And now back to genealogy, here are some Deed abstracts from "Abstracts of Deeds, Edgecombe Precinct, Edgecombe County, North Carolina 1732-1758", by Margaret M. Hofmann (these are some of the earliest deeds of the county, some when the Precinct was still part of Bertie County -prior to 1741. Also note that there are sometimes references to "Albemarle Co, Edgecombe Pct"; that is because the earliest references to any of the Carolinas- which were not yet formed as actual territories or states- were as Albemarle County, then considered a Province of Virginia. These are the first mentioning of some of the WILLIAMS families who lived there, and many of the people who lived in early Edgecombe moved on to other locations, so there may be something in here for someone. If you see something you might want more info on, let me know and I'll post it: Deed Book 1 - Pg. 43 - THOMAS MATTHEWS of the north west parish of Edge. Prect. in the Co. of Albemarle, planter to JOSEPH BREWER of Edge. Prect. Co. of Albemarle 16 Mar. 1732 10 pounds current money of VA 200 acres in north west parish on the south side of Moratock river and the south side of Great Quankey creek whereon the sd. MATTHEWS now lives, joining PETER JONES othe lands of the sd. MATTHEWS, the land formerly owned by ROBERT WOOD and the creek part of a tract granted to WILLIAM WILLIAMS for 340 acres 17 May 1730 Wit: JOSEPH SIMS, JAMES LOGAN, JAMES MOORE Reg. Edge. Prect. Nov Ct. 1733 Robert Foster C. Ct. Pg. 127 - PHILIP JACKSON of Edge. Prect., planter to SAMUEL WILLIAMS of Edge. Prect., gentleman 29 May 1735 160 pounds province bills one patent of land 321 acres more or less bearing date 1 Dec. 1727, joining Beaverdam swamp all houses, orchards, ditches, hedges, fences etc. Wit: HENRY GUSTON, THOMAS JONES Reg. (not given) C. Ct. (not given) Pg. 165 -ARTHUR CRAWFORD and JANE CRAWFORD of Bertie Prect. to WILLIAM WILLIAMS (prect. not identified) 18 Aug 1736 32 pounds current money of VA. 150 acres moe or less on the south side of Morratuck river, joining WILLIAM GRAY, JOSEPH WATTS, other lands of the sd. ARTHUR and TIMOTHY SPELLINGS as by patent 1 Feb. 1725 Wit: SAMUEL SWEARINGER, FRANCIS BETTIS Reg. (not given) C.Ct. (not given) Pg. 224 - SAMUEL WILLIAMS (prect. not identified ) to JOHN EGERTON (prect not identified) 1 Dec. 1737 120 pounds 100 acres on the south side of Roanoke river being a tract and plantation, joining a branch all houses, buildings etc. Wit: THOMAS KEARNEY, R. WHITTINGTON Reg. (place not given) Feb Ct 1737 T. Kearney D. C. Ct. Pg.370 - JACOB POPE of Edge. Co. to SAMUEL WILLIAMS of Edge Co. 17 Feb. 1740 50 pounds current money of VA 245 acres on the south side of Marratock river, joining Hook's meadow and JOHN POPE as by patent to JACOB POPE 21 Mar 1721 Wit; WILLIAM KILLINGSWORTH, JACOB POPE, JAMESON POPE Reg Edge. Co Feb Ct. 1740 R. Foster C. Ct. Pg. 430 - JOHN EGERTON (co not identified) to SAMUEL WILLIAMS (co. not identified) 28 Oct 1741 125 pounds 100 acres on the south side of Roanoke river, joining the mouth of a branch all houses, buildings etc. Wit: PETER WILLIAMS, WILLIAM WILLIAMS Reg. Edge. Co. Nov Ct 1741 - R. Forster C. Ct. Deed Book 2 - Pg. 11 - SAMPSON WILLIAMS of Bladen Co. planter to HOPKINS WILDER of Granville Co. 27 Jan 1753 20 pounds current