By: Charles Norwood, Sr.
From the Book "History of North Carolina"
Britton Hood (1767 - 1848) was Wayne County's first Surveyor of record. Britton, Bold Robin and John C. Hood, sons of Nathaniel B. Hood, came to Eastern North Carolina from Lynn, Massachusetts, in the early part of 1790. (This has been disproven. It is believed now that Nathaniel Hood and Elizabeth Britton were the parents and they came from Virginia but absolute poof is still needed for Elizabeth's last name) (Note: [by Darl Hood & Mike Crandall] John C. Hood was a grandson of Nathaniel, the son of Bold Robin Sr.)(Note: The middle initial "B" for Nathaniel Hood does not have any source but has been traditional for many years)
Britton with Robin went first to New Bern but left his twin brother, Bold Robin (also a surveyor). After a very short stay. He rode his horse alone into Waynesborough a few years after it was incorporated. Strapped to his horse were all his worldly goods - his surveying instruments.
Britton Hood settled in the Grantham Community in the western part of the county, between Big and Little Creek of the Thoroughfare. Here he built a small log cabin. Later in 1820 he built a larger house located on a farm to the rear of Mrs. Stella Stevens home on the Old Grantham Road. This house is still standing but it is long past been (sic) a home. His eldest son, John Robert, later took over and raised his large family of 11 children here. John Robert's wife was Dizy Grantham, only daughter of Solomon Grantham.
Britton Hood built a third house just south of present Highway 13 near Grantham School. This was his last home and here he died in 1848. The house still stands in the center of his 1000-acre plantation that he left by will to his son Daniel T. Hood. He retained a life estate.
For 50 years, no one's name in this county appeared in the county records more frequently than that of Britton Hood -- as a surveyor, as a witness, as a grantor and grantee. He was involved in most all transfers and divisions of land in the county. He surveyed and divided William Whitfield's vast acreage after his death early in 1800.
He surveyed and laid out Old Waynesborough into lots. In his later years he was surveying for Wilmington & Weldon Railroad and still later he joined his twin brother in New Bern to start surveying the right-of-way for the North Carolina railroad know as the Mullet line running from Goldsboro to Morehead City.
Britton Hood received land in Wayne County as Early as 1795. He purchased, traded and finally deeded away large acreages to his sons only two days before his death. He owned at one time approximately 3,000 acres of land and 15 slaves. In his will he left "2 acres in the fork of the road for a Meeting House. This two acres was the site of Falling Creek Baptist Church which was built in 1848, the year of Britton Hood;s death.
He directed that his personal property, including the slaves and "my surveying instruments," be sold and the proceeds "together with my notes, after paying my just debts" be divided amoung his children. To his son, Daniel T., was bequeathed "My still and what belongs to it."
A son of John Robert Hood and grandson of Britton Hood was Edward R. Hood. He moved to Goldsboro from his home near Falling Creek Baptist Church and became Wayne County Treasurer. At his death in 1899, his son, George E. Hood, assumed the duties and titles to Treasurer. In 1901 George Hood was Mayor of Goldsboro and later became Congressman, representing this district for many years. In 1906 Mrs. Edith Hood, George Hood's mother, was living at 105.
Another son of John Robert Hood was Soloman Pope Hood. He was the father of Gurney P. Hood and Clarence P. Hood, both founders of the Hood system Banks in this state. Mr. Gurney P. Hood served as the first State commissioner of Banks.
A daughter of John Robert Hood, Polly Ann, married Moses Britt of the Grantham Community. A grandson of this couple, W. G. Britt, Jr., resides in Goldsboro today.
Another son of Britton Hood was Daniel T. who married Temperance Best. This son inherited the homeplace and 100 acres of land, Britton retaining a life estate.
A son of Daniel T. Hood was Grover Hood, a prominent farmer in the Grantham Community. He married Emma Rose and they had 11 children, most of whom live in the community today.
