Dobbs County, NC - Martin Caswell, 1733-1789 Martin Caswell, the younger brother of Gov. Richard Caswell, was born on 15 Feb. 1733 and died in July of 1789 at age 56. Governor Caswell died just one month later. Little is known of Martin's personal life or his relationship with his famous brother. One may surmise that Martin worked closely with Richard and there was mutual respect. Martin was not a wealthy man, though he owned considerable acreage. He was Sheriff of Johnston County, NC from 1754 to 1756. He became Justice of Johnston County in 1756 and continued to serve as a Justice for Dobbs County when Dobbs County was formed from eastern Johnston County in 1759. In 1763, Martin gave up the Office of Justice to become Clerk of the Court for the newly formed Dobbs County. Martin held the Office of Clerk of the Court for 26 years until his death. He was a Colonel in the North Carolina Militia during the Revolutionary War. Martin is probably buried in the Caswell Cemetery located at "The Hill" where his mother and father are buried. Martin Caswell first married about 1754. It is widely thought that his first wife was Anne McIlwean, daughter of James and Elinore McIlwean, though this marriage is not proven. Records prove that his 2nd wife was Nancy Murphrey, the daughter of Capt. John Murphrey and Elizabeth Harrison. Martin was married to Nancy Murphrey by 1768. In September of 1769, a letter of Gayle Murphrey, Nancy's younger sister, tells of a visit to Tower Hill where "Sister Caswell" was born of a fine son". Martin was a vestry member of St. Patrick's Parish in 1770. Letter of agreement to build the Little Goshen Chapel: Little Goshen Chapel, pp 92-93. "At the Vestry held for St. Patrick Parish the 3 day of May 1770 -Present The Revd. Willm Miller, Simon Bright, Drew Aldrige, William Bell, Robert Williams, Martin Caswell, Major Croom, John Tilmon, Thomas Edwards To the Hon. Abraham Shepherd & Capt. John Murphrey Trustees It is agreed that a Chapel should be built on some part of the old field belonging to the said Shepherd & Murphry called Little Goshen..." SOURCE: letter of agreement to build the chapel; Murphrey letters; Ernie Murphrey's webpage users.aol.com/emurphrey/letters.html Many records exist of the descendants of his three oldest children, Martin jr., James, and Mary, all of whom migrated to GA. Martin, jr. was the "first settler" of Taylor's Creek in Liberty Co., GA. and his younger brother James was a founder of Screven Co., GA. His daughter Mary and her husband Isaac Wingate, moved south to Georgia as well. Francis, his first son by Nancy Murphrey, remained in the Lenoir area. His behavior suggests that he was deeply upset by the financial devastation of the Caswell family following the war. The lawsuits brought against Caswell's estate and the subsequent loss of all their plantations and lands undoubtedly resulted in bitterness and frustration. He may have fared better had he joined his brothers in Georgia. Martin's two youngest children also remained in the area. William Caswell (b. ca.1780, d. ca.1849) of Dobbs, Pitt, Craven & Lenoir Co, NC was the youngest son of Martin Caswell. His mother was Martin’s 2nd wife, Nancy Murphrey, daughter of Capt. John Murphrey and Elizabeth Harrison Murphrey. There is some evidence that Elizabeth Harrison was connected to the Ben Harrisons of VA, "the James River Harrisons" and thus to presidents Ben Harrison and William Harrison. (not proven). William appears in the 1790 census of Dobbs in the house of his widowed mother Nancy, and siblings. He was under 16 in 1790 Dobbs census and between 26-45 in 1810 Pitt census. He is not listed in the 1800 census. Several Pitt deeds-Deed books Q & V (1805, 6 & 8) show that he sold his land there for $1100 except for 2 acres of dower lands to his mother Nancy. It appears that he moved to New Bern about 1815. In the 1816-18 tax list, he owns an improved lot on Craven St. in New Bern valued at $400.00. From the neighbors on the 1820 census, it appears that the house was located 2 doors from the "Stephens Brick block", built by Marcus Cicero Stephens in 1818, which occupied 220-226 Craven St. It seems that William used the $1100.00 from the sale of his property in Pitt to buy a house in Craven, which may have been a shop for a trunk-making business as well as the family residence. In 1816, he had apprenticed James Sevile, an orphan of 15, as a trunk-maker. In the 1820 census, he has one male (0-10), his wife, and eldest daughter Harriet, b. ca.1807. It would appear that Martin’s youngest child, Nancy, may have married a Mr. Pickle, possibly Richard Pickle. The following deed is of record: JOHNSTON/DOBBS/LENOIR COUNTIES GRANTOR INDEX - BOOK 27 - LENOIR COUNTY October 1828 to 1833 Grantor Grantee page # Pickle, Nancy Ann & Wm. Caswell Richard Pickle 34 The 1860 census for Lenoir has an Alice Caswell, age 55, living with Caroline Pickle age 28. Alice Caswell is as yet unidentified; she is living with a Caroline Pickle, and Caroline’s age suggests she may have been the daughter of Nancy Ann Caswell Pickle. SOURCE: Letter of Charles Holloman "MARTIN comes as a given name to the vicinity from MARTIN CASWELL a brother of Governor RICHARD CASWELL. The CASWELLS came from Maryland in 1745. MARTIN was very prominent and was clerk of the court for the period ca. 1755 to 1789. The courthouse long stood at Walnut Creek near present Goldsboro and adjacent to the old plantation of BARNABAS McKINNE. STEPHEN McKINNE lived near and so did the PIPKINS." SOURCE:[1750s]Commissions for Johnston County Martin Caswell Capt. of the Company lately commanded Francis Mackelwean who resigned SOURCE: Dobbs County, NC 1780 tax list: Martin Caswell is enumerated on a in the Kennedy District [(1)Lenoir County, NC, from Kinston west, but north of the Neuse River] "4. Martin (Col.) Caswell 4,045 (acres)" SOURCE: Colony of North Carolina 1735-1764 Abstract of land Patents Vol. 1 by Margaret M. Hoffman, p. 377: "5320 pg. 254 MARTIN CASWELL 3 March 1759. 