|
15 April 1977
Norman-ORR
The initial research on the line of Robert Sylvester ORR of Opelika, Alabama ( my Grandfather) was done by his wife Alma Moline BISHOP ORR (my Grandmother) and his cousin, Miss Amelia ORR. Much of their information probaly came from personal knowledge, since family tracts were "fresher" at that time.
Around 1925, a report on the family line was done by the Media Research Bureau in Washington D.C.. This report stated the Orginal ancestor of this line to come to America was Humphrey ORR, he settled in Bucks Co., PA ca. 1732. His wife, Elizabeth arrived with him, but it is not conclusive as to whether any of his children came with him at that time. He was a older man, thus dying soon after his arrival in 1736. Soon after, his son, John ORR came to Pennsylvannia from Ireland to settle his father's estate.
John ORR brought with him, his wife, Jane and at least three known children: Thomas, Isabella, and Alexander (from Will of John ORR 1762-PA files) John ORR died in 1762 mentioning his wife and three children by name in his Will. A granddaughter Rebecca is also mentioned. The MRB. Report indicates the above John ORR had a son Robert ORR. Robert was said to have moved to North Carolina and married Susan Buchner. No record of this marriage has been found to date. Robert and Susan ORR had a son William ORR who married Nancy SIMPSON in South Carolina.
It is at this point that discrepancies arose in the MRB. Report. No real documentation came with the report, thus causing doubts as to its authenticity. In tracing the family line from present day, back to South Carolina, conclusive documentation was found. It was discovered that William ORR married Nancy STINSON, not nee SIMPSON. William ORR's father proved by a land deed found in Chester Co. S.C. dated 1787, turned out to be Charles ORR, no Robert ORR. William ORR's mother was Jane HARPER. (Refer to complete Study on Charles ORR).
WE can only conclude that additional research on the Charles ORR line must be done in South Carolina. We have three main possibilities as to where he came from:
1. He arrived in South Carolina directly from Ireland or Scotland
2. He migrated from North Carolina
3. He migrated from Pennslyvannia
4. A remote possibility is that he could have migrated from another state. This is remote due to the saturation of ORR's in N.C. and PA.
5. We now know he probably came from Maryland.
We have a possible clue that Charles ORR might have come from Mecklenburg, N.C. In the Will of James ORR dated 1778, he mentions a son Charles B. ORR. This should be investigated at the North Carolina Archives at Raleigh, N.C. Other clues were found on a Charles ORR who served as a Corporal in the Revoltionary War from Mecklenburg, N.C. It is conclusive that this Charles ORR died the 20th of January 1778 in the Rev. War, (DAR Record), thus not living at the time Charles ORR signed the land deed for his sons in Chester, S.C. in 1787. We do know Charles ORR received two land grants in the Pickney District, S.C. in 1797 and 1799.
Prior to the Revolution, land was granted by Headright. After the Revolution land was granted to anyone who could find vacant land and claim it and have it surveyed, etc. The above are the only clues known at this time for further research on Charles ORR. Mrs. James Crowder, Genealogist in Chester, S.C. believes John ORR "the scholar" and William ORR, dead heir in the 1813 Petition of William ORR, were brothers to Charles ORR.
William ORR, son of Charles ORR mrried Nancy STINSON in Chester S.C. William died there ca. 1814. He left four children: William Harper ORR b. ca. 1809 - no further trace, Daniel Green ORR b. ca. 1810, Mary "Polly" ORR b. ca 1811 - married Peter S. YARBOROUGH and John ORR- Grandfather to Robert Sylvester ORR, migrated into Stewart Co., Ga. and on to Russell Co., Ala.
|
