Pre-Revolution Settlement

Dr. Joe Sutton

A 1924 article in The News and Observer claimed that colonization in Bucklesberry began in 1825. This article was followed three years later by a 1927 publication from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Authors R. C. Jurney and W. A. Davis reported the results of a Lenoir County soil sample survey, which suggested, to the contrary, that colonization ensued much earlier.

In a likely veiled reference to Bucklesberry, Jurney and Davis indicated there was a pre-Revolutionary War "settlement [that] began near the present site of La Grange" (p. 3). Indeed, recently discovered archived documents dating back to the early 1700s during the Colonial era confirm colonization of the Bucklesberry area began many years before the Revolutionary War.

One document, a 1720 land grant to John Herring (1684-1760), was for a tract of land on "Bear Swamp." This parcel is believed to have been within close proximity to, if not located squarely in, the present-day Bucklesberry area. Largely reclaimed swampland, Bucklesberry has historically been directly associated with Bear Creek, which empties into the Neuse River a few miles south of the town of La Grange. In his 1969 genealogical narrative, descendant Dr. Robert A. Herring, MD referenced an indexed abstract of the 1720 land grant:

"Bertie County deed book D, p. 276, records the transfer of 380 acres of land by John Herring to Abram Herring which 'is part of a patent to John Herring granted to him August, 1720, on the south side of Bear Swamp' [for] consideration [of] 150 pounds, deed dated May 10, 1736, witnessed by Simon Herring whose name appears as witness on many of John Herring's deeds. Bear Swamp is the location of the original John Herring holdings in present Lenoir County, N.C...." (p. 2).

Short of naming Bucklesberry per se, this indexed abstract stands as the earliest known evidence of the existence of Bucklesberry during the pre-Revolution, Colonial era. Further, it represents some of the first land obtained in the backcountry of then old Craven County.

One other significant document, a 1738 land patent issued to John Williams, is believed to be the first known document that explicitly identifies Bucklesberry by name:

"[King] George the Second Know ye that we have Given & Granted to John Williams One hundred and fifty Acres of Land lying in Craven County on the North side of Neuse River and on Bucklerberry [i.e., Bucklesberry] Branch...1 March 1738 Gab. Johnston"

These two archived documents, having now come to light, refute the legendary claim that colonization of Bucklesberry began in the early decades of the nineteenth century. Rather, it actually began a century earlier. Therefore, the purported 1825 settlement year, as indicated in The News and Observer article, is effectively debunked.

Interestingly, these two land records prove that Bucklesberry was on the map long before the nearby towns of La Grange, Goldsboro, and Kinston. Not incorporated until 1869, La Grange was an outgrowth of Moseley Hall township that was not settled until soon after the Revolutionary War ended in 1783. Kingston, now Kinston, was founded in 1762, and Goldsborough, now Goldsboro, grew out of Waynesborough, the first town to emerge in Wayne County in 1787. 

Next month's article will focus on the backcountry of Bucklesberry. Two previously published Bucklesberry articles that may be of interest to readers are "Country Crimes" (https://t.ly/PvCWN) and "Country Stores" (https://t.ly/grLK-).