The Story of Jeremiah Wescott
Researched and Written by Michael L. Price, 2011
Born 1765, died 1833; married Ann
Offspring:
1. John Wescott Jr., born 1789, died 1845; married Mary Bell
2. Thomas W. Wescott, born c. 1792, died before 1870; married Dorcas Hewett
3. William Wescott, born c. 1799, died by 1890; married Elizabeth Taylor
4. Ann Wescott, born c. 1801
5. Elizabeth Wescott, born c. 1804
6. Lewis W. Wescott, born c. 1809, died 1874; married 1, Elizabeth Stanley; 2, John Ann Wescott
Jeremiah Wescott was born in October 1765, possibly in the small colonial township of Staunton in Augusta County, Virginia. Prior to 1780, he was living at Lockwood's Folly, Brunswick County, North Carolina near or with his older brother, John Wescott Sr.
In 1780, during the American Revolution, Jeremiah was drafted into the militia, as a resident of Brunswick County. He was first stationed with a small Company at Lockwood's Folly River near John Bell's plantation along Old King's Highway, and near the Old Georgetown Way Trading Post (present-day Supply). Later, Jeremiah was stationed at the Waccamaw River, and then at Hoods Creek Bridge (near present-day Leland) in defense of Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina. He fought in the Revolution, at times as a "horseman," for a full thirteen months from the end of 1780 to early 1782, according to two applications that he made for a war pension in 1832 and 1833.
The Carolinas became a primary battle ground of the American Revolution from 1780 to 1782. It was during this time that my paternal 4th great grandfather, Captain Samuel Price, helped to defend the Waccamaw River in old Craven County, South Carolina when his Company was placed under the command of General Francis Marion.
Jeremiah was paroled during the war for being a Tory sympathizer. After the war he was denied his war pension, even though he had served a full thirteen months in the militia. How do we square this apparent conflict? Is it possible that there were two Jeremiah Wescotts of similar age living in the same sparsely populated county at the same time – one a Tory sympathizer, a "Partisan," and the other an American Patriot who served thirteen months at war? All records seem to point to the same Jeremiah who, apparently, was denied his request for a war pension, at least in part, because of his questionable parole record as a Tory sympathizer. Patriotic fever was high pitched in Brunswick County during the war. The accusation of being a Tory sympathizer, or British Loyalist, was made against more than a few local citizens. Often these men, even if falsely accused, paid their fines and accepted parole status simply to get the charges dismissed and to gain permission to stay in their home county. On the other hand, military pensions were rejected if an applicant's war record was not verified by one or more valid witnesses willing to step forward with specific details. It appears that
Jeremiah, after the war, could not prove his service in the militia, despite the fact that Private Edward Clemens from Brunswick County testified on Jeremiah's behalf and despite Jeremiah's claim that he had re-enlisted. The county court did not believe that he had been specific enough about his service and the charges made against him of being a possible Tory sympathizer surely influenced the final decision to decline his request for a war pension. i
On May 2, 1789, five years after his return from the war, twenty-three year old Jeremiah conveyed to William Grissett a 100-acre parcel of land, located at Capis Branch off the Waccamaw River in Brunswick County. This parcel was originally surveyed and owned by Joshua Frankham (Franklin) in 1770. It was later sold to John Clifton and eventually to Jeremiah. By this time Jeremiah was living north-northeast of Dutchman's Creek, near Solomon Price and near the river pilot Henry Long (one of the original lot owners in Smithville and the first lighthouse keeper on Bald Head Island). Jeremiah was also well-acquainted with John Grier, Charles Gause, David Swain, Nathanial Galloway, Nathanial Bell, Samuel Bell, and, of course, his older brother, John Wescott Sr. They were all living on neighboring farming estates in the general vicinity of present-day Shallotte, Supply (known then as Old Georgetown Road Trading Post), Lockwood's Folly and Dutchman's Creek.
Jeremiah and his brother John in 1790 surveyed and purchased land at the head of the Lockwood's Folly River in the vicinity of present-day Bolivia. Jeremiah also paid land taxes in 1790, and at this time he and wife, Ann, had two sons living in their home. The son under sixteen years of age was John Wescott Jr. The son over sixteen years of age is unknown. On October 26, 1792 Jeremiah signed a legal agreement with James Bell, at which time Jeremiah agreed to watch over property belonging to the elderly David Swain and David's wife, Mercy Bell. Jeremiah also agreed to release David of various obligations and debts due Jeremiah. This was a generous act, during difficult, depressed post-war economic times in the county. Was Jeremiah's generosity due to the fact that he was married to a Swain or Bell?
On February 18, 1794 Jeremiah and his brother John were granted a warrant for 50 acres of property at Lockwood's Folly River, near present-day Supply. In this same year, the Wescott brothers surveyed another parcel of land at the head of the Lockwood's Folly River (near Bolivia). On July 8, 1797 Jeremiah conveyed a parcel of land to David Swain, the same parcel that the two Wescott brothers had surveyed at the head of Lockwood's Folly seven years earlier in 1790, property that Jeremiah would later buy back from David. Solomon Price witnessed the 1797 land transaction on behalf of David, indicating a continuing acquaintance between the Brunswick County Wescotts, Prices and Swains. Indeed, there is speculation that Jeremiah probably married a Swain, given his close relationship to the Swain family and in particular to David Swain and David's wife, Mercy Bell. Old records of Bethel Baptist Church (founded in 1839) support the ongoing acquaintance and familial relationships between the descendants of these three old colonial families of Brunswick County.
On January 24, 1799 Oxford Beasley conveyed to Jeremiah at least four sizeable parcels of land situated on both sides of Half Hell's Branch at Lockwood's Folly, on the Northeast Branch of the Lockwood's Folly River, and at the prong of Half Hell. On August 15, 1800, Jeremiah conveyed to Thomas Boatwright a parcel of land, located at Ashe Branch. This parcel was originally granted to Thomas Galloway Jr. in 1770 and later sold to John Clifton in 1773. On January 23, 1804 Jeremiah conveyed 70 acres of property to Joseph Hewett Jr., located on Half Hell's Branch of the Lockwood's Folly River. This property bordered Nathanial Bell's property. The Hewett parcel was formerly owned by Nathanial Bell, who had sold it to Alford Beasley who later sold it to Jeremiah. On this same day, January 23, 1804, Jeremiah sold to Joseph Hewett 100 acres that included Jeremiah's planter's house, situated on a farming estate or small plantation, on the east side of Fishing Creek, a branch that flowed off the larger Walden's Creek (not too distant from my uncle's farm today). Later that same year, Jeremiah purchased a parcel of land from David Swain on December 12, 1804.
In December 1808 an Act was passed by the North Carolina legislature to relocate the old Brunswick County Courthouse from Lockwood's Folly, located off the Lockwood's Folly River, not too distant from Dutchman's Creek. The new location for the courthouse was to be the little seaside village of Smithville. The county commissioners who were appointed for the purpose of building the new courthouse included Jeremiah Wescott. The courthouse was to be constructed out of wood and brick, and the project was based on the condition that all funds for the building would be raised solely by voluntary subscriptions. No taxes would be levied against the citizens of the county for the purpose of funding the new courthouse. Upon completion of the new building, the business of the county would be carried on at Smithville, and the old courthouse at Lockwood's Folly, along with the land, would be sold off at public auction. The proceeds were to be placed in the public treasury. The one-room courthouse was not completed until sometime in 1826, after funds were raised and just a few years before Jeremiah's death. By about 1854 the little courthouse was replaced with a larger building that serves today as the Southport City Hall building. It is not known if some of the records at the old courthouse at Lockwood's Folly were misplaced, lost or destroyed during its relocation. It is known that many courthouse records were decimated by Yankee sailors in early 1865 when they occupied Smithville. Most of the wanton destruction was during the first 120 days of occupation when in early 1865 the Federal Navy that had been blockading the Cape Fear River took control of the town and unleashed their displaced anger by destroying some of the citizenry's property, as well as several land deeds. Many invaluable, irreplaceable legal records dating back to revolutionary war times were piled and strewn across the courthouse floor or discarded as trash along an adjacent street. One courthouse room was used for shoe repair. The 1865 Yankee outrages have never been fully published. Discipline was eventually restored in the late spring of 1865, when North Carolina accepted surrender and a more orderly regiment of Federal troops from New York assumed military control of the town. [Sketch of the circa
1854 Brunswick County Courthouse is from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, published on March 18, 1865. ii]
In 1813 Francis Dawson Price Sr., his wife, Mary Vaught, and their young family were resettled on a 150-acre homestead, situated on the north side of Dutchman's Creek in Buck Neck, six miles west of Smithville and close to Jeremiah Wescott's property. Francis' property would in time grow to 400 acres. He and Mary were well acquainted with Jeremiah and John Wescott Sr., who had been longtime farming neighbors to Francis' older brother, Solomon.
In 1815 Jeremiah paid taxes on 90 acres of land that he owned at Musketo Branch in the Lockwood's Folly area and on 50 acres at Indian Landing in Elizabeth Neck, property later conveyed in 1830 to Jeremiah's son, John Wescott Jr.
By 1818 Jeremiah and wife, Ann, were faithful members of the Mill Creek Missionary Baptist Church. Mill Creek Church was spawned by the old Lockwood's Folly Baptist Meeting that had formed sometime around 1756, perhaps the oldest Baptist Church in the lower Cape Fear region. Willetts and Hewetts, two of the older family names in Brunswick County, worshipped at Mill Creek, too, and Jeremiah and Ann knew them well.
Jeremiah paid taxes on his properties again in 1825. In 1829 he conveyed a 50-acre parcel to Henry Standland, the land being located at the head of Aspens Creek. Coordinates for this property were recorded as "S 45 and E 90." This same parcel was first surveyed for the record in 1763. On February 13, 1830, Jeremiah conveyed to his son, John Wescott Jr., at least 50 acres at Indian Landing in Elizabeth Neck. Then in March 1833 Jeremiah petitioned the county court to record his earmark cattle brand. He was preparing for his impending death. In June 1833 he reapplied for his war pension, but was declined once again. After this, nothing more is known of my 4th great grandfather, Private Jeremiah Wescott, Veteran of the American Revolution, farmer, town commissioner and active member of the Mill Creek Missionary Baptist Church. It is believed that Jeremiah was laid to rest sometime in mid-to-late 1833 in the private Wescott Family Cemetery, located off present-day Dosher Cutoff Road (good coordinates for the historic little family cemetery are Longitude 33.954009 N and Latitude -78.032117 W). The cemetery is located on, or very near, property that Jeremiah had once owned, and property that my dad, Warren Kimball Price, would one day own over a century after Jeremiah's death.
The children of Jeremiah and Ann included John Jr., Thomas W., William, Ann, Elizabeth and Lewis Wilson Wescott.
i Wescoat 1832; 1833. Jeremiah Wescott (Wescoat) could only find one eyewitness willing to step forward to validate his Revolutionary War claims even though he had applied twice for his war pension in 1832 and 1833.
ii Reaves, A Chronology 1978, 100b