** FOUNDER PRESENT DAY ROXOBEL, BERTIE CO NC **
William Britton was born 1785 in Chesterfield County, VA, son of John Britton (1761-1815) and Martha Eames (1759). On November 10, 1806, 21-year old William married 20-year old PAMELIA KING WELLS, daughter of Isham & Pamelia Wells of Chesterfield County. (She has also been found as Permilia.)
By about 1815 the couple removed to Bertie County, NC where William established a General Store that operated near present-day Roxobel. The Brittan store was next to a major crossroads that ran from Petersburg, VA to the Roanoke River (just south of Roxobel). Located in Bertie County, Roxobel was settled about 1800. It was first known as Cotten's Cross Roads and Granberrys Cross Roads. Later, it was named for William Britton and his store, which also served as the post office, and called Brittons Cross Roads or Britton's Store. Over time, Britton accumulated a large portion of the area land. His home and store shared a building near the cross roads. Word passed down since then tells us that he gave the building the name of "Liberty Hall."
Mr. John E. Tyler furnished the following interesting account of the Britton's Store postoffice:
"R. H. Barnes, who was postmaster at Britton's Store in 1830, was a man of good standing in his community. He kept a tavern [n]ear the spot where the Masonic Hall now stands at Roxobel. G. Hampton Barnes, the Roxobel poet, is his grandson.
Col. William Britton came to Bertie county from Petersburg, Va. I do not know the date of his coming. He was the owner of considerable property and a very successful merchant and farmer. Probably the first steam engine ever brought to the county belonged to him. The building in which it stood was burned to the ground in 1838. The burning was supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
There was a postoffice in South Carolina called Britton's Neck. The names of the two postoffices being so nearly the same, was the principal reason for changing the name of the postoffice at Britton's Store.
"Col. William Britton highly esteemed a novel by Mrs. Sherwood entitled - "Roxobel-a Village Tale." This caused him to have the name of the postoffice changed to Roxobel."
William and Pamelia were parents to 8 known children:
* Elizabeth Ann Britton (ca. 1807)
* Amanda Emela Britton (1808-1817)
* Harriette V. Britton (c. 1809 - aft 1844)
* Col. Richard Oscar Britton (1810-1859)
* Martha Ellen Britton (ca. 1815-1904)
* William J Britton (1815-1871)
* Stephen Wells Britton (1818-1855)
* Mary Pamelia Britton (1824-1844)
Another child, Harriet V. Britton, has been associated as a daughter of William Britton, but I believe she has been confused with the d/o Capt. Richard Oscar Britton, who has the same name. Harriet V. Britton (1832-1894) married Edward Hubbell Hicks (1826-1887) and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Oxford, Granville Co, NC.
William died in 1844 at age 59. That same year his widow would bury two of their children -- Stephen and Mary Pamelia. After William's death, his widow removed to Petersburg, VA to live near her son Richard Oscar Britton. Pamelia King Wells Britton died in Petersburg in 1859, at age 73. She is buried in Blandford Cemetery. Pamelia's brother Stephen C. Wells (1781-1849)is also buried in Blandford Cemetery.
Daughter, Elizabeth Ann married Dr. Lewis Meridith Jiggetts and is reported to have had 5 children. They removed to Yazoo Co, MS.
Richard Oscar Britton married Margaret Elizabeth "Eliza" Spivy of Bertie County and removed to Petersburg, VA where he died in 1859. They had 7 known children.
Daughter Martha "Ellen" Britton married Lewis Whitmel Thompson (1814-1888) and removed to Canton, Madison Co, MS where he was a wealthy planter. They had 10 known children; and Martha Ellen died in 1904. Two of their children died young and are buried here in Britton Family Cemetery.
William J. Britton maried Frances Annie "Fannie" Johnston (1825-1907), d/o John Taylor Johnston & Margaret Louisa Thompson of Hillsboro, NC, who all removed to Madison Co, MS,w her he was a wealthy planter. Her parents founded Annandale Plantation; and her mother founded Chapel of the Cross Cemetery in honor of her Fannie's father. William and Fannie were parents of 4 known children before his death in 1871.
