Researching Land in Bertie, keep these dates in mind:
North Carolina Genesis: 17th Century Albemarle County Lindley S. Butler, Ph.D. Perquimans County Restoration Association. Hertford, N.C. On March 24, 1663, King Charles II gave his friends, the land lying in what is now Carolina.
By 1681 there was a further division, and the names reverted back to the Indian names of the areas--Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, and Perquimans.
Be sure to check Chowan County for early documents. Your Bertie ancestors might have been in this area by that time!
The Crown sought to strengthen the colony's dependence on England and placed governors, judges and other officials on salary answering ONLY to the Crown and not the electorate. North Carolina settler had become used to the "off-hand" manner of the Proprietors and resented this "control". They believed in the Carolina charter of 1663 and the colonial assembly as an independent body.
1732 -First "royal" Governor was George Burrington was a favorite of Bertie Countians (although considered arbitrary and paranoid by many citizens of the state). His chief accomplishment was clearing a road from Virginia to Cape Fear.
Running into opposition of his enforcement of Royal decrees which included the use of proclamation money (value set by the Crown), he simply dismissed the Assembly and didn't call it again for two years!
Nov 1734 - 2nd Governor Gabriel Johnston was controversial from the beginning as he insisted on a timely payment of quitrents (taxes to the crown on all land owned). He served for 18 years. A land grant dispute and representation controversy (1746-1754) further caused problems.
The 5 original precincts were each allowed 5 representatives (Perquimans, Pasquotank, Currituck and Chowan). Bertie and Tyrrell were allowed 5 when they were formed, but all newer counties were allowed only 2. Two were taken from Bertie, when Northampton was formed. This gave the older precincts considerable power.
After Johnson's death in 1752, Nathaniel Rice (president of the council), followed by Matthew Rowan were acting Governors until Arthur Dobbs reached New Bern in Oct 1754.
One issue was the appointment of Justices. The Crown appointed a Chief Justice who was usually sent over from England. The NC Assembly created associate justices and made the qualification to exclude non-resident attorneys. They arranged the court days in the various counties so that the chief justice would only be able to attend 1/2 the courts!
Bertie County Representatives (1722 - 1775) Families tended to dominate. The following examples do not include those related by marriage.
The Justices of the Peace were appointed by the Governor and were the most infuential in the county. They determined the jurors to decide lawsuits, created roads and ferries, licensed taverns, appointed minor county officials, and created lists of taxable persons.
These Justices were usually the wealthier men of the county, but also were sometimes complainted agains. The assembly in 1733 received a complaint about "oppressive magistrates" in Bertie and Beaufort Counties.
The location of the first courthouse, prison and stocks was in St. Johns (now Hertford County). In 1741 when Northampton was formed, and a controversy as to the new location was intense. A contract was actually issued on the south side of Stony Creek at Joseph Barradial's plantation, but the next year, it was changed or Red Bud Branch. In 1743, the General Assembly legislated that it be between Cashie Bridge and Will's Quarter Bridge on James Castellaw's plantation on the Cashie River.
Militia and Taxable Persons 1755
BERTIE 794 Militia (no record whites/blacks) Total = 1876
CHOWAN 830 Militia (no record whites/blacks) Total = 1481
EDGECOMBE 1317 1611 whites 924 blacks Total = 2538
NORTHAMPTON 676 902 whites 834 blacks Total = 1736
Militia and Taxable Persons 1756
BERTIE 902 Militia (no record whites/blacks) Total=1876
CHOWAN 830 Militia (no record whites/blacks) Total = 1481
EDGECOMBE 1317 1674 whites 1091 blacks Total = 2765
NORTHAMPTON 676 Militia 902 whites 834 blacks Total = 1736
39 representatives from Bertie County served in the Legislature. Only 8 served more than one term.
Be sure to read the epic poem "Legends of St. Johns" written by Major John W. Moore and published in the Windsor Ledger June 22, 1899. http://www2.txcyber.com/~smkoestle/stjohns.htm
BERTIE COURTHOUSE 1741 when Northampton was carved out of Bertie Co.and Hertford Co. was formed in 1754 the courthouse of 1724 was outside the boundaries of Bertie. 1743 a lease was signed for 1 acre of land for the old courthouse.1744 preparations began to move the courthouse May 10, James Castelow ( originally Barneycastle) bought one acre of land on the North side of the Cashie River and south side of Will's Quarter swamp where the courthouse, prison,and stocks were to be built. For 24 years this was the second courthouse in Bertie. 1768 the third courthouse was built and used for 111 years. Destroyed in 1887, Dec. 13 1886 Board of county commissioners asked for a bill to be drawn up for the General Assembly, bonds were issued, members of the board were chairman W.A. Capehart, Peter Rascoe, A.J. Dunning, J.B. Stokes appointed a building committee consisting of L. Thrower, J.E. Mitchell, J.B. Martin, James Bond, A.S. Rascoe. Theo Ralph contracted to build courthouse. Aaron Rascoe bought five $100.00 bonds, J.P. Johnson bought the remainder, the old coach shop was used while the court house was built
1st Provincial Congress: New Bern 25th Aug 1774 John Campbell 2nd Provincial Congress 1775 - Hillsboro William Gray Jonathan Jacocks Charles Jacocks William Brimmage William Bryan Zedekiah Stone Thomas Ballard Peter Clifton David Standley(justice of peace and sheriff of Bertie) John Campbell John Johnston [Elected as officers: Thomas Whitmell, ColonelResource:THE HISTORY OF A SOUTHERN STATES, NORTH CAROLINA by Hugh Talmage Lefler and Albert Ray Newsome, Chapel Hill, The University of NC Press, 1963.
