The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-07-11

Ia EHSl ' " l"D1NN
~ Johnston situated at the
~ mouth of Cape Fear
~ river which emOr-
ates this interesting
- spot as the first fort
erected in tire Province of North Caro-
lima" in 1916. The Danes are in er-
ror. however. in claiming priority of
Qualifications for the Cape Fear sec
ton. rich though that delightful region
is in historic memories and places,
The pioneer settlers in the Province
of North Carolina erected and n
fortification many years in of
17i6, the date Of Fort Johnston. In
fact. the records show that both Fort
Hyde and Fort Reading existed as
early as 1872, and that they gave the
best military protection to the inhab-
itants that those times could afford.
In proof of this statement, the fol-
lowing extracts and authorities are
cited:
AS early as I'LL, before that time.
Fort Reading, on the south side of
PamlicO River, nearly opposite Bath
Town. was 6 as a garrison
and trading post. Hawks History, vol
II, p. 27O, mentions the plantation of
Lion~l Reading and his son, Churchill,
as one of the original trading posts es-
tablished by law for Bath county to
protect the settlers from the unscrupu-
lous bartering Of tradesmen from New
England and other places. Hawks
gives as his authority the early manu-
script laws, still in existence at that
date. The grant Of land to Lionel
Reading bears date 1901.
Furthermore, in the Colonial Rec
ords Of North Carolina (Vol. l, p. S43)
is an account of a meeting of the gov
ernOr'S council held at the home of
Governor Edward Hyde. in Chowan,
May 9. 1872. This meeting was not
able for two things-first, as the oc-
Casion on which Hyde, after his many
difficulties, took the formal oath of
office. and proclaimed himself Gov
ernor of North Caro1ina-and secondly
in that he almost Immediately after
gave official name and legal status to
the first two forts in the Province of
North Carolina. The exact wording of
the act is as follows:
The Board, taking into cOnSidera-
ton the imminent danger the inhabi-
tants of this government still lies I'M
der from We Indians, especially those
OF PamlicO and Muse, wherefore, it is
ordered by this board tina a
er and thirty men be constantly kept
in We fort at Cove ToWne (spelled
also Core Towne) called Hyde Fort
until further order, and that ten men
be constantly kept at We garrison at
Mr.. Readings on Pamticough river as
a barrier and safeguard to We nhab-
ftants on and about those two rivers,
and that they observe and follow such
instruction and orders as they shall
receive from time to time from We
Honorable Governor"
This language Officially creates Hyde
Fort and the garrison at Readings,
and conveys the idea that q garrison
or fortif1catiOn of some kind had been
previously constructed at those points.
The account continues thus: This
board taking to their serious con-
sideration We great want Of
ammunition as well to pros
ecute ye war against We In
dams as to maintain ye garrison ap-
pointed for a safeguard to ye county
Of Bath, and for as much as We as
semble cannot possibly meet time
enough to consult of and assent to
such measures as may be thought fit
to supply We present necessity therein,
1t is ordered by this board that the
Honorable Governor be hereby en-
powered to make such contracts on
behalf Of We country with any person
In Virginia, or elsewhere, as he shall
think necessary and that he max re-
next assembly"
Baron de Rraffenreid. in his recount
OF those sad days, says that up to this
time they Ohe settlers) did not build
even the poorest fort for safety ) 3 >
but instead every one pretended TO
keep and defend his own house. Col
Reel. 948.) However. the inhabitants
had just received a severe object les
son in the fearful massacre of the
whites on Pamfico and Neuse rivers
in September. I'LL. a few short
months previous to this meeting of the
Governors Council consequently. i'm
mediate action was taken as to the
1orts. Unfortunately the death OF
Governor Hyde occurred shortly there
after. September s, 1712.
After this, Thomas Polloc was
made President of the Council and in
his report to the Governor of South
Carolina Colonial Records, Vol. T.. D.
SSz) he says we are greatly in want
OF had it not been for
those barrels of powder. twenty barrels
or shot. twenty guns you sent Governor
Hyde. We should nave been quite with