Mary Carey Drew ca 1785 – 1820 | her parents
& est 1801 Starke Armistead 1780 – 1835 | his parents
& 1823 Harriet Bailey Bryan 1783 – 1848 | her parents
of Elmwood, Salmon Creek, Bertie County, NC
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
2003 “Elmwood” of Salmon Creek, restored
In Feb 1804 John Drew[Jr.], also a “mariner” and merchant, bought this property from the son and heir of Capt. Christopher Clark, “mariner” and merchant, who built the first part of the house, “five bays on the right” ca 1787. It was located on land that Gov. Gabriel Johnston widow Frances’s heir, John Rutherford of New Hanover Co, had sold Clark in 1786 and the next year 1787 Clark bought an adjoining tract of land that had been confiscated from Duckenfield by the state of North Carolina after the Revolution.
John Drew Jr’s wife Lucy died in childbirth in March 1805 and in Nov 1805 John Drew Jr sold all this property for $10,000 to his brother in law, Stark Armistead 1785-1835, husband of sister Mary Cary Drew [ca1785-1820]. The second building phase was at this time. After Armistead’s death the land passed to his daughter Mary Cary Armistead who married William Thomas Sutton 1810-1897. Deed from William Thomas Sutton to W. T. Sutton, M.D. dated March 22, 1867 and recorded in the office of the Bertie County Register of Deeds at Washington, N.C. in deed book MM at page675. In consideration of $3,000 the deed bargains and sells to Dr. W.T. Sutton two tracts of land, one of which is “Elmwood or the home-tract” lying on the south side of Salmon Creek and extending south to Black Walnut Swamp, and estimated to contain 1,000 acres or more. On 1 Jan 1874 William T Sutton Jr sold the 1,000 acre farm “in Merry Hill Township known as Elmwood” to George W Capehart.
Salmon Creek at the site of Elmwood – the old Sutton place
Mary Carey Drew ca 1785 – 17 Oct 1820 Bertie County
married Starke Armistead 16 July 1780 – 1835 leaving a very detailed will
Starke married 2nd 2 July 1823 Harriet Bailey Bryan 1783 – 1848 Granville Co
ref:Hart from E W Pugh’s Notebook
and other records
Children of Mary Carey Drew and Starke Armistead:
1. Dolphin Armstead died young [not mentioned in father’s will]
2. Eliza Armistead ca 1808 ?-
married 18 June 1821 Wm. Plummer ca 1799 – 20 March 1859 Warren Co NC
Bertie Marriage Bonds – F R Lloyd, Bm
3. Starke Armistead died 1843 dsp
left very detailed will in Warren County NC
4. Mary Carey Armistead 1817 –
married ca 1835 William Thomas Sutton 3 Mar 1810 – 10 Mar1897
son of Thomas Sutton and Sally Freeman [Wood]
Census Bertie County
1810 Stark Armistead 2 m 0/10, 1 m 26/45, 1 f 0/10, 1 f 16/25 19 sl
1820 Stark Armistead 1 m 10/15, 1 m 16/18, 2 m 26/45; 2 f 0/10, 1 f 10/15, 1 16/25, 2 26/45
1830 Stark Armistead 1 m 10/15, 2 m 20/30, 1 m 40/50; 1 f 15/20, 1 f 30/40, 1 f 40/50
Stark Armistead, Sr. was married twice. His first wife Mary Carey Drew died in 1820. She appears to be the mother of all of his children. He married Harriet Bailey Bryan in 1823 – not Stark, Jr. as we had thought.
Stark, Sr. died in 1835 leaving a detailed will.
Stark, Jr. died in 1843 leaving a very-detailed will. He was apparently never married. At least there is no reference to wife or children in the will.
He makes numerous bequests to siblings, nieces and nephews to include his step-mother.
He also leaves a slave to his cousin Eliza Drew Rayner.
His stepmother Harriet Armistead died in Warrenton leaving a will in 1848.
She was probably living with Eliza Plummer.
the will of Stark Armistead will Book G, page 246 Bertie County undated May Ct 1835
– Wife HARRIET – 1/4 part of my estate for her lifetime.
– Nephew JORDAN A. WRIGHT – all money due me from him, except what may be due me from the firm
of RITTNER & WRIGHT of New York.
– Son STARK ARMISTEAD – $8000 to be put at interest, but if he dies underage this money shall fall to my daughter ELIZA, wife of WILLIAM PLUMMER.
– Residue of property to my three children STARK, ELIZA, and MARY.
