Bath in Beaufort County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
First Post Road
Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 19, 2013
1. First Post Road Marker
Erected 1942 by Department of Conservation and Development. (Marker Number B-21.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History, and the Postal Mail and Philately series lists.
Location. 35° 28.543′ N, 76° 48.829′ W. Marker is in Bath, North Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on South Main Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bath NC 27808, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Public Library (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Palmer-Marsh House (about 400 feet away); James Adams Floating Theatre (about 400 feet away); Alexander Stewart (about 600 feet away); John Garzia (about 600 feet away); St. Thomas Church (about 600 feet away); John F. Tompkins (about 600 feet away); Matthew Rowan (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bath.
Regarding First Post Road.
this page online
A year later, in April 1739, the South Carolina Gazette recorded the establishment of a postal route from Charleston to “Georgetown, Cape Fear, Edenton, and so through the Northern Colonies” that would run on the 20th day of every month. In May 1739, the reported that the road running from Edenton to Charleston had been finished. The following month the paper noted that a continuous route was then in existence from Boston to Charleston.
The exact route of the road through North Carolina remains something of a mystery. However, it is known to have passed near or through the present-day towns of Corapeake, Edenton, Bath, New Bern, and Belgrade, and through Brunswick County before entering South Carolina. The route apparently fell into disrepair in the 1740s and 1750s. As the British colonies were drawn into the War of Jenkins’s Ear and the French and Indian War, colonial legislatures could scarcely afford to support the post road. Furthermore, oftentimes it was quicker and more efficient to simply
Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 19, 2013
2. First Post Road Marker as seen on South Main Street, looking south
In 1765, when William Tryon succeeded Arthur Dobbs as royal governor, North Carolina was the only colony that did not have an official post system, leaving a gap in communications between the northern colonies, South Carolina, and Georgia. Tryon attempted to ameliorate the situation by funding the rebuilding and maintenance of the route, but by 1774 the post road was only partially operable. That same year the first east-west postal route in North Carolina was established between Wilmington and Cross Creek. (North Carolina Office of Archives & History — Department of Cultural Resources)
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, April 19, 2013
3. First Post Road Marker looking north along South Main Street
Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 609 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 16, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
