William Dykes, Sr.
1. William1 Dykes was born between 1740 and 1750 in Virginia. He married Susannah Lankford, daughter of James Lankford whose wife was Sarah (–?–) of Surry Co., North Carolina. William died circa 1832 in Hawkins Co., Tennessee.
* On 18 Sep 1764 in Prince Edward Co., Virginia, a William Dykes appeared as a witness on a deed from Jacob Winfree Jr. of Cumberland Co. and Elizabeth his wife, to Richard Bennett of Prince Edward for 50L, tract of land about 250 acres on the south side of the Appomattox River, bounded by Marvel Stone, a bottom, a point of rocks, the Long Branch. Signed: Jacob Winfree Jr. Wit: Charles Witt (C, his mark), John May Jr. (8, his mark), John Gibson (+, his mark), William Dykes (M, his mark).
Recorded 19 Nov 1764. (Deed Bk 2:260A).1 This could have been William Dykes who appeared in Surry Co. North Carolina. Many of the Prince Edward surnames do appear on the 1771 and 1772 Surry County North Carolina tax lists – including Marvel Stone.
* In 1771 in Surry Co., North Carolina, William Dykes appeared on a tax list.2
* In 1772 in Surry Co., North Carolina, he was listed on tax list with one poll.3
* On 31 Aug 1781 in Surry Co., North Carolina, William Dykes and Susannah his wife sold 17 acres on the N. side of the Dan River in St. Jude’s Parish to Benjamin Isbell.4
* On 27 Feb 1783 in North Carolina, 640 acres was surveyed for William Dykes. It was land entered by Abraham Sheppard in 1778. The land was described as being in North Carolina on Beech Creek above Shoats Horse Stamp and bounded vizt. Beg. at the cor of Felix Walker at a White Oak, along Walker’s line West 28 poles to a Dogwood sapling, then N 42 poles to a white oak on the side of Bays Mtn, then along the mountain N 35 degrees east 26 poles to a white oak then N 76 degrees E 28 poles to a Spanish oak then N 57 degrees E 300 poles to a white oak then from the mountain E 67 poles to a stake, then S 362 poles to a stake then W 334 poles crossing said Creek to a stake then N 126 poles crossing sd Creek to the first station.5
The process for obtaining a land grant from North Carolina consisted of the following steps:
1. Application to the Entry Taker in the county/district where land was and fee paid.
2. A Warrant was issued by the Entry Taker.
3. A survey was ordered with description and map.
4. The entry, warrant, and survey was then submitted to the Secretary of State.
5. A Grant was issued by the Secretary of State upon approval of the entry.
The Grant was then sent to the Governor’s office for his signature and finally returned to the entry
taker’s office. (This procedure could take quite a while.)
6. Finally the Grantee would register his grant in the county where the land was.6
* On 10 Nov 1784 in North Carolina, Grant No. 296 was issued to William Dykes for 640 acres in Sullivan County. The description of the land matches that of the 1783 survey.7
* On 22 Feb 1817 in Hawkins Co., Tennessee, William Dykes Sr. sold to Flower Mullins 206 acres for $300. The land is described as being on the headwaters of Beech Creek, corner White Oak, side of Bays Mountain, on said Dykes old patent line … a line between John Dykes and said Mullins. William Dykes made his mark. The witnesses were John Vincent and Right Mullins (his mark). (Hawkins County Deed Book 7:97).
On 14 Oct 1825 in Hawkins Co., Tennessee, William Dykes wrote his will: ” In the name of God, Amen. I, William Dykes of the County of Hawkins and the State of Tennessee being very weak but in perfect mind and memory, Thanks be given to God, calling on to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament. That is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive thee again by the Mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life. First of all, I give and bequeath to Susannah Dykes, my dearly beloved wife, my dwelling house and all the land lying and being on the South side of the road on Beech Creek, Hawkins County and bounded on the West by the land of Jacob Light and on the East by the land of Flower Mullins, during her natural life, and at her decease, it is my will and desire that my son William Dykes is to have that part of my land that I have devised to my wife, and also I give to Susannah Dykes my beloved wife all my personal Estate, during her natural life, or as much as she sees cause to retain, and after my wife’s decease, all my personal Estate is to be sold by the Executor hereinafter appointed and the money arising there from to be equally divided between my four daughter, that is to say, Mary Hase, Priscilla Cooper, Sarah Mullins [should be Mullinax?] and Ann Roseberry. I give and bequeath that part of my land that lies on the north side of Beech Creek Road, between the land of Thomas Mullins and the land of Flower Mullins, to my son Isum Dykes, to dispose of the same as he thinks proper. I give and bequeath two hundred and fifty acres of land to my son, John Dykes, be the same more or less, joining the land of Flower Mullins on the head of Beech Creek and on the waters of Walker’s Fork, to do and dispose of said land as he thinks proper. I give to David McColley a colt that my bay mare is with foal with now, provided said David pay the season. I add nothing now to my son James Dykes on account of the ample provision I have heretofore made him. I constitute, make and ordain my son John Dykes the sole Executor of this my last will and testament and do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other forever, testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and Executors by me in anywise before mentioned, willed and bequest other. Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and seal, this the 14th day of October in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and twenty five. Signed, sealed and published, pronounced and declared by the said William Dykes.”
