Unassigned Henrys, Moores, and Pearsons in Dorchester County, Maryland

These notes were made in the late 1990s in an attempt, never completed, to discover details about possible parents and siblings of my ancestors in Dorchester County.  Nevertheless, in the hope that one of these entries might provide a clue for another researcher, I'm including them here. (Our Moores lived in the vicinity of Cabin Creek of the Choptank River.)

                In one of the major sources cited below, Coldham's Settlers of Maryland 1679 - 1783, it's very difficult to ascertain whether the date referred to in the land record was a patent or a survey - or another date entirely.  If you discover your ancestor below, consider it only a starting point: Verify, verify, verify. 

If you have material about the individuals and/or families below, please contact me at nancy@nancysdeadrelatives.com.   However, the decision whether or not to include any submitted material is the webmaster's (mine) alone. 

Nancy Denty Breidenthal

26 Mar 1671: The 300 acres of Moore's Chance [or Choice] on the north side of the Nanticoke River was granted [#238] to Daniel Moore.

1 Nov 1710: Simon Pearson patented 100 acres known as Pierson's Lodge.[1]

10 Dec 1715: Thomas and John Pierson were granted 80 acres called Composition Addition.[2]

10 Nov 1726: A ten acre parcel called Small Profit was conveyed to Richard Pierson Junior.  On 18 Oct 1732, he obtained 50 acres known as Pearson's Adventure.[3]

24 Mar 1728: Planter Richard Pearson [or Person] signed his will mentioning land Bunsbury near the Hunger River, and his children Noah and Mary.  Witnesses: Lewis Griffin Senior, Michael Todd Senior, and James Edgar Senior.  The will was proved 15 Jul 1737 by Evans Pritchett, Zebulon Pritchett, and John Pritchett as Todd and Edgar were deceased.[4]

11 Nov 1728: Richard Pearson, planter, donated one acre near Charles Creek of Hunger River for a chapel.  During the American Revolution, it was referred to as Lightwood Knot Chapel.[5]

12 Nov 1729: Thomas Pearson, planter, received a grant for 370 acres called Pierson's Chance.  On 15 May 1732, he obtained 600 acres named Pearson's Lot.[6]

4 Nov 1731: Noah Pearson received a patent for 31 acres identified as Timber Tract.  On 10 Jun 1734, he obtained 50 acres described as Turkey Point Addition . . . assigned by Richard Pearson".[7]

4 Nov 1741: Josias Moore received a patent for 132 acres known as Moore's Chance.  On 18 Mar 1747, he obtained 132 acres called Calf Pasture.[8]  Thomas Moores also patented part of Moore's Chance.

21 Jul 1743: Paul Pearson patented 10 acres of Pearson's Priviledge.[9]

12 Sep 1749: Col. John Henry apparently made a survey for Ryder.[10]

In a Dorchester deed dated 15 Aug 1750, John and Dorothy Henry were described as "of Worcester County", MD.[11]

A bill of sale was made out to John Henry on 4 Nov 1751.[12]

6 Oct 1752: Isaac Henry was granted a patent for 100 acres of Henry's Right.  He obtained another 219 acres of that tract on 17 Apr 1761. 

10 Aug 1753: William Moore obtained 24 acres of Moore's Venture.

8 Feb 1756: Steven Pearson was born or christened.  He was the son of Richard and Sarah, who would also be listed as the parents of Richard (12 Oct 1759), Solomon (12 Dec 1761), Keziah (16 Apr 1763), and Noah Pearson (10 Oct 1765).[13]

9 Feb 1757: John Henry signed his will leaving 1/3 of his estate to wife Frances, the other 2/3 to son John, 1 pied heifer to granddaughter Frances Wiley, and 1 shilling each to his remaining children Robert Henry, Hugh Henry, and Martha Wiley.  Executor: Son John.  Witnesses: John Pitts, Hutson Low, George Dean, and Frances Wiley.  The will was proved on 1 Mar 1757 by Pitts, Low, and Wiley.[13a]   

9 Mar 1757: Along with William Smith, David Melvill was surety for Josias Moore as administrator of the John Jameson estate.   David was the grandson of David and Catherine Melville, the parents of Mary Melville Moore. 

1 Aug 1758: Molley Moore, daughter of Samuel and Mary was born.[14]

31 Oct 1758: Stephen Henry was granted 85 acres called Henry's Folly.[15]  On 19 Jun 1762, he patented  366 acres of Henry's Folly.[16]

4 Nov 1758: Francis Henry of  St. Mary's White Chapel Parish in Dorchester County, sold personal property to Doct. William Murray for 3,600 pounds of tobacco plus £61.15.8.  The goods consisted of 1 horse named "Chanter", one named "Dolphin", one mare "Jewell", one mare "March" with her foal, and one named "Prew"; along with 9 head of cattle, 24 hogs, 2 feather beds with furniture; 2 iron pots and racks, and all other household goods.  Witnesses: T. Ennalls and David Murray.[16a] 

7 Nov 1758: Thomas Moore received a patent for 26 acres known as Moore's Chance.[17]   Josias Moore also owned part of Moore's Chance.

