The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-09-16
NEW BERNES FOUNDER.
BARON DEGRAFFENREID OF
SWITZERLAND.
The Trials and TribulatiOns Which
Pursued this Early Carolina Col
OuiSf

Pursued this Early Carolina Col
onist.
Col. w. L. Saunders, the indefatig-
able Secretary of State, has for some
time past been occupied in collecting
North Carolina's Colonial Records.
The last pages of the first volume
now being about completed contains
the narrative of Baron neGrafenreid,
which is not only interesting in itself,
but is valuable historical document,
throwing light on several obscure
matters of interest.
DeGrafenreid being at London and
intending to seek his fortune in Caro-
lima, there came to England about
10000 Germans and Swiss to provide
for whom the English authorities were
put to sore straits. & &
Although they were quartered all
through England, the supply was
greater than the demand, and it was
desirable to transport some of them
to the coloni as The baron seized the
opportunity and the Queen was per-
suaded to furnish transportation fol
colony and to bestow upon them in
addition $4,000 for necessary sup
plies
Thus DeGraffenreid sent out his
first colonists in January, 1710, to Car
olina, by way of the james River.
More than half of the number died ON
the voyage and many more soon after
landing in Virginia. The survivors,
in sad plight, made their way over
land to the Chowan river and thence
by boats to the present site of New
Berne, where Lawson, the surveyor,
located the grants to the baron, on
land then occupied by King Taylor
and his Indian tribe and called by the
Indians ''Chattawka.
The King was paid for the land
and the title was peaceful and quiet.
DeGrafenreid remained behind, but
followed in June, bringing over a com
pany of Swiss, who travelled with him
through Virginia and Carolina and
reached Chattawka in September,
That was about the beginning of the
Cary and Hyde troubles, of which an
Interesting although not an impartial
account is given by the baron, who
had a grievance against Cary because
he would not honor drafts drawn on
him for the benefit of the German col
onists. The Baron and his Palatines
apparently held the balance of power,
and throwing himself ON Hyde's side,
made Cary's cause hopeless. When
that disturbance was over, DeGrafen-
reid says that Lawson proposed to him
to 60 up the Neuse river to gather
grapes, to look at the country and see
ifa new and easier road could not be
opened to Virginia. They took with
them provisions for fifteen days, and
an Indian carried a horse along the
shore, while two negroes rowed the
boat.
1t was the second day out, towards
evening, that the Indian warned them
by disaharging his gun, that they
should stop. On landing they were at
once surrounded and captured. They
were conducted to the great Indian
village of " Cateckna" or "Hencocks-
town." where they arrived at 8 o'clock
in the morning.
AONaA 10 OfCAilAS, UuOAC WuS SICdG
assembly of Indians to discuss two
matters; First. Chow they should
avenge themselves for the rough deal
ings of few wicked English Carroll
mans who lived near Pamptego, New
and Trent rivers, and second, To
feel their way to the help which they
could expect from their Indian neigh
bors.'
At 10 o'clock at night, in the Gas
sembly Of the Great" consisting of
forty elders, presided over by King
Hencock, an examination of Lawson
and himself was had in solemn form,
and they set free. But the next day
it was had over again, and they were
condemned to death. The..baron then
gives at large narrowing account of
the Indian ceremonies attending an
execution-too long for us to print.
Towards evening the mob left oft
dancing and lit the fires and the baron
and Lawson prepared to die. But af-
ter all, the Indians reconsidered the
matter and referred it to King Blount,
and the next morning the baron was
again released and led away to cabin
but Lawson was kept for execution.
" As to his DEATH, says the baron, 81
know nothing. Some said he had his
throat cut-some said he was hung,
some said he was burnt
The Indian then went off and mas
sacred the colonists, on their planta
tions-and eventually DeGratfenreid
having made a treaty with them
agreeing to neutrality, and offering a
ransom, was on the eve of being sci
free, when a messenger arrived from
Gov. Spottswood, of Virginia, demand
ing his Immediate release, which wa:
complied with. After two days trave
the baron regained his settlement al
Nau Rarna Which bad 81, Harod horri