John Harrell, ll, of Nansemond County

This entry has merged two John Harrells who were possibly cousins. Both had wills in Bertie County.

The first John, bef.1705 to 1768, looks to have owned land in the Upper Parish of Nansemond from 1747 until 1763. Each four year procession, John’s land moved, which indicates crop rotation and likely tobacco. This information is hinted from Vestry book and will. He bequeathed land to sons and daughter near Roanoke River and Cashie Swamp, neighbor to Edward Harrell. This John had 8 children named in his will. Sons: Amos, Balley, Gideon, Samuel, Solomon, and Moses. Daughters: Judah Higgs and Lucy Devonport. No mention of wife.

The second John, bef.1707 to 1759, is John Jr, son of John Sr. John Harrell Jr. was a representative of Bertie County in the Colonial Assembly in the years 1734 to 1736. In the years 1735 & 1736, John Harrell represented one vote. He was later appointed Justice of the Peace in 1746 until he was removed in 1759, in the month following the month his will was probated, due to new county lines (general assembly may not have gotten word of his death by then). [History of Hertford County, p16,17] His son, Josiah, was also a Justice of the Peace.

The second John was Jr during deed transaction in 1729 and prior, and senior in deed transaction in 1747 and after. In his original, handwritten will he states “of land I bought of Mr. Thomas Barker” which referred to the 1747 deed transaction with John Sr. The land he bequeathed included land on Roonoroy Meadows known as Broad Neck Survey. This John had 8 children named in his will. Sons: David, Esias, Ezekiel, Israel Hardy, Jesse, John, and Josiah. Daughter: Sarah Williams. Wife Grace.

Confusion with these two John’s might be resolved after further research. Both look to have connections with Nansemond, both had wills in Bertie Co., and both had many sections of land, so studying the land inheritance should clear up the confusion. The first John was not included in research notes by the curator who compiled the documents for the Harrell family of Gates County back in 1968.

UPDATE: Signature of second John from will matches Granville grant made out to John Harrell in 1755. Signature of his son, John jr, from will matches Granville grant made out to John Harrell Jr in 1754 (also matches legal document in case of hogsheads of tobacco on a coasting ship). The mark of the first John, uppercase i with strike, from his will matches the Granville grant made out to James Harrell in 1754. John Jr signed James grant as witness. It looks as though Jacob “Job” Harrell signed John Jr. grant as witness. Note: Harrells often use their middle names, probably because there are so many with the same first name. There was also another James in Upper Parish at that time.
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John Harrell Jr./Sr. was one of the first Harrells to settle in Bertie County just above the Roanoke, and he probably was a brother to one of the Samuels, Thomas, and Joseph Harrell discussed in the three previous sections—and, of course, he was the son of John of Nansemond.

John’s will was probated in the April Court, 1759.[32] He divided his real estate as follows:

• To his wife, Grace, during her life time or widowhood, the use of the Plantation on which he then lived. Following her death or remarriage, the land was to be divided among these heirs;
• To son Jesse, the Plantation on which John Sr. was then living.
• To son David, 160 acres on which David was already living, and which was part of a Tract that John Sr. had purchased from Thomas Barker.
• To son Josiah, 160 acres on which Josiah was then living, and which was also part of the Tract bought from Mr. Barker.
• To son Ezekiel, 160 acres on which he was then living, and which was again part of the land bought from Thomas Barker.
• To grandson Esias, the son of Esias, goes the Plantation on which his mother and step-father are now living, which was part of the Tract bought from Mr. Barker.

Disambiguation

http://harrellfamilies.com/Chapter%203.htm

John Harrell (this was John Jr./Sr.; died 1759)

There were a number of John Harrells swarming the landscape of northeastern North Carolina in the early years—knowing one from another is not an easy task today. Some of them made the task easier by using identification tags such as “Jr.,” “Sr.,” or “Esquire.” Unfortunately, too often they were simply referred to as “John.” In this section, I have described the line of John Harrells who were better than most in identifying themselves—this line starts with John of Nansemond and his son, John Jr.; the latter soon became John Sr., when his son in turn, came of age and became John Junior. The primary focus in this section in on the middle John, John Jr./Sr., because he was among the first Harrells to settle his household in North Carolina. (note: John of Nansemond’s will was probated in Bertie County in 1749; his son, John Jr./Sr., died in 1759; and John of Nansemond’s grandson, John Jr., died in 1755, before his father died in 1759.)

Will and Probate

North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1660-1790, John Harrell, Bertie County, Will Date 01 Nov 1756, Probate Date Apr 1759. Sons: Jesse and David (plantation to each, and three negroes), Josiah (land bought of Thomas Barker), Ezekiel (160 acres of land). Negroes bequeathed to each of sons. Grandsons: Esias Harrell (plantation "whereon Jonathan Spivey now lives who married the widow of Esias Harrell deceased"). Granddaughter: Sarah Harrell (one negro). Copper still bequeathed to four sons. Executors: Jesse, David and Josiah. Witnesses: Wm. Williams, Edward Toole, Jonathan Toole. Clerk of the Court: Benjamin Wynns. Codicil makes bequests to Thomas Williams, husband of daughter, Sarah. Same witnesses to codicil.

