The first American born governor, Captain Samuel Stephens, succeeded William Drummond in October 1667. Son of Richard Stephens and Elizabeth Piersey, natives of London, Samuel was born in 1629, at Bolthrope plantation, Virginia.
Traditionally used around Morehead City and Beaufort for fishing, spritsail skiffs have been revived for use as pleasure craft. Constructed for at least one hundred years and specific to North Carolina, spritsail skiffs are fast and seaworthy boats, having been clocked at up to 20 mph.