1. 4. The Social History of Mainland Hyde Co

2. 4.1 Chesapeake Bay Origins EurAms arrived from Chesapeake Bay are in Virginia & Maryland & Hyde retains close trade & transportation ties. EurAms arrive in Hyde Co 17thC – rich landowners + poor indentured servants 1860s indentured servants stop arriving, tobacco price falls, making production lucrative only on large plantations. Planters begin using African slaves by 1700.

3. Settlement of Hyde Co Hyde Co occupied by Algonkian Native Americans 1704/5 Earliest EurAm settlement in Hyde Co 1711-15 Algonkians join Tuscaroras (Iroquoian) in uprising against EurAm settlers, and are enslaved and settled in Mattamuskeet reservation in Hyde Co

4. Early Hist Hyde Co Native Americans sold off entire reservation by 1792 Hyde Co planters brought slaves with them or bought them asap. 1754 – 183 taxable slaves in Hyde Co Hyde Co population –1755 20% black –1767 23% black

5. Slaves in Hyde Co Density of slave population relatively low, and they lived on smaller plantations, had more contact with whites NC lacked ports for slave ships; so slaves came from elsewhere on coast Hyde Co soil not good for tobacco Population fairly stable since 1820 w/ 5,000 Hyde Co residents and 35-40% AfAms

6. Transportation & Economy Vast, impenetrable swamps One road connecting Hyde w/ world By 1790 network of local roads in Hyde Co Most travel by canal Wide economic disparities, only private schools Economy based on corn, fish, oysters, sweet potatoes, wheat, onions, cotton, poultry, dairy cattle, lumber No tobacco or manufacturing

7. Post Emancipation Former slaves remained, residential segregation persisted Timber boomed and collapsed, various commercial schemes failed. 1872 First public schools 1930 First paved road linking Hyde Co to rest of NC Agriculture mechanized, people begin to work, study, marry outside Hyde Co

8. Post WWII 1954 Supreme Court desegregation ruling ignored until 1965 AfAms protested forced integration and boycotted school 1968-9 Weak economy, high poverty rate Economy based on agribusiness & seafood

9. Disscussion point Hyde Co represents a distinctive, long- standing biracial situation – offers an exceptional perspective on earlier & contemporary devel of AfAm speech, not only in Hyde Co, but elsewhere as well.