Key Facts

Snapshot:	Revolutionary War soldier; moved from North Carolina to Georgia
Parents:	2608Nathaniel Everitt His mother's identity is uncertain.
Born:	circa 1750 probably Tyrrell County, North Carolina
Died:	17 November 1820 presumably Bulloch County, Georgia
Buried:	Everette Cemetery, Candler County, Georgia Cemetery's coordinates: N32.30977 W82.01247

1304John Everitt was born circa 1750 (but see the problem section below), probably in Tyrrell County, North Carolina since we know that his father was living there in 1749.1

His father was 2608Nathaniel Everitt.2 His mother may have been 2608Nathaniel's wife Elizabeth, but one can't be certain.

Problem: Unresolved When was 1304John born? Below are three different estimates of when 1304John was born, followed by evidence to support each estimate. circa 1746 In 1846 his widow 1305Sarah deposed that during the Revolutionary War her husband joined the army at about age 30 and served for at least five years.3 The Revolutionary War itself lasted nine years (1775-1783), but most of the combat occured from 1776 to 1781. If he served for at least five years, he likely joined about 1776 or 1777. Subtracting 30 (his approximate age when he joined) from 1776 (the approximate year he joined) suggests he was born circa 1746. circa 1750 Later in the same deposition 1305Sarah deposed that her husband died "on the 17th day of November A.D. 1821, in the 70th year of his age." 4 However, 1305Sarah must have reported the wrong year, since 1304John's will was probated on 4 December 1820.5 Therefore, he probably actually died on 17 November 1820. Subtracting 70 (his age when he died) from 1820 (the year he died) suggests he was born circa 1750. 16 March 1754 1304John's tombstone shows 16 March 1754 as his date of birth.6 However, the tombstone seems to be quite modern, probably placed more than a century (or two) after 1304John's birth. Therefore, the date should regarded with suspicion.

1304John married 1305Sarah Fagan sometime before 12 September 1777, probably in Tyrrell County. We know so based on her father 2610Bedford Fagan's will, excerpts from which are below:7

These excerpts from 2610Bedford Fagan's will prove that 1304John married 1305Sarah Fagan. Full page.7

1304John fought in the Revolutionary War* according to a deposition his wife gave in September 1846.8 Excerpts from her deposition are transcribed below.

image 423

[...] according to the best of her recollection, he served not less than five Years in the malitia [sic] of North Carolina. This declarant states her husband, John Everitt entered into the army about the 30th vear of his age; that in the course of the war her husband, John Everitt was wounded in the shoulder by a rifle ball which remained in his shoulder until the day of his death. After the conclusion of the war

image 424

declarent's husband emigrated to Bulloch County Georgia in the year 1785 where he resided until the day of his death [...]

She recollects that her husband went to, and returned from the war a great many times, and that he was wounded in the shoulder at Betty's Bridge on Drowning Creek near Peedee, this Declarant thinks in North Carolina; that her husband, the said John Everitt, served under Capt. DeJarnice or D'Garnic from North Carolina-- Deponent thinks that her husband served in company with a man by the name of James Pickett, but her memory might have failed her as she is so old she recollects but few of the events of that remote period. She remembers distinctly that her husband went to the war frequently. She has seen him with Col. Wade, who deponent thinks lived at Anson C. H.

image 425

in North Carolina. She recollects that Col. Thos. Wade, when the Scotch army entered the neighborhood, retreated for Virginia, and declarent's husband followed Col. Wade a few miles, intending to retreat with him into Virginia, but the Colonel advised deponent's husband to return and keep peaceable as he was not able to retreat. [...]

The location of Betty's Bridge is unknown, although there are some clues. I wrote a few notes on this topic.

After the war, in 1785 1304John moved from Tyrrell County, North Carolina to Effingham County, Georgia (in the section that would become Bulloch County in 1796) and remained there for the rest of his life.4 He may have moved temporarily to Beaufort County, North Carolina (a little south of Tyrrell County) before the longer move to Georgia, since a deed dated 23 February 1784—the same deed by which 1304John sold his Tyrrell County property—describes him as of Beaufort County. The beginning of the deed is shown below, but feel free to look at the whole page9 and/or my transcription of it.

The beginning of the deed by which 1304 John sold his land in Tyrrell County, North Carolina before moving to Georgia. Full page. Transcription.9

1304John acquired hundreds of acres in Effingham/Bulloch County. He received two land grants within a decade of his move to Georgia:

# Acres	In What County	Year	Source
400	Effingham	1791	Georgia Register of Grants Book VVV, page 161
400	Effingham	1793	Georgia Register of Grants Book BBBB, page 565

Numerous Bulloch County plats are recorded in his name. (Entries marked with † below are likewise listed in Alvaretta Kenan Register's book Everett/Everitt Family: A Genealogical History on page 18. She inexplicably omits the others.)

