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ELKS Surname Research Notes

The Elks surname is relevant to researching Coastal Carolina Indian history because it was the last recorded surname associated with the Hatteras Indians.

Below, you will find a compilation of various data regarding the Elks surname (and variant spellings), including census records, deeds, headright information, wills, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no evidence that has been uncovered thus far to suggest the Pitt County Elks are Indian. If you have questions about this, feel free to comment below. 

If you have anything you would like to contribute to this research, please send us an e-mail from our contact page. It is absolutely necessary that you cite all information for its source. Rootsweb or online family trees, and family history books are not necessarily valid sources of information unless all root sources have been verified.

Census Records

Note: These records are listed in chronological order rather than just grouped by location. This is necessary in order to try to paint a picture of who was involved with who, where & when.

1704 – Virginia
Elkes Jno Princess Anne County
Elkes Robert Nansemond County
Elkes Wm Nansemond County
Source: Wertenbaker, Thomas J., The Planters of Colonial Virginia,
Russell & Russell New York, New York. ©1959
North Carolina Tax Lists (Tithables listed in parentheses)
John Elkes (1) Currituck County 1717 Levies
Thomas Elks (1) Currituck County 1717 Levies
Wm. Davis for Emanuell Elks (1) Currituck County 1717 Levies
Thomas Elks (1) Currituck County 1717-1718 Insolvents List
John Elks (1) Currituck County 1718
Ean Elks (1) Currituck County 1721
Wm: Davis
Manll: Elks
Wm: Phillips 		Currituck County 1720
1783 – Virginia (Tax List)
Solomon Elks Princess Ann County, Blackwell Precinct
Virginia Early Census Index, Page: 60
1790 – North Carolina (Federal Census)
Name County, District Free
White
Males
16+		 Free
White
Males
0-16		 Free
White
Females
(All ages)		 Free
People
of Color		 Slaves
Samuel Elks Pitt Co., (district not stated) 2 2 2 0 2
Uriah Elks Pitt Co., (district not stated) 1 0 2 0 1
William Elks Pitt Co., (district not stated) 1 1 2 0 6
1800 – Federal Census (NC unless otherwise stated)
Name County, District White Males White Females FPC Slaves
0-10 10-16 16-26 26-45 45+ 0-10 10-16 16-26 26-45 45+
Samuel Elks Pitt Co., Greenville 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Uriah Elks Pitt Co., Greenville 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 2
William Elks Pitt Co., Greenville 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 6
Nathaniel Pinkham Carteret Co., (district not stated)
Description of location is as follows:
Straights between Davis Creek & Chadwicks Creek. Straights between Chadwicks Creek and North River.		 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 6
1810 – Federal Census (NC unless otherwise stated)
Name County, District White Males White Females FPC Slaves
0-10 10-16 16-26 26-45 45+ 0-10 10-16 16-26 26-45 45+
Samuel Elks Pitt Co., (district not stated) 2 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 0
Jacob Elks Pitt Co., (district not stated) 1 0 0 1 0 4 2 0 1 0 0 3
William Elks Pitt Co., (district not stated) 2 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0
Nathaniel Pinkham Carteret Co., Straights 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 6
Mary Elks Horry, SC 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Phillip Elks Horry, SC 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
1820 – Federal Census (NC unless otherwise stated)
Name County, District White Males White Females FPC Slaves
0-10 10-16 16-18 16-26 26-45 45+ 0-10 10-16 16-26 26-45 45+
Samuel Elks Pitt Co., Capt. Burneys Dist. 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3
Jacob Elks Pitt Co., Capt. Moye’s Dist. 0 2 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 2
Urias Elks Pitt Co., Capt. Moye’s Dist. 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 2 0 1 0 4
William Elks, Sr. Pitt Co., Capt. Moye’s Dist. 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 8
William Elks Pitt Co., Capt. Moye’s Dist. 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 2
Nathaniel Pinkham Carteret Co., Straights 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0

Miscellaneous Items (includes potentially related lines)

From Old Albemarle County North Carolina Book of Land, Warrants and Surveys 1681-1706 (Compiled by Weynette Parks Haun. ©1984. Published by W.P. Haun, Durham, N.C..)64    1694 CERTIFICATS.…Albemarl. These are in ye. name of his Exel. ye. Palatine and the rest of the true and absolute Lords Proprietos. of the Province of Carolina to will and require you to Survey and lay out for Rich ELKES of this County two hundred acres of land wch is due to him for the transportacon of four psons into ye. County afforesd. whose names are under written and make returne of this Warrt. to ye. Secretarys Office wth. ye. Survey fail not as you will answer the contrary  Given under our hands and Seal of the Collony this 29 day of March 1680   John JENKINS, Wm. CRAFORD, Anthony SLOCUM, Robt. HOLDEN. To ye. Genrll. Survr. or his Deputy.
Rich ELKS, Anne his Wife, Rich. his Son, Margret his daughter. (Haun, 27)82     1694 WAR_TS. FOR SURVEY &…

