"With such a deservedly high character, the Subscribers feel justified in offering these Wheels to the Public. They will sell individual or county rights on reasonable terms. They also keep constantly on hand for sale, Pairs of Wheels, (varying in size to suit different heads of water," in this place [Fayetteville], Wilmington, Washington, and Newbern, -- and also for sale by John T. Dodson, Caswell County."
The Greensboro Patriot (Greensboro, NC), 4 April 1846.
These vertical waters wheels powered saws for cutting lumber. John T. Dodson has not been further identified, but may be associated with the Dodson family of Milton, Caswell County, North Carolina. However, the 1850 United States Federal Census shows John Dotson [Dodson], a "Mill Wright," born c. 1808 in Virginia, and living in Guilford County, North Carolina.
Click image to see a larger version.
Village Hotel in Yanceyville
When this hotel was built is not known. Nor is known its exact physical location in Yanceyville. An early reference I found is an 1846 newspaper advertising its sale:
"Village Hotel, at Yanceyville For Sale"
"On Monday the 29th June next [1846], (being the first day of the Caswell County Court,) by Virtue of a Decree of the Court of Equity, I will sell at public Auction on the premises, in the Town of Yanceyville, the Lot and Tavern recently owned and occupied by the late Capt. Wm. Graves, together with all the appurtenances.
"The main building is large and well arranged, the out houses, numerous and convenient, constituting this one of the most desirable and valuable Hotels in this State. This property is so well and favorably known that a minute discription [sic] of it is deemed needless. A credit of nine months will be given -- bond and security required, and the title retained until the purchase money is paid.
"At the same time and place, and on the same terms I will sell four other Lots in the Town of Yanceyville."
Calvin Graves, Ex'r. and Com'r.
May 15th 1846.
603-4t.
Source: The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, North Carolina), 24 June 1846.
Why total Caswell County acreage is shown as only 262,005 is not totally understood. Today we know the total acreage of the county is 273,920. Perhaps this was due to inaccurate surveys at the time. It also may be the total acreage shown excludes certain non-taxable land owned by churches (including cemeteries) and the government. However, note that certain "Town Property" was taxed.
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The Caswell County document is from: "Report of the North Carolina Comptroller of Public Accounts, for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1857."
"Statement, Exhibiting the valuation of real estate, and the Taxes derived from each subject of taxation in the several Counties of the State; also the Taxes levied by the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for County purposes, as follows."
Source: The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, North Carolina), Wednesday, 27 January 1858 [https://www.newspapers.com/image/58243336 - accessed 19 December 2022].
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Note the three county tax items: "Poor," "County Expenses," and "Schools."
The taxes allocated to the "Poor" were to fund the Caswell County Poor House and associated cemetery, which became the County Home.
Taxes allocated to "County Expenses" covered the Caswell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, the various county employees, and county property (courthouse, jail, stocks, etc.).
School taxes were to support the common schools in Caswell County.
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The tax rates for "County Expenses" and "Schools" may be confusing. Just read "do" as meaning "same as above."
Thus, the rates for "County Expenses" were "19 cents per $100 value real estate, and 41 cents per poll [head]."
The rates for "Schools" were "6 cents per $100 value real estate, and 18 cents per poll [head]."
Prominent members of the Democratic Party of Caswell County in the late 1830s. This was the party of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. The opposing party at the time was the Whig Party (established in 1834 in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson).
The Caswell County newspaper of the time that supported the Democratic Party was The Milton Spectator.
Quinton AndersonMilesville, Caswell County: How It Was Named
"When James Miles (1784-1848) and Elizabeth Burnette (Betsy) Gunn Miles (1786-1873) were first married, they built and lived in a one-room log cabin with a half-wooden, half-dirt floor, which was located south of Yanceyville, North Carolina. At that time, they were unable to afford a completely wooden floor.
"They later bought the Judge Thomas Ruffin farm in Stoney Creek Township, consisting of 1700 acres, for 50 cents an acre. Much later, the farm was divided among the twelve children. James Miles gave the name Milesville to the site where he settled and for years there was a general store and post office at the site."
Source: The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) at 382-383 (Article #489 "The Miles Family" by Alice M. Reavis).
Hugh Dobbin/Dobbins Sold Free Black Children: 1788
"There were free blacks in Caswell County by the late eighteenth century, but they sometimes had difficulty proving their status. At the county court session of January 23, 1789, Hugh Dobbin was ordered to appear before the Hillsborough Superior Court to answer a charge that he had taken into his possession 'and conveyed away three free born Negro Children.' The children were those of Cuzza Tiner (or Tyner). Dobbin was ordered to post sufficient securities in the amount of £500 for each of the children and £1,000 for himself 'payable to the State but to be void on condition that he shall do his utmost endeavour & if in his power to find the three Negro Children.' He was given until the April meeting of the court to recover the children. There appears to be no further mention of this case in the court records, and it can only be assumed that the matter was settled promptly and to the satisfaction of the justices."
Source: Powell, William S. When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County North Carolina 1777-1977. Durham (North Carolina): Moore Publishing Company, 1977, p. 525.
