|
The act creating Caswell County authorized the first court to
be held at the home of Thomas Douglas; it also named commissioners to select
a location and have the courthouse, stocks, and prison erected. Leesburg was established in 1783 "adjoining to where the Caswell Court House
now stands." In 1791, when Person was formed, the court was ordered
to be held at Joseph Smith's. The
courthouse at Leesburg was ordered sold by the commissioners of Caswell
and Person. An act was passed in 1829 directing the justices to enlarged
the public square, or buy some land elsewhere and erect a new courthouse.
Caswell County was named in honor of Richard Caswell, member of the first Continental
Congress, first governor of North Carolina after the Declaration of Independence,
and Major General in the Revolutionary army.
In 1833, Yanceyville was established at the courthouse. It was named in
honor of Bartlett Yancey and is the county seat.
|
