Bertie County Plantations - Chowan River Abstracted from article by Mrs. Ruth Forbes White for 1966 meeting of Bertie County Historical Association. With the gradual migration of settlers (1658), overflowing from the Virginia Colony into the rich and fertile Albemarle region of NC, the lands along the Chowan Rivers and other waterways were the first to be taken up. These river highways were the earliest form of transportation, and many of these river holdings were originally grants from the Lord Proprietors. As these plantations grew in size, their owners built the plantation houses. Following the Chowan River down to where it empties into the Albemarle Sound were these plantations. COLERAIN and LAZY HILL In 1743 John Campbell, a Captain in the British navy purchased 8d00 acres of land on the west side of the Chowan River near Webbs Ferry. This ferry operated across Chowan River to Bandon in Chowan County. The settlement grew and Campbel named it Colerain after his hometown in Ireland. His beautiful estate he named Lazy Hill. Campbell had two sons, James and John An epidemic of fever broke out all along the river settlements. Many of the people died, others discouraged, moved away or farther inland. John Campbell moved to Halifax County near Weldon. When his estate was sold it was listed as follows: "One tract of land known as "Lazy Hill" lying in Bertie County on the west side of Chowan River, containing 800 acres. It is a beautiful situation well watered, on its premises are a good dwelling house, kitchen store, warehouse, workhouse, barns milk and meat house, stables. Together with a good shad and herry fishery, a good apple and peach orchard and two vegetable gardens." Campbell worshiped at St. Paul's Church in Edenton. It is said he was a loyal patriot, devoted heart and sout to the American cause. Sanders rates him in ability to Joseph Hewes. He was known as the leading merchant of the province. He served and represented Bertie County in the General Assemble in 1744, 1745, also 7154- 1760; again 176901775. He served in four provincial Congresses at New Bern in 1744- 45; Hillsborough in 1775 and Halifax in 1776. A large part of the Campbell property was sold to the HOLLEYs. JOSIAH HOLLEY once owned all of what is now Colerain. The first post office in Bertie County was at Colerain and JOSIAH HOLLEY was the first Postmaster in 1818. His sister, MARY HOLLEY, married WILLIAM ETHERIDGE, a sea captain from Roanoke Island. When Mr. Holley died he left their son, EDWARD ETHERIDGE, his Colerain property. The old HOLEY AND ETHERIDGE Cemetery is by the side of the house and is visible from the highway. It is well kept by the Etheridge family. Part of the Campbell and Holley plantation is now owned by MANLEY and JAMES WHITE. Their father, ESTUS WHITE, purchased the farm from JOSEPH SESSOMS in 1908. The Old Lazy Hill Beach is owned by Perry-Wynns Fish Company and Colerain Beach and Boat Club. =============== POINT COMFORT PLANTATION Named for its peaceful shore, this plantation is thought to be a part of the BROWNRIGG Estate. A land transfer in 1812 by SARAH BROWN, Widow of BROWNRIGG of "Wingfield" for tract of land known as Point Comfort is found in the Bertie County records. The price involved was $6,000.00. It was later sold to the HARDYs, then to Mr. THOMAS HOLLEY. His son, George M. HOLLEY owne this property. At his death, his wife, Mrs. Margaret HOLLEY and sons, Robert and Thomas, and daughter, Mrs. MOOD FARLOW became the heirs. They still own the farm and Thomas resides there. (1998 update. Old home is no longer there. Point Comfort is a beach on the river behind this home and is one of the prettier beaches along the Chowan.) ============= HARDY PLANTATION Records tell us the Hardy Family came to Bertie County about 1690. General Douglas macArthur is a descendant of this family, through his mother, Mary Pinckney HARDY. Hardy was a Sea Captain who established a trading post at Colerain for the barter of turpentine tar, pitch, staves, barrels and other commodities for the exchange of West Indies products. This successful business had much to do with the starting of the prsent town of Colerain where it now stands one mile from the River. LEWIS T. SMALLWOOD who acquired the ELLA E. HARDY tract, sold it in 1900 to LEWIS LIPSITZ. MRS. FRANK WHITE purchased the tract from Mr. Lipsitz in 1910. The heirs of Mr. Frank White now own the plantation and a daughter, Mrs. Perry lives in the old home. Two beach resorts, Perry and Whites Beaches are located in this estate. ============ LEARY PLANTATION The