Wayne County, North Carolina:  Articles

Uzzles Settled Walnut Creek Area

Reprinted with permission of the News-Argus and cannot be reproduced without permission.

By Bob Johnson

Members of the Uzzell family who settled in Wayne County in the 1700s
have multiplied & today much of the southeast corner of the county bears
their mark, either through houses, tombstones or descendants.

Three of the Uzzell men, James, Thomas & Elisha are believed to have left
the sanctuary of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia & headed south to
North Carolina.

State records obtained by William Wood Uzzell of Walnut Creek show that at
one time they owned some 3,500 acres in an area bounded by Walnut Creek,
Best Station, Bear Creek & the Neuse River.

The records reveal that Thomas settled at Nature's Beauty. Its location is
somewhat in question. The Uzzells who today live in Wayne are not sure if
it was on Bear Creek or Walnut Creek

The Uzzell family had eventually settled in Virginia after leaving France
because of religious persecution. They were Hugenots, a synonym for French
Protestants, in a predominately Catholic country.

Some of the Uzzells went to Holland but left there for England because
they didn't want their children to be brought up speaking the Dutch
language.

Judge Frank Daniel's History of Wayne County identifies Thomas Uzzell as
a large land & slave owner. The Uzzells, along with the Whitfields who
arrived in this area about the same time, are believed to have been among
the wealthiest settlers.

Uzzell family documents & records are confusing because over the years many
of the Uzzell males had the same names, the most popular being Thomas,
James, Joshua, Elisha & Major.

In one case, a Joshua Uzzell courted a woman named Rebecca & Major Uzzell
married a Rebecca. It is known if there was competition among the two
Uzzells for the same lady.

Sons & grandsons of the original Wayne County Uzzells served in both the
Revolutionary War & the Civil War.

One of them was known as "Revolutionar Tom," "Buckberry Tom, " or "Big
Tom." He fought throughout the Revolutionary War, but for which side is not
quite clear, since some believe he may have had Tory leanings. Tom by
whichever name was a big fellow. He is said to have weighed 325 pounds.

Several later Uzzell men served the Confederacy in the Civil War. Records
from the Secretary of State's office show that most entered the military
service in their youth & died of fever.

Joshua Uzzell enlisted at 19 in 1861. He died of typhoid fever in Wilmington.
Major Uzzell, age unknown, entered the same year & died the next year of
the dreaded disease at Manassas, Va.

James & William Gray Uzzell enlisted as privates in 1861. James was
discharged the next year at 29 because of typhoid fever. William Gray died
of diarrhea at Point Lookout, Md, in 1863.

James Uzzell, who now lives on US 70 several miles west of Walnut Creek,
has tried to piece together his family history & has in his possession
several documents & letters from early times. ___ tickets were said to be
more valable than money. ___

Joshua's salt ticket entitled him to 116 pounds & was signed by Salt
Commissioner, Gray C. Garris.

A receipt shows that South Carolina cavalry Lt. John Rhondley stopped at
Joshua Uzzell's & received seven bushels of corn & 300 pounds of fodder
"for use of detachment, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry."

And Joshua bared his heart to one Rebecca in a love letter now in James
Uzzell's possession.

One of the oldest houses in the Walnut Creek area was built between 1790
& 1800 by Major Uzzell. It was named after his wife, Rebecca (Granny Becky)
Dunn, 1782-1873, because she outlived her husband by 37 years.

The Granny Becky house was later the home of the present day James Uzzell's
grandfather after whom he was named.

At Walnut Creek on the property of Robert Thompson, a descendant of the
Uzzells, has a tombstone enscribed "Elisha Uzzell, 1736-1813, his wife
Doreas Stanley Uzzell" & others.

Some of the Wayne County Uzzells later left this area because of a bad crop
year & moved to Texas.

The mother of John Nance Garner of Texas, vice president under Franklin
D. Roosevelt, was an Uzzell & is believed directly related to the Wayne
County Uzzells.

Uzzell is a spelling of the family name that is the result of much
evolution over the years. The name has also been spelled Uzel, Uzzel,
Ezzle, Usel, Oisel & even Youell.

Today, the Granny Becky house is owned by James Uzzell. He has loaned it
to Conway Rose & it is located at the Village Green, with other renovated
homes that now house business enterprises.

It is easily spotted. It is identified by a picture of a gingerbread
man & with "The Gingerbread House" in big letters.

Mrs. Myron Teal now sells imbroidered & other goodies & blankets from the
Granny Becky house.

Uzzell tombstones are located throughout southeastern Wayne County. Several
are in the Best Station area, including that of Joshua Uzzell.

The inscription on it reads,
"Joshua Uzzell Jr. Oct. 19, 1811 - Apr. 12, 1862.

Contributed by Guy Potts of Raleigh, NC   August 2000

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