Three Bizzell Brothers

In keeping with the American legend, we believe there were indeed three Bizzell brothers from which most present-day white members of the family descend. However, they were not immigrants from the old country but second generation Americans who quit the Upper Parish of Nansemond County, Virginia around 1760 and moved southward into the Carolina Colony. This area later became the State of North Carolina.

These three men undoubtedly made several excursions southward into the Carolina area before moving their families there. The countryside was still mostly wilderness and there were many hazards, especially for women and children. Numerous Tuscarora and Neusiock Indians were living in the area.

We found records of these three men witnessing land deeds for others in several places in Carolina before 1760. At the 1880 Boone County, Arkansas census, David Everett Bizzell (88) reported that his father David (23) was born in Virginia; so some family members apparently were living there as late as ca 1761. Because their names have been reused by so many members of succeeding generations, we identify these three by their original land holdings and places of abode in Carolina. Thus, we came to know them as Falling-creek Thomas (5),

Mill-creek John (6) and Stony-creek William (7). We believe all three were sons of John (4) and grandsons of Thomas (1) who came directly from England. Since all three brothers appear to have left Virginia at about the same time, their departure may have been prompted by the death of their father and division or sale of the family lands granted in 1691 and 1717. Extensive searches were made for records of these three persons in Virginia but apparently all such records were burned in the Nansemond County courthouse fire.

We believe they were brothers because they settled close together in Dobbs and Duplin Counties. There was a loan of slaves between their families, appointment of executors of estates, guardians, etc, as verified by North Carolina court Records. At the 1810 census, Hannah Bizzell, widow of William (7), had departed her Duplin county home and was living next-door to Jesse (15) and Asher (45) Bizzell in Wayne Co.

Additional records on these three brothers may exist but we were unable to find them. Most such records undoubtedly were lost in the Lenoir (old Dobbs) courthouse fire, shipwrecks, ravages of the civil War and general negligence of succeeding generations to keep such things as old family Bibles with lists of parents and children.