Talitha Browder

Talitha Cox was born in Brunswick County, Virginia about 1745. This part of Brunswick County was later formed into Lunenberg County. She married Isham Browder on Feb. 3, 1767 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. The couple soon moved to Rowan County, NC (the part later made into Guilford County and still later into Rockingham County).
Talitha was often at Isham’s side, as demonstrated from the early records. She even witnessed one deed along with him. The following excerpt are from Guilford County Deed Book 1:
May 29, 1772 - a deed concerning William Garrott and his wife, Sarah, to Lawrence Bankson was proven by ISHAM BROWDER, but no probate date appears. Witnesses to this deed included both ISHAM BROWDER and his wife, TABITHA (sic) BROWDER (p. 149).
Following the untimely death of her husband, Isham, Talitha carried on his legacy. Strong and resourceful, Talitha Browder did a wonderful job keeping the family property mostly intact during her lifetime, regardless of what other family members may have believed after her death. In fact, I submit that the very reason she never remarried was exactly so that her children could have the benefits of this estate as long as she lived. So, if she hid Isham’s Wills, as some family members believed following her death, then she did it for that reason.
“Old Miss Talitha”, as she came to be called, performed several transactions of estate herself, about the time of, and following, Isham’s death. She especially seemed intent upon ensuring that her youngest son, Augustine, was to have property in his own right since, according to her husband's will, Isham, Jr. was to receive practically all of the real estate. For example, on August 10, 1784, Talitha and her infant son, Augustine Claiborne Browder, purchased 640 acres of land, located on Wolf Island Creek, from John Browder. This would have been land, situated on both sides of Wolf Island Creek, that John Browder was granted by the State of North Carolina on October 22, 1782, having been entered on January 4, 1779 by John Browder and Capt. Isham Browder together (Guilford County North Carolina Land Grants Book 3, p. 84).
Also, in 1785 Talitha Browder purchased 100 acres of land, located on the north side of Wolf Island Creek, from Lawrence Bankson, Sarah Matlock and John Shiff (RCDB C, p. 299). And on November 6, 1795, Talitha Browder deeded a different 640 acre tract to Asa Cummins. John Browder was also a witness to this deed.
The 640 acre tract she sold on November 6, 1795 was the acreage received on August 27, 1783 and was not part of the 1,280 acre tract mentioned in Isham's will that was to be passed down to Isham, Jr.. The 640 acre tract that she purchased on November 8, 1784 was passed on to Augustine Claiborne Browder (as she obviously intended) to become part of the 689 acre tract that his heirs sold by Augustine's heirs in 1834/35. It would appear that what she otherwise sold was the bulk of one of the 200 acre tracts granted to Isham on November 8, 1784.
So, it seems obvious that Isham Browder had passed away by August 27, 1783, since it seems doubtful that Talitha Browder would have entered into such a transaction on her own, along with her infant, Augustine Claiborne Browder, prior to Isham’s death. In fact, it is actually more likely that he passed away sometime in mid to late 1784, thus corroborating the later testimony of Isham C. Browder, which he made in a sworn deposition in 1830/31 concerning Isham's will.
Also, in 1809, according to the records, Talitha Browder deeded 75 acres of land on the north side of Wolf Island Creek to her daughter, Martha Browder (RCDB N, p. 53). This deed was duly proven in open court by the oath of Aaron Cantrell (Rockingham County Minute Docket Book 1780-1813, p. 24).
Finally, in 1827, “Teletha” Browder is listed as a member of Wolf Island Primitive Baptist Church. This is the only known extant record of her there that I have been able to obtain.
The following is Talitha’s Will, verbatim, from (RCWB B, pp. 26-28), which contains many misspellings, no doubt, done by the person who copied it into the record:
The Last Will and Testament of “Telitha” (sic) Browder
In the name of God, Amen, I, TELITHA (sic) BROWDER of the County of Rockingham do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. in the first place I commit my Soul to the hands of Almighty God, who gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner at the direction of my Executor as to the property with which it has pleased God to bless me with I dispose of in the following manner. I Will and bequeath to my Daughter, Telitha (sic) C. Clarke the Sum of fifty cents she having Married against my Will and wishes. I Will and bequeath to my Daughter Patsey Whittemore my Negro Woman Doll and her children - Lewis Isaac & Ester - and the future increase of the family female slaves my large family bible two feather beds and furniture together with all my household and kitchen furniture my cart and Steers (sic) together with all my stock of Cattle hogs sheep and horses that I may not Otherwise dispose of in this will and my crop that may be on hand at my death to her and heirs forever. The said Patsey Whittemore having nursed me Comforted me in & waited on me in my last days.
I will and bequeath to my Grandaughter (sic) Telitha (sic) Whittemore the child of my Daughter Patsey Whittemore a little Negro girl, named Darkess the child of Doll to her and her heirs forever but if in case the said Telitha (sic) should die before she arrives of lawful age then in that case I will and bequeath the said Negro girl Darkes to my Grandaughter (sic) Martha Amanda Whittemore to her and her heirs forever and my will and desire is that until the aforesaid children arrive of lawful age that the said Girl Darkess remain in the possession of my daughter Patsey Whittemore for her special use I will and bequeath to my two Grand children Augustine B. Fears and Patsey Nowlan children of my daughter of Talitha and Nancy a Negro boy named Cuffey a (a Negro boy named Joe) a Negro Girl named Aggy and her future increase to them and their heirs forever shear (sic) and shear (sic) alike however The said Augustin (sic) B. Fears being a youth under age if he should die before he should Marry and have and have children of his own to have his part of the above mentioned property Cuffey Joe & Aggy I will and bequeath to my Grandaughter (sic) Nancy Whittemore the daughter of my daughter Patsey Whittemore all the interest which the said Augustine B. Fears may have in the above mentioned Slaves Cuffey Joe and Aggy and her increase to her and her heirs forever and in order that this devise may be carried into effect consistant with my wishes I direct that my Executors herein after named May keep in possession that part of the aforesaid property that may fall to Augustine B. Fears til the time and circumstances may occur I will and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Nancy Whittemore the Daughter of my Daughter Patsey my saddle & Harness to her and her heirs forever.
I will and bequeath to my Grand son William Whittemore the child of my Daughter Patsey my bay mare my cot bed & furniture to him and his heirs forever Lastly I ordain constitute my friends Clement Whittemore and Jno Wall - Esqr. my Executors of this my last will and Testament, and hereby revoking all Other wills or will by me heretofore made My hand and seal this 29th day December 1827
Signed & Sealed in the presents of
Jno. J. Wright x his TALITHA BROWDER (seal)
Joseph Young x Isaiah x Hancock

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State of North Carolina August term 1828
Rockingham County The within last will & Testament of TALITHA BROWDER was duly proved in open court by the Oaths of Jno. J. Wright Isaiah Hancock Joseph Young & on motion ordered to be recorded. Clemt Whittimore (sic) one of the Executors qualified as such.

Robt. Galloway CCC.

* Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Aug 13 2022, 9:59:42 UTC