Dethroning the Kings of Cape Fear: Consequences of Edward Moseley’s Surveys

Abstract

There remains a veil of romanticism used in past historiography concerning Edward Moseley that leaves one feeling that he was, as D.H. Hill said, “always on the side of the people.” Arguably, this romanticism has permeated through to the modern day. Few historians know what to think about Edward Moseley. Consequently, there has been no definitive work concerning him. It may also be a brand of presentism to restate his effect on North Carolina as that of a rogue and villain whose only concern was simply for him.