Caswell County (North Carolina) Bridges

Caswell County Bridges

The earliest Caswell County bridge record located (concerning Caswell County as now situated, excluding what became Person County) is dated April 27, 1796:

State of North Carolina
Caswell County Court
April Session 1796

We the Grand Jury for the County and State aforesaid do present as a grievance the want of sundry bridges in this county, therefore recommend that a bridge be built over Country Line at the most convenient place between John Grave's Mill and John Cochran's, also over Hogan's Creek at or near Middlebrooks's plantation and think it necessary that a road be opened from the Courthouse [now Yanceyville] of this County to Danville . . . .

Lancelot Johnston
William Wilson
William Stevens
James Wilson
David Herndon
John Henslee
George Barker
Boed. Florence
Dudley Gatewood
Nathl. Dickinson
John  F____
Edward Swan
William _____
James Burton
_______________

State of North Carolina
Caswell County
July Court 1797

We the jurors for the county aforesaid upon oath present the road from Hico by Mr. Smith's to the road by Thomas Wiley, also the road from or by Joseph Lewis to the road leading to Doctor Trigg's Mill that is called Graves Road, also each end of the bridge on Country Line Creek at Doctor Trigg's Mill also the bridge and road from Benager Creek to Country line Creek, also from said Creek to the Courthouse, also the road leading from the Court House by Mr. Ingram's to the fork. We also present Thomas Campbell for selling spirituous liquor without license by small measure, also Thomas Jeffery's for selling spirituous liquor without license by small measure. We also recommend to the Worshipful Court to have the jury rooms furnished with tables and seats.

John __ Forman
Rich__ Sanders
Jas. Lea
_____ _____
William Anthony
Jos. Scott
_____ _____
Jacob Graves
Robert Motherall
William Slade
James Yancey
Nathan Rice
Nathan Slade
Elijah Antony
Isaac Cantrill
_______________

In 1814, James Burton contracted to build a bridge across Hogan's Creek between what would become Yanceyville and Danville, Virginia "at the place where the bridge now stands, to be built of good substantial materials about one hundred and four feet long, one foot lower than the old one except at the ends which are to be the same height with the ends of the old one to have it completed by October Court next and keep it in good repair seven years . . . ." He was to be paid $118.50.

Presumably, a bridge at this location continued and is the site of the current "modern" bridge over Hogan's Creek on old Highway 86 north of Providence, Caswell County, North Carolina.
_______________

Leasburg Road: No Bridge Over Country Line Creek

The road between Yanceyville and Leasburg crosses Country Line Creek. For many years there was no bridge, only a ford. In the 1820s, concerned citizens petitioned for a bridge, stating:

"[T]hat there is no bridge over that part of Country Line Creek over which the road leading from Leasburg and communicating with the main Caswell Road passes, that there is no bridge for some miles distant above or below the said point in consequence of which, great inconvenience arises to travelers and a numerous portion of citizens residing in that part of the County as from the rapidity and size of the said creek, whenever freshets overrun it is often rendered impassable for some days at a time. . . ."
_______________

Early Rattlesnake Creek Reference (1828)

Caswell County, NC

Agreeable to an order to us, we have proceeded to let the building of a bridge across Rattlesnake Creek at a place to be designated for that purpose, and Dabney Terry being last & lowest bidder did under take [sic] the same at $67.50 and has completed the same according to contract, and this will authorize the said Terry to receive the above amount upon his giving a bond & security for the keeping up the same for seven years from this date. Given under our hand this 29 Dec 1828

Stephen Dodson [Seal]
James Sanders [Seal]
_______________

Source: Stewart E. Caswell County North Carolina Bridge Records 1787-1872. Morrisville (North Carolina): Lulu Press, 2009. Print.