Albemr. Ss:  To ye. Surveyr. Genrll. or Deputy.
These are in the name of his Excel. the Palatine and rest of the true and absolute Lords Proprietos. to will and require you to Survey and lay out for Argill SEMONS of the County of Albemr. four hundred acres of land wch. is due to him for the transportacon of Eight psons whose names  are underwritten and returne this Warrant wth. the Survey to the Secretarys Office fail not as you will answer the Contrary.   Given under our hands and seal of the County ye. 5th. day of September Ano. Dm. 1694. Tho: HARVEY, Ben: LAKAR, Ffrancis TOMES, Tho: POLLOCK, Danl. AKEHURST Secr.
Rich ELKES, An ELKES, Rich. ELKS junr., Margrett ELKS, Lawrence KEETON, Edw: LONDON, John KING, Wm. BREAD, ye last four assigned by Wm. GLOVER.

Albemrl. Ss: Surveyed for Argell SEMONS four hundred acres of Land by vertue of the Within Warrant as by the Survey herew__ returned doth appear Dated the 18th. day of September 169_ (illegible)  P: Saml. SWANN Survr.   And the Courses of the Survey entered into his Patent fol: 76.           (Haun, 33)

84     WARRANTS FOR SURVEY

…

Albemarl. Ss: To ye. Surveyr. Genrll. or Deputy.
These are in the name of his Excel. ye. Palatine and rest of the true and absolute Lords proprietors to will and require you to Survey and lay out for Henry KEETON of ye. County of Albemarle two hundred acres of land wch. is due to him for the transportacon of four psons into this County whose names are under written and make returne of this Warrant wth. the Survey to ye. Secretarys Office fail not as you will answer the contrary.   Given under our hands and Seal of the County the 3d. day of March Ano. Dm. 1693.   Philip LUDWELL, Tho: HARVEY, Wm. WILKISON, Benj: LAKAR, Rich SANDERSON.
Lawrence KEETON, Ruth his Wife and a New England Indian due by a former Warrant and Mary KEETON her freedom.     (Haun, 34)

85-43     RETURNES

Albemarl. Ss:  Surveyed for Henry KEETON two hundred acres of land by vertue of the wth:in warrant as by the Survey herewth. returned doth appear Dated ye. 10th day of August 169_ (torn).  P: Saml. SWANN Surveyr.   And the Courses of ye. Survey entered into his Patent fol: 78.   (Haun, 34)

151-76     LAND

in free and comon Soccage Provided yt. if the sd. Argell SEMONS his heirs or assignes doe not seat or plant or cause to be seated or planted thereon wth:in three years after the date herof then this Patent to be void otherwise to stand and be of full force.  Given under the Seal of our sd. County of Albemrl. ye. ffirst day of January in the thirty ffirst year of our possession of our sd. Province of Carolina Anoqr. Dm. 1694. Witnes our trusty and welbeloved Philip LUDWELL Esqr. Governr. and Capt. Genrll. of our sd. Province and our trusty and well beloved Counsellors who have here unto sett their hands.  Philip LUDWELL, Thomas HARVEY, Danl. AKEHURST, Ffrancis TOMES, Thomas POLLOCK.
The Psons. Imported are Richard ELKES, An ELKES, Rich. ELKS jurn., Margeret ELKS, Lawrence KEETON, Edw: LONDON, John KING, Wm. BREAD

 
From Sketches of Pitt County, a brief history of the county 1704-1910. King, Henry Thomas. (c) 1911 Edwards & Broughton Printing Company, Raleigh, N.C.. (pp 104-105)
CHAPTER TWENTY.

Third Census—Yankee Hall—Second War With England—Two Pitt Companies at Beacon Island—Their Pay-roll—Retreat and Amusing Incident—Fourth Census—Occupations—Bridge at Greenville—Greenville Academies—Fifth Census—John Joyner.The Census of 1810 showed little increase of Pitt’s population from 1800, it being only 85, the total being 9,169.About this time some New England tradesmen settled on Tar River at Yankee Hall, and it soon became a center of business for much of the country to the north thereof.There is little record of the men of Pitt in the second war with England. North Carolina being far removed from the main seats of the war, perhaps not so many of her men took part, and of those who did, their history is lost in that of others. North Carolina was invaded in 1813 and in response to Governor Hawkins’ call for troops, two companies from Pitt, about 125 men and officers, were enlisted.Of one company, George Eason was Captain; Sumner Adams, Lieutenant; Samuel Albritton, Ensign; John Allen, Peter Adams, Josiah Daniel, Moses Hatton, Sergeants; Thomas Adams, Levin Hall, Samuel Johnston, George Knox, Corporals. Of the second, Samuel Vines was Captain; Isaac Downs, Lieutenant; William Rountree, Ensign; Benjamin Bell, Elias Carr, Willie Clements, Sergeants; Benjamin Johnston, Levy Pearscen, Nathaniel Pettit, Moses Turnage, Corporals.

