Drury McLemore

Notes:

James McLemore, III notes that he had at least one son, Drury McLemore, Jr. It is not known which of the deeds below related to Drury Sr and which to Drury Jr. Jim also thinks it possible that Drury was the father of Elias McLemore of Bladen County, though Robert McLemore Butler showed Elias a brother of Drury, not a son.

James notes that there was no further proven family for either Drury. He also indicated that Drury and Drury Jr. begin in Edgecombe County, moved to Duplin (later Sampson) and one or both of them finally end up in Bladen County.

From Sampson County History...Under the Cooper family information we find a reference to Druria McLemore as follows: "October 26, 1767. Land Grant of 640 acres in Duplin County (part of which later became Sampson County) to Fleet COOPER Sr.---chain bearers were John FAIRCHILD and Druria MACKLINMORE.

1779-Bladen County, NC Grant #1213 Archibald McDANIEL, October 28, 1779....Archibald McDANIEL enters 100 acres on a great open pond; between his own line and John SMITH and on N. Side of Beaver Dam Swamp; includes his improvements, "this to be" disputed by Drury McLEMORE. An undated Grant #1481 shows Drury McLEMORE entering 100 acres between where Hezekiah JONES lives and South River, includes the improvements made by John MAINS (Courtesy Robert McLemore Butler)

1780 Bladen County NC 17 Sep 1780 Drury McLEMORE enters 100 acres between where Hezekiah JONES lives and South River includes improvements made by John MAINS. (Courtesy Robert McLemore Butler)

1785 Duplin/Sampson County NC 23 Mar 1785 Daniel WILLIAMS enters 110 acres on S side of Little Cohary Creek border; his own line and WILLIAMSON; includes Elias and Drewry McLEMORE's improvements (Courtesy Robert McLemore Butler)

1785 Sampson County, NC Court Order 23 Mar 1785 Public Work road work Elias McLemore Drewry McLemore and others (Courtesy Robert McLemore Butler)

1786 Sampson County NC Court Order Tax delinquents 10 May 1786 Drury McLEMORE plus others (Courtesy Robert McLemore Butler)

1787 Bladen County, NC Grant #791 10 Oct 1781 Drury McLEMORE one hundred acres 50 shillings between McDANIEL's pound and Sussy FISHERS improvements (Courtesy Robert McLemore Butler)

1787 Sampson County NC Court Order Public work 14 May 1787 River Cleaning Duty Drewry McLEMORE, Archibald McLEMORE and others (Courtesy of Robert McLemore Butler)

In the 1790 Census, a Drury MacLemore is listed as living in the Wilmington District, Bladen County...3M, 2F and there is also a Drury MacLemore listed in the Fayette District, Sampson County...I M, 5 F. (If the second Drury is Drury Jr, it appears he may have had four daughters). Ages are not indicated

Daniel Williams b. <1755 d. ca 1811. Grant Bk B pp 151-152 (Patent Bk 66, pg 211) (file 108) and (No. 72) 100 acres on S. Side of Little Cohara North of Reedy Branch including Drewry McLemore's improvements with was recorded 4 May 1793 (Grant Bk A, p 251) (Patent Bk 66 pag 200) (File 86) (Courtesy of Robert McLemore Butler)

1800 Census Drury McLemore 1 male under 5, 1 male 45+, 1 female 5-15, 1 female over 45 Neighbor to Elias McLemore and Peter Smith. This Drury McLemore was born sometime prior to 1755. Note two possible children/grandchildren listed?


1802 Bladen County NC Deed Bk 116, p 39 23 Nov 1802 Grant #2639 Drury McLEMORE 100 acres Fork of Big and Little Turnbull (Courtesy of Robert McLemore Butler)

1802 Bladen County NC #5600 Drury McLEMORE grant #2671 Issued 1802 entry 959 book 116 near Hunting Ford on Turnbull (Courtesy of Robert McLemore Butler)

DEED..GRANT..DRURY McLEMORE..1802 Bladen County, NC, Deed Book 21 page 36

State of North Carolina No 2639. To all whom these presents shall come greeting , Know ye that for and in consideration of the sum of $60 for every hundred acres hereby granted paid unto our treasury by McLEMORE have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto the said Drury McLEMORE tract of land containing 100 acres lying and being in the County of Bladen in the fork of big and little Turnbull. Beginning at a pine and runs North 16 degrees East 31 chains and 68 links then South 74 degrees East 31 chains and 68 links then South 16 degrees West 31 chains 68 lks then a direct line to the beginning.