Will

In the Name of God amen. I, John Harrell, of the County and Province aforesd., being of Body but of Perfect and Sound Mind and Memory (Thanks be to God), Do make, Ordain, Constitute and Appoint this my last Will and Testament, Hereby Revoking and Disannulling all others heretofore by me made, & this only to be made & held as my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following:

Imprimis. I Leave to my Beloved Wife, Grace Harrill, Dureing her Natural life or Widowhood, the Use of the Plantation -whereon I now live, & all the Land thereunto Belonging, and all my Stock of Horses, Cattle, hoggs & Sheep, & all my Houshold furniture & Plantation utensils; and the use of the following Negroes, (to wit) Patt, Bett, Rachel, Sambo, Jemmy, Jenny, Phillis, & Jack, and after her Decease or Marriage, to be Given & Divided in the following Legacies.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to my Son, Jesse Harril, his heirs and Assigns forever, the Plantation whereon I Now live, and all the Land thereunto belonging, and two Negroes (to wit) Patt & Jack.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to my Son, David Harrell, his heirs and Assigns forever, the Plantation whereon he now lives, Containing One hundred & Sixty Acres, being part of the Tract of Land I bought of Mr Thomas Barker, and One Negroe Girl Nam'd Fillis.

Item. I Give & Bequeath to my Son, Josiah Harrill, his heir? & Assigns for ever, the Plantation whereon he now l Now I lives containing One hundred & Sixty Acres, being part of the Tract of Land I bought of Mr. Thomas Baker: and One Negroe Wench Named Bett.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to my Son, Ezekiel Harrill, his heirs and Assigns forever, the Plantation whereon he now lives, Containing One hundred & Sixty Acres, being part of the Tract of Land I Bought of Mr. Thomas Barker, and One Negroe Boye Named Jemmy, and all the Cattle that is of his Deceas'd Brother Hardys Mark.

Item. My Will and Desire is that my Two Sons, David & Josiah Harrill Pay the above Sums of Money to my Grand Children above Mentioned, and that my son, David, for Paying his part of the Money shall have one Negroe Girl named Rachel, for which he is to pay Thirty Pounds Virginia Money, & my Son Josiah shall have One Negroe Boy Named Sambo, for which he is to pay Twenty four Pounds, like money, only in Case the sd- Negroes or either of them shall die before my Wife, Grace, dies lien, and in that Case, the sd Money is to be paid out of my whole Estate, and my sd Grand Children shall allow a Proportionable abatement with the Rest of my Children-

Item. I give and Bequeath the use of my Copper Still, to my four Sons, only, that they shall still all their Mother Liquor during her life, and after her Decease, I give the sd. Still to be Equally Divided Between my said four sons & their Heirs.

Item. I give and Bequeath my whole Estate that is not above Given in Legacies, After the Decease of my Wife, Grace, to be Equally Divided Between my four sons, Jessee, David, Josiah, and Ezekiel Harrill, and there Heirs & Assigns forever.

Lastly, I Nominate, Constitute & Appoint my three Sons, Jessee, David, & Josiah Harrill, Executors to this my last Will and Testament, In Witness whereof, the sd John Harrill hath hereunto set his hand and Seal, the first Day of November, Anno. Dom., 1756.

Sign'd Seal'd Published & Declared by the sd. John Harrill, to be his Last Will and Testament in Witness. George Williams, Edward Toole

Notes

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harrell-393

There are several John Harrells in this area of the country!

John was the paternal seventh great-grandfather of Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle. A source is need for this information

Sources

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harrell-393
• http://harrellfamilies.com/Chapter%203.htm

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JOHN HARRELL was born 1692 in New Kent, New Kent, Virginia, United States. He died 1759 in Bertie County, North Carolina, United States. GRACE BOSWELL HARDY was born 1692 in New Kent, New Kent, Virginia, United States. She died 1792 in North Carolina, United States.

Children of JOHN HARRELL and GRACE BOSWELL HARDY are:

1. Ezekial Harrell, b. 1736
2. Sarah Harrell, b. 1725
3. John Harrell, b. 1719
4. David Harrell, b. 1710
5. Esias Harrell, b. 1721
6. Jesse Harrell, b. 1729
7. Israel Hardy Harrell, b. 1738
8. Josiah Harrell, b. 1733

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Harrell-393

Wiki notes that John Harrell is the son of Thomas and Ann Harrill. That does not seem to be entirely correct. Through land grants cited in http://harrellfamilies.com/Chapter%203.htm , his father is known as John Harrill and mother Ann Harrill. SFG

Wiki notes that John Harrell had three wives in this order:

