Bath, the oldest incorporated town in North Carolina, was established in 1705. By 1708 the town consisted of twelve houses and a population of fifty people. Among the early inhabitants were John Lawson, Surveyor General of the colony and author of A New Voyage to Carolina, the first history of North Carolina; Christopher Gale, the first Chief Justice of the colony from 1712 to 1717, 1722 to 1724, and 1725 to 1731; Governors Thomas Cary from 1705 to 1706 and 1708 to 1711 and Charles Eden from 1714 to 1722; and the pirate Edward Teach, known as “Blackbeard.” Bath's early history was disturbed by political rivalry, yellow fever epidemics, Indian wars, and piracy. After this period of turbulence ended, the town entered an era of peaceful development. It was a trade center, exporting naval stores, furs, and tobacco; seat of government for Beaufort County; and in 1744 and 1752 the meeting place of the General Assembly. Bath's political and economic importance declined after the Beaufort County seat was moved to the town of Washington in 1785.