Entered 14th of Nov patent dated 23rd Nov 1802.

(Transcribed by Robert McLemore Butler in Sep 2001)


DEED..ABSOLOM H. WEATHEBEE TO DREWEY McLEMORE?1803

Bladen County Deed Book 27 page 195/196

This indenture made this 18th day of June in the year of our Lord 1803 and in the 27 & 28 year of our Independence and between Absolom H. Weatherbee of the Co of Bladen & state of No. Carolina of the one part and Drewey [Drury] McLemore of the place aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Abosolom H. Weatherbee for & in consideration of the sum of 50 pounds specie to him in hand paid by the sd. Drewey McLemore before the sealing and delivering of these presence the receipt. Whereof is hereby confessed & ack'd hath given granted bargained sell alien endoff & confirm unto the sd. Drewey McLemore al & singular the seal & full right & title to a certain land situated lying & being in the afore'sd Co. of Bladen on the West side of little James Creek & NE of the spring pocossin. Beginning at a large pine James Henton's corner tree & runs a said line So 88 deg E 13 ch 55 links to Johnson's corner a pine in said line thence So 2 deg E 17 ch to a stake in a lightwood top thence So 53 deg E 67 ch to a pine thence No 38 deg E 78 ch to sd. McLemore's corner in James Creek Bay thence along his line No 4 deg W 31 ch 63 links to his line to the beginning it being 320 acres of 640 acre survey granted unto sd. Absolom H. Weaterbee by patent bearing date the 30 Aug 1802. To have & to hold unto him the sd. Drewey [Drury] McLemore, his heirs & assigns forever form all persons & the sd. Absolom H. Weatherbee doth warrant & defend the above described premises for him his heirs & assigns unto the sd. Drewey McLemore his heirs & assigns forever. In Witnesseth of the sd. Absolom H. Weatherbee hath hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal the day & year first above written. ..

Signed: A.H. Weatherbee ..

Signed Sealed & delivered in presents of: Edward Reeves, Jerimiah Reeves .. This Deed was proved by Edward Reeves & ordered to be registered March Term 1805. Attest J.S. Purdie CC.

(Transcribed by Robert McLemore Butler in June 1986)

On the 1810 Bladen County, NC census, he is listed in a household with one male over the age of 45 and one female over the age of 45 and with 50 slaves. This Drury McLemore was born sometime prior to 1755.

Also in Bladen County in 1810 were Wm. McLemore, Charles McLemore, and E. McLemore.

1830 Bladen County, NC Census 1 Male Under 15-20, 1 male 70-80 Females 1 between 5-10 1 between 15-20. This Drury McLemore was born between 1750 and 1760.

My guess would be that the elder Drury died after 1790, and his son, Drury Jr. was born between 1750 and 1760, and it was his listing on the 1800 through 1830 census.

Jim McLemore speculates that We have occasionally brought up the names of Wright (b. ca. !815) and John (b. ca. 1813/14) McLemore. From the census records you guys have been quoting, it would appear they were Bladen County residents. That leads me to believe that they were quite possibly, if not probably, great-grandsons of Drury Sr. The 1790 Census shows a Drury with a household composed of 3 males and 2 females; that would presumably be father and 2 sons, and mom and 1 daughter. For a variety of reasons (more hunches and intuitions, really), I think this Drury was Drury Jr., while dad Drury Sr. would have been the Drury who was shown in the 1790 census with a household on 1 male (himself - all others had grown up and established themselves outside his home by 1790) and 5 females (his wife and four younger daughters. Unless we accept Elias as a son of Drury Sr. AND we can find him some sons, I think it would have to be one or both of the two unidentified sons of Drury Jr. shown in the 1790 census who would have the best shot at being the father(s) of the Wright and John born in the mid-second decade of the 19th century.

Notes:

Wright MACKLEMORE had 140 acres of land patented to him on the south side of Poplar Swamp in Isle of Wight County (the southwestern part, later Southampton County), Virginia on August 1, 1734 (Patent Book 15, pg. 242). Since Wright was not among the known sons of James and Fortune, and therefore must have been one of, if not THE, oldest grandson. Hence his father had to have been James' eldest son, William, as no one else could have been married by 1713, the latest date possible for Wright's birth.

Wright is known to have had at least four sons (and possibly a fifth) and two daughters. After 1750, he and his sons Wright Jr., William, Moses, and Drewry (and according to Rudy H. Leverett, also a James), and two daughters Judeth, wife of William PITMAN, and ???, wife of James WIGGINS, are found in Edgecombe County on or near land devised to Wright's father William Sr. by James, the original immigrant. Several of these family members moved southward into Duplin (later Sampson) County, North Carolina, in the 1770's, where Wright's son William is credited with founding a large family line. (James L. McLemore, III, p 51).

Robert McLemore (Bob) Butler PO Box 487Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 Email: rmbnc@juno .com
Briar Branch Baptist Church is the third oldest Baptist Church in Bladen County. The church had its beginning as a mission of the Beaver Dam Baptist Church of Sampson County [ed: Cumberland County] which some years ago was in Bladen County. According to the records of the Beaver Dam Baptist Church that church began holding conferences at Briar Branch on Saturday before the fourth Lords Day in October of 1828. This was some four years before White Lake Baptist Church was constituted as the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and some six years before Hickory Grove Baptist Church was constituted. But Briar Branch continued to be a mission of Beaverdam Church until 1843, and was not duly constituted.

In a conference at Briar Branch on Saturday before the fourth Lord's Day in October of 1843, Beaver Dam Baptist Church agreed to dismiss the following members to constitute the church at Briar Branch: Amos Cain, Daniel L. Smith, Daniel Smith, Daniel Register, George W. Downing, Thomas Sessoms, William D. Smith, Baseter Davis, Edward Davis, Beaman West, Sarah A. Smith, Rhoda Gardner, Mary A. Downing, Elizabeth Smith, Aley Bryant, Margaret Sessoms, Anna M. Tatum, Elsa McLemore, May J. Tatum, Mary J. Reeves, Mary Register, John Smith, Sr., Evin Downing, William Harvey, John H. Tatum, William J. Cowan, Daniel R. Cain, John D. Smith, Owen J. Gardner, Nathan H. Jones, Meredith Cain, Helen Davis, Francis Sessoms, Ann J. Harvey, Mary Smith, Susan Smith, Martha Smith, Elizabeth A. Downing, Jane Weeks, Susan Smith, Sr., Mary Sessoms, Molsey Davis, James Smith, Theophlus Tatum, Wright McLemore, John Downing, James S. Beard, John Cain, Milton J. Smith, Thomas B. Cowan, William C, West, John Edge, Elizabeth Cain, Mary Downing, Pen[n]y Hayes, Sarah Suggs, Claressa Beard, Susan Smith, Zillpha Smith, Mary A. Cain, Francis Sessoms, Martha West.

Wright married ??? ??? between 1731 and 1733. ??? was born before 1715; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thought by some researchers to be Lavinia Drury, but this is not proven.

Notes:

Married:
James L. McLemore, III writes "But when we get down to Wright's children, I have come up with some dates of birth based on my analysis of Leverett's appendix entries in the third edition of his book "Ole Rosinheels", and the order of births then based on that analysis. I may start to get a lot of argument from one or more of you as to that, and in fact I am not entirely satisfied with having so many children born so close together (one year apart). But since several of these children went to the Duplin/Sampson/Bladen Counties area together, I figure the best place to start our discussion would be the basics, i.e., getting Wright's family more or less solidified (to the extent we can), or at least discussed, before going on down to the next generation or so where we find so many possible ancestors for those of you still trying to hook up."

Notes:

The Scotch had a rather strict custom for naming their children; the oldest son was generally named for the father's father. On this basis, James Macklemore's father would have been named William, and this is supported by the fact that William is the only name duplicated by Abraham in naming his own sons. (James L. McLemore, III, p 39).

William received a portion of the Mosley patent (as his inheritance from his father), which included a part of the island as well as land on the south side of the river, and these lands were apparently the farthest east or downstream. These lands on the island and on the south bank of the Roanoke fell into Edgecombe County when it was formed in 1741. It was the luck (or misfortune) of these early McLemores that they always seemed to end up near or right on political boundary lines; so although the modern researcher's physical task of tracing the records is made more difficult, it has nevertheless aided him in following the seperate family lines to know that, though close together, they fell into different jurisdictions and can be traced generally in separate counties. (James L. McLemore, III, pp 46, 47).

