Randolph County, NC - Petitions - 1785 & 1788 Randolph County, NC, Petitions 1785 and 1788 The following two petitions dating from the late 1780s and listing many male residents of Randolph County, NC, in the late 1780s have been of great value to genealogists in identifying not only many heads of households living in the new county, but also many unmarried males, some of whom I believe had not reached their majority when they signed the petitions. The petitions followed within 10 years the formation in 1779 of Randolph County, which before being formed consisted of the southern third of Guilford County, Guilford in turn having been stricken off Orange County in 1771. The two petitions to the North Carolina State Assembly ensued from dissatisfaction by the county residents signing the first petition, about 1785, with the location of the county courthouse and other county government activities in the northeastern part of the new county. Location of the seat of government at such a great distance from residents in the south part required them to spend more than a day reaching the seat of government, attempting to conduct their business there during daytime hours, and returning home. This petition, containing 331 names, asked that the courthouse, jail, stocks (punishment and confinement devices), and other governmental operations be moved to the center of the county. On the other hand, most of those living in or near the area where court and other county business was transacted preferred that the seat of government remain where it was in the northeastern location, and they, in turn presented a second petition in 1788 with 360 names to theState Assembly urging that the courthouse not be moved. After consideration for several years amidst political maneuvering by both factions, the State Assembly finally acted to relocate the courthouse to a site near the center of the county, where the new court held its first session on Wednesday, 12 June 1793. The new site was named Asheborough -- now Asheboro -- after Samuel Ashe, North Carolina governor from 1795 to 1798. The two petitions were found among the papers of the State Assembly in the 1970s, and an excellent article appeared in the Journal of the Randolph County Genealogical Society in the fall of 1978-79 under the authorship of Mac Whatley (Lowell McKay) Jr., of Asheboro, describing the background of and the political considerations that attended the actions which ended with the relocation of the county seat. Two matters about the petitions are of concern to genealogy. The first is that there are a number of duplicate names, most resulting from the actions of two militia commanders signing the names of the members of their company to the second petition “by consent,” a number of these 155 residents having already signed the first petition. The second is that the names of several members of a family sometimes appear to be in the same handwriting, and includes household members who are known from placing their “marks” on deeds and other sworn documents to have been unable to sign their own names; but their names nevertheless attest to their presence in Randolph County at the time. 1785 Petition To the Honourable the Gennerall Assembly for the State of North Carolina The Petition of the Inhabitance of Randolph County Humbly Sheweth That a Number of them Labour at a Great Disadvantage in Attending on Public Meetings Owing to the Place Whare the Coarte is held being so fare from the Center of the said County We your Humble Petitioners Beg that your Honourable Boddy Would Pass an Act Directing that Commishoners be Appointed for the Purpose of Centering the Said County & Erecting the Publick Buildings At or Neare the Center of the Said County and We your Petitioners are Ever Bound to Pray etc. Richard BIRD Jas. (x) MALLETT Richard BEAN William BIRD Jas. (x) LATHEM Junr. Peter VONKANNEN Nimrod BREWER Wm. (x) READESenr. Asel DOLLERHIDE Thos. MULLINS ______ POWERS Senr. Wm. VONKANNEN Nathaniel MULLIN Aaron HILL George TRIPITT Arther READE Arther READE Junr. Daniel PRESNALL Bird POWERS Isaac COX Wm. WRIGHT Wm. RAINS Thoms. CARTER Jno. LUCAS John