Thomas Forehand

Born circa 1715 Died 1769

By Steven Forehand Aug 2005

Edited by Ron Forehand

Thomas Forehand was born circa 1715. He died between September and December 1769.

Thomas is undoubtedly the best documented of all early North Carolina Forehands. The will made by Cornelius indicates that Thomas was the next to the youngest of the male children, with Richard as the youngest. In the 1728 probate of this will, Thomas inherits two cows and no land.

Failure of Thomas to inherit land did not prove to be a problem as he acquired large tracts of land in northern Pasquotank County, ultimately dieing as a renowned and wealthy landed planter in 1769.

Unfortunately many documents from this period were destroyed by fire. Presumably Thomas Forehand’s will was among them as it is almost certain Thomas Forehand would have constructed a will identifying his family members. Despite the absence of Thomas’ will, early Pasquotank County land deeds positively identify his family members.

According to other researchers, Thomas married Sarah Everton. He did sire at least four male children: Lemuel Forehand, Daniel Forehand, Jarvis Forehand, and David Forehand. These children are identified in land sales and purchases made by Thomas, along with tax records.

This document reviews the records of Thomas Forehand’s life.

1728: The earliest known record of Thomas Forehand was mention of his name in father Cornelius Forehand’s will.

1736: Many Forehand researchers identify Sarah Everton as the wife of Thomas. Sarah

Forehand was mentioned as the daughter of Jeremiah Everton in his 1736 Pasquotank County will, but there is no compelling evidence that Sarah was the wife of Thomas rather than another Forehand, quite possibly his brother, John. However, if we believe that Sarah did marry Thomas; Jeremiah’s will suggests Thomas approximate birth year as circa 1715 as Thomas would have probably been at least 20 years old when he married.

1743 August 19: The earliest land transaction was with Owen Reese. Thomas was listed as a ‘planter’ and was a resident of Pasquotank County in the precinct of North Carolina. Owen Reese sold Thomas Forehand 52.5 acres for 10 pounds of fresh pork. The tract was part of a 503 acre tract called the “New Land” with the back line adjoining the land of John Jones. The deed was witnessed by John Jones and Lodwick Gray.

1736 to1748: Evidence suggests that Thomas had at least four male children.

The 1769 Pasquotank County tax listing identifies Jarvis and Daniel as the sons of Thomas. Individuals listed in the tax were at least 21 years old so it was likely they were born prior to 1748. Since they still lived in their father’s house, it is also likely they were younger than brothers David and Lemuel.

Lemuel was appointed executor of Thomas estate, a responsibility most often befalling the oldest son.

David was possibly the second oldest male child, though the evidence is circumstantial. In 1754, Thomas was the only documented Forehand male age 21 and living in Pasquotank County. Twelve years later, in 1766, David Forehand appears as a member of the Pasquotank Militia in the same district as Lemuel, Jarvis, and James Forehand.

Land transactions can be a clue of lineage. By 1769, the tax list for Pasquotank included the Forehands: Daniel, Jarvis, Lemuel, Thomas, David, James, Boswell, and Anthony (living with John Jones). Documents of land transactions exist between Thomas/David, Lemuel/David, etc. However, there were no land transactions between Thomas (or Thomas' children) and James, Anthony, or Boswell. While not conclusive, this suggests sibling relationships.

Additionally, between 1799 and 1800, David and Lemuel were both living in Hertford County. While there isn't a deed explicitly linking David as the son of Thomas, the clues and links seem to make it very likely.

The big mystery is “Who was the father of James, Anthony and Boswell?”

1753 July: Thomas Forehand was ordered to serve on the Pettit Jury of Pasquotank County. He was called along with Thomas Cartwright, Joseph Ferril, Joseph Spence, James McDaniell, Thomas Forehand, William Nickels, Thomas Rhodes, Aaron Jackson, Nathaniel Willson, William Right, William Bernard, and Mark Gregory.

