As I work with others and review trees that are on
Ancestry.com, I become more and more concerned that so many are linking
Phereby, Feriba/Feribe, and Winnie Phereby to Isaac West and Susanna
Anderson. From my research in North and
South Carolina and on the Internet, I firmly believe that various Isaac Wests
existed. Why didn’t they do a better job
of distinguishing themselves from each other!
I also firmly believe that these women named Phereby, Feriba/Feribe, and
Winnie Phereby existed but were daughters of different fathers with the surname
West.
Before I begin my treatise, I must apologize for its
length. I know that it is much too long,
but I just could not provide this explanation without the details that I’ve
included. Likewise, even though I’ve tried to use reliable sources in my
efforts to make a distinction between two Isaac Wests found in Tryon and
Lincoln Counties of North Carolina, these attempts certainly have a margin for error. I welcome any corrections based on sound
documentation.
First, let’s look
at the Isaac West whom, for the sake
clarity, we will label Isaac West #1.
He married Susanna Anderson. He was
likely born in Orange County, North Carolina, in 1745 and was probably the son
of John West and Mary Madden. Therefore,
he was probably the brother of my 5th great grandfather, Alexander
West, born c1730. In 1769 in Orange Co,
North Carolina, he married Susannah Anderson, the daughter of Peter Anderson
and Catherine Lynam.
First, let’s look at the children and their spouses of Isaac West #1.
According to Blodwen West Boyle’s research, which was
completed in 1974, and handwritten letters, Isaac West #1 and Susanna Anderson had 12 children. Their names, dates, and spouses are as
follows:
·
Catherine West (1768SC -1841)/John Barnhill (b 755
SC)
·
Nancy West (b 1769)/Jeremiah Ward
·
Phoebe
West (1770 SC-3 Sep 1868 Greenville, SC)/Isaac Green (7 May 1762 Buffalo Creek, Cleveland, Tryon Co, NC-6
Feb 1831 Greenville, SC)
·
Susanna “Susan” West (1773-1841)/Lynn Walker
·
Solomon West (c1842-1864)
·
Isaac West (1776 Greenville, SC-1864)/Hannah
Russell
·
John West (1776 Greenville, SC-1826 Dickson Co,
TN)/Sarah Walker
·
Abner West (c1780 York District, SC-p1833)/Sarah
Laffoon
·
Robert Anderson West (1790 Greenville, SC-1856
Holmes, MS)/Cecelia Olivia Tubb
·
Elizabeth West (1794-1840)/Samuel Sparks
·
Sarah West/John Mae or May
·
Mary West/Elisha Simmons
The names of these children and their spouses are not only
documented by the writings of Blodwen West Boyle but also by an eye-witness
account (c1878) of Emily Thompson West, granddaughter of Isaac West and Susanna
Anderson, and a letter written in 1903 by Mrs. E. C. Page to her niece, Annie
Mildred Smith Reidemam. The letter by
Mrs. Page is very similar to that of Emily Thompson West. Because of this
similarity, I tend to believe that Mrs. Page used Emily’s letter when she
penned hers.
Emily Thompson West lists the children and their spouses of Isaac West #1 as Anderson West/Celia
Tubb, Kate [Catherine] West/John Barnhill, Pheba West/Isaac Green, Susan
West/Lynn Walker, Mary West/1st Elisha Simmons/2nd Henry
Brigg, Sallie West/John Mae [May], Nancy West/Jerry Ward, Elizabeth West/Samuel
Sparks, John West/Sallie Walker, Isaac West/Hanna Rupell [Russell]. She stated that Solomon West and Abner West
never married and died young. However,
Abner appears to have married Sarah Laffoon, so, perhaps, Solomon was the only
one who never married and died young.
Mrs. Page recorded the children and spouses of Isaac West #2
as follows: Anderson West/Celia Tubb, a daughter West/John Barnhill, Pheba West
/Isaac Green, Susan West/Lynn Walker, Mary West/1st Elisha Simmons/2nd
Henry Bugg, Sallie West/John May, Nancy West/Jerry Ward, Elizabeth West/Samuel
Sharks [Sparks], John West/Sallie Walker, Isaac West/Hanna Russel, and two
unnamed daughters, one of whom married a Cole and the other a Collins.
