William Aldridge

Not the same as his uncle William Ezekiel Aldridge, II

from the website of Richard Hayes Phillips http://web.northnet.org/minstrel/allred.15.htm

William Ezekiel Aldridge, did move to North Carolina. He is listed as Ezekiel Alred in the 1790 census records for Randolph County. He died on 24 October 1793 and is buried at Old McMasters Cemetery in Randolph County. He named fourteen children in his will.

The land records and the early census records show that most of the children of William Aldridge and Elizabeth Symons lived in North Carolina. On 6 February 1761, Nathaniel Aldrage received a grant for 220 acres on the Bushy Fork of Flat river; Joseph Oldrage was a chain carrier. On 8 December 1762, Nathaniel Aldrage received another grant for 700 acres on both sides of Flatt River; Joseph Oldrage was a chain carrier. On 11 December 1762, Joseph Aldrage received a grant for 455 acres on both sides of Flat River. Both men affixed their marks, unable to sign their names. There were several men by the name of Alridge or Aldridge who appear in the early records of Randolph County and vicinity. Among them were: Nicholas Aldridge (1768 tax list for Orange County); William Aldridge and Nathaniel Aldridge (1779 tax list for Randolph County); Joseph Aldridge (1784 tax list for Caswell County); and Nathan Alridge (1790 census for Randolph County). All are said to be sons of William Aldridge and Elizabeth Symons, and brothers of Sylvania Aldridge York.

Research by Tony Alldredge- taken from his archived website: http://web.archive.org/web/20050306032909/http://www.aldridgefamily... republished at http://alldredge.forefamilies.com/william.html

Alldredge, William 1729-1789, A Biography

(rev 1 Jan 2002)

by Tony Alldredge

William Alldredge (Aldridge) was born in 1729, possibly in North Carolina near the present city of Greensboro and near Sandy Creek. His parents are unknown, but are thought to be James Aldridge (1706) and Mary Gassaway, who moved from Anne Arundel County, Virginia near the present city of Baltimore.

This was a frontier area with few cities or towns. William (1729)’s ancestors came from England and were God-fearing people, probably Episcopalian (Anglican - Church of England).

William (1729) married Elizabeth (we don’t yet know her last name) about 1752 and together they had 14 children between 1753 and 1779.

On a certain Revolutionary War map, The “William Aldridge mill (c. 1780)” is shown in St Matthew Parish, on Mt. Pleasant Creek, just north of Soapstone Mountain. This is north of Deep River and east of Sandy Creek, about 25 miles southeast of the present city of Greensboro.

William (1729) died in North Carolina 13 Nov 1789 and was buried in Randolph County north of Franklinville.

Elizabeth died 24 Oct. 1793 and was buried next to William (1729).

References:

Per TA’s family records: (9) William Alldredge (1729):

Born 1729 or 1733, of Randolph, NC

Died 13 Nov 1789, buried McMasters Cemetery, Randolph NC

Father: William Alldridge

Mother: Mary

Married Elizabeth, born abt 1734, of Randolph, NC, died 24 Oct 1793 in Randolph Co.

Children:

• - Mary, born abt. 1753, in Randolph, NC
• - William, born abt. 1755, in Randolph, married Hannah Bell in 1772
• - Ezekial, born 28 April, 1757, in Randolph, married Rachel Huff in 1779, died abt. 1825 (TA’s line)
• - Bethena, born abt. 1759, in Randolph
• - John, born abt. 1761, in Randolph
• - Sarah, born abt. 1763, married Henery Kivett
• - Isabel, born abt. 1765
• - Sophia, born abt. 1767
• - Rosannah, born abt. 1769, married John Kivett
• - Sussannah, born abt. 1771 in Randolph
• - Samuel, born abt. 1773 in Randolph
• - Aaron, born abt. 1775 in Randolph, married Nancy, died 15 April 1821
• - Moses, born abt. 1777 in Randolph, died 22 Aug 1797
• - Merriate, born 1779, in Randolph (9)

Aldridge Records (p 87) lists information that may be on our William (1755).

William (1755) and Hannah Bell were married in Rowan County, NC (no source).

Sarah (1763) may be the subject of a narration in Aldridge Records (pp 76, 106 - that narration may also be of Ezekiel's Sarah).

