From: Jason
Duncan
Sent: Monday,
October 20, 2025 11:19 AM
To: Jason
Duncan
Cc: Jason
Duncan
Subject: History
news and events - October 20, 2025 - Jason Duncan
Attachments: pistols.jpg
News and Upcoming Events – October 20, 2025
Jason Duncan
webjmd.com for previous newsletter updates
Click the embedded links for more information.
Earlier this
month I attended the Wilkes Genealogical
Society’s first swap meet at the Wilkes County Public Library. It’s
fun to swap research stories and share new discoveries with others who
appreciate the excitement and frustration that are part of the genealogical
journey. I’m looking forward to the next one!
I visit the
State Archives in Raleigh a few times each year, and on one visit I found the
slip of paper shown in the image below. On the back, it is dated August
22, 1867. The front is a statement from the jury at the August session of
court. It reads, “We also present John Peydon and William Carmichael for
draw their pistoles in the cort house and disturbing the peace.
Witnesses: R. M. Smith, Samuel Smith Jr, J. Q. A. Bryan.” Unfortunately,
they didn’t explain what caused the argument between the two men!
I’ve recently added two new articles to my website.
Nathaniel Vannoy: Not
Saved by the Bell
In 1813,
Nathaniel Vannoy Jr. faced charges involving the killing of Col. James
Welborn's horse while he was out hunting with friends Samuel Wilcoxson and
George Wilcoxson who were great nephews of Daniel Boone. This likely took place
near Rendezvous Mountain near the home of Capt. Robert Cleveland. Robert’s son
Eli Cleveland was a witness, and part of this story might have even occurred in
the historic log cabin. Witnesses included Aaron Owens, Thomas Baker, Nathan
Phillips, and my ancestors Elijah Irwin and Thomas Irwin. This story was pieced
together from dozens of court documents, many of which I collected during trips
to the State Archives in Raleigh.
The 50-Acre Town of
Wilkesboro: Lot #3
I'm working on a history of the original 36 lots that were created by William Lenoir to form the town of Wilkesboro in 1800. Over the coming months, I'll post chapters online as I continue working on this project, and eventually, I'll turn this into a book with maps, photos, and court cases that tell the individual stories of each lot. Look for that in 2026. If anyone has old photos that show the people and places in the early days of the town, please let me know! With this first article, we'll look at Wilkesboro town lot #3 which is where the Wilkesboro Police Station is today at the northeast corner of Main Street and West Street. In the late 1800s, this was the home of Samuel J. Ginnings and his wife Dianah McBride.
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Check out this and previous newsletters on my website.
Jason Duncan