John Eastridge (bef 1734-c1794) and Nancy --- of Wilkes Co., NC

Marty and Karla Grant

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]

John Eastridge (bef 1734-c1794) and Nancy — of Wilkes Co., NC

[Eastridge Home] - [Table of Contents] - John Eastridge

Jump to Children’s section | Jump to Family Group Sheet

John Eastridge *might* be my 7 times great grandfather. I’m working on proving it.

The surname Eastridge and Estes were often used interchangeably in those days, so you may see both used for the same people in different records.

John Eastridge was born before ca 1734 based on the assumption that he was at least 50 in 1784 when excused from paying a Poll tax due to “age & infirmities.”

I don’t know where John was born. The only sure records I have for him are in Wilkes Co., NC, but he wouldn’t have been born in that area for it was still Indian territory when he was born. He probably migrated there from further east in North Carolina (Granville County perhaps, where other Eastridges lived) or from Virginia or Pennsylvania.

There was an Eastridge family in Granville, Bute, Orange and Chatham Co., NC that he might be part of. Some of them wound up in Wilkes Co., NC also, but after John had died. For example, Ephraim Eastridge (bef 1733-aft 1777) (wife Sarah) and Elizabeth Eastridge Stroud (1736-1800) (husband John) could be his siblings, or perhaps not. I have no evidence at all linking John to them or to Granville and Orange Counties where they lived. But as noted, some members of that Eastridge family also wound up in Wilkes which might mean something or could be a coincidence.

I believe John Eastridge’s widow was Nancy, maiden name unknown. She was named in a 1795 court record regarding an orphaned child (not named), and since John had died ca 1794, it seems likely she was his widow, though the record doesn’t say that. I don’t know if she was John’s only wife, but if so, they married before ca 1772, place unknown.

John is named in a 1779 land entry for William Lenoir (transferred to Andrew Baird) for 200 acres in Wilkes County on the East side of new River “against Eastridge’s field, near Capt. Herndon’s entry.”

While the above doesn’t give his first name, it must be John for he lived next to Joseph Herndon, then a Captain, later a Colonel by the time John died.

John Eastridge and others were named in a court order dated 29 Jul 1784 exempting persons from having to pay Poll tax “on account of their age & infirmities.” The list:

John Smether, Charles Hicherson, John Campbell, John Eastes, Thomas Collier, John Miller, John Jennings, Jacob Madcap, Thomas Hopper, Benjamin Brannum, William Hancock, William Adams, John Hunt, Geo. Barker, Joseph Elledge.

The rules were ever changing, so it isn’t clear how old John would have been to qualify, but at least 50. It is interesting that George Baker is also on that list for he was associated with John’s son John Jr.

John Eastridge is listed in Wilkes Co., NC for the 1787 North Carolina State census in Cpt. Gordon’s district, listed next to Joseph Herndon.

1787 Census - Wilkes Co., NC

John Eastridge 1-3-3-0-0

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 21-60 (born c1726-1766) John Eastridge (bef 1734) or an older son if he was 60+ himself

3m -21 (or 60+) (born 1766/1787) 1. John Eastridge (Jr) (bef 1772) son?

2. Micajah Eastridge (1780/1790) son?

3. Son? (Or John himself if over 60)

3f (before 1787) 1. Nancy (—) Eastridge, wife

2. Daughter?

3. Daughter?

On the 1790 census they were still next door to Joseph Herndon. The other John Eastridge (his son, I believe) was also listed, but not nearby. They were the only two Eastridges in Wilkes for this census.

1790 Census - Wilkes Co., NC

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
	2^nd Company
151	John Estridge	1	1	2	~	~
	4^th Company
154	John Estridge	1	~	1	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 16+ (before 1774) John Eastridge (bef 1734)

1m -16 (1774/1790) Micajah Eastridge (1780/1790) son?

