Edward Sorrell was the first of that surname to appear in Wake County, North Carolina. Although his ancestry hs not been firmly established, he is likely a member of the Sorrell family of Westmoreland county, Virginia. This family was reportedly descended from Robert Sorrell, Son of Robert Sorrell of Writtle, Essex, England, and his wife, Mary, daughter of Thomas Everaard of Waltham Magna, England. Robert Jr. married Rebecca Woodward of Essex in 1643. By April 10, 1651 he was in Virginia as he patented 800 acres in James City (Jameston) on that date; he acquiredan additional 700 acres two years later.
Robert and Rebecca's only known child was John Sorrell who had a son named Thomas Sorrell whose will was written January 12, 1725 wherein he bequeathed to his son, James, land in James City County which his father had bequeathed to him. William may may have been another son of Robert. His estate was inventoried in Elizabeth City and filed there Dec. 18, 1689, signed by his widow, Sarah. the division of the property includes portions to John Sorrell, Elizabeth Sorrell, George Sorrell, William and Thomas Sorrell.
An Edward Sorrell, of James city County, his wife Alice, made a deed to land in James City "adjoining Mr. Sorrell and and Mr. Hamlette" on June 10, 1703. Thomas, son of John, moved to Westmoreland County where he was a clerk of the court of the court form 1715 to 1726. He married Elizabeth Ocanny, daughter of Daniel Ocanny of Westmoreland. Thomas's will, dated Oct.8, 1725, mentioned wife Elizabeth, sons James and John, daughter Ann Winifred, nephew Thomas and his sisters Elizabeth and Frances. The known descendants of Thomas do not include our Edward Sorrell; his ancestry remains a mystery to be further explored.
Once Edward appeared in Wake County in 1777 his family becomes somewhat easier to trace. The name of his spouse is unknown, and he left no will to delineate his heirs and the division of his estate. The major clue to his immediate family appeared in the form of an unpaid debt due a British merchant after the war; the collector made detailed notes on the whereabouts of Edward's family members.
1. Edward SORRELL, born about 1730 in Virginia; died about 1790 in Wake County, NC.
Edward's wife is unknown.
Edward's known children:
1. Susannah SORRELL
2. Thomas SORRELL
3. Elizabeth SORRELL, born abt 1758 in Virginia.
married John Lynn on 06 Dec 1778 in Wake County, North Carolina.
4. William SORRELL
5. Edward SORRELL "Ned", born abt 1762 in Virginia.
Edward Sorrell is listed in the 1820 Census of NC in Bertie County. He is not listed in the 1830, 1840, or 1850 census of North Carolina.
6. Martha "Patsey" SORRELL, born abt 1770 in Wake County; died in 1818 in King and Queen County, Va.
Martha "Patsey" Sorrell married Francis Barbee on 21 of June 1792 in Wake County, North Carolina; died in 1818 in King and Queen County, Va.
William SORRELL, born abt 1760 in Virginia; died in 1812 in Wake County, North Carolina.
William Sorrell deeded 640 arces of Edward Sorrell's land 29 Dec 1778. This land was on both sides of Stirrup Iron Creek and included the Great Branch and the plantation he lived on at that time.
In August, 1805, William Sorrell deeded land to Elijah Sorrell and to John Sorrell. Two years later, on 14 Nov 1807, William deeded 100 acres to "my son, Jacob Sorrell."
William also deeded two parcels of land to John Lynn in February, 1805.
William SORRELL married a woman named Elizabeth, last name unknown in Wake County, North Carolina.
Their children were:
1. John SORRELL
John Sorrell married a woman named Polly Roberts, daughter of Curtis Roberts. John and Polly Sorrell are my GGGGG Grandparents. I also descent from John's brother, Jacob Sorrell.
2. Elijah SORRELL, born abt 1780 in Wake County, NC
Elijah Sorrell was deeded land from William Sorrell in August, 1805, at the same time William deeded land to John.
3. William SORRELL
William Sorrell married a woman named Mary, last name unknown.
4. Jacob SORRELL
Jacob Sorrell married a woman named Penny Duffy. Jacob and Penny Sorrell are my GGGGG Grandparents. I also descent from Jacob's brother, John Sorrell.
John married Polly Roberts, daughter of Curtis Roberts on 26 Feb 1806 in Wake County, NC; born abt 1786 in Wake County, NC.
They had only one son:
Curtis Sorrell who married his first cousin, Sarah Broady Sorrell, daughter of Jacob and Penelope Duffy Sorrell.
John Sorrell was between 60 and 70 in the 1840 census of Wake County. His Wife was between 50 and 60. No children were living in their household. But they did have two free blacks living with them.
John Sorrell married Nancy Roberts on 1 Mar 1817 in Wake County, NC born abt 1787 in Wake County, NC. This was after the death of his first wife.
The bondsman at the marriage of John and Polly was Jacob Sorrell.
Jacob Sorrell married Penelope Duffy on 31 Jan 1806 in Wake County, NC; born abt 1783 in Granville County, NC. died aft 24 Jul 1846 in Wake County, NC.
The bondsman at the marriage of Jacob and Penny was John Sorrell.
Jacob and Penny's children were:
1. Lemuel Wesley Sorrell
2. Ann Sorrell
3. Ira Sorrell
4. Nancy Sorrell
5. Sarah Brody Sorrell
6. Eleanor Sorrell, married William b. Rhodes
7. Jacob Sorrell, married Elizabeth Ann Jackson
Curtis and Sarah Brody Sorrell were 1st cousins. Their fathers were brothers.
Curtis was born abt 1811 in Wake County, NC.; died bef 1870 in Dyer County, Tennessee.
Curtis and Brody Sorrell moved to Dyer County, Tennessee from their home in Wake County, NC. in 1858. They went there to join Brody's brother, Lemuel, and her sister, Nancy, wife of their cousin Needham Sorrell.
Curtis was mentioned in the will of his grandfather, Curtis Roberts (9 Feb 1819).
Curtis married Brody on 27 Mar 1834 in Wake County, NC. born in 1815 in Wake County, NC. died in Dyer County, Tennessee.
Curtis and Brody had the following children:
1. Helen A. Sorrell
2. Ann Eliza Sorrell married William Henry Dillard on 1 May 1854 in Wake County, NC. William H. Dillard was the son of Calvin Henry and Mary (last name unknown) Dillard.
William H. Dillard and Ann Eliza Sorrell are my GGG GrandParents.
3. Penny A. Sorrell
4. Sidney Cirson Sorrell
5. Albert B. Sorrell
6. Mary J. Sorrell
7. M. Sorrell, born abt 1855 in Wake County, NC.