THE SHERIFFS OF CURRITUCK COUNTY, NC

Researched and submitted by Roy E. Sawyer, Jr. & Doris Ann Younts

Historically, the office of Sheriff was a highly political appointment by the colonial Governor.  Before 1738 a Sheriff was known as "Provost Marshal" but that was abolished on March 6, 1738 and a Sheriff could only serve 2 successive years.  On March 6, 1739 the following men were appointed Justices of  the Peace: Joseph Sanderson, Esq., Isaac Davis, Stephen Williams, Henry White, Thos. Neal, Thos. Williams, Henry Gibbs, Lewis Jenkins, Jno. Etheridge, Jno. Caroon, Wm. Mackey, and Jno. Woodhouse.  Thomas Williams was appointed as Sheriff.

Responsibilities included collecting taxes, detaining and transporting prisoners, operating the local jail, and managing elections.  The Colonial period in American history generally spans from 1607 with the establishment of the Jamestown settlement to 1776. On December 23, 1776, the Colonial Legislature authorized an Ordinance appointing Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs and Constables for erecting  County Courts for the purposes of holding Sessions of the Peace and putting into execution the laws relative to orphans, guardians and highways until provisions be made by the General Assembly.  For Currituck County these men were chosen as candidates, but at the time it did not specify which role they would play.  Richard Stanley, Kedar Marchand, Samuel Jarvis, Thomas Williams, Willis Etheridge, Nicholas Leving, Taylor Jones, John Nathan, John Powers, Thomas Jarvis, William Ferebee, Nathan Poyner, John Humphries, John Simons, Stephen Brooks, Spencer Hall, Zebulon Williams, Samuel Midgett, Caleb Simons, Maliche Marchant and Thomas Miller, Esquires.  The Court authorized the construction of a jail in Currituck County. The Currituck Jail and the Historic Courthouse remain two of the oldest county government buildings in North Carolina.

Colonial Period (1607-1776)

Thomas Williams 1714 Valuation of Property - Thomas Williams valued at £200 (no acreage indicated) Thomas Williams is listed with 1300 acres in 3 tracts in the 1715 Land Tax paying £1, 12 shillings and 6 pence 1715 Tithables - Thomas Williams is listed with 4 tithables 1716 Tithables - Thomas Williams is listed with 4 tithables 1717 Land Tax - Thomas Williams is listed with 900 acres in 5 tracts paying £1, 12 shillings and 6 pence In the 1717 Levies Thomas Williams is listed with 4 tithables, paying £3 1719 Levies & Land Tax - Thomas Williams with 1 tithable 1720 Tithable & Land Tax - Thomas Williams was listed in the Powell's Point Dist. with 5 tithables (himself, and 4 Negroes: Tony, Tom, Bety & Filis).  He had 1631 acres (1558 acre from 3 patents & 593 acres in 4 deeds.) Received a patent for 300 acres on Dec, 3, 1720 in Currituck Precinct joining a marsh by the side of Albemarle Sound and said Sound 1721 Land & TithableTax - Thomas Williams was listed with 6 tithables (himself, Jno. Herly white male, and Negroes Tony, Tom, Betty & Hilly & 2364 acres held in 8 tracts (1779 acres in 4 patents and 585 acres in 4 deeds) March Court 1723 - Thomas Williams sues Josiah White Received a patent for 211 acres on April 1, 1723 in the Sand banks joining the Sound and Jengick (Jeanguite) Creek Paid Quit Rent of £7, 7 shillings and 3 1/2 pence on 420 aces between 1729-1732 His will was written in 1732 Maj. William Shergold Appointed by the Governor as Justice of the Peace in Dec. 1744 1745 Newspaper letter to Shergold Listed as Sheriff of Currituck Co. in Feb. 1746 Received a patent in June 1748 for 366 acres in Currituck Co in a place called Buckskin Island joining William Perkins, the Beaver Dam, Buckskin Creek & Tulls Creek 1750s - Commanded a company of men Listed as Clerk of Court in July 1755 His will was written in 1758 & probated in 1761 William Williams Commissioned as Provost Marshal in March 1729 (the title "Provost Marshal" was abolished in 1738 and  "Sheriff" enacted to serve no longer than 2 successive years.) On Nov. 27, 1758 he was allowed £20 for his role as Sheriff in 1755 & 1756 1763 Captains with company troop strength died in 1768/69 [see his will] William Bray, Esq. 1748 William Bray's Company 1763 Captains with company troop strength Received £10 for his salary as Sheriff in 1760 & £10 for 1761; also listed Sheriff in 1766 & 1767. died 1767/68 [see his will] Solomon Perkins born c1746, son of Henry Perkins & Abigail Brent.  Solomon possibly died in 1779 at the Battle of Briar Creek Listed as Sheriff  in 1768-1771 Listed in the Currituck Co. Militia as Captain in Oct 1771 1774 Currituck Delegate to First Independent Provincial Congress 1775 Currituck Delegate to Third Independent Provincial Congress 1776 Currituck Delegate to Fourth Independent Provincial Congress early 1776 - Perkins was Captain under Samuel Jarvis in the Currituck Militia Regiment assigned to guard Cape Hatteras for 2 months April 2, 1776 Solomon Perkins appointed Lt. Colonel in the Currituck Militia Regiment under Col. Hollowell Williams by the NC Provincial  Congress 1777 NC General Assembly appointed Solomon Perkins second Colonel alongside Samuel Jarvis in Currituck Militia Regiment replacing Hollowell Williams who had resigned his commission. Col. Solomon Perkins led Currituck Militia Regiment in the Purrysburg, SC, expedition of late 1778/early 1779, and he led the Regiment at the battle of Briar Creek, Georgia, on March 3, 1779. 1778 & 1779 represented Currituck in NC Senate see 1780 Land Grant for 17 acres Hillary Simmons/Simons Listed as witness on numerous deeds in the1760s & early 1770s Jan 1, 1762 - Henry Simmons & wife Jean sold 50 acres of swamp land to Caleb Glasgow, part of a tract patented May 20, 1761 bound by James Douge's corner Oct. 5, 1767 - Sold 8 acres to John Simmons for £4 joining James Dauge's line & Absolum Leggett's line Listed as the Currituck Co. coroner in 1772 see his will Josiah Nicholson Born & raised in Currituck County. Born in the 1730s & died in 1807 [see his will] 1758 listed Josiah as a Private in Captain John Woodhouse's Company 1761-1762 listed on many deeds as a witness one occasion signed his name as Josiah Nicholson, Jr. Appointed Sheriff  Sept. 14, 1774 his official Sheriff's bond to the Crown survives in the State Archives explicitly naming him as Sheriff July 30, 1779 appointed by the Governor that Josiah Nicholson serve as 2nd Major of Samuel Jarvis' Regiment of Militia Listed a "Dep. Sheriff " in a 1788 deed registered & recorded in 1784 (Deed Bk. 4, pg, 237-238) Listed 1779 Taxables as having an estate valued at £4619 Listed at County Surveyor in various deeds  from 1778-1788 1784 Josiah Nicholson sells 150 acres to Reuben Ball (Deed Bk. 5; pg. 10) Reuben Ball sold 50 acres of this land to Hosea Ball on Feb. 27, 1788. Served as Justice of the Peace in 1780s until resignation on Nov. 6, 1789 Land Grant issued on Nov. 13, 1790 for150 acres in Currituck Co, near Coinjock Bay joining Hefford's corner on Evans' ridge Listed as "Josiah Nichols" in the 1790 census Listed in the 1800 census Edward Taylor Appears on many pre-revolutionary admin and financial bonds; not seen as a Sheriff but as a "Public Register" Land Grant issued Oct, 29, 1782 for 547 acres near Coinjock Bay and joining Major Simmons' new survey Land Grant issued Aug, 7, 1783 for 121 acres on Coinjock Bay beginning at Edw. Taylor's old patent and Thomas Poyner's line 2 Land Grants issued on Nov. 13, 1790 for  79 & 99 acres near "Cowinjock Bay Land Grant issued on Dec. 2, 1799 for 158 acres beginning at Thomas Taylor's SE corner & binding on Samuel Salyer's patent Listed in the 1800 Currituck census died in 1809 -see his will Col. Samuel Jarvis (Jr.) - born c1730 - d. 1783 son of Samuel Jarvis, Sr. & Bridget Taylor, daughter of Thomas Taylor; married Amey (believed to be Whitehall 1755 on list of Taxables 1755 Ensign over 80 men 1758 Lieutenant on muster roll of Capt. John Woodhouse's Company 1763 Captains with company troop strength 1768 taxable, Justice, Militia officer (1763 - 1768) 1771 Major in Capt. John Woodhouse's Company January 1773 - 1775 member of the Lower House of the Assembly 1774 - 1775 represented Currituck as a delegate to the Provincial Congress Appointed Colonel in the American Revolution on June 5, 1775 Dec. 23, 1776 - Listed as one if the Justices of the Peace for Currituck County 1776-1777 - guardian for Lemuel Woodhouse, orphan of his Militia superior, Capt. John Woodhouse  1780-1781 - First Senator from Currituck County after statehood was established Made his will in May 1783 and was dead by June 1783. After Colonel Samuel Jarvis died, Amey married 2nd John Simmons who died in 1785; 3rd Caleb White who died in 1788; 4th James Phillips who died c. 1809.

Formation of  a New Nation (1783-1815)

William Ferebee. Sr.  born c. 1722 & died 1783 1755 Tax List where William Ferreby was listed Dec. 1776 listed a Justice of the Peace in Dec, 1776 Listed as Sheriff in 1778 1779 Taxables List where his estate was valued at £10996 His will was written in 1783 and probated in 1783 Buried in Crawford Twp. at the "Culong" plantation on Indian Ridge near Indian Town Thomas Poyner - Born: 1759 & died Oct. 15, 1836; son of Nathan Poyner (d. 1786) & Anne Sanderson (dau. of Thomas Sanderson who d. 1778) 1776 Private in Capt. Dennis Dauge's Company stationed on the Banks to guard the Coast for about 45 days 1779 served under Col. Samuel Jarvis when the British were in Portsmouth & Norfolk principally near the line of North Carolina and Virginia, was in service about 20 days 1779 served under orders of Col. Samuel Jarvis on Churches Island and Crow Island, 3 days Dec 1779 marched to South Carolina in the First Regiment of NC Militia encamped near the Santee River during the  Siege of Charleston in May 1780 before executing a strategic retreat to Cross Creek (present-day Fayetteville, NC) 1780 & 1781 served as Sheriff of Currituck County. Oct 1780 served as Captain with his company for 20 days near the North Carolina and Virginia line under Col.Samuel Jarvis, Major Ashael Simmons acting Commander after the Troops were called out & for his service he has Col. Jarvis' order and were discharged by Gen. Isaac Gregory. 1781 ordered out with his company by Col. Samuel Jarvis and served at Churches Island when a British Privateer came into Currituck Inlet, and was out 3 days Nov 1781 was a volunteer captain took charge of a company rendezvoused at Indian Town remained in service 2 days and was discharged by Gen. Isaac Gregory until further orders. Sep 1782 ordered by Col. Samuel Jarvis to go to Knotts Island then to the Inlet then to Churches Island where a British galley came into Currituck Inlet, was on service 4 days and captured the galley. Aug, 18, 1783 - Land Grant to Thomas Poyner for 106 ¾ acres lying on Cowingjock Bay. Deed Bk. 5; pgs. 298-299 --Dec. 4, 1787 -  I John Simmons Sheriff by command issued by the Superior Court of Law & Equity at Edenton I have taken into possession a certain Island called Burrouses belonging to Samuel Jarvis Deceased and to cause the sum of £216, 16 Shillings & 4 Pence which was recovered by Josiah Collings & James Iredale Executors of Robert Smith Deceased. The said Island called Burrouses beginning at various courses of a Creek then to Loan Oak Island various courses to Beasley’s Bay various courses along Creek to first station containing 144 acres. On April 29, 1786 at publick vendue then and there appeared Maj. Thomas Poyner who bid the sum of £1 & 2 shillings and was the highest bid, in obedience of Writ I conveyed and granted unto Maj. Thomas Poyner the said Island called Burrouses. Witness: Thomas Heath, Joseph Gray; Registered January 22, 1788 1790 Census 1794-1796 Listed a surveyor of land 1800 Census 1802 Listed a Justice of the Peace 1803 Served in the NC State Senate Aug. 31, 1824 - Served as Chairman of the  County Court 1830 Census March 4, 1831 - Received $462.39 when the Revolutionary War pensions were commenced Kedar Marchant - 1755 Taxables listed Keader Marchant Jan. 4, 1761- Nathanial Spence West sold Kedar Marchant 100 acres for £50 Virginia money May 20, 1761- received a land grant for 700 acres on the north side of the Northwest River Jan. 5, 1767- Kedar Marchant sold William Read of Princess Anne Co., VA 70 acres for £25 Feb. 20, 1772 - Kedar Marchant sold Willoughby Marchant  (Kedar's brother) 100 acres for £50 current money of Virginia Dec. 23, 1776 - Listed as one if the Justices of the Peace for Currituck County Dec. 23, 1778- Listed as a Justice of the Peace Aug 8, 1783 - Thomas Marchent, "miner [minor] of Kedar Marchent, deceased" received a land grant for 1000 acres lying in Gibs Neck joining Northwest River George Powers Feb. 28, 1778 - Listed as admr. of the estate of Dennis Dauge, deceased, on behalf of Nancy Dauge, daughter of the deceased. Listed as Sheriff of Currituck County 1782-1783 and 1785-1786 died 1795--see his will] Spence Hall, Jun'r. Aug, 18, 1783 - received Land Grant #75 for 144 acres in Powell's Point Aug. 18, 1783 - received Land Grant #82 for 164 acres in Powell's Point Aug, 18, 1783 - received Land Grant #86 for 180 acres in Powell's Point Sept. 3, 1783 - Listed at Sheriff of Currituck County. Dec. 23, 1776 - Listed as one if the Justices of the Peace for Currituck County July 29, 1784 - Spence Hall paid  Joseph Tocksey £10 in full for a piece of land in Powell's Point formerly claimed by John Norton & binding on Asa Etheridge Nov. 1789 - These men were chosen to represent Currituck Co. at the General Assembly: William Ferebee, Thomas P. Williams, Samuel Ferebee, Andrew  Duke & Spence Hall May 10, 1794 - Asa Etheridge sold to Spence Hall  for £300, 60 acres in Powell's Point joining the Samson Etheridge line.  The same day Spence Hall sold Asa Etheridge 64 acres for £300 beginning on Tarkeln Point near Currituck Sound and running to Davis' Creek, then to Jesse Dukes and Thomas Gregory's lines. May 4, 1795 - Spence Hall paid Zorobable Harrison 40 shilling for 2 acres in Powell's Point June 3, 1795 - John Minchey paid 35 silver dollars to Spence Hall for 180 acres on Currituck Banks beginning at Jane Guyte Creek [Jeanguite] to the seaside then along the Sand Hills to Herbert's land and agreeable to a deed Hall had with Matthias Toler. Nov. 2, 1795 - William Webb of Chowan Co, sold to Spence Hall for $200 for 80 acres in Powell's Point beginning at Mason's land and  then to Richard Dough's line then to a road to Nathan Hall's line then to Jacob Lutts line and  James Ferebee's land. May 26, 1797 - Spence Hall paid Luke Gregory $35 for 5 acres at Powell's Point. see his  will Thomas Jarvis  born c.1736-38 & died 1795; son of Jonathan Jarvis (died 1776) Apr. 6, 1762 - Thomas Simmons sold to Thomas Jarves for £50, 250 acres on the North River bound by Silver Run Branch. May 4, 1765 - Benjamin Lindsey sold to Thomas Jarvis for £50, 150 acres lying on the Sound beginning at the north of Webbs Creek..... May 2, 1768 - William Banester sold to Thomas Jarves for £100. 100 acres on Roanoke Island, all the said Banester purchased from Moses Caps Nov.  8, 1773 - Richard Barrot sold to Thos. Jarvis, for £15 for land on Duce [Dew's] Quarters Bay joining Thomas Barrot line, Thomas Jarvis; line & Thos. Sanderson's line. 1775-1776 - Delegate from Currituck to the NC Congress Nov. 28, 1776 - Listed as an Ensign from the 7th Regiment in Edenton Dist.; resigned Nov. 22, 1777 Dec. 23, 1776 - Listed as one if the Justices of the Peace for Currituck County 1777 Currituck Judge for Port Roanoke, Court of Admiralty Listed in the 1779 Tax list as Colo. Thomas Javis June 2, 1780 - Listed as a Lieut. in Capt. Alex. Whitehall's Militia commanded by Col. Samuel Jarvis Dec, 1784 - John Mercer & Edward Taylor are held & firmly bound unto Thomas Jerves Sheriff in the full & just sum of £5000.  The condition of the obligation is such that John Mercer do well and truly settle an account with Thomas Jerves for all the moneys fees that may arise by virtue of his being appointed as Deputy Sheriff. 1784-1785 seen as Sheriff Thomas Jarves/Jarvis 1790 Census shows Thomas Jarvis Senr, see his 1795 will] John Mercer Apr. 25, 1782 sold to John Mercer for £80, a tract of Land in Currituck County Except 16 acres that was Sold out of that Tract by the Said Thomas Parker to Samuel Thompson it being the land and plantation whereon the Said Thomas Parker now lives known by the name of bee tree point adjoining the Lands of Thomas Shergold & the lands of Andw. Bates & binding on the Sound & Likewise on the publick road containing 44 acres of land and also all trees woods under woods.  Apr. 28, 1782 John Mercer & his wife Sarah, sold 200 acres for £40 to Thomas Younghusband, said tract of land on a place known as East Ridge  Dec 1784 Listed as Deputy Sheriff in Dec.1784 Mar. 6, 1787 - Josiah Etheridge & his wife Sarah sold to John Mercer, for £150 & 8 shillings, 82 ½ acres included in Vandimore's & James Etheridge's patents, formerly held by Thomas Lurry & James Etheridge see his will John Simmons/Simons   (1785-1788) Dec. 23, 1776 - Listed as one if the Justices of the Peace for Currituck County James Phillips, Esq. Aug. 18, 1783 - Land grant #76 to James Phillips containing 28 acres in Buckskins beginning at Evan Thomson;s corner various courses to Richard Campbells line then Southeast to the edge of Poyners old field various courses to the first station. Aug. 18, 1783 - Land grant #85 to James Phillips a tract of land containing 1000 acres in Moyock Distract beginning at a corner between Lamuel Wilson and Henry Ballentine thence Northeast to the mouth of a gut on Southerly side of North West River along the edge of River various courses to a gut called Slaks various courses to the joining of Ballentines lands, Templemans land and Marchants lands to the first station. Nov. 13, 1783 - James Phillips sold to Thomas Campbell for £4, 10 acres Listed as a coroner in 1785 Sheriff in 1786 List of Insolvents) Listed 1785-1787 as Sheriff Alexander LeGrand Whitehall, Esq. (b. c1750-1795) Sheriff in 1788 List of Insolvents and also 1792-1794.  [see Wiki Tree] Asahel Simmons Post-revolutionary records have him managing local tax assessments and court executions  [see his estate record] Kadar Mulder  (1789-1790)  Received a land grant for 322 acres in Gibbs Neck Currituck Co. in 1782  [see Augustus B. Morse Bible] Thomas Pool Williams   (1790 -1792)  [see his will] Dec. 23, 1776 - Listed as one if the Justices of the Peace for Currituck County Samuel Salyear, Junr.?/Senr.? Oct. 29, 1782 recieved a land grant for 623 acres on the Sand Banks Listed as Sheriff in 1783-1795 Sept. 18, 1814 received a land grant for 10 acres in Currituck Co..beginning on the edge of the shoal Nov. 28, 1814 received a land gart for 2 1/2 acres kmown by the name Foster's Island John Humphries Listed as Sheridff see his will, estate sale notice and news of his death] Solomon Alcock, Esq.  Listed as Sheriff 1795-1798 & 1805 Listed in the 1790 census see his will Thomas Sanderson Mentioned as handling land boundary disputes and tax auctions Jacob Perkins Listed as Sheriff in 1799 1801 1810 1811 1812 1813) see his will]

Antebellum Period (1820-1861)

Caleb Etheridge, Esq.     (1803 - 1814) 1810 John Clark, Deputy Sheriff     1805 William Brumsey, Constable     1808 Simeon Sawyer, Deputy Sheriff     1810  [see his will]Jacob Perkins - Sheriff in 1812 Isaac Newton Baxter  1781-1861  (Served as Sheriff from 1813 -1835; see his will]] Daniel Lindsey, Deputy Sheriff  c1769-1837    1822, 1829  [see his will] (Sheriff records are scarce between 1830 & 1849) Samuel Dozier     (1850 - 1859) Jesse B. Lee     (1858 ,1860 - 1867) Thomas C. Humphries (1867 - 1868) Thomas F. Baxter (1869 - 1876) John F. Frost (1877 - 1882) William Henry Bray (1883 - 1886) John E. Barnard (1887 - 1890) Edward Tillett (1890 - 1897) Robert E. Flora (1898 - 1904) J. E. Barnard (1905 - 1910) Robert Lee Griggs (1910 - 1917) Robert E. Flora (1917 - 1926) John Howard Forbes (1926 - 1928) Lawrence Lucian Dozier (1938 - 1958) Luther E. Sanderlin (1958 - 1979) William Norman Newbern, Jr. (1970 - 1994)t. Glenn Everett Brinkley (1994 - 2000) Susan D. Johnson  (2000 - 2017) Matthew W. Beickert (2017 - present) SOURCES:      North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, NC      The Colonial & State Records of North Carolina covering Vols. 1-25 by Stephen B. Weeks      Currituck County Sheriff's Office      Currituck County Deed Books      By A Line of Marked Trees, Abstracts if Currituck County, NC Deed Books by John A. Brayton      The Heritage of Currituck County by the Albemarle Genealogical Society      Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters      Currituck County Tricentennial Celebration:  Report of the Historical Committee on Outstanding Citizens, 1670 - 1970; Book D, pp 6, 305