Out of approximately 85 families served by the Jackson Hill post office
around 1900, 19 families were SURRATTs. Because some of them had
the same first names, nicknames became popular in the community.
 <---
William D. SURRATT, was called "Dinger Bill" because he used a dinner bell.
<---
William Mc. SURRATT, was Called "Bottle Bill" because he had a large stomach.
<---
Alex SURRATT, undertaker was called "Rodman Alex" because he had lightning rods on his house in the village.
<---
The other Alex SURRATT, was "Possum Alex" because of the constant grin he wore.
<---
Lorenzo Dow SURRATT was called Squatty Dow" SURRATT because he was was short;
<---
William Lorenzo Dow SURRATT, was called Stingy Dow" SURRATT, because he was very frugal.
|
From the 1st Census of 1830, most family records in North Carolina
were written as "SURRATT" and that spelling has been retained to
the present day.
It will be noted this happened in other states as well, although a
few family members continued to use an "a" in the first syllable.
Sarrett/Sarratt/Surratt's Living in North Carolina as:
"Head of Household" 1830 Census!
<---
(See SFA© Families, Davidson Co., North Carolina)
Johnathan SERRAT, age 50 b. c1780 Liv Randolph Co., NC.
Allen,4 SURRATT, age 23 b. c1807 Liv Davidson Co. NC.
William,6 SURRATT, age 33 b. c1797 Liv Davidson Co. NC. <---Our Subject!
Beverly,1 SURRATT, age 37 b. c1793 Liv Davidson Co. NC. <---Our Subject!
Greenberry,1 SURRATT, age 27 b. c1803 Liv Davidson Co. NC.
John,11 SURRATT, age 26 b. c1804 Liv Davidson Co. NC.
Absalom,1 SURRATT, age 60 b. c1770 Liv Davidson Co. NC.
Thomas,5 SURRATT, age 25 b. c1805 Liv Davidson Co. NC.
John,7 SURAT, age 48 b. c1782 Liv Buncombe Co. NC.
John,16 SURAT, age 18 b. c1812 Liv Buncombe Co. NC.
Joseph, age 20 b. c1810 Liv Buncombe Co. NC.
Wm. Henry, age 38 b. c1792 Liv Buncombe Co. NC.
Jane, "Widow" age 42 b. c1788 Liv Wilkes Co. NC.
As listed above, of the men listed in this 1830 census
as heads of family in Davidson County, only two remained
Wm. & Beverly SURRATT.
Using the names found on the census a clear picture evolves:
<---
[REF:#90 Page 51
|
| 1. Absalom |
moved to Brown County, Illinois, in 1836. |
2. John |
Absalom's son who also moved to Brown County, Illinois. |
3. Thomas |
a Son of Absalom also moved to Brown County, Illinois. |
4. Green |
a cousin of the above men also moved to Brown County, Illinois, also. |
5. Allen |
a son of the deceased John who probably went to Jersey Co., IL with his sisters and brother.
[This is 3rd s/o of John,4] |
6. Beverly |
William's brother; remained in Davidson County. |
7. William |
Beverly's brother; remained in Davidson County. |
8. Mary |
widow of John, remained in Davidson County (but had no male children by John). |
As for other SURRATTs in North Carolina in 1830 these are the families listed: |
1. Jonathan, |
of Randolph County who had moved from Davidson County. |
2. Jane, |
of Wilkes County, believed to be the widow of a Samuel Sarratt. she married in Person County. |
3. John, |
of Buncombe County, a different family who came to this country around 1820.
There name is Surrett and they will be discussed in the appendix. |
4. John, Jr. |
of Buncombe County. |
The 1840 census lists three Surrett families in Henderson and
Buncombe Counties, Jane Sarrat is still alive in Wilkes County, and
in Davidson County seven SURRATT families were flourishing. No other
families of any similar name are known to have been living in North Carolina in 1840.
H/H show: Spencer, Beverly A., Wm. Sr., Beverly,1; Widow Mary (Davis), Wm. Jr. and
James L. SURRATT, some 30 SURRATT residents.
<---See: 1840 Census Records.
The 1850 census lists 17 H/H with 64 SURRATT residents.
<---See: 1850 Census Records.
The "An historical map of Davidson County, North Carolina",
Published 1972, Depicted circa 1850s. by Katherine F. Skipper
Caption At lower right: "Davidson County, 1822-1972, Sesquicentennial." Under title: "Created by dividing the territory of Rowan County December 9, 1822. Named in honor of General William Davidson, Revolutionary War hero."
Abstract Includes historical sites, old state route, and railroad. Includes street diagrams of Town of Lexington and Town of Thomasville.
<---See: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, their Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services
|
Map of Townships for Davidson County in 1868
At top left: "After the map was made & received The Board of County Commissioners determined to make but one Township of the districts represented as Lexington & Days Township. There are therefore now [one] Township known [as] Lexington Township."
Abstract Map shows townships, ferries, landowners, mills, and churches.
<----Click on Thumbnail for Larger Map!
Historical Note The North Carolina Constitution of 1868 required counties to
"divide" . . . into convenient districts, to determine the boundaries and prescribe the names of
the said districts, and report the same to the General Assembly before the first day of January, 1869
The Public Laws of 1868 further specified that "a map and survey of said districts, when truly
completed, [shall] be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Commissioners of each County
and the Secretary of State"
Source:
(North Carolina Constitution of 1868, Article VII, Section 3, Chapter 20, p. 25).
|
Map of Townships for Davidson County in 1890
Relief Map By L. Johnson, shown by hachures. Shows townships, churches, mills, schools, residences, stores, mines,
roads and railroads, historic sites and natural features. Includes 3 inset maps:
"Thomasville," "Yadkin College," and "A birds eye view of the town of Lexington."
The inset maps list the names of homeowners, businesses, churches, and schools. Churches are identified
by denomination. Townships shown include Abbotts Creek, Midway, Arcade, Reedy Creek, Yadkin College,
Tyro, Lexington, Thomasville, Conrad Hill, Boon, Cotton Grove, Silver Hill, Emmons, Healing Springs,
Jackson Hill, and Alleghany
<---See: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, their Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services
<---See: 1900 Census Records. The 1900 census lists
26 H/H with 166 SURRATT residents.
|
Map of Alleghany Township, Davidson County in 1890
26 Residence:
C.L. BADGETT,
W.H. BADGETT,
L.S. BURKHARD,
J.B. COGGIN
B.F. CRANFORD,
I.P. DOBY,
T. FRY,
N.I. JONES,
Mrs J. INGRAM,
I. LOFTON,
J. LOFTIN,
REDWINE & Company,
M.J. REDWINE,
E.M. REEVES,
Mr. REID,
W.P. STEED,
M.E. SOUTH,
T. STOKES,
J.G. SURRATT,
W.C. SURRATT,
W.H. SURRATT,
L. TAYLOR,
T. TAYLOR,
E. VARNER,
E.S. VARNER,
W.M. WALKER,
|
Map of Healing Springs Township, Davidson County in 1890
24 Residence:
BRINKLE, P.O.
A.A. COLE,
R.C. COLE,
J.H. DANIELS,
W., DANIEL,
J.R. FLOYD,
T.H. FLOYD,
W.A. FEEZER,
C.J. HARRIS,
J. Ed. HARRIS,
Bros. HEDRICK,
W.W. HEDRICK,
C.K. HOLMES,
R.L. HOMES,
R.L. HOMES,
R.L. HOMES,
Wid. KINNEY,
W.N. KINNEY,
Wm. LOFTIN,
MARSH PO.,
W.P. REDWINE, Esq.;
A. SMITH,
Mr. STAFFORD,
W.P. STAFFIRD,
M.B. SUMMERVILLE,
H.H. WORKMAN,
|
Map of Jackson Hill Township, Davidson County in 1890
24 Residence:
BADGETT'S Tanyard
J.M. BADGETT
CARDING Mach. Co.
V.S. JOHNSON,
R. HARRISON,
J.W. HOLLY,
A. KINNEY,
R. LOFTIN,
Wm. LOFTIN,
J.W. MORRIS
Mr. REID,
J.C. SKEEN,
J.J. SKEEN,
SMITHERLY & Company,
H. SMITH'S Lead Mine,
C. SEXTON,
A. SURRATT,
A. SURRATT,
A.W. SURRATT, Undertaker
J. SURRATT,
L.D. SURRATT,
R.L. SURRATT,
S.L. SURRATT,
W.M. SURRATT, |
Map of Davidson County, North Carolina ~ 1910
Drawn by C.M. Miller Civil Eng., Salisbury North Carolina
Blue line print. Relief shown pictorially. Map shows landowners, ferries, gold mines, copper mines, townships, mills, schools, churches, retail stores, county homes, rural mail routes, landowners, tenant houses, and public and private roads. Townships shown include Hampton, Reedy Creek, Yadkin College, Tyro, Boone, Cotton Grove, Silver Hill, Lexington, Healing Springs, Jackson Hill, Alleghany, Emmons, Conrad Hill, Thomasville, Idway, and Abbots Creek.
