Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-19
How 20 Spell Newborn.
Nvw BSRSr. N. G., July 10, 1891.

To ne Eiiior Of he Dspn'ch:
For long time there has been debate
ne TO tho correct way TO spell the name OF
this city. IN
Main itself. and also explain why 1t should
he spelled Newbern. Xxx.
DEPARTMENT or INTERIOR,
Jjsrrrp STATES GEoLooiC,L SURVEY.
GEooRAPHIc BRANCH.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Juno 6. 1891
To he CITY Clerk:
Dear SRI find great uncertainty in
spelling the name Of your city. ~ IS
spelled Newbern, Ncwberne, New Bern,
New Berne. Ncwburn.
take the liberty Of appealing TO you TO
inform us "a fully as possible what the
usage Is in tho official documents OF the
CITY.
In case Won have information at hand
should be clad 20 know under what name
the city was chartered.
Very respectfully,
Henry GASNyrr.
Chairman Executive Committee on Geo.
graphical Names.
NEwngaS. n. c., June 10. 1891.
Henry Cannot. Esq., Chairman Ezecu'ioe
Committee, etc.:
Dear Sir,-Yours 20 our City Clerk has
boon handed TO me with the request that /
would reply 20 It.
From the earliest information that can
obtain up to the year 1862 the name of the
town was spelled Newbern. The name
under which 1t was chartered was New
bern. | send you bound copy of the
Acts OF the General Assembly published
IN 1898. by reference 20 it You will see the
laws passed by the General Assembly
which was then held at Newborn. N. c..
while under King George the II. and King
George III. In numerous places, i'll fact
all over the book, reference is made to the
town Of Newbern, ~ G. One among the
very first acts is in regard 10 Eewbern, N.
c.. dating back to 17l5. / send you o
copy Of the charter of The town OF New
bern, chartered by act Of General Assem-
bly, in 1928. A number Of amendments
have been made. but no change hes legally
been made in spelling Newbern. Eewbern
was settled and named in ITO. Incorpo-
rated 1928.
/ send YOU copy Of the acts of the
General Assembly held AT Edenton. N. c.,
George l., the 23d day Of November. 1923:
Whereas n certain plot Of ground was
formerly laid out into a township by the
name of Eewhern, Same is declared. con-
frmed. and incorporated into township
by the name of Newborn" In 1866, Gene
raj Assembly of North Caroline: THAT
the corporation heretofore existing as the
town of Newborn shall hereafter be estab-
lished and known a. the city of Newborn"
Refer to Hawkes. Report, supreme Court
of North Carolina, case Vestry of the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church of Newbern Us.
Trustees Eewbern Academy argued by
william CASTOR and John Stanly. all
through the case II ia Newborn. Judge
CASTOR aud Mr.. Stanly doubtless knew the
legal name of il. A large number of the
old citizens have always continued TO spell
1t Newborn.
In 1862 Newbern was captured by the
forces under General Burnside. At the
capture nearly all tho citizens left and the
town for three years was in the hands OF
the United States troops; a large number
of persons came to Newbern during the
war and went into business. The post
Office, 0nd every Office both town and
county, the banks. the newspaper, were
all in the hands Of those who had recently
settled here. The stamps at the post
Office were at this time changed from New
bern to New erne, tho newspaper was
headed New-Berne. the city and county
officers oil spelled it New-Berne. This
change was made bv comparative
STRANGERS without scintilla of law or au-
thority.
enclose You hand-bill lust issued by
our city authorities in regard to some or
finances, in which You will see that IN
few lines the name of the city IS spelled
Newborn, New Bern, New-Berne. TO the
eve of q stranger this must appear not only
inconsistent but ludicrous. Very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM II. OLIVER.
DEPARTMENT OF TIE INTERIOR,
UNITED STATES GroLoGICAL SURVEY,
GEOGRAPHIC BRANCH.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. june 80, 1891. }
William H. 0lirer, Esq, Ne,oJen, NJ C.:
Dear SRI have to acknowledge your
great courtesy iii furnishing me informa-
ton regarding the proper spelling OF the
namo Of your city, and particularly In en-.
trusting TO me volume OF the Laws OF
North Carolina Of 1893. ! have examined
the latter with interest and return 1t to
You and trust il will reach you safely.
The fact which you have given me will
doubtless lead the board TO the adoption
of the spelling of the name Newborn.
Sincerely yours. HENRY GANNErT,
Chairman Executive Committee on Geo.
graphical Names.