Jonathan Francis Horrell , son of William Horrell and Unknown , was born in 1767 in Plymouth, Devon, England, died on 24 Mar 1863 in Bladen County, NC, at age 96, and was buried in Mar 1863 in Bladen County, NC.

General Notes:

Jonathan Francis Horrell arrived in the port of Wilmington, NC on August 4, 1804. He arrived on the ship "Minerva". His name is written as "Jonathan Francis Horrol" on the ship's manifest roster.

No record of Jonathan has been uncovered from 1805 to 1830. However, records from the Bethlehem Church minutes indicate that he and his family were members of that church for over 25 years, until 1859. The Bethlehem Church was first known as the Maple Hill Church, then Colly Mills. So they most likely lived somewhere in the area, probably in the Colly Creek Area, near Colly Mill.

In the Bladen County records a deed exists showing Jonathan purchased 150 acres of land along Black River in Bladen County from Samuel Strahan in 1824.

1824 Deed - Samuel Strahan to Jonathan Horrell

New Hanover County deed records indicate that Moses Ritter, (Jonathan's father-in-law) left his wife, Mary, 250 acres of land known as the "Clay Fields" located in the Poplar Swamps near Moore's Creek Bridge, in what is now part of Pender County. The land was deeded in 1787.

1830 Federal Census - New Hanover County, NC
Jonathan Horrell
1 adult male (50-60)
1 adult female
4 sons
1 daughter

1840 Federal Census - New Hanover County), NC
Jonathan Horrell 70 - 80
1 female 40 - 50
2 males 10 - 15
1 male 15 - 20
1 male 20 - 30
1 female 5 - 10
1 female 15 - 20


1845 Tax List - Canetuck District (New Hanover County) shows the following:
Jonathan Francis Horrell 100 acres


1850 Federal Census Records -NE Side of Cape Fear, Bladen County, NC
Jonathan F. Horrell 84
Mary Jane 59
James 23
Zilphia 19
George 16


In 1859 a group of members got together to build a new church at Haw Bluff. (I currently have in my possession, copies of about 10 pages of the original covenant listing those members who wanted to establish the new church. Also listings of members and minutes of meetings.

The lands on which the church and the cemetery are located were donated by members of the Barnhill family.

Many, many family members are buried in this cemetery and are still being buried there today.

There is a memorial stone in the cemetery which honors Jonathan and Mary Jane Horrell. He is our oldest known "Horrell" ancestor in North Carolina.

The stone reads:
In Grateful Memory of our Earliest Ancestor
Who Emigrated to American
Soil In 1805
Horrell
Jonathan Francis Horrell
1762 - 1863
Born in Plymouth, England
Mary Jane Harvey Ritter
Wife of Jonathan Horrell
1791 - 1873
Born in Brunswick County
North Carolina


1860 Federal Census Records -Beatty's Bridge PO, Bladen County, NC
George W. Horrell, 26, 1834 Turpentiner
Martha M. 22 1838
William G. 4 1856
James F. 2 1858
Mary E. 1 1859
Jonathan F. 98 1762 - Born in England
Mary J. 72 1788 - Born in Brunswick Co., NC

Real Estate valued at $300 and personal estate at $50.
Residence: Beatty's Bridge area in Bladen County.

The land here is believed to be the land Jonathan F. Horrell purchased from Mr. Strahan in 1824. George is head of the house, but actually he, Martha and his children are living in the home of his parents, Jonathan and Mary Jane.

According to the minutes of the Haw Bluff Church, Jonathan F. Horrell died on the 24th of March in 1863. His age was listed in the minutes as 101 years.

Jonathan married Mary Jane Harvey . Mary was born on 25 Jan 1791 in VA (according to death certificate of her son, George W. Horrell), died in 1871 in Bladen County, NC, at age 80, and was buried near Atkinson, Pender County, NC.

Children from this marriage were:

William Mack Horrell was born on 3 Jun 1815 in New Hanover County, NC, died on 6 Feb 1893 in Bladen County, NC, at age 77, and was buried in Feb 1893 in Horrell Family Cem. (off Hway #210 near home of Jerry Lee Barnhill).

Male Horrell was born in NC.

John Francis "Field" Horrell was born in 1817 in New Hanover County, NC, died before 1880 in New Hanover County, NC, and was buried in Pender County, NC.

Mary Jane Horrell was born about 1820 and died in 1880.

James Bradbury "Brad" Horrell was born on 5 Apr 1828 in New Hanover County, NC, died on 13 Jul 1910 in Pender County, NC, at age 82, and was buried in Jul 1910 in Horrell Family Cemetery.

Zilphia Horrell was born on 15 Feb 1829 in New Hanover County, NC, died on 15 Mar 1902 in NC, at age 73, and was buried in Mar 1902 in NC.

George Washington Horrell was born on 11 Apr 1831 in New Hanover County, NC, died on 17 Jul 1915 in Pender County, NC, at age 84, and was buried on 18 Jul 1915 in Woodcock Cem., Atkinson, Pender County, NC.