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Descendants of Norman and Janet (Bethune) URQUHART


(First Generation)

First Generation


1. Norman URQUHART1,2,3 was born about 1750 in Scotland.3,4,5,6,7 He died about 1840 in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama. He was buried in Urquhart Cemetery, Pine Level, Alabama.3,4,5,7,8,9
Immigration Information:

According to Charles Urquhart, Norman came to North Carolina from Isle of Skye, Scotland. However, in an article written by Carolyn Boone, she states that Norman, Henry and Alexander Urquhart left Cromarty and sailed to Wilmington, North Carolina, on the ship "Balliol", supposedly one of the last two ships to reach America before the Revolution. Traveling with them were the McLeods and the Bethunes. However, further research has failed to show there was ever a ship with this name that sailed from Scotland to North Carolina. It is quite possible that the records containing the actual ship's name were misplaced and another name was substituted for it by an overly zealous researcher.

Real Estate Information:

File # 1343 State of North Carolina to Norman Urkquard, 150 acres Middle prong of Hugh McCrain's Creek, Issued July 22, 1774 [Book 22, p. 389].

File # 2573 State of North Carolina to Norman Urquart, 100 acres adjoining John Campbell, Issued November 20, 1791, Entered November 6, 1788 [Book 74, p. 412], [Cumberland DB 15, p. 94].

File # 2591 State of North Carolina to Noman Urquart, 23 acres Middle Buies Creek, Issued December 20, 1791, Entered August 15, 1789 [Book 74, p. 421], [Cumberland DB 15, p. 512].

File # 3010 State of North Carolina to Norman Urquhart, 60 acres adjoining his own lines, Issued October 17, 1796, Entered December 26, 1794 [Book 91, p. 64], [Cumberland DB 19, p. 248].

File # 3343 State of North Carolina to Norman Urquhart, 18 acres Juniper Branch, Issued August 31, 1798, Entered November 12, 1796 [Book 98, p. 256], [Cumberland DB 19, p. 249].

File #4722 State of North Carolina to Norman Urquhart, Sr., 40 acres Hugh's Creek, Issued December 1, 1813, Entered January 18, 1813 [Book 128, p. 132].

The Cumberland County Tax Roll for 1804 shows Norman had 351 acres of land subject to taxes in July 1804.

According to "Abstract of Min. Court of Pleas Quarter Sessions of Cumberland Co. Apr 1779 - Jan 1791 Vol II Fayetteville, North Carolina - Pg 305", October 26, 1790, Norman Urquhart received a permit to build a grist mill on his own land, on the Middle Fork of Buie's Creek. The location of this grist mill now is situated on the campus of Campbell University.

Other Property Holdings:

(1) On 10 Jul 1825 he owned E1/2 SE1/4 S14 T14 R19 (80.25 acres) in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama.

Source: Bureau of Land Management, Cahaba, Alabama, Land Office Certificate Number 2668

(2) On 7 Aug 1837 he owned NE1/4 of NE1/4 of S23 T13N, R19E (39.675 acres) in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama.

Source: Bureau of Land Management, Cahaba, Alabama Land Office Certificate Number 27930

Church Membership:

Norman and his family attended Old Bluff Presbyterian Church in Cumberland County, North Carolina and it was here that several of their children were baptized.

The Old Bluff Presbyterian Church is located about 1 1/2 miles north of Wade in Black River Township of Cumberland County on the bluff overlooking the east bank of the Cape Fear River and at the west end of Old Bluff Church Road (S.R. 1709).

Rev. James Campbell, who was born in Cambellton, Kintyre, Scotland about 1705, came to America about 1730. He came to North Carolina from the Presbytery of Philadelphia about 1757 and settled on a tract of 200 acres on the west side of the Cape Fear River opposite to where the Old Bluff Presbyterian Church now stands.

The Presbyterian Church in the Upper Cape Fear Valley was organized October 18, 1758. The call of Rev. Campbell was effective from June 22, 1758, however, he was not (legally) allowed to preach or perform marriages until January 18, 1759 when he subscribed to the required oath that he would not oppose the doctrine, discipline, and Liturgy of the Church of England.

Other family information:

A record was found in North Carolina where Francis Faulkner came into court and made an oath that he heard Henry Wheeler and Amos Wheeler swear that they would kill Henry Urquhart, Norman's brother. Both men were taken into custody.

Norman was reportedly born in Scotland, but the exact date and location has not been determined. There are two suggested locations, both of which are possible. One is in the area near the site where the ruins of Castle Urquhart are located on Loch Ness, while the other is near Cromarty where another castle is located that has been an ancestral home of the Urquhart family.

In an e-mail received from James Davis, Norman is presumed to have been born in 1748.

Burial Notes:

Burial location is known as "The Urquhart Cemetery", located in Pine Level, Alabama. The cemetery was located by Ray Urquhart a few years ago, which is located on land that is now privately owned, however the owner, Mr. Parker Mount, is willing to set the land aside and have it marked off for the preservation of the grave sites.

