Historic Halifax

08/18/2024

Many of the place names in our area were taken from Native American words. Often these words were “Anglicized” or misunderstood as the Europeans settlers tried to write them down or translate them. For example, “ Roanoke” is an Algonquin word meaning “ "white beads made from shells" (or more literally "things rubbed smooth by hand"). The English used that word to name the island they first settled on and a river that flowed into the sound nearby. The Chowan River also is named after the Choanoke people, who also spoke Algonquin. Choanoke means “(people) at the south.” Several of our nearby towns have names based on Native American languages. “Ahoskie” was originally spelled “Ahotsky,” and was a Wyanoke word. “Occaneechi Neck” was named for the Occaneechi-Saponi tribe who lived along the Roanoke upriver into Virginia. The names of local creeks: “Quankey Creek,” “Kehukee Creek,” and “Chockoyotte Creek” are all named for what is believed to be Tuscarora words, but the meanings have been lost.
A good source for the origins of place names in North Carolina is the North Carolina Gazetteer. https://ncpedia.org/gazetteer. Image is from a 1750 map showing the border between NC and Virginia.

08/17/2024

Are you ready for Historic Halifax’s next big event? Make plans now to attend our annual “Labors of Halifax” event on Saturday, September 7th from 10 AM-4PM. See demonstrations of historic trade skills presented by costumed interpreters and volunteers. Our historic buildings will be open for tours as well. The Historical Halifax Restoration Association will also offer tours of the Bradford/Denton House and living history in their kitchen and blacksmith shop. The event is free and open to the public. We will post more information onto our social media pages as we get closer to the event. These are pictures from previous years.

08/16/2024

On August 8, 1740, Abner Nash was born in Prince Edward County, VA. He relocated to North Carolina with his brother Francis around 1762, settling in Hillsborough. Abner then moved to Halifax to practice law in 1764 and represented Halifax in the House of Commons. While living here in Halifax, he met Justina Dobbs, widow of Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs. The two of them married and lived in a home on King Street and had three children together. Justina passed away in 1771 at the age of 25 and is buried in the Colonial Cemetery. Abner then moved to New Bern and built a home there called “Pembroke.” He married for a second time Mary Whiting Jones. While in New Bern, Nash became a leader of the Committee of Safety. He obtained the ire of Governor Josiah Martin when he led a group of the Sons of Liberty to raid the Governor’s Palace for its cannons and munitions. Martin called Nash “an eminent lawyer, but an unprincipled character.” Martin had to flee to Fort Johnston in Brunswick County.
Abner Nash continued to be a leader during the American Revolution. During the 4th Provincial Congress, meeting here in Halifax in April of 1776, Nash represented New Bern. He was one of the authors of the “Halifax Resolves,” the first official act of any of the 13 Colonies calling for Independence from Great Britain. He was named the first “Speaker of the House” in 1777, and in 1780 elected the second Governor of the state of North Carolina. Finally, he was elected to Congress in 1782, and was serving until his death of “Consumption” in 1786. He is buried on the ground of his Pembroke estate. He was also an enslaver, and the names of many enslaved individuals are recorded in his will.
Source: https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/nash-abner

08/15/2024

We want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we are currently using the Tap Room as our temporary Visitor Center, located at 101 N. King Street, Halifax. Did you know that during the Great Depression, the “Historic American Buildings Survey” was a nationwide “New Deal” program that was the first to chronicle historic structures? Many of those pictures are available digitally on the Library of Congress’s website. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/ Here are two pictures of the Tap Room from the taken in the 1930’s by the Historic American Buildings Survey.

08/14/2024

One of the most abundant “critters” here in Historic Halifax is the eastern gray squirrel. As visitors walk across the site, the squirrels run ahead of them, climbing trees and chattering to each other. We frequently observe them in family groupings of 5, 6, or more foraging for food. They like eating nuts, berries, mushrooms, tree buds, and an occasional insect. They typically will bury a cache of food to store for winter, but sometimes will forget where they put their stash! Their distinctive barking sound warns other squirrels that danger is nearby. This is important because they are the prey of foxes, coyotes, snakes, birds of prey, domesticated dogs and cats, and humans. Hunters kill approximately 500,000 squirrels in NC annually. In 1767, the Colonial General Assembly passed a law called “An Act for Destroying Crows and Squirrels in the Several Counties therin Mentioned.” They were paid a bounty for every crow head or squirrel scalp they brought to the local Justice of the Peace.
They are also the frequent “prey” of our tires. Thousands of squirrels are killed on North Carolina roadways every year. However, their numbers remain quite stable throughout the state. Female squirrels typically have two litters of babies every year—and can have anywhere from 3-4 young, or on up to as many as 8! . Source: https://ncwf.org/blog/nc-squirrels/