Aldridge Records (pp 72, 109) may be addressing our Sussannah (1771) and our Aaron (1775). Note that our Aaron (1775) also has a nephew Aaron Alldredge, Ezekiel's son.

“Orange County was formed 1752 from Bladen and Granville. The Tax List for the year 1755 included William Aldridge 1 w p; John Alred 1 w p; Solomon Alren 1 w p; William Alred 1 w p; William Alred 1 w p; Thos. Allred 2 w p/ William Aldridge had 256 acres land grant on branch of Sandy Creek, issued 3 Nov. 1756. (Bk. 14 P328 Fille 312) Nathaniel Aldridge had a grant of 220 acres in Orange, adjoining Thomas Robinson’s place, issued 6 February 1761, also 700 acres on Flat River issued 8 Dec. 1762. (Bk. 14 P 328-329 File 311) Just three days later 11th Dec. 1762 Joseph Aldridge had a grant of 455 acres issued to him on Flat River. (Bk. 14 P330 File 317) Guilford County was formed 1771 from Orange and Rowan. Randolph was formed 1779 from Guilford. William Aldridge had land grants of 100 and 184 acres issued to him in 1788 on Sandy Creek waters, Randolph County. (Bk. 66 P 373 File 486) Nathan Aldridge had 200 acres issued to him 24th July 1786 on Mt. Pleasant, Sandy Creek in Randolph. (Bk. 25 P 409 file 166) John Aldridge had 200 acres issued to him 13th Dec. 1798 on Deep River waters in same county. (Bk 99P 176 File 1072) Thomas Allred had 100 acres issued to him in 1802 on Sandy Creek. Ezekiel Aldridge had 80 acres issued to him 1803 on waters of Mt. Pleasant Creek. Samuel Aldridge had 16 acres entered May 1802 on waters of Buffalo Creek and in March 1811 was issued 75 acres on waters of Mt. Pleasant Creek. (Bk 127 P423 File 2252).” (8)

After Jamestown, “...traders gradually filtered south from the Virginia settlements, following the course of the streams. But it was not until 1663 that the land south of Virginia was granted by King Charles II to a group of lords proprietors in England, who sponsored a colony at Albermarle, with William Drummond as governor. Until 1712 North and South Carolina were governed as one colony. Tobacco was the chief crop cultivated. The towns established were Bath (1705), Edenton (before 1710), and New Bern (1710). (3)

“In 1729 North Carolina became a royal colony, with a governor appointed by the crown. During the period of royal rule the colony’s population grew from 30,000 (1730) to 265,000 (1775). One of the chief factors in this growth was the influx of large numbers of Scotch-Irish and Germans, who settled down as small farmers in the Piedmont and formed a group apart from the slave-owning tobacco planters of the Coastal Plain. (3)

“Like the other American colonies, North Carolina in time grew more and more restive over English rule and English trade restrictions. In 1774 the first provincial congress met at New Bern in defiance of the royal governor... In May of the following year the Mecklenburg Declaration, signed at Charlotte in Mecklenburg County, declared all royally granted commissions null and void and advocated measures amounting to independence....North Carolina soldiers participated in many of the important battles of the American Revolution, two of which took place on North Carolina soil - the battle of Moores Creek Ridge (1776) and the battle of Guilford Courthouse (1781).” (2)

The first part of the Revolutionary War was fought north of Virginia. In September 1777, the British General William Howe moved most of his 32,000 man army by sea to Chesapeake Bay. Washington only had 19,000 poorly trained and equiped troops in his entire army. General Howe “...brushed Washington aside at the Battle of Brandywine Creek on September 11, and proceeded north to Philadelphia.” (3) Brandywine Creek is a branch of Delaware River west of Philadelphia.

The British mistakenly thought that the majority of southern colonists were loyal to the crown. “On December 29, 1778, they captured Savannah, on the coast of Georgia; and on May 12, 1780, they took the port of Charleston, South Carolina. They inspired some Loyalists to take up arms and advance with them into the interior. But although the British were able to win conventional battles, they were constantly harassed as they moved through the countryside by Patriot guerrillas...” (3)

During the fall of 1780, the tide of battle turned against the British. “At King’s Mountain (near the North Carolina-Sout Carolina border) on October 7, 1780, a band of Patriot riflemen from the backwoods killed, wounded, or captured an entire force of 1,100 New York and South Carolina Tories, upon whom (the British General) Corwallis had depended as auxiliaries. (3)

On a certain Revolutionary War map, The “William Aldridge mill (c. 1780)” is shown in St Matthew Parish, on Mt. Pleasant Creek, just north of Soapstone Mountain. This is north of Deep River and east of Sandy Creek, about 25 miles southeast of the present city of Greensboro. West of there and west of Sandy Creek (on the map) is a note: "William Aldridge, soldier of the revolution, buried Gray's Chapel". (7) However, a researcher, Linda Cooper, has visited Gray's Chapel and says that the person buried there is William Allred, not William Aldridge. (11)

“One William Aldridge with wife Elizabaeth died in Randolph in 1789, leaving a will naming his children. His sons Ezekiel, John and Samuel went to Posey County, Indiana. Nathaniel went to South Carolina, Nathan died in Knox County, Tennessee. Joseph probably died in Orange.” (6) TA note: Posey County, Indiana is in the extreme southwest corner of the state. This Nathaniel may have been the brother to William (1729), born 1735.

"Subj: Re: Allred-Aldridge Controversy Date: 3/16/00 3:43:08 PM US Mountain Standard Time From: lacooper@mindspring.com (Linda Cooper) To: TonyAll@aol.com

I think part of the confusion happens when some folks insist William's last name was Alldridge or Allred despite what is written on his tombstone.

William Alldredge, died 13 Nov 1789, Age 60 y, is buried at the McMasters Cemetery. Directions to the cemetery per the Randolph County Cemetery Recordings book, volume IV are:

from NC HWY 22, between Franklinville and Ramseur, turn onto Patterson Grove Church Road. At the end turn left onto SR 2442, Ramseur-Julian Road; right onto SR 2456, White's Chapel Road, for 1 1/2 miles; left onto SR 2458, Soapstone Mountain Road. Approximately 3 miles on the left is a sign. The cemetery is behind a couple of old trailers. This cemetery is fenced in and well kept.

Also in this cemetery is E. Alldredge, d. 24 Oct. 1793 (her name is Elizabeth per Wm Alldredge's will)* She is buried next to William. *The notation about her name and the will was in the book.

and Memory Aldridge Lester (no dates) (TA note: Memory Aldridge Lester was an ardent Aldridge researcher that died in 1957 - see footnote references to her book)

Another confusing thing is that the Allred family and the Aldridge/Alldredge family settled on land very near each other. Joseph Allred, son of the John Allred who first showed up in 1755, owned part of SoapStone Mountain. John's first land, per the land grant description, was located on Mt. Pleasant Creek. So, many folks see the two families living so close to each other and who's names are spelled so close to each other and assume they are the same family. Maybe they were - I just don't happen to think so and no one has offered any documented evidence proving they were the same family. At least none I'm aware of.

William Allred, Sr., NC Pvt. Cav. Militia, Revolutionary War, 1732-1836 is buried at Grays Chapel UMC. There are many theories about which William Allred this man was. I believe he was the "original" William Elrod who showed up in Old Orange County in 1753 when he received his first land grant. Within 5 years he was spelling his name Allred. Mike Marshall has researched this family and this man in particular for many years. His research shows that the name Elrod was changed to Allred gradually over a 5 year period although no one knows why. William Elrod was the grandson of John/Johan Deter/Deider Elrod who first appeared in the 1714 records of New Castle County, PA (later known as New Castle county, Delaware). Those of us in the AFO call the first four Allred men to show up in NC in the 1750's the "originals". The "original" John, the "original" Solomon, the "original" William and the "original" Thomas. Seems all of them named sons, and later, grandsons, John, Thomas, William and Solomon and with so many men named the same thing, calling the first four "original" helps identify at least four of them.

As if we needed any more confusion, yes, it appears that an Elrod changed his name to Allred. I'll be glad to give you more info on this if you're interested.

I hope this helps.

Linda lacooper@mindspring.com" (11)

"WILLIAM ALLDREDGE

William Alldredge was born 1729 and died 1789. The William Aldridge who married Elizabeth Symons in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. in 1726 COULD BE the father of William since William was born in 1729. He would then be the father of our Nathan and of the James and Nicholas who almost certainly were the brothers of William and Nathan. That William was the brother of Our Nathan seems clear enough. They are listed one right above the other (showing that they lived near if not next to each other) in the 1779 tax list of Randolph, County. Nathan witnessed William's will and it was proven by Nathan.

