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About Thomas Ashcraft, Sr.
THOMAS ASHCRAFT was born 1740 in New Kent County, Virginia, (from Bible record, location now unknown); he lived for awhile in Brunswick Co. Va., sold land there in 1770, then migrated to NC about 1770. He died December 28, 1825 in Anson Co. NC (now Union Co.NC). He married OHOLABAMAH. They originally were buried without markers in the area across Lane's Creek from their home. An adult and child grave was also found there in the early 1930's. Their son, Benjamin is believed to be buried by his parents. Later on, these graves were moved to Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery near their homeplace.
John and Thomas Ashcraft moved from New Kent Co. to Brunswick Co. Va. before their parents died, probably around 1759, working the land which their father had gotten and they lived as a neighbor to a Robert Moore. John Moore is listed as an early settler of Brunswick County, Va. in the book Brunswick County, Virginia 1720-1975 by Gay Neale, p. 36. This Moore family also came from Black Creek in New Kent County before settling in Brunswick County, so it is thought the Ashcrafts and Moores were close friends for a long time.
At a court held for Brunswick Co. Va on Monday, 26 September 1768: Thomas and John Ashcraft now in court chose Robert Moore their guardian whereupon the said Robert Moore together with Valentine Moore his security entered into and acknowledged their bond in the amount of 100 Ibs for securing the orphans estate and indemnifying the court. Therefore the Moores vouched for the brothers that they were the rightful owners of this land. We don't know exactly when the brothers came to work in Brunswick County on the land their father acquired, but the Moores evidently took them under their wings and taught them the trade of milling and how to read and write. The elder brother Thomas was a miller. More research needs to be done for the particulars.
At a court held for Brunswick County, Va on Monday 27 August 1770: An indenture of bargain and sale between Thomas Ashcraft and George Connelly, was proven by the oaths of Thomas Lambert and Richard Hardin, Witnesses.
Below is in the words of descendant Mary D. Elmore:
There are indications that John may have spent some time in the Chatham County area when he first immigrated to North Carolina. After Thomas Ashcraft came to North Carolina, they settled land in Orange County, N.C., which was in what is now Alamance County, where their land grants were located. The eldest son of Thomas, William, said that he was born at Tar River, North Carolina, who left a Bible record in which he stated this (Unable to locate this record now.). During the Revolution, they were living in Orange District and received their vouchers for furnishing supplies to the militia from Hillsborough District, North Carolina. Most militia records, even if there were any, haven't survived. Thomas and John, without any doubt, did fight. The Guilford Courthouse battle was just a matter of 40 or 50 miles from their homes. When fighting broke out in your area, you defended it. Many more men served in the Revolutionary War than records may be found. The records are very incomplete, even for those in organized regiments.
The Orange County tax records have survived for the years beginning in 1779. Thomas and John Ashcraft were listed each year from 1779 through 1785. Mary checked about three more years beyond 1785 to be sure they hadn't been accidentally missed in 1786. They arrived in Anson County, North Carolina in 1786, in time for both Thomas and John to add another son to their family. Both were named Thomas. Thomas Jr. was born January 2, 1786, to Thomas and Oholabamah; Thomas, son of John and Mary, was born August 6, 1786 in Anson County, North Carolina. For years, Thomas, son of John and Mary, was said by a descendant to have been born in Sampson County, North Carolina (Notable Men of Alabama Hon. Joel C. DeBose, Editor, 1904, pg. 315). This was a mistake. There is no indication that John and Mary Ashcraft ever lived in Sampson County.
The land patents for the Ashcraft brothers in Anson County [now Union County] were: Thomas lived on Lanes Creek under a patent and John on Lick Branch of Lanes Creek under patent #1507. They both also purchased additional acreage. Thomas built a grist mill on Lanes Creek where he milled. The heavy timbers from the mill are still in the creek imbedded in the creek bottom. One of the huge grinding rocks is imbedded in the creek bank. When Mary visited this site, she could envision, in her mind's eye, farmers taking their corn to the mill for grinding, visiting with one another and catching up on all the happenings of the area. She had the most wonderful feelings of kinship and familiarity as she walked the lands and viewed the area where our ancestors trod. Mary said many of the patent books in NC Archives were out getting microfilmed when she was there, so probably further records could be found by researchers.
In ca. 1791 John Ashcraft's first wife died in Anson County, North Carolina. He then married Rebecca, maiden name unknown, and they moved to South Carolina in 1799. The land John purchased was in Chester and York County, South Carolina on Fishing Creek. John remained there until his death in 1816. His will is located in Columbia, South Carolina in the archives. All of his children are listed in the will. Rebecca Ashcraft continued to live in Chester County, South Carolina until her death between 1830-1840.
Thomas Ashcraft lived in Anson County, North Carolina, where he settled in 1785/1786, until his death in 1825. Thomas lost his wife, Oholabamah, in 1818. He was living alone in 1820 and was 85 years old when he died. [From Bible record and tombstone]. They were buried on the opposite side of Lanes Creek from their home, on slightly higher ground. Over 100 years later, their remains were moved from the edge of a field to the cemetery of Bethel Baptist Church and within sight of their original home site settled 150 years or more before.
Thomas was in Orange Co. Hillsborough District, NC during the Revolutionary War. A voucher for him was found in NC Archives. See below:
The North Carolina Archives in Raleigh, NC has in their Patent books or loose papers the following patents:
#848. John Ashcraft adjoined by James Roach, August 13, 1779.
#978 John Ashcraft-1779
#936 Thomas Ashcraft adjoining David McGwine and John Moore (No date on this one.)
Thomas Ashcraft, the eldest son of James and Mary, did not have a will. He deeded all of his sons land at an early age, except for John. It is suspected that he helped John to purchase an over 600 acres plat of land when he first married since he didn't deed him land as he did the others. Thomas Ashcraft died December 28, 1825. The day before he died Thomas Ashcraft of Anson Co. N.C. deeded everything that he had to his youngest son, Thomas Ashcraft, Jr. Almost immediately, Thomas, Jr. sold the land to his eldest brother, William, and immigrated to Tennessee. From that time forward, the two brothers in North Carolina, William and Benjamin were estranged from Thomas, Jr. and there is no evidence that the breach was ever healed. Thomas, Jr. made an attempt in a letter dated 1849; Mary D. Elmore has a copy of this letter in her files if anyone wants to see it.
( http://www.oursouthernancestors.com/ashcraft-001.html )
More at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ashcraftscott/d00...
http://genealogytrails.com/ncar/union/biographies.html: Union County Biographies
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Thomas Ashcraft, Sr.'s Timeline
| 1740 |
1740
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New Kent, Virginia, USA
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| 1750 |
1750
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Mecklenburg, Anson County, North Carolina, British Colonial America
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| 1768 |
1768
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| 1772 |
November 17, 1772
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Haw River, Alamarka, NC
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| 1774 |
1774
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1774
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Haw River, Orange, North Carolina, USA
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| 1776 |
1776
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Haw River, Orange, North Carolina, USA
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| 1778 |
December 7, 1778
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Haw River, Hillsboro District, North Carolina
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| 1784 |
1784
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