Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
Spouses
Notes for Edward Hathcock
3.1 EDWARD HATHCOCK (Northampton County)536
One of the earliest Hathcock men of record in North Carolina was Edward Hathcock, who lived in Northampton County prior to 1749. Land transactions in Northampton County indicate that he sold land there from 1753 until at least the year of 1758. As we shall see, there is some evidence that he either died or had moved by 1765. Since this was a period in which tax lists, census, or other records are not available for study, these particular land transactions become important in attempting to learn something of Edward Hathcock during this early period. The earliest record found where Edward Hathcock's name appears is in a 1749 Granville Land Grant to Joshua Step [1].
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1749
Book 2, Page 495
"Lord Granville to Joshua Step of Northampton County, 22 June 1749, 270 acres on the east side of Arthur's Creek, joining Edward Hathcock and Norton’s Branch. Witnesses: J. Dawson, Osbourne Jeffreys. Issued by Edward Moseley, Register. Northampton County Court, October 1758 by J. Edwards, Court Clerk."
The above deed abstract proves that Edward Hathcock was living in Northampton County as early as 1749 in an area east of Arthur's Creek and near Norton's Branch. Norton's Branch probably refers to James Norton, Senior, who we shall later see was a son-in-law of Edward Hathcock. Norton's Branch was probably a branch of Arthur’s Creek. Arthur's Creek is shown on modern-day maps of Northampton County as being approximately five miles northwest of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Edward's land was situated about two miles north of the Roanoke River on Arthur's Creek.
In 1749, Northampton County was a relatively new county having been formed from Bertie Precinct eight years before. In 1741, a part of Bertie Precinct was cut off to form Northampton County, named in honor of George, Earl of Northampton, an English nobleman. Edward is believed to have obtained a patent for his land after it was constituted as Northampton County, and probably in the 1740's, shortly after Northampton County was formed, Joshua Step received a patent of 400 acres of land located on Arthur's Creek and joining his own land. The date of this patent was 6 June 1739. Also, on the same day, William Short received a patent for 100 acres of land on the head of Toublefields Pocosin [3]. William Short was a witness to the next deed wherein Edward Hathcock is mentioned in 1753. He appears in other records as Major William Short.
The public law which formed this new county of Northampton reads:
". . . that part of Bertie County which lieth north and west of Sandy Run, and in a direct line from the head of the said run to the head of the Beaver Dam Swamp, and Meherrin Creek and river, be and is hereby created into a county, by the name of Northampton County; and that the said bounds . . be the limits between Society Parish and Northwest Parish of Bertie."
No references are found to Hathcocks in Northampton County's early days nor in the first Deed Book of Northampton County. However, Edward Hathcock's name is found in Deed Books Two and Three. Books Two and Three refer to Edward and his family during the period from 1750 to the 1760' s. Books Six, Seven and Eight seem to refer to another branch of Hathcocks during the period 1777 to 1791 (see 2.1.2), and probably relate to the son and grandson of Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virqinia.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1753
Book 2, Page 129
"Edward Heathcock of Northampton County, planter, to son-in-law, James Norton for 4 shillings to be paid to the receivers of the Earl of Granville, 100 acres, part of Patent to said Heathcock. Deed dated 26 Nov. 1753. Proven in November Court 1753. Witnesses: William Short and Thomas Short." (The full text of this deed is found at the end of this section)
The instrument of patent to the land mentioned in the above abstract has not been located in the North Carolina archives and it appears that this record has not survived. Subsequent land deeds indicate that the patent contained at least 320 acres of land. The grant was issued by Governor Gabriel Johnson who held that office from 1734 to 1758.
Four years later. Edward Hathcock began to sell off his land. From simple calculations, Edward Heathcock must have been an old man in 1757 since he had a son, Thomas, believed to have been 50 years old.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1757
Book 2, Page 387
"Edward Heathcock of Northampton County, North Carolina, planter, to Drury Jordon of Brunswick County, Virginia for 12 pounds of Virginia money, 100 acres on north side of Ragland's Ferry Road adjacent to James Norton and other lands of said Heathcock. Co-signed by wife Catron. Witnesses: Bolton Jordon and James Haley; dated 2 April by J. Edwards" [4].
James Norton soon sold the land given to him by Edward. On this same day of 2 April 1757: James Norton and his wife Martha (the daughter of Edward Heathcock) sold their land, which had been given to them by Edward. This was a gift from father to daughter and son-in-law. This deed refers to James Norton, Senior, not James Norton, Junior.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1757
Book 2, Page 293
"James Norton and Martha, his wife, of Northampton County to Drury Jordon of Brunswick County, Virginia on 2 April 1757 for 17 pounds of Virginia money, 100 acres more or less, joining Edward Hathcock. Witnesses: James Haley, John Jordon, Morris Floyd. Registered Northampton County, May Court 1757, J. Edwards.”
A few months, later a Granville Grant to John Richards further describes the location of Edward Hathcock's land during the 1750's.
Northampton County. North Carol ina Deed Abstract, 1757
Book 2, Page 412
"Lord Granville to John Richards of Northampton County on 9 November 1757 for 10 shillings sterling money 533 acres, joining Tubafield's Run, Edward Heathcock, Joshua Step, Richard Biggens, William Short, and Raccoon Branch and other lands of the said Richards. Witnesses: J. Edwards, William Coker, Issued by Joshua Bodley and Francis Corbin, Registers; Northampton County, November Court, 1757, by J. Edwards, County Court.”
A year later in 1758, two deed records of Northampton County show that Edward Hathcock disposed of 120 acres more of his land within two days. One of these deeds is genealogically Important since it established that one of Edward Hathcock's sons was Thomas Hathcock. It could be speculated that another of his sons was John Hathcock.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1758
Book 2, Page 475
"Edward Heathcock to John Heathcock, both of Northampton County, for 2 pounds 10 shillings, 20 acres on Tubafield Run adjacent to Drury Jordan dated 17 May 1758. Witnesses : John Scoules and Drury Jordan. July Court, 1758."
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1758
Book 2, Page 476
"Edward Hathcock to his son Thomas Hathcock, Deed of Gift, 100 acres on Tubafield's Run adjacent to James Parham, Drury Jordon, Ragland's Ferry Road dated 15 May 1758; Proven July Court 1758. Witnesses: John Scoules and Drury Jordon.” (The full text of this deed is found at the end of this section)
It would appear from records below that in March of 1761 Edward Hathcock was still living in this area, however; there have been no further deeds found would indicate that Edward Hathcock sold land there after 1756.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1761
Book 3, Page
"John Cannon, Carpenter, to James Stanton. Hatter, 381 acres adjacent to Joshua Step and Edward Hathcock. Witnesses; Benjamin Traver and Samuel Traver. Proven May Court 1761 dated 21 March 1761."
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1761
Book 3, Page 132
"John Heathcock, Planter, for 51 pounds to Drury Jordan, near Edward Hathcock's land, part of a tract formerly held by Edward Heathcock. Proven: August Court 1761. Witnesses: John Jordan, Thomas Jordan. Dated 2 June 1761."
The March deed from John Cannon to James Stannon seems to indicate that Edward was still living there in March of 1761 and the June deed immediately above seems to indicate that Edward Hathcock was there in June 1761. As we shall see later, Edward Hathcock must have still been living near by in 1763.
In 1762, one Anney Hathcock bought land from James Norton, who will be remembered as Edward Hathcock' s son-in~law. The land described in this deed was surely near the place where Edward lived on Arthur's Creek. The language of this deed reads as if James Norton had inherited this land because it specifically mentions " ... I the said James Norton am lawfully seized and possessed of the same in mine own proper right and absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple and have good write full power and lawful authority to bargain, sell and convey ... " This language was used in deeds of this period, and does not necessarily mean that the land was inherited. Aney Hathcock sold this land near Arthur's Creek twenty-five years later.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1762
Book 3 Page 202
"James Norton to Aney Heathcock 50 acres beginning at a Spanish Oak on John Hill's line on Arthur's Creek and on Sylvancus Stanton's line ... being part of a track possessed by Sylvancus Stanton. Dated 22 June 1762. Witnesses: John Jordon, Ed. Jornager & J. Short
The full text:
NORTON to HEATHCOCK
TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Know ye that I, James Norton of Northampton County, North Carolina, planter, for and in consideration of the sum of ten pounds current money of Virginia to me in hand paid before the ensealing and delivery hereof by Any Heathcock of the County aforesaid, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and myself fully paid and satisfied and thereof and every part and parcel thereof do exonerate, acquit and discharge the said Aney Heathcock, her heirs executors and administrators forever: one certain messuage and tract of land situate, lying and being in the County of Northampton. butted and rounded as followeth. Viz:
BEGINNING AT A CORNER Spanish Oak in John Hill’s line on Arthur's Creek, thence up the said creek to a Sassafras Saplin and grass thence a north course along a line of marked trees to a corner Turkey Oak in a dividing line between James Norton and Sylvancus Stanton, thence east along the said line to a corner pine in Hill's line and alonq his line to the first station. Being part of a tract of land possessed by Sylvancus Stanton, containing by estimation fifty acres more or less:
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said granted and bargained premises with all appurtenances to the same belonqing or anywlse appertalnlng to her the said Aney Heathcock, her heirs and assigns forever: and I the said James Norton am lawfully seized and possessed of the same in mine own proper right and absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple and have good write, full power and lawful authority to bargain sell and convey the same in manner as aforesaid that the said Aney Heathcock, her heirs and assigns shall and may from to time and at all times forever hereafter by virtue of these presents lawfully and peaceably have and hold. use. occupy, possess and enjoy the said premises with the appurtenances free and clear and freely and clearly acquitted, exonerated and discharged of and from all former gifts, grants, bargrains, sales, liens, mortgages, indentures, judgements, executions, and incumbrances whatsoever in as full and ample manner to all intents and purposes as the most learned in the law can devise, and I the said James Norton do further covenant and bind myself, my heirs etc to warrant and defend the said Aney Heathcock, her heirs and assiqns in quite and peaceable possession of all and singular the said granted premises against the claim and demand of any person or persons whomsoever.
IN WITNESS whereof, I the said James Norton have hereunto set my hand seal 22 day of June AD 1762 .
Northampton Co.
November Court 1762
James Norton
(signed with mark)
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presents of us, John Jordon, Edward Jomager and Jonas Short. This Deed proven in open court on the oath of John Jordon one of the witnesses thereto on motion was ordered to be registered.
Six months later in January of 1763, Edward Hathcock's son, Thomas, sold the 100 acres of land he had received from his father (May 1758), and it would appear from the wording of the deed ... "near Edward Hathcock’s land ..." that Edward Hathcock was living in January 1763.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1763
Book 3, Page 240
"Thomas Heathcock to James Stanton for 20 pounds. 100 acres near Edward Hathcock’s land and Drury Jordan’s land on Ragland's Ferry Road. Witnesses: Burnell Bass. Dated 13 January 1763.”
Of considerable interest among the Northampton County deeds is one showing that Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virginia, sold land in Northampton County. It is clear from descriptions that this land was located very near Edward Hathcock's land. Joseph Hathcock’s plantation in Virginia was in the southwestern part of what is now Greensville County, Virginia, on Fountain Creek and north of the Northampton County, North Carolina, line. The distance between Joseph's and Edward's plantations was approximately ten miles although Edward lived in North Carolina whereas Joseph lived in Virginia.
Joseph Heathcock lived in that part of Virginia which later became Greensville County in 1781, and he was living there when the first court of the county was established in 1732. He received a Colonial Patent in 1732 on the waters of Falling Run. He later received other patents on both sides of Fountain Creek in 1747. Joseph died in late 1783 or early 1784 and left his Last Will and Testament naming his wife, Elizabeth, a daughter, Mary, and four sons, John, William, Jesse, Charles and three grandchildren: (children of his daughter): Howell, David, and Elizabeth (see section 2.1).
The relationship of Joseph to Edward Hathcock remains unknown at this writing. but surely they were closely related - possibly brothers. The best estimate is that Edward was born no later than 1700, and that Joseph was born around 1700.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1763
Book 3. Page 303
"Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virginia, to Robert Ingram of Northampton County, North Carolina, 7 pounds for land in Northampton County, 50 acres near John Richard's and Drury Jordan's land. Witnesses: John Davis Jr. John Davis Sr. and Vinson Vaughn. Dated 23 June 1763.” (The full text of this deed is found at the end of this Section)
It seems that this land was adjacent to the lands of Edward Hathcock, and it is significant that there is no Northampton deed showing that Joseph purchased land nor was granted land there, implying that Joseph may have been the son of Edward Hathcock and this land was a gift from Edward. Further, the language of the deed recites nothing to suggest that it was land either purchased or patented.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1787
Book 7, Page 422
"Dated 9 February 1787. Aney Hathcock of Northampton County to Peter Merimoon of Northampton County for 25 pounds current money of Virginia. 50 acres adjoining Arthur's Creek. Benjamin Patterson's line, John Merimoon's line, Peter Merimoon's line. Witnesses: Benjamin Patterson, William Patterson, John Merimoon. Registered 28 July 1787. Aney signed by mark."
A Peter, a Robert and a Francis Merimoon were living in Captain Winbourne's District in the 1786 tax list of Northampton County.
No further record of Edward Hathcock is found in Northampton County; however an Edward Hathcock is mentioned repeatedly in the Bute County (later Franklin), North Carolina, land transactions of this period (1766-1781). It remains unknown if these two Edward Hathcocks were the same man and it can not be assumed to be so. As shown above, Edward Hathcock of Northampton County had a son named Thomas, and a Thomas Hathcock does appear on a Bute County tax list of 1769.
[Deed Proving that Thomas Hathcock was son of Edward Hathcock]
Northampton County. North Carolina, 1758
Book 2, Page 476
THIS INDENTURE made the 15th day of May Anno Domini 1758 between Edward Hathcock of Northhampton County, North Carolina, planter, of the one part and Thomas Hathcock of the same County, planter, of the other part; Witnesseth the said Edward Hathcock, for the love and good will that I have for my son Thomas Hathcock, have given, grant, alien, released and confirmed and by these presence do give, grant, alien, release, enfeoff and confirm unto the said Thomas Hathcock and his heirs forever, one certain tract or parcel of land, lying and being in the County aforesaid on Tubafield's Run, and is by estimation, one hundred acres more or less, beginning at James Parham's corner pine in Edward Hathcock's line then along the said line a northeast course to a corner hickory, then northwest along the patent line to Drury Jordon's line, then along Jordon's line to Ragland's Ferry Road and then along the said road to the center of three Red Oaks, then along a line of marked trees near a southwest course to the first station. Together with all woods and woods swamps, low grounds, waters with all houses, orchards, gardens, profits, hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining; to have and to hold the said land and premises therein contained unto the said Thomas Hathcock, his heirs and assigns forever and the said Edward Hathcock for himself, his heirs doth covenant and agree to and with the said Thomas Hathcock, his heirs and assigns that the above granted land and premises with every of their appurtenances given him the said Edward Hathcock, his heirs and all other persons whatsoever to warrant and forever defend by these presence. (emphasis added)
In witness whereof the said Edward Hathcock hath set his hand and seal the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of John Scoules, Drury Jordon
Edward Hathcock - his mark [5]
Northampton County
July Court 1758
The preceding deed was proven in open court on the oath of John ScouJes, one of the witnesses thereto, and upon motion was ordered to be registered.
Attest: J. E. Edwards, Clerk
HATHCOCK TO INGRAM
THIS INDENTURE made this 23rd day of June in the year of our Lord God One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Three, between Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County in the Province of Virginia of the one part and Robert Ingram of the County of Northampton and Province of North Carolina of the other part,
WITNESSETH that the said Joseph Hathcock for and in consideration of the sum Seven Pounds Virginia money to me in hand paid, by the said Robert Ingram at on before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof said Joseph Hathcock do hereby acknowledge, and have granted, bargained sold, aliened, enfeoff, released and confirm am by these presents do bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff, release, and confirm unto the said Robert Ingram, his heirs and assigns forever, one certain tract of (or) parcel of land in Northampton County, Fifty acres more or less and inclosed by the lines of James Stanton, John Richards and Drury Jordon and also the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents and services thereof and also the estate, right title, interest, property claim, or demand whatsoever of the said Robert Ingram afirm and ? the said land and premises with the appertenances, profits and to every part and parcel thereof, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said tract or parcel of land and premises above mentioned with the appertenances unto the said Robert Ingram forever, the said Joseph Hathcock for himelf, his heirs, executors (and) administrators doth covenant and grant to and with the said Robert Ingram, and his heirs and all and every other person or persons and his, and their (they) shall and will, from time to time, and at all times hereafter upon the reasonable request and at the profits, cost and charges in the law of the said Robert Ingram, his heirs and assigns, make do execute or cause to be executed, all and every such further and other lawful reasonable act and acts, thing or things, devise and devises, convey and conveyances in the law whatsoever for the better and more perfect granting, conveying and assuring of all and singular the premises above mentioned with the appertenances the said Robert Ingram, his heirs and assigns forever according to the true intent and meaning of these presence as by the said Joseph Hathcock, his heirs and assigns or his or their council learned in law shall be reasonably devised and devised ? or required and also that said Joseph Hathcock his heirs, the said track or parcel of land and premises and every part thereof against him and his heirs and against all and other person or persons whatsoever shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents unto Robert Ingram, his heirs am assigns.
WITNESS whereof, the said Joseph Hathcock have unto set my hand and seal on the date) first above written.
Joseph Hathcock (seal) his X mark
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
in presents of us: John Davis Jr.
John (X) Davis and Vinson Vaughn
Northampton County; May Court 1764
ENDNOTES
[1] The History of the Dividing Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina by William Byrd (one of the Virginia Commissioners) relates that North Carolina and Virginia had a prolonged and bitter dispute about the boundary between the two colonies; the former insisting that the 1663 charter provision of 36' was the proper one, later contending that the 1665 charter provision of 36'30" was the effective one. In 1728 commissioners representing the two colonies ran the line westward as far as Stokes County, North Carolina, and North Carolina gained virtually all of the region in dispute, and its commissioners reporting that "there was taken in by the line into Carolina a very great quantity of lands and Number of Families that before had been under Virginia." About this time (July 25, 1729), North Carolina became a Royal Colony, when 7 of the 8 proprietors - at their own request - sold their shares in "Carolina" to George II. The Carteret share was not sold and later became the Granville District.
[2] 1749-1750 Granville County tax list does not contain any Hathcock or variant of the surname.
[3] Osrourne Jeffreys is prominently mentioned in Franklin County, which was formed in 1779 from Bute County.
[4] Toublefield Pocosin is no doubt the same stream as Tubafield's Run. It was probably named for Richcard Turbeville of Isle of Wight County. Virginia. He and wife Ann received a patent in this area in 1712. It is spelled as Turbevile in some earlier records.
[5] This deed was also signed by the wife of Edward, whose name was Catron, a French nick-name, (or pet name) along with Catlin, for "Catherine", according to American Surnames, by Elsdson C. Smith at page 95. Also, according to the North Carolina Archives, Ragland Ferry was located on Mush Island and later called Prides Ferry. Mush Island is in the Roanoke River, northeast of Weldon, NC, in northeast Halifax County. It is approximately 2-1/4 miles in length and 1/4 miIe wide. Ragland Ferry was probably named for or Stephen Ragland of Brunswick County, Virginia. Stephen Ragland died in Greensville County, Virginia about January 1794. (Will Book 1, page 240. Evan Ragland is found in Elbert County, Georgia, as an officer in the militia in 1791.
One of the earliest Hathcock men of record in North Carolina was Edward Hathcock, who lived in Northampton County prior to 1749. Land transactions in Northampton County indicate that he sold land there from 1753 until at least the year of 1758. As we shall see, there is some evidence that he either died or had moved by 1765. Since this was a period in which tax lists, census, or other records are not available for study, these particular land transactions become important in attempting to learn something of Edward Hathcock during this early period. The earliest record found where Edward Hathcock's name appears is in a 1749 Granville Land Grant to Joshua Step [1].
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1749
Book 2, Page 495
"Lord Granville to Joshua Step of Northampton County, 22 June 1749, 270 acres on the east side of Arthur's Creek, joining Edward Hathcock and Norton’s Branch. Witnesses: J. Dawson, Osbourne Jeffreys. Issued by Edward Moseley, Register. Northampton County Court, October 1758 by J. Edwards, Court Clerk."
The above deed abstract proves that Edward Hathcock was living in Northampton County as early as 1749 in an area east of Arthur's Creek and near Norton's Branch. Norton's Branch probably refers to James Norton, Senior, who we shall later see was a son-in-law of Edward Hathcock. Norton's Branch was probably a branch of Arthur’s Creek. Arthur's Creek is shown on modern-day maps of Northampton County as being approximately five miles northwest of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Edward's land was situated about two miles north of the Roanoke River on Arthur's Creek.
In 1749, Northampton County was a relatively new county having been formed from Bertie Precinct eight years before. In 1741, a part of Bertie Precinct was cut off to form Northampton County, named in honor of George, Earl of Northampton, an English nobleman. Edward is believed to have obtained a patent for his land after it was constituted as Northampton County, and probably in the 1740's, shortly after Northampton County was formed, Joshua Step received a patent of 400 acres of land located on Arthur's Creek and joining his own land. The date of this patent was 6 June 1739. Also, on the same day, William Short received a patent for 100 acres of land on the head of Toublefields Pocosin [3]. William Short was a witness to the next deed wherein Edward Hathcock is mentioned in 1753. He appears in other records as Major William Short.
The public law which formed this new county of Northampton reads:
". . . that part of Bertie County which lieth north and west of Sandy Run, and in a direct line from the head of the said run to the head of the Beaver Dam Swamp, and Meherrin Creek and river, be and is hereby created into a county, by the name of Northampton County; and that the said bounds . . be the limits between Society Parish and Northwest Parish of Bertie."
No references are found to Hathcocks in Northampton County's early days nor in the first Deed Book of Northampton County. However, Edward Hathcock's name is found in Deed Books Two and Three. Books Two and Three refer to Edward and his family during the period from 1750 to the 1760' s. Books Six, Seven and Eight seem to refer to another branch of Hathcocks during the period 1777 to 1791 (see 2.1.2), and probably relate to the son and grandson of Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virqinia.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1753
Book 2, Page 129
"Edward Heathcock of Northampton County, planter, to son-in-law, James Norton for 4 shillings to be paid to the receivers of the Earl of Granville, 100 acres, part of Patent to said Heathcock. Deed dated 26 Nov. 1753. Proven in November Court 1753. Witnesses: William Short and Thomas Short." (The full text of this deed is found at the end of this section)
The instrument of patent to the land mentioned in the above abstract has not been located in the North Carolina archives and it appears that this record has not survived. Subsequent land deeds indicate that the patent contained at least 320 acres of land. The grant was issued by Governor Gabriel Johnson who held that office from 1734 to 1758.
Four years later. Edward Hathcock began to sell off his land. From simple calculations, Edward Heathcock must have been an old man in 1757 since he had a son, Thomas, believed to have been 50 years old.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1757
Book 2, Page 387
"Edward Heathcock of Northampton County, North Carolina, planter, to Drury Jordon of Brunswick County, Virginia for 12 pounds of Virginia money, 100 acres on north side of Ragland's Ferry Road adjacent to James Norton and other lands of said Heathcock. Co-signed by wife Catron. Witnesses: Bolton Jordon and James Haley; dated 2 April by J. Edwards" [4].
James Norton soon sold the land given to him by Edward. On this same day of 2 April 1757: James Norton and his wife Martha (the daughter of Edward Heathcock) sold their land, which had been given to them by Edward. This was a gift from father to daughter and son-in-law. This deed refers to James Norton, Senior, not James Norton, Junior.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1757
Book 2, Page 293
"James Norton and Martha, his wife, of Northampton County to Drury Jordon of Brunswick County, Virginia on 2 April 1757 for 17 pounds of Virginia money, 100 acres more or less, joining Edward Hathcock. Witnesses: James Haley, John Jordon, Morris Floyd. Registered Northampton County, May Court 1757, J. Edwards.”
A few months, later a Granville Grant to John Richards further describes the location of Edward Hathcock's land during the 1750's.
Northampton County. North Carol ina Deed Abstract, 1757
Book 2, Page 412
"Lord Granville to John Richards of Northampton County on 9 November 1757 for 10 shillings sterling money 533 acres, joining Tubafield's Run, Edward Heathcock, Joshua Step, Richard Biggens, William Short, and Raccoon Branch and other lands of the said Richards. Witnesses: J. Edwards, William Coker, Issued by Joshua Bodley and Francis Corbin, Registers; Northampton County, November Court, 1757, by J. Edwards, County Court.”
A year later in 1758, two deed records of Northampton County show that Edward Hathcock disposed of 120 acres more of his land within two days. One of these deeds is genealogically Important since it established that one of Edward Hathcock's sons was Thomas Hathcock. It could be speculated that another of his sons was John Hathcock.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1758
Book 2, Page 475
"Edward Heathcock to John Heathcock, both of Northampton County, for 2 pounds 10 shillings, 20 acres on Tubafield Run adjacent to Drury Jordan dated 17 May 1758. Witnesses : John Scoules and Drury Jordan. July Court, 1758."
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1758
Book 2, Page 476
"Edward Hathcock to his son Thomas Hathcock, Deed of Gift, 100 acres on Tubafield's Run adjacent to James Parham, Drury Jordon, Ragland's Ferry Road dated 15 May 1758; Proven July Court 1758. Witnesses: John Scoules and Drury Jordon.” (The full text of this deed is found at the end of this section)
It would appear from records below that in March of 1761 Edward Hathcock was still living in this area, however; there have been no further deeds found would indicate that Edward Hathcock sold land there after 1756.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1761
Book 3, Page
"John Cannon, Carpenter, to James Stanton. Hatter, 381 acres adjacent to Joshua Step and Edward Hathcock. Witnesses; Benjamin Traver and Samuel Traver. Proven May Court 1761 dated 21 March 1761."
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1761
Book 3, Page 132
"John Heathcock, Planter, for 51 pounds to Drury Jordan, near Edward Hathcock's land, part of a tract formerly held by Edward Heathcock. Proven: August Court 1761. Witnesses: John Jordan, Thomas Jordan. Dated 2 June 1761."
The March deed from John Cannon to James Stannon seems to indicate that Edward was still living there in March of 1761 and the June deed immediately above seems to indicate that Edward Hathcock was there in June 1761. As we shall see later, Edward Hathcock must have still been living near by in 1763.
In 1762, one Anney Hathcock bought land from James Norton, who will be remembered as Edward Hathcock' s son-in~law. The land described in this deed was surely near the place where Edward lived on Arthur's Creek. The language of this deed reads as if James Norton had inherited this land because it specifically mentions " ... I the said James Norton am lawfully seized and possessed of the same in mine own proper right and absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple and have good write full power and lawful authority to bargain, sell and convey ... " This language was used in deeds of this period, and does not necessarily mean that the land was inherited. Aney Hathcock sold this land near Arthur's Creek twenty-five years later.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1762
Book 3 Page 202
"James Norton to Aney Heathcock 50 acres beginning at a Spanish Oak on John Hill's line on Arthur's Creek and on Sylvancus Stanton's line ... being part of a track possessed by Sylvancus Stanton. Dated 22 June 1762. Witnesses: John Jordon, Ed. Jornager & J. Short
The full text:
NORTON to HEATHCOCK
TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Know ye that I, James Norton of Northampton County, North Carolina, planter, for and in consideration of the sum of ten pounds current money of Virginia to me in hand paid before the ensealing and delivery hereof by Any Heathcock of the County aforesaid, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and myself fully paid and satisfied and thereof and every part and parcel thereof do exonerate, acquit and discharge the said Aney Heathcock, her heirs executors and administrators forever: one certain messuage and tract of land situate, lying and being in the County of Northampton. butted and rounded as followeth. Viz:
BEGINNING AT A CORNER Spanish Oak in John Hill’s line on Arthur's Creek, thence up the said creek to a Sassafras Saplin and grass thence a north course along a line of marked trees to a corner Turkey Oak in a dividing line between James Norton and Sylvancus Stanton, thence east along the said line to a corner pine in Hill's line and alonq his line to the first station. Being part of a tract of land possessed by Sylvancus Stanton, containing by estimation fifty acres more or less:
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said granted and bargained premises with all appurtenances to the same belonqing or anywlse appertalnlng to her the said Aney Heathcock, her heirs and assigns forever: and I the said James Norton am lawfully seized and possessed of the same in mine own proper right and absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple and have good write, full power and lawful authority to bargain sell and convey the same in manner as aforesaid that the said Aney Heathcock, her heirs and assigns shall and may from to time and at all times forever hereafter by virtue of these presents lawfully and peaceably have and hold. use. occupy, possess and enjoy the said premises with the appurtenances free and clear and freely and clearly acquitted, exonerated and discharged of and from all former gifts, grants, bargrains, sales, liens, mortgages, indentures, judgements, executions, and incumbrances whatsoever in as full and ample manner to all intents and purposes as the most learned in the law can devise, and I the said James Norton do further covenant and bind myself, my heirs etc to warrant and defend the said Aney Heathcock, her heirs and assiqns in quite and peaceable possession of all and singular the said granted premises against the claim and demand of any person or persons whomsoever.
IN WITNESS whereof, I the said James Norton have hereunto set my hand seal 22 day of June AD 1762 .
Northampton Co.
November Court 1762
James Norton
(signed with mark)
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presents of us, John Jordon, Edward Jomager and Jonas Short. This Deed proven in open court on the oath of John Jordon one of the witnesses thereto on motion was ordered to be registered.
Six months later in January of 1763, Edward Hathcock's son, Thomas, sold the 100 acres of land he had received from his father (May 1758), and it would appear from the wording of the deed ... "near Edward Hathcock’s land ..." that Edward Hathcock was living in January 1763.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1763
Book 3, Page 240
"Thomas Heathcock to James Stanton for 20 pounds. 100 acres near Edward Hathcock’s land and Drury Jordan’s land on Ragland's Ferry Road. Witnesses: Burnell Bass. Dated 13 January 1763.”
Of considerable interest among the Northampton County deeds is one showing that Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virginia, sold land in Northampton County. It is clear from descriptions that this land was located very near Edward Hathcock's land. Joseph Hathcock’s plantation in Virginia was in the southwestern part of what is now Greensville County, Virginia, on Fountain Creek and north of the Northampton County, North Carolina, line. The distance between Joseph's and Edward's plantations was approximately ten miles although Edward lived in North Carolina whereas Joseph lived in Virginia.
Joseph Heathcock lived in that part of Virginia which later became Greensville County in 1781, and he was living there when the first court of the county was established in 1732. He received a Colonial Patent in 1732 on the waters of Falling Run. He later received other patents on both sides of Fountain Creek in 1747. Joseph died in late 1783 or early 1784 and left his Last Will and Testament naming his wife, Elizabeth, a daughter, Mary, and four sons, John, William, Jesse, Charles and three grandchildren: (children of his daughter): Howell, David, and Elizabeth (see section 2.1).
The relationship of Joseph to Edward Hathcock remains unknown at this writing. but surely they were closely related - possibly brothers. The best estimate is that Edward was born no later than 1700, and that Joseph was born around 1700.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1763
Book 3. Page 303
"Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virginia, to Robert Ingram of Northampton County, North Carolina, 7 pounds for land in Northampton County, 50 acres near John Richard's and Drury Jordan's land. Witnesses: John Davis Jr. John Davis Sr. and Vinson Vaughn. Dated 23 June 1763.” (The full text of this deed is found at the end of this Section)
It seems that this land was adjacent to the lands of Edward Hathcock, and it is significant that there is no Northampton deed showing that Joseph purchased land nor was granted land there, implying that Joseph may have been the son of Edward Hathcock and this land was a gift from Edward. Further, the language of the deed recites nothing to suggest that it was land either purchased or patented.
Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Abstract, 1787
Book 7, Page 422
"Dated 9 February 1787. Aney Hathcock of Northampton County to Peter Merimoon of Northampton County for 25 pounds current money of Virginia. 50 acres adjoining Arthur's Creek. Benjamin Patterson's line, John Merimoon's line, Peter Merimoon's line. Witnesses: Benjamin Patterson, William Patterson, John Merimoon. Registered 28 July 1787. Aney signed by mark."
A Peter, a Robert and a Francis Merimoon were living in Captain Winbourne's District in the 1786 tax list of Northampton County.
No further record of Edward Hathcock is found in Northampton County; however an Edward Hathcock is mentioned repeatedly in the Bute County (later Franklin), North Carolina, land transactions of this period (1766-1781). It remains unknown if these two Edward Hathcocks were the same man and it can not be assumed to be so. As shown above, Edward Hathcock of Northampton County had a son named Thomas, and a Thomas Hathcock does appear on a Bute County tax list of 1769.
[Deed Proving that Thomas Hathcock was son of Edward Hathcock]
Northampton County. North Carolina, 1758
Book 2, Page 476
THIS INDENTURE made the 15th day of May Anno Domini 1758 between Edward Hathcock of Northhampton County, North Carolina, planter, of the one part and Thomas Hathcock of the same County, planter, of the other part; Witnesseth the said Edward Hathcock, for the love and good will that I have for my son Thomas Hathcock, have given, grant, alien, released and confirmed and by these presence do give, grant, alien, release, enfeoff and confirm unto the said Thomas Hathcock and his heirs forever, one certain tract or parcel of land, lying and being in the County aforesaid on Tubafield's Run, and is by estimation, one hundred acres more or less, beginning at James Parham's corner pine in Edward Hathcock's line then along the said line a northeast course to a corner hickory, then northwest along the patent line to Drury Jordon's line, then along Jordon's line to Ragland's Ferry Road and then along the said road to the center of three Red Oaks, then along a line of marked trees near a southwest course to the first station. Together with all woods and woods swamps, low grounds, waters with all houses, orchards, gardens, profits, hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining; to have and to hold the said land and premises therein contained unto the said Thomas Hathcock, his heirs and assigns forever and the said Edward Hathcock for himself, his heirs doth covenant and agree to and with the said Thomas Hathcock, his heirs and assigns that the above granted land and premises with every of their appurtenances given him the said Edward Hathcock, his heirs and all other persons whatsoever to warrant and forever defend by these presence. (emphasis added)
In witness whereof the said Edward Hathcock hath set his hand and seal the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of John Scoules, Drury Jordon
Edward Hathcock - his mark [5]
Northampton County
July Court 1758
The preceding deed was proven in open court on the oath of John ScouJes, one of the witnesses thereto, and upon motion was ordered to be registered.
Attest: J. E. Edwards, Clerk
HATHCOCK TO INGRAM
THIS INDENTURE made this 23rd day of June in the year of our Lord God One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Three, between Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County in the Province of Virginia of the one part and Robert Ingram of the County of Northampton and Province of North Carolina of the other part,
WITNESSETH that the said Joseph Hathcock for and in consideration of the sum Seven Pounds Virginia money to me in hand paid, by the said Robert Ingram at on before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof said Joseph Hathcock do hereby acknowledge, and have granted, bargained sold, aliened, enfeoff, released and confirm am by these presents do bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff, release, and confirm unto the said Robert Ingram, his heirs and assigns forever, one certain tract of (or) parcel of land in Northampton County, Fifty acres more or less and inclosed by the lines of James Stanton, John Richards and Drury Jordon and also the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents and services thereof and also the estate, right title, interest, property claim, or demand whatsoever of the said Robert Ingram afirm and ? the said land and premises with the appertenances, profits and to every part and parcel thereof, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, the said tract or parcel of land and premises above mentioned with the appertenances unto the said Robert Ingram forever, the said Joseph Hathcock for himelf, his heirs, executors (and) administrators doth covenant and grant to and with the said Robert Ingram, and his heirs and all and every other person or persons and his, and their (they) shall and will, from time to time, and at all times hereafter upon the reasonable request and at the profits, cost and charges in the law of the said Robert Ingram, his heirs and assigns, make do execute or cause to be executed, all and every such further and other lawful reasonable act and acts, thing or things, devise and devises, convey and conveyances in the law whatsoever for the better and more perfect granting, conveying and assuring of all and singular the premises above mentioned with the appertenances the said Robert Ingram, his heirs and assigns forever according to the true intent and meaning of these presence as by the said Joseph Hathcock, his heirs and assigns or his or their council learned in law shall be reasonably devised and devised ? or required and also that said Joseph Hathcock his heirs, the said track or parcel of land and premises and every part thereof against him and his heirs and against all and other person or persons whatsoever shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents unto Robert Ingram, his heirs am assigns.
WITNESS whereof, the said Joseph Hathcock have unto set my hand and seal on the date) first above written.
Joseph Hathcock (seal) his X mark
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
in presents of us: John Davis Jr.
John (X) Davis and Vinson Vaughn
Northampton County; May Court 1764
ENDNOTES
[1] The History of the Dividing Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina by William Byrd (one of the Virginia Commissioners) relates that North Carolina and Virginia had a prolonged and bitter dispute about the boundary between the two colonies; the former insisting that the 1663 charter provision of 36' was the proper one, later contending that the 1665 charter provision of 36'30" was the effective one. In 1728 commissioners representing the two colonies ran the line westward as far as Stokes County, North Carolina, and North Carolina gained virtually all of the region in dispute, and its commissioners reporting that "there was taken in by the line into Carolina a very great quantity of lands and Number of Families that before had been under Virginia." About this time (July 25, 1729), North Carolina became a Royal Colony, when 7 of the 8 proprietors - at their own request - sold their shares in "Carolina" to George II. The Carteret share was not sold and later became the Granville District.
[2] 1749-1750 Granville County tax list does not contain any Hathcock or variant of the surname.
[3] Osrourne Jeffreys is prominently mentioned in Franklin County, which was formed in 1779 from Bute County.
[4] Toublefield Pocosin is no doubt the same stream as Tubafield's Run. It was probably named for Richcard Turbeville of Isle of Wight County. Virginia. He and wife Ann received a patent in this area in 1712. It is spelled as Turbevile in some earlier records.
[5] This deed was also signed by the wife of Edward, whose name was Catron, a French nick-name, (or pet name) along with Catlin, for "Catherine", according to American Surnames, by Elsdson C. Smith at page 95. Also, according to the North Carolina Archives, Ragland Ferry was located on Mush Island and later called Prides Ferry. Mush Island is in the Roanoke River, northeast of Weldon, NC, in northeast Halifax County. It is approximately 2-1/4 miles in length and 1/4 miIe wide. Ragland Ferry was probably named for or Stephen Ragland of Brunswick County, Virginia. Stephen Ragland died in Greensville County, Virginia about January 1794. (Will Book 1, page 240. Evan Ragland is found in Elbert County, Georgia, as an officer in the militia in 1791.
Notes for Edward Hathcock
HEATHCOCK-NORTON HISTORY537
By Joseph Moore
Based on Douglas W. Hathcock, “Hathcock Family History, Volume IV: Hathcock Families of Ancient England, Colonial Virginia and the Carolinas (Huntsville, Al.: privately published, 1989);” Mary Norton Doggett, The Norton Family History of North Carolina (Greensboro, N.C.: privately published, 1992); and research and records of William Alton Norton of Pembroke Pines, Florida.
EDWARD HEATHCOCK of Northampton County, North Carolina, is at the present time the earliest proven ancestor of this family. The writer places his birth, no doubt in Virginia, at circa 1700, and his death as being soon after 1763, when he last appears on record. Several writers have stated as apparent fact that he was a son or grandson of the immigrant Thomas Heathcock who was transported from England to Virginia by William Stone of Northampton County on the Eastern Shore, coming aboard the Paule in 1635. While this claim is certainly possible, and may in fact be probable, it cannot at present be stated as fact. No proof of this immigrant Thomas Heathcock’s family or descendants is yet found. While he is the first individual of the Heathcock name recorded as coming to Virginia, that fact alone does not mean he is the ancestor of the subject Edward. There are indications of several Heathcock immigrants to Virginia aside from Thomas of the Eastern Shore: another Thomas Heathcock was transported in 1672, William and Henry Heathcock were stated to have been transported in 1697, and another Henry Heathcock in 1715, although no Virginia records are found on these men (Hathcock IV:36, as above). Francis Heathcock died in 1670 in Lancaster County in the Northern Neck of Virginia, and some persons presume him to be a son of the immigrant Thomas Heathcock of the Eastern Shore, but again, no proof of this assertion is found (ibid.).
The historian Paul Heinegg has written that an Edward Heathcock was in Henrico County, Virginia, from 1711 to 1721, and cites as references Henrico County “Orders, 1710-4, 85, 198; Minutes 1719-24, 142.” Heinegg speculates that this Edward Heathcock of Henrico County was likely the father of the subject Edward Heathcock later of Northampton County, North Carolina, and of Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virginia. The late Douglas W. Hathcock of Huntsville, Alabama, author of several volumes of Heathcock/Hathcock history, did not mention these Henrico County records and was evidently unaware of them. According to Mr. Hathcock, the first records locating Heathcocks in a specific Virginia locale are found in Brunswick County in 1732, when Joseph and Jesse Hathcock first appear in land records. As for Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, while he may have been a brother of Edward of Northampton, North Carolina, the relationship is not proven. Various Heathcocks/Hathcocks are found in Brunswick County records after 1732 and the names Edward and Thomas were used among various branches of the Heathcock/Hathcock family in Virginia and North Carolina.
The first known record of the subject Edward Heathcock appears in a Northampton County, North Carolina, land grant dated 22 June 1749, from Lord Granville to Joshua Step, referring to land on the east side of Arthur’s Creek joining Edward Heathcock and Norton’s Branch, establishing the presence of both the Heathcock and Norton families in the northwest corner of Northampton County just above the Roanoke River prior to this date in 1749 (Hathcock IV: 110; Doggett 5). The location of their lands was between the present towns of Gaston and Garysburg on the north side of the Roanoke River, stated to be some five miles west or northwest of the city of Roanoke Rapids.
The Nortons had settled in that part of Northampton County by 1744, having come from Bristol Parish, Virginia (probably from the part of Bristol Parish lying in Prince George County), where William and Anne Norton, parents of James and Mary Norton, were living in 1721. (The birth of James Norton, son of William and Anne, appears in the Bristol Parish Register, showing him born 2 October 1721, and baptized 30 October 1722; Mary Norton, their daughter, was born 9 January 1724, and baptized 1 November 1724 [Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne, The Vestry Book and Register of Bristol Parish, Virginia, 1720-1789 (Richmond: 1898); Doggett 3-4].) William and Anne’s daughter Mary Norton acquired, apparently as an inheritance, Northampton County land from the estate of Thomas Harrington, deceased, in 1744/5 (Northampton County Deed Book 1, p.180, 11 February 1744/5, Mary Harrington and Drury Harrington, Executors of Thomas Harrington, deceased, to Mary Norton of Northampton County, 100 acres in the fork of Arthur’s Creek, part of a patent of 200 acres granted to Thomas Harrington on 1 May 1742 [Doggett 5-6]). The deceased Thomas Harrington may have been the father of William Norton’s wife Anne, and thus the grandfather of Mary Norton, but this is unproven. Mary and Drury Harrington, in another deed dated on the same day and with almost the same wording, conveyed another 100 acres of land, from the same 200-acre grant, also apparently as an inheritance, to Mary Hill, daughter of the late John Hill, deceased (ibid.). Unfortunately, no family relationships to Thomas Harrington are stated in these deeds, thus they are left to conjecture. Mary Norton again appears in a 1744 deed dated 17 August, when John Wade conveyed to Thomas Parker, both of Ockonichy (Ocannechie) in Northampton County, one negro boy called Will and one horse (Northampton County Deed Book 1, p. 134, 17 August 1744, witnessed by Thomas Pace and Mary Norton [Doggett 5]). William Norton’s wife Anne Norton appears as witness to a Northampton County land deed in 1763 (Northampton County Deed Book 3, p. 241, 2 February 1763, Thomas Jordan to Burwell Bass, land on Arthur’s Creek joining Edward Heathcock and others [research of William Alton Norton]). In later years, reference is made to “Norton’s Corner” in Northampton County land records.
The subject Edward Heathcock, although a landowner and designated as planter in deed records, evidently died intestate sometime after 1763, and only two children, Martha Norton and Thomas Heathcock, are proven to have been born to him and his wife Catron. (Catron’s proper name was certainly Kathryn or Catherine, for which Catron is a known nickname [Hathcock IV-121]; as Catron Heathcock she cosigned a deed with Edward Heathcock in Northampton County in 1757 [Northampton County Deed Book 2, p. 387, dated 2 April 1757, Edward Heathcock to Drury Jordan, 100 acres on the north side of Ragland’s Ferry Road adjacent to James Norton and other lands of Heathcock, as abstracted in Hathcock IV:112].) The father-daughter relationship of Edward Heathcock to Martha Norton is proven by a Northampton County deed dated 26 November 1753, in which Edward Heathcock, planter, sold to “James Norton, his son-in-law,” 100 acres being part of a patent originally granted to Edward Heathcock (Northampton County Deed Book 2, p. 129 [Hathcock IV:111, 123; Doggett 6, 9]). In later records James Norton is identified as a planter (Northampton County Deed Book 3, p. 202, 22 June 1762, “James Norton of Northampton County, North Carolina, planter,” to Amey Heathcock, for 10 pounds, 50 acres of land on Arthur’s Creek, bounded by lands of James Norton and Sylvanus Stanton [Doggett 10]; Amy Heathcock is not identified).
Edward Heathcock’s relationship to Thomas Heathcock is proven by a deed dated 17 May 1758, in which Edward Hathcock, planter, sold to Thomas Hathcock, planter, “for the love and good will I have for my son [Thomas],” 100 acres of land on Turbyfield’s Run (Northampton County Deed Book 2, p. 476 [Hathcock IV:113, 118; Doggett 6]). Thomas Heathcock moved by 1769 to Anson County, North Carolina, on the South Carolina border, probably in the part of Anson that was afterward formed into Richmond County and ultimately became Scotland County, North Carolina. Thomas Heathcock was thus evidently the first of the Heathcocks and Nortons to settle there. In 1780 William and John Norton (William known to be a son of James and Martha [Heathcock] Norton and John believed to be William’s brother) were in Richmond County applying for land grants (research of William Alton Norton), but William returned to Northampton and the Norton family as a group did not make the move to Richmond County until 1787. (No other record of this John Norton has yet been found, whereby it is thought he died by 1790 or thereabout. He may have been the father of several young children who appeared in the James Norton household between 1786 and 1790, when James’s own children had long since established separate households of their own. It is thought that several of these children may have included at least some of the Nortons later in Fayette County, Georgia.)
