ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright 1997

All material contained at this site may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an informational retrieval system or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

Descendants of Riddick Carney

Generation No. 1

1. RIDDICK² CARNEY (THOMAS¹)^1,2 was born 1805 in Pitt County, N.C.^3,4, and died April 24, 1868 in Pitt County, NC⁵.  He married POLLY MARY RENFREW.  She was born 1805⁶, and died in Pitt County, N.C..

Notes for RIDDICK CARNEY:

According to King in "SKETCHES OF PITT COUNTY" Enoch Moore (most likely the son of Benjamine Moore and brother of Randolph Moore who was Carney's son-in-law) was in the Carney home during two of the raids by Federals in the attempt to capture Riddick Carney.

Pitt County Deed Book GG p. 55:  January 19, 1829, Elizabeth Carney to Reddick Carney... Deed of 50 acres deliver unto Reddick Carney part of my land whtch fell to me by the death of my husband Thomas Carney called the Martin place. The said Reddick to pay 100 dollars, and I Elizabeth Carney do give the said Reddick rail timber to fence the said land my natural life and I the said Elizabeth do warrant and dispose to him and his heirs my natural life and this cross fencing between me and Reddick is to be kept up between us hereafter.

Whitness:  arden Moore, Stephen Carney, May session 1833.

Pitt CountyDeed Book KK p. 91:  February 17, 1842, Grantor: Richard Carney.  Grantee:  Reddick Carney, All rights to land which fell to me by the death of my sister Elizabeth Carney dec'd, being the 9th part of lot #2 in the divisipn of lands of Thomas Carney.

Pitt County Deed Book LL p. 227: March 10, 1846, Grantor: Alfred B. Carney.  Grantee:  Reddick Carney: Lot #4 in the division of the lands of Thomas Carney and also my share of lot #2 which was set apart to Elizabeth C. now deceased.

Deed----Pitt County Book- G.G.p.55:   January 19, 1829, Elizabeth Carney to Reddick Carney...Deed of 50 acres deliver unto Reddick Carney part of my land which fell to me by the death of my husband Thomas Carney called the Martin place. The said Reddick to pay 100 dollars, and I Elizabeth Carney do give the said Reddick rail timber to fence the said land my natural life and I the said Elizabeth do warrant and dispose to him and his heirs my natural life and this cross fencing between me and Reddick is to be kept up between us hereafter..

Witness: Arden Moore, Stephen Carney   May session 1833

Census taken 25th day October 1850, Perkins District Pitt County.

Reddick Carney 45 M Farmer

Mary   45 F

James R.   21 M

William  18 M

Reddick  15 M

Sarah E.   10 M

Nancy Albriton Carney 8 F

George A.  6 M

Alvana   2 F

Thomas Carney  47 M Laborer {Redicks brother)

Elizabeth Wilson 38 F

Mary A. Wilson 6 F

Residence is located 8 miles northeast of Greenville just across Grindle Creek.

                                     The Death of Reddick Carney

Like Jefferson Davis,some men were never reconstructed, and yet, unlike him, died with their boots on. Such a man was Reddick Carney. His oldest son, James R. Carney, was killed in the war. This was his favorite son and the loss seemed to have had great effect upon him,embittering him against all Federals and their authority. He was charged with defying the new order of things and cruelty to negroes. For a long time the Federal authorities could not arrest him.

Some time early in 1866 a Federal lieutenant, with a squad of soldiers, from Washington, went out one night to arrest him and some others implicated with him. Arriving there, the house was surrounded and then entered. Only the women folks were found. They insisted that the soldiers should not go upstairs. The lieutenant took a torch from the fireplace and started upstairs. He was met by a load of buckshot and fell back mortally wounded. With Carney upstairs at this time were Enoch Moore, a neighbor,and J.T.Renfrow, recently from Georgia, and one or two others, all of whom were wanted by the Federals. No other attempt was made to go upstairs again. The lieutenant died at Pactolus,after having his wound dressed.

