Benjamin Carkeet (1706 - 1751)

Born 13 Oct 1706 in York, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Hardison) Daly — married about 1729 in Edenton, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1751 at about age 44 in Edenton, North Carolina

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Biography

Benjamin was born in York, and raised in Salem, Massachusetts. ^[1][2]

Growing up in a seafaring family, he learned the skills of a mariner early on. Engaging in the transport of goods between the colonies, he was able to travel early in life. Something about the North Carolina coast attracted him. It could have been the land, a romantic interest, or perhaps the lucrative opportunities afforded a young sailor. The area was a haven of pirates and others of that ilk. Both father and grandfather had their pirate adventures, and doubtless Benjamin grew up hearing his father's whispered tales. By some estimates 25% of the residents of 17th century North Carolina were involved in smuggling or piracy. Benjamin Carkeet certainly was one of these.

From the ports on the Albemarle sound, goods could be purchased from many points south; many times without regard to tariffs or provenance. It may not be possible to label him as a pirate, but smuggler is surely appropriate. Benjamin probably could not wait to get off on his own. Whatever his reasons, Benjamin left his home in Massachusetts at the earliest opportunity, by 1726. He was twenty years old.

Soon thereafter, the very year, he joined Mary Hardison in matrimony. Her father deeded Benjamin one hundred acres. While the deed date describes a succession of ownership, beginning with Hardison in 1726, it would not be long before Benjamin got a share. He continued his life as a mariner, and was able to return to Salem and other ports from time to time. He still had an ownership interest in the Glanfield home, which he agreed to sell with the other heirs in 1732. ^[3][4]

There is no doubt Benjamin came from Salem, as he is mentioned living in North Carolina in deed records, and in a journal entry from the diary of Rev. William Bentley of Salem, MA from June 17, 1802:

" This day was taken down one of the oldest houses in Salem, which stood in Union street on the western side, one third of the distance from Essex to Derby S. It faced southerly, & projected far into the street on its eastern end. The door was on the western side of the front, the window central under a very high pitch of the roof. In the second story was a larger window than below filling the front pitch of the roof, as in Shakespeare's house. The roof was high & sharp. At the eastern end was a small part added with a window only on the south side for bed rooms, & then a kitchen at the western end. Each part had chimnies. The old house at the western end, & the eastern part on the western side, but the kitchen was built with a chimney near the middle chimney but detached from it. The history of this house is, that it belonged formerly to Robert Glanfield, as say his heirs when it was sold to Capt. Samuel Carlton. Upon Robert Glanfield's decease William Carkeet his Son in Law possessed it till death, & his sons Benjamin & Robert disposed of it in 1732 to Capt. Samuel Carlton for 160 pounds Province bills. Carkeet's son Benj. lived in Edenton, N. C., in the county of Tyrell. Capt. Carlton built the kitchen or western end, when he bought it. In the Sale the Commonages are reserved, so that it was built before the settlement of these by Law, & probably as early as 1680. It was bounded in 1732, Southerly on Land of Samuel Whitefoot, westerly on land of Eliza Gerrish, Paul Kimball, Jona. Archer & John Browne, easterly on Union street, & northerly on Pickering's land. Chimnies laid with clay, & frame of the house filled with clay & bricks."^[5]

Benjamin prospered enough, that he naturally expanded his activities. He purchased 400 acres of land from his wife's family, and built his own plantation. He acquired slaves to work his fields. He had nine at the time of his death.

Since the government was tenuous at best, and successive regimes had varying degrees of competency relating to record keeping; many official documents had to be reaffirmed or rewritten years after their initial issuance. The records regarding Benjamin's land is a prime example:

On 26 Jun 1726 Cullen Pollock deeded 1000 acres joining Rosco Creek & Morattock River to Mr. Jasper Hardison of Tyrrel Co; sd Jasper deeded 100 acres to Mr. Benjin. Carkeet of same, & the rest of the land he willed to his sons; sd Jasper's son Jasper Hardison sold the 200 acres called Cheet Neck willed to him to sd Carket (Carkeet); Charles Hardison sold his part of the land (100 acres) to sd Carkeet. The deed, made to sd Jasper Hardison dec'd, had not been acknowledged. Thus Cullen Pollock makes over his right to the sd 400 acres to sd Benjamin Carkeet, & he makes over the remainder of the 1000 acres to the same persons as the above Jasper Hardison dec'd intended. 17 Feb 1740. Cullen Pollock. Wit: John Hardison, Robt McCrie. Tyrell Co. CC: W. Downing. ^[6]

There were almost no roads in the area. Most of the farms had wharves on the rivers or sounds, as waterways were the only means for transporting goods. The building of roads was a priority for all the inhabitants. Benjamin did his part by surveying and laying out the roads in his vicinity.

"Mr. Benjamin Karkett was one of the surveyors of the road from Panbies (?) Road near the Beaver dam to Smithwicks Creek, Samuel Spruil one of the Gentlemen Justices ^[7]

He served on a Tyrrell County jury list in 1739. ^[8]

Benjamin eventually built a ferry on his plantation, which became another source of income for him. The road that he helped to build ran from his place to the town of Bath. September Session 1751

On hearing the petition of Mary Carkeet widow and relict of Benjamin Carkeet Esqr. late of said county deceased praying to have an order to settle the ferrage from her now dwelling house to Richerd Tomolinsons landing in bertie county, which was then and there by the justices of said court accordingly granted, and ordered that she receive for every man and horse two shillings Proclamation money and for each single person one shilling like money for said ferrage.^[9]

One of the ways the government sought to cure the issues relating to the insufficient deed records that plagued the colony in the early years, was by setting up an office of Processioner. This person would go out into the county in an official capacity and walk the land lines with the adjacent landowners. This was a way that re-established agreed upon boundaries that were legally recognized:

Tyrrel County Lands Possessioned in the District between Welches Creek and Swifts Creek the Year 1748 Between the Month of October and the Last of Apral - Benjamin Carkeet Land possessioned present James Blount. The Orfinds of Jasper Hardison Land possessioned present Benjamin Carkeet ^[10]

Benjamin was witness to the 1744 will of Joseph Hudson.^[11]

Benjamin was in the prime of his life. He was forty five years old and suddenly it was over. He passed away in 1751.

June Session 1753

On motion of Mr. John Daley praying an order to have the estate of Benjamin Carkeet Esqr. devided between the widow of the said deceased and his children, which was accordingly granted and ordered that Maj. William Mackey, Captain John Hardeson, and Evan Jones are appointed to devide the same and to make report thereof to the next court. Devision returned and filed.^[12]

John Daley is appointed guardain of Sarah Carkeet, Lydia Carkeet & Mary Carkeet. Majr. Mackey & James Conner Esqrs. security.

"Estate of Benjamin Carkeet, Esq.Deed between the widow and release of said deed - his children.(seems to be written on division of estate of James Smith, date ? 1750)."

"Tyrell County Court Minutes - Hall of History, Court on Kendrichs Creek, 1751: Mr. John Daley praying to have the estate of Benjamin Carkeet, Senr. deceased, divided between widow and children."

"John Daley is appointed guardian for Sarah Carkeet, Lydia Carkeet and Mary Carkeet, Mas Mackey and James Cormv' Esq. Sec John Hardeson is appointed Guardian of William Carkeet, est. deceased (?)."

Part of the settlement of Benjamin's estate involved the division and assignment of his slaves. For historical purposes, and in hopes it may one day help these people be identified, they are listed below:

1. Mr. Jno Daley's part of Negro slaves~ Soloman, Bostwain, and Diana
2. William Carkeet - one negro boy James- two negro girls Rosa and Da Sarah and to pay L27 and L15 cash to Lidia, Sarah and Mary Carkeet
3. Lidia Carkeet - one negro man Boston and to pay Wm Carkeet L5 cash
4. Sarah Carkeet -one negro girl Bet and to pay Wm Carkeet L50 cash
5. Mary Carkeet - one negro man Lyn ^[13]

It appears that Mary Carkeet, widow to Benjamin, married John Daley by July 1, 1753.

"Justices Edward Smithwick, James Trumbull and Joseph Spruil 'on hearing the petition of Mary Carkeet, widow and Relick of Benjamin Carkeet, esq. late of said county, deceased, praying to have an order to settle the ferryage from her now dwelling house, to Richard Tomlinson's landing in Bertie County, which was then and there, by the justices of the said court accordingly granted and ordered that she receive for every man, 2 shillings, proclamation money and for each single person 1 shilling, like money, for said ferryage."

"Jasper Hardison petitioned to have more hands labor on the road that leads from Mrs. Carkeet's landing to the road that leads to Bathtown (order made out)."

Sources

1. ↑ The Essex Antiquarian, Volume 10 p 163 http://tinyurl.com/Essex-Antiquarian-Vol-10-pg-16
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VQDQ-7TT : 10 February 2018), Benjamin Curkeet, 13 Oct 1706; citing SALEM,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 874,031, 874,032, 874,033.
3. ↑ The Essex Antiquarian Vol 10 pp 163- 164 http://tinyurl.com/Essex-Antiquarian-Vol-10-pg-163
4. ↑ Essex Registry of Deeds, book 61, leaf 213.
5. ↑ Diary of Rev. William Bentley, Salem, Massachusetts, June 17, 1802 http://tinyurl.com/Diary-of-William-Bentley-Pt-4
6. ↑ The Deeds of Tyrrell County North Carolina 1735-1760, Abstract by Stephen Bradley, Jr. http://bjhughes.org/hardisdoc.html
7. ↑ Tyrell County, Court Minutes, June 3, 1735
8. ↑ Colonial and State Records of North Carolina Tyrell County Jury List 1739 http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr04-0162#p4-525
9. ↑ Minutes Tyrrell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Session https://www.ncgenweb.us/tyrrell/CRKT1751.HTM
10. ↑ Tyrrell County Processioner's Book page 1 http://www.ncgenweb.us/tyrrell/TYRPROC1.HTM#01
11. ↑ http://www.ncgenweb.us/tyrrell/HDSN1744.HTM
12. ↑ Minutes Tyrrell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Session https://www.ncgenweb.us/tyrrell/CRKT1751.HTM
13. ↑ "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2Z7-3YTG : 21 November 2016), Benjamin Carkeet, 1751; citing Tyrrell, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm