Reuben Cahoon (1755 - 1816)

Born 1755 in Gum Neck, Tyrrell, North Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 2 Jan 1816 at about age 61 in Gum Neck, Tyrrell, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Reuben Cahoon was born about 1750 to 1755 and married Hannah before 1783. He had the following 10 children as mentioned in his estate papers:^[1]

Thomas Cahoon

Ebenezer Cahoon

William Cahoon

David Cahoon

Reuben Cahoon (minor at time of father's death)

Burton Cahoon (minor at time of fathers's death)

Clarkey Cahoon Jones

Elizabeth Cahoon Clayton (deceased prior to father's death)

Sarah (Sally) Cahoon Clayton

Mary (Polly) Cahoon

In 1779, Reuben joined other inhabitants of Tyrrell County in signing a petition:^[2]

"To The Honorable the Senate and Commons of North Carolina in General Assembly..to cause the said County of Tyrrell to be divided into two distinct & separate Countys..." based on the facts that "...the County of Tyrrell aforesaid from the line which divides the same from Martin County [west of Tyrrell County] to Stumpy Point is at least one hundred & twenty miles in length & intersected by several large Rivers Creeks & Deep Swamps which renders the attendance of your petitioners on Jurys & at General Musters & Elections intolerably burthensome & expensive as well as extreemly precarious from the uncertainty of being able to pass the above mentioned Rivers & Creeks by which your Petitioners are not only greatly oppressed & injured but the Business & publick Affairs of the County frequently impeded & delayed to the manifest prejudice of the State in General."

In the original list of petitioners^[3], Reuben Cahoon's name is immediately after James Cahoon, Senr., likely his father.

in 1791, Reuben Cahoon obtained a Land Grant for property in Tyrrell County, North Carolina:^[4]

Grant No. 568, Issued 28 Sep 1791; Warrant No. 1048, Entered 17 Jan 1788. 150 acres on the N.E. side of North West fork of the Alligator River; on the north side binding(?) on Ezekiel Cohoon and Thomas Liverman and John Gibson lines running to Phelps(?) line.

Reuben was reported in Tyrrell County, North Carolina in the 1800 and 1810 Federal Census records. In 1800, his household consisted of himself (free white male 26-44), his wife (free white female 26-44), plus what are likely his four oldest sons (one age 16-25, two age 10-15, and one age under 10) and five daughters (one age 10-15, and four under age 10).^[5] In 1810, his household consisted of himself (free white male 45 and over), his wife (free white female 45 and over), three of his older sons (two age 16-25, one age 10-15) and his two youngest sons (under age 10), plus two daughters or daughter's-in-law age 16-25, two daughters 10-15, and one daughter under age 10.^[6]

Reuben died before April 1817 and two of his sons, Thomas and Ebenezer Cahoon, presented his last will and testament at the April Session 1817 of Tyrrell County Court.^[7] At this Court Session his widow Hannah Cahoon appeared and was "qualified as executrix to the last will and testament of Ruben Cohoon". As Executrix, she was ordered to sell Reuben's estate and return on the next Court Session. In the April Session 1820, she was appointed guardian to Reuben's two youngest sons, Ruben and Burton Cahoon.

There are numerous court records, dated between 1818 and 1825, concerning the distribution of his estate, payment of his debts, and guardianship of his two youngest sons. A document in the North Carolina Archives dated 8 Mar 1825, appears to be the conclusion of a five-year legal battle, The following excerpts from this court document names Reuben's children and heirs:

"...the said Ruben Cohoon the testator was seized and possessed at the time of his death of lands tenements and hereditaments that were sufficient and liable to satisfy the plaintiff's judgement and recovery aforesaid, and that the said Ruben Cohoon devised his said lands tenements and hereditaments to his widow, the said Hannah Cohoon, to his sons and heirs at law, to wit to William Cohoon, David Cohoon, Ebenezer Cohoon, Thomas Cohoon, Ruben Cohoon, & Burton Cohoon, an infant to whom the said Hannah Cohoon is guardian, and that they entered upon and took seizen and possession of their said devises under the said will.

And whereas also the said Ruben Cohoon left over and beside the sons named above who were heirs at law the following daughters to wit, Clarkey Jones, Elizabeth Clayton, Sally Clayton, wife of the plaintiff [Benjamin Clayton], & Polly Cohoon to whom in case the said Ruben Cohoon had not devised as aforesaid part of the said lands tenements & hereitaments, would have descended as heirs at law.

And whereas also the said Thomas Cohoon has since departed this life...

...heirs of the said Elizabeth Clayton who is now dead having the following heirs at law to wit Polley, Sally & Asa Clayton..."

Sources

1. ↑ North Carolina Archives. Loose Estate Papers, Tyrrell County (C.R.096.508.13), Box 13. Cohoon, Reuben, 1817
2. ↑ https://www.ncgenweb.us/tyrrell/PETITION.HTM
3. ↑ https://www.ncgenweb.us/tyrrell/PETITV.HTM
4. ↑ North Carolina Land Grants, nclandgrants.com
5. ↑ 1800 United States Federal Census. Year: 1800; Census Place: Tyrrell, North Carolina; Series: M32; Roll: 34; Page: 690. Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
6. ↑ 1810 United States Federal Census. Year: 1810; Census Place: Tyrrell, North Carolina; Roll: 43; Page: 718. Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. ↑ Minutes. Tyrrell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions