Province of North Carolina

Quick Facts: Who was Province of North Carolina?

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Province of North Carolina

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A former British proprietary and crown colony in North America, central to early American history.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Province of North Carolina, originally known as the Albemarle Settlements, was a proprietary colony and later crown colony of Great Britain that existed in North America from 1712 to 1776.(p. 80) It was one of the five Southern colonies and one of the thirteen American colonies. The monarch of Great Britain was represented by the Governor of North Carolina, until the American colonies declared independence on July 4, 1776. "Carolina" is taken from the Latin word for "Charles" (Carolus), honoring King Charles I, and was first named in the 1663 Royal Charter granting to Edward, Earl of Clarendon; George, Duke of Albemarle; William, Lord Craven; John, Lord Berkeley; Anthony, Lord Ashley; Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkeley, and Sir John Colleton the right to settle lands in the present-day U.S. states of North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. King Charles II granted the Charter of Carolina in 1663 for land south of the British Colony of Virginia and north of Spanish Florida. He granted the land to eight lords proprietor, namely Edward, Earl of Clarendon; George, Duke of Albemarle; William, Lord Craven; John, Lord Berkeley; Anthony, Lord Ashley; Sir George Carteret; Sir William Berkeley; and Sir John Colleton.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Charles granted the land in return for their financial and political assistance in restoring him to the throne in 1660. The granted lands included all or part of the present-day U.S. states of North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. The northern half of the Province of Carolina differed significantly from the southern half, and transportation and communication were difficult between the two regions, so a separate deputy governor was appointed to administer the northern region in 1691. The partition of Carolina into the provinces of North and South Carolina was completed at a meeting of the lords proprietor held at Craven House in London on December 7, 1710, although the same proprietors continued to control both colonies. The first provincial governor of North Carolina was Edward Hyde.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Unrest against the proprietors in South Carolina in 1719 led King George I to directly appoint a governor in that province, whereas the lords proprietor continued to appoint the governor of North Carolina. Both Carolinas became Crown colonies in 1729, after the British government had tried for nearly 10 years to locate and buy out seven of the eight lords proprietor. The remaining one-eighth share of the province was retained by members of the Carteret family until 1776, part of the Province of North Carolina known as the Granville District. In 1755 Benjamin Franklin, the Postmaster-General for the American colonies, appointed James Davis as the first postmaster of North Carolina colony at New Bern. In October of that year the North Carolina Assembly awarded Davis the contract to carry the mail between Wilmington, North Carolina and Suffolk, Virginia.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1660: 1660 Milestone — Charles granted the land in return for their financial and political assistance in restoring him to the throne in 1660.
2. 1663: 1663 Milestone — "Carolina" is taken from the Latin word for "Charles" (Carolus), honoring King Charles I, and was first named in the 1663 Royal Charter granting to Edward, Earl of Clarendon; George, Duke of Albemarle; William, Lord Craven; John, Lord Berkeley; Anthony, Lord Ashley; Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkeley, and Sir John Colleton the right to settle lands in the present-day U.
3. 1691: 1691 Milestone — The northern half of the Province of Carolina differed significantly from the southern half, and transportation and communication were difficult between the two regions, so a separate deputy governor was appointed to administer the northern region in 1691.
4. 1710: 1710 Milestone — The partition of Carolina into the provinces of North and South Carolina was completed at a meeting of the lords proprietor held at Craven House in London on December 7, 1710, although the same proprietors continued to control both colonies.
5. 1712: 1712 Milestone — The Province of North Carolina, originally known as the Albemarle Settlements, was a proprietary colony and later crown colony of Great Britain that existed in North America from 1712 to 1776.
6. 1719: 1719 Milestone — Unrest against the proprietors in South Carolina in 1719 led King George I to directly appoint a governor in that province, whereas the lords proprietor continued to appoint the governor of North Carolina.
7. 1729: 1729 Milestone — Both Carolinas became Crown colonies in 1729, after the British government had tried for nearly 10 years to locate and buy out seven of the eight lords proprietor.
8. 1755: 1755 Milestone — In 1755 Benjamin Franklin, the Postmaster-General for the American colonies, appointed James Davis as the first postmaster of North Carolina colony at New Bern.
9. 1776: 1776 Milestone — The monarch of Great Britain was represented by the Governor of North Carolina, until the American colonies declared independence on July 4, 1776.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Province of North Carolina

True or False: “The initial charter for the Province of Carolina was granted by King Charles II to eight lords proprietor in 1663.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): This charter established the proprietary nature of the colony, granting rights to multiple noble families.

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