On August 11, 1807, Charles Roach sold Arthur Butler twenty acres. Instead of money, Butler gave up any claim he had to land on the north side of the creek run, from Butler’s Hole up the creek to the foot way. The twenty acres were on the south side of the run of Swift Creek in Craven County and were part of a patent granted to Charles Roach on August 9 in “the eleventh year of our Independence.” The land began at a sweet gum, Joel Willis’s corner, in the creek swamp. It ran to a red oak in Kemp’s [?] line, then with Kemp’s [?] and Jeremiah Warren’s line to the run of the creek.
Neighbors named are Joel Willis, Kemp [?], and Jeremiah Warren. The witnesses were Charly Butler Jr. and Elizabeth Butler. Roach acknowledged the deed at the March Term 1814 (J. G. Stanly, clerk). This paper is a copy from the register’s book, and the plat on the back says the land contains forty-seven acres. The writer’s own words are kept as written below.
Deed from Charles Roach to Arthur Butler, 20 acres on the south side of the run of Swift Creek – Craven County, 1807
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 eleventh day of August in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven. Between Charles Roach
of the County of Craven and State of North Carolina of the one part and
Arthur Butler of the County & State aforesaid of the other part Witnes-
=seth that I the said Charles Roach for and in consideration of
all the right title or clame that he the said Arthur Butler has to
any land lying on the North side of the run of the Creek from Butlers
hole up the said Creek to the foot way to the said Charles Roach, the
receipt where of, I have bargained and sold unto the said Arthur
=Butler twenty acres of land lying the County of Craven, and
on the South side of the run of Swift Creek being part of a patten
granted to Charles Roach bearing date the ninth day of August in the
eleventh year of our Independence and in the year of our Lord one
=thousand seven hundred and eighty Begining at a sweet gum Joel
=Willis Corner in the Creek Swomp and runs reverse of said line South
forty west, Eighty pole to a redd oak, said Willis Corner in Kemps [?]
line and with Kemps [?] & Jeremiah Warrens line South fifty five East
three hundred pole to the run of the Creek then up the run of the
said Creek to the giving line of the said patten & then with that line
to the Begining be the same more or less. To Have and to hold the
said twenty acres of Land with the rights and priviledges in any
wise belonging to him the said Arthur Butler his heirs and assigns
for. and the said Charles Roach doth for himself his heirs and assigns
doth Covenant and agree to and with the said Arthur Butler his heirs and
assigns shall and may for ever hear after peaceably and quietly have
hold and occupy the aforesaid premises clear of the lawful claim of any
person or persons whatsoever and that he the said Charly Roach his heirs
and assigns will unto the said Arthur Butler his heirs and assigns Worrent
and for ever defend the affoursaid premises from the lawful claim of any
person or persons Whatsoever In Witness where of I the said Charles Roach
=have hereunto set my hand seal this day and date above written
Signed Sealed and delivered
in presents of us.
Charly Butler Jun.
Elizabeth Butler
Charles Roach [Seal]
State of North Carolina Craven County, Court
of Pleas & Quarter Sessions March Term 1814 Then was the execution of
the foregoing deed acknowledged in open Court by the grantor
ordered that the same be Registered
Attest. J. G. Stanly C.C.
The foregoing is a true Copy of a deed from Charles Roach to Arthur
Butler in Book 3rd [?] C. Fol 404
Attest John Green Register
[On the outside, a docket:]
Charles Roach
To
Arthur Butler
Deed
Copy
Dr 5/ paid [?]
[On the outside, a small plat. Along its lines:] So 40 Wt 80 po
So 55 Et 174 [?] po
47 acres
Creek Run
The above plan Repre[sen]ts
a peace of Land Lying
in Swifts Creek Swa-
mp which is Covered
by the within deed
Containing forthy [struck out] Seven Acres
About the original
This is a copy of the deed made from the Craven County register’s book, not the original signed deed. The copy is attested by John Green, Register. The deed, the witnesses’ names and Charles Roach’s signature are all in the copyist’s hand.
The deed was not acknowledged in court until the March Term 1814, almost seven years after it was signed.
The deed names twenty acres, but the plat on the outside of the sheet says the land “Covered by the within deed” contains forty seven acres.
“Kemps” is uncertain; the first letter could also be read as C. The book number in the registration note is hard to read.
The patent mentioned in the deed is dated “the ninth day of August in the eleventh year of our Independence,” and the year is written “one thousand seven hundred and eighty,” with no final digit. It is copied here as written. The eleventh year of independence points to 1786 or 1787.
Source: Deed, Charles Roach to Arthur Butler, 11 August 1807. 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.
