Hertford County NcArchives Biographies.....Darden, William 

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William Darden

William Darden, the patriarch of the Greene County, NC Dardens, was born 
January 28, 1748, according to the old family Bible (Copyright 1816, 
Battleborough, VT) of his son Abraham. He was most likely born in the Maney's 
Neck area of Northampton (now Hertford) County, NC north of what is today 
Como, NC. He was probably the second son of Elisha Darden (son of Stephen 
Darden of Nancemond County, VA) and Elizabeth Williamson (daughter of Joseph 
Williamson of Southampton County, VA). He most likely grew up on a moderate 
size plantation on the north side of Buckhorn Creek in close proximity to what 
is today Hwy 258. He probably spent a good deal of time at the home of his 
uncle, Jethro Darden, whose decaying house may be seen approximately ¼ mile 
north of Buckhorn Creek and about 200 yards west of Hwy 258.

Hertford County was created from Northampton County in 1760. Because Hertford 
records have been twice burned, the story of William's youth and early 
adulthood is sketchy.

On December 5, 1764, at age 16, William and his older brother, David, 
witnessed a deed by which their father bought 200 acres of land in Northampton 
County (DB 3 page 361) along Bear Swamp from Thomas Vinson. Elisha apparently 
died between 1764 and 1768, because the land was sold back to Thomas Vinson on 
May 5, 1768 (DB 4 page 156) for the same price, at which time Lewis Williamson 
(possibly Elizabeth's brother) relinquished her right of dower.

William Darden married Claodesha Stephenson (born April 18, 1755), the 
daughter of Abraham Stephenson, a wealthy planter of Hertford County, in about 
1774. On February 16, 1775 their first child, Sarah, was born. On May 30, 
1776, their second, Elizabeth, was born. August 3, 1778, saw the birth of 
their third daughter, Priscilla. On February 16, 1781, about one month before 
the Revolutionary battle of Guilford Courthouse, their last child and only 
son, Abraham, named after his maternal grandfather, was born on his sister 
Sarah's birthday.

According to the Revolutionary War Pension Application affidavit of John Taylor 
(#S.7.684 filed in Greene County, NC on February 11, 1833), William was the ensign 
in the Hertford County Militia in 1779 (just as his father Elisha was in the 
Northampton County Militia before the existence of Hertford County) when they 
marched to Suffolk and Jericho in Virginia in pursuit of the British (perhaps 
after the burning of the supply depot at Suffolk in May, 1779). Since the British 
had boarded ships they returned to Hertford County.  They were then ordered to 
Edenton where they remained until the end of August, 1779.

Hertford County tax lists which survive in the NC Archives show that in 1779 
(LP 30.1) William was the owner of 185 acres of land, 6 slaves, 16 pounds 
cash, 4 horses, 11 cattle valued at 4037 pounds 13 shillings and 4 pence. 

The "Treasurer and Comptroller Records - Military Papers of NC" show that in 
September, 1781 he was paid 3205 pounds for "cloathg" by William Skinner, 
Treasurer of the Edenton District (Vol. 47 page 30 #1222). He also received 23 
pounds 4 shillings on August 1, 1783 (voucher #1928) and 51 pounds 10 shillings 
for "sundries" on August 16, 1783 (Vol. 41 page 23 #2041) allowed by auditors 
of Edenton District of militia of VA, NC, and SC.

In 1782 (CR. 51.702.1) he had 185 acres, 8 slaves, 3 horses and mules, and 16 
cattle and paid 531 pounds tax. The 1784 tax list (LP 64.1) shows 289 acres, 1 
free polled, 4 blacks polled. Claodesha S. Darden died on her birthday, April 
18, 1784, aged 29.

