The mark, John Bobbitt used to sign his will, was a symbol of his name and family. These marks were the forerunner of the cattl

The Bobbitt Family In America

55


  



[Pages 53 and 54 are handwritten copies of the Will of John Bobbitt as typed on page 52.  The software would not

copy these two pages.  We continue with page 55.]

[4]
The mark, John Bobbitt used to sign his will, was a symbol of his name and family. These marks were the forerunner of the cattle brands used by ranchers in the western part of the country.

The will gives some insight into the life and character of John Bobbitt of Chowan. He had a sense of genealogy, in that he mentioned his first born son, and names all of his children. He does not mention his wife, and we can accurately assume that she was deceased at the time the will was written. None of the daughters were married at the time the will was written. This is an indication that the children were young. William, the first son had to be near the age of twenty to be an executor of the will, but was not likely much older.

John Bobbitt of Chowan was born in 1678, married in 1703, and died in 1736 at the age of 58. His first son was born in 1704 and named after his father who had died in 1703. The family size and ages was considered average for that period of history.

On February 19, 1738, a deed was recorded in Bertie County which noted the death of John Bobbitt.

"George Smith, to Robert Mins, 100 acres of land on Great Qankey Swamp, joining John Cotton, John Bobbitt, deceased, and son Bobbitt, as by patent .........

The son "Bobbitt" was William Bobbitt, who was born in 1704 and the first William Bobbitt to live in North Carolina. The state of North Carolina has not been without a William Bobbitt since John and his family arrived there in 1718. "William" is the most common Christian name throughout the Bobbitt family in the United States. Intentionally or accidentally, William Bobbitt from Wales has been honored by his descendants.

On February 19, 1744, a deed was recorded in Edgecombe County for Halifax County records, in Book 5, page 406.

"William Bobbitt Senior, to John Smart, 100 acres of land, in the fork of Buffaloe, joining (Richard) Bennett. (This land is in present day Warren County, North Carolina.)"

"Buffaloe" is a key name in this deed. "Forks of Buffaloe", "Buffaloe Branch", "Buffaloe Creek", and other variations of the name is in many of the deeds recorded for the Bobbitt family from 1744 to 1820.

John Bobbitt received a gift of land in 1718. John Bobbitt is granted 600 acres of land in 1719, John Bobbitt served as a juryman in Bertie Precinct in 1723, and John Bobbitt wrote his will in 1736.

No other "Bobbitt" is in the records from 1718 to 1736.

[5]