Mary "Polly" Radford

                                                                              by

                                                            Robert Radford McKeel

Robert Radford (@1690-1765) *

William Radford (b. 1725) *

Noah and Robert Radford II (b. 1760 and 1785) *

Mary Radford (b.1767) *

Matthew Radford (b. 1787) *

Rebecca Radford (b. 1790) *

William Radford (b 1797) *

Clara Radford (b 1802) *

Other Radfords *

This is intended to be a view into the lineage of Cleveland Hale (C H or Haley) Radford (1885-1948) and to the degree his lineage includes his various kinfolk, their lineage as well - this is not a meant to be a list of all living people that descend from the earlier Radford’s mentioned here, hopefully that will be forthcoming soon from some of our relatives, as it is very helpful for people to see how they fit in. When that is available maybe that and this will give a full view of present Radford’s and their connections to one another - I have gathered much information in that area but proofreading spellings of names and re-checking dates down to the month and year is not my forte and I will stick to the historical records that provide documentation for the C H Radford ancestry.

 

The lineage of Cleveland Hale Radford is in a way a trail of land ownership (like other families of the area) that leads through proven and likely links in a continuous chain back to, in his particular case, Robert Radford that appeared on the North Carolina scene first in 1723 being granted land near the Roanoke River near Kelford and Roxobel in present day Bertie county and the community called Norfleet in present day Halifax County. Most colonists in this area would have just a few short years earlier lived either in the Edenton area of North Carolina or tidewater area of Virginia. There appears to be no Radford’s in the Edenton area but several in Virginia, but any earlier than 1723 at his point is total speculation. There are several traced Radford families in Virginia in this earlier time frame and by process of elimination - as they do not include Robert - the Gloucester County Virginia mentions of a Robert and William Radford offer the most feasible location before 1723 - This is a county with lost records and there may never be any more light shed other than that there was a John Radford that imported indentured servants in the 1640’s and received 200 acres in that area in return. He appears to be one of but the least documented of 4 brothers according to some genealogists that came into Virginia in the 1630‘s and 1640‘s. No indication that it is the same 200 acres (as increments of 50 were common) - but William Radford is mentioned in connection with 200 acres in 1704 in Gloucester county and another deed from 1715 for another family mentions a border as following "the road to Robert Radford’s house". I have not concentrated any efforts on the pre 1723 history as it appears unlikely to bear fruit.

Back to North Carolina and the start of an unmistakable flow of records from 1723 down to the present. To summarize in advance, the path starts with Robert Radford (estimated life 1690’s through 1760’s), then almost certainly to William Radford (@1725-1794) and proven from him through an unmarried daughter Mary, who had a share in one of William’s sons’ portion of his estate and this Mary (1767 - 1839) is the Great Grandmother of C.H. Radford and raised her son William Radford (1797-1869) from a toddler as single mother. He was born in 1797, the 3^rd of 4 children born to Mary Radford, father/fathers unknown. Mary was not helpless by any means and bought and sold slaves and nearly 1000 acres of land by the time of her death. William (Mary’s son) had many proven children, one of which was Ruffin Radford (1843-1907), the father of C H Radford - Mary’s other son, Matthew (1787-1860’s) Haley’s great Uncle, is the ancestor of the larger portion of people in our area (centered on Kenly and Princeton NC) with the surname Radford.

 

The three successive locations of the habitation of the ancestors of C H Radford in North Carolina are first, the mentioned area on the Roanoke from @1723 until @1743 then secondly near Goldsboro just north of Patetown from 1740’s until 1830’s (William himself had a 7 year diversion into Nash County at the end of this period but his mother remained in the Patetown location until just before her death in the late 1830’s.) Third and lastly, in 1836 William started purchasing land in Johnston County between Kenly and Princeton, a good portion of which is now in the possession of various descendents of his grandson, C H Radford (Haley) as of 2004. This is a story (as is true of other area families) of average to maybe sometimes a little more than average size farming for the whole period covered, neither of paupers nor the overly privileged.

Much of the original 1400 acres or so granted to Robert Radford along the Roanoke in the 1720’s was immediately sold. Robert was witness to a deed in Edgecombe precinct in Jan. of 1734 – he signed rather than marked indicating literacy. Robert is mentioned receiving and selling land and witnessing deeds in both what is now Bertie and Halifax (then Bertie and part of Bertie that was later Edgecombe) counties during this period very close and on both sides of the same section of the Roanoke River near the ferry, so apparently he owned land on both sides near Norfleet’s ferry.

 

(General area of first Radford location showing Norfleet, Cashie, Wahtom)

William Radford (b. 1725) was born most likely sometime around 1725 near Norfleet’s Ferry on the Roanoke River that crossed between present day Scotland Neck in Halifax and Roxobel in Bertie Counties in North Carolina, since it is very likely that he was the son of Robert Radford who is known to have lived in that area then moved to the same area William Radford was granted land as an adult near Patetown of present Wayne County in the 1750’s. William was granted land adjacent to Robert and his life span was offset from Robert’s by 20 to 30 years in the more recent direction. While being a younger male relative is almost certain, being Robert’s son is an assumption only as he could be the son of an early demised brother or unmarried sister of Robert. Since there is no evidence to the contrary the cleanest assumption will be made. In keeping with this assumption, Susannah would be William’s mother being Robert’s wife in a range of dates that include William’s birth, as on the 14^th of January 1724 Robert and Susanna Radford of Bertie sell 200 land in Bertie to James Rutland and on the 18th of April 1743 Robert Radford (and wife Susannah ) of Craven County NC conveyed to William bell of Edgecombe County NC (this part of Edgecombe later cut off to form Halifax) a 200-acre tract of land on the south side of the Roanoke River below the road near the land of Marmaduke Norfleet. In 1746, Johnston County was separated from Craven. 15 years after he moved, Robert sells one last plot of land in this Roanoke valley area in the 1750’s and is stated to be "of Johnston County" On 1756 MAR 15 William Radford applies for grant in Johnston of 300 acres including (implying some time of habitation) "his improvements". Then in 1757 (May 23^rd) William Radford receives grant of 200 of the 300 acres applied, Robert receives among his several grants, one he kept, 500 adjacent to William’s 200. In 1759 Dobbs county was separated from Johnston – and initially included present Wayne, Lenoir and Greene Counties more or less. In 1763 - William Radford is granted 435 acres in Dobbs county, the largest section of his farm at death over 30 years later in the Patetown area (Moccasin and Slew Creeks). This bordered his own previous grant and Robert Radford’s. (the former made when the area was still part of Johnston) In 1777 - William Radford receives money for horse-hire from Revolutionary troops. In 1778 - William Radford applies for additional land in Dobbs.

 In 1779 - William votes in house of commons elections at Dobbs Co courthouse Mar 10 and 11. It has been said that in 1779, "the outlook for the success of the American Revolution had grown very dim. The vote in the general election in 1779 required the highest patriotic conviction. If the Revolutionary cause failed, each of these voters would be marked as among the rankest seditionists. For these were the men of Dobbs County who closest held to heart the pledge of the Declaration of Independence, the pledge of "our sacred honor."" (see #1) Apparently William was the victim of a crime two months later, the perpetrators were tried along with a group that assisted "both thieves and deserters " but any exact connection is uncertain and some in the group did at least pay men to serve in their place. Per the indictment of "John CATO, yeoman, for breaking, entering and stealing $2500 and other property from the house of William RADFORD. Also assaulted William Radford. Date: 29 May 1779, about the hour of 11 in the night, County: Dobbs. From "The confession of Joseph KILLETT": Thomas HARRISON & Jonathan CATO robbed William RADFORD of currency & property; HARRISON stole a mare of Hampton SYLLAVAN, and HARRISON and CATO and KILLET & David LAWHORN robbed Peter LEE of a mare and other property and money; he believes that LAWHON sold the mare to Jonathan HONEYCUTT upon the waters of Deep River; that HARRISON & KATO stole of Jonathan EDWARDS a horse & mare & KILLET saw them on the horses and they sold the horses either to James FARR, Cap. JOESON or Jonathan ARTHUR between Jones’s Creek & Temptson’s Creek; HARRISON stole Jonathan Roache’s horse and he heard him say he would shoot the horse as soon as he took him to Neuse River.; on Tuesday 27 of this Instant [July 1779] he saw LAWHON with 2 mares which he said he borrowed the white one of Robert KEY & the Dark Bay of David RAINER; on Thursday 28th KILLET and LAWHON went to Mr. WINKFIELD where they stole a gray horse which he was to lent Jonathan COLE have to carry to Salisbury to sell for halves; that he hired Jonathan VICK to take his place as soldier and returned him to Lieut. MCNES under the name of Jonathan MITCHEL and as he and VICK were going to Kingston (Kinston’s old name) they called at James MILES’S and VICK stole a pair of leather breeches out of MILES’S house; the following persons harbor and assist both thieves and deserters: Samuel STRICKLEN, Thomas DAUGHTY". There is mention of an appearance bond for Letia RADFORD (£10,000) with Burwell MORING (who 15 – 20 years later was involved in settling Williams’s estate) & Thomas BURK, planters, bondsmen (£5,000 each) to appear and testify against Thomas HARRISON, charged with robbing William RADFORD. Date: 20 July 1779 (see #2). In 1780 Wm Radford granted 100 acres bordering previous grants. In 1780 - Wayne County was separated from Dobbs (Wayne being pretty much as present day area from this point - with the additional area of the Black Creek community until Wilson County formed in 1855 - Dobbs survived a while longer but eventually was discontinued and became Greene and Lenoir counties). There is no indication the severity of this attack and effect on William’s health but in the remaining decade of his life, William had a likely daughter, Litia (Lydia, Lettie?) (probably the same as Letia Radford mentioned as witness to attack on William in 1779) with a court case against a local man, William Fort, the state charging him in her behalf in January 1790 "attack on the body of Litia Radford", William had another daughter having a child or two out of wedlock in the late 1780’s and a son, Noah, charged with participating in a riot and during this time, William for the first time contracted his land holdings as in 1785 - William Radford sells 200 of his 900 acres in Wayne County in 1785 - leaving his farm in the configuration seen 9 years later at his death. These 200 acres being sold to Benjamin Best - William signs the deed (rather than marks) indicating he could read and write. The 1786 Wayne County Tax list shows William Radford with 700 acres. Other factors in this 1780’s phase of his life were obviously his aging and the fact several of his sons and daughters left the state by as early as this time as attested by the fact many of his grandchildren born to these emigrating sons and daughters are, according to later census records, born out of state in these new locations in this period. As mentioned, in 1787 Matthew Radford was born to the unmarried Mary Radford, one of the younger of William’s many children - (1787 agrees with earliest 2 census records that carry age data that can favor one date over the other as well as no mention of Matthew for poll tax in Wayne County 1803) this 1781 - family Bible mention versus 1787 discrepancy possibly explained by transcription error from Bible, 1 and 7 being easily confused - Bible date was not contemporaneous to Matthew’s birth but from at least after his marriage. In 1788 - October, Noah Radford ordered to appear in upcoming court session (Wayne Co) William Williams posted bond of 100 pounds for appearance of Noah Radford in court and on 1789 October 50 pounds posted in State vs. Noah Radford, charge: Riot (2 Charges). On 1790 January, Noah is to appear next court to answer indictments. On 1790 April, Noah Radford found not guilty to charges brought by James Green and Josiah Elliott. The 1790 Federal Census shows William Wradford in Wayne County 3 males over 16, 1 female and 6 slaves. Noah Radford listed in Wayne with 1 male under 16 , one over and 4 females, no slaves. As Robert is supposedly Noah’s son born before 1790, and William had a widow at his death 5 years later, This means Mary and son Matthew are not enumerated in 1790 census in Wayne County in a household headed by an individual with the Radford surname. Possible explanations range from the fact the census takers did miss households at times, Mary and family could have lived out of the area at the time and then returned or in or out of Wayne county in a household headed by a married sister or brother-in-law under an undetermined surname. On 1795 Jan 1 a new law came into effect giving females shares in estate divisions where there is not a will. The date of the death of landholder - not the date of the division, is the determining factor. Divisions of all but real estate had already followed this rule. In the fall of 1795 the estate auction was held for William Radford, deceased. Several Radford’s appear in list of buyers: Rachel, Susannah, Mary, John and Noah. In April 1796 there is a case of undetermined nature, State versus John Radford. In 1796 Land Divisions and Dowers for William Radford, deceased are created. Widow is Rachel, sons are Miles, Best, John, Noah and Absalom, there are 11 heirs besides the widow as determined from shares of money raised in auction or personal estate but the land is divided only between 5 sons. The actual division was unrealized and the entire estate was sold in one piece later but not before the unmarried son, Best, died giving William’s unmarried daughter, Mary, a claim on part of Best’s fifth since after William’s, but before Best’s death, the new NC law took effect to include female heirs in intestate (no will) settlements. (Sisters and brothers where there are no sons and daughters.) So by 1820, all of William’s sons had died or left the area, only his daughter Mary lived on any remnant of his land. In fact, it is almost definite that all the Radford lines in Wayne, Greene and Johnston Counties descend from William Radford that lived from around 1725 though 1794 but that none of them descend from his sons, male only blood lines can be located in their transplanted locations of South Carolina and Georgia and from there, many other ultimate destinations.

to the sources (Fred Radford point could as well).

(#1) the note on the 1779 vote: contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Guy Potts "It Was Not Easy To Vote in 1779" Kinston Daily Free Press (#2) The transcript of the attack on William Radford: NC, Craven, Court Records, New Bern District Court Records from USGENWEB This file was contributed by Sue Guptill, February 2001.

 

(1763 grant to William Radford north of present day Patetown – 435 acres

this is 7 years after the first Radford grants – which in turn were some time after the Radfords first settled the area)

  Patetown area showing Moccasin and Slough/Slew creeks (on NC 111). See the circled area - from the first evidence of appearance here until the last Radford departure was 93 years (1743-1836) or 104 years (1743 – 1847) if the sell of the Robinson grandchildren’s land is included.

Noah and Robert Radford II (b. 1760 and 1785) Noah appears in Wayne County NC 1790 and 1800 census accounts but not 1810. Noah is mentioned with no land and being between ages 21 and 51 in Wayne County tax records from 1802, 1803 and 1804. His son, Robert Radford appears in the 1810 Wayne County NC census but not afterwards. Census records for these several decades in Georgia are lost. In 1796, Noah inherited 138 acres from his father, William, which was sold in March 1800. In a deed filed in Wayne County NC in 1807, book 8 deed 459, Isaac Parker sells to Robert Radford 200 acres adjoining the former lands of Noah’s father (Robert’s grandfather). A couple of years later in a deed filed in 1811, book 9 deed 350, Robert Radford sells to Spias Ward this same 200 acres (the deed may have been made a few months earlier than filed). From the 1810 Wayne County NC census we learn that Robert owned 3 slaves at that time and apparently another white female besides his wife lived in the household – possibly his sister or hers). Robert first appears in Georgia soon afterwards on the 26th January, 1814 in Twiggs County, Georgia "Robert Radford has applied for letter of administration on the estate of Noah Radford..." And while Robert appeared in 1814 to administer the will of his father Noah in Twiggs County, Georgia, "late of this county" Noah having relocated there after 1804, Robert as already stated didn’t follow immediately, as he was still in Wayne County in 1810 as detected from the 1810 census and the transacting of 200 acres of land around 1810. In 1815, Mourning Ferrell of Wayne County NC leaves most of her estate to her sister, Mary Radford. To answer any question about why Mourning would leave all her belongings to a sister two states away if the 1814 appearance represents Robert and Mary having moved to Georgia for good, there is an 1816 mention of a court case in Wayne county between Robert Radford and Caraway Hines. So most likely, Robert went to Georgia, and then returned to NC before permanently moving back there. The 1850 census of Twiggs County Georgia show Robert and Mary Radford born 1785 and 1787, respectively, and noted as born in NC also living in their house is an 80 year old Susan Ferrell (if related, she would not be Mary’s mother who was Sally Ferrell and most likely dead by 1850, wife of John Ferrell with will in Wayne County NC in 1802,). – Although it is possible that there could have been two Mournings and this Mourning and Mary were daughters of a related Ferrell family. The 1840 census shows Robert Radford in Twiggs County Georgia with 19 slaves. Following is more complete information from the 1850 Twiggs County Georgia census:

Mary Radford (b.1767) was born around 1767 to William Radford (@1725 – 1794) near the Patetown area of what is now Wayne County, NC but was then Dobbs County. She never married but had several children starting in 1787, it is known that four survived to adulthood and had children of their own. After becoming a parent, Mary did not live with her parents any longer. Mary’s first two known children were born in 1787, a boy, Matthew and 1790, a girl, Rebecca. Mary’s father died in 1794 and at the estate auction, Mary as a "femme sole", or legal entity unto herself rather than being a married woman ("femme covert") purchased an older slave woman, Rose. There is no record of her ever selling Rose, so apparently Rose must have died by 1810. Mary had two more known children in 1797, a boy, William, and around 1802, a girl, Clara. By 1800, an unmarried brother of Mary’s, named Best Radford, died without heir. Best had, before his death, inherited a fifth of his and Mary’s deceased father’s land since although there were 11 children, only sons, 5 in this case, inherited land when the father died without a will if the death was before January 1, 1795, 1794 is assumed in this case. Since Best died without a will after this date but had no children, the new law that included daughters as well as sons would be applied instead to Best’s brothers and sisters, numbering now only 9 instead of the 11 after the intervening couple of years. As Mary’s surviving brothers were either still in debt to the administrator of their father’s estate or out of state and the sisters who were each due a small piece of the land of the deceased brother, Best, thought it better to sell than keep, the entire 690 acre farm belonging to their father, William, was sold to Levi Lancaster on March 14^th, 1800. Mary was the lone exception to the sale and had her ninth part of Best’s 138 acre fifth share, a meager 15 acres, excluded from this sale (There is no scenario of Mary as wife or sister-in-law of Best that fits this occurrence).

(above is the 1796 division of William’s land showing 5 shares for Miles, Noah, John, Best and Absalom – upside down – not sure why)

 

Mary lived there in the midst of the now Levi Lancaster farm with her four children (Levi’s tax acreage from 1803 shows not 692 but 677 reflecting the 15 acre exclusion). She kept her children for a while but possibly by the time the youngest 2 were pre-teens they may have been bound out, maybe a fall out from Mary’s oldest daughter, Rebecca, having a child while also still unmarried about this time. Any official record of any such binding out has not been found, but they seem not be living with Mary in 1820 when both were young adults, but not yet married, Clara even still a minor. "Binding out" of children until age 21 to families in better situations was very common for orphans, illegitimate children and the poor. The hope was to have the children occupied, fed, sometimes even educated to a degree and learning how to be more successful, but most importantly, not a burden to the county. Maybe record will show up, although Wayne County’s records of some types are not complete for this era, bonds do seem to be, but neighboring counties have missing records. This, the binding out of her two younger children after the older two were grown, would also explain possibly why Mary’s older son, Matthew never learned to read and write (not uncommon for this period though Matthew was a successful and pious man) but her younger son, William, did learn to read and write. It is possible that Mary’s children were not bound out and that an unseen father was voluntarily providing well for them and no bond of bastardy was filed. In 1811, Mary’s oldest son, Matthew, married Betsey Lancaster the daughter of the man, Levi, who now owned the land around her small plot. In 1820, Matthew and Betsey lived at Mary’s, William and Clara did not, and Rebecca, unmarried, but having several small children, lived on her own. In the mid 1820’s, Levi Lancaster, as he neared death, decided to leave his daughter, Betsey, now married to Mary’s son Matthew, 68 acres (mentioned as 50) and curiously he left Clara, Mary’s youngest daughter, of no apparent relation to Levi, 44 acres. Levi also at this time had the 15 acres Mary didn’t sell to him 25 years earlier, formally defined as adjoining these 44 acres given to Clara. The deed itself mentioned money changing hand but when registered in court, it was as a "deed of gift". Within a year or so, Clara married John Robinson and to prevent John and Clara from losing their 44 acres to debts, Mary purchased it when the county sold it, but in behalf of John and Clara. "March 18^th, 1828 Mary …adjoining her land, 44 acres that John Robinson got or owned in right of his wife." In 1830 Mary lived here with Clara and John. Rebecca still lived on her own, William had taken a bride, Harriet and bought land in Nash County, NC. Matthew and Betsey had, just months before, sold their 68 acres and moved to the nearby Wayne County area of Nahunta. A few years later in 1835, roughly around the time her son William’s first wife Harriet, passed away and William took a second wife, Bramley Watson, Mary repeated this type transaction for William’s 778 acre Nash County farm, which while still living near Patetown, she sold a few months later for a 23% profit. She was evidently acting in William’s behalf as he, virtually days later, purchased the first part of his permanent Beulah Township, Johnston County farm. Mary, as around this same time her daughter Clara had died, also sold her 15 acres stated to be "where she now resides", (1836) and no longer lived together with Clara’s surviving Robinson household. The buyer of Mary’s home was Major Ferrell, and the 1863 confederate map clearly shows his house still in this spot on the former Best Radford land. Mary instead purchased 100 acres near her son Matthew around Nahunta where she lived until her death a few years later in late 1838 or early 1839 at about 72 years of age. Mary had 4 children and eventually 31 grandchildren. It may well be that all of Johnston, Wayne and Greene County’s Radford’s descend from Mary and possibly an unmarried likely niece, Sarah Radford. Mary’s brothers having all moved out of state or dying without sons and there apparently existing in the first place, no other Radford family in the area besides Mary’s father’s. Mary, though a woman and never married, by the time she died in 1839, had bought at least one slave and bought and sold over 900 acres of land. In her will, she mentions her children (Matthew, Rebecca, William and heirs of Clara, deceased) and many of her grandchildren by name. On the 18^th of Feb. 1839 William Radford and Matthew Radford relinquishing rights of executors, (William signing, Matthew marking), the court appointed William Edgerton in their place. The relatively high level and early occurring success of Mary’s son, William, may indicate a father "in the shadows" so to speak, or alternately, William was bound out to a successful farmer that mentored and educated him. (Not to take anything at all away from Matthew, who apparently was a successful as well as pious man). It is not improbable that there were at least two fathers of Mary’s 4 children.

Children:

Matthew Radford 1787 - @1865 md. Elizabeth Lancaster @ 1811

Rebecca Radford 1790 - @1851 never md. had at least 7 children

William Radford 1797 – 1869 md, Harriet then Bramley Watson

Clara Radford 1802 – 1835 md. John Robinson (or Robertson)

 

Will of Mary Radford, July 1838 (ct Feb. 1839)

 

Matthew Radford (b. 1787) was born on the 25th of October, 1787 (poss. 1786, family bible transcript says 1781 but there is good reason to favor 1786/1787) in the Patetown area of Wayne County. He had two sisters, Rebecca, who was born in 1790 and died @ 1851, and Clarey, who was born around 1802. Matthew also had one brother, William Radford, who lived from 1797 until 1869. Around 1811, Matthew married Elizabeth (Betsey) Lancaster who was disowned from the Quaker Church that year. Born on the 27th of February, 1796*, Betsey was the daughter of Levi and Elizabeth Lancaster of Wayne County. Matthew and Betsey moved from the Patetown area around 1830 (Deed Nov. 15 1830 they sell land on Whitney Branch and the Slough adjoining Bryant Lancaster and Polly Radford) and remained in the Nahunta area until after the 1839 death of his mother, Mary Radford. In August 1840 in Wayne County, William Pender, age 13, was bound to Matthew, William Pender later married Matthew’s niece, Ann. Later Matthew and Betsey settled in the 1840's in the Johnston County Township of Boon Hill. Their home was located on State Road 2320 between Rains Crossroads and Sal Barden’s Crossroads (formerly Radford's Crossroads). Matthew Radford left 190 plus acres to the children of his son Levi, dated 20 Feb 1857 evidently to take effect after Matthew’s death within a few weeks of a twin like deed from Levi’s mother-in-law Elizabeth Edwards leaving all her land as well. Matthew donated land to trustees to "erect a house of worship for use of Methodist Episcopal Church, South, dated 30 Sep 1863. Matthew and Betsey died in the 1860s. There is an unexplained marriage bond in 1865 for Matthew Radford and Elizabeth Edwards almost looking as if Betsey Lancaster Radford died first and Levi’s father and Mother-in-law married for their old age years, but Elizabeth still appears in 1870 with the surname Edwards so this is not yet explained. Following are Matthew and Betsey Lancaster Radford’s children:

John Radford (b. 1813) (1813 - 1898) Son of Matthew and Elizabeth Lancaster Radford. He was born in Wayne County on the 16th of July, 1813. He was married around 1837 to Martha Ellis and living in Wayne Co. in 1840. He had jury and road duty in Wayne County in the early 1840’s, soon after, along with his father, he moved to Johnston County where at least one incident of posting a bond is recorded. In the late 1840’s, John and his wife, Martha and their three young daughters moved to Elkhart, Indiana by oxcart. He was married a total of three times and had seven children the last being born when John was 65. John bought a farm in Greens Fork Township, Randolph County, Indiana some time after moving from North Carolina. He moved a short distance to neighboring Darke County in Ohio for a while then back to adjacent Wayne County, Indiana then Randolph Co. again. His first five children were born by Martha Ellis, his sixth by his 2nd wife, Mary Gray (md. 14th November, 1860, she died 14th April, 1875), his seventh child was by his 3rd wife, Mary Kirlanger. He died in 1898 and is buried in Greenville, Ohio.

Michael Radford (b.1815) (Michal) was born August 20^th or 23^rd, in 1815 to Matthew Radford and Elizabeth (Betsey) Lancaster Radford in Wayne County, North Carolina. She had an aunt that was also named Michal (Lancaster). Michal Radford’s mother, Betsey, inherited land in the Patetown area of Wayne County in 1825 (that had formerly been in Michal’s father, Matthew Radford’s, family but purchased by Levi Lancaster in 1800). Michal’s parents sold this in 1830 and her family purchased land in the Nahunta, Wayne County community when Michal was a teenager. This new land was near the Collier family. Othniel Collier, a Quaker, (born May 5 1815), son of Zachariah Collier and Anne Edgerton Collier, married Michal and was disowned from the Quaker church October 8^th, 1836 for marriage to a non-Quaker. Othniel’s brother lived exactly next door to Michal’s parents in 1840. About the same time that Michal’s parents moved a few miles from Wayne County, NC to just over the Johnston County, NC border, Othniel and Michal left North Carolina in the late 1840’s, made a long distance move and had settled in Lowndes County Georgia by 1850. They moved an additional short distance to Thomas County, Georgia by 1860. Othniel died March 13^th 1884 and Michal on January 15^th, 1885.

William Radford (b. 1817) was born on the 27th of November, 1817 in Wayne County. His parents were Matthew Radford and Betsey Lancaster Radford. William moved with his family to Johnston County and married Sarah Mitchell around 1846. He and Sarah had a house near his father and brother, Levi Grey Radford. William died on the 28th Of April, 1887. Following are William’s children:

Penelope Radford (b. 1820) was born on the 24^th of December, 1820 near the Patetown area of Wayne County to Matthew and Betsey Lancaster Radford. Her family moved first to the Nahunta area in the 1830’s then just across the county line in Johnston County in the late 1840’s around the time she married. She married Curtis Mitchell and they lived in Wayne County in 1850 and in Johnston County in 1860, thereafter Fork TWP, Wayne County.

Levi Grey Radford (b.1827) was born on the 4th of February, 1827 in Wayne County. His parents were Mathew Radford and Betsey Lancaster Radford. After moving with his parents to Johnston County, Levi married Annie Edwards on the 29th of September. 1846. Annie was the daughter of Michael Edwards and Elizabeth Stuckey Edwards. Levi lived until his death at the house he built located at Sal Barden’s Crossroads (Rhodes now, I believe). He was ordained a Baptist minister March 30, 1873 in Pine Level. Levi died 15th of August, 1897. Following are Levi’s children:

Rebecca Radford (b. 1790) (1790 – 1851) Daughter Mary Radford. She lived near the Patetown area of Wayne County from childhood and apparently lived there her whole life. She never married but had many children. She sued David Wasdon for fathering her illegitimate child on the 20^th May, 1817, David was roughly her age and the son of a man that died about the time and had a farm next to and about the 700 acre size of Rebecca’s grandfather Radford. She was listed as the head of a household in Wayne County in 1820 (by when she apparently had 3 children) and 1830 by which time she had 1 daughter and 5 sons under 15, adding another son and daughter (these last 2 possibly grandchildren?) by 1840 for a possible total of 8 children, 6 being sons. This means it is very possible that she is the ancestor of some unaccounted for Radford’s in the area, but by the time the first census was taken that actually names the children (1850) in the household, many of them were grown and not listed in her home. She died in 1851 and Council Radford was the executor of her estate. Matthew and Council are mentioned as owing money to the estate.

Charity Radford(b.1815) (1815- ) daughter of Rebecca Radford. David Wasdon was probably Chelly's father. 1814 is Chelly's birth year from the 1850 census but the 1830 census indicates 1 female born between 1815 and 1820, not before 1815, not an uncommon error for the era - but the closer to the time of birth, the more accurate, and this 1815 or after date for Chelly puts her very close to the time Rebecca sued David Wasdon, and maybe not coincidently, Chelly's firstborn was named David. After marrying Spias Peacock (1808-1848) around 1839 and having David and William in the 1840's by 1850, Chelly was living with her mother, Rebecca. Chelly (as well as Cherry) the standard nickname for Charity.

Matthew Radford (b. 1826) born in 1826 was the son of Rebecca Radford. He married Amanda Roberts on June 20^th, 1850 per Johnston County marriage bonds. They lived in Wayne then Johnston then Wilson Counties.

Council Radford (b. 1830) was born in 1830 in Wayne County, son of Rebecca Radford. He married Elizabeth Jones the 11^th of December, 1855, then on the 10^th of December, 1862, he married Susan Jones. His last wife was Pearcey and/or Rachel. Council lived in Wayne County until he died in 1880.

Ann Radford (b. 1832) (1832 - ) daughter of Rebecca Radford. In August 1840 in Wayne County, William Pender, age 13, was bound to Matthew Radford, William later married Matthew's niece, this Ann, daughter of Matthew's sister, Rebecca on Aug 16th 1852.

William Radford (b 1797) was born near present day Patetown in Wayne County in the summer or early fall of 1797. There were three other children in the family: Matthew, Rebecca and Clarey, his mother was Mary Radford and his grandfather, William Radford that died in Wayne County before January 1^st, 1795. This younger William married his first wife, Harriet, in the 1820’s, and he married his second wife, Bramley Watson, in the 1830’s (definitely by March of 1839). As a young man, William could read and write and made land purchases in 1828 in Nash County of 778 acres (Wilson now) which was sold in 1836 (with his mother, Mary, holding the deed the last year). On Feb. 5^th, 1828 William Radford of Wayne Co purchases 778.5 acres of land in Nash County on North side of Contentnea Creek for $650.00 from Irvin Eatman (agent for Jethro Harrison) adjoining Benjamin Flowers with a 5 acres lifetime right reserved for the widow Harrison. The same year, a new road was established in Nash from the road to Raleigh crossing Benjamin Flowers, William Radford and James Bartholomew to the road to Smithfield near Contentnea Meeting house. Then in 1836 and again in 1839, William made purchases in Johnston County between what is now Pittman and Rains Crossroads adjoining Little River. By 1840, he and his family were living in this area. Eventually William had close to 900 acres of land in this same location, over half of which is still held by descendents of his grandson Cleveland Hale Radford as of 2004. Between September of 1839 and November of 1848, William served jury duty 10 times. In August of 1848, William Radford was appointed Overseer of Little River Road from widow Smith's to Little Creek & and the court order also stated that the usual hands be employed to work under him. In 1859, William Radford was listed with 8 slaves. There are 5 males, ages 24, 23, 22, 7 months and 1month, and 3 females ages 17, 3 and 2. The 1860 census gives his real estate value at $3,460 and personal at $7,000. During the civil war, 8 of his sons went to war and 2 did not return. The 1863 Tax List shows 9 slaves and a pleasure vehicle and other taxable items that were not overly common locally.  An important item to mention to keep in mind along with the story about his slave that he regarded as a friend that wanted to return to his home and family across the ocean and hung himself when he lost hope (supposedly only interstate trade had long been the only legal trade, but this must have been some strange exception if true) is that emancipating slaves was apparently legally made ever harder in the decades before the war.    William died in November of 1869: the listed cause was heart disease. Following are William’s children:

Christopher Radford was born on the 25th of March, 1834, married Mary Ann Upchurch in 1860 and Zilphia Massey in 1892. He had nine children and died on the 3^rd of May, 1908.

 

(Signature of William Radford from 1839 administration document of his mother)

 

(2004 property boundaries with William’s former 1869 estate shaded in green)

 

1869 division survey of William’s property from court records.

 

Above are the breakdown of the first two segments of William’s acquisitions in 1836 and 1839.

Louisa Radford (b 1830) (1830 — 1905/09) born March 1830 in Nash County to William & Harriet Radford. At age 6 her parents moved to Beulah Township Johnston County. She never had any Children but she married at nearly 44 years of age on the 12th of February, 1874 Wiley Mitchell (Haywood Mitchell's father). Until then she had lived 4 years since her father’s death with her step mother, Bramley. Bramley lived with her son, Rufus Radford, after Louisa’s marriage. Wiley built her a special building for her crafts (quilts, etc.). There is a quilt at Wiley’s great granddaughter’s home reportedly made by Louisa. Wiley and Louisa sold Louisa’s Radford family land after they had been married 15 years in 1889. Louisa died from a stroke in her back yard gathering kindling sticks into her apron. 1899 is the family reported death date, though the 1900 census seems to show her still alive. Deed and census research indicates she died between 1905 and 1909.

George W. Radford (b 1832) (1832 — 1871) born in Nash County to William and first wife, Harriet Radford. George’s Civil war service was with the NC 50^th Infantry Company E. On the 12th of May 1870, George married Sarah Elizabeth Mumford, daughter of Wiley P. and Senia Watson Mumford. After George died in August of 1871, Elizabeth was the owner of George’s 79 acre share of the William Radford land as George’s widow. Elizabeth married Jesse Starling on the 13th of February, 1889. George's daughter, Anna and her husband, John Henry Mitchell sold this 79 acres to George’s brother, Ruffin Radford in 1895.

