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Local figure

John U. Kirkland

John Umstead Kirkland (1802–1879), son of the Hillsborough merchant William Kirkland, acquired Ayr Mount from his mother's estate and lived there until his death in 1879, when the house passed to his widow, Elizabeth Simpson Kirkland.

Source: NC State Historic Preservation Office: Ayr Mount, National Register nomination

Also found in catalogs as John U. (John Umstead) Kirkland.

1802–1879 · Dates from the Library of Congress · Library of Congress authority record ↗

1 work about John U. Kirkland is indexed here, as is one work by Kirkland.

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Life and Orange County connections

Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 25 dated events in the chronology →

  1. Hillsborough elects John Scott magistrate of police and seven town commissioners Hillsborough's annual town election chose John Scott magistrate of police and James S. Smith, John U. Kirkland, William H. Phillips, Hugh Waddell, William Nelson, George M. Johnston and Samuel Child commissioners for the year. People: James Strudwick Smith, John U. Kirkland, Hugh Waddell, William Nelson, George Johnston, Samuel ChildSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, February 8, 1833, p. 3
  2. Hillsborough elects its magistrate of police and town commissioners Hillsborough voters chose C. M. Latimer magistrate of police and elected seven town commissioners for the year, among them Richardson Nichols, John U. Kirkland, John Scott, Stephen Moore, Thomas Faucette and James Palmer. William Nelson was chosen town constable on February 10. People: John U. Kirkland, Stephen Moore, William NelsonSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, February 13, 1835, p. 3
  3. The Recorder prints a county meeting's warning to abolitionists An Orange County meeting adopted a report warning "northern fanatics" not to stir up the enslaved and predicting lasting hostility between the sections if abolitionists pressed on. Its fourteen-man committee included Frederick Nash, William A. Graham, Hugh Waddell, John U. Kirkland, Dr. Edmund Strudwick and the paper's own editor, Dennis Heartt, as a secretary. People: Frederick Nash, William A. Graham, Hugh Waddell, John U. Kirkland, Edmund Strudwick, Dennis HearttBurwell School Historic Site Task Force: Antebellum Hillsborough, Slavery, and Enslaved and Free People of Color who Worked at the Burwell School, 1837-1857 (2019), p. 49
  4. William Kirkland dies, leaving Ayr Mount to his widow William Kirkland died in 1836 and left his estate to his wife, Margaret Scott Kirkland; their son John Umstead Kirkland later acquired Ayr Mount from her estate. The inventory taken after his death lists twenty enslaved people, some of whom worked at his store, tannery and other businesses in Hillsborough. People: John U. KirklandSearch the index · NC Historic Preservation Office: National Register nomination, Ayr Mount (OR0002, 1971) · Also: Columbian Repository (Chapel Hill), July 2, 1836, p. 3
  5. William A. Graham buys a small house in Hillsborough After renting quarters in Hillsborough since their marriage in 1836, William A. Graham bought a small house in January 1838, telling his wife he did not expect to keep it but that it would serve for now. In November 1842 he traded it, with three town lots and cash, to John U. Kirkland for the place he named Montrose. People: John U. KirklandSearch the index · Internet Archive: John V. Allcott, "Architectural Developments at 'Montrose' in the 1850's", North Carolina Historical Review 42 (1965), p. 86
  6. Commissioners seek bids to repair the Eno bridge at Hillsborough John U. Kirkland was one of five commissioners, with Cadwallader Jones, Edmund Strudwick, Josiah Turner and Catlett Campbell, who advertised for proposals to repair the bridge over the Eno at Hillsborough, with bids due in November. People: Edmund Strudwick, Cadwallader Jones, Josiah Turner Jr.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, October 18, 1838
  7. William A. Graham buys the Eno River house that became Montrose Senator William A. Graham bought 59 acres on the Eno River east of Hillsborough from John U. Kirkland, with the house the Rev. William Mercer Green had built there, paying $3,200 plus his town residence and three lots. Graham named the place Montrose, and his son and grandson lived there after him until 1977. People: John U. Kirkland, William Mercer GreenSearch the index · National Register nomination: Montrose, Orange County (2001), pdf p. 11
  8. Courthouse commissioners let the contract to John Berry The commissioners named by the county court to build the new courthouse, James S. Smith, Cadwallader Jones sen., Osmond F. Long, John U. Kirkland, Harrison Parker, William Murray, Edwin M. Holt and Michael W. Holt, let the contract privately to John Berry of Hillsborough without public notice. Western critics attacked the bargain in the paper through the spring. People: James Strudwick Smith, Cadwallader Jones, John U. Kirkland, Harrison ParkerSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 30, 1844, p. 3
  9. John U. Kirkland is elected a Warden of the Poor for Orange County At an election in April 1844 Orange County chose Cadwallader Jones, Dr. James Webb, Green Jordan, Nathaniel Bain, James Faucett, John U. Kirkland and Samuel N. Tate as Wardens of the Poor. People: Cadwallader Jones, James WebbSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, April 11, 1844
  10. The court binds three children of Jinney Chaves, a free woman of color, to Stephen Moore The court bound Lucy, 9, Nancy, 6, and Ruffin, 3, children of Jinney Chaves, a free woman of color, to Stephen Moore until 21, with bonds as the act of assembly required and Josiah Turner as surety. In November 1853 the court bound a free girl of color named Lucy, 13, to John U. Kirkland, and a free boy of color named Ruffin Chavers, 7, to Thomas Webb to learn carpentry, with $37.50 in tools at 21. People: John U. Kirkland, Thomas WebbSearch the index · Mark Chilton, Freedom Bound: Apprenticeship, Racism & Liberation in Orange County, North Carolina 1777 to 1868 (Wandering through the NC Piedmont)
  11. Orange County railroad meeting backs a central route through Orange and Guilford A county meeting at the Hillsborough court house, chaired by Dr. Edmund Strudwick, adopted William A. Graham's resolutions that the central railroad should run through Orange and Guilford, pledged enough subscriptions to grade the road through the county, and named ten delegates to the Salisbury railroad convention in June. Graham and Giles Mebane spoke. People: William A. Graham, Edmund Strudwick, Giles Mebane, Dennis Heartt, David L. Swain, Cadwallader Jones, John Wall Norwood, John U. Kirkland, James PattersonSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 21, 1849, p. 3
  12. Orange railroad meeting names a committee to raise subscriptions A meeting of Orange County citizens at the court house in Hillsborough appointed a committee, among them Dr. W. A. Norwood, D. C. Parrish, John Berry, J. U. Kirkland, W. N. Pratt, C. W. Johnston and Josiah Turner Jr., to solicit subscriptions to the North Carolina Railroad and report at the February county court. People: Walter A. Norwood, John Berry, John U. Kirkland, Josiah Turner Jr.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, February 13, 1850, p. 3
Show all 25 dated events
  1. Hillsborough citizens meet to bring the railroad through town on the north side of the river A meeting at the court house, chaired by Magistrate of Police O. F. Long with E. A. Heartt as secretary, heard John U. Kirkland and others argue that the North Carolina Railroad should pass through the town on the north side of the river, and named a committee including Dr. Edmund Strudwick, Dr. W. A. Norwood, Dr. Pride Jones, George Laws and W. H. Brown to report how to secure that location. People: John U. Kirkland, Edmund Strudwick, Pride Jones, George Laws, William H. BrownSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 26, 1851, p. 3
  2. John W. Carr sits as a justice of the county court Carr was one of five justices holding the February 1852 term of the Orange County court, which elected a Board of Superintendents of Common Schools and set the county tax. People: John U. Kirkland, William Nelson, Harrison Parker, John J. FreelandSearch the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 181
  3. Hillsborough meeting resolves to build a plank road to Milton Citizens of Orange and neighboring counties met in Hillsborough during court week and resolved to build a plank road from Hillsborough to Milton, naming committees to sell stock in $50 shares and to ask the next legislature for a charter and state aid. Hugh Waddell urged a branch to Haywood by way of Chapel Hill. People: Giles Mebane, Hugh Waddell, Josiah Turner Jr., John U. Kirkland, Cadwallader JonesSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 8, 1854, p. 3
  4. The wardens of the poor order poorhouse repairs and a $1,000 loan After a called meeting on May 11, 1857 about the state of the poorhouse building, the wardens asked the county court on May 25 to summon the magistrates on the condition of the poor. They named a committee to repair the west building and let the superintendent borrow $1,000. People: John U. Kirkland, Pride Jones, James C. TurrentineSearch the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 187
  5. Orange Democrats meet at the court house and name delegates to the state convention A county meeting of Democrats in the Hillsborough court house, with Gen. Joseph Allison in the chair and Calvin E. Parish as secretary, adopted resolutions from a committee led by John W. Norwood warning that continued Northern aggression on Southern rights would end in disunion, and commended Governor Ellis for re-election. It named a long list of delegates, among them Paul C. Cameron, Cadwallader Jones and Pride Jones, to the state Democratic convention at Raleigh on March 8, and Norwood then spoke for two hours. People: Calvin E. Parish, John Wall Norwood, John U. Kirkland, Paul C. Cameron, Pride Jones, Joseph AllisonSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 7, 1860, p. 2
  6. Hillsborough Savings Institution stockholders vote to stop paying interest At a called meeting on August 9, 1862, stockholders holding 512 shares resolved to pay no interest on deposit certificates after September 16 and to settle all certificates by then. Cashier John U. Kirkland published the notice. People: John U. KirklandSearch the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 274
  7. Fire destroys the block at the northwest corner of Churton and King streets A fire that broke out about 1 a.m. destroyed seventeen buildings on the northwest corner of Churton and King streets in Hillsborough, among them the corner store owned by John U. Kirkland and occupied by W. F. and T. J. Strayhorn. The Recorder reported that few owners were insured. People: Josiah Turner Jr., William StrayhornSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, September 30, 1863
  8. The Hillsborough Savings Institution calls in its deposits before the currency change Facing the new Confederate currency law, the directors of the Hillsborough Savings Institution resolved to pay undrawn dividends, certificates of deposit and checks dated before March 25 only in the old currency and asked holders to collect at once. They had already told depositors to withdraw their money by March 31. People: John U. KirklandSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 2, 1864, p. 3
  9. John U. Kirkland serves as Orange County's clerk and master in equity In 1866 John U. Kirkland, as clerk and master in equity at his office in Hillsborough, advertised court-ordered sales of Orange County land.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, May 23, 1866
  10. Orange County's first elected board of commissioners takes office Elected in April 1868 at the election that ratified the new constitution, five commissioners qualified at the courthouse and chose Lemuel Lynch chairman, replacing the old county court of justices. Within days the newly elected sheriff, treasurer, register of deeds and clerk of superior court gave their bonds. People: John U. Kirkland, Jones Watson, David C. Parks, George Laws, Lemuel Lynch, William N. PattersonSearch the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 193 · Also: Hillsborough Recorder, April 29, 1868, p. 2
  11. An injunction charges four elected Orange commissioners with usurping office An injunction was served on J. U. Kirkland, Robert F. Morris, Jones Watson and W. H. Patterson, four of the county commissioners chosen at the spring election, charging that they held office although the Fourteenth Amendment disqualified them, and summoning them to show cause at Greensborough on October 13. The Recorder called them the people's choice but expected them to be put out. People: John U. Kirkland, Jones WatsonSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, October 7, 1868, p. 2
  12. John U. Kirkland is appointed a magistrate of Hillsborough township When James B. McDade resigned as one of the township's magistrates, the board of trustees appointed John U. Kirkland to fill the vacancy, a choice the Recorder called admirable.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, November 29, 1871
  13. Orange County elects the whole Conservative ticket In the August election Orange elected its whole Conservative ticket, with Thomas H. Hughes as sheriff, George Laws clerk, D. C. Parks treasurer, John Laws register, Dr. T. J. Wilson coroner and A. M. Leathers surveyor. The county gave Joseph J. Davis a majority of over 500 for Congress and favored John Kerr for judge over Thomas Ruffin. People: George Laws, David C. Parks, John U. Kirkland, Jones WatsonSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, August 12, 1874, p. 3

