Thomas Golden (Patriarch), of Newberry, South Carolina, born before 1735

Table of Contents

A Probable History of the Golden Family
of Newberry, South Carolina Since 1761
Updated 2023.09.25

Our family story begins in 1760 in Newberry, South Carolina with a farmer by the name of Thomas Goulden or Thomas Golden.

Thomas Golden was born before 1741 based upon him being nominated for a land grant in 1762, which should have required him to be age 21+ at that time. If presumed son William was born about 1750 and possible daughter Elender Golden was born about 1745 then Thomas would have probably been born before 1725, or thereabouts at the latest. Where Thomas was born is unknown.

 

PROFILE

• Parents:  Names unknown. There are no documentary hints as to Thomas Golden‘s origin before appearing in Newberry, South Carolina circa 1760-1761.
• DNA Tested? 
  ~~~ Yes. Multiple descendants across all known lines of son William Golden and his descendants are DNA (atDNA) tested. There are Golden lines from South Carolina that have DNA-relationships without there being any known documentary relationship.
  ~~~ Yes. Nine male descendants are yDNA tested.
• Birth: Before 1735, assumes probable son William Golden was born about 1750. Thomas could have been born as early as 1710.
• Death: About 1790 or soon thereafter. There is no known last will and testament. ^[1]Most records for the Ninety Six District are at Abbeville, South Carolina. An index of last wills and testaments (LWT) for Ninety Six citizens exists. There is no LWT for any of our Goldens. See … Continue reading See commentary about his property in timeline below.
• Spouse: Name unknown. Thesis: May be Elizabeth Noel born circa 1705 in the Occupacia area, Essex County, Virginia.
• Children:
  ~~~ Yes. Thomas probably had at least two in 1762 when land grant for 200 acres requested. Land was usually 50 acres per family member, so there were four members of the family. There are no Goldens with documentation that claim Thomas as their patriarch or as father. The same can almost be said for the next two generations that followed.
  ~~~ William Golden (c1750-1809) is presumed to be a son.
  ~~~ Elender Golden (c1745-aft.1809) may be a daughter. Possible children after 1762/1767:
  ~~~ These could also be children of William Golden, son of Thomas. yDNA is for same male line (except for John Golden). No evidence for either Thomas or William being their father:
  ~~~ Samuel Golden, born about 1770 South Carolina
  ~~~ John Golden (Unconfirmed son), born about 1775 South Carolina
  ~~~ Thomas W. Golden, born about 1775 South Carolina
• Military: No early South Carolina militia records mention any Golden before Revolutionary War. There is no reference to any Thomas Golden serving during the Revolutionary War.
• Working Notes: Yes, but not yet organized online.
• A Last Will and Testament and/or Probate documentation exists: No. None believed to exist, even if one was created in the past. ^[2]Years refer to the county record books. There are wills for William Golden (1840-1858, probably a Golding) and a variety of Goldings: Polly Golding (1840-1858); Reuben Golding (1823-1840); Robert … Continue reading

 

TIMELINE

1700: 

~~~ 1735 or before, Thomas Golden born. Place unknown. Presumed son William Golden born c1750 (owned property 1774 adjacent to Thomas). Property ownership was almost always at age 21, age of adulthood and legal right to contract. If 1750 is correct for son William then Thomas probably born before 1730. No documentary hints exist as to his origin — although lack of evidence does offer a clue: Thomas was probably not a freshly arrived immigrant. South Carolina’s frontier was heavily settled by foreign-born that arrived in groups from a number of countries. South Carolina pledged two years of material support to these families, and it usually settled them in preplanned communities. Immigrants are generally well documented for South Carolina at this point in time. Our Goldens do not appear among them.

See first settlement of The Dutch Fork and Newberry, South Carolina.

1750:

~~~ 1755-1759: How and when Thomas Goulden arrived in Newberry before 1760 is uncertain. He arrived probably after summer of 1755 when the ‘Treaty of Saluda’ was signed with the Cherokee Indians. This treaty opened up settlement in the present South Carolina counties of Spartanburg, Cherokee west of Broad River, Union, Newberry, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda and a part of Aiken. This is our known origin as Goldens.

1760:

>>> DNA Mystery: yDNA indicates no other known families named Golden as being related to us before 1760 in Newberry, South Carolina. The only yDNA match at 67 or greater markers is with a Keeling family. The Keeling family in question did not arrive in the USA until 1837. In searching for DNA matches with surnames beginning with ‘Gold’ and ‘Gould’, historical records indicated that an Edward Keeling family had a very close, almost familial relationship with the Thomas Gouldman family of Old Rappahannock County, Virginia. atDNA matches indicated a very close relationship between our Goldens and the Gouldmans and numerous families that were kin, closely associated, and even neighbors to the Gouldmans of Virginia. Could the Keelings that arrived in New York in 1837 be related to the same Keelings closely associated with the Thomas Gouldman family?

