Notes:

NOTE 1./
Richard Singletary received a grant for 2000 acres of land in October 1728. This tract of land lay on both sides of the Cape Fear River and encompassed Elizabethtown in Bladen, Co., NC. The property was was conveyed in his will in parcels as "Strathbougie Plantation" and "Sugar Loaf". Richard witnessed the conveyance of a town lot in Brunswicktown for Colonel Maurice Moore in 1735.

NOTE 2./ BLADEN CO., NC DEED BOOK 1738-1779
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May 25, 1757: George RONALD of Glasgoe in North Brittain merchant who was surviving co partner of Charles HELPBURN both State of Brunswick on Cape Fear River in NC & John SMITH of Bladen, planter. 40 lbs. 320 A NE side of NW branch of Cape Fear River..sd tract granted to Richard SINGLETARY June 19, 1736..& conveyed to sd Geo. RONALD & Charles HEPBURN Feb 26, 1738...& the plantation whereon sd John SMITH lives..Wit: Jos.BURGWIN, Willm. BASTRAM. P.24-6

NOTE 3./ Will of Richard Singletary - 1773

In the Name of God, “Amen”
The 8th of March A. Domini 1773, I , Richard Singletary, Senior, of the County of Bladen and the Province of North Carolina, being sickly and weakly in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body I recommend to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors not doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:

Impremis: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Benjamin Singletary, the heirs of his body forever three hundred and twenty acres of land, beginning at the lower corner of the Susan Camps or Strayboge land, then down the N.W. River to the store landing, then back the course of the survey likewise, two hundred acres adjoining being apart of my back survey likewise two hundred acres by survey in Plumb Branch, likewise I give to my son Benjamin my negro fellow called Old Pompy.

I give to my well loved son William Singletary and to the heirs of his body forever the plantation whereon I now live beginning at the store landing then down the N.W. River containing three hundred and twenty acres be it more or less, also I give my son William four hundred and forty acres joining the same part of my back tract on Harrison’s Creek, also my negro fellow called young Pompy.

I give and bequeath to my son Richard Singletary five hundred acres of land know by the name of Susan Camps or Straboge to him and the heirs of his body forever.

I give to my daughter Elizabeth Singletary, widow of John Singletary, my negro fellow named Charles.

I give to my son in law Elkanah Allen five shillings proclamation money.

I give to my well loved wife Joyce Singletary, my negroes Tom, Jimmy and Judge, during her life then I give Tom to my son Richard, Jimmy to and Judy to be divided between my sons William and Richard. I likewise give unto my wife Joyce my household furniture and stuff during her life the to be divided between my sons, Benjamin, William and Richard.

I do constitute, make and ordain my son William Singletary and my nephew William Salter my Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testament, wills, legacies, rights and executors by me in any ways named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Richard Singletary (Seal)

Signed, sealed and pronounced and declared by the said Richard Singletary as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us.
Gainor Humphreys
Joseph Humphreys
Benjamin Humphreys

Will Book 2, Page 287, Bladen County, NC

Richard married Joyce UNKNOWN about 1730. Joyce died after 1773 in Bladen County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elizabeth SINGLETARY was born between 1730 and 1740 in Bladen County, North Carolina; died after 08 Mar 1773.
2. Benjamin SINGLETARY was born about 1735 in Bladen County, North Carolina; died before 1790 in Bladen County, North Carolina.
3. William SINGLETARY was born about 1738 in Bladen County, North Carolina; died on 01 Jun 1785 in Bladen County, North Carolina.
4. Rachel SINGLETARY was born about 1747 in Bladen County, North Carolina.
5. Anna ? SINGLETARY was born about 1750 in Bladen County, North Carolina.
6. RS Richard SINGLETARY was born about 1753 in Bladen County, North Carolina; died on 11 Sep 1830 in Bladen County, North Carolina.

Notes:

NOTE 1./ from The Descendants of Francis Singletary Compiled By Dorothy Courtney Saunders - 1997

Jonathan was associated with Governor James and Colonel Maurice Moore as members of the "Goose Creek Faction" in the Tuscarora Indian Expeditions of 1712 and1713 in North Carolina. He witnessed a deed of conveyance of 200 acres of land in Chowan Co., NC in 1716. His descendents established the North Carolina line of the Singletary family.

NOTE 2./ His wife died at Charleston SC on 25 Feb 1732.In St. Thomas & St. Denis Church records. Possible 2nd marriage to Hellena ? in Cape Fear area. Land grant in SC 16 Aug. 1705, was in Chowan Co. NC 31 Oct 1717. Lived in Winyah, SC in 1739 but gone before 1755.

The Descendants of Francis Singletary Compiled By Dorothy Courtney Saunders - 1997

Jonathon married Hel Len AH in 1704 in South Carolina. Hel was born about 1685; died on 25 Feb 1732 in St. Thomas & St. Denis, South Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Note 1./
Benjamin Singletary, youngest son of Richard (d.1687) was a soldier under Lieutenant Swett in "King Phillip's War" which was brought to an end April 12, 1676 upon the death of King Phillip. On the 4th of April, 1678 he married Mary Stockbridge and settled in his native town of Haverhill, Mass. 1695, he left Mass. and migrated to the Province of South Carolina and settled at a place on the Ashby River called Red Bank near Summerville, SC in the ST. Thomas & ST. Denis Parish. Here, on July 8, 1699 he obtained a warrant for 300 acres of land.

Note 2./
Benjamin Singletary. Born April 4th,1656. Married Mary Stockbridge April 4th, 1678 and settled in his native town of Haverhill, MA. In 1695 he left MA and settled in South Carolina. The book I have shows that his descendants chose to spell their name "Singeltary". It also says that Bejamin became the founder and head of the So. Carolina branch of the Singletary family. It shows that all of his children were born in MA. They are: 1) Susanna(h)Jan. 27,1679; 2)Richard,Mar 16,1681; 3) Jonathon, Aug. 28,1683; 4)John, July 6, 1686; 5) Broughton,Mar 25,1689; 6)Joseph,Feb 9, 1692-3; 7)Mary. July 14,1695

Note 3./
What is known is that Benjamin, youngest son of Richard (d.1687), migrated to South Carolina in 1695. Benjamin's descendants are the origin of the family in North and South Carolina. Benjamin received a warrant for 300 acres of land near Red Banks,SC (Summerville,SC) on July 8, 1699. On November 4,1703, Richard Singletary, Benjamin's son, was granted a warrant for 500 acres of land in Berkeley Co. SC. Berkeley County is located in the ST. Thomas & ST. Denis Parish area.
South Carolina jury list for the years 1718 through 1783 include the following Singletarys from ST. Thomas & ST. Denis Parish: Benjamin 1744; Joseph Sr. and Jr. 1744; Jonathan 1744; Britian(Braton) 1720 & 1731; Jonathan 1720, 1731,1737, & 1740; Benjamin 1740,1751, & 1757; David 1751 & 1757; James 1731; Joseph Sr. 1737; Joseph Jr. 1740 & 1757; John 1757 & 1767; Richard 1720 & 1757; Thomas 1757.
Jonathan, (son of Benjamin who migrated to SC) and his sons Richard, William and Joseph migrated to Bladen Co., NC in the Cape Fear River Basin in the early 1700's. They were associated with James and Maurice Moore and the "Goose Creek Faction" in the Tuscarora Indian Expeditions of 1712 and 1713. Jonathan witnessed a deed in Chowan Co., NC (Deed Book #1, No. 1032) dated july 30,1716 between Edward Smithwick of Albermarie Co. conveying 200 acres of land adjoining Nathan Moore to William Lattimer. Jonathan's son, Richard was granted 2000 acres of land in October 1728 in Bladen Co., NC. Richard also witnessed for Maurice Moore the conveyance of Lot. No. 9 of Brunswicktown to John Martindale on September 7, 1735. Colonel Maurice Moore was a leader of the "Goose Creek Faction", settled Brunswicktown and built Orton Plantation which he later gave to his brother "King Roger Moore". Jonathan's son, William, received a grant for 1200 acres of land in Bladen Co., NC in 1738 adjoining to his brother Richards land. Also, Joseph ( Jonathan's son) held land adjoining to his brothers Richard and William in Bladen Co., NC. Between the years of 1820 and 1850 most of the Singletary families in Bladen Co., NC migrated to Georgia, Florida and Alabama. They continued to move for land was still cheap in Georgia and public land was available in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

In many instances, Thomas Co., GA, became the point of departure for those moving west before 1840.
Vital Records of Newbury, Massachusetts to 1850. Farmer's Register, Vol. 4, p. 102.
Directory of Ancestorial Heads of New Eng. Families, Vol.4, Frank R.Holmes
First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge Olde East New Jersey, Orra Eugene Monnette, Parts 2, 3, and 4.
Records for ST. Thomas and ST. Denis Parish, South Carolina.
The Singletary Family History 1599 - 1989, Yvonne Miller Brunton.
South Carolina Jury Lists, 1718 - 1783, Mary B. Warren.
Wills, Land Grants, Deeds, Census of 1790 - 1850.
Public Records of Bladen Co., North Carolina.
Public Records of Thomas Co., Georgia.
Public Records of Leon Co., Florida.
[Singletary Family .FTW]

Benjamin married Mary STOCKBRIDGE on 04 Apr 1678 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of John STOCKBRIDGE and Mary HATCH) was born on 29 Apr 1655 in Sictuate, Mass; died after 1696 in Red Bank, Summerville, SC; was buried in Red Bank, Summerville, SC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./ SINGLETARY FAMILY

Richard Singletary is documented as residing in Salisbury, Mass. from 1644 to 1652, where he was a planter and received land in the "First Division". He was elected a "Select Man" in 1650 and reportedly "taxed decently".
In 1653, he moved back to Haverhill, Mass. where he became a planter and proprietor.
He was again elected a "Select Man" in 1655. He lived there until his death on October 25, 1687. Richard outlived his wife, Susannah, by five years as her death is listed as Aprill 11, 1682. Richard was well educated by the standards of the day and a prominent member of the communties in which he lived. His children married into other prominent families of the era.
By the early 1700's a number of Richard's sons and grandsons migrated to other areas of New England and the Carolinas. They migrated primarily to obtain land which was abundant and cheap at the time. Interestingly, Jonathan, eldest son of Richard (d.1687) and his family members changed their name to Dunham after moving to Woodbridge, New Jersey. Descendants of Jonathan continue to use the Dunham name today. Jonathan signed numerous legal documents as Dunham alias Singletary. The family is well documented in the early period in New England, but after the third generation, research becomes very difficult due to the lack of records and the duplication of names in the family.

NOTE 2./ The Descendants of Francis Singletary Compiled By Dorothy Courtney Saunders - 1997
E-Mail - [email protected] <>

Information for Richard follows:
Family tradition, that has for many, many years been handed down from generation to generation, tells that in the last quarter of the 16th century there was in England a family of title and large estates by the name of Dunham (Donham in Massachusetts records). There were two branches and in case of the death of the last male heir the title and estates would pass to the nearest make relative in the younger branch. The unexpected did occur and every male of the elder branch died except one small boy and one day he was missing. On investigation it was found that his nurse was also missing. Extensive searching, even with bloodhounds, produced no trace of the missing heir so the property was held for some years in abeyance. Eventually the heir apparent of the younger branch instituted a lawsuit to gain possession but he decision of the courts is unknown. At any rate, many years afterward the nurse, on her deathbed, confessed that she had been employed to destroy the child, but that her heart failed when the test came, and she decided to procure him a home in the new world. Kowing a search would be made she hid with the child in a dense hazel thicket and was in mortal terror when she heard the hounds. They failed to pick up the scent, however, so the nurse with the child remained there a day and a night, fearing that they would be discovered on emerging. They finally escaped, however, and almost expiring of hunger and fatigue, succeeded in reaching a ship in which she embarked for America. On reaching whose shores she deserted the child and shortly afterward returned to England. She added that in view of the fact that the child was now alone, separated from all kindred ties and likely to remain so, she had given him the doubly significant name of Single Tarry. The circumstances under which this written and sworn confession was made lent such force to the probability on it's truth detectives were immediately sent to America to investigate the matter and a young man was found bearing the name whose age corresponded with that of the lost heir of the Dunham estates and who could give no account of his antededents. The Captain of the ship on which the child was deserted had adopted him under the name the nurse had given, having no idea of his real name and lineage, but he was now dead. Indeed the number of years that had passed, and the surroundings evidently chosen at the time with reference to destroying all trace of name and ancestry, were such that no one could positively testify that this was the person sought; and while he was believed to be the heir the evidence was not sufficient to satisfy the English Court and put him in possession of the property. This tradition has been passed down for generations and it assumes the dignity of truth when we consider that in a legal document that appears in the archives of Massachusetts, recorded in 1702, the whole family is referred to as "Donham, alias Singletary.

Another legend concerning the origin of the family is of two Dunham/ Donham/ Denham/ DuNoe/ DuNom/ brothers, Huguenot refuges from La Rochelle, France, who came to America in early 1700's. Later one slipped back to France to see what he could recover of the family estates. Upon his return to America he announced to his brother that all was lost the Crown and the Church had taken it all. The unbelieving brother denounced the rascality of the returnee's report and refused to bear the family name any longer, taking his mother's family name of Singletary.

Richard was in Massachusetts by Sept. 11, 1637. See the book Singletary/Curtis Family written by Lou SingletaryBedford in 1907 for background and many descendents. Ms. Bedford wrote "Among the earliest records of him he is simply mentioned as Richard Singletary of Salisbury and Amesbury. He was a great rover for we find him in Salem in 1637, where he received a grant of land; removed to Newbury, where he joined the church in 1645; was selectman in 1650; removed to Haverhill in 1653; where he received a grant of land and became a proprietor; was selectman in 1655.

Many other descendents were in Bladen Co., NC and can be followed through deeds in the possession of some of their descendents of families that traveled on to Mississippi.

An updated book THE SINGLETARY FAMILY HISTORY by Yvonne Miller Brunton, c. 1989 and published by Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA 30633, has been used to correct some of the information that Ms Estabrook originally submitted to Colonial Dames. She has done extensive research and states that her notes have been deposited with the Thomasville (GA) Cultural Center Library.

SOURCE NOTES for Richard follow:
He was born between 1585-1599. Records say that he died at age of 102.
Membership to National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century has been established for his descendents. National #10567 member Thelma Courtney Estabrook.
Some descendents moved to NJ and sometimes used alias of Dunham. A descendent Scott Trimble of San Rafael, CA has traced many other descendents and he has several Dunham/Donham lines. Jonathan's son Nathaniel changed his name to Donham and it is from this person that Scott is descended

NOTE 3./ As a historical time frame point of reference; In 1585, Sir Francis Drake, the English explorer, rescued the 1st English attempt at colonizing the New World. This was at Roanoke Island North Carolina
NOTE 4./ Genealogical Dictionary of New England Settlers : Source information found at <>

Volume 4 : page 102
Singletary, or Singletery, Amos, Haverhill, perhaps s. of Richard, took o. of alleg. Dec. 1677. BENJAMIN, Haverhill, s. of Richard, perhaps his youngest, sw. alleg. the same day with Amos, m. 4 Apr. 1678, Mary Stockbridge, had Susanna, b. 27 Jan.foll.; Richard, 16 Mar. 1681; Jonathan, 28 Aug. 1683; John, 6 July 1686; Broughton, 25 Mar. 1689; Joseph, 9 Feb. 1693; and Mary, 14 July 1695. JONATHAN, Haverhill, prob. br. of the preced. in 1663 had w. Mary. NATHANIEL, Haverhill, br. of Benjamin, sw. allg. the same day with him, m. 22 Dec. 1673, Sarah Belknap, perhaps d. of Abraham the first, had John, b. 7 May 1675; Jonathan, 18 Nov. 1678, d. in few days; Sarah, 23 Oct. 1679; Susanna, 19 Sept. 1681; Richard, 5 Aug. 1683, perhaps that one k. by the Ind. 19 Aug. 1707, at Lancaster; Hannah, 23 May 1685; Ebenezer, 18 June 1687; and ano. 20 Aug. 1689; but the f. was k. by the Ind. 7 days bef. RICHARD, Salem 1637, rem. bef. join. the ch. to Newbury, there was freem. 7 Sept. 1638, may have had sev. ch. b. there ef. rem. to Salisbury in 1645 or aft. but there are rec. by w. Susanna, Jonathan, b. 17 Jan. 1640; Eunice, 7 Jan. 1642; Nathaniel, 28 Oct. 1644; Lydia, 30 Apr. 1648; and Amos, Apr. 1651. He was a selectman in 1650, tax. decently for the supp. of min. yet gone in 1652 to Haverhill, there, by w. Susanna Cooke, says Barry, had Benjamin, b. 4 Apr. 1656. Coffin says, he had John, that is perhaps the same as Jonathan. Eunice m. at Andover, 6 Jan. 1659, Thomas Eaton. His w. d. 11 Apr. 1682, and he d. 25 Oct. 1687, in the 102d yr. if the repts. may be accept. RICHARD, New London 1686, wh. may have been s. or gr.s. of the preced. d. 16 Oct. 1711, leav. nine ch. some of wh. were in Carolina, but the only kn. names are Richard, William, Waitstill, and beside a d. wh. m. Samuel Latham.

NOTE 5./ from Descendants of Richard Singletary: <>

Notes for Richard Singletary:
Richard was living in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts in 1637. On 7 September, 1638 he was listed as a freeman, and member of the church in Newbury, Massachusetts. In 1645 the family moved to Salisbury, Essex County, Mass. where Rechard werved as a selectman in 1650. By 1652 the family had moved yet again, this time to Haverhill in Essex County. At the time of his death Richard was 102 years of age, an extreamely long lived person for that time and location.

Richard was born in England to family of title. He was to receive the title but another member of the Dunham Family, which was Richards family, hired Richard's nurse to kill him so that he would become the next one to receive the title. She could not do this so she took him aboard a ship to America. She gave Richard a new name, Singletarry to hide his name of Dunham. She placed the child in the care of an American family and went back to England but on her death bed she told what she had done. Richard chose to keep his new name of Singletary and rejected any efforts to regain his title.

Richard married Susannah M. COOK in Feb 1639 in Haverhill, Mass.. Susannah (daughter of Johanis COOK and Martha Susan COOKE) was born on 17 Mar 1616 in Bayton, England; died on 11 Apr 1682 in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Susannah Cook was a sister to Col. George Cook, Joseph Cook and Phillip Cook of Cambridge, Mass.

Col. George Cook was a Colonel in the service of Oliver Cromwell's Army prior to his immigration to America.

Record of her death refers to her as "goodwife" this is a term that could mean her husband was a church official .

John married Mary HATCH about 1653 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Mary died after 1695 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]