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.