Marmaduke Norfleet
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marmaduke Norfleet (1700 – June 28, 1774) was a plantation owner, justice of the peace, and state legislator in North Carolina.[1] He served in the General Assembly of North Carolina during the colonial period.[2]
Marmaduke Norfleet | |
|---|---|
| General Assembly of North Carolina | |
| In office 1731–1742 | |
| Justice of the Peace for Perquimans County, North Carolina | |
| In office March 23, 1734 – March 23, 1735 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1700 |
| Died | June 28, 1774 (aged 73–74) |
Early life
Marmaduke Norfleet was born in 1700 in Nansemond County, Virginia, now Perquimons County, North Carolina. He was the son of Mary (née Marmaduke) and Thomas Norfleet Jr., a landowner in Nansemond County, Virginia.[3][4]
Career
Norfleet acquired large estates in Perquimons County and Northampton County. He was a well-known planter and slave owner in eastern North Carolina.[5][6]
He represented Perquimans County in North Carolina's General Assembly from 1731 to 1742.[7][2] Governor Gabriel Johnston appointed him to the position of justice of the peace for Perquimans County from March 23, 1734 to March 23, 1735.[3]
In May 1766, Norfleet sold 1,093.5 acres near the Great Dismal Swamp to George Washington who was a co-partner in the Dismal Swamp Company.[8][7] This included four tracts that Norfleet had inherited from his father.[8][9]
Personal life
Norfleet married Elizabeth "Eliza" Gordon in 1720.[7] She was the daughter of John Gordan of Chowan County, North Carolina.[7] Their two sons were Marmaduke Norfleet Jr. and Reuben Norfleet.[7] After his first wife died in 1753, Norfleet married Judith Rhodes.[7][6] Their two daughters were Sarah Norfleet and Judith Norfleet.[7] They lived in Perquimons County until 1766 when Norfleet purchased and moved to the Rich Square Tract in Northampton County, North Carolina.[7]
Norfleet died at his home on the Rich Square Tract on June 28, 1774.[7] He left a will that was probated in Northampton County in March 1775.[7] There was a dispute over his estate and the division of its slaves that became a court case heard by North Carolina Supreme Court.[10][11] His estate was worth more than $109,400 ($3,230,759 in 2022 money).[6]