Name that Smith who lived in Johnston County, North Carolina prior to 1757?

A little recap of history, in 1696 Bath County was created as an original county from the wilderness of  Carolina. By 1705 Bath was divided into three precincts, Wickham, Archdale and Pamptecough. In 1712, Archdale Precinct was renamed to Craven (in honor of the 1^st Earl of Craven – William Craven 1608 – 1697; one of the eight Lords Proprietor of the Province of Carolina). Johnston County was created from part of Craven County in 1746.

It appears that the northern and southern boundaries of Craven County were more distinct around 1741 when Edgecomb was created from Bertie. This is a good indication of the movement of settlers progressing west in to uncharted North Carolina. Most of the early settlement occurred along the coast, around the mid 1700’s, it moved westward.

Researching North Carolina land patents to shine a light on possible Smith’s living on or near the Neuse River in 1757 Johnston County, we must examine patents of Craven and Johnston counties dating more so from 1730 to 1757.

The list of suspects:

Craven: John Smith, Samuel Smith, William Smith (1730 – 1745)

Johnston: John Smith, Aaron Smith, Samuel Smith, Benjamin Smith (1746 – 1757)

In light of previous assumptions that I have, based on research that I have done on my family tree and results from a DNA test, I’m going to start researching Samuel Smith. This is because of some family ties that I’ve realized from Hardy Smith to Samuel Smith and that I have DNA CentiMorgan matches with descendants from the Smith’s and Whitfield’s of Johnston County.

Samuel Smith Sr – Craven County prior to 1746 (Johnston County created)
1741 – 200A (S side of Neuse River)
1744 – 200A (N side of Neuse River; on Far/Fan Branch)
1744 – 100A (S side of Neuse River)
1744 – 200A (Both sides Swift Creek about 3 miles above Green’s Path)
1745 – 250A (N side of south prong of Swift Creek
1745 – 200A (N side of swift creek joining another of his surveys)

Samuel Smith Sr – Johnston County prior to 1757 (proposed birth of Hardy Smith)
1753 – 140A (Beginning at a red oak)
1755 – 180A (Beginning at a pine)
1756 – 671A (Beginning at Samuel Smith’s corner)
1756 – 250A (Beginning at a red oak)
1756 – 350A (N side of Buffelow Creek)
1756 – 220A (Beginning at a red oak)