George Roberts

GEORGE ROBERTS: The earliest record of George Roberts was in Mormon tape No. 579753. This tape contained a miscellaneous collection of early Craven County records. Page 93 of this tape contained an entry concerning New Bern. An order was passed by the City of New Bern giving the commissioners, Cullan Pollock, Richard Graves and Wm.<nowiki>-----</nowiki>, Esq, the power to sell lots of deceased persons. George Roberts offered 40 shillings for each of the lots of the deceased <nowiki>------</nowiki> Graves, Esq. The commissioners accepted George's offer to buy lots 210 and 211, each of one acre, provided that George build a good house on each lot; the dimensions of each house to be not less than 15 feet wide and 25 feet long. On page 107 of the same tape was recorded a real estate transaction prior to 1730. The land was in Craven precinct on the Neuse River. He obtained more land in 1739 after the Lord Proprietors had sold Carolina to England. Thus, instead of the seller being John Lord Carteret papatine, it was now King George. Each deed was written in the following form:" George the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britian, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith. To all to whom these presents shall come Greetings: Know ye that in the consideration of ___ pounds herein reserved, have given and granted. and by these presents forever, our heirs and successors do give and grant unto George Roberts a tract of land containing 250 acres lying and being in the precinct of Craven in The province of North Carolina, on the south side of the Neuse Riner about 4 miles above South-west Creek, beginning at a white oak, on the meadow side and a designated number of chains and poles to Picoson, thence up the Picoson to the first station." George Roberts could claim one half of the silver and one half of the gold on his land. The quit-rent was 4 shillings per 100 acres payable on 4 February each year. To hold the land he had to clear and plant three of every one hundred acres. ( South west creek is just below Kinston, in Lenoir County). George obtained a large acreage of land. His total holdings were about 7500 acres including two plantations. He was appointed Justice of the Peace of Craven precinct in 1734 with the power to hold court. On Janurary 21, 1734, he was appointed to a committee of the Upper House to regulate quit-rents and regulate currency. He was returned to the General Assembly in New Bern in 1734 as the Craven County representative and was a member of the Assembly until August 10, 1740. ( Information from North Carolina Colonial Records). The two plantations were known as Salisbury and Woodington.