I know what you’re thinking—Bacon’s Castle is in Virginia. And you’re right. But North Carolina’s earliest permanent settlers came from Virginia and South Carolina, weaving our state’s history tightly with our neighbors to the north and south.

Many North Carolinians can trace their roots back to either state. Mine originate in America’s Historic Triangle—just like Brandon’s. How do I know? I’ve spent over twenty years researching our genealogies. That’s how I discovered Brandon and our girls are direct descendants of Arthur Allen.

Who was Arthur Allen? The guy who built Bacon’s Castle.

Born in Worcestershire, England, in 1608, Allen arrived in James City County, Virginia, in the 1640s as a tobacco merchant’s agent. By the 1660s, he had amassed one of the largest plantations in Surry County. On it, he built what was then known as Allen’s Brick House.

The Arthur Allen House isn’t just old—it’s the oldest brick home in America and one of the rarest examples of Jacobean architecture in the New World. How rare? Only three exist. The other two—Drax Hall Estate and St. Nicholas Abbey Plantation—stand in Barbados.

Allen died in 1669, leaving his estate to his son, Major Arthur Allen. It was during the younger Allen’s ownership that Nathaniel Bacon’s men seized the house, using it as a fort during Bacon’s Rebellion. From that moment on, Allen’s Brick House became known by its infamous nickname—Bacon’s Castle.

Major Allen may have temporarily lost control of his home, but his descendants managed to keep the Arthur Allen House in the family for nearly 200 years.

But what about Allen’s other children?

Historical records suggest Allen may have had up to seven children, some born in England. While I don’t know all their names, one I do know is Joane Allen.

Joane’s descendants remained in Virginia for a century before migrating to Duplin County, North Carolina, in the mid-1700s. For another hundred years, her North Carolina lineage—families like the Williamsons, Dardens, Burtons, Joneses, and Robertses—continued putting down roots in the region.

Some stayed in Duplin County. Others moved deeper into North Carolina, settling in places like Sampson, Columbus, and Cumberland counties. By the early 1800s, Allen’s descendants had spread across southeastern North Carolina, their history becoming part of the state’s fabric.

And that’s where my girls come in.

Their branch of the family eventually made its way to the Sandhills, where generations later, they were born. They grew up hearing family stories—tales passed down so many times they felt more like legend than fact. But genealogy has a way of turning legends into reality.

After two decades of research, I can say with certainty that my daughters’ roots—like so many in North Carolina—reach far beyond their birthplace. Their story began in the early days of Virginia, with a man who built a house of brick so strong it still stands today.

And that’s the thing about history. No matter how far we move, how much time passes, or how many generations come and go, the past has a way of staying with us. Whether through a name, a story, or even the walls of an old house, it lingers—waiting for us to rediscover it.