G'day Debra & Joy (& others), Found some interesting tidbits on Sylvester Estes in "Estes Trails", 1989, vol9, no.4, pp.15-16. Submitted by Garmon Estes. Paragraphs indented by a "*" are taken from the above source. The rest are my own comments. * In "Cavaliers & Pioneers", Nell Nugent, p.237 is mention of a Robert Parish. He possessed land in King & Queen County that was bordered on one side by that of Silvester Estice. Dated 22/6/1722 (note as usual all dates are in english format, dd/mm/yyyy). Garmon comments that this appears to have been the same land that Abraham and Barbara had earlier lived on. No surprise that their eldest son inherited the family plantation. Since most of Silvester's kids were born before 1722 .. specifically the two of interest, Ephraim (c.1712) and Thomas (c.1715), we can conclude with a fair degree of assurance that they were born in King & Queen Co, VA. * On the 7/11/1734 there was a deed between Robert Ivey of Edgecombe District (now Nash Co, NC) and Jasper Stuart of Upper Parish, Bertie District. Witness was Silvester Estes. (from "Colonial Bertie County, NC, Deed Books A-H, p.152). Bertie Co, NC was formed in 1722. Some months ago I posted an article to the estes mail-list (and which appears in the latest issue of Estes Trails) concerning a John Estes of Hyde Co, NC. Well Bertie Co, NC is almost next door to Hyde Co, NC where there was a John Estes who died there in 1732 with 8 kids. This John is so far a mystery. Is there a connection?? Also, Sylvester's son, Abraham (b.1732) was in Pasquotank Co, NC in 1769 and this county is also a stone's throw from Bertie Co. * "John Spann and wife Mary, to Silvester Estes, 8/8/1741 160 acres in Upper Parish of Bertie County on NS Morattock River adjacent to John Glover, Thomas Bradford, "John Spanns former corner". Granted 8/4/1730. Witness: Jasper Stuart, jurat; David Rozar, Richard Cross, Auguest Court, 1741" (From "Colonial Bertie Co, NC", Deed Books A-H, p.167). This land was either part of that in the 1734 deed above or another part of the original 1730 grant to John Spanns. The description of the land is the same, same neighbours etc. Several counties were formed from Bertie so I'm not sure of the current location (Could someone with a good NC map check please?). It looks that Silvester moved to old Bertie Co, NC by 1722. At that date the oldest of his children were still minors, likely no older than the early teens. So they would've travelled there with him (unless they died before then). * On 30/7/1754 William Glover made his will in Northampton Co, NC. It was proved in the 1754 August Court. Silvester Eastis was a witness. ("Abstracts of NC Wills", Grimes, 1967, p.136). Northampton Co, NC was formed from Bertie Co, NC in 1741. In 1754 Sylvester was still in old Bertie Co. The Glover's appear in the earlier deed (1734), so I would assume that the land Sylvester bought in 1734 was in that part of bertie co that became Northampton Co, rather than that he moved. Northampton Co, NC is on the NC/VA border. Across the border in VA lie the counties of Greensville and Southampton (surprise, surprise!). Sylvester's son, Ephraim, was in Granville Co, NC by 1740. Thomas was in Orange Co, NC by the 1860's. Earlier? Do you have a date for when he arrived there, Joy? So .. the movement of the family looks like this: Silvester .. in K&Q Co, VA until at least 1722 .. to Bertie (now Northampton) Co, NC by 1734 .. in Northampton (Bertie) Co, NC 1754 . Ephraim .. born c.1712, K&Q Co, VA .. to Bertie Co, NC with father in 1720's .. to Granville Co, NC by 1740 when he married a native of that county . Thomas .. born c.1715, K&Q Co, VA .. to Bertie (Northampton) Co, NC with father in 1720's .. to Orange Co, NC by 1760 - location of marriage and birth of kids could be either Bertie or Orange Co. NC. . John .. died 1799, Orange Co, NC Sylvester's remaining sons, Elisha, Joel, Caleb & Aaron (I have no solid proof that they existed) presumably either died young or will one day be found having left traces somewhere in NC. P'haps accounting for some of the Estes who appear from nowhere in NC in the mid to late 1700's. Anyone got a missing Elisha Estes from the Carolina's? The John Estes who died in Hyde Co, NC in 1732 could _not_ be the son of Sylvester of that name .. at the earliest Sylvester's son John could've been born 1704/1705 (Abraham married 1784). There's no way he could've have had 8 children by 1732 .. not unless he had all twins and triplets. But who he was .. I have no idea. It _seems_ pretty certain that Abraham Sr's son, John, was not this one. cheers, David. -- I bless the day I met you and I thank God that he let you lay beside me for a moment that lives on and the good news is I'm better for the time we spent together and the bad news is you're gone. - "You're Gone", Diamond Rio DC2.D A+++! L^ Pfwl Bfl Fo R+++! Ac+ J-- S++ Fr+++! I+ H++ $ M V+++ Cag http://xenon.triode.net.au/~dragon mailto:dragon@triode.net.au