Dobbs County was formed in 1758 from Johnston County. It was named for Arthur Dobbs , governor of North Carolina from 1754 until 1764. In 1779 the western part became Wayne County ; the county seat was moved from its original location on Walnut Creek to the town of Kingston, which was renamed Kinston in 1784. [2] Because the name Dobbs reminded the population of the colonial past, in 1791 it was divided by the North Carolina legislature into Glasgow County (later renamed Greene County ) and Lenoir County ; it ceased to exist. [2]