Synthesis of Seals used during Colonial Times
The state used four seals successively during the colonial period. The first great seal of the state of North Carolina dates back to 1663 after Charles II granted a charter to eight gentlemen from England who helped him regain the throne. The charter gave a description of the territory that was granted to the eight Lords Proprietors, which was to be called “Carolina” in honor of Charles I. This seal was used before a state government was ever implemented. The seal was used in conjunction with all newly acquired domains of America and on all official papers. This seal can be found in the British Public Record Office in London but there is no official description. But this description can be found in the book, the history of the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina. The front side has on it a shield bearing two cornucopias crossed, filled with products and for support an Indian chief with arrow in hand on the right and an Indian squaw with a papoose by her side and in her arms on the left. The crest is a stag upon a wreath above a helmet from which there is a mantling. The motto on the scroll below the shield and the words around the shield can also be found in the description. The backside of the shield contains the coat of arms for each of the Lords Proprietors. The seal of the Lords Proprietors was only used for a short time, which was from 1663 to 1665 when the government of Albemarle County was organized and a new seal was adopted. (Grimes, 1957)
The seal adopted by the government of Albemarle County was the backside of the seal of the Lords Proprietors. The word Albemarle was added to the seal in all capitals between the coats of arms and unlike the seal of the Lords Proprietors it had only one side. The government of Albemarle County first used this seal but as the colony grew, it became the seal for the entire province of North Carolina. This seal was used until shortly after the Crown bought the province of North Carolina. However, during the time of the Cary Rebellion the seal was not used. Thomas Cary used his family arms as a seal for official papers. President William Glover also used his own private seal during his presidency. The Albemarle seal was used from 1665 to 1729 when it became inapplicable after North Carolina became a royal colony. (North carolina office of archives and history, 2008)
When the Albemarle seal could no longer be used it was recommended by the Board of Trade that the king order that a public seal be made for the Province of North Carolina. The recommendation by the Board of Trade had been made in early February and was approved by the king later that same month. The Board of Trade presented the king with a draft of the seal in March and the king approved it in April with only one minor change to be made. The seal was to be made to depict Liberty introducing plenty to the king and the background was to be an outline map of the coastal region of North Carolina with a ship off to the side. There was also a motto to be found on the bottom of the seal and an inscription around the circumference of the seal. The reverse side of the seal was to depict the kings’ coat of arms, crown, garter, supporters, and motto with an inscription around the circumference. Rollos, the chief engraver of the seal, was ordered make a silver seal according to the draft. The old seal of the colony had to be used when the council met at Edenton in March of 1731 because the arrival of the new seal had been delayed. The seal arrived to the colony in late April. This seal that was made by Rollos was used from 1730 until 1767. (Grimes, 1957)
Governor Tryon, at a meeting of the council, in December 1767, produced a new great seal of the province with the kings’ royal warrant bearing a date at the court of St. James the ninth day of July 1767. The previous seal was returned to the kings’ council office at Whitehall. The warrant was accompanied by a description of the new seal and instructions that it was to be used in sealing all patents and grants of land, and all public instruments passed in the kings’ name for service within the province. There are only a few minor differences in this seal and the one used before it. These differences are that Liberty is now on the opposite side of the king and they are both looking down on plenty and plenty is now kneeling. The ship is also in a slightly different place on the new seal. The motto and the inscription on both seals are the same. The reverse side of the two seals differs only because of slight change in the inscription of the newer seal. This seal was used until 1776.
The seal adopted by the government of Albemarle County was the backside of the seal of the Lords Proprietors. The word Albemarle was added to the seal in all capitals between the coats of arms and unlike the seal of the Lords Proprietors it had only one side. The government of Albemarle County first used this seal but as the colony grew, it became the seal for the entire province of North Carolina. This seal was used until shortly after the Crown bought the province of North Carolina. However, during the time of the Cary Rebellion the seal was not used. Thomas Cary used his family arms as a seal for official papers. President William Glover also used his own private seal during his presidency. The Albemarle seal was used from 1665 to 1729 when it became inapplicable after North Carolina became a royal colony. (North carolina office of archives and history, 2008)
When the Albemarle seal could no longer be used it was recommended by the Board of Trade that the king order that a public seal be made for the Province of North Carolina. The recommendation by the Board of Trade had been made in early February and was approved by the king later that same month. The Board of Trade presented the king with a draft of the seal in March and the king approved it in April with only one minor change to be made. The seal was to be made to depict Liberty introducing plenty to the king and the background was to be an outline map of the coastal region of North Carolina with a ship off to the side. There was also a motto to be found on the bottom of the seal and an inscription around the circumference of the seal. The reverse side of the seal was to depict the kings’ coat of arms, crown, garter, supporters, and motto with an inscription around the circumference. Rollos, the chief engraver of the seal, was ordered make a silver seal according to the draft. The old seal of the colony had to be used when the council met at Edenton in March of 1731 because the arrival of the new seal had been delayed. The seal arrived to the colony in late April. This seal that was made by Rollos was used from 1730 until 1767. (Grimes, 1957)
Governor Tryon, at a meeting of the council, in December 1767, produced a new great seal of the province with the kings’ royal warrant bearing a date at the court of St. James the ninth day of July 1767. The previous seal was returned to the kings’ council office at Whitehall. The warrant was accompanied by a description of the new seal and instructions that it was to be used in sealing all patents and grants of land, and all public instruments passed in the kings’ name for service within the province. There are only a few minor differences in this seal and the one used before it. These differences are that Liberty is now on the opposite side of the king and they are both looking down on plenty and plenty is now kneeling. The ship is also in a slightly different place on the new seal. The motto and the inscription on both seals are the same. The reverse side of the two seals differs only because of slight change in the inscription of the newer seal. This seal was used until 1776.
All photos on this page came from the book The Old North State Fact Book
Citation for the book:
North carolina office of archives and history. (2008). the old north state fact book. Raleigh:
Citation for the book:
North carolina office of archives and history. (2008). the old north state fact book. Raleigh: