Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

I’ve been making a case that Tarboro was early on in Bath County… scroll down a few posts to “The Theory” for some background. Traci Thompson has a raised eyebrow at my musings but she is slowly coming around… she is a history librarian in those parts 🙂 If my little theory pans out then James Anderson could be “one of” if not “the” Founder of the town of Tarboro. Back when Bath County was cool it was all about trading with the Indians…

The recent discovery of Blackbeard’s Queen Ann’s Revenge has prompted some historical interest in the old town of Bath:

“Because Bath County was separated from Albemarle County by nearly fifty miles of swampy wilderness –this is one of the least populated and most isolated areas in the state to this day — the settlements had to communicate by water using the sounds and rivers. Bath’s economy was based on the fur trade with the Tuscarora and smaller Amerindian tribes in the region.” p9, http://www.qaronline.org/techSeries/QAR-R-07-03.pdf

“The dominance of the Indian fur trade and provisions early in the century is illustrated by Thomas Pollock’s outbound cargo to Boston in 1704. It consisted of 244 barrels of pork, deerskins, furs, and leather, plus another shipment primarily of 2690 dressed deerskins and some furs.” p10, http://www.qaronline.org/techSeries/QAR-R-07-03.pdf

“When Bath became a refugee center during the Tuscarora War, a fort was constructed near the end of the peninsula. At war’s end the ravaged county was desolate, but settlers returned to rebuild their plantations, farms, and homes. Bath experienced a moderate recovery, stimulated by the reincorporation of 1715 and a re-survey. New prominent residents were Governor Charles Eden, Maurice Moore, Edward Moseley, Thomas Pollock and Dr. Edward Travis.Christopher Gale sold his plantation and became a full-time resident. By the next year, new merchants, tradesmen, and artisans were attracted to the town by the establishment of Port Bath, the first port of entry for the colony. p13, http://www.qaronline.org/techSeries/QAR-R-07-03.pdf

Thomas Pollock did alright for himself… check out his will of 1722:    http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr22-0066#p22-290
He could also be ruthless…

Minutes of the Virginia Governor’s Council [Extracts], including correspondence between Edmund Jenings and William Glover
Virginia. Council
September 02, 1707
Volume 01, Pages 667-671

“Information was brought hither that one Collo Pollock of Carolina with about sixty armed men in an hostile manner sett upon the Maherine Indian towne makeing all the Indians that were therein prisoners and so keeping them pent up for two days in a small fort till with the straitness of the place the excessive heat of the weather and their want of Water they were almost famished, threatening further to burn their Cabbins and destroy their Corne if they did not remove from that place and to show that he meant to be as good as his word he pulled down some of their Cabbins and broke and destroyed such poor furniture as the Indians had therein, and to make that Action the more unaccountable (to give it no more name) the said Pollock had the assurance to affirm he had the Queens order for what he did.”

Christopher Gale dabbled in the trade also…    http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr22-0545

“…I cood wish Bro. Miles were w’th me Just now, for Tomorrow’s light I sett out upon an Indian Voiage, in ord’r to followe a shallop’s load off Indian goods, w’ch I sent away about 2 Months agoe for Cape Fare River, w’ch Voiage wood make him an expert Carolina Coaster, & Inure him soe far to ye Customes & language off ye Heathen, as to make him a well qualify’d Ind. Trader, by w’ch Imploym’t (si adest fortune, & fortune Comes Indubitatus Fortitudo) he may secure for himselfe a Comfortable being in ye world. Iff he comes, he shall not want Imploym’t, butt I wood advice y’u to lett him marry before he comes away, provided he can marry a Fortune that wood encounter ye dangers off ye Atlantick Ocean, one penny in England is 3 w’th us, iff well laid out, & iff he cood butt bring w’th him 2 or 300ll. w’th a wife, I cood putt him in ye way to live as happy as ye day is long. Marriage att ye best is butt a happy or unhappy chance (audaces Fortuna Juvat). All sorts of English goods are here verry valuable, Especially Nails, Carpenters’ Tools, Hows, Axes, all sorts off linings, powder & shott, hatts, stockings & what else is requisite to make a sortable store. ”

Now comes James Anderson in 1723…

Colonial Bertie Co., NC Deed Books 1720-1757 Mary Best Bell Deed Book A

pg. 19. James ANDERSON of Bath County to John GRAY (Capt.) March 3, 1721/22. 400 a. NS Morattock River in Occoneeche Neck. Part of 640 a. surveyed by Coll. William MAULE for William BRASWELL then sold to Matthew CAPPS, and by CAPPS sold to James ANDERSON. Adj. William BOON, John NELLSON. Wit: Patrick MAULE, Mau. MOORE. April 20, 1722. C. GALE, C/C   …hmmm… Christopher Gale is C/C

Maurice Moore from above…

Dec. 1, 1716 – Maurice MOORE, Bath Co., Gent. To Christopher GALE, Bath Co., Esq. – 10 pounds – lot and front, one-half acre in Bath Town, #16, bounded to south on Patrick MAULE’s lot and to the north on half a lot belonging to said Christopher GALE. Wit: Tho. HARDING, Jno. DRINKWATER Acknowledged Jan. Court 1716