William married Elizabeth ?. .Their children are given in his will. I have some data on some of the children of William which I shall give here.

Ezekiel seems to be the third child, granting that they are named in the order of birth - and they usua1ly are. He was born 28 April 1757. He married Rachel Huff. They had a son Isaac who had a son Isaac. The last Isaac went west and joined the Latter Day Saints church. The Latter Day Saints have done exhaustive research on the Aldridge - and its many spellings. Mr. Bennett of the Latter Day Saints believes tbat the names Aldridge and Allred are one and the same in the early records. The descendants in North Carolina say that they are quite distinct families." (12)

A summary of William (1729)’s will spells some of the children’s names differently: Ezekial is spelled “Ezekiel”. Bethena is spelled “Bethiny”. Isabel is spelled “Ezebel”. Sussannah is spelled “Susannah”. Merriate is spelled “Merriam”. (10)

“Page 73 – Will of Wm ALRIDGE. Dated 18 Nov. 1789; probated Dec. 1789. Wife. Children: Mary, Wm, Ezekiel, Bethiny, John, Sarah, Ezebel, Sophia, Rosannah, Susannah, Samuel, Aaron, Moses, Merriam. Exrs.: wife & son-in-law John Barker. Signed by name. Wits.: Nathan his X mark Alridge, Henry his X mark Kivett, Saml. Alridge.” (10)

TA note: This Nathan could be the brother to William (1729), age 49 at this time. This Samuel could be either the brother to William (1729), age 62 or the son, age 16, but is most likely the brother.

A William Alldridge married Betsy York 7 Jan 1817 in Posey County, Indiana (22). Our William (1755) would have been 62 years old, but this could be a nephew. Another William Alldridge married Rhonda Roberson 12 May 1816 in Posey County (22).

A William Alldredge died 11 Oct 1833 in Posey County, Indiana (20), with "...Parson Alldredge administrator with Archer Robinson and Eli Alldredge security. Heirs wife Rhoda who was appointed guardian for children in 1834. Children include Delela Walker Alldredge, Polly R. Alldredge, Mariah Alldredge, Sarah M. Alldredge, C. H. Perry Alldredge, and Tabithia Jones the wife of Samuel Jones the latter a non resident." (20) The fact that Parson is the administrator and not a child suggests a kinship with Parson, so this could be our William (1755).

"Petition of the inhabitants of Orange Co, NC. Complaining they pay higher fees for recording deeds than any of the adjacent counties and many other fees more than the law allows. The signors include:

• James Aldridge
• Wm Alrid, Jr.
• Wm Alrid, Sr.
• Nathan Aldridge
• Nich. Aldridge"

(13)

TA note: In the above petition, James, Nathan and Nicholas are probably brothers to William (1729). No date is given to this document, but may have been written after 1765 since Nicholas was born in 1745.

Notes on the descendants of William (1729) and Mary:

Mary (b. abt. 1753): Family records (9) indicate Mary was born in Randolph Co, NC.

William (b. abt. 1755):

Family records (9) indicate William was born in Randolph Co, NC. Another source (14) indicates that he married Hannah Bell 18 December 1772 in Iredell Co, NC. While their children are not clearly known, that same source (14) explores their possible descendants, including the following: “* Abner b ca. 1768

• Reuben, b 26th May 1770.
• Sarah b ca. 1772.
• Reuben b ca. 1773.
• Tibatha b ca. 1774.
• Susannah b ca. 1775.
• Elizabeth b ca. 1776.
• Aaron b ca. 1780.
• Susannah b ca. 1782.
• Jesse b ca. 1784.
• John b ca. 1787.
• Nathan b 12th October 1789.”

Ezekial (b. 28 April 1757): This is our Ezekial - see separate biography by this researcher (Tony Alldredge). Ezekial married Rachel Huff, raised a large family in Randolph Co, NC and followed most of them to southern Indiana where he died in 1824.

Bethena (b. abt. 1759): Family records (9) indicate Bethena was born in Randolph Co, NC.

John (b. abt. 1761): Family records (9) indicate John was born in Randolph Co, NC.

Sarah (b. abt 1763): Family records (9) indicate Sarah was born in Randolph Co, NC.

