JOH N H. WHEELER. 
 
 Jjorn, Hertford Co., No. Ca. Aug. 2d. 1802. Died, Washington, D. C Dec. 7th. 1S82. 
 
 A. M. Univ. of No. Ca. 1826; State Treasurer, 1845. U. S. Envoy to Nicaragua, 1853. 
 
 Author Hist, of No. Ca. and of Reminiscences of Eminent North Carolinians. 
 
REMINISCENCES AND MEMOIRS 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AND 
 
 EMINENT NDRTH CAROLINIANS, 
 
 John H. Wheeler, 
 
 AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL 
 
 SOCIETIES OF NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, GEORGIA, 
 
 AND PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 " T/s well that a State should often he reminded of her great citizens." 
 
 COLUMBUS, OHIO: 
 
 COt-UMBUS PRINTING \A^ O R K S , 
 
 1884 
 
.55 
 
 ^6 
 
TO 
 
 HON. KEMP P. BATTLE, LL. D.. 
 
 President of the University of North Carolina, 
 
 as some evidence of 
 
 PERSONAL REGARD OF THE AUTHOR, AND DEVOTION TO THE FAME 
 
 AND HONOR OF THEIK NATIVE STATE, 
 
 THIS WORK IS DEDICATED. 
 
 It is well known to you that your venerated father encouraged 
 tlie preparation and publication of this work. His letters to the 
 author prove this. Rut he died before it was completed. Lest 
 the same inevitable event should occur to the author now beyond 
 the allotted period of human life, these Reminiscences and Mem- 
 ories, the labor and research of a life, are now given as a grateful 
 legacy to his kind and generous countrymen, who will admire the 
 generous traits exhibited, and imitate the noble examples of 
 their forefathers. 
 
PRKFACB. 
 
 Washington City, No. 28, Grant Place, \ 
 June 10, 1878. / 
 To Hon. William H. Battle, L.L.D., Chapd Hill: 
 Mv Esteemed Sir — Your recent letter as to 
 "The Address on the Karly Times and Men of 
 Albemarle," has been received. For the kind 
 opinion, that ' ' the people of the State and es- 
 pecially those of the Albemarle County, owe a 
 debt of gratitude for this and other contributions 
 to [heir iiistury, ' I sintcreiy liiiiiik. yuu. 
 
 Your letter further adds, that you ' ' have seen 
 in the Raleigh Obseiva, a handsome tribute to 
 the value and usefulness of my History of North 
 Carolina, expressing a wish for an early publica- 
 tion of a second edition , uniting yourself in a 
 similar request. 
 
 Like expressions have been received from 
 many respectable sources. 
 
 Recently, The Netvs of Raleigh, The Demo- 
 crat of Charlotte, and other papers call for the 
 publication of the "Reminiscences of Eminent 
 North Carolinians," and appeal to her sons for 
 contributions "to the Grand Old History of 
 North Carolina." 
 
 It is hoped and believed this call will be heard 
 and heeded. 
 
 While Virginia on one side and South Caro- 
 lina on the other, have presented to the world 
 the glowing record of the patriotism, valor and 
 virtues of their sons, North Carolina equally rich 
 
 or richer in such reminiscences; and with traits 
 of virtue, and honor, and sacrifices to patriotism, 
 deserving of record, allows this record to be ob- 
 scured by time, and to 
 
 "Waste its fragrance on the desert air." 
 
 It has been truly said that no State of our 
 Republic, has, from the earliest period of its 
 existence, shown a more determined spirit of in- 
 dependence, and a more constant and firm resist- 
 ance ■ • to every form of oppression of the rights 
 of man " than North Carolina. This is evinced 
 on every page of her history, and exhibited on 
 the battle field, and in the exploits of individual 
 prowess. This patriotic spirit has been accom- 
 panied by noble traits of individual character ; 
 as integrity of purpose, a straightforvvardness'o 
 intention, and by simplicity and modesty in 
 demeanor. 
 
 It was on the shores of North Carolina that the 
 English first landed on this continent. It has 
 been the refuge of the down-trodden, the op- 
 pressed and persecuted of every nation, and here 
 they found that freedom denied to them in the 
 old world — with gentle manners and resolute 
 hearts, their whole history exhibits a firm devo- 
 tion to liberty, a keen perception of right and a 
 ready and determined resistance to wrong. For 
 this and this only, was life desirable to then;, and 
 for this they were willing to die. 
 
 The gall.'.nt patron, who first sent a colon)' to 
 
(6) 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 our shores was the victim of tyranny and op- 
 pression. Her first Governor was .sacrificed in 
 cicicnce of popular rights. Such seed could but 
 produce goodly fruits. The character of this 
 people was graphically described by one of the 
 early Colonial Governors, as ' ' being insolent 
 and rebellious * * * impatient of all tyr- 
 anny and ready to resist oppression in every 
 form." 
 
 An early historian has recorded our people, 
 as being "gentle in their manners, advocates of 
 freedom ; jealous of their rulers, impatient, rest- 
 less, and turbulent when ruled by any other 
 government than their own ; and under that and 
 that only were they .satisfied. " 
 
 It was in the natural course of events and "the 
 
 inexorable logic of circumstances" that the sturdy 
 
 men of the age were ever ready to defend the 
 
 cau.se of right ; and in defense of liberty to pour 
 
 out their life blood, as at Alamance ; on the Cape 
 
 Fear, to beard the minions of power, and cause their 
 
 oppressor to leave the State and seek refuge 
 
 >;i -vhefe, and that the p • of Mecklenburgh 
 
 • ince of every othci should thunder to 
 
 !.- -rid theeternal princij': s of Independence 
 
 and Liberty. 
 
 The acts and characteristics of these illu.strious 
 men, and of their descendants, we wish to 
 preserve. 
 
 We enter upon this "labor of love " with 
 
 .inestness and pleasure. "J.' >.ught" 
 
 •■-s ,x ica.-ricd writer, on a sin: ; " that 
 
 J rac workint^, for our.selves alone, nor for those. 
 
 now iivmg. "Let us rcTicn^^er t- *■ *hni;-,p.-ir^; 
 
 yet unborn will respect and bless the patient and 
 
 pious hands, that have rescued from oblivion 
 
 these precious memorials." 
 
 The Memories of the last fifty years or more, 
 cover an interesting period of our history. 
 
 We shall leave the history of the earlier events 
 to some faithful historian, and be it our task to 
 take up the biographies of the leading men who 
 have done " the State some service" with remi- 
 niscences of their times and give the biography 
 
 and genealogy of each, as far as attainable. Bi- 
 ography presents a more minute and accurate 
 view of the lights and shadows of character, 
 than general history. One is general, and the 
 individual is a mere accessory ; the other is mi- 
 nute, and directed to a single object. We often 
 have a clearer idea of any event, when the mo- 
 tives and the character of the chief actors are 
 minutely described. We have in the " Life of 
 Washington," by Marshal, the best history of 
 the American Revolution. As to our genealogy, 
 this is the first attempt to present the record of 
 families in our State. 
 
 This untried path involved much research and 
 labor. It is hoped it will be acceptable, and 
 prove useful. We are far behind the age, on 
 this subject. In England, Burke's great work 
 (The Genealogical and Heraldric Dictionary of 
 the British Empire) is a hand-book in every well 
 appointed library. 
 
 In New England, ' ' Whitmore's American 
 Genealogy" is valuable; the Genealogical So- 
 ciety of Massachusetts is in full vigor, sustaining 
 a (Quarterly Magaznie. Every locality and fam- 
 ily in that section have preserved and published 
 such materials ; these are commemorated by 
 annual domestic gatherings ; thus strengthening 
 the ties of affection and refreshing the memories 
 of the past. In many cases genealogy is valu- 
 able in preserving property to the true owners of 
 estates, and the ties of kindred that otherw/se 
 would be forever buried, and broken. 
 
 Some, with phlegmatic indifference may ridicule 
 th-'5 atter,M>t ; exhibiting a supreme contempt for 
 such vanity, as they call it ; but surely no one 
 with a discreet mind and a sound heart can be in- 
 sensible to the laudable feeling of having de- 
 scended from an honest and virtuous ancestry, 
 and having industrious and intelligent connec- 
 tions of unsullied reputation. Such a thought 
 instils a hatred of laziness and vice, and stimu- 
 lates activity and virtue. 
 
 Such is a grateful oblation to departed worth. 
 Not only is this a duty discharged to the dead. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 (7) 
 
 but a moral benefit may result to the living. It 
 acts as an incentive to others, while they admire 
 his services and brilliant career, to emulate his 
 patriotic example. 
 
 "Oh, who shall lightly s.iy that Fame 
 Is nothing but an empty name, 
 While in that name there is a charm 
 The nerves to brace, the heart to warm, 
 When, thinking on the mighty dead, 
 The youth shall rouse from slothful bed, 
 And vow with uplifted hand and heart 
 Like him to act a noble part." 
 
 Let US all cherish the recollection of talents, 
 services, and virtues, of departed worth, and 
 such faults as arc inseparable from our nature, be 
 buried in the grave with the relics of fallen 
 humanity. 
 
 Some pains have been taken with the table of 
 contents and the preparation of the Index. 
 
 Mr. Stevens, in his "Catalogue of his English 
 Library," says, correctly: " If you are troubled 
 with a pride of accuracy, and would have it 
 completely taken out of you, attempt to make 
 an Index or Catalogue." 
 
 Dr. Allibone prints in his valuable Dictionary 
 of Authors (I., 85), extracts from a number of 
 the MoHt/tlj'RrL'in.v,\\\\\c\\ is well worthy r)f quota- 
 tion here : ' 'The compilation of an index is one of 
 those labors for which the public are rarely so 
 forward to express their gratitude, as they ought 
 to be. The value of a thing is best known by 
 the want of it. We have often experienced 
 great inconvenience for want of a good index to 
 
 many books. There is far more scope for the 
 exercise of judgment and ability in compiling an 
 index than commonly supposed. Mr. Oldys 
 expresses a similar sentiment in his Notes and 
 Queries (XI., 309): "The labour and patience; 
 the judgment and penetration, required to make 
 a good index, is only known to those who have 
 gone through the most painful and least praised 
 part of a publication. 
 
 Lord Campbell proposed in the English Par- 
 liament (Wheatley on " What is an Index?" p. 27) 
 that any author who published a book without 
 an Index, should be deprived of the benefits of 
 the copyright act. " Mr. Hinney of Philadelphia 
 held the same views and Carlylc denounces the 
 putting forth of books without a good Index, 
 with great severity. 
 
 The History of Tennessee, by Dr. Ram.say, 
 full of research and philosophy, fails in this re- 
 spect. A book with no index is like a ship on 
 the ocean without compass, or rudder. 
 
 In the following pages doubtless many worthy 
 characters may have escaped notice — for the field 
 is " so large and full of goodly prospects. " Nor 
 would we if we could, exhaust this fair field ; but 
 like Boaz, leave some rich sheaves for other and 
 more skillful reapers in this bountiful harvest. 
 
 To you, my dear sir, who have so kindly and 
 repeatedly encouraged these labors, I respect- 
 fully commend them and subscribe myself 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 Jno. H. Wheeler. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS, 
 
 Dedication.— Preface.— North Carolina in the Colonial Period.— Memoir of the Author. 
 
 CHAPTER I.— ALAMANCE COUNTY. 
 
 Regulation Troubles. Oppressions and frauds of the officers of the Crown ; causes and conseiiuences. 
 Sketch of Judge Ruffin, compared to Thomas Jefferson. Colonel Thomas M. Holt. 
 
 CHAPTER n.— ANSON COUNTY. 
 
 Sympathy with the Regulators, as to unlawful taxation— 1 768 ; copy of the oath taken ; resolutions 
 that the Sheriffs and Magistrates should be elected by the people, Letter to Governor Martin. Character 
 of James Cotten, a tory. Sketch of Judge Spencer ; his singular death. Sketch of Judge Thomas S. Ashe, 
 now one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. 
 
 CHAPTER HL-BEAUFORT COUNTY. 
 
 Character of the nobleman for whom it is named ; commissioned the Grand Master of the Grand 
 Lodge of North Carolina. Freemasonry in North Carolina ; it saves the life of an officer in battle. Jeffer- 
 son's opinion of Washington. Sketch of the Blounts of Beaufort. Hon. C. C. Cambreling, long a Member 
 of Congress from New York, a native of Beaufort. Sketch of J. J. Guthrie, drowned off Cape Hatteras. 
 Hatteras described by Joseph W. Holden, and in the National Gazette of Philadelphia, in 1792. Sketch 
 of Edward Stanley; a letter of Judge Badger, his relative, as to his course. Sketch of Richard S. Donnell ; 
 of Judge Rodman, who agrees with Hooker in his opinion ol the law. James Cook, C. S N. Adventurous 
 life of Charles F. Taylor, a native of this section ; participates in the war in Nicaragua ; its stirring events, 
 facts never before pubhshed; the policy of Marcey an error; sad fate of Walker; tragic death of Herndon, 
 with whom another North Carolinian (John V. Dobbin) was drowned. Central America described- The 
 Minister of the United States is recieved. Revolution. Walker captures Virgin Bay, Grenada, and puts the 
 Government to flight. Sketch of Walker and his adventurous Hfe. Scenes at the Capital ; the U. S. Min- 
 ister in jeopardy. The General Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs executed by the 
 invading forces. Letters between the General-in-Chief and the American Minister ; the last letter of Walker. 
 
(lo) WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 CHAPTER IV.— BERTIE COUNTY. 
 
 Sketch of Whitmil Hill, a Member of the Provincial and Continental Congresses ; of David Stone, 
 Judge of Superior Courts, Governor of the State and U. S. Senator. Genealogy of the family. Sketches 
 of George Outlaw; of Willie Blount, Governor of Tennessee; of David Outlaw; of P. H. Winston; of 
 James W. Clark. Genealogy of the Clark family. 
 
 CHAPTER v.- BLADEN COUNTY. 
 
 Battleof Elizabethtown, 1791; Cross Creek. Characterand services of James and Denny Porterfield. 
 Sketch of John Owen, Governor of the State; of James J. McKay; of Thomas D. McDonald. 
 
 CHAPTER VL— BRUNSWICK COUNTY 
 
 Early history and character of its people, opposed to oppression, drove the Royal Governor, [Mar- 
 tin] from the Country, July 10, 1775, seized the Stamp Master and destroyed the stamps sent to him from 
 England; copy of the pledge given by the Stamp Master [William Houston]. Indignation of the people, 
 and letter of Ashe, Lloyd and Lillington, offering lo jjrotect the Governor's person Sketch of General 
 Robert Howe, his character as described by Governor Martin, who denounced him in a royal proclamation ; 
 appointed Colonel of the zd Regiment of North Carolina troops in the Continental establishment ; marches 
 to Virginia and drives the Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore, from that Province. Sketch of Cornelius Har- 
 nett, his life and services ; his character described by Governor Burrington, the Royal Governor ; denounced 
 by Governor Martin for the destruction of Fort Johnston. General John A. Lillington's Revolutionary 
 services. The Moore family of Brunswick, Maurice Moore, Roger Moore and Nathaniel Moore, the early 
 settlers of the Cape Fear region. Sketch of Judge Maurice Moore ; of General James Moore; of Judge 
 Alfred Moore, his legal character described. Life and services of Benjamin Smith. 
 
 CHAPTER VII.— BUNCOMBE COUNTY. 
 
 Character and services of Colonel Edward Buncombe, after whom this County is named. Sketch of 
 David L. Swain, his life, services and death ; Sketches of Professors Mitchell and Phillips of the University 
 of North Carolina; of Samuel F. Phillips. Sketch of Zebulon B. Vance ; extracts from a work on the Vanre 
 family, printed at Cork, Ireland, showing the relationship of General Andrew Jackson to the Vances ; letter 
 to General Kilpatrick from Governor Z. B. Vance. Sketch of Robert B. Vance ; of James L. Henry, late 
 one of the Judges of the Superior Court; of Augustus S. Merrimon, late Judge and U. S. Senator; of 
 Thomas L. Clingman, late U. S. Senator, his life and services; duel with William L. Yancey; of John L. 
 Bailey, late Judge of the Superior Court ; of Robert M. Furman ; of Thomas D. Johnston. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII.— BURKE COUNTY. 
 Life, character and services of Waightstill Avery. Genealogy of the Averys. The McDowell 
 family ; its genealogy and services in the Revolution. The Carson family. Life and services of John Car- 
 son, the founder of the family. Sketches of Samuel P. Carson ; of Israel Pickens; of David Newland ; of 
 Todd R. Caldwell; of James William Wilson. 
 
 CHAPTER IX.— CABARRUS, CALDWELL AND CAMDEN COUNTIES. 
 
 Life, character and services of Reverend John Robinson, D. D., and of Reverend Hezekiah J. 
 Balch D.D.; copy of the tomb-stone of the latter. The Phifer family, and their genealogy. The Barringcr 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. (n) 
 
 family, and their genealogy. Sketch of Nathaniel Alexander, a member of Congress and Governor of the 
 State. Sketches of Dr. Charles Harris ; Robert S. Young ; of Daniel Coleman, of Cabarrus County ; of 
 Samuel F. Patterson; of James C. Harper; of Clinton A. Cilley and of George Nathaniel Folk of Cald- 
 well County. 
 
 CHAPTER X.— CARTERET COUNTY. '^' 
 
 First land sighted by the English, 1584; the lost Colony of Governor White. Indian wars with the 
 Cores and Tuscaroras ; John Lawson, the first historian, murdered by them. Fort Hyde. Battle at Beau- 
 fort. Sketch of the life and services of Captian Otway Burns. 
 
 CHAPTER XI —CASWELL COUNTY. 
 
 Life, character and services of Richard Caswell, the first Governor of the State under the Constitu- 
 tion. Genealogy of the family. Sketches of Bardett Yancey ; of Romulus M. Saunders ; of Robert and 
 Marmaduke Williams; of Calvin Graves; of Bedford Brown; of Jacob Thompson, Secretary of Interior in 
 1857, and Member of Congress from Mississippi; all natives of Caswell County. John Kerr, his sufferings 
 at the hands of political opponents, and his release. The mysterious murder of John W. Stevens ; his char- 
 acter. 
 
 CHAPTER XII.— CHATHAM COUNTY. 
 
 The life and bloody career, in the Revolution, of David Fanning. Sketch of Charles Manly, Gover- 
 nor in 1848 ; of Abram Rencher ; of John Manning. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII.— CHOWAN COUNTY. / 
 
 Governor Eden, (for whom the County-lown is named); sketch of him and his alleged intimacy with 
 the noted pirate, Edward Teach commonly called " Black Beard" ; the bloody deeds of this marauder ; his 
 wicked life and bloody end. The principles and character of the early inhabitants of Chowan. The pro- 
 ceedings of the Committee of Safety in 1775; the names of the members. The Vestry of St. Paul's 
 Church, and the patriotic resolves of the ladies of Edenton. Life, services and character of Samuel John- 
 ston ; the opinion of the Royal Governor (Martin) of him, who removed him from the office of Deputy Nav- 
 al Officer, and Mr. Johnston's reply to the Governor ; member of the Provincial Congress in 1775, and of 
 the Continental Congress in 17S0 ; elected Governor in 1787 ; U. S. Senator in 1789 ; in 1800 Judge of the 
 Superior Court. A devoted advocate of freemasonry. Genealogy of the Johnston family. The title of the 
 Marquis of Annandale supposed to belong to them. Sketch of Joseph Hewes, signer of the Declaration of 
 Independence ; of Hugh Williamson, a member of the Colonial and Continental Congresses ; and of the U. 
 S. ; author of a history of North Carolina ; of Stephen Cabarrus, long Speaker of the House of Commons ; 
 of Charles Johnson; of Thomas Benbury. Of James Iredell, appointed Judge of Supreme Court of the 
 U. S. by General Washington ; of his son, James Iredell Jr., Speaker of the House in 1817 ; Judge of the 
 Superior Court 1819; Governor of the State 1821 ; U. S. Senator in 1S27, succeeding Mr, Macon. In the 
 war of i8i2, was Captain, with Gavin Hogg as one of his Lieutenants. Sketch of Gavin Hogg- Life and 
 services of Agustus Moore, one of the Judges of the Superior Court ; sketch of his son, William A.Moore; 
 of Governor William Allen, of Ohio, member of Congress in 1833 ; Senator in 1837-49, and Governor of 
 Ohio in 1874, a native of Edenton. An amusing incident connected with the names of General Scott, Dr. 
 Warren, Major Gilliam and others. 
 
(i2) WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV,— CRAVEN COUNTY. 
 
 Its early history ; the Palatines; De Graaffenreidt ; Governor Dobbs; Tryon's palace ; his clock, 
 John Hawks, architect. "The cause of Boston, the cause of all ! " Committee of Safety in 1775 of Chow- 
 an County. Names of its members. Sketch of Francois Xavier Martin, a historian of the State ; of the 
 Blount family; of Abner Nash, his character as given by Governor Martin; a member of Congress, 1776; 
 first Speaker of the Assembly; Governor in 1779; member of Congress 1781. Life, service and death of 
 Richard Dobbs Spaight. Duels that have been fought in North Carolina. Sketch of John Stanley ; of 
 William Gaston ; of John R. Donnel ; of John Sitgreaves ; of John N. Bryan ; of Edward Graham; of 
 Francis L. Hawks ; of George E Badger ; of Matthias E. Manley ; of Charles R. Thomas ; of Judge Sey 
 mour ; of William J. Clarke, and his talented wife, Mary Bayard Clarke, and his son William E. Clarke. 
 
 CHAPTER XV.— CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 
 V 
 
 The Scotch heroine. Flora MacDonald, once lived in this County. Sketch of her life and character ; 
 
 of Farquard Campbell, Governor Martin's opinion of Kim; of William Barry Grove; of John Louis Taylor, 
 
 late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Judicial System of the State as it existed from 
 
 1798101804. Sketch of Henry Potter, Judge U. S. District Court ; of John D. Toomer; of Louis 
 
 D.Henery; of Robert Strange; of James C. Dobbin; of Warren Winslow; of Duncan K. MacRae ; of Mrs. 
 
 Miller; of Henry W. Hilliard of Georgia, a native of Cumberland ; of W. C. Troy. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI.— CURRITUCK COUNTY. 
 
 Sketch of Henry M. Shaw; of Emerson Etheridge, of Tenn., native of Currituck ; of Thomas J. Jarvis, 
 Governor of North Carolina, 1882. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII.- DAVIDSON, DUPLIN, DAVIE, and EDGECOMBE COUNTIES. 
 
 Sketch of James M. Leach of Davidson ; of James Gillaspie ; of Thomas and O. Kenan ; of Charles 
 Hooks of Duplin Co. Sketch of Henry Irwin, a Revolutionary hero ; of Jonas Johnston ; of John Hay- 
 wood; genealogy of the Haywood family. Sketch of Henry T. Clark, Governor of North Carolina. 
 The Battle Family, and their genealogy, including Judge Wm. H. Battle, and his son, Kemp P. Batde. 
 Sketch of Duncan L. Clark, of U. S. Army; of Wm. D.Pender; of R. R. Bridgers; of Charles Price 
 of Davie; of John B. Hussey of Davie. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL— FORSYTHE COUNTY. 
 
 Sketch of Col, Benj. Forsythe; of Joseph Winston ; of Israel G. Lash. The History of the Moravians. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX.— FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
 
 Lynch Law, origin of the term. Services nd Sufferings of General Thomas Person ; Sketch of Hon. 
 J. J. Davis. 
 
 CHAPTER XX.— GASTON, GATES, AND GRANVILLE COUNTIES- 
 
 Sketch of Rev. Humphrey Hunter; Major Wm. Chronicle ; of Rev. R H. Morrison of Gaston County; 
 of William Paul Roberts, of Gates ; of John Penn of Granville, one of the Signers of the Declaration of 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 (i i) The last name in Chatham County should be Moreing. 
 
 (12) Chapter XVII, read Duncan L. Clinch, Jiot Clark. 
 
 (13) Chapter XXII, place a semicolon after the name "William Polk." 
 
 (the following are to take the place of the chapters .mentioned.) 
 CHAPTERS XXXIJl AND XXXIV.— HERTFORD AND HYDE COUNTIES. 
 The Murfree Family. Sketch of General Thomas Wynns ; of the Cotten Family; of Rev. Matthias 
 Brickie; of Dr. Goodwin C. Moore ; of John Brown; Sketch of Kenneth Rayner ; of Willian N. H. 
 Smith; Tristram Capehart ; of CuUen Capehart and of Dr. Wm. Anthony Armistead; of David A. 
 Barnes; of Jesse J. Veates ; of Richard J. Catling; Gen. Lafayette's visit to North Carohna : The 
 Chowan Female Institute; Insurrection of Slaves; Sketch of David Miller Carter of Hyde Coup.ly. 
 The Wheeler Family referred to. 
 
 CHAPTERS XXXV & XXXVL— IREDELL, JOHNSTON, JONES AND LENOIR COUNTIES. 
 Sketch of Hugh Lawson White; ofWm.Sharpe; of Dr. Charles Caldwell; of David F. Caldwell; of Hon. 
 Jose])h P. Caldwell; of Hon. Robert F. Armficld ; of Hon. David M. Furches of Iredell. Revolution- 
 ary proc-edings in Johnston County, in 1768. Sketch of Wm. A. Smith ; of Hon. Nathan Bryan of 
 Jones County, of Hardy B. Croom and of Hon. Wm. D. Mosely of Lenoir County. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. —LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 Sketch of Gen. Joseph Graham.— Genealogy of the Grahams. Sketch of Gov. W. A. Graham. Geneal- 
 ogy of the Brevards. The Huguenots. Sketch of Gen. William Davidson ; of Dr. Ephraim Brevard, 
 author of the Declaration of May 20, 1775. The Forney Family ; of Michael Hoke and his son Robert 
 F. (Major Genl. C. S. A.); of John F. Hoke ; of James Houston ; of Dr. Wm. McLean ; of Dr. C. L. 
 Hunter; of Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur ; of Gen. James P. Henderson; of Bartlett Shipp ; Robert H. 
 Burton ; Hon. David Shenck. 
 
 Chapter XXXVIII and XXXIX., read McDowell, wo/ McDonald. 
 Chapter XLL, write " I (enry K. Burgwynn" at end of tliis paragraph. 
 
 Coauty ; tf tl— 
 
 S'^'.-'.' li of Gen. Jcseph Gia.iaui; L-o.mil 
 L':i\ 'ds,in ; of the Forneys; of Mich.ic", 
 M [.ean ; of Dr. C. L. Hunter ; of 
 Viii "^V. Schenck ; of Robert H. Builu.. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII AXD XXXIX.- 
 
 Sktii ii of Tames Lowrie Robinson (Spe.-'H 1 ; ■, jf Silas M 
 
OUNTV 
 
 II XX. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. (13) 
 
 Independence ; of James and John Williams ; of Robert Burton. The Henderson Family — their genealogy. 
 Sketch of Robert B. Gilliam ; of A. W. Venable ; of M. Himt , of Robert Potter. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL— GREENE AND GUILFORD COUNTIES. 
 
 Sketch of Gen. Jesse Speight; of Joseph Dixon. Battle of Guilford Court House, March 15, 1781, be- 
 tween General Greene and Lord Cornv.allis. Sketch of Cornwallis ; of Col. Tarleton; of Col. Wilson 
 Webster. Cornwallis'.s letter to his father as to the fall of Webster. 
 
 Sketch of Dr. David Caldwell; of Alexander Martin; of Newton Cannon, Governor of Tennessee, a 
 native of Guilford ; of Governor Moorehead ; of George C. Mendenhall ; of Judge John M. Dick, and 
 his son, Judge Robt. P. Dick; of John A. Gilmer; of John H. Dilliard ; of Rev. Calvin H. Wiley; of 
 James J. Scales ; of John H. Staples. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIL— HALIFAX COUNTY. 
 
 The Jones Family- its genealogy; John Paul Jones adopts this name. Sketch of Wm. R. Davie, a 
 General of the Revolution; of Hutchins G. Burton; of Andrew Joyner ; of John W. Eppes; of William 
 Polk of the Cromwell Family ; of John B. Ashe ; of Willis Alston ; of John Haywood ; of John H. Ea*-^" ; 
 of J. J. Daniel; of John R. J. Daniel; of Junius Daniel; of John Branch; of Lawrence O'B. Branch; of 
 James Grant; of B. F. Moore. 
 
 CHAPTERS XXXIII AND XXXIV.— HERTFORD AND HYDE COUNTIES. 
 
 The Murfree Family. Sketch of General Thos. Wynns ; of the Wlieeler Family ; of Rev. Matthias Brickie; 
 of Kenneth Rayner; of Godwin C. Moore; of Solon Borland; of Wm. H. H. Smith; of Jesse J. Yeates ; 
 of Richard J. Gatlin. The Chowan Female Institute. Sketch of David Miller Carter ; of Hugh Lawton 
 White of Tenn.; of the Osborne Family — Adlai Osborne, Spruce McCoy Osborne, Edward Jay Osborne, 
 and Judge James W. Osborne; of David F. Caldwell; of Joseph P. Caldwell; of Professor Caldwell; of 
 D. M. Furches; of Robeit F. Armfield. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV AND XXXVI.— IREDELL, JOHNSTON, JONES AND LENOIR COUNTIES. 
 
 Revolutionary proceedings in Johnston County, 1768. Sketch of Wm. A. Smith ; of Nathan Bryan of 
 Jones County ; of Hardy B. Croom ; of Wm. D. Mosely. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII.— LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 Sketch of Gen. Joseph Graham ; Family Genealogy of the Brevards. Huguenots ; of General William 
 Davidson ; of the Forneys ; of Michael, Robert F. and John T. Hoke ; of James Graham ; of Dr. Wm. 
 McLean; of Dr. C. L. Hunter; of Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur ; or Gen. Jas. P. Henderson ; of Judge Da- 
 vid W. Schenck ; of Robert H. Burton. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII AND XXXIX.— MACON AND MARTIN. 
 
 Sketch of James Lowrie Robinson (Speaker) ; of Silas McDonald of Macon ; of Asa Biggs; of Jos. J. 
 Martin. 
 
(14) WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 CHAPTER XL.— MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 
 
 The Polk Family,— its genealogy ; The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence ; it is denounced by 
 the Royal Governor, Josiah Martin. Sketches of the Members of the Convention ; of Abram Alexander ; 
 of Hezekiah James Balch ; of John Davidson— with genealogy ; of Wm Graham ; of Robert Irwin ; of Wm. 
 Kennon ; of David Reese ; of Adam Craighead ; of Gen. Thomas Polk,— letter of Gen Greene to Gen- 
 eral Polk. " Devil Charley." Sketch of Bishop Polk of Andrew Jackson. Bishops furnished by North 
 Carolina to other States. Susan Spratt nee Barnett, a Revolutionary relic. Sketch of Mrs. Susan Hancock ; 
 of Judge Sam. Lowrie ; of Joseph Wilson; of Wm. J. Alexander ; of Greene W. Caldwell; of D. H. Hill ; 
 The Osborne family, and a graphic sketch of Judge James W. Osborne, from the pen of D. H. Hill ; Judge 
 R. P. Warring. 
 
 CHAPTER XLL- MOORE AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES. 
 
 Sketch of A. McNeil; of Archibald McBryde ; of Governor Benjamin Williams ; of Di. George Glass- 
 cock, of Moore County. The Ashe Family,— its genealogy. John Baptista Ashe's controversy with the 
 Royal Governor, and is imprisoned by him. Letter of Burrington, showing his own character and purely. 
 Battle of Briar Creek. Sketch of the Hill family ; of Wm. Hooper ; of Timothy Bloodworth ; of Edward 
 Jones; of Johnson Blakely ; of James Ennes ; of the Davis family; of the Waddell family; of Owen 
 Holmes ; of John Cowan ; of Gov. Dudley ; of Bishop Atkinson ; of Rev. Adam Empie ; of Bishop Green ; 
 of Wm. B. Meares; of Wm. H. Marsteller ; of General Abbot. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIL— NORTHAMPTON AND ORANGE COUNTIES. 
 
 Sketch of General Allan Jones ; of General Matt. W. Ransom ; of Edmund Fanning ; of Governor 
 Burke, seized by Tories and carried to Wilmington. The Mebanes. Sketch of General Francis Nash ; of 
 Judge Frederick Nash; of Judge Murphy; of Judge Norwood ; of Dr. Wm. Montgomery; of Willie P. 
 Mangum ; of Thomas H. Benton ; of Gen. Geo. B. Anderson ; Memoirs of Chapel Hill ; Sketch of Dr. 
 Charles F. Deems ; Hon. Paul C. Cameron ; Prof. Hubbard ; of Wm. Bingham; of John W. Graham. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIIL— PASQUOTANK, PERQUIMANS AND PERSON COUNTIES. 
 
 Sketch of John L. Bailey ; of Wm B. Shepard ; of George W. Brooks ; of Gen. James G. Martin ; of 
 John Pool; of Pasquotank; of John Harvey; of J. W. Albertson ; of William H. Bagley, of Perquimans', 
 of Hustavus A. Williamson ; of General Henry Atkinson, U. S. Army ; of Richard Atkinson ; of Judge E. 
 G. Reade ; of John W. Cunningham, of Person County. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV— PITT AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES. 
 Sketch of Dr. Robert Williams ; of General Bryan Grimes, of Pitt ; of Jonathtn Worth, of Pitt ; Colonel 
 Andrew Balfour, his gallant services and tragic end ; Herman Husbands, a leader of the Regulators; Hon. 
 John Long, Member of U. S. Congress. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV —RICHMOND AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTIES. 
 
 Sketch of A. Dockery ; of A. H. Dockery; of Governor ; Joseph R. Hawley ; of Walter Leake Steele, of 
 Richmond ; of Thomas Settle Sen.— genealogy of the Settles,— of his son Thomas, now Judge in Florida ; 
 of David Settle Reid ; of John H. Dilliard ; of Hamilton Henderson Chalmers, a Judge of the Supreme 
 Supreme Court of Mississippi. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. • (,5) 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI.— ROWAN COUNTY. 
 
 Documents never before published as to early times in Rowan. Population in 1754; first settlers their 
 
 names; Committee of Safety, 1774-76. Sketch of Hugh Montgomery — his decendants. leroic conduct of 
 Mrs Steele. Sketch of General John Steele; of John V. Steele, Governor of New Har. pshire; of Wm. 
 Kennon ; of Griffith Rutherford — his gallant services in the Indian and Revolutionary Wars. Sketch of the 
 Locke family; of Spruce McCoy ; of James Martin ; of George Mumford ; of the Pearsons; of Judge John 
 Stokes; of Charles Fisher, and his son, Colonel Charles F. F'isher, killed at Manasses, Va., and his daughter, 
 Miss C. Fisher, distinguished as an authoress; of Governor John W. Ellis; of Nath. Boyden ; of Burton 
 Craige; of Hamilton C. Jones; of of Francis E. Shober; of John L. Henderson. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVH.— ivUTHERFORD, SAMPSON, STOKES AND SURRY COUNTIES. 
 
 Sketch of Judge John Paxton; of Felix Walker, author of the world-wide expression "talking for buncombe;" 
 of Colonel Wm. Graham; of Gen. John G. Bynum, and his brother, Judge Wm. P. Bynum; of Judge John 
 Baxter, of Rutherford ; of Gov. Holmes ; of Gen. Tlieo. H. Holmes ; of Wm. R. King. Vice President of 
 U.S. of Col. Benj. Forsythe of Stokes County ; of James Martin, his Military services in the Revolution, as de- 
 posec to, by himself; of John Martin, of Stokes; of Benjamin Cleaveland, of Surry; Names of the Committee 
 of Safety, of Surry County; Sketch of William Lenoir; of the Williams family; of Jesse Franklin ; ofMeshach 
 Franklin ; of Judge Jesse Franklin Graves. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII.— TYRRELL AND WAKE COUNTIES. 
 
 Edward Buncombe, his Military services and heroic death. The Pettigrews, James and his son Ebenezer, 
 and his gallant grandson J. Johnston Pettigrew ; Sketch of Dr. Edward Ransom ; of Joseph Gales, first Editor 
 of the Raleigh Register; The Press of North Carolina. Sketch of Joseph Gales of Washington, D. C; of 
 Weston R. Gales, of Raleigh ; of Seaton Gales; of Judge Sewall ; of Judge Duncan Cameron; of Edmund 
 B. Freeman; of Dr. Richard H. Lewis. Sketch of William Hill, Sec. of State; of Dr. William G. Hill; of 
 Theophilus Hill; of Mrs. Zimmerman, Poetess; of Andrew Johnson, President of United States; of General 
 Joseph Lane, and of the Lane family ; of Governor W. W. Holden ; of Bishop Ravenscroft ; of Bishop Ives ; 
 of Rev. Dr. Richard S. Macon ; of Bishop Beckwith ; of Octavius Coke ; of Randolph A. Shotwell ; of Don- 
 ald W. Bain. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX.— WARREN COUNTY. 
 
 Military services of General Jethro Sumner in the Revolution. The Hawkins family, with its genealogy; 
 Sketch of Dr. James G. Brehon ; of Nathaniel Macon ; of Gov. James Turner ; of Daniel Turner ; of Whar- 
 ton J. Green; of Kemp Plummer ; of Judge Hall; of Judge Edward Hall; of Judge Blake Baker; of Gov. 
 William Miller; of Weldon N. Edwards; of the Bragg family ; State Capitol burned, June, 1831. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX.— WATAUGA, WAYNE, AND WILSON COUNTIES. 
 
 Sketch of Daniel Boone ; of John Sevier. The State of Frankland, and its rise, progress, and fall. Sketch 
 of Ezekiel Slocumb; of Col. Thomas Ruffin; of Gov. C. H. Brogden ; of Gov. Montford Stokes, and his de- 
 scendants ; of Henry G. Williams, of Wilson ; Isaac F. Dortch ; of Richard W. Singletary. 
 
/^ 
 
 MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR, 
 
 i®Siil iifflH aSMKlili 
 
 Of Hertford County, North Carolina. 
 
 BORN AUGUST^ 1806, DIED DECEMBER 7, 1882, 
 Bv HON. JOSEl'II S. FOWLER, Ex-Senatok Fkom Tennessee. 
 
 " Excgi monumentum tsre perenniiis^ 
 Hetjalique situ pijramidnm nltius ; 
 Quorf non imher edax. non Aqnilo impoteng 
 Possit diruere, aut innumerabilis 
 Annorum series, cl/uga lemporum.'^ 
 
 — UOR. Cau., XXX. 
 
 TJO.M Mooru's "Historical Si'ictches of 
 Ileitford County," wo learn the fol- 
 ^ey lowing: 
 (|] L Among the early citizens of the 
 
 ei villiigeof Murfreesboro, in this county, 
 
 S was John Wheeler. He was of an ancient 
 1 family, long seated around New York. In 
 the latter end of tlie 17th century-, under a 
 grant of land from Charles II., Jo.^eph Wheeler 
 emigrated from England, and settled in New- 
 ark, New Jersey. Like William i'enn, he was 
 the son of a gallant naval officer. Sir Francis 
 AVheeler, an English admiral, was his father, 
 and the grant of land from the Crown was in 
 reward for faithful services, lie and his young 
 wife had followed soon after the conqtiest of 
 the New Netherlands by the Duke of York, son 
 of Charles I., afterwards James II. 
 
 To them was born, in 1718, their son Ephraira 
 Wheeler, to whom, and his wife Mary, the tirst 
 American John AVheeler was born in the year 
 1744. John had bestowed upon him the best 
 advantages of educai ion — he was educated as a 
 
 physician. When the Revolutionary war came 
 on, he entered the army under General Mont- 
 gomery', and accompanied him in the perilous 
 and ill-fated campaign to Quebec, and was in 
 the battle (December 31, 1775.) in which that 
 gallant officer fell. In Toner's "Reminiscences 
 of the Medical Men of the Revolution" he is 
 prominently mentioned. Aaron Burr served 
 also in this campaign. Dr. Wheeler accom- 
 panied General Greene in his southern cam- 
 paign, and was with him in the hard fought 
 and glorious victory at Eutaw Springs, Sep- 
 tember 8, 1781, and until the close of the war. 
 Pleased with the genial climate of the South, 
 he settled near Murfreesboro and brought his 
 family with liim. llis wife Elizabeth Long- 
 worth, was the neice of Aaron Ogden, after- 
 wards the Governor of New Jersey, and Sen- 
 ator in Congress. Ho lived near Murfreesboro 
 for years, in the practice of his profession, in 
 which he had great skill and much success. 
 
 His death occurred on October 14, 1814, and 
 he lies buried in Northampton County, near 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Mnrfreesboro. He left several works in man- 
 acript on medical science, which evinced tlie 
 depth of his acquaintance and his devotion 
 to his profession. His son John was born in 
 1771. In his early youth he was engaged with 
 his cousin, David Longworth, in business as 
 lial)lisher8 and booksellers in New York, Here 
 he attracted, by his attention to business, the 
 notice of Zedekiah Stone, who was then in 
 Now York, and by v.'honi he was induced to 
 remove to Bertie County, North Carolina. 
 Ho was there married to Elizabeth Jordan. 
 January 6th, 1796, and after the death of his 
 triend, Mr. Stone, Murfreesboro became his 
 home. At this place he was engaged in mer- 
 cantile and shipping afiairs until the day of 
 his death. From his enterprise, industry, 
 sagacity, and integrity he attained great suc- 
 cess, and his memory, to this day, is cherished 
 in that section as "the honest merchant." lie 
 was a man of unspotted integrity, so strong 
 that venality and indirection cowered before 
 him. After a long life of industry, usefulness 
 and piety (for he was a consistent member of 
 the Baptist Church for more than forty years) 
 he died, lamented and belovetl, August 7tb, 
 1832. His family surviving him, consisted 
 of two sons by his first marriage, John H. 
 Wheeler, late Public Treasurer of the State, 
 and Dr. S. Jordan Wheeler, late of Bertie 
 County. By a second wife (Miss Woods) he 
 left one daughter, Julia, the peerless wife of 
 Dr. Godwin C. Moore; and by a third wife, 
 among others. Colonel JuniusB. Wheeler, now 
 Professor of Civil and Military Engineering 
 and the Art of War in the United States Mil- 
 itary Academy at West Point. He is the 
 author of several military works on civil and 
 military engineering, and on the art of war, 
 which have been adopted as text books by the 
 War Department. He has thus written his 
 name in the useful literature of the nation and 
 discharged "that debt," which Lord Coke 
 says, "every man owes to his profession." 
 
 Professor Wheeler was born in 1S30; edu- 
 cated in pttrt at the University of North Car- 
 olina, and when only a boy volunteered as a 
 private in Captain William J. Clarke's com- 
 pany in the Mexican war. He was in every 
 battle from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. 
 At the fiercely contested affair at the Nnvional 
 Puente, one of the lieutenants was killed, and 
 young as he was, he was appointed by the 
 President as the successor, on the repor^ of his 
 commanding otlicer, now on file, that "he had 
 seen young Wheeler under heavy fire, and he 
 had proved to the command that he was made 
 of the stuff of which heroes are made." On 
 his return from Mexico he could have remained 
 as an officer in the army, but he declined on 
 the ground of want of qualification, he there- 
 fore resigned his commission. The President 
 determined to retain him in the service, and 
 he appointed him a cadet at West Point, 
 where he graduated among the first of his 
 class. After serving for several years in the 
 Corps of Engineers in Louisiana, Wisconsin 
 and elsewhere, he was appointed to succeed 
 the late Professor Mahan in the position he 
 now occupies. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Jordan Wheeler, brother of the 
 above, w'as born in 1810; was educated at the 
 Hertford Academy, and graduated from 
 Union College, Schenectady; he studied medi- 
 cine with Dr. Nathan Ch:ipman in Philadel- 
 phia, and practiced for years with success. 
 He has been an earnest co-laborer in the cause 
 of education and religion, as the Chowan In- 
 stitute and the Church at Murfreesboro bear 
 witness; he was professor in a college in 
 Mississippi. He recently died in Bertie County, 
 loved and respected for his purity of character. 
 He married Lucinda, daughter of Lewis Bond. 
 
 John Hill Wheeler. 
 
 The conspicuous services rendered the State 
 of North Carolina, and her eminent citizens, 
 by this accomplished man, will forever pre- 
 
JOHN HILL WHEELER. 
 
 serve his nienioij from oblivion. Born in the 
 dawn of the present centnry, ho has been tlie 
 witness of the most remarkable events in the 
 history of the republic. In the connty of 
 Hertford he tirst saw tlie light, August 6, 
 1806. 
 
 lie was prepared for college at Hertford 
 AcadLni}' by Dr. John Otis Fieenian, an emi- 
 nent divine. He was then placed at the 
 Columbian University, Washington, J). C , 
 and graduated in the class of 1826. In the 
 year 1828 he took his degree of Master of 
 Arts in the Universitj' of North Carolina. 
 He studied his profession, tlic law, tinder the 
 direction of Chief Justice Taylor, of Xorth 
 Carolina. He was elected to the Legislature 
 before ho was admitted to the bar. in the3'ear 
 1827. Then State Legislatures were honored 
 bodies, and secured some of the best talent in 
 the States. 
 
 This Legislature containevl manj' eminent 
 and able men, auiong thvui were Judges 
 Gaston, Nash and Bailey, George E. Spri- 
 uell, John M. Morehead, James Iredell, and 
 many more. To win position in such a body 
 was tl e [iromise of a fruitful manhood, in a 
 youth just twenty-one years of age. For an 
 earne. i and aspiring mind, it proved a valua- 
 ble seij lol. Success was not to be hoped for 
 witht>!.t severestuily and thorough preparation. 
 To tu. -ide into revorentiui indifference was 
 notl :.. i-liaracteri.-tic of hi.smind. Independ- 
 ent i ! .is feelings, whilst respecting the ability 
 of Ir' ju'ileagues, he claimed equal rights in 
 the ! } . Conscientious in the execution of 
 the it trust com. ' ' ' r.m ]>y a gen- 
 e'.X' . ..id \jroad— &;->- . he could not 
 
 see .litir dignity -©vei'.-^liii.'TTrK'Bd, He sum- 
 mon' : .11 his powers to the v.-ork.and won 1^7 
 hir;; :i conspicuous and honorable po,sition. 
 So V ••: (lid he perform the task assigned him, 
 that \iu. approving constituents returned him 
 to the 'i.':)uy. In his twenty-fifth year, they 
 nonil.i.ed him for Gviugress, but after a 
 
 severely contested ami gallant canvass, he wis 
 defeated by the Hon. William B. Shepard. 
 
 In the year 1831, he was appointed Secii'- 
 tary to the Board of Commissioners, under lli" 
 treat}- with France, to adjudicate the claim.-- of 
 American citizens for spoliations under Ihe 
 Berlin and Milan decrees. 
 
 In 1836, he was placed by General Jackson 
 in the position of Superintendent of the 
 Branch Mint at Charlotte, but in 1841 shared 
 the political fortune of his friends and parly. 
 
 In 1842, he was elected by the Legislature to 
 be Treasurer of the State, in opposition to 
 Major Charles L. Ilinton. After liis term had 
 e.xpiied, he retired to his rural home on thq 
 banks of the Catawba, and, aided by the sug- 
 gestion of his friend, Governor Swain, he be- 
 gan the patriotic labor of writing "Wheeler's 
 Histoiy of North Carolina," on which he was 
 employed for about ten years. How well this 
 duty was performed, will appear from an ex- 
 tract of a letter of General Swain, written not 
 long before his death, now in our possession, in 
 which he says: 
 
 "I have been much urged to write a comple- 
 tion of Hawks' History of North Carolina. 
 The on ly response I have ever made is that I am 
 too old, and too poor to venture on such an un- 
 dertaking. Were it ctherwise, in ray opinion 
 another edition of Wheeler's History would be 
 more useful and acceptable than any work I 
 could write." 
 
 In this work. Colonel Wheeler sought to col- 
 lect the intere.sting facts that illustrated the 
 history of the State and give them an enduring 
 place. He proposed to preserve, for all time, a 
 faithful record of the illustrious deeds of a 
 noble and patriotic people, who have character- 
 ized their presence in the new world by an 
 intense love of liberty and the most striking 
 individuality. Ti^ey r.-2re. from their presenoo 
 in the wilderness, aself governing"CDrr:;«iuuhy. 
 
 No authority was sacred that did not emi- ' 
 nate from themselves. Loyal to the will of 
 the people, they resented indignantly the im- 
 
iv WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 position of any external authority. They re- termined men, tojoin the liberals, and the posi- 
 jected the magnificent plan of government pro- tion held by Colonel Wheeler became one of 
 vided hy the Earl of Shaftesl)ury, though he much peril and responsibility. It soon became 
 summoned the brilliant talents of the illnstri- manifest that neither party couki be relied on 
 ous philosopher, John Locke, for its preparation, for any permanent and .sahitary government. 
 They adopted a plan drawn from their own The following of Walker, though small, was 
 experience and their wants, under the circum- brave, determined and intelligent; their leader 
 stances, which surrounded them. They were very soon resolved, if he had not from the be- 
 the first to repel the aggressions of the British ginning, to give the country an Anglo-Amer- 
 parliament and crown. They well knew the ican government. He thus expected to make 
 rights of freeborn Englishmen and the princi- Central America the -seat of a new and pro- 
 pies of their constitution, and were determined gressive civilization, which would convert its 
 that no invasion of them should be tolerated, fertile soil and generous climate into the uses 
 Colonel Wheeler gave his work to the public of the commercial world. For the interesting 
 in the year 1851. It was a compilete success, and incidents of this daring and romantic advent- 
 is highly esteemed as a faithful record of a ure, the reader is referred to the sketches of the 
 most interesting and remarkable people. incidents and characters connected with the 
 in the year 1844, he was warmly urged upon revolution. A thrilling episode of his sojourn in 
 by his party a.s a candidate f . v governor, but that distracted country, so characteristic of the 
 did not receive the nomination. man himself, is given at pages 22 to 30 of the 
 
 In the year 1852, he was elected to the J^tate following Reminiscences. 
 Legislature, which was fiercely agitated by the As soon as General Walker had established 
 contest for a United States Senator. his authority, and his was the de facto govern- 
 The Democratic caucus put forth their favor- ment,theAmerican mitiister promptly acknow 1- 
 ite man, the Honorable .lames C. Dobbin, than edged it. This act was not approved by the 
 whom a purer, or nobler man never lived. Not- Secretary of State, the Honorable William L. 
 withstanding his great popularity with his Marcy, and be requested iiis recall. As Colonel 
 party, and his admitted ability, the friends " /heeler bail a warm friend in the President, 
 of the Honorable Romulus M.Saunders re- andashisearnestand longtried friend,theHon. 
 fused to support the caucus nominee, and James C. Dobbin, was Secretary of the Navy, 
 voted for Honorable Burton Craige. The ob- he was in no danger of being recalled without 
 stinate contest thus made deprived the state a hearing. His reply to .Mr. Marcy's stric- 
 of its representation in the Senate for two tures was triumphant, and the President re- 
 years. In this contest Colonel Wheeler stood fused to recall him. 
 
 by bis party and his warm personal friend, iMr. Colonel Wheeler not only sympathized with 
 
 Dobbin, and did all in his power to secure his the object of this movement, but admired the 
 
 election. character of General WalJ^wv • He wasa qniet. 
 
 In the year 1853, Colonel Wheeler was ap- unassuming p^rtrtfeiian, eilucated under the 
 
 pointed, by President Pierce, Minister to Nica- best instructors of the United States and 
 
 ragna. Central America. j>i;:;;;g his residence Europe. In [loison, he was below the average 
 
 there thi>ef>uiiFrywastorn by opposing political American, by no means imposing in his pres- 
 
 " factions, that sought their ends by the sword, ence. A ready, eloquent, and graceful writer. 
 
 During tlie revolution General William Walker he would have been one of the first journalists 
 
 made his appearance with a company of de- of his age. The blood of the Norsemen coursed 
 
JOHN HILL WHEKLER. v 
 
 through liis veins, niul he was alive with an soiinil judgment, a cautious fort'sight, a steady 
 
 onthui^iasni of the old Vikings for adventure. ]mrpose, and a captivating manner, lie knew 
 
 rio neither estimated the dangers of the how to hnshand liis resfiurces for the hour of 
 
 enemy, or the climate; his courage was of the trial. General Walker moved often under the 
 
 pure.«t steel. An ardent Anglo-American, lie influence of a whimsical impulse, careless of 
 
 had only contempt for the Spaniards and those the demands of an insatiable to-morrow. He 
 
 mongrel races, who occupied with indolence sought the enemy at too great a sacrifice of 
 
 and semi-harbarism one of the finest an<l most men who could not be restored; he took hut 
 
 productive regions on the continent. He con- little account of the profound causes which 
 
 ceived the purpose of planting there another preserve and destroy armies. His high quali- 
 
 race of men who would open the land to a re- ties and noble ambition will cause feelings of 
 
 finement and civilization that would make it regret for his unhappy end, and the failure of 
 
 the jiathway of nations to the eastcrir world, his ambitious and magnificent pui-pose. Not 
 
 Colonel ^Vheeler readily saw in the advent of the love of gain, nor the vulgar display, led 
 
 this cultivated and revolutionary mind, and this refined student to the unequal contest, 
 
 his brave and daring followers, the promise of It was the pride of his noble race and its ea- 
 
 hope for the country so long cursed w-ith de- pacity to rejoice a country blessed by nature 
 
 generac}' and mindless inaction. He became with every bounty, and cursed only b}' an in- 
 
 the invited guest and welcome friend of the dolent, vicious, and monotonous race. Too 
 
 United States minister, who knew the men soon for the demands of mankind, a more op- 
 
 and the situation far better than General portune period will, in time, complete the 
 
 Walker. Had he listened more earnesti}' to w-ork in which he bravely fell, and vindicate 
 
 the wise counsel and cautious prudence of his generous ilesign. 
 
 ('olonel Wheeler, he would, in all probability. To the honor of Colonel Whoelei- be it re- 
 have realized the briglit dreams of his ardent corded that he used his influence to promote a 
 fancy. He had many of the qualities of a sue- revolution so fraught with unnumbered bless- 
 cessfnl leader — sincerity, courage, self-denial ings to civilized man. Nor didhe com]>roniise 
 and intellectual superiority. He was not a the great repul)lic, that had confided her good 
 state-iiM-i" i.ifl +'ni!od in vnnking provisions es- faith to his care, though he cou'd not lookwirh 
 sential to the maintainanee of armies. Takitig composure upon the contest, of an enlightened 
 no account of the strength of the foe, or the civilization witii a stupid indifference to the 
 i'atality of the climate, he wasted his forces demands of an intelligent and progressive age. 
 without the possibility of a supply. That one entire continent, and a large pi)rtiou 
 The United States minister, with far keener of another, should be consigned to stolid repose 
 apprehension, saw the dangers that threatened without an heroic effort to unfold th.eir al- 
 and advised the means to insure the success of most boundless possibilities, was to him. 
 the promising enterprise. To him it was the neither statesmanship nor hiunanity. He 
 introduction of a new civilizatiori by a race knew it was the destiny of his race to oradi- 
 whose destiny was to found new nations. His cate barliarism, and teach the inhabitants of 
 whole heart was with the movement, and his the wilderness the arts of production, coni- 
 condnct was only limited l)y his duty to jire- mercc, moral responsibility, social refinement, 
 serve the faith and honor of the republic and intelligent freetlom. Before its all-coa- 
 which he represented. To a courage not less quering enterprise nature had put off its sav- 
 pronqit than General Walker's, he added a age habits for new creations of beauty and 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 utility. Prot'oundly versed in its history, he 
 was moved witli iidmi ration for its all-creii- 
 tive energ}'. He did not doubt that its pres- 
 ence would endow, with a new life, that entire 
 isthmus, which could not fail, in a few years, 
 to meet the advance of the Unittd States into 
 
 estness through all its mcanderings. The 
 change from Pierce to Buchanan brought no 
 change in the purposes or dispositiou of the 
 party. Under the former, the repeal of the 
 Missouri compromise, and the organization of 
 the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, had 
 
 Mexico. With prophetic vision he beheld its dissolved the Whig party and introduced the 
 
 gloomy' forests giving place to the peaceful 
 abodes of cultivated men. Deprecating the 
 erratic impulses of the young leader of this 
 promising mission, he nevertheless hailed it as 
 the harbinger of a glorious future for Central 
 America and the commercial world. Not even 
 the demands of a coldly selfish diplomacy 
 could repress his generous approval, and he 
 gave the benign presence of a creative enter- 
 
 Republican party into the field of action. The 
 conflict between individuals had passed away 
 with the magnificent personages that charac- 
 terized that period. Principles laying at the 
 foundation of free institutions, and deeply 
 imbedded in the conscience, came into the 
 field. The Republican party planted itself 
 upon the doctrine of freedom for the territor- 
 ies. The Democratic party proclaimed the Ni- 
 
 prise his counsel, his symiiathy, and his sub- violability of slavery in the States and Terri- 
 
 stantial support 
 
 In the year 1857, Colonel Wheeler resigned 
 his mission, and returned to his abode in 
 Washington City. So long as he lived he 
 claimed his legal residence to be in North 
 Carolina. On his door plute was that name 
 
 tories. The former was a new and revolu- 
 tionary i'orce, the latter stood firmly by the 
 ancient constitutional rights of slavery. The 
 former was organized to break up and displace 
 it, the latter resisted displacement. Trained 
 in the school of Jackson, Colonel Wheeler's 
 
 onplcd with his own, and over the breast of judgment was against war, and adhered to 
 
 his encoflined form was engraved that name 
 so dear to him. In all his thoughts,and in all 
 bis jor.rneyings, his heart yearned towards 
 North Carolina, and within her borders he 
 would have preferred interment. The amia- 
 ble and charming English poet. Waller, in his 
 old age, purchased a small property at his 
 birthplace, saj-ing he would like to die, like the 
 stag, where he was roused. This poetic idea 
 has immortality in the lines of Goldsmith: 
 
 ■' As the poor stag, wliom hound and horns pursue, 
 Fants for the place where at fh-st he flew, 
 I still hud hoj'ed my vexations past. 
 Here to return and die at home at last." 
 
 By this time the long agon}' over the slav- 
 ery question was culminating. Oar republic 
 was rapidly drifting towards a fierce and de- 
 .-itructive war. Colonel Wheeler had ever 
 been identified with the Democratic part}', and 
 bad followed its taithand practices with earn- 
 
 the Union; but this school had disappeared 
 and a new Democracy had arisen, and guided 
 by his sympathies he followed his party, drift- 
 ing rapidly upon dangerous reefs and quick- 
 sands. One of his sons, C. Sully Wheeler, was 
 in the Federal Navy; the other, Vi''oodbury 
 Wheeler, had joined the Confederate Army. 
 Each remained faithful to the cause he had 
 esp )nsed, to the end. To those laboring un- 
 der the weight of half a century that had seen 
 the republic in the glory of its united power, 
 it seemed now in the agony of inevitable death. 
 The expiring houri< of Demoiiratic rule was 
 spent shuddering before the fearful respon- 
 sibility of the solemn oath "to support and de- 
 fend the Constitution." The incoming admin- 
 istration , though sustained by an unconquer- 
 able enthusiasm in its ranks, was slow to an- 
 nounce any policy. Many unionists in the 
 south, believing all to be lost, hastened into the 
 
JOTfX HILL WIIKELEK. 
 
 ranks of the disunionists. All tin' companions of 
 Colonel Wheeler's life, all that was dear to him 
 from childhood were enveloped in the fortunes 
 of the Confederacy. Ilis lonj? and strong po- 
 litical bias and the intensity of his friendship 
 drew his sympathy and his hopes with them, 
 and he came back to Xorth Carolina to be 
 with her in the struggle. Too far advanced in 
 life to become an actor in the contest, in 1863, 
 pursuant to a resolution of the General Assem- 
 bly of the State, he went to Europe to collect 
 material for a new edition of liis history. Anx- 
 ious to gather all that related to the subject 
 which could render it a more perfect chronicle 
 of his beloved people, he sought the treasures 
 of the British Archives and buried himself in 
 that wonderful collectioii, far from the desolat- 
 ing and sanguinary events of the war. He 
 collected much valuable and interesting mat- 
 ter, which he incorporated in the new edition 
 of his history which he left ready for the press. 
 Colonel Wheeler was a sincere believer in 
 the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independ- 
 ence, of May 20th, 1775. His studies in the 
 Archives left no doubt upon this interesting 
 l.roblcni in his mind. The meeting and reso- 
 lution of the same body of men of May 31st, 
 1775, are undisputed. They did not go to the 
 point of declaring a separation from the 
 British government, but they went far beyond 
 the expressions of any other colony. The 
 reader of Wheeler's History will mark with 
 what delight he records the resistance of 
 these forest-born republicans to the aggres- 
 sions of the royal government. The gallant 
 struggles and heroic sacrifices of his revolu- 
 tionary ancestors are set forth with care and 
 eloquence 
 
 He was thoroughly versed in the opinions 
 of democratic statesmen, and sincerely devoted 
 to the Jefferson school. He maintained the 
 sovereignty of the states in all local matters, 
 whilst he held to the inviolability of the 
 Federal authority in national affairs. Each 
 
 was sacred in the realms assigned them by the 
 Constitution. It is difficult to prosorvo the 
 complicated adjustment of the relations of the 
 states to the general govermnent. In the 
 South, he saw a strong tendency to magnify 
 the powers of the states. In the North, the 
 Federal authority was rapidly assuming new 
 and alarming importance. The effect of the 
 war was to give far greater importance to the 
 nation, and to silence everywhere the princi- 
 ple of state sovereignty. Colonel Wheeler 
 regarded the influence of the central power as 
 dangerous to individual lilierty, and constantly 
 tending to imperialism. He beheld with re- 
 gret the citizen disappearing in the grandeur 
 and power of the nation. Reared among men 
 proud of their honor and influence, he dreaded 
 the decline of personal excellence. Its loss 
 was the grave of liberty, and birth of imperial 
 power. 
 
 The integrity of the state and nation de- 
 pended upon the sanctity of the ballot, liiid 
 this upon the responsibility and intelligence 
 of the individual citizen. The presence of 
 powerful monied corporations, and a graiul 
 central government, would destroy in time 
 its responsibility. The voter, being entirely 
 overshadowed, would soon begin to look as 
 lightly upon his personal worth, as he did 
 upon bis influence in the republic. He relied 
 chiefly on character to preserve the republic 
 through the ballot. Neither education nor 
 wealth could be trusted with the liberties of the 
 people, in the absence 'of inflexible purpose, 
 and the habit of self government. The only 
 safeguard for the encroachments of power 
 was in the disposition and capacity of the 
 citizen to resi.^t them at the threshold. When 
 the public ceases to be a severe censor of the 
 conduct of ofiicials, the end of our delicately 
 adjusted republic will not be remote. His 
 apprehensions of a gradual change, and a 
 complete undermining of the nature of our 
 institutions, was the result of close observa- 
 
viii WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 tion for more than half a ceiitni'}-, of the The social qualities of Colonel Wheeler 
 most e\'entful periiul of the history of the were of the highest order. His warm lieart, 
 govei'iimont, aetuateil by an intense solicitude his classic wit, and mirth-creating humor, 
 for the safety of the republic of the fathers. made him the favorite of all circles in which 
 Cidonel Wheeler was a sincei'e believer in intelligence, refinement, and graceful address 
 the salutary intiueiice of labor directed by were desired. Living in that age of the re- 
 method. Ardent lal)or, regulated l)y reason, is public which gave the noblest development 
 the price of excellence. He that would win of individual excellence, he had ample oppor- 
 tlio latter, can not dispense with the former. tunity of mingling in its most delightful as- 
 Time was a sacred trust that no one could sociations. BountifuUj' supplied with instruc- 
 neglect Mithont evil. Thoroughly realizing five and intei'esting anecdote, his conversation 
 its demands, with earnest i)urpnse and willing never lost its interest and inspiration. He 
 hands he consecrated all to the noblest drew from ancient and modern literature their 
 ends of life. Knowing that the brightest ricliest gems, and witli consummate taste he 
 genius, and the most brilliant p iwei's, [ileased and instructed his ever attentive 
 could avail but little if this trust was not ex- auditors. The fountains of Greek, Roman, 
 ecuted with system, he introduceil the most English and French history were open to his 
 con\'enient order into all his labors, so that lie never flagging memory. It was in the richer 
 could call up the gleanings of years in a developments of American life that he en- 
 nunnent. joyed the gi'eatest pleasure. Above all [leriods 
 A systematic and laboi-ious scholar, he en- of human history, he esteemed the characters 
 riched his understanding frcmi the treasures of our revolutionary era. It bad furnished 
 of many tongues. The Englisli furnislied him the grandest exjjressicni of freedom an<l in- 
 the I'ichest stores, and he liad drunk deeply at tegi'it}', as it had of civil and political iirstitu- 
 her purest fountains. Into his tenacious and tions. With pious veneration he had collected 
 fruitful memory, were joined the wealth of and preserved every heroic act and noble 
 the prf)se and pioetry of that wonderful people, utterance, unwilling to allow the corroding 
 whosi' intelligence, more tlian their arms, has ringers of time to erase fr(.)m coming genera- 
 tilled the woild. lie was familiar with all the tions the humblest name. 
 
 great dran.iatists. The great poems of Shakes- Not less fortunate in his political ussocia- 
 
 peare, he could repeat with a [)ower rarely tions, lie knew personallv all the presidents 
 
 equalled by tlie first actors c>f his time. and cabinet otricers, from Jefferson to Arthur. 
 
 His friendships were ardent and sincere, and Ho had been the confidential friend of Jack- 
 
 his dev(.)ti<m to his friends knew no bounds; son, i'ierce and Johnson, and was by them 
 
 influence, purse, life itself, if in the right, called to counsel and advice. He did not 
 
 were at their service. Attachments .-o strong look to high orti< ial station, for the richest 
 
 and pure, insured a loving and faithful Inrs- manifestation of intellectual and moral worth, 
 
 band, a.n indulgent and devoted father, and a He had too often seen the most commanding 
 
 kind and generous neighbor. In all tlie rcla- positions occupied by presuming inferiority, 
 
 tions of life ho filled the measuie of a noble through the'labors and merits of the modest 
 
 aiianhood; tciider and charitable to the atriict- and deserving. By the fruits of their lives, 
 
 ed, cheerful and courteous to the prosperous, he esteemed the actors of the age in which 
 
 lie ever sought to mitigate the asperities of life, they lived and worked. Tliis volume of rem- 
 
 .thoserude blasts tliat visit too often evervhome. ini-cences discloses his estimation of characters 
 
JOIIX TTILL WIIKELEK. 
 
 who figured in the moral and political life of most venerable and sacred institntions, in 
 
 the state and nation, far better than any sketch time, give place to new ones, better adapted 
 
 of his life. It also presents with equal force to represent its advancement, and perpetuate 
 
 his moral, social and political preferences and its usefulness. 
 
 appreciations. In all the noble actions of the great and 
 He bad been from his first political essay, good of the republic, he bad an inheritance of 
 trained in the Democratic party, and his ac- imperishable glory. With pious care he has 
 tive afiinities drew from the ranks of that garnared all, and has labored to transmit 
 party his warmest associations. Ilis demo- them to posterity, as an inspiration to emulate 
 cracy was founded upon the lofty plane of the iieroic and worthy lives of an illustrious 
 integrity and worth. There, all who could ancestry. The conduct of the great and good 
 come wore equals, and entitled to the rights is the most valuable legacy that a nation can 
 and honors of the state. Neither accident of have. The memories and the glorious deeds 
 birth or wealth could push from their seats of the eminent personages whom North Caro- 
 the true, the industrious, and the brave. Hum- liiia has contributed to humanity, have been 
 hie worth, bending beneath the weight of sor- sacredly collected and eloquently described by 
 rows and privations, had an open highway to this faithful historian. They have not been 
 his respect. He rejoiced to see the virtuous left to [>erish '• unhonored and unsung." The 
 youth, bursting the barriers of pride and cast, memory of the busy, patriotic and eloquent 
 and appealing to the just judgment of society man, who has rescued from oblivion, so many 
 for the recognition of its worth. For misfor- illnstrions names, will be recalled with grate- 
 tune he had all sympathy; for unostentatious fr,l thanks, from tlie shores (mi which break the 
 merit, reverence; for courage, that presses for- waves of the Atlantic, to the peaks of the 
 ward in the achievement of great and useful Unaka mountains that mark the western limits 
 measures, admiration. of the state. Whenever thesonsor daughters 
 Trained from child iiood to industry and of the old commonwealth have eseheloned 
 action, he knew the value of useful labor. No into the west, liis labors will be carried and 
 speculative theorist, he sought substantial re- read. They will be to all a reservoir of bril- 
 sults through methods approved of by experi- liaiit names, and a chronicle of illustrious 
 euce. With reluctance he marked uny departure deeds. 
 
 from the way selected by the sages, and lined This worthy and learned man attained a 
 
 with countless blessings. The continuity of his- ripe age, in the full enjoyment of his intel- 
 
 tory described the march of human intelligence lectual powers, laboring cheerfully to the end. 
 and could not be broken with any assurance Though during his clo.sing years he suffered 
 
 of safety. Nor was he blindly bound to an much, his genial and sunny disposition did 
 
 irrational and monotinous past. He well not desert him. He continued to receive his 
 
 knew that every day and every hour makes friends with that generous welcome, which 
 
 demands upon the exercise of reason and in- will be fondly remembered after he has past 
 
 vention, that can only be appeased by advance- the "sunless river's flow." 
 
 meut in time and space. A witness of all the He was married first to -Mary, only daughter 
 
 greatest discoveries in the useful arts, he well of Ilev. Mr. 0. B. Erown, of "Washington City, 
 
 understood their influence upon the refine- one of the most accomplished and literary 
 
 ment of the people. Society was undergoing ladies of her day, by whom he had one 
 
 perpetual change in all its varied aspects. The daughter, married to George N. Deale, a 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 brotlier of General E. F. Beale, late ITnited 
 States Envoy toAustria, and, second, to Pollen, 
 daughter of Thomas Snlly, one of the most 
 distinguished artists of Philadelphia, liy whom 
 he had two suns, Charles Sully and Woodbury, 
 a successful lawyer in Washington City. 
 
 On Thursday, Deecmher 7th, 1882, at 12:30 
 o'clock, a. m., the long sufferings of Colonel 
 Wheeler were ended; and at 2 p. m., on Sun- 
 day the 10th, lie was buried in Oakllill Ccnie- 
 ter3', Georgetown, D. ('. 
 
 Eminent citizens of Xorth Carolina then in 
 Wasliington, met in the National Capitol, and 
 ndcijited the fiillowing resolutions: 
 
 ''Rcsijfcal, That we, North Carolinians, pre- 
 sent in Washington, have assembled to pa}' a 
 trilnite of respect to the memory of our de- 
 parted friend, Mr. John II. Wheeler, whose 
 private worth and pul)lic services have en- 
 deared him to our whole i)eople. 
 
 "Rei^olral, That by his life-work, though to 
 him a labor of love, as the historian of the 
 state, and the collection of vast stores of his- 
 torical material, he imposed a debt of gi'ati- 
 tude upon every Isorth Carolinian, and upon 
 the republic of letters, which will be remem- 
 bered for generations." 
 
 Eulogiums, attesting the high place the de- 
 ceased had won in the hearts of his people, 
 were pronounced by the Hons. Z. B. Vance, 
 Samuel F. Phillips, Jesse J. Yeates, A. M. 
 Scales, M. W. Ransom, and T. L. Clingmau. 
 
 The following letter of condolence was ad- 
 dressed to Major Woodbury Wheeler, son of 
 the deceased: 
 
 '' Senate Chajibek. 
 ''Major WoonBrRY Wheeler. 
 
 "Dear Sir: We have this moment heard 
 with deep pain, of the death of your father. 
 Ilis death atiects us with great soritiw; his 
 loss will be mourned by all the people of the 
 State, which he loved and served so \vell. 
 Truly :i good and great man has left us. 
 
 "We beg leave to exp)ress to j-ou and his 
 family our sincerest sympathy. In your sad 
 bereavement you have the consolation arising 
 from the men}ory of his illustrious life marked 
 by conspicuous virtues. 
 
 "Yours sincerel}', 
 
 "Z. B. Vance. M. W. Ransom. 
 
 "L. C. Latham. A. M. Scales. 
 
 "Rob't V. Vance. li. F. Akmfield. 
 
 "W. R. Cox. C. DowD." 
 
KRRATA. 
 
 Paee XII, ist column, nth line, read frontier, not fronlinj,'. 
 lb lb., i^.th line, read Lords, 7wl Lord, 
 
 lb -'d coiunin, 6lh line, read east, vol west, 
 lb" lb qth line, read feeble, 7iot public, 
 
 p.ure XV ist column, TSth line, read writer's, not writers. 
 Pale XVI ist column, 38th line, place comma after ^^KSrV^''^' " 
 Pafc XV .St column 24th line, read antedates, not antidates 
 
 lb lb., . 33^1 lint-, read churchman, uot church man. 
 
 Paee XVIII, ist column, last line, omit " &c " 
 Paee XX, 1st column, 35th line, read the, «c^/ he _ 
 
 *' 11, lb 36th line, read what, not which. / 
 
 P^p-e XXI lb', 9th line, read e.xpOrts, 7iot e.\parts. 
 
 IK ' ' Ih T>th line read Sounds, wo/ sound. , 
 
 Pa JxXII !b:; ^ -Hi 37th lines, omit the interpolated sentence in brackets. 
 
 Page XXIli, lb., 39th line, read ot, not et. 
 
 PaleXXV, lb., 21st line, read by, «o/ viz. 
 
 lb 2d column, last line, omit comma after local. 
 
 Pa>'-eXXVI. lb., read Tryon, wc^/ Tyron. 
 
 ^•^hb^^""' J^^^Ir'^S^isKnSV:"! 1^ .wor of the clmrd.^^ 
 Pace XXVIII ist column^ 2d paragraph should have quotation maiks to it. 
 Paee XXIX, ist column, 3tst line, read imparted /w/ imported. 
 
 ^^Tu lb lod hue, omit comma after tone. 
 
 Pace XXXI "d column, last line should follow third line of ne.xt column. 
 
 lb ' lb 2ist hue, place "Academy ' m brackets. 
 
 P,cr,. XXXII lb' 22d line, read extract, w/ extracts. 
 
 Page^ XXXI 1 , lb., ^^^^ ^^^ ^__^^ j.^^^^ ^^^^ disbarring, not debarring. 
 
 lb lb' -,ist line, read //was ordered. 
 
 Pao-e XXXIII ist column, -,6th line, read detinue, not detinee. 
 
 Pa^e 192, 2d column, 3d line, read Lizzie, wo/ John M. 
 * lb lb 4th line, read Corvina, not Louisa, 
 
 lb' lb' between lines 8 and 9 insert John L. 
 
 Page 196. ist column, 32d line, read researches, not resuhs. 
 Page 201, ist column, 17th line, read Humphrey, not Hampton. 
 Page 202, ist column, ist line, read 1781, not 1871. 
 Pifre -.04 ist column, 38th line, read " Colonel Lillmgton. 
 Page 216, ist column. 17th line, read Amis, not Ams. 
 ' lb. lb.. 22d line, read to. not at. 
 
 \h. 2d column, 32d line, " but had no." 
 Page 217, ist column, i6th line, omit much of. 
 
 lb., 2d column, 14th line, omit early in and. 
 Page 220, ist column. 17th line, read the. not he. 
 Page 221, 2d column, 22d line, read Catling, not Gatlin. 
 Page ^^6, ist column, 3d line, read member. 
 
 P 't„ B't'colun,™, n'h Un;"! b« '' McPCnl." ^l.ouUI be Mac„„el,„. 
 Page -^30 2d column, 6th line, read " Carolina. 
 Page 232 2d column, 24th line, read incessant, not incessent. 
 Page 238, ist column, 7th line, read Pierre, w(?/ Pierce. 
 Page 240, ist column, 4th line, insert on before one. 
 Page 252, 2d column, 23d line, read Caesar, not Casar. 
 Paee 2S3, ist column, 12th line, read 1776, not 1767. 
 Page 255! ist column, loth line, read Lieut. George, not Colonel Lock. 
 Page 228, ist column, 32d line, same error. ^ 
 
 Pa^e 255, ist column, nth line, read Joseph, w<p/ (.eorge Graham. 
 Page 287, 2d column, 30th line, read those that, 7iot these that. 
 Page 288, ist column, 23d line, read correct, not court. 
 
 Page 289, ist column, 9th line, read have. «<?/ here ,K,„,l,l 1,,. Moore and New Han- 
 
 Page 297—301, inclusive-the running head " Mecklenburg counlv shoul.l be Woo.c 
 
 over counties. . , , . ^ / > 
 
 Page 300, 2d column, to the end ol 18th line add servient rami. 
 Page 301, 1st column, 2d line, read Gen. not Gov. 
 
KCDHTH CAM©MNA 
 In the Colonial Period, 
 
 ^. 
 
 BY DANIEL R» GOODLOE 
 
 An article by John Fisk, which appeared in 
 the February ( 1 883) number of Harper's Maga- 
 zinc, entitled "Maryland and the far South in 
 the Colonial period," contains statements in 
 regard to North Carolina which have given 
 grave offense to every citizen and native of the 
 State. The writer assumes to portray the con- 
 dition of the people and the character of their 
 institutions, civilization and government, during 
 the whole period of their colonial existence, 
 while he has presented only an exaggerated and 
 distorted picture of disorders which prevailed 
 among the first handful of settlers on the North- 
 eastern border, before there was a defined 
 boundary, and when that portion of the terri- 
 tory, or a considerable part of it was claimed 
 by Virginia. 
 
 The writer may, also, have had in view the 
 resistance made by the people called Regula- 
 tors, in the middle and upper counties, ata later 
 period, to the robbery and extortion of the 
 county officers. But the more charitable sup- 
 position is, that he hag never read a history of 
 the Province. 
 
 The original grant made by Charles II. to the 
 Lords Proprietors, bears date March 20, 16G3. 
 
 This instrument conveyed to the noblemen and 
 gentlemen, named all the territory lying between 
 the parallels of thirty-one and thirty-six degrees 
 of North latitude, and extending from the At- 
 lantic Ocean westward to the South Sea. Wm. 
 Ryrd, Esq., the intelligent Virginia gentleman, 
 who was one of the commissioners employed to 
 run theboundary line between the two provinces, 
 states, in his " Westover papers, " that "Sir 
 William Berkeley, who was one of the grantees, 
 and at that time Governor of Virginia, finding 
 a territory of thirty-one miles in breadth be- 
 tween the inhabited part of Virginia and the 
 above mentioned boundary of Carolina, (thirty- 
 six degrees) advised Lord Clarendon of it, and 
 his Lordship had influence enough with the 
 King to obtain a second patent to include this 
 territory, dated June 30, 1665." 
 
 It appears from this statement of Mr. Byrd, 
 that North Carolina owes this addition of half 
 a degree to the vvidth of her territory, to the 
 treachery of the Governor of Virginia, to his 
 trust. It was the duty of the Governor to se- 
 cure, if practicable, the unclaimed territory for 
 Virginia, but it was in the interest of Sir Wil- 
 liam Berkeley to have it added to the Carolina 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Colony. However, the people of North Caro- 
 lina have no reason to complain of Sir William 
 on this account. 
 
 In reference to this acquisition Dr. Hawks, 
 the historian of North Carolina, remarks : "But 
 though this second charter defined the line that 
 was to divide Virginia and Carolina, and stated 
 on what part of the globe it was to be drawn, 
 viz : 36° 30' North latitude ; yet astronomical 
 observations had not fixed its precise locality, 
 [' V and consequently the people on the fronti^ of 
 both provinces entered land and took out patents 
 A by guess, either from the King, or the Lord; Pro- 
 prietors. The grants of the latter, however, 
 were more desirable, because, both as to terms of 
 entry, and yearly taxes, they were less burden- 
 some than the price and levies imposed by 
 the laws of Virginia, This statement will ex- 
 plain the fact that some of the earliest grants of 
 land, now confessedly in Carolina, but lying 
 near the border are signed by Sir William 
 Berkeley." 
 
 This new boundary line of 36° 30' remained 
 undefined for two-thirds of a century — that is to 
 say, until the year 172S; and in all that period 
 there was a margin of territory several miles in 
 width, in which no one knew, definitely, whether 
 the inhabitants owed allegiance to Carolina or 
 Virginia. The disputed territory lay within and 
 on the southern border of the Dismal Swamp. 
 Practically, for nearly fifty years, the territory 
 west of the Swamp was not in dispute, as the 
 settlements on the Carolina side lay to the east 
 of the Chowan River. To the west of that 
 great stream the Indians still held sway. It was 
 not until after the Massacre in 171 1, when one 
 hundred and thirty persons were murdered in 
 their homes in one day, that these savages were 
 made to give place to the advancing tide of civ- 
 ilization. The largest of the tribes, and the 
 most war-like, the Tuscaroras, after that event, 
 were required to vacate their territory, when 
 they emigrated North and rejoined the Iroquois 
 or Five Nations, from whom they were de- 
 
 scended. The smaller and less criminal tribes 
 were permitted to remain on reservations. 
 
 During the first sixty years of the colonial 
 history, the population was chiefly confined to 
 the territory north of Albemarle Sound, 
 west of the Chowan River. The settle- 
 ments between the two sounds, Albemarle and 
 Pamlico, and that- about New Berne, were still 
 -pi^i?, but were represented in the Albemarle \~<i(/ 
 Assembly. This body was composed of twenty- 
 seven members, of whom the four counties 
 north of the sound sent five, each. The three 
 counties south of Albemarle had two members 
 each, and New Berne town one. There was 
 little intercourse with the Cape Fear Colony, 
 which had a separate Assembly of its own, as 
 well as a Governor. It was a short-lived enter- 
 prise. The colonists came from Barbadoes, in 
 1665, under the leadership of a gentleman 
 named Yeaman. He was succeeded by a Mr. 
 West, as Governor, who was also made Gover- 
 nor of the Charleston settlement, a few years 
 later, and persuaded the Cape Fear people to 
 follow him. During the year 1690, the last of 
 these Cape Fear settlers abandoned their homes 
 and went to Charleston. The writer, whose 
 statements are complained of, assumes that 
 these Barbadian colonists became a permanent 
 part of the population of North Carolina. 
 
 In 1729 seven of the eight Lords Proprietors 
 surrendered their rights in and authority over 
 the colony, to the crown, for a valuable consid- 
 eration, of course ; Earl Granville retained his 
 claim of right to the soil, and a large strip of 
 country (about half the State) on the northern 
 border was set off to him as his private property, 
 while he surrendered his right to share in the 
 Government of the people. 
 
 Francis Xavier Martin, one of the most judi- 
 cious historians of the Province, estimated the 
 white population at the date of this transfer of 
 authority from the Lords Proprietors to the 
 Crown (17-9) at about 13,000. He gives no 
 opinion as to the number of the blacks; but 
 
THE COLONIAL PERIOD. 
 
 there is reason to believe that tliey were fewer 
 in proportion to the whites than were to be 
 found in either Virginia or South Carolina. 
 
 A reference to the map will show the reader 
 that the original boundary of 36° passes up the 
 Albemarle Sound ; and the acquisition made by 
 the new patent of 16C5 embraces, therefore, the 
 whole territory north of the Sound. In other 
 words, it embraced three-fourths of the popula- 
 tion of North Carolina in 1729. This date of 
 the purchase by the Crown from the Proprietors 
 is, also, coeval with the separation of North 
 from South Carolina, and the incorporation of 
 the whole territory of the former under one Gov- 
 ernor and Assembly. 
 
 Besides the small scattered settlements south 
 of Albemarle Sound, the relative importance of 
 which is indicated by their proportion of repre- 
 sentation in the Assembly, as above stated, the 
 population had begun to spread out beyond, 
 that is to say, west of the Chowan River ; and 
 in the year 1722, the County or Precinct of Ber- 
 tie was organized ; but up to that date, if not 
 later, the people on that side of the river voted 
 as of Chowan Precinct. 
 
 The immigration of Swiss and Palatines under 
 Baron De Graffenreidt and Mr. Mitchell came to 
 North Carolina in the years 1709-10. No defi- 
 nite statements as to their numbers, have come 
 down to us, but it is believed that the two classes 
 of immigrants combined, did not exceed two 
 thousand. Some loose guesses make them 
 larger. They settled in the vicinity of New 
 Berne, which town received its name ''rom the 
 Swiss. Somd of these foreigners were murdered 
 by the Indians the next year, after their arrival, 
 when the great Massacre of the whites occurred. 
 De Graffenreidt narrowly escaped being burned 
 at the stake by the Indians, in company with 
 Lawson, the Surveyor General, who had invaded 
 their territory with his compass and chain. It 
 is probable that the massacre was the main hin- 
 drance to further immigration from Switzerland 
 and the Palatinate ; but De Graffenreidt failed 
 
 to give them titles to the lands he sold them, 
 which must have greatly added to their dis- 
 couragements. 
 
 The foregoing preliminary statement as to the 
 nature and extent of the ground occupied by 
 the early settlers of the Province has been 
 thought necessary to a thorough understanding 
 of the character of the aspersions of the writer 
 referred to, and of the answers that will be 
 made to them. lUit in the first place it will be 
 proper to present them in the language of their 
 author. They form a compact mass of misrep- 
 resentation. I understand the writer to be a 
 Massachusetts man. "Prof John Fisk" of 
 Harvard. He says : 
 
 " At the time of the Revolution the popula- 
 tion of North Carolina numbered about 200,000, 
 of which somewhat more than one-fourth were 
 negio slaves. The white population was mainly 
 English, but the foreign element was larger than 
 in the case of any other of the colonies which 
 we have thus far considered. There were Hu- 
 guenots from France, German Protestant from 
 the Palatinate, Moravians, Swiss, and Scotch, 
 and what we have to note especially is that this 
 foreign population was, in the main, far more 
 respectable and orderly than the English major- 
 ity. The English settlers came mostly from 
 Virginia, though in the southeastern corner of 
 the colony there was a considerrble settlement 
 of Englishmen from Barbadoes. 
 
 "Now, the English settlers who thus came 
 southward from Virginia were very different in 
 character from the sober Puritans, who went 
 northward into Alaryland. North Carolina was 
 to Virginia something like Rhode Island was to 
 Massachusetts — a receptacle for all the factious 
 and turbulent elements of Society ; but in this 
 case the general charaeter of the emigration was 
 iiiuiieasnreably loiver. The shiftless people who 
 could not make a place for themselves in Vir- 
 ginia society, including many of the "poor 
 whites, " flocked in large numbers into North 
 Carolina. They were, in the main, very lawless 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 in temper, holding it to be the chief end of man 
 to resist all constituted authority, and above all 
 things to pay no taxes. The history of North 
 Carolina was according!)' much more riotous 
 and disorderly than the history of any of the 
 other colonies. ' 'There were neither laws nor 
 lawyers," says Bancroft, with slight exaggera- 
 tion. The courts, such as they were, sat often 
 in taverns, where the Judge might sharpen his 
 wits with bad whiskc}', -li'liilc their decisions 'arrc 
 not nronit-d, but were simply shouted by the 
 crier from the inn door, or at the nearest market 
 place. 
 
 ' 'There were a icw amateur surgeons and apoth- 
 ecaries to be found in the villages, but no regu- 
 lar physicians. Nor does the soul appear to be 
 better cared for than the body, for it was not 
 until 1703 that the first clergyman was settled 
 in the colony. The Church of England was es- 
 tablished by Government, without the approval 
 of the people, who were opposed on principle 
 to church rates, as to all kinds of ta.xes whatso- 
 ever. Owing to this dislike of ta.xation, most 
 of the people were Dissenters, but no Dissent- 
 ing Churches flourished in the colony. There 
 was complete toleration even for Quakers, be- 
 cause nobody cared a groat for theology, or for 
 religion. The few ministers who contrived to 
 support life in North Carolina, were listened to 
 in a mood like that in which Mrs. Pardigle's 
 discourses were received by the brickmakers, 
 while the audience freely smoked their pipes 
 within the walls of the sanctuary during divine 
 service. 
 
 "Agriculture was conducted more wastefully 
 and with less intelligence than in any of the 
 other colonies. In the northern counties to- 
 bacco was almost exclusively cultivated, but it 
 was of very inferior quality, compared with the 
 tobacco of Virginia. 
 
 " All business or traffic about the coast was 
 carried on under perilous conditions : for pirates 
 were alwaj^s hovering about, siriiir in the svin- 
 patliyof tlie people, like the brigands of southern 
 
 Italy in recent times. It was partly due to this, 
 no doubt, as well as partly to the want of good 
 harborage, that a very large part of the com- 
 merce of North Carolina was diverted north- 
 ward to Norfolk, or southward to Charleston. 
 
 ' 'The treatment of the slaves is said to have been 
 usually mild, as in Virginia, but their lives were 
 practically, at the mercy of their masters. The 
 white servants fared better, and the general state 
 of society was so loic that when their time of ser- 
 vice was ended, they had here a good chance of 
 rising to a position of equality with their 
 masters. 
 
 "The countr)' swarmed with ruffians of all 
 sorts, who fled thither from South Carolina and 
 Virginia. Life and property were very insecure, 
 and l)'nch law was not infrequentl)' administered. 
 The small planters led, for the most part, a lazy 
 life, drinking hard, and amusing themselves 
 with scrimmages, in which noses were broken 
 with blows of the fist, and eyes gouged out by 
 a dexterous use of the long thumb nails. The 
 only other social amusement seems to have been 
 gambling. But, except at elections and other 
 meetings for political purposes, people saw 
 very little of each other. 
 
 ' ' There were no roads worthy of the name, 
 and every family was almost entirely isolated 
 from its neighbors. Until just before tlic zuar for 
 Indepemienec, there was not a single school, good or 
 bad, in the whole colony. It need not be added that 
 the people were densely ignorant. 
 
 "The colony was a century old before it could 
 boast of a printing press; and if no newspapers 
 were published, it was doubtless for the suffi- 
 cient reason that there were very few who would 
 have been able to read them. A mail from 
 Virginia came some eight or ten t'mes in a year, 
 but it only reached a few towns on the coast, 
 and down to the time of the Revolution the in- 
 terior of the country had no mails at all. Under 
 such circumstances it is not strange that North 
 Carolina was in a great measure cut off" from the 
 currents of thought and feeling by which the 
 
THE COLONIAL PERIOD. 
 
 other colonies were swayed in the middle of the 
 eighteenth century. 
 
 "In the Warfor Independence, North Carolina 
 produced no great leaders. She was not repre- 
 sented at the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, and 
 she was the last of the States, except Rhode Is- 
 land, to adopt the Federal Constitution." 
 
 The reader cannot have failed to note in these 
 statements, supposing the writer to be well in- 
 formed, a spirit in sympathy with the arbitrary 
 rule of the Lords Proprietors and the Crown of 
 England, and with their persistent efforts to 
 compel an unwilling people to pay taxes for the 
 support of the Church of which they were not 
 members. The whole tenor of the writers criti- 
 cism would justify this inference; and that his 
 sympathies are also with the corrupt county 
 officials whose illegal exactions provoked and 
 justified the efforts of the Regulators to resist 
 them. But it is charitable to assume that he 
 has only a vague idea of these events, derived 
 from second-hand sources. For he could not 
 read the history of the Province, without being 
 convinced that the causes and grounds of resist- 
 ance to the constituted authorities were, in the 
 first instance, the efforts of the Lords Proprietors 
 to impose the absurd "Fundamental Constitu- 
 tions" of Locke, upon the people, followed by 
 the persistent, and never quite successful at- 
 tempt to estab'ish the Church, with a system of 
 Church rates. Mr. Bancroft has brought out 
 these facts with more distinctness than the his- 
 torians of the State ; and even Dr. Hawks has 
 only paraphrased the lucid statement of the great 
 historian. 
 
 The second great source of disturbance, the 
 robbery of the people in the name of law, by 
 the county officers, at a later period, is equally 
 well attested, and no one acquainted with the 
 history of those times, will venture to vindicate 
 or palliate their conduct. These events will re- 
 ceive further notice in their order, as well as 
 other arbitrary and unjust measures of the 
 British rulers of the Province. 
 
 Another thing observable in this pretentious 
 criticism is a proneness to jump to general con- 
 clusions from single instances. The writer has 
 seen th^r statement that at an out-of-doors relig- 
 ious meeting, in the Albemarle region, in one 
 of the first years of the last century, some rough 
 fellow smoked his pipe while the services were 
 going on; and this fact is sufficient to warrant 
 the statement that such was the universal cus- 
 tom throughout the colonial period, in all parts 
 of the Province. He has read that a noted pi- 
 rate infested the Sounds before there was so 
 much as a village upon their borders, and that 
 the pirate obtained supplies of provisions from 
 the first squatters on the coast whom he would 
 have exterminated if they had refused compli- 
 ance with his demands ; and, without mention- 
 ing that the pirate was at length captured and 
 put to death, the swift conclusion is drawn, that 
 piracy was the order of the day, all along the 
 coast, with the connivance of the people, for 
 the century and more of colonial vassalage; and 
 that the effect was to render legitimate com- 
 m.erce a hazardous and dangerous occupation, 
 lo this cause the writer would have the world 
 believe is due the alleged fact that the people of 
 the colony carried their produce to Norfolk 
 through the Dismal Swamp ; although there 
 was neither road nor canal. Or else to Charles- 
 ton through a wilderness two to three hundred 
 miles in width, without roads or navigable wa- 
 ters; whereas, at the period when the pirates 
 infested the coast, the commerce of the colony 
 was chiefly in the hands of New Englanders, 
 who came with their vessels through the 
 Sounds. 
 
 A traveler has at some time witnessed a fight, 
 somewhere in the Province, accompanied by the 
 brutal practice of "gouging," in which the 
 lower class of whites sometimes engage, and 
 this is sufficient to justify the critic in the sweep- 
 ing statement that "scrimmages " of this sort 
 constituted the favorite amusement of the small 
 planters— " their only other entertainments be- 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ing drinking and gambling." It would be as 
 fair to charge the whole body of respectable 
 people in a Northern city, at the present day, 
 with participation in all the vice and crime which 
 are daily and nightly enacted in the dens of in- 
 famy that are to be found in every street. 
 
 These arc only specimens ot the illogical in- 
 ferences of this writer, with whom the rule 
 seems to be, that every isolated fact warrants a 
 generalization. 
 
 In view of reiterated charges against the peo- 
 ple of lawlessness, idleness, "shiftlcssness," 
 and general inability to make their way in the 
 world, it is worth while to notice the first state- 
 ment quoted from the writer, to the effect that at 
 the period of the Revolution, North Carolina 
 contained about 200,000 inhabitants ; and if this 
 statement were true, it would afford evidence of 
 an extraordinarily rapid increase of population 
 during the next fourteen years, and especially 
 so, as seven of those years were spent in civil 
 and foreign wars, accompanied by the expatria- 
 tion of thousands of the conquered, and the 
 escape of not a few of the servile class. The 
 census of 1790, which was taken just fourteen 
 years after the Declaration of Independence, or 
 fifteen years after the commencement of hostili- 
 ties, showed the population of the State to be 
 393,000, or nearly 100 per cent, more than the 
 supposed number of 200,000. In consideration 
 of the destructive war through which the people 
 had passed during those eventful years, we are 
 bound to conclude that the population at the 
 beginning of the war was nearer th'-ee hundred 
 than two hundred thousand. In 1729, it will 
 be remembered, the total white population was 
 estimated to be only 13,000; and if we add 7,000 
 for the black, the aggregate, forty-six years be- 
 fore the beginning of the Revolutionary War, 
 would be but 20,000. Here, then, is evidence 
 of an extraordinary increase of these "idle," 
 "shiftless," "outlaws " and " renegades " from 
 Virginia. 
 
 We are told that "the foreign population was 
 
 in the main far more respectable and orderly 
 than the English majority." By the foreign 
 population, the writer means those of non- 
 English origin. There can be no question about 
 the moral worth and respectability of the Mora- 
 vians and German Lutherans, of the Swiss and 
 Palatine. They all made orderly, good citizens, 
 but they were not more conspicuous for these 
 virtues than were the Quakers, who, in early 
 times, exercised a controlling influence in the 
 Albemarle settlement. Nor were the "for- 
 eigners" more distinguished for sobriety and 
 love of learning than the Presbyterians who 
 came to the Colony from Pennsylvania and Vir- 
 ginia, or directly from Scotland and England. 
 Neither is it true that any of these classes were 
 more respectable than the native Virginians and 
 other Americans, mostly of English ancestry, 
 who came in from time to time, during the 
 whole colonial period, and constituted a large 
 majority of the population of the Province ; and 
 it is a baseless calumny to say otherwise. They 
 constituted a majority, and a controlling major- 
 ity of the people. They were part and parcel 
 of the best element in Virginia society — em- 
 bracing not many of the oldest, or more aristo- 
 cratic families, but the solid, respectable, and 
 well-to-do classes of planters and farmers — -the 
 classes that produced such men as Jefferson, 
 Patrick Henry, Henry Clay, and others who 
 became eminent for talents and virtue; and they 
 imparted these characteristics to their children. 
 Many of the poorer classes came with these 
 planters and farmers. Some were, no doubt, 
 vicious characters, who added nothing to the 
 strength and respectability of the Province. 
 But what country under the sun is free from 
 such a class ? 
 
 "North Carolina " we are again told, "was 
 to Virginia something like Rhode Island was to 
 Massachusetts — a receptacle for all the factious 
 and turbulent elements of society. " There was, 
 it must be owned, a resemblance in the two sit- 
 uations. Massachusetts e.xpellcd Roger Wil- 
 
Till". COLONIAL 1'1:r1()U. 
 
 liams and his Baptist followers, with Quakers 
 and Presbyterians, as heretics ; and most good 
 people of the present day arc apt to believe that 
 when the exiles shook the dust from their feet, 
 they left not their equals in moral worth behind 
 them. And it was in like manner that Virginia 
 intolerance drove many of her best inhabitants 
 into the wilderness of Carolina, as will now be 
 shown. 
 
 Durant's Neck in Perquimans county, was 
 the first permanent settlement made in the Prov- 
 ince, and it was made by Quakers who fled from 
 Virginiaand Massachusetts persecution. "The 
 oldest land title that we know of in North Caro- 
 lina," says Dr. Hawks, "and that which we 
 think was actually the first, is still on record. 
 It is the grant made by Cistacaiioc, king of the 
 Yeopim Indians, in 1662, to Durant, for a 
 neck of land at the mouth of Little and Per- 
 quimans rivers, which still bears the name of the 
 grantee. In 1633, Berkeley confirmed this 
 grant by a patent under his own signature." ^ 
 
 This patent by the Indian Chief to the Qua- 
 Ig^ ker, antedates the first patent given by the king 
 to the Lords Proprietors. It became the nu- 
 cleus of a large Quaker settlement, which re- 
 mains to the present day. It is said that a com- 
 pany was formed some years previous to this 
 purchase by Durant, for the purpose of taking 
 up lands and making settlements in the un- 
 claimed territory; and it is probable that the 
 plan may, to some extent, have been carried 
 into effect — or this purchase by the Quakers 
 may have been a part of it. The cautious terms 
 in which the Quakers gave in their adhesion to 
 the "Fundamental Constitutions," show that 
 they were neither illiterate nor reckless vaga- 
 bonds. Their signature and assent are qualified 
 as follows : 
 
 " Francis Tomes, Christopher Nicholson, and 
 William Wyatt did before me, this 31st July," 
 &c. , &€., "and so far as any authority by the 
 Lords constituted, is consonant to God's glory, 
 and to the advancement of his blessed truth, 
 
 with heart and hands we subscribe, to the best 
 of our capacities and understandings." 
 
 In regard to these earliest settlers of North 
 Carolina, Mr. Bancroft states that the adjoining 
 county in Virginia, Nansemond, had long 
 abounded in non-conformists ; and it is certain, 
 he says, that the first settlements in Albemarle 
 were the result of the spontaneous overflowing 
 from this source. A few vagrant families, he 
 thinks, may have been planted in Carolina be- 
 fore the Restoration. Such settlements would 
 have been made voluntarily, as under Cromwell 
 the Church would not have been permitted to 
 persecute Dissenters. But on the restoration 
 of Charles, men who were impatient of inter- 
 ference with their religion, "who dreaded the 
 enforcement of religious conformity, and who 
 distrusted the spirit of the new Government in 
 Virginia, plunged more deeply into the forests. 
 It is known that in 1662, the Chief of the Yeo- 
 pim Indians granted to George Durant the neck 
 of land which still bears his name ; and, in the 
 following year, George Cathmaid could claim 
 from Sir Wm. Berkeley^a large grant of land 
 upon the Sound, as a reward for having estab- 
 lished sixty-seven persons in Carolina. This 
 may have been the oldest considerable settle- 
 ment; there is reason to believe that volunteer 
 emigrants preceded them." 
 
 It has already been stated that Sir William 
 Berkeley was Governor of Virginia and one of / 
 the Lords Proprietors of Carolina at this time. 
 He was also a Churclv-man, intolerant of dissent 
 — in Virginia; but his pecuniary interests im- 
 pelled him to be very liberal and tolerant of 
 Quakers, Presbyterian, and other sectarians who 
 would agree to remove to their territory. His 
 proprietary colleagues cordially concurred with 
 him in this left-handed spirit of toleration, by 
 which they hoped to be enriched ; and in con- 
 formity with it, the Carolina colonists were 
 allowed to indulge in whatever eccentricities of 
 faith and worship their tastes or their con- 
 sciences might suggest. 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Indeed, it was very plain to the common 
 sense of the Proprietaries, that zeal for the 
 Church north of 36° 30', if enforced by rigorous 
 persecution, was as conducive to the peophng 
 their Carolina territory, as the liberty of con- 
 science which was granted south of that line. 
 These seemingly hostile principles, or moral 
 forces were thus made to work harmoniously for 
 the advantage of their Lordships, while narrow- 
 minded bigots, by enforcing conformity on both 
 sides of the line, would have spoiled every- 
 thing. 
 
 Howison, the historian of Virginia, describes 
 Sir William, who was appointed Governor of 
 Virginiain 1642, by Charles I, as an accomplish- 
 ed gentleman whose winning manners captivated 
 all hearts, but, "His loyalty was so excessive 
 that it blinded his eyes to the faults of a crowned 
 head, and steeled his heart against the prayers 
 of oppressed subjects. * * He loved the 
 monarchical constitution of England with sim- 
 ple fervor ; he venerated her customs, her 
 Church, her Bisjiops, her Liturgy ; everything 
 peculiar to her as a kingdom; and believing 
 them to be worthy of all acceptation, he en- 
 forced conformity with uncompromising stern- 
 ness. * * HadSir William Berkeley descend- 
 ed to his grave at the time when Charles II gained 
 the English throne, we might with safety have 
 trusted to those historians who have drawn him 
 as adorned with all that could grace and elevate 
 his species. But he lived long enough to prove 
 that loyalty when misguided, will make a tyrant; 
 that religious zeal, when devoted to an estab- 
 lished Church, will beget the most revolting 
 bigotry : and that an ardent disposition, when 
 driven on by desire for revenge, will give birth 
 to the worst forms of cruelty and malice." 
 
 Yet this excessive zeal for religion and " re- 
 volting bigotry, " had a practical side to them 
 which the historian overlooked. For they tend- 
 ed rapidly to people Sir William's Carolina plan- 
 tation with sober and industrious Quakers and 
 Presbyterians &c. , who bought land or paid rent 
 
 at prices fixed by the Proprietaries. The Vir- 
 ginia Assembly, under such a champion of or- 
 thodoxy, passed laws of the most stringent 
 character for the enforcement of uniformity. 
 Tithes were imposed and exacted inexorably : 
 the persons of the Clergy were invested with 
 a sanctity savoring strongly of superstition : 
 papists were excluded from the privilege of hold- 
 ing office, and their priests were banished the 
 Province ; the oath of supremacy to the king as 
 head of the Church, was imposed, dissenting 
 ministers were forbidden to preach ; and the 
 Governor and Council were empowered to com- 
 pel "non-conformists to depart the colony with 
 all convenience." It is not surprising that the 
 Carolina Colony, where toleration was establish- 
 ed by the Proprietaries, flourished, .when the 
 Governor and Assembly of Virginia were so ac- 
 tive in stimulating emigration. But it is obvious 
 that these intolerant laws of Virginia, on the 
 subject of religion, were not calculated nor in- 
 tended to drive out the lawless and vicious 
 classes. On the contraty, wherever Religion is 
 established by law, whether the creed be Protes- 
 tant or Catholic, the vicious and criminal classes 
 are rarely arraigned for denying the authority 
 of the Church, however much they may disre- 
 gard its injunctions, and stand in need of its 
 discipline. It is the sober, earnest men who 
 suffer the pains and penalties of heresy, whether 
 those penalties be the rack, the fagot or banish- 
 ment. 
 
 But the persecuted Dissenters were not the 
 only classes that preferred the free air of North 
 Carolina to the intolerance of Berkeley. Thous- 
 ands of Churchmen, real and nominal, joined 
 them ; and without being eminently religious, 
 they soon became sufficiently numerous to form 
 a strong party in favor of a Church establish- 
 ment. 
 
 Mr. Bancroft thinks that the first Governor 
 of the Albemarle Colony, Drummond, appoint- 
 ed by Berkeley, «»//^rt//4,W/y' liinizvitliout aitial, 
 for alleged participation in Bacon's Rebellion, 
 
THE COLONIAL PERIOD. 
 
 was a Presbyterian. If this opinion be correct, 
 it serves to illustrate more fully how tolerant of 
 heresy the bigoted Govenor of Virginia could 
 be, when it tended to advance his pecuniary in- 
 terests. 
 
 Two or three of the Lords Proprietors were 
 cabinet ministers of Charles II, and they could 
 not only procure a grant of territory half as 
 large as P>urope, but they could stipulate the 
 terms of the grant, and the sort of government 
 its future inhabitants were to live under. Eor 
 the reasons already explained, the Second Chart- 
 er, dictated by themselves, authorized the es- 
 tablishment of the utmost toleration, without 
 so much as naming the Church, and this liberty 
 was confirmed to the people. They were grant- 
 ed "an Assembly, " says Mr. Bancroft, "and 
 an easy tenure of lands, and he (Berkeley) left 
 the infant people to take care of themselves ; to 
 enjoy liberty of conscience and conduct, in the 
 entire freedom of innocent retirement ; to for- 
 get the world till rent day drew near, and quit- 
 rents might be demanded. Such was the origin 
 of fixed settlements in North Carolina. The 
 child of ecclesiastical oppression was swathed in 
 independence." 
 
 It is appropriate in this place to notice the ci- 
 tation of Mr. Bancroft by the critic, as an au- 
 thority for one of his aspersions, He says : 
 "There were neither laws nor lawyers, says 
 Bancroft, with but slight exaggeration," and he 
 represents the historian as applying this remark 
 to North Carolina throughout its whole Colonial 
 existence. The truth is, that Mr. Bancroft has 
 nowhere made such a remark, for the two-fold 
 reason that he is too well informed, and has too 
 much regard for truth to make it. On the con- 
 trary, he has done more to vindicate the charac- 
 ter of North Carolina than any of its special his- 
 torians. And since he is a deservedly high au- 
 thority throughout the nation and the world, 
 it is worth while to show what he has said on the 
 subject. The statement from which the above 
 garbled quotations are made are but the conclu- 
 
 sion of an elaborate account of the settlement 
 of the Colony which every citizen and native 
 of the State reads with pride and pleasure. 
 After mentioning the arrival of emigrants from 
 New lingland and from Bermuda, he says that 
 the Colony lived contentedly with Stevens as 
 Chief Magistrate, " under a very wise and sim- 
 ple form of government. A few words express 
 its outlin,e3: a Council of twelve, si.x named 
 by the Proprietaries and six chosen by the As- 
 sembly ; an Assembly, composed of the Gover- 
 nor, the Council and delegates from the free- 
 holders of the incipient settlements, formed a 
 government worthy of popular confidence. No 
 interference from abroad was anticipated; for 
 freedom of religion and security against taxation, 
 except by the Colonial Legislature, were solemn- 
 ly conceded. The Colonists were satisfied ; the 
 more so, as their lands were confirmed to them 
 by a solemn grant on the terms which they them- 
 selves had proposed. " 
 
 Mr. Bancroft proceeds to state that the first 
 Legislature, in 1669, enacted laws adapted to 
 the wants of the people, "and which therefore 
 endured," he saj's, " long after the designs of 
 Locke were abandoned." Again he states that 
 " the attempt to enforce the Fundamental Con- 
 stitution of Locke, a year or two later, was im- 
 possible and did but favor anarchy by invalidat- 
 ing the existing system, which it could not re- 
 place. The Proprietaries, contrary to stipula- 
 tions with the Colonists, superseded the existing 
 government ; and the Colonists resolutely re- 
 jected the substitute." 
 
 The historian then gives a brief account of 
 the visits of the celebrated Quaker preachers, 
 William Edmundson and George Fox, to the 
 settlements at Durant'sNeck ; of the favor with 
 which they wen; received by the people, and by 
 the Governor, and adds: " If the introduction 
 of the Constitution of Locke had before been 
 difficult, it was now become impossible." 
 
 The death of Stevens, says Mr. Bancroft, left 
 the Colony without a Governor ; and by per- 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 mission of the Proprietaries, the Assembly 
 elected Cartwright, their Speaker, to act as Gov- 
 ernor. "But the difficulty of introducing the 
 model (Locke's Constitution) did not diminish ; 
 and having failed to preserve order, Cartwright 
 resolved to lay the state of the country before 
 the Proprietaries, and embarked for England." 
 At the same time the AssemblysentEastchurch, 
 their new Speaker, to explain their grievances. 
 Mr. Bancroft resumes: 
 
 "The suppression of a fierce insurrection of 
 the people of Virginia had been followed by the 
 vindictive fury of ruthless punishments and run- 
 aways, rogues and rebels, that is to say, fui^itivcs 
 from arbitral)' tribunals, non-conformists, and 
 fiicnds of popular liberty, fled daily to Carolina 
 as their common subterfuge and lurking place. 
 Did letters from the government of Virginia de- 
 mand the surrender of leaders in the rebellion, 
 Carolina refused to betray the fugitives who 
 sought shelter in her forests." 
 
 Such is the account given by Mr. Bancroft of 
 the refugees from Virginia oppression ; and he 
 rejects the idea of our historian Martin, that 
 these fugitives were runaway negroes. Equally 
 does he reject the Tory estimate placed upon 
 them by the Virginia Governor, Smallwood, 
 and other writers of that school, that they were 
 lawless vagabonds and "runagates" — a phrase 
 which our own Hawks applies to these non-con- 
 formist refugees from priestly tyranny. These 
 and similar passages in Bancroft occur in his 
 first and second volumes, which were published 
 long before Hawks' history of the State. The 
 latter author, in som.e places rallies to [y^e. de- 
 fence of the State and the South, against which 
 he deems to be northern injustice ; but in deal- 
 ing with this subject of our early history, he 
 would have done well to follow the lead of the 
 great northern historian, instead of that of the 
 English and Virginia Tories. But no careful 
 reader of Dr. Hawks can fail to see that his pat- 
 riotic feelings, as a North Carolinian were in 
 this regard overborne by his reverence for the 
 
 Church of England, and its then feeble offshoots 
 in the Colonies. This feeling blinded him to 
 the virtues of Quakers and other dissenters, who 
 resisted the attempts to form an establishment, 
 and compel the payment of tithes or Church 
 rates. It is true that he has presented a mass 
 of facts which should convince everj' wise and 
 dispassionate son of the Church, that the at- 
 tempt to establish it in the Colony, and by such 
 agencies, in spite of the determined opposition 
 of a majority of the people, did it lasting injury, 
 as well as equal injury to the cause of religion. 
 He has shown, as he could not fail to do, with- 
 out grossly perverting history, that the Church 
 suffered, as well from the unjust attitude which 
 its friends assumed, of attempting to force it up- 
 on the people, as from the character of the 
 clergymen who were sent over from England. 
 Of the seven who came on this mission during 
 the Proprietary government, three turned out to 
 be disreputable in character — drunken, dissolute 
 and knavish. The others were intelligent and 
 good men, whose teaching and example, sup- 
 ported by the voluntary offerings of the Church 
 at home, would have been eminently salutary. 
 But as the representatives of an arbitrary plan 
 of enforcing uniformity of worship, and with 
 their good example offset by the bad conduct 
 of their associates, their labor was almost in 
 vain. It was unfortunate for the Church, also, 
 that the jealousy of the British Government 
 would not allow America to have a Bishop dur- 
 ing the whole Colonial period, but turned a deaf 
 ear to the appeals in this behalf, which were 
 sent up by the Colonists. The consequence 
 was, that there were few native Church clergy- 
 men in America, since it was necessary to send 
 them to England, at great expense, to be or- 
 dained and properly educated. The clerical 
 "carpet-baggers" sent to the Colonies, were, 
 with honorable exceptions, of course, exact 
 prototypes of the lay species which have visited 
 the South in more recent years. 
 
 Mr. Bancroft has answered so many of the 
 
THE COLONIAL PERKED. 
 
 misrepresentations of North Carolina, that the 
 reader will excuse a few more brief references 
 and citations. He denounces the meanness of 
 the British Government in applying their navi- 
 gation act, passed in 1672, to the Colonies, ac- 
 companied by a tax on their products. Its ap- 
 plication to North Carolina was cruel. The 
 population was barely four thousand. Its ex- 
 pifrts consisted of a few fat cattle, a little corn 
 and eight hundred hogsheads of tobacco. This 
 trade was in the hands of New Englanders, 
 whose small vessels came into the ^und Maden 
 with such foreign articles as supplied the simple 
 wants of the people, and exchanged them for 
 the raw products. But the act referred to re- 
 quired that these products should first be sent 
 to England, where a duty was imposed on them, 
 before their re exportation to the West Indies, 
 or elsewhere. The tobacco was taxed a penny 
 on the pound, which was equivalent to three 
 cents at the present day. From this source 
 these poor people were made to pay twelve 
 thousand dollars per annum, and to receive only 
 British goods, or foreign articles through Brit- 
 ish ports, in return. A revolt was the conse- 
 quence of these oppressive measures, incited, 
 Mr. Bancroft says, by the Virginia refugees, 
 who came over after Bacon's rebellion, and by 
 New Englanders who were trading in the Albe- 
 marle country. The Deputy Governor and 
 Council were arrested and imprisoned ; and Cul- 
 pepper, an Englishman who had come over some 
 years before, was made Governor. This rebel- 
 lion, therefore, was on grounds identical with 
 those which moved the American colonies to 
 resistance a century later, and which resulted in 
 their independence. The people of New Eng- 
 land, also, resisted the enforcement of this Nav- 
 igation Act. The motive assigned for this re- 
 bellion was, "that thereby the country may 
 have a free Parliament, and may send home their 
 grievances." In connection with these facts 
 Mr. Bancroft remarks : 
 
 " Are there any who doubt man's capacity 
 
 for self government, let them study the history 
 of North Carolina; its inhabitants were restless 
 and turbulent in their imperfect submission to a 
 government imposed on them from abroad ; the 
 administration of the colony was firm, humane 
 and tranquil, when they were left to take care 
 of themselves. Any government but one of 
 their own institution was oppressive. * * 
 The uneducated population of that day formed 
 conclusions as just as those which a century later 
 pervaded the country." 
 
 The people rebelled again, a few years later 
 against the misrule of Seth Sothel, one of the 
 Proprietors who was sent over as Governor. 
 This man, says Mr. Bancroft, found the country 
 tranquil, on his arrival, under laws enacted by 
 the people, and under a Governor of their 
 own choice. "The counties were quiet and 
 well regulated, because not subjected to foreign 
 sway. The planters in peaceful independence, 
 enjoyed the good will of the wilderness. Sothel 
 arrived, and the scene was changed. * * 
 Many colonial Governors displayed rapacity and 
 extortion toward the people ; Sothel cheated his 
 Proprietary associates, as well as plundered the 
 colonists." He was deposed by the people, 
 who appealed again to the Proprietaries ; and 
 the planters, says Bancroft, immediately became 
 tranquil, when they escaped foreign misrule. 
 
 And here follows a remark of the historian 
 made with reference to the four or five thousand 
 people who constituted the whole population in 
 1668, but which the maligner of the Province 
 misquotes, and makes applicable to them 
 throughout the one hundred and thirteen years 
 of colonial dependence. Under the marginal 
 date, i688, which the garbler could not fail to 
 see, and just at the close of the account of the 
 rebellion against Sothel, Mr. Bancroft says : 
 
 "Careless of religious sects, or colleges, or 
 lawyers, or absolute laws, the early settlers en- 
 joyed liberty of conscience, and personal inde- 
 pendence ; freedom of the forest and of the 
 river." 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 By " absolute laws," he clearly refers to the 
 " Fundamental Constitutions " prepared by Mr. 
 Locke for the Lords Proprietors. He could 
 mean nothing else ; for he had just completed 
 an elaborate eulogy of the people for their prac- 
 tical wisdom in enacting laws adapted to their 
 own circumstances. This remark about "abso- 
 lute laws " follows what has been quoted above 
 from his pages. He had also praised the virtue 
 and devotion of the Quakers and non conformists, 
 who sought refuge in tlie wilderness from the 
 persecutions of the English church in Virginia. 
 These men who had suffered together under the 
 same tyrannical laws and government, and whose 
 safety in their new common home depended on 
 a cordial union with each other, would naturally 
 subordinate their differences, and become less 
 tenacious of mere names. The Quakers were 
 an organized body of religionists, who, until 
 they were able to build meeting-houses, wor- 
 shipped in the beautiful groves, or in their pri- 
 vate dwellings. The other unorganized non- 
 conformists would naturally attend these Qua- 
 ker meetings ; and we are assured, even by 
 their enemies, that the Quakers made many 
 converts to their Society from the others, 
 not excepting the established Church. 
 
 But if it were literally true that in 1688, the 
 refugees in the Albemarle settlemer.t, from Vir- 
 ginia oppression, had neither laws nor lawyers, 
 what must be thought of the candor or the intelli- 
 gence of a writer who attempts to impose upon 
 the world the statement that Mr. Bancroft ap- 
 plies the remark to North Carolina during her 
 whole colonial histor)' from 1663 to 1776. — (1- 
 suggest to April, 1775-). 
 
 The facts here brought out on the authority of 
 Mr. Bancroft, refute at the same time another 
 statement of the writer, which he couples with 
 his comparison of the several sorts of people 
 who made up the emigrations respectively to 
 Rhode Island, and to North Carolina, from 
 Massachusetts and Virginia. 
 