250 acres in Johnston Co. on the south side of Great Contentey, joining Edwards Mill Run, John Suggs, Thos. Edwards, William Lewis, Wm. Ham, and Robert Hill. NOTE of Dixie Ferris: Nancy "Anne" Murphrey Caswell's sister, Elizabeth "Betsy" Murphrey married John Sugg and Nancy Caswell's sister Patsey "Martha" Murphrey married Robert Hill. SOURCE: Wayne Co. deeds On 3 Jan 1786 a deed was filed in Wayne County by Richard Caswell (former Governor) and John Herritage, who were Executors of the Last will and Testament of William Herritage, late of Craven County, Deceased, who, in turn, was executor for the Will of George Roberts, late of Craven County. They sold 200 acres in Wayne County, NC to Martin Caswell of Dobbs Co, NC. The land was on the North Side of the Neuse River being a patent to George Roberts, Esquire from King George II dated 3 Mar 1738. Also transferred was a 1000 acre patent to George Roberts dated 5 Jun 1739. George Roberts had been dead over 40 years when this land was sold. The deed mentioned his Will dated 7 Nov 1741 and that this land was "formerly in Craven County, but now in Wayne". (Wayne Co, NC Deed Book 3 page 105). On the same date, 3 Jan 1786, Richard Caswell, of Dobbs Co, NC sold to Solomon Pope of Wayne Co, NC, 300 acres in Wayne County, on the North Side of the Neuse River in the North Roundabout, being the same land above sold back to Richard Caswell from Martin Caswell, being part of George Roberts lands. (Wayne Co, NC Deed Book 3 page 115). SOURCE: Charles Holloman's index cards "There is a letter of Gov. Caswell of about this date which says, "My brother Martin left this world 14 days ago. He labored long in great distress of dropsy". SOURCE: Notes of Russell King, genealogist Martin Caswell died 16 July 1789 Dobbs County of Dropsy SOURCE: NC, Dobbs, Newspaper, The Kinston Semi-Weekly Free Press (Microfilm Roll KiKFP.1) Wednesday, March 30, 1910 The Census of a Hundred and Twenty Years Ago for the County of Dobbs, Now Lenoir and Greene *note - refers to 1790 census-author unnamed Let us now see where we are, I have an old land deed in my possession in which Aaron Pool "Doth grant bargain, sell, alien and convey unto the said Reubin Freeman, situated in the fork of Gum Swamp and Reedy Branch and runs up said swamp to Richard Caswell’s line, then with his line to the branch, then with the branch to the beginning, being a part of a tract of land surveyed for Richard Caswell. This paper was signed by Aaron Pool and witnessed by Samuel and Josiah Pool, three of the men written above. At that time William Caswell, son of Martin was the clerk of the court when this deed was proved and D. Caswell was register. This Martin was brother of Richard Caswell and the clerk of the court from 1765 until his death in 1789, 24 years at least and perhaps further back than 1765. James Caswell was the son of Martin. I do not remember Ann Caswell only that she was a widow. Mosses Westbrook perhaps was the father of Charles Westbrook, clerk, who was the only man who could break the Caswell hold on the court house for 50 years or more. Richard Caswell was deputy clerk, of then Johnson county, in 1749. ....The Honorable Richard Caswell, Esq., died in 1789. Isaac Wingate, no doubt the son-in-law of Martin Caswell whose will I have had occasion to quote was perhaps dead at this time. His wife Mary Wingate was taken, in that part of Craven next to Lenoir. SOURCE: (Proof of Ann (Nancy) Murphrey's marriage to Martin Caswell) Quarterly Review of E. Carolina Genealogical Society, vol.4, pp. 21-25 Papers pertaining to the settlement of the estate of John Murphrey found among some old papers formerly belonging to William Lyman Murphry. These papers were typewritten in about 1920 and were in bad condition. The originals were ? into there and had probably deteriorated with age, thus causing the typed copies to be made. "...She also sheweth that her said husband at his death left children ten of whom are still living within this Government viz. Michael, John, William, Patsey, wife of Robert Hill, Elizabeth, wife of John Sugg, Anne, wife of Martin Caswell, Gale of Lawful age, Jethra, Eleanor and Sarah under lawfull age of 21 years who on acct. of their infancy are unable to assign to Your Petitioness her Dower or claim their just portion of sd, Estate without the assistance of this court to the end therefore that Your Petitioness may have her Dower and also a distribution share of his estate, real and personal set off to and allotted sd. Petitioness and sd. orphans..." SOURCE: Elizabeth Murphrey's will of 1788..."My daughter Nancy Caswell and her heirs are to have the track of woodlands at Sandy Bottom adjoining Croom and the river..." SOURCE: Martin's children by Anne McIlwean: Hooten, Bernice Mae Caswell, "The Caswells; some Descendants of Richard Caswell. Sr." (1998) s.n. 1vol. colli11. 29 cm: Ladson Genealogical Library, Ladson Genealogical Library 125 Church Street, Suite 104 Vidalia, Georgia 30474 Ph: (912) 537-8186 ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Clair Hadley - donandclair@verizon.net ______________________________________________________________________