Norfleet Family Genealogy

The Old Norfleet Genealogy Chart

by Phil Norfleet

The oldest document, of which I am aware, concerning Norfleet genealogy is an old chart, purportedly written in the year 1887. The chart, probably prepared by a member of the family of Stephen Andrews Norfleet (a great-grandson of the elder Marmaduke Norfleet), principally concerns the eastern North Carolina Norfleets. A photocopy of the chart is on file at the North Carolina State Library in Raleigh.

A transcription of the preamble is as follows:

"The Suffolk Va Norfleets say that about 1690, three (3) brothers Jas Abram and David Norfleet landed in Nansemond Co. bringing with them 3 children of a deceased brother (Rose Jas and Marmaduke). Deceased brother was Thomas. Now it is certain that this Jas the elder brought with him certain silver, etc. denoting his rank as that of a Gent. and probably they were all Cavaliers and from Scottish blood. Jas the 1^st had three sons, Jas 2^nd who in 1715 went to Chowan Co. N. C. and died in 1732. Thomas who went to Edgecombe Co. N. C. and died 1742 and Marmaduke who settled in Perquimans Co. on the Roanoke now Bertie Co."

The chart traces the supposed descendents of James Norfleet (d. 1732), but, in my opinion, it contains many errors. At the bottom of the chart, the following statements are made concerning the other two brothers of James (d.1732):

"The second brother Thomas, who died in Edgecombe in 1747 left one son who married a Hogan of the noted Patriot Lemuel Hogan’s family. He was named Marmaduke and left no male issue.

"The 3^rd bro Marmaduke you have the complete listing of."

As will hopefully be established by the other essays appended to this web site, both the preamble and the chart, while holding a few germs of factuality, also contain many errors. The official written record, consisting of land grants, wills, indentures, court minutes and other forensically acceptable documents, tell a somewhat different story.   Indeed, my genealogical research experience has taught me to be very cautious about accepting any family traditions, unless they can be verified to the official record; this case is no exception.