The Bandys of Central North Carolina

The earliest known reference to the name Bandy in North Carolina is the May 2, 1752 purchase by James Bandy of 195 acres in Edgecombe County on the north prong of Deep Creek.[i] In Granville County, on December 3, 1754, James and 15 other men agreed to build a road from Fishing Creek Chapel to the north fork of the Tar River and Eph'm and from there on to the Orange County line.[ii]On June 3, 1757, James purchased 120 acres in Granville County on the south side of Fishing Creek from Jacob Perry. Robert Bandy was a witness to the purchase.[iii] On September 14, 1757, James was a witness to a real estate transaction between Peter Day and Lawrence Petiford.[iv] In 1761, James sold land in Granville County to Francis Huthens. James is identified as living in Halifax County.[v]

James and Robert Bandy are listed on the muster roll of a company of foot soldiers in the regiment of Granville, Granville District, North Carolina Militia in 1754[vi] and again in 1755.[vii] At this time Edgecombe County was part of the Granville District. Although there seems to be no record of Robert Bandy purchasing real estate in Granville County, transactions involving others in both 1758 and 1765 refer to property bordering on Robert's land.[viii] There is little evidence of their wives of children. There are at least two suggestions regarding James’ family. Lewis Bandy has been listed as the son of James Bandy and Elizabeth Langston (born about 1754 - ? ). Elizabeth is listed as the daughter of Ann Woodard and Leonard Langston.[ix] An alternative suggestion as to James’ family is that he is the father of Solomon Bandy and Rachel Bandy who married John Baker, Sr in 1779 in South Carolina.[x] They lived in Abbeville, South Carolina, and both died in South Carolina. The basis for listing Rachel and Solomon as James’ children is unknown. The reference to Solomon is contrary to the common assumption that he is Richard’s son. The fact the assumed daughter, Rachel Baker, moved to South Carolina, is consistent with Jesse, discussed below, also being related.

The North Carolina Revolutionary War records for Halifax and Warrenton for 1781-1785 show Solomon Bandy in the Continental Army.[xi] Halifax and Warrenton were, at the time, adjacent to Granville District. This is consistent with his being James’ son. However, Solomon according to family tradition is Richard’s son.

In 1765 and again in 1779, a John Bandy witnessed real estate transactions in Halifax County, North Carolina.[xii] Based on the name and dates, this could be the John of Augusta County, Virginia (see the discussion of Virginia). As noted in Chapters 1 and 2, John could be a descendent of Edward Banning. He could, of course, be related to Robert and James discussed above. It is possible, however, that this is the John Bandy who moved to Georgia around 1788. That John, like Lewis (discussed below), drew in the Georgia Revolutionary War veteran's land lottery.[xiii]John had seven known children including a James Jr. who is thought to have died in 1812. This James Jr. may be named after the James Bandy listed in the 1810 Edgecombe County, North Carolina census (see below) and/or the James in the North Carolina militia. Other than one James possibly being the namesake of the other, their relationship is unknown. Other children include John, Jesse, William, Luke, Samuel, and Elizabeth.[xiv]John is discussed in detail in Chapter 5.

It may be no more than a coincidence, but the 1762 will of John Daniel lists among other heirs, Martha Banbey and Elizabeth Dudley.[xv] It is noted that Edward Bannings son, Andrew Banning sometimes referred to as Andrew Bandy, married Debora Dudley and lived in Talbot County, Maryland at the same time of John Daniel’s death.

Given their real estate transactions, road construction involvement, and militia service during the 1750's, James and Robert were born no later than the 1730's. If the John who witnessed North Carolina real estate transaction in the 1760's and 1770's is the same as the one who served in the Virginia militia in 1758, then he to would likely have been born the 1730's or perhaps the very early 1740's. They do not seem to be Richard's sons unless there is another earlier individual with the name. Robert and James were members of the militia during the same year that Avy's (53, 14-39) two known sons, George (192, 16-373) ( 1750 - October 1822) and Thomas (75, 17-74) (1745 - ? ), were bound out as apprentices in Cumberland County, Virginia, and also the same year that Richard (71, 14-1) (July 8, 1722 - July 21, 1795) purchased land in Cumberland County.[xvi] Granville District is approximately 75 miles south of Cumberland County.

Although only a theory, it is assumed here that the first James, Robert, and John are brothers and ancestors of subsequent Bandys in Edgecombe County. Thus, Lewis (136, 15-166)(1750 - after February, 1827) and James, discussed below, are assumed to be their sons.[xvii]Solomon (71, 16-160) (discussed above and in Chapter 2) may be another son. It is also assumed that James, Robert, or John could also be the ancestors of David (16-931), Bryant, and John of western North Carolina, and Jesse (15-487) of western North Carolina and South Carolina (all of whom are discussed below). Another possible son is Tobias (discussed in Chapter 5). A few details include regarding these likely descendants include:

·In Leonard Langston's Edgecombe County, North Carolina will probated in 1780, Lewis Bandy (136, 15-166) was left Mr. Langston's "pine woods plantation, cattle, sheep, mare with crooked leg, chist that I had of James Brown, and Negro winch." Lewis was to receive his inheritance when he "is of age."[xviii] The will also mentions grandsons Isaac Langston, Luke Bolton, and granddaughter Elizabeth Bolton. Lewis' relationship to Mr. Langston is not definitely known. His other heirs, except for his unnamed wife, seem to be grandchildren. Nevertheless, Lewis is listed as marrying Elizabeth Langston (1754 - ? ) daughter of Leonard Langston (1720 - 1820) and Ann Woodard.[xix] Ann Langston’s August 2, 1788 will lists grandson Isaac Langston as her only heir.

If the John who moved to Georgia (discussed above and in Chapter 5) was old enough to witness a real estate transaction in 1765 and Lewis was a minor in 1780, they likely were of different generations (father and son, or uncle and nephew).It is, of course, possible that they were of the same generation (brothers or cousins). Obviously, the John who moved to Georgia may not be the John who witnessed the real estate transactions. He could be a son or nephew of the older John.

Lewis Bandy is listed in the first U. S. Census taken in 1790 in Edgecombe County (p. 56). The North Carolina Lewis is assumed the be the same Lewis who made his way to Georgia. A Lewis Bandy was listed as a taxpayer in Wilkes County, Georgia in 1790 raising the question of whether there may have been two.[xx]Lewis Bandy is also listed as owing money to the estate of Axiom O'Neal on July 28, 1794 in Greene County, Georgia[xxi]. Although it is not clear when he sold the inherited land, the 1798 will of David Woodward indicates that he had purchased Edgecombe County, North Carolina land from Lewis Bandy.[xxii] Lewis drew in the Georgia Revolutionary War solider's land lottery suggesting he was a veteran.[xxiii] He could have been a minor (probably meaning under age 21 in 1780) and still have been in the Revolutionary War which ended in 1783.

Lewis had nine children including a James (born in 1787) suggesting a possible tie to the James who was in the North Carolina militia and/or the James who married Susannah (see below).[xxiv]Lewis and Mary Barnes' other children include Elizabeth, Ephriam, William, Catherine, Thomas, Joseph, Absolom Barnes, and Mary.[xxv] Lewis is discussed in detail in Chapter 5.

·John Bandy (Sr.) (148, 15-262) and Lavenia Woolf Bandy (148, 15-269) of Georgia had seven children. They and their children are discussed in Chapter 5. Davis states that circumstantial evidence suggests that John is from Halifax District, Edgecombe County, North Carolina. A John Bandy witnessed two real estate transactions in Halifax, one in 1765 and a second in 1779.

·The John Bandy (discussed below) found in western North Carolina in the late 1700's and early 1800's could be yet another John descended from this early group.

·In the 1810 census, James Bandy was listed as being between the ages of 26 and 44 (Edgecombe County, North Carolina, p. 58). Based on age, this James is not the same James who built a road, served in the militia, and purchased real estate during the 1750's. James' will was probated in 1812 in which he left his entire estate to his wife Susannah.[xxvi] In each census for Edgecombe County from 1820 to 1840, Susanna Bandy is listed without an adult male residing in the household (pp. 127, 248, and 47 respectively). In 1840, she is listed as being in her 70's. In her will probated in 1842,Susannah left her estate in part to Sarah Knight (wife of James Knight), in part to her nephew Matthew Exum (son of John Exum), and in part to niece Laura Baker (daughter of Wm. S. Baker). She left her 10 slaves to Henry Hyman.[xxvii] His relationship is unknown. The property left to Laura Baker is identified as having "descended to me from my sister Mary Durley." There seems to be no descendants of this group in Edgecombe County named Bandy in the next several decades suggesting either that there were no descendants named Bandy or that descendants moved away.

·The North Carolina Revolutionary War records for Halifax and Warrenton for 1781-1785 show Solomon Bandy in the Continental Army.[xxviii] Halifax and Warrenton were, at the time, adjacent to Granville District. As noted Solomon in traditionally viewed as Richard’s son, but at least one source lists Solomon as James’ son.

·David Bandy (16-931)(1760's - 1850's) discussed below, is thought to be a descended from the central North Carolina group based on the fact that he later reported his birthplace as North Carolina.

·Bryant Bandy (after 1770- after 1820) is assumed to be related based primarily on the fact that he lived in the same county as David and other members of the group during the early 1800's. Bryant is discussed below.

·Jesse Bandy (15-487) (ca. 1760 - 1830's) also is assumed to be related to other members of the group based primarily on the fact that he to lived in Burke County while other members of the group resided there in the early 1800's. Jesse is discussed in Chapter 4.