See more pictures here.

The impetus for creating this page was an index I photocopied several months ago while visiting the Tennessee State Library & Archives.   This book, Martin County, North Carolina : abstracts of will books 1 & 2: 1774-1868, was published by the Martin County Genealogical Society in 1990.    My photocopy was not the best; some of the page edges are cut off, but I hope to get a better version on my next visit.

If you find someone of interest mentioned in the book, it is available for sale from the county Historical Society (details here), or you can search to see if any  libraries near you own it by visiting WorldCat.org.

The index is below:  Click on “FULLSCREEN” to enlarge it!

Since on taking on responsibility for several other NCGenWeb counties: Jones, Onslow & Washington, I’ve learned that I definitely have layout preferences.  I hope that you like these changes too.

Remember, keep track of changes/additions to the site by subscribing to the blog using your preferred feed reader! If you need help on how to do this, please just contact me.

Mavis Jones is a genealogist with ties to Martin County and has recently added her surnames of interest – Ewell, Everett & Jones to our Surnames page.

Mavis has two blogs, one of which she devotes to her research progress of her family from Martin County, Conversations With My Ancestors.  Visit Mavis’ blog today!

Also remember – if you have any data to contribute on your Martin County ancestors, please let me know.  Thanks!

Mr. Wilson CHESSON was called to Parmele Saturday on account of his father’s death, Mr. Charles CHESSON, who was an old resident of this community. We extend our sympathies to the bereaved family.

In the above-mentioned book appears a petition of Ned Hyman, a slave who was at that time living in Williamston, Martin County, filed in 1833. The petition is a great source of genealogical information, giving details of Ned’s life:

• he was born 44 or 45 years prior
• he was a slave of Jno. Hyman of Bertie County, NC
• when John Hyman died (Ned was about 14), Ned became the property of Samuel Hyman
• Samuel Hyman died in 1828
• when Ned was about 27 he married Elizabeth Hagans, a free woman of color
• Ned & Elizabeth had 3 children, Penny, Sarah and Ned Jr.

The petition was filed to try to obtain their emancipation.  It’s an interesting read! Check it out at Google Books.

On page 691 begins a description of Nevada vs. Ex Parte George Oliver Roberson for “extradition — abandonment of wife– act not within jurisdiction.”  The legal proceeding was for a writ of habeus corpus to secure his release from custody after being taken in on an extradition warrant.  The application was filed June 5, 1915.  Roberson stated that he was unlawfully imprisoned by two Nevada policeman and Sheriff J.C. Crawford of Martin County, NC Sheriff Crawford was there to pick him up as a Martin County jury had determined that in 1913 “Ollie” unlawfully and willfully abandoned his wife, Lucy, and their child.

However, Lucy testified that the marriage never really worked out and they’d both made plans to leave each other apparently.   She testified that they were married the morning of June 30, 1913 in Martin County. That same day, the took the train to Raleigh where they lived together until December 17, 1913.  On that day, Ollie went to Hamlet NC and the next day Lucy returned back home to her parents.  Lucy testified that her mother had sent her money a week before Ollie left because it was her intention to return home, and Ollie had secured a physician for her since she was expecting a child.  Ollie would end up in Nevada for school where he was enrolled as a student.  Both were young during all this, the report stating that Ollie was a minor when they married.

The writ was issued.  Check out the report – it’s quite interesting.