first LEARY family came from Ireland in 1665. They settled in Perquimans County, then in Chowan and in 1778 WILLIAM LEARY of Chowan County married LEAH FREEMAN of Bertie County. He obtained a grant of land in what is now the Powellsville area. In 1795 WILLIAM LEARY purchased from the STONE family, the present LEARY PLANTATION. Since that time members of the Leary family have owned and lived on this Estate. At one time it was said to contain 1800 acres. The old home was torn down in 1906 and a new one begun by the owner John Watson LEARY before he passed away in 1908. In this family there has been ministers, merchants, teachers, soldiers, leaders in government and always good farmers. The plantation is owned now by the heirs of JOHN WATSON LEARY; a grandson, U.S. HASSELL lives in the old home. His mother, MRS. BETTY LEARY HASSELL lives across the highway. A daughter, Miss HARRIET LEARY, owns the section where the slave graveyard is located. Just a few years ago a descendant of one of the slaves was buried in this graveyard. After the Civil War most of the ex-slaves continued to live on the plantation. A grandson of a slave, WILLIAM LEARY, has recently returned to NC where he spent a few days on the farm. He also flew to Charlotte to see TED LEARY. He write, "Since I left the Leary Plantation where my parents and grandparents were born, lived and died, I have kept in touch with the Leary Family." He left the farm to joing the US Army in 1912 where he became an officer of M Company, 24th US Infantry. He has been welcomed through the years as he visited the farm of his birth. =========== MOUNT GOULD Mount Gould was originally called MT. GALLAND for its owner PENELOPE GALLAND, step-daughter of Gov. CHARLES EDEN. It was probably builid in the late 1700's and added to at a later date in the 1800s. The old still standing was built in 1800 by George GOULD, at one time surveyor general of the Colony. The name was changed for the GOULD FAMILY; George Gould, Surveyor General of NC. . Later the plantation was purchased by THOMAS HOLLEY. Thomas Holley died in 1827 and his widow, CELIA HOLLEY, left Mt. Gould in trust to her brother-in-law, AUGUSTUS HOLLEY for her son, THOMAS, until he was 30 years old. Mr. Augustus Holley later became the owner and willed property to Mr. and Mrs. GEORGE WOMBLE. Holley descendants lived at Mt. Gould for four generations. The large old Mansion is still standing but has been stripped of its beautiful mantles, paneling, and molding. the JIM CULLIPHERS sold the property a few years ago to CHERRY TAYLOR. Mt. Gould is perhaps the best known of all the plantations. The beach, used as a big shipping center has also been known for its recreational facilities. The name Mt. Gould now applies to a large rural community which through the years has been a center of religious and educational facilities. ============= ASHLAND PLANTATION Originally owned by George POLLOCK from Halifax, it was sold to Thomas D. HOLLEY in 1832. It was acquired by his son, Augustine HOLLEY and at that time the plantation consisted of approximately 1100 acres. Augustus "Gus" started the present house in the early 1830's and completed it in 1840. It was constructed mainly by his own slaves and named for Henry Clay's home in Ashland, Kentucky. His wife, Martha, died 10 years before he did and he then married a widow with two children... Sallie D. Jernigan. Gus left it to his widow at his death. The Wayland MILLER heirs now own the plantation. They inherited from their mother's (Fannie H.) father, Perry HOGGARD who purchased the property March 4, 1911. The plantation was later divided into tracts of approximately 100 acres each. A map dated 1910, plat #7 consisting of 88 acres of the original Plantation and house is located in the Bertie County Courthouse, Book 163, pg 297. ================ WILLOW BRANCH This plantation received its name from a ravine bordered by willow trees. It was originaly owned by George Pollock of Halifax. In 1811 it was sold to Thomas Holley. Later Augustus Holley came in possession of the plantation and left it in his will to his nephew Thomas D. Holley. W.R. Lawrence purchased it from E.L. Gatling. It now contains 676 acres and belongs to Mrs. Lawrence. She lives in a charming modern home down at the landing. The original house is gone. ===================== BLACK ROCK The large black rock off shore in the river which served as a guide or land mark to sailors gave this place its name. It is said to have been originally owned by George Pollock of Halifax. Later it was owned by Augustus Holley who left it in his will to his niece Mary Isabell Woodley. She and Dr. Woodley sold the plantation to J.H. White and Estus White in 1899. Then Estus White bought out his brother. In 1940 Mrs. Estus White, sold the farmn to Mr. Boise of Edenton. It now belongs to William Bell and Dr. Jordon. The old home was destroyed but standing firm is the well-built overseers home. There was once a post office there and a private school. ================ EDEN HOUSE This historic place took its name from Governor Eden who bore the title of "Governor, Captain, General and Commander-in-Chief in and over his Majesty's Colony of North Carolina and Vice Admiral of the same." He received his commission from Queen Ann who died 6 months later and then served under King George. Governor Eden was born in England in 1663; was forty years old when he came to this country. Though Governor Eden had no children, his wife by a previous marriage was the mother of Penelope Galland, who owned Mt. Gould. Mrs. Eden died in 1716. Her daughter Penelope was married four times. Her second husband was John Lovick to whome Governor Eden left his plantaion and home when he died. Penelope's 4th husband was Governor Bariel Johnson, who made his home at Eden House. Their daughter and her husband John Dawson inherited the plantation. When Governor Eden died in 1722 he was buried at Eden House. In 1889 his body was moved as was Governor Gabriel Johnson's to St. Paul's Church Cemetery in Edenton. Augustus Holley purchased the plantation and left it in his will to his niece who married Demonsthenes Bell. It has been in the Bell family since that time. The home of Governor Eden, said to have been of brick, was destroyed by fire. It was noted for its "Refined Society" and "splendid hospitality". ===================== BALL GRA Thomas Pollock came to this country in 1683 as a deputy for Lord Carteret one of the Lord Proprietors. He settled in Bertie and called his plantation Ball Gra after his home in Scotland. Leslie Newsome says that Thomas Pollock of Bertie had 22000 acres of land besided 10 plantations. When Governor Edward Hyde (cousin to Queen Anne) came to Carolina in 1710 he accepted the hospitality of Thomas Pollock and the first assembly called by Governor Hyde met at Pollock's home. Governor Hyde fell victim of fever and died in 1712. Then Thomas Pollock was elected Governor. Four days afterwards war with Indians came but Bertie did not suffer as severely as some counties because of the friendship and influence of Governor Pollock with the Tuscarora Chief--Thomas Blunt. Augustus Holley obtained possession of Ball Gra in 1855, and it was left in the will to Mary Isabel Woodley who sold it to Dr. Wiliam Capehart who left it to his daughter Clara C. Harney. Mr. Steve Askew purchased it from the Harneys and left it to its present oweners, the Cooper Brothers. ====================== HERMITAGE PLANTATION Hermitage Plantation is on SR 1357, approximately 1 1/4 miles from jct with 1358. It is in the vicinity of Mount Gould on the Cowan River. The address is: Route 1, Merry Hill. The first known owner of the Hermitage property was Thomas Brownrigg, a merchant of Chowan County. In 1777 Brownrigg deeded to his sister, Sarah Brown, 925 acres on the west bank of the Chowan River with all "houses, outhouses, edifices, building, yards, gardens, orchards. [Thos. Browning to Sarah Brown. Book R/421. 14 November 1777] Possibly the Georgian coastal cottage forming the rear wing of the present house was one of the buildings on the property Sarah received from her brother. The house and land remained in the Brown family until 1802 when Joseph A. Brown sold 764 acrs on the West side of the Chowan River to George Reed, a planter of perquimans County for 3,890 silver dollars. [Joseph A. Brown to George Reed, 9 March 1902. Bk S/523] Reed was a prosperous Material from Eastern Archives Branch of N. C. Divison of Archives and History. =========== Named for Andrew Jackson's home in Tennessee. There is a recorded deed that Mary and John Poole sold 1450 acres to A. Wood Mebane. The old Mebane Cemetery with its marble monuments are across the present road from the home. The Mebanes sold Hermitage to Augustus Holley in 1869. The old mansion where Augustus Holley lived is still standing but most of its beauty was destroyed. It has a large basement in the rear, two stairways. Only one beautiful old mantle remains. The paneling, and the double front potrico has been removed. Two large magnolias cover the front yard. All together it speaks of a gracious past. Augustus' wife