The first Ledbetter’s in America (1636, Virginia Colony) and their descendants

An ancestral blog by Terrell Ledbetter (8th great-grandson of Thomas Ledbetter, the first in America).

 Meherrin River, Virginia

This story begins with Thomas Ledbetter (1600-1658)and Mary Molisse Thomas (1603-1673) who married in Seaham, England. As written by James A. McClain in Ancestry.com, the Ledbetter family home was in Durham County, Northumbria, England from after 1570 until Thomas immigrated to James City, Virginia Colony, probably 1636.  Thomas’s grandparents were French Huguenots who had fled France some years before the Massacre of St. Bartholomew in 1572.  The Huguenots were protestants (Calvinists) who were being driven out of France by the majority Catholics.  In England, they became Episcopalian or members of the Church of England.

Anglican Church in Seaham, England

A descendent of this family, (in Seaham) named William Leadbetter, had left Seaham for Ireland in the early 1740’s and his wife, Mary Shackleton, published a short history of the Ledbetter family in 1744.  Mary Shackleton wrote that the family had fled France, and their historical family name was LeBete. The family had located at Seaham, an old Viking fishing village on the North Atlantic Coast of Durham County. The family apparently was in England for only two generations before Thomas immigrated.  In short, the long-term ancestry of this family was northwest-Europe, and the short ancestral surname was “Le Bete“, which translates to “beast.”

Seaham countryside

I was fortunate to have my direct line Ledbetter tree handed to me in 1973 by my great-Aunt, Lillie Mae Ledbetter (Melton/Sawyer) who was born in 1909 and was the daughter of my great-grandfather, Higgins Ledbetter.  The tree had been built, corrected, and handed down over seven generations when she gave me the tree in 1973. It gave the name of each grandfather, birth and death dates, and the spouse.  I trust this direct line as the information was handed down directly from generation to generation, probably recorded in family bibles.  My dad had also told me stories over the years, some of which were of the five brothers who were the second generation (children of Henry Dawson Ledbetter).  My dad’s sister, Aunt Edith Ledbetter Fortune, also told me stories from her childhood memories of the Broad River Ledbetter family from George Ledbetter/Lizer Murphy and Higgins Ledbetter/Lafaria Searcy. I also received confirmation of my findings from Stuart Nanney, married to Luther Ledbetter’s daughter, showing the true lineage back to Richard Ledbetter Sr.

Revised on September 18, 2025: Here is my theory on why, how and when Thomas and Mary immigrated. This is somewhat circumstantial, but I think you will agree that it makes sense. First of all, there are no records of immigration of Thomas/Mary via normal immigration ports and ships.  Immigration had to occur on a private vessel, and I think that in this case a tobacco schooner returning back to Virginia from Durham County. A man named Thomas Tunstall was an alderman of Durham County, England and had exclusive rights for selling tobacco wholesale in Durham. He had the monopoly of importing tobacco from Virginia to Durham.  Thomas’s relative, Edward Tunstall immigrated to Charles City, Virginia in 1636 with two servants and his wife Martha Greenhill Tunstall.  I think these two referenced were Thomas and Mary Thomas Ledbetter, but they were fellow workers and friends.  First of all, the Ledbetter family business in America was tobacco, The couple worked in Durham where the tobacco King Thomas Tunstall worked. We know Thomas Ledbetter and Edward Tunstall knew each other and lived next to each other as public records in the early colony show one transaction indicating that Edward Tunstall had sold 125 acres to Thomas (probably 1637 when Tunstall moved to Henrico Country.) Additionally, Thomas had received an additional 99 acres due to arranging transportation of Margary Lucus and Mary House to America in 1638.  Governor Berkeley transacted with 224 acres south of the Appomattox River on April 29,1668 to Henry Ledbetter.  By this time, Thomas had been deceased by ten years.  Due to the fact that no immigration records have been found, nor land records until after 1637, it is my own personal theory that Thomas and Mary immigrated with Edward Tunstall and were indentures for one year to Edward Tunstall to work off their transportation costs, then were they able to buy the land from Tunstall in 1637.  Some have stated they were landed gentry and purchased land when they arrived.  The immigration to raise tobacco with Edward Tunstall makes a great deal of sense especially when you realize the family business was raising and selling tobacco. This family moved southward as their finances improved, and lands became available.

Oddly enough, I read a document that Mary Thomas Ledbetter was compensated in tobacco for her keeping/helping Thomas Tunstall in the years near her death in 1673.   Further details on this could be interesting.  But it does lend credence to my above conclusion.

I think there is a great deal of information about Thomas and Mary that is missing or incorrect.  I have seen information saying Thomas was born in Somerset which is incorrect.  I have seen that Mary’s father was thirteen years younger than her mother which we all seriously question. 

I have seen many family trees with incorrect entries, “Find a Grave” entries with false information and numerous ancestral posts with false assumption concerning the Ledbetter tree. Surely everyone’s tree is going to vary.  Not every Ledbetter descendent comes from the “first to land in Virginia”, however the first several generations of the first Ledbetter’s in America should be corrected.  The following blog states my arguments for the descendant tree referenced in this blog.  Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion based upon their own records and research. After the second generation, different Ledbetter lines began to immigrate.  My direct line and comments may be informative to some who share a common Ledbetter ancestor.

I am a direct descendant of two sons of Henry Dawson Ledbetter, second generation in America.  In addition, my tree indicates on several occasions Ledbetter cousins have married.  As a result, I have strong Ledbetter DNA.  I have been working on the Ledbetter tree for fifty years.

