A Comprehensive Resource for Mission
A Comprehensive Resource

Trewhitt History - Truhitte Family

The first of the Trewhitt Line in America was a Levi Trewhitt who was born in England in 1680. In the towns of High and Low Trewhitt in Northerumberland County, England there were quite a number of Trewhitt families. But so far we have not connected this Levi with any of them.

Levi was a Sea Captain and came to North Carolina about 1700. He was appointed Clerk of the Court of Pamplica, Bath County by a Colonel Carey, Deputy Governor of Carolina in the year 1700. This was during the period of Carolina's Proprietorship, at a time when the only real settlement in North Carolina was Albemarle and the only town worth mention was Bath.

Wills and other Documents of Bath County bear Levi Trewhitt's seal. On 7 July 1702 he was given title to 640 acres at Pamlico by George Montgomery. On 24 Dec he sold this land to a Thomas Ivy for Valuable consideration. On the 20th of June 1702 a Thomas Horsley gave Power of Attorney to his beloved friend, Levi Trewhitt of Bath County, to handle or sell 640 acres. In 1705 Levi Trewhitt and Thomas Durham were ordered to pay a debt of 11 lbs. to John Porter, Esq. In June 1706 Levi Trewhitt sold 330 acres on which he was living to Thomas Sparrow. In Oct 1707 he deeded land on which he was living to Edward Bromwich to settle a debt of 40 lbs of Sterling owed to a Giles White, a Merchant of London. Levi may have borrowed this money to finance his trip to America. On 29 Mar 1710 Ann Nelson, wife of John Nelson, appointed Levi Trewhitt as her attorney to sell land to James Keith and Richard Hill.

Queen Anne appointed her cousin to be Governor of the Carolinas. He in turn appointed a William Glover to be his Deputy Governor replacing Colonel Carey. Usually those appointed by the Rulers of England to rule in the New Country were a friend or relative they wished to get rid of. This may have been the case here.
Levi Trewhitt joined the ousted Carey and helped form a rebellion of dissenters known as Carey's Rebellion of 1711. Levi was charged with outfitting two vessels with cannon and attempting to overthrow the Government of the Colony. Also for shelling Pollack's Plantation where Governor Hyde, Queen Anne's cousin, had taken refuge.

Forced to flee, Trewhitt was captured along with Colonel Carey, George Lumley, Challingham Ward and Edmond Porter. They were captured by Deputy Governor Spotswood of Virginia. After being held in goal (jail) in Williamsburg, the then Capital of Virginia, Levi Trewhitt was shipped, in chains, to England on the EMS Reserve, Capt. Teate, Commander, to stand trial for sedition.

There are a number of letters in the North Carolina Colonial Records where Levi's name is spelled variously as 'Trewhitt' 'Pruchet' 'Treuit', 'Treuvit', 'Trewit' and 'Truwhitt' pertaining to this case.

Some state that Levi used his office to enrich himself. Governor Hyde, in a letter to the Lord Proprietors dated 22 Aug 1711, stated, "It will be proven the he, Levi Truehott, was famous for falsifying judgments and razing records."

In England, after a delay of over a year, Levi's case was dismissed for lack of evidence. He then returned to the 'Scence of his Crime' and settled on the bank of the River Neuse, near New Bern and established a plantation. If his so called crimes were true, why was Levi permitted to return and settle here? Levi planted trees which, until the turn of the century, were known as Trewhitt Oaks. There was also a road called Trewhitt Road out in the country from New Bern.

Levi's wife was Mary. Her maiden name and when or where they were married is not known. At this time Levi and Mary were living in Craven County. Bath County was renamed Craven County in 1712. As far as we know Levi and Mary had one son, Levi Trewhitt Jr.

Levi Trewhitt Jr. was married and had issue. His wife was Ann.  There was a Levi Truhite whose will was dated 10 June 1779 in Amelia County, Virginia who could have been this Levi Jr. There was a Levi Jr. mentioned as having been granted 800 acres of land in Craven County in 1744. His only known descendent was a son named Joseph.

We have no birth date or marriage date for Joseph. His wife was Percillar. He maiden name and birthdate are unknown. From Joseph's will we have the names of 6 children, all born in Craven County, North Carolina. Some land transactions of Joseph were found. He bought 50 acres from a William Hacock for English measure on 15 Mar 1751 He sold 100 acres for 80 lbs. in 1755. Joseph and Percillar's children were:

 

 

Copyright 1998-2005  Richard Collins, All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents, Contact Us