This is Thomas Christmas (1744/45- 1820) who
married Sarah Duke
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CAPTAIN THOMAS CHRISTMAS
1744/45-1810
Warren County, North Carolina
1764 - 26 November: Marriage to Sarah "Sally" DUKE
daughter of William DUKE and Mary GREEN. Warren County, North
Carolina bond #00160223 and record #100 01 042. Green DUKE ,
bondsman and Jonathan DAVIS, witness. This family very closely
knit with the DUKE family through this line and Thomas' brother
John CHRISTMAS Jr. line as both married a DUKE daughter.
The history of Captain Thomas CHRISTMAS' life shows him in Bute
County when he was born about 1744. We have the date of his
marriage in 1764, the birth of William in 1766 and the birth of
his youngest daughter Mary in 1794 the birthdays of the other
children are unknown all we have to go by is the marriage dates
of the married children and the census reports that are vague at
best.
In 1770 we see Thomas purchasing land from MONTFORDT on the 24th
of January in Bute County, North Carolina. This deed tells us
that Thomas purchased one hundred and forty-three acres, for
eighty-five pounds and sixteen shillings, on Fishing Creek. This
deed shows him as Wm. Thomas CHRISTMAS and is witnessed by John
CHRISTMAS, his brother the deed is recorded the 10th day of July
in 17701. On the 20th of February the same year we find a deed
where William DUKE , his father-in-law, deeds land to Thomas in
Bute County, North Carolina this deed was witnessed by Thomas'
brother John CHRISTMAS and registered on this the 17th day of May
17712. During 1771 the County of Bute the State of North Carolina
put together a Lax list where we find Thomas CHRISTMAS3.
Next we find Thomas CHRISTMAS involved in the Bute County
Committee On Safety in North Carolina. "At a meeting of the
freeholders of Bute County on Friday the 23rd of June 1775. There
were Elected the following persons to act as a Committee for the
said County ... Thomas CHRISTMAS. Meeting of July 8th 1775:
"We the Subscribers adop't accede to and will religiously
observe & keep the Association enter'd into by the general
Congress of Philadelphia the 5th of September last ... signed by
Thomas CHRISTMAS". "At a Lodge of Masters opened and
held in Due form at the Buffalo at high 12 the 10th day of July
1776 ... Here follows the Apprentices Lodge ... Johnson-Caswell
(Buffalo, Blandford) No. 10 Warrenton ... Thomas
CHRISTMAS..."4 This same year on the 25th day of September
Thomas purchased land from Charles BURK in Bute County, North
Carolina running along Thomas' other property and along Wm.
Thomas GREEN's line. The total of six hundred acres, more or less
for two hundred thirty-eight pounds ten shillings. Witnessed by
William GREEN and John CHRISTMAS Jr.5 In 1777 Thomas is seen in
the deed transactions where he sold to John DAVIS two acres of
land along Davis' line and TANNER's line for seventy-five pounds
Virginia money, this deed witnessed by Joseph DUKE and registered
the 28th day of October 1777. Deed shows John and Jonathan as
same DAVIS6. Then he purchased fifty acres from James JOHNSON for
one
hundred forty pounds current money. Land adjoining Thomas' other
property and on Hawkins Road. The land said to have been
purchased from John POWERS. Witnessed by William JOHNSON and John
WILLIS, registered the 14th day of October 1777.7 The following
year on the 29th day of February 1778 Thomas CHRISTMAS sold to
Lewis KIMBLE one hundred acres for fifty pounds current money of
Virginia. This land on a branch of Fishing Creek and along Thomas
GREEN's line, deed registered this 5th day of April 1780.8
Thomas' father left his will dated the 11th of August 1783 in
Orange County, North Carolina9. In this will we see that Thomas
CHRISTMAS along with his brother, Richard, was to divide the
estate according to his father's desire. His father left to him
five shillings as his father states Thomas has "moved from
me". Thomas was about forty years old at this time and a
well-to-do man in his own right. A tax list was put together from
1784-1787 in Warren County, North Carolina in Captain WHITE's
District, on this list we find Thomas CHRISTMAS with 1 white male
[over 20 under 60], 3 white males [under 21 over 60] and 5 white
females [all ages]. This tax list would show that Thomas had
three sons and four daughters. There are two sons unaccounted for
in the research. There are one or two records on a John CHRISTMAS
and a Thomas CHRISTMAS that are not documented to be his sons but
this researcher feels that they must be his sons. We know that
the oldest child of Thomas and Sarah DUKE, William was born in
1766 and would have been 17 years old at this time.10
In 1786 we find Thomas CHRISTMAS purchasing 100 acres from
Benjamin LEAWELL in Franklin County, North Carolina. The deed
appears to have registered that same day.11 In 1790 in the
Halifax District, Warren County Thomas is listed having 1 white
male [10-16]; 1 white male [18-26]; 1 white male [45 and over];
and 1 white female [45 and over].12 Here again we find record of
two sons unaccounted for in any records commonly known. In 1800
the Warren County census shows Thomas CHRISTMAS as head of
household.13 The 1810 census shows Thomas CHRISTMAS head of
household and his son Thomas CHRISTMAS Jr. also a head of
household14.
On August 1st 1788 Thomas is one of the Yeas votes on the
Declaration of Rights at the North Carolina Convention. A
"Declaration of Rights, asserting and securing from
incroachment the great Principles of civil and religious Liberty,
and the unalienable Rights of the People ..."
The death of Thomas CHRISTMAS was in the "Raleigh
Register" Thursday the 6th of September 1810. "Captain
Thomas CHRISTMAS, in the 67th year of his age ... wife and a
train of descendants ..."15.
There is a division of the estate of Thomas CHRISTMAS in Warren
County, North Carolina records starting in 1811. Division of
estate between the four legatees, to wit, ...
Lot No. 1 to Thomas POWER and Alice his wife ...
Lot No. 2 to Edward TANNER and Nancy his wife ...
Lot No. 3 to Sarah GREEN and Thomas GREEN children of Martha
GREEN ...
Lot No. 4 to Polly CHRISTMAS.
This portion witnessed by William PERSON and Benjamin DAVIS and
registered the 23rd day of August 1811. Then by 1813 we see more
division of the estate of Thomas CHRISTMAS, deceased: The
division of Negroes to Sarah CHRISTMAS, deceased widow of said
Thomas; William CHRISTMAS; John GREEN's children; Thomas POWER
and Richard POWER. William CHRISTMAS state to pay to D. POWER ...
John GREEN to pay to Thomas POWER ... January 5th 1813. On 5th
January 1813 we see that John POWER and Thomas POWER are bonded
to Henry POTTS "whereas Thomas CHRISTMAS, administrator of
Thomas CHRISTMAS, deceased, has delivered over to the above
mentioned heirs ..." ... "Richard and Thomas POWER are
held firmly bound ... whereas Thomas CHRISTMAS, administrator of
Thomas CHRISTMAS, deceased, has delivered ... Test Joseph TANNER
and witnessed by Edward WORTHAM and Richard POWER Warren County
May Term 1814" ... "that Henry YANCEY, administrator of
William CHRISTMAS, deceased ... whereas Thomas CHRISTMAS,
administrator of Thomas CHRISTMAS, deceased, has delivered ...
Warren County May Term 1814"16 The second Thomas CHRISTMAS
mentioned here could have been the youngest son who is in the Tax
lists and census reports and would be the head of household as
his sister, Polly wasn't married when this division started. By
the time the division was completed Polly had married Richard
POWER.
1 The first son William CHRISTMAS [1766-1804] was born in 1766 in
Bute [now Warren] County, North Carolina, in 1784 we see a deed
where William purchased 420 acres from Joel PARISH in Franklin
[was Bute] County. William married Jane YANCEY in 1790 and lived
his life not far from his father's home. William and Jane had six
children: Lewis Yancey CHRISTMAS, Thomas H. CHRISTMAS, William
"Duke" D. CHRISTMAS, Mary L. CHRISTMAS, Sally
"Sarah Duke" D. CHRISTMAS and Jane Yancey CHRISTMAS.
William and his sister Martha CHRISTMAS-GREEN both died in 1804
and their widow and widower married 12 October 1805. William has
many descendants that can be traced to the 1990's these
descendants will follow in another chapter.
2 Martha CHRISTMAS [abt 1768-1804] , married John GREEN in 1787
in Warren County, North Carolina and where she died same time as
her brother. Martha and John dad two children: Thomas E. GREEN
who married Nancy WILLIS and Susan "Sarah" GREEN who
married Henry YANCEY they had three sons. Not much is known about
Martha and John GREEN's life although we can trace the family
through deeds and the estate of Captain Thomas CHRISTMAS, her
father. More on the children can be found in the chapter of John
GREEN and Jane YANCEY-CHRISTMAS.
3 Nancy CHRISTMAS [aft 1768], married Edwin "Edward"
TANNER on March 20th, 1797 in Orange County, North Carolina.
Nancy and Edwin had four children: Susan TANNER , Martha TANNER ,
John TANNER and William TANNER . Not much is known at this time
on this family.
4 Alice D. CHRISTMAS , married Thomas POWER , the
son of Capt. John POWER and Henrietta CHRISTMAS [sister to
Captain Thomas CHRISTMAS Alice's father making then cousins], on
2nd day of September 1807 in Orange County, North Carolina. Not
much is known at this time on this line.
5 Mary "Polly" G. CHRISTMAS , married Richard C. POWER
, son of Capt. John POWER and Henrietta CHRISTMAS [sister of
Captain Thomas CHRISTMAS making them cousins], on the 28th of
October in 1811 in Warren County, North Carolina. Polly and
Richard had four children: Mary POWER , who married Benjamin W.
COLLIER August 16th, 1837; Edward POWER ; John POWER and Amanda
POWER , who married her brother-in-law Benjamin W. COLLIER in
1853 after her sisters death in 1851.
[6] [John CHRISTMAS] unknown
[7] [Thomas CHRISTMAS Jr. Administrator of his father's will]
unknown
The list of Children was derived from the DUKE family history by
George
WORTHAM written in 1877 from his notes and letters and the
writings of
Lewis Yancey CHRISTMAS, the grandson of Thomas and Sarah [DUKE]
CHRISTMAS.
This list doesn't include the two younger sons but they can be
found in the
tax lists and census reports of this family and Thomas Jr. is
administrator
of his father's estate.
Sources:
1Warren County, NC Deed Book 3 p-12-14
2Warren County, NC Deed Book 3 p-229-230
3The North Carolinian Vol VII #4 Dec 1961 #28 p-900.
4Bute County Committee on Safety Minutes 1775-76 p-19, 20, 25,
26, 54,75.
5Warren County, NC Deed Book 6 p-9,10.
6Warren County, NC Deed Book 6 p-212.
7Warren County, NC Deed Book 6-193-194.
8Warren County, NC Deed Book 7-152,153.
9Orange County, NC Will Book A p-261-268.
101784-87 NC State Census Warren Co. p-161 Capt WHITE's Dist.
p-1.
11Franklin County, NC Deed Book p-132.
12Warren County, NC Tax List Halifax Dist roll T498 #2 p-78.
13Warren County NC Census roll 32 p-796.
14Warren County NC Census roll M253 p-764 & p-763.
15Abstracts of Vital Records from Raleigh, NC Newspapers
1799-1819 Vol I p-93.
16Warren County NC Will Book 18 p-48, 66, 162-167.