I am a Trafton descendant through my third great grandmother Eliza Trafton (b. 1820). Eliza was born free which is evident through her presence in the 1850 Federal Census (as the wife of Henry Newsom); however, little is known about her early life. In an effort to learn about Eliza’s lineage, I have begun to research the Trafton family of Camden County, NC. This article is an introduction to the patriarch, Charles Gardner Trafton, and some of his descendants.

Charles Gardner Trafton was born in Dighton, MA on December 31, 1760 to Joseph Trafton and Ziporrah Talbot. As part of a long line of military men, he enlisted in Captain Peleg Peck’s Company (of Colonel George Williams’ Regiment) on September 29, 1777. After the Revolutionary War he became a mariner and entered the Port of Currituck¹ several times in the late 1780s (twice on the ship “Nancy” owned by Seth Talbot and twice on the ship “Salley” owned by Joseph Jones on the first entry and Benjamin Jones on the second entry).

On December 7, 1790 Gardner Trafton was called a mariner of Camden County, NC while buying 21 acres of land from Timothy Cotter (who was also called a mariner of Camden County, NC) near River Bridge on the west side of the Pasquotank River in Pasquotank County, NC. The land was adjoining Joseph Richardson, David Cartwright, Jonathan Herring, and Labeus Richardson and the deed was witnessed by Abner Whitney and Nathaniel Paine. He later sold this tract of land on July 12, 1796 to John Hamilton.

The area around River Bridge was originally called “Joppa” and was the shipping and trading center for those who lived in upper Camden County. As a mariner, this would have been a convenient community for Gardner Trafton and he had relationships with several other investors in the area—including Arthur and Hollowell Old who owned a warehouse at River Bridge. The name “Joppa” was eventually replaced with “Pasquotank River Bridge” and later “River Bridge” in the early 1800s.

On July 11, 1791 Gardner Trafton married Lovey McPherson. As a newcomer from Massachusetts, Gardner did not have close family connections in Pasquotank County, NC but his wife (believed to be the daughter of Joshua McPherson and Courtney Hixon) was part of an established family in the area. Gardner Trafton and his wife lived in Pasquotank County, NC through the births of all of their children² (Courtney (b. 1793), Joseph Talbot (b. 1796), John Wesley (b. 1799), and Benjamin (b. 1799)). 

The name “John Wesley” may have been in honor of John Wesley, a religious leader of the time and the founder of Methodism. The McBrides, Gamblings, McPhersons and Cartwrights were all named in the 1792 lease from Jeremiah Sexton to build a house of worship (McBride Church) for joint use between local Methodists and Episcopals. A few years after the birth of their last child, Lovey Trafton died on April 9, 1802.

Important details about Gardner Trafton’s life can be extracted from the deeds he entered throughout his life in Camden County, NC.

