Hinton's Quarter

… former site of Johnston County courthouse, NW Johnston County E of Clayton on the S side of Neuse River. Probably named for John Hinton, who owned much land in the area. A courthouse was est. there in 1759 or 1760 and remained until 1771, when it was moved to Smithfield, which see, after the formation of Wake County. Gov. William Tryon, on May 3, 1771, at Smith's Ferry a short distance e, reviewed troops from Wilmington and New Bern en route to suppress the Regulators.