The banner-enterprise., 1883-09-06
HISTORICAL.
North Carolina in the Olden
Times.
Religion, Character of the people, Trade,
Manufactures, schools Sc, in Ante
Revolutionary Times.

icfiSioh, character OF the people. Ifaue
Manufactures, schools &C., in Ante
Revolutionary Times.
From Wintcrbotham's History, published in 1905
RELIGION AND CHARACTER.
The western parts of this State,
| which have been settled within the last
forty years, are chiefly inhabited by
Presbyterians from Pennsylvania, the
descendants of people from the north
OF Ireland, and are exceedingly at
tached to the doctrines, discipline and
usages of the church of Scotland.
They are regular, industrious people.
Almost all the inhabitants between the
Catawba and Yadkin rivers are of
this denomination, and they are in
general we'll supplied with a sensible
and learned ministry. There are inter-
spersed some settlements of Germans,
both Lutherans and Calvinists, but
they nave very few ministers.
The Moravians have several flourish
ing settlements in this State. In 1751
they purchased of Lord Granville one
hundred thousand acres of land, be.
tween the Dan and Yadkin rivers,
about ten miles south of Pilot noun
tain, 10 Surry county, and called it
WachoVia, after an estate of Count
Zlnzendorf, in Austria. In 1855, this
tract, by an act of Assembly, was
made eparate parish by the name of
Dobb's parish. The first settlement,
called Bethabara, was begun in 1853
by number of the brethren from
Pennsylvania, in very wild, unin
habited country, which, from that time,
began to be rapidly settled by farmers
from the Middle States
Ia 1859, Bethany, regular village,
was laid out and settled. la 1766,
Salem, which is now their principal
settlement, and nearly in the center of
Wachovia, was settled by collection
OF tradesmen. The same constitution
and regulations are established here
as in other regular settlements of
the united brethren. Besides, there
are in Wachovia three churches, one
in Friedland, one in Fficdburg, and
another at Hope, each of which has a
minister of the brethren's church.
These people, by their industry and
attention to various branches of manu-
facture, are very useful to the country
around them.
The Friend or Qaakers, have
settlement at New Garden, in Guiltord
county, and several congregations at
and Pasquotank The
Methodists aud Baptlsts are numerous
and increasing. Besides the denomi-
nations already mentioned, there is u
very numerous body OF people IN this,
and in all the Southern States, who
cannot probably be classed with any
sect of Christians, having never made
my profession of Christianity.
The Inhabitants of Wilmington,
Newbern, Elenton, and Halifax dis
.ricts, making about three-fifihs OF the
State, once professed themselves Of the
Episcopal church; the clergy in these
llstricts were chiefly missionaries, and
n forming their political attachments,
1t the commencement of the late war,
personal safety, or real interest, or
perhaps a conviction of the impolicy
If oppos ng Great Britain, from
whence they received their salaries, in
luced them almost universally to de-
.lare themselves III favor of the Brit
sh government, and to emigrate.
There may be one or two of the origi-
lal clergy remaining, but at present
hey have no particular pastoral charge;
indeed the inhabitants in the districts
lbove mentioned seem now to be
making the experiment, whether
can exist long in coun-
ry where there is no visible Christian
church; the Baptists and Methodists
lave sent number OF missionary
into these di trlcts, and
Ouuo Vi thSuh uhNC iui &c OOHbltSd
ions; it is probable, that one or the
,ther of these denomina ions, aud
perhaps both, may acquire consistency,
nd establish permanent churches.
The North Carollnians are mostly
planters, and live from half a mile to
hree and four miles from each other
n their plantalions;they have u plenti.
vi country, no ready market Tor Their
no luce, little intercourse with stran-
ers, and a natural fondness for society.
7bich induce them to be hospitable to
trangers.
The general topics of conversation
mong the men; when cards, the bot
e, and occurrences Of the day do not
ltervene, are negroes, the prices OF
ldigo, rice, tobacco, &c. They appear
, have little taste for the sciences.
'olitical inquiries and philosophical {
isQuisitions are attended to but by a /
Nv men of genius and industry, and 6
re too laborious at present for the