Part #4 This post includes the surnames of PERKINS, MARR, DILLON, PATRICK, VANVLECK, REED, SANDERS, CLEMMONS, PRICE, BETHEL Mill Sites in Simpsonville Township Rockingham Co. NC IRON WORKS Mill (site) is located on Troublesome Creek, NC State Road 2423, approximately 1.5 miles north of Monroeton. In operation as early as 1770. ************************************************************ *John MARR had five sons. The MARR brothers were under mortgage to Nicholas PERKINS of Pittsylvania Co. VA, who was a brother or nephew of Peter PERKINS. On 25 June 1806 the Rockingham County sheriff sold the property "because no other goods or shattles [sic] could be found" to pay the MARR's debt to PERKINS. James PATRICK Sr bought the 677 acre tract for 795 pounds and on 28 June 1806 he purchased the remaining rights from the MARRS. Two of the brothers were under legal age and it was 1814 before he had a clear title to the property. By May 1809, James PATRICK built a bridge over Troublesome Creek at Iron Works. The county paid him $30.00 for the structure. In 1810, PATRICK's two mills, one at Iron Works and the other on his home plantation, were producing flour which was sold in both Petersburg, VA and Fayetteville, NC. James PATRICK's son William had moved to the Iron Works by 1820. William PATRICK married unknown DILLON who died about 1821, leaving a minor son James Dillon PATRICK. William PATRICK was operating an ordinary in his residence when a Moravian minister, Rev Charles A. VANVLECK traveling from Salem to Bethlehem, PA spent the night at Iron Works. Rev VANVLECK wrote in his journal: Oct. 9, 1826...a small river called Haw River was crossed 7 miles further. About dusk we arrived at PATRICK's, Troublesome Creek having been recommended thither by SANDERS, but to our great grief and surprise Mr PATRICK at first refused to take us in, alleging various reasons for it, but by dent of entreaty we at last prevailed on him to yield. Mr P. is a widower, his wife, a sister of Mrs James CLEMMONS having died 5 years ago. We got a late supper. About midnight Arthur who had been lying on some blankets and sheep skins(on the floor) cried and shivered so for cold that we were obliged to take him into our bed and never suffered him to lie on the floor. The bill at PATRICK's was $2.25. Had traveled 27 miles today. Tuesday 10 Oct. We took breakfast at Reubin REED's and a most wretched one it was, everything on table was so far from being cleanly or palatable that we were disgusted. The butter had three different tints or colors and the coffee was served up partly in a tumbler. REED's is 6 miles from PATRICK's. Most of us were very sick of bad colds today. Passing Gen. BETHEL's dwelling and entertainment, we stopped very early at Williamson PRICE's in Caswell County. Sources: Rockingham County Deeds D page 286, Book L page 19, Book N page 46, Book P 339, and 342, Book 2dY page 281 Rockingham Co. Census 1820 Rockingham Co. Court Minutes May 1820 Travel Journal of Charles A. VANVLECK by A.L. Fries