AFAS Newsletters, A Special Project of the USGenWeb Archives ______________________________________________________________________________ NEW FAMILY RESEARCH ______________________________________________________________________________ ARNOLD NOTES March 6, 2007 Family of William Arnold, Revolutionary War Soldier b 1759 (North Carolina), d 1825 Washington Co., Georgia ______________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Bill Arnold billgaylearnold@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________ This research project is ongoing. I would like to correspond with anyone who might have information about the families included in these notes. Bill billgaylearnold@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My name is William Walter Arnold, Jr. I was born in Selma, Alabama, on August 6, 1934. My parents lived in Demopolis at that time, but the nearest hospital was in Selma. When I was 2 we moved to Dothan. Then in 1940 we moved to Brewton where I grew up. In 1952 I went to college at Auburn, in 1957 to the US Air Force, and in 1960 to Birmingham where I have been ever since. I have no brothers or sisters but many close cousins. The extended family has always been very close. In 1923 my father married my mother, Hattie Mae Merritt, who lived in Henry County on the farm next to his grandparents, "Gimp" and Mary Mourning. When my mother's youngest sister died at age 92 in January, 2006, she was still living on the old Merritt place, and my second cousin, Betty Griggs Ingram, was still living next door on the old Mourning place. On 20 June 1964 Gayle Hermine Malwitz and I were married at Highlands United Methodist Church in Birmingham. We have two children: Kathryn Elizabeth (Katie) Arnold, born 27 March 1970, and Merritt Morgan Arnold, born 20 September 1971. Katie married Steve Shockley in June 2001, and Merritt married Amy Washinger in December 1994. Amy and Merritt have three children: Merritt Morgan, Jr., born 29 August 2000; Cameron Luke, born 2 July 2002; and Sarah Gates (Sadie), born 17 February 2005 Walter Arnold was my father. He was born in Henry County, Alabama, on 20 March 1896. He grew up on a farm near Union Freewill Baptist Church and was one of six brothers and sisters: Eathell, Walter, Gerley, Dewey, C. W., and Zelma. While he was on active duty in the army in World War I he realized the value of an education. So he left the farm, took a job in town (Abbeville) with his Uncle Evitus Moring, went back to high school, and graduated in 1922. After three months at Florence State Teachers College the money ran out, and he moved to Montgomery to work on the railroad with his brother, Dewey. After he and my mother were married he became a traveling salesman and worked for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Federated Insurance Company until he retired. He died 9 September 1975 in Brewton and is buried with my mother in Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham. My grandfather, Curtis Arnold, was born 25 July 1872, also in Henry County. He grew up in his parents’ house on the north side of the road (CR 57) between the Abbey Creek and Union Church about half-way up the hill just above the Abbey. He married Lizzie Mourning 10 July 1892 and worked as a farmer all his life. They lived on the north side of the triangle in the Union community until they moved closer to town in 1939 and lived on a 75-acre farm which is still in the family. He was a loving, but stern, grandfather who loved to play Chinese checkers. Curtis was a strong and faithful member of Union Freewill Baptist Church and is buried with Miss Lizzie in its cemetery. He died 20 December 1957 in Childersburg, Alabama. HENRY COUNTY, ALABAMA I was interested in my family history as far back as 1949 when I asked my grandfather, Curtis Alexander Arnold, on his 77th birthday about his parents, grandparents, and siblings. This is what I wrote down on the back of a few pieces of my father's business stationery: Parents: Mathew Arnold and Celia Farmer Bodiford Grandparents: Arnett Arnold and Mary Mims; Leroy Bodiford and Martha Burns Brothers and their children: Edward Walter ­ who lives in Shorterville William, Raymond, Carrie C. ____, Ila ____, Annie Vera Weaver William Ambrose 3 unknown Henry William Henry Jr., Theresa Wesley _____ Joseph Zacheriah Leroy Sisters and their children: Mary Cornelia Holland Nona Janela Jones, Thomas Matthey H., William Edward H., Katy Roberta Moats, Lorena Adkins, Kitty Clyde_____ Kansas Dorenda Sampson L. A. Sampson, Mary __, Jimmie Sampson, Celia Mae ___ Annie Alameda Murray Gladys Burgess, Maudie Wright, Matthew, Claudia Cook, George Martha Dora Danzey Irene Wilson, Byron D. Artie Missie _____ Ethel Rebekah _____ Also on 25 July 1949 Curtis Alexander Arnold told me the names of the parents, grandparents, and siblings of my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Moring Arnold (He pronounced her maiden name as “Mourning” and it was frequently spelled that way): Parents: Gimp Moring and Mary Kirkland Grandparents: Dred Moring and _____ Spann; Wilson Kirkland and Elizabeth Whiddon Siblings: Wilburn Aileen Griggs Elbert Evitus Mamie Bethune Helms Stancil Artie Missie (Babe) Mims When Lorena Martin Spillers published The Arnold ­ Martin Family History in 1960, my father bought a copy and gave it to me. It has formed the basis for my Arnold family research ever since. In the book Mrs. Spillers states that her father (William Ambrose Martin whose mother was Martha Anne Arnold, daughter of James Arnold of Washington County, Georgia) had given her the number and names of the children in his mother’s family. She further wrote, “James Arnold was the only Arnold in the census of 1820 of Washington Co., who had the number of children whom my father mentioned as being in his mother’s family. He mentioned all his uncles, Arnett, Harrell and James and his aunts, Harriet who married Dempsey Dillard and Julia Anne who married Jordan Miller, but he did not remember the names of the other two. These that he remembered came to Alabama and he heard his mother speak of them more than he did those who remained in Washington County.” This establishes James Arnold of Washington County, Georgia, as my great, great, great grandfather, the father of my grandfather’s grandfather, Arnett Arnold. In the 1840s Arnett, Harrell, and James Arnold and their families moved from Washington County, Georgia, to Henry County, Alabama. They all appear in the 1850 census of Henry County. Harrell (age 43) and his family are also in the 1850 census of Washington County! In fact, Harrell's family is listed twice in Henry County; on one list he is 43 and on the other list he is shown as Arnett, age 40 (his children’s ages also vary.) Arnett is shown as 45 and James is shown as 36. Mrs. Spillers says they were born in 1805, 1807, and 1812, which would make them 45, 43, and 38, respectively. All three say they were born in North Carolina. In the 1850 listing of Arnett’s family there are two glaring errors: son Harrell is listed as female Hariett age 6 and son Mathew (my ggrandfather) is listed as female Martha age 4! Also, in the 1850 census Arnett’s son Ambrose is shown as 9 years old, born in Georgia; son Harrell is shown as 6, born in Alabama. Harrell’s son Jordon is listed as both 3 and 6, born in Georgia, and his son David Henry is shown as 6 months old, born in Alabama. Both of James’ children, William and Permelia, 2 and 1 respectively, were born in Alabama. Mrs. Spillers shows all children born in or after 1841 as being born in Henry County, Alabama, and this may be correct. In any case we know from church records in the Abbeville library that Arnett and Mary Arnold were already active in a Primitive Baptist Church in Henry County in February of 1844. This church was named The Church of Christ at Shiloh and was located at the Three Cornered Pond. (We have not yet located the Three Cornered Pond!) Of course, it is possible that the three families did not move at the same time, but we also know that census records can’t always be trusted. In the 1860 census Arnett is gone (Spillers: d. Nov. 1851; but note that records say that he bought land in 1852), and Mary is head of household with 7 children at home. Arnett’s son Mathew is now 13 (b. 13 Sept 1847). Harrell is 50 with 5 children and James is 42 with 6 children. Arnett’s oldest son William does not appear in the 1860 census of Henry County. Land records for Henry County, Alabama, show Arnett Arnold buying land in 1844, 1850, and 1852(?). Harrell bought land nearby in 1850, 1852, and 1855. James bought land in another part of Henry County in 1858. William (probably Arnett’s 25-year-old son) bought land in 1855. Mrs. Spillers says that William married in 1846 and again in 1855 and was killed in the C. S. Army. Mrs. Spillers also says that Harrell died in 1870 and James in 1882, both in Henry County. (More about Henry County to follow here at a later date) WASHINGTON COUNTY, GEORGIA The 1840 census of Washington County, Georgia, 90th Militia District, includes Arnett Arnold (30 - 40) with wife and 7 children; Harrell Arnold (20 - 30) with wife and 3 children; and Elizabeth Arnold (50 ­ 60), without doubt their mother, the widow of James. Living with Elizabeth is a male (20 - 30), probably James, jr., and 2 females (20 ­ 30 and 30 ­ 40). William Arnold’s sons, Thomas, Ambrose, and William jr. are missing from this census. In 1830 the census of Washington County shows three Arnold families. Arnett is 20 ­ 30 with wife and one son under 6. Harrell is 20 ­ 30 with wife, 3 daughters, and no doubt his mother Elizabeth (40 ­ 50) living with him. Thomas (son of William) is 40 ­ 50 with a wife, 3 boys, and a girl. Already gone are Ambrose and William, jr. William, sr., and James, sr., had apparently died in the mid 1820s. James, jr., is unaccounted for; he is not with Arnett or Harrell, and at age 18 he is too old to be one of the boys in Thomas’ household. In the 1820 census of Washington County, Georgia, the Arnolds are: 2 Williams, James, Thomas, and Ambrose. William Arnold and his wife were each born before 1775 (1759 & 1760). No children. James Arnold was born before 1775 (Spillers: ±1780); wife 1775 ­ 1794 (26 ­ 45). 