William Nunn, Sr., Sheriff of Orange County

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nunn-915

William Rice Nunn Sr
Born 8 Apr 1713 in Indian Fort, Craven, Rowan, North Carolina, British Colonial America
ANCESTORS ancestors
Son of Francis Nunn I and Naomi (Barrett) Nunn
Brother of Francis Nunn II
Husband of Elizabeth (Loftin) Nunn — married 17 Dec 1743 in Craven County, North Carolina
Father of

1. William Nunn Jr.,
2. Carlton Nunn Sr.,
3. Elijah Nunn,
4. Francis Nunn IV,
5. Sarah Lucreita (Nunn) Porterfield and
6. Edmund Nunn

Died Jan 1787 at age 73 in Georgia, United States

Biography
William was born 1713 in the Carolinas. William Nunn married Elizabeth Loftin on Dec 17 1743 in New Bern, Craven, NC. He passed away Jan 1787 in GA.

"He was the eldest son of Francis I for he was recognized as 'Administrator of his father, Francis Nunn, deceased,' by the Court on 20 Mar 1739 and he inherited the family plantation by the English law of Primogeniture."[1]

"The Dec 1743 term of Craven Court also saw a Deed of Gift of a Negro girl from Cornelius Loftin to his daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of William Nunn, proved by Lake Russell. This confirms that such a marriage took place - probably about 1743 in Craven County. Cornelius evidently had been a friend and associate of William's father, Francis Sr., as their names frequently appeared together in various records."[1]

He moved to Orange County, North Carolina before 1755. In 1758 he was appointed Justice of the Peace and in Dec 1762 became county coroner. Lt Gov William Tryon appointed him Sheriff on 10 Jun 1765, which lasted until at least 1768.[1]

Children
[1][2]

1. William Jr, b. Abt. 1743, Craven Co., North Carolina; m. (1) Ede Simpson[3] ~1770, (2) Elizabeth "Betsy" Copeland, 17 Oct 1782; d. 1 Jan 1806, Chapel Hill, Orange Co., North Carolina.
2. Carlton, b. Abt. 1747, Craven Co., North Carolina.
3. Elijah, b. Abt. 1750, Craven Co., North Carolina; m. Francis Wyatt ~1775; d. March 17, 1809, Chester Co., South Carolina.
4. Francis, b. July 06, 1752, Craven Co., North Carolina; d. October 15, 1815.[4]
5. Ilai, b. October 01, 1758, Hillsborough, Orange Co., North Carolina; m. (1) Jane "Jennie" Scott, 27 May 1779, (2) Jemima Adair Watson, 1805; d. >1800
6. Sarah, b. Abt. 1763, Hillsborough, Orange Co., North Carolina; m. JOHN PRATT.
7. Edmund, b. April 04, 1769, Hillsborough, Orange Co., North Carolina; m. Margaret "Peggy" Gaulman, <1808; d. 14 Jul 1854, Sumter Co., Georgia.
8. Elizabeth ? (prob. daughter of Francis Nunn, Jr.)

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William Nunn I Sheriff of Orange County., NC Birth: ABT 1713 in Craven Co, NC Death: in Wilkinson Co., Georgia

In the Colonial records of 1754 400 acres of land in Orange County were granted to William Churton and laid off by him into a town and said 400 acres was constituted a town by the governing council, to be called Childsburg.

James Watson, William Chuton, William Reed, esquires, William Nunn and Daniel Cane, Gentlemen, constituted directors and trustees for designing, building and carrying on said town. In 1766 the above town of Childsburg was changed to Hillsborough and William Nunn was given preference in the purchase of two lots in the town. In 1758 William Nunn was appointed Justice in the Commission of Peace for the County of Orange and in 1762 was appointed Coroner for the same county. He was appointed Sheriff of Orange Co. by Lt. Governor William Tryon in June, 1765.

William received a land grant in 1756 for 403 acres; in 1762 for 230 more acres. In the records, John Nunn is shows as a sub-sheriff under Sheriff William Nunn. Numerous deeds were made by William. In 1768 he made a deed for over 600 acres to John Nunn, whom we are certain was his son. Both land grants in Orange County were sold by deed, one in 1770, one in 1772. He also sold other lands he owned in Craven County in 1770. In 1780, William Nunn was taken off the tax list in Orange County. During the period from 1765 to 1771, there was great unrest among the people of Orange County. They felt that taxes were too high and that fees they paid were larger than similar fees in some other counties. They had no choice in the officials of their local government as they were appointed by the Governor as were also militia officers above the rank of Colonel. After getting no relief from petitions to Governor Tryon, a group called the Regulators was formed. Unrest continued. There were riots in Hillsborough and Orange County.

Unrest spread to other western counties, the people feeling that they did not have proper representation in the assembly at the capital in New Bern. Additional taxes were levied to erect the Governor's Palace in New Bern.

After riots in Hillsborough the Regulators decided to march to New Bern. When Governor Tryon heard of this he called out the militia and a battle was fought at Alamance Creek in 1771. The Regulators were defeated and scattered. The Regulator movement in North Carolina collapsed later in the year. From 1772, when William Nunn made his last deed on record in Orange County until he was taken off the tax list in 1780 we find no further record of him or John Nunn in North Carolina.

It seems pretty clear that Sheriff William's zeal in collecting taxes for the British government of the North Carolina colony and his support of Governor Tyron in his efforts to put down the Regulator movement in what was then western Carolina made him very unpopular with a very large number of the settlers in that part of the state. As an under-sheriff under his father and also against the Regulator movement, John ndoubtedly was not popular either. So the father sold his land holdings and his son, with a young family and his father, headed for new country.

We know that John was in South Carolina by 1778 and possibly before so we assume they went to South Carolina together. On April 3, 1786, William Nunn was granted land in Chester County, on the same day John Nunn was granted land in the same county and district. In 1787 Court Records of Chester County, the following was recorded:

Chester County, South Carolina Court Minutes (court Book A-page 186) of January Court, 1787--John Adair, Justice of the Court, included the following: "William Nunn, being about to travel to the state of Georgia, on application, he is recommended as a man of Honesty, Probity, and good demeanor, and h as leave to pass unmolested so long as he behaves himself well."

These passports, as they were called, were issued at that time for people going to Georgia and through the Indian Lands.

Father: Francis Nunn b: ABT 1687 in Craven Co., NC Mother: Naomi Barrett b: ABT 1690 in Of, Craven Co, NC

Marriage 1 Elizabeth Loftin b: ABT 1725 in Craven Co., NC Married: 17 DEC 1743 in New Bern,Craven Co, NC

Origins

"This Francis Nunn died intestate in 1738, leaving a wife and four known children: William, Francis, Ann and Elizabeth. As he died intestate, the plantation became the right of his son, William, as eldest son and heir according to the Old English law of Primogeniture. William later gave or sold some of this land to his brother Francis...Nothing further is known of Anna and Elizabeth, nor the maiden name of Francis wife."[3]