BERTIE County    Historic  Old Mills

Contributed by Harry Thompson, Feb 1999.

Most of these mills were established under an old Colonial Mill Pond Law
entitled "An Act To Establish Mills" that said... "If anyone has a site
suitable for a mill and who fails to develope it, then anyone can come
in and build a mill and dam, operate it for two years free to the
public, then shall have all the land covered by the pond plus two acres
on the high land."  This act was designed to encourage mill development
and stop the outward flow of hard money to New England.  Balance of
Payments.  

Hoggards Mill.  Established in 1736 by James Castellaw, treasurer of
Bertie, and on whose land the mill, courthouse, jail, "whipping post and
stocks" were located.  Subsequently called Lockharts, Evans, and finally
purchased by William Hoggard circa 1800.  His home still stands there. 
Later became known as Mitchell, Mizelle and Steely's Mill, then
Mizelle's about 1900.  Has been in the Thompson family since 1928. 
Hoggard's name stuck from 1800 til now.  Twin Mills - saw and grist.
County Road passed through mills making two covered bridges.  I have
exhaustive research. 

Holly's Mill. Formerly owned by Agustus P. Holly and operated as Union
Mills.  Twin Mills - Saw and Grist. I have owned this one also and have
the research.

Craig's Mill.  Between the two schools - Bertie and Southwestern.  Owned
by Rev. A.J.M. Craig, who married a Gilliam and who was the father of
Governor Locke Craig.  This dam was the means of escape for the 62nd
Georgia Cavalry after the Battle of Windsor when the 125 man unit was
attacked by 1200 Union soldiers from Plymouth.

Outlaw's Mill.  Behind the Hawkin's Farm on Bull Hill Road on the upper
end of Will's Quarter Swamp.  Built by the son of Ralph Outlaw in early
times circa 1750.  My grandfather built a railroad across on the old
mill timbers circa 1900 and no one could remember it ever being used.
It too was owned by our family and I have some amount of data.

Rascoes Mill was a grist mill only.  It now constitutes a covered bridge
as the main county road once passed through it.  Thus Bertie has with
its three existing covered bridges, one half of all the six covered
bridges in the state.   It was originally established about 1778 by Colonel Thomas Pugh and sold by his heirs to John Mhoon in 1811 and by John Mhoon's son, James G. Mhoon, to John Peter Rascoe.

Ben Butts Mill was on Indian Creek, adjacent to "Snowfield, the early
home of the Bryans.

Burden's Mill is the big one David was talking about, and belongs to the
Spruill Family.


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