General Nathanel Greene

History of Formation

Greene County was formed in 1799 from Glasgow.  The county was originally named for James Glasgow, but when he became publicly involved in land frauds it was changed to Greene in honor of Nathanael Greene, Washington's right-hand man.  Next to Washington, Greene is regarded as the greatest soldier of the Revolution.  He found the Battle of Guilford Court House which saved North Carolina from the British.  It is in the eastern section of the State and is bounded by Pitt, Lenoir, and Wilson counties.  The present area is 268 square miles....  In 1811 Snow Hill was laid out at the courthouse.  It is the county seat.

..., That from and after the passing of this act, the county of Glasgow shall be known and called by the name of Greene county.

Part of Craven was annexed to Greene in 1801.

..., all that part of the county of Craven lying in the fork of Great and Little Contentnea Creek, shall be, and the same is hereby added to the county of Greene to all intents and purposes whatsover: ...

An act authorizing the dividing line between the counties of Wayne and Greene to be run and established was passed in 1861.

..., beginning at the corner in the north prong of Bear Creek (or at a point as near said corner as may be established), and running a north course to Great Contentnea Creek, according to an act of the General Assembly, passed at the session of 1779, entitled an act for dividing the county of "Dobbs," and that the line thus established by said commissioners shall be held and considered as the dividing line between the said counties of Wayne and Greene.

An act reviving an act passed at the session of one thousand eight hundred and sixty and one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, establishing the line between Wayne and Greene, was passed in 1872.

..., beginning at the corner in the north prong of Bear creek (or at a point as near said corner as may be established) and run a north course to Great Contentnea creek, according to an act of the general assembly passed at the session of one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, entitled an act for dividing the county of Dobbs; and that the line thus established by said commissioners, shall be held and considered as the dividing line between the said counties of Wayne and Greene.

An act re-enacting an act to run and establish the dividing line between the counties of Greene and Wayne was passed in 1880.

... be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to run and establish the dividing line between the counties of Greene and Wayne according to an act of general assembly passed at the session of seventeen hundred and seventy-nine, entitled an act for dividing the county of Dobbs, and that the line thus established by said commissioners shall be held and considered as the dividing line between the said counties of Greene and Wayne.

The dividing line between Pitt and Greene counties was authorized to be changed in 1895.

... beginning in the old county line of Greene and Pitt, in the mouth of Middle swamp, then down the various courses of Sandy run to Little Contentnea creek; then down the said little Contentnea creek to the old line...