Revisited: The Isaac West Confusion

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 5^th 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/1^st Elisha Simmons/2^nd 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/1^st Elisha Simmons/2^nd 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 18^th 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.