Wake Genealogy Watch

North Carolina was one of the last colonies to publish local newspapers. The first being established in New Bern in 1751. James Davis of Virginia came to New Bern in 1749 to print currency and official documents. He started the No'th Carolina Gazette  (original name) in 1751 from New Bern and published in various forms until his death in 1785.  The magazine version of Davis' North Carolina Gazette c. 1764 View at NCDigital Mr. Davis' paper was followed shortly by two Wilmington papers. The North Carolina and Weekly Post-boy published by Andrew Steuart from October 1764. Next was the Cape Fear Mercury published by Adam Boyd from October 1769.  Raleigh finally entered the newspaper game  in October 1799  when William Boylan relocated his Fayetteville Minerva to the capital city and rechristened it the Raleigh Minerva . It was joined that same year by the Raleigh Register published by Joseph Gales. Both of these local papers started well after the end of the R...