March 14, 1778 - October 14, 1822
Married
1st Mourning Godfrey about 1798
1783 – 1800
2nd Martha Sutton on May 02, 1801
December 11, 1781 -
October 15, 1846
Dempsey (also spelled
Demsey, Demson) Barclift was one of six children born to Joseph and Deborah
Sutton Barclift in Durant’s Neck, North Carolina. This geographic area was
considered to be a potential inland seaport. Unfortunately, due to the shallow
waters of the Albemarle Sound and it’s two rivers, Pasquotank and the more
westerly Perquimans River, the towns around Durant’s Neck would never blossom
into a sea trading center. As America
grew, it was the deep water of the Chesapeake Bay to the north that attracted
the maritime business.
Nonetheless, along with several other families, the Barclifts were now the 4th generation of immigrants such as George Durant and William Barclift. These pioneers had moved into the Indian territories during the 1650’s and 60’s.
Their descendants continued to establish western civilization in this tidewater land of North Carolina. When Dempsey was a young child, these settlers struggled against the British Crown. His father, Joseph, joined the Continental Army ultimately reaching the rank of Sergeant. He received pay for services rendered in the Revolutionary War.
Dempsey was born March 14, 1778 in Perquimans, North Carolina. Six weeks before Dempsey’s 15th birthday, his 64 year-old father died.
In Joseph’s will, he directed the “family to be kept together until the next January to raise a crop of corn and to cut and thread wheat to raise money to pay any debts.” Joseph divided his property and gave to “son Demson, the land called Broad Neck... to Demson 20 acres bought of Edmund Blount… to Demson, two Negroes named David and Penny”.
Six months after Joseph Barclift’s death, on August 14, 1793, mother Deborah married neighbor Joseph Godfrey.
In 1797 or 98, Dempsey married stepsister, Mourning Godfrey, who bore him a son, Joseph Godfrey Barclift October 19, 1798. But, within two months of childbirth, Mourning G. Barclift died.
Two years later, on May 2, 1801, the 23-year old Dempsey married Martha Sutton, a second cousin, twice removed. His second wife, Martha Sutton, was born February 14, 1781 in Perquimans Co., NC.
Dempsey was a planter as his father before him. George Sutton, father-in-law of the first Demson, gave him 11 acres on August 20, 1821... “George Sutton to Demsey Barclift, son-in-law for affection he bears son-in-law & for the better maintenance & preferment of the said Barclift, land located in Perquimans on the South side of the Main road that leads from the Neck to Hertford, bounded by the lands of Joshua Whedbee & Demsey, 11 acres more or less.”[1]
Dempsey Barclift Sr. died October 14, 1822 in Perquimans, North Carolina eight months after the birth of Dempsey Jr. Dempsey was buried in the family cemetery in the rear of his home property but later was moved to the cemetery at New Hope Church, Perquimans County.
Dempsey left his heirs considerable real estate inheritance including more than 200 acres, situated in the county of Perquimans adjoining the land of Joshua S. Whedbee, Edmond Stokes, John Sanders, Wm Reed and Benjamin Reed.
Nancy, Martha and Dempsey Jr., were young enough to require a guardian, and brother George S., who remained in the old family home, took that responsibility.
Martha died in Perquimans County on October 15, 1849 at age 61 years 10 months.
Dempsey and Martha had these children:
George S Barclift b: 30 OCT 1802
Wilson Barclift b: 1804
Sarah Barclift b: 21 MAY 1805
Deborah Barclift b: 7 OCT 1808
Nancy Ann Barclift b: 16 DEC 1811
Asa Barclift b: 6 JUN 1815
Martha Barclift b: 31 MAR 1818
Dempsey P. Barclift b: 16 FEB 1822.