Hand Surname:  Maryland to North Carolina            By Leona Hagenstad

    John Peter Hand was born before 1755 in Maryland and was married 22 Dec 1769 at St. Lukes Parish in Queen Anns Co., MD, to Rachel Baley who was also born at St. Lukes Parish 12 Dec 1750. Rachel's father, James Baley (b. Ca 1715) and mother, Rachel Cleve (b. Ca 1718) also were born in Queen Anns Co.  Earl Hand supplied this data and says that Rachel married John Hand in Queen Anns Co., but there was no date of marriage, just her birth date.  Their first son, Isaac, was born 1771 in Maryland.
    The census taken in Maryland on 22 July 1776 (Oppen Hundred, Kent Island, Queen Anns Co.) lists John Hand - over 21 males (1); males under 12 (1); females over 21 (1); under 12 (1).  Then in the 1790 first U.S. Census, the Queen Anns Co. (page100) lists John Hand -males 16+ (1); males under 16 (2);  females incl. Hds. (4).  Also on page 99 of the same census data was Hand, Mary - males under 16 (2) and females (1).  The 1890 source was William Murray.
    Anson Co., N.C., divided in 1779 into Montgomery Co. in the north and Richmond Co. east of the Pee Dee River.  Fire destroyed most of Montgomery Co.'s records but there is some useful information from the burnt books:  17 Nov 1779...Joseph Gudwin entry..."adj. John Hands new entry and running down Mamars Creek".  29 Apr 1780..."John and (Hand?) 200A."  1795... Isaac Hand sells to Daniel Edward land...Isaac (X) Hand..seal witness. Samuel Jernigan and John (X) Hand.  17 Sep 1789, Anson Co. Wills Vol. 1 p. 62..."Michael Auld's wife states...130A. land joining the lands of Wm. Ratliff, John Hamer and John Hand on the waters of Island and McCoy's Creek."  The remaining old lower part of Anson Co. appears to be new location of the Hand group at this point. 
    In Anson Co. deed Vol. N., p. 189..."John Hand to James Perimeter, Sr. Land 16 March 1810...1000 pds...Island Creek".  This must be the entry that allows John Hand to migrate to Georgia.  It would be interesting to know if this land was originally a land grant or how John Hand actually had obtained it.  To add to the confusion, Anson Co., N.C, deed abstract 1749-1766.."and Abstracts of Wills and Estates 1749-1795 by Brent Holcomb 1980:  Page 312 Estate of William Benson to Archer Layne 1780 Att to 8 Sep 1784...John Auld, J.P.  Page 313 Estate of William Benson to Elizabeth Benson, Adm. 28 Apr 1784.  Settled in Apr 1785.  Paid Archer Layne, John Hand "for bring the children from South Carolina" to John and Joseph Pledger, widow Fautenberry paid Grannys fee for a child born before the death of William Benson...Michael Auld, Clerk.  It is not known where in S.C. Elizabeth Benson lived - possibly in Chesterfield Co., S.C.,-- where Isaac Hand lived across lines in S.C?  She is in census next to John Hand and it is felt that she is either John's sister or daughter and William Benson must be her husband. 
    There are concerns about Maryland records.  The 1776 Queen Anns Co. fits, but  1790 doesn't  because John Hand is already in Anson Co. and Montgomery Co. unless he has land in Queen Ann's Co. and they just listed his family or, that listing could be his cousin.  Could someone in Queens Anns Co., MD, check the 1800 records to see if a John Hand and Mary Hand of 1790 are listed and if so also listed in 1810.  In the 1790 census (Laona's own book) the third name above John Hand is Bailey, Thomas Sr., males under 16 (3); 16+ (1); females (4) slaves (1).  There are several Brileys (spelling?)