Isabel (b. abt 1765): Family records (9) indicate Isabel was born in Randolph Co, NC.

Sophia (b. abt. 1767): Family records (9) indicate Sophia was born in Randolph Co, NC.

Rosannah (b. abt. 1769): Family records (9) indicate Rosannah was born in Randolph Co, NC and married John Kivett.

Sussannah (b. abt. 1771): Family records (9) indicate Sussannah was born in Randolph Co, NC.

Samuel (b. abt. 1773): Family records (9) indicate Samuel was born in Randolph Co, NC.

Aaron (b. abt 1775): Family records (9) indicate Aaron was born in Randolph Co, NC, married Nancy and died 15 April 1821. Aldridge Records, Volume Two, pp 72-82 gives considerable detail concerning Aaron’s descendants.

Moses (b. abt. 1777): Family records (9) indicate Moses was born in Randolph Co, NC.

Merriate (b. 1779): Family records (9) indicate Merriate was born in Randolph Co, NC.

Verification of Vital Statistics

Birth: Family records (9) give William's approximate birthdate, but provide no primary sources.

Death: William's gravestone (assuming this is the same William, as is likely from his son's lives in the area) gives his death date and place (and those of his wife, Elizabeth).

Parentage: Family records (9) give William's parents but provide no primary sources. See notes on parentage below.

Spouse(s): William's will names Elizabeth as his wife. Their gravestones are adjacent to one another (assuming this is the same William, as is likely from evidence of his sons having lived in the area).

____________ Footnotes:

1 Aldridge Records, Franklin Aldridge, Vol. Two, p 52

2 Encyclopedia International, Grolier, New York, 1963, Vol. 13, p. 231.

3 American History, A Survey, McGraw-Hill, 1991, pp. 135-139.

4 Aldridge Records, Franklin Aldridge, Vol. One, p 59

5 Ibid, p 58

6 Ibid, p 52

7 Randolph / Guilford Map in possession of Tony Alldredge, 657 E. Kael Cir., Mesa, Arizona - copied at the Charlotte, NC, Public Library.

8 Aldridge Records, Vol. Two, p. 52.

9 Family records in possession of Antoine D. Alldredge, 657 E. Kael Circle, Mesa, Arizona 85203.

10 North Carolina Geneology – Winter 1967, p. 1986

11 Personal observation by Allred researcher Linda Cooper of North Carolina (per email message to Antoine D. Alldredge, July 2000 - lacooper@mindspring.com)

12 Alldredge - Aldridge - Bracken - Nesmith Families And Their Kin, Memory Aldridge Lester, 1957, Privately printed Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Mesa FH Ctr microfilm #461284), p. 13 "Aldridge & Allred of the South Newsletter, Volume 2, No 4 Fall 1994, 7:735-737" Aldridge Records, Volume Two, Op. Cit. p. 87

Notes on the parentage of this William Aldridge (b. 1729):

The parents of our William Aldridge (b. 1729) are not known. Several possible parentages are explored below. Sons of William Aldridge (b. Feb 1677/78 in Wicomico, Northumberland Co, VA, m. Alice Fallin), especially William (b. 1704 in Wicomico, Northumberland Co, VA, m. Mary - see Appendix A): while family records have indicated this parentage, no primary records (will, deed, or family record of that time) have been cited and a prominent researcher gives good reason to doubt this parentage.

Sons of Nicholas Aldridge (b. 28 Dec 1653 in Anne Arundel Co, VA, m. Martha Besson about 1680), especially William (b. 1702/3 in Anne Arundel Co, VA, m. Elizabeth - see Appendix B) or James (b. 1706 in Anne Arundel Co, VA, m. Mary Gassaway - see Appendix C): a “family legend” may give reason to believe that James is our William’s father.

Sons of others (see Appendix D)

The following research notes may be of help in resolving this question:

Appendix A: William Aldridge (b. 1704 in Anne Arundel County, Virginia, m. Mary):

(from a email message sent in early 2001 from Pam Wilson to “Jerry”, copied to Tony Alldredge):

“Jerry,

I am the coordinator of the Arledge Family History Project. William Aldridge who married Alice Fallin in Northumberland Co VA was also known as William ARLEDGE, and as far as we know all of his children went by ARLEDGE (with occasional spellings as ALDRIDGE by census takers, etc.).