 In regard to the Virginia emigrants to Carolina, 
 
 he says, " their general character was immeas- 
 urably lower," than that of the Massachusetts 
 emigrants to Rhode Island. There is no re- 
 spectable authority for this statement. The 
 victims of Massachusetts persecutions were ex- 
 cellent people, no doubt ; but there is no reason 
 to suppose that the Puritans of that colony 
 were more select in regard to the characters of 
 those whom they expelled from their borders, 
 than were the Churchmen of Virginia. There 
 has been nothing in the subsequent careers of 
 the two classes of emigrants, or in their posteri- 
 ties, to warrant the invidious comparison ; and 
 there remains but one judgment to pronounce 
 upon it, viz : that whether proceeding from 
 ignorance or malevolence, it is no less a whole- 
 sale calumny, and this calumny is repeated in 
 other connections and forms, but the above 
 answer must sufifice for them all. 
 
 "They were, in the main, very lawless in 
 temper," we are told, "holding it to be the 
 chief end of man to resist all constituted au- 
 thority, and above all things, to pay no taxes." 
 Here again this ready writer shows his ignorance 
 of the history of the Province. The absurdity 
 of the statement becomes apparent if we com- 
 pare it with other statements made by him. 
 He tells us in one breath, and tells truly, that 
 these Virginia and American-born emigrants 
 constitute a large majority of the people ; and 
 in the next that they are lawless, riotous, indo- 
 lent, " shiftless," and utterly opposed to paying 
 taxes. Who, then, made the colonial laws of 
 which there are large volumes extant? Who 
 imposed the taxes? Was it the handful of 
 Swiss and Palatines, not above two thousand in 
 number, and not one of whom, when they ar- 
 rived, understood the language ? Was it by the 
 Gaelic-speaking Scotch Highlanders, who came 
 to the Province after the middle of the eight- 
 eenth century — two or three thousands in num- 
 ber ? Was it by the German Lutherans and 
 Moravians who came still later — all of whom 
 spoke a foreign language ? These emigrants 
 
THK COLONIAL PICRIOD. 
 
 I were most valuable acquisitions ; and many of 
 
 their descendants have become distinguished 
 citizens ; but during the twenty or thirty years 
 of their residence here prior to the Revolution, 
 they knew too little of the English language to 
 take a leading part in making the laws. The 
 conclusion is a necessary one, then, that the 
 colonial statutes, constituting a complete body 
 of laws, adapted to the wants of the people, 
 correctly and concisely written, in parliamentary 
 style, were the product of the class which this 
 writer would have the world believe, was com- 
 posed, "in the main," of worthless renagades 
 and law-breakers from Virginia. The character 
 of these laws will be shown in another place. 
 
 "The Colony was a century old," says our 
 censor, "before it had a printing press: and if 
 no newspapers were published, it was doubtless 
 for the sufficient reason that there were very 
 few who would have been able to read them." 
 
 The first of these statements contains full 
 eighty per cent, of truth, which is so much 
 above the average that it may be allowed to go 
 uncontradicted. But at the same timeitadmits 
 of extenuation. The Colony was planted in 
 1663, and the first printing press was brought 
 into it in 1749, and was employed in printing 
 the laws, and a few years afterward, a news- 
 paper. 
 
 The further statement of the writer, that " A 
 mail from Virginia came some eight or ten times 
 a year, but it only reached a few towns on the 
 coast, and down to the time of the Revolution 
 the interior of the country had no mails at all, " 
 is quite true; and it fully explains to any fair 
 mind how newspapers could not flourish under 
 such circumstances, and without assuming that 
 the people could not read. Another obstacle 
 Q- to the success j^{ newspapers is presented in the 
 fact that North Carolina was, and still is, more 
 exclusively agricultural than any other part of 
 America ; and contained and still contains, in 
 proportion to aggregate population, f-nver peo- 
 ple resident in towns. 
 
 In New England there was a far greater popu- 
 lation, and at the beginning of the eighteenth 
 century, Boston, according to Rev. Cotton Ma- 
 ther, and other authorities quoted in the "Me- 
 morial History " of that city, contained not far 
 from ten thousand inhabitants. But there was 
 the same deficiency of mail facilities, though 
 not in equal degree, which existed in North 
 Carolina. I find in a little work published by a 
 Postoffice official, that so early as 1672, a 
 monthly mail was established between Boston 
 and New York; and that in 171 1, Massachu- 
 setts established a weekly mail between Boston 
 and her outl}'ing territory of Maine. And yet, 
 with these relatively great advantages and facili- 
 ties — a town of ten thousand inhabitants, and at 
 least one weekly mail — no newspaper was es- 
 tablished in Boston, nor in Massachusetts, until 
 the year 1704. This was eighty-four years after 
 the founding of the Colony. It is true that 
 there was a printing press introduced at an ear- 
 ier date, which was employed in the publica- 
 tion of pamphlets and books of theology, and 
 the laws of the colony; but no newspaper until 
 the settlement was eighty-four years old. Isa- 
 iah Thomas a Massachusetts man, in his valu- 
 able history of printing, gives an interesting 
 account of this first American journalistic enter- 
 prise. It was called the Boston Xoxcs- Letter. 
 The first numberappeared in April, 1704. John 
 Campbell, a Scotchman, and Postmaster of the 
 town, was the proprietor, or "Undertaker," as 
 he styled himself. It was printed on a half- 
 sheet of what was called "Pot" paper, once a 
 week; but after the second number it appeared 
 on a half-sheet of fools-cap. Whether this was 
 an enlargement on Pot paper, or a reduction in 
 size, is not stated ; but the change in dimensions, 
 whether in one way or the other, was no doubt 
 inconsiderable. At any rate the Ne^vs Letter 
 continued to be printed for four years on a half- 
 sheet of fools cap, once a week. It rarely con- 
 tained more than two advertisements, one of 
 them by the proprietor, in which he enumerated 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the articles he was ready to advertise, at reason- 
 able rates, among them "runaway servants." 
 The ill omened style of undertaker, assumed by 
 the proprietor, may in some sort, account for the 
 unhealthy childhood and youth of Boston's first- 
 born journal. At any rate, the undertaker, 
 after fifteen years of sad experience, informed 
 the public that he could not dispose of three 
 hundred copies weekly; and that he was thirteen 
 months behind time in the publication of the 
 foreign news. 
 
 This was the case in 1719, when Boston must 
 have had apopulation of nearly or quite 25,000, 
 for in 1 7 10, according to the high authority 
 of the "Memorial History," it was already 
 18,000. 
 
 Mr. Thomas states that the first press intro- 
 duced into North Carolina (at New Berne) was 
 in the year 1754 and Mr. Bancroft makes the 
 same statement ; but Martin, the intelligent 
 historian of the Province, who resided about 
 thirty years at New Berne, during all of which 
 time he was engaged in printing — and most of 
 the time, as a newspaper publisher, as well as 
 public printer for the Colony, says that James 
 Davis came, by invitation of the Assembly, 
 with a printing press, in the year 1749. Davis 
 began the publication of a newspaper in 1765. 
 New Berne contained at that time, perhaps, five 
 hundred white inhabitants ; and the fact that 
 his paper was sustained was wonderful, in view 
 of Campbell's discouragements at Boston. 
 
 It would not be fair to assume that this ina- 
 bility to support, or indifference to the worth 
 of a newspaper, on the part of the people of 
 Massachusetts, was due to their ignorance or 
 inability to read, for we know that such was not 
 the case. It is more just to say that new in- 
 ventions and new methods of doing particular 
 things are slow in finding their way into com- 
 mon use. Fifty years hence people may won- 
 der that their ancestors of this our day, did not, 
 one and all, use the telegraph or telephone, in- 
 stead of the slow process of sending letters by 
 
 mail, by which days are consumed in doing the 
 work of a few minutes. 
 
 "In the war for independence North Carolina 
 produced no great leaders," says the essayist. 
 It would be easy to retaliate that other colonies 
 or States, more favorably situated, failed to pro- 
 duce great leaders. New England furnished a 
 majority of the rank and file, and probably, 
 most of the material aid ; and yet she failed to 
 produce the great leader; nor did she produce 
 but one great soldier, and he came from the 
 despised little colony of Rhode Island, and 
 from the persecuted class of Quakers, who were 
 driven into exile by Massachusetts orthodoxy. 
 There were many good officers produced by the 
 war of the Revolution — men who were brave, 
 sagacious, and enterprising — but history fails to 
 point to more than two who were equal to the 
 greatest emergencies, in which the disciplined 
 and well armed soldiers of Britain were to be 
 met and foiled by the comparatively raw and 
 ill appointed recruits of the provinces. Those 
 two men were Washington and Greene. Per- 
 haps there was one other thus endowed ; but he 
 turned traitor to the cause. 
 
 North Carolina produced in the Revolutionary 
 era anumberof good officers — Howe, Davidson, 
 Davie, Caswell, Lillington, Moore, Nash, and 
 many others — the equals in merit with those of 
 the same rank, in other States. And during 
 those eventful days, a North Carolina boy was 
 trained by the discipline of adversity, to take the 
 foremost place in the Nation's regard, as a great 
 captain, hero, and statesman. A New England 
 author of celebrity, Parton, has demonstrated 
 that Andrew Jackson was born on North Caro- 
 lina soil. His childhood was spent in South 
 Carolina, though within two miles of his birth- 
 place; which circumstance gave rise to the im- 
 pression that he was a native of that State. 
 While still a boy, he returned to North Caro- 
 lina, where he spent his youth and early man- 
 hood. At length he emigrated to Tennessee, 
 which was then only a western county of his 
 
THE COLONIAL PERIOD. 
 
 native State, and there he lived and died. For 
 greatness of soul — for the possession of those 
 qualities of intelligence, of courage, and firm- 
 ness, which inspire respect and confidence, and 
 constitute a nature "born to command," An- 
 drew Jackson has had, certainly, not more than 
 one superior in this country. 
 
 " She was not represented at the Stamp Act 
 Congress of 1765," says Fisk, and the purpose 
 of the statement is to convey the impression 
 that the absence of North Carolina from tliat 
 Congress was due to a want of sympathy in the 
 common cause. If this was not his purpose, he 
 could have had none. He failed to add that 
 New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Georgia 
 were also unrepresented in that Convention. 
 If he had had any acquaintance with the history 
 of North Carolina, he could not have been ig- 
 norant of the fact that her failure to be repre- 
 sented on the occasion was caused, in the lan- 
 guage of Martin, -i"^^: "the lower House not 
 having had the opportunity of choosing mem- 
 bers," Martin suggests that a similar obstacle 
 may have prevented the other three colonies 
 from being represented. He states that, ' ' In 
 the Province of North Carolina, the people, at 
 all their public meetings, manifested their high 
 approbation of the proceedings of the inhabi- 
 tants of the other Provinces ; and Lieutenant 
 Governor Tyron, judging from the temper of 
 the people that it would be unsafe and danger- 
 ous to allow them the opportunity of express- 
 ing their feelings, by allowing a session of the 
 Legislative body, in these days of ferment, on 
 the 25th of October, issued his proclamation to 
 prorogue the General Assembly, which was to 
 have met on the 30th of November, till the 12th 
 of March, assigning as a reason for the step, 
 that there appeared to be no immediate necessity 
 for their meeting at that time." 
 
 In January, 1766, the British Sloop of War 
 Diligence arrived in the Cape Fear, having on 
 board the stamp paper. The Governor issued 
 his proclamation calling on the stamp distribu- 
 
 tors to apply for it to the Commander of the 
 .'^loop. But Colonel John Ashe of New Han- 
 over, and Colonel Waddell of Brunswick em- 
 bodied the militia of the two counties, and 
 marched at their head to Brunswick, where the 
 Diligence was anchored, and notified the com- 
 mander that they would resist the landing of the 
 stamp paper. A party was left to watch the 
 movements of the ship, while their comrades 
 seized a boat belonging to the ship, and ascend- 
 ed the river to Wilmington, where the Governor 
 resided, for the time. They placed the boat on 
 a cart and marched with it through the streets, 
 amid the plaudits of the people. The next day, 
 Colonel Ashe, with a crowd of the people, called 
 on the Governor, and demanded to see the 
 Stamp Master, James Houston, who it seems, 
 had taken refuge with His Excellency. The 
 Governor at first declared his purpose to resist 
 the demand, but was induced to yield by a threat 
 that his house would be burned over his head. 
 Houston then came out, and accompanied Col- 
 onel Ashe and the citizens to the market, where 
 he took a solemn oath not to attempt the execu- 
 tion of his office. Whereupon the people gave 
 him three cheers, and conducted him back to 
 the Governor's quarters. This statement is con- 
 densed from Martin, who has given a fuller ac- 
 count of the resistance of the Colonies to the 
 Stamp Act, than even Mr. Bancroft, and other 
 historians of the United States. 
 
 The Whigs of North Carolina, owing to pe- 
 culiar circumstances, had to confront formidable 
 bodies of tories at home, where there was less 
 glory, or at least, less reputation to be achieved, 
 than in the struggle with the foreign foe. These 
 internecine conflicts, though fierce and bloody, 
 and calling forth physical courage and military 
 conduct of a high order, were not of a character 
 to place their leaders in the line of promotion 
 in the Continental service. 
 
 The existence of Toryism in North Carolina 
 called forth all the more courage and firmness 
 on the part of her lovers of liberty. This local,. 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 defection was the result of a combination of 
 circumstances which have never been fully ap- 
 preciated beyond the limits of the State. 
 
 The Scotch Highlanders who came to North 
 Carolina about the middle of the eighteenth 
 century, would, under other circumstances, have 
 been an excellent class of immigrants. They 
 were good people. But they had rebelled against 
 George II, in favor of Charles Edward, a de- 
 scendant of their ancient kings of the House 
 pf Stuart. These adherents of the Stuarts con- 
 stituted or formed a part of the Tory party of 
 Great Britain; and the Highlanders were, there- 
 foie, Tories by inheritance ; that is to say, they 
 belonged to the party which believed in the di- 
 vine right of kings. They had been defeated 
 at the battle of CuUoden, and their last hope of 
 a restoration of the Stuarts was gone. The 
 leaders were hanged, and their followers were 
 allowed t;^ emigrate to America, after taking the 
 oath of allegiance While these North Carolina 
 Highlanders, therefore cannot be supposed to 
 have felt an ardent love for the British Govern- 
 ment, they were still further removed in senti- 
 ment from that form of Whigism in America, 
 
 marriage licences and all legal processes. The 
 Sheriffs exacted double and treble the amount of 
 the taxes. The people protested, but to no pur- 
 pose. At length an indictment was found 
 against the Clerk of the Orange County Circuit 
 Court. He was convicted, and was fined by the 
 Judges — a sixpence. This conduct of the 
 Court in conniving at the fraudulent extortion 
 of the Clerks, rendered the people desperate, 
 and provoked them to take up arms in defence 
 of their violated rights. No fair-minded man 
 who reads the history of these events will hesi- 
 tate to say that these people were subjected to 
 greater injustice than was imposed by the Crown 
 and Parliament on the American Colonies. 
 They took the name of Regulators, and organ- 
 ized rude military companies, which were very 
 poorly armed and equipped. They were poor, 
 and for the most part ignorant ; and without 
 arms or military training, they were in no plight 
 to cope with the forces under Governor Tyron. 
 They were ingloriously defeated at Alamance, 
 in May, 1771 ; and like the defeated Highlanders 
 at Culloden, they were required — such as were 
 not hanged — to take an oath of allegiance. 
 
 which had armed itself for the establishment of Governor Ty^on was a man of the world, un 
 
 a Republic. They were at the same time suffer 
 ing the terrible consequences of an unsuccessful 
 rebellion against an established government ; 
 and having renewed their allegiance to it, nothing 
 was more natural than that they should shun, 
 and even resist, a second rebellion. Under 
 these circumstances the Royal Governor Mar- 
 tin, authorized Donald McDonald, their recog- 
 nized head, to raise a brigade. He did so; but 
 was soon defeated and made a prisoner, together 
 with Allan McDonald, the husband of the cele- 
 brated Flora Mclvor. The leaders were ex- 
 changed, and returned to Scotland. 
 
 The yeomanry of the upper counties had for 
 
 scrupulous, but polished in manners. His wife, 
 and her sister Miss Esther Wake, were ladies 
 of rare beauty and accomplishments. The gen- 
 try in all the eastern counties were completely 
 led captive by the fascinations of the Provincial 
 Court. In those days, the lawyers and wealthier 
 classes exercised far more control over the peo- 
 ple than they have done in later years. As il- 
 lustrative of this statement it may be mentioned 
 that Tryon, by these social influences, was able 
 to carry through the Assembly a measure which 
 was regarded at the time as one of startling ex- 
 travagance. This was an appropriation of fif- 
 teen thousand pounds for the erection of a Gov- 
 ernor's palace. The house was built at New 
 
 years chafed under the illegal exactions of the Berne, and was, no doubt, one of the finest man- 
 county officers. The Clerks of Courts demand- sions in America, in its day. It added consider- 
 ed two to six times the amount of the lawful ably to the burden of taxes, and to the irritation 
 fees for registering deeds and wills ; for issuing of the people. 
 
THE COLONIAL PKRIOD. 
 
 It was in like manner, by social blandishments 
 that Tryon was able to rally around him the gen- 
 try of the lowlands, when he marched into the 
 up-country ;*«. the suppression of the revolt of 
 the Regulators. These gentlemen, three and 
 four years later, became the staunchest of Whigs, 
 and were not a whit behind the Adamses and 
 Hancock, of Massachusetts, or of Henry and 
 Jefferson of Virginia, in their early and firm 
 support of the rights of the Colonies. But the 
 active part taken by these men in the suppres- 
 sion of the revolt of the Regulators, tended 
 strongly to alienate the latter from the cause of 
 the country in 1775, and the years following. 
 
 This antipathy of the Regulators to the lead- 
 ing Whigs ; the suffering they had undergone, 
 as a result of unsuccessful revolt, together with 
 the oath they had so recently taken to be faith- 
 ful to the Crown, made it an easy matter for 
 Tryon's successor, Josiah Martin, to fix them 
 in their allegiance. He visited their region of 
 country, redressed their grievances, pardoned 
 such as were still amenable to trial or punishment, 
 and gave them his confidence by appointing 
 their leading men to office. Martin, in all these 
 respects showed great good sense and sagacity. 
 But he led a forlorn hope ; and was compelled in 
 April, 1775, to abandon the seat of govern- 
 ment at New Berne, and fly for safety to Fort 
 Johnston, on the banks of the Cape Fear. In 
 July, feeling insecure in the Fort, he took ref- 
 uge on board the British Sloop of War, Cniiscr, 
 and from this safe retreat he fulminated his 
 Proclamation, and issued his orders to his Tory 
 adherents ; but never again could he set foot on 
 North Carolina soil, as Governor of the State. 
 The knavish conduct of the county ofificersin 
 extorting illegal fees and taxes, which the'Regu- 
 lators resisfed to the best of their ability, be- 
 longs to the class of occurrences in the history 
 of the Province which half-informed scribblers 
 have, for a century and more, harped upon as 
 affording evidence of the lawless character of 
 the people. 
 
 In Virginia, the old aristocratic families, who 
 gave tone to public sentiment, were strongly 
 biased, by the force of habit, education, and 
 attachment to the Mother Country, )/f the 
 Church of England. They were not a particu- 
 larly religious class of people ; nor were they 
 deeply learned or interested in theological con- 
 troversy. But the religion of the Church was 
 that of the Monarch, and of the aristocracy, 
 and therefore, they argued, it must be the true 
 church. They had sufficient influence with the 
 people to establish it, and maintain it at the 
 public expense. But there was a large and 
 growing element of dissent, which was destined 
 under the lead of Jefferson, to overthrow the 
 establishment, and to place all denominations on 
 an equality before the law. A large proportion 
 of the wealthy and well-to-do classes who emi- 
 grated to North Carolina from Virginia, were 
 attached to the Church ; and, backed; at first, by 
 the Lords Proprietors, and afterwards by the 
 King's Government, they succeeded in estab- 
 lishing the Church as the Religion of the Prov- 
 ince, accompanied by the imposition of a tax 
 for its support. The Province was divided into 
 Parishes, and glebe lands were set apart, out of 
 the public domains, with the same end in view. 
 At the same time all other forms of religion 
 were tolerated without the slightest restraint. 
 The provision of law for the support of the 
 clergy, and for other church purposes, was 
 wholly inadequate, and the payment of taxes 
 for that purpose was evaded as much as possible. 
 The odium which attached to the establishment 
 from a sense of the injustice of compelling Dis- 
 senters to pay taxes for its support, was a fatal 
 obstacle to its usefulness. The Proprietors 
 might without olTensc to the people, have en- 
 dowed the Church out of their more than princely 
 domains, with lands, which, in the course of 
 time, would have made it wealthy ; but the im- 
 position of taxes for the support of the clergy 
 was a fatal mistake which deprived it of the love 
 and veneration of the people, which its unri- 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 valed liturgy is so well calculated to inspire. 
 At the outbreak of the Revolution there were 
 not many clergymen in the Colony, and scarcely 
 one of these remained with their flocks, to share 
 in their fortunes, when the shock of revolution 
 and war came. 
 
 The failure of the Church to take root in the 
 Colony, owing to the persistent efforts that were 
 made to force it upon the people, was sufficient 
 reason, with British Tory writers of those times 
 (and is sufficient reason still, with an American 
 writer who wishes to calumniate the State) for 
 the declaration, "Nor does the soul appear to 
 be better cared for thanjhe body, for it was not 
 until 1703 that the first clergyman was settled 
 in the Colony. ' 
 
 The Church of England was established by 
 the Government, without the approval of the 
 people, who were opposed on principle to 
 Church rates, as to all kinds of taxes whatsoever. 
 Owing to this dislike of taxation, most of the 
 people were Dissenters. But no Dissenting 
 Churches flourished in the Colony. There was 
 complete toleration, even for Quakers, because 
 nobody cared a groat for theology, or for relig- 
 ion. " This remark, like the others quoted from 
 the writer, is made with reference to North Caro- 
 lina, "in the Colonial Period" — that is to say, 
 throughout that period. It has been shown on 
 preceding pages, that the earUest settlements in 
 the colony were made by people who fled from 
 religious persecutions in Virginia. It is never 
 the indifferent and careless, the vih; and the vi- 
 cious, who become the victims of religious per- 
 secution — they would rather bend the knee ; than 
 brave the storm. On the contrary it is only the 
 sincere and earnest believers — those who are 
 inspired by an unconquerable love of truth and 
 duty — that prefer exile and martyrdom to a re- 
 cantation or abandonment of their faith. And 
 such, we have seen, was the character of the 
 Quaker and Presbyterian emigrants from Vir- 
 ginia to the Albemarle settlements. They were, 
 after a few years, followed by large numbers 
 
 who were members or adherents of the Church. 
 The proportion of sincere believers of this class 
 was quite as large as the average in communi- 
 ties; while the Quakers and Presbyterians were 
 eminently rehgious — else they would not have 
 been exiled by persecution. The first necessity 
 of all was to build cabins to shelter them from 
 the elements, to clear the forests for cultivation, 
 and to enclose them with fences. For they 
 brought horses, cattle and other live stock, 
 which roamed at large, and helped themselves 
 to the bounties supplied by nature, and needed 
 little attention from their owners. The colonists 
 were not in a condition to build stately churches, 
 nor to pay salaries to ministers ; and it was, and 
 is, a principle with Quakers, to pay no salaries 
 to their preachers. This fact has been familiar 
 to every man of ordinary intelligence for two 
 centuries. They met at private houses for pur- 
 poses of worship, or when the weather was fa- 
 vorable, in the stately groves. The Presbyte- 
 rians whosecircumstances were similar, imitated 
 the Quakers in the simplicity of their religious 
 exercises. They were often under the necessity 
 of putting up, for the time, with the ministra- 
 tions of laymen, or of a minister who had some 
 secular occupation for his support. 
 
 The Baptists formed a congregation in Per- 
 quimans, as early as 1727. Paul Palmer was 
 the minister. He began with thirty-two mem- 
 bers, whose names are given. Joseph Parker 
 succeeded him. A Baptist congregation was 
 founded in Halifax, in 1742. "This, says Mr. 
 Benedict, the historian, "is the Mother Church 
 in all that part of the State, which still abounds 
 with Baptists." In 1752, the Baptists had six- 
 teen congregations in the Province. In 1765, 
 they had become numerous, and formed the 
 Kehukee Association. ' 'About this time, " says 
 Mr. Benedict, "the separate Baptists had be- 
 come very numerous, and were rapidly increas- 
 ing in the upper regions of North Carolina." 
 This schism, however, was soon afterwards 
 healed, and the two branches of the denomina- 
 tion were cordial'y united. 
 
THE COLONIAL PERIOD. 
 
 Mr. Moore an able historian of the State, 
 mentions a Baptist congregation known as Shi- 
 loh, which was organized in Pasquotank County, 
 as early as 1729, and refers to John Comer's 
 Journal of that year, as his authority. Mr. 
 Moore states, also, that "six years later, Joseph 
 Parker, ordained by this church, had established, 
 where Murfreesboro now stands, the church 
 still known as Meherin ; that in 1750 a congre- 
 gation was formed at Sandy Run in Bertie; 
 and about the same time, chapels were in exist- 
 ence at St. John's, and St. Luke's or Buckhorn, 
 in Hertford. 
 
 In the year 1736 there was an immigration of 
 Presbyterians into Vh-ginia and North Carolina, 
 from the North of Ireland. Henry E. McCul- 
 lough, the agent of Lord Granville — himself a 
 large land owner — induced a colony of these 
 people to settle on his estate in Duplin county, 
 in the southeastern part of the Province. Erom 
 this time forward colonies of Presbyterians came 
 and settled in the Province, from year to year, 
 and became a powerful influence, from their su- 
 perior education and strong characteristics. 
 From the Virginia border to that of South Caro- 
 lina, in all the Piedmont region, and as low 
 down as the county of Granville, their settle- 
 ments were numerous ; and in conjunction with 
 the Moravians in Surry, the Quakers in Guilford, 
 and Lutherans, and German-Reformed Churches 
 Cl in Rowan, they imp^jfrted a high moral and re- 
 ligious tone, to society, in all that portion of 
 the Province, accompanied by a love of learning 
 and of liberty. The Presbyterians were strongly 
 planted in Granville and Orange ; and where- 
 ever they formed a settlement they built a 
 church. These settlements date back to the 
 year 1740. 
 
 To the Rev. Mr. Foote, who composed his 
 valuable Sketches of North Carolina from the 
 records of the Presbyteries and congregations, 
 I am indebted for many valuable facts. The 
 Rev. Mr. Caruthcrs, also, in his Life of the 
 Rev, David Caldwell, and his sketches of the 
 
 history of the Province and State, has contrib- 
 uted many valuable facts and incidents. Mr. 
 Eootc, in this connection, says : 
 
 " While the tide of emigration was setting 
 fast and strong into the fertile regions between 
 the Yadkin and Catawba, from the North of Ire- 
 land, through Pennsylvania and Virginia, anoth- 
 er tide was flowing from the Highlands of Scot- 
 land, and landing colonies of Presbyterian peo- 
 ple along the Cape Eear river. Authentic re- 
 cords declare that the Scotch had found the 
 sandy plains of Carolina many years previous to 
 the exile and emigration that succeeded the 
 crushing of the hopes of the House of Stuart in 
 the fatal battle of Cullodon in 1746. But in 
 the year following that event, large companies 
 of Highlanders seated themselves in Cumber- 
 land County ; and in a few years the Gaelic lan- 
 guage was heard familiarly in Moore, Anson, 
 Richmond, Robeson, Bladen and Sampson. 
 Among these people and their children, the 
 warm hearted preacher and patriot, James Camp- 
 bell labored more than a quarter of a century ; 
 and with them, that romantic character. Flora 
 McDonald passed a portion of her days." This 
 lady worshipped at a little church among the 
 sand-hills of Cumberland, called "Barbacue." 
 It is still a place of public worship, but whether 
 in the same building or not, is not stated. 
 
 In the year 1750 the Moravians, or United 
 Brethren purchased 100,000 acres of land from 
 Lord Granville, in Surry County, in sight of the 
 mountains. They began their settlements the 
 next year. There were several of these settle- 
 ments in the purchase, and each settlement im- 
 mediately built a house of worship. Their de- 
 scendants still inhabit that fine district of coun- 
 try, and give tone to society. Like the Quakers, 
 they are an eminently religious people ; and like 
 the Quakers, too, they are conscienciously op- 
 posed to war and fighting. It is a fact highly 
 honorable to the Province and State of North 
 Carolina, that the scruples of these two classes 
 of Religionists have always been respected ; and 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 men whose consciences forbid the bearing of 
 arms, have ever been excused by the payment of 
 a moderate tax. The ill success of the Church 
 of England has already been explained. But it 
 was not wholly inefficient. Every Parish — and 
 the Province was divided into Parishes — had its 
 lay Reader, who, in the absence of a clergyman, 
 read the services, and a sermon, selected gener- 
 ally from the works of some eminent English- 
 man, such as Tillotson, South or Barrow. And 
 thus, every heart which remained loyal to the 
 faith of our English ancestors, was nourished and 
 instructed. But the desertion of their posts by 
 the clergy, on account of inadequate salaries, 
 and the open revolt of their parishioners, in 1775, 
 prepared the way for the reception of Methodism, 
 which, at that time, was only a new method of 
 propagating the faith of the Church. Most fam- 
 ilies which were not distinctively of the Presby- 
 terian, Baptist, Quaker or some other denomina- 
 tion, during and immediately after the Revolu- 
 tion, became attached to the Methodists. There 
 was no interregnum of Religious worship and ob- 
 servance in the State. 
 
 There remain two more serious misrepresenta- 
 tions to be noticed, viz : the denial that there 
 were schools or Courts of law in North Caroli- 
 na, during the era of Provincial dependence. 
 And first, as to schools, the writer says : 
 
 "Until just before the war for Independence 
 there was not a single school, good or bad, in the 
 whole Colony. It need not be added that the 
 people were densely ignorant." 
 
 If the people of North Carolina were as ignor- 
 ant of letters as this historical critic has shown 
 himself to be of his subject, their condition was 
 pitiable indeed. 
 
 Dr. John Brickell, an intelligent naturalist, 
 resided in and traveled throughout the settle- 
 ments in the early part of the eighteenth centu- 
 ry, and published, in Dublin, in the year 1737, 
 "The Natural History of North Carolina ; with 
 an account of the trade, manners and customs 
 of the Christian and Indian inhabitants." This 
 intelligent writer says: 
 
 "The Religion by law established is the Prot- 
 estant, as it is professed in England ; and though 
 they seldom have orthodox clergyman, (he 
 means those of the Church) among them, yet 
 there are not only glebe lands laid out for that 
 use, commodious to each town, but likewise for 
 building churches. rhcimntoj these Protestant 
 Clagy is generally supplied by some sehoolmasters, 
 who read the Liturgy, and then a sermon out of 
 Dr. Tilotson, or some good practical divine ev- 
 ery Sunday. These are the most mtmerous and are 
 dispersed through the whole Pi ovince. ' ' This gen- 
 tleman traveled and made his observations in 
 the Province between the years 1730 and 1737, 
 as is shown by the imprint of the book ; and it 
 appears from his statement, that at that early 
 day the ' ' schoolmaster was abroad " ' ' through 
 the whole Province." Next in numerical 
 strength were the Quakers, the Presbyterians, 
 the Baptists and the Catholics, and the author 
 says that the latter, who were scattered over the 
 Province, had a clergyman at Bath-town. 
 
 In 1704, Mr. Blair, a Church missionary, and 
 a good man, came to the Colony, and reported 
 that the settlers had builtsmall churches in three 
 precincts, and appointed a lay Reader in each, 
 who were supplied by him with sermons. These 
 lay-Readers were schoolmasters, as appears from 
 the specific statement of Dr. Brickell ; and there 
 is additional incidental evidence of the fact. 
 The lay-Readers were to be supported, and to 
 employ them as teachers of schools was the nat- 
 ural resource. But there is other positive evi- 
 dence of the fact. 
 
 Dr. Hawks gives an account of some small 
 subscriptions made by the wealthy clergy and 
 nobility for the propogation and support of the 
 Gospel in America, from which it would appear 
 that those well-to-do Christians of the fatherland 
 had an idea that a very little money would dif- 
 fuse a great deal of Gospel truth ; or that a very 
 little of the truth would be sufficient for the 
 Colonies. But the King, (William III,) we are 
 told, did better. "On the report of Dr. Bray, 
 
THE COLONIAL PERIOD. 
 
 a missionary, Bishop Compton went to tlie King, 
 as he had done before, and obtained from him a 
 bounty of ^20 to every minister orsc/iooluiasta; 
 that would go over to America." 
 
 The Rev. William Gordon, an intelligent Eng- 
 lish clergyman, who came as a missionary to 
 North Carolina in the year 1708, and who was 
 a man of character and piety, after returning 
 home, wrote a long letter to the Secretary of 
 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, 
 in regard to the Colony. It bears date May 13, 
 1709. In this letter he incidentally alludes to 
 the fact that the Quakers in Pasquotank were 
 sending their children to the school of a lay 
 Reader of the Church, named Griffin. The 
 same clergyman established a church at the head 
 of Albemarle Sound, in the settlement which 
 afterward became the town of Edenton, and in- 
 trcdiu'cd a sclwobnastcr, with school books. He 
 states that there were no Quakers in that pre- 
 cinct, (Chowan) and that the people were ex- 
 tremely ignorant and poor. Yet Edenton, long 
 before the Revolution, became the centre and 
 the abode of the wealthy and refined. The 
 reader of the life of Judge Iredell, of the Unit- 
 ed States Supreme Court, by iVIcRee, is charmed 
 by the picture presented of a polished society 
 of well-bred and educated people in that seclud- 
 ed little nook of the Province of North Caro- 
 lina. 
 
 At the session of the Assembly which met at 
 Wilmington, November 20, 1759, says Martin : 
 
 "An aid was granted to the King for the sub- 
 sistence of the troops and militia now in pay of 
 the Province ; it was directed to be paid out of the 
 fjiiid heretofore appiopriated for the purchase of 
 glebes and the establishment of schools, the King 
 not having signified his pleasure on that appro- 
 priation." 
 
 As a rule the Kings of England had to be 
 bribed into acquiescence in any measure pro- 
 posed in behalf of the Colonists, however essen- 
 tial to their welfare, by the grant of money to 
 / which was no doubt dropped out or omitted, as ' 
 
 himself or his favorites, The foregoing is a spec- 
 imen of this system of government. I fail to 
 find in the Colonial statutes the Act referred to, 
 it never became a law. But Martin published 
 one or more editions of the laws, and there can 
 be no question that the Assembly, about the 
 middle of the last century, passed an Act for 
 the support of Common schools — a measure of 
 benificence, which was frustrated by the selfish 
 stupidity of George II. 
 
 The subsequent Act of the Assembly for di- 
 verting the school fund from its original purpose, 
 in order to defend the Colonies against the com- 
 bined attacks of the French and Indians, was 
 justifiable ; but the withholding the royal assent, 
 before the emergency arose, was simply in keep- 
 ing with the heartless policy, with reference to 
 the Colonies, which governed in the British Cab- 
 inet. 
 
 In 1764, "An Act was passed for the erection 
 of a schoolhouse, the Academy in the town of 
 New Berne, which," says Martin, " is the first 
 effectual Act for the encouragement of litera- 
 ture." Why this was the first, we have already 
 explained. In 1767, the Academy was incor- 
 porated, and about the same time a charter was 
 given to the Edenton Academy. Careless writers 
 have misunderstood these remarks of Martin, 
 with reference to these Charters, as implying 
 that they were the first schools ever established 
 in the Province. The pretentious Harper's 
 Magazine Critic belongs to this class of super- 
 ficial readers and writers. 
 
 The condition of these Charters was, that the 
 schools were to be taught by members of the 
 established Church. And it was for lack of this 
 restriction that the Royal authority was withheld 
 from the Charter of Queen's Museum, at Char- 
 lotte, which was to be under the control of the 
 Presbyterians. At the next session of the As- 
 sembly, 1 77 1, the Charter was modified, in the 
 hope of securing the Royal favor, but without 
 success. But as there is no royal road to science, 
 so also, the classics and sciences may be taught 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 in institutions from whicli the Royal assent is 
 withheld — and there were many such in North 
 Carolina, long before the Revolution. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Foote, whose sketches of North 
 Carolina have been quote.:; in preceding pages, 
 says "Almost invariably, as soon as a neigh- 
 borhood was settled (by Presbyterians,; prepa- 
 rations were made for the preaching of the 
 Gospel by a regular stated pastor; and wherever 
 a pastor was located, in that congregation was 
 a classical school — as in Sugar Creek, Poplar 
 Tent, Centre, Bethany, Buffalo, Thyatira, Grove, 
 Wilmington and the churches occupied by Pa- 
 tillo in Orange and Granville." The Presby- 
 terian settlements commenced in 1738 ; and al- 
 though each settlement did not, at first, have a 
 minister, and a classical school, there can be no 
 question that they had schools in which the 
 children were taught to read and write. 
 
 The history of the Moravian settlements at 
 Wachovia, or Salem, shows that they founded 
 churches and schools immediately on their ar- 
 rival ; or as soon as they had provided humble 
 dwellings for themselves and their children. On 
 their hundred thousand acre purchase they 
 formed several settlements, each of which had a 
 place of worship. Salem is the centre ; and now 
 for nearly eighty years it has had one of the 
 largest and finest female schools in America, in 
 which, during that long period, thousands of 
 young ladies have been educated, who have gone 
 thither from every State of the South, and not 
 a few from the North and West. 
 
 In the eastern and middle counties the common 
 schools were taught, as has been shown, by the 
 lay readers of the Church, and by others ; while 
 the most wealthy classes sent their .sons to Wil- 
 liam and I\Iary in Virginia, to Princeton, to 
 New England, and even to Old England, for 
 higher education. 
 
 The libel which the writer attempts to attribute 
 to Mr. Bancroft, has been exposed, and need 
 not be repeated. He follows up that statement 
 with another, however, which requires notice. 
 He says : 
 
 "The Courts, such as they were, sat often in 
 taverns, where the Judge might sharpen his wits 
 with bad whiskey ; ivhile theit decisions were not 
 rcconicd, but were simply shouted by the crier 
 from the Inn door, or at the nearest market 
 place." 
 
 Of all the statements of the writer, the aboye 
 shows the greatest degree of ignorance; for it ie 
 incredible that a sane man who has read the his- 
 tory of the Colony, would deliberately make 
 assertions which are contradicted on almost 
 every page of our annals. A large portion of 
 Martin's history of the Province is devoted to 
 an exposition of the court systems. But to 
 begin at the beginning, — Dr. Hawks, in his his- 
 tory of the early colonization of the Province, 
 which he brings down to the year 1730, has a 
 lengthy chapter entitled "The Law and its Ad- 
 ministration." He prefaces this chapter, as is 
 his method, with his authorities; and these con- 
 sist of extracts from the Records of the Courts. 
 The first extract^ from the Records of the 
 " General Court," refutes two of the statements 
 above. It is dated 1695, and is an order of 
 the Court to the Marshal to take into custody 
 Stephen Manwaring, an attorney, " to answer 
 for his contemptuous and insolent behavior be- 
 fore the Court. " L-'ji 
 
 Then follows an order debarring him ; and 
 another, allowing him till th^ next term to an- 
 swer ; and finally, in 1697, was ordered "that 
 the said Stephen Manwaring shall not, from 
 henceforth, be permitted to plead as an Attor- 
 ney in any Court of Record in this Goveiunieut." 
 The next extract bears date the same year, 
 1695, and is of the same character. Two gen- 
 tlemen of the bar were debarred for contempt. 
 One of them, Henderson Walker, Esq., after- 
 ward made a distinguished figure in the history 
 of the Colony; and four years after this con- 
 tempt of Court, he became its Governor. 
 
 In 1697 we have the record of a "Summary 
 proceeding for a false accusation." In 17 14, 
 the "Proceedings on an Information against a 
 
THE COI.ONIAl, I'I'.RIOD. 
 
 militia-man;" and in 1722, an "Abatement of 
 suit by reason of the plaintiff's outlawry." 
 Next follows the whole proceedings in the Gen- 
 eral Court, on a writ of error. This was in the 
 year 1723. The introductory lines in this pro- 
 ceeding will show that the forms of law, brought 
 from England, were substantially observed. It 
 begins as follows: 
 
 "JohnCiray of Bertie precinct, gentleman, 
 comes to prosecute his appeal from certain pro- 
 ceedings had against him, at the Pnriitct Coutt 
 of Berth-, on Tuesday, the 14th day of May, 
 Anno Domini, 1723, at the suit of John Cot- 
 ton, Esq. 
 
 " And the said John Gray, by Edward Jfose- 
 lev, his attorney, brings into court here, a copy of 
 the Record and proceedings of said Court, in 
 these words," &c. 
 
 This precinct or county of Bertie, was the 
 youngest of the settlements, and it had just been 
 given corporate authority. This may have been 
 the first court — and it was certainly among the 
 earliest. Yet we see that it was a Court of 
 Record, and thus brands as a calumny the state- 
 ment referred to in Harpers Magazine. It is a 
 part of the Record that the Court was held at 
 the house of James Howard at Akotsky. The 
 date was Tuesday, May 14, 1723. Bertie 
 is just across the Chowan river from Edenton, 
 the principal town of the Province; and the 
 writ of Error seems to have been sued out on 
 the day the judgment was rendered. 
 
 Dr. Hawks gives the writ of arrest of John 
 Gray, and his declaration, signed by John Hen- 
 neman, his Attorney, " pro pi' ff." The suit 
 tLC was an action of detiihlc for a patent, for "six 
 hundred and forty acres of ground. " The Dec- 
 laration is endorsed, "I do not detain the pat- 
 ent. — John Gray." Next follows a formal sum- 
 mons for George Wynn as a witness ; then the 
 statement of the issues joined, the plea of non- 
 detinet, the impannclling of the jury, and their 
 verdict for the plaintiff. All this in the lowest 
 court of the Province, held by three or more 
 
 Justices of the Peace, in the youngest county 
 in the Province, in the year 1723. Mr. Mosely, 
 afterwards distinguished in the history of the 
 Province, was the attorney for the plaintiff in 
 error. He recites the foregoing facts, and 
 excepts to them in the usual form and assigns 
 four reasons why the court below manifestly 
 erred. 
 
 The General Court reversed and annulled the 
 verdict, and ordered that Cotton pay the costs. 
 Dr. Hawks, who was a lawyer before he became 
 a clergyman, reinarks on these proceedings as 
 follows : 
 
 "VVe have presented the whole Record of the 
 General Court in this case, that the reader 
 might see the forms of writ and subpoena in use 
 as set forth in the Record from the Precinct 
 Court. It furnishes, also, incidentally, evidence 
 that the practice of the day seems to have been 
 in the Precinct Court, to endorse the pleas on 
 the declaration. It illustrates also, the formality 
 with which the minutes of proceedings were 
 kept in the General Court. There are nuiiierous 
 other eases to be found, more fidly even, than this, 
 and where the errors assigned involved some 
 interesting and really doubtful points of law ; 
 but we selected this, as being one of the short- 
 est, and yet sufficient for all purposes of illus- 
 tration." 
 
 Dr. Hawks fills sixteen pages with extracts 
 from "tho Records of the General Court of 
 Oyer and Terminer," beginning in 1697, and 
 ending in 1726. Nothing could have been 
 further from his purpose than to furnish proof 
 that North Carolina had courts of record at that 
 early day : for how could he imagine that any 
 man would make such a display of his ignorance 
 as to dispute the fact? How could he suppose 
 that a pretentious Magazine would commit such 
 a blunder, in an article of historical criticism — 
 and that it would apply the stupid remark to 
 the condition of the Province, during the whole 
 time of colonial dependence? Yet that is the 
 predicament in which Harper s Magazine has 
 placed itself. 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The first case copied by Dr. Hawks from the 
 Records of the General Court of Oyer and Ter- 
 miner, is erroneously placed under the date of 
 1697, when William III. was on the throne. 
 For the writ runs in the name of "our Sovereign 
 Lady, the Queen " — meaning, doubtless. Queen 
 Anne. 
 
 It was on an indictment against Susannah 
 Evans, for witchcraft, under an old English stat- 
 ute, as amended in the reign of James I. It 
 was not a colonial statute ; yet the courts were 
 required to enforce it. But the result of the 
 trial shows that our ancestors were not abreast 
 with the civilization of that age, as illustrated 
 further north, and it was lucky forSusanah that 
 they were not. The indictment is as follows : 
 
 "The Jurors for our Sovereign Lady, the 
 Queen, present upon their oaths, that Susanah 
 Evans of the precinct of Currituck, in the 
 County of Albemarle, in the aforesaid Province, 
 not having the fear of God before her eyes, but 
 being led by the investigation of the Devil, did, 
 on or about the twenty-fifth day of July last past, 
 the body of Deborah Bouthier, being then in 
 the peace of our sovereign lady, the Queen, 
 devilishly and maliciously bewitch, and by as- 
 sistance of the devil, afflict, with mortal pains, 
 the body of the said Deborah Bouthier, whereby 
 the said Deborah departed this life. And also 
 did diabolically and maliciously bewitch several 
 other of her Majesty's liege subjects, against the 
 peace of our sovereign lady, the Queen, and 
 against the form of the statute in that case made 
 and provided," &c. 
 
 This indictment was laid before the Grand 
 Jury, by the Attorney General; but that body 
 failed to find a true bill, and Susanah was turned 
 loose upon society to work her "devilish arts." 
 This seems to have been the only case in which 
 a person was brought before the Courts of North 
 Carolina, on a charge of witchcraft, and whether 
 the fact was due to the isolation of the Province, 
 by which it "was in a great measure cut off 
 from the currents of thought and feeling by 
 
 which the other colonies were swayed," or 
 whether to a more enlightened sense of justice 
 than prevailed in colonies which sent witches to 
 the gallows " by the cartload," as Upham in- 
 forms us, was the case in Massachusetts, the 
 reader may determine. 
 
 But if North Carolina suffered from its seclu- 
 sion, a loss of .sympathy with the great move- 
 ment for the suppression of witchcraft, it was 
 from no lack of zeal for religion and good morals, 
 as the Magazine critic would have the world be- 
 lieve. Among the numerous extracts from the 
 Records of the General Court of Oyer and Ter- 
 miner, made by Dr. Hawks, are the proceedings 
 on the indictment of John Hassel, of Chowan 
 Precinct, in the year 1720, on charge of pro- 
 fanity. Hassel was one of the "advanced 
 thinkers" of that age, who declared publicly on 
 Sunday, March 13, 17 18, "That he was never 
 beholden to God Almighty for anything ; for 
 that he never had anything from him, but what 
 he worked for;" and much more of the same 
 sort. He plead "not guilty," but the jury con- 
 victed him. His counsel moved in arrest of 
 judgement, that the indictment was not brought 
 within six months after the words were spoken ; 
 nor was it prosecuted within ten days, "accord- 
 ing to the form and effect of an act for obscming 
 ilic Lord's Day." The court overruled the mo- 
 tion, and ordered that the culprit should receive 
 "thirty-nine lashes on his bare back," and give 
 security "in the sum of fifty pounds for his 
 good behavior for a year and a day." 
 
 Here is incidental proof that these colonists, 
 who are represented as devoid of law and relig- 
 ion, and of learning, had laws against profanity, 
 and requiring the observance of the Lord's Day, 
 as early as 1 7 1 8 ; and that these laws were en- 
 forced against any "lawless and vile fellows" who 
 might come into the Province, and offend against 
 them. But our ancestors failed in the matter 
 of hanging witches, and selling Quakers, and 
 are voted ignorant and irreligious. 
 
 Tiie proceedings on an indictment for ' 'forcible 
 
THE COLONIAL PERIOD. 
 
 entry and trespass," are given by Hawks, un- 
 der date of 1729. And of the same date there 
 is the written refusal of the Governor to sign a 
 death warrant on account of informaHties in the 
 trial. 
 
 Numerous specimens are given of the sen- 
 tences of the Court for theft, and similar offences, 
 in which the lash was generally brought into 
 requisition. 
 
 Some pages are devoted to the Records of 
 the Chancery Court, during the early period of 
 colonial history, prior to 1730; but the foregoing 
 must suffice. 
 
 It is probable that the as.sailant of the good 
 name of the State may have deduced many of 
 his conclusions from the following remark of the 
 elder Josiah Quincey, which he recorded in his 
 Memoir. That gentleman passed through east- 
 ern North Carolina in the Spring of 1773, and 
 was greatly pleased with the character and spirit 
 of the people, all along his route. He was es- 
 pecially pleased with the gentlemen he met at 
 Wilmington, where he spent some daj's. He 
 mentions with honor several whose names have 
 come down to us. Passing on further north, he 
 states, under date of April 5th, that he "break- 
 fasted with Colonel Buncombe[in Tyrrell County] 
 who waited upon me to Edenton Sound, and 
 gave me letters to his friends there. Spent this 
 and the ne.xt day in crossing Albemarle Sound, 
 and in dining and conversing in company with 
 the most celebrated lawyers of Edenton." 
 [Among these lawyers were, doubtless, Samuel 
 Johnston, who, a few years later was chosen to 
 the office of President of the Continental Con- 
 gress, which he declined ; but became Governor 
 of the State, and a United states Senator. Mr. 
 Quincey more than likely met, also, James Ire- 
 dell, who afterwards became a Justice of the 
 Supreme Court of the United States.] Mr. 
 Quincey continues : "From them I learned that 
 Dr. Samuel Cooper of Boston, was generally 
 (they said universally) esteemed the author of 
 "Leonidas," who, together with " Mucius 
 
 Scaevola, " was burnt in effigy under the gallows, 
 by the common hangman." And here follows 
 the misleading remark of Mr. Quincey, which a 
 person, entirely ignorant of the history, and of 
 most other things, might be excused for taking 
 as conclusive proof that North Carolina, prior 
 to the Revolution, never had any laws or courts, 
 although she possessed "celebrated lawyers." 
 Mr. Quincey says: "There being no courts of 
 any kind in this Province, and no laws in force 
 by which any courts could be held, I found little 
 inclination or incitement to stay long in I'Menton, 
 though a pleasant town." 
 
 This statement was literally true at that day 
 and date ; but the circumstances which brought 
 about the peculiar state of things, being well 
 understood throughout the colonies, Mr. Quincey 
 did not stop to explain them. They constituted 
 one of the most serious grievances against which 
 the people of the Province had long had reason 
 to complain of the Crown and Government of 
 Great Britain. The explanation is as follows: 
 For more than twenty years a struggle had been 
 going on between the Assembly on the one side 
 and the Governor and Council, appointed by 
 and impelled by the Sovereign, on the other, in 
 regard to the constitution of the courts, Supe- 
 rior and Inferior. 
 
 The Crown insisted on the appointment and 
 removal of the Judges, at pleasure, and to im- 
 port them from Great Britain, while the Assem- 
 bly was required to provide them fi.xed and lib- 
 eral salaries. 
 
 The Assembly resisted this unjust pretension, 
 and insisted that lawyers resident in the Colony 
 should alone be appointed to Judgeships over 
 them ; that their tenure of ofifice should be per- 
 manent, and that their salaries should depend 
 upon the free offering of the Assembly from 
 year to year. 
 
 This controversy dated back to the middle of 
 the century. An act of the Assembly of 1754, 
 for the regulation or reorganization of the courts 
 had never received the royal sanction, and at 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 length, after it had been in force for several years, 
 it was annulled, or vetoed. In 1760 a new 
 court act was adopted, which provided, among 
 other things, that no person should be appointed 
 a Justice of the Superior Court, unless he had 
 been regularly called to the degree of an outer 
 barrister in some of the luiglish Inns of Court; 
 unless he were of five years standing, and had 
 practiced law in the principle Courts of Judica- 
 ture of the Province. The act also required 
 that the commissions of the Judges should run 
 during good behavior. 
 
 The Governor, Dobbs, held that the clause 
 defining the qualifications of the Judges, was 
 an unconstitutional restraint on the King's pre- 
 rogative, almost precludeing the appointment of 
 any one from England ; and that the clause de- 
 fining the tenure of the Judges was at variance 
 with the principle of keeping all great colonial 
 officers under a strict subordination to, and de- 
 pendence on the Crown. 
 
 The Assembly plead earnestly with the Gov- 
 ernor, alleging the necessity for courts of Justice 
 and the sacredness of the right they contended 
 for. They were, indeed, fighting over again the 
 parliamentary battles of Hampden and Tyni, 
 for regulated liberty; and they fought them with 
 a courage, an intelligence, and a dignity worthy 
 of the cause. They were fighting just such 
 battles as Massachusetts had fought throughout 
 her whole history, and which constitute her 
 chiefest glory. 
 
 As illustrative of the Crown officials in the 
 Province, and as throwing further light upon the 
 causes which provoked the Regulation move- 
 ment, I will be excused for presenting more 
 fully, the nature of this controversy between the 
 people and their imported rulers. 
 
 Of the new court system, which was intro- 
 duced and passed in the Assembly which met 
 at Wilmington, November 20, 1759, Martin 
 says that it provided for the establishment of a 
 court of king's bench and common pleas. It 
 forbade the Chief Justice to receive any part of 
 
 the fees of the clerks, which seems to have been 
 an unauthorized practice of that eminent person 
 — or rather, of one or more persons who had 
 held the office. The Council, which was ap- 
 pointed by the Crown, would not consent to the 
 passage of the bill until this prohibition was ex- 
 punged, which that body held to be derogatory 
 of the dignity of the Chief Justice. The Assem- 
 bly replied that '' tlic practice zvliich had hitherto 
 prevailed of the Chief Justice exacting from the 
 Clerks a considerable proportion of their legal fees, 
 had been one cause of their being guilty of great 
 extortions, whereby the Superior Courts had be- 
 come scenes of great oppression, and the con- 
 duct of the Chief Justice and Clerks, a subject 
 of universal complaint, ,);hey admitted that the J 
 late Chief Justice, Peter Henly (whose death 
 was lamented by all who wished to see the hand 
 of Government strengthend, the laws duly exe- 
 cuted and justice impartially administered) from 
 a pious sense of the obligations of his oath, had 
 conformed to the act of 1748, for regulating 
 officers fees, but they thought themselves bound 
 in duty to their constituents to provide against 
 the pernicious effects of a contrary conduct." 
 
 On this and other grounds of disagreements 
 the two Houses did not come to terms, and the 
 bill failed. At the ne.Kt session the Assembly 
 passed a court bill not materially different from 
 that of 1759. It was sent up accompanied by 
 an address, in which its importance to the welfare 
 of the Province was urged. 
 
 But the Governor, who was very anxious to 
 have an aid bill passed, in compliance with a 
 demand by the Crown, for the prosecution of 
 the war against the French and Indians, temper- 
 ized while urging the paramount duty of passing 
 that measure. The Assembly prepared an ad- 
 dress or petition to the King, in which the griev- 
 ances of the Colony were strongly set forth, and 
 tile great importance of the "court law " was 
 urged. 
 
 In the same address, serious complaints were I 
 
 made against the Governor, Dobbs, who, it was j 
 
THE COLONIAL PERIOD. 
 
 charged had appointed corrupt and incompetent 
 men to office. 
 
 No agreement was reached and the Superior 
 Court bill was rejected. 
 
 An act, however, was passed, for establishing 
 county courts, accompanied by a provision for 
 the support of the clergy ; and this was sanc- 
 tioned. 
 
 The Governor then prorogued the Assembly, 
 from the 23d to the 26th of May; when he again 
 called on that body to pass a Superior Court 
 bill, and grant an aid to the King. These meas- 
 ures were accordingly adopted ; and the Gover- 
 nor gave his sanction to the "Court law" on the 
 condition that if the King did not confirm it 
 within two years from the loth of November 
 following, it was to be null and void. 
 
 In December, 1 761, the Lords Comm'ssioners 
 of Trade and Plantations, laid the Court laws, 
 passed in May of the preceding year, before the 
 King and Council, asking the royal disallowance 
 and repeal ; and accordingly the act was annulled. 
 The Governor was severely censured for allow- 
 ing it to go into operation before it received the 
 royal sanction. 
 
 In 1762, a Superior Court law, temporary in 
 its character, was agreed upon by the two Houses, 
 and was permitted to go into operation. The 
 Assembly still maintained its position of with- 
 holding permanent salaries from the Judges. In 
 1764, the Act was renewed, or extended; and 
 in 1767, a new Act was passed, and limited to 
 five years duration. The County Court law was 
 also renewed, and continued for the same period. 
 These laws would therefore expire in 1772 — 
 
 probably at the close of that year ; and hence it 
 was that Mr. Quincey, in February, 1773, was 
 correct in saying, that there were "no Courts of 
 any kind in the Province, and no laws in force 
 by which they could be held." The people of 
 all the Colonies were aware of this state of things 
 and the reason for it, and hence he deemed it 
 unnecessary to explain them. A man of ordi- 
 nary intelligence, and especially one who assumes 
 the office of historical critic — even at a distance 
 of a century — should have, at least surmised as 
 much. 
 
 The remark quoted from Mr. Bancroft, on a 
 preceding page, that whoever doubts the capac- 
 ity of man for self-government, should study 
 the early history of North Carolina, was made 
 with reference to the people of the Albemarle 
 settlement during the Proprietary Government ; 
 but its truth receives additional, and even fuller, 
 illustration, in the subsequent career of the Col- 
 onists, when they had spread over a territory as 
 large as the Mother Countiy, and laid the foun- 
 dations of a great State. No true man can read 
 that history without admiring the courage, and 
 the unconquerable firmness, exhibited under the 
 most trying circumstances with which they vin- 
 dicated their rights as men. The whole history 
 of the Province, from 1663 to 1776, Was a strug- 
 gle of the people against arbitrary power and 
 corrupt administrative officers ; and people of 
 the present day who imagine that Colonial de- 
 pendence in the 17th and i8th centuries was an 
 easy yoke to bear, only show their ignorance of 
 the history ot that period. 
 

 t^^^^^^"^ 
 
GERMANS IN CABARRUS. 
 
 ^^^^^^^^S'^'^^^^r^^ 
 
 EARLY GERMAN SETTLERS IN EASTERN CABARRUS COUNTY. 
 
 X 
 
 An Address of Gen. Rufus Barringer, delivered at the Lutheran Commemoration in Concord, 
 
 N. C, November loth, 1883.* 
 
 From a variety of causes, so far as I can 
 learn, not a record exists exactly fixing the 
 date of the first German settlement in this 
 section of North CaroUna, nor has a single pen 
 told the story of the wanderings of our Ger- 
 man fathers nor the part they bore in our 
 early wars. 
 
 Less than five generations liave passed away 
 since these German fathers first struck the 
 banks of the Cold Water and Dutch Bufialo 
 Creeks. Yet who, in this large assembly can 
 tell when, whence, why, and. how these hardy 
 pioneers came ? If direct from Europe, what 
 part ? If from or through Pennsylvania, what 
 County? What routes did they travel ? When 
 and where was the first settlement made ? 
 }2<.\d especially what were their peculiar char- 
 acteristics ? Did they have any distinct reli- 
 gious creed ? Any known political polity ? 
 How did they bear themselves in the nume- 
 rous Indian and other early wars? Especially 
 in the great rexolutionary struggle for free- 
 dom and independence, what troops did they 
 furnish ? What sufterings and losses did they 
 endure, and what sacrifices did they make for 
 the cause ? Who were Whigs and who Tories ? 
 All interesting questions ; the very doubt 
 
 *Tlie reader should reraemlier tliat many of these 
 remarks were local and personal aud uuderstood by 
 the audience only. 
 
 and confusion in wliich they are shrouded 
 greatly embarrasses one. I shall, therefore, 
 rather seek to excite interest and enquiry into 
 the subject before us than undertake to decide 
 or debate disputed issues. If I .should chance 
 to fall into errors of any kind, I will be only 
 too glad to be fully and promptly corrected. 
 My great aim is historic truth. 
 
 Before proceeding to the main enquiries, it 
 is proper to disabuse the popular mind of cer- 
 tain prejudices in regard to the so-called 
 Dutch or Germans, generally, of this country 
 and more particularly as regards the religious 
 faith and fighting, or rather non-resisting 
 tenets, of certain Teutonic sects amongst us. 
 
 It is true that many of the earlier Dutch and 
 German colonists were non-armbearing secta- 
 rians, such as the Mennonites in Pennsylva- 
 nia, the Moravians here in North Carolina, and 
 the Saltzbergers in Georgia. But there were 
 none amongst our Germans. From the days 
 of Braddock's defeat and the advent of Maj. 
 George Washington, down to the last battle 
 under Gen. Robert E. Lee, our Dutch have 
 proved a most pugnacious set. 
 
 Then, again, the first German settlers are 
 constantly confounded with Hessians, who 
 fought against us, and numbers of whom, after 
 the revolution, found an asylum in this coun- 
 try, and were not unwelcome. 
 
xl 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The facts are these : The Hessian contin- 
 gents of George III came from a region, 
 and were rait^ed at a time, when the bulk of 
 the common people, the world over, were lit- 
 tle better than beasts of burden for their 
 rulers. The Swiss Guards were not the only 
 mercenaries. They, too, came from the only 
 Republic of Europe. But these Hessians hap- 
 pened to be mostly Protestants. The mar- 
 velous light, of Luther's teachings had struck 
 deep into even their dark minds. General 
 Washington, with that tact and wisdom pecu- 
 liarly his own, readily saw this, and ventured 
 to turn it to account. He accordingly man- 
 aged, when any of these Hessian soldiers were 
 captured, to send them off into the interior of 
 the country, and quarter them upon the 
 soundest German settlements. In this way 
 many of them were very naturally left in 
 America. Or if exchanged, they had but to 
 take the chances of war. to release them fi-om 
 their military oaths and obligations. This 
 happened, notabl^v, at the siege and surrender 
 of Savannah, and under the articles of Peace 
 1782, when hundreds of these Protestant Hes- 
 sians chose to remain in this land of liberty, 
 and enjoy the untold blessings they were sur- 
 prised to find here. They very sensibly sought 
 their German countrymen, who knew the facts 
 of their case, and who pitied their forlorn con- 
 dition. As a well-known circumstance, they 
 almost universally make good citizens — strik- 
 ingly faithful to every trust and obligation. 
 Hence they soon intermarried with other clas- 
 ses, and thus it happens that hundreds of those 
 now before me, are the descendants of the once 
 "Hated Hessians." 
 
 But I have lately obtained information quite 
 curious in regard to these Hessian contingents: 
 At the very time that George III. was gath- 
 ering up his foreign levies, to help to conquer 
 us, Silas Deane, the American Commissioner 
 in Germany, was offered large numbers of the 
 
 same people to fight for us; and only an acci- 
 dent and a scarcity of money defeated the 
 scheme.* 
 
 Another class of German immigrants who 
 entered largely into our population of foreign 
 descent, and who are commonly thought to 
 have cast a stain on the name of freedom, 
 were the so-called Redemptioners — a term now 
 well nigh obsolete in popular speech — but once 
 indicating a body of immigrants, who took an 
 eventful part in the development of this New 
 World. The term was first used in connection 
 with white indentured apprentices. It was af- 
 terwards applied to a large class of very poor 
 emigrants, who could not pay their passage- 
 money to America in cash down ; but who 
 were willing to enter into contracts of limited 
 service, on their arrival here, in order tore-im- 
 burse the funds advanced for that purpose. 
 
 Still again, it was an artful scheme often re- 
 sorted to, by the down -trodden of Europe, to 
 escape the thraldom of feudal bondage. 
 
 Some of our first German settlers no doubt 
 belonged to all of these three different classes 
 of redemptioners. A few of the most promi- 
 nent pioneers certainly came in the way last 
 indicated. 
 
 The story of the wrongs, the sufferings, the 
 trials and troubles of these humble heroes, is 
 so full of interest and instruction, nay of sub- 
 lime courage and christian fortitude, that I 
 pause to explain it. The facts, too, slied a re- 
 flected light on the mooted and somewhat mys- 
 terious question of where these first adventu- 
 rous Germans came from, and of tlieir national 
 characteristics. 
 
 In one of the quiet out-lying districts of 
 Wiirtemburg, the traveller now sees standing 
 a plain stone pyi-araid, erected by the peasants 
 of German}- in 1789, as a monument to Prince 
 Charles Frederick of that Duchy, for his vol- 
 
 *[See American Archives— series 5,— (1779), vol. III. 
 page 887.] 
 
GERMANS IN CABARRUS. 
 
 xli 
 
 uutaryaliolitioii (if sorl'dom in that year. And 
 its simple history is this: 
 
 The thunder of Luther's tire struck deep and 
 fast into tlie hearts of the peasantry chiss, as 
 you have heard liere to-day. This resulted in 
 all sorts of insurrectionarj' outhreaks, which had 
 to be put down hy force. This stayed sonie- 
 wliat the progress of the reformation and 
 grieved Luther, But the mighty work Avent 
 on and soon the minds and consciences of men 
 Itecame comparativelj' free. And yet it was 
 a long time before the light of political truth 
 reached the prerogatives of power and property. 
 At that time very few, if any, of the peasant 
 class, as such, could hold real estate in Central 
 Europe. On the contrary, they themselves 
 were often bought and sold with the land they 
 worked, and had to serve their landlords a 
 certain number of days each week, the year 
 round, and all through life. The Protestant 
 peasants, naturally enough, became restive un- 
 der such hard and cruel restraints and restric- 
 tions. And they ere long sought in every pos- 
 sible way to avoid and escape them. This was 
 next to impossible to do, and still remain in the 
 country. But to flee their homes was also ex- 
 tremely hazardous. The law of expatriation 
 was not then fully recognized, and all sorts of 
 treaty stipulations and alliances provided for 
 their recapture, return to slavery, and, usually, 
 a barbarous beating besides. But go they 
 would, and their safest course was stealth, un- 
 der this scheme of indentured apprenticeships. 
 In this way, the young men could gradually re- 
 move themselves from one State or province to 
 another, and little noticed, reach a seaport; and 
 so escape to America or some other foreign 
 country where life, liberty, limb and land were 
 somewhat free. To us of this enlightened age 
 and free republican government, it is simply 
 incredible that such a state of things should 
 have existed in any Christian country, espec- 
 ially in the English colonies, less than one hun- 
 
 dred and fifty years ago. But so it was. White 
 men not only indentured themselves as ap- 
 prentices, but gladh' sold their persons into 
 long but limited slaverj', for the blessed privi- 
 lege, or chance of escaping feudal serfdom. 
 But listen while I read this advertisement 
 from an old Philadelphia newspaper, Tlw Arn^r 
 icnii Mn-i-urji, of date November 28, 1728: 
 
 "Just arrived from London, in the ship Bor- 
 den, Williani llurbert, connnander, a parcel of 
 young likel}' Men Servants, consisting of Hus- 
 bandmen, Joyners, Shoemakers, Weavers, 
 Smiths, Brickmakers, Bricklayers, Sawyers, 
 Tailors, Staymakers, Butchers, Chairmakers, 
 and several other trades, and are to be sold 
 vei-y reasonable, either for ready monej',wheat, 
 bread or flour, by Edward Home, Philadel- 
 phia." 
 
 Amoiiir the classes thus named were, no 
 doubt, the ancestors of many now high in the 
 Free Citizenship of this great country, and 
 possibly the ancestors of some of those present 
 here to-day.* 
 
 After the American revolution, the exodus 
 from Europe under this process was enormous; 
 so much so as almost to depopulate certain 
 German States and countries, notably "Wur- 
 temberg, where serfdom was so absolute and 
 grinding. Then it was, in 1789, that the 
 reigning Grand Duke, Prince Charles Frede- 
 rick, rose to the supreme height of voluntarilj- 
 abolishing all serfdom in his dominions. And 
 
 *It wa.s tlie liDiicst boast of the di.stiiiKuislied John 
 Covode, of Pennsylvania, "tliat his fatlicr liad been 
 held as a Kedcniptioner." 
 
 John Reed, tlie discoverer and tirst owner of tlie fa- 
 mous "Reed gold mine" in Cabarrus County, was one 
 of the Hessians of the RcvohUionary war. He died a 
 wealtliy man, but did not know, wlien he found the 
 lirst lump of fiohl, wliat it was or what it was worth. 
 Nor did he know until he was more tliaii eiffhty years 
 old that he had a right to citizensliip in thi.s country. 
 He was naturalized at Concord about 1843. For tlic 
 discovery of the Reedf;old mine, see Wheeler's History 
 of North Carolina, Vol. H, page 64. 
 
xlii 
 
 WHEELEK'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 in return, a grateful Protestant peasantry 
 cheerful!}' erected this simple monument to 
 his memory. Wurtemburg again prospered; 
 population grew and she soon became a king- 
 dom. 
 
 In all this may be noticed the marked char- 
 acteristics of the German mind and temper. 
 According to their light, the German Princes 
 generally had a fatherly love for their people, 
 and the latter, ever reverential and grateful, ac- 
 cepted the great boon conferred by Providence 
 not in a spirit of fanatical pride and resent- 
 ment, but as a gracious concession and bless- 
 ing. 
 
 And what may seem strange to us, as touch- 
 ing this custom of voluntary slavery, no sense 
 of degradation seems to have attached to it. 
 It simply shows that parties resorting to it, 
 were in dead earnest to reach the goal of free- 
 dom, and meant real work and business. As 
 just and proper labor contracts, such inden- 
 tures were almost invariably carried out in 
 good faith by all parties concerned. 
 
 For one, therefore, I rather commend the 
 patient fortitude, the unfaltering faith and 
 courage, and the Christian tidelity, with which 
 certain of the redemptioners worked their 
 way to the fertile fields of the Cold Water 
 and Buflalo Creeks. As the darkest shades 
 often reflect the most beautiful tints; and as 
 the purest gold is usually found in the rough- 
 est rock, so the finest characters are always 
 evolved through the severest trials and tribula- 
 tions. We are the more perfect through 
 suffering. Our Redemptioner fore-fathers 
 had realized in their own persons the inestim- 
 able privileges and blessings they had come so 
 far, and at such fearful risks and sacrifices, to se- 
 cure. The sequel will show that when the day 
 of trial came, and they were called upon to 
 fight for their dear-bought benefits, they were 
 equal to every emergency. 
 
 The first Germans known to have reached 
 
 this immediate section, now called the Dutch 
 Side, consisted of three young farmers — all 
 foreigners and probably all three Redemption- 
 ers. One certainly was, and he the best 
 known, a man in fact, of rare strength of will, 
 and singular force of character. He was a 
 native of Wurtemburg ; left therewith the 
 consent of his father, in his 21st year; tarried 
 a while in Hanover; finally sailed from Rotter- 
 dam in the ship Phcenix, and landed at Phila- 
 delphia Sept. 30th, 1743. He had some edu- 
 cation but no money or friends. He left home 
 and country, because he was not allowed to 
 buy or hold real property. His term of ser- 
 vice was three years; but he worked so well, 
 and faithfully, that he managed, some way, to 
 make favor with his master, and wiped the 
 whole debt out in one short j^ear. Whether 
 he married his master's daughter, or some 
 other good Pennsylvania girl, it is not certain; 
 but she, too, was poor; and he often told, with 
 much glee that he got with her "just one sil- 
 ver dollar." 
 
 With this wife and two small children, and 
 accompanied by his two countrymen and 
 their little families, the youthful Redemption- 
 er, now free, set out from Pennsylvania, for 
 the rich region of the Yadkin and Catawba 
 — then the aim and end of the adventurous 
 immigrant. 
 
 When this trio of enterprising Germans* 
 started on their perilous march, the buffalo, 
 bear and the wolf still roamed our forests. 
 The savage Indian and the frontier French 
 often marked the camping grounds of the 
 lonely immigrant with the blood of slaughtered 
 innocents. They crossed the mountain ridges 
 and the flooded streams by following the old 
 buffalo trail, then known as the " Indian Trad- 
 ing Path." At last they reached the end of 
 their wanderings, and the}- safely forded the 
 
 * The names of these three pioneer Germans were 
 BaiTiuger, the grand-father of the speaker, Dry, 
 (Derr, and Smith. 
 
GERMANS IN CABARRUS. 
 
 xliii 
 
 broad and beautiful Yadkin at the "Trading 
 Ford," the sole memorial amongst us, of this 
 once famous "Indian Trading Path." But 
 here a new ditBculty beset these peaceful fugi- 
 tives from the land of the "Broad-brimmed 
 Quaker." The free and tolerant principles of 
 Penn had gathered into his Province, all the 
 odds and ends of civil and religious persccutioti, 
 the world over. Jarrings and conflicts na- 
 turally ensued ; notably, among the Scotch- 
 Irish and some of the quaint Mennonites of 
 that State. When our German friends crossed 
 the Yadkin, and began to cast their wistful 
 eyes over the wide plains and spreading prai- 
 ries of this lovely region, they were surprised 
 to find the Scotch-Irish just ahead of them. 
 
 The latter had occasional squatters, here 
 and there, on the choicest spots, especially on 
 its western borders, up and down the Catawba. 
 Our German Pilgrims had seen enough of strife 
 and resolved to "avoid all such." They ac- 
 cordingly abandoned the "Trading Path," just 
 east of the present site of Salisbury and 
 turned square to the left and followed the 
 right bank of the Yadkin, down towards the 
 lighter slate soils of that broken region. They 
 were however, not afraid of their Scotch-Irish 
 allies, in the mighty struggle to subdue the 
 wilderness and enter its broad acres. So they 
 gradually turned their steps to the better lands 
 above them, and iinally located on the high 
 ground between the present Cold Water and 
 Buffalo creeks. The exact spot was the old 
 Ovenshine place, near the Henry Propst home- 
 stead. 
 
 How long these people had resided in Penn- 
 sylvania does not appear — long enough, how- 
 ever, to have lost somewhat their native Ger- 
 man, and picked up, in its stead, that strange 
 but popular gibberish of all tongues, univer- 
 sally known as " Pennsylvania Dutch." Our 
 immigrants themselves were called Dutch. 
 They recognized the term and proceeded to 
 
 designate their surroundings accordingly. 
 Their nomenclature, however, was quite limi- 
 ted, and they usually followed nature. Hence 
 we have Big and Little Dutch Buffalo, Big 
 and Little Bear Creek, Big and Little Cold 
 Water, and Jenny Wolf Branch. Above and 
 west of them, was the English or Irish Buffalo, 
 and south was Johnson, now Rocky River. 
 
 This would seem to have been a long time 
 ago. Ours was then Bladen, or probably Pee 
 Dee County— a County never legally recog- 
 nized. But after all, it was only about one 
 hundred and forty years back — as near as I can 
 fix it — 1745-6. One hundred and forty years ! 
 Only the hfe-span of two or three of the stout 
 old German fathers. And yet what marked 
 and momentous changes have taken place 
 amongst us, in that eventful period ! IIow t 
 the panorama of history has crowded upon us, 
 in one short century and a half ! How slowly 
 time has passed ; and how utterlj' the foot- 
 prints of these wandering fathers have fled 
 from sight and memory ! They numbered 
 only three families, and their nearest neigh- 
 bors, on one side, were sparse settlers, in the 
 present limits of Popular Tent and Coddle 
 Creek, and on the other, the Highland Scotch 
 of the Pee Dee hills. But our wanderers were 
 uot long alone. 
 
 Soon the news of a goodly land flew back, 
 first to Pennsylvania, and then on to the far 
 off", struggling, toiling, teeming, millions of the 
 war-racked and priest-ridden Fatherland. 
 And now they poured in from all directions, 
 mainly still from and through Pennsylvania, 
 but often through Charleston and occasionally 
 through Wilmington, following the routes 
 along the high ridges dividing the principal 
 rivers. And it was thus, that this particular 
 section, embracing parts of the present Coun- 
 ties of Cabarrus, Rowan and Stanly, came to 
 be so rapidly settled, and almost exclusively by 
 Germans. Bv the time of tlie revolution, the 
 
xliv 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 " Dutch side" of old Mecklenburg was its most 
 densely peopled portion. 
 
 I here propose to correct a partial error, into 
 which many have fallen (at one time nij'self,) 
 in regard to the distinctive nationality of 
 these first German settlers. They are often 
 supposed to have come from the central and 
 northern parts of Germany, and sometimes 
 from the low countries of Europe. But I now 
 have ample proof that they came from the 
 upper or Castle Rhine regions — Wiirtemburg, 
 Baden, Bavaria, and the ancient Palatinate — 
 so mei'cilessl}' wasted by that grand ogre of 
 France — miscalled Louis the Great. It was 
 the fiercest and bloodiest of persecutions that 
 then desolated all this jtart of Southern Ger- 
 many, and scattered its honest, liberty loving, 
 intelligent, industrious Protestants to everv 
 quarter of the globe. And I am able to state 
 from positive knowledge, that the common 
 German names of this section, so numerous 
 amongst us to-day, are all now found in the 
 upper Rhine region, referred to, notably in 
 and around the skirts of the Black Forest and 
 its borders. 
 
 Our familiar name of Blackwelder (German, 
 Schwartzwalder) means not black wood, but a 
 Black Forester. So the names of Barnhart, 
 Barrier, Bost, Dry, Misenheisner, Pi'opst, Sides, 
 Bosheimer, Barringer, and hundreds of others 
 are there to-day. No doubt the emigrants, 
 and especially those escaping under the guise 
 of apiirenticcships or as indentured servants, 
 often stopped over in the countries through 
 which they passed, working their way along. 
 And it may liave served their purpose occas- 
 ionally, to hail from the Continental domin- 
 ions of the (Jcorges of England. But this 
 much is certain, very few of them were Dutch 
 proper, or natives of the low countries, or even 
 the level parts of (_Termauy. Onr first (^lerman 
 settlers, nearly all built their liouses on I'each- 
 ing here, on the high grounds, and often on 
 
 the tops of the hills, aftei' the castle times of > 
 their own rugged country-. Their removal to 
 the level lands and bottoms was afterwards. 
 But be that as it may, they came ; they came 
 to stay ; and that they did so, is fully proved 
 by the immense numbers of their descendants 
 here to-day, and the vast regions the "Dutcli 
 Side" has peopled elsewhere. They were a 
 hardy, healthful, handy race, self-reliant, self- 
 helpful, and they have made their mark 
 wlierever the^^ have struck. 
 
 The intellectual and religious cpuilities of 
 such a people were almost sure to be marked 
 and enduring. .Many of them had fought in 
 the battles of Europe ; others had left home 
 and country for conscience sake ; all had en- 
 dured toil, sufi:'ering and sorrow for the free- 
 dom they came so far to find. They learned 
 to live almost entirely within themselves. 
 Their wants were few and simple. Onl_y two 
 things seemed absolute essentials: (1.) In all 
 their wanderings — in shipwreck at sea, and in 
 storm on land ; in serfdom and in voluntaiy 
 slavery ; under the iron lieel of Power in 
 Europe, and in the boundless freedom of Amer- 
 ica — they clung to their Luther Bibles. With- 
 out any distinctive notions of formal creeds, 
 and profoundly indift'erent to the mere forms 
 of religion, they grasped the fundamentals of 
 the Bible as taught by Luther, and so they 
 lived and died. (2.) They tolerated no idlers 
 — no drones in either the Church, the State, or 
 the family. In fact, however, the family was 
 everything. With a proper start in the family, 
 all government was simple and easy. There 
 was an intense regard for all lawful authority. 
 The husband and father felt his responsibility 
 both to God and the powers that be. The 
 wife and mother was, indeed a help-meet, and 
 shared alike the joys and sorrows of the hus- 
 band. The young all worked, and grew up 
 trained and skilled in every ordinary labor and 
 handicraft. Both sexes were strong and act- 
 
GERMANS IN CABAERUS. 
 
 xlv 
 
 ive — monilly, mentally, and physically. The 
 men were manly, and the women matronly. 
 When trials and tioiihles canie, such people 
 knew lunv to meet thorn. They had, at last 
 found ik'liyhtful homes, and tasted the sweet 
 freedom they had so much loiiged for. And 
 when, therefore, they were summoned to de- 
 fend those homes and to vindicate the rights 
 and privileges they had secured, no people 
 ever responded more heroically. 
 
 I am ahle to show that these German sett Icrs 
 paiticipated in almost every expedition against 
 the Indians, and that they took a very active 
 part in the forced march of General Ruther- 
 ford against the Cherokees in 1776. A young 
 German was one of the very few killed in ac- 
 tion on that expedition." 
 
 It is not generally known that the settlers 
 of this section were ever disturbed by the 
 French enemy on our distant frontiers. But I 
 have here (holding it up,) a petition in 1756 
 to Grovernor Dobhs, from the Rowan and An- 
 son settlers, complaining (among other thmgs) 
 of the dangers that threaten them from the 
 "savage Indians in the interest of their French 
 allies." Also a curiously carved powder-horn 
 that was worn by Archibald Woodsides of 
 Coddle Creek, in one of the long and hazardous 
 marches against Fort Diiquesne. It has on it 
 a good description of '' Fort Pitt " and its pic- 
 turesque surroundings. The history of this 
 singular memorial of our early wars is, that the 
 owner chanced to meet in one of his marches 
 with German soldiers from this settlement, 
 and they persuaded him to return with them. 
 
 But I come now^ and chiefly to speak ot the 
 revolutionary services of the German fathers. 
 Here the evidence is full and complete. But, 
 unfortunately, it is only in old musty army 
 roUs, not accessible to the general public; and 
 no one has been found to tell the story of their 
 
 •Matthias Barriuger of the Catawba family. 
 
 deeds. But this was then the most populous 
 part of old Mecklenburg; and it was, fromiirst 
 to last, true, indeed, entirely unanimous in its 
 fidelity to the great cause of freedom and in- 
 dependence. 
 
 That the Germans do not figure iirominently 
 in the famous meetings at Charlotte, .May 20, 
 177.5, is not strange. Their settlement lay 
 mainly in the extreme limits of the old County, 
 with numerous intervening streams, and scarce- 
 ly any roads. They spoke a different language, 
 and uearl}' all their trade and travel was in 
 other directions — with Salisbury on the north, 
 with Cross-creek (now Fayetteville) on the 
 east, and Cheraw Hills and Camden, South 
 Carolina, to the south — the three last thriving 
 points at the head of navigation, on theii- re- 
 spective rivers, then a matter of vast import- 
 ance. But as a mere truth, the hopes of the 
 German settlement, then centered in one 
 leader, Lt. -Col. John Phifer. He was a Swi.ss 
 by descent. But all his ties and associations 
 were Gei-man. His mother was a Blackwelder 
 and his wife a Barringer. He was an un- 
 usually bright and promising man and soldier. 
 The meetings were held at the Phifer Red 
 Hill, three miles west of Concord. He was 
 their delegate to the immortal convention that 
 declared Independence, and his name so ap- 
 pears. But he died early in the struggle, and 
 in his youthful grave at the Red Hill seemed 
 to perish the hopes of his people. But not so. 
 Old and young continued to go forth to swell 
 the ranks of both the regular and irregular 
 forces. I have examined the Muster Rolls and 
 have extracts from them, and they clearly 
 show that in proportion to population the 
 Germans were very largely represented. On 
 the Pension Rolls for Cabarrus County in 1835, 
 of 21 revolutionary soldiers still drawing pen- 
 sions, 12 were Germans. And old men now 
 present will remember that when the "heroes 
 of 1776 " used to parade together at the 20th 
 
xlvi 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 of May and -ith of July celebrations, the 
 "Dutch Side " was always strong. At the last 
 of these parades in 1839, 5 out of 8 of those 
 present were of German blood. The Black- 
 welder family alone furnished eight tried sol- 
 diers to the cause. 
 
 The silence, therefore, of the Charlotte meet- 
 ings, and the absence of co-temporaneous his- 
 tory, as to the Dutch Side, is nothing against 
 it. 
 
 There is a story, too, which shows that the 
 Dutch had some other reason for not attempt- 
 ing to make an}' display in the Queen City. 
 It is, that on some military occasion, a Dutch 
 captain took his company over there, and, giv- 
 ing his commands in most emphatic Pennsyl- 
 vania Dutch, the Scotch-Irish laughed at him. 
 His company vowed to stand by their Captain, 
 and refused both collectively and individually 
 ever to go back to Charlotte again. In con- 
 firmation of this story I have here an old Mus- 
 ter Roll, and sure enough "Martin Fifer" is 
 the Captain ! Certain it is, too, that at a ver}' 
 early day the Dutch demanded a new County, 
 and at the first election, after Cabarrus was 
 cut off, Caleb Phifer (the son of Martin) and 
 John Paul Barringer were its highly honored 
 Commoners. So, probably, the creation of 
 tliis County is also due to the German element. 
 
 But there is another aspect of the Revolu- 
 tionary struggle, decidedly complimentary to 
 the Germans of old Mecklenburg, and adds a 
 new laurel to her crown. 
 
 The Dutch Side, from their isolated and re- 
 mote situation, might have easily stood aloof 
 from the conflict, and so, po.ssibly, have escaped 
 the losses and sufferings I am about to describe. 
 But they chose otherwise; and then, their 
 very location and seclusion exposed them to 
 the fiercest ravages of war. 
 
 Remember, then, the surroundings of this 
 German settlement. On its east the Scotch 
 Highlanders of the Cape Fear and Pee Dee 
 
 country, nearly all Loyalists, enabled the Brit- 
 ish to extend the royal rule up to the Narrows 
 of the Yadkin. On its south, at Cheraw and 
 Camden, were British posts. North of it? 
 across the Yadkin, Faiming and his infernal 
 crew roamed almost unmolested. While in 
 the Forks of the Yadkin, just above, the able 
 Toiy leader, Col. Samuel Bryan, held a well 
 organized regiment of 800 men. And then' 
 on several occasions the British army lay at 
 Charlotte (twice) and at Salisbury (once). 
 Now history shows just what might be ex- 
 pected in such a situation as this. While in. 
 deed, no great armies traversed this region, 
 it was greatly exposed because of its remote- 
 ness and isolation, to the more frightful depre- 
 dations of irregular and lawless bands of ma- 
 rauders and other desperadoes, passing to and 
 fro. It is a historical fact, that Col. Bryan 
 marched his whole Tory Regiment of 800 men 
 through the eastern end of this settlement, to 
 Cheraw, S. C, spreading fear and desolation 
 in all directions. It is equally true, that when 
 the British occupied Salisbury, several parties 
 of Tories and Royalists, from the east of Yad- 
 kin, sought to join Cornwallis, but were driven 
 back, mainly by Home Militia. 
 
 But the one expedition that still lives in 
 the memory of the Dutch Side, and never 
 fails to fire the German blood, even to this day, 
 was that organized by the Fanning men east 
 of the Yadkin; and crossing the river, swept 
 this German settlement in its whole length, 
 up and down the two Dutch Buffalos, and 
 thence on to the British post at Camden. S. C. 
 They robbed hundreds of Whigs,destroyed much 
 property in purest wantonness, and seized and 
 carried off to British prison, under most brutal 
 circumstances, more than twenty leading citi- 
 zens. In this number was Major James Smith, 
 of the then County of Rowan, (now Davidson,) 
 a regular officer at home, wounded, and Caleb 
 Blackwelder and his son-in-law, Jno. Paul 
 
GERMANS IN CABARRUS. 
 
 xlvii 
 
 Barringer, both old men — far past the military 
 age. Smith and several others died in prison 
 of small pox. Blackwelder and Barringer were 
 promised their release provided some mem- 
 ber of their families would come in person, 
 and make certain pledges as to their conduct. 
 No male of either family could risk the venture 
 when old Mrs. Blackwelder mounted her horse 
 and went herself to Camden, on the hopeless 
 errand. She failed in her object, and m its 
 stead, was the innocent means, through her 
 clothing, of spreading the small pox all over 
 the countr}' she passed, and far and near among 
 her friends at home. I need not tell this au- 
 dience, that these terrible events drew the 
 lines, once and for all, between Whig and 
 Tor}' in the whole Dutch settlement. Up to 
 that time, there had been no division what- 
 ever; no man who had ever taken protection, or 
 given the eneni}- any sort of aid or' comfort, 
 could stay on the Dutch side and live. Now 
 two individuals were charged with bad faith 
 or infidelity. One of them, Rufus Johnson, 
 who was no German, simply disappeared. The 
 other, Jacob Agner, was run out of the coun- 
 try and his valuable property — the present 
 House Mill — was confiscated. Of one or two 
 others there were vague suspicions of disloyalty, 
 or mean cringing in the hour of trial; and to 
 this day, their names are mentioned with bated 
 breath. 
 
 Such, ray friends, is the proud record of our 
 German ancestry. 
 
 I am glad of the occasion to paj' this just trib- 
 ute to their noble memory. Especially am I 
 happy to do so, on this day commemorative of 
 the immortal Luther. His fame belongs to all 
 mankind. But in its simple strength and en- 
 during might, it is strikingly reflected by the 
 unpretending life, and elasticity of German 
 character. And we here draw a most instruc- 
 tive and useful lesson. It marks the myster- 
 ious workings of an allwise Providence. 
 
 These people came here as poor, persecuted, 
 wandering exiles. But in all their wanderings, 
 they were an honest, sober, industrious, faith- 
 ful, jieaeeful, law-abiding. God-fearing, God- 
 serving and God-loving people. Against the 
 early Protestant peasantry of Southern Ger- 
 many scarcely aught has ever been said. Re- 
 specting just authority, and rendering proper 
 obedience themselves, they have everywhere 
 and under all circumstances, secured confidence 
 and consideration. Here, in this distant land, 
 and this secluded section, they are able to de- 
 velope" without contact Avith Um,t effeminate 
 degeneracies of the outside world, or the 
 dangerous tendencies of modern civilization. 
 You see the result in an enduring, expanding, 
 wide-spreading, self-reliant, and ever advanc- 
 ing community. They had, too, their sports 
 and amusements, their holidays and gala-days, 
 their Easter fun and Kris-Kingle frolics; but 
 under all, life had a serious, an intensely earn- 
 est aspect. Even their sports and amusements 
 partook rather of skill and labor, than dissipa- 
 tion and debauchery, such as quiltings, spin- 
 ning matches,corn-shucking, log-rolling, house- 
 raisings and the like; all tending to manly 
 vigor and modest woman-hood. In their out- 
 door hunts and games we discern the same 
 harmless tendencies. In an old unprinted 
 diary I have before me, kept by a sort of 
 trader and traveller of the revolutionary era, 
 I find the fox and deer skins came mainly from 
 tlie English and Irish, while the Dutch are 
 death on coons ! 
 
 In the family, especially, each and all felt the 
 responsibilities resting upon them. Old and 
 young had their assigned spheres and duties. 
 Male and female learned some test of skill, art 
 or handiwork. Life was not all one strain at 
 display, nor one round of frivolity and frolic. 
 There was in their family government a won- 
 derful combination of duty, devotion, and dis- 
 cipline, with proper rest and recreation. In a 
 
xlviii 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 word, the faniily with them, combined tlie all— seem to me to pander too much— greatly 
 
 State', the Church, and the School. And the too much— to the false sentimentalism of the 
 
 training was more in the family than in the day. 
 
 school. Again, see the result. They bought mv. is all sensation and pretense. Relig- 
 
 hut little, and sold nnich. They made no debts i,jn, morality, and the simple virtues of truth 
 
 or contracts they did not expect to pay or ex- and honesty are powerfully preached; but their 
 
 ccute. They scorned to live on the labor or fa- yjc'c/Zcr is much more doubtful. 
 
 vor of others. And as a consequence, they ^^.^j, ^^ .^^^j^| j^ ,,^, ^,j,^, means, imply that the 
 
 were a gallant, brave, and public-spirited com- ^i^.g^,e„aants of the early settlers of the "Dutch 
 
 munity. They and their descendants have ever j^j.^^,, j^.^^^ j^^ ,,,^y ^^^^.^ declined or deteriora- 
 
 stood to the front in the time of trial and 
 danger. In the war of 1812, in the .Mexican 
 war, and in the great Confederate conflict, 
 they rallied to the bugle-blast, in hundreds 
 and thousands. They have imt only main- 
 tained their ground at home, but they almost 
 peopled the regions round about them, and set- 
 tled, in turn, whole sections in distant States 
 and Territories. I honestly and tirraly believe 
 that much of this success and great pmspenty, 
 is eminently due to the sound, civil, religious, 
 and family training of the early fathers; and 
 that, under the providence of God, it has its 
 power and strength in their deei) devotion to 
 to the simple Protestant faith, as taught by 
 Luther. 
 
 But let it not be supposed, my friends, that 
 I have lost faith in our modern civilization, 
 and that I would live only in the past. On the 
 contrary, I believe implicitly in the progress 
 
 ted. On the contrary, while Germans are, 
 usually, not pretentious, or aml>itious of place 
 or position, these people have always and every- 
 where held their ground. And as a striking 
 fact, they have ever managed to get their full 
 share of the best land in the country. And I 
 am happy to learn from others, the evidence 
 of your good faith, energy and industry. A 
 distinguished judge, who has often ridden all 
 over the State, pronounces the tillage and 
 thiift of Mt. Pleasant region the best in North 
 Carolina. And a prominent Gentile physician 
 says the Dutch Side is still the best paying 
 people we have. My prayer is, that you may 
 go on m well-doing. Neither individuals or 
 communities can hope to prosper without these 
 virtues. And, withal, may you never cease 
 to cherish the memory of the Fathers, and 
 [iractice, as they did, the precepts of the pure 
 and lowly Jesus, as preached by the mighty 
 
 of human society. There is <M,ly one thing I j^^^^j^^^,^ ^^^^^ thunders are still shaking prin 
 
 dread: There is too much liberty-too much ^^^^^-^^^ kingdoms and crowns, and subduing 
 
 license and licentiousness. The home, the school, commonwealths and continents, 
 society, the State, and the Church — each and 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^S^^^^^y^^ 
 
I)K. EDWAia) WARKEN (BEY] 
 
 A BllHiHAl'HICAL tSKKTCU OF Dk. EhWAUK WaKHKN (Bey). 
 
 The eiiiiiieiuH' in his protVseion attained hy 
 Dr. Edward Warren (Boy) and the [ininii- 
 ncnce he has accjuired in tlie two hemispheres, 
 eonunends the following;- nmst interesting sketch 
 to the readers oY these Jiciniiiisi-iiins of Eiiiincut 
 N<rrtlt Curolinians, we make the following ex- 
 tract from the Medical Journal of North Caro- 
 lina; it has been enlarged and continued to date 
 of this puMiration, and is eminently tit to l)e 
 [(reserved in tliis foiin. • 
 
 Dr. Edward Warren (Bey) was horn in 
 Tyrrell County, North Carolina, on the 22nd 
 of January, 1828, of parents who emigrated 
 from Virginia, and who belonged to two of 
 the oldest and most distinguished families of 
 that State. His father, Dr. Wm. C. Warren, 
 was also a physician of eminence and a man of 
 unusual intelligence and purity of character. 
 
 When the subject of this sketch was only 
 four years of age, his father removed him with 
 his family to Edenton, North Carolina, where 
 the son was educated up to his sixteenth year, 
 when he was sent to the Fairfax Institute, 
 near Alexandria, Virginia; and two years af- 
 terwards to the University of Virginia. In 
 the latter institution he greatl}' distinguished 
 himself, having securg^ honors and diplomas 
 in many of its Academic Schools, aud having 
 graduated after a single course in its Medical 
 Department. In 1850 he delivered the vale- 
 dictory oration before the Jeflerson Society, 
 which was then esteemed the. /amor of the Col- 
 lege. 
 
 In 1851 he graduated in the Jefferson Medi- 
 cal College of Philadelphia, and whilst pursuing 
 Ids studies in that cit^, conceived the idea ofinjectin/j 
 '( solution of morphia under the s/dn for the relief 
 (f pain, using for the purpose a lancet-puncture,and 
 Anel's sifringe. In this mode of medication, he was 
 thirefore, four ijcars in advance of the inventor of 
 the htjpodermic stjringe. 
 
 This device was made the subject of a tliesis 
 prep;ired for presentation to the Faculty upon 
 applying for his degree, but one of tlie Pro- 
 fessors, to whom he had confided the idea, so 
 forcibly expressed the opinion that it was l)oth 
 chimerii'al and dangerous, that the tliosis was 
 witheld and another .substituted in its place. 
 
 Dr. Warren, however, soon after his grad 
 nation, found occasion to put ins idea into prac- 
 tical operation. 
 
 During the years of 1854 and 1855 he studied 
 medicine in Paris, where he formed an inti- 
 mate friendshiji with some of the leading 
 medical men of France, and occu[iied iiimself 
 by corresponding with Tltc Aim rii-an Jimnial 
 of M'dical Sciences, and other leading American 
 Medical Journals. 
 
 Returning to America in the summer oi' 
 1855, he settled as a practitioner in Edenton, 
 X. C, where he soon accpiired an extended 
 reputation, both as a physician and as a sur- 
 geon. In 1856 he delivered the annual address 
 before the State Medical Society, which was 
 most favorably received, and also obtained 
 the "Fiske Fund Prize" for an essay on the 
 "Effects of Pregnancy on the Development of 
 Tuberculosis," which was subsequently pub- 
 lished in book form, and has ever since been 
 regarded as a leading work on the subject. 
 
 In 1857 he was elected editor of the Med- 
 ical Journal of North Carolina; made a mem- 
 ber of the Gynaecological Society of Boston ; 
 and chosen a delegate from the American Med- 
 ical Society of Paris to the American Medical 
 Association. 
 
 On the 16th of November of the same year, 
 he married Miss Elizabeth Cotten Johnstone, 
 of Edenton, a lady of rare beauty and most 
 lovely character. By referring to Wheela-'s Eis- 
 tori/ of North Carolina, it will also be seen that 
 the Johnstones are directly descended tVom 
 
1 
 
 WHEELER'S REMESriSCENCES. 
 
 two Royal Governors of the Colonj- , Gabriel 
 and Saml. Johnstone, who were cousins and the 
 representatives of the Cadet branch of the 
 family of Annandale in the Peerage of Scotland. 
 
 In 1860 he was elected Professor of Materia 
 Medica and Therapeutics in the University of 
 Maryland; first Vice-President of the Conven- 
 tion to revise the Pharmacopcea of the United 
 States; and a member of the Committee on 
 Literature of the American Medical Associa- 
 tion. He at once acquired an enviable reputa- 
 tion in the city of Baltimore as a graceful, 
 fluent and able lecturer. 
 
 In 1861 he joined his fortunes with those of 
 the South, and was, successively. Chief Sur- 
 geon of the Navy of North Carolina: a mem- 
 ber of the Board to examine candidates for ad- 
 mission into the Medical Staft' of the Confed- 
 erate Army; Medical Director of the Depart- 
 ment of the Cape Fear; Chief Medical Inspec- 
 tor of the Department of Northern Virginia 
 (Gen Lee's Army;) and Surgeon-General of 
 the State of North Carolina. 
 
 Two of these positions were conferred upon 
 him on the field of battle as rewards for per- 
 sonal courage and professional work. At the 
 battle of New Berne, although at that time on 
 medical board duty at Goldsborough, Dr. 
 Warren volunteered his services and remained 
 under fire with the wounded, under circum- 
 stances of peculiar difiiculty and danger. For 
 this he was made Medical Director of the De- 
 partment of Cape Fear. 
 
 Upon the battle-field of Mechanicsville, in 
 1862, while again acting as volunteer surgeon, 
 he was verbally appointed by Gen. Lee, Med- 
 ical Director of the Army of Northern Vir- 
 ginia; but knowing that Surgeon Guild, who 
 ranked him, was but a few rods distant, Dr. 
 "Warren called the General's attention to the 
 fact, and Surgeon Guild was made Medical 
 Director, and upon his immediate suggestion 
 Dr Warren was retained as Medical Inspector. 
 
 By a special act of the Legislature of North 
 Carolina his rank as chief medical officer of the 
 State was raised from that of ''Colonel" to that 
 of "Brigadier-General;" for "devoted and effi- 
 cient services rendered to the sick and wound- 
 ed." He tvas also chosen by the Legislature one 
 of the Trustees of the University of North Car- 
 olina. 
 
 During the war he wrote a work entitled 
 "Surgery for Field and Hospital," which passed 
 through two editions. Auiong many other 
 valuable suggestions ^hich this book contained, 
 was that for the treatment of "retracting flaps 
 and conical stump," by means of extension 
 with "adhesive strap, with cord and weight"- 
 a procedure which is now vei'y widely adopted, 
 and the origination of which, after much dis- 
 cussion in the journals, both at home and 
 abroad, has been finally conceded to Dr. War- 
 ren. 
 
 This method was put into practical opera- 
 tion in the hospital of the University of Vir- 
 ginia, as early as August, 1861, whereas Dr. 
 Hodges, of St. Louis, who alone seriously dis- 
 puted the priority, finally and very courteously 
 acknowledged Dr. Warren's claim, stating that 
 his own first use of the method was in 1863. 
 
 Subsequently, in a controversy conducted 
 in the London Lancet, the claims were again 
 settled in Dr. Warren's favor, by the publica- 
 tion of an extract upon the .subject taken from 
 the book which had been published during the 
 war. 
 
 In the summer of 1865, Dr. Warren re*- 
 turned to Baltimore, ruined in fortune by the 
 results of the war, and expecting to resume his 
 Professorship in the University of Maryland. 
 A refusal to return the chair to Dr. Warren 
 furnished sufficient ground for legal proceedings 
 by mandamus or quo warranto, but in view of 
 the ruined fortunes of the contestants and of 
 the financial and social influence of the Fac- 
 ulty, the suit promised to oe a protracted one. 
 
t>R. EDWARD WAEREN (BEY). 
 
 U 
 
 and as the practical benefits to be gained in 
 the event of success were so small, it was con- 
 cluded not to resort to the Courts but to leave 
 the issue to public opinion, which it was 
 thought fully sustained Dr. Warren. 
 1; Then came one of the most brilliant efforts 
 
 in the life of the subject of our sketch. Under 
 his direction the Washington University Med- 
 ical School was revived, rising like a phcenix, 
 putting itself at once on a plane with the old 
 University, which in the effort to maintain its 
 lead made fundamental changes in its man- 
 agement and in the pcrsoiuui of its Faculty. 
 
 Dr. Warren filled the chair of Surgery in 
 the Washington College with great brilliancy , 
 and became the idol of the large number of stu- 
 dents who resorted annually to the school. 
 
 When a law was passed creating a board 
 for the examination and registration of the 
 physicians of the State, he was made a mem- 
 ber of it. He was also elected Vice-Presi- 
 dent of the Medico-Chirvirgical Society of 
 Maryland. In 1868 he established The Med- 
 ical Bulleti7i^a journal which obtained an ex- 
 tensive circulation. 
 
 In 1872 he appeared as principal medical ex- 
 pert for the defense in the celebrated Whar- 
 ton trial. The circumstances of this trial were 
 full of absorbing interest, it being characterized 
 by great divergence of professional opinion 
 among the physicians and chemists engaged in 
 
 it. 
 
 General Ketchum was an eccentric old bach- 
 elor who died in the house of his friend, Mrs. 
 Wharton, a lady of wealth and high social po- 
 sition. He was attended during his short ill- 
 ness by a physician whose line of treatment 
 was somewhat varied, but who, although he 
 did not arrive at a positive diagnosis, for some 
 cause requested that an autopsy should be per- 
 mitted. A thorough examination was not 
 made of the rachidean and cranial cavities, and 
 some of the abdominal viscera^^was submitted 
 
 to an antiquated chemist, who, after a very 
 slovenly analysis, pronounced the presence of 
 antimony, and upon this an indictment was 
 found against Mrs. Wharton. Dr. Warren was 
 then requested, "in the interest of truth and 
 justice," to examine the medical testimony 
 taken by the grand jury, and he promptly de- 
 clared that the symptoms described by the at- 
 tending physicians and nurses were more typ- 
 ical of a certain form of cerebro-spinal menin- 
 gitis than of antimonial poisoning. Resting 
 upon this, and upon the evidence of tlic in- 
 sufficiency of the chemical analysis, the de- 
 fense went to trial, with the result of a prompt 
 verdict in favor of the accused. 
 
 Dr. Warren acquitted himself with great dis- 
 tinction on the witness stand, receiving con • 
 gratulations and moral support from a host of 
 medical men both at home and abroad ; and 
 although he had opposed to him a number of 
 gentlemen of recognized professional ability, it 
 was conceded on all sides that he came off with 
 the advantage, his testimony — which was bril- 
 liant in the opportunity for retorts afforded by 
 the cross-examination — losing none of its force 
 from the assaults of the experts for the prose- 
 cution. This is fully borne out by letters and 
 telegrams spontaneously sent to Dr. Warren, 
 after the trial, by Dr. Fordyce Barker, of New 
 York, Dr. Stevenson, of London, and many 
 other prominent medical men, and even by the 
 Hon. A. K, Syester, Attorney-General for the 
 State of Maryland, who personally conducted 
 the prosecution of the case. Support, so un- 
 solicited, and from such unbiassed sources, 
 speaks volumes for the acumen and ability of 
 Dr. Warren. Those from the medical men are 
 all uniform in declaring that Gen. Ketchum's 
 symptoms could not have been caused by tar- 
 tar emeticjbut more resembled those of cerebro- 
 spinal meningitis; and the letters received 
 from chemists declare that the chemical evi- 
 dence for the State utteriy "broke down. 
 
Hi 
 
 WHEELER'S REMmiSCENCES. 
 
 While the limits of this sketch do not permit 
 the publication of these comninnications, it 
 seems appro))riate to reproduce the following 
 extract from a letter from Professor Fordyce 
 Barker, who is so favorably known for his high 
 personal character and great professional learn- 
 ing and ability: 
 
 "In all my long experience I have never met with 
 anything which displayed move thorough research 
 and sounder logical reasoning than tlie testimony 
 wliicli you have just given in the W'haiton-Ketcliuni 
 case; aiid I am sure that iulelligent, tliinkiug men, 
 both in and out ot tlie profession, will agree witli me 
 in Ihis (i]iinic>n. When 1 read the evidence given by 
 the ine(li<al attendants during the sickness of Gen- 
 eral l\elclium, 1 said that it was absurd to ascribe his 
 deatli to poisiiniug from JW)-/ : Aiitiiiuniii. 1 came to 
 tiie cunelusiou, siuiif (/((//••-■ lic/iiir jlou yarc jiuiiy Ictiti- 
 HiojK/, that he died of ceiel>ro-S])inal meningitis, and 
 espi'essed that conviction whenever the case was the 
 subject of conversation." 
 
 One incident in this case attracted a good 
 deal of attention and Ijrought many compli- 
 ments from the daily press : itwasa rencountre 
 between the Attorney-General, Mr. Syester, 
 and the witness, and is given here as extracted 
 from the phonographical reports in the New 
 York newspapers : 
 
 AtUyriiiii-GincraL — "Where will this lead to, 
 Dr. Warren ?" 
 
 Doctor Warren. — "It is impossible to tell, as 
 the h}i:)Othesis itself is absurd." 
 
 Attornei/-Gt'Hir'il. — " J3ut you medical men 
 ought to know all about these medical matters.^' 
 
 Doctor fVarrcti. — "We know, at least, as 
 much idjout these m(dical matters as //(*// law- 
 yers." 
 
 Attor)ie//-Ge)ier(il. — (Sjjringing from his seat, 
 and with great emphasis.) "Bat i/oti doctors 
 li(ir( the adra)itajii- of ax ; ijoa harji i/oar mistakes 
 innhr the mrtli." 
 
 Doctor Warren. — " Yes, but yon lawyers hany 
 your mistakes in the ear.'''' 
 
 This reply "brought down the house" to 
 such an extent that the judges had to adjourn 
 Court for a quarter of an hour so as to give the 
 officers an opportunity to restore order. 
 
 In attestation of the impression made upon 
 
 the Attorney-General, the following letter 
 was written by that gentleman to Dr. Warren 
 upon the eve of his departure for Egypt, a 
 short time after the trial : 
 From the Attoniey-CrCiieral of the State of Marytantl. 
 
 State ot Maryland, 
 Office of Attorney-General. 
 
 Hagerstow^n, March 25, 1873. 
 My Deai! Doctor: — I cannot describe the unfeigned 
 regret I experience in y(Uir loss to us all, es])ecially to 
 me; for althnugli I have licit seen and lieen with you 
 as niiuh as I desired — 1 always looked forward with 
 jdeasure to soiiietiiue when our engagements would 
 permit a closer acciuaintance, and lieioine wanned into 
 a liiiiier and mioic fervid friendship. I dare not in- 
 dulge the hope of hearing I nun yon in your new posi- 
 tion, but not many things wcnild jirove more agiee- 
 alile to me. Present my coiniiliinents to your wife. 
 That you and she may ever be contented and happy 
 in life, that y<ni may lie as prosperous as your great 
 talent and uneiiualfed acquirements so richly de- 
 serve, is the earnest hope of 
 
 Your humble, but undeviating friend, 
 A. K. SYESTER. 
 
 In 1872, Dr. Wtirren was chosen Chair- 
 man of the Section of Surgery of the Ameri- 
 can Medical Association, and presented to 
 that body a new "Splint for Fractures of the 
 Clavical," which attracted much attention, and 
 really is an apparatus of great utility. Whilst 
 it retains the fragments in opposition and gives 
 no inconvenience to the patient, it permits all 
 the normal movements of the forearm. Hav- 
 ing retired from the faculty of the Washing- 
 ton University, he then devoted himself to the 
 organization of the Col/eye of Pliysieians and 
 Saryeom, wliich has finally absorbed the former, 
 and attracts classes as large as those of any 
 .school_in Baltimore. The institution has wisely 
 retained Dr. Warren's name at the head of tlie 
 list of Professors, as Eaieritas Professor of Sur- 
 
 Having become dissatisfied in Baltimore on 
 account of a severe domestic affliction, he de- 
 termined to remove elsewhere. His first idea 
 was to procure a professorship in the Univer- 
 sity of a neighboring city, and with that end 
 in view he presented to its Faculty, testimo- 
 nials of recommendation from a number of the 
 
I)H. EDWARD WARREN (BEY). 
 
 liii 
 
 most prominent physicians in tlie United 
 States. Amonji the letters sc>nt to tlic Doctor 
 for use in this connection, there were several, 
 which, from the distinijuished reputation of 
 their authors, and the enthusiastic manner in 
 which they indorsed Dr. Warren, seem espe- 
 cially to deserve a reproduction here- space 
 will, however, oidy permit the puhlication <^f 
 the following : — 
 
 Fi-o)ii Professor S. 1). Urosn. 
 
 Phh.adelphi.v May 8th, 1S73. 
 
 My Dear Dr. Warren :— It is ditticnlt fur nit- to s:i.v 
 anytliing respecting one who is .so will kiioun throii^li- 
 out tlie cotuitvv asa geiitleiuaii, a practitioiic r, and a 
 teat-Iiei- of iiiedii'iiie. Any medical scliool oUf;lit, I am 
 .sure, to lie piond to fxive you a place \n Us Faculty. 
 As a teaclicr of surgery— olt-liaiid. ready, and even 
 brilliant— there is no one in the country tluit surjiasses 
 you. As an operator and a general -piactitioner. youi 
 ability lias long been everywhere lecoKuizcd. Vour 
 success as a popular lecturer has been remarkably 
 great. Asa journalist you have wiebled a ready and 
 graceful pen". Some of your operations reflect great 
 credit upon vour Judgment and skill. Of your moial 
 character, I have never heard anything but what was 
 good and lionorable, . . . 
 
 I hope witli all inv heart you may obtain a position 
 in one of the New York Schools. Your great popu- 
 larity in the Southern States could not fail to be of 
 service in drawing Southern Students. My only re- 
 gret is that we have no place to offer you m Philadel- 
 phia. 
 
 Wishing you eveiy possible success, I am, dear doc- 
 tor, very truly your friend, nun^ju 
 
 Professor of Surgery, Jefferson Medical Colletje. 
 Professor Edward Warren, 
 Baltimore, Md. 
 
 From Professor Hunter McOuire. 
 
 Richmond Va., May 10///, 1873. 
 Gentlemen:— I beg leave to state that Dr. Wanen 
 enjoys a most enviable reputation both as a phy.sician 
 and as a gentleman, and from all I know and have 
 heard of him, I have no doubt he would prove a most 
 valuable addition to anv college. Dr. Warren held a 
 prominent position in the Medical Department of the 
 Confederate Arniv, and eiijovcd the respect and con- 
 tidence of all wlio associated wilh hiui. He has re- 
 centlv resigned the chair in one of the nudii'al schools 
 of Baltimore. He tilhd this chair with great ability 
 and attracted to the schocd a large number of students, 
 especially from his native State, Xonh Carolina, 
 Very respectfully, etc., 
 HUNTER McGUIRE, M. D. 
 Professor of Surijery. Medieal College of Virifniiu. 
 
 To the Trustees of the 
 
 University of New York. 
 
 From Hon. E. J. Henkle. 
 
 15ALTIMORE May 15th, 1873. 
 Dear Sir: — I have been informed that my fiiend. 
 Prof. Edward Warren, recently Professor of Surgery 
 
 in tlie Washington University in this place, is an ap- 
 plicant for the same position in the University of New 
 Voik. 
 
 I have known Dr. Warren tor many years past ; first, 
 jirevioiis to the war, when Professor of Mateiia .Med- 
 ica in the University of Maryland, which )iositi.ui to 
 my peisonal knowledge, he Idled in a most accejitable 
 manner to both faculty and students. 
 Since tlio war and the rcoi gaiiizal ion of the Washing- 
 ton Uni\<rsitv, he has residicl in lialtiinore and tilled 
 the Chair of Snigery. In the capacity of President 
 of the Hoard of Trnstccs of thai Institution, I have 
 been thrown in I rccpieiit and iiilim.ite intercourse with 
 him, and I take jih'asari' in Icstitv iiig to liisgreat zeal 
 andability, and to lii^ success asa li-ctiircr and teacher. 
 Dr. Warri-n has alwa\s bctn regarded in ISaltimore as 
 a most iiopular and ellicieiil le<turer, exceedingly 
 popularwilh the st udents, and untinng in his elforts 
 to iironiotc the success of the institnti(Ui with which 
 he has been idenlilied. 1 have no doubt that Uie Uni- 
 versity of New ^ ork would be most fortunate in se- 
 curing his valuable services. Very truly yours, 
 E. J. IIENKLE, 
 President of the Board nf Trustees of 
 Washint/lon I'nirersity, M. l>. 
 
 Prof. Henry Draper, New York City. 
 From Profexsor IF. //. Mcdiiffey, of the University oj 
 Virijinia. 
 
 U. OK Va., May I8th, 1873. 
 
 TO THE lUlILTY OF THK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL 
 COLLEGE OF NEW YORK. 
 
 Gentlemen :— It gives me great pleasure to recom- 
 mend to your favorable consideration Dr. Edward 
 Warren. 
 
 1 have known Dr. Warren from his boyhood, and 
 can testify to his excellent cliaracter, fine talents, in- 
 domiuitable perseverence in the pursuit of knowledge 
 and the discharge of iiridVs-ional duty. 
 
 Dr. Warren's attainments are id a high orderin gen- 
 uine scholar.shii). He made unusual proficiency in 
 Moral Pliilosoidiy, and graduated also with distinc- 
 tion in other srhools in the University, Va. 
 
 Of his juofessional attainments I am not competent 
 to Judge, but I know that he has been successful when 
 coiiipetition was intense, and I learn from others, 
 couipeteat to Judge, that he has every qualification to 
 ensure success in the Chair of Surgery, and the place 
 which I learn he seeks in your institution. 
 Very respectfully, &c., 
 
 W. H. McGUFFEY, 
 
 Prof. Moral Philosojihy, U. of Va. 
 
 Unfortunatel}' no vacancy existed at tlie 
 time, and his efforts in this regard proved ahor- 
 tive In 1873 he accepted a position in the 
 service of the Khfedive and removed to Egypt, 
 having heen urgently recommended for it by 
 Greneral R. E. Lee, General Sherman, General 
 G. W. Smith, General Hancock, Governor Z. B. 
 Vance, Hon. M. C. Butler, General Gary, and 
 other leading gentlemen in the United States, 
 
 As soon as the President of the American 
 Medical Association heard of his intended de- 
 
Uv 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 partiire,he sent him a commission as a Delegate 
 to all the Medical Societies of Europe ; Drs. 
 Gross, Pancoast and other prominent Ameri- 
 can physicians gave him kind and most flatter- 
 ing letters of introduction to the leading med- 
 ical men in Europe ; and on the evening before 
 he left Baltimore, a number of its first citizens 
 tendered him a public dinner at Barnums' 
 which was one of the most successful and bril- 
 liant aiiairs of its kind that ever came off in 
 that city. 
 
 His career in Eg_ypt, though rendered brief 
 by an attack of opthalmia, was signally brilliant^ 
 
 Having been appointed Chief Surgeon of the 
 General Staff, he soon had an opportunity of 
 treatmg successfuU}' the Minister of War for 
 strangulated hernia, who immediately officially 
 requested the KhtJdive to h»nor Dr. WaiTen 
 with the Decoration of the Medjdic and the 
 title of Bey — which, when conferred, as it was 
 in tills instance, by royal charter, ennol)les its 
 possessor and his family; and in less than a 
 year from his arrival in the country, he suc- 
 ceeded in reaching the highest medical posi- 
 tion known in the service of the Khedive, that 
 of Surgeon in Chief of the Egyptian Army. 
 
 The incident connected with his treatment 
 of Kassim Pasha, who was the Minister of War, 
 shows so well the moral force which enabled 
 Dr. Warren to perform his duty in the face of 
 discouraging circumstances, and serves to illus- 
 trate in such an interesting way, certain phases 
 of his life in Egypt, that it is given in full as 
 related by the doctor. 
 
