Land grants are excellent records of where a family owned land. The neighbors (adjoining lands) are generally listed to describe the land borders. The chainmen listed were trusted neighbors, friends or family... since they provided the measurements. The person given the grant wanted his full measurement and would ensure that the chainmen were trust worthy and well-known to him.
The following records were transcribed from the NC Secretary of State Land Grant Office in Raliegh, NC as compiled by John G. West on 4 Aug 1981. Taken within one hour of the office closing for the day - hopefully there are no errors - there were other West family land grants not copied due to the time constraint!
West, Thomas #1216 Chatham Co. 100 Acres
Grant # 1121 Issued 7 Jul 1794
Entry # 1 Entered 16 Feb 1791
Book # 82 Page # 345
Chainmen: Ignatius West & Richard West
Beginning at a black jack... Lutterloh's corner & James Simmon's line... Baker's corner...
West, Phillip #1792 Chatham Co. 2 3/16 acres
Grant # 1698 Issued 7 Dec 1803
Entry # 639 Entered 10 Feb 1801
Book # 117 Page # 242
Chainmen: John Hackney, Sr. & John Hackney, Jr.
Waters of Dry Creek, along Thomas West's line & Lutterloh's line from his own corner...
(Comptroller's Office 15 Dec 1802 states "10 Acres Entry # 639" ???)
West, Jeptha #1693 Chatham Co. 74 Acres
Grant # 1620 Issued 14 Nov 1801
Entry # 569 Entered 19 Feb 1800
Book # 111 Page # 162
Chainmen: Hezekiah Henderson & Quintin Millekin
On the Waters of Robertson's Creek...
West, George #66 Chatham Co. 300 acres
Grant # 65 Issued 1 Jul 1779
Entry # 147 Entered 19 Oct 1778
Book # 30 Page # 65
Chainmen: Jeremiah Melton & John Harrison
On the head of the Wattery Branch the Watters of Indian Cr. and Deep River. Beginning near the Quaker Road (including the Millstone Glade)...
(The following Ignatius West records were copied by me as "Ig" to save time. The records had various spellings for this name - "Egnasus," "Ignasus," "Ignatious," plus a few others. Time was of essence, since the clerk called out that they would be closing in 20 minutes!)
Ig # 210 Chatham Co. 400 acres
Grant # 341 Issued 31 Mar 1780
Entry # 139 Entered 30 Aug 1779
Book # 32 Page # 195
Chainmen: Ignatious West, Jr. & William West
On the SS of Haw River & NS of Dry Creek...
Ig # 302 Chatham Co. 381 acres
Grant # 433 Issued 31 Mar 1780
Entry # 239 Entered 15 Aug 1779
Book # 32 Page # 287
Chainmen: Ignatious West, Jr. & William West
On both sides of Dry Creek...
Ig # 1145 Chatham Co. 40 acres
Grant # 1045 Issued 16 Nov 1790
Entry # 180 Entered 6 Oct 1788
Book # 77 Page # 97
Chainmen: William Pilkinton & James Davis
An Island in Haw River...
Ig # 1246 Chatham Co. 100 acres
Grant # 1151 Issued 7 Jul 1794
Entry # 273 Entered 12 May 1789
Book # 82 Page # 354
Chainmen: John Meacham & Nat Brewer
Both sides of Terrells Creek beginning on Wm. Meacham's line...
Ig # 1115 Chatham Co. 20 acres
Grant # 1015 Issued 16 Nov 1790
Entry # 184 Entered 14 Nov 1788
Book # 77 Page # 88
Chainmen: Richard West & James Mutin
On the waters of Dry Creek... James Henderson's line...
Ig # 1135 Chatham Co. 30 acres
Grant # 1035 Issued 16 Nov 1790
Entry # 204 Entered 6 Mar 1789
Book # 77 Page # 94
Chainmen: William Pilkinton & James Davis
On Haw River (an Island known as "Big Island")...
Ig # 1039 Chatham Co. 75 acres
Grant # 963 Issued 26 Nov 1789
Entry # 77 Entered 27 Oct 1787
Book # 71 Page # 358
Chainmen: Henry Brewer & Nathaniel Brewer
On the waters of Dry Creek...
Notice some of the family names connected with these grants: Brewer, Pilkinton, Henderson, Meacham, Millikin. These families have been connected to the Thomas West family over many generations as neighbors and most through marriage.
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