Ss

oped oe nes sage ee
—

ee SS et
eats no
PO a ORI er ET RE re cee, eh —_r es . wae

44 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

deer, wild turkeys, geese, and ducks, and fish in abundance; we
shot sufficient to serve forty men, though there were but six of
us. We went almost round it, but there is on the northeast side
a small cypress swamp, so deep that we could not go through it;
we returned back again on a direct line, being resolved to find
how far it was on a straight course from the Northwest branch
of Cape Fear River, which we found did not exceed ten miles.

We returned back to Mr. More’s that same night, having
satisfied our curiosity, and the next morning set out with an
intent to take a view of the Northeast branch, on which there is
a great deal of good land, but not in my opinion, for the gen-
erality, so good as on the Northwest, but I think the river is
much more beautiful. We lay that first night at Newton, in a
small hut, and the next day reached Rocky Point, which is the
finest place in all Cape Fear. There are several very worthy
gentlemen settled there, particularly Col. Maurice More, Cap-
tain Herne, John Swan, Esq., and several others. We stayed
there one night, and the next morning set out on horseback to
take a view of the land backward, imagining that there might
be only a skirt of good land on the river, but I am sure I rode
for about twenty miles back, through nothing but black walnut,
oak, and hickory; we returned the same night to Rocky Point,
and the next morning set out for a plantation belonging to Mr.
John Davis, within six miles of Brunswick, where I was a sec-
ond time taken ill, so that I thought I should have died; but by
the providence of God, and the care of good Mrs. Davis, I
recovered in a fortnight’s time, so that I was able to set out on
my journey to South Carolina. I took leave of that worthy
family on the 10th of August, when she was so kind as to force
me to take a bottle of shrub, and several other things with me.
I reached Mr. Roger More’s the same night, where I was again
handsomely received, but being resolved to set out on my jour-
ney the next morning, he generously offered me a horse to carry
me to the house where I was obliged to leave mine on the road,
as likewise a servant to attend me, which I refused. I left
his house the next morning, being the 11th of August, at half
an hour after seven, and reached Brunswick by eight. I set
out from thence about nine, and about four miles from thence
met my landlord of Lockwood’s Folly, who was in hopes I

would stay at his house all night.
* * % % % % *

When I was about halfway over the bay, I intended to stop

 

Permanent Settlement 45

at . .
the next spring and take a tiff of punch; but by some unfor-

pale atts ’ aes not how, when I came within sight of
att : ottle unluckily broke, and I lost every drop of

of cherr a rida ay bags, I accidentally found a bottle
believe 2 d a Y, with some ginger-bread and cheese, which I
picts = = irs. More ordered to be put up unknown to me. I
i a rams of that, not being willing it should all be lost
€ it should break, and mounting my horse, took some

ginger-bread
z and cheese in my hand and pursued my journey.

*% % * % x “

I reached W;

Feats oe s by noon, and had my possum dressed for
ies a : I arrived at Charleston on the 7th [17th]
ugust, where I remained till the 23d of November,

wh
34 en I set sail for England and arrived safe in London on the
“eof January, 1734-5,

ERECTION OF WILMINGTON—DECAY OF
BRUNSWICK.

In the cove near Goy
Governor’s

sloops of w
frigate Ro

ernor Tryon’s residence, still known as
Cove, were anchored in colonial times His Majesty’s
nF Viper, Diligence, Scorpion, and Cruizer; and the
Se, @ prison ship, was anchored in the stream. This
that tae belgonks be unsafe in stormy weather, and because of
theses: Sete: Hy growth of a village fifteen miles farther up
Wikainoia. ai = Liverpool, afterwards Newton, and lastly
ETE. a iy absorbed the trade of the two branches of
Bronswick at point and prospered, a gradual exodus from

and continued; so that while Wilmington
ame the capital of the province, Brunswick

dont ing the Revolutionary War was wholly aban-

In 1
lana Sieg ohn Maultsby took out a warrant for 640 acres of
posite the Thoroughfare,” and John Watson located a

simil eae
eit - beens adjoining and below that. In 1732 a few enter-
S men settled on Maultsby’s grant for trade, and called

€ place
Place New Liverpool. The next spring Michael Higgins,

rer, James Wimbl d Joh 101
ayin ; e, and John Watson joined in
& off a town on Watson’s entry, which they called Newton.

ov,
Vv. Gabriel Johnston arrived in November, 1734, and he

?

He bought land near Newton and led his

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