Re: Etheldred Warren and Amy Bonner of Pitt or Edgecombe Co

The "Samuel Warren, son of Etheldred Warren" mentioned in the 1805 will of Samuel Warren is a legatee of the will.It does not refer to the testator Samuel Warren himself."Samuel Warren, son of Etheldred Warren" appears to possibly be a grandson of the elder Samuel Warren, and was probably a minor receiving an interest in one hundred acres which was part of two hundred acres on which his great-grandmother Amy Bonner was then residing.His father Etheldred Warren was one of the witnesses to the 1805 will.Below is a verbatim transcription of the 1805 will of Samuel Warren.

John A. Cobb Papers, P.C. 145.1, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC.

The Last Will & Testament of Samuel Warren Decd.

In the name of God Amen I Samuel Warren of the County of Pitt and State of North Carolina being very sick but thank God of undisturbed mind and memory doth this 16th day of March 1805 make and ordain the following to be my last Will and Testament & first I give and bequeath unto Samuel Warren son of Etheldred Warren after the decease of my Mother Amy Bonner one hundred acres of land to be laid off at the upper end of the two hundred acres that my Mother Amy Bonner now lives on adjoining John Warrens land so as not to take any of the buildings to him and his heirs for ever in fee.Secondly I give and bequeath after my decease unto my beloved wife Rhoda Warren all the rest of my Estate both Real and personal after paying my just debts to her and her heirs forever.Thirdly and lastly I choose constitute and appoint my beloved wife Rhoda Warren and my trusty friend Isaac Brown Executrix and Executor to this my last Will and Testament revokeing all other Wills and Testaments by me heretofore written or made.In Witness whereof I the said Samuel Warren hath hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and date first above written.

Samuel (x) Warren

Signed Sealed and                     
Acknowledged in presence of
Allen Atkinson
Etheldred Warren
Mary Ann Atkinson

State of North Carolina
Pitt County
I do hereby certify that the within copy is true as will show in the county clerks office Pitt County.Given under my hand and seal at office July 11th 1851.

Attest H. Sheppard Clk
By J. C. Albritton D.C.



The Edgecombe County, NC estate papers of Samuel Warren (1806) show that Benjamin Atkinson sued John Wilkinson and Rhoda Wilkinson, executors of Samuel Warren, decd., for a debt. [Estate Papers of Samuel Warren (1806), Edgecombe County, NC Estate Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC].This document shows that Samuel Warren's widow Rhoda remarried John Wilkinson of Edgecombe County.Rhoda Wilkinson was a daughter of Levi Cherry, as shown by her father's estate papers.Her children, namely Levi Wilkinson, Sarah Wilkinson, Joshua Wilkinson, John Wilkinson, and Belinda Wilkinson, were listed as heirs of Levi Cherry in a November, 1825 land partition proceeding, and were all minors under the age of 21 years at that time. [Estate Papers of Levi Cherry (1823),Edgecombe County, NC Estate Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC].

These same heirs of John and Rhoda Wilkinson petitioned to sell the lands partitioned to them from the estate of their grandfather Levi Cherry in 1828 [Estate Papers of John and Rhoda Wilkinson (1828); Edgecombe County, NC Estate Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC].


The John A. Cobb Papers [PC 145.1, State Archives of North Carolina] also contain a deed dated November 11, 1835 in which Samuel Warren of Pitt County, NC conveyed to Ollen Cobb of the same, for $355, 96 1/4 acres in Pitt County (Proven May Term, 1836).The land is described as adjoining John Warren, and is probably identical with the 100 acres which "Samuel Warren, son of Etheldred Warren" was bequeathed in the 1805 will of Samuel Warren.

The 1830 Census of Pitt County, NC (Stancils District, p. 70) shows Samuel Warren with 1 male 30-40 (1790-1800), 1 female 20-30 (1800-1810), and 1 female 0-5 (1825-1830).

The 1840 Census of Edgecombe County, NC (District 11, p. 38) shows Samuel Warren with 1 male 30-40 (1800-1810), 1 female 30-40 (1800-1810), 1 female 10-15 (1825-1830), 2 males 5-10 (1830-1835), 1 male 0-5 (1835-1840), and 1 female 0-5 (1835-1840).

In 1850, he was listed as Sam Warren in Edgecombe County, NC (p. 135, Household # 676):

Sam Warren 49 (1801) M Farmer NC
Zilpha 42 (1808) FNC
E.A. 21 (1829) F NC
Alford 18 (1832) MFarmer NC
Henry 18? (1832) M NC
Aner (Anna) 13 (1837) F NC
Jas. 9 (1841) M NC
George 6 (1844) M NC
Ginne A. 4 (1846) F NC

Samuel Warren died intestate in Edgecombe County, NC before August, 1857, as shown by his estate papers. His widow Zilpha received her dower in October, 1857, and her year's support in December, 1857. [Estate of Samuel Warren (1857), Edgecombe County, NC Estate Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC].

On the 1860 census, Zilpha Warren was listed as a widow in Edgecombe County, NC (p. 260, Household # 1212/1132):

Zilpha Warren 50 (1810) F Farmer NC
James A. 20 (1840) M NC
George R. 17(1843) M NC