Joseph Furr^[1]

Bef 1751 -

• Name	Joseph Furr
  Birth	Bef 1751
  Gender	Male
  Notes	1772, May 16 -- Civil Actions, Cumberland County, NC Phillip Alston claimed that James Collins has taken up a stray mare owned by Alston. Elisha Hunter summons Alston and Collins to appear. Conner Dowd is security for Collins. Wm. Seale, James Muse, William Harden, John May, Josep Furr, Charles Shearin, Clem Hancock, Willis Dickerson, John Carrell, Starlin Carrell, James Phillips, James Russell and Phillip Colling are also listed. Unclear if they were witnesses, jury or other. 1777 -- Tax List, Cumberland County, NC Joseph Furr listed $100 of taxable property in Captain Jacob Duckworth's District 1778 -- Tax List, Cumberland County, NC Joseph Furr listed $100 of taxable property in Captain Duckworth's District 1779 -- Tax List, Cumberland County, NC Joseph Furr listed $260 of taxable property in Captain Duckworth's District 1780 -- Tax List, Cumberland County, NC Joseph Furr listed $155 of taxable property (horses, cattle and money) in Captain Duckworth's District 1783 -- Tax List, Cumberland County, NC J. Furr listed $23 in Captain John Hunnicut's District 1790 -- Census, Moore County, NC Page 163 Joseph Furr (16+) 1M (0-16) 4M 3F 1792, May 22 -- 1784-1795 Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Moore County, NC Page 348 John Burgwin v. Joseph Furr 1793, May 21 -- 1784-1795 Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Moore County, NC Page 397 Joseph Furr listed as being exempt from poll Tax in 1792. [could indicate advanced age or that he no longer lived in the county or double charged from the prior year] ----------------------------------------------------------- Longtime Fair/Farr researcher Roy V. Fair believes that Joseph Furr migrated to Burke County, NC by 1800. 1800 -- Census, Burke County, NC Page 746 Joseph Farr (45+) 1M (26-45) 1F (16-25) 1M (10-16) 1M (0-10) 2M 1F 1810 -- Census, Burke County, NC Page 320 Joseph Firr (45+) 1M 1F (10-16) 1M 1F (0-10) 2M 1818, May 27 -- Will, Burke County, NC Will of Joseph Fair, Dec'd. Heirs: wife Nancy, son William Fair, son Elijah Fair, daughter Betsey, daughter Polly. Executor: son William Fair. Witnesses: Joseph Puett Junr. and Amstead Puett. Proven Jul 1818. Additional comments from Roy V. Fair: Joseph Fair Senior and Elizabeth Nancy Choate Fair had known children in order: Joseph Fair, Sherwood Fair, William Fair, Elizabeth Fair, Polly Fair, Elijah Fair and perhaps Tempy Fair. The family lived on Abingdon Fork of Lower Creek between Lenoir and Collettsville, NC. Joseph Farr/Fair, (Jr.), oldest son of Joseph Fair, Sr. and likely mother Elizabeth Nancy Choate of 1800 Burke County, NC. The 1860 Caldwell County, NC census reflects his birth as 1777 in Chatham County, NC. He married Mary "Polly" Morgan on January 29, 1803 in Wilkes County, NC. They also named their first son Joseph (designated as III) which establishes a "Joseph" first name naming pattern. There is also a further Choate family connection to this Farr/Fair family which goes back beyond 1750 in Lunenburg County, VA where we find a Joseph Farr (designated the Elder) living in proximity to the Christopher Choate family who had a daughter named Mary whom Joseph (Elder) likely married and had a son Joseph (Sr.) ca 1846. This family moved on to Granville County, NC ca 1754 (along with a Sabret Choate) and thence to Bute County, NC where Joseph (Elder) died in 1765. Mary Farr and son Joseph, closed out the Elder's estate and by 1777, a Joseph Farr (Sr.) had moved westward to Cumberland County, NC where he is reflected on the Tax List living in close proximity to the contiguous Chatham County, NC line where Joseph Farr/Fair was born in 1777. From there, we find Joseph (Sr.) in 1790 Moore County, NC before moving on to Burke County by 1800 where he died in 1818. His written will clearly spells the name FAIR though he could neither read nor write. Most future lines from this family emerged with the Fair surname. He may have had an earlier wife before Nancy Choate though there is no evidence found that supports this. Regarding Joseph (III), there is substantial evidence he and brothers Sherwood and David migrated westward to Carter County, TN by 1850 where the surname became Fair and has propagated there. The fourth brother, Ambrose, moved to Haywood County, NC and is recorded as a Fair. Joseph Fair and wife Nancy Choate first show up in the Burke census of 1800. They lived in the Lower Creek /Johns River area of today's Caldwell County, NC. Joseph may have had an earlier wife based on the age disparities reflected in that 1800 household. His first son was also Joseph who was born about 1777 in Chatham County, NC. He first shows up in the 1830 Burke census and died in 1860 in what is now Caldwell County. His second son was Sherwood/Sharred was born about 1787 and first appears in the 1820 Burke census but has moved on to Carter County, TN by 1830 and lost after that. His third child was William Fair/Farr who was born around 1795 in Burke and later moved to KY and then Morgan County, TN. His fourth child was Elizabeth Fair born about 1797 in Burke (more below). The fifth child was Elijah (B: 1800) who also shows up in the 1820 Burke census. The next was Polly, born about 1802 (limited info) and there is some evidence there was a possible daughter, Tempy (Furr), born about this same time (limited info). The final child was Archibald Fair, (MY G/G/GF) born about 1812
  Person ID	I36256	Moore County Wallaces
  Last Modified	20 Aug 2020

  
  

• Histories » Slide Show		1777 Tax List, Cumberland County, NC [Captain John Cox and Captain Jacob Duckworth's Military Districts only] Captain Cox and Captain Duckworth's Military District encompass present day upper Moore County [see attached map]. Courtesy of the NC Archives. Map courtesy of the Cumberland County Genealogical Society.
  		1778 Tax List, Cumberland County, NC [Captain John Cox and Captain Jacob Duckworth's Military Districts only] Captain Cox and Captain Duckworth's Military District encompass present day upper Moore County [see attached map]. Courtesy of the NC Archives. Map courtesy of the Cumberland County Genealogical Society.
  		1780 Tax List, Cumberland County, NC [Captain John Cox and Captain Jacob Duckworth's Military Districts only] Captain Cox and Captain Duckworth's Military District encompass present day upper Moore County [see attached map]. Courtesy of the NC Archives. Map courtesy of the Cumberland County Genealogical Society.
  		Furr Family of Moore County, NC - Miscellaneous Records The enclosed is a timeline and accounting of early Furr references in Moore County and Cumberland County.
