Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-22
UNwRITTEN HISTORY.
Real Estate in North Carolina Yet
Owned by the Blush CrOan.
Raleigh News, April4.I


Raleigh News, April4.
About three miles from Louisburg. the
county seat of Franklin county on the
main stage road leading to the town of
Franklinton, is an old structure, anti
quated in style, and but for its beautiful
location, and evidences os careful pres
ervation, would never attract the eve of
the traveller. Yet there is something in
the old appearance Of the building.
with its ancient hip roof dormer win
dows, and general oldeu-time surround
ings that inspires into an observer a de-
sire to know something of its history.
We were travelling to Louisburg court
in company with the Hon. T. G. Fuller,
OF this city Ia native of that county,,
and passing the old "Porterage (the
time-honored name Of the old home
stead, we casually interviewed this gen.
tleman on the subject, and during the
week interviewed several old citizens on
the same subject in Louisburg.
The land upon which the old Porter
age stands was the original grant to the
great great grandfather of Colonel W.
f. Green, Of Franklin, whose present
plantation is part o! the original tract.
The building WAS erected many years
before the Revolution from solid heart
cypress timber hauled from the lower
Roanoke river Every piece of the orig
inal timbers are as yet sound, with the
exception Of the shingles, which have
been often replaced At the death of
Mr.. Jefreys, the original owner, soon
after the Revolution, the old Porterage
changed hands A question Of title
arose during the life time of the second
owner, and suit in chancery instituted,
which lasted during the lifetime of the
party owning, The third owner inher-
tied the suit, which clung to him through
life. So it was through several succeed
ing generations, and the old Porterage
suit became more famous than the Jarn-
dyce VS.. Jarndyce in Dickens Bleak
House" 1t is, however, strange, but
nevertheless true, that during the pro-
gress of the litigation, in which the best
families in the country took part, there
was never known to be the slightest en-
nifty created by it, or was it even men,
toned in the social gatherings of the
families engaged.
But through all the mutations and
vicisstudes Of the Porterage, the old
church that stood across the field from
the dwelling, surrounded by a grove Of
virgis oaks, remained sacred from the
ak Of the occupant. The church rotted
down piece by piece, and all that now
indicates the spot where it once stood is
the few giant oaks and dense under
growth on little knoll in full view of
the public road. HJH VIaI
The church was built by the Elder
Jeffreys and by him decided to the Crown
of England. 1t was the established
church of England and therefore she
Government retained possession of its
church property. In the course Of the
subsequent litigation, it was observed
that this property was not embraced or
recognized in the general confscation
act. No future owner could possibly
secure title; our Government never
took possession to transfer the title, and
to-day it is still the property Of the Eng.
lish Government, as it has the only deed
for the land. a.io
There are many interesting traditions
of the old Porterage and church that
would make an Interesting chapter in
the unwritten history Of the State, and
we would be glad to see some of our
Louisburg friends at the task, And we
know Of no subject more prolific for the
basis of a story, that some Of our Losis-
burg ladies could so elegantly handle, as
the old church and Porterage. 3