The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1923-02-02
HOW THE CITY
GOT ITS NAME
Was First Named Elizabeth
in Honor Former Owners
Wife.

Tie mystery Of how Elizabeth City
got its name is cleared up at last
and a suggested stain Of dishonor is
removed from the skirts of the
roman for whom It is named. Eliz-
abeth City was named, neither for
Queen Elizabeth Of England, nor the
keeper of bawdy house in North
Carolina, but for an estimaple woman,
the wife CT Adam Tooley, who orr
ginally owned the site on which the
town was created.
No sooner had the accounts of some
who thought they knew how the city
got is name appeared in print, than;
Gcrscy Wuliams, Constable and
Candy Marker on Martin Street, dug
up some certified reports from the
Secretary Of tie State Of North Caro-.
lima, which quoted Laws enacted l2s
years ago, giving hte authenic iis'
tory OF Elizabeth City, and how it
cot its name, % Wit:
an l793, It having been represent
ed to the General Assembly of North
CAROLINA that the establishing OF a
town at the Narrows Of pasquotank
River, in the county Of Pasquotonk on
the lands of Adam Too,ey, would be
conducive to the welfare of the coDn-
ty aforesaid, and OF public utility;
and the said Adam Tcoley and his
wife, Elizabeth Tooley, having signi-
fed their consent to the same: 1t was
therefore enacted 6y the General
| Assembly, that John Lane, Isaac
Sawyer, Timothy Cotter, Bailey Jack
son and Benjamin Jonee, be appoint
cd Commissioners and Directors, to
seize 80 acres of land for the purpose
Of making a city, the name which
was to be Redding."
The ground was agreed to be laid
OF in half-acre lots on the back
ground and quarter-&cre lots on the
water, at such price as the said com.
missioners might think proper; the
streets to be not less than sizty-six
feet for the. front principal streets,
and not less than tnirty-three feet In
width for the side and cross streets.
In 1894, it having been signified to
the General Assembly, that it was the
former proprietor and the Commis-
sioners of the town OF Redding, that
the name should be altered from Red
ding to Elizabeth, the General Assem-
bly, passed the act, amending the orr
ginal bill. and giving the town the
name Of Elizabeth town.
Thus indicating that the request OF
Adam. Toolcy grew out of q desire
to do honor to the name Of his wife.
In 1893 bill was passed in the
General hssemiy to build a court
house, pillory and stocks at Elizabeth
town. the said courthouse to he rot
less than 25 feet wide, and 80 feet
long. And when the courthouse should
be completed in Elizabeth town, the
commissioners were empowered to
sci! the courthouse, pi;iory and stock;
at Nixonton. in the same county
where court had previously been held
In 1891, the following act was pass
ed: Whereas. considerable ircon-
vcnicnce i3 found 10 arise from there
being more than one town IN this
state ot the same name. Be it en-.
acti that thG
name Of Elizabeth town in the County
of Pasquotark shall be known arc
DISTINGUISHED By the name Of Eln'
abcth City; ard Elizabeth town IN the
county Of Tyrcli shall be known by
the name of Columbia" In this wise
Columbia lost the name with which il
first started as a town. It is saie
that Columbia was originally knoEf
as Hearts Delight Plantation"