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298    WADDELL TOMBSTONE

Location - Albermarle Sound.


Elizabeth Waddell's tombstone was found in the summer of 1995, in the Albemarle Sound by Steve Spruill, son of the current owner of the property, Raymond Spruill. Beach erosion had taken the stone from beneath a fig bush where it had lain for almost 200 years. The name "Waddell" was still legible, and an early account written by Eva White circa 1910 indicates the inscription read "Here lies Elizabeth Waddell of England."

Captain Robert Davison married Elizabeth Waddell June 2, 1770 in Tyrrell County, NC. She was dead prior to February 15, 1776,which is the date Davidson married Mary Mackay. Davison married a third time to Elizabeth Johnston, January 1, 1787. He was the son of John and N\d~y Davison of Bertie County, NC, and was born circa 1740. The legend that has been told is that tlizabeH\;died aboard ship and was brought ashore and buried. Davison found that the land was undaitned due to-a patent lapse and filed for 100 acres, which was granted. The land was part of a 360-acre grant to James Hawkins in 1715, who in turn assigned it to his brother Thomas Hawkins. Hawkins sold 110(acres) to James Smith, but it was never "seeded and seated."

Thomas Hawkins' first wife was Elizabout Blount, daughter of Joines Blount, who came to old Albemarle County between 1664 and 1669. Hawkins' second wife was Elizabeth Steeley. There was a house near the fig bush, as there were pieces of china, and bricks of a size manufactured between 1715 and 1790. The site also contained a well and plum trees that washed into the sound in the 1940s. Robert Davison is shown in the 1790 census as follows: 4 white males, 4 white females, and 5 slaves. Davison was one of the trustees of Swain's Chapel, the successor to Skinnersville Chapel. He died about 1812 and his children, living in Beaufort County, sold his land holdings in 1813. The tombstone is quite large and thought to have come from England, as many of the early tombstones did.

Note: Info from Vernon L. Everett, Jr.