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Thursday, August 18, 2022

Gathering Giddens: David Giddens and Sophia Britt of Wayne and Sampson Counties in North Carolina


David Giddens was still considered a minor on 21 November 1815.[1]


David was the son of John Giddens and probably John's wife, the said to be Sarah Taylor.[2] In a family history found in The Heritage of Wayne County, North Carolina 1982, it is stated that David was the fifth son, born in 1780; however, David was a minor when his father died in 1802, and census records are consistent with a birth year of about 1800. The family history was correct in naming him the fifth son as he was preceded by Isaac, John, Abraham, and Jacob, and followed by the youngest, Mitchell.[3] 

These receipts, to Needham Stevens and J. L. Clifton, were signed by David Giddens in 1836
and 1838. They were found in the John L. Clifton Papers, 1784 (1830-1889) 1916.[4]


Land transactions and census records indicate that David spent his entire life in Wayne County or Sampson County. The first land transaction found naming David was in 1823. Asher Flowers sold land to David Giddens located on Jethro's Marsh Branch and described as land received by Abraham Giddens, David's brother, in the division of their father's land. One stipulation in the deed was that Jesse Flowers and his wife be allowed to live in their home on the land for the duration of their lives. Jesse's wife was the widow of John Giddens, probably David's mother.[5] 

David was reported to be a farmer in the 1850 and 1860 census records.[6] He is said to have married Sophia Britt. No date or documentation has been found of this marriage, but their first known child, Henry Benjamin Giddens, was born in 1833, and the death certificate of their son, Lewis D. Giddens, states that his parents were David Giddens and Sophia Britt.[7] 


The last found record naming David Giddens was a land purchase on 28 December 1865.[10] Only Sophia was found in the 1870 census.[11] The article above could easily be David Giddens as his age and the time of his suspected death match. Although not documented, many Public Trees at Ancestry.com give a death date for David Giddens as 4 February 1867.[12] Sophia died in 1877 at the home of her daughter, Patience Best.[13] The burial place for David and Sophia Giddens is unknown. 


This letter, written by Dr. John Tomline Walsh to John L. Clifton of Sampson County in 1855, was in regard to subscriptions for Dr. Walsh's publication, Christian Friends. David "Giddings" was named as a subscriber.[14]




The Children of David Giddens and Sophia Britt


Henry Benjamin Giddens*

Found in The Clinton Reporter, 8 Oct 1874
at Newspapers.com [15]
Henry Benjamin Giddens* was born on 28 December 1833 in Wayne County, North Carolina.[16] He was a jeweler and watchmaker. Henry sold sewing machines, clocks, and watches and repaired musical instruments, umbrellas, watches, clocks, and sewing machines.[17]  During the Civil War, he served as a musician in the 20th Infantry.[18]  He was active in his community and served as a Justice of the Peace in Clinton.[19] 



Henry married Margaret J. Vann on 21 September 1865 in Sampson
County.[20] Known children were Annie Laura (Slocumb), Benjamin Franklin, Maggie A. (Darden), Oscar Henry, and Jennie (Britt).[21] Henry and Margaret lived with their family in Clinton. Henry died on 12 October 1922 in Sampson County. He is buried in Springvale Cemetery in Clinton.[22] 

* There is some confusion as to the parents of Henry B. Giddens in online family trees. If Henry is part of your family tree, you will want to read the post Don't Blame Ancestry. Look Carefully at the Facts You Add to Henry Benjamin Giddens' Profile (Or Any Other Profile) in Your Online Family Tree.

Lewis Deveraux Giddens

Found in the Goldsboro
Messenger,10 Sept 1885 at
Newspapers.com[24]
Lewis Deveraux Giddens was born on  9 September 1835 in Wayne County, North Carolina. According to descendant Arthur F. Smoot,  Lewis D. Giddens was the pioneer watchmaker of North Carolina. He moved to Goldsboro in the 1850s and began his jewelry business which in 1982 was the oldest continuous business in Goldsboro. Like his brother Henry, Lewis served in the 20th Infantry as a musician during the Civil War. He was an active member of St. Paul Methodist Church in Goldsboro. He sang as a tenor in the church choir and was instrumental in the completion of a new church building in 1883.[23] 

Lewis D. married Margaret L. Ireland on 16 January 1866.[25] Known children were Eliza Newton Giddens, Samuel Ireland Giddens, Charles Henry Giddens, Fannie Victoria Giddens, Lewis Devereaux Giddens Jr, James Francis Giddens, Margaret Louisa Giddens, Ross I. Giddens, Willie Giddens, Wesley C. Giddens, Mary Emma Giddens, and Octavia Josephine Ireland Giddens.[26] 

Lewis D. Giddens died in 1909 and his wife, Margaret, died in 1915. They are buried in the Willow Dale Cemetery in Goldsboro.[27] 

Lewis Deveraux Giddens and Margaret Louisa Ireland [28]


My great-grandfather wrote that Lewis Giddens' hobby was genealogy.[29] In the book The Heritage of Wayne County, North Carolina 1982, Arthur Fountain Smoot wrote about the Giddens family. His sources were L. D. Giddens Sr.'s diaries, L. D. Giddens' family Bible, Goldsboro newspapers, and personal interviews.[30] My attempts to find the Bible and diaries have been unsuccessful. 