RAINS Henry CRAVEN Uriah WRIGHT Jesse PITTS Jno. WILLIAMSON Peter VONKANNEN Jas. WILSON Henry BROWN George TUCKER Wm. TEAGUE Wm. NEEDHAM Thos. TUCKER Magnass TEAGUE Math. DEATON Jas. TUCKER Isaac REDFARN Eldrig DEATON Jno. TUCKER John RUSTAIN Benjamin WILLIAMS Jno. TUCKER Abreham HAMMER Wm. (x) READE Junr. Jno. HARVEY Joseph ROUTH Joseph BOOKOUT Michael HARVEY Jerremiah MULLIN Marmen (x) BOOKOUT George DOLLERHIDE Peter CRAVEN Charles BOOKOUT Wm. DAVIS Thoms. CRAVEN Wm. RICHARDS Jno. LATHEM Jacob ROUTH Wm. DITTO (RICHARDS) Wm. LATHEM Edward ROUTH Jno. COX Jacob MOSER James Allred Shadreik Ditto (COX) Johnson KING Junr. Aaron Hopkins Francis CHANEY Junr. Wm. BEAN Mosses DIFFEY Saml. HENDRIX Thos. KING Sollamon TROGDON Wm. YORK Obediah HUDSON John AVERY Joseph HENDRIX Christian LUTHER John TROGDON John HODGEN Saml. REED Moses HOPKINS Abreham TAYLOR Jno. REED Samuel WALKER Wm. (x) KENDELEE Nat. TUCKER John DUNCAN Emanuel ASSBELL Senr. Mikhel BOLLIN Dennis HOPKINS Howell BREWER Senr. Jno. STEED Josiah HOPKINS Jas. PRESNALL Charles BOLLIN Dennis HOPKINS Richard COXE Drury RICHESON Charles DUNCAN Joseph LEWALLING Christopher ETHERTON William SWORFORD William HARVEY Jno. ROLLIN Jacob LOWDERMACK Joseph WRIGHT Calob COXE John LOWDERMACK Richard GRAVES Ben. BLAND John LOWDERMACK Junr. George LUCAS Vachel HANDCOCK Philop LOWDERMACK George TUCKER Jno. HANDCOCK Flourance TAYLOR Johnson KING Senr. Jno. BOLLIN Junr. Windsor PEARCE Wm. RICHESON Jon CARMAN Joseph HIX Wm. HARVEY Daniel COX Arther SMITH Mark COLE Joseph BROWN Michall ANDRESS Jno. WILLIAMS Sm. RATLIFF Jas. LEDFORD Wm. PRESNALL Amos RATLIFF Jno. HASE Jeremiah OZIER Bury THOMSON Wm. MALLETT Wm. TUCKER Michail HARVEY Jno. WILLIAMS Junr. David CRANFORD Peter KING Mathew COLE Lanerd CRANFORD _____NEADOM John HARVEY Finch CARTER John HOLLOWDAY Daniel PRESNALL Elis CRANFORD Thos. LUCAS Stephen PRESNALL Eleven? CRANFORD Isaac WILLIAMS Michail HARVEY Senr. William CRANFORD Wm. LUCAS Michael HARVEY Junr. William CRANFORD Wm. PITMAN Jesse HARVEY Samuel CRANFORD John CONNER John HARVEY Charles HOPKINS Johnson KING Jasper CUNCE Thomas HARDEST ER Jas. PITMAN John KEARNS Sammul HOPKINS Matthew COLE Isac KEARNS Thomas TOLBORD John GRAVES Silas KEARNS George HAREGROVE William GRAVES John BALEY William HANAH Nathaniel TUCKER Joshua COX Richard BEAN Will. BLAND Thos. COX William QUEEN Moses BLAND Henry RAMSOWERS John SUGG Rolle SPINKS John HENLEY Thomas RANDOL John PEARCE Nathan COX James RANDOL John READ Miles GLASGO Thomas RANDOL John SPIVEY William Cole Junr. Richard FINCHER William SEARCY Stephen HUSSEY John AVERY? Joseph CARR Christopher HUSSEY Thos. WILLIAMS Wm. ARGO Thos. CASTELO ______ WILLIAMS Robt. CARR Benj. COX Jorg WILLIAMS John DEATON James GOODWIN Thomas BRUCKSHER Isack KORNEDY Paule ENGLE Samuel PICKET Archebol McNORTON Moses HAMMON John HOPSON Moses GEORGE Jno. HAMMON ______ CAGLE Charles Gery James SCOT Stephan PRESNALL John PUTMON Danul SCOT Morgan EDWARDS Gidethon MACON Will. COX John SCOT Jas. BOWDON Jeremiah COX Jon RICHESON Howel BREWER Jno. COX Moses HAMMONS William BOWDON Wm. LATHEM Jno. Needham John SPINKS Christor. (x) ASSBELL William SMOTHERMAN Lewis SPINKS Isaac BREWER Benjamin READER Garrto SPINKS Reuben BREWER Jno. LAURENCE Enoch SPINKS John SMITH Moses GEORGE Matthew HAMILTON Wm. (x) COLYER Senr. Cornelias LATHRAM John LONDON Wm. (x) COLYER Junr. Thos. COST Sen. William READ John PRESNELL Thos. COST Junr. William CONSTAND Jorg POWER Jas. LATHAM Senr. John COSTAND Maning BRUCKSHER Johnson LATHAM Adam ANDREWS Jacob SKEEN Wm. LAURENCS David ANDREWS Jonathan EDWARDS Jesse KING Charles STEWART Jos. WADE Joseph ___DSON Derias MASH William BRUCKSHER Abr. PRESNALL W. DUSKIN William LACEY John JOHNSON John DUNCAN John AMICK Linsey BELL Nehemiah ODELL Hardeman PORCHS Wm. BELL William TROGDON Isaac ODELL David (x) POWERS Jshua KINWORTHEY George JULEN Jesse COMBER Abram HAMONS Enock BERREY Thos. WADDILL Balam HALSY Edwd. JONES John NEEDHAM Senr. Thomas COCKS Wm. DAVIS William SMOTHERMAN William COX William PEARCE Benjamin READOR Ws.? Ths.? KINWORTHY Dennis (x) CARPENDER John LAURANCE Abram WILLIAMS David (x) ANDREWS Junr. Thoms. (x) COST