4. Christopher Nation (1719-1799)

Christopher Nation, third son of John & Bethiah Nation, was listed in Frederick County Court Records p. 298 as "Christopher Nation vs Jeremiah Bordern, in debt, 9 March 1744".

The land records for Frederick County, Va. Microfilm 7474 pt. 4 Deeds of Frederick Co. Va. "Know All Men by these presents that I William Grant have sold, bargained, delivered unto Cristyfor Nation three head of cattle, one black cow marked with a crop in the near ear and a slit in the of ear, one black hefer marked with a slit in each ear and one calfe with a crop an the near ear and one stack of hay and the said Grant doe warrant and defend the said cattle to the said Nation his heirs or assigns as witnesses my hand and seal this 24 day of September 1745.

Sig: William (his mark) Grant.

Teste: William Roberts, Thomas Waters.

At a court held for Frederick County on Tuesday the first day of October 1745, William Grant in open Court acknowledged this his bill of sale to Chris Nation which, on his motion, is admitted to record. Test: T. Wood, Clark, Court N. C.

From microfilm F4923 part 14. Deeds of Rowan Co., N. C. Boo[... 7, page 190 "E3 June 1769 ... between John Nation, Jr. of Rowan Co. N. C. and Elizabeth, his wife and Christopher Nation ... for 100 lbs. ... land in the parish of St. Luke ... land on Pole Cat Creek and Deep River, etc. Recorded 8 June 1769".

Microfilm F4895 pt. 1. Deeds of Randolph Co. N. C. Book III page 227 -- Christopher Nation is granted 100 acres by the state of North Carolina, by Richard Caswell. Made 18 Aug. 1787, recorded 17 March 1788.

In part of this same film, Book V page 26. The State of North Carolina grants Christopher Nation grant #603 for 100 acres land on Pole Cat and Deep Creek Rivers. 20 Dec. 1791 by Governor Alexander Martin.

The following will was extracted from the records of Randolph Co. N. C. Book II page 84 (abstracted) the will of Christopher Nation of Randolph County of land) son Christopher, Jr. and five other sons, John, Thomas, Joseph, William, Amos (who receive one shilling each) daughters Elizabeth and Bethiah, Wife: Elizabeth, Exors: son Abraham and friend Christopher Vickery. Will made 11 November 1777, probated November term of 1799. Witnesses: Absolam Vickery and John Vickery.

Christopher Nation, son of John and Bethiah Robins Nation was born around 1719 and was married to Elizabeth Swaim and died 11 November 1799 in Randolph Co. N. Car. Listed following children:

  1. Abraham - Born 1738 Died Alabama
  2. Christopher, Jr. Born 1741 -
  3. John - Born 1744
  4. Thomas - Born 1747 Married 5 June 1814 N. Car. to Rebecca Riggs - Died Tenn.
  5. Joseph - 1750, Born Randolph Co. N.C. -- Married Jereter Vickery Dec. 1770, N.C. - Died April 1803 Claiborne Co. Tenn.
  6. William - Married Jane - Died 1807 - Claib. Co. Tenn.
  7. Elizabeth - ?Married Salomon Jones
  8. Bethiah - ?Married Samuel Love - 30 Mar. 1789.

Christopher Nation, the third son of John, Sr., was quite a problem to the Governor of the Province of North Carolina, as he was engaged in riotous acts against the crown. He was in North Carolina as early as 1761 for it is noted he witnessed a marriage of Samuel Osborn to Elizabeth Lamb at the New Garden Meeting, in Guilford County on 7 June, 1761. He also witnessed the marriage of Benjamin Beeson to Bertha Lamb at the same place on 9 July, 1761. His brother John, Jr. also witnessed this marriage.

Attention should be called to the fact Benjamin Beeson (Sr.?), with his wife and children, was received into the Quaker church at New Garden Monthly Meeting, Guilford County, NC., on 7 March, 1752, on certificate from Hopewell, Virginia. The monthly meeting in Virginia was dated the 6th of March, 1751. Two Beeson men witnessed the will of John Nation, Sr., and it is possible they traveled from Virginia to North Carolina along with John Nation and his family. This would put the Nation's family in North Carolina about 1751. Christopher Nation was listed in the tax rolls of Rowan County in 1759, and was elected to the House of Representatives from Rowan County in 1769 (Col. Records of NC., vol. 6, page 799)

In 1768, he, along with 21 other Regulars, assembled at Hillsboro, North Carolina, petitioned the Governor, his Excellence, W. Tryon. as follows:

"Whereas through the exactions and extortions of several officers of Orange, we have involved ourselves in many difficulties and by means of reports, false, spread the condition has arose to a great extremity and being desirous to submit ourselves to the clemency of your excellence, and to lay aside all method of redress of our grievances, but by a due course of law, and beg that your excel.lence will forgive all our past offenses by your gracious proclamation, that peace and tranquility may be restored again, to all the inhabitants of this province, and confiding in your assistance and favor to execute the laws against said exactions and extortions and conclude." (Ibid. vol. 7, page 813).

On October 1, 1768, at a council held at Hillsboro, NC., it was decided to issue such proclamation. The document, signed by Governor Tryon October 3, 1768 read in part: "I do, therefore, out of a compassion for the misguided multitude, being much more inclined to prevent than punish crimes of so high a nature by and with the unanimous advice and consent of his Majesty's Council issue this proclamation granting unto them His Majesty's most gracious pardon for the several outrageous acts by them committed at any time before the day of the date hereof, except James Hunter, Ninion Hamilton, Peter Craven, Isaac Jackson, Harmon Husband, Matthew Moffit, Christopher Nation, Solomon Cross and John Oneal, of which all officers of Justice and others concerned therein are to take notice. (Ibid. Vol. 7, page 850 and 851).

After this, Christopher Nation and Harman Husbands were elected to the House of Representatives, which met at New Bern, NC., on the 5th day of December 1769. (Ibid, Vol. 8, page 105). He was paid for 18 days in attendance, and for 16 (days coming from his home and returning. He received atotal of twelve pounds, eighteen shillings arid four pence, including the traveling ex-pense. (Ibid, Vol. 8 page 147).

In a letter dated 30 march, 1770 at London, England, Henry Eustace McCulloh wrote to Colonel John Harvey in North Carolina, and stated, among other things:

"I thank you for the journal of your political proceedings:-the madness of the people must be great indeed, to trust such wretches as Harmon Husbands and Christopher Nation, as their representatives;--but it is a comfort, that violent mad fits seldom last long." (Ibid, Vol. 3, page 183).

Christopher Nation was listed in the Stokes County, NC. Federal census for 1790. He had one son under 16 years of age at that time. He was in the Greenville District of south Carolina in 1800, and had two sons under ten, and was under 45 years of age. He had one daughter under ten, one 16 but under 26, or his wife was under 26.

He bought 100 acres of land from James Barton in the GreenVille District in 1795, and the instrument was recorded in 1803 in book G, page 9. The land was a part of an original grant to James Barton, and it may be that Christopher married Barton's daughter, as it is known the Nations intermarried with the Bartons, the Robins, the Trammells and the Vickerys. The name of Christopher Nation does riot appear in the South Carolina census records for 1810 or afterward. Nor have I been able to (determine whether he died here, or, moved away to some other state.

There was a Christopher Nations in Haywood county, N. C.. , in 1840. He was; between 20 and 30 years of age, and had -two daughters under five, and one under ten. His wife was past 30 years old. A John Nations was also in Haywood County at the same time. He had two sons and one daughter under 5, and three daughters of five, but under ten. Both he and his wife were under thirty years of age. These might have been children of Christopher or John, Jr., who were in south Carolina earlier.

Abraham Nations - son of Christopher and Elizabeth Swaim Nation was in the Greenville District of S. Car. in 1800. He had one son under 10, one under 16, and he was over 45. He had three daughters under 10, and his wife was also under 45. In the 1810 census for tine Greenville District there was an A. Nations listed. He had 4 sons under 10, and he was under 45. He had 3 daughters under 16, two under 26 and his wife was under 45.

Abram Nations was listed in the 1820 census of the Pendleton District and had one son under 10, two from 10 - 16, one between 16 - 18, and one between 18 - 25. He had 2 daughters under 10 and one under 16.

Abraham was born in 1738 in Va. and died in Alabama.

Amos Nations - son of Christopher and Elizabeth Swaim was listed in the 1800 census for the Pendleton District of S. Car. He and his wife were between 26 and 45 years of age. He had 3 sons under 10, one daughter under 10, and one under 16 and one under 26. On March 15, 1798 Amos Nations bought land on Twentythree Mile Creek from Jacob Capehard. Amos Nations' name does not appear again after that time in Pendleton District records.