View the #2344 Land Grant Documents How to Locate the Daniel Haston Land Grant #2344 NC Secretary of State Land Grant Records, Warrants, Surveys, and Related Documents, Tennessee County, TN, S.108.388; frames #721-725:  File #201, Thomas Archer, assignee of Daniel Haston (Military Warrant No. 2344), 640 acres, Grant No. 1490, 4 Jan 1791.  Available from the NC State Archives, Raleigh, NC.

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James Glasgow:  As Secretary of State of North Carolina, James Glasgow was required on request to make out a military land grant, or a patent, that would be authenticated by the governor, countersigned by the secretary of state, and then registered in the land grant registry book held by the secretary's office in Raleigh. The original grant and a copy of the survey and the accompanying plat were then given to the applicant for the grant.

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Willoughby Williams:  He enlisted in 1776, as a private in Colonel Abraham Shepherd's regiment, and served in all about seven years. He married, January 1, 1786, Nancy Glasgow, daughter of James Glasgow, Secretary of State of North Carolina. He served as a Deputy Secretary (DSec) under his father-in-law.  The grant was given at someplace called "Fairfield".

Question: Was this the town of Fairfield which was located in Hyde County, NC.  Or, was this a plantation or another site by the same name?

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Daniel Haston: The document indicates that "Daniel Haston," the original recipient of this land grant, had served as a private in the North Carolina Continental army during the Revolutionary War.  His signature (or a signature that purports to be his) appears on the back side of the land grant, where the grant was signed over to Thomas Hays.  We do not know for sure that this "Daniel Haston" was the same man who died in White County, TN in 1826.

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Thomas Hays:  One day after Daniel Haston received land grant # 2344 (on September 29, 1785), it was assigned to Thomas Hays (on September 30, 1785). 

September 30, 1785 would fall in the period between when Daniel Hiestand/Haston left Shenandoah County, VA (probably late 1783, no later than early 1785) and August 18, 1786, when he is known to have appeared in what is now East Tennessee (Jonesborough, NC/TN). The facts that... Daniel Haston was geographically unaccounted for on September 30, 1785 when a NC Revolutionary War land grant was assigned to the name "Daniel Haston" ... To a man who lived in Guilford County, NC AND other Guilford County, NC names are associated with the grant, AND ... At least two key families that we know to later be closely associated with Daniel Haston (James Ryan and Phillip Roddy) lived in Guilford County, NC at this time ... Would seem to lend credence to the idea that "our" Daniel Haston (son of Henry Hiestand) was the legitimate recipient of NC Revolutionary War land grant # 2344, even though there is no evidence to indicate that he left Shenandoah County, VA during the Revolutionary War.*  At least one of his known children (David - March 6, 1777), is known to have been born in Virginia during the Revolutionary War.  And other records (see the Daniel Haston timeline) seem to position him in Virginia at various points during the war. BUT, there is another possible explanation.  There is a shroud of possible corruption that surrounds this land grant.  Many similar NC land grants (especially those assigned by William Faircloth) were later proven to be fraudulently assigned. But IF NC grant # 2344 was fraudulently assigned to someone other than the person whose name ("Daniel Haston") appears on the grant as the assignee - THEN how did the assigner (William Faircloth) come up with the name of "Daniel Haston" - IF he never met or heard of Daniel Haston?  This is a question Daniel Haston researchers have asked. But IF "our" Daniel Haston visited (or briefly lived in) Guilford County, NC in or just before 1785, William Faircloth might have come in contact with Daniel in some way, perhaps just enough to "harvest" his name for a fraudulent assignment to grant # 2344. This line of evidence, may indicate that Daniel Haston did spend some time in Guilford County, NC on his journey from Shenandoah County, VA to what is now East Tennessee. ----------------------- *NOTE that the name "Abraham Haston" [brother and close-neighbor of Daniel Hiestand, in Powell's Fort Valley] does appear on military list under the command of Capt. Joseph Bowman for the lower district of Dunmore (Shenandoah) County, VA but the name "Daniel Haston" does not appear on the list.  At least some of the men on this list lived in Powell's Fort Valley, near where Abraham and Daniel lived.  Does this mean that Daniel Hiestand/Haston was away from his Powell Fort Valley (Dunmore/Shenandoah County, VA) home at that time?  The date of this military listing, apparently, was 1775. Source:  Page 604 of Revolutionary War Records - Virginia by Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh (reprinted in 2008 by the Genealogical Publishing Company of Baltimore, MD).

Here are some of the things known about Thomas Hays:

• Lived in Guilford County, NC in late 1700s.

• January 2, 1773,  purchased 230 acres on the north side of Reedy Fork of Haw River.

• May 22, 1780, purchased 150 acres on waters of Haw River.

• November 8, 1784, granted by Governor Alexander Martin 150 acres on waters of Haw River (probably the same property purchased on May 22, 1780).

• November 1, 1785, purchased 62 acres on water of Reedy Fork, on Buckhorn Creek.

• March 21, 1789, 62 acres granted by Governor Johnston on waters of Reedy Fork & Buckhorn Creek (probably the same property purchased on November 1, 1785).

• All of these properties were in the same area in the north eastern part of Guilford County, NC (see map).

• He and other people with the same surname (Patsy T. Hays & Robert Hays) were involved in some land grant transactions on this same day. 

• Probably died in 1792, according to some Hays family researchers.

Further Thomas Hays Research Tasks

Search for more records of Thomas Hays in Guilford County.  Check the signature above (which was taken from grant #2344) to see if it matches other known signatures of the Thomas Hays of Guilford County.  Was the Thomas Hays who received grant #2344 on September 30, 1785 the same man who lived in Guilford County. Did he appear, from court records, etc., to be a man of good character or not? Check other land grants to see if Thomas Hays was a land speculator who purchased other land grants.  On page 21 of Glasgow Land Fraud Papers, Vol. 2 by A.B. Pruitt (ISBN #944992-49-8) there is a list of land speculators who received large quantities of land in TN by NC grants. Was the Thomas Hays of Guilford County associated with any people who we know to have had direct or indirect connections with Daniel Haston?

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William Surry?:  The surname spelling for this man is unclear and uncertain.  If you know who this man was or have a suggestion regarding the spelling of his surname, please contact us.

Question: Who was this man who witnessed the transfer of Daniel Haston's land grant to Thomas Hays?  Was he a Guilford County, NC friend of Thomas Hays? 

Further Research Tasks for this Man

Read other land grants that were assigned before or after #2344 (especially those involving Hays family members) to see if this man's signature appears on any of them. Once the spelling of his name has been deciphered, check NC records to learn what can be known about this man.  Was he a real person?  Did he seem to be a man of integrity?  Did he have any known relationship to Daniel Haston or people known to have been associated with Daniel Haston?

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Thomas Archer:  On November 7, 1790, Thomas Hays assigned land grant #2344 to Thomas Archer.  Here are some of the things known about him:

• Lived in Guilford County, NC in late 1700s.

• April 10, 1783, entered 100 acres on waters of Deep River, adjacent to James Hays.

• May 16, 1787, received grant from Governor Caswell for 200 acres on waters of Deep River.

• May 16, 1787, he and James Archer received a land grant for 153 acres on the waters of Deep River.

• May 16, 1787, he received grant from Governor Caswell for 100 acres on waters of Deep River which joined land owned by James Hays.

• December 26, 1788, entered 30 acres on waters of Deep River.

• December 27, 1788, entered 20 acres on waters of Deep River.

• February 20, 1790, he and James Archer sold 115 acres on waters of Deep River to Peter Clemons.

• May 11, 1791, sold 200 acres on waters of Deep River to Evan Stephens.

• May 11, 1791, sold 100 acres on waters of Deep River to "Even" Stephens.  This land was adjacent to land owned by James Hays.

• November 19, 1793, entered 30 acres on waters of __blank__.

• June 16, 1794, sold 50 acres to Milly Sanders.

• Evidently, he lived Deep River area of Guilford County, which is the southeastern section of the county.  (See map.)

According to George W. Archer (garcher@email.toast.net) of the Archer Association (P.O. Box 6233 of McLean, VA 22106):

• This Guilford County, NC Thomas Archer was born about 1750.

• His father's name may have been James and his mother may have been Catherine Mortimer.

• His wife was Polly.

• His children were John H. (born c. 1770) and Maria.

• Later in his life, he lived in Dickson County, TN (where the land for grant # 2344 was located) and died there in 1818.

Further Thomas Archer Research Tasks

Continue to research where Thomas Archer lived and the people he associated with, especially anyone who might have been connected to Daniel Haston.  Especially, research his life and time in Dickson County, TN.

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James Hays:  James Hays was one of two witnesses in the Thomas Hays to Thomas Archer transfer of land grant # 2344.  Here are some of the things that are known about him:

• Lived in Guilford County, NC in late 1700s and was on the 1790 federal census record for that county.

• Probably a brother or son of Thomas Hays.

• Guilty of assault in the May 1786 case, The State vs, James Hays. 

• Owned land on the waters of Jacobs Creek.  See map.

• He married Elizabeth McKemie (sister to Guilford County, NC Justice of the Peace, Robert McKemie) on November 26, 1776.  Robert McKemie was a co-witness to the transfer of land grant #2344 from Thomas Hays to Thomas Archer.

• He died in 1805 in Guilford County, NC.

Further James Hays Research Tasks

Continue to research Guilford County, NC records for James Hays, regarding where he lived and the people he associated with, especially anyone who might have been connected to Daniel Haston.  Locate another signature for James Hays and compare it to the "James Hays" signature on land grant #2344.

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Robert McKemie:  Robert McKemie was one of two witnesses in the Thomas Hays to Thomas Archer transfer of land grant # 2344.  Here are some of the things that are known about him:

• Lived in Guilford County, NC in late 1700s.

• He was a brother in law to James Hays, who was a co-witness with him to the transfer of land grant #2344 from Thomas Hays to Thomas Archer.

• He served as Justice of Peace in Guilford County, NC.

• He (as per McKemie researchers) was born in 1724 in Philadelphia, PA and died after 1801 in Guilford County, NC.  His wife's name was Mary.

• He owned land on the south side of the Haw River.  See map.

Further Robert McKemie Research Tasks

Continue to research Guilford County, NC records for Robert McKemie, regarding where he lived and the people he associated with, especially anyone who might have been connected to Daniel Haston.  Locate another signature for Robert McKemie and compare it to the "Robert McKemie" signature on land grant #2344.

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2. Phillip Roddy lived in Guilford & Randolph counties of NC in the late 1700s.

In order to understand and appreciate this section, you must be familiar with the McComiskey & Roddy & Ryan connections to the Daniel Haston family.  What we know about those connections is presented on another page in this website.  The following material will make more sense if you are familiar with the information on that page. 

• January 4, 1779:  Philip Roddy was issued warrant #954 for 200 acres on the south side of Mile Branch, which joined Mordecai's Creek.  A 1785 warrant says that Mordecai's Creek was also called Richland Creek.  According to the the Guilford County map, that would be in the southwest corner of Guilford County.
  Source:  Entry #1497, page 124 of Abstracts of Land Warrants, Guilford County, NC, 1778-1932 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• June 9, 1785:  Philip Roddy's land joined a 50 acres Jonas Rick warrant on the waters of Deep River.  Jonas Rick's land was on the south side of Deep River.
  Source: Entry #2421, page 208 of Abstracts of Land Warrants, Guilford County, NC, 1778-1932 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• June 29, 1785:  Isaac Widdows was issued a warrant for 300 acres on the waters of Richland Creek "or" Mordecai's Creek, which joined land owned by Philip Roddy.  Richland Creek appears in the southwest corner on the Guilford County map.
  Source: Entry #1304, page 108 of Abstracts of Land Warrants, Guilford County, NC, 1778-1932 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• August 27, 1785:  Entered 100 acres in Guilford County, which bordered "his own survey where he lives".  The "survey where he lives" would probably have been the 200 acres which he received on January 4, 1779.
  Source: Entry #2484, page 39 of Guilford County, NC Land Entries, 1779-1796 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.  Also, see entry #1636, page 135 of Abstracts of Land Warrants, Guilford County, NC, 1778-1932 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• March 25, 1786:  Owned land adjacent to Dennis Towney (or Towmey) Guilford County land in Springfield settlement on waters of Muddy Creek.  Towney's land was in Guilford County, but the Springfield settlement was in the southwest section of the county near Randolph County.  Muddy Creek appears in the northwest segment of the Randolph County map, near the southwest section of the Guilford County line.  The head waters of Muddy Creek probably were in southwest Guilford County.
  Sources: Entry #2523, page 42 of Guilford County, NC Land Entries, 1779-1796 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.  Also see, entry #1221, page 101 of Abstracts of Land Warrants, Guilford County, NC, 1778-1932 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
  
  Note: We know that in 1787 James Ryan purchased 200 acres in the Springfield settlement on the waters of Muddy Fork that bordered the "county line" and also bordered Dennis Towmey's land on the east.  No doubt this was very near Philip Roddy's land.  See below.
   

• May 16, 1787:  NC Governor Richard Caswell granted to Phillip Rhody (grant #1455) 200 acres on the waters of Mill (Mile?) Branch and Mordecais Creek, between Joseph Pearce & William Braswillton & adjoining Stephen Mendenhall).  Was this just the official grant for the land that Philip Roddy was issued a warrant for on January 4, 1779?
  Source: Entry #1291 on page 133 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 3, 4, 5, & 6 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• December 8, 1788:  Philip Roddy's name mentioned on a 418 acres land entry for Mordica (Mordecai) Mendinghall (Mendenhall) on the south fork of Deep River.  This land was apparently on the north side of Philip Roddy's property.  Deep River runs through the southwest corner of Guilford County into the northern part of Randolph County. 
  Source: Entry #2620, page 48 of Guilford County, NC Land Entries, 1779-1796 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.  Also, see entry #1881, page 156 of Abstracts of Land Warrants, Guilford County, NC, 1778-1932 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• 1790 Randolph County, NC Census.

  

  Source: Year: 1790; Census Place: Not Stated, Randolph, North Carolina; Roll: M637_7; Page: 101; Image: 0180. 
  Available through Ancestry.com. 
   

• February 15, 1791:  Phillip Rhody (Roddy), of Guilford County, NC, sold 200 acres of land to Dennis Towmey (Towney) on the waters of Mile Branch and Mordecai's Creek (between Joseph Peace & Wm. Braswelton). Phillip Rody signed with his mark.  The deed was "from Phillip Rody & wife."  It was witnessed and executed in court by William Ryan.  This would have been the land that Philip Roddy received on January 4, 1779. 
  Source: Pages 223-224 of Guilford County, NC Record of Deeds, 1786-1799, Volumes 5 (Microfilm: C.046 40002).  See also, entry #1310 on page 135 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 3, 4, 5, & 6 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• November 5, 1794:  The High Sheriff (Simeon Gerin, Esquire) of Randolph County, NC apparently was commanded ("by writ from Halifax") to sell chattel and lands of Robert McLean, John Standfield, Robert Reading, Pearce Noland, Phillip Rodey, and Dennis Hopkins.  This record indicates that the land of Robert Reading was sold, but we know of no similar record indicating that the land of Philip Roddy was sold in this manner.  Randolph County, at the time of the 1790 census, was in the Halifax Superior Court District.  The "writ" was probably passed down from this Superior Court.  Although the record does not say, it would seem that these lands were probably ordered to be sold because the owners had failed to pay taxes on the lands.
  Source: Guilford County, NC Deed Book 1, page 134.  See microfilm C .081.40001, Randolph County Record of Deeds, 1779-1787, Volumes 1,2,3.  See also, page 16 of Randolph County, NC Deed Abstracts, Books 1 thru 5, 1779-1794, Volume 1.
   

• August 7, 1798:  Phillip Roddy sold (or gave?, no amount stated) 100 acres in Guilford County, NC to James Roddy, "beginning at a stone by his Philip Roddy's former corner on Sarah Mendenhall's line".  It was adjacent to land owned by Dennis Towmey.  Philip Roddy signed with a mark.  The transaction was witnessed by Moses Roddy and Julin McFinley [John M. Finley?].  Moses Roddy proved the execution of the deed in court.  At this time, Philip Roddy was "of the County of Knox" in Tennessee and James Roddy was "of the County and State __ of the other part" (also, of Knox County, TN).  Was this the 100 acres of land that Philip Roddy entered on August 27, 1785?
  Source: Pages 514-515 of Guilford County, NC Record of Deeds, 1786-1799, Volume 6 (Microfilm C.046 40002). Also, see page 268 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 3-6 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• December 24, 1798:  Philip Roddy land mentioned on a (60 acres on both sides of Mile Branch) land warrant from John Starrat (Steward?) to James Smith.  This land adjacent to Isaac Widdows land was probably the land mentioned in the June 29, 1785 transaction above.
  Source: Entry #1956, page 163 of Abstracts of Land Warrants, Guilford County, NC, 1778-1932 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• December 22, 1798:  Philip Roddy land joined 270 acres on the waters of Deep River that was granted by Governor William R. Davie to George Haworth.  William Ruddock, Mendenhall, and Sharbrough land was in the same area.
  Source: Entry #3078 on page 38 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 7, 8, & 9 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• June 8, 1799:  "Philip Roddy's corner" mentioned in a grant of 60 acres (on both sides of Mill Branch) from NC Governor William R. Davie to James Smith.
  Source:  Entry #2701 on page 278 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 3-6, by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• June 27, 1801:  "Philip Roddy's corner" mentioned a transaction of 60 acres from James Smith to Isaac Widows, Jr. (both from Guilford County) on the waters of Mill Branch.
  Source: Entry #3458 on page 77 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 7, 8, & 9 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• May 21, 1804:  Jonas Ricks (of Guilford County) granted 100 acres on Deep River to his son, Edward Ricks (also of Guilford County).  This land began at "Roddy's corner".
  Source: Entry #3770 on page 110 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 7, 8, & 9 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• November 14, 1807:  John Mordock (of Guilford County) sold 100 acres to James Gray (also of Guilford County) on the waters of Muddy Creek.  This land "joins Roddy".
  Source: Entry #4427 on page 177 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 7, 8, & 9 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.

Summary of Philip Roddy's North Carolina Land

It appears that Philip Roddy owned two tracts of land in the Guilford-Randolph counties area of NC. As of January 4, 1779:  200 acres on the south side of Mile (or Mill) Branch, which joined Mordecai's (or Richland) Creek.  This land was in the Deep River watershed area, south of Deep River, in or near the Springfield settlement. As of August 27, 1785:  100 acres in Guilford County, which bordered "his own survey where he lives" (probably adjoined the 200 acres tract mentioned above). He appears on the 1790 census for Randolph County and the Randolph County was ordered to sell his land in 1794, but his land was mentioned as being in Guilford County.  Thus, he probably lived on or very near the border between southwest Guilford County and northwest Randolph County.  See the Guilford County map. According to chapter three of Sallie W. Stockard's The History of Guilford County, NC (Knoxville, TN: Gaut-Ogden Company, 1902), the western section of Guilford County was largely settled by English Quakers.  Mordecai Mendenhall, for example, was a Quaker and a Quaker Meeting House was located in that immediate area near where Philip Roddy lived.  Philip Roddy was of Irish descent (as was James Ryan, a Presbyterian) and was probably not a Quaker. In 1791 he and "his wife" sold the 200 acres tract to Dennis Towney (Towmey). In 1794 the High Sheriff of Randolph County was ordered by the Halifax Superior Court to sell land owned by Philip Roddy.  Probably (based on the fact that his 200 acres was sold in 1791) this would have been the 100 acres tract.  There is no record that we have found that indicates that this tract was sold by the sheriff.  "Perhaps" Philip Roddy made arrangements to pay his taxes and save his land. In 1798 he gave or sold the 100 acres tract to James Roddy (his son?), even though they both were living in Knox County, TN at the time. Later (about 1799), James Roddy died and Joseph Haston (son of Daniel Haston who was the administrator of James Roddy's estate) traveled to Guilford County, NC in 1802 to sell the land that had been given or sold to him by Philip Roddy.  Dennis Towney, who had purchased Philip Roddy's 200 acre tract and lived adjacent to the 100 acre tract, assisted Joseph Haston in the sell of the James Roddy estate land. Any subsequent references to Roddy land in Guilford or Randolph County, NC were references to land that Philip and/or James Roddy had owned previously

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 3. Joseph Haston, Daniel's son, visited Guilford County, NC in 1802 to sell estate land formerly owned by the deceased James Roddy.

A James Roddy married Elizabeth (Houston?) Haiston on December 21, 1793 in Washington County, which was a part of NC at the time but now is in the northeast corner of TN.  In January of 1800, Elizabeth Roddy and Daniel Hastings were appointed as administrators for the estate of a deceased James Roddy in a Knox County, TN court.  It is very possible that Elizabeth Haiston was Daniel Haston's daughter.  It also seems likely that James Roddy was a son of Philip Roddy.  In order for this section to be meaningful, the reader should become familiar with the Elizabeth Roddy page on this site.

• November 7, 1802:  Dennis Towmey (of Guilford County, NC) and Joseph Haston (of Knox County, TN) sold 100 acres on the waters of Deep River to Samuel Millikan [or Millican] and John Redock [or Ruddock] of Randolph County, NC.  Millikan and Redock were executors of John Henderson, deceased.  This land began at Henderson's corner stone of 200 acres on Mendenhall's line and joined Dennis Tomey's former line.  Joseph Haston was acting as the attorney for Danl. Haston who was the executor of the estate of James Roddy, deceased.  Dennis Towmey (Towney) and Joseph Haston signed the transaction.  "Paterick" Healey and Wm. Lain witnessed the transaction.  It was acknowledged in May 1803 (page 37 of Guilford County, NC Deed Book 8).  This appears to be the 100 acres that was sold or given by Philip Roddy to James Roddy on August 7, 1798.
  Source: Entry #3543 on page 87 of Abstracts of Deeds, Guilford County, NC, Books 7, 8, & 9 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.  Also, see pages 37-38 of Book 8 of Guilford County, NC Record of Deeds, 1799-1809, Volumes 7, 8, 9 (Microfilm C.046 40003).
   

• November 15, 1802:  Joseph Haston presented a power of attorney document to the county court of Guilford County, NC which granted him authority to settle the James Roddy estate.  From Knoxville, TN to Greensboro, NC (Guilford County, NC) today is about 300 miles, over and through the gaps of the Smokey Mountains.  What a grueling and dangerous ride on horseback that must have been in 1802!

Who was Dennis Towmey?

Who was Dennis Towmey?  Was this man who assisted Joseph Haston in selling the James Roddy estate land just a neighbor to the Roddys when they lived in Guilford County?  Or, was he in some way related to the Roddy family?  Philip Roddy lived adjacent to him as early (at least) as 1786 and Philip Roddy sold his 200 acres tract to him in 1791.  Was he acquainted with Daniel Haston and his family before Joseph Haston made the 1802 trip from Knox County, TN to Guilford County, NC?  A few things we know about him: He lived in Randolph County, NC as early as 1779.  This was the year that the southern part of Guilford County was developed into Randolph County.  It is also the first year that we know Philip Roddy lived in that area and we know that they were adjacent neighbors.  Did Dennis Towmey and Philip Roddy come to the Guilford-Randolph County area at the same time?  Were they associated previous to moving to this area? Source: NC Early Census Index for "Dennis Tommy" through Ancesty.com. He appeared on the 1790 Guilford County federal census. Source: Ancestry.com In 1796, he received 100 acres of land for military service. Source: Search on "Dennis Tomey" in Ancestry.com.  Miscellaneous Guilford County records indicate that he was associated with members of the Ryan family (William, James & John Ryan) that was connected to Philip Roddy's family through marriage. His name is mentioned in the July 1800 estate inventory for James Roddy in Knox County, TN.  Daniel Haston and Elizabeth Roddy were administrators of the James Roddy estate.  He held some notes and bonds for James Roddey.

Further Dennis Towmey Research Tasks

Look for further North Carolina documents that provide more information on Dennis Towmey. Check Revolutionary War land grants to see if he served in the Revolutionary War and, if so, which army and regiment, etc. Check Maryland (and other states') records to try to determine where he came from prior to living in NC. To whom was he married? What connections did he have to the Ryan, Roddy, McComiskey, and/or Haston families?

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4. James & Eleanor McComisky [Greer] Ryan (or Ryon) were married in and lived in Guilford County, NC.

For this section to be meaningful, read the information about James and Eleanor (Elinor) McComisky Ryan (Ryon) on another page of this site. 

Eleanor was a daughter of Daniel McComisky (McComiskey) of Baltimore, MD and the sister of Mary McComisky Roddy, wife of Philip Roddy. 

There is much that we would like to know about Eleanor and Mary McComisky, such as where Eleanor married William Greer and where Mary married Philip Roddy, when they arrived in North Carolina, did they come to North Carolina from Baltimore together as Mr. & Mrs. William Greer and Mr. & Mrs. Philip Roddy, how closely they lived to each other there, and etc.  We do know that the James Ryan and Abraham Heaston families were members of the Cherokee Creek Baptist Church in Washington County (NC/TN) at the same time.  James Ryan joined the Cherokee Creek Baptist Church on the very same day in April of 1791 that Daniel Heaston joined. This "Daniel Heaston" was very probably the son of Abraham Hiestand/Heaston. 

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The Ryans in Guilford County, NC - Some Research Findings

• James & John Ryan were sons of Edward Ryan, as per a web page from Ellen L. English's Genealogy Homepage.  We have also made that information available on this Heritage of Daniel Haston site.
  
  Note: According to a 1773 Baltimore County, MD tax list, an "Edward Ryan" lived in the Gunpowder Upper Hundred.  This was the same area where Daniel McComiskey's family lived.  Was this the same Edward Ryan who later lived in Guilford County, NC.  A Darby Ryan lived in Frederick County, MD (not far west from the Gunpowder Upper Hundred of Baltimore County) at some time.  He received a NC land grant in Guilford County, NC on the same day that Edward Ryan received his Guilford County, NC grant.  One Ryan researcher suggests that Edward Ryan and Darby Ryan were probably brothers.
  Source of 1773 Baltimore County, MD tax list: Original documents at Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, MD (Reference information: 20, 495-29, C 428-29, Location: 2/60/7/39).
   

• On January 6, 1775, John Ryan married Margaret Greer.  John McAdow was the bondsman for this marriage bond.  In 1785, a "Joseph Hastin" was considered to be a criminal in a court case between John McAdow and Obadiah Leonard.
  Source: Guilford County, NC marriage bonds (original record from the NC State Archives).
  
  Note: One Ryan researcher says that the first wife of John Ryan / Ryon was Eleanor 'Nellie' McAdoo.  If so, that would suggest that perhaps John Ryan and John McAdow were brothers-in-law.
   

• In 1779 John Ryon was in the same William Millikan militia (tax list) group with William Grear.  James Ryan is not mentioned here. This is probably the same William Grear / Greer who was married to Eleanor McComisky and who later married James Ryan (brother of John Ryan) when William Grear died.
  Source: Page 9 of 1779 Randolph County, NC Tax Series (NC, 929.3 NC, Randolph .38, S49) published by Mountain Press of Signal Mountain, TN (available in the Greensboro, NC Public Library).
   

• According to page 2 of the August term 1781 minutes for Guilford County, NC court of pleas and quarter sessions, the administration of the estate of William Grear, Dec'd was granted to Ellenor Grear Widow and Relict [relict = widow] of the said William who entered into bond with John Ryan for the discharge of her duty.
  Source: Page 3 of Guilford County, NC Court Minutes, August Term of Court 1781 to May Term 1788, transcribed by Jane Smith Hill.
   

• According to at least one Ryan researcher, James Ryan was born November 25, 1757 in Guilford County, NC and married Eleanor McComisky Greer in Guilford County on March 30, 1782. 
  Source: Carol Frazier, January 2, 1998 RootsWeb post.
   

• Eleanor was a widow of William Greer, whom she married in about 1776.  There is a Guilford County, NC marriage bond (dated March 30, 1782) for James Ryan and Eleanor Greer.  The bondsman appears to be J.M. Bridge (although the ending of his surname is not clear) and the witness was Alex. Allison.

•  On January 2, 1782 Edward Ryan sold 310 acres to John Ryan (both of Guilford County) on the waters of South Buffaloe.  This was from a tract called "Mount Pleasant" that had been granted to Edward Ryan by the state of NC.
  Source: Page 61 (original page 178) of Guilford County, NC Deed Book Two, 1779-1784, edited by William Doub Bennett and abstracted by Timothy Kearney and privately published in 1993.
   

• On February 18, 1782, Edward Ryan (Rian) sold 116 acres to James Ryan (both Edward and James were from Guilford County) on the waters of South Buffaloe that was a part of a larger tract that Edward Ryan had been granted.  This land bordered land owned by John Ryan.
  Source: Page 61 (original page 176) of Guilford County, NC Deed Book Two, 1779-1784, edited by William Doub Bennett and abstracted by Timothy Kearney and privately published in 1993.
   

• On October 17, 1783 a Rev. David Caldwell entered some land in Guilford County on the waters of Mordicais Creek, which bordered the southwest corner of land formerly owned by William Grear, deceased.  This indicates that William Grear / Greer owned land and probably lived in the Mordecai Creek area, which was in the southwest corner of Guilford County.
  Source: Entry #2272 from page 26 of Abstracts of Land Entries: Guilford County, NC 1779-1796 and Rockingham County, NC 1790-1795 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt (page 46 of original deed book).
  
  Note:  Rev. David Caldwell was pastor of Buffalo and Alamance Presbyterian churches in Guilford County, NC for 69 years.   A Sketch of the Life and Character of the Rev. David Caldwell, D.D. is available as a free downloadable eBook.
   

• James Ryan and wife (Eloner / Elloner) sold 116 acres of land on the waters of South Bufflow [sic] to Richard Ozment on November 24, 1786.  James signed with his signature and Eleanor signed with a mark.  The land was adjacent to John Ryan land and Edward Ryan's old line.  This tract was a part of a large tract that had been granted to Edward Ryan by the state of NC.
  Source: Pages 239-240 of Deed Book D [4] of Guilford County, NC, May 20, 1787.
   

• In 1787, John Ryan and Dennis Towney (Towmey) co-witnessed a deed for land on the waters of South Buffeloe [sic].  The land bordered land owned by Dennis Towney (Towmey).  Dennis Towmey was a neighbor of Philip Roddy.  In 1802, Joseph Haston (son of Daniel Haston of Knox County, TN) would travel to Guilford County, NC to settle the estate of James Roddy and Dennis Towmey would assist with that settlement.  Thus, this Dennis Towney / Towmey was connected to the Ryan family as well as the Philip Roddy family, and later with Joseph Haston (son of Daniel Haston).
  Source: Deed from William Meabene to Richard Ozment, page 535-536 of Deed Book D [4] of Guilford County, NC, (November 3, 1787).
   

• James Ryan purchased 200 acres in the Springfield Settlement (southeast corner of Guilford County).  The deed was entered on July 6, 1787.  It joined land owned by Dennis Towmy (Towmey).  Apparently he sold the land he inherited from his father on the waters of the South Buffalo (in east central Guilford County) and purchased this land in the southwest section of the county. 
  Source 1: File number 025, entry #2569 (July 6, 1787).  Page 29 of Volume XXIV, No. 1 (Winter 1997) of The Guilford Genealogist.
   

• Another secondary (abstracted) source indicates that James Ryan entered 200 acres on April 6, 1787 in the Springfield settlement on the waters of Muddy Fork, which was bordered on the east by Dinis Towmy and the county line.  This may have been a reference to the same 200 acres mentioned above. This deed tells us that James Ryan lived very near the county line that separated the southwest section of Guilford County and the northwest section of Randolph County.  Philip Roddy lived in this same area and was mentioned in the 1790 census record for Randolph County, but his land appears to have been officially in Guilford County.
  Source: Entry #2569 on page 45 of Abstracts of Land Entries: Guilford County, NC 1779-1796 and Rockingham County, NC 1790-1795 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• An April 15, 1788 deed (from Gov. Samuel Johnson to William Greer) for land on the south side of Morica's Creek (which was in the southwest corner of Guilford County) mentions a boundary line of Darby Ryan.  According to one Ryan researcher, Darby Ryan may have been a brother to Edward Ryan, since they both received land grants from NC in Guilford County on the same day.  He supposedly sold this Guilford County land in 1783 and moved to Surry County, NC, so this reference to his boundary line was probably a reference to a line of the land he had previously owned.  According to this same source, a Darby Ryan had lived at an earlier time in Frederick, MD.
  Source: Entry #1020 on page 105 of Abstracts of Deeds Guilford County, NC, Books 3-6 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt (original deed book 5, page 44).
   

• A James Ryan / Ryon appears on the 1790 census for Frederick County, MD.  A Richard Lemmon appears on the same page.  A Samuel Lemmon signed the Daniel McComiskey will in Baltimore County, MD on September 29, 1789.  An "Esquire Lemmons" (Justice of the Peace) assisted in the settlement of the Daniel McComiskey estate when Richard G. Waterhouse went from Knox County, TN to Baltimore County, MD in 1806.  Was this a different James Ryan?  Or, did James & Eleanor McComiskey Ryan temporarily move to Maryland around the time of the death of Daniel McComiskey?
  Source for 1790 Frederick County, MD census record: Ancestry.com
   

• On May 2, 1791, William Ryan and Denis Towmey signed a marriage bond for William Huston and Sarah Ryan.  Source:  Guilford County, NC NCGenWeb.
   

• On March 12, 1796, James Ryan (of Guilford County) sold 200 acres on the waters of Muddy Creek to James Portrice (of Guilford County).  James Ryan signed the deed.  William Ryan witnessed the deed when it was signed and proved it in court in May of 1799.  This William Ryan may have been the nephew of James Ryan and the son of John Ryan, brother of James.  The land was adjacent to land owned by Dennis Tomey.  This was probably the same land that James Ryan purchased in 1787.  It was probably very near the Randolph County border in the southwest corner of Guilford County.  Muddy Creek appears in the northwest section of the Randolph County map.
  Source: Entry #2779 on page 7 of Abstracts of Deeds Guilford County, NC, Books 7-9 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt (from original Deed Book 7, page 53).
   

• On October 24, 1799 Edward Ryan & wife Eloner (of Guilford County) sold 216 acres on the waters of South Buffelow [sic] Creek to William Ryan.  This land bordered the east side of Richard Ozment's land.  This land was in the east central part of Guilford County and probably part of the large tract of land that Edward Ryan had earlier been granted by the state of NC.  Richard Ozment purchased 116 acres there from James Ryan in 1787.
  Source: Entry #4361 from page 170 of Abstracts of Deeds Guilford County, NC, Books 7-9 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt (from original Deed Book , page 236).
   

• By the mid 1790s, we know that James Ryan was living in Washington County, TN and then moved to south central KY.  There are many Washington County, TN documents that mention James Ryan.  This same person is mentioned often in Wayne County, KY records.

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5. There is a 1785 Guilford County court reference to a criminal by the name of Joseph Hastin.

• The name "Joseph Haston" appears on a 1782 Guilford County, NC land warrant.  He was a chain carrier for a December 5, 1782 survey.  Here's the complete abstract:

807.  Robert Ralston 100 ac; warrant #1866 issued Feb. 4, 1780 by Ralph Gorrell to "Capt." Robert "Rolston" for 100 ac on Rock House Cr on NW side, includes part of the improvement where "Rubin Gradan" lives on upper side, & joins John Rickey & Alexander Gilbreath; 100 ac surveyed Dec. 5, 1782 by A. Philips; Joseph Haston & Reuben Grady, chain carriers; grant #809 issued Oct. 14, 1783.

Note: Rock House Creek was in the northern area of then-Guilford County, which became Rockingham County, NC in 1785.  Rock House Creek is west of of Wentworth.  It flows northward into the Dan River.

Source: Entry #807 on page 68 of Abstracts of Land Warrants, Guilford County, NC 1778-1932) by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.

• In the May 1785 term of the Guilford County, NC court, the Sheriff was ordered by the court to pay Thomas Allen 40 shillings for carrying Joseph Hasten (or Hastin), a criminal, to Salisbury.  See a copy of the original document below.
  Source: Page 80 of Guilford County, North Carolina Court Minutes - August Term of Court 1781 to May Term 1788, transcribed by Jane Smith Hill and published by the Guilford County Genealogical Society of Greensboro, NC.

The case in which this Joseph Hasten was allegedly involved was (John) McAdow vs. Obediah (Obadiah) Lennard (Leonard). No indication is given regarding the crime for which this Joseph Hasten had been charged.

Salisbury is in Rowan County, which was adjacent to Guilford County on the southwest side and to Randolph County on the west side.

• In the November 1785 term of the Guilford County, NC court, the Sheriff of Randolph County was ordered to be fined  for not returning and executing the John McAdow vs. Obediah Leonard case.  Here's the abstracted entry:

Ordered that the Sheriff or Randolph County be fined 50 pounds nisi for not returning and [sic] execution --
John McAdow vs. Obediah Leonard}

No mention is made of Joseph Hasten or any other details regarding the case.

Source: Page 4 of Volume 23, No. 1, Number 72 (Winter 1996) of The Guilford Genealogist which is published by the Guilford County Genealogical Society of North Carolina.  The original source is page 177 of volume 1 of the Guilford County Court Minutes, 1781-1811, microfilm reel C.046.30001.

We have yet to find any further record of this case.

This was not the same man as "Joseph Haston" (son of Daniel Haston) who went to Guilford County, NC in 1802 to settle the James Roddy estate.  Daniel's son Joseph was in January of 1780.  Thus, he would only have been five years old at the time that the Guilford (or Randolph) County "Joseph Hastin" was transported as a criminal to Salisbury, NC.

Further Research Tasks

Who was this Joseph Hasten who was a criminal in the John McAdow vs. Obadiah Leonard case? Was he in anyway related to the Daniel Haston family? What was the crime for which he was charged? Who was John McAdow and what was his relationship to Joseph Hasten? Note: A "John McAdow" was the bondsman for John Ryon's (probable brother of James Ryan) 1775 marriage to Margaret Greer. Source: John Ryon & Margaret Greer 1775 marriage bond. He also owned land adjacent to Roddy Hannah. Who was Obadiah Leonard, and what was his relationship to Joseph Hasten? If the case was John McAdow vs. Obadiah Leonard and Joseph Hasten was involved as a possible criminal in the case, it would seem that Obadiah Leonard and Joseph Hasten were involved together in whatever crime had supposedly been committed. Whatever happened to this McAdow vs. Leonard case?  Did it end up in a court of another county?  Did it end up in a superior court?  Check Halifax District Superior Court records. Whatever happened to the Joseph Hasten who was transported to Salisbury as a criminal in this case?

6. "P. Haston" witnessed a 1790 Guilford County, NC deed.

• On March 8, 1790 Isaac Wright of Guilford County sold 89.5 acres on the south side of Troublesome Creek to William Thorpe of Rockingham County.  The description of the land began in the Rockingham County line.  Someone by the name of "P. Haston" witnessed this deed.  No other information is given for him.
  Source: Entry # 1396 on page 144 of Abstracts of Deeds Guilford County, NC, Books 3-6 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.

7. The names of late 1700s Guilford County, NC residents Roddy & Robert Hannah appear several times in the process of researching the subjects described above.

We have no direct evidence to connect this Hannah family with the Daniel Haston family, but there are enough indirect connections to cause us to be curious about possible closer connections.

According to a Surry County, NC will for John Hanna (dated April 15, 1793 and proved in February 1794 court), Robert and Roddy Hanna were sons of John Hanna.  John's wife was "Martha" (perhaps Doak was her maiden name).  Source: October 25, 2000 GenForum post by Joyce Browning.

• The given name of Roddy Hannah probably indicates that his parents had some connection to the Roddy family. 
   

• Roddy Hannah purchased Revolutionary War land grant #2341 from the heirs of Pvt. Agustine [sic] "Darnald" and grant # 2343 from Pvt. Willis Humphries.  Both were delivered by William Faircloth just prior, on the same day, to the #2344 "Daniel Haston" land grant which Thomas Hays purchased.
  Source: Page 573 of Military Bounty Land, Part 3 (Warrants 1-2500, first series) by Dr. A.B. Pruitt.
   

• Robert Hannah entered into a bond with William Grear to support William Shaw and Findley Stewart in the administration of the estate of William Gilmore (mentioned in February 1784 court term).  Even though this February 1784 date was later than the time of William Grear's death (the William Grear whose widow married James Ryan), perhaps the Hannah & Grear bond was entered earlier.
  Source: Page 51 of Guilford County, NC Court Minutes, August Term of Court 1781 to May Term 1788, transcribed by Jane Smith Hill.
   

• Roddy Hannah's land (in the Alamance Creek area of east central Guilford County, NC) was adjacent to land owned by John McAdow.
  Sources: Entry #1238 (June 16, 1787) on page 128 and entry #1949 (August 3, 1790) on page 200 of Abstracts of Deeds Guilford County, NC, Books 3-6 by Dr. A.B. Pruitt (original deed book 5, page 179 and deed book 6, page 51).
   

• Roddy Hannah also proved (in court) a deed from William Hall and George Parks to John McAdow for 200 acres.
  Source: Page 179 of Guilford County, NC Court Minutes, August Term of Court 1781 to May Term 1788, transcribed by Jane Smith Hill.

  Further Roddy & Robert Hannah Research Tasks

  What, if any, was the connection between Roddy Hannah's parents and the family with the Roddy surname? Did Roddy Hannah's purchase of Revolutionary War grants 2341 and 2343 connect him in any way with Daniel Haston, to whom grant 2344 was given? Do the Robert & Roddy Hannah connections to William Grear and John McAdow connect them in any way to James Ryan, Philip Roddy, and/or the Daniel Haston family?

Guilford County - After 1785 Randolph County   Rockingham & Guilford Counties - After 1785 Prior to 1785 what is now Rockingham County was part of Guilford County