Stephen Wells Britton removed to Madison Co, MS and married Sue Thomas; parenting two children before his death in 1855.
Mary Parmelia Britton (b. 1824) married Thomas Collins Watson (b. 1813), a planter of some means in Bertie Co, and owner of Elmwood Plantation. Just before the Civil War, Thomas sold his plantation removed the family to Georgia, stating in correspondence, "I have I think fully made up my mind to leave this part of N.C. because we are so near the lines of the enemy that our slave property is constantly escaping to them, and to my great mortification, we have amongst us so many yankee sympathizers that it is impossible to prevent the escape of most of the slaves who attempt. I have already been greatly injured by the loss of my efficient working hands and I am desirous if I can to save a lot I have left." No information was found by this researcher after 1860, when they were still in Bertie County. Some of their children (Joseph, Annie, Mary and Fannie) were found in Starkey Co, MS after the war (1880) and are buried in Mound Cemetery there. One daughter, Sally, married her cousin, Herbert Thompson, s/o of Lewis Whitmel Thompson & Martha Ellen Britton, ans is buried in Canton Cemetery, Madison Co, MS.
William Britton was born 1785 in Chesterfield County, VA, son of John Britton (1761-1815) and Martha Eames (1759). On November 10, 1806, 21-year old William married 20-year old PAMELIA KING WELLS, daughter of Isham & Pamelia Wells of Chesterfield County. (She has also been found as Permilia.)
By about 1815 the couple removed to Bertie County, NC where William established a General Store that operated near present-day Roxobel. The Brittan store was next to a major crossroads that ran from Petersburg, VA to the Roanoke River (just south of Roxobel). Located in Bertie County, Roxobel was settled about 1800. It was first known as Cotten's Cross Roads and Granberrys Cross Roads. Later, it was named for William Britton and his store, which also served as the post office, and called Brittons Cross Roads or Britton's Store. Over time, Britton accumulated a large portion of the area land. His home and store shared a building near the cross roads. Word passed down since then tells us that he gave the building the name of "Liberty Hall."
Mr. John E. Tyler furnished the following interesting account of the Britton's Store postoffice:
"R. H. Barnes, who was postmaster at Britton's Store in 1830, was a man of good standing in his community. He kept a tavern [n]ear the spot where the Masonic Hall now stands at Roxobel. G. Hampton Barnes, the Roxobel poet, is his grandson.
Col. William Britton came to Bertie county from Petersburg, Va. I do not know the date of his coming. He was the owner of considerable property and a very successful merchant and farmer. Probably the first steam engine ever brought to the county belonged to him. The building in which it stood was burned to the ground in 1838. The burning was supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
There was a postoffice in South Carolina called Britton's Neck. The names of the two postoffices being so nearly the same, was the principal reason for changing the name of the postoffice at Britton's Store.
"Col. William Britton highly esteemed a novel by Mrs. Sherwood entitled - "Roxobel-a Village Tale." This caused him to have the name of the postoffice changed to Roxobel."
William and Pamelia were parents to 8 known children:
* Elizabeth Ann Britton (ca. 1807)
* Amanda Emela Britton (1808-1817)
* Harriette V. Britton (c. 1809 - aft 1844)
* Col. Richard Oscar Britton (1810-1859)
* Martha Ellen Britton (ca. 1815-1904)
* William J Britton (1815-1871)
* Stephen Wells Britton (1818-1855)
* Mary Pamelia Britton (1824-1844)
Another child, Harriet V. Britton, has been associated as a daughter of William Britton, but I believe she has been confused with the d/o Capt. Richard Oscar Britton, who has the same name. Harriet V. Britton (1832-1894) married Edward Hubbell Hicks (1826-1887) and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Oxford, Granville Co, NC.
William died in 1844 at age 59. That same year his widow would bury two of their children -- Stephen and Mary Pamelia. After William's death, his widow removed to Petersburg, VA to live near her son Richard Oscar Britton. Pamelia King Wells Britton died in Petersburg in 1859, at age 73. She is buried in Blandford Cemetery. Pamelia's brother Stephen C. Wells (1781-1849)is also buried in Blandford Cemetery.
Daughter, Elizabeth Ann married Dr. Lewis Meridith Jiggetts and is reported to have had 5 children. They removed to Yazoo Co, MS.
Richard Oscar Britton married Margaret Elizabeth "Eliza" Spivy of Bertie County and removed to Petersburg, VA where he died in 1859. They had 7 known children.
Daughter Martha "Ellen" Britton married Lewis Whitmel Thompson (1814-1888) and removed to Canton, Madison Co, MS where he was a wealthy planter. They had 10 known children; and Martha Ellen died in 1904. Two of their children died young and are buried here in Britton Family Cemetery.
William J. Britton maried Frances Annie "Fannie" Johnston (1825-1907), d/o John Taylor Johnston & Margaret Louisa Thompson of Hillsboro, NC, who all removed to Madison Co, MS,w her he was a wealthy planter. Her parents founded Annandale Plantation; and her mother founded Chapel of the Cross Cemetery in honor of her Fannie's father. William and Fannie were parents of 4 known children before his death in 1871.
Stephen Wells Britton removed to Madison Co, MS and married Sue Thomas; parenting two children before his death in 1855.
Mary Parmelia Britton (b. 1824) married Thomas Collins Watson (b. 1813), a planter of some means in Bertie Co, and owner of Elmwood Plantation. Just before the Civil War, Thomas sold his plantation removed the family to Georgia, stating in correspondence, "I have I think fully made up my mind to leave this part of N.C. because we are so near the lines of the enemy that our slave property is constantly escaping to them, and to my great mortification, we have amongst us so many yankee sympathizers that it is impossible to prevent the escape of most of the slaves who attempt. I have already been greatly injured by the loss of my efficient working hands and I am desirous if I can to save a lot I have left." No information was found by this researcher after 1860, when they were still in Bertie County. Some of their children (Joseph, Annie, Mary and Fannie) were found in Starkey Co, MS after the war (1880) and are buried in Mound Cemetery there. One daughter, Sally, married her cousin, Herbert Thompson, s/o of Lewis Whitmel Thompson & Martha Ellen Britton, ans is buried in Canton Cemetery, Madison Co, MS.
** FOUNDER PRESENT DAY ROXOBEL, BERTIE CO NC **
William Britton was born 1785 in Chesterfield County, VA, son of John Britton (1761-1815) and Martha Eames (1759). On November 10, 1806, 21-year old William married 20-year old PAMELIA KING WELLS, daughter of Isham & Pamelia Wells of Chesterfield County. (She has also been found as Permilia.)
By about 1815 the couple removed to Bertie County, NC where William established a General Store that operated near present-day Roxobel. The Brittan store was next to a major crossroads that ran from Petersburg, VA to the Roanoke River (just south of Roxobel). Located in Bertie County, Roxobel was settled about 1800. It was first known as Cotten's Cross Roads and Granberrys Cross Roads. Later, it was named for William Britton and his store, which also served as the post office, and called Brittons Cross Roads or Britton's Store. Over time, Britton accumulated a large portion of the area land. His home and store shared a building near the cross roads. Word passed down since then tells us that he gave the building the name of "Liberty Hall."
Mr. John E. Tyler furnished the following interesting account of the Britton's Store postoffice:
"R. H. Barnes, who was postmaster at Britton's Store in 1830, was a man of good standing in his community. He kept a tavern [n]ear the spot where the Masonic Hall now stands at Roxobel. G. Hampton Barnes, the Roxobel poet, is his grandson.
Col. William Britton came to Bertie county from Petersburg, Va. I do not know the date of his coming. He was the owner of considerable property and a very successful merchant and farmer. Probably the first steam engine ever brought to the county belonged to him. The building in which it stood was burned to the ground in 1838. The burning was supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
There was a postoffice in South Carolina called Britton's Neck. The names of the two postoffices being so nearly the same, was the principal reason for changing the name of the postoffice at Britton's Store.
"Col. William Britton highly esteemed a novel by Mrs. Sherwood entitled - "Roxobel-a Village Tale." This caused him to have the name of the postoffice changed to Roxobel."
