According to Vol. 2 pg.50 in the Bible & Family Records of Bladen Co., NC, William Cain, Senior was born in the year 1700 and dyed (died) Thursday night, December the 27, 1781. He lived on the Northwest side of the Cape Fear River near present day Tar Heel. This Bible Record shows many Cain & Robeson Families who lived in Tar Heel.

At the same time, there was a William Cain (? - 1791) living on the Northeast side in the Ammon community of the Cape Fear River (FAG#80180218). His stone has "old man" carved on it. The William Cain on Tar Heel side of Cape Fear River did not have a stone marking his grave.

Both of these William Cain's had sons named John and James Cain. Both James Cains' fought in the American Revolution.They can be easily separated by their pension records. {Pension rec # R-1586 and Pension rec # W5891}. (See 1781 Tax List Bladen Co.,NC. listing persons exempt from paying specisie tax. Both of Johns Cains' and both of the James Cains' were listed on this Tax list .)

This William Cain(1700-1781) owned land in the Black Swamp known as Cain's Camp where lived, but he also owned land in Reedy Meadow and Goodman's Swamp. This is on the Tar Heel side of Cape Fear River.

His Will is recorded in the Deed Bk37 pg.295 Bladen Co. NC. An abstract is found on pg. 21 of Bladen Co., NC Abstracts of Wills 1734-1900 - Wanda Campbell 1975. He names his wife, Olive and children:

(1.) Joseph Cain( ) who left Will Dec.29, 1798 (pg.20 Will Abstracts Bladen Co., NC.

(2.) a daughter ,Mary, who married George Willis, Sr.

(3.) Samuel Cain

(4.) James Cain

(5.) John Cain.

No Will has been found for the William Cain (?-1791) "old man" of the Ammon side of Cape Fear River.

Olive Regan Cain was William Cain's second wife. She was the mother of James & John Cain and daughters Martha, Hannah and Olive Cain. She was a daughter of Joseph Regan, Sr.(1690-1727) (FAG#126002545) who was son of Francis Regan.

William Cain's first wife was Sarah Regan, a 1st cousin of Olive Regan, the second wife . Sarah Regan was a daughter of Daniel Regan who was a son of Francis Regan. Sarah Regan Cain and William Cain's children were: Joseph Cain, Mary (?)Cain married George Willis; William Cain, Jr. & Samuel Cain. See Bladen Co., NC Court Records Deed Bk 19 pg.566 written 3 Dec 1753 Wm Cain to Joseph Regan. Olive Cain resigned her right of dowery. Thomas Robeson Clerk. The Joseph Cain in the right of dowery was Olive Regan Cain's brother . Her father, Joseph Reggons/Regan had died in 1727 Bertie Co., NC (See his Will).

William Cain rendered service in the Amercian Revolution, by giving food for the Army, and for giving money. On 1 April 1779, Thomas Robeson,Jr., Clerk of Court for Bladen Co., NC entered into his Ledger " This day I have in cash belonging to ...2650 dollars borrowed of old Cain for the use of the public to pay volunteers ". Ledger of Thomas Robeson, Jr. from 1772-1785, Tar Heel, Bladen County, North Carolina. [digital image of typed transcription], Bladen County Public Library, Elizabethtown, N. C. page 39.

On 29 Oct 1775, William Cain and wife, Olive, were witnesses for a nuncupative Will for Thomas Robeson, Sr. They were neighbors and owned land on Cape Fear River in what is now called Tar Heel, N.C. William Cain also owned lots on the water front in Wilmington, NC which at the time was known as Newton.

From:Colony of NC 1735-1764 Abstracts of Land Patents Vol. I Bk. B by Margaret M. Hofmann p.484 Patent Bk 16 #6848 p.327 Joseph Riggin 3 May 1760 150 acres in Bladen Co. on the South side of the Ten Mile Swamp, joining William Cain.

Note: The William Cain,Sr (1743-1834) of Orange Co., NC posted here by "anonymous " is incorrect . William Cain (1700-1781) never had a son named William . None listed in his Will or any other records in Bladen Co., NC where these Cains resided. The William Cain, Sr(1743-1834) is of another Cain family.