The capital was officially moved to Edenton in 1722, but the meetings of the General Assembly would still periodically occur in Bath in the 18th century.

Bath was the site of Cary's Rebellion in 1711, and later served as one of many bases for notorious pirate Blackbeard.

Bath waned in population, as its importance as both a port and government center were surpassed by the nearby city of New Bern.

The first settlers were mostly English farmers and French Huguenots (Protestants who went as refugees to England and Virginia); among those inhabitants was John Lawson, naturalist, explorer, and town father.

They attacked Bath, as well as plantations along the rivers, but by 1715 were defeated by a coalition of colonial settlers from the Carolinas and a much larger group of American Indians allied against them.

On March 8, 1705, the tract of land was incorporated as the town of Bath by the General Assembly at a meeting at Capt.

He settled in Bath in 1718, gaining a royal pardon (these were offered by the Crown through colonial officials in an attempt to reduce piracy).

During the Great Awakening in America, the English Methodist evangelist, George Whitefield, visited the town four times between 1747 and 1762 to preach the gospel.

T. Jensen Lacy in his book, Amazing North Carolina, writes: Whitfield finally gave up on converting Bath ... Just like the disciples of old, he drove his wagon to the outskirts of town, removed his shoes, shook the dirt from them, and put a curse on the town.

He told onlookers that the Bible said people who couldn't get sinners to reform were to do just what he had done, and by shaking the dust of Bath from his shoes, the town would be cursed for its hardness of heart against the Word.

"[8]Development moved past Bath and the town lies almost entirely within the same boundaries laid out by its primary founder, John Lawson.

The major business cities of North Carolina have developed in the Piedmont area, stimulated by construction of railroads and nineteenth-century textile mills.

But the area is being developed for retirement and second homes, making it strong in a service economy, but with mostly low-paying jobs.

People interested in heritage tourism have made it a destination for both locals of eastern North Carolina and visitors from other regions.