎(Prince William County Order Book, 1755, p. 12)‎.  Similarly on 8 December 1755 he became levy free from parish levies for the time to come ‎(Dettingen Parish records)‎.  He had surely reached maximum taxable age.  Robert Hamrick, who was an adult and probably married by 1747, was a patroller in Prince William County in November 1756 but was dead by 23 May 1757 when administration on his estate was granted to his widow Elizabeth ‎(Prince William County Order Book, 1757, p. 272)‎.  On 26 August 1760 Elizabeth Hamrick exhibited her account against Robert’s estate ‎(Prince William County Order Book, 1760, p. 173)‎.  The 118 acres of Robert Hamrick continued to be listed in his name on the 1760 and 1761 Prince William County rental rolls, but in 1767 the land was listed in the name of Eliza Hamrick.

Samuel Hamrick, whose descendants are traced in this volume, is found for the first time in the surviving records of Prince William County when on 4 September 1769 he, with James Bridges, proved the will of Elizabeth English which they had witnessed ‎(Prince William County Order Book, 1769, p. 85)‎.

Under Virginia intestate law of the period, ownership of Robert Hamrick’s 118 acres passed to his eldest son but would have been subject to the dower interest of Robert’s widow Elizabeth.  In order to dispose  of the tract this eldest son ‎(upon coming of age to do so)‎, his mother, and also his wife ‎(who would have a dower interest of her own)‎ would all need to convey the land.  This is precisely what appears to have occurred on 24 October 1770 when Elizabeth Hamrick and Samuel Hamrick and his wife Mary sold the 118 acres to Isaac Davis.  The deed was witnessed by Cornelius Kincheloe, Patrick Hamrick, John Hamrick, William Hazelrig, Thomas Bird, and William Davis ‎(Prince William County Deed Book R, p. 255)‎.

Therefore it is concluded that Samuel Hamrick was the son of Robert Hamrick and a grandson of Patrick Hamrick, the first of the family in Virginia.  Of Samuel’s uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and cousins there were many, but establishing their identities at this juncture in time with any high degree of confidence is not possible.  It is certain that a number of them also moved to what at the time was Rutherford County, but is now Cleveland County, North Carolina.

On 16 September 1770 Samuel Hamrick witnessed a Granville County, North Carolina deed from Moses Span to Soloman Langston for 130 acres on Cub Creek ‎(Granville County Deed Book K, p. 117)‎.  Since this was just a few weeks prior to Samuel’s selling the old 118 acres tract in Prince William County, Virginia, it is clear that Samuel was selling in anticipation of becoming a resident of North Carolina.  Indeed, on 12 December 1770 Samuel Hamrick “of Granville County” purchased 450 acres on Cub Creek of Tar River in Granville County from Absalom Langston ‎(Granville County Deed Book I, p. 268)‎.  He retained possession of this tract until 7 October 1772 when he being “of Orange County” sold it to Littleton Mapp ‎(Granville County Deed Book K, p. 208)‎.  Samuel lived in the portion of Orange County which later became Caswell County where he is listed on the 1777 tax list.  Listed beside Samuel on the list is Enoch Hamrick.  Samuel was soon on the move again.

On 1 April 1778 Samuel Hamrick witnessed a deed in Tryon County, North Carolina from John McKnitt Alexander to Charles Stice for land in present-day Cleveland County, being part of tracts originally granted to Richard Berry and said Alexander ‎(Tryon County Deed Book 2, p 415)‎.  It is probable that Samuel and his family had already moved to Tryon County and that he was himself living on land of John McKnitt Alexander.  Tryon County was abolished an became Rutherford and Lincoln Counties in 1779.  The 1782 Rutherford County tax list shows Samuel Hambrick with 180 acres and Enoch Hamrick with 263 acres, but they had not yet purchased land.  On 16 February 1785 John McKnitt Alexander sold to Enoch Hamrick 264 acres on Shoal Creek joining Charles Stice and Samuel Hamrick, being another part of Berry and Alexander grants ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book C, p. 121)‎.  Clearly this is the land taxed three years earlier to Enoch in 1782 and Samuel was living close by.  On 2 July 1789 John McKnitt Alexander sold Samuel Hamrick 248 acres on Shoal Creek, also being part of the Richard Berry grant that Alexander had purchased in 1773. Witnesses were Charles Stice, James Bridges, and Lemuel Moore ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book J, p. 79)‎.  It is probable that the 180 acres taxed to Samuel Hamrick in 1782 was part of this tract.  In fact, Samuel may have been renting or leasing from Alexander since 1778 when he witnessed the deed from Alexander to Stice.  On 27 February 1795 Samuel Hamrick sold to George Blanton 90 acres of his holdings on Shoal Creek. Mary Hamrick witnessed the deed ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book O, p. 109)‎

In a few years Samuel Hamrick began adding to the lands he owned.  On 12 October 1796 he entered a claim for 200 acres “Lying on the waters of furist Broad River Joining William McSwain & widow Bridges & Johiph Camp & James Bridges”.  The tract was surveyed as only 100 acres on 25 August 1798 and the survey shows that it also joined Hamrick’s old line.  The grant is dated 22 December 1798 ‎(Rutherford County Land Grant file 1778, North Carolina Archives)‎.  On 15 October 1800 Samuel Hamrick entered a claim for 140 acres on Shoal Creek joining George Blanton and widow Bridges.  This tract was surveyed on 27 August 1801 and granted 23 November 1801 ‎(Rutherford County Land Grant file 2193, North Carolina Archives)‎.  On 13 October 1801 Samuel purchased from William Bridges 26 acres on First Broad River joining his own land and Charles Stice ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 19, p. 259)‎ and on 4 September 1802 Samuel Hamrick purchased from John McKnitt Alexander 50 acres on the east side of First Broad River being part of the Richard Berry grant ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 21, p. 186)‎.