money of VA. 100 acres more or less on the north side of Peachtree creek, joining a Beaver pond and the main prong of the creek part of a tract bought of ROBERT HILL Wit: NATHAN ROWLAND, JAMES ROWLAND REG. Edg. Co. May Ct., 1754 B. Wynns C. Ct. Pg. 15 - ABNEER ANDREWS of Bertie Co. to ABRAHAM DEW of Edge. Co. 8 Mar 1754 10 pounds sterling money of Great Britain 96 acres more or less on the south side of Cahukey swamp, joining MRS. HILLIARD and the sd. DEW part of a Granville grant for 296 acres 26 Oct 1753. Wit; JAMES CARTER, WILLIAM WILLIAMS . Reg: Edge. Co. May Ct. 1754 B. Wynns C. Ct. Pg. 17 - JOHN HOBGOOD of Edge Co. to THOMAS DREW of Edge. Co. 16 May 1754 10 pounds sterling 290 acres on Little swamp, joining Beetree branch and the swamp part of a Granville grant to the sd. HOBOOD 25 Apr. 1754 all houses, building etc. Wit: ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Reg. Edge. Co. May C. 1754 B. Wynns C. Ct. Pg. 48 - JOHN GRIFFIN of Edge. Co. planter to MARY WILLIAMS of Edge. Co. 21 May 1754 for the good will and affection I bear my loving daughter MARY, wife of JOHN WILLIAMS one horse, bridle, saddle, gun, feather bed etc. Wit: HENRY BECKWITH, ROBERT YOUNG Reg. Edge. Co. May Ct. 1754 B. Wynns C. Ct. Pg. 107 - ROBERT KNIGHT and TERECA his wife of Edge. Co. to NICHOLAS WILLIAMS of Southampton Co. VA 22 Aug. 1754 13 pounds current money of VA 300 acres on the north side of swift creek, joining JOSEPH PARKER and the creek a grant to the sd. ROBERT 25 May 1749 Wit: THOMAS MANN, JAMES SPEIR Reg. Edge. Co. Reg. Edge. Co. Aug Ct. 1754 B. Wynns C.Ct. Pg. 150 -JAMES WILLIAMS of Edge. Co., planter to GEORGE WILLIAMS of Edge. Co., planter 8 June 1754 10 pounds VA money 100 acres, joining JOHN POPE part of a patent to JACOB POPE for 300 acres 5 May 1742 Reg. Edge. Co. Nov Ct. 1754 B. Wynns C. Ct. Pg. 151 - SAMUEL WILLIAMS of Edge. Co., planter to GEORGE WILLIAMS of Edge. Co., planter 8 June 1754 25 pounds VA money 50 acres more or less being 1/2 of the plantation SAMUEL WILLIAMS decd. left to be divided between JACOB WILLIAMS and GEORGE WILLIAMS and is now the property of the aforesd.SAMUEL WILLIAMS by the death of JACOB. Wit: JOHN POPE, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, MARY JORDAN Reg. Edge. Co. Nov. Ct 1754 B. Wynns C. Ct. Pg. 192 - WILLIAM WILLIAMS (co. not identified to SUSANNAH HORSFORD (co. not identified) 15 Feb. 1755 5 pounds cash 80 acres more or less whereon the sd. SUSANNAH now lives on the Cypress swamp all houses, buildings etc. Wit: SOLOMON WILLIAMS, SAMUEL WILLIAMS. Reg. Edge. Co. Feb. Ct. 1755 B. Wynns C. C.Ct. Pg. 203 - JOHN WILLIAMS of Edge. Co. to JOHN SIKES of Edge. Co. 13 Feb 1754 6 pounds 10 shillings current money of VA 51 acres more or less on the north side of Tar river, joining Swift creek, JACOB POPE, the mouth of Thorowfare branch and the river part of a grant to WILLIAM DAVIS 20 June 1749 Wit: JAMES WILLIAMS, BENJAMIN WILLIAMS. Reg. Edge. Co., Feb. Ct. 1755 B. Wynns C. Ct. Pg. 236 - WILLIAM WILLIAMS of Edge. Co. to DOCTOR JOHN JAMESON of Edge. Co. 10 Aug. 1754 10 pounds sterling money of Great Britain 364 acres on the south side of Tar river, joining PITTMAN and the river a grant to the sd. WILLIAMS 25 Oct 1753 Wit; ELISHA WILLIAMS, THOMAS WETHERSBEE. Reg. Edge. Co. May Ct. 