The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-02-13
EARLY HISTORY OF SCOTLAND
NECK
{ by Mr.. I. H. Smith)

There is always a certain romance
about the early settlers Of this country
and there is a certain pride in all Of us
who tread in the footsteps Of
those hardy men of old, who by their
bravery and hardihood laid the foun
dation Of this great and progressive
nation.
Virginia claims her just need Of no.
toriety in the landing of the pilgrims
at Jamestown, and she points with COM
mendable pride at the many historical
happenings during colonial days, espec-
tally when same were recorded before
the civil war.
North Carolina, though not quite so
boastful, is also entitled to be written
in the legandry of states, and even
Fayetteville is patting her own back in
tablished college in commemoration
Of Flora Macdonald, the scottish girl
patriot, so why should not Scotland
Neck, whose very name rings with the
smell Of the heather, contribute her
mite of antiquity. Anyhow here is the
early history Of this section, so taken
from the records, which can be verified
by search Of the old deeds in Halifax
court house and in the Hall of History
at Raleigh, some being oiginal grants
from the Lords Proprietors and dated
back to 1879.
Lord Marine, Scotch nobleman was
the owner Of section of land III this
section known as the "Neck''. This
was about the year 1892, and eight
years later sold part Of this land, situss-
ted on the Roanoke river near to Buz-
card Point, to Marmaduke Nortieet, and
in the deed 1t was described as my
Scotland Neck Plantatlon,' wn1cn Is
the first time that Scotland Neck ap-
pears III the record.
AT Ine beginning OF Lne elghreenJn
century, prooapIy before The sale OF
land IVY LORD Marine 10 Mafmauuhe
Norlleer, d crown grant Was III Existence
giving 10 Nicholas 0mItn right anu oW-
+ norsnlp over large tract OF land Oh
the bouer OF Roanoke itlver, and this
property has been retained Ill the Smith
family, III direct descent IRON that TIME
to this, the present owner beng Mir. w
+. Smith, and it is upon this land can
be found the tomb OF Nicholas Smith
and his wife.
Another interesting and historical fea-
ture connected with this plaration is
that hereon can be found one OF the or
iginai negro slave cabins, the wood for
which was hand sawed, and the ends
dovetailed, and put together without
nails or bolts OF any kind.
AS far back as 1882 there were set
tiers whose descendants are now resi-
dents of this part Of the county, these
being Nicholas Smith, William Wnlre-
head, Gray, Pope, Bishop, Nor1leet, Bel
Baker, Hill and Vaughan, and later, up
to the year 1910 appear the well known
names Of Kitchin, Bryant, Allsbrook,
Young, Barrow, Whitaker Foreman,
+ Cotton, Joyner Neims, Rawls, Hogan,
Sills, Harmon, Pender, Shields, Purring
ton and Whitnel.
In 1877 an acre Of land On Chapel
Run (Steptoes Mill run) was purchas-
ed as site Of an episcopal church, the
bricks for which, it was said, were
brought from England. Some Of these
bricks, used in the original church were
placed in the corner stone Of the pres
ent church by Richard H. Smith.
A colony Of Primitive Baptists, from
Nansemond county, Virginia, known as
the Kehukee Baptist Association, set
tied near Kehukee, and built a church
there, though this was not on the site
Of the present Kehukee church.