The Sons of Stephen Darden & Elizabeth Carr
There is no documentation proving that the Stephen (IV), Jacob, Moses, and Jethro who immigrated to Georgia were the sons of Stephen Darden (III), but there is a strong family tradition that these four men were brothers. We will consider them as the sons of Stephen and Elizabeth Carr Darden until proof to the contrary.
To confuse matters further, we can't be sure which of these "sons" was the father of our Stephen Darden of William's Creek, Georgia. The notes for all known and probable sons have therefore been included, even when information is scanty. We can only hope that time and further research will verify these relationships.
Robert Darden
1 Dec 1740: Robert Darden received a land grant for 77 acres in Nansemond County, VA.[1] As he would have been at least 18 years of age that year, he must have been born before 1722.
14 May 1752: Robert and wife Mary, along with William Vestro, sold 150 acres in a fork of the Blackwater River and Black Creek in Southampton County.[2]
9 Nov 1752: Brothers Jacob, Carr, Moses, and Jethro signed over their interest in 300 acres in Isle of Wight County, part of the 350 acre plantation known as "Southampton", that they had inherited from Stephen Darden.[3]
25 Nov 1755: Robert was a legatee in the will of Giles Smelley of Southampton County.[4] Giles may have been a cousin as Robert's aunt Eleanor Darden had married William Smelley.
3 Jan 1756: He sold 250 acres, part of the "Southampton" tract, to N. and H. Cobb.[5]
Children of Robert and Mary Darden:
Robert Darden
20 Jun 1733: Jacob received a patent for 247 acres on the southwest side of the Blackwater River adjoining T. Bracy and Stephen Darden in Nansemond County, VA.[6] But was this Jacob, Stephen's son - or yet another Jacob? If Stephen and Elizabeth's son, he must have been at least 18 years of age, resulting in a birth year before 1715.
21 Sep 1747: Along with John Marshall and John Everitt, Jacob Darden witnessed the will of Elizabeth Neaville.[7] But again, was this Stephen's son?
9 Nov 1752: He signed a petition deed conveying interest in 300 acres in Isle of Wight County, part of 350 acres of "Southampton", to [brother] Robert Darden. He, along with co-signers [and brothers] Carr, Moses, and Jethro Darden, was said to live in Nansemond County and to have inherited said plantation from Stephen Darden. The remaining 50 acres of the tract were exempted, having been left specifically by Stephen to Jacob.
1754: He apprehended a fugitive slave in Nansemond County.
1 Dec 1763: Jacob and Catherine Darden sold their home place of 187 acres with a grist mill plus 50 acres to John Lawrence. Witnesses: Elizabeth Darden [Jacob's mother], William Murfrey, and John Lawrence Junior. Jacob Darden, uncle to this Jacob, had married Sarah Lawrence, daughter of Samuel Lawrence, before 1730.
20 Oct 1764: Jacob Durdin successfully petitioned in Wilmington for a survey of 325 acres locaterd in Beaufort, NC.[8]
3 Feb 1769: Both Jacob and Catherine were witnesses in court for Thomas and Mary King in Nansemond County.[9]
Children of Jacob Darden: He may've had son named Elias who, as a minor in 1779, purchased a slave from his uncle Stephen Darden in Nansemond County.[10]
9 Oct 1747: Carr witnessed the will of James Garner in Southampton County, VA.[11]
9 Nov 1752: Along with [Carr's brothers] Jacob, Moses, and Jethro Darden, Carr and Ann Darden signed a petition deed conveying their interest in 300 acres of the "Southampton" tract to [his brother] Robert Darden.
Children of Carr and Ann Darden:
Jacob Darden (m. Patience Carr)
Elisha Darden (m. Pherebe _______)
Holland Darden (m. Pherebe _______)
Rhoda Darden
Peggy Darden
Nannie Darden
Carr Darden (m. Susan Marshall)
Are two Pheribes marrying Dardens a mistake?
Moses must have been at least 18 years of age and married when he signed the following petition deed in 1752, resulting in a birth year before 1734.
