i 
HISTORY 
OF 
THE DIVIDING LINE: 
RUN IN THE YEAR 1728. 
Before 1 enter upon the journal of the line between Virginia and North 
Carolina, it will be necessary to clear the way to it, by showing how the other 
British colonies on the Main have, one after another, been carved out of 
Virginia, by grants from his majesty’s royal predecessors. All that part of 
the northern American continent now under the dominion of the king of 
Great Britain, and stretching quite as far as the cape of Florida, went at first 
under the general name of Virginia. 
The only distinction, in those early days, was, that all the coast to the 
southward of Chesapeake bay was called South Virginia, and all to the 
northward of it, North Virginia. 
The first settlement of this fine country was owing to that great ornament 
of the British nation, sir Walter Raleigh, who obtained a grant thereof from 
queen Elizabeth of ever-glorious memory, by letters patent, dated March 
the 25th, 1584. 
But whether that gentleman ever made a voyage thither himself is uncer- 
tain ; because those who have favoured the public with an account of his life 
mention nothing of it. However, thus much may be depended on, that sir 
Walter invited sundry persons of distinction to share in his charter, and join 
their purses with his in the laudable project of fitting out a colony to Virginia. 
Accordingly, two ships were sent away that very year, under the command 
of his good friends Amidas and Barlow, to take possession of the country in 
the name of his royal mistress, the queen of England. 
These worthy commanders, for the advantage of the trade winds, shaped 
their course first to the Charibbe islands, thence stretching away by the 
gulf of Florida, dropped anchor not far from Roanoke inlet. They ventured 
ashore near that place upon an island now called Colleton island, where they 
set up the arms of England, and claimed the adjacent country in right of their 
sovereign lady, the queen; and this ceremony being duly performed, they 
kindly invited the neighbouring Indians to traffick with them. 
These poor people at first approached the English with great caution, hav- 
ing heard much of the treachery of the Spaniards, and not knowing but these 
strangers might be as treacherous as they. But, at length, discovering a kind 
of good nature in their looks, they ventured to draw near, and barter their 
skins and furs for the bawbles and trinkets of the English. 
These first adventurers made a very profitable voyage, raising at least a 
thousand per cent, upon their cargo. Amongst other Indian commodities, 
