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Pine Tree Store
Community This is my working hypothesis - the way I see it as of this moment!! Pitch Landing on the Chinquapin was first known as Van Pelt's Landing. It was also a King's public landing and place of inspection. Here was a warehouse and also an inspector of the commodities for sale or export who was appointed annually and kept there until just prior the Civil War. Tar, pitch, turpentine, staves, headings, lumber, shingles, flax seed, pork, beef, rice, flour, indigo, and butter were among the exports. a Possession report of the area ca 1758 "One of the first post offices in Hertford County was established in Harrellsville Township at Pitch Landing, four miles from Harrellsville. John Cooper was the first postmaster. The first returns from that office were made to the Post office Department on October 1, 1802, but there is no record of the exact date of its establishment. The office was discontinued on December 7, 1866, and re-established on September 5, 1870. The office at Pitch Landing was permanently discontinued on March 9, 1881."John O Askew III writing on the "History of Harrellsville" in 1939 for an Historical Edition of the Hertford County Herald. The Pine Tree Store or Trading Post was originally established Later, the Pine Tree Store had belonged to James Jones 1765-1816. Another "keeper of the store at Pine Tree" was Jesse A.
Jackson who also was the biggest promoter in building the
steamer that was later known as Married Josiah Perry in the 18th item of his 1820 will lends unto my Beloved wife Amelicent Perry all my Black smith tools, Cooper tools, & the following Negroes (viz) York, Bridget, Pat, Tamar, & children, Haywood Simon Dick & George my Brandy still also one third part of the land & plantation whereon I now live bounded as follows Beginning at Timothy Walton's line at the part leading from my house to said Waltons Avenue which leads to pine Tree Store formerly Belonging to James Jones running thence to a pond and through to a small Branch at the School House thence along the cart path which leads to where the old school house stood to the Near branch thence down said branch to barbecue Swamp thence down the said Swamp to Timothy Walton's line thence along his line to the first station. I also lend my beloved wife as much land on the South Side of the Near branch as shall make pines enough to . . .. .......(line missing) .. . . of that purpose also the lightwood on the South side of the Road which is or may be on the Land which I exchanged with James Ward for the pines & lightwood thereon growing & standing there lands to be given up when Each of us are done making Tar & Turpentine on Each Track & Exchanged for the purpose aforesaid to have the said property during the period of her Natural life. Deed Bk R-441 Bertie Co 26 May 1797 John Campbell, Jr. sold his father's seine fishery to Josiah Perry, Samuel Rayner, James Ward, Charles Freeman, Jeremiah Freeman and Joshua Freeman, Jr. It was located on the beach at Colerain. Dear Aunt Sally: It's hard to say where Josiah Perry
was living. I know that I once knew where Barbecue
Swamp was, but I'll have to study over some maps. About Pitch Landing by James Elliott Moore ca 1970 Pitch Landing was a small shipping station on Chinkapin Creek. The Van Pelts, a New York family of Dutch extraction, had established the landing. It had its beginning with the naval stores industry, a major source of income in colonial Carolina. All of the products came from the native pine tree and included pitch, tar, turpentine, staves, headings and lumber. Although the industry had its impetus under the auspices of the British navy, it continued to be a vital part of the economy after the Revolution. Speculation on the market was as wild as modern Wall Street gambling, and many a man lost or won his proverbial shirt while dealing in naval stores. Despite its present deserted appearance, Pitch Landing was a scene of bustling activity in its day. For years it was a vital institution in the life of southeastern Hertford County handling all mail and freight for the region. It finally faded when sailing ships became too large to navigate the channel. Yankee Raid at Pitch Landing
Dec 4, 1864
showing how the community is both in Hertford and Bertie Counties Pitch Landing on the Chinquapin is just to the top right of the map Yes, the Gilmer map is what I have been referring to when I keep hearkening to the Civil War map. Glad to know that you are aware of its existence. You will see that White Plains is very clearly marked. That is all now thick woods. The houses were all derelict when Granddaddy was a boy and the fields there grown up in scrub pine. You will also see that on the road from White Plains to Pine Tree there were farms of Archer, Robertson and Adkins. I believe all of these places too are now preserves belonging to Union Camp. My understanding is that Raby Woods was in this area. You see the very large millpond. This would be White's Mill. The Gilmer Map doesn't show the little pond for Garrett's Mill, so I must have seen that somewhere else. The big house that John Simons built is near the site of the old VanPelt home; the VanPelt cemetery was in the field beside the old Sessoms homestead, perhaps the Van Pelt land extended across the road. The Sessoms homestead was in the immediate vicinity. Just across the way from the store. Then there were the Perrys. J.J. Perry was living next
door in 1863. The Bass place on the map is the old Ward home place, which Ann and John Moore traded to the Basses when their home burned ca 1855 which was adjacent to Maple Lawn. The Daniel VanPelt Sessoms are shown living in the old Col. William Jones home. The map does not show the old Jones Place at the Jones Hole.
Timothy Walton was resident there in 1820. Dear Aunt Sally: No, I don't know where Timothy
Walton's place was. I think the road going past
Luther Brown's to White's Mill was a through road
continuing on towards Trap on the other side. I would
think of an avenue as a lane that just led up to a
house, but then what do I know? Isn't it amazing that
apparently the Waltons lived that close but that this
knowledge was completely lost to later generations of
the family? A suggestion: perhaps Magnolia Grove, the Abstract of Bertie co Deed L-2-332 James Boon Wynns planter of Bertie Co to Thomas Garrett Sr. of Chowan Co. 6 Mar 1771 70£ proclamation. 700 acres in Bertie & Hertford counties, joining Meadow Branch, Josiah Perry, James Jones, Rivats, Long Branch, Lewis Williams, Barbeque Swamp. Wit: W P Kippax, Richd. Garret, James Garrett. Proved at Edenton 30 Apr 1771 bef. M Howard CJ H-309 Burrill Bell & wife Sarah to Daniel VanPelt Feb 18 1756. 20£ for 157 A. adj. James Jones & Thomas Sissons, Peter Evans, John Davidson, John Smith on Chinkopen Swamp. Wit: John VanPelt, Mary Ann Wynns, July Court 1756. Benj. Wynns C/C H-354 Burrill Bell & wife Sarah to James Boone Wynns Oct 25 1756. 200£ for 7713 A. (1) 5480 A. between Chowan River and Chinkopen Creek "being a tract granted Col. William Maule which said land descended to Penelope Cathcart wife of Doctor Wm. Cathcart who was daughter and sole heiress to the said Col. Wm. Maule.....and by do. William Cathcart and Penelope his wife conveyed to John Wynns...." (Sept. 20 1742.) John Wynns by last will and testament gave to his wife, Sarah, now wife of said Burrill Bell. (2) 380 A. conveyed to John Wynns by James Castellaw, the Public Treasurer at sale March 9, 1745. And to Sarah Wynns by will. (3) 640 A. conveyed to John Wynns by Treddle Keele (Keefe) Aug 4, 1738 and by Wynns devised to his wife. (4) 253 A. Patented by Benjamin Holloman April 20 1745 and assigned Feb 9 1750 to John Wynns. (5) 320 A. patent to Coll. William Maule for 640 A. Feb 1, 1725 and endorsed by William Cathcart & wife Penelope Maule Cathcart Aug. 24 1748 to John Devereaux and John Wynns. Wit: Joseph Perry, Benj. Brown. Oct. Ct 1756. H-65 Burwell Bell & wife Sarah to Richard Rayner June 20, 1753. 20£ for 200 acres land on ES Chinkapin Swamp adj. William Tyner, John Freeman. Wit: George Barlow, Joseph Boons, ---- Wynns, May Ct. 1754. H-92 Bridgett Folkes to John Rainer Nov 12 1753 7£ for 150 A. Part of a tract bought of John Perry containing 300 A. on Barbeque Swamp Wit: James Droughhan, John Droughan, James Holey. May Ct 1754 G-387 Richard Brown to Thomas Sison (Sisson) June 22 1751 45£ for 100 A. in Chinkepen Neck adj. Isaac Hill Wit: Peggy Wynns, Benjamin Wynns Aug Ct 1751 M-196 James Jones of Hertford Co to John Ramsy of Bertie Co. 6 May 1775. 25£ proclamation 100 acres joining Barbeque Swamp, Pigpen Branch, Reedy Branch. Wit: Henry Lightfoot, Timothy Walton, James Wiggans. May Ct 1775. John Johnston CJC Grist Mills [Water Mills]
One of the earliest scenes in my memory is being in the corn barn where we all are preparing corn to be taken to Mr. Wynns' little grist mill in Powellsville to be ground into meal. The barn is piled high with the corn, and there are yet a couple of the large hickory baskets of yesterday being utilized. The corn was first shucked and removed from the cob by hand and then carried to the mill in a flour bag. [That mill happened to be powered by a gasoline motor but the earlier ones were all turned by water wheels.] The accompanying mill pond afforded great recreational opportunities to the community -- fishing, wading, and swimming in the old mill holes continued long years after the mills themselves had disappeared. At the little mill pond, a few yards from our grandmother Parker's home at Sarem in Gates County we and our cousins wiled many a day as children. Poem: "Going to the Mill" by Julia Godwin Moore [Lawrence]
Aug Bertie Ct 1732 - The Petition of John VanPelt Praying leave
to Build a Grist Mill Upon Barbeque Swamp a Branch of Chickapin on the Land of
John Parker & Wm Badham: wither most Convenient read & refd. F-480 Dom Rex to John VanPelt Grant 150 A. ..."grant as of Our Manner of East Greenwich in Our County of Kent..." Yearly rent of 4 sh/100 A. Land on NS Barbeque Swamp adj. Thomas McClendon. Signed Gabriel Johnston, Capt. General & Gov. in Chief at Edenton March 11, 1741. John Rice, Gov. Sec't'y F-482 John VanPelt to Elias Stallings, Yeoman June 11, 1742. 400£ for 150 A. within mentioned patent. Wit: Daniel VanPelt, Mary VanPelt. Aug Ct. 1743. (Is this 400 an error!?) G-119 Thomas Parker, wheelwright to John Freeman, wheelwright Feb 24 1747/48 25£ for 150 acres on NS Barbeque Swamp adj Thomas McClendons former line. Also a Grist Water Mill on Barbeque Swamp Also an acre on SS Barbeque Swamp "which said mill Thos. Parker & John Freeman bought of Elias Stallings...." Wit: Benjamin Wynns, Richard Brown May Ct 1748 John Lovick C/C G-196 John Freeman to Thomas Freeman Aug 4 1748 50£ for 150 A + one water grist mill. On NS Barbeque adj. Thomas McClendon, __ Green "..as by plans thereof Dated 10th day of Aug 1745..." Wit: Peggy Wynns, Benjamin Wynns, May Ct 1749 G-232 Thomas Freeman to John Reed Oct 8, 1749 50£ for 151 A. "....one messuage or tract of land with a grinding mill upon it & all that belongs to the said mill..." On Barbeque Swamp adj. Thomas McClindon, ___ Green at Chinkapin Fork Wit: John Smith, William Colthred Nov Ct John Lovick C/C G-413 John Reed to Thomas Green April 11, 1751 40£ for 150 A.
"...one messuage or tract of land with a Grist Mill thereon..." on WS
Barbeque Swamp adj. Thomas Mclendal. Wit: Henry Reed, Thomas Green, John Smith
Nov Ct 1751 Samuel Ormes Barbecue Swamp must be the run with the four mills on it leading down to Chinqapin Creek at Pitch Landing. I think part of what is being alluded to in these petitions are the millpond rights. Granddaddy used to talk about these. Millpond rights were basically damages paid to other landowners whose lands went underwater when a mill dam was constructed. Feb Ct 1775: Another mill was on the road from the Col. William Jones place out to Highland Memorial Gardens on Stoney Creek. It was at that branch with the bend in the road just below Wig's house. This was run by William Sessoms, whose house was also in that area. This explains why the Sessoms cemetery is down there. He married a Miss Van Pelt and they were the parents of Daniel Van Pelt Sessoms, who bought and enlarged the Col. William Jones place; William Wynn Sessoms, who lived at Pine Tree and Dr. Harrell Bell Sessoms, who lived on the land where his son Dr. Joseph W. Sessoms later built Sunnyside Acres (Leigh Sessoms house). Col. William
Jones-Daniel VanPelt Sessoms Home
William Wynn
Sessoms Home/ Roberson place The Perry Place and
Cemetery/Dell Holloman's Leigh Sessoms Home
was called Sunnyside Acres Harold Sessoms of Ahoskie told me that his name was a corruption of the original Harrell. This Dr. Harrell Sessoms he said had a house between the Leigh Sessoms house and Moore's Lane. Dr. Sessoms died young and his son and daughter were raised by Van Pelt Sessoms. The house burned. He said you could see the wells out in the field when he was a boy. Therefore, Dr. Joseph W. Sessoms built Sunnyside when he married Nannie Underwood in the 1850s.
Our Neighbors for 200 years, the Sessoms of Hertford County: The land was covered primarily with long leaf pine trees. James Jones and his friends were attracted to the area not only by the available land but by the naval stores industry. Because of their importance to the maritime industry, tar, pitch, and the crude resin or turpentine that produced them came to be known as "naval stores." To acquire raw turpentine (resin) colonists used at least two techniques. During the off season (winter) people would go into the pine forests to cut two or more deep grooves in a standing tree so that the cuts converged near the base, where they installed several planks to act as a trough for the resin. The second, more common method was cutting large rectangular notches, called "boxes" on both sides of larger long leaf pines. The sap collected on the flat bottom edge on the box, where as John Brickell noted, "the Negroes with Ladles take it out and put it into Barrels."
(Barrel making was a major occupation for many. A number of my ancestors listed their profession as Cooper.) My father pointed out to me on the ground impressions of ancient tar "kilns." "Colonists sought a slightly elevated mound or knoll on which they dug a circular pit. Four to six feet away, they scooped out another shallower depression connected to the first by a narrow ditch. Known as a kiln, the entire structure was lined with clay to facilitate the flow of tar. During winter colonists went into the pine forest to gather dead dry pine boughs called lightwood. They placed the wood in the pit and covered it with clay or sod, leaving small openings near the bottom of the woodpile. The "tarburners" then set the highly volatile wood on fire, but because the holes at the base of the kiln afforded only a slight draft, the pile smoldered for weeks. They tended the kilns constantly making sure the fire did not go out or burn too hot.
Tar,
produces by the slow combustion, collected at the center of the pit and flowed through the
ditch to the receptacle where it could be ladled into barrels for export." Because
colonists preferred dry light wood for the kilns, they did not need to cut living trees to
feed the furnaces. John Brickell reported that colonists often sent their slaves into
abandoned turpentine orchards to split those dead and dying trees into usuable lightwood.
Likewise, smaller branches and residue from pines cut for lumber and those toppled by wind
or ice could be salvaged for the kilns.
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