Brinkley Strickland

Obediah married Winney ???. Winney was born before 1770; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From STRICKLAND SCENE Vol 7, No 2, Second Quarter 1986:

"Sampson Strickland of Revolutionary Wake County, N.C.: A Tale of Tory Determination" Contributed by Franceine Perry Rees

"A great may tragedies, and perhaps as many tales of courage and sacrifice, could be written if those of us who dig into our family's "roots" could learn the complete stories behind the written records of events in our ancestors' lives! We can only wonder about what motivated Sampson Strickland, Sr., middle-aged husband and father, solid citizen and prosperous farmer, to stand up in the Wake County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in December, 1777, and steadfastly refuse to swear the Oath of Allegience to the State of North Carolina. By his refusal, Sampson placed himself with the despised Loyalists and was therefore ordered to leave the state. In some parts of North Carolina, "Tories" were numerous and could support each other against revolutionary pressure; such was not the case in Wake County.

The Oath, devised as part of the state's Treason Act of 1777, was unequivocal; "I will bear faithful and true Allegience to the State of North Carolina, and will to the utmost of my power support and maintain, and defend the independent Government thereof, against George the Third, King of Great Britain, and his Successors . . . . "

Unlike other British sympathizers, Sampson Strickland was not a recent immigrant to these shores; as youngest son of Matthew Strickland, Jr. and his wife Anne Bracewell, he descended from several generations of Viriginia colonists. His nearest tie to the pro-British Anglican clergy appears to have been nor nearer than a maternal great-grandfather, Rev. Robert Bracewell, parson of the Lower Parish, Isle of Wight County, Virginia, whose death preceded Sampson's birth by more than fifty years. Neither was he a merchant who profited from trade with the British. For whatever cause, even in the face of overwhelming opposition, this Strickland found himself unable to renounce his loyalty to the English crown.

Born in 1723 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Sampson Strickland moved south as a young man, receiving a Granville grant patent May 24, 1756 for 275 acres of land in what was then Johnston County, North Carolina. (The Powell Creek area where he settled was divided in 1770 to create Wake County.) Court records include more than a dozen references to Sampson thereafter; he recorded deeds, witnessed others' land transactions, registered his cattle brand. In addition to his agricultural pursuits, he accepted a number of civic responsibilities, serving as juror, caretaker of an orphan, road committee member and road overseer.

By the time colonial fervor for independence rose high, Sampson Strickland must have been quite thoroughly settled among his Wake County neighbors, doubtless cherishing hopes that eventual reconciliation with the mother country might be achieved. But as the strife between England and her colonies increased, it became impossible for North Carolinians to remain tacit royalists. A rather mild loyalty oath in which persons suspected of sympathizing with the crown swore not to bear arms against or otherwise oppose the rovolutionary government "during the present unhappy contest between Great Britain and America" was ultimately replaced by a much more stringent avowal; all who lived within the colony that had proclaimed itself a state were to be compelled to declare their allegiance to it.

As 1777 drew to a close, Sampson Strickland may have already refused the oath in a muster of men in his militia district, or he may have been singled out and summoned to court as a suspected British symphathizer. At any rate, two other men appeared in court the same day as Sampson; they each swore the oath and were given certificates as evidence that they had "complyed with the law."

Sampson Strickland, however, defied the court, the law, and popular opinion: "...being Cited to appear at this Court to take the Oath of Allegience to this State came into Court, and on said Oath being offered to him her refused taking the same, whereupon the Court Pronounced his Banishment agreeable to Law."

It is probable that Sampson was banished as ordered, but where he went remains a mystery. Did he go to the West Indies or to Nova Scotia, as did other Loyalists? Did any of his family go with him? Was any of his property confiscated?

The records do not offer such information. In fact, he must have died in exile, because his name does not appear in the court minutes from the time he was sentenced until after his death, when his widow Christina reported his estate inventory in July, 1781. In March of the next year, she received fromthecourt persmiisio to act as her husband's administratix, posting bond for 700 pounds. In June the court accepted an account of the estate sale from the deputy sherriff (buyers included Christina, Obediah, Abel, and Hardy Strickland, along with Sampson Strickland, Jr. In March, 1783, Christina sought guardianship of her younger children--Obediah, Abel, Mary Anne, Lot, Braswell, and Matthew, for which she was required to enter bond of 1,200 pounds. In May 1784, Obediah achieved his majority and purchased 250 acres of what had doubtless been his father's land fromthe deceased Tory's eldest son and namesake, Sampson, Jr. Christina, their mother, co-signed the deed with her mark. One of the witnesses, Joseph Strickland, may have been another older son with Sampson the elder and Christina. Lot Strickland's December, 1784, will names his mother and brothers, Braswell and Matthew, with Obediah as executor and Abel and Joseph as witnesses.

It is unlikely that many of Sampson Strickland's legion descendants would agree that his refusal to support the new state was justified; history has certainly shown that the American Revolution was not only inevitable but beneficial. However, those of us who descend from this stubborn Wake County Tory should take some pride in his bravery, and hope we might have inherited a modicum of that quality in his charater which resulted in this sacrifice of home and a comfortable future for principle and loyalty.

The loyalist tendencies of Sampson Strickland Sr did not descend to his namesake. The younger Sampson served two tours of active duty with the Wake County militia, according to documents in a pension claim filed by his children.

Sampson married Christina ???. Christina was born between 1710 and 1720; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Land partition between the sons of Matthew and Elizabeth Strickland of Isle of Wight: (Courtesy of Mary B Curtis, MryBCurtis@aol.com. Posted at Strickland-l@rootsweb.com)

To all X pian persons whom these present shall come. Matt Strickland and William Strickland, sons of Mathew Strickland, late deceased, have made, concluded, and agreed for a division between them and either of them, and their heirs for ever. Decided and bounded as followeth, I the said Mathew Strickland does give andmake over my whole right and title for me and my heirs unto him and his heirs forever, a piece of land where on my father lived on beginning at the mouth of the horse swamp, SOS running up the horse swamp to the Gum Branch \ ------ running up the said Branch to Coll. Pitts line SOS running the line unto the Plantation whereon the said Matt Stricklnad dec'd dwelt now all the land above the for mentioned Branch joining unto ------------Plantation and also all the land that lieth on the South side of the Horse Swamp. Now I the said Mathew Strickland dose give one hundred and fifty acres of Land at the Old Plantation unto my Brother Jno. Strickland and his heirs for ever never to go out of the name of ye Stricklands. Also ye said Mathew Strickland, does gives one hundred and fifty acres of land unto my brother, SamStrickland and his heirs forever not to go out of the name. ? lying at the head of the Watery Branch joining upon Arthur Whitehead, now all the rest of the land above the formentioned Branch and only the South side of the Horse Swamp --------said Mat Strickland does give unto my brother, William Strickland and his heirs, and also -------Mathew Stricklnad ----give unto my brother Joseph Strickland one hunded and fifty acres of land lying upon Blackwater between my Plantation and the line of ME or Mr. Woodwards being on the ----in my own ---according to the Division Bounds after ------- me and my brother William Stricklnad, ------- ----- to have his -----according to the Division Bounds after ------between me and my brother. William Strickland, ---- ----- to have his ----- according to his ------- ----- to have his ------ according to his ------all ----- and -----of---- ----- if ----- ----- of me Should defraud them or either(any?) of them ---- and defrauded shallforfit his own part according to these articles to him or them that shall be defrauded ----- ----- ----- and the aforesaid 150 acres lands to him or them unto John Strickland, his heirs shall not ----- or defrraud a ----- sails of a piece of land joining upon the Black Pond at the head of the Horse Swamp bargained, and sold from me, Will Strickland unto Arthur Whitehead as a witness of hands and Seal this 9 day Aug. in the year of our Lord God 1699. Signed Mat "M" Strickland Will "W" Strickland Wit. by Barnaby Mackinney, acknowledged at a Levey Case ----for ye Isle of Wiight co., Va. by Mathew Strickland and Wm. Davidson. Wm. Davidson - for 2050 good macht. 150 acres on Blackwater (from a patent 22 Sept. 1682, 10 upon River, 12 upon land of Wm. Mays ----

Below is the Last Will and Testament of Matthew Strickland, courtesy of Jane Shelton of Lafeyette, Georgia as posted on the Strickland-L@rootsweb.com (her email address is: UGA1mom@aol.com).

(Presented at a court held for Isle of Wight County, Oct. 25, 1730 Will Book 3, p. 224)

I Mathew Strickland being very sick & weak but in perfect memory blessed be God and do remembring the mortality of my Body do Give and Bestow of what worldly Goods God hath been pleased to Endow me with in This Manner following viz First I bequeath my Soul to God who gave it and my Body to be buried in a decent mannor according to the Discretion of my Executors Item I give unto my son John Strickland one Hundred Acres of Land more or less beginning at a maple a corner Tree so running to a Place called the Green Pond from the Green Pond running across the Neck to the Swamp. I say unto my son John Strickland and his heirs for ever lawfully Begotten of his Body And for want of such Heirs then to the next heirs of the Family --------never to go out of the Name of the Family. Item I give unto my Son William the Land of the East Side of the Swamp I say unto my son William Strickland and to the Heirs of his Body lawfully Begotten. And for want of such heirs then to the next Heir of the Family never to go out of the Name. Item I give unto my son Sampson Strickland my my now dwelling Plantation and the Land thereunto containing One hundred and Fifty Acres. I say unto my son Sampson Strickland and to the Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten and for want of such Heirs then to the next Heirs of the Family never to go out of the Name. Item I give unto my son Mathew Strickland one Grey Mare with one Eye two years old. Item I give unto my Son Jacob Strickland one young Horse bay aged a year anad upwards ----- Item I give unto my son John Strickland one dark Bay Mare aged Three Years old branded upon the shoulder with James Bryant brand Branded by Edward Chrittey and Abraham Dew ---- Item I give unto my Son William Strickland one Gray Mare aged Three Years Old and upward. Item I give unto my Son Sampson Strickland one Bay Mare with a Star in her Forehead. Item I give unto my Daughter Sarah Strickland one Black Mare with her Ears cropt and her Colt if she has one --- Item I give unto my daughter Ann Strickland one Stone Horse branded with two C C one open at the upper part and the other at the under I Give unto my daughter Elizabeth Strickland One Black Mare with a crop in one Ear taken off Item I give unto my daughter Jane Strickland one Bay Mare branded on the Buttock with two S S Item I give unto my Daughter Ann Strickland One Bed Blankett & Sheet already received two Dishes and one Plate already received Item I give unto my Son Mathew Strickland four Steers to be sold for the Families use. I say unto my Son Mathew Strickland
Item I give unto my Son Joseph Strickland Two two years Old Heifers one of them with a Calf by her Side and the other has not. I say unto my Son Joseph Strickland Item I give unto my eldest Son a Sorrell Horse a Stone Horse to purchase Land for them and Jacob with a barren cow to purchase Land for them. Item I give unto my Sons John, William & Sampson Strickland a two years Old heifer a piece
I say unto my Sons John William and Sampson. Item I give unto my Son Mathew Strickland two ---years old ?????
Item I leave my two Eldest Sons in charge with their Brothers cattle and their Increase to take care of them.
Item I give unto my Son Joseph Strickland a Feather Bed and Furniture and a pot two Dishes and a plate and half a Dozen of Spoons. Item I give unto my loving Wife all the rest of my moveable Estate during her life for widdowhood. I say unto my Loving Wife Ann Strickland excepting one cow and Calf to my Daughter Eliz Strickland and leaving my wife and Son Joseph Strickland Executors of this my last Will and Testament Dated the 14th of July 1730.
The last will & Testament of Arthur Taylor Mathew Strickland Testator Witness Joseph I Strickland his marks his Mathew Cooper Mathew TTT Strickland
mark


At a Court held for Isle of Wight County
the 25th day of October 1730 ------ The Last Will and Testament of Mathew Strickland Deceased was presented in Court by Anne Strickland Executrix and being aproved by the Oaths of the Witnesses is admitted to Record
Test James Ingles Clk Court
Record enter

WILL BOOK VOL.3 1726-1733 PAGES 224-225

The mark of Joseph listed as a witness looks like a capital I with a li across the middle parallel with the top and bottom crossings. Each cro piece at the top and bottom have little marks at the ends.

The mark of Mathew as signed looks like 3 Ts touching at the top cross pieces.

The Estate appraisal is shown below, courtesy of Ronnie D. Wheeless (Ronnie.D.Wheeless@saic.com) posted to the STRICKLAND-L@rootsweb.com)

On July 26, 1731, the estate of Mathew Strickland was appraised to have a value of 107.7.7 pounds, by Robert Crocker, John (I) Cain, and Robert Buryman: 10 cows and calves, barren cow, 11 steers, 6 heifers, 5 year old heifers, bull, gray horse, bay horse, sorrel horse, slave man, 14 sheep, 6 sows and pigs, 3 barren sows, some shoats, boar, brass spice mortar, candle stick, 5 pewter basins, 31 ? pounds of pewter, small dish, 10 plates, 12 ? pounds of old pewter, some spoons, box iron and heaters, spit, 3 juggs, 6 bottles, jar, skillet, frying pan; pails, trays, tubs some old tubes; old cart and wheels, stock lock, sickle, 2 axes, 2 hoes, pair of mill stones; 4 old barrels; hammer, pair of steel yards, augur, some shoe tools, 4 old drawing knives, old handsaw, 148 pounds of pot iron, 2 parcels of old iron; looking glass, old table, 9 chairs, 4 feather beds and furnishings, 2blankets, 2 chests, 2 old chests, old couch, woolen wheel; gold ring, old sword, gun, 2 old saddles and bridles.

Matthew married Anne Bracewell about 1700 in Isle Of Wight County, Virginia. Anne (daughter of Richard Bracewell and Sarah Sampson) was born between 1667 and 1680 in Isle Of Wight County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Also spelled Braswell. Said to have married second John Edwards in or around Isle of Wight County, Virginia.