HISTORY OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA By J. KELLY TURNER and JNO. L. BRIDGERS, JR. DMK Heritage Project converted this historic book into a digital format for in-depth research for genealogist and historians with limited time and resources. The book was converted into an Adobe PDF format and is searchable with Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free program from Adobe). A new complete index was created of last names for quick identification To maintain the integrity of this historic book, images of each page of the book are provided on a separate PDF file to resolve any questions concerning the conversion to an electronic format. Both PDF files are placed on one CD for your convenience. Price: Price $35.00 plus $3.00 shipping Total $38.00 DMK Heritage 12303 Indian Mound Austin, TX 78758 You can contact us at: dmkheritage.austin.rr.com Or visit us at http://www.dmkheritage.com/store/ This 490 page (10 page index) history of Edgecombe county deals with government, politics and prominent people. CONTENTS CHAPTER I ORIGIN AND SETTLEMENT Immigrants from Virginia‑Early Indian troubles‑Town Creek settled 1720‑Tar River expedition 1722‑Economic conditions of settlers‑Precinct established‑Political controversy 1733‑1742‑Period of immigration‑Commercial expansion Halifax town 1744‑Erection of new counties‑Tarboro incorporated‑Account of Spanish War and incidents. CHAPTER II COLONIAL GOVERNMENT English policy‑Precinct courts‑Oyer and Terminer courts Courts of justice‑Superior Court in Enfield‑Political rep resentation contested‑Function of local courts‑Quit rent controversy‑Taxation‑Riot and rebellion‑Corbin seized‑Martin visits Tarboro‑Political significance‑War of Regulation ‑Tyron's appeal to the people‑County representation. CHAPTER III REVOLUTION Pre‑Revolutionary controversies‑War preparations‑Leaders and response to the cause‑Troops in the revolution‑Members in the Provincial Congress‑Military organizations‑Temporary government‑War incidents in Tarboro‑Tory uprisings ‑Martin plans negro insurrection‑Economic conditions Power of imprisonment suspended‑Deserters in Edgecombe ‑Battles of Swift and Fishing Creeks‑Wilmington aided Close of hostilities. CHAPTER IV POLITICS AFTER THE REVOLUTION General Washington's visit‑Rise of parties‑Edgecombe and Federal convention‑Delegates to the Continental Congress County courts organized‑County government‑Inferior courts and Quarter Sessions‑Convention of 1835‑Organization of parties‑Henry Clay's visit 1845‑Political effect‑Political leaders‑Whig agitation‑Democratic controversy‑War with Mexico‑Edgecombe volunteers‑Military leaders‑Coalition of parties‑Southern Rights movement‑Campaign of 1860. CHAPTER V SLAVERY ndian slaves‑Indentured servants‑Negro slavery‑Economic importance‑Inducement for importation‑Law concerning slavery‑Local regulations‑Law affecting servants‑Patrol system and its purpose‑Hiring days‑Method of punishment State vs. Will‑Value of slaves‑Social life‑Religious life Cause of religious indifference‑Slavery and politics. CHAPTER VI WAR BETWEEN THE STATES Political convention of 1861‑Awakening of public sentiment Leaders of secession movement‑Response to the call for troops ‑Edgecombe Guards at Bethel‑Military muster‑Military leaders‑Edgecombe in earnest‑Internal conditions‑Federal troops in Tarboro‑Battle Daniel School house‑Destruction of Tarboro threatened‑Contributions to the Confederacy‑Conditions in 1865. CHAPTER VII and VIII RECONSTRUCTION Economic conditions‑Federal regime‑Activities of republican party‑Frauds in county government‑Political organizations ‑Negro activities‑Outrages committed‑Retaliation‑‑County government resumed‑Suspension of Quarter Session of Court and Pleas‑Political controversies‑Free negro problem‑Municipal politics‑Democratic victory‑Resumption of law and order‑Leaders in reconstruction. CHAPTER IX POLITICS SINCE 1880 Democratic control over court system‑Republican struggle in politics‑Political campaigns‑Rise of populist party‑Political leaders‑Fusion of parties‑Party controversies‑Campaigns of 1892 to 1898‑Edgecombe in the war with Spain‑Campaigns of 1900‑Political significance‑Economic conditions. CHAPTER X AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRIES AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT Agriculture‑Early methods of farming‑Tobacco culture Introduction of marling and composting‑Cattle raising Method of Stock farming‑Manufacturing‑Erection of banks ‑Commercial activities‑Early road improvement‑Plank roads‑Stages‑Water navigation‑Railroads‑Modern, methods of industries. CHAPTER XI . EDUCATION Early education‑Period of opposition‑Clergymen schoolmasters‑Effects of the revolution‑Rise of academies‑Leaders in educational movement‑State aid for free schools‑Free education for paupers‑County appropriations‑Free school controversy‑Movement for common schools‑Consolidation of school districts‑Educational promoters‑Modern education‑System of conducting schools. CHAPTER XII BAPTISTS Origin and controversies to 1782‑Expansion after the revolution‑Dissensions over church organization‑Rise of the Mission Baptist‑Character and services of Joshua Lawrence Dissensions over church organization concluded‑Rise of negro churches. CHAPTER XIII EPISCOPAL English church and early governors‑Edgecombe parish erected‑‑Early controversies‑Religious conditions‑Church government‑Edgecombe parish divided and political controversy‑Glebe lands and effect on the activities of the early clergymen‑St. Mary's parish divided‑Period of decay‑Attempts at religious revival‑Conventions 1790 to 1794 and 1819 ‑Calvary church 1833‑Period of expansion‑Present conditions. CHAPTER XIV PRESBYTERIANS AND SONS OF TEMPERANCE Early conditions‑Itinerant ministers during the colonial period‑Activities of lay members‑First church organized Home missionary plans‑Sunday school activities‑Leaders in church work‑Layman's movement‑Controversy with Baptists‑Period of expansion‑New church in Tarboro. CHAPTER XV METHODISTS An account of the early Methodists and their religious convictions‑Joseph Pilmoor's services‑Methodist controversies Activities of James O'Kelly‑Results of Whitefield's teachings ‑Division of Carolina Circuit‑Account of Asbury's visits Revivals during the colonial period‑Pastorate of Dr. Doub‑‑Period of expansion‑Camp‑meetings‑Negro missions‑Sketch of Associate Reform Methodists‑Account of Ellis meeting-house, McKendree church. Swift Creek Mission, Temperance Hall, and other churches‑Conditions to 1900. See Index: http://www.dmkheritage.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=6