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"Caswell"

Family Pages

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Descendants of Richard CASWELL Sr.

   submitted by Clair Hadley

 

First Generation

 

      1. Richard CASWELL Sr. was born in 1685 in London. He died on 24 Apr 1755

in Dobbs Co. NC and was buried at the Red House.

 

RICHARD CASWELL Sr, b 1685 in England, came to America when his uncle, William

Smith (sister of his mother, name unknown) and his wife assumed the

responsibility of raising him when his parents died. William and his wife

had no children of their own.  They trained young Richard in the mercantile

business and engaged in overseas trade with the Colonies.  In 1701,

Richard's Aunt passed away and a few months later, William Smith and

Richard Caswell came to the America's. They came to Joppa, Maryland of Baltimore

County.  At this time Richard was about 27 years old.

They settled on a 230 acre plantation called "Sterlings Purchase" near

Joppa. They arrived on 02 FEB 1712 according to the family Bible.

 

Richard Dallam and his wife, Elizabeth Martin, were neighbors. The Dallams

had two children, William and Christian who was only 8. Richard and his

Uncle became close friends of the Dallam family. Richard Dallam passed away

and after a few months, William married the widow Dallam.  They had

children, Winstone Smith, William Smith, Jr.,  and Elizabeth Smith (who

married John Paca and became the parents of William Paca who became an

early Governor of Maryland, he was one of the signers of the Declaration and his

signature is below John Hancocks)

 

When Richard was approximately. 38 years old, he married Christian Dallam who was now

18. They were married on 12 JAN 1723.  They had Elizabeth (b. 27 OCT 1724

d.25 NOV 1725), Willaim (b. 1726  d. 10 AUG 1755), Richard Caswell Jr. (b. 03

AUG 1729 d. 10 NOV 1789), Mary Caswell (b. 01 MAY 1731 no other info

available), Martin Caswell (b. 15 FEB 1733 d. June 1789), Infant Caswell

(b/d 03 MAY 1736), Twins,; Christian and Benjamin b. 20 APR 1737 (Christian

died 01 AUG 1758 and Ben died 1791), Joseph Winstone Caswell (b. 01 DEC

1742 ,d. 1785) and Twins; Samuel and Ann Caswell b. 28 MAY 1742, (Sam died

05 JAN 1785 and Ann died 11 JAN 1784)

 

They were all born in Maryland. They attended St. Johns Anglican Church of

Joppa, Maryland. The elder Caswell was a vestryman and served as Justice of

the Baltimore County Court and was a Captain of the Militia.

 

 

Richard married Christian DALLAM. Christian was born ca1705 in Joppa, Md. (Mulberry Point).

 

They had the following children:

 

p;              2 F  i.   Elizabeth CASWELL was born on 27 Oct 1724 in Joppa, Md. She died

on 25 Nov 1725.

 

              3 M ii.   William CASWELL was born in 1725 in Joppa, Md. (Mulberry Point). He

died on 10 Aug 1755 in Dobbs Co. (now Greene or Lenoir) NC.

 

WILLIAM  b. ca. 1726. d. 1755 was the oldest brother of Gov. Richard Caswell. He

traveled with his brother Richard Jr. from Joppa, Maryland to NC at his father's bidding

in 1745. He served as clerk of the court in Johnston County NC in 1746.  No record 

has been found of a wife or any children.

 

 

p;              4 M   iii.   Governor Richard CASWELL was born on 3 Aug 1729 in Joppa, Md.

(Mulberry Point). He died on 10 Nov 1789 in Fayetteville, NC and was buried in Kinston, NC.

 

Richard married (1) Mary MCILWEAN on 21 Apr 1752. Mary was born in 1732.

Richard also married (2) Sarah HERITAGE , daughter of William HERITAGE and

Susannah MOORE, on 20 Jun 1758. Sarah was born in 1740. She died in 1794.

 

**NOTE-By 1828 William Croom  was in possession of most or all of Gov. Richard

Caswell's properties.

:

 

WILL of WILLIAM CROOM - June 2, 1828  From original at the NC Archives, Raleigh,

NC.Abstracted and contributed by Guy Potts

.In the name of God, Amen, I, William Croom of NEWINGTON, Lenoir County,North

Carolina,at the home of George Whitfield on my way to Florida, do on this 2nd day of

June inthe year of our Lord one thousandeight hundred and twenty eight, make and

 declare this instrument of writing, written on one sheet of paper, to be my last Will and

Testament, in manner and form following ,viz.1st. I give to my beloved wife Elizabeth

Croom for and during the termof her natural life my NEWINGTON PLANTATION and

lands adjoining called the RED HILL plantation,containing in the whole about

twelvehundred acres....3rd. I give to my son Bryan Croom in Florida, all the negroes 

have then in his possession,also Jacob and John, in the possession of Joshua St.

Byrd, and all my right of lands in Florida. Also two thousand dollars to be paid him out

of the sales of my estate to aid him in purchasing more lands in Florida, to him, his

heirs and assigns forever.....5th. I give to my son William Croom my TOWER HILL

plantation, beginning at Neuse River, ..6th. I give to my two daughters Anne and Eliza

Croom all my lands below Tower Hill lands,

given to William, including the Collier, MCILWEAN PLACE where Wingate now lives(**I

think Wingate must be related to the Isaac Wingate who married Martin's daughter

Mary) and the Stonington lands where David Evans lives to be equally divided by three

competent commissioners chosen by my Executors for that purpose, to them, their

heirs and assigns forever.." **NOTE-other former Caswell lands are also mentioned.

This Bryan is probably the Bryan lost in the wreck of THE HOME in 1837.

 

              5 M   iv.   Martin CASWELL was born on 2 Feb 1733 in Joppa MD.

He died in Jun 1789 in Johnston Co, Nc.

 

MARTIN, b..2 Feb. 1733 , d .June 1789- was Sheriff of Johnston County NC from

1754 to1756. He became Justice of Johnston County in 1756 and continued to serve

as a Justice fo Dobbs County when Dobbs County was formed from eastern Johnston

County in 1759. In1763, Martin gave up the Office of Justice to become Clerk of the

Court for the newly formed Dobbs County. Martin held the Office of Clerk of the Court

for 26 years until his death in the summer of 1789. He was a Colonel in the North

Carolina Militia during the Revolutionary War. Martin is probably buried in the Caswell

Cemetery located at "The Hill" where his mother and father are buried. Martin Caswell

may have married about 1754. The name of his 1st wife is not verifiable. Some

historians have recorded it as Anne McIlwean, and others recorded it as "Nancy".

Records prove his 2nd wife was Nancy Murphrey, dau. of Capt. John Murphrey and

Elizabeth Harrison. Martin was married to Nancy Murphrey by 1769 and possibly

earlier. In Sept. 1769, a  letter of Gayle Murphrey, Nancy's sister, tells of a visit to

Tower Hill where "Sister Caswell" was born of a fine son". The names of six children of

Martin Caswell  have been proved  Martin Jr, Mary, James, Francis, William,  and

Nancy . Many records exist of the descendants. of Martin jr., James, Francis and Mary ,

all of whom migrated to GA. William remained in Craven and Lenoir.

 

SOURCE: Dobbs County, NC 1780 tax list:  Martin Caswell is enumerated on a in the

Kennedy District[ (1)Lenoir County,NC,from Kinston west, but north of the Neuse River]

 "4. Martin (Col.) Caswell 4,045"

 

SOURCE: Colony of North Carolina 1735-1764 Abstract of land Patents Vol. 1 by

Margaret M. Hoffman,p.377:"5320 pg. 254 MARTIN CASWELL 3 March 1759. 250

acres in Johnston Co on the south side of Great Contentey, joining Edwards Mill Run,

John Suggs, Thos. Edwards, William Lewis, Wm. Ham, and Robert Hill. NOTE of Dixie

Ferris: Nancy "Anne"Murphrey Caswell's sister, Elizabeth "Betsy" Murphrey married

John Sugg and Nancy Caswell's sister Patsey "Martha" Murphrey married Robert Hill

*Note-Thanks to Dixie Caulder for supplying this deed.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Murphrey's will of 1788..."My daughter Nancy Caswell and her

heirs are to have the track of woodlands at Sandy Bottom adjoining Croom and the

river..."

 

 

Martin married (1) Anne(Nancy)E. MCILWEAN, daughter of James MCILWEAN and Elinore

SHINE ?, 1754 ca. Anne(Nancy)E. was born in 1730. She died before1780. This marriage is not

proved.Martin also married (2) Nancy MURPHREY, daughter of Capt. John MURPHREY and

Elizabeth HARRISON.

 

SOURCE: Quarterly Review of E. Carolina Genealogical Society, vol.4, pp.21-25

 

Papers pertaining to the settlement of the estate of  John Murphrey found among

some old papers formerly belonging to William Lyman Murphry. These papers were

typewritten in about 1920 and were in bad condition. The originals were  into there and

had probably deteriorated with age, thus causing the typed copies to be made.

              *******************

NORTH CAROLINA  DOBBS COUNTY July Session 1776 To the Worshipful the

Justices of the Couny Aforsd. The petition of Elizabeth Murphry her late husband

depart'd this life in the Month of May inst., a greatly lamented event caused by his

being thrown from his riding chair, which accident fractured his scull. Your Petitioness

sheweth that her late husband died intestate and being duly distressed as to the

nature of these times and he distibution of her sd, husband's estate amongst herself

and orphans she is advised she is entitled to her Dower and the Orphans to their

inheritance in the lands which said John Murphry died possessed of and also to a

distribution share of his personal Estate, She further sheweth her sd. Husband at his

death was seized in fee simple and possessed of sundry lots tracks or parcels of land

lying and being in Dobbs County, to Witt: One Track in the Beare Swamp quarter

adjacent (now in the tenure of Michael Murphry), one othr adjacent called and known

as Sweetnin quarter, two Tracks adjoining the Mansion farm, the Meadow track on Mill

Swamp and Muskettoe quarter on Contentney River whereon stand the mill landing

and and the Dutch house sd, quartr now in the tenure of John Murphrey the Younger,

also Two other tracks, one purchased of William Wade (in the tenure of William

Murphry and one called and known by the name of Longbridge adjacent to Nahuney

Swamp (for a more particular description of all the sd, lands she begs leave to refer to

the title papers of the said John Murphry, decd. She also sheweth that her said

husband at his death left children ten of whom are still living within this Government

vizc. Michael, John, William, Patsey, wife of Robert Hill, Elizabeth, wife of John Sugg,

ANNE, WIFE OF MARTIN CASWELL, Gale of Lawful age, Jethra, Eleanor and Sarah

under lawfull age of 21 years who on acct. of their infancy are unable to assign to Your

Petitioness her Dower or claim their just portion of sd, Estate without the assistance of

this court to the end therefore that Your Petitioness may have her Dower and also a

distribution share of his estate, real and personal set off to and allotted sd, Petitioness

and sd, orphans. May it please your Worships to grant a writ or writs of sub Poena to

the sd. Michael, John, William, Jethra, Patsey, Elizabeth, Ann, Elleanor, Gale, Sarah,

and any other children that may be found still living outside this government

commanding their answer or appearance and that Your Worship would make such

order respectful of sd, infant children as may be right & proper to be directed to Benja.

Caswell, Sheriff to Dobbs County commanding him to summons a lawfull Jury to lay

off and allot to your Petitioness her Dower in the land of sd, John Murphry decd, and

also her share of his personal estate.         Benja. Exum  Att'y. for Petr

Note: Murphrey Dixon, cousin to the dec'd. named and appt. Guardian pro hoc vice for

the children being under age

              ******************************

NOTE:in the  October Sessions 1776 the above Inventory and allotment was approved

and registered. Twelve free holders "connected with the parties within by

consanguinity or affinity" were summoned and sworn by the sheriff to lay off the

proportioned parts of

 the estate. They were: Murphrey Dixon,  Saml. Hollady, George Mewborn, Speyers

Singleton,  Richard Caswell, jr., Richard Hill, Drew. Aldridge, Thos. Aldridge, Nicholas

Smith, Samuel Caswell, Jos. Halladay, John Hampton

 

 

p;              6 M v.   Benjamin CASWELL was born on 20 Apr 1737 in Joppa, Md.

(Mulberry Point). He died calculated Nov 1791.

 

BENJAMIN b.ca 1735 was listed among the Militia of Dobbs County as an Ensign (2nd

Lt.) 1761-2. He married Martha Singleton, daughter of Samuel Singleton, and sister of

Speyers Singleton of Dobbs County. Their plantation stood about 14 miles north of

Kinston on the south side of Rainbow Creek. (now in Greene Co.)

During the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Caswell served in the Millitia, New Bern

district; he was a Capt. Of the Light Foot in the State Regiment.

Benjamin was a Justice of Dobbs County before and after the Revolutionary War. He

served several terms as Sheriff of Dobbs Co. (these terms included the Revolutionary

War period). The property tax list of 1780 shows his property valued at 3,058 pounds

(5th highest taxpayer in Capt. John Grainger's District, southwest of Hookerton; his

mother in law, Hannah Singleton, was one of the four having higher property valuation.)

 He and his eldest son Samuel were on a list of voters in a Glasgow Co. election in

1793.

Wayne County, NC records identify two sons of Benjamin Caswell: Benjamin W.

Caswell and Matthew Caswell. Benjamin W. Caswell married Elizabeth Foley June 20,

1812 Wayne Co., NC. Wayne Co. records carry the death record (Oct 1815) and land

division of Benjamin W. Caswell, Esq. therein naming his children.

Son Matthew was living in Greene Co. in 1810. Benjamin Caswell's  eldest son Samuel

and his widow, Martha Singleton, migrated to KY in 1793

 

 

Benjamin married Martha SINGLETON in Dec 1762 in Dobbs Co NC.

 

              7 F vi.   Christian twin to Benjamin CASWELL was born on 20 Apr 1737.

 

p;              8 F   vii.   Anne - twin to Samuel CASWELL was born on 28 May 1742.

 

              9 M   viii.   Samuel CASWELL was born on 28 May 1742 in Joppa, Md.

(Mulberry Point). He died on 5 Jan 1785.

 

SAMUEL b.ca 1740 served in the Revolutionary War in the militia  As Commander of

the guard at Kinston, he was responsible for the large powder magazine located there.

In 1779, 1780 and 1783 records show that he was also Register of Deeds of  Dobbs

Co. Samuel married first Mary Irons,d. 1767. they had one son, John,b. Nov. 1765

Samuel married second Elinore "Lany" Shine June22, 1775; evidence indicates she

was the daughter of  Francis Shine, a close friend of Gov. Caswell. The couple lived

near the Tower Hill plantation. They had one son, Shine Caswell, B.1784, and three

daughters, 1.Charlotte, b. March 3, 1776 ,  2. Sally, b. July 3, 1778, and 3. Elizabeth, b.

 July 22, 1783.Property transactions in  Lenoir and Craven show Shine was alive in

1813.

 

 

Samuel married (1) Mary IRONS in 1764. Mary died in 1767.

Samuel also married (2) Elinore "Lany" Shine on 22 Jun 1775 in Dobbs Co NC.

 

 Please Credit Clair Hadley when using this material.  

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