Bertie County, North Carolina Genealogy Road Trip

Jonathan Jacocks letters to and from family in Haywood County, TN, 1732 - 1908, archived in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

26 Jun 1758 letter from Penelope Johnston to her brother. Archived in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Located in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is this reproduction of the early 19th-century library at Hayes Plantation, located in Edenton, N.C.Collection of books includes nearly 2,000 volumes with imprints dating from the late 1500s to the 1860s. Library begun by Samuel Johnston and his brother, Gabriel Johnston. Samuel left the library to his son, James C. Johnston.

Located in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is this reproduction of the early 19th-century library at Hayes Plantation, located in Edenton, N.C.Collection of books includes nearly 2,000 volumes with imprints dating from the late 1500s to the 1860s. Library begun by Samuel Johnston and his brother, Gabriel Johnston. Samuel left the library to his son, James C. Johnston.

Located in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is this reproduction of the early 19th-century library at Hayes Plantation, located in Edenton, N.C.Collection of books includes nearly 2,000 volumes with imprints dating from the late 1500s to the 1860s. Library begun by Samuel Johnston and his brother, Gabriel Johnston. Samuel left the library to his son, James C. Johnston.

Located in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is this reproduction of the early 19th-century library at Hayes Plantation, located in Edenton, N.C.Collection of books includes nearly 2,000 volumes with imprints dating from the late 1500s to the 1860s. Library begun by Samuel Johnston and his brother, Gabriel Johnston. Samuel left the library to his son, James C. Johnston.

Historic marker for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Edenton, N.C.

Historic marker for Samuel Johnston, brother of Gabriel Johnston.

Headstone of T. S. Tarkinton, son of Daniel D. and Tempe Tarkinton Apr. 24, 1858 - Mar. 1, 1879

Located at 100 West Church Street in Edenton, North Carolina, St. Paul's Episcopal Church is North Carolina's second oldest church building. In addition, it is the oldest church building in the state that is still being used regularly. Under the provisions of the Vestry Act of 1701, St. Paul's was the first parish in the colony to organize.

The churchyard of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Edenton, N.C. was begun in 1722, when Edenton became the capital of North Carolina. Because of a lack of stone along the coast, tombstones were rare and costly. Markers of brick or wood gradually weathered away. The churchyard is not crowded today because many of the 700 known graves are not marked. Buried in the cemetery is Charles Eden, Penelope Golland Johnston. Gabriel Johnston and others from my family line.

"This building begun A.D 1736 and first used in A.D 1760. Is the third church of St. Paul's Parish Chowan Precinct, Edenton. The first, A.D. 1701-02, stood a mile hence on the sound side. It was the first church building in North Carolina. The second was built in A.D. 1708."

My likely ancestor, Penelope Johnston was one of the 51 women who participated in the Edenton Tea Party in 1774.

Chowan County Courthouse, Edenton, N.C.

Home in which the Edenton Tea Party took place. It was moved to this location many years ago.

Erected in June 2001, this large marker replaced four older markers, all of which were scrapped when construction began on the US 17 bridge across the Chowan River. Included on the sign are many references to my likely ancestors, Gabriel Johnston, Penelope Golland and her stepfather, Charles Eden. Located along US 17 at Chowan River bridge east of Windsor, N.C.

The approximate location of Eden House in Bertie County, N.C.

Bertie County, N.C. water tower

Capeharts Baptist Church was the church of many of my Bertie County ancestors who left North Carolina to settle Haywood County, Tenn. in the early 1830s. The church was started on December 10, 1824, with 74 charter members who had taken letters of dismission from other churches. Included in the list of charter members is John and Zilphia Spruill Castellaw, my fifth great grandparents.

Stained-glass window in Caprharts Baptist Church dedicated to J.F. Cobb, 1855 - 1912

Inside Capeharts Baptist Church

Primary stained-glass window in Capeharts Baptist Church dedicated to the memory of Rev. W.P. Jordan, Rev. Thomas Hoggard, Rev. Joseph W. White and Martha A. White.

Capeharts Baptist Church

Cemetery at Capeharts Baptist Church

Field of sage in Bertie County, N.C

Capeharts Baptist Church, Bertie County, N.C.

Alex in a field of sage in Bertie County, N.C.

Me in a field of sage in Bertie County, N.C.

Field of sage in Bertie County, NC

Field of sage in Bertie County, N.C.

Field of sage in Bertie County, N.C.

House in Bertie County, NC

House in Bertie County, N.C.

Colerain Baptist Church in Bertie County, N.C. It was organized in 1780 in Wiccacon, located about four miles from Colerain. Several of my ancestors were members of this church before leaving to begin Capeharts Baptist Church.

Colerain Baptist Church, Bertie County, N.C.

Colerain Baptist Church, Bertie County, N.C.