16 Aug 1760: Shiles Moore obtained 48 acres named Moore's Beginning.[18]  Shildes and Blandana Risdon Moore immigrated to the Colonies c. 1732.  Their son or grandson Risdon Moore, died in Guilford County, NC.  The Moore Family in America: Descendants of Shildes Moore of Wales from 1732 to 1889 by George L. Moore deals with this family.

21 May 1761: Levin, son of James and Elizabeth Moore, was baptized.[19]

2 Feb 1762: Steven Moore, son of Samuel and Mary, was christened.

16 Feb 1762: Risdon and Mary Moore patented 192 acres known as Moore's Addition.[20]

29 Sep 1762: Col. John Henry, Surveyor for Worcester County, began obtaining large amounts of land in Dorchester as well.[21]  They were: 1) 29 Sep 1762, 274 acres, Weston Addition; 2) 12 Mar 1765, 51 acres, New Addition; 3) 30 Oct 1769: 1,793 acres, Buckland; 4) 13 Sep 1773, 234 acres, Pasture Neck Addition; 5) 30 Nov 1782, 320 acres, Marsh Meadow.

7 Jun 1763: Samuel Moore obtained 13 acres known as Fortune.[22]

8 Feb 1765: Stephen (x) and Elizabeth (x) Henry  sold 50 3/4 acres to Solomon Jones for £22.  This was known as Henry's Folly Enlarged.  Witnesses: Thomas White and William Haskins.[23]

2 Apr 1765: Shiles Moore of Somerset County, MD sold land to Thomas Cooper.  Witnesses: Edward Trippe and William Haskins.       

16 Aug 1765: John Henry and Henry Steele purchased property from James Jones.[24] 

17 Oct 1765: Stephen and Elizabeth Henry, sold 314 acres of Henry’s Folly Enlarged to James Murray for £117.15.  Witnesses: William Haskins and Thomas White.[25]

22 Oct 1765: Josias and Janet Moore sold land to Robertson Stevens "except where Robert Brody liveth".  There was apparently another exchange of property that day between Moore and Stevens, witnessed by John Robertson and William Safford.[26]

18 Dec 1765: Josias Moor, age 73, signed his will mentioning his tracts of land, Wolf Trap and Wolf Trap Addition, Point Good Hopes Addition, and the following heirs: Christian Brody, wife of Robert Brody, on condition she provide for her mother Isabell Hill; nephew Patrick Moore, son of Mathew Moor of Rothsay in the Isle of Bute; brother Archibald Moore.  Executor: Robertson Stevens.  Witnesses: John Hopkins, Charles Hupbert, and Francis Stevens Junior.  The will was proved 12 Sep 1768.[27] "Point Good Hopes Addition" was located on the south side of the Beaver Dam, in the vicinity of Marshyhope Bridge and Choptank Bridge.  Melvill's Mill lay on the road from "Marshyhope" in 1764.

18 Dec 1766: Risdon Moore received a patent for land called Moore's Meadows.  Risdon was the son of Shildes and Blandana Risdon Moore.  Our John Moore obtained 10 acres known as Moore's Meadow on 28 Oct 1752.  Was the difference really just a plural "s"?

19 Jan 1767: James Moore, son of James and Rachel, was born or baptized.  James and Rachel Moore would ultimately be the parents of James (19 Jan 1767), Daniel (1 Jun 1868), William (26 Nov 1869), Thomas (24 Oct 1771), Charles (25 Aug 1773), Sarah (22 Oct 1774), John (16 Jun 1777), Nancy (24 Feb 1779), Richard (26 Dec 1780), Mary (2 Jul 1782) and Risdon (3 Dec 1783).[29]  After which Rachel ran away from home.  (Not really)

10 Mar 1767: Risdon Moor purchased land called Sandy Hill from Benjamin and Mary Bright for £10.5.0 and 50 acres called The Thickets from Mathew Smith for £25.  The Thickets was described as lying on Rock Run Branch of the north west fork of Nanticok.  Wife Mary Moore was also mentioned..  Witnesses: Robert Polk and William Haskins.[30]  In the ensuing years, Risdon also received the following patents: 1) 26 Jul 1768, 10 acres known as Moore's Iron Mine; 2) 29 Sep 1769, 45 acres known as Mount Pleasant; 3) 23 Oct 1769, 26 acres, Moore's Intent; 4) 8 Dec 1772, 356 acres, Moore's Intent; 5) 27 Aug 1783, 218 acres, Moore's Meadows Addition.[31]

