Gates County, NC, formed in 1779, was originally part of Shaftsbury Precinct—one of the three precincts of the oldest county in North Carolina, Albemarle (no longer extant). From 1671 to 1684, Shaftsbury included all the lands to its west (all the way to China, no doubt!). Shaftsbury was later divided and subdivided, becoming Chowan Precinct and Bertie Precinct, and later
abandoned as the more current counties replaced old Albemarle County. Between about 1730 and 1779, most of Gates was part of Chowan County.
The Moseley maps drawn by Edward Moseley in 1704 mark several of the plantations in what would later be Gates Co., NC. One of two known Moseley Maps is owned by the East Carolina University Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, ECU. Its easternmost area involves the western fringes of the Great Dismal Swamp. Land fills and wet-land management have diminished to ancient bounds of the Swamp, but much of the area remains too low for agriculture or profitable settlement. Its western edges are also wetlands, this time bordering the Chowan River. With most of its inhabitants squeezed in between the low lands, Gates has few large towns but many crossroads and communities.
Settlements in the northern portion of Gates are still, today, greatly influenced by movements of families between North Carolina and Virginia. The earliest settlers in old Albemarle had migrated southward from the Southside Virginia counties; researchers interested in northeastern NC must concern themselves with the adjoining counties of our sister state.
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References:
D. L. Corbitt;
Formation of North Carolina Counties.
Worth S. Ray; Old Albemarle, NC.
Moseley Map. Scan taken from a published book, no credits given. There are two Moseley maps known to be in existence. One is located in the
East Carolina University Manuscript Collection, J.Y. Joyner Library, Greenville, NC. The other is located in South Carolina. It is probable that this replica was made from the latter. If anyone can help define proper credit for this image, please contact me.
C. J. Puetz;
North Carolina County Maps. Puetz Place; Lyndon Station, WI 53944.
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Copyright © 1998 by Elizabeth Ross. Updated
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