# Acres	Warrant Date	Source: Bulloch County, Georgia, Plat Book A (1797-1902), page ___
47	4 August 1817	34
40	6 March 1814 *	105
373	not stated	191
20	7 January 1819 *	195
200	20 July 1801 *	271
900	6 February 1804 *	342
300	6 October 1806 *	370
200	17 April 1808	397

1304John died on 17 November 1820.‡ A transcription of his will is below, or see the record copy.10

In the name of God Amen. I, John Everitt of the State of Georgia, County of Bulloch, being in perfect mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament as follows: (to Wit)

1st. I give and bequeath (after my just debts are paid), all my property both real and personal that remains at my decease unto my beloved wife Sarah Everitt to hold and enjoy during her natural life or widowhood.

2nd. I will and desire that at the marriage or death of the said Sarah Everitt that the whole of the above mentioned property be divided into seven equal shares or parts with the exception of such property as I have already disposed of or may hereafter dispose of either by deed or otherwise which said parts or shares shall belong to the following heirs, viz: Joshua Everitt. Josiah Everitt, Enoch Everitt, Jehu Everitt, Aaron Everitt, John Everitt and my daughter Hannah's two children. John and Sarah. to have one of said shares.

Lastly. I constitute and appoint my sons Joshua, Jehu and Aaron Everitt my Executors to this my last will and testament utterly disallowing any other former will by me made, ratifying this as my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty nineth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty. Signed and sealed in the presence of

Wm. Collins
Margaret McCall         (Signed) John Everitt
Ely Kennedy

1304John's estate wasn't divided until several decades later, and the division gave rise to some legal disputes. For details, see Alvaretta Kenan Register's book Everett/Everitt Family: A Genealogical History, pages 9-10.

1304John is buried in the Everette Cemetery, Candler County, Georgia. The cemetery's coordinates are N32.30977 W82.01247. A photo of his tombstone is below.6

Footnote:

*	Take care not to confuse 1304John with another Revolutionary soldier of the same name, whose service records appears on NARA publication M804 roll 943. Amazingly, this other John Everitt was also from Tyrrell County, North Carolina and also immigrated to Bulloch County, Georgia, but other facts and circumstances provided in his deposition make clear that he's a different person.
‡	His wife 1305Sarah deposed that he died "on the 17th day of November A.D. 1821," 4 but the year 1821 is certainly wrong since his will was probated on 4 December 1820.5 Therefore, his actual date of death is probably 17 November 1820.

Sources Cited:

1: North Carolina Secretary of State, Original Wills 1663-1789, the will of Nathaniel Everitt dated 2 November 1749. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9GC-F8L4?i=436&cat=457752> et seq., accessed 19 September 2019. The will describes 1304John's father 2608Nathaniel as being "of the parish of St. Andrewas in the Countey of Tyral and province of North Carolina."

2: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Wills book 1 (1750-1811), pages 121-122. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S7WF-S1LJ-C9?i=94&cc=1867501&cat=339698> et seq., accessed 18 September 2019. This is 2608Nathaniel Everett's will.

3: NARA microfilm publication M804, roll 944, Revolutionary War pension application file by Sarah Everitt on behalf of John Everitt of North Carolina (R. 3404), image 423. Ancestry.com, accessed circa 2011. I've copied the full application file (from roll 944) in ZIP format. Other images are hereafter cited as "M804 roll 944, op. cit., image _."

4: M804 roll 944, op. cit., image 424.

5: Bulloch County, Georgia. Ordinary court minutes, volume X (1815-1843), page 30. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-2W9L-Y?i=21&cat=152418>, accessed 14 September 2019.

6: John Everett's tombstone in the Everette Cemetery, Candler County, Georgia, cemetery's coordinates N32.30977 W82.01247. Photograph taken by 1Bryant Knight circa 2010.

7: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Wills volume 1 (1744-1836), page 120. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:SQWX-8NFT-9?i=225&wc=32L2-VZQ%3A170019001%2C170223901&cc=1867501>, accessed 19 September 2019. This is 2610Bedford Fagan's will.

8: M804 roll 944, op. cit., images 423-425.

9: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions. Deeds volume 6 (1784-1786), page 60. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G98Q-7Q44?i=270&cat=321353>, accessed 23 September 2019.

10: Bulloch County, Georgia. Court of Ordinary. Wills & Misc. Estate Records Book 1-A (1816-1836), pages 220-222. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93G-6QMT?i=120&cc=1999178&cat=155415> et seq. This is 1304John Everett's will.