Catherine Galloway

Patience Lewis

Grace Boswell Hardy

• This manager does not believe that Patience Lewis is one of his wives and thinks that was pulled from another tree. Patience Lewis was the wife of Paul Harrelson and the names may have caused confusion. I see no evidence to indicate she is a wife other than an Ancestry tree. Nor can any proof of Catherine Galloway be found. More research is needed before any wives other than Grace Boswell Hardy are attached. SFG

Will In the Name of God amen. I, John Harrell, of the County and Province aforesd., being of Body but of Perfect and Sound Mind and Memory (Thanks be to God), Do make, Ordain, Constitute and Appoint this my last Will and Testament, Hereby Revoking and Disannulling all others heretofore by me made, & this only to be made & held as my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following:

Imprimis. I Leave to my Beloved Wife, Grace Harrill, Dureing her Natural life or Widowhood, the Use of the Plantation -whereon I now live, & all the Land thereunto Belonging, and all my Stock of Horses, Cattle, hoggs & Sheep, & all my Houshold furniture & Plantation utensils; and the use of the following Negroes, (to wit) Patt, Bett, Rachel, Sambo, Jemmy, Jenny, Phillis, & Jack, and after her Decease or Marriage, to be Given & Divided in the following Legacies.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to my Son, Jesse Harril, his heirs and Assigns forever, the Plantation whereon I Now live, and all the Land thereunto belonging, and two Negroes (to wit) Patt & Jack.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to my Son, David Harrell, his heirs and Assigns forever, the Plantation whereon he now lives, Containing One hundred & Sixty Acres, being part of the Tract of Land I bought of Mr Thomas Barker, and One Negroe Girl Nam'd Fillis.

Item. I Give & Bequeath to my Son, Josiah Harrill, his heir? & Assigns for ever, the Plantation whereon he now l Now I lives containing One hundred & Sixty Acres, being part of the Tract of Land I bought of Mr. Thomas Baker: and One Negroe Wench Named Bett.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to my Son, Ezekiel Harrill, his heirs and Assigns forever, the Plantation whereon he now lives, Containing One hundred & Sixty Acres, being part of the Tract of Land I Bought of Mr. Thomas Barker, and One Negroe Boye Named Jemmy, and all the Cattle that is of his Deceas'd Brother Hardys Mark.

Item. My Will and Desire is that my Two Sons, David & Josiah Harrill Pay the above Sums of Money to my Grand Children above Mentioned, and that my son, David, for Paying his part of the Money shall have one Negroe Girl named Rachel, for which he is to pay Thirty Pounds Virginia Money, & my Son Josiah shall have One Negroe Boy Named Sambo, for which he is to pay Twenty four Pounds, like money, only in Case the sd- Negroes or either of them shall die before my Wife, Grace, dies lien, and in that Case, the sd Money is to be paid out of my whole Estate, and my sd Grand Children shall allow a Proportionable abatement with the Rest of my Children-

Item. I give and Bequeath the use of my Copper Still, to my four Sons, only, that they shall still all their Mother Liquor during her life, and after her Decease, I give the sd. Still to be Equally Divided Between my said four sons & their Heirs.

Item. I give and Bequeath my whole Estate that is not above Given in Legacies, After the Decease of my Wife, Grace, to be Equally Divided Between my four sons, Jessee, David, Josiah, and Ezekiel Harrill, and there Heirs & Assigns forever.

Lastly, I Nominate, Constitute & Appoint my three Sons, Jessee, David, & Josiah Harrill, Executors to this my last Will and Testament, In Witness whereof, the sd John Harrill hath hereunto set his hand and Seal, the first Day of November, Anno. Dom., 1756.

Sign'd Seal'd Published & Declared by the sd. John Harrill, to be his Last Will and Testament in Witness. George Williams, Edward Toole

North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1660-1790, John Harrell, Bertie County, Will Date 01 Nov 1756, Probate Date Apr 1759. Sons: Jesse and David (plantation to each, and three negroes), Josiah (land bought of Thomas Barker), Ezekiel (160 acres of land). Negroes bequeathed to each of sons. Grandsons: Esias Harrell (plantation "whereon Jonathan Spivey now lives who married the widow of Esias Harrell deceased"). Granddaughter: Sarah Harrell (one negro). Copper still bequeathed to four sons. Executors: Jesse, David and Josiah. Witnesses: Wm. Williams, Edward Toole, Jonathan Toole. Clerk of the Court: Benjamin Wynns. Codicil makes bequests to Thomas Williams, husband of daughter, Sarah. Same witnesses to codicil.

Inventory of his estate:

"North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VH6F-NWW : 12 March 2018), John Harrell, 1759; citing Bertie, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,672,651.

Additional estate information:

"North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VH6F-NW7 : 12 March 2018), John Harrell, 1756; citing Bertie, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,672,651.

From https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9061/images/004763...

Source Citation
Probate Place: Chowan, North Carolina

Description
Notes: Estate Records, Gillikin, George A-Jones, Joseph, 1756-1806

Source Information
Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Original data:North Carolina County, District and Probate Courts.