Jeremiah Gerkin

Research by Jane Stubbs Bailey

JEREMIAH GERKIN; POSSIBLE SON OF JOSHUA AND ANN GERKIN POSSIBLE CHILDREN ARE FREDERICK AND RICHARD

Jeremiah Gerkin seems a likely candidate for the son-in-law of William Stubbs who made a 1795 will. William Stubbs called himself of Martin County but the will was filed in Beaufort County. William Stubbs listed as one of his daughters, Mary Gerkins.

Both Jeremiah Gerkin and William Stubbs were on the 1779 tax list for Martin County. William Stubbs took out a grant for land in Martin County in 1784 while Jeremiah Gerkin eventually took out a grant of land in Beaufort County.

Below are facts gathered about Jeremiah, Frederick and Richard.

1779. Jeremiah Gerkin on Martin County Tax List. [Ratclifee, NC Taxpayers 1679-1790, vol 2, p 73]

In 1787 Jeremiah Gurkin was still listed in Martin County. The Martin County Census was taken June 16, 1787.
Jeremiah Gurkin.           males       males under 21         females
                                    21-60     & over 60
                                    1             3                             4
[Register, A., State Census of North Carolina]

1788 July 10. State Grant to Jeremiah Gurkin. 100 acres in Beaufort County north side Pungo Swamp, Edward Phelps corner. [Bft DB 6, 1786-93, p 163] [near Waters family]

1790 Census Beaufort County
Name                   males over 16     males under 16     females
Benjamin Girkin    3                         0                         2
Charles Girkin       1                         2                          2
Jeremiah Girkin     2                       1                         3
Mary Jerken         1                         2                         3

1795 Oct 19. Jeremiah Gurkin to William Osborn, both of Beaufort County. For Ł16 4sh. 100 acres land north side Pamlico River & north side Pungo Swamp beginning at a poplar on the side of said swamp, Edward Phelps corner running north 5 west 72 poles to a pine, west 150 poles to a pine, thence south 5 134 poles to a gum in the swamp thence the various courses of the sd swamp to the beginning. Signed. Jeremiah (X) mark Gurkin. Wit: Appleton Squires, Jesse Warters, Thomas Warters. Dec Term 1796 proved in court by oath of Thomas Warters. Test: Henry Ellison, CC. [Bft DB 7, 1793-95, p 226] sold his 1788 grant

1800 Census Beaufort County
Name                            males   males     males    females
                                     16-26   26-45   45 up    under 10 16-26 26-45 45 up
Jeremiah Ghurkins         2                        1                         1                     1
                                      males     males     females     females
                                  under 10   26-45   under 10   16-26
Benj. Ghurkins Jr           1             2           1               2

                                      males       females
                                      over 45     26-45
Benj Ghurkins Sr             1               1

After his appearance in the 1800 census, there seems to be no further sign of Jeremiah Gurkin. Court records for the period between 1800 and 1809 have been destroyed. He must have died during that time.

Two Gurkins appear in the 1810 Beaufort census who are not sons of Benjamin Gurkin. They are Richard and Frederick Gurkin. Their lands are in the general vicinity of the 1788 Jeremiah Gurkin grant.

1810 Census Beaufort County
Richard Gurken 1 male under 10, 1 16-26, 1 45 and over 2 females under 10, 1 16-26, 1 26-45, 1 45 and up
Nelly Girken 1 female 45 and over
Frederick Gurkin 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 26-45 1 female 16-26.
Benjamin Girkin 2 males under 10, 2 males 26-45 1 female under 10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 26-45

1810 December 29. Frederick Gerkin was purchaser at Estate sale of Parthenia Boyd, dec'd. [Camin, Bft Orphans A, 58] Other purchasers listed in Frederick Gurkin Sheet.

1812 March 17. Richard Gerkin purchaser at sale of Major Hawkins Dec'd. [Camin, Bft Orphans, A, 60] Other purchasers listed in Richard Gurkin Sheet.

1818 Jan 13. Wm Boyd to Jeremiah Waters, $20, 100 acres ...Walter Jones corner, Lazarus Swamp, Levi Stubbs corner, gum in Richard Gurkin's line. Wit: Frederick Boyd Elizabeth Boyd June Term 1820 by oath of Frederick Boyd. [Bft DB 12, 234]

1819 Sept 1. Richard Gurkin and Wm Boyd to Jesse Rolin, $30, 100 acres near Jesse Rolin...Walter Jones and Colman Wollard. Wit: A. Squires Mary X Tetterton. Dec Ct 1819 by oath of A. Squires. Bft DB 13, 98]

1820 Beaufort County Census. This information from John T. Gurkin's research. [Total population 9850, population of town of Washington was 1034]

1) Nancy Gurkins. 1 male under 10, 1 female over 45

2) Benjamin Gurkins. head of household. 2 males under 10, 1 male between 10 and 16, 1 male between 16 and 18 years, 2 males between 18 and 26 years, 1 male between 26 and 45, 2 males over 45 years, 1 female between 10 and 16, 1 female between 26 and 45. 3 of family engaged in farming.

3) Nelly Gurkins. Head. 1 male between 16 and 25, 1 female over 45. 1 of family engaged in farming. She may be the daughter Nelly mentioned in Benjamin Gurkin's 1800 Will
4) Mary Gurkins. Head. 1 male between 26 and 45, 1 female over

Richard Gurkins 1 male 45 and up, 1 male under 10, 1 male 10- 16, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 26-45

1823 May 27. Richard Gherkin a purchaser at Long Acre Stock sale of the cattle of Thomas Boyd, dec'd. [Camin, Bft Orphans, A, 175]

Richard Gherkin probably died soon after this. His name is mentioned in 1846 but it is used as part of a description of a land deed, a repeat of an 1818 deed.

June 14, 1846. Malachi Ange to Hoyt N. Waters for $20, ...land Walter Jones corner, Lazarus Swamp to Levi Stubbs line...Richard Gurkins. Wit: James Daniel, Mary Daniel. [Bft DB 24, 304]

1818 Wm Boyd sold land of same description to Jeremiah Waters. Malachi Ange was Jeremiah's grandson who inherited this land and then sold it to another of Jeremiah Waters' grandsons, Hoyt N. Waters.