11 Mar 1767: Isaac (x) and Mary (x) Henry sold 56 1/4 acres of Henry’s Right to Elijah Dean for £28.2.6.  Witnesses: Dan Sulivane and Robert Polk.[32]  The date of this deed may have been 3 Jan 1767.  Isaac and Mary's children are believed to have been Talitha, James, Isaac, Levin, and Amelia.  Other children may have been Stephen, Nancy, and Mary.  Son James may be the man who married Lurana Medford; Son Isaac may have wed Nancy Medford on 29 Mar 1796; and Levin may have wed Nancy Bradley on 25 Feb 1800.  Stephen Henry moved to Rockingham County, NC.

30 Apr 1767: Thomas Moore, a merchant, sold livestock named therein to John McNamara for £12.  Witnesses: Henry Lake and John Manning.  On that same date, merchant Thomas (x) and Susannah (x)  Moore sold Betty’s Chance on the south side of Charles Creek by the Hunger River to blacksmith Henry Lake.    Witnesses: William Ennals and John Goldsborough.[34]

18 May 1767: Risdon Moore, in debt to Samuel Chen, John Clayton, and John Chen of Philadelphia in the amount of £327.14.5, mortgaged the following tracts: Mount Pleasant, 45 acres  granted to Moore by warrant on 7 Dec 1762; Smith’s Forest, 50 acres purchased 11 Feb 1760; Thicket, 50 acres;  and Moor’s Addition, apparently granted 6 Jun 1760.  All were described as lying within "the Manor of Nanticoke". The mortgage also included a ship and slave Tamar with her children, Ben and Rachel.  The debt was due on 18 May 1768.  Witnesses: John Dickenson and Holly Day.[35]

9 Jun 1767: Isaac Henry purchased slave girl Mintia from Sarah Hicks for £50.  Witnesses: Dan Sulivane and Mary Shan.[36]  Dan and Mary also witnessed a deed for Isaac and Mary Henry on 11 Mar 1767.

1 Aug 1769: Isaac Henry purchased 34 acres, part of two tracts known as William's Delight and Addition to William's Delight, from George Andrew Junior for £21.2.1.  Witnesses: Edward Trippe and William Haskins.[36a] 

22 Aug 1769: William Green and Isaac Henry bought 100 acres of Privilege from Thomas and John Loveday for £70.  Witnesses: T. Goldsborough and Jon Nichols.[36b]   

23 Nov 1769: Shiles Moore patented 34 acres known as Moore's Chance.

26 Mar 1770: "Gentleman" John Henry purchased numerous tracts named therein totaling more than 1,600 acres from Henry and Ann Steele for 5 shillings.  John and Dorothy Henry then sold numerous tracts named therein to Henry Steele, again for 5 shillings.  These transactions proceed for page after page of the Deed Book.[37]

In 1770 Risdon Moor signed a bill of sale for slaves.[38]

14 Aug 1770: Col. John Henry petitioned for an examination of bounds.[39]

30 Sep 1770: Isaac Henry received a patent for 73 acres called Priviledge in Partnership.[40]

9 Oct 1770: Thomas and Susannah (x) More, his wife, along with Rachel Phillips, the widow of Jacob Phillips, sold Partnership, part of Outlet to Francis Willey for £15.7.6.  The parcel, 14 acres located on the west side of the Blackwater River, was left to Susannah and Rachel by their grandfather James Insley.  Witnesses: John Bennett and James Tootell.[41]

14 Mar 1771: James Moore purchased 25 acres called Good Intent from William Locompte for £30.7.6.  The tract was described as lying near the head of the Little Choptank River ¼ mile from the road from Cambridge along the Great Choptank River.  Witnesses: Thomas White and James Tootoll.[42]

14 Nov 1771:  Samuel Moore bought 100 acres, part of Hart’s Content from Naboth and Mary Hart for £50.  The parcel was located on the north side of Town Creek out of Fishing Bay.  Witnesses: James Tootoll and John Bennett.[43]

20 Dec 1771: Isaac Henry purchased 251 3/4 acres known as Medford’s Hazzard from William (x) and Sarah (x) Medford and Robert (x) and Elizabeth (x) Medford.  Isaac (x) and Mary (x) Henry then sold 136 1/2 acres, William’s Delight and Addition to William’s Delight, to Peter Eaton for £220.  Witnesses: Charles Dickinson and John Dickinson.[44]   This part of Medford's Hazard adjoined Ramsey's Folly on the east side of a path leading from William Eccleston's to Charles Eccleston's..  Another part of Medford's Hazard was owned by the Moores.  An Isaac Henry was probably the father of our Mary Henry Moore, wife of John Moore; bu this Isaac may've been her brother. 

