Research by Jane Stubbs Bailey
JOHN GERKIN; OLDEST SON OF JOSHUA AND ANN GERKIN BORN CIRCA 1755 DIED BETWEEN MARCH 12,1807 AND 1810 CENSUS NO KNOWN DESCENDANTS
The first mention I see of John Gerkin is on a 1784 tax list for Tyrrell County. His mother, Ann Gerkin, widow of Joshua, had appeared on a 1782 tax list with 140 acres. John appears in 1784 with 141 acres. I believe that both of these acreages are the 1761 grant of 141 acres Joshua Gerkin purchased.
1784. John Girken on Tyrrell County Tax List. [Ratcliffe, NC Taxpayers, volume 2, 1679-1790, p. 75]
April 1785 Tyrrell Court. Jurors appointed to attend July Term 1785 included John Girken. [Microfilm C.096.30002, Tyrrell County Minutes of court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, 1782-1788, p. 124]
1790 Census Tyrrell County
Name
males over 16 males under 16
females
Joshua Girkin
1
0
0
John Girkin
1
0
0
Anne Girkin
0
0
4
1794 Aug 23. Estate sale of James Miller. Enoch Leary exec. Buyers: John Leary, Joshua Slade, Joshua Hassell, Nicholas Gilbord, Cornelius Leary, Robourd Cushing, Joseph Lemore, John Gurkin, Phillip Osbourn, Thomas Skittletharp, Frederick Steely, Enoch Leary. [Bradley, Tyr Estates, #278]
April Court 1795. Ordered that John Gurkin have leave to administer the estate of Ann Gurkin dec'd & give bond in the sum of £500. Stephen Swain and Jon Spruel Securities. [Microfilm C.096.30002, Tyrrell County Minutes of Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, 1794-1798, p 85]
April 27, 1795. Bond for John (X) Gurkin to administer estate of Ann Gurkin. Bondsmen: Stephen Swain, Jon (X) Spruill. [Bradley, Tyr Estates, #166] The NC Archives copy of the bond spells John's name Guerkin and Gurkin.
April Court 1795. A Road Jury to lay out a road on N side of Thomas Williams' Plantation included Stephen Swain, Jesse Lewis, Samuel Chesson, John Lewis, Thos Smith, John Nuberry, Josh Chesson, James Freeman, Richard Frazier, John Gurkin, Asa Parsons, & Jona. Spruell. [Microfilm C.096.30002, 1794-98, p 83]
John Gurkin had to take care of the estates of his mother Ann and his brother Joshua within the same year.
October 1795 Court. John Gurkin to have leave to administer on the estate of Joshua Gurkin Dec'd & give bond & security in the sum of £100. James Freeman & Uriah Phelps his Securities. John Gurkin returned the inventory of Joshua Gurkin. Filed. John Gurkin to sell perishable part of estate of Joshua Gurkin dec'd amounting to £38:18:0. Filed. [Microfilm C.096.30002, 122]
January 1796 Court. Acct of sale of Joshua Gurkin dec'd amounting to £38:18:0. Filed. [Microfilm C.096.30002, 1794-1798, page 139]
The estate papers of Joshua Gurkin from the North Carolina Archives indicate that John Gurkin was held accountable for a debt of £13:06:11 owed to Rebecca Hassell concerning the estate of Joshua Gurkin
1800 Census Washington County [formerly Tyrrell] John Gurkin 1 male 45 up, 1 female 16-26, 2 females 26-45 Zachariah Girkin 1 male 26-45, 1 male 10-16 no females Zachariah, son of Benjamin and brother of Charles & Benjamin
March 12, 1807. William Tarkenton, Washington County, planter to John Girkin,
Washington County, planter. For £20. 10 acres... on south side Albemarle sound
beginning at a gum on the swamp side of John Gherkins patent line a small
distance south of the bridge running along the swamp side to Joseph Christophers
line a small distance in the swamp then along the sd line to Abingtons line then
along sd line to Girkins patent line then along sd line to the first station
including all in the sd bounds called in Ghirkins patent, Davises Island
containing about 10 acres more or less.
Wit: Joseph Christopher. March Term 1807 by oath of Wm Tarkenton. Registered 15
October 1807. [Wash Co DB B, 410]
Notice variation in spelling of Gurkin within same deed 1761 Jan 23. Granville
Grant to Joshua Gerkins, planter. 141 acres in Parish of St. Andrews. Davis's
Island. Beg at a pine running thence W 80 P to a pine then W 60 N 320 P to a gum
on the swamp thence E 80 P to a gum then E 60 S 320 P to 1st station. December
1761 Court proved by Frances Ward, subscribing witness. Test: Fr Ward, Clerk.
Reg 10 Feb 1762. [Tyr DB 4 Pt 1, 132-133. Roll 19985 filmed by Gen Soc, Salt
Lake City, Utah] John is near his father's 1761 patent.
1810. John Gurkin is not listed in a census. He would have been 55 or over. Washington County Court records have been destroyed. He may have died between the 1807 deed and the 1810 census. The Hannah Gurkin listed in the census was probably his sister though she could have been a wife.
1810 Washington County Census. Hannah Gerkin. 2 females 45 and up. 1815 List of Taxable Property, Washington County. No Gurkins.
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