~~~ 1761 – Thomas Golden documented as being a farmer at Newberry, South Carolina. ^[3]Source: XXX

Thomas lived near to the approximate intersection of modern Union, Newberry and Saluda counties.

Thomas Golden’s property is believed to be approximately where Helena, Newberry exists today. You cannot see the waterway, but  Beaverdam Creek runs through Helena, going southward past and around Little Beaverdam Church. Beaverdam Creek continues on southward until it reaches modern Saluda County, near to Bush River.

~~~ 1767 Aug 4th: … Book 16, entry 247: Thomas Golden, 200 acres in Berkley County on the north side of Saludy River on a branch of Bush Creek called Mathewes Branch, 23 Feb 1768, Plat certified 4 Aug 1767. ^[4]South Carolina’s Royal Grants, Volume 2 Grant Books 10 Through 17, 1760-1768.

~~~ 1767 Oct 7th: … Book 16, entry 302: Thomas Parry, 100 acres in Berkley County on Mathews Branch, a branch of Bush River, the fork of Broad & Saludy Rivers adj. Thos Golden, Abraham Caredine, 29 April 1768. Plat certified 7 Oct 1767. ^[5]South Carolina’s Royal Grants, Volume 2 Grant Books 10 Through 17, 1760-1768.

~~~ 1767 Nov 24th: … Royal Grants Book 15, Entry 139 … William Coats, 200 acres in Craven County on the north side of Bush River adj. Jacob Brock, Mary Steedham, Samuel Kelly, John Furnas, Thomas Golden, James Williams, James Hoge, 24 Nov 1767. Plat certified 4 Aug 1767. … ‘Hoge‘ could be ‘Hogg‘ … the Furnas family were recent arrivals from England (arrived 1763 in South Carolina at Charleson) and would move away after the Revolution to Ohio; were Quakers. The Furnas family were also kin to the Pearsons: marriage of Joseph Furnas, 1763–1812, and Sarah “Sally” Pearson, 1773–1830. ^[6]South Carolina’s Royal Grants, Volume 2 Grant Books 10 Through 17, 1760-1768.

1770:

~~~ 1774 Feb 21-22: … Lease & release, 21 and 22 Feb 1774, Thomas Goulden of Berkley County, SC, plantar, to Jane Milhous of same, widow, for £100 SC money, 100 acres part of 200 acres on north side of Saludy River on a branch of Bush Creek called Mathews Branch granted to Thomas Golden. Thomas Goulden (X) (LS), Wit: Jno Mihous, Simon Quinn, James Daugherty. Proved 4 March 1774 before John Caldwell, Esqr., J. P. in Ninety Six District, by the oath of James Dougherty. Recorded 30 Dec 1774.  ^[7]There is some variation of name spellings in this entry. Entered as originally spelled. Source: South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1773-1778, Deed Books F-4 thru X-4 by Brent H. Holcomb, 1993. /B/

~~~ 1774 Feb 25: … Jane Milhous, widow of Robert Milhous, deceased, late of Cambden [Camden], South Carolina to John Milhous and Samuel Milhous, Justices & guardians appointed by said John Milhous for her son Joseph Milhous, now about seven years old, for love, good will and affection, 100 acres whereon said Jane Milhous now lives part of 200 acres on north side of Saludy River on a branch of Bush Creek called Mathews Branch granted to Thomas Golden and conveyed by lease and release 22 Feb 1774 to her. Jane Milhous (LS), Wit: Samuel Kelly, Simon Quinn, James Daugherty. Proved 4 March 1774 before John Caldwell, Esqr., J. P. in Ninety Six District, by the oath of James Dougherty. Recorded 29 Dec 1774. ^[8]Source: South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1773-1778, Deed Books F-4 thru X-4 by Brent H. Holcomb, 1993 /B/

~~~ 1774 Oct 18: … Edward Cox receives land grant of 67 acres by Hon. William Ball 18 October 1774 lying on Beaver Dam Creek from Thomas Goldens Spring Branch binding on Joel Etheridges land and William Golden. ^[9]See 25 Feb 1805 for the resale of this property involving Cotney kin William Jackson Cotney (1773–1819) married to William Golden‘s daughter Margaret Frances Golden (1784–1875) as land … Continue reading

~~~ 1788 Aug 22-23: William Ancrum of Charleston, SC, to Jacob Ayres of said state, for L40, 100 acres, half of tract of 200 acres granted to Thomas Golden on Bush Creek ^[10]Book B, Entry 684-687: Lease and release. 22 & 23 Aug 1788 , adj. land of John Milhouse, William Coate, Samuel Kelly. William Ancrum (seal), wit: John Purvis, R. Lithgow. Proved 15 Feb 1791 by the oath of Robert Lithgow before Peter Preneau, J.P. Recorded 7 May 1794. ^[11]Newberry County, South Carolina Deed Abstracts, Volume I Deed Books A-B, 1785-1794 [1751-1794], by Brent H. Holcomb, 1999, Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna, Georgia.

