Bethuel Gurkin

Research by Jane Stubbs Bailey

BETHUEL GURKIN; SON OF BENJAMIN GURKIN OF 1830 WILL GRANDSON OF BENJAMIN GURKIN OF 1800 WILL SEEMS TO HAVE DIED BY 1860 CENSUS

Beaufort County 1830 Census Long Acre District Bethuel Gurkin listed as male, age 20-30, with a female in his household age 20-30.

By 1853 Bethuel Gurkin had married Fanny Jackson, daughter of Isaac Jackson and Nancy Stubbs Jackson.

His cousin (?) William had married Penelope Jackson, daughter of same, and Stephen F. Harrison, son of Nehemiah Harrison and his wife Elizabeth Waters Harrison, [whose daughter Mary married Wm Gurkin, another Wm], had married Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of the same. [Bft DB 28, 77]

:1830 December 8. Will of Benjamin Gurkin his father. The will was probated February Term 1831 in Beaufort County. Bethuel was left 33 acres of land "where he now lives" "and also 15 acres on the north side of Cedar Swamp Known by the name of the new pattented land"

1831 Nov 11. Beaufort Co. Bethuel Girkin had several debts to Joseph Bonner and L. W. Lucas, with interest and to Richard H. Bonner, adminis. of estate of Asa Hawkins. His securities for these debts were his brother Charles Gurkin, Redding Gradeless, Thomas Barrow. He sold Charles Girkin 50 acres of land adjoining the lands of Zachariah Judkins, Joseph Waters, and Charles Gerkin, 10 head of cattle, 20 head of hogs, 2 beds, and other furniture, 1 desk, 2 chests, 6 plates, 6 knives and forks, 1 ax, 1 cart, all his coopers tools. He made Charles Gurkin his attorney to sell his property and pay his debts. Wit: Samuel Vines. Whereas I Bethel Girkin have been informed by George Boyd, Exec of last W & T of Benj Gerkin that upon a settlement of the estate of sd Benjamin I will inherit 40 acres, this is to go to Charles. The previous 50 acres had already been sold to settle debts. This 2 Dec 1831. Wit: Joseph Cording. [Bft DB 17, 33-34]

1840 Washington County Census
                                          males     males     females
                                          30-40     10-15     30-40
Bethuel Girkin                     1             2             2

1842 Feb 26. Reding, Bethuel and Zachariah Gurkin to John Latham. 2 tracts of land (100 acres) for $100.00, lying on N side Pamlico R in a point between the dismall and Cypress Branch near Jacks line called and known by the name of Pastras Point in the patent from the state to Thomas Sinnett...beg at a pine on the W side of the main dismal in or near a point running south by W 130 poles to a gum then W by N 45 poles to the Cypress Branch then with the 47 Cypress Branch N by E 130 poles to the main dismal then with the main dismal to the first beginning...and also all of that tract lying on the N side of Pamlico R and S side of the Cedar Swamp beg at Sinnetts S corner on the Cypress branch running 72 W 34 poles through the branch to a pine then N 18 E up the branch 34 poles then N 5 W 16 poles to a pine then N 21 E 42 poles to a pine then N 12 E 40 poles to a pine then N 30 E 54 poles to Benjamin Girkins corner of his old patent then S 75 E with his old line 84 poles to [?] the sd Gurkins corner of his old patent then S 25 W 28 poles to a pine then SE 8 poles Sennetts other corner on the Dismall now Girkins then N 55 W with Girkins line 24 poles to the mouth of Cypress Branch and to the first station. Containing in both tracts 100 acres. Signed Reding X Girkin, Bethuel Girkin, Zachariah X Girkin. Wit: W. B. Smith, Stephen F. Harrison. [Bft DB 21, 339]

1844 Feb 12. Deed of Trust. Bethuel Gherkins, Wash Co, indebted to Thomas S. Johnson, Wash Co, and William Smith of Martin Co. Bethuel promises a certain parcel of land in Wash Co adjoining Downing D. Davis and others, one tract of land in Martin Co adjoining James Hinson and others and personal belongings. To be paid by 1 Jan 1845. Wit: John M. Bateman. [Wash DB H, 630-31]

Where did he get these lands?

1845 Sept 1. Bethuel Gurkin to Hardy Jackson, Wash Co, for $130.00, 100 acres land Wash Co beg at Welches Creek running with D. D. [Downing D.] Davis line to the main road leading from Washington to Plymouth thence eastwardly with Jos B. Griffins line to Joneses Pond thence with Joneses pond to G. W. Jacksons line thence with G. W. Jacksons line to the main Road thence a west course with John Kellys to Welches Creek thence with sd creek to the beginning. Wit: G. W. Jackson, John Kelly. [Wash Co DB I/J, 141-42]

1846 Nov 20. Wm H. Bateman and his wife Martha Winifred to Bethuel Gerkin, all Wash Co, for $60.00, their undivided 1/4 part of land in Wash Co adj lands of Daniel Goodman dec'd on the My Lady Walkers Hole Swamp beg at a large cypress in mouth of sd swamp...Blount's Ridges...Browney Island Patent line...Charles Island Patent line...Wards line described in a grant from NC to David Durden 6 Feb 1827. Wit: Richard Rawls. [Wash Co DB I/J, 319-21]

1847 Feb 2. John Durden to Bethuel Gerkin, both Wash Co, for $75.00, John Durden's undivided interest including interest that fell to him at death of his brother Asa T. Durden, land or deed executed by Wm H. Bateman and his wife Martha Winifred Bateman to Bethuel Gerkin and reg in Book I/J, 319-321. Wit: F. F. Fagan, O. W. Davis. [Wash Co DB I/J, 343-44]

1848 May 19. Goodman Durden to Bethuel Gerkin, both Wash Co, for $81.00, 5/16 of said tract in Wash Co, See Bk I/J, 319-21. Wit: F. F. Fagan. [Wash Co DB I/J, 580

1850 Washington County Census
Bethuel Gurkins           age 45     value of real estate 250
Frances [Jackson]       age 39
Eleanor [his aunt]         age 85
Ann                             age 14
James                           age 11
Benjamin                     age 8

It's possible he had older children not listed in census.

1852 April 16. Ellender Gherken sold Charles Gherkin for $50.00 50 acres of land. Bethuel Gurkin and James R. Daniel witnessed this transaction. [Bft DB 27, 191-92.] Ellender Gurkin had been living in Bethuel's household in the 1850 Washington County Census.

1853 May Term. Bethuel Gurkin, for $25.00, to Jeremiah Hollis, 100 acres land Wash Co beg at forked pine head of swamp, SW marked trees, Juniper Swamp Bridge. Wit: H. J. Gurganus. [Wash Co DB I/J, 446]

There are a few more Washington County deeds concerning Bethuel which I have not obtained. The latest I see is in 1856.

1860 Washington County Census
I believe these are Bethuel's children in the census.
James Gerkin         age 25     Farmer     value of real estate 700
Frances Gerkin     age 25     weaver
Hannah age 12
Benjamin age 23   shinglemaker, his brother and younger son of Bethuel
William Mizzell 18 shinglemaker This Gerkin family is next to the family of Jeremiah Hollis [See 1853 deed above]