Who was Hairy/Harry James Martin? Or Martin, James (H)?

Is Hairy a misspelling of his first name, or middle name, or is it used to describe his growth of hair, to distinguish him from another James Martin?

From the Book: Joseph Winston His Entry Book Surry County, NC Land Entries 1778-1781 by Agnes M. Wells, Virginia G. Phillips and Carol J. Leonard, 1987

Entry #301 James Martin, Senr. enters 200 acres of land in Surry County on Toms Creek including Joseph Highet’s improvement for complement – July 21, 1778. Warrant Granted.

Entry #600 James Martin, Senr. enters 150 acres of land in Surry County on the S. fork of the Bigg Creek of Dan River joining Elisha Pearce’s claim including Samuel Jackson’s plantation for complement – August 19, 1778. Warrant granted.

Entry #1183 Alexander Martin and Hairy James Martin enter 640 acres of land in Surry County on the head of Mountain Creek, waters of Dan River, including the W. end of the Brown Mountain and lands adjacent for complement – Dec 30, 1778. Warrant granted to R. L. (Robert Lanier). Warrant lost, new one granted.

Entry # 1218 James Martin (H) enters 50 acres of land in Surry County on the waters of Toms Creek adjoining the land of Lewis Conner and his own including the Quaker Meeting House and spring for quantity – December 31, 1778. Warrant Granted.

North Carolina County Court of Pleas and Quarter Session for Surry County, North Carolina State Archives:

Land Entry Index: Martin James (H) #1218

" Martin Jas (H) #1220

" Martin, James, H #1237, Note: this entry # is not actually for James Martin, an error was made in the index

" Martin, James, H #1296

The Index to Hughes’ (Fred) Historical Map of Surry County compiled and printed in cooperation with The Surry County Historical Society in February 1978 shows in the index: Martin, H. James B7 (1778)

Surry County Court Minutes, Vol. 1 10 May 1780 has the following jury list on page 67:

Ordered by the Court that the following persons be appointed as Jurors to serve Augt Term next to wit: ,,,,,,, Henry Hampton, Col. James Martin- (James Martin Harry) ….

Photos Courtesy of the North Carolina State Archives, and my cousins, LM and Linda Daniel.