Print of The Hermitage

These papers are photocopied typescripts of New Hanover County, NC Deed Book and Will Book records and private letters, copied by Elizabeth McKoy of Wilmington, NC. The deed abstracts are occasionally accompanied by sketches of the area described in the deed. Some of this research material was in Elizabeth McKoy’s book, Early New Hanover County Records, published in 1973.

These deeds describe land that eventually evolved into the Hermitage and Castle Haynes Plantations. There is also a typescript of an 1803 sale notice of the Hermitage and other of John Burgwin's real properties, that was published in the Wilmington Gazette. A print of the Hermitage as it appeared in the early 1800s is included in this group of papers.

Another typescript of a newspaper article is the death notice of Capt. John H.K. Burgwyn, son of George W.B. Burgwyn, as published in the April 21, 1847, Chronicle of Wilmington. This article uses the different spelling of Burgwin which was adopted by one branch of the family.

This spelling was also noted in a magazine article by James G. Burr, entitled "Historic Homes. THe Hermitage, Burgwin's Seat." This history of the Hermitage was published in the November, 1886 issue of The Magazine of American History.

There are also typescripts of seven letters, all written by Mary (Haynes) Waddell, wife of General Hugh Waddell, who lived at Belle Font, in Bladen County. One was from her mother, Mrs. Haynes, wife of Capt. Roger Haynes; the others are from her sister, Margaret Burgwin, wife of John Burgwin. These letters were written in 1764, 1768 and 1770.