The First to Move into Carolina

North Carolina was formed in 1739...  Before that, it was Albemarle County which had 13 precincts...  But our "William Peelle" was there in 1727...

William Peelle (1705), the son of William Peelle (1679), was born about 1705 on his father's plantation in the Upper Parish of Nansemond County, Virginia, near the North Carolina state line.  When he was freed by his father, he purchased land in Chowan County, NC.  On 22 May 1727, a William Daniel deeded to William Peele [Peelle] in consideration of 10 pounds, 200 acres on the West side of Bennett’s Creek in Chowan Precinct., being part of 440 granted to said Daniel, 1 March 1721.  Then on 27 May 1727, William bought another 200 acres on the North side of Bennett's Creek from the same William Daniel.

Robert Peelle (1712), brother of William-1705 also moved in the same area  On 15 Dec 1739, we find that a William Coleman, son of Robert Colemen of the Upper Parish of Nansemond Co., VA deeded to Robert Peale [Peelle] son of William Peelle (1679) of Parish and Co., aforesaid in consideration for 20 Pounds, 167 acres in Chowan precinct, NC near Bennett’s Creek.

These two brothers, William and Robert, became the first Peelles in our family to move into North Carolina and purchase land.  Their brother Jesse came with them but apparently lived with Robert-1712 and did not buy land until 1758.

Robert Peelle (1709), son of Robert Peelle (1681) and nephew of his Uncle William-1679, was born on 29 June 1709 on his father's plantation in the Upper Parish of Nansemond County, VA.  This Robert followed his Cousins William and Robert into the State of North Carolina just two years after the state was formed.  He moved into an adjacent county of Northampton County in 1741, buying 500 acres for £40 of Virginia currency from Samuel Ruffin.  Many of his siblings moved with him into the newly formed North Carolina.  His parents, aunts and uncles, and a few other cousins remained Virginia but most eventually moved into North Carolina.  Robert-1709 was one of three Trustees who built the Rich Square Quaker Meeting House and was chosen the overseer for the Quakers of Northampton County.  Robert was a very virile person, he had a total of 14 children by two wives over a 36 year time span.  He first married Elizabeth Edgerton in Virginia about 1729 and they had Robert, Passco, Elizabeth, Mary, and Sarah. He married his second wife, Charity Dickinson, in 1750 and had David, Judith, Jeremiah, Anna, Charity, Abigail, Betsey, Rachel, and Celia.  Robert is now honored as a Patriot of the American Revolution for "services rendered."

Robert Peelle (1730), son of Robert-1709, was born 15 September 1730 in Nansemond County, Virginia, in the Upper Parish.  As a child at eleven years of age, he moved south with his father. But like his father, he also moved further south within North Carolina into a complex of counties: Wayne, Edgecombe, and Wilson.  Both Robert (1709) and Robert (1730) were listed as Carpenters on many deeds, buying land and holding it for a short period and then selling.  Robert first married Margaret B. Jossey and they had eleven children: David, Christian, Mary, Jesse, Josey, Willis, Pheriba, Robert, Abner, Margaret, and John Josey.  After Margaret's death, Robert married a Catherine Fitzgerald who left all of Robert's estate to her relatives when she died.

Most of the North Carolina Peelle lines (Peal, Peel,and Peele) emanate from these men, the children of William-1679 and Robert-1681.  It is their children who eventually spread throughout the south and to the states of Ohio and Indiana.