On January 9, 1873 (the closing lines say January 7), Evaline [?] C. Beckwith, then of Duplin County, sold Nathaniel Beckwith of Hyde County for one hundred dollars her dower right, as widow of Dr. James Beckwith, in the house and lot on Swift Creek in Craven County that he had bought from James Roach. The lot contained four acres, more or less, and began at a stake on the run of Murray Branch. No neighbors are named.
The witness was R. B. Beckwith, and she signed as Evelyn C. Beckwith. There is no court or registration note. The writer’s own words are kept as written below.
Release of dower from Evaline C. Beckwith of Duplin County, widow of Dr. James Beckwith, to Nathaniel Beckwith of Hyde County, the four-acre house and lot on Swift Creek – Craven County, 1873
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
executed this the 9th day of January
A.D. 1873. by and between Evaline [?]
C. Beckwith now of the County of Duplin
of the first part and Nathaniel
Beckwith of the County of Hyde
of the second part, Witnesseth
That for and in consideration of
the sum of One hundred dollars
paid to the party of the first part
by the party of the second part, before
the sealing & delivery of these presents
the receipt whereof is hereby ackn-
owledged — The party of the first part
has given granted bargained sold
and conveyed and doth hereby, give,
grant bargain sell, & convey to the party
of the second part his heirs & assigns
all her right title and interest, it being
her dower right as the widow of Dr James
Beckwith, in and to that House and
lot lying in Craven County on Swift Creek
which he purchased of James Roach,
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 11 poles to a Stake, then South
54° West 11 poles to a Stake on the road
side, Then up the road North 26° 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 & to hold said lands with
its privileges & improvements to him the
said Nathaniel Beckwith his heirs
& assigns free and discharged from
all right or Claim I have thereon by
virtue of the assignment thereof to me
as Dower.
In testimony whereof I have here-
unto set my hand & seal this the
7th day of January 1873.
Witness
R. B. Beckwith
Evelyn C. Beckwith (Seal)
[On the back:]
E C Beckwith
to
N Beckwith
Assignment
of Dower
About the original
The release is written on lined paper on the first page and the top of the second page of a folded sheet, with a short docket on the outside. The paper has a small embossed stamp in the corner. There is no court or registration note.
The widow’s given name is written Evaline [?] in the deed and signed Evelyn. The deed is dated the 9th of January in the opening lines and the 7th at the end. The second course is written as 11 poles here; the earlier deeds for this lot give 20 poles.
Dr. James Beckwith is the James L. S. Beckwith who bought this lot from James Roach in 1859 (see that deed and the 1860 deed of trust in this folder). By 1873 he was dead, and his widow, then living in Duplin County, released to Nathaniel Beckwith of Hyde County the dower that had been assigned to her in the lot. The deed does not say how Nathaniel and R. B. Beckwith were related to Dr. Beckwith.
Source: Release of dower, Evaline C. Beckwith to Nathaniel Beckwith, January 1873. 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.