Therefore, these two accounts of the children and their
spouses of Isaac West #1 and his
wife Susanna Anderson are supportive of each other.
According to Orange County, North Carolina, land records, on
July 12, 1770, Isaac West #1 purchased 300 acres in Orange County, North Carolina,
on the south side of Deep River or Deep Run from Hercules Ogle and his wife
Mary.
In Orange County, North Carolina, records of 1752 through
1775, I also find the presumed
brothers of Isaac West #1: Solomon,
John, Jr., and Alexander. In addition,
their presumed father, John West, Sr., is also found in Orange County, North
Carolina, between 1752 and 1768.
Alexander West is found in Wilkes County (formed in 1777 from District
of Washington), North Carolina, in 1778.
The presence of his brothers and his father with him in Orange County provides
additional information toward solving the identity of Isaac West #1.
As we examine the two Isaac Wests, I find it necessary to
consider the land transactions by Peter and Catherine Anderson, who were the
parents of Susanna Anderson who married Isaac
West #1. These transactions identify
the association between the Anderson family and the John West, Sr. family. John
West Senr (sic) sold land in Orange County to Peter Anderson. Also, Peter Anderson and his wife Catherine sold
land to Ellenor Garrison on Stony Creek that was adjacent to land of John West
Senior. In abstracts both of these land
transactions are recorded as occurring on August 2, 1768. However, the sale of land by the Andersons to
Ellenor Garrison was not recorded in court records until Feb. 26, 1787. Therefore,
it is difficult to determine exactly when the sale took place. This transaction is described in Northampton
County Virginia Tithables, 1662-1677, p. 41, Orange County Records, Vol. III,
p. 173 Deed Book 3, as follows:
bounded
on south by Bracking, on west by Boyle, began at a stake near William Brackin’s
line, north 32 chains to a post oak, N38E 4 chains to a WO [white oak] on side
of Stoney Creek, down fork to Wm. Bracking’s corner, his line to first station,
to Anderson from from John West Senior. 2 August 1768; signed Peter (X)
Anderson, Catherine (X) Anderson; witnesses: Garret Garrison, George Garrison;
proved February Term 1787 by Garret Garrison.
According to researchers, Isaac West #1 moved to the Greenville District of South Carolina
with his brother Solomon West. In 1778 or 1788 an Isaac West purchased
160 acres on Richmond Creek in the Newberry District of South Carolina. These years of 1778 and 1788 are questionable,
but since the Battle of King’s Mountain took place in October 1780, the year
1778 is probably the correct year and is the year that I record in the chart
below. Also, an Isaac West also
purchased 200 acres of land near the site of where the Battle of King’s
Mountain took place. This may have been
near the same 160 acres of land that were purchased on Richmond Creek in the
Newberry District. Hezekiah Collins, spouse of Mary
West, the presumed sister of Isaac West
#1, was mentioned in the land transaction.
Therefore, it is most probable that this Isaac West was Isaac West #1, the brother-in-law of Hezekiah Collins.
Most of the children of Isaac
West #1 appear to have been born in South Carolina.
In 1804 or 1805 Isaac
West #1 sold the acreage in the Newberry District to his son-in-law, Isaac Green, who was married to his
daughter Phoebe West. The sale was
witnessed by Samuel Walker, who was evidently
the father of Sarah Walker, who was
married to Isaac’s son, John West.
This sale to his son-in-law, furthermore, supports the identification of
Isaac West #1.
After he sold his land to Isaac Green, Isaac West #1 and Susanna moved to Dickson County, Tennessee, where
he was living in 1804 when he purchased 215 acres on Big Harpeth River. He accumulated over 781 acres on the Big
Harpeth River. Susanna Anderson West
died in 1810 in Dickson County, Tennessee.
Isaac West remarried a person named Mary. They had one child, George Washington West,
born between 1810 and 1815. When Isaac
West died in 1814, he was supposedly visiting relatives in Shawneetown,
Illinois.