9 Nov 1752: He and wife Prusanna signed a petition deed conveying his interest in 300 acres in Isle of Wight County, part of 350 acre "Southampton" tract, to [brother] Robert Darden. According to the deed, this tract had been inherited from Stephen Darden. Along with his co-signers, Jacob, Carr, and Jethro Darden, Moses and Prusanna were described as living in Nansemond County.
25 Mar 1762: He received a grant of 269 acres in Nansemond County.[12]
10 Jul 1767: Moses received a grant of 53 acres in Nansemond County.[13]
12 Oct 1769: As an assignee of Robert Williams, he was sued for debt in Southampton County by Lewis Davis.[14]
1770: He reportedly lived 14 miles from the courthouse when he was a witness for William Fisher. His residence was close to William Darden, who testified in the same suit.[15] Was William his son?
Jethro must have been at least 18 years of age when he signed the following petition deed in 1752. This would indicate a birth year before 1734.
9 Nov 1752: He signed a petition deed conveying his interest in 300 acres in Isle of Wight County, part of 350 acre "Southampton" tract inherited from Stephen Darden, to [brother] Robert Darden. Along with his co-signers and brothers, Jacob, Carr, and Moses Darden, he was described as living in Nansemond County.
1757: He reportedly apprehended a fugitive slave, most probably with [brother] Jacob.
1790 Census, Hertford County, NC: Jethro was listed with 11 slaves. Also listed in Hertford were Jet Darden with 7 slaves, Elisha Darden with 9, and a second Elisha Darden with 4.[16]
There is no documentation that Stephen was the son of Stephen (III) and Elizabeth Carr Darden. He was not one of the four co-signers to the partition deed of 9 Nov 1752, but he might have been a minor that year. That he was perhaps referred to as "Junior" does not imply a father-son relationship, since the term was used then to designate Elder from Younger, whatever the relationship.
2 Feb 1769: Stephen Darden Junior brought suit against Moses Butler in Isle of Wight County, VA.[17]
30 Nov 1779: In Southampton county, Stephen Darden "of Nansemond" County sold Elias Darden [Jacob's son] one slave girl named Esther. The sale was witnessed by Elisha and Jacob Darden.[18]
1783 Tax List, Nansemond County, VA: Stephen was listed with 4 whites and 8 blacks.[19] Elizabeth Carr Darden may be living with or near him. An Elizabeth Darden is listed with 5 whites and 13 blacks.
1784 Tax List, Nansemond County, VA: He is shown with 5 whites, 2 dwellings, and 13 other buildings.[20] Also on the List of Elisha Darden was Elizabeth Darden with 5 whites, 0 dwellings, 0 buildings. Was she living with Stephen?
According to Weldon Jelks, Stephen died c. 1784.
Children of Stephen Darden:
Stephen Darden [IV] (c. 1750 - c. 1806; m. Ann/Nancy Ellington c. 1775)
Jacob Darden ( - 1817; m. 1st Luraney Hill, m. 2nd Phoebe Rogers 31 Dec 1807)
Jethro Darden (m. Eleanor Perkins)
If you have material about any individuals included in Nancy's Dead Relatives, can add well-documented family lines, have corrections and/or comments, or wish to establish a link to or from this site, please contact me at nancy@nancysdeadrelatives.com. However, the decision whether or not to include any submitted material is the webmaster's (mine) alone.
Nancy Denty Breidenthal
Any information is only as reliable as its source. Evaluate the following sources accordingly.
[1] Darden, Darden Family History, p. 139
[2] Darden p. 139, from original Book 1, p. 317
[3] Darden, p. 139
[4] Darden, p. 139
[5] Darden, p. 139
[6] Darden, p. 138, from Book 15, p. 73
[7] Isle of Wight Records, p. 130, from original p. 79
[8] Darden, p. 135
[9] Darden, p. 135
[10] Darden, p. 135
[11] Darden, p. 139
[12] Darden, p. 136, from Book 34, p. 1008
[13] Darden, p. 136, from Book 37, p. 76
[14] Darden, p. 136
[15] Darden, p. 136
[16] Darden, p. 136
[17] Darden, p. 135
[18] Darden, p. 135
[19] Genealogical Publishing Company, Heads of Families, First Census of the U.S. 1790, Virginia: Records of the State Enumerations 1783-1785, p. 58