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Bertie Life in the Old Field
by Gregory Seaworthy (George Higby Throop)
A description of life in Bertie County along
the Chowan River in the 1840's...
George Higby Throop (1792-March 9, 1896)
George Throop wrote both prose and poetry while devoting himself to teaching throughout the
Southern States. He was hired as a tutor in late 1840 for the Capehart children, and especially for William Rhodes
Capehart, the son of George Washington and Susan Bryan (Martin) Capehart
living at Scotch Hall. Returning north after his stay there, he recorded his experiences in this autobiographical novel
published under the pseudonym Capt. Gregory Seaworthy called Bertie:
Life in the Old Field. Mr. Throop had been hired in late
1840 as a tutor for the Capehart children at Scotch Hall. In his novel, Throop gives descriptions of not only the house, but also
the activities of its inhabitant.
"The opening scene is Norfolk, with Seaworthy [Capt] and Matters [Professor] heading toward Bertie and Cypress Shore [fictitious name of Scotch Hall]...six miles
from Merry Hill post office. On a small boat they are towed through the Dismal Swamp Canal (p.39) and pass a hotel
not far from Lake Drummond (p.45). Two days later they arrive at "the pretty village of Edenton"
(pg.52) Seaworthy proceeds to Plymouth, thus passing very near Cypress Shore, which 'is not two hundred yards
from the head of the sound, between the mouths of the Roanoke and the Chowan' (p 52) and within walking
distance of 'the mouth of the Cashie' (p 91). He continues to Windsor to execute a commission for a New York
merchant to his factor in Bertie (p 55)
On March 29, 1849, after a three hours' ride on horseback through the pine woods, he arrives at Cypress Shore."....."Beyond the house lies the beautiful sound, on a
calm day with 'not a ripple on its broad surface. To the right were the mouths of the Roanoke and the
Cashie. They were barely discernible among the low cypresses that lined the
shore .....Steamers and sailing boats are often gliding past. In the
distance is the familiar light-boat guarding the entrance to the
Roanoke.
"The plantation of Colonel Smallwood [ficticous name], who had come to Bertie from Virginia, spreads over ten thousand
acres. Employing some 250 Negroes, it has an annual yield of about a hundred bales of cotton and fifty thousand bushels of corn (pg 76) Among the animals are
'horses, mules, sheep, and cows'. The slaves are happy for they are provided with allowances, good quarters
and a hospital (pg 198)
For six to eight weeks every spring the Colonel's interest turns to his near-by shad and herring fishery, where he has built twenty fisherman's cabins as well as a guest house
in which he entertains his friends. Most of the fishing is done at night with
torches ablaze.
The families of the eastern Bertie residents lead no dull lives. When not visiting and dining with one another, they go fishing in Salmon Creek (p 223) or
fox-hunting (p68). There is 'the excitement of the mail-days', when 'a score of country gentlemen' lounge about the store, talking
and 'awaiting the arrival of the mail' (pg 131)
On court days they go to the county seat to observe a variety of activity (merchantil and entertainment). "On another day the gentlemen return to Windsor Muster Day, when
the local military 'some fifteen men and possibly 50 in the ranks of the infantry parade to the music of
'a shrill, squeaking, squealing, singing, broken-winded clarionet' (pg 169.) Exciting also are the
big quarterly church meetings at one of the churches, where everyone has his fill of preaching and feasting and visiting"
In summer, 'about the middle of July', the Colonel exports all his household and friends to Nag's Head in a steamer loaded with
furniture, live-stock and passengers.
"The Mysterious Case of George Higby Throop".
The North Carolina Historical Review. vol 33, 1956
contributed by
Virginia Crilley used on this site with
her permission.
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