Let’s examine the locations and individuals mentioned in the
above records for Isaac West #1.
|
DATE
|
LOCATIONS
OF ISAAC WEST #1
|
INDIVIDUALS
MENTIONED
|
|
1745
|
Orange Co, NC – assumed birth
|
|
|
1769
|
Orange Co, NC – assumed marriage
|
Susanna Anderson, daughter of Peter and Catherine Lynman Anderson,
Orange Co, NC
|
|
1770
|
Orange Co, NC, 300 acres, Deep River/Deep Run
|
Purchased from Hercules and Mary Ogle
|
|
|
Tryon Co, NC, 200 acres [Source: Kevin West]
|
Purchased land, mention of Hezekiah Collins, brother-in-law [Source: Kevin
West}
|
|
|
Buffalo Creek, York District, SC – probably same land in Tryon Co, NC
[Source: Kevin West]
|
Sold land to Robert Barnhill [Isaac’s presumed sister, Nellie West,
was married to Alexander Barnhill. Isaac’s
daughter Catherine was married to John Barnhill. [Source: Kevin West]
|
|
1778
|
Richmond Creek, Newberry District, SC, 160 acres
|
|
|
1780
|
200 acres near where Battle of King’s Mt. was fought
|
Purchased from John Moore; mention of Hezekiah Collins, spouse, of
Mary West (presumed sister of Isaac West)
|
|
1804
|
Sold land in Newberry District to Isaac Green, his son-in-law
|
Isaac Green, spouse of Phoebe West and daughter of Isaac West;
witnesses Samuel Walker, father of Isaac’s daughter-in-law Sarah Walker,
spouse of his son, John West, and John
West, his son
|
|
1804
|
Purchased 215 acres on Big Harpeth River, Dickson Co, TN
|
|
|
1810
|
Dickson Co, TN
|
Susanna Anderson West died.
|
|
p1810
|
Married Mary in Dickson Co, TN
|
|
|
1810-1815
|
Son George Washington West was born.
|
|
|
1814
|
Isaac West died, supposedly, in Shawneetown, IL, visiting relatives.
|
|
Note: Orange County, NC was created in
1752; Surry County, NC in 1770; Wilkes County, NC in 1777 from Surry and
District of Washington; and Tryon County, NC in 1768, abolished and divided
into Lincoln County and Rutherford County in 1779. Ninety-Six District, SC was created in 1769;
Newberry District/County, SC was created in 1785; Greenville District, SC in
1786 from Washington District but was part of Washington District from 1791 to
1800.
When we
consider the data concerning Isaac West #1, we may draw the following
conclusions:
·
Lived his early life in Orange County, North
Carolina
·
Purchased land in Newberry District of South Carolina and moved there
·
Purchased land
near where Battle of King’s Mountain was fought which may have been the
same place as Newberry District
·
Sold his land in Newberry District to son-in-law, Isaac Green
·
Moved to Dickson
County, Tennessee
·
Probably died in Shawneetown, Illinois
·
Identified with the following relatives in
various documents:
o
John West (son)
o
Isaac Green (son-in-law)
o
Lynn Walker (son-in-law)
o
Samuel Walker (daughter’s father-in-law)
o
Isaac Walker (grandson)
o
Hezekiah Collins (brother-in-law)
o
Robert Barnhill (John Barnhill, son-in-law;
Alexander Barnhill, brother-in-law)
Secondly, let’s look at the Isaac West #2, who is cited many times in
the North Carolina counties of Tryon and Lincoln. Even though it is most difficult to determine
which Isaac West the following records reference, based on locations and other
individuals who are mentioned, Isaac
West #2 appears to be the Isaac West referenced in these counties.
· 1771, April 15, Tryon County, North Carolina,
Isaac West purchased 100 acres on Big and Little Allison’s Creek, joining that
of Jas. Fergison, Jno Cimbrow, and Jno McMichael.
· 1779, January 4, Tryon County, North Carolina,
Isaac West purchased 300 acres for 8.14
pounds on both sides of Dutchman’s Creek of the South Fork of the Catawba
River. This land bordered that of
Rutledge, West, Jas Milligan, and land that Polk bought from Wm. Moore.
· 1789, September 8, Lincoln Co, NC, W. Rankin,
Isaac West, and Charles Witt served as witnesses of a land transaction between
a John West and Jonn Bealk on south side of Doctor’s Creek. The land bordered that of William Moore.
· 1789, October, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West was ordered
by the court to serve as a grand and/or petit juror at the January 1790 court.
· 1789, October, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West was
impaneled and sworn in as a juror.
· 1789, October, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West was
order by jury to lay off a road from Tool’s Ford on the Catawba River to
Armstrong’s Ford on the south fork to Hill’s iron works.
·
1790, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West is listed in
the census.
· 1792, October, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West
purchased 109 acres, dated August 20, 1792 from John Bealk. Stephen West served as a witness.
· 1795, March 23, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West for 5
pounds purchased 30 acres on Dutchman’s Creek from John Bealk. The land bordered that of George Cox, John
Taylor, John Bealk, and Isaac West. This
was granted November 27, 1972 and witnessed in April 1796 by William West.
· 1797, November 13, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West
purchased 20 acres on Dutchman’s Creek for 20 pounds from William
Devenport. This land bordered that of
Devenport and Isaac West. It may be
noted that Isaac West signed “his mark.”
The Isaac West #2 cited above did not
appear in land or court records after 1797.
Therefore, he may have died sometime after 1797. However, we must also remember that one of
the other younger Isaac Wests could have been the one cited in some of these
transactions. Let’s examine the
locations and individuals mentioned in those records cited above.
|
DATE
|
LOCATIONS
OF ISAAC WEST #2
|
OTHER
INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED
|
|
1771
|
Allison’s Creek, Lincoln Co, NC
|
Jas Fergison, Jno Cimbrow, Jno McMichael
|
|
1779
|
Dutchman’s Creek, south fork of Catawba River, Lincoln Co, NC
|
Rutledge, West, Jas Milligan, and land that Polk bought from Wm.
Moore
|
|
1789
|
Doctor’s Creek, Lincoln Co, NC
|
W. Rankin, Isaac West, and Charles Witt served as witnesses of a land
transaction between a John West and Jonn Bealk, land bordered that of William
Moore
|
|
1789
|
Lincoln Co, NC, juror
|
|
|
1789
|
Catawba River, Lincoln Co, NC, order to lay off road
|
|
|
1790
|
Lincoln Co, NC, census
|
|
|
1792
|
Lincoln Co, NC, census
|
John Bealk, Stephen West
|
|
1795
|
Dutchman’s Creek, Lincoln Co, NC
|
John Bealk, George Cox, John Taylor, William West
|
|
1797
|
Dutchman’s Creek, Lincoln Co, NC
|
William Devenport, Isaac West signed with his mark
|
Note: Orange County, NC was created in
1752; Surry County, NC in 1770; Wilkes County, NC in 1777 from Surry and
District of Washington; and Tryon County, NC in 1768, abolished and divided
into Lincoln County and Rutherford County in 1779. Ninety-Six District, SC was created in 1769;
Newberry District/County, SC was created in 1785; Greenville District, SC in
1786 from Washington District but was part of Washington District from 1791 to
1800.
At this point, I must give much credit and thanks to my
cousin Joanne Libera. She helped me
research and compile information at the Old Tryon Genealogical Society Library
and the Shelby County Genealogical Society Library in April 2004. We found many
references to men by the name of Isaac West.
Obviously, more than one Isaac West lived in that area in the 18th
century. The only way to determine “who
is who” among these Isaac Wests will be to use dates, locations, and relationships.
I have listed below the names of the various Wests,
including the various references to Isaac West of Tryon and Lincoln Counties, which
we found along with dates, locations, and individuals with hopes that this
information may prove helpful in determining “who is who.” Except for the name Abner, the names of these
Wests and spouses listed below do not match with any of those listed as Isaac West #1’s children.
