JONAS AND MERCY BEDFORD ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Debbie Fowler USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free 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 cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Return to the NCGenWeb Archives Table of Contents http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm#NC ************************************************************************ From the Taylor and McCurry Genealogy, written 1937, by Judge Wilson A. Taylor, St. Louis, Mo. pages 142-153 Portion that is included in the manuscript....on Jonas and Mercy Bedford JONAS AND MERCY BEDFORD None of the Bedfords are akin to the Taylors or McCurrys or to William Wat Hunt, the father of Elizabeth Hunt, who married Joseph Taylor, our grandfather, except where descendants of the Bedfords intermarried with the Taylors. The name Bedford is one of the finest old English names in history. The Earls and Dukes of Bedford, of which there were thirteen, had much to do with the making and moulding of English progress. In America the name Bedford is honored, in English settled communities, by fifteen states, with a city named Bedford, and Massachusetts has a New Bedford. Jonas Bedford was not of this royalty but was of the lay Bedfords, of whom there were many in England from whence he came. He attained some distinction as a trained soldier, maybe an officer in the British Army, but this attainment also gave him some trouble, hereafter stated. I could not obtain the date of his birth or death but have facts by which they may be determined approximately. His will, set out presently, was written May 5, 1820. It was probated in 1823. He died between those dates, I will say 1822. In 1779 he sold a tract of land, hereafter re-ferred to, in the deed of which it is stated that the tract was patented by Jonas Bedford in 1764. He was undoubtedly of legal age at that time. I will say 23, placing his birth in 1741. This would fix his age at 81 when he died, and this would not miss his age very far. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Tryon County, antedating in age Absolem Hunt, born in 1760, and William Wat Hunt, born in 1770, by 19 and 29 years, respectively. Tryon County took in all the Western part of North Carolina until 1779. Jonas Bedford lived on the First Broad River, about 8 or 10 miles below the first Smith McCurry place, and about the same distance east of the First Broad Baptist Church in Rutherford County. The given name of his wife was Mercy. He was the grandfather of Elizabeth Bedford who married Elijah Hunt, a son of Absolem Hunt. When the American Revolution of 1776 was approaching, he was a justice of the peace in Tryon County, and the court records at Rutherfordton mention his name frequently. By reason of his position as justice of the peace, at the beginning of the Revolution he became a member of the Committee of Safety, which assumed all civil authority for the first eighteen months of the Revolution. In connection with his appointment to this Committee of Safety, I found in the Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, the following official act: page 143 "North Carolina State Records, Volume 10, Page 120. Minutes of a meeting of the Freeholders in Tryon County, North Carolina." "North Carolina Tryon County. Pursuant to Notice. At a meeting of the Freeholders of the County of Tryon at the Court House of said County on the 26th day of July, 1775, in order to elect a committee for said County, the following persons were chosen to wit: For Captain McKinney's Company, John McKinney and Jonas Bedford." He was evidently expelled from the Committee of Safety later, as his name does not appear after the first few months of the proceedings of the Committee. Presumably his return to England was the reason for his removal. As stated above Jonas Bedford had some status in the British Army when the Revolution came on. Before the Revolution, England was his country and that of everyone else who lived here. He was called to duty in the army of his country and returned to England to serve. When the war closed he was banished from this country for seven years because of his activities against it. During his absence, the Legislature of North Carolina enacted the following Act, which I also found in the Library of the Daughter of the American Revolution in Washington: "An act for the relief of Mercy Bedford, and to vest in the heirs of Jonas and Mercy Bedford the landed estate of the said Jonas Bedford. "Whereas it has been made to appear to the satisfaction of the Gen-eral Assembly of the State of North Carolina, that Jonas Bedford, formerly of the County of Rutherford in this state, did, in the year 1780, abandon his said wife, Mercy Bedford, and her children by joining the British Army, with whom the said Jonas did leave the states and has not yet returned, leaving his said wife and children in very great distress; and as it is reasonable and just, that the real and personal estate of the said Jonas Bedford should be appropriated to the payment of his debts, and to the use and support of his wife and children: "I. Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same; that the said Mercy Bedford be enabled and empowered to sell the personal estate of the said Jonas Bedford and to col-lect the debts due to her said husband, together with the said personal estate or amount thereof, to the support of herself and children. 144 "II. And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the heirs of the said Jonas and Mercy Bedford, be and they are hereby vested with absolute right in fee simple, of and to all the landed estate of the said Jonas Bedford, in as full and ample a manner as they could have been by a deed of gift to them for the same from their said father, Jonas Bedford." Passed December 29, 1785. North Carolina State Records, Volume 34, Pages 761 and 762. After remaining away from this country for seven years, he returned to his family, and was thereafter elected by the people a member of the House of Commons from Rutherford County, that is, the lower house of the state legislature, for three terms of one year each - two being elected from each county - in 1795, 1796 and 1797. The legislature was established in 1776 by the Constitution and was modeled after the British Parliament. He was also County Trustee from April 1798 to January 1801. The duties of the Trustee were not comprehensive. They were ap-pointed by the justices of the county court and the term of office was one year. The compensation was small and the office was neither attrac-tive nor remunerative. The duty of the trustees was to receive all monies collected from the sheriff, county collector and others, and pay out the same as ordered by the County Justices. After Jonas Bedford came to North Carolina, land could be gotten by patent from the King of England prior to the Revolution, for fifty shillings per 100 acres, and after the Revolution from the State of North Carolina for $5.00 per 100 acres, this sum being equivalent to fifty shillings, English money. His notion, it seems, was to acquire land, hold it a while, maybe improve it a little, and then sell it at a profit. The records at Rutherfordton show that he entered eighteen different tracts of land and acquired sixteen different tracts by pur-chase. In an alphabetical index to record book A. D., the first eleven transfers to persons whose name began with the letter "B" were made to Jonas Bedford. This shows that he had acquired eleven tracts of land before any other person in the county whose name began with a "B" had acquired any. The eleven transfers were as follows: Grantor Book Page Grantee George Winters AD 172 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 371 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 373 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 372 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 372 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 373 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 374 Jonas Bedford George Winters AD 377 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 378 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 378 Jonas Bedford State of N. C. AD 379 Jonas Bedford 145 Extracts from the first two deeds indexed follow: 1783 April 7th "George Winters to Jonas Bedford x x x land on a branch of Floyd's Creek of Broad River, patented by said George Winters Oct 27, 1774, x x x consideration 150 pounds, etc." 1779 "North Carolina to Jonas Bedford, County of Tryon, fifty shillings for every 100 acres. It is hereby conveyed to Jonas Bedford one hundred acres lying in Tryon County." "In testimony whereof, we have caused our great seal to be hereunto affixed. "Richard Caswell, Esq., our Governor, Captain, General and Commander-in-Chief at Kingston, the 13th of August, in the fourth year of our independence, and in the year of our Lord 1779, by his Excellency came." The following are excerpts from some of the deeds made by Jonas Bedford 1796 "Jonas Bedford to John Melton, Dec 8, 1796 in the year of our independence, land on First Broad River, patented by Jonas Bedford Oct 28, 1782." Note: This John Melton was John Martin Melton I, the grand-father of John Martin Melton III, who married Olivine Taylor, father's sister. He acquired this land from Jonas Bedford shortly before he came to Rutherford County. He is spoken of in the story of Olivine[Taylor]. 1779 Jonas Bedford to George Williams July 28, 1779, deed of re-lease, consideration 150 pounds. Richard Ledbetter) Wit Jonas Bedford William Ledbetter) 1790 Jonas Bedford to James Murray, quit claim deed. Deed signed by Jonas Bedford and Mercy Bedford, his wife. Her name is not mentioned in the body of the deed. 1794 Jonas Bedford and Mercy Bedford Aug 8, 1794 to John Jones - 200 acres for 50 pounds - which land was granted to Jonas Bedford by patent. 1779 Jonas Bedford to William Hawkins of Hallifax City, Va., April 24, 1779, a tract of land for 1100 pounds, patented to Jonas Bedford in 1764. 1789 Jonas Bedford and Mercy Bedford his wife Dec 3, 1789, to Thomas West of Lincoln County "200 acres of land on the east side of Breyer Creek above the ford, for 240 pounds. Current money." Note: There were a total of twenty tracts of land sold by Jonas Bedford shown by the records. There is one conveyance to, and one conveyance by Raymond Bed-ford, son of Jonas Bedford: 1819 North Carolina to Raymond Bedford July 17, 1819, by patent, for 200 acres in the County of Rutherford, on the south side of the Second Broad River for Ten ($10.00) per acre. 1792 Raymond Bedford to William Webb, 640 acres February 5, 1792 for sixty pounds, 640 acres, patented by Raymond Bedford October 1, 1783 on Ashworth Creek of Second Broad River about a mile above James Bedford's entry. Conveyances made by Jonas Bedford, Jr., a son of Jonas Bedford 1797 Jonas Bedford, Jr., "to John McTaggard January 12, 1797, 300 acres for 400 pounds on Cane Creek, a branch of Ward's Creek of First Little Broad River." Note: This place is two miles from the first Smith McCurry place. 1802 Jonas Bedford, Jr., to Zachriah Sullens July 14, 1802 for sixty pounds "lands which had been granted to Jonas Bedford, Jr., December 11, 1790." Note: There were 10 transfers to or from Jonas Bedford, Jr. The name of Stephen Bedford appears in the record the first time October 23, 1813 in the following deed: 1813 Stephen Bedford to Benjamin Grayson, October 23, 1813 "land on First Broad River x x x some of it patented by Stephen Bedford November 24, 1809. William Grayson' 5 corner - Absolem Hunt's corner - by John Melton," are names used in the description. Note: This was part of the place where Stephen Bedford lived when his daughter Elizabeth married Elijah Hunt. 147 1817 John Queen to Stephen Bedford March 6, 1817 (same date as below), "150 acres Tryon County (now Rutherford) patented by Moon in 1775 for $1000 on First Broad River." 1817 Stephen Bedford to Catherine Hunt March 6, 1817 "140.acres on First Broad River, patented in 1775 in Tryon County, land granted to Stephen Bedford by John Queen." R. H. Taylor corner mentioned in the description. R. H. Taylor ) Witnesses Prudence Towery) 1817 Andrew Taylor to Stephen Bedford November 6, 1817, '1give grant bargain and sell, enfeoff, alien, convey and confirm x x x on the waters of the First Broad River on Lisenberry's Mountain, one hundred acres for eighty dollars, etc." Note: This place is now known as the old Robert Taylor place (not our kin). It is about two miles down the river from the First Broad Baptist Church. Joseph Taylor's place reached the west side of Lisenberry's Mountain. 1820 Stephen Bedford and William Hunt, Sr., August 14, 1820, deed to Elijah Blankenship, Christian Mooney, debtor for sum of seventy dollars. Land on First Little Broad River. H. Taylor's corner mentioned in description. 1824 Stephen Bedford and William Hunt, Sr., August 7, 1824 by sheriff's deed to William Hunt, Jr., purchaser July 15, 1824. Elijah Blankenship, creditor $119.00, 162 acres. William Hunt, Jr., by John Waters became the highest bidder for $126.00. Joseph Grayson and Isaac Grayson's land are mentioned in the description. Conveyances made by James Bedford a son of Stephen Bedford and a brother of Elizabeth Bedford who married Elijah Hunt 1845 James Bedford and Mary (Polly) Bedford his wife whose maiden name was Bridges, and others, heirs to the Bridges estate May 12, 1845 convey to Anderson Bridges their interest in "land on Sandy River, a branch of First Broad River". Blankenship's line mentioned in description. Note: There were two or three transfers to or from James Bedford, brother of Elizabeth Bedford who married Elijah Hunt. Conveyances by Joseph Bedford a son of Stephen Bedford and a brother of Elizabeth Bedford who married Elijah Hunt 1846 Joseph Bedford to James Bridges October 28, 1846 "135 acres on one prong of Sandy. Run, for $450.00". Joseph Bedford Her Mary X Bedford Mark 1859 Joseph Bedford to John McIntyre August 6, 1859, 80 acres on the Second Broad River. Note: There were six transfers to or from Joseph Bedford, a brother of Elizabeth Bedford who married Elijah Hunt. Other transfers of real estate by the Bedfords 1856 Nancy Bedford in 1856 filed a petition in court for admeasurement of dower in the estate of her husband, Peter Bedford. She named John Bedford, Sarah Bedford, Malinda Bedford, James Bedford and Mary Bedford as heirs of Peter Bedford. Samuel McFarland and James McFarland were two of the twelve commissioners appointed. They set off dower and gave balance of land to above heirs. 1883 Jonas Seth Bedford III and wife Caroline Lattimore November 25, 1883 to Mount Olive Church four acres for $4.00. Note: Jonas Seth Bedford is now remembered in North Carolina. He was born about 1848 and died about 1930. He is thought to be Jonas III. He and his wife went to Texas about 1905 or 1910. He returned here without his wife and lived with the Lattimores, her people. 1890 Jonas Bedford and J. G. Bostic, February 3, 1890 - Deed of fore-closure to J. M. Glover. The deed of trust was purchased from Bostic by Jonas Bedford. Signed: Jonas Bedford Bostic 1902 Jonas and Caroline Bedford, his wife, September 27, 1902 to J. L. Francis, Oklahoma City, 36 1/2 acres for $100.00. 1904 J. S. Bedford and L. J. Bedford, his wife to A. H. McDanial, March 2,1904 for $100.00, 52 acres. J. S. Bedford Her L. J. X Bedford Mark l49~ CHILDREN OF JONAS AND MERCY BEDFORD The children of Jonas and Mercy Bedford, born between 1762 and 1785, were as follows: 1. Unice Bedford, married Lyles. [David] 2. Raymond Bedford. 3. Jonas Bedford, married Anna Pool, September 26, 1805. Richardson performed the ceremony or signed the bond. children were: a. John Bedford, born in 1841. (sic) b. Jonas Bedford, born in 1848. (Sic) 4. Stephen Bedford. Children of Stephen Bedford: a. Elizabeth Bedford, born May 18th, 1805, died September 1890. She married Elijah Hunt in North Carolina. He was born June 15, 1799. b. James Bedford, married Mary Rodney Bridges in North Carolina. They immigrated to Texas. C. Joseph Bedford, married Nancy Elliot, August 25, 1829. Abraham Byers performed the ceremony. They immigrated to Arkansas. d. Catharine Bedford, married, had a daughter named Rebecca who married a Williams. e. Stephen had another daughter who married James White. 5. Elizabeth Bedford, married Byers. 6. Rebecca Bedford, married William Wat Hunt. CENSUS OF THE BEDFORDS Census 1790 Morgan District, 9th Company, Rutherford County, N.C. Jonas Bedford: two males 16 and up; two females under 16. Census 1790 Morgan District, 9th Company, Rutherford County, N.C. Raymond Bedford: one male 16 and up; one female 16 and up; two females including heads of families. Census 1820 Rutherford County, N. C. Martha Bedford: one male under 10; two males between 18 and 26; one female between 16 and 26; one female over 45; two engaged in agriculture. Census 1840 Rutherford County, N.C. 1025 James Bedford: one male between 30 and 40; one female between 20 and 30. Census 1840 Rutherford County, N. C. 1026 Peter Bedford: one male child under 5; one male child between 20 and 30; one female between 15 and 20. Census 1850 Sandy Run, Rutherford County, N.C. 1211-1242 Born Age Occupation Real Estate Where Born Joseph Bedford 1802 48 Farmer $300 N. C. Mary Bedford 1804 46 N.C Census 1850 Duncan's Creek, County of Rutherford, N.C. 1584-1634 Born Age Occupation Real Estate Where born Jonas Bedford 1805 45 farmer $2000 N.C. Margaret Bedford 1820 30 N.C. Jonas Bedford 1848 2 N.C. Census 1860 Rutherford County, N.C., W. S. Hill, Asst. Marshal 170-170 Born Age Occupation Real Est. Persl. Born Jonas Bedford 1805 55 Farmer $1800 $10,000 N.C. Margaret Bedford 1820 40 N. C. John Bedford 1841 19 Student N. C. Jonas Seth Bedford 1848 12 N. C. Note: Jonas Bedford in above census married Margaret Sweezy, March 14, 1837. Census August 20, 1850 Cleveland County, N. C. 427-427 Born Age Where Born Father Born Mother Born Elizabeth S. Bedford 1815 35 N. C. N.C. N.C. Nancy Bedford 1836 14 N. C. N. C. N.C. Mary Bedford 1838 12 N. C. N. C. N.C. Martha Bedford 1840 10 N. C. N. C. N C. Joseph Bedford 1842 8 N. C. N. C. N. C. Seth Bedford 1844 6 N. C. N. C. N. C. Elizabeth Bedford 1845 5 N. C. N. C. N. C. Lavinia Bedford 1847 3 N. C. N. C. N. C. Census 1860 Rutherford County, N.C., W. S. Hill, Asst. Marshal 172-172 Born Age Real Estate Persl. Prop where born Nancy Bedford 1815 45 $500 $1000 N.C. Malinda Bedford 1853 7 N.C. Hamby Philbeck 1835 25 N.C. Census June 1880 Golden Valley TWP. Rutherford County, N.C. 59-59 Born Age Occupation born father born mother born James Bedford 1848 32 farmer N.C. N.C. N.C. Caroline Bedford 1854 26 keeping house N.C. N.C.. WILL OF JONAS BEDFORD I April 1823 Term of Court. (Copied from Will Book D, Pages 10-11) In the name of God, Amen. I, Jonas Bedford, of Rutherford County, State of North Carolina, Planter, in perfect health of body & of perfect mind & memory, thanks be given unto God; calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, that is to say principally & first of all, I give and recommend my soul un-to the Hand of Almighty God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the direction of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall re-ceive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, dispose, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form: First, I give and bequeath to Unice Lyles, my dearly beloved daughter, all debts, dues or demands, also all lands that prove to be my property & provided the debts & land is recovered I give to my son Raymond Bed-ford five Pounds. Likewise I give to my son Jonas Bedford five Pounds, Also I give to my son Stephen Bedford five Pounds, also I give to my daughter Elizabeth Byars one hundred dollars and to my daughter Rebecca Hunt one hundred dollars. And I do hereby constitute, make and ordain the Sole Executors of this my last will and testament David Lyles and Thomas Lyles, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and Exec-utors by me in anyways before named, willed & bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set- my hand and seal this Fifth day of May, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty & forty-fifth year of the Independence of America. Jonas Bedford (Seal) Signed, sealed, published, pronounced & declared by the said Jonas Bedford as his last will and testament in presence of us, Andrew Shurer John Lyles l5~ WILL OF JONAS BEDFORD II a son of Jonas Bedford I Jonas Bedford ) Will M. Bedford Dr. V. J. Palmer) ) Know all men by these presents that I Jonas Bedford of the county of Rutherford & State of North Caro-lina Being of sound mind and Memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament as follows, First after paying all my just debts and former expenses - I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Margaret Bedford Eight negros named as follows Oliver & wife, Jim, Charles, Lize, Ann, Mary, Catherine, William, And all my stock of horses mules cattle & hogs & sheep and all the waggons and Buggies that I may have on hand and all the provisions that may be on hand, consisting of corn wheat and Bacon, whether matured or growing and all the money and notes that I may have after paying all my debts as above named, and I also give her all the increase of the above named negroes to do with them all as she may choose, I also give to her all my lands and house-hold & kitchen furniture of every description during her natural life, then to be disposed of as hereafter mentioned. 2nd I give and bequeath to my nephew Jonas Bedford two negroes named, Joe and Fanny, and one horse Bridle and saddle worth one hundred dollars, and I also give him all my lands household and kitchen furniture that is willed to my wife, Margaret at the end of her natural life. 3rd I hereby ordain and ap-point my wife Margaret Bedford and nephew Dr. V. J. Palmer as my Execu-tors of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and published and de-clared this to be my last will & Testament in the presence of the wit-nesses named below this 31st day of March A D 1859. His Jonas X Bedford Mark (Seal) Signed Sealed Published & declared by said Jonas Bedford after his last will & Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto. J. M. Chitwood (Seal) M. E. Norville (Seal)