JAMES AND JANE GARRISON OF CARTERET NORTH CAROLINA It s amazing how much easier genealogy becomes when a brick wall finally tumbles. Recently DNA test results were announced which prove the descendants of Elenor Garrison of Franklin County Georgia are not a match to a man whose line is proven back to one of the four sons of Garret Garretson and Mary Baldwin of New Castle DE. That test helped to prove other DNA participants were the rightful Delaware Garrisons. The Delaware line is now a sizeable group that can now claim their proper ancestors and descendants. The descendants of Elenor, Jedediah, and Ebenezer can no longer claim a Delaware connection. First, it is clear that various spellings of the name existed in the early records. Later some of the descendants settled on GARRISON and others on GARRASON. They are the same family, verified by DNA testing. The descendants of Elenor already knew that they were a very close (in some instances exact) DNA match to the descendants of Jedediah Garrison, also of Franklin County, and a close match to a descendant of Ebenezer Garrason of Duplin County North Carolina. So the search resumed for the husband of the widow Elenor. This became a case where DNA results helped prove what research alone did not. Before there was a belief in a Delaware connection, there was an earlier theory about the widow Elenor and her children that must now be re-examined. Some had suggested that she was the widow of Isaiah Garrison of Orange County North Carolina. That theory was abandoned in favor of the Delaware theory that said Elenor was the widow of John Garretson of New Castle Delaware. Many experienced and recognized Garr*son researchers long ago made the connection of Isaiah and Jedediah as sons of James Garrison of Carteret and Duplin Counties in North Carolina. Records in Duplin County North Carolina helped identify other sons of James. By a process of matching records for several individuals, it is possible to present clear and convincing evidence that James and his wife were the parents of Isaiah, Jedediah, Ebenezer, Ephraim, Adonijah, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Darius. By a process of elimination, and the gathering of proofs for this line, Isaiah Garrison can now be identified as the husband of Elenor and the father of her children. He is the only one of the above group who was not still alive after Elenor appeared as a widow. Of the sons of James, only Isaiah was deceased before the 1790 census. Elenor was listed in her own name in the 1790 Greenville SC census. Her brother-in-law Jedediah Garrison was also in Greenville SC in the 1790 census. Shortly after 1800 both of these family units were in Franklin County Georgia together. Some other members of the Duplin County family moved to other counties in Georgia. The wife of James and the mother of his children can also be identified. We have found no mention of James in any public records after April of 1771 when he and Jedediah were the witnesses to a land purchase by Ephraim in Duplin County. The 1783 Tax List for Duplin NC, Capt. Gillaspie s Company, lists Ephraim Garrison and Jane Garrison, with just four names
between them. Ebenezer is listed on another page, but also on Capt. Gillaspie s list. When Ephraim wrote his will November 27, 1792 he gave to his daughter Polly 50 acres being the piece which my Mother now lives upon. Thomas did not marry until 1793 but the 1790 census shows his household includes two males over the age of 16 (Thomas and his brother Darius?), two females (his mother Jane and his sister Elizabeth?), and one male under the age of 16 who has not been identified. One possible mention of the widow Elenor was found in Duplin County records. Jacob Hollingsworth wrote his will May 26, 1790. In it he mentions a note of 23 pounds due to me from Elin Garrison. This is from a published abstract. A copy of the original needs to be examined in order to verify the name. There is no other known Garrison in Duplin County at that time with any form of the name Elin. Putting this family together came about because of a lot of hard work by several people but by two people in particular. Calder Garrason has been researching his line of Ebenezer Garrason for many years. He and the descendants of Jedediah were some of the early Garr*son DNA Project participants and soon learned that they were a very close match to each other, close enough that Calder s ancestor Ebenezer and Jedediah could have been brothers. The only hitch came because the line of Elenor also turned out to be a very close match and were sure the line was connected to Delaware. When the conflicting DNA results were received that proved Elenor s descendants had no connection to the Delaware line, Mary Burnett, descendant of Elenor, became determined to solve and document this line. Mary lives in Houston and has access to the wonderful Clayton Library. She spent many hours searching books and periodicals, making copies, and sharing all that she found. Several past researchers had found pieces of this puzzle but it was not until DNA results proved who was and who was not related that the puzzle pieces could finally be put together. What follows is a summary of the provable connections found for father James, mother Jane, and their children. A matching detailed timeline gives citations to proof for this family. CHILDREN OF JAMES AND JANE GARRISON OF CARTERET NORTH CAROLINA THEIR PROVEN TIES TO JAMES & JANE AND TO EACH OTHER (Names in parenthesis in this list are only the children whose names match the parents or siblings. They all had other children also.) 1. ISAIAH b. before 1745 d. 1783-1790 1776 of Orange Co NC sold 15 acres in Onslow Co NC whereon he and his father James Garrison formerly dwelt, Jedediah was on a Petition in Orange Co the same year. 1779 Isaiah on Orange Co NC tax list with Jedediah (waiting for proof) Widow Elenor and their descendants moved to Franklin County Georgia where they interacted with Jedediah and his descendants (daughter Elizabeth)