08/12/2024

This day in North Carolina History: Josiah Martin succeeds William Tryon as Royal Governor.
Josiah Martin, last royal governor of North Carolina, was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Colonel Samuel and Sarah Wyke Irish Martin of Greencastle, Antigua, West Indies. Young Josiah was molded by his astute and loving father and his older half-brother, Samuel, Jr., MP, sometime secretary of the Treasury, treasurer to the dowager princess of Wales (the mother of George III), and friend of Lord Bute and Hogarth. Samuel was a great expediter of his younger brothers' careers. Samuel's efforts to secure a prestigious position for his younger brother began to bear fruit in 1770, when the governors of New York and Virginia died. Lord Hillsborough, the secretary of the colonies and a close friend of Samuel, reshuffled the governorships of the thirteen colonies. Hillsborough transferred William Tryon to New York and appointed Josiah Martin governor of North Carolina. In July 1771, Martin sailed for New Bern, N.C., where he took the oath of office before the Council on August 12. The young governor was an amiable, personable, intelligent, and hardworking man. Favorable reports to some of the North Carolina leaders preceded his arrival in New Bern. However, he inherited several problems from Tryon’s tenure, including the fallout from the Regulator movement, and the border dispute with South Carolina. Learn more about Josiah Martin here. https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/martin-josiah

08/11/2024

Now that we are occupying the Tap Room on a daily basis, it is only natural to think about the building’s former usage. The tavern was built sometime between 1760-1790. It was operated under several different names—“The Mansion House,” and “Pope’s Hotel” being two of the more memorable ones. It greeted weary travelers, entertained residents, and provided business opportunities for a myriad of entrepreneurs. It hosted everything from political rallies to balls to church services to slave auctions. Here are just a few mentions of the Tap Room in local newspapers throughout history.

08/10/2024

Debby has cleared away, and we are open and returning to our normal tour schedule today. Come see us in our temporary Visitors Center at the Tap Room, 101 N. King Street, Halifax. Questions? Call (252)583-7191.

08/09/2024

Due to the ongoing impact of Tropical Storm Debby and for the safety of our visitors and staff, Historic Halifax State Historic Site will remain closed today, August 9th. Please continue to follow updates on North Carolina’s storm response at https://www.facebook.com/NCEmergency.

08/08/2024

Due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby and for the safety of our visitors and staff, Historic Halifax State Historic Site will be closed today and tomorrow, August 8th and 9th. Please stay safe and follow https://www.facebook.com/NCEmergency for updates on NC’s Storm Response.

08/07/2024

Today we thought we’d take our minds off of Tropical Storm “Debby Downer” and focus on something a little more uplifting; birds! A common bird here at the historic site is the Northern Mockingbird. These medium-sized birds are brownish- gray with white stripes on their wings and tails. They are very noisy, and love mimicking other birds. In the 19th century, these birds were popular to keep as pets. They prefer to build their nests in low-lying shrubs as opposed to taller trees. We typically see them nesting in the crepe myrtles on Saint David Street near the Owens House. They are good parents and will guard their nests aggressively against much larger threats. In this picture, a nesting pair was letting this turkey vulture know that coming around their babies was not okay! If you are interested in common backyard birds, here is a good link for more information: https://avianreport.com/north-carolina-backyard-feeder-birds/.

08/06/2024

Sharing for our visitors and friends. If the weather affects our schedule, we will let you know.

08/03/2024

We are open and ready to greet our visitors in our new temporary Visitors Center in the Tap Room Tavern! We have resumed our normal guided tour schedule, as well as offering self-guided options. Our Montfort Archeological Building, Eagle Tavern, and 1838 Jail are all open from 9am-4pm today. The Underground Railroad Trail is available all day as well. We even have temporary restroom facilities located behind the Tap Room. Come see us!

08/02/2024

Thank you to everyone who came out last night for our "Independence Comes to Halifax" event! We still had a good turn out despite the extremely high temperatures. And thanks to volunteer Tyler Mink for portraying Cornelius Harnett.

08/01/2024

Pardon our dust! We have reopened but are still in the process of moving into our new temporary Visitors Center at the Tap Room Tavern. Until further notice, due to networking issues with our sales system, we are only accepting cash or check for tour and gift shop purchases.

We hope that everyone is planning to come out this evening at 7PM to our "Independence Comes to Halifax" event! We will be celebrating the 248th Anniversary of Cornelius Harnett's first reading of the Declaration of Independence in North Carolina. The program will be held at the site of the Colonial Courthouse. There will be costumed interpreters, a printing demonstration in the Clerk's Office, and light refreshments served.

07/30/2024

We just wanted to remind everyone that our Visitors Center is closed until August 1st for our upcoming renovations. However, we do have two buildings open for self-guided tours, the Eagle Tavern and the 1838 Jail. We also offer the Underground Railroad Trail as well as the remainder of over 30 acres of green space for your family to enjoy. One of our restrooms is also available as a single occupancy unit.
On August 1st, we will be moved into our temporary Visitors Center in the Tap Room. We will reopen that day to resume our normal operations. We will also be presenting a special program that evening at 7 PM--"Independence Comes To Halifax." This program will be celebrating Cornelius Harnett's 1st reading of the Declaration of Independence in North Carolina. The program will take place at the site of the Colonial Courthouse. Light refreshments will be provided.

07/27/2024

We just wanted to remind everyone that our Visitors Center is closed until August 1st for our upcoming renovations. However, we do have two buildings open for self-guided tours, the Eagle Tavern and the 1838 Jail. We also offer the Underground Railroad Trail as well as the remainder of over 30 acres of green space for your family to enjoy. One of our restrooms is also available as a single occupancy unit.

On August 1st, we will be moved into our temporary Visitors Center in the Tap Room. We will reopen that day to resume our normal operations. We will also be presenting a special program that evening at 7 PM--"Independence Comes To Halifax." This program will be celebrating Cornelius Harnett's 1st reading of the Declaration of Independence in North Carolina. The program will take place at the site of the Colonial Courthouse. Light refreshments will be provided.

07/24/2024

Historic Halifax's Visitor Center is closed due to upcoming renovations. However, our Eagle Tavern, 1838 Jail, and Underground Railroad Trail are all open for self-guided tours from 9AM-4PM. We will resume normal operations out of our temporary visitor center--the Tap Room--on Thursday, August 1.

07/23/2024

Due to upcoming Visitor Center renovations, Historic Halifax State Historic Site will be closed to the public from Wed., July 24 until Thurs., Aug. 1. Visitor services operations will be relocating to the Tap Room during this time. While the Visitor Center will be closed, our restrooms will remain open during our normal operating hours of 9AM-5PM.
Historic Halifax will reopen to the public for regular business Aug. 1 at the temporary location in the Tap Room, 101 N. King St., on the corner of King and Saint David streets in Halifax. A special program, “Independence Comes to Halifax,” will be presented at the site of the Colonial Courthouse at 7p.m. Aug. 1. Light refreshments will be provided.

07/22/2024

Quoted from the minutes of the Council of Safety, July 22, 1776:
“Met according to Adjournment.
“The Continental Congress having on the fourth day of July last declared the thirteen United Colonies free and independant States, Resolved, That the Committees of the respective Towns and Counties in this Colony on receiving the said Declaration, do cause the same to be proclaimed in the most public Manner, in Order that the good people of this Colony may be fully informed thereof.
Adjourned till Tomorrow Morning 8 oClock.”

07/21/2024

The Council of Safety reconvenes in Halifax on this day, 1776. The members of the Council of Safety are: CORNs HARNETT, WILLIE JONES, THOs PERSON, WHITMILL HILL, THOMAS EATON, JOHN SIMPSON, JOS. JNO. WILLIAMS, THOS. JONES, JAMES COOR. They jump straight into the business of managing the war effort by authorizing Matthew Lock Esquire 3,000 pounds to pay the soldiers of the Salisbury Brigade. They then adjourn until “8 O’clock tomorrow”.
Pictured here: Willie Jones; Headstone of Whitmel Hill in Scotland Neck, NC.

07/20/2024

Cornelius Harnett was one of North Carolina’s founding fathers. He was born in1723 in Chowan County. His family relocated to Brunswick County when he was a boy. When he grew to adulthood, he was employed as a merchant and a partner in a distilling operation. He got involved in politics and soon became a leading advocate for policy change in North Carolina. Along with Hugh Waddell and John Ashe, he was a leader of the citizens' march on Brunswick Town in February 1766, and he served as spokesman for the "inhabitants in arms" in their confrontation with Governor William Tryon. From the Stamp Act resistance was born the Sons of Liberty, and Harnett was chairman for that group in Wilmington. He was a leader in establishing the North Carolina Committee of Correspondence in 1773 . He was elected to serve in the first four Provincial Congresses as well as to be the president of the North Carolina Council of Safety. This is why it fell to him on August 1, 1776, to read the Declaration of Independence for the first time in NC, at the Colonial Courthouse in Halifax. In 1777 he was elected to serve in the Continental Congress and was one of the signers of the Articles of Confederation. He returned home to his wife Mary Holt and their plantation “Poplar Grove” hoping for the peaceful life of a planter. However, he was known as an enemy to the crown. Back in May of 1776, Sir Henry Clinton had offered to pardon any North Carrollian who would lay down their arms—except Cornelius Harnett and Robert Howe. When the British Army took Wilmington in 1781, Harnett fled. He was captured in Onslow County, and, in his words, "thrown across a horse like a sack of meal”. His health failed while he was imprisoned in Wilmington, and he died on April 20, 1781 at the age of 58.
Pictured below: Cornelius Harnett’s grave in Wilmington.

