The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-04-08
H. SCOTLAND NECK, N. G.. THURSDAY, APRIL 8. 1897
HCuMox
ENFIELD AS 1T WAS
The Town as it Now is.
APLEAsNG PICTURE OF WHAT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT SHALL BE-

The different sections of the Soutl
offer attractions to men of all classe
and conditions, and that man is indeet
short-slghted who would claim that hl
section possessed all and that other sec
tions possessed none.
Today we have to speak of Enfield
a pretty growing town in Halifax coun
ty, Immediately On the Atlantic Coas
Line railroad, within easy reach OF the
great commercial marts, and situated
in the middle of what is rapidly becom
ing known as the finest tobacco section
in the State.
While it is not our purpose in this
limited space to go into details of its
past history, yet it is only proper that
we should make briet reference to the
early settlement of the town.
As far back as 1853 Halifax county
which may not be generally known to
the present generation-derlyed its
name from the Earle of Halifax, was
formed from Edgecombe county, and
1t was In this year that the court house
for the counties OF Edgecombe, Gran
vile and Northampton was moved
from Enfield to the town of Halifax.
At the time of its removal it stood
upon the site familiarly known as
Spring Hill, and in the village of old
Enfield, all traces of which have been
leveled, and the new town built half a
mile southeast of the original location.
There is dim tradition that when
Gen. Tarleton, of Revolutionary fame,
passed through here he released the
prisoners confined in the jail adjacent
to the court house, but since written
history does not make mention of this,
we must accept the story with that res
ervation of faith which shall not suffer
our credullty to be imposed upon.
In the early days OF the town settle
ment, which was long before the war
Of the Revolution, there stood upon the
spot now occupied as Elmwood ceme-
terry, a noted tavern, or inn, of tragic
memory, for it is said more wickedness
and tragedies were committed there
than perhaps almost any place of Its
size in the State; and about this old
hoste!ry was clustered small hiye of
Industries, suited to meet the needs of
the citizens. There we're tailor, gun
and silver smith, wheelwright, cabinet
maker, and shoemaker shops. There
was one church, Methodist Episcopal,
the building very primitive, and after
it had served its purpose as house of
worship, was moved to the lot of pri-
vate citizen and used as kitchen.
Long years after the glory of the old
tavern had departed, it was pointed out
to strangers as one of the notable land
marks of old Enfield but soon after
the war it was accidentally destroyed
by fire, and thus passed away the re-
naming vestige that recalled the years
that have gone.
In the absence of certified record,
there is difference of opinion amongst
the present oldest citizens as to the Or
1gin of the name of the town. Some
say it was named by its first English
settlers in honor of Enfield, England,
while others as firmly assert that it was
so called from being built at the end OF
a field after survey of the country In
to districts made in Colonial days. The
former suppositlon is more probable,
and, In our opinion, certainly more ac-
ceptable.
1t was here that one John Coleman,
an Englishman, came and settled in
1881, and followed the trades OF gun
and siIver-smlthlng. He was an ex-
pert in both crafts, and we'll authentl-
Gated tradition says that he made and
the plates from which was
printed the bills of the first bank OF
North Carolina. The anvil on which
the bank plate was forged is now in
possession of DIR. John BelIamy, a prom
inent resident of Enfield. Several fam
lilies in the community still have silver
spoons made by Coleman, with his
name engraved thereon. However un-
savory a reputation Coleman may have
had, he was thrice married, each time
marrying a widow. His first wife was
a Mrs. Onion, his second Mrs. Leek,
and his third wife was such virago,
he said she was a "Plllgarllc".
Amongst the early native residents
Of old Enfield was one of North Carroll
mas most illustrious sons, Gov. John
Branch, who sprung from true revolu-
tiopary stock. He represented HALIFAX
county in the House OF Commons
number of years, was once Governor OF
the State, and in 1843 was appointed
hv the President of the United States,
Governor of Florida. and served two