  		1784 Petition, Cumberland County, NC - Creation of Moore County Apr 1784 - Jun 1784 General Assembly Session Records, Box 3 Folder 41 A Bill for dividing Cumberland County into two distinct Counties and for the other purposes therein mentioned. In H. Commons 3 May 1785. Read for the first time and passed by order. 13 May 1784 read the second time amended and passed. In Senate May 3rd 1784. Read the first time and passed by order. 4th May 1784 read the second time amended by consent of the Commons passed and order to be engrossed. To the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina now setting. The petition pf the Inhabitants of Cumberland County have now showeth. Whereas your petitioners living in the Upper End of the said County do labour under great hardship in attending on Courts and Other Public meetings from their remote situation from the Court House, many of whom being upwards of sixty miles there from, do Humbly pray that the said County may be Divided To Wit: Beginning on the South Side of Cape Fare River, at Chatham County line where it crosses sd. River running from thence a direct course to Coles Bridge on Drowning Creek, And so to be bounded by the lines of the Adjacent Countys as to make a Distinct County, Nevertheless on to the Boundaries your petitioners most Humbly Submiths to your great Wisdom to which they ever think themselves in duty bound to pray. Jas. Burges, Thos. Armstrong, James Dyer, Wm. Armstrong, John Armstrong, Michl. King, Charles Crawford [Capt.], Wm. Cox [Capt.], Wm. Seale, John Overton, John Overton Junr., John Phillips, Wm. Harden, John James, Elijah Bettis, Isaac Hardain, Joseph Furr, Nathl. Norwood, [torn] Hunnicutt, [torn] Dickinson, [torn] Collins, Theopilus Petty, John Hunnicutt, James Maples, Burrel Maples, Daniel Munk, Thos. Collins Jur., Ralph Davis, John Goldston, Martin Dye, Stephen Collons, George Nelson, Abraham Cole, Duncan Johnson, John Camron, Kenneth Camron, Archibald Munk, Thos. Gilmore, Kinchin Kitching, Stephen King [? very faded], Josiah Maples, Matthew Kitching, John Evans, William Kitching, John Cox, Joseph Fry, Johnathan Caddell, Richardson Feagin, John Jackson, Neil McLeod, Danl. Jones, Solomon Cox, James Wadsworth, James Hill, Jac. Caddell, Donald Makensey, George Grimes, Thomas Graham, John Ritter, Jacob Stuts, John Stuts, Eleck Autry, Frederick Autry, John Minyerd, Ritcherd Burd, Robert Burd, James Autray, Christopher Yow, John Leech, Angush Cambell, William Barrett Junior, Colin McLain, John Shufeild Junier, John Hair, Reubin Fremon, William Elmore, James Morgan, Peter (looks more like Frances) Hair, Lues Fels [Lewis Fields?], Donald McLeod, Norman McLeod, Normand McLean, Hector McLain, John Bohanan, Kenneth McDonald, Wm. Cox, Danold McKinnon [?], William Dunn, Thomas Dunn, John Keys, Moses Keyes, William [torn], Henry [torn], Bartholomew Dunn [torn but listed twice in a row ? likely Sr. and Jr.], Allan [torn ? likely Morrison], Norman [torn], Hart. Hunnicutt, John Dunlap, Benjamin Sheales, John Blanchet, William Dunn, Adam Keeling, John Blachett Junr., Robt. Davis, Willm. Martin Junr., Thos Tyson, John Carrell, Anthony Street, James Thorton, Charles Seale, Collins Hardy, Jacob Hardy, Jun., John Kenney, William Cockerham, Solomon Jones, Jacob Hardy, John Hunnicutt Ser., Thos. Maples, Jeremiah Collon, Thos. Agerton, Wm. McKinzie, Wm. Hodges, Edmon Hodges, Joseph Duckworth, Charles Campbell, Drurey Hodges, Anguish McDugal, Jason Wadsworth, James Morgin, James Caddell, Aaron Fagens, John Paitt, James Wadworth, James Muse, Duncan McIntosh, Alexr. McDonald, Anthony Mears, James Simmons, Jhon Warner, Jesse Muse, John Hurley, Thomas Seale, William Morgan, John Morgin, William Morgan Senr., Jesse Ritter, Robert Stephens, Samuel Tidwell, Ansil Melton, Nathaniel Melton, John Adkins, William Barrett, Solomon Barrett, Archibald McDonald, William Ashaly, [Jesse?] Bates, William Smith, John McLane, Richard [Nales?], Peter Shamburger, Wm. McLean, Thomas Grimes, Donald McLeod, Allan Martin, Donald McDonald, Donald McLeod, Murdock Betheun, Alexender Mckeever, John McCauly, Angush McAuly, John Kagel, Gorge Kagel, Nathan Maner, William Maner, Seth Maner, George Keringer, William Williamson, John Williamson, Robert Grimes, Nichlos Newton, Francis Tedwell, Samuel Barrett, William Smith, Nichlos Wallas, Lannard Furr, Nathan Smith, Everet Smith, Isum Smith, Henry Jackson, James Ledlow, Adam Comer, Leonard Cagel, Roger Cagel, William Constable and Peter Garner. [Editor's Note: Many of the names are faded, torn and hard to read. Some are actual signatures or marks and clearly multiple names have been signed by one individual] A Bill for dividing Cumberland County into two distinct Counties. Whereas the County of Cumberland is so extensive that it is extremely inconvenient for the inhabitants to attends courts and public meetings. Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same that from and after fourth day of July next the County of Cumberland shall be divided into two distinct Counties by a line beginning at Coles Bridge on drowning creek thence a direct line to the corner of Wake and Johnston Counties in Cumberland line and all that part of Cumberland laying to the north west of the new line shall be a separate and distinct county by the name of Moor County and [be it enacted by the authority afore said] hat the lower part of Cumberland County laying south east of said line shall be a separate and distinct county and known by the name of Fayette County and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid that nothing herein contained shall be construed to debar the sheriff and Collector of taxes or other officers or any of them in the said county of Cumberland as it stood undivided from levying any collections or making districts for any taxes fees or other duties that may be due from the inhabitants thereof on or before the fourth day of July next in the same manner as if this act had never been made any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. And be enacted by the authority aforesaid that the Courts for the County of Fayette be held at the place where the courts of Cumberland County are at present established on the fourth Monday in January April July and October in every year and that the Courts for the County of Moore hereafter shall be held at such place within the said County as the Commissioner herein after named shall appoint on the fourth Monday in February May August November in every year and that all causes please writs actions suits plaints process precepts recognizances and other matters and things in the Court of Cumberland depending from and immediately after the first day of August next shall stand adjourned and continued from the present Court House of the said County to such place as the said Commissioners or a majority of them shall direct and appoint as aforesaid and all appearances and returns which shall be made on the days appointed by law for holding in the said court of Cumberland shall hereafter be made to the first Court that shall be held for that county wherein the cause of action arose and all suitors and witnesses bound to appear there of in the same manner as if the said court had not been removed from the present Court House any law usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. And be it also enacted by the authority aforesaid that Thomas Matthews, John Roberson, Willis Dickerson, Philip Alston and John Jackson or the majority of them shall be and hereby appointed Commissioner and impowered and directed to agree with workmen for erecting and building a Courthouse prison and stocks for the use of said County of Moor and for purchasing materials for that purpose and for enabling the said Commissioners to defray the expenses of said building a tax of one Shilling on every hundred pounds of taxable property within the said County of Moor as the same is established by this act and an equal sum on every unmarried man not possessed of the value of one Hundred pounds shall be levied and collected in the same manner as public taxes are or shall be levied and collected and all person who shall refuse or neglect to pay the taxes, by this Act impose upon them at the time and in the manner which is or shall be appointed by law for the payment of public taxes shall be liable to disthis [?] and sale of their property in the same manner as for non payment of public taxes and it is further declared that the said tax shall be collected by the officer or officers who is or may be appointed to collect the public taxes and such officer or officers shall give security to the said Commissioners for the faithfull discharge of his or their duty and shall be intitled to the same Commissions and liable to the same penalties restrictions process and remedy for enforcing the payment thereof as by law my be had against collectors or receivers of public monies. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that the County Courts of Moore and Fayette shall nominate the following number of freeholders to serve as jurors of the Superior County for the District of Wilmington of which district the said Counties are hereby declared to be part that is to say for County of Boston [should be Moore] and for the County of Fayette any law or statute to the contrary notwithstanding and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that for running the dividing line Thomas Matthews & Jno Adkins be and they are duly appointed commissioners and imposed to lay off run and make the said dividing line agreeable to the direction of this act which said line when run by the Commissioners herein named shall be by them entered of record in the courts of the counties of which the said lines to be boundary and shall hereafter be deemed the dividing line between said counties.

