One of Oldest Homes Still Stands in East Carteret This is the 139-year-old home of Mrs. Hilda Royal Gillikin of Smyrna, known as the Hancock place. An example of the workman ship of early days, all doors are extra high to ivoid stooping by the tallest men of the period. Editor's Note: This historical sketch was compiled by William Moore Davis of Smyrna and read before the County Historical So ciety at the April meeting held at Smyrna. Years ago Carteret County had many historic homes, but with pro gress at the door, many of these homes have been torn down. Yet there is still one old home, unre ached by modern roads, that has been left intact. This is the 139 year-old home of Mrs. Hilda Royal Gillikin of Smyrna. Though there have been some re pairs in the last few years that Mrs. Gillikin has lived there, one can still gaze upon this old house as one of the few remaining in Carteret County. Long before the Revolutionary War, King George of England granted to Cromwall Hancock over 140 acres of land some place in the New World But before he could start to locate his land, the Re volutionary War broke out. Crom wall fought at the battle of Boston Harbor, but no honors were attri buted to him. Instead his cousin, John Hancock, the first and best signer of the Declaration of In dependence, went down in history. After the war, Cromwall started south to look for his large tract of land He found his property to be a peninsula jutting out into Jarrett's Bay, in the eastern part of Carteret County. At his death, Hancock divided his estate among his child ren, Sally, James, Cromwall, Wil liam, Abbie. A son, Benjamin had been lost at sea in a storm. In the early part of 1818, William Hancock at the age of 27, married Hannah Shackleford. Between the years 1820 and 1822, he had a fine house built by his six slaves, on the peninsula jutting out into Jarrett's Bay. Great logs cut from Pool's swamp were used to form the framework of the si* room house, which was held together with wood en pegs. William Hancock had the high walls plastered and a great fire place built, in which to cook and for the heating of the house. The fireplace with its 135 year-old chim ney and its handcarved mantel, which was built by the grandfather of George R. Wallace of Morehead City, can still be seen today, partly covered with ivy. William and Hannah Hancock had seven children. The first two died in 1823 as infants. The other five were John, Samuel, William, Mariam and Sabra. The youngest daughter, Sabra, was married to Whittington Davis on Valentine's day in 1857. To this union was born ten child ren, Lottie, William, Charles, George, Hannah, Norman, Samuel and twins, Nannie and Louis. One other child, Milton, died in infancy. Miss Lottie, the oldest daughter never married. She became one of the early school teachers of the county. She first joined the faculty at Hatteras. With the opening of the Graham Academy at Marshall berg she became a member of the faculty, teaching in this institution until its close. While teaching at the Academy, Miss Lottie bought a parlor organ, one of the first instruments of this sort cast of Beaufort. The Hancock house became the center for all young people in the Smyrna area to enjoy the organ and thecommunity j singing. The Star Methodist Church and the Graham Academy were the chief interests of Miss Lottie dur ing her active days. She died in 1942 at the grand old age of 84. The twin, Nannie, was married to Walter Moore Royal of Marshall berg in 1895. To them were born See OLD HOME, Page 5, Section 2 He's the picture of kjtoJtk because he romps on WARM FLOORJ^ his home is heated with a gitujien. OIL HOME HEATER ?IXQLKlt OUARANTBM MOM AND HOTTER HXAT OVKR TOUR FLOORS f *j*y hram* cmIhi it ? fcwHM *1 tkt 15,206.19 General Expenses 20,958.02 Police Department 21,857.43 Fire Department 7,729.14 Street Department - 29,671.89 $ 95,422.67 Debt Service Fundi Bond Retirement $ 3,680.00 Bond Interest 10,801.36 Bank Charges 38.20 14,519.56 Cemetery Fundi Deed $ 1.25 County Property Tax 16.17 Surveying . 35.00 52.42 Miscellaneous! Advances to Pay Salaries ? Hurricane Fund $12,885.50 Retirement of Anticipation Note 5,500.00 18,385.50 Total Disbursements ..... $128,380.15 Cask Balance (Overdraft) June 30, 19S9 (3,884.20) Total Disbursements and Balance $124,495.95 CERTIFICATE We have made an examination of the financial records of the Town of Beaufort, North Carolina, for fiscal year ended June 30, 1959 and have filed our Audit Report thereon with the Town Commissioners. The above condensed Financial Statements were prepared from otfr Audit Report and are in agreement with our report and the Books of Account WILLIAMS A WALL By: Frank P. Wall, Certified Public Accountant i