Person Page - 18

     Wiley Bennet was born circa 1835.

     Delila Bennet was born circa 1839.

     Luvinia Bennet was born circa 1841.

     Olivia Bennet was born circa 1843.

     Deborah Bennet was born circa 1845.

     Melvin Simpkins and Nora Tingle obtained a marriage bond on 25 January 1833 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Melvin Simpkins died before August 1847 as Noah Miller mentioned in an affidavit signed 28 Aug 1847 that Melvin Simpkins "is dead, having departed this life since the last Spring term 1847."²

     Nora Tingle was born circa 1810. She married Miller Dickson on 8 October 1828 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Nora Tingle and Melvin Simpkins obtained a marriage bond on 25 January 1833 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Nora Tingle died after 1880.

     Jesse Simpkins was born circa 1836.

     Holland Simpkins was born circa 1836.

     Norah Simpkins was born circa 1838.

     Mary Simpkins was born circa 1840.

     Marinna Simpkins was born circa 1845.

     Richard Simpkins was born circa 1849.

     Nathan Barrington was born say 1791. He married Mary Gaskins, daughter of Harmon Gaskins and Elizabeth Squires, on 1 April 1815 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Nathan Barrington married Sally West on 3 September 1830 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Nathan Barrington died circa 1845.

     Mary Gaskins was born say 1780. She married James Gaskins on 9 December 1797 at Craven County, North Carolina. Mary Gaskins married Nathan Barrington on 1 April 1815 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Mary Gaskins died circa 1829.

     Nathan Barrington was born circa 1832.

     Isaac Barrington was born circa 1834.

     Martin Whitford was born on 1 October 1734.¹ He married Mary Purifoy, daughter of Nicholas Purifoy. Martin Whitford died on 16 November 1804 at age 70.²

     Mary Purifoy was born say 1740. She married Martin Whitford, son of Thomas Whitford and Sarah (?).

     Mary "Polly" Whitford was born say 1780. She died before 1833.

     John Whitford was born on 9 October 1766.¹ He married Holland Reel on 11 April 1793. John Whitford died on 8 October 1829 at age 62.²

     Nicholas Purifoy married an unknown person. He died circa 1776.

     Mathias Toler was born circa 1801. He married Sarah Purifoy, daughter of Thomas Purifoy and Elisha (Alicia) Price?, on 22 November 1824 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Mathias Toler died after May 1871.

     Thomas Toler was born circa 1828. He married Penelope Tear on 17 February 1852 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Thomas Toler began military service on 8 December 1862 when he enlisted in Co. G, 1st N.C. Volunteer Infantry (Union). He married Joanne Mahaly Baker in 1864 at Beaufort County, North Carolina. Thomas Toler ended military service on 27 June 1865 when he was mustered out. He and Joanne Mahaly Baker appeared on the census of 1880 at Pamlico County, North Carolina. Thomas Toler died on 3 September 1885 at Pamlico County, North Carolina.

     Zachariah Toler was born on 20 December 1838. He married Betsy Powell on 6 September 1856 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Zachariah Toler married Susan Daw on 15 February 1875 at Craven County, North Carolina.² Zachariah Toler died on 4 April 1920 at age 81 according to his tombstone. He died on 4 November 1920 at Craven County, North Carolina, at age 81.³

     Margaret Ann Toler was also known as Margaret Stilley. She was born circa 1849. She married James Henry Sumerell on 1 September 1870. Margaret Ann Toler died on 5 March 1918 at Beaufort County, North Carolina.¹