Senr. Nathanial COX Nathan HORNADY Thoms. (x) COST Junr. Jesey HAMONS William CAULL Wm. SMITH Samuel BROWN Jas. POWERS John COCKS Wm. BROWN Daniel BEDSALL 1788 Petition To the Honourable the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina The Petition of Sundry Inhabitants of Randolph Couny humbly Sheweth that a good Court House Prison Pillory & Stocks have been lately Erected at the Cross Roads, in, and for the use of, the said County; That Some people however Seem to be dissatisfied therewith & perhaps may send a petition to the Assembly, to get the Said Publick Buildings removed, or in other words, to Cause a new Set to be Erected at some other place; We Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the may be continued at the Cross Roades; and we further pray that an Act of Assembly be passed to lay of & Establish a Town at the said Cross Roades, and Your Petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall ever pray etc. Robert BRATTAN Joseph JACKSON John LOWE Joseph SMITH John MURDOCK Christ. NATION Phillip RODY Joseph CURTIS James DUNBAR Bartho. GROGAN Benjamin MEANS Amor DAVIS Isac ROBINS Sen. Christopher NATION Mathew McFETRIDGE Jacob HOOVER Abram NATION Daniel FERREE Edw. BEESON Daniel HOOVER Saml. ALEXANDER James SMITH Isaac RIGHT Abram. ELIOTT Stepn. ALEXANDER Wm. ALEXANDER George MOORE John HUSBANDS George YOUNT Isrel ELIOTT John SMITH Subal YORK James BAIN John THOMPSON Simor YORK Wm. ELIOTT George ALEXANDER Wm. RIDGE Joseph CLARK Wm. ALEXANDER Wm. ROBINS Wm. COLTRAIN John JOHNSON Dan MERREL Nathl. KERR John McDAID Jos. ELIOTT Saml. ELIOTT Silas WORTH Wm. WILSON John LOVE Ser. Frank. DOLLERHIDE Jacob VARNOR Elija MOLLEY Joseph LAIN Jacob KEEVIT John WHITE, Insign Wm. MATHEWS Solomon EVINS John SWIFT Malcom CAMMEL Francis FRAZUR James Fruit John EAMICK Hugh BLARE Evin HARRIS Wm. WILSON Henry JOHNSON George WRIGHT James ROUTH Eli BURGESS John ALLREAD George BLACK John HUSBAND Elias SWIFT John ALDREG William GRAY John DUNCAN Wm. BURGESS John SPENCER Charles DUNCAN John FRAISURE Samuel Clark Wm. YORK Saml. STOUT Moses Robines Semor YORK Antheny RAINS Robert GRAY Jesse STROUD John WALKER Joseph JOHNSTON John STROUD Eli LOLLAR James CURTES Stiphen LEWIS Robert WILKERSON Thomas WHITE Thos. GARNOR Jacob ROUTH Andrew MEANS Wm. BARKER James FRAZURE Andrew McPHEETERS Hugh GAVIN John CAMPBELL John HILL Wm. SMITH Solomon MOFFETT Nathan LOW Isaac LAIN Ezekiel ALLDREDGE Saml. McFETRIDGE John CRABTREE Absalom McDANIEL David COLTRAIN Wm. SWAFORD John Burgess Joshua CURTIS Raney JULIN Peter KEEVIT Joseph ROBINS Solomon LONG Edmond YORK William BRATTAIN Semor YORK Edmnond HAYS James YORKE Junr. Isaac YORK John LOLLAR Wm. MILLIKAN Shubel JULIN Jacob STEALY Edward GRAY Thos BENSON Jas. MOFFETT Thomas SHARP Isaac ODEL John LINEBURY Pephere? BRYAN Amos COX Dobson BURROW (Petter?) Archebel HOPPER Michael BEECK Isaac SNOW Jas. BOTSFORD Jeffre BECK Ebenezer SNOW John ALLREAD son of John Adam BROWER Conaway STONE William ALLREAD Jur. Jacob WATSON Isaac ELDERS Solomon TROGDON Jones BURROW John ELDERS John TROGDON Abraham LANE John STILES Robert WALKER Wm. DAVIS Abner LOE Samuel WALKER of Wm. Peter STOUT William BAILEY Wm. COOD Wm. WILLIAMS Thomas HILL Tobias MOSER Henry GARNER William FAGAN Samuel Walker son of Sol. Wm. COX Clement WOOD Ezekiel WELBURN John BARKER William THORNBERY Joseph McLAIN Abraham McDANIEL Edward CLARK John WILBORN David CHAPLAN William SWIGERT John JONES Alexander CAMPBEL Phinehas HUNT Joh- HUTSON Evin LOLLAR Marmaduke VICKERY Jas. PUGH Wm. Mc GOUNE John DENNIS Wm. HUSBANDS Balaam BURROW Enos BLEAIR John HUSBANDS John CLAP R. McLAIN, Capt. James McCOLLUM John MILLAR Thos. SWIFT, Liut. John GRIMES Isaac McDANIEL Cristen MORRICE John DAFREN John AVERY John CHANEY John CHAMBERS Stephen JONES John WHITE Junr. Signed by the Consent of My Company by Me, R. McLEAN, Capt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thanks again to Harold Hopkins for this contribution! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogy information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must contact the submitter or the listed USGenWeb archivist.