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] 

Found in the Daily Journal, 14 Feb 1867 at
Newspapers.com[8]

Found in the Goldsboro Messinger 25, Jun 1877 at

Newspapers.com[9]

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]

Gathering Giddens: Sarah Taylor the "said to be" Wife of John Giddens of Wayne County, North Carolina

The above document is a partial copy of Sarah's dower found in the probate record. By this time in 1808, she was Sarah Flowers and on this document, she was identified as Salley Flowers. The entire document reads as follows:

In obedience to an order of Court Signed May Term 1808 - We the under signd Jurors having been summoned & sworn by the D. Sheriff to allot and set off to Sally Flowers Widow of Jno. Giddens, Dec'd, her Dower in the Real Estate of sd Dec'd we have agreeable thereto as the above plan Represents to Witt  Begin at a white oak & runs N79 W.65 pole to a sweet gum on the run of Jethros Branch then up the run of sd Branch as it meanders to a tree Huckleberry near the head thereof then S10 E 38 pole to a stake then Et 205 pole to a pine then N32 Et 276 pole to the road then with same as it runs to a pine Adam Reaves Corner, then S20 Est 41 pole to a pine her Corner, then W98 pole to a pine then N75 pole to a pine in Rhodes's Line then his line to the Begin Containing 333 Acres 

In testimony whereof, we have set our hands this 6th Day of June 1808 

The Jurors were Ezekiel Slocumb, Sampson Edwards, Durham Graddy, Briton Hood, William Lewis, John Jones, David Edwards, Lovett Reaves, Adam Reaves, Jesse Norris, Urbane Lewis, and Jesse Bass. J. Bledsoe, DS Executed [1]

Last week, I wrote about my fourth great-grandfather, John Giddens in the post Gathering Giddens: John Giddens, a Planter in North Carolina. Today, I am sharing all that I currently know about his wife, Sarah, my fourth great-grandmother. 

#52ancestors Post Thirty-Six: Mitchell Giddens was a Shoemaker

August 4, 1834 - Sale of shoes, by Mitchell Giddens, as well as patching, mending,
and adding soles to shoes for Jesse Oates. This was found with other receipts
paid by the administrator of Jesse Oates' estate.

This week's writing prompt for #52ancestors is work.  I choose to write about Mitchell Giddens as one of the few documented facts about Mitchell is his occupation of shoemaker. 

December 25, 1833 - Sale of shoes, by Mitchell Giddens, as well as patching, mending,
and adding soles to shoes for John L. Clifton. 

According to a handwritten record from another family member's research, Mitchell was born on October 12, 1802, and died on December 18, 1852.  Dates for other family members have been accurate so I can only assume this is correct. I suspect these dates were copied from a Bible, but I may never know.