Matthew Casey
abt 1816 - bef 17 Jun 1891
Wayne County, NC
Son of William & Zilpha Hines Casey


In Ms. Weeks' Casey Family contribution to the Wayne County, NC Heritage Book she indicates Matthew Casey Jr. was the son of William and Zilpha Hines Casey. Matthew Jr. was mentioned in his mother Mary Casey's 1860 will and she was the wife of Richard Casey, William's brother.


Matthew Casey inherited 60 acres in the land division of his deceased father in 1839 on the run of Bear Creek. In 1850 some his siblings were selling their shares of inherited land and Matthew's name is mentioned as a neighbor. In the 1860 Wayne County census he is shown living in Indian Springs Township and his wife's name was Anna, age 44. In the 1870 census his wife's name was Catherine, age 40, indicating she was possibly a second wife based on the age differences. The census is sometimes wrong about ages so it's possible she was Anna Catherine.


1860 Wayne County, NC Census - Indian Springs
Mathew Casey, age 44, Farmer
Anna, 44
Vicy A., 23
William, 10
Lewis, 4
Jeroam, 1

1870 Wayne County, NC Census - Indian Springs
Mathew Casey, age 55, Farmer
Catherine, 40
William, 20
Lewis, 14
Edith A., 11
Jerome, 11
Betsey, 9
Beny H., 2
John T., 8/12

1880 Wayne County, NC Census - Indian Springs
Matthew L. Casey, 66, Farmer
Catherine, 51
Benjamin H., 12
John Thomas, 10


Will of Matthew Casey
Written September 24th 1875
Probate 26 Oct 1891

I Mathew Casey Sr of the county of Wayne and State of North Carolina Being of Sound Mind and Memory and considering the uncertainity of this frail and transitory life do therefore make and declare this to by my Last Will and Testament viz.

That is to say that I Mathew Casey desire first that out of my property both Real and Personal all my just debts be first paid and after my just debts and burial expenses shall have been fully satisfied. I give and bequeath the residue of my Estate as follows namely:

(1st) To my beloved wife Catherine Casey two feather beds and furniture, one cow and calf, one sow and pigs and fifty dollars in money or Currency of the United States & also lend to my wife one cooking stove and fixtures for and during her natural lifetime or widow hood.

(2) To my son William Casey one rifle gun and one seven shooter pistol.

(3) To my daughter Jerome Casey one loom and fixtures and spinning wheel and one bed furniture.

(4) To my son Benjamin Hardy Casey the sum of twenty five dollars in United States currency.

(5th) To my youngest son John Thomas Casey the sum of twenty five dollars in United States Currency.

(6th) That all my personal Estate not conveyed in this will be sold at public sale on a credit of six months and that all my real estate be sold on a credit of six and twelve months with interest from date and that the Title be retained by my Executors hereinafter named until this purchased money shall be paid and the proceeds thereof to be equally divided between my four children namely William, Jerome, Benjamin Hardy and John Thomas Casey.

(7th) and Lastily I make and constitute my son William Casey to be Executor to this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills made by me.

In witness whereof I Mathew Casey Sen have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the twenty fourth day of September AD one thousand eight hundred and seventy five.

Witnesses: A. T. Grady and W. B. Bowden. NC Archives.


Matthew Casey Estate, 1891
August 8, 1891 - In the Superior Court of Wayne County
Petition for Dower

Whereas Cartha Casey widow of Matthew Casey lately filed her petition in this court against Benj H. Casey et als heirs at law of her said husband as to the following lands in Indian Spring's township:

First tract - boundary adjacent to the east side of the lane in Whitfield's line known as Tabitha Pipkin's corner, mouth of the lane, Ann Smith's line formerly known as Borden's, supposed to be on said Uzzell's line, Loftin's line formerly called Tabitha Pipkin's line to the beginning containing 176 acres.

Second tract - boundary adjacent to a stake in Whitfield's line, Broadhurst corner, near the end of Herring's old lane, Kornegay's line containing 315 acres.

Surveyor described the lands were known as the Robert's tract adjoining the lands of Sam'l Loftin, John A. Kornegay and others containing by estimation 491 acres.

June 17, 1891 - Wayne County, NC Superior Court - Catherine Casey, William Casey, Benjamin H. Casey and John Thomas Casey are entitled as heirs and distributees thereof.

October 10, 1891 - Juror's Ichabod Grant, Nergil Walker and William Price were summoned by the court to lay off a Dower for Carthy Casey widow of Matthew Casey and met on the premise and proceeded to lay off the dower described as adjoining a stake in Allen Whitfield's line, Levin Price's corner, Loftin's line containing 58 acres. Source: Familysearch.org.


Based on the following deeds, Matthew owned land at Carraway Creek and Sleepy Creek, the area his uncle Richard Casey and family lived, and Falling Creek in western Wayne in the Grantham area.

Indenture made 10 Feb 1846 between Kinion Grantham and Matthew Casey both of Wayne, for $800 land in Wayne on both sides of Beaver Dam prong of Falling Creek containing 414 1/2 acres. Witnesses: Edwin R. Cox and Abia Herring. Registered: Feb'y Term 1846. Wayne County, NC Register of Deeds, Bk 20, pg 131.

