The History of the Durham family

by G. Edward Neal

The Colonial Virginia Days

    John Durham was born in Hanover Co., Virginia, formerly New Kent Co.,  circa 1725 and was probably the son of James Durham Jr. who was born in 1703 in New Kent Co. to James and Elizabeth Durham, who also had a daughter Susannah born in 1698, as recorded in  the records of St. Peter's Parish. James Sr. who was most likely born circa 1675 or possibly earlier, is on the 1704 Quit Rent Rolls for New Kent Co. as having 100 acres. St. Peter's Parish became St. Paul's Parish in 1704 and a James Durham is listed in the vestry book of St. Paul's through 1755 when his land is transferred to a William Kirby. We can only speculate but James Durham Sr. may have been the son or grandson of a John Durham who arrived in New Kent County from England in 1658.

    We know from deed records and the papers of Alexander Brown that John Durham, born circa 1725, moved to Amherst Co., Va. in or around 1761. Some deed records indicate that he may have owned land in Albemarle prior to 1761 however. We also know from the Brown papers that a Thomas and a Martin (Mastin) Durham became of age in “Old Amherst” between 1761 and 1776. Thomas Durham was perhaps John’s oldest son and was born circa 1748.  In reviewing the ages of John's children, it appears that John's first wife died either in Hanover Co. prior to 1761 or in Amherst Co. soon after 1761. Deed records of 1761 suggest that his wife's name was Isabel, however, I believe that may be a transcription error for Mabel since deed records of 1778 show his wife's name as Mabel. It is, of course, possible that John's first wife was named Isabel and that he was remarried to Mabel by 1778. In any event, we know from John's will that his second wife was named Mabel.

     In regards to the papers of Alexander Brown, it might be worthy to note that the papers are difficult to read or interpret without having some other knowledge about the individuals mentioned in them. For example, John, Mastin and Thomas are listed under the title, “Those who came to Old Amherst or became of age between 1761 and 1776”. To determine which applies to each we need to look at what else we know about them. With John Durham we know that he was of age in 1761 and we know from deed records that he came to Albemarle/Amherst in 1761. With Mastin we know that he was born in 1755 and would therefore have come of age between 1761 and 1776, so the “come of age” part would apply to him. We can only guess at Thomas’ age but it seems likely that he would also have come of age between 1761 and 1776.

     On 14 February 1761, John Durham was granted a 250 acre land patent for 25 Shillings in Albemarle Co., Va. The land was described as being on Turkey Run and Rolling Creek on the Hardware River adjoining John Hudson’s and Harding Barnley’s lines. On 17 June 1778, John sold this land to David Durham, of Albemarle Co., for 50 Pds current money. The deed records indicate that John actually lived in Amherst Co., as did his son Thomas, and on 5 October 1778 John Durham and wife Mabel sold 78 acres on the Tye river next to Zach. Taliaferro's land to a Jonathan Waters for 30 pds. John had another 46 acres that was surveyed on 10 March 1773 but what happened to this land is not known. In any event, John Durham apparently disposed of all his land in Albemarle/Amherst in 1778 and we know from Mastin Durham's revolutionary war records that he, and most likely his father John, moved to Wilkes Co., North Carolina in 1779.

     In 1782 John Durham was granted a 200 acre land patent in Wilkes Co., North Carolina and the land was described as being on both sides of the Middle Fork of Kings Creek adjoining  Joshua Jones’  line.  Prior to October of 1794, when John sold 120 acres of this land to a Moses Stanberry, he had moved to nearby Burke Co., North Carolina and on 11 December 1800 received a 50 acre land patent on Zack’s Fork of the Lower Creek that adjoined his own land;  meaning he already had land there prior to December of 1800. What happened to the remaining 80 acres in Wilkes County is not known and John died in Burke County in either 1802 or 1803 when his will was probated.

     The Durham and Coffey families of the Albemarle/Amherst counties were closely associated including a marriage between Mastin Durham and Martha Coffey. Their migration from Virginia to Wilkes and Burke Cos., Nc. is identical and one need only map the migration of one to find the other. Mastin joined and served with his Coffey brother-in-laws, whom he most likely grew up with, during the Revolutionary War. While it was common and somewhat necessary for several families to travel together during this time period, the  relevance of this in this case is that it clearly establishes the Durham and Coffey families of Albemarle Virginia as being the same families in Wilkes and Burke counties North Carolina.  Revolutionary War records of Martha Coffey’s brothers, Mastin Durham and DNA results support this conclusion.

     John Durham’s second wife is believed to have been Mabel Bailey although there is no direct proof of this.  We know from John’s will and deed records that his wife was named Mabel and that they had a daughter named Mabel. We also know that John and Mabel’s daughter Elizabeth, who married William Kirby, named a son Bailey Kirby and it would therefore seem reasonable to assume that Bailey is a surname and comes from the maiden name of her mother. Elizabeth also named a son Hawkins so perhaps he was named after his father's mother and Bailey was named after his mother's mother. Although their exact identity has not been found yet, it should also be noted that a John and Eleanor Bailey were witnesses on John Durham’s will which clearly indicates a connection between the Durham and Bailey families. The Baileys were most likely part of the Durham wagon train to the North Carolina frontier in 1779, along with other families. John’s son Thomas, however, remained in Virginia.

    We can be fairly certain of the ages of Thomas and Mastin but we do not know the actual ages of the other children by John’s second wife Mabel. We know from John’s will, which was written on 9 November 1802 and probated in Burke Co., North Carolina in 1803,  that his children were Mabel, Nelley, Betsey, Mastin and William. Thomas was not mentioned in the will and may have lost touch with his father or perhaps they were estranged since Thomas remained in Virginia.  In any event, John gave all of his estate to his wife Mabel, which would then go to his daughter Mabel if she cared for her mother during her widowhood or when and if her mother remarried. Once the mother Mabel died or remarried, Nelly, or Eleanor, would also receive part of the estate in the sum of 40 pds. John gave his rifle to Mastin and he and William were to share his clothing. Betsey, or Elizabeth, received a half dollar. So, other than personal items and money, John basically wanted his estate to go to his daughter Mabel, whose husband Isaac Sherrill was the executor of his will. 

    Children of John Durham by his first wife:

             1. Thomas Durham

             2. Mastin Durham

   Children of John Durham by his second wife, Mabel Bailey:

             4. Eleanor Durham.

              Eleanor was named Nelley Day in her father’s will so she obviously married a Day. A John
              Bailey and an Eleanor Bailey certified John Durham’s will so she may have been named after
              this Eleanor Bailey who may have been an aunt or perhaps her grandmother.   
             

             5. William Durham

             6. Elizabeth Durham

             7. Mabel Durham