Martha died 10 years before he did. After her death he married Mrs. Sallie D. Jernigan, a widow with two children. Mr. Holley left his second wife the Hermitage Plantation. At her death her children inherited the plantation. It was later sold to Dr. Evans and Frank Gilliam. In 1929 W.R. Lawrence and Lallie Farless bought it. It is now owned by Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Farless." (Contributed by Sally Koestler-smkoestl@txcyber.com) About Physician --"Dr. Alexander Wood Mebane (1800-1847), son of William Mebane and Mary Wood of Orange County. He was liberally educated and graduated in Philadelphia (UP) as a physician. and settled in Bertie County on the Chowan River where he became one of the successful and enterprising men of that section. He was a man of unblemished reputation, faithful to every duty, active and energetic in every good work and enterprise. These qualities and abilities were duly appreciated for in 1829 and 1830, he was elected member of the House of Commons and in 1833, 34, 35, & 36 he was in the Senate. He married 27 Jan 1824 Mary Elizabeth Collins Howe (his first cousin) 1805-1855 a lady of fine estate by whom he had several children, one of whom (Mary E.) was the wife of the Hon. John Pool." from Wheeler's Reminiscences." Mary's father was Thomas Howe who married Elizabeth Wood (sister of Mary who married Wm Mebane) who was his admx. and she married 2nd William Sutton, her cousin. Mary was left the bulk of her estate by her grandmother in 1814 Mary Howe who was the widow of Alexander Howe died 1779. (land on the Chowan river where I now live, the boundaries known by deed from Pollock to How). Alex. Howe was styled a mariner in 1762 deed. (Capt. 1770) The deed above was Cullen POLLOCK of Bertie Co to Alexander How of same 15 Jan 1773. 500£ proc. 640 acres on south west side of Chowan River joining Willow Branch, the main road, John Johnston. 6 Jul 1771 James Moore sheriff of Bertie Co to Cullen Pollock of same. John Melvill & wife took judgment against George Pollock dec'd for 250 pounds sterling. Thus for 400£ 1 sh. proc. 660 acres joining Chowan River, Salmon Creek. So, now if that house dates pre 1773, it was built by the Pollocks. ================= PERRYTOWN Perrytown was the name of the plantation owned by John Perry II, who came from Nansemond County, Virginia in the early 1720s, when he bought his plantation on the Chowan River in present-day Bertie County, when the area was known the Chowan District of Albemarle County, North Carolina. Perrytown Plantation was adjacent to Colerain, which was owned by the sea-faring/merchant Campbell family. John Perry had brothers and cousins also residing in Chowan and Perquimans Cos. Perrytown had a landing on the Chowan River, at the end of present-day Perrytown Road. John Perry was a descendant of the Perry family of Devon, England, with his ancestor, Phillip Perry of ye Whitemarsh, coming from Glasgow, Scotland to Virginia in the early 1600s. According to Perry family documents, tobacco and cotton and rice were all grown at Perrytown. These products were eventually loaded on ships bound for the Perrys warehouses located at Chester Key (Quay) in London, England, as well as in Glasgow, Scotland and Cork, Ireland. The Perrys shipping/merchant firm was the world's largest exporter of tobacco from the American Colonies during the 1690s to the 1730s. While John Perry was living at Perrytown in Bertie County, his cousin Micajah Perry was elected the Lord Mayor of London for one term during the 1730s. The Perrys were close to other shipping/merchant/sea-captain families in America that had come over with the Perrys or had been associated with the Perrys in Great Britain, including the Arnolds, the Ballards, the Bennetts, the Bridgers, the Burwells, the Byrds, the Carters, the Hills, the Hutchinsons, the Jeffreys, the Lanes, the Morgans, the Robinsons, and the Warrens. Perrytown was owned by the Perry family from the 1720s until the late 1700s/early 1800s, when the land was subdivided and ownership was passed to Perry family descendants. Some of these descendants included the Stones and Robinsons, as well as Perrys. Perrytown, located on the west side of Chowan River in northeast Bertie County, included land holdings around Herring Creek and Eastermost Swamp, and bounded properties owned by Cullen Pollick, Benjamin Stone, Yeats, Mizzell, Pritchard, Hendry, and Campbell. At one time Perrytown Plantation contained several thousand acres. (Perrytown info Contributed by: zanedperry@hotmail.com Zane Perry)