The Naming of Elizabeth City
All indications point to the fact that it was
named for Elizabeth Tooley, wife of a tav¬
ern keeper, rather than for Queen Eliza¬
beth of England.
By UAItGAIIET IIOI I OWEEE
ON the "Tar Heel Informa¬
tion" page of The State,
August 3 issue, there ap¬
peared this question and answer:
Wilson. — Was Elizabeth
City named for Queen Eliza¬
beth of England?
M. C. D.
The general assumption is that
it was. However, there are some
folks who claim that it was named
for Elizabeth Tooley, who ran a
grog shop there during the early
days of the settlement.
Having read the history of our
town in the courthouse records in
Elizabeth City, I believe I can
furnish some information on this
subject which is both authoritative
and authentic. The town was not
named for Queen Elizabeth, but
for Elizabeth Tooley. who was the
wife of Adam Tooley,
of a tavern or "ordinary’
generally known. Adam originally
owned the site on which the town
was created.
Reports from the Secretary of
State of North Carolina, quoting
laws enacted about 150 years ago,
ive this authentic history of how
lizabeth City got its name:
“In 1793, it having been repre¬
sented to the General Assembly of
North Carolina that the establish¬
ing of a town at the Narrows of Pas¬
quotank River, in the county of Pas¬
quotank. on the lands of Adam
Tooley. would be conducive to the
proprietor
’ as it was
welfare of the county aforesaid,
and of public utility; and the said
Adam Tooley and his wife. Eliza¬
beth Tooley. having signified their
consent to the same: It was there¬
fore enacted by the General Assem¬
bly that John Lane, Isaac Sawyer.
Timothy Cotter, Bailey Jackson
and Benjamin Jones, be appointed
Commissioners and Directors, to
seize 50 acres of land for the pur¬
pose of making a city, the name
of which was to be Redding.”
The ground was agreed to be
laid oil in half-acre lots on the
background, and quarter-acre lots
on the waterfront, at such prices
as the said commissioners might
think proper: the streets to be not
less than thirty-six feet for the
front principal streets and not less
than thirty-three feet in width for
the side and cross streets.
In 1794, it having been signified
to the General Assembly that it
was wish of the former proprietor
and the commissioners of the town
of Redding that the name should
be altered from Redding to Eliza¬
beth, the General Assembly passed
the act, amending the original bill
and giving the town the name of
Elizabeth Town. This indicates
that the request of Adam Tooley
grew out of a desire to do honor
to the name of his wife.
In 1799 a bill was passed in the
General Assembly to build a court¬
house. pillory and stocks at Eliza¬
beth Town, the said courthouse to
be not less than 25 feet wide and
GREENVILLE MANOR
GUEST HOUSE
COUNTRY ESTATE ON GREENVILLE SOUND
Opposite Wrightsvillc Beoch
Rooms - Meals Luncheons - Dinner Parties
Address— Telephone—
GREENVILLE MANOR Wnghtsville Exchange
RFD 3. Wilmington, N. C. No 8500 W
35 feet long. And when the court¬
house should be completed in Eliza¬
beth Town, the Commissioners
were empowered to sell the court¬
house. pillory and stocks at Nixon-
ton. in the same county, where
court had previously been held.
In 1801. the following act was
passed :
"Whereas considerable inconven¬
ience is found to arise from there
being more than one town in this
area of the same name, be it en¬
acted . . . that ... the name of
Elizabeth Town in the County of
Pasquotank shall be known and
distinguished by the name of Eliza¬
beth City, and Elizabeth Town in
the county of Tyrrell shall be
known by the name of Columbia."
In this wise. Columbia lost the
name with which it first started as
a town. It is said that Columbia
also was known at one time as
“Heart’s Desire Plantation."
Family Coats of Arms
Hen il Tainted In l’n« Colors
Records of over i’.' 0.0 00 family arm*
1‘rlcr* and full Oescrlpllon
Upon Request
SUre* for IJ-xll-. I*'‘xl0" or IO'xS*
frame*. Alto Heraldic file* for
Stationery. Invllallont, Card*. Etc.
HENNESSEE STUDIO OF
HERALDIC ART
J?« WM Thomat Street
SAI.ISHCKY. N.
С.
Bound Manuterlpl at to Arm* and
Family with Each Tainting
NEAR
‘CHIMNEY
ROCK
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ASH EVIl It
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OUl*TANDiN& SCI NIC Of Jt’OIVE
IN WESTERN NORTH < AROIINA
THE STATE. AUGUST 24. 1946
21
