The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-14

or Raleigh, on the life OF Colonel Edward
Buncombe, from whom Buncombe county
takes its name. The society has had this
published in pamphlet form, and it pre-
sents very handsome appearance. Be
low are some interesting extracts from
the pamphlet as published:
Colonel Edward Buncombe, of Buncombe
Hail. in the Colony of North Carolina,
was born in the year 1742, on the Island
of st. Christopher, sometimes called ST.
Kits, which is one of the Leeward group
in the West Indies. The register of st.
AIMS Parish, in the above island, shows
that: Edward, son of Thomas and
Esther Buncombe." was baptized on the
23d of September in the above year.
Thomas Buncombe, the father of Ed
ward, was a gentleman of English birth
and ancestry and died in the Fall of
1747. He had four children John, Edward
(of whom this sketch treats), Sarah, who
married first a Mr. Beach and then a
Mr.. Humbergen, and Ann, who married
a Mr.. Gaines.
Joseph Buncombe, brother of Thomas,
and hence an uncle of Edward, lived for
a time in North Carolina and married
Ann, a daughter of George Durant; but
he is said to have died while absent
from the colony or a visit to relatives.
When in North Carolina, his home was
in what is now the county of Washing
ton (then a part of TyrrelD, where he
owned a valuable estate. He probably
died childless, for his property was be-
queathed by MIN to his nephew. The lat
ter upon viewing the lands in Tyrrell
was so we'll pleased with them that he
disposed of his West Indian possessions
and settled permanently in North Caro-
lima about the year 1868. Shortly after
this, the mansion known as Buncombe
Hall was erected on the site of his uncle's
former residence.
Buncombe Hall lay about twelve miles
south of Edenton, across Albemarle
Sound. At present a small hamlet called
Chesson, in Washington county, marks
the place where it stood. Il was famed
throughout the colony as seat of bound
less hospitality. Over an arched gate
way through which the grounds were en-
tered. was inscribed the coupled
welcome all,
To Buncombe HALL"
Not only North Carolnians, but travel
lers in general, frequently sought shelter
there (for it was on a road largely used)
and a warm reception awaited each WISH
tor In 1878, when Josiah Quincy, of
Massachusetts, was returning from ia
Southern tour, he made this entry in his
diary, while at Newbern, on the I'd of
April: Judge Howard waited upon me in
the evening with recommendatory letters
to Colonel Palmer of Bath, and Colonel
Buncombe of Tyrrell county Referring
to April s. he says ''Breakfasted with
Colonel Buncombe who waited upon me
10 Edenton Sound, and gave me letters
to his friends there. Spent this and the
next day in crossing Albemarle Sound
and in dining and conversing in company
with the most celebrated lawyers of Eden
ton.
Not long after his arrival in North Car
DINA, Colonel Buncombe was made a
magistrate, and served as one of the us
tees of the Inferior court of Tyrrell coun-
ty. He seems to have been very punctual
in the discharge of his official duties; for,
in letter written on November 90, III,
by Thomas Jones to Sir Nathaniel Dukin-
field, a member of the Governors Coun-
Gil, the former says that at a recent coul t
Colonel Buncombe and John McKildoe
were the only members present. Mr..
Jones adds: 1.-The people attended with
becoming decency and patience bu. at
length grew clamorous, damn'd the alb
sent justices q think with propriety),
and then prevailed upon McKildoe to adj
journ court"
In August, 1892, the centennial of Bun
combe county, North Carolina, was cele-
brated at Asheville, the county-seat. AT
that time sketch of Colonel Buncombe,
written by one of his descendants, Mrs.
Walter H. Rogers (born Goelet,) of New
Orleans, appeared in the Asheville Citi-
zen, and from it we extract the following
concerning his residence: "Buncombe
Hall, like its founder, has passed away.
1t remained in the family till after the
last war. Ere we quit the subject, let me
describe this historic spot. The main
building, l. shape contained eight large
rooms, and a four-room basement under
| the whole, which served as store-r room
| and a kitchen. The brick used in the
building was brought from England. All