Did your Robert and Jesse have a brother, Thomas? I found an account that their father, William was married in 1753 to Miriam Murdaugh. But if so, the sons would be too young to have acquired land in 1760 - 1762 in N. Carolina.

Miriam remarried in Oct, 1769 to John Pleasants. She had 3 daughters, still minors at the time. But no mention of minor sons, which if she were their mother they would have to be 16 at oldest.

So my theory is that William was married previously to 1753, and this first spouse is the mother of his three sons, Robert, Jesse and Thomas, who were adults by 1769.

Thomas, the 3rd son, moved briefly to N. Carolina, but then returned to Pr. George Co., Virginia. This was in the early 1770's. He removed his family to Ohio in 1806. He is my 3X greatgrandfather.

Is there any information regarding William, father of Robert, Jesse and Thomas? And who their mother might be?