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Gates County was a part of an area originally
called "Albemarle", named for
George, Duke of Albemarle. Later, what is
now Gates County was split into three separate
entities: Hertford, Chowan, and Perquimans
counties. Most of the land within the present
boundaries was considered to be Nansemond
County, VA, until 1728, when William Byrd
had surveyed the "dividing line"
between Virginia and North Carolina.
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Merchant's Millpond State Park |
The
area was in controversy between the two States
until then, and both granted land to applicants.
It was Chowan County, and a narrow strip of Perquimans,
until 1759, when all the area west of Bennett's
Creek was cut off to Hertford County.
Before
the settlement of this area by the Europeans,
the Nansemond,
Chesapeake, Chowanoc/Chowanoke, Meherrin
and the Nottoway Indians made their homes here.
They were a peaceful people, but once the settlers
made their way into the area, unfortunately their
days were numbered. After 1711, few Native
Americans were found in the county, although
there is a large population of Meherrins
living in Hertford, Bertie, Gates, and Northhampton
counties. It is not uncommon to find traces of
these gentle people left behind in the fields
of the county. Arrowheads and pottery shards are
often found in open fields and along riverbanks.
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A 19th century Dairy
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In
the early years of settlement, pioneers had
to try to make a living off of land that was
riddled with swamps and sandy soil that would
not produce. The landscape made many pass
through present day Gates County to settle
in areas further south where land was richer,
and had fewer wetlands. Those who stayed behind
were a strong and resourceful lot. |
The
descendants of many of those persevering and strong
willed settlers still reside here today. In spite
of the difficult life, those who passed through
knew them as friendly and hospitable people.
Many
of the surnames represented in the county today
originated from some of the earliest pioneers.
Names like Brinkley, Eure, Riddick, Benton, Lane,
Cowper, Cross and Norfleet, among many others,
were the same names that George Washington and
other notable Americans were familiar with when
they passed through the area in the early days
of this area's history.
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1728 through 1780, the area grew from a thick
wooded and inhospitable land to an agrarian
community with many of the same resources
that many surrounding areas had. However,
the physical characteristics made it difficult
to grow into a prosperous urban center, because
there were few navigable waterways. |
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The
main commerce was in hogs sold in Nansemond Co.,
tar (pine pitch) made from the pine forests of
the county, and timber from the thick virgin forests.
In
1779 the area between the Chowan River to the
West and Southwest, South of the county of Nansemond,
Va., West of the Dismal Swamp and North of Catherine
Creek and Warwick Creek was separated into a county
all it's own. The physical land barriers of swamps
or rivers made it difficult for residents of this
area to travel to government seats in bad weather,
and it was for this reason, among others that
Gates County became an entity of it's own.
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Gates
County was named for General Horatio Gates,
a Revolutionary War hero. As commanding
general at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777,
he delivered one of the most damaging blows
yet felt by English forces in the war. However,
in 1780 his failure at the disastrous Battle
of Camden transformed him from one of the
Revolution's most esteemed soldiers into
one of its most controversial.
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General Horatio Gates
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In
1780 a courthouse, prison and stocks were built
in Gatesville, at that time known as Gates Court
House.
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Old Gates County Court House
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In
1830-31 the Legislature passed an act, which
changed the name of the county seat from Gates
Court House to Gatesville. In 1836 the Federal
style courthouse was built, which now houses
the Gates County Public Library and Gates
County Historical Society. |
General
William P. Roberts, who at age 20 was the Confederate's
youngest Brigadier General, was born in Gates
County July 11, 1841. He commanded the N.C Cavalry,
12th NC Battalion, Georgia Battalion, Gen W.H.F.
Lee's Division, and Hampton's Cavalry Corps Army
of Northern Virginia. In 1875 he represented Gates
County at the constitutional convention, and the
following year he was elected to the state legislature.
In 1880, he became a state auditor and served
in that capacity until 1888. Roberts died in Norfolk,
Virginia, on March 28, 1910, and was buried in
the Gatesville Cemetery.
In
the last quarter of the 19th century, the railroad
opened Gates County to new opportunity. Shipment
by rail was more efficient and allowed logging
operations to move timber cheaply to markets,
farmers to ship produce more readily and small
towns to burgeon into prosperous communities.
It remained this way until the railroads stopped
running through the county in 1979, after highways
made truck shipment cheaper than the rails.
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County has remained close to the same since
it was formed in 1778. Other than obvious
changes in technology, Gates still relies
on the agriculture and timber industry more
than any other commercial enterprise. Six
of the nine largest manufacturers in the county
all rely on the timber businesses, while the
majority of jobs are in agriculture. |
One of many abandoned homes
around the county |
Many
things haven't changed much since the late 18th
century. The county's population hasn't even doubled
in over 200 years. In 1790 there were 5,372 people
living here as compared to the 10,720 of the year
2002. That only adds to the small town feeling
of this tight knit community, and the hospitality
of the early pioneers is still present in the
current residents, as is the resilience and perseverance
of their forebears.
In
the near future we will be getting a major chain
grocery store, strip mall and fast food restaurant
built in the county. Nothing this big has happened
to Gates County since the railroad first laid
tracks. There is even talk of us getting a second
stoplight, one that actually changes color that
is.
Wildflowers |
If
you happen to get the chance to visit Gates
County, be ready to be spoken to, greeted
on the street, and have people wave at you
who you don't even know. The pace of life
here is slow so don't rush through. Take the
time to stop and talk to the people, have
a bar-b-que sandwich and soda at one of the
family restaurants. |
Hang
out for a while at the hardware store, or just
generally stop and smell the flowers. Chances
are you'll never want to leave, just like the
first people who settled here.
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