Notes for John Boone

Notes for John Boone

John Boone is though to have married before settling in North Carolina, but neither the date nor the place is known. Although there are a number of documents to prove that his wife's first name was Rebecca, no record has been found to indicate anything further about her name or family connections. On December 21, 1753, John and Rebecca Boone received a grant of 630 acres from the Earl of Granville. This land was on Hunting Creek in the vicinity of what is now Center Church, in Davie Co., North Carolina. The cabin which John Boone built was within a few miles of his uncle Squire Boone. Since there is no mention of any owners of adjoining land in their deed, it is assumed that John and Rebecca Boone were among the very earliest settlers on Hunting Creek. On their deed is the notation, "Delivered to Squire Boone."

John Boone was buried on his plantation on Hunting Creek due west of Mocksville, county seat of the present Davie County. The exact date of his death is not known, but on August 3, 1803, letters of administration were issued to Benjamin Boone and John Boone (Jr.) for the estate of John Boone, deceased. He probably died in July, 1803, possibly earlier. It was November 12, of that year, when his son-in-law Mark Whitaker, in Fayette Co., Kentucky, executed power of attorney to Benjamin Boone to look after his interests in the settlement of the estate of John Boone, deceased. Rebecca Boone, widow of John Boone, made a will on August 26, 1815. As her will was probated August 23, 1822 (Rowan County Will Book H, p. 169), she probably died in July or August, 1822. It is assumed that she was buried by John Boone's side.

On November 6, 1806, John Boone's other heirs gave to John Boone, Jr. a deed to the homestead (Rowan County Deed Book 21, p. 489). From this deed and other reliable sources, including Rebecca Boone's will, the names of their nine children have been determined as follows: Benjamin, Catherine (Katie), Mary, Rebecca, Sarah, Nancy, Elizabeth, Hannah, and John, Jr. A short sketch on each follows