Wayne County, NC Heritage Book - Lemuel Casey, son of Richard and Polly Smith Casey, was born in 1833 in Wayne County NC. He married Julia Anne Simmons, daughter of Daniel Hargett Simmons and Eliza Anne Grady. Just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, Lemuel and Julia and their two little girls went to Demopolis, Alabama to make a new life. Letters written by Lemuel to Julia's father tell of their life there and of how lonely they were for their relatives. They had family pictures made which are entered along with this article.

Lemuel made a trip back to Wayne County without his family in 1861. His trip from Alabama to NC and back to Alabama cost seventy dollars which was ten dollars less than he had expected. It was Lemuel's intention to sell his property but he did not. Instead he returned to Alabama and in 1862, returned with his family to North Carolina. He settled his wife and daughters in Dudley, NC at their old home and enlisted October 7, 1862 in Company A, Forty Third Regiment. He died February 12, 1863 in Goldsboro of smallpox. Julia died December 10, 1862 two months after Lemuel enlisted. Lemuel is buried in Willowdale Cemetery in Goldsboro, NC and Julia is buried at the old Simmons home near Albertson, NC. The two daughters were reared by Casey family.

Matthew Casey was appointed guardian to Mary E. Casey and Wilamena Casey and entered into bond in the sum of twenty thousand dollars with Bryan Casey, Abia Herring and Robert Peel securities. Wayne County, NC Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Feb Term 1864. State Archives source: CR.103.301.11.

Nancy Wilhelmina Carolina Casey married William Potts, son of Newman and Susan Lewis Potts and sister Mary Elizabeth Casey married Christopher Wright Smith.

Lemuel Casey Deceased, 1863

FamilySearch.org - Lemuel Casey Estate papers

In the Probate Court September 22, 1874
To the Honorable W. T. Yelverton Probate Judge of said Court

C. W. Smith and wife M. L. Smith vs N. W. C. Casey

The petitions of C. W. Smith and wife M. E. Smith respectfully shows to the Court that she the said M. E. Smith and the defendant N. W. C. Casey are tenants in common of a tract of land situated in the county of Wayne on the south side of Neuse River adjoining the lands of F. C. Patrick, the lands known as the Collier Plantation, the lands of the heirs of the late Wm. B. Cobb and others containing 293 acres.

That the defendant N. W. C. Casey is a minor under twenty one years of age and has a guardian Matthew Casey Jr.

The petitioners further showeth to the court that they desire to hold and enjoy their share of said lands in severalty and to that end pray the court to appoint three Commissioners to divide the same into equal shares by proper metes and bounds and to allot and set apart to your petitioners M. E. Smith wife of the said C. W. Smith one share thereof and the other share thereof to the defendant N. W. C. Casey and if an equitable division cannot otherwise be effected then in that case to charge the more valuable dividend with such shares as they shall judge necessary to be paid to the dividend of inferior value in order to make the division equal and to report their proceedings under their hands and seals to this court.

And to this end your petitioners pray that a copy of this petition may be served upon the defendant together with a summons commanding him in the next 20 days after service thereof to answer this petition and show cause if any why the prayer thereof should not be granted and your petitioner will ever pray.

E. A. Thompson, Solicitor for Petitioner

In the Probate Court for Wayne County
This cause coming is to be heard upon the petitioners and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court from inspection of the record that Matthew Casey Jr. Guardian to the minor defendant.

N. W. C. Casey has accepted service of process of the within and showing no cause why the prayer of the petition should not be granted. It is ordered that John P. Cobb, F. C. Patrick and George W. Price be appointed Commissioners to divide the land mentioned in the petition according to the prayers thereof. W. T. Yelverton, CSC

Map shows division of Lemuel Casey's land to tenants in common.

Lot No 1 beginning at Patrick's corner, south bank of river, the Duplin Road then with the road to a stake near Holmes branch Patrick's corner, 133 acres valued at $800 appropriated to N. W. C. Casey.

Lot No 2 beg at a stake on the south bank of river the 2nd corner of Lot No 1, Colliers' corner, 160 acres to C W Smith in right of his wife M. E. Smith.

Wm A Deans Sheriff of Wayne Co, NC
Sir this will certify that E. A. Thompson Council Gardner Surveyor & G. W. Price F. C. Patrick & Jno P. Cobb committee all of whom served in the division of the lands between M. E. Smith & N. W. C. Casey have been paid and settled with according to agreement.

This Sept the 16 1875
Matthew Casey Jr