On June 24, 1778, Thomas Swaffer of New Bern sold Charles Roach about 75 acres for forty pounds current money. The land was on the north side of Swifts Creek in Craven County and was part of Swaffer’s patent of 23 May 1757. It began at a red oak at the side of the creek swamp and ran along John Payne’s line to Payne’s corners, then back to the creek. The only neighbor named is John Payne.
The witnesses were Chris[topher] Neale, Henry Purss Jr., and Samuel Davis, who signed by his mark. Swaffer also signed by his mark, and his receipt for the forty pounds is on the same sheet. The deed was proved in the September 1778 Craven County court by Henry Purss and registered in Book L No. 2, page 168. The writer’s own words are kept as written below.
Deed from Thomas Swaffer to Charles Roach, 75 acres on Swift Creek – Craven County, 1778
Transcription notes: spelling, capitalization and punctuation follow the original. Words in [square brackets] are editorial notes; [?] marks an uncertain reading and [illegible] marks words that could not be read.
This Indenture made the Twenty fourth Day of June in the Year
of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight, Between
Thomas Swaffer of Newbern in Craven County and State of North
Carolina of the one part and Charles Roach of the County and State
aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Thomas Swaffer
for and in Consideration of the Sum of Forty Pounds Current Money
to him in hand paid by the said Charles Roach before the Sealing and
Delivery of these presents, the Receipt whereof is hereby Acknowledged
He the said Thomas Swaffer hath Granted Bargained and Sold
and by these Presents doth Grant Bargain and Sell Convey and
Confirm unto him the said Charles Roach his Heirs and Assigns
a certain parcel of Land Scituate lying and being in the County
of Craven On the North side of Swifts Creek being part of a Patent
Granted to the said Thomas Swaffer bearing date the 23d May 1757.
Begining at a Red Oak in the side of the Creek Swamp Running
thence No 20 Et 80 pole to a White Oak in John Payns Line thence along
his line No 60 Wt 70 poles to a Pine said Payns Corner then along his line
No 32 Et 120 poles to a White Oak said Payns other Corner then No 10 Wt
=25 pole then So 32 Wt to the Creek then down the several Courses of the
Creek to the first Station Containing by Estimation Seventy five
Acres be the same more or less To Have and to Hold the aforesaid
parcel of Land together with the Benefits Profits Priviledges and
Appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining unto
him the said Charles Roach his Heirs and Assigns to the only Use
and Behoof of him the said Charles Roach his Heirs and Assigns
forever, And the said Thomas Swaffer for himself his Heirs Executors
and Administrators doth Covenant and agree to and with the said
Charles Roach his Heirs and Assigns that he the said Charles Roach his Heirs
and Assigns shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter
Peaceably and Quietly Have Hold Use Occupy Possess and Enjoy the
Lands and Premisses hereby Bargained and sold with the Appurtenan[ces]
Free and Clear of and from all manner of hinderance Molestation
or Interruption whatsoever, And the said Thomas Swaffer doth hereby
Oblige himself his Heirs Executors and Administrators to Warrant Secure
and Defend the Lands and Premisses aforesaid unto him the said
Charles Roach his Heirs and Assigns forever from the Claim of all
persons whatsoever, In Witness whereof the said Thomas Swaffer
hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Day and Year first above
Written
Signed Sealed and Delivered }
in Presence of
Chrisr Neale
Henry Purss jun.
Saml his X mark Davis
his
Thomas X Swaffer [seal]
mark
Received this 24th June 1778. From Mr Charles Roach
Forty Pounds Current Money of the State of North Carolina being
the Consideration mentioned in the aforegoing Deed
Witness present
Chrisr Neale
Henry Purss
his
Thomas X Swaffer
mark
[Written sideways:] Swaffer Deed to Chs Roach
75 acres
[On the outside:]
September Craven County Court 1778
Then was the aforegoing Deed Proved in open Court by the Oath
of Heny Purss One of the Subscribing Witnesses thereto agreeable
to Law And Ordered to be Registered Test Chrisr Neale C.C.
Registered in the Registers Office of Craven County in Book
L No 2 in page 168. &c Chrisr Neale Register
Thomas Swaffer }
To } Deed sale
Charles Roach } for
75 Acres Land Swifts Creek
About the original
The deed is written on a folded sheet. The receipt for the purchase money is written below the signatures. The court’s probate, the registration note and the docket are on the outside.
The witness Samuel Davis signed with his mark. Thomas Swaffer also signed with his mark.
The courses follow those of the 1756 survey for Thomas Swafford (165 acres) in this folder as far as Payne’s second corner, then turn back to the creek, cutting off about 75 acres. The plat on the back of the 1772 receipt in this folder shows the same division: Charles Roach 75 acres and Thomas Swaffer 90 acres.
Source: Deed, Thomas Swaffer to Charles Roach, 24 June 1778. Roach Family Papers (#346), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, Box 1, Folder c (Land Records, 1728–1886). Collection guide. Digitized folder: ECU Digital Collections, 0346-b1-fc.
Images courtesy of East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. View this item in ECU Digital Collections.
Part of the Roach Family Papers collection on East Carolina Roots.