Nearly a year later, on April 4, 1785, William married Susanna Speight, 
daughter of the wealthy planter Joseph Speight and Ann Gatling of Gates County 
(Gates Co. Marriage Bonds-NC Archives). Their only child, Joseph Speight 
Darden (again named after his maternal grandfather) was born February 23, 1786 
one week after the birthday of his half brother and sister in Hertford County. 
Though Susannah is not mentioned in the will of her father (Gates WB 1 pages 105-7), 
she was still alive at the time of his death according to the testimony of William 
Augustus Darden (1804-1877)in Gatlin vs Darden in 1832. Joseph is given 5 slaves 
and 12 shillings in the will probated in 1791.

In about 1788, William and Susannah moved their family of 5 children to 
northeastern Dobbs County, NC, where his brother-in-law Titus Carr (who had married 
Claodesha's sister Winifred Stephenson) had settled in about 1785.

The first US Census in 1790 shows 3 white males (William, Abraham, and 
Joseph), 1 free white female (probably Priscilla) and 11 slaves. At this time 
William was living in Dobbs County on the Pitt County border south of Sandy 
Run, east of Ned's Branch on land formerly in the possession of Albert 
Sidney, John Cowan, and James Henry Darden Jr. According to the NC Land 
Grants, this land was granted to William Bryant (Dobbs Co. $1488, #1489, 
October 29, 1782) Benjamin Bryant (son of William) sold the land to William 
Darden (Dobbs Grantee Index 1759-1792, Book 15 page 87).

Because of fires in the Lenoir and Greene County courthouses, again, official 
records of William are sparse.

1790 was an eventful year. On January 5, David Darden, William's older 
brother, sold a slave to Benjamin May in Pitt County (DB M page 312), probably 
while on a visit. Sometime during the year Sarah, William's oldest daughter at 
15, married Joel Moye of Pitt County, 7 years her senior and settled on the 
north side of Sandy Run. They were to have 8 children (Abraham D., Elbert, 
William D., Elizabeth, Eliza, Claodesha, Minerva, and Alfred) before his death 
in 1817 at the age of 49. On August 28, William witnessed the sale in Pitt 
County land to his friend Francis Parker of Gates County (DB M page 485).

Sometime in early 1791, old Abraham Stephenson died in Northampton County 
leaving William the lion's share of his estate. William was also named 
executor, even though Claodesha had been dead and William remarried for over 4 
years before the will was written in 1788, and even though Abraham's son 
Charles Stephenson was still alive (NH WB 1 pages 427-9). William filed an 
estate inventory as executor on May 6, 1791 (CR 071.514.1). Of 38 slaves 
disposed of in the will, William received 15 for his lifetime, and his sister-
in-law, Winifred Stephenson Carr (wife of Titus) received 9. Also mentioned 
are Abraham Stephenson's 4 grandchildren by Claodesha; Sarah, Elizabeth, 
Priscilla and Abraham. Abraham was to receive the plantation if Charles 
Stephenson and his son John died without heirs in addition to 2 slaves, Tody 
and Fong. The girls were to share in the division of slaves with him at their 
father's death.

In the "List of Justices of the Peace and Militia Officers, 1784-1806" (G.O. 
146 page 257) William Darden was appointed by the governor as Justice of the 
Peace in Glasgow County in 1793.

Susannah died after 1791, and William apparently took a third wife, possibly 
a daughter of Robert Witherington (now Worthington). Sarah, Elizabeth, Priscilla 
and Abraham sued as heirs over his estate division in June, 1801. (This 
information is from Dr. Charles R. Holloman, Raleigh). William fathered 3 
additional children, Nancy, Susannah, and Rebecca between 1790 and his death 
in 1801. There must have been ill feelings between these 3 and the older 5 
children, as they are not mentioned in Abraham Darden's Bible, nor in Wm. S. 
Darden's Bible.

On January 20, 1793, William Darden sold 150 acres of a 640 acre Pitt County 
land grant (April 16, 1792), south of the Tar River (DB N page 25) to George 
Moye. On February 8, 1793, William sold 2 parcels of his Pitt County land to 
Stephen Brooks (DB O page 176). On October 25, 1794, he witnessed a Pitt 
County deed to Elias Carr (DB N page 235).