2f (before 1790) 1. Nancy (—) Eastridge, wife

2. Daughter?

John Eastridge appears to have died before 6 Nov 1794, for on that date, the Wilkes County court ordered that Micajah Eastridge be bound to Col. Joseph Herndon till 21 years old. The record does not state that Micajah was a son of John, but it does seem likely, especially considering who he was bound out to, Col. Herndon having been John’s neighbor for a number of years.

On 6 Aug 1795, the Wilkes County court ordered the Sheriff to bring in an “orphan child of Nancy Eastridge to be dealt with.”

The above record doesn’t say that Nancy was John’s widow, but it seems likely. Unfortunately the child wasn’t named in the record.

This is the last I have on John and Nancy. He died between 1790 and 1794, she sometime after 6 Aug 1795.

Col. Joseph Herndon was a neighbor of John Eastridge (Sr) in 1779, 1786, 1790 and then basically guardian to his son Micajah in 1794. That suggests that they may be related somehow.

Children

John and Nancy Eastridge appear to the parents of at least five children per the 1787 and 1790 census. The 1794 court record strongly suggests Micajah is one of them. He, being associated with the children of the younger John Eastridge, suggests that John Jr is another of John and Nancy’s children. Thus, it’s all circumstantial, but it fits rather well. There was also a Richard Eastridge in Wilkes Co., NC in the 1780s who was in Carter Co., TN by 1796. He could be another son. If so, he might be the oldest.

1. Richard Eastridge - was in Wilkes in the 1780s. No evidence he is John’s son or even associated with him, so I don’t know if related or not.

2. Son (1766/1787). This is almost certainly John Eastridge (bef 1772) who was also in Wilkes Co., NC. His children went to Buncombe Co., NC.

3. Son (1766/1787). This is almost certain Micajah Eastridge (1780/90-aft 1840). He went to Buncombe Co., NC and later to Cocke Co., TN.

4. Son (1766/1787). With John in 1787, gone by 1790. This *could* be Richard if not yet married by 1787, or it could be another son.

5. Daughter (bef 1787). She was with John in 1787, but gone by 1790 so married or dead by then.

6. Daughter (bef 1787). She was with John in 1787 and still home in 1790. She may be the orphan referred to in the 1795 court record. Her name was not given there.

Richard Eastridge was born before 1768 assuming he was at least 16 when listed on the 1784 tax list. He could be much older than that. I don’t know that he is John’s son or if he’s even related. The only commonality is both were in Wilkes Co., NC at the same time.

Richard Estridge is listed on the 1784 Wilkes tax list.

Richard Estridge is listed on the 1786 Wilkes tax list in Cpt. Vannoy’s District with 50 acres of land.

He is not listed on the 1787 state census in Wilkes. However, John, his potential father, does have room for him in his household.

Richard isn’t listed on the 1790 census. He may be in Tennessee already by then.

Richard is listed on the 1796 tax list in Carter Co., TN.

Richard is listed on the 1798 tax list in Carter Co., TN.

There is also a Richard on the 1798 tax list in Russell Co., VA. I don’t know if that is the same Richard or not. Russell VA and Carter TN aren’t too far apart (about 80 miles), but not close enough for him to be living in both places at the same time. Of course he could own land in one while residing in the other. Or, it could be two different Richards.

Richard is listed on an 1804 court record in Carter Co., TN.

I don’t currently have any additional information on Richard Eastridge.

Son (1766/1787). John Eastridge had an apparent son this age with him on the 1787 census, aged 16-20 (1766/1787) and still home in 1790, aged under 16 (1774/1790). I suspect this is Micajah Eastridge (1780/90) mainly because of the association with Col. Joseph Herndon who was a neighbor of John Eastridge (Sr) in 1779, 1786, 1790.

On 6 Nov 1794, the Wilkes Co., NC court bound out Micajah Eastridge to Col. Joseph Herndon until 21 years old. The record doesn’t state his age but he would have been between 4 and 14 in 1794. This means he would turn 21 between 1801 and 1811.

I was unable to find Micajah Eastridge or Joseph Herndon on the 1800 or 1810 census.