On 11 August 1803 Samuel sold three acres on Shoal Creek to Jeremiah Runyan ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 23, p. 627)‎.  On 8 October 1803 Samuel sold 25 acres on Shoal Creek to John Hamrick ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 21, p. 265)‎.  On 8 August 1805 Samuel sold forty Acres on Shoal Creek to Jeremiah Runyan ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 23, p. 631)‎.

To this point in time Samuel’s land activities had been limited to the Shoal Creek area on the east side of First Broad River.  On 21 January 1808 Samuel purchased from William Graham 200 acres on Poplar Branch ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 25, p. 216)‎.  However, he sold this land later in the year on 20 September 1808 to is son Reuben Hamrick ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 27-28, p. 184)‎. This land is located at the head of Poplar Branch near present-day Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

Samuel Hamrick sold two tracts of 100 acres and 70 acres on Shoal Creek to James Hamrick on 23 March 1810 ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 25, pp 320 and 236)‎.  No other deeds have been located for Samuel on the east side of First Broad River, but the sum of the stated quantities of land in his purchases exceeds the sum of the stated quantities of land which he sold by over 200 acres, perhaps indicating that he continued in possession of land there during the latter years of his life.  The remainder of his deeds are for lands on Poplar Branch.

Samuel Hamrick entered 120 acres on 19 October 1814 “including the Surplus land within the bounds of the land he purchased of Col. Wm. Graham joining his own lines & Thies Turner.”  This land on Poplar Branch was surveyed on 4 November 1816 and was granted to him on 27 November 1816 ‎(Rutherford County Land Grant file 3002, North Carolina Archives)‎.  The survey also describes it as “including part of the improvement where the sd.  Hambrick now lives.”  The description  also indicates that Samuel owned land on the north side of this tract, but there is no deed showing him having purchased such land.  On 6 September 1823 Samuel sold to George Hamrick sixteen acres joining Mathias Turner ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 34, p. 238)‎ and eleven days later on 19 September 1823 Samuel Hamrick Sr. sold to his son Reuben Hamrick 52 acres on Poplar Branch ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 34, p. 258)‎.  George Hamrick was the son of James and Pricilla Hamrick.  On 21 January 1826 Samuel Hamrick Sr. sold to Aaron Bridges five acres on Poplar Branch.  Witnesses were Charles Blanton and Drury Bridges ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 41-42, p. 234)‎.  In his last deed of record Samuel sold to Reuben Hamrick forty-eight acres on Poplar Branch ‎(Rutherford County Deed Book 37-38, p. 285)‎.

Some discussion is warranted regarding other Hamrick’s who moved to old Rutherford County.  By association they divide into two main groups and members of the two groups do not appear in deeds together.  The first group consisted of Samuel, Enoch, James and Price Hamrick.  This group lived on the east side of First Broad River in the Shoal Creek area.  James died in Rutherford County about 1800 and had wife Priscilla.  Price Hamrick served from Virginia in the Revolutionary War from 1777 to 1780.  Price married Nancy Bridges.  The will of Price Hamrick was written in Rutherford County 1808 and was filed for probate in 1818.  Enoch Hamrick left Rutherford County, going first to Spartanburg county, South Carolina, then to Barren County, Kentucky, and then to Cooper County, Missouri where he died.  The other group consisted of Jeremiah, Nathan, Henry, Travis, and Yelverton Hamrick.  Nathan was a son of Jeremiah who seems to be the senior member of this group who lived initially on the waters of Boren’s Creek south of the first group.  In addition to these two groups a family was headed by Isaac Hamrick, born prior to 1750, who bought land on the north side of Main Broad River in present Cleveland County in 1806, sold it in 1807, but was listed on the 1810 Rutherford County census.  Isaac had sold a slave to William Wilson in 1768 in Prince William County, Virginia ‎(Prince William County Deed Book O, p. 604)‎. There is no obvious association of Isaac with members of the two groups but he was certainly a relative.

The relationship of Enoch, James and Price Hamrick to Samuel Hamrick remains speculation.  Enoch’s land purchases sum to 614 acres from 1785 to 1800 and he sold an equal amount from 1785 to 1805.  The purchases of James Hamrick sum to 560 acres, all on Shoal Creek from 1785 to 1787, and he sold a total of 443 acres there from 1788 to 1789.  He should not be confused with the James Hamrick who owned land on Beaverdam Creek and who was alive long after made land purchases in Rutherford County from 1792 to 1800 on the east side of First Broad River and in 1804 on Beaverdam Creek.

No record has been located to demonstrate the disposition of Samuel Hamrick’s property at the time of, and after, his death.  Nor has it been determined with exactness when he died and where he is buried.  Since he is known to have lived on Poplar Branch toward the end of his life, he may be buried in one of the number of family cemeteries in that area.  Or, he could easily have been buried in a cemetery in the area where he first lived on Shoal Creek.  The sole source of the names of Samuel Hamrick’s children is an earlier genealogy of the family, which relied heavily on the memories of Berry Hamrick who was an aged grandson of Samuel Hamrick.  Berry Hamrick should have known the names of his aunts and uncles and their spouses.  While much remains unknown about Samuel, that which is certain is that he was the patriarch of a large family which is one of the most prolific families of Ruther ford and Cleveland Counties and beyond.