Theophilus Weeks facts for kids
Theophilus Weeks (born 1708 – died January 1772) was an early settler in the British colony of Province of North Carolina. He served as a soldier during the French and Indian War. He is most famous for founding the town of Swansboro, North Carolina.
Early Life and Family
Theophilus Weeks was born in 1708 in Falmouth, Massachusetts. His parents were Benjamin and Mary Chase Weeks. In 1730, his family moved to North Carolina and settled on Hadnots Creek.
Around the same time, another group from Falmouth, including Jonathan Green, Sr. and his brother Isaac Green, settled near the White Oak River. This area is now part of Onslow County. The White Oak River forms the border between Onslow and Carteret counties.
Jonathan Green, Sr. passed away around 1735. On October 7, 1735, Theophilus Weeks married Jonathan's widow, Grace. He then moved into the Green family's plantation. Over time, he bought Isaac Green's share of the property. Isaac Green eventually returned to Massachusetts. The plantation was located on the Onslow side of the White Oak River's mouth and was called "The Wharf." Theophilus and Grace had at least four children together.
Theophilus Weeks was involved in farming. In 1741, he recorded his livestock branding, which showed his interest in agriculture. He also received several land grants in Onslow County, totaling over 700 acres.
Serving in the Militia
In 1754, the Onslow Regiment of Militia was formed. This was in response to the French and Indian Wars, a big conflict between Britain and France. Theophilus Weeks became a sergeant in Captain Stephen Lee's company. He was listed on a military roster on March 12, 1754.
Theophilus Weeks also played a role in local business. In 1751, he asked the Onslow Court for permission to open an ordinary, which was like an inn or tavern. He received a license to run it at his home. This suggests that the area at the mouth of the White Oak River was busy with ships and travelers. In 1757, he was appointed inspector of exports for Bogue Inlet. He held this important job for the rest of his life.
Founding Swansboro
The biggest achievement of Theophilus Weeks' life was founding the town of Swansboro. His plantation, "The Wharf," was in a perfect spot for trade and shipping. As more and more trade happened, he realized it would be a great place for a seaport town.
He likely thought about creating a town for many years. His plans were finally ready by early 1771. The new settlement was designed with six streets and 48 lots. The streets were laid out in a grid pattern. Today, some of these streets are known as Front, Water, Elm, Moore, Main (originally Broad), and Church Streets. All the streets were wide, making it easy to move goods.
Selling the lots was slow at first. Only five of the 48 lots had been sold by the time Theophilus passed away. The Weeks family home was on lot #7, near the wharf. This allowed him to see the ships coming in. A dock was also nearby where ships would tie up for him to inspect their cargo.
The town was known by many different names in its early years. Some people called it Weeks Point, Weeks Landing, Weeks Wharf, The Wharf, or New Town. During the Revolutionary War, it was often called Bogue. The confusion ended in 1783 when the town was officially named Swansborough. This name honored Samuel Swann, who was a speaker in the colonial assembly. The name was later shortened to Swansboro.
Later Life and Legacy
Theophilus Weeks likely passed away in early January 1772. His last public record was on January 1, 1772. A few days later, the Onslow Court appointed someone else as inspector for Bogue Inlet, stating that Theophilus Weeks had "deceased." His wife, Grace, passed away in August 1792.
In 1983, Swansboro celebrated its 200th birthday. About 150 people attended, and many of them were descendants of Theophilus Weeks or his brother, Jabez. As part of the Fourth of July celebration, a special marker was dedicated to Theophilus Weeks, recognizing him as the founder of Swansboro.