Mary Giddens

Mary Giddens was born about 1839 and lived with her parents in Sampson County in 1850 and 1860 in Wayne County. Her name was recorded as Polly on the 1860 census.[31] Mary married Daniel P. Jordan, a farmer, on 13 July 1865 in Wayne County.[32] Known children were daughters Eddie (also seen as Addie and Edday), twins Ophelia and Euphemia (also seen as Aphenry, Ephemy E.  and Edna Vann), Nancy (Cotton), and Martha (Lindsey).[33] A possible son, John, was seven years old on the 1880 census and may also be the child of Mary and Daniel.[34]  Mary was found on the 1870 census living with her family in Grantham, Wayne County.[35] It is presumed that she died before 1 November 1874 when Daniel Jordon married Zilpha Cotton.[36] 


William Giddens

William Giddens was born about 1842 and died of fever at the age of eight in March 1850. This was found on the U.S. Federal Mortality Schedule for Sampson County, North Carolina.[37] Parents were not named on the mortality schedule, but the David Giddens family was the only Giddens family enumerated on the 1850 census in Sampson County.[38] And, on a family tree presumed to have been drawn by Lewis D. Giddens Sr., "Willie  dead" was written along with the names of other children of David and Sophia Giddens. [39]



Patience Giddens

Patience Giddens was born on 8 December 1844, probably in Wayne County or Sampson County, North Carolina. She married William H. Best, a farmer, on 19 January 1865 in Wayne County, where she and her husband lived in Pikesville. Known children were Carson, Luther L., Minnie I., Andrew Johnson, Zeno Albert, and Rufus Lafayette. Patience died on 14 October 1909 and is buried in the Hubbard Cemetery in Wayne County.[40]


Penelope Giddens 

Penelope Giddens was born in 1847 in Wayne County, North Carolina.[41] She married Robert A. Thornton, a farmer, on 18 Dec 1869 in Wayne County.[42] Known children were Mary K Thornton and Henry D. Thorton.  Robert died on 8 January 1911 and is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Newtown Grove.[43] Penelope died on 14 November 1922 in Sampson County. Her place of burial is only known as Newtown Grove.[44] 



Next Steps

My great-grandfather was 86 years old when he wrote the following two excerpts from a letter to his half-sister, Lina, in 1952.[45] 

Geneology or family tree you wrote about I know a little which I learned from Louis Giddens of Goldsboro several years ago I knew nothing until he mentioned it to me that was his hobby.  The first known to come to this country were from Wales and they came over with lord Baltimore and landed in Baltimore, Md.  One of them drifted down to N.C. Wayne County and married a Miss Taylor I think her first name was Mary.  The next I know anything about was our grandfather Mitchell and his brother which was Louis Giddens' father both married sisters whos names was Britts.  Our grandmother was Laticha or something like that.

Our great-grandfather was married when he was quite old and had two sons George Britt one of the boys used to visit us at Giddensville and we went to dances together around the Holliday.  He was about three or four years older than I was , he was a good sport.

With this information, I can presume that Letisha and Sophia were sisters and most likely daughters of William Call Britt, the father of George Britt.  A more complex look at the Britt family will be interesting and may result in more details about my Giddens family. 


Your Response

If you can add to any of the information in my post, I would love to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions as well. Find my email on the "About Me" tab at the top of this page.


Next Giddens Post

Watch for information and photos regarding the families of Henry B. Giddens and his brother Lewis D. Giddens. 


