| State | Delaware |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Sussex |
| Other Counties | – |
| Family Name | Norwood |
| Family History Notes | Members of the Norwood family in Delaware were 1 i. Nathaniel1, born about 1735. ii. Daniel1, born about 1739, a nineteen-year-old farmer born in Angola Hundred (no race or complexion indicated) who enlisted in the French and Indian War on 19 April 1758 and was listed in the 17 May 1758 muster of Captain McClughan's company for the campaign in the Lower Counties [Montgomery, Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, 142-3]. He pled guilty and was fined 5 shillings for trespass in Sussex County court in May 1758. He confessed judgment of 6 pounds, 19 shillings to Jacob Kollock, Esq., in April 1764. He was taxable in Indian River and Angola Hundred in 1773 and 1774 [Delaware State Archives, RG 2535, reel 1]. The State charged him with felony in May 1786 [RG 4815.017, General Sessions Court, 1753-60, frame 423; 1761-71, frame 154; 1771-93, 385, 391, 404]. 1. Nathaniel1 Norwood, born about 1735, was a twenty-three year-old nineteen planter born in Indian River Hundred (no race or complexion indicated) who enlisted in the French and Indian War on 19 April 1758 and was listed in the 17 May 1758 muster of Captain McClughan's company for the campaign in the Lower Counties [Montgomery, Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, 142-4]. He was indicted by the Sussex County court for trespass in May 1758 for which he submitted to the mercy of the court. In February 1759 he was adjudged to serve the estate of Joseph Warrington, deceased, at the rate of 30 shillings per month to pay off his debts [RG 4815.017, General Sessions Court, 1753-60, frame 423; 1761-71, frame 319]. He and his wife, Jemimy, registered the 17 June 1769 birth of their "Melatto" son, Bowen, and their son Nathan at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 99, 103]. Nathan was taxable in Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, from 1774 to 1784 [Delaware State Archives RG 2535, reels 1&2]. Administration on his Sussex County estate was granted to (his wife) Jemima Norwood on 10 March 1786 [de Valinger, Calendar of Sussex County Probate Records, 173; A 91:116]. Nathaniel and Jemima were the parents of 2 i. ?Eli, born say 1768. ii. Bowan, born 17 June 1769 (perhaps identical to Eli Norwood). 3 iii. ?Noble, born say 1775. iv. Nathan2, born 15 February 1777, baptized 27 September 1777 [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 103]. He was taxable in Indian River Hundred from 1797 to 1801 [Delaware State Archives, RG 4200.027, reel 2, frames 176, 258]. v. ?John1, head of a Sussex County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [DE:354], 2. Eli1 Norwood, born say 1768, married Anna Rust on 4 December 1789 in Sussex County, Delaware [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 304]. Anna was probably related to George Rust, head of a Dagsborough Hundred, Sussex County household of 3 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:388]. Eli was taxable in Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, in 1789, 1790 and 1796 [Delaware State Archives RG 2535, reel 2; RG 4200.027, reel 2, frame 115], head of a Indian River Hundred, Sussex County household of 5 "other free" in 1800 (Eli Nord) [DE:437] and head of a Sussex County household 5 "other free" in 1810 [DE:412]. On 13 March 1819 he and his wife Elon made a Sussex County deed for a half acre to the trustees of Harmony Meeting House: Purnall Johnson, Burton Johnson, William Hayes, John Cornish and Mitchell Johnson, for the building of a house of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church [DB 45:124]. He left a 2 January 1838 Sussex County will, proved 23 May 1838, witnessed by Whittington Johnson, naming his widow Elon and seven children: Eli, Stephen M., William D., Wingate P., Samuel B, Mary Jane N., and Ann Johnson, wife of Whittington. He was the father of i. John2, born 1 January 1794, son of Eli and Anna Norwood, baptized at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 111]. 3. Noble Norwood, born say 1775, was taxable in Indian River, Sussex County, in 1796 and 1801 [Delaware State Archives, RG 4200.027, reel 2, frames 115, 258] and head of an Indian River, Sussex County household of 6 "other free" in 1800 [DE:437] and 10 in 1810 [DE:405]. Noble and Lydia Norwood were the parents of i. Polly, "free Mulatto," daughter of Noble and Lydia Norwood, baptized at Indian River, Sussex County, on 12 February 1797. ii. Betsey, "free Mulatto," daughter of Noble and Lydia Norwood, baptized at Indian River, Sussex County, on 17 August 1799 [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 391, 399]. |
| Additional Notes | – |
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[Author (if known)], Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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