Other Events:

• Residence: 1830, Perry County, Kentucky; Both father and namesake son are enumerated on this census page. There are many other individuals of associated families enumerated on this census page.
• Residence: 1840, Perry County, Kentucky
• Residence: 3 Sep 1850, Letcher County, Kentucky

Other Events:

• NSDAR Ancestor Number: A027159
• Military Service (Specific): American Revolutionary War Captain Johnston's Company, Colonel Herndon's Regiment (NC Militia)
• Military Service: 1778, Wilkes County, North Carolina; 1. Enlisted for Service (Three Months)
• Military Service: 1778, North Carolina; 2. Discharged from three month term
• Military Service: 1780, Brier Creek, Wilkes County, North Carolina; Enlisted for Service (Nine Months)
• Military Service: 1781, Wilkes County, North Carolina; 1. Enlisted for three months (his 2nd tour of 1781)
• Military Service: 1781, Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina; 2. Discharged from 2nd tour of 1781
• Military Service: 1781, Wilkes County, North Carolina; Discharged at Belly Branch. Or perhaps, Billy Branch but a dotted "i" is not discernable.
• Residence: 1787, Wilkes County, North Carolina
• Possessions: 22 Aug 1800, Wilkes County, North Carolina; Land Survey for Archelaus Craft
• Residence: 7 Aug 1820, Floyd County, Kentucky
• Residence: 1830, Perry County, Kentucky; Both father and namesake son are enumerated on this census page. There are many other individuals of associated families enumerated on this census page.
• Military Pension: 23 Oct 1833, Perry County, Kentucky; S30357
• Residence: 1840, Perry County, Kentucky
• Residence: 03 Sep 1850, Letcher County, Kentucky
• Miscellaneous: 1974, History of Indian Bottom Church

Notes:

Name:
What's in a name?
I have seen this name spelled more ways than any other over the years of my research. In my opinion, the correct spelling would be Archelaus after the historic biblical person, Herod Archelaus. I don't believe that our ancestors during his lifetime were purposefully imaginative and inventive in the naming of their children as became so common in the United States in the Twentieth Century. Given that so many people were unable to read and write during this time period, it is far more likely that the name was simply spelled phonetically resulting in the many variations that we see in records. Having seen so many variations, It is just as likely that the writers of the various records were trying to spell the name Achilles after the Greek Warrior.

Birth:
Archelaus was NOT born in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Wilkes County did not come into existence until 1777, many years after his birth. If you assume that Archelaus was born in Wilkes County, you have to go all the way back to 1734, to the formation of Bladen County from New Hanover County to find the county name at the time of his birth. The "New" in New Hanover County MIGHT be related to the statement regarding place of birth that Archelaus made in his pension file. While there appears to be four characters in the word (see previous note), the first three appear to be "N E W". Further, Archelaus stated that he moved away from the county of his birth at an early age.

In his pension file Archelaus states that, "I was born in *Newi County on Roanoke River in the state of North Carolina on the 25th day of December in the year 1749 as I am informed by my father I left that county when I was small and recollect very little about it".
*The county name appears to be four characters and might be an abbreviation.


Military Service:
The pension is difficult to read but, Archelaus may have said that the division massed to return home at the head of the Catawba River in North Carolina. The place is clear, it is the part that may say, "div massed" that is difficult to transcribe. Nevertheless, Archelaus was only serving a three month term on this tour of duty. During this tour they were marched against the Cherokee Indians on the French Broad River. The actual statement is, ". . . He was marched against the Indians on French Broad at the Cherokee Indians . . . ".

"At the Cherokee Indians" probably means that there was a large, well known Cherokee town some place along the French Broad River and researching that would probably reveal more historical detail, specifically, dates.

Archelaus Elizabeth Adams 1 Dec 1785Wilkes County, North Carolina. Elizabeth (daughter of John Hobbs Adams and Nancy Caudill) about 1770 Louden County, Virginia; about 1881Letcher County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868

Bride: Elizabeth Adoms
Groom: Archeleus Craft
Bond Date: 01 Dec 1785
County: Wilkes
Record #: 01 059
Bondsman: Jacob Addams
Witness: G Wheatley
Bond #: 000164743

Notes:

Birth:
Birth Date perhaps 1721 based upon a passenger record of one, James Craft who arrived at Annapolis, MD at the age of 30 in the year of 1751.

James Craft was NOT born in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Wilkes County did not come into existence until 1777.

James Sarah Hammons. Sarah (daughter of William Hammons and Sarah Parsons) about 1718. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[Schimka.ged]

Unconfirmed

John Nancy Caudill. Nancy (daughter of Benjamin Caudill) 1752 Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William Sarah Parsons. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John Ann. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]