Research by Jane Stubbs Bailey
One James Gurkin seems to be a resident of Beaufort County and may be Asa Gurkin's brother. This James Gurkin appears in the 1840 Beaufort County census while another James Gurkin, perhaps the son of Harmon Gurkin, appears in the 1840 Washington County census.
While James Gurkin remains in Beaufort County through the 1850 census, Asa Gurkins moves to Martin County by the 1850 census.
1822 October 7. William Sexton to James Girkin, for $50.00, 37 acres..beginning at sweet gum Henry McDonaks corner tree...N side Deep Branch running S 58 E 120 poles to McDonacks other corner, a pine then S 54 W 32 poles to Samuel Ward's corner a pine, then N 75 W 136 poles to the deep Branch then down the sd branch to first station. Wit: Robert Cutler, William Cutler. May Term 1827 by Robert Cutler. [Bft DB 14, 340]
1829 Feb 24. James Ghurkin sold land he had purchased of William Sexton to Henry E. Windley, for $50.00. 37 acres. Wit: Miles Everett and Elizabeth Everett. May Term 1829 by oath of Miles Everett. [Bft DB 15, 233]
1829 September 15. William Gerkin and James Girkin, purchasers at estate sale of Peter Burbage. [Camin, Bft Orphans, A, 16]
1830 census. Don't find a James Gurkin.
1831 June 10. James Girkin at Beaufort County estate sale of Samuel Harvey. [Camin, Bft Orphans B, pages 43-44]
1840 Census Beaufort County
males
males females
North Creek
District
20-30 under
5 20-30
Asa
Gurkin
1
1
1
males males males females females Chocowinity District 30-40 20-30 15-20 20-30 under 5 James Gurkin 1 1 1 1 1
1850 Census. Martin County Enumeration date 25 July 1850
Asa Gherkin age
34
Cooper
Jane Gherkin age 31
William Gherkin age 8
James Gherkin age 6
Sarah Gherkin age 4
Joseph Gherkin age 1
Sarah Gherkin age 27
1850 Beaufort County Census, Chockowinity District
page 813, dwelling #1205, family #1215, enumeration date 3 Nov.
James Gurkin age
44 Farmer real estate 300 Born
NC
Penelope Gurkin age 41
Mary Gurkin age 11
Ann
Gurkin
age 7
Sophia Gurkin age 3
Covy W. Stubbs age 11 [male]
Will
Stubbs
age 7.
1842 May 16. Asa Gherkins to James Gherkins. A debt (trust) $5.00 to Joseph Potts $20 and Henry B. Clark $13.00. Asa sold James his right to a lot in the town of Washington W side of the ally running up from the end of Water Street now in possession of sd Asa. James can sell land to pay creditors. Asa X Ghurkins, James Gherkins. Sworn to May 31, 1842 in clerk's office. [Bft DB 21, 277]
1848 Sept 18. Asa Gerkins and wife Ann to Henry W. Gaylord, all Bft Co, for $15.00, all rights to 100 acres, parcel of land N side Pamlico River & N side Cinclairs Creek Mill Run beginning in run of swamp at Cinclairs to Joseph Keech's patent...Mallisons line. Asa X Gurkin. Wit: W. B. Adams. Sept Term 1848 ack by oath of Jane Gurkins. [Bft DB 25, 1] Jane is wife in 1850 census.
In 1843 a series of events occur which may involve the James Gurkin of Beaufort County and may not. The deeds refer to James Gerken interacting with Peter Yeats. Peter Yeats in his December 1851 Will, Beaufort County, refers to his daughter Sophia and her husband William G. Gaskill. I have not seen the original of this will. Gaskill may be the correct name. Deeds show Peter Yeats interacting with people named Gerkin/Gherkin including a Sophia. In his will he said that Sophia was married to William G. Gaskill. Following are deeds and a marriage record pertaining to this confusing situation.
1843 March 27. James Gerkin to Peter G. Yeats, both of Bft Co. For $150. land beginning at a cypress on the S side of Pamlico River & E side of Hills Point at the river & runs S 45 W with William Gurganus' line to the School House Branch 260 poles thence down sd branch to a water oak Otes Gurganus corner thence a straight line to a cypress on the River standing near said James Gerkins' landing thence down the sd river to the beginning. Signed. James Ghirkin. Wit: Richard A. Cratch, Benjamin Grist. Nov Term 1845 by oath of R. A. Cratch. [Bft DB 23, 52-53]
In the abstract of Peter Yeats' 1851 will, he leaves his daughter Sophia and her husband William G. Gaskill 170 acres called the Joshua Hill Tract. Richard A. Cratch, probably the same witness to the James Gerkin/Peter Yeats deed above, is a witness to Peter Yeats' will.
