Some Rock House Land Information:

James Martin owned acreage located mostly on Tom’s Creek, on the Big(g) Creek and near the Tom’s Creek Quaker Meeting House, in what is now called Westfield. In 1781 James Martin paid taxes on 1,182 acres. In 1781 John Martin paid taxes on 640 acres. This is the same 640 acreage from land entry #420 containing the Summer/Sumners plantations that John had purchased on August 10, 1778.

After James Martin died in late 1782, John’s property taxes increased in 1784 to payment on 1,340 acres, and in 1785 John paid taxes on 1,140 acres. John Martin and Nancy Shipp were married in 1784.

There is a land grant #696 NC Archives records, Entry No. 836, Book No. 55, Page No. 1, Entered April 6, 1779 to Micajah Clark for 400 acres on South Double Creek. Joseph Winston’s entry #836 says this was adjoining Benajah King, including his improvement for quantity. See Photo.

On April 11, 1787 there was a deed: From Micajah Clark (the same man who married John Martin and Nancy Shipp) to Jno. Martin, a tract containing 400 acres on S. Double Creek, adj. to Benajah King. Stokes Co. Deeds Book D, page 10. See Photo. I believe this is the Rock House property. Perhaps Micajah had owned the property previously, but because the land record offices had been closed at the death of the second Earl of Granville in 1763, the property had to be re-granted by the individual county/states in 1779?

In June 1787 John Martin sells the 640 acres back to the Summers family, the same property he purchased in 1778.

In 1790 John Martin bought the 50 acres Muster Grounds between the Double Creeks., Grant #348.

In 1800 John Martin bought from William and Micajah King a tract of 200 acres on South Double Creek adj. to Micajah Clarks entry (the 400 acres above that John bought in 1787).

There is a John Martin property list for his 1821 taxes that he wrote and signed himself. He also wrote a similar list in 1820 where he calls the 400 acres his home tract on Double Creek.

When John Martin died in 1822, his son William inherited the home tract. John Martin’s son, William was killed in 1842. Part of the distribution of land in William’s estate papers states:

No 7. Being all that part of the home tract South of a line running west from a persimmon corner at the head of a hollow on the west side of & near the Quaker road running west between the barn and dwelling house two hundred and thirteen chains to a black oak in the out side line of an entry of three thousand acres of land made by Col John Martin decd thence running South on this line of said entry to a black oak forty chains thence continuing with outside line of said entry (which will more fully appear by reference to the grant to the line of the original home tract of four hundred acres which was entered by Micajah Clark thence continuing the line of said Clark tract in an eastern direction to the still house branch or opposite the head of said branch then down said branch to it confluence with South Double Creek then down said creek to the mouth of a branch in its north side of said creek thence up said branch in a northern direction to its head and continuing up the hollow to Thomas Martins line to the beginning containing by estimation twelve hundred acres and valued at four hundred dollars which we allot to John Harris etc.

Note: John Harris did not get the Rock House. The tract allotted to John Harris was South of the line running from a persimmon. In the same estate papers the No. 8 tract of land was given to Thomas Martin and his land was North of the same line.

Thomas Martin died between December 1868 and January 24, 1869. He had a will and gave all but one piece of his property to his wife Malinda Jane Smith Martin. On the 1860 census Thomas L. Sarles was 21 years of age and had an estate valued at $180. In July of 1870 Malinda Martin married Thomas L. Sarles. On the 1870 census, Thomas and Malinda Sarles appear in Virginia living with Thomas’s Sarles parents and siblings. Thomas’s real estate had increased and was valued at over $15,000. His personal property was valued at over $5,000, all assumed to have come from Thomas Martin’s estate.

In June of 1887, T. L. and Malinda Sarles of Surry County, sold to William K. Thore for $900, 133 acres of land, beginning at pointers in the old line of the Rock house tract…

On December 2, 1896 there is a deed from Malinda Sarles to Bettie Sarles of Surry County, for $517, two tracts of land one containing 99 acres known as a part of the Thos. Thore tract and the second tract known as the Rock House Tract containing 133 acres more or less. Bettie Sarles was Malinda’s daughter. If this 133 acres is the same as the above 133 acres is unknown.

There were two different deeds and sales in March of 1897 from the Sarles to William Thore for a total of 85 ½ acres.

On April 16, 1897 there is a deed made by T. L. Sarles and wife Malinda and Bettie Sarles of Surry County to Jessie A. Ashburn and wife for $532 including 74 acres of land. Deed Book 41 Page 352-353.

June 7, 1897 there was a bank judgment and seizure, the said execution for the sum of $422.80 with interest and costs. Sufficient personal property of said judgment could not be found. Real property was seized and sold at public auction to Bettie V. Sarles, the highest bidder, for the price of $455 two certain tracts of land, one containing 99 acres known as part of the Thos. Thore tract and the second tract known as the Rock House tract. Etc.

June 14, 1897 a deed was made whereby T. L. Sarles and Malinda of Stokes County, sold to Bettie Sarles for $626, 200 acres near the old tobacco barn and adjoining Nelson, King and others to the mouth of the big branch crossing South Double Creek.

May 30, 1899 Jesse A. Ashburn and wife of Surry County sold to Thomas J. Thore and wife Sarah E. for $700 a certain tract…containing 74 acres more or less and being the tract of land on which the “Old Rock House” is situated. Stokes Deed Book 41, page 353.

July 7, 1916 Thomas J. Thore and wife Sarah E. of Surry County sold to Samuel F. Thore and Joseph E. Thore for $2,550, 74 acres being the tract of land on which the old rock house is situated and also the same tract that Thos. J. Thore bought from Jesse Ashburn.

December 3, 1925 S. F. Thore sold for $5,440 to J. E. Thore his entire undivided interest in various tracts and parcels of land including his interest in the Rock House tract. Stokes Deed Book 73, P 536.

In 1975 the Stokes County Historical Society acquired about three and a half acres of land including the Rock House. The site suffered over the years from vandalism and theft and much effort has been put into the site to preserve the ruins. There is now a security fence surrounding the house. Contributions to help pay for the security fence are being solicited by the Stokes County Historical Society. You may see their information and photos here:

http://www.sc-hs.org/rock-house.php

and more Rock House photos from an album on their Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/StokesCountyHistoricalSociety#!/media/set/?set=a.127823200622390.25242.127686933969350&type=3