Posts in this Series 

Gathering Giddens: John Giddens, a Planter in North Carolina










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Diana
© 2022 

    1. "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9CF-2P37?cc=1911121&wc=Q649-S69%3A1066694502%2C183295401%2C1066696236 : accessed 3 January 2022), Wayne County > G > Giddens, John (1802); State Archives, Raleigh. 
    2. Diana Bryan Quinn "Gathering Giddens: Sarah Taylor the "said to be" Wife of John Giddens" blog entry, 30 January 2022, Moments in Time: A Genealogy Blog (https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2022/01/gathering-giddens-sarah-taylor-said-to.html: accessed 4 April 2022).
    3. The Wayne County Historical Association, Inc. and The Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society, The Heritage of Wayne County North Carolina 1982 (Winston-Salem, NC: 1982), p. 243-244.
    4. Receipts signed by David Giddens, 1836 and 1838, John L. Clifton Papers, 1784-2001, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, NC.
    5. Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 13: 5, Asher Flowers to David Giddens, 30 May 1823; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998Q-7HHG?cat=307067 : accessed 1 December 2021), images 308. 
    6. 1850 U.S. census, Sampson County, NC, population schedule, p. 417b, dwelling 877, family 877, David Giddens household; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/13000005:8054?ssrc=pt&tid=45260559&pid=6887144802: accessed 11 July 2022); citing National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 644. Also, 1860 U. S. Wayne County, NC, population schedule, David Giddings, page 527, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4237523_00445?pId=41555032: 23 July 2022). 
    7. "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F38D-K2R : 20 February 2021), Henry B. Giddens, 12 Oct 1922; citing Clinton, Sampson, North Carolina, reference Vol 4 File 723 cn382, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,893,089. Also, "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3XK-VVK : 20 February 2021), Louis D. Giddens, 01 Nov 1909; citing Goldsboro, North Carolina, reference p 171, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,877,579.
    8. Found Dead, The Daily Journal (Wilmington, North Carolina), 14 February 1867, p.4; database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62532036/giddens-mr-giddins-found-dead-in/: accessed 4 November 2020).
    9. Died, Goldsboro Messenger (Goldsboro, North Carolina), 25 June 1877, p.3; database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1792835/sophia-giddens-died-residence-of/: accessed 15 Feb 2015).
    10. Wayne County, North Carolina, Deed Book 35:580, J. W. Giddens to David Giddens, 8 December 1865; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98P-XX6T?i=336&cat=175401 : accessed 29 March 2022), images 337-338.
    11. 1870 U.S. Census, Grantham, Wayne County, North Carolina, population schedule, Grantham Township, PO Goldsboro, p. 17, dwelling 136, family 137, Sophia Giddens household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/35055783:7163?ssrc=pt&tid=45260559&pid=6887144771 : accessed 3 August 2022); citing NARA microfilm M593_1165.
    12. Public Member Trees, database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1030/ : accessed 15 July 2022. A search for David Giddens, along with spelling variations, resulted in 110 trees. 
    13. Died, Goldsboro Messenger (Goldsboro, North Carolina), 25 June 1877, p.3; database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1792835/sophia-giddens-died-residence-of/: accessed 15 Feb 2015).
    14. Dr. John Tomline Walsh to John L. Clifton, 10 January 1855, John L. Clifton Papers, 1784-2001, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, NC.
    15. H. B. Giddens, The Clinton Reporter (Clinton, North Carolina), 8 Oct 1874, p.2; database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106219873/h-b-giddens-repairs-1874/: accessed 24 July 2022). Also, H. B. Giddens, The Sampson Democrat (Clinton, North Carolina), 25 Oct 1894, p.4; database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106219990/h-b-giddens-1894/: accessed 24 July 2022).
    16. "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," FamilySearch, Henry B. Giddens, 12 Oct 1922.
    17. H. B. Giddens, The Clinton Reporter, 8 Oct 1874, p.2. Also, H. B. Giddens, The Sampson Democrat, 25 Oct 1894, p.4.
    18. "North Carolina, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKXP-MCC : 7 December 2014), Henry B Giddens, 1861; from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of North Carolina," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing military unit Twentieth Infantry, NARA microfilm publication M270 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1960), roll 272.
    19. Henry B. Giddens nominated for coroner, The Eagle (Fayetteville, North Carolina), 4 Jul 1872, p.1; database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107041516/nominated-to-run-for-coroner/: accessed 24 July 2022). Also, H. B. Giddens was JOP, The Sampson Democrat (Clinton, North Carolina), 20 Jun 1895, p.3; database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106220023/h-b-giddens-jop/: accessed 24 July 2022).
    20.  "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QF-14ZF : 3 November 2017), Henry B. Giddens and Margaret J. Vann, 21 Sep 1865; citing, Sampson, North Carolina, United States, p. 3, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 553,930.
    21.  kgrijfh, "Ryan", private tree, Ancestry, Private tree accessed with permission, 5 August 2022. 
    22. "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," FamilySearch, Henry B. Giddens, 12 Oct 1922. 
