The Chesnutt famiy history book covers the Gavin family in great detail. The immigrant was Charles -- called Charles I to differentiate him from his son Charles II. It says he was already in Edenton, NC as eartly as 1703 and died there in the early 1720’s. I would guess this means he was born or immigrated into the James River area in the 1600’s, that was how people came to be in NC that early.

His wife was named Mary, the book says, and they had two known sons: Charles II and John.

Charles II was born around 1700 and died in the late 1760’s or 1770’s in Duplin County. He married Mary Matchett (daughter of Thomas and Mary) and she died in 1761. Charles II, it says, moved to southeastern NC and bought a 620 acre plot in 1743 in present-day Duplin County. The land was on Rattlesnake Branch (Goshen) north of Kenansville.

He had three known sons: Samuel who stayed in Duplin County and Charles III and Thomas who moved to SC in the 1770’s.

Samuel was born in 1728 while his father was still living in Bertie County and died in 1762 in Duplin County. No one knows the name of his first wife, which is too bad, since she was the mother of Mary Rachel Gavin (the descendant of interest in this narrative). His second wife was Patience Carroll, daughter of Joseph.

Mary Rachel Gavin was born in 1751 in Duplin County at the family plantation called Cedar Hill. She married Jesse Carroll.

The Chesnutt family history book covers the Gavin family in great detail. The immigrant was Charles -- called Charles I to differentiate him from his son Charles II. It says he was already in Edenton, NC as early as 1703 and died there in the early 1720’s. I would guess this means he was born or immigrated into the James River area in the 1600’s, that was how people came to be in NC that early.

His wife was named Mary, the book says, and they had two known sons: Charles II and John.

Charles II was born around 1700 and died in the late 1760’s or 1770’s in Duplin County. He married Mary Matchett (daughter of Thomas and Mary) and she died in 1761. Charles II, it says, moved to southeastern NC and bought a 620 acre plot in 1743 in present-day Duplin County. The land was on Rattlesnake Branch (Goshen) north of Kenansville.

He had three known sons: Samuel who stayed in Duplin County and Charles III and Thomas who moved to SC in the 1770’s.

Samuel was born in 1728 while his father was still living in Bertie County and died in 1762 in Duplin County. No one knows the name of his first wife, which is too bad, since she was the mother of Mary Rachel Gavin (the descendant of interest in this narrative). His second wife was Patience Carroll, daughter of Joseph.

Mary Rachel Gavin was born in 1751 in Duplin County at the family plantation called Cedar Hill. She married Jesse Carroll.

Samuel Gavin was a real person. He left a will written in 1761 and there is record of a marriage for him.

The will of Samuel Gavin of Duplin County is dated 21 Dec 1761 and was proved at February Court 1762. He mentions wife Patience, son John and sons Samuel, Lewis and Charles. In addition to his wife, he appoints his friend Thomas Carrell as Executor.

It would have been nice if he had mentioned his daughters but unfortunately he did not; though they are not ruled out. His friendship with Thomas Carroll is interesting, this must be the same Thomas who sold land to Jesse in 1764, it is not Jesse's son Thomas as he was not born yet.

Samuel's marriage to Patience Carroll is also factually documented, dated 22 Sep 1756. It seems clear this was a second marriage at least for him and she is not the mother of Mary Rachel who was presumably born before that marriage. What is not clear from the documented evidence is whether Carroll was Patience's married name from a first marriage or a maiden name. The Chestnutt Family book says she was the daughter of Joseph Carroll. And there was a Joseph Carroll mentioned in the will of John Carroll Sr.

In addition to Mary Rachel, Samuel's other children included Samuel Gavin II (who served in the Revolutionary War and was the father of Edward Charles Gavin who served in the NC General Assembly on and off for over 40 years) and Charles C Gavin (who was Captain of his militia district in Sampson County and whose name shall be forever known as that is the way Census tracts were divided in early 1800's Sampson County so one district was called Capt. Gavin's district.)

Samuel Gavin was a real person. He left a will written in 1761 and there is record of a marriage for him.

The will of Samuel Gavin of Duplin County is dated 21 Dec 1761 and was proved at February Court 1762. He mentions wife Patience, son John and sons Samuel, Lewis and Charles. In addition to his wife, he appoints his friend Thomas Carrell as Executor.

It would have been nice if he had mentioned his daughters but unfortunately he did not; though they are not ruled out. His friendship with Thomas Carroll is interesting, this must be the same Thomas who sold land to Jesse in 1764, it is not Jesse's son Thomas as he was not born yet.

Samuel's marriage to Patience Carroll is also factually documented, dated 22 Sep 1756. It seems clear this was a second marriage at least for him and she is not the mother of Mary Rachel who was presumably born before that marriage. What is not clear from the documented evidence is whether Carroll was Patience's married name from a first marriage or a maiden name. The Chestnutt Family book says she was the daughter of Joseph Carroll. And there was a Joseph Carroll mentioned in the will of John Carroll Sr.

In addition to Mary Rachel, Samuel's other children included Samuel Gavin II (who served in the Revolutionary War and was the father of Edward Charles Gavin who served in the NC General Assembly on and off for over 40 years) and Charles C Gavin (who was Captain of his militia district in Sampson County and whose name shall be forever known as that is the way Census tracts were divided in early 1800's Sampson County so one district was called Capt. Gavin's district.)

She is Samuel's second wife and presumably not the mother of Mary Rachel.