TARBORO Motorists drive down Main Street in downtown Tarboro.
Tarboro is the ninth-oldest town in the
September of the same year, Joseph and Ester
and some were not sold for the 40 shillings
state and served the area as an important
Howell deeded 150 acres of their property
price.
colonial river port and thriving trade center
to the Rev. James Moir, Lawrence Toole, a
Tarboro officially became the Edgecombe
until the Civil War.
merchant, Capts. Aquilla Sugg and Elisha
County seat in 1764 and the General Assembly
Battle and Benjamin Hart for five shillings and
met there once in 1787 and again in 1987.
one peppercorn.
President George Washington is known to
Although it is generally agreed that the area around Tarboro was settled by 1733, Edward Mosley's map of that year shows only
As commissioners, these men were to lay
Tuscarora Indians in the area. In early days, the
out a town with lots of not more than one-
area was widely known as "Tawboro,” a name
half acre and streets not wider than 80 feet,
Nowadays, Tarboro has slightly less than
attributed to "Taw,” the Indian word for "river
with 12 lots and a 50-acre "common" set
11,000 residents and is governed by a mayor
of health.”
aside for public use. Lots were to be sold for
and council and a town staff that manages the day-to-day operations.
have slept in Tarboro during a visit on his 1791 Southern tour.
Tarrburg, as the town was called on maps
two pounds, with the proceeds to be turned
of 1770-75, was chartered Nov. 30, 1760,
over to the Howells; however, full payment
Candace Bailey Owens and her late
as Tarborough by the General Assembly. In
was not received for all of the 109 lots sold,
husband, Ambrose Lloyd Owens Jr., came to
48
