The Obriant Family of Granville, NC

HOME

Patrick Obriant of Granville County, North Carolina

There has been very little genealogical work on Patrick Obriant and nearly no interest in family history from his descendants. The focus of most Obriant genealogy in Granville and Person counties in NC are on Dennis Obriant who is found as executor of Patrick's estate and who I believe is the son of Patrick Obriant. There have been many theories as to both the origins and he kinship of both of these men, but none are well founded in fact. To date, no credible information has presented itself as to the origins of either men, though no doubt of Irish heritage, it is unclear if they were the original emigrants or descedants of the original emigrant. No records have been uncovered associating either men with Virginia or any other place in North Carolina. Many researchers have been quick to claim various Dennis and Patrick Obriants found in Virginia records; however, none of the records that I have seen in Virginia make a connection to Granville county or either of these men. In fact, most of these records are either contiguous with Dennis and Patrick's residency in Granville or later records indicate these families remained in the area. I should also state that there has yet to be presented any evidence to indicate Dennis is not the son of Patrick.

On the latter issue of kinship, I must address the controversy over the Dennis-Patrick Obriant relationship. The kinship between Patrick and Dennis Obriant is strongly debated. Most researches of Dennis Obriant do not recognize him as the son of Patrick Obriant. I have never quite understood this viewpoint, mainly because there is no strong evidence that Dennis was not Patrick's son and by all indication Dennis played the roll of an eldest son; perhaps one by a first wife. I say by a first wife, since another of Patrick's sons represents his mother Elizabeth, who was the widow of David Stroud, in her claims made as an heir to her former husband's estate. Proof of Elizabeth's first marriage suggests that she may have been a second wife and that some of Patrick's children were by her; namely John who represented his mother. There is no surviving oral history or family tranditions for Dennis Obriant or his family, so the source of Dennis' sepearteness from Patrick is not based on family lore. The main arguement beyond the stated Bible record for Dennis is that Dennis was executor of Patrick's estate, but is not specifically named as an heir to that estate. Unfortunately, surviving probate does not show the division of Patrick's estate which would clarify this ambiguity, but the fact that Dennis served as executor would mean that he would not neccessarily have to refer to himself as an heir as well.

There is also further circumstancial evidence that Dennis was the son of Patrick. Land and tax records suggest that Patrick was older than Dennis. From the Frazier-Obirant Bible, a copy which is at the NC State Library, and other county records it appears that Dennis had children of the same age as Patrick's other grandchildren. In addition to this, naming patterns in Dennis' family also indicate the use of the name "Patrick" as a prominent naming pattern, again suggesting Patrick as the patriarch of this family. Finally, Dennis not only serves as the executor of Patrick's estate, but he also serves as executor of Reuben Ragalnd's estate. Reuben was the son-in-law of Patrick Obriant and son of a wealthy family in Granville County. There is evidence of problems among Reuben and his siblings, suggesting that it would have been unwise for Reuben to look towards his own family for support of his wife and young family; however, to turn to his reliable brother-in-law would have been a natural choice.

The only vaguely credible evidence that Dennis was not Patrick's son is the claim of a Bible entry for Dennis' birth as having taken place in 1745; however, all of this information is secondhand and those who have been asked to produce the Bible have been unable to do so. Therefore, until such information is provided, I will continue with the assumption that Dennis is the eldest son of Patrick.

The earliest record concerning Patrick Obriant, and concerning any Obriant in this region, is his appearance on the 1769 tax list for Granville County, North Carolina. Patrick's earliest deed dated is dated for 1772 and indicates he was already a resident of Granville [ref: DB J, pg. 324]. If found, an earlier deed might indicate Patrick's place of origin. By 1800, Patrick Obriant had accumulated 400 acres in the Goshen District of Granville County and deeds indicate he lived along Aaron's Creek. Patrick was a slave owner and by 1800 he had at least six taxable slaves. Records concerning the American Revolution do not reveal anything about Patrick's service or loyalities.

Patrick left very few records. No marriage record has been found for him, though it is clear he had married Elizabeth, the widow of David Stroud by 1794 when Obriant appoints his son John to represent her in the probate of an estate in which David Stroud was heir. No estate papers have been found for Stroud himself, so it is difficult to place the date of their marriage or further understant the implications of the connection to the Stroud family. Patrick's only daughter is named "Mary Perry" Obriant, suggesting that Mary Perry may have been Patrick's first wife or mother. The clue to the Perry family is not one that provides any significant connection to any Granville families ths time. Patrick died intestate in 1804. His wife Elizabeth survives him and is named as late as 1809 in Granville deeds, but she is never listed as an heir in the estate. Perhaps there is a prenuptual agreement which has yet to be found. The probate of Patrick's estate continues unti 1817, perhaps signifying Elizabeth's death.

© 1998 mahard@sfcep.corp.ge.com

© 1998 mahard@sfcep.corp.ge.com