Gardner Trafton Camden County, NC Deed Analysis

Deed Information	Deed Description	Grantee	Grantor	Witnesses	Notes
6 August 1799 (Book I, Page 74)	$250 for a 50-acre tract of land and swamp near Pasquotank River Bridge in Camden County	Gardner Trafton	Joseph Jones	Charles Grice, Abner Whitney	+50 Acres (Land & Swamp)
30 September 1800 (Book I, Page 83)	600 spanish dollars for a 3-acre tract of land near Pasquotank River Bridge formerly belonging to the copartnership of Hughs, Smith & Scarborough (sold by the sheriff to Austin and Susanah Davis who then sold it to Elisha Davis who then sold it to Thomas Gordon)	Gardner Trafton	Thomas Gordon	Abner Whitney, Joshua McPherson (Gardner Trafton’s Father-in-Law)	+3 Acres
26 April 1802 (Book I, Page 293)	$613 for a 3-acre tract of land near Pasquotank River Bridge formerly belonging to the copartnership of Hughs, Smith & Scarborough including the piece of land called the “Jib”	Arthur & Hollowell Old	Gardner Trafton	Arthur Wilkins, Christopher Whitehurst	-3 Acres (See Book I, Page 83; A jib is a triangular sail. Could this refer to the island in the middle of the Pasquotank River?)
22 January 1803 (Book I, Page 372)	600 spanish dollars for one negro man named Thomas (formerly the property of Timothy Hixon) and one negro woman named Pamela (formerly the property of Benjamin Jones)	James Pearce	Gardner Trafton	Roger Slover, William Hinton	-2 Slaves
15 October 1804 (Book K, Page 243)	600 spanish dollars for one negro man named Thomas (formerly the property of Timothy Hixon) and one negro woman named Pamela (formerly the property of Benjamin Jones)	Gardner Trafton	James Pearce	Jeremiah (?) Murden, Benjamin Howell	+2 Slaves (See Book I, Page 372; Repurchased the same slaves that he sold)
__October 1804 (Book K, Page 322)	$550 for a 20-acre tract of land on the north side of Joy’s Creek adjoining Elisha McBride, Joseph Abbott, and James Haley	Gardner Trafton	Joshua Burnham	B. Jones, J. Pearce	+20 Acres
3 December 1805 (Book L, Page 37)	$250 for a 50-acre tract of land and swamp on the Pasquotank River Bridge in Camden County known by the name of Butter Weed (?)	Hollowell Old	Gardner Trafton	Malachi Wilkins, Nehemiah Riggs	-50 Acres (See Book I, Page 74, Land & Swamp)
3 December 1805 (Book L, Page 38)	$550 for a 20-acre tract of land on the north side of Joy’s Creek adjoining Elisha McBride, Joseph Abbott, and James Haley	Hollowell Old	Gardner Trafton	Malachi Wilkins, Nehemiah Riggs	-20 Acres (See  Book K, Page 322)
23 January 1808 (Book M, Page 35)	$30 for a 250-acre tract of swamp land near the head of Joy’s Creek in the Great Dismal Swamp adjoining David Pritchard, Joseph Pritchard, and Timothy Jones	Gardner Trafton	Joseph Pritchard		+250 Acres (Swamp, See Image Below)
8 February 1808 (Book M, Page 65)	350 silver dollars for one negro man named Mat (formerly the property of Hollowell Old)	Gardner Trafton	Josiah Grandy	Thomas R. Butter, John K(?)	+1 Slave
25 October 1808 (Book M, Page 134)	$800 for 94-acre tract of land known as “Sawyer Lands” adjoining the swamp off the Pasquotank River, the road leading to the Shipyard, and the land of the heirs of Edmund Sawyer	Gardner Trafton	Nathaniel Downs	John Wilkins, Willis Wilkins	+94 Acres
16 February 1818 (Book P, Page 436)	$1725 for 74-acre tract of land (formerly the property of Griffith Sawyer) adjoining Edmund Sawyer and Willis Etheridge and a 40-acre tract of land (purchased from Enoch Sawyer from Susannah Shannonhouse) adjoining the up River Road  and James B. Cunningham	Gardner Trafton	Thomas Jones	Thomas Gordon, Demsey McPherson	+114 Acres
23 April 1818 (Book P, Page 448)	$205 for 20.5-acre tract of land beginning at Down’s Shipyard Landing Road (previously purchased from Nathaniel Downs by Asa Sawyer, father of William Sawyer)	Gardner Trafton	William Sawyer	William Forbes, Catherine Forbes	+20.5 Acres
3 February 1819 (Book Q, Page 89)	$200 for a 55-acre tract of land (conveyed by Jesse Gregory to Caleb Gregory) in the Lake adjoining the land of Isaac Gregory on the side of the land next to the swamp	Gardner Trafton, Miles Gregory	Cason Hutchings	John Grandy, Justin B Jacobs	+55 Acres
22 February 1819 (Deed Book Q, Page 160)	$350 for one negro boy named Bob about 10 years of age, son of negro woman named Judith (formerly the property of Asa Sawyer, deceased)	Gardner Trafton	Jeremiah Forbes	Thomas Gordon	+1 Slave
14 January 1824 (Book R, Page 284)	$100 for a 61-acre tract of land or swamp on the Pasquotank River, part of the Thomas Leavy deed adjoining the Shipyard, William Forbes, and William Sawyer	Gardner Trafton	David M. Sargent (agent of Joseph White of the city of Boston)	Jordan Lurry, John Trafton	+61 Acres
28 July 1825 (Book S, Page 177)	$200 for a 20-acre tract of land that Asa Sawyer purchased from Nathaniel Downs adjoining William Forbes	Gardner Trafton	William Saywer	Justin B. Jacobs, John Trafton	+20 Acres
2 November 1825 (Book S, Page 206)	$227 for a 22.7-acre tract of woodland beginning at a bridge in the road running up to the swamp then up north easterly to the mouth of a ditch	Gardner Trafton	William Saywer	W.S. Bell, John Trafton	+22.7 Acres
7 August 1826 (Book S, Page 311)	$100 for a 250-acre tract of swamp land near the head of Joy’s Creek in the Great Dismal Swamp adjoining David Pritchard, Joseph Pritchard, and Timothy Jones	Phineas Sanborn	Gardner Trafton	W McPherson, George Ferebee	-250 Acres (See  Book M, Page 35, Swamp)
30 April 1827 (Book T, Page 104-105)	$140 for a 14-acre tract of land near Creek Bridge adjoining Tully Robertson, the widow Polly Bell, Linus Williams, Benjamin Trafton, and Cason Hutchings	Gardner Trafton	Tully Robertson	Justin B. Jacobs, Jordan Lurry	+14 Acres
12 August 1828 (Book T, Page 259)	$500 for one negro boy named Enoch (formerly the property of Isaac Murden, the father of Robert Murden)	Gardner Trafton	Robert Murden (of New York City, NY)	Thomas Gordon	+1 Slave
4 February 1830 (Book T, Pages 512-513)	$650 for a 55-acre tract of land (and plantation) at the head of Sawyer’s Creek adjoining Richard Jarvis, Jabez Sawyer, and William Hearring	Gardner Trafton	William Hearring	Justin B. Jacobs, Enoch Sawyer	+55 Acres
2 December 1831 (Book U, Pages 150-151)	Appeared in court to divide Gardner Trafton’s land according to his last will and testament, Neighbors named were the heirs of Miles Gregory, Richard Jarvis, William Sawyer, William Forbes, Abner Lamb, and William Sanderlin	Joseph and John Trafton, Heirs of Gardner Trafton	Gardner Trafton	Chain Bearers were John Trafton and Jonathan Hearring, Surveyed by David Pritchard

After analyzing the full collection of Garden Trafton deeds, it was clear that he owned property in a few different communities. In order to understand the stages of his life and his activity in each community, I divided information by census year.

Activity Up to the 1810 Federal Census

Gardner Trafton had a household of 11:

• 1 white male and 1 white female 45 and over (Gardner and wife)
• 3 white males 10-15 (sons Joseph, John, and Benjamin)
• 6 slaves (Thomas, Pamela, Mat, and 3 unnamed?)
• Daughter Courtney, who would have been 17 at the time, may have already been married and out of the household.

Gardner Trafton’s neighbors in this census year were O. McPherson, W. Etheridge, G. Granger, J. Gallop, E. Burnham, and L. Berry.

Based on the composition of his household, it appears that Gardner Trafton was married to his second wife (Mary?) by this time (after the death of his first wife in 1802). By reviewing Gardner Trafton’s land purchases and sales, it is evident that only two purchases (both made in 1808) remained by the 1810 Federal Census—the 250 acres of swamp land near the head of Joy’s Creek (Deed Book M, Page 35) and the 94 acres known as “Sawyer Lands” adjoining the road to the Shipyard (Deed Book M, Page 134). All of his land at River Bridge was sold.

Activity Up to the 1820 Federal Census

Gardner Trafton had a household of 10:

• 1 white male and 1 white female 45 and over (Gardner and wife)
• 1 white male 16-25 (John Wesley)
• 1 free colored male 14-25
• 4 slaves (1 male under 14 (Bob?), 1 male 14-25, 1 female under 14, and 1 female 26-44).

Gardner Trafton’s neighbors in this census year were Jabez Sawyer, Isaac Sawyer, Joseph Sawyer, Willis Etheridge, Harvey Burnham, Joshua Gallop, William Forbes, and Miles Gregory.

Gardner’s oldest son Joseph (24 years old at the time) had moved out of the household to Norfolk County, VA and was married to Elizabeth Miars. Benjamin (21 years old at the time) was recorded in his own household in Camden County, NC and was married to Nancy Upton. By process of elimination, the young male in his household must have been John (also 21 years old at the time).

Activity Up to the 1830 Federal Census

Gardner Trafton’s second wife (?) Mary died on February 27, 1822. On January 20, 1824, Benjamin Trafton made his first independent land purchase from David M. Sargent. The deed was for a 23-tract of land near Creek Bridge adjoining Nancy Hastings, James Williams, Sawyer’s Creek swamp, and Cason Hutchings (Deed Book S, Page 88). Between 1826 and 1829, Benjamin Trafton sold 3 tracts of land located in Gumberry (just south of Shipyard) that his wife Nancy Upton inherited from her father (John Upton’s land division, Deed Book O, Pages 327-328, Deed Book S, Pages 337-338, Deed Book T, Page 236, Deed Book T, Page 395).

Gardner Trafton had a household of 8:

• 1 white male 60-69 (Gardner)
• 7 slaves (1 male  under 10 (Enoch?), 3 males 10-23, 1 male 24-35, 1 female under 10, and one female 36-54)

Gardner Trafton’s neighbors in this census year were Thomas Linton, David Hall, William Sawyer, John Trafton, Jabez Sawyer, and Isaac Sawyer. All three of his sons were alive and living in their own households at this time. Joseph remained in Norfolk County, VA with his wife and family.

Benjamin Trafton’s Household of 12

John Wesley Trafton’s Household of 7

1 white male 5-9 1 white male 15-19 1 white male 20-29 2 white males 30-39 (Benjamin and ?) 1 white female 5-9 1 white female 15-19 1 white female 20-29 1 free female of color 24-35 3 slaves (1 male 10-23, 1 female under 10, and 1 female 24-35) There were several people recorded as part of Benjamin’s household (both adults and children) that did not appear to be part of his family. His neighbors in this census year were James O’Daniel, John O’Daniel, William Hastings, Ammon Sawyer, Cason Hutchings, Cornelius Sawyer, Sr., James Granger, and Miles Sawyer.

1 white male under 5 (George) 1 white male 30-39 (John) 1 female under 5 (Lovey) 1 white female 30-39 (wife Nancy Etheridge) 3 slaves (1 male 10-23, 1 female 36-54, and 1 female 55-99) John was never recorded in a deed prior to his father’s death so he may have never bought land independently. His neighbors in this census year were David Hall, William Sawyer, Gardner Trafton, Jabez Sawyer, Isaac Sawyer, and Elizabeth Sawyer.

This was the last year that Gardner Trafton was recorded in the federal census. He left an August 1831 will and died on September 2, 1831 in Camden County, NC. His will was not proved until December 1848 meaning that the distribution of his estate was not resolved for 17 years. An analysis of his will (and supplemental information not included in the will) provides additional insight into his life.

Gardner Trafton’s Will

Executor: William Herring (Friend), Witnesses: Miles Gregory, Isaac Taylor, Simeon Miller Thomas

Heirs	Joseph Talbot Trafton (b. 1796)	John Wesley Trafton (b. 1799)	Benjamin Trafton (b. 1799)	Courtney Chamberlain (b. 1793)
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Miars (m. 1818)	Nancy Etheridge (m. 1826), Permelia Banks Jarvis (m. 1840)	Nancy Upton (m. <1820)	Charles (?) Chamberlain (m. <1810)
Children (Grandchildren who were alive and/or named in the will in bold)	Walter Jones (b. 1821), Fanny B. (b. 1829), Virginia A. (b. 1833), Sarah (b. 1835), Mary J. (b. 1838), Benjamin (b. <1831), William T. (b. 1835)	George (b. 1827), Lovey (b. 1829), Thomas B. (b. 1831), Horatio (b. 1834), Mary (b. 1837), John Wesley, Jr. (b. 1841), Elizabeth (b. 1842), Pamelia (b. 1846)	Mary A. (b. 1826), Sarah (b. 1829), John (b. 1831), Philip (b. 1837), Mary (b. 1838), Joseph (b. 1842)	Timothy, Lovey, Sarah
	1/3 of 233-acre residence and 1/3 of the 61-acre swamp land with the profits going for family support and at his death to his son Benjamin Trafton; Negros Enoch and Mary to be hired out in Camden County for schooling his children and at his death Negro Enoch to pass to his son Benjamin and Negro Mary to his daughter Fanny Trafton; One bed and furniture; Walton Jones Trafton: Negro Lurry (son of Rachel) to be hired out until he is an adult using the proceeds for the education.	2/3 of 233-acre residence (to be divided between sons George and Thomas Trafton after his death); Negros Bob, Isaac, Amy and her children, and Lydia; At his death Lydia and her issue to John Wesley’s other issue. Negro Bob to son George, Isaac to son Thomas, and Amy to daughter Lovey; Desk, one gun, one handmill	14 acres purchased from Tully Robertson; 20 acres purchased from Benjamin Trafton; 22.5 acres called the Lake Land; Debt Forgiveness; One bed and furniture; Gordon Trafton: Negro boy Jerry (the son of May) to be hired out with the purpose of schooling—should he die under the age of maturity the Negro goes to John Trafton (the son of Benjamin).	Timothy Chamberlain:  Negro boy Cason; Lovey Chamberlain:  Negro girl Sally; Sarah Chamberlain:  One bed and furniture

Gardner Trafton left his slaves Tony and Rachel each to have the choice of living with either of his three sons Joseph, John, or Benjamin and he left the remainder of his estate to be divided between his sons.

Gardner Trafton was buried where he lived on Trafton Road in Camden County, NC. His residence off of North Carolina Highway 343 was left to his sons Joseph Talbot and John Wesley while his land around Shipyard was left to Benjamin. Biographies of many of Gardner Trafton’s contemporaries were included in Jesse Pugh’s “Three hundred years along the Pasquotank” but Gardner’s name was only mentioned once. As I discover new information, I will continue to share more details about the Traftons of Bristol County, MA who became a Camden County, NC family.

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My investigation into the life of Gardner Trafton has not yet revealed Eliza Trafton’s parents but there are many clues worth carrying forward into future research:

• The lives of Gardner Trafton’s wives are poorly documented and may reveal hidden relationships with further research.
• Gardner Trafton was a documented neighbor of  David Hall (b. 1755) and may have been a neighbor of William Bass (b. 1755).
• Gardner Trafton had a free person of color in his household in the 1820 Federal Census.
• Benjamin Trafton had a free person of color (and adults and children outside of his own famly) in his household in the 1830 Federal Census.
• The Traftons had close connections to the Pritchards. Gardner owned land adjoining Joseph Pritchard (the father of David L. Pritchard) and Abner Lamb (the father-in-law of David L. Pritchard).
• The Traftons had close connections to the Sanderlins. Gardner owned land adjoining William W. Sanderlin (where Henry Newsom and Joel Newsom were living and working in 1850).

Footnotes

¹Port of Currituck Mariner’s Records (1784-1789) by the Family Research Society of Northeastern North Carolina (2006)

²Gardner Traftons marriages and the births of his children were all recorded in the Trafton Bible.