Christopher Radford (b 1834) was born in Nash County (Wilson County, Rock Ridge area now) on the 25th of March, 1834* to William Radford who had purchased land and moved there in 1828 from the Patetown area of Wayne County where this Radford line had resided since colonial times. Christopher’s mother was probably William’s first wife, Harriet. His family moved to Johnston County (Beulah Township) before Christopher was 3. This site was located off of Hinnant-Edgerton Road just after crossing Little River heading away from Selma/Micro. A grove of trees seen off the road to the right, across a field marks the site the home once stood, which is owned as of 2004 by a descendent of Christopher’s brother. Christopher was one of 13 children, his father had remarried to Bramley Watson by 1839. By the time the Civil War broke out, his father, William, owned 868 acres in Beulah south to nearly Boon Hill Township around this home-site and had several slaves. Christopher married Mary Ann Upchurch (b. 7th FEB 1840) on the 7th of November, 1860. His Civil War duty was with the Georgia 62nd Calvary Companies I and H, two of his brothers also served in Georgia companies. When he returned home Christopher and Mary Ann lived in Boon Hill Township and were starting to accumulate considerable property by 1870. They moved to Smithfield by 1880, where he and his family built the large house on 7th Street at the head of Bridge Street around 1885. He owned a lot of property in the town of Smithfield and outlying areas. The Smithfield Herald reveals many details of this family’s life such as his son Charles M Radford being Principal of Wentworth High School and son Edward M Radford’s involvement baseball, son John W Radford being secretary of YMCA, daughter Nettie involved in aid for Orphans and having a part in a "Mock Japanese Wedding", daughter Alice being on the honor roll and Christopher himself holding socials, being on the Directory of Johnston County Agriculture Institute and the Democratic Executive Committee. By far the saddest events reported in this paper occurred in late 1891 and early 1892. Both parents and several unmarried children fell ill. On the 2^nd of September 1891 his son Edward M Radford died, the obituary says from Typhoid - his mother Mary Ann and sister Nanny were too sick to attend the service and Christopher was sick but managed to attend, sister Nanny died a few weeks later. , His wife Mary Ann never recovered and died the first week of January, 1892. The Herald obituary states "Mrs C. Radford after a lingering illness of nearly seven months..services ..at the Primitive Baptist Church of which church she had been a member several years..she was indeed a loving wife, a kind and affectionate mother and a most estimable Christian lady. She bore her long suffering with the greatest fortitude and patience and seemed resigned to the will of her Master..leaves a Husband, 3 sons and 3 daughters." Christopher then married Zilphia Massey on the 30th of November, 1892. He died on the 3rd of May 1908. The Obituary reads: Mr. Christopher Radford was born March 25th 1835 and died May 3rd, 1908,...his health had been failing for some time and a few days ago was taken to Wilson Sanitorium with the hope that something might be done to save his life…he was brought home Sunday night and placed in the Cemetery Monday afternoon in the presence of a large number of acquaintances and friends. Living children listed: Mr. Walter L. Radford, of New York; Mr. Howard Radford, of Smithfield; Mrs. D. O. Uzzle, of Wilson’s Mills; Mrs. J. D. Underwood and Mrs. J. E. Marler, of Smithfield.…a man of great energy and plenty of good sense and had accumulated considerable property, a large part of which he has given to his children. Years ago when he farmed himself…was one of the best farmers of that time…He was a good citizen and kind neighbor and was always able and willing to give good advice to people who went to him for advice. He was known extensively in this county and hundreds of people will regret to hear of his death. Just an item of human interest, a note from his estate settlement, among the inventory of his estate there were listed these minor items that were his, but lent out to his brothers: 1 mule at the home of Rufus Radford and 1 mule at the home of Ruffin Radford (though Ruffin had been dead a few months).

Millison Radford (b 1837) (1837 — 1882) Daughter of William Radford (1797 — 1869). Her mother was either William's first wife, Harriet or second wife, Bramley Watson. All that has been determined is that Harriet was alive at least until 1832 but by 1839 she was dead and William was married to Bramley. Millison was born in Beulah Township, Johnston County on the Radford farm about 1.5 miles north of Rains Cross roads between SR 2342 and Little River. On 16 MAR 1858 she married Garry Ralph Horne (b. 1838). In 1876, Garry bought Christopher Radford's share of Millson’s father, William Radford's land and He and Millison lived in the two story house just off of SR 1001 between Pittman’s Crossroads (SR 2342) and Little River (Horne’s Bridge). (Garry sold or mortgaged this land to L. B. Richardson in 1892) The land that Millison actually inherited from William Radford is on both sides of SR 2342 about 1.5 miles north of Rains Crossroads and includes the land were Aubrey Radford’s house now stands. The land was divided years later in January of 1899 between Millison’s two heirs, Mincey Davis and Harriett Holland (apparently deceased by 1896 with her share going to an only child). Mincey’s share was sold to Ruffin Radford in 1902 and descended to his son C H Radford in 1907. Millison was buried near Provett Dean’s house on what was once part of William Radford’s land. Her daughter, Harriett Holland is also buried here and supposedly, William Radford and other family members. There were mainly wooden markers which have been destroyed as fields were burned. The cemetery is down the path from the house Garry and Millison inhabited. This (before the right turn to the graves) was once the main road (or trail) and referred to as "Horne’s Bridge Road".

Mary Radford (b 1838) (1837/38-1871) was born to William Radford soon after he moved from Nash County and purchased land in Beulah Township, Johnston County. Mary could well be the first child born to William’s second wife, Bramley Watson, or the last to his first wife, Harriet. (Per court records William was married to Bramley by early 1839 with no doubt, with William’s children born in the early 1830’s listing Harriet as mother in the few scant instances required). Mary, also Polly, a standard nickname for Mary, was first mentioned in her grandmother Radford’s will in the summer of 1838 and was apparently her namesake. With all her brothers off to war and probably not yet returned (9 brothers, one died before the war, 8 went to war, 2 did not return) and her father nearing 70 years of age, Mary became with child within the immediate few months after the surrender of North Carolina. Around the age of 27 or 28, Mary was married to Perry Flowers, who she would have been a close neighbor since the age of 11, on the 7^th of Sep. 1865 in Wayne County. Perry’s lineage is intriguing, as he had been bound to the Watkins family adjacent to William Radford in 1849 and is listed as a Mulatto in 1850. This could mean anything from part Indian to mixed African to nothing other than census-taker’s opinion. This would make the unmarried Phoebe Flowers, also a census Mulatto, likely candidate as mother; she was bound out in Nash County at age 12 but had migrated to Johnston by 1850. There were no people of the surname Flowers in the current Beulah Township, Johnston County area before 1849. Another "Flowers", Henry, followed in 1854, from Wayne County, of no apparent relation, but the Watkins family drew him in as well, as husband, not bound apprentice, as he married Patience Watkins. Henry and Patience, as opposed to Perry, are the progenitors of all the Kenly NC area branch of the Flowers family, though Perry was the first to reside in that area. Mary and Perry, both residents of Johnston, crossed into Wayne County to get married soon after the war, not sure if they had intentions of living there, or thought getting a license where they were known would be a problem, but as soon as her father died in 1869 and she inherited land, they were back in Johnston. The 1870 Johnston County census shows Perry and Mary with three young sons, Mary and three sons are listed as white, while Perry is indicated as Mulatto. Whatever this means, it must not have been readily apparent and the 1860 and 1880 census takers list Perry as White. Mary’s 1871 death is surmised from Perry’s immediate subsequent remarriage to Patience Capps (not to be confused with Patience Flowers, wife of Henry Flowers), on Dec. 29^th, 1872 and the 1874 binding out of her three children, who were not raised by their father and step mother after their mother Mary Radford Flowers’ death when they were all under 10 years of age. The home they were placed in as bound apprentices was the home of the apparent father-in-law of their uncle Christopher Radford, Hanson Upchurch, with whom they can be found still living in 1880, The Apprentice records of Johnston County show: 26th Sep. 1874, James B Flowers 8 yrs 6 mo, John P Flowers 6 yrs 6 mo, and William B Flowers 5 yrs 0 months bound to Hanson Upchurch. Just before this, in August 1874, Perry deeded away his life interest in the lot that fell to "Mary Radford" in the land of "William Radford, deceased" to the 3 boys. Guardian bonds were recorded beginning 1874 for the 3 boys' inheritance. As soon as the youngest reached majority, they borrowed against this inheritance from their Uncle Christopher Radford. In 1895 John P and wife Polly* and William B and wife Julie (no mention of James) sell this plot (described as Mary Flowers dec'd lot #1 of William Radford dec'd land) to Robert Pulley (near, but not the "Pulley Place") and are all mentioned as "of Wilson County, NC". Oct. 17 1895 is the last verifiable reference I have to Mary's sons.

