There are many stories in the city of Raleigh that we have not come to realize exist, either through a general lack of interest, or by some other form of fortune, or lack thereof.
One such story is that of the name of the county which is home to the capital of the state.
The story of the name “Wake”, is a very telling one, in that it shows both a unique forgiving nature of post-Revolutionary Americans, and a then hardened resistance to change and alterations to a region’s past and identity.
In an odd form of irony is that the woman who was “honored” by the dedication, Margaret Wake, the wife of Governor Tryon, was not the first, and perhaps preferred, candidate for the name of the county.
When the process of creating the county had begun, the bill that was introduced to create the boundaries had left space for the county’s name.[1]
In fact, it appears that the story of the governor’s wife being the honored party for this new governing body. [2]
The idea of this legend appears to be just that, a legend, built upon the minds and words of romantic storytellers looking for a good story.
What appears to be a interesting aspect of this story is that the husband of Margaret Wake, Governor William Tryon, who is known in American history for putting down the Regulator militia, and for being the last colonial governor of North Carolina prior to American independence, also had a county named after, only this is definitely done in his honor at the time.
However, following the war, Tryon’s county would be greatly redone, being split into two counties, and both would refuse taking the name of the man who epitomized the image of harsh colonial governorship.[3]
“Wake” county, however, more than likely due to the nature in which it took its name, did not endure such an issue, save for a short lived effort to rename the county after the new capital city, and its historical counterpart, Sir Walter Raleigh.[4]
The movement was brought forth in 1805, when a large number of justices requested the change in the name, which was then petitioned by hundreds against the move. [5]
Those petitioned against the change called such an idea as “childish”, and said that the name they were used to was far better than what was proposed. [6]
In an odd sense of irony, the association of Lady Wake’s name with the county seems to have begun, in full, with this movement to change the name.
Many who came to the defense of the established name, claimed that to change to “Raleigh”, would be an affront to the woman, whose maiden name was graced upon the county.[7]
In an effort to undermine the change, from a more personal level, the image of the threatened woman was brought to the foray.
As a result of this increased public association, eventually it became the unofficial official story of the area, a legend in every sense of the word.
Though when in truth, Lady Tryon had very little if any involvement in the area.
[1] Murray, Elizabeth Reid, “Wake: Capital County of North Carolina”, Vol. 1, (Capital County Publishing Company, Raleigh, NC) 1983, pg. 44
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] Murray, Elizabeth Reid, “Wake: Capital County of North Carolina”, Vol. 1, (Capital County Publishing Company, Raleigh, NC) 1983, pg. 141
[5] ibid
[6] Murray, Elizabeth Reid, “Wake: Capital County of North Carolina”, Vol. 1, (Capital County Publishing Company, Raleigh, NC) 1983, pg. 141
[7] Ibid
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