– If my daughter MARY should marry without the consent of JORDAN A. WRIGHT and GAVIN HOGG, her share is to be held in trust by my son-in-law WILLIAM PLUMMER for her use as if she were a feme sole.
I appoint JORDAN A. WRIGHT gdn. of my son, and JORDAN A. WRIGHT and GAVIN HOGG gdns. of
my daughter MARY.
Ex. son-in-law WILLIAM PLUMMER, GAVIN HOGG
Wit. JOSEPH B.G. ROULHAC
I have been told that The Rayner sisters Johnnie and Beulah told a tale that concerned their Cousin Stark Armstead’s legacy to the family, a very fine cameo. One of the girls was wearing it one day, when she leaned over the well and the cameo dropped “down the well” never to be seen again. There was also a tale that involved Cousin Annie Leicester.
Mary Carey Armistead 1817 – ? | her parents
& ca 1835 William Thomas Sutton 1810 – 1897 | his parents
of Bertie County NC
Mary Carey Armistead and William Thomas Sutton had:
1. Stark Armistead Sutton 1837 – 1864 CSA
We have always thought Stark was killed at the battle of the Bloody Angle, but he wasn’t. We found a letter from a Dr. who treated him , written to my g grandmother.
Taylorsville
May 25, 1864
My Dear Mrs Sutton,
It was my melancholy pleasure to see your poor son Stark as soon as he was brought from the lines, and took with me to see him the best surgeon the Army, and we decided not to amputate his leg but to give him the best chance possible, and can assure you that I am delighted that we made such a decision, for when I left him was such as to give me great hope, though he will be a cripple for life
I would not have him moved to Richmond because it would have been certain death, but had him put in a comfortable house where there are some of the kindest people in the world, and they are doing and will continue to do for him everything in their power. I regretted very much that I could not remain with him, but Army policy is such that they would not allow it. But I can assure you that he is in the hands of one of the best surgions in the Confederate Army, William Bolton, who is not just a good surgeon but one of the best in the country, and will do everything for him that skill can accomplish. I undertook to offer to open his thigh last Sunday, and was to remove the small portion of broken bone so as to save him a good deal of tedious suppuration, but was hurried off that night. Before I lift, however, I made Dr. Bolton promise he would perform the operation, and I know he will do it and do it well. Stark is doing so well that after the parts of bone are removed I think he will certainly get well unless some untoward circumstance arises that I do not at all anticipate. But his recovery will be slow and tedious.
Poor Stark, When I left him, parted with me with tears in his eyes and told me to do all in my power to console you, and to tell you that should he never see you again to remember him not as one who was lost to you, but only gone before to join his dear wife in Heaven, where he hopes to meet you in God’s own good time, and that he would bear up like a man and not murmur ar the decrees of Providence. And now , my dear Mrs. Sutton, let me entreat you not to give way to your apprehensions of evil, for though it may be a long time before you hear from him, and your tidings may be uncertain, still you must hope for the best, as I do.
I assure you that he was doing remarkably well, and was more cheerful than anyone I ever saw. And as for doing his duty, no one in the Army of Heros ever did it more skillfully or conscientiously and he fell at the head of his command cheering on his men. May God in his mercy give you strength to bear up under this heavy affliction is the hope and prayer of your devoted friend, and almost son, for I feel as such
Dr. T.H. Wingfield
married Henrietta Moore 1838 – 1861 Bertie Co
daughter of Augustus Moore and Susan Jordan Armistead
i. William Thomas Sutton d Norfolk VA
married Delia Shultz
2. William Thomas Sutton 1839 – 1899 Norfolk VA CSA
married Annie Peyton Outlaw 1841 – 1922
Notes from Anne Sutton Rowe
Annie (Nancy) Sutton Cameron was the granddaughter of Annie Peyton Outlaw and William T. Sutton They had a daughter Emily Turner Sutton b. 8-18-1861, who married Allen J Cameron on 11-18-1891. They had two children, Wm. Cameron b.2-4-93, and died 2-3-1910. and Annie Sutton
Cameron. B. 9-26-96. She was a school teacher in Hillsbough, never married, and went to cemeteries putting markers on unmarked family graves. Ann
i. Emily Turner Sutton 18 Aug 1861 –
married 18 Nov 1891 Allen J Cameron
1. William Cameron 4 Feb 1893 – 3 Feb 1910
2. Annie Sutton Cameron 26 Sept 1896 –
She was a school teacher in Hillsbough, never married, and went to cemeteries putting markers on unmarked family graves. Ann
ii. Stark Armistead Sutton
married Lucille Hudgins of VA
iii. Mary Armistead Sutton
married William White of VA
iv. Annie Peyton Sutton sp
3. John Mebane Sutton 1842 – 1866 TB dsp CSA
4. Plummer Sutton 1846 – aft 1880 dsp
In 1983 Pete and Anne Sutton Rowe visited the ancestral home of the Suttons
and they took photos all the way around the house. Pete wrote “It seems clear that the home known as Elmwood, located in the Merry Hill Township of Bertie co., along the south shore of Salmon Creek, was the ancestral home of the Sutton family branch from which Ann is sprung. Proof of this fact is found in the post-Civil War deed from William Thomas Sutton to W. T. Sutton, M.D. dated March 22, 1867 and recorded in the office of the Bertie County Register of Deeds at Washington, N.C. in deed book MM at page675. In consideration of $3,000 the deed bargains and sells to Dr. W.T. Sutton two tracts of land, one of which is “Elmwood or the home-tract” lying on the south side of Salmon Creek and extending south to Black Walnut Swamp, and estimated to contain 1,000 acres or more.
