Purchasers of town lots in Tarboro - Edgecombe County, North Carolina
In 1760, the town of Tarboro was established in North Carolina. The General Assembled selected the land of Joseph Howell on the Tar River. This location apparently served a rather large community or village up until the Revolutionary War.In 1772 an effort was made to give Tarboro representation in the Legislature, but Henry Irwin, the applicant, was not allowed to take his seat because the assembly alleged that the town did not have sixty resident families. (Colonial Records, Vol. VI, Prefatory Notes, page xxvii).
Rev. Francis Asbury (1745-1816), Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church spent 45 years visiting cities, villages and wilderness areas in North America, lefta journal of his ministerial activities. Thus, the following notation is of interest:
" Friday, December 9, 1796. We came to Tarborough.They had made a fire in the small apartment of the courthouse, and I thought it was for preaching, but it was for dancing, and the violin lay on the table. Mr. Clement was kind enough to stop the scene, and we had a serious congregation to hear, to whom I preached on Hebrew viii.9-11. There were two or three houses open to me in town, but I lodged three miles out at Brother Toole's."
" Wednesday, February 23, 1803. On Wednesday we rode through a very warm, weather-breeding day, twenty-two miles to Tarborough, and came in about half past two o'clok. Many came to the new church, and were attentive to hear, whilst N. Snethen preached upon 2 Cor. v. 18-20. I had strength to sit still today. We dined at Mr. Ryley's, and were kindly invited to lodge at the widow Toole's, the first which was opened to me in Tarborough. There are in this place about thirty-five families; the people have more trade than religion--more wealth than grace. We have about thirty Africans in fellowship; but no whites. I may notice the bridge; it is 540 feet long, and about thirty feet above the water."
The account of Tarboro by Dr. Jeremiah Battle in 1810 "It is forty eight miles west by north from Washington, thirty-six south of Halifax, eighty-three northwest of Newbern, and sixty-eight east of Raleigh. It was laid off into lots in the year 1760. The streets are seventy-two feet wide, and cross each other at right angles, leaving squares of two acres each. These squares being divided into half acre lots, makes every lot front or face two streets. There are about fifty private houses in it; and generally from fifteen to twenty stores, a church, a jail, two warehouses, and a large Court House, which in the year 1785 was used for the sitting of the State Legislature. There are several good springs adjacent to the town, but for culinary purposes, almost every person or family has a well; and some of these wells afford good water the greater part of the year. This place affords good encouragement to all industrious persons, particularly merchants of almost every description. Sixty or seventy merchants have had full employment here at one time. But such of them as have emigrated to this place have too soon found themselves in prosperous situations, and have betaken themselves to idleness and dissipation...."
The following is a list of the purchasers of the town lots in Tarboro from the Commissioners Book 1760, which remained in the possession of Elisha Battle until his death:
Lot and Nos.
James Barnes 1,99Francis Kenner 1,19
Thomas Barnes 1,25
James Moir 2,73,48
John Scott 1,14
Benjamin Hart 2,85,80
Joseph Summer 1,26
Thomas Lenoir 2,66,9
The Reverend Thomas Burgess 2,54,55
James Casy (Attorney) 1,82
Robert 1,16
William Souther 2,101,63
William Foreman 2,62,89
JosephTurson 2,3,107
Joseph Gotten, Jr 1,74
Joseph Moore 1,102
John Watsman 1,119
Com. in care of William Williamson to Col. Alex McCulloh 1,65
Thomas Mills 2,43,17
Egland Haigwood 2,120,94
John Tanner 2,96,18
Geraldus Tool 1,110
Lucy Belcher 1,79
Dudley Whitakers 1,86
West Duck 2,81,88
Elisha Battle 2,78,45
John Linsey 2,64,6
Origin and Settlement 39 Lots
Michael Cotaunch, Jr 2Blake Baker 1
James Knight 1
Richard Goose 1
Andrew Little 2
Robert Hardy 2
William Mace 1
Jacob Carter 2
Thomas Harrison 2
Irwin Tool 1
John Agar 2
John Frost 1
Henry Irwin 1
John Gathings 1
William Haywood 2
Joseph Gotten 1
Lawrence Tool 1
John Gilchrist 2
Nicholas Long 2
Sarah Cotaunch 1
John Goodloe 1
James Gibson 2
Susanah Mead 2
Timothy Nicholson 2
Samuel Johnson 2
Walley Chauncy 2
William Kinchen 1
Batt Peterson 1
Robert Palmore 2
Rob Goodloe 1
James Williamson 1
Michael Cotaunchrist 2
JosephHarrel l2
JohnParris 2
JamesBraswell 1
Jacob Jones 1
John Balmore 2
Peter Johnson 1
Peter Copland 2
John Whitaker 2
John Durien 2
Thomas Goodson 1, No.40
Edward Fanning 2
Joseph Harrell 1
Source: The History of Edgecomb County, North Carolina y J. Kelly Turner and John L. Bridges, Jr.