I have found the marriage information for my gggrandfather and grandmother who married in Halifax NC. In 1818. I would like to find out who his parents are but I don’t know where to start first. Any ideas?

You need to search the will, deed,court and census records to see if there is any mention of your family members in them with their parents. You can also help yourself by posting a query to the Message Boards and Mailing Lists for both the Locations and Surnames involved with what info you do know, including names, dates and locations, asking for help from others who read the boards and who may have the info you seek.


Deloris Williams

Thanks Deloris, I have the census records i need. What is the fastest easiest and least expensive way to check into wills, deeds and and court records? Who do I contact? Anita

There are a number of Halifax Co. will, deed and court record books that have been published and are out in the general public, including in Family History Centers run by the LDS in every state, and they are also available in many of the North Carolina public libraries, if you live there. The quickest way you may get an idea of what may be available showing entries for your ancestors would be to post the info that you do have, and someone online may be able to help you by looking in their own files and seeing what they may have. For instance, I have a number of those Halifax Co. books and I frequently do lookups, but I do need the info as previously stated to know what names and dates to look for.


Deloris

My gggrandfather Philip Higgs was born 1794 in Nash County North Carolina. He was married to wife Temperance Locke July 9, 1818 Halifax, NC. My ggandfather Thomas Higgs was born to Philip and Temperance Apr 31, 1832 in Halifax NC. 5 other children have been identified as well, all born Halifax. These are the records that I have for Philip and Temperance.

North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
Groom: Philip Higgs
Bride: Temperance Lock
Bond Date: 09 Jul 1818
Bond #: 000062784
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 004863
County: Halifax
Record #: 01 090
Bondsman: Egbert Drake
Witness: Richard Eppes

1820 Census, Halifax, North Carolina
1 male 25-45 (Philip)
1 female 10 and under (Sarah)
1 female 25-45 (Temperance)

1830 Census 2nd Regiment, Halifax, North Carolina
Thomas not yet born
2 males under 5 years of age (??)
1 male 5-10 years old (?)
1 male 20-30 (Philip)
1 male 50-60 (?)
1 female 5-10 (?)
1 female 10-15 (Sarah)
1 female 20-30 (Temperance)

Philip is not mentioned in the 1840 Census (He died?) Temperance is located in the 1880 census living in Enfield Halifax NC with her daughter.

I also found this 1790 census record for a Samuel Higgs. I am speculating that he might be Philips father based on the following information:

1790 census North Carolina
Halifax County Halifax District
1st # free white males 16 year upwards and head of families
2nd # free white males under 16 years
3rd # free white females and head of families
4th # all other free persons
5th # slaves
Higgs, Samuel.................................2-3-4-0-0

Name: Higgs, Samuel
Birth Place: Nash co., NC
Marriage Place: Nash co., NC
Children: Nathan, Samuel, Philip, Jonathan, John, Jane, others

Name: Samuel Higgs
Birth Date: 1750
Birthplace: North Carolina
Volume: 79
Page Number: 223
Reference: Heads of fams. at the first U.S. census. NC. By U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington, 1908. (292p.):63

I don’t live in North Carolina, but I do have access to the LDS library here. Thank you so much for your help. Anita

It's a good thing you mentioned he was born in Nash Co., because first I looked at the will books for that County and found this:
"Abstracts of Wills, Nash County,North Carolina, 1777-1848" -
SAMUEL HIGGS - 23 May 1810 - probated Nov Ct 1810
"low in health"
Son NATHAN HIGGS - $20. Daughter JANE WHITEUS - $40. Son PHILLOP HIGGS - 1 bed & furniture, $20. Son JONATHAN HIGGS - 1colt, bed & furniture. Son JOHN HIGGS - 1 mare, bed & furniture. Grandson THOMAS J. BRADY - $60 (1/2 to school him; 1/2 when he is 21 years); if he die without an heir, then to my 5 sons NATHAN, SAMUEL, PHILLOP, JONATHAN, & JOHN HIGGS.
Ex: sons NATHAN & SAMUEL HIGGS
Wit: WM DOZIER, HENRY DRURY, MARY DOZIER

also:
ANN DOZIER - 19 Apr 1824 - probated Nov Ct 1825
"Low in health"
MISS ELIZABETH BRADY - 1 bed & bed clothes, certain livestock, household goods. JAMES DOZIER - oxen & cart, certain livestock, plantation tools.
Ex: BENJAMIN BLOUNT
Wit: NATHAN HIGGS, ARCHELAUS C. HIGGS

