On December 15, 1859, James Roach of Craven County sold James L. S. Beckwith of Craven County a lot of four acres, more or less, on Swift Creek in Craven County, with its houses and improvements, for seven hundred fifty dollars. It began at a stake on the run of Murray branch, ran to a stake on the road side and up the road, and came back down the branch. These are the same courses as the Miry Branch lot James Roach bought in 1851. No neighbors are named.
The witnesses were Jas. G. Hinton [?] and N. Beckwith [?]. James Roach acknowledged the deed the same day before W. G. Bryan, clerk, and it was registered in Book 65, folio 158 (Steph. B. Forbes, register). The writer’s own words are kept as written below.
Deed from James Roach to James L. S. Beckwith, four acres on Swift Creek at Murray (Miry) Branch – Craven County, 1859
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 and entered into
this the 15th day of December A.D. 1859.
between James Roach of Craven County
in the State of North Carolina of the one
part. and James L S Beckwith. of the
same County & State of the other part.
Witnesseth.
That for and in consideration of
the sum of Seven hundred and fifty dollars
to the said James Roach in hand paid
by the said James L S Beckwith. before
the sealing. and delivery. of these presents
the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the
said James Roach has given granted bargained
sold, aliened enfeoffed and conveyed and
doth hereby give grant, bargain sell, alien
enfeoff and convey to the said James L
S Beckwith his heirs and assigns a
Certain tract or parcel of land, lying in
said county of Craven, on Swift Creek,
bounded as follows, Beginning at a Stake
on the run of Murray branch and runs
South 84° West 11 poles to a Stake then North
45 West 20 poles to a Stake, then South 54°
West 11 poles to a Stake on the Road side.
then up the Road North 26 degrees West 4 poles
to a Stake. then North 45° East 21 poles
to a poplar tree on the run of said Branch
then down the run to the first Station
Containing four acres more or less.
To Have and to
hold said lot of land with all its improvements
privileges and appurtenances. houses, and fixtures
to him the said James L S Beckwith his
heirs and assigns forever,
And the said James
Roach doth for himself his heirs, executors, and
administrators, covenant, to and with the said
James L S Beckwith, his heirs and assigns
to warrant and defend the title to said lands
and improvements, against the claim or claims
of any and all persons whosoever, and
he further covenants that he the said James
Roach is now at the time of executing this
conveyance seized of a good and indefeasible
right in said lands. and that he has full
power and right to convey the same in fee simple
and that the said James L S Beckwith shall
hold enjoy and quietly possess the same against
all liens, either legal or Equitable, in favor of
said James Roach or any other person whosoever
In testimony whereof the said James
Roach has hereunto set his hand & seal
this the day and year first above mentioned.
Signed sealed and
delivered in the presence
of Jas. G. Hinton [?]
James Roach (Seal)
N Beckwith [?]
[struck through: ack] Dec 15 1859
North Carolina }
Craven County } Decr 15 1859
Then was the due and legal Execution of the
foregoing deed acknowledged before me by
James Roach the bargainor Let said
deed be Registered W. G. Bryan Clk
[On the facing page:]
Registered in the Records of Craven County
Book No. 65 folio 158 &c
Steph. B. Forbes Reg.
[On the back:]
James Roach
To
James L. S. Beckwith
State 50
Reg 60
Clk 30
paid 1 40
[In blue pencil:] W G B 60
About the original
The deed is written on the first page and the left half of the second page of a folded sheet. The registration is on the right half of the second page, and the docket and fees are on the outside. A page number, 158, is written at the top corner, matching the register’s folio.
The branch is called Murray branch here and in the 1873 Beckwith release in this folder, but Miry Branch in the 1846 Schenck–Vincent and 1851 Arthur–Roach deeds. The courses are the same in all of them, so it is the same branch under two spellings or two names. The witness’s name and the name “N Beckwith” written below it are hard to read. The fees on the back add up to $1.40; “W G B 60” in blue pencil is probably the clerk W. G. Bryan’s note of his fee.
This deed is the last step in the history of the Miry Branch lot in this folder: Schenck sold it to Francis R. Vincent in 1846, it was sold out of Vincent’s estate and conveyed by James G. Arthur to James Roach in 1851, and James Roach sold it here for $750. It is the only one of the three deeds that gives the acreage, four acres, and it mentions houses on the lot.
Source: Deed, James Roach to James L. S. Beckwith, 15 December 1859. 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.
