Jarvis Forehand was the son of Thomas Forehand (son of Cornelius).   While some list Sarah Everton as his mother, the evidence as mentioned in my other posts do not support this. Though many of Cornelius Forehand’s grandchildren make it difficult on researchers trying to establish who their parents were, Jarvis Forehand makes our job remarkably easy.  A 1769 Pasquotank County, North Carolina tax list, explicitly lists Jarvis Forehand as the “son of Thomas”.  In addition, the 1769 tax list shows Jarvis Forehand living with his father, Thomas, and brother Daniel Forehand.

Though we do not know his exact date of birth, he can determine an approximate range by using several sources.  The first determining factor is the previously referenced 1769 Pasquotank County, NC tax list.  At this time, a male must be at least 16 years old to be listed as tithable thus placing Jarvis as born circa 1753 at the latest. Since Jarvis was not listed in a 1755 militia list, we can safely assume he was not at least 16 years old at the time as all males 16 years old and up were required to enlist in the local militia. Therefore, Jarvis could not have been born before 1740. Finally, since Jarvis Forehand was listed as a member of the 1766 militia, we can assume he was at least 16 years old at the time.  Therefore, armed with the above data, we can determine Jarvis Forehand was born after 1740 but before 1751. Since Lemuel and David Forehand were older brothers, Jarvis was probably born between 1745 and 1750.

The earliest record concerning Jarvis Forehand is a 1766 militia listing for Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  In 1766, Jarvis was a member of Colonel Thomas Taylor’s regiment serving under Captain Jarvis Jones (figure JAF – 1).  It is interesting to note Jarvis’ brothers David and Lemuel (rank as Corporal) served with him in this regiment along with James Forehand.  Since his brother Daniel is not listed, we can assume Daniel was not at least 16 years old at the time.

The next record we have concerning Jarvis Forehand is a 1769 Pasquotank County, North Carolina tax list (figure JAF- 2).  The tax list shows Jarvis and his brother, Daniel, living with their father, Thomas Forehand in the “New Land” area of  Pasquotank County.  Since Jarvis and Daniel were listed a tithable, we can determine each was at least 16 years old at the time.  According to English Common Law used at this time, males must be at least 16 years of age to be listed as tithable.  Since their two remaining brothers, Lemuel and David, were living in separate households, we can assume they were beyond the age of marriage and probably at least 21 years of age.

Sometime between 1769 and December of 1770, Jarvis Forehand moved to Perquimans County North Carolina.  This move is not unusual as the Perquimans County border is within a few miles of Newland (Jarvis’ residence) and could’ve been the result of the death of Jarvis’ father, Thomas Forehand in late 1769.  On December 27, 1770, Jarvis Forehand “of Perquimans County” purchased 125 acres from Nicholas and John Stallings “ of Perquimans County” for the sum of 100 pounds “proclamation money”.  The parcel of land was located on the “southwest side” of the head of the Perquimans River.  The parcel of land began at a “cypress standing in the River swamp” and ran along a line of described trees bounded by the line of Thomas Rountree apparently containing swampy land as well a high ground.  The deed was witnessed by Moses Rountree, Job Stallings, and Elias Stallings.  The deed was proved in court by Moses Rountree during an October 1771 Superior court session.

As a side note, Elias Stallings was the son of Nicholas Stallings, Jr.  It was Nicholas and his brother John that sold the land to Jarvis Forehand in 1770.  Elias Stallings later married Elizabeth Rountree. Elias and Elizabeth had several children with one being Sarah.  Sarah Stallings later married Jarvis Forehand’s brother, Daniel Forehand.

During a 1771, a listing of Perquimans County, North Carolina tax payers was taken.  The tax listing shows Jarvis Forehand living in Perquimans County (figure JAF-3) with his cousin, Cornelius Forehand.  It is interesting to note Daniel Forehand, brother of Jarvis, had not yet moved to Perquimans County according to the tax listing.

During 1772, a list of Perquimans County, North Carolina tax payers was taken.  The list included several people with the surname “Forehand”.  Modern transcribed listings of this tax list like that of Clarence Ratcliff’s “North Carolina Taxpayers 1701-1786”, transcribe the name Jarvis as Irwin.  A review of the original document (figure JAF-4) reveals the name as Jarvis Forehand rather than Irwin Forehand though difficult to read.  It is also interesting to note Jarvis’ brother, Daniel, and cousin, Cornelius, were also present in the 1772 tax listing.

On July 27, 1773, Jarvis Forehand, of Perquimans County, purchased 50 acres of land from Charles Rountree, of Chowan County, for the sum of 50 pounds “proclamation money”.  The parcel of land was located in Perquimans County, North Carolina and part of a larger tract of land known as the “Grape Tree Ridge” that was grated patent on July 27, 1772 to Luke Hollowell.  According to the deed, Luke Hollowell sold the land to Joseph Jessop.  Later, Joseph Jessop sold the land to Thomas Rountree.  Thomas Rountree passed away and willed the land to his son,  Charles Rountree.  Finally Charless Rountree passed away and willed the land to his son (and current owner), Charles Rountree.  The deed was witnessed by Moses Rountree, Luke Stallings, and Abner Hollowell.  The deed was proved during an April 1774 Superior Court session by Abner Hollowell.

On October 11, 1773, Jarvis Forehand, of Perquimans County, sold Jacob Winslow, planter of Perquimans County, 125 acres of land for the sum of 112 pounds 10 shillings “proclamation money”.  The tract of land was the land Jarvis had purchased from Nicholas and John Stallings in 1770.  The deed was witnessed by Moses Rountree, Issac Griffin, and Lemuel Colby and was proved during a July 1775 Superior Court session by Lemuel Colby.  The deed was registered  on June 19, 1776.