·
Stephen
West married Mary Belk (no date)
·
1787, May 2, Lincoln County, North Carolina, Barney West married Sally Wallace.
·
1790, Lincoln Co, NC, the following are listed
in the census:
o
Barney West
o
Jos West
o
Robt West
o
Stephen West
o
Thom West
o
William West
· 1794, February 28, Lincoln Co, NC, Abner West married Levine Belck (Bealk,
likely the daughter of John Bealk).
· 1791, January 8, Lincoln Co, NC, Barney West was a witness to deed of
sale between James Hanks and Abraham Scott.
This land was on branches of south fork of Catawba River and was
bordered by land of Col. Robert Palmer, Asheton, Henderson, and Henry.
· 1794, April, Lincoln Co, NC, Thomas West sold 300 acres of land on
branches of Hogans Fork on Liles Creek to Nancy Harbison.
· 1795, October 19, Lincoln Co, NC, William West married Elthia Lewis.
· 1796, January 24, Lincoln Co, NC, Fereby West married James Rees.
· 1799, September 24, Lincoln Co, NC, Jas West witnessed a land transaction
which involved land on Little Catawba Creek by John McClure and David Knowles.
·
1800, Rutherford Co, NC, Thomas West and William West
were listed in the census.
· 1802, November 8, Lincoln Co, NC, Ephraim West married Margaret Kail.
· Before 1804, Lincoln Co, NC, Reuben West married Susanna Belk
(probably the daughter of John Bealk who died in 1804).
·
1804, June 26, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West, Jr. married Catherine
Rumfelt.
·
1806, October 8, Lincoln Co, NC, Michael West married Mary Sauls.
·
1807, September 2, Lincoln Co, NC, Barney West married Barbara Rumfelt.
·
1816, March 20, Lincoln Co, NC, Jonathan West married Priscilla
Armstrong.
·
1819, October 26, Lincoln Co, NC, Stephen Belt (Bealk Belck) married
Salley West.
·
1822, May 11, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West married Betsy Armstrong.
·
1822, October 12, Lincoln, NC, Allan West married Polly Belk.
·
1828, Lincoln Co, NC, Allen West was the son and heir of Barney West per the will of Barney West.
·
1828, November 23, Lincoln Co, NC, Amey West married Samuel Hawkins.
·
1829, January 20, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West married Elizabeth Cox.
·
1830, January 7, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac West married Elizabeth Cox.
·
1830, January 7, Lincoln Co, NC, Isaac W. P. West married Mary D. Price.
·
1830, January 7, Lincoln Co, NC, James West married Elizabeth Robeson.
·
1830, January 29, Lincoln Co, NC, Ebenezer West married Diana A. Wills.
·
1832, November/December 18, Lincoln Co, NC, Barbara West married Jacob Troutman.
·
1838, July 18, Lincoln Co, NC, Joseph West married Catherine Bird.
·
1845, February 27, Lincoln Co, NC, Visey West married John Armstrong.
·
1850, November 27, Lincoln Co, NC, Sarah West married John Baker.
·
1852, December 24, Lincoln Co, NC, Amanda West married William T. McCoy.
·
1863, June 27, Lincoln Co, NC, Sophia West married John M. Ransey.
·
1863, October 20, Lincoln Co, NC, Dulcina West married N. H. Pixley.
·
1863, December 28, Lincoln Co, NC, W. B. West married A. A. Harding.
When we
consider the data, we can draw the following conclusions regarding Isaac West #2:
· There is no indication that Isaac West #2, who is cited many times in Tryon and Lincoln
Counties and the one under consideration in this study, ever lived in South
Carolina. He was still purchasing land
in Lincoln County, NC, in 1797.
· The locations that correspond to him are
Allison’s Creek, Dutchman’s Creek, Doctor’s Creek, Lincoln County, and Tryon
County.
· According to documents, Isaac West #2 is associated with the following individuals: Stephen
West, William West, John West, William Moore, Fergison, Cimbrow, McMichael,
Rutledge, Milligan, Polk, Bealk, Rankin, Witt, Cox, Taylor, and Devenport.
Again, I must emphasize how difficult it is to try to
differentiate the various Isaac Wests who lived, particularly, in Tryon and
Lincoln Counties of North Carolina.
However, the associations and locations that are noted in the previous
narrative appear to distinguish between Isaac
West #1 and Isaac West #2.
I am a guest to Chrystal Brake’s West Family Tree in Ancestry.com.
She has extensive information about the Wests who lived in the Tryon and
Lincoln Counties of North Carolina. Even
though she has given me permission to provide a link in this blog to her tree,
it is a private tree and cannot be accessed without her permission. Chrystal seems to have a good handle on the
Wests of Tryon and Lincoln Counties. She
references the Belks/Bealks/Belck, the various Wests with given names of
Barney, Stephen, Abner, Reuben, and others. I suspect that some of the later
men were sons or relatives of Isaac West
#2.
In fact Chrystal Brake has an Isaac West (1742-1835) and his
spouse Mary Russell. According to
Chrystal, their children and spouses are as follows: Mary West/William Belk; Barnabas West/Sally
Wallace; Stephen West/Mary Belk; Reuben West/Gincy Woods and Susanna Belk;
Abner West/Lavinia Belk; William West/Elithia Lewis; John West/Sarah; Phereby
West/Isaac Belk; Winnie West/Leonard Fite; and Isaac West. Indeed, could the father of these children be
Isaac West #2?
Will we ever be able to untangle this ball of yarn? I hope so!
SOURCES:
· Bell, John. Northampton County, Virginia
Tithables, 1662-1677, p. 41. Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1993 [citing
Orange County, NC Records, Vol. III, Deed Book 3, p 173]
· Brake, Chrystal. West Family Tree,
Ancestry.com. #34870923
· Brown, James E. and Margaret Brown Altendahl. Relatives
of the Browns of Mill Springs, Kentucky, Including the Fisher, Gaar, Gholson,
Hutchison, Weaver and West Families. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc.,
1992.
· Boyle, Blodwen West. Isaac West’s Family of
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Dickson County, Tennessee, 1745-1814.
1974.
· DePriest, Virginia Green and Lucille Hendrick
Gardner. Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Tryon County,
NC, Vol. II, 1768-1779, Shelby, NC: Green and Gardner, 1985.
· Haun, Weynette Parks. Orange County, North
Carolina, Court Minutes, 1762-1766, Book II. Durham, NC: Weynette Parks
Haun, 1992.
· Lefler, Hugh and Paul Wager, eds. Orange
County 1752-1952. Chapel Hill, NC: Orange Printshop, 1953.
· McAllister, Anne Williams and Kathy Gunter
Sullivan, comp. Lincoln County, NC Court of Pleas & Quarters, April
Court 1789-April Court 1796. McAllister-Sullivan, 1987.
· McAllister, Anne Williams and Kathy Gunter
Sullivan (contributions by Dr. A. Bruce Pruitt). Court of Pleas &
Sessions, Lincoln County, NC, April 1779-January 1789. McAllister-Sullivan,
1988.
· Philbeck, Miles S. Tryon County, North
Carolina land Warrants, 1760-1774. Chapel Hill, NC: Miles S. Philbeck,
1987.
· Pruitt, A. B. Abstracts of Land Entries,
Tryon and Lincoln Counties, NC, 1778-1780. A. B. Pruitt, 1987.
· Pruitt, R. B. Abstracts of Deeds: Lincoln
County, NC, 1786-1793 (Books 3, 4, 16). A. B. Pruitt, 1988.
·
Pruitt, R. B. Abstracts of Deeds: Lincoln
County, NC, 1783-1800 (Books 17, 18, 19). R. B. Pruitt, 1982.
· Pruitt, R. B. and A. B. Pruitt. Abstracts of
Deeds, Lincoln County, NC, 1783-1800 (Books 17, 18, 19). A. B. Pruitt,
1988.
· Pruitt, R. B. and A. B Pruitt. Abstracts of Deeds:
Lincoln County, NC, 1786-1793 (Books 3, 4, 16). A. B. Pruitt, 1988.
