Tricounty Map – 2 (Philip Jones, Robert Mims, William Ward, Joseph Johnston, Richard Smith)

On 2 July 1767 William Smith of Johnston County deeded 100A to Philip Jones (JoCo E1:244) for 12£ proc. The deed was witnessed by Robert and David Mims.

The following year, in 1768, Philip Jones would become Johnston County Sheriff upon the death of Sheriff John McCullers. Fast forward 4 years later, Philip Jones is removed as Sheriff of Johnston County and his 100A tract on Black Creek is seized. This 100A tract is sold on 28 November 1772 at auction to Robert Mims, who was the highest bidder (JoCo H1:141), for 8£ 13s 6d.

Sam’s Law: Philip Jones’ father James Jones Sr lived to the north northeast (1751 grant of 563A surveyed on 21 April 1749). This is about a 10 mile straight line from Black Creek, estimated in the vicinity where Mahlers Creek runs into Swift Creek. On 22 September 1764 James Jones Sr sold 463A of this tract to Simon Turner (JoCo D1:214). Simon Turner married Nancy Smith who is the daughter of Samuel Smith Sr.

Then just a couple months later on 28 January 1773, Robert Mims sold the 100A to William Ward (JoCo H1:294) for 10£.

Sam’s Law: William Ward served on a committee with Samuel Smith Sr, Samuel Smith Jr, John Smith, Needham Bryan, William Bryan, and Henry Rains. This committee was formed on 12 August 1774 at the Johnston Courthouse and it’s purpose allowed the committee to correspond with the committees of the other counties in the province of North Carolina, when and as often as they shall think convenient. (Colonial and State Records of North Carolina)

A little less than a year later on 1 December 1773 John Smith Sr of Bladen County deeded 386A of his 486A tract to Joseph Johnston (JoCo I1:164) for 100£ proc. The deed was witnessed by Nathan Rowland and William Ward.

Two days later on 3 December 1773 John Smith Sr of Bladen County deeded the remaining 100A of his 486A tract to Richard Smith of Cumberland County (JoCo H1:109) for 7£ 10s proc. The deed was witnessed by Nathan Rowland and William Ward.

Research note: John Smith Sr father of John Smith Jr, namesake of Smithfield, North Carolina did not always live in Johnston County. In the late 1760s he can be found living in Orange County and then he moved to Bladen County in the early 1770s. He lived there until the early 1780s when he then moved to Sullivan County, North Carolina (aka Tennessee).