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Chowan County, North Carolina, in Maps
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The current boundaries of Chowan County, NC, remain pretty much as they were after Gates County (to the north) was formed from its original boundaries in 1778.
Prior to this date, Chowan had been divided and sub-divided several times, each time diminishing its size from its original designation as Shaftsbury Precinct of Albemarle County, the ancestor county of all of inhabitable North Carolina after the mid-1600s.
Chowan Co., NC, 1998. E. Ross.
Shaftsbury Precinct was one of the three first divisions of Old Albemarle: Shaftsbury, Berkeley and Carteret Precincts. This map drawn by Worth S. Ray shows the shapes of the precincts as they appeared between 1671 and 1684, before they were redefined and renamed.
Easternmost Carteret Precinct was divided at that time into Currituck and Pasquotank Precincts; Berkely was renamed Perquimans, and Shaftsbury became Chowan Precinct. In 1696, Bath County was formed south of the Albemarle Sound, taking in the southern half of the peninsula of land between the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.In 1701, the remainder of the peninsula south of the Albemarle Sound was given to a new Wickcliff Precinct, shrinking our Chowan Precinct to confines above the Sound. In 1722, it shrank again, as the land west of the Chowan River was made into the new Bertie Precinct. Wickcliff became Tyrrell and Hyde Counties.
After 1722, Chowan County included only its current boundaries plus the land to the north. As shown above, in 1778, its last major county line change occurred when Gates County was formed.
early 18th century settlers (excerpt).
Edenton, still the only major town in the county, was made the county seat in 1722. It was first named The Town on Queen Anne's Creek, the creek which empties into the bay. Merchant fleets continued to enter the docks as late as the 1950s. Today the docks have made way to historic restoration, public buildings and parks.
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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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