At least three sons have been tentatively ascribed to him, though he left no will so absolute proof is lacking. His oldest surviving son was named Wright, who was probably born not later than 1713, as he was probably at least twenty-one when he was granted a land patent in 1734. The other two sons were William Jr. and Richard, whose birth dates are unknown, but who were both apparently born before 1729 (perhaps considerably before). Other than the devises granted him by his father's will, there are no references which can be positively ascribed to William MACLEMORE Sr. He is believed to have settled initially in Virginia, near the area where his parents had lived before moving to the Roanoke River, because at least two of his sons had connections there---Wright in Isle of Wight County and Richard appeared close to the Virginia McLemore's in South Carolina. (James L. McLemore, III pp 50, 51).

William married ??? ??? about 1712. ??? was born after 1691; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Believed by many to have the maiden name of WRIGHT, based on the name of their eldest son.

Notes:

Married:
Thought by many to have married a woman whose last name was WRIGHT based on the name of his son. His brother, Ephraim, also named a son WRIGHT. They both may have married into the WRIGHT family, or it might be that the WRIGHT surname belonged to a common ancestor, and was not the last name of either of their spouses.

Notes:

Both James and (brother?) Abraham Macklemore settled on the banks of the Roanoke River, just across the Virginia-North Carolina line following its establishment by the Byrd Commission in 1728. Just what had the Macklemores been doing, just where they had been located, during the period from Mun. Macklemore's importation in 1681 to the 1732 repatent of the James Macklemore patent following his removal to North Carolina, has long been a matter of inquiry and dispute. Without further record, we may never know for sure. (James L. McLemore, III, p 36). It is assumed that James and Abraham were immigrants, but it is possible they were born on U.S. soil to an unknown progenitor, possibly even Mun. Maklemore.

Mun. Macklemore is the earliest recorded family member in the Americas. His relationship to James and Abraham is unknown. Although it has been speculated he might be the father of James Macklemore he is more likely an uncle or cousin, based on their projected ages.

James began having his children while still in Virginia. It is probable that all six (known) children were born prior to James' 1714 patent adjoining Richard Washington. (James L. McLemore, III, p 40).

Will, dated 7 Feb 1733/4 Bertie Co., NC: (Extract courtesy of Mark Freeman)

" ... being sick and weake of body ..."

Son William Macklemore - plantation formerly laid off for George Mosley. Son James Macklemore - plantation where I now live, and the land from the line formerly laid off to Mosley to the riverbank. Son Charles Macklemore - rest of the land from the riverbank to the head. Son Ephraim Macklemore - 70 or 80 acres on Peehill Creek on the upper side of the first branch of the creek. Sons William and James - cattle each. Daughter Margery Macklemore and son Charles Macklemore - cow and calf each. Sons William, James, Charles, and Ephraim - sows and pigs each. Remaining estate to my wife Fortain Macklemore for her lifetime with reversion to my said children.

Ex. wife

Wit. John Doyle, Abraham Macklemore, Thomas Roberson

Most of James' children moved along the edge of the frontier in north central North Carolina in the early to mid 18th century, and their families are not as easily traced. Some speculation is therefore involved in the following outline of their activities. A careful review of the last will and testament of James Macklemore can aid the reader in understanding the early subsequent history of his sons. As we shall see shortly, the oldest two boys, William and John, had grown to manhood while the family lived in Virginia, and remained there to start families.

William, either due to being the oldest son or stronger ties to his father, was left land by his father. John, already firmly established with land of his own--and being a younger son---was left money instead. James left most of his land to be divided among his three younger sons, and by devising oldest son William with them as well, he preordained that the descendants of the younger three, plus descendants of William, would be Carolinians (at least initially), and that John's posterity would comprise the Virginia branch of the family. (James McLemore, III, p 46).

James married Fortune Gilliam about 1690. Fortune (daughter of John Gilliam and Margaret Henshaw) was born between 1668 and 1671 in Surry County, Virginia; died after 1736 in Bertie County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Fortune or Fortain. Assumed to be the daughter of John and Margery GILLIAM, she would have had to have been one of their youngest children (if not the youngest), as she was probably born with a few years of the time of her father's death in 1671.(James L. McLemore, III, p 39).

Robert McLemore Butler shows her date of death as 12 May 1754 in Surry County, Virginia, much later than the date shown by James McLemore and Mark Freeman.

Billy W. McLemore of Alabama shows her to be half-Cherokee Indian.