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My name is David Robertson and have been an avid genealogy researcher for 45 plus years. Having solved much of my easier family tree years ago I now spend my time digging into thornier research problems. In particular, I like to redo research from scratch and question everything from a contrarian point of view. Anything that I cannot verify is suspect, especially old research without supporting sources. Real estate, taxes and estate records other than wills are a cornerstone of new research.

My latest Project is the Giddens Family of New Hanover Co., NC. This was brought to my attention by Ancestry Thrulines on Nancy, wife of James Rogers who had some suggested links to the Giddens family that looked promising. The review of the Giddens family revealed some glaring gaps and inconsistencies.

Let us start with what I accept for the most part. Thomas Giddens, b. 1789, New Hanover, NC, d. 1851, Lowndes Co., GA. His family appears well researched and the records are consistent. What is puzzling is that his father is said to be Thomas Giddens, R.S. who supposedly d. in Tattnall Co., GA in 1831. Some FamilySearch sources point back to Thomas Giddens of New Hanover Co., NC who d. in 1831 in New Hanover Co., NC There is no evidence that I can find that he ever stepped foot in Georgia; and I cannot find him anywhere in Georgia. There is also no evidence he had a son named Thomas.

Thomas Giddens, b. 1789 is said to have married second to Mary Neville according to Indian War Bounty Land Application (a good solid source). Bulloch Co., GA marriage records show a marriage for Thomas Giddens to Mary Baker, 24 Apr 1824. Some researchers have assumed this is the marriage of the mysterious Thomas Giddens, of Tattnall Co., GA. The simpler explanation is that Mary Neville and Mary Baker are one and the same. She was likely b. Mary Neville and married first to a Baker, being widowed shortly later. While I recognize I have no proof of this, it is far more plausible than creating another Thomas Giddens that did not exist.

If Thomas Giddens, b. 1789 is not the son of Thomas, R.S. of New Hanover Co., then who is his father. The only other obvious candidate is Benjamin Giddens, b. 1755-1774, NC, d. in 1831 in Thomas County, Georgia. He is a very good candidate at that. Benjamin Giddens was m. to Rebecca Devane, dau. of John Devane, Sr. who d. in Bladen Co., NC. While John Devane was a resident of Bladen Co., his son John Devane, Jr. had some land holdings on Wildcat Cr. in New Hanover Co. Wildcat Cr. is in the lower end of present day Sampson Co, due to county boundary line changes. Remember from above that my personal target of this research is Nancy, wife of James Rogers. The Rogers family has a long connection with the Devane family and also lived on Wildcat Br. and along the nearby Black R. and specifically around Wildcat Cr. Thus, the Thrulines DNA clue is adding to the circumstantial evidence as to her parentage. Benjamin Giddens sold his lands in 1818 and moved to Bulloch Co., GA by 1820 where he appears in the 1820 Census. He later moved to Thomas County, GA and appears in the 1830 Census taken shortly before his death in late 1831. Furthermore, from census records, he had a son the right age to be Thomas, b. 1789 and a daughter the right age to be Nancy, b. 1794, wife of James Rogers. Numerous interrelated families (Alderman, Giddens, Mathis, Newton, Rogers) from the same area of NC followed the same path and landed in Lowndes Co., GA.

Close analysis shows that New Hanover County has two Thomas Giddens and three Benjamin Giddens appearing in its records. The senior Thomas Giddens and the senior Benjamin Giddens appear to be brothers. Thomas Giddens, Sr. had a son Benjamin, Jr.; and Benjamin Giddens, Sr. had a son Thomas, Jr. In addition, there appears to be a third Benjamin Giddens.

Let’s take a look at some of the key data. The first Giddens record found in New Hanover Co. is of Benjamin Giddens who purchased land in 1759.

This would indicate he was b. before 1738. He died sometime before 30 Apr 1792, when his son Thomas Giddens sold the same land he inherited from his father Benjamin.

The next record comes from the 1779 Petition of the Residents of Duplin, New Hanover (and future Sampson Co.) for the formation of Sampson Co.. Both Benjamin Giddens and Thomas Giddens appear in that Petition. (Note: There is apparently more than one copy of this Petition as it circulated. They appear in one copy, but not the other.) Assuming one had to be 21 to petition, this would indicate both were b. before 1758.

Next, in 1803 Benjamin Giddens, son of Thomas Giddens, Jr. sold land adjacent his father Thomas Giddens [JR.] new entry.

The question arises as to if this is a reference to Thomas Sr., or Thomas Jr. fFrtunately, that is resolved with just two more pieces of data.

Thomas Giddens, Sr. d. in 1806, as evidenced by the 9 Apr 1806 Admr. Bond of Thomas Liddon and Jacob Giddons, admr. of Thomas Giddons. (Note: The name Liddon is a different surname and not a misspelling of Giddon).

On 10 Aug 1806, Thomas Giddens sold that adjacent tract of land. This has to be Thomas Giddens, Jr. as Thomas Giddens, Sr. had just died a few months before.

This is a good time to address the two younger Benjamin Giddens. The older of the two younger Benjamin shows up in the 1800 Census in New Hanover Co. and later in the 1820 Census of Bulloch Co., GA. He was b. 1755-1774. He is just too old to be the son of Thomas, Jr. that appears in the above deed. The younger Benjamin simply disappears from the records.

There are a few critical pieces of data on him as well. He first appears in 1795 using the name Thomas Giddens, Jr. in the following deed.

In 1803 he joined in two deeds, as an heir of John Rivenbark (in right of his wife Catherine - not stated).

NC New Hanover DB M.354	8 Sep 1803	John H. Merrick, James Blanton, Francis Savage, Arthur Savage, Thomas Giddeons, Jr.	John Blanton	164	ns Sill’s Cr., mouth of Rivenbark Br.
£67 sh10. Has metes & bounds. Adj. John Rivenbark, dec’d., William Wright. Witnesses: Jesse Collins, William W. Rivenbark. Recorded 21 Mar 1804.
NC New Hanover DB M.352	12 Sep 1803	Ann Rivenbark, spinster, James Blanton, John M. Minuch?, Thomas Savage, Thomas Giddeons	Francis Savage	175	ss Rockfish Cr., mouth of Buck Br.
£100. Has metes & bounds. Patented by John Rivenbark, Sr. 20 Dec 1791. Upper part at mouth of Buck Br. Adj. William Wright, Arthur Savage. Witnesses: Jesse Collins, William W. Rivenbark. Recorded 21 Mar 1804. Note: Original grant was 300 acres.

He appears in the 1800, 1820 and 1830 Census of New Hanover Co. (There is no 1810 Census for New Hanover Co.). In 1831 his widow was allotted dower.