 " Kassim Pasha was over 60 years old, and very fat, 
 and had direct inguinal hernia, which the surgeons 
 of Cairo failed to reduce after laboring over it three 
 days. After he had been abandoned to die and the 
 prepai'ations for his funeral were progressing, I was 
 permitted to see the case. Finding that stcrcoraceous 
 voniitiiig liad ^iist begun, and pcrsiuidcd I hat tlic pro- 
 fciuiid depression which others niistiidk for tlie I'llects 
 of till' lUscaso, was mainly due to the injections of an 
 infusion of t()lia<c(> wliich they had employed to in- 
 duce relaxation, I dcclaied the case not a hopelessone 
 and undertook to treat it. Having stimulated the 
 Pasha freely with brandy and water — wliicli the na- 
 tives consider unholy treatment— I had the gratifica- 
 tion of seeing some reaction established ; and deter- 
 
 mined to administer chloroform, and either to reduce 
 the tumor by taxis, or to perform herniotomy, if neces- 
 sary. I found however, very great difHculty in getting 
 any medical man to assist me. They all retired and 
 said that they would have 'nothing to do with the 
 murder of the Pasha.' The Harem, through its repre- 
 sentative, the Chief Eunuch, declared that I should 
 not proceed until the private physician of the Kliedive 
 — a Frenchman — had given his consent. He was ac- 
 cordingly sent for and asked what he thought of the 
 measure which I proposed He replied that he be- 
 lieved the Pasha would die inevitably, but he was in 
 favor of permitting me to proceed, as every man was 
 entitled to his chance. I tlien requested him to aid 
 me to the extent of administering chloroform. This 
 he agreed to do on condition that I would assume all 
 the responsibility of the case, and give him time to 
 dispatch a messenger to the Khedive, informing him 
 upon what terras he had consented to aid me. In the 
 presence of .ill the principal Pashas and Beys of the 
 country, and the highest officials of the Court, the 
 Minister was removed from his bed and placed upon 
 a mattress in the middle of the room. None of the 
 female portion of the household were present ; but 
 they were represented by the Chief Eunuch, wlio stood 
 at tlie feet of the invalid, slioiuing Allah ! Allah ! ! 
 Allah ! ! ! whilst from tlie latticed H.arem in the rear 
 there came continually that peculiar wail which seems 
 to form the principal feature in the mourning 
 of the East. With the exception of the French 
 physician, above referred to, all the surgeons had 
 deserted the chamber, and stood in the little gar- 
 den outside of the house, some praying that the sick 
 man might be saved, but the majority cursing the 
 stranger who had the temerity to undertake that 
 which they had pronounced impossible. 
 
 " At this moment the Chief of the Staif took me 
 .aside and said : 'Dr. Warren, consider well what you 
 are undertaking; success means honor and fortune in 
 this country, whilst /(li/i/rc means ruin to you and in- 
 jury to those who are identilied with you. ' I replied: 
 ' 1 thank you for your caution ; but I was taught by 
 my father to disregard all personal considerations in 
 the practice of medicine and to think only of the in- 
 terests of my patients. I sliall therefore do what my 
 profes.sional duty recxuires tor tlie sick man and let 
 the consequences take care of themselves.' Having 
 made all the preperations necessary to perform /icch;'- 
 otomy, should that operation become necessary, I 
 boldiv administered chloroform, although the patient 
 was still in a state of great depression. To my delight 
 anfethesia was |)rompti.v developed, while the circula- 
 tion improved with every inspiration — just as I have 
 seen it improve in some cases of shock upon the battle- 
 field. Confiding then the administration of the chlo- 
 roform to the French physician, above referred to, I 
 proceeded to examine the tumor and attempt its re- 
 duction. I found an immense hydrocele and by the 
 side of it a hernia of no unusual dimensions — which by 
 rather a forcible maniiiulation I completely reduced, 
 after a few moments of effort. By this time tlie sur- 
 geons, unable to restrain their curiosity, had entered 
 the room and crowded around me, anxiously awaiting 
 the failnri' wliicli tliey liad so blatantly predicted. 
 Turning to Meliemet-Ali-liey— the Profe.s8or of Sur- 
 gery in the Medical School of Cairo — I said to him: 
 ' The hernia is reduced, as you can see by pushing 
 your linger into the external ring.' ' Excuse me,' said 
 lie, in the most supercilious manner, 'you have under- 
 taken to cure Kassim Pasha and 1 can give you no 
 help in the matter.' My French friend imraediatelv 
 introduced his finger into the ring and said: 'Gentle- 
 men, he needs no help from anyone; the hernia is re- 
 duced and the Pasha is saved.' The doctors slunk 
 away utterly discomtitted ; the Eunuchs, Pashas, Beys, 
 
DR. EDWARD WARREN (BEY). 
 
 Ir 
 
 ami officers uttered loml cries of 'Ilanulallali ! Ilani- 
 dallali ! I Kismet ! Kismet ! ! Kismet ! ! ! ' (Tliaiik 
 God ! Thank God ! ! It is fate ! It it fate ! ! ) and tlio 
 Harem in tlio rear, calchinj; tlic ins|»ir;\tiiin of tlin 
 scene, sent np a slioiit ofjoy wliidi smiiiili'il like tlie 
 war-liooji of a wliole trtir of Indians. In a moment I 
 was Seized Uy tlie Chief Kiinurh, einhiaced in the most 
 impressive manner and kissed n|>(in eitiuM elieek — an 
 example which was immediately f^'llowed by a num- 
 ber ol those i)r<sent ;— and 1 fiiiind myself "suddoidy 
 the most famoMs man in theconiilry. Tho I'asha at 
 once liad a letter addressed to the Ivhedivo narratins 
 wliat I had done for him, and askinjr that [ mi^lit bo 
 decorated and made a Bey. His llijrhness sent for me, 
 thaidced me warmly for having saved the life of his 
 favorite Minister, and said h(> was happy to honorouo 
 ■wlio had done so well for him ; the Ilarem of the pa- 
 tient presented me with a beautifnl gold waleh and 
 eiiain ; my house was thronged afterwards with the 
 hipliest dignitaries of the ''(Mintiy who came to thank 
 and congratulate me ; and I immediately secured an 
 immense practice among the natives — including nearly 
 every incurable case iu Cairo. 
 
 Tho spectacle of a stranger in a strange land 
 without support, undertaking duties which had 
 deeu declined by others, and boldly pushing 
 forward, in spite of the jealous mutterings 
 which fell upon his ears, has something of true 
 sublimity in it, and should make us appreciate 
 the benignant nature of that moral and ethical 
 code under whose guidance the subject of our 
 sketch acquired that devotion to duty which 
 enabled him to dare and do. For, behold the 
 alternative, which, surely, he must have recog- 
 nised :-had he failed, and had the Pasha died, 
 his audacity would have wrought his ruin, 
 and he would have been driven from the land 
 in disgrace. 
 
 As it was, however this signal triumph re- 
 sulted in Dr. Warren being made the "Chief 
 Surgeon of the Egyptian Army." Colonel 
 William McE. C. Dye-formely an officer in the 
 United States Army and late a Colonel of the 
 Egyptian Staff- in his interesting book qi\- 
 tiileA.," Moslem Egypt and Christian Abyssinia," 
 refers iu the following terms to Dr. Warren's 
 career in Egypt: "Dr. Edward Warren, Chief 
 Surgeon of the Staft", by performing a surgical 
 operation on the Minister of War for a com- 
 plaint that had baffled the skill and courage of 
 the other Cairo surgeons, and by his energy 
 m the erection of hospitals and his faithful 
 
 discharge of other duties, established a repu- 
 tation which soon lifted him into place as Sur- 
 geon-in-Chief of the Army;" and the London 
 Lnnccl chronicled his success and advancement 
 in these terms: "vVo understand that M. Ed- 
 ward Warren of Cairo lias been promoted by 
 his Highness tho Kliedive of Egypt to the po- 
 sition of Chief Surgeon of the Egyptian Army. 
 Mr. Warren's promotion in the East has been 
 exceptionally rapid." 
 
 In 1876, having obtained a furlough for six 
 months, he visited Paris for the purpose of se- 
 curing proper troitraont for his eyes, and, oa 
 being informed by tho leading occulists that a 
 longer residence in Egypt would involve tho 
 loss of his left eye, he obtained an honorable 
 discharge from the service of the Khedive 
 who, in view of the services which Dr. War- 
 ren had rendered in Egypt, treated him with 
 great consideration and kindness. 
 
 Through the influence of his own well-es- 
 tablished reputation, aided by the cordial en- 
 dorsement of his friends, Drs. Charcot and 
 Ricord, of Paris ; Sir James Paget, Alfred, 
 Swain Taylor, and Dr. Stevenson, of London ; 
 Drs. Fordyce Barker and J. J. Crane, of New 
 York; Professors Gross and Pancoast, of Phil- 
 adelphia, he was soon able to commence the 
 practice of medicine in Paris as a Licentiate of 
 the University of France, a very great compli- 
 ment in itself, and one rarely paid to a for- 
 eigner. 
 
 Dr. Warren's success in Paris has been ex- 
 ceptionally rapid and brilliant. Practice and 
 honors have flowed in an unbroken stream 
 upon him. Foreigners of all nationlaities and 
 of the highest titles have been as ready to 
 avail themselves of his professional skill as 
 have been his fellow-countrymen. The Lon- 
 don Lancet promptly secured him as its "Spe- 
 cial Correspondent." The Ottoman Govern- 
 ment confided to him the delicate task of se- 
 lecting surgeons and raising contributions for 
 
Ivi 
 
 WHEELEK'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the wounded in tlie recent wnrwitli Russia. Tic 
 received a special invitation to participate in 
 the International Medical Congress which re- 
 cently asserahled in Philadelphia,heing the only 
 American residing ahroad who was thus hon- 
 » ored. The College of Physcians and Sui-gcuns 
 of Baltimore made him a Muster of Sdn/ci'i/ at 
 a late commencement. The Governor of North 
 Carolina made him a 'Special Commissioner" 
 to the Paris Exposition ; while the Commis- 
 sioner-General of the United States appointed 
 him the Medical Officer of his Commission, 
 jind the French Government awarded him a 
 "medal of merit" for the services which he 
 rendered in these regards. The Spanish Gov- 
 crment, in 1877, created him a Knight of the 
 Order of Isahella the Catholic, as a reward for 
 tlie professional skill displayed in the success- 
 ful treatment of a Spaniard of high jiosition. 
 The French Government, in 1879, created him 
 a Chevalier of the National Order of the Le. 
 gion of Honor, as a special mark of distinction 
 for his professional devotion and work in 
 France. The Egyptian Government, in 1882^ 
 made him a "Commander of the Imperial 
 Order of the Osmanlie," for "valuable and 
 important services rendered in Egypt and for 
 great Medical skill displayed in Paris." He 
 has recently been made an Officer of the Order 
 of the redemption of the Holy Sepulchre, an 
 Officer of the Ro^-al Order of the Samaritan of 
 Geneva— all as rewards for professional services 
 and successes. He was also selected by the 
 American Medical Association as one of its 
 delegates to the International Medical Con- 
 gress which recently assembled in London and 
 lias been made a member of the Historical So- 
 ciety of Virginia and of the American Insti- 
 tute of Christian Philosophj-, respectively, and 
 the University of North Carolina at the last 
 Commencement, conferred upon him the title 
 of Doctor of Laws (LL. D.) 
 
 The following letter announces the accession 
 of this honor. 
 
 Univkrsity of Nokth Carolina, 
 
 Chapel Hill, N. C, June •20th 1884. 
 Dr. Edwaui) Wakrkn (Bev). 
 
 Sir: — In lecoffuitiou of your distinguished ability 
 and learniufr, and .^^ervices to humanity, tlie Board of 
 Trustet's and the Faculty of the University of North 
 Carolina have unanimously conferred on you the hon- 
 orary detrree ot Doctor of Laws. [LL. D,] 
 
 They liojje that you will accept this evidence of the 
 regard of the University of your native State. 
 I have the honor to be, your obedient servant. 
 
 KEMP F. BATTLE, FreMtnt 
 
 Wliile space does not [lermit the publication 
 ill this connection of the ninltitndinons essays, 
 reports, lectures, letters, addresses, etc., which 
 have emanated from his proline pen and ac- 
 ti\e brain, enough has been said of Dr. War- 
 ren to justify thestatement with which a distin- 
 guished American surgeon (Professor S. D. 
 (Tross, of Philadelphia) concludes a letter in 
 regard to liim--viz. : "from these facts it is 
 plain that he (Dr. Warren) has performed a 
 great deal of work, that he is a man of indom- 
 itable energy; that he po.ssesses great and varied 
 talents; and that he has enjoyed a large share 
 of professional and public confidence." Surely, 
 no North Carolinian has had a more brilliant 
 and remarkable record, or one which the State 
 has a greater right to regard with pride -and 
 admiration. 
 
 Dr. Warren's general culture and his great 
 literary ability are widely known. His prose 
 writings are lucid and chaste, though suf- 
 ficiently ornate to be very attractive. His far- 
 flights into the domain of poesy attest a rich 
 imagination, and considerable knowledge of 
 rh^'thiu and versification. 
 
 In politics the Warren family were old line 
 Whigs, and the Doctor's affiliation brought 
 him into intimate relations with North Caro- 
 lina's great war Governor, Zebulon B. Vance, 
 which time has only served to ripen into an 
 afl'ectiouate and endm'ing friendship. 
 
THE BLOUNT FAMILY 
 
 Ivii 
 
 
 Q/ameyS 
 
 aii/n 
 
 t 
 
 Genealogy of the Blount Family. 
 
 The late Gov. Henrj^ T. Clark considered 
 this the oldest ofNorth Carolina families. No 
 family, he believed, whose name is still extant 
 as a family-name in North Carolina, came into 
 the Province so early as James Blount, who 
 settled in Chowan in 1669. This James 
 Blount is said to have been a younger son of 
 Sir Walter Blount, of Sodington, Worcester- 
 shire, England, and a Captain m Charles I's 
 Life Guards. His Coat of Arms engraved on 
 a copper plate, which he brought with him, 
 was in the possession of his descendants until 
 about the year 1840, when it was destroyed 
 by its possessor, the late James B. She'pard of 
 Raleigh. A cut of it is given above, taken 
 from an impression of the original plate. 
 
 For convenience, the family may be divided 
 into two branches; the descendants of James, 
 the Chowan Blounts, and the descendants of 
 his younger brother who settled about Choc- 
 owinity in Beaufort County, the Taw River 
 
 "To be read iu counectiou with pages 130-133. 
 
 Blounts. The latter is much the more numer- 
 ous branch of the family, and has become too 
 extensively spread throughout the Southern 
 and South-Western States, to be fully traced 
 here. This brief genealogy is complied chief- 
 ly from the family Bible of the Edenton fam- 
 ily of Blounts. and from a Manuscript l)y the 
 late Thomas H. Blount of Beaufort, and is a.s 
 accurate as such accounts can ordinarily be 
 made. 
 
 THE CnOWAX BLOl'NTS. 
 
 James Blount, who settled in Chowan in 
 1(»69, on a tract of land which remained in 
 the possession of liis descendants until the 
 death of Clement Hall Blount in 1842, was a 
 man of some prominence in his day. He is 
 spoken of in contemporary documents as a 
 member of the Governor's Council, as one of 
 the Burgesses of Chowan, and as a leading 
 character in the infant and very disorderU' 
 Colony. He left one son, .lohn. 
 
 This John Blount (I) born 1669: died 1725, 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Iviii 
 
 left ten children, six daughters and four sons. 
 Three of the daughters married and left de- 
 scendants in Hyde County and about Roanoke 
 Island. They are the Worleys, Midgets and 
 Manns.' The sons were— 
 
 I. .John (II) born 170G, married and left 
 three sons and two daughters: 
 
 (a) James Blount, who married Ann Hall and 
 and left three children: Clement Hall Blount 
 (died unmarried in 1842) ; Sarah, left no issue; 
 and Frederick Blount, his eldest sou who nuir- 
 ricd Rachel Bryan, (nee Herritage) and left 
 among others, Frederick S. Blount, who moved 
 to Alabama and became the father ^ of a large 
 family, Alexander Clement Blount, and 
 Herritage Wistar Blount of Lenoir County. 
 
 (b) Wilson Blount. 
 
 (c) Fredrick Blount, whose daughter Mary 
 (died 1856) married Wm. Shepard of New 
 Berne and bore him Wm. B., Charles B., and 
 James B. Shepard, Mrs. John H. Bryan, of 
 Raleigh, Mrs. Ebeuezer Pettigrew, and several 
 others. 
 
 (d)Eiizabeth, married J. B. Beasley. 
 
 (e) Mary married Rev. Charles Pettigrew 
 1st Bishop (elect) of N. C. and left two 
 sons, one of whom, Ebeuezer became a mem- 
 ber of Congress; married Ann Shepard of 
 New Berne, and left several children: the Rev. 
 William S. Pettigrew, General James John- 
 ston Pettigrew, Charles L. Pettigrew and two 
 daughters. 
 
 n. Thomas born 1709, left one daughter 
 Winifred, who married Hon. Whitmel Hill 
 of Martin. Among their numerous descendants 
 are Thomas Blount Hill Esq. of Hillsboro' and 
 the family of the late Whitmel J. Hill of Scot- 
 land Neck. 
 
 III. James, born 1710, left two daughters; 
 (a) Nancy married Dempsey Connor (son of 
 Dempsey Connor and Mary Pendleton, great- 
 granddaughter of Governor Archdale) and left 
 
 one daughter Frances Clark Pollock Connor, 
 married 1st, Joseph Blount (III) and 2nd, 
 Wm. Hill, late Secretary of State of North 
 Carolina; and (b) Betsy who was married to 
 Jeremiah Vail. 
 
 IV. Joseph (I) born 1715, died 1777, who 
 married Ist, Sarah Durant, born 1718, died 
 1751, (a descendant of George Uurant, the first 
 known English settler in N. C.) and left only 
 one child Sarah, (born 1747, died 1807,) who 
 married in 1771, William Littlejohn,by whom 
 she became the mother of a large family, well 
 known in this and other Southern States. Alter 
 the death of his fi rst wi fe, Joseph B loun t ( I) mar- 
 ried, (1752) Elizabeth Scarboro, by whom he 
 had(be8idesone son, Leauiel Edwards, drowned 
 at sea in 1778) one son: 
 
 Joseph Blount (II) born 1755, died 1794, 
 who married Ist, (1775) Lydia Bonner, and 
 left two children: 
 
 (a) John Bonner Blount, l)orn 1777, married 
 Mary Mutter: they wei'C the parents of Thomas 
 M. Blount, late of Washington city (whose son, 
 Maj. Thomas M. Blount was Icilled at Malvern 
 Hill), of Mrs. Thomas H. Blount, Mrs. Henry 
 Hoyt and Mrs. James Treadwell of Washing- 
 ton N. C. "and of Mrs. Henry M. Daniel, of 
 Tenn. His sons Joseph and John died with- 
 out issue. 
 
 (b) Mary born 1779, married William T. 
 .\luse,and had two sons, (I) William T.Muse, late 
 of the U. S. and C. S. Navy, who mar- 
 ried and left issue; (2) John B. .Mviso,died un- 
 married. 
 
 For a second wife Joseph Blount (H) m 
 1782, married Ann Gray(boni 1757, died 1814,) 
 daughter of Wm. Gray of Bertie, and left issue. 
 
 (c) Joseph Blount (III) born 1785, died 
 1822, who married (1808) Frances Clark Pol- 
 lock Connor, and left one son Josei)h Blount 
 (IV) who died unmarried. 
 
 (d) Frances Lee married Henderson Stamlin. 
 left one son, William II. Standin. 
 
THE 15L0UNT FAMILY. 
 
 lix 
 
 (o) Sarah Elizalietli married Tlioinas Mor- 
 gan but left no issiK>. 
 
 (f) Klizabeth Ann, (horn 1790, died 1861),) 
 iiiaiiied in (181:2) John Cheshire (horn 17(19, 
 died 1830,) and left issue the IJev. .loseph 
 Blount Chesiiire, 1). D., Mrs.E. I). .\huuair,of 
 Tawboro, and Mrs. .fames Webl) of Iliilsboro. 
 
 (iC) Eleanor Gray, married John Cox, loft 
 
 IV. Thomas Blount,born 1759, died 1812;-^ 
 
 V. Jacob Blount, born 1760, died . 
 
 By his wife, Hannah SaltHjr, he left: 
 
 VI. Willie Blount, born l7l>4L died 1835. 
 
 VII. Sharp Blount, boiii 177l/>T«d 1810. 
 Of these William, .lohn Gray/ 
 
 Thomas and Willie became prominent and dis- 
 tinguished men; among the most eminent in 
 
 one daughter, Ann B. P., married Willie J. North Carolina and Tennessee for their high 
 
 talents, public spirit, enterprise and wealth. 
 Their marriages and descendants were as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 Epps of Halifax. 
 
 THK TAW KIVER BLOUNTS. 
 
 A younger brother of James Blount of Cho- 
 wan, is thought to have settled on Taw or 
 Pamplico River about 167.3. He left six sous 
 
 I. William Blount, (born 1749, died 1800,) a 
 Member of Congress in 1782 and 1786: of the 
 
 Thomas, John, .James, Benjamin, Jacob and Constitutional Convention of 1787, was de- 
 Esau, the last two being twins. The Tusca- Seated for the U. S. Senate by Benjamin 
 rora Chief, King Blount, a valualde allv of the Hawkins, on the adoption of the Federal Con- 
 whites in the Indian war of 1711, is said to stitution in 1789; appointed by Washington in 
 have assumed that name from his attachment l'''^'^ Governor of the Territory south of the 
 to one of these brothers. Nothing is known Ohio; removed to Tennessee and founded 
 definitely of the deseer.dants of any of the six ^lie city of Knoxville ;wa8 elK)sen one of the iirst 
 except the eldest, Thomas. Senators from Tennessee. In 1797, he was ex- 
 
 This Thomas Bloimt married Ann Reading pelled by a vote of the Senate,and subsequently 
 and left four sons, Reading, James, John and in>peached by the House of Representatives, 
 Jacob. All of these left families, and from ^o'' alleged treasonable practices in endeavor- 
 *hem are descended, no doubt, many persons of i"g to incite the Indian tribes on our South- 
 this name in Beaufort and the adjacent Count- western frontier to hostilities against Spain, 
 ies ; l)Ut we can trace the descendants of the The articles of impeachment were after ai-gu- 
 pist named only. ment rpiashed in the Senate. On his return 
 
 Jacob Blount (l)orn 1726, died 1789) was to Knoxville the Speaker of the State Senate 
 an officer under Gov. Tryon in the battle of resigned, and William Blount was unani- 
 Alamance; a member of the Assembly fre- mously chosen by the people to succeed him 
 quently, and of the Halifax Congress of 1776; '" ^'^6* Senate, and by that body to succeed 
 married 1st, (1748) Barbara Gray, of Bertie, him in the Chair, as an expression of popular 
 sister to William Gray, mentioned in the ge- confidence and affection. His death early in 
 nealogy of the Chowan Blounts; 2nd, Mrs. the year 1800, alone prevented him from 
 Hannah; Baker (nee Salter); 3rd, Mrs. Marv l>eing elected Governor of Tennessee. He mar- 
 Adams. By his last wife he had no children; "®*1 (1778) Mary Grainger, daughter of Col. 
 by his wife, Barbara Gray, he left among Caleb Grainger, of Wilmington, and left issue: 
 others — I. Ann married 1st, Henry I. Toole (II) of 
 
 I. William Blount, born 1749, died 1800. Edgecombe, to whom she l)ore Henry I. Toole 
 
 II. John Gray Blount, born 1752, died 1833. (Ill), and Mary Eliza, married Dr. Joseph 
 
 III. Reading Blount, born 1757, died 1807. Lawrence: she married 2nd, Weeks Hadley,of 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Edgecombe, by whom she liacl several child- 
 ren. 
 
 ■2. Mary Louisa, married (1801) Pleasant M. 
 Miller and left a large family; one of her 
 daughters, Barbara, married Hon.Wm. H. Ste- 
 phens, late of Memphis, now of Los Angelos, 
 California. 
 
 3. William Grainger Blount, member of 
 Congress from Tennessee; he died unmarried 
 in 1827. 
 
 4. Richard Blackledge Blount, married and 
 left I'hildren in Tennessee. 
 
 5. Barbara married Geii. E. P. Gaines, left 
 one son, Edmund Gaines of Washington city, 
 D. C. 
 
 6. Eliza married Dr. Edwin Wiatt and left 
 two sons and one daughter. 
 
 II. John Gray Blount (I), born 1752, died 
 1833, in his youth a companion of Daniel Boone 
 in the early explorations of Kentucky, but set- 
 tled permanently in Washington, N". C. He 
 was frequently a member of the Assembly, and 
 though not ambitious of political office, prob- 
 ably the most influential man in his section of 
 the State. He is said to have been the largest 
 land-owner in North Carolina. He married 
 (1778), Mary Harvey, daughter of Col. Miles 
 Harvey of Perquimans, and left issue: 
 
 1. Thomas Harvey Blount, (born 1781, died 
 1850,) who married 1st: (1810) Ellen Brown, 
 by whom he liad no children, 2nd, (1827) 
 Elizabeth M. daughter of Jno. Bonner Blount, 
 of Edenton, and left issue, three sons and 
 three daughters: Elizaiielh M. (Geer), Polly 
 Ann (Hatton), John Gray Blount (III), Mary 
 Bonner (Willard), Thomas Harvey Blount 
 and Dr. Wm. Augustus Blount. 
 
 2. John Gray Blount (II), born 1785, died 
 1828, married Sally lla^'wood but left no 
 issue. 
 
 3. Polly Ann, (born 1787, died 1821,) mar- 
 ried Wm. Rodman and left issue: William 
 Blount Rodman, late a Judge of the Supreme 
 
 Court of North Carolina, Mary Marcia Blount, 
 and Mary Olivia Blount who married J. G. B. 
 Myers. 
 
 4. William Augustus Blount, married 1st 
 Nancy Haywood and 2nd Nancy Littlejohn: 
 For him and his family see post, page 11, 
 under Beaufort County. 
 
 5. Lucy Olivia (born 1799, died 18-54,) mar- 
 ried Bryan Grimes, and left, issue: Mary, 
 Annie, Olivia, and John Gray Blount Grimes. 
 
 i-i Patsy Baker, born 1802, still living unmar- 
 ried. 
 
 III. Reading Blount, (born 1757, died 
 1807,) a Major in the Revolutionary War; 
 married Lucy Harvey, daughter of Col. Miles 
 Harvey, and left five children: 
 
 1. Polly who married John Myers and left 
 a large family in Washington, N. C. 
 
 2. Louisa, married Jos. W. Worthington, of 
 Maryland. 
 
 3. Willie Blount, married Delia Blakemore 
 of Tennessee. 
 
 4. Caroline Jones, married Benjamin Run- 
 yan. 
 
 5. Reading Blount, married Polly Ann 
 Clark, and left one son, Reading Blount. 
 
 IV. Thomas Blount (born 1759, died 
 1812), an officer of distinction in the Revolu- 
 tion, Major in Col. Buncombe's Regiment. Set- 
 tled at Tawboro; was frequently a member of 
 the Assembly from Edgecombe; a member of 
 Congress for several sessions, and died in 
 Washington City in 1812. He married .1st 
 Patsy Baker; ^nd Jacky Sumner (afterwards 
 known as Mrs. Mary Sumner Blount) daughter 
 of Gen. Jethro Sumner of Warren. He had 
 no children by either marriage. 
 
 V. Jacob Blount, (born 1760 died ,) 
 
 married 1st (1789) Ann Collins, daughter of 
 Josiah Collins of Edenton, by whom he had 
 two daughters, (a) Ann; and (b) Elizabeth, who 
 married Jno. W. Littlejohn, of Edenton. He 
 afterwards married Mrs, Augustus Harvey; 
 
THE BLOUNT FAMILY. 
 
 liut liiul 11(1 cliildreii by the second niarriage. 
 
 VL Willie Blount (born 1768: died 1835); 
 went to Tennessee in 1790 as private Secre 
 tarj to his eldest brother Gov. William Blount ; 
 was elected Judge of the Supreme Court in 
 1796; Governor from 1809 to 1815. He raised 
 on his private credit the money with which to 
 equip the three Tennessee regiments sent 
 under Andrew .lackson to the defense of New 
 Orleans during the war of 1812. In recog- 
 nition of his eminent public services, the 
 State of Tennessee in 1877 erected a mon- 
 ument to his memory in Clarksville, Ten- 
 nessee, lie married Lucinda Baker, and left 
 two daughters, Mrs. Dabney and Mrs. Ddrtch, 
 of Tennessee. For his second wife he mar- 
 ried the widow of Judge Hugh Lawson 
 White. 
 
 VIL Sharp Blount (born 1771; died 1810,) 
 married Penelope Little, daughter of Col. 
 Geoi-ge Little of Hertford, and left three sons. 
 (a) William Little Blount, (b) Jacob Blount, 
 
 (c) George Little Blount. The first two died 
 without issue. George Little Blount married 
 a Miss Cannon of Pitt, and resided at Blount 
 Hall in Pitt County, the seat of his grand- 
 father Jacob Blount. 
 
 It has been impossible to give moi'e than a 
 summary of the genealogy of this extensive 
 family. It is hoped that the above is sutH- 
 cient to enable any one to trace the t'onnec- 
 tioiis of its principal branches. 
 
 It may ])e added that WiHiaiu and Willie 
 Blount were both, in all probaliility, born 
 at Blount Hall in Pitt County, and not in Ber- 
 tie, as is sometimes stated, and as is inscribed 
 on the monument ei-ectedliy the State of Ten- 
 nessee to the memory of the latter. There is 
 no reason to suppose that their father, Jacob 
 Blount, ever lived in Bertie. Also the story 
 of the absurd mscription on the stone on Mrs. 
 Mary Sumner Blount's grave in Tawboro, is 
 entirely untrue. 
 
 Genealogy of the Barringer Family. 
 
 John Paul Barringer, born in German}- 1721, 
 came to America 1743; settled in Pennsylva- 
 nia, where he married { 1 ) Ann Elizabeth Tseman 
 called Ain lis; came to Mecklenburg Co. N. C. 
 about 1746, and there married (2) Catherine 
 Blackwelder. He died in 1807. 
 
 Issue: I. Catherine married Ist to John Phifer, 
 one of the signers of (20ch of May 1775) Dec- 
 laration of Independence: Issue (a) Paul, who 
 married Jane Alexander and had George, Mar- 
 tin, John N., Nelson and Caleb; (b) Margaret 
 married to John Simianer; she (Catherine) 
 married a second time to George Savage and 
 had (a) Catherine, who married Noah Partee, 
 and Mary, who married Richard Harris. 
 
 II. John (Mt. Pleasant family.) 
 
 IIL Paul, born 1778, died 1844; married Eliz 
 abeth Brandon, born 1783, died 1844; issue: 
 (a) Daniel Moreau, born 1806, died 1873; in 
 legislature 1829 to '34; '39, '54; Member of 
 Congress 1843 to 1849; IT. S. Envoy to Spain, 
 1849; in Peace Congress of 1861; married Kliz- 
 abeth Withered, of Baltimore, and had(l)Lew- 
 iu, born 1850; University of Virginia; married 
 Miss Miles; (2) Daniel .\I., born I860; (b) .Mar- 
 garet, married 1st to John Boyd; 2nd to An- 
 drew Grier ; ( c ) Paul, married Carson ; ( d ) Mary, 
 married C. W. Harris; (e) Matthew; (f) Wil- 
 liam, married Alston, and had John. Paul. Wil- 
 liam, Charles, Victor and Ella; (g) Elizabeth, 
 
Ixii 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 married Edwin R.Harris; (h) Alfred; (i) Rufus, 
 Brig. Gen. C. S. A., married 1st Eugenia Mor- 
 rison, and Iiad Anna and l^aul; 2nd, Rosalie 
 Chunn, and had Rufus; 3rd, Margaret Long, 
 and had Osmond ; (k) Catherine, married Gen. 
 W". C. Means. Issue: Paul, Robert, James, 
 William, Bettie, George and A^ictor; (1) A^ic- 
 tor, legislature of I860; Judge of International 
 Court in Egypt; married Maria Massie. 
 
 IV.Mattliias; V. Martin; VI. Elizabeth, mar- 
 ried to 1st, George Pitts; 2nd, to John Boon, 
 
 of Guilford; VII. Sarah, married to .Jacob 
 Brem, of Lincolnton; A^III. Esther, married to 
 Thomas ("'larke, of Tennessee; IX. Daniel L. 
 Barringer, born 1788; died 18.52; legislature 
 1813-'19-'23; in Congre.s8 1826 to 1835; mar- 
 
 ried Miss White, granddaughter of 
 
 Governor Caswell; removed to Tennessee, and 
 was Speaker of the House; X. Jacob, married 
 Mary Ury; XL Leah, married 1st David Hol- 
 ton, 2nd Jacob Smith; XII. Marv, married to 
 Wesley Harris, of Tennessee. 
 
 Genealogy of the Clark Family. 
 
 Christopher Clark, a sea-captain, and mer- 
 chant in Edenton, came from North of England 
 about 1760. After sonic years removed to Ber- 
 tie County, near the niontli of Salmon Creek. 
 
 He nuxrried 1st, Elizaltetli , by whom 
 
 he had Elizabeth, Mary and Sarah. 
 
 I. Elizabeth C'iark married Judge Blake Ba- 
 ker, of Tarboi'o', and left no issue. 
 
 If. Mary Clark married George West; liorn 
 1758, died 1810, and left issue: [a] Robert 
 West, who married Ann Dortcli, liy wliom he 
 had Isaac D., Rol)ert, George Clark. Martha, 
 married W. B. Johnson; Mary, married Chas. 
 Minor; Arabella, married Q. C. Atkinson; Ann; 
 Laura, married Robert McClure; Elizabeth and 
 Sarah. 
 
 [b] Mary West, married Judge P. W. Hum- 
 phrey, and left Judge West II. Humphrey, 
 married Pillow; Elizabeth, married Baylis; 
 Georgianna, nuirried Powell; Charles and 
 Robert. 
 
 [c] George West married Ann Lytle, and 
 left Robert, George, Ann, married Gillespie. 
 
 ni. Sarah Clark married William Clements, 
 and left: 
 
 [a] Sarah; [b] Arabella, married C. Bay- 
 lis; [c] Mary, married R. Collier; [d] Dr. 
 Christopher C; [e] John II., and [f] Robert W. 
 
 After the death of his tirst wife, Christopher 
 Clark married about 1778 or 1779, Hannah Tur- 
 ner, of Bertie, daughter of Thomas Turner, and 
 left: 
 
 IV. James West Clark, born 1769, died 1845, 
 who married Arabella E. Toole, born 1781, died 
 1860, daughter of Henry I. Toole, of Edge- 
 combe, and left issue: 
 
 [a] Henry Toole Clark, born 1808, died 1874, 
 University of North Carolina, 1826; North Car- 
 olina Senate, 1859-'60 ; Governor, 1861 ; he mar- 
 ried, 1850, .Mrs. Mary Weeks Hargrove [ncc 
 Parker] daughter of Theophilus Parker, of Tar- 
 boro', and left the following children: Laura 
 P., Haywood, Henry Irwin, Maria T. and Ara- 
 bella T. 
 
 [b] Maria Toole, born 1813, died 1859; mar- 
 ried, 1852, Matt. Waddell; left no issue. 
 
 [c] Laura Placidia, born 1816, died 1864; 
 married, 1832, John W. Gotten, and left Mar- 
 garet E., married -T. A. Englehard; Araliella 
 C, married Wm. I). Barnes; Florida, married 
 Wm. L. Saunders, and John AV., married Eliz- 
 abeth Frick. 
 
 [d] Mai'y Sumner, born 1817, married Dr. 
 Wm. George Thomas, and have issue: George 
 G., Arabella and Jordan T. 
 
THE HAYWOOD FAMILY. 
 
 Ixiii 
 
 -^'>^^i^^^^^^^h^^;S^'^^^ 
 
 Genealogy of the Haywood Family 
 
 Joliii Ilaywodd, the fouiider of the family 
 ill North Carolina, was bmn in Christ Church 
 Parish, near 8t. Michael's, in the Island of 
 Barbadoes. He was the son of John Haywood, 
 a younger brother of Sir ITeniy Haywood a 
 Kniglit and magistrate in the old country and 
 must liave been a man of some note as Evelyn 
 in his iMemoirs speaks of having met him at 
 court and was not favorably impressed with 
 his arrogant manner. He settled in 1730 at 
 the mouth of Coneeanarie in Halifax, then a 
 part of the great county of Edgecombe. He 
 was Treasurer of the nortliern counties of the 
 Province from 17;i2, until his death in 1758. 
 
 He married .Mary Lo vet t, by whom he had 
 six children. 
 
 I. Elizabeth married .Jesse Hare, she died in 
 1774 and had issue: [a] Ann married Isaac 
 Croom and his son Isaac married Sarah Pear- 
 son; [b] .Mary married, first Richard Croom 
 and second to Hicks. 
 
 II. Mary Haywood nuu'ried to tlie Kev. 
 Thomas Burgess, 17G1, whose son Lovett, mar- 
 ried first Elizabeth Irwin, sec(md l^riscilla Mon- 
 nie, third Mrs. Black; to tlie last named 
 were born [a] Maiy married to Alston, 1824, 
 [!)] Elizabth married, 1.S12, to Alston, of Bed- 
 ford county, "S'irginia; [c] Melissa married to 
 (Jen. William Williams, whose daughter, Me- 
 lissa, married to Col. Joseph John Long and 
 their daughter, Ellen married to Gen. Junius 
 Daniel, who was killed at Chancellorsville; — 
 [d] John married Martha Alston and [e] 
 
 Thomas, a distinguished lawyei' in Halifax, 
 wlio left no i.ssue. 
 
 III. Deborah married to .John Hardy but 
 liad no issue. 
 
 IV. Col. William Haywood, of Edgecombe, 
 married Charity Hare; he died in 1779, and 
 had ten children. [1] Jemima, married to 
 John Whitfield of Lenoir, died 1837, with 
 following issue; [a] William II. twice married 
 and left seven children; [b] Constantine, left 
 five children; [c] Sherwood, unmarried; [d] 
 John Walter, left three children; [e] Jemima, 
 left six children, married first to Middleton, 
 second to Willams; [f] Mary Ruft'in; [g] Kiz- 
 iah Arabella, had three children; [b] Racliel 
 Daniel, married John Jones and had five chil- 
 dren; [i] George Washington, not married. 
 
 [2] John Haywood, State Treasurer for forty 
 years; married 1st Sarali Leigh, and 2nd Eliza, 
 daughter of John Pugh Williams and had issue; 
 by last marriage [a] John, unmarried; [b] Geo. 
 Washington, unmarried; [c] Thomas Burgess, 
 unmarried, [d] Dr .fabius Julius, mari'ied Mar- 
 tha Whitaker by whom he had issue; Fabius J., 
 John Pugh, Joseph and Mary, married to Judge 
 Daniel G. Fowle; [e] Eliza Eagles, unmarried, 
 [f] Rebecca married to Alljert G. Hall, of 
 Xew Hanover County; [g] Frances, unniar- 
 ried; [h] Edmund Burke, who niai'ried Lucy 
 Williams, and had issue; E l>urke, Alfred, 
 Dr. Hubert, Ernest, Edgar, .b.hn and Eliza 
 Eagles, married to Preston Bridgers. [3] Ann, 
 born 17G0, died 1842; married to Dr. Robert 
 
Ixiv 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Williams, Burgeon iu tbe Continental Army, 
 and bad issue; [a] Eliza, married to Rev. John 
 Singletary, issue; three sons: Col. George B. 
 killed in batMe, Col. Richard, and Col. Thomas. 
 [b] Dr. Robert Williams jr., who left issue; 
 [4] Chanty married to Col. Lawrence of Ala- 
 bama and had three children; [5] Mary mar- 
 ried to Etheldred RutRn, and had issue; [a] 
 Sarah, married to Dr. Henry Haywood; [b] 
 Henry J. G. Ruffin who married Miss Tart and 
 was the father of Col. Sam. and also of Col. 
 Thomas Ruffin, who fell at Hamilton Crossing, 
 in Virginia. 
 
 [(j] Sherwood, born 1762, died 1829; mar- 
 ried Eleanor Hawkins, Ijorn in 177(J, died in 
 1855, issue; [a] Ann, who married Wm. A 
 Blount; their issue were Major Wm. A. Blount 
 jr. of Raleigh and Ann, widow of Gen. L. 0' 
 B. Branch, to the last named were born Susan 
 0' Bryan, married to Robert H. Jones; Will- 
 iam A. B.; Ann married to Armistead Jones; 
 Josephine married to Kerr Craige of Salisbury, 
 [b] Sarah married first to John Gray Blount, 
 and second to Gavin Hogg, she left no issue; [c] 
 Delia, married lirst to Gen. William Williams, 
 and second to Hon. George E. Badger, issue 
 to the first marriage Col. Joseph John Will- 
 iams of Tallahassee, Florida, and to the second 
 marriage: [1] Mary married to P. M. Hale; 
 [2] George, fS] Major Richard Cogdell, [4] 
 Thomas, [5] Sherwood, [6] Edward Stanley 
 [7] Ann, married first to Bryan, second to 
 Col. Paul Faison; [d] Dr. Rufus Haywood, died 
 unmarried; [e] Lucy, married to John S. 
 Bryan and had issue: [1] Mrs. Basil Manly, 
 [2] Mrs. Thomas Badger, [3] Mrs. Wm. H. 
 Young, and [4] John S. Bryan of Salisbury. 
 
 [f] Francis P., married first Ann Farrall, 
 second Mrs. Martha Austin, daughter of Col. 
 Andrew Joyner of Halifax; 
 
 [g] Robert W. married Mary White and 
 left one child, Mary; 
 
 [h] Maria T. unmarried. 
 
 [i] Dr. Richard B., married Julia Hicks, 
 issue: [1] Sherwood, [2] Graham, [3] Effie, 
 married to Col. Carl A. Woodruff, U. S. A., 
 [4] Lavinia, [5] Howard, [6] Marshall, [7] 
 Eleanor, [8] Marian. 
 
 [7J Elizabeth, born 1758, died 1832; married 
 Henry Irwin Toole, [I] born 1750, died 1791, 
 of Edgecombe, and left issue: Henry I. Toole 
 [II] born 1778, died 1816; Arabella, born 1782, 
 died 1860, and Mary, born 1787, died 1858. 
 
 Henry I. Toole [II] married Ann Blount, 
 daughter of Gov. Wm. Blount, of Tenn.; and 
 left issue: [a] Henry I. Toole [HI] born 1810, 
 died 1850; marrie.d Margaret Telfair ; [b] Mary 
 Eliza, l)orn 1812, died ; married Dr. Jo- 
 seph J. Lawrence, of Tawboro'. 
 
 Arabella Toole, married to the Hon. James 
 West Clark. For their descendants see the 
 Clark Genealog}', page Ixii. 
 
 Mary Toole, nuirried Theophilus Parker, born 
 1775, died 1849, of Tawboro', and had issue: 
 [a] the Rev. John Haywood Parker, born 1813, 
 died "'858; [b] Catharine C, born 1817, mar- 
 ried 1st John Ilargrave, 2nd Rev, Robert B. 
 Drane, D. D.; [c] Elizabeth T., born 1820, mar- 
 ried Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire, D. D.; [d] 
 Mary W., born 1822, married 1st Frank liar- 
 grave, 2nd Gov. Henry T. Clark; [e] Col. Fran- 
 cis M. Parker, and [f] Araljella C. Parker. 
 
 [8] Wm. Henry, born 1770,died 1857, mar- 
 ried Anne Shepherd, issue; [1] Hon. Wm. II. 
 Haywood, born 1801; U. S. Senator, who mar- 
 ried Jane Graham, had issue: Wm. H. killed at 
 the Wilderness, Duncan Cameron, killed at 
 ColdHarbor; Edward G.; Minerva, married to 
 
 Baker; Jane, married to Hon. Sion H. 
 
 Rogers; Ann married to Samuel Ruffin; Mar- 
 garet married to Cameron; Gertrude married 
 to George Trapier; Elizabeth unmarried. [2] 
 Charity, daughter of Wm. Henry Haywood 
 married Governor Charles Manly, and left issue: 
 Col. John IL, married Caroline Henry; Langdon 
 C. ; Cora, married to Col. George B. Singletary; 
 
HAYWOOD FAMILY 
 
 Ixv 
 
 Helen married to John Oriines; Julia, married 
 to Col. McDowell, who was killed in battle; 
 Sophia married to Harding; Ida married to Dr 
 Jos. Baker of Tarhoro, and Basil, commander 
 of Manly's Battery, married Lucy Bryan. 
 
 [9] Stephen born 177-2. died 1824, married, 
 first MissLane 1798, by wiium he had Dr. John 
 Leigh Haywood and Benjaman Franklin Tlay- 
 wood; married second Delia Hawkins 1809, by 
 whom he had Wm. Dallas,married Mary Cannon^ 
 Margaret Craven married to George Little, Lu- 
 einda, married to Sasser; and Sarah; and Phil- 
 emon H. Haywood, U. S. Navy. 
 
 [10] Elizabeth, married to Governor Dud- 
 ley, died 1840, and had issue: Edward B.; Wra 
 Henry, married Baker; Christopher; ElizaAnn, 
 married toPurnell; Jane, married to Johnson, 
 Margaret married Col. Mcllhenny. 
 
 V. Sherwood [son of John Haywood of Con. 
 ecanarie,] married Hannah Gra^' and had Adara 
 John, who married his cousin, Sarah the daugh- 
 ter of Egbert, issue: one daughtt"; Mai-garet, 
 (died 1874,) who l)ecarae the wife of Hon. 
 Louis D. Henry, horn 1788, died 1840^ and had 
 Virginia, married to Col. Duncan K McRae ; Car- 
 oline married to Col. John H. Manly; Augusta, 
 wife of R. P. Waring; Margaret, married to Col. 
 Ed. G. Haywood; Mary, married to Matt. P. 
 Taylor; Malvina^to Douglas Bell, and Louis D.^ 
 married Virginia Massenburg. 
 
 Since the afore.sai<l sketch of the Haywood faiuily 
 had been put in "forms," a note from Dr. E. Burke 
 Haywood, of RalciKh, was receiveil, in which he col- 
 lects the sketch in tliese paiticnlars: The cliildven of 
 John Haywood, the founder of tiie family in North 
 Carolina,' slionld be sketched in the followinfr order: 
 
 I. William Haywood, of EdKec4)nil)e: II. Sherwood; 
 III. Mary, wife of Rev. Thomas Buruess: IV. Eliza- 
 betli. wife of Jesse Hare; V. Deahora; VI. Egbert. 
 and VII. John, who died unmarried. 
 
 VI. Egbert, the sixth child of John Hay- 
 wood, died ISOl, married Sarah Ware and had 
 issue: [aj Sarah, married Adam John Hay- 
 wood, [b] .fohn, a Judge in North Carolina and 
 in Tennessee, the historian, died in 1820; [c] 
 Dr. Henry, who married Sarah Ruffin, [d] 
 Mary married Robert Bell, and had [1] Mar- 
 garet, married to Duffy, [2] Dr. E. If. Bell. 
 [3] Col W. H. Bell, [4] Admiral Henry H. 
 Bell U. S. Navy, [e] Betsy married to AVill- 
 iam Shepperd and had issue: [1] Sarah married 
 to Hon. Wm. B Grove of Fayetteville, a 
 Member of Congress, 1791-1802; [4] Betsy 
 married Col. Saml. Ashe, born 1763 died 1835, 
 and to the last named were born Betsy, mar- 
 ried to Owen Holmes; Mary Porter married to 
 Dr. S. G. Moses of St. Louis; Hon* John B. 
 Ashe, Member of Congress from Tennessee, 
 married his cousin Eliza Hay, and moved to , 
 Texas; Hon. Wm. S., married Sarah Ann 
 Green; Thomas married Rosa Hill; Richard 
 Porter of San Francisco, married Lina Loyal ; 
 Susan married to her cousin David Grove; 
 Sarah married Judge Samuel Hall of Georgia. 
 
 [8] Susan Shepperd married David Hay; 
 
 [4] Mary married Samuel P. Ashe of Halifax ; 
 
 [5] Margaret married Dr. John Rogers; 
 
 [G] William, [7] ?:gl)ert and [8] Henry. 
 
 [See ante page :^3G.] 
 
 VII. John, who died unmarried. 
 
 The children of John Haywood, (State Treasurer for 
 forty years, after wlioni Huywood County and the 
 towii of Haywood were named,) the second child of 
 William anil Charity Hare, should be named in the 
 following order: „, , 
 
 [a] Eliza Eades; [l.].Iohn Steele; Icl (George \\ ash ■ 
 inglon; :dl FaUius Julius; [e] Alfred Moore; [H 'I'hos. 
 Burgess; [g] Reliecca; [h] William D.ivie; ,il He.i.ia- 
 niiu Rush; [k] Frances Ann; Ul Sarah Wool; [m] Ed- 
 mund Burke. 
 
Ixvi 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Genealogy of the Phifer Family. 
 
 Tlie name PfeifFer is an old and honored 
 one in G(*iinany. Very many of -the name 
 have held high and honored positions in the 
 management of the Civil and Military affairs 
 o-tLthe Enqiire. A copy of the records of State, 
 together with information sufKcient to estab- 
 lish the identity of the American branch of the 
 house has been elicited by a recent correspon. 
 dence with branches of the family at Berne, 
 Switzerland, and in Breslau, German}'. 
 
 The two brothers, John and Martin PfeifFer 
 who came to America, were descendants from 
 the family of "Pfeiffers of PfeifJ'ersburgh." 
 
 The rerords show the family to lie ''Pfeiffer 
 of Pfeiffersburgh, knights of the order of 
 Hereditary Austrian Knighthood; with armo- 
 rial bearings as follows: Shield, lengthwise 
 divi''ed; the right in silver, with a black, 
 crowned Eagle looking to the right; the left 
 in blue, from lower part of quarter ascending 
 a white rock, with five summits, over the cen- 
 ter one an eight-pointed star jiendant. (Schild 
 der Lange getheilt; rechts in Silber ein 
 rechtsselhender, gekronter, Schwarz Adler 
 und links in Blau ein auc dem Feldesfusse 
 aufsteigender, Weisser Fels niit funf Spitzen 
 uber desen mittlerer ein achtstahliger, gold- 
 ener Stern Schwebt.) They were desoeuded 
 
 from Pfeiffer Von Heisselburgh. A diploma 
 (patent,) of nobility was issued to .Martin 
 Caspar Pfeiffer and Mathias Pfeiffer in 1590, 
 with armorial bearings of Knights of Ileis- 
 selburg order tif Nobility of the Empire. 
 Johnu Baptist Pfeiffer Von Pfeiffcrsburg, 
 Knight, -with avmorLu bearings as above stated 
 was descendant of Knights of Heisselburgh and 
 hereditary heir of Pfeiffersburgh; Achenranian 
 Mining and Smelting works; with exclusive 
 privilege granted by th'^ Crown, to trade in 
 the "Brass of Achenrain and Copper of Schwatz. 
 A diploma was issued to him May 10th, 17iil. 
 He received an increase of arms on the 4th 
 of March 1785, (right field and second helmet. ) 
 The pedigree flourished, and a great-grand- 
 son of Johnu Baptist Pfeiffer, Knight of Pfeiff- 
 crsburg; Leopold Maria, Knight of Pfeiffers- 
 burgh, born 1785,po.sses8or of llannsburg, coun- 
 ty Ilallein. was matriculated into the nobility 
 of the Kingdom of Bavaria after the invest- 
 DLent of the same." 
 
 " Caspar Pfeiffer Yon Pfeiffersburg, Knight, 
 second brother to Jolinn Baptist Pfeiffer. 
 Knight of Pfeiffersburg, possessor of Trecher- 
 witz, County Oels, Gernumy, lived in the year 
 1713 on his estates. In 1725 he pennanentlr 
 located in Berne, Switzerland, and had con- 
 
THE PITIP'^ER FAMn.Y. 
 
 Ixvii 
 
 trol of the sale of brass and copper from the 
 Aeheiiraiiian mines, lie had two sons to come 
 to America in the spring of the year 1737. 
 Jolm Pfeiftcr and Martin Pfeiifer." 
 
 .Martin Pfeitt'er carried on quite an extensive 
 correspondence with his rehitives in Berne 
 and in Germany. All these letters, together 
 with an immense (puuitity of his son's( Martin 
 Phifer Jr.) correspondence with the family 
 in P)crnc and elsewhere; and all the records 
 which Martin Pfeiffer and all his sons placed 
 so much value upon and which had been so 
 carefully preserved b}' the first mend)ors of the 
 family, seem to have fallen into disfavor with 
 John Phifer (born 177i>.) They were packed 
 away in truidcs and kept up in the garret at 
 the " Black Jacks. " 
 
 All the mendjers of the f inily had spoken 
 German np to the time of John Phifer (1779.) 
 He never spoke German to any of his children. 
 It was with him the change in spelling the 
 name to Phifer occurred. 
 
 The papers were consequently unknown to 
 any of the various children who, when at play 
 in the large old garret, saw- them. These pa- 
 pers were all destroyed bj' the burning of 
 George Locke Phifer's house. 
 
 An Old gold watch set around with diamonds, 
 and thought to bear the arms of the family, 
 together with various old trinkets, were also 
 destroyed. 
 
 The sketch of this family is writtsn from 
 knowledge communicated by different mem- 
 bers of the famil}-. 
 
 The will of Martin Pfeiifer, sr., was kept until 
 the year 1865, when it was lost. Some of the Bi- 
 bles of the family have also been lost. The pres- 
 ent history however is accurate and can be relied 
 upon in every respect. The information in 
 regard to tlie family in Germany lias lieen oli- 
 tained by recent correspondence with a branch 
 of the famih' in Berne,Switzerland and in Bres- 
 lau, Germany. Great pains have been taken 
 
 that every thing should be exact, and in many 
 instances, the preparation of this paper has 
 been delayed for months tliat a date should be 
 correct. To the sketch of the life of John Phi- 
 fer, the first son of Martin Pfeifter, sr., a great 
 deal of valuable aid was afforded by >.!r. Victor 
 C. Barringer. 
 
 The Phifer family has been for five genera- 
 tions the most wealthy and prominent in Ca- 
 barrus County. For many successive years they 
 have been appointed to places of honor and 
 responsibility by the people of the Counties of 
 Cabarrus and Mecklenburg, some in each gen- 
 eration have occupied pi'ominent positions in 
 the legislative halls of the State. Their'love 
 for truth, honor and justice, their liberality of 
 opinion and their sterling qualitiesof mind and 
 of heart have necessarily made them leaders of 
 the people for generations. They have exercised 
 great influence in directing the political and 
 social development of their county and State. 
 Not one single instance can be found of a fam- 
 ily quarrel, the contesting of a W'ill or any 
 i)ankrupt proceeding by which the name could 
 suffer. The men have all been nolde men, the 
 women have all been good and pure, and have 
 well sustained the good and ancient name. 
 
 Martin Pfeiffer was an educated man, and 
 must have come to America rather well pro- 
 vided with money, as he immediately became 
 possessed of large tracts of land; and became a 
 prominent and influential man, a very short 
 time after he settled in the State. The prom- 
 inent place taken by his son John, as a leader, 
 and as an orator in the early days also goes to 
 show that his father must have been a man of 
 unusual ability and distinction. 
 
 John Pfeiff"er the younger of the two 
 brothers who came to America in 1738, from 
 Berne, settled in what is now known as Row- 
 an County, N. C. Very little is known of his 
 life. lie died some years before his brother 
 Martin Pfeifter. He left his home in the up- 
 
Ixviii 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 per portion of Rowan county, to come down 
 and visit his brother; after he had been gone 
 for a week his family became alarmed about 
 him and a messenger was sent to Martin Pfei- 
 ffer's. It was found that he had not reached 
 that point. The neighborhood was aroused 
 and seaich was made for him. His body was 
 found a da}' or so afterwards near the main 
 road in an advanced state of decomposition, 
 lie is supposed to have become ill, to have 
 fallen tVom his horse and died, as no marks of 
 violence were found on his person. He had 
 it is supposed, only two children; a son Math- 
 ias and a daughter who married a Mr. Webb' 
 Matbias I'feitier jr. had one child, Paul, who 
 was a Baptist preacher and had one daughter 
 whose name ie now unknown. 
 
 The above is all the information available 
 as to this l)ranch of the family. Their off- 
 spring does not seem to have been very num- 
 erous, and the two branches appear to have 
 di'ifted a[iart. 
 
 Martin I'feitfer, born October ISth, 1720, 
 
 in Switzerland, died Janiuiiy 18th, 1701, at 
 
 "Cold Water," Cabarrus county, N. C. Reached 
 
 Anicrica in 1738; in Legislature of 1777 from 
 
 Mecklenburg county; married 1745, Margaret 
 
 Blackwelder, wlio was Ijorn 1722, died 1803. 
 
 Issue three sons: (I) John; (II) Caleb; (III) 
 
 Martin 
 
 I. 
 
 John l)orn at -'Cold Water," March 22nd. 
 1747; died at "Red Hill," 1778; married 1768 
 Catherine, daughter of Paul Barringei', (who 
 was born 1750, died 1829; after John Phifer's 
 death she married Savage ef Rowan county,) 
 as a member of the Charlotte convention, 
 John Phifer signed the Declaration of May 
 20th, 1775; member of Provincial Assembly 
 at Hillsbon.), August 21st, 1775, and at Ilali-- 
 fax April 4th, 1776, and of the Constitu- 
 tional Convention of November 12th, 1776; 
 commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, in Colonel 
 
 Griffith Rutherford's Regiment December 21st, 
 1776; served in the campaign against the Cher- 
 okee Indians and the Scovelite Tories. Bro- 
 ken down by exposure and his own tireless 
 enei'gy, he fell an early sacrifice in the cause 
 of freed<im. 
 
 A man of distinguished character and super- 
 ior attainments, and appears to have been one 
 of the most conspicuous of the i-emai'kable men 
 who figured in the foreground of the move- 
 ment which resulted in the independence. His 
 burning and fervid eloquence did much to ig- 
 nite the flames of indignation against the usur- 
 pations of the mother countrj-. He left the fol- 
 lowing issue: (A) Paul, born at Red Hill, Nov. 
 14th, 1770; died May 20th, 1801; educated at 
 "Queen's Museum" afterwards "Liberty Hall" 
 in Charlotte; married 1799 Jane Alexander, 
 born 1750, who, after his death married Mr. 
 Means of Mecklenburg. 
 
 Issue: (I) Martin jr., liorn 1792, died in 
 childhood, (II) George Alexander, born'1794, 
 died 1868; at the University; in 1835 moved to 
 Bedford county, Tennessee, then to Union 
 county, Arkansas, where he died. Four of 
 his sons were killed in the battle of Shiloh. 
 In 1820 he married Elizabeth Beard of Burke 
 county, N. C. Issue: (a)George; (b) Margaret 
 married to Mr. Pool; (c) Andrew Beard ;(d) 
 William; (e) Locke; (f) John: (g) Paul; (h) 
 xMary Locke. 
 
 (Ill) John N., born March 19th 1795, died 
 September 7th, 1856, married (June 10th 1822) 
 Ann Phifer, the daughter of Caleb Phifer; 
 moved to Tennessee, then to CofFeeville, Miss- 
 issippi, where he died. Issue: (a)Paul,died in 
 youth; (b) Caleb same; (c) Barbara Ann, who 
 married Dr. Phillips of Alabama; (d) Sarah 
 Jane; (e) Charles W., at the University: grad- 
 uated at West Point Military Academy; com- 
 missioned Lieutenant of Dragoons and sent to 
 Texas. Entered C. S. Army as a Captain, pro- 
 moted, for gallantry at Shiloh, to be Colonel; 
 
THE PHIFER FAMILY. 
 
 Ixix 
 
 in 1864 made Brigadier General; the young- 
 est General officer of the Confederac}-; (f) 
 Josephine, 
 
 (IV) Nelson born December 1797. 
 
 [B ] Margaret, born 1772, died 1806, second 
 child of John I'hifer; she married Joim Sim- 
 ianer, who for many years was Clerk of the 
 Court, they had one child, Mary, who mar- 
 ried Adolphus Erwin of Burke County and 
 to them were liorn ijcven children; (1) Sim- 
 ianer, (2) Bulow married and had a family ^ 
 (3)Matilda; (4) Alfred; (5) Mary Ann; (6) 
 Harriet, married to Colonel J. B. Kankin 
 and lia.-i a family; (7) Louisa, married James 
 W. Wilson, and has a family. 
 II. 
 
 Caleb, born at Cold Water, April 8tb, 1749; 
 died July 3rd, 1811; in legislature 1778 to 
 1792 from Mecklenburg; Senator from Ca- 
 l)arrus 1793 to 1801 Colonel in the Revolu- 
 tionary War, served with distinction, married 
 Barbara Fulenweider, born 1754; died 1815. 
 Issue; seven daughters and one son: (A) E.sthcr, 
 married April 10, 1793,to Nathaniel Alexander^ 
 issue ten children: (1) Margaret, married 
 Robert Smith and had only one child, Sarah 
 who married AVm. F. Phifer, and they had only 
 one child, Sarah, who married John Morehead 
 and had Aiuiie, Margaret, William, Louisa and 
 John. (2) Caleb, married Lunda Chisholni; 
 moved to West Tennesse and there died. They 
 had Chai'les and John, both now dead; (3) 
 Jane, married 1st to Geo. F. Graham, and had 
 one child, Ann Eliza, who married to Col. 
 \Vm. Johiison; 2nd to Dr. Stanhope Harris 
 and had Sarah, who married Jno. Moss; Jane 
 married to Dr. Bingham, and Henrietta mar- 
 ried to Caldwell. 
 
 (4) Eliza married lirst, February 19th, 1821, 
 to James A. .Means and 2nd, to Dr. Elim Harris, 
 
 (5.) Sarah married ( 1825) to Francis Locke 
 moved to Montgomery Co. N. C, issue to them : 
 Caroline, married to Dr. Ingram; James killed 
 
 in the civil war; Elizabeth married to Under- 
 wood and has a family. 
 
 (6) Mary, married to Dr. Elim Harris, 
 removed to Missouri, and there both died. 
 
 (7) Nancy, born 1810, married 1833 to John 
 Moss, of .Montgomery County, N. C, issue: 
 Esther, wife of Adolphus Gib.son; Mary, wife 
 of D. F. Cannon; Margaret, wife of James 
 Erwin; Edward; John. 
 
 (8) Esther, married to Dr. James Gilmer. 
 
 (9) Charles, moved to Memphis, Tenn., and 
 acquired great wealth, died unmarried. 
 
 (10) John moved to Tenn., but died in 
 Cuba. 
 
 (B) Margaret, second child of Calel), born 
 Nov. 14, 1777, died Aug. 14, 1799; married in 
 [1794] to Matthew Locke of Rowan Co., had 
 one son, John, who married Miss lk)uchclle, 
 but left no issue. 
 
 [C] Elizabeth, burn 1781, married [1802,] 
 to Dr. Wm. M. Moore, Salisbury; on his death 
 moved to Bedford Co., Tenn., then to Mar- 
 shall Co., Miss., there died in 1845. Issue [1] 
 Abigail died in infancy; (2) Moses W., l)orn 
 Jan. 7, 1807, died 1851; married Rebecca Mc- 
 Keuzie, [1840,] moved to Washington Co.? 
 Texas. Issue: William; Sarah, who married to 
 I)r Ferrill,of Anderson, Texas; they had three 
 children, Bertie; Elizabeth and Robert;[3] Mar- 
 garet E., born at Salisbury, Feb. 14, 1809, mar- 
 ried 1824, to Edward Cross, who was born at 
 Chestnut Hill, Penn., 1804, died 1833; moved 
 to LaFayette Co., Tenn. Issue; seven child ren^ 
 (a) Caroline V., born 1826, married 1849 to 
 Wm.Sledge of Pauolacounty,. Mississippi, moved 
 to Washington county, Texas in 1851, then to 
 .Memphis, Tennessee in 1872. They had Win. 
 M. born 1850: Margaret E.,born 1853 and Ed- 
 ward C. born 1854. 
 
 (b) Elizabeth .M., born at Salisbury, 1827; 
 married (1843) Samuel P. Badhget, died in 
 Texas in 1866; issue: Uphclia,died in infancy 
 
]xx 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 (c) Daniel F.,died in infancy, as did(tI)Susan- 
 nah. 
 
 (e) Edward born April 1st, 1833, lives in 
 Austin, Texas: 
 
 (f) Mary An s born 1835 in Lafayette county, 
 Tennessee, married first, 185(J, to Leonidas B. 
 Lemay of Wake county ,N.G. ; in 1862 to Col. Al- 
 len Lewis of Maine, who was lost at sea in 
 1870. Issue: Ida, Elizalieth, Mary Ann who 
 are dead; Leonidas B. Leniay, liorn January 
 21st, 1857 and Allen Lewis,who are living in 
 Memphis, Tennessee. 
 
 (D.) Sarah, the fom-tli cliihl of Caleb Plii- 
 fer, married Dr. Wra. Houston of Mecklenburg, 
 a successful practitioner of great wealth. They 
 moved to Bedford County, Tennessee. Issue: 
 Lydia married 1823 to Dr. Wm. Rhoan, they 
 moved to Tennessee and reared a large family; 
 Caleb married and has a family, lives at Shel- 
 by ville, Tennessee; Wm. married Miss Steele 
 and has a family; Louisa married and has a 
 family. 
 
 (E.) Barbara born 1770, died 1810; married 
 (1809) Abram C. McRee of Cal)arriis. Issue: 
 (1) Cornelius, nuirried .Margaret Means and 
 moved to Alabama, where they reared a fam- 
 ily ;( 2) Mary Ann married to Dr. Robert 
 Means, and had one child, Poindexter, tliey 
 live in Alabama; (o)Margaret, and (4) Phifer 
 who married Miss Burt of Alabama and has 
 a family. 
 
 (F) Mary, married Dr. Robert McKenzic, 
 an eminent [)hysician of Charlotte; removed 
 to Bedford county, Tennessee, then to Mis- 
 sissippi, Lousiana and finally settled in Grimes 
 count}', Texas, where they died and were 
 buried on the same day. Issue: (1) Rebecca, 
 wife of Dr. Moses W. .Moore (see ante page 
 Ixix.) (2) Joseph, unmarried; (3) John, mar- 
 ried and has three children;(4) Mary, died in 
 infancy; (5) Lucy married Pinkston, living in 
 Grimes county, Texas, has a family of tour 
 children. 
 
 (G) Ann, as has been stated became the 
 wife of John N. Phifer. 
 
 (II.) John Kulenwider, born 17^0, died 
 1826; educated at Dr. Robertson's school, at 
 Poplar Tent; entered the University; married 
 Louisa .Morrison of Lancaster S. C. Issue: a son 
 and a daughter, who died in infancy, and 
 Caleb, born 1825, died 1844, distinguished for 
 scholarship at school, and afterwards at Pnnce 
 ton; then read law with Judge Pearson. So 
 young and full of high promises of usefulness, 
 he died in his 19th year, and so the Caleb 
 Phifer branch of the f.imily became extinct, as 
 he was the last male mendier of that branch 
 
 III. 
 
 Martin jr. born at "Cold Water," March 
 25th, 1756, died at the "Blaek Jacks," Nov- 
 ember 12th, 1837; married (1778) Elizabeth 
 Locke, who was born 1758, died 1791; he was 
 Colonel of a Regiment of horse, on duty at 
 Philadelphia, and was distinguislied forgallan- 
 trj' in the field. And received high mention 
 for his personal bravei'y in the papers of State. 
 He was the largest land-owner in the State, 
 and had a great number of slaves. Had issue: 
 John, George, .Mary, Ahirgaret and Ann. 
 
 Issue:(A) John, horn at Cold Water, Sept- 
 ember Ist, 1779; died October 18th, 1845; en- 
 tei'ed at Dr. .McCorckle's school at Thytira 
 church in Rowan C( unty: at the University in 
 the first year of that institution, graduated in 
 1799, with first honors; married August 27, 
 1805, Esther Fulenwidcr, a daughter of John 
 Fnlenwider of "High Shoals," Lincoln county 
 N. C, who was born 1784, died 1846. 
 Member of the Legislature 1803 to 1806; in 
 House of Commons 1810 to 1819; and in the 
 Senate in 1824. Defeated l)y Forney for Con- 
 gress by twenty-five majiu'ity. "lie lived a 
 blessing, and his name will ever remain an 
 honor to his family, his county and his State." 
 
 He was one of the most intellectual and 
 highly cultivated men of his time. His speeches 
 
TIIK PHIPER FAMILY. 
 
 in the House and Senate show r(Mnark!il>le abil- 
 ity. His public career, which iiroiuised ti) be 
 one of unusual brilliancy, was cut oft' by the 
 failure of hise3'e-sight. lie became almost to- 
 tally blind in the latter part of his life. lie 
 was noted for his .wonderful pojiularity, his 
 great decision of character, and his eloquence 
 as a speaker. 
 
 Had issue: .Martin, John Fulonwider, Calel>, 
 Elizabeth, Mary Simianer, George Locke, Sarah 
 Ann, Margaret Locke, Esther Louisa, Mary 
 Burton. (1) ALartin, born December 30th, 
 1806, died September 11th, 1852; married Eliza, 
 daughter of Jacob Kamseur, of Lincolnton, N. 
 C; had no issue. (2) John Fulen wider, born 
 August 13, 180S, died January 10, 1850; edu- 
 cated by Dr. Wilson near Rocky River church; 
 a merchant and planter, died unmarried. (3) 
 Calel), born June 10, 1810; died .March 11, 1878; 
 educated at Dr. Wilson's, most iirominent in 
 financial and manufactui'ing schemes; director 
 of N. C.li. R. for years. .Member of House of 
 Commons in 1S44; and of ronstitulional Con- 
 vention of 1X61-62. lie was a student all dur- 
 ing his life, and was well posted in both the 
 scientiticand current literature of the day. He 
 married [1838] Mary Adeline, third child of 
 David Ramsenr, of liincohitoii, who was liorn 
 Aug. oth. 1817, died Sept. 20th, 1881. Issue: 
 [a] EstliGr, born December 23,1840, died Sep- 
 tendier 5th, 1857; [b] David Ramseur. born, 
 April 14th, 1839; a graduate of Davidson and 
 of William and Mary in Virginia; served in 
 the C. S. Army; became a merchant in New- 
 beri'v; married Sarah Whitmire; had issue: 
 Mary, Henry, Mai'tin and Elizabeth. 
 
 [d] John Locke, born October 28th, 1842, 
 died January 26th, 1880: was educated in 
 Philadelphia; served in 20th, N. C. Vols.; 
 liacame a most sucessful merchant; [e] Char- 
 les Henry, born September 28th 1847; served 
 in the Confederate Artillery; then graduated 
 at Davidson College (1866); a civil engineer 
 
 by education. Now successful as a merchant; 
 [f] Robert Kulenwider, born Novemlier 17th, 
 184!); graduate of Davidson [1866J successful 
 as a planter and cotton buyer; [g] Martin, 
 born .Imie 26th, 1855, died .March 10th 1881; 
 [h] Sarah Wilfong, born February 26th, 1859, 
 married [1883] to Marshall N. Williamson in 
 Winston. 
 
 [4J Elizabeth, fourt ; child of John Phi- 
 fer born April 20th, 181 2, married Dr. Edmund 
 R. (Til)son at the '-Black Jacks," February 25th, 
 1835. Dr. Gibson was born July Oth, 1809, 
 died May 28th, 1872, in Rowan County, an 
 eminent ph3'8ician, of large estate. Issue: 
 [a] Esther Margaret, born 1836, died an infant; 
 [b] WiUiam Henry borti June 2nd, 1837, kill- 
 ed at Gettysburg, 1863; [c] John Phifer born 
 January 5th, 1839; served as Lieutenant in 
 the civil war; married Martha M. Kirkpatrick, 
 [1804,] and had .Mary Grace. Now a mer- 
 chant of Concord; [d] .Tames Cimningliam, 
 born November 10th, 1840, served in the Con- 
 federate Army, also Clerk of Court; married 
 Elizabeth Puryear [1876] and has Elizabeth, 
 William Henry, Richard Puryear and Jennie 
 Marshall; [e] George Locke, born March 15tli, 
 1844, died 1877;[f] Robert Erwin, born March 
 15th, 1844, married [1876] Emily Magruderof 
 AVinchester, Virginia, issue: Emily .Magruder 
 and RoI)ert Magruder; successful merchant in 
 ( 'Oncord. 
 
 (5) Mary Simianer, tifth child of .John Phi 
 fer, born December 7th, 1814, died an infant. 
 
 [0] George Locke, sixth child; born June 
 7th, 1817, died June Oth, 1879; entered the 
 school of Robert I. McDowell, and then at 
 Greensboro; a planter; married [1847] Rosa 
 Allen Peunick, daughter of Rev. Daniel Pen- 
 nick,of the Virginia Presbytery; issue: [a] Ag- 
 nes Tinsley l)orn August 24th, 1850, married 
 [1876]to Albert Heilig of Rowan, had George 
 
 [b] Esther Louisa born May 24th, 1852. 
 
 [c] Sarah Maria born July 25th, 1854. 
 
Ixxii 
 
 WIIEELEtl'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 [d] Annie Kosa boni March 29th, 1857. 
 
 [e] Ma]7 Elizabeth born July 11th, 1859, 
 died August 25th, 1882 married [1881] Will- 
 Ramseur of Newton. 
 
 [f] Daniel I^ennick born Decemljer 14th, 
 1861. 
 
 [g] John Young, born June 5th, 1864. 
 
 [h] George Willis born February Ist, 1868. 
 
 [i] Emma Garland, liorn September 4th, 
 1869. 
 
 [7] Sarah Ann, born October 23rd, 1819; 
 married May 31st, 1842, to Robert W. Allison 
 of Cabarrus, who was born April 24th, 1806, 
 a man of prominence, chairman of CQunty Com- 
 missioners, in legislature of 1865-66; delegate 
 to Convention of 1875. 
 
 Issue: [a] Esther Phifer, born November 27th 
 1843, married [1866] Samuel White of York 
 county S. C, Capt. 7th N. C. Vols., C. S. A. 
 issue: four children, Grace Allison, the only 
 one living. 
 
 [b] Joseph Young, born July IGth, 1846, 
 educated at the University of- Virginia; read 
 law with Chief Justice Pearson, became apres- 
 byterian clergyman, married [1876] Sarah Cave 
 Durant. 
 
 [c] .John Phi fer, born August 22d, 1848; a 
 merchant in Concord: married [1880] Annie 
 Erwin, daughter of Hon. Burton Craige. 
 
 [d] Mary Louisa, born March 27th, 1850, 
 died 1878. 
 
 [e] Elizabeth Adeline, born March 26th, 
 1852, married [1875] to John M White of 
 Fort Mills, S. C; he was Colonel 6th S. C. 
 Vols. C. S. A., and died 1877. She lives near 
 Fort Mills, 
 
 [f] William Henry, born February 26th, 
 1854, died in infancy as did the three follow- 
 ing. 
 
 [g] Caroline Jane, born October 23d, 1855. 
 [h] Annie Susan, born December 16th 
 
 l.S'57. [i] Robert Washington born March 15th 
 1862. 
 
 [8] Margaret Locke, eighth child of John 
 Phifer, born December 7th, 1821, died in in- 
 fancy. 
 
 [9] Esther Louisa, born May 31st, 1824; 
 married to Robert Young of Cabarrus, Capt. 
 C. S. A.; killed July 1864, she died July 9tli, 
 1865; had John Young, Capt C. S. A., killed 
 at Chancellorsville, May 3d, 1863, 
 
 [10] Mary Burton, tenth child of John Phi- 
 fer, born November 10th, 1826; educated in 
 Philadelphia, married [1850] John A. Brad- 
 shaw of Rowan, now lives in New York. Is- 
 sue: Harriet Ellis, Mary Grace, Annie, Eliza- 
 beth, John who died 1866. 
 
 [B] Ge^orge, second child of Martin Phifer, 
 jr., was born February 24th, 1782, died Jan- 
 uary 23d, 1819; merchant and planter; Clerk 
 of the Court; married [1808] Sarah, daugh- 
 ter of John Fulenwider of High Shoals, 
 Lincoln county, N. C. She was born 1786, and 
 and after the death of George Phifer married 
 .Joseph Young,whom she survived, and died 
 -January 24th, 1868, at Hon. J. H. Wilson's 
 house in Charlotte. 
 
 Issue to George and Sarah Phifer: [a] Will- 
 iam Fulenwider, born February 13th, 1809; 
 graduate of Hampden-Sidney College; mer- 
 chant at Concord; married [1833] Sarah Smith, 
 and had Sarah, wife of John Morehead; who 
 had Annie, Margaret, William, Louisa and 
 John. On the death of liis wife, William [a] 
 removed to Lownds County, Alabama; cotton 
 planter there; returned to North Carolina and 
 married [1849] Martba White, issue: [1] Wil- 
 hani; [2] Robert Smith, educated in Germany; 
 remarkable musical talent,he married Bella Mc. 
 Ghee of Caswell county, and has Wilhelmine, 
 Thomas Mc. Ghee and Robert; [3] George; 
 [4] Mary married [1882] to M. C. Quinn; 
 [5] Cordelia; [6] Josephine married [1880] 
 William G. Durant of Fort Mills, S. C, they 
 have Mary and William Gilmore; [7] Edward. 
 
THE PHIFER FAMH^Y. 
 
 Ixxiii 
 
 [b] John Fulemvider, born May 1st, ISIO, 
 married [1839] Elizabeth Caroline, a duugh tor 
 of David Ramseur, she was born l!^10; re- 
 moved to Lownds county, Alal)ania; roturned 
 to Lincolnton. Issue: [1] George, born Febru- 
 ary 10th, 1841; educated at Davidson; served 
 with distinction as Captain in the line, [C. S 
 Army,] and afterwards on General R. F. lloke's 
 staff; married [1879] Martha Avery of Burke 
 county; issue: John; Monlton; George; Edward; 
 Isaac; Walton; Maud; \Yaightstill. lie is a 
 cotton manufacturer at Lincolnton; [2] Will- 
 iam Locke, born February ITth, 1843, killed 
 at Chickamauga, Tennessee, September 20th, 
 1863; [3] Edward born May 8th 1844; Cap- 
 tain C. S. Vols. He died from wounds received 
 before Petersburg, June 18th, 1864; [4] Mary 
 Wilfong born December 2.5th, 1856, married 
 [1881] to Stephen Smith of Livingston, Ala- 
 bama, has one child Stephen. 
 
 [c] Mary Louisa, born December 3d, 1814: 
 married [1846] to Hon. Joseph Harvey Wil- 
 
 •Wecopy fi 1)111 the RnU-iqh iVeit'S-Oterrcr, of Sei)t- 
 embcrlStli, 1884, tlie fullowiiiK notice of Hon. Joseph 
 Harvey Wilson, wlio was born in the comity of 
 Mecklenburg. His fatlier, the Rev. Jolui Mc- 
 Kiiniev Wilson, was a Scotch Presbyterian, ami a di- 
 vine of considerable influence in that section of the 
 State. The son inherited the talcnt.s and sterlinsrqua'- 
 ities of the father, and was early imbued with the fa- 
 ther's piety and he had been since his early manhood 
 a consistent lucnilier of the Presbyterian church 
 
 He was admitted to the bar and began the practice 
 of the law in ('Ijailotte soon after he Ix'came of age, 
 and for about titty years he enjoyed a large and luci-a- 
 tive practice in Meckleiiliiug and the surronuding 
 counties. After the retiienient ot William Julius Alex- 
 ander and the death of his r(iiit<'ni|)i)raiies of :a past 
 generation, Mr. Wilson an<l the late Judge (Jsborne, 
 who were nearly of the same age au<l always fiieuds, 
 contested the le'adersliip otthe inofcssion in Meeklen- 
 biirg, though Mr. Wilsmi, on acronni of his jiaiiistak- 
 ing industr}!-, always commanded a larger sliaie of the 
 routine and remunerative liu-siness of the county. He 
 never found it advisable to take au extended circuit 
 as was the rule among the lawyers before the war; 
 but in Union. Cabarrus an<l Gaston counties he en- 
 joyed a leading business and was generally on one 
 side or the other of every important case. Kver dili- 
 gent and careful in the i)reparatiou of his cases, and 
 eminently faithful to the interests of his clients, of 
 sound judgment and thoroughly versed in the prin- 
 ciples of the law, that he was a v ery successful prac- 
 tioner is not remarkable. Probably no lawyer of his 
 day reaped larger rewar<ls lu the legitimate proseca- 
 tion of the legal profession in the State; and being 
 ecnomical in the proper sense of the term, while lie 
 was at the same time liberal when calls upon his charity 
 
 son*; issue: [1] George married Bessie Wither- 
 spoon of Sumter, S. C, who have Mary Louise, 
 Hamilton, and Annie Witherspoon. He grad- 
 uated at Davidson and at the University of 
 Vii'ginia; [2] Mary married Charles E. John- 
 ston, who have Mary AVilson and Charles. 
 
 [d] Elizabeth Ann, the twin sister of Mary 
 Louisa; educated at Hillsboro; married [1837] 
 to E. Jones Erwin of Burke, who died in 1871. 
 Issue: Phifer married [1875] Corrinna More- 
 head Avery; and have Annie Phifer; Corrinna 
 Morehead and Addie Avery; [2] Mary Jones 
 married (1874)to .Mitchell Rogers and have 
 one child Francis; [3] Sallie married [1882] to 
 Dr. Moran and have one child, Annie Rankin. 
 
 [e] Martin Locke born January 25th, 1818, 
 died March 9th, 1853; educated at Bingham's 
 school; removed to Lownds county, Alabama; 
 a planter. Returned to N. C. [1848] married 
 Sarah C. Hojle of Gaston county .Left no issue 
 
 [C] Mary Phifer, third child of Martin Phi- 
 fer, jr., born December 1st, 1774; died 1860, 
 
 pud public spirit commended themselves to his judg- 
 ment, he succeeded in accumulatiug a coosiderable 
 fortune, of which he continued in possession to his 
 death. In his success in his profession, as the result 
 of patient, honest, faithful work, without any of the 
 shiuini: qualities of the genius, Mr. Wilson is one of 
 the best e.xamides to the younger members of the bar. 
 He proved to the satisfaction of all who knew hini 
 that a lawyer can be a good Christian and at tiie same 
 time a successful business man. While he ever took 
 a lively and patriotic interest in public attairs, he 
 could never be seduced from tho jirosecution of his 
 profession by the otter of political phiee or office, and 
 he persistently refused even to oerve his people in the 
 State legislature until he was forced [by a sense 9t 
 public duty] to represent his county in the Senate m 
 1866-67 when he was elected president of that body, 
 a rare compliment to one who had never before ser- 
 ved in a legislative body. It showed the very high 
 esteem in which he was held in the State. . 
 
 Mr. Wilson was twice married, his first wife being 
 Miss Pattou t>f Buncombe, and the second. Miss Phifer 
 of Cabarrus, who survives him, and he leaves three 
 children of the tirst marriage and two of the second, one 
 of whom, (ieorge E. Wilson Esq., was hispartner at the 
 bar, and an other is the wife of our esteemed neigh- 
 bor, Mr. Charles E. Johnson, of this city. Besides Ins 
 widow aud children, a large circle of loving tTieuds 
 mourn his departure. He died September 13th, \fm, 
 ill the fullness of years and maturity of time, tUe 
 loss of but few citizens in the State could create a 
 more profound sensation in the communities iu 
 which they respectively live than did the death of 
 this good and honored man in the couut.v of Meck- 
 lenburg. Tlie whole community were his friends; wa 
 doubt if he left an enemy. 
 
Ixxiv 
 
 WHEELER'S REMIKISCENCES. 
 
 and is buried at Tuscaloosa, Ala. Married 
 [1803] to William Crawford, of Lauca-^ter, S. 
 C. Issue: Elizabeth and William. After Mr. 
 Crawford's death she married dame^ Childers, 
 of N. C, and moved to Tusealooj^a. Issue: 
 
 (a) Elizalieth Crawford married John Dobv, 
 and had [1] Joseph, who married Margaret 
 Harris and has a fanuly; [2] .Martin married 
 SaUie Grier, and liad one rhild; on lier death 
 he married Sallie Sadler; [-i] James married 
 Mary Walker and has a family; [4] William 
 married Altonia (irier, and had rhildren. 
 
 (b) William Crawford married Lncretia Mull, 
 and had [1] Thomas, nuirried 1st Mary I'riee, 
 2nd Mrs. Klutz, and has a family; [2] WiUiam 
 married Miss Smith, and has a family; [?>] 
 James married Sallie Ileilig, and have chiMi'en; 
 [4] Robert married Miss Crawford, and tliev 
 have ehildren; [f)] Lee married .Miss reedeu, 
 and has children. 
 
 (c) Ann Childers married to Walker; 
 
 issue: (1) Mary; (2) ;(3) Martin; (4) . 
 
 (d) Susan Childers married Read, but lias no 
 issue. 
 
 (e) Jas Childers, married, and has a family. 
 (D) Margaret, fourth child of Martin Phifer, 
 
 jr., born December 7th, 178G; married [January 
 7th, 1808,] James Erwin of Burke, Co.,X. C. Is- 
 sue, seven children: [1] William, married Ma- 
 tilda Walton, and they had five children; mer- 
 chant in Morgan ton; his second wife was Mrs. 
 Gaston, but had no issue; after her death he 
 married Kate lIappoldt,and to them were born 
 two children. Ilis children are [a] Clara, mar- 
 ried to Mclntyre, and has a fandly, the oldest 
 named Matilda; [b] Anna, married Robert Me- 
 Connehey, and they have children ; [c] Laura , 
 married to M.Jones, but had no issue; [d] Hen- 
 rietta, married to Gray Bynum; [e] Ella mar- 
 ried George Greene, and they have three child- 
 ren. By his third wife he had [f] Margaret 
 and (g, Evelyn. 
 
 (2) Joseph Erwin; married Elvira Ilolt. He 
 
 has been in the Legislature several terms, and 
 once serveil as clerkof the court. Issue: Mary 
 L.; .Matilda; Margaret, married to Lawrence 
 Holt, of Company Shops, and have five child- 
 ren; Cora, married John Gi'aut, of Alamance 
 Co. [3] Martin, married Jane Huie, of Salisbury, 
 issue: five children; then to Miss Blackmaiin; 
 issue: th"ee children; moved to .Maury Co., 
 Tenii., and there died. (4] (George, married 
 .Margaret Hiiison, of Burke Co., moved to 
 Tenn.; they have nine children. 
 
 (•3) Elizabeth, married Hon. Burton Craige, 
 of Salisbury; i^sue: [:i] Jamos; [li] Kerr, a 
 prominent lawyer, in Legislature from Rowan, 
 declined nomination foi' (^ingress; married .lo- 
 se[)hine, daugbt(M-or (J(>n. L. O'B. IJratiob, and 
 their children are Nanni(\ Bui'ton, Branch, Jo- 
 sephine, Bessie an<l Kerr; [cj Frank, married 
 [1877]'' Fannie Williams, (jf Williamsport, 
 Tenn., ba\e three children; [d] Mary Eliza- 
 beth, married Alfred Young, of Cabarrus, and 
 have Lizzie, Fannie, Annie and .Mary; [e] An- 
 nie, married to John 1'. Allison, of Conc(jrd. 
 
 (7) Alexander. 
 
 (ti) Sarah, married John McDowell, of 
 Burke; they have seven children, noneof whom 
 are married; James E , Margaret, dolm, Wil- 
 li;\ni, Fraid< ]']lizal)eth and Kate. 
 
 [E] Ann, the fifth and last child of Martin 
 Phifer, jr., born March 8th, 1788, died at 
 Lancaster, S. C, .luly 1st, 1855; married John 
 Crawford, of Lancaster, brother of William, 
 who married her sister .Mary. 
 
 Lssue: [1] Martin married Alice ILirris, tliey 
 ha<l four children: Charles Harris, married Sa- 
 die Baskins; Anne, James and John. 
 
 [2] Elizabeth, married George Witherspoon, 
 a lawyer of Lancaster, S. C, where they live, 
 they have four children: John, who married 
 Addie White, of Rock Hill, S. C; James, An- 
 nie and George. 
 
 [8] Robert, married Malivia Massey, and 
 have three children: Martin, Robert and Ella. 
 They live in Lancaster, S. C. 
 
CIIAITER I. 
 
 M::^ 
 
 ALAMANCE COUNTY. 
 
 Ijinj^HIS COUXTY preserves the nu'inories printed." These principles were deridi'd !)y 
 
 ^^^ of the first conflict of arms between tiie imperious Tryon, and terminated in open 
 
 'il^^f the Hoyal Troojis of Enghuid, [16th conflict of arms. The lleguiators were van- 
 
 f\ May, 1771,] and tiie people of the quisliod hy sn|>erior force and discipline, but 
 
 Colonies. Then and there was the the ijroat germs of right and liberty were 
 
 g first blood of tlie Colonists spilled in the firmly planted in their minds, and a few years 
 
 i United States, in resistance to the oppres- hiter bore the fruits of victory and independ- 
 
 sions of the English Government and the ence. Had this battle terminated differently, 
 
 exactions of its unscrupulous agents. Tryon, (and underskilful leaders,and at a laterperiod, 
 
 the Royal Governor of the Province of North this would have been the case,) the banks of 
 
 Carolina, exhibited in his administration the the Alamance would have rivaled Bunker 
 
 bloodthirsty temper of " the great wolf," as he Hill and Lexington; and the name of Hus- 
 
 was so aiipropriatcly termed by the Indians of bands, Merrill and Cildwell would have ranked 
 
 the State. with the Warrens and Piitnams of a later 
 
 The officers of the Government, by exactions day. 
 in the shape of fees and taxes, grieviously op- A writer on North Carolina History, as to 
 pressed an industrious and needy people. The this revolt, states that " the cause of tiie Reg- 
 people bore these exactions with patience; re- ulators lias been the subject of much unmerited 
 inonstrating in their public meetings, in re- obloquy, clouded as it has been by the heavy 
 spectful hut decided terms. This simple-minded pages of Williamson an<l Martin, and the ig- 
 people, without aid from much learning or norant disquisitions of untutored scribblers. 
 books, knew and laid down the great funda- Altliough on the occasion they were over- 
 mental principles of good government, "that thrown, their principles were intimately con- 
 taxation and representation should go together, iiected with the chain of events that directly 
 that the people had the right to resist taxa- led to the Revolution, and struck out that 
 tion when not imposed by their legal repre- spark of independence which soon blazed from 
 sentatives. and also the right to know for what Ma.ssa(diusetts to Georgia." (Jos. Seawell 
 purpose taxes were imposed, and how appro- Jones' Defence of North Carolina.) 
 
2 _ WIIEELEirS UEMINISCEXCES. 
 
 For Time at last sets all things even, -. They never fail who die 
 
 And if we do but watch the hour, I" •' gi"e»t cause: 
 
 There never yet was human power, Elapse, and oli^^ shaTas da^' a doom. 
 
 That could evade if unforgiven, They but augment the deep and sweeping thoughts 
 
 The patient search, the vigil long, iy?"*^'^ overi)ower all otliers. and conduct 
 
 ^f,. , , *' The world at last to freedom. '"— 
 
 Of him who treasures up a wrong. r Byron 1 
 
 I copied from the Rolls Office when iti Eng- This comity was long the residence of 
 land, a dispatch from tlie Royal Governor of Thomas Ruffin. [Born 1787— Died 1870.] 
 North Carolina, (Martin) dated nillsboro, On entering the Supreme Court room of 
 30th August, 1772, never before published, ^"orth Carolina, now more than fifty years 
 The Governor describes his journey to the -''&") '^^'e observed on the bench of this exalted 
 western part of North Carolina, through the tribunal the conmianding person of Thomas 
 Moravian settlements, which he pronounces Kuffiu, for twenty years one of the Justices of 
 " models of industry," to Salisbury. He that Court, and for many years its Chief Jus- 
 passed through the region of the late disturb- ticc. During this long period he was called 
 ances. He records: " My eyes have been opened ^^P"" to decide questions involving (he life and 
 in regard to these commotions. These people interest of individuals, and complicated and 
 have been provoked by the insolence and intricate points of constitutional, common and 
 cruel advantages takeu of their ignorance by statute law. The able opinions delivered by 
 mercenary, tricking attorneys, clerks, and other him have established his reputation as one of 
 little officers, who have practiced upon them the first jurists of his age in this or any other 
 every sort of rapine and extortion. The re- country. His opinions are models of learning 
 sentment of the Government was craftily a"d 'ogio, and are quoted as authority not only 
 worked up against the oppressed; protection '" our own courts but in those of other coun- - 
 denied to them, when they expected to tries. Recently one of the Justices of the 
 find it, and drove them to desperation, which Supreme Court of the United States, on read- 
 ended in bloodshed. My indignation is not i"S one of Judge Ruffin's opinions, pronounced 
 ly disarmed, but converted into pity." him " one of the ablest common law-jurists in 
 
 on 
 
 Thus by the highest cotemporaneous au- America." 
 
 thority are the acts and principles of the Reo-- I" his ministration of the law he was by 
 
 ulators fully justified. These acts were but con- ^ome considered stringent and at times severe, 
 
 necting links in the chain of events which led ''Ut he was always conscientious and inflexibly 
 
 to the Revolution. Soon followed the events J"*^t. 
 
 on the Cape Fear in 177:2-73 and 74, then the ^^^ ""'S i"'t demonstrative in his feelings, 
 
 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence of hut was cautious in his words and acts, select 
 
 20th May, 1775, then the actual conflict of arms ''^"^^ sincere in his friendships, and steadfast in 
 
 at Moore's Creek in February, 177G. All acts his attachments. 
 
 done in North Carolina, with few exceptions, I" his finances he was prudent even to rigid 
 
 before any similar events had occurred else- economy. This he adopted as a principle, not 
 
 where in this country-. How bright are such believing in wastefulness or extravagance, 
 
 glorious records and how proud are we of the ^^^^ house was open to his friends and was well 
 
 memories of the people who present them to known as the abode of unstinted hospitality, 
 
 coming posterity ! He was exact and precise in his engagements, 
 
 and punctual in performance. 
 
 In person he was spare, uniform and neat in 
 
ALAMANCE COUNl'Y. '^ ~ 3 
 
 his dress, of a presence at once striking, com- Court the served his fellow citizens us presiding 
 
 niaiiding and venerable. To many who knew Judge of the county court. In the Spring of 
 
 them both, he resembled, not only in mental 18(11, he attended that barren convention at 
 
 qualifications but in person, Thomas Jefferson; Washington, "The Peace Congress," with 
 
 both highly educated; both of the same profes- John M. Morehead, David S. Keid, Daniel M. 
 
 8ion;both of thesame political faith;both, in all TJarringer, and George Davis as colleagues. 
 
 the domestic relations of life, devoted and af- " The judicial ermine so long and so worthily 
 
 fectionate,aud both natives of the same State; worn," says Mrs. Spencer, " not only Bbielded 
 
 and in person about same height, same colored him, but absolutely forbade all active partici- 
 
 hair, and the same expression of countenance, pation in party politics." T5ut he was no idle 
 
 iiidicatinggreat energy, re;5olution anddecision or unititerosted spectator of the current of 
 
 of character. events. He was opposed to nuUitication in 
 
 Not only as a jurist was .Judge Ruffin dis- 1832, and did not believe in the rights of se- 
 
 tinguished, but as an able financier, and skilful cession in 1860. In private circles he combatted 
 
 and successful as an agriculturist. both heresies with all that" inexorable logic" 
 
 lie was born in King and (^ueen county, which the fjondon 7'')n('5 declared to be charac- 
 
 Virginia, 17th November, 1787, the eldest son teristic of his judicial opinions, lie declared 
 
 of Sterling and Alice Euffin. lie graduated " the sacred right of revolution " as the remedy 
 
 at Princeton, 1805. Read law with David for the redress of our grievances. 
 
 Robinson, an eminent lawyer in Petersburg, But the cloud in the political horizon grew 
 
 in same office at the same time with AYinfield thicker and heavier. When the State took 
 
 Scott. He came to North Carolina in 1807 the final stop of secession, he felt it to be a 
 
 with his father and settled at Qillsboro, where duty to follow her fortunes, 
 
 he married on 7th December, 1809, Ann, eldest He was elected to the State Convention at 
 
 daughter of William Kirkland, by whom he Raleigh, and voted for the Ordinance of Se- 
 
 had a large family of thirteen children, cession. Then was his last public service, 
 
 among them was William Kirkland, (recently He was a communicant of the Episcopal 
 
 deceased;) Sterling; Peter Brown; Thomas; Church, and warmly attached to that mode and 
 
 John, doctor; Mrs. Roulhac; Ann, who mar- form of worship; but liberal and tolerant to 
 
 ried Paul C. Cameron; Alice died unmarried; the worth and virtues of other denominations, 
 
 Mrs. Brodnax; Mrs. Edmund Ruffin; Patty, and in the consolations of Christian faith and 
 
 (unmarried;) Sally married Upton B.Gynn, Jr. hopes of its promises, in the full possession of 
 
 He was elected to the Legislature from his mental faculties, in charity and peace with 
 
 Hillsboro in 1813, 1815 and 1816; the latter all, he died on 15th January, 1870, at Ilills- 
 
 year he was chosen Speaker; and the same year boro, loved and lamented by all who knew 
 
 elected Judge of the Superior Court, which him. 
 
 after two years' service he resigned. In 1825 sure the end of the good luan is peace, 
 
 v,„ ,.. .„ „„„;„ „i„„f„,i T,,^i ,,, ,,^A ;., 1UOO ,.,,„ How cahu hia exit ! Nisht dews 
 
 he was agam elected Judge, and m 1829 was j.^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ge,,t,y ^^ ^,,^ „^.,^^,,^^i 
 
 elected one of the Justices of the Supreme Nor weary, worn out winds expire more soft. 
 Court, to till the vacancy occasioned by the Rufus Yancy McAden represented Ala- 
 death of Judge Taylor, which in 1852 he re- niance County in 1865, and was elected Speaker 
 signed. He was again elected in 1850, and of the House. 
 
 again resigned in 1858. For several years after He graduated at Wake Forest College, 
 
 bis retiring from the bench of the Supreme studicvl law and achieved prominence and posi- 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 tion at the bar; liut liis fame rest3 cliiefly on 
 his reputation as a skilful financier. He is the 
 grandson of the distinguislied statesman and 
 orator, Bartlet Yancy, and inherits much of 
 the ability of his distinguished ancestor. 
 
 Thomas Michael Holt was bom in Orange 
 Count}', now Alamance County, on 17th Octo- 
 ber, 1855; is by occupation a farmer and a man- 
 ufacturer. 
 
 He is the President of the State Agricultural 
 Society since 1872. He is the princii)al owner 
 of the "Haw Eiver Mills," which lias done 
 much to encourage the cotton manufactories 
 
 in the South. They are an ornament to tlie 
 State. He was elected President of tlie 
 North Carolina Railroad in 1874; and sena- 
 tor from Alamance and Orange in Novem- 
 ber, 187G. He is by all acknowledged to be 
 afarmer of unequalled success; a manufacturer 
 of great skill, and a friend and patron of in- 
 ternal improvement, believing with the poet 
 that — 
 
 Art, commerce and fair science, three, 
 
 And sisters linked in love, 
 They traverse sky, land and sea. 
 
 Protected from above. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 ANSON COUNTY. 
 
 Anson at one time [1740] comprehended 
 the whole western part of tlie State. Its early 
 history is full of incident, of the sturdy oppo- 
 sition of her sons to oppression, and .sympathy 
 with the Regulators of Orange County against 
 the unrighteous exactions of the administra- 
 tion of the Government officers, which rose to 
 such a height that the people in 1768 entered 
 the court liouse and by force violently expelled 
 the officers of the court, and each took an oath 
 of self-defence and mutual protection. 
 
 I copied from the Rolls Office in England 
 the oath prescribed, transmitted to the Earl 
 of Hillsboro by Gov. Tryon, in a disjiatcli 
 dated 
 
 " Brunswick, 24^/( Dec, 17G8. 
 "I do solemnly swear that if awy officer or 
 any other person do make distress of any goods 
 or any other estate of any person sworne here- 
 in, being a subscriber, for non-payment of 
 
 taxes, that I will, with sufficient assistance, go 
 and take, if in my power, the goods or other 
 property thus distressed, and restore the same 
 to the party from whom the same was taken. 
 And in case anyone concerned herein should 
 be imprisoned, or under arrest, I will immedi- 
 ately do my best endeavours to raise as many 
 of the said subscribers as will be a force suffi- 
 cient to set said person and his estate at lib- 
 erty. If any of our company for such acts be 
 put to any expense or confinement, I will bear 
 an e<iual share to make up the losses to the 
 sufferer. 
 
 "All those I do promise, and subscribe my 
 name." 
 
 This paper has never before been published. 
 
 In a memorial of the people,of Anson County 
 to Gov. Tryon, they comi)lain of the conduct 
 of " Col." Samuel Spencer, the clerk and mem- 
 ber of the county, who purchased his office of 
 Col. Frohawk, and gave £150 for it, and they 
 allege that the people should not be taxed but 
 by consent of themselves or their delegates, 
 
ANSON COUKTY 
 
 aiul ihey recoiiiuioiKl that: the niagistratos, 
 ck'ik. and ."heriffshoulil he elected bi/ the people." 
 
 What an earl\- and rapid stride did those 
 patriuiic men take, at this early day, in tlio 
 right of tlio [leoplo to ,<;overn themselves, and 
 deciarj a priiiciple that fifty years after hecamo 
 tlie law of the land! 
 
 I find anions^ the early reci)rds the name 
 Jame-- Cctten, and from curiosity more than a 
 liope tiiat the memory of such a man may be 
 i;sei"r.!, wo piesent his infamous eoiidnct. "We 
 could wisli in describing the men of onr State, 
 to present only the patriotic, the virtuous, and 
 t!ic gc;od; and, like tlio motto of the Roman 
 snii-dial — 
 
 " !Xon nuiHero horas, nisi Serenas.'" 
 
 But truth demands that we should present 
 facts. Such men as Gotten, in these perilous 
 times, were only 
 
 " Vermin gendered on the Lien's mane— " 
 whose acts consign them to contempt. 
 
 Am.ong the Colonial records in London, I 
 find the following letter: 
 
 " Cruiskr Sloop of War, 
 
 " 21 Juh/, 1775. 
 " I have received your letter of the 15th 
 inst., by Mr. Cunningliam, and highly approve 
 of your proper and spirited conduct, while I 
 cannot sufficiently express my indignation and 
 contempt of the proceedings of Captain-Gen- 
 eral Spencer and his unworthy confederates. 
 Yon and other friends of the Government 
 have only to stand yonr ground lirndy ! 
 
 '• Major Snead may be assured ol' my atten- 
 tions to all his wishes. 
 
 '• T l;og my compliments may be piresented 
 to Colonel MacDonald. 
 '■ I am, Sir, 
 
 " Yourhumlde servant, 
 
 "Jo. M.^RTIN. 
 
 " To Lt. Col. James Gotten, 
 
 " Anson Co., N. C." 
 
 I found, also, among the Colonial records in 
 London, the deposition of James Gotten, 
 
 * For copy of this memorial, sec Wheeler's History 
 of N. C. 11:2.1. 
 
 taken 14th Aug., 1775, on boai'd of IlisMajes- 
 ty'ssloop of war, the " Cruiser," wbei'c he had 
 heen for succor and for safety. Anson County 
 had becon:e ratlicr too hot for him, which 
 proves the determined spirits of the patriots, 
 and whose names should he cherished in his- 
 tory. Tbis deposition states->- 
 
 " I was called before tlie committee for 
 Anson C'OUnty; and Samuel S[>encer, thv; chair- 
 man, stated that they had sent for me as fine 
 of the luirgcsses of the county, to know if I 
 would sign and approve of the resolves of the 
 Continental C-ongiess, wliich were read to me 
 by Mr. Thomas Wade. I refused. They said 
 tliat the}' should pi'oceed against me, and gave 
 me two weeks to consider. 
 
 •' On the Tuesilay following, David Love, 
 accompanied by William Love, Samuel Curtis, 
 William Covington, and another, all armed, 
 came to my house and took me, nolens volenx, 
 towards Mask's Ferry, on the Pedee. 
 
 " I escaped from them, traveling as secretly 
 as possible, sleeping in the woods at niglit, 
 and reached this \'cssel on Sunday night last." 
 
 Dep)ositi(Mi of Samuel Williams, who es- 
 caped with Colonel Gotten, taken at the same 
 time and place: 
 
 From dispatch of Gov. Martin, dated — 
 
 " New York, 15//* Sept., 1777. 
 
 " Two vessels have arrived here from North 
 (Carolina, bringing refugees. 
 
 "A Mr. James Gotten, of No. Ca., who went 
 hence some time ago, will pi'obably have waited 
 on your Lordship. 
 
 " He is a man of vulgar life and character, 
 and is a native of New England, and I do not 
 estimate him very highly." 
 
 We now will bid " Good-bye to James." 
 Allusion has been made to Samuel Spencer. 
 He was a member of the Colonial Assembly 
 at an early day, and in 1774 elected to the 
 Provincial Congress at N^ew Lerne, which was 
 the first organized movement of the people in 
 a legislative capacity in open opposition, and 
 independent of the lioyal Govertiment. This 
 hody sent delegates to the Continental Gon- 
 <rres3 at Philadcl;i!iia. 
 
6 AYIIEELER'S KEMINISCEXCES. 
 
 It may be interesting for reference, to note ding and the red cap for a challenge to l)at- 
 
 tho Provincial Congresses, the place and time tie, made so violent and unexpected an attack 
 
 +■,. , n J? i. , t/ It 1 • 1 x> 1 ii 0" his Honor, that lie was thrown out of his 
 
 troni the nrst to the hist, which tornicd the . ■ ^i ii t i i- i ,, / 
 
 . . chair on the floor, and before he could get any 
 
 Constitution. assistance, so lieat and bruised him tliat he 
 
 l>t met on 25th August, 1774, Xcw Berne; died in a i'cw days." 
 
 2d met on 4th April, 1775, Now Berne; 3d A Philadelphia paper, at the time, as to this 
 
 met on 21st August, 1775, Ilillsboro; 4th met occurence, makes the foUowingjat iresprU. 
 
 on 12th April, 177G, Halifax: 5th met on 12th t +1 v i„ „ ^ 
 
 ^ _' ' ' ' lu this degenerate age, 
 
 Xovember, 1776, Halifax: which latter body What hosts of knaves engage, 
 
 ,, 1 X, ,-, . • , T , -r- , And do all they can 
 
 lormed tiie Constitution on 18th December, To fetter liraver men; 
 
 i77(j DreadinR they should be free. 
 
 Leagued willi the scoundrel pack, 
 
 lie was repeatedly elected to the State Even turkey cocks attack 
 
 The red cap of Liberty. 
 In this county resides Thomas Samuel Ashe. 
 
 Congresses, and in 1777 was chosen one of the 
 
 three judges of the Suiu^rior Courts, first 
 
 . , , 1 ,, ] ,, ,,, , ,, ,., .. ,-1 one ot the Associate Justices of the Supreme 
 
 elected under the State Constitution, wliich '■ 
 
 , ^ •,. , , , -, ,•, 1 • 1 .1 Court of North Carolina. 
 
 eie\ateil posuion he held until his death. 
 
 TT \ .■ ., .• ^ -Tbe maxim is correct in history as in other 
 
 He was a member ot the convention at ^. •' 
 
 matters, " Vivoilrs voii licet ritimiiim I'ladarc.^'' 
 
 But our Reminiscences of the State would 
 
 Ilillsboro, in July, 1788, to deliberate upon 
 
 the Fedora! Constitution, its able and active 
 
 T ^ -1 ,. I XI . ■. be incomplete witlnnit a sketch of this worthy 
 
 opponent, and contributed greatly to its re- ... . ', 
 
 jection. 
 
 Ot Ills character and career as a judge (sine 
 
 citizen. In doing so, however, the advice of 
 Othello will bo observed : 
 
 of iliis early day thci'e do not exist any • Speak of me as I am; 
 
 ,. ^," n' • • ,. , , Nothing extenuate, or set down aught in malice, 
 
 reports ot tiie decisions irt the courts) we 
 
 kmnv but little; but fr.im his long exercise There is no name more familiar to tlie peo- 
 oi this high office with the approbation and pie of North Carolina, or more highly appreci- 
 respect of liis associates, he was esteemed a ated by them, than that of Ashe. In every 
 faithful and able jurist. He died in 1794. contest for liberty, from the earliest period of 
 The account of the singular cause of his death, o"'" bistory, whether on tlie field of actual bat- 
 as stated in my History of North (Carolina, tie or in the conflicts of politics, there is no 
 having been doubted, we extract from the peri;>d when persons of this name have not 
 Fayetteville G-izcllc of 17;>4 the following: ]>een first ;ind foremost in the defence of our 
 " I)ii:u.-At his .seat in Anson County on the country's rights and liberty, and in the prompt 
 2oth ulto., the Honorable Samuel Spencer, resistance to oppression. In grateful apipreci- 
 L. L. D,, and one of the Judges of the Superior ation, the State has preserved the name of 
 
 Courts of this State. His Honor's health had a 1 1 • •, • -j. i- 1 ^■ 
 
 1 1 1- • r 1 ,. i. , , Ashe, bv inscrilnng it on one ot lier counties 
 
 been declining tor about two years, i)nt he * 
 
 performed the" last circuit three months since, ''^"^^ '^'" two of her m^)st flourishing towns.* 
 
 and we understand intended to have left home Surely, then, none of ns of the present age, 
 
 in:! few days for this town, where the Superior .yh,, have iniierited the rich legacy won bv 
 
 Courtis now sitting, had it not been for the , . „. 1 , • , , 1 ,. 
 
 f )llowing accident Ivliich it is thought hast- *''''i'' ^''^'"''■' ''^"'^ *'''^'"' ^'''""^' '^''" ["}'''''' *^i^' 
 
 ened his death. respect and honor due to their sacrifices and 
 
 " He was sitting on the piazza with a red cap their valor. 
 
 on his hernl, when he attracted the attention of 
 
 a large turktw gobbler. The judge being sleepy 
 
 began to nod; the turkey mistaking the nod- * Asheville and Ashboro. 
 
AXSOX COUNTY. 7 
 
 The ancestor of tliis naino, Joliii B^.tistii and elsewhere. Wherever tliey have gone 
 
 Ashe, a century and a lialf a,<;-o, [1730,] op- they are respected for their virtues, and es- 
 
 posed the ahiises and usurpations of the Royal teemed for their abilities. They have occn- 
 
 Governor, Bnrrington, by wlioni he was op- pied, in tlieir adopted homes, positions of 
 
 pressed and imprisoned. His eldest son, in honor, trust, and prolit, illustrated and ele- 
 
 the earliest dawn of our Revolution, was the vated such positions, as Jones, in his Defence. 
 
 decided advocate and defender of popular lias expressed ir, " by genius, tnlent. ami ac- 
 
 rights, and the resolute and unyielding oppo- eomplishmcnts." 
 
 nent of tyranny and oiheial abuse. lie was Another son of John I'.aptista Ashe, and 
 the daring patriot that -'bearded tlie ]>oug- whose patrononiic the subject of our sketch 
 his in his castle," and defied " the wolf of the bears, was his direct ancestor. 
 State," Gov. Tryon, to execute tlie infamous Judge Ashe was born in June, 1<S12, at ilaw- 
 Stamp Act of his master. He seized, in his fields, then Orange County, now A'amance. 
 very presence, the stamp master, and con>- lie received his education from William 15ing- 
 pelled him to pledge himself not to execute ham, the elder, and at the University of the 
 the odious enactment. It was he that drove State, v>here he graduated with high honors 
 the last of the Roya.l Governors from his pal- in 1832, in the s;ime class with Thorn;. s L. 
 ace, destroyed his fort, and compelled him to Ciingnum, James C. Dolibin, Jolni Jl. i laugh- 
 seek refuge on hoard of the English man-of- ton, Cadwallader Jones, and other.s. Those 
 war in the Cape Fear River. For these acts who kn<iw these names, and their splendid en- 
 he was denounced by the Government in a dowments, an.l their briliiaut career in life. 
 Royal proclamation. In the cause of popular will ai)preciato the honor attained in such 
 rights he v/as willing " to spend and be spent," eompotition. He read law with Judge Huflin, 
 and did spend his sul)stance, and was ready to with whom he always was a special favorite. 
 lay down his life in the cause of the people. After being licensed to practice law, by the 
 Uis course and conduct received, as it deserved, Supreme Court, he settled at Wadesboro, 
 the support of the people. " They loved him where he now resides. He was elected a 
 because he first loved them." " Xone feared member of the House of Commons in 1842, 
 to follow where an Ashe led." So far from and a member of the Senate in 18.^4. 
 heeding or f^e:irin.g the fuhninations of power. In the troubled times of the civil war, he 
 he resigned the commission he had held in the was elected a member of the Confederate 
 Royal service, and by pie Iging his estate be Congress, and in 18G4, a member of the Con- 
 soon raised a regiment, which he was unani- federate Senate, but never took his seat, 
 mously called to command, and rendered im- In 1808, he was nominated to lead a forlorn 
 portant services in the Revolutionary Yfar to hope,astheI)emocraticcan(lidateforGovernor, 
 the dav of his death. in o[iposition to Governor Ilolden, and made a 
 
 "This family," says .Mr. Davis, in bis ad- gallant, Init unsuccessful, campaign. In i.s72, 
 
 dress at the University, [1855,] '-contributed he received the unexpected and unsolicited 
 
 largely to the cause of the country in the nomimiti on for tiie Congress of the United 
 
 Revolution— every grown mule of the fam- States; and again in 1874. Ho was triuniph- 
 
 ily." Deep, then, should he our gratitude, antly elected, and served faithfully and u.<e- 
 
 They and their descendants have since per- fully. No member of either party stood higher 
 
 vaded our country, from the Cape Fear to the in Congress for integrity, intelligence, and 
 
 mountains; to Teimes.soe, California, Missouri, fidelity to the Constitution. A mendjcr of 
 
8 WHEELER'? KKMINISOENCES. 
 
 one of til" iiKist iiiiiKirtaut <('niiiiittoes (t'le Biirgwin, niul lias a lari!:e niid interesting fam- 
 
 .Tuiliciavy), liu cniuiaiuled tlio rnniideiH-o and ily. IIo i.s a nienihcr of tho Ei-iscoi-al Clini-eli, 
 
 respeft of his ass-ciatos, and ninny of their and a consistent and sinecre follower of its 
 
 most important re'iiortswere the vesnlts of his saerod tenets. 
 
 aeninon and jiatieiit investigation. Ur was We eonclndc our feeble sketch in the words 
 
 most attentive to these onerous duties; al- of Cardinal Wolsey of Sir Thomas More : 
 
 ways punctual in his attendance, and rendered He is a. leariiea niaii! 
 
 essential service in their delihci ations. May tie continue I.jue; in tlie i.eoi,le\s favor, _ 
 
 Anil do justice for tnitlis salce and Ins conscience; 
 
 After four years' service in Congress, to the Th;it liis lioues, wlien lie lias done his cour.'^e and sleeps 
 
 universal and profound regret of Ins associ- ]i>f.T.y liave'^Uniiirof orp'ians' tears wept over tliem. 
 
 ;'tes, he v,-as retired from Congress In tlio 
 
 ,. , . t\ ■ , , , [See Aiipendix, CcneaioaT ot the Aslie 
 
 nominatiiiLC convenlnni ot Ins district, and lie , . ^ 
 
 -, , , . ... , . , r Family. 1 
 
 returned to his pi-otession, which was tarmorc • -' 
 
 germane to his tastes ami his talents tlian the Richard Tyler Bennett was liorn near 
 
 iiustle and excitement of political strife. It is Wadeslioro. IR' was prejured for college by 
 
 well rememheicd by the writer of this sketch, the Anson In.stitiite, under the snpeniitend- 
 
 how universal and sincere, in Congress and out ence of Professor Mclver, and was for a time 
 
 of it, wei-o the expressions of regret at his re- a student at the University, llo read law 
 
 tirement. Th.^ prediction was then made under Chief Justice L'earson, and finished his 
 
 whirh soon became pro[iliecy, that "North legal studies at Lebanon College, Tennessee. 
 
 Carolina was too proud of such a son to allow He ardently entered the Confederate service 
 
 him to remain long in retirement; that soon in the Civil War as a private, refusing the po- 
 
 lie would lie called on to occupy other and sition of an otHeer ; but afterwards, from his 
 
 more elevated [lObitions." This prediction has gallantry and usefulness, was promoted to a 
 
 been verified; for. \\-ithout any intimation or colonelcy. He was engaged in sevt-ral battles, 
 
 exertion on bis part, in .Tune, 187S, be was severely wounded, and finally taken prisoner, 
 
 nominated by the State Convention, on the and confined in Fort Delaware until tlie close 
 
 first ballot, as one of the Associate Justices of of tlie war. 
 
 the Supreme Court, in preference to a score of Since the war he has continually resided <it 
 the ablest lawyers of the State. Wadosboi-o, and for some years was the part- 
 He was triumphantly elected, at the bead ner of Hon. Thomas S. Ashe, 
 of the ticket, by the peojile at the ptdls, and lie yvas a member of the Convention of 
 we predict, again, that the ermine v.-oru s > 1375, and of tl;e House in 187-j-'7-1:. He was 
 long and so gracefully by our Hall, IIe;ider- selected as elector for this [7th] district on 
 son, Taylor, Euitin, Daniel, Caston and otliers the Hancock ticket, and was doing yeouian's 
 will suffer no detriment from Judge Ashe. service in this position when he was n imi- 
 Judge Ashe is now in the meridian of life, iiated as Sup:'rior Court Judge, in [ilace of 
 and there are years of strem^tb and iisefu!ne-s Judge Buxton, resigned, in August, 18S0. 
 yet to be employed by him in the interest, of " He is," says tlie Charlotte Dcmorrdf, " a 
 the people of a State that love and honor him. gifted advocate, and highly esteemed liy the 
 He married a daughter of the late George profession." 
 
BEAUFOirr COUNTY. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 BEAUFORT COUNTY. 
 
 Beauiokt CoiNTY prcsoi'vcs the n;uiie Henry 
 Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, aiul although it 
 is not within our proposed project, ytt 
 we cannot refrain from recording, in a 
 short note, the woi'th and charaeter of this il- 
 histrioiis statesman. 
 
 AVe copy from the " (iuntk'man's Maga- 
 zine," (Loudon, 1803, vol. 73, S)94,) as a beau- 
 tiful description of a model gentleman: 
 
 " Died. — At his seat i'admenton. County of 
 Gloucester, on 11 Oct., 1803, in liis 59th year, 
 the most noble, Henry Sommerset, Duke of 
 Beaufort. 
 
 '•' His Grace will be much lamented Ijy his 
 family, friends, and Ins numerous tenantry. 
 lie maintained the dignity of liis station 
 rather by the noble simjilicity of his manners, 
 and his proverbial hospitality, thuii by any at- 
 tention to exterior splendor or display of fash- 
 ion. It was not his taste to solicit notice by 
 any of those attractions at which the public 
 gaze with temporary admiration. 
 