     Mathias Toler was born before 1734 as he was at least 21 when listed on the 1755 Beaufort County tax list. The earliest mention of a Toler in Craven County, North Carolina is in 1763 when Matthias Toler bought 300 acres of land on Pine Tree Swamp adjoining Jacob Burch (Craven County Deed Book 11, pages 379-380). A dispute, later, over one of the corner markers led to an affidavit by William Toler (Craven County Deed Book 37, page 570) naming his brother Daniel and saying that a survey line ran between his father's land and John Burch's land. The only Toler owning land adjoining John Burch was Matthias Toler; hence, Matthias is the father of William and Daniel Toler. Another deed (Craven Deed Book 33, page 351) dated 1797 names William's mother as "Ellender" (probably Eleanor).
He married Elenor Giddens? Mathias Toler was listed on a tax roll in 1755 at Beaufort County, North Carolina.¹ He received land from Martin Hagin on 29 September 1763. The land was purchased for 25 pound proclamation money and included 50 acres "including the plantation where said Matthias Toler now lives" on the east side of Swift Creek, joining Pine Tree Swamp, being part of a grant to Jacob Robinson.²
Mathias is mentioned in a deed between John Robinson of Beaufort County and John Burch of Craven County. Robinson sold Burch 100 acres of land "Joining the Swamp between the high Bridge and the place where Mathias Toler now lives." on 10 May 1765.³
He witnessed the will of David Dunn on 21 October 1768 at Craven County, North Carolina; The will left legacies as follows and was probated December Term 1768.
Son Francis and Daughter Penelope given the plantation where he now dwells containing 400 acres of land.
Son David given 300 acres adjoining above lands, remainder of cows.
Daughter Elizabeth given 300 acres on the West side of Little Swift Creek opposite Abraham Moors.
Daughter Penelope given Negro wench named Nan, several stock animals.
Son Francis given Negro man named Jefery, several stock animals.
Son John given Negro man named Andrew, several cows.
Daughter Elizabeth given Negro boy named Abram, several cows.
Sons John and David and daughter Penelope named executors.
Witnessed by Aaron Ernul, Thomas Winfield, and Matthias [x] Toler.
Signed David Dun.⁴ Mathias Toler died after 1779 at Craven County, North Carolina, as he is listed as Matthias Taylor on "A List of the Assessments in the District No 3 for the Year of 1779 Returned by Benjamin Williams, James Pearce and James Perkins, Assessors".⁵ He died before June 1797 as his son William was selling land "by contrivance of his mother" indicating his father was dead by that time.

     Elenor Giddens? married Mathias Toler. Elenor Giddens? was administratrix of the estate of Agnes Giddens in June 1789 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ She witnessed the deed of William Toler and James Reel on 6 June 1797 at Craven County, North Carolina; by contrivance and consent of Ellender Toler his mother.² Elenor Giddens? died after 6 June 1797.

     William Toler was born circa 1755. He appeared on the census of 1790 at Craven County, North Carolina, with 1 male over 16 years old. He and
James Toler sold land to Caleb Toler on 9 November 1790 at Craven County, North Carolina, for 5 pounds current money of the state for 50 acres more or less on Pine Tree Swamp. The land was part of Jacob Robinson's 300 acre tract.¹
William Toler by contrivance and consent of Ellender Toler his mother sold land to James Reel on 6 June 1797 at Craven County, North Carolina, for five pounds current money for five and a quarter acres. The land was part of a patent to Jacob Roberson.² William Toler witnessed a deed of James Toler on 23 May 1808 at Craven County, North Carolina; Levi and Polly GASKINS.³
On 27 Feb 1809, William Toler appeared before Ephraim Willis, J.P., "and made oath that he was on the premises the 4th day of February 1809 when after taking the above depositions. Jacob Burch [illegible] and run off his deed for one hundred acres of land in upper end of Robertson's patent which follows Mrs. Joscelin's lines. When running the same deed William Toler says that said deed was run right from all that he had ever understood and run near to a black Jack that he had often heard his brother Daniel and his father say was the corner of the division line betwixt his father and John Burch when running the division it run near to a lightwood stump which was in the division of said line which his father and brother said was the Division line.⁴ William Toler witnessed the will of John Dep Dunn on 22 January 1816 at Craven County, North Carolina.
William Toler testified in the North Carolina Supreme Court case Reel v. Reel (8 NC 249, 1821 and 9 NC 63, 1822) that "He [Toler] lived within a small distance, a short call of Js. Reel. R[eel] always had a fondness for drinking towards the last. His love of drink increased & he never [k]new so hard a drinker. He would ask high prices and trust any one. Before 1815 he had a severe spell of sickness, which weakened him very much.--Reel was absent from home about a week or so at the time [Evan] Thomas speaks of [in Thomas's testimony], it was in August, a little while before his death--he staid a while with him, Reel told him he had tried to shoot himself but the pistol would not go off until he held her in the air, when it fired.--That someone had asked him for half of his mill; but he told them their legacy was in Newbern. He said there was to be a meeting house built that there was to be no sale, and witness [Toler] would get a share as good as any bodies.--There was no reason in him as to trading when he was drunk. Js. Reel was Guardian to Gaskins & John Reel did the business for him. Knew John hired the negroes once. Reel's sisters staid with him often, his brother John sometimes. Reel could work as a smith so far as to sharpen his ploughs. He as a pretty good wheelright. Before Reel went up the country he was a constant habitual drunkard, kept liquor generally by him, and was never sober when he could get it. He generally did his own business. When drunk there was no reason in him, no trading with him. R[eel] was a corn seller and not a corn buyer. That Reel had not worked in the Blacksmith's shop for years before his death, but had made a Smith of one of his boys [i.e. slave]." in 1822.
William Toler sold land to Thomas Purify on 7 January 1824 at Craven County, North Carolina, for 55 acres (no price given) on the south side of Little Swift Creek joining Arrington King, Jacob Burch and James Toler.⁵
William Toler was chain bearer of the survey for a grant of land to James Toler on 25 May 1824 at Craven County, North Carolina; The grant (warrant number 1568) for ten acres was located on the south side of Little Swift Creek adjoining Edward Mathers, Joseph Leech, Abraham Warren, and his own lands.⁶
William Toler was chain bearer of the survey for a grant of land to James Toler on 25 May 1824 at Craven County, North Carolina; The grant (warrant number 1554) for 50 acres in the Little Fork Branch near Abraham Warren's line.⁷
William Toler was chain bearer of the survey for a grant of land to James Toler on 25 May 1824 at Craven County, North Carolina; The grant (warrant number 1567) was on the south side of Little Swift Creek beginning at Joseph Leech's ninth corner and on Little Fork Branch.⁸ William Toler died after 1824.

     Daniel Toler was born circa 1757. He witnessed the deed of John Dep Dunn and John Burch on 12 January 1774 at Craven County, North Carolina; for and in consideration of seven pounds proclamation money for fifty acres, more or less, on a branch of Swifts Creek being the upper side of John Robinson's land.
In September 1774 Daniel Toler received land from William Wain of Craven County in consideration of 100 pounds proclamation money for 50 acres more or less on the North side of the Neuse River, on the southeast side of Little Swift Creek at the mouth of Spring Branch and on Pine Tree Branch. Witnesses were John Burgh and Daniel Barry.¹ Daniel Toler married Elizabeth Nelson on 12 August 1818 at Craven County, North Carolina.² Daniel Toler was living in March 1820 at Richland District, South Carolina. He was living in September 1820 at Craven County, North Carolina.
Daniel Toler , aged about 63, resident of Craven County, made declaration on oath in open court "that he served in the Revolutionary War...in the company commanded by Capt. Crawford second Regimt. NoCarolina line and in Capt. Simon Theus's Company first Regimt. SoCarolina Continental line, that he was in Charleston when the Garrison were made prisoners in May 1780. [He] was at the battles of Savannah[,] Stono[,] and Fort Moultree, that he received no discharge but was landed by the enemy on the banks of the St. Lawrence in Canada that he has no evidence of his services now in his power except the affidavits of Osborn Clark & Hugh Pugh Gerald, and the certificate of Simon Theus and Charles Coatsworth Pinkney, annexed to his former declarations." He was a resident citizen of the United States on 18 March 1818. "The declarant begs leave to refer his petition and declaration dated the 9th June 1818 and the first of March 1820. Petitioner has no earthly property or any income of any kind. (D)eclarant is by occupation a farmer but his advanced age and great infirmities prevent his laboring and leave him dependent on charity for support. His family consists of the following persons, a wife aged fifty-five years & no other person" on 12 September 1820.³
Daniel purchased items in the estate sale of Richard R. Laughinghouse. The items he purchased were a hand saw, an ax, four "weading hoes" and a grind stone. on 4 April 1821 at Craven County, North Carolina.⁴ He died after 1832 as he is listed in a North Carolina Pension Roll (ca. 1832-1834) as aged 75 years.