RESEARCHING HENRY BANNER'S LAND

By Judy Stanley Cardwell
published in the Summer 2000 Issue of the Forsyth County Genealogical Society Journal

This article is a follow up on a presentation that I gave for the Forsyth County Genealogy Society on Wednesday, April 12, 2000. This presentation was on using deeds, land grants and tax records to find your ancestors. I mentioned during this presentation that I had purchased a software program for my Windows computer called Deed Mapper from Direct Line Software. Deed Mapper plots out old deeds and land grants.

Deed Mapper can be used on Windows 95 and 98 and can also be used on an Apple if you have Virtual PC. More information can be found on this software on the Deed Mapper web page.

My maternal family, the Banners, were among the first settlers of present day Forsyth County, NC. Using Deed Mapper, I was able to plot out all of Henry Banner's and his neighbors land grants.

Deed Mapper also has maps of the United States and if you know the waterways that your ancestor had land on, you can get a map of this area from Deed Mapper. The maps come with roads and waterways on them, but they are not identified. The maps are in color: roads are red and waterways are blue though these colors can be changed if you wish. You can also add color to your land plots.

You have to ignore the many roads shown in these maps. Most of these roads were not here at time of your ancestor. For this article, everything is shown in black and white. Once you identify the roads and waterways, you can plot your ancestors' land over the map and have a good idea of the area where they resided. My intention in this article is to go over the land of Henry Banner, John Adams Sr., and Abraham Martin Sr. They were neighbors with land on both sides of Hwy 8 between Hwy 66 and Germanton or north of Winston-Salem. (See Map 1).

HENRY BANNER (ca 1727-1789)

Henry Banner was here in this area as early as 1750 when this area was Anson County, NC. Rowan County was formed from Anson County in 1753. Henry would have spent a couple of years making improvements on the property where he wanted to live, work and raise his family. He made 2 land entries in Rowan County on 3 March 1752. One, for 640 acres, is located in Orange County. (Granville County is also written, but marked out). Why this land is not in Rowan County is not known. The description of the land is "on both sides of Gargales Creek, beginning at a Spanish Oak on the east side of said creek - marked HB running down both sides for compliment". The Gargales Creek became Dorithea Creek, which is now called Muddy Creek. All of us in Forsyth County are familiar with Muddy Creek, as it seems to be all over Forsyth County! Other dates written in this entry include: a warrant issued 20 March 1753, a survey on 15 March 1754, and a patent on 1 December 1756 (Grant #28). But there are other words written on this entry that simply state "Taken by the Moravians". This land was obviously within the Wachovia tract. And somewhere along the Muddy Creek is a tree marked with the initials HB!

On 3 March 1752, Henry Banner made a second entry for 640 acres on both sides of the Buffalo Creek adjoining the Moravian land. This land grant is in Rowan County. A warrant was issued on 20 March 1753 and the land was surveyed by William Churton the following day. Chain carriers for this land were John Reynolds and James McCaine [McCoin].

Henry received a Granville patent, #32, for 405 acres on 25 April 1754 (Deed 1:164-165), also in Rowan County. This is the plot dated 1754 on Map #1. The letter "A" within this plot marks the location of Henry Banner's home. In fact, it still stands today, located off Walnut Hill Farm Road on Highway 8 close to Germanton. There is a very old Banner Family graveyard on this property. The letter "B" within this plot, is a Banner Family Graveyard located on Highway 8. I was able to pinpoint the location of this graveyard from the Forsyth County Cemetery Books, Volumes 1-5 by Donald W. Stanley, as the Longitude and Latitudes of the graveyards are given. Deed Mapper also gives the Longitude and Latitude, hence I know just where the old Banner Family graveyard on Hwy 8 is located. The Banners buried in this graveyard are descendants of Ephraim Banner (son of Henry) and his second wife, Elizabeth Hartgrove.

From this same land entry on 3 March 1752, Henry Banner received a second Granville Land Grant in Rowan County, #181, for 217 acres also on both sides of Buffalo Creek. This land was surveyed on 15 March 1754, also by Churton, and the chain carriers were Daniel Davis and Richard Harris. Henry was awarded a patent on 13 November 1756 (Deed 2:120-121) and this plot is dated 1756 on the map in Map #1. If you have seen any of the Moravian maps of Wachovia, these two plots of Henry Banner's are shown on the north edge of the Wachovia tract.

