North Carolina south of the Chowan River and east of the Great Dismal Swamp in 1655. By 1663, this northeastern area of the Province of Carolina, known as the Albemarle Settlements, was undergoing full-scale English settlement. During the same period, the English monarch Charles II gave the province to the Lords Proprietors, a group of noblemen who had helped restore Charles to the throne in 1660. The new province of "Carolina" was named in honor and memory of King Charles I (Latin: "Carolus"). In 1712, North Carolina became a separate colony. Except for the Earl Granville holdings, it became a royal colony
Thomas Widdrington (died 1660) Thomas Widdrington (died 1660) Thomas Widdrington (baptized 19 June 1640 – May 1660) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660. Widdrington was the son of Sir Thomas Widdrington and was baptised at St. Martin's, Coney Street, York on 19 June 1640. He was educated at Wormley School, Hertfordshire. He matriculated from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1654 and was awarded an MA in 1656. In April 1660, while still a minor, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Morpeth in the Convention Parliament. He obtained leave to accompany Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of