History

SETTLERS ARRIVE FROM MORAVIA FROM THE NORTH OF IRELAND AND FROM THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND

“The most numerous settlers in the northwestern part of Carolina are protestants chiefly presbyterians from the north of Ireland. The greater number of those people or their ancestors had formerly migrated from Scotland. But they were treated after a short residence in Ireland with much ingratitude and neglect wherefore they sought refuge in America. The earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel, in the province of Ulster, having conspired against the government in the reign of James the First, fled from the kingdom to escape punishment. Some of their accomplices were arrested condemned and executed; but the two earls were attainted by a process of outlawry upon which their vast estates about five hundred thousand acres of land escheated to the crown. King James resolved if possible to improve a country that was covered by woods, desolated by war, infested by robbers, or inhabited by ignorant adherents to the Romish church. For this purpose he divided the escheated lands into small tracts and those he gave to adventurers who were to settle them within four years with a certain number of subtenants.” (Source: The History of North Carolina, Volume 2, Hugh Williamson, 68-69)

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