Thomas Pugh, Lieut-Colonel
James Moore, 1st Major Arthur Brown, 2nd Major Aug 25 1774 Newbern Provincial Congress John Campbell April 4. 1776 Bertie John Campbell, John Johnston, Charels Jacocks Council of Safety (NC) recommended the people elect 15th Oct 1776, delegates to a congress to assemble at Halifax on 12 Nov. 1776 "to make laws, form a Constitution for state. 3rd Congress Halifax 12th Nov 1776 Thomas Pugh John Johnston William Gray Noah Hinton Zedekiah Stone (Formed the State Constitution) 4th Provincial Congress assembled at Halifax, April 4, 1776, all delegates favored independence.
John Campbell, John Johnston, Charles Jacocks
The Halifax Resolves - April 12, 1776. "First official act of a colony calling for Independence"5th Congress completed its labors on December 18, 1776-its last official action being "an Ordinance for appointing a Governor, Council of State, and Secretary until next General Assembly." John Johnston Charles Jacocks Zedekiah Stone
Charlotte Town Resolves - 1775 Mecklenburg N.Cc.May 31, 1775
The Halifax Resolves - April 12, 1776. "First official act of a colony calling for Independence"
Oath of Allegiance Administered in Bertie
Court Minutes of Bertie County. Wynette Haun. 1772-1780
Aug 1777
Ordered that the several Justices in county shall tender the Oath of
allegiance prescribed by an Act of the Assembly passed on the 9th May
last [1777] to all the Inhabitants of this county.
Also that the said Justices shall attend the private musters within their
district fot the purpose of administering the oath prescribed by Law to
be administered to suspected persons to wit:
William Bryan - Capt Rhoads Co
Wm Pugh - Capt Pugh's
Capt Oliver - Capt Oliver
James Campbell - Capt Askiew
Wm Cherry - Capt Wynns
Zed Stone - Capt King
David Standly - Capt B. Allard
Jonathen Jacocks - Capt Ryan
Thomas Ward - Capt Freemans
Justices names are on the left -to go to the Capt District to administer
the oath.
1789 - Ratification of National Constitution
Bertie delegates: John Johnston, Francis Pugh, William J. Dawson, David Turner, and David Stone.
Bertie Loyalist Leanings
Many in Bertie County were not eager to break with England. The John Llewelyn
(planter from Martin Co) conspiracy was deeply rooted in Bertie County. The
leader in Bertie was William Brimmage. He was crown prosecuting attorney for
Bertie and a provinical vice-admiralty judge, owning 10,000 acres of land and
about 30 slaves. When the plot was discovered in 1777, Brimmage was jailed in
Edenton but eventually fled to England, leaving his family on their plantation in
Bertie County.
Court Minutes of Bertie County indicate this additional information.
Solomon Pender depart this state in 60 days and that the Constable
serve him with a copy of this order. Nov Ct 1777 (268)
Aug 1778
Wm Brimage and Eliz his wife to Elizabeth Pollock daughter of said Wm
and Elizabeth Deed registered.
Also Frances Brimage (same)
Thomas West Brimage (same)
Further Recommended Resources:
Alan Watson,History of Bertie County
Colonial North Carolina Hugh T. Lefler and William S. Powell.
Members of General Assembly from Bertie County, from 1777 to 1830
Senators Members of House of Commons
1777 Zedekiah Stone William Jordan, Simon Turner
1778 Zedekiah Stone William Jordan, James Campbell
1779 Zedekiah Stone John Pugh Williams, Jonathan Jacocks
1780 Jon Jacocks William Horn, David Turner
1781 " " " " " "
1782 " " " " " "
1783 " " " " " "
1784 " " Zedekiah Stone, Andrew Oliver
1785 " " Thomas Collins, Andrew Oliver
1786 Zedekiah Stone Thomas Collins, Andrew Oliver
1787 John Johnston Andrew Oliver, William Horn
1788 " " William Horn, Francis Pugh
1789 " " " " " "
1790 Francis Pugh David Stone, David Turner
1791 Jasper Charlton David Stone, William J. Dawson
1792 " " David Stone, Tristam Lowther
1793 " " David Stone, John Wolfendon
1794 John Wolfendon Jonathan Jacocks, David Stone
1795 John Wolfendon Jonathan Jacocks, John Johnston
1796 Timothy Walton George Outlaw, John Johnston
1797 Francis Pugh George Outlaw, J.B. Jordan
1800 John Johnston Joseph Jordan, Thomas Fitts
1801 Jona Jacocks Henry K Peterson, Joseph Eason
1802 George Outlaw James W. Clark, Henry Peterson
1803 Henry Peterson James W. Clark, James Tunstall
1804 Joseph Jordan William Cherry, Joseph H. Bryan
1805 " " " " " "
1806 George Outlaw Prentis Law, Joseph Eason
1807 " " Joseph H. Bryan, Joseph Eason
1808 " " " " " "
1809 Joseph Jordan " ", Geo L. Ryan
1810 George Outlaw George L. Ryan, Thomas Speller
1811 " " David Stone, William Sparkman
1812 " " " ", " "
1813 " " Timothy Walton, Whit H. Pugh
1814 " " William Sparkmen, Whit. H. Pugh
1815 Wm Sparkman Wm H. Pugh, Jonathan Jacocks
1816 Wm Sparkman Simon A. Bryan, J.H. Jacocks
1817 George Outlaw Thos L. West, J.H. Jacocks
1818 Thos L. West William Hinton, Joseph Jordan
1819 Wm Hinton Geo. B. Outlaw, Simon A. Bryan
1821 George Outlaw Robert C. Watson, Thos Brickell
ALHN - North Carolina