“Elmwood today is a sad specter of what must have been its former glory. But with a little imagination and a knowledge of the architecture and life style of the period, one can easily reconstruct a mental image of what it must have been. It seems clear that the home must have been built in the middle to late seventeen hundreds. The “el” which extends towards the river on the right side of the house cannot have been original. The foundation brickwork is all new, and the design would have been unthinkable, in the day in which the original part of the house was built. The age of the older section is shown by the old, hand-made bricks and hand-hewn beams and floor joist. The two chimneys in the house as it now stands are all new work and entirely too small to have been original anyway.”
Eliza Armistead ca 1808 – ? | her parents
& 1821 William Plummer ca 1799 – 1859 | his parents
of Warren Co NC
Eliza Armistead and William Plummer had:
Notes from David Gammon – Warren County Will Book 49, page 237
Abstract of the will of William Plummer – Dated 22 April 1858, proved May Court 1859
– To wife Eliza Plummer – all my estate during her lifetime, and at her death she may dispose of one-tenth of it as she wishes in her will, and the balance shall be divided among my children or their heirs.
– To son Stark Armistead Plummer – Negroes George, Mary Jane, and her child Sarah (now in possession of F.W. Tatum, husband of my daughter Harriett), and the increase of Mary Jane and Sarah is to be held in trust for my daughter Harriet Tatum.
– To son S.A. Plummer in trust for my daughter Harriet – an equal part of my estate with the rest of my children.
– In the division of my estate, my daughter Mary C. Batchelor shall account for $5100,
– my daughter Susan Plummer for $4600,
– my son Stark for $5500,
– and my son Edward H. Plummer for $1000.
My wife may advance to my children any part of my estate as she sees necesarry, but the money spent on the education of my children William T., Walter G., Eliza A., and Ann S. shall not be considered as advancements.
Executor – wife
Witnesses – John White, Thomas A. Montgomery
Codicil – 4 Sept. 1858
I have advanced my son Edward H. Plummer an additional sum of $1500, which he must account for.
1. Mary Cary Plummer ca 1829 –
Warren County Marriage Bond for Joseph B. Batchelor & Mary Cary Plummer, dated 26 June 1850.
married 26 June 1850 Joseph B. Batchelor –
From the Equity Minute Docket (1855-1868) of Warren County, we learn that Joseph B. Batchelor was husband of Mary C. Plummer. We also learn that Susan Plummer had married C.F. McRae.
2. Susan Plummer ca 1832 – 1873
married Rev Cameron F. MacRae – died 1872 Anne Arundel Co MD
i. William P. MacRae
ii. Julia T. MacRae
iii. Edward Cameron MacRae
children of Cameron MacRae and Julia Burgwyn
3. Harriett Plummer ca 1834 –
married 7 Nov 1853 Dr Frank W. Tatum VA
4. Stark Armistead Plummer ca 1836
married 1855 Cornelia Peterson VA
5. Edward H. Plummer ca 1838 –
Warren County Marriage Bond for Edward H. Plummer & Sallie D. Fitts, dated 30 June 1863, but the minister’s return indicates a date of marriage of 1 July 1863.
married 1 July 1863 Sallie D. Fitts
6. Virginia Plummer ca 1840 – dy
7. William T. Plummer ca 1842 –
married 1861 Rebecca Purnell NC
8. Walter G. Plummer 1844 – 1902
Will of Walter G. Plummer – Dated 29 Dec. 1899, proved May Court 1902
Warren Will Book 51, page 577
“My executors are to manage my estate.”
Executors are sons W.G. Plummer, Jr., R.S. Plummer, and E.H. Plummer.
(Probate papers indicate the heirs were Sue Plummer, W.G. Plummer, Mary K. Plummer, R.S. Plummer, E.H. Plummer, L.B. Plummer, E.A. Plummer, C.J. Plummer, and H.C. Plummer.)
married Nannie Cawthorn NC who died 1894
Will of Nannie Plummer – Dated 18 April 1894, proved August Court 1894
Warren Will Book 51, page 373
Entire estate to my husband Walter G. Plummer
Executor – husband
Witnesses – F.P. Wiggins, W.R. Wiggins
i. Sue Plummer
ii. W G Plummer
iii. Mary K Plummer
iv. R S Plummer
v. E H Plummer
vi. L B Plummer
vii. E A Plummer
viii. C J Plummer
ix. H C Plummer
9. Eliza A. Plummer ca 1846 –
10. Anna S. Plummer ca 1847 –
Note: from Gabor book 1910 – Miss Anna Plummer, now of Richmond, has a beautiful old-time miniature of her grandfather Starkey Armistead.
Kemp Plummer 1769 – 1826 | his parents
& 1794 Susan Martin – 1838 | her parents
of Virginia and Warren Co NC
“Kemp Plummer, long a distinguished resident of Warren Co [N.C.] was a native of [Gloucester Co] Virginia, born 1769. [educated at William and Mary College] [son of William Plummer and wife Mary]
He read law with Chancellor Wythe and settled in Warrenton. He was a member of the Legislature in 1794 in the Commons and in 1815-16 was elected to the Senate. He married [30 Sept. 1794 in Granville Co. NC] Susan Martin, [daughter of William Martin and wife [Nancy] Anne Long] by whom he had a large family. One of his daughters was the wife of Hon. William H Battle, late of Chapel Hill, and the mother of Hon. Kemp Plummer Battle.” from Wheeler’s Reminiscences p454
Children of Kemp Plummer and Susan Martin:
1. Henry Lyne Plummer
married Sara D. Falkener
2. Mary Ann Plummer
married Alfred Alston
3. Lucy Martin Plummer 1805 – 1874
married William Horn Battle 1802 – 1879 of Chapel Hill NC
son of Joel Battle 1779 – 1829 & Mary Palmer Johnston 1786 – 1866
a. Julian Plummer Battle 1826 -1827 dy
b. Joel Dossey Battle 1828 – 1858
married Harriet Bunting
c. Susan Catherine Battle 1830 – 1867
d. Kemp Plummer Battle 1831 – 1919
Historian and President of the University of North Carolina during 1875-1891.
Martha Ann “Pattie” Battle
his 2nd cousin once removed
e. William Horn Battle II 1833 – 1893
married Saphronia “Sophie” Ann Lindsay
f. Richard Henry Battle 1835 – 1912
married Annie Ruffin Ashe
g. Thomas Devereux Battle 1837 – 1838
h. Mary Johnston Battle 1829 – 1865
married William Van Wyck II
i. Junius Cullen Battle 1841 – 1862
j. Wesley Lewis Battle 1843 – 1863
4. William Plummer ca 1799 – 1859
married Eliza Armistead ca 1808 –
5. Austin Plummer
6. Kemp Plummer Jr.
7. Junius Plummer
8. Alfred Plummer
married Frances Judith Love
9. Thomas D. Plummer
married Asia H. Hunter
10. Ann Maria Plummer
married William A. K. Falkener
11. Susan Jane Plummer; d. 1888
married Lucien Cabanne
The Battle Book, by Herbert Bremerton Battle, 1923, Table 58, page 484
Warren County Will Book 38, page 208
Will of Stark Armistead 1 Sep 1842 Aug Ct 1843
To my stepmother HARRIET B. ARMISTEAD – all my houses and lots in Warrenton,
also the land I bought of WILLIAM PLUMMER lying near town, also the land I
purchased with stables from E.W. BEST, all furniture, etc., for her lifetime.
To my stepmother – $3000.
My executors are to pay to my aunt PRISCILLA THORP of Edenton $180 per annum for her lifetime.
Nephew STARK ARMISTEAD SUTTON – Negro Frances.
Nephew WILLIAM T. SUTTON – Negro Sophy.
My executors are to exchange Negro Julius for her Negro Mike, under the terms of
my father’s will.
To WILLIAM T. SUTTON (husband of my sister MARY) – Negro Tom for his lifetime with reversion to my sister for her life and then reversion to my sister ELIZA PLUMMER.
My executors are to enclose my family burying ground at Cashie Neck with a wall of Philadelphia brick.
All the rest of my estate, as well as the estate that will accrue to me at the death
of my stepmother, is to be divided between WILLIAM PLUMMER (husband of my
sister ELIZA) and WILLIAM T. SUTTON (husband of my sister MARY), for their
lifetime, with reversion to their children.
Ex. brothers-in-law WILLIAM T. SUTTON and WILLIAM PLUMMER
Wit. JOHN WHITE, THOMAS A. MONTGOMERY
Codicil 1 Sep 1842
Cousin SARAH A. THORP – an annuity of $250 per annum to commence at the death
of her mother.
Wit. JOHN WHITE, THOMAS A. MONTGOMERY
Codicil 1 Sep 1842
At the request of my aunt PRISCILLA THORP, I have made arrangements for annuity for her daughter, and I now revoke my bequest to my aunt.
To my stepmother for her lifetime – the land I bought from GEORGE ANDERSON lying in
Warrenton.
– Cousin ELIZA RAYNER (wife of WILLIAM RAYNER of Bertie County) –
$300 to purchase a Negro to be held in trust for her.
Wit. JOHN WHITE, WM. G. JONES
(Probate indicates the will was written for the deceased by BENJAMIN E. COOK.)
Notes from James Moore
Susan Jordan Armistead, Mrs. Augustus Moore, was the daughter of John Armistead and Sarah Harriman. She had one brother Dr. William Armistead. He married Susan Capehart of Avoca. Their only surviving child Meeta Armistead married Baldy Ashburn Capehart of Murfreesboro. They settled at Ashburne Hall in Granville (now Vance) County.
My hunch on Henrietta Moore’s parentage was correct. Just received a packet from Ann Sutton Rowe containing copies of the letters. Also, there is an invitation “Mrs. Augustus Moore. At home Wednesday lst June at 10 o’clock. Stark A. Sutton. Henrietta Moore.” This would appear to be a wedding invitation. Augustus Moore was appointed judge of the Edenton judicial district in 1848. John
Wheeler Moore wrote “He was deep as a jurist, powerful as an advocate and reverenced as a man; but not relishing judicial station he soon resigned his high position. He went back to the practice of his
profession and in April 1851 to the sorrow of all who knew him died, a comparatively young man.” His wife Susan Jordan Armistead was a first cousin of Stark Armistead, Sr. Judge Moore lived in the home
originally occupied by Penelope Parker of Edenton Tea Party fame. The house was moved down to the
waterfront and restored some years ago. It serves as a visitor center for Edenton.
Eliza Armistead’s husband William Plummer was the brother of Lucy Martin Plummer. She and her husband William Horn Battle were the parents of Kemp Plummer Battle, the president of UNC. See the introduction to the Kemp P. Battle Mss. in the SHC at Chapel Hill.
The only thing we knew about Cousin Stark Armistead is that the Rayner family owned a fine
cameo that had come from him. Aunt Nell or Aunt Buelah dropped it down the well accidentally. I would estimate this happened about 1885. Now I had assumed that Cousin Stark was someone in the area who had lived in the area and probably died about 1870. Imagine my surprise last night to learn that he died in 1843 up in Granville County!
The fact that his name endured with the descendants of his first cousin Eliza Drew in oral tradition 160 years is really quite amazing.
Was chatting on the phone with David Gammon in Raleigh. Turns out he has abstracts of wills for
several generations of the Armistead family. With the exception of Mary Carey Armistead, who married William Thomas Sutton, none of them appeared to have stayed in Bertie County. They all ended up in Granville. David thinks this is because a number of their Hunter relations were up there. Mary Carey’s sister Eliza married a Plummer. David said this is an old Warrenton name, and there is a well-kept Plummer cemetery in that town.
One of the two men’s wills directs that the family burying ground in Cashie Neck be enclosed with a wall
of Philadelphia brick. I know Cashie Neck is on the lower part of the river going towards Plymouth.
However, I’m vague as to which side of the river is on. Sarah Armistead’s will mentioned an island I had never heard of. Cashie Neck is the neck of land in Bertie County between the Cashie River and the Roanoke River.
Meanwhile, I still think it’s wonderful that Cousin Stark’s memory has endured down seven generations. He never married. Do you suppose he was sweet on Eliza, and they were prevented from marrying by their families?
Baldy Capehart married Meeta Armistead. HER parents were Dr. Armistead and Susan Capehart of Avoca. I’m sure she had Baldy were cousins in some way. However, I’ve never seen a Capehart genealogy to explain how the Bertie county folks connected with Tristram Capehart of Murfreesboro.