Bedford County

A bill was introduced in the Assembly on November 23, 1768, to create Bedford County and Trinity Parish from parts of Rowan and Orange Counties, but the bill was rejected on December 1. The Bethabara Diary (Records of the Moravians, 1, 381) for December 18, however, reports that a county by the name was est. "last year" in "Lord Granville's part of the Province." Another bill to erect a Bedford County and St. John Parish from the upper part of Tyrrell County and the lower part of Halifax County was considered on November 6, 1769, but it was not passed. The name probably was intended to honor John Russell, Duke of Bedford (1710-71), Lord President of the Council, 1763-65.