This Bible, in the possession of Darcus N. Chesson and transcibed by her nephew Rhett B. White, is in poor condition. Pages are loose, some are missing and family record pages are tattered and worn. The record begins with Nathan and Nancy S. Chaplain and continues with the Nooney record.

Handwriting and ink are identical for the first several entries in each section, leading to the conclusion that the same writer made the earliest entries. The writer was probably Nancy S. Chaplain. The Bible bears an 1874 copyright, yet the first entry is an 1845 marriage.

This transcription is as entries appear, including spellings. Duplicates have been eliminated. Words enclosed in brackets "[ ]" were added to enhance the readability, but were not in the actual Bible record.

This bible was passed down to Darcus from her father, William Butler Nooney. The Chaplain/Nooney families were primarily in the Southfork area of Tyrrell County and in Washington County, except for Rhett's grandfather, William Butler Nooney, who settled "over the river" in Tyrrell County.

BURIAL RECEIPT

Pasted onto a blank page of the Bible is the receipt for burying Darkis Chaplain Nooney. It reads:

Office of
W. J. Mercer
Undertaker

    Justice of the peace and Notary Public

Creswell, N. C. May 6th, 1899

$16.50 Received of Jesse Nooney, Sixteen & 50/100 Dollars
            in full payment of Burial Expenses of Mrs. Nooney.

W. J. Mercer

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

Nathan CHAPLAIN of Camden Co., NC, and Nancy SWINSON of Washington Co., NC on 12th day of February, 1845 at Samil Rodgers Tyr Co, N.C., by Samuel Rodgers, Esq. of Tyrrell, North Carolina. Witness R. Davenport Witness Jol. Hassell.

BIRTHS

Ann Mariah CHAPLAIN, daughter of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born December 5th, 1845.

Darkis CHAPLAIN, daughter of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born April 5th, 1848.

Sarah Louise CHAPLAIN, daughter of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born September 5th, 1849.

William CHAPLAIN, son of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born August 23th, 1850.

Harriet Jourdan CHAPLAIN, daughter of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born April 16th, 1853.

Martha Matilda [CHAPLAIN], daughter of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born October 5th, 1854.

Heath Elizabeth CHAPLAIN, daughter of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born March 21st, 1856.

Nelson Purier CHAPLAIN, son of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born July 12th, 1860.

James Spencer [CHAPLAIN], son of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born July 6th, 1862.

Mary Malise CHAPLAIN, daughter of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born Sept. 18th, 1864.

Jaace CHAPLAIN, son of Nathan Chaplain and Nancy his wife, was born Apl 19th, 1867.

George Thomas JONES, the son of Tom Jones and Bouquet his wife, was born August 28, 1892.

Jesse JONES, the son of Tom Jones and Bouquet his wife, was born February 27, 1894.

Joe Harvey JONES, the son of Tom Jones and Bouquet his wife, was born September 5, 1897.

Hilda Theresa [NOONEY], the daughter of Wardell Nooney and Aletha his wife, was borned Nov. 23th, 1906.

William Harold NOONEY, the son of Butler Nooney and Bertie Aline Nooney his wife, was born December 21th, 1911.

Jesse Edker NOONEY, the son of William Butler Nooney and Bertie Aline Nooney his wife, was born 8th day of September 1913.

Darkis NOONEY, the daughter of William Butler Nooney and his wife Bertie Aline Nooney was born July 11, 1915.

Nora Aline NOONEY, the daughter of William Butler Nooney and his wife Bertie Aline Nooney was born January 14, 1924.

Lilian Odell [NOONEY], the daughter of James E. Nooney and Flosie his wife, was borned June the 9th, 1898.

FAMILY HISTORY

Bouquet NOONY the daughter of Jesse Noony an Dorcas his wife borned March 17th 1869.

Joe R. NOONY the son of Jesse Noony an Dorcas his wife born December 5th 1871.

Jim E. NOONY the son of Jesse Noony an Dorcas his wife bornd March 8th 1873.

Arbil NOONY the daughter of Jesse Noony an Dorcas his wife bornd November 30th 1875.

Batriss NOONY the daughter of Jesse Noony an Dorcas his wife bornd January 16th 1877.

Wordell NONEY the son of Jesse Nooy an Darcas his wife (was born) December 19th 1879.

Colonbond NOOY the daughter of Jesse Nooy an Dorkas his wife born June 18th 1882.

Mattie NOONEY the daughter of Jesse Nooney an Dorkis his wife bornd February 20th 1885.

William Butler NOONEY the son of Jesse Nooney an Darkis his wife bornd December 12th 1886.

Darcas Tolar JONES the daughter of Thomas Jones an Bouquet his wife bornd December 24th 1890.

................(another entry is unintelligible)................

MARRIAGES

Darkis CHAPLAIN and Jesse NUNY were married September 12th, 1867. By the Rev. Samuel Alexander

Ann Mariah CHAPLAIN and Ebenezer BARNES were married July 26th, 1869. By the Henderson Louis, Esq.

Sarah Louise CHAPLAIN and Jaace SAWYER were married October 12th, 1871. By the Rev. Joseph Gorganus

Colon Bon NOONEY and Simeon RODGERSON were married May 17th, 18??, by Walter Norman, Tyrrell County.

Wardell NOONEY and Alethia RHODES were married July 22nd, 1900.

William Butler NOONEY and Bertie Alice TWEEDY were married January 15th, 1911.

DEATHS

Harriet Jordan CHAPLAIN departed this life October 16th, 1853. Age 6 months.

Martha Matilda CHAPLAIN departed this life September 19th, 1855. Age 11 months.

James Spencer CHAPLAIN departed this life Sept. 22nd, 1870. Age 8 years 2 months & 16 days.

Jaiase CHAPLAIN departed this life April 19th, 1867.

Babriss NOOY departed this life August 29th, 1880. Age 3 years 8 months 15 days.

George Tommas ( ? ) departed this life September 17th, 1893.

The father of Dorcas NOONY .........August 14, 1898 an was the wife of Jesse Noony an was such .......

Updated August 7, 2002
Gordon L. Basnight