Explanation of North Carolina Land Grant Process
There are very few written documents that name Thomas or tell us about his life. Below are some that we have found that give us a few clues.
The first land grant (Granville Grant) that names Thomas was dated March 15, 1755. This grant, for 640 acres for John Allred, mentions “Thomas Allrids Improvements”. Improvements were any type of building – a house, out building, barn, and/or cleared land for farming. This tells us Thomas (and John) had been living on the land long enough to “improve” it.
Mar 15, 1755 #5402 John Allrid warrant dated 15 March 1755 to William Churton to survey 640 acres in Orange County on the East side of Deep River on the Mouth of Mount Pleasant run of Sandy Run – Including John Allrids and Thomas Allrids Improvements Heretofore Entered by John McDaniel /s/ Fras Corbin. Entered 15 March 1755. Back of document reads: Deed 15 March 1756” The Granville District of North Carolina 1748-1763, Abstracts of Miscellaneous Land Office Records, Volume Five, By Margaret M. Hofmann, page 132. Another description of that same land grant is found on page 50 of the book Orange County Records, Vol. V, Granville Proprietary Land Office, Deeds & Surveys, 1752-1760 which is on file in the Randolph Room, Randolph County Library, Asheboro, NC.
Thomas worked as a Chain Carrier for the Surveyor on these 2 Land Warrants (below). A chain carrier could be any male age 14 or older who was strong enough to carry the heavy (usually iron) chains and links. Usually the land was pristine (uncleared) so this was tedious and hard physical work.
Mar 15, 1756 #3601 pg 332 John Alred 15 March 1756 520 acres in Orange County in the Parish of St. Mathew on both sides of Mount pleasant Creek OR: /s/ (mark) Wits: John McGee, James Hunter entered 15 March 1755 surveyed 2 May 1755 SCC: Thomas Allred, Harmon Husband, W. Churton Sur. The Granville District of North Carolina 1748-1763, Abstracts of Miscellaneous Land Office Records, Volume Two, By Margaret M. Hofmann, page 243
Nov 5, 1757 #3762 pg 372 William Cox 5 November 1757. 375 acres in Orange County in the Parish of St. Matthew on the head of Cox Mill Creek (which is) the Waters of Deep River on Both sides of Crawfords Road. OR /s/ Wm Cox. Wits: Hermon Husband, Wm McFarson. Surveyed 30 April 1756. SCC: Hillman Hobb, Thomas Allred. W. Churton, Surveyor. The Granville District of North Carolina 1748-1763, Abstracts of Miscellaneous Land Office Records, Volume two, By Margaret M. Hofmann, page 259
To our knowledge, no one has found a copy of Thomas’ original land grant and there is no record of it on file that we have found. However we do know he owned land. A land record dated March 10, 1788 tells us that Thomas had bought 144 acres from John Allred sometime prior to the date and was now selling it to Jeremiah York.
On file in the Family History Center, Salt Lake City, UT, microfilm # 19634, Bk 4, pg. 56.
Transcribed by Dawnell Griffin, March 1990, with original spellings retained.
Thomas Allred to Jeremiah York
This Indenture in order this 10th day of April A. D. 1788 between Thos. Allred and his wife Elizabeth of Randolph County & State of North Carolina of the one part and Jeremiah York of the County & State aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Thos. Allred and his wife for and in consideration of One hundred and forty two pounds specie to them in hand paid by the said Jerry York at or before the sealing & delivery of these present the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledge hath granted bargained and sold aliened endossed and confirmed & by these presents doth grant bargain, sell alien & confirm unto the said Jeremiah York his heirs, & assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of land lying and being on both sides of Mount Pleasant Creek Sandy Creek waters in said county containing one hundred and forty four acres of land more or less and bounded as follows Beginning at the east corner white oak thence west along the original line 40 chs. to a white oak then south 36 chs to a white oak then east 40 chs to a black oak the original line then north along the original line 36 chs to the first station it being a part of a tract of land said Thomas purchased of John Allred for which land said John obtained a grant of the Earl of Granville March 1756 and also the estate right in the intestate claim on demand whatsoever of the said Thos Allred and his wife of in and to the said tract of land aforesaid and of in & to every part and parcel thereof to have and to hold the said land & privileges above mentioned with the appurtinances to the said Jeremiah York his heirs & assigns forever by these presents that the said Thos. Allred & his wife & their heirs extr admr the said land & premises & every part & parcel thereof against them the said Thos Allred or his wife their heirs & assigns & against all & every other person & persons lawfully claiming or to claim by, from or under them to the said Jeremiah York his heirs & assigns shall & will warrant & forever defend by these presents In witness whereof the said Thos Allred & his wife hath hereunto set their hands & seals the day and year above written.
Thos Allred (his mark)
Elizabeth Allred (her mark)
Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of
John White
Elias Allred
This is a copy of a land record dated September 1, 1788 that shows Thomas Allred and his wife, Elizabeth, sold land to James Allred. Again, this is part of the land that Thomas bought from John Allred prior to this date.
Transcribed by Dawnell Griffin, March 1990, with original spellings retained.
LDS FHL MF #19631, bk 4
Thos Allred to James Allred
This Indenture made this 1st day of September AD 1788 between Thos Allred & his wife Elizabeth of Randolph County & State of North Carolina of the one part and James Allred of the County & state aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that the said Thos Allred & his wife for & in consideration of the sum of Fifty pounds specie to them in hand paid by the said James Allred at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof the said Thos & his wife hath acknowledge hath granted bargained & sold, aliened, endossed & confirm unto the said James Allred his heirs, and assigns forever. A certain tract of land lying and being on Mount Pleasant Creek in said County containing 116 acres more or less beginning at the original south corner black oak and then east along the old line 40 chs to the original corner white oak, then north along the old line 29 chs to the first station. It being part of a tract of land which said Thos. Allred purchased of John Allred who obtained a deed from the Earl Granville dated March 15th 1756 also the estate, right title interest claim & demand whatsoever of them the said Thos and Elizabeth Allred of in and to the said tract of land & premises and every part and parcel thereof To have and to hold the said tract of land above mentioned with the appurtenances unto the said James Allred his heirs and assigns forever by these presents that they the said Thos Allred and his wife and their heirs admr the said tract of land and every part thereof against them the said Thos Allred and his wife their heirs and assigns and against all and every other person or persons claiming or to claim by from or under them the said James Allred his heirs and assigns shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents by these presents in witness, the said Thos. Allred his wife Elizabeth have here unto set their hands and seals the day and year above written
Thos Allred (his mark)
Elizabeth Allred (her mark)
Randolph 1789
Witnesses: Jeremiah York
James White