I have added a 3715  persons descendant-tree from Thomas Ledbetter (1600).  This tree is on Ancestry and is entitled “Descendents of Thomas Ledbetter (year 1600).”  There will be occasional additions to this tree as more information is available to me.  I have not added many families past the early 1900’s because I do not wish to add a living person to the tree. Once a Ledbetter female married, I only carried to her grandchildren in the tree.  It is not my intention to carry the tree to living descendants, but you should be able to find your grandparents.

You will have to be a member of Ancestry to be able to log in and call up the tree.  Once on Ancestry, and after you call up the subject tree. you can move through the tree to find your ancestor. There is a search function that will get you to the part of the tree that has your ancestor.

Please do not use this information to feed any other site.  This is my work in establishing this information and the technology of Family Tree Maker and Ancestry to provide it.  This descendant tree is the true history of the first Ledbetter in America.

In segments below, I will insert portions of the tree mentioned above.

If you built your tree using the internet, ancestry, or other sites, your tree is incorrect.  There are a tremendous number of errors in the early Ledbetter lineage. I will explain this below. My blog attempts to clarify the family lines.  Still, there will be errors, hopefully most of the stated facts are correct.

The basis for errors and confusion of the early Ledbetter tree stems from the names. Tradition for naming sons were as follows, but be careful, some did not follow tradition:

•Generally, the first son named after paternal grandfather, second son named after mother’s father,  third son named after the father, and fourth son named after the father’s older brother.

In the Ledbetter line, the third-generation men were named Frances, John William (called William), John, Drury, and Richard.

The fourth generation began when:

Frances named his sons Charles, Henry and John.

John William named his sons (John William) and George.

John called his son Richard Benjamin Ledbetter.

Richard called his sons John, Charles, William and Richard Jr.

These fourth-generation men were all born between 1689 and 1720, with most around 1700-1704.

So, many trees attempt to say Richard Benjamin Ledbetter born 1690 (the nephew of Richard I born 1666) as being married to Hannah Coleman. This is a clear example of the tree mistakes rampant. To add mystery, Richard Benjamin Ledbetter’s son was Richard Benjamin Ledbetter Jr., but on the internet, his grandson was Richard Britt Ledbetter III, (a question not a fact)?  There is a clear message here: Richard Britt Ledbetter III was Richard II’s son are not in the line from Richard Benjamin Ledbetter. The “Britt” in Richard Ledbetter III’s name was only a nicknamed about his love for brandy. To compound the errors and confusion, trees on the internet show birthdates for Richard Benjamin Ledbetter and Richard Ledbetter II as August 12,1717. This is highly unlikely and most likely a gross error. My great aunt’s record show Richard Ledbetter III as the son of Richard Ledbetter II and that RL III died in Georgia. So, the writings that say Richard Britt Ledbetter III is the son of Richard Benjamin Ledbetter Jr. are incorrect. Unfortunately, these men have been confused for a very long time.

Richard Ledbetter III (with nickname Britt) lived to be 103 years of age. He fought in the Revolutionary War and while he was away from home, an Indian raid killed two of his young daughters. Richard was falsely charged with being a Tory but was able to prove himself a patriot. He was a remarkable man, and it implores me to correct the errors rampant on the internet concerning his lineage. Richard III is not in my direct line, but his brother Captain George Ledbetter is.

The similarities in the Richard vs Richard Benjamin trees are remarkable, confusing and likely generated by errors being repeated via trees and internet postings. I know the Richard line is correct because of my great-aunt’s offering. The Richard Benjamin tree is sketchier. Here is my rendition:

Henry Dawson Ledbetter–Richard Ledbetter I–Richard Ledbetter II (1716-1751?)- Elizabeth Ledbetter (1743-1767) married John William Chewming

Henry Dawson Ledbetter–John Ledbetter–Richard Benjamin Ledbetter Sr.–Richard Benjamin Ledbetter Jr. (1717-1751?) –Elizabeth Ledbetter (1747-1822) married John Williams

As you can see, there is great confusing around Richard Ledbetter II and Richard Benjamin Ledbetter Jr.  For one, the birth and death dates are superimposed. They both had daughters named Elizabeth that married men with John William in their name.

There is confidence that the Richard I tree is correct with the uncertainty of Richard II’s birth and death date. There is much uncertainty of Richard Benjamin Ledbetter Jr.’s birth and death date as well as the name of his children.

I will attempt to clear this up further but as I mentioned, errors have been compounded over the ages.

You will have to purge your tree, use common sense, and use a timeline to obtain an accurate Ledbetter tree.

By the time the fifth (5) generation was born, around 1720-1735, I roughly calculate there were 600 Ledbetter off-springs descending from Thomas, the first to come.  The early families had six to twelve children.  It did not take long for the line to grow.

In the discussions below, I show the direct line to me in bold letters.  As mentioned above, I have two lines from the second generation, Henry Dawson Ledbetter.  One line is from Richard Ledbetter I and the second line is from Frances Ledbetter. I cannot blog about everyone’s line, sorry, but I am sticking primarily to my own, which many of you share for several generations.

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1st Generation in America

Thomas Ledbetter (May 11,1600-1658) – Mary Molisse Thomas (1603-1673)

There was a recorded land transaction from Gov. Berkeley in 1668 to Thomas Ledbetter, located south of the Appomattox River and between the current cities of Petersburg and West Petersburg, Virginia.  A branch of the Appomattox in this area was called Ledbetter Creek for years.  The first three generations lived here totaling over ninety years. Thomas and Mary had lived in Charles City initially.

2nd Generation, children of Thomas and Mary

(1) Henry Dawson Ledbetter (1625-1698) – Mary House (1624-1672)

John Ledbetter (1635-1698) could have been a second son of Thomas and Mary.  This is still to be reconciled as some trees claim that Henry was the only child to Thomas Ledbetter and Mary Thomas. I think there is enough evidence to suggest that John was a son of Thomas and Mary. His reported birth year of 1635 indicates he was a second generation of the first to come.  There is zero information on this John.  Any new information on him and family would be greatly appreciated.

