William Blewett, Sr.

  Notes and Events:

• of: Cornwall County, England.

• Note. I still do not have enough proof to firmly establish the wives and children of William. Jean and Rebecca are not mentioned in his will. The book "Family Reunion", the Maxim-Lee family history, contradicts other documents. Eventually I will resolve this.

• Note. William Blewett, Esq. was transported from England to the colonies when about ten years old for the trivial offense of cutting a riding switch of a nobleman's land. He was brought up in Philadelphia City in the tailor trade. From there removed to North Carolina on the Pee Dee River, which is on the line between Anson and Richmond Counties, when a young man. On land Granted to him by King George the Second and King George the Third of England. William Blewett was a Justice of the Peace for Anson County, NC in 1776. In 1779, at the age of 60, he married a young girl in the neighborhood. He died in 1813 at the age of 94.

• Deed: Land Grant, 1748. George the second by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, etc. To all to whom these Presents shall come greeting: Know ye that we for the inconsideration of the rents and duties herein referred have given and granted by these presents for us and our Heirs and successors so give and grant unto William Blewett a tract of land 200 acres lying and being in the County of Bladen our Province of North Carolina lying on the North East side of Great Pee Dee beginning about a mile and a half above the mouth of Cartledges Creek at 2 white oaks running North 25 degrees El 114 poles to a pine; and ash on the Riverbank then up the river to the first stop containing 200 acres as by the plat hereto annexed doth appear. Together with all woods, waters, mines,minerals, hereditaments and appertances to the said lands belonging or appertaining (one half of all gold and silver mines excepted), to hold him, the said Blewett, his heirs and assigns forever as our Manor of Greenwich in our County of Kent in free and common soccage by Fealty only; yeilding and praying unto us our heirs and successors on the Second day of February in each year at such places in our province as our Governor for the time being with the advice and consent of our consul shall think fit to direct and appoint provided always that in case of the said, William Blewett, heirs and assigns, shall not within the space of Three years from the date hereof Plat the same during his rights and likewise clear and cultivate according to the proportion of Three acres for every hundred, and also that if a Minute of Docket or these our letters Patent shall not be entered in the office of our Auditor General for the time being in our said cases these our Letters Patents shall be void and of noe effest.

In testimony Whereof we have caused the great Seal of our Said provinces to be hereunto affixed witness our Trusty and well beloved,
Gabriel Johnston, Esquire, our Captain General and Governor in Chief atRaleigh,
this 30th day of September, in the Twenty Second Year of ourReign, Anno Domini, One Thousand,Seven Hundred and Forty-eight (9/30/1748).

Recorded in the Sec. Office, in Rice Dep Sec.
By His Excellency Command,
In Rice Dep. Sec.
Job Johnston
Enrolled in the Aud. General Office, 31st Sept., 1748
Alex McColloch
Deptuty Auditor.

• Deed, 1 Jul 1758. No. 488 - Edmond CARTLEDGE and William BLOUETTS, 275 Acres, Issued July 1, 1758, Book No. 2, Page No. 200. Location: NE side of PEE DEE River, branch of CARTLEDGE Creek. Beginning at a hickory (on) Thomas JONES line. Edmund CARTLEDGE and William BLEWETT, Chain Carriers.
[Microfilm No. S 108.399 ; Warrants, Surveys, and Related Documents 1-909; Secretary of State, Land Grant Office; North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC; Part 3]

• Deed: Land Grant No. 235, 1770. George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britian, France and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., to all to whom these Presents
Shall come, Greeting: KNOW YE, that We, for an consideration of the Rent and
Duties herein referred, have Given and Granted, and by these Presents,
for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, DO Give and Grant unto William Blewett
a Tract of Land, containing One Hundred Acres, lying and being in the
County of Anson in Our Province of North Carolina, In Pee Dee River,
Beginning at a White Oak on a Quarry of Rocks On the North East Bank of
the River just above Blewett's falls and Running thence 1. 73 W. 21
Chains acorss the River to the Western Bank by a Rock then down the River
side to the Western Bank by a Rock then down the River side to the
Middlemost of a Cleft of 3 Collumns of Pillars of Rocks then North 11
Chains and 30 Links to the Eastern Shore then up the Water side to the
first Station.

24th Dec - 11th Year of George III - 1770
As the Plat hereunto a (blurred) appear; together with all Woods, Waters,
Mines, Minerals, Hereditaments and Appurtenances to the (blurred) and
belonging or appertaining (one half of all Gold and Siler Mines
excepted); To hold to him the said William Blewett his Heirs and Assigns,
for ever, as of our Monor of East Greewich, in our County of Kent, in
free and common Soccage, by realty only; Yeilding and Paying unto us, our
Heirs and Successors, for ever, the yearly Rent of Four Shillings,
Proclamation Money for every Hundred Acres hereby granted; to be paid
unto Us, our Heirs and Successors; on the Second Day of February in each
year, at Such Places in our Said Province as our Governor for the Time
being with the Advice and Consent of our Council, shall think it fit to
direct and appoint. Provided Always, That in Case the said William
Blewett, his Heirs and Assigns, shall not within Three Years from the
Date hereof, clear and cultivate according to the Proportion of three
Acres for every Hundred; and also, That if a Minute or Docket of these
our Letters Patent, shall not be entered in the office of Our
Auditor-General, for the Time being, in our Said Province, within Six
Months from the Date hereof; that then in either of the said Cases, these
our Letters Patent, shall be void and of noe Effect.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, We have caused the seal of our said Province to be
hereunto affixed. Witness our trusty and well-beloved, William Tryon,
Esq; Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over said
Province, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the Eleventh Year of
Reign. Annoque Domini, one thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy.
The two land grants just given covers that portion of land that William
Blewett owned and is now adjacent to Blewett's Fall and Blewett's Falls Lake.

Note these land grants specify Bladen County, for at that time a large
portion of North Carolina was designated as Bladen County, and later Anson
County was cut out from Bladen County, and later Richmond County was cut
off from Anson County, so at this time we have three counties were then
we only had one.

From: N. C. Department of Secretary of State
Land Grant Office

• Appointed to Position, 1775. In July, 1775, William Blewett was appointed overseer of the road between the Blewett's Ferry and the Court House with assistance of Isaac Falconberry, Samuel Spencer and David Love. Source: N. C. State Department of Archives and History, Anson County Court Minutes 1771 - 1776

• Note: Children of William Blewett, Sr. (Different mothers). 6 Sons: Thomas (s/o Sarah), Eli (s/o Elizabeth Morris), William (s/o Elizabeth Morris), Morris (s/o Elizabeth Morris), David (s/o Elizabeth), James
4 Daughters: Jean (d/o Sarah), Rebecca (d/o Sarah), Sussanah, Anna (may also be known as Hannah),
[were Susannah and Hannah twins?]

• Will: Anson County Will Index, Page A-34, 15 Jun 1790, Anson County, North Carolina. ⁹⁴ [WHY is Jean not mentioned in this will?]

In the name of God Amen.

I, William Blewett, of the county of Anson, State of North Carolina, being well in body and of sound mind and memory, calling to mind my own mortality, do think proper to make and constitute this my last will and testament in manner and form following -

Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my son Thomas 200 acres of land in Richmond County patented in my own name. Also, 230 acres adj. aforesaid patented by Robert Jarman, to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Eli Blewett 245 acres of land lying between my son Thomas Blewett and Cartledge Creek, to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son William Blewett 300 acres of land on McCoy Creek in Anson County, to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Morris Blewett 100 acres of land adj. my son Eli Blewett on the lower side of Cartledge Creek in Richmond County to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son David Blewett 100 acres of land in Anson County whereon I now live, to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son James Blewett 320 acres in Anson County adj. my son David Blewett patented by Robert Jarman, to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my six sons Thomas, William, Eli, Morris, David, and James all my Fishery to be equally divided amongst them each one doing his proportion of labour in keeping the same repairs, to them and thier heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to Thomas Watkins of Richmond County, the seventh part of aforesaid Fishery willed to my six sons, he now being possessed of the property of the same but his title not by me conveyed, the said Thomas Watkins doing his portion of labour to keep said Fishery in repair, to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I leave with my loving wife Elizabeth Blewett (after my just debts being paid) during her life or widowhood all my movable estate, and settle her on my son David's land during her life. My will is in case my wife Elizabeth should marry and after my decease,that two thirds of all my movable estate be sold and the money arising therefrom to be equally divided between my two daughters Susannah and Anne. I will the privilege on my Ferry to my two sons Thomas and David, to them and their heirs forever.

Lastly, I constitute and appoint my three sons, Thomas, William and Eli my sole Executors of this my last will and testment.

In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal this 15th dayJune in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety.
Wm. Blewett (Seal)
Assigned and Ack'd in the presence of us
Test: Thomas Smith, Jurate
Jacob Morris
Hardy Hooker, Jurate
John Smith, Carpenter
NC, Anson County Will Index
When Probated Book Page
Blewett (Devisor), William Thomas Blewett (Devisee) Jun 15, 1790(Probated) A 34(Page)
William Blewett
Eli Blewett

William married Sarah Garton, daughter of John Garton and Rebekah Gibbons, on 30 Jul 1751 in Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, New Castle Co., DE. (Sarah Garton was born about 1730, died about 1761 in Anson County, North Carolina and was buried in Blewett Falls, Anson Co., NC.)

William next married Elizabeth Morris in 1761-1764. (Elizabeth Morris died after 1812.)