The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-29

land reaching from the northern
shores Of Albemarie Sound to the ST.
the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific ocean
a snali strip extending from the
north shore OF Albemarle Sound TO
the southern boundary OF Virginia
was not included ia this grant, but
nevertheless the lords proprietors, OF
whom Governor Berkeley, OF Virginia,
~as one ed control over this sec
ton. and In 1853 these noblemen au-
thorized Berkeley to appoint a gov
-rnor TO rule over this territory. whose
ownership WAS o disputed question
for several years.
In 1865 this Aibemarle region, as it
came TO be called, comprising the fpur
ancient counties. Currituck,
tank, PerQutMans and Chowan, had
become very valuable IN account OF
the rich plantations established there
IN hy sue men as George Durant. OF
PerQuimans, and Valentine BYRD. OF
Pasauotank, and the lords proprietors,
called. begged the king 10 include this
strip OF land in their grant. This
the king did, ignorant Of the asst eK-
tent OF the territory which he had
already bestowed uron the lords.
William Drunmond. whom Berke-
goyern this Albemarle country came
into Carolina In 1854 and assumed the
se1ns OF government. 10 assist him
In his arduous duties. tho lords au-
thoriaed Berkeley to appoint six Of the
most prominent men in the new set
slsment TO form what came to be
known as The governors council
This body OF men. with the governor.
acted for many yesrs as the Judicial
department OF state. and also CORE
sponded to what is now the Senate
chamber In our legislative department.
That the liberty loving pioneers In
Carolina might fee, that they were a
seif-goTerning people, every free man
ia the settlement was to have right of
membership In the General Assembly.
which was to meet yearly to enact h
Jaws. After the governor, council
1nrS and the freemen or their depu-
lies had passed the laws, a copy of
them vas to be sent TO the lords for
their consideration. Should they
meet with the approval OF the proprie-
tors they went into effect: il not, they
were null and void.
In the fall Of 1854. Governor Drum
mon began organizing the govern
xnent OF his new province. And on
February 9Th, 1865. h Grand As
senbly OF ~Albernarle," as these early
law makers styled themselves, met to
frame 81 set OF laws for this Albemarle
colony.
The place chosen for the meeting
al this first Legislative body eve as
senbled in our State. was a little
knoll overlooking Halls Creek, in
t'asquotank county. about a mile from
chartered nearly a hundred Year,
later.
no record OF the names Of the
hardy settlers who were present a
this Grand Assembly has been hand.
ed down TO US: but on such an i'm
~ Mt Snc.rfcr MA = n no ,x><. n q
All the prominent lnen ia the Abe.
fnAfie region h could attend woult
make it a point to do SO.
Governor Drummond and his aecre-
tAry. Thomas Woodward, were surel,
there: George DIrant. Samuel Prick,
love, John Harvey. all wner Of grea
plantations in PerQuimans. doubles
were on hand. Thomas Relfe. Tim
athy Riggs. Valentine Byrd, Solomon
Poole, all large landowners in Pas
auotank, must have been present
Thomas Jarvis, OF Currituck, and Tim
erhy Bigga. Of Chowan. may have rep
resented their counties. And all. tn
digniiied, reserved Scotch Reverno:
his naughty secretary. the wealthy. In
hRentai planters and the humbi
farmers and hunters must have Eel
the solelnnity Of the occasion an
recognized its Importance.
We may imagine he scene Cnde
the spreading boughs Of q lordly oal
this group OF men were gathered
Around them the dark forest stretch
ed, the wind m~urinuring among tn
pines, and fragrant with the aronlati
cdOr Of the spicy needles. AT a lit&l
distance. a group Of red men, sile1
and i~1nmovab1e, some with bow an
arrow in hand, leaning against tn
trees. others sitting on the groun,
Sazed with wondering eyes upon t.
p~ale-faces assembled for their Gr
great pow-Wow.
Down at the foo OF the knoll II
silver waters Of the creek ripple
softly against the shore, on its waite
The sloops OF the planters from Il
settlements nearby. here and there {
its S an Indian canoe moort
close to its shores.
AS 10 the work accomplished
this first Albemarle Assembly. on
q fact is certain, and that Is. Il
drawing up by the members of a p
tition to the Lords Proprietors. be
glnP that thaSn aaft1aru in roro1i,