Norman URQUHART and Janet BETHUNE were married in 1774.4 The location of the marriage ceremony has not been determined. It has been reported (but not verified) that they were married in Scotland prior to sailing to the Colonies, and it has also been reported that they were married after their arrival in North Carolina. However, a third and more romantic story has it that Janet was engaged to Henry Urquhart but she met Norman while aboard ship. And as they say, "the rest is history". Janet BETHUNE was born about 1755 in Scotland.3,4,5,6,7 She died about 1830 in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama.3,4,5,6,7 She was buried in Urquhart Cemetery, Pine Level, Alabama.3,4,5,6,7 Notes:

Old Bluff Presbyterian Church baptismal records show her name as Jenat or Jennat BETTON. However, a note has been made that the person who made these entries did not always get the correct spellings. It is assumed that her name was really Janet BETTON or possibly BETHUNE. Her ancestry has not been determined for certainty, however, there is a Colin Betton shown on a list of householders in Cromarty in 1744, according to Craigston Castle archives. Castle Craig was one of two castles occupied by members of the Urquhart Clan. It is located near Cromarty at the eastern end of Loch Ness and the other and better known castle is located on the northern shore of Loch Ness directly across from Glen Urquhart. Norman URQUHART and Janet BETHUNE had the following children:

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i.

John URQUHART.

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ii.

Neill URQUHART.

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iii.

Alexander A. URQUHART.

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iv.

Nancy URQUHART.

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v.

Florence (Flora) URQUHART.

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vi.

Catherine URQUHART was born about 1790 in Near Wade, Cumberland County, North Carolina.4 She died about 1888.10

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vii.

Elizabeth URQUHART.

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viii.

Margaret URQUHART.

10

ix.

Norman URQUHART Jr. was born on 2 November 1794 in Cumberland County, North Carolina.11 He died about 1864. He had his estate probated on 10 August 1864 in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama.


ESTATE OF NORMAN URQUHART, JR.
SON OF NORMAN AND JANE BETHUNE URQUHART

State of Alabama)
Montgomery County)

To David Campbell, Judge of Probate for Sd. County, Your petitioner, Sylvanus Walker, who is administrator of the goods and Chattels, rights and credits that were of Norman Urquhart, Decd of the county and State aforesaid, would represent unto your honor, that the deceased died Seized and possessed of the following Lands, to wit, the East 1/2 of the SE 1/4 and NW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 12 in Township 6 of Range 19 lying and being in the county of Coffee and State aforesaid. He further represents unto your honor that Sd. estate is solvent, and that Sd. land cannot be equitably divided among the heirs at law of the deceased, without a Sale thereof He further represents unto your Honor that the deceased left as his heirs at law the following persons, to wit, Margaret Joyce, a widow, Sister of Decd, of full age who resides in the county and State aforesaid.

The children of John Urquhart, who was a brother of the Decd., To Wit, Thomas Urquhart of full age, resides in the State of Florida, Gracy McCall, a widow of full age, resides in Montgomery County, Ala.; Elizabeth Knighten a widow of full age who has died since the death of Sd. Norman Urquhart, Decd, leaving no living issue or children. Henry Urquhart of full age residing in Green County Ala., John Urquhart of full age, residing in Montgomery County Ala. Lafayette Urquhart of full age who has died since the intestate Norman Urquhart, leaving no children, and Anestatia Urquhart of full age residing in Montgomery County Ala., also the Children of Catharine Williams, decd, who was a daughter of the decd Brother John Urquhart, whose names and ages are not known to your petitioner, and whom he believes reside in the State of Florida.

Also the children of Neill Urquhart Decd., a brother of the Decd, to wit, Daniel Urquhart of full age who resides in the County of Clark Ala., Henry Urquhart of full age who resides in the County of Barber Ala,, and Benjamin Urquhart of full age and resides in the County of Barber, Ala.

Also the Children of Alexander Urquhart Decd a Brother of the deceased, to wit, Norman Urquhart of full age, Aaron Urquhart of full age, Nancy S. Walker wife of Sylvanus Walker, of full age, Almira Herrington of full age, wife of James Herrington, Elizabeth Caffey, a widow, of full age, all of whom reside in Montgomery County, Ala. Henry Urquhart of full age and Alexander Urquhart of full age, both reside in Pike County, Ala.

Also the children of Daniel Urquhart Decd, who was a Brother of the decd, to wit, Norman Urquhart, and Sarah Urquhart who has intermarried with some person, unknown to your petitioner, both of whom are of full age and reside in the State of Florida.

Also the children of Nancy McLeod who was a Sister of the deceased, to wit, Daniel McLeod, Norman McLeod, Jannett McLeod, and Christian McLeod, all of full age, and reside in the State of North Carolina.

Also the children of Elizabeth Shaw, Decd, who was a Sister of the Decd, to wit, Jennett Shaw, Elizabeth Shaw, Angus Shaw, Sally Sunday, wife of John Sunday, all of full age, who reside in the County of Cumberland, State of North Carolina, and Nancy Crowder wife of Sion Crowder, Catharine Vickers wife of Hiram Vickers and Mary Wright wife of - Wright, all of full age and who reside in the State of North Carolina.

He therefore prays your Honor to set a day for the hearing of this application, give the notice required by Statute to the heirs at law, and appoint some fit person to take testimony in this case, that upon the hearing of it, if it is made to appear to your Honor from proof, that a Sale of Sd. land is necessary to make distribution, that your Honor grant him the usual order or decree, to Sell Sd. Land and he as in duty bound will ever pray.

State of Alabama )
Montgomery County )

Personally appeared before me Sylvanus Walker, Administrator of the Estate of Norman Urquhart Deceased who on his oath says that the facts set forth in the foregoing petition are true.

Sworn to and Subscribed before )
me this 10th day of August 1864. )
Sylvanus Walker
M. F. Rushton, J. P. )

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x.

Daniel URQUHART.

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