SC Colonial Memorials, Volume 12, page 14. In 1772 Thomas Quarles signed the Memorial for Moses Quarles’ 1765 grant for land on Kings Creek. Signing a Memorial in Colonial SC was roughly the equivalent of having a deed recorded in other states. It was the final step in legalizing possession of land and could occur years after the actual possession. To legally sign the Memorial, Thomas must have reached adulthood. It is probable Moses named his oldest son Thomas to honor the only father Moses had known, his stepfather Thomas Harrison.

Union County, SC, census, 1790. Thomas Quarles, a male over 16 with one female in his household is listed next door to Moses Quarles.

York County, SC, Deed Book D, pages 167-170. In 1795 Thomas Quarles recorded a 1788 deed whereby Moses Quarles had sold his land along Wolf Creek to Randolph Sandlin.. It is hard to fathom why Thomas waited seven years to record a deed Moses had made to a third party. Presumably, the deed would have been in recipient’s possession for those seven years.

York County, SC, Deed Book D, pages 141-143. In 1796 Thomas Quarles recorded a recently executed deed for transfer of land between two men whose relation to Thomas is unknown. This deed and the one immediately preceding indicate Thomas still had connections to the York County area in which Moses had settled in 1765.

Minutes oif Spartanburg County, SC, Court, 1798. David Quarles and Thomas Quarles were jointly sued. The case apparently was dropped.

Minutes of the Spartanburg County, SC Court of the Ordinary [1801], page 8. The Court appointed David Quarles administrator of Moses Quarles’ estate. Observing the custom of the time, David was Moses’ oldest surviving son in 1801, therefore Thomas had almost certainly died.

Spartanburg County, SC, Deed Book K, page 130. In 1804 David Quarles sold Moses Quarles, son of Thomas Quarles Deceased, 75 acres on the Pacolet River. The land was across the Pacolet from Elizabeth Quarles’ land, and the Pacolet was usually about knee deep at that point. Young Moses’ 75 acres and Elizabeth’s homestead in the early 1800’s were essentially next door to each other.

{In the 1810 census, Elizabeth’s son Hubbard and his young family lived close to Elizabeth on land which may be Young Moses’ 75 acres. In 1832, Penuel Quarles, then in Carroll County, GA, gave Daniel Hammett a Power of Attorney to sell or otherwise turn a profit on the 75 acres. I believe Young Moses must have died by 1832 and his heir, or heirs, had selected Penuel as their legal guardian. In 1838, Moses Quarles, of Sullivan County, TN recorded a deed selling the land. The deed was recorded in Buncombe County, NC. I believe the Moses who sold the land must have been Young Moses’ son and Thomas’ grandson. He came of age between 1832 and 1838.}

York County, SC, census, 1810. Betsy Quarles, most probably a widow, is listed. Betsy is over 45. Her household includes one male 16-26, one male less than 10, and one female 16-26. Betsy’s location in the census is close to the Wolf Creek and King’s Creek areas. It is possible Betsy was Thomas’ widow and that the young man, young woman and child who are listed with Betsy are Young Moses, his wife and their son Thomas.

Note- One might question how Thomas, listed in the 1790 census with no sons, could have been the father of Young Moses who was old enough to buy land in 1804. In answer, Young Moses could have been living with Elizabeth or Old Moses at the time of the 1790 census.

Censuses-

See above

[Research of James Foster: May 17, 2004]