    23. The Wayne County Historical Association, Inc. and The Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society, The Heritage of Wayne County North Carolina 1982, p. 243-244.
    24. L D Giddens, Goldsboro Messenger (Goldsboro, North Carolina), 10  Sept 1885, p.2; database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46304023/ld-giddens-store/: accessed 7 Mar 2020).
    25. The Wayne County Historical Association, Inc. and The Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society, The Heritage of Wayne County North Carolina 1982, p. 243-244.
    26. kgrijfh, "Ryan", private tree, Ancestry, Private tree accessed with permission, 5 August 2022. 
    27. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37357449/lewis-devereaux-giddens : accessed 15 January 2022), memorial page for Lewis Devereaux Giddens Sr. (9 Sep 1835–1 Nov 1909), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37357449, citing Willow Dale Cemetery, Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Cousins by the Dozens (contributor 46904925).
    28. "Lewis D. Giddens," photograph, n.d.; scanned image, original photograph from the privately-held collection of Kathryn Ryan, NC, 2022. Also, "Margaret Giddens," photograph, 1914; scanned image, original photograph from the privately-held collection of Kathryn Ryan, NC, 2022.
    29. Letter from Charles Giddens, (Sedalia, Missouri) to Lina Giddens (address unknown), 7 January 1952; digital copy held in 2022 by D. Quinn (Virginia Beach, VA). The current location of the original is unknown.
    30. The Wayne County Historical Association, Inc. and The Old Dobbs County Genealogical Society, The Heritage of Wayne County North Carolina 1982, p. 243-244.
    31. 1850 U.S. Census, Sampson County, NC, p. 417b, line 41, David Giddens. Also, 1860 U.S. Census, Wayne County, NC, p.527, David Giddings.
    32. "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ9-3CNF : 9 March 2021), D P Jordan and Mary Giddens, 13 Jul 1865; citing Wayne, North Carolina, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 508,745.
    33. kgrijfh, "Ryan", private tree, Ancestry, Private tree accessed with permission, 5 August 2022. 
    34. 1880 U.S. Census, Wayne County, NC, population schedule,  enumeration district 294, p.22, dwelling 204, family 205, Daniel Jordan household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/19943051:6742?ssrc=pt&tid=45260559&pid=412398910301: accessed 15 July 2022); citing NARA microfilm T9, roll 986. 
    35. 1870 U.S. Census, Grantham, Wayne County, North Carolina, population schedule, Grantham Township, PO Goldsboro, p. 17, dwelling 139, family 140, D. P. Jordan household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/35055783:7163?ssrc=pt&tid=45260559&pid=6887144771 : accessed 3 August 2022); citing NARA microfilm M593_1165.
    36." North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ9-3ZDY : 9 March 2021), D P Jordan and Zilpha Cotton, 01 Nov 1874; citing Wayne, North Carolina, United States, p. 21, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 508,745.
    37. 1850 U.S. census, Sampson County, North Carolina, mortality schedule, Northern Division, line 34, Wm Giddins; digital image, "U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2156051:8756? : accessed 11 August 2022), citing National Archives and Records Administration, Non-population Census Schedules for North Carolina, 1850-1880: Mortality and Manufacturing, NARA microfilm publication M1805; Archive Roll Number: 1.
    38. 1850 U.S. Census, Sampson County, NC, p. 417b, line 41, David Giddens. 
    39. Hand-drawn family tree possibly drawn by Lewis D. Giddens, abt 1900-1909; scanned image, original in the privately-held collection of Kathryn Ryan, NC, 2022. 
    40. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147139445/patience-e-best: accessed 15 August 2022), memorial page for Patience E. Giddens Best (8 Dec 1844–14 Oct 1909), Find a Grave Memorial ID 147139445, citing Hubbard Cemetery, Pikeville, Wayne County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Sheila Hubbard (contributor 46479218). Also, "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ9-348Q : 9 March 2021), Wm A C Best and Patience E Giddings, 19 Jan 1865; citing Wayne, North Carolina, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 508,745. Also, kgrijfh, "Ryan", private tree, Ancestry, Private tree accessed with permission, 5 August 2022. 
    41. 1850 U.S. Census, Sampson County, NC, p. 417b, line 41, David Giddens. 
    42. "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLMS-NW8Z : 21 July 2021), R A Thoriton and Peniah C Gideons, 18 Dec 1869; citing Wayne, North Carolina, North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm.
    43.  kgrijfh, "Ryan", private tree, Ancestry, Private tree accessed with permission, 5 August 2022. 
    44. "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3HZ-8YF : 20 February 2021), Penny Thornton, 14 Nov 1922; citing Halls, Sampson, North Carolina, reference fn 730 cn 423, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,893,090.
    45. Letter from Charles Giddens, (Sedalia, Missouri) to Lina Giddens (address unknown), 7 January 1952; digital copy held in 2022 by D. Quinn (Virginia Beach, VA). The current location of the original is unknown.

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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 21, 2022 at 10:48 PM

    We're you all akin to Bert and Carrie Giddens of Newton Grove?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diana Bryan QuinnAugust 22, 2022 at 8:36 AM

      I'm sure they are connected to this family. Many lived in Newton Grove.

      Delete

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