Stephen Merritt, Capt

Ephraim married Agnes Alice Ragland in 1754 in , Northampton, North Carolina, USA. Agnes (daughter of Stephen Ragland and Mary Hudson) was born in 1735 in Bertie, Granville, North Carolina, USA; died in 1818 in , Logan, Kentucky, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Granville County, North Carolina Original Wills Vol 1 1749-1810 By Tim Rackley

250. Benjamin Merritt of Granville Co., NC, 8 Nov 1776

"Being sick of body". I give my land and negro boy Peter to be equally divided between by nephews Ephraim Meritt, son of Stephen Merit, Ephraim Boyd son of John and Mary Boyd, Hud Rose son of William and Elisabeth Rose. To my Mother Agness Langston my young mair during her natural life and after her death to fall to Ephraim Meritt son of Stephen Meritt. To my nephew John Boyd son of John and Mary Boyd one feather bed and furniture. Four head of cattle to my two nephews Ephraim Meritt son of Stephen Meritt and Hudson Rose son of William and Elisabeth Rose. Also my hogs to be equally divided among all my nephews. All of my estate of every kind with my debts due to me after paying all lawful debts to be divided as before mentioned. James Langston and John Williams to be executors.

Wit: James Langston, John Boyd, Shearmon Goss Signed Benjamin Meritt

February Court 1777 prov'd by oath of James Langston and Shearmon Goss. James Langston and John Williams qualified as executors


251. Ephraim Merrit (Nuncupative Will), October 1760

Deposition of Solomon Langston before Robert Hicks 24 October 1760 stated that Ephraim Merrit was at his house sometime before he dyed and his son Stephen and his Negrow boy Ebo alies Luis said Ephraim Merit to the said deponent that newgrow boy will never do me any good, because he have four young children and four young negroes. I give my Negrow boy Ebo or alies Luis to my son Stephen, my negrow boy Peter to my son Bijiamin (Benjamin), my Negrow Girl Dot to my daughter Mary, and my Negrow girl Aechel to my daughter Elisabeth. Ageleus (Agness) Merrit wife of said Ephraim also signed the deposition. [No probate information, appears to never have been recorded].


So it appears that Ephraim Merritt Sr. married Agness. After his death, she remarried to a Langston. Their children were Stephen Merritt, Benjamin Merritt, Mary Merrit Boyd wife of John Boyd, and Elisabeth Merritt Rose wife of William Rose.
The younger Ephraim Merritt appears to be the son of Stephen Merritt.

Notes:

Stephen Ragland is first found among the records of St. Paul's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia. In 1711, Stephen is listed as a freeholder with 200 acres of land described as on, "...upper reaches of Chickahominy River..." John Ragland is a neighbor. Parish records list Stephen in various roles in the community. In 1715, Stephen was made overseer of teh preceinct; in 1716 he assisted in clearing the roads; and in 1724 he was named as a superintendent of a road gang. These records indicate that he was a person of responsiblity in the community.
Stephen Ragland married Mary, who Charles J. Ragland identifies as a member of the Hudson family. The only proof of her family name is the use of the "Hudson" name by the Raglands. Charles J. Ragland's idenfication of her as the daughter of John & Elizabeth (Harris) Hudson of Hanover Co., Virginia is believed to be incorrect according to the researchers at the Hudson Family Assciation.
Stephen Ragland removes to North Carolina by 1730. In the NC deeds he is described as "of Hanover County, Virginia." Stephen prospered in North Carolina. By his death in 1747, Stephen has accumulated around 1,690 acres of land and had at least six slaves. He also owned a tobacco warehouse and ran a Ferry. His plantation is said to have been located where present day US HWY 158 crosses the Roanak River into Northampton County. Between 1740 and his death he held the position of Royal Tax Collector of Bertie Precinct.

From Charles J. Ragland, Jr.'s book, The Raglands: History of a British-American Family vol I -
Stephen Ragland of Northampton County, North Carolina, third son of Evan Ragland Sr. and Susanna Pettus, and progenitor of the North Carolina Raglands, was born in New Kent County, Virginia about 1688. He is first mentioned in the public records of Virginia in a 1711 list of property owners for St. Paul's parish (at that time New Kent County but after 1720 Hanover County) as a "freeholder of 200 acres." This property, located on the north side of the Chickahominy Swamp, was undoubtedly part of the tract granted to his grandfather, Stephen Pettus, in 1667. For twenty years following his initial appearence Stephen's name occurs with some regularity in the vestry minutes of St. Paul's parish. In 1715 he was made "overseer of the precinct" and in 1716 was "ordered by the New Kent Court to assist in clearing a new road," and again in 1724 was made Road Gang superintendent for the maintenance of public roads in south central Hanover County. Although Stephen continued to appear in the records od St. Paul's parish as a property holder after 1730, he had in fact moved with his family to North Carolina. Beginning in Jan of 1730 Stephen made several purchases of land "along the north side of the Morottock (Roanoke River)" in what was then Bertie County, North Carolina (Northampton County after 1741) and by the end of the year had acquired 460 acres. Establishing himself on this property, Stephen appears to have been quite busy during the remaining decade and a half of his life. In addition to establishing the plantation; he alsobuilt a number of public warehouses which were leased to the colonial government of North Carolina for the storage and inspection of ter, pitch, and turpentine, and tobacco awaiting shipment to England; and operating a ferry across the Roanoke River. Appointed Royal Tax Collector for the northern part of Bertie Precinct (Northampyon County) in 1740 Stephen assumed not only the responsibility for the inspection of these goods but also for the levying and collection of taxes on all exported goods. He served in this capacity until his death in 1747. During this period he slowly extended his land holdings in Northampton County and across the Roanoke River into Halifax County which by the time of his death had reached a total holding of 1,690 acres. Dying in Jan of 1747 Stephen left in addition to his plantation and land, a ferry crossing, several public warehouses, and six slaves, one of whom was, incidently, an Indian. He married in New Kent County, Virginia about 1713 one Mary (probably Hudson) who survived him by several years dying in Northampton County in 1760. According to his will, Stephen left six children.