NC New Hanover DB Q.091	7 Jan 1811	Samuel Rogers, planter	Benjamin Giddens, planter	100	Black R.
$330. Orig. granted John Sampson 3 Mar, 1772. Beg. At Black R.; 275 yards (parallel Sampson) across Wildcat; lower side of branch; parallel to back line; 275 yards; to beg. Recorded: 12 Jun, 1818. Witnesses: James Newton (proved Nov, 1817), William Jones. Cross Ref: Deed Book O-22.
NC New Hanover DB P.226	10 Mar 1811	Morris Fennel, atty. in fact for Howard Henly and his wife Ann	Benjamin Giddens	50	Wildcat & Hack Br.
$50. Adj. John Devane, Sr., dec’d., John Sampson, being the land Howard Henly and his wife Ann was entitled to. Witnesses: John Devane, James Rogers. Recorded Aug 1814. Note: Ann is dau. of Thomas Devane.
NC New Hanover DB P.214	2 Aug 1811	Elisha Powell & Mary Powell, of Duplin Co.	Benjamin Giddens	100	East side Black R., Wildcat Br.
$100. ½ interest. Granted Daniel McAllister 1 Jun, 1773. S87E 16 (John Devane); N55E 220 (John Sampson; S35E 100; to beg. Division of the estate of Thomas Devane, dec’d. Other heir: Howard Hurly & Ann Hurley. Proved: Aug, 1814. Witnesses: Thomas Devane, James Devane, John Robinson.
NC New Hanover DB P.214	9 Jul 1812	Samuel Rogers, of Putnam Co., GA	Benjamin Giddens	320	Wildcat Br. Of East side of Black R.
$252. S45E 212; S62W 280 (across Wildcat); N60W 168 (Timothy Hutchins); N11W 134 (Devane Old Line); N66E 190p (Cook); N10E ____. Proved: Aug, 1814. Recorded: Feb, 1815. Witnesses: George Fennell, Nathan M. Wheeler. Cross Ref: Deed Book W-2.
NC New Hanover DB R.216	26 Jan 1817	Benjamin Giddens	Allen Peterson	100	Wild Cat Br.
$200. Has metes & bounds. Witnesses: Isam Hatcher, James Rogers, Jr?. Recorded 15 Mar 1821.
NC New Hanover DB Q.180	7 Jan 1818	Benjamin Giddins	Laban Peterson	77	ses Wildcat Br.
$258. Has metes & bounds. Adj. John Sampson, John Devane. Witnesses: Robert Hendry, William Hendry. Recorded 30 Jul 1818.
NC New Hanover DB Q.196	24 Jan 1818	Benjamin Gideon, Francis Devane & James Rogers	William Hendry	289	Northeast side Wildcat Br.
$1,300. Tract 1: 122 acres. N41E 150p; S85 E 180p (crossing Flag Br.); S45E 80p to corner of Cook Survey; S50E 100p; down branch to Cook line; N36W 42p to Sampson line; N10W 1p; down branch. Tract 2: 10 acres. Part of 380 acres orig. granted Samuel Rogers. N10E 44p; S45E 102p; down Br. Tract 3: 157 acres, including grist mill. Part of 380 acres orig. granted Samuel Rogers. Beg. at 2^nd corner; ___ 56p to Wildcat Br.; S62W 124p; N82W 159; N11W 82 (182?) to corner of survey (Devane); N66E 80; up branch. Recorded: 20 Aug, 1818. Witnesses: Robert Hendry, _____ Peterson.
Benjamin Giddens (Tar Kiln Tract - Wildcat Br.)
NC Patent Book 130.403	11 Dec 1816	North Carolina - New Hanover # 3016	Benjamin Giddons	200	Beg. at a small pine near a tar kiln
N45E 157p; S57E 200; S35W 148; to beg. (his own line). Entered 16 Dec 1816.
NC New Hanover DB Q.418	4 Feb 1818	Benjamin Giddins	James Mashborne	200	Wile Cat
$80. Has metes & bounds. Adj. Tar kiln? bed. Witnesses: Joseph Stringfield, Fras Devane. Recorded 7 Sep 1819.

His departure from New Hanover Co. after selling his lands on Wildcat Br. in 1818 dovetails nicely with his appearance in the 1820 Census of Bulloch Co., GA.

PROPOSED GIDDENS DESCENDANT CHART
1^st Generation	Unknown Parent of Benjamin and Thomas Giddens
2^nd Generation	Old Benjamin b. < 1738 1759 Deed d. < 1792 Deed Book K.396	Old Thomas b. d. 1806 Estate Record
3^rd Generation	Thomas, Jr., adult as of 1792 Deed Book K.396 b. 1760-1770 1830 Census d. 1831 Estate m. Catharine Rivenbark	Benjamin, Jr. Deed Book M.330 b. 1755-1774 1800 Census d. after 1820 1820 Census m. Rebecca Devane
4^th Generation	Likely Sons Benjamin James John Timothy Washington Others?	Likely Son: Thomas b. 1789 1850 Census d. 1851 m. Mary Neville aka Mary Baker Likely Dau.: Nancy b. 1794 d. 1860 m. James Rogers Others?
	This branch stayed in New Hanover Co.	This branch moved to Georgia

The within research is a summary. For full research sources and more Abstracts and Links to Sources please see https://www.genealogyfacts.org/Surname/Rogers_Surname.htm, especially records in New Hanover, NC, Bulloch, GA, Thomas. GA, Lowndes, GA, and Brooks, GA.