Fort Dobbs
The Division of North Carolina State Historic Sites is committed to sharing the stories of members of traditionally marginalized communities whose lives have intersected with our historic sites. We launched the #TrueInclusion initiative to highlight the broad interpretive work already happening at our sites and emphasize our continued goal of sharing an inclusive narrative from the mountains to the coast.
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site - Native Americans, historical reenactment more than just playing a role
"We are still here as a people. We're composed of many different tribal nations, with distinct and unique cultures, and we're still here. It's important that the people living on our land know who we are and where we came from."
Fort Dobbs had the privilege to have tribally enrolled Native Americans take part in our annual Military Timeline program.
History has many perspectives, and we are committed to being a site where the stories of Native Americans can be shared BY Native Americans. Learn more: Statesville Record & Landmark - Native Americans, historical reenactment more than just playing a role
Pictured is Malaciah G. Taylor an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site:
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Facebook: @FortDobbs
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Fort Dobbs State Historic Site - The Dan River in North Carolina
The exact year when settlers began establishing themselves along the Dan River in North Carolina is unknown. By 1759, of the few families widely scattered from modern Mayodan to Mount Airy, we know of at least five enslaved people of African descent.
The following are the names of the heads of households and the names of the people they enslaved, with the total number of taxable adults in each household.
These are presented exactly as they are in the 1759 Rowan County Tax List held in the collections of the Rowan
County Library:
“Hunter, John Capt. & negroes 4
Jackson, James & 2 sons & free Negroe 4
Lad, Noble & 2 negroes 3”
Additionally, Charles Perkins inherited 2 enslaved men, “Hang and Jimmy”, from his father in 1762.
The approximate location of the land on which these enslaved people lived can be found on this Google Map of the settlement of Western North Carolina--https://tinyurl.com/y5rrqcnw
#TrueInclusion #NCHistory
Photo: Detail of “An Accurate Map of North and South Carolina by Henry Mouzon, 1775
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site:
Instagram: @fort_dobbs_shs
Facebook: @FortDobbs
YouTube: @FortDobbs
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site - Davidson’s Creek Settlement
The next installment in our series of posts sharing the names of the enslaved inhabitants of colonial Rowan County focuses on the Davidson’s Creek Settlement.
Dozens of families had settled in the area near modern Mooresville by 1759, including a number of wealthy landowners. At least five of the settlers enslaved nine people in total.
The following are the names of the heads of households and the names of the people they enslaved. The names are presented exactly as they are in the 1759 Rowan County Tax List held in the collections of the Rowan County Library:
“Osburn, Alexr & negroes Tom, Will & Dinah 4
Carruth, James & negro Dumbo & Walter Carruth 3
McConnel, John & Negroes Sam & Dinah 3
Lawson, Hugh _enny & Mulatoe Nancy 3
McCormick, Simeon & Negro Tom 2”
The approximate location of the land on which these enslaved people lived can be found on this Google Map of the settlement of Western North Carolina--https://tinyurl.com/y5rrqcnw
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site:
Instagram: @fort_dobbs_shs
Facebook: @FortDobbs
YouTube: @FortDobbs
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site - The Fourth Creek Settlement
The next installment in our series of posts sharing the names and stories of the enslaved inhabitants of colonial Rowan County focuses on the immediate neighbourhood of Fort Dobbs:
The Fourth Creek Settlement.
By the time of the 1759 tax list, the Fourth Creek Settlement had grown to include 34 white families. Most of the inhabitants were farmers, but at least one was a distiller who may have used enslaved labour in that occupation.
During periods of Cherokee attacks in both 1759 and 1760, some families sought refuge at Fort Dobbs, and it is likely that enslaved people would have come to the fort as well.
The names of the enslaved are below, listed by the household to which they belonged, along with the number of taxable adults (both white and Black) in the household.
These names are presented here exactly as they appear on the original document, which includes terminology that may be troubling in a modern context.
"Allison, Thomas & Negro Jude-----2
Graham, James & John Graham (Distiller) & Richd Graham &
Negroes Andrw & Tom-----5
Simonton, Wm & Negroes Peter & Rachel-----3"
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site:
Instagram: @fort_dobbs_shs
Facebook: @FortDobbs
YouTube: @FortDobbs
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site - Bryan Settlement
The next installment of our series of posts highlighting the names of the enslaved inhabitants of colonial Rowan County focuses on the Bryan Settlement.
This settlement grew up around the Shallow Ford of the Yadkin River, near modern Huntsville and West Bend. By 1759, the community included approximately 18 white families and at least 10 enslaved people.
According to the Rowan County Court Minutes, James Carter sold two enslaved people to Johnathan Boone in 1756. Although we don't know the names of those two persons, we do know the names of the following enslaved people who were documented on the Rowan County Tax List for 1759 in the households of their enslavers:
“Bryan, Jos. Negro Will 2
Ellis, John & Ellis Jno Junr, Ellis, William & Ellis, Willis & Negro Waree & Cumbe 6
Milner, Benj. & negro Sam 2”
The approximate location of the land on which these enslaved people lived can be found on this Google Map of the settlement of Western North Carolina--https://tinyurl.com/y5rrqcnw
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site:
Instagram: @fort_dobbs_shs
Facebook: @FortDobbs
YouTube: @FortDobbs