William Dykes (his mark).
In presence of us: Reuben Bernard, Wright Mullins (his mark), Joseph Dykes (his mark).
(Hawkins Co., TN, Will Book One 1797-1873, p. 148)
He and his wife appeared on the census of 1830 in Hawkins Co., Tennessee; both were in the age group 80-90.
Susannah Lankford was born circa 1748. On 17 Oct 1772 in Surry Co., North Carolina, she was named in the will of her father, James Lankford, and she received 17 acres on the North side of the Dan River. She died after the1830 Hawkins County Tennessee census.
The eight known children of William1 Dykes and Susannah Lankford were as follows:
2 i. Mary2 Dykes, born 1760-1770; married William Hays.
3 ii. Isom Dykes, (possibly the one born 28 Jan 1773 in Virginia; married Prudence Choat).
4 iii. James Dykes, born 1775 in North Carolina; married Mary “Polly” Robertson.
5 iv. John Dykes, born 1770-1780 in North Carolina; married Susannah Robertson.
6 v. Priscilla Dykes, born 1770-1780 in North Carolina; married Jacob Cooper.
7 vi. Ann Dykes, born 1780-1790 in Tennessee; married Absalom Roseberry.
8 vii. Sarah Dykes, born circa 1783 in Tennessee; married Eli Mullinax.
9 viii. William Dykes, born 1788 in Tennessee; married Jane “Jennie” Gallimore.
This note was in the family papers of a g-granddaughter of Ann Dykes & Absalom Roseberry: “William Dyke lived on Beach Creek, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Absalom Roseberry married his daughter, Anna. Sarah Dyke married Eli Mulinax, Polly Dyke married Wm. Hays, Persy Dyke married Jacob Cooper. The above parties lived in Fentress County, Tennessee, six miles west of Jamestown, Tennessee. Absalom Roseberry’s sister, Nancy, married Wm. Whitlock and lived in Hawkins County, Rogersville, Tennessee.” (Compiled by Ethel Roseberry McCormick, ca 1925.).
Endnotes:
1. T.L.C. Genealogy, Prince Edward County Virginia Deed Book (Florida, Miami: T.L.C. Genealogy, c 1990).
2. “Surry County Tax Lists, 1771-2,” North Carolina Genealogy, Number 3, Volume 3 (September 1957): page 340.
3. “Surry County Tax Lists, 1771-2,” North Carolina Genealogy, Number 1, Volume 4 (March 1958): page 397.
4. Mrs. W. O. Absher and Mrs. Robert K. Hayes, Surry County, North Carolina Record of Deeds (North Carolina, North Wilkesboro,: Absher, 197_), page 40, citing Deed Bk B:149-150.
5. Evelyn Elaine Rowland, William Dykes of Hawkins County, Tenn. 1745-1985 (Dallas, Texas: Rowland, 1985), pages 175-184, citing File No. 417, Entry No. 447.
6. Billie R. McNamara, Hawkins County, Tennessee Grant Books 1 & 2, 1787-1819 (Knoxville, Tennessee: Author, 1996), page 11.
7. Rowland, Dykes Book, pages 175-184.
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Notes:
On 21 Feb 1834 in Hawkins Co., “Henry Dikes of the County and State of Tennessee am held firmly bound unto Thomas Mullins of the County and State aforesaid in the sum of one hundred dollars, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge Give Grant Bargain Sell and convey unto said Thomas Mullins his heir Executors administrators and assigns a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Hawkins and State of Tennessee on the south side of Holston River on the south fork of Beech Creek conveyed from Isom Dikes to Henry Dikes on the north side of the Beech creek road. Beginning on a spanish oak tree on a spur of Bays Mountain thence north fifty eight degrees East thirty eight poles to white oak Flower Mullins corner thence South seven degrees West forty and half pole to a white oak stump near where a house had been formerly, thence North eighty four East forty eight poles to a Hickory stump thence South eighty five East thirty poles to two white oaks in the field, t
hence South seventy eight poles tot he Beech creek road thence down the road as it meanders to the (lain/line) of William Dikes, decd, ( ) thence with said lane north ten poles to a white oak stump corner to the same near the Branch thence North eleven West seventy four pole to a white oak near the Branch thence north seventy ( ) East twenty six poles to the beginning, containing sixty acres be the same more or less to have and to hold the above bargained ( ) with the privileges and appurtenances thereof to the said Thomas Mullins his heirs &c to his and their ( ) and behoof forever and I the said Henry Dikes ( ) myself my heirs executors administrators and assigns that the premises are free from all encumbrances that I have a good right to sell and convey the same and that I will warrant and defend the same against the lawfull claim and demands of all persons. Witness my hand and seal this 21st day of February 1834.” Signed Henry (his mark) Dikes (seal). Witnesses: Joseph Smith, William (his mark) Dikes Senr., John Dalton.
