##Seth Huddleston
as written by Samuel Huddleston
The year 1776 was one of struggle, not only for the life of a new born Nation, but it was a year of struggle against starvation with almost everybody in New England. The people were taxed to their utmost to provide for the army, and especially was it hard for the Quakers and Tories to make a living. These two classes, though their sympathies were entirely unlike, were classed together, and the Revolutionists were against them with more bitterness and hatred than they felt toward the English in arms. The Tories of Revolutionary times were those who favored England against the Colonies, and the anti-war Quakers were generally desirous of freedom and independence but opposed to war. But, as already stated, this difference was not noticed by the Revolutionists, and they did all they could to force them to help carry on the war by taking from them everything that the army could use. In those days the butchers, on account of the scarcity of meat and money, sold “Soup Privileges/” that is, they came around with their beef wagon or cart twice a week, and the people knowing just when to expect them would have a kettle of water boiling over a hot fire. The butcher sold them the privilege of boiling a certain amount and quality of meat five, ten, or fifteen minutes, according to the number of pennies they could pay. When the privilege thus sold was fulfilled the butcher would take his meat out of the kettle, leaving nothing but the soup, and placing it again in his wagon he would hurry away to the next customer, who would be anxiously awaiting his coming. A few families that were more prosperous got the meat after the substance had been all boiled out of it. Other provisions were as scarce and hard to get as meat, but Seth Huddlestone and his wife struggled on, and in the course of a few years they became prosperous farmers, and in 1781 they bought the entire farm of their uncle, Benjamin Gifford, and the deed, of which the following is a certified copy, is on record in Bristol County, Massachusetts, book 65, page 105, and it has never been transferred from him.
We do not know whether the Abiel Gifford mentioned in the above deed was Seth Huddleston’s father-in-law or whether that is a mispell for Abigal. It is possible that Abiel was Lydia’s father, and her mother’s name was not Abigal. We will make an effort to find out from the county records the truth of these names and will publish the result in the future. Seth Huddlestone did not live in Massachusetts many years after he came in possession of this farm, but we do not know the exact date of his removal. John J. Nelson, present Clerk of the Superior Court of Guilford County, North Carolina, writes from Greensboro, June 26, 1891, in reply to our inquiry concerning his farm in that county: “I find on record a deed from George Mendenhall to Seth Huddlestone, February 5, 1788.” We think it is almost certain that he settled in the vicinity of this farm which was in Deep River Settlement at what was known as William Beard’s Hatter Shop, not many months and perhaps only a few days before he made this purchase.
We also know that he did serve in the Revolutionary War from these records that Leah Huddleston obtained. Huddleston,Seth: Descriptive list of men mustered in Bristol County, Mass. By James Leonard Muster Master to serve in the Continental Army for the term 9 months from the time of their arrival at Springfield, dated Oct 29, 1779:13 co. Col. Hathaway’s regt.: age 33 yrs; stature 5 ft.6 in; complexion, dark; hair, black; eyes dark; engaged for town of Dartmouth.
When Seth Huddlestone moved from Massachusetts to North Carolina he believed that human slavery would soon expire of its own self, and it was this general belief among the Quakers that caused them to settle so thickly in Guilford and Randolph counties in North Carolina; but when they saw slavery growing stronger, and when they had become convinced that there was, and would be for years to come, a slave-owning and slave-trading South, and a freedom-loving North, the Quakers of North Carolina began to emigrate to the wilderness of the Northwest. But before Seth Huddleston could make the transition from North Carolina to regions farther north he died of typhoid fever September 7, 1791, aged 48 years, 3 months, and 26 days.
Know all men by these presents, that I, Benj’n Gifford, of ye Town of Dartmouth, in ye County of Bristol, in ye Government of ye Massachusetts Bay, in New England, yeomen for and in consideration of ye sum of eight hundred Spanish mill’d dollars, paid to me by Seth Huddlestone, of Dartmouth, aforesaid yeomen, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, and do hereby give, grant, convey and confirm unto him ye said Seth Huddleston, and his heirs and assigns forever, all that my homestead farm situate in Dartmouth aforesaid, whereon I now dwell, containing by estimate fifty acres, be ye same more or less. The same is bounded, or reputed to be bounded, as in manner following, that is to say, westerly on ye Cedar Swamp, or on ye lines and bounds of ye original survey of this land, northerly bounded on land belonging to Daniel Whaling, eastward bounded part on Abiel Gifford’s land and part on Jno. Davoul’s land, southerly bounded on Prince Potter’s land. Together also with all my lot or tract of Cedar Swamp, situate in s’d Town. Reference being had to ye former returns of ye survey and deeds of conveyance of ye primes’es for a more particular description of ye boundaries thereof. To have and to hold ye same with all ye housing and buildings thereon, with all ye privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining unto him, ye said Seth Huddlestone, and to his hears and assigns forever. And I do covenant with ye said Seth Huddlestone, his heirs, that I am lawfully seized in fee simple of ye premises, that they are free of all encumbrances, that I have good right and full power and lawful authority to sell and convey ye same, as afores’d, and that I will warrant, secure and defend ye forever against ye lawful claims and demands of all persons. And Alice, ye wife of ye s’d Benj’n Gifford, doth hereby give up her right of dower in ye premises unto him, ye Seth Huddlestone, and his heirs and assigns.
