_(__) MCKETHAN _
_Donald MCKETHAN _|
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|--James MCKETHAN
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In her book, Alma McKethan McBride gives James' birth date as 1710 and his middle name as Japeth. She says he married soon after his arrival in NC, but the name of his wife is not known. Unfortunately, she does not give any sources for this information. She also gives no sources for her account of James being an orphan and emigrating to North Carolina with his Uncle Jesse; no evidence for this has been found, and it seems to be incorrect since James' father was living in North Carolina when Dougald wrote his will. She wrote on p. 1 of her book: "As I begin my story I will say that it will be mostly factual but a little bit fictional."
Sources: Bertie Co. NC Deed Book F, p 545: Deed of gift to Winnefred Whitmell & Mary Whitmell (underage) signed by Robert Hunter, Elizabeth Hunter, Thomas Whitmell, Thomas Blount, Elizabeth Blount, John Hill, Martha Hill, He. Hunter, Sarah Hunter. Wit. Moses Hunter, James McKichan, Thomas Collins. Nov. Ct. 1743.
Bertie Co. NC Deed Book F, p 535: April 23, 1744 George Cockburn to Dugold McKichan. 320 pds for 440 acres on N sd Roquiss Swamp adjoining Thomas Whittmell. Wit Thomas Whitmell, John Hill. May Ct. 1744 (In his will Dugald directed that this land be sold).
Comparing the names involved in these two deeds, it seems that James and Dugald were probably both neighbors of the Whitmell and Hill families in Bertie County. Sept. 23, 1753 Bladen Co. Colonial Coroner's Inquest: Accidental death of Geroge Smith. Jurors included James McKeithan. (Bladen C, NC Vital Records 1753-1915, compiled by Charles F. McKee)
Cumberland Co NC tax list 1755: James McKeithen 1-0-0
July 19, 1758 Mary McKeithen vs James McKeithan (Abstracts of Minutes of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions by William C. Fields).
From Records of the Executive Council Minutes by Robert J. Cain, Vol. IX 1755-1775: Oct. 7, 1756 Council held at New Bern Read & granted the following warrants for land as per warrant book...James McKeithan 150 Cumberland.
July 16, 1774 Council held at Ne Bern James McKeithan vs Thomas Rutherford, ordered Mr. Rutherfurd have notice to attend next court.
Deed Book 1:262 Cumberland Co: Aug. 1, 1758 James McKethan witnessed a deed from John Martinlier to Duncan Buie.
More land records are given in an appendix.
From "The Colony of NC Abstracts of Land Patents" by Margaret M. Hoffman: May 6, 1769 James McKeithan 100 acres in Duplin on E side of Black River and on the N side of Taylors Creek between Williamsons Swamp and the Beaverdam waters joining the mouth of a small branch. [This land was sold Nov. 14, 1795 by Daniel McKethan of Cumberland Co. to Daniel Steward Jr. of Cumberland Co. (Duplin/Sampson Deed Book 11:251) and had been left to son Daniel in James' 1794 will.] Mar. 4, 1775 James McKeithan 50 acres in Cumberland joining the river bank, land patented by James Trotter (now possessed by widow of Wm Taylor decd) and McKeithan's line (of land) patented by Forbes. Mar. 4, 1775 James McKeithan 640 acres in Duplin on the E side of Black or South River below Taylors survey joining (a point) near McKeithans own corner at the mouth of a small Reedy branch. "State Records of North Carolina" by Walter Clark, vol XXII: Nov. 7, 1778 Meeting of the Council at Kinston Alexander McAlister, James McKithen and Daniel Campbell apperared in Council and requested to be permitted to take the oath of allegiance and fidelity to the said State. Resolved that they may be permitted to take the said oath before a justice of the peace accordingly.
From Abstracts, Sampson-Duplin Deeds, Books 1-3 by Max R. Peterson, Jr.: Duplin/Sampson County Deed Book 8:136: Dec. 27, 1783 James McKethan of
Cumberland Co. to Neill McLeod of Duplin. 100 acres in the fork of Williamson Swamp and the Beaverdam Swamp. Land was "by his majestys letters pattent granted to the said James McKeithan Bearing date 2 Jan 1773. Wit Norman McQuinn, Jeremiah (x) Tew. Reg Duplin Co. Book I. [It is not clear whether this is James Sr. or James Jr.]
Cumberland County NC Census, 1790: James McKeathen Sr 1M 16+, 1F, 2 slaves.
In his Cumberland County will, written Aug. 8, 1794, recorded Oct. 1794, James McKethen left to his Son Dugald the "plantation and manner whairon I now live"; to Son Danial 200 acres: 100 acres in Sampson Co. and 100 acres "at my old cowpen on black river"; to Son John McKethen five pounds; and "My Parishable Property" to be equally divided between "my children James, Sarah, Ann, Dugald, Daniald." No Extrs. Wits Malcolm McKethan, Alexander Stewart [this last name Stewart is very difficult to read on the original will, and it may in fact be something else].
In 1894, Edwin Robeson MacKethan compiled some notes from the records of Cumberland Co. NC. Among them is the following entry: "1794. James McKethan (Note. Brother of John McKethan and son of James McKethan, Sr.) [this has been lined out and someone has written "this must be James McKethan, Sr. himself]. Will. Sons, Dugald Malcom, John, and James and daughter, Sarah McKethan. Witness Alexander (s) Sherwood and Malcom (x) McKethan. (Note. This must be an old will as have no reference to the Will Book. These old wills in the Clerks Office of Cumberland County, N.C.)" We have been unable to locate this will or any other reference to it.