(Hawkins County Deeds: Deed Book 15:121-122)
In 1854 in White Co., Tennessee, Thomas Robertson, brother of Polly, died. The documents of his estate reveal that one of his sisters was Polly, the wife of James Dykes. Her heirs received 138 acres and 20 poles of the land of Thomas Robertson.
On 4 Nov 1854 in Hawkins Co., Tennessee John & Susannah Dykes gave a power of attorney to their son, Isham Dykes. This power of attorney pertained to the estate of Thomas Robertson of White County, Tennessee, who was the brother of Susannah Dykes.
(Ms. Martha Heinemann of Memphis, Tennessee did extensive research in White County and in the Tennessee State Archives, finding numerous documents pertaining to the estate and also papers from lawsuits pertaining to same. The documents reveal that Thomas Robertson’s sister Polly married James Dykes and his sister Susannah married John Dykes.)
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Prince Edward County Virginia Notes:
1755 Prince Edward Co., VA, List of Tithables from Buffalo to the county line. (some names)
Robert Hanna Charles Gilliam Joshua Gilliam
Patrick Galispie Thomas Stone William Stone
Andrew Flower Robert Galispie John May
William Thurman Jacob Gibson Richard Bennett
James Bennett Henry Dikes 1p Benjamin Witt
Charles Witt Lewis Witt
1759 Sep 12, Vestry held for St. Patricks Parish
In obedience to the within order we the subscribers …. processioned all the patent lands in our precinct present: Robert Jennings, Elkanah Jennings, Wm. Hill, Jas. Walker, Manasseth McField, Joel Watkins, James Matthews, Wm. Thurman, Richard Wooldrage, Benj. Witt, John May, Richd. Bennett, John Wright, John Pleasant, Alexr. Meckey, Henry Dikes, Jacob Winfrey, Henry Haynes, David Murry, and David Wright. Procrs. are: Robt. Williamson, Elkanah Jennings, Richard Jennings, Richard Thirman.
1759 Oct 22, Prince Edward Co., VA, Bk.2:6
John May and Mary, his wife, of Prince Edward to Richard Bennett of Prince Edward 20 L tract of land on the south side of Appomattox River, it being part of the tract the said John May now lives on containing about 100 acres, and is bounded by Mill Stone Branch, Rocky Spring Branch.
Signed John (his mark) May; Mary (her mark) May
Wit. Henry (H, his mark) Dykes
Richard (R, his mark) Bennett, Jr.; Lewis Witt
Recorded 13 Nov 1759
1762 Prince Edward Co., VA
Henry Dyks received a grant of 188 acres. Book No. 34, page 1007
1764 Jan 30, Prince Edward Co., VA, Bk 2:235
Henry Dyckes and Susannah his wife of Prince Edward and Parish of St. Patrick, to David Patteson of Buckingham Co., and Parish of Tillotson, for 20 L, tract of land in Prince Edward Co., on the south branches of Appomattox River containing 188 acres bounded by Bennett, Stone, a point of rocks.
Signed Henry (H, his mark) Dykes
Wit. Pryor Wright; Thomas Patteson; James Patteson Jr.; John Wright
Recorded 17 Sep 1764
1764 Sep 18, Prince Edward Co., VA, Bk 2:260a
Jacob Winfree Jr. of Cumberland Co. and Elizabeth his wife, to Richard Bennett of Prince Edward for 50L, tract of land about 250 acres on the south side of the Appomattox River, bounded by Marvel Stone, a bottom, a point of rocks, the Long Branch.
Signed Jacob Winfree Jr.
Wit. Charles (C, his mark) Witt; John (8, his mark) May Jr.; John (+, his mark) Gibson
William (M, his mark) Dykes
Recorded 19 Nov 1764
1764 Nov 17, Prince Edward Co., VA Bk 2:258b
Deverix Jarratt and Elizabeth to Benjamin Auther, 100 a on the south side and joining Appomattox Ri. and bounded by Dyck, Bennet.
Wits. Robert Williamson and James Murry
Submitted by and copyright ©1998 Linda Boyd Lawhon.
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