Here are the children of William Aldridge/Arledge by both his wives, as far as we know. There are many claims out there, particularly by ALLRED descendants, that they are descended from William's son John who they claim became an ALLRED. I believe that the evidence shows otherwise, and that the John in question remained an Aldridge/ARLEDGE and settled in SC in 1749, married to Elizabeth Thomas. If this is true, then he is *not* the same John Aldridge/Allred who married Annie Hamilton/Hambleton and settled in Randolph CO, NC.

Descendants of William Aldridge

1 William Aldridge b: February 1677/78 in St. Stephen's Parish, Northumberland Co, VA d: Bef. January 21, 1724/25 in Wicomico Parish, Northumberland Co, VA [Will]
.. +Alice Fallin b: 1679 in Wicomico, Northumberland Co, VA m: Bef. 1703 d: Bet. 1710 - 1720
......... 2 William Arledge b: Abt. 1704 in Northumberland Co, VA; went to Camden Dist SC by 1764 d: Bef. September 02, 1784 in Camden Dist, SC (will adm. by nephew Joseph; bond: Isaac, Clement; wit: Amos: all sons of Isaac)
............. +Mary ??? b: in wife Mary named in deed in 1775 selling land on Dutchman's Creek (Camden Dist SC)
......... 2 John Arledge b: Abt. May 16, 1706 in Wicomico, Northumberland Co, VA (to Frederick Co VA by 1745; Camden Dist, SC by 1749) d: Abt. 1765 in prob. SC (Fairfield Co area): WILL not yet found
............. +Elizabeth Thomas b: Abt. 1720 in Wicomico Parish, Northumberland Co, VA m: Bef. September 1741 in Northumberland Co, VA d: Aft. 1795 in 1795 ruling: her estate to be divided three ways: Isaac, Moses' widow and Millar; she had remarried Matthias Fellows by the late 1760s
......... 2 Clement Arledge b: Abt. 1708 in Wicomico Parish, Northumberland Co, VA d: Abt. 1790 in NC (Will not yet found; many deeds from Bute/Warren Co NC)
............. +Ann/ Anna ??? b: Abt. 1712
......... 2 Jane Arledge b: Abt. 1710 in Northumberland County, Virginia d: Aft. 1724

• 2nd Wife of William Aldridge:
  

.. +Sarah ??? b: Bet. 1685 - 1700 m: Bef. 1721 in prob Northumberland Co, VA d: Bef. April 19, 1727 in Northumberland Co, VA [estate administration records]
......... 2 Isaac Arledge b: December 1721 in Northumberland Co, VA; to Craven Co, NC (New Bern) c 1738 d: Bef. November 18, 1790 in Fairfield Co, SC (Will dated 5 Jan 1790)
............. +Anna/Hannah ??? prob. was his second wife b: ??? m: in probably Craven Co, NC or Fairfield Co, SC d: Bet. 1798 - 1799
......... 2 Sarah Arledge b: Abt. 1723

Hope this helps. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Pam”

Pam Wilson wilsonpam@mindspring.com

Arledge Family History Project http://www.geocities.com/heartland/prairie/8208 [now arledgefamilyhistory.org]

(source footnote: Wilson, Pam, Aldridge Family reasearcher, in email message 9/20/2000 to Tony Alldredge – email address: <wilsonpam@mindspring.com> )

“Subj: Aldridge, Arledge, Alldredge in 1700s NC Date: 9/20/00 5:02:48 AM US Mountain Standard Time From: wilsonpam@mindspring.com (Pam Wilson) To: TonyAll@aol.com CC: arledge@tx3.com, sykeen@worldnet.att.net, syount@quest.net, Needium3@aol.com

Tony,

Thanks for copying your note to me.

I do not necessarily agree that your William Aldridge of Randolph County, NC was the same William who was the son or grandson of William Aldridge/Arledge and Alice Fallin of Northumberland County, VA. Do you have any evidence that your William was the son of their son William b (b. 1704)? It is, of course, a possibility, but I have seen no evidence to support it.

The children of William Aldridge/Arledge of Northumberland Co, VA (who married first Alice Fallin, second Sarah ???) were as follows. William and Alice had 3 sons: William (b 1704), John (b 1706), and Clement (b 1708). William also had a son Isaac (b 1721, my ancestor) by his second wife Sarah.