People named in the same events

People named in the same dated entries as John U. Kirkland, those sharing the most entries first. Each line links one of the shared entries in the chronology, where its source is cited. A shared entry shows these people in the same event, not how well they knew each other.

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Indexed works

Works about or by John U. Kirkland. Each links to the institution that holds or provides it. Background reading appears below.

By John U. Kirkland

John U. Kirkland account books, 1829-1867

Kirkland, John U. (John Umstead), 1802-1879 · 1829

Merchant account books of John U. Kirkland (1802-1879), covering 1829 to 1867, in the Southern Historical Collection at UNC, collection 405. The volumes concern nineteenth century Hillsborough commerce and the leather trade, including two firms Kirkland was tied to: Cain and Kirkland, and William Kirkland and Son of Hillsborough.

UNC

Places in this person’s story

Buildings, schools, churches and other sites named in the dated events on this page, the most often named first. The map shows the 5 with a known location.

Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Site locations from the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office survey, Open Orange, Orange County GIS, OpenStreetMap and a few other published sources named on each site’s page; town and community pins show approximate locations.

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Records of enslaved people

2 records, 1830 to 1862, name John U. Kirkland as a party to the sale, gift, trust or other transfer of enslaved people. Each record lists the people named in it, with their ages and family ties.

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Deeds

26 deeds, 1828 to 1874, in the county’s deed books name John U. Kirkland as a party, from Mark Chilton’s published abstracts. Each links to the deed-book page at the Register of Deeds.

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Wills

2 wills and papers in the county’s will books name John U. Kirkland, from Ruth Herndon Shields’s abstracts. Each shows the role and the year.

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