By 1820, Micajah was married with several children residing in Buncombe Co., NC which is where his likely brother John Eastridge Jr’s children were also residing then. I have not yet found any record of Micajah’s wife’s name. She was born ca 1770/1775 per census analysis.

Judging by his neighbors on this census, Micajah was residing in the section of Buncombe that later became Henderson County (1838).

1820 Census - Buncombe Co., NC

Page

Name

128

Micajah Estridg

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 26-44 (1775/1794) Micajah Eastridge (1780/1790)

1m 10-15 (1804/1810) Son? * Thomas Eastridge (1800/10) fits here.

3m 0-9 (1810/1820) 1. Son?

2. Son?

3. Son?

1f 45+ (before 1775) Wife? (1770/1775)

2f 16-25 (1794/1804) 1. Daughter?

2. Daughter?

3f 0-9 (1810/1820) 1. Daughter?

2. Daughter?

3. Daughter?

By 1830 they’d moved just a few miles northwest to Cocke Co., TN and are listed there on that census two houses from an apparent widow Margaret Eastridge. Is she a widowed sister-in-law? Or is she perhaps a widow of one of John Eastridge Jr’s sons? Although the census taker uses “Eastas” for Micajah in 1830 and “Estes” in 1840, I’m reasonably sure this is the same person as Micajah Eastridge. It’s interesting that he was “Eastas” in 1830, and widow Margaret, just two houses away was “Eastridge.”

1830 Census, Cocke Co., TN

Page

Name

(Males first row, females on second)

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

100+

247

Micajah Eastas

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 40-49 (1780/1790) Micajah Eastridge (1780/1790)

2m 10-14 (1815/1820) 1. Son?

2. Son?

2m 5-9 (1820/1825) 1. Son?

2. Son?

3m 0-4 (1825/1830) 1. Son?

2. Son?

3. Son?

1f 50-59 (1770/1775) Wife? (1770/1775)

1f 20-29 (1800/1810) Daughter?

2f 15-19 (1810/1815) 1. Daughter?

2. Daughter?

1f 10-14 (1815/1820) Daughter?

1f 5-9 (1820/1825) Daughter?

They were still in Cocke for the 1840 census. Widow Margaret wasn’t found.

1840 Census, Cocke Co., TN

Page

Name

(Males first row, females on second)

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

100+

30/285

Micajah Estes

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 50-59 (1780/1790) Micajah Eastridge (1780/1790)

3m 15-19 (1820/1825) 1. Son?

2. Son?

3. Son?

1m 10-14 (1825/1830) Son?

1f 60-69 (1770/1775) Wife? (1770/75)

2f 30-39 (1800/1810) 1. Daughter?

2. Daughter?

3f 15-19 (1820/1825) 1. Daughter?

2. Daughter?

3. Daughter?

1f 10-14 (1825/1830) Daughter?

2f 5-9 (1830/1835) 1. Daughter?

2. Daughter?

3f 0-4 (1835/1840) 1. Daughter?

2. Daughter?

3. Daughter?

I found no trace of them on the 1850 or 1860 census in Cocke Co., TN, so I assume that Micajah died in the 1840s, either in Cocke Co., TN or wherever the family moved to before 1850.

Micajah and his wife clearly had a very large family judging by the 1820, 1830 and 1840 censuses. I haven’t identified any of those children except possibly a son Thomas Eastridge (1800/1810) who was listed on the 1830 census in Buncombe with the same neighbors Micajah had when he was there in 1820. I have no other record of Thomas.

The large number of children suggest that Micajah was married more than once.

I should note there were at least two other Micajah Estes families who might cause confusion, one in Wilson Co., TN who originated in Caswell Co., NC. They always used Estes, never Eastridge as far as I’ve seen. There was also a Dr. Micajah Estes (1804-1883) in GA and elsewhere, who I believe was also always Estes, never Eastridge.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Eastridge.

Revised: December 28, 2025

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]