3 sons & 4 daughters under 16. Thomas Arnold and his wife were born 1775 ­ 1794 (26 ­ 45). 1 daughter under 10. Ambrose Arnold and his wife were born 1794 ­ 1804 (16 ­ 26). No children. A second William Arnold and his wife both born before 1775? No children. There are two problematic situations in the 1820 Washington County census. 1. If the age given for James Arnold in the census is correct and if he is William Arnold’s son as claimed by Mrs. Spillers in her book The Arnold- Martin Family History, William (b. 1759) could have been no more than 16 years old when James was born. William’s wife Elizabeth would have been no more than 15. Also, in that case, James would have been at least 30 years old when his first child was born. It is easier to believe with Mrs. Spillers that James was born about 1780 and that the census is in error. However, it is also possible that James is not William’s son but is his brother, son of Thomas Arnold of Pitt County, North Carolina; this James is in the 1800 and 1810 censuses as having been born 1755 -1765, but in this case he would have been 40 ­ 50 years old when his first child was born! 2. If the age given for the second William Arnold is correct and he is William, jr., then again William, sr., could have been no more than 16 years old when his son was born. But again, it would be easy to believe that the age given is incorrect. However, if this is truly William, jr., does he not have children? If so, where are they? It is even easier to believe that one William Arnold got counted twice, just as Harrell's family got counted three times in 1850, twice in Henry County, Alabama, and once in Washington County. If this is true, where is William, jr., in 1820? On 7 August 1819 William Arnold, a resident of Washington County, Georgia, applied for a Revolutionary War pension. The pension claim number is S. 37684. He states that he is sixty years old (making his birth year ±1759). He further states that he enlisted for the term of one year on 15 March 1781 in the State of North Carolina and joined General Greene’s army, Battalion of North Carolina troops in the Company commanded by Capts. Thomas Armstrong and Benjamin Carter of the Regiment commanded by Col. Armstrong in the Continental Line of the State of North Carolina. He was wounded in the Battle of Eutaw Springs and was discharged in South Carolina on 1 May 1782. North Carolina muster rolls of the Continental Line indicate that William Arnold, a private in Capt. Carter’s Company of the 10th Regiment was mustered in April 1781 for 12 months and that his “time was out” on 25 April 1782. His pension application was approved as Certificate No. Georgia 16001 on 30 November 1819, and he was awarded $8.00 per month. In Washington County on 4 September 1820 William Arnold, aged “about sixty years”, stated that he “enlisted for the term of twelve months in the year Eighty one in the State of North Carolina in the Company commanded by Capt. Benjamin Carter in the Second Battalion of the Second Regiment commanded by Colonel Dickson in the line of the State of North Carolina on the Continental establishment; that he continued in the said Corps until the first day of May Eighty two & that he was at & in the Battle of Eutaw Springs”. He lists his property as “eight head of hogs and a small quantity of household furniture”. He says that he is a carpenter and that “I am so old and infirm that I cannot follow my trade to any advantage. My family consists of a wife. My wife’s name is Elizabeth, her age about sixty. My wife is unabled to do any thing being afflicted with Reumatics and is unabled to work and is not able to help me much.” On page 5 of her book Mr. Spillers states: “William Arnold … was paid last pension covering period from September 5, 1824 to March 4, 1825. Payment was made at Savannah, Georgia, on March 29, 1825, to Thomas Butler of Chatham County, Ga., as attorney for the pensioner.” And further: “On March 7, 1825, the pensioner certified that he had resided in Washington County, Georgia, for nine years, and prior thereto, he resided in the state of North Carolina.” This would mean that William Arnold moved from North Carolina to Washington County, Georgia, in 1816 and that he died some time after 25 March 1825 (see below). Neither of these records has been found, but the information is accepted as fact. Apparently, James Arnold moved to Washington County between 1817 and 1820. Mrs. Spillers states that her grandmother, Martha Anne Arnold Martin, James’ seventh child, was born 5 April 1817 in North Carolina. Between 1816 and 1840 we can document the following events in the life of the Arnold families living in Washington County, Georgia. Due to a truly burned- out courthouse, there are no land records for Washington County for this period. However, we know that all the Arnolds lived in the 90th Georgia Militia District which is located in the area between Lamar’s Creek, Oconee, and Tennille. 1817 September 17, 23, and 30, Georgia Journal newspaper: Three items concerning taxes, 105 acres, William Castelow, and the estate of Edward Arnold. 1820 Southern Recorder listed William Arnold as a land lottery winner. 1821 Georgia Journal newspaper of 31 July 1821: On the 1st Tuesday in September next, will be sold, at the courthouse in the town of Sandersville... the following property, to wit: … 56 acres pine land ... on the waters of Lamar’s Creek ... two cows ... fifteen head of hogs, levied on as the property of William Arnold to satisfy William Scarborough.. 1821 Henry Arnold and John Arnold of O’Quinn’s District (90th Militia District) in Washington County drew in the Land Lottery successfully. Henry drew Lot 82, Section 12 in Monroe County and John drew Lot 131, Section 9, in Henry County. (Note that neither Henry nor John was in Washington County in the 1820 census [See Pitt County, NC.] or the 1830 census.) There are no Henry Arnolds anywhere in Georgia in the 1830 or the 1840 census. 1823 Georgia Journal newspaper of 21 January 1823: Horse, property of William Arnold sold to satisfy William Rutherford, executor vs William Arnold and James Castellow. 1825 Last pension payment for Revolutionary War service was made to William Arnold 29 March 1825 in Washington Co., GA. 1825 Georgia Journal newspaper 29 March 1825: Notice. This is to certify that I, in the presence of several witnesses, demanded of James Castelow, on the 25th of this inst., a certain power of attorney, which I gave the said Castelow over a certain piece of land, lying in Irwin County, 12th district, No. 62 … This is to forewarn the said Castelow from making rights to any person in my name for said land … (Signed) William Arnold. William Arnold died sometime after 25 March 1825. 1825 Tax Digest of Washington County, GA: name county water course boundary description of land use poll tax William Mims Washington Oconee & S. Hill Calhoun 100ac 2nd swamp 200 pine yes Arnett Arnold Washington S(andy) Hill Creek Langheart 58 pine yes Ambrose Arnold yes Thomas Arnold yes Admn Wm Arnold Irwin 12th Dist. No. 62 490 pine no Green Arnold 1826 Thomas Arnold applied for letters of administration on the estate of William Arnold, late of said (Washington) county, deceased. Given 23 March 1826; reported 28 March 1826. Note above that the 1825 Tax Digest lists an administrator for William Arnold which would mean that he had died in 1825 sometime after 25 March. 1826 On 15 April Ambrose Arnold, son of William, was commissioned 2nd Lt. Of the 90th District Company of the Georgia Militia. (And we note that Ambrose Arnold had served in the North Carolina military from Pitt County in 1813.) Ambrose must have been well-liked; James had several descendants named Ambrose, usually pronounced “Am’-berce”. 1828 Tax records: Thomas and Arnett paid taxes at the same time. Green Arnold also paid tax on land in O’Quinn’s District. Mrs. Spillers, page 7: “Thomas Arnold was the Administrator of his father, William Arnold’s, estate. William had drawn in the Land Lottery of 1820 successfully and Thomas as Administrator of William’s estate paid taxes on 150(?) acres of land in Lowndes County, Ga., adjoining Dean’s land in 1828.” Lowndes was a part of Irwin County until 1825. 1829 Thomas Arnold requested permission of the court to sell property in Irwin, now Lowndes County, belonging to William Arnold, deceased. Washington County, GA, Marriage Book A (1828-1852): Arnet Arnold m. Mary Mimms 24 Sep 1829 (Note that Arnett lived near William Mims in 1825.) Harrell Arnold m. Sarah Mimms 19 Jan 1831 (Harrell has a wife in 1830 census?) (It is believed that Sarah is Mary’s sister.) John Arnold m. Ann Crafton 23 Dec 1834 (There were Craftons in Pitt Co., NC; and John was also there in 1810 and 1820. We don’t know where he was in 1830 or 1840 unless he was in Hancock County, Georgia. See also Crofton in Beaufort County, North Carolina.) Hancock County, Georgia, is the next county north of Washington County. There are some familiar Arnold names there in the census of 1830, all on the same page: William: 50-60 (Is this William, jr.?) No females. 1 male 20-30. 2 males 15-20. John, sr.: 40-50 (Pitt Co. 26-45 in 1820?) Wife 40-50. One more female 15-20. Greene: 30-40 (Pitt Co. 26-45 in 1820?) Wife 30-40. 2 females under 10. Wiley: 30-40 with 1 female 5-10 and 2 females 0-5. John (jr.?): 20-30 with 1 female 10-15. (Did he marry Ann Crafton in 1834?) Zephania: 20-30 with 2 males under 5 and 4 females under 15. Peter: 20-30 with wife 20-30, 1 male 10-15, 2 males 0-5, and 1 female 5-10. 1831, 1834, 1837, 1838 Arnett Arnold is included in the lists of persons having unclaimed letters remaining in the Sandersville post office. 