Editing Craven County, North Carolina (section)

===Creation===
The land eventually constituting Craven was first organized as a portion of [[Bath County, North Carolina|Bath County]]. On December 3, 1705, a portion of Bath was split off to form the new Archdale County. In about 1712 it was renamed Craven County. According to historian William S. Powell, it was most likely named in honor of William, Lord Craven a [[lord proprietor]] of the Carolina colony who died the previous year. Others state that the county was named for William's great uncle, [[William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608–1697)|William, Earl of Craven]], who was one of the original eight lords proprietor of the colony, or the Lord Craven's son, also William, Lord Craven, who was actively serving as a lord proprietor at the time the county's name was changed.{{sfn|Powell|1976|p=12}} In 1722 a portion of Craven was split off to form [[Carteret County]].{{sfn|Corbitt|2000|p=74}} [[New Hanover County, North Carolina|New Hanover County]] and [[Johnston County, North Carolina|Johnston County]] were formed from Craven in 1729 and 1746, respectively.{{sfn|Corbitt|2000|p=75}} Craven's borders were altered and redrawn several times between 1757 and 1852.{{sfn|Corbitt|2000|pp=75–78}}

During the initial years of colonization, the population of Craven County was sparse and grew slowly. By 1740, however, the town of New Bern began growing rapidly and became the seat for the Governorship.<ref>[[#dill1946|dill, 1946]], p. 47</ref> John Carter served as the first sheriff of Craven County, but died in 1740 in the line of duty, when ambushed by an outlaw he was trying to apprehend. In 1746 an act was passed establishing New Bern as the capital of the province and, although the act was later repealed, the General Court met at New Bern in Craven County after 1747.<ref name=craven58>[[#craven1938a|The historical records of North Carolina]], Vol. I, p. 58</ref><ref>[[#craven1938b|The historical records of North Carolina]], Vol. II, p. 2</ref>

In 1749 [[James Davis (printer)|James Davis]], the colony's first printer, arrived at New Bern and became the official printer for the North Carolina Assembly.<ref>[[#wroth1938|Wroth, 1938]], p. 48</ref> In 1751, Davis established and began printing the ''[[North Carolina Gazette]]'', North Carolina's first newspaper.<ref>[[#thomas1874a|Thomas, 1874]], Vol. I, p. 338; Vol. II, p. 166</ref> In 1754, he was elected Sheriff of Craven County.<ref name=powell34-35>[[#powell2000|Powell, 2000]], pp. 34-35</ref>