The Boundary Blunder

Did Howell Brewer Sr, son of George Brewer and Sarah Lanier, really move around a lot while in North Carolina? At first glance, it certainly seems that he did, but let's take a closer look.

It is well known that in 1749, soon after his father's death, Howell Sr received a 200 acre land grant in the Deep River area of Bladen County, North Carolina.  Something that is important to consider is that within the boundaries of this county at that time was a very vast region.  It pretty much encompassed most of the western half of North Carolina.  Thus, it would be a mistake to think that he ever lived in present day Bladen County.  

A more accurate portrayal can be determined when one notices that the Deep River flows along part of the present day southern boundary of Chatham County and the northern border of Moore County. With this in mind, it becomes obvious that Howell Brewer Sr originally settled in the same part of North Carolina as the Brewers ended up remaining for generations.  I do not believe that he moved around very much while living in North Carolina.  Many of his relatives also lived along the Haw River, which is just north of the Deep River.  Present day Orange, Chatham, Randolph and Moore Counties were all part of the Brewer family's old stomping grounds beginning in the mid 1700s.  

Orange County was formed from Bladen County in 1752.  Cumberland County was formed from Bladen County in 1754.  That same year Howell Sr received another 200 acres land grant, this time on the northeast side of Deep River.  It appears that this plantation was located in what was then Cumberland and Orange Counties, some of which might have been in what later became Moore County.  

He was found in the Orange County tax records with Henry Brewer in 1755.  Henry was probably his brother, who had received a large land grant in the Chatham section of Orange County and soon obtained a great deal more land in the Haw River area.  

His land holding increased in 1757 when he received 100 acres from John May, presumably as a dowry for marrying the man's daughter.  It is assumed that his original parcel of land on Deep River was the same 200 acres on either side that he sold in 1758.  

By 1759 he was living on the south side of Haw River, possibly on the alleged dowry property or else on his second parcel, the 200 acres that was located on the northeast side of the Deep River.  Note that the latter property, then, was between Deep River and Haw River in Orange (later Chatham) County.  

He sold his Cumberland/Orange County 200 acre parcel to John May in 1767, but was still remaining in Orange County in 1768, as indicated by his being on a petition protesting high recording fees. Also on this petition were Howell Brooer (probably his son, Howell Brewer Jr), Nickless (Nicholas) Brewer (possibly Howell Sr's brother). The following year he sold the 100 acre dowry property.  

In 1771 Guilford County was formed from Rowan and Orange Counties, including the north end of Haw River. Chatham County was formed the same year from the southern portion of Orange County (the same area as Howell had been living for quite some time).  That year he was on a petition with another Howell Brewer (Jr?), Isaac Brewer and Reuben Brewer, to request that the public buildings be moved to a more central location.  Some say that that this petition was for Randolph County, but this county was not yet formed.  However, he may have been living in what became the southeast corner of that county.  

Howell Brewer Sr was in the Chatham County Militia in 1772 with his son, Howell Jr and others of the Brewer family.  In 1779 Randolph County was formed from southern Guilford County and included parts of the Deep and Haw Rivers.  

By 1790, Howell Brewer Sr was living in Randolph County, likely in the southeast portion near where Randolph, Chatham and Moore Counties meet.  Though he remained in close proximity all this time, he may have actually legitimately moved to Randolph County, rather than this particular instance simply being a case of county boundary changes and new county formations, as was the case before.  It is really tough to say for sure without a closer examination of land records and such.  

Suffice it to say that when it is stated that Howell Brewer Sr started out in Bladen County, North Carolina and then moved all over the central part of the state would not be accurate, as far as I can figure.  To simplify, I would feel more comfortable believing that he lived in the Deep and Haw River vicinity during the entire time that he lived in North Carolina, regardless of where the country boundaries were at various times.