While the above deed may not initially be viewed with much importance, it contains a very valuable piece of information.  The deed was signed by Jarvis Forehand and Charity Forehand.  Towards the end of the deed (figure JAF-5), Charity Forehand is listed as the wife of Jarvis by the following: “I the said Charity Forehand wife of Jarvis Forehand do give up all my rights of dower of the above bargained premesis”.

While documentation does not exist identifying the maiden name of Jarvis’ wife, Charity, there exists information that can allow us to speculate.  A March 10, 1755 (probated March 9,1768) Perquimans County, North Carolina will of Nicholas Stallings lists Charity Stallings as
his daughter.  This bit of information is very interesting due to the fact two brothers of Charity Stallings, Nicholas and John Stallings, were part of the 1770 land deed with Jarvis Forehand.  While it is only an assumption, the close relation of Jarvis Forehand with the Stallings family, the corresponding dates, and location could very easily make Charity Stallings the wife of Jarvis Forehand.

Though a NC Genealogical Society Journal (XXIV No.1 Feb. 1998 page 3) lists a land transaction from Charles Rountree to Jarvis Forehand, I was unable to locate this deed in the Perquimans County Register of Deeds office.  The journal listing “Fragments of Perquimans County Records” also mentioned the sale was proved by Moses Rountree.

During a 1775 tax listing of Perquimans County, North Carolina, Jarvis Forehand is listed (figure JAF-6).  The tax list was taken by John Hollowell and also listed cousin Cornelius Forehand and his son Benjamin Forehand (figure JAF-7).  It is also an odd bit of information noting the 1775 Perquimans tax listing is the last tax listing from Perquimans in which Jarvis is present as Jarvis moved back to the county of his birth, neighboring Pasquotank County.

On March 30, 1776, Jarvis Forehand, now living in Pasquotank County, sold a 50 acre tract of land located in Perquimans County, North Carolina to Simon Stallings, of Chowan County, for the sum of 10 pounds “proclamation money”.  The parcel of land was that in which Jarvis had purchased from Charles Rountree known as the “Grape Tree Ridge”.    The deed was witnessed by Elizabeth Stallings,  Job Lilly, and William Guinn and was later proved during a July 1777 Superior Court session. The deed was later registered on August 29, 1781.  At this point, Jarvis did not hold any additional property.

Sometime between his last land transaction and 1781, Jarvis enlisted in the NC Continental Line to fight in the American War of Independence.  He was a private in Hall’s Company under the command of Colonel Abraham Shepard and Thomas Clark.  While it is possible Jarvis enlisted earlier, this particular enlistment is the only verifiable source we have.

On April 21, 1782, Jarvis Forehand’s Revolutionary War service ends.  America was well on the way to winning its independence and Jarvis Forehand was a part of it.  At the end of his service, Jarvis received 24 pounds for payment of his service.  Some sources list his war pension as coming from Indiana.  I have been unable to confirm this information and believe the Indiana pension does not exist.  However, Jarvis does receive a certificate in 1783 (certificate number 90572) for a $24 payment due with R. Fenney as his agent.

During 1785 and 1787, Jarvis Forehand is listed as a taxpayer in the Saint Allins district of Chowan County, NC.  There are some sources that now list a “Prudena” as the wife of Jarvis at this time.  Prudena is listed as being born circa 1750 in North Carolina and then passing away  on June 23, 1843 in Tennessee.  However, I have been unable to verify any sources for this information.  This relationship is likely related to Jarvis, son of David Forehand.

On March 29, 1786, a test census of “the inhabitants in Captain Stallings District” in Chowan County North Carolina was conducted.  Jarvis Forehand was listed on page 3 of the test census.  Jarvis’ household consisted of 1 male 21 to 60 years of age (Jarvis), 2 males under 21 years of age, and 4 white females (including the wife of Jarvis).  It is likely one of the male children was Thomas Forehand (b. circa 1780) whom later married Judah Asbill in Chowan County, NC.  Though is it difficult to prove with 100% certainty,  evidence supports Thomas as Jarvis’ son.  However, there is also a possibility Thomas was the son of Jarvis’ brother, Daniel Forehand.

Most records indicate some time between 1786 and 1804, Jarvis Forehand took his family and moved across the state of North Carolina onward to Tennessee. However, after a recent release of estates and accounts, we find Jarvis Forehand, son of Thomas and husband of Charity Forehand, died in Chowan County, NC on September 12, 1788.  This particular revelation completely rewrites the history of Jarvis Forehand and his previously claimed ancestors.  The Chowan estate record clearly shows the death date and Charity Forehand’s mark.

Beyond his death, the only seemingly associated record concerning Jarvis Forehand is a reward of land for his service. On December 6, 1797, James Glasgow (the NC Secretary of State), requested Colonel Martin Armstrong “lay off and survey” for “Jarvis Forehand, a private I in the line of this state), 278 acres of land in Tennessee as a reward for his service.  However, the land was quickly sold the warrant to Joseph H. Bryan a short time later.

So who was the Jarvis Forehand present in Kentucky and onward?

The Jarvis Forehand present in TN and later in Illinois and onward is likely the son of Jarvis’ brother, David Forehand.   In the 1810 Kentucky census showing a Jarvis Forehand living in and around Muhlenberg.  The 1810 KY census shows Jarvis’ household consisting of 1 male age 0 to 10, 1 male age 26 to 44, one male 45 and over (Jarvis), 2 females 0 to 10, 1 female 10 to 15, and one female 45 and over.  This data shows Jarvis Forehand recorded was born before 1765.

With the new, definitive evidence, we see Jarvis Forehand passed away in Chowan County, North Carolina on September 12, 1788.  The additional “Jarvis Forehand” evidence seems to relate to the son of David Forehand (brother of Jarvis), also named Jarvis.