31 Mar 1772: Planter James (x) and Rachel (x) Moore sold 25 acres known as Good Intent and 75 acres known as Rosses Purchase to merchant Archibald Pattison for £85.  Rosses Purchase had been bought by Moore from Thomas and Sarah Ross on 16 Apr 1764.  Witnesses: John Goldsborough and John Dickenson.[45]  James had purchased Good Intent on 14 Mar 1771.

13 Apr 1772: Risdon Moore sold 156 acres, Moore’s Intent Inlarged on the east side of the northwest fork of Nanticoke, to John Cooper for £15.  Witnesses: Thomas White and Benson Stanton.[46]

25 Jan 1774: Priscilla, daughter of Benjamin and Magere Moore, was born.

17 Nov 1775: William Moor purchased 39 acres called Parris between Goose Creek and Fishing Bay from Abraham and Ann Safford for £26.  Witnesses: William or Ennalls and Joseph Richardson.  On that same date, Thomas Moore, a "planter", bought 20 acres of Paris from the same couple with the same witnesses for £15.  The parcel was described as lying between Goose Creek and Fishing Bay "beginning at William Moor’s".[47]

8 Jan 1776: Nimrod Moore, was baptized or born, the son of Benjamin and Margere Moore.[48]  Benjamin and Magere also had a son Isaac, who moved first to Rockingham County, NC, then to Grayson County, VA, and finally to Lawrence County, OH.  Was father Benjamin Moore therefore related to John, Charles, David, and Thomas Moore, brothers who moved from Dorchester to Rockingham in the 1780s? 

The 1776 Enumeration included the following:

Edward Pearson in Straight’s Hundred with 1 male under 10, 1 21-30; 2 females under 10, 1 21-30.

Susannah Moore in Straight’s Hundred with 2 males under 10, 1 50-60; 3 females under 10, 2 10-16, 1 30-40.  [p. 46]

Thomas Moore in Nantacoake Hundred with 1 male under 10, 1 21-30; 1 female 21-30.  J. McCollister was listed nearby.  [p. 41]

17 Sep 1776: Risdon Moore, a planter, sold 8 acres of Sandy Hill and 127 acres of Addition to Moore’s Meadows to planter John Anderton for £100.  Sandy Hill had been purchased from Benjamin Bright and was located on the west side of the northwest fork of Nanticoak.  Witnesses: Joseph Richardson and John Dickinson.[49]  At least part of Moore's Meadows was owned by our Moores.

23 Sep 1776: John Henry Junior bought 300 acres of Henchman’s Creek and 585 acres of Partnership for 5 shillings from Zacharias and May Campbell.  Witnesses: Joseph Richardson and James Muir.[50] 

24 Dec 1776: Planter Risdon Moore sold 100 acres, part of Addition to Moore’s Meadows to Joseph Stock for £37.10.0.  Witnesses: Joseph Richardson and John Dickinson.

16 Feb 1781: Ezekiel Henry wed Sarah Ganze.

11 May 1782: Planters Thomas and Susannah (x) Moore sold 13 acres of Partnership, on the west side of Rackoon Creek, to Absolum Willey, a shoemaker, for £4.17.0.  Witnesses: Henry Lake and Benjamin Keene.[51]

15 Oct 1783: Levin Moore married Rachel Lee.[52]

30 Jun 1785: Thomas Moore and Mary Moore were married.[53]

6 Mar 1787: John Henry wed Margaret Campbell. 

2 Jun 1788: Levin Moore wed Phebe Moore.[54]

 The 1790 Census included the following . . .

John Moore: 1 male over 16, 3 under; 3 females; listed close to Henry and Garrison McCollister

Reubin Moore: 1 male over 16; 4 females, listed close to Isaac Low

James Moore: 1 male over 16, 1 under; 6 females; listed next to Molly Henry and close to [probable aunts] Betsy McCollister and Sincy Hubbert

William Moore: 1 male over 16, 1 under; 4 females

James Henry: 1 male over 16

Ezekiel Henry: 1 male over 16, 1 under; 3 females

Molly Henry: 1 male over 16, 1 under; 2 females; listed next to James Moore

A second William Moore was reportedly on that census with 1 male over 16, 3 under; and 4 females, as was a Tobias Moore with 3 males over 16, and 4 females.  I was unable to locate them on the microfilm copy, but perhaps they were obscured. 

15 Feb 1796: James Henry married Lurana Medford.  Could this be Luraney Henry of Rockingham County?  

19 Sep 1800: James Moore died at age 78.[55]

15 Sep 1814: John Moore was buried in the Church Creek District near Big Blackwater Bridge.  He'd been born on 16 Jun 1777.[56]

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