In witness whereof, ye s’d Benj’n Gifford and his s’d wife have hereunto set their hands and seals this fifteenth day of ye ninth month cal’d September, A. D., one Thousand seven hundred and Eighty-one, 1781.
His mark Benj. X Gifford (S) and seal. Her mark Alice X Gifford (S) and seal.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Champlain Potter, Samuel Smith.
-2-
Bristol, SS, Dartmouth, Oct’r ye 21 day, A. D. 1783.
Then personally app’d the within names Benj. Gifford, and acknowledged ye within written instrument to be his voluntary act and deed, hand and seal before me. Benjamin Russell, Just. Of ye Peace.
Rec’d January 28, 1786, and recorded by James Williams, Reg’r.
Copy attest by J. E. Wilbar, Register.
We do not know whether the Abiel Gifford mentioned in the above deed was Seth Huddleston’e father-in-law or whether that is a mispell for Abigal. It is possible that Abiel was Lydia’s father, and her mother’s name was not Abigal. We will make an effort to find out from the county records the truth of these names and will publish the result in the future.
Seth Huddlestone did not live in Massachusetts many years after he came in possession of this farm, but we do not know the exact date of his removal.
John J. Nelson, present Clerk of the Superior Court of Guilford County, North Carolina, writes from Greensboro, June 26, 1891, in reply to our inquiry concerning his farm in that county: “I find on record a deed from George Mendenhall to Seth Huddlestone, February 5, 1788.”
We think it is almost certain that he settled in the vicinity of this farm which was in Deep River Settlement at what was known as William Beard’s Hatter Shop, not many months and perhaps only a few days before he made this purchase.
Three years later we find that Seth Huddlestone made a will, of which the following is a certified copy from the county records at Greensboro, North Carolina:
###Seth Huddleston’s Will
I, Seth Huddlestone, of Guilford County, and state of North Carolina, yeoman, being at this time of sound disposing mind a memory, for which favour I am desirous to be truly thankful; and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die, thought best to make this my last will and testament. And as to my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me within this life.
I give, devise and dispose of in the following manner and form: My will is that all my just debts, funeral charges and expenses of all kinds with respect to selling my said estate, be paid in reasonable time next after my decease out of my live stock.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Lydia Huddlestone, the whole use and improvements of all my estate until my son, Jonathan, arrives to lawful age, if she remains my widow, the better to enable her to bring up my children; and after the expiration of that time if she remains my widow, I give to her the improvement of the one-half of my homestead farm during the time of her remaining my widow, and if she should marry again, I give her as a free gift one feather bed and furniture thereto belonging, she to have her choice of my beds. Also one chest, that which is called her chest, and one iron pot. To her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give unto my son, Jonathan Huddlestone, the one-half of my real estate, he to come into possession thereof at the age of twenty-one years old, to him my said son and to his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my six daughters, namely, Sarah, Levinah, Mary, Elizabeth, Hannah and Rachel, to be divided equally between them, the one-half of my real estate, they to come into possession thereof at the death of marriage of my widow, which shall first happen, to them, my said six daughters and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item. My will is that my six daughters before named, and each of them, have a privilege to live in my dwelling house with their mother so long as they shall remain unmarried. And my will is that my said widow and six daughters be well provided for with suitable fire wood, cut at the door, by my son, Jonathan, during the time of my widow remaining unmarried.
Item. I give to my said son, Jonathan, all my farming tools of all kinds, together with my day wearing apparel, to him, his heirs, and assigns forever.
Item. I give to my wife and to my six daughters before named, all my indoors movables not before mentioned in this my will, together with my loom and weaving gear of all kinds, to be equally divided between them.
Item. I give unto my son, Jonathan, all the rest and residue of my estate not otherwise disposed of in this my will, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I hereby appoint my beloved wife, Lydia Huddlestone, and William Beard executrix and executor to this my last will and testament, hereby making null and void all other wills and testaments by me before made, confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of the third month, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one.
Signed, sealed, published and pronounced by the said Seth Huddlestone as his last will and testament in the presence of
Philip Horney George Mendenhall Seth Huddlestone. (Seal.) Eliab Gardner
State of North Carolina, Guilford County, November Term, 1794.
The within will was proven in open court by the oath of Eliab Gardner, one of the subscribing witnesses, and admitted to record. Rest: John Hamilton, C. C.