The field officers were, Hardy Smith, Brigadier General; Howell Cobb, Lieutenant Colonel Commander; William Pugh, Second Major.

The privates were, of Captain Eason’s Company: Ambrose Arnold, Watson W. Anderson, Levin Adams, William W. Andrews, John Baldwin, Miles Britton, Noah Buck, William Bryan, Noah Beddard, Henry Barnhill, Jonathan Briley, William Brooks, Reading Bell, Stephen Careney, Willie Bell, William Cammel, Charles Crisp, William Crawford, William Downs, Jesse Dudley, Frederick Dinkins, William Elks, Henry Fulford, Stephen Fulford, Reuben Flake, William Galloway, William Highsmith, Thomas Holliday, Matthew James, George Killebrew, William Little, Benjamin Leggett, Josiah Mills, William Manning, Allen Moore, Asia Moore,


William Moore, Noah Magowns, William Mitchel, Samuel Nobles, Alfred Nelson, William J. Parkston, James Robertson, Reuben Rollins, Richard Eaton Rivers, Henry Smith, Luther Spain, Benjamin Shivers, John Tison, Jacob Turner, Isaac Turner, William Teal, Willoughby Whitehurst, Garison Williams, Solomon Whichard, Calven Herrington.

Deed Abstracts

From “By a Line of Marked Trees”: Abstracts of Currituck Co., NC Deed Books [1], 1-2, & 3 (by John A. Brayton ©2000)[342] p. 256: 10 Oct 1770, Dec 1771; WILLIAM ELKS of CT, Cape Hatteras to ISAAC FARROW of Cape Hateras, planter, cons. one Ships Boat, 100A at JOSEPH MASKUE‘s corner, sound side, S37E160p, N74E110p, N35W to Sound side; wit: JOSIAH NICHOLSON, THOS. MILLER; signed: WILLIAM x ELKS.[406], p. 340: 25 July 1771, Dec [–], 177[–]; WILLIAM ELKS of CT, planter to GORGE CLEARK of CT, cons. 50 pounds proc., 50A, on Hatarass Banks, beg at a forked live oak stump, “running ye sd: Courses of the patron;” wit: THOMAS OLIVER, JOHN SCARBROUGH, THOMAS MILLER, Junr., jurat; signed: WILLIAM [E] ELKS.[411] p. 345: 16 June 1771, Dec [–], [–]; HENERY CLARK of CT, planter, to GEORGE CLARK of CT, cons. 26 pounds proc., 50A on Hateras Banks, adj. on end of WILLIAM ELKS line; wit: J x SCARBROUGH, THOMAS OLIVER, THOMAS MILLER; signed: HENERY H CLARK.
Currituck County, North Carolina
Deed Book 5 (1785-1789)[Deed Book 5, pg. 326] Mary & Elizabeth ELKS of Hatteras Banks in Currituck County sold to Nathan MIDYETT of the same place, 200 acres of land on Hatteras Banks bounded by the old Indian town, the Sound, and the Joseph MASKUS land.  This indenture was made March 3, 1788.  Wit: Christopher O’NEEL, Hezekiah FARROW, JUN.  /s/ Mary [x] ELKS, Elizabeth [x] ELKS.

Wills & Will Abstracts

ELKS, JOHN.
County not given.January 23, 1707-1708. Sons: JOHN (“my dwelling plantation”), THOMAS, AMANUEL (land called “rich neck”), MARMADUKE. Wife and Executrix: MARY. Witnesses: EDWARD OLD, JUNIOR, GEORGE WARRENTON, SENIOR, GEORGE WARRENTON, JUNIOR, REBEKAH OLD. Clerk of the Court: JOS. WAKER (or WALKER). (p. 111)

ELKS, RICHARD.
Albemarle County.

September 21, 1687. October 6, 1687. Executor and sole legatee and devisee: WILLIAM DARBY (“plantation upon Yawpin River”). Witnesses: THOMAS POLLOCK, HANNA HAILE, JOHN WOLFENDEN, JOHN LEWIN. Will proven before SETH SOTHELL, Governor. (p. 111)

Source: ABSTRACT OF NORTH CAROLINA WILLS Compiled from Original and Recorded Wills in the Office of the Secretary of State by J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State. Published under authority of the Trustees of the Public Libraries. Raleigh: E. M. Uzzell & Co., State Printers and Binders. 1910.

Last Will & Testament of Sarah Elks transcribed by James Shivers.

From the Last Will & Testament of FRANCIS WILLIAMSON

Currituck Co., 1778/1785
…BROWN that plantation and land which I bought of SAMUEL ELKS situate in Blackwater containing one hundred and fifty acres unto her and her heirs forever.”