1754-1755: A NC Militia list identifies Thomas Forehand as a Corporal in Captain William Abercrombie’s seventh company. This militia was “bounded on Nobs Crook creek from thence binding Pasquotank River to the Head of the same, containing 50 men.” He served with Benjamin Cooper, Samuel Cooper, Thomas Temple, Daniel Everton, and Cornelius Forehand. The identity and relationship of this Cornelius Forehand is uncertain. Of note, the 1766 militia list identifies Lemuel Forehand as a corporal serving with David Forehand, James Forehand, and Jarvis Forehand. In addition, some researchers indicate Thomas Forehand fought in the French and Indian war though I have not been able to confirm this.

1754: Thomas Forehand appears on a tax listing for Pasquotank County. Thomas is the only Forehand listed on the tax rosters during 1754. This suggests that John, James, Richard and Cornelius no longer lived in the area or were deceased by 1754.

1758 March 25: James McDaniel of Pasquotank County sold Thomas

Forehand a tract of land containing 60 acres and part of a tract of 443 acres called the “New Land” on the southwest side of the Pasquotank River for 20 pounds. The deed was witnessed by Thomas Taylor and Thomas Sawyer.

1758 September: Thomas Forehand was called to court. The case was listed as James Duffey versus Thomas Forehand. Unfortunately, no charges were listed with the record and to date remains a mystery.

1759 January 17: An interesting land transaction occurred between Thomas Forehand and the “honorable John Granville of the county of Bedford in the Kingdom of Great Britain Lord President of his Majesty’s honorable council and Knight of the most noble order”. For 10 shillings, Thomas (planter) purchased a 535 acre tract of land in the parish of Saint John’s in a place called the “New Land”. The tract of land bordered land of Owen Reese and Joseph Temple. Thomas must also pay Lord Granville yearly rent of 21 shillings and 5 pence halfpenny between the 25 and 29 of September at the Pasquotank court house. This deed was witnessed by Thomas Jones. Thomas Forehand’s seal for this deed is displayed in figure TF-3.

1760 October 13: A land transaction occurred between Thomas Forehand and Thomas

Temple. Both men were residents of Pasquotank County. For the sum of 100 pounds, Thomas Forehand sold Thomas Temple 30.5 acres of a 535 acre tract of land called the “New Land” bordering the land of Owen Reese and Thomas Forehand. The deed was signed by Thomas Forehand and witnessed by Lemuel Cooper and Thomas Sawyer.

1760 October 13: Also on this date, a land transaction Thomas sold to James McDaniel, both of Pasquotank County, a 60 acre tract of land lying on the southwest side of the Pasquotank River in a place called the “New Land”. This parcel of land was part of a 535 acre tract and bordered the land of Owen Reese, Thomas Forehand, and Thomas Taylor. The deed was signed by Thomas Forehand and witnessed by Thomas Sawyer and Samuel Cooper.

1760 October 14: A land transaction between John Jones, planter, of Pasquotank County and Thomas Forehand, planter was recorded. John Jones sold Thomas Forehand a 17 acre tract of land for eight pound ten shilling in a place called the “New Land” patented in 1743 by Owen Reese. The tract of land bordered the Owen Reese lines and was good for “hunting and fowling and every other benefit”. The deed was signed by John Jones and witnessed by Samuel Cooper and George Ferrell.

1761 July: Thomas was ordered to serve on the Grand Jury of Pasquotank County. He was selected along with the following people: Zachariah Keeton, John Sawyer,

Benjamin Padrick, Benjamin Torksey, Aaron Bright, William Wright, Jacob Curlin, Joshua Burnham, James Spence, Benjamin Overton, Richard Overton, Willis Upton, James Forster, Edward Scarfe, Thomas Forehand, David Cartwright, Robert Hosea, and Edmund Chancy.

1764 January 9: Joseph Sawyer sold Thomas a tract of land containing 60 acres on the southwest side of the Pasquotank River in a place called the “New Land” for the sum of 45 pounds. This parcel of land was part of a 503 acre tract of land. The parcel bordered the land of Lodwick Gray. The deed was signed by Joseph Sawyer and witnessed by Robert Cochran.

