Earliest Terry’s in Wake County

In 1790, there are two Terry family listed in the census. John Terry Is listed with three sons less than sixteen years old and two females (one probably his wife). In 1794, John has 200 acres of land in Captain Lane’s District.

In 1800, there are two John Terry families. The first is older, about 45 years old, since he is listed as older than 45, but his wife is listed as between 26 and 45. This would put his year of birth around 1755. John lives with five males, three less than 10 years old, and two between ten and sixteen. He also lives with two females less than ten years old, one between 16 and 26, and one between 26 and 45 (probably his wife, listed above).

The other John Terry is between 26 and 45, with a female between 16 and 26. This suggests that John is about 26, as is his wife. They live with one male and two females less than ten years old. This John could be the son of the older John, if he were about 16 in 1790 and 26 years old in 1800. This would put John’s year of birth to be 1774, and make the older John about 19 years old when this John was born (if he were indeed his father).

The third Terry family in Wake County is headed by William. He and his wife are both between 16 and 26 years old. They have no children. In 1803 and 1805, William is listed in tax records in the Newlight District, which is in the northern part of the county, near Granville County. He has no land, but does have a free poll and a black poll. This means that he is at least 21 years old in 1803, consistent with the census data above. If he were about 20 years old in 1800, then he would have been born about 1780.

It is not clear from the evidence, but John and William could be the sons of the older John. The older John is listed in later tax records (1809) in the Mark’s Creek District, which is in the eastern part of the county. William is listed with 100 acres in the St. Lukes District. The younger John is living in the City of Raleigh on lot #79. Geography does not seem to connect these three families.

Court records mention John Terry, wife Priscilla, and son Stephen Terry in 1804. In 1807, another court record mentions Stephen and wife Mary. Since the younger John is too young to have a grown son, this is likely the older John Terry. Stephen appears to be one of the two males 10-16 in 1800. Perhaps Stephen moves away from Wake County, settling elsewhere.

Unfortunately, the 1810 and 1820 censuses for Wake County are missing. Tax records provide the clearest picture of what is happening with these three Terry families. After 1809, the older John is missing from the tax records. In 1811, one of the John Terry’s marries Hannah Footman Harrison. Other researchers then put this family into South Carolina. The 1820 census in Lancaster County, SC lists Hannah and the children.

The younger John Terry (the one living in the City of Raleigh) moves in 1811 from lot #79 to lots #1 and #2. I believe I saw a reference that said the lots were originally purchased by a “Mrs. Terry” in 1792, when the City was formed. Who this Mrs. Terry is, is still a mystery as she does not pay taxes on the land. For the next four years John is listed as owning lots 1 and 2. In 1812, William Terry (another William Terry) begins to be listed in the City of Raleigh and is even referred to in the tax records as “son of John”. This William Terry continues ownership of the lots 1 and 2 through 1832.

This William is believed to be William the shoemaker, age 62 in the 1850 census. His year of birth would be 1788 and he would be about the right age to be the son less than ten years old in 1800. If John were 18 when William were born, then his year of birth would be about 1770. This would make him a few years too old to be the son of the older John, born about 1755. There is some variance in age and years of birth, particularly during this time, so it is still possible, but perhaps improbable. Details on this family are listed with the genealogy of John Terry (b. abt 1770).

Moving on to William Terry, William Terry is listed with land through 1823. The district changes to House’s Creek in 1815 and to Fishdam in 1823. House’s Creek is in the northern part of the county, near Newlight. Most of Fishdam District today lies in Durham County, moved when Durham County was created. The change may be due to a change in boundaries rather than the changing of property, or perhaps with different tax collectors.

In 1824, Josiah is listed with land in Fishdam, but William is missing. It is therefore quite probable that William died and Josiah inherited his father’s land, or at least Josiah became the head of household there. Josiah was born about 1800 and could be the son of William. Josiah would not have been listed in 1800, if he were born later that year. He would have been listed in 1810 and 1820, if these censuses existed. Tax listings for Josiah are missing until 1831, where Josiah is listed as Joseph. Census data and marriage licenses suggest that he often when by the name Joe. In 1840 there is a mention of a WA Tate paying taxes in the Fishdam district for the “Terry tract”. Not sure what that means.

Josiah’s descendents are listed in the file marked Josiah Terry (b abt 1800). This is family from which this author comes from.

Land purchases provide additional evidence to parentage and location, but many of the land books burned. Books A-E, I, J, and L-P were destroyed. The register of deeds ran a store in Raleigh. He kept the books there, since it was far more convenient than having to travel to the office to make entries. A dishonest employee stole some items from the store and burned the store to hide the crimes. The real crime is that many of the irreplaceable books were destroyed,

James Terry appears in the 1830 and 1840 censuses, living in the City of Raleigh. His occupation is listed in 1850 as shoemaker, just as William is. William and James are both living in Raleigh, and are listed in households 338 and 383 in 1850, respectively. Tax records also record that James lived in the City of Raleigh. In 1860, they are listed on the same page almost adjacently (William Terry and James’ widow Martha). It is therefore postulated that James and William are brothers. James would not show up on the 1801 census, having been born in 1801.

James W Terry appears on the census records in 1840 and 1850. They lived in the “Western Division” of Wake County. His widow continues to be listed in the 1860 census, but this time in the City of Raleigh (did she move, or did the City grow out?). His family is listed as James W Terry (b. 1810).

Other Terry’s show up sporadically in the records, even though they do not appear in census records. There is a Nathan Terry that appears in 1815 and pays one poll tax – but owns no land. He doesn’t appear in any other records.