Some people have speculation is that Henry was married twice, and the second wife was Sarah Tolman. This is not true. There is credible evidence that Sarah Tolman and another Henry Ledbetter (in the similar timetable were born, married, and lived in Massachusetts). The Henry that married Sarah was born in 1633 and died in 1722.  This couple lived and died in Dorchester, Massachusetts.  This is a big incorrect jump to assume the Charles City Henry Ledbetter was the same as the Massachusetts Henry Leadbetter. I have seen suggestions that the Massachusetts Henry was related to the Seaham family in some fashion but they immigrated to two different areas at two different times.

Also, the information I had handed down to me confirms that Mary House was the mother of all the boys and that Mary lived until 1672 in Virginia. This is proof that blindly following the tree some people post is not always true.  In this case, is your Ledbetter ancestor from Virginia or Massachusetts?  Don’t attempt to combine the two.

 Due to lack of women in America, colonialists were granted land in exchange for transporting women to Virginia in the early 1600’s. Such was the case for Thomas as he received 99 acres for transporting Margry Linsal and Mary House (1624-1672}.  This is the Mary House that Thomas’ son Henry married in April of 1658. Henry and Mary reportedly had five sons and one daughter.  My father had information handed down to him from generation to generation and that information was that Henry had five sons.  I tend to believe the five- son information and that is what I show in the descendant’s tree.

The land deed to Henry Ledbetter by Sir Berkeley in 1658 establishes his residency in the Appomattox River area of Virginia.

A judgement on record of October,1673 to Mary Ledbetter verifies her continued presence in the area and marriage to Henry, further proof that this line was Virginia and not Massachusetts in any way.

Most likely children of Thomas/Mary are:

(1) Henry Dawson Ledbetter (1625-1698) –Mary House (1625-1672)

(2) John Ledbetter (1635-1698)

3rd Generation, children of Henry Dawson Ledbetter

(1) Francis Ledbetter (1653 -1743)- Martha Jones (1648-1745).  Francis and Martha had a son, John, born in 1690.  He married Frances Tedstall.  Note that here is the Tedstall family again not the Tunstall.

The LDS genealogy confirms that Francis was the son of Henry Ledbetter and Mary House but incorrectly claims his birth year as 1660. I have a direct line to Francis Ledbetter and Martha Jones as well as Richard I.  My line from Francis is Henry to Elizabeth who married Mr. Burgess of Brunswick County, Virginia, Isaac Rowe Walton. Isaac and Elizabeth’s daughter Elizabeth Walton married into my Ledbetter line from Richard I.

(2) John William Ledbetter (1662-1743)-Mary Frances Jones born 1648.  A second source says Mary Frances Vandivers but Mary Frances Vandivers married John’s son Richard Benjamen Ledbetter.

(3) John Ledbetter (1664-1750)

(4) Richard I (July 4, 1666-1761) – The wife or wives of Richard Ledbetter I has not been fully resolved although I will offer my rendition.  Richard’s first wife is possibly a Native American, a Siboney Indian and a second wife named Hannah Coleman based upon dates of his sons and the birthdate of Hannah.

This confusion started when old publications indicated that Richard was married to a native American, a Siboney or Meherrin. Most publications have him married to Hannah Honor Coleman.  The two wive theory holds water if the first three sons were born in 1701/1703/1704 and the last son in 1716.  The crux is when was Richard II born? The date Richard and Hannah were married could carry great weight (see below).

 A contributor to the confusion is Hannah Coleman’s birth date.  Commonly it is listed as 1691 which would make her too young to mother the first three boys. It is possible that Hannah Coleman was born earlier, possibly 1682, which would make her old enough to mother all of Richard’s children.   Note there was a twelve-year difference from Richard’s third son until his fourth son was born.  If this were true, this is a marked indication that his first wife died young and he married Hannah later.

It also should be noted that Richard I’s sons, John and William, have no history.  Could this be because they were from an interracial marriage in the late 1600’s? There just isn’t any information.  There is some information on the second son, Charles so this theory may not hold water.

The ancient publication “First Ledbetter in Virginia” states that Richard Ledbetter Sr. married Hannah Coleman in 1715. This is a huge fact and cements the fact that Richard Ledbetter II was born in 1716 to Hannah Coleman Ledbetter.  The  older brothers were born to another mother, at least two of the sons were.

So, I am choosing to believe a Siboney native American was married to Richard I first.  Richard I married Hannah Coleman in 1715 according to colonial manuscripts.   Hannah birth of 1691 seems more accurate.

Many people erroneously mark Richard I’s birthyear as 1690, but this is incorrect.  Richard’s brother John had a son named Richard Benjamen Ledbetter who was born in 1690.  As I indicated earlier, I have seen many trees and sites using this incorrect information.

(5) Drury Ledbetter (1667-1740)

(6) William Ledbetter (April 10, 1668-1743)

(7) Martha Ledbetter

More information on Richard Ledbetter I (1666-1759) above:

Richard lived in Meherrin River area until 1729, then many of the Ledbetter kin purchased land and moved to property which adjoined each other in renamed Brunswick County, Virginia near present day White Plains.