Thomas Forehand was appointed by the courts as Overseer of the “Roads in the room and district of Benjamin Cooper”.

1769 September 1: One of the last transactions during his lifetime occurred between Thomas Forehand and his son David Forehand. For the sum of 45 pounds, Thomas sold David 60 acres in a place called the “New Land” that were originally sold to Thomas on January 9, 1764 by Joseph Sawyer. The deed was signed by Thomas Forehand and witnessed by Lemuel Forehand and Joseph Spence.

1769 September 9: Thomas last known land transaction was with his oldest son, Lemuel Forehand. For the sum of 20 pounds, Thomas sold Lemuel a parcel of land containing 60 acres and part of the 443 tract of land in a place called the “New Land (figure TF – 4)”. The deed was signed by Thomas Forehand and witnessed by Joseph Spence and David Forehand.

1769 between September and December: Thomas Forehand passed away. His estate was sold to repay the outstanding debt of 800 pounds. Lemuel Forehand was the executor of the estate with the estate sale papers signed by Lemuel Forehand, Issac Sawyer, and

Ebenezer Sawyer. A quick review of the items sold tends to suggest Thomas Forehand was a wealthy planter.

1813: Abstract from Edenton Gazette Vol 3 by Fouts listing a tract of land called the “Forehand tract.” Even at this time dwellings still existed on the 150 acre Forehand property located close to the ancient Turn Pike road in Newland. The abstract lists the properties of Benjamin Jones, the McDaniel tract, as well as the Evan Jones tract whose owners were all prominent in 18^th century eastern North Carolina. William T. Muse also witnesses later documents and guardian bonds.

It reads as follows:

1813 Notice: In pursuance to a Deed in Trust, executed by John Hamilton to the subscribers, for the purpose of securing the payment of a sum of money due the extate of Benjamin Jones dec'd which appears to have been assigned to Mr. Samuel Paine of the City of Richmond, we shall offer for Sale at public vendue the following Property, or as much thereof as will satisfy the said debt and charges attending the same -- On Thursday the 25th day of February next at Elizabeth City the House and Lots whereon the said Hamilton lately resided, together with five or six other lots unimproved and on the following date at the Turn Pike, one Tract of Land called the McDaniel tract, containing 200 acres, one Tract called the FOREHAND tract, on which there is a good dwelling and other convenient Houses for a family, containing 150 Acres, one other Tract called the Evan Jones tract containing 50 Acres, one other tract called the Perry tract containing 130 Acres together with the Turn Pike Road and premises and two Tracts of Land and Cypress Swamp adjoining thereto, one containing 1280 and the other 1400 Acres. Six and twelve months credit will be given to purchasers on giving Bonds with approved security to William T. Muse, William Gregory Trustees.

While investigating Grandfather Thomas Forehand, I discovered new facts about his life, business transactions, children and property. While much information surrounding Thomas, including the identification of his wife, remain a mystery and some may be misrepresented, Thomas remains one of the best documented ancestors and sons of Cornelius.

While driving through modern-day NewLand in the northern section of Pasquotank County, you can be certain that you are within site of what Thomas would have seen or even lived and owned in the 18th century.

Among the interesting land marks in the area is an unpaved lane named “Blind Man Road”. Blind Man road quietly follows a winding Grape Vine creek and terminates near an ancient cemetery. While we can not be certain, it is interesting to speculate the lane may have been named after William Joy whom became blind late in life as well as wondering if any Forehands are resting in any of the hundreds of un-marked graves. While most of the graves present are modern, a few older graves exist from the Civil War era while others are 20th century resting places for a few members of the Hinton family. Even closer inspection reveals several graves marked only by ancient ballast stones. Could Thomas Forehand, his brothers, and his children be resting here among the stones of this massive, ancient resting place?