According to the minutes of the Northampton County Court of Pleas & Quarter 
Sessions 1792-6, he purchased land from Lawrence Futral (registered March 3, 1794)
and from John Futrell (proved by an oath of his brother Reddick Darden) in 1795.

Sometime before 1795, possibly as early as 1790, (since Elizabeth may not have 
been living at home when the census was taken), William's second daughter 
married James Moye of Pitt County. On April 22, 1795, William witnessed the 
purchase of slaves by his neighbor, Isaac Turnage (DB N page 492). On July 29, 
1795, his son-in-law, James Moye sold 200 of the 640 acre grant of 1792 that 
had apparently been a gift by William to Elizabeth and James.

On January 5, 1798, William Darden of Glasgow County witnessed by his brother 
Reddick, gave a young slave girl to Polly Norfleet of Northampton County (DB 
11 page 92). Could she possibly have been his third wife? On November 20, 
1798, Elizabeth Moye gave ½ the share of the slaves she was to inherit from 
her grandfather's estate upon the death of her father to her children David, 
Gatling and Zelota Moye (DB O page 258). James Moye appears to be deceased at 
this time, because his wife's deed of gift was witnessed by William Moye and 
Joel Moye. 23 acres were surveyed in Glasgow County for a grant to William 
Darden on the same day by William Holliday and witnessed by Abraham Darden.

Probably sometime between 1795 and 1800, William's third daughter, Priscilla, 
married Richard Williams of Pitt County.

In 1799, William's older brother, David, of Hertford County, died. William, as 
executor of his brother's estate, and Abraham made the trip up to David's 
Meherrin Plantation, where William gave Abraham some of his brother's 
livestock. They returned early in 1800 when William conducted the estate sale. 
This was reported by William's brother Reddick (NH CB 11 pages 192-3).

The 1800 US Census of Greene County lists William Darden with 1 free white 
male 10-16 (Joseph), 1 16-26 (Abraham), and 1 45 and over (himself). Also in 
his household, 2 free white females under 10 (Nancy and either Susannah or 
Rebecca), and 1 16-26 (probably his third wife, then pregnant), and 25 slaves. 
It seems apparent from the Bibles that Sarah, Elizabeth, Priscilla, Abraham 
and Joseph all considered themselves one family. Possibly because of the age 
difference Nancy, Susannah, and Rebecca are not mentioned in the Bibles.

In the 1800 Greene County election (NC General Assembly records, November and 
December 1800 Session), "William Darden Esq" is noted to have voted for Hymrick 
Hooker.

The old Bible of Abraham Darden reports that "Wm Darden father to A. Darden 
departed this life 2nd March at day break in the year of our Lord 1801". 
Apparently William died of some type of illness and his death greatly 
disturbed his eldest son. He was probably buried in the old cemetery near 
Ned's Branch at Willow Green in a now unmarked grave.

William left 3 daughters (by this time it appears Elizabeth had married Jolly 
Olds of Greene County), Abraham (barely 20), Joseph (barely 15), 3 very young 
daughters, and a widow.

Joel Moye, William's eldest son-in-law, conducted the estate sale on June 2, 
1801 (John C. Darden of Farmville has an 1806 copy of the 10 page 
documentation of the sale). Among those present making purchases in addition 
to William's heirs were: Jonathan Frizzelle, Randol Johnson, John Harper, 
Isaac Pipkin, William Hart Jr., Hardy Handcock, William Moye Jr., William 
Riddick, Jesse Moye, David Clarke, Gideon Olds, Thomas Dyer, John Pope Jr., 
Thomas Dail, Enos Rogers, Charles Carr, Archibald Adams, Lucy Bowings, Dempsey 
Simmons, John Moore the hatter, Sarah Brown, George Moye, Cornelius Rawls, 
William Moye Sr., William Turnage Jr., John Moye, Thomas Holliday, Elias Carr, 
George Moye Jr., Micajah Edwards, Abraham Turnage, James Jordan, William 
Williams, James Holland, John Joiner, Benjamin Tison, Alexander Parker, Loe 
Jackson, and William Moore. The sale brought over 877 pounds.