 " In politics, he snppnted a tranquil, digui- 
 iied iuclependence, and the support ho gener- 
 ally gave to His Majesties' ^Ministers, could 
 never be attributed to anj- motives but such 
 as wereperfecth' consistent with the integrity 
 wiiicli distinguished his life." 
 
 He was a distinguished Free Mason; was 
 Grand Master of England, and as such com- 
 missioned Grand Master Montford, of North 
 Carolina, in 1771, to estal)lish lodges in Amer- 
 ica, and from whom the Grand Lodge of 
 North Carolina holds its charter. He became, 
 by purchase of the Duke of Albemarle, pos- 
 sessed of the right as one of the Lord's Pro- 
 prietors of the Province, which in 1729, re- 
 vested in the crown. Worthy is the name 
 preserved in our State. 
 
 The capital of Beaufort preserves the name 
 {cl'iruin el veneruldc.) of the immortal Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 This name has been so frequently the sub- 
 ject of eulogy and admiration, that any at- 
 
 tem[)t to enlarge on his character and sersices 
 would be ridiculous excess. P>nt we cannot 
 refrain I'rom [jrinting and [ireserving the ex- 
 (piisite and truthful extract from Mr. JcfiVr- 
 
 sc:n's works: 
 
 J<'J}'crson\'< Character of Waslthiritoi). * 
 
 Letter IVoin Jefferson to Dr. Walter Jones, 
 2d Jan., 1814: 
 
 " I think I knew General Washington inti- 
 mately and thoroughly. His mind was great 
 and powerful without being of the ver\' first 
 order; his penetration strong, thougli not so 
 acute as that of a Newton, Bacon, or Locke, 
 and as far as he saw, no judgment was e\'er 
 sounder; it u'as slow in operation, being little 
 aided by invention or imagimition, but sure in 
 conclusion, hence the (;ommou remark of his 
 officers of the ailvantage he derived from 
 councils of war, where, hearing all suggestions, 
 he selected whatever was best, and certainly 
 ii(> General ever planned his battles more ju- 
 diciously. But if deranged during the course 
 of action, if any member of his plan was dis- 
 located by sutldeu circumstances, ho was slow 
 in a readjustment. The couse;pieuce was tliat 
 he often failed in the tield, as at Monmouth, 
 but rarely against an enemy in station, as at 
 Boston and York. He Avas incap.d)le of fe.ir, 
 meeting [levsonal danger with the calmest un- 
 concern. Perhaps the strongest feature in his 
 character was 'prudence; never acting until 
 every circumstance, every co:isideration, was 
 maturely weighed, refraining if he saw a 
 doubt; imt, when once decided, going through 
 with his purpose whatever obstacles opposed. 
 His integrity was most pure; his justice ninst 
 inflexible I have never known; no motives of 
 interest, or cons:inguinity of friendship or 
 hatred, i)cing able to bias his decision. He 
 was, indeed, in every sense of the word, a 
 wise, a good, and a great man. His temper 
 v>-as naturally irritable and high-toned; but 
 reflection and I'esolution had obtained a fii'm 
 and habitual ascendenc-y over it; if ever, 
 however, it brolce its bounds, he was most 
 
 ■■'FrdUi the Doniubtic Life of Tlios. Jcllerson, by liis 
 !Xran<luii.s;litei- Saral! N. Randolph; New York, Harper 
 & Urulhers, 1872, p. 356. 
 
10 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 tremendous in his wrath. In liis expenses he 
 was honorahle, but exact; liberal in contribu- 
 tion to whatever promised utility, but frown- 
 \u'j: and unyielding on all visionary projects, 
 and all unworthy calls on his charity. His 
 heart was not warm in its affections; but he 
 exactly calculated every man's value and gave 
 him solid esteem proportioned to it. His 
 presence, you know, was fine; his stature ex- 
 actly what one could wish. His deportment 
 was easy, erect, and noldc; the best horseman 
 of his age, and the most graceful figure that 
 could be seen on horseback. 
 
 " Althougli in the circle of. his friends, 
 where he might be unreserved in safety, he 
 took a free share in conversation, his collo- 
 quial talents were not above mediocrity, pos- 
 sessing neither copiousness of ideas nor fluency 
 of words. In public, when called on for a 
 sudden opinion, he was unready, short, and em- 
 barrassed; yet he wrote readily, I'athcr dif- 
 fusely, in an easy, correct style. This he had 
 acquired by conversation with tlie world, for 
 his education was merely reading, writing, 
 and common arithmetic, to which he added 
 surveying at a later day 
 
 " His time was employed in action cluefly, 
 reading little, and that only in agricultui'e and 
 English history. His correspondence became 
 necessarily extensive, and with journalizing 
 his agricultural proceedings, occupied most of 
 his leisure hours within doors. 
 
 " On the whole, his character was, in its 
 mass, perfect; in nothing bad; in a few points 
 indifferent, and it may ti-uly be said, that never 
 did nature and fortune combine more perfectly 
 to make a man great, and to place in the same 
 constellation with whatever worthies have 
 merited from man an everlasting remembrance, 
 for his was the singular destin}' and merit of 
 leading the armies of his country successfully 
 through an arduous war to the establisnment 
 of its inde[)endence; of conducting its coun- 
 cils through the birth of a Government, new 
 in its forms and principles, until it settled 
 down into a quiet and orderly train, and of 
 scrupulously obe^'ing the laws through the 
 whole of his career, civil and military, of 
 which the history of the world furnishes no 
 Other example. 
 
 " He has often declared to me that he con- 
 sidered our new Constitution as an experiment 
 on the practicability of republican govern- 
 ment, and with what dose of liberty man could 
 be trusted with for his own good; tbat he was 
 
 determined the experiment should have a fair 
 trial, and would lose the last drop of his blood 
 in support of it." 
 
 To a friend, on one occasion, Mr. Jefferson 
 exclaimed, in a burst of enthusiasm, "Wash- 
 ington's fame will go on increasing until the 
 brightest constellation in yonder heavens shall 
 be called l)y his name." 
 
 ' His memory sparkles o'er tlie fduntaiu,' 
 His iianiLVs inscrilied on loftiest mountain — 
 Tlie gciitU' rill, the miffhticst river, 
 Rolls niingted with his iiume forever I 
 
 AVashington, like the great patromia of Beau- 
 fort, was an enthusiastic Mason. 
 
 In the language of Mr. Knapp, in his admira- 
 ble sketch of Judge Gridley, Grand Master 
 of Massachusetts — 
 
 " It was fortunate for the Masonic frater- 
 nity that a man of such fine elements should 
 become engaged at this early period in the 
 cause of tlie craft; his weight of character, his 
 zeal and his ability to defend and support its 
 cause, was imi^ortant, and did much to diffuse 
 Masonic light and knowledge. This order of 
 benevolence had just been established in this 
 new world when he was appointed its Grand 
 Master, and he wore its honors unsullied to 
 the last hour of his life. His coadjutor in 
 planting and cultivating this exuberant vine 
 of charity, with whose fruit all nations have 
 been blessed, was the sage and patriotic Erank- 
 lin, under whose hands, by the smiles of Prov- 
 idence, its roots have struck deeper and 
 deeper, and its branches spread higher and 
 wider; while the fondest hopes of philanthropy 
 have been more than realized in the perma- 
 nency Slid the prosperity of our country and 
 our craft. If their spirits could revisit the earth 
 and take note of what is doing here, with 
 what joy would they witness the extension and 
 progress of every Ijranch of knowledge among 
 their descendants; and with what pleasure 
 would they count the number of charitable in- 
 stitutions which, like the dews of Heaven, so 
 gentl}' spread their blissful influences and shed 
 their healing balsams upon the wounds of 
 life. 
 
 "The history of benevolent and useful iu- 
 titutioiis are as valuable to the community as 
 are the lives of eminent men. These institu- 
 tions are like rivers which spring from remote 
 and hidden fountains, and are in their course 
 
BEAUFORT COUNTY. 
 
 11 
 
 enlarged by a thousand tributary streams, 
 wliic'h all uniLo iu one grand current, to swell 
 the amount of human happiness and lesson the 
 ills wliieh licsh is heir to." 
 
 This trutiiful eulogium may well be applied 
 to North Carolina, fcir the men who fought 
 for and framed her Constitution were earliest 
 and devoted friends to the cause of Free Ma- 
 sonry. Among her Grand Masters were Sam- 
 uel Johnston, [1788,] Kichard Caswell, [from 
 1789 to "92,] Wm. R. Davie, ['92 to 1799,] 
 William Polk, [1800 to 1802,] John Louis 
 Taylor, [1803,] John Uall, [1801,] Robert 
 Strange, [1824,] Edwin G. Reade, [1805,] 
 Robert B. Vance, [18(36.] 
 
 These distinguislied men were proud to lay 
 aside for a time the sword of the soldier, the 
 ermine of the judge, and the laurels of the 
 statesman, to labor as fellow-crafts in the 
 cause of " Free and Accepted Masons." 
 
 The craft is in a flourishing condition in 
 North Carolina. There are now about 400 
 Lodges and about 12,000 members, sustaining 
 in asylums at Oxford and Mars Hill 134 or- 
 phans, and advocated by the Orphans' 
 Friend, a periodical. 
 
 An incident worthy of record as to the hu- 
 manizing influence of Masonry, even in the 
 face of •' grim-visaged war," occurred at the 
 battle of Manassas. A gallant Georgia officer 
 was shot down as he was forming his company' 
 iu line of battle. He refused to be taken from 
 the field. His regiment, under an overwhelm- 
 ing charge ot the enemy, was compelled to 
 fall back, and the poor fellow, unable to move, 
 was made prisoner. He was about to be bay- 
 oneted, when he gave the Masonic sign of dis- 
 tress. The uplifted weapon fell harmless, and 
 he was taken up by brotherly hands, his 
 wounds attended to, and his sufferings allevi- 
 ated. This was Orderly Sergeant O. B. Eve, 
 of the Miller Rifles, of Rome, Georgia. 
 
 Many such incidents occurred at other 
 times and places, proving the influence and 
 value of Masonry. 
 
 The BiiOUNTS of Be.vufokt." 
 
 As early as 1782, General John Gray Blount 
 represented the county of Beaufort in the 
 Legislature. He was enterprising and success- 
 ful in business, and a large land owner. Ilis 
 father was Jacob Blount, who was an officer 
 at the battle of Alamance and in the Revolu- 
 tionar}' War. Jacol) was also the father of 
 Governor William Blount, (for .sketch of 
 whom see Craven,) who was Governor of Ten- 
 nessee, and of Thomas, who was a volunteer 
 in the Revolutionary arnu' at the age of six- 
 teen, and commanded as major at the battle 
 of Eutaw; was a member of Congress in 1793- 
 '99 and 180o-'09, and died at Washington 
 City 1812. Jacob was also the father of Wil- 
 lie Blount, Governor of Tennessee from 1809 
 to '1;'). 
 
 General William A. Blount, born 1794, died 
 1807, was the son of General John Gray 
 Blount, and was well known in North Caro- 
 lina, and much esteemed for his genial <iuali- 
 ties, his extended and varied abilities, and his 
 public services. At the early age of eighteen 
 he entered the army of the United States as 
 a subaltern, in the war of 1812, and continued 
 in the army until the war was over. Such 
 were his faithful services that he was promoted 
 to the rank of captain. 
 
 On his return from the a'-my he was elected 
 major-general of the third division of North 
 Carolina militia, a position at that time, in the 
 unsettled condition of our aft'airs, of much 
 distinction and responsibility. His next pub- 
 lic service was as a member of the Legislature 
 from Beaufort County, in 1825, and such was 
 the acceptabilit}' of his cour.se that he was re- 
 elected in 1826 and '27. 
 
 When in the [)ublic councils, he advocated 
 the most liljeral system of p)uLlic improve- 
 
 *We present under Craven County a careful and elab- 
 orate genealogy of the Blount family, which will, we 
 trust, be acceptable for reference and worthy of 
 study. 
 
12 WHEELEirS REMINISCENCES. 
 
 luents, and waw for years a member of the " Bein,<^- thus fathered ami thus husbanded" 
 
 Board of Internal Iiinir(_)veuieiits. He was the is the peerless rival of the Portias of ancient 
 
 devoted friend of public schools, and for a Rome. 
 
 lon<^ time a member t.if the Board of Trustees Mr. Cainbreling, of Xew York, born 178G, 
 
 [ap[)ointed 18"25] of the Universit3'; its steady, died 1862. 
 
 active, and consistent friend. Althougli the public services of Churchill 
 
 lie was intensely southern iu liis whole Caklom Cambreling have redounded to the 
 
 course of life; the active opponent of all pro- fame of another State, j-et lie is a native son of 
 
 tection and class legislation; tlie devoted ad- Nortli Carolina; and w^e believe in the divine 
 
 vocate of free trade and ihe rights of the injunction, to "give unto Caesar the things 
 
 States. His course in the Erce Trade Conveii- that are C;csar's." We interid to claim the 
 
 ti(_)n at i'hiladelphia, one of the ablest bodies merits, character, and services of every son of 
 
 that ever assembled in this country, proves his North Carolina, wherever we can find them, 
 
 ardent devotion to principle. The following is a partial list of the native 
 
 But it was at home, iu the exercise of the sons of North Carolina who have distinguished 
 
 kindly charities of life, tlieatfectionate parent, themselves as citizens of other States: 
 
 the obliging and sympliathizing neighbor, the Allen, William, (Oliio,) born in Chowan 
 
 sincere and uncalculating friend, his o}ien- Count}', 
 
 handed charity— ^ ^«'^®' J'^''" ^•' i^^ T^nn.,) New Hanover. 
 
 Cliarity that feels for another's woes, Bynum, Jesse, (La.,)_ Halifax. 
 
 .*.nd hides the faults that we see;— Benton, Tlios. 11., (of Mo.,) Orange. 
 
 ,, , • n 1 1 ii 1-^ 11 .. r Bragg, John, (Ala.,) Warren, 
 
 that specially marke<l the hie and character 01 th 1 i\t-\T .n^ , /-, 
 
 ^ •' BiDunts, Wilham, (Tenn.,) Craven. 
 
 General Wilham A. Blount. Willie, (Tenn ,) Bertie. 
 
 None that knew him (and the writer knew 
 him long and well) can ever cease to remem- 
 
 Cannon, Newton. (Tenn.,) Guilford. 
 
 ,. -.. Daniel, J. B, J., (La.,) Halifax, 
 
 ijer lii.-i gonial manner, Ins commanding pres- r^ / < i \ \ 
 
 . . Dargan, (Ala.,) Anson, 
 
 euce, and his knightly bearing. Darby (Miss.) 
 
 !Iis conversational powers were unrivaled; Dixon, Arcliiliald, (Ky.,) Caswell, 
 
 though often inei.sive, pointed and witty, they Eaton, John II., (Tenn.,) Halifax. 
 
 were never coarse or oifeusive. These quali- Etheridge, (of Tenn.,) Currituck, 
 
 ties made him always a welcome gue.st, and Forney, W. 11., (Ala,,) Lincoln. 
 
 '• tiie flashes of his wit often set the table in /i , .. i-j-i u m 
 
 Gently, Jncreditli 1., lennessee. 
 
 a Toar." Gause, (of Ark.,) Brunswick. 
 
 O;' him may be truly said as Anthony of the Grant, James, (Iowa,) Halifax. 
 
 noble Biutus— Ilawley, J. K., (Conn.,) Richmond. 
 
 — His life was gentle; and the elements Hawks, F. L., (N. Y.,) Craven. 
 So iiii.\ed iu him, that nature might stand up Bishoii (Mo ) Craven 
 
 And say to all the world, this was a Man. ' i' v^- "v 
 
 L.Julius Ca^sar, X,r,.] jaekson, Andrew, (Temi.,) Union. 
 
 He was twice married; first to Nancy Hay- Johnson, Andrew, (Tenn.,) W^ake. 
 
 wood, and second to AiissLittlejohn. By the King, Wm. R., (Ala.,) Sampson, 
 
 first he loft a son, Major Wm. A. Blount, ^^j_^^,^^ G-.ihvid, (Ala.) 
 
 and a daughter, Nancy, who still resides at Mosely, W. D., (Fla.,) Lenoir. 
 
 Raleigh, and who married the lamented Gen. piekens, .Israel, (Ala.,) Mecklenburg. 
 
 L. O'B. Branch. Polk, Jas. K., (Tenn.,) Mecklenburg.'" 
 
I5KAUF0RT CDUXTY. 13 
 
 Kuburn Win., (of Go.>i-!j;iu,) Halifax. Felix Walker of Vir.oinia was a nienilior of 
 
 Steele, J. H., (N. II.,) Uowau. *'- 1^'^'. [l^l'-'^^'l 1«^''- ^^-^l,] and 17th, 
 
 Stoker, MoHtford, (Ark.,) ['21-'23] Congress^. 
 
 Will. B., ('l\'nii.,) Flenry W. Connor, of Viriiiiiia, was a nieiii- 
 
 ,,.,., ,r ,, rv \T,.>i,n ber of the 19th, 20lli, 2lst, 2-2d, 2.-M, 24tii, 
 
 WInto, lluiili L., (leiin.,) liedell. , i ? > ; 
 
 Williams, Thomas, ( Miss.,) Surry. 25th, and 26th Congresses. 
 
 Benjamin, (Ala.,) Surry. Al)rani W. Veiiably, of Virginia, was a 
 
 • Marmaduke, (Ala ) Surry. niernb.-r of the 30th, [lS47-'49,] Slst, and 32d, 
 
 Wiley, J. Calebs born in Cabarrus County; ^ '^ 'j ' 
 
 niemlier of Congress from Alabama. Congresses. 
 
 liichard C. Puryear, of Virii'inia, was a luem- 
 
 I„ every portion of our nation may be found ^^^^^ ^ . ^,^^ ^^^^ [i8o3-'55] Congress, 
 
 some native sons of the State, who, although ^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^. j,,^^^^^ j^,^^^_^^^ ^^..^^ .^ 
 
 separated, have never eeased to love their ,„,„^,,<.,, „^ t,,, 35th Congress. 
 
 dear old mother; and who cherished to the ,^.^,^,,^^„.^,, ,5^,^.,!^,,,^ ,,f Massachusetts, David 
 
 last an abiding alfection tor her-a love un- j^^,^^^^^^^ ^,,. (3,,;,,. j,,!^,^ r^ peweese,of Arkan- 
 
 surpa.sii!g the K.ve of woman. ^,^^^ .^_^^^ j,^,^i^ j, i^^.^jj^h, of Xew Ilamp..liire, 
 
 We can say with .Kneas to bis ./„/,.. Arha- ^,^_^ „,e,nbcrs of the 40th [18C7 -'G9] C\.n- 
 
 Quis jam locus? ,, . » James C llari'cr, of reniisvlvaiiia was a 
 
 Oil* regis in tenis uostri, non plena laDoris.* ^ ' 
 
 member of the 41st [1871-7--!J Congress. 
 
 iN.u- has Xorth Carolina be.'ii selfish or churl- .^^^^^ ^,|^.^ , .^j, . (H^tinguished wherever they 
 
 ish to those of otlier Stales who have settled ^.^^.^^^^ |^^^. ^,^^^;,. i,,^!.;,,^;^^^ worth, their unobtru- 
 
 aiid made her borders their home. ^j^.^ demeanor, their abhorence of vice and 
 
 Of the members of the Continental Con- i,,^.^ (,f virtue, their tidelity to their promises 
 
 gress Burke was from Ireland; Caswell from ^^,^^, contracts, their obedience and respect to 
 
 Maryland; Hooper from MassachuseLls; Penii j.^^^._ .^,^_j ^^,,,^.,j elevated by a:i aiii)reciative 
 
 from \'irgiiiia; Willi imson from I'ennsylva- j^.oplo, have been always eq-tal to and never 
 
 "i:i- above or below th.; position they oceuiiied, 
 
 Neither of the signers of the Declaration of ^^^^^ aiseliargcd every duty with integiity, in- 
 
 Independeiice for Nortli Carolina was a native t.^iio-once, to the satisfaction, and a[)prob:ition 
 
 of the State, llewes was a native of New ^^^. ''^,^^;,. ,,o„stituteuts, and honor to the 
 
 Jersey: Hooper, of Massachusetts; Penii, of ^.^^mij-rv 
 
 ^ ''"J^""'^- To return to our subject: Mr. Cambreling 
 
 l'enn,of Virginia, also signed the Constitu- ^^..^^ .^ member of Congress from New York 
 
 tion as a Delegate from North Carolina. ^^.-^^^^ f,,^,,^^ ;^^^21 to 1839; chairman of the 
 
 Of the 1st Congress, [1789 to 1791,] Samuel (jommitteeof Ways and Means at one time^ 
 
 Johnston was a native of Scotland; Hugh .„,j „f p^oreign Affairs, which important posts 
 
 Williamson, of Pennsylvania. ^^.^^.^ evidence of the higli appreciation of his 
 
 Of the Gth Congress, [1799-1801,] William transcendent ability as a statcBnian. In 1840 
 
 H. Hill was a native of Massachusetts. j^^ ^^,.^^ appointed Minister to Russia. 
 
 Of the 10th Congress, James Turner was a jjj^ ,^.^,^^^ ^^..^^ .lerived from his great- 
 native of Virginia, grandfather, Cluircbill Caldom, whose father 
 
 eiune from Sc^otlaiid ami settled on Pamlico 
 
 *Wliat i)l:ice, wliat countrv. on tlie clobe is not full ,.. ,-\ ^\ t , 1 r 1 .1 
 
 of our labors -Vhgill, 4.^ii. liiver. On the maternal line he was the 
 
•14 
 
 WIIEELEK'S KEMIXISCEXCES. 
 
 graiulsoM of John J'attnii, a gnllant oftifer of 
 the Revohition, nuijor of 2d Keoinieiit of the 
 X. C. Line in the Continental Armj, and 
 was engaged in the liatth'S of Bi'andywine, 
 Geniiantown and Monmontli. Tie was horn 
 in Washington, ]]eanfort C'>unty, X. C, 
 and educated in Xew Berne. From tlie 
 situation of liis family, for he ^\■as early 
 an or[ihan, he left school hef'.)re his edu- 
 cation was con}[ilete, and went into a store as 
 a clerk, llenioved in 18i)2 to Xew York, and 
 engaged in niereaiitile pursuits with John 
 Jacob Astor, and as his confidential clerk trav- 
 eled extensively over tlie world. His reports 
 in Congress, especially on commerce and navi- 
 gation, were models of research and logic, and 
 were re[iul)lislied in England. He died at 
 West Xeck, Xew York, on 30tli Api'il, ls62. 
 (See " Demo. Review," VII, Xo. 14 — '' Laa- 
 man'.s Biographical Annals.") 
 
 George K. B. Singletary. — On the Sth June, 
 1862, in a skirmish which ensued across Tran- 
 ter's Creek, near Washington, in tins county, 
 hetween the 44th Xorth Carolina and a heavy 
 force of LTnion tr<)0|)s, fell tlu^ gallant com- 
 mander of the Xorth Carolina troops, Colonel 
 Singletary. 
 
 Colonel Singletary was an experienced and 
 gallant ofJicer, and had seen some service in 
 the war with Mexico. 
 
 Colonel S. was tlie oldest son of an P^pisco- 
 pal clergyman, and much esteemecl for his 
 legal ui;quirements and his genial social 
 temper. 
 
 He had married Cora, ehlest daughter of 
 Governor .Manly. 
 
 He was succeeded by his younger brother in 
 command of the regiment. 
 
 Captain John Julius Guthrie who was 
 drowned near Xag's Head in Xoveraber, 1877, 
 while endeavoring to succor the passengers 
 and crew of the U. S. Steamship "Huron," 
 was a native of the town of Washington, the 
 son of Dr. John W. Guthrie and his wife 
 
 Elizahi'th, daughter of Captain William Mc- 
 Daniel. 
 
 Captain Guthrie was no ordinary man, and 
 well deserves remembrance for his virtues in 
 l)rivate life, and his heoric gallantry. His 
 education was conducted by Rev. Dr. Wm, 
 MePheeters at Raleigh, and in 1833 he wasj 
 appointed a i;adet at West Point; hut prefer- 
 ing the adventurous life of a sailor, after one 
 year's probation at West Point, his friends 
 procured in 1834 a midshipman's warrant in 
 tlie Xavy. He served with great acceptability 
 at home and abroad, especially in the war 
 with Mexico, and in the Anglo-French war 
 in China; when our flag was insulted, displayed 
 great gallantry and captured Barrier Forts, 
 hauling down the Cliina flag, which trophy he 
 presented to the State, and for which he re- 
 ceived the thanks of the Legislature. 
 
 The following is a copy of th(! letter of the 
 Governor, and of the resolutions of the Legis- 
 lature: 
 
 Testimony to Gallantry. 
 
 [Cominunicateil to the Xatioual Intelligencer.] 
 
 E.XEcuTivB Department, 
 . Rfilcu/h, Atio;. 23, 1859. 
 
 Sir: I have this day received from Capt. A. 
 J. Lawrence a Chinese flag, taken by you in 
 an assault upon the barrier forts in the Canton 
 river in Xovember, 185G, by tlie forces of the 
 United States ships "San Jacinto," -'Ports- 
 mouth," and "Levant," as a present in your 
 name to the State of Xorth Carolina. 
 
 Having been apprised of your desire to 
 make this disp!)sition of the flag, the last Gen- 
 ei-al Assembly, by resolutions, authorized nie 
 to receive it from you in behalf of the State, 
 and at the same time to express to you the 
 liigh appreciation of that liodv of your gal- 
 lantry on the occasion referred to. and of this 
 evidence of your veneration for the State of 
 your birth. 
 
 Believing that I cannot discharge this pleas- 
 ing duty in a more acceptable manner tlian by 
 transmitting these highly complimentary reso- 
 lutions, I herewith enclose a copy of tiieni as 
 transcribed from the statute book. 
 
 These resolutions, I am well assured, are 
 
BEAUFORT COUNTY. 
 
 lA 
 
 none t!ie less expressive of the ?eiitinieiits of 
 the people of the State than of tlieir repre- 
 sentatives who enacted tliem; for they have 
 ever manifested a lively pleasure at the hon- 
 orahle distinctions achieved hy the sons of 
 North Carolina in every department of the 
 pnhlic service. Every distinguished action of 
 the citizens proves useful to the State in the 
 example it affords to t!ic youths of the 
 countr}', who arc thus apprised of the ixratify- 
 ing rewards that ever await a faithful ilis- 
 charge of duty. 
 
 This flag, so gallantly taken by you in the 
 niaintaiuanoe of the rights and iirotecticn of 
 the persons of American citizens in a distant 
 land, will he [ilaced among the valued treasures 
 of the State, and will he looked upon by 
 posterity, impressing all who may see it with 
 the sentiments of esteem iti which are held 
 the brave conduct of the faithful soldier in 
 the service of his country; and to our youths, 
 to whom from time to time the story of its 
 capture may lie narrated, will bo told that it 
 is a tro[)hy for which tliS State is indebted to 
 one of her courageous sons who entered the 
 service of the country when a mere boy, and 
 who, without the aid of fortune or the in- 
 fluence of powerful friends, won his way to 
 honorable distinction by his own upright 
 deportment and gallant spirit. Thus, sir, will 
 a valuable lesson be taught them, exciting in 
 their l)osoms a laudable ambition to emulate 
 like honorable actions. 
 
 Trusting that your career will prove one of 
 continued usefulness to the country and dis- 
 tinction to yourself, I have the honor to be, 
 verv respectful 1\', yours, &c., 
 
 joins' W. ELLIS. 
 
 Lieut. John Jclus Gutiikie, U. S. Xavy. 
 
 Resolutions autliorizins' the Governor of the State 
 to receive :i flag tendered to tlie State of North 
 Carolina by Lieut. Guthrie, of the U. S. Navy. 
 
 "Whereas John Julius Guthrie, a lieutenant 
 in the United States ^'avy and a native of the 
 Stat:- of North Carolina, now on ofHcial duty 
 at the National Observatory, AVashington, 
 D. C, did, on tlie 20( h day of November, 18.')0, 
 capture and carry off as a trojdn' of war a 
 Chinese flag from the first of four barrier forts 
 captured in a combined engagement bj' the 
 "San Jacinto," -'I'ortsmouth," and"Levant,"on 
 the part of the American naval force, and other 
 vessels under the command of Kear Admiral 
 Seymore. on the part of the Etiglish, in the 
 Canton River: 
 
 .\nd whereas the chastisement inflicted on 
 that occasion was in defence of American and 
 English citizens residing in that locality, an<l 
 had the happy effect of secm-ing to them 
 immu;;ity from violence and insult to their 
 persons and property: 
 
 And whereas said Lieut. Guthrie has been 
 induced by his friends in the city of Raleigh 
 and elsewhere to express a willingness to 
 tender this flag to his native State, with a 
 desire that she would accept it as an humble 
 evidence of filial sentiments and atl'ectionatc 
 recollection : Therefore — 
 
 R,:s()lval: That the Governor of the State 
 be authorized and requested to accept the flag 
 thus tendered by Lieut. Guthrie at such time 
 and place and in sucli way and manner as may 
 appear suitable and proper. 
 
 Rcsolnd finiher: That he bo roiiuested, in 
 behalf of this (.ieneral Assembly, to express to 
 Lieut. Guthrie its high apiircciation of hi-i 
 gallantry on that occasion and tliis evidence 
 of his venaration for the State of his birth. 
 
 Resolved tliirJIi/: That the Governor be fur- 
 ther requested to nnike such disposition of the 
 flag, when received, as he may think this 
 trophy of her son deserves. 
 
 Ratified February 16, 1859. 
 
 True copy from the original. 
 
 Gr.\ii.\m Daves, 
 Private Sccrciarij. 
 
 Raleigh, August 22, 18.59. 
 
 After service of nearly thirty years, when 
 the civil war liroke out, he was under the 
 necessity of resigning, and entered into the 
 Confederate s-rvicc, where he did efficient 
 and a(^tivc duty at New Orleans and elsewhere. 
 He was at one time in ommand of the 
 "Advance,"running till! blockade hot ween Wil- 
 mington and the I>errnn(his. After the war was 
 over, ho removed with liis family to I'orts- 
 mouth, Va., and in the Fall of 18G5 was 
 pardoned by tlie President, (Johnson'.) being 
 the first officer of the regular service who bad 
 received Executive clemencj". His disabilities 
 being removed liy a unanimous reeonmienda- 
 tion from the members of Congress, he was ap- 
 pointed by Go;ieral Grant to the "Superiu- 
 teudciicy of the Life-Saving Stations from 
 Cai)0 Henry to Cape llatteras," in the dis- 
 charge of the duties of which he lost his life. 
 
16 
 
 WHEELER'e KExMINISCENCES. 
 
 He left a wife (Louisa, dangliter of Benjiuinn 
 Spratly,) ami cisildrcn to mourn his loss. It 
 was near tlie dreaded Cajie Ilatteras so often 
 Iiefoi'o and since the death-place of the brave, 
 did tlie gallant Guthrie meet his death. 
 
 This fearful spot has been beautifully and 
 fearfully ih-picted in [loetry by another son of 
 North Carolina, now, too, no more: 
 
 II.\TTEKAS. 
 
 The Wind Khig from the North came down. 
 iS'or slopiied by river, mount, or town; 
 !>ut like a i)oisterous god at play, 
 l;c^i^tln^s. Ijouudiu.o; oi: lus Wily, 
 lie shook the lake and tore the wood. 
 And tlapped his wings in merry mood, 
 Nor furleil them, till h(^ sided afar. 
 The white caps flash on Ilatteras 15ar, 
 Where fleree Atlantic landward bowls. 
 O'er treacherous sands and hidden shoals. 
 
 lie paused, tlien wreathed his horn of cloud. 
 And blew detiance long and loud; 
 •'L'ome upl Come up. thou torrid god, 
 
 'that rul'st the Sonlhern Sea! 
 ill)! lighlning-eyed and thunder-shod, 
 
 t'ome wrestle here Avith me! 
 As tossct thou tlie tangled cane 
 I'll hurl thee o'er the boiling main.'' 
 
 The angry lieavens hung dark and still. 
 Like Arctic night on Ilecla's hill; 
 The mermaids sporting on the waves. 
 Affrighted, fled to coral ca,ves: 
 The liillow checl-ed its curling crest. 
 And, trembling, sank to hudilen rest; 
 All ocean stilled its heaving breast. 
 Reflected darkness, weird and dread, 
 An iidvy plain the waters spread — 
 So motionless, since life was fled! 
 
 Amid this element;'.! lull, 
 V\lifn uatui'edied, and death lay dull, 
 As though itself were sleeping there- 
 Becalmed uiion tliat ilisnial Hood. 
 Ten fated vessels iilly stood. 
 And not a tindjer creaked! 
 
 ■•Come up! Come up, thou torrid god. 
 Thou lightning-eyed and thunder-shod. 
 And wrestle here v,ith me!" 
 Twas heanl and answered: "Lo! I come 
 
 From azure Carribee, 
 To drive thee, cowering, to thy home, 
 Au'l inelt its walls of frozen foam." 
 
 From every isle and mount;iin dell, 
 
 I'T'om plains of pathless ch;iparral. 
 
 From tide built bars, where sea-birds dwell. 
 
 He drew his lurid legions forth — 
 
 And sprang to meet the v.diite-plumed North 
 
 Can mortal tongue in song convey 
 The fury of that fearful frayV 
 How ships were splint(^red at a blow — 
 Sails shivered into sla'cds of snow— 
 And seamen hurled to death below! 
 Two gods commingling, liolt and Ijlast, 
 ';he huge waves on each otlier cast. 
 
 And bellowed o'er the raging waste; 
 Then sjied, like harnessed steeds, afar, 
 'that drag a shattered liatlle-ear 
 Amid the midnight din of war! 
 Smile on, smile on, thou watery hell, 
 And toss those skulls upon thy shore; 
 The failor's widow knows thee well; 
 His children beg from door to door. 
 And shiver, while they strive to tell 
 How thou hast robbed the wretched poor! 
 
 [Jos. W. HOLDEN.] 
 
 This theme has also inspired the pen of lu 
 earlier poet: 
 
 «THE PILOT OF HATTERAS. 
 
 [From lh( 
 
 National Gazette, I'hiladelphia. Mondav. 
 -Tan nary IG, 1792.] 
 
 In fathoms five, the anchor gone, 
 
 While here Ave furl the sail, 
 No longer vainly laboring on 
 
 AgaiiiSt the western gale; 
 While here thy bare and barren cliffs. 
 
 O Hatteras, I survey. 
 And shallow grounds and liroken reefs; 
 
 \N hat shall amuse my stayV 
 
 The Pilot comes. From yonder sands 
 
 He slioves his banjuc so frail. 
 And hurrying on, with busy hands, 
 
 Employs both oar and sail. 
 P>eneath this rude, unsettled sky 
 
 Condemn'd to jiass his years; 
 No other shores delight his eye. 
 
 No foe alarms his feavs. 
 
 In depths of woods his hut he builds. 
 
 Where ocean round him flows. 
 And blooming in the barren wilds 
 
 His simple garden gruws. 
 His wedded nymph, of sallow- hue, 
 
 No nungied colors grace. 
 For her he toils, to her is true. 
 
 The caiitive of her face. 
 
 Kind nature here, to make him blest. 
 
 No quiet harbor plann'd. 
 And i>overty. his constant guest, 
 
 Ke^lrainsthe lurate band. 
 His hopes are all in yonder flock 
 
 Or M)me few hives of bees. 
 Except, when lioun<l for Ocracock.t 
 
 Some gliding banpie he sees; 
 
 His Marian then he (piits with grief. 
 
 And spreads his tottering .sdls. 
 While, waving higli her haialkerchief. 
 
 Her commoilore she hails. 
 She grieves, and fears to see no more 
 
 Tlie sail that now forsakes, 
 From Ilatteras' sands to banks of Core. 
 
 Such tedious journeys takes. 
 
 Fond nymph! your sighs are breath'd in vain. 
 
 Picstr'ain those idle fears. 
 Can you, that should relieve his pain. 
 
 Thus kill him with your tears? 
 Can absence thus beget regard, 
 
 Or does it only seem? 
 He comes to meet a wandering band 
 
 That seeks fair Ashlevs stream. 
 
BEvrFoirr county 
 
 ]■ 
 
 Tlio"(lisiiii)Oiiit('(l ill his vipws, 
 
 >.'iit joyless will we |iart; 
 Xor sliHll the f;()(l of iiiirth refuse 
 
 Thr halsuiu of the he;iit. 
 No iii^rSiU'l key sh:ill lock up joy; 
 
 I'll sive liiiii hiilf iiiv store, 
 Will he hut h;ilf liis skill eiuphiy 
 
 'I'o guard us from your shore. 
 
 Where western sjales once more awako 
 
 What (lansers will he near. 
 AlMs! I see the billows hreak. 
 
 Alas! why came I here? 
 With (piartsof rum ami pints of gin, 
 
 <M). pilot, seek the land, 
 And drink till you and all your kin 
 
 Can neither sit nor stand. 
 
 SIN HA I). 
 
 * Written off the Cape, .July, 1780, on a voyage to 
 South Carolina, being detained sixteen days with strong 
 g;iles ahead. 
 
 t All vessels from the northward tha" pass within 
 riatteras Shoals, bound for New IJerne and other places 
 on Pinilico Sound, commonly, in favorable weather, 
 take a Hatteras pilot to conduct them over the danger- 
 ous bar of Oenieock. eleven leagues \V. S. W. of the 
 Cape. 
 
 Edwafd Stanley represented Ueaut'ort Coun- 
 ty in lS-i-l-'46 and "48, ami was often Speaker 
 of the House. 
 
 He was elected Attorney-General in 1847, 
 and a member of Conij:ress from 1837 to 1843 
 and from 1849 to 1853. He removed then 
 [1853] to California, to practice his profes- 
 sion. 
 
 In 1857 he was tiie Republican candidate 
 for Governor, and was defeated, receiving 
 21,040 votes to 53,12:^ for the Democratic can- 
 didate, AYeller. 
 
 After the capture of ^ew Berne [14th March, 
 18(52,] he was appointed by Mr. Lincoln Mili- 
 tary Governor of 2sorth Carolina, which, after 
 a few months, he resigned, and returned to 
 Sau Francisco, where he died, on the 12tli 
 July, 1872. 
 
 We would fain tread lightly on the ashes of 
 the dead, but faithful history demands, like 
 Cromwell of his artist, " Paint me as I am, 
 warts and all." 
 
 Mr. Stanley was considered as a decided 
 party leader in Congress, and acquired an un- 
 happy reputation for an over-indulgence in 
 vindictive feelings and ultra denunciation of 
 his political opponents. This nnhaiipy trait 
 
 of character, as was to be e.Npcctcd, invtdvcd 
 him in tVeijuent didit-nlties, political and per- 
 sonal. Perhaps it was constitutional, and a 
 fatal iiilueritani'C; for his fathei had, in a 
 political ([uarrel, killed Governor Spaigbt, and 
 was considered aggressive and \iolent in his 
 political conduct. Iidieriting this trait, Mr. 
 Stanley had, in Congress, involved himself in a 
 violent personal idtercation with his colleague, 
 Hon. Thomas L. Clingman; another with 
 llini. Mr. Inge, of Alabama, which terminated 
 in a duel, and with Govii-nor Wise, of Vir- 
 ginia, who aiiplied a i'i(ling-whi[i to his shoul- 
 ders. 
 
 His career as Military Governor of North 
 Carolina was a failure, not meeting the ap- 
 jirobation of those who sent him, and destroy- 
 ing his ri'putation with those with whom he 
 Was reared, and by whom he had been hon- 
 ored. The most notable achievement of his 
 mission was his letter to General D. II. Hill, 
 of 24th March, 18()2, abounding in bitterness, 
 in which he declared that he " preferred serv- 
 ing in a bi'igade of negroes " than to belong 
 to the troops eoniniatulud by General Hill, 
 who then was defending Mr. Stanley's native 
 land. 
 
 Wliatever motives influenced Mr. Staidey to 
 undertake so hopeless a mission, all his at- 
 tempts to compromise the difficulties were 
 idle and abortive. The bloody chasm had 
 
 0])ened its ponderous jaws, 
 and any endeavt>r to heal the dissensions be- 
 tween the excited belligerents only tended to 
 bring suspicion from one side, and liatred from 
 the other. 
 
 The following letter, from one of the first 
 men in point of ability in North Carolina, and 
 a near kinsman of Mr. Stanley, shows public 
 oiiirnon as to Mr. S.'s course, and the state of 
 public afl'airs at the unhaiipy period, and de- 
 serves to be preserved. It was written to 
 Hon. Alfreil Ely, who was a member of Con- 
 gress from New York, and was at the battle 
 
18 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 of T>ull Run as a s[ioctat(ir. He was taken York was so threatened, what avouM be 3-oar 
 
 prisoner, and at the date of this letter was an feeiin-s and purposes? From these, you may 
 
 inuiate of the Lihby I'rison in Richmond: •^"'c.^Vo h!ok\vith horror at the thought of 
 
 '• Mr.ELY:-Your letter to Mr. Stanley, pro- l^-^^'S -'J^ain "nited in any political connection 
 
 • „ v- 1 :, J. u„,.- 1 +1 „ r r L- './tt • witli t le ^ortii. We would rather, rar, that 
 
 posinsr to him to cheri.^h the leehng ot " Llni- ^,^ ^ , , -, , ^ , ,• ^t^' \ ^ 
 
 ■ )5 • A^ J.1 ri .. r t- \ 1, our htate should lie a Colonv or England, or 
 
 onism m Aorth Carolina, came to mv hands p, or- ' .-^ > 
 
 in an unsealed envelope, directed to liiy wife. -^^ ran<-;e> "f feiy-i'i'iii^- 
 
 T + 1-, +1 , i;i .„f„ .+• : ff!,, .. „ .-, ■.;„i,f ,,, . iiie JNorth mav no able (thuUii-h we do not 
 
 i take the libertv ot settuiir you riofht upon a i ,• ■, , , " i , i 
 
 +■ f „, 1 ,),.,„;,■;„ „ ,„ ,„i Tf „ i,.7 ,1 + 1 believe it) to conrpier us, and even to keep us 
 lact, and showing vou what a hoijcless task / , -J-. i , , i ^, • '■ , 
 
 YOU have proposed to Mr. Stanley. conquered, and it it shonld he the wise and 
 
 ^ "There i.s no Union feelin- in A^n-th Caro- f «'^ pu-pose ot he Almighty' that this sl.ould 
 
 lina, as vou suppose, and is probably supposed '.=^l'f"^"' '^^ «''='" .f/'^^eavor to suffer with pa- 
 
 1 ., (-1,, ^. ., ,,. .ni,, ^v AT ..,fi,„„, ,„ ' tience whatever ills may beiall u-; but a vol- 
 liv the generality ot JNorthern men. ^ ^ ^ "^ ■ -..i \\ v ^i 
 
 - ' untaiy return to any union with the iStU'th, 
 
 -There ,/v,s m this State a veiy strong ^^^ cannot, will not, accept on any terms -a 
 
 I nn.ii teelmg— a strong love tor the Union as revival of any Union sentiments is an imi)OS- 
 
 established by our foretathers — but as soon as sil)ilitv. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's proclamation of Aiiril, 18(11, an- ,, t i i • , .i ■• ii iti. .i , 
 
 pearcd, offering us the altermitive of joining ,l*'"",''-- ^^'^^'''Z' , '^ ^^'^', •>''-" '""'f-^ '''' 
 
 an armed i.iytision of our Southern Siste' well _toadv,se Mr. btanloy to abandon his en- 
 
 States, for their subjugation, or resisting the a u- teipiise. 
 
 thorities .,f the Unified States, our 'p<)siti(m " He a Governor of North Carolina! a (:}ov- 
 
 was taken without a moment's hesitation. A ^nior deriving his authority from a commis 
 Convention was promptly called, and instant- 
 
 .sion of Mr. Lincoln! 
 
 I}-, without a dissenting voice, that Conven- " The ver}- title isan insrdt to us. The ver}^ 
 tion resolved to take oiir sides witli the al- appointment is the assumption of the rights of 
 ready seceded States, and siiare their fate for a conqueror. But we ai'e not yet conquered, 
 good or evil. From tliat moment, however And do 3H)u think Mr. Stanle^-'s coming liere, 
 we may have differed in other things, there in such a cliaracter, supported by Xortherii 
 has not been, and there is not, any difference; bayonets, serves toconimeiHl him to our favor; 
 hence our people with one heart s^jrung to to breathe in us the gentle sentiments of amity 
 arms. Our people have now nearly si.xty regi- and peace toward himself or those who sent 
 nients in the field, (not skeletons, but full him here? Mr, Ely, as you huve opened a 
 regiments,) and among them not a single con- correspondence with Mr. Stanley, you had bet- 
 script or drafted man. Hence we have taxed ter wi'ite to him yours-df, and say this to him: 
 ourselves freely; havjj useil our credit freely " If he wishes tlie honored name of St:inluy 
 in making loans to support the war. The" to lieconie a. bye-word and a reproach, and to 
 sjiirit which has produced this has never be s[ioken with scorn and hatred by all Xorth 
 fl:igged; hut is now as high and active as at Carolinians henceforth and forever, let him 
 first. prosecute his present mission. If hs does not 
 " .Mr. Ely, think a moment ! We liave been wish this, let liim return whence he came, and 
 in\-adcd by an enemy as unrelenting and fe- leave us to fight out the contest as l»est we 
 rocious as the hordes under Attilla and Alaric, may, without bis interference, 
 wlio overrun tlie Roman Empire; he comes to "George E. r>.U)GEK." 
 rol) us; to murder our people; to insult our ,,., ,,,-,, . , ,. , 
 women; to enumcipate our slaves, and is now ^^ "^■'^'>'''' ^^''^ ^t'lulcy ever re.'Cived this let- 
 preparing to add a n.'W element to this most ter or read it we are not advisjd; but, as al- 
 atrocious ag/ression, and involve u.-s in the rendy stated, he soon resigned his post, went 
 
 direful horrors of a civil war. He proiioses , ,-, ,-.• • r i i ^ i 
 
 ,, • 1 .ki i.- 1 i i- ,1 to (.'a iiirnia, irom whence be never retuL'ni-(. 
 
 nothing else than our entire destruction ; the 
 
 desolation of our country; universal emanci- Ri't '>^ to Judge Radger, when the finale of 
 
 patiou — not from a love of the slaves, but from the unhap[)V contest was s.Htied, and all the 
 
 hatred to us. 'To crush us;' 'to wipe out hoi)cs, as e.xi.ressed in the foregoing graphic 
 the bouth;' to involve us i\\ irremediable , ... . , . ' , 
 
 misery and hopeless ruin. IMqv, were destroyed, his majestic mmd sunk 
 
 " Now, .Mr. Ely, if your own State of New under the Idow. Like some gallant shi[i in her 
 
BKAUFOHT COL'XTY. 10 
 
 proud career is suddenly tlirowu on liidden AViu. A. Rlduut, wliose liiograjiliy \vc liave 
 
 and perilous roiks, quivers under the disaster, just [iresented. 
 
 and iinally sinks under the overwlielniing He studied law and has attained the highest 
 
 waves to ilarkness and to death. He died soon rank in liis [jrol'ession. His o|iinions as a 
 
 after the war, [IStJti,] paralyzed in hody and Judge of the Supreme Court are considered by 
 
 enfeebled in intellect. many as models of research and learning. To 
 
 The ruins of the noblest man some, however, "that glorious uncertainty" 
 
 That ever lived hi tide of times. g,-, ppoverbial to tlie law, is apparent in his 
 
 Richard Spaight Donnell, born 1820, died rulings. Yet he is much esteemed by the pro- 
 
 1865, represented this county in the Senate in fession as a just and learned jurist. He has 
 
 1858, and in the Commons in IStid, '()2 and never mingled mucli in politics, for, like 
 
 '64; and in the latter two sessions he was Alichuel Angcio of his profession, he tliinks 
 
 elected Speaker. In 1847 he was elected a the law too jealous a mistress to allow an}' 
 
 member of the 30th Congress, at the earlj- age rival in his affections. Like Hooker in his Ec- 
 
 of twenty-seven. clesiastical Polity, he believes " of law there 
 
 He was educated partly at Vale, and gradn- can be no less acknowledged than that her 
 
 atcd at the University of North Carolina in seat is the bosom of Giod; her voice the har- 
 
 1839. ii.ony of the world. All thing-- in heaven and 
 
 He studied law and arose to high distinc- e.irtli do her homage; tin; veiy lea^t, as feel- 
 
 tioii in the profession. He wrote in 18'!3 a ing her care; and the greatest, as not exempt 
 
 letter on " the rebellion," wliich gave him from licr power. Both angels and men and 
 
 mucii reputation as a statesman. creatures of wiiat condition soever, though 
 
 Blest with a competency, if not a super- each in different sort and manner, yet all 
 iiuit\' of estate, lie pursued his profession and witli uniform consent admiring her as tlie 
 piditics more as an aniusement than forprotit motlier of their peace and joy." 
 or promotion. Edward J. Warren lived and died in Beau- 
 He was much loved by all who knew iiim fort County. He was a native of the State of 
 for bis genial and gentle manners, his modest, Vermont. Came to North Carolina and set- 
 un;issuming temper, and high-toned princi- tied in Washington, as a teacher. 
 pies. As a man, he was just and faithful; as He read law and attained great eminence in 
 a lawyer, of learning and probity, and as a the profession. He represented the county in 
 statesman, above all intrigue or reproach. the Senate in 18G2 and 1SG4, and was Speaker 
 
 He died unmarried, and his memoiy is en- of the Senate. He was appointed by Governor 
 
 baluied in the affections of all who knew him. Worth one of the .ludges of the Superior 
 
 "William Blount Kodman,born 29th January Court. 
 
 1817, represented Beaufort County in the He marrie<l Deborah, daughter of Bichai'd 
 
 Convention of 1868. He was elected one of Bonnor. He died in 1878, much esteemed 
 
 the Justices of the Supreme Court, the term and regretted, leaving C'harlesF. Warren, now 
 
 of whicli expired in 1878. at the bar, and Lucy, who mari-icd William 
 
 He was educated at the University of North Rodman Myers. 
 
 Carolina, and graduated in 1836 with the first James Cook, late a captain in the Confed- 
 
 honors. crate Navy, says Dalton, was a native of Beau- 
 
 His mother was the daughter of General fort, Carteret County, N. C. His name should 
 
 John Gray Blount, and the sister of General be preserved among •' the men of North Caro- 
 
20 WlIEELEi;'3 liEMINlSCKXCES. 
 
 lina." [lis terrific eiigng-cineiit wliiie ooni- daring cliaraeter, and Ins tragic end, make iiis 
 
 inaiidiiig tlic Confederate i^teaiiier " Albe- liiHtory interesting. 
 
 marie" with the Federal fleet, and clearing lie was born in October, 1828, near the sea, 
 tlie Soniid and tlie Roanoke river, after the (his father lieing for years collector of customs 
 capture of I'lymouth ijy General Robert E. at Oci-aeock Inlet,) and possessed naturally a 
 Hoke, who wjs so alilv seconded by Gem-ral love fir the ocean, which became the ruling 
 M. W. Ransiun, was a feat unparalleled in the passion of his life, and eventually his grave, 
 aniuds of our naval warfare. Never before At the early age of 10, he left home on his 
 hail the size of such guns and the weiglit of first voyage, and in 1848, he shiiijied as an 
 their crushing missiles been directed against ordinary sailor before the niast,on the United 
 any sini:le vessel. Yet she struggled through States steamer " Oregon," on a voyage from 
 it, having luid the misfortune to have carried Xew York to San Francisco, via Cape Horn, 
 away oue-lialf of one of the two guns she took Ilis diligence, attention, and good conduct, 
 into the action. She was literally loaded down were so nurkod that he was make first officer 
 liv the en^.'my's shot, and in this condition liad of the ship " Ciilumbia," on the dangjrous and 
 to fight to the end, until she gained a [lort of tlic^n unknown coast of Oregon. When s:)me 
 refuge. <l:iys at sea, the ship was discovered to lie on fire. 
 During the pci'ilous ordeal, Ca[itain Cook She had on board 400 troops, under tho corn- 
 was calm and collected; no excitement marked mand of (leneral Wool. The coolness, intre- 
 Jiis conduct. Quietly did he give his orders, pidity, and energy of young Tayloe, on this 
 and his men partaking his spirit, promptly and perilous (occasion, contributed greatly to the 
 rpiietly obeyed. saving of the ship, passengers and crew. This 
 Captain Cook was as modest in his deport- was exiiressod in the grateful thanks of tiie 
 mcnt as he was brave and fearless in action, passengers l)y resolutions. 
 
 Had such an exj)loit occurred under the Eng- On his return to San Francisco, the war in 
 
 lish flag, Cook would have ranked with the Nicaragua was found to be the exciting ques- 
 
 Nelsons and Wellingt(Uis of his age; but, as it tion of the day, and ottered allurement to the 
 
 is, he sinks into (obscurity, firgotteu, almost, daring. He tendered his services to General 
 
 l)y his 'i.ative State, upon which he \Valker, and was assigned to the command of 
 
 shed such imperishabde honor. He was the fleet of steamers and gunboats on the Lake 
 
 then in very delicate health, and after of Nicaragua. He more readii}' engaged i;i 
 
 this terrible conflict, nevei' completely this expedition of "the gray-eN'ed nnm of 
 
 recovered again. Soon after this battle his destiny," since liisyoungcr brother, James, was 
 
 brave spirit winged its fiiglit from the bosom an otiicer in Walker's army, and had borne a 
 
 of his family, iri Portsmouth, Virginia, tojoin conspicuous part in many desperate battles 
 
 the spirits of his gallant comrades that had from the breaking out of the war. It was 
 
 gone before him, where merit is rewaided, then and here that I foi'med the acquaintance 
 
 and not success alone, as in this vale of of these two gallant young men. I was at this 
 
 sorrows. time the Minister Resident of the United 
 
 Charles Frederick Tayloe, son of Colonel States near the Republic of Nicaragua, and I 
 
 Joshua Tayloe, who represented Beaufort was much pleased with their modest and in- 
 
 County, in 1844, in the Senate of the State telligent conduct. James fell in battle in the 
 
 Legislature, should iu)t l)e forgotten. Ilis desperate endea\'or to raise the seige of 
 
 sliort and eventful life, his chivalric and Grenada, thus relieving General Ilcnniugseu 
 
BEAUFORT COUNTY. 21 
 
 and liis conimatHlJjcloagiiered hy the tro(>i)S of alone eoulil not lia\e clt'ectt'd tliis, Imt our 
 Guatemala. It may not bo uninteresting to Government, under lead of Go\ernor Marev 
 record here tlie true facts in relation to this and others, denounced Walker, althongli 
 expedition in which ro many nf our country- I'resident I'iorce riTcived I'adro \'ijil as the 
 men took part, and whore f;o iiuuiy and valu. Kuvoy and Minister I'lenipctehtiary of Walk- 
 able and enterprising lives were siicrificed. er's gove.-nnieut, and autl>')rized Captain 
 The character and the objects of this expedi- J)avis, of the United States Xavy, to take 
 tion have never been understood or fairly Walker and bring him to the United States; 
 stated. Now, when more than a quarter of a which was done. I>ut soon Walker again re- 
 ccntury has jnissed, and prejudice and passion turned to Central America, when, under or- 
 subsided. the truth sliould appear. When 1 di-i-s, lu' was again seized by Commodore Paul- 
 arrived in Nicaragua, I t\)und the republic ding and brought to the Unit(Hl States. This 
 convulsed in civil war. War is the normal act was pr-uiDuncvd by the I'resident " a grave 
 condition of Central ' America. The two error," and s.'vei'ely deuMuuvd in Congress, 
 parties, the Democratic, headed by General and very gtnierally l)y the press of the country 
 Casteilon, and tlieLegitimists, by General Cha- a^ unjust and iinccuistitutional. 
 u'.ora, waged a fierce and bloody interneiniie ^A'alkel• again embarked inr Centi-al Am.'r- 
 conte.-t. The Democratic party sent agetits to ica, and landed Avlth a few troops in Jlondii- 
 California for men and arms. These engaged r.is, where, aftt'r sun- l.l.iody and successful 
 the services of General Walker ami others, skiinnsbing with the Honduras tro )ps, he en- 
 who became en!i.sted in their service, and camiied near Truxillo. While here a superiir 
 Walker was placed in command of a regimeiit, force, dis[iatehed by Captain Salmon, of the 
 and became a naturalized citizen of Nieara- Dritisb man-of-war - I;-ariis,'' under coni- 
 gua. He soon, by his energj- and activity, maud of Ahare/., of the lloiiduias army, de- 
 trained the ragged, barefooted and half-naked mauded of Walker his Burre:ider. Walker 
 natives to become disciplined trooi)S, and as then swvveudowd to tli.- Briiix/i offjci-r, \v\h) lic- 
 such led them to victory. He soon took the livered him to the Honduras autlioi-ities. 'i'iie 
 towns of San Juan del Sur,Virgin Bay,and the next day [12th Seiitember, l.SOOJ he wasshor. 
 cities of liivas and (irenada, the latter die His fate was melancholy and undeserved, 
 capital and a city of ly,OiJU inhabitants. I Dmibtless Walker bad faults, but he supplaut- 
 Witnessed this battle, which was of short dur- ed a govei'ument of ignoranee, superstiti ui, 
 ation, and which completed the conquest of indolence, indjeoility, and treachery. Had he 
 the republic. The President of Nicaragua succeeded, he would have ri\-aled the fame ■);' 
 fled, and after a short interim. Walker was Houston, and added to the area of human lib- 
 elected President. Amei-icans from New York, erty and enjoyment. Compire the present con- 
 New Orle.ms and California, and almost every dition of Texas and Calif u'liia now with wh it 
 State of the Union, flocked to " this El it was under the rule of Mexico. There is a 
 Dorado." Peace and prc)sperity for the time destiny in the affairs of nations, as well as of 
 smiled on this beautiful country. men. 
 
 From the natural fondness of these people Captain Tayloe, after the failure of Walk.T. 
 
 for war and revolution, the other republics of was ordered to conduct his command through a 
 
 Central America (as Costa Rica and Guate- trackless and almost inaccessible route, from 
 
 mala) proclaimed hostility, and deterruiued to Rivasto Point Arenas, duringwbich marchthev 
 
 drive the Americans from the country. They suffered every i)rivation that famine, disease, 
 
22 WHEELER'S KEMIXISCEXCES. 
 
 savage i'ocs, venomous reptiles, and a torrid eonntrynian; bnt neither sea nor time can 
 
 climate could inflict. They reached I'oiiit bury his virtues and his gallantry from our 
 
 Arenas worn down by exertion. He then memories, our sympathies, or our affections. 
 
 embarked in abria^ to Panama, and from thence xoll for the brave! 
 
 on the regular steamer to California. . ,T''«^ H'T'^ ^^''^^ 'i™ "" """"^^ ' 
 
 . . . All sunk lieneath the wave, 
 
 After remaining in San Francisco a few Fast by their native shore. 
 
 weeks to recruit his exhausted s^-stem, in Toll for the brave ! 
 
 -iQrPTi 1 iir 1-1 II- i- 15rave Tayloe ! he is gone; 
 
 1857 lie omharked tor ins iiome and his native uj^ i^gt sea fight is fonu-ht 
 
 land, a ]iiiss( iiger on the steamer "Central H is work of glory done. ' 
 
 America." This gallant ship had nearly com- Toll for the brave! 
 
 pleted her voyage, and was in sight of the It has been suggested as proper to recall 
 home and birthplace of our hero, where his at- some furtlier memoiies of Central America, 
 fectionate pai'cnts anxiously were awaiting and of a long residence in that interesting 
 the return of their "war-worn son" when tlie country at a most exciting period. Even at 
 alarming discovery was announced that the this day this countr}' is of rare interest, form- 
 ship had sprung a leak. Young Tayloe, al- ing as it does the connecting link between 
 though only a passenger, was the first to tender the two great oceans, and which from recent 
 his services to the noble Ileriidoii; and tVom surveys by Caj^tain Lull, of United States 
 that time until the brig " Marine " rounded to Navy, and others, will be the probable route 
 under her lea, he was foremost in relieving the of the oceanic canal. 
 
 steamer; working at the pumps until they were The resignation of Hon. Solon Borland 
 
 ■exhausted and useless. Wlien all hope of sav- caused a vacaiuT in the Mission to Central 
 
 ing the steamer was abandoned, he remained America, and without any solicitation or ex- 
 
 at his post, an example of coolness, of courage pectation on my part, my name as Minister 
 
 and seamanship. He was indefatigable in aid- Eesident to the Republic of Nicaragua, was 
 
 ing the ladies, children and others in embarking sent to the Senate, and on the 2d August, 1854, 
 
 on the relieving ship, and could have saved (my birth-day) I received from the State De- 
 
 himself but for his attention to others. But partment my commission. This was consid- 
 
 on con.sideration with the otficers it was de- ered, from the position of the country and the 
 
 cided that the ship would continue aiioat till complications as to the protectorate assumed 
 
 daylight, and as did Captain Ilerndon and our by England, as an important and delicate 
 
 lamented John V. Dobbin, (brother of James mission. Mr. Everett, of .Massachusetts, in 
 
 C. Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy ],s5o-'57,) March, 1853, stated in the Senate that " it was 
 
 Captain Tayloe retired to his stateroom, more important than the mission to London 
 
 seeking that repose that his continued labors or Paris." After waiting for instructions and 
 
 demanded. arranging my private affairs for a long ab- 
 
 In the course of the night a huge wave sence, with my family I departed from Nor- 
 
 swept with violence the ship's decks, and she folk, Virginia, on 31st October, 1854, on board 
 
 went suddenly down with all on board, the U. S. steam frigate "Princeton," com- 
 
 Thus perished, off his native coast of North manded bj' Captain Henry Eagle. We 
 
 Carolina, near Cape Hatteras, one of her touched at Havanna for a supply of coal, and at 
 
 boldest, bravest sons. Pensacola we went on board the " Columbia," 
 
 The eternal sea in its dark waves have swal- the flag-ship of the home squadron, corn- 
 lowed up the mortal remains of our gallant manded by Commodore Newton, a model of- 
 
BKAT^FOirr COUXTY. 
 
 23 
 
 ficer and .accomplished c;cntleni;ui, who hiiuh^d 
 us in December, 1854, after a long voyage of 
 nearly thirt}' days, at 8aii Juan del Norte. 
 The mild climate, the gorgeous foliage and 
 rich scenery, created pleasvn-e and surprise. 
 One can hardly realize, who has never visited 
 the tropics, the mildness and beauty of the 
 climate; the very air is redolent with the 
 fragrance of fruits and flowci-s, to breathe 
 which renders existence itself n luxury. The 
 evenings are still more delicious. These have 
 been graphically described. 
 
 " By and by night comes on; not as it comes 
 to our northern latitudes, but it falls suddenly, 
 like a rich drapery, around you. The sun goes 
 down with a glow, intense and brief. There 
 is no lingering twilight, but suddenly the stars 
 burst forth, lightening, one by one, the hori- 
 zon. They come in a laughing group, like 
 bright-eyed children relieved from school, and 
 reflected from tlie lake they seem to chase each 
 other in frolicsome play, printing sparkling 
 kisses on each other's luminous lips. The low 
 shores, lined with heavy foliage of the man- 
 groves, looked like a frame of massive antique 
 carving around the mirror of tlie quiet lagoon, 
 acrossWhose (juiet surface streamed a silvery 
 shaft of light from ' the Southern Cross,' pal- 
 pitating like a young britle at the altar. Then 
 there were whispered ' voices of the night,' 
 the drowsy winds hushing themselves to sleep, 
 and the gentle music of the little ripples of 
 the lake, pattering with fairy feet along the 
 sandy shore. The distant heavy and monoto- 
 nous beatings of the sea, and the occasional 
 sullen plunge ot some marine animal, gave a 
 novelt}' and enchantment to the scene, and 
 entranced my senses during the delicious hours 
 of iny iirst evening alone with nature on the 
 Mosquito Shore."* 
 
 AVe could well ask, with Kodgers: 
 
 Tliis region is surely not of earth. 
 
 Was it not dropped from Heaven V 
 
 Not a grove hut is of citron, iiine. or cedar; 
 
 Not a grot, sea worn, and mantled with tlie gadding 
 
 vine. 
 But breathes encliantment. 
 
 This lovely region, where Providence has 
 done 80 much and man so little for himself, 
 
 * '* Waikna, or Adventures on the Mosquito Shore;" 
 by Samuel A. Baird. 
 
 we found, as already slated, itivolved in the 
 tumults of civil war. As we journeyed to Cas- 
 tillo, some seventy miles up the river, the 
 marks of blood spilled in a battle fought on 
 the day before on the wharf on which we 
 landed were sec^n. As before stated, both i)ar- 
 ties claimed to be the supreme power of the 
 government. The Democratic party, headed 
 by Castillon, held iiu)st of the repuldic except 
 Grenada, and bad that city under close siege. 
 I was assured that this would be soon raised, 
 and the Legitimists resume the authority of 
 government. I was instructed to present my 
 credentials to " the President of Nicaragua." 
 Now a knotty diplomatic problem came up, 
 which I alone must solve. A mistake would 
 be fatal. I applied for instructions, but none 
 came. Mr. Stephen-:, a [iredecessor, was in- 
 volved [1841] in a similar quandary. He 
 tried in vain. Once, as he states, he 
 thought " he came very near discovering a 
 live President. But suddenly' he vamosed on 
 the back of a mule." Mr. Squire [1849] did 
 tind a rivsident in Bamirez. But when Mr. 
 Kerr [in IB.Jl] came he was not so successful, 
 for the republic, as now, was in civil war. 
 Mr. Borland, my immediate predecessor, did 
 find a President, (Don Fruto Chamoro,) but 
 he is now beleagui'ed by superior force, and 
 inaccessible. 
 
 By instructions of the Government, I re- 
 mained some time in Greytown, or San Juan 
 del Norte, engaged in collecting testimony as 
 to the destruction of property by the bom- 
 bardment of Greytown [9th July, 1854] by 
 Captain Hollins, and then went to Virgin Bay, 
 on Lake Nicaragua, where I remained three 
 months, during which time the siege of Gre- 
 nada was raised. General Chamoro died of 
 cholera, and General Estrada was declared 
 President and assumed the duties, and in 
 April, 1855, 1 was recognized by him as the 
 Envoy Resident, and raised the flag of the 
 United States at Grenada. 
 
24 WHEELER'8 KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 Under instructions, a treaty was formed the profession of medicine and acquired 
 
 [20tli June, 1855] of amity and commerce. l-:nowlcdg-o from the ablest masters, yet he 
 
 The President was kind and polite, and more saw and felt that it was not as auspicious as 
 
 of a poet and musician than a soldier or states- the profession of the law for an ambitious and 
 
 man. Our intercourse was kindly and pleas- aspinng temperament. He entered the law 
 
 ant, and the republic was quiet. But it was otlice of Edward and Andrew Ewing, and 
 
 only the lull that precedes a fearful storm, remtiined there two years. He was admitted 
 
 The agents of the Democratic party succeeded to the bar in .Tune, 1847, at New Orleans, 
 
 at San Francisco in engaging the services of His active temper still sosigbt additional 
 
 William Walker, and on the 4th of May, 1855, action, and he entered the stormy sea of 
 
 he embarked on the brig ''Vesta" for Nicaragua, politics. He became editor of the New Orleans 
 
 with fifty -two followers, to invade a territory Crrscoit. 
 
 of more than 200,000 people. Was the act of In Jul^', 1850, he went to California, and 
 
 Cortez in burning his ships after landing bis was connected with tiie Z>(»7y iZti/v/ZiZ, just then 
 
 troops more daring or desperate? established by .Tohn Nugent. He hud some 
 
 He and his force landed at Kealejo, and was difficulty with .Tmlge Pai'sous as to some 
 strengtliened by three hundred native troops artii/lcs he wrote for the pa[>;'r,and he removed 
 under General Valle. After a repulse at Rivas to .\Iarys\-ille. and devoted him-iolf to the law. 
 by Colonel Bosque, in whicli Achilles Kewon In Octobei', 1853, he visited Sonora, and, 
 and Timotliy Crocker and some of Walker's with Gilinan, Em:iry, Croeker, and others, 
 best troops were killed, he attiicked Guardiola made an unsuceessfnl atteni[)t on the Mexican 
 at Virgin Bay, whom he defeated with heavy autliorities. Walker returncil to San Fran- 
 loss. He captured, without loss, the steamers eiseo, and was arrested and tried for violation 
 on the Lake of Nicaragua, ami on the 12th of tlic neutrality law, Init was acquitted. 
 October, after a sharp coiitiict, he ca[itured The Democratic party of Nicaragua for- 
 Grenada, which, as before stated, com[)leted warded to him a commission as colonel and 
 the conquest of tiie re[)ublie. The I'l-esident an extensive grant of land, through agency 
 and Cabinet tied, and many res>)rted to my of Byron Cde. 
 
 house and placed themselves under the flag Gathering a band of sixty-two followers, 
 
 for protection. I met now, for the first time, (among whom were C. C. Hornliy, of North 
 
 (ieneral William Walker. He ap[ieared to be Carolina, and .Julius de Brissot,) he landed at 
 
 abdut tliirty-one years of age [born in Nash- Uealejo, in the northern part of Nicaragua, 
 
 ville, Tennessee, on 8th May, 1824.] He wr.s His history will now lie connected with 
 
 liberally educated, and graduated at the Uni- Nicaragua for all time, 
 
 versify of Tennessee in October, 18-38. He had, asalready stated, captured Grenada, 
 
 He studied medicine, and received a. diploma and was now ■• master of the situ:ition," and 
 
 from the Medical University at rhiladcl[)hia, had the po.ssession of the capital. Had Walker 
 
 in April, 1843. Ho then went to France and possessed some [lortion of that quality which 
 
 England, wliere he conqileted his studios. He Genei-al Lee called "a rasrally virtue," he 
 
 then traveled extensively on the Continent, could have attained conqilete success. The 
 
 where he learned to speak and write tlie history of every nation lepeats only the history 
 
 French, German, Italian, and Spanish lau- of nations gone before. First comes the 
 
 gnages. He returned to the United States in adventurous pioneer, wifh his rifle; then the 
 
 June, 1845. Although he had a. fondness foi' schoolmaster, with his books; then the clergy- 
 
BEAUFOET COrXTY. 2^ 
 
 man and bis crocd ; then the ir,erchant, the tnv,).^ wonhl venture, for they knew that no 
 
 raih-oa.l. and the tele-raiih. I'O"'*^'' '■""''! •"''^■^' "'^■'" 't' '>'"''' '" "'« l'i""1^"f 
 
 Tl:e advent of Walker was not uni-leasant <"<"™'- Appeals were made lo the Consuls 
 nor ■ nnexpeeted to the simple-hearted and from Sardinia, Prussia, and France, resident at 
 i^rcntle natives of Central America. They lia.l <^'i-<''n'.la, without success. Finally, the Arch- 
 heen grievonsly oppressed by the Spanish '^'^'"'l' "f Grenada, with the a-ent of the 
 dou.in'ion; nor" was their condition much Transit Company, called on mo, and heson-ht 
 better under their successors. '-There was a '"^' ^'^ ■"■» -^^ =' '"essen-cr of peace. Thus 
 tradition among them," says Crowe, in his m-ed by them, I agreed to go. Accordingly 
 '' History of Central America," published iu :i steamer was made ready, and witli Mr. Vau 
 London in 1850, " founded on an ancient %l<e, of Philadelphia, who was acting as 
 prophecy made years ago, that these people Secretary of the Legation, and Don Juan 
 would only be delivered In.m crnel oppression l^ni^-, late Secretary of War, we went to 
 by ' a gray-eyed man.' " Mr. Crowe adds in a l^'^'^i-^ ^^■'f' ^1'^' certificate of election of Gen- 
 note the pro}ihetic remark: -'We would remind ^ral ( orral. 
 
 those who attach any importance to thi> pro- llivas is a walled town about fifty miles from 
 
 phecy, that it may be reserved for our trans- t^renada. 
 
 Atlantic brethren to fulfill this prophecy." ^^'^ found it closely picketed and full of in- 
 
 "Last week we saw many of the native I'ni-iated soldiers, commanded by (icneral Za- 
 
 Indians," says the Grenada Niennii/iwits-f, '• in truclie. 
 
 our city, wiio desired to see General Walker; <»" mrpiiry for General Corral, T was in- 
 
 and they laid at his feet the simple oiierings formed that he had just left Kivas with all his 
 
 of their fruits and fields, and hailed his ap- f'>i'ees, to attack Walker at Grenada. A 
 
 pearance, witb fair skin and gray eyes, as ' the <-'>'irier was immediately dispatched to Corral 
 
 gray-eyed man of de-tiny,' so long and so ^^''f' the communication of lii.s election as 
 
 an.xioiisly waited for by them and their President. Zatniche, the General in command, 
 
 father- " ^^''** "^"^ "f t'le most bloodthirsty and perridi- 
 
 Tlu' ne.xt day after tiie capture of (Jrenada, ""-^ »'e'i in Central America. Smarting under 
 
 an election was held by th.' jieople for a pro- the defeat he had met with at Virgin Bay. 
 
 visional President, anil under the policy of fmin Walker, he was in.solent and imperious.. 
 
 Walker, and at his suggesti.ti, General Fonci- After waiting for some hours for Corral, (and 
 
 alio Corral was chosen. General C. was at this we since ascertained that he was still in Ri vas,) 
 
 time at Uiva.s, at the head of ;i large force of I directed the ho-ses to be brought, purposing 
 
 troops, prepaiing to march on Grenada and to return to Virgin Bay and there await Cor- 
 
 drive Walker out of the country. Walker raPs coming. My servant then came aiid in- 
 
 knew th;;t with his small force and his unre- formed us '-that Zatruche had taken the 
 
 liable allies, that an attack by Corral (who horses, and that a guard was then approaching 
 
 had some military genius and e.Kperience. and to seize me and my secretary." They entered, 
 
 much desperate courage) would be serious if and I never saw a more ferocious and villain- 
 
 not disa.strous. He knew that Corral was ous looking crowd, armed to the teeth; their 
 
 very ambitious, and fond of power and place, uniform was a scanty shirt tliat hardly reached 
 
 Hence this election. tiie knee, a dilapidated straw hat, with a red 
 
 But l:;iw to get this information to Corral ribbon, and barefooted. AVe were then placed 
 
 was the point. Xot one of Walker's native in the qnartel witii a guard over us. Our poor 
 
26 WHEELER'S UEMINISCEXCES. 
 
 boy (Carlos), after the doors were locked, ransom of two thousand dollars in gold, 
 
 with sobs and tears, infonued us that we were That my destruction was imminent, is 
 
 to he shot at sunrise to-morrow. Mr. Van proved by the letter of General Corral, that 
 
 Dvke, with great emotion, said that he cared " he would not he responsible to what might 
 
 but little for himself, hut much for me and my happen to me personally," as lie had issued 
 
 little ones and wife at Cieiiada. Ifcltl)U)yed orders to Zatruehe to execute me. But the 
 
 up by the consolation that I was in the line of kindness of Scott, and a gracious Providence 
 
 (luty— on a mission of mercy and peace. Never prevented bis atrocious purpose, 
 
 did I spend a more unbapi>y night; the dim The following letter, the original of which 
 
 lamp revealed the army officials peering at iu- is in my possession, was received by me at Vir 
 
 tcrvals to ascertain our confinement, and the giu Bay: 
 
 watcli-woi-d, Ai,i:rto, (all well.) sounding in " Commander-in-Chiefof the 
 
 on r 
 
 ^ars from the line of guards. I'.ut earlv " T^ep. of Nic'a. Headquakters, 
 
 in the moining the sound of caiHKUi and rides 
 
 " Mn-ching, llth Oct. ,1S^S, 
 
 , , ,. / ,, , -/fill "To the Mh)isler of the United Stutrs: 
 
 was beard hrniir on the town. Zatruehe had „ -^ i i i xi • • -t 
 
 ^ " I am placed under the imperious necessity 
 
 felt th.ur fatal accuracy and danger. He ^^ manifest to the .Vlinister of the United 
 
 rushed in and exclaimed, "In the mime of States that in consequence of his leaving the 
 
 ,M ■ t. , c! 1 „(. ,!-,„, fi,: , ,„,..,,, V " TTo city of Grenada in the steamer of the Acces- 
 
 Clirist ! Senor. what does tins mean r tie -^ rn -i. /-i x i i ^i i • -c 
 
 sory iransit Company', taken by the chiet 
 
 was informed that my friends bad expected covlimanding the forces who occupy that place 
 
 me to rciuru last night; that they liad deter- witli the object to hurt the forces of the Su- 
 
 mincd to rescue me, and iu doing so would preme Government, whom I have the honor to 
 
 . , command at Kivas, I noio inform >/ou that I dm 
 
 not spare one ot !ns pai'ty; that they were ,,^,t, or iniU w,t he rr.^ponme for lohnt mail happen 
 
 well-armed with riiies that were cei'tain, and lo i/ou permnnUi/, for having interfered in our 
 
 with cannon. " Won't yu write a small let- domestic dissensions to tiie prejudice of tb° 
 
 tcr [an Inllillc), to tliem to cease their tire? " 
 
 Su[.ircmo Government, by whom he has been 
 recognized; and has made him-ielf the bearer 
 
 This was pre-enii)torily declined. He then of comniunicatious ami prochunations au-aiiist 
 said, " You kn iw. S.'uor .Minister, that we the legitimately recognized authority'. There- 
 are tVien.ls; vou are very dea,- to me. Go out to ^V-^ ^ '"'''' 'f'^^'T 'V"^ ="■*' /"" ''fV ^^'''^ '" 
 
 this same date i have mtormed Govern >r 
 
 itbem, forthwith, your horses are at the door, ^j.^,,^^^. .^,„| ^i^^ new^pipers of New York. 
 
 and I will send a guard of honor to escort you I am your dear servant, D. P. L., 
 and your Hag." Accei.ting the leave, l)ut de- -TOXCIANO CO!{RAL." 
 
 dining the honor of the escort, \ve so.in To which the following reiily was sent : 
 mounted and were soon at the steamer wbei-e " lji:(iATioN of Uxitkd States, 
 
 Captain Scott was with onlv six men an.l four " -^'ear Repuulic of XicAiiAaUA, 
 
 ^,, , ,„ ■ ,,,,.. " ViRciN Bay, 18//( O,-^, 1.S5.'). 
 
 small brass caiinons. We so.>u roacucd \ irj;in 
 
 „ , T 1 /-, , • xi t r xi ''To Grii'I. Pnitciajio Corral: 
 
 Bay, where -ludge Gushing, the agent ot the . j j^.^^.g |,^„„, ^^ acknowledge the receipt of 
 
 Transit Line, was, and who had dispaich -d t!ie your letter of yesterday, iu which yon inform 
 
 steamer to relieve me, and who stated ibat me that 3-ou are compelL-d to_ manifeU:_ your 
 
 , T X ,. ii 1 I i- 111 iirotest agaiiist me for leaving the cit\- of 
 
 when 1 set out on the dav l-ietore. he had n;-ver \~. 1 -n ti • . .. t- • • i-' 1 
 
 Greiiaila with the intent or injury ot rh:> 
 
 expected my return. Judge Gushing, late our forces under your command ia tlio town of 
 
 Minister at Bo>iota, and agent at .this time of Kivas. 
 
 the Transit Company, bad, only a few davs " I I'eply, I li^^^ no such object in visiting 
 
 ' • Kivas, as will appear more tullv by a letter 
 
 belore, been seize-l and imprisoned liy Za- ^^,\^-^,.\^ i ^-I'ote to the military governor of 
 
 trucbe, and onl\- escaped i.iurder b}- paying a that department, a copy of which I enclose. 
 
BEAUFORT COUNTY. 
 
 27 
 
 " I had no personal desire to leave Grenada; 
 nnd for some time positively objected; l)Ut 
 inrtnenced by the cliicf citizens of Grenada 
 (your own friends) the venerable fathers of 
 the church, the tears of your own sisters, aiul 
 your dauiihters, T consented to visit you, ac- 
 coiripanied by Don duan Hui/., tlie Secretary 
 of War, and yoin- superior in office, bearin.;^ 
 the olive bi'aiich of peace; and a proposition 
 from the comniandcr-general of the l»emocratic 
 forces, to make 3-ou the provisional President 
 of the Republic. When it was stated you 
 were absent, I desired to return to this iilace. 
 Judj^^e my surprise, when I was informed by 
 the Prefect and Governor, that I should not 
 return, my life threatened, and my per.son 
 (with my secretary, servant, and the national 
 flag) imprisoned in the ([uartel under sti-ict 
 guard. 
 
 " For this violation of the laws of nations 
 and my persomd rights, I protest, and lie 
 assured, General, that my Government will 
 h(dd 3H)U and your Government to a sevei'c 
 responsibilitj' for such lawless conduct. 
 
 •' You further inform nie that 'you will not 
 be res[)onsible for what may happen to me 
 for my personal safety,' and that you will 
 inform Governor Marc}-, the Secretaiy of 
 State, and the newspapers of Xew York of 
 my conduct in this matter. In reply, I inform 
 you that when I have kept my word of honor 
 to the Governor of Rivas to remain here two 
 days to await 3'our reply, I shall return to my 
 post at Grenada; and that I do not request, 
 nor have I evere.\i)ected,you tobe responsible 
 foi- my personal safety. The flag of the United 
 States is suiticiently powerful for my protec- 
 tion, backed as it is by a patriotic Pi'esident 
 and thirty millions of people. 
 
 " I have myself fully informed Governor 
 Maivy of all these matters; and feel in no way 
 responsible to yciu. and the newspapers of 
 New York tor my official conduct. 
 " Yours faithfullv, 
 
 " JOHN 11. WHEELER, 
 " Minister of U. S. A. near 
 
 " the Bcpilblir of NirdfiC/itl.'"' 
 
 As I left Rivas a parting salute from a liea\'y 
 cannon was fired at us, which struck near us an 
 adobe gate, and covered us with dust and dirt, 
 i)ut with no other effect than to naake us 
 inciul our (jait in retreat. 
 
 On my return to Grenada, (ieneral Walker 
 called on me. On learning the cause of my 
 
 delay, my imprisonment by Zat ruche, he ex- 
 pressed but little surprise, but remarked quiet- 
 ly, that he expected I would come to grief; 
 and " it would have been a fortunate event 
 had /at ruche carried out his intention to shoot 
 me; for then," be ad(bMl,"your (Jovernment 
 must have resented such outrage, and taken 
 my part." This was cool, rather than con- 
 soling, and characteristic of Walker, who 
 looked upon men as the mere titulary pawns 
 of the chess lioard, to be moved and sacrificed 
 to advance the ambitions plans of others. His 
 conduct can only lie justified or apologized 
 forl)y the fact that he was at the time in immi- 
 nent peril himself. The enemy had now the 
 posses'don of that jiortion of the country on 
 which the Transit Conqiany had their mute. 
 From this reservoir hecould only receive rein- 
 forcements. The enemy, exasperated to mad- 
 ness, and infuriated by defeat in every battle 
 liy an inferior force, theii' capital taken, their 
 President and Cabinet fugitives, were ready for 
 the most desperate deeds. The agent of tlie 
 Transit Company, Judge Gushing, as already' 
 stated, was seized and the office broken open, 
 and his lite jeopardized. The steamer, loaded 
 with passeng._'rsfn)ni New York and San Fran- 
 cisco, was fired on by Fort Sau Carlos, to the 
 imn\ineut pei'il of every one on board, and sev- 
 eral persons killed, among them .Mrs. White, of 
 Sharon, New York; and many wounded, 
 among them .J. <}. Ivendi'ii-k, then of Cincin- 
 nati, Ohio, now of St. Louis. Many whose 
 names were unknown were founil murdered, 
 with their throats cut, and their bodies robbed 
 even of their clothes. The steamer, u imble to 
 pass the fort at the outlet of the river, or to 
 land at Virgin Bay, on the 22d Oct., 1855, 
 came to ( Jreuada, Nvit h 250 passengers, to claim 
 the protei-tioii of the American .Ministei-. To 
 add to the misfortunes, the cholera was raging 
 among the crowded [lassengers. A committee 
 • called on the Minister for relief, and I went 
 on board. Such a scene I never before wit- 
 
28 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 nessed. Deiid and woimdod, sick and dying witli the instincts of his race and coh)r, he 
 
 from chdiera, crowded the decks. One died was planning treason and murder. Letters 
 
 (Nicholas Cari'ol) with the eiiolera, while I from him to Gardiohi and Zatruche were in- 
 
 was on l)oard. Many of tliese were wealthy; tercepted, urging them to come with arms and 
 
 ail rcspectahle, and all niy countrymen. I force, and overthrow tlie new government, 
 
 persuaded them all to leave the crowded and He was arrested. impris(_)ned, tried for treason 
 
 infected ship, took them into my own house, by a court-martial, and condemned to lie shot, 
 
 as many as I could accommodate, and rented whicli sentence was executed in tlie plaza of 
 
 a large house for the others. Grenada, at 2 p.m., on 8th November, 1855. 
 
 Added to these misei'ies, evident prepara- I was on the plaza of Grenada on the 8th 
 
 tions were making for a sanguinary l)attlo Novemijer. 1S55, in company with Captain 
 
 whicli was near at hand. Arrests were hourly Scott, Judge Gushing. and some friends, when 
 
 made and imjiri.-onmeuts, and continual appli- the tolling of the Cathedral hell, tlie solemn 
 
 cations for protection and relief. air of crowds of spectators, indicated some 
 
 The Secretary of Foreign Aftairs of the late event of deep and solemn importance. 
 
 Govei-nment, Don ^Liteo Mayorga, I'or the out- A guard of soldiei's marclied out frcuvi the 
 
 rages at San Carlos and other places, was lying quartel, witli whom ajijieared General P(_mci- 
 
 dead at this time in tlie plaza, shot by order ano Coiral. On one side of him was a jiriest, 
 
 of Walker; leading and wealthy citizens ar- bearing in his liand a small cross, and (ui the 
 
 rested and imprisoned. other his faithful i'riend, I)on Pedro Rouhard, 
 
 A\'hat a scene of hoi'ror! what a night of the Consul of Fi'aiice. The splenrlid person of 
 
 anxiety and excitement was experienced! Corral seemed home down with calamity; his 
 
 An anxious and fearful morning came; but features bore the nuirks of extreme mental 
 
 General Corral, iuste;ul of attacking Grenada, suffering. He took his seat iu the fatal chair, 
 
 made his appearance in tlie plaza accompanied which was placed with its back to the wall of 
 
 by his staff and General Walker, with some the Cathedral. He calmly took out his hand- 
 
 of his officers. A treaty of peace between kerchief, folding it in his hands, and bound it 
 
 these generals was made,(2:!d October, 1855,) around his eyes; then, folding his hands in an 
 
 by which Don Fatrico Rivas was named as attitude of pniyer, uttered the word "/)ro/(^j" 
 
 provisional rresident— an oblivion of past dif- — ready. A detail of .Mississip[ii rifles, ;it the 
 
 fereuces. Walker was made Commaiidcr-in- distance of about ten paces, at the word.flred, 
 
 Chief of the Army and Corral Minister of and every ball piei'ced through and through 
 
 War, the barricades of tlie streets destroyed, his liody; he fell dead from the chair, and his 
 
 the prisons all opened, and peace dawneil on spirit departed to answer for the deeds done 
 
 the land. Corral marched his forces into the on earth — 
 
 city, wearing the blue ribbon, and they were With all liis crimes In-nad blown, 
 
 incornorated into the nrmv of Wnll-er Tb,. And Iiow liis luulit stands, who knows, save heaven ? 
 
 incoipoiaiea into tnt ai m\ or Walkei. llie But. iu our circumstance and course of thought, 
 
 two chiefs embraced each other on the plaza, ' Tis heavy witli him. 
 
 and the officers, military and civil, proceeded I witnessed, witli painful emotion, this tragic 
 to the church " to return thanks to the God of scene. General Corral was of a soldiei'ly de- 
 Peace for the termination of the war." meanor and commanding presence. He was 
 Everything now seemed quiet. But it was rather [iortl\- in size, weighing about two hmi- 
 only temporary. At this very time, when the dred pounds, social in his character, of daring 
 real strength of Walker was known to Corral, courage and imioniitable purpose. He was ex- 
 
BKATFOUT COUNTY. 
 
 20 
 
 cessivoly jiolitc, uiid profuse in liis t'X[)rG3sioii.s 
 of frieiidsliiii. He was as sincere as liis nature, 
 education, atiil mixed hlood would allow. So 
 natural was intrigue and treachery intrrained 
 in his nature that he practiced these vices 
 when it were easier to he lionest and sincere. 
 He was poj/ular anionic; the people, and hia 
 death caused a profound sensation in the State. 
 
 It would bo foreign from the plan of this 
 work to record all the spirit-stirring events in 
 the cai'eer of Walker, or Jo attempt to de- 
 scribe the character of tlie country or its in- 
 habitants. 
 
 The career of General Walker, afS.er many 
 battles between the Kicaraguan forces and 
 Costa Rica, as well as Guatem-ila, liad varied 
 fortunes; from his injudicious interference with 
 the Tran.sit Comjiany, and otliei- causes, his ca- 
 reer was checked liy defeat, and in May, 1857, 
 an agreement was entered into by him and 
 Captain Cliarles Henry Davis, a Commander 
 in the United States Xavy, ship " St. Mary." 
 by which " General Walker, with sixteen offi- 
 cers of his staff, marched out of Rivas with 
 their side-arms, jiistols, horses, and personal 
 baggage, under guai'antee of said Davis not to 
 be niolested by tlic enemy, and be allowed to 
 endsark on the ' St. M-jay,' then in the harbor 
 of San Juan del Sur; and the said ])avis un- 
 dertaking to transport them >-afely to Panama, 
 in charge of a United States ofKcer." Fi'om 
 Panama, Walker returned to the United 
 States. He was received with much enthusi- 
 asm; nor was he disturbed b^' the Government 
 of the United States for any violation of law. 
 
 He soon endjai'ked again for Nicaragua, with 
 men and arms, when, whether with orders 
 from tlie Government of the United States or 
 not. he was seized by Captain Paulding, as ;J- 
 ready alluded to. He M'as brought back to 
 the United States. He again endjarked fur 
 Centrril America, and landed in Ucniduras, 
 whv.re he had some skirmishes near Truxillo, 
 when he surrendered to the English officer 
 
 commanding Him- Majesty's steamer " Icarus," 
 who delivered him to General Alvarez, of the 
 Honduras army, and on the 12th September, 
 18G0, he was shot. 
 
 This is a copy of the last note that Walker 
 ever wrote: 
 
 I iiereby jirotest, before the civilized 
 world, that when I surrendered to the cajitain 
 of Her Majesty's steamer, the '■ Icarus," that 
 officer expressly received my sword and pistol, 
 as well as the arms of Colonel Rutler, and the 
 surrender was expressly, and in so many words, 
 to him, as the representative of Her !5rittanic 
 Majesty. William Walkkr. 
 
 On board the Steamer ''Icarus," September 
 
 5t/i, 18(i0. 
 
 Thus iierished, in the prime of life, William 
 W^alker, at the early age of Bti, as fearless a 
 man as icir country ever [iroduced. Xecessa- 
 rily brief has been this sketch, whicli tlie stir- 
 ring events of the time atfv)rd anqjle material 
 and might have much extended. But it is 
 only a glance at these events, comprehending 
 the salient points of interest, are attempted 
 with ti'Uth and justice. Much that I have en- 
 deavored to describe, if not 
 
 Pars fui; mesirieiua vidi, 
 and had Walker been prudent and successful, 
 the battles of Grenada and Rivas would have 
 rivaled the triumph of Sail Jacinto, and 
 Walker ranked with the Houst.on of other 
 days. His enterprise and valor deserve our 
 respect, aud his tragic end our sympathy^ 
 
 Duncan is in his gra\e. 
 
 After lifn's fitful fever he sleeps well. 
 Trertsou has done his worst, nor steel nor poison, 
 Malice domestic, foreign levy, 
 Nothing can touch him further. 
 
 Macbeth. 
 
 From the disordered condition of this coun- 
 try', and from individual danger incident to 
 ■duy foreigner, I was instructed l)y the State 
 Department to retire fri)m Grenada to San 
 Juan del Norte. In impaired health, I was 
 allowed to return home, and in 1857 resigned. 
 The events of tliese three years cau hardly be 
 classed in my life as among " The Pleasures of 
 .Memorv.^' 
 
30 WHEELER'S KEMTXISCEXCES. 
 
 CHAPTER TV. 
 
 BERTIE COUNTY. 
 
 \yhit.niill Hill, (born ]2tli February, 1743. dill, ami marched in 1812 in nUVnce of Nor- 
 
 r>ied 12th Septenilier, 1797,) was born in lior- i'olk. He was for a perind of _yeai's a pillar of 
 
 tie County, and the ancestor of a large and the Baptist Church, universally li)vcd for his 
 
 wealtliy family in liastern Carolina. nol)le Christian qualitii's, ;ind was for a loni; 
 
 He was educated at tlie T/nivcrsity of Pcnn- time tlie clerk of the county court, 
 
 sylvania, and was the early and earnest advo- David Stone, horn February 17, 1770. 
 
 cate of the rights of tlie Colonists in the Revo- Died 7th of October, l.SlS. 
 
 liition, and served faithfully in all the legisla- Amon^- tiie distinguislied narnos in the ear- 
 
 tivc bodies — Provincial, State, and IS^ational — lier history of X^M'tli (/arolina, is that of 
 
 the devoted patriot and statesman. David Stone. 
 
 He was a member of the Provincial Con- His father, Zcdekiali St<uie, came early to 
 
 ,i;r._ss that met at Hillsboro, 20th Au,ij,-ust, 1775, Xorfh Carolina from X'ew England (Vermont, 
 
 and at Halifa.v, on Itli April, 177G, and elected we have understood,) and haviny- purchased 
 
 to House of Commons from Martin County, lands irom the Tusearora Indians, settled in 
 
 in 1777; Senr.tor, 177S-79 and "80. He was Bci'tie County and oiariied .Mi's. ]']lizal)c! h 
 
 Speaker of the Senate in 1778. In 1778 he Hohson, (/,,,' Shri vers,) of .Martin Ciumty, 
 
 was a delegate from Xorth Carolina to the lie lived at Hope, five miles fioni Windsor, 
 
 Continental Coiigres.s, and served until 1781. and carried on mercantile and farming bnsi- 
 
 He survived the perils of the Revolution, ness. 
 
 and was one of the ablest advocates of the He was a devoted and a ready friend to the 
 
 Constituti(.>n of the Pnited States in the Con- cause of liberty and i;ide[)endenco, and was a 
 
 vention which met at Hillslioro in Jidy, 1788, mend).,rof the Provincial ('ongress, at Ilali- 
 
 whicli rejected the Constitution by a vote of fax (1770) whlcli formed our State Constitn- 
 
 184 to 84. He died at Hill's Fei-ry, Martin tion. 
 
 County, on 12ih of Septend,er, 1707. jj^ ,,.^,,_ ,;,, „„„,. ,.^^„,,^ .nnuallv elected a 
 
 His letters to (governor Purke, while a Senator ,,f the Pe-islature from Rertie, an.l 
 
 member of the Continental Congress at Pliila- .^as .listiu-uishcd for his i>itelligenee and 
 
 delphia, 1780, have i een preserved, (see Uni. «i,,vwdness of character. 
 Ma--. X, Xo. 7, March, PSUl,) and ia'eatiie tin' 
 
 ..,.,.. , , ,,, Hi.s .son, l)a\id Stone, was boin at Hope, 
 
 pure spirit ol patriotisin ami valor. We re- , , „ 
 
 ^ ^1 , I-. , I 1 , . , . ]7tn ot i^ el/i-iUM-X', 1770. 
 grct tliat so little lias been presfr\-ed ot tnis 
 
 IKitriotic statesman, whose character and 1 Hs early ed;icatiin was conducted by the 
 
 whose services deserve the re-ard of posterity. ^""'^ loacheis that the country e.aild aifoid, 
 
 The name of Jonathan Tayloe is remem- ""^^ ''^^ ^^'=^^ diligent, laborious, and aj.t to 
 
 bered with veneration and regard in Pertie '«<"■"• 
 
 County. One of this name is reconiud as a Ai'ter ijis acadendc studies were completed, 
 
 freeholder in P)ertie County i'ar back in (Jolo- young Stone was sent to I'rinceton Colh'ge, 
 
 nial times, and one of the name yet lingers where he graduateil in 1788, with the first 
 
 upon tlie .scene of his long pilgrimage, though honors. Dr. ^Vitlierspo(ln, then the President 
 
 he was cdd enough to be a soldier under Lieu- of the (J(.illege, often rei'erred with approba- 
 
 tenant Gavin Hogg and Captain , lames Ire- tioii to his studious and e.\emplary conduct, 
 
VA-.XCSXX'RV CorXTY. -1 
 
 atul predicted for liini n l>n"grit caioer df Con.ijrcsses, 1801 to LSOC. In 1808 Mr. Stone 
 fiunornud usefulness. \v::S elected Goveiiinr o|" t!i • State, lie ilis- 
 IIc studied hnv with General AVilliani \l. cliart'ed all the duties ul'tiiat elevated position 
 Davie, whose knowledge a.ud successful prac- witlio-r<'at (lii;-nity duriny' his eoustituti.>nal 
 tieo well (nialilied liiin to j>repare and tit. term. In 1-^11 ai.d 1M12 he a,i;-ain appeared 
 upon his students that aricoi' whieli would as a mend er of the I.eu-islature, and his ex- 
 enable them to endure the tiUs o\ the Icijal porience, aliilities and principles gave hirn 
 tonrnameiit. His teaciiin<>;s were inculcateil commanding' iniluence. This was a storinv 
 with an eleo-anee of manners, and a suavity of period in tie- [Hilitienl history oftheStatc. 
 touipor, that, while they instructed, ii-ave sat- A liill to confer the choice of electors for 
 isfaction and pleasure. Judge Daniel, long President and \'ice-l'iesident. of the United 
 one of the Judges ol' our Supreme Court, States upon t lie Legislal urc, so as to <i-ive an 
 who :.ls() read law with him, pronounced Gen- undivided vote (ii;stead of the district svstem 
 eral JJavie one of the most :d)le jniists and then in vogue,) w:!s intrndueed and ad vocated 
 acc(uupli.shed gentlemen he ever knew. Uiidcr by ( lovernor Stone; this failiiig, he introduced 
 such a teacher, .Mr. Stone was well fitted for a similar measm-e to choose the electors hv a 
 the duties of his profession; und iVcni his geu'ial ticket sysiem, whieh he advocated 
 solid acquirements, his signal ability, his close with great ability and unecpialed ebxpience. 
 attention to the inteicsts of his clients, the This measure w;!s opposed by l)uiican 
 skiilful ;;nd careful i>repar;ii i<^ii of his epses Cameron, John Stanly, a;i<l oth-rs; and also 
 he won the contideuee of the community, and misearried. He op]iosed the proposition of 
 attai:;cd the highest ran.k in his profession. .Mr. I'hifer to make a choice of electors Iiy the 
 Wlien in the L'Cth yearof his age, he was elect- disti'ict system, but this was adopted. At 
 ed by the Legishilure a Jud.ge of the Superior this session he was again elected a Senator in 
 Court of Law and Eipiiiy. Congress to serve for si.\ years, from the 4th 
 
 lie early em!;arkeil on the st(U'm3- sju of of March, ISlo. 
 
 pilitieal life, in whieh, from tlicsuavity of his lie possessed extraordinary and highly cnlti- 
 
 niaui.ers and the solidity of his acquirements, vated i:itelle<-tii;il [lowers, eautions :;nd shrewd 
 
 he enjoyed a long and lirilliant caroei-. Knun in business transactiiuis, fond of money, and 
 
 ITIIO to 17[I4 he was a memlier of the House successful in the aecnmulatitm of propert}'. 
 
 of ("oinmons. In 1795 ho was elected one of 1 le was twice married, first to .Miss Harriet 
 
 the Judges of the Su[ierior Court, thediities of Turner, by wiiom be left several children; 
 
 whieh ho discharged with dignity and a'dlity second to Miss Dasbield, of W'ashingtou Citv. 
 
 until 1799, when he was chosen liepreseiitative (For Genealogy of the Stone faniilv of 
 
 in Congress. In 1801 he was elected Senator in B'rtio County, N"orth Carolina, se,' Appendix.) 
 
 Congress, which place he resigned in 18 17, on General Stone entered tiie Senate again at a 
 
 being again elected Judge of Superior Court, period of intens.' national excitement. The 
 
 Whilst a member of the Senate his distin- United States were at war with tlio most pow- 
 
 gnished colleague, Je^so Krankliu, wa^ I'l'osi- erful nation on earth, and party spirit raided 
 
 dent /)/-o /e/rt. of that body. It is a f;iet worthy with unwonted violeiue. The majority of the 
 
 of recor;! that at this tiu»e the presiding officers |ie<'iile of Xorth Carcdina sup|iorted Madison 
 
 of both Houses of Congr.'ss wore from X >rth and the war, and the Legislature electeil Gov- 
 
 Carolina, .\Ir. .Macon having been S[)eakor of ernor Stone to sustain that policy-; but.unfor- 
 
 tho L >wor House during the 7tli, 8th, ami 9th tumitely,ho diftered from the Legislature and 
 
32 WlIEELEire KEMINISOEKCES. 
 
 the [icojile. His reasons \\'cre, as .■•tatcd in (see Craven Couiit3-,) anrl was his private soc- 
 
 Xileb' Eegiister, (viil. vii., KiS,) tliat"tliese rctar}-. 
 
 iii-easures had K. d to divisimi among ourscdves. He was a lawyer l)y pr()ffssioii,and so highl}' 
 aii<l 10 liaiiki-ujitcy and ruin to tlie nation." est eeniod that, at the age of 2S, he was elected 
 The embargo, a measure strongly recom- Judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, 
 nu'.nded hy tiie President, had passed the He was the Governor of Tennessee from 
 House. It was rejeeted in the Senate Ijt two ISOD to 1815. Tins long period of public ser- 
 vo.tes only, and one of them v.'as Governor vice, in so elevated a position, proves the wis- 
 Stone'a. He also voted against a bill to raise dojii and [)ru<lence of his conduct and his ac- 
 hy direct tax revenue to snppjort the war. He ceptable service. It was his fortune to be 
 complained, personally, that to a call for in- Governor in a most exciting period of our his- 
 formation from the Committee of "Ways and tory — during the war with England — and he 
 Means, tlie re[dy was that '"there was not gave to the adnniiistration his cordial and 
 time to furnish the desired information." constant su]>iiort. He tendered to I'resident 
 
 In this course he differed from his enllcague, Madison 2,5(10 troops, and placed them under 
 
 Governor Turner, of the Senate, and from conmuind of Andrew Jackson, who won for 
 
 Willis Alston, Peter Forney, John Culjiepper, his coun.try the glorious victory at New Or- 
 
 .Meshack Franklin, William R. King, Nathan- leans. 
 
 id Mucon, William II, Murfree, Israel Pick- He was equally active in the Ci'eek war, 
 
 ens, Richard Stanford, and Bartlett Yaneey. raising 2,000 volunteers and $300,000. 
 
 Ilis course called down the censure of the Leg- He mai-ried Lucinda, dauii:hter of John and 
 
 iBlature. Anne Norfleet Baker, of Bertie County. 
 
 In I>eceinbe.r, 1S14, .Mr. Branch, afterwards He died at the residence of Wylie Johnson, 
 
 Govei'uor, as chairman of the s[iecial com- near Nashville, in 1835. A monument was 
 
 mittec upon the subject, reported a resolutwu erected b}' order of the Legislature unto his 
 
 that " the conduct of David Stone had l)een memory at Clai'ksville. He left several cliil- 
 
 iii opposition to his pi'ofcssions. and had jeop- dren, among them Mrs. J. T. Dabney,: .Mrs. 
 
 ardized the safety and interest of the cuun- Dortch, whose son, Willie B . Doi'tch, m;irried 
 
 tr^-, and had incuri'ed the disapiiroliation of a daughter of Governor A. V. Brown, 
 
 this General Assembly." The names of Cherry and Outlaw ai';j jire- 
 
 This jiassed, 40 to IS, and (lovernor Stone served b}' a patriotic and talented race full of 
 
 forthwitli resigned his scat in the Senate, generous feeling and kindly dispositions. 
 
 This chjsed his distinguished and eventful George Outlaw v\-as born, lived and died in 
 
 public life, and four ^-ears afterward he died, Bortie (\>unty. He was distinguished, sa^'S 
 
 in the 48th year of his age. Mr. .\Ioore m his History of North Carolina, 
 
 Governor Stone was in person tall and com- for the blandness of his manners, and was :ts 
 
 manding; of reddish hair, which he wore, as noted for his usefulness in the Chui'ch, as for 
 
 was then the fashion, in a queue. his talents as a. statesman. He entered public 
 
 Willie Blount, (iovernor of Tennessee, v\-as life as a member of the House of C'oannons in 
 
 / 
 
 born in Bertie County 1768; died 1835. ^ 179G and in 179,9, and a niemberof the Senate 
 
 He was tlie son of Jacob Blount, already re- from 1800 to 1822, with some intermissions, 
 
 ferred to in a sketch of the Blounts of Beau- of which body he wa.s Speaker in 1812, '13, 
 
 fort. He was the brother of Governor Wil- and '14, and elected a member of the 18tli 
 
 liam Blount, the first Govei'uor of Tenne.-see, Congress, 1823-'25, to supply a vacamy occa- 
 
BKKTTP] COUXTY. 30, 
 
 sioiied by Mio rcsi--iiatioii of II. CJ. l?ui-toii, liiui, Senator in Con.siress, Secretary of the 
 elected CJoveriior. Ilewas the first Moderator Xavy; Mattliias E. Manly, Judge of the Snpe- 
 oftheCiiowan Baptist Association, established rior and Siiprome Courts; Augnstus Moore, 
 i" 1^06- Judge of Superior Courts; Edward I). Siinms, 
 
 His fine personal appearance, his kind, genial nieiidier of Congress, 4824, from South Caro- 
 maiiners, and his generous, charitable temper, Una. In even this galaxy of merit and talent 
 rendered him universally popular. Ilis son, Mr. Outlaw was conspicuous. 
 George B. Outlaw, succeeded him in Ihe State He studied law with that able and accom- 
 Senate, in 1823 and 1S24, whose widow {m-c plished jurist, William Oaston, atid bv his 
 Jordan) married CTOvernor John IJraneli. assiiiuity, al)ility and labor did credit to his 
 
 'I'liomas Miles (larret was a resident of this accomplished preceptor. He was admitted to 
 county, and lived near Colerain. Jliseduca- the bar in 18l'7, and soon rose to the front 
 tion was good. He was prepared for college rank of his profession. For years he was the 
 by John KinJjerly, and graduated in 1851, in Solicitor of the Edenton Circuit, in which 
 same class with Dav.id M. Carter, Bartholo- responsible p )sition he won the respect, confi- 
 mew Fuller, Francis E. Shober and others, dencc and admiration of the l)eneh, bar and 
 He read law, and by his dilig.'uce and capacity juries. When to his discriminating judg- 
 attained renown. But the wai- hioke out, and meiit,oii[iression or persecution was attempted, 
 he joined the army. He was brave and de- be was mild and yielding, but when the law 
 voted to the cause, and fell in battle as colo- was violated, no matter bv whom, high or 
 iiel, at the head of his regiment, amid the low, indigent or wealthy, it was firmly vindi- 
 horrors of that fearful conflict. He remarked cated. 
 
 on the eve of the engagement that the day Naturally generous and just, though reso- 
 would end with a general's wreath or with lute, he was universally ]),>pular. His warm 
 his life. Both were verified. A commission and enthusiastic temper was often roused when 
 arrived next day as brigadier, but too late! duplicity or artifice was attempted; and he 
 
 There are but few persons in North Carolina would assail his victim with resistless power 
 who did not know David Outlaw (born about and matchless elorpience. This trait in his 
 1805 and died 1808,) and appreciate his esti- character was well known to his associates at 
 iiiable character. He was born, lived and died the bar, as also to the community at large. 
 in Bertie County. He was endowed by nature Often has the trembling offender of justice, 
 with a clear and iienetrating mind, which was when on trial, whimpered to counsel, " J)o,:'t 
 highly improved by a liberal education. He midce Outlaw mad, for if you do, I shall not 
 graduated in 1824 at the University of the have any chance to escape." He was truly 
 State, at the head of his class. When it is '-a terror unto evil-doers, and a praise to them 
 recollected who composed this class, and their vvho do well." " To the just, he was mild and 
 mental material, this high honor will be gentle; but to tlu froward he was as fierce as 
 appreciated. Among them were Daniel B. tire," 
 
 Baker, Benjamin B. Blume, John FJragg, Such a man could not fail to .secure regard 
 member of the Legislature, raendjer of Con- and respect. He w.is frequently elected a 
 gress, and Judge in Alabama; James W.Bry- member of the Legislature, and was elected 
 an, distinguished lawyer. Senator 1836 from member of the 30th (1847,) 31st (1849,) and 
 Jones County; Thomas Dews, of Lincolntoii; 32d (1851) Congresses. Here his unbending 
 William A. Graham, Governor of North Caro- integrity, his unselfish patriotism, his unques- 
 
34 WHEELP:K'S l^E.MINTSCEXCES. 
 
 tioiied abilities, and his pure and unobtrusive tion. Tie was succeeded by Dr. Thomas IT. 
 
 virtues, conmianded the respect and the ati'ec- Hull. 
 
 tion of his associates. He was ever ready to He serve<l in 1827 as Chief Cleric of the 
 
 doo'cnerousacts, while lie scorned any intrigue Xavy Department under Governor Branch. 
 
 or artifice- tlic unflindiiTin: foe to eoi-ruption, lie was an enterprisiuL'', patriotic and lionest 
 
 extra vag'ance or indirection. Sincere and man, loved and respected b\- all who kiiew 
 
 honest himself, he was unsuspicious of deceit him. He man-ied Arabella, daughterof Henry 
 
 or fraud in others. I. Toole. He died in 1843, leaving one son, 
 
 In bis ]icrs<)n Colonel Outlaw was but little who became Govei'iior of the State, 18Gl,and 
 
 fav(.rcd i'y nature. He was very near-sighted, two daughters, Maria, who married Mat Wad- 
 
 aid constantly w, re glas-ses that weregieen, dell, and Laura, who married Cottcn. 
 
 :ii;d wbidi to i^trangers made him appciir dis- (For the Genealogy of the Clark family, 
 
 taut, received, and aAvkwai'd. Yet, witli .see Appendix. ) 
 
 tlie?e di.sadvantnges, to tliose wlio kmw liim I'atrick Henry Winston resides in Bertie 
 
 well, this rugged e.xterior did County, Imt is a native of Fi'anklin County. 
 
 ii;.i„ ., . ,,..; „ • 1 ■ -1- 1 1 He was educated at Wake Forest, and at tb.- 
 Jlide a i)recioiis .ic\vcl ni its liead, ' 
 
 Columbian ITniversitv, at Wa8hingt<ui City. 
 
 and present every quality of honor, truth, and ,,.5^,,,,^ ,,,. ^.,,„inated." He read law at Cbai^el 
 
 ju>ti,.e that can dignify human nature. jj;,,^ ^^,,,1 ^ff,,, receiving a license to practice. 
 
 l!is last public service was as a member of ^^.fj,^,,, ^„ Windsor. He represented Bertie 
 
 the State Senate in 18(i:j. He died on 22d County in the Legislature u, 1850 and 1854. 
 October, 18(J8. j,, ^^^^^ ],g together with Hon. B. F. .Moore 
 
 His latter days were clouded by misfortune. ,„,,| p.,,,,., y. I'billips, were elected by the 
 
 The vicissitudes of war, bis cmtidence in Legislature as Judges of the Court of Claims, 
 
 fru.nds, and bis carelessness in iinaucial mat- tj^j^ ,,.^,, ,^ adicate and s.vere dntv, and this 
 
 teis, bad wrecked his fortunes. The natural .,ble court discbar-ed it with tidelitv and 
 
 infirmity (defective eyesight) terminated in 
 tiital blindness. But his generous qualities 
 
 lit-?-. 
 After bis term in the court bad expired, be 
 
 triumphed over calamity. To such men nniy ,,.^,, apiH.inted bv ( iovernor Vance Financial 
 
 Xorth Carolina proudly point as the niotb.r .^^.^^^ ,,f the State in her fiscal relati.ms with 
 
 of the Gracci did to her sons, and sincerely the Confederate Government. 
 
 ■'• ' In LSG4 be was elected (uie of the Council 
 
 Tliese are my jewels. i- Oi * 1 1 ii ^ 1 1 1 n ■ 1 >_ 
 
 ot btate, and by that body chosen Bresuleiit, 
 
 .lames W. Claik. born 177l>, died 1843, was a i>osition at this time involving great res[ioii- 
 
 a native of Bertie C^iunty, son of Christoidier sibility. 
 
 Cbirk. who died at Salmon creek. In 1*05 be was chosen a Tnenil)er of the 
 
 He was liberally educated, and graduated Constitutiomil Convention from Fraid<lin, 
 
 at I'l'inceton in 17i'ti. He was idected a mem- wbitln'r be had taken refuge during llu^ 
 
 b('r of the Legislature from bis native county ti'oubles of the war, and no one did more to 
 
 in 1S(l2-':i. Il(^ removed to Edgecombe C(Mm- build u^i the broken down walls of our [loliti- 
 
 ty which be represented in 1810 and 1^11, cal Ziun than .Mr. Winston. He was of t!ie 
 
 and in the Senate 1812-'13 and '14, and elected few men who declined to sign an open letter 
 
 a member of the 14ib Congress — 1815-"17. to Governor Hi)lden, requesting him to be a 
 
 He served out Ills term and declined a re-elec- candidate foi' Governor. In 18t!8 lie was 
 
BKirriE COrXTY-r.LADEX COUNTY. 35 
 
 oflored and ilecliiird the iicmiiii'ition lor d^w- A iV:irfnl ciiidctiiic iqipeared in Bertie C'oim- 
 
 jgreFP, iircfcrring to purine the injictire of his ty, :is recorded in Nilcs' Register, vol. x, 364, 
 
 {iroiessic.ii, of wliieh he is alike 11 pilliirand !Ui which was most fatal among the jpeople, 
 
 oiiiament. lie possises mitiriiig industry, in M;iy, 1816. Some seetions, especially 
 
 profound learning, and iin?polted reputation. Casliie Xeck, were nearl}- depopulated. The 
 
 lie has a family likely to he iis distinguished .statement says that " tiie most roliust consti- 
 
 as llieir fatiitr f( r ahility. intlui nee and in- tutions melted hefore it as wax hefore a fire." 
 te^ritv. 
 
 CI I A PTEK V. 
 
 BLADEN COUNTY. 
 
 "With this county nre associated ii:any stir- and amongst others Janiw Porterfield, an 
 
 rinu' events connected with the war of the Irishman hy hirth, hut who for some years 
 
 TJcvohition, whii h iittested tlie [-atriotism of had hcen a resident of Pennsylvania. Mr. 
 
 her sons, and their devotion to liherty. I'ortertield had live children — Eleanor, who 
 
 The lattle of Elizahelhtown, fought in intermarriid with Col. Thomas Owen, the 
 
 .July, 1781, was a complete victory of the father of Gen. Jauies and the late Gov. John 
 
 "Whigs, led hy Thomas Brown, over the To- Owen ; one son who died in early life; John 
 
 ries, commanded hy Slingshy and ' Godden. and James, who for many years were uier- 
 
 This has heen already so fully recorded from chants in Fayctteville, and Penny, who is 
 
 authentic documents in the History of Xorth the suhject of this hrief sketch. 
 
 Carolina (II, :]t).) that its repetition is nn- On the hieaking out of the Revolutionary 
 
 nctcssary heie. The heroic character of Denny war, the whole family of I 'orteriields espoused 
 
 I'orttriield is detailed in The Mem(U-ies of the Whig cause. In the death of James I'or- 
 
 Cross Creek. tcrtield, senior, the Wiiigs lost an ahle and in- 
 fluential friend. But his widow, animated 
 
 Ti!K Mk.moiuivs of Cno.sp Creek. ,^^^. ^j,^, ,.,,^,^, .,,a,„t temperament, nuidc her 
 
 The Highlanders of Scotl.uid, after their mansion hcad<iuarters for the Whigs of Cross 
 defeat at Cnlloden in 174(i, migiated toXorth Creek. She was celebrated as an expert cart- 
 Carolina, under the advice of Xeill McNiell. ridgc-makcr, and fre-iuently spent niglits in 
 They found a resting-place on the banks of preparing bullets to be used by the Americans. 
 C;.pe Fear, at what has remained the head of At that time she livc<l in the house that has 
 navigation on that river to the [.resent time, for many years heen known as the residence 
 
 As early as 170:2 Cross Creek and CanibcU- of John McLeran, deceased, and now of his son 
 
 toil (now Fayctteville) began to assume im- William. 
 
 p(utaiice in a commercial point of view, the Under such a father and mother, mid in 
 
 fame whereof attracted manv from abroad, such times, Denny i'orterlicld grew to man- 
 
36 WIIEELER'e REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ho'xl. lie became a solilier, served with dis- lay between converging fires, and in full sij;ht 
 
 tinction in the American army, an<l attained of tlie British army. Porterfield modestly 
 
 the rank of .Major. It is not our object to replied, that when he entered the American 
 
 sive a detailed account of the exploits of army he had subjected his powers of mind and 
 
 Deniiv Portei-field, but will sinii'ly endeavor b'.)dy to the glorious cause, and if needs he 
 
 to record bis daring bravery as exhibited in was prepared to die in its behalf, 
 
 iliis List battle. Greene communicated the command, which 
 
 It is a well known fact tbat while Corn- was to order into service a reserved corps that 
 
 wallis retreated from Guilford Court House lay in andniscade, ready to advance upon re- 
 
 vi'i. Fayettcville and Wilmingtmi to York- ceiving the signal agreed on. 
 
 town, where be was comiielled to surrender to With a brave and undaunted bearing Major 
 
 the prowess of Washington, Gen. Greene, in- Pai'tei'lield dashed oif upon his fleet courser, 
 
 stead of pursuing liini, determined to relieve and so sudden and unexpected was iiis ap- 
 
 Nortb and South Carolina from the persecu- pearance among the British, and so hei'oic tlie 
 
 tions of Lord liawdon, and so pressed upon deed, that tliey paused to admire bis bravery, 
 
 !bim,tbatin July, 17"!1, he took post at the and omitted to tire until be w.is beyond the 
 
 Eutaw Springs, wliere the Americans attacked reach of their guns; hut on his return, they 
 
 him and drove him from his entrenchments, fired, the shot took effect in bis breast, and 
 
 Foremost in this intrepid cliarge was the the brave Uenny Porterfield fell, and sealed 
 
 higb-souled and valorous D^nny Porterfield his devotion to the cause with his blood, on 
 
 wlu) seemed to iiave » charmed life, as he ex- the plains of Eutaw. His horse escaped un- 
 
 posi'd himself U[ion his mettled charger, with hurt galloped into the American lines, and 
 
 epaulettes and red and bu+f vest on, to the never baited till he reached his accustomed 
 
 murderous fire of the enemy. Lieut. Col. place in the iMiiks. 
 
 Campbell received a mortal wound while lead- Ge.i. (ilreene, who witnessed the instinct of 
 
 ing the successful charge. J'orterfield and his the animal, shed tears, and orvlercd David 
 
 brave com[)anions rushed on to avenge his Twiggs, father of Miss Winny Twiggs, now of 
 
 <k'atb, and took upwards of five hundred Fayetteville, to take charge of the horse and 
 
 [iris.iners. carry him to Mrs. Porterfield at Cross Ci'cek. 
 
 In their retreat the British took post in a And up.m a SumLiy afternoon tlie mother of 
 
 strong brick iiouse and pic(^ueted garden, and the distinguislied gentleman who om.iuini- 
 
 froiii tliis ad\antageous position, under cover, cated some of the facts detailed, remembered 
 
 commenced firing. to have met David Twiggs coming into Cross 
 
 At this crisis in the battle Gen. Greene de- Creek, who in one breath announced the fall of 
 
 sired to bring forward re-inforccments to his beloved Major and the success of the 
 
 storm the house. To save time it became American arms at Eutaw. lie brought with 
 
 important that some one should ride within him the red butt' ve^t that Major Porterfield 
 
 range of the British cannon. It was in reality wore, and Gjii. James Owen has informed me 
 
 a forlorn hope. The Ajuerican General would tbat he remembers to have seen it, and tbat 
 
 detail no one for the enterprise, but asked if there was a rent or tear on one side and 
 
 any one would volunteer. Instantly Denny slightly blood-stained. On the retreat of 
 
 Porterfield mounted hi.s charger and rode into Lord Kawd.on, Gen. Greene retained posses- 
 
 his presence. Gen. Greene inquired if be was sion of the field, and there the body of Denny 
 
 aware of the peril, if he knew that his path Porterfield found an honorable grave. Ilis 
 
BLADEN COUNTY. 
 
 37 
 
 ■horse Tivefl for several years, a pensioner, roam- 
 iiiiiat pleasure on the liaiiks of Cross Creek — 
 kiidwii ami beloved hy all who venerated tiie 
 valor and ehivalry of Denny I'orteriield. 
 
 John Rutherford, or Rutherfiird, resided in 
 Eladen County. 
 
 He married Penelope Eden, the widow of 
 •Governor Gabriel Johnston, and lived on the 
 .place in Bladen, where the Governor had built 
 a house. (Moore, I, 147.) 
 
 He was one of the Council of Governor 
 Martin, and should not be confounded with 
 the name of General Gritttth Rutherford, who 
 did great military service in the Revolution. 
 
 John Owen, (born 1787; died 1841,) was 
 the g»-andsoii of Major I'ortertield, above al- 
 luded to, and the son of Thomas Owen, who 
 <lied in 1803, and was a brave officer of the 
 Revolution, and coinmanded a regiment at 
 Camden. 
 
 To many of our State, he was well known, 
 and by all he was highly appreciated for his 
 amiable character, his generous disposition, 
 and pure and upright demeanor. It was not 
 his taste, or his fortune, to command in the 
 field of war, or even 
 
 The applause of listening Senates to coinmana. 
 He preferred rather to enjoy the quiet com- 
 forts of home and his family, and the kindly 
 .intercourse of neighbors and friends. 
 
 Such was his popuhiriry that he was often 
 elected hy the people of Bladen a member of 
 the Legislature, (18l2-'27, and in 1828;) 
 (luring the last year he was chosen Governor. 
 He was within one vote of being elected Sen- 
 .ator in Congress in 1831. 
 
 He was President of the Convention at 
 Harrisburg, in 1840, that nominated General 
 Harrison for President. He was offered the 
 nonnnati<m as Vice-President; he declined, 
 •and ,Vlr. Tyler was nominated. Had his mod- 
 esty allowed his acceptance, as was the course 
 ■of ^events, he would have been President of 
 
 the United States. But his health was very 
 precarious, and would not allow him to accept 
 anv position. He died October, 1841, at 
 Pittsboro. 
 
 He married, at an early age, the daughter of 
 General Thomas Brown, the hero of the battle 
 of Klizabethtown, leaving an only daughter, 
 Who married Haywood Guion, deceased, and 
 who now resides at Charlotte. 
 
 Governor Owen was a true type of a North 
 Carolinian. Sincere, but chary in his profes- 
 sions and promises; and faithful and e.xact in 
 his jterformances-, varied and deep in his 
 acquirements, but modest, reticent and unob- 
 trusive in his demeanor; firm and gallant in 
 nuiiutaining his convictions of right. His 
 name is worthy .to be chissed with Bayard of 
 France: " Sans pear, sans veproclieJ' 
 
 His brother, General James Owen, was well 
 known for his urbane and intellectual charac- 
 ter. He was elected a member of the 15tli 
 Congress (1817,) and President of the North 
 Carolina and Raleigh Railroad. 
 
 His sister married Elisha Stedman, of Fay- 
 etteville. 
 
 Ja.mes J. McKay, (boru 1793; died 18.53,) of 
 this county, was distinguished as a lawyer and 
 statesman. He was often a member of the 
 Legislature in the Senate (ISlf), '16, '17, '18., 
 '22 and '26;,) district attorney of the United 
 States, and a member of Congress from 1831 
 to 1841), serving at one time with great accep- 
 tability as Chairman of the Committee of 
 Ways and Means. In the National Conven- 
 tion of 1848 General McKay received the un- 
 divided vote of North Carolina as a candidate 
 for Vice-President. As a statesman he was of 
 unquestioned ability, of stern integrity, capa- 
 ble of great labor and patient investigation. 
 He was in puldic, as in private life, a radical 
 economist, and belonged tothat school of which 
 Mr. Macon was the father, and he, with George 
 W. Jones, Cave Johnson, of Tennessee, and 
 John Letcher, of Virginia, were faithful disci- 
 
SB VniEELEirS liEMIXI'SOEXCES. 
 
 pics. General McK^ay died very siuldeiily at where lie u'radnated in 1843", in the same class 
 
 Goldsl),.ro in 1853. with lion. John L. B'ridgers, Hon. Robert P. 
 
 In olo-insi; our sketches of " The niciiiories Dick, I'liilo I'. Henderson, Judge Samuel J. 
 
 oi' tiity years or mort>,'" as regards the men of IVrsori. and others, lie served in the Legisla- 
 
 Bladen County, we should do injustice to the ture in 18IG to 1850 in the House, and 1854 
 
 integrity of history and to merit and vii-tucto and '58 in the Senate, and in the Congress of 
 
 pass over the name of Thomas David McDow- the Confederacy. 
 
 ell.cuie of the pui-est men in [)ul)licand pi-i\ate He is a planter hy profession, and now lives 
 
 life that lever knew. in dignified retirement like Cincinatus, r.Dtil 
 
 He was Lorn in Bladen County, the son of he is called, like him, hy the iiec>ple, to posi- 
 
 Dr. Alexander McDowell, on the 4th of Jan- tion of rcsponsihility and liouui-, which his 
 
 nary, 1823. merits entitle him. and his talents so admira- 
 
 His education was liheral. conducted at the bly qualify him to adorn, 
 onaldson Academy and the University, 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 BRUNSWICK COUNTY. 
 
 There are so many memories that clu>tcr selves; never yielded quiet obedience to the 
 
 around tlie early times of this ancient county, rule of the lords propi-ietors, nor were thev 
 
 ns.-^uciated with the cbivali'ic daring of lier pa- even on good tiuaus with the rulors of Boy- 
 
 triotic sons, tliat the liist'irian is embarrassed alty. Governor Dob'-s, with ainiaUe traits 
 
 by the riclies the glowing record [>rcscnts. The of character and witii all the ii vtronage of the 
 
 diilieulty aiises not so much in finding nuiterial Govcrnnieiit, could \vi:i l)Ut few advocates, 
 
 for his study as in selecting o\-ents and sub- Goveriior fryoii, his succ;'ssoi-, i»y turiis threat- 
 
 jeets most worthy of presersation. Here was ened and llattered them, imt in vaiu; .and 
 
 the ancient Ijorough of Brunswick." This linally they di-ove out Gov, Mirtiii, the list 
 
 seeiiou w:is the home of Howe, of Hariiett, of the Royal (Jovoruors, from tlu' country, 
 
 and of Hill, where wealth and entcrjirise to whom, like the guest--, of Maebeth, tlie peo- 
 
 rcared stalely mansitius; wIku'c geiierous hos- pie of* l>ruuswiek said, with more deeision 
 
 pitality, gentle coui'tesy, and social hai'moiiy than c unity, 
 
 prevailed, and whore wit, science and refine- At once, good ni^iit! 
 
 iuent found a habita' ion Stand not uijou the order of .your going— 
 
 Uut goat once. 
 
 These people, when the Stamp Act was before 
 
 .„, . , ,. -,, ., the Parliam.-nt, saw the storm aiinroachiui'-; 
 
 I lie ancient town ol l>rnn^Wlck. once the seat of . i i .-^ 
 
 llio Hoyal (iovernment, was on the left bank of the without tear the}' w.iccIkmI its coarse, and 
 
 (ape Fear liiver, about 10 inilesfrom the present town „ i „ ;f ti i , i -^ r -n r 
 
 of SniiUiville. It was nearly destroyed on the 7th -f ^^''^" ^^ '''"""' *''^'-) '" '''I'^'^^'l Us fury with hrm 
 
 Sei.tember, 17(i9, by a hniTicane, which is deidctcl in au,l maid v spirit. When its liiial iiassage was 
 a dispatch from Iryon. (Colunril Doc s from iiolls ^ ^ I -r, • 
 
 Oiiice, London.) announced, the Chevalier Bayard of the day. 
 
 lleSe 
 
 people were happy when left to them- 
 
BKUXSAVICK COUNTY. 30 
 
 John Aphe.then Speaker of tli-,- Ifoiise of tlic and luarohod in trininpli to the lesiiloncc of 
 
 Col'Miial As.^cinbly, boldly proclaimed to the the Governor at Wilmington. The whole 
 
 Uoval (uivcrnor, surriauuU'd Ky his satraps, t^wn was wild with excitement, and was 
 
 that "he would iesi.it the execution of the illumiaated at ni :ht. The next mornini!; Col- 
 
 aet to death!" one! Ashe, at Hk' head of a crowd of people, 
 
 It was here occurred a scene which excels went to tin' hous- of the Ciovernor and de- 
 
 iii daring any uvent of the age; and which man<hMl the ^^tamii-master, (William llous- 
 
 leaves the Boston Tea Tarty a secondary ton,) who had lie I to the Govern >r lor s ifcty. 
 
 legend in point of courage and patriotism. The Governor refuses to deliver him up, and 
 
 In the year ].7C(J, an English slo.)p-of-war, forthwith preparations are made to surround 
 
 (the •■ Diligence") isseon entering theharhor. and hum the house, in which was tlio Gover- 
 
 " The meteor ilag of Hngland " Haunts pi'oudly nor. Stamp master and others. Tcrrilied, 
 
 fV<im her mast, and her camion, lo ided and although a practiced soldier. t!io Governor 
 
 ready, frowned n[ion the (U'voted town, yields, and l[oustnn is deli vered up. They do 
 
 She sails gi-acefally into the harhor, and no act ..f Idoodshed ; hut tirmly conduct ih^us- 
 
 drops her anchor. GovcrnorTryon, anxiously t'-.aitotlie .\larket-hou-e, where he makc^ a 
 
 expecting her, announces her airival hy a .oleaiii pledg > in writing ■•never to receive 
 
 ],rorlamation dated (Jth January, ITCd, and the any stamped [.ap ^r which may arrive fivmi 
 
 reception of stamps, and dii'ects '• all persons England, nor olliciai e in any way in thedisiri- 
 
 authorized to distribute stamps to apply to bution of stamps in the Proviiu'e of North 
 
 the eomniandcr." Carolina." 
 
 i'.iit tither eyes than Tryon's were watching. Three bmd cheers ascend to Heaven, and 
 
 Colonel Hugh. Waddcll fortlnvitli .sent from ring says Davis, '•thr.)ugh th- old market place, 
 
 Binnswick a nies.'^enger to Ashe, annouming and the Stamii Act is dead in Xortli Carolina." 
 
 the arrival of the " Dilig^ce " with stamiis; This was more than ten years before the 
 
 he immediately repairs to Brunswick. Xow Declara.tion of Independence, and more than 
 
 c(unes tb.o tug of war. Will the arrogant nine before tiie battle of Lexington, and nearly 
 
 Tiyon, with his armed men, triumph; or will eight years bef);e the Boston Te:; Tarty. 
 
 the daii::'>- A.-be which was in the night, and by men in dis- 
 
 guisi', and upon the liarndess carriers ()f freight. 
 
 IJeard the Houijlas in liin castle':' ' , , , , , . , ,• i> , " ^ 
 
 Ilist'-ry has blazoned tins act ot Boston to 
 
 Will he and V\'addell commit acts that are (|,,, world, but the act of the people of the 
 
 treason, and will send them to pris:)n and f\,jn, y^^i- was far more (htring; done in open 
 
 death? diy l)v men of cliaraeter, witii arms in their 
 
 They felt the importance and the peril of imiuls, under the King's flag; and who has 
 
 t!'C oc-easion. Like vhc ancient Romans they h^.■,^y^\ ,,f it v \Vh i remembers it ''. Who tells it ? 
 
 felt ;< When," concludes the ebxpient adilres; of 
 
 Gofl^I can a IJoinan Senate loiisj ilcliate , , .^ ,■ i ■ i r i 
 
 AVliicli of tlie two to dioose. hbertv or flcathV .Mr. Davis, Irom winch i am promt to cojiy, 
 
 No. let as rife at once, and at the Iiead " wMl historv d . justiec to North Carolina? 
 
 Uf om- reni.unnig lesieiis. sird on our swords \> .u n. . ,» i j 
 
 And charge hoMic upon hlni. Never until some faithful and loving son of 
 
 Tliey with force prevent the landing of any her own shall gird up his loins to the task, 
 
 one fi'(mi the ship; and intimidating the com- and with unwearied indn<ti-y and unflineliing 
 
 mander, seizing tiie siiip's boat, brought it on devotion to the honor (jf his dear old mother, 
 
 shore, mounted it on a cart, raised on it a flag, narrate the virtues and vafu- of her sous. 
 
40 
 
 WHEELER'S KKMINISCENCTES. 
 
 This decided conduct on the jiart of the 
 people, as was to lie expected, infuriated 
 Tryun; and lie fnhninates in liis dispatclies to 
 the Earl of Uillsl)oi\) his threats of vengeance. 
 lie enclosed :a copy of the pledge extorted 
 from his Stamp-master, whicli is filed in the 
 Rolls Office, and vvhicli, for future historians, I 
 copy and here rticord. 
 
 Erom Kolls Office, London; extract from 
 Governor Tryon^'s dispatch; dated 2Gth De- 
 cember, 17Go; a pledge extorted from Wil- 
 liam Houston liv John Ashe and uthers. 
 
 " I do hereli}' jiromise that I never will re- 
 ceive any stamp paper which may arri\e from 
 Europe in consequence of any act lately passed 
 in the Parliament of Great Britain, uor ofK- 
 ciate in an}' manner as Stamp-master in the 
 •distribution of stamps within the L^'ovince of 
 Noith Carolina, cither directly or indirectly. 
 
 '• Ldo hereby notify all tiie inhabitants of 
 His Majesty's Province of North Carolina that 
 notwithstanding my having received informa- 
 tion of my being appointed to said office of 
 Stamp-master, I will not apply hereafter for 
 any stamp paper, or to distribute the same, 
 until such time as.it shall be agi'eeable to the 
 inhabi.tanis of this Province. 
 
 " Hereby declaring that I do execute these 
 presents of my own free will and accord, with- 
 out any equivocation or mental reservation 
 whatever." 
 
 '■ In witness hei'eof I have hereunto set my 
 liand this KUh Xovembor, ITtio. 
 
 "William Houstos." 
 
 There are deeds wliicli should not pass away; 
 Anil uames tliat mast not witlier. tho the earth 
 
 Forgets her empire with a just decay. 
 The enslavers and enslaved, their death and birth. 
 
 Among the records I find a letter from 
 Houston to Tiyon, in which lie states, " I am 
 hated, abhorred and detested, and have no 
 friend," that h« tiiinks John Moses HeKosset 
 would not refuse a copy of his bond lodged in 
 his hands, dated at Socrate, 21st Ajiril, 1766. 
 
 Such was the enthusiasm and spirit of the 
 aroused people, that fears for the personal 
 safety of Governor Tryou were excited, and 
 required all the efforts and popularity of Ashe 
 to allay them. 
 
 I find among the public records in London., 
 never before jiublished, the following letter: 
 
 '^ Fehrum-yld, 1766. 
 " To Governor Tryon: 
 
 " Sir: The inhabitants, dissatisfied witli the 
 particular restrictions laid upon the trade of 
 this Eivei' only, have determined to march t© 
 Brunswick, in hopes of obtainiiig, hi a peaceful 
 manner, a redress of their grievances from the 
 Commanding Officers of His Majesty's ships, 
 and hav« ciimjtelled us to coii<iuct them. We, 
 therefore, think it our duty to acquaint Your 
 Excellency that we are fully determined ta 
 protect from insult your person and jiroperty, 
 and that if it will be agreeable to your Ex- 
 cellency, a guard of gentlemen shall bt; imme- 
 diately detached for that purpose. 
 
 " We have the honor to be, with tlie great- 
 est respect, sir, 
 
 " Your Exc€llency''s most 
 
 '• Obedient, humble servants, 
 " John Ashe, 
 " Thomab Lloyd, 
 " Alexamuer Lillington." 
 
 This shows the well balanced temper of 
 Ashe and his associates. He had raised a 
 tempest, tierce and furious, in the cause of 
 right and opposed to illegality and oppression. 
 But he was a sufficiently potent Prospero t@ 
 allay its excess. 
 
 The position of the Govei'iior was humili- 
 ating and galling to his pride. As a soldier 
 he had been trained to ai'iiis. His temper was 
 imperious, daring and desperate, as he after- 
 wards evinced at Alamance. But he saw that 
 he was no match before the people with the 
 popular and fearless Ashe. 
 
 His political sagacity induced him to change 
 his course, for be knew well wIku to brag and 
 bully and when to Hatter and fawn. "He 
 began," says Uavis, " to court the people and 
 Hatter them with shows and spiorts." " In 
 Eebruary, of that sauie year, 1766, there was 
 a muster of militia in Wilmington. The 
 Governor pre[iarcd, at considerable expense, 
 a tine repast for the people. But when the 
 feast was ready the [leople rushed to the spot, 
 poured the liquor in the street, and threw the 
 
liKUXSWICK COUNTY. 
 
 41 
 
 vIiiikIs:, uiitastoil, into tlie river. llo fory-ot 
 tliat he was in tlie home of ,lolin Asiie, and 
 he hud .-^eeii tliat neither lie nor the iieojile 
 couM l>e intimi(hxted or cajoled." 
 
 I am indehtedto the able address of Hon. 
 Gcoii;e Davis for much of the elotiuent style 
 in which these events have been recorded, and 
 use his language, so forcible and correct, and so 
 much better than an}' I could eniploj. 
 
 After the battle of Alamance, Tryon was 
 transferred to the Governorshi[) of New York, 
 and he left Xorth Carolina to the mutual sat- 
 isfaction of himself and the peojile. lie de- 
 clared in a dispatch to his Government, that 
 "not all the wealth of the Indies could in- 
 duce him to remain among such a daring and 
 i-ebellious people." 
 
 His successor. Governor Martin, found his 
 place no bed of rose.s, notwiithstanding he 
 used every means to reconcile the peo[ile to 
 4he mother country. He early experienced 
 the restive spirit of the age, and as already 
 stated, found it convenient to take refuge (on 
 10th Julj-, 1775) on board of His Majesty's 
 ship of war, lying in the Cape Fear river. 
 In a dispatch dated 20th July, 1775, from 
 on board the "Cruiser," he informs his 
 Government that " Fort Johnson had 
 been burnt, and that Mr. John Ashe 
 and Mr. Coi-nelius Harnett were the 
 ringleaders of the savage and audacious 
 mob." Governor Martin found as little pleas- 
 ure in association with such daring men as 
 had Governor Tr^'on, and with English squad- 
 ron left the Cape Fear country for Charles- 
 ton. Thus was the State free from anj' for- 
 eign ruler. This same year, 20th of May, 
 1775, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence w'as proclaimed, and the year follow- 
 ing (18th November, 1776,) a Statu Constitu- 
 tion was formed at Halifax. 
 
 These were the. men tliat formed our State; 
 these — 
 
 I. ike Romans 111 Rome's qiwrrel. 
 
 Spiiryd iieitlii'i- laud nor gold. 
 Nor sou nor wife, nor limb nor life, 
 
 In tlie brave days of old. 
 Then iioni' \v:is for a party: 
 
 'I'hcii all wen' for tlii^ State; 
 Then tlic great man helped the poor. 
 
 And the poor man loved the gieat. 
 
 It has been the subj(K;t of frequent remark 
 and admiration, that Xorth Carolina should 
 haved formed, under such circumstances, so 
 perfect a Constitution that it carried the State 
 through the long and blood}' revolution in 
 safety, and for nearly sixty years, in honor and 
 happiness. For any people, long inured to aris- 
 tocratic forms and monarchial rule, should, 
 bursting from the gloom of monarchy into the 
 light ot lii)ertv. to have created so perfect a 
 form of Government, was indeed a subject 
 full of wonder. It has been amended several 
 times; but to tlie minds of many it has not 
 been improved. It was the work of men who 
 knew the great principles of liiierty, truth and 
 justice, and many of them afterwards fought 
 and died to secure them. 
 
 It was adoj^ted on the 18th December 
 1776, as reported by a committee, among 
 whom were W. Avery, John and Samuel 
 Ashe, Thomas Burke, Rich'd Caswell, Corne- 
 lius Harnett, Joseph Hews, Robert Howe, 
 Willie Jones, Thomas Jones, and others. 
 
 It is recorded that it was chiefly the pro- 
 ductioii of Caswell, Burke and Thomas Jones. 
 But whoever they were, they proved them- 
 selves master workmen in their craft. 
 
 Thou, too, sail on, oh Ship of State, 
 Sail on thy course, both strong and great, 
 
 ilumanity with all its fears. 
 
 With all the hopes of future years, 
 Is hanging breathless ou thy fate. 
 
 By many it is stated that our Constitution 
 was the earliest formed. But this is error. 
 When the [lower of the mother couiitr}- over 
 the colonies was gone, and some Governnieut 
 other than England was necessary, the Conti- 
 nental Congress, by a resolution adopted 3d 
 November, 1775, recommended the Colonies 
 to adopt such Government as .should best 
 
42 Win-^ELEK'S KKMLNTISCEXCES. 
 
 conduce .to tlieir safety. In iuxordance with Brunswick County presented many patfi^ 
 
 this resohition — otic sons to the cause of Independence, but 
 
 I. New Ilanipshire formed a State Consti- """f more worthy of our memories than Rob- 
 tution 28th December, 1775. '^^^ IJ^'^^'^^ ('j"™ 1^32; died 1785.) So little 
 
 ^^ ^ , ,, ,. ^,-. I X . , -,--,^ has t)een iireserveil and preseuted to the count V 
 
 II. South Carolina, on 2tjth March, 1(76. . ,. . . , , , , - , i. ■ 
 
 ot this distinwnished man that the mderatig- 
 
 III. Virginia, June -29, 177(5. .^,,1^ .,,,,1 accurate historian* has been com- 
 
 IV. New Jersey, July 3, 1776. pelled to state that history bears no record of 
 
 V. Delaware, September 12, 177fi. his private lite. 
 
 ,.T n 1 • o t 1 oi i-7« The ri'pi-oach has been removed, in .some 
 
 V I. 1 enns\lvania, Septenil)er 21, 1(78. ^ ' 
 
 measure, by an abridgement of the memories 
 
 VII. North Carolina, 12th November, 1776. .. ,, 'i ir " -i 3 i a i -i i i 
 
 ' 01 General Howe, compiled by Arcluliald 
 
 VIII. Georgia, 5th February, 1777. Maclaine Hooper.t 
 
 IX. New York, April 20, 1777. Had his services and sacrifices been rendered 
 (See Ben: I'erley i'oore on Charters and '" ="^.V other State than North Carolina, he 
 
 Constitutions ) would have been landed among the statesmen 
 
 I. The Convention which furmed the iirst ^'"^ patriots of the nation. Let ns try to sup- 
 
 Coustituti.ui for North Carolina met at Ilali- I'b' this .miission, and endeavor to preseut th« 
 
 fax. 12th November, 1776, as above alluded to. chararter and services of General IL.nve as 
 
 n. The Convention wliich revised and ^^^^y deserve, 
 
 amended the Constitution, met at Raleigh on His nivine and fame lieloug to Brunswick; 
 
 4th June, 18;!5, (Nath'l Macon, President.) for it was in this county he wa- l>orn, lived 
 
 III. The Convention (secession) met at Ka- and died, 
 
 leigh 20th May, 1861, (Webloii N Edwards, ITe was born in 17;;2. His fatlier's fimily 
 
 Pre>ident.) „.as a, bi-aiieh of the noble house of Ilowe, in 
 
 IW Tho Convention, under orders of the Emrl.and. He had t he misf u-tune to lose both 
 
 I'resideiit of the United States, (.Tohnson,) of bis parents at any early age; and the guid- 
 
 met at Raleigh 2d October, lSo5, farmed a ance of his boyhood was entrusted to a kind 
 
 Constitution which was not ratiHe.l by the grandmother, who, like all grandmol hers, 
 
 people, (Edwin G. Keade, rre.sid.Mit.) g„ completely indulged him that bis eiln- 
 
 V. The Convention, under orders. d' General cation and tiainingwas murh neglected. 
 Canby, of the United Slates Army, mot at ijg ^y,,^^ however, of an active, inquisitive 
 Kalrigh lit h January, 1«68, formed a Constitu- |,j,,„(^ .,|j,i |,y ^vea desultory reading, 
 tion, (Calvin J. Cowies, President.) ,^,„i conversation of literary men, he 
 
 VI. The Convention to amend the Consti- .icquired miuh and varied ini'ormation. He 
 tntion, met at Raleigh on 6th September, man-ied at an e.irly age a young lady of the 
 1875, which was ratiiied by the people by u (jpauge family, much against, the will of her 
 majority in November, 1876, ( Dr. Ew'd Ran- p.,,cnts. With his bride he visited his rela- 
 som. President.) ^■^^.^. ;„ England, where he remained about 
 
 Lists of the person.s who were members of t„.^, ^.^,.,,.^_ eiijoving the noble and muuitieeat 
 
 the Conventions of 1776, 1835, 1861, 1865, ijospitality oi Ids tViends and ftmily. 
 
 1868 and 1875, are to be fouml in tlie a<lmirable 
 
 hand-book of L. L. Polk, C'omnnssioner of *Lo.-sino- n. 72V!. 
 
 Agriculture, i)Ublislied at Paleigh, 187ib t University Magazine, vol. II.. June. lSi3. No. 6. 
 
BRUNSWICK COUNl^Y. 43 
 
 On liis rotui'ii lie tomineiiced his public Tlowe was elected a ineniber of tlie Asseiiiiily. 
 
 career. leoi.y iVdiii tlic Rnlls Office in London lie was also elected a delegate to the Cobmial 
 
 the follnwinu-: ('on<rross whidi niet at Xow I5erne on 2')tli 
 
 " 3(1 Nov 17(56. Anu-nst, 1774. This \va< the lirst assenilda,s,n- of 
 
 "At a meetin- of the c^ouncil at Newburn, ^he reinvsontatives „f the people in uk-i.-Iative 
 
 Robert Howe, Es,,., produced the Governor's ^"n-'^city in the Colony in du-ee-t opposition to 
 
 (Trvon's) commission appointing- him captain the Royal authority. It was violently de- 
 
 of Fort Johnston, and he took the oath and """"^'C'l I'J Governor .Vfartin. I [owe was ap- 
 
 , -1 1 ii I t •) nointed chairman of a committee to wliom 
 
 subscribed the test. ' 
 
 the speech of Martin was referred, and wrote 
 
 In a di.spatch of Gov. Martin to Earl of .^^^ :,i,ie and ehxpient reply. On the 8th Au,-;- 
 
 Dartiiioutb dated December 24th, 1772, " the i,st, 1775, .Martin i>y proclamation dated Mb 
 
 Governor complains that the Colonial Assem- ^.\„j^.,i^f,^ 1775^ on board the British ship 
 
 biy had passed a resolution rerpiesiiiig Gover- ., (;,,„i^e,.;> , [enounced Howe for bavin,!? takm 
 
 Tryon to forward their petition to the ^,^^, ^,^.|g ,,,• ,.oU,iie]. and for snininoniiiii- and 
 
 nor 
 
 Kill'' and thus overlookinix him.' 
 
 trainiii!;- the militia, etc. 
 
 -This," he adds, "was done by the iiiilu- This closed Howe's legislative career. By 
 
 ence of Robert Howe and Isaac Edwards." j^^^ Colonial Congre.-s that met at liillslxu-o (;ii 
 
 '■Of Mr. Howe," the Governor says, in the 21st August, 1775, he was apiiointed ccdoiiel 
 
 ?ame dispatch, " wlieii lie came to North Caro- of the 2d Regiment, then about to be raised oii^ 
 
 Hna. Mr. Howe was the captain of Fort John- the Continental establishment. 
 
 soiK and Baron of the E.xchequer; but b.diev- r|,,^^, „j}^,.,.,.,; api.ointcd to this regiment were 
 
 ing the two otKces incongruous, !k! appointed j.,,!,^.,.^ Howe, colonel; John I'att.ui, major, 
 
 Mr. Hasell Baron of the E.xchequer; by the (,„.,ternal grandfather of the lion. C. C. Canib- 
 
 King-s appoint!! ent Cai.trdn Collet was made j,^.,j„j,_ ,^\^.^.,^,]y alladed to;) Alexander .Martin, 
 
 captain of the fort, which deprived .Mr. Howe lieutenant colonel, afterwards Governor of t he 
 
 of a iiost of contemiitihle profit to a man of v4(.,te. Aimmg the captains were James Blount, 
 
 honor; but he, by extraordinary management ]i.i,.,ly .Murfree, Henry Irwin Toole, .Michael 
 
 of moneys that came into his hands to sup- i>.,^^.„|.^ .,,,,] others. In this gallant regiment 
 
 po.t the garrison, made it very lucrative, and n^ipifovd County cmtributed her first quota 
 
 served to keep together the wreck of his for- ,,j- f |,,,^,^,^ enlisted for the war. They coiisii- 
 
 tune. Mr. Howe is a man of lively parts and ^„j^,| Comi.any D, and were commanded by 
 
 good under.standiug, but, in the present state j[.j,,,i_^. _\[m.f,ee. (;oloiici Benjamin Wyuus 
 
 of his atiair.sof no account or considoiation, ^-onunanded the Hertford Battalion. Their 
 
 and is trying to establish a reputation for |i|..st march under lb. we was to Norfolk, and 
 
 patriotism." reached the Great Bridge only two days after 
 
 " The Legi-l.iture res .Ived to continue the the battle. Thence they wont .south un- 
 
 establishment of Fort Johnston only to the der Lee. One of the uest and truest of Hert- 
 
 next session, which, I fear, is owing to the ford's sons was ;iidcde-camp to (ieiu'ral Howo. 
 
 command, being held hy an oliicor nominated This was young Godwin Cotton, of .Mulberry 
 
 liy His .Majesty, instead of .Mr. Howe, a native Grove. Like his 3'oung kinsman, Colonel 
 
 of thiscountry." (Colonial Rec-ords, London.) James Gotten, of An.soii, he was the survej-or 
 
 This year and in t!ie next, 1772 and 1773, of the county. He was the youngest sou of 
 
44 
 
 WIIEE-LER'e KEMimSCENCES. 
 
 Captain Aithui Gotten, and lived at the old General Howe for compelling Sir Hen!'ry"'s 
 
 homestead near St. Johns. He was as amiable friend, Lord Dunmore, to leave Virginia for- 
 
 as he was brave, and universally beloved. He ever. 
 
 lived long after the war, and many now alive General Howe was placed in command of 
 
 may recollect his exemplary and pions char- the North Carolina troops in defence of 
 
 actcr. He was the last of his name in Ilcrt- Charleston and Savannah; and the latter end 
 
 ford, for he left no sons; but he left two of July General Lee undertook an e.vpedition 
 
 daughters, who were the belles and beauties of against Florida. But by an express he 
 
 their day. One of them was the lovely was ordered North, and" General James 
 
 mother of Dr. Godwin Gotten Moore, of whom Moore succeeded him. Soon after General 
 
 we shall write when we come to Hertford. — Moore was ordered to join the Army of 
 
 (Moore's Hist., Sketches of Hertford, IX, the North, and Howe was appointed to 
 
 XVI, 550 ) succeed iiim in the command of the Southern 
 
 In Ueceniber, 1775, Howe was ordered to Department, 
 take command of the troops raised in North o„ the 2(1 of October, 1777, Howe was ap- 
 Carolina, and niarcli to aid Virginia. Unavoid- pointed by Congress major general; and in 
 able circumstances prevented him from reach- the Spring of the next year he made an un- 
 ing the Great Bridge until two days after the successful ex[)edition against Florida. From 
 brilliant battle, [9 Dec. 1775] but he took post ^vant of proper supplies, insubordination 
 at Norfolk, and rendered good service in driv- of some of the otticials of Georgia and 
 ingthe Royal Governor (Lord Dunmore) and South Carolina and the health of his 
 bis forces out of this section of the State; for troops, he was compelled to retreat 
 this he received the thanks of the Convention to Savannah. The retreat was com- 
 of Virginia, and of the General Congress at nienced in July, 1778; the conduct of 
 Philadelphia, and was promoted to the rank of General Howe was severely commented upon 
 brigadier general. in various publications. Among these was a 
 Wbei! General Lee, in March, 177(3, arrived letter of General Gadsden, which was highly 
 in Virginia, Howe joined him with his regi- otfensive to General Howe, and led to a duel 
 jiient and went south. As he passed through „ear Charleston. Howe's second was C. G. 
 North Carolina he received the thanks of the Pinekney, and Gadsden w^as accompanied by" 
 Convention at Halifax and at New Berne for Colonel Barnard Elliot. They fought, 13th 
 his services, and he was received with public August, 1778. Howe's ball grazed his oppo- 
 honors. nent's ear, on which Gadsden fired iiis pistol 
 As an additional evidence of apin-eciation of j,, tlie air. The parties then shook bunds, 
 his patriotic efforts, he was especially excepted ^nd became reonciled. 
 from the offer of pardon proclaimed by Sir 
 Henry Clinton to all who should down their 
 arms, and his estates on the Cape Fear were 
 ravaged by the English troo^is. This was the l^'''^'" ^'^^ commencemeiit of Howe's a<l- 
 second time that Howe had been the honored "'inistration. South Carolina and Georgia bad 
 subject of Royal indignation and marked b^-'^" urgent in memorials to Congress to re- 
 enmity. This second proclamation of Sir Henry call him and to replace him by 
 Clinton was a grateful acknowledgment to n^o''e experience. 
 
 lie was attacked at Savannah b\- the British 
 in force, and defeated. 
 
 icer of 
 
EKUXSWICX COUNTY. 
 
 45 
 
 In compliance with these solicitations, in have been principally active in the late niu- 
 •Septeniber, 1778, Howe was ordered to the tiny; to disarm the remainder, and to exam- 
 headquarters of General Washington, and ine into all the circumstances relating 
 General Linct)in appointed to succeed him, thereto." 
 
 and to repair immediately to Charlestt>n. In May, 178.5, lie was appointed by Congress 
 
 Howe was stationed on the Hudson river, and to treat with the Western Indians, 
 
 ill 1780, was ill eoramaud at West Point, He remained at the North for some time 
 
 where he rendered acceptable services, and 
 for his energy aud activity at this and other 
 important commands he received the thanks 
 of Washington. 
 
 In January, 1780, a committee of the 
 Georgia Legislature, appointed to consider the 
 situation of the State since 29th of Decem- 
 ber, 1778, and extracts from the minutes of 
 the assembly respecting the conduct of Gen- 
 eral Howe, were transmitted to the Com- on accountof monies (§7,000) advanced.' " 
 
 awaiting the adjustment of his claims for losses 
 to his estates in North Carolina, ravaged by the 
 enemy, and which were rendered useless and 
 unproductive, and, from the depreciation of 
 the currency, he \vi\s reduced to want. 
 
 From the Journals of Congress, page 65: 
 April Uih, 1785. 
 
 " Mr. Hawkins introduced a resolution, pay- 
 ing ' for depreciation, to Major General Howe, 
 
 mander in Chief, " with a request that ho be 
 directed to cause inquiry to be made into 
 matters therein alleged, in such manner as he 
 should judge proper." 
 
 In pursuance of this order General Wash- 
 ington summoned a Court Martial of thirteen 
 officers — Baron DeKalh presided as President. 
 After a rigid examination of six weeks he 
 was acquitted " with the highest honors." 
 
 Extract from Journals of Congress, 24th 
 January, 1782: "The acquittal of General 
 feowe by Court Martial with the highest 
 honors is approved by Congress." (Journal 
 1782, page 271. ) Although the war was over 
 General Howe continued active in service. 
 
 In 1781, Howe was sent by Washington to 
 suppress a revolt of the New Jersey troops, 
 llildreth. III, 359. 
 
 Extract from Journals of Congress, Monday, 
 1st July, 1783, page 64, ordered by Mr. Hamil- 
 ton, and reported from a committee of which 
 
 In the spring of 1785 he returned to North 
 Carolina, and was welcomed by public honors 
 at Fayetteville and by kind friends at home 
 He was induced to allow his name to be used 
 as a-candidate as a member from Brunswick 
 of the General Assembly. He was triumph- 
 antly elected. But exposure during the sum- 
 mer produced a severe bilious fever, from 
 which he partially recovered, aud in October 
 started for the seat of Government. His first 
 day's ride brought him to the house of his 
 friend, General Clarke, about thirteen miles 
 above Wilmington. Here he relapsed, and 
 after two weeks' illness died in November, 
 1785. 
 
 He had served his country from the first 
 dawn of the Kevolution till the end of the 
 war, with fidelity and valor, and his services 
 demand the remembrance and regard of his 
 country. One whose opinion is valuable, 
 
 he was the chairman, that " Major General styles him " The wit, the scholar, and the 
 
 Howe shall be directed to march such part of his soldier." 
 
 force as he shall judge necessary to the State Drake describes General Howe as an olficer 
 
 of Pennsylvania, in order that immediate of approved courage, well versed in military 
 
 measures may be taken to confine and bring to tactics, a skilful engineer, and a rigid discipli- 
 
 irial such persons belonging to the army as iiariau, and a man of cultivated mind. 
 
46 . WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 After all the toils of war and the vicissi- one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of 
 
 tudes of fortune, he returns to his home, State, I extract the followins;: 
 
 Life's long vexations passed, "Mr. Cornelins Harnett, another of the 
 
 Here to return and die at home at last. Council, wais hred a merchant in Dublin and 
 
 settled at Cape Fear in this Colony. I was 
 
 Cnrnelius Harnett,* horn 20th April, 1723; assured by a letter I received in England that 
 
 died 20th April, 1781. Harnett was worth six thousand pounds ster- 
 ling, which induced me to place his name on 
 
 Associated with Robert Howe in the cause the list of persons to be Councillors; when I 
 
 of Liberty and Independence was Cornelius came to this country he was reputed to be 
 
 -TT .X worth £7,000; but now he is known to have 
 
 traded with other men's goods; and is not 
 
 Both of these distinguished men, by the worth anything, and so reduced as to be corn- 
 proclamation of Sir Henry Clinton, were ex- P^''«^^ ^'^ '^'^'^P "^ P^'^Ii" house." 
 eluded from all pardon from the Royal Gov- There are other records that aid us. "At 
 ernment. Although not, like Howe, a soldier, the General Court, sitting at Edenton, the 
 it was not the fortune of Harnett to figure in 26th March, 1726, George Burrington, the 
 "feats of broil and battle," yet he did equal Governor, was indicted, for that about the 2d 
 deeds of daring and courage in the great drama of Decendjer, 1725, with Cornelius Harnett 
 of life, in which men and arms are only sub- of Chowan County, and others, he assaulted 
 ordinate parts, and " the value of whose ser- the house of Sir Richard Everhard." * 
 vices," says Mr. Davis, " was only equalled by In the Register's office in New Hanover 
 the extent of his sutierings and his .sacrifices." County | there is a record of a bond from 
 We regret that so little has been accurately Colonel Maurice Moore, of New Hanover Pre- 
 known of Mr. Harnett that even his birthplace ciuct, to Cornelius Harnett, "of the same 
 is conjecture, Mr. Drake states, as does Loss- place," dated 30th June, 1726, &e. 
 ing, " he was l)OFn in England," but gives no Since we know from the in.scription on the 
 authority. Unquestionably there were two headstone of Cornelius Harnett, of Cape Fear, 
 persons of the same name, both distinguished that he was born in 1723, it is clear that the 
 in the annals of North Carolina. Cornelius Harne-tt, of Chowan, was another 
 
 The father, who.se name the subject of our person, probably the father, and that he was 
 
 sketch bore, was not an obscure man, from the "''^ "*" English birth, but of Irish descent, 
 
 fact that he was the abettor and friend of ^^''^ ''''' =^''*^ '^■'' ^" ^^''''^'^ ^''^t his son was 
 
 Gov. Burrington in his quarrel with Everhard, ^»"" '" ^"'■^'' Carolina, and there was no 
 
 and one of the Governor's councill<.rs, 1730. ™'^-^'"e»t from 1765 to 1780 in the cause of 
 
 It may be inferred that he was a man of dis- independence in which he was nut ready and 
 
 tinctionin North Carolina as early as 1725. ""■*'''^' "The Samuel Adams of North- Caro- 
 
 But, as will be seen, he and Burrington did ''"^''" '^^ ''^ '^=^" *^^^''^'^ ^>' •^'^^^=^'' ^^•^"*^>'' ^^'''^ 
 
 not remain friends very long. ^''^^^^'l '^'^ ^''^^^ in 1773. 
 
 From the Rolls OflSce in London, in a dis- 
 
 With Colonel John Ashe, he was denounced 
 
 ^ ^, , _„ „ by Governor Martin in 1775, for the burning 
 
 patch dated Feb. 20th, 1732, of George Bur- ;, t,. , t i .r ^, • ... 
 
 ^ „ , . 01 l^ort Johnson. He was Chairman ot the 
 
 rington, Governor of the Province of North „tm • , ^ ■ . ,- , ^ , ,- 
 
 ^ ,. ,,. ^ , T^ , ^-^-r . vVilmington Committee ot bafety, and atter 
 
 Carolma, to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, „ ,r ,- , . . , .^ 
 
 ' Governor Martin s retreat the State was gov- 
 
 *Drake's Biograiildcal Dictionary; Lossing's Field * Williamson II, 229. Davis at CUapel Hill, 1825. 
 Book, II, 582. t Book, page 71 . 
 
BRUNSWICK COUNTY. 
 
 47 
 
 erned by a Provincial Council, of wliicii liar- From liis delicate hnaltli ami liis distin- 
 
 nett was chairman, and de fueto tlio Governor sjuislied character, he was admitted to parole, 
 
 of the State, at a period when the affairs of He sul)mitted to the inovitaI)lo with di^'iiity 
 
 the Government demanded the utmost prn- and philosophy. But broken in spirits, health 
 
 dence and sagacity. He was elected a mem- and fortune, he died in captivity on his birtli- 
 
 berof the Colonial Congress that rnet at Hali- day, 20th A jail, 1781. 
 
 fax on the 4th April, 1776; ('hairman of the Tie lies buried in the northeast corner of the 
 
 Committee to Consider the Usurpations of the grave yard of St. James Cbnnb, Wilmington, 
 
 English King and I'arliament. lie presented with this inscrii)tion: 
 resolutions directing the delegates from North 
 Carolina in the Continental Congress to unite 
 
 in declaring independence. This was unanimously 
 adopted on I2th April, 177G, more than a 
 month before the celebrated resolutions of 
 Virginia. No one has ever heard of this for- 
 ward step of " poor, pensive North Carolina," 
 while the act of Virginia has been sounded by 
 every tongue, and recorded on every page of 
 her historj'. 
 
 Mr. Harnett was of the Colonial Congress 
 that met at Halifax on 12th November, 1776, 
 which formed the Constitution of the State, 
 and with Samuel Ashe, "Waightstill Avery, 
 Thomas Burke, Richard Caswell, Hews, Willie 
 and Thomas Jones, and others, was a commit- 
 tee on this important subject. 
 
 In 1777, 1778 and 177!t, Mr. Harnett was a 
 rnenilierof the Continental Congress at Phila- 
 delphia. His letters which are extant breathe 
 the spirit of a patriot, and prove hira to have 
 been a faithful and devoted public servant. * 
 These letters also reflect much light on vhe 
 condition of the country and the proceedings 
 of the Continental Congress during this event- 
 ful period. 
 
 He returned home to North Carolina, and 
 when, in 1781, the British forces, under Sir 
 James Craig, occupied Wilmington, he was 
 taken prisoner at the house of his friend 
 Colonel Spicer. 
 
 Conicliiis Ilariictt, 
 
 Diefl2()tli Ainil, 1781. 
 
 Aged 58. 
 
 Slave to nn sect, lie took no private mad. 
 But looked through nature u]) to nature's God 
 
 * Life and Letters of Cornelius Haruett, coniiiiledhy 
 Gov. Swain; Uni.Mag., Feb., 1861. 
 
 Kotes relative to Cornelius Harnett; by Archibald 
 Mcl^ine Hooper. 
 
 A vvortby name of a worthy community. 
 
 He is described by his biogi-apher, Mr; 
 Hooper, as being delicate rather than stout in 
 person; about 5 feet 9 inches high; hazel eyes 
 and light brown hair; small but symmetrical 
 features, ami graceful figure. Easy in his man- 
 ners; affable and courteous; with a fine taste 
 for letters, and a genius for music, he was at 
 times a fascinating and always an agreeablo 
 companion. 
 
 The capital of Harnett presents the honored 
 name of Lillington. 
 
 John Alexander Lillington was the son of 
 Golonel George Lillington, who settleil on the 
 Island of Barbadoos, and was a memiier of the 
 Royal Council in 1698. 
 
 His grandfather. .Major Alexander Lilling- 
 ton, emigrated from Barl)adoes to the county 
 of Albemarle, with his family. 
 
 On the north side of the tomb of Governor 
 
 Henderson Walker, five miles below Edeuton,* 
 
 is inscribed the following: 
 
 Here lyes ye body of 
 
 (ieorge Lillington. 
 
 Son of Major Alexander Lillington, 
 
 who died in ye 15 year of his age 
 
 Anno 1706. 
 
 The oldest public record in the State is a 
 commission issued to George Durant, Alex- 
 ander Lillington, and others, to hold the pre- 
 cinct Courts in Berkeley Precinct. t 
 
 *Lossing's Field Book, IT, 586. 
 tPavis, IV; Wheeler. I, 34. 
 
48 
 
 WHEELEirS REMINISCENCES. 
 
 U]Miii the (leiiavtiire of Gov. Ludwell in 1G93, 
 the aduiitiistrution of the Province devolved 
 upon him as Deputy Governor.* Ills grand- 
 son, tiie suhject of our sketch, was left early 
 an orphan, and when Edward Moseley, who 
 had married Ann, daughter of Major Alexan- 
 der Lillington and the widow of Gov. Walker, 
 (died 1712,) emigrated to the Cape Fear, 
 young Lillington came with him, in 1734. 
 A tine mansion, known as Lillington Hall, 
 ahiiut 40 milesaliove Wilmington, on the New 
 Berne road, is still standing, and an engraving 
 of it is delineated in Lossing. 
 
 When the notes of prepai'ation for the war 
 with the mother country were heard, Lilling- 
 ton responded ghidly to the call. 
 
 He was early known as an active and decided 
 Vv liig, and co-operated with Ashe in opiiosi- 
 tion to Gov. Ti'yon. We have seen his letter, 
 offering, with Ashe and Tliomas Lloyd (see 
 ante, page 40,) to protect from insult the 
 ,person and property of the Governor. 
 
 By the State Congress, which met on 21st 
 August, 1775, at Ilillsboro, to put the State in 
 military order, he was appointed colonel of 
 the Wilmingtini district, and Caswell for the 
 JS'cw Berne district. Together, these gallant 
 otficcrs, with their forces, fought (February 27, 
 1770, j and won the battle at Moore's Creek 
 Bridge, over the Scotch Tories, which has 
 been fully described, with its important cou- 
 seLpieuces.t The State deeply appreciated bis 
 services, for the Provincial Congress that met 
 at Halifax on 4tli of April following, appointed 
 liim colonel of the (jth Regiment of North 
 Carolina troops on the Continental establish- 
 ment. He served under General Gates at the 
 ill-fated battle of Camden August 15, 1780. 
 Though he served through the war with dis- 
 tinguished honor, and was promoted to rank 
 of brigadier general, his military fame rests 
 ciiietly upon the battle of Moore's Creek. 
 
 *Martlu, I, 134. 
 t See Wheeler, 1, 76. 
 
 General Lillington remained in service to 
 the close of the war, when he retired to his 
 estate at Lillington Hall, where he died; near 
 his mansion rest the remains of General Lil- 
 lington and his son John, who did good ser- 
 vice in the whole Revolutionary war as col- 
 onel. 
 
 " General Lillington," writes one of his 
 descendants to Lossing,* " was a man of Her- 
 culean frame and strength. He possessed 
 intellectual powers of a high order, undaunted 
 courage and of incorruptible integrit3^ He 
 has left, 
 
 on the footprints of Time, 
 
 On of those names that never die. 
 
 General Lillington was the grandson of 
 Major Alexander Lillington who was Presi- 
 dent of the Council, and ex officio Governor of 
 North Carolina, in 1673. His grandmother 
 was an Adams, from Massachusetts. One of her 
 daughters married Governor Walker, and 
 afterwards Edward Mosely. Another was 
 the wife of the lirst Samuel Swanu. General 
 Lillington left issue at his death in 1786, one 
 daughter, who married her cousin, Sampson 
 Mosely, and a son George, who left a son, 
 John Alexander, (who represented Davie 
 County in the Senate, in 1848,-'50,-'52,) who 
 was the last of his name, a gentleman of line 
 personal appearance, and talents. 
 
 Mrs. Harden of Hickory, and Mrs. Dr. 
 Anderson, of Wilmington, are the present 
 representatives of the family. — (Moore, 
 Letter of Hon. George Davis.) 
 
 The Moores of Brunswick, 
 It is now just about tifty years ago when I 
 first entered the House of Commons (as it was 
 then called,) as a member from my native 
 County of Hertford, and my attention was 
 drawn on the first day of the session to one of 
 the best expressed and best delivered speeches 
 that I ever heard, and which made an indeli- 
 
 Lossiug, II, 3S5. 
 
IIUUNSWICK COUNTY. 
 
 49 
 
 ble imiiression on my own iiiiiul, and carried part of the records of the court, and the party 
 
 ■conviction to all who heard it. elected had no right to its possession 
 
 The simple facts of the case were: One This able arsjument was more effective by 
 
 of the members from the Cape Fear country the ornate and elegant manner with which it 
 
 had lost or mislaid the certificate of his elec- was delivered. 
 
 tion; the question arose in the minds of 
 many, could a member take a seat without the 
 evidence that he was duly elected ? Alfred 
 Moore then arose and addressed the House. 
 
 Ilis manner of speaking, the melody of his 
 voice, the polished periods of his sentences, 
 commanded the attention of all, while his 
 argument and reasoning influenced their judg- 
 ments. 
 
 Theje was no question of the fact that t)ie 
 member had been elected, and that he had 
 lost or mislaid the certificate of the sheriff 
 holding the election. 
 
 Mr. Moore traced the history of the mode 
 of elections, as had existed from the founda- 
 tion of the State, and also the mode in 
 the Colonial period, that whenever the 
 Governor called the Legislature, M'hich body 
 was composed of a Council, who were ap- 
 pointed by the Crown to a<lvise with the 
 Governor, and the House, which was composed 
 of members elected by the people from each 
 county; he directed the Clerk of the Crown or 
 the Secretary to issue writs of election to each 
 sherift", to call together the people and to elect 
 such number of names as the county was enti- 
 tled to as members, and when executed and 
 the election made, to endorse on said writ the 
 names of the persons elected, and to transmit 
 the said writ to the Clerk of the House or 
 Crown or Secretary, as the case might be. 
 This return was filed and recorded. On the 
 day appointed for the meeting of the Assem- 
 bly, the endorsement was read by him, and 
 tiie persons called and qualiiied. 
 
 He further argued the person elected had no 
 right to the custody of the certificate, no more 
 than a party who sues out a writ. It was a 
 
 No reply was attempted, and the member 
 was unanimously admitted. 
 
 This question, we are aware, has been since 
 decided differently; (Ennet's Case, 1842,) but 
 it was when party arose superior to patriot- 
 ism. 
 
 It has been often my good fortune to hear 
 Clay in his happiest moods, and Calhoun's 
 powerful logic, and Webster in his massive 
 eloquence, but neither of these excelled this 
 extempore effort of Mr. Moore, whose powers 
 as a speaker were only excelled by courtly 
 elegance of manners and simplicity and mod- 
 esty of demeanor. 
 
 Mr. Moore was of a family long and well 
 known for their integrity, their intellectual 
 powers, and their devotion to the cause of 
 liberty and law. 
 
 This family is of Irish descent, and claim to 
 belong to the Chiefs O'More. The ancestor 
 in America was James, who came to Charles- 
 ton and married, in 1665, a daughter of Gov. 
 Yeatnans, who was Governor of Carolina in 
 1671. 
 
 He became Governor of Carolina in 1700, 
 upon the death of Joseph Blake. He was 
 supposed to be the grandson of Roger Moore, 
 the leader of the Irish rebellion of 1641, and 
 inherited the rebellious blood of his sire.* By 
 his marriage with Miss Yeamans he had ten 
 children. 
 
 The eldest son, of the same name, was worthy 
 of his father. He acquired military renown 
 in his campaigns against the Indians. 
 
 He, in 1703, marched to North Carolina to 
 
 *See Hume's England. 
 Money's Hist, of Ireland. 
 Drake's Biographical Diet. 
 Carrol's Collections of S. C. 
 Davis at C. Hill, 26, 
 
50 WHEELER'S KEMlNISCENCT]S. 
 
 subdue the Appalachian Itidiatis, who had other tliaii patriots, or to shrink from any sac- 
 dune great mischief and murder in this (the rifire at the call of their country." In a dis- 
 Cape Fear) section, and lie completely sub- patch IVom Governor Bui-rington as early as 
 dued them. February, 1735-, he shows his instinctive dread 
 
 He also commanded the forces setit b}' Gov. of such patriotic and pure-liearted men, and 
 
 Charles Craven t(.) succor the iidiabitants, thus describes them: 
 
 whose borders were ravaged by the Tuscaroras "About twenty m^Mi 'are settled at Cape 
 
 in 1713,and many of theinhabitantsm-.issacred, Fear from South Carolina. Among these are 
 
 among them John Lawson, the first liistorian three brothers of a noted family, by the name 
 
 of North Carolina. He was accomiianied by of Moore. They are all of the set known by 
 
 a sti'ong force, and completely routed the sav- the name of 'the (Joose Greek faction.' These 
 
 ages. A severe engagement nciw Snow Hill people were always very troul)lesome in that 
 
 in Greene County.* Government, and will be so, without doulit, 
 
 He remained in Xorth Carolina about seven in this. Already I have bL-eti told they will 
 months, when he returned home. Until 1603 spend a good di-al of money to get me turned 
 the two Provinces were together, and under out. .Messengers are continually goi«g to- 
 one Governor. The renown gained in the Mosely and his crew, to and from them." Such 
 Indian wars was well calculated to render Col. was the repulsion of the representative of 
 Moore a favorite with the people. In 1719, royalty to the advocates of popular rights and 
 when the quarrelbetweeu tlie people and the equal justice. 
 
 Government occurred, true to the instincts of Colonel Maurice Moore, to whom we have 
 
 his race, he was with the peo[]le, and was well already alluded as the younger brother 
 
 qualified to be a leader in pcj'ilous and troubled of (lovernor James Moore, the second, was 
 
 times. Robert Johnson was at this time the a soldier, lirave, energetic and successful. 
 
 Royal Governor. The people proclaimed He had accompanied his brother in his ex[)edi- 
 
 against him and deposed him 28th 2^ovcmber, tions to Northern CaroIimi,and was impressed 
 
 1719, and with this prochunation went up the with the character of the country. He had 
 
 expiring sighs of the Proprietory Government, two years later commanded a troop of horse 
 
 and James Moore was elected by the people in tlie service of Eden, (Govei'uor of North 
 
 Governor. He was succeeded the same year, Carolina in 1713,) and marched to the Cape 
 
 (1719) by Arthur Middleton, and as he <lis- Fear to subdue the Indians, who were fierce 
 
 ap[iears from South Carolina history it is prob- and trou'olesome in that section. As (ioveruor 
 
 able he came to Cape Feai.t • . . Eden resided in Chowan, it is inferred that 
 
 He never mari'ied. His younger brother, he first went there. Three years after his ex- 
 Maurice, accompanied him in his campaigns pedition lie was concerned with Edward 
 against tlie Indians. Mosely in some mattcr.i of importance. He 
 
 Such was tlie inviting character of this sec- is supposed by Martin to have settled niion 
 
 tiou, its genial soil and mild (.limate, that the Cape Fear about 1723. The dispatch al- 
 
 many of the family settled on the Cape Fear, ready quoted of Governor !5urringtori shows 
 
 Of these Mr. Davis was correct when he said " that three brothers by the name of Moore 
 
 " they inherited the rebellious stock of their were located, in 1730, on the Cape Fear." 
 
 race; it vvas not in tlieir name or blood to be 'J'hese three brotliers were Colonel Maurice 
 
 Moore, Roger and Nathaniel. To these three 
 *Joliiison rnulitioiis, 230; Davis's Adilress, 12. 
 
 tMartin, I, 2(;i. men is due the permanent settlement of the 
 
BRUXSWICK COUNTY. 51 
 
 Caiie Fear. Witli these came others who iiii,^ tiie _<rrcat ri^ts at IIi!lslMM-.), in 1770, 
 
 were distinsjuislied for their virtues and their wlieii Jiidi!;e llonderson tied, .Judge Howard 
 
 valor, and were the germs of a iiohie colony, was driven from the bench, the house of Colo- 
 
 " They were," says Mr. Davis, "No needy ad- nel Fantdng burned, and his },ers )n severely 
 
 venturers, driven by nece?sity to seek a preca- chastised. Judge Moore was unmolested, 
 
 rioiis living in a wild and savage country, hut lie was elioscn a member of the Provincial 
 
 gentlemen of birth and education, bred to the Congress, at Hill.sboro, in 1778, and of the 
 
 refinement of society, and bringing with them same at Halifax, in 1776, and materially aided 
 
 ample fortunes, polislied manners, and culti- in forming the State Constitutiui. 
 
 vnted minds. 'fc married Anne Grange, by wliom he had 
 
 Colonel Maurice Moore, the founder of the two children, Alfred, born in 1755, of whom 
 
 family, was the son of Governor James xMoore we shall write directly, and Sally, who mar- 
 
 and .Miss Yeamans, and left a family of several ried (Jeneral Francis Xash, who fell at (!er- 
 
 childreu. Among these were his eldest son, mantown, 1777. 
 
 Judge Maurice Moore, judge under the Colo- He died the ne.\t year, ou- the 15th of Janu- 
 
 nial Govcrnmer,t,a devoted advocate for pop- ary, 1777, at home, and by a wonderful coin- 
 
 ulav rights, and decided opponent of wrong cidence, at the same time, same hour marly, 
 
 and oppression. •'^"''1 i't the same place in an adjoining room. 
 
 He was a lawyer,and was .so much esteemed died his distinguislied brother, Geiund Jasnes 
 
 that he, with Richard Henderson and Martin Mooie. Ho was the son of Colonel Main ice 
 
 Howard, constituted the judiciary of the Pro- Mo(n-e and .Miss Porter. A soldier by his 
 
 vince. He was appointed 1st of March, 1708. taste, by education and profession. Ho was 
 
 associate justice. devoted to the cause of his countiy, and co:i- 
 
 This was no empty comidiment or idle ser- sidered the first military genius of his d ly. 
 vice. There were five circuits at remote and He was early trained to arnis, and when 
 almost inaccessible points; through bad roads Tryon met the Regulators at Alamance, in 
 and worse accommodations, the judge had to 1771, Moore wa.s one of his officers, 
 travel eleven hundred miles to make the cir- On the organization of the military f(,reos 
 euit of these courts. of the State, he was a[)poiuted colonel of the 
 But, although he was appointed and dis- First liegiment of North Carolina on the Con- 
 charo-ed judicial duties under the Crov.'ii, he tinental establishment, by tlie State Congress 
 was by no means the advocate of oppression. . that met at llillslioro on August 21, 1775. 
 He sympathized with the Regulators in their This was a higli honor — to he preferred to 
 sufferings, hnt did not sanction their violence. Colonel John Ashe and others to the corn- 
 He denounced the high-hande.l measures of maud of the Hrst regiment raised l)y the State. 
 Governor Tryon, in a series of letters signed He was em[iloyed in watching the enemy 
 " Atticus," and showed the character of the on the Cape Fear, to prevent any junction of 
 Governor in despicable colors. This so in- the forces of Clinton and .Martin. When Cliu- 
 censed the Governor, that in a dispatch, ton appeared in the river, the clans of Scotland 
 dated 1761), he recommends " the removal of gatheied together to connect and co-operate 
 J.udge Moore, and the appointment of Ed- with the forees of Clinton. .Moore marched 
 mund Fanning." But he continued on the his regiment to Ciimherland County to pre- 
 beneh until the Revolution closed the courts, vent this, and give them battle; but they 
 He was a favorite with the people. Dur- avoided the ofiV-r, only to meet another force, 
 
52 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 and experience a disastrous defeat at Moore's Nash, his brother-in-law, killed in battle. These 
 
 Creek ^Bridge from Caswell and Lillington. calamities left a helpless family on his hands, 
 
 On the departure of Geiiei-al Lee to the anil he was forced by these untoward events 
 
 north from Cliarleston. Marcli, 1770, the Con- to resign. 
 
 tinental Congress promoted Moore to the His patriotism and his martial spirit, how- 
 rank of brigadier general and commander in ever, did not allow him to be idle or inactive, 
 chief of the Southern Department. He raised a troop of volunteers, and so greatly 
 
 He endeavored to discharge the duties of annoyed the enemy that Major Craig (after- 
 
 tliis inipoitant station ^\ith iidelity, but his wards Sir James Craig, Governor-General of 
 
 feeble health sunk under the duty, and lie Canada,) when in possession of Wilmington, 
 
 returned home, there to die. sent troops to Captain Moore's house, who 
 
 General .James Moore niari-ied Anna Ivey, plundered everything that was valuable, and 
 b)' whom ho bad four children, Huncan destroyed the remainder. While the British 
 Moore, Janies Moore, Mrs. Swann, Mrs. were at Wilmington, his condition was de- 
 Waters, plcirable — without means, or even decent 
 
 Judge Alfred .Moore (born 21st May, 1755; clothes, driven from his home and family, his 
 
 died lOth October, 1810,) was the son of Judge pro[)erty destroyed, yet no murmur of com- 
 
 .Mauiice Moore. He was sent to lioston to plaint was uttered by him; no abatement of 
 
 acipiire his education. While there he made zeal. 
 
 by hi^ genial disposition many friends, and Dear must that independence be, purchased 
 
 was oflered a commission in the Royal Army, iit such a terrible price. After the battle of 
 
 Thi-; was not accepted, but the presence of a Guilford Court-house (loth March, 1781,) 
 
 large military garrison and the friendship of Captain Moore with others did good service 
 
 one of its Oiiicers, added to an inherited taste in harrassing Lord Cornwallis in his march 
 
 for the profession of arms, led him to acquire t'"'"" Guilford to Wilmington, 
 accurate knowledge of military tactics, which But tlie war was soon to close. The Eiig- 
 
 s ion was to bo called into requisition in Hsh were then on their marrli to Yorktown, 
 
 defense of his luitive bind. He returned home, '^^'I'ich proved to be the Waterloo of the con- 
 
 and wiien all hopes of reconciliation were lost test. 
 
 and contest commenced, the State Congress But it was not in the field, although he had 
 
 at Hillsboro, in August, 1775, organized two Jone a. soldier's duty with credit and gallantry, 
 
 regiments for the Continental establishment, that Judge Moore's reputation was won, and 
 
 he was commissioned as captain in the First which preserves his name to a grateful pos- 
 
 Regiment,of wbieli his uncle, James Moore, terity. The General Assembly in 1782 elected 
 
 was the colonel. He marched with bis com- 'li'" -Attorney-General of the State, when it 
 
 mand to Charleston and was on duty there at ^^'"*^ known that be had never read a law book, 
 
 the brilliant alfair of Fort ALjultrie, and This was done to alleviate, in a delicate man- 
 
 evinc'd traits of cba-.icter that ranked him ii<3r, his immediate wants, and as some slight 
 
 among the first captains of his day. acknowledgment of gratitude for his sacrifices 
 
 But ciicumstancesunforeseon and disastrous ='"*^ sutierings. His habits of industry and 
 
 cr^.wded heavily upon him. His father. Judge "•''^''^^ penetration soon supplied any deficiency. 
 
 Maurice Mooie, and his uncle both died the ^" ^''° ^i'^'""" "i' the Supreme Court, in case 
 
 same day. His tirotber Maurice was killed °^ ^*'^^*^ '^®- ^ernigan,* he " discharged the 
 
 by mischance at Brunswick. General Fi'ancis "T^i^ige Taylor's opinion in 3d xMurpIiy Rep., 12. 
 
BKUXSWrCK COUXTY. 53 
 
 arduous duties of the office for u series of yours documents, by aid of .\[rs. Ilarvcy, one of tlie 
 
 in a manner that commanded the admiration descendants. 
 
 and gratitude of liis contemporaries." A The capital town of IJrunswick County pro- 
 clear perspicuity of mind, methodical accu- serves tlie name of Benjamin Smith, wlio was 
 racy and port'iiency of argument, a pleasing',im- governor of the State in 1810, and a sketch 
 pressivc and natural eh)quence, distinguished of whom nniy bo found in tlio liistoiy of 
 his legal efforts, lie soon arose to eminence. North Carolina, vol. H, p. 49. 
 In 1798 was called to the bencli of North Governor Smith was at one time immensely 
 Carolina; the next year he was appointed by wealthy, having large possessions on the Cape 
 the President one of the Associate Justices of Fear river. His liberal donation to the Uni- 
 the Supreme Court of the United States, lie versity in 17^9, of 20,000 acres of land, proves 
 held the elevated position for si.K years, with his friendsbi[i for learning. 
 credit to himself and satisfaction to his col- His temiiei', "sudden and (juick in quarrel," 
 leagues and the nation. I!is liealth failing involved him in several duels. In one of 
 he resigned. He died in 18)0 at the hon.se of tliem, with a man by the name of Leonard, 
 2slajor Waddoll, in Bladen County, aged 55. he received the ball of liis adversary in his hi;), 
 His private life was equally as interesting as which he carried to his grave, 
 his brilliant public career. His manners grace- He died in Smithville in February, 1829, 
 ful and winning, threw a charm over his entirely iienniless, and was buried the same 
 domestic circle. His bi'iliiant wit and his niglit he dio<i b}- Major Wilson and Captain 
 varied accomplishments, his gentle courtesy Frazier, of the United States army, under 
 and unstinted hospitality, has, in the language the cover of the night, to prevent the sheriff 
 of Mr. Davis, " handed his memor}' down to from levying upon the dead body for debt, 
 posterity as a finished model of a Xorth which was allowable in those days, that when 
 Carolina gentleman." a tv/. S(/. was levied, once levied on the body 
 
 Judge Mooi-e married Susan Eagles, and it could be kept out of the grave in order to 
 
 left four children; Maurice, colonel in war of force the friends to redeem it by satisfying 
 
 1812; Alfred, with whom we opened this the claim in li;inils of the sheriff.* 
 
 sketch of Brunswick Count}'; Anna, who There are many other names connected 
 
 married Hugh Waddell, senior, son of General with the early history of this county, as 
 
 Hugh Waddell, of the Regulation war; Sally, Thomas Allen, Archibald McLaine, Roger 
 
 unmarried. Moore, AVilliam Lord, Thos. Leonard, Wil- 
 
 Tiie best evidence of the high apprecia- liam R. Hail, Parker Quince, John Rowan, 
 
 tion of the name and fame of Judge Alfred and others, weU deserving of oui- remeui- 
 
 Moore, by the people of the State, is at this brance and record. 
 
 time, 1878, there are two members of Con- It is hoped that some son of Brunswick 
 
 gress, and hundreds of others in North Caro- will gather together the rich materials before 
 
 lina, who proudly bear his name as their they are forever lost, and present their lives 
 
 patronomic, and who re\erence his memory and services to posterity. A recent and 
 
 and virtues. graphic sketch of Gov. Smith, from the pol- 
 
 The genealogical diagram printed in the ished pen of President Battle, is well worth 
 
 Aj)pendix will explain the branches and de- preserving. 
 
 scent of this distinguished family, and has 
 
 1 -1 1 -ii /• 1 ■ . - . ^Letter from Woodsides hotel, SmitliviUe, to the 
 
 been compiled with some care from historical "Observer," lUileigh, October 4, 1878. 
 
^4 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Benjamin S.mittj, Soldier, Statesman, I'm- less, until the eai-th a.,.l sea shall -ive up their 
 
 LANTHEOPisT. dead. And as its nature, so its name is 
 Near the month of the hcantiful Cape Fear * * * *'"^ ^'"^'^ ''*' ^''''•" 
 
 river, on its right bank, is a pleasant little The name of the sandy reach which I have 
 
 town. It is fanned liy the delicious sea flescribed, so desolate, yet so full of interest, 
 
 breezes; huge live oaks gratefully shade its '^ Smith Island. 
 
 streets. In its sombre cemetery repose the The University of North Carolina has amid 
 
 bodies of many excellent peojilc. Its harbor i^*^ g'l'onp of buildings, one, in its shape and 
 
 is good. It is on the main channel of the r""'tico and columns, im itating a Greek tem- 
 
 rivcr. From its wharves can be seen not far P''^- ^^^ basement was until recently the 
 
 away the tliin white line of waves as they '^ome of the State Agricultural Experiment 
 
 brenk on the sandy beach. I!nt the ships to Station, which has done so much to protect 
 
 and from its neighbor. Wilmington, pay lit- ""'" t'Hiuers from frauds. Ijut now is the 
 
 tie tribute as they pass and repass. Its chief laboi-atory of the professor of chemistry, 
 
 fame is that it contains the court-house of the ^''"ve is a long and lofty room containing 
 
 county of Brunswick. Its name isSmithville. ^'le library of the Univer.■^ity. 
 
 Opposite this good old town is a desert Cn its shelves are many ancient books of 
 
 island composed of undulating sand hills, with S''''iit value, but vacant spaces plead piteously 
 
 here and there occasional green fiats and ^"'' "^"'^' books in all the departments of lit- 
 
 dwarftd pines to relieve the geneial nion- ei-aturc and science. The nan}es of this build- 
 
 otony. It is exposed to the full fury (jf the i"S' is "Smith Ilall." 
 
 Atlantic storms. New Inlet once i)onred a ^^^''^it member of the widolj'-spread familv 
 
 raj.id stream between the island and the °^' Smiths has thus given his familiar name to 
 
 Uiainlaud. But daring and industrious man ^' county t(Mvn, an island, and a University 
 
 seeks to foixe In- walls of stone the impetuous I^"!''^ His Cbii.stian name was Benjamin. 
 
 Hoods through the river channel to the west, ^I*-' was an active ofKcer of the Kevolutiou 
 
 and thus float larger ships up tiie river to the "'"^ '^ <-iovernor of oui' State, and the tii'st 
 
 port of AVilmiugtoii. Its southern end forms '•'-■'"'t'act(U' of the University, 
 
 the dangerous cape which Mr. George Davis Covernor Smith had many vicissitudes of 
 
 so eloquently describes: fortune. In his youth he was aide-de-camp of 
 
 "A naked, bleak elb,)w of sand juttin.^ far ^^'"'^''"'^'"» '» the dangerous but masterly 
 
 out into the ocean. Inimediatel v in its front ''<^t''eat f'-oni Long Island after the defeat of 
 
 are the Frying I'an Shoals, pushing out still the American torees. lie behaved with com- 
 
 ^::::^i:^:';:^:!;:':U'i:^io:::':5:it:.:^ r"r'"" ">' " "■' '•""■-« -*» » 
 
 they catch the long majestic roll of th'e At- ^^■''"=" Moultrie drove the British from Port 
 laiitic as it sweeps through a thousand miles l^"y:d Island and checked for a time the in- 
 
 and tempests, the kingdom of silence and ^^^^^ " '^® S-^^'e on many occasions 
 
 awe, disturbed by no sound save the sea-'nill's ^"*^'' various proof of activity and distin- 
 
 sbnek, and the b.^akers' roar. * * guished bravery as to merit the approbation 
 
 tliere It stands, beak and thrc'iten ,fi- • <.• i 
 
 ingand pitiless, as it stood three hundmi " '"■^ ""l"-^''*'-' ^-""t'T-" After the strong 
 
 years ago, when Greenville and White came *-'"*'" ^"pei'seded the nerveless Confederacy, 
 
 iiigh unto death upon its san.ls. And theie ^^^len there was danger of war with France 
 
 n will stand, bleak and threatening and piti- or England, he was made general of milit^^' 
 
BRUNSWICK auUNTY. 
 
 55 
 
 and when later, (hi aeedunt o\' insnlts and 
 injuries of Fi-ance, oiii- (Jovi'mment made 
 preparalion.-i ior active liostilitios, the entire 
 militia of Brunswick t'ounty. oflicers and men, 
 roused to enthusiasm hy an address from him 
 full of energy and fire, volunteered to follow 
 his lead in the legionary corps raised for ser- 
 vice against tiie enemy. The confidence of 
 his conntrMnen in his wisdom an.d integrity 
 was shown hy their tiftceji times electing him 
 to the Senate of the State. From this post 
 he was chosen hy the General Asseudily as 
 our Chief E.xocntive in 1810, when war witli 
 England was constantly exiiected, and hy 
 large numbers earnestly desired. Tiie charter 
 of the University was granted in 1789. The 
 trustees were tlie great men of that day-^the 
 leaders in war and in peace. 
 
 Of this hand of eminent men, Benjamin 
 Smith was a worthy member. He is entitled 
 to the signal lion or of being the first benefac- 
 tor of tlie infant institution, the leader of the 
 small corps of liberal supporters of education 
 in North Carolina. For that reason alone his 
 mime should be revered by all the long line of 
 students who call the University their Alma 
 ^j[ater — by everyone who desires the enlight- 
 enment of our people. 
 
 The Trustees met, for organization, in Fay- 
 etteville, on November loth, 1790, choosing as 
 their chairman Colonel William Lenoir, the 
 Speaker of the Senate. General Smith glad- 
 dened these hearts by the munificent donation 
 of patents for twenty thousand acres of land 
 in Western Tennessee. A large poition of 
 tliem was a gift to him for his gallant services 
 during the dark hours of the Kevolution. 
 They were the price of liberty. They wera 
 
 the ottering of a generous heart and a wise 
 head, which knew well that liberty could not 
 be preserved without education— that ignor- 
 ance must be slain or vice will be the ruler of 
 our land. 
 
 Generation after generation grew np and 
 passed away. Year after year yi>ung men, 
 their mental armor supplied and burnished 
 through his wisdom and lilierality, went 
 from the University walls to become sources 
 of good influence in all our land, from the 
 Potomac to the Uio Grande. The institution 
 he loved so well, after many vicissitudes of 
 trials and sufferings, had become wealthy and 
 pros[ierous. Nearly five hundred matriculates 
 every year entered their names on its roll to 
 partake of its instruction. The revered donor 
 had drunk to its dregs the cup of bitterness. 
 His too generous disposition and misplacAl 
 confidence in others had deprived him of his 
 wealth. His once strong and vigorous body 
 had lieen wasted by disease and racked by 
 pain. In poverty and in wretchedness he had 
 long since sunk into his grave under the weep- 
 ing moss of the great swamp trees. Sixty 
 vears after his generous gift the trustees of 
 the Univer.sity honored themselves by bestow- 
 ing his name on a beautiful structure devoted 
 to literature and to science. The sacrifices of 
 the old hero were not in vain. 1 lis monument 
 is more enduring than marble or brass. Cen- 
 turies will come and go. Men's fortunes will 
 wax an<l wane. But the blessings of the gift 
 of Benjamin Smith nearly a hundred years 
 ao'o will never cease, and his name will keep 
 green forever. 
 
 Kemp P. Battle. 
 
56 
 
 WHEELER'S liEMINISCEXOES. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BUNCOMBE COUNTY. 
 
 Buncombe wortliily jiref^iTvos to all time 
 the name of Edward riuncomlje, a [)atriot and 
 a soldier, who served his coiiutr^' fuithfnlly, 
 and who i^ave up his life in lier defence, a more 
 minute account of whom is presented in the 
 sketch of the men of Tyrrell County, of which 
 h(,' was a resident. 
 
 There is jierhajis no section of the State 
 more familiar hy naine,and less known ahi'oad. 
 " T;dkini;- for Buncombe " has become as 
 faniiliar as a household word, not onl^- in 
 our own naive, but has pervaded other 
 countries.* 1 his slang phiase had tliis origin. 
 Some years ago the member in Con- 
 gress from this district t arose to address the 
 House on a question of local importance; some 
 of the meml)crs left the Hall, which he ob- 
 serving, very naively said to those remaining, 
 that the\' might go too; as he should speak 
 for some time and was only " talking for Bun- 
 comlie." 
 
 Am[]le materials for description of the lovely 
 scenery and the genial climate, the fertile soil, 
 and its gold giving ore, exist, but these are 
 not germane to our object; it is of the men of 
 Buncond.ie oidy V\'e prop,>se to write. 
 
 Many of tlie earlier inhabitants and [lioneers 
 of this lovely region of the State we are com- 
 pelled to pass over. It were a pleasing duty 
 to dwell upon the caaracterand services of the 
 Alexanders; tlie Barnetts, (the first men that 
 ever piloted a wagon over the mountains;) 
 Th'j Beards, Readou and Zeijulou; Thomas 
 Case, (who died in 184:), aged 82," who lived 
 longer, easier and heartier, and left more de- 
 scendants than any ni:in of his day;") the 
 Davidsons; the Edueys; the Lowrics; the 
 
 * Attache in England, by Judsre Ilalliburtou. 
 
 t tiencral Felix Walker was member iu the Plouse of 
 Representatives from the Buncombe District fi'om 
 1817 to 1S23. 
 
 Irwins; the Battons, (especially .fames, who 
 died 1845, aged 90, the founder of the Warm 
 Springs;) Rev. Ilnmphrey Posey; James Mc- 
 Smith, the first white child born in the State 
 west of Blue Ridge; and many others. 
 
 We leave these for some son of Buncond)e as 
 indicated by lion. George Davis, " who shall 
 gird up his loins to tlie task, with unwearied 
 iiuhistry and unflinching devotion to the honor 
 of his dear old mother." 
 
 "^ David Lowry Swain, liorn 4th of Januarj^, 
 1801; died •JTth of August, 18fi8. 
 
 Few men have lived in Nortli Carolina who 
 have nuide a deeper or nnu'e lasting impres- 
 sion on her history than tiie subject of our 
 present sketch. 
 
 Witlmut fortune or thorough education, or 
 any jiersonal advantages, but by his own in- 
 trinsic merits, his unspotted character ami 
 sterling virtues, he was called on to fill the 
 liighest offices in the State. 
 
 If his education was, from his limited cir- 
 cunistances, not c;)'iiplete, he was blessed with 
 an un(p.ienchable tliirst for knowledge, habits 
 of unremitting labor that was never sitistied 
 until it e.Khausted a question, and a powerful 
 memoiy. He remained a short time (1821) 
 at the University, "but he did not need, (as 
 Johnson says of Shakespeare,) the spectacles 
 of b.)oks to study the great works of nature or 
 the character of men." He was a student all 
 his life. Truly — 
 
 lie sought rich jewels 
 
 From the dark Ciives of knowledge, 
 To win his ransom from from those twin jailors of the 
 daring heart, 
 
 Low birth and iron fortune 
 
 and so successfully did he labor, that at the 
 time of his death lie had no superior in the 
 
BUNCOMBE COUNTY. ".7 
 
 ■coTintry upon the science of Constitnticinal licitor of tlio Edcntun District, and rodo this 
 
 law, moral science, or political economy.* circuit only once, when he re-signed. In 1830 
 
 His ancestors were English. His father, he was a member of the Board of Tntcrnal 
 
 George Swain, was a native of Roxhoro, Mas- Improvements, and was active in proiuot'ug 
 
 sachusetts, (born 1763.) He came South, and the best interests of the State. In the winter 
 
 settled in Georgia. He was a man of mark of this year he was elected Judge of the Su- 
 
 and influence. He was a member of the con- perior Court of Law and Equity, 
 
 vention that revised the Constitution of In December, 1835, he was called to the 
 
 Georgia, and served in the Legislature for presidency of the University. Here was his 
 
 five years. His health failing, he moved to proper element, and here he spent the best 
 
 the health-giving climate of Buncombe, and years of his life, (till 1868.) 
 
 was many years postmaster at Asbeviile. He " Never," says his able biograpiier. Governor 
 
 married Mrs. Caroline Lowry, ividow of Cap- Vance, " did a Grecian iihilosophor gatlier 
 
 tain Low ry, (who had been killed by tlie In- around him his disciples with more pride and 
 
 dians,) and the daughter of Jesse Lane, of delight than did Governor Swain. In the 
 
 Wake County, who was tiie grandfatlier of midst of his three or four hundred 'boys' 
 
 General Joseph Lane, of Oregon, and Governor who annually surrounded him at Chapel ilill, 
 
 Swain; by her Mr. Swain had seven children, he was entirely at home and happy, and such 
 
 all now dead. society was the charm of his life. His 
 
 Governor Swain was born, as stated, in knowledge was encyclopedic in its range, es- ' 
 
 1801, at Asheville. His early education was pecially in English literature, Sooverwhelm- 
 
 conducted by Eev. George Newton and Rev. ing were his stores, that the writer remembers 
 
 E. M. Porter. lie often referi-ed in gratitude with grateful pleasure, when forgetting alto- 
 
 to their patient labors, and they were proud gether the subject on hand he would stand up 
 
 of their diligent pupil. His father was ambi- in front of his class, and in an outgush of elo- 
 
 tious for him. He taught his son early to quence, poetry, history, anecdote and humor, 
 
 choose only good society, and to aim at e.\cel- wrap us all as with enchantment. His 
 
 lence in whatever pursuit he followed. After most remarkable trait of mind was his power- 
 
 his early education was completed-ltercame (in ful memory, and the direction in which that 
 
 1821) to Raleigh, where he entered the law faculty was notably exercised, was in biogra- / 
 
 office of Hon. John Louis Taylor, and was ad- phy and genealogy. In this particular he had 1 
 
 mitted to the bar in 1823. no superior in America. A youth coming to 
 
 On the 12th of January following, he mar- college needed no letter of introduction. Not 
 
 ried Eleanor "White, daughter of William only was it so in his own State, but from the 
 
 White, late Secretary of State, and the grand- most distant Southern and Southwestern States 
 
 daughter of Governor Caswell. He then re- it was the same. Knowing all the principal 
 
 turned to his mountain home, and commenced families of the Southern Atlantic States, he 
 
 the practice of law with great success. took note of their migrations we.stward; and | 
 
 In 1824-'25-'26-'28 and '29 he was a mem- when their sons returned East for education j 
 
 ber of the Legislature from Buncombe County, he would generally tell them more of their 
 
 During this period (1827) he was elected So- family history than they knew before. 
 
 " Amazed at his display of this genealogical 
 
 * These were the subjects of which he was Professor history," Governor Vance continues, he once 
 
 in the University, and uijon which he delivered lee- , , , . t^ , ,t i i 
 
 tures. asked ium, " Don t you. Governor, know when 
 
58 
 
 WIIEP]LEi;'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 every num of North Carolina cut his eye teeth?" in the historic field. As Caruthers, Wiley, 
 •' Oh no," said he, "but I know very well "Wheeler, and Hawks could testify. Hemateri- 
 when you, sir, had the measles." ally aided me in my poor efforts in this re- 
 "Thus for a period of an ordinary lifetime spect, and in gratitude to him I dedicated my 
 (33 years) he devoted himself to the highest " Historj' of North Carolina." 
 and noblest service to his State and country At his suggestion and request, with a letter 
 in training the future statesmen, jurists and from Governor Vance, in 1863 I visited Eng- 
 divines of our country. Eternity alone can land, and epent all my time in the Rolls Of- 
 reveal the influence which he thus indirectly fice collecting material from the original re- 
 exerted on the intelligence and morals of cords as to the early history' of North Carolina, 
 society; not only of his native State, but of But his name could not have received any 
 
 all that vast region known as the South and 
 Southwest, where his pupils filled every pos- 
 sible place of honor, trust or profit. He pre- 
 ferred to tread the noiseless tenor of his way 
 in the quiet paths of science and philanthropy 
 than those of political ambition. The plaudits 
 of statesmanship, the renown of the warrior, 
 had no charms for him. He felt truly — 
 
 The wai'rior's name 
 
 Tlio' (ipaledaiulcliiiiiecl on every tongue of fame, 
 Sounds less harmonious to the grateful mind. 
 Than he who fashions and improves mankind. 
 
 " As all author," continues Governor Vance, 
 
 " with all his stores of knowledge, and his 
 
 additional lustre than it already enjoyed. 
 His fame will forever rest upon the success 
 with whieh hecoiulucted the University of the 
 State. When he went to Chapel Hill there 
 M'ere not ninety students. In 1860 there were 
 nearly five bundled. He determined to make 
 its influence powerful, and he succeeded. It 
 was by intuitive perception of character, 
 gentle but firm administration of authority, 
 and high consideration and gentlemanly treat- 
 ment of his pupils. In the classic halls of the 
 University believer assumed the commanding 
 and repellant attitude of a " Jupiter Tonans," 
 it capacities, he left but little for posterity but like the course of the Apollo, leading by 
 
 to judge and admire. His literary reputation 
 is confined to those who were his cotempo- 
 raries, and such traditions as affection and 
 friendship may preserve. Many fragmentary 
 articles from his pen and lectures exist; some 
 
 graceful manners and gentle words his admir- 
 ing votaries. 
 
 But the unhappy internecine war came — the 
 call for men and arms to defend the homes 
 and hearths of the South was heard, and the 
 
 of which are preserved in the University gallant youths of the University obeyed the 
 Magazine, relating chiefly to North Carolina call. Of the class of I860,* every one, (with 
 history. He had collected a considerable perhaps a single exception,) entered the ser- 
 amount of historic material, and it was ex- vice, and more than a fourth of the entire 
 pected that he would have left a work on that number now till a soldier's grave. Every ex- 
 subject as a legacy to his countrymen. His ertion was used by Governor Swain to pre- 
 agc, the troubled times, and an aversion to serve the University. It was owing to his e.\- 
 continued systematic labor, doubtless pre- ertions that the conscript law, " that robbed 
 vented liim." • alike the cradle and the grave," was not 
 A vast numlierof rich traditions of the early rigidly enforced, and when the Federal army 
 times and the men of Carolina were locked took possession of Chapel Hill in 1865, a few 
 up in tbo vast stores of his memory; the students were still there. In order to avert 
 key to which is buried with him. Yet he was 
 
 ever forward and ready to aid other laborers 
 
 * "Last Ninety Days of the War" by Cornelia Phil- 
 lips Spencer, New York, 1860, 270. 
 
BUNC0MI5K COUXTY. 
 
 from till' institution the f:ite of nil othora 
 lying ill the route of a oonquerinij army, Gov. 
 Swain was appointed by Gov. Vance one of 
 the commissioners to General Sherman to pre- 
 serve the Capital and University. 
 
 -After the war he visited New York and 
 Washington to interest northern capitalists as 
 to tlio financial condition of the University, 
 and was greatly instrumental in securing the 
 land scri[) donated by C'ungrcss for agricul- 
 tural schools. 
 
 But the election of 1SG8 adopted the new 
 Constitution, and de.stroyed what war had 
 spared. The doors of the University was 
 closed by neirro troops, and with the vener- 
 able president, fell, unwept, without a crime. 
 
 "This was the unkiudest cut of all." This 
 unexpected blow completelj^ prostrated Gov. 
 Swain; his energies seemed subdued, and he 
 seemed suddenly to grow old, losing all his 
 vivacity and elasticity. 
 
 The able tribute to the memory of Gov. 
 Swain by his life-long friend Gov. Vance 
 evinces the deep affection of the latter, which 
 has been so liberally drawn on, and this feel- 
 ing was fully reciprocated by " his gentle, 
 patriotic, and distinguished preceptor." 
 
 In a letter which I received from Gov. 
 Swain when at West i\)int as one of the board 
 of visitors to the United States Military Acad- 
 emy at that place, dated ItJth June, 18tj5, he 
 writes thus: 
 
 " I have been detained here much longer than 
 I expected; I eatmot leave earlier than .Mon- 
 day next, and be in Washington on Wednes- 
 day. I will be ver}- anxious to see Gov. 
 Vance. Will it r.ot be in your power to obtain 
 for me permission from the War Depart- 
 ment to do so, in anticipation of my arrival ? 
 I have been hoping constantly to hear of his 
 receiving permission to return home. Please 
 write to me immediately to Xew York. I 
 will probably have only a day to spend in Wash- 
 ington, and during that day I must see Gov. 
 Vance 
 
 '' I remain very truly yours, 
 
 " 1). L. SwAix." 
 
 I procured for him the desired permit, and 
 together we went to the Carroll Prison, where 
 we met in the same place the Governors of 
 three sovereign States " in durance vile," 
 Gov. Vance. Gov. Brown, of Virginia, and 
 Gov. Letcher, of Virginia. The cause of the 
 visit of (iov. Swain to Washington at this 
 time (20tb May, ISCf),) wasan invitation from 
 the President of the United States, Andrew 
 Johnson, extended also to B. F. Moore, and 
 William Eaton, to consult in regard to" Recon- 
 struction of the Union." 
 
 This w-as no idle compliment. The country 
 had just ended a long, exhausting and deso- 
 lating war. The President, Lincoln, had been 
 murdered b^' an assassin; every branch of 
 industry was paralyzed; the commerce of 
 a nation destroyed, and confusion and 
 dismay pervaded every section. Tbaf the 
 President should eall from their homes men 
 who had nt^ver tigured in tiie field or the 
 forum, but only known as pure, hoiiorableaiid 
 conseientious men, was evidence of his sagacity, 
 and of their high eharacler. 
 
 They met the President on 22d May, 1865, 
 at his office in the Treasury. Neither of them 
 personally knew the President, and I intro- 
 duced them. I then was about to retire when 
 the President requested me to remain and 
 participate in the consultation. Xo questions 
 of more vital importance to the South since 
 the foundation of the Government were ever 
 di.scussed. All of those who participated in 
 that conference have gone. No account has 
 ever been published of their deliberations. 
 From my diary of that date I extract the fol- 
 lowing: 
 
 " S<i(Knhiy, mh May, 1865.— Mr. A. G. 
 Allen, editor of the National Intdliyencer, met 
 me on the street and informed me that Gov. 
 Vance, of our State, had been brought to the 
 city, a prisoner of war, and that I might do 
 good by going to see him, and that Gov. Swaiu 
 was at the Elibitt lIou.se and wished to see me. 
 I went to the Ebbitt House and found Gov. 
 
60 
 
 WIIEELER^S KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 S. and William Eaton, jr. Gov. S. aeconipa- 
 iiied ine home. I soiit for. his haggage, as he 
 wishes to he more (luiot than at the hotel. 
 He, A\ith Messrs. Eaton and Mc^ore, are here, 
 invited hy the President to advise measures to 
 restore North Carolina to the LTnioii. 
 
 " Suiuhii/, 21st Mil/. — Gov. S. aecompanicd 
 me t(j chui'c. ])r. ]'inei<ney preaclied. 
 
 " In evening, at request of Gov. S. and Mr. 
 Moore, I called on the President and made 
 ai'rangements for their meeting at 2. p. ni. 
 to-niorrow. 
 
 ^^Muiid'iy, 22il Maij. — Gov. Swain engaged 
 in writing, prepai'ing for the conference with 
 the President. 
 
 "At 2 I we;it with him and Messrs. Moore 
 and E iton to the President's uiHcc and intro- 
 duced them. .Mr. Tiioniasand General Mussey, 
 of Lewisbur:, were with him. 
 
 ''After intr.xlucing them I arose to retire, 
 when the President again desired me to remain. 
 A conference deeply interesting in all its de- 
 tails occui'red. 
 
 "The President directed his Secretary' to 
 read a jiivjclamation which he proposed to 
 issue, and an amnesty to certain classes b}- 
 which Nortli Carolina was to be restored to the 
 Union. He invited a frank, free, and open 
 discussion. 
 
 "Mr. Moore, with mucJi dei'ision, earnestness, 
 and courage, lU.'nouiiced the plan, especially as 
 to tiie classes who were to be exemjited from 
 p-.ii(lon. The plan, he alleged, was illegal, and 
 he denied the power of tlie President to issue 
 it. ile ilenianded of him whei'e in the C.)n- 
 stitution or Laws he found such power. The 
 President replied 'that by IV Art., 4 Sec, the 
 United States shall guarantee to every State 
 a Republican foi-m of Government, &c. ' 
 'True,' replied Mr. .Moore, 'but the Presi- 
 dent is not the United States.' 
 
 "As to exempting from all pardon, or requir- 
 ing all pci'.^ons owning a certain amount of 
 [iroperty to be [lardoneu, was simply ridicu- 
 lous. You might as well s ly that eveiy man 
 who had bi'ead and meat enough to feed his 
 I'amily was a traitor, and must bo [lardoned.' 
 Air. Moore continued in that same caustic 
 manner, to examine other points of the pro- 
 clamation, and specially the apiiointment of a 
 (^-iovernor by the President, averring that the 
 President had no sucli [lower. He finally sug- 
 geste<l to the President to meddle as little as 
 possible with the State, that she was able to 
 take care of herself by aid of her own citi- 
 zens; that his plan was to let the Legislature 
 be called, which, as the Governor was a pris- 
 
 oner, the Speakers of the Legislature could 
 do; then the Legislature would authoi'ize the 
 peo[)le to call a Convention, wlio could repeal 
 the Secession Ordinance of the 20th of May, 
 1861, and thus restore good correspondence 
 with the Union, with the rightsof the State un- 
 inqiaired and her digtiity respected. The 
 President listened with much attention, and 
 bore with great dignity the fiery philiipics 
 of Mr. Moo\'e. 
 
 " Governor Swain, in a long and temperate 
 speech, but with much earnestness, advocaced 
 the plan of Mr. Moore. He detailed circum- 
 stances of much interest before utiknown, 
 illustrative of his course, and that of Gov- 
 ernors Graham and Vance. He read several 
 letters from Governor Graham. 
 
 " The President stated ' that he appreciated 
 the able views and the frank enunciations of his 
 friends, but still thought that the Provisional 
 Governor should be appointed by the United 
 States; that the President was the Executive 
 Othcer of the United States, and therefore, 
 the Governor, he thought, should be appointed 
 by him. He did not seem much inclined to 
 give an}' ground. As it was then half-past six 
 o'clock he adjourned the Conference to meet 
 again on Thursday next at 2 p. in.' " 
 
 " Thwsddi/, 2i>th Maij, 1865. * « * 
 
 " At 2 o'clock I went with Governor Swain 
 to the President's liouse; we found Messrs. 
 Moore and Eaton, and also W. W. liolden, 
 \i. P. Dick, Pvichard Mason, J. P. H. Rus.s, 
 Richardson, Rev. Mr. Skinner, i)r. Root. J. 
 Powell, and Colonel Jones. The President 
 laid before us tlie Amnesty Pro:j lama t ion, by 
 which he proposed to restore the State of 
 North Carolina to the Union, a Military Gov- 
 ernor to be appointed by the President, who 
 should proceed i'oi'thwith to organize the 
 State Government; direct the people to call a 
 Convention, appoint Judges, officers, &c. 
 
 " The President further stated that the 
 name of the person as Governor was purposely 
 left blank in the proclamation, and requested 
 that we should select some name, and that 
 whoever we selected he would ap[)oint. The 
 President then retired. 
 
 " Governor Swain stated that it was a pre- 
 ferable mode to him, and more in accordance 
 with the laws of North Carolina, that the Con- 
 vention should be called by the Legislature, 
 which could be summoned by the Speaker of 
 the Senate, or they might meet of their own ■ 
 accord. But the President was unwilling to 
 trust that body. 
 
 " Mr. Eaton declared himself opposed to the 
 
r.TJXCOMBE COUNTY. 
 
 IM 
 
 appointment of Governor by tlie President; 
 that he was only invited for advice and cou- 
 feronco, and not for niaising offices, and that 
 he would not unite in any recommendation of 
 any one for this, or any other office. 
 
 "It was then proposed to organize the 
 meeting, and on motion of Dr. Powell, Mr. 
 Moore was called to the chair. 
 
 " Mr. Moore said he concurred in the saga- 
 cious views of Slv. Eaton, and dticliucd to take 
 the chair. He, with Governor Swain and 
 Eaton, retired to another room." 
 
 " Dr. Powell then moved that Colonel J. P. 
 II. Hiiss be appointed chairman, which was 
 carried, and on motion of Dr. Powell, the 
 name of W. W. Holden was inserted as Gov- 
 ernor. 
 
 " The President was then sent for, who came 
 in and seemed gratified at the selection. 
 
 " Tlie party then dispersed. 
 
 " The President gave Governor Swain and 
 myself permits to visit Governor Vance in 
 prison. 
 
 " Fridaj/, 26(h Mvj, 1865. ' * * 
 
 " • * Governor Swain and m^-self rode 
 to Carrol Prison where wo saw Governor 
 Vance, Governor Letcher, and Governor 
 Brown confined in the same place. Governor 
 Vance was in good spirits and health. 
 
 " Governor Corwin, of Ohio, also called to 
 see Governor Vance, and denounced the out- 
 rage of imprisoning him without process of 
 law and without crime, three Governors of 
 sovereign States confincjj together, and he 
 promised Vance that he should use every effort 
 to get him out. Which pledge he nobly re- 
 deemed. 
 
 •' He asked Vance, 'for what crime was he 
 imprisoned ?' 
 
 " Vance replied, ' he did not know,' 'un- 
 less that Governor Holden, who had voted for 
 the Ordinance of Secession in Convention, and 
 had pledged the last man and the last dollar, 
 and failed to redeem his pledge, and now he, 
 Vance, was his securit.y, and had to suffer.' 
 
 " We remained with Gov. Vance more than 
 an hour, when we returned to my house. 
 
 "As weather was rain\' and disagreeable. 
 Gov. Swain remained within doors, and we 
 conversed on l.istorical nuvtters, andthe stirring 
 events of the last few days, of which he fore- 
 bodes much evil. 
 
 " I read, at his request, my diary," (as above 
 recorded.) 
 
 ■ " He asked for a copy, as he thought it con- 
 cise and correct, to send to Mrs. S." 
 
 The nuMnories of these times cannot but be 
 interesting, as showing the prominent [lart 
 that Gov. Swuin liore in these eventful scenes, 
 and the sad condition of affairs. They have 
 never been published. 
 
 (tov. Swain, after visiting New York, re- 
 turned home with feelings of depression and 
 distress. 
 
 Hoping to restore tone to his mind and body, 
 before taking a final leave of Chajiel Hill, he 
 was ])re[iaring for a visit to his native moun- 
 tains of Buncombe. On the 11th August, 
 1808, riding in an 0[)en bugg}', his horse took 
 fright, r.iii away, and threw him with violence 
 to the gi'ound. He was carried home in a 
 bruised coudilion. No one thought him seri- 
 ously injured; but his hour had come. Ou 
 27th August he fainted away, and without a 
 struggle or groai) passed from time to eter- 
 nity. 
 
 Gov. S. married, 12th January, 1824, as 
 previously stated, Eleanor, daughter of Wil- 
 liam White, Secretary' of State, (1778 to 1811,) 
 and granddaughter of Gov. Richard (Jaswell. 
 His widow now resides in Kaleigh. A daugh- 
 ter, who married General Aikea (in 18G-3,) of 
 Illinois, wliere she now resides. Gov. S.'s re- 
 mains are interred at Raleigh. 
 
 We have now finished, from authentic 
 sources, an account of the services of Havid 
 L. Swain, of which his State may well be 
 proud. In his public as well as his private 
 character, there was nuu-h to admire and to 
 love. 
 
 As a statesman and politician he was pat- 
 I'ioiic, 3'et conservative and cautious. liither 
 a believer in St. Paul's advice, if it be possi- 
 ble, live in peace with all men — almost verg- 
 ing ou the pi'actice of the good saint of — 
 
 Being all things to all men. 
 
 He certainly never was intolerant or vindic- 
 tive. In the early days of the Republic he 
 would have been a E<;deralist; in the log cabin 
 
62' 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 age, lie was a Whig; and to his last dn^'s a 
 Union man. 
 
 As a Cliristian he was the admirer of piety 
 and virtue in any sect. lie would say " my 
 father was a Preshyterinn eldei' and ray mother 
 a Methodist; Bish.op Aslujry hlessed me when 
 a child, the Presbyterians tauglit me, and 
 Hnmphrey Posey, a Baptist, pi'ayed for me. I 
 was brought np to love all good Ciiristians." 
 
 He was fo]' years a eomniunicant of the 
 Presbyterian church, and gave largely to its 
 support, lie was careful of nione_y; economi- 
 cal in his expenses, punctual and }irecise, and 
 faithful to his promises; simple in his habits 
 and dress. He was little blessed hy nature in 
 personal ap[>earance. " Certainly," says Gov- 
 ermir Vance, " no man owed less to adventi- 
 tb>us aids. His voice was pcculiai' and hiu-sh; 
 in person he was exceedingly ill formed and 
 uncouth; his knees smote together in a most 
 unn\ilitary manner." 
 
 l>nt his countenance redeemed his per.son, 
 and one may say as did Hamlet of his father — 
 
 - — - See what gnice was seated on this brow I 
 A combinatidii and a form indeed, 
 Where every God did seem to set liis seal 
 To give the world assurance of a Man. 
 
 A recent writer (Dalton) on a "Few Hours 
 at Poplar Mount," has recorded of Governor 
 Swain some appropriate remarks from his life 
 long friend. Hon. ^\^eldon N. Edwards, that 
 should be moi'e permanently iiroserved: 
 
 " With (tov. Swaiu a vast store of historical 
 and other infornuition was buried, perhaps 
 beyond the possibility of resurrection. 
 
 "There is no one left to ns who can fill bis 
 place. 
 
 "He was wrapped np in the University, and 
 it was a serious blow to the State when the 
 practised and learned facnlt}' was broken up 
 by political interference and partisan malice. 
 It was a grievous fault and a iilunder not to 
 be tolerated in any part^-. 
 
 "I have heard many of the friends of Gov. 
 Swain state that he became melancholy and 
 began to droop away on the termination of 
 his duties as President of the University, and 
 they believed a broken heart was as much the 
 
 real cause of his death as the fall from his car- 
 riage. He felt 'the last link was broken' that 
 united his heart and hopes to all earthly 
 objects. The whole manner of the man was 
 changed. 
 
 "His step was tottering and slow; his mas- 
 sive frame was bowed down in grief. His 
 countenance, so wonted to be lifted up in 
 smiles and playful wit, had already settled 
 into the stern reality of the impending gloom 
 and of perpetual silence. 
 
 "It was thus I met for the last time this 
 distinguished man. He said: 'My friend, since 
 I last saw you my connection with the Uni- 
 versitj' has been brought to a close; it was a 
 trial I dreaded.' 
 
 "What he suffered can only be known to the 
 Great Searcher of all human hearts. There has 
 never been a parallel case of injustice, prejudice 
 and folly. It was a blow aimed at education, 
 science, and civilization, and society; to Gov- 
 ernor Swain it was malignant parricide, and 
 its baleful effects were felt fhrougliout the 
 Commonwealth. Col. Venable, the distin- 
 guished and learned head of the University of 
 Virginia, when this subject was, soon after its 
 occurrence, discussed, declared that there was 
 no Governor of V^irginia, not excepting Pier- 
 point, who would exhibit a conti'ol similar to 
 that of our Governor over the University of 
 North Carolina." 
 
 But another era has dawned on this vener- 
 able institution, and we trust that it will soon 
 regain its pristine prosperity. 
 
 Connected with Gov. Swain and Professor 
 Mitchell of the University was Rev. James 
 Pbillijis, I). D. He was a native- of England, 
 hf)rn at Nevenden, Essex County, in 1792. His 
 father was a Minister of the Church of Eng- 
 land. 
 
 He came to America in 1818 with an elder 
 brother, Samuel A. Phillips, and engaged in 
 the profession of teaching at Hai'lem, where 
 he had a flourishing school. In 1826 he was 
 ajipointed Professor of Mathematics and Nat- 
 ural Philosophy in the University of " North 
 (Carolina, then in his 34th year. For forty 
 years he labored to impress broad and deep 
 the elements of science and knowledge; how 
 faithfullj' that duty was performed many now 
 alive can testify. As his life was useful so 
 
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, 
 
 63 
 
 fiis death was sodden and unexpected. On But politics was not his apprdpi-iate sphere, 
 
 tlie morning of tiie Hth of Mareli, 1867, he and he retired from its exciting arena to tlie 
 
 set out to the chapel to officiate at morning more germane pursuits of liis profession. He 
 
 prayers. The weather was tempestuous ; removed to Raleigh and formed a law [lart- 
 
 he ventured fortli and took his seat hehiud nership with lion. A. S. Meriimon. This nlile 
 
 the reading desk. The tlrst student who en- tirni enjoved a full share of practice: He was 
 
 tared the chapel atur the hell conmienced unexpectedly to himself and others.iii 1870, 
 
 ringing bowed and spoke to him. The salu- nominated by the Bepuhlican Convention as 
 
 tation not being returned, as was hie wont, the Attorney General of the 8tatc. lion. Wni. 
 
 student advanced toward him and saw him M. Shipp was elected; tliis was the subject of 
 
 falling from his scat, and soon he was ex- no regret to Mr. Phillips, for it left him opi)or- 
 
 tended on the floor in an apoplectic fit. Doctor tunity to pursue uninteiTuptedly the practice 
 
 Mallet was sent foi-, but in a few moments life of his profession. When Judge Settle resigned 
 
 was extinct. Such was the end of this excel- on the Supreme Court Bench, Mr. Phillips 
 
 lent and useful man. He left three children: was tendered and declined this high position. 
 
 Rev. Charles Phillips, I). I)., Professor in Uni- In December, 1871. he was confirmed by 
 
 versity; Hon. Samuel F, Philliiis, Solicitor the Senate as Solicitor General of the United 
 
 General of the United States; Mrs. Cornelia States, which position he now holds, with 
 
 Phillips Spencer. credit to himself and confidence to the 
 
 Hon. Samuel Field Phillips, LL. D., son of country. 
 
 Professor James Phillips, a sketch (if whom we 1^^ married Fanny, the granddaughter of 
 
 havejust presentedjWasborn at Harlem, N. Y., 
 February 18,1824. He was carefully educated, 
 and giadnated at the University in 1841, one 
 of a distinguished class of which he took the 
 first honois, and in which was Governor John 
 W. Ellis, Judge Win. J. Clarke, Professor 
 Charles Phillips. John F. Hoke, Robert 
 Strange, and others. 
 
 He lead law with Governor Swain and en- 
 tered the prolession with most flattering pros- 
 pect 
 
 Governor David Stone, by whom he has an 
 interesting family. 
 
 Connected with the favorite and laborious 
 portions of the life of Governor Swain, as 
 President of the University, it is but proper 
 to notice Elisha Mitchell, D. D., I'rofessor of 
 Chemistr}', Mineralogy and Geology. lie was 
 a native of Connecticut, born in 17tto. He 
 graduated at Yale colle.ge in 1803, in the same 
 class with George E. Badger and Thomas P. 
 Devereux. In 1818, by the influence of Judge 
 
 He was elected a member of the House of Gaston, he was appointed to a Professorship 
 
 C(>inn:ons fn^m Orange in 18.^2, with John i" the University with Professor Olmstead, 
 
 Berry, Senator Josiah Turner, B. A. Durham .I's" -'i g-nuluate of Yale. 
 
 and J. F. Lyon— and this compliment was Vov more than an ordinary lifetime, he 
 more appreciable, as the county had presented served the institution with fidelity and zeal, 
 a formidable majority against the Whig p.arty, an*' his pupils acknowledge to this day his 
 to which he belonged. He was again elected learning and patience. He wasj not idle in va- 
 in 1854, 1864, and 1865, at which- latter .ses- cations, but extende.l his surveys and le- 
 sion he was chosen Speaker of the House." searches in every direction. No stream or 
 
 mountain, no coal field, or gold, or other min- 
 
 * lie was a memlier of the Constitutional Convention eral mine, escaped his acumen. He was the 
 
 of 186 s and the Itepuner of the "eports of the y,,,^ ^o determine by barometic measurement 
 
 Supreme Court iioiu ls()i) to loil. ui.-ii- i,^/ mv-xv- j 
 
G4 
 
 WHEELER'S KEMIXISCENCES. 
 
 that the Bhick nioutitniiis were higher tliaii 
 the White rnniintaiiis in New Hainpsliire, and 
 his name is borne hy its loftiest snnnnit. A 
 conti'oversy arose lietwcen Dr. Mitclioll and 
 Mr. Clingman, in regard to tliis highest peak, 
 and in 1857, Dr. Mitehell again visited that 
 mountain for the purpose of verifying his 
 former measurement. On the 27tli June, he 
 dismissed his son Charles, who was his oidy 
 assistant, and requested Inni to return on 
 Moiuhiy and renew tliis survey; ho said that 
 lie would cro;;.; the great range and descend 
 into the valley on the other side. He never 
 was seen ag:iin alive. His hod^' was i"ouud 
 lielow a [ire. ipiec' in a pool <d' water about 14 
 feet deep, over whieli he had fallen and in 
 which he had perished. 
 
 Following the imperfect sketch of G :)veruor 
 Swain, we take up that of his pupil and his 
 life long friend, Zebulon Baird'Vance. 
 
 The family is of Irish origin. From " An 
 Account (d' the Family ol' Vance in Ireland," 
 by Wm. JJalburnie, printed at Cork, 18Gt), we 
 extract the following: 
 
 "The next of the family proceeding from 
 Dougal, is named William, wlio was located 
 at Aughavid, Ball^dug, Tyrone. Hi.s will is 
 dated' lUth iVjiri! " 1713. 'lie left four sons. 
 One of these, David, went to America, and 
 i'onght luider Washington. (I'age 31.) 
 
 " 1 now return to the eldest son, John. He 
 niarrieil and hud four sons and three chuighters. 
 One of the-e daughters married Andrew 
 Jackson, of Muhrafelt, who eniigr.ited to 
 America, and there g;ive birth to Andivnv 
 Jackson, late President of the Unitcil Slates, 
 of whom it i:s written 'that he was the lu'av- 
 est soldier, the wisest statesman lliat ancient 
 or modern history !:as ever recorded.' 
 
 " Another son was -in the American war, 
 and was killed in battle. iV descendant of 
 his was a menilier id' Coniiu-o.-s from .North 
 Carolina in 1824.'"^ (Page 35.) 
 
 Whatever credit may be given to this state- 
 ment, (and there could be no object in the 
 writer to violate the truth,) our own records 
 
 • This was Dr. lloljert B. Vance. 
 
 sliow that the grandfather, David Vance, was 
 born near Winchester, Va., and came to North 
 Caridina before the llevohitionary war, and first 
 settled on the French Broad river; that when 
 Lord Cornwallis sent a strong force under Colo- 
 nel (or Major) Patrick Ferguson, and endeav- 
 ored to win by force of arms or hlandishments 
 of art the people of Western Carolina to the 
 Royal cause, that Vance joined McDowell, who 
 led the Burke and Rutherford boys to battle, 
 and uudei' tlie gallant lead of Cleaveland, 
 Shelby, and others, who attacked Ferguson on 
 King's Mountain, killed him, and completel}' 
 routed his arm}'. We shall speak more of this 
 liattle when we reach Cleaveland County; of 
 its gallant achievement and important results. 
 It was the turning point of the Revolution, 
 and was the cause of American success. 
 
 At this time the ^vhole South lay prostrate 
 before the anus of the British; Georgia had 
 surrendered, so had South Carolina. Lord 
 Cornwallis, defeating Gates at Caradeu, had 
 unmolested possession of Charlotte. This bat- 
 tle turned the tide of war, for soon followed 
 the victoiy of Cow[)ens, then the drawn bat- 
 tle ol' Guill'ord, and tlie fiuUe at i'ork- 
 town. 
 
 After the war was over, Mr. Vance returned 
 to his home on the French Broad river, where 
 he spent the remainder of his daj's, univer- 
 sally esteemed for Jiis integrity and ability. 
 Colonel Jose[)h McDowell, of Burke County, 
 David Vance, of Buncombe, and Musentine 
 Matthews, of Iredell County, (Speaker that 
 year of the House, 171)6,) were appointed to 
 run the line between North Carolina and Ten- 
 nessee. (Moore's History, ISfi.) 
 
 He married a .\Iiss,Brank, and left several 
 children, among them Dr. Robert B. Vance, 
 who defeated for C;)ngress Hon. Feli.K Wal- 
 ker, in 1823.* This singular canvass resulted 
 in a tie in the iiopular vote, and was settled 
 
 *For skctcli of Felix Walker, see Rutherford Couiitv. 
 
BUNCOMBE COUNTY. 65 
 
 by votes of tlie returning ofRccrs (slieritl's.) East Tennessee. Tic iTiiprovcd these oppor- 
 
 IIc ran auain for Congress (19th Congress, tniiities. TIio spark kindled l)y tlio izrcat Cal- 
 
 182.5-'27,) and was defeated by Hon. Sanmel lionn was fanned into an ardent tianif; and 
 
 P. Carson. This canvass unhappily ti'rniinatcd as soon as lie eouM ootrimand tlic means ho 
 
 in a duel lietween Carson and Yaiue. in wliicli entered as a student at the Universit}', wliero 
 
 the latter was killed. ho was noted for the quickness of his mind 
 
 David Vance married Margaret Myral'aird, and his "irrepressible irnpudeuce," which, like 
 
 and left two sons, Zebulon Baird Vance, and " I he wind, lilowcth where it listeth ; " all 
 
 Robert Brank Vance, jr.; Zebnk>n I5aird yielded a willing homage to its irresistible aisd 
 
 Vance was horn in the county of Buncombe, magic inflnencte. 
 
 on the 13th day of May, 1830. Without the His humor wasinvoluntary and spontaneous. 
 
 re-straining hand of a father to guide and cor- He could no more repress it than could the 
 
 rect "the slippery paths of youth," he is skylark withhold its liquid lays from the 
 
 reported to have l)'eeu a wild and wayward morning light, or the mountain stream prevent 
 
 boy, so full of fun and frolic, that ho tried the its pclncid current from bubbling up in radi- 
 
 verv soul of his mother and teachers to re- ance and beauty. 
 
 strain him. But in all his pranks there was .\fter leaving college bo studied law and was 
 
 nothing but humor and no malice. It was the adiidtted to practice and was chosen County 
 
 sinqde outgushing of vohitile and irrepressible Solicitor. 
 
 humor; he was always alile to make his peace On tlie resignatioii of Hon. Thos. L. Cling- 
 
 for all his mischievous capers, in the hearts of man, (who was ap[)ointcd Senator in Congress, 
 
 bis superiors, by the genial kindness of his vice Asa Biggs, appointed United States 
 
 temper, his fearless and free disposition. As Judge, .May, 18.58, which ajipointmont of 
 
 Mr. J. C. Calhoun was -spending a summer in Senator Clingman was confirmed by the 
 
 the n.iountains of North Carolina, when Zol). Legislature, Novembi;r, 18-58,) Mr. \'ance was 
 
 was about fourteen years old, he stopped for elected to Congre-ss over W. W. Avery, 
 
 the night where Zeb. resided. which j)Osition lie held until the State 
 
 Attracted by the vivacity and quickness of -seceded, (May, 18(1 1.) lie then returned 
 
 the boy, and rather amused at the sprightliness home and raised one of the largest compan- 
 
 of his manners, he invited him to take a ie^ for tin; war ever raised in the State, 
 
 walk, and conversed for some time with him. of which he was elected captain, audit was 
 
 He -so imiire.'^sed young Vance's mind b\' the incorjiorated into the 14th Xorth Carolina 
 
 picture that he drew of what he might be if Kegiment. He was elected colonel of the 20th 
 
 he would only cultivate bis mind and appl}- Kogimcut and attached to the brigade com- 
 
 himselfto study, that the imaginative boy mended by Gcnera.l L. O'B. Branch. He was 
 
 resolved to study in earnest, and to make his enu'aged in the disastrous battle of New 
 
 mark "among those names which never die." Berne, and also in the seven days' battles 
 
 Acting upon this advice, he entered Wash- around Richmond. 
 
 ington College, Tennessee, remaining there The following year he was elected Governor 
 
 two years, going thence to Newton Acad- of the State, over Colonel William .lohn.ston, 
 
 emy; his funds failing, he acted for a of Charlotte, as the representative of the 
 
 time as clerk at the Warm Springs. Here Union party, and opposed i)y the original se- 
 
 he was thi-own in social contact with the first ccssionists. By some he was charged with the 
 
 men of Western Carcdma, South Carolina and crime of deserting bis party. He never de- 
 
66 
 
 WII E ELER'S EE MINIS CEXCES. 
 
 serted the time interests aiulhotior of the State. 
 In a letter written by him to Governor 
 Swain in January, 1864, he said: 
 
 "Almost every argument can he answered 
 but one — that is the cries of onr women and 
 children for bread. Of all others that is the 
 hardest for a man to meet. 
 
 "But the historian shall not say it was the 
 weakness of their Governor, or tiiat Saul was 
 consenting to their death. As God liveth 
 there is nothing I would not do or dare for a 
 people wjio have honored me so far beyond my 
 deserts." 
 
 For tliis he was williiiij; to make any sacri- 
 iice, even to death. lie felt as did the brave 
 Ilorutius of Rome. 
 
 To every man upon tbis earth 
 Death cometh soon or late. 
 And how can man die better 
 Than facing fearful odds 
 For tlie aslies of bis fatliers, 
 And die teujples of bis Gods; 
 And for the tender motlier 
 Who 'landled liiin to rest, 
 .•\nd for the wife who nurses 
 His baby at her breast. 
 
 To him tliese were no idle words or empty 
 professions. During his whole term as Gov- 
 ernor this was fully proved hy acts and deeds. 
 
 lie, at the suggestion of General Martin, pur- 
 chased from the Clyde a steamship, and estab- 
 lished a system of supplies by carrying cotton 
 to Europe, and receiving in return arms and 
 necessaries for the people, that else must have 
 jaerislied for food and raiment. 
 
 If the troojis of North Carolina were the 
 best clotlied and best equi^jped men in the 
 Southern army, it was due to the sagacity and 
 energy of Governor Vance. 
 
 On the ap[)roach of Shernum's army the 
 (Tovernor went to Statesville, where he had 
 some time pi'eviously sent his wife and chil- 
 dren; there he was ari-ested and brought to 
 Washington City and placed in Carroll prison. 
 
 There were man^' ridiculous statements 
 made as to the capture of Governor Vance, 
 which were offensive, and drew from him the 
 following correction: 
 
 « Charlotte, ISlh October, 1868. 
 " To Editor of the New York World : 
 
 "I see by the public prints that General 
 Kilpatrick has decorated me with his disap- 
 probation before the people of Pennsylvania. 
 He informs them, substantially, that he tamed 
 me by capturing me and riding me two hun- 
 dred miles on a bareback mule. I will do hint 
 tiie justice to say that he knew that was a 
 lie when he uttered it. 
 
 " I surrendered to General Schotield at 
 Greensboro, N. C, on the 2d May, 1865, who 
 told me to go to my home and remain there, 
 saying if he got any orders to arrest me he 
 would send there for me. Accordingly, I 
 went home and there remained until I was 
 arrested on 13th May, by a detachment of 300 
 cavalry, under Major Porter of Ilarrisburg, 
 from whom I received nothing but kindness 
 and courtesy. I came in a buggy to Salisbury, 
 where we took the cars. 
 
 " I saw no mule on the trip, yet I thought 
 I saw an ass at the general's headquarters; 
 this impression has since been confirmed. 
 
 " The general remembers, among other inci- 
 dents of the war, the dressing u[) of a strum- 
 pet, who assisted hirn in putting down the rebel- 
 lion in the uniform of an orderlj', and 
 introducing her into a respectable family of 
 ladies. This and other /t:'(<5 o/ («/7rts and strat- 
 egy so creditable would no doubt have been 
 quite amusing, and far more true than the mule 
 story. I wonder he forgot it. 
 
 " Respectfully 3'Oars, 
 
 "Z. B. Vance." 
 
 How Governor Vance employed his time 
 while in prison is shown by the following 
 notes received from him. He b.tre his confine- 
 ment with all the patience of a p.itriot, and 
 '' submitted with philosophy to the inevita- 
 ble." 
 
 " Carroll Prison, 16 Jutie, 1865. 
 " Col. Wheeler, 
 
 " My Dear Sir: I desire to study French 
 while in contiiiemeut. I want a dictionary, 
 grammai', and Ollendorf 's method. I am quite 
 well, and see no hope of getting out soon. 
 " Very truly j^ours, 
 
 '• Z. B. Vance." 
 
 I was, of course, pleased to oblige him, and 
 sent the books. 
 
BUXCOMBE COUNTY. 
 
 Jxbi 2(L 1865. 
 
 67 
 
 In 1876, after a canvas of unexampled e.Ker- 
 "' Col. J. H. Wheklee, tion and ahility on both sides, lie was elected 
 
 "Dear Sir: Will you please do nio the ,,„^^,,.„,,j. i,^, .^ niajority of more than 3,000 
 favor to borrow for nie the toUowniir law ^- V i o ..i • i , ;. m ... 
 
 books? I am not able to buy them: Black- votes over Judge Settle, now a judge m Flor- 
 stone, 2d volume only; Greenleaf on Evi- iJa, 
 
 dence; Adams on Equity; Cliitty's Pleadings, 
 1st volume. 
 
 " I desire to refresh my law studies. I am 
 getting on bravely in French. 
 '• Tout a rous, 
 
 "Z. B. Vance." 
 
 I[e resigned on bomg elected by the Legis- 
 lature Senator in Congress from 4th March, 
 1879, to 3(j March, 1885, succeeding lion. A. 
 S. Merrimon. His recent speech (19th May, 
 1879,) on restoration of the Qnion, was a 
 
 ■nr 1 111 ,.;k.i H,^ Intopfir.wnf modcl of eloqiieucc, wit and Statesmanship. 
 
 We have alrcadv described the intei view 01 i 
 
 Governor Vance married on 2d August, 
 1868, at Morganton, Harriet Newell, the or- 
 phan daughter of the late Kev. Thomas Kspy, 
 of the Presbyterian church. She recently 
 died, (at Ealeigh, 3d November, 1878,) leav- 
 ing several children. * 
 
 We have now finished to this date, some 
 
 Governor Swain, at which Governors Brown, 
 Corwin and Letcher were present, and how 
 cheerful Gov. V. bore his condition. 
 
 I could but remark how polite and consid- 
 erate the officers and the employees of the 
 prison were to him. By his genial manners 
 he had won their liearts. If he had been a 
 candidate for any position in their gift, he 
 would have received their unanimous vote. 
 
 He was release by the efforts of Governor 
 Corwin and others, and allowed to return to 
 his family on parole not to go beyond certain 
 limits. 
 
 In November, 1870, the Legislature so sym- 
 pathized with his sufferings and so appreciated 
 
 slight memories of the career of our Governor 
 Vance. t They might well have been more 
 elaborate and extended did our space and plan 
 allow. We have tried to do justice to his 
 merits, and — 
 
 Nothing extenuate, 
 
 Or set down aught in malice. 
 
 Enough has been said to prove tljc iiigh 
 reputation of Governor Vance as a philan- 
 his services, that he was elected Senator; but thropist and a statesman. As a popular orator 
 having been disfranchised he was refused by [je has no su[(erior, and but few equals. His 
 the Senate, and in January, 1872, he resigned, " inHuite jests and most excellent fancy," to 
 and General Matt. W. Ransom was elected, which he adds, at times, the most touching 
 From 1865 to 1867 North Carolina had no pathos and brilliant eloquence carry the 
 members in either branch of Congress. minds and hearts of his audience, and makes 
 Gov. V. received a pardon from the Prcsi- hi,^^ irresistible and triumphant before the 
 dent, (Andrew Johnson,) settled at Charlotte, people. In his public addresses, as in the so- 
 aud entered into the practice of the law, in ^ial circle, he often illustrates his positions by 
 partnership with that excellent gentleman and anecdote so pointed and piquant that the 
 accomplished jurist, C. I)t)wd, Esq. Li enter- popular mind retains with pleasure the argu- 
 ing this firm. Gov. Vance told his partner that ment, when a graver luode would be for- 
 "in every firm there was one working man gotten. 
 
 and one gentleman, and that it must be under- . . ., „, . , ., 
 
 , , , , , , *IIe has agani maiiied to Mrs. Marten, of Ken- 
 stood that he had to be the gentleman, as he tucky, nee Steele. 
 
 , , *.„ 1 „ ti,,, „tK.„. » A ,],v,;,.nK1,T t Much of this sketcli is derived from autlieutic 
 
 was too lazy to be the othei. Admuably ^^(;c^„^^e,^ts, ,, rival.' letters and personal recollections. 
 
 both filled the assigned role. But the law was An anonymous article from the lapers of the day, in- 
 
 ° ^ serted, ahout 1S08, aftorded much aid, and wluch was 
 
 not the natural element of Gov. V. freely copied. 
 
68 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ^ For the Genealogy of tlie Vance family, see the stirrup-leather. The act of dismonnting 
 
 Appendix. no doubt saved Colonel Vance's life. 
 
 His brother, Robert BrankA^ance, was horn After the battle of Murfreesboro, Vance 
 
 the 24th of April, 1828, and is the oldest son, was taken sick with tj'phoid fever, and sent 
 
 and second child, of David and Mira M. home by General Bra<i;g. In the mean time 
 
 Vance, of Buncombe County, N. C. he was promoted to the rank of brigadier 
 
 His education was very limited. His father general. On his return to the army General 
 
 dying when Robert was in his sixteenth year, Bragg sent him back to North Carolina and 
 
 a great portion of the burden of sustaining upper East Tennessee to organize the troops, 
 
 his mother devolved on him. On attaining such as could be got up, and take command in 
 
 his majority he was elected Clerk of tlie Court that portion. During a raid he made across 
 
 of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, which office he the Smoky mountains into Tennessee, he was 
 
 held i'or eight 3^ea.rs, and voluntarily retiretl captured at Cosby Creek, where the Federals 
 
 from in ISoi.i. Mr. A'ance's Inisiness was mer- attacked him, and he I'iding by mi.stake into 
 
 chandising, which he followed until the \\ar their ranks. He was kept in prison till near 
 
 bi-oke out in 1861. Being Union in sentiment, the close <>f the war, when be was paroled 
 
 he voted against secession, but when the pro- until exchanged. 
 
 clanuiti(m of Mr. Lincoln was received at In 18fi6, he was elected Grand Master of 
 
 Aslicville, N. C, he, in common with most of Masons in Xortb Carolina, which ollice he held 
 
 his neighbijrs, took sides with the South. All for two years. 
 
 of the male members of the family, including In 1872, he was nominated to a seat in Oui- 
 
 his brother Zebulon, and his three hrothers-in- gross fnun the Eighth district of North Caro- 
 
 law, (one of whom. Rev. R. N. Price, was a lina, and lieat bis comjjetitor, W. G. Candler, 
 
 traveling Methodist uiini.ster,) weu.t into the a Republican, 2,555 votes. 
 
 army at once. Uol)ort was left in charge of He was re-elected in 1874, boating Plato 
 
 the families; but, being dissatisfied, he went Durham, Indeiieudent Democrat, 4,442 votes, 
 
 to wtu'k and raised a company, which was or- In 187t! he defeated E. R. Hampton, Repuhli- 
 
 ganized as "The Buncombe Life Guards."' can, over 8,000 majority. In 1878, he was re-- 
 
 He was elected captain. The companies came elected without opjiosition to Congress, 
 
 and rendezvoused at Aslicville, wiiere the 10th At the time of this writing General Vance 
 
 and the 29th Korth Carolina Kegimeuts were has succeeded in Laving daily mails to every 
 
 oricanized at -'(.'amp Patton." Vance was county town in his district, and had mone}'- 
 
 electeil colonel of these forces, receiving order o.ihces ostabiished all over the distiict. 
 
 evory vote hut one — his own. His piincipal speeches in the House of Rep- 
 
 The regiment was lirst ordered to Raleigh, resentatives have been on the civil rights' bill, 
 
 and from there was sent to East Teiniessee, the taiitf, the internal I'evenue laws, the ueoes- 
 
 where it formed a part of the garrison at sity of fraternal relations between the North 
 
 Cumberland Gap, following E. Kirby Smith and South, the remonetization of silver, etc., 
 
 into Kentucky. The regiment suffered con- whioh were acceptable to his pieople. 
 
 sidorahly in the battle of .Murfreesboro, Colo- Many times, through the years since lay- 
 
 nel Vance liaving his horse killed in that en- UiCn were admitted into the councils of the 
 
 gagement. Hehad just gotten off his horse and Southern Methodist Ciiiu'ch, General Vance 
 
 was holding tlie bridle, wlien a shell ex- has been elected delegate to the annual con- 
 
 pioded near l)y, a piece entering the horse by ferences and two or three times to the gen- 
 
"BUNCOMBE COUNTY. 
 
 fi9 
 
 cval conferences of said ohnrch. In 1870 lie ][is father died in 1862, aged 97. The 
 was appointed by the Bishops of the M. E. maternal grandfather of Judge I lenry, Kohert 
 
 Church South as one of the Cape May com- 
 mission which settled important matters be- 
 tween tlie Northern and Southern Methodist 
 Churches. 
 
 General Vaiwe has given many years of his 
 life to the work of delivering lectures on 
 
 Love, was one of the earliest pioneers in the 
 settlement of Western Carolina, and promi- 
 nent in the early liistory of this section. He 
 figured in the rise and fall of the State of 
 Frankland, which Governor Sevier attempted 
 to establish, out of a portion of North Caro- 
 
 temperance, and the education of children in lina, now in Tennessee, (in 1785,) and with 
 
 (Tcneval Tipton and others, arrested Sevier, 
 under the charge of high treason,* and con- 
 veyed him to jail at Morganton. Robert Love 
 is progenitor of the large and iiiHucntial fam- 
 ily of that name which pervades this and other 
 sections of the west, and who have occupied 
 portions of prominence in every walk of life. 
 
 Judge Henry presided as judge with great 
 acceptability, from 1868 to 1878, having pre- 
 viously acted as solicitor for this (the 8th,) 
 judicial district. 
 
 He was editor, at the early age of 19, of 
 the Asheville Spectator, and served in the Con- 
 federate States arni}^ as adjutant of the 1st 
 North Carolina cavalry, (General Robert Kan- 
 
 Sunday schools. 
 
 Getieral Vance was married to Miss Harriet 
 V. McElroy, daughter of General John W. 
 McElroy, of North Carolina. Six children — 
 four sons and two daughters — wore born to 
 them, four of whom are living. 
 
 Such is a brief l)Ut accurate sketch of Gen- 
 eral Yanoe. 
 
 There are few public men in or out of Con- 
 gress who possess that respect and regard of 
 all who know him, more than General Vance. 
 As a man he is true, sincere and frank in all 
 the relations of life. As a Representative he 
 is faithful, honest, attentive and active. His 
 talents and success are duly appreciated in 
 
 Cong-ess; being placed chairman of the im- som,) and on Hampton's and Stuart's staff, 
 portant Committee on Patents in the 45th and as colonel of cavalry. 
 
 and 4Gth Congresses, and second on the Com- 
 mittee on Coinage, Weights and Measures; 
 A. II. Stephens, of Georgia, l>eing chairman 
 in the present Congress. 
 
 As a friend he is faithful, obliging and sin- 
 cere, and above all, as a Christian he is a " burn- 
 ing and shining light," and a prominent and 
 consistent memlier of tlie Methodist Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 James Love Henry, late one of the judges of 
 the Superior courts of law and equity, was 
 born in Buncombe County, in 1838. He 
 received only such education as the schools of 
 Asheville attbrded. 
 
 His father, Robert Henry, was a patriot of 
 the Revolution, and was in the battle of Kings 
 Mountain, and practiced law for more than 
 sixty years, with much success. 
 
 He now resides at Asheville, engaged in the 
 practice of his profession. 
 
 Augustus Summerfxeld Merrimon, lately one 
 of the Senators in Congress from North Caro- 
 lina, was born (in that part of Buncombe 
 County since erected into Transylvania,) on 
 the 15th of September, 1380. 
 
 His parents were Rev. Branch Hamline 
 Merrimon and Mary E., nee Paxtou, whose 
 father, William Paxton, was the brother of 
 Hon. John Paxton, Judge of the Superior 
 Courts from 1818 to 1826, and whose mother 
 (Sally,) was the daughter of General Charles 
 McDowell. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was the eldest of 
 a family of ten children — seven sons and three 
 daughters. 
 
 *See Wheeler's History of North Carol iua, vol. I, 97. 
 
70 
 
 WHEELER'S KEMINISCElSrCES. 
 
 Tlie early ediication of Mr. Merriuion was 
 as good as the circumstances of his father 
 would allow. At the period when youths of 
 his age were at college, he aided his father in 
 working the farm to support the family, for in 
 those daj'S Methodist ministers Avere not op- 
 pressed with this world's goods. Yet the un- 
 conquerable thirst for knowledge so possessed 
 young Merrimon tfeat he embraced ever}' op- 
 portunity for acquiring it. Oftem when at 
 work on the farm, during the hour of rest for 
 dinner, he would be found quietly ensconced 
 in some shad}' place conning over bis Ijooks. 
 One of the appendages to bis father's place 
 was a saw-mill, which it was his duty to at- 
 tend, and while the saw was at work in cut- 
 ting the logs into plank, he would have his 
 grammar or some other book, and improve 
 every moment in study. His father appreciat- 
 ing this thirst for knowledge, sent him to a 
 schiiol in Asheville, then under the charge of 
 Mr. Norwood. Such was bis application ami 
 progress,, that within the lirst session Mr. Nor- 
 wood pronounced him "the l)est English gram- 
 marian that he ever knew." 
 
 He was exceedingly anxious to be sent to 
 college to complete liis classical studies, biit 
 the res (Otijusii domi forbid. He commenced 
 the study of the law in the office of John W. 
 Woodiin, in whose office at the same time was 
 Zebulon B. Vance, botli derttined to occupy 
 high positions of honor in their county and 
 State, and often rivals in political contests. 
 Such was his proficiency in his legal studies, 
 ■svith such inadequate preparation, that in Jan- 
 uary, 1852, he was admitted to practice in the 
 Courts, and in 1853 in the Superior and Su- 
 preme Courts of the State. 
 
 l>y his close attention to business, his care- 
 ful preparation and management of his cases, 
 he soon made his mark. He was appointed 
 Solicitor to several counties in his circuit, and 
 by the Judge, Solicitor for the District in 1861. 
 In 1860 he was elected to the Legislatuie as a 
 
 member from Buncombe, by a few votes over 
 CoL David Coleman. 
 
 On the breaking out of the war, he took 
 a decided stand for the Union. 
 
 In the excited state of public feeling at 
 this time of frenzy, such a step demanded not 
 only moral, but physical courage. ^Ir. Merri- 
 mon'^s position was rudely assailed. Angry 
 cards passed between him and Nicholas W, 
 "Woodiin, and a personal collision was immi- 
 nent. On these occasions, he bore himself with 
 dignity and courage. Though not over fond of 
 arms, be felt — 
 
 Rightly to be grea.t 
 
 Is not to ?tir without great argument. 
 But greatly to find ijuiirrel in a straw 
 When honor 's at the stake. 
 
 But in the issuing of Mr. Lincoln's procla- 
 mation, calling for 75,000 men settled his- 
 course, and he entered in Z. B. Vance's cora^- 
 pany as a private, and! marched to Raleigh, 
 He was attached to the Commissary Depart- 
 ment as captain for a short time, on dut}- at 
 Hatteras, Ocrocock, Raleigh and Weldon. On 
 the call of Guvernoi' Ellis, the Legislature re- 
 assembled, and he had to attend. 
 
 In the fall of 1861, he was appointed by 
 Judge French, Solicitor of the Eighth Circuit, 
 and the next 3'ear was elected to that position 
 by the Legislature. Just at the close of the 
 war he was a canilidate as delcgiite to the 
 State Convention called under the reconstruc- 
 tion acts of President Jobitson, and was de- 
 feated by Rev. L. Z. Stewart, a Presbyterian 
 clergyman, the Republican candidate. This 
 contest was remiu'kable, as it was conducted in 
 the presence of the United States troops and 
 bayonets. 
 
 By tlic next Legislature be was elc-ted Solic-^ 
 itorof the Eigbtb Judicial Circuit. The office 
 of Solicitor was no soft place at this time, but 
 one of imminent peril. Tlie Democrats and 
 "Mossy Backs" were in daily collision; aifrays, 
 riots, robberies, and murders were daily occur- 
 rences; deserters had to be arrested, aatd the 
 
BUNCOMBE COUNTY. 71 
 
 place ptiritied. So satisfactory niid tinn wore all tliat is just and lawful to establish the- 
 
 his eftbrts as Solicitor, Mr. Merrimon won I'i^'it. 
 
 - , _ , , T <• T ■' L am yours truly, 
 
 the respect oi the Judges, the regard oi the ' .. .^ ^; Mirhimon "" 
 
 bar, and the esteem of tiie people. 
 
 In 1866, he was elected a Judge of the The exccutiyeconunittce " died and gayc no 
 
 Superior Courts b}' the Legislature. Here his sign;" tlio conservative charactei'of the people 
 
 services were equally acceptable. preferi'ed to wait for that success which they 
 
 Ih' bold the tirst regular Courts on tliis believed awaited them, and endure for a sea- 
 
 Cirruit after the war under ojroumstancos of son some inconvenience and even injustice, 
 
 great iioril, so tliat in most of the counties, In December following, Judge Merrimon 
 
 a police force had to be organized under the was elected Senator in Congress for the teiTii. 
 
 sheriff to preserve tlie place, and protect the of six years, from 4th Marcli, 1873. 
 
 Court. While in the faithful discharge of It is due to the integrit}- of history to say 
 
 his duty the cowimanding general of the this election produced much excitement, inas- 
 
 United States forees, ((^anby.) issued military much as it was effected by the defeat of Gov., 
 
 orders to the Courts, with instructions to the ernor \'ance, who was the Democratic nom- 
 
 Judges to observe and administer them. This inee. 
 
 gross military usurpation was resisted by This, Judge Merrimon contended, was 
 
 Judge Merrimon, who, seeing tlio Courts brought ai.iout l)y Governor Yance and his 
 
 could not be hold according to law, and his fiiends tampering with the caucus — pledging 
 
 oath of ofhce, resigned his commission as and packing it. Several Democrats refused to 
 
 Judge. go into the caucus unless Governor Vance and 
 
 In 1.S72, the convention at Greensboro nom- Judge Merrimon would both withdraw their 
 
 inatod liini for Governor against Todd K. names. This Judge Merrimon was willing 
 
 Caldwell. to do, for the sake of harmony, but Governor 
 
 The universal opinion of the Democrats was "\'anee, insisting that he duly nominated, 
 
 that Judge Merrimon was fairly elected. The declined to withdraw. The balloting then 
 
 returns were: Caldwell, 98,GoO; Merrimon, commenced, and continued for two weeks 
 
 96,731; reported majority for Caldwell, 1,899. without any choice. Both then withdrew. 
 
 lie was nni)ortuned by the press and hosts Afterwards, the name of Governor Yance was 
 
 of friends to contest this result. In a letter to again brought forward by some members who 
 
 S. A. Ashe, E^i[., of 12th September, 1872. luul veited for Judge Merrimon, and on the first 
 
 Judge Merrimon says: ballot Judge Merrimon was elected, lie re- 
 
 " I am satisfied by a variety of facts that eeived the entire Republican vote (72 votes,) 
 
 have come to knowledge that enormous and 15 conservative votes, the remaining 
 
 frauds were perpetrated at the election, and eighty conservatives voting for Governor 
 
 great number ot illegal votes were cast against " ,„, , ,. ' ,. ,. -j, 
 
 me and the other candidates on the Domo- ^ '^"^''- There was a deep feeling ot mortifi- 
 
 cratic ticket. I sincerely believe that we cation in several sections of the State; not so 
 
 received a majority of the lawful yotes. much because Judge Merrimon was elected, 
 
 " It it so turns out, by the examination now , , ^ ^, ■ i • i ^i • i 
 
 iw>;.,,r ,„..,'q «-v,,..AM,rV, ti. ,..„,„»;, •»* but at the manner in which this result was- 
 t)eing maue throngn tlie executive committee, 
 
 that substantial ground for contesting can be brought about. 
 
 established I will contest the election, and ^y^ t„,,,, „„ .j^^ j,, ,,,;, question. We 
 
 vindicate the rigiits ot the peojilc. 
 
 '' I will not do an a lung rashly, or to gi'atify '"'^''-' »*l'»wn the appreciation in which we esti- 
 
 partj' spirit, or political revenge, but will do mate both of these distinguished men, and we 
 
72 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES, 
 
 believe that either would do honor to the 
 State and defend to " the last gasp of loyalty," 
 her character and her intei'est. Many politi- 
 cians will donbtless say, like Pope, 
 
 How hapiiy would we be witli either, 
 Were tlie other dear cliarmer away. 
 
 Of Judge Merrimon's career in the Senate it 
 is not necessary- to speak. It has given him a 
 national reputation for integrity of purpose, 
 for unsullied patriotism, and extensive acquire- 
 ments. We may read its " History in a nation's 
 eyes." To the interests of his constituents 
 he has ever .manifested vigiLancc and ca'ition. 
 IS^o one has ever applied to him for his kind 
 othces that failed to receive jirompt and 
 ctficient attention. Ahvaj's at his post, 
 vigilant in ol)ser\'ation, he has proved Iiimself 
 a faithful sentinel of the rights of the State, 
 of individuals, and the Nation. 
 
 That he deserves high reputation, is not 
 questioned. 
 
 He nmst have intrinsic meiit who, in spite 
 of the disadvantages of a defective education, 
 has heeome the peer vt' the proudest of our 
 land, and raised himself from the labors of 
 a saw mill to thu lunn.rr; of a Senate cnamber. 
 
 He was succeeded by Governor Yance, 
 March, 1879. 
 
 Judge Meri'inion married on 14th Seiitem- 
 ber, 1852, Margaret J, Baird, by whom he has 
 an interesting family. 
 
 Thomas Lanier Clingman resides at Ashe- 
 ville, m this county. 
 
 He was born in the county of Yadken, then 
 Surry Couny, July 27, 1812, the son of Jacob 
 Clingman and Jane i'oindexter,* and named 
 for Dr. Thomas Lanier, his half uncle. 
 
 ^Alexander Clingman, the grandfatlier of General 
 Clinguian, came to America from (iermany before the 
 llevolutiou. The name signifies, in Genuaa, a swords- 
 man and a fighter. He was a soldier in many battles 
 in the Revolutionary war, and was a prisoner taken at 
 Charleston at Lincoln's surrender. He married 
 Elizabeth Kaiser and had several children, among 
 theui was Jacob, wlio left four children, Thomas, 
 John Fatillo, Elizabeth, who married Richard 
 Piu'year, and Alexander. Tlie father of the 
 mother of Gen 1 Clingman was of the Polndexters of 
 
 His early educati<m was conducted by pri- 
 vate instructors. He joined the sophomore 
 class at the University, and graduated in 1832, 
 with a class distinguished in after life for 
 usefulness and talents. Judge Thomas S. 
 Ashe, now of the Supreme Court; James C. 
 Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy, 1853-'67; John 
 H. Haughton, Cad. Jones, and others, were of 
 the same class. 
 
 In a diary kept by (governor Swain at that 
 date, I found the following: 
 
 "/(/)((', 1832. The graduating class acquitted 
 themselves with much credit, especially young 
 Clingman, of Surry Count}', who, if he lives, 
 will be an ornament to the State." 
 
 Mr. Clingman entered upon the study of the 
 law with gieat enei'gy, and was about to enter 
 njion the practice when he, in 1835, was elected 
 a member of the Legislature from Surry 
 Coimty, which was a iield more germane to 
 his tastes, where he took a decided position. 
 
 After this service was accomplished he re- 
 moved to Banconibe Count}*, where he still 
 resitles. He acquired much reputaticju for 
 boldness and al.>ilit3'as a speaker, especially in a 
 debate with Colonel Meniminger, at Columbia, 
 S. C, in which Colonel Memminger found 
 Iiimself overmatclied. Mr. Clingman, in 1840, 
 was elected by a large majority to the Senate 
 of the State Legislature from Buncombe 
 County. 
 
 This was an exciting epoch in political his- 
 t(.)ry, and parties (Democratic and Whig) 
 waired a tierce and ferocious warfare. In tlie 
 
 Virginia. Her mother was the daughter of Henry 
 Patillo, of Grandville ; her first husband was Kobert 
 Lanier, whose sister was the mother of Hon. Lewis 
 Williams. J-'olndexter is a Norman name, signifying 
 spur horse. He, Alexander, was one of the three prom- 
 inent Whigs or Kegulators who were compelled by 
 Tryou to take the oath of allegiance every six months, 
 at Court. 
 
 Jane, Cliugman's mother, nee Poindexter, was a 
 daughter of Henry Patillo, who was a prominent Whig 
 in the Revolution. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Patillo was a Presbyterian mini-ter, who 
 did good service and whose sermons liave been pub- 
 lished in a volume. Two of the sous of Mr. Patillo 
 married the sisters of Robert Goodloe Harper. 
 
BUNCOMBE COUNTY. 70 
 
 Xeg'islatiire or on the stuiii[i, Mr. Clii)L,niiaii led On rolirin;;- frnm tiio SiMuite with hi- distin- 
 the cohorts of the Whi^-s, and liko llo-irv of gnislied rdUeanne, (iovernor Tlionms Brair<r, 
 Navarre, his wliitc phune was seen proiully he felt liis dnty c-alh'd him to the liohl, and by 
 floating in the van of every contest. Snch liis efforts to del'end his native soil. He 
 was his ability and eloquence that he was joined the Confederate army and attained the 
 elected a member of the 28th Congress (1843, rank of brigadier general. He was in many 
 1845,) over that veteran politician Hon. James engagement in which he conducted his coni- 
 Graham, He was elected to tlie 30th Con- mand with military skill and undaunted 
 :gress, 1847-'49, and successively to 1857-'50, bravery. 
 
 when (in May, 1858,) he succeeded Hon. Asa He was distinguished for his defence of 
 Biggs, as Senator in Congress, in which elo- Goidslioro, (17th December, 1862,) which he 
 vated position he continued until 18G1, when saved from a superior force under Foster, 
 tiie State seceded from the Union. whoso retreat was so precipitate that he left 
 
 To attempt to detail all the events in the much of his nuiteriais, as blankets, muskets. 
 political career of Mr. Clingman, and the and even horses. 
 
 prominent parts filled by him, would far e.x- General Clingnian's brigade consisted of the 
 ceed the limits of our work. Ilis political 8th Keginient, Colonel Shr.w. 
 history is so interwoven with that of the Na- 31st Regiment, Colonel Jordan, 
 tion, that an accurate sketch of the one W(MUd 51st Regiment, Colonel McKethan. 
 
 be a record of the other. In his long and va- 61st Regiment, Colonel Radclilfe. 
 ried career there were few questions that lie In July, 18()3, he took command at SuUi- 
 did not examine and exhaust. So acceptable van's Island, which ex[)Osed position he held 
 were his views that he was, during his last until December following, during the most ac- 
 year's service in the House, the chairman of tive part of the seige of Charleston. He was 
 one of its most importa.nt committees (For- then ordered to Virginia, and in the attack on 
 eign Aft'airs.) New Berne, February, 1864, led the advance 
 
 His early career was in unison with Mr. force of General Pickett's army, in which he 
 Clay, (with whom he was personally a great was wounded by the explosion of a shell. On 
 favorite,) and the Whig party; but he never the 16th May following, in the battle of 
 allowed the shackles of party co bind him to Drury's Bluff, he was ordered with General 
 any cause in his opinion inimical to tiie true Cor.sc to attack General Butler. This was done 
 interests of the State or the people. When with such spirit that the lines of Butler were 
 his convictions of right were settled, he fol- broken, and he retreated rapidly to Bermuda 
 lowed where they led regardless of conse- Hundreds, where he was, to use General 
 quences, [lolitical or personal. lie became Grant's expression, " bottled up." 
 convinced that the Whig party had become He was then ordered to Cold Harbor, and 
 thoroughly denationalized, and tiiat the only on 31st May, met the advance of General 
 national party with which Southern patriots Grant's army, and a severe engagement oc- 
 could consistently act, with any hope of good, curred. The next evening (1st June) one of 
 was the Democratic party. His exertions and the severest engagements of the war occurred, 
 intiuence were used in promoting the election in which General Clingnian's command re- 
 of Governor Reid, and of General Fierce. He ccivcd heavy loss, in rank and file, from its 
 has for years been an able, decided and con- exposed position. Every staff officer, as well 
 sistent Democrat. as iiimself, was wounded. One-third of the 
 
74 
 
 WHEELER'S KITMIKISCEKCES. 
 
 command fell on the field, including Colonel Clinrch, an admirer of its tenets, and an 
 
 Murcliison and Major Henderson, of the 8th observer of its ordinances. 
 
 Regiment. Thej' held the position and saved Though his fame rests on his long and ini- 
 
 the day. portant service as a statesman and his gal- 
 
 On the 10th of June following, General lantry as a soldier, yet he has not neglected 
 
 Clingman repulsed an attack on the lines of the pursuits of literature and of science. His 
 
 Petersburg, and on the e\ening following, held able defence of religion, and its support by 
 
 his position against the attack of two army science, gained him "golden opinions from all 
 
 corps (the 9th and 18th) commanded by Gen- sorts of men," both North and South; he has 
 
 erals J3urnside and Smith, numbering in the in various publications demonstrated to the 
 
 aggregate 43,000 men. Tliree brigades on his counti-y and to the world the capabilities and 
 
 right, gave way eai'Iy in the engagement, but advantages of Western Carolina — its healthful 
 
 he held his position until 11 o'clock. [>. m,, climate and prolific soil. Many have been in- 
 
 wlien the cngagemtnt ceased — and Tetersburg duced by his descriptions to seek a home with 
 
 was saved. us, liringmg wealth, talent, and industry. 
 
 On the l!»th of August, following, an attack He has made important contributions to 
 
 was made on the enemy's lines on the Weldon the science of gooiogy and mineralogy. His 
 
 railroad, near Petersburg, by which 2,100 pris- articles on these subjects have appeared 
 
 oners were taken, and liiany killed and in Sillinian's and othei' journals, and rank 
 
 wounded. In this aft'air General Clingman with tluxe of Dana, Guyot, Shepard, and 
 
 received so severe a wound that he was for other savans of the age. He has presented 
 
 several months kept out of the field, and was much and varied information as to rnoun- 
 
 only able to join his command a few days tains of North Canjlina, which he hasexplored 
 
 prior to Johnson's surrender. in person, and in compliment of such exertions 
 
 When the war closed (Sth April, 18Gt;,* ) his name has been worthily bestowed on one 
 
 General Clingman, like many others, was '•*' it''^ highest peaks. 
 
 left dest)late and de[iressed in mind, wounded 
 and exhausted in liody, and utterly impover- 
 i.sJied; yet he was ever ready to aid in build- 
 ing up the waste places of his country, and to 
 
 General ('lingman, as our I'eaders ujay know, 
 has never married. His busy lit'c and active 
 services in the cause of his eountiy have denied 
 him that ple.ism'e. But he is far from uuder- 
 
 repair as far us possible the desolations of estinuiting female society, and is a great 
 internecine strife. He was elected a member 
 of the Convention of 1875, and was \-igilant 
 and active in the cause of the peopile. 
 
 These are ia[iid and unsatisfactory sketches 
 of the public services rendered liis country liy 
 General Clingman. 
 
 In his private life, he is exemplary andeou- 
 sistciit. He is a member of the Episcopal 
 
 admirer of grace, beauty and intelligence. 
 
 No one possessing, his warmth of friendship 
 for liis own sex can be indifi'erent to the charms 
 of the otiier. As a friend, General (Jlingnian 
 is frank, sincere and faithful, antl this is recip- 
 rocated deeply by those who knew him best. 
 No one that I know ever maintained such a 
 hold on the atl'eetions of the people. The citi- 
 zens of liis district possess such unbounded 
 
 * The Supreme Court of the United States in case of confidence in his judgment and integrity that 
 
 U. S. V. Kieiii in January, 1S72, decided tlie lieiiiiuiiiig .i +• n i i • ' ■ i * i i, 
 
 of the civil war was on April l!i, 18(31, date of procht- ^^^'^y i"l''^wed him in whatever course he has 
 
 mation as to blockade, and the end was Ai.ril 8, ISUG, pursued. For more than ] 5 years ( with exeep- 
 date ot i'rcsideuts proclamatiou declaring the war at . . ^ \ r 
 
 ail end. tion of one Congress,) he was elected i)y their 
 
P.nXCOMBl': COUNTY. 
 
 SiiiFragcs. Nn matter how adi'oitly the di.striet 
 was adversely ai'ranij;od, or wliat [iriiieiples ho 
 advocati'd, the peoplt" were liis devoted sup- 
 porters, and never d.'serted liiin. 
 
 1 reeollect when the State was redistricted, 
 in 1852, a few wlio aspired to his place 
 arranged the district so tliat he wonid likely 
 be defeated. But the power and the jiopu- 
 kirity of Genei-al ('lini;-nian disappointed their 
 ainis and Iiopes. ]lc was elected hy an 
 inci'eased majority. Althoiijili kind, social 
 and friendly in his private intercourse, his 
 eharacter is not of that negative kind so con- 
 eisel}' described by Dr. Johnson of one "ulio 
 never had generosity enough to acquire a 
 friend, or spirit enough to pro\-()ke an enemy." 
 Whenever the rigiits of his State and his per- 
 sonal honor were infringed, lie was prompt 
 and read}' to repel the assailant. He has fol- 
 lowed the advice of I'olonius to liis son — 
 
 Beware of entrance 
 
 Into a quarrel; but beingin. 
 So bear thyself tliat tliy oiiposer 
 W ill beware of thee. 
 
 In 1845, Hon. William L. Yancey, of Ala- 
 bama, well known in his day as '• a rabid lire 
 eater,'" attempted some liberty' with General 
 CHugman. A cliallenge ensued, linger, of 
 Siiuth t'arolina, was Yancey's friend; and 
 C'harli's Lee .lones. of Washington City, was 
 tiie friend of Clinginan. Tlic\- fought at 
 lil-adensburg. 
 
 Air? J ones, the second of General Clingman, 
 in his graphic description of tliis duel, pub- 
 lished in tl:e Cu'pUal, states: 
 
 '• Alter the principles had been posted, Mr. 
 linger, who had won the giving of the word, 
 asked, 'xVre yon ready ? Fire .' ' 
 
 '• Mr. Clingman, who had remained perfectly 
 eool, tired, missing his adversary, but drawing 
 his iire, in the ground, consideiably out of line, 
 the bullet .-cattering dust and gravel upon the 
 person of Mr. Clingman. After this fire, the 
 difficult}' was adjusted." 
 
 lion. Kenneth liaynor, the colleague of Mr. 
 Clingnum in Congress, was on the ground, 
 
 states that " he hiid never seen more com- 
 posure and firmness in danger than was mani- 
 fested by Mr. Clingman on this occasion." 
 On seeing his friend ciivered by the dust and 
 gravel, and standing at his [lOst unmoved he 
 thought he was mortally wounded, lie rushed 
 to him and asked him if he was hurt. " He 
 has thrown some dust on my new coat," he 
 replied, quietly brushing off the dust and 
 gravel. 
 
 On other occasions, as with lion. Edward 
 Stanle}- and others. General Clingman has 
 evinced a proper regard for his own honor by 
 repelling the insults of othei's; and in all 
 these jiublic opinion has sustained the[>ropriet\' 
 of his conduct; he has so borne liimseli" that 
 the aggressor has ne\'er att(Mnpted to inqieat 
 his insolence. 
 
 He has been accused of being amijitious. If 
 
 this be so, in reply, the ^vords of Anthony of 
 
 Ciusar are appropriate — 
 
 He is my friend, ''aitlifiil and just to ine. 
 But l?rutus says he is ambitious, 
 And Brutus is an honorable man. 
 
 J. C. L. Gudger, nowone of the .Tudges of the 
 Superior C'ourts, was born in r>UMcombeCountj^ 
 in 1838; learned in the law, which he has suc- 
 cessfully practiced for fifteen years. 
 
 He entered the Confederate army as a [H';- 
 vate in IStH, and rose to the rank of captain. 
 
 After the war was over lie removed to 
 AVaynesville, in Haywood County, where he 
 was extensively engaged in tlie [iractice of his 
 profession when he was elected to the higli 
 position he so worthily occupies. 
 
 l\obert M. Furrnan resides in Buncombe 
 County, although a native of Franklin County, 
 where he was born 21st September, 1S4(;. at 
 Lonisburg. He early entered the Confederate 
 ai'iiiy, luit on his health failing he was, at tlie 
 end of five months, discharged. He, on recov- 
 ery, again entered the army (in 18(34,) and 
 served until the war closed. Hi.s young life 
 has l)een s[)ent in the editorial line, iu which 
 he attained much success. In 1866 he was in 
 
76 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 charge of the Louisburg E'igJr. lie next 
 established the Heiulei'soii Index, and liecanie 
 afterwards connected with tlie Norfolk Cour- 
 ier, and the Raleigh Sentinel. lu 1872 he 
 became editor of the Asheville Citizen, lie 
 was reading clerk of the Senate of the State 
 Legislature of 1870. He holds, also, the posi- 
 tion of clerk to tlie United States Senate 
 ConiHiittee on Railroads, of whicli General 
 Ransom is chaii'man. 
 
 Thomas Dilliard Jolmston resides at Ashe- 
 ville; born 1st Aj^ril, 1813, at Waynesville, 
 educated at Colonel S. D. Lee's Academy and 
 the Univei'sitv, luit fi'om ill health did not 
 
 graduate; entered the army in Z. B. Vance's 
 comiiany, 14tli North Carolina, and at the 
 battle of Malvern Hill was severely wounded, 
 which disabled him from active service in the 
 field. After war was over, he read law with 
 that aecomplislied jurist and noble hearted 
 gentleman, Judge J. L. Bail^', and was 
 licensed to practice in IStitj. In 1870 lie was 
 nominated to the House, and carried the county 
 by 400 votes, a gain of 600 for the party. He 
 was one of the managers iu the impeachment 
 trial of Governor Holden. He was re-elected 
 in 1872, and elected to the Senate in 1876. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 BURKE COUNTY. 
 
 Waightstill Avery, born 1741, died 1821. 
 Tliere is no name in the annals of North Caro- 
 lina, (hat is more deserving of being perpetu- 
 ated than the subject of this sketch. His 
 family were the devoted friends of liberty, and 
 many of them martyrs to its cause. In the 
 Re\-olutionary war there wei'e eight brotliers 
 of this name anil family, all patriots. Some of 
 them were massacred at Groton, Connecticut, 
 and at Fort Griswold; some perished at Wyo- 
 ming Valley. Some of this family still reside 
 at Groton, Connecticut, (where the sulyect of 
 this sketch was born;) sijme reside at (_)swego 
 and Seneca Lake, and some came to Virginia. 
 
 It was early in the year 1631 that the ship 
 Arabella arris-ed in Alassachusetts Uay, from 
 London, and landed passengers at the place 
 where now stand Boston and Charlestown, 
 and where Governor John Winthrop, senior, 
 liad commenced an English settlement the 
 
 year before. ' Among the passengeis were 
 Christopher Avery, of Salisbury, England, and 
 his little son James, then eleven years of :ige. 
 They proceeded to the point of Cape Ann, 
 where Gloucester now stands, which was at 
 that time one of the most flourishing Hsliing 
 establishments along the shore, where tish 
 Were cured for the European markets by hsh- 
 ermeu from England, and in connection with 
 which were agricultural and other profitable 
 industries. 
 
 Christopher settled there as a farmer, and 
 liecanie the possessor of valuable and produc- 
 tive lands, which he cultivated to advantage. 
 He had left Lis wife in England, like many of 
 the leading men who tirst came over " to spy 
 out the land," for it was not easy to persuade 
 their wives to leave their comfortable Euglish 
 homes and ventui'e olf upon the oceau on a 
 passage of nearly a hundred days in a small 
 
BUKXE COUXTY. 
 
 vessel, crowded witli passengers, to share the 
 doubtful fortunes of an unknown wilderness. 
 The vessels sent from England hj^ the mer- 
 chant adventurers had for years rendezvoused 
 at Cape Ann to cure and prepare the large 
 quantities of fish taken by them for the Euro- 
 pean markets, and it was a i-emunorative trade 
 for the farmers there. It had been a fishing 
 and curing station for j'ears, and with its 
 variety of vegetables and abundance of fish, 
 added to the game and other animid food 
 obtained in trade with the Indians, the thriv- 
 ing comniunit}' did not lack the means of 
 good and wholesome living. They also had 
 their little chapel where common pra3^er was 
 offered on the Sabbath by '■ one Master Rash- 
 ley, their cliaplain," as we are told by Leck- 
 ford. AVhon the Puritans afterward settled 
 at Boston they received and fellowshipped 
 Chaplain Rashie}- for eight or ten 3'ears, 
 although he was not of them exactly. 
 
 For ten 3'ears Mr. Avery, with his son James, 
 enjoyed that pleasant community, his greatest 
 privation being that of tl;e disinclination of 
 his wife to come over ami join them in their 
 new home. As he could not persuade her to 
 cross the ocean, he was compelled to send her 
 so much of his earnings and savings as he 
 ■could spai'e for her support there. She never 
 came to America. 
 
 In 1642 the Cape Ann settlement had become 
 so considerable that the General Court of the 
 Colony incorporated it as the Town of Glou- 
 cester, and the Rev. Mr. Blinraan,a Dissenting 
 minister, who had made an unsuccessful eftbrt 
 to settle with the Pilgrims at Plymouth, was, 
 by the Boston authorities, sent to Gloucester 
 with a small company of Welshmen, who bad 
 accompanied him over the sea, to settle. This 
 was not so pleasant for Christopher Aver^', who 
 had so long been the leading man of the set- 
 tlement with Chapla'-u Rashley, l)Ut he was a 
 man of so decided mark that he was neverthe- 
 •less elected over and over again as selectman 
 
 of his new town, notwithstanding the per- 
 sistent and shameful jicrsecution of the new- 
 comers. 
 
 In 1643 his son James Avery, then 23 3'ears 
 old, went to Boston and brought to his home 
 in Gloucester his young bride, Joanna Green- 
 slade, who ha<l with her a certificate of good 
 .standing in the Boston church, dated Januar^^ 
 17, 1644. 
 
 Notwithstanding Mr. Blinman's ecclesiasti- 
 cal precedence, he was rather overshadowed 
 by Christopher Aver}^ the civilian and some- 
 times first selectman. Insomuclr that after he 
 had been there six or seven years he became 
 "dissatisfied with his teaching," (as old Gov- 
 ernor Winthrop wrote to his son John, then 
 Governorof Connecticut,) and gladly accepted 
 the call to settle at the mouth of the Thames, 
 (Pequot,) where New London now stands. 
 
 He was accompanied by most of the leading 
 members of his church at Gloucester, and 
 among them James Avery with his young wife 
 and three children. James sold all his land at 
 Gloucester to his father Christopher in I60I, 
 for he had settled at New L'lndon, October 
 19, 1650, with what was called the Cape Ann 
 Colony. Mr. Blinman preached at New Lon- 
 don about as long as he bad at Gloucester, and 
 then left, dissatisfied, for England, Christo- 
 pher Avery remained in Massacliusetts until 
 after Blinman had left for England, and then 
 joined his son James at New London, and in 
 the valley of the Pequounc. 
 
 James Avery and Joanna Greenslade had 
 ten children, three born at Gloucester, before 
 1650, and seven at New London, afterwards. 
 Their youngest son, Samuel, was born August 
 14, 1664, wh.o married Susan Palmer, daughter 
 of Major Edward Palmer and granddaughter 
 of Governor John Winthrop, Jr., on the 27th 
 of October, 1686, and with her had ten child- 
 ren, to wit: Samuel, b. August 11,1687; Jona- 
 than, b. January 18, 1689; William, b. August 
 25,1692; Mai-y, b. January 10, 1695; Christo- 
 
78 WIIEELEK'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 pher, b. February 10, 1697; Ilniuplirey, b. July li. July 8, 170(5. The doacoii was a coteinpo- 
 
 4, 1G99; Nathan, b. January 30, 1702; Lucy, li. rary of Samuel Avery, b. 1664, who was the 
 
 April 17,1704; Waitstill, b. March 27,1708, si-randtather of Wai,2:htstiU, of Noith Care 
 
 (had two wives;) Grace, b. June 2, 1712. lina. Alike prominent in Church and State 
 
 When that portion of New London east of the affairs, Avery, the town's first selectman, and 
 
 Tliamcs was set off as the se[iarate town of Seabury, the first deacon of the church, they 
 
 Grotou, in 1705, Samuel Avery, the father, was were neighbors, friends, and tlieir families 
 
 chosen the first moderator, and became the were intimate. 
 
 first selectman, which resp^uisible position he Samuel Seabury, !>. July 8, 1700, was licensed 
 
 held for twenty years —nearly up to the time and preached as a Coni^-regational minister in 
 
 of his death. 1726, at the new church in North Groton. lie 
 
 On the 5th of February'-, 1724, lln.niphrey declared himself a convert to Episcopacy in 
 
 Avery, (the sixth child of Samuel,) b. July 4, 17.:jO, and next year went to London and was 
 
 1690, married Jerusba Aidri^an, dan^-htei' ol' oi-dnined by the Uishop of London. Returned 
 
 William and Margaret (Avery) Morgan, and in 1732, a,i)d was rector of the Episcopal 
 
 had twelve chiidi'eii, to wit: IIum[)hrey^ b. church in Ni.-w Lundoii for eleven years. 
 
 ^Lirch 10, 1725; William, b. Septciriber 13, Moved to Hempstead, Long Island, in 174o, 
 
 1726; Solomon, li. July 17, I72.'^, wlio died wliere he kept a hi_^h school as well as [ireached 
 
 August, 1728; Solomon, b. June 17, 1729; Sam- until 1764, tiie year of his death. Hr it w,).s, 
 
 uel, b. October 5, 1731; James, b. August 13, mdoaiU'db/, loho prfp rrcd WnUslUl Acerij for vol- 
 
 17-'')3; Jerusba,!). June 7, 1735; I'auliua, b. [a/e, )rltirlt he cidcrxl lit 17G-2. 
 
 A[iril 3, 1737; C'hristo[ihei', b. May 3, 1739; His son, Samuel, l)orii at Gr;)ton ^729,^vent 
 
 Wailsiill, b. May 10, 1741; Isaac,!). Octoi)er to England in 1784, where he was consecrated 
 
 27, 1743; Nathan, b. Novendjer 20, 1746. //,(■ lirsl Bislio/i of dir jE///'«-()/)«/ clmrch ui Aiiier- 
 
 It wa^ this Waitstill, the tenth ehibl of /,.,/. On his return he took charge (jf the 
 
 llumphrey, who, after graduating at I'rinee- church at Xew London, where he died in 
 
 ton, (Nassau Hall) N. J., in 1766, studied law 179'i. My oj)ihion and belief is that on this 
 
 in Maryland, and moved to North t'arolina in trip to England, he was accompanied by his 
 
 1769, when he enteied college at the age of father's jiupil, Isaac, ^-oungest bi'other of 
 
 twenty-one, he mat rieidated as Waightstill, Waiglitstill Av._-ry, wiio i)eeame a reetnr <.)f 
 
 thus changing tb.e spelling of the old Wiiithrop tliat chureli in Virginia, and who is said to 
 
 nanie. liis elilest br(jthei', liumphrey, mo\ed hu\'e iieen ordain jd in England. He was 21 
 
 friun Groton, where his family and ancestors years old at the tiiue of ids old tutor's death, 
 
 had lived so many years, to Hempstead, Long by wiiom, no doubt, he was educated for the 
 
 Island, wdiere he raised a large fauiily. His Episcopal ministry, and about 40 whyn or- 
 
 brother, Waitstill, sixteen years younger than dained in England. 
 
 himself, as well as his youngest l)r(.)tlier, Isaac, There is ;i famil}' tradition in North Caro- 
 lived with him in their youth, aid were b:)th Una that Waightstill graduated at Yale col- 
 prepared for college at the select scIidqI of the lege bclore going to Trinceton, and that he 
 Rev. Samuel Seabui-y there. was a tntur there; but his name nowhere ap- 
 
 I>eacon John Seabury, of (Jroton, v.-ho had pears in tlie Yale catalogues, and all the dates 
 married fjlizabeth Alden, in 1697, grand- and cii-cumstanees seem to show its incorrect- 
 daughter of John Alden, of the Mayfiower, noss. L' lu' had graduated at Yale, the fact 
 settled in Groton, 1704, and had ason, Samael, would be stated in the Princeton, as well as 
 
RFKKE CorXTY. 70 
 
 Hie Yiile catalDUiU'S; Imt nowhere dors it so defended only I13' aliont IfiO Aiiiei'ieaiis. After 
 
 ai-pear. 
 
 a stont I'osistance tlit.-\- took it after luaw 
 
 As the name Wait.^till is so historical, it is losses on bi>tli sides. Colonel Ledyard, coin- 
 to l,e res^retted that the master spirit of the mander of tlie fort, had ordered his rncn to 
 Mecklenburg declaration and the patriarch of cease tiring, and stood near the gates prepared 
 the Xortii Carolina bar, ever changed the to surrender. The British entered; the officer 
 spelling. .S7(7/ was the name of -ne of the shouted, " who commands this fort? " Colonel 
 maternal ancestors of the Wintlirops, in Eng- Ledyard replied " I did, sir; but yon do now," 
 land, at Grotou manor, and 15'/!/ was another, presenting his sword with its point towards 
 Mrs. Susan (Palmer) Avery had an uncle, himself. His sword was thrust back through 
 (['('(7 Slid, who in a matter of record at New his bo<ly and he fell prone on the earth. Tliis 
 London, April 16, 1718, is s^iyled 3I/ijor Gen- was a signal of indiscriminate slaughter, and 
 end Wiilt Still WinUirop, the middle name was the British crossed the parade ground in plat- 
 often (unitted in the signature in those early toons, tiring upon the defenseless garrison, who- 
 days. S;isun named her son, b. .March 27, 170S, had grounded their arms. With the bayonet 
 lifter her distinguished uncle, and her son they stabbed the dead and dying. Of the 
 llnnip'lu-eygavo the name to the distinguish ■(! command of IGO they loft scarce 20 able to 
 North Carohnian. The first James Avery, and stand; there they in heaps fallen one upon 
 Eilward ralmer,were distinguished in military another, as brave a band as fought with l^eon- 
 aud civil life; both were high comnianding idas of Therniopyhw. Of these are " immortal 
 officers in succ■,•s^ful wars with tlie Indians_ naTiies that were not doomed to die," and 
 They liad served many years together in the eleven of the name of Avery perished in that 
 Legislature and upon the bench, and in the most infamous massacre by this (Uiniou of de- 
 early history of New London, they are con- struction. 
 
 staiUly named together as taking the Irad in In a letter from his brother Solomon .Xvery, 
 
 all jiuhlic alfairs. The families being so mti- of July 11, 178:% a Copy of the original is to 
 
 mate, it is not remarkable that Samuel, the be found in " Uiii. .Mag.," IV, 245, he states: 
 
 yonn^e.-t son of James Avcrv, should have wed i-n i • *i c ..^ ,f 
 
 •> -^ - " Eleven Avervs were killed m the iort at 
 
 Susan, the daughter of .Major I'almer, and Qi-oton, and seven wounded; many Aveiys 
 
 gi-anddau^hler of Governor .J.'hn Wiiithrop, have been killed in this war. Tliere has been 
 
 Jr., of Com.ecticut. »" '^'"^y "'""^'^^ ^^^'^''T '"' t^'^se parts." 
 
 For tliis full and satisfactory account of the From smh a stick was Waigbtstill Avery 
 
 early history of this fatnily, we are indebted descended. 
 
 to the unpublislied manuscript of J. George Waigbtstill Avery came to North Carolina. 
 
 Harris, of the United States Navy, residing He was truly an acquisition to any State. He 
 
 at Grotoii, who is :i lineal descendant of Chris- was a gentleman and a scholar. He graduated 
 
 topher Avery, the common ancestor of all the at Princeton in 17iH3, studied law with Little- 
 
 Averys named. ton Dennis, of the eastern shore of .Maryland, 
 
 Of this family there v.ere eleven who wtav and came to North Candina, entering that 
 
 massacred at Fort Griswold, at Groton, Con- province February 4, 17(i9, (d)tainc(i a license 
 
 necticut, by the English troops, commanded to practice his pi-ofession, through Governor 
 
 by that infamous traitor, Benedict Arindd, Dolibs, April 5, 1769, and settled in Mecklen- 
 
 011 the 6th of September, 1781; about 800 burg, at the house of Hezokiah Alexander, 
 
 troops under his comnumd attacked this fort, His diary is preserved in the " University Mag- 
 
go WHEELEK'S KE.\nNISCEN.GES. 
 
 aziuc-," vol. IV,j). oG6.giviiiy a niirraticin of his 1775, and the next year to the sairie, wliich 
 
 travels throui^'.i the State, tVoui wliich it will met at Halifax, November 12, 1771). This 
 
 be seen that he waswelenmod and aii[:)i-eeiated l)ody formed the State Constitution, in which 
 
 by the leading men of the country. he rendered important service, and was one 
 
 After entering the State, February 4, 17C9, of the committee who formed this instrument, 
 iiiivingj;)as3ed the Virginia line he arrived at so wisely and perfectly formed that under it 
 Edenton, where he became acquainted with the State lived for nearly sixty years in pros- 
 Mr. Johnston, then clerk of the court, after- perity and peace. The next year (1777,) he 
 ward Governor and judge, and also Joseph represented the county of Mecklenburg in the 
 Ilewes; he passed on to General Allen Jones' Legislature. WilliamSharp, Joseph Winston, 
 plantation, near the present town of Gaston; Robert Lanier, and himself, made a treaty 
 thence to Halifax, and arrived at Salisbury on with the Cherokee Indians at the Long Island 
 March 2,1709. Here he met Edumnd Fan- of the Holstein, " a treaty made without an 
 ning, who was a native of the same province, oath, and one that has never been vic^lated." 
 a man of fine address, a scholar, and a lawyer On January' 12, 177'S, he was elected Attorney- 
 of liigii attainment, who used every art and General of the State. 
 
 blandishment to draw Avery into an alliance July 3, 1779, he was appointed colonel of 
 
 with Tryon and the adherents of royalty. A Jones County, (where he had removed,) in 
 
 personal frientlship grew up, but no politic.il pilace of Xathan Uryan, resigned, aiid tin. ling 
 
 alliance. After traversing every section of the climate of the h)\v country was impairing 
 
 the province, from the Albemarle and the Cape his health, he removed, in 1781, to the cjunty 
 
 Fear to the mountains, we finally find liim of 13arke, and settled on a beautiful and fer- 
 
 settled at the house Ilezekiah Alexander, who tile estate near Morgautoii, on the Catawba 
 
 agreed to board him "at the rate of £12 for River. 
 
 eight months, making allowance if he should The year previous (1778,) he had married, 
 not be there so long in the year." Here he near New Berne, Mrs. Leah Frank, widow of 
 associated with the patriots of the incipient Mr. Frank, who lived and died in New Berne, 
 Revolution, the Alexanders, the Brevards, and daughter of W^illiam Probart, of Snow 
 the Grahams, Davidsons, Polks and others. Hill, xMaryland, a wealthy merchant there, who 
 with wlioiji he cordially sympathized and died on a visit to London, 
 united in the spirit of liberty and independence In 1780, whilst the British occupied Char- 
 that soon pervaded the lovely valleys of the lotte, under Lord Corn wal lis, his office was 
 Yadkin and the Catawba. set on lire, and all his books and papers 
 
 This period was one of stirring interest, destroyed. In 1781 he removed to Burke 
 
 The sentiment of revolution was beginning to County, and there he resided, in the practice 
 
 rouse the gallant men of that day to arms, and of his profession, until the date of his death, 
 
 tJie section where he had located was the first 1821. He represented this county in the 
 
 and foremost in the fray. He united with the Legislature in 1782, '83, '81, '85, '93, in the 
 
 men of Mecklenburg "in the declaration of House, and in 1796 in the Senate. At the 
 
 independence of the 20th May, 1775, and peiiod of his death he was considered " the 
 
 pledged his life, his fortune, and most sacred patriarch of the bar." 
 
 honor " to the sacred cause of liberty. It is doubtful if any one family iu this State 
 
 He was elected a member of the Provincial suftered more severely than did the distin- 
 
 Congress which met at Ilillsboro, August 21, guished and gallant Averys. 
 
BURKE COOXTY 
 
 81 
 
 Alphonso Calliouii Avery, now one of tho 
 Judges of the Superior Court, son of Colonel 
 Isaac T. Avery, resides in ]?urke County. lie 
 is the eldest niaIesnr\ivor of thisdistingnished 
 faniil}-. Ilis three elder brothers, Waightstill, 
 Chxrk, and Isanc J., (as wo have recorded.) 
 were killed in the late civil war. 
 
 He was horn about 1837, liberally educated, 
 gratluated at the University in a large class of 
 70 n)end)ers in 1857, among whom were B. B. 
 Barnes, John W. Graham, L. M. Jeggitts, 
 Thomas S. Kenan and others. In the pro- 
 ceedings of the commencement, Mr. Avery, 
 then in his sophomore year, received at the 
 hands of Governor Swain a copy of Sliake- 
 speare, a prize oti'ered by the professor of 
 rhetoric for the best composition in that class. 
 "Uni. Mag.,"IV, 278. 
 
 He stu<lied law, and was just comntencing 
 the practice when he obeyed the call of his 
 country to do duty for her defence. He was 
 engaged at the Iiattle of Manassas, where his 
 leader, the gallant Colonel C. F. Fisher, fell, 
 and did noble service under Pender. During 
 the last closing years of the war,, he was on 
 the statf of General D. H. Hill. 
 
 Since the war he has devoted himself to the 
 practice of his profession, of which he was the 
 pride and ornament, only occasionally inter- 
 rupted by his election to the Legislature, lie 
 was a member of the Senate in 1866 and again 
 1867, and a member of the Constitutional Con- 
 vention in 1875. 
 
 He was the Democratic elector in the 8th 
 district; and by his ability and exertions did 
 much to insure its success. 
 
 He was elected Judge of Superior Courts, 
 which elevated position he holds now. He 
 married Susan, youngest daughter of Rev. 
 Robert A. Morrison, and sister of Mrs. Stone- 
 wall Jackson. 
 
 "William Waightstill Avery was i»orn at 
 Swan Ponds, in Burke County, on the 25th of 
 May^ 1816. He was the oldest child of Col- 
 
 onel Isaac T. Avery and Harriet E. Avery. 
 His father was the only son of Waightstill 
 Avery, and his mother was the eldest daughter 
 of William W. Erwin,an<l a granddaughter of 
 William Sharpe. 
 
 There were, during his bo3'hood,no classical 
 schools in the Picdnioiit region e(iual to Bing- 
 ham and others in the central counties, and on 
 attempting to enter college, in the year 1832, 
 W. W. Avery found that he was not thor- 
 oughly prepared in the ancient languages. He 
 remained at Chapel Hill during the vacation 
 and prosecuted his studies under the instruc- 
 tion of the late Dr. Mitchell and Abram More- 
 head, Esi|., then a tutor, and so faithfully did 
 he apply himself that in one year he stood at 
 the head of his class, and graduated with the 
 first honors ia 1837 in same class with Perrin 
 Busbee, Peter W. Hairston, Pride Jones and 
 others. 
 
 He studied law with Judge Gaston and was 
 licensed to practice in the Superior Courts in 
 1838. 
 
 He was from boyhood an ardent admirer of 
 Mr. Calhoun, and naturally became a States- 
 rights Democrat. He was unsuccessful as a 
 candidate for the Legislature in 1840; but iu 
 1842 was elected as a Democrat from Burke 
 County, though Governor Morehead,the Whig 
 candidate for Governor, carried the couiity by 
 a veiT large majority. 
 
 He had a large and lucrative practice as a 
 lawyer, and did not appear again activeh' as 
 a politician till the year 1850. In Ma^-, 1846, 
 he was married to Corinna M. Morehead, a 
 daughter of the late Governor Morehead. She 
 is still living. 
 
 He served afterwards in the Ihiuse of Com- 
 mons, as a memlier from Burke, in 1850 and 
 1852. 
 
 In 1856 he was chairman of the North Caro- 
 lina delegation in the National Democratic 
 Convention that nominated President Buchan- 
 an, and during the same year was elected to 
 
82 ■ WHEELER'S REMmiSCEXCER. 
 
 the State Senate, of which body lie was cliosc!) After the expiration of his term in Con- 
 Speaker, gress in 1862, he returned to his home with 
 
 In 1858 he was a candidate for Congress, to antliority from the President to raise a regi- 
 fill tlie vacancy made by the ap[)(>intment of ment; but was prevented from carr^-ing out 
 lion. T. L. Clingman as United States Sen- his purpose b^' the earnest pmtests of his aged 
 ator. Colonel David Coleman, who was also fatlier and four brothers, who were already in 
 a Democrat, opjiosed him, and after they had active service. They insisted that he was be- 
 canvassed a large portion of tlie district, Hon. yond the age for service, and it was his duty 
 Z. B. Vance announced himself a candidate, to Ins family and country to remain at home, 
 and Colonel Coleman withdrew; but the dis- He was an earnest and active supporter of 
 trict had given Mr. Buchanan a very small the Confederate cause, and conlrilmted lib- 
 majority, and the dissension was such that erally to the government and for the main- 
 Vance was elected. tenance of the families of soldiers. 
 
 In 18(J0, W. W. Avery was again chairman In 1864 an iiicni-siou was made bv a party 
 
 of the North Car.ijina delegation in the Xa- of so-called Unionists from Tennessee, com- 
 
 tional Convention at Charleston, and seceded manded by Colonel Kirk, who afterwards 
 
 with the southern wing of the party that af- gained a very unenviable notoriety in Xorth 
 
 terwards nominated Air. Breckeiiridge. I)ur- Carolina This party, after surprising and 
 
 ing the same year he was again elected to the captniiiig a small body of conscripted boys in 
 
 State Senate, and declined the nomination for Burke diuiity, retreated towards Tennessee. 
 
 Speaker in favor of his friend II. T. Clark, Mr. Avery with a body of Noi-th Carolina 
 
 who become (iovernor after the death of militia pui'sued the party, and in attacking the 
 
 (/lovernor Ellis. After the election of .Vlr. retreating forces at a strong position in the 
 
 Lincoln he Avas an avowed secessionist, and mountains, was mortally wounded. He was 
 
 strongly urged the call of a convention during reinc.ived to his home in Morganton, where he 
 
 the winter of 1860 and 1861. died on the od day of July, 1864. 
 
 After the State seceded on' the 20th of In all the relations of life he was distin- 
 
 May. 1861, he was elected by the Convention guished for his kindness and afl'abilit .\ and his 
 
 as one of the members from the State at large unselHsh love for the comfort and happiness 
 
 of the I'rovisiiiiial Congress. He served in of others. No man lias been more missed 
 
 that body Uiitil the L'rovisional Government ami lamented by the community in wiiich 
 
 was succ'ceded liy the permanent g(jverntnent, he lived, and his age<l father, ( then in his 
 
 provided for in the Constitution adopted in eighti 'tli ye ir,) wont down to his grave sor- 
 
 1861. He was a member and chairman on rowing for the loss of tliis the thii'd son who 
 
 the Committee on Military Atfairs. had fdlc; in liaitlo within o:.e year. 
 
 A majority of the Democrats in the Legis- For the LiMiealogy of the Avery family see 
 
 lature of 1861 voted for Mr. Avery for Sena- Ap[>endi.\-. 
 tor in the Congress of the Confederate States; 
 
 but a large mi -ity supported Hon. T. L. M'T)owell F..\mily of Buuke Countv. 
 
 Clingman, while the Whigs voted for a can- There are no iamiliesiu the State that have 
 
 didate from their own party. After balloting rendered more imp.u'laut service to the State 
 
 for several weeks the friends of the two candi- than the .McDowells. 
 
 dates conipn.mised by electing Hon. W. T. Aliliough careful research has been made 
 
 "'^^''^ h»r years in records of the State, and families, 
 
BrUKE COITIS'TY. 
 
 83' 
 
 ami bv extensive corrospoiulencc, yet, in the 
 earlier periods of our history, the want of tiie 
 facilities of the press, and a carelessness in 
 preserving family records, some obscurity rests 
 on the history of the early founders of this 
 family. 
 
 In my " History of North Carolina," as to 
 this family, it is stated that Charles and Jo- 
 se[ih Mc]')owell were brothers, the sons of 
 Josepii. who, with his wife Margaret 0'Xe:il, 
 had eniiurate<l from Ireland, sottlod in Win- 
 chester, Virginia, wliiTe Charles and Joseph 
 were liorn. Kor authority of these facts, state- 
 ments were furnished from members of this 
 family and others which were believed. Ke- 
 eent and more thorough examinations make 
 these statements doubtful. A letter from one 
 of the family * to me, states: 
 
 " It is siniTular how inaccni'ate has been any 
 knowledge as to this family. An investiga- 
 tion, instituted .some time ago, with a view of 
 establLsbinga descent which would lead to the 
 seeming of a large estate through Margaret 
 C'^Seal^ deveU)[ied the fact, beyond all ques- 
 tion, that her husband (the fatiier of General 
 Charles McDowell, and Ceneral Joseph,) was 
 named John instead of Josei>h,that they mar- 
 ried in Irelaml, and livid ai Quiker Meadows, 
 in Burke County.'' 
 
 Lanman, in his " Biograi)hical Annals of 
 Congress," states: 
 
 '•Joseph McDowell was a Representative in 
 Coiigress Irom 179;^ to 17!t'); and again from 
 nof to 1799." 
 
 The family tradition ar.d record is, he died 
 in 1795. The tirst error does not destroy the 
 truth of history tlia.t thefauiily were of Ii'ish 
 origin; and.tl'.e second arises from there being 
 iwo of the same name of the same family. 
 Kvery ett'ort and [lains have been takeri to 
 make the i>re.sent sketch correct. If any error 
 oecurs. the corrections will be gratefully re- 
 
 *l)r. a. W. Midail, of Newton. N. C. to wlioni I 
 am ir.debted for nu;cU information us to tlie Mc1>n\veU 
 family. 
 
 eeived. In compiling gcnealngical tables, or 
 pedigrees, great attention is necessary in 
 clearl}- stating the nnmb:-r of genei-at ions, in 
 any given period, as they form a guide to the 
 probability of persons ha\"ing' sprung from any 
 part ienlar ancest(U' or individual. A genera- 
 tion is the interval lietween the birth of a 
 father and the birth of sun. Thirty-three 
 ^•ears have been allowed to a generation, or 
 three generations for every hundred years.- 
 The bii'tli and death dates, as well as the loca- 
 tion, should lie stated, since " cbrcuiology and' 
 locality are the eyes of histcu'y." The ie[)eti- 
 tion of the same names, without dates ov 
 l]laec, creates confusion in oui- American gene-- 
 alog}', as it has caused in this instance. 
 
 John McDowell, called "Hunting .loliii," 
 who resided at Pleasant Gardens, was one of 
 the early i)ioneers of Western (.!arolin;i. Ik- 
 was, it is believed, a nati\-e of Ireland, lie 
 and a man by the name of Henry A\'idener, 
 (many of whose descendanls now live in Ca- 
 tawba County, known by tlu; namj of White- 
 ner,) came to this eoimtiy when it was an im- 
 hruken \\ilderness, for the piuipose of limiting 
 and securing homes for their t'amilies. John 
 McD(.)well built bis bouse on the west side oi 
 the Catawba Kiver, on land now called the 
 Ilany Field, a [lart of the tine body of land 
 well known as "The Pleasant Gardens," which. 
 f(U- fertility of soil, healthfulness of climate 
 and splendor of scenery, cannot be excelled. 
 
 The date of his biitli, or the time of his 
 settling, or the date of his death, from the 
 loss of family recoi-ds, caniiot lie given; hut 
 from tradition, he lived in this lovely spot 
 with his wife (Mrs. Annie Edmnndston) to 
 a good old age. 
 
 He was a famous hunter, and delighted in 
 " trapping," and to a late period of his life, he 
 could be seen on his way to the mountains, 
 with tour large bear tn.ps tied behind him on 
 his horse, with his trusty riHc on his shoulder. 
 On these excursions lie would go alone, and be 
 
WllEELEUr^ ilh 1.: i-Li-XCES. 
 
 aitrcnt K>r a wmth or m 
 tarkies, ss-d bear-;, and : 
 
 ; re- 
 
 TL' 
 
 Il-i 
 
 -n-h< 
 
 :.,? 
 
 n" 
 
 M';; - "sn-, 
 
 175^. at Pie. sant Gardens, in Barke County. 
 He was aiwavri called -Colonel Joe of the 
 Pk-asaut G;«rd-;ns," to distinzaish him from 
 " fjerifrral J' e 
 
 lie wa- a s . and the 
 
 lii'. -" 
 
 ih- ; joined <- 
 
 an .-_ . , :n 1770. i._„ . 
 
 I'idians, in which he di-plaved much gall -.ntry 
 
 and de-pcratc- cmrage. It is known that in a 
 
 lja;jd-to-han<i ii/!it he killed an Indian chief 
 
 •.vi" ;. 
 
 i. e in repre--iT>? the Tories, and 
 
 t.'wjk pail iu the battle f - ilills. '-r. 
 
 20th Jane. 1780, near .. . ^i.? men- 
 
 tioned bj- General Graham in eulogistic terms, 
 for hir conduct on that occa-ion. and mateTiallj 
 aided in achieving a oraplete victory over a 
 superior force. 
 
 At Cane Creek, in Kutherford County, «nth 
 General Charles McDo-vvelL he led thennlitia, 
 ■ hiefly of Burke County, and had a severe 
 skiniiUh with a .strong detachment of Fer- 
 gu&jn's army, then stationed at Gilbert Town, 
 and drove them back. 
 
 Irnmediately afttnvard he aided in measures 
 which culminated in the glorious victoiy of 
 Kinjf's Mountain. 
 
 Tli'is was the darkest period of the dabioos 
 conflict. Gates was defeated at Camden: 
 Sii' . ,. .-lidered to the 
 
 Br: J Creek, (18th 
 
 Ar.^- valiL:, iu - all the pride 
 
 ant; f a con'^aeror. hild the 
 
 uiidispured possession of Charlotte and its 
 vidnity. 
 
 Fergasiii, with s: . '.vinning 
 
 the " ' - -^ ■ r ^ rv; "1 liberty to 
 loyt r ries rava^ied the whole 
 
 . of 
 Vi:. ^ ~'.-aX- 
 
 ter-- , and 
 
 these brave men felt that they mu:^ - do or 
 die." 
 
 Amid all these disxstroascircamstanees, the 
 patrivtic ■ " jell, 
 
 Sevier, a Jney 
 
 determi; 
 They w< 
 
 Were in - iicL>jweii, ae 
 
 wasenti:... . 
 
 From H raanoscript letter of Shelby, ia my 
 possesion, he s;»y-S: 
 
 .-; f vj^.^^1 \{..]^>o^^<aii «vas t';*? c^m'Tianding 
 offi jm- 
 
 roii - ini- 
 
 : ivas 
 - too 
 ' 'm- 
 nia 
 
 -• ; J send to heatlquarters for 
 
 some 5"ci.ci... v>iiiu<;i- to comiaaad the expedi- 
 li-jii. 
 
 his 
 
 CO.'. 
 
 be ■- - r tj go •- He 
 
 ace - .rted ixnm- -' his 
 
 me.'i under his brother, Alajur Jv*»>;pii Me- 
 DowelL" 
 
 The next day Shelby urged that time was 
 precious and delays dangerous. The advance 
 was made. Colonel Joseph McDowell, the 
 subject of our present sketch, led the boys of 
 
:i corxTT 
 
 Td Ct'QDties to buTile and J: 
 
 >d in sratirarie : 
 •'■ towB of Bnrke. 
 
 ' 'iri-ih tl 
 
 e in 17i<: 
 
8f)' 
 
 WHEELER'S reminiscences; 
 
 James McDowell, the second son of Colonel 
 Joseph McDowell tiiat lived to iiianiiood, pos- 
 sessed the esteem of all who knew him. 
 
 He was a meniber of the Senate in the Lea:is- 
 
 olutionary tronl)les, he was the commander of ' 
 an extensive district in his section of country, 
 and was a brave and daring officer. 
 
 It was not until the year 1780 that western 
 
 lature, from Burke County, in 1832, and filled North Carolina became the field of military 
 
 other offices of trust. Like each one of Col- 
 onel Jose])h McDowell's children, he was 
 
 operations in tlie Revolutionary war. After 
 <ubduinii the States of Georijia and South 
 
 remarkable for his modesty, for his integrity, Carolina, the British forces adv.mced to this 
 
 State and commenced making demonstrations. 
 McDowell was active in counteracting their 
 
 and his open-handed charity. 
 
 lie owned the Pleasant Gardens, where he 
 
 lived until advanced in life. He then moved movements. 
 
 to Yancey County, where he died. He married In June, 178(J, having been joined by Shelby, 
 
 Margaret Erwin, and left five children, name- Sevier, and Clarke, of Georgia, near Cherokee 
 
 ly: Dr. Joseph McDowell, Dr. John. Mc- Ford on Broad River, McDowell determined 
 
 Dowell, of Burke County; William McDowell, to attack the British at a strongly fortitied 
 
 of Asheville; Kate, who ujairied Montraville p)Ost on the Bacolet River, under c Humaiid of 
 
 Patton; Margaret, who married Marcus Eiwin. Patrick Moore, which he gallantly, performed 
 
 These are the descendants of the branch of and compielled him to surrender, 
 
 which "Hunting John " was the ancestor. He also attacked the Tories at Musgrove 
 
 John McDowell, of Quaker Meadows, was Mill on the Enoree River and routed them, 
 
 the cousin of "Hunting John," (Dr. W. A. Many other brilliant aft'airs in this section 
 
 Michal.) He was one of the pioneers of this marked iiis energy and efficiency as a soldier. 
 
 regit)u of country, and settled "at Quaker We have recortled the facts of his missing a 
 
 Meadows," on the Catawba River, about a participation in the battle of King's Moun- 
 
 mile from Morganton. He was a native of tain. 
 
 L'eland, and married Margaret O'Neal, (the As tiie several officers held e^ual rank, by a 
 
 widow of Mr. (ireenlee,) by whom he had three council of officers McDowell was dispatched 
 
 sons: Hugh McDowell, General Charles Mc- to headquarters, then near Salisbury, to have 
 
 Dowell, Major John McDowell. General Sumner or General Davidson, who had 
 
 Hugh McDowell, son of John and .Margaret been a.p[i(_>inted brigadier ge:iei'al in place of 
 
 O'Neal, of <^)nakei' Meadows, left three daugh- General Rutherford, taken [uisoiier at Gates' 
 
 ters: Mrs. Mc(Tintry, Mrs. McKinsey; Mai'- defeat. 
 
 garet, who married James Murphy, who left This closed his military career. The people 
 one son, John Murphy, who married Margaret of his county Were not ungrateful, to him for 
 = Avery, and left three daughters and one son: his long and successful military service. He- 
 Margaret, who married Thomas G. Walton; was the Senator from Burke from 1782 to 
 Sarah, who married Alexander F. Gaston, 1788, and he had been also in 1778, and mem- 
 son of Judge Gaston; Harriet, who married ber of the House 180y-'10-'ll. He died olst 
 William M. Walton; John H. McDowell, who March, 1815. He married Grace Greenlee, who 
 ■^married Clara Patton. was distinguished among "the women of the 
 
 General Charles McDowell, (son of John and Revolution." She W'as a woman of remarka- 
 Mai'garet O'Neal, of (Quaker Meadows,) born ble emu-gy and firmness. Mrs. EUet has re- 
 in 1743; died 1815, was probably a native of corded her extraordinary character, and relates 
 Ireland. On the commencement of our Rev- that on one occasion some bummers, in the 
 
BmiKE COUNTY. ST 
 
 nhsence of lici- linsliaiiil, I'liiiidfred hor hoiiso. Athuii A Mi-!)o\vell serveil in tlic Creek 
 
 "Witli sinne to \v friends she imrsiied the nia- war. lie was slierilf of Biiri<e Comity. Sen- 
 
 raiulers and compelled them, at the muzzle of ator in the Legislature, 1815. He removed to 
 
 a niusk.t. to give up iier property. While her Henderson County. He married Ann (Jood- 
 
 hushand was .serretly making powder in a son, the stepdaugliter of Coloucd William 
 
 cave, sjie aided him, and i)nrnt the charcoal Davenport, of Caldwell Comity, and left one 
 
 herself. This very powder did good service ill son, (■liarles. and one daughtei-, Ijouisa, who 
 
 the liattle of King''s .Mountain. I'revions to married Hon. James C. Har[ier, whose 
 
 her mairiage with General Charles McDowell, daughter marrieil Hon. .ludge Cilly. 
 
 she was the v.ife of Captain Uowman, who James K. McDowell lived a bachelor, and 
 
 fell ill the battle of Ramsour's mill. She was died at the old homestead. He was a very 
 
 the daughter of Margaret O'Xeal, by Mr. great favorite with all who knew him. lie 
 
 Greenlee, anterior to the union with the father often contended with Hon. Samuel W Carson 
 
 of General Charles McDowtdl. She had a in the political tield, with alternate success, 
 
 daughter by this marriage wit h Captain IJow- Jle was a mendjer of the House in 1817-'18 
 
 man, named Mary, who marrie<l C'olonel Wil- and '19, and of the Senate, in 1823-'25. 
 
 liam Tate, and who was the niotiier of Junius Sarah married Colonel William I'axfcon, 
 
 Tate, and Louisa, who was the mother of the In-other of Judge Paxton; had several chil- 
 
 tirst Mrs. Z. B. Vance. dren; one of whom married Rev. Brank Mer- 
 
 She had by (leneral Charles McDowell, three rimoii, father of Hon. A. S. .Merrimon, 
 
 sons and luiir daughters: Captain Charles Mc- United States Senator; Kliza (iraee married 
 
 Dowell; Athan A.; James U.; Sarah; Eliza Stanlioi.e Erwin; Margaret married Colonel 
 
 Gr:;ce; .M;iigaret ; Sallie; in whom and in William J)ickson, whose son was in the Legisla- 
 
 whose descendants, the blood of Grace Green- t'lre ]842-'44; Sallie; Mrs. Christian, 
 
 it-e courses. It is curious as well as interesting, Major John McDowell, third son of John 
 
 to observe the efi'ect of blood. Dr. Rush de- aiid Margaret O'Xeal, of Quaker Meadows, 
 
 clared that '• the Idood of one intelligent :>nd brotlier of General Charles McDowell., 
 
 woman would redeem three generations of live<l on Silver Creek, in Burke County, about 
 
 fcKils." nine miles from .Morganton, 
 
 This, like the golden tliread of Ariadne, is He was a member of the Legislature in 
 
 clearly traceable in the genealogy of this 1792-'94. 
 
 family, marking with intellect, beauty, and in He had the sad mishap to lose his sons 
 
 enterprise, in clear and definite lines. As Dr. (three,) and a nephew, at the .same tinie,-hy 
 
 Johnson, in bis epitai.h of Goldsmith, ex- the burning of his house. 
 
 piesses the beautiful idea- He left two daughters: Margaret, whomar- 
 
 Xiltetiget. iiuod noil oniavit. ried Robert McElrath; and Hannah, married 
 
 Of these Captain Charles McDowell, who was J"'"' McElrath. 
 
 always called •' Captain Charles," owned the General Joseph McDowell w-as the son of 
 homestead of "The Quaker Meadows." He John and Margaret (of Quaker Meadows,) had 
 was a member of the Legislature from J5urke the reputation of a brave officer of the Rev- 
 County in 18O'.l-'10-'ll. He was much res- olution, a soldier and a statesman. We regret 
 spected; an ardent politician. (For bis de- that so little is kiH)wn of his character and 
 scendants see sketch of Annie McDowell, services. The aged men of l>urke that knew 
 whom he married.) him describe him as beinggenial in his temper 
 
88 WIIEELEire KE-MINISC^ENCES. 
 
 .ami heiievdieiit. In ajijicai ;i:ifo ho was tall Geoige Moti'ett, of Ai\n-iista County, Va., and 
 
 anil commanding. tla^ sister of Margaret, wife of General .roso[ih 
 
 He was a great favoiite with the people. ?\leDowcll. 
 
 lie was for eight years snecessivcly elected to Their eliiidren wer^.' Samuel I'rice; ^^'illiam 
 
 tlie House <if Commons, 1750 to 1758, and Sen- M.; Matilda; George and Jomilhan L. 
 
 ator in 1791 to 17SI5. lie was elected a mem- Colnnel John Carson died on the 5tli of 
 
 lier of Cm-rei^s in 17l»7-"09. He married March, 1S41. 
 
 Margaret ?\l(di'ett, sister of the wife ol' Colonel Joseph McDowell Carson, son of John Car- 
 Joseph McDowell. He lived on the east side son and Rachel McDowell, his first wife, was 
 of Jolin's Riv.u-, ahont seven miles fi'(Mn Mor- distinguished for Ids integrity and hrilliant 
 ganton. intelleet. lie practiced law for lUiiny years 
 
 One of \n'A s-.nis, Ilugli Harvey, reddes in with emiin.'nt success. He much preferred 
 
 Mi-souri and is the father of Mrs. Governor the st-.'ady and unif irm life of a juri-t to the 
 
 Parsjus. uncerlain and titful career (d' a politician. ' Yet 
 
 Another !-":i ■Jo-'0|ih J,,) is a citizen of he rejiresented his county in lihe Legislature; 
 
 ^>hio, ar.d \\-a> elected a memher of Congress in the C.imnrnrs i;i 181:2, 1813, 1814 anil 18a5; 
 
 fiiun (ddii in 1813-'d7. and in theSeuaio in 18o2, 1836, and 1838, and 
 
 Cue of his daughters nnirried Clndst- was a mendter id' the State Convention of 
 
 unm, and after his death mairied Judge \\"ake, 1835, to amend the Constitutioiu He lived on 
 
 of Kentucky. Green Uiver, in Rutherford Gountv. IIj mar- 
 
 TuE Cai;sons of TkiuKR County. 
 
 ried his cousin Rehecca, daughter of James 
 Wilson, and Imd many descendants; Tench, 
 
 John C.irson was the [irogenilor of this farn- wlio nnirried a ilaiighter of Vardy McBee; 
 
 ily, so distinguishcil in the annals nf our Ste.te. R iciiel, who mari'ied Otis; Jason, who married 
 
 He was a native of Ireland, horn on :24tli Moore; Margaret; Charles; Joseph McDo'.ve:'; 
 
 day of Mardi, 1752; came to America and John; Catherine; James; Milton, 
 
 settled in Burke (\)unty about 1773. One of his grandihuighters, Kehecca, was 
 
 He possessed naturally a poweil'ul inlelieet, the wife of the late Washington M. Hardy, 
 
 great decision of character, mie-h ca[>acity for librarian of the pre-e.it, House of Representa- 
 
 basiiiess, quick, resolute, impidsive. He was tives, ( liS71'.) 
 
 consequently a man of prominent character Willi. im M. Cars.m, son of Colonel ,)<diii 
 
 and of much iniiuenee in his cmmiy, and for Carson, liy hks second wife, u'as born Decem- 
 
 maiiy years its leaiiing magistrate. her iJ, 1801. 
 
 In 1805 and 18';(.) he was a member of tlie ile reiUX-scntcid Burice County in 1833 and 
 
 Legislature from iUirke County. . 1840. He had no fondness for political life, 
 
 He lived on liuck Cieek, aecuinulatid a but was desei'vedly very popular, and rceeived 
 
 hirge estate, runl ■aised a large faiidly. He nearl}' a unanimous vote for the Legislature, 
 
 was twice imiiried. His iir,-r wife, as before iJut having id political aspii'ations decliaod 
 
 •-tatcd, was the d,;Ughte!' of •vHmiting" [uiidie sei'\ ice. 
 
 dohn AieDcweil, and their cidldren were He was twice mariled, first to Almyra, 
 
 J:,mes, das '11, doscp'h McDowell, Rebecca, daughter of Samuel Wds)n, of Tennessee; and 
 
 dohn, Charlrs and. Sally. his second wife was Catherine, the widow uf 
 
 His second wife we.s tiie widow of Colonel Samuel P. Carson, daughter of James Wilson, 
 
 Joseph McDowell, who was the daughter of of Tennessee. He lived on Buck Creek, in 
 
BUKKE COUNTY, 
 
 89 
 
 '.McDowell County, wiiere ho died in tlse fall of 
 1862. 
 
 But the most distinguished of this family 
 was Samuel 1'. Carson. 
 
 Samuel Price Carson was the eldest son o( 
 Colonel John Carson by ins last wife, who 
 was the widow of Colonel .)ose[)h .McDowell, 
 of the Pleasant Gardens. 
 
 He was horn in tlie county of Burke, on 
 the 22d day of January, 1798. 
 
 His life, although short, was an eventful 
 one. He entered political life early, and was 
 elected to the State Senate in 1822. and again 
 in 1824. But this was a iield much too small 
 for his aspirations. In 182'), he became a 
 candidate for a seat in tbo United States 
 Congress. His competitors were the Hon. 
 Felix Walker, Hon. Robert B. Vance, and 
 Hon. James (iraham. 
 
 Mr. Walker was an old man, and had been 
 the member from 1817 to 1823. lie seemed 
 highly amused at the idi-a of Carson's aspiring 
 to such a position. In his final speech he 
 announced Vance and Graham as his com- 
 petitors, and added, '-and I'm told there's a 
 boy from Burke, who wa(d:< to be a candi- 
 date."' 
 
 In their speeches, Vance, who was then Con- 
 gressman, and Graham made the usual excuses 
 for being candidates. Each had had so many, 
 and such strong solicitations, that he was 
 unable to resist the juvssure upon him, and 
 had at last, as a matter of duty, consented to 
 present iiimself. Carson was not looked upon 
 as being in the way by either, and idl their 
 batteries were turned upon Walker. They 
 told the people that at Washington City 
 he boarded onl. of town, and w.iUed in; and rid- 
 iculed the old man without stint or mercy. 
 
 Carson, when he took the stand, told the 
 people that all his friends had solicited him 
 not to run, and he was a candidate because he 
 icnited to r/o to Coiirjre.is. He treated Mr. Wal- 
 ker with the greatest respect; spoke of him as 
 
 u Kevolutionury soldier, and delivered a iiand- 
 some eulogy upon iiim. 
 
 .\s the canvass progressed, it became evi- 
 dent to ^'anee and Graham, that Carson, al- 
 though so young, was not only a candidate, 
 but I bat he possessed talents of a high order, 
 and was winning hosts of friends. The con- 
 test became warm, and l)efore the time for the 
 election, Walker, who had been completely 
 won by Carson's kind and considerate treat- 
 ment, withdrew from the contest and gave 
 him the whole weight of his inlluenc^o. 
 
 This decided the contest, ami Carson was 
 elected. 
 
 The contest in 1827, between Carson and 
 Vance, terminated in an uahapiiy manner. 
 
 Samuel P. Carson's temperament was such 
 th:it he could not ijcsai' confinement ; therefore, 
 slow, plodding study, was out of the question, 
 and regular systematic learning be did not 
 possess. Yet his inquiring mind caused him 
 to read with avidity whatever came to hand, 
 and witli powerful perceptive faculties, and a 
 remarkaitl^' teiuici.us memory, he understood 
 his sul)ject at a glance, and whatever he read 
 he retained, consu(iueutl3' he was a well-in- 
 formed man. 
 
 Fond of merriment, with a genial, social 
 disposition, and [lossessing great wit, he was a 
 delightful companion, and "the soul" of every 
 social circle which he entered. 
 
 A great judge of human luiture, he could 
 a<hipt himself to every one; and with the most 
 ca[itivating manners he won all whom he met. 
 Generous to a fault, a man so endowed could 
 not be otherwise than innnensely popular with 
 the people. And, with a superior intellect^ 
 tine conversational powers, a chivalrous sense 
 of iionor, and devoted attaeliment to his 
 friends, he was as much sought by the great 
 as by the more humble. 
 
 L'erba[)S no man ever possessed warmer or 
 more devoted friends. 
 
 As a speaker he was argumentative, and his 
 
90 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 powers of analysis were very great, eiiabliiio' taking his position he told liis second, the Hon-, 
 him to make liis sulijeet [)hiin to the must sim- Warren R. Davis, of Sonth Carolina, that he 
 pie. At times, not otteii, he would illustrate did not intend to kill him ; tliat he could hit 
 a point with anecdote, and always with him anywhere he pleased, (.Carson was a re- 
 effect, lie had great command of huiguage, markahly good sliot with a pistol,) and that 
 p)0ssessed a jiMwerful imagination, and a charm- he intended otdy to wound hinj. I)a\is re- 
 
 ing voice. Perfectly- free from affectation, self- plied to him that Vance had coinetliere 
 
 ]iosscssed, with a manner dignified, easy, and to kill him; that if he only woumled him, au- 
 
 graceful, he liad the p.iwer of swaying the other meeting would he the I'esult, and if he 
 
 feelings of the crowd at will, and often held did not prorinse to tiy to kill him, that he 
 
 his hearers, as if spell-honnd, hy his eloquence. (Davis) could not lie a party in the affair, and 
 
 He was indeed au oi-atur. that he must seek another second. This had 
 
 lie was said to he the l)est impromptu its influence on the mind of if.s prim-ipal, an<l 
 
 .speaker in Congress. a tragic effect. 
 
 The next event to he noticed in this sketch. Their positions Avere taken; tlie word was 
 
 is one which could not hut have saddened the given, and A'ance fell to die in a i'evv hours, 
 
 wlude after life of a man possessing the kind, Carson, like llannlton, was \ei'y much averse 
 
 warm heart, and henevolent feelings of Samuel to duelling, and although on two occasions 
 
 P. Carson. afterwards, he irgreed to act as second in affairs 
 
 In that day, duelling was sustained hy pnl)- of honor, he only accepted the position in each 
 
 lie s;'ntiment,and it heing ruinous to character instance with the hojie and for the purpose of 
 
 to decline a challenge, or to neglect to send effecting an amicable adjustment of the difii- 
 
 oue, niider projier provocation, it was a com- culty, and in li<'.t h instance^ he succeeded, 
 
 mon thing, particularly among gt'ntlemen in In one of the-e, a strong and decided politi- 
 
 political life. cal opponent of Samuel 1'. Carson, evinced 
 
 Dr. Robert D. Vance, Carson's ri\al befoi'e his aiipreriation of the man isy calling on him 
 
 the people, and his conipetittn- in the last two to act as his seroud in a diiKculty with one 
 
 elections for Congress, was a nian of brilliant wliu was l)oth a [lolitiial-and personal tVieud 
 
 talents, and i)ossessed many noble traits of oi' Cai'son. The paities alluded to were the 
 
 character. lie was very popular witli the lion. J)a,vid F. Caldwell and the lion. Charles 
 
 people; and ('arson's own personal friends Fisher, ol' Salisbui-y. In the other, he acted 
 
 esteemed him highly. as second to (lovernor Praucli,of iNorth Caro- 
 
 Unfortunately, passions amused in political liiui, in a dilHcnlty with Governor Forsyth, of 
 
 contests became morl)id with him, and he was Georgia; A rehei', of Virginia, l>eing the friend 
 
 led by them to provoke a challenge in siirh a, of the latter. 
 
 way that Carson could not decline to send it ; General Jackson was t'leeted President of 
 
 this was l)y an insult to his father. The cbal- the United States in the fall of 1828, and on 
 
 lenge was promptl}- accepted. They met at the -Ith of March, 1S2'.), commenced an ad- 
 
 Saluda Gap, on the South Carolina State ministration which will ever bo memorable in 
 
 line. the annals of the country. 
 
 Carson was accompanied to tTie Held liy the In that year Carson was re-elected to Con- 
 
 H<in. David Crockett, and other friends, lie gress. lie and General Jackson belonged to 
 
 shrank from the idea of taking Vanee'.s life; the same [lolitical part3', and a warm and inti- 
 
 and, perfectly cool and self-possessed, before mate personal friendship grew up between 
 
BURKE CO [TXT Y. 91 
 
 tlu'in, which was destined to l>e tried hrjiolit- Tii noitlier of the States, however, was tlierc 
 
 ieai dissensions that divided jiarties, alienated sneh unanimity among- tite friends of nuilili- 
 
 fi'iends, and came veiy ni'ar dissolvino; tiie cation as to make it pnident, in their judirinent, 
 
 bonds of the Uni(in itself. to aftempt to jiiit it into jiraetieal effect. 
 
 Leadini,- statesmen of the South considered '1'''^' '■l':i"K'N *"", i" t'"^' ndniinistratiun led' 
 
 high rates of tariff upon forei.srn importations t'lom to i.xj.ect a satisfactory moditication c^' 
 
 asdestructive to tlie interests of the non- the obnoxious law,- and during tlie summer of 
 
 manufacturing States. Tiiey regarded it as 182iUheir efforts were directed towards iti- 
 
 exccedingly unjust on the part of the General fl'i«"<!iiiK the public mind in opposition to it. 
 
 Governni^ent to institute such a policy. They "•'''« opponents of the administration hud a 
 
 conceived that no siicli imposition isanthorized «l<'*i'le<l majority in Congress, and tlie Presi- 
 
 by the Constitution of the United States, and ''''-'^ vetoed several Inlls that had been passed 
 
 that any act of (^ongress, providing for the '-.v that body, which were antag.mistie to the 
 
 collection of excessive duties, is in violation views(,f the States Rights party ; ar.d for some 
 
 of the true intent and meaning of that instrn- time there was no open breaeh between Gen- 
 
 ment, and is theref .re " null and void, and no ^''=>' •^'^^'l^-"'"" :i"f^ '"« P^i'-t.'' iViends, and to all 
 
 [.,^y -I apiiearances they \verein harmony. Rut vari- 
 
 „,, , ■ T , ■ T - •''•'■"* disturl)inii- elements :vero in existence 
 
 1 liose wlio entertained those vu'ws retjarded , . , ' 
 
 , • , ,. 1 ,,',., ii'id inl'uences were at work wliieii, by the 
 
 the cause in the fundamental law which , . ' 
 
 ,,,,,; , , , end of the second session ot the 21st Congress, 
 acknowledges that all powers nut delegated 
 
 ,,,,,-, " , the beginning ot 1831, imliealed plainly that 
 
 to the General Government are reserved , " I . 
 
 ,. , . there was a dis'ision among the triends of the 
 
 to ttie States ;'.s one ot tlie greatest imiiort- .... 
 
 , , ,..,.,'", adnmnstration. 
 ance; and that on its taitblul observance de- 
 
 , , , , , , , Ri the election for members ot (Congress in 
 
 pends llie growtii, devekii'nient and welfare ,„.,,,,, . , , 
 
 ,.,.,.".,,, " , . . 18.31, Mr. (-arson was again elected, 
 
 ot th:' individual Mates, and the iierpetuitvof ^ , ^ .,.,", . .. , 
 
 ... ■ . j,j ^iig I'resulential election wtucli took 
 
 the L nion. . , , .^ 
 
 place in 183-2, tlie uitia States Rights men 
 
 Li 1824, a vehement but inetlectual oppo..i- i,.,,.-„^. ,,,,f ,.<,nfidenee m General Jackson, re- 
 
 tinn was made in Congre.ss to a protective fnse.l to support him, and there were different 
 
 tariff bill; and when tliat body passed a law parties, some of which possessed great strength, 
 
 increasing the rates of duty, as was done in i„ opposition to him; but the elements of op- 
 
 1828, the whole country became pn.fonndly position were too incongruous to admit of any 
 
 agitated. The delegation in Congress from „„ion between them, and General Jackson 
 
 Siiiitli Carolina held a meeting, and discussed ^as re-elocteil. 
 
 the rjuestion of resigning their seats; and also ^ever had there been rpiestions presented to 
 
 the q.ne.stion of declaring the law to be void, ^\^^ country wliieh involved such interests. 
 
 and of no effect within the State. ^n the 27th of November, of the .same year, 
 
 Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and the Convention of South Carolina met, and 
 
 other Southern States passed resolutions in soon after the Act of Nullification was passed, 
 
 their respective Legislatures, exhibiting their Everywhere the feelings of the people were 
 
 extreme opposition to the measure; and every wrought up to the highest pitch of excitement, 
 
 where throughout the South there were in- Passions were aroused in many places, almost 
 
 dieations of imminent danger of a disruption to a state of frenzy, and to all appearances 
 
 of the Union. civil war was inevitable. 
 
92 WIIEELEK'S IJEMINISCEXCES. 
 
 Cdiigros-i mot, and by a iiioditicatiou uf the iiianncr which shows tlie kimlly impulsive na- 
 
 tariff, oil was [inured u[i()n the troubled tare of Mr. Carson. At a large public ball, 
 
 waters. Soon all warlike demo;isti'ati(jiis Mr. C'arsou in turning saw Mr. \Vel)Sler, who 
 
 ceased, but still bitterness I'unkled in the was standing with his arms folded in rather 
 
 bosoms of many. an absti'acted manner. Giving way to the 
 
 Sainnel i'. C.ir.-on Ijelievcd that the doctrine impulse of the moment, he immediately- ad- 
 
 of States liiglits contained a vital principle in vaiiced to him with his hand extended, and 
 
 our (Jovernnient, autl was. 'lierefore, one of its said, in his usual hearty nuiniier, "How do 
 
 warmest advocates. A large aiajoiity of the you do, sir V Mr. Wei)ster grasped his hand 
 
 peopile of his district I'egarded the preserv;ition most cordially and exclaimed: "Carson, I al- 
 
 of the Union paramount to every other bless- ways liked you, I knew j'ou to be an honest 
 
 ing, and at the Congressional election which man." And they were friends ever after, 
 
 took jilace in iSoo, he was defeated by the Mr. Carson continued feeble; and indeed, he 
 
 lion, .lames Gi-aham. never regained Ids health. ile passed Ids 
 
 But Mr. Carson liad lost his health, and was time in the ipiiet enjoyment of the so(nety of 
 not able to canvass his diotrict. ]jis fi-iends, until the year 18o5, when he re- 
 lic never" ap[ieared before the people of his solved to remove to Texas — then struggling 
 district again. under tlie o[i[iressions of .Mexico. In that 
 
 Mr. Carson knew tlie strength of General year he visited that country for tlie purpose 
 
 Jackson's prejudices, and the vigoi- of his tern- of selecting a home: and when he returned, he 
 
 per, and l.ieing a ver^- warm personal friend, could not but have been gratilied at thcstrik- 
 
 lelt anxious to know what ills feelings tow ai'ds ing evidence which the people of his native 
 
 liim were after the cluinge in tlieir political county had given of their confidence in him, and 
 
 relations. th ir Idgli esteem. They had elected him, 
 
 Therefore, upon meeting General Jackson's during liis absence, as their mcndier of the 
 
 biother-in-la\'.', immediately after returning to State Convention, which was held that year, 
 
 Waouington, he iiKpiired wdiat the General's 18.3;3. He accept. -d the position, and discharged 
 
 feelings toward liim \vere. lie replied: "liiey the duties with lidelity and acceptalnlity. 
 
 always were to be cjf the kindest sort, he is In the fall of i8-j(J, he removed with his 
 
 fond ot' your com[ian_)'; that he does not dis- family' to the county wduch he had selected; 
 
 li.^e you or Sam lioUston," and the same year was elected member of the 
 
 I'here never seemed the slightest abatement Convention of i'exas, of which G^uieral l)a\id 
 
 iu the warmth of his feelings for Carson, iiis G. Burnett was President, and whic'n created 
 
 invitations to him were just, us freijuent as the iiepublic. 
 
 ever; tbeii' friendly and Svicial relations were Tins was a dark and gloomy houi'. Gladly 
 
 never disturbed in tile slightest degree. When did fcxas welcome such a man as Samuel P. 
 
 in 'w'a^hington City Mr. Carsoii was a genei'ai (jarson. In the iirganization ho was made 
 
 favoiite among tlie Uiembei's of Cmigress, their Secretary of State; and it was owing to his 
 
 relations were \ery kind, and his intercourse intimate acquidntance ami personal }iopularity 
 
 \vith them was very [ileasant. with the public men of the United States he 
 
 A coolne.is occurred between him and the was sent to Washington City to intercede for 
 
 great Daniel W'eiister, which preventtal them the recognition of the Kepubiic among the 
 
 from speaking to each other for three or four nations of the ea.i'th. 
 
 years. It was terminated however, and in a At this time the whole civilized world was 
 
r.UHKE COUXTY. 93 
 
 shocked at tlic liorril)lc inassaci'c of Alamo, and material as to the McDowell fnmil}', I must 
 
 sympathized \\ith Texas, strng'ffliii,<; acaiiist ai^ain express my thanks to Dr. Michal. 
 
 the immense armies wliich .\Uxico had hiuled Israel Piiikons represented TJiirkc County in 
 
 npon her. Her destruction seemed inevitahle. the Senate in 1808 and 1809. ■with Isaac T. 
 
 I'nder these cir('um.--tances, rei'Ognitinn was Avery and Charles McDowell as colluai^ncs the 
 
 out of the question. But when Texas, on the latter year. 
 
 field of San Jacinto, had scattered the hosts lie was a nati\e of Mecklenhnrg County, of 
 
 of Mexico, and made manifest her al>ilit_y to that part now Caharrus; horn oOth .January, 
 
 maintain herself ai^ainst that power, recoifni- 1780. 
 
 tion hy the I'nited Stairs came, and Mr. ile was theson of Saninel I'ickens, who i). i,- 
 
 Carson, without douht. did niuch towards good service in the Revolutionary war against 
 
 prepai'ing this country i'or it. the lii'itlsh and Tories. 
 
 lie was not al>le much longer to discharge He was educated in Iredell County, ar.d fin- 
 
 the active duties of life. ished his education at Washington College, 
 
 His wife was Catherine, a daughter of I'ennsylvania, where he also completed his law 
 
 James Wilson, of 'fennessoe. to whom he was ^t'ulies. lie was licensed to plead, and settled 
 
 married on the lOtii d;iy of May, 1831. With '" Moiganton. 
 
 her and Ids little dangiitcr, to whom he was He was the Representative in Congress from 
 
 devoted, he spent the most of tlie remainder of ^''i'' 'li^f"''t in 1«!1 to 1817, and was suc- 
 
 his life. 
 
 ceeded hy Hon. i*\'!ix Walker. 
 
 He -lied at Little Rock, Arkansas, in No- ^^^ ''''^'■'- *''"' the waruf 1812, and wasaiirm 
 
 veniher, 1840, leavir.g one daughter, who is •'^upi''>''ter of Madis^.n. 
 
 the wife of Dr. J. McD. Whitson, of Talla- In 1817 he removed to .\labama. and settled 
 
 dc-ga, Alabama, ugreat gi'andson tif •'Hunting'' at St. Stevens, and was iippointcd l>y the 
 
 John McDowell. Trcsident, Register of the Land Ottice. On 
 
 Bur Carson was never the same man after the "'^^ '^^"'^^'^ "*" «»^''''''i<"' l^'i'''', ''C was elected, 
 
 atiair which terminated in the death of the '" '*^-l' Governor of that State, and again in 
 
 feailess and talented Vance, the un.cle of the ^^-^' ''^'"^ '" ^^-''' "'" ^'^^ ^^"■•"^'^^ "^" l^'"- ^'''^''- 
 
 (Jovein... and (4cneral Vance, as he was before "'^'■^' ^^^ "''''-^ appointed Somit »• in Congress 
 
 the tragic event. From a ruddy and robust fi'o'n Alabama. 
 
 con.plexion, his countenance .so expressive of ^^^' '^'="^ api.ointod United States Judge for 
 
 genius and good humor, a frame active and Alabatna, which he declined to accept. In 
 
 buoyant, in Ids pallid cheek, his sunken eye, the fall of 18:20, in consequence of a serious 
 
 and tottering .step, he showed the deep pangs -'ff^'^^ti"" o^" t^^^ li"iS^> he resigned his seat in 
 
 and ravages of remorse. As expre.ssed hy the Senate; he repaired to Cuba, hoping that 
 
 Home in Domi-l-is- ''''^ bealth would be restored by the mild cli- 
 mate, where he died 24th A[)ril, 1827.* 
 Happy in my mind was he that died. 
 
 For many deaths has the survivor suffered; David Xewland was a native of Burke 
 111 tlie wild desert on a rock lie hits, /i i ^ i. i ^.i • loi- 
 Or on Some nameless stream's initrodden banks, County, and rei>resented the county m 182o- 
 AiulniMnnatesalldayonhis.iuhai|i,y fHte. '27 and '2.S iii the Commons, and in 1830 in 
 At times alas! not lu his i)erlect iimid. 
 
 Holds secret converse with hLs dejiarted friend, the Senate. In 1832 he was a candidate for 
 
 And oft at ninlit forsakes liis re tless couch. , • rr t ,-i . i 
 
 To make sad orizons for him he slow. Congress ag,nnst Hon. James Crruham, una 
 
 For the above sketch, and for most of the *l'ickett s Alaljama, 11, 432. 
 
94 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 believed that lie was fairly elected. It was Ilokleti. in 1871, he succeeded him as Gover- 
 
 iieai'ly a tie in the [lopiilai' vote, and (Ti'ahani's v.or. 
 
 seat was contested by him. The House, uuaMe As a criminal lawyer he had much reputa- 
 
 or unwilling to decide, referred- the election tion; and as a politician, much success, rarely 
 
 back to the people, and (Ti'aham was elected, failing in an election lielbre the people. In 
 
 lie immigrated to Wisconsin, and wasso sac- 1<S72 he was nominated as Governor, and 
 
 cessful in politics that he was elected to the opposed by Judge Merrimou. After a heated 
 
 Legislature, and on sevei'al occasions waschoseu canvass he was elected. 
 
 Speaker. But broken down in fortune and He married the eldest daugliter of Willianr 
 
 ■health and hopes, lie went to Washington Cain, and niece of late Judge Ruffin. He 
 
 Cit}', where ln' engaged in " thi; wild hunt for died, after a short illness, at Ilillsboro, on the 
 
 office." AftT fruitless attein[>ts, failing to 11th Kebruary. 1874, and was succeeded as 
 
 obtain any [losition, however menial, he sunk Governor by Hon. C. A. Brogden, of Wayne 
 
 in despair, and on 2tlth December, 1857, his Comity. 
 
 body was found in the Tiber. He had com- p^_ ,, Pearson was one of the most useful 
 
 mitted suicide. .^ij^j patriotic citizens of Burke County, where 
 
 Alas, poor Yorick! 1 knew hiin, Horatio. A j^g ^y^^ born lived and died 
 
 fellow of infinite jest, ami most excelleut humor. ' 
 
 He was an honest and intelligent merchant, 
 
 Todd R. Caldwell was born in Morganton, a skillful financier (president of the branch 
 February 19, 1818. His father, John Cald- b^nk of the State,) and one of the most earn- 
 well, was a native of Ireland; settled in Mor- g^^, friends of internal imiu'ovenients in the 
 ganton in 1800,and became a leading merchant g^ate. From the day he organized the finst 
 in that place. stockholders' meeting in 1855, at Salisbury, of 
 
 He was well educated, and graduated at the ^^j Western, N. C, Railroad, and throagh the 
 
 University, 1840, in a largo class, with such .^g.^,.^ ^^.^.^.^ fj^.^t followed, he was the stay 
 
 men as Judge Barnes, Judge Shipp, John W. .^„ j backbone of the belt of counties between 
 
 Cunningiiain, William Johnston, and others, Rowan and Buncombe. What Alorehead was 
 
 with honor. He read law with Governor to the Central, so was Pearson to the Western 
 
 Swain, and was admitted to the bar in 1840, Kailpoad 
 
 and sion attained an extensive practice. 
 
 He entered the arena of politics in 1842, 
 and eontinuevl in its exciting pursuit as long 
 as he lived. He was an old Line Wliig of the 
 strictest sense. 
 
 In 1848 he was one of the electors, and cast 
 the vote of the State for Taylor and Filmore. 
 On the i)reaking out of the civil war, he was 
 the friend of the Union and the foe of seces- 
 sion. 
 
 In lSti5, be was elected a delegate to the first 
 
 But it was in pirivate life, as a friend and a 
 neighbor, that the traits of his real character 
 were most conspiicuons. During the long and 
 bloody civil war, although firm in his devotion 
 to his native land and people, his house and his 
 heart was open to all Confederate wounded sol- 
 diers, and an asylum for their widows and 
 or[>haiis. Ills death caused a deeper sorrow than 
 was ever evinced in our community, and bis 
 memor\' — 
 
 Slc-ejis iu blessings. 
 
 State Convention that met after the war. In And has a tomb of orphan tears, 
 
 10P0 1 • 1 1 T ■ 4. .. /I Wept over him. 
 I8t)8 he was nominated as Lieutenant-Gover- 
 nor on same ticket with Governor Holden, and He left several children to imitate his exam- 
 was elected. On deposition of Governor pie and emulate bis virtues. 
 
CABARRUS COUNTY. 
 
 CITAPTEK TX. 
 
 CABARRUS COUNTY. 
 
 Cabarrus County, during the Revolution and 
 before a part of Mecklenburg, sbovved early 
 resistance to the powers and oppressions of 
 its rulers. The people lost no opportunity 
 of opposing the Royal Government. 
 
 I found, in the London Rolls Office, the list 
 of persons who were concerned in destroying 
 theanununition intended for Governor Tryon's 
 army, en route from Charleston to Salisbury, 
 in 1771, inclosed in a dispatch from Governor 
 Martin; and they arc preserved, as numy of 
 the descendants of these bold and patriotic 
 men still reside in this section, as follows: 
 
 James Ashmore; Benjamin Cochran; Rt)bcrt 
 Caruthers; Robert Pavis; Joshua Iladley ; John 
 "White; James White; William White, Jr. 
 
 We present a name worthy of respect and 
 remembrance. Our page^ have lieen hitherto 
 devoted to the soldier and statesman, but we 
 uow dwell upon one who stamped upon his 
 day and generation, as a divine, a character 
 worthy of all Grecian or Roman fame. 
 
 Rev. John Robinson, D. D.,* was in all re- 
 spects one of the highest type of men in mind 
 and manners; resplendent in purity and use- 
 fulness of his lite; peerless in consecrated 
 genius; like Masselon, he was truly the Legate 
 of the Skies. He was born in this county, 
 near Sugar Creek Church, and received his ac- 
 ademic education from Mr. Archibald, and 
 completed it at Winnsboro, South Carolina. 
 .He was licensed to preach in 1793, and becanie 
 one of the most popular and acceptable minis- 
 ters of the Presbyterian faith; ho taught 
 school for many years, and some of the first 
 minds of the country' were developed by his 
 learning and assiduity, t These have adorned 
 
 * Historical sketch of Poplar Tent C'lunc'n. by Wm. 
 S. Harris. 
 
 t As Governors Owen, rickens. Murphy, and Hon. 
 Charles Fisher, D. M. Barriiiger, Col. Daniel Coleman 
 and others. 
 
 cvcrv stati(Mi of life; in testimony of their 
 grateful appreciation of his services, his 
 pupils built a handsome monument, on which 
 is a beautiful inscription appropriate to his 
 character. And although an ordinary life has 
 ehqised since his decease, his memory is still 
 cherished by m:iny with attection. 
 
 lie married Mary Baldwin, whose lovely 
 character did much to temper the ardent en- 
 thusiasm of her husband. Only four children 
 reached maturity, two sons and two (laughters. 
 llis eldest, Samuel, was adventurous and daring 
 in temper. lie participated in the South 
 American and Turkish-Grecian struggles, and 
 attained command of a splendid ship, which 
 was lost at sea in February, 1843, with all 'm 
 board. 
 
 Connected with Cabarrus County and the 
 church is the name of Rev. Ilezekiah .James 
 Balch, who was born at Deer Creek, Harford' 
 County, Maryland, in 1748. He was a gifted 
 divine and a finished scholar. lie graduated 
 at Princeton in 1766, in the same class with 
 Waighstill Avery, Oliver Ellswi)rth, of Con- 
 necticut, Luther Martin, of Maryland, and 
 others. He came to North Carolina in 1761*. 
 He was the first pastor of Poplar Tent Church, 
 and remained so until his death. He com- 
 bined in his character unspotted piety, enthu- 
 siasm, and firmness. He was earnest and 
 patriotic in the cause of liberty; and took an 
 active part with the men of Mecklenburg, to 
 which Cabarrus then belonged, in the conven- 
 tion that declared Independence on the 20th 
 of May, 1775. He did not, however, live to 
 see the warmest wish of his heart gratified, 
 the independence of his country, for which he 
 was ready to give up his life. He died in 
 1776. 
 
 In the ancient graveyard of the ven- 
 erable Poplar Tent Church, stands a moss- 
 
cnrretl. 
 
 The i'HiFEK Family. 
 