1850, before his 1851 will, is the following deed:
1850 July 3. Peter G. Yeates, Bft Co, to Polly Gherkin, Sophia Gerkin and Ava Ann Gherkin of Bft Co, for $100.00. All my rights to 100 acres of land S side Pamplico River beg at a cypress on the river above James Gherkins landing, George Cutler (?) corner, Blounts mill road, Wm Gurganus' line then 95 E to William [Gurganus crossed out] Ghurkins 2nd corner to Wm A. Blount's corner. Signed Peter G. Yeates. Wit: N. W. Guilford, William Gurganus. March Term 1859 by oath of W. W. Guilford. [Bft DB 30, 457]
March 14, 1860 George A. Godwin married Mary Gheskin. Mary is the proper name for Polly. [page 69, Brides Index for Beaufort County, NC, Volume 1, 1847-1909]
1862 Nov 1. Avy Ann Gherkin, Bft, for $50, to George A. Goodwin. 100 acres land S side Pamplico River on sd river beg at a cypress on the shore side just above James Gherkins landing, George Cutler's corner, running with his line of marked trees to my corner, a short strawed pine in Blount's mill road the ba [sic] old field thence S 80 E 102 poles to a short-leafed pine in Wm Gurganus's line my other corner thence N 45 E to William Gherkin's corner a pine thence with a line of marked trees to William Gherkins' 2nd corner a post oak thence with his line to Wm A. Blount's corner, a beach, near an old road thence with Blount's line its various courses to the river, thence up the river to the first station. Signed Avy Ann (X) Gherkin. Wit: Joseph Robinson, James Robinson. In the Probate Court 7 August 1869 proved by James Robinson. [Bft DB 34, 169-170]
In 1850 Peter Yeats had sold 3 Gerken females land he had originally bought from James Gerkin. Wm A. Godwin had married Mary Gheskin in 1860. I would guess that Mary Gheskin was Polly Gerkin of the 1850 deed. Sister Avy Ann is now selling the land to her brother-in-law, George A. Godwin/Goodwin.
In 1867? [see Marriage list] Avery Ann Gherkin, daughter of James Gherkin and _________Gherkin married Ransom Buck, son of James Buck and Minnie Buck.
1870 September 24. George A. Goodwin and wife Polly [in marriage register George A. Godwin had married Mary Gheskin. Polly is the nickname for Mary] & Ellin Gherkin, Carteret Co, to George B. Cutler, Bft Co, for $200.00. 100 acres N [sic] side Pamplico River on River beg at Cypress Stump on river shore just above James Gherkins landing now known as Hills Fort wharf and a corner of the lands of the sd Cutler & then runs with the line of sd George B. Cutler around to what is now known as the corner of Robert D. Barr & the sd Cutler then N 45 E to Wm Gherkins corner a pine then with sd Gherkins line to his 2nd corner a post oak then with sd Gherkins'line to what is known as the Blount line
then with Blount's line the various courses to the river with river to the beginning, which piece of land was conveyed by Peter G. Yeates to Polly, Avy & Sophia Gherkin on 3 July 1850. Wit: F. B. Satterthwaite. [He was the lawyer for Charles Gerken when he asked for homestead exemption.] Signed by George A. Goodwin, Polly (X) Goodwin, Ellen (X) Gherkin. Probate Court September 24, 1870. George L. Windley, Probate Judge. [Bft DB 35, page 35]
There was a James Gurkins I found in the 1850 Beaufort County census with daughters named Mary [Polly], Ann and Sophia.
1850 Beaufort County Census, Chockowinity District
page 813, dwelling #1205, family #1215, enumeration date 3 Nov.
James
Gurkin
age 44 Farmer real
estate 300 Born NC
Penelope Gurkin age 41
Mary
Gurkin
age 11
Ann
Gurkin
age 7
Sophia Gurkin
age 3
Covy W. Stubbs age
11 [male]
Will
Stubbs
age 7.
A puzzle.
Copyright 1998-2004. Jane Stubbs Bailey. All Rights Reserved.