Had my research succeeded I doubt that I would be aware of the countless hours I have spent trying to unravel the Pasteurs before William, to find the link between the Virginia and North Carolina Pasteurs, to straighten the relationships between the various Johns, Williams, Thomases, etc. I have pored over records in Library of Congress, UNC-CH, UNC-G, Greensboro, N.C. Public Library, many notes Wilmot Stuart Holmes left, copies cousins so kindly have sent. I feel I can do no better than copy what Wilmot Stuart Holmes wrote, “It is practically certain that the Pasteurs of N. C. Halifax and Craven Counties removed from Virginia, but all efforts so far have failed to establish from which branch they sprang. Almost all of the family died or removed from N.C. in the early part of the 19th century. None of the branches when in communication with each other had reliable family data bridging the gap. Records were probably destroyed at the time of the moves.”
References I have used besides family papers are: R.A. Brock’s Huguenot Emigration to Virginia (Va. Historical Society, Richmond, 1886); The Douglas Register by the Rev. William Douglas, 1750-97; and the Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers. Wilmot Stuart Holmes wrote, “Dr. Hume in his investigations re: Huguenots wrote, “In William County, Va., which afterwards was Henrico County were Pasteurs whose names were found among the Pasteurs of N.C. The Rev. James Pasteur was rector of a Church in Norfolk in 1754. These Pasteurs were afterwards in New Bern and intermarried with the Blanchards and Coles.”” In Brock, p. 33, are the names of Jean and Charles Pasteur and “sa femme” as emigrants “Genevois”. Bishop William Meade in his Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Va. (1966 reprint by Genealogical Pub. Co., Baltimore) gives Pasteur as a Huguenot immigrant.
An excellent article, “Influence of Old Manakin Church make Americans of the Huguenots”, by Sandusky Curtis, is in the Dec. 1973 issue of The Jamestown Churchman, v. 36, published by the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Va. The given names of the Pasteurs who remained in Va. around Williamsburg and the Pasteurs in Craven County, N.C. are the same. In 1700 part of a large embarkation of Huguenots settled 20 miles above the site of Richmond on the James River at a place called Manikintown (also spelled Manakin or Mannachin Town). It was from this settlement that the families on the Trent River in N.C. came. From The Douglas Register: “M. Phillipe with numerous followers left Va. soon after Sept. 2, 1707, and settled in the Carolinas.” See p. 370: “The names of those y’t came in ye 4th ship and also settled between the creeks” included John Pastour. Annie Caroline Norman and I believe that Jean Pasteur stayed in Va. and that Charles came to New Bern and was father of our ancestor, William.
William Pasteur was married twice. At his death his wife was Judith Neale Pasteur, not our ancestor, but he had issue by her. His personal estate inventory was filed in New Bern March 1782. 1 have a copy. He was both surgeon and paymaster in the Revolution. See Hathaway’s N.C. Historical and genealogical register v. 1, p. 416 and 419, and v. 2, p. 561. Also see the Colonial and State Records of N.C. v. XXII, p. 880. On 2-6-1777 William Pasteur bought 3 small articles at the sale of “sundries remaining in Palace at New Bern, lately the property of Josiah Martin.” See v. XIII, p. 373: The N.C. Gazette of 3-6-1778 states that William Pasteur of New Bern had for sale a quantity of medicines “just imported”. A list follows. Miriam Pasteur Bailey wrote her cousin, Wilmot Stuart Holmes, “I asked Grandfather Thomas Jefferson Pasteur, about the family and he told me that his grandfather was a doctor and that he was named William.” “An old professor at Chapel Hill told me the same thing.” I think the “old professor” was probably one of the cousins with whom Sidney Pasteur Holmes corresponded.
Edward Pasteur was the son of William. From p. 251, v. I, Our Living and Our Dead: “Dr. Edward Pasteur had, in a measure, retired from the practice in 1822, after a long and successful professional career. He had wealth and great social influence.” From the Raleigh Register for June 27, 1823 (on micro-film at N.C. Room, UNC Library): “Died a few days since, in New Bern, of an inflammation of the bladder, Col. Edward Pasteur.” P. 112, 1964 printing of J.H. Wheeler’s Historical Sketches of N .C.: “Dr. Edward Pasteur was the friend of Gov. Spaight.” He was Gov. Spaight’s second in the Governor’s duel with John Stanly on Sept. 5, 1802, in New Bern. The Governor was killed. From the N.C. Gazette, July 4, 1795: “Edward Pasteur has just received from Norfolk and New York an assortment of medicines.” A long list follows and “will be sold on the most reasonable terms.” The commission, signed by Pres. Thomas Jefferson, appointing Edward Pasteur Colonel 3rd Regt. of Infantry, March 3, 1809, is in Wilmot Stuart Holmes’ Collection at the Southern Historical Collection. From Records of Craven County, vol. I, by Elizabeth Moore: “North Carolina’s part in the War of 1812 is associated with Captain Otway Burns.” “Dr. Edward Pasteur of New Bern was the chief owner of the six-gun schooner, the Snap Dragon, commanded by Captain Otway Burns.” From the June 21, 1823 issue of The Carolina Centinel, published weekly at New Bern: “DIED. At his seat, in the vicinity of this town, after an illness of a few days, Col. Edward Pasteur, in the 63rd year of his age. Col. Pasteur joined his country in her struggle for liberty, and was ever the zealous advocate of the principles of the Revolution. In the various relations of private life – as husband, father, friend – he was kind and affectionate. Of his benevolence and liberality, the many whose wants he relieved can bear ample testimony.”
Thomas Jefferson Pasteur lived in New Bern, N.C. until he moved, with his family, to Marion County, Fla., in 1853, having bought land there in 1852. It was near Ocala and he owned part of the now-famous Silver Springs. He established a large sugar plantation on the Silver Spring run and was instrumental in developing the raising of oranges. In N.C. he had been very active in politics and was Collector of the Port at Portsmouth during the administration of Pres. Polk. He gave up active interest in politics when he moved to Florida, but was always interested and voted regularly. In the family Bible in the home of Jack Pasteur, Ocala, Fla., is a clipping from the “Churchman” telling of his death near Silver Springs on Feb. 22, 1888. Wilmot Stuart Holmes left a copy of a beautiful tribute to him published on his death in The Banner (Ocala newspaper, I guess) by his friend, John G. Reardon.
Source: Abstracts from Family Notes of Holmes, Pasteur and Allied families, chiefly of North & South Carolina. Research and Compilation by Caroline Pasteur Holmes Bivins. 1982