NCBERTIE-L Archives

From: "Harry L.Thompson" <>
Subject: [NCBERTIE] Butler
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 1999 07:36:35 -0400

Hi Oby -

The person in Question was Martha Butler, Indian who was the Common-Law
wife of John Castellaw. Her will is in the Bertie Courthouse, awarding
her manor plantation to her two sons that she had by Castellaw. His
will in turn awards property to the two sons that he had by Martha
Butler. Both are on file there now. In addition, the bastardy bonds
are listed as mentioned in your notice on this website.

Mcglaughon appears to be involved only as friend and bondsman for
Castellaw.

Castellaw probably would have married Martha, but interracial marriages
were forbidden by law, and any minister or Justice performing one lost
his license. After Martha's death, Castellaw married a Dawson lady from
"Eden House" on the Chowan River and gave rise to the John Dawson
Castellaw descendants.

Hope this helps - its all in the court records.

Harry Thompson

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• [NCBERTIE] Butler by "Harry L.Thompson" <>