Albemarle Settlements facts for kids
The Albemarle Settlements were the very first lasting English towns in what we now call North Carolina. They were started around the middle of the 1600s, near the Albemarle Sound and Roanoke River. Most of the people who settled there came from Virginia, moving south to find new homes.
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Early Days of the Settlements
In 1653, the government of Virginia gave a large piece of land (10,000 acres) to Roger Green and 100 families from Nansemond County. This land was along the Roanoke River.
Later, in 1662, a person named George Durant bought land in this area directly from the Native Americans. It seems other settlers did this too.
Becoming Part of Carolina
At first, the Albemarle Settlements were not officially part of the Carolina colony. Carolina was a "proprietary colony," meaning it was owned by a group of people called the Lords Proprietors.
In 1665, a new official document (called a charter) was created. This charter made sure the Albemarle Settlements were included in Carolina.
A local government was set up in the Albemarle Sound area in 1664. Within ten years, the settlements grew quite a lot. They stretched from the Chowan River all the way to Currituck Sound. This whole area became known as Albemarle County.
Helping During a Rebellion
In 1676, there was a big uprising in Virginia called Bacon's Rebellion. The Albemarle Settlements offered help and a safe place for people involved in this rebellion.
The main areas of the rebellion were south of the James River in Virginia. This area was connected to the Albemarle Settlements by roads and rivers. For example, a road went from southern Virginia to Edenton in Carolina. The Blackwater River also flowed south to the Chowan River, creating another link.
Uncertain Borders
For a long time, no one was sure where the exact border was between Virginia and North Carolina. This meant many settlers didn't know if their land was officially in Virginia or North Carolina.
Finally, in 1728, a survey was done by William Byrd II to mark the border clearly. He even wrote a book about it called The History of the Dividing Line.
The Albemarle Settlements were sometimes called "Rogues' Harbor" by people in Virginia. This was a nickname for the area.