Prior to 1800, SAMUEL HIGGS was living in Halifax Co., and I see a few entries in those books with him as a witness, or executor, as he was here:
"Genealogical Abstracts of Wills 1758 -1824, Halifax County,North Carolina," Margaret M. Hofmann -
LUKE NICHOLS - 25 Sept 1790 - Nov. Ct 1790
lend wife SUSANNAH NICHOLS whole estate and after her death it to be sold and money divided amongst SOLOMON TURNER's children: BARNABAS TURNER,JOHN TURNER, and SUSANNAH TURNER and his daughter MARY TURNER having a double portion brother JAMES NICHOLS 10 pounds.
Wit: JAMES BAKER, SUSANAH HARRINGTON, RUTH BAKER
Extrs: my wife and SAMUEL HIGGS

None of the records I've seen indicate a wife's name for SAMUEL, also, the above will for NICHOLS looks like there could be a relationship between the families, perhaps SUSANAH was SAMUEL's sister.

One other piece of info you may want -
"Records of Estates Halifax County, North Carolina, Appointments of Administrators, Executors and Guardians, Records of Settlements, 1868-1909":

#768-(203) 4 Aug 1891. G. E. BUTTS testified that TEMPERANCE HIGGS died intestate. Estate valued at $0.70, which was direct taxes in 1866. Heirs: G. E. BUTTS and his brothers and sisters. G. E. BUTTS. Appointed. Sureties: W. D. BUSTIN, T. (blank)

#767-(202) 4 Aug 1891. G. E. BUTTS testified that JESSIE BUTTS died intestate. Estate valued a $0.82 paid for direct taxes in 1866. Heirs: G.E., WM. JOE, NICHOLSON, NORMAN, EDW'D, ANNA, ALICE, all non-residents except G. E., Wm., Norman, Anna, Alice. G. E. BUTTS. Appointed. Sureties; W. D.BUSTIN, T. L. WHITAKER.

#766-(201) 4 Aug 1891. G. E. BUTTS testified that SUSAN BUTTS died intestate, and sd G. E. is a son. Estate valued at $0.35, which was paid in 1866. Heirs: G. E., WM, JOE, NICHOLSON, NORMAN, EDWARD, ANNA, ALICE, all of age and all non-residents except G.E., Wm., Norma, Anna, Alice. G.E. BUTTS. Appointed. Sureties: W. D. BUSTIN, T. L. WHITAKER.

#1490 (pg. 480) ______LOCK Acct with the heirs of the dec'd by SPIER WHITAKER, commissioner, from Jan. 2, 1882 to Nov. 22, 1884. Equal distribution shares were paid to (1) VIRGINIA LEMUEL LEARY (or VIRGINIA and LEMUEL LEARY),(2) LUCY and GID EXUM BUTTS, (3) DORA LOCK, (4) TIMOTHY B. LOCK, (5) LUCIEN S. LOCK, (6) HARRIET W. and JOSEPH D. BUTTS. (7) JESSE H. LOCK (8) THOS. J. LOCK, (9) WM. J. LOCK(10) AMANDA PORTER, (11) MARTHA J. and WM. H. BROWNING and (12) JAS. H. J. LOCK, most of whom signed over their shares to GEORGE B. CURTIS.



Deloris

Deloris, How can I say thank you? You found my gggrandfather! I need to have some time to look this over and try to piece together all of this information, but I am so overjoyed to finally have this verification. Most of the surnames I recognize, I am just not sure where all of them fit together. I need to know where you found all this information. I don't know where to begin to find what you have found for me today. Again, thank you so much for all your help.

Anita,
I'm glad the info was able to help you, you are very welcome. I found the various entries in the books that I quoted above the entries, which were will books for Nash Co., Halifax Co. and a book of various estate records for Halifax Co., most of which should be available through the Family History Centers since they do have copies of the publications from what I understand. Also, if you ever get the chance to visit a FHC, you may want to order copies of their microfilm of deeds pertaining to those time periods because there may be something in them that refers to Samuel's wife's name.

Good luck in your research, and take care.


Deloris

Deloris, Thank you again. You have helped me so much! I will follow up on your suggestions. Anita