While researching some geographic problems in north-eastern SC (Kingston
[present Horry County], I was reading an old map titled _A New and Accurate
Map of North Carolina in North America_ which is dated as created in 1779 and
is presently in the collections of the University of Georgia.
This 1779 map clearly and distinctly records a county by the name of PELHAM
located west of New Hanover, east of Cumberland/Bladen, north of Brunswick,
and southwest of Onslow. A waterway named "Black River" runs through this
county at the meeting of the "NW Cape Fear River".
Does anyone have any historical information about Pelham County North
Carolina in 1779? It is not listed in my gazeteers and is probably a
significant place-name for Unknown County references... A web search of
"Pelham County North Carolina" returned nothing. The Pelham Township and
"populated place" in present Caswell County is too far north to be related.
A 1780 map in the same collection shows PELHAM to be near the town of Exeter
NC (which may have been in either Pelham or New Hanover [prob. now Pender].
Pender was created much later or I might assume a spelling error by the
cartographer.
Comments, references, and sources appreciated.
Carson Turner