Henry Banner continued to add to his existing land. He received three N. C. Land Grants. These grants are in Surry County, N.C., as Surry was formed from Rowan in 1771. The first grant, #357, was entered on 19 October 1778, entry #173, for 208 acres. The description is " lying on both sides of the Ruff [Rough] Fork adjoining the Moravian Line and John Adams". A warrant was issued on the same day. This land was surveyed on 3 December 1779 by Henry Speer for Robert Lanier. The chain carriers were William Martin (son of Abraham Martin) and William Follis (Abraham's son-in-law). Henry received a patent for this land on 24 October 1782 (Deed B: 168). This plot on the map in Map #1 is marked 1782.

Henry's second N. C. Land Grant, #459, for 494 acres was entered on 3 February 1779, #1330. The description is "On Morgan's Branch on the waters of Buffalo Creek, adjoins Moravian Line and Ephraim Banner [son of Henry Banner] including improvements by Johnson Martin [Abraham Martin's brother] and whereon Benjamin Banner [son of Henry Banner] now lives". A warrant for this property was issued the same day and the land was surveyed 30 October 1779 by Charles McAnally. McAnally's daughter, Sarah, married Henry's son, Joseph Banner. The chain carriers for this land were Joseph and Ephraim Banner, also sons of Henry Banner. The date of this patent is 13 October 1783 (Deed B: 361-362). This plot on the map in Map #1 is marked 1783.

Henry's third and final NC Land Grant, #1215, was entered on 2 February 1784, entry #1015. This entry is in the name of Henry Speer for 100 acres "on the waters of the Buffalo Creek adjoining Henry Banner and Abraham Martin's line including the above place for compliment". Apparently Henry Speer transferred this entry to Henry Banner. The next entry #1216 is also 100 acres for Henry Speer and has the same description. Henry Speer's land is seen also on the map on Map #1 between Abraham Martin and Henry Banner. Henry Speer has an overplus of 50 acres on this land grant. The warrant for entry #1015 for Henry Speer was also on 2 Feb 1784. The survey for this property, 54 ¼ acres, was done in the name of Henry Banner on 20 November 1785. A note by the surveyor, Charles McAnally, states "No more being found without going over mutual agreements". Joseph Banner, son of Henry Banner and Paris Sims, son-in-law of Abraham Martin, were the chain carriers. A patent for 54 ¼ acres was issued to Henry Banner on 18 May 1789 (Deed E: 18-19).

Henry Banner bought 480 acres of land in Rowan County from Phillip Wilson and wife Mary. This deed (4:99), dated 24 May 1759, has been torn from the Rowan deed book. This is a problem all family researchers run into at times. This land was located on Mill Creek and Townfork Creeks in what is now Stokes County. Walnut Cove is on this land today. He sold this land in 3 separate deeds. He first sold 150 acres (Rowan, Deed 5:85) to Moses Martin. Thankfully, this deed is in the books. He then sold 187 acres (Rowan, Deed 7:7) to Thomas Goode. This deed is also missing. He sold the 3rd part of this land, 143 acres (Rowan, Deed 7:8) to Richard Goode. All the Rowan County Register of Deeds could tell me was at some point these 3 deeds were torn from the deed books. Thank goodness for the deed indexes!!

Henry Banner's son Ephraim (1753-1838) made a land entry #760 for 200 acres, Grant #181, in Surry County on 20 December 1778 described as "on the Schoolhouse Branch adjoining the lands of Henry Banner and including the schoolhouse claim for complement". A warrant for this entry was issued on 26 December 1778. This land was surveyed by Charles McAnally on 7 January 1779. Chain carriers were Ephraim's brother, Joseph (1749-1838) and Ephraim's twin, Benjamin (1753-1840). Ephraim received a patent for this land on 3 April 1780 (Deed B: 85). This plot in Map #1 is marked 1780.

Henry Banner wrote his will on 1 February 1776 in Surry County and states the following concerning his land:

"First, I give bequeath and devise all the land which I shall have in possession or a just claim to at the Hour of my death, to my FOUR dearly beloved children JOSEPH, EPHRIAM, BENJAMIN, AND CHARITY, their respective Heirs and Assigns, to be divided among them *share & share alike as ought as possible, which Division I will have to be made by Three Freeholders residing in this County, who are to be nominated by the Executors and Oversee of this my last Will and Testament. And I will and ordain that the said my Children and each of them shall be satisfied and bound to receive his or her Share of the Land thus divided by the said Freeholders according as they shall have divided the same, and no other wise. Provided always that each of my Children aforesaid shall and do pay yearly and every year to my dear WIFE ELEANOR during her life time for her Dower, the One third part of the income of his or her share for the and of the above mentioned Land."

* "share and share alike" - land equal in value

Henry Banner's will was probated in Stokes County, NC in March 1790. Stokes was created from Surry County in 1789. Henry named his wife Eleanor and his eldest son Joseph (1749-1838) executors of his will. He appointed Traugotte Bagge as "Overseer" to see that "his will was carried out" as he desired. His inventory dated 10 March 1790 states that he has 1,378 acres of land, the total of the five land grants previously discussed in this article. Henry's wife Eleanor Martin (ca 1730-1789) died around the same time as Henry, as his inventory also shows "2 coffins being made for 19 shillings and 6 pence".

Henry Banner's death is recorded twice in Volume 5 of the Moravian Diaries. One entry on page 2272 from 1789 and reads "Nov 30. Some from Bethabara went to the funeral of the elder Banner who passed out of time on the 28th. He was a true friend of the Brethren, and showed them much kindness when Bethabara was being built, remaining friendly to this end" The second entry on page 2286 reads "Nov 30. This morning various persons went from here to the funeral of our neighbor Banner, who passed out time on the 28th of this month. He was a sincere friend of the Brethren, and did them many real services while Bethabara was being built, and remained their friend to the end of his life".

Henry's land was divided among his four children: Joseph (1749-1838) who married Sarah McAnally, daughter of Charles McAnally and Ruhamah Houston; Ephraim (1853-1838) who married first to Sarah Martin,daughter of Abraham Martin, and second to Elizabeth Hartgrove, daughter of James Hartgrove and Susannah H. Lankford; Benjamin (1753-1840) who married Sarah Clayton, sister of John Clayton Sr.; and Charity Banner (1764-1817) who married John Clayton Sr. (1759-1801). John Clayton and his sister, Sarah, are the children of Stephen Clayton Jr. and Mary Dennum.

The three freeholders chosen by Joseph Banner and Traugotte Bagge for this division of property were Joseph Winston, George Hauser and Joseph Waggoner [sic]. The surveyor was Charles McAnally and the surveys were done on 10 May 1790. The division of this property is seen in Figure 2. Joseph Banner received Lot #1(Deed 1:197) for 360 ¾ acres and 8 poles and this lot did include Henry Banner's home. You can see in Figure 2 that the lines for the division of Henry's property are dark, double lines. Ephraim Banner received Lot #2 (Deed 1: 245) for 280 acres. John Clayton, husband of daughter Charity Banner received Lot #3 (1:197-198) for 348 acres. Benjamin Banner received Lot #4 (Deed 1:299) for 390 acres. A note from the surveyor states an over plus in Benjamin's division and the survey was actually 420 acres. I have followed the deed on Ephraim Banner's part, Lot #2. On 3 September 1804, Stokes County, NC, Deed 4:524, Ephraim Banner gave part this lot (#2) to his eldest son Joshua (1776-1846) "for love and natural affection". Joshua married Martha Bitting, daughter of Anthony Bitting and Martha Poe [LePeau]. From what deeds that I have studied on Ephraim Banner, his son Joshua purchased the rest of the land that Ephraim owned. John Clayton Sr. met an untimely death in 1801. He stated in his will that his wife's dower (Lot #3) was to be split between his 2 youngest sons, William and Stephen. However, son William is not documented in any other Stokes County records after his name is mentioned in his father's will. Son Stephen, was described as a "lunatic" who was under the care of a guardian, Isaac Dalton, until he died in 1821 in Stokes County. Parts of lot # 3 were sold to help support his son, Stephen Clayton. Some of this Lot #3 was eventually purchased by Constantine Ladd Banner (1799-1867) son of Charles Banner and Rebecca Evans. At John Clayton's death, his inventory showed a total of 1,404 acres of land. Part of this land is still owned by the Clayton family and is located in the Stanleyville Community of Forsyth County, NC. See Map #2.

JOHN ADAMS (ca 1739-1793)
See Map #1 for the Adams family land

John Adams remains a mystery to me. If he is connected to Henry Banner's family, I do not know how. He is of interest to me as John Adams and Henry Banner shared a "line agreed on". That is the diagonal line in Figure 1 between John Adams and Henry Banner. John Adams made an entry for land, #835 in Surry Co., NC, Grant #1204, on 9 January 1779 described as follows "John Adams Sr. enters 300 acres of land on Ruff [Rough] Fork adjoining Henry Banner including my improvement for quantity". A warrant was issued on 15 January 1779. This land was surveyed 15 January 1787 by Charles McAnally. John Adams Sr.'s chain carriers were his sons John Adams Jr. and George Adams. A patent was issued on 18 May 1789 (Deed, Stokes 1:33). His son, William Adams, made entry #1307 in Surry County, Grant #873, on 12 December 1782 for 140 acres on Rough Fork described as follows "on Reed [Rough] Fork the waters of Townfork adjoining John Adams Line including my improvement for quantity". A warrant was issued the same day. This survey was completed 15 December 1782 by Charles McAnally. Willaim Adams's chain carriers were Joseph Banner (son of Henry Banner) and Robert Chapman. William was issued a patent on 9 August 1787 (Stokes Deed 1:30). Son John Adams Jr. made entry #1024 for 100 acres on 2 February 1784 in Surry County, Grant #1166. This land is also described as being on Rough Fork. A warrant was issued the same day. This land was surveyed 15 January 1786 by Charles McAnally. John Adams Jr.'s chain carriers were his brothers William Adams and George Adams. John Jr. was issued a patent for this land on 17 May 1789 (Stokes Deed 1:13).

There is also a William and John Adams of this same period that have land on Forbush Creek, now Yadkin County, NC. Adams family researchers think they are all of the same family. Tax records and land grants have proved them to be two different families. It is possible, however, that the John Adams Sr., of present-day Forsyth County, NC, and William Adams of Forbush Creek (now Yadkin County) may be brothers.

John Clayton's first cousin Phillip Clayton (1759-1782), son of William Clayton (ca 1733-1781), had a land grant right in the middle of this Adams family. Phillip married a girl named Mary. Was she an Adams? Likely she is a daughter of John Adams Sr. Phillip Clayton made entry #1284 for 100 acres on 12 December 1782 in Surry County. The land is described as follows "on both sides of Rockey Branch waters of Buffalo Creek adjoining John Adams line including my improvement for quantity". A warrant was issued the same day. The survey was completed by Charles McAnally 12 December 1782. The chain carriers were Robert Chapman and William Adams (son of John Adams Sr.). A patent was issued on 9 August 1787 in Surry County (Surry Deed C:368). Phillip Clayton wrote his will on 9 October 1781 in Surry County and according to his will " I do give to my DAUGHTER NANCY CLAYTON my plantation and land that I now process and enjoy". His daughter Nancy married Thomas Daniel Smith in Surry County Phillip's will was probated in May 1782 in Surry Co., NC.

There is a deed in Stokes County (2:170) dated 26 February 1795 from John Adams Jr. of the County of Washington, State of Virginia to Jacob Mounts where John Adams Jr. sells his land (see Figure 1). Apparently Jacob Mounts [Mounce] was already living on this property and the deed reads "including the Jacob Mounts house and plantation, thereby belonging commonly called or known by the name of John Adam's Jr. old plantation". This deed is witnessed by Charles Banner (son of Joseph) and Benjamin Banner (son of Henry Banner). John Adams Jr. disappears from the Stokes County tax lists by 1792. John Adams may have died by 1797 as his son William Adams pays on his own land, 140 acres with one poll, and also pays "William Adams for father 300 acres'. This 300 acres belonged to John Adams Sr. I have not checked the tax list passed the Stokes 1797 tax list for this family. And I still do not know if they related in any way with the Henry Banner family outside of just being neighbors. See Map #1.

ABRAHAM MARTIN SR (1729-1814)
See Map #1 for Abraham's land grant

Abraham Martin, Henry Banner's neighbor, made an entry #110 for land in Surry County, Grant #323, 410 acres, on 19 October 1778. The land is described as "beginning on Frys line and joining Banner's deeded land and including said Martins improvement for quantity". A warrant was issued the same day as the entry. This land was surveyed by Henry Speer, Deputy Surveyor, on 2 December 1778. The chain carriers were Henry Banner and William Campbell. Please note that Henry Speer has surveyed the land around the land entries that he made next to Henry Banner and Abraham Martin. He is quite famous as a surveyor for grabbing himself 100 acres here and there wherever he was surveying land. Abraham was issued a patent on 3 April 1780 in Surry County (Surry B: 84). See Figure 1 for Abraham's plot marked 1780. On 13 August 1796, Abraham Martin and his son William each bought 100 acres from William Follis, (Deed 3:17). This land adjoined Abraham Martin's 410 acre land grant next to Henry Banner. See Map #1 for these two plots of land. William Follis, a hat maker, married Mary Martin, daughter of Abraham. The witnesses on these 2 deeds were Abraham Martin Jr., and Joseph Bolyjack, brother of Samuel Bolyjack who married Abraham's daughter Martha.

Abraham Martin wrote his will in Stokes County on 18 Mar 1811. The will was probated in December 1815 in Stokes County. His executors were his son William Martin, his grandson Joshua Banner and his friend Charles Banner (1773-1857), son of Joseph Banner. Abraham willed to Sarah, his wife, 75 acres of land from his 410 acre plot that included the mansion house where he now lives. To his son William Martin, he left the southern part of his 410 acre plot which includes the improvement that his son William made on the property. The rest of the 410 acre plot and his 100 acre plot was to be divided equally between his remaining children, Robert Martin; Abraham Martin Jr.'s widow; Mary Follis; Judith Sims; Martha Bolyjack and "my grandchildren of which my late daughter Sally Banner decd. had by Ephraim Banner".

In Abraham Martin's estate settlement is a petition to the court in Stokes County, NC dated 13 December 1824 and signed by Constantine L. Banner, Joshua Banner, Samuel Bolyjack and Charles Banner that reads: "To the worshipful Justices of the Court of pleas & quarter sessions of the County aforesaid - The Petition of Constantine L. Banner in right of Mary Follis [now a widow], Joshua Banner in right of Paris Sims & his wife Judith, Matthew Martin & himself & the heirs of Sally Banner decd. - Samuel Bolyjack in right of his wife Martha, and Charles Banner in right of Robert Martin. Humbly complainth that some time in the year of Our Lord 1814 Abraham Martin Senr. Departed this life & being possessed of two tracts of land lying & being in County, aforesaid on the waters of Townfork the first tract containing 243 acres or there abouts adjoining the lands of Adam Fry, Andrew Bowman Esquire, Alexander Moody & others - the other tract containing one hundred acres adjoining the lands of John Bitting, Andrew Bowman Esquire & others including what is calld. [sic] Roper old improvement. Your petioners therefore pray your worship to grant an order for partition of the aforesaid tracts of land & to appoint five commissioners to divide & appropriate the same among & between agreeable to act of *opere [citation] in such case made & provided & according to the several legal claims & authorities which they may have in & out to the lands & premises as above mentioned and they as in duty bound will ever pray the 13th December 1824."

* "in the work cited"

Note that his son William Martin is not mentioned in the petition. William received around 100 acres from his father's will so there is not a deed for this property. William was dead by December 1812 according to the probate of his own will in Stokes County, N. C. Abraham's widow, Sarah, received 75 acres from her husband's will leaving around 243 acres to be divided between Abraham's remaining children.

Abraham's son, Abraham Jr., is also deceased. Abraham Jr.'s wife may have remarried or died, but no children belonging to this couple are mentioned in the estate of Abraham Martin Sr. The last mention of the widow of Abraham Jr., Sarah, was in a deed (5:594) dated 8 July 1815 in Stokes County, N. C. from Abraham Martin Sr. to Sarah. The deed states "for and inconsideration of the good will & affection that he beareth toward Sarah Martin widow of Abram [sic] Martin my son who is now dead for the better support & maintenance of said Sarah my Daughter in Law, have given and granted. . . Two Negro Slaves Viz: Calvin a boy slave about seven or eight years of age & Malinda a girl slave about five or six years of age". This deed is witnessed by Charles Banner and Robert Sims.

Abraham Martin's land was indeed divided(See Map #3) and this was where Deed Mapper came in real handy! (See Figure 3). A deed (8:283) in Stokes County, NC dated 8 January 1825, has the divisions of Abraham Martin's property. The five commissioners appointed by the court were Hampton Bynum, Tandy Matthews, Isaac Nelson, William Cox and James Matthews. This land was surveyed by Charles Banner. The chain carriers were William Golding and Alfred Evans. The 100 acre lot was divided first as follows:

Lot #1 of 16 1/3 acres to Samuel Bolyjack in the right of his wife Martha valued at $8.00

Lot #2 of 16 1/3 acres to Constantine L. Banner in the right of the heirs of Mary Martin] Follis valued at $32.00.

Lot #3 of 16 1/3 acres to Matthew Martin valued at $32.00.

Lot #4 of 16 1/3 acres to Parish Sims in the right of his wife Judith valued at $16.00.

Lot #5 of 16 1/3 acres to Robert Martin valued at $32.00.

Lot #6 of 17 ½ acres to Sally [Martin] Banner heirs valued at $16.00.

The 6 parts of land must be the same value so, Lot #2 to pay Lot #1 $9.42, Lot #3 to pay Lot #1 $5.32, Lot #5 to pay Lot #1 $4.0, Lot #5 to pay Lot #4 $2.62, Lot #5 to pay Lot #6 $6.70, "So that each dividend is alike or near as may be."

Tract #2 (belonging to Abraham Martin) of around 243 acres, which excludes the dower of Abraham's widow of 75 acres, and the southern part of his property around 100 acres belonging to his son William Martin, was divided as follows:

Lot #1 of 28 acres to Matthew Martin valued at $70.00.

Lot #2 of 28 acres to the Sally [Martin] Banner heirs valued at 56.00.

Lot #3 of 28 acres to Parish Sims in the right of his wife Judith valued at $42.00.

Lot #4 of 28 acres to Samuel Bolyjack in the right of his wife Martha valued at $21.00.

Lot #5 of 28 acres to Mary [Martin] Follis heirs valued at $42.00.

Lot #6 of 28 acres "excluding one acre burying ground" to Robert Martin val-ued at $21.00.

The value must be the same for all six divisions so Lot #1 must pay Lot #4 $21.00 and pay Lot #6 $7.00 and Lot #2 must pay lot #6 $14.

Abraham Martin's land was divided as equal as possible and now I know, thanks to Deed Mapper, the approximate area in Forsyth County where the Abraham Martin family graveyard is located.

In conclusion, I hope that I have shown the advantages of using the software program Deed Mapper and the importance of studying not only your ancestor's land grants and deeds, but also the adjoining land properties around your ancestor. Just in writing this article, I have discovered, within these families, some new areas of research which I am anxious to begin and hopefully learn MUCH more about these ancestors!

Sources used in this article: Copies of the land grants, wills and estate settlements were gathered at the N C State Archives in Raleigh, NC. Deeds were copied from microfilm in the North Carolina Room, Forsyth County Public Library on 5th Street in Winston Salem, NC. Land entries are from the book "Joseph Winston His Entry Book Surry County, NC Land Entries 1778-1781" by Agnes M. Wells, Virginia G. Phillips and Carol J. Leonard. Iris M. Harvey transcribed the Stokes County tax records of 1790 through 1797, which are available from the compiler. "The Moravian Diaries," transcribed by Adelaide L. Fries, Volumes 1 through-11, are available in the North Carolina Room at the Forsyth County Public Library and also at the Morvavian Archives in Old Salem on Bank Street. "Forsyth County Cemetery Records", by Donald W. Stanley, Volumes 1 through 5, are available in the North Carolina Room of the Forsyth County Public Library on 5th Street in Winston-Salem. "The Great Philadephia Wagon Road in Forsyth County, NC 1750-1770", by Kyle Stimson, is available from the author. Deed Mapper is a software program available from Direct Line Software.

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