History
Native Americans of the Mississippian culture inhabited the county long before Europeans arrived in the New World. The largestMound Builder settlement was at Joara, a 12-acre (49,000 m2) site and regional chiefdom near present-day Morganton. It was the center of the largest Native American settlement in North Carolina, dating from about 1000 A.D. and expanding into the next centuries.[2]
In 1567 a Spanish expedition arrived and built Fort San Juan, claiming the area for the colony of Spanish Florida. They had been sent by the governor at Santa Elena, Parris Island inSouth Carolina. Captain Juan Pardo, leader of the expedition, left about 30 soldiers at the fort while continuing his exploration. In the spring of 1568 the Indians attacked the fort, killing the soldiers and burning the fort. Introduction of European diseases and takeover by larger tribes led to Native American abandonment of the area. It would be centuries before the next Europeans - English, Scots-Irish and Germans - attempted to settle here again.[2]
In 1777, Burke county was formed from Rowan County. It was named for Thomas Burke, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1781 and Governor of North Carolinafrom 1781 to 1782. The western Piedmont was settled by many Scots-Irish and German immigrants in the mid- to late 18th century. They were generally yeoman farmers and fiercely independent. Very few families were slaveholders.
The county was divided over the years to form other jurisdictions. In 1791 parts of Burke County and Rutherford County were combined to form Buncombe County. In 1833 parts of Burke County and Buncombe County were combined to form Yancey County. In 1841 parts of Burke County and Wilkes County were combined to form Caldwell County. In 1842 additional parts of Burke County and Rutherford County were combined to form McDowell County. Finally, in 1861 parts of Burke County, Caldwell County, McDowell County,Watauga County, and Yancey County were combined to form Mitchell County.
Burke County citizens participated in the Battle of Kings Mountain that pitted Appalachian frontiersmen against the loyalist forces of the British commander Ferguson at Kings Mountain, SC in the American Revolution, rather than waiting for him to come to them, militiamen throughout the Blue Ridge crossed over the mountains and thus were called the "Over Mountain Men". (Clark, "Burke County," p37-39)
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Submitted by Cindy Young
North Carolina State Archives (Mars)
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/archives/
Title: File No. 4555, DAVID GOINS
Parent Records: State Records
Secretary of State Record Group
Land Office: Land Warrants, Plats of Survey, and Related Records
BURKE COUNTY
Years: 1824, 1827
Call Number: S.108.559; Frames: 436-441
Site: Archives Search Room (Raleigh)
MARS Id: 12.14.36.4582 (Folder)
Genres/Forms: Warrants, Plats
Index Terms: Geographic Names: Johns River
Personal Names: David Goins
Land Grant Info: Acres: 50
Grant Number: 5212
Issued: Jan. 26, 1827
Entry Number: 8483
Entered: Jan. 28, 1824
Book, Page: 137:115
Location: Johns River
