Does anyone know how Lincoln County was divided into the 12 Companies that are identified in the 1790 census? I assume these are geographic divisions. It would be nice to be able to overlay the "Company" boundaries onto a county map, but that may be too much to wish for. Jack Darr Reno and San Francisco (Lincoln County connections - Darr, Rudisill, Dellinger, Blackburn, Hallman)

Jack, Enumerators of the 1790 census were asked to include the following categories in the census: name of head of household, number of free white males of sixteen years and older, number of free white males under sixteen years, number of free white females, number of all other free persons, number of slaves, and sometimes town or district of residence. The categories allowed Congress to determine persons residing in the United States for collection of taxes and the appropriation of seats in the House of Representatives. This first United States census schedules differs in format from later census material, as each enumerator was expected to make his own copies on whatever paper he could find. Unlike later census schedules an enumerator could arrange the records as he pleased So who knows why they named them by names quite possibly by important person or even the man doing the enumerating for that matter. I have often wondered that same question myself. Lincoln county was formed in 1779 from the eastern part of Tryon County. It was named for Benjamin Lincoln, a general in the American Revolutionary War. In 1782 the southeastern part of Burke County was annexed to Lincoln County. In 1841 parts of Lincoln County and Rutherford County were combined to form Cleveland County. In 1842 the northern third of Lincoln County became Catawba County. In 1846 the southern half of what was left of Lincoln County became Gaston County. Lincolnton Became the county seat in 1785 The boundaries of Lincoln changed many times This sight might help ya. This is a great source for Lincoln Co NC History with many many names HYPERLINK "http://www.rootsweb.com/~nclincol/ncl_nixon.htm"http://www.rootsweb.com/~nc lincol/ncl_nixon.htm Debra LaMel I have Darr marriage connections in Texas and NC my maternal grandmother's sister Viola Veru Michum married a Horace J Darr son of James H Darr b abt 1873 Texas and Lula. James's father Henry L Darr was born in Madison Co TN abt 1845 his wife was named Jana he was in Kaufman Co TX in 1860 living with his father John and mother Angeline Henry's father was John Darr b abt 1818 in NC his wife was named Angeline/Angelina Ervin b abt 1823 Tenn John's parents is supposed to be Henry Darr of Rowan Co NC and Catherine Byerly 1850 John and Angeline where in Madison Co TN as was Henry and Catherine After her and Horace divorced Aunt Viola married Lawrence Earl Kiggans Sr. my father's brother. My maternal Great Aunt Viola married my paternal Uncle Lawrence. My parents introduced them and played match maker! They are both buried in Prairie Hill Cemetery in Limestone Co TX. I don’t however know where Horace is buried at. Small world! Aunt Viola's great grandfather was James Mitchum b bet 1783-1794 somewhere in NC He came to Texas before it was a state. I am a 5th generation True blooded Texan Even though I am not a Darr descendant my first cousin is and I helped her with her ancestors the Darr Family -----Original Message----- From: nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Jedarr@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 12:09 AM To: NCLINCOL-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [NCLINCOL] 1790 Census - Geography of the "Companies" Does anyone know how Lincoln County was divided into the 12 Companies that are identified in the 1790 census? I assume these are geographic divisions. It would be nice to be able to overlay the "Company" boundaries onto a county map, but that may be too much to wish for. Jack Darr Reno and San Francisco (Lincoln County connections - Darr, Rudisill, Dellinger, Blackburn, Hallman) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NCLINCOL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007

Jack Forgot to tell you the 1790 US census was conducted by US Marshalls on horseback They counted some 3.9 Million People. (Source US Census Bureau on line) Debra -----Original Message----- From: nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Jedarr@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 12:09 AM To: NCLINCOL-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [NCLINCOL] 1790 Census - Geography of the "Companies" Does anyone know how Lincoln County was divided into the 12 Companies that are identified in the 1790 census? I assume these are geographic divisions. It would be nice to be able to overlay the "Company" boundaries onto a county map, but that may be too much to wish for. Jack Darr Reno and San Francisco (Lincoln County connections - Darr, Rudisill, Dellinger, Blackburn, Hallman) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NCLINCOL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007

LINCOLN COUNTY was formerly called Tryon, in honor of William Tryon, the Royal Governor; but whose odious oppressions caused the General Assembly to blot out his name, and in 1779 to divide this territory into Lincoln and Rutherford. CLEAVELAND COUNTY was formed in 1841, out of Rutherford and Lincoln Counties, and derives its name from Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland, of Wilkes County, who with a detachment of men from Wilkes and Surry under his and the command of Major Joseph Winston, engaged in the Battle of Hing's Mountain. CATAWBA COUNTY was formed in 1842 from Lincoln County and derives its name from the river which forms its northern and eastern boundaries. GASTON COUNTY was formed in 1846, from Lincoln County, and derives its name from WLLIAM GASTON, late one of the judges of the Supreme Court, from whose character, life, and services, the reader is referred to Craven County, Chapter XXII. In order to find your ancestors and their statistics you must know when they lived in this area of North Carolina. Some of my ancestors moved into this area of North Carolina shortly after 1745 when they found their way down the wagon trail from the northern part of the country through the Salisbury area and then to the Catawba River where they crossed into the area where they selected locations for their early homes west of the Catawba River and east of the South Fork of the Catawba River. I hope this information will be of assistance to you as you seek information about your ancestors. Some land records for land in the area west of the Catawba River has been found registered in the Old Courthouses east of the Catawba River. These dates were copied from "WHEELERS HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA" published in 1851. I believe we found this book at a used book store in Raleigh, N.C. near N.C. State University. -----Original Message----- From: nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Debra LaMel Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 4:00 AM To: nclincol@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [NCLINCOL] 1790 Census - Geography of the "Companies" Jack Forgot to tell you the 1790 US census was conducted by US Marshalls on horseback They counted some 3.9 Million People. (Source US Census Bureau on line) Debra -----Original Message----- From: nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Jedarr@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 12:09 AM To: NCLINCOL-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [NCLINCOL] 1790 Census - Geography of the "Companies" Does anyone know how Lincoln County was divided into the 12 Companies that are identified in the 1790 census? I assume these are geographic divisions. It would be nice to be able to overlay the "Company" boundaries onto a county map, but that may be too much to wish for. Jack Darr Reno and San Francisco (Lincoln County connections - Darr, Rudisill, Dellinger, Blackburn, Hallman) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NCLINCOL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.411 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NCLINCOL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 10:22 AM

Jack, I suppose I am just dumb but I have never dealt with the records that use the term companies. My guess about the territories for the companies were divided by the streams. You must also remember that the early homes were built near a fresh water spring. This would be the beginning of a small stream that flowed into a larger body of water. In order to cross the Catawba River you had to go to the next foard. A place where the water was shallow. When the early travellers came to the Catawba River they camped on the east side of the river. As they checked out the territory they observed that the Deer, Buffalo and other large animals knew where they could cross the river. There was one place called Island Foard because there were small islands that helped in crossing the river. My ancestors moved into the area covered by the original Lincoln Conty, (the area west of the Catawba river before it was divided into the present counties.) One of my ancestors fought in the Battle of Alamance, The Battle of Ramsour's Mill (in Lincolnton currently) and the Battle of King's Montain, and lived to tell about it, but he did not leave any written information. He spent his time helping his neighbors to get their pensions after being wounded or pensions for widows after they lost their husband. His name appears in the court records as a witness proving that the person was also in the battle. This ancestor was a shoe-maker when he was not shooting at the enemy. I have been living in this area for the past 77 years and still do not know all the answers I live very near Clarke's Creek which provided water to operate Ramsour's Mill. Have a good day Pat Caswell Cloninger patcazc@abts.net -----Original Message----- From: nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:nclincol-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Jedarr@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 1:09 AM To: NCLINCOL-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [NCLINCOL] 1790 Census - Geography of the "Companies" Does anyone know how Lincoln County was divided into the 12 Companies that are identified in the 1790 census? I assume these are geographic divisions. It would be nice to be able to overlay the "Company" boundaries onto a county map, but that may be too much to wish for. Jack Darr Reno and San Francisco (Lincoln County connections - Darr, Rudisill, Dellinger, Blackburn, Hallman) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NCLINCOL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.28/672 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 10:22 AM

Hi Jack, Do you know the Darr family that owned an airport "Darr Field" at Archdale just out side of High Point NC? Joe McDonald ----- Original Message ----- From: <Jedarr@aol.com> To: <NCLINCOL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 2:08 AM Subject: [NCLINCOL] 1790 Census - Geography of the "Companies" > Does anyone know how Lincoln County was divided into the 12 Companies > that > are identified in the 1790 census? I assume these are geographic > divisions. > It would be nice to be able to overlay the "Company" boundaries onto a > county > map, but that may be too much to wish for. > > Jack Darr > Reno and San Francisco > (Lincoln County connections - Darr, Rudisill, Dellinger, Blackburn, > Hallman) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NCLINCOL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date: 2/6/2007 > 5:52 PM > >