This property was in proximity to:

∗ both sides of the Meherrin River

∗ southward to Rattlesnake Creek

∗ near Fountain Creek

∗ near Swiss Creek, Little Creek and Hounds Creek

Ledbetter Christian Church

A Ledbetter Creek runs a significant distance south from the Meherrin River and crosses Road 626 in Lunenburg County.  Nearby is a church called Ledbetter Christian Church.  In the adjacent graveyard lies Hannah Honor Ledbetter, wife of Richard Ledbetter I who we discussed above. This is the area inhabited by the many of the Ledbetter families from 1690 until 1729. This is just north of Moore’s Corner, Lunenburg County.

Keep in mind that Richard I and Richard II families moved south to Brunswick County in and around 1729 while some other relatives remained near Meherrin.

Also buried in this churchyard is Mary Vandivers Ledbetter, wife of William Ledbetter who was Richard Ledbetter I’s first son. Mary was buried in 1755 and Hannah in 1759. Mary was born Mary Williamson and her first marriage was to a Vandivers. Her birth year was 1706. The current church was built near these graves. No other burials occurred here until after the church was established in 1916.  There was widespread smallpox epidemic in Virginia in 1759, and I surmise this may have taken Hanna in her sixty-seventh year.  Many sources show Richard Ledbetter I also dying in 1759, but he was buried in an Episcopal Churchyard further south in White Plains. Some sites have Richard dying in 1761 which seems more feasible. There are conflicting dates throughout.  Just another mystery, why were the two women buried here but all other kin southward? Why here when their home was southward?  Mary Williamson was born into a Quaker family. Perhaps this preventer her from burial in the Episcopal Church?

4th Generation, children of Richard Ledbetter I

(1) Charles Ledbetter (1703-1774)

(2) William Ledbetter (1704-1765)

(3) Richard Ledbetter II (Aug. 12, 1716-1751)

This is the marker for Richard II’s son Richard Britt Ledbetter III

(4) John Drury Ledbetter (1713-1785)

Take note that the names and dates of Richard I wives and sons varies throughout ancestry sites.  As I mentioned before, much information out there is misinformed and is often repeated throughout the internet.

During the Virginia Colonial Era, beginning in 1736, and American Revolutionary War Era (1776-1783), some of the leading families of the Tidewater Region of Colonial Virginia worshipped in Brick Church (later named Blandford Episcopal Church) of Bristol Parish. Richard Ledbetter I frequently attended this church.  The distance from his home to this church was over 60 miles so it possibly was associated with business travel and special holiday events. 

This further punctuates the first few Ledbetter generations devotion to the Anglican faith which was a branch of Christianity derived from the Church of England and the Catholic faith.

The Brick (Blandford) Anglican Church had at least one of America’s Founding Fathers upon its Bristol Parish Register: Benjamin Harrison V (1726-1791). Benjamin Harrison, American Declaration of Independence Signer of 1776 fame, was a faithful parishioner of Brick Anglican Church, near Petersburg, Virginia. I have visited Harrison’s preserved home at Berkley Plantation, and I would recommend the viewing if you are in the Williamsburg area.

(5) Richard Ledbetter II (1716-1751) – Mary Walton (1720-1779)

Richard II made the move from the Appomattox River area to Brunswick County with his father after 1729 with many other relatives He produced a huge number of male children in his short lifetime. He was the first Ledbetter to purchase land in the pioneer County of Brunswick.  Richard owned the most land followed by brothers William and Henry.  Richard became constable of the county in 1738 and overseer in 1739. There are documents that indicate Richard’s responsiblity for maintaining roadways. Richard’s father-in-law, Issaac Rowe Walton, was a Burgess for Brunswick County. These families were well off financially.

5th Generation, children of Richard Ledbetter II

(1) Isaac Ledbetter (1734-1785)

(2) Mary Polly Ledbetter (1741-1825)

(3) William Ledbetter (1739-1818) -Mary Cheves

(4) Captain George Ledbetter (1742-1803) – Elizabeth Walton (1740-

(5) Elizabeth Ledbetter 1743-1767)

(6) Richard “Britt” Ledbetter III (1738-1841)

(7) Sarah Ledbetter (1747-1770)

Captain George Ledbetter fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780.

Elizabeth Walton’s mother was Elizabeth Ledbetter (1730-1802) and daughter of Henry Ledbetter (1690-1751)/Edith Williamson (1690). Henry was the son of Francis Ledbetter (1653-1743)/Martha Jones (1648-1745).  This is my direct line to Francis and Richard I, both sons of second-generation Henry. So of course, Captain George and wife Elizabeth Walton were first cousins.

More on Captain George Ledbetter (1742-1803) —George moved to Rutherford County in 1775. A well-educated man who was involved with ratification of the Continental Congress. He also served as a Captain in the Battle of Kings Mountain under Colonel Hampton.  He later served as a sheriff and Justice of Peace for Rutherford County after the Revolutionary War. He also fought at the Battle of Blackstock in Union County, South Carolina on November 20, 1780.

Blackstock Battle, 1780

6th Generation, children of Captain George Ledbetter

(1) Elizabeth Ledbetter (1773-1790) – James Bradley

(2) Walton George Ledbetter (1775-1866) – Sally Goodbread (1780-1875)

(3) Isaac Ledbetter (1776-1837)- Ursala Bradley/Nancy King

(4) William H. Ledbetter (1783-1849) – Ruth Lewellen

(5) Nancy Temperance Ledbetter (1784-1840) -James Murphy– Their daughter Eliza (Liza) is referenced with George Ledbetter death below.  Eliza and George Ledbetter were cousins.

Once again have a direct line from Nancy Temperance Ledbetter as well as her brother George Walton Ledbetter.  In colonial days cousins often married.

More on Walton George Ledbetter (1775-1866) —Walton married into the Goodbread family, an immigrant family from Germany.  His wife Sarah Goodbread’s grandmother was Mary Ledbetter (1742-1625) who was the daughter of Richard Ledbetter II.

