The North Carolina Department of Transportation Presents
	Early Site History (circa 1663-1720)       Although historical documents tell us who owned the land where the Eden House site is located, we actually know very little about the earliest owners. The first person to own the land was Saint Mount Wells, who got the land in 1663. Since he sold the land within two years, he probably did not live at the site or build a house there. The first person to live at the site was probably William Duckenfield, a wealthy man who bought the land sometime after 1683. Henry King bought the property in 1713 and lived there until he died three years later. Although documents do not tell us how these early owners of the Eden House property made their living, they were most likely planters. Archaeological Findings (circa 1663-1720) Period I Artist's Reconstruction       Three buildings from the early years of the site were excavated in 1996: a 24' x 16' structure that probably served as the first house (Structure 2), a barn or similar outbuilding (Structure 3), and a slightly later structure, a 16.5' by 12.5' stone-lined cellar (Structure 1). Excavation revealed that Structure 2 was an earthfast house with two rooms on the ground floor. The owners made the inside of the house fancy by adding expensive glass windows and a set of Dutch tiles that showed stories from the Bible.       Archaeologists found traces of fences that outlined where gardens and work areas had once been. One fence extended towards the Chowan Delftware Tiles River and the boat landing. A privy, or outdoor bathroom, was placed east of the first house and a well for drinking water was located beyond the privy. Archaeologists also found places where the settlers dug holes to bury their household trash and a small pen where rabbits or some other small animals were kept. Traces of what may have been a fort from the early settlement were visible at the northwestern edge of the site. During the first forty or so years at the site, the colonists would have been in danger from attack by the Tuscarora Indians and from pirates like Blackbeard. The settlers may have built a fort to escape to in times of danger. Unfortunately, a twentieth century highway may have destroyed most of the evidence of this fort.       A more permanent house was built on the property, probably within ten years or so of original settlement. This house, which the archaeologists call Structure 1, was visible only as a stone-lined cellar; however, the archaeologists found evidence that a larger building on a brick or stone foundation once rested over this cellar. Farmers growing crops on the site after the buildings had been destroyed plowed away all underground traces of this foundation, making it impossible for archaeologists to know how large this building was. Archaeology did show that Structure 1 was a wooden dwelling with a slate roof and a brick chimney. It contained glass windows, plastered walls, and maybe wooden paneling. Although Structure 1 would probably look small by today's standards, it was a grand house at the beginning of the 1700s.       After it was completed, Structure 1 probably became the main house for the planter and his family, and Structure 2 was used as a kitchen and a place for workers to live. Many colonial homes had kitchens that were separate from the main house. there were several reasons for building this way. Since cooking was done over an open fire, there was a greater risk of the building catching fire. If a fire did start and could not be controlled, the family would lose their kitchen, but not their house too. Also, removing the kitchen from the place where the family slept, ate, and lived kept the heat of the kitchen fires away during the hot months.       When owner Henry King died in 1716, a list was made of everything in his house. This list, or inventory as it was called in View the Inventory List colonial times, tells us a lot about how people lived then. Not only is it possible to see everything that King and his family owned, but because the person making the list moved from room to room writing everything down, we can also figure out how they were using the space within their house.
Later Settlers at the Site (1720-1740s)	The organization of Henry King's 1716 inventory suggests that the inventory taker began in the kitchen (Structure 2), listing a variety of items used in preparing food. The kitchen also included five chairs, a table, several chests and a cupboard used for storing food and dishes. Next, the inventory taker went into the house (Structure 1). Today, rooms in homes usually serve specific functions, such as the bedrooms being used for sleeping. Such was not the case in the colonial period. Like most houses then, the rooms in King's home served more than one function. One room had two beds and a spinning wheel, showing that the family was sleeping and working in the same rooms.
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