Today’s find in my BRILES folder includes two hand-drawn plats depicting land that John Briles deeded to Noah Briles in 1826. One drawing represents 150 acres on the west side of the Uwharrie River, while the other shows 91 acres spanning both sides of the river’s north fork.
Each drawing records the “history” of the land, noting that John Briles obtained the property from Jonas Hoover, the original owner. However, neither drawing identifies the source of these transactions or explains how the plats came to be in my collection.
Using FamilySearch’s full-text search feature, I located the corresponding deed in Randolph County, North Carolina, Deed Book 17, beginning on page 438. Interestingly, the deed documents three separate tracts of land—yet I only have plats for two of them.
The following transcription comes from that 1826 deed recorded in Randolph County Deed Book 17. This document details the sale of three tracts of land from John Briles to Noah Briles—two of which correspond to the plats in my collection. The deed not only confirms the acreage and boundaries but also helps connect the chain of ownership from Jonas Hoover to John Briles and then to Noah, offering valuable insight into early Briles family land transactions in Randolph County.
Randolph County NC
Deeds 1826-1831
Film 7517639
image 232 of 502“Randolph, North Carolina, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898Q-3ZNZ?view=explore : Nov 1, 2025), image 232 of 502; . Image Group Number: 007517639
Deeds, v. 17-18 1826-1831
Vol. 17
page 438
This Indenture made this 4th ⎬ August in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty six Between John
Briles of the County of Randolph & State of North Carolina of the
one part and Noah Briles of the County and State aforesaid
of the other part Witnesseth that for and in consideration
of the sum of Eleven hundred Dollars to him in hand paid
by the said Noah Briles the receipt whereof is hereby ack
knowledged hath this day bargained sold & Delivered unto the
said Noah Bailes & certain tract or parcel of Land lying on
both sides of the North fork of Uhare first – Beginning at
a pine Ninevah Rushes Corner in the line of the old
Survey on the south side of Creek & runs thence on Ninevah
Rushes line No 51 do – East 7 – Chains & fifty links to his
Corner pine thence on said line No 2 chains & 70 links
to his corner Elm in the bank of the Creek thence Down the
Various Courses of said Creek & Crossing it to a Sweet gum in
the North bank of the Creek , thence no 26 East 6 Chains and
fifty links to a piece on the old line , No 70 west [9] chains
to the old Corner pine thence on said line North 28 west 31
chains [& fifty] 25 links to the corner pine thence on said line
So . 45 west at 7 chains Crossing the Creeck in all 20 chains
to the old Corner white oak thence on the said One So 35 East 6
chains and 25 links to the old Corner pine , thence on said
line So 19 chains to the old Corner B Oak , thence south 40
east 15 chains along the old line to the Beginning Containing
91 acres – 2d Tract Beginning at a pine his old
Corner & running on his line So 45 West 20 chains to his old
Corner White oak thence on his old line So 35 Eaqr 6 chains
and 25 links to his old Corner pine thence south on saidpage 439
line 19 chains to his ld Corner B[each] thence
South 40 East 15 chains on said line to a pine thence west
22 chains & six links to a black oath thence [SW] 20 West 15 chs
to a pine thence No 45 west 28chains & 50 links to corner
post oak thence East on Richard Beckerdites line 19 chains
and fifty links to the Creek Beckerdites Corner white oak on sd
line thence So and said Buckerdels line 2 chains to his
Corner B oak thence East on said line crossing theCreek 10
chains to his corner post oak thence No on said line [6 ch]
& 50 links to his corner pine thence East on said line 23 chs
to a post oak thence South bounded by Noah Rushes line
36 chains to a B oak on his line then west 13 chains
to a White oak at or near his line thence North 70 west
one Chain 50 links to his old Corner thence on his own
line the Beginning Containing one hundred and
ninety six acres – The 3rd tract Beginning at a
Post oak Beckerdites Corner & runs South 31 dg west
180 poles to a hickory in Wrays line there Bounded by [foutxehs]
line No 43 West 55 poles to a red oak thence No 245 poles
to a stake in Merrels line thence East on said line 28 poles to
a B oak in Henry Youngs line thence with his line So 40
East 50 poles to a pine thence South 65 East 8 poles to a
Stake thence to the Beginning containing one hundred
and fifty Acres – making in the three parts four hun
dred & thirty seven acres be the same more or less
together with all ways woods waters mines minerals
& appurtainances thereunto belonging or appertaining to
the said NOah Briles his heirs and assigns forever free
and Clear from all and every person or persons and
the said John Briles doth Covenant & agree to and with
the said Noah Briles to Warrant and defend the said land
to the sd Noah Briles & his heirs & assigns forever in Witness
whereof the said John Briles hath hereunto set her hand &
affixed his seal the day and date first above Written –
Signed sealed & Delivered in the presence of
Joseph HooverJohn Briles Seal
page 440
State of North Carolina
Randolph County
Court of pelas & quarter Sessions
May Term 1829
The execution of this deed was proven in open Court
by Joseph Hoover & ordered to be registered
Registered July 28th 1829
Jesse Harper CCC
While I may be missing one of the plats mentioned in the deed, the surviving drawings and this record together help tell the story of how Briles family land passed from one generation to the next. These documents not only trace property boundaries but also reveal the connections between families and neighbors along the Uwharrie River. Each deed and plat adds another layer to understanding the movements and relationships of the Briles family before their later migrations westward—proof that even partial records can provide valuable clues in reconstructing our ancestors’ lives.