Person Page - 10

     David Kelly Jones was born on 3 January 1887. He married Dora Ella Toler, daughter of Amariah Toler and Augusta Parthine Jones, on 16 October 1910. David Kelly Jones died on 17 December 1975 at age 88.

     Mary Martha Whitford was born on 18 November 1881.
Mary Whitford was a school teacher between 1902 and 1909, and possibly even later. The New Bern newspapers reported that "School will begin at Pine Tree and Friendship school houses on next Monday. Teachers Miss Mary Whitford and Mr. L.M. Scott." on 8 November 1902 at Zorah, Craven County, North Carolina.¹
The newpapers further reported that "Miss Mary Whitford's school closed on last Friday with a nice little entertainment which was enjoyed by all present. Mr. S.M. Brinson, Superintendent of Schools, was present and delivered a short but interesting address on the subject of education. The children showed by their speaking and acting that the four months spent there had not been in vain. This particular school has made more progress towards beautifying the grounds around the building than any other we know. It is enclosed with a nice wire fence and shrubbery and flowers planted within. Miss Leah Jones will no doubt be gratified to know that her work in behalf of the betterment of schools has not been entirely fruitless in our section." on 13 March 1903 at Zorah, Craven County, North Carolina.²
"Miss Mary Whitford's school of this place [Zorah] will give a basket supper on Saturday night before the fifth Sunday of this month in order to raise funds for a school library. Everybody is invited to come and help in this noble cause. Ladies bring your baskets and your beaux to buy them." Also, "The basket supper here was quite a success, something over seventeen dollars being realized therefrom." on 18 November 1903 at Zorah, Craven County, North Carolina.³
"Miss Mary Whitford's school stopped last week in order that the house could be painted." on 27 November 1904 at Zorah, Craven County, North Carolina.⁴
"Miss Mary Whitford's school will close next Saturday. The young people are anticipating a little dance at the school house in the afternoon, everybody come." on 13 March 1906 at Zorah, Craven County, North Carolina.⁵
"Our schools are progressing nicely under the management of Miss Katie Whitford at Friendship school house, and Miss Mary Whitford at the Caton school house....There will be a Christmas tree at the Caton school house Friday night Dec. 24th. Everybody is invited to come and bring presents for their friends." on 13 December 1909 at Zorah, Craven County, North Carolina.⁶
She married Joshua Allen Toler, son of James Lawrence Toler and Sinia Anne Dunn, on 15 June 1916 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. The New Bern Weekly Journal reported "A surprise wedding took place in the Register of Deeds office at the Court House yesterday morning at ten o'clock, when Miss Mary Whitford was wedded to Mr. Joshua Toler. The bride and groom are both residents of the Askin section of Craven county and are very prominent among their host of friends in the neighborhood. The ceremony that made them man and wife was performed by Mr. G.A. Whitford."⁷ Mary Martha Whitford died on 27 December 1958 at Craven County, North Carolina, at age 77.⁸ She was buried in December 1958 at High Bridge Cemetery, Caton, Craven County, North Carolina.

     Absalom Tuten Rowe was born in 1812. He married Feriba Rowe, daughter of John Rowe and Mary "Polly" Lewis. Absalom Tuten Rowe died on 17 July 1862 at Fort Fisher, Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, of typhoid fever.

     Feriba Rowe was born in 1810. She married Absalom Tuten Rowe, son of Jesse Roe and Sarah Tuten.

     Frances Elizabeth Rowe was born on 11 December 1837.

     Emmaline Rowe was born in 1841.

     Eli Rowe was born on 17 August 1843.

     Lucinda Rowe was born on 12 July 1850.

     Shadrick Rowe was born in 1796. He married Holland Gatlin, daughter of John Gatlin and Esther Tingle, on 17 December 1811 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Shadrick Rowe died circa 1866.

     Holland Gatlin was born circa 1791 according to her age in the 1870 Census. She married Shadrick Rowe, son of Jesse Roe and Sarah Tuten, on 17 December 1811 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Holland Gatlin died between 1870 and 1880.

     Lena Ann Toler was born on 26 April 1917. She married Clem Cirthworth Toler, son of Machon Lincoln Toler and Effie Ada Simpson, on 21 December 1935 at New Haven F.W.B. Church, Caton, Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Lena Ann Toler died on 31 January 2012 at age 94.

     Noah Rowe was born circa 1820.

     John Rowe was born circa 1827. He died before 1880.

     Sarah Rowe was born circa 1830 according to her death notice.¹ She was born in May 1831 according to the 1900 Craven County Census. She was born in 1835. She died on 23 July 1907 at Zorah, Craven County, North Carolina, at age 76.¹

     James Toler was born circa 1782.
He acted as surity for the marriage bond of Levi Gaskins and Polly Warren on 10 April 1806 at Craven County, North Carolina.
James Toler received land from Levi and Polly GASKINS on 23 May 1808 at Craven County, North Carolina, for $100 for 100 acres on Pine Tree Branch. The conveyance included the land whereon Hugh Rigby lived and conveyed from Rigby to Abraham Warren. Abraham Warren later re-patented the land in 1799. The deed was not recorded until December 1817.² He and Rebecca Springle obtained a marriage bond on 13 November 1810 at Craven County, North Carolina.³ At the June 1818 term of the Craven County Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, administration of the estate of Caleb Toler is granted to James Toler on his entering into bond in 250 pounds with David Whitford and Elijah Callaway his securities. At the same term, James Toler entered into bond and qualified as administrator with permission to sell the perishable estate of Caleb.

James Toler served as executor of the will of Fountain Stilley dated 15 May 1820, but not presented for probate until Feb 1826..⁴

     James Toler testified in 1822 in the North Carolina Supreme Court case Reel v. Reel (8 NC 249, 1821 and 9 NC 63, 1822) the following: "James Reel was always a man who followed drinking but for some few years before his death kept it shady. He started for a journey and said he was going to the western country, but when he returned he said he had been to Wayne County. He heard Reel say his property should go to strengthen or support a Navy. Reel lived in friendship with his relations and they were good to him. Reel lived a few miles from Newbern on the opposite side of the River. [Reel] inherited from his father the mill seat and bought from Jesse Toler the land adjoining it. [Reel] was an excessice pinurious man, did not indulge himself with a bed but slept in a hollow gum till some short time before his death when he went into his new house." The only Toler to sell land to James Reel was Caleb Toler, not Jesse. Is this a clerk's transcription error, or was Caleb called Jesse?

James Toler received a grant of land at Craven County, North Carolina, on 25 May 1824. The grant (warrant number 1554) for 50 acres in the Little Fork Branch near Abraham Warren's line.⁵
James Toler received a grant of land at Craven County, North Carolina, on 25 May 1824. 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
James Toler received a grant of land at Craven County, North Carolina, on 25 May 1824. 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.⁷
James Toler received a grant of land at Craven County, North Carolina, on 19 December 1834. The grant (warrant number 2076) was for fifty acres of land on the North Side of the Neuse River in the Little Fork near Bushy Fork Branch.⁸

James Toler received a grant of land at Craven County, North Carolina, on 13 May 1844. The grant (warrant number 313) for 100 acres was at the head of Pine Tree Branch on the west side of Bear Trap Ridge.⁹

James Toler and Charles Toler were selected as delegates from the Little Swift Creek District to attend the Craven County Whig convention "for the selection of a suitable candidate to represent the [Congressional] District in the next Congress" on 25 April 1849 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina.¹⁰
James Toler was appointed a delegate in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina, on 13 December 1859, to attend the State Convention of the "Opposition Party". The "Opposition Meeting in Craven" was composed of "a large and enthusiastic meeting of old-line Whigs and Conservatives" of the County who wanted "New States...admitted into the Union without regard to whether they admit or reject slavery." They felt the people of the states should decide for themselves whether they wanted to be Free states or Slave states.¹¹ He died circa May 1871 at Craven County, North Carolina. The New Bern Daily Times reported on 28 May 1871 that "the last will and testament of Mr. James Toler, Sr. was admitted to Probate on Friday."¹² (an unknown value.)

     Rebecca Springle was born circa 1786. She and James Toler obtained a marriage bond on 13 November 1810 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Rebecca Springle died between 1860 and 1870.

     James Toler Jr. was born circa 1817.
James Toler Jr. was chain bearer of the survey for a grant of land to James Toler on 19 December 1834 at Craven County, North Carolina; The grant (warrant number 2076) was for fifty acres of land on the North Side of the Neuse River in the Little Fork near Bushy Fork Branch.¹
James Toler Jr. married Celia Rowe, daughter of John Rowe and Mary "Polly" Lewis, circa 1839. James Toler Jr. appeared in Craven County Superior Court as "the State prosecutor" in the case of The State vs Ebenezer Simons. The case was postponed due to the illness of one of the witnesses for the State. in October 1842 at Craven County, North Carolina.² He married Susan Jane Stilley, daughter of Stephen Stilley and Nancy Rice, circa 1875. James Toler Jr. , Bryan Whitford, and W.M. Asher composed a committee of three to draft resolutions to organize the Little Swift Creek Navigation Company. Toler was also named on the Board of Directors, along with Adolph Cohn, Harvey Arthur, Gilbert G. Arthur, and Bryan Whitford. The Little Swift Creek Navigation Company was organized to cut a canal from Little Swift Creek to Blount's Creek. on 26 April 1879 at Little Swift Creek, Craven County, North Carolina.³ He died in June 1892.

     Charles Toler was born on 12 July 1815.
Charles Toler was chain bearer of the survey for a grant of land to James Toler on 19 December 1834 at Craven County, North Carolina; The grant (warrant number 2076) was for fifty acres of land on the North Side of the Neuse River in the Little Fork near Bushy Fork Branch.¹
Charles Toler married Caroline Tunstall on 15 January 1838 at Craven County, North Carolina.² Charles Toler was one of several people on a Committee to help organize the Craven County Tippecanoe Club [favoring William Henry Harrison for President in the 1840 elections] and "to make arrangements for the erection of a Log Cabin" on 2 July 1840 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina.³
Charles Toler was chain bearer of the survey for a grant of land to James Toler on 13 May 1844 at Craven County, North Carolina; The grant (warrant number 313) for 100 acres was at the head of Pine Tree Branch on the west side of Bear Trap Ridge.⁴
Charles Toler and James Toler were selected as delegates from the Little Swift Creek District to attend the Craven County Whig convention "for the selection of a suitable candidate to represent the [Congressional] District in the next Congress" on 25 April 1849 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina.⁵ Charles Toler was selected as a delegate from the Little Swift Creek district to the Craven County Whig Convention on 1 June 1850 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina.⁶ He was selected as a delegate to the Craven County Whig Convention to nominate Gen. Winfield Scott as President on 26 August 1852 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina.⁷ On 30 January 1871 Charles Toler was involved in a court case with William Cleve. Cleve "being duly sworn says that during the year 1870 he advanced to Charles Toler the sum of One hundred dollars for the cultivation of the Crop raised by said Toler on the lands in Craven Co (being the plantation of said Toler) adjoining the lands of the heirs of David P. Whitford & others in the year 1870. That an agreement in writing was entered into between said Cleve and said Toler, that said Cleve should have a lein on all cotton raised on said land during said year, and that agreement was registered within thirty days after its date. That said agreement was made to secure the payment of said advance and was entered into before said advance was made. That he has reasons to believe that said Charles Toler is about to dispose of said Cotton and thereby defeat the lein entered by said agreement. That seventy-eight dollars and eight cents of said advance is yet unpaid and due."⁸

Charles and Stephen Toler were involved in a court case involving land. According to the New Bern Weekly Journal of April 2, 1885, "The cases of Charles Toler et als vs. Stephen Toler, being a suit for recovery of lands, and of W.D. Toler vs. Stephen Toler for trespass on lands, were decided by arbitrators at the office of Green & Stevenson on Tuesday to the satisfaction of all concern[ed]. The arbitrators were S.W. Latham, chairman, V.A. Thomas, James F. Heath, and James B. O'Neal. An umpire was selected but his services were not needed. Hon. C.C. Clark appeared for the plaintiff, Moore & Clarke and Green & Stevenson for the defendant. The plaintiff recovered in the trespass suit and defendant in the suit for the recovery of lands. Thus a tedious and complicated lawsuit was ended."
The New Bern Weekly Journal reported on 8 Jan 1885 that "Mr. Charles Toler of this county was at the Old Dominion wharf on Monday (5 Jan) with two barrels of Scuppernong wine, which he ships to his son in Montgomery, Alabama."
Charles Toler died on 26 July 1887 at Craven County, North Carolina, at age 72 "Died...of inflamation of the bowels, at his home on the north side of Neuse River, Craven county, Charles Toler.
He leaves a wife and six children, one of whom resides in Miss[issippi]. He seemed to be conscious almost up to the very moment he died. A good man had died--a worthy Christian has gone home. Mr. Toler lived to see all of his children grown and married, and to reach the ripe old age of seventy-two years the 10th of this month [July]. He was a true neighbor, an affectionate husband. He had been a consistent member of the Methodist Church for a great many years. We mourn the heavy loss, but our loss is his gain. He has left this world of misery, trouble and affliction, and is now enjoying the sunny clime of everlasting bliss."⁹ He (an unknown value.)

     Amariah Toler was born circa 1820. He was employed as a county constable in February 1847 at Craven County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Lewis, daughter of Joseph Lewis and Telitha Tommason, circa 1852.¹ Amariah Toler served on a coroner's jury summoned to "Set on the Body of Michael Arthur" who died on 21 February 1873 "from gun shot by his own hands While out of his mind." Other jurors included Stephen E. Whitford, Shadrick R. Dunn, Lewis B. Caton, James M. Jones, Henry B. Wetherington, William J. Stilley, John T. Wayne, W.H. Dunn, David D. Dunn, David Adams, and Charles Ipock. on 21 February 1873 at near Little Swift Creek, Craven County, North Carolina.² He died between 1874 and 1880.

     Redding Wiley was born in 1800. He married Peggy Daw on 9 August 1825. Redding Wiley married Pearcy Ann Lewis Warren on 26 October 1852 at Craven County, North Carolina. Redding Wiley died after 1880.

     Peggy Daw was born say 1801. She married Redding Wiley on 9 August 1825. Peggy Daw died say 1845.

     Aubrey Allen Toler was born on 24 April 1920. He married Melba Escoline Stilley, daughter of Joshua Ivan Stilley and Penny Gray Toler, on 5 October 1940 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. Aubrey Allen Toler died on 24 January 2008 at New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina, at age 87.¹ He was buried on 27 January 2008 at High Bridge Cemetery, Caton, Craven County, North Carolina.

     Zachariah Wiley was born circa 1828. He married Hancy Rowe on 2 April 1854 at Craven County, North Carolina. Zachariah Wiley died before 1870.

     Calvin Morris and Sally Ann Reel obtained a marriage bond on 28 May 1829.¹ Calvin Morris died between November 1841 and February 1842.

     Sally Ann Reel was born in 1810. She and Calvin Morris obtained a marriage bond on 28 May 1829.¹

     Mary E. Morris was born on 25 December 1828. She married Alfred B. Tunstall on 9 January 1853 at Craven County, North Carolina.¹ Mary E. Morris died on 24 November 1906 at age 77. She was buried at High Bridge Cemetery, Caton, Craven County, North Carolina.