On September 1, 1879, Orlando Hubbs, sheriff of Craven County, deeded to the State of North Carolina 371 acres at Butler’s Ford (written “Butters Ford”) in Township No. 1, Craven County, listed to Charles Roach, for $5.18. The 1878 taxes on the land had not been paid, and the State bought it at the tax sale at the courthouse in New Bern on May 26, 1879. No courses or neighbors are given.
The witness was Geo. S. Smith, who proved the deed before E. W. Carpenter [?], judge of probate, on December 17, 1879. It was registered on December 19, 1879, in Book C, page 143, Tax Receipts (Jos. Nelson [?], register). A stamp from the Secretary of State’s office in January 1886 says the taxes, costs and penalty were paid and the owner was restored to his rights, and the back is marked “Cancelled Jan 28/86.” The writer’s own words are kept as written below.
Sheriff’s tax deed from Orlando Hubbs, sheriff of Craven County, to the State of North Carolina, 371 acres at Butler’s Ford in Township No. 1 listed to Charles Roach, sold for 1878 taxes – 1879
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.
State of North Carolina,
Craven County.
Whereas, The taxes assessed for the year 1878, on the following lands and tenements in Craven County, to-wit: Three hundred and Seventy one Acres Land Situated on Butters Ford in No One Township and listed to Charles Roach
remain unpaid after the time limited by law, Orlando Hubbs Sheriff of Craven County, levied on said lands, and returned a list of his levies to the Clerk of the Superior Court of said County; and the said Sheriff after advertising and giving notice according to law, sold said lands to pay said taxes and costs, at public auction, at the Court House in New Bern on the 26th day of May 1879, when and where the State of North Carolina became the purchaser, at the sum of Five 18/100 Dollars, and has paid the said sum; and the owner of said lands and tenements having failed to redeem the same;
Now, therefore, this Indenture Witnesseth, That the said Orlando Hubbs Sheriff, for and in consideration of the sum of Five 18/100 Dollars, to him in hand paid by the said State of North Carolina, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents doth grant, bargain and sell to the State of North Carolina the above described lands and tenements: To have and to hold the same to the said State of North Carolina forever, in as full and ample a manner as he, the said Sheriff, is empowered by virtue of his office to convey and assure the same.
In Testimony Whereof, The said Orlando Hubbs Sheriff, has hereunto set his hand and seal, the 1 day of September 1879.
Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of
Geo S Smith
Orlando Hubbs (Seal.)
Sheriff.
State of North Carolina, Craven County. In the Probate Court, New Bern N C Decr 17th 1879
The execution of the annexed deed was duly proven by the oath and examination of George S Smith the witness whereof. Let said deed and this certificate be registered.
E. W. Carpenter [?], Judge of Probate.
State of North Carolina, Craven County.
This deed was received for registration the 19 day of Dec 1879, and is duly registered in the Records of Craven County, in book C, page 143, Tax Receipts.
Witness, R. B. Blackledge [?]
Jos Nelson [?], Register.
720
[Purple stamp across the face of the deed:]
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Office of Secretary of State. RALEIGH, Jan [?] 1886. THE TAXES, COSTS AND PENALTY HAVING BEEN PAID TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF Craven [?] COUNTY, THE DELINQUENT IS RESTORED TO his [?] RIGHTS.
W L Saunders [?] Secretary of State.
[illegible] Batchelor [?] Clerk.
[Back, in red ink:]
Charles Roach
No 1
State Tax 5 18
Advertising 60
Notice of Sale 60
Deed to State 50
Clerk Fee 35
Register ” 25
$7.48
[In brown ink:]
Vol 21
Page 383
[In red ink:]
County [Tax?] 3 94
13 28 [?]
$17,22
[Written across, in brown ink:] Cancelled Jan 28/86
About the original
This is a printed tax deed form with the blanks filled in by hand. The sheriff of Craven County sold the 371 acres listed to Charles Roach for unpaid 1878 taxes, and since no one else bid, the State of North Carolina became the buyer for $5.18.
The purple stamp, applied in Raleigh in 1886, says the back taxes, costs and penalty were paid and the owner was “restored to his rights.” The back is marked “Cancelled Jan 28/86,” which agrees with the note on the 1881 county tax deed in this folder (Jan 28, 1886).
The form says “Butters Ford”; the other two tax deeds say “Butlers Ford,” which is the reading used in the title.
The judge of probate’s signature is smeared; it is read as E. W. Carpenter because he signed the 1881 tax deed for the same land clearly. The register’s name is read as Jos Nelson for the same reason (Joseph Nelson signed the 1881 deed). The stamp’s handwritten date and signatures are faint and lie under the printed text; W. L. Saunders was North Carolina’s Secretary of State in 1886, which supports that reading.
The paper does not say which Charles Roach this was.
The figures 7 20 [?], 9 25, 9 25 [?] and 10 10 [?] are penciled in the right margin beside the probate certificate.
Source: Sheriff’s tax deed to the State of North Carolina, land of Charles Roach, 1 September 1879. 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.
