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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  John Lawson Marker, Bath. Photo by Mike Wintermantel, courtesy of HMdb.org

  • Monument Name

    John Lawson Marker, Bath

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    Colonial Wars

    Historic Cultural Figures

    Colonial History

  • City

    Bath

  • County

    Beaufort

  • Description

    The marker to John Lawson is a metal pole mounted sign with a low serpentine top. It is painted black with white lettering.

  • Inscription

    JOHN LAWSON / 1674 – 1711 / NATURALIST, EXPLORER, AND SURVEYOR / GENERAL FOR THE LORDS PROPRIETORS, / JOHN LAWSON TRAVELED THE INTERIOR / OF THE CAROLINA COLONY IN 1700-1701. / HE DESCRIBED THE 550 MILE JOURNEY / IN A NEW VOYAGE TO CAROLINA, / PUBLISHED IN 1709. LAWSON WAS / KILLED BY TUSCARORA INDIANS WHILE / EXPLORING THE NEUSE RIVER IN / 1711. HIS HOUSE STOOD NEARBY. PRESENTED BY THE SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS / IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ON THE OCCASION / OF THE HISTORIC BATH TRI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION / MARCH, 2005

  • Custodian

    City of Bath

  • Dedication Date

    March 8, 2005

  • Decade

    2000s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.471890 , -76.814550 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Holman, Charles R., “Lawson, John,” NCPedia.org, (accessed January 8, 2016) Link

      Lawson, John. A New Voyage to Carolina; Containing the Exact Description and Natural History of That Country: Together with the Present State Thereof. And a Journal of a Thousand Miles, Travel'd Thro' Several Nations of Indians. Giving a Particular Account of Their Customs, Manners, &c. London: [s.n.], 1709. Link

      “John Lawson 1674 – 1711,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed January 8, 2016) Link

      “New Bath Historical Markers Dedicated,” North Carolina Historic Sites, http://www.nchistoricsites.org, (accessed January 8, 2019) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Steel

  • Sponsors

    The Society of Colonial Wars

  • Monument Dedication and Unveiling

    The dedication was held on Bath’s 300th anniversary, March 8, 2005, along with other anniversary festivities. Speakers for the event were Henry Alexander Phillips, Deputy Governor General, The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of North Carolina and N.C. Department of Cultural Resources Deputy Secretary Dr. Jeffrey Crow. Myron Banks of the society was recognized for his significant role in raising the funds for the marker.

  • Subject Notes

    John Lawson was a key figure in early North Carolina history. His 1709 book, A New Voyage to Carolina introduced much of Europe to the New World. He was an early promoter of colonialization of the Carolina territories and was a founder of Bath in 1705 and New Bern in 1710. He was killed by Tuscarora Indians while on a trip to explore the Neuse River. His death was the opening act of the Tuscarora War (1711-1715)

  • Location

    The marker is located on S. Main Street. It is on the left near a white picket fence that surrounds the historic Bonner House as one nears the intersection with Front Street. The Bonner House faces Front Street.

  • Landscape

    The marker stands on the grass, across from a little park and Bath Creek.

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