STEPHEN RAGLAND Will Feb Court 1747 in Northampton County, North Carolina: --- 20th May 1748

In The Name of God Amen STEPHEN RAGLAND of Northampton County in the province of north carolina Being sick and week in body but thanks bee to almighty God of perfect mind & memory and Calling to mind that it is appointed for all men to die do therefore Constitute and ordain this Present Wrighting To be my last will & testament and my soul I recommend into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merrits of my beloved savour Jesus Christ to have ---? on for all my sins as to my Body commit to the ground to bee decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executors here after mentioned and as to the temporal Estate as it hath lesed Almity God to Bestow on mee after my Debts and funerall charges bee paid I give and Dispose of as followeth

Impromi ? I give and bequeath to my loving son STEPHEN RAGLAND one hundred and fifty Aker of land be the same more or left together with my ferry --plantation --- the same --negrow woman names -ORK ? after the Dispose of my loving wife MARREY RAGLAND to him and his heirs and assignes forEver

Item my will and desire is that my land and plantation as Bought of ROBERT HARRIS to be sold by my Executors and the money arrising by such sale to be Equally Divided betwen my wife and children sons & Daughters

Item I give and bequeath to my loving son GEORGE RAGLAND my plantation whereon I now Dwell togetherwith one hundred and sixty Akers of land begining at a white oake standing in a bottom betwen my son STEPHEN and my son GEORG his land and to a north --- for the -- to my upper line to him and his heirs & assignes forEver

Item I give & bequeath to my loving son WILLIAM RAGLAND to him and his heirs and assignes forEver one hundred and sixty Aker of land and JAMES --- land & Bound along a line of mark trees to -- & my Dividing line

Item? I give and bequeath to my loving son FREDERICK RAGLAND to him and his heirs and assignes forEver two hundred and Eighty Akers of land bee the same more or less adjoining my other land together with one negrow Boy named RED after the Depose of my loving wife MARY RAGLAND

Item? I give and bequeath to my Loving Daughter AGNESS RAGLAND to her and heirs and assignes forEver one Indian slave named --- ? -- after the Death of my loving wife MARY RAGLAND

Item? I give? and bequeath to my loving son GEORG RAGLAND to him and his heirs and assignes forEver one negrow man named PEETER ? after? the Despose of my loving wife MARY RAGLAND

Item? I give unto my loving wife MARY RAGLAND all the res ? of my Estate Be it as it will with the -- of all my slaves During her natural life after my loving wife -- my will is that what of my Estate is left to be Equally Divided betwen my sons & Daughters the slaves only -- which my will is they be Divided as? & in manner before mentioned all my beloved children and my Desire and will is that what of my Estate that is to bee Divided betwen my wife & children be Equally divided by three of my neighbours freeholders With out troubel to the Corte? or any charges blonging to the same and my will and desires and I hereby Do Nomin ? Constitute and apoint my loving sons EVEN RAGLAND and GEORG RAGLAND to be my Executor to this my last will and Testament and Do hereby -- and Revoke all other wills by mee made and Do Constitute and ordain this to bee my Last will & testament and no other by mee made

Signed Seled and Acknowled to be my last will & testament in the presence of us whose names are and with Subscribed This first Day of march one thousand sevenhundred forty six

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? S RAGLAND (Seal)


ROBERT HICKS Jurat
JOHN HAMILTON

JOHN WEBB Jurat
Northampton County -- February Court 1747
The within written Will of STEPHEN RAGLAND -- was proved in open Court by the oath of ROBERT HICKS & JOHN WEBB two of the subscribing witnesses thereto at same time EVAN RAGLAND? & gEORGE RAGLAND --duly -- Executors thereof

Teste I EDWARD Clerk???

Name: Stephen Ragland
Surname: Ragland
Given Name: Stephen
Sex: M
Birth: 1687 in St Peter's Parrish, New Kent Co., Virginia
Death: Jan 1746/1747 in Northhampton County, North Carolina
_UID: C45C8784D3A54A4A98E744237CE642F6B7A7
Occupation: Planter
Note:
A planter, ferryman, and warehouseman. Stephen served as precinct overseer, road gang supervisor, and tobacco tax collector in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia.Stephen's name appears several times in the vestry minutes of St. Paul's Parrish. He was appointed Royal Tax Collector for the northern part of Bertie Precinct (Northampton County) North Carolina. On his death he left; a plantation, a ferry crossing, several public warehouses and six slaves.


Abstract of Stephen Ragland's Will
March 1, 1746. February Court 1747. Sons William and Frederick (plantation to each), Even. Daugher Agness (one Indian slave). Wife Mary. Executors, Evan and George Ragland (sons). Witnesses: Robert Hicks, John Hamilton, John Webb. Clerk of Court: I Edwards.
1
Change Date: 7 Jun 2005 at 01:00:00

Ancestry Hints for Stephen Ragland

1 possible matches found on Ancestry.com


Father: Evan Ragland b: 31 Mar 1656 in St. Decumen's Parish, Somerset, England
Mother: Susanna Pettus b: ABT 1660 in St Peter's Parish, New Kent Co., Virginia

Marriage 1 Mary Hudson b: ABT 1688 in Hanover County, Virginia
Married: 1713 in St Paul's Parrish, New Kent Co., Virginia
Children
Agnes Ragland b: 1734 in Bertie County, North Carolina
Evan Ragland b: 1714
George Ragland b: 1717
Frederic k Ragland b: 1722
William Ragland b: 1724
Stephen Ragland Jr b: 1732

Sources:
Title: St Paul and St Peter Parrish Records, New Kent, Virginia

Stephen married Mary Hudson in 1713 in Saint Peter and Paul Parish, New Kent, Virginia, USA. Mary was born in 1692 in , Hanover, Virginia, USA; died in 1760 in , Northampton, North Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Evidence strongly indicates that he was the eldest son of Thomas Ragland and Jane Morgan of St. Decuman's parish, Somerset, England, and that he was born in that parish in 1656.

In 1670, Evan Ragland, from Somerset, arrived in Virginia. He was 14 years old, and with his cousin John Davis had been abducted (shanghaied) from the dock of the port town of Watchet in Somerset, a common practice at the time. The Raglands lived in Stogumber and St. Decuman's parish near Watchet, and the boys had taken a stroll on the dock.

English sources estimate that between 1640 and 1680 up to 100,000 children may have been kidnapped in Britain and sold to the highest bidders in America. This is a surprisingly high figure but it's stated that in periods when the British were reluctant to emigrate, captains of ships bound for the colonies would simply kidnap children for sale on their arrival. Protests and increased interest in voluntary emigration brought the practice to an end around 1679, in which year a captain was hung for kidnapping an eleven year old boy.

In Virginia Evan was sold as an indentured laborer (slave) to Stephen Pettus. After five to seven years, due to his superior education, Evan was able to buy his freedom. He married Susannah Pettus, his former master's daughter, inheriting the 500-acre plantation and acquiring wealth.

Stephen Pettus was a moderately wealthy planter living along the Chickahominy River in New Kent county, Virginia. Although unrecorded, the marriage of Evan Ragland to the daughter of Stephen Pettus probably took place around the year 1680. From 1689 when Evan Ragland first appears in the vestry minutes of St. Peter's parish, New Kent county, until his death, his name appears at irregular intervals in the rent rolls of New Kent and the vestry minutes and register of St. Peter's. These records, aside from the patent records, are the only documents which have survived from this period. The last known mention of Evan Ragland is a simple notation in the register, "Evan Raglan Departed this Life may ye 30th, 1717." Although the records tell very little about his life a few "facts" can be established and certian assumptions made which shed some light on his activities and condition.

He does not appear to have acquired any additional land in New Kent beyond the 500 acres inherited from his father-in-law and already in his possession in 1689. While he and his sons obviously worked their own plantation the register revels that he owned slaves, although in what number is not known. Nowhere in the records was he accorded the title of "gentleman" nor does it appear that he ever served on the vestry board or in any important county office. These facts would seem to infer that socially he was of the "middle class." The death of his wife is not recorded in the register; however he is known to have left at least four sons and a daughter.

Evan married Susanna Pettus in 1680 in Saint Peter and Paul Parish, New Kent, Virginia, USA. Susanna (daughter of Stephen Pettus and Katherine Morris) was born in 1656 in Saint Peter and Paul Parish, New Kent, Virginia, USA; died on 30 May 1717 in Saint Peter and Paul Parish, New Kent, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomas Ragland of St. Decuman's par., Somerset, was the eldest son of Thomas Ragland and Marie Ingram. He was born in Stogumber parish, Somerset in 1628 and inherited a farm from his father in St. Decuman's parish. In 1654 Thomas married Jane Morgan, daughter of Evan ap James Morgan of Barry, South Wales According to the parish records he died in St. Decuman's in 1684. Thomas Ragland and Jane Morgan had six children.

Thomas married Jane Morgan in 1654 in , , Somerset, England. Jane was born in 1628 in Blarry, South, Wales; died in 1728 in , , Somerset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Marie Ingram. Marie was born in 1605 in , , Somerset, England; died in 1633 in Somerset, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]