2. EBENEZER b. about 1750 1771 Jedediah and James witnessed Ebenezer s purchase of land in Duplin 1773 witnessed deed Rouse to Jedediah. 1775 witnessed deed Murrow to Jedediah 1778 Ephraim Garrison and Eadargar (Eadinger?) GARRISON (note by Karen, probably Ebenezer) witnessed a deed James Mills to John Waller 1783 Duplin NC census, Capt Gillespie s Company, along with Jane and Ephraim 1786 Duplin NC census next to Adonijah, very near Ephraim 3. JEDEDIAH b. 1752 Carteret Co NC (Obituary says he was born Carteret 1752, James was in Carteret records 1754, 1758 & 1762) 1771 Duplin, witnessed Ebenezer s deed, other witness was James 1776 Orange NC, Petition for election, Isaiah was on a deed of Orange Co NC same year 1779 Orange Co NC tax list with Isaiah Jedediah and his descendants moved to Franklin County Georgia where they interacted with the descendants of Isaiah and Elenor (son Thomas) (daughter Jane) 4. ADONIJAH b. about 1755 1784 Duplin, Ephraim & Adonijah witnessed the will of Philp Rouse 1786 Duplin Co census next to Ebenezer, very near Ephraim (son Jedediah) (son Isaiah) 5. EPHRAIM b. before 1762 1784 Duplin Ephraim & Adonijah witnessed the will of Philp Rouse 1778 Duplin, Ebenezer witnessed deed from Rouse to Ephraim 1778 Duplin, Ephraim Garrison and Eadargar (Eadinger?) GARRISON (note by Karen, probably Ebenezer) witnessed a deed James Mills to John Waller 1783 Duplin NC census, Capt. Gillespie s Company, along with Jane and Ebenezer 1786 Duplin Co census, very near Adonijah and Ebenezer 1792 Duplin, Ephraim s will identifies Thomas as his brother (son Thomas) 6. THOMAS b. 1761-1765 1790 Duplin, Federal Census, likely with his mother & two siblings in his household 1792 Duplin, identified as a brother of Ephraim in Ephraim s will 1795 Duplin, Elizabeth s husband Joseph Merrill named his brother-in-law Thomas Garrison as Executor of his will (son Ephraim)
(son Darius) (daughter Elizabeth) 7. DARIUS b. 1771-1775 1792 Jan 17, Duplin Co NC, married Anna Evers 1820 Effingham Co GA Federal Census, Darius household includes two females over 45, likely his wife and his sister Elizabeth 1829 Effingham Co GA Elizabeth Merrill transferred land to her brother Darius Effingham Co GA 1830 Effingham Co GA Federal Census, Darius household includes one female 50-59 (wife) and one female 70-79 (likely his sister Elizabeth) 8. ELIZABETH b. before 1775 1791 April 1, Duplin Co NC, married Joseph Merrell 1795 Elizabeth s husband Joseph Merrill named his brother-in-law Thomas Garrison as Executor of his will 1820 Federal Census, Effingham Co GA, Elizabeth likely one of the two adult females in her brother Darius household 1822 of Effingham Co., Georgia Deeded 100 acres in Duplin Co NC to Thomas Garrason 1829 Effingham Co GA Elizabeth Merrill transferred land to her brother Darius Effingham Co GA 1830 Federal Census, Effingham Co GA, Elizabeth likely the oldest female in her brother Darius household ------------------- Karen Simmons Descendant of Isaiah and Elenor Garrison November 2010
JAMES AND JANE GARRISON OF CARTERET NORTH CAROLINA TIMELINE 1725 James Garrison of Carteret, speculative, born before 1725 based on estimated age of Isaiah(speculative) 1745 Isaiah Garrison born, based on 1765 land grant(speculative) 1 1750 Ebenezer Garrason born, based on first appearance in public records (speculative) 2 1752 Jedediah Garrison born Cortright (Carteret) North Carolina 1754/55 (Jame)s Garrison on Capt. Moses Houston Carteret NC Militia List 3 1755 Adonijah born, based on first appearance in public records(speculative) 4 1758 James Garrison Carteret Co NC Tax List 5 1762 Ephraim Garrison born, based on first appearance in public records(speculative) 6 1762 Feb 27, Carteret Co NC John Harper 150 acres to James Garrison 7 1762 Carteret Co NC James Garrenson appointed to a jury to divide the lands and improvements of John Webster dec d between the widow and the heir 8 1 North Carolina Archives online, Craven Co NC, land grant 2 Duplin Co Deed Bk 4, p458, SAMPSON-DUPLIN DEEDS, Books 4-6, (ca. 1762 to ca. 1779), by Max R. Peterson, Jr. 3 Some speculation involved, based on additional records from the time period, only the s at the end of his first name and the entire last name was readable. www.rafert.org/carteret 4 N. C. Rev. Soldiers, Sailors, Patriots and Descendants, Mary Carter, Albany GA, Pioneers Publications, 1978 5 Transcribed from an original copy found in the NC State Archives by Joel S. Russell www.rafert.org/carteret 6 1783 Duplin Co NC Tax List, North Carolina Genealogy, Raleigh NC, Apring 1973, Vol. 19, Issue 1, page 2813 7 Copy of original deed, Carteret Deed Books: 1762- G pp 100-101, 1771- H pp 12-14 8 Early Carteret County Court Minutes 1747-1764. By Rebecca W Sanders, Beaufort, NC.
1765 Isaiah Garrison, Craven Co NC, land grant, 100 acres on Mill Creek, a place called Paradise 9 1771 April 16, Duplin Co NC, Ebinezar Gerrason purchased 100 acres on Persimmon Swamp, witnesses were Jedediah Garrason and James Garrason 10 1771 July 4, Isaiah Garrison to Stephen Dudley 150 acres in Carteret Co NC formerly James Garrison s 11 1773 July 7 Duplin Co NC, Jedediah Garrison was deeded 50 acres by Phillip & Hannah Rouse, On the west side of the North East Branch of Cape Fear River On a branch of Stocking Head swamp together with the Improvements thereon witnessed by Ebenezer Garrison. 12 1774 Mar 28 Duplin Co NC, Jedediah Garrison was deeded 100 acres by John & Sarah Murrow, On the west sode of the North East of Cape Fear River on Horse branch Ebenezer Garrison was a witness 13 1776 (Jan 6) Orange County NC, Isaih (sp) Garrison of same deeded to Edward Starkey for 45, a tract of 150 acres in Onslow Co NC whereon he and his father James Garrison formerly dwelt. 14 1776 Feb Duplin Co NC, Jedediah Garrison deeded to Charles Ward 100 acres On the west side fo the North East River... Being a part of (200) acres of land pattented by John Morrow above the mouth of Horse branch. (The parcel he purchased 1774 Mar 28) 15 9 North Carolina Archives online,craven Co NC, land grant 10 Duplin Co Deed Bk 4, p458, SAMPSON-DUPLIN DEEDS, Books 4-6, (ca. 1762 to ca. 1779), by Max R. Peterson, Jr. 11 Carteret Deed Books: 1762 = G pp 100-101, 1771= H pp 12-14. 12 Duplin Co Deed Book 5, page 233, SAMPSON-DUPLIN DEEDS, Books 4-6, (ca. 1762 to ca. 1779), by Max R. Peterson, Jr. 13 Duplin Co Deed Book 5, page 121, SAMPSON-DUPLIN DEEDS, Books 4-6, (ca. 1762 to ca. 1779), by Max R. Peterson, Jr. 14 Zae Hargett Gwynn. Abstracts of Records of Onslow County, North Carolina 1734-1850. 2 vols. Memphis (TN): Henry Norburne Gwynn, publr., 1961. v1, p292 15 Duplin Co Deed Book 6, page 4, ABSTRACTS, SAMPSON-DUPLIN AND SAMPSON COUNTY DEEDS, BOOKS 7-9, (ca. 1780 to ca. 1794), Max R. Peterson Jr.
1776 Nov 13 Petition for a new election in Orange Co NC Gediah (Jedediah) 16 1776 (approximate) Ebenezar Garrison, Private, NC Militia, Duplin Co NC 17 1776 (approximate) Adonijah Garrison, Revolutionary Soldier, Private 18 1776 (approximate) Jedediah Garrison, Revolutionary Soldier 19 1777 Feb 17, Orange Co NC, David Garrison, son of Jedediah Garrison born. 20 1778 May 16, Duplin Co NC to Ephraim Garrison from Phillip Rouse, 100 acres On the west side of the North East Branch of Cape Fear River between percimmon and Stocking Head Branch. witness Ebenezer Garrison. 21 1778 July 1, Duplin Co NC, Ephraim Garrison and Eadargar (Eadinger?) GARRISON (note by Karen, probably Ebenezer) witnessed a deed James Mills to John Waller. 22 1779 Jedediah(Judah) and Isaiah Orange Co NC Tax List together 23 1780 Sep 20 Duplin Co NC, Wemberk Boney to Adonijah Garrison 20 acres on the NS of Bizzell c1997 16 The North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, May 1984, p105 17 Revolutionary War Records of Duplin-Sampson Counties." By Virginia and Oscar 18 N. C. Rev. Soldiers, Sailors, Patriots and Descendants, Mary Carter, Albany GA, Pioneers Publications, 1978 19 Reprint of Official Register of Land Lottery of Georgia 1827 compiled by Martha Lou Houston, Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967, page 139, Jedediah Garrison, R.S. accepted by DAR 20 Obituary of David Garrison, Southern Christian Advocate issue May 20, 1842 21 Duplin Co Deed Book 6, page 98, SAMPSON-DUPLIN DEEDS, Books 4-6, (ca. 1762 to ca. 1779), by Max R. Peterson, Jr. 22 Duplin Co Deed Book 6, page 111, SAMPSON-DUPLIN DEEDS, Books 4-6, (ca. 1762 to ca. 1779), by Max R. Peterson, Jr. 23 Orange County NC 1779 Tax List, North Carolina Genealogy, Raleigh NC Summer 1969. Vol. 15 Issue 2, page 2355
Island Creek, recorded Oct Court 1786 24 1783 Ephram Garrison & Jane Garrison on Duplin Co NC tax list 25 1784 Oct 10, Duplin Co NC, Ephraim Garrason and Adonijah Garrison witnessed the will of Phillip Rouse 26 1785 Sep 20, Duplin Co NC, John Marchant to Adonijah Garrison 100A on the NS of Island Creek recorded Oct Court 1786 27 1786 Duplin County Census, Eben r and Adonijah Garrison adjacent entries, Eph m Garrison very nearby 28 1786 Oct 18, Ephraim Garrison married Johnna Middleton, Duplin Co NC 29 1790 Duplin Co NC, Thomas, Adonijah, Ephraim 30 1790 Greenville, SC, Elenor Garrison and Jedediah Garrison 31 1792 Nov 27, Ephraim s will written in Duplin Co NC identifies wife Jonny(transcribed in error as Jenny, his wife was Johnna Middleton 32 ), daughter Polly, sons David & Thomas, Brother 24 Duplin Co NC Book 1A. page 324, ABSTRACTS OF DEEDS, 1784-1813, Vol. 1, Eleanor Smith Draughon, Duplin County Historical Society 1983 25 1783 Duplin Co NC Tax List, North Carolina Genealogy, Raleigh NC, Apring 1973, Vol. 19, Issue 1, page 2813 26 Duplin County Wills 1730-1860, William L. (Bill) Murphy, Duplin County Historical Society, 1982, page 145 27 Duplin Co NC Deed Book 1A, Page 325, ABSTRACTS OF DEEDS, 1784-1813, Vol. 1, Eleanor Smith Draughon, Duplin County Historical Society 1983 page 00011 28 1786 April, Capt Gillespie's Company, State Census of North Carolina 1784-1787 29 Marriage Bonds of Duplin County North Carolina 1749-1868 by Cora Bass, page 39 30 1790 Federal Census, Roll M 637-7, pages 31, 35, & 45 31 1790 Federal Census, Roll 637-11, pages 85 & 111 32 Duplin County North Carolina Marriage Records 1755-1868 by Frances T. Ingmire,
Thomas, and refers to 50 acres Being the piece Which my Mother Now Lives uppon, 33 1800 New Hanover Co NC Federal Census, Adinih (Adonijah) Garrison 34 1820 Federal Census, Effingham Co., GA, the household of Darius Garrison includes one extra adult female who is likely his sister Elizabeth 35 1822 December 4, Elizabeth Merrell of Effingham Co GA deeded to Thomas Garrason 100 acres in Duplin Co NC, recorded Duplin Co April 1824 36 1829 17th April 1829 Effingham County Elizabeth Morell, widow, love and affection for brother, Darius Garison drawn by Elizabeth in 1827 Effingham Co. (GA). 37 1830 Federal Census, Effingham Co., GA, the household of Darius Garrison again includes one extra adult female who is likely his sister Elizabeth 38 33 William L. Murphy's Genealogical Abstracts - Duplin County Wills 1730-1860, p54. [Rose Hill (NC): Duplin County Historical Society, 1982] 34 1800 Federal Census, roll 33, page 11 35 1820 Federal Census, Roll M33_7; page 81, image: 86 36 Duplin County Georgia Deed Book 8A, page 288 37 Recorded Feb 11, 1835, Talbot County Georgia Deed Book 1833-1837 (C - D) 38 1830 Federal Census, Roll M19-17, page 110