Amanuensis Monday~Land Deed-Benjamin Brock to John Wright

 
Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.

His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.


Today’s posting is a Land Deed from Benjamin Brock to John Wright that mentioned Ben’s wife Catherine Wright daughter of John Wright, Jr. dates 30 May 1797.

Several land deeds in Anson County, North Carolina show the presence of  a Benjamin Brock that married Catherine Wright, daughter of John Wright, Jr.

Benjamin Brock born between 1756 – 1774 is listed in the 1800 Census for Anson County, NC.
1800 CENSUS: Fayetteville District, Anson County, NC, Series: M32  Roll: 29  Page: 224;  Benjamin BROCK, Age 26- 44 [1756-1774], 2 Males, under 10; 2 Female, under 10 and 1 Female, age 26-44 [Wife, Catherine Wright]. ¹

This Benjamin is believed to have been the son or grandson of Valentine Brock of Switzerland & Germany and his wife Susannah Bleaster, whom he married 11 Nov 1760 in Germantown, Lancaster County, PA.
Proof of Benjamin Brock marriage to Catherine Wright can be found in Anson County Deed Book “H2”, Page 212 & Anson County Deed Book ‘E”, Page 229. ²

Anson County, NC
Deed Book "E"
Page 229
BENJAMIN BROCK TO JOHN WRIGHT ³
This INDENTURE made this 20th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & Ninety seven Between Benjamin Brock & Caty his wife of Anson County & State of North Carolina of the one part and John Wright Jur. of the County & State aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Benjamin Brock and Caty his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds to them in hand paid by the said John Wright Jur. the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath Bargained & sold and Do by these presents grant Bargain sell & forever Set over unto the said John Wright Jur. his heirs and assigns forever a Certain Tract or parcel of land in the County aforesaid on Huckleberry Creek being the Lands sold and Conveyed by John Wright Jur. By Deed dated the 20th day June 1789 to his Daughter Caty Wright now Caty Brock Excepting a Piece Containing                   acres sold by said Caty to Richard Edgeworth forty acres to William Pegue one hundred ten acres the Balance is two and Ten acres and the said Benjamin Brook & Caty his wife for themselves & their heirs doth hereby forever warrant and Defend the aforesaid land and every part thereof Except as before Excepted to the said John Wright Jur. his heirs and assigns forever In Witness whereof the said Benjamin Brock & Caty Brock hath hereunto set their hands & seals this day and Date above written
Signed sealed & Delivered
In presence of                                             Benjamin Brock (seal)
                                                                    Caty Brock (seal)
Anson October Court 1797
Then this deed was proved by John Crawford a witness thereto & ordered  to be registered.
Test. Wm. Johnson CLK

Anson County Deed Book C2, Page 239 - Benjamin Brock to William Pegues. Film #018147. Witness John Wright, John Evans. ⁴

Anson County Deed Book “W”, page 147-148  lists Ben Brock, James Brock, Eli P. Brock and Squire Brock. ⁵

These 4 men are believed to be related. I believe that Ben & James listed in the below deed are brothers and that Squire H. Brock & Eli P. Brock are sons of James Brock.

These references are all that are known of Ben & Catherine Brock. . James Brock remained listed in Chesterfield County, SC census through 1840. He died in a house fire at almost 100 years of age on 29 December 1847. 

Eli P. Brock is believed to have migrated to Mississippi where he died abt 1844
1844 - Moses Brock, adm of the estate of Eli P. Brock, dec'd. Accounts include burial expenses, printer's bill, taxes for 1843 & 1844. 20 Dec 1844 - Auditors for estate report: one lot of sundries $6; one yearling $3. Estate declared insolvent 23 Jun 1846. 17 April 1851 publication of estate brings in no additional money. Heirs listed: Samuel Brock, Esquire Brock, Benjamin Brock (non-residents of the state). What relationship is Eli to Moses? [Ref: Eli P. Brock Probate # 778, Hinds Co. Court House, Raymond, MS, 2004] ⁶

From these land deed we know that there is a family relationship between Ben Brock, James Brock, Eli P. Brock and Squire Brock.

• We know that Benjamin Brock and Caty Wright were married prior to 20 May 1797.
• We know that Benjamin is still in Anson County on 12 December 1827, Land Deed Book W:147-Benjamin Brock to James Brock. No wives are mentioned in this deed.  

If you follow all the deeds it looks as if Caty’s grandfather, John Wright, Sr.  gave her and Benjamin some acreage in 1879 probably as a inheritance or marriage gift. Then Ben sold the property to John Wright Jr. but he kept 10 acres of the tract for themselves. Then in 1827 he sold the ten acres plus what Benj had purchased between 1797 and 1827 to James Brock for a minimum sum. It appears he was leaving and wanted to leave the land to James Brock . This James Brock may be the James Valentin Brock that died 29 Dec 1847 at almost 100 years of age. The deal was not signed until Jan 1828.

No trace of Benjamin and his wife Caty Brock has been found after this date (Jan 1828) and it’s almost certain they left North & South Carolina sometime around this time. 

If you have a Benjamin Brock in your line with a wife named Catherine please contact me.



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[1] 1800 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Fayetteville District, Anson County, North Carolina, Page: 224;, Household of Benjamin BROCK; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M32, Roll 29.
[2] North Carolina, Deed Book: DEED BOOK H#2,, Page 212, JOHN WRIGHT SEN. TO BENJAMIN BROCK; Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
[3] North Carolina, Deed Book: Deed Book "E", Page 229, BENJAMIN BROCK TO JOHN WRIGHT; Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
[4] North Carolina, Deed Book: Deed Book "C2", Page 239, ; Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
[5] North Carolina, Deed Book: Deed Book "W", Pages 147-148, BEN BROCK to JAMES BROCK; Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
[6] Hinds County Chancery Court, MS, Mississippi, Probate Court Estates, Old Series,, Probate Folder #778: , Eli P. BROCK; LDS Family History Film #1749976.