Friday, December 15, 2023

Puckett - Surry County, North Carolina Land Entries

From the book, SURRY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA LAND ENTRIES 1778 —1781 by JOSEPH WINSTON, at FamilySearch books.

#1208.  SAMUEL HUMPHRIS enters 100 acres of land in Surry Co. on the FLATT SHOLE CREEK above the main road including ISHAM PUCKETT's improvement for quantity —December 31, 1778. [Warrant granted]

#1243.  JOSEPH WILLIAMS enters 220 acres of land in Surry Co. on FLATT SHOLE CREEK including THOMAS PUCKETT'S improvement for quantity —January 2, 1779. [Warrant granted]

#2165.  REUBEN MATTHIAS enters 100 acres on the waters of FLAT SHOLE CREEK, including PAGE PUCKET'S improvement —July 13, 1781. [Warrant issued to THOS. WORD November 12, 1802 by J. W., C. C.]

Isham Puckett, Thomas Puckett and Page Puckett all believed to be sons of Isham Puckett Sr and his wife, Martha LNU.

Isham Puckett Jr moved north into Henry Co, VA by 1785 (tax lists), the part of Henry which later became Patrick County in 1791.

Page Puckett moved to Union Co, SC by the 1790 Census.

Thomas Puckett stayed in Surry Co, NC, though he also has records in Grayson Co, VA.  Thomas Puckett and his descendants were Quakers.

The 'FLAT SHOLE CREEK' in these records believed to the modern Flat Shoal Creek in modern Surry Co, NC, flows under I-74 near Long Hill, and flows into Ararat River.  There is another 'Flat Shoals Creek' in modern Stoke Co, NC, near Stokes Early College; this Flat Shoals Creek flows into the Dan River.  Some Puckett researchers have confused these creeks, since Stokes Co, NC is right next to Surry Co, NC, and Stokes was formed from Surry in 1789.

It was common for settlers to 'squat' on land and start improving it - clearing some if it, planting crops, building houses.  The squatter was in good position to get a land entry, which led to a grant from the state of North Carolina.  Sometimes the squatters sold the right to an entry to someone else.  That appears to be the case with the Puckett men.  Though Isham and Page moved on, Thomas stayed and eventually got a NC land grant in Surry Co, NC.


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