Thomas Heathcock lived many years in Richmond County with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He is probably not the Thomas Hathcock whom Heinegg found as an insolvent on the Bute County, North Carolina, Tax Digest for 1769 (other records locate the subject Thomas Heathcock in Anson County in that year); he was surely the Thomas Heathcock listed in the 1790 Richmond County Census with three white males and three white females composing his household. His wife’s name is unknown and the number and names of all his children are also unknown. Douglas Hathcock attributed three sons to him: Samuel Heathcock, Thomas Heathcock, Jr., and John Heathcock, Sr., no one of whom is proven. Other writers give him other sons. Thomas Heathcock’s death was noted with what must have been considerable error and exaggeration in the Richmond County Carolina Observer of 12 May 1818:
LONGEVITY --- Died in Richmond County on the 13th instant at the seat of Colonel T. Pate, Thomas Hathcock, aged one hundred and twenty five years. He left a numerous family of children settled in different parts of the country, two of whom live in the State of Georgia, one aged ninety-three and the other eighty-seven, and one son in Richmond County, but little the rise of sixteen years of age! [Hathcock IV:132]
Samuel and John, Sr., were believed by Douglas Hathcock to be the two sons living in Georgia in 1818, and Thomas, Jr., the son who is traced in land records into South Carolina. (Hathcock also observed that the two sons in Georgia could have been Hosiah and William Hathcock of Elbert County in that state [Hathcock IV:139]). If he died in 1818 at age 125 years, Thomas Heathcock would have been born around 1693, which is many years too early in view of the later birth of his sister Martha Norton, whose husband James Norton was born in 1721, and her own birth surely occurred between 1720 and 1730. It is more likely that Thomas Heathcock was upwards of ninety years old at his death in 1818, and that, like his sister Martha, he was born sometime between the years 1720 and 1730. Such exaggeration in the ages of the “old and ancient” of that era were common in the popular press, and even in the census records of the time. As his own age was exaggerated, so were the ages of his sons as given above, the first two stated to be older than they were, and the last probably being a grandson or great-grandson rather than a son of this Thomas Heathcock.
As to Colonel Thorougood Pate, at whose home Thomas Heathcock died, associations among the Heathcock, Pate, and Norton families were apparently close and they often appeared in one another’s records in Richmond County. All three families were near neighbors on and near Joe’s Creek in southeast Richmond County, in what is now Scotland County. The writer suspects marriages among the Heathcocks, Nortons, and Pates that have escaped surviving records. (The question arises as to whether Colonel Thorougood Pate was in some way related to the family of Captain Adam Thorowgood who came to Virginia in 1621 and ultimately settled in Lower Norfolk County. Pate researchers find no connection and have determined that the Thoroughgood name was used in the Pate family prior to their settlement in Virginia [Joel M. Pate to the writer, 4 August 2002].)
It has been suggested that John Heathcock of Northampton County may have been a son of the subject Edward Heathcock (see Northampton County Deed Book 2, p. 475, 17 May 1758, Edward Heathcock to John Heathcock, for 2 pounds 10 shillings Virginia money, 20 acres on Turbafield’s Run joining Drury Jordan [Hathcock IV:113, 141; Doggett 6]), and that various other Heathcocks/Hathcocks may have been Edward’s children, but only Martha and Thomas are proven. Erroneous information has appeared in several webites relative to this Heathcock family, such as that suggesting these Heathcocks were Native American mixed bloods, or that this Edward Heathcock was the father of two families of mixed-blood children by black or mixed-blood African or Native American women. Given that one of these families was located in Halifax County and the other in Johnston County, all in the same year (1787), some twenty years after the death of the subject Edward Heathcock, it is clear that at least two different men named Edward Hathcock and Edward Haithcock were the subjects of such later records, and neither could be the Edward Heathcock of this account. All records found on the subject Edward Heathcock, his wife Catron, their son Thomas and daughter Martha, as well as Martha’s husband James Norton, his parents William and Anne Norton, and the children of James and Martha (Heathcock) Norton, identify them as free white persons; both the Heathcock and Norton families were of English and probably Norman origin. Douglas Hathcock regarded the name Catron as a French nickname for Catherine, and if so, Catron Heathcock may have been of French Huguenot extraction and descended from one of the many Huguenot families who settled in 1700 at Manakintowne in Henrico County, where the Heathcocks were evidently living by 1711.
Finally, the Edward Hathcock in Northampton County in the 1786 North Carolina State Census is not the subject Edward, but is likely one of the several Hathcocks/Haithcocks who moved into the Northampton County area from around Southampton, Greensville, and Brunswick Counties, Virginia.
Joseph Moore
Henry County, Georgia
26 October 2002
By Joseph Moore
Based on Douglas W. Hathcock, “Hathcock Family History, Volume IV: Hathcock Families of Ancient England, Colonial Virginia and the Carolinas (Huntsville, Al.: privately published, 1989);” Mary Norton Doggett, The Norton Family History of North Carolina (Greensboro, N.C.: privately published, 1992); and research and records of William Alton Norton of Pembroke Pines, Florida.
EDWARD HEATHCOCK of Northampton County, North Carolina, is at the present time the earliest proven ancestor of this family. The writer places his birth, no doubt in Virginia, at circa 1700, and his death as being soon after 1763, when he last appears on record. Several writers have stated as apparent fact that he was a son or grandson of the immigrant Thomas Heathcock who was transported from England to Virginia by William Stone of Northampton County on the Eastern Shore, coming aboard the Paule in 1635. While this claim is certainly possible, and may in fact be probable, it cannot at present be stated as fact. No proof of this immigrant Thomas Heathcock’s family or descendants is yet found. While he is the first individual of the Heathcock name recorded as coming to Virginia, that fact alone does not mean he is the ancestor of the subject Edward. There are indications of several Heathcock immigrants to Virginia aside from Thomas of the Eastern Shore: another Thomas Heathcock was transported in 1672, William and Henry Heathcock were stated to have been transported in 1697, and another Henry Heathcock in 1715, although no Virginia records are found on these men (Hathcock IV:36, as above). Francis Heathcock died in 1670 in Lancaster County in the Northern Neck of Virginia, and some persons presume him to be a son of the immigrant Thomas Heathcock of the Eastern Shore, but again, no proof of this assertion is found (ibid.).
The historian Paul Heinegg has written that an Edward Heathcock was in Henrico County, Virginia, from 1711 to 1721, and cites as references Henrico County “Orders, 1710-4, 85, 198; Minutes 1719-24, 142.” Heinegg speculates that this Edward Heathcock of Henrico County was likely the father of the subject Edward Heathcock later of Northampton County, North Carolina, and of Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virginia. The late Douglas W. Hathcock of Huntsville, Alabama, author of several volumes of Heathcock/Hathcock history, did not mention these Henrico County records and was evidently unaware of them. According to Mr. Hathcock, the first records locating Heathcocks in a specific Virginia locale are found in Brunswick County in 1732, when Joseph and Jesse Hathcock first appear in land records. As for Joseph Hathcock of Brunswick County, while he may have been a brother of Edward of Northampton, North Carolina, the relationship is not proven. Various Heathcocks/Hathcocks are found in Brunswick County records after 1732 and the names Edward and Thomas were used among various branches of the Heathcock/Hathcock family in Virginia and North Carolina.
The first known record of the subject Edward Heathcock appears in a Northampton County, North Carolina, land grant dated 22 June 1749, from Lord Granville to Joshua Step, referring to land on the east side of Arthur’s Creek joining Edward Heathcock and Norton’s Branch, establishing the presence of both the Heathcock and Norton families in the northwest corner of Northampton County just above the Roanoke River prior to this date in 1749 (Hathcock IV: 110; Doggett 5). The location of their lands was between the present towns of Gaston and Garysburg on the north side of the Roanoke River, stated to be some five miles west or northwest of the city of Roanoke Rapids.