Another attempt was made to arrest the three, while at dinner at Church Perkins, a friend of Carney and a wealthy and prominent citizen, they escaped through a window. The officers had supper and left.

It was some time before another attempt was made to arrest Carney. Information being had that Carney was at home. The night before the fourth Sunday [26th] April, 1868, Major Lyman with ten negro militia and Sheriff Foley went out before daylight. After surrounding the house, their presence was made known and Carney ordered to come out and surrender. In the house at this time were Carney, his wife, his son George, his son in law, Alonzo Whitehurst and his [Whitehurst] wife. Another daughter, Mary, and her governess, were away, visiting. George wanted his father to give up, but he said he would die first. Whitehurst reported that Carney was not there.

The house was then attacked and broken into. Major Lyman repeated the experiment of the lieutenant on the former occasion, tried to go upstairs, and was badly wounded in his left arm. The house was now set afire all around. George came downstairs to find a negro soldier in the parlor and shot him dead. Another raised his gun and shot George. George shot him and they both fell dead. George fell in the fire and his body much burned before his sister was allowed to drag it away. Whitehurst who had taken no part in the fight was wounded twice. He was gotten from the house, which soon burned down, the women having been allowed to come out some time before. The last seen of Carney alive was at an upper window, where he was apparently trying to get a shot at his besiegers. The house was a complete loss, nothing saved except the clothes those who escaped wore at the time. Whitehurst recovered. Major Lyman died soon thereafter of his wounds.

No inquest was held over the Carneys, and no other legal proceedings were ever had in the matter, and it all became a thing of the past, though not forgotten.

source: Sketches of Pitt County pp 174-177 [ chapter 37 ]

 by:     Henry T. King;    1911

More About RIDDICK CARNEY:

Burial: Carney Family Homeplace, Pitt Co., N.C.

Residence: 1866, 8 mi. north of Greenville just across Grindle Creek⁷

Children of RIDDICK CARNEY and POLLY RENFREW are:

• i JANE³ CARNEY, m. JAMES WHITEHURST.
• ii. MARY A. MARGRET CARNEY ⁸, b. 1822, Pitt County,  NC; d. October 30, 1907, Pitt County, NC; m. RANDOLPH MOORE^9,10,11, 1837; b. 1812, Pitt County,  NC; d. November 1869, Pitt County,  NC.
• Notes for MARY A. MARGRET CARNEY:
• Married when she was 15 years old.
• Notes for RANDOLPH MOORE:
• 1850 CENSUS PERKINS DISTRICT, Pitt County, NC
• Moore, Randolph 37 NC farmer 742
• Carney Mary A.M. 23 NC
• Moore Joseph T.  6 NC
• Moore Harriet E.   4 NC
• Moore Lydia F.   2 NC
• Tison John A.  12 NC
• iii. JAMES RICHARD CARNEY ¹², b. 1829, Pitt County, N.C.; d. June 15, 1864, Richmond, Virginia¹³; m. JANE WHITEHURST , 1852, Pitt County, N.C. by Elder Jeter Reaves; b. 1837, Warren Station, Edgecomb CO. N.C.¹⁴; d. March 01, 1912, Rocky Mount, NC¹⁴.
• Notes for JAMES RICHARD CARNEY:
• Died in Richmomd Va,. Hanover County Courthouse, Virginia. listed in Vol. 2 Manarin Calvary N.C. Troops C.S.A.
• Enlisted Feb. 12, 1862 at Wake Co. in Capt. R.S. Tucker's I Co. 3rd reg Calvary C.S.A.  He was wounded at Ilse of Wight, the wound proved fatal five days later.
• James Carney and Jane Whitehurst also had three boys, born, 1857, 1858, 1861 of which all three died young.
• More About JAMES RICHARD CARNEY:
• Burial: Girndle Creek at the family burial place.
• Deed: December 30, 1854, John A. Moore to James R. Carney. 250 acres of land for the amount of $550 dollars paid.¹⁵
• Military service: February 12, 1862, Manarin Calvary N.C. Troops C.S.A.¹⁶
• More About JANE WHITEHURST:
• Burial: March 03, 1912, Pineview Cemetery, Rockymount, N.C.
• iv. WILLIAM J. CARNEY , b. 1831, Pitt County, N.C.; m. LUCINDA GRAY; b. 1832¹⁷.
• More About WILLIAM J. CARNEY:
• Military service: February 12, 1862, I Co. 3rd Cav. Reg. N.C. C.S.A. enlisted in Wake Co. N.C.
• Occupation: Farmer
• v. REDDICK CARNEY, b. 1835.
• vi. SARAH E. CARNEY, b. 1840; m. JOSEPH GRAY.
• Notes for JOSEPH GRAY:
• After the death of Sarah [Sallie] Carney, Joseph married her sister Kate.
• vii. NANCY ALBRITTON CARNEY , b. 1842, Pitt County, N.C.; m. ALONZO JAMES WHITEHURST¹⁸, 1868; b. February 04, 1842, Edgecomb Co. NC¹⁸.
• viii. GEORGE A. CARNEY , b. 1846; d. April 26, 1868, Pitt County, NC.
• Notes for GEORGE A. CARNEY:
• According to King in "SKETCHES OF PITT COUNTY" George Carney was killed in the raid by Federals in the attempt to capture his father Riddick Carney.
• ix. ALVANA CARNEY, b. 1848, Pitt County, N.C.; m. JOSEPH GRAY.
• Notes for JOSEPH GRAY:
• After the death of Sarah [Sallie] Carney, Joseph married her sister Kate.
• 
• Endnotes

