Hertford County, NC - Interesting Facts About Hertford County, NC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The birthplace of the National 4-H Club, originally called the "Corn Club," and was formed in Ahoskie, NC. _________________________________________________________________________ Chowan College, located in Murfreesboro, NC is the oldest Baptist woman's school in the state of NC. It was founded in 1848; originally named the Chowan Baptist Female Institute; its doors remained open throughout the Civil War and the Reconstruction. _________________________________________________________________________ Birthplace of Richard J. Gatling September 12, 1818; the inventor of the Gatling gun and of numerous agricultural implements. The Gatlings built the first flying machine, but were unsuccessful in getting it off the ground. The Gatling family lived in the Como area of NC. _________________________________________________________________________ William Murfree, an Irish Immigrant, gave the land surrounding Murfrees landing in 1787 to benefit the growing town. Murfreesboro still retains many of its charming old homes, remarkable architecture and large trees indicative of its 18th century southern charm and prosperity. The Murfree Home of the founder's family still stands in fitting tribute to Hertford County heritage. Murfreesboro, TN was named after William Murfree's son, Col. Hardie Murfree, a Revolutionary patriot. _________________________________________________________________________ General Lafayette, who left his home in France when he was 19 to aid the Colonist during the Revolutionary War was entertained in 1825 at the Indian Queen Tavern that once was part of the lovely resort atmosphere indicative of this area. Lafayette was the first Frenchman who chose independant of his country to risk his life fighting for American Independence. The United States Congress in 1777 commissioned Lafayette a Major General in the Continental Army, he proved to be a loyal and remarkable general. The two outstanding things about Lafayette is that he left his home in France to come to American to fight in a revolution in which the outcome would have no effect on his life in his Country, and he volunteered of his own accord - France did not offer him up nor were they involved in his getting here. Even though France had agreed to help up just about a year before, the French government was not involved in his decision to come here and fight with the Colonist. It is said that he wanted to see the Colonist succeed, but mainly he wanted to make his mark on the world as a military leader and gain notoriety. _________________________________________________________________________ Tobacco, naval stores, corn, pork, lumber and turpentine were shipped down the Meherrin River to the Chowan River across Albemarle Sound to the ocean and destination ports around the world. _________________________________________________________________________ William Byrd surveyed through the Hertford Co. area while dividing Virginia from North Carolina in 1728. _________________________________________________________________________ Rich Square, mentioned in a deed to Marmaduke Norfleet as a tract of land called the rich square in 1766, and was the home of a Friends Meeting House in 1758. Woodland was founded by Quakers - Cedar Grove Monthly Meeting House was established there. _________________________________________________________________________ Walter Reed (1851-1902), "Conqueror of Yellow Fever" married Miss Emilie Lawrence of Murfreesboro, NC. _________________________________________________________________________ Scotland Neck, in the bend of the Roanoke River has been an area rich in historical significance since 1722. The first settlers lived along the river but by 1800 they were farming up into the Piney Woods area to escape the malaria and other diseases associated with the river. _________________________________________________________________________ Congressman and Democratic Majority Leader Claude Kitchin and his brother Governor W.W. Kitchin who also served as a Congressman lived their lives and are buried just outside of town on US 258. _________________________________________________________________________ After the Stuart Restoration in England, Oliver Cromwell's (1599-1658)"Lord Protector" brothers John and Edward Cromwell, apparently fled to America (1675) changing their surname to "Crowell" to avoid persecution. After reaching NJ, the brothers later settled in the Scotland Neck area that is still called Crowell's Crossroads. _________________________________________________________________________ Winton formed 1759 (established in 1766) is the seat of Hertford County and is said to be named for the Wynn family of that area who gave the land for the Court House. The courthouse was burned down twice through the years, the first arsonist was a man named Wright Allen who was hoping to destroy a forged note that he thought was in the building that day in 1830. It wasn't, but the courthouse was destroyed. Mr. Allen was caught, tried and publicly hanged on the Court House grounds. The second burning occurred when the Northern troops gunboats shelled the town on February 20, 1862 and the troops that entered Winton succeeded in burning down the entire town. _____________________________________________________________________________ The Chelsea Porcelain Factory of European fame was purportedly established by the Marquis de Hertford in the 17th century. __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Marianne N. Ordway and Barbara N. Mulder ___________________________________________________________________