A large archive of thirty-five (35) 18th and 19th-century North Carolina land grants and surveys. The majority are from Craven County, North Carolina, especially in the area surrounding the county seat, New Bern.

 

Originally a part of Bath County, Archdale County was formed in December 1705 and renamed to Craven County in around 1712, probably in honor of William, Lord Craven. One of the documents included is an 18th-century copy document of a 1706 original. The documents here show the very earliest European settlers of the county, which grew slowly until around 1740, at which point New Bern began to grow rapidly. Many of the land grants are from this period and are in New Bern proper. 

 

Notably, one of the documents (see #5), dated March 1757, is not only for 100 acres of land, but "four negroes," who are named “Henry, Mingo, Jenny Bina + Jack.” 

 

North Carolina Colony’s first printer, James Davis (1721-1785), arrived in New Bern in 1749. The first printed land grant in the archive occurs 10 years after in 1759, very likely printed by Davis. 

 

While some documents are fragments or in partial condition, land grant archives from this early are exceedingly scarce and rarely come to market. This collection had been coalesced from a family archive that has never been on the market. 

 

Documents include: 

 

1. Copy manuscript document. 10 June 1706. John Lawson. Neuse River. 

 

2. Copy manuscript document. 29 March 1714. Land at the head of Clubfoots Creek. Thomas Pollack and Thomas Boyd.

 

3. Portion only, lacking upper half. Manuscript document signed by William Dupuis, and Francies Dupuis. Craven Precinct, Bath County, North Carolina Province, 27 September 1733. 1 page, approx. 12 ⅛ x 15 in. 

 

4. Portion only, lacking lower portions that include dates and signatures. 15 July 1738 (from docketing). John Carruthers and Thomas Lovick. With 3 additional fragments, 2 with signatures of John Carruthers and one with seal. “Lying on the East side of a Creek called in the Indian Tongue Inisquosque."

 

5. Manuscript document signed by John Smith. Craven County, NC, 1750. 3 pieces, very tattered. 

 

6. Manuscript document signed by Thomas Lovick. Carteret County, North Carolina. March Court 1757. 1 page, approx. 11 ¼ x 17 in. Thomas Lovick to John Benners (his son-in-law) and his wife Penelope. 1 plantation of 100 acres, the following negro slaves “ to wit, Henry, Mingo, Jenny Bina + Jack.”

 

6. Partly printed land grant. 29 September 1759. Signed by Hobbs. 2 very tattered pieces. 

 

7. Partly printed land grant. Undated (lower portion lacking). John Benners. 100 Acres. N.d. (1750s?, Before 1760; from the reign of George II). 2 lg. Pieces and a small fragment.

 

8. Portion only. Partly printed land grant. Craven, Co., NC, 1760. James Bell. 2 pieces - lacking significant portions.

 

9. Portion only, upper half only. Manuscript document.  Craven Co., 176[1/9]. John Taney? and James Jones. 

 

10. Hand-drawn survey map. 1764.

 

11. Mansucript Document. Craven County, North Carolina, 9 September 1768. 2 pages, folio. Docketing. Thomas Brown and John Benners for a parcel of land south of the Nuce River, 200 acres

 

12. Manuscript document signed by Thomas McLin. 19 October 1768. Joseph Pittman and Thomas McLin. 140 pounds. Separated along folds, lacking portion.

 

13. Partly printed land grant. No. 280. Co. Craven, NC, 22 December 1768. William Stewart. Separated along folds.

 

15. Copy manuscript document.  Craven Co. 22 December 1768 and  7 April 1770. Bartholomew Howard. 120 acres. And 300 acres.Docketing. Separated along folds.

 

16. Manuscript document signed by James Bell. 9 June 1769. James Bell and John Bishop, Jr. 

 

17. Manuscript document. Craven Co., 13 March 1769. 2 pages, folio. John Pitman and John Benners. 31 pounds, for 100 acres on the east side of Dadams Creek. Signed by John Pittman and James Blount. With 2 fragments with entry to Craven County Superior Court, March 1769. 

 

18. Partly printed land grant. 14 March 1775. Bazil Smith. Separations along folds, heavy creasing. Large portion of upper middle lacking. 

 

19. Manuscript document signed by Wm. Bryan. Craven Co. NC, 1786. 

 

20. Hand-drawn survey map. 11 March 1788. 

 

21. Land survey with hand-drawn map. [Craven County, NC], n.d. [1790s?]. Mr. Patrick’s land, John Lourch, Mr. Cox. Integral address panel sent to John Benners.

 

22. Document signed by John B. Heritage. Craven County, NC, 7 March 1791. 1 p. Docketing. John B. Heritage to John Benners for Lot No. 21. 80 pounds “current money”. 

 

23. Land survey with hand-drawn map. “Division of the Lands of John Bishop Decd. between Joseph and Jarny(?) Bishop. Deliver to Jn Bishop”. Circa 1795. There were 2 John Bishops in Craven Co., NC, during this period who were half brothers. John Bishop (1733-1801) and John Bishop (1725-1795, b. In Jamestown). Suggests that it was the elder Bishop, as the forwarding may be to the half-brother. 

 

24. Manuscript survey with hand-drawn map/survey. Carteret Co., NC, 12 April 1809. William Thomas.  

 

25. Hand-drawn map/survey. 1812. “Plot of Booths & Tookes & Commissions(?)"

 

26. Manuscript document. Beaufort Co., NC, 3 July 1813. Mary E. Grimes. Joseph W. Davis, Jr. $165. 

 

27-30. Deeds for Henry M. Cooks.

27. Manuscript indenture. Cartaret Co., NC, 25 February 1820. Joseph W. Davies Jr, Henry M. Cooks. $800 land in Beaufort.  

 

28. Manuscript indenture. Cartaret Co., NC, 20 October 1820. Bridges Arundell. Henry M. Cooks. $100, lot in Beaufort town.  

 

29. Partly printed document. Beaufort, NC, 11 June 1827. Henry M. Cooks, Thomas W. Thompson. $800 land in Beaufort.

 

30. Manuscript document. Carteret Co., NC, 22 June 1830. Henry M. Cooks, Zecharias Pigolt, Benjamin Leecraft, Wm. H. Borden, and Daniel W. Borden.  Bill of complaining against James Manncy…foreclosure.

 

31. Partial Manuscript.. 3 January 1820. St. Louis Co., Missouri. Victor Hab/Nab and Rufus Easton. 

 

32. Manuscript document. Craven Co, NC, 14 October 1848. Thomas J. Physion and Aley Bratcher. $25. Cows named Silver top and Damsel 
Russell Phips.

 

33-34. Deeds for Russell Phips

33. Newbern, NC, 28 March 1849. James Piver and Russell Phips. Sale of houses. 

 

34. Newbern, NC, 15 May 1849. John R. Justice. Russell Phips. $95 land in New Bern.

 

35. Partly printed document. Signed by Richard Taylor. Craven Co., NC, 4 July 1849. Complaint from Joseph A Williams & Co. that Ann Smith owes him $41.65 with attached mss. Listing expenses from 25 February 1848 - 27 January 1849.

 

[Colonial America, 13 Colonies, Thirteen Colonies] [Slavery, Enslavement]