 9*3 WIIEELEirS RtMINISCEXCES. 
 
 covered momimont wliich bears this iiiscrip- of General John Phifer, (son of Martin and 
 
 ^'°"~ Betsy Locke.) He was a usoful man, of deci- 
 
 ■ are ^'^i^Kj:^!^ .t ^^"" "*' ^^'^^^^^^ Patriotic and enterprising^ 
 
 Hezekiah Jaiues l'>;ilcli. He oiten represented Cabarrus in the Le^isla- 
 
 first pastorof Pophu- 7ent CoiioTesatitm. and one of ^„,.„ r ' io,..>^ 101- -. • , , ■> 
 
 tlie niioiiial meuil)ers of the Oraiise i resbytery. He ti'ietioni l«0.j to 181i), and wielded great in- 
 
 Wrts licensed a iireacher of the Everlasting Goipel of flncneo in unbli,- •itf-nr<j TTo ■H7.,a .,,> ^"l-, „t i 
 
 the Presl,ytery of Don.^gal in 176(1, and rest?d from his °"'-"^" '" 1'"'^"^ altaiis. tie was an educated 
 
 hibonrs in A. D. 177C; having been Pastor of the Uni- man; graduated at the University in 1709 
 ted Congregations of I'ophxr Tent and I^ocky I?iver t ^■ ^ , , , " '"' 
 
 ahont seven years. and died on the 18th October, 18-15, near 
 
 Hewas distingni.-Iiedasoneof aCoininittee of three Po„,.nril * 
 
 wlin prcjiared the I'edaniti(>n of Independence; ^ ""-'""• 
 and hiseloqnence. tlie moreeftVctnal from liisacknowl- rp Fiirrr^- «,. P .,>„T^T ^„ ^ n 
 edjied Wisdom, i.nrity Of motive, and diointy Of cliarac- ^"'' ^ '^^"" 01' bARRiNUERs OF C.vbarrtis. 
 ter, contrihnted mnch to tlie nnanimons ad' ption of t ,1, , p,,,i t> ■ / , 
 tliat instnimen- on 2i!th May, 1775. JolHiiaul bai'i'inger, (or as he wrote Ins 
 
 Yet there are some few of mo.lern times "^""°' ''*'"' -=^''''5".'^<'''0 tl'e founder of the 
 
 who alleged that no such e.,nvention ever oc- ^^nuly m ^orth Carolina, was burn in Wartom- 
 
 Imrg, in Germany, on 4th of Juno, 1721. lie 
 settled first ni J'ennsylvania, and afterwards 
 in Cabarrus, tlieu Mecklenburg, about 17r;0. 
 
 Tlie ancestor of this large family, Mar- When the Kovolution broke out, he took a 
 
 tin I'hifer. (orPiifer,) was a mitive of Switz- decided stand with the o[ipressGd people of 
 
 erland, and emigrated to America; went first Jii« ^tate, and from bis devotion to their cau.se, 
 
 to Pennsylvania, and afterwards came to North 1"- suffered severely, for he was taken prisoner 
 
 Cai-oliua, with the current of German, Irish '^J ' ''© Tories, and carried to 8outii Carolina, 
 
 and Scotch, and settled in the then Mecklen- lie was elected a member of the Legisla- 
 
 burg County. lie was much respected for his turo, the first from Cabarrus after its division 
 
 industry, frugality, and sound sense. He was *'''>'" Mecklenburg in 1793, and was a pi'omi- 
 
 elected in 1777 a mcndier of the Legislature "ent and influential citizen to the day of his 
 
 from Mtcklcniiurg. witli Waightstill Avery as death, which occurred oji 1st January, 1807. 
 
 a colleague in thi' Commons, and John Mc- He married, first, Ann Elizabeth Iseman ; and 
 
 Knitt Alexander in the Sen;,te. He married second, Catlierinc Plackweldei', by whom he 
 
 Margaret Blackwelder. He died in 1789^ had several chiblren, viz: 
 
 leaving three sons. Daniel L. Barringer, born in Mecklen- 
 
 For the (Genealogy of the Phifer Fannly, burg County, October 1st, 1788, studied law, 
 
 sec Appeudi.x. and settled at R^deigli. He was elected a 
 
 The genealogical table h:;s been carefully memlier of the House of Commons from Wake 
 
 comjiiled, ;ind it is believed to be accurate. It County, 1813-'lll-'21 ; and a member of Con- 
 
 emi'iaccs three generations and can be e.\- gress from 182tJ to KS'Jo. 
 
 tended. It presents the members of a hirge Ite removed to Tennessee, and was one of 
 
 family, many of whom are distinguished .for the Presidential electors in 1844, voting for 
 
 their services and talents, :jnd all for their Mr. Clay. He v/as the Speaker of the House 
 
 sterling virtues and exemplary chara.'ters. The of Representatives of that State. He married 
 
 services 'of John Phifer. son of Martin and 
 
 Margaret PlackN^'elder, in the war of the * ^Mach of the materi.U of the sketch of tlie Phifers 
 
 ^ ' has Ijeen gathered troni correspondence, and from an 
 
 Ivovolnticm, and in the Councils of the State, excellent article in North Carolina University Maga- 
 
 , 1 1 I, , 1 zinc (Vol. V-, p. -its, November, 1S5G,) entitled A 
 
 de^ ei ve a pcrp< tual 1 en:end)rance; as also those memoir of Colonel John Phifer. 
 
CABARRUS COUNTY. «)7 
 
 Miss White, sister of Mrs. D. L. Swain, lie Colonel GeorL;;e Alexamler and .Major Tho.-;. 
 
 died October 16th, 1852. -~_ Harris were natives of Cabarrus and officers of 
 
 General Paul Rarringor, the eldest son the Continental line. They both were brave 
 
 by a secoiul marriage, was horn 1778. Here- and true t'oiin-ht nnder the rvc of Washington 
 
 ceived a good Knglish education, and was at Monmouth and Trenton and in t'ho battle 
 
 distinguished tor his lousiness habits and his of Camden, where both were taken i)risonei'S 
 
 Btrong praetical sense. lie was a member of and Harris severely wounded.* 
 
 the House of Commons from 1806 to 1815, and Dr. Charles Harris was born in 1703; while 
 
 in 1822 in the Senate of the Legislature. but a youth pursuing his studies in Charlotte, 
 
 He married a second time, Elizabeth, he jf)ined the corps of cavalry under Genei'al 
 
 daughter of Matthew Hrandon, of Rowan, \V. R. Davie, and rendered good service 
 
 whose family arc distinguished for their abil- under that bra\'e and daring officer. After 
 
 ities, patriotism and love of indejiendence. the war was ()\er ho resunied iiis studies, and 
 
 Matthew Hrandon was a soldier of the be finished his classical as -well as his medical 
 
 Revolution, and was v,ith General Joseph study in riiiladelpliia, under the charge of 
 
 Graham and Colonel Locke in opposing the that eminent professor, Renjaniin Ru«li. On 
 
 advance of the British near Charlotte, when his return he settled first in Salishury, and 
 
 (iraham was severeh' wounded and Locke practised with great success. He then moved 
 
 killed. His relati\-e, William Brandon,. was a to Cabarrus, where be lived a long and useful 
 
 lieutenant in the Continental arm}', and was life, and died in lrS25. 
 
 the tii.st child born south of the Vadkin. L'e He e.-tablished a medical school, and was 
 
 died in Tennessee m 1836, aged ninety-nine eminent as a physician and surgeon. 
 
 3'6^''^- His school was well patronized for more 
 
 General Rarringcr died at Lincolnton (ui tlian forty years; pcrha^.s the only one ever 
 
 June I'Oth, 1844, and his wife followed him established in the State. Among bis pupils 
 
 soon after, (in November of the .same year.) ^vere Dr. Charles Caldwell, formerly a Rrofes- 
 
 For Genealogy vi the J'.arringer family, .see j,,,,.;,, Transylvania University, Louisville, Ken- 
 
 ^I'Pendix. tucky. Dr. Robert MeKensie, and Dr. Robert 
 
 Nathaniel Alexander was a native of this B. Vance, member of Congress from Asheville. 
 
 county when yet a portion of Mecklenburg. m^ g„„^ William Shake.speare Harris, was 
 
 His early education was commenced in a hum- ,„„ch esteemed for his talents and worth. He 
 
 hie log cabin at Poplar Tent, near his paternal ,ei)resented Cabarrus in 1840. 
 
 mansion, the Morebead Place, thence he went Kobert Simonton Young was a distiii- 
 
 to Princeton, where he graduated in 1776. He guished, useful and exemplary citizen of tliis 
 
 studied medicine, and was a successful phy- eonnty. Active and patriotic, he was much 
 
 ^^'''^"- esteemed. He was an officer in the Confed- 
 
 He represented Mecklenburg in the House grate Army, ami fell in battle near Peters- 
 
 of Commons in 1797, and in the Senate in 1802. bursj in 1864. 
 
 In 1803 he was elected a member of the Sth Ug married first a daughter of John Phifer; 
 
 Congress, 1803- '05. In 1805 he was elected second, a daughter of A. M. Burton. No nobler 
 
 GovernoroftheState,and.servedtillhisdeath, offering was ever laid on the altar of public 
 
 Sth March, 1808. He married a daughter of service. 
 
 Colonel Thos. L'olk. His renu^ins lie in the 
 
 Preslnteriau chui\b yard at Charlotte. *MSS. letters of Win. S. Harris. 
 
98 WIIEELEK'S KEMIXISCEXCnUS. 
 
 Daniel 'Cnleiiuin, ( horn 2Stli Marcli, 17"J9,) trict. After 'serving for four years he retired 
 
 was horn in Ifowaii Comity; moved to Caliar- from tlie practice, and engaged in construc- 
 
 rus in 1823. tion, with Dr. E. R. Gibson, of tlie North Cnro- 
 
 Educated at Rocky River Academy, con- lina Raih'oad. Appointed to office in the 
 
 ducted by Dr. J. M. Wil.son, father of J. liar- Treasury, in 1871, which position he held 
 
 vey Wil-on, of Charlotte, and finished under until the time of his demise. 
 
 l)v. John Rol)inson, at Poplar Tent, 182o, and He married Maria, daughter of John E. 
 
 the latter part of this year s-ttled at Concord. Mahan, of Concord, and had two sons, William 
 
 In the Spring following lie was elei'ted Clerk M., late Attorney General of J!^^orth Carolina, 
 
 of the County Court, and served till 1828. and Daniel Raymond, who is now a teacher in 
 
 Read law with Judge David F. Caldwell, and the Deaf and Dumb Institution, at city of 
 
 was licensed to practice. In 1830 to '33 he Belville, Province of Ontario, Canada, 
 
 was engrossing clei-k, and lS3i -'35, reading J. .M(;Calili Wiley was borti in Caiiarrus 
 
 clerk of the State Senate. County, in 1806; removed to Bibb County, 
 
 In 1830 he was ap[iointed Third Assistant Alabama, 1836; sei'ved in the army in the war 
 
 Postmaster-Creneral under Amos Kendall, and with Mexico; member of Board of Visitors 
 
 served till -May, 18-11. to West Point; elected Judge of the Eighth 
 
 lie returned home ami resumed his practice Circuit of Alabama 1865; elected member of 
 
 at the bar, and in 1848, was elected by the 39th _ Congress, and in 1871, again elected 
 
 Legislature, Solicitor of the Sixth Judicial Dis- judge. 
 
 CALDWELL COUNTY. 
 
 Caldwell County has no Revolutionary wor- Patterson, worthily enjoyed the regard and 
 
 thies to present, having been formed in 1841, respect of his country. lie died recently, 
 
 I'rom the counties of Burke and Wilkes. But much regretted. 
 
 slie presents a nunilier of names worthy of James C. Harper, who represented the dis- 
 regard, trict in 42d Congress (1871-'73;) resides in 
 
 Samuel F. Pattersor. lived and died in this this county. He is a native of Pennsylvania, 
 
 county. He was highly esteemed, and tilled born in Cumberland County, 0th December, 
 
 many positions of much rcsponsildlity with in- 1819; raised in (_)hio on a farm, and settled in 
 
 tegritv and honor. As a linancier he had few this county in 1840, which he represented in 
 
 superiors. He was, in 1836, Treasurer of the the Legislature in 180G and 1868. He in 
 
 State, and President of th.e Raleigh and Gas- Congress, as in the Legislature, was distiu- 
 
 ton Railroad. He was averse to popular [U-o- gui.shed for his clo.se and faithful attention to 
 
 motions, but was elected to the Senate of the his duties, never in the way in obstructing 
 
 State Legislature in 1864. useful legislation, and never out of the way iu 
 
 He married a daughter of General Edmund opposing wild and extravagant measures. 
 
 Jones, long a member of the Legislature from He married Louisa, daughter of Athan AIc- 
 
 Wilkes, and universally respected for his Dowell, and the granddaughter of General 
 
 probity and intelligence. His son, Rufus L. Charles and Grace Greenlee McDowell. The 
 
CALDWELL COUNTY— CAMDEX COUXTY. 
 
 ■99 
 
 patriotic charactor of Grace Greenlee has al- 
 read\' been alluded to. 
 
 One of .Mr. Harper's dani>liters, Emma, mar- 
 ried Clinton A. Ciily, who was, in 1868, one 
 of the Judsjes of the Superior Courts of North 
 Carolina. Judge Ciliy is a native of New 
 Ilaiupshire, and was iui otiicei' in tlie army of 
 the United States during the whole war. lie 
 is a nephrw of the Hon. Jonathan Cilly.a dis- 
 rt tinguislied member of Congress, who fell 
 : February 24, 1838, at BJadejisburg, MaryUxnd, 
 in a duel with William J. Graves, of Ken- 
 tucky. 
 
 Judge Ciliy, having settled since the war in 
 North Carolina, is a standing reproof to the 
 idea that meritorious men of northern biith 
 are not welcome to tlie State, and an evidence 
 
 that North Carolina appreciates and elevates 
 integrity and talent wherever found. 
 
 George Nathaniel Folk resides at Lenoir,—^ 
 Caldwell County. He is a native of Isle of 
 Wight County, Virginia; born in February, 
 18.31. He removed to Watauga County in 
 1852, and represented that county in 1856 and 
 1861. He entered the Confederate army and 
 served two years in the 1st Regiment Xorth 
 Carolina Cavahy, and was proniote<l to a colo- 
 nelcy of the 6th North Carolina Cavalry. 
 Wounded at the battles of Chickamauga, Vine 
 Vino, and in East Tennessee. He removed to 
 Le-ioir in 1866, and represented that district 
 in the Legislature in 1876. He is esteemed as 
 an able lawyer, and was Chairman of the Ju- 
 diciary C'ommittee. 
 
 CAMDEN COUNTY. 
 
 General Isaac Gregor}- was born, lived and 
 died in this county. He was a brave and 
 patriotic officer in the Revolutionary army, 
 and did some service in the cause of Inde- 
 pendence. He was one of the Committee 
 of Safety in 177() for the Edenton district, 
 and by the rroviucial Congress that met at 
 Halifax, April 4, 1776, be was appointed 
 one of the Held officers of one of the regi- 
 ments of Pasquotank, of w-hich Camden 
 was then a part.* He commanded a bri- 
 gade of St;ite troops at the ilUfated battle of 
 Camden, and was wounded severely. But. he 
 was more of a politician than a soldier. He 
 was the first Senator from Camden County in 
 the Legislature, 1778, in which he was con- 
 tinued, with some intermission, until 1796. 
 
 We regret our material is so scant of the 
 services and the character of General Gregory. 
 He left a sou, General William Gregory, that 
 
 * Autobiography of Lemuel Siiwyer, page 7. 
 
 that many rocolK.'Ct, who was renuu'kable for 
 style of dress and tine equipage, which won 
 for biiu the sobriquet of " Beau Gregory."' His 
 resemblance to General LaFayette was a sub- 
 ject of remark by all who knew them both. 
 
 He was fond of gay life and pleasure, 
 but not of labor, either mental or physiciil. 
 He was a member of the Legislature frt)ni 
 I'asquotank in 1828. Sheritt' for some years, 
 and postuuister at Elizabeth City. 
 
 Dempsey Burgess, who resided and died in 
 this couut3% was also one of the field officers 
 appointed lieutenant-colonel with Genera! 
 Gregory. He succeeded William Johnson 
 Dawson as a member of Congress 1795 and 
 1797, and re-elected in 1797 and 1799. 
 
 His brother-in-law, Lemuel Sawyer, born 
 1777, died 1852, was one of the moet eccentric 
 men and successful politicians who entered 
 public life about this time. He was elected 
 a member of the Legislature iu 1800. 
 
100 
 
 WHEELER'S KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 He belonged to a large and distinguished wrote " The Life of John Randolph," his own 
 
 family. His brother Enoch was the first col- biograiahy, " Black Beard," and other produc- 
 
 lector of the customs, appointed in 1791 by tions. His easy disposition, his liberality, and 
 
 Washington, and filled this responsible office his social eccentricities, while they made him 
 
 till his death, in 1827. many friends, brought him, at the close of life, 
 
 He was hern in Carnden County in 1777. to sntfering, if not to want. His life was pro- 
 He was educated at Flatbrnsh Academy, on longed beyond its usefulness, if he ever wa« 
 Long Island, under charge of Dr. Peter Wil- useful in any capacity. 
 
 son, with such distinguished associates as Wil- His latter days were s|»ent in Washington 
 
 liamand John Duer, Troop and Telfair, of Geor- City. He was another of the many instances 
 
 gia. He studied law, but never made the pro- of persons who, charmed in more prosperous 
 
 fession his oi>ject in life. He preferred the days by the glamor of this gay metropolis, 
 
 giddy pursuits of politics and of pleasure. After feel, as did Madame Maintenon, that "there 
 
 serving a session in the Legislature, he was were a hundred gates b}- which one nuiy enter 
 
 elected one of the electors in 1804 for Presi- Paris, Imt only one by which you sliould leave 
 
 dent, and voted for Jefferson, to whose prin- it." This he realized, fur he died 1852, aged 
 
 ciples and jiolitics he was a constant follower. 75, in Washington, whore he had eked out a 
 
 On the retiring of General Thomas Wynns, precarious existence from the salary of as-mall 
 
 of Hertford County, from Congress in 1807, office in one of the departments.* 
 
 Mr. Sawyer was elected to the I3th Congress His autobiography draws the last melan- 
 
 over William H. Murfree, and from that date choly scene of his life, which, in his own lan- 
 
 to 1829 (with but few intermissions,) he was gusvge — 
 
 re-elected by the people over the most prom- " I have drained the bitter cup of existence 
 
 inent and powerful opponents; amon"- them ff> the dregs. I have no earthly object to live 
 
 ^-K, ., r- ,, T 1 II .'^ , t'oi'; nor have I the mcaris to do SO with that 
 
 ^^ ere Mr. Murfree, G..veraor Iredell and others, eomfort and ease which alone can recmS 
 
 \V hat was the secret of this extraordinary superannuated infirmity." 
 
 success of twenty years' service it is difficult His nephew, Samuel T. Sawyer, lived in 
 
 to conjecture, for he was not gifted as a Edenton, son of Dr. Matthias E. Sawyer. He 
 
 speaker; he was negligent of his duties, often was a lawyer by profession; often in the Le^jis- 
 
 a whole session passing without liis appearing laturc (1S29 to '32, and in Senate, 1834,) and 
 
 a single day in his seat; eccentric in his con- elected to Congress 1837-'39. 
 
 He was appointed by Mr. Pierce collector of 
 Norfolk; he became the editor of the Argus, 
 and served as commissary in the late civil 
 war. He died in New Jersey, 29th Noveui- 
 
 duct and private life, if not disreputable in 
 
 some instances, as he himself confesses in his 
 
 autobiography. Doubtless his principles, as 
 
 his votes and his speeches in Congress show, 
 
 were of the straightest sect of Democracy, ber, ItOo, aged 65 years.f 
 
 and stern advocate of the rights of States. 
 
 He commenced his political career by vt)ting 
 
 for Jefferson, and ended it by advocating 
 
 Jackson, Van Buren and Polk. 
 
 He had a great fondness for literature, and 
 
 *Froin National Intelligencer, of lotli January, 1852: 
 Died.— Suddenly, on Friday, 9th January, 1852. at the 
 residence of G. R^ Adams, 11th street, near F, (in Wash- 
 ington City,) of a disease of the heart, Hon. Lemuel 
 .Sawyer, for many years a member of Congress from 
 North Carolina, 
 tl^aimian s Biographical Annals. 
 
CARTERET COUNTY. 101 
 
 ClIAL'TKli X. 
 CARTERET COUNTY. 
 
 Tins .■oiiiity has the honor of lu'iiig t1ie first carved (^ii tlic l)ark ofa tree. I) )uhtlo-;s they 
 
 huid sighted by the expedition s, 'lit out under had becouic anr,il«-amatc'd with the native 
 
 the iUispiees (if Sir Walter Ra'oii^h to this, con- Indians, for some of tliese had hhic eye-, and 
 
 tinent. Two sliips, one called "the Tiger," said •' their parents could road from a hi>ok;" 
 
 and the other "the Admiral," commanded by and there are names extant in Carteret .-orres- 
 
 PhilipAmadasatid ArthurBarlowc.afterenter- ponding with the names of White's colony.* 
 
 ing the Ocracoelce Inlet, sailed up the sound, Suhseqnently ( 1712,) the Indians, csjicdally 
 
 and landed on Roanoke Island, viow in Dare tlic Cores and Tuscaroras, waged a. l)Ioo<1y and 
 
 County, in July, 1584. destructive war upon the whites in this region. 
 
 ThG-i.atent from Queen Elizabeth to Sir Much property an.l many lives were destroyed, 
 
 Walter Raleigh, as well as the report of the ;';""'>>^ /l'^;"'^ -f"'"; ^';^""^'''^ '"'"f* 
 officers, is recorded in Ilakluyt's Voyages, HI., 
 301. 
 
 historian' of the state. His work was pnb- 
 
 lislied in Eondon in 1709. and is considered as 
 
 good authoritv, giving the best descri[iUon of 
 No people have a clearer, and more perfect ^. r " -^ ' i ^ ^ * ,. i i,; 
 
 ' / _ ' "^ ^North Carolina, its products and natui'ai lus- 
 
 record of history than the people of our state 
 From thirj time to the pi-eseiit, it is p 
 in veritable and intelligilde languase. 
 
 • ■ tor v. 
 
 From tliirj time to the pi-eseiit, it is preserved ■■ , , i i i i- ii 
 
 .\ '^ Lhwsou s liook has been so highly aiinre 
 
 [> 
 iated, that the legislature ordered it be re- 
 No fabled fugitives from justice, no Norman pvinted. The original copies are very nsre. 
 tyrant with force of arms, no i'izarro bent on ^j^, i^ives a particular account of the man- 
 spoil and plunder, Ibrmed the tir.st civilized „g,.,, .,,,^1 eustcuus of the different tribes of 
 settlement of our country; but "men, high- Indians of Carolina. The account he gives of 
 minded men," under the [leaceful commis- ti,,.;,. (.[-uelty to piisoners is graidiic and terri- 
 .sioii of lawful authorit}, and v/itii the cordial l)|^,^;,||d was most fearfully realized by LawsoU' 
 consent of the native inhabitants of the in his own iiersou. lie savs: 
 
 "'""*'*'*'' "Their cruelties to their i)risoners are 
 
 •■ were the first that ever burst sueli as none l)ut Devils out of Hell could 
 
 Into that silent scii/' invent. They never miss skniping of them, 
 
 which is to cut the- skin from tlie tem- 
 
 Wli:it a proud record for our contemplation pies, and taking the whole b.cad of hair along 
 
 and pride' ^^'''^'^ ^^- f^O'i'^^times they take the to[p of the 
 
 '■" "" ■ , ^, . skull with it, which thev preserve and carefully 
 
 Connectcu with the name ol Carteret, is a j_.^^,^^ |^^, ^j^^,,,, j-^„. .^ f^.;,pi,y ^,t' their conquest 
 
 tradition th.it this was the refuge of the over their onemie-. Others keep tlieir enemy's 
 
 colonv of White, who was the Governor of teeth which are taken in war, \yhilst others 
 
 ,, ". r 1 1 T ^1 i-n> I <• 1 split i.iiie into splinters and stick them into 
 
 ItoanoKC Island In the year l.-,y.), he returned ^|^^ j,',i,o„er's body, yet alive, then they light 
 
 to Carolina, after a visit in England of over tliem which burn like so many torches, aud in. 
 
 a year's duration, but his colony bad di.sap- this manner they make bim dance around a. 
 
 l)eared. ^ ^^^^ iiiiwk's History ot North C'aro'.hia. I.. 100, 
 
 White only discovered the word "Croaton" tH)-. 
 
102 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 greatfire, every one buffeting ;uid (leriiliiig him and she was full\- armed and equipped with 
 
 till he expires." caiinoii, guns, and men. 
 
 This cruel fate was fearfully realized hy The swiftness of the vessel, the skill with 
 
 Lawson and his negro servant, and would have which she was managed by Bums, his intimate 
 
 Ijeen liy his associiito, the Bardu De Graaf- knowledge of the dreaded and dangerous coast 
 
 fcnreidf, whose life was only saved liy liis fine of Carolina, and the daring of a chosen crew of 
 
 appearance, and because ho wore a gold medal men, soon made the name of Otwa}' Burns a 
 
 which the Indians thought was an indication terror to all the British in American waters. 
 
 of high rank. He captured and destroyed a large number 
 
 Colonel Moore, of whom we have already of English prizes, and amassed fortunes for 
 
 written, idosed this \\ar by marching into himself and his compatriots. 
 
 Carteret, and coiiiph'tely subduing the He brought into Beaufort heavy cargoes of 
 
 savages in a decisive l>attle near the pres- valuables, and established quite a market for 
 
 ent ti'wn of Beaufort. Here, witliin -'the the merchants of all eastern Carolina. His 
 
 sound of the cliurcli-going bells,'" oecured the house was bat a slnu't distance from the pres- 
 
 last desperate struggle of the re<l man in this ent Atlantic Hotel, on the top of which he 
 
 sectii.m fordoniinion over his nati\'e soil, wliich estalilished an ol)sei'vatory, from which he, by 
 
 he could not, and ought not hold. aid of a spy-glass, commanded an extensive 
 
 In 1712, a fort v/as built on Core Sound, view of the ocean. Here would the daring 
 
 named in honor of Governor Hyde, to protect sailor watch and wait, while his ship was kept 
 
 the inhabitants. with a ready crew and anchor tri[)ped. When 
 
 There are many names connected with Car- ever he espied a vessel sailing under English 
 
 teret worthy of record, as the Bells, Fullers, colors, he would hurry up the "Snai> Dragon" 
 
 Bordens,HeUens,Marsballs,Sheppard,Piggots, and pursue the prize. From the sailing quali- 
 
 Wards, and otlaers. ties of his ship, Burns would soon overhaul and 
 
 Otwuy Burns, who represented this county capture the pursued vessel, 
 often, (1822 to 1834,) is worthy of oui' mem- Such was the damage done by Captain 
 ory. His name is more securely i)reserved in the Burns to the commerce of England, that the 
 capital of the County ol' Yancey. He repre- British Council held consultations to devise 
 sented Carteret County in the state senate, some meansforhiscapture. Finally, tliey order- 
 when (1834) Yancey County was erected, ed the construction of a fast sailing vessel, fully 
 Doubtless the C(un[iliinent secui'ed his ready armed, with a large crew, but built as a mer- 
 advocacy for its formation. chant ship. This ship met our gallant " tar 
 
 He came to Beaufort IVom Onslow County, heel" on the coast, and by a ruse, captured 
 
 where lie was born, wlien (piite young, and him and his crew without firing a gun. The 
 
 engaged in a seafaring life. He became a cap- Englishman, rigged as a merchantman, with 
 
 tain lui a coasting vessel plying l)etween Beau- his guns concealed as well as his crew, suffered 
 
 fort and INew York. the "Snap Dragon" to run alongside, and 
 
 When the wa)' of 1812 commenced, he oh- hauled down his colors in token of surrender, 
 
 tained from the Go\'eriiment of the Cnited As Bui'iis and his men commenced to board 
 
 States, letters of marque and rejirisal, and the prize, her guns were run out and manned 
 
 built, through the aid of several wealthy per- b\' the crew, who suddenly' appeared on deck, 
 
 sons, as a stock company, a fast sailing ship ; on and the harmless nierchantmaii was presto con- 
 
 her he bestowed the name of " Snap Dragon," verted into a terrible man-of-war, with shotted 
 
CASWELL COUNTY. 103 
 
 cannon ready to tire. 15nriis, with heai'tfolt daring e.xploits at sea, (about which he was 
 
 cliagrin, was compelled to siii render. Thus he very fond of talking-.) made him a great favor- 
 
 and his crew were taken prisoners. ite of the [jcopie. He was" sudden and <inick 
 
 After the close of the war he was released, in quai'rel, " lull of frolic, fun and .fight, and 
 
 and he returned home. With the character- towards the close of his life became very dis- 
 
 istic extravagance of a sailor, lie squandered sipated. He died in 1849, while in command 
 
 his propert}' and was very poor in the declin- of a light hoaf. His eventful life was so in- 
 
 ing years of his life. His generous qualities terosting that it otice formed the subject of 
 
 and social tcm})cramcnt, with the fame of his a lecture by Governor Swain. 
 
 CHAPTEK XI. 
 CASWELL COUNTY. 
 
 This county having l)een formed since our represent them in the as.sembly in 175-i. So 
 Declaration of Independence, her revolutionary acceptable were his .'services that he was con- 
 history is connected with that of Orange tinned until 1771, being chosen speaker during 
 County, from which it was taken. It preserves the last two sessii)Ms. He was the colonel of 
 the name of Richard Caswell, who was one the county, and as such eomniiinded the riglit- 
 ofthe most active and efficient patriots of wing of Tryon's army at Alamance, May 16, 
 that eventi'ul epoch. He was the first gov- 1771. This was his first appearance in the 
 ernor after t!ie Ilo3'al governor had left, and profession of arms, which was congenial to 
 did great service, not only as governor, but as Jiis iiature, and in which he was destined to 
 a soldier and statesman. be so conspicuous. 
 
 He was a native of Maryland; born in Cecil Lilce many other [latriots of that day, they 
 
 County on August 3-, 1729. The year in which forbore, as lung as patience n'ould allow them, 
 
 the Lord I'roprietors of North Carolina sur- the cruelties of the mother country towards 
 
 rendered their charter to the Crown, George the colonies, but when the attempts of Eng- 
 
 11. then being King. laiid to subjugate the liberties of the people 
 
 Mr. Caswell came to North Carolina when became too oppressive he did not hesitate to 
 quite a youth to seek fame and fortune. He advocate the rights of the many thus threat- 
 was duly appreciated, and appointed clerk of ened by power and oppression. 
 Orange County, and dejiuty surveyor of the By the first Provincial Congress that organ- 
 colony, ized in opposition to the Royal Government, 
 
 He read law, and practiced it with great (August 2.3th, 1774, at New Berne,) he was, 
 
 success. He settled in Lenoir County, then with William Hooper and Joseph Hewes, ap- 
 
 Dobbs, where he married Mary Mcllweane, pointed delegate to the Continental Congress 
 
 and afterwards he removed to Johnston at Philadelphia, and attended for three years. 
 
 County. The people were not slow to dis- He was looked upon with great respect by 
 
 cern his abilities, and be was elected to the Royal Governor, Martin, and his course 
 
104 WHEELER'S KE.MI^N^ISCENCES. 
 
 iiiivc Miirtin mncli .■liuLrnn, ;i8 will ;ippe:ir iVoni "Ann,t;-ent IkkI ln_>en dispatched to the iii- 
 
 a ei.ja <.t his di,-;p:itch, dated— terior (•(niiitics of North Carolina to raise 
 
 ti-<),)ps ill tliceoniitry to meet tlie troops cxpect- 
 
 ' A"(i ist -liitli, 1775. <?fl tVoiu !']i gland. Tiiree thousand men were 
 
 "Ox Bo.\RD Ciit'isi'.K Sludp-of-wah. expeoted to he raised. 
 
 "Ev(m'v device has l,ee;i practice.! l.v tiir sedi- .■,' '^'''7 liadheen checked, ahont seventeen 
 
 tion-comniittee. to inflame the minds of the ""^'^'^ '}-'?^'^ \\ ilininoton, m an attempt to 
 
 pe<.ph.; and most of all i.v f he retniii ni lihhar.l l'^'.«\"' '"■''^-.^ '''' -tehruary 2<th Alter sns- 
 
 Casuell to tins provincJ, an,l no donl.t will in- ^"'."^"- ^^'?. '""" "^ Captain Donald .VlcLeod, a 
 
 flame it with the extravaij-anl siiiiil .-f that •-'".''"'^ "^'^^'":''' ■""1 "^"'- t"'enty men killed 
 
 darin- asseniMv at I'hiladelphia. At New i""l^V':'''"l^';K ""r forces were dispersed. 
 
 Berne I am eredihlv inf,M-med ii • lia.i the in- . '' ^ ",^ nnlortnnate truth was too .soon con- 
 
 solen.'eto ivpielaald the cn„in,irtee of ,h:,t ^''""^' '^^ H'l' '''''^"'' "^ ¥'; ^^^^^}''^ ^^'•• 
 
 little town n.r sntlVrin- iie^ to remove fi,,i„ < ■'"'I'l'fH. -Mi. !^tuart, and .Mr. ^sichol, who, 
 
 (•]j(-,,,i.,. with great dirncnlty, toniid their \vav to the 
 
 » * * * # Scoi'niou, sloop-of-war, l\ing ai J>riinswiek. 
 
 "1 his man. at his g.,ii,..- to the first eomn-ess. '^'''^ '■"''!'^' ^vas ahout 1,400 u^eii raised; hut tor 
 
 appear,'.! to me t:. 'have <.;nhark.<l wilh re- W''"',"* ^'"^"'"'^15^'^"'".^ i'^ ^'"' '"'''• "''!?. 'y- 
 
 liictancein the cause, that mn.h e.Ntenualed <1'" |^" to al.out ,00, ut them OOO were Iligh- 
 
 hisg::ilt. Xowhcshowshimself a mosi active ''"'''''''• 
 
 tooi ot sedition " " ' K"^' "-'''""'' ex[ircsscs the opinion that 
 
 this little cheek which the loyadists received 
 
 On his return from conuress in tlic sprin-of "'^'O"^'' ii"t have a,ny extensive ill coiisefiuences, 
 
 I — ,, , ■ -i-^ , ' , , , Vet he sutfei's every anguish, nioititication 
 
 liib, his militarv aiidr was rraised at lie ' i r ■ f j. r i.t i j- ,. r i ■ 
 
 and aisa[>pointmeut from the deteat ot his 
 
 alarming state of affairs at Ihmie. The gre.it endeavors.''* 
 fleets of England ho\-ered around the coast 
 
 Some controversy- has in late years arisen as 
 to whom the honor of the victorv of ,Mo.')re's 
 
 while the whcile regi-n of the Tape E^ai 
 
 swarmed \\-ith disalfeeted and druire: o.i- 
 
 , • 1 1 1 .1 7 • , ,• , Cre k l>iidi;e helonfced, or, at least, whether 
 
 tones, v.'ho had n'athered m st roie.;- lorce t' ' ^ . . 
 
 unite \\-itli Ciinton in suhjugaiing i lie sVa^e 
 In c njunction wiih Coh'nel Ei ilinglon. ie 
 suninioni-'d the minute \n n wt' Doh'i^ O'Uir.iv, 
 
 the honors shoidd not he divided. Iloeoralile 
 (ieorge ]>avis aiid Professor Iluldiai'd were 
 0|/pnsed on this question. This shiaild not 
 
 , , ,1 , • , ,, , ,, i> '., afl' et the reputation of eithei- Lilline-ton or 
 
 and met the tones under (hnieral ,\h'J)ona, : 
 
 , ,, , , 1 ,, ■ 1 ,. , .- , Oasev ell; h 't h \\ere hrave p;itiiois, and hotli 
 
 at \!i'ore's( re dv Jlridge. mi !• ehrnary -Jith, '■ 
 
 1770. ;md coniplettdy routed them \vith gi'eat, 
 
 slaughter. 
 
 He received the thanks of tlie I 'roviiicial 
 
 Congress (at Halifax. April 4th. 1776.) lor 
 
 this lu-illi:iiit \ietorv, :ind ^^'.^r it he was pro. 
 
 , , ^ ,, 1 \- 7. ■ T ,, I Cu.swell w:i,- president of tlie Provincial 
 
 moted to the rank ot l)iig;nlier (.enei:d. ' 
 
 n,, ■ , ^,, ,. ,r , ,. 1 1. ■ 1 L- Ce'im'res.s (wlilcli mct at Halifax Kovemher 
 
 Jhis hattle ot .Moore- ( r>ek li'idge \vas ot - ^ 
 
 1-, 1770.) and was one of the (;ommittee tlis.t 
 
 lid theii' d it^'. The facts are that congress 
 iluuiked Caswell, and in a iniisunic address 
 hy Fr. jicois X. .M;irtin, deliwred sotju after 
 this batth', at New Berne, he calls Caswell 
 '■ the g;illant commander of .Moore's Creek." 
 
 inlinite imp!irt;ince. as it pie\eiited the ,ju!ie- 
 tion I'f the Scotch loyaii-ts wilh the British 
 f.U'ces, and the cause of gr.';it illsMinfort r:> 
 (ro\'. rimr M;irtin. 
 
 In ;i dispat( h of Goverie r M;irtin lo E ei'd 
 (4erm;iine,dated March 2, 1770. ( i i om die liolis 
 (_)flice ill Ei'iidmi, never hcfoic [lahlished,) 
 G )Vcrnor -\Eirtin says: *CoIonial Cocs., page 224 
 
 formed a state constitution. He w:is elected 
 tlie tiri^t governor of the state under the coii- 
 stitutioii. ,'!;■ conducted the ship* of state in 
 its u.Urieil and perilous voyage with .singular 
 lidclity and nnitcliless sagacity during his 
 term of office. After tliis expired, his active 
 
CASWELL COUNTY. Hi.i 
 
 aud patriotic spirit hrooked no ivpose. He iiiiindrr-in-Cliiof in and over the State of 
 
 , ■ . ■ 1 ^ .-fX fi v„,.i u Noitli {'ai'olina, in wljicli ail <rood and licirc 
 
 s;i\v Ills country m daniror, and with tli'o 2\oilh ' , /. .• f ,i " 
 
 J '^ ' ^ p<.'()[ile arc to tal<o notice, and ii;ovcM-n tweni- 
 
 Carolina troops was cnga.ued in the battle ot selves accordinsilv. 
 
 Camden, Amjiist 16, 17S0. " " William Blouxt, 
 
 The .lisordei-ed state of tlu' financvs of the "Speaker of the House of -Commons. 
 , ,,..-.• 1,. n -'KiNSTONjTI/'/y 13, l/8o." 
 state deninndcd attention, and governor Cas- 
 well was elected coniptrolk'r general, wliich With tiic ex'ce|)tion of Caswell, Benjamin 
 duties he discharii'cd with greiit ability until VViliianis, (Governor in 1799 and in 1807,) and 
 1785, when he wa-^ again elected governor of Governors lieid and Vance, no instance occurs 
 the state, an unusual cirrnnistance \\hich in our hi-tory ()f the same person being twice 
 jiroves the great acceptability of his services, oleeled to this elevated po.-ition. 
 and the grateful appreciation of them ijy the Clovernor Casweli was elected a member of 
 state. the Convent ion to meet in Pbiladel[>hiu in 
 
 The foUowina addi-ess on this occasion may .May, 17^7, to i'orm the Constitution of the 
 
 beint>.resting,asshowing how such ceremonials United States. This he declined, 
 
 were comlucted in the good old times of yore. His last public service was as Senator from 
 
 From the journals of the assi ini)ly of the Dobbs County (since divided into Greene and 
 
 State of Xoitb Carolina: Lenoir.) in tlie legislature, wliieli met at Fay- 
 
 ctteville, 1780, of which he was elected 
 
 '^The address of tlu' Speaker of the House g.^i^^,. 
 
 of Conniions, William Blount, on the qualiti- ' ,''^.,' . ,. . , ^ , , 
 
 cation of Govern.or Caswell, .May UJ, 1785. W hile presiding m the senate he was .struck, 
 
 " Mk. IJicH.MU. Caswkll, November 5th, with paralysis, and he died on 
 
 Sip.: Tb.e genera! assembly of the State of the 10th, of that year. 
 
 Korth Carolina, :it their last session, pro- Mr. Gaston informs us that once whilst on a 
 
 ceeded to the choice of a chief magistrate visit to Boston, he called on the illustrious and 
 
 to nresicie over the r.vecaitive department , , t , i i t 
 
 of the .^. ^ei'nment of this ^tate, when you venerable John Adams. In an .nter...ting 
 
 were eleetel by a large majority of both conversation with him as to the revolutionary 
 
 houses; and it uave- me -rcat pleasure that worthies of North Carolina, Mr. Adams asked: 
 
 it falls to nie as Speaker of the House of . ^^here is the family of Richard Caswell? 
 
 Commons, in tlie name ot the rep.resentatives •' 
 
 of the freemen of the state, and in the -pres- for he was, sir, a model man and true patriot, 
 
 enee of tlu'se honorable gentlemen, to call We always looked to Caswell for Morth Cai'o- 
 
 npon yor: to qualify, in pursuance of this, tlu-ir ,j,,.^ „ ^jj^ character is one of which bis 
 
 hiii-hest mark ot iiublic reii'ard, wbn'li can bv ,, , i v ^ i -u- *. 
 
 them, ie shown to the mo.^t worthy citizen. «>""t'T "i«y ^^ell be proud. Not brilliant, 
 
 (The Ljovernor now qualities.) but solid: useful rather than showy; deliber- 
 
 '^To yoi), sir. as the first chief magistrate of ;,te in counsel and decided in action. Mr. .Macon 
 
 this state, we cennmit and deliver the Bill of . +■ ,< fi + , .„r^,.f,,i ,,,,,,, 
 
 ^,■ ,. ,.,/-, 4.-^ .• .1 ^■ „ dec are( him one ot " the most powertui men 
 
 Ki^ht- a! (I the Constitution; the one asserting ' 
 
 the ciV! :,nd iiolitical rights of the freemen that ever lived in this or any other country." 
 
 of til' MMiy, the other giving existence to In bis career be closelv resembled the father 
 
 >■'""■' :m(i the present happy form of gov- ^^,. ,^.^ ^„^,„t,,.; if Vi",-inia be proud of her 
 
 ernme r. ; nat the same under voui' 2;nardi:in- ■ , " ,. 
 
 shipn, , l^e sn.-tained,supporte<l, maintained Washington, North Carolina may be ot her 
 
 and p -erved inviolate, and as an emblem of C'asweU. 
 
 that p.) «cr:md aui-hority with which you are Governor Caswell's will is on record in 
 
 inve:-ted. we present vou this sword, and do . i • i ^ i t i o it^t 
 
 annou .cr .„d proclaiin you, Kichard Caswell, I^^noir county, and is dated July 2, 1(8/. 
 
 Esq., Co.eiuor, Captain-General and Com- He left one son and one daughter. Ot bis son 
 
106 WHEELER'S REMINISCEXCES. 
 
 ("Winston) but little is known to ns. His publican part}'. On bis retirin,£f from congress 
 
 dang'hter, Anna, niarrieil twice. First Fon- he resolved to devote himself to bis profession, 
 
 ville'^ and second to William White, who was but the people would not permit him to retire. 
 
 Secretary of State from 1778 to 1811. Mrs. The next year thi^y elected him to represent 
 
 White left three daughters:* the county in the senate, in which position he 
 
 I. Anna, wlio married Governor David L. was continued until his death. The senate 
 Swam. each year elected him unanimously its speaker. 
 
 II. Another married General Daniel L. Bar- No one piossessed more popularity. On some 
 ringer. occasions he received nearly every vote in 
 
 III. Another married General Boone Felton, Caswell County. 
 
 of Hertford County. (University Magazine As presiding ofRcer of a deliberate body 
 
 IV., 1772.) he was pre-eminent, and scarcely ever ri- 
 
 General Felton was a mitive of Hertford valed. Blessed with a manly person, of 
 
 County, and a man of some wealth and cul- most engaging and bland manners, a (juick 
 
 ture. He represented this county in 1809, and and well balanced mind, an accurate memory 
 
 frequently afterwards. Ten years afterwards and clear and harmonious voice, he was pecu- 
 
 he had a difficulty with his relative and col- liarly qualified for the duties of a speaker, 
 
 league, which was the cause of much excite- As the journals will show, in Congress, the 
 
 ment in the count} . speaker (Mr. Clay) often supplied his own 
 
 The capital town of the county preserves a place by the suljstitution of Mr. Yance}'. His 
 
 name equall}' as illustrious as the nameof Cas- efibrts for the benefit of the state arc monu- 
 
 well, it is that of Bartlett Yancey, who was ments of his greatness as a statesman. The 
 
 liorn, lived and dieil in Caswell County. He was organization of the judiciary; the system of 
 
 educated at the university, although his name finance in the treasury and comptroller's 
 
 doesnot appear among the list of graduates, and offices as also of the common schools, and 
 
 for a time was a tutor in that institution. He other public measures attest his sagacity and 
 
 studied law, and attained great eminence in usefulness. 
 
 the profession. But political life was his He died in the meridian of his life and use- 
 jM-oper element, and there he shone conspic- fulness in 1828. This sudden and unexpected 
 uous. His first appearance in iiublic life was as a event caused a deep sensation of sorrow 
 mendier of the Thirteenth Congress, 1818, -'15, throughout the state. All eyes were turned 
 and again in the Fourteenth, (1815,-17.) Here, to him as the .successor of Governor Branch, 
 by the solidity of his judgement, the suavity of in the United States Senate. He left five 
 his manners, and the extent of his acquirements, daughters: Mrs. McAdden, Mrs. Giles Mebaue, 
 he attained a high i)osition among such states- Mrs. Lemuel Mobane, Mrs. Thomas J. AVom- 
 men as William Gaston, William K. King, mack and .Mrs. George W. Swep.son; and two 
 William II. Murfree, Israel Pickens, Nathaniel sons: Rufns A., who graduated at the nniver- 
 Macon, all of whom were his colleagues. He sity, with great credit, in 1829, in the same 
 was the firm and fearless supporter of the class with Burton Craige, William Eaton, Dr. 
 adnnnistration of Mr. Madison and the re- Sidney X. Johnston and others, he died in 
 Richmond, Va., aliout 18-35 ; and Algernon 
 
 *One of Goveruor Caswell's daughters married a flat- Sidney, who was a lawyer, died in 1840. 
 Ini. -Ur. John (-iatlm.wlio was a surgeon ni the United -' -^ ' 
 
 (States army, and was massacred at Dade's Defeat by Brobably there are few men, in either public 
 the Seniinoles, in Florida, was a grandson of Caswell. . " ,.,. , ■,■,■,. 
 
 Geneial Gatlin was a brother of Dr. Gatliii. or private lite, who occupied during their 
 
CASWELL COUNTY. 
 
 107 
 
 term of life more of public notice than Komu- 
 1ns M. Saunders. 
 
 From the time lie entered the legislature, 
 in his 24th year, until his doatli, at which time 
 he held the office of judge, he was either in 
 office, or an applicant for otlice, or an aspirant 
 for position, lie was the son of William 
 Saunders, horn in Caswell County, 1791. His 
 early education was defective.* He studied 
 law, and practiced th.-it profession with suc- 
 cess. He early entered political life, which 
 was more germane to his tastes than law. From 
 1815 to 1820, he was a member of the House 
 of Commons, and twice its speaker. In 1821 to 
 1827, he was in Congress. In 1828, he was 
 elected attorney general, which position he 
 filled till 1833, when he was appointed a com- 
 niis-sioncr under the French Treaty, in which 
 he served till 1835, when he was elected judge, 
 which he resigned on being, in 18-10, nominated 
 .candidate for governor, but was defeated by 
 John M. Morehead. In 1841, elected to Con- 
 gress, in which he served until 1846, when he 
 was appointed Envoy to Spain, where he ser- 
 ved till 1849; and in 1850, he was again elected 
 a member of the House of Commons. In 1852, 
 elected to House of Commons, and again he 
 became Judge of Superior Courts, in which 
 office he died, April 21, 1867. 
 
 A good story (says Moore I., 463) is told by 
 Judge Badger, of this extraordinary propensity 
 for office. Mr. Badger was asked who would 
 be the new Bishop, in place of Ives, on that 
 prelate's defection to Rome: " I can't tell you 
 
 who it will be, but I am certain Judge 
 
 will be a candidate, a.s he wants everything 
 else," replied the great lawyer. 
 
 From History of North Carolina, by J. W. 
 Moore, XL, page 98: 
 
 " In 1852-'53, the democrats had a majority 
 
 *From l^iilcigh Star, of March 20, ISl '. The trustees 
 of the university of Xorth Ciiroliiia. liave lieen obliged 
 to perform the [lainful duty of exi)ellius from the in 
 stitution John Allen, of Pitt, Horace B rton, of 
 Granville. Jiomulus Saunders, of Caswell Covuity. 
 Pavid Stoke, President. 
 
 in the legislature, Init failed to elect a senator 
 to succeed Judge Mangnm. U. M. Saunders, 
 as usual, was a candidate. He was one of our 
 leading men but in.satiable in his thirst for 
 office. He was equally profound and adroit 
 as a lawyer, greatly respected as a judge, and 
 unsurpassed as a stump orator. His four years 
 of acquaintance with the formal etiquettcof the 
 Sjianish Com't had failed to I'cmove his native 
 aTul inherent roughness of manners." 
 
 He was twice married; by his last marriage 
 with a daughter of Judge William Johnson, of 
 the Supreme Court of the United States, he 
 left a son and tvv(.) daughters. 
 
 That Judge Saunders possessed force of 
 character and talents, the high positions he 
 held are proof. But that he was seltish and 
 uncertain in his friendships is admitted. The 
 opinion expressed of Goldsmith by Dr. John- 
 son was realized by him: " bis friondslii|)S were 
 so easily acquired, and so lightly lost, as ren- 
 dered them of JHit little consequence to any 
 person." As a politician he was able and active, 
 but even this character was obscured by the fact 
 that he always hoped to be advanced personally-. 
 In a memorable contest in 1852 for Senator in 
 Congress, when his part}', with a majoi'ity of 
 only one or two, and he himself a member of 
 the body, nominated James C. Dobbin, than 
 whom a purer man did not exist, SaUiiders 
 refused to co-o[)erato, bolted the caucus ami 
 with his friends, defeated the election of 
 Dobbin. t 
 
 In a subsequent contest for the same post he 
 again played the same role, and thus defeated 
 the election of Bedford Brown, who was the 
 choice of the democratic party in 1842-'43, and 
 so caused the election nf William H. Haywood, 
 whose career as a senator not being successful, 
 he resigned. Had Saunders followed the ad- 
 
 tThis has been disputed by some friends of .fudge 
 Saunders. We quote from History of North Carolina, 
 by John W. >roore, 'page 227 ) 
 
 •' Mr. Dolibin succeeded Governor Graham as Sec- 
 retary of the Navy, Mr Dobbin was defeated for 
 the United States" Senate by the friends of Judge 
 Saunders, and Judge Manguni's term havmg expired, 
 the state for the next two years had but one senator." 
 
108 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 vice of the great Girdiiial of Henry VIII. lie Colonel of a battalion raised in the Ilillsboro 
 
 Wduhl have been a hajiiiier, if not a wiser and district. He was educated at t!)e Bingham 
 
 better man. acadcmv in Orange, and sjient one vear at the 
 
 •■ , I charge thee flmg away ambition. U"i^'^'''«ity. when he conunenced reading law 
 
 By tliat sin fell the angels ; ;uk1 how can man tlien— with Judge Settle, his brother-in-law and 
 
 ihe image of liis maker— liope to win by it '■ . , ■" ' 
 
 finisned nntler Judge Henderson. He was 
 
 AVe would fain have made this sketch more admitted to the Bar in 1827. His success in 
 
 fa\i'rable, but in pen pictures as in portrait tl"- [iractice was flattering, but his tViiiie re.sts 
 
 jiaiutiiig the truth demands a faithful, not a more on his efforts in t he legislature than his 
 
 flattering, likeness. careei' as a jurist. 
 
 Robei't AVilliams was a native of Cas- His flrst ap[iearaiice as a state.Mnaa was 
 
 well County, distingiiish;.d I'or his attain- 'ts a nicmber of the eonveiiiion of 1;>J5 to 
 
 meiits. He was adjutant-general of Noi'th reform the constitution. This was an able 
 
 Cariiiina, and a representative in Congress, body of iiractieed statesmen, aiiil af- 
 
 (Fiftli, Sixth and Seventh Congress) 1797 to forded an admiralde school for tlie young 
 
 18(Jo, and was appointed commissioner of land politician. 'I'bis opjmiuinity was n>>; ne- 
 
 titles in Mississippi Tci'ritory. He was also glected by .Mr. Graves In 1840 he was elected 
 
 the govGrnor of the Tci'ritory of Mi.ssi.ssippi a meinber of the Hou.se, and in 1842 wh mi iie 
 
 from 1805 to 1809. He died in Loui.siana.\ was made speaker. In 1844 he was r,g,iin a 
 
 Marniaduke Williams, who succeeded his member, l)Ut the whig party having a iiuijority, 
 
 brother in Congress, was a native of Caswell elected Mr. Stanley speaker. In 1846 ho was 
 
 County, born in 1772; married Mrs. Agnes returned as a member of the senate. 
 
 Harris, «(■(■ Payne. He was by profession a During this sessi(n) a party move of mueh sig- 
 
 lawyer. Ho represented Caswidl County in nificancc was made to re-distri ct the slate, and 
 
 the state senate in 1802, and the district in opposed by .Mr. Craves. In 1848 he wa . again 
 
 (the Eighth, Ninth and I'eiith Congress) 1803" elected to the senate, when the parties 
 
 180ii. In IMO he removed with his family were evenly balanced, he was elected .-peaker 
 
 to Alabama. He w:is repeatedly elected to notwithstanding. 
 
 the legislature of that state, and was a dele- This was an important session. The 
 gate fii.im Tuscaloosa Coui;ty to the eonven- lunatic a.sylum was constructed, and the 
 tion which formed the state constitution, lie proposition to make internal imprtn-oments by 
 was a candidate for governor and defeated by a railroad connecting the mountains \'> it!i the 
 William W. Bibb. Fn 182(> he was a commis- seaboard,invol ving an apiiropriation of -J^jOOOj- 
 siouei' to adjust the unsett led accounts between 000. The latter bill [lassod the lower House 
 Alabama and Mississippi. In 18:j2 he was hy a close vote, and after a warm and able 
 elected judge of the county court, whii h he discussion, which was maintained i.iy both 
 resigned, having attained the ivge of seventy, -ides with elo^ience and aliiiity, and listened 
 V\Tiich the constitution declared a disqualiflca- to with breathless anxiety hy a cro\\'dcd gal- 
 tion in ajudge. He died October 29, 185n. lery, the vote was taken, and stood yeas 24, 
 
 C;d',in Craves was lie,rn in Caswell County, nays 24. The vote was handed by the 
 
 in January, 1804. He was the son of Azariali clerk to the speaker, upon whom all eves were 
 
 (.^ra\'es. His mother was the daughter of now turned; Mr. Graves arose froi.i his 
 
 Cobniel John AVilliams, who took a decided chair, and in a clear and audible voice an- 
 
 [•art ill the revolution, and was Lieutenant- noanccd the cote: " The clerk reports twenty- 
 
CASWELL COUXTY. 10!) 
 
 fdur ill tlic affirniitivc aiul t\vc>nty-four ill the fnua public life, and moved to Mirisoiiri; hut 
 
 ne','ative. The speaker votes in the afRrina- at'tvr a short time he returned to Nortli Caro- 
 
 tive: the hill has passed the senate." lina, and was again elected a meniher ^f the 
 
 The plaudits were deafenini;, and the session state senate from 1858 to 1862, and in ISOS. He 
 
 of the senate hroken up, without adjourning; died at home December 6th, 1870, lamented 
 
 tumultuous joy came from one side, and sullen by tlie state and nation. 
 
 murmurs from the other. Whatever views His character as a statesman wa-; like 
 
 may now he entertained .if the pdicy of this Bayard's," without fear or reproach." He was 
 
 hnw,it was at the time an act of political suicide distinguished for his firmnchvs and unquestioned 
 
 by Mr. Graves; lie never again appeared in the integrity. ILs friends did n^t claim f<.r him 
 
 legislature. Like Coriolanus, when yielding an e<iual rank in the intellectual power winch 
 
 to the entreaties of his mother, he might say: marked the career of many with whom ho 
 
 " Mother, you may have saved your country, but you was associated, but he was the peer of aiiy in 
 
 have lost your son." integrity, patriotism and purity of life. 
 
 Mr. Graves married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Thompson is a native of diswell 
 
 John C. Lea, by whom he had an interesting County; born May 15, 1810. His father, 
 
 family. He died some few years ago. Nicholas Thompson, was a respectabb' and 
 
 Bedford Brown was a native of Caswell, worthy man, wlio bestowed on his son every 
 
 where he lived and died; he was born advantage of education. His early .-^tudic- 
 
 in 1795, a farmer by profession, a patriotic were conducted by .\Ir. Bingham at Hillsboro, 
 
 statesman, and an unflinching advocate of the and finished at the university, where he grad- 
 
 ri"-hts of the state. uated in 1831, in a class with Thomas L. 
 
 ^He early embarked on the sea of politics, Clingman, James C. Dobbin, and others; and 
 
 in which he bad a long and successful voy- he was for a time a tutor in the Cdllege. He 
 
 age. He entered ihe House of Commons in studied law with Honorable John .\L Dick, and 
 
 1815. At 'one time (1817,) this county was licensed in 1834, 
 
 sent Bartlett Yancey to the senate, and Kom- The next year be moved to Pontotoc, Mis- 
 
 nlus M. Saunders and Bedford Brown to sissippi, and entered at once upon the practice 
 
 the commons. This was a triumvirate of of the law. 
 
 ability r.ot excelled in the legislators of any He was elected a member of congress from 
 
 other county in the state. Mr. Bn.wn entered Mississippi in 1839, and continued by suc- 
 
 public life at an important epoch in our history, cessive elections in that position until 1851, 
 
 The democratic principles he adopted then when he decline(i a re-uoinination. During 
 
 and there, he maintained through life. He this period he passed though many scenes of 
 
 was elected frequently to the legislature, and extraordinary interest and excitement. Ques- 
 
 in 1828 and 1829 was chosen speaker of the i.ionsof importance were agitated, in which Mr. 
 
 senate. In the latter year he was elected Thompson bore a distinguished part in defend- 
 
 I'nited States Senator to succeed Governor ing the honor of the country and the interests 
 
 r> ranch, who was appointed Secretary of the of his constituents. The sub-treasury, the 
 
 Xavy. Here he served till 1840, when he re- Xew Jersey case, the Mexican war, Mississip^.i 
 
 signed under instructions from the legislature, repudiations, and other questions agitated 
 
 He again entered the legislature in 1842, the nation, 
 
 and was again a candidate for the senate, but He bore himself as a statesman and a 
 
 not elected. He then withdrew for a time patriot. 
 
110 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 On the resignation of Robert J. Walker mcnt. He and others were arrested by Georire 
 as senator, in 1845, to assume the duties of W. Kirk. 
 
 Secretary' of the Treasury under Mr. Polk, he 
 was ap))ointed Senator of the United States; 
 -but for some reason, he did not accept the 
 commission. 
 
 In 1857, he was appointed Secretary of the 
 
 Upon Ids ai>plieation for a writ of liabeas 
 cor[:ius, I copy from the records the following: 
 
 ''Before Chief Justice Pearson, cr-parte John 
 Kerr, at chambers in the rooms of the supreme 
 court, August 2nd, 1870. 
 
 'The counsel for the petitioner, upon the re- 
 
 Tnteri\ir by .M''. Buchanan, over which depart- {,„.„ f,f ^\^^^ marshal of the supreme court, and 
 
 ment bo presided with unexampled integrity the communication from George W. Kirk 
 
 and abilit v, rntil tlie great civil war between ^f^'^ ''e^^^ contended that Kirk's response to 
 
 the service of the writ of habeas corpus upon 
 
 the states began, when he resigned, preserving i^;,,^ ^^hat lie held the prisoner under order of 
 
 the resi)ect and regard of his associates When Governor lloldcn,) was insutiiuent upon sev- 
 
 Mississipi.i sei-edod, xMr. Thompson deemed it era! grounds, and that he ought to be attached 
 
 , . , , , ,. n , ,. , TT foi" niakinsi' it. Ilie counsel, thereiore, moved 
 
 his duty to share her fortunes and her fate. He j.^,. .^ ^^.^^^^.^ to have the body of the peti- 
 
 wasemploycil l)v the Confederate government tioiier brouglit before the chief justice, &c." 
 
 as a financial agent, and suftei'ed deeply in the 
 wreck of his once princely estate. He now 
 resides nea'' Memphis, pursuing the vocation 
 of [ilanter. 
 
 He married in 1838, Miss Jones, whose kind 
 disposition and genial manners shed a charm 
 
 On this the chief justice delivered the fol- 
 Idwiug decision: 
 
 "Tlie motion is not allowed. I can say no 
 more tiian I have already said. The power of 
 the judiciary is exhausted. I have no posse 
 coinii)it(itt(s. In this particular, ray situation 
 
 over every circle. Their only son was in the iliffcrs from tliat of Chief Justice Taney, in 
 
 'Merriman's case.' He had a posic cotnmitntus 
 at his command, but considered 'the power of 
 judiciary exhausted.' He did not deem it his 
 duty to command the marshal with n posse 'to 
 storm a fort.' " 
 
 The time has not yet come to comment upon 
 
 Confederate army, and fell in battle. 
 
 John Keri', late one of the judges of the 
 superior courts, resided in this county. He 
 ■was the son of t he lieverend John Kerr, who was 
 ,in eminent Baptist preacher of great elo- 
 quence; h- lopresented the Lynchluirg dis- all these circumstances, yet some of the re- 
 trict, Vii-ginia, in the Thirteenth and Four- corded facts may be detailed for future refer- 
 teenth Congress. Hi.s son, the subject of our ence. It was, indeed, a fearful epoch in our 
 present sketch, was boi'n on Febrniiry 10th, 1811, history wlien the lives and liberties of inno- 
 in Pittsylvania Ci)unty, Vii-ginia. Educated cent and wortliy citizens were exposed to the 
 at home and at Richniond, lie read law with tender mercies of lawless power. 
 Judge Pear.son. He was elected a member of TTiat " the great writ of right " was power- 
 the Thirty-third Congress from this less and exhausted in the state struck the 
 district; and >vas the whig candidate for gov- whole country with dismay. 
 eriior in 1S51, but was defeated by (jov^rnor It forcibly brought to mind the prophetic 
 Reid. He' represented Caswell C:-unty in the remarks of Lord Shelburne to Mr. Laurens, of 
 legislature in 1 8.58 and ISGO. South Carolina, once our envoy to Holland and 
 
 During ilie civil war, he was employed in liis Pu'esid-ent of Congress, who had Ijeen a prisoner 
 
 professional and agricultural pursuits. Wiien in the Tower ( 1779j for some time; after his re- 
 
 the v.-ar clusod he suffered much tribulation lease, in au interview with England's Secre- 
 
 and in. 'lignity at the hands of those who were tary of State, the following conversation oc- 
 
 atten.pting to reconstruct the state govern- curred: 
 
CA8WELL COUNTY. Ill 
 
 "I am sorry for your people," said Lord Shcl- to tlic bench of the superior court.-, which ilis- 
 
 huriie, "that thev liave gained their indcpen- tinsjuished post lie lield till Ids death, 
 
 dence." "Why so ?" asked Mr. Laurens._ "We j^^^^ j^^.,.,. ,_^^,, ,,, -,,,,.0^ ,^^g„ app-i'itcd to 
 
 Ensjlish people cnmed it, by centuries ot , , , , , wi 1 \ 
 
 wrangling, years of battle and blood, and con- a seat on the bm,!; by the govcrMor, ( ( lark,) 
 
 tinned it'hy at least fifty acts of parlianioiit," l,nt Judge' Gilliaui was elected by tlit- Icgisla- 
 
 answered his lord.^hip. ' "All this taught the ^^^^.^^ 
 
 nation its inestimable value, and it is so ' . , , . ... 
 
 ingrained in their creed as to become the '^'^^^S^ Iv^-t, m the pahny day o. pohtic, 
 
 foundation of our liberty and no judge or gained much reputation as a skiltul and elo- 
 
 party will ever dare to trample upon it. quent debater; of a kind and social tempera- 
 
 Your people will pick it up, and attempt „„„t, j,, „,,, ^^e who in the tilt and t<u,rha- 
 to use It; but having cost them nothing, the} 
 
 will not know how "to appreciate it. At the mcnt of the political arena, so bore hnasult that 
 
 tirst internal feud you will have it trampled "the (.pposer would beware of him." Hut the 
 
 under foot by the lawless power of the major- ,„g]|,3,,.j, . gft-^^.^ of i,ge lessened tbis trait, an<l 
 
 ity; the people will permit It to be done, and ° .■ .^ n .■ ^ \ i 1 1 
 
 away goes your boasted liberty." ^« ^ member ot the BaptKst church, he earned 
 
 "gentle peace" and good will of all. He was 
 
 An application was tlieii made to Judge an earnest advocate of education, one of the 
 
 Brooks, of the United States District Court, trustees of the university, and the pre^ident 
 
 on August 25th, 1870, for a writ. Tbis of the North Carolina Historical Society, 
 
 he caused to be issued against Kirk, "reqnir- He died on September 5th, 1870,. at hi> 
 
 ing him to bring before the court the prisoners home in Reidsville, after a lingering iUnoss 
 
 detained in military custody." of several mDiitb-. 
 
 Governor Graham, Judge Mcrrimon, and K. Connected with the memories of the past, 
 H. Battle, jr., appeared for the petitioners, it may not be improper to record the myste- 
 whilst the Attorney-General Olds, and Messrs. rious mui'der of John W. Stepli--ns, of this 
 J. M. McCorkle and William H. Bailey, a[i- county, which occurred May 21, 1870. Stephens 
 peared for the detViidant. On the return made was a native of Guilford County, loru Octo- 
 to the writ, by Kirk, and after argument, the her, 1834; one of the disreputable waifs of cir- 
 prisoners were released. No case had everoc- cumstance whom the troubled waves of civil 
 (. urred that more excited the county. The war brought to the surface. ' He was of low 
 course of Judge Brooks was commended, not origin, of dissolute habitsand disreputable char- 
 only by public meetings in the state, but in acter. He had been arraigned for petit Larceny 
 Baltimore and elsewhere. and other ofienses. His mother was found mur- 
 On his return to his home in Elizabeth city, dered in his house in broad daylight, with her 
 a perfect ovation by men of all parties awaited throat cut from ear to ear, and no one ever 
 him. They expressed their "appreciation of knew, nor did the coroner's jury deciile, by 
 his fidelity in er.foiving the law." No con- whom or how the murder was done. Yet, 
 (lueringhero,returningfromthe field of victory, this man was, in 1868, elected senator over the 
 could have received such applause. It was the Honorable Bedford Brown; and appointed by 
 triumph of the law and of justice over misrule the governor, he served as a justice of the 
 and oppression. (See sketch of Judge Brooks peace, and was granted a license l>) practice 
 in Pasquotank County.) The sufferings and law by Judge A. \V. Tourgee. 
 contumely thus endured by Judge Kerr e.x- On Saturday, May 21st, 1870, a meeting 
 cited the sincere sympathy of the country, of the conservative party of Caswell County 
 and he was elected by the legislature, in 1874, was held in the court house at l^'auceyville to 
 
112 WHEELER'S REMINISCEXOES. 
 
 nominate candidates for tlie le^-islnturo. knife, two in the throat, tiie other stab on the 
 
 Speeches were made by Samuel P. Hill, Bed- loft (.>f the breast bone, penetrating the cavity 
 
 ford lli'own, and otliors. A large number at- of the chest, inflicted by the iiands of some per- 
 
 tended, among them M'as Steiihens. At night sons unknown; of which wound the said John 
 
 he was missing, and search was made. The W. Stephens died, on May 21st, 1870. between 
 
 next morning, in one of the rooms in the Ijasc- the hours of four and seven o'clock, p. m." 
 
 ment of the court liouse, the dead lioily of A^arions surmises have been made as to the per- 
 
 Stephens was found. The jury of inrpiest re- sons and motives of this mysterious murder, 
 
 ported "tlie death of John W. Stepliens was But no positive evidence was elicited, and per- 
 
 causL'(l 03' a small rope drawn around his neck haps it is only when the secrets of all hearts 
 
 in a noose, and by three stabs with a pocket are known, will the facts be ascertained. 
 
 M;5 
 
 CTTAPTER XII. 
 
 CHATHAM COUNTY. 
 
 There lived in this county during the rovo- bon>' ::!.l M-ized the Governor (Eurke.) and 
 
 lutionai-y war, one of the most daring and des- other [,:ominent whigs, and carried them to 
 
 perate tories that those dangiu-ous times pro- AVilmington as piison crs of war. 
 
 duccd. by the name of David Fanning. lie I atlempted, in the history of K(U-th Caro- 
 
 was born about 1754. in Wake County, and in linn, to give a brief sketch of this noted 
 
 1778 moved to Chatham. The occupation of marauder Viudcr tliC liead of Chathani C(mnty. 
 
 Wilmington by the British troops afforded an Since writing this, I have been so fortunate 
 
 opportunity fu' his nefarious depredations, as to find in manuscript, an ant<'-biography 
 
 One of the earliest sufferers was Charles Shear- writter. by Fanning himself, which is very 
 
 inc, of Deep River, to whose house he went at lengtlir and minute; this has already l)een 
 
 night, and shot him dead as he fled. His publifiiied. He was a refugee after the war 
 
 energy and desperation were appreciated bj- closed, a.nd died in St. Johns, I'rovinee of Kew 
 
 the British authorities, and be was made col- Brunswiek, in 1825. 
 
 onel of the loyal militia, and Major Craig, at Ciiarles Manly, born 1795, died 1871, late 
 
 Wilmington, presented him with a uniform Governor of Korth Carolina, was a native of 
 
 and pisti)ls. this county. 
 
 One of his earliest successes was the capture llis father, Basil Manly, was born and raised 
 
 of Colonel Philip Alston, at his house. In July, in St. Mary's County, Mai'yhmd. II ,■ removed 
 
 1784, be entered Canqibellton, now Fayette- to North Carolina before tlie revu!r,i-on, and 
 
 ville, and ciirried oif Colonel P]imett, Captain seitled ir. Blailen Courity. He was ;^ bold and 
 
 Winslow, and others. On Septendier 12th, active partizan ofiicer, holding the cj iimission 
 
 following, he, with a troop, entered Hills- of captain during that war. 
 
CHATHAM COUXTV 
 
 113 
 
 He nianiod Elizabeth Maultshy. On iic- 
 couiit of ill healtli, ho ixnnoved to Chathaiu 
 County, where he died in 18:24, much respectoil 
 I'or his high moral eouragc, and his intlexilile 
 integrity. Having had hut a limited eduea- 
 tion hiuiselt', he felt its importanee and ad- 
 vantages, and he devoted all the energies 
 of an indnstrioiis and frugal life to the ho- 
 stowal of its benelits on his sons. Hl' lived 
 to aeeomplish this cherished object of liis life, 
 and with liis pious and exemplary wife, a 
 woman of great mental endo\vmeMts, to rejoice 
 in the happy result of their joint efforts and 
 pravers, the eminent success in life of their 
 three distinguished sons, Charles Manly, Basil 
 Manly, (who graduated at the Siuth Carolina 
 university, with the tirst honors of the institu- 
 tion, liorn 1798- died at (Greenville, South 
 Carolina, 18G8,) and Matthias Evans Manly, of 
 New Berne, late judge of the superior and 
 of the supreme courts in this state, also elected 
 senator in congress, but denied his seat. 
 
 Charles Manly, the eldest son, was born in 
 -the County of Chatham, on May 13th, ITl'.J. 
 He was prepared for college by that excellent 
 classical schohir, the late William Bingham, 
 at the Pittsboro academy, and graduated at t he 
 university in 1814, with the tirst distinction in 
 all his classes. In this class was AaronV. Brown, 
 of Tennessee, (member of congress, 1839 to 
 1843; Governor of Tennessee, 1844, and Post- 
 master-General of the United States, 1857;) 
 Hon.s. James Graham, and John Hill, both in 
 after life members of congress, and others.* 
 
 The treasurer of the state, the late John 
 Haj'wood, attended this commencement, and 
 was so attracted by the talents and proficiency 
 of this young man, that he engaged him as a 
 private tutor for his sons. This position \va.- 
 highly advantageous. For besides the advai,t;i^ 
 ges of enjoying the regard and society of Mr. 
 Haywoe)d, one of the most popular men at 
 
 *For much of this materi;il, I am indebted to a bio- 
 graiihica! sketch by James M. Cleaveland. 
 
 that time in the state, and an aseociation with 
 prominent and leading men, he was enabled 
 to [>ros(!cute the study of the law without 
 eutrenehing upon the narrow income ot' his 
 father, lie was admitted to the bar in 1816, 
 and commenced the practice of law with great 
 success. 
 
 On the death of General Robert Williams, 
 in whose office he read law, he was appointed 
 his successor as treasvirer of the boaril of 
 trustees of the university, and in that capacity, 
 for a series of years, rendered faithful and 
 signal ser\'ice to that venerable institution. 
 
 In 1823, he was appointed, on the motion of 
 John Stanley, the reading clerk of the House 
 of Commons. The same year, (1823.) he was 
 a[ipointed cderk to the commission under the 
 treaty of Ghent, to examine the claims of 
 American citizens for slaves and other proji- 
 erty taken \>y the British, during the war 
 of 1812. Langdon I'heves, of South Car- 
 olina, and Henry Seawell, of North Carolina, 
 were the American commissioners; George 
 .Jackson and John .McTavish were the 
 British commissioners. The board sat at 
 Washingtiin. This was a position m :>.-t de- 
 sirable and imiiroving to a young man. afford- 
 ing a pa>s-port to the best society at the capital. 
 But its duties interfered so much with his 
 professional pursuits at home, that he soon 
 resigned. 
 
 The Alumni a.ssoeiation of the university 
 resolved to have an annual address at each 
 cornnieneemeMt, and Mr. Manly delivered the 
 first in 1838, which was most acceptable, 
 and was considereil a model of chaste and pop- 
 ular elocution. 
 
 In 1830, he succeeded that tine specimen of 
 '• the old sch.iol gentlemen," Pleasant Hen- 
 derson, as principal clerk of the House of Com- 
 mons, aiid remained, by continuous elections 
 in the san\(,' odice, with one intermission, until 
 1848, v.-hen he was elected governor of the 
 state. He had never been ambitious in polit- 
 
114 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ical preferment. In 1S40, he was elected an ners, and nmgnetic humor. No or.e wasahetter 
 
 elector, and in the electoral college of that year, conversationalist,oi' more abounded in anecdote 
 
 cast the vote of North Carolina for Wil- and reminiscences of men and times. His 
 
 liam II. Harrison and John Tyler. In 1S44, he keen sense of tiie ridiculous, and his inimita- 
 
 was defeated as seiuitor foi' "VVake, Init he filled ble manner of narration, made him a welcome 
 
 various otlier oiKces of confidence and trust guest, and " his flashes of men inient were wont 
 
 with great credit to iiimself, and satisfaction to to set the table on a I'oar;" his wit was never 
 
 the state. Among these positions were direct- used to wound, and left no sting behind. Pond 
 
 or of the state l)ank, a commissioner to sell and of society, his house was the r^'sort of friends 
 
 collect the proceeds of the sale of Cherokee who partook of his unstinted iios[iit;dity. To 
 
 lands in the western part of the state, and the call of misfortune his hand was everopen. 
 
 treasurer of the university-. As a counsellor he was an honest and safe one. 
 
 In the campaign for governor in 1848, the Zealous in the interest of his client, and fair 
 
 election being by popular suflrage, he can- in argument, respectful to the bench, and kind 
 
 vassed the whole state with great satisfaction and considei'ate to the members of the bar, 
 
 to his friends, and with the respect of his op- especially to his younger brethren. But with 
 
 ponents. He was elected by a handsome all his other admirable traits of character, and 
 
 majority; inaugurated governor on January nbove a\],he wasacliri.'^tiantjenllcm;//). He was 
 
 1st, 1849, and served the constitutional for years in fidl communion and membership 
 
 term of two years. In 1850, he was again of the Episcopal church; an admirer of its 
 
 nominated by the whig convention tenets, and a follower of its pi-ecepts. 
 was again op]iosed by that able and astute Such was Charles Manly. His latter days 
 
 statesman, David S. Reid, and was defeated, were darkened by the cloud of civil war, and 
 
 Afterwards he retired to private life. With him, the hand of disease. His substance was dis- 
 
 " the sceptre departed " from the whig party poiled, his farms ravaged by hostile hands, and 
 
 for a long time, for after Governor Reid. came his health prostrated. He dieil at Raleigh 
 
 (Jovernors Bragg, Ellis, Clark and Vance. on May 1st, 1871. Like Wolsey 
 
 Governor Manly married in 1817, Charity, '■ Full of repentance, 
 
 daughter of William H. Haywood senior Contin.iecl meditations tears and sorrows. 
 
 ^ j^icij VI MDu, ^eijiui. He gave his honors to the world agam 
 
 By this mari'iage he because the brother-in- His blessed part to Heaven, aud slept in peace." 
 
 law of the late William H. Haywood, junior; Christopher Gale resided in Edenton 
 
 senator in congress, (1843,) as also of E. B. and did such service in the defe.ise of the 
 
 Dudley, the first governor of the state under colony that his name should be preserved. 
 the amended constitution of 18:;5. We regret that neither traditi-u or record 
 
 As might naturally be supposed, the promi- utfords much information as to his acts and 
 
 nent positions he bad held, especially his long services, and that the dust of time is fast ob- 
 
 connection witli the young and rising genera- scuring the little information we possess, yet 
 
 tiou at the university, and with those in this should encourage others to rescue from 
 
 active life in the legislature, as its principal oblivion bis life and character, 
 clerk, and as governor, that he was extensively He was a native of England, bur:i in York 
 
 known to every man of prominence and shire, son of Miles Gale, rector of a church in 
 
 distinction, especially those in the South. He Yorkshire. He came t.) America, and in 1709 
 
 was univerally respected wherever known, and was appointed receiver general, and in 1723 
 
 became a great favorite with his genial man- was appointed one of the council of Governor 
 
CHATHAM COUNTY, 
 
 115 
 
 George rturrington, witli Tlioums I'ollock, and Craii^c on tlic other, while Roncher circu- 
 
 Francis Forster, John Lovick and otliers; hited quietly among the peojile, and gained 
 
 when he was at the same time chief justice of the votes. He was elected a nieniher of the 
 
 the colony. In 1729, with Colonel John Tweiity-tirst, Twenty-second, Twenty-tiiird, 
 
 Lovick, Edward Mosely, and William Little, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Congress, 
 
 he was appointed one of the commissioners to (1829 to ISSP.) He was again elected to the 
 
 run the line hetween North Carolina and Vir- Twenty-seventh Congress, (1841 to 1843.) This 
 
 ginia; Colonel William Byrd, Richard Fitz- was a stormy period of our political history. 
 
 William and William nandri<lge, being the Harrison died after being in the presidential 
 
 commissioners for Virginia. The journal of chair one m(»nth, and Tyler succeeded. The 
 
 these commissioners has been preserved and friendsof the party calculated on Tylerpursuing 
 
 printed.* 
 
 William Little, chief justice, married a 
 daughter of Judge Gale. He was active in 
 resisting the attacks of the Tuscaroras, and 
 went to South Carolina for aid, which was 
 promptly furnished, and Colonel Moore was 
 despatched with a sufficient force to subdue 
 them. 
 
 Chistouher Gale died in Edenton, where he 
 lies buried, and left a name that was never 
 mentioned but with respect. t 
 
 Aliram Rencher resides in Chatham County, 
 but was born in AYake about 1804. He fin- 
 ished his education at the university where he 
 graduated in 1822 In the same class was 
 Bishop Davis, AYashington Morrison, and 
 
 a course ditferent from the line he had marked 
 out. Mr. Clay and other leaders often assailed 
 him with great bitterness. This was a fierce 
 and violent contest. A very few of the old 
 whigs stood firm, and so they were called "the 
 corporal's guard." One of these was Mr. 
 Rencher. After his term in congress had ex- 
 pired he was appointed, in 18i3 , eli'trge de ajf'aires 
 to Portugal, where he remained four years. 
 
 On his return home he took an active part 
 in the election of Franklin Pierce, and was one 
 of the electors of the state. 
 
 He was made governor of the territory of 
 New Mexico, by President Buchanan. 
 
 John M. Mooring, speaker of the present 
 house of representatives of the North Carolina 
 
 others. He studied law with Judge Nash, at legislature, (1879,) is a native of Chatham 
 
 IIillsbor(\ County, born March 11th, 1841. He was edu- 
 
 Ile early engaged in political life. In 1829, cated at Graham, and at the university, and 
 
 he was a candidate for the state senate, and would have graduated in the class of 1863 
 
 was defeated; but in the same year, a vacancy had not the civil war prevented. He joined 
 
 occuring in congress from this district, he be- the army as a private in company G, seventh 
 
 came a candidate, with Judge Pearson and regiment, and was sergeant-major at the sur- 
 
 Burton Craige as opponents. This was a strife 
 involving much intellectual power, and the 
 great question as to the power of the govern- 
 ment, and the rights of the state, and other 
 topics, were argued b}' Pearson on the one side 
 
 * See W'estover Hss 
 
 tKeconls from Board of Trade; University Magazine, 
 volume v., 221.) 
 
 render of Johnson at Greensboro, 1865. He 
 studied law, and in 1872 elected member of 
 the legislature, and re-elected in 1874, 1876 
 and 1878, when he was chosen speaker. He 
 is a good speaker, and a laborious member. 
 His even touiper, genial disposition, and quick 
 preception of jioints of order, render him an 
 admirable presiding officer. 
 
116 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 CHOWAN COUNTY. 
 
 Tills county, in tlio earlier days of the state, 
 was the residence of the Ro\'ul governors, and 
 its capital town preserves the name of Charles 
 Eden, who was governor under the Lord 
 Propiietors, from 1713 to 1722. The adminis- 
 tratioii of Eden was eminently prosperous. His 
 grave is still to be seen on Salmon Creek, in 
 Bertie County, and tlie marble bears the in- 
 scription tliat he governed the province for 
 eight years; that he dietl March 26th, 1722, 
 aged forty -nine years. Dining his adminis- 
 tration a notorious pirate lived in North Caro- 
 lina, and whose name is preserved by "Teach's 
 Hole," near Ocracoke Inlet. Inasmuch as at 
 this point be was in the habit of careening liis 
 vessel, the "Adventure," and it was here, at 
 the head of only seventeen inen, he met the 
 Virginia naval expedition sent out for his cap- 
 ture, of M'honi he killed and wounded thirty 
 before he fell — gallantry and conduct worthy 
 of a better cause! The reputation of Governor 
 Eden suffered by a, supposed intimacy with 
 Teach, and he was compelled to lay before the 
 council an acc(.)unt of his conduct. 
 
 I copy from a very scarce woi'k, "A General 
 History of the 1 iratestrom their tii'st rise and 
 settlement to the present time,'" by Charles 
 Johnson, fourth edition: London 172G, referred 
 to in AValdic's select circulating library, i'hil- 
 adelphia, 1883,1., 123; 
 
 "Edward Teach, better known as 'Black- 
 iteard,' was born in Bristol, England. He was 
 engaged as a private sailor till 1716, when a 
 Captain Hornsgold,a noted pirate, placed him in 
 command of a sloop which he had made prize 
 of. They sailed together for the American coast, 
 capturing mnuy ships and plundering them.' 
 Alter various cruises they were shipwrecked 
 on the coast of North Carolina. Teach hear- 
 ing oi' a proclamation by which pirates who 
 
 surrendered were to be pardoned, went with 
 twenty of his men to the goveriKjr of the -tate, 
 and received certificates of pardon from him. 
 But it does not appear that their submission 
 was from any reformation, but rather to gain 
 time and opportunity for a renewal of their 
 nefarious deeds. Teach had .succeeded in cul- 
 tivating the kind offices of the governor, and 
 soon after brought in, as a prize, a merchant 
 ship, which the vice-admiralty court of the 
 province awarded as a lawful prize to Teach. 
 In June, 1718, he sailed for the Bermudas, and 
 took many ships on his vo^-age, among them 
 two French .ships, one was loaded with sugar 
 and cocoa, and the other in ballast; the latter 
 with both crews he released, and the other lie 
 brought to North Carolina. Teach and his 
 officers claimed them as lawful prizes, and 
 made affidavits that they found the prize at 
 sea without a smil on board, and the court 
 condemned her. The governor (Eden,) re- 
 ceived sixty hogsheads of sugar for his part, 
 Mr. Kniglit, his secretary, one, and the collec- 
 tor of the province twenty. 
 
 "Thus countenanced and protected. Teach 
 became most daring, desp'crate and dangerous, 
 lie infested the whole coast, particularly the 
 waters of Delaware, A^irginia, and the Caro- 
 linas. In Novenilier, 1718, Governor Spotts- 
 wood, of Virginia, offered a reward of £100 
 for Teach, dead or alive. 
 
 "On the 17th of the same month, Lieutenant 
 Maynard sailed from Kicipietan, on the James 
 river, in search of Blackbeard. On the 31st, 
 at the mouth of Ocracoke Inlet, he came in 
 sight of the pirate. Blackbeard had been ad- 
 vised of this movement by a letter from Mr. 
 Knight, Governor Eden's secretary. Ho im- 
 mediately prepared for a desperate resistance. 
 A terrible conliict ensued in which Blacicbeard 
 Was slain, fighting with great fury and desper- 
 ation. Maynard sailed up to Bath with the 
 head of the pirate nailed to the bowsprit of 
 his vessel. A letter was found in the pocket 
 of the dead pirate from Kniglit, dated 
 November 17th, 1717, a copy of which is 
 preserved in Williamson's History of North 
 Carolina. When the lieutenant came to Bath 
 town lie seized the sugar that the governor 
 and his secretary had received from Teach. 
 
(MIOWAN ("OrXTY. 117 
 
 The statement goes oil to sav 'tliat the gov- 4tli, 1775, showing tliir> si.irit. Tlie coniiiiit- 
 
 ernoi-, aiiprehensive tliat hf iiiiii'lit he called to j^,, ^-ere Kohort Ilaidy, (cliainnan.) Joseiili 
 
 iK-eoant,hecamo ill of a fright ami died in a n^,^^.^,^ l^,l,oi-t Smith. Jasper Cliarlton, dulni 
 
 icw days.' ' Kenihoiigh, William i'.ennet, Chailfs Bonti.dd, 
 
 III an autohiographical sketrh of i'.eiiiaiiiin Thomas Jones, and John (^ree.,.^ 
 Franklin, he sa\s that at a very eariy age Kven die menihers of tliv Kpiscopal clinrch, 
 (ahout fourteen,") he took a strange fancy for who have been charged hy some as being op- 
 poetry, and composed .several pieces, among P"sed to it.dapendence, were iirm and open 
 thcm\vrie tu-o ballads, one called tho"Light- against the opiiressionn of the British Govern- 
 hon.^e Tragedy," which contained an account nuMit, and resolved to stajid by the Contiuen- 
 of the shipwreck of Captain AN^orthifake and tal C\nigre^s. 
 
 his two daughters, the other was a sailor's We present a recv.rd from the proceedings 
 
 song on the capture of the noted pirate called of the vestry of St. Paul's P^piscopal Church, at 
 
 reach or BluckU'nrd. When they had been Edenton, copied by the kindness of Major 
 
 printed, Franklin's brother sent iiini an-und Henry A. Gilliam, now of Kaleiglu 
 
 the town to sell tlieiiK They had a prodigious ,,^ , ,■■,,■■ ii 
 
 , ^ , "We, the undersigned, prote.ssing our alle- 
 
 succcss, as the first event was then recent, and ^..^^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ j^.,,^^^ ^,,,^^ acknowledging the 
 
 created much excitement. constitutional executive power of the govern- 
 
 FoUowino- the sound advice of his father meiit, do solemnly profess and declare, that we 
 
 ., • * T-i 1 1 fi „ ,.,;c.f^,.fn.,a do absolutely believe that neither the Parha- 
 
 this great philosopher escaped the m.sfo.tune ^^^^^^ ^^. ^^^^^ Britian, nor any member, or 
 
 of being a poor poet, tor the success of these constituent branch thereof, have a right to 
 
 two ballads had greatly elated his young impose taxes upon these colonies to regulate 
 
 mind, an.lliutlittle'eucouragement was needed t'.e internal policy thereof; and that all at- 
 
 ° . tempt^s by fraud or torce to establish and ex- 
 
 to set him permanently to verse making. gj.^-^^ ^^^^^ ^1.^-^^^^ 3^,^^ powers are violations of 
 
 It is due to the truth of history to .say tlie peace and the security of the people, and 
 
 that there was no evidence to implicate Gov- ought to be resisted to the utmost; and that 
 
 ,, , . ^, ... , ,. .■ the people of this province, singly and collec- 
 
 ernor Eden in the nefarious transactions ot ^.^.^1^^,^ 1_.^ ,^^^^^^^j ^^^ ^,^^ ^^^^ ,^^^(^ resolutions 
 
 Teach. As to the statement "that he was so j^f ^f^g Continental and Provincial Congress, 
 
 aiiprehensive, and was so frightened, that he because- in both they are fully represented by 
 
 ,. , . ,. 1 ,. : ,„,„k". ;„„,.,.,„. f^,v + Ki„ iiersons chosen by themselves. And we do sol- 
 
 diod ill a tew (lavs, is trrossJv m erroi, toriuis ' , , . •• , • ^ ^ . 
 
 "'^ ' >uy , -, ,) ^ , emnly and sincerely promise and engage, under 
 
 was ill 1717, and Giivernor Eden, as appears ^j^^ sanctions of virtue, honor, and tiie sacred 
 
 by the ilate on his tiMiibstone, died live years love of liherty and our countiy, to maintain- 
 
 •ifterward-; '""-^ support all tli& acts and resolutions of the 
 
 ,^ ,'. . '""■ . . TT i-i > Ti 1 • *i said Continental and Provincial Congress to 
 
 Tradition points to Iloluday s Island, in the ^j^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^, ^^^^^g^, ^^^^ .^^-y^^^, 
 
 Chowan river, as one of Blaekbeard's haunts, " i^ testimony whereof, we have hereunto 
 
 and the mouth of J'otecasi Creek, where it set our hands, this 19th day of June, 1775. _ 
 
 .1 .1 r.i \r V. ..r;,> ,.;,..,. n. tin^ " Richard Iloskens, Wm. Boyd, David Rice, 
 
 enters the mouth ot the Meherrin n.vei, as the ,^.^^^^^^ Benbury,t Aaron Hill, Jacob Hunter, 
 
 [loint where he buried his spoils. Felatiah Walton, John Beasely, William 
 
 The people of this section were, in the revo- Ilinton, William Bennet, Thomas Bonner, 
 
 iiition, the firm friends of independence, and William Roberts." 
 the determined foes to oppression. The North 
 
 Carolina Gazdte, of February 24th, 1775, con- ^'I'^se names are doubtless familiar with 
 
 tains the proceedings of the Committee of ";;:;,,„,„ Records in Holls Office, copied by me. 
 
 Safety for the town ot Edenton, on February fThomas Eenbury was speaker in 1778 to 1784. 
 
118 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 many yet residing in Edenton. llnw proml 
 nia}' they be of !^<> glowing a record! 
 
 The patriotism of the men was ef|Ualled by 
 the self denial of the women. 
 
 There was brought from Gibraltar, many 
 years ago, a lovelj painting of "a meeting of 
 the ladies of Edenton destroying the tea, their 
 favorite beverage, when taxed by the English 
 Parliament." I saw this picture in the hands 
 of Mr. Ahmniug in 1S30. 
 
 The following r,eeord is from Ftirce's Ameri- 
 can Archives-. 
 
 '' As wc cannot be inditf'erent on any 'Occa- 
 sion that aftVets the peace and happiness of 
 onr count}', and as it has been thought neces- 
 sary for the public good to enter into several 
 particular reso'lves Ijv a meeting of the depu- 
 ties of tlie wliole provinice, it is a duty we owe, 
 not oni}- to ourselves, hut to our near and dear 
 relations, to do everything as far as lies in our 
 power to testify to our sincere adherence to the 
 same; we, tlierefore, do subscribe this paper 
 as a witness to our tixed intention and solemn 
 .determinatioiii." 
 
 Sign<?d b\' fifty -six ladies of Edenton, North 
 Cai-olina, October 2.3tii, 1771:. 
 
 There are liut few s.x'tinns of the states in 
 in which have resided men more illustrious 
 for ability, or who have written their names 
 more indolilily in the history of their country. 
 
 Among the first of thes3 is Samuel John- 
 ston; bill 11 lloo, <licd Iblt). lie was a native 
 of Dundee, Scotland, the son of John John- 
 ston and Helen Scrymsoui'. His father in 
 1736, followed Gabriel Johnston, who was his 
 hrother, and who was in I'^4 the governor of 
 the province of North Carolina, and after 
 whom Johnstmie Count}' is called. He died 
 July 17tb, 17o2. 
 
 He was a Scoteliman by birth, a man of 
 liberal views, and a iJiysician by profession. 
 He married Tenelope, the only child of Gov- 
 ernor Eden, and his gi'andson, William John- 
 stone Dawson, distinguislicd for his acquire- 
 ments and talents, in 1793 represented the 
 
 Edenton district in congress, and with Willie 
 Jones, .'oseph McDowell, Thomas Blount and 
 James Martin, was on the committee in 1791 
 to fi.x a permanent [)lace for the seat of gov- 
 ernment. He died in 1798; an event universall}' 
 regretted. 
 
 John, his brother, was appointed surve}'- 
 or-general of the province, and settled in 
 Onsk»w County, whilst the subject of this 
 sketch was yet an infant. His advantages of 
 education were the best the country afforded. 
 He studied law in Edenton, under Thomas 
 Barker, ami resided at Ha^'s, near Edenton. 
 When only nineteen he was appointed one of 
 the clerks of the superior court for the dis- 
 trict, and afterwards deputy naval officer for 
 the port. 
 
 Although holding this position, ho was the 
 ardent and unflinching advocate of the rights 
 of the people. 
 
 In 1773, he was appointed with Caswell, 
 Harnett and Hooper a committee of corres- 
 pondence with the other colonies on the sub- 
 ject of the conduct of England towards the 
 colonies. 
 
 In a dispatch from Governor Martin to tlie 
 Earl of Dartmouth, of September 1st, 1774, he 
 tlins speaks of the influence and the character 
 of Mr. Johnston : 
 
 " I have known the general a.ssembly to 
 sacrifice everything to a faction. 
 
 "four of them, namely Currituck. Perquim- 
 ons, Pasquotank and Chowan, send each five 
 members; Tyrell, Bertie and Martin send eight, 
 besides one tV>r Edenton. These are always 
 led by a man or two. They are now aiisolutel}' 
 under the guidance of a Air. J(dmstone, who 
 is deputy naval officer, and was one of the 
 clerks of the superior courts while they existed 
 in the province, who, under the prejudices of a 
 New England education, is b}' no means a 
 friend of the government, having taken a fore- 
 most part in all the late opposition, joined with 
 the Southern interest, which at pre--ent sup- 
 ports a Mr. Ashe. 
 
 •■'Your lordsbiji will not be surprised to hear 
 that the people of this province have followed 
 the example of the rest of the continent in 
 
CI low AX COUNTY. 
 
 119 
 
 caballing ami fonniiis; resolutions against the 
 lueasuros of the Goveninient."* 
 
 As was to 1)0 expected, (Jovernor M-irtin 
 SLispemloil Mr. Johnston from office, which 
 drew t'nmi iiim the following dignitiod letter, 
 now on tile in the Rolls Oflice in London: 
 
 "Edenton, A^ovembcr 16th, 177."). 
 
 "Silt: L iiave this day had the honor of re- 
 ceiving your e.xeellency's letter, signifying tiiat 
 you had heen pleased to suspend me from act- 
 ing as deputy- to Mr. Turner, in the Naval 
 otHce, with the I'easons for such removal, and 
 it gives me pleasure that I do not find neglect 
 of the duties of ni}' ofHce iu tlie catalogue of 
 my crimes; at the same time I hold m_yself 
 obliged to you for the polite manner iu which 
 you are pleased to express yourself of my i)ri- 
 vate character. You will pardon me for saying 
 that I had reason to complain of the invidious 
 point of view in which you place my public 
 transactions, when you state that 'the late 
 meeting of the inhabitants of this province at 
 llill^boro, was a body of my own creation.' 
 
 '•Your excellency cannot be ignorant tliat I 
 was a mere instrument on this occasion, under 
 the direction of the people; a people among 
 whom I have long resided, wiio have on all 
 occasions placed the greatest confidence in me, 
 and to whom I am bound b}' gratitude (that 
 powerful and inviolate tie in every honest 
 miinl,) to render an^' service they can demand 
 of me, in defense of what they esteem their 
 riglits, at the risk of my life and property. 
 
 "You will further, sir, be pleased to under- 
 stand, that I never considered myself in that 
 honorable light in which you place me — 'om of 
 the Kijitfs .'<erv<nils,^ being entiiely unknown to 
 those who liave the disposal of the King's 
 favors. I never enjoyed, nor had I right 
 to expect, ail}- office under His Majesty. The 
 office I held, and for some years exercised under 
 the depv.tation of Mr. Turner, was an hon- 
 est purchase for which I paid punctual!}' an 
 annual sum, and which I shall continue to [lay 
 until the expiration of the term for which I 
 would have held it, agreeably to our contract. 
 
 " i'ermit me, sir, to add that had all the 
 King's servants in this province been as ^vell 
 informed as to the disposition of tlie inbaiji- 
 tants, as they might have been, or taken the 
 same pains to promote peace, good order, and 
 obedience to the laws, that I flatter myself I 
 
 *Coloni:il Documents, Rolls Office, p. 184. 
 
 liave done, tiie .source of your excellency's un- 
 ceasing lamentations had never existed; or had 
 it existed, it would have been in so small a 
 degree that e'er this it would have been 
 nearl}' exhausted. 
 
 "But, sir, a recapitulation of pasi errors, 
 which it is now too late to corroel, would he 
 painful to me, and might appear impertinent 
 to you; I shall therefore decline the ungracious 
 tasic, and by and with all due respect, subscribe 
 myself, 
 
 "Your excellency's most 
 
 "obedient, bumble servant, 
 
 " 8.\ .M U KL J IIXSTONE. " 
 
 lie was a member from Chowan in 1775, to 
 the provincial congri'ss of the state, and suc- 
 ceeded, on the death of .lohn Harvey, as moder- 
 ator or [)i'e.sident. 
 
 He was present at Halifax at tiie formation 
 of the constitution in November, 177G, and 
 although not a member, afforded all the aid 
 of his experience iuid ability to develope the 
 conservative features of that instrument.. To 
 man}' of the principles adopted, he was 
 oi)i)Osed, fearing the depai'tui'e from the forms 
 long established and practiced was too great 
 to be useful. 
 
 In 1780 to 1782, he was a member of the 
 Continental Congress. f In 1787, he was elected 
 govenor of the state. He was an ardent and 
 enthusiastic admirer of tlie constitution of the 
 United States, an<l presided at the convention, 
 held July 21st, 1788, to consider that instru- 
 ment, hut it was rejected by that body. 
 In 17j9, he and Benjamin Hawkins were 
 elected the first senators ?n>m North Corolina 
 in the Congress of the United States: here 
 they served till 1798. 
 
 In February, 1800, he was appointed one of 
 the judges of the superior courts of law and 
 equity, which he resigned in November, 1803. 
 Ho died in ISltb 
 
 t While a meuiler of the (.'outinenta! ('oii}i:css he was 
 elected to the hif,'h honor of i)resiilent of tlKit IhhIv: but 
 he was coui|.i'11p(1 to forego this (li>tine(iiiii lucuuse of 
 the condition of his fuKuices. This lonipelleil his re- 
 turn to North Carolina, and he had thus to forego 
 what was then the hitjhest civil function in America. 
 — .Journal of Continental Consrcss- 
 
120 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Governor Jolinston wns mentally and lie left two children, Reverend Samuel J. 
 physically " eveiy inch a man." His intcllt'ct Johnston, D.D., for years routor of St. Paul's, 
 was of the highest order, cultivated hy learn- Edenton, and Sallie Anne, who married James 
 ing and experience. His person was imposing, H. Wynns. E.sther Cotten, the only otlier 
 of a large and powerful frame, erect and stately child of Godwin Cotton, married in 1804 
 in his carriage, and of ii'on will. He joined James Wright Moore, of Virginia. He was 
 the graces of the scdiolar with the wisdom of the son of Captain William Edward Moore, 
 the statesman.* and was noted for his manlj- and noble pres- 
 He was a devoted advoca.to of masoniy, and cnce, and his devotion to field sports. He, too, 
 was in 1788, grand master of the oi'der in the died early, leaving one son, Dr. Godwin C. 
 state. t Moore, and two daughters, Emeline, who mar- 
 He married Frances Catln-art, and had issue, ried first, ])r. N. W. Fletcher, of Virginia; her 
 among them James C. Johnston, who lived .second husl)and was Mr. LeVert, of Alabama, 
 ncai' Edenton, and died during the war he- and Sarah Matilda, married to Turner F. 
 tweeu the states, al)ont 1804, one of the Westray, of Nash, since dead. 
 wealthiest men of tlie state. He was so de- The genealogy of the Johnston family: 
 cidedly opposed to secession tliat he disin- John Johnston, brotlier to Gabriel John- 
 Iierited all his relatives, because they identified ston. Governor North Carolina 1734, married 
 themselves witli this war, and left his Helen Scrymsour, and had seven children. I. 
 property, amounting to many nnllions, to his Samuel. II. John, married Miss Williams and 
 personal friends. At the outbreak of the had the following children: [a] John, mar- 
 war he freed his slaves. He was a great ried Cotton, of Hertford County; (/^) Samuel 
 admirer of Henry Clay, whose debts, to a large Iredell, university class 182G, rector of St. 
 amount, Mv J(din.ston discharged witliout Paul's, Edenton; (c) Sally Ann, married to J. 
 Mr. Clay's knowledge; nor was Mr. Clay ever I>. Wynns ; ((i) Elizabeth, married to Philip 
 able to ascertain who was his benefactor. His Alston had .six children, and (< ) Anne, mar- 
 will was contested by his legal heirs, on the ried to Hunter, no issue. 
 
 ground of his biung nou coiiii>o.s- uniitis. III. Penelope, mari'ied to Parson Stuart, no 
 About this time John Johnston, who had, in issue. IV. ,lane, married to George Blair, 
 1787, 1788, 1789, represented P.ertie County and had {a) Helen, married to Tredwdl, had 
 in the senate, became a citizen of Hertford four children; {/i) William; (r-) Margaret, 
 County. He had married Betsey Cotten,daugh- married first to Dr. Hornier, and second to 
 ter of Godwin Cotten, of Mullierr_> Grove, and Mr. Sawyer, and had seven children; («/) Sam- 
 resided near there. He was of the same name uel, and (r) George, married Miss King, mem- 
 and nephew of Governor Johnston, of Chowan, bcr of legislature in 1829. 
 
 He was a man of high culture, but died too V. Anne died unmarried. VI. Isabella died 
 
 3'Oung to attain the traditional prominence unman led. VII. Hannah, married to James 
 
 and usefulness of his family. Iredell, (Judge of the Supreme Court of the 
 
 * University Magazine, V!il., 1. United States, born 1750, died 1799,) and had 
 
 t '-111 the loil'-e room at E.lenton,'- .says Mr. Banks four children: ('0 Thomas; (b) Annie- (,) 
 
 mtheOb-erver," there is a remarkable chair of heavy ^^ , ,,,>t , ^„n„^ ^^"^ 
 
 mahogany, carved with all tlic emblems of masonr.y, Helen, and ((/) James, born 1788. Governor of 
 
 with the words, -'virtuleetsileuto." This chair is the tv- ,.i /-i r i oot t^ -i. i o^ . 
 
 one which Genera] Washinstou occupied at miliains ^'^'■tl> Carolina 1827, I nited States Senator 
 
 ?^mf.Vv™;v f' ^^■=*Vl''l'"-"rr'. ''«!'*' '^""»g t'»e revohi- 1828. died 1853, leaving issue. 
 
 tiouary war tor safety. It is a venerable relic, and ' , f^ 
 
 possesses the reverence and regard of all masons." It's stated that this family is a lu'aneh of 
 
CI low AX COUNTY. 
 
 121 
 
 the house of Aiiiiaiuhile of Scotland. An ilhi- 
 sion is made in McRoo's "Life and Correspon- 
 dence of James Iredell," to the dorniant claim 
 to the Marquisitc of Annamlale, as existinic in 
 the Johnston laniily vi' North Carolina nor 
 is this claim a myth. 
 
 From a work on genealogy, reliable and \al- 
 iiahle, (the Peerage of Scotland, containing an 
 historical and genealogioid account of the no- 
 hility of that kingdom from their origin to 
 the present generation, by Sir Kohert Douglas, 
 in quarto, 1813,) I extract the following: 
 
 "George, third Marquis of Annandale, died 
 April •29th, 1792. He left an estate of £415,000. 
 It is understood that the title devolved on 
 James, (third Earl of Hopetown,) who, how- 
 ever, did not a.ssume the title but took the 
 name of Johnstone in addition to that of 
 Hope. It has not been determined whether 
 the title of the Marquis of Annandale has 
 become extinct, or devolves on the beir male 
 general of the family, or who is such heir male 
 general. 
 
 ''The motto of the f;unily is 'Ntmqiunn von 
 paratwi.^ — Vol. I., 77. 
 
 "The Johnston es were a race of brave and 
 warlike men, of great aower and authority on 
 the borders."— Vol. I.,'70. 
 
 From Family Romance; or, Episodes in the 
 Domestic Annals of the Aristocracy of Great 
 Britain. A work by Sir Bernard Burke, au- 
 thor of the Peerage, &c., fourth edition: Lon- 
 don, 1876: 
 
 •'Margaret, Lady Ogiivy, (wife of David, 
 Lord Ogiivy and daughter of Sir James Jq]ni- 
 stone,) Third Baronet of Westerhall and 
 Dame Barbara Murray, was one of the keenest 
 supporters of the unfortunate Prince Charles 
 Edwanl, when be raised his standard in Scot- 
 land in 1744. 
 
 " When the fortunes of Charles apjiroached 
 its close, Lord Ogilv}- was unwilling to continue 
 liis su|iport, and as the only way of securing 
 her hn.sband's attendance at the battle of Cul- 
 loden. Lady Ogiivy rode herself with him at 
 the head of the clan to the battle field, she 
 w:;s beautiful and graceful, and an admirable 
 rider. At the close of the day, her husband 
 rode breathless up to her, and told her ' the 
 
 battle was lo.st.' Tie escaped to France, where 
 he entered the army, and attained the hiirb 
 rank of Lieutenant-General under Najjoleon. 
 Lady Ogiivy was taken prisoner, tried, con- 
 victed, and sentenced to be executed in Edin- 
 burgh. She made her escape, by a fearless 
 stratagem, to France, where she joined her 
 husband; there she died at the early age of 
 tbirty-lhree. . She left one son, David, who 
 died' without issue, and one daughter who 
 nmrricd Sir John Wedderburn, heir of the 
 lIou.se of Airlic. 
 
 " She had several talented, distinguished and 
 fortunate brothers. Her second brother, Wil- 
 liam, married Miss Pulteney, daughter of 
 Daniel Pulteney, sole heiress of the Earl of 
 P>atb. In consequence of succeeding to her 
 innnense fortune Mr. Johstone assumed the 
 name of Pulteney. He became Fifth Baronet 
 and claimant of the Marquisate of Annandale 
 on the death of his eldest brother. Her only 
 daughter was created Countess of Bath, died 
 without issue. Her vast estates were inherit ed 
 by her maternal relatives; the Duke of Cleve- 
 land, and Sir Richard Sutton; Sir William 
 Johnstone Pulteney, heir in the WeshrhuU 
 estate, the American possessicns, and the claimant 
 to the Marquisate of Annandale is Sir 
 Frederick, the Eighth Baronet, great grand 
 son of the third soli of Sir James and Dame 
 Barbara. 
 
 " Sir James's fourth son, John, went to India, 
 made a fortune, and returned home, where he 
 purchased large estates in his native country. 
 Alva, ill the County of Clackmannan, and tiie 
 Hanging Show, in the County of Selkirk. The 
 family of Mr. .lohnstone's only son are numer- 
 ous and ju-osperous." Many of them emigrated 
 to America; pp. 108 to 173. 
 
 Some members of tliis family were engaged 
 in our late internicine war, and fell in batth-. 
 
 Although it is unquestionable as stated by 
 Whitman in his work on "American Geneal- 
 ogy,'' that any given family in our country, 
 claiming to be descended from any distin- 
 o-uished English familv of the same name is 
 doubtful, and .such claims should be severely 
 scrutinized; yet en, ugh has been shown from 
 the English authorities of unquestioned reli- 
 ability, that the claim of the Johnston fam- 
 ily in North Carolina to the title of the Mar- 
 quisate of Annandale of Scotland has some 
 
122 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 fouHdution,aiul iiiiglit re\v;n'd the (lesceiidiuit.s 
 in prosecuting tiie claim. 
 
 Joseph Ilewes, horn 1735, died 1770, one of 
 the signers of the Dechiration of Independence 
 of July 4th, 1776, from North Carolina, was 
 long a resident of Edenton. lie was a native 
 of New Jersey, and a merchant. 
 
 He was a member of the Colonial Congress 
 at New Berne in 1774, and in Ilillshoro in 1775; 
 olten a member of the House of Commons, 
 and a member of the Continental Congress at 
 Philadelphia, 1774 to 1777, and 1779 to 1780. 
 
 He died while in Congress at Philadelphia, 
 on November 10th, 1779. He left a large for- 
 tune hut no children to inherit it. He was 
 possessing in person, and of great amenity of 
 manners. His original miniature, beautifidly 
 executed, now in the possession of Miss Ire- 
 dell, at Charlotte, shows that he was very 
 handsome and of amiable countenance. 
 
 Mr. Ilewes was a man of exquisite delicacy 
 and retinement; he had been the accepted sui- 
 tor of Isabella, the sister of Samuel Johnston. 
 She died just previous to her nuptials, and he 
 soon followed her to the grave.* 
 
 It is not very complimentary to our state 
 pride that neitlier one of the signers of the 
 Declaration, as delegates from the state, were 
 native sons of North Carolina. William 
 Ilouper was a Roston man, Ilewes, a New 
 Jersey man, and John Penn, a Virginian. 
 
 Hugh Williamson, born 1735, died 1811), one 
 of the signers of the Constitution of the 
 United States, from North Carolina, resided 
 for a long time in Edenton. 
 
 He was a native of Pennsylvania, born De- 
 cember 5th, 1735, at Nottingham, a phy- 
 sician by profession. 
 
 He represented the town in 1782, and the 
 County of Chowan in 1785, in the legislature. 
 In 1782, he was elected by the Provincial 
 Congress of Nortli Carolina, a member of the 
 
 *Moore's Historical Sl5;etches of Hertford Co. ntv 
 XL, 556. ■^' 
 
 Continental Congress at Philadelphia, and 
 served till 1785, and again in 1787-'88. In 
 1787 he, with William Blount and Richard 
 Dobbs Spaight, was delegate to the conven- 
 tion wiiich formed the Constitution uf the 
 United States, and their names are appended 
 to that immortal instrument. 
 
 From his advocacy of the constitution,which 
 was not accepted by North Carolina, he lost 
 much popularity. But this was but momen- 
 tary, for he represented the Edenton district 
 in the Frst and Second Congress in the House 
 of Representatives, (1789 to 1793.) 
 
 He served his country faithfully at home and 
 abroad; was appointed at the liead of the 
 medical staff, liy Governor Caswell and was 
 with him at the battle of Camden, 1780. He 
 was literary in his tastes, and wrote (1812) a 
 History of North Carolina. He died suddenly 
 in New York, (where he had removed and 
 where he had married,) on May 22d, 1819. 
 
 Stephen Cabarrus, born 1754, died 180S, 
 represented Edenton in the legislatui'e from 
 1784 to 1787, and the county from 1788 
 to 1805, with some intermission, and was an 
 acceptable speaker of the House of Commons 
 from 1800 to 1805; from him Cabarrus County 
 derives its name. He resided and <lied at Pem- 
 broke, near Edenton. 
 
 He was a nativu of France, and posse-sed the 
 usual great wit and vivacity of his countrymen. 
 That he was popular is shown from the re- 
 peated elections of the people, and that he 
 was a useful member is evident by his long 
 service as speaker. He lies buried at Pembroke, 
 a large marble slat marks the spot t>f his last 
 resting place. It is thus inscribed: 
 
 " In memory of Stephen Cabarrus, who depiu'ted this 
 life ou the 4th of August. 18.8, aged fifty-four yeare.'" 
 
 Honorable Chailes Johnson was a useful and 
 distinguished citizen of Chowan County. He 
 often represented the county- in the senate, 
 (1781 to '92,) and in 1782, 1789, was speaker 
 of the senate. He represeiited the district in 
 
CHOWAN COUNTY 
 
 123 
 
 the Seveiitli Congress of tlie United States in 
 1801; he died in congress in 1802. His son, 
 Charles E. Johnson, represented tliis county 
 frequently in the senate. 1817,-'19, 20, whose 
 son, Dr. Charles Johnson, was surgeon-general 
 of the state in the civil war, and who lived 
 and died in Ealeigh. 
 
 Thomas Henbury an early and active 
 friend to the cause of the people — one of the 
 Committee of Safety in 1775, was also a citi- 
 zen of Chowan. He often represented the 
 county in the legislature as early as 1774, and 
 continued till 1781. He was speaker of the 
 house in 1778,-'79,-'80,-'82. At one time 
 Chowan County had her sons speakers of iioth 
 houses of the asscmldy. One of his descend- 
 ants I'epi'esented Chowan Count\' in the legis- 
 lature in 18(52, -'f)4, with George M. L. Eure as 
 colleague in the senate. 
 
 James Iredell, born 1750, died 1799, one 
 of the associate justices of the supreme court 
 of the United States, resided in Edenton. 
 He was a native of England. 
 
 His father was a prosperous merchant at 
 Bristol, eldest son of Francis Iredell, born at 
 Lewes, in Sussex County, on October 5th, 1751. 
 
 He came to North Carolina in the fall of 
 1708, when only seventeen years old, and held 
 the office of deput}' of the port of Edenton 
 under his relative Henry Eustace McCullock. 
 He was afterwards appointed collector, Feb- 
 ruar}- 17th, 1774, by the Crown. He studied 
 law, under Governor San)uel Johnston, whose 
 sister, H.-innah, he ]^/^^ July 10th, 1773. 
 
 He was licensed ^^^B)er 14th, 1770, and 
 soon rose to eniineW^^i his profession. In 
 1777, he was elected one of the judges of tlie 
 superior courts, which he resigned in 1777. In 
 July following he was made attorney general 
 b\' Governor Caswell. In 1788, he was a 
 member of the convention that met at Hills- 
 boro to deliberate on the Constitution of the 
 United States, and was the aide, l)ut unsuccess- 
 ful, advocate of its adoption. 
 
 Iti February, 1790, he was apjiointed I'y 
 (Jeneral Washington, one of the justit-es of the 
 supreme court of the United States. 
 
 Full of years and honors he died at Edenton, 
 October 20th, 1799. 
 
 His name has been iiidelii)ly written on the 
 history of the state, by calling after his name 
 one of the most lovely counties of the state. 
 
 Judge Iredell was, as expressed by Chief 
 Justice Marshall in a letter to Judge Murphy, 
 (October, 1S27,) a man of talents, and of great 
 })rofessional worth. 
 
 He left two daughters and one son: his 
 death was hastened by his severe labors in 
 riding the southern circuit. 
 
 " Repeatedly," sa3-s McCree in his biography, 
 " did this devoted public servant, in his stick 
 gig, traverse the wide and weary distances 
 between Philadelphia and Savannah." "The 
 life and correspondence of Judge Iredell, by 
 Griffith J. McCree," gives a full and accurate 
 account of his character and services. This is 
 the best work extract on North Carolina biog- 
 raphy. 
 
 James Iredell, junior, born 1788 died 1853, 
 son of Judge Iredell, was born, lived and died 
 in Edenton. He was liberally educated, a 
 graduate of Princeton in 180G, and studied 
 law. Both in his legal pursuits and in political 
 life he attained great eminence. 
 
 In the war of 1812, he raised a company of 
 volunteers and became its captain. His asso- 
 ciate and life long friend, Gavin IIogg,was one 
 of the lieutenants. He marched with his 
 company to Craney Island, near Norfolk, and 
 aided in its defense against the Britisii. After 
 the war he returned to his profession, of which 
 he was a distinguished member. He entered 
 public life in 1816 as a member from the town 
 of Edenton; (in 1817 and 1818 he was speaker.) 
 He was returned to the legislature for many 
 years. In March, 1819, he was appointed a 
 judge of the superior courts of law and equity, 
 which, in the May following, he resigned. In 
 
124 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 1S27. he was elected Governor of the State of practice embraced the counties of Chowan, 
 North Carolina, and the next year was elected Perquimons, Parqiiotatdc, Camden, P>ertie, 
 a Senator in Congress, sncceeding Nathaniel Hertford and Martin, T.nt this large and 
 Macon. He was succeeded by Judge Mangnm lucrative practice he was compelled to abandon 
 as senator in congress. on account of his health. Apprehensive of the 
 Ai'ter leaving the senate,where he was hn-ed consumption, he reimired to Philadelphia, 
 by his associates, and esteemed by the nation, and consulted Dr. Rush, who prescribed along 
 he retired to the practice of his profession, sea voyage. This advice was followed and for 
 which the support of a young and increasing three years he was absent, visiting Calcutta 
 family deman<led. He was for a time the able and other regions. He returned in restored 
 and accurate reporter of the decisions of the health, and resumed his pra.-tice at Edenton. 
 supreme court, which are regarded by the pro- Here he continued until his deatli. Ho was 
 fession as models of their kind, and autluuity appointed surgeon in the army, which he soon 
 in all the courts of the country. declined. lie was one of the first men of his 
 Few men who knew Governt.a- Iredell that profession. He wrote much on medical sub- 
 did not esteem him; and to his intimate jects, but only a few of his works have been 
 friends he WHS an es[iecial favorite. Even in published. Among them were articles on 
 the heat of political contests, he never forgot Tetanus, epidemic of 1816, on cholera, on 
 the courtesy of life, or the dignity of agentle- scarlatina and on endemic fall and summer 
 man. His social habits afiected much of his fever. He was a public spirited citizen and 
 usefulness. christian patriot.* 
 
 He married a daughter of Samuel Tread- Gavin Hogg was born in Orange County and 
 well collector of Edenton, by whom he had an was distinguished as an advocate He corn- 
 interesting and numerous family. One of his meueed the practice of the law in I3ertie 
 daughters married Cadwallader Jones, now of County, and removed to Raleigh, where he 
 South Carolina; another Griffith McRee, of lived for a long time, and where he died. He 
 Wilmington; anotlier Dr. Charles E. Johnson, had few equals and no superiors as a lawyer, 
 and another Honorable W. M. Shipp of Char- Hig family was distinguished in the revolu- 
 jotte. tion. Governor Martin, the last of the Royal 
 Governor Iredell died in Edenton on April Governors, in a dispatcli states: "The council 
 13th, 1853. have maintained their loyalty, especially An - 
 Dr. James Norcum, one of the most skillful drew Miller, John Hogg, and John Curden."t 
 and successful physicians of the county, was Writing of Gavin Hogg, the Economist 
 born and lived and died in Chowan County. (December 31st, 1878,) says " that Windsor 
 He was l)orii in 1778, educated at the was the starting place of his professional ca- 
 academy in Edenton, and studied his profes- reer, where he entered the legal arena, where 
 siou under Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia, ■ he attained fame and f.jrtune; he was a great 
 where he graduated in his twentieth year, hiwyer but had no social affinities. He was 
 under such medical celebrities as Rush, Wistar, stern and austere. The people respected him 
 Shippea and others. He returned home, and for his talents but never loved him as a friend. 
 bv his skill and learning soon obtained an His learning and acumen gave him great 
 extensive practice. So extensive that he was power and influence His argument in the 
 often sent for in consultation from a distance — " ^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^ of Dr. Norcum by Dr. S. S. Satchell, 
 of more than one hundred miles. His field of is.j2, tColonial Documents, 225. 
 
CHOWAN COUNTY. 
 
 125 
 
 case of Gregoiy agaiiis^t Hooker's administra- 
 tor, is said to be one of the ablest aniong the 
 reports of the supreme court, and when lie 
 retired from the bar he left no superior. 
 
 Joseph Bloiuit Skinticr, born 1780, died 
 1851, distinguished as a lawyer and statesman, 
 lived and died in Edenton. He was the 
 eldest child of Joshua and Martha Skinner, of 
 Harve^-'s Neck. After .^pending some time at 
 Princeton C(illege,he read law under Governor 
 Samuel Johnston, and attained distinction at 
 the bar; so lucrative was his practice that in 
 a few years he was the leading counsel in 
 every case of importance in his circuit, and 
 found himself possessed of ample competency. 
 After the labors of iiiore than twenty years, 
 he retired from the bar to the more congonial 
 pursuits of agriculture; he purchased a farm 
 near Edenton where he lived and died. In 
 this, as in his profession, he was eminently 
 successful. He was a model farmer, and caused 
 the waste places in that section to rejoice and 
 blossom as the rose. His large farm became 
 the admiration of all in that section — beauti- 
 ful beyond any other in our state. In other 
 pursuits he was equally successful and enter- 
 prising. He gave the first impulse in this sec- 
 tion to that valuable industry, the herring and 
 shad fisheries. Hitherto the fisheries had been 
 confined to the Roanoke and Chowan rivers, 
 and their triliutaries. They were few in num- 
 ber and small in extent. iMr. Skinner, with 
 his characteristic energ}-, ventured on the ex- 
 periment, then deemed visionary and imprac- 
 ticable, and boldly launched his seines on the 
 broad and oft vexed Albemarle itself, and suc- 
 ceeded beyond his own expectations. His 
 example has been followed; previously the 
 spring catch was confined to float nets and 
 weirs, now the northern shore of the sound is 
 literally studded with fisheries, and there are 
 numerous seines 2,000 yards long, worked by 
 windlass and horse power, creating a large in 
 dustry, and adding annually hundreds of 
 
 thousands of dollars to the wealth of this 
 section. 
 
 Such a man may empbatioaily i)e styled a 
 public benefactor; the people of Chowan re- 
 cognized his merits. In 1805 and 1807, be 
 was elected a member of the legislature, and 
 again in 1814 and 1815. He was a member of 
 the convention in 1835 — the most distin- 
 guished body of men ever assembled in tlie 
 state. 
 
 His course and po.sition in the public councils 
 have thus been described by his friend, Judge 
 Nash: "Ilis mind and character placed him 
 among the ablest men of the legislature — and 
 there were many of the highest range of in- 
 tellect. Eminently practical, he brought to 
 the discussions in that body a fund of knowl- 
 edge and facts, and was always listened to 
 with profound attention." 
 
 lie died on December 23d, 1851. He mar- 
 ried in early life Miss Lowtlier, the great grand 
 daugher of Governor Gabriel Johnston, who 
 died several years before him, leaving an only 
 son and a grandaughter. This son. Major 
 Tristam Lowther Skinner, fell in the battle of 
 Ellison's Mill. He had several brothers. Rev- 
 erend Dr. Thomas II. Skinner, distinguished 
 as a Presbyterian divine, and Charles W. 
 Skinner. 
 
 Thomas J. Jarvis was born in this county, 
 July 18th, 183G, and graduated at Randolph, 
 Macon; he studied law and obtained his li- 
 cense to practice. During the war between 
 the states he served as Captain in the Eighth 
 Regiment of North Carolina troops. In the 
 constitutional convention of 1865, he served 
 as a member, as also in the lower branch of 
 the legislature in 1808, in 1870 he was elected 
 speaker of that body. Removing to Pitt, he 
 was cliusen a delegate to the constitutional 
 convention of 1875. In 1876 he was elected 
 lieutenant governor of the state for four 
 years, 1877 to 1881, but on the election of 
 Governor Z. B. Vance to the United States 
 
126 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Senate in 1879, he became tlie occupiuit of the We might extend our sketches by recording 
 
 Executive Chair, and in 1880, h}' the suffrages the character, and services of other distin- 
 
 of his people, became their chief magistrate for guished men of Chowan County, " wlio have 
 
 four years. done the state some service," as the Johnsons, 
 
 Augustus Moore, born 1803, died 1851, lived Benlmrys, Coffields, Brownriggs, Haskens, 
 
 and died in Edenton. lie graduated at the Warrens, IL-aths, and others, did the limits 
 
 university in 1824, in a class distingui.shed for of our work allow. But before we close 
 
 ability, compo.sed of B. B. Blume, John Bragg, our sketch we cannot refrain from presenting 
 
 (member of congress from Alabama 1851, and an amusing incident, which, by its humor, 
 
 a judge in that state.) James W. Bryan, Mat- may relieve the dry detail imposed on our 
 
 thias E. Maidy, (judge of the supreme court kind readers. Tlie account is from th^' gifted 
 
 of North Carolina,) David Outlaw, (memiierof pen of ''Traveller." " I will clo.se my letter 
 
 congress 1747 to 1853,) and others; studied by relating a true story of one of Edenton's 
 
 Law with Charles H. Kinny, of Elizabeth City, gifted sons, J)r. Edward Warren, surgeon- 
 
 aud practiced with great success. general of the state during the war, and who 
 
 As an advocate, he had no superior for has been serving a foreign power, and now 
 
 learning, diligence, accumen, or address. He resides in Paris. General Winfield Scott ac- 
 
 was appointed judge of the superior court in cepted an invitation to visit Xag's Head, on 
 
 1848, and presided with great acceptability, one occasion. Dr. Warren (than whom there 
 
 lenrning, and integrity, but resigned the same are few better speakers,) was elected to make 
 
 year. lie died very suddenly at Edenton, in the reception address. As General Scott's 
 
 IS'-^l. coming was doubtful, it was understood that 
 
 He married Miss Armistead and left several if General Scott was on board, it was to be 
 
 children. One of them, William Armistead made known by raising a flag on the boat 
 
 .Moore, late one of the judges of the state, and when a short distance from the wharf at Nag's 
 
 who wore with equal dignity and ability the Head, when the salute would commence. The 
 
 ermine of his illustrious father. immense crowd on the boat at Blackwater, 
 
 William Allen, a representative in congress and business caused General Scott to return to 
 
 from Ohio, 1832, senator from 1837 to 1849, Norfolk, and the steamer went on without him. 
 
 and Governor of Ohio in 1874, was born in Before reaching Nag's Head, it was suggested, 
 
 Edenton, in 1806. and determined " to play a trick on the boys." 
 
 He was the son of Nathaniel Allen, who Colonel John B. Odem, late of N'orthanipton 
 
 represented the borough in the House of Com- County, now of Baltimore, the only living 
 
 mons, in 1802, and was much esteemed for his man in America who not only equalled, hut 
 
 genial qualities and generous di.sposition. He surpassed General Scott in person, air, and 
 
 married a Miss Granbury, and their daughter tigure was .selected to personate cd interim the 
 
 married Mr. Thurman, a iMethodist minister, hero of Lundy's Lane. General Lawrence 8. 
 
 and was the mother of Allen Granbury Thur- Baker, who was also along, kindly furnished a 
 
 Uian, kite a distinguished senator from Ohio, new uniform, epaulettes, chapeau, sword, sjish, 
 
 and president of the senate. &c., to which chapeau was appended a flaming 
 
 As a statesman and politician, Governor plume of red feathers. He " looked every inch 
 
 .\llen enjoyed a world wide reputation, and a King." Colonel Odem was squeezed in the 
 
 North Carolina is proud of her son. He died uniform, for he was "a world too large" for the 
 
 July, 1879, universally loveil and respected. war clothes of General Baker. He played his 
 
CHOWAN C^OITNTY. 
 
 127 
 
 part to perfection, with foliled arms lio was 
 stationed near the jiilot house and received 
 " the upturned sea of faces " witii the dignity 
 of a hero. As the hoat neared the wharf tiie 
 flag was raised, loud cheers followed, and 
 cannon after cannon runj^ out a cordial 
 welcome. When the hoat gained the wharf, 
 Colonel Odeni took oft" his chapeau and made 
 a graceful and dignified ))0W. Then Dr. 
 Warren mounted a harrel on the wharf, and 
 with a loud voice comnieneed; "General 
 Scott, we welcome you to North Carolina! 
 We hail you with delight and glory, as the hero 
 of Chippewa, Cerro Gordo, Lundy's Lane, and 
 Mexico, the greatest living representative of 
 the warrior, and the hero of two glorious 
 wars. Like our Washingtoi:, without a model 
 and without an equal, ' none I'ut thyself can 
 he thy parallel.' " lie thus continued for ten 
 minutes, making one of the most beautiful 
 reception epieeches, which captivated his audi- 
 ence. They expressed their admiration b}' loud 
 and continued cheers. Now for General Scott. 
 Colonel Odem, who stammers a little at times, 
 and was evidently overcome, replied as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 " Gent-gentle-nien; if, if, I, I, were Gen- 
 General Scott; (which he pronounced Scart, 
 witli a slight hiss,) I would make you a speech- 
 a speech. But I am not General Scart, Scart, 
 I am only John B. Odem, -John B. Odem; 
 and I shan't do it." 
 
 " The crowd were furious, and madness ruled 
 the hour; some were for throwing him over- 
 board, unif<n'm, fcatlieis and all; some cried 
 'kill him, kill him, for he has fooled us all.' 
 But Major Henry IL (William, who was the mar- 
 plot of the whole matter, and who knows very 
 well how to get a fellow out of a bad scrape 
 either in court, or out of court, interpiosed. 
 He said, ' boys, hold on, what are 3-ou mad 
 about? Warren has given us as a good speech 
 as you ever heard. I propose to wash it down 
 in champagne: come up to the hotel, it is my 
 treat.' This was unanimously agreetl to, and 
 the crowd went to the hotel; the first order 
 was for six baskets, and how many more has 
 not been ascertained. At any rate there was 
 
 not a bottle to be found, until the next boat 
 from Norfolk brought a fresh supply."* 
 
 This section of the state suifered sadly from 
 the ravages of warfare, for after the fall of 
 Roanoke Island the sounds and navigable 
 rivers were open to the enemy's gunboats. 
 These coasted up and down, and bore oft' the 
 means and necessaries of life, living freights 
 of t'ugitive negroes, and the low and skulking 
 butt'aloes. These were shameless and mean 
 whites, who turned traitors to their friends, 
 and betrayed tluun to their unrelenting foes. 
 These were held in abliorence and contempt. 
 They established a stronghold at Wingfield — 
 the lovely homesteatl for 3'ears of the Brow- 
 rigg family, previously occupied by Dr. Dillard, 
 but the Buftaloes took possession, and the s[ia- 
 cious halls, once the scene of elegance and 
 beauty, were occupied by a foul and cowardly 
 crew, who became such an intolerable nui- 
 sance that the building was iired. 
 
 These miscreants plundered all alike, tlie 
 plate and pianos of the rich, as also the poultry 
 and bread stuft' of the poor. 
 
 The conduct of the colored population con- 
 trasted most honorably with tlie conduct of 
 their professed friends, and is recorded to 
 their und3ing credit. While every white 
 man capable of bearing arms was in the field, 
 the colored men remained at home cultivating 
 the crops for the support of the helpless white 
 women and their children. Although free- 
 dom, plunder, and every allurement was lield 
 out to them to leave their old homes and their 
 old masters, many of them utterly refused, 
 ami nmny of them became warmly attached 
 to the cause of their struggling masters. 
 Moore, from whom I quote, states that in 
 December, 18C2, at Fort Warren, the humane 
 federal commander. Colonel Dimmick, of- 
 fei'ed to release two colored men from cap- 
 tivit}', William, the servant of Captain 
 
 * Raleigh Observer. 
 
128 
 
 WHEELER'8 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Clements, and Brooks, tlie servant of Cap- sent his man, Harvey, through the country, 
 
 tain Sparrow, upon their taking the oath of then swarminiz; with federal troops, to his 
 
 allegiance. wife with two valuable horses and a consider- 
 
 They spurned the offer, and remained to able amount of money. Harvey had every 
 
 share the fallen fortunes of their old friends indueeuient and opportunity offered to desert 
 
 and the playmates of their youth. Major his service, but he proved faithful to his trust, 
 
 Moore relates the fact that, when in command and returned to his master before his furlough 
 
 of the Third North Carolina Battalion, he had expired. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 CRAVEN COUNTY. 
 
 ^ Craven County, like C^howan, contained 
 many patriotic spirits of the early age of the 
 state, and presents a glowing record of history. 
 Around its venerable metropolis, New Berne, 
 are clustered many memories of rare interest. 
 Here landed the J'alatincs, led by the Baron 
 DeGraaffenreidt, from Switzerlatid. The name 
 of New Berne was bestowed by them in re- 
 membrance of the vine clad hills of tb.eir na- 
 tive land. 
 
 Here, for a hmg tiriie, was the seat of the 
 Royal government, and from here were the 
 affairs of the colony directed 1)y the long and 
 gentle rule of Governor Dobl)s, and here his 
 successor, Governor Tryoii, held his vice-regal 
 court, and erected a mansion more palatial 
 than any ever before seen on this continent. 
 
 A drawing of Tryon's palace and its ground 
 has been preserved by Lossing, and it nnu,t 
 have been a most magnificent structure. Time 
 and the accident of tire have efFa«ed its 
 lieauties, but the stables are still in a good 
 state of preservation, and are now used as 
 school rooms^ 
 
 John Hawks, the grand-father of Rev. I)r. 
 Francis L. Hawks, was the architect of the 
 
 Tryon palace. Martin, in his history of North 
 Carolina, states this building had at the time 
 no superior in America, and that he in 1783, 
 in compan}' with Miranda visited it, and he 
 stated that it had no superior in South Amer- 
 ica. In December, 1770, Governor Tryon, for 
 the first time, received the legislature in its 
 princely halls. 
 
 After the revolutionary war, the property 
 was confiscated and sold. It was purchased 
 hy the Daves family. J. P. Daves donated 
 tlie stable buildings to the Episcopal church. 
 One of Mr. Daves's daughters married Governor 
 John W. Ellis, and after his death J. E. Nash, 
 of I'etersburg. Governor Tryon's clock is in 
 the possession of Charles C. (Mark, and is still 
 a good time keeper. His writing desk is the 
 proiierty of Z. Shide. It is of solid mahogany, 
 and in perfect state of pruservatinn.* 
 
 About the year 1709, Baron Christopher de 
 Graaffenriedt led a large colony from the Palat- 
 inate of the Rhine, and in September, 1710, 
 founded the town of New Berne. He was 
 born in 10^, and was made a land-grave of 
 
 *RecoIlections of New Berne, fifty years ago. By 
 Stephen F. Miller; Living and the Dead, January, 1875. 
 
CRAVEN COUNTV^ 
 
 T29 
 
 Carolina by the lords proprietors. The Baron, 
 after many trials and snfi'crings, nearly losing 
 his life, became involved in pecuniarv difG- 
 ciilties with Judge Gale, Governor Pollock 
 and others. I fcinid a letter from the Palatines, 
 among the records of the roll office, London, 
 which is as follows: 
 
 " Jnly 23d, 1747, letter received from the 
 Palatines in is'^orth Carolina, to his majesty the 
 King, that six hundred of them had been sent 
 out under care of Christopher de Graaffenriedt ; 
 that in 1711, an Indian war broke out; Graaffen- 
 riedt was taken a prisoner by tliem; that 
 Thomas Pollock, acting as governor, sent Cap- 
 tain Bricc,and took everything they had, and 
 in 1747, the heir of said Pollock came and 
 turned them oif their lands, in order to settle 
 the rebel soots." 
 
 May 17th, 1748, letter from (Governor John- 
 stOTi that the statement of the Palatines is 
 true, that many of their relations were mur- 
 dered by the Indians, and they had been dis- 
 possessed as stated. 
 
 '* Thej' are verj- sober and industrious. 
 
 " Governor Johnston suggests that other 
 lands be given tiien:i. Baron DeGraatfenriedt 
 had returned home." 
 
 •'M//r/, Wilt, 1748. 
 ■• Order of King in Council: 
 
 " Govei'nor Johnston shall n.ake a grant of 
 land to the Palatines as shall be equivalent to 
 that that they have been di.spossessed of by 
 one. Colonel Pollock, and his heirs."* 
 
 J^)eGraaftenriedt's son. and Lewis Michel, of 
 Berne, came with him to America. Some of 
 the famii}' are still in this country. 
 
 Inquiry has produced a letter to Mrs. Mary 
 Ba3-ard Clark, dated Columbus, Georgia, Jan- 
 tiary 18th, 1871, which shows the whereabouts 
 ot the American branch of the family: 
 
 " Christopher de Graaffenriedt (son of Baron 
 Christopher de Graaffenriedt and Regina 
 Tscharner, his wife,) married at Charleston, 
 South Carolina, on Felu'uary 22d, 1714. They 
 removed to Pliiladelphia, afterwards to Mary- 
 
 *N. C, No. 11, B. 88. 
 
 land, and linally to Williamsburg, Virginia, 
 where, on November 28t!i, 1722, Tscharner, 
 their son. was born, being the first of the 
 name born in America, and from whom all 
 the family in this country arc descended. 
 
 '•■ This Tscharner was twice married, and had 
 seven sons and four ilaughters. His oldest, 
 Francis, the father of Dr. Edwin L. de Graaffen- 
 riedt, is now the sole survivor. lie had sev- 
 eral uncles who served in the revolutioary 
 war; two of them killed in battle. His father 
 was a captain in the revolution on the Amer- 
 ican side. His brother, William, of Lunenburg, 
 Virginia, was in the war of 1812. Matthew 
 Fountaine, son of another uncle, was aid to 
 General Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. 
 
 " In the late civil war there were many <>f 
 the name in the southern army. 
 
 " Two of the daughters of Tscharner mar- 
 ried brothers of John C. Calhoun, who were 
 wealth}' planters, and lived on Broad river. 
 South Carolina. 
 
 ' Christopher died in 1742, in Lunenburg, 
 Virginia." 
 
 These people were keenly alive to their' 
 rights, and opposed to ever\- form "f oppres- 
 sion. It was in New Berne that the first 
 jirovincial congress was held, in open opposi- 
 tion to tlie authority of England, (Augu.st 25, 
 1774,] whieh appointed deputies to the Con- 
 tinental Congress at Philadelphia, (Caswell, 
 Ilewes and Hooper,) and sympathising with 
 their oppressed and plundered countrymen at 
 lioston, sent relief in the way of provisions 
 and necessaries, declaring "the aiast- of Boston, 
 is (he came of all." What an illustrious cxam- 
 [ilo to many who would still further distract 
 and divide the people of our county! The com- 
 mittee of safety for New Berne, were Dr. Alex- 
 ander Gaston, Richard Cogdell, John Easton, 
 Major Croom, Roger Ormond, Edward Salter, 
 George Burrow, James Glasgow, and others. 
 The town of New Berne was incorporated in 
 1723, by the legislature then sitting at Eden- 
 ton. 
 
 Francois Xavier Ahtrtiu, born 17G2, died 
 184fJ, author of a bi.story of North Carolina, 
 and some legal works, was long a resident of 
 New Berne. 
 
130 
 
 WHEELEirS REMINISCENCES. 
 
 He was a native of France, born at .Mar- 
 seille^;, 1762. IIo was a iu'lnterand editoi-, and 
 studied law, in wliich be became learned luid 
 distinguisbed. 
 
 In 1806 and 1807, be was a member of the 
 House of Commons from tlie borough of New 
 Berne. 
 
 He was appointed by Mr. Jefferson, a judge 
 
 "The rebellion was a deliberate contrivance, 
 sui)verting the govennnent, dis.solving the 
 parliaments, imprisouing the lordship's depu- 
 ties, putting the president of the country in 
 jail, seizing and carrying away the records, 
 assuming supreme power, convening assem- 
 blies, and last of all, a most horrid and treas- 
 sonable action, erecting courts to try cases of 
 life and death without authority. 
 
 " Captain Valentine Bird, collector, exported 
 
 in tlie Mississippi Territory, and resided at 150,000 pounds of tobacco without paying any 
 
 dues. On hearing that Eastchurst was comim. 
 
 Natchez. So acceptable were his services that 
 on Feliruary 1st, 1815, he was appointed one of 
 the .supi'eme court judges of Louisiana, which 
 elevated position he occupied till his death, 
 December lOtli, 18-16. 
 
 He became entiiely blind in his later years, 
 
 but continued to [ireside with great accept- 
 
 al)ility, and acknowledged ability. He wrote 
 
 a histoiy of the State of Louisiana, as also of 
 
 »-.-Nt)jrth Carolina. 
 
 • The Blount family in North Carolina have 
 been distinguished for more than a century for 
 integrity, enterprise, intelligence and patriot- 
 ism. 
 
 as governor, and Miller as collector, he took 
 up arms with the rest of the subscribers and 
 opposed Miller on his first landing, and drew 
 his sword. 
 
 '• George Durant contemned and opposed tiie 
 governor with a rebel rout. 
 
 " Captain James Blount, one of the deputy's 
 assistants, is one of the chief among the insur- 
 rectors. I wrote to him and theother bur- 
 gesses of Chowan precinct. When the sheriff 
 came, he, with one Captain John Vernham, 
 took the sheriff prisoner, and raised forces to 
 oppose the governor."* 
 
 Sir Walter Blount's next son was: 
 
 4 
 
 II. Thomas: he had five sons. 1st, Tbo 
 
 i^ojj ias. 
 
 who 
 
 had five sons: [a) Thomas, who mflrried Eliza- 
 
 According to a genealogical table, prepared beth Reading, distinguished in the Indian 
 
 by the late Governor Clark, this family was of wars 1708: (A) James; (c) John; [d) Jacob 
 
 English origin, and figured in the reigns of and (e) Esau, twins.t 
 
 Charles I. (1625,) and Charles 11. (1660.} IIL Thomas (.son of Thomas who married 
 The head of the family was created a Baronet Elizabeth Reading,) had four sons: (a) Read- 
 in 1642, as Sir Walter Blount. ing; {[>) James, Captain in Second Continen- 
 
 He left four .sons and four daugliters. The tal regiment; (e) John; (d) Jaco!>. 
 
 younger sons sought their fortunes in America. IV. Jacob, son of Thomas, was at Inittle of 
 
 From them, this family can be clearly traced Alamance, 1771; a member of the provincial 
 
 in distinct lines to the present. congress, and an officer in the revolutionary 
 
 From Sir Waltei- Blount descended: war. He married first Barbara Gray, second 
 
 I.James; came to North Carolina about Mrs. Salter, was the progenitor of the family, 
 
 1664, and settled in Craven. -- -n -, . ^^d ten children, viz: 
 
 He was a member of the House of Burgesses, I. William, who was born in Craven County, 
 
 and was active in the Culpepper rebellion, 
 which, for a time, held and controlled the 
 province. 
 
 From the Rolls Office, in London, I copy a 
 paper directed to the Lords Proprietor, " con- 
 cerning the rebellion in Carolina, from 1663 to 
 1687:" 
 
 in 1749, married Miss Granger, of Wilmington. 
 Elected member of legislature 1783,-'84; of the 
 continental congress, 1782-'83-'86-'87; in the 
 convention which formed Constitution of the 
 United States, in 1787; appointed governor of 
 
 ^Colonial Documents, London, !•'). 
 
 tSee Williamson s, Koith Carolina, I, 202. 
 
CRAVEN COUiSrTY. 
 
 i;n 
 
 ten-itoric-- ot" United States west of Ohio, 
 1790; senator in congress tVoni Tennessee, 
 179(5; expelled from senate in 17;i7; nieraber 
 of the convention that formed state constitu- 
 tion of Tennessee. Died in Knoxville, 1810. 
 He left one son, William Granger, who was in 
 congress from Tennessee, 1815 to 1819, and 
 who died in 1827, unmarried ; and one daughter 
 who was the first wife of General K. P. Gaines.* 
 
 II. Ann, daiigliter of Jacob, married Henry. 
 
 III. John Gray Blount, sou of Jacob, was 
 horn 1752. Married Mary Harvey; he was 
 often meiidjer of the legislature, from 1782 to 
 1796, from Beaufort County. lie was an ex- 
 tensive land owner and explorer. Often the 
 companion of Daniel Boone. He died in 
 January, 1S33, leaving six children, viz: («) 
 Thomas Harvey, son of John Gray; (6) Jolwi 
 Gray, in war of 1812; (c) William Augustus, 
 (for sketch of whom see Beaufort County,) 
 who died in 1867, leaving a son William, and 
 a daughter who is the widow of General L. 
 O'B. Branch, resides in Raleigh; (</) Polly, 
 who married Rodman; (r) Lucy, who married 
 General Grimes; [f) Patsy Baker, (unmar- 
 ried.) 
 
 IV. Louisa, who married to Richard l^ack- 
 ledge. 
 
 V. Reading, who married Lucy Harvey. 
 
 VI. Thomas, born 1759, died 1807, was in 
 tiie revolutionary war, sent to England a pris- 
 oner. He was a meiidjer of the legislature from 
 Edgecombe, 1798-'99, and a member of con- 
 gress in 1793 to 1799, 1805 to 1809, and 1811, 
 and 1812. He died at Washington, (without 
 issue) leaving a widow, the daughter of 
 General Jethro Sumner, named Mary Sum- 
 ner Blount, who died near Tarboro in 
 1822, made liberal bequests to Christ church 
 in Raleigh, from which chietly funds were 
 realized to buikl the beautiful stone edi- 
 iice in that city. When the will was 
 drawn, feai'ing that religious bodies could not 
 
 *MSS. letter of Honorable Case Johnson. 
 
 hold real estate against the clainjs of heirs at 
 law, a provision was inserteil that in case of a 
 contest t>ver the devises intended for Christ 
 church, of Raleigh, those devises fihonld vest in 
 Judge Cameron and Dr. Hooper in fee, to he 
 disjiosed of as their consciences might dictate. 
 The marl)le slab )narking her grave had been 
 broken by the fall of a tree, or as scjmc say, by 
 a stroke of lightning, and the \-os(ry of 
 (yhrist's church, of Raleigh, determined to 
 replace it, but these praise worthy intentions 
 were frustrated by the inexcusable carlessness 
 in the pi'eparation of the original epita[ili. It 
 is verlHitim, as follows: 
 
 " Sacred to the memory of 
 
 MaBY SuMNEK BLOUNT 
 
 relict of Ri'iil tliiinias lilount 
 
 long a reiirt'scntiktivc in Uongre 
 
 ss from this district 
 
 and daughter of geul. jetliro hlount. 
 
 Died the ISth Dec 1822 in her -ISth year " 
 
 Mrs! Blount's father was General Jethro 
 Sumner, not "Idonnt." It must have been a 
 difficult task to comiiress so many errors in so 
 small a space. 
 
 VII. Jacob; l)orn 17C0; imvrried Collins. 
 
 VIII. Barbara, born 1763. 
 
 IX. Willie, son of Jacob, born 1768, secre- 
 tary to his brother William, while governor of 
 territory' west of the Ohio. Judge of the 
 supreme court of Tennessee when only twentj-- 
 two years old, and the Governor of Teunesse 
 from 1809 to 1815, (.see Bertie County.) As 
 governor he tendered to the United States 
 2,500 volunteers in the war of 1812. He 
 died near Na-shvilie, 1835, leaving two daugh- 
 ters; one married Dr. J. T. Dabney, and 
 another to Dortch. 
 
 X. Sharp, who married Penelope Little, of 
 Pitt County, who left two sons, William Little 
 and George Little. 
 
 I have thus endeavored to present a genea- 
 logical diagram of a family whose members 
 have been distinguished in the field, on the 
 forum, and in legislative halls, as well as in. 
 social life. 
 
132 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The tnhle may be relied upon, as it has Iioeii 
 the subject of imich labor and research. Their 
 lives and offices have been briefly ailiideil to, 
 figures and dates given, leaving to other hands 
 the pious duty of comtiienting in detail on their 
 character and services. 
 
 Ahner Na.sh was l>orn in i'rince Edward 
 County, Virginia. At an early ago he went 
 to New Berne, whei'o he studied and practiced 
 law with great success. 
 
 He was an able and active friend to the 
 rights of the people, and a member of [iro- 
 vincial congress in 1774. 
 
 In the dispatcVi of Governor Martin, dated 
 March lOtli, 1775, he informs his govern- 
 ment that tlie seditious Icatlei's of tlie peo- 
 ple ha\-e ti'.o effectually pi'evented the 
 King's speech from operating to the extent he 
 ■wished. Instead of yielding the}- talk of re- 
 sorting to violence. 
 
 Enclosed is an advertisement of the com- 
 mittee at New Berne, \\liich he calls "atro- 
 cious falsehoods," and the composition of 
 a Mr. Nash, one of the subscribers, who is an 
 eminent lawyer, but the most unprincipled 
 character of the county. 
 
 In another dispatch dated at Fort Johnston, 
 June 30th, 1775, he writes: 
 
 " Since I had the Ixjiior of representing to 
 your lordship the state of this country, various 
 circumstances have occuri-ed of which I think 
 it my duty to give the best account mj' infor- 
 mation Gnal)les me to lay before 3'ou. 
 
 " On Tuesday, May 23d, 1775, a set of peo- 
 ple calling themselves a committee, met at 
 New Berne. A motly crew, without any pre- 
 vious notice of their purpose, appeared, coming 
 towards my house; I supposed they were the 
 connnittee of whose meeting I had heard. I 
 directed my secretary to signif}' mj' resolution 
 not to see them He soon came back, however, 
 with a message that tliej- were the inhabitants 
 of tlie town of New Berne, who had come to 
 wait upon me, and requested to speak to me. 
 
 "I directed them to be shown in, and I im- 
 mediately went down to them. 
 
 " Mr. Abner Nash, an attorney and oracle uf 
 
 the committee, (of whom I have had occasion 
 to mention to j'our lordship Iiefore as principal 
 promoter of sedition,) came forward out of 
 the crov/d and said he had been choseii by the 
 people of New Berne, then present, to repre- 
 sent that their purpose in waiting on me was 
 in consequence of a general alarm of the peo- 
 ple of that place at my dismounting some 
 pieces of cannon which occasionally had been 
 made use of on rejoicing da^^s; that the Gov- 
 ernor of Virginia had lately dejirived the peo- 
 ple of that colon}- of arms and ammunition. 
 The inhabitants therefore requested and hoped 
 that I would order the cannon to be I'en^ounted 
 and restored to their former cfuidition. 
 
 " Unprepared, my lord, for such a visit, and 
 tilled with indignation at the absurdity and 
 impertinence of the cause assigned by Mr. 
 Nash, I am satisfied that it was a more pre- 
 tense to insult me. I replied that the guns I 
 had dis7iiouiited belonged to the king, and I 
 was only responsible to His Majesty for any 
 disposition I made of them, &c." 
 
 But the next day, so precarious had his po- 
 sition became, that Governor Martin sent his 
 family to New York, and he himself went in 
 much haste on board of His .Majest^^'s sloop of 
 war, the Cruiser, Captain Parry, commander, 
 never to exercise again the functions of Gov- 
 ernor of North Carolina. 
 
 In the same dispatch, Governor Martin says 
 " he had received an account on April 20th, 
 between the king's troops and the people 
 near Bostoii, which reached him a little more 
 than two months after the event." 
 
 In this dispatch, Governoi- Martin enclosed 
 the resolves of the committee of Mecklenburg 
 in the Cap? Fair Mercury, a copy of which he 
 says was sent by express to the congress at 
 Philadelphia. This official dispatch would 
 settle a (piestion, about which there never 
 should have been any cavil, question, or doubt. 
 
 These extracts from official sources prove 
 the course which Mr. Nash pursued in perilous 
 times. He was nu)re of a statesman, however, 
 than a soldioi-, yet he did the cause of his 
 countr}- as much service as if he were in the 
 field. He played a leading part in that great 
 
CRAVEN COUNTY. 
 
 133 
 
 drama in which men and guns are subordinate 
 appendages. lie was a member of the Pro- 
 vincial Congress in Novend)er 177*!, wiiicli met 
 at Halifa.x, and formed the constitution of the 
 state; and was tlietirst speai^cerof the iirst House 
 of Commons that ever sat in tlie state. He was 
 speaker in the senate in 1779, and was elected 
 governor at that session and served till 1781. 
 In 1782 and '83, he represented Jones County. 
 He was elected a member of the Continental 
 Congress in 1781, in which lie served till 178<j. 
 He died at New "^'ork while attending con- 
 gress, December 2d, 1780. 
 
 He married the widow of Governor Dobbs. 
 He was the brother of General Francis Nash, 
 and the father of Frederick Nash, late Judge 
 of supreme court of North Carolina, sketches 
 of whom may be found in the I'ccord of Orange 
 County. 
 
 Richard Dobbs Spaight, of North Carolina, 
 born March iJoth, 1758, died September 6th, 
 1802. 
 
 He was born, lived ainl died in the 
 town of New Berne. ]Iis family was dis- 
 tinguished in the early history of the coun- 
 try. His father was the secretary and clerk 
 of the crown ; * an office in dignity next 
 to that of the governoi'. His mother was the 
 sister of Arthur Dobbs, governor of the prov- 
 ince from 1754: to 17GG. He lost his parents 
 at an early age. Blest \\ith a sound mind in a 
 sound body, his education was of the highest 
 order. He was sent to Ireland, when only 
 nine years of age, where he pursued his acad- 
 emic studies, his education being comjileted at 
 the university of (;!lasgow. He returned to 
 his native country in 1778, and found it in- 
 volved in the fearful struggle.^ of the revolu- 
 tionar}- war, his immediate section was the 
 scene of lierce and l)loody conflict. His chiv- 
 
 *jixtrait from Colonial Records in Rolls office, Lon- 
 don; " Kichanl Spaight appointed secrrtary and clerk 
 
 of the Crown' "111- seneral assenibly prefer 
 
 charges again.st (Jovernor Dobbs, amonj; them, that lie 
 h'A appointed his nephew, Richard Spaight, a pay- 
 master in the army." 
 
 alrous temper caused him to volunteer his ser- 
 vices to his country, and he was engaged in 
 the disastrous battle of Cannlen, South Caro- 
 lina, August 16th, 1780, as aid-de-camp to 
 Governor Caswell. Although brave and en- 
 thusiastic, there were fields otiier than those 
 of war, more suited to his genius, where his 
 services and talents could be as beneiicial to 
 country's welfare and liberty, and in which 
 men and arms are demanded, but not the most 
 im[)cH-tant elements of success. His country- 
 men apiireciated this fact, and the next year, 
 he was elected a member of the general assem- 
 bly from the borough of New Bjriie, and re- 
 elected in 1782 and 1783. By the latter body, 
 he was elected a member of the Continental 
 Congress, (which met at Annapolis on the 13th 
 December, 1783,) with Benjamin Hawkins 
 and Hugh Williamson as colleagues. The war 
 had ended, and he witnessed the resignation 
 by General Washington to that congress of 
 his commission as commander-in-chief. 
 The appreciation of the character and patriot- 
 ism of Mr. Spaight, was evinced by being 
 selected as one of " the committee of states;" 
 in whom all the powers of the new govern- 
 ment, (executive, legislative and judicial) 
 were vested. When the convention was called 
 to form the Constitution of the United States, 
 which met at Philadelphia, (on May 1-ith, 
 1787,) lie was elected a memljei'. His name, 
 with that of William Blount and Hugh Wil- 
 liamson, is ap[iended to the constitutn)n. He 
 was a member of the state convention whit-li 
 met at Hillsboro, on July 21st, 1788, to con- 
 sider the Federal Constitution, and advocated 
 with all liis energies its adoption. In this lie 
 was aided by such distinguished names as 
 Samuel Johnston, James Iredell, William U. 
 Diivie, Jolin Steele, Ste[iben Caliarrus and 
 others. 
 
 But the active opposition of Willie Jones, 
 David Caldwell, Eiisha Battle, C. Dowd, 
 Griffith Rutherford, and others, caused its re- 
 
134 WHEELER'8 REiVIINISCENCES. 
 
 jection, and the State of North Carolina, from public life, hut private circles. Governor 
 
 July, 1788, to November, 1789, (when the Cm- Spaight was the acknowledged leader of the 
 
 stitution of the United States was ratified,) party which supported Mr. Jefferson and Mr. 
 
 presented the extraordinary attitude of a sov- Stanly, its active adversary. Led on by the 
 
 ereign state, independent and self-governing, maddening and malignant influence of party 
 
 with no confusion within or coercion from spirit, on September 5th, 1802, Mr. Stanly 
 
 without. This instructive page of history challenged Governor Spaight to tiglit a duel, in 
 
 expresses the truth, tliat political reunion, like a note taunting in its terms, and very oppiobri- 
 
 social union, can best be secured by concession, ous. They fought (.)u the same day. Gov- 
 
 affection, and justice. ernor Spaight was mortally wounded, and died 
 
 In 1792, Mr. Spaight was again returned to on the following day. This tragic event, from 
 
 the general assenddy. and by that body was hislong, varied, and illustrious service, causoda 
 
 chosen the governor of the state, which he deep sensation thi'oughout the state, and even 
 
 held for three years, when he was succeeded by at this day is felt with sad regret. 
 Samuel Ashe. Such were the [)ublic services of Richard 
 
 He was the first native born son of North Dobbs Spaight. These are inscribed in the 
 
 Carolina elected as governor. He served records of our nation. Of his private cliarac- 
 
 while governor as presidential elector. ter we are not loft to conjecture. Cue who 
 
 In 1797, he took his seat in the House of knew him long and well has informed us that 
 Rejiresentatives, elected from North Carolina, "as a private citizen he v/as upright in his 
 to lill the vacancy occasioned by the death of intentions, and sincere in his declarations. 
 Honorable Nathan Bryan, (second session of Methodical aiul even mercantile in his busi- 
 ihe Fifth Congress,) and re-elected a mendjcr ness; no errors of negligence or ignoran-e in- 
 of the Sixth Congress, 1797 to 1799. This was volved him in litigation with his neighbors, 
 an important epoch in our government. The Uniform in his conduct, resiioctful to author- 
 two great parties (then called Federal and ity, and influential in his example. Hospitality 
 Republican,) fought tierce and furious for was a conspicuous tiait of his character. The 
 power. Governor Spaight voted with his re- stranger was welcouie, treated with cordiality, 
 publican colleagues, Willis Alston, Nathaniel and entertained with kindness. His cliarity 
 Macon, David Stone, and others. It wasdur- was universal For the tale of sorrow lie ever 
 ing this congress that Governor William had a tear and relief. He was an atfeetionate 
 Blount, Senator from Tennessee, was im- husiiand, an indulgent fatliei-, and a eompas- 
 peached, (or threatened with impeachment,) sionate nuistei'; consistent in his hours of study 
 and for the first time the election of a presi- and recreation, no ii'regularities disturbed his 
 dent was made by the house. After these course, or improper indulgence his repose."* 
 exciting scenes, Governor Spaight sought re- No one, as a public man, could have iield foi- 
 tirement and repose. His health was seriously along and unintei-i-upted series of years, the 
 imjiaired, and he sought relief in the milder affections, counten.nice, and support of his 
 climate of the West Indies. But the people countrymen, without any effort on l;is part, 
 called liim again to duty, and he was, in 1801, unless he possessed substantial merit aiid un- 
 elected a senator in the general assendily. spotted integrity. 
 This was destined to be his last public service. 
 
 Party politics were never more active and *Reverend T. P Irvings^funeral discourse on the 
 
 ■^ ' . . death of Governor Richard Dobbs bi'aight, delivered at 
 
 bitter. These animosities pervaded not only Kew iierue. isuii. 
 
CRAVEN COUNTY. 
 
 135 
 
 Like him of Scotland it may be truly said: 
 
 ' ilus Dunciin 
 
 Ilath borne his faculties so meek, liatli been 
 So clear in liis great office, that his virtues 
 Will plead like angels, tnuupet tongued, against 
 The deep damnation of liis taking off." 
 
 By his marriage with Miss Polly Leach he 
 had four children. 
 
 I. "William, who died \ouiig. 
 
 IL i\ichard Dohbs, a leading statesman in 
 the state; for years in the legislature; in con- 
 gress from 1823 to 1825; governor in 1835; 
 died unmarried. 
 
 IIL Charles, who (TumI nnmarricd. 
 
 TV. Margaret, wlio mai'ried Honorable John 
 R. Donnel, one of the judge.s of the state from 
 1819 to 183G, who left four children." 
 
 An accurate portrait of Governor Spaight 
 hangs in one of the rooms of Independence 
 Hall, rhiladelphia, 
 
 DUELS IN NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 The kind dispositions of the people of the 
 state, tlieir nnan)bitious tempers, together witli 
 aversion to acts of violence and blood, have 
 done much to discourage the practice of duel- 
 ling. Of late years there have been but few 
 " affairs of honor," so called. In our readings, 
 however, we have niet some cases of a custom 
 "more honored in the breach than in the ob- 
 servance." Doubtless other cases have occurred 
 that we have never heard of. 
 
 Honorable John Baxter, (United States 
 judge in Tennessee,) about 1850, met Colonel 
 Marcus Erwin; exchanged tire, and Baxter 
 slightly wounded; ca\ise, political. 
 
 Bynum Jesse and Jennifer of Maryland, 
 (same cause,) neither hurt. 
 
 Honorable Duncan Cameron, and William 
 Dutl'y, met near Ilillsboro; Judge Cameron 
 wounded. Duffy represented Fayetteville in 
 the legislature of 180G. 
 
 Honorable Samuel ]'. Carson and Dr. R. B. 
 Yi.iice, (see sketch of Carson.) 
 
 *See sketch of Judge Dounel. 
 
 Honorable Thomas L. Clingman and Wm L. 
 Yancy, (see sketch of Clingman.) 
 
 Joseph Klaniier and Walker, near Wilming- 
 ton; latter killed. 
 
 Louis D. Henry ami Thomas J. Stanly, 1812, 
 latter killed. 
 
 General Robert Howe and (iadsden, of 
 South Carolina, fought May 13th, 1778, in 
 South Carolina, neither hurt. 
 
 Honorable J. J. Jackson and Jose^ih Pearson ; 
 political, 1812, at Washington. 
 
 Thomas F, Jones and Dr. Daniel Johnson 
 at Bladensburg, 1840, latter killed. 
 
 Law and Blanchard, (Bertie County.) 
 
 Scattervvaite and Kennedy. 
 
 Strong and Holmes, (Sampson County.) 
 
 John_JStiHj.ly__and Governor Spaight, (see 
 sketch of Spaight. ) 
 
 Edward Stanly and Samuel W. Inge, of 
 Alamance; political ; neither hurt. 
 
 Montford Stokes and Jesse A. Pearson, 
 (Roward County.) Governor Stokes wounded. 
 
 Alexander Simpson and Thomas "White- 
 hurst, in 1766; latter killed. 
 
 Yellowby and Harris. 
 
 John Stanly, born 1774^ died 1834, was a 
 native of New Berne. The son of John "Wright 
 Sianl^. He was educated for the law; strong 
 in mental as well as personal gifts, he attained 
 high distinction in his profession. Blessed 
 with a clear and musical voice, with rnanneis 
 at once graceful and dignified; bold and fear- 
 less in his elocution, sarcastic and severe in ex- 
 pression, he was in his day an advocate of great 
 power and success. 
 
 He early entered the stormy arena of ptJities, 
 and took satisfaction in mingling in its fierce 
 and furious strife. At an early age, (in 1798,) 
 he was elected a member of the House of Com- 
 mons, of which he was elecied speaker, ami in 
 which he continued, with intermis.sions, until 
 182ij, when he, whilst debating, was struck 
 with paralysis and never recovered. He was 
 a member of the Seventh Congress, 1801- '3, 
 
136 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 and ayiiin of tlie Eleventli Coiiyress, 1800-'ll. 
 His aiiplication to Govei'iinr Williams for par- 
 don, lias been published; and is ailniired as 
 being eloquent and dignitied. 
 
 I have in my possession, tlie original peti- 
 tion of the niendiers of the legislature to tlie 
 gdvernor, asking this pardon, signed by iJiincan 
 Cameron, Calvin Jones, John Allison, Peter 
 Hoyle, David Tate, Daniel Glisson, Durant 
 Hatch, John G. Scull, W. Lord, Peter Forney, 
 Ephin. Davidson, George Outlaw, Robert Wil- 
 liams, and others. 
 
 In his political campaigns, in discussions in 
 the legislature, and in debate at the bar, and 
 even in j)rivate life, Mr. Stanly's course to- 
 wards his opponents was marked with vio- 
 lence. Speaking of the unamiable trait in his 
 character, Mr. Miller states: " Judge Donnell 
 was an able, quiet, obstrusive, upright gentle- 
 man. He bore with great equinamity the 
 biting sarcasm which Mr. Stanly was in the 
 habit of thrusting at the court, wliere Judge 
 l)'>iniell presided, whenever it suited his 
 l.oliL-y." Judge Donnell was the son-in-law 
 lI' the first Governor Spaight. The same 
 writer, speaking of Mr. Siiaight, the second, 
 says: 
 
 " ilichard D. Spaight held a license to 
 practice law,l)ut was wealthy and diffident, lie 
 was not destitute of talents and learning." 
 
 " I always suspected that Mr. Stanly was an 
 obstacle to the professional success of Mr. 
 Spaight, as Stanly was a man of imperious 
 temper, and not satisfied with killing tlie 
 father of Mr. Spaight, he seemed to deliglit in 
 tortui'ing the son, by looks and gestures, and 
 intonations of his voice, when other methods 
 were not used."* 
 
 Mr. Stanly married a daughter of Mailin 
 Frank, of Jones County, whose handsome 
 estate laid the foundation of his fortu?je. Put 
 it was not permanent. In the Recollections of 
 New Berne lifty years ago, the writer says:t 
 
 *See our Living and our Dead, November, 1S74. 
 tStephen F. Miller, iu our Living and Dead, No- 
 vember, 1874 
 
 "Mrs. Stanly was a country heiress, with- 
 out cultivation or opportunity. Their na- 
 natures and habits were incompatible; she was 
 a shouting Methodist, he a staid vestryman of 
 the orthodox Episcopal church."' His affairs 
 became so embarrassed, that debts and judg- 
 ments pressed him. To the kindness of a per- 
 sonal and political frieml, he owned the house 
 in which he li\-ed and died. Here harrassed 
 l)y creditors, witli a liody heljJess from disease, 
 a mere wreck of his former self; he died 
 August 3rd, 1835. We may well recall at 
 such a scene, the words of Ophelia: 
 
 " O, wliut a uolile mind is Iiere o'er thrown, 
 The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue 
 
 sword. * * * 
 Now see tliat noble anil most sovereign reason, 
 Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh." 
 
 Mr. Stanly left one daughter, who married 
 Walker K. Armstead, then an officer in the 
 United States army, against Mr. Stanly's 
 wishes. Mr. Miller says he never forgave hei'. 
 When this worthy officer attained rank and 
 distinction, in her old age Mrs. Stanly found a 
 home under his hospitable roof, 'where she 
 died. Mr. Stanly also died under General 
 Arnistead's roof. 
 
 His descendants, a number of sons, wore: 
 
 I. John, idiotic from liirtb. 
 
 II. Alfred, resided in Fairfax C(.unty. Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
 III. Frank, became a Methodist preacher. 
 
 IV. Edward, was a member of the house 
 from Beaufort, 1844 to 1847.^ 
 
 V. Alexander.* 
 
 VI. Faliius, United States navy (retired 
 admiral,) resided in Washington. 
 
 VII. Cicero. 
 VIII James. 
 
 Dr. Isaac Gnion,of New Perne, was surgeon 
 to the First liegiment North Cart)lina Conti- 
 nentals, commanded by Colonel James Moore. 
 From neglect of duty he was suspended. 
 
 On July 6th, 1776, he was appointed com- 
 
 JFor his sketch see Beaufort County. 
 
CliAVEN (BOUNTY. 1;!7 
 
 missary to an iiHle[iendont company under rliildron, a son, tlicn only three years i>lil, 1 ho 
 
 Captain Selby JIarvey, stationed on tlie sea snhject ol' t his sketrli, an<l a. dan^ihter, who, in 
 
 coast.* after years, hucanie the wife of Chief Jastire 
 
 William (Taston,boni September 19th, 1778, Taylor, 
 died January 23d, 1844, was the son of Dr llis early education was conducted under 
 Alexander Gaston, wiio was one of the most the guidance of a pious ami patient mother, 
 earnest and stevidfast friends of the people. In the fall of 1791 he was sent to the Catho- 
 and one of the committee of safety for C!ravcn lir collc,i,'e at (leorgctown, where lie remained 
 County. He gave up his lite to the cause of for two years, hut under the severe disci- 
 liberty; for, as the tOAvn of Xew Berne was piine and rigors of a variahle climate, his 
 attacked by the tories on August •20th, 1781, health gave away, and !)y advice of his physi- 
 he escaped with his wife and children, lie cian, he returned to the inihl climatr.if his 
 liad only time to pusli oft" in a boat, leaving nat ive land and the comforts of home. Under 
 his wife and children on the wharf. One of the care of Reverend Thomas P. Irving, he 
 these miscreants levelled his gun over the was prepared for Princeton, and where he cn- 
 shoulder of Mrs. Gaston and tired. Her pa- tered the junior class. At the early age of 
 triotic husband was shot. eighteen, he graduated with the tirst honors ot 
 
 This tragic event has been graphically de- that icnovvned institution. lie returned home 
 
 scried by a resident of this section of our and entered the law otHce of Judge Francois 
 
 state, who states that Dr. Gaston and Colonel Xavier Martin. He was admitted to the bar 
 
 Jolin Green were dining at Dr. Gaston's house, before reaching the age of twenty-one, and 
 
 when an alarm was given that the tories were soon attained greet eminence in his profession, 
 
 coming. Ga.ston and Green arose from the In 1799, he was ele^-ted to the state senate, 
 
 table, hastened to the wharf only a few steps and LSU8 to the House of Commons, by which 
 
 oft", and jumped into a canoe; when off Cornel's body he w-as chosen speaker. 
 
 wharf a platoon of the tories tired np<m them, In 131 0, he was a candidate for congre-s, and 
 
 and both fell. The tories then retraced their was defeated by William Blackledge, but was 
 
 steps. The canoe was the property of an old ne- elected to the Thirteenth Congress, from 181.5 
 
 gro, John, (vho, after some delay, procured aid to 1817, and tlie Fourteenth Congress, from 
 
 and started in search of his canoe, which was 1817 to 1819. 
 
 drifting about at the mercy of the winds and Hei'e be occupied a position as the peer of 
 waves. On reaching it, he found lying at the Calhoun, Clay, Lowndes, Kandol^.h and Web- 
 bottom of his boat Green, as he supposed dead, ster. His speeches on the loan bill and the 
 and Gaston dying. He carried them back to previous question present some of the finest 
 the wharf, and then to Dr. Ilazlin's house, specimens of reasoning and eloipience which 
 The doctor pronounced Green mortally the country has ever furnished. He retired 
 wounded, and Gaston seriously. Just the con- fi'om congress to pursue his law practice. 
 verse of this ojiinion turned out true, for the I" 1824, he was elected to the House of (\)ni- 
 latter soon died, and the former lived thirty mons, and in 1827-'28 and 1831. 
 years afterwards. Dr. Gaston was buried in Here he rendered efficient and invaluable 
 " Cedar Grove," tlie city cemetery. services to llie state. The perfect orgauiza- 
 He left a disconsolate widow and two little tion of our then judicial system, and some of 
 the best statutes of North Carolina, are the 
 
 ^Force's American Aichives. result of his sagacity and labor. 
 
138 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Ill 1834,011 tlie death ot -liulyo nciKlevsni, was no sopliistr3- to mislead, no nieretvicious 
 lie was elected one of the judges of the supreme ornament to beguile; his person seemed almost 
 court, wliich eleviited position was so germane inspired, and his countenance expressed a be- 
 to his talents and his tastes that he declined nignty of soul which ninrkod liis whole life and 
 a seat in the Senate of the United States, which character. 
 
 was tendered to iiim. Only once more did The writer (Dalton,) already quoted, says of 
 
 lie appear as a statesman. lie was a member Jud^e Gaston: " lie was a great man in every 
 
 of the convention of 1835, which liody was, sense of the word, (^ne was never tired of 
 
 without doubt, the ablest that ever sat in the his compaiiv. His conversation was always 
 
 state. Tlie tirst men from every section in the interesting and instructive. He did not pos- 
 
 stute, of the highest positions, and of tlie sess the excursive genius of Mr. Badger, nor 
 
 largest knowledge, were selected. the wit of Mr. Stanly. But his store of learn- 
 
 Ile allied the conventinn in making health- ing and well balanced mind, added to his un- 
 
 ful reforms, modified the thirty-second article sullied character, made him greatly their su- 
 
 disfranchising Catholics, and opposed tlie prop- perior- He had more matter of fact than 
 
 osition to deprive free colored people of the romance in his character. He would have 
 
 right to vote. Until this time they had pos- made a better historian than a novelist, and 
 
 sessod the right in North Carolina. The perhaps, too, a great actor." 
 
 character of Judge Gaston asastatesmaii,pure His last days were bright and glorious, and 
 
 and iiatriotic, is inscribed in the annals of the his end triumphant and happ}'. 
 
 nation, and the state, llis ability and learn- On Januaiy 23d, 1844, while sitting on the 
 
 ing as an advocate, none can question; and his bench of the supreme court at Raleigh, he 
 
 jiatience with witnesses and suitors, his coiiqilained of a chilly sensation, attended with 
 
 (irbanity to his associates, and Iiis respect to fainting feelings, and was carried from the 
 
 untbority rendered him universally impular. court room to his chamber. On that evening 
 
 His manii.er of aildress in a court or the he was better, many friends called wiio were 
 
 legi dature was pM3culiar. charmed with his conversation ; and when relat- 
 
 It was my fortune to sit two sessions of the ing an account of a convivial party at Washing- 
 legislature in the next seat to. Judge Gaston, as tun, he spoke of one who avowed himself a 
 alsooii thecommitteeon thejiidiciary vvithhim, free thinker in religion. 
 
 and I had good opportunitiesof tibserving him. "From that time," be said, -'I regarded that 
 
 He had, or seemed to have, when he first arose man with distrust. I do not say that sucli a 
 
 to speak, a modesty that was as embarrassing to man niaj* not be an honorable man, but I dare 
 
 himself as it was to bis audience. He trembled not trust him. A Ijelief in an all ruling 
 
 percepitibly at first, but after a few monjents providence who shapes our deeds is necessary, 
 
 his emphatic and deliberate manner and sub- We must believe and feel that there is a God, 
 
 ducd times commanded profound silence and all wise and almighty " 
 
 attention. He Ijecame [lerfectly possessed, and As lie pronounced these words, he raised 
 
 he commenced his argument with matchless himself up from. his couch to give eni[ihasis to 
 
 and thrilling elcxpience. As be [ir.igressed, the his expression, in a moment there seemed to 
 
 grandeur of liis exiiression seemed to increase, be a rush of blood to the brain, and he fell 
 
 whilst his illustrations were as Inminons as a backacor[ise. The spirit fied from the scenes of 
 
 sunbeam, and his arguments carried conviction earth, to meet that God in whom he trusted, 
 
 to the minds of his entranced auditors. There and whose name last vibrated on his tongue. 
 
CRAVEN COUNTY 
 
 139 
 
 Truly ilid his able associate, Judge Kuffin, 
 say on the occasion of his death that he was '-a 
 good man and a groat judge." His remains 
 were deposited in the cemetery at New Berne. 
 A ho.ivy hlock of marble, resting on the 
 granite, surmounted b}- a cross, bears simply 
 the name of William Gaston and the date of 
 birth and death. 
 
 "I saw," says the writer already quoted, 
 "one morning, before the snn has risen Edward 
 P^verett and John R. Doniiel standing together 
 at tlie tomb of Gaston. Mr. Everett removed 
 his hat, saying: 'This eminent man had low 
 equals and no superior.' " 
 
 Of sucli a man's memory- the state may Ije 
 justly [irond. She has written his name on 
 hei' towns and counties, and as long as talent 
 is admired, cr virtue appreciated, so long will 
 the name of Gaston be cherished. 
 
 Judge Gaston was thrice married: 
 
 I. Miss Ha}-, of Fayetteville; no issue. 
 
 II. Hannah McClure,who died suddenly, in 
 1814, from alarm at the incoming of the Brit- 
 ish fleet. She left {<i) Alexander F. Gaston, 
 who was in the legislature in 1830, and who 
 mari'ied [Jini) Miss Jones, and (second) Miss 
 Murphy of Burke, where he died; (h) and two 
 daughters, one of whom was the first wife of 
 Judge Manlj'; she left one child, Hannah, who 
 married a son of the Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks; 
 she has since died leaving several children. 
 Tlie second daughter of Judge Gaston by this 
 marriage was the wife of Robert Donaldson, 
 of New York. 
 
 III. MissWorthington, of Georgetown ; issue 
 (r/) Mrs. Graham, who died recently near Marl- 
 boro, Maryland; (6) Kate, single. 
 
 John R. Donnel, born 1791, died 1864, a 
 native of Ireland, and a mau of letters, was 
 educated at the university of North Carolina, 
 and graduated in 1807, in the same class with 
 Gavin Hogg, and others. He studied law and 
 practiced that profession with great success. 
 
 In 1815, he was elected solicitor of the dis- 
 
 trict, and in 1819 be was elecied judge nt" tin- 
 superior courts of law, the duties of which be 
 discharged with dignity and ability far st-ven- 
 teen years. 
 
 His extensive [U'operty suffered severely from 
 the tumults and depredations of civil war. 
 
 He died at lialeigb, October 15th, ISfU, a 
 i-efugec from his large estates and i)rincely 
 home. 
 
 .ludge Doiinel married .Margaret, daughter 
 of Governor Spaiubt, who left five children: 
 
 I. Richard Spaight Donnel, distinguished as 
 a lawyer.* 
 
 II. Mary, who marrried Clnirles B. Sbep- 
 pard. Mr. Sbeppard \\'as in congress 1839 to 
 1841, and who died 1843, leaving two chil- 
 dren; ('0 Margaret, who married Samuel S. 
 Nelson; (li) Mary, who mari-ied James A. 
 Bryan. 
 
 III. Anne, single. 
 
 lY. Fannie, who married James B. Shep- 
 pard; Mr. Sheppard died in 1870, leaving ;m' 
 son, John R. D. SlRq'pard, now in Paris. 
 
 Y. C. Spaight Donnel, married Thomas M. 
 Keerl, of Baltimore, where they reside. 
 
 John Sitgreaves, late United States judge, 
 was a resident of New Berne. The first United 
 States district judge for the District of Kortb 
 Carolina, was John Stokes, f ajipointed b\' 
 Gen e ra I ^Yash i ngt on . 
 
 He was succeeded i)y Jolm Sitgreaves in 
 1790, a[ipointed by Jefi'erson. He was suc- 
 ceeded by Henry Potter in 1803, who held the 
 position until his death, December 20th, 1859. 
 He was succeeded by Asa Biggs, apjioiuted by 
 Bucb:inan; the war suspended his functions. 
 George W. Brooks was appointed August 9th, 
 1865. 
 
 The state has been divided recently into two 
 districts, and Robert P. Dick| was appointed 
 for the Y''estern district by General Grant. 
 
 *For sketch of whom see Beaufort Coimty. 
 
 tFor sketch, see Stokes County. 
 
 tSee sketch of Judge Dick, Guilford County. 
 
140 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCEXCES. 
 
 Jnd^-e Siticreavcs, was like his predecessor, a 
 soldier of the revolution. 
 
 It is a remarkable historical fact tliat after a, 
 war, whether foi-eign or domestic, that the pop- 
 ular feeliiiy centers on those " who have done 
 the state sduie service " in the field. The re- 
 mark (if Ldi'd Bacon is verified liy facts. "In 
 the ycnth of a nation, the profession of arms 
 Hoiirish; in its middle age, the useful arts; and 
 in its old ai^'o, the tine arts." See America, 
 England, and Italy to prove the truth of tliis 
 dictum. 
 
 dudge Sitgi'i\aves was apiiointe<l by the Pro- 
 vincial Congress in ITTH, an officer in Captain 
 Cassell's company, and was in the l)attle of 
 Camden, August, 1780. 
 
 lie was a member of the fjontinental Con- 
 gress in 1784, and a member of the House of 
 commons (1780 to 1789) from the borough of 
 New Berne. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson's diary contains the following: 
 
 " 1789, Hawkins recommended John Sit- 
 groaves, as a very clever gentlemen, of good 
 ;deportinent, well pkilled in the law for a man 
 of his age, and if he lives long enough, will be 
 .an ornament to Ids profession. Si>aight and 
 Ijlount concurring, he was nominated." 
 
 He .iied at Halifax, March 4th, 1802, where 
 he lies buried. 
 
 John Herritage Bryan, born 1798, died May 
 loth, 1870, was a native of New Borne. 
 
 In the J'rovincial Congress of Xovember, 
 177(3, at Halifax, three of this name were 
 meuibers. His early education was conducted 
 by the Reverend T. P. Irving, and he gradu- 
 ated at the university in 1815. in the same 
 class with Isaac Ci'oom, Edward Hall, Francis 
 L. Hawks, Willie P. Mangum, Ricliard Dobbs 
 Spaiglit, and othei's. He read law and at- 
 tained high rank in !iis profession. 
 
 He was elected to the state senate in 1823 
 and '24, and in the next year also, and at the 
 same time he was elected a member of the 
 Nineteenth Congress, from 1825 to 1827; an 
 
 unprecedented event, and the more so as he 
 was away from home when elected to both of 
 these popular positions. He accepted the seat 
 ill congress, and he was elected to the Twen- 
 tieth Congress. He declined a re-election, 
 the care of a young and increasing familj' 
 demanding his services. He removed to Ra- 
 leigh, where he lived many years, loved and 
 respected li}- all who knew him, ami where he 
 died, universally regretted, in 1870. 
 
 He married the daughter of William Shep- 
 ard, of New Berne, and leaves a large and 
 interesting family. One of his sons, Francis, 
 graduated at West Point, and was distin- 
 guished in liattles in Mexico. 
 
 F](hvard Graham, born 1765, died 1833, son 
 of Edward Graham, (who came from Argyle- 
 shire, Scotland,) was born in New York city, 
 graduated at Princeton 1785, read law with 
 Chief Justice Jay, and settled in New Berne. 
 
 He was a member in the legislature from 
 New Berne, in 1797 — his only public service. 
 He was the second of Mr. Stanly in his fatal 
 duel with Governor Spaight. He died in New 
 Berne, March 22d, 1838. 
 
 He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Ed- 
 ward Batchelor, and had two children: 
 
 I. Elizabeth, born 1804, who married John 
 P. Daves. 
 
 II. Jane Frances, married to William II. 
 Haywood, late United States senator. 
 
 Francis Lister Hawks, born W', died LSOfi, 
 the son of John Hawks, was a native of New 
 Berne, and distinguished as a writer and pul- 
 [)it orator. 
 
 One of his ancestors was the architect and 
 superintended the building of the governor's 
 residence at New Berne in 1771. Among the 
 Colonial Records in London, I find that in 
 June 20th, 1771, at a meeting of the eoancil, 
 he suhmitted his accounts of expenses for 
 building the palace. 
 
 He graduated at the university in 1815, in 
 the same class with Mr. Bryan, and others, as 
 
CRAVEN COUNTY. 
 
 141 
 
 alluded to in the sketch of Mr. Bryiin: studied 
 Ihw and was the reporter of tlie decisions of 
 tiie supreme court for five years, (1820 to '26.) 
 
 In 1821, he was elected a mcndjer of the 
 House of Commons from Xew Berne, l)ut he 
 resolved to devote himself to the ministry, 
 and was ordained hy Bishop Ravenscroft He, 
 in 1827, was assistant minister of Dr. Harry 
 Croswell, of New Haven, Conne'.:ticut. In 
 1829, he was the assistant of P.ishop ^Yhite, 
 at St. James, Philadelphia, and from 1832 
 to 1834, was the rei:tor of St. Stejihen's 
 church, New York; during which period he 
 visited Europe, with an introduction to Ihe 
 Archhishop of Canterbury, to collect material 
 for a history of the Episcopal church in the 
 United States, a fragment of which may be 
 seen in his biography of Bishop White. 
 
 From St. Stephen's he passed to St. Thomas 
 in 1832, aud continued his connection with this 
 parish until he removed to Mississippi in 1844. 
 He was elected bishop of the diocese; which 
 he declined, as also his election to be bishop of 
 Rhode Island. At the close of 1844, he took 
 charge of Christ church in New Orleans, where 
 he continued for iive years, during which time 
 he gave his aid to the establisl)mont of a .state 
 university, of wliich he was made tho, presi- 
 dent. But he was called to fill the pulpit of 
 Cavalry church, and he returned to New York 
 and continued in this charge until 1861; he 
 then resigned because lie sympathized with 
 the soutli, and took clnirge of a Baltimore 
 church. One of his sons was major in the 
 Confederate army. After the war was over 
 he returned to and preached in tlie Cliurch of 
 the Annunciation, New York, where he died 
 Se[itember 27, 1666. 
 
 He married a la<ly in Connecticut, by v/hom 
 he had. several children. 
 
 Dr. Hawks was true to North Carolina and 
 proud of her glorious history.* 
 
 * This sketch ia compiled from origiuiil doeuiuente 
 and from a memorial of F. L. Hawk-, Di). LL1>., 
 
 As a divine, his merits were brilliant and 
 unsurpassed. An agreeable address, an amia- 
 ble and placi<l countenance, a deep toned 
 voice, expressive of pathos and feeling, modu- 
 lated and eloquent in all its utterances, a warm 
 southern sensibility and all markeil with 
 maidy frankness, distinguished Dr. Hawks as 
 one of the first pulpit orators of hia age. 
 
 As an author he exhibited great learning 
 and laborious research; the most voluminous 
 our state has ever produced. Among his most 
 important works are: 
 
 I. Reports of Supreme Court of North 
 Carolina, (182(1-'26,) in four volumes. 
 
 II. Digest of all the cases decided and re- 
 ported in North Carolina. 
 
 HI. Contributiotis to the Ecclesiastical Ilis- 
 tor}- of the United States, two volumes, em- 
 bracing New York, Maryland, and Virginia. 
 
 IV. Egypt and her Monuments, (1849.) 
 
 V. Auricular Confession in the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church, (1850.) 
 
 VI. History of North Carolina, two volumos, 
 (1857.) 
 
 VII. Antiquities of Peru, (1854.) 
 
 VIII. OtReial and Other Papers of Alexan- 
 der Hamilton, (1842.) 
 
 IX. Romance of Biography. 
 
 X. Appleton's Cyclopedia; of Biography. 
 XL Journal of General Conventions (1856) 
 
 of the Protestant Episcopal church of the 
 United States, from 1785. 
 
 XII. Under the pseudonym of Uncle Philip, 
 several juvenile works for Harper's "Boys' and 
 Girls' Library." 
 
 XIH. He compiled from Perry's original 
 notes " the Narrative of Commodore Perry's 
 Expedition to the China Seas and Japan," 
 (1S52.) 
 
 XIV. Lecture on Sir Walter Raleigh. 
 
 by Everitt A. nuyckinck, read before Kew York 
 
 Historical Society, May, 1867. 
 '•Cyclopedia of American Literature.'' 
 " Dictionary of American Biography by I'raucis.S. 
 
 Drake, 1876." 
 
142 WHEELER'S KEMINISCEXCES. 
 
 X^.^. Lecture estaMishiiig tiie authenticity appearance, of _ij;reat geniality of temper he 
 
 of the Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Declara- was a favorite witii all liis associates, 
 
 tion of Independence of May 2G'th, 1775. descended to the ludicrous. Of fine personal 
 
 At the time of his death he was preparing But his transcendent powers as an advocate 
 
 a work " on the Ancient Monuments of Cen- did iu)t detract from his usefulness; not unlike 
 
 tral and Western America," and a Physical Erskine, the giant lawyer, they did not dwarf 
 
 Geography. the aide statesman. It was liis custom wlien 
 
 George Edmun<l Badger, horn 1795, died entering the senate, to linger in the morning 
 
 1866, was a native of New Berne. His fathei', and have a pleasant word with neai'ly ewuy 
 
 a devoted patriot, was a native of Connecticut, mend/er, lud'ore he took lii.^ seat. This he 
 
 His mother was a daughter of Richard Cog- would not retain long, for he was less frerpient 
 
 dell; who was one of the council of safety in in liis own seat than in that of other niend^ers. 
 
 1775. He was educated at Yale College, grad- Yet, with liii^ aiiparent carelessness, he would 
 
 uated in 1815, and studied law witli John catchaiid remoudru-cveiT word, whether trivial 
 
 Stanly, who was his relative. or important, uttered in debate, and ready to 
 
 He was elected a inendier of the legislature answer any ((iiestion. He had a I'ertain kind 
 
 1816; and in 1820, at the early age of 25, elec- of hunioi- to riilicule, in a jileasant way, even 
 
 ted one of the judges of the superior courts, tlie most digiiitied of that distinguished hody 
 
 which he resigned in 1825. He then settled al.iout any little mistake or blunder, either in 
 
 in Raleigh and pursued with great success his their speeches or conversutiiju. 
 profession. He was appointed Secretary of (Mi one nc^•asion, when a senator was con- 
 
 the Navy in 1841, but resigned on Tyler's ve- cludinga long and Iaboi-ed speech, (J. P. Hale) 
 
 toing the re-charter of tlie United States he remarkcMl: " I guess I baves.iid enougli;" Mr. 
 
 Bank.* Badger who was just behind him said " I know 
 
 From 1846 to 1855 he was United States you have." This descent from the sublime to 
 
 SL-natoi'. the ridiculous created a pleasant smile. 
 
 In 1851, he was nominateil one of thejudges On another occasiMii, when he had moved 
 
 of the Supreme Court of the United States, that the senate adjnni'u over ne.\t day, 
 
 but was not confirmed by the senate. l>eing Good Friday, the metion was lost. 
 
 In 1861, he was a member of the convention "Weil,' lie said, "I submit, but this is the 
 
 and signed the ordinance of secession. His only judicial body that has ev(r sat on (.-iood 
 
 adniiralde letter to Mr. Ely, already presented, Friday, since the days of Puntius Pilate, who 
 
 (see Eeaurfort) gives the "form and jires- tried and condemned our Saviour." Mr. AVeb- 
 
 sure " of those unhappy times. The attendant ster was present and remarked: " That Badger 
 
 calamities (hiubtless shortened bis days. is the greatest tiifler I ever knew; we are all 
 
 As an advocate he had few equals, and no afraid of him; he can make more out of a 
 
 superior in the highest tribunals (.>f the country, trifling occurrence than any man I ever knew." 
 
 As an orator he waseloquent, learned and able; But there ^vas pith and point in all he said 
 
 aliounding in wit and humor, which sometimes and did. He had no ^n}leriol• or eipial in his 
 
 matchless ability for winnowing cliatl' from 
 
 " It is singular that North Carolina has rarely been , , ' i •ii- 
 houored by liaviiig one of her citizen.s inade a cabhiet wheat, or tlie most brilliant flowers oi elo- 
 
 S'ea'"''"'°^°''°'''^"'"'^°'"''"°'^^^^ a"ence from the dry detail of sophistry; and 
 
 I. John IJranch, 1829; II. f^eorge E Badger, 1S41 ; wdiile he indulged in the humorous or ludicrous. 
 
 lA. \Mlluim A. Graham, tSoO ; IV. James C. Dob- ,.,,,,'. 
 
 bill. 1S53. he wielded his arguments with the force of 
 
CKAVEN (X)UNTY. 143 
 
 aTilaii. ills iiiiiid seemed so construeteil, lie sttulii'il law with (Joveninr Manly and 
 tliat like the proboscis of the elephant, it could settled in Xew i'xTne. lie entered the House 
 pickup with etiual faeility the nnnutest oh- of Commons in 1S;!4, as the mend)er fnnn New 
 ject or the most weighty subject in its course. Bcnie and re-elected in 1835, was last repre- 
 lle would often treat theliiiht and feeble ar<?u- sentative from New Berne, for in that year the 
 metit with great seriousness, while he struck convention abolished tiie borough membeis. 
 with ponderous blows the more weighty. His He was elected in 1840 one of the judges of 
 great power as a lawyer was acknowledged l)y the sujicrior courts, which he held until 1860, 
 both bench and bar and the whole community, when lie was elected one of tlie justices of the 
 He had no taste for mathematics, as he supreme court; this he r^^signed when 
 used to say him-self he was never "skilled in war and violence "exhausted the judiciary." 
 arithmetic;" his stnuig forte was his power of After the war Wius over, and the state re- 
 analysis, bnrningeloquencc, his deep and vaiied eoustrncted, Judge Manly was elected senator 
 knowledge of ids pi-ofes.<ion. Whatever argn- in congrers, but was not allowed to take his 
 menl was made adversely to his cause, with a seat. 
 
 wizard wand, he would transfurm the object He then, with commendable pa':ri(>tism, pre- 
 
 to his tastes and wishes, and impress the nund sided as one of the county judges of Craven, 
 
 of the court, jury, and audience with the sound- devoting his learning and abilities to the good 
 
 ness of his position. ol' his country. 
 
 Is not this genius, and v/as not Badger There are few men of our state who posses.-ed 
 
 pre-eminently a genius in Xiu-th Carolina? to a greater e.xtent the sincere regard of their 
 
 He was a consistent memhei' of the Kpisco- countrymen tlum Judge Maidy. 
 
 pal church, and strictly conrormed to its usa- Charles Randolph Tliomas, who resides in 
 
 o-es. Tiiis ehurch, in 1853, had much troidde; New Berne, is a native of Carteret County; 
 
 its bishop (Ives) had shocked the diocese bj^ born in 1827, he graduated at the university 
 
 an apostasy to the church of Rome. Judge 1849, in same class with Kemp P. Battle, Wil- 
 
 Badfer had for some time iirevious resisted the liam B. Dortch, Forney George, Charles E. 
 
 stealthy stei.>s i)f the recreant jirclate, and by Lowtiier, William G. Pool, James P. Scales 
 
 his efforts counteracted his sinister influence, and others. He studied law and settled in 
 
 Judge Badger was nuirried three times; New Berne. In IHtU, lie was elected secretary 
 
 lir.st a daughter of Governor Turnei'; second, of state, and in 18tj8 elected one of the judges 
 
 adauuhtcrof Colonel William Polk; third, a of the superior courts, which lie resigned on 
 
 dau"-hter of Mrs. Williams, y«fe Haywood. being elected a member of the Forty-secMid 
 
 He died of paralysis, at Raleigh, on .May Congress, 1871-73, and re-elected to the Forty • 
 
 11th 18G6. third Congre.ss, 1873 and 187o. he served 
 
 Matthias Evans Manly, whose distinguished most acceptably and faithfully as a membei'Mf 
 brother. Governor Charles .Manly, we have al- the committee ow elections. He was not re- 
 ready sketched, (see Chatham) iived and died nominated to the Forty-fourth Congress, but 
 in New Berne, Julv 2, l'^81. He wa.sa native in hisstead agentlciiian of African descent was 
 of Chatham county; giadu.ated at the elected 
 
 university in 1824, in a class of great merit; William J. Clarke rcsidesiii New Bcrno; hois 
 
 William A. (-.raham, Augustus .Moore, David anativeof Wake ('ounty; he was liberally ed- 
 
 Outlaw. and Thomas Dews, were among its ueated,aiidgradu:ited at the univer.sityin 1841, 
 
 members. i" the same class with R. R. Bridgers, John F. 
 
144 AVHEE LEE'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Hoke, Moiitt'ord McGehee, Charles iuid Samuel mother was the grand-daughter of the cele- 
 
 F. riiillips, Horatio M. I'olk, Jesse G. Shop- brated Jonathan Edwards, distinguished as a 
 
 herd, and otliers. metaphysician, the president of the Frince- 
 
 He studied law, and was very laborious and ton College. The early education of Mrs. 
 
 ujef\il. Clarke was liberal, for blest with ample means. 
 
 In 184(1, he volunteered for the Mexican war, every advantage that wealth could bestow was 
 
 and was appointed captain of company I., 12th lavished upon her. Her genius early displayed 
 
 regiment of United States Infantry, with itself in prose and poetry; but her productions 
 
 John F. Hoke as first lieutenant and Junius were then mere pastime. The civil war brought 
 
 B. "Wheeler and others as privates. At the adversities to all, and unusual disaster added 
 
 action at the National Bridge he was severely to this, her bealtli began to fail and she 
 
 wounded. He was also in the battles of Pasa sought the mild climate of Cubix for its resto- 
 
 Ovejas and Cerro Gordo. For his gallantry he ration. With renewed health she commenced 
 
 was promoted. This war being ended, and his her career as an authoress. Some of her 
 
 command disbanded, he returned home to his poems were cidlected and published in a 
 
 professional practice. volume. " Mosses from a Rolling Stone," "The 
 
 In 1850, he Avas elected by the legislature of Idle Moments of a Busy Woman," and many 
 
 North Carolina as comiitroUer of tiie state, other gems. Her many war pieces as "The 
 
 which.after fouryears service, he resigned, and Battle of Manassas;" " Battle of the Hampton 
 
 was succeeded by George W. Brooks. Roads," and her" Rebel Sick,", are calculated 
 
 When the civil war began he was apiiointed to rouse the feelings, while the simple touches 
 
 colonel of the 24th North Carolina regiment, of nature in her " Mothers' Dream," "My 
 
 and did much and varied service ; endured Cliildren," and " Smiles and Roses," awaken 
 
 much suffering and encountered the tender sensibilities of the heart. The 
 
 " Most disastrous chances, "Reminiscences of Cuba," and "Of noted 
 
 Of moving accidents by flood and field; North Carolinians," show her skill and power 
 
 Of hair breadth escapes in tlie inuninent deadly breacb. 
 
 Of being talceu by the insolent foe, and placed into as a pen painter of genius. In 1S.J4, Mrs. 
 
 captivity '• Clarke published " Wood Notes;" in 1871, 
 
 for at one time, like Governor Vance, he was " Clytie and Zenobia; or, the Lily and the 
 
 an inmate of the prison at Washington. I'alm." 
 
 After the war was over, he returned to his William Edwards Clarke is the son of the 
 
 profession, and was made one of the judges of above. He was born in Raleigh on March 7, 
 
 superior courts of law and equity, in which posi- 1850. 
 he was succeeded by Judge A. S. Se\-niour. He was educated at Davidson College, and 
 
 Judge Clarke married Maiy Bayard, daugh- read law at Columbia College, New York, 
 ter of the late Thomas Pollock Devercux, who He was elected in 1876 a member of the 
 
 was (listinguished as a la\A'3'er,and a successful legislature by 1.500 majority. lie was a tutor 
 
 and extensive planter on the Roanoke river; his in the Deaf and Dumb Institution. 
 
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 145 
 
 ClTAPTiat XV. 
 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 
 
 With tliis county is aBsocinteil the natne of Another character appears in the onrl.y his- 
 
 Flora Mai'Doiiakl, born at South Uist, Scot- tory of this county, and as he was snniewhat 
 
 land in 1720, and died Marcli 4th, 1790. \ notorious, his name is presented— Farrpiard 
 
 She is celebrated for having aided and ac- Camiibell. 
 
 complished the escape of Charles lidward, the lie was a slirowd and active politician, and 
 
 young pretender, after the battle of Culloden, tried to make favor with both sides, but as in 
 
 April 16, 1746. all similar efforts, the favor of both sides was 
 
 In 1750, she married Alexander .MacDonald, lost, 
 
 with whom she came to North Carolina in I find from a di-^patch of Governor Martin 
 
 1773, and settled near Fayetteville in this to the Earl of Dartmouth, dated on boaril of 
 
 county. He was a captain of the Royal the Cruiser, October 16th, 1775, the following: 
 
 Highlander.s, and was engaged in the battle of . ..i n-i a f t u; i 
 
 " ' °° " lam sm'iu'ised tohear that the Scotcn Hu'-li- 
 
 Moore's Creek Bridge, where he was taken |;^„ders have. leclaicd themselves neutral. Tins I 
 
 prisoner, and confined in Halifax jail Flora atti'ibute to the influence of a certain Far(inar<l 
 
 returned to Skye, Scotland. She was of much Campbell, an ignorant man who has settle,! 
 
 , „ ' , , from Ills childhood in this county, an old 
 
 personal beauty, and ot great energy and de- ,„e,„i,er of the assembly, and has in,bii,ed all 
 
 termination of character. On the voyage the American prejudices. By advice of somo 
 
 home an attack on the ship was made by a of my countrymen, I was induced to coni- 
 
 T^ 1 1- f ,. , 1 „,u^., fi. ^ TT,. ,.i;m, .1,;,. niunicato with him, and sound him, in case mat- 
 French sun ot war, and when tlie English ship ^ <- -i- 1 ,,,. 1 *■ 
 ' ' r> i (.^^^ fame to extremities, and was assured ot 
 was aljout to be taken, she rushed on the deck, his ioy:dty. lie expressed to me his abhor- 
 and by her examule and courage drove the ence of the violence done at Fort Johnstone, 
 enemy ..fi'. In the contest herarm was broken. '""J *» ^'^^i^r i.ista.nccs and discovered so much 
 •^ , „. . , iealousv and apprehension or the ill designs 
 Several of her sons were odicers in the army. ;,i- the "leaders in .edition, giving n,e at the 
 One of them was a colonel, and a Fellow of the same time so strong assurances of his loyalty, 
 Koval Society. and of the good dispositions of his country- 
 j;' '", / , ,.,. ,. Tj,, ^f TV II men, that I, never suspecting his dissimulation 
 The character and lite ot Hora MacDonald ^^^^^ treachery, was led to impart to him the 
 have excited the imagination of Sir Walter encouragements I was authorized to hold out 
 Scott, Mrs. Ellett and others. A more full to ] lis 'Majesty*s loyal subjects, which he re- 
 
 -, 1 . -1 1 1 i 1 r u 1-j.- 1 1 t ceived with much auiirobation. From the 
 
 and dotal ed sketch of her lite and character "". , . ' /' . t i i ^ ti , i 
 
 time ot this conversation, in July last, i heard 
 
 maybe found m" the History ot the Jacobites," nothing from Mr. Campbell, until the late con- 
 
 and in the History of North Carolina, II., 126. r vention at llillsboro, when he appeared as a 
 
 She died in 1790, and luu- name is still re- cU'legate from the County of Cuinberland, and 
 
 T, ^, ,,,.,, , ,1. ,, ■,, there, according to my mtormation, umisked 
 
 membered by the old folks about hayetteville ,,,j^j unsolicited, and without provocation of 
 
 with reverence and regard, any sort, he was guilty of the base treachery 
 
 Foote hassaid of this amiable and illustrious of promulgating all I had .said to him^ in confi- 
 
 , ^ ,.17 1 1 1 „ V i.>i- 1 fi -v-- dential secrecy, which ho had promised sacredly 
 
 character, "England has her Eli^.abeth, ^ ,r- ^^^ ^^^^^^,^^^^ J^^ aggravating the crimeof false- 
 
 ginia her Pocahoritas, and North Carolina her i„,m| i,y adding his own invention, in de- 
 Flora MacDonald." daring he had rejected all my propositions." 
 
146 WIIEELEirs REiMINISCENCES. 
 
 Tliis shows the opinion of Govornni- Maitin. oliiia deh'.t^ation in the house who sniiported 
 
 Cumiibell reeoiveil as little favor tVoni the the sedition law, wlneh passed the house 
 
 other side, for the next fall he was seized \>y Max 21, 1798. He supiiorted Jay's British 
 
 Colonel Folsoine in his own liouse, while en- Treaty, so universally reiiiidiated hy the south, 
 
 tertaininu- a party of Iligiiland loyalists, and He was joined by Govei'iior Martin in su[iport 
 
 taken to Halifax jail. of these Fedei'al irieasures, which was the death 
 
 The following lettei' from Colonel Moore wai'rant of l>oth in tlieir politieal lives. Gov- 
 
 will show the status of Mr. Canipl.iell with thu ernor Miu'tin in 1801, was succeeded by Gover- 
 
 whig side. nor Franklin and (ilrove hy Samuel 0. Purvi- 
 
 " Camp at Moore's ureek, anee of Fayetteville. 
 
 " Fcbrwirn 21ll,, 1770. ji^ nmrried Sarah, daughter of Egbert llay- 
 
 "Sir: I have thought proper to send down ^^.o,„i .„„i g.,i|y ^yj,,.^.^ ^(-,3 .^„„t ^j- Honorable 
 
 Mr. Farqnard Camijbell to be examined Ity -,,r-,i- o < "1 
 
 ^ ■,, '■ •' \\ illiam S. Ashe, 
 your committee. 
 
 " lie has been accused of aiding and abett- Mi'- Moore says that he was prompt, viva- 
 
 ing the tories in their late schemes, and was eious and a devoted advocate lor the adoption 
 
 airied a prisoner to Colonel Casw.-irs can,p ^,j. ^j^^ ,,^^^^, constitution: that he and John 
 
 lie has now fallen into my liauds, and I send 
 him to \ on to deal with him asyoutbiidsproper. 
 
 Ilav had married the daughters of C'olonel 
 
 "A Daniel "Williams, of Duplin, who was a Kowan, l)oth residents of Fayetteville. 
 prisoner among the tories, says that ho heard j^,).,,, Louis Taylor born March l,17C9,died 
 Cai)tain McCloud say that they intended to ^ ,„^,_, . , , ,. . -r, 
 go to the governor hy the way of Kocklish; '^'"uiary, 18211, resided lor many years ,n Fay- 
 hut that Mr. F. Canipl>ell advised them to etteville. lie was born in London, of Irish 
 take the route they have done, and that in a parents; he was deprived, at an early age, of 
 
 few hours, by liis means they might have 1 ■ , ,1 i 1 1 <- 4. ^i ■ " ,.' i, 
 
 ,. ' • , . ^, . , •' ^'^ , . his tathei', and was brought to this country by 
 
 notice ot anything that was transacted m our ^ •' •' 
 
 canni I ain, sir." ^'i elder brothei', when he was only twelve 
 
 " Y(Uirvery humble servant, years old. I'.y the aid of this brother, he en- 
 
 ".Iamks Moore." joyed the advantages of education, and spent 
 
 - To the chairman of the connnitte of Wil- \^^,^^ ^.^.^^.^ ^^ William and Marv college in Vir- 
 
 mingt"i!, js. C." ..'-,,. , . ^ ... 
 
 ginia. He then came to this state, studied 
 
 " E\er strong upon the stiongei' side," when law, and settled at Fayetteville. His success 
 
 the revolution ended in our indepen<lence, at the bar was complete. His gentle and un- 
 
 Campboll was claimed to lie a wliig, and was obstrusive bearing, bis deep learning, and kind 
 
 senator in 1791-'02-'9?., fVom Cumbei'land. temper soon gained him practice and "troops 
 
 Win. IJarry Grove, resbled in Cundieilaiul of friends." He was elected in 1792,-'93,-'94 
 
 County, and represented it in tlie legislaini-e to represent the town of Fayetteville in the 
 
 in 1788-'89, and this district in c(uigress 1791 House of Commons. During this last year, 
 
 to 18*);!. He was in congi-ess during the sting- the oflice of attorney -general became vacant; 
 
 gle bet ween Jefferson and I>urr, and suiipoi-ted be with Messrs. Blake Baker and Itobert 
 
 the latter for presidency. Williams were nominated for the office, and 
 
 We have been able to gathei- but little IVom Mr. Baker was electc<l. 
 
 the annals (d' congress or from private sources, He now tlevoted all bis talents and time to 
 
 <if the life and character of Mr. (-Jrove, and his profession , and even with such competitors 
 
 leave this duty to some son of the Ca-c Fear as Hay, Dntfy, Williams, and others, he had a 
 
 district. large and lucrative practice. He removed to 
 
 He was the onlv mend.ier of the North Car- New Berne in 1796. 
 
Cl'MBEKLAXJ) COUNTY. 147 
 
 In 17i'8, lie was elected a judge of the .hu- I5y tlie -.xri nf 1817, he whs aiipoiutcd with 
 
 porior ciiurts of law and equity. .\t this time iloury I'ly-ter and Bartlett Yancey to revise 
 
 the slate was divided into eight judiidal dis- the statute law of tho state, ami the stat- 
 
 tricts,Edenton, Halifax, New Berne, Wilniiiig- utes of Enghiiul iii force in the state. This 
 
 ton, Fayetteville, ilillshoro, Salishui-y, and work was coiniiieted and [Hildished in 1<S21. 
 
 Morgantoii. Court was held twice a year, at in 1H25, .(udgo Taylor continued this work. 
 
 which two of the four judges had to [iresido. lie, ahoiit the same time, puhlishcd a, treatise 
 
 These courts had .^u^ireme jurisdiction, for '-on the Duties of Executors and .\dniinistra- 
 
 tliere was no court of appeals, and their deci- tors," 
 
 sions were tinal. This obvious defect was en- This devoted loyalty to his profession did 
 
 deavored to be I'eiiiedied by the act of 1799, not prevent .Judge Taylor from worshipping at 
 
 directing the judges to meet together at Uu- the shrine of the muses. There was not, per- 
 
 leigh twice a year to settle questions of law ha[is, a b^^tter hd/.s- lellres scholar in bis day. 
 
 and equity arising on the circuits. In ISUl, While at the Inir he possessed a singular 
 
 the act of 1799 was continual for three years, felicity ■.)f e.Npression, wliich always seized the 
 
 and the meeting of tlie juilges was called "the most apjjropriate word suited to the thought. 
 
 court of conference." His eiiorls were distinguished by a playful, he- 
 
 In 1804, this was made a permanent tribu- iicvolent humor, great ingenuity and skill in 
 
 nal, and its name changed in the following argment, a)id a ni.ost retentive memory. 
 
 year to that of •' the Supreme Court." In Always polite to his assoi-iates, and res[iectful 
 
 1808 the judges were authorized to appoint to the court, witli high and generous feelings, 
 
 one of their number chief justice, and Judge ho was lo\ed and respected. Of the mode in 
 
 Taylor was selected. In 1818, tlie supreme which iie exercised the functions of a judge of 
 
 court was established, and John Lewis Taylor, this highest tribunal in our laud, his recorded 
 
 John Hall and Leonard Henderson were ap- o])inion3 will demonstrate, and these are 
 
 pointed to hold it. Judge Taylor continued models of eloquence and logic, whilst thev are 
 
 as chief justice until his death, which oc- admired for their research and classic beautv. 
 
 cuvred at Raleigh, January 29, 1829. As a neig!il)or, no one bad a more benevo- 
 
 Soon after liis appointment, Judge Taylor lent disposition, moie .sincere in his friendships 
 began to take notes of the cases decided by or nuu-e affectionate in all the relations of 
 him and his associates; and in 1802 he puli- life. Ilistiibute to the memory of the late 
 lished " Ca.ses Determined in the Sqerior James F. Taylor, who died in 1H28, is credita- 
 Courts of Law and Equity of the State of ble alike to his liead and heart.* This gen- 
 North Carolina." tleman, though bearing the same name, was no 
 
 In 1814, he published anonymously the fiist, blood relation, and was only connected by 
 
 and in 1816 the second volume of " the Caro- having married his adopted daughter, Eliza 
 
 lina Repository;" also another volume of re- L. .Mannmg. Judge Taylor was twice mairiel. 
 
 ports from 1816 to 1818, known as " Taylor's His tirst wife was .fulia Rowan, by wliDin he had 
 
 Term 1-Jcports." His charge to the grand oue daughtci', who married .Major Snjcd, a 
 
 jury of Edgecombe, in 1817, was published at son of whom was attorney -general of Teuues- 
 
 the request of the grand jury, and is a model see. The second wife was Jane Gaston, a 
 
 of its kind, showing the various oftences that sister of Juilge Gaston, by whom he had one 
 
 grand juries are bound to notice, and a general daughter, who married David E. Sumner, of 
 
 summary of their duties. *'^:^ ,,.,. i „<• 7 ■ , r^ i^ » -,- 
 
 * rins may be found 111 1 Devereux Reports, o27. 
 
J 48 WHEELER'S RKMINISCEXCES. 
 
 llerlfurt Countv, un.l a son, John Loni., who not elected by the legislature. In 183G, he 
 die.] yen-, a.-o/unmarried. ^vas again on the superior court bench which 
 
 Ilonry Potter born 17u5, died 1857, was he resigned fron, ill health in 1840. He v. as 
 forvaor'e than half a century judge of the an eloquct advocate, a learned judge, a writer 
 TTnited States District Court for the state of of great literary attainments, and an accom- 
 North Carolina, appointed in 1801 by Mr. Jef- plished and urbane gentleman. He died m 
 fe.-son He resided in Fayettevillo; he was a Pittsboro in 1856. 
 
 uptivJof Granville Countv. Louis D. Henry, born 1788, died 1816, re- 
 
 Of his early education we have no in forma- sided for years in this county. He was a 
 tion But he was for years a trustee and an native of New Jersey, educated at Princeton, 
 active friend of the university. Kind and where be graduated in 1809. He read law 
 courteous in his manners, upright and patient with his uncle, Edward Grahan>, m New 
 as a ju.lo-e,he iK)s.sesf=ed abilities of a reputa- Berne, and practiced with great success. He 
 ble order- but to preside as the associate was distinguished for his courteous manners, 
 of Marshal, Daniel, and Wayne, demanded no bis finished eb.cution, and bis accurate and 
 ordinarv powers. In the latter days of bis extensive memory. His genial temper and 
 life be was fond of narrating the events of his popular manners were duly appreciated by bis 
 voutb He bad known Washington, and lieard fellow citizens. He represented the county 
 him deliver his first address to congress at 1821 and 1822, and the town in 1830-'.31 and 
 Pliiladelpbia. He knew Adams. Jefferson, '32, and in the latter year was chosen speaker. 
 Madison, Monroe, Hamilton, Charles Carroll. In early life, when .luite young, he beoame 
 Rufus King and other celebrities of the revo- involved in a duel with Thomas J. Stanly, 
 lution, a. well Richard Caswell, Judge Iredell, (about 1812) which terminated m the death 
 Governor Johnstone, Nash, Burke, Spaight, of the latter. 
 
 .Xshe Davie and others of our own state, and He was appointed .Minister to Belguim by 
 .uch'-iants as Cameron, Gaston Toomer, the President (VanBuren,) which mis.sion he 
 Means^ Dutty and Strange bad practiced before declined, but he accepted the appointment of 
 him; a'll of whom prccede<I liim to the grave, commissioner to settle claims against Spain, 
 llad'be written tlie rendn^sceiiees of his times. In 1842, he nuide an unsuccessful campaign 
 How agreeable would such a work have been r,s candidate for governor of the state. This 
 tooura<'-e! ^^''is bis last appearance in political life, tor 
 
 He wi" te a work - on the Duties of a Justice four years after be died suddenly at bis resi- 
 of the Peace," and with Yancey and Taylor re- dence in Raleigh. 
 ' vised our statute laws. He died J)ecemher Mr. Henry was no ordinary man. Gifted 
 2Q ig57 l)y nature with high mental endowments, cul- 
 
 John D. Toomer was a native of Wilming- tivated by education, of a most agreeable pre- 
 ton; educated at the university but diil not sence, an exquisite taste for poetry and music, 
 "•raduate. ^^'if' '"ost melodious voice, he was a welcome 
 
 *" He reiu-esented this eoiinty in the senate of and favoured guest wherever be mowd.^ 
 the state le-islature in IS^H and 1832, and Mr. Henry was twice married. By bis last 
 
 su.'ceeded Jud..e Strange, in the house in 183tJ. wife, who survived him, he had several chil- 
 
 lle had been a judge of the su^ierior ronvt. 
 
 dren. One of whom married Duncan K. 
 
 1818, an.l was on the supreme court l..neb in .McUae. another John H. Manly, and another 
 1829, by ai.pointment of the governor,but was was the first wife of R. P. Waring, of Charlotte. 
 
cr.\nM^:RLAXD county. 149 
 
 Robert Strange, born 1796, died February llaiiylitoii, di-itingnised as a statesman and 
 
 19th, 1854, who lived and died in Fayette- advocate; Cadwailader Jones, late attorney- 
 
 ville, was a native of Virginia. lie was edu- general of the state; Richard II. Smith, and 
 
 cated at Hampden Sydney, stndied law and otlicrs, composed the class, 
 
 settled at Fayetteville, from which town he His gentle and genial mannera, and frank 
 
 was elected a representative to the legisiatnre and gentlemanly deportment made him a nni- 
 
 1821; re-elected, with two intermissions, nntil versal favorite with the faculty and students, 
 
 1836, when he was elected one of the judges and so won upon the aiFections of the vener- 
 
 of the superior courts, in which position he able president, Dr. Caldwell, that he was often 
 
 was .so acceptable that in 1836, he was elected heard to say: " it would gladden his heart to be 
 
 United States senator. Here he shone con- the father of such a son as James C. Dobbin." 
 
 spicuous for the suavity of his manners, his He read law with -ludge Strange, then one 
 
 afFalile demeanor, and his brilliant abilities, of thejudges of tliesu[)erior coui'ts, with whom 
 
 Under instructions from the legislature, he was a special favorite. 
 
 elected in the pbrensy of the "Log Cabin " lie wasadmitted to the bar in 1835, and de- 
 campaign of 1849, he resigned, glad to escape voted all of his enei'giesto the [irofession. In 
 from " the peltings of the storm " of political it he was eininiently successful; this, too, at a 
 life to tiie more germane and profitable pur- b.ir adorned by Toomei', Eccles, Henry, asid 
 suits of the law, which lie practiced with great others. 
 
 success until his death. He was twice married. He was often solicited to represent his 
 
 His second wife, .Mrs. Nelson, survived him countj', l)Ut he invariably declined, alledging 
 
 but a sliort time. that he felt more satisfaction in the discharge 
 
 James Cochrane Dobbin, horn 1814, died of his professional duties, and in the quiet eon)- 
 
 August 4, 1857, was born, lived, and died in forts of his family', thati in the contests of 
 
 Fayetteville. He was the son of Johti .VI. political warfare. 
 
 Dobbin, and Abiiess, daughter of James Coch- But such talents and merit could imt re- 
 
 rane, after whom he was named, and who main unappreciated. In 1845, unsolicited and 
 
 represented the Orange district in the Twelfth unexpectedly to him, he was nominated for 
 
 Congress, 1811 and 1S13. His father, a sue- congress by a convention in the Raleigh dis- 
 
 cessful merchant in Fayette\ille for thirt}' trict. The district was a doubtful one, and 
 
 3'eai's, died in 1837 univei'sall}- loved and la- had previously only been cariied by a small 
 
 mented. majority for the democratic ticket. 
 
 Mr. Dobbin was prejiared for college by The opposition was able and active, and his 
 
 William J. Bingham, of Hillsboro; in 1828 he com[ietitor, John H. Haughton, a practiced 
 
 entered the freshman class. His course in col- and successful politician. Yet such was the 
 
 lege was marked by a faithful discharge of gallant and genial bearing of Mr. Dobbin a.nd 
 
 every diuy. Though much thcyoungest mem- liis captivating and svinning cbK|uence, that 
 
 ber of the chiss, during the whole collegiate he was elected by a majority of two thousand 
 
 coarse, he was among the first, and graduated votes. His fame preceded him to congress, 
 
 with high honors in 1882, and tliis was no idle and he was placed on the coiximittee of elec- 
 
 iind empty compliment, when it is stated that tioiis, a most important and trying position for 
 
 sucli minds as Thouias S. Ashe, (now one of the a youngandinex[)erienced member. But bei'e 
 
 judges of the supreme court,) Thomas L. Cling- he so bore himself as to win the approbation 
 
 man, late United States s.^nator; John H. of his associates, by a close attention to Ins 
 
150 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 dnties, deciding according to the justice of 
 each case, and his own convictions of right 
 although frequently to the prejudice of his own 
 own party. 
 
 His speech on the Oregon question; the 
 tliree niillion bill; Mexican war; public lands; 
 the tariff, and other questions, established for 
 liiin the reputation of a sagacious and honest 
 statesman. After his term expired he de- 
 clined a re-election to congress, intending to 
 devote himself to his profe.ssion, in which he 
 now stood in the foremost rank. But the 
 people did not allow him to retire from their 
 service; he was returned from the ciunty in 
 1848, 1850 and 1852, to the legislature. He 
 was chosen the speaker of the house in 1848 
 and 1850. His course, so patriotic and yet so 
 modest, commanded the respect and regard of 
 all. His efibrts in behalf of the Insane Asy- 
 lum, on the memorial of that "white winged 
 messenger of peace," Miss JHx, is the monu- 
 ment of his patrotism and his pliilanthrophy. 
 The memorial was referred to a select commit- 
 tee, on motion of John W. Ellis, and a bill 
 was reported by him appropriating one Imn- 
 dred thousand dollars. In the mean time, 
 Mr. Ellis, -n being elected judge, resigned, 
 the laboring oar was then allotted to Hon. 
 Kenneth Rayner, who, in a speech of great 
 power and of impassioned eloquence, advoca- 
 ted the measure; hut it was lost by a vote of 
 66 to 44, and the measure seemed to be irre- 
 trievably lost. 
 
 Miss Dix felt deeply the failure of a measure 
 no dear to her heart and to humanity; she 
 called on Mr. Doljbin, who had not been pre- 
 sent at the discussion, his lovely wife having 
 only a day or so previously died; Miss Uix 
 reminded him of his wife's earnest request to 
 support this bill. The appeal did not fall un- 
 heeded. Tlie next day the bill was reconsid- 
 ered. Mr. Dobbin, in the language of the 
 Raleigh Register, •' delivered one of the most 
 touching and beautiful etforts ever heard in 
 
 the legislature." The bill passed almost unan- 
 imously. 
 
 The stranger, wandering in our midst, as he 
 gazes in pride on " the cloud capt turrets " of 
 this splendid edifice, erected at our capital, may 
 well pause iind breath a benediction and 
 tliaid<:s to the 'names of Doi'athea Dix, Ken- 
 neth Rayner and James C. Dobbin. 
 
 Mr. Dolibin's ne.\t public service was as a 
 delegate to the convention at Baltimore to 
 nominate candidates for president and vice- 
 president. He was elected the chairman of 
 the North Carolina delegation. After a pro- 
 tracted and animated canvass, it was found 
 impossible co nominate Buchanan, Marcy, 
 Cass, or I>ougla8, or any one acceptable to the 
 contending factions. It was apprehended that 
 the convi.'ntiiin ^Nould adjourn in confusion, 
 and witliout any nomination. At this crisis 
 Mr. Dobbin arose, and in a modest, unobstru- 
 sive manner, and with matchless eloquence, 
 
 " Like the sweet Soutli, 
 
 J5re:itlihig on a bank of violets, 
 Stealing and giving odor," 
 
 spoke as follows: 
 
 "Mr. President: I'ai'don me for obtruding otie 
 wi)rd before North Carolina casts her vote. 
 AVe came to jiander to no factions artiiices 'ufve, 
 to enlist under no man's banner at the hazard 
 of principle; to endiark in no crusade to 
 jirostrate any aspirant for the sake of sec- 
 tional or personal triumph. We came here 
 to select one of the ariuy of noble spirits in 
 our ranks to be our leader and champion in the 
 glorious struggle for the great principles of 
 democrac}'. 
 
 "Again, and again, have we tendered the 
 banner to tlie Noi'th. Save our h'lpiij/ Union, 
 guard well the rights of the states, say we, 
 and you can have the honor of the standard 
 bearer. Zealously and sincerely have we pre- 
 sented the name of Buchanan, the nobe son 
 of the Key Stone state, around whom the af- 
 fections of our hearts have so long clustered. 
 We have turned to the Empire State, New 
 York, a!id sought to honor one of her distin- 
 guished sons. We now feel that in the midst 
 of discord and destruction, the olive branch, if 
 tendered once more, cannot be refused. We 
 
CLTMBERLANI) COUNTY. 151 
 
 {eel the hour now has conv wheu tlie spirit of lots Mr. Dobbin I'eeeiveil witliiii one or two 
 
 strife must be banished, and the mild, gentler ^f enough votes to eleet bini. All of us who 
 
 and holier siiirit of patriotism reign in its , l- i . , • i , 
 
 stead! Come then, Mr. President, let us go were members ot that legislature can remem- 
 
 to the altar and make sacrifices for our beloved ber the intense excitement of the time. The 
 
 country. We now propose, with other friends, opposition was able, active, and not over scru- 
 
 the name of one wlio was in the field just 1 oiig ,^„ n^u, ,,i i ,„j. „i„,,. |,„^ u ;i .p 
 
 , ^ 1 ■ 11- M . 11- T Milous. Ihey couki not elect; but bv aid ot 
 
 enough to prove himself a >j;ailant soldier, and i ^ > . 
 
 who was long enough in \he councils of the one or two meddling marplots of tlie other 
 
 nation to demonstrate that he is a statesman side they could [irevcnt the election of the 
 
 of the stnnij mivd and honeM heart; who has democratic candi.iate. Amid all this excito- 
 
 exbibited in the career ot leijislation, that he ,r ta i i ■ i i i . i 
 
 knew the rights of the South, while he re- »'«"* ^i'- Dobbin appeared the only calm and 
 
 spected those of the North, as well as of the considerate person among us. After some 
 
 East and the West; whose principles of de- fo,,ty ballotings, he requested that a caucus 
 
 mocracv are as solid and en<luring as the , , , , n , i -.i n.- i. t ■ 
 
 •* ■ 1 -n fi- „ x' Tj ' 1 ;., ebould be caled, and with unaffected sincerity 
 
 granite hills of Ins own iSew Hampshire iia- ' •' 
 
 tive land— General Fnmkliii fierce. and glowing eloquence he requested his name 
 
 " Come, friends and brothers, let us strike to be withdrawn and some other person voted 
 
 hands now; now tor harmony and conciliation, ^.^^^. ^^^ ^.^^^^ ^^.j^,^ ^^^.^.^^^^ ^,,g . di.ti-acted 
 
 and save our cherished principles and our be- ' . . 
 
 loved countrv " ''.^' jealousies, and a fearful chasm of disorder 
 
 bad been opened, engulphing its unity, if not 
 
 This i^peecu was cheered with the wihlest its very existence. He withdrew his nam.'; 
 
 enthusiasm. Several states, as Vermont and but it was in vain. If he could not be elected 
 
 New Jerse}', changed their votes to Pierce, no other person should be, and the state had 
 
 The delegations from New York, Pennsylva- only one senator for a long time. 
 
 Ilia, Indiana and other states, retired for con- On the accession of General Pierce, without 
 
 sulfation, but soon returned and joined their any effort of friends or himself, and une.x- 
 
 voices in the general pean of joy. Dispatches peeted to all, for he had recommended another, 
 
 and eongratnlations on the event wei'c received he was tendered the position of Secretary of 
 
 from J)ouglas, Houston, and others. Thepresi- the Navy. The manner of his successful dis- 
 
 dent of the convention then announced the charge of these important duties, his pure and 
 
 vote (two hinidred and eighty-three) for unspotted integrit\', gave more strength to this 
 
 Franklin Pierce. branch of the public service than it has ever 
 
 It was ackiK)wledged that the address of received before or since. His decided and 
 
 Mr. Dobbin had done much to secure this re- frank course, his gentle and knightly courtesy, 
 
 suit. He was selected as one of electors with his frank and open demeanour won theheartsof 
 
 Burton Craige.L.O'B. Branch, Thomas Bragg, those in the service, and he left the depart- 
 
 aiid others, and made a gallant campaign for inent without an enemy in or out of the navy, 
 
 the ticket and cast the vote of the state for He possessed in a lugii degree the faculty 
 
 Pitrce and King. of '' reading men," and the talent of discern- 
 
 At this time (1852,) the legislature liad to ing merit. He granted with pi'oin[itness any 
 elect a senator in congress. The democratic reasonable rettuest, while lie could refuse with 
 p;iit\" in caucus, with much unanimity, nomi- delicacy and t ict, any improper application. 
 luited Mr. Dobbin. The parties (democrat Whilst his health was ahvaj^s delicate, yet he 
 and whig) wei'e nearly equally divided. The attended laboriously every duty of tliis import- 
 selfish ambition of one or two aspirants pre- ant position. It is a singular fact, already al- 
 vented an election; although on several bal- ludcd to, that our state has rarely been h(ni- 
 
152 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCEXCES. 
 
 ored by ;i caWiiiet appoiiitineiit, but when it has 
 it was the Navy Department. 
 
 It is also sinji;ular tliat the cabinet of Pierce, 
 which has had no superior in the history ofthe 
 republic for integrity, ability, or usefulness, is 
 the only ca!)inet that ever existed, in whicli 
 there was, during its legal existence, perfect in- 
 tegrity, with out resignation or change. These 
 distinguished men seemed to be as united in 
 their social and official relations, as they were 
 for the welfare and honor of their country. 
 
 This terminated, the public life of .Mr. 
 Dobbin, a career so brilliant and yet so short. 
 
 In private life his character exhibited it- 
 self still more lovely. As a son, he was 
 obedient and docile; as a husband, tender; as a 
 father, proviilent and affectionate, and as a 
 friend sincere, fiaid-c, and unselrish. 
 
 I trust it will not bo deemed ostentations 
 when I say of Mr. Dobbin, as did Antluniy of 
 Civsar: " He was my friend, faitiiful and just, 
 to me ■' earnest and sincere. He sustained my 
 course, when absent from the country under 
 peculiar circumstances, when assailed by pre- 
 judice and sectional jealousy. I allude to the 
 course [mrsued by me in (^'-ntrul America. To 
 the la-t hour of his life he continued his 
 kinilly offices. 
 
 As I was leaving the country, I received the 
 following letter, which bettei' expresses his 
 friendship and generous, noble nature tiian any 
 possible language of miiie: 
 
 " Washikgtox, Ociobtr Bnl, 1854. 
 "■ Dear Wheeler: 
 
 "The beautiful painting has arrived, and 
 shall conspicuously adorn my parlor. 
 
 "I prize it highly. It is the picture of the 
 l;eloved Washington. It is one of ' Sully's " 
 V'aiutings too. It comes to nu_' from the warm 
 heart of a true friend, and therebj' seems to 
 iiave borrowed a richer touch, which lends it 
 additional l.ieauty. 
 
 " I shall remember you, when j-ou are far, 
 f::raway; and when you return, aiul see my 
 little folks, tell them how warm was the 
 friendship between yourself and their father, 
 whose life was so hopeful and yet so short. 
 
 " Should, however, the scene be changed and 
 otherwise, let your better-half and your boys 
 know that Mr. Dobbin is one that they may 
 approach and find their steady friend. But 
 perhaps we may meet in years to come, and 
 then v.'hat friendly chats, Shakespeare, poli- 
 tics. Good-bye. G-od preserve and bless you, 
 " James C. DuuiiiN." 
 
 But if the life of Mr. Dobl)in was one con- 
 tinued exercise of the noblest functions of our 
 nature, and his career as short as it \\'as bril- 
 liant, it was eclipsed by the sublime manner 
 of hi-, death. 
 
 Ilis beidtb never strong, was exhausted by 
 his (ifHcial labors at Washington, and he re- 
 turned home only to die. We are Informed 
 l)y Rev. Mr. Gilchrist, wlio was with him in 
 his last moments, that Mr. Dobbin was con- 
 scious for some tin>.e of his approacliing disso- 
 lution, and when t!ic ii-y band of death touched 
 his hcai't, lie did not shrink fi-oni its a,pi)i'oa.ch 
 but calmly bade his little children and his 
 weeping friends adieu; and with fixed liands, 
 comi>osing himself in his bed, he was heard to 
 whisper, " praise the Lord, oh my soul!" and 
 with these words his spirit departed. 
 
 " -Sure the last eiiil 
 
 Of the iiooil man is peace ! How calin liis exit; 
 Nigiit dews fall not more gently to the groimd 
 >for weary worn o t winds expire inoro soft." 
 
 Mr. ])obbin left th-.-i-o children; two sons, 
 both since dead, and a (hinghter. Tlie sad 
 fate of his lu'othei', John V. Doljbin, who per- 
 ished at sea, in tlie steam ship Central America, 
 has already been allinled to. (See Beaufort 
 County ) 
 
 "Waircn Winslow, born 1810, died 18t)2, 
 was I'orn, lived and died in Fayettevilie. He 
 was educated at the rniversity-wf ]N'o'th Car- 
 olina, and graduated in 1827, in s-iiue class 
 with. Judge A. 0. P. Nicholson, of 'J'eiuiessee, 
 Charles B. Shcphard, Lewis Tlionip.-on and 
 others. 
 
 He studied law, and (uitered public life as 
 senator in the state legislature the s.r.no ycai-. 
 (1851,) and was chosen speaker. In the election 
 
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 153 
 
 of Governor Reid as senator in cong-rcss he a Imvvor, luit nliaiidoned (lie [irofession and 
 
 became ex officio governor of tlie state. The joined tlie ministry. As a writer siie has at- 
 
 next year he was elected a member of the taiiied s^feat succe;;s. Many of lier [jrodnctions 
 
 Thirty-fonrth Congress, l855,-'o7, and was show the tire of genius. 
 
 re-elected to the Thirty-fifth, 1857, -'59, and Tiie Presbyterian lioard of iiuljliration havo 
 
 Thirty-sixth Congress, 1850,-'G1, when the issncd several of her works as Sunday-sclidol 
 
 state secceded. books, and her i)0('ms in (ho North Carolina 
 
 He (in 1854) was sent on a s[»evial mission l^-osliyterian and the Central Trosliytorian, 
 
 1>y Mr. Pierce to ]\hulrid, in reference to [lulilisheil at Pichmond, Virginia, have at- 
 
 tlie ]>lack Warrior affair. taincd celehritv, and snch happy conceits, as 
 
 AVhen the civil war commenced he took an that of' Linda Loe " address alike the fancy 
 
 active i)art. lie died in Fayettevilie in 18()o. as the heart. 
 
 Governor Winslow had many genial and A few of her poems are preserved in " Wood 
 
 generons qualities, and was much loved by his Notes," a collection of North Carolina poety, 
 
 friends. The troubles of the country hurried made by .Mrs. Clai'ki\ and published in 1854, 
 
 him to an early grave. but most of them have appeared only in the 
 
 Duncan Kirkland MacKae, born Au"-nst 
 
 newspapers. 
 
 l()th, 1820, is a native of Fayettevilie, son of Henry Washington Ililliard, mentioned in 
 John MacUae, Esq. lie was educated at the the same work "The Living Writers of the 
 University of Virginia, and at William and South," is a native of Cumberland Countv, 
 Mary; studied law with Judge Strange, and born ISOS. lie has been distinguished as a 
 was a successful andeloquent advocate. ?]leeted lawyer, a di[il()mist, a ]> ditieian, and a divine, 
 to the legislature in 1842. He was educated at Columi)ia, S mtb Caro- 
 He was an unsuccessful candidate lor gov- linn; studied law and settled at Athens, 
 ernor in 1848, being defeated by Governor Ellis. Geoi'gia. In JSal, he was elected a professor 
 On the accession of General Pierce, he was in the University of (Jeorgia; and in 1838, was 
 appointed Consul of the LTnited States at a member of the legislature. Three years 
 i'aris, where he remained only a few years. later he was appointed rhnrrjc (V'/frklres to 
 On his return he removed to Memphis, Ten- Belgium. From 18i5 to 1852, he was a rep- 
 nessee, then to Chicago, and recontl3M-eturned res'-ntative in congress from Georgia, subse- 
 to his native state, and is now residing at (piently he l>ecame a Mi'thodist preacher. 
 Wilmington. He became envoy ext)aordinary and minis- 
 He married Virginia, daughter of Louis D. ter plenipotentiary of the United States to 
 Henry, and has several children. Brazil. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Aver Miller, is mentioned among His litei'ary productions are — 
 
 the "living female writers of the south." I. Speeches and Addresses, which contain 
 
 She was born in Fa3'etteville, and on tlie death his speeches delivered in congress and some 
 
 of her father, General Henry A3-er, removed literaiy addresses. 
 
 with her mother, when she was oidy eight II. DeVane, a storv of Plebeians and Patri- 
 
 years old, to Lexington, North Carolina, to be cians, (1866,) which exhibits the highest evi- 
 
 educated by her uncle, the Kev. Jesse Rankin dence of scholarship, and a high appreciation 
 
 of the Pi-esb^-terian church, who had a school of the true, the beautiful and the good, 
 
 at that place. She married a j'oung lawyer, Wesley Clark Troy pjsides in Fayettevilie, 
 
 Willis M. Miller, who gave great jiromise as but is a native of Randolph County, where he 
 
154 WIlEELP^ll'S RP1MINISCP]NCP]S. 
 
 was horn ou July 30. 1833. His father was a a native North Carolinian, and has many warm 
 
 reiiresentative from Randoliih m 1827. Ills friends. He now resides in the city of New 
 
 motlier was a danghter of Colonel Andi'ew York, and as a hook puhlisher has been greatly 
 
 Balfonr, whose atrocious murder is recorded heneticial to southern literature.* 
 
 under the head of Randolph County. Many other names worthy of record are pre- 
 
 Mr. Troy was a meudjer of the liouse in sented in the history of