Perquimans County NcArchives History - Books .....Front Matter 1931 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 2, 2007, 10:29 pm Book Title: History Of Perquimans County HISTORY OF PERQUIMANS COUNTY As Compiled from Records Found There and Elsewhere Abstracts of Deeds from 1681 through the Revolution—Petitions, Dir-visions, and Marriages Found in Perquimans and Adjacent Counties —A brief Summary of the Settling of Perquimans, with the hind and manner of settlers—Two Maps, One of the Old Order, and, One a Present Day Map—Illustrations of a Few Old Residences and Several More Modern Ones. BY MRS. WATSON WINSLOW Raleigh, North Carolina 1931 To MY HUSBAND WATSON WINSLOW OF WHOM I HAVE NOTHING BUT SWEET MEMORIES KIND, FAITHFUL, TRUE, HONEST GOOD CITIZEN, AND GENTLEMAN SON OF PERQUIMANS ABBREVIATIONS (Official) Alb. Albemarle Capt. Captain Clk. Clerk of Court Com. Commission (ed) Com'd. Command (ed) Con. (con) Consideration Dept. Deputy Exrs. Executors E. East Gen'l General Gov. Governor Leg. Legatee N. North Perq. Perquimans Pre'ct. Precinct Pro' Province Reg. Register of Deeds S. South Test' Testator Val' Valuable W. West adj. adjoining afsd. aforesaid agst against b. born d. died grt. grant m. married p. pence p. probated pt. part s. shilling sd. said FOREWORD In writing a history of any county, the first consideration should be the perpetuation of valuable data found in the records, of which there can be no doubt, that Perquimans County possesses one of the richest fields of investigation in the State of North Carolina. The State of Virginia has yielded, much interesting matter, leading up to the settlement of Perquimans, and many marriages between residents of that mother State and the immigrants coming to the new country of Carolina. The Quaker records in Lower Monthly Meeting, Isle of Wight, Burleigh, and other meetings in Virginia, teem with marriages of Quakers who came to Perquimans. They also give other very important items of interest, which I have endeavored to weave into this history, thereby making a more complete record. Much credit should be given the kind ladies in the Archives, Richmond, Va., for their patience and material aid in the undertaking; also Mrs. Nugent of the Land Office, Richmond, Va., who, through one whole week rendered her time and sweet interest to the success of my searchings, in her office, for which I feel the greatest gratitude and appreciation. Of the county officers in Virginia, who have always been courtesy itself, I shall always have the highest esteem. Nowhere I am sure can one go and find a readier welcome, or more willing assistance in any individual, or official, undertaking. This work represents years of untiring labor, trips to various counties in Virginia, days spent in Guilford College, for Quaker data, and over a year's work on the Perquimans records. I think I can say without egotism, that I am well acquainted with Perquimans County, from the beginning to the present day. And yet there is much more that ought to be done to make this work complete. One person could not in justice to the wonderful storehouse of information contained in the records here, make a finished job of them alone. So it is my earnest hope that a younger person, with enthusiasm and love for his, or her, native county, will take up the work where I am leaving off, and carry it through to a more satisfactory end. My work only takes these grand records to and through the Revolutionary period, and much of interest could be added. Perquimans has sent out to the four winds, sons and daughters who have helped to make history in other parts of the world. Some have elected to remain and make history in their own little domain. Chief among these have been General William Skinner of Revolutionary fame, and Congressman T. G. Skinner, who spent a useful and efficient life in our county, and lies buried in the Episcopal Cemetery in Hertford, beloved and honored by all. This work is in a way a supplement to Grimes' North Carolina Wills, a book of wide circulation and well established integrity; and Mr. J. R. B. Hathaway's grand contribution to the history of our country at large, the North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, also a work of renown, both found in all large libraries, in probably every State in the Union. My efforts are sent out with an earnest desire to help somebody. If if does not accomplish this wish, then I have failed in the most strenuous work of a lifetime. Errors may be herein found, for which I crave leniency, but no stone has been left unturned to come at the truth, sometimes, however, not so clear as to be positively certain. In such cases I have tried to always use the doubtful phrase, "thought to be" or "probably," so as to print nothing misleading. It is not possible to find all that is necessary to fill out everything in a work of this kind, but my efforts have been ceaseless and untiring in that direction, though sometimes without avail. My purpose to faithfully reproduce the records of the past has forbidden me to "spell out" abbreviations. I have adhered to the rule that it is best to let the records speak for themselves. To the Perquimans officials great credit is due, from the fact that they have given me free use of everything contained in the two offices, and turned over the "loose papers," a very valuable collection, for my unmolested inspection, for a month or more. Those papers are now securely stored and protected by fireproof rooms in the North Carolina Hall of History, where they can be seen by any one searching for data. The custodians of this institution are all that could be wished for in courtesy and consideration. The history of Perquimans is the child of my declining years, and when it is launched on the world, I will feel that it is my last effort, and will send it out hoping for a welcome from the public, and with a sincere desire that it may accomplish its purpose, by being of undying service to posterity. The matter following was checked and gone over by the author many times before releasing it for publication. Perquimans is of Indian origin, and means "Land of fair women." Very sincerely yours, Ellen Goode Winslow Hertford, March, 1931. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF PERQUIMANS COUNTY As Compiled from Records Found There and Elsewhere Abstracts of Deeds from 1681 through the Revolution—Petitions, Dir-visions, and Marriages Found in Perquimans and Adjacent Counties —A brief Summary of the Settling of Perquimans, with the hind and manner of settlers—Two Maps, One of the Old Order, and, One a Present Day Map—Illustrations of a Few Old Residences and Several More Modern Ones. BY MRS. WATSON WINSLOW Raleigh, North Carolina: Edwards & Broughton, 1931. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/perquimans/history/1931/historyo/frontmat125gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb