Researching one’s Forehand ancestry always leads to Cornelius Forehand and his children. From Cornelius Forehand’s April 19, 1714 transaction with William Joy, we know Cornelius purchased a 100 acre tract of land from William Joy that resided “eastward” of William’s plantation. On October 18, 1718, Cornelius purchased an additional 100 acres from Joy that was […]
Before we start to address individual members of the vast Forehand family tree, let us take a moment to explore a particular branch. I have two distinct privledges in regards to researching the Forehand surname. First, my last name is “Forehand” and I am of direct descent. Second, a member of my mother’s family actually […]
Cornelius Forehand is probably the most discussed “Forehand” among genealogy students and is generally regarded as the “father” of most American Forehand families. Though there are certainly other Forehand families from other “lines” present in at least Pennsylvania and the northeast, it appears a large portion of current Forehand families can trace their roots back […]
Before we discuss the “first generation” Forehands, we must discuss some notable settlers of the region of Northeastern North Carolina, Cornelius Forehand’s ultimate location. This region now includes the modern counties of Pasquotank and Camden. However, during the early part of the 18th century, the region that now consists of these counties was simply Pasquotank […]
Though apparently an Irish name, some of the earliest known records of a Forehand come from England. It is very possible the Forehand families present in England were simply immigrants from Ireland. However, we can not know this for certain. Oddly enough, though the records are early, they still do not pre-date the presence of […]
R3633 – James Forehand State of North Carolina County of Wayne On this the 6th Day of October 1835 personally appeared before the Honorable John R. Donnell one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law now sitting — James Forehand of the County of Wayne and State of North Carolina — aged 89 […]