While recently trying to dig up clues that might point me to Mr. Broadway who married Mary (MNU), I spent some time looking at Nicholas Broadaway of Anson County, North Carolina.
Just an aside, but when Mary (MNU) married (2) John Dulworth in Knox County, Tennessee in 1803, her surname was actually spelled Brawdeway, which would match the phonetic pronunciation of Nicholas Broadaway’s surname.
It is estimated that Nicholas Broadaway was born c1722, place unproven, but possibly Virginia, and might have died in South Carolina before 1790.
A Nicholas Broadway resided in Edgecombe County, North Carolina in 1748.
If the same man, he later removed to Anson County, North Carolina, where he had lived at least since 1763 and where he received a land grant of 250 acres on 18 April 1767. Nicholas was definitely on a path of southwestward migration, as the two counties are almost 200 miles apart.
Online family trees also seem to indicate that Nicholas might have married twice, which would not be uncommon if a spouse died.
Some say Nicholas Broadway married (1) Martha Reagan and then to a second unknown wife, while others attribute Nicholas’s wife to be Elizabeth Berry or Barry, no documentation provided. Still others indicate Gracy (MNU), who was head of household in the 1790 census of Anson County, was also his wife. Once again, no source is cited – just supposition.
However, while trolling through Anson County, North Carolina land deeds, I came across proof that Elizabeth Berry was at least one of the wives of Nicholas Broadaway.
Anson County, North Carolina
Deed Book C1:261
Source: FamilySearch
North Carolina
THIS INDENTURE Made this 28th Day of October in the year of our Lord 1755 Between Thomas Barry of Anson county & province afsd. of the one part & Elizabeth Broadaway Wife of Nicholas Broadaway Daughter of ye sd. Thomas of the Other part WITNESSETH the he the sd. Thomas for & in Consideration of ye Sum of ten pounds pres: Money Recd. of the sd. Elizabeth before ye Sealing an dDelivery of these presents ye Receipt Whereof he the sd. Thomas Doth hereby Acknowledge & him Self therewith fully paid Satisfied & Contented Hath granted Bargained Sold Aliened Infeeoffed Conveyed & Confirmed & By these presents Doth Grant Bargain Sell Alien Infeeoff Convey & Confirm Unto the sd. Elizabeth Broadaway her Heirs and assigns part of a tract of Land Lying on the So. Wt. Side of Pee Dee River on Smith Creek Granted by his Majestys Latter Patent to Joseph White & frances Mackelwean Dated April ye 13th 1749 & Conveyed by them to the above sd. Thomas Berry by Deed Dated July 18th 1752 as May Appear Begining at a White Oak being the Original Begining afsd. trace and Runing No. 87d. Et. 92 poles to a pine then No. 59d. Et. 150 pole to a pine then So. 100 pole a Crooss ye tract then So. 59d. Wt. 150 pole to a pine then So. 87d. Wt. 92 pole to a White Oak then So. 100 pole to ye first station Containing One hundred and fifty Acers be the Same More or Less TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the sd. hereby Barianed Land & premised & Every part & parcel thereof unto ye sd. Elizabeth her Heirs and assigns and to her and their only proper Use and Behoofs for Ever & the sd. Thomas Berry for for (sic) him Self his Heirs Execes. & Admines, Doth hereby Covenant and Grant to & With the sd. Elizabeth her heirs & assigns Shall and May At all times hereafter have hold & Enjoy the sd. hereby Bargained Premises With the Appurtenances free and Clear of all former & Other Giffts grants Bargains Sales [?] Judgements Executions or other incumbrances Whatsoer (the Quit rents becoming Due to his Majesty his heirs & Successors Only Excepted And further that this the sd. Thomas & his heirs and all & Every Other Person and persons his & their Heirs any thing having or Claiming in the sd. premises above Mentioned or any part thereof By from or Under him them or any of them) Except as before Exempted) Shall and Will from time to time & at all times hereafter Upon the Reasonable Request & at the Cost & Charles of the sd. Elizabeth Broadaway her Heirs shall Make Do & Execute all & Every Such further Better & More perfect Granting Conveying & assurring of all & Singluard the sd. premises Above Mentioned With ye Appurtenances Unto the sd. Elizabeth her Heirs and assigns & to her and their only proper Use and Behoofe for Ever According to ye true intent & Meaning of these presents as by the sd. Elizabeth her Heirs or assigns or her or their or their (sic) Councel Leanred in the Law Shall be [reasonably?] Advised or Required IN WITNESS Whereof the sd. Thos. Berry hath Hereby Set his jand & Seal ye Day & year Above Writen
Thos. Berry (Seal)
Signed Sealed & Delivered
IN PRESENCE of
[Morgan?] Brown
[cut off]
At this point, I have no idea if there was on Nicholas Broadaway or more than one or if he married once to this Elizabeth. Whether or not Martha Reagan and/or Gracy (MNU) were also his wives is further conjecture.
However, this deed is proof positive that, by 28 October 1755, Elizabeth Berry, daughter of Thomas Berry of Anson County, North Carolina, had married Nicholas Broadaway.
I have a long way to go before this information will be of any use to me, but for others researching Nicholas Broadaway, this indenture is the source of the name of Nicholas’s wife.