07/19/2024

Make plans now to attend our "Independence Comes to Halifax" event on Thursday, August 1st from 7:00PM-8:00PM. A historical interpreter will portray Cornelius Harnett, President of the NC Council of Safety, reading the Declaration of Independence for the first time in North Carolina. We will be meeting on the Colonial Courthouse Lot, located behind the 1832 Clerk's Office. Light refreshments will be offered. Call (252)583-7191 for more information.

07/18/2024

Today is the 249th Anniversary of the Patriot’s attack of Fort Johnston, near present-day Southport, NC. The fort is burned to the ground in early morning hours of July 19.
Fort Johnston, built in 1749 and named for Colonial Governor Gabriel Johnston, was the most substantial fortress in North Carolina at the start of the Revolution. After patriots had caused Governor Martin to flee his palace in New Bern, Fort Johnston seemed the logical place for him to go. From there, he could call for military aid in retaking the colony. Governor Martin seemed to ignore that the fort was only sparsely manned with 15 soldiers, led by John Collet, well-known as a map-maker.
After arriving at Fort Johnston, Martin wrote letters and met with loyalists to begin raising troops. He may have even had a visit from Alan and Flora McDonald, who would pledge to raise a unit of Scottish Highlanders to march from Cross Creek to Wilmington to meet the British troops when they arrived later that year.
Word that Governor Martin was plotting in Fort Johnston got to the patriot leaders at Brunswick Town. John Ashe, Cornelius Harnett, and Robert Howe lead a group of about 500 militia to retake the fort and her cannons. A ship captain who had previously been held in Brunswick Town, was able to beat the Patriots to Fort Johnston and warn them. Governor Martin fled to the British naval vessel “Cruizer” while the fort’s commander and his 15 men took the cannons they could move and boarded a ship bound for Boston. When the patriots arrive on July 18, they find an abandoned fort, only a few cannons left, and no Governor Martin. They scavenge what little they can and then, in the wee hours of the morning on July 19th, they put the fort to the torch. Governor Martin can only watch from the deck of the “Cruizer” as Fort Johnston burns to the ground. By dawn, all that was left was a river-side section of palisade.
Sources: https://amrevnc.com/fort-johnston/
https://www.ncpedia.org/fort-johnston
Pictured: A map of Fort Johnston drawn by John Collet.

07/17/2024

As the 4th Provincial Congress was winding down in May of 1776, the men meeting here in Halifax were concerned. They had been dealing with the day-to-day operations of raising and outfitting an army as well as governing the colony. While the minutes talk about monumental happenings such as the Halifax Resolves and plans for writing a state constitution, those are interspaced between purchasing wagons and horses for the military and making sure soldiers will be paid. It was decided to name a “Council of Safety” to meet between the two sessions of the Provincial Congress. The Council of Safety would be responsible for governing North Carolina and managing the war effort until the Provincial Congress would return to Halifax in November.

As written in the minutes of the 4th Provincial Congress: “Resolved, That from the end of this present session, for and during the time aforesaid, the said Council of Safety, or a majority of them, shall be vested with full power and authority to do and execute all acts and things necessary for the defence and protection of the people of this Colony; provided that their power shall not extend to alter, suspend, or abrogate any resolution of this or any former Congress, or to emit any bills of credit, or levy any taxes on the people, or impose any duties or imposts on goods or merchandise to be imported or exported, or give orders to draw on the Continental Treasury, or to erect any office or offices, courts or jurisdictions, or to try, adjudge, or condemn, any person or persons, for any offence civil or criminal, except where expressly permitted by resolve of this Congress.”
The Council of Safety would be meeting in Halifax in July when the news of the Declaration of Independence reached them. It would be the responsibility of the Council of Safety to inform the public that we were now independent of Great Britain. This they would do on August 1, 1776. Just a reminder—we are recreating that moment with our event “Independence Comes to Halifax” on Thursday, August 1st, at 7:00 PM.
Source:

At a Congress begun and held at the town of Halifax, in the county of Halifax, the 4th day of April, in the year of our Lord 1776.

07/16/2024

Make plans now to attend our "Independence Comes to Halifax" event on Thursday, August 1st from 7:00-8:00. A historical interpreter will portray Cornelius Harnett, President of the NC Council of Safety, reading the Declaration of Independence for the first time in North Carolina. We will be meeting on the Colonial Courthouse Lot, located behind the 1832 Clerk's Office. Light refreshments will be offered. Call (252)583-7191 for more information.

07/13/2024

One of Historic Halifax State Historic Site's most beloved buildings is the Owens House. The Owens House, named for the George Owens family, was built around 1760 and moved to its present location on Saint David Street sometime around 1800. It is a good example of a Georgian-style middle class family home. There were probably several similarly-styled homes here in Halifax, but The Owens House is our surviving structure.

While the Owens House endures, the supporting structures do not. However, we do have documentation of what "dependencies" George and Elizabeth Owens had on their property. On September 3, 1849, George purchased a fire insurance policy from the North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company. The policy covered the "dwelling house, office, barn, kitchen, smokehouse" for $500.

We even have a description of the property recorded in the insurance policy. "On the north side of the road Road leading to Weldon & near the town of Halifax bounded north by Mrs. Epps East by Town line South by Masonic & public road West by Hawkins Lot. Of wood & in ordinary repair no Scotch in roof 28 x 32 2 Stories high 2 chimneys & 4 fire places no stoves Ashes Carefully removed Kitchen is 90 feet in rear of house & has 1 Chimney & 1 fire place Office is 50 feet off & has no fire place Smoke house is 55 feet off Not Encumbered.

07/11/2024

Did you know that many of the "founding fathers" of Halifax were related by marriage? Joseph Montfort and Alexander McCulloch were brothers-in-law. They had both married daughters of the prosperous planter Benjamin Hill of Bertie County, NC. Hill had three daughters who married important colonial leaders. Priscila married Joseph Montfort, Sarah married Alexander McCulloch, and Mary married John Campbell. All three men were merchants, planters, and politicians. All three held town lots here in Halifax in the 1760's--though Campbell did not reside here.

Painting is a portrait of Priscila Hill Montfort, owned by the Museum of Early Decorative Arts.

07/11/2024

Go see our Frank McMahon this Saturday at Tryon Palace.

Join us July 13th for our Rev War Day: Here Comes the 250th! Along with a military parade at 10am, soldiers will be drilling muskets and firing cannons. Hands-on activities and demonstrations will also be happening in the North Carolina History Center from 10am-3pm. At 1:00 p.m., Frank McMahon, assistant site manager at Historic Halifax State Historic Site, will be giving a lecture on Black NC Soldiers in the American Revolution. At 2:30 p.m., Henry Parfitt, Lafayette Society member and chairman of Fayetteville’s Committee of Arrangements planning the bicentennial celebration of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour in 2025, will be giving a lecture on the importance of Lafayette in the Revolutionary War called “Lafayette, the French, and Yorktown.” Along with these lectures, children’s activities will include make-and-takes and costume try-ons. Apothecary, Genealogy, and map making will also be available.

07/10/2024

The town of Halifax was established in 1758 to be a commercial hub as well as a transportation hub. Many of the early purchasers of town lots were merchants. One such merchant was Andrew Miller, who owned town lots #64 and #65. These lots were next to the Roanoke River and directly in front of the public warehouses. CJ Sauthier's 1769 Map of Halifax shows several buildings including a residence, outbuildings, and gardens on the two lots. Miller was either running his business through one of these outbuildings (The rectangles with the "X") or his residence (the red square).

As the American Revolution got underway, patriots in North Carolina had no tolerance for those who continued to do business with England. Merchants were asked by local authorities to sign an agreement not to do business with British business interests. Groups called "Committees of Observation" were established to, well, observe people who seemed reluctant to side with the patriots. In Halifax County, Willie Jones was the chairman of the Committee of Observation. In June of 1775, he directed committee members Egbert Haywood and Thomas Haynes to question Andrew Miller about not signing. Miller stated that he was holding the property of someone in England. Willie Jones and the Committee then declared that they would no longer do business with Miller. Andrew Miller and his family later fled to Bermuda--his land was confiscated by the State of North Carolina and sold off after the war. John Ponns purchased the Halifax town lots.

Source: https://www.ncpedia.org/committees-observation