James Coor

James Coor (before 1737–1795) was an architect, builder, politician and leader in North Carolina.[1]

James Coor
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the Craven County, North Carolina district
In office
1777–1787
Preceded byfirst General Assembly
Succeeded byBenjamin Williams
Personal details
Bornbefore 1737
England
DiedDecember 28, 1796
New Bern, North Carolina

Early life
Coor-Gaston House in New Bern
Smith-Whitford House

Coor was probably born in England before 1737. He was invited by Thomas Webber of Maryland to come to Maryland to be a naval architect. Webber owned land in New Bern, North Carolina, where Coor ended up building a house for Webber and his house own house near Webber. This house stands today and is called the Coor-Gaston House. Coor may also have designed two other buildings in New Bern, a Masonic lodge and the New Bern Academy. These buildings were not completed until after Coors death, however. Coor was also architect of the Smith-Whitford House in New Bern.[1][2][3]

Coor-Bishop House

Coor also designed and built the Coor-Bishop House in New Bern in about 1767. As a skilled architect, Coor may also have been involved in building the Tryon Palace in New Bern.[4]

Political career

Coor served three terms representing Craven County in the Province of North Carolina House of Burgesses between 1773 and 1775. As war with Britain loomed, he served on the New Bern Council of Safety. He represented Carven County in the North Carolina Provincial Congress in the second, third, fourth and fifth sessions. He played a role in the adoption of the Halifax Resolves and in the creation of the first North Carolina State Constitution in 1776. After statehood, he represented Craven County twelve times in the North Carolina Senate of the North Carolina General Assembly between 1777 and 1787, serving as Speaker in 1786–1787.[1][5][6][7][8]

There is no evidence that James Coor served in the militia during the American Revolution. He was on a committee to develop regulations for the militia during the Halifax Provincial Congress.[7] There are several pay vouchers to James Coor, esquire, for services during the Revolution. There is a letter from James Coor to George Washington written in 1790. In this letter, he states that he was a naval officer for the port of Beaufort.[9]

Death

James Coor died on December 28, 1796, as noted in the New Bern North Carolina Gazette on December 31, 1796. James was a slave owner. He emancipated two of his slaves in his will.[10][11][12]

References
  1. Carroway, Gertrude (1979). "James Coor". NCPedia.org. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  2. Survey Planning Unit Staff (September 1971). "Coor-Gaston House" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  3. Bishir, Catherine W. (2015). "James Coor". NCArchitect.lib.ncsu.edu. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  4. Survey Planning Unit Staff (March 1972). "Coor-Bishop House" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  5. Connor, R.D.D. (1913). A Manual of North Carolina (PDF). Raleigh: North Carolina Historical Commission. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  6. Wheeler, John H. (1874). The Legislative Manual and Political Register of the State of North Carolina. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  7. "Journal of the Provincial Congress at Halifax". Docsouth. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  8. Lewis, J.D. "Royal Colony of North Carolina, 27th House of Burgesses". Carolana.com. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  9. "Letter to George Washington from James Coor". Jan 7, 1790.
  10. New Bern North Carolina Gazette (probably North-Carolina Gazette) of Saturday, December 31, 1796
  11. "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2M-3LX : accessed 4 October 2019), James Coor, Craven, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 429, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 568,147.
  12. "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VKJM-NMG : 13 March 2018), James Coor, 1797; citing Craven, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,787,765.
  • "James Coor House". Library of Congress. New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. 1936. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
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