Eli Hoyt Gurkin

Research by Jane Stubbs Bailey

ELI HOYT GURKIN; FATHER UNKNOWN, BORN BETWEEN 1810 and 1815.

1840 Hyde County Census
                                males   males     males     females     females
                                30-40   under 5 5-10     under 5     20-30
H. Gerkens               1           1           2             1             1

1850 Hyde County Census Swan Quarter Township

Hoyt Gurkins         age 35     farmer       real estate 1000
Kesiah                   age 35
James C [E?]         age 10
Sarah                     age 8
William                   age 5
Dorcas A                 age 5
Mary A                   age 2
John Berry               age 10
Smelekite Midgett     age 48,       laborer

1851 Feb 26. E. H. Gurkins, farmer, had bound to him John Berry, orphan/minor. [Hyde Co Apprentice Papers 1846-1852]

1854 July 25. Eli H. Girkin married Mary Eleanor Jarvis in Hyde County. J. G. Jarvis may have been the J.P.

1854 Oct 31. William G. Jarvis sold land to Eli H. Gerkins [Hyde DB 6, 2]

1858 November Hyde County Court. Eli H. Gerkins, Levi Jarvis, David Jarvis, Levin Sawyer, Nathaniel C. Jarvis, Sylvester Jarvis, Bartlett Culliver petitioned court for public road from Jesse Gibbs' bridge to Eli Gerkins, a distance of 1 1/2 miles. A private road used for 20 years had been closed. It was in the Oyster Creek-Farrow Road area.

1859 Jan 14. George Credle sold land to Eli H. Girkins. [Hyde DB 8, 26]

1860 Oct 20. William G. Jarvis sold land to Eli H. Girkins. [Hyde DB 8, 397]

1860 Hyde County Census Swan Quarter Township
Eli H. Gherkin       age 50         farmer
Mary                   age 28
James                   age 18
Sally                     age 16
Dorcas                 age 12
William                 age 10
Eliza                     age 9
Nancey                 age 7
John Berry           age 18
Virginia Gherkin   age 1

1867 January 16. William G. Jarvis sold land to Eli H. Girkins. [Hyde DB 9, 173]

1869 November 10.
Franklin Sawyer married Dorcas A. Gherkin
Father of Groom: Marcus Sawyer
Mother of Groom: Elizabeth Sawyer
Father of Bride: Eli H. Gherkiin
Mother of Bride: Keziah Gherkin
Married in Beaufort County by Samuel L. Davis, minister of gospel

Eli H. Gurkin and his wife Mary E. made land sales in Hyde County as late as 1882. There are other Gurkin marriages and land transactions in Hyde County which may be concerned with his family. For instance he had a son named James. James E. Gurkin made sales as late as 1885.

1861 July 20. James E. Gerkins married Henrietta Bridgman in Hyde County. He seems to be the son of Eli Hoyt Gurkin and his first wife Keziah shown in the 1850 census.

1872 a Benjamin Gherkins married Martha Jarvis in Hyde County. This may be the son of some other Gurkin. His mother is Jane Harris.

1874 Nov 6. William E. Gerkins married Mary E. Flowers in Swan Quarter, Hyde Co, NC. He gave his age as 26. He could conceivably be the William shown in the 1850 census, a son of Eli Hoyt Gurkin and his first wife, Keziah.

1877 August 22. Mortgage in Beaufort County. Eli H. Gurkin, Beaufort Co, to Louis Braddy, Bft Co, for $10.00, 92 acres land N side Pamplico River above Mallard Creek beginning at a Cypress standing at the river at a bunch of currant bushes running a direct line out back with Arthur Braddy's line until it strikes a small branch between 2 islands thence with this branch til it departs the direct course pursuing the direct course or courses first here taken to the back line which is the back line taken in a deed from Riley Eborn to Thomas Barrow thence with the various courses of the conveyances from Riley Eborn to Thomas Barrow round to the river thence down the river to the beginning. See Deed from H. A. Ellison, Sheriff, to Lewis Braddy 28 July 1849, Bk 24, 160. If Eli Gherkin can pay his notes 1 Jan 1878 and 1879, he can keep land. Signed Eli H. Gurkin. Wit: J. Cardow. [Bft DB 43, 275] Bk 24, 159-169. Arthur Braddy's line...land of heirs of Robert Stewart. Thomas Barrow sold it to William Braddy. In 1846 Lewis Braddy bought it.

1886 and 1888 Beaufort County Deeds show James E. Gurkin and his wife Henrietta [Bridgman] living in Beaufort County West side of Pantego Creek near lands of Jno C. Jarvis and wife Nancy.

1889 April 8. James E. Gurkin and wife Henrietta to Edward H. Girkins, Bft, for $300.00, 20 acres in Pantego township adjoining lands of John C. Jarvis, E. S. Ratliff heirs and others. [Bft DB 73, 97]

1895 Feb 1. Mortgage. Edwin H. Gurkin and Fannie R. Gurkin, his wife, Bft Co to Charles H. Ratliff, Bft, for $425.00, 50 acres land in Pantego township, Washington & Leechville Rd So of T. J. Toppins, Respess E Line, Jarvis. [Bft DB 89, 321]

James E. Gherkin and his son Edward Hoyt Gurkin seem to have moved to Beaufort County, Pantego area.