A Jacob Thomas had his nearby land entry surveyed at the same time that Benjamin Thomas was chain bearer for a grant issued to Gideon Green. The chainbearers for Jacob Thomas's grant were Iquiam Hudson and Thomas Gilbert. Who was Thomas Gilbert? Before continuing, here is the discription of Jacob's Grant.
Grant # 4451, Anson NC, to Jacob Thomas. Ent 20 Apr 1779, Sur 14 Jun 1779, Iss 14 Oct 1783. For 100 acres south of the Rocky River and lying on both sides of Richardson's Creek. The surveyor's order mentioned the grant adjoined Hudson land. Chainers were Iquaim Hudson and Thomas Gilbert.
Entered and Issued at the same time, Thomas Gilbert received the following land.
Grant # 4339, Anson NC, to Thos. Gilbert Ent 27 Nov 1778, Sur 17 Jun 1799, Iss 14 Oct 1783. Being 150 acres on the south side of Rocky River and on both sides of Richardsons Creek and adjoining Hudson land. Chainbearers were Joc. Hudson and Thos. Gilbert.
Grant # 4404, Anson NC, to Thos. GilbertEnt 20 Nov 1778, Sur 9 Jun 1779, Iss 14 Oct 1783. Being 50 acres on the south side of Rocky River and on the north side of Richardsons Creek adjoining Thomas Lacy's upper line. Chain bearers were Jockim Hudson and Thomas Gilbert.
Grant #4405, Anson NC, to John Hardy. This grant was issued 14 Oct 1789 and numerically listed next to Thos. Gilbert's Grant # 4404. Interestingly, the warrant for survey by David Love states the land is "on Rocky River joining Wm. Brooks line including where the uper Meeting house is, below Jesse Gilbert's line where he now live &c"
Grant # 4557, Anson NC, to Thos. Gilbert Ent 4557, Sur 17 Jun 1799, Iss 14 Oct 1783. Being 50 acres on the north weat dside of Richardsons Creek and adjoining Weatherford land. Chainbearer was William Weatherford.
What happened to the above land?
Deed (H-177, Anson NC) 3 Mar 1785 Thomas Gilbert, planter to Elizabeth Lee. This was Thomas Gilbert's Grant # 4339 above. Witnesses were Jesse Gilbert Esqr. and Elizabeth Gilbert.
Deed (H-193, Anson NC) 15 Oct 1785 Thomas Gilbert to Michael Austin, being Thomas Gilbert's grant # 44404. Witnesses were Charles Harrington and William Steward.
Note the possible relation between Jesse and Thomas Gilbert above. Who was Jesse Gilbert?
Grant # 4330, Anson NC, to Jesse Gilbert Ent ??, Sur 16 Feb 1778, Iss 12 Oct 1783. Being 100 acres on a branch of the north side of Cribbs Creek. The chain bearers were Jesse Gilbert and Sampson Head.Grant # ????? Ent__, Sur 2 Feb 1778, Iss 14 Oct 1783 Being 100 acres on the west side of the Pee Dee and on Pine Log Branch. Chain bearers were Jesse Gilbert and Jno Smith.
Jesse Gilbert bpoght and sold more land and became known in land deeds as "Esquire". This title accompanied his new position in ca. 1786-7 as Sheriff of Anson County. As with other sheriff's of Anson and other counties, Jeese Gilbert was rocked by troubles resulting from his less than legal tax collection practices. Here are some of the intial land transactions that hint as to the trobles ahead.
Deed (H-8, Anson NC) 29 May 1786 Jesse Gilbert to William Helmes. Being 100 acres on the east side of Pine log Creek. Witness was Nathaniel Gilbert. This was Jesse's Grant # ???? above.
Deed (B2-344, Anson NC) 1 Dec 1789. Jesse Gilbert, Esquire to Jno. Brooks. Being 108 acres on the south side of Richardsons Creek beginning on the river about 4 cuts down from the creek. The lanes run back to Richardson's Creek and then down the creek to the beginning. Witnesses were William Gilbert and Frances Yarborough.
Deed (C2-126, Anson NC) __Oct 1792. Jesse Gilbert to John Bush. Being 100 acres on the south side of Richardson's Creek and adjoining Parker's land. Witnesses were Danl. Young and Nathan Gilbert.
Deed (C2-272, Anson NC) 10 Nov 1793. William Gilbert to Wiley Gilbert, a lot in Wadesborough on Washington Street. Witnesses were Jesse Bush and Jesse Gilbert.
Deed (E-258, Anson NC) 1 Dec 1794, William May, Sheriff to Phillip May, by virtue of an execution issuing from Orange County against Jesse Gilbert, Charles Sparks, George Hammons and David Jameson for 923 pounds 2 shillings and seven pence. This was recovered by the Governor for arrerages of Taxes for the year 1786. The legal description for the land being sold is the same as that for Deed (D-106) below.
Deed (D-106, Anson NC) 22 Jul 1795. William May, Sheriff to Phillip May, by virtue of an execution issuing from Orange County NC against Jesse Gilbert. Finding no goods or chattels, two tracts of land were sold to pay debts. The first tract began about four outs below the mouth of Richardsons Creek and contained 100 acres. The second tract was for 100 acres and joined the above tract and was situated on both sides of Richardsons Creek. This land was sold to Josiah Williams (H2-335, Anson NC) on 13 Oct 1802.
Thinking that Jesse had land and related tax troubles in Orange County, I looked there and found no grant, deed, or other land transaction in his name. Yet, the following record was found in county level records in the Orange County NC Court Minutes, book IV, Aug Term 1788.
27 appr. Docket. The Governor vs. Jesse Gilbert schff. &c & others: Debt by arrearages of Taxes for the year 1786. [sic] 1. Stephen Hart, 2. J. Haistings, 3. Jonathan Nichilson, 4. Jno. Holden, 5. Martin Parmer [sic], 6. Wm. Burns, 7. Benj. Peelor, 8. (Thos. Love,*) 9. Wm. Gorden, 10. Jo. Weeks, 11 Frederick Williams, 12. Wm. Hobbs, (The Governor vs. Jesse Gilbert, Charles*) Verdict for the Plantiff L923:2:7 But may be discharged on the payment of L536:1:6 in Money & L387:1:1 in certificates & costs.
A friend at NC archives told me that that the Hillsborough District Supior Court used the same Court House and that this may be a misfiled Superior Court case. He explained that Orange County Courts would not have jurisdiction over actions taken against people in Anson County. I also learned that early sherrif's had to present witnnesses that paid security bond in the event that you as sheriff failed in your duties. I was told that the above mentioned people named with Jesse were likely bondsmen who were also being held responsible for Jesse Gilbert not collecting some or all of the taxes for Anson County for the year 1786. So from this, we know that Jesse was sherriff in 1786.
We looked next at the Hillsborough District Superior Court Records, and found a cascading of information on Jesse and numerous other sheriffs in Anson and elsewhere. A small part of this information is as follows:
Book II, Entry # 814, Oct 1790 Governor vs. David Jamison Sheriff of Anson County for the year 1788, and John Wright, John Smith, & Patrick Bogan his Securities for arrearages of public taxes for the year aforesaid....
Book II, Entry # 1087, Oct 1792 The Governor vs. Jesse Gilbert et. al: On motion of John Haywood Attorney General it is ordered that William May Sheriff of Anson County be fined Nisi: agreeable to Act of Assembly for not returning a writ of Tierefacias No. 98 The Governor against JEsse Gilbert and others to April term last...
Book II, Entry # 1087, Oct 1792... virtually the same as above entry for Jesse Gilbert, but issued Fierefacias No. 39 in the name of David Jamison. Sheriff MAy is again fined.
From Clark's The State Records of North Carolina, another piece of information on Jesse can be found in Vol. XXI, House Journal-1788. It is as follows:
Deed (B2-611, Anson NC) 20 Jan 1789 Jesse Gilbert, "high sheriff of Anson" to Joseph Howell. Being land on Jones Creek belonging to Marc Andrews and sold due to a writ of Fir fracius from Anson County Court.
Deed (B2-740, Anson NC) 1 Jan 1791 Jesse Gilbert, late "high" sheriff to John Wright Jr. Being 250 acres on Richardsons Creek, a Branch of the creek below Holley's land, and sold due to "fir facias" by Reedy & Pennington against "Christian" Goodman's estate. Signed Jesse Gilbert, sheriff.
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Mr. Lanier presented the resignation of Jesse Gilbert a Justice of PEace for Anson County which being read, was accepted by this House and sent to the Senate".
The following transactions show the resulting actions that took place in Anson County.
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