The Nortons had settled in that part of Northampton County by 1744, having come from Bristol Parish, Virginia (probably from the part of Bristol Parish lying in Prince George County), where William and Anne Norton, parents of James and Mary Norton, were living in 1721. (The birth of James Norton, son of William and Anne, appears in the Bristol Parish Register, showing him born 2 October 1721, and baptized 30 October 1722; Mary Norton, their daughter, was born 9 January 1724, and baptized 1 November 1724 [Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne, The Vestry Book and Register of Bristol Parish, Virginia, 1720-1789 (Richmond: 1898); Doggett 3-4].) William and Anne’s daughter Mary Norton acquired, apparently as an inheritance, Northampton County land from the estate of Thomas Harrington, deceased, in 1744/5 (Northampton County Deed Book 1, p.180, 11 February 1744/5, Mary Harrington and Drury Harrington, Executors of Thomas Harrington, deceased, to Mary Norton of Northampton County, 100 acres in the fork of Arthur’s Creek, part of a patent of 200 acres granted to Thomas Harrington on 1 May 1742 [Doggett 5-6]). The deceased Thomas Harrington may have been the father of William Norton’s wife Anne, and thus the grandfather of Mary Norton, but this is unproven. Mary and Drury Harrington, in another deed dated on the same day and with almost the same wording, conveyed another 100 acres of land, from the same 200-acre grant, also apparently as an inheritance, to Mary Hill, daughter of the late John Hill, deceased (ibid.). Unfortunately, no family relationships to Thomas Harrington are stated in these deeds, thus they are left to conjecture. Mary Norton again appears in a 1744 deed dated 17 August, when John Wade conveyed to Thomas Parker, both of Ockonichy (Ocannechie) in Northampton County, one negro boy called Will and one horse (Northampton County Deed Book 1, p. 134, 17 August 1744, witnessed by Thomas Pace and Mary Norton [Doggett 5]). William Norton’s wife Anne Norton appears as witness to a Northampton County land deed in 1763 (Northampton County Deed Book 3, p. 241, 2 February 1763, Thomas Jordan to Burwell Bass, land on Arthur’s Creek joining Edward Heathcock and others [research of William Alton Norton]). In later years, reference is made to “Norton’s Corner” in Northampton County land records.
The subject Edward Heathcock, although a landowner and designated as planter in deed records, evidently died intestate sometime after 1763, and only two children, Martha Norton and Thomas Heathcock, are proven to have been born to him and his wife Catron. (Catron’s proper name was certainly Kathryn or Catherine, for which Catron is a known nickname [Hathcock IV-121]; as Catron Heathcock she cosigned a deed with Edward Heathcock in Northampton County in 1757 [Northampton County Deed Book 2, p. 387, dated 2 April 1757, Edward Heathcock to Drury Jordan, 100 acres on the north side of Ragland’s Ferry Road adjacent to James Norton and other lands of Heathcock, as abstracted in Hathcock IV:112].) The father-daughter relationship of Edward Heathcock to Martha Norton is proven by a Northampton County deed dated 26 November 1753, in which Edward Heathcock, planter, sold to “James Norton, his son-in-law,” 100 acres being part of a patent originally granted to Edward Heathcock (Northampton County Deed Book 2, p. 129 [Hathcock IV:111, 123; Doggett 6, 9]). In later records James Norton is identified as a planter (Northampton County Deed Book 3, p. 202, 22 June 1762, “James Norton of Northampton County, North Carolina, planter,” to Amey Heathcock, for 10 pounds, 50 acres of land on Arthur’s Creek, bounded by lands of James Norton and Sylvanus Stanton [Doggett 10]; Amy Heathcock is not identified).
Edward Heathcock’s relationship to Thomas Heathcock is proven by a deed dated 17 May 1758, in which Edward Hathcock, planter, sold to Thomas Hathcock, planter, “for the love and good will I have for my son [Thomas],” 100 acres of land on Turbyfield’s Run (Northampton County Deed Book 2, p. 476 [Hathcock IV:113, 118; Doggett 6]). Thomas Heathcock moved by 1769 to Anson County, North Carolina, on the South Carolina border, probably in the part of Anson that was afterward formed into Richmond County and ultimately became Scotland County, North Carolina. Thomas Heathcock was thus evidently the first of the Heathcocks and Nortons to settle there. In 1780 William and John Norton (William known to be a son of James and Martha [Heathcock] Norton and John believed to be William’s brother) were in Richmond County applying for land grants (research of William Alton Norton), but William returned to Northampton and the Norton family as a group did not make the move to Richmond County until 1787. (No other record of this John Norton has yet been found, whereby it is thought he died by 1790 or thereabout. He may have been the father of several young children who appeared in the James Norton household between 1786 and 1790, when James’s own children had long since established separate households of their own. It is thought that several of these children may have included at least some of the Nortons later in Fayette County, Georgia.)
Thomas Heathcock lived many years in Richmond County with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He is probably not the Thomas Hathcock whom Heinegg found as an insolvent on the Bute County, North Carolina, Tax Digest for 1769 (other records locate the subject Thomas Heathcock in Anson County in that year); he was surely the Thomas Heathcock listed in the 1790 Richmond County Census with three white males and three white females composing his household. His wife’s name is unknown and the number and names of all his children are also unknown. Douglas Hathcock attributed three sons to him: Samuel Heathcock, Thomas Heathcock, Jr., and John Heathcock, Sr., no one of whom is proven. Other writers give him other sons. Thomas Heathcock’s death was noted with what must have been considerable error and exaggeration in the Richmond County Carolina Observer of 12 May 1818:
LONGEVITY --- Died in Richmond County on the 13th instant at the seat of Colonel T. Pate, Thomas Hathcock, aged one hundred and twenty five years. He left a numerous family of children settled in different parts of the country, two of whom live in the State of Georgia, one aged ninety-three and the other eighty-seven, and one son in Richmond County, but little the rise of sixteen years of age! [Hathcock IV:132]
Samuel and John, Sr., were believed by Douglas Hathcock to be the two sons living in Georgia in 1818, and Thomas, Jr., the son who is traced in land records into South Carolina. (Hathcock also observed that the two sons in Georgia could have been Hosiah and William Hathcock of Elbert County in that state [Hathcock IV:139]). If he died in 1818 at age 125 years, Thomas Heathcock would have been born around 1693, which is many years too early in view of the later birth of his sister Martha Norton, whose husband James Norton was born in 1721, and her own birth surely occurred between 1720 and 1730. It is more likely that Thomas Heathcock was upwards of ninety years old at his death in 1818, and that, like his sister Martha, he was born sometime between the years 1720 and 1730. Such exaggeration in the ages of the “old and ancient” of that era were common in the popular press, and even in the census records of the time. As his own age was exaggerated, so were the ages of his sons as given above, the first two stated to be older than they were, and the last probably being a grandson or great-grandson rather than a son of this Thomas Heathcock.
As to Colonel Thorougood Pate, at whose home Thomas Heathcock died, associations among the Heathcock, Pate, and Norton families were apparently close and they often appeared in one another’s records in Richmond County. All three families were near neighbors on and near Joe’s Creek in southeast Richmond County, in what is now Scotland County. The writer suspects marriages among the Heathcocks, Nortons, and Pates that have escaped surviving records. (The question arises as to whether Colonel Thorougood Pate was in some way related to the family of Captain Adam Thorowgood who came to Virginia in 1621 and ultimately settled in Lower Norfolk County. Pate researchers find no connection and have determined that the Thoroughgood name was used in the Pate family prior to their settlement in Virginia [Joel M. Pate to the writer, 4 August 2002].)
It has been suggested that John Heathcock of Northampton County may have been a son of the subject Edward Heathcock (see Northampton County Deed Book 2, p. 475, 17 May 1758, Edward Heathcock to John Heathcock, for 2 pounds 10 shillings Virginia money, 20 acres on Turbafield’s Run joining Drury Jordan [Hathcock IV:113, 141; Doggett 6]), and that various other Heathcocks/Hathcocks may have been Edward’s children, but only Martha and Thomas are proven. Erroneous information has appeared in several webites relative to this Heathcock family, such as that suggesting these Heathcocks were Native American mixed bloods, or that this Edward Heathcock was the father of two families of mixed-blood children by black or mixed-blood African or Native American women. Given that one of these families was located in Halifax County and the other in Johnston County, all in the same year (1787), some twenty years after the death of the subject Edward Heathcock, it is clear that at least two different men named Edward Hathcock and Edward Haithcock were the subjects of such later records, and neither could be the Edward Heathcock of this account. All records found on the subject Edward Heathcock, his wife Catron, their son Thomas and daughter Martha, as well as Martha’s husband James Norton, his parents William and Anne Norton, and the children of James and Martha (Heathcock) Norton, identify them as free white persons; both the Heathcock and Norton families were of English and probably Norman origin. Douglas Hathcock regarded the name Catron as a French nickname for Catherine, and if so, Catron Heathcock may have been of French Huguenot extraction and descended from one of the many Huguenot families who settled in 1700 at Manakintowne in Henrico County, where the Heathcocks were evidently living by 1711.
Finally, the Edward Hathcock in Northampton County in the 1786 North Carolina State Census is not the subject Edward, but is likely one of the several Hathcocks/Haithcocks who moved into the Northampton County area from around Southampton, Greensville, and Brunswick Counties, Virginia.
Joseph Moore
Henry County, Georgia
26 October 2002
Notes for Edward Hathcock
Little is known of the Hathcock family until about 1730 when Hathcocks were living in Brunswick County, Virginia. Brunswick County is on the southern border of Virginia, just north of Northampton County, North Carolina. Several Hathcocks lived in these two counties, including Edward Hathcock.
