Our History and Charter Members
In 1985 a group of people, Leslie House, Louise Cowell, Joyce Pollard (Bell), Jean Bellamy (Caldwell), Jean Blake, Justine Bell (Bullock), Ursula Loy & Edward House, Jr. were interested in genealogy. As a result they came together and formed the Beaufort County Genealogical Society with Leslie House being the driving force. He became the first President of the Society and remained a member of the Society until his death in 2009. Louise Cowell was the first Treasurer and served in this office until December 31, 2009 when she retired from the office but was still an active member. She resumed this office after two years and remains our Treasures today.
The Charter members were: Martha Baynor, Joyce Bell, Justine Bell (Bullock), Jean Blake (D), Orelia H. Bolt(D), Elizabeth W. Brooks, Jean Bellamy (Caldwell)(D), Esther Chauncey, Marleta Childs, Donald R. Clark (D), Joliene Clark(D), Louise Cowell, Frankie Credle (D), Glenn Credle (D), Ralph Donnelly (D), Bill Dudley(D), Wakefield Greene(D), Lily Grimes(D), Carrie Hardison (D), Virginia Harris, Virginia Hollowell, Edward House, Leslie House (D), Hyde Co. Hist. & Gen. Society, Robin Tyson (Suggs), Muse James(D), Frances Jowdy (D), Louise Lane (D), Betty Mann, Hazel Merrill (D), Arlene Midyette, Iona Midyette (D), Virginia Ming, Tillie Moore(D), Gean Nelson, John Oden (D), Lida Overton, James Parker (D), Penny Paul, Harriette Riggs, Gladys Simmons (D), Sybble Smithwick(D), R.S. Spencer, Jr., Olga Swift (D), Thomas R. Topping(D), Janice Tyson, Russell Tyson, Margaret (Peg) Williams (D), Doris K. Wilson(D), Ellen Wrenn(D). [(D) = deceased.]
Of these the following are still members: Martha Baynor, Easter Chauncey, Marleta Childs, Louise Cowell, Virginia Hollowell, Hyde Co. Hist & Gen Society, Robin Suggs, Lida Overton, Harriette Riggs, R. S. Spencer, Jr., Janice Tyson & Russell Tyson.
The Society met at Brown Library at 7:00 p.m. from its inception until April 2009. At that time the Library began closing at 7:00 p.m. thus it was necessary to find another location to meet. We are forever grateful to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for offering their church as a meeting place. We met here until the end of 2018 when Claudia Dahlen from the History Room at Brown Library suggested we start meeting there again. Because the location easier to find and the fact some had stopped attending the meetings because they no longer drove at night we have begun meeting at Brown Library. We now meet the first Saturday of each month except July and August at 2:30 pm. Everyone is invited to attend.
The Society had a membership of approximately 200 across the United States in the past. However because of deaths and the internet we have about 100 members now. Locally about 10 – 15 attend the monthly meetings which is the first Saturday of each month at 2:30 pm at the George H. and Laura E. Brown Library, Washington, NC. Membership for an individual is $20.00 a year and $25.00 for a family (at the same address) which includes Pamteco Tracings. This is published biannually by the society and has articles and other genealogical information relevant to Beaufort County which are given by the members for the Journal.
GUESTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.