Theophilus Weeks

Theophilus Weeks (1708 - Jan, 1772), was a soldier in the French and Indian War, and he was the founder of the town of Swansboro, North Carolina. He was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts, about 1708, and came to North Carolina in about 1730 with his family, settling on Hadnots Creek.

At about the same time, another family from Falmouth, Jonathan Green, Sr., and his brother Isaac, settled on the other side of the White Oak River, in what is now Onslow county. Onslow was formed from New Hanover and Carteret counties in 1734. The White Oak River forms the boundary between Onslow and Carteret counties.

Jonathan Green, Sr., died about 1735, at the age of about 35 years. On 7 October 1735, Theophilus Weeks married his widow, Mrs. Grace Green, and moved into the Green plantation. In time, he bought out Isaac Green’s half interest in the property and the latter returned to Massachusetts. The plantation was located on the Onslow (west) side of the mouth of the White Oak River, and was named “The Wharf.” Theophilus and Grace Weeks had 4 known children.

At a court held 5 April 1743, Theophilus proves rights for 8 white persons belonging to his family. It is likely that he must have had a daughter or two, although their names are not known.

The religious affiliation of Theophilus Weeks is not known, however, he is descended from the Reverend John Robinson, pastor of the Pilgrims in Holland. Considering that many other members of the Weeks family in the Hadnot’s Creek area were deeply involved in the early Baptist movement, it is probable that Theophilus Weeks and his family were among them.

Not much is known about the occupation of Theophilus Weeks prior to 1751. In January, 1741 (New Style), he recorded his stock mark, which indicated agricultural interests. In 1747, Theophilus Weeks borrowed slightly over £200 from Colonel John Starkey, and used the land he had purchased from Isaac Green as security. This loan was evidently repaid by the end of the next year. There is no indication of the use Weeks made of the borrowed money.

Record is also found of him receiving two land grants in Onslow County on 6 April 1745, for one hundred acres each. On 10 April 1761, four additional grants totaling 640 acres, and on 4 May 1769, an additional 31 acres were received.

In 1754, the Onslow Regiment of Militia was organized in response to the French and Indian Wars. The regiment was divided into four companies, and Theophilus Weeks became a sergeant in Captain Stephen Lee’s company of Colonel John Starkey’s Onslow Regiment of Militia. He is listed on a roster of this unit dated 12 March 1754. It was to meet at Jonathan Milton’s residence on New River for a general muster.

In 1751, Theophilus petitioned the Onslow Court for permission to operate an ordinary, and was licensed to “keep an ordinary at his now dewelling place.” The White Oak River flows into Bogue Inlet, and this suggests that port activity was thriving at the mouth of the river, and that the Weeks’ plantation was a favorite place for seafarers to visit. He was appointed inspector of exports for Bogue Inlet in 1757, and he held that position for the rest of his life. It is significant that there is no record of any complaint ever having been lodged against him with respect to the administration of his official duties. Nor was he ever involved in any lawsuit or uncomplimentary situation so far as the records reveal.

Probably the greatest accomplishment of his life came with the founding of the town of Swansboro. His plantation, The Wharf, was an ideal location for trade and navigation, and as commerce increased, he saw the advantage it offered as a seaport.

It is not known exactly when he decided to establish a town on his property. It is possible that he considered the idea for years. His plans were finalized early in 1771, or possibly the year before.

The settlement was laid out with six streets, and contained forty-eight lots. The lots were arranged in three tiers, with sixteen lots each. Three of the streets ran basically north and south, and the other three east and west. They are known today as Front, Water, Elm, Moore, Main (originally Broad), and Church Streets. A county road extended northeastward from Broad Street to Onslow Courthouse - now Jacksonville. All the streets were thirty feet wide, except Front and Broad Streets, which were forty feet. All the original lots were 60 x 200 feet, except on the north side of Front Street. These seven water lots (numbers 10-16) extended across it to the river.

Sale of the lots went slowly, and only five of the forty-eight had been sold when Theophilus died. The Weeks home was on the west side of Broad Street (now Main), lot #7, somewhere between Front and Water Streets, just up from the wharf so he could see the ships as they came in. A dock was located nearby where ships tied up for him to inspect their cargo. Lot #6 was sold to Edward Starkey on 11 May 1771, and Lots #2 and #5 were sold to Ezekiel Hunter. Lot #11 was sold to Mrs. Mary Pitts, who received the deed for what was called “lot number 11 in the plan of a town laid out by Theophilus Weeks.” One of the town’s original houses, that of Jonathan Green, Jr.’s son, Samuel, is still standing.

The town was known by several names during its early years. Some people referred to it as Weeks Point, Weeks Landing, Weeks Wharf, The Wharf, and others as New Town. In one petition, it is called “New Town upon Bogue.” It was generally called Bogue during the Revolutionary War era. The confusion was finally settled in 1783, when it was incorporated and an act of the General Assembly officially named it Swansborough, in honor of Samuel Swann, Speaker of the Colonial Assembly and official representative of Onslow in the Assembly. The name was later shortened to Swansboro.

The exact date and cause of Theophilus Weeks’ death is unknown. It was probably in early January, 1772. He last appears in the public records on 1 January 1772, when he and his wife sold a half acre to Archibald Gillespie. When the Onslow Court met a few days later, Gillespie was appointed inspector for Bogue Inlet, “in the room of Theophilus Weeks, deceased.” His wife, Grace, died in August, 1792.

Swansboro celebrated its bicentennial in 1983. About 150 people were on hand, of whom 85 were descendants of him or his brother, Jabez. As part of the July 4 celebration, a memorial marker was dedicated to him as Swansboro’s founder.

References

* [http://www.crystalcoast.com/swansboro/CGNC/ Excerpts from Claiborne S. Young's Cruising Guide to COASTAL NORTH CAROLINA: Swansboro]
* [http://www.marin-turpin.com/aqwg17.htm#444 Selected Families and Individuals]
* [http://www.insiders.com/crystalcoast/main-overview2f.htm Newport/Western Carteret County]
* [http://www.insiders-swansboro.com/ Swansboro,North Carolina]