Here is the thing with Mary Ledbetter. She initially married John Bradley, but he fell from a barn loft while viewing a rare solar eclipse and passed away from his injuries. She then married John Goodbread, a German immigrant family initially called Gutbrodt. During the Revolutionary War, John Goodbread, his two brothers and his father, were Tories who supported the English King.  The Goodbread family fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain with British commander Patrick Ferguson. The Goodbread brothers were captured after the Colonial Patriot forces defeated the British. They were convicted of treason in 1782.  Rather than being executed, they had all possessions and properties confiscated. During the trial, it was found that there was no record of pay from the British or Tories to John Goodbread. He was allowed to join the American forces and his property reinstated.  John Goodbread amassed over 700 acres of land and significant wealth before his death in 1812-1814.

One of John Goodbread and Mary Ledbetter’s son, Captain John Goodbread, served as a Captain in the War of 1812 for the United States. After the war, he moved to Tennessee. 

When I showed my father the Ledbetter tree in 1973, he remarked “So that’s how the Goodbreads got into the family” . I don’t know what he meant by that, but he was familiar with the name.

Walton George Ledbetter and wife Sarah Goodbread lived in the Montford Cove area of McDowell County.

Montford Cove, Rutherford County, North Carolina

7th Generation, children of Walton Ledbetter

(1) William George (Washington) Ledbetter (1815-1864) – Rebecca Eliza Murphy (1823-1917)

George is shown by many people as George Washington Ledbetter (my own dad used this name) but George’s grandson Luther showed the name as William George Ledbetter in the family Bible (source Stuart A. Nanney).  Stuart was the nephew of Luther’s wife Kate and was confident that the real full name was William George.  The marriage bond on his marriage to Liza Murphy was simply signed “George Ledbetter”.  I am using the name William George Ledbetter in my trees.

(2) Madison Ledbetter (1809-1889)- Mary Lyda

(3) Temperance Ledbetter (1816) – William Bertus Murphy

(4) Squire Thomas Ledbetter (1819-1863)- Zillah Murphy/Malinda Gilliam. Squire Tom was not married to Zilla Murphy but got her pregnant not long before his marriage to Malinda Gilliam.  Squire Tom paid William Bertus Murphy, who had divorced from Squire Tom’s sister Temperance, a sum of ten dollars to marry Zilla.  Squire Tom then married Malinda and the pair experienced more than their share of misery and pain.  More on that below.

(5) James Ledbetter (1830)

More on William George Ledbetter (1815-1864) and Rebecca Eliza (Lizer) Murphy Ledbetter

My details on George Ledbetter were told to me by my dad and Aunt Edith who heard stories from their grandfather Higgins Ledbetter and grandmother Lafaria Searcy Ledbetter when they were children.

George was a very intelligent, educated skilled craftsman, blacksmith and farmer who provided food and support for those in the region who needed help. His wife’s family, the Murphy’s, had a wagon road inn, in fact his wife’s mother and father, Nancy Temperance Ledbetter and James D. Murphy, owned the tavern and lived in its quarters.  

James Murphy’s mother was Hazy Dobson, the daughter of Patriot Dr. Joseph Dobson of Burke County who was a surgeon during the Revolutionary War and the conflict with the Cherokees. The Dobson family owned about 100,000 acres of land in old Burke County.  This Murphy/Dobson pair was very wealthy.  Perhaps the wealth came from both lineages.  I discuss this in more detail further down in this blog.

George was handy with repairing wagons and wheels as necessary.  When the inhabitants of Broad River began to have trouble getting food on the table, George provided abundantly for the valley. George also produced many grey pant uniforms worn by the Confederate troops. It has been stated that he had four looms working every day.

Eventually the building High Porch Tavern became the home of Sarah Emmeline Murphy (Nancy’s daughter) and William A. Garrison.  William Garrison, former stagecoach driver, left Sarah for a while to venture in building a courthouse in Atlanta but it was a failure.  After coming back home to Broad River, he was later struck and killed by lightening.

George and Liza were married at the home of Thomas Elliott who was married to Liza’s oldest sister, Mary Polly Murphy Elliott. George and Liza bought land in central Broad River Community from Bill Owenby.  From James Murphy’s will, Liza’s wealthy grandfather, Liza had received considerable monies as inheritance. It is assumed that this was used for purchase.

George was over thirty-five at the outbreak of the Civil War, so he was allowed to continue farming while serving as a home guard instead of fighting front lines with Confederate units.  He was a policing official for the Gerton, Bear Wallow, Chimney Rock, Broad River, Clear Creek and Edneyville area. This area was on the old Indian trail route from Spartanburg, South Carolina and later called Howard Gap Road which led to Fletcher to the west and Black Mountain to the north. Generally, members of a home guard unit would serve three months concurrently, then return to his home.  I am not sure George was on extended duty at the time as his area of responsibility could be covered in hours on horseback from his own farm.

On April 13, 1864, George was shot in the head by a confederate deserter while on a mission with other home guards.  In as much as he was buried at Clear Creek Township Cemetery, I believe he was killed near there. He was buried three days after death so he could have been moved there as well. The home guard unit was led by Capt. John Preston Fortune.  He had ordered the deserters to stack their weapons and leave but shots were fired.  After a brief fire exchange, the deserters threw down their arms and fled but not before George Ledbetter was mortally wounded.

Captain John Fortune had been a corporal in the 25th NC Infantry and fought in the east on many campaigns.  He must have been wounded or partially disabled to be reassigned to home guard duty. John Fortune passed away the following year on June 11, 1865, at the age of thirty-nine. There is no information as if his early death was related to past injuries.

John Fortune

George Ledbetter’s wife, Liza Murphy (often called Lizer) had nine children at home which was about sixteen miles away.  The youngest, my great-grandfather Higgins, was only eighteen months old.  My Aunt Edith Ledbetter Fortune told me that Liza shot and killed the deserter. It is uncertain if the deserter was in home guard custody or whether Liza was with George when he was shot (which is doubtful considering the age of Higgins). Liza cleaned up George’s body and buried him.  The death was a serious burden to the family and was felt for generations. His death was felt by many in the valley because of his massive contribution to it.  It took a good ten years before son Higgins took over the blacksmithing work.

I do not know but I believe that treatment of a captured civil war deserter, who has just killed a beloved local policing authority, would be dealt with harshly.

Chimney Rock, North Carolina

Lizer Ledbetter was a skilled and energetic businesswoman who grew the family farm in acreage and assets.  She raised the nine children by herself and sent four of the girls to college to become schoolteachers.  Her business dealings were often assisted by her brother-in-law, Squire Thomas Ledbetter, called Thomas on documents.  Lizer had black hair without gray for her entire 92-year life.

These four girls were the foundation for most of the descendants in the Broad River area.  Rebecca Ledbetter married William Albertus Garrison. Their daughter Harriet Garrison married Emil Kirstein.

Catherine “Katy” Ledbetter married Waitsil Lyda, and their daughter Lena married James Wheelon.

Sarah Adeline Ledbetter married James Gilliam and their daughter Ida Gilliam married Olien Anderson.

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Ledbetter married her cousin Thomas Quincy Ledbetter.

Rebecca Eliza Murphy Ledbetter (Lizer) had a twin sister, Sarah Emeline Murphy, who married William A. Garrison as mentioned above.  Sarah and Lizer both lived long lives.  The twins were born on September 12, 1823, Sarah died on February 10, 1912, and Lizer died on March 23, 1917.  Many trees incorrectly use Sarah’s birth and death date for Liza. Most trees I have seen use the incorrect dates.  Use this data shown on the pictures below for your tree.

Lizer’s mother was Nancy Temperance Ledbetter (who married James D. Murphy, the owner of the High Porch Tavern mentioned above). George’s father was Walton George Ledbetter who was the brother to Lizer’s mother Nancy. So, Lizer and George were first cousins.  This was not uncommon in the olden days. Their common grandfather was Capt. George Ledbetter, a Revolutionary War Patriot.  This family was well educated.

Nancy and James Murphy had originally lived on the Catawba River but soon moved to Montford Cove.  After James Murphy’s death, she moved to the head of Broad River and had a great farm.

The Ledbetter family lived in the Broad River area which is now on Hwy 9 about a third of the way between Bat Cave and Black Mountain, North Carolina.  This family is basically the original history of the area.

Rocky Broad River

The roots of Broad River Community in my understanding began with four families mentioned above but not in detail. This involves an immigrant Dr. Joseph Dobson, born in London, England in 1720, another immigrant Murphy family from Ireland around 1718, the Ledbetter family discussed above and the Garrison family.  Here is the story:

Dr. Joseph Dobson immigrated from England to Virginia in 1760. He moved to Burke County, North Carolina before the Revolutionary War.  He served as a surgeon and Captain during the war with his sons Captain John Dobson (killed at Battle of Ramsour’s Mill) and Captain Joseph Dobson Jr. Dr. Dobson was the first university trained surgeon in North Carolina.  Most important fact of all is that Dr. Dobson became the first recorder of Deeds in Burke County, North Carolina.  He drowned in the James River in 1791 after a visit with friends and fellow patriots.

Archibald Murphy (born 1650), his son James Murphy (1695-1762) and grandson Timothy Murphy (1720-1783) immigrated to York, Pennsylvania around 1725 from Down, Ireland. Timothy married Joanna Bowker in 1745; they had many children (over 12). One child was William John Murphy (1760-1838). John Murphy married Mary Catherine “Hazy” Dobson. She was the daughter of Dr. Dobson discussed above.  Their son James Murphy (1789-1848) married into the Ledbetter family, Nancy Temperence Ledbetter (1789-1870).  

Burke County was established in 1777, and Land Grand offices were created. In the first year, 1778, over 6000 land grants were granted. The grants were usually 640 acres each. To obtain a grant you must settle and make improvements after other provisions were made such as mark land, enter into Land Office registry, survey the land and go to the Entry Taker. Remember who was the first Recorder of Deeds in Burke County? Dr. Joseph Dobson Sr.

Those who gained the largest of grants were veterans of the Revolutionary War. Privates received 640 acres, Captains 3840, Colonels 7200, Generals 12000 and Surgeons 4800.

In 1791 there was separation of Burke County. Edward Buncombe represented Buncombe County, David Vance represented Burke County and William Davidson represented Rutherford County.

In summary, Dr. Joseph Dobson was a surgeon and Captain during the Revolutionary War and Director of Deeds. Timothy and William John Murphy were in the war, and Captain George Ledbetter fought in the war. Land grants earned were:

Walton Ledbetter (son of Captain George Ledbetter) 3671 acres jointly held.

James Murphy (husband of Nancy Temperance Ledbetter), son of William John Murphy and grandson of Dr. Joseph Dobson, received 30,000 acres from 1790 thru 1827.

William Murphy, son-in-law of Dr. Joseph Dobson, received about the same as his son James.

Dr. Joseph Dobson and his son Joseph Jr. received over 90 grants with each of them around 2700 acres from 1783-1804. 

The gist is that the couple of James Murphy and Nancy Temperance Ledbetter were quite wealthy via their parents. These two built the High Porch Inn/tavern near what is now Hwy 9 and Chestnut Hill Road. This is generally near the Charles Fortune farm and is regarded as the headwaters of the Rocky Broad River or the origin of the British Broad River, shortened to Broad River. The span from Charles Fortune’s farm to Bat Cave (Fairview Road) is what we call the Broad River Community.

James and Nancy had a great deal of land in the area including the flat sections where fruit orchards thrived. This orchard area is where my dad was born and lived until around 1935. James and Nancy’s daughter Sarah Emeline Murphy (1823-1912) continued to live at the High Porch Inn after her mother’s passing in 1870. The inn was a stagecoach stop, and my ancestor George Ledbetter was a blacksmith nearby who repaired wagon wheels for the stages.  After George was killed in 1864, his son Higgins became the area blacksmith at a very young age, possibly fourteen.  Sarah Murphy met and married a stagecoach driver named William A. Garrison (1812-1893 when he was killed by lightening). This couple were the ancestors to the Garrison’s who lived in Broad River.

James and Nancy’s daughter Rebecca Eliza Murphy married George Ledbetter in 1840. LIza was Sarah Murphy’s twin sister. The George and Liza story has been detailed in the previous blog paragraphs. 

Liza’s daughters became schoolteachers and married into Broad River families”

Katie Ledbetter (1845-1919) married Waitsill Lyda

Sarah Ledbetter (1848-1931) married James Gilliam

Katie Ledbetter (1852-1927) married Thomas Quincy Ledbetter

Rebecca Ledbetter (1860-1946) married William Albertus Garrison

Liza’s son Higgins (1862-1932) married Lefaria Searcy.  They were my great-grandparents and had the following children prominent in the community:

Bryan, Luther, John Long, Lillie Mae, James, and Cleet Ledbetter.

Now the story of Squire Tom Ledbetter (George Ledbetter’s brother and neighbor) and Malinda Gilliam:

Squire Tom and Malinda lost four of their children during a 51-day period in the spring of 1859.  On February 13, nineteen-year-old Mary Elizabeth died, followed by eighteen-year-old James W. on February 15.  Six-year-old Alfred Walton died on March 16 and his brother Richard O. (11) died on April 6, 1859.

Squire Tom and Malinda’s oldest son John England Ledbetter served in the Civil War in Company H of the 29th North Carolina Infantry.  He joined up in Asheville under Col. Robert B. Vance.  At the Battle of Stones River at Murfreesboro, Tennessee on January 2,1863 he was killed in an assault with 5000 confederates under Gen Breckinridge.  There were 10,266 Confederate casualties on that day. A questionable assault on Union cannons was the undoing of this unit at Stone River.  The first cannon blast hit a fence and took out eighteen Confederates with it.  This was likely John’s fate.

Squire Tom’s brother and neighbor George was killed by a deserter in 1864 as was described above.

Squire Tom’s second son, William Haynes Ledbetter, was a Lt. in the N.C. 25th Regiment during the Civil War.  He became a doctor and had many offsprings.  Dr. William died young also, 36 years old.

Three more of Squire Tom and Malinda’s children died before they were forty. Squire Tom Ledbetter outlived ten of his children.

Revision added September 1, 2022, for the effects of the American Civil War on the 8th Ledbetter generation– Males born from about 1830-1847 either enlisted or were conscripted to serve state regiments.  To honor the Ledbetter descendants that perished in the Civil War, I will list their names as well as the name of their parents. Note that of the Ledbetter descendants that served, about eighty percent died in combat, prison camp or by disease. There are twenty-eight of them which is a shocking number.

Col. Daniel Alexander Ledbetter — 1825-Aug 29,1862 Manassas, Virginia Son of Abner Ledbetter and Sarah Ann Calhoun

William George Washington Ledbetter– 1824-May 13, 1864, North Carolina- son of Walton George Ledbetter and Sarah Goodbread (story in detail above).

John England Ledbetter– April 28, 1837-Jan 2, 1863, in Murphreesboro, Tennessee- Son of Squire Thomas Ledbetter and Malinda Gilliam. John was in the second brigade and 29th NC Regiment, Company H, under Capt. Robert B. Vance. The battle was fought alongside the 3rd Georgia, The 9th Georgia and the 11th Tennessee regiments.  Shacky decision making led to a charge on Union cannons.  John was killed on the last day of battle.

James H. Ledbetter–1843-February 18, 1863, Parents unknown.

Joe H. Hill– Aug 10, 1842-Oct 15,1861 Portsmouth, Virginia- son of Rev. Wade Hill and Temperance Ledbetter

Alonzo C. Ledbetter–1846 Georgia-Dec 2. 1864 Georgia – Served in Company C, 27th Battery Infantry- son of William Ledbetter and Elizer Barren

George J. Ledbetter–1837-death date not known- Served in 31st Alabama-son of Timothy Ledbetter and Charlotte Temple

Henderson Ledbetter–Jan 6, 1823-Jan 3, 1862-Illinois-son of James Ledbetter and Mahala Dillard. Served in the Union Army.

James M. Ledbetter–1833 Tennessee-April 24,1864 Mississippi-Served in 1st Infantry-son of Isaac Willy Ledbetter and Sarah Burden

John Turpin Ledbetter–1832-May 19,1864 Farmville, Virginia-Arkansas regiment-son of John Ledbetter and Susannah Williams

Pvt. John Walton Ledbetter–1834-February 28,1864 Point Lookout, Maryland-Served in Company C, 34th NC Infantry-prisoner of war-son of Barzilla Ledbetter and Sarah Elliott

Pvt. Samuel Hampton Ledbetter–February 13, 1838-Ocatober 4, 1864 Maryland-Served in 16th NC Infantry-son of Barzilla Ledbetter and Sarah Elliott

Jonathan Ledbetter–1845 Georgia-September 23, 1864 Sumpter, SC-son of Joseph Henry Ledbetter and Deliah Davis

Pvt. Thomas J. Ledbetter–1835 Georgia-May 3, 1863 Spotsylvania, Virginia-son of Martin Gilbert Ledbetter and Dicey Tribble

Pvt. William Overton Ledbetter–January 12, 1840-August 24. 1863 Chancellorsville, Virginia-Served in 34th Infantry, Company C NC–son of Barzilla Ledbetter and Sarah Elliott

Note: From the above information, you most likely realize that three sons of Barzilla Ledbetter and Sarah Elliott died in the Civil War. Samuel and William Overton Ledbetter served in the same company and infantry as my great-grandfather William Harris Elliott.  Will Elliott was also wounded at Chancellorsville, Virginia but recovered at home in Rutherford County, North Carolina.  Will Elliott missed Gettysburg but returned later and serviced as a wagon driver for the artillery.

James Alexander Forrest–1836 North Carolina-May 1,1864 Richmond, Virginia-son of Alexander Forrest and Polly Taylor.

Pvt. Crawford Wheeler Gilmer-May17, 1840 Virginia-July 3,1862 Seven Pines, Virginia-served in 4th Infantry-son of Robert Gilmer and Jane Ledbetter

Pvt. John McDowell Harris- January 8, 1831-December 13, 1861-Stauton, Virginia-served in 16th Infantry-son of Zadock Harris and Mary L. Ledbetter

Pvt. John K. Raiford-1844 North Carolina-July 22,1864 Georgia-served in 4th Infantry-son of Robert Raiford and Caroline Spencer

Philip Thurmond-1830 Georgia-October 16, 1862-served in 13th Calvary-son of Philip Thurmond and Susan Ledbetter

Oliver Van Smith-1827 North Carolina-December 1864 Vicksburg, Mississippi-married to Zillah Ledbetter

John F. Spearman-August 31,1828 Pickens, Georgia-July 9,1862 Hanover, Virginia-served in 44th Infantry-son of Rev Gabriel Spearman and Martha Sarah Ledbetter

John L. Averett-1843 Georgia-February 7,1862 York, Virginia-son of John Averett and Mary Ledbetter

James Jones Bradley-1827 North Carolina-August 28,1863 Lauderdale, Mississippi-son of Richard and Arminta Bradley

Lt. John T. Chambless-August 27,1826- Georgia-September 9,1862 Cedar Run, Virginia-son of John D. Chambless and Obedience Ledbetter

Sgt. Murphy Elliott-1837-1865-served in Company B of 35th NC Regiment-son of Thomas Elliott and Mary Murphy

Commodore Decatur Epps-1835 North Carolina-December 20,1863 Murray, Georgia-served in 6th Calvary-son of James Epps and Rebecca Ledbetter

John David Ledbetter 1834-1862 was the son of Daniel David Ledbetter and Cherokee Native Cynthia Ann Doughtery Ledbetter. He was in the 14th Texas Calvary and died in battle at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Brigadier General Nathen Bedford Forest one of the South’s greatest generals and Calvary officer was the 6th g-grandson of Thomas Ledbetter. His line ran from Frances Ledbetter, son of Henry Dawson Ledbetter. He  was wounded several times but survived the war.

8th Generation, children of George Ledbetter (William George Ledbetter) and Lizer Murphy Ledbetter

William Higgins Ledbetter (1862-1932) – Lafaria Searcy (1868-1925)

Catherine “Katy” Ledbetter (1845-1914)- Witsell Avery Lyda

James Ledbetter (1842)

Aunt Harriet Ledbetter (1863-1963)- never married and lived with her brother Higgins

Rebecca Ledbetter (1860-1946)- William Albertus Garrison

Sarah Adeline Ledbetter (1848-1931)- James Gilliam

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Ledbetter – Thomas Quincy Ledbetter

More on Higgins Ledbetter (1862-1932)

Like his father before him, Higgins became a skilled craftsman, blacksmith and farmer. Aunt Edith told me that his wife Lafaria was a likeable woman. They lived in the Broad River area. You can see by the picture below that Higgins housed his sister and often host to his mother Lizer who lived nearby. The oldest woman to the far right of the picture is his mother Eliza (Lizer) Ledbetter (her story was told above).

I believe the above picture was taken around 1907. My grandfather was Jim who died in 1950.  I remember visiting my dad’s uncles Bryan and Luther on Sundays during the 1950’s.  They all lived in Broad River, Buncombe County, North Carolina.  I have dated the picture to be about 1907 because Jim was born in 1890 and looks to be about seventeen in the photo.  The picture caption above was not done by me but probably some child of Higgins and Lafaria as they call Harriet, “Aunt Harriet.”  The older woman on the right (that was captioned “Grandpa Higgins sister) is Higgins’ mother Liza Murphy Ledbetter who passed away in 1917.  She would have been eighty-four in 1907 and that appears correct from the image. The picture of Lizer posted previously in this post matches this photo.

9th Generation, children of Higgins

Here is the descendant tree for Higgins Ledbetter and Lafaria Searcy Ledbetter:

I would like to recognize Dean Ledbetter who passed away a few years ago. He was the grandson of Luther Ledbetter and Kate Nanney. I met him when I was young while my father and I were visiting my dad’s Uncle Luther (who was Dean’s grandfather). Dean was five years older than me and lived closer to Hendersonville, so I rarely saw him. Dean was actively involved in Ledbetter genealogy and did a great job of providing information on “Find a Grave” memorials. We must credit Dean with a great deal of information about Ledbetter roots.

Tee

Revised 7/18/2024

Revised 8/12/2025