 

1. Pitt County Deed Books Notes by Roger Kammerer, Book GG, p. 67, Elizabeth Carney , widow of Thomas Carney, Sr., dec'd. to son Reddick Carney and wife.

2. Henry T. King, SKETCHES OF PITT COUNTY 1704 - 1910,  (Edwards & Broughton Printing Co. Raleigh, NC), 174, Chapter 37.

3. Janet Spangler, "Descendants of Thomas Carney," Text file email Apr. 16, 2001.

4. Pitt County, NC Deed Book EE.

5. Henry T. King, SKETCHES OF PITT COUNTY 1704 - 1910,  (Edwards & Broughton Printing Co. Raleigh, NC), 175, The attenp was made the night before the fourth sunday (26th) of April, 1868.

6. Janet Spangler, "Descendants of Thomas Carney," Text file email Apr. 16, 2001, 3.

7. Henry T. King, SKETCHES OF PITT COUNTY 1704 - 1910,  (Edwards & Broughton Printing Co. Raleigh, NC), 174.

8. Census of Pitt County 1850, line 1040.

9. Pitt County Deed Books Notes by Roger Kammerer, HH, p. 479, Randoplh Moore, son of Benj. Moore; Jacob Moore house, Adam Albritton house.

10.  Pitt County Deed Books Notes by Roger Kammerer, LL, p. 494, Randolph Moore son of Benjamin Moore, dec'd.

11.  Pitt County Deed Books Notes by Roger Kammerer, Book HH, p. 381.

12.  Henry T. King, SKETCHES OF PITT COUNTY 1704 - 1910,  (Edwards & Broughton Printing Co. Raleigh, NC), 174, His oldest son James H. Carney was killed in the war. (Civil War).

13.  Janet Spangler, "Descendants of Thomas Carney," Text file email Apr. 16, 2001, 4.

14.  Janet Spangler, "Descendants of Thomas Carney," Text file email Apr. 16, 2001, 6.

15.  Pitt County, NC Deed Book NN (notes by Roger Kammerer), 88.

16.  Janet Spangler, "Descendants of Thomas Carney," Text file email Apr. 16, 2001, 4.

17.  Janet Spangler, "Descendants of Thomas Carney," Text file email Apr. 16, 2001.

18.  Janet Spangler, "Descendants of Thomas Carney," Text file email Apr. 16, 2001, 7.