<---See: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, their Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services
<---See: 1910 Census Records. This 1910 census lists
34 H/H with 179 SURRATT residents.
|
Map of Alleghany Township, Davidson County in 1910
Residence:
|
The two progenitors of the SURRATTs in Davidson County are:
the two Brothers Beverly and William SURRATT.
Tradition strongly
insists they were born "Out of Wedlock" and their father was John
MILLS. No proof can be found for this tradition, but if it was
true, their mother was probably Sarah Serratt (as it was spelled
on the court records) who went to court to seek support for at
least one of her children in 1795. Apparently she raised her
sons under her name in the Cabin Creek area of Davidson County.
Whatever the true facts about their parentage, present day SURRATTs
are proud to descend from these two devout family men who raised
fine families and lived on the land of their ancestors with love
and respect.
5.1 <---
BEVERLY SURRATT [1.2.2.02.1]
It is believed he was born in 1793
(although his tombstone,erected years after his death, gives a later date)
and he died in 1863. If he was born in 1797 as his tombstone says, he would
have been 14 years old when his first son was born and that is
highly unlikely. Also, census reports indicate his birth date
was probably the earlier date. He is buried in the old cemetery
on Loftin Road near Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, originally
known as SURRATT's Grove. On this church is a plaque which gives
credit to Beverly and William SURRATT for establishing the church
in 1838. The first church was reported to have thirty members
who held their services in a little log cabin. For camp meetings
they erected a brush arbor and met outdoors. The first church was
about a half mile away from the present church which was finished
in 1964, replacing a building erected in 1882. It sits in a lovely
grove of trees with a well-kept cemetery; the old cemetery is
half hidden behind some shrubs and trees down the road a short
distance, but it, too, is mowed and well preserved considering its
age in 1980.
Beverly's wife is listed in the census as Laney or Lucy, but
his estate settlement called her Paulina. No doubt Laney was a
nickname. We do not have a marriage record for Beverly, but it
may be possible his wife was a Loflin since an older woman named
Basheba Loflin is listed as living with them in the 1850 census.
This could have been his wife's mother or an older relative. His
brother William married a Loflin and since, from all accounts,
Beverly and William had a very close relationship it is possible
they married sisters or cousins. As further proof, one of Beverly's
daughters was named Basheba, possibly for a maternal grandmother
or aunt, so the older female named Basheba Loflin in the 1850 census
who resided with Beverly must have been a close relative.
Beverly SURRATT was a devout Methodist and minister of the
church. Census records always listed his occupation as farmer,
but religion played a big part in his life since he was a co-founder
of Pleasant Grove Church. Also, he was prominent enough in the
community to be appointed to serve in 1824 on one of the early juries
of the Superior Court of Davidson County. Leonard, in his
"Centennial History of Davidson County", describes the Superior Court
as one that tried appeals from the lower county court and had
jurisdiction in grave crimes and felonies as well as some civil cases.
In 1813 Beverly SURRATT entered a claim for 400 acres in Rowan County on the
waters of Beaverdam joining;
William Ledwell,
William Loughlin (Loflin),
Ling Burket, and
Smith Hill.
Five years later he put in a claim for 15 acres in the same area.
In 1834 he sold 50 acres "east of the Yadkin River" on both sides
of Ellis Creek to Brantley Coggins.
The 1838 september Court of Equity of Davidson County sold
the property of John Adderton, deceased, and Beverly SURRATT
purchased 100 acres of woodland called "Mountain Tract" by the
Addertons for $27.00. The records are not exactly clear about
this property and it is difficult to tell its exact location.
In 1849 Beverly received a grant from the State of North
Carolina for 98 acres on the waters of Beaverdam Creek. In August,
1854 he sold a tract on Cabin Creek which included a grist mill
and a saw mill to his sons, Lewis and Daniel. On 11 Nov. 1854 he
sold 57 acres on the waters of Cabin Creek and Ellis Creek to
William Peacock, apparently his son-in-law.
Property tax records begin for Beverly in 1815 for 193 acres
and in 1838 he had 190 acres. As usual, it is difficult to find
what happened to some of the property he was supposed to have, but
probably some of it just passed on in possession of his heirs.
Beverly died in 1863 but Jesse LANE, administrator of his
estate, did not get around to settling things until 15 Dec. 1874.
This is not so unusual when one remembers Beverly died during the
Civil War when normal life was disrupted. His debts were estimated
to be about $200 and his personal property had no value. He was
believed to have 86 acres of land and it was valued at $2.00 per
acre which would leave his estate in debt. LANE petitioned the
court to sell the land except for a widow's dower in order to pay his debts.
13 Heirs listed were:
1. 1st Son: Spencer SURRATT, a55y;
3. 3rd Son: James SURRATT, a55y;
2. 2nd Son: William SURRATT, a53y;
6. 5th Son: Lewis SURRATT, a45y;
8. 6th Son: Daniel Surrat, a40y;
4. 1st Dau: Basheba Glover, a37y;
9. 3rd Dau: Linny Loflin, a36y, wife of Clark;
10. Frances Morris, a22y, wife of Jerry;
11. GrandSon: Moses Peacock, a20y; (s/o Wm. & Nancy E. (SURRATT)
12. GrandSon: Garel SURRATT, a27y;
13. GrandSon: Spencer L. SURRATT, a22y;
The petition was published for six successive weeks in "The
Carolina Watchman", published in Salisbury, in an attempt to
notify Garel and Spencer L. SURRATT who were believed to no longer
be residents of the state. These young men were both sons of
Micajah (a son of Beverly) who was deceased prior to 1860.
5.2 <---
WILLIAM SURRATT [1.2.2.02.2]
William was probably born in 1796 in what was then Rowan County,
North Carolina, and according to legend his father was John Mills
and his mother might have been Sarah Serratt (as the court recorded
her name.) His brother was Beverly, and both men were said to be
Methodist ministers in addition to being farmers. As noted before,
William and Beverly co-founded Pleasant Grove Church, also known as
SURRATT's Grove, on property which the MILLS held title to in the
1790's as is shown on the map of early land grants in southern
<---
[REF:#90 Page 54,]
Davidson County prepared by Bert M. LAINER. This church was founded
in 1838 and is believed to be one of the earliest Methodist
churches in the county. Methodist history claims that Bishop
ASBURY, indefatigable missionary from England, had ridden into
Davidson County around 1785 and began to stir up interest in
the Methodist movement. Other traveling preachers followed him
and held camp meetings, but the first permanent churches of that
faith were not built until 1828-1830 anywhere in the county.
William was married in Randolph County when he was about 19
years old. The marriage bond gives his bride's name as
"Sinthey" LOFLIN, but later records call her "Cynthia".
The bond was dated 19 Aug. 1815 and his brother Beverly was his bondsman.
North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
Mr. William SIRRAT, a19yrs
son of Mrs. Sarah SURRATT and
Miss Sinthey LOFLIN, a27yrs
Daughter of William & Bashiba LOFLIN were married in
Randolph Co., North Carolina on 19 August 1814.
Boundsman: Bevely SERRAT
Witness: W. HANNA, Sr.
Record #: 01 246
Bond #: 000114330
|
1st Dec 1818 Warrant
In 1813 William SURRATT, had entered for a grant of land of 180 acres on the waters of
"Beaverdam Creek". This was surveyed in 1815
by John Lochlin (Loflin) and James LASY and signed by W. MOORE.
The description mentions:
.... "William Ledwell's corner, to
William Lochlin's (Loflin) corner to Moore's road, to
Isaac Vincent's line."
The warrant is dated 01 Dec. 1818.
|
Later he acquired property which is bisected by Lick Creek Road
today and on which is located a private family cemetery. The grave
stones sit on a hillock which looks south to Cabin Creek on a curve
in the road surrounded on three sides by farm fields. William's
grave marker calls him Reverend William SURRATT and Cynthia rests
near him. His son Allen and wife Mary Ann, their children A. F.,
M.D., Sina, and unnamed infants are buried in this peaceful field.
Another son, William Morton SURRATT and his two wives, Margaret and
Adeline, are buried there also.
On Bert M. Lanier's map he notes this property was first held
by Ebenezer Parks who sold it to Frederick Smith. James Wiatt
owned it for a time and then William SURRATT acquired it in 1830.
This becomes very interesting because of a collection of original
documents in the possession of Mrs. Allen A. SURRATT who was
entrusted to care for these papers by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Irving
Finch SURRATT. Two original deeds from Ebenezer Parks to Frederick
Smith for two parcels on the waters of Cabin Creek are in this
collection. Apparently when William bought 180 acres of these tracts,
he acquired the deeds made out in August, 1796. The collection
also contains the deed in which Cynthia's sons, Allen, Richard L.,
William M., and Whitson H., relinquished their rights in their
father's property during Cynthia's lifetime; deeds made to Allen,
as well as the estate settlement of his wife, Mary Ann Pinch, who
preceded him in death. But, most astonishing of all, this
collection of original papers also contains an original deed to Allen
Sarratt's (3.2) grant of land on Beaverdam Creek for 380 acres!
This seems to prove most definitely that William was a grandson of
Allen Sarratt, and that when Allen moved to Lincoln County, the
original copy of the deed was kept by some thoughtful person, even
though the land had been sold. Was it Sarah who kept it as a
memento of her father?
Whatever the answer, William seems to have had these papers
and his eldest son, Allen, kept them and added his own dealings
to them, they were then passed to his son, Alexander, who gave
them to his son Irving Finch and in turn they were passed to his
eldest son, Allen A. SURRATT and conserved by Mrs. Allen A. SURRATT.
William SURRATT died in January or February of 1861 and his
wife, Cynthia, died 15 June 1864. They are both buried in the
private cemetery on property William once owned. When the authors of
this book visited this cemetery once in the company of Lee SURRATT
and Mrs. Herbert SURRATT, Lee remarked that the Reverend William
and his family were very devout people, and when they came to bury
their dead, they usually carried the coffin, followed by the family
and friends and they sang as they walked. He said it was told the
sweet, sad sound of the hymns could be heard for a long distance
over the countryside.
In his reminiscences in "Homespun Magazine" for sumner, 1979,
Sam J. SMITH recalls Badgett's store as being a large one that sold
farm implements, yard goods, shoes, guns, hardware, and many other
items. People from all over the district came to buy and there
were always wagons and horses standing around the store. Mr. Badgett
also bought things from local people such as dried fruit and dried
blackberries,herbs such as star grass, haw bark, and wild cherry
bark; skinned rabbits, rabbit hides, and quail. The groceries he
sold were mainly staples such as coffee, rice, salt, and sugar.
Families raised their own meat and, after butchering, the hides
went to the tanyard and then the farmer made shoes for the family
or found a cobbler who could make the shoes for him.
The land for one of the first schools in Jackson Hill was deeded
to the school by Alex SURRATT. It was known as Mulberry School and
was taught by Miss Myrtle SURRATT and Bob Ridge. A second school
was built about 1915 on land deeded by Cicero Badgett and was called
Jackson Hill School. It was open for six months of each year and
some of the teachers were:
Pauline SURRATT Green,
Myrtle SURRATT Stokes,
Bunch SURRATT,
Mabel Lowe SURRATT,
Julie Glance SURRATT.
Walter SURRATT, of High Rock, taught at Southmont School.
In 1883 a Methodist Church was built in the village of Jackson
Hill. Among the trustees were:
William M. SURRATT,
William M. C. SURRATT
Marmaduke SURRATT.
Later, a new church was built close by at a different location
and is known as Clear Springs Methodist Church. It is still in
use today (1980) as is. Pleasant Grove Methodist Church which is not
far away from the village of Jackson Hill. The community has
also been served for about two hundred years by Lick Creek
Baptist Church.
The SURRATT Hosiery Mill at Jackson Hill was started when
Herbert SURRATT first began experimentally to knit socks in a
small chick brooder house on his father's (Irving SURRATT) farm
in 1939. He had worked for Hanes Hosiery and Clayton SURRATT, who
had been a lumber broker, became his partner and they pooled their
knowledge. In January of 1940 they started production with thirteen
knitting machines in a frame building which soon had to be enlarged.
In 1941 Herbert enlisted in the Air Force (WWII) and Clayton was
left in charge. At the end of the war, Clayton wished to leave
the business so Allen A. SURRATT, Herbert's brother, became a
partner. Allen had been with Alcoa and had wide business experience
so he did the buying and selling and Herbert was in charge of
production. Very soon they constructed a new building and expanded
the business. Allen's untimely death in 1964 was a blow to Herbert
because they had always been close friends as well as brothers and
it was difficult for Herbert to have to supervise the day-to-day
operations and assume Allen's duties also. Today, (1980) his sons
Irving and Julian have joined the firm and are great additions
since they both graduated in textiles from North Carolina State
University.
The mill employs local people and when the authors of this book
visited Jackson Hill once, Herbert SURRATT said that when there is
a funeral in certain families it almost closes the mill. So the
present follows the past in that Jackson Hill is a close-knit
community whose families have strong ties to each other.
Now (1980) the little village is almost deserted, except for a few
old buildings and the nearby ancient native American holly tree
that is thought to be considerably over a hundred years old. It
is the pride of residents as well as the pride of well-known
horticultural experts. Every fall it is covered with bright
red berries. What stories it could tell if it could talk!
<---
[REF:#90 Page 58
|
THE SURRATTS OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
These records are part of the "Genealogy Computer Package" *** PC-PROFILE *** Volume - II.
Sarratt/Sarrett/Surratt Family Profile©
Compiled and self Published in Oct. 31, 1989 by Paul R. Sarrett, Jr. with
the assistance of my late mother
Paul R. Sarrett, Jr., President of SFA© 
Mar 07, 2010;