The most intriguing name of those making purchases is that of Frances Darden, 
probably William's third wife. She seems to be mentioned by name nowhere else 
in public or private records.

Among three items offered for sale were a large bell bought by Joel Moye, 6 
horses, 13 sheep, 24 cattle, 36 hogs, 5 feather beds and furniture, a Bible 
bought by Joel Moye, sermon books by William Moye Jr. and Abraham Darden, 
7 "Acts of Assembly" by Joel Moye, a pair of silver buckles and a copy 
of "Martin's Justice" by Abraham Darden, a pair of silver shoe buckles by 
Abraham Darden, ½ dozen silver tea spoons by Richard Williams, a pair of money 
scales by Joel Moye, a still by William Moye Sr., a coat (probably belonging 
to his father) by Joseph Darden, a pair of spectacles by George Moye 
(suggesting that William wore glasses probably for reading).

Also inventoried were 677 acres of land, 12 slaves and bonds and notes from 
William Hart Jr., Malcom McDuffie and Willis Darden (Williams's brother), 
James Calif (from David Darden's estate), obligations in the hands of 
William's first cousin Jethro Darden of Hertford County, David Clarke, William 
Hart Sr., William Tison, Jesse Pipkin, John W. Tolks, Charles Williams and 
Sherrod Hines. Joel Moye mentions several other notes, but doubted that they 
were collectable.

In August, 1801, after the harvest, the court set aside provisions for "Widow 
Darden".

On August 8, 1801, Oliver Smith of Pitt County deeded 585 acres of land that 
had previously been paid for to William's survivors (DB P pages 6-7). In 
November, the land was divided by the county court among his survivors, 
Priscilla, Abraham, Joseph, Rebecca, Sarah, Susannah, Elizabeth, and Nancy (DB 
P page 53).

The Greene County land was divided in January, 1802 (copies of the original 
were in the possession of James H. Darden Jr. of Greenville). Abraham (whose 
guardian was Joel Moye) received 92 acres, Priscilla received 97 acres, Sarah 
82 acres, Nancy (through guardian Jonas Williams) 78 acres, and Joseph 
(guardian also Joel Moye) received 133 acres including the widow's dower (and 
possibly the old house). Elizabeth's, Susannah's and Rebecca's shares are not 
mentioned except for equalizing amounts to be paid to Jonathan Frizzle 
(Rebecca and Susannah's guardian), and Jolly Olds (Elizabeth's husband), but 
they probably received land because the above totals almost 200 acres less 
than was recorded in the inventory at the estate sale.

The loss of the 1810 US Census of Greene County makes difficult fixing the 
death of William's widow, but she died sometime between 1801 and her daughters 
Susannah and Rebecca, whose Pitt County lands were divided in January, 1819 
(DB CC pages 49, 51). Nancy married John H. Dixon of Greene County. They 
apparently died at about the same time. Their estate was divided in August, 
1844 (Greene Co. Estates, 1839-1845 pages 425-9-NC Archives) among their 
children William D., Willis H., Tilman, Joseph, Elizabeth, Caroline, Emiline, 
John R., and Priscilla A. Dixon.

Jolly Olds, Elizabeth's second husband apparently died before February 11, 
1805 when Elizabeth sold a slave to Jonathan Frizzle in Pitt County (DB Q page 
67). She married Jethro Warren on June 15, 1806 and died September 12, 1820. 
She appears to have had no children by her last 2 marriages. She was probably 
buried in a now unmarked grave in the old cemetery.

Sometime before 1819, Richard Williams died and Priscilla married Willis 
Dupree of Greene County. She died August 27, 1843. It is not known whether 
Priscilla had any children by either marriage. William's eldest daughter Sarah 
did not remarry after her husband's death in 1817, and she lived until 
sometime after 1828.

Cliff Darden
Wilson NC
Revised & updated November, 2012