David married Edith ROYAL in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Edith (daughter of Reason ROYAL and Elizabeth SYKES) was born on 05 Mar 1811 in Sampson County, North Carolina; died after 10 Aug 1860 in Fayettville, Cumberland County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./ Duplin County was formed from New Hanover County in 1750.
Sampson County was formed from Duplin in 1784

NOTE 2./ Reason Royal, and siters Sarah Butler, and Elizabeth Thornton stayed in NC. Reason died in 1854, and Raiford Royal died in Dooly in 1864. He was the last to die. Thirty years later the
Will of their father, Young Royal was probated.

NOTE 3./ Sampson County, NC - Will & Estate Records : Reason Royal
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In the name of God Amen: I Rezin Royal of North Carolina, Sampson County, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do hereby make declare and decree this paper written to be and contain my last will and testament. Revoking all or any other by me at any previous time made.

First: I require my executors (hereafter named) to bury my remains in a suitable & decent manner and to pay all my just debts of any kind and denomination.

Second: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine Royal the four following Negroes and their increase. Delcinda, age about 25 years and her three children: Isaiah age 6 years, Henry age about 4 years, and Amos age 2 years, to have and to hold to my wife Catherine and hers forever.

Third: I give, devise & bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine Royal during her natural life, my home plantation whereas is situated my tract adjoining the same which I received by the last will & testament of my deceased father, Young Royal and after her death the above named land to my grandson John D. Carver, who is the son of my beloved daughter Edith who is intermarried with David Carver of Cumberland County NC.

Fourth: I give and devise & bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine Royal all my household and kitchen furniture of every description. All of my stock of horses, hogs, sheep, and poultry of every kind whatsoever, all my crops and provisions of any kind. Excepting only one good bed and furniture out of my house hold furniture or there full value which my executors are required to reserve to my grandson John D. Carver, before mentioned.

Fifth: I give, devise, and bequeath unto my beloved grandson John D. Carver (1843), son of David Carver (1813) and my beloved daughter Edith (1811), now his wife, one tract of land known as the Wiley Herrings place to him and his heirs forever. But if the said John D. Carver should die before arriving at the age of 21 years, then the above named land is to go to the two brothers of the said John, namely Alexander (1838) and Josiah Carver (1845) and their heirs forever. Also I give, devise, and bequeath unto my grandson John D. Carver all my other lands after the death of my beloved wife who has been granted her life estate in the same.

Also, I give, devise, and bequeath unto my beloved grandson John D. Carver (1843) all my Negroes not before granted to wife. To him & his heirs forever, under the following conditions, these Negroes intended for my grandson John D. Carver are left to my wife for her use and benefit until my grandson arrive at the age of 21 years. My wife awing this time being hereby required to educate & maintain my said grandson John D. Carver provided with my wife until that time that time if however he should leave or be taken away without my wife’s consent, then she is not to bound by his schooling or support,
assuming the before mentioned age of his majority. Again, assuming my said grandson John D. Carver should not arrive at the age of twenty-one, then I give, devise, and bequeath all the Negroes intended for my grandson John D. Carver to his two brothers, Alexander and Josiah Carver to them & their heirs forever.

Sixth: I hereby require and command my executor to first pay and discharge each debt as I may leave behind me unpaid. Wherever my friends Thomas I. Morrisey & William Ashford may be security or in any way be able for me attain in bank or to individuals. And for the payment of what debts I may leave. I hereby require my executors to sell any and all my other property before reaching the four Negroes granted to my wife Catherine.

Seventh: I give, devise, and bequeath unto my three sons: Young (1813), Josiah (1815), & John Royal (1817) five dollars each to paid by my executors when called upon by my sons in person.

Eighth: I hereby nominate and appointed my trusty relative John Royal Esquire & my beloved wife Catherine Royal Executors to this my Last Will and Testament. August 1849. Signed & Delivered in presences of Thomas Morrisey and Frank Roberts.

/s/ Resin Royal

Probated November Term, 1854. W.R. Beaman CK.

NOTE: The key player in this will (John D. Carver) was six years old when this will was written. He was 11 years old when Reason Royal died and 21 during the heart of the Civil War in 1864. In the 1860c grandson John D. Carver was not living with Catherine. Not included in the will was Reason’s youngest who was dead. She was Mary Royal 1817-Sept 1832.

Catherine Williamson was Reason’s 2nd wife. His first wife was Elizabeth Sykes 1786-1832. Catherine was born 1802 and died in c1880. She lived off hw 421 north of Clinton NC. When I was growing up the place had a fork and two stores. One was mostly farm stuff. The place was called Kitty Fork and named after Catherine “Kitty” Royal who lived nearby.

The best that I can tell, John D. Carver never lived with his step grandmother. In 1852 his grandfather David Carver died and left a store. Alexander Carver and John D. Carver were clerks in the store in 1860. John D. Carver enlisted in Co. B of the 56th NC Regiment during the Civil War and he served three years and was a POW at Camp Lookout MD for some time. David Carver Jr. died before 1860. Edith Carver was then head of the house. In 1870 Catherine Royal was living alone. I do not see a condition in the will
that John D. Carver was not to get the land if he did not live with Catherine. John D. Carver was just a child of six when the will was written. He was a man of 38 when Catherine died. It is not known to me if he got the land but it is quite clear, he kept no part of the bargain.

The three sons of Reason as listed in the Will: $5 to be paid when called for in person. This means that they had moved away or had got their due. Young R. Royal, then 36, is located in Arkansas in 1850 with a wife Elizabeth age 17 with two small children age two and one. I could not find them in any other US Census. I could not locate Josiah Royal in any census. He must have died away and his family did not know it. Son John is in the 1850c for Sampson and living with Catherine Royal in 1860. His wife died before 1860.

Reason married Elizabeth SYKES about 1800 in Samson County, North Carolina. Elizabeth was born in 1786 in Sampson County, North Carolina; died on 28 Oct 1832 in Sampson County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./
Young Royal was third cousin and contempory of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson and Henry Lee, the father of Robert E. Lee

NOTE 2./
YOUNG ROYAL Will 1818 Sampson Co., NC

In the name of God Amen. I, Young Royal of Sampson County and state of North Carolina being of perfect mind and memory (blessed by God) and calling to mind the mortality of man knowing that it is allotted for all men once to die do write this my last will and testament. But first of all I recommend my soul
into the house of Almighty God who gave it to me and my body to be decently buried at the decision of my Executors but touching of such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bestow me I give and bequeath in the following manner and forever after.

First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Reazin Royal the land that I bought of John McGee known by the name of Phillips Place and all the property which I have given him heretofore.

Secondly, I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Sallie Butler, wife of Travis Butler one negro girl named Lynder and the property which I have heretofore given her.

Thirdly, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Sabra Brown, wife of Robert Brown, one negro girl named Hannah and the property which I have heretofore given her.

Fourthly, I have and bequeath unto my beloved son William Royal, one negro boy name Henry, also one bed and furniture.

Fifthly, I have and bequeath unto my beloved son Wilson Royal, one negro boy named Jordon, also one bed and furniture and if either William or Wilson Royal should die and never return to receive said property that the one who shall in turn share both their parts and if it should to happen that neither of them acquire the property that I have left to them to be equally divided amongst the rest of my children.

Sixthly, I bequeath and give unto my beloved daughter Betsy Westbrook one negro girl named Clamenda also, the property, which I have heretofore given her.

Seventhly, I have and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Polly Royal, wife of Hardy Royal, one negro girl named Florow, also the property, which I have heretofore given her.

Eighthly, I have and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Nancy Butler, wife of Robert Butler, one negro girl named Phyllis, also the property which I have heretofore given her.

Ninthly, I have and bequeath unto my beloved son Raiford Royal, all the land that I now posses (except the piece that I bequeath to my son Rezin Royal) to belong to the said Raiford mother's death, also, I have and bequeath unto my beloved son Raiford Royal two negro boys by the names of Quinon and Jonas, also one bed and furniture and all the plantation tools of every description, except the blacksmith tools.

Also, I give and bequeath my beloved wife Edith Royal the remainder of my property, which I have not mentioned or given to my children after paying my just debts during her natural life lived and after her death to be equally divided among my children heretofore mentioned.

William and Wilson Royal are to receive their part of my property when called for by with which I have above allotted.

I hereby make and appoint my son Rezin Royal and my son in law Travis Butler Executors to this my last will and testament disallowing all other wills or bequeaths by me heretofore made this 12th day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

Signed, Sealed, and acknowledged before us.

H. Royal his
his Young (X) Royal
Robert (X) Butler mark
mark

North Carolina, In Superior Court, Sampson County, February 15, 1894, before the Clerk Alexander R. Carver being duly sworn says: That there is now on file in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court the last will and testament of Young Royal, made and executed on the 12th day of July, AD 1818: That the subscribing witnesses hereto are H. Royal and Robert Butler: that the said Young Royal is the writer of said will and the said H. Royal and Robert Butler, the said subscribing witnesses are all dead, that he is not aquatinted with the hand writing of the said Young Royal and H. Royal and Robert Butler and he is unable to prove the handwriting of the said Young Royal writer and H. Royal and Robert Butler witnesses. He therefore asks that said will be admitted to probate and ____ ____ ____ ____ A. R. Carver
subscribed and sworn wherefore on February 10, 1894. J.S. Bizzell {seal}

North Carolina Sampson County. It appearing from the foregoing affidavit that Young Royal is the writer of the foregoing will is dead and that the subscribing witnesses H.Royal and Robert utler are also dead and that the handwriting of said Young Royal and the ubscribing witnesses H. Royal and Robert Butler can not be proven. It is ____ and abridged that said will be admitted to probate ______ proof nd the same is hereby admitted and declared will the last will and testament f Young Royal and as such
is _____ to be accepted and filed. This February 5, 1894.J. S. Bizzell Clerk Superior Court
Will Book No. 3, page 546

NOTE 3./ WILLIAM ROYAL OF SAMPSON CO. c1725-1795 by Jerome Tew
<>

On July 12, 1818 Young Royal wrote his last will and testament. He died the next day. His will was not probated until Feb. 15, 1894. Sons William (1786) and Raiford (1800) moved to Georgia. Son William died in Dooly Co. Georgia in 1845. Raiford returned to Sampson County near that time for a visit. his dad's estate had not been properly probated and Raiford was particularly annoyed at Travis Butler, who had married his sister Sarah. Raiford was married twice. His first wife died about 1835. His second wife Ellen was born in Ga. Raiford gave a power-of-attorney to his brother-in-law Eldridge Thornton to help resolve the issues. Apparently that did not hasten the resolution of Young Royal's estate as it was 50 years later before Young's will was probated.

NOTE 4./
Revolutionary War Records Duplin and Sampson Counties,
North Carolina Contributions to Genealogy by Virginia L. Bizzell & Oscar M. Bizzell, page 233

ROYAL, Young, private, N.C. Militia Soldier was born about 1755 in Duplin County, N.C., to William and Mary Royal. Married Edith Blackman on 20 July 1779. Received one pay voucher, listed in Vol. V, Bk 179, # 80 M, recorded in N.C. Army Accounts. Its value was94/13/4 pounds. His and Edith's children were: 1- Reason born 14 Oct 1780 whomarried lst to Elizabeth Sykes and 2nd to Catherine Williamson. 2- Sarah born 12May 1782 who married Travis Butler. 3- Sabra born 23 May 1784 who marriedRobert Brown. 4- William born 26 June 1786. He removed to Ga. in 1830. Died inDooley County in 1845. 5- Wilson born 18 Oct 1788 removed to Jackson County,Fla. 6- Elizabeth born 27 June 1791 who married lst Wm Westbrook and 2nd EldridgeThornton. 7- Mary/polly born 19 June 1793, who married Hardy Royal. 8- Nancyborn in 1795 who married Robert Adam Butler. 9- Rebecca born 4 Feb 1798 anddied young before her father. 10- Raiford born 28 Jan 1800. He went to Ga. butreturned to Sampson county. And 11- Josiah born 13 April 1802 who died 28 Feb1816. v (in newer book)v Soldier (wrote his will on 12 July 1818 and) died 13 July 1818, but his will did not go toprobate court until 15 Feb 1894. son-in-law Travis Butler was the executor. Edith Royal died in 1845.

NOTE 5./ THORNTON - ROYAL FAMILY BIBLE:
Owner of Bible: Miss Vara Lee Thornton (1965), 500 West Edgerton Street, Dunn, North Carolina: Inside Front Cover: Young Royall <>

DEATHS
Josiah Royal, son of Young Royal and Edith Blackmon, his wife, died Feby. 30th Anno Domini 1816
Young Royal died the 12 day of July Anno Dominy 1818
Elizabeth Royal wife of Rozin Royal died October 28th
Penelope Thornton wife of Tyrus Thornton died July 24th 1873- about 8 o'clock in the evening.
Rozin Royal son of Young Royal and
Edith his wife was born October 14th 1780
Sally Royal was born May 12th 1782
William Royal was born June 26th 1786
Sabra Royal was born May 23rd 1784
Wilson Royal was born October 18nth 1788
Grandma Elizabeth Royal was born January 27th 1791
Mary Royal was born June 19th 1793
Nancy Royal was born November 5th 1795
Rebecca Royal was born February 4th 1798
Raiford Royal was born January 26th 1800
Josiah Royal was born April 13th 1802
Emila Royal (daughter of the above page 16)
died October 18th Anno Domini
1832 in the 23rd year of his (her) age.
Mary Royal Daughter of Rozin and Elizabeth Royal died September 4th Anno Domini... aged 18 yrs.
1763 Edith Blackmon Royal died the 2 day of Feb. Anno Domini 1845, aged 82 years.
Reason Royal died October 6th, 1854
Eldridge Thornton died on the 19th day of August A. D. 1849
Elizabeth Thornton died on the 4th day of Dec. A. D. 1862
Anson Thornton died on the 9th day of Oct. 1851
Calvin Thornton on the 26th of Feb. 1852
B. (?) Annie Manly - daughter of Jno. R. Manly and
Margeret A. his wife was born the 23rd of March 1863 (?)
Margaret A. Manly wife of John R. Manly died the 13th of April 1864, About 8 o'clock in the morning.

RS married Edith BLACKMON on 20 Jul 1779 in Duplin County, North Carolina. Edith (daughter of Joseph BLACKMON and Elizabeth LEE) was born in 1763 in Sampson County, North Carolina; died on 02 Feb 1845 in Sampson County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

NOTE 1./ Jerome Tew is the author of the following article published in the Huckelberry Historian
<>

William Royal family. We know from a Duplin County marriage bond that Young Royal son of William married Edith Blackman on July 20, 1779. Edith was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Blackman. Joseph died in 1768 when Edith was five (5) years old. The account of this family was in the June 15, 1993 issue of this publication. Edith was born in 1763.

Since court minutes do not exist in Duplin-Sampson before 1784, we do not know where Edith grew up. She must have spent some time in the eastern part or the Duplin part of old Duplin. As an orphan she likely was listed in the old Duplin court records that are lost.

On Thursday October 12, 1775 Edith attended an estate sale of Mr. Joseph Rhodes of old Duplin. She was then 12 years old and at the age of wanting some things of her own. She bought a pair of black gloves for eight (8) shilling.

Also attending was William Royal. He bought one item for 2 pds 5 shilling and 2 pence. We do not know if his eldest son Young, then about 17 was with him or not. We do know that four (4) years later Edith married Young Royal and became part or that Royal family.

NOTE 2./
Young and Edith Royal had eleven children. Namely: Reason Oct. 14, 1780, Sally May 2, 1782, Sabra May 23, 1784, William Jun. 26, 1786, Wilson Oct. 18, 1788, Elizabeth Jan. 27, 1791, Mary (Polly) Jun. 19, 1793, Nancy Nov. 5, 1795, Rebecca Feb. 4, 1798, Raiford Jan. 26, 1800, and Josiah Royal born Apr. 13, 1802. Josiah died Feb. 30th (sic) 1816.

These dates as listed in the Elizabeth Thornton family Bible are considered as fact in spite of the Feb. 30th date.

NOTE3./
Sampson County Wills (North Carolina)1784-1900 Young Royal 12 July 1818 probate 15 February 1894

Wife Edith Royal.. rem. prop. which I have not mentioned or given to my children, after paying just debts, during NL & after her death to be equally divided among my children. Son.. Rezin( Reason) Royal.. land that I bought from john Morgan known as the Phillips Place & prop. heretofore given to him
Dau... Sally Butler w/o Chavers Butler- negro girl Lynder & prop. already gieven her son.. Wilson Royal- negro boy Jordan; bed & frun if either Willaim or Wilson fail to return to claim their prop. or who shall
return, shall have their part dau... Betsey Westbrook- negro girl Chorinder & prop. already given to her
dau.. Polly Royal w/o Hardy Royal- negro girl Flow& prop. given to her dau .. Nancy Butler w/o Robert- negro girl Phillis & prop already given to her dau.. Rebeckah Royal- negro girls Ciller & Cherry; bed & furn. son.. Raiford Royals- all land that I now possess except the piece given to said Rezin Royal; negro boys Simmons & Jonas; bed & furn.; plantation tools except the blacksmith tools NB: William & Wilson are to record their property when called for be themselves Exec: son Rezin Royal, s-i-l Travis Butler
Wit: H. Royal, Robert Butler ( will was written 12 July 1818 & not probated until 15 February 1894. Yound
Royal died the day after making his Will) Follow Ups:
Re: ROYAL-Burke/Dooly Counties MRS F.D. POWELL 11/26/98 (0)