  
  

• Sources

  [S159] Roy V. Fair [royvfair@bellsouth.net]. Longtime Fair/Farr researcher Roy V. Fair believes that Joseph Furr migrated to Burke County, NC by 1800. 1800 -- Census, Burke County, NC Page 746 Joseph Farr (45+) 1M (26-45) 1F (16-25) 1M (10-16) 1M (0-10) 2M 1F 1810 -- Census, Burke County, NC Page 320 Joseph Firr (45+) 1M 1F (10-16) 1M 1F (0-10) 2M 1818, May 27 -- Will, Burke County, NC Will of Joseph Fair, Dec'd. Heirs: wife Nancy, son William Fair, son Elijah Fair, daughter Betsey, daughter Polly. Executor: son William Fair. Witnesses: Joseph Puett Junr. and Amstead Puett. Proven Jul 1818. Additional comments from Roy V. Fair: Joseph Fair Senior and Elizabeth Nancy Choate Fair had known children in order: Joseph Fair, Sherwood Fair, William Fair, Elizabeth Fair, Polly Fair, Elijah Fair and perhaps Tempy Fair. The family lived on Abingdon Fork of Lower Creek between Lenoir and Collettsville, NC. Joseph Farr/Fair, (Jr.), oldest son of Joseph Fair, Sr. and likely mother Elizabeth Nancy Choate of 1800 Burke County, NC. The 1860 Caldwell County, NC census reflects his birth as 1777 in Chatham County, NC. He married Mary "Polly" Morgan on January 29, 1803 in Wilkes County, NC. They also named their first son Joseph (designated as III) which establishes a "Joseph" first name naming pattern. There is also a further Choate family connection to this Farr/Fair family which goes back beyond 1750 in Lunenburg County, VA where we find a Joseph Farr (designated the Elder) living in proximity to the Christopher Choate family who had a daughter named Mary whom Joseph (Elder) likely married and had a son Joseph (Sr.) ca 1846. This family moved on to Granville County, NC ca 1754 (along with a Sabret Choate) and thence to Bute County, NC where Joseph (Elder) died in 1765. Mary Farr and son Joseph, closed out the Elder's estate and by 1777, a Joseph Farr (Sr.) had moved westward to Cumberland County, NC where he is reflected on the Tax List living in close proximity to the contiguous Chatham County, NC line where Joseph Farr/Fair was born in 1777. From there, we find Joseph (Sr.) in 1790 Moore County, NC before moving on to Burke County by 1800 where he died in 1818. His written will clearly spells the name FAIR though he could neither read nor write. Most future lines from this family emerged with the Fair surname. He may have had an earlier wife before Nancy Choate though there is no evidence found that supports this. Regarding Joseph (III), there is substantial evidence he and brothers Sherwood and David migrated westward to Carter County, TN by 1850 where the surname became Fair and has propagated there. The fourth brother, Ambrose, moved to Haywood County, NC and is recorded as a Fair. Joseph Fair and wife Nancy Choate first show up in the Burke census of 1800. They lived in the Lower Creek /Johns River area of today's Caldwell County, NC. Joseph may have had an earlier wife based on the age disparities reflected in that 1800 household. His first son was also Joseph who was born about 1777 in Chatham County, NC. He first shows up in the 1830 Burke census and died in 1860 in what is now Caldwell County. His second son was Sherwood/Sharred was born about 1787 and first appears in the 1820 Burke census but has moved on to Carter County, TN by 1830 and lost after that. His third child was William Fair/Farr who was born around 1795 in Burke and later moved to KY and then Morgan County, TN. His fourth child was Elizabeth Fair born about 1797 in Burke (more below). The fifth child was Elijah (B: 1800) who also shows up in the 1820 Burke census. The next was Polly, born about 1802 (limited info) and there is some evidence there was a possible daughter, Tempy (Furr), born about this same time (limited info). The final child was Archibald Fair, (MY G/G/GF) born about 1812