Tyrrell County was formed in 1729 from Chowan, Bertie,
Currituck and Pasquotank, and was named in honor of Sir John Tyrrell,
who had been one of the Lords Proprietors. The southern boundary of
Tyrrell County with Edgecombe and Beaufort Counties was not firmly
established until 1741. Court was held in private homes until 1751,
when it was held at the courthouse on Kindrick's Creek (Mackey's Creek)
near Roper. In 1774 Martin County was formed from Tyrrell and Halifax
Counties. Subsequently the courthouse was moved to a more central
location on the Scuppernong River, where court was held from 1777 until
1800. Elizabeth Town was laid out in 1793 and the first court was held
there in 1800. Elizabeth Town was renamed Columbia in 1801 and was
designated the county seat in 1802.
Washington County was formed from Tyrrell County in 1799 and another
small portion of Tyrrell County was annexed to Washington County in
1801. Dare County was formed from Tyrrell, Currituck and Hyde Counties
in 1870.