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Thanks, Fletcher's published material mainly uses fictional names. But I have an interesting suggestion. I still think the 1680 date is wrong and can find no substantiating documentation. However, Colonial era Higher Court records do indicate settlement in the Scuppernong River area as early as 1695 and possibly as early as 1688 - the earliest dated 1704 grants seem to be confirming earlier habitation. I found a series of deeds and one will establishing a chain of custody over a plantation know as Hearts Delight and owned by one of these 1704 grantees (Edward Hassell). It seems likely this land is exactly or near present day Columbia. Hassell sells and buys back this land in 1763 - 1765, dies in 1772 leaving it to Elisha Hassell. Elisa dies young in 1773 and forced sell of land for debt is to Zebedee Hassell. Zebedee sells a few lots in 1800 to the established town of Elizabeth which becomes Columbia. Recent publications render the term as "Heart's Delight" but early deeds have it as "Hart's Delight." I first thought the early form the misspelling of the term until my biology friend pointed out that "Hart" is an old English word for deer - specifically a red deer over five years old. In this light it seems that the more modern spelling with the "e" inserted is wrong and the plantation was "Hart's Delight" denoting a place with an abundance of red deer. Certainly seems a logical explanation of the area (then and probably now). Somewhere along the line Hart became Heart and the meaning misconstrued. Or so I will contend. I feel better about the phrase now but the exploration voyage and two people listed still seem wrong and I have uncovered no evidence to suggest otherwise. I do think that the Higher Court material points to habitation in the late 1680s early 1690s - which makes sense. I was bothered that south Albemarle in the Pamlico region and further was being settled but this region bypassed. Now I know that is not true. I have tracked down most of the bibliographic references provide by David Earl Davis in his Tyrrell County history. None mention the 1680 date. I have not found it in any printed history of NC (and I am checking as many as I can as I go). If anyone finds such a reference I would be much obliged for the assist. Sincerely, Mr. A. Christopher Meekins Correspondence Archivist Office of Archives and History 4614 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4614 chris.meekins@ncdcr.gov<mailto:chris.meekins@ncdcr.gov> 919-807-7310 http://www.archives.ncdcr.gov<http://www.archives.ncdcr.gov/> *My Opinions are not necessarily the opinions of my agency.* This message (and any response to this message) is being sent on a state e-mail system and may be subject to monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement personnel.
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