William and Pamelia were parents to 8 known children:
* Elizabeth Ann Britton (ca. 1807)
* Amanda Emela Britton (1808-1817)
* Harriette V. Britton (c. 1809 - aft 1844)
* Col. Richard Oscar Britton (1810-1859)
* Martha Ellen Britton (ca. 1815-1904)
* William J Britton (1815-1871)
* Stephen Wells Britton (1818-1855)
* Mary Pamelia Britton (1824-1844)
Another child, Harriet V. Britton, has been associated as a daughter of William Britton, but I believe she has been confused with the d/o Capt. Richard Oscar Britton, who has the same name. Harriet V. Britton (1832-1894) married Edward Hubbell Hicks (1826-1887) and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Oxford, Granville Co, NC.
William died in 1844 at age 59. That same year his widow would bury two of their children -- Stephen and Mary Pamelia. After William's death, his widow removed to Petersburg, VA to live near her son Richard Oscar Britton. Pamelia King Wells Britton died in Petersburg in 1859, at age 73. She is buried in Blandford Cemetery. Pamelia's brother Stephen C. Wells (1781-1849)is also buried in Blandford Cemetery.
Daughter, Elizabeth Ann married Dr. Lewis Meridith Jiggetts and is reported to have had 5 children. They removed to Yazoo Co, MS.
Richard Oscar Britton married Margaret Elizabeth "Eliza" Spivy of Bertie County and removed to Petersburg, VA where he died in 1859. They had 7 known children.
Daughter Martha "Ellen" Britton married Lewis Whitmel Thompson (1814-1888) and removed to Canton, Madison Co, MS where he was a wealthy planter. They had 10 known children; and Martha Ellen died in 1904. Two of their children died young and are buried here in Britton Family Cemetery.
William J. Britton maried Frances Annie "Fannie" Johnston (1825-1907), d/o John Taylor Johnston & Margaret Louisa Thompson of Hillsboro, NC, who all removed to Madison Co, MS,w her he was a wealthy planter. Her parents founded Annandale Plantation; and her mother founded Chapel of the Cross Cemetery in honor of her Fannie's father. William and Fannie were parents of 4 known children before his death in 1871.
Stephen Wells Britton removed to Madison Co, MS and married Sue Thomas; parenting two children before his death in 1855.
Mary Parmelia Britton (b. 1824) married Thomas Collins Watson (b. 1813), a planter of some means in Bertie Co, and owner of Elmwood Plantation. Just before the Civil War, Thomas sold his plantation removed the family to Georgia, stating in correspondence, "I have I think fully made up my mind to leave this part of N.C. because we are so near the lines of the enemy that our slave property is constantly escaping to them, and to my great mortification, we have amongst us so many yankee sympathizers that it is impossible to prevent the escape of most of the slaves who attempt. I have already been greatly injured by the loss of my efficient working hands and I am desirous if I can to save a lot I have left." No information was found by this researcher after 1860, when they were still in Bertie County. Some of their children (Joseph, Annie, Mary and Fannie) were found in Starkey Co, MS after the war (1880) and are buried in Mound Cemetery there. One daughter, Sally, married her cousin, Herbert Thompson, s/o of Lewis Whitmel Thompson & Martha Ellen Britton, ans is buried in Canton Cemetery, Madison Co, MS.
William Britton was born 1785 in Chesterfield County, VA, son of John Britton (1761-1815) and Martha Eames (1759). On November 10, 1806, 21-year old William married 20-year old PAMELIA KING WELLS, daughter of Isham & Pamelia Wells of Chesterfield County. (She has also been found as Permilia.)
By about 1815 the couple removed to Bertie County, NC where William established a General Store that operated near present-day Roxobel. The Brittan store was next to a major crossroads that ran from Petersburg, VA to the Roanoke River (just south of Roxobel). Located in Bertie County, Roxobel was settled about 1800. It was first known as Cotten's Cross Roads and Granberrys Cross Roads. Later, it was named for William Britton and his store, which also served as the post office, and called Brittons Cross Roads or Britton's Store. Over time, Britton accumulated a large portion of the area land. His home and store shared a building near the cross roads. Word passed down since then tells us that he gave the building the name of "Liberty Hall."