Indenture made 30 Nov 1850 between Zilpha, Reuben, Susan and Hepsey Casey of the county of Johnston on the one part and Wright Casey of Wayne on the other part, for $1250 land in Wayne on the west side of the north prong of Bare Creek and known as a part of the several shares in the division of the land of William Casey adjacent to the mouth of the Big Branch, up the Wright land, James Parks line, Flowers corner, Matthew Casey's corner, Henry Smith's line containing 330 acres. Witnesses: Matthew Casey and Barnabas Casey. Registered: Feb'y Term 1851. Wayne County, NC Register of Deeds Bk; 22, pg 134. Indenture made 27 Oct 1851 between Bryan Casey and Matthew Casey both of Wayne, for $266 land in Wayne on the south side of Neuse River and north west side of the west prong of Sleepy Creek adjacent to said Casey's corner, Newman Potts line, Hatch Whitfield's corner, S. A. Andrew's corner containing 328 acres. Witnesses: Micajah Lewis and Richard Casey. Registered: Nov'r Term 1857. Wayne County, NC Register of Deeds, Bk 22, pg 259.

Indenture made February 12, 1852 between J. Fields and Matthew Casey both of Wayne, for $327 land in Wayne on the south side of Neuse River between Carraway's Creek and Sleepy Creek adjacent to two pines Jas Griswold's and other's corner, Hatch Whitfield's line land now supposed to belong to B. T. Hill, Wm Cobb's line, Richard Casey's corner containing 218 1/2 acres. Witnesses: Richard Casey and Mary Casey. Feb'y Term 1852. Wayne County, NC Register of Deeds; Bk 22, pg 351.

Indenture made September 25, 1852 between Matthew Casey to James A. Fields and Bennet C. Fields of the county of Greene, for $643 land in Wayne adjacent to the south side Neuse River and north side of the Yellow Marsh, Josiah Fields' line, John Canady's, John West's line containing 183 3/4 acres. Witness: J. Fields. Wayne County, NC Register of Deeds; Bk 29, pgs 424-5.
For value received I Bennet C. Fields doth relinquish my right and interest in the above mentioned deed to James A. Fields. North Carolina Probate Court. December 17, 1858.
The due execution of the foregoing deed was proved before me by the oath and examination of Josiah Fields the subscribing witness thereto. Geo. Jno. Robinson. Recorded October 21, 1869. West Holland Reg'r. September 29, 1869.

Indenture made 28 Jan 1854 between Richard Casey and Mathew Casey both of Wayne, for $500 land in Wayne on the south side of Neuse River on the waters of Carraway's Creek adjacent to Waitman Thompson's Bridge containing 149 acres. Witnesses: John R. Casey and Francis Casey. Registered: Aug't Court 1854. Wayne County, NC Register of Deeds; Bk 23, pg 445.

Indenture made 28 Nov 1855 between Matthew Casey and Newman Potts both of Wayne, for $80 land in Wayne on the southside of the north prong of Sleepy Creek adjacent to Hatch Whitfield's, north of Potts containing 25 acres. Witnesses: Francis Casey and J. D. Capps. Registered August 19, 1856. Wayne Co, NC Register of Deeds; Bk 25, pg 86.

Indenture made 28 Aug 1856 between Matthew Casey and the School Committee all of the District No. 37, for $1 land in Wayne on the north side of the north prong of Sleepy Creek adjacent to John Lewis corner, Matthew Casey's line, stake on the road containing 2 1/4 acres. Witnesses: Lemuel Casey and Calvin S. Fields. Registered: Feb'y 18. 1857. Wayne Co, NC Register of Deeds; Bk 25, pg 241.

Indenture made 17 Feb 1857 between Matthew Casey and Sarah Grady both of Wayne, for $356 land in Wayne on the south side of Neuse River on the waters of Sleepy Creek adjacent to W. D. Cobb's corner, Martin Casey's line, Elisha Grady's corner, Henry Ward's line containing 95 acres. Witnesses: Council Grady and Elisha Grady. Registered: Aug't 17, 1863. Wayne Co, NC Register of Deeds; Bk 27, pg 392.

Indenture made 7 Oct 1857 between Mathew Casey and Sarah Grady both of Wayne, for $186 land in Wayne on the east side of Carraway Creek adjacent to John Lewis' line containing 48 acres. Witnesses: Council Grady and Elisha Grady. Registered 17 Aug 1863. Wayne Co, NC Register of Deeds; Bk 27, pg 389.

Indenture made 2 Nov 1858 between Lemuel Casey and Matthew Casey both of Wayne, for $1976 land in Wayne adjacent to Collier's line, Cobb's corner, Big Marsh containing 135 acres. Witnesses: Benjamin B. Jones and James Rollins. Aug't 17, 1863 - Execution of this deed proved by John D. Capps and Richard Rollins who maketh oath that Lemuel Casey the grantor is dead and they are well acquainted with his hand writing. Let it be registered. Wayne County, NC Register of Deeds; Bk 27, pg 383.


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