~~~~~~~~~~ The Kelly family are probable kin to our Goldens, ^[12]Epsey Irene Kelly (1821–1895) married Samuel Snowden Golden (1819–1896), son of John Golden (1775–1850) and Gracie Snowden (1780–1860). No member of this particular Golden line has taken a … Continue reading, certainly they are kin to the Milhouse family. Samuel Belton Kelly (1761-1810) married Elizabeth Milhouse (1764–1791), sister to John Milhous (1767–1846) that lived next to Thomas Golden in 1788. The Kelly and Milhouse family are both members of the Bush River Quaker Congregation, and very active in the church. ^[13]31 oct 1795 Meeting Minutes: Women´s Minutes, 1792-1801. Original data: Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. North Carolina … Continue reading

1790: 

~~~ 1791 Feb 15th: … see 22 & 23 Aug 1788 land transaction with William Ancrum. Proved 15 Feb 1791 by the oath of Robert Lithgow before Peter Preneau J.P., who recorded it 7 May 1794. // Why this 1788 land transaction was being proven in 1791 is unclear, as is why it was not filed until 1794. ^[14]Newberry County, South Carolina Deed Abstracts, Volume I Deed Books A-B, 1785-1794 [1751-1794], by Brent H. Holcomb, 1999, Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna, Georgia.

~~~ 1793 Apr 22-23rd: Book B, Entry 689-692: Lease and release. 22 & 23 April 1793, Jacob Ayres of Newberry County to Michael Gore of same, for £60 SC money, 100 acres, half of tract of 200 acres granted to Thomas Golden on Bush Creek adj. land of John Milhouse, William Coate, Samuel Kelly. Jacob Ayres (Seal), Jenesent Ayres (X) (Seal), Wit: James Riley, Edmund Lindsey Jun. proved in Newberry County 5 May 1794 by the oath of Edmund Lindsey Jun. before John Speake, J.P. Recorded 7 May 1794. ^[15]Newberry County, South Carolina Deed Abstracts, Volume I Deed Books A-B, 1785-1794 [1751-1794], page 149, by Brent H. Holcomb, 1999, Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna, Georgia.

~~~ 1794 Jun 9th: Book B, Entry 800-803: Lease and release, 9 Jun 1794, Michael Gore of Newberry County to Isaiah Pemberton of same, for £100 sterling, 100 acres on Bush Creek, half of a tract granted to Thomas Golden adj. land of Samuel Kelly. Michael Gore (Seal), Catharine Gore (X) (Seal), Wit: Wm Satterwhite, Saml Kelly Sen., John Kelly Sen. Proved in Newberry County by the affirmation of Samuel Kelly Senr before Mercer Babb, J.P. Recorded 19 June 1794.^[16]Newberry County, South Carolina Deed Abstracts, Volume I Deed Books A-B, 1785-1794 [1751-1794], pg 154, by Brent H. Holcomb, 1999, Smyrna Public Library, Smyrna, Georgia.

1800: 

~~~ 1804 Dec 15: … This is probably Thomas Golden, junior or son of William Golden: Thomas Golden and John Pike are witnesses to Daniel Cotney deeding 200 acres for $300 to William Cotney. Land is located on the waters of Little Saluda River on Beaverdam Creek. This land is part of an original 762 acreas granted to Kisiah Cotney on 19 Feb 1791, subsequently conveyed to Daniel Cotney on 23 Mar 1798. ^[17]Edgefield County, South Carolina Deed Books 30 and 31, abstracted by Carols Wells, pg 212. Heritage Books, Inc.

~~~ 1805 Feb 25: … page 289, Sarah Edwards to Benjamin Forner, Deed, 25 February 1805, $100, sixty seven acres being part of land granted to Edward Cox by Hon. William Ball 18 October 1774 lying on Beaver Dam Creek from Thomas Golden‘s Spring Branch binding on Joe Etheridges land and William Golden. Wit William Calney [Catney?], Thomas Harris /s/ Sarah (x) Edwards. Proven 21 March 1805 by Thomas Harrison, Elkanah Sawyer J.P. Rec 25 March 1805. ^[18]Calney/Catney is William Jackson Cotney (1773–1819) married to William Golden‘s daughter Margaret Frances Golden (1784–1875). Edgefield County, South Carolina: Deed Book 73, abstracted by … Continue reading

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©2023 William Golden, Norfolk1956@gmail.com // Material may be shared without requesting permission and with appropriate attribution: A Probable History of the Golden Family of Newberry, South Carolina Since 1761, compiled by William Golden