Following is reproduced from the research of the historian Paul Heinegg:538
“Edward Hathcock, born ca 1710, sold 100 acres of the land he patented near Arthur's Creek in Northampton County, North Carolina, to his son-in-law, James Norton, on 26 November 1753. On 2 April 1757 he sold another 100 acres on the north side of Ragland's Road to Drury Jordan of Brunswick County, Virginia. On 15 May 1758 he made a Northampton County deed of gift of 100 acres on Turbyfield's Run near Ragland's Ferry Road to his son Thomas, and two days later on 17 May 1758 he sold 20 acres on Turbafield's Run for 2 pounds 10 shillings to (his son?) John Heathcock [DB 2:129, 387, 475-6]. He was co-defendant in a suit with John Brooks, probably as his security, for a debt of 4 pounds, 2 shillings which the Southampton County court ordered him to pay Samuel Sands on 13 May 1762 [Orders 1759-63, 219]. He entered 400 acres on both sides of Black Creek below the mouth of Mirey Branch in Johnston County on 11 August 1778 [Haun, Johnston County Land Entries]. His plantation where he formerly lived on Little Crooked Creek in Franklin County was mentioned in a Franklin County deed on 29 October 1779 [DB 1:52, 124, 360]. In May 1782 Edward, Holiday, and Joseph Hathcock were ordered to work on the road from the head of Gum Swamp in Johnston County to the Cumberland County line. He may have been living on land of (his son?) Isam Hathcock when he was counted in Halifax County, head of a household of 4 free males and 7 free females in district 3 for the 1786 North Carolina state census. He died before November 1786 when the Johnston County court ordered his orphans Stephen, Amos, and Mary brought to court to be bound out [Haun, Johnston County Court Minutes, III:206, 336]. And on 22 August and 21 November 1786 the Halifax County court bound out Hathcock "base born children," no race mentioned: David (nine years), Nancy, and Mark (eight years old) [Minutes 1784-87, 154, 164, 177]. Perhaps Edward's wife was Elizabeth Hathcock, head of a Johnston County household of 2 free males and 4 free females in the 1787 State Census.”
Heinegg lists about a dozen possible children of Edward Hathcock, but the only ones that are definitely linked are Thomas and Martha, who both received land from Edward and were named as his son and his daughter. John Hathcock also received 20 acres from Edward at the same time and same approximate location as son Thomas, and John may also be a son of Edward. However, Edward transferred 100 acres to Thomas as an outright gift, and named him as his son, whereas the transfer to John Hathcock was only 20 acres, it was actually sold for 2 pounds 10 shillings, and he did not name John as his son.
The Hathcock Y-chromosome haplogroup is E1b1a. “Haplogroup E1b1a is an African lineage. It is currently hypothesized that this haplogroup dispersed south from northern Africa within the last 3,000 years with the Bantu agricultural expansion. E1b1a is also the most common lineage among African Americans. It is an old, diverse haplogroup with many branches and is found distributed throughout Africa today. It is also found at a very low frequency in North Africa and the Middle East.” There are several possible implications of this hapolgroup with regard to the Hathcock male line.
° First, if it is true that the original Hathcock immigrant was Thomas Hathcock (1635) or one of the other Hathcocks who came between 1672 and 1697, then this original immigrant may have been descended from a line of males who trace back to an African male who was taken to England in Roman times. This hypothesis was tested to a degree. In 2010 Clayton Heathcock, Co-Adminstrator of the Hathcock/Heathcock/Hathcoat Y-DNA Surname Group, identified three men with the surname Heathcock who live in different parts of England and who did not know of each other. Each of these three men consented to a Y-DNA profile test. The results were that the three English Heathcocks all had an identical Y-DNA profile, that was very different from the consensus Y-DNA profile of the American Heathcocks (and obvious close spellings). Therefore, although Thomas Hathcock may have brought the surname from England to America in 1635, is appears that he did not bring the Y-DNA. Possibly Thomas Hathcock took for wife an African woman who already had a young son, and this boy was raised with the Hathcock surname but with African Y-DNA.
° Alternatively, it is possible that Edward Hathcock, who is the established ancestor of many of today’s male Hathcocks, was descended from a woman with the Hathcock married name and an African-American (slave or freed slave). This “non-paternal event” could have involved Edward’s mother or grandmother. If this hypothesis is true, then one would probably expect to find other modern Hathcocks with a different Y-DNA pattern, in that they would be descended from the same woman as a result of union with her husband, who would have carried both the Hathcock surname and Hathcock Y-DNA.
° A third possibility has been suggested by a number of individuals who believe that early Eastern Shore Hathcocks were of native American origin and followed the practice of matrilingal naming, whereby children carried the surname of the mother, rather than of the father. Under this scenario, there would be no linkage of the surname with the Y-DNA and one would expect to find a lot of Y-DNA diversity among modern Hathcock males. This is not the case. In fact, the opposite seems to be the case -- in 2008 the following male surnames have been found to have Hathcock Y-DNA: Johnson, Jacobs, Reynolds, Scott, Norton, Haithcoat, Heathcock (2), Hathcock, Hathcoat.
Following is reproduced from the research of the historian Paul Heinegg:538
“Edward Hathcock, born ca 1710, sold 100 acres of the land he patented near Arthur's Creek in Northampton County, North Carolina, to his son-in-law, James Norton, on 26 November 1753. On 2 April 1757 he sold another 100 acres on the north side of Ragland's Road to Drury Jordan of Brunswick County, Virginia. On 15 May 1758 he made a Northampton County deed of gift of 100 acres on Turbyfield's Run near Ragland's Ferry Road to his son Thomas, and two days later on 17 May 1758 he sold 20 acres on Turbafield's Run for 2 pounds 10 shillings to (his son?) John Heathcock [DB 2:129, 387, 475-6]. He was co-defendant in a suit with John Brooks, probably as his security, for a debt of 4 pounds, 2 shillings which the Southampton County court ordered him to pay Samuel Sands on 13 May 1762 [Orders 1759-63, 219]. He entered 400 acres on both sides of Black Creek below the mouth of Mirey Branch in Johnston County on 11 August 1778 [Haun, Johnston County Land Entries]. His plantation where he formerly lived on Little Crooked Creek in Franklin County was mentioned in a Franklin County deed on 29 October 1779 [DB 1:52, 124, 360]. In May 1782 Edward, Holiday, and Joseph Hathcock were ordered to work on the road from the head of Gum Swamp in Johnston County to the Cumberland County line. He may have been living on land of (his son?) Isam Hathcock when he was counted in Halifax County, head of a household of 4 free males and 7 free females in district 3 for the 1786 North Carolina state census. He died before November 1786 when the Johnston County court ordered his orphans Stephen, Amos, and Mary brought to court to be bound out [Haun, Johnston County Court Minutes, III:206, 336]. And on 22 August and 21 November 1786 the Halifax County court bound out Hathcock "base born children," no race mentioned: David (nine years), Nancy, and Mark (eight years old) [Minutes 1784-87, 154, 164, 177]. Perhaps Edward's wife was Elizabeth Hathcock, head of a Johnston County household of 2 free males and 4 free females in the 1787 State Census.”
Heinegg lists about a dozen possible children of Edward Hathcock, but the only ones that are definitely linked are Thomas and Martha, who both received land from Edward and were named as his son and his daughter. John Hathcock also received 20 acres from Edward at the same time and same approximate location as son Thomas, and John may also be a son of Edward. However, Edward transferred 100 acres to Thomas as an outright gift, and named him as his son, whereas the transfer to John Hathcock was only 20 acres, it was actually sold for 2 pounds 10 shillings, and he did not name John as his son.
The Hathcock Y-chromosome haplogroup is E1b1a. “Haplogroup E1b1a is an African lineage. It is currently hypothesized that this haplogroup dispersed south from northern Africa within the last 3,000 years with the Bantu agricultural expansion. E1b1a is also the most common lineage among African Americans. It is an old, diverse haplogroup with many branches and is found distributed throughout Africa today. It is also found at a very low frequency in North Africa and the Middle East.” There are several possible implications of this hapolgroup with regard to the Hathcock male line.
° First, if it is true that the original Hathcock immigrant was Thomas Hathcock (1635) or one of the other Hathcocks who came between 1672 and 1697, then this original immigrant may have been descended from a line of males who trace back to an African male who was taken to England in Roman times. This hypothesis was tested to a degree. In 2010 Clayton Heathcock, Co-Adminstrator of the Hathcock/Heathcock/Hathcoat Y-DNA Surname Group, identified three men with the surname Heathcock who live in different parts of England and who did not know of each other. Each of these three men consented to a Y-DNA profile test. The results were that the three English Heathcocks all had an identical Y-DNA profile, that was very different from the consensus Y-DNA profile of the American Heathcocks (and obvious close spellings). Therefore, although Thomas Hathcock may have brought the surname from England to America in 1635, is appears that he did not bring the Y-DNA. Possibly Thomas Hathcock took for wife an African woman who already had a young son, and this boy was raised with the Hathcock surname but with African Y-DNA.
° Alternatively, it is possible that Edward Hathcock, who is the established ancestor of many of today’s male Hathcocks, was descended from a woman with the Hathcock married name and an African-American (slave or freed slave). This “non-paternal event” could have involved Edward’s mother or grandmother. If this hypothesis is true, then one would probably expect to find other modern Hathcocks with a different Y-DNA pattern, in that they would be descended from the same woman as a result of union with her husband, who would have carried both the Hathcock surname and Hathcock Y-DNA.
° A third possibility has been suggested by a number of individuals who believe that early Eastern Shore Hathcocks were of native American origin and followed the practice of matrilingal naming, whereby children carried the surname of the mother, rather than of the father. Under this scenario, there would be no linkage of the surname with the Y-DNA and one would expect to find a lot of Y-DNA diversity among modern Hathcock males. This is not the case. In fact, the opposite seems to be the case -- in 2008 the following male surnames have been found to have Hathcock Y-DNA: Johnson, Jacobs, Reynolds, Scott, Norton, Haithcoat, Heathcock (2), Hathcock, Hathcoat.