1832 Elizabeth Arnold, a widow, drew (unsuccessfully?) in the Georgia land lottery. She is not designated as “Widow of Revolutionary Soldier”, therefore she must be wife of James instead of William. 1835 Elizabeth A. Arnold, age 11, entitled to participation in the Poor School Fund of the County for 1831. (James’ last child Elizabeth Ann was born in 1824.) 1838 150 acres of land ... adjoining Henry Wood, levied on as the property of Harrel Arnold, to satisfy executions or fi fas in favor of William Fish. Reported 3 July 1838. * * * * * * * As an architect I have always had a sense of place and of land. Therefore, I find myself very interested not only in who my ancestors were but also in finding where they lived, where they went to church, what land they actually plowed, where they are buried, etc. Around 1991 I began to look for Henry Arnold, named by Mrs. Spillers as the father of our Revolutionary War Soldier ancestor, William Arnold, in Virginia and in Stokes County, NC. After I found his land in Surry/Stokes County and his lands, his tax records, and his 1776 petition in Pittsylvania/Henry County, VA, I began to be interested in finding his ancestry. I'm fairly convinced I have found that in Cumberland and Goochland Counties where there are good land ownership and processioning records. I have also done the same physical research on Ralph Shelton (named by Spillers as father-in-law of William Arnold) and his father. But not to the same depth as for Henry and William Arnold. In the summer of 2006, I discovered that our William Arnold of Washington County, Georgia, was NOT the son of Henry Arnold of Stokes County, North Carolina, after all! Mrs. Spillers had missed a vital Revolutionary War record which appeared as an entry in the quarterly newsletter of the Arnold Family Association of the South. This is in Volume IV, Number 2, Winter 1973, pages 48-49, Revolutionary Records (From Abstracts by J. Frederick Dorman) Contributed by Ann Arnold Hennings: Arnold, William R.272 17 November 1834. Rutherford County, Tennessee, William (x) Arnold of said County, aged 85, 2 months and 16 days, declares he volunteered under Captain James Lyons in the militia in Henry County, Virginia, and marched to Fort Chiswell, and then to Long Island on Holston River. After two weeks he marched to the Cherokee Nation and was at several little towns. They then returned home. He served . . . .(?) In 1777 or 1778 he again enlisted in Captain Titus (?) Shelton’s company of militia and marched from Henry County to New River in pursuit of Tories. They marched up and down in North Carolina and then marched toward home in Henry County in pursuit of Tories. He served two months. In the summer of 1779 he volunteered in Capt. Tyfus (?) Shelton’s Company and marched from Henry County to Dan River in Henry County and down to North Carolina, up the Yadkin River to its head, and then back home. He served two months. He was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, 31 August 1749. The record of his father’s family Bible was burned by accident several years ago. After the war he moved from Henry County, Virginia, to Yadkin River in Surry County, North Carolina, and then to Holston River in Tennessee. After two years he moved to Knox County, Tennessee, for four or five years, then to Rutherford County, Tennessee, for five or six years, then to Lincoln County, Tennessee, for six or seven years, then to Jackson County, Alabama, for three years, then back to Rutherford County, Tennessee, for seven or eight years, then back to Jackson County, Alabama, for two years, and then again to Rutherford County, Tennessee, where he now resides. 13 November 1834, Rutherford County, Tennessee. Richard Keel declares that William Arnold served a tour with him under Captain James Lions in the Cherokee Nation in 1776. Rejected because he did not serve six months. This William Arnold was obviously the son of Henry Arnold of Henry County, Virginia, who moved to Surry/Stokes County, North Carolina, after the war. This was not our William Arnold who moved to Washington County, Georgia, from North Carolina in 1816 and whose pension claim number is S.37684. The Revolutionary Soldier who served in the North Carolina Continentals and made his pension application in Washington County, Georgia, was apparently the son of Thomas Arnold of Pitt County, North Carolina, and definitely not the son of Henry Arnold of Stokes County. For further information on Henry Arnold and his family see Cumberland Arnold Notes and the records in my files. * * * * * * * On page 6 of her book, "The Arnold-Martin Family History" published in 1960, Lorena Martin Spillers states "Where William resided between the time he sold his home in Stokes County until he moved to Washington County, Ga., in 1816 is not known at this time, but it was someplace in the state of N. C." On page 11 we also find: "If I could locate where William Arnold lived between the date of his departure from Stokes Co., N. C., in 1793, until he came to Georgia with his family in 1816, the marriage record might be found to prove it (her belief that the maiden name of the wife of James Arnold was either Arnett or Harrell)." And then: "Perhaps, some day, an interested descendant will be able to find documentary proof which will clear up many of these unsolved relationships." This is where I have become most involved in the past few years. There is good evidence that our William Arnold was in Pitt County, North Carolina, before he moved to Washington County, Georgia. From the 1800 and 1810 censuses of North Carolina there were several impossible Williams. The possibles narrowed down to Pitt and a few other counties. In 2004 I visited most of those and copied as much documentary evidence as I could find. In 1803 one William Arnold of Pitt County bought land in Pitt County from one William Buck of Washington County, Georgia. This William Buck had previously lived in Pitt County! In 1805 William sold the same land to his son, William Arnold, jr. (There were at least two Williams in Pitt County even though the censuses show only one.) In 1808 William (senior or junior ?) sold the same land to a Peter Smith. In 1814 a William Arnold in Pitt County sold a different tract of land which "was willed William Arnold by his father Thomas Arnold." This land had been acquired by Thomas by patent in 1782. In 1816 our William Arnold moved to Washington County, Georgia. Ambrose Arnold enlisted in a Pitt County company of the North Carolina military in 1813. In the 1820 census of Washington County, Georgia, Ambrose Arnold, believed by Cousin Lorena to be William's son, is the right age to be that same Ambrose Arnold with a young wife and no children. He was not old enough to have been listed separately in the Pitt County census in 1810. On 15 Feb 1826 he was commissioned 2nd Lt. Of the 90th Militia District in Washington County. I have been unable to find Ambrose Arnold in any census of any southeastern state in 1830 or 1840. I wonder what happened to him after 1826. My father had an Uncle Ambrose (pronounced "Am’-berce"), his father had an Uncle Ambrose, and my gggrandfather, Arnett, had an Uncle Ambrose. And who was the Ambrose Arnold in Spotsylvania County, VA, in 1748? Unfortunately, almost all government records in Washington County, Georgia, were completely destroyed by the Yankees in 1865. In June of 2006 I spent some time in the County Genealogical Society records in Sandersville and drove around the area between Lamar's Creek and Sandy Hill Creek in Georgia Militia District 90 where the Arnold families all lived in 1820, 1830, and 1840. Living in the same close area are two Kittrell families. They moved there from Pitt County, North Carolina, before 1830 as told to me by Bill Kittrell, a respected historian and genealogist who lives in Pitt County. It is most probable that William Arnold moved to Washington County, Georgia, with James, Thomas, Ambrose, and maybe William, jr, from Pitt County, North Carolina. 1. He already had a contact in Washington County: one William Buck who moved there from the same part of Pitt County in 1802 and from whom he bought land in Pitt County in 1803. He moved to Washington County in 1816 from North Carolina and is last recorded in Pitt County when he sold his land in 1814. 2. There is no William Arnold in Pitt County in the 1820 census, only John, Henry, and George (or Green, poor handwriting, poor microfilm copy). William Arnold is in the 1820 census of Washington County and can easily be the same William Arnold of the 1790, 1800, and 1810 census of Pitt County. 3. Ambrose Arnold enlisted for military duty in Pitt County in 1813, is in the 1820 census of Washington County, and is in the Washington County militia in 1826. 4. Henry, Green (George), and John Arnold are in Pitt County in 1820. Henry Arnold and John Arnold are in Washington County in 1821. And Green Arnold has moved there by 1825. There are no Arnolds in Pitt County in 1830. 5. Other families, such as the Kittrells and the Bucks, moved from Pitt County to Washington County in the early 1800s. 6. In the 1830 census of Hancock County, Georgia, (the next county north of Washington County) we find William, John sr., John, Wiley, Zephaniah, Peter, and Green Arnold. Is this our Green? Is this our John? Is this our William jr.? 7. In her book Lorena Martin Spillers states: “In a Volume of N. C. soldiers, on the same page as Col. James Armstrong and Capt. Thomas Armstrong one William Arnold is listed as Serg’t. 1st L. D. (Prob. Light Dragoons.)” In Chronicles of Pitt County we find: “General James Armstrong sat in the North Carolina State Senate for Pitt County in 1790, having moved over from the House of Commons where he served a term as successor to John Moye.” PITT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Pitt County, North Carolina, was formed from the western part of Beaufort County in 1760. Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and is located in the center of the county on the south side of the Tar River which becomes the Pamlico River as it passes into Beaufort County. The Arnold families lived in that part of the county near Grimesland, east of Greenville and just west of the Beaufort County line. 1762 List of Taxables includes William Arnett: 2 whites, no slaves. 9 November 1771: Catherine Crofton witnessed the will of William Watkins. The first record we have of Thomas Arnold in Pitt County is 1 July 1779 when he served as chain bearer for three surveys of land grants on the south side of the Tarr River in the Chicod Creek area. The land owners involved were Joseph Boyd (400 acres), James Jones (200 acres), and James Armstrong (208 acres). Also working as chain bearers were Robin Dixon and Joseph Boyde. George Evans is listed as surveyor for all three grants. The Boyd grant mentions boundaries defined by Simon Taylor, Chinkapin Branch, Earl of Granville, Cow Branch, William Buck (east of Cow Branch), and Edward Salter. The Jones grant is bounded by Edward Salter, James Armstrong, and Thomas Arnold. The Armstrong grant mentions James Jones, Edward Salter, William Watkins, and John Mayo. These folks continue as neighbors for some time. According to his Revolutionary pension application, our William Arnold (age 22) “enlisted” in Gen. Greene’s army in North Carolina on 15 March 1781. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, NC, led by Gen. Greene occurred on that very same day, 15 March 1781. William Arnold is not a soldier of record at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. However, records are clear that the North Carolina militia was in the first line of battle and fled the field without significant fighting. In the spring of 1781 North Carolina drafted all those militia men that could be found. They were assigned to the Continental Army for a term of one year instead of the usual enlistment period of three years. No record of a militia unit from Pitt County has yet been found. Our William Arnold said that he was in Capt. Thomas Armstrong’s Company, Col. Armstrong’s North Carolina regiment, and that later he was in Capt. Benjamin Carter’s Company, Col. Dixon’s North Carolina regiment. He was wounded in the Battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, 8 September 1781, and that he was discharged 1 May 1782. North Carolina muster rolls of the Continental Line indicate that William Arnold, a private in Capt. Carter’s Company of the 10th Regiment was mustered in April 1781 for 12 months and that his “time was out” on 25 April 1782. Our first record of William Arnold (Arnal) in Pitt County is on 21 October 1782 as a chain bearer for a survey of land for a grant to Joel Sugg as trustee for Ambrose and William Jones (200 acres). Again the land is on the south side of the Tarr River in the Chicod Creek area. The other chain bearer was Jiles Sute and the surveyor was Elias Godley. On 21 October 1782 Thomas Arnold (Arnol) was also a chain bearer along with Joseph Stevens; Elias Godley was the Surveyor. Land was granted to Martin Nelson (200 acres). Again, this grant was for land on the south side of the Tarr River and adjacent to Chicod Creek. Neighbors mentioned were Watkins, Salter, and Nelson. Also on 21 October 1782 Thomas Arnold (Arnal) received two grants of land on the south side of the Tarr River, one for 175 acres and the other for 106 acres. Named adjoining neighbors are John Watkins, James Jones, and Edward Salter. The 106-acre tract is noted as being surveyed on 3 April 1781. Elias Godley was the surveyor, and Edward Salter and James Gorham were chain bearers for both grants. Again on 21 October 1782 Thomas Arnold is named as an adjoining land owner for grants of land to John Mayo (200 acres) and John Watkins (125 acres). Both of these tracts are on the south side of the Tarr River. Mayo’s grant also adjoins Chicod Swamp, and Watkins’ grant also adjoins Edward Salter. Surveyor was Elias Godley; chain bearers were Edward Salter, James Jones, and James Gorham; survey dates are given as 1780 and 3 April 1780, respectively. Other neighbors are Jones, Salter, Beaver Pond, and County Road. The Watkins land was transferred to Thomas Arnold in 1785, to William Arnold before 1787, and to Demsie Grimes in 1787. 25 January 1785 Thomas Arnold Sen. bought from John Watkins the 125 acres Watkins had received as a grant on 21 October 1782. It adjoined the land Thomas had already been granted on the same date. Thomas, jr., was probably born before 1767 in order to be 18 by 1785. On 21 February 1787 William Arnold (Arnol) sold to Demsie Grimes 125 acres “in Pitt County on the south side of Tar River and east side of Chicod Creek.” This is the same 125 acres patented by John Watkins in 1782 and sold to Thomas Arnold in 1785. It was a “legacy given by Thomas Arnold unto his son William Arnold”, no date given. This tells us that William’s father, Thomas, died between 25 January 1785 and 21 February 1787. 4 September 1788 William Arnold bought from John Taylor 80 acres of land “lying on the west side of Chicod Creek and on the Cow Swamp”. The Cow Swamp Creek is south of Chicod Creek west of the road between Grimesland and Black Jack. We know from later records that Thomas Arnold of Pitt County had a wife named Elizabeth (probably Crofton). They had at lease five sons and two daughters. These sons were Edward, Henry, Thomas, jr., James, and William, not necessarily in that order. Patty is the only daughter’s name that is known. There probably was another son named John. It is logical to believe that William was the oldest of Thomas and Elizabeth Arnold’s sons: 1. He was born in 1759 (He was 60 years old in 1819.) 2. He became a soldier in 1781 (age 22). 3. He was discharged from the military in 1782. 4. He worked as a surveyor’s chain bearer in 1782 (age 23). 5. He sold inherited land in 1787 (age 28). 6. He bought land in 1788 (age 29). It is reasonable to assume that Thomas Arnold, sr., was born by or before 1740. That would make him at least 19 when William was born. And we know from the 1787 deed that he died before 21 February 1787 (aged 47 or older) when William was about 28. This must have left quite a burden on William at an early age, to have a widowed mother and 7 or 8 younger siblings! Perhaps, Thomas, jr., was the next oldest son. There are no records of a son other than William until 1785 when his father is referred to as Thomas Arnold, sen. This means that there is a Thomas, jr., who is probably old enough to be considered as a property owner, maybe 18 or older. The 1790 census of Pitt County, North Carolina, lists Elizabeth Arnold and William Arnold as heads of households. We know that Thomas, husband of Elizabeth, died in or before 1787. Elizabeth Arnold: Widow of Thomas, sr. 2 males 16+ (b before 1774): Thomas, jr., and James 2 more females: Patty and one other William: 16+ (b before 1774) 31 years old (b. 1759): 5 males under 16 (b 1774 ­ 90): Brothers: Henry and Edward and probably John Sons: William, jr. (±15) and Thomas (-10) (No Ambrose yet.) Wife + one daughter The family still owned the 286 acres from the 1782 grants to Thomas and the 80 acres William bought in 1788 from John Taylor. The 1790 census also included William, Benjamin, James, John, James, jr., & Appollos Buck. Also William Grimes & Ambrose Crafton. These names occur in later and earlier events in the Arnold family. There were no Arnolds in the 1790 census of Beaufort County, North Carolina. On 3 April 1792 William Arnold sold to Benjamin Buck one acre of land “for the benefit of his mill”. The deed mentions the mouth of a small branch just below the “end of the dam”, the Road, the head of another branch, and the mill pond. This mill pond must be on Cow Swamp Creek since this is in the land owned by William. In 1793 Henry Arnold witnessed a deed of property from Ann Salter to John Salter, her son. Also mentioned are Ann’s sister, Elizabeth Bonner, and her deceased father, Thomas Bonner. If Henry were ±18 in 1793, he might be one of the older brothers. On 1 December 1793 William Arnold (Arnell) sold to Urias Elks land (size unknown) on the north side of The Cow Swamp. Mentioned are the Cart Road and a little branch by the mill dam. On 4 June 1794 William Arnold (Arnell) sold to William Elks ±50 acres on the west side of Chicod Creek and on the Cow Swamp. Mentioned in the deed are Uriah Elks, the East road, and the mill Seat. Witnessed by Thomas Armstrong and Benjamin Buck. If the 1793 sale to Urias Elks was about 30 acres, this would be the rest of the 80 acres William Arnold bought from John Taylor in 1788. On 18 August 1795 Thomas Arnold (Jr.) witnessed a deed from William Buck to Uriah Elks for 6 acres of land on the north side of the Cow Swamp, part of land patented by Edward Salter and later sold to Isaac Buck, then to William Buck. Also witnessed by Benjamin Buck. In the January term of 1796 the Pitt County Court directed Joseph Boyd, Robert Boyd, and William Buck to lay off, set apart, and divide the real property of Thomas Arnold, Deceased, among his sons according to his will. This is the property (281 acres) Thomas received by grant in 1782. “Platt in Original” is noted in each case. 1. 100 acres to Thomas Arnold, Junr. 2. 120 acres to William Arnold. 3. Land boundaries without stating acreage to James Arnold. (61 acres?) 4. No mention of land division to Edward or Henry Arnold. Thomas Arnold apparently left a will when he died about 1786. It is curious that Edward and Henry are excluded from inheriting any real property. Perhaps, they were too young when he wrote his will to be considered. And there is no mention of John. (In AFAS Vol. VI Jan. 1976, Marian Ledgerwood includes Henry in this land division.) On 7 April 1796 Edward Arnold witnessed by his mark sale of two tracts of land from John Salter, sr., and his wife Margret to William Grimes. Landmarks mentioned are Indian Fork Branch, Bare Creek Branch, and Bear Creek in the first tract (310 acres); the mill pond, Taylors line and corner, and Savanah Branch in the second tract (300 acres). This is land contained in patents to Edward Salter of 1782 and 1761. On 1 February 1797 James Arnold sold to Isaac Boyd land on the south side of Tarr River, this being the land left to James by the will of his father, Thomas Arnold. 100 acres more or less. The 1800 census of Pitt County lists Elizabeth, William, James, Henry, and Edward Arnold as heads of households. All are recognizable names. All but Edward are on the same census page. Thomas, sr., had sons William, James, Henry, Edward, and Thomas, Jr. (and maybe John) + a daughter named Patty. Elizabeth: 45 up (widow of Thomas, sr.) born before 1755. 1 male 16-26, (John? or Thomas, jr.? or is he in Beaufort County?) 3 females under 16 William: 26-45 (age 41 per pension application) 2 males 16-26, William, jr. & _____? 1 male 10-16, Thomas 2 males under 10, Ambrose (6 or older?) & _____? 1 female 26-45, wife Elizabeth (age 40) 3 females under 10 James: 26-45 (Thomas’s son living with his mother Elizabeth in 1790) One wife, no children. Henry: 16-26 (Possible error: he was 45 and up in 1810.) 2 males under 10 Wife: 26-45 (older than Henry?) 2 females under 10 Edward: 16-26 No wife, no children. The 1800 census of Beaufort County, North Carolina, lists a Thomas Arnold (jr.?): 26-45 with same-aged wife, one son under 10, and one daughter under 10. There is a Joshua Arnold in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. On 11 February 1803 William Arnold (Arnall) bought from William Buck of Washington County, Georgia, 140 acres of land in Pitt County on the south side of the Tar River and also on the south side of Chicod (Chicco) Creek. The boundary description begins at Old Isaac Bucks corner and mentions the Cattail Branch, Bucks line, and Persimmon (posimmon) Tree Branch. The land was part of a tract granted to Isaac Buck in 1757 and conveyed to son Benjamin Buck, then to Roland Dixon and to William Buck. This establishes William Arnold’s knowledge of Washington County, Georgia. According to the Arnold Family Association of the South newsletter, Volume VI, page 22, North Carolina Records Volume II, Pitt County, reports that in 1804 William, James, and Patty Arnold, heirs of Thomas Arnold, deceased, sold 100 acres of land in Pitt County. This record needs to be traced to find out where this tract of land was located. Does this transaction indicate a latest date for the death of their mother, Elizabeth? On 10 July 1805 William Arnold sold to his son William Arnold, jr., the 140 acres of land he had bought from William Buck in 1803. Then, on 15 February 1808 William Arnold (jr.?) now of Beaufort County and William Buck of Georgia again sold the same tract of land to Peter Smith. How did William Buck regain an interest in this property? William Arnold signed the deed with his “x” mark. 1810 census of Pitt County, North Carolina: William: 45 up, wife 45 up. (51 & 50 respectively) 3 sons 16 ­ 26: Thomas, Ambrose, and _____? (Where is William, jr.?) no daughters (3 under 20 already married?) James: 45 up. Thomas’ son. Too old to be William’s son. no wife? (torn page) 1 male 16-26 (farm worker not in household in 1800?) 2 males under 10 1 female under 10 Henry: 45 up. (Probable error: He was 16-26 in 1800) 1 male 16-26 1 male 10-16 3 males under 10 1 female 26-45 (wife?) (torn page) 1 female 16-26 1 female 10-16 John: 26-45. Is he perhaps the last son of Thomas who was only about 3 in 1787? 2 males under 10 1 female 16-26 (wife?) 1 female under 10 Elizabeth: 26-45. Is this the wife of Thomas, jr.; did he die before 1810? (The wife of Thomas, sr., was born before 1755 and probably died in or before 1804.) 1 male under 10 1 female under 10 (Edward had probably already moved to Greene County, North Carolina by 1810.) The 1810 census of Beaufort County, North Carolina, lists a Thomas Arnold 45 up with wife 26-45, 1 son, and 3 daughters. There is no William Arnold or James Arnold listed in Beaufort County. In Pasquotank County there is another Thomas Arnold 26-45 with wife 16-26, 2 sons, no daughters. There is a Richard Arnold in Bertie County; he is 45 up with wife 45 up, 3 sons, and 6 daughters. In January of 1812 Edward Arnold of Greene County sold to Henry Arnold of Pitt County by deed the land (number of acres not mentioned) that had become his after the death of their father, Thomas, and the subsequent deaths of their mother, Elizabeth, and their brother, Thomas, jr. This was part of the land originally patented by Thomas, sr. The deed mentions his father’s will. Therefore, by or before January 1812 Elizabeth (wife of Thomas, sr.) and Thomas, jr., are both deceased. On 12 February 1813 William, James, and Patty Arnold (Arnald) sold to William Campbell “our parts of” 100 acres of land in Pitt County inherited by them from Thomas Arnold (Arnald) Deceased (senior or junior?). Neighbor: James Jones. “North Carolina was invaded in 1813 and in response to Governor Hawkins’call for troops, two companies from Pitt, about 125 men and officers, were enlisted” (from Sketches of Pitt County). Ambrose Arnold, probably William’s son, served in Captain Eason’s Company as a private. Other familiar names: Noah Buck, William Elks, William Galloway, Matthew James. On 23 November 1814 William Arnold, son of Thomas Arnold, sold to Bryan Grimes 125 acres on the south side of Tar River and the east side of Chicod Creek. This land was received by Thomas Arnold by patent, 21 October 1782, and was received by William under Thomas Arnold’s will. Neighbors are Salter, Watkins, and Grimes. In 1815 John Arnold witnessed a sale of land from Gorham to Simpson. Also, Henry Arnold is recorded as a witness in another matter. (AFAS Vol. VI, January 1976) The 1820 census of Pitt County lists only George (Green?), Henry, and John Arnold. The other Arnolds, William, William, jr.(?), James, Thomas (son of William), and Ambrose have already moved to Washington County, Georgia. George (Green?): 26-45; with wife 26-45, 3 sons, and 1 daughter Henry: 16-26 ? (Probable error: he was listed as 16-26 in 1800 and 45 up in 1810); with wife 26-45, 4 sons, and 1 daughter John: 26-45; with wife 26-45, 4 sons, and 2 daughters The 1820 census of Beaufort County lists a Thomas Arnold 45 up with wife 45 up. They have 3 daughters but no sons. This is obviously not our Thomas Arnold, jr., since he died sometime before January 1812. In Pasquotank County there is another Thomas Arnold 26-45 with wife 26-45, 2 sons, and 2 daughters. Sounds like some cousins. By 1821 Henry and John Arnold have moved to Washington County, Georgia, where they participate in the land lottery. By 1825 Green (George) Arnold has moved to Washington County also. There are no Arnolds in Pitt County, North Carolina, in the 1830 census. * * * * * * * At first, when I found that William of Pitt was a son of Thomas Arnold of that county, I said "This is the wrong William." But when I realized that the sons of Thomas (who died about 1786) were Edward, Henry, Thomas jr., James, and William, I began to wonder if Thomas was another son of Henry of Stokes and an as-yet unfound brother of our William. It would make sense for William to leave Stokes County after he sold his land in 1793 and move to Pitt County to be with his late brother's family. And then when I discovered that Henry of Stokes had a father named William and brothers named Thomas, William jr., John, and Moses the plot began to thicken. In the summer of 2006 I determined that this family came originally from Goochland/Cumberland County, Virginia. This meant there could possibly be three Williams in Pitt between 1803 and 1814 even though the censuses record only one! The 1790 census shows Henry's son, William, in Stokes County and Thomas' son, William, in Pitt County. Did William, son of Henry, really move to Pitt from Stokes County after 1793? If not, where did he go? And which William served 1781-82 in the Revolutionary War from North Carolina, the one who then lived in Virginia or the one who then lived in North Carolina? The question, then, was: Were there two Williams or three in Pitt County between 1803 and 1814? We know there was a William, son of Thomas. We know there was a William, Jr. The questions about William of Stokes County, son of Henry, were finally solved with the discovery from the Arnold Family Association of the South. Henry’s son, William, moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, not to Georgia. Therefore, Henry Arnold of Stokes County, North Carolina, Henry County, Virginia, and Cumberland County, Virginia, is not our ancestor. In her book Lorena Martin Spillers also states that James Arnold of Washington County, Georgia, my ggggrandfather was the son of Revolutionary Solder William Arnold. There is nothing to prove that James of Washington County is RS William’s son except that he is in the same county with him in the census of 1820 and in the Pitt County census of 1810. James’ first son (Arnett) names his first son “William”, and Arnett pays taxes in 1828 at the same time as Thomas Arnold who is administrator of RS William Arnold’s estate. No doubt, they are all related. It is quite likely that William, jr., Thomas, and Ambrose Arnold of 1820 Washington County are all sons of RS William Arnold. James is most probably a brother of William, sr. According to Mrs. Spillers, by 1810 William’s son, James Arnold, is about 30 years old (even though he is 45 or up in 1820), is married, and has at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. There is only one James of record in Pitt County in 1810, and he is listed as being 45 and up. He must be the son of Thomas, not William. However, he does have about the right number and age of children to be our James. The only other James in North Carolina in 1810 is in Craven County with no William Arnold. Until other proof can be found, we must not assume that James Arnold of Washington