Hunting Quarters is the original name for the area of eastern North Carolina in Carteret County currently known as the towns of Sea Level and Atlantic (primarily Atlantic). The region, originally settled by the English in the early 18th century, was named Hunting Quarters because many local Coree Indians originally dwelled there, living on the plentiful game, fish and oysters. Around 1910, the name Atlantic was used to describe the extreme eastern part of the area (beyond Styron's Creek).
John Nelson Birth 1675 in St. Gregory, Norwich, Norfolk, England Death mar 1759 in Hunting Quarters,Carteret, NC
"The Lords Propritors" had advertised in England offering 50 acres (200,000 m2) of land to the provider of passage for each colonist brought to North Carolina. Thus on October 28, 1702, Captain John Nelson owner and operator of his own ship filed what was called an "Entry to Land" which gave him title to six hundred acres of land in what is now Sea Level, Carteret, North Carolina. In order to keep his land he was required to oppupy and use the land or it would be forefeited, thus"Hunting Quarters Plantions" was born. Captain John and his wife Ann Bell, daughter of Joseph Bell and Margaret—acquired large tracts of land on the north and south side of the Neuse River where they raised their children. They planted a number of orchards on the plantations and well as the usual crops. They remained active with the sea as well. the main plantation was on the north side of the Neuse River and a smaller plantation was on the south side near the present day site of Garbacon Creek. He owned property in Craven, Careret (Hunting Quarters, Sea Level, Merrimon, Adams Creek and on Core Banks) and Hyde Counties.
When their son Thomas died in 1750 leaving his wife and two sons, Thomas Jr. and John, Captain John transferred 540 acres (2.2 km2) to the boys appointing his son James as overseer and instructing him that the widow Elizabeth was to receive one third of the profits of the orchards and the grounds for her lifetime. When young Thomas Jr. became of age in 1759, he gave his younger brother John 450 acres (1.8 km2) of this area as well as 120 acres (0.49 km2) in Hunting Quarters for "his better mantenance and livelyhood". It appears that John married and died in his forties. Thomas Jr. died after 1800 and had apparently built a very good shipping business with his ship the "Hunter" as well as having a very properous plantation. After Ann died Captain John married Mary Lewis Taylor. He provided for Mary by giving her a slave and rights to one half of his Hunting Quarters property for her lifetime. They had no children but Mary had three from and earlier marriage. John died in 1760 and Mary in 1799.
Thomas Nelson, II served America in the Revolution. Two original pay vouchers for his service are located in the Secretary of State Papers, North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, NC. His service has been verified by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Thomas Nelson, II's son Joseph Nelson married first Sarah Delamar, daughter of Thomas Delamar, another Patriot in the Revolution. Their daughter Henrietta Nelson married William Smith Sparrow, owner of China Grove Plantation outside Oriental, North Carolina. Henrietta Nelson Sparrow's only son William Josephus Sparrow died in California 1851 presumably there for the gold rush. He was married to Lavinia Tripp by 1847. She was the daughter of Joseph Tripp and wife Sarah Sparrow.