Bute County, North Carolina

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A portion of John Collet's 1770 map of North Carolina depicting the environs of Bute County Collet Map excerpt Bute County.jpeg
A portion of John Collet's 1770 map of North Carolina depicting the environs of Bute County

Bute County, North Carolina is a former county in eastern North Carolina. In 1779, it was divided into Franklin County and Warren County and ceased to exist.

Contents

History

Bute County was established on June 10, 1764, from the eastern part of Granville County by the North Carolina General Assembly and named for John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1762 to 1763. It was formed in order to bring the residents of the eastern half of Granville County with improved access to local government, particularly those residing in St. John's Parish. It was expanded in 1766 to include the northwest part of Northampton County. [1]

The residents of Bute County were very much opposed to British rule. When governor William Tryon called for troops to counter the Regulator Movement in 1768, his orders were ignored by the Bute County militia. In the 1770s, it was claimed that "There were no Tories in Bute". [1] After the Provincial Congress of 1775 and 1776, an act was proposed to divide Bute County. After more than two years of discussion, Bute County was divided on January 20, 1779, generally along the Shocco Creek, with Warren County in the north and Franklin County to the south. [1]

The Bute County courthouse was located along Buffalo Rice Path, on land owned by Jethro Sumner. This location is about six miles southeast of Warrenton, North Carolina. There was one other town in Bute County, a town without a post office called Littleton. Most of the records of Bute county are located in Warren County. [2]

Notable residents

See also

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Jethro Exum Sumner was a senior officer of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in Virginia, Sumner's military service began in the French and Indian War as a member of the state's Provincial forces. After the conclusion of that conflict, he moved to Bute County, North Carolina, where he acquired a substantial area of land and operated a tavern. He served as Sheriff of Bute County, but with the coming of the American Revolution, he became a strident patriot, and was elected to North Carolina's Provincial Congress.

Events from the year 1779 in the United States.

Thomas Eaton was a military officer in the North Carolina militia during the War of the Regulation in 1771 and American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1784. He was a member of the North Carolina Provincial Congress and North Carolina House of Commons for several terms simultaneously with his military service. Eaton was a member of the North Carolina Council of State under Governor Richard Caswell. Eaton commanded soldiers in the battles of Brier Creek and Guilford Courthouse. At the time of the 1790 census, Eaton was one of the largest slaveholders in North Carolina.

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James Ransom (1740–1810) was part of the Regulator movement and a delegate to the 2nd North Carolina Provincial Congress from Bute County, North Carolina in 1775, as well as a member of the Bute County Committee of Safety alongside Jethro Sumner. He was the step-father of Nathaniel Macon and a neighbor of Benjamin Hawkins. He married Macon's mother Priscilla Jones after the death of Gideon Macon.

William Person was a planter, member of the colonial assembly of the Province of North Carolina (1771-1774), Revolutionary War Colonel, and commander of the Bute County Regiment of the North Carolina militia (1775-1776).

The Bute County Regiment was authorized on September 9, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. It was subordinate to the Halifax District Brigade of militia commanded by Brigadier Allen Jones. The regiment was not engaged in any battles or skirmishes against the British during the American Revolution between 1775 and when it was disbanded on January 30, 1779. It was disbanded when Bute county was dissolved and split into Franklin and Warren counties. The regiment was split into the Franklin County Regiment and Warren County Regiment.

The Warren County Regiment was established on January 3, 1779 by the North Carolina General Assembly when Bute County and its Regiment of militia were abolished. The regiment was engaged in battles and skirmished in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philemon Hawkins II</span> American politician

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williamsboro, North Carolina</span> Township in North Carolina, United States

Williamsboro or Williamsborough is an unincorporated community in Vance County, North Carolina, United States. It was established in about 1755 as Williamsborough in Granville County in the Province of North Carolina. It became part of Vance County in 1881 when Vance County was founded. Williamsboro is located in Williamsboro Township, which is an administrative division of Vance County.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hill, Michael (2008). "Bute County, NCPedia".
  2. Soloman, Winona (2002). "Bute County, North Carolina on NCGENWEB" . Retrieved March 19, 2019.

Coordinates: 36°19′34″N78°12′47″W / 36.326°N 78.213°W / 36.326; -78.213