Key Facts

Snapshot:	North Carolina planter
Parents:	5216Nathaniel Everitt His mother's identity is uncertain. See the problem section below.
Born:	1707 Edward Moseley's plantation, Kendrick Creek, Chowan Precinct, North Carolina
Died:	between 20 February and 1 July 1782 presumably Tyrrell County, North Carolina
Buried:	unknown

2608Nathaniel was born in 1707 on a plantation that belonged to Edward Moseley at Kendrick Creek in Chowan Precinct, North Carolina, as proven by the record copied below.1 By 1744 the property had been sold to Thomas Corprew,2 although unfortunately I've been unable to pinpoint its exact location. In any case, the Kendrick Creek area is now part of Washington County, North Carolina.

"S:d [2608]Nathaniel Everitt was Born att Kindrecks Creek in the year [1707] on a plantation then belonging to Edward Mosley E:q." Full page.1

His father is 5216Nathaniel Everitt, as proven by a 1720 deed. The deed furthermore describes 5216Nathaniel as "of Morottock," presumably the Moratoc River, now known as the Roanoke River, the mouth of which lies several miles west of Kendrick Creek. The two relevant snippets from the deed are copied below.3

These excerpts from a 1720 deed identify 2608Nathaniel's father and the family's location in 1720. Full page.3

His mother is probably 5216Nathaniel's wife Mary (who is named in 5216Nathaniel's will and in other documents), but this isn't entirely certain.

Problem: Unresolved Who is 2608Nathaniel's mother? Jane Stubbs Bailey's and Vernon L. Everett, Jr.'s book Nathaniel and Mary (Mitchell) Harrison Everett of Tyrrell (Now Washington) County, North Carolina [...], Volume I is a wonderful resource. However, I do not understand how the authors reached their conclusion on the identity of 2608Nathaniel's mother. The book's chapter on 2608Nathaniel begins by introducing him as "SON OF NATHANIEL EVERETT I AND MARY (MITCHELL) HARRISON EVERETT" (page 38), yet I see no text within that chapter to justify, explain, or prove that description. The preceding chapter, which predominantly discusses the elder 5216Nathaniel, repeatedly asserts that he had married his wife Mary by the year 1701: "Between 1694 and 1701 Nathaniel married Mary, widow of John Harrison, who died in Albemarle County in 1694. She was probably daughter of William Mitchell" (page 6, first paragraph). "We know nothing of Nathaniel prior to his marriage to Mary, which occurred after 1694 and by 1701" (page 7, last paragraph) "Mary & Nathaniel Everitt m by 1701 in Albemarle NC" (page 8, middle of the page). Unfortunately, though, even though this assertion is made three times, the only proof I can seem to find in the text is the following: Nathaniel stated that Mary was his eldest daughter. Assuming that none of the girls married before age 15, tentative birth dates are as follows: 1. Mary bc 1701 NC; d1738; m by 1722 Thomas Stubbs 2. Elizabeth bc 1703 NC; m/1 c =1718 Benjamin Blount m/2 William Ray 3. Sarah bc 1705 NC; m/1 1720's William Jordan m/2 Richard Fagan 4. Nathaniel b 1707 NC; will 1782 NC; m/1 1720's; last wife Elizabeth. Although I agree that Mary was born circa 1701, how can one be certain that her mother was 5216Nathaniel's wife Mary? The fact that the two Mary's share the same name is merely suggestive, not conclusive. 5216Nathaniel may have had another wife before Mary—another wife whose name for whatever reason doesn't appear in extant records. There is evidence to prove that 5216Nathaniel had married Mary by 23 April 1716, but without additional evidence or explanation, I do not feel comfortable concluding that she is the same woman who was married to 5216Nathaniel in 1701 to give birth to his eldest daughter Mary and (by extension) to 2608Nathaniel in 1707. If I have misinterpreted the evidence presented, or if I have overlooked a key piece of evidence, please contact me. I would love to be wrong!

2608Nathaniel presumably married circa 1728 or so, but unfortunately his wife's (or wives') identity is uncertain. Jane Stubbs Bailey's and Vernon L. Everett, Jr.'s book Nathaniel and Mary (Mitchell) Harrison Everett of Tyrrell (Now Washington) County, North Carolina [...] on pages 43-45 presents a somewhat lengthy discussion on this topic (but still doesn't reach a definitive conclusion), so I will refer you there for further research.

2608Nathaniel is on a list dated 17 January 1747 of militia "commanded by Capt. Evan Jones" "for the Destrict Between the Bark Poplar Swamp and Welches Creek." 4

2608Nathaniel on a list of militia in 1747. Full page.4

A 1749 record describes 2608Nathaniel as "of the parish of St. Andrews in the county of Tyrel and province of North Carolina," 1 and indeed all subsequent documents show him as a resident of Tyrrell County. Recently created, Tyrrell County included the Kendrick Creek area where 2608Nathaniel was born. St. Andrew's Parish had some differences in territory but mostly overlapped Tyrrell County.

This record proves that 2608Nathaniel lived in Tyrrell County, North Carolina in 1749. Full page.1

He was appointed to a Tyrrell County jury in March 1762 and again in March 1763.5,6 Also in 1763 he registered his livestock mark and brand:7

2608Nathaniel's livestock mark and brand.7

He sold some land to David Airs in 1776,8 and in 1781 gave a deposition regarding a land boundary dispute.9

May 1776 court: 2608Nathaniel sells land to David Airs.8

October 1781 court: 2608Nathaniel deposes "concerning the lines between Edmund Blount, Junr. & John Garrett, Senr." 9

He wrote his will on 20 February 1782. A transcription is below, but see the record copy if you want.10 The abovementioned book Nathaniel and Mary (Mitchell) Harrison Everett on page 45 alleges that there is also an older, handwritten copy of the will (although I have not seen it for myself) and furthermore alleges that the typed copy contains three errors versus the handwritten copy: son Jeresiah, misspelled as Jeremiah in the typed copy; daughter Bilhah Jones, misspelled as Bilhale in the typed copy; daughter Zilpha Hoff, misstated as Zilpha Griffin in the typed copy.

In the name of God amen: 20 day of February in the year of our Lord 1782. I Nathaniel Everitt of North Carolina and Tyrrel County - Being very sick and weak in body - but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die - do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament - that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave all and for my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors - nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God- and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and dispose of the same in manner and form following, that is to say-

First - I lend unto my well beloved wife Elizabeth Everitt during her life the plantation and land whereon I now dwell my riding horse bridle and saddle and a third part of all the movable Estate. And after her decease the said plantation and all the land thereunto belonging to return to my son Joseph Everitt to him his heirs and assigns forever-

Item - I give and bequeath to my two grand children the two sons of my son Nathan Everitt decd.- John Everitt and James Everitt the plantation and all the land thereunto belonging where he the said Nathan Everitt lived- to be equally divided between then when the youngest comes of age only reserving unto Elizabeth Everitt their mother her widowhood in the said plantation and land to them their heirs and assigns forever -

Item - I give unto the heirs of my son Joshua Everitt decd. one shilling sterling-

Item - I give unto the heirs of my daughter Lydia Griffin [Hoff] decd. one shilling sterling-

Item - I give unto the heirs of my son Edmund Everitt decd. one shilling sterling-

Item - I give unto the heirs of my daughter Mary Airs decd. one shilling sterling-

Item - My Will and desire is that the whole of my Estate not already given nor disposed of together with my wifes thirds of movables at her decease to be equally divided between my children hereafter named- all except her thirds at my decease as followeth - Thomas Everitt, Nathaniel Everitt Junr., Hannah Harrison, Zilpah Griffin, Bilhale [Bilhah] Jones, Sarah Gardner, Elizabeth Meazel, Jehu Everitt, Jeremiah [Jeresiah] Everitt, Joseph Everitt and John Everitt to them their heirs & assigns forever.

I do hereby constitute appoint and ordain my son Thomas Everitt and Joseph Everitt my whole and sole Executors to this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies bequests and Executors by me in any wise before named willed & bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in witness whereof the Testator have interchangably set my hand and seal the day and date above written -

Nathaniel Everitt His(Seal)

Signed Sealed and declaired in the presence of us

Benjamin Harrison
Daniel Leggett
Luke (his X mark) Leggett

The will was probated 1 July 1782.11

The will was probated by Benjamin Harrison "at the Court House in the County of Tyrrell on the first Monday in July 1782." 11

Later records include a court order related to the division of the estate, mention of an estate inventory (Unfortunately, the inventory is not extant.),12 and that the estate had been divided by the following October.13

Sources Cited:

1: North Carolina, Secretary of State records, will of Nathaniel Everitt of St. Andrew's Parish, will dated 2 November 1749, NC Archives MARS ID 12.96.8.39. <http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16062coll41/id/5323/rec/1>, accessed 14 October 2019. This is 5216Nathaniel Everitt's will.

2: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Deed book 1 (1736-1747), page 258. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998Q-3XN7?i=140&cat=321353>, accessed 15 October 2019.

3: Chowan County, North Carolina. Deed book C-1 (1720-1735), page 4. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G982-ZJV6?i=148&cat=379675>, accessed 15 October 2019. Also available on North Carolina Archives microfilm C.024.48002.

4: North Carolina Archives, troop returns, Tyrrell County, soldiers commanded by Captain Evan Jones, list dated 17 January 1747, image 1. North Carolina Digital Collection, <http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p16062coll26/id/21>, accessed 20 October 2019.

5: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for years 1761-1770, page 20. North Carolina Archives microfilm C.096.30001. This record shows that 2608Nathaniel was appointed to a Tyrrell County jury in March 1762.

6: ibid., page 66. This record shows that 2608Nathaniel was appointed to a Tyrrell County jury on 17 March 1763.

7: ibid., page 62.

8: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for years 1770-1778, an unnumbered page between pages 65 and 66. North Carolina Archives microfilm C.096.30001. 2608Nathaniel sold land to David Airs, and the deed was proved in Tyrrell County on 20 May 1776.

9: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for years 1778-1782, page 165. 2608Nathaniel gave a deposition to a Tyrrell County court in October 1781.

10: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Wills volume 1 (1750-1811), pages 121-122. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S7WF-S1LJ-C9?i=91&cc=1867501&cat=339698> et seq., accessed 15 October 2019. This is 2608Nathaniel Everitt's will.

11: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for years 1778-1782, minutes for the 1st Monday of July 1782. The page seems to be numbered, but the numbers are poorly legible and [to the extent that they are legible] don't seem sequential with numbers on nearby pages. North Carolina Archives microfilm C.096.30002. 2608Nathaniel's will was probated "at the Court House in the County of Tyrrell on the first Monday in July 1782." The first Monday of July 1782 was actually 1 July 1782.

12: Tyrrell County, North Carolina. Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for years 1782-1788, page 6. North Carolina Archives microfilm C.096.30002.

13: ibid., page 31.