George Durant Family
From History of Perquimans County by Ellen Goode Rawlings Winslow.
Published 1931.
Of George Durant very little is known before his arrival in Perq Co, but
it is an undisputed fact that he landed in Va before 1658. He made
deposition in Northumberland Co Va, July 1658, that he “came to Virginia
in the ship Potomack, age 25 years.” As this book is very much faded with
age, all of this statement can not be deciphered. (Northumberland Co
record, 1658-66. Archives Richmond Va.) In Berkeley Parish Reg Perq Co,
his marriage is given as follows: “George Durant and Ann Moorwood was
Married the 4th of January 1658/9, By Mr David Lindsey, Minister of gospel
and was Licensed by Mr George Cowbough Magistrate, in Northumberland
County Verginia.”
He had several grants for land in Va. prior to coming to N. C. One of
these 400a in Lower Norfolk Co, on East side of North River, Sept 30,
1670, by Sir William Berkeley, for trans’ fourteen persons, and another
grant by same authority, on same date, 700a on East side of North River,
“which falleth in to Corotock” adj Thomas Tullies land, in what is now
Currituck Co N. C. Prior to this date he had taken up land in Perq Co, and
was already settled in what is called to this day, “Durants Neck.” This
deed, or grant from the Indian Chief Kilcocanen, King of Yeopim, for all
the land between the River Perquimans, & Roanoke Sound, March 1, 1661,
where he had seated a Plan’ before Aug 4, 1661. In the second conveyance
of the Indian King he spelled his name Cuscutenew, but they are supposed
to be one & the same person, and it was the usual procedure at that time,
to spell a name just as it sounded to the copiest. This deed is found in
Deed book A, No 374, and has as Test’ Thomas Weymouth, & Caleb Calleway.
Thomas Weymouth was a great navigator, and adventurer, sailing with Capt
Pring, and he was among those who started out in 1603, in search of the
ill fated colony on Roanoke Island.
How he came to be in Albemarle at this time is not explained. Caleb
Calleway was of course already settled in the Province. This deed of the
Indian King to sd Durant, is the oldest recorded document in North
Carolina. If there were older records they were all destroyed in the
uprising of 1677/79. Fifty-five years elapsed between the making of the
deed by King Cuscutenew, and its recording on the books in the Reg Office,
which was done by John Stepney “Reg of all writings for Perq Precinct” Oct
24, 1716 George Durants Plan’ was known by the name of “Wicocombe” and was
situated between “two Rivers, Perquimans, & Kototine” (Little River).
According to the record George Durant seems to have been a fair minded
man, and quite honest in his dealings with both the Indian Chief, and
George Catchminy, who set up a counter claim for said land, claiming a
prior right, by a grt from Sir William Berkeley, therefore Mr. Durant,
“who had cleared a small Peice of Ground,” at once “desisted” on hearing
the contention of sd Catchmaid, who on Mar 13, 1662 made a bona fide deed
to sd Durant for the disputed land. Later the Lords Pro’ made a secure
deed to Mr. Durant for this land, Dec 26, 1673. No man with the exception
of Timothy Clare, is more often, or more honorably mentioned in Perq. He
stand out, virile, hardy, opinionated, with a following of all faiths, and
from the records died much respected in the community. Some have classed
him as a Quaker, but the records do not verify that fact. He was certainly
married by an Episcopal Minister (Rev David Lindsey) and his children all
but one (Deborah) m into Episcopal families. Not once is his name
mentioned in the Quaker records, nor are the ages of any of his children
recorded there. It is the opinion of many that he was a Scotchman, and
therefore of Presbyterian faith, but his Church affiliations in Perq are
uncertain. From the records he appears to have come from London to
America. Exactly where this renowned man lies buried is shrouded in
mystery. It is said his grave was once to be seen on the bank of a large
drain, in Durants Neck, and that in cutting out the ditch, mud from the
bottom was thrown out over it, until it disappeared. In the will of
William Sherrell, Perq Co, George Durant’s place of residence is named as
“Berty Point,” and the deeds in Perq speak of his “seating” being on a
“Point which divides sd land from a Neck called Langleys.” His house has
long ago disappeared, and even the location is now in doubt. There can be
small doubt, however, about its being in the lower part of Durants Neck
somewhere near the village of Little River. (See N. C. Hist & Gen Reg, for
this family.)
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