SOME SC AND GA
BEST
LAND RECORDS
(Created December 7, 2005 by Thomas W. Mitchiner)
BARNWELL CO. area of SOUTH CAROLINA
Granville County was created in 1683 by the Crown as one of the original seven precincts of districts for administrative purposes. It ran along the length of the Savannah River in South Carolina to include part of what later became Orangeburg. Granville was discontinued in 1769 when the Orangeburg District was created. Records prior to 1785 were filed in Charleston. From the late 1780's until the Barnwell District was formed the area was known as the Winton District. In 1798 the Barnwell District was formed from the south part of the Orangeburg District. The Orangeburg courthouse was burned in 1865 by Federal troops. As far as I know Barnwell records survived the war. Allendale County was formed in 1919 from Barnwell and Hampton Counties.
1770 ABSALOM BEST first record in the Barnwell area when he purchase in Granville Co., now Allendale Co., 100 acres. His 100 acres of property named in the 1770 memorial on Little Briar Creek was bounded by the property of WILLIAM BROWN, JAMES SIMPSON, SAMUEL COLDING and the Savannah River. (NOTE: This is in Allendale Co. near the location of Burtons Ferry where Hwy 301 crosses the Savannah into Screven Co., Georgia. WILLIAM BROWN, father of TARLTON BROWN and MARY BEST, wife of HENRY BEST, settled near Burtons Ferry.)
1772 BARTLETT BROWN had 744 acre laid out to him on Briar Creek and bounded by the Savannah River and NE by Blakes and SW by MACKAFUS lands. A copy was given to RIGHT MUNSON in 1800 who bought the land and see below in 1809 he sold it to BARTLETT BROWN, probably son of BARTETT BROWN and JACOB KITTLES. (NOTE: BARTLETT BROWN is probably the brother of WILLIAM BROWN. In the book, The Families of Burke Co., GA 1755-1855, BARTLETT BROWN is from South Carolina. He has five children and 11 slaves. In 1767 he asks for 150 acres on Brier Creek located 8 miles from Rae's Cowpen.)
1784 ABSALOM BEST 200 acres of land surveyed "between the Bull Pond and Coosawhatchie" River in the Orangeburg District on August 30, 1784. His 200 acres contained Oglesby Pond. The following month, on September 23, 1784, he had surveyed 260 acres "on Nero's Branch waters of Coosawhatchie" River in the Orangeburg District. (NOTE: Oglesby Pond is located between Bull Pond and the Coosawatchie River. The Coldings settled on Bull Pond. Bull Pond is located at 32.92472 latitude and -81.40722 longitude. In 1784 BARTLETT BROWN, brother of WILLIAM BROWN, was killed by Indians and ABSALOM BEST paid the tax for BARTLETT BROWN for the North Fork Edisto and Savannah River.
1785 WILLIAM BROWN 147 acres of land by Savannah River shown in tract of 524 acres laid out to BARTLETT BROWN, son of BARTLETT BROWN. Land of BARTLETT BROWN bordered northwardly by MICHAEL MACKAFOOT, easterly by JOHN BROWN and SSE by WILLIAM BROWN'S land and the Savannah River. The land of WILLIAM BROWN was taken in part for MAJ WYLDE'S land. (NOTE: WILLIAM BROWN was killed in 1780 by Tories at his home near Burton's Ferry at Briar's Creek. In 1789 ABSALOM BEST was one of the appraisers of the estate of JOHN BROWN.)
1791 ABSALOM BEST Will. On February 7,8, 1791 ELIZABETH BEST came into court and made oath that she saw ABSALOM BEST sign the Will that was produced as his last Will and Testament. RICHARD KIRKLAND and BARTLETT BROWN were qualified as the executors of his estate. Part of his estate would have passed to his son, BENEJAH BEST.
1801 MARY (MUNSON) BEST was the sister of RIGHT MUNSON. In the 1790 Census for Orangeburg District, PATIENCE MUNSON was the head of a family and a neighbor of the three Best families in the census. The family included another female and four slaves. He left his sister his considerable livestock, crops, furniture and tools, but not his land on March 28, 1801.
Wright Munson, Planter of Barnwell Dist. to Mary Best, my sister For her Love & Affection 35 head of Cattle, 4 mares, 1 colt 100 head of hogs, one wagon gear Plantation Tools, household furniture the corn I have in the crib as well as the crop for this present year wit-C. D. Wyld, Jos. Harley [signed] Right Munson"
That same year is a suit by SALLY MUNSON vs. BENEJAH BEST. He paid $200. WRIGHT MUNSON moved to Mississippi and later sold his Barnwell land in 1809. SALLY MUNSON was probably a sister of MARY BEST and WRIGHT MUNSON or she could have been a Best that married a Munson. This may show something to establish which Best that Mary Munson married.
1802 ABSALOM BEST is mentioned in the sale of 270 acres on King Creek by ABRAHAM MIXSON to GEORGE BRASIE on March 13, 1802. He has property that bordered KIRKLAND, ABSALOM BEST and others. The sale was witnessed by C.D.WYLD, ABRAHAM MIXSON, and RIGHT MUNSON. ABRAHAM MIXSON (MIXEN) is the closes neighbor to the three Best families in the 1790 census for the Orangeburg District. (NOTE: Kings Creek is in Allendale Co. and south of Burtons Ferry. Henry Best was going down Kings Creek to Hershman Lake in Screven Co., Georgia when he was shot by Tories.)
1808 BENEJAH BEST purchased from RICHARD GILL a 135 acre plantation on the south side of Jacksons Branch for $237.
1809 RIGHT MUNSON on page 319 of Deed Book R of the Record of Deeds of Barnwell County, the following appears: WRIGHT MUNSON of Wilkinson Co. Miss. to BARTLETT BROWN & JACOB KITTLES $1488.00 744 Acres Land in Savannah River Swamp near WILLIAM CAMPBELL and land owned by BEAKE, surveyed for the said BARTLETT BROWN 11 [?] 1796 and granted to RIGHT MUNSON 4Aug1800. Wit- THOS GOLDERY, MICHAEL BROWN [signed] RIGHT MUNSON. (NOTE: JAMES B. ROWLEY, Admr. [Administrator] vs. JOHN A. OWENS, Admr. Accounting & Discovery, Filed Nov. 21, 1829.
Petitioner is admr. on estate of Wright Munson and says the estate was first administered by James Overstreet [likely a brother-in-law] who was appointed by the Ord'y of P.D., Dec. 16, 1815, and that it consisted entirely of notes and accounts owing deceased here. Overstreet died intestate in 1822, without having fully administered, and William Overstreet became admr. on estate of James Overstreet; William Overstreet died w/o having fully administered, and John A. Owens became admr. ( WILLIAM OVERSTREET was a son of JAMES OVERSTREET. One daughter of JAMES OVERSTREET was MARY OVERSTREET, wife of JOHN A. OWENS.)
Defendant's answer dated Feb. 3, 1829, refers to Munson "when he left this state" as having on that occasion appointed James Overstreet his agent to collect said debts, and when Overstreet heard Munson was dead he had himself appointed admr. The Munson heirs never have appeared or sent for their money, and defendant does not know who they are or where they are but understands they live in Texas; and professes to be ready to settle with them. Rowley evidently not an heir or relative of Munson.
1810 MARY BEST is dead as her portion mentioned in the estate settlement papers of WILLIAM BROWN, July 14 1810, went to her heirs who are not named. He was killed in 1780 by Tories, the same year HENRY BEST was killed. The papers were filed by BARTLETT BROWN in Barnwell District, a brother of MARY BEST and TARLTON BROWN and they with the other children or their heirs received a child's portion of thirty nine pounds ten shilling sterling. No land is mentioned.
1810 JOHN BROWN BEST purchased for $1200 from JOHN MIXON, JR. 337 acres being tract granted to RICHARD KIRKLAND and 134 acres granted to JOHN WILD. (NOTE: Where did he get the money? Perhaps from his wife?)
1810 BENEJAH BEST purchased for $300 from LIONEL HENRY KENNEDY a 354 acre plantation on the Big Branch and Jackson Branch.
1812 BENEJAH BEST sold a 177 acre plantation being half of a 354 acre tract at the Big Branch and Jacksons Branch.
1812 JOHN B. BEST sold to SAMUEL MANER for $200 land where he formerly resided containing 100 acres on July 20, 1812. It was formerly owned by the buyer and was bounded on all four sides by lands of SAMUEL MANER. This sale was witnessed by TARLTON BEST and WILLIAM H. ROBERT. (NOTE: This property may have belonged to his wife, ELIZABETH BEST, since she relinguished her right and claim as dower in the matter of SAMUEL MANER on December 13, 1815.)
1814 JOHN B. BEST had surveyed 211 acres on Sand Hill Bay that was bordered on one side by the land of ABRAHAM MIXSON on May 10, 1814. It was thought before the survey that it was 200 acres. (NOTE: Sand Hill Bay, Sand Hill Pond, and Sandy Creek all seem to be connected to Lower Tree Runs Creek which is in Allendale Co. and north of Burtons Ferry.)
1815 JOHN B. BEST received a 145 acre land grant in Barnwell District on December 4, 1815. The land had been surveyed by JAMES OVERSTREET on May 10, 1814 and was bordered by land of ABRAHAM MIXON and WILLIAM BLACK and JOHN MIXON.
1815 JOHN B. BEST, JAMES OVERSTREET, MICHAEL BROWN and BARNETT H. BROWN executors of will of BARTLETT BROWN (JR.), October 10, 1815. The later two were sons of BARTLETT BROWN. Other named children were BENJAMIN B. BROWN, JABEZ G. BROWN and daughter CYNTHIA W. BROWN. His land is not identified. HENRY OVERSTREET was one of the witnesses. (NOTE: BARTLETT WILLIAM BROWN (JR.), born January 15, 1775, and died December 06, 1822, married PATIENCE OVERSTREET and his brother, BENJAMIN BROWN married CYNTHIS OVERSTREET a sister of PATIENCE OVERSTREET. The parents of both PATIENCE and CYNTHIA were JAMES OVERSTREET, who was killed at Hudsons Ferry around 1780 by Tories, and SARAH BOOTH. JAMES and SARAH also had sons named JAMES and HENRY.)
(DATE?) In a petition by the inhabitants of Barnwell on the Savannah River for a river landing road between the lands of SARAH OVERSTREET, SAMUEL MAINER, and JOHN BEST, there is mentioned lands of WILLIAM J. KIRLAND as well as BENEJAH BEST and JOHN B. BEST.
1816 JOHN B. BEST received land grants in Barnwell District for 196 and 59 acres on December 2, 1816. The 196 acres was bordered by the the land of WILLIAM BLACK, JAMES SMITH, Dr. ELIJAH GILLETT and JOHN B. BEST. The 59 acres on the Sand Hill Bay waters of the Savannah River were bordered E.by ABRAHAM MIXON, S. by MILLIGAN and W. and N. by JOHN B. BEST.
1816 JOHN B. BEST land borders on two sides 44 acres laid out to ABRAHAM MIXON on November 1, 1816. Also bordering the land of ABRAHAM MIXON are lands of JOHN MIXON, JR. and ABRAHAM MIXON.
1816 TARLTON B. BEST with JOHN B. BEST in 1816 purchased 196 acres on Sand Hill Pond waters of the Savannah River. This land bordered property of WILLIAM BLACK, JOHN B. BEST, JAMES SMITH, and Dr. ELIJAH. GILLETT. (NOTE: Sand Hill Bay, Sand Hill Pond, and Sandy Creek all seem to be connected to Lower Tree Runs Creek which is in Allendale Co. and north of Burtons Ferry. Whe the Revolutionary War ended, Tarlton Brown married and settled "between Sand Hill and Cedar branchs, waters of the Lower Tree Runs." On each of the branches he built mills and called it "Fork Mills." Ownership passed to his son-in-law, William H. Peyton.)
1821 TARLTON B. BEST Will dated December 17, 1821. JOHN B. BEST and WILLIAM B. MITCHINER were the executors. It was filed by WILLIAM B. MITCHINER on October 5, 1824 in Screven Co., Georgia. JOHN B. BEST, JOHN H. SMITH, and JOHN MEARS were bequeathed seventy five cents each. He divided his eleven slaves between ORSAMUS H.(HARDEN) BEST born 1815, JOHN H.(HARDEN) MITCHINER born 1818, and WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL born 1801. ORASMUS H. BEST was the second or third son of JOHN B. BEST. JOHN H. MITCHINER was the eldest son of WILLIAM B. MITCHINER. WILLIAM D. CAMPBELL was the son of LEODICA (DICY) BEST CAMPBELL MEARS. He listed his land as 50 acres on Jackson Branch and 98 acres on King Creek in South Carolina. Note that ABSALOM BEST had land on King Creek. The 98 acres on King Creek was probably not his half of the 196 acres on the Sand Hill Pond waters of the Savannah River that he purchased with JOHN B. BEST in 1816. The appraisers of the estate were JACOB LEWIS, ELIJAH WADE, and ELIJAH OLIVER.
1824 BENEJAH BEST In a "Bill of Revivor" filed March 16, 1824 in the MARY ROWLAND vs BENAJAH BEST case, it appears that BENEJAH BEST had died and that his widow, ELIZABETH BEST, was the administrator of his estate. His widow could be ELIZABETH in the 1830 census. He was around 57 years old when he died. Along with his wife that received one third of the estate, the children mentioned in his estate settlement filed June 4, 1832 in Barnwell District, South Carolina are: ABSALOM BLANCHARD BEST, MARY BEST, and SARAH MIXON.
Copyright December 2005 by Thomas W. Mitchiner, Greenville, NC. These documents may be freely used for private purposes, and included in your own genealogy. However, this document is copyrighted as stated above and may not be sold, nor given to anyone, who may attempt to derive profit from same. Any verifiable information to substantiate changes or additions is welcomed by the author.
Return "Best of the Mitchiners" homepage
Randolph Co., GAGenWeb homepage
Randolph Co., GAGenWeb queries
SCGenWeb - Allendale County, South Carolina
Allendale Co., SCGenWeb "Best" homepage