Of these four sons, land records in the 1760s show that one of them (Clement) settled in Granville/Bute/Warren Co, NC on Buffalo (Bufelow) Branch, and it appears that some of Clement's children settled in Randolph County. On the other hand, Clement's three brothers wound up in Camden District area of SC (what would become Fairfield and Kershaw Counties). These were John, Isaac and William. William appears in land records between 1764-1772 in Craven Co, SC (Camden District), and appears to have died childless in 1784, based upon the will and estate papers he left in Fairfield County. His nephews administered his estate.

What is confusing is that there were *3* William Aldridges in colonial SC. One, who married Agness and owned land on the Edisto River, with records in Orangburg and Berkeley District, seems to be from a different family entirely. He was deceased by 1778. I don't know who he was. The second William in question who lived on Dutchman's Creek in Craven/Fairfield Co, SC, and who died in 1784 in Fairfield Co, SC, seems to be the son of William and Alice of Northumberland. A third seems to be the nephew of this second one, the son of William/Alice's son John and his wife Elizabeth Thomas (they settled in SC in the late 1740s).

Now it is possible that the William (#2 above) who is in the SC records from the 1760s had first settled in NC before coming to SC. However, there are several other William Aldridges in that section of NC, and I have not seen convincing evidence that this particular William (b 1704) was there, nor that he had a son named William who you claim to be your William (b1729). I'm open to the possibility, of course, but I need some harder documentation.

The primary question, it seems, is: which William Aldridge was the one with Granville land grants and land transactions on waters of the Deep River (Bush Creek, Sandy Creek) in Orange Co, NC in the 1750s and 1760s?

Pam”

"WILLIAM ALLDREDGE

William Alldredge was born 1729 and died 1789. The William Aldridge who married Elizabeth Symons in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. in 1726 COULD BE the father of William since William was born in 1729. He would then be the father of our Nathan and of the James and Nicholas who almost certainly were the brothers of William and Nathan. That William was the brother of Our Nathan seems clear enough. They are listed one right above the other (showing that they lived near if not next to each other) in the 1779 tax list of Randolph, County. Nathan witnessed William's will and it was proven by Nathan.

William married Elizabeth ?. .Their children are given in his will." (12)

Various notes from Aldridge Records, Volume Two, by Franklin R. Aldridge:

St Stephen's Parish records indicate that William Arledge/Aldredge/Ardridge/Ardredge/ Aldridge/Arledg (b. 1678, m Alice Fallin) had a son John (b. 170...) who is mentioned in his father's will in 1724. (per Aldridge Records, pp 183-186). Family records also indicate that William and Alice had a son Clement (.b 1708) and a daughter Jane (b. 1710).

A Wicomico Parish may have been established (see Aldridge Records, p 183-186) including the area surrounding William (b. 1678, m. Alice Fallin)’s property in Northumberland county Virginia, but we do not yet have these records. William may have become a Quaker (per Aldridge Records, 183-186).

William Arledge (1678) was a builder of mills (per Aldridge Records, p 183-186).

William AldridgeArledge later married Sarah, who is mentioned in his 1724 Northumberland Co will as his wife (per Aldridge Records, p 183-186). It appears that she did not long survive him. In 1727 Sarah Arledg's Northumberland estate is presented by 3 men, none of which is her son.

The will of William Arledge (1678) mentions sons William, John, Clement and Isaac, daughter Jane and wife Sarah. William is listed first and is given the home property, usually a sign of an older son. William Fallin is to care for William until he turns 21and Charles Fallin is to care for son John until he turns 20 (another sign that William is older than John).

Franklin R. Aldridge reasons that Isaac was Sarah's son as he is mentioned in Sarah's estate proceedings as an orphan placed in John Callahan's guardianship. (Aldridge Records, pp 183-186)

Franklin later lists a daughter, Sarah, born to Sarah and William after William's 1724 will and mentioned as living in 1729. (Aldridge Records, p 187)

Appendix B: William Aldridge (b. 1702/3, m. Elizabeth):

William (b. 1702/3, baptised 11 April 1703), was son to Nicholas and Martha in Maryland. He married Elizabeth Symons in 1726 "... and probably traveled since he doesn't appear to have left any records in Maryland." (Aldridge Records, p 31). Franklin Aldridge speculates about William (1703) and brother James, but has no concrete idea where they went. Linda Cooper, a current researcher, believes this William and brother James (b 1706, m Mary Gassaway) moved to NC in the mid-1700's)

A William Aldridge is mentioned in the 1755 tax list for Orange Co, NC along with several of the Allreds. (Aldridge Records, p 52). William Aldridge had a land grant of 256 acres on a branch of Sandy Creek, issued 1756. (per Aldridge Records, p 52: "Bk. 14 P328 File 312"). William Aldridge also had land grants in 1788 on Sandy Creek waters (per AR, p 52: "Bk 66 P 373 File 486").