1755 J. Montfort C. Ct. Pg. 238 - WILLIAM WILLIAMS of Edge co. to DR. JOHN JAMESON of Edge. Co. 10 Aug. 1754 10 pounds sterling money of Great Britain 365 acres on the south side of Tar river and both sides of Walnut creek, joining HOLIMAN Wit: ELISHA WILLIAMS, THOMAS WETHERSBEE Reg. Edge. Co. May Ct. 1755 J. Montfort C.Ct. Pg. 245 - JOSEPH MONTFORT of Edgecombe Co.,gentleman to SOLOMON HAWKINS of Edge. Co., shoemaker 21 Aug. 1754 30 pounds current money of VA 210 acres on the south side of Roanoke river, joining Quonkee pocosin and SOLEMON WILLIAMS part of a grant to the sd. MONTFORT 1 Nov. 17-- for 419 acres Wit: WILL. HURST, HUGH HARDY Reg. Edge. Co. May Ct. 1755. J. Montfort C. Ct. Pg. 292 - EDWARD MOBBERLY of Edge. Co. to MICHAL WOLLIS, planter (co. not identified) 31 May 1755 64 pounds proclamation money 200 acres, joining Burntcoat swamp and FRANCIS SCOTT part of a tract the sd. MOBBERLY purchased of JAMES GREEN Wit: JOSEPH JOHN WILLIAMS, DRURY HARRINGTON, BENJAMIN HAILE Reg. Edge. Co. Aug. Ct 1755 J. Montfort C. Ct. Pg. 303 - WILLIAM MOORE and JUDITH his wife (co. not identified) to JOHN WILLIAMS of Northampton Co. 19 Apr 1755 25 pounds VA money 390 acres on the north side of Contentney creek, joining the sd. WILLIAMS, EDWARD BARNES, THOMAS CARTER and the creek part of a grant to the sd. MOORE 11 Apr. 1745 Wit: JOHN G-----, JAMES B------. Reg. Edge. Co. Aug. Ct. 1755 J. Montfort C. Ct. Pg. 305 - AQUILLA SUGGS of Edge. Co. to WILLIAM MAUND (co. not identified) 30 Apr 1755 30 pounds current money of VA. 150 acres on the south side of Tar river, joining Crooked creek, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, NATHANIEL HICKMAN and the river all houses, orchards, gardens, fences etc. a grant to WILLIAM WILLIAMS 11 July 1739 Wit: GEORGE BROWN, PETER MICKEL Reg. Edge. Co. Aug. Ct. 1755 J. Montfort C. Ct. Pg.419 - THOMAS BRADFORD of Northampton Co. planter to ALEXANDER MCCULLOCH of Edge Co. 25 Aug 1755 40 pounds 439 acres on Quankey creek whereon JOSEPH BECK now lives, joining ROBERT WILLIAMS, FRANCIS MIRICK and vacant land all houses, buildings, etc. a grant to the sd. BRADFORD 29 Oct 1753 Wit: THOMAS KEARNEY, ROBERT TAYLOR Reg. Edge. Co. Feb Ct 1756 J. Montfort C. Ct. Pg. 424 NICHOLAS WORLEY of Edge. Co. planter to ALEXANDER MCCULLOCH of Edge. Co. gentleman 6 Dec 1755 100 pounds proclamation money 525 acres on the north side of Elk marsh all houses, buildings etc. as by patent to BARNABY MACKINNEY, JR 1 Feb 1725 Wit: HENRY POPE, JOSEPH JOHN WILLIAMS Reg. Edge. Co Feb Ct. 1756 Joseph Montfort C.Ct. Pg.425 -SOLOMON HAWKINS and DAVID HAWKINS of Edge. Co. cordwainers to WILLIAM WATSON of Edge.Co. merchant 10 Jan 1756 40 pounds lawful money of Great Britain 210 acres on the south side of Roanoke river, joining Quonkee pocosin and SOLOMON WILLIAMS land conveyed to SOLOMON HAWKINS by JOSEPH MONTFORT, gentleman 21 Aug 1754 Wit; MONTFORT EELBECK, JAMES WALLACE, JOHN CARLEN Reg. Edge. Co. Joseph Montfort C. Ct. Pg. 437 - JOHN FAULK of Johnston Co. to WILLIAM CAHOON of Edge. Co. 16 Feb 1656 10 pounds current money of VA 100 acres more or less on the north side of Tiankokey part of a grant to the sd. FAULK 20 Apr 1745 Wit: JOHN COHOON, JOHN MATHEWS, HENRY WILLIAMS Reg. Edge. Co. Feb Ct 1756 J. Montfort C. Ct. Deloris Williams