Nansemond County is an extinct county which was located in Virginia Colony and the Commonwealth of Virginia (after statehood) in the United States, from 1646 until 1972. It was named for the Nansemond, a tribe of Native Americans, who lived along the Nansemond River at the time the English colonists who settled Jamestown began arriving in 1607.

In 1636 Elizabeth City County, one of the original eight shires formed in 1634, was divided and the portion south of the James River was designated as New Norfolk County. The following year, 1637, New Norfolk County was also subdivided into Upper Norfolk and Lower Norfolk counties. Upper Norfolk became Nansemond in 1646. In 1691 Lower Norfolk was divided into Princess Anne and Norfolk counties. From Norfolk County came the independent cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth, and the county was finally extinguished in 1963 by being consolidated with the city of South Norfolk to form the City of Chesapeake.1788

The early Nanesmond County records were lost in a fire in April 1734.1789

He was born about 1718. John Taylor bought 77 acres in Chowan County, North Carolina, in 1742, and when he sold it in 1747 he was “of Nansemond County in Virginia Planter.” He was still “of Nansemond County, Virginia” when he bought 357 acres in Granville County, North Carolina, from Thomas Hunt in 1763. His 1785 will in Franklin County named his wife Mary. He was deceased by June 1788 when his will was proved in Franklin County.1777

As shown by deed recordings (see below), John Taylor was a resident of Nanesmond Co in 1747-1763. He lived the latter part of his life in Franklin County, North Carolina, where he left a will in June 1785.1790

Will of JOHN TAYLOR - daughter, MOURNING TAYLOR; wife, MARY TAYLOR; all my estate divided between "my daughters or their Representatives." Extrs. HENRY HUNT, HARDY HUNT. June 12, 1785. Witnesses GREEN HILL, THOS. HUNT. JESSE ADAMS. Undated probate. p. 27.

[Note: Mourning Taylor later married John Mitchell; the other daughters were Sarah Taylor who married Hardy Hunt; ANN Taylor who married Henry Hunt; Mary Lucretia Taylor who married Jesse Webb; and Ruth Ann Taylor who married (1) William Powell (above) and (2) William Bab

TAYLOR - I am seeking information on JOHN TAYLOR and his wife, MARY, who were probably born and married in Nansemond Co., VA. According to a deed he made in Edgecombe Co., NC, he called himself "of Nansemond Co., VA". He made his will June 12, 1785, [Will Book A, Franklin Co., NC] and mentioned his wife, MARY, their daughter, MOURNING, and "my daughters or their representatives." He appointed two of his sons-in-law, brothers HENRY and HARDY HUNT, as executors. The five daughters of JOHN and MARY TAYLOR were: SARAH married HENRY HUNT; MARY married HARDY HUNT; LUCRETIA married JESSE WEBB; MOURNING married JOHN MITCHELL, and RUTH ANN married (1) WILLIAM POWELL and (2) WILLIAM BABB. A number of TAYLOR researchers are attempting to solve the connection of JOHN TAYLOR to LABAN TAYLOR, son of JONATHAN and ABIGAIL TAYLOR of Sampson Co., NC, as the five daughters were heirs of LABAN's estate. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Bob
Sep 11, 1998 - 07:48 - From: - Robert Powell Carver

Deed Book 8
Brunswick County, Virginia
http://www.rootsweb.com/~vabrunsw/deeds/brundb8.htm

Indenture made 30 July 1764, between Kinchen Taylor of Hertford County, North Carolina, Merchant, and Miles Cary & Henry Taylor of Southampton County, whereas Miles Cary and Henry Taylor did at the request of the said Knichen Taylor become bound with him to John Wooddrop of Nansemond County, Merchant, in a bond for payment of Three Hundred and Eighteen pounds and upward and Interest growing due thereon and it is but reasonable that the said Miles Cary & Henry Taylor should be secured from all damage that may arise from their being the said Kinchen Taylors security, Witnesseth that for securing and saving harmless the said Miles Cary & Henry Taylor form all damage by means of their being security for the said Kichen Taylor and also for five shillings, grants to Miles Cary & Henry Taylor, all that plantation Tract or parcell of Land & premises lying & being in the County of Brunswick on Roses Creek which the said Kinchen Taylor purchased of Andrew Troughton Containing by estamation One Thousand Two Hundred acres, and bounded as in patent granted the said Troughton for the same is Expressed, in trust to make sale of the said land for the best price that they can and to apply the money arising from such sale to the paiment of the said bond & Interest due to the said John Wooddrop and the overplus if any to be paid to the said Kinchen Taylor. Signed Kichen Taylor. Witnesses: John Simmons, William Peterson, John Taylor and James Taylor. Received the 39 July 1764, of Miles Cary and Henry Taylor the sum of five Shillings. Signed Kichen Taylor. Witnesses: John Simmons, William Peterson, John Taylor, James Talor (sic). Court 25 March 1765, Indenture and Receipt proved by the oaths of William Peterson, John Taylor and James Taylor and OTBR. page 42-44.

http://www.genfiles.com/ivey/JohnIvey.htm

John Ivey (c1720 – 1792)  His father’s will left most of his land to John Ivey.  This land was referenced in a 1752 deed as being at the head of the Western Branch in the Great Dismal Swamp.[19]  John Ivey continued to live in the western precinct of southern Norfolk, buying additional land there from John Taylor in 1753 with brother-in-law Robert Ives a witness.[20]  He was in the Portsmouth parish tithables in 1750, 1751 (as constable), 1752, 1767 (with John Smith), 1768, 1770, 1771, 1773 (with a second John Ivey), and 1778.  He moved to Duplin County, North Carolina sometime after 1786 where he left a will dated and proved in 1792.[21]  The will named wife Leah, daughter Mary Carr and grandson Demcy Carr (son of Samuel Carr and Mary his wife),  grandson Jesse Brown and granddaughter Sarah Harrod (daughter of David Brown and Patience his wife, both deceased), daughter Sarah Parker, and daughter Charity Smith.  It also named “my niece” Elizabeth, the daughter of Lemuel Ivey, deceased, of Norfolk County, Virginia as a legatee.  No sons were mentioned in the will.  His wife was apparently the same Leah Ivey who witnessed the will of John Ives in 1777 in Norfolk County.

Early Landowners of Wilson County North Carolina1791

Often, the names of early settlers are determined from records of their ownership of land; however, all settlers were not landowners, and all landowners were not residents. The earliest record of landownership in what is now Wilson County , is a grant dated April 9, 1730 , issued to Lewis Conner of Norfolk County , Virginia . Later, this tract was bequeathed to Lewis Conner's two sons, and sold by his surviving son to David Meade of Nansemond County , Virginia . In 1774, Andrew Meade, heir of David Meade, sold the tract to Jonathan Tart. No evidence has been discovered to show that any of the Conners or Meades ever visited their holdings.

John Thomas patented 300 acres on Toisnot and White Oak swamps on March 6, 1740/41 , and lived there. Thus he became the earliest recorded settler.

Francis Rountree patented a tract on Contentnea Creek in 1739, that may or may not have been in this area. However, on March 30, 1741 , he entered 400 acres in Edgecombe County south of Contentnea Creek; and on March 9, 1743 , he entered 100 acres south of Contentnea Creek "it being the place whereon he now lives."

Many other grants were issued for land in what is now Wilson County , and some not only gave the name of the patentee, but also the names of the owners of adjoining land. Here is a list of some early landowners, taken from A PRELINIARY VIEW OF THE EARLIEST OWNERSHIP OF LAND IN WILSON COUNTY by Hugh Buckner Johnston:

Lewis Conner, 1730; John Jackson, 1739; John Thomas, 1740; Richard Sessoms, 1740; Godfrey Lee, 1740; Francis Rountree, 1741; William Cotton, 1741; Richard Braswell, 1741; John Taylor, 1742; Rowland Williams, 1742; Leonard Langston, 1743; William Bently, 1743; Tarlo Oquin, 1743; Samuel Peacock, 1743; Simon Daniel, 1744; Thomas Ivey, 1744; Joshua Lamm, 1744; Joseph Skipper, 1745; Solomon Alston, 1745; William Moore, 1745; John Stevens, 1748; Thomas Horne, 1749; and Peter Barbaree, 1750.

Colonial Bertie County, North Carolina Deed Books A-H 1720-1757 975.613B

p96 D 51 Richard Horn (Horne) of Edgecombe Precinct to John Taylor March 4, 1734. 40 pounds for 300 A. in Pottycasey Woods adj. Thomas Horn "part of Patent of land dated 1668" Wit: Robert Lassiter (Lasister), John Bohon, Charles Cavenah. May 6, 1734. John Wynns D.C/C.

Colonial Bertie County, North Carolina Abstracts of Deed Books D & E 1730-1739 Vol 3 Bell 975.616

p139 D, 51 Richard Horn (Horne) of Edgecombe Precinct to John Taylor March 4, 1734. 40 pds. For 300 A. in Pottycasey Woods adj. Thomas Horn. "art of Patent of land dated 1668". Wit. Robert Lassiter (Lasister), John Bohoon, Charles Cavenah. May 6, 1734. John Wynns D. C/C.

Franklin County
FRANKLIN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA - from Bradley, Will Book A, Franklin Co., NC, 1785-1797 [page numbers are the ones listed from original books]
Account of estate of WILLIAM POWELL, by HARDY HUNT, admr. Persons metioned: THOMPSON CURRY, RICHARD TIMBERLAKE, THOMPSON CONYER, (Jesse?) WEBB, (?) JOHNSON, THOMAS NELMS, JAMES BAKER, WILLIAM LINSEY, NATHANIEL SEAT, HENRY HUNT, CORNELIUS SULLIVANT, JOSIAH JACKSON, FRANCIS TIMBERLAKE, JOHN ANDREWS, WILLIAM JACKSON, JOHN KING, WILSON DENSON, WILLIAM HAMMON, JESSE ADAMS, WILLIAM BABB, DRURY ALFORD, (?) WILLIAMS, KITCHEN PRIMM, WILL LASHLEY, JOHN HUNT, MOSES HARRIS (to his estate), WILLIAM WEBB, WILSON DENSON, MATTHEW JOHNSON, WILL JONES, GREEN HILL, JOHN CHEVES, JACOB COOK, JOHN WEBB, JOHN TAYLOR's estate, JOHN COOLEY, WILLIAM BOWDEN, JULIUS JACKSON, ANN JONES, THOMAS ROSE, JESSE ADAMS. Undated. p. 78. [NOTE from AWNRDC: This Jesse Webb is apparently the one who married Mary Lucretia Taylor.]

Inventory of estate of THOMAS HUNT, decd. Taken March 15, 1791. HENRY HUNT, HARDY HUNT, extrs. March Court
1791. p. 77.

Sale of estate of THOMAS HUNT, decd - Buyers - THOMAS STEPHENS, FEDRICK JONES, SION HUNT, BENJAMIN HUNT, BRITTAIN HARRIS, HENRY HUNT, HARDY HUNT, BIRD FERRELL, KITCHEN PRIMM, JOHN MITCHELL, LABAN BARNES, JOHN HUBBARD, JOHN HUNT, HINDS HILLSMAN, SAMUEL ALFORD, JESSE HUNT, WILLIAM WEBB, JULIUS JACKSON, CORNELIUS SULLIVANT, WILLIAM HOBBS, JOHN ALLEN, JOHN ANDREWS, JAMES DRAKE, ROBERT HOBBS, DRURY ALFORD, WILLIAM :ANCASTER, JESSE HOBBS, THOMAS FLOYD, JOHN GREEN, JESSE ADAMS, ANNE JONES, JOHN MOODY, JAMES ALLEN. December Court, 1791. p. 89.

The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Church in Norfolk Co VA contains an entry dated 9 Oct 1750 concerning the building of a gallery in the Church in Norfolk town reaching from the Gallery of Mr John Taylor, Decd to the School Boys Gallery.1792 Upper Norfolk eventually became Nansemond Co VA. It is possible that the John Taylor Decd in this vestry book was a father or other relative of John Taylor, father of Ann Taylor.

It has suggested that Mary may have been a Hardy because of the use of this name in succeeding generations.

[Note added by Clayton Heathcock, 21 August 2009: This woman is my mitochondrial 6G Grandmother, meaning that she is my earliest female-line ancestor and that I possess her identical mitochondrial DNA. I am therefore more motivated to find out more about her than is normal for a “treetop” ancestor. If anyone stumbles accross this message and has even a vague idea about John Taylor and his wife, of Nanesmond Co VA and Franklin Co NC, please contact me at: heathcock@berkeley.edu.]