"WILLIAM ALLDREDGE

William Alldredge was born 1729 and died 1789. The William Aldridge who married Elizabeth Symons in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. in 1726 COULD BE the father of William since William was born in 1729. He would then be the father of our Nathan and of the James and Nicholas who almost certainly were the brothers of William and Nathan.

That William was the brother of Our Nathan seems clear enough. They are listed one right above the other (showing that they lived near if not next to each other) in the 1779 tax list of Randolph, County. Nathan witnessed William's will and it was proven by Nathan.

William married Elizabeth ?. .Their children are given in his will. I have some data on some of the children of William which I shall give here.

Ezekiel seems to be the third child, granting that they are named in the order of birth - and they usua1ly are. He was born 28 April 1757. He married Rachel Huff. They had a son Isaac who had a son Isaac. The last Isaac went west and joined the Latter Day Saints church. The Latter Day Saints have done exhaustive research on the Aldridge - and its many spellings. Mr. Bennett of the Latter Day Saints believes tbat the names Aldridge and Allred are one and the same in the early records. The descendants in North Carolina say that they are quite distinct families." (12)

Appendix C: James Aldridge (b. 1 July 1706, m. Mary Gassaway):

(see notes on James and on his brother, William, in Appendix B above)

From Aldridge Records, Volume Two, p 72:

“Aaron Aldridge was perhaps born in Guilford or Orange County, about 1775, and son of William and Elizabeth Aldridge, who died in Randolph County in 1789 and 1793 respectively. He is mentioned as the twelfth child of fourteen in his father’s will. Tradition said he was a grandson of James Aldridge, of Maryland, who had brother John that was a ship builder. Nicholas and Martha Aldridge of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, had a son John who was born 1688 and a builder of boats, and son James, born 1706, whose wife was Mary Gassaway.”

Appendix D: Other Possibilities:

A William Aldridge was born to Thomas (b 1675?) and Mary in Maryland in 1714. He had a brother Joseph (b. 1712). Our William 1729 is not likely descended from either of these (they would have been 15 and 17 when he was born).

Over a dozen Aldridge families emigrated to the Chesapeake Bay area during the 1600’s and one their many descendants could have been our William’s father. While some have been eliminated because they died young or are known to have moved a different direction, many are still unaccounted for.

Birth: 1729 Death: Oct. 13, 1789 Randolph County North Carolina, USA

William was the father of fourteen children: William Ezekial Aldridge in 1752 and they had fourteen children: Mary, William, Ezekial, Bethana, John, Sarah, Isabel, Sophia, Rosanna, Susannah, Samuel, Aaron, Moses and Marriate 'Mariah'.

Family links:

Parents:

 William Aldridge (1703 - 1786)

 Elizabeth Ursula Symmons Aldridge (1707 - 1772)

Spouse:

 Elizabeth Aldridge (1734 - 1793)*

Children:

 Bethany Aldridge Cox (1757 - ____)*

 John Alldredge (1761 - 1820)*

 Sarah Aldridge Kivett (1763 - 1830)*

 Elizabeth Ann Aldridge York (1764 - 1804)*

 Sophia Ellen Aldridge York (1765 - 1785)*

 Isabel Aldridge York (1766 - 1798)*

 Rosanna Aldridge Kivett (1769 - 1830)*

Siblings:

 Joseph Aldridge (1728 - 1808)*

 William Aldridge (1729 - 1789)

 Elinor Aldridge (1730 - 1795)*

 Sylvania L. Aldridge York (1731 - 1791)*

 Nathan Aldridge (1739 - 1826)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: McMasters Cemetery Randolph County North Carolina, USA Plot: Row 5, Grave 3 GPS (lat/lon): 35.8072, -79.6021