Sitting at the end of a twisting, turning Colington Road, Colington Island is bit off the Outer Banks beaten path. Mostly residential, it almost seems to not be a part of the Outer Banks at all.
Yet this small island to the west of Kill Devil Hills has a history all its own—a history perhaps not as robust or famous as The Lost Colony of Roanoke Island, but there is a story here nonetheless.
The island’s name comes from Sir John Colleton, Baronet of England, and how Sir John came to be associated with a small island between Albemarle Sound and Roanoke Sound is a part of the history of how England settled the Americas.
Lord Colleton received Colleton Island as part of a huge land grant from King Charles II of England in 1663. To understand why he was given the land, a short trip into the history of England is needed.
In the mid 17th century England was in political turmoil with Oliver Cromwell leading a civil war that led to the execution of King Charles I. A Protestant, Cromwell was intolerant of any religion that did not match his view of the world.
Cromwell died in 1658 and his son, briefly took over, but his weak leadership led to Parliament refusing to support hi,
Parliament, desperate for a leader, asked Charles II, King of Scotland, to assume the royal duties. Since his father, Charles I had been King of England until executed by Cromwell, the request was legitimate.
During the English Civil War, there were a number of loyalist leaders who stood by Charles I, among them Lord Collation, living in exile on Barbados.
As a reward for their service, Charles II gave the lords huge land grants in the New World. There were eight grants handed out to what came to be called the Lords Proprietors.
Colleton “… our right trusty and well-beloved Sir John Colleton, Knight and Baronet…” was granted everything south of Virginia, although just where that border was, had not yet been established.
There was an attempt develop the land on the island between 1665-1672, but weather, and not understanding what crop could be grown in the soil led to its failure.
The only only memory of that time is the misspelling of Lord Colleton’s name.
So much history on the Outer Banks and so little time to explore. But do take some time and stop by for a visit in a Brindley Beach Vacations home.