Mr. John E. Tyler furnished the following interesting account of the Britton's Store postoffice:
"R. H. Barnes, who was postmaster at Britton's Store in 1830, was a man of good standing in his community. He kept a tavern [n]ear the spot where the Masonic Hall now stands at Roxobel. G. Hampton Barnes, the Roxobel poet, is his grandson.
Col. William Britton came to Bertie county from Petersburg, Va. I do not know the date of his coming. He was the owner of considerable property and a very successful merchant and farmer. Probably the first steam engine ever brought to the county belonged to him. The building in which it stood was burned to the ground in 1838. The burning was supposed to be the work of an incendiary.
There was a postoffice in South Carolina called Britton's Neck. The names of the two postoffices being so nearly the same, was the principal reason for changing the name of the postoffice at Britton's Store.
"Col. William Britton highly esteemed a novel by Mrs. Sherwood entitled - "Roxobel-a Village Tale." This caused him to have the name of the postoffice changed to Roxobel."
William and Pamelia were parents to 8 known children:
* Elizabeth Ann Britton (ca. 1807)
* Amanda Emela Britton (1808-1817)
* Harriette V. Britton (c. 1809 - aft 1844)
* Col. Richard Oscar Britton (1810-1859)
* Martha Ellen Britton (ca. 1815-1904)
* William J Britton (1815-1871)
* Stephen Wells Britton (1818-1855)
* Mary Pamelia Britton (1824-1844)
Another child, Harriet V. Britton, has been associated as a daughter of William Britton, but I believe she has been confused with the d/o Capt. Richard Oscar Britton, who has the same name. Harriet V. Britton (1832-1894) married Edward Hubbell Hicks (1826-1887) and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Oxford, Granville Co, NC.
William died in 1844 at age 59. That same year his widow would bury two of their children -- Stephen and Mary Pamelia. After William's death, his widow removed to Petersburg, VA to live near her son Richard Oscar Britton. Pamelia King Wells Britton died in Petersburg in 1859, at age 73. She is buried in Blandford Cemetery. Pamelia's brother Stephen C. Wells (1781-1849)is also buried in Blandford Cemetery.
Daughter, Elizabeth Ann married Dr. Lewis Meridith Jiggetts and is reported to have had 5 children. They removed to Yazoo Co, MS.
Richard Oscar Britton married Margaret Elizabeth "Eliza" Spivy of Bertie County and removed to Petersburg, VA where he died in 1859. They had 7 known children.
Daughter Martha "Ellen" Britton married Lewis Whitmel Thompson (1814-1888) and removed to Canton, Madison Co, MS where he was a wealthy planter. They had 10 known children; and Martha Ellen died in 1904. Two of their children died young and are buried here in Britton Family Cemetery.
William J. Britton maried Frances Annie "Fannie" Johnston (1825-1907), d/o John Taylor Johnston & Margaret Louisa Thompson of Hillsboro, NC, who all removed to Madison Co, MS,w her he was a wealthy planter. Her parents founded Annandale Plantation; and her mother founded Chapel of the Cross Cemetery in honor of her Fannie's father. William and Fannie were parents of 4 known children before his death in 1871.
Stephen Wells Britton removed to Madison Co, MS and married Sue Thomas; parenting two children before his death in 1855.
Mary Parmelia Britton (b. 1824) married Thomas Collins Watson (b. 1813), a planter of some means in Bertie Co, and owner of Elmwood Plantation. Just before the Civil War, Thomas sold his plantation removed the family to Georgia, stating in correspondence, "I have I think fully made up my mind to leave this part of N.C. because we are so near the lines of the enemy that our slave property is constantly escaping to them, and to my great mortification, we have amongst us so many yankee sympathizers that it is impossible to prevent the escape of most of the slaves who attempt. I have already been greatly injured by the loss of my efficient working hands and I am desirous if I can to save a lot I have left." No information was found by this researcher after 1860, when they were still in Bertie County. Some of their children (Joseph, Annie, Mary and Fannie) were found in Starkey Co, MS after the war (1880) and are buried in Mound Cemetery there. One daughter, Sally, married her cousin, Herbert Thompson, s/o of Lewis Whitmel Thompson & Martha Ellen Britton, ans is buried in Canton Cemetery, Madison Co, MS.
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