County, Georgia, is the son of William Arnold, Revolutionary Solder. It is much more probable that James is the son of Thomas Arnold of Pitt County, North Carolina, and brother of William. We know that Thomas had a son named James and that James was involved with William in the ownership of land in Pitt County. There is no record of two James Arnolds in Pitt County; however, one of them could have been living in someone else’s household in 1790, 1800, and 1810. It is highly unlikely that William’s son James would be 45 years old in 1820 when William is only 61. It is also unlikely that James would have been 45 in 1810 if his first child was only 5. It would easier to believe that age is incorrect or to believe there were two James. If so where was James the first after 1810, and where was James the second before 1820?. JAMES ARNOLD In her book, "The Arnold ­ Martin Family History", Lorena Martin Spillers says on page 7, “James Arnold was the only Arnold in the census of 1820 of Washington Co. (Georgia). who had the number of children whom my father mentioned as being in his mother’s family. He mentioned all his uncles, Arnett, Harrell and James and his aunts, Harriet, who married Dempsey Dilliard and Julia Anne who married Jordan Miller, but he did not remember the names of the other two. These that he remembered came to Alabama and he heard his mother speak of them more than he did those who remained in Washington County.” On his 77th birthday, 25 July 1949, my grandfather Curtis Alexander Arnold of Henry County, Alabama, told me that his father was Mathew Arnold and that his grandfather was Arnett Arnold. This means that my ggggrandfather was James Arnold of Washington County, Georgia, as shown in the 1820 census of that county. If the 1820 census is correct, James Arnold was born before 1776, his wife Elizabeth was born 1775 ­ 1794, and all 7 children were born after 1803. If the 1840 census is correct, Elizabeth Arnold was born 1780 ­ 1790. Unfortunately, there appears to be no other record of James Arnold remaining in Washington County, Georgia. According to the 1850 census of Henry County, Alabama, Arnett (Arnet) Arnold was born in 1805 in North Carolina and his brother James Arnold was born in 1814 in North Carolina. According to Mrs. Spillers, her grandmother Martha Anne Arnold was born in 1817 in North Carolina and was the next to the youngest daughter of James Arnold. According to Washington County records, his youngest daughter Elizabeth Ann was born in 1824. Therefore, James Arnold moved from North Carolina to Georgia between the birth of Martha Anne in 1817 and the 1820 census. The other Arnolds living in Washington County in 1820 were William Arnold (b. 1759), his wife Elizabeth (b. 1760), his son Thomas (b. 1775 ­ 1794), his son Ambrose (b. 1794 ­ 1804), and perhaps his son William, jr. It is highly probable that James Arnold was a relative of William Arnold, probably a brother. Due to the ages given, it is highly unlikely that he was a son. It is readily apparent that William and his sons moved to Washington County from Pitt County, North Carolina, after William sold land there in 1814. Mrs. Spillers states that the move from North Carolina to Georgia was in 1816. They could have moved together, or James could have followed William shortly thereafter. The 1790 census of Pitt County, North Carolina, does not have a listing for James Arnold; he was probably too young to have a household of his own at that time. In the 1800 census James is shown as being born 1755 ­ 1773 and his wife 1774 ­ 1784. In the 1810 census of Pitt County James Arnold is listed as being born before 1766(?) with another male born 1784 ­ 1794 and three children under 10. If the 1810 census page had not been torn at that column, we would probably have found Elizabeth having been born 1765 ­ 1784. Thomas Arnold of Pitt County who died about 1786 had a son named James along with other sons, William, Thomas, jr., Edward, and Henry. James was probably one of the males living with his mother in 1790. In 1796 James received land left to him by his father. In 1797 James sold this land. In 1804 and 1813 James sold more inherited land. James is not of record again in Pitt County, North Carolina. BATH / BEAUFORT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Where did Thomas Arnold live before he appeared in Pitt County as a chain bearer in 1779? Apparently, he was born around 1730 -1740. Where did he live in 1759 when his first son William was born? Did William Arnold live in Pitt County when he enlisted in the Revolutionary Army at age 22 in 1781? Formed in 1696, Bath was one of the three original counties of North Carolina. Pamptecough Precinct was created in Bath County in 1705, was changed to Beaufort Precinct in 1712, and became Beaufort County in 1729. Pitt County was formed from the western portion of Beaufort County in 1760. The first record of a Thomas Arnold in the area is in Bath County in 1701, deed book 1, page 2. On 1 April 1701 Thomas Arnold, a planter on Pamlico River in Bath County, sold to William Brice Butcher 300 acres of land containing one house and plantation with cherry trees, apple trees, nursery, and all other appurtenances . . . “lying upon auld town creek known by y’e name of John Blacks neck . . .” We do not know when or how Thomas obtained this land or what happened to him after he sold it. He was certainly too old to be our Thomas, sr., of Pitt and probably too old to be his father. At least the name is a possible heritage. On 22 November 1759 Thomas Arnold (Arnol) of Beaufort County sold to Thomas Jasper a parcel of land (size unstated) in Beaufort County on the south side of the Pamlico River and along the east side of Blounts Creek; also bounded by the Cedar Pole Branch, the Tar Kiln Branch, and John Jasper’s land. This land was “given to Elizabeth the wife of Thomas Arnold by Henry Crofton dec.d.” This is no doubt our Thomas and Elizabeth Arnold, later of Pitt County, who lived until about 1786 and 1804, respectively. 6 October 1756: Henry Crofton’s will leaves his land to daughter Elizabeth Crofton (“Cider Point”) and to sons Thomas (“plantation whereon I now live”), Theophelus (“remainder of said tract”), William and Ambros (“plantation lying in Crofton’s Cut”), and livestock to daughters Mary and Martha. The rest of the estate to be equally divided when all children are of age. All children are to be educated; William is to remain with John Putnall for this purpose. The will makes provisions for the oldest children to take care of the younger ones and not to dispose of property. Brother (?), John Boyd, Edward Salter, and John Slade are executors. Elizabeth Crofton is also a witness. The will is signed 10 October 1756 and is proven in March Court 1757. Note that Ambrose Crafton is in the 1790 census of Pitt County. Is this the “Rev.” Henry Crofton who officiated marriages as Justice of the Peace in Beaufort “Precinct” between 1725 and 1735? John Garzia, clerk of Beaufort Precinct and “an orthodox minister of the Church of England . . . on behalf of himself and of the poor of the parish of St. Thomas” filed suit several times against Henry Crofton for performing marriages during that time. He had great difficulty prosecuting the suit because the witnesses would not appear in court. In the mid 1700s a Henry Crofton lived in the town of Bath, probably owning lots 5 and 6 on ”front street in Bath town”, property later owned by Joseph Bonner. St. Thomas Church was also in the town of Bath. 14 March 1733, Bath Town (?): Henry Crafton witnessed the will of Moses Baros. Thomas Arnold married his neighbor Elizabeth Crofton (Crafton) sometime between October 1756 and March 1759. Their first son William Arnold was born in 1759. He was probably named for Thomas’ father or Elizabeth’s brother. Their son Henry would have been named for Elizabeth’s father. William named one of his sons Thomas and another one Ambrose after Elizabeth’s brother. Where did they get the names James, Edward, and John? On 13 September 1763 William Arnold sold to Thomas Arnold 70 acres± on the south side of the Pamlico River and the east side of Blounts Creek. This land seems to be bounded by the river, the creek, and Cedar Pole Branch; the cove at the mouth of the creek and ferry point are also mentioned. This is certainly not our William (he was only 4 years old in 1763) but it is no doubt our Thomas. Perhaps this William was Thomas’ father. Thomas named his first son William. Since this land is on Blounts Creek and also on Cedar Pole Branch, it is likely along the creek just across the branch from the land Thomas and Elizabeth sold in 1759. It is probable that William Arnold and Henry Crofton were next-door neighbors when Thomas and Elizabeth got married about 1758. When did Thomas and Elizabeth sell this land in Beaufort County? Thomas is not of record in Pitt County until 16 years later in 1779. On 20 August 1771 William Arnold and John Putnald agreed that the dividing line between their properties began at a water oak on the Pamlico River bank between the mouth of Mallard Creek and Ragged Point Marsh and that it ran due north for 90 poles to a point near Eagletree Branch then 10 degrees south of west up the branch for 100 poles. This line had been surveyed by Stephen Denning. Again, this could not be our Revolutionary Soldier William because he would have been only 12 years old in 1771; but it could have well been his grandfather or his uncle. Note that this land is across the river from the other William Arnold land. - - - - - - By or before 1779 Thomas Arnold moved to Pitt County. - - - - - - - - - - - - - By or before 1782 William Arnold moved to Pitt County. - - - - - - 1798 June Court, Beaufort County: Robert Trip requested administration of orphans/minors of John Williams, deceased. John Arnold appealed this, stating he was an uncle. On 2 March 1807 William Arnold and his wife Sally Arnold of Beaufort County sold to Joseph Shute part of the land they had received from the estate of Giles Shute, deceased. This land was on the north side of the east prong of Blounts Creek. Boundaries include mention of Robason, John Moon, Giles Shute, Samuel Dunbar, and along the East Prong. Land size is a “sixth part of three hundred acres”. This is near the other Arnold property on Blounts Creek, and perhaps Giles Shute was the father of Sally Arnold. This is not William Arnold, son of Thomas Arnold, born 1759, Revolutionary soldier, who moved to Georgia in 1816 because his wife was named Elizabeth. This is probably William, jr., living in Beaufort County, who (along with William Buck) sold his property in Pitt County in 1808 to Peter Smith. On 24 March 1807 William Arnold mortgaged his mare, one cow and calf and yearling, and all his furniture and cooking equipment to Joseph Shute for sixty seven pounds eighteen shillings to cover previous debts. The money was to be paid in installments by 1 January 1809. Perhaps he sold his land in Pitt County to cover this indebtedness. He is not of record in Beaufort or Pitt County after this. He is probably the second William Arnold in Washington County, Georgia, in 1820. There is no William Arnold in the 1800, 1810, or 1820 Beaufort County census. There is a Thomas Arnold is each of these: 1800: 1 male 26-44, 1 female 26-44, 1 male 0-9, 1 female 0-9 1810: 1 male 45 up, 1 female 26-44, 1 male 10-15, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 0-9 1820: 1 male 45 up, 1 female 45 up, no other males, 3 females 10-16 It appears that this is the same family each time. If so, this would not be Thomas, jr., son of Thomas and Elizabeth of Pitt County, because he died sometime before January 1812. ALBEMARLE / PERQUIMANS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Perquimans County was one of six counties created out of the original Albemarle County in 1668. However, many records reference Albemarle County long after that date. 1680, Albemarle County: R. Arnold received 200 acres for transporting 4 persons: Rich Arnold and Abigal his wife Rich Arnold, jr. Jane Arnold What happened to this family? By will of 14 December 1691, probated 2 February 1692, Albemarle County: Lawrence Arnold (wife Elizabeth) to son John (a minor) and to Lawrence Godfrey “to share my estate”. 7 September 1692: Jane Arnold is a witness to Richard Eivens’ will in Albemarle County. 1693, Albemarle County: Jonathan Bateman “proved 20 rights (?)” including Lawrence Arnold Elizabeth Arnold m. (2) Jonathan Bateman Rebecca Arnold John Arnold (Jonathan Bateman became his guardian.) 1 January 1694: John Arnold received as a Land Grant from North Carolina 150 acres on Little River (divides Perquimans and Pasquotank Counties) adjoining William Bartlett (Bartlift, Barclift). March 1694, Albemarle County: William Arnold lives on land adjoining William Bartlett. Bartlett’s land also adjoins Thomas Godfrey. John Arnold, son of John and Mary Arnold, was born 18 April 1701 (Berkeley Parish Register). 4 August 1701: Thomas Arnold witnessed the will in Albemarle County of Thomas Blount whose wife was Mary. John Arnold, son of Lawrence Arnold and wife Jane Richards, was born 15 ??? 1703. Who are these folks? Where did they come from and where did they go to? Is the date wrong? We know that one Lawrence Arnold who had a son, John, died in 1691-92. 22 October 1707: Thomas Arnold witnessed the will (Albemarle County?) of John Arderne. 7 January 1712: Thomas Arnold witnessed the will (Albemarle County?) of John Jones. 3 September 1712, Albemarle County: Thomas Arnold, Jr., is a legatee of Gilbert Goodall. 30 October 1715: Henry Arnold witnessed the will of John Turner. 1720 Perquimans Tax List: “John Arnold ­ 150 acres on Little River, pat. 250 in Deep Creek, pt. 200 in Scopernung, dd. 600 ­ 2 tyths ­ his son John.” (AFAS Vol. VI, pg. 6). On 21 March 1723 John Arnold of Albemarle County, later Perquimans County, (son of Lawrence Arnold: AFAS Vol. 1, No. 4) signed his will which was probated 14 July 1724. In the will he leaves his “plantation” to each of his children and their heirs in the following order: son John Arnold (jr.) would be 22 if born in 1701. son William Arnold (believed to be William who died 24 Feb 1773; b @ 1710) son Joseph Arnold son Thomas Arnold son Lawrence Arnold daughter Elizabeth Arnold (b. 22 July 1705, m. Thomas Knowles before Oct. 1745) Then the will leaves to William and Joseph one tract of land containing 240 acres lying on the “South shore” joining the land of Anthony Hatch. Then the “said plantation” is given to his wife Mary Arnold for her natural life, the estate to be divided equally among the children at her demise. It is clear that as of this date the children are either not married or not of-age. Mary is named as executrix. John, William, Thomas, and Elizabeth are all familiar names. Any of these could have been the father of our Thomas Arnold. 6 May 1726, Bertie Precinct: Katherine Arnold is a legatee of Laurence Sarson. 28 January 1729, Perquimans Precinct: John Arnal and Elizabeth Arnal are witnesses to will of Joshua Whary. 1 October 1730, Perquimans Precinct: John Arnold is a son-in-law, a legatee, and the executor under the will of Sarah Warren. 25 July 1733, Perquimans Precinct: John Arnell witnessed the will of William Barclift. February 1735, Bertie Precinct: John Arnol witnessed the will of William Weaver. On 11 April 1735 John Arnold (jr.?) of Albemarle County, Perquimans Precinct, signed his will leaving his “moveable estate, household goods, debts and moveable effects” to his wife Elizabeth Arnold. He leaves his home plantation to his son John Arnold. To an unborn child he leaves his land at “Deep Creek” if the child is male. If the child is female, he leaves that land to his two daughters Elizabeth and Sarah equally. Wife Elizabeth Arnold is appointed executrix and Samuel Parsons as executor. One of the witnesses was John’s brother (?) William Arnold. The will was proved in court on 21 July 1735. 4 June 1735, Cartee Parish: Martha Arnal (wife of John) is noted as one of the daughters of Thomas Fussel. William Weaver (son-in-law) is a witness. 1740 Tax List. Tythables: Lawrence Arnold, son of Mary Hall (whose 1st husband was John Arnold, d. 1724) Joseph Arnold William Arnold (Had brother Thomas moved to Beaufort by this time?) 29 January 1741: William and his brother Joseph attended David Sharrod’s estate sale. 23 April 1741, Perquimans County: Joseph Arnold witnessed the will of Thomas Norcom. 12 May 1745, Perquimans County: Sarah Arnell is named as one of the daughters of Samuel Parsons in his will. One of the witnesses was Lawrence Arnell. Berkeley Parish Register: Children of Lawrence Arnold and wife, Sarah: Joseph Arnold: born 19 November 1745 Jane Arnold: born 7 February 1747 30 December 1746, Carteret County: Peter “x” Arnold witnessed will of Abraham Mitchell. 23 February 1748: Will of Edward “x” Arnold of Chowan County. “Weak of body.” To wife, Pleasant ­ use of ½ my land, also use of my negroes Jenney & Jack, etc. To daughter, Hannah Stallings ­ girl Bredgett during her life & then to James Stallings & Hannah my grandchildren. To son, Edward Arnold (jr.) ­ rest of my estate. Other legacies. Executor: son Edward Arnold. April Court 1752. 21 November 1748, Perquimans County: Joseph Arnold witnessed will of Thomas Harvey. 11 April 1749, Johnston County: William Arnold sold 95 acres of land to John Kenady. 24 May 1749, Chowan County: Alice Arnal is listed as one of the daughters of Ann Hunter. Edward Arnal (probably Alice’s husband) is named one of the “sons” and an executor. 1750, Perquimans County: Birth of John Arnold; unknown parentage. Deed 5 December 1750: From Lawrence Arnold to Elihu Albertson. By will of 30 November 1751: Joseph Arnold, farmer, “very sick and weak in body.” To daughter Mary Arnold ­ all my estate. Should she die without heir, then 2/3 to my brother Lawrence Arnold, the other 2/3 (sic) to my brother William Arnold. No wife named. Executors: William and Lawrence Arnold. April Court 1752. 24 March 1752, Chowan County: Sarah Arnold witnessed the will of Benjamin Baptist. Deed 15 January 1754: Wm. Middleton and Sarah, his wife, to Elihu Albertson, 440 acres formerly belonging to Lawrence Arnold, now deceased. 25 May 1757, Perquimans County: William Arnold is named as a grandson in the will of Elisabeth Anderson. William Arnold (same one or his father?) witnessed the will. (Our William Arnold was not born until 1759.) 30 July 1760, Berkley Parish: Earl Granville granted to William Arnold of Perquimans County, planter, a parcel of vacant land on the south side of Little River, 265 acres. (Note from NC Secretary of State on Granville Land Grants: Lord Granville sold his vacant land to anyone with the ready cash, and William Arnold had the ready cash and wished to buy the vacant land.) 24 February 1773, Pasquotank County: Death of William Arnold b. @ 1710 in Albemarle County. In his will probated April Court 1774 William Arnold names: William Arnold, jr.: son and executor b. 4-28-1744, m. Rebekah Cannon Benjamin: son and executor b. 4-17-1746 Mary: wife and executor Thomas: son b. 7-27-59 (This could not be Thomas of Pitt County.) Joseph: son b. 4-1-1753 Asa: son b. 1-9-1755 Sarah: daughter b. 11-27-1757 Rebecca: daughter b. 12-23-1763 Mary Wood: daughter b. 1-25-1749 There had also been a daughter named Elizabeth b. 4-19-1742. The will is organized in such a way to indicate that Mary was not the mother of William and Benjamin. This is not our William Arnold, Revolutionary Soldier, of Washington County, Georgia. The will of another William Arnold, a Quaker, was probated August Court 1794. (Quakers were strong in Perquimans County as early as 1672.) It had been signed the 16th day of the 10th month. (Apparently, Quakers did not use names of months.) Names: Miriam: wife and executor William: son Jonathan: son Mary: daughter William Arnold: father Mark Newby: father-in-law Samuel Jackson: friend and executor Leonardo Andrea, contributor to AFAS, states that “this” (which?) William Arnold is grandson of William whose will was probated 1774. 9 November 1800, Tyrell County: Will of Joseph Arnold, sr., planter, “sick and weak of body.” To wife, Morning Arnold ­ I lend my 65 acres joining the swamp; also a small piece of land. To son, William Arnold ­ 65 acres joining Nathan Bateman, except that small part lent to his mother. To son Joseph Arnold, jr. ­ 65 acres. To daughter, Prissa Arnold ­ 1 feather bed & furniture, 1 cow & calf. To daughter, Nancey Arnold ­ 1 feather bed & furniture, 1 cow & calf. To son, Hezekiah Arnold ­ 1 cow & calf (a place called Eagle noted). To daughter, Mary Spruill ­ 1 shilling sterling. To daughter, Sarah (?) Davenport ­ 1 shilling sterling. To son, Benjamin Arnold ­ the land lent to my wife Morning Arnold; my old hunting gun. To wife, Morning Arnold ­ remainder of estate not otherwise given away. Executors: wife Mornan Arnold, son William Arnold. (signed) Joseph “x” Arnold. 19 September 1807, Tyrell County: Will of Morning Arnold. To daughter, Asia Arnold ­ 1 cow & calf, 1 feather bed & furniture. To daughter, Amelia Arnold ­ 1 cow & calf, 1 feather bed & furniture. To son, Hesikiah Arnold ­ 1 horse, bridle & saddle, hogs, boy slave Mike. To son, Benjamin Arnold ­ 1 horse, 1 cow & calf, 1 heifer, hogs, negro fellow Casteel. To daughter, Mary Spruill, wife of Jesse Spruill - $50. To daughter, Sarah Star - $50. To son, Joseph Arnold ­ 1 silver dollar. To son, William Arnold ­ 1 silver dollar. To granddaughter, Anne Arnold ­ 1 bed & furniture. To my 4 daughters, Prissye, Nancy, Asia, & Amelia Arnold ­ my 2 negroes Patience & Grace. Residue of estate to be divided among my 6 children: Prissy, Nancy, Hesekiah, Benjamin, Asia, & Amelia Arnold. (signed) Morning “x” Arnold. CONCLUSIONS AND MORE QUESTIONS The first records we have found of any Arnolds in the Albemarle area of North Carolina are in 1680 and regard importation of Rich and Abigal Arnold and their children Rich, Jr., and Jane. A Jane Arnold is a witness to a will in 1692. Otherwise, the first continuing family begins with the death of Lawrence Arnold in 1691-92. He leaves his wife Elizabeth and his son John who is still a minor. Lawrence Godfrey, who “went by the name” of his son was to share the estate. In 1693 Jonathan Bateman proved his “rights” for importing Lawrence, Elizabeth, John, and Rebecca. By that time Jonathan, Jr., had married widow Elizabeth and became guardian for John. By 1694 John is old enough (18-20?) to receive a land grant for 150 acres on Little River adjoining William Bartlett who also adjoined William Arnold who also adjoined Thomas Godfrey. Also in 1694 John Godfrey received 640 acres on Little River and 310 acres adjoining William Bartlett and John Arnold. Was William the brother of Lawrence Arnold? Where did he come from? When? Were Thomas and John Godfrey brothers or sons of Lawrence Godfrey? Was Elizabeth a Godfrey? Did John Arnold name his son Thomas after Thomas Godfrey? Did Lawrence Godfrey name his son John after John Arnold? John Arnold’s wife was Mary, and their son John, Jr., was born in 1701. By 1720 John (in his mid forties) owned land on Little River, in Deep Creek, and in Scopernung totaling 600 acres. John, Jr., at age 19 was the only tythable child. John, Sr., (son of Lawrence) died in 1723-24 (at age ±49) leaving wife Mary, sons John, Jr.(age ±22), William (age ±13), Joseph, Thomas, and Lawrence, and daughter Elizabeth (age ±18) who later married Thomas Knowles. Meanwhile, another Lawrence Arnold and wife Jane Richards had a son John born in 1703. A Thomas Arnold witnessed wills in 1707 and 1712. Thomas, Jr., was a legatee of Gilbert Goodall in 1712. Henry Arnold witnessed a will in 1715. And Katherine Arnold was a legatee of Laurence Sarson. John Arnold, Jr., married Elizabeth Warren, daughter of Sarah. In 1729 they both witnessed the will of Joshua Whary. In 1730 John was a legatee and executor of Sarah Warren. In 1733 John witnessed the will of William Bartlett (now Barclift) of Little River. John Arnold, Jr. (grandson of Lawrence) died in 1735 at age ±34, leaving wife Elizabeth, son John (III), daughters Elizabeth and Sarah, and an unborn child. Samuel Parsons is an executor, and brother William Arnold is a witness to his will. In 1735 John Arnol witnessed the will of William Weaver, his brother-in-law, in Bertie Precinct, and William Weaver witnessed the will of Thomas Fussel, father of John’s wife Martha, in Cartee Parish. Did John and Martha have sons named Thomas or William? The 1740 Tax List of Tythables includes Lawrence, Joseph, and William Arnold (sons of John and grandsons of Lawrence). Their mother has remarried and is now Mary Hall. Brother John, Jr., died in 1735; where is brother Thomas? In 1741 William and Joseph attended an estate sale together, and Joseph witnessed the will of Thomas Norcom. Before 1745 Lawrence married Sarah Parsons, daughter of Samuel; their two children are Joseph b. 1745 and Jane b. 1747. In 1748 Joseph witnessed the will of Thomas Harvey. In 1746 in Carteret County Peter Arnold witnessed the will of Abraham Mitchell. In Chowan County, Edward Arnold died between 1748 and 1752 leaving wife Pleasant, son Edward, Jr., and daughter Hannah Stallings. Edward, Jr., was married to Alice Hunter, daughter of Ann. In 1749 William Arnold sold 95 acres in Johnston County to John Kenady. In Chowan County in 1752 Sarah Arnold witnessed the will of Benjamin Baptist. In 1751-52 Joseph Arnold died, leaving named only a daughter Mary Arnold; executors were brothers William and Lawrence. Before 1754 Lawrence Arnold (grandson of Lawrence) died. He had sold some land to Elihu Albertson in 1750, and in 1754 Elihu bought an additional 440 acres of his land from Sarah, Lawrence’s widow, and her new husband, Wm. Middleton. In her will of 1757 Elisabeth Anderson named William Arnold as her grandson. Which William is this? William, son of John, would be close to 50 by this time making his grandparents more than elderly. It is unlikely that this Elisabeth was the wife of grandfather Lawrence who died in 1691-92. And it is equally unlikely to be the mother of Mary the mother of William. More likely, this is William, Jr., grandson of John. But John’s wife was named Mary; therefore, Elisabeth Anderson must have been the mother-in-law of William, Sr., who is not otherwise recorded. Or is this William from the family of William Arnold (perhaps brother of Lawrence) who adjoined William Bartlett and Thomas Godfrey on Little River in 1694? By 1759 Thomas Arnold has already married Elizabeth Crofton in Pitt County. There has been no record of Thomas Arnold in Albemarle since his father (?) John died in 1723. In 1760 Earl Granville granted William Arnold 265 acres on the south side of Little River. In 1773-74 William Arnold (son of John, son of Lawrence) died at age ±64, leaving wife Mary, sons William, Jr. b. 1744, Benjamin b. 1746, Joseph b. 1753, Asa b. 1755, and Thomas b. 1759, and daughters Elizabeth b. 1742, Mary Wood b. 1749, Sarah b. 1757, and Rebecca b. 1763. Mary was probably his second wife and not the mother of William and Benjamin. Twenty years later, in 1794, William Arnold (probably William, Jr., son of William, son of John, son of Lawrence), a Quaker, died, leaving wife Miriam, sons William and Jonathan, and daughter Mary. His will names his father William and his father-in-law Mark Newby. It appears that we can find a modified family tree in part of the foregoing: Lawrence Arnold: d. 1691-92 John Arnold d. 1723-24; wife: Mary John, jr. d. 1735; wife: Elizabeth (joint executor with Samuel Parsons) John III Elizabeth Sarah (apparently married Samuel Parsons) unborn child, as of 11 April 1735 William Joseph Thomas Lawrence d. before 1754. Wife Sarah (remarried Wm Middleton) Joseph b. 19 November 1745 Mary Jane b. 7 February 1747 Elizabeth At this point we don’t know whether or not Thomas Arnold of Pitt County in 1779 and of Beaufort County in 1759 is a part of this Lawrence Arnold family. Since he was probably born 1730-40, he was too young to be Thomas, son of John, son of Lawrence, and he was too old to be Thomas, son of William, son of John, son of Lawrence. In order to be descended from Lawrence he would have to be Thomas (b. 1730-40), son of Thomas (b. 1710-1720), son of John (d. 1723- 24), son of Lawrence (d. 1691-92). What happened to Thomas, son of John, son of Lawrence? Did he die young, or did he move away? Was he the father of Thomas of Beaufort County who was born about 1740? The names, Thomas, William, John, and Elizabeth certainly carry on through to Pitt County. The names, Lawrence and Joseph do not carry through. Can Thomas of Beaufort and Pitt be descended from William Arnold who lived next to Thomas Godfrey and William Bartlett and near John Arnold (son of Lawrence) on Little River in 1694? Was that William a brother of Lawrence? He apparently preceded Lawrence who was “proved” in 1693. Unless he is the same one who sold land in Johnston County in 1749, we have no further record of him. Thomas Arnold is recorded in Albemarle in 1701, 1707, and 1712. Thomas, Jr., is there in 1712, also. But not after that. This Thomas is not a descendant of Lawrence; he could very well be a son of William of 1694 and the father of Thomas and William of Beaufort. What about John Arnol who was in Bertie Precinct in 1735? He was married to Martha Fussel whose father was in Cartee Parish? Could they have been the parents of Thomas and William of Beaufort County in 1759 and 1763. Beaufort is nearer to Bertie than it is to Perquimans. Martha had a brother named William, and Thomas most likely named a son John. What became of Thomas Arnold who sold land in Bath County in 1701? At this point, there are just too many possibilities for the lineage of Thomas Arnold and William Arnold of Beaufort County to have an opinion as to probability. Keep looking!