1709 Chosen in the 1960s
In the early 1960s, while forming the Beaufort Historical Association, and creating the Beaufort plaque, a few residents chose 1709 as Beaufort's established date. They searched for a long time for a mention of that particular year, for some reason, but found ONLY ONE general, undocumented passage, included in Samuel A'Court Ashe's 1908 book, History of North Carolina, "... Many planters now occupied the lands on the Pamlico; the French colony had been increased by accessions from Virginia; lands along the shore, even between the North River and Core River (near the present town of Beaufort), were taken up in 1709..."
In the early 1960s, while forming the Beaufort Historical Association, and creating the Beaufort plaque, a few residents chose 1709 as Beaufort's established date. They searched for a long time for a mention of that particular year, for some reason, but found ONLY ONE general, undocumented passage, included in Samuel A'Court Ashe's 1908 book, History of North Carolina, "... Many planters now occupied the lands on the Pamlico; the French colony had been increased by accessions from Virginia; lands along the shore, even between the North River and Core River (near the present town of Beaufort), were taken up in 1709..."
1707 Land Patent
On December 20, 1707, Farnifold Green was the first to obtain a patent for land in the "Core Sound" area—780 acres along the shore between the North and (Newport) River, which included the future site of the original 100-acre town of Beaufort. Earlier in 1707, Green was also granted 1700 acres near present-day Oriental; the acreage became known as Green's Neck plantation. Green became a member of the Provincial Assembly, and captain in the militia.
On December 20, 1707, Farnifold Green was the first to obtain a patent for land in the "Core Sound" area—780 acres along the shore between the North and (Newport) River, which included the future site of the original 100-acre town of Beaufort. Earlier in 1707, Green was also granted 1700 acres near present-day Oriental; the acreage became known as Green's Neck plantation. Green became a member of the Provincial Assembly, and captain in the militia.
In the early 1700s,
settlers along the Pamlico and Neuse Rivers faced political discord,
yellow fever, drought, and conflict with Indians. Aware of the dangers,
Farnifold Green remained on his plantation north of Neuse River, made
out his will in October 26, 1711.
As far as settlers in the Core Sound area in the early 1700s, in Colonial Beaufort, Charles L. Paul noted: "In December 1708, John Nelson was granted a patent for 260 acres 'in Core Sound on the north side of North River.' By 1708, brothers Francis and John Shackelford settled on the west side of North River ...
Other names connected with the 'Core Sound' area prior to 1713 were
John
Fulford, Robert Turner, James Keith, William Bartram, Peter Worden,
Thomas Blanton, Thomas Lepper, Thomas Sparrow, Lewis Johnson, Richard
Graves, Christopher Dawson, Enoch Ward, Thomas Cary, and Thomas Kailoe.
Some of these, notably Cary and Lepper, lived elsewhere and were only
speculating in land. John Fulford, Enoch Ward, and Robert Turner were
definitely 'Core Sound' area residents."
In those early years, "Core Sound" referred to what John Lawson called "Coranine Sound," the body of water west of the barrier islands, from Cedar Island to Cape Lookout, and the area around the present-site of Beaufort.
In those early years, "Core Sound" referred to what John Lawson called "Coranine Sound," the body of water west of the barrier islands, from Cedar Island to Cape Lookout, and the area around the present-site of Beaufort.
On July 18, 1713, Farnifold Green endorsed his yet-developed 780-acre patent in Core Sound to Robert Turner. The endorsement was added to the original 1707 deed, signed by Lords Proprietors Deputies. Until Green endorsed his patent to Turner in 1713, there were a few scattered settlers in the Core Sound area, including Shackelford and Nelson, who were granted patents on North River. (In 1714, Green's Neck plantation was attacked, pillaged, and burned by Indians, resulting in the massacre of 40-year-old Green.)< The original document, found by Ann Saylor in the New Bern courthouse.
Later, Governor Eden
officially signed over Green's 780-acre patent to Turner. Confirmed by
payment of £4.15 sterling, Turner was given "all privileges of
hunting, hawking, fishing and fowling, with all profits, commodities and
hereditaments to the same belonging, except one-half of all gold and
silver mined."
Established 1713
Historian Charles L. Paul, in research for his 1965 Master of Arts in History thesis, Colonial Beaufort, The History of a North Carolina Town, was the person who finally documented 1713 as the established date of Beaufort. Until that time, historians were not sure of the founding date. Unaware of Mr. Paul's unpublished thesis, state historian William S. Powell wrote, in his 1989 book, North Carolina through Four Centuries, "The town of Beaufort was started about 1715."
In the Province of Carolina, a town was established when approved by legislative action, either by the Lords Proprietors or the General Assembly, thereby granting permission for the township to be named and laid out. For Beaufort, this approval came in the fall of 1713.
Robert Turner, then land patent owner, hired Deputy-surveyor Richard Graves to plat
Historian Charles L. Paul, in research for his 1965 Master of Arts in History thesis, Colonial Beaufort, The History of a North Carolina Town, was the person who finally documented 1713 as the established date of Beaufort. Until that time, historians were not sure of the founding date. Unaware of Mr. Paul's unpublished thesis, state historian William S. Powell wrote, in his 1989 book, North Carolina through Four Centuries, "The town of Beaufort was started about 1715."
In the Province of Carolina, a town was established when approved by legislative action, either by the Lords Proprietors or the General Assembly, thereby granting permission for the township to be named and laid out. For Beaufort, this approval came in the fall of 1713.
Robert Turner, then land patent owner, hired Deputy-surveyor Richard Graves to plat
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| 1713 Plan of Beaufort Towne NC Office of Archives and History Click to enlarge. |
the 100-acre town with 106 lots for sale. The township was laid out by ye sd surveyor on the 2nd day of October 1713. The name of the town honored Turner's friend Henry Somerset, the 2nd Duke of Beaufort, who was, at the time, Palatine of Carolina, the chief position among the Lords Proprietors.
The plan was recorded in the office of the secretary of the colony. Streets were named and allotments were provided for a church, town-house, and market place. Turner Street obtained its name from Robert Turner, the father of the town.
The plan was recorded in the office of the secretary of the colony. Streets were named and allotments were provided for a church, town-house, and market place. Turner Street obtained its name from Robert Turner, the father of the town.
The dates, men and circumstances were mentioned in all Beaufort deeds issued for
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| Deed from Robert Turner of said Province... lot number 4....plat made by Richard Graves ...land lying being in Core Sound laid out by said surveyor...2nd day of October 1713 and by ye permission of ye lords proprietors intended for a township by ye name of Beaufort.Carteret Deed Book D - Page 91 |
the years before Carteret became a precinct in 1722. These deeds, found at the courthouse in New Bern, stated that the town was laid out by permission of the Lords Proprietors intended for a township by the name of Beaufort.
Numerous lots were sold in Beaufort immediately after it was named and laid out, but few of the purchasers made their homes in the town ... As late as 1765 it was described as a town of not more than twelve houses.
As authorized by legislative action, Beaufort is the state's 4th old town, behind 1705 Bath, 1710 New Bern, and 1712 Edenton (Ye Towne on Queen Anne's Creek).
Numerous lots were sold in Beaufort immediately after it was named and laid out, but few of the purchasers made their homes in the town ... As late as 1765 it was described as a town of not more than twelve houses.
As authorized by legislative action, Beaufort is the state's 4th old town, behind 1705 Bath, 1710 New Bern, and 1712 Edenton (Ye Towne on Queen Anne's Creek).
This and more are included in Mary Warshaw'sbook.
