The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-10-31
TOMBS OF THREE
GOVERNORS
ON THE BANKS OF TRENT RIVER
A Locality Full Of Historic Interest

/
A Locality Full Of Historic Interest
A. E. Stevens in Raleigh Post
/ Two and half miles from Ne,
Berne, on the opposite banks of Tren
river, are the tombs of three Governor
OF the State of North Carolina-Gov
ernor Abner Nash, Governor Richart
Dobbs Spaight and Governor Richar,
Dobbs Spaight, his son. The last rest
Ing place OF the three Governors i
little visited and almost unknown, ani
their tombs are perishing in decay
Yet they were men famous In thel,
day and generation. The surroundins
fields are among the most historic IL
the country they contain lasting
marks OF great epochs in the nations
history. The mound builders left thell
monuments upon it, the dams of the
early Swiss colonists are in the creekt
and three grim earthworks of the civil
war recall our fratricidal struggle.
Let one drive across Trent rive,
bridge, past the shanties and saw mills
OF James City, and there lies before
him several thousand acres Of cleared
land, extending from Trent river to
the woods on the south. The road is
very sandy and only small portion of
the land is cultivated, and that in a
half hearted way by negro tenants on
shares. Wire grass thrives in the
scanty soil, but there are wild flowers
also. 1t might seem desolation to
some, but to him who has eyes to see
there is rare beauty in the wide land
scape, the bright blue sky and the
Wide Trent Howl o In its reedy banks.
In the old days all these barren fields
were cultivated plantations, titled by
the labor of the slave.
Between the sandy road and the
banks of Brice's creek, which flows
parallel with, before entering into,
Trent river, is seen a dense clump OF
trees. A way has to be pushed through
The dense growth of fringing brushes,
and there, under several aged trees,
brick tomb is found. It is twenty
Feet In length and fifteen in breadth
and about ten feet high, with a curv-
ng roof. The whole was once covered
With plaster, now dropping away. In
he front is a clean, white marble slab,
wo by four feet. inscribed "Gen. Rich
lrd Dobbs Spalght." In this brick |
epulchre were placed the bodies of the
wo Governors, father and son. The
'lder Spaight was the first native Gov
rnor of the State and the younger
'palght was the last Governor to be
lected by the Legislature and not by
he people. The elder served in 1892,
he younger in 1885.
There is great mystery hanging
yer this curved sepulchre of brick,
nth its staring white plate of marble
nd its moss streaked sides for no man
knows its contents. When
II these fields and woods were filled
nth Northern soldiers, and the moat
earthworks near by COM
landed with its guns the river Trent,
strange thing Is said to have occurred.
he tomb of the Spaights had been
pened and the leaden cof1ins seen.
'eath came to two high officers OF the
ederai force, and the bones OF the
ing time dead were cast into the
ear by waters of Brlce's creek and the
offins preserved the remains OF the
rangers to be carried North by the
ederaI fleet. Tbls is the story as
Id and believed today, but the walls
the tomb are now solid and seeming
untouched and tell no tale.
About mile to the westward, some
stance from the trayelled road but
ose to the river bank, is another ,
ump of trees. It is hard to force a
ay in on account of the vines and
.ambles, and there is not much to
q, for the last resting place of Coy
nor Nash is indicated only by brick
all, nearly even with the ground, two
les OF it's former square remaining.
be tomb was destroyed during the
ar, how or why is unknown. There
nothing to Indicate whether the re-
aims were removed or now rest below {
9 surface of the ground. There is
, monument to mark the grave OF {
Q second Governor of the State,
Governor of the year s
80, who served his people with no 7
,all danger to himself. A huge
ulberry tree oyershadows the place, .
epe myrtle, mlmosa and china trees
anted long ago still survive. An In
ribed plate from the tomb is said to !,
in existence, but it cannot be traced.
When these barren fields were we'll
led plantations large brick houses y
nod close to the river and remained
!, tn the time of tho war, when they