John H. Radford (b 1840) Never married, enlisted with Confederate forces on the 30th of May, 1861 and died in camp on the fourth of July, 1861.

Rufus W Radford (b 1842) was born May 24, 1842 to William Radford and William's second wife, Bramley Watson Radford in Beulah Township, Johnston County. The birthplace was located off of Hinnant-Edgerton Road just after crossing Little River heading away from Selma/Micro. A grove of trees seen off the road to the right, across a field marks the site the home once stood, which is owned as of 2004 by a descendent of Rufus's brother, Ruffin. Rufus was one of 13 children. By the time the Civil War broke out, his father, William, owned 868 acres around this home-site and had 8 slaves. Rufus enlisted on the 28th of Feb 1862 and served in the 50th Infantry, Company E. Soon after the war, he was married on the 17th of November, 1866 to Abigail (Abbie, Appie) Jennette from Wayne County; born Feb. 1847 (parents possibly Joab and Zilphia Jennette). In November of 1869, Rufus’s father died and the farm was divided for the 10 surviving heirs, Rufus receiving an 85 acre tract. Rufus was the oldest surviving son of William's widow, Bramley. She, of course, had a life interest in the last home of her deceased husband (which apparently was only the overseer's house, the main home of the farm no longer in existence or in use at the time of William's death) the youngest of the family, Senia (Seney, Ceney), Rufus's sister, inherited the tract containing this home. Bramley by deed in 1873, pre-appointed Senia and Rufus to receive certain items that fell to her (reserving her life interest) under the stipulation that the farming be under "Rufus's control", for "her benefit". Rufus and Senia swapped their tracts by deed soon after this in 1874 so that Rufus possessed the home-place. Bramley lived with him until her death in the 1880's. The following note is mainly for all us of the Ruffin Radford branch of the family that have wondered exactly how the William Radford home site came to be known as the "Pulley Place". This tract was sold to the Pulley family in 1893 to pay a defaulted mortgage: " C B Aycock, Commissioner, under and by virtue of an order of sale … at the February Term of 1892, of the Johnston Superior Court in the case of B F Aycock et als against R W Radford and wife Abby after the advertisement required in the said order of sale….the land described in the complaint in the said action and herein after conveyed , when and where R M Pulley …being the last and highest bidder..." (C H Radford, Rufus's nephew, son of Ruffin, bought it later in the 1930's) and Rufus and Appie rented from 1893 and thereafter in a less rural Smithfield/Selma location, apparently, at least for a while, from Rufus's half brother, Christopher. During this period, the Smithfield Herald reveals civic activity of Rufus as he served as a juror several times, guarded a prisoner once and was involved in bridge repair. Rufus W Radford applied for a Civil War pension in 1904 - but was not approved due to "Insufficient disability" (showing he was healthy at age 63) but again in 1905 he applied and was approved. In 1914 his widow applied for a widow's pension, the following is a quote from the application "Appie is worn out with hard labor after her husband Rufus W, a pensioner for several years died Mar 28 1914 and left her nothing" (The idea in these applications was to really play up the need). As stated, Rufus died March 28th, 1914. Appie lived on until May 6 1927, when she died, she was living with her son Samuel Tildon Radford in Rocky Mount, NC.

Ruffin R. Radford (b 1843) was born on the 8th of March, 1843 in Johnston County; he was twin brother to Ervin R. Radford. His parents were William and Bramley Watson Radford. Ruffin married Mary Louisa Mumford on the 19^th of May, 1870; she was born on the 12th of July, 1852 to Wiley and Senia Watson Mumford who lived in Wayne County at the time of her birth but had moved to Johnston County by 1860. Two more of Wiley Mumford’s daughters married Ruffin Radford’s brothers, and Wiley’s son, Wesley, married Ruffin’s sister, Senia. It is told that Ruffin was Mary Louisa’s cousin, but this has neither been proven nor disproved, although both of their mothers were Watson’s. Ruffin lived his entire life on the share of land he inherited from his father to which he later added by purchase one of his brothers’ (George) share and part of his sister’s (Millison) share. An incomplete check of the Smithfield Herald reveals at least one occasion of jury duty. Ruffin died on the 13th of February, 1907; his obituary states: "On Wednesday, February 13, at his home in Beulah township, Mr. Ruffin Raford (sic) died in the 64^th year of his age, having been sick only a few days with pneumonia and heart trouble. He leaves seven children to mourn their loss. He served in the confederate army during the latter years of the war". This service was in the Georgia 62^nd Calvary, Company E, in which Ruffin’s twin also served part of his duty. Regarding Mary Louisa, Alberta Radford Mozingo, Ruffin and Mary Louisa’s granddaughter, had this written in her family journal: "Some of the older people in the community have ...said that she was a very good woman who always spoke well of everybody. ....My daddy (Haley) remembered her with a lot of affection". Mary Louisa died on the 4th of May, 1906. The following are Ruffin’s and Mary Louisa’s children:

Steven Radford was born on the 27th of September, 1872 and died on the 14th of May, 1934. He married Eveline Phillips in 1894. They had four children.

Lucinda Radford (Cindy) was born on the 16th of April, 1875. She married Haywood Mitchell and had three children. She died the 4^th of Sep. 1956

Pinetta Radford (Net) was born on the 19th of September, 1877 and died on December 27, 1949. Net was married twice: George F. Fulghum and Jacob Johnson. She had one son, Arthur Fulghum.

Etta Radford, born on the 9th of November, 1879, married George W. Willoughby, and had three children. Etta died June 4, 1956.

Sidney Radford, born April 20, 1883, died May 27, 1937. He married Nora Bass in 1906 and had 14 children.

Cleveland Hale Radford (Haley) was born on the 20th of July, 1885 and died on the 11th of October, 1948. He married Lillie Flowers in 1914 and had eight children. (See map below)

Hardy Harris Radford, born February 2, 1888, died October 27, 1957. He married Bessie Johnson in 1912 and had seven children.

Sources: Marriage, death, and cemetery records, Alberta’s comment from Ernestine Godfrey

• Robert Radford McKeel
• obit Fri. Feb. 22 1907 issue The Smithfield Herald

.

(above are 2004 C H Radford and family tracts)

Ervin R. Radford(b 1843) Ervin was born to William Radford and Bramley Watson Radford on the 8th of March, 1843 in Beulah Township, Johnston County, NC, he was twin brother of Ruffin Radford. Concerning his Civil War service: Ervin R Radford enlisted 1 May 1862 served in a mixed company of 2 NC and & GA companies known as the Ga. 8th cavalry, lastly the 74th NC reg. Company A –( or H?) called the 7th NC Calvary. He applied and was granted in 1908 a Civil War Pension, his post office was Goldsboro. The comment on his application was "A true brave and gallant soldier, one as such merits the good will and esteem of all good people" (there is also mention of service with GA 62nd Calv. Co E, 8th Calv. -Old E). He was married on 14th Dec. 1869 on to Mary "Polly" Ann Smith (born April 1849); they had 5 daughters - possibly more. He lived initially lived on his inherited land of his father but sold in 1875 and by 1880 was near Black Creek in Wilson County and by 1900, in Wayne County. Ervin died on the 4th of October. 1916.

Richard Radford(b 1847) (1847 - post 1880) was the son of William Radford (1797 - 1869) and Bramley Watson Radford. Richard was born and grew up on the William Radford farm in Beulah Township north of Rains Crossroads. At age 17, Richard enlisted in April 1864 with confederate forces, Comp H, 70^th regiment. At age 19, he married (31 MAY 1866) Celia Ann Smith. In 1870, Richard and Celia were living on the land he inherited from his father (his father died late 1869), they had no children. Richard was remarried (3 SEP 1873) to his first cousin, Bramley Mumford (b. OCT 1853). Bramley was the mother of his two children. An 1875 a deed shows Richard and Bramley Radford selling their land to L. B. Richardson. In 1880, Bramley was living with the two children at her parents’ home. Her parents were Wiley and Senia Watson Mumford. There is no mention of Richard in the 1880 census but Bramley is listed as married, not a widow. Richard may have gone alone to Georgia to work. There is no record of Richard after 1880. The 1900 census shows Bramley living with her son-in-law, Robert Wilkins in Creech’s Precinct of Smithfield. Bramley, as Richard’s widow approved on the 28^th of June, 1915 for widow's pension stated here is "Owned no property since 1885" and "She has to be lifted about like a child and is penniless" this was in no way to say that her family did not provide for her well, at all, but that she qualified as having no independent income. Her grand-niece Alberta, 7 when Bramley died, remembers her as "Aunt Bramlee – that was in a wheel chair" (this was the last surviving of all the siblings of Alberta’s Radford grandparents – Bramley having not only been married to Alberta’s grandfather’s brother but was the sister of Alberta’s grandmother Radford, the former Mary Louisa Mumford.)

Senia Radford(b 1849) (July 1849 — May 30 1920) Daughter of William & Bramley Watson Radford. She married William Wesley Mumford (b Aug. 1850), son of Wiley P. & Senia Watson Mumford, Wesley was her first cousin. They lived on their inherited plot of the Wm. Radford farm trading lots with her brother Rufus in 1874 then later, they sold it and bought a similar farm in size near Oak Grove Inn. Wesley died in 1904 and Senia on the 30^th of may, 1920.

Clara Radford (b 1802) was born around 1802, the youngest child of Mary Radford. She grew up on a small 15 acre remnant of her deceased grandfather William Radford’s land that her mother, Mary had reserved and excluded from the sale of Clara’s grandfather’s (Mary’s father’s) estate to Levi Lancaster in the spring of 1800. Clara’s oldest brother married Levi’s daughter, Betsey, in 1811 and in 1826, Levi died and had left some land to that daughter Betsey, but also he left 59 acres of land to Clara Radford to encompass the small 15 acre plot that was reserved for her mother Mary. Within a year Clara married a neighbor man that was widowed, John Robinson. The remaining 44 acre farm John and Clara then owned was almost lost but her mother Mary bought it back for them at the auction in 1828. "March 18^th, 1828 Mary …adjoining her land, 44 acres that John Robinson got or owned in right of his wife" Clara had passed away sometime in the 1830’s by the time her mother, Mary wrote her will 10 years later in 1838, (likely by the December 1836 date that her mom sold her Patetown farm and moved to Nahunta) but Clara had five surviving children according to court records, as the court appointed Henry Applewhite, guardian, to the property left the children of John Robinson by their "Grandmother Polly Radford", bonds were created for 5 children, these same five children are mentioned in 1847 when their guardian (for their inheritance through Clara) Elijah Coleman, petitioned to have Clara’s 44 acres sold, which it was in 1851, by the county, to Major Ferrell, the same man that earlier bought their Grandmother Polly’s adjoining 15. Clara’s five children:

Other Radfords - The following seem certainly related to the rest of the Radfords in the area but circumstances including some of them inhabiting Greene County NC in the 1840's and later, a county which has lost records, has helped create some obscurity around the evidence.

Calvin Radford - bound as apprentice to William Radford (b. 1797) in Nash County in 1829. There is a Calvin later in Georgia in the same county as Robert that is said to be born in NC in 1815 - could be the same or a relative.

Brannum Radford Information of his existence is from voter records only in Wayne late 1830's early 1840's, same district as Henry.

Henry Radford (b 1803) wife Louisa 1803 (lived in Greene 1840, voted in Saulston of Wayne County 1843, lived in Greene 1850, 60, 80) birth 1803-1810 also voted in Wayne in 41 and 44 - also mentioned in same district as Brannum Radford, Martha below had grandson later with that name (Brannum).

Noah Radford (b 1811) wife Susan 1813 (fathered a child with a resident of Wayne County in 1833 (Rebecca Combs) warrant ordered to search for him in Edgecombe, Wayne and Greene (there was no Wilson) He was found in Greene. He lived in Greene 1840, 1860, 1880)

Nancy Radford (b 1810) md. Spias Ward listed in 1880 census as Noah's sister birth 1805-1810 appears to be Spias Ward's wife (Spias b.1791/1800 lived until 1860's) nephew? of an older Spias Ward that died 1847 who Robert Radford sold land to in Wayne @1810. This Radford maiden name is an assumption as Nancy may be a half sister to Noah of another surname for all we know.

Lemuel Radford (b 1815) wife Smitha Swinson 1820

Sarah (b 1790) mother of husbandless household by 1820, paternity suit 1822 vs. Daniel Howell

Martha (b 1805) dau. Paradise grandson Brannam. Sued Ephraim Howell for paternity in Wayne 1832.

Miles Radford (b 1790) war of 1812 veteran married Margaret Bryan (Peggy) of Wayne Co. Miles listed always in Wayne Census 1830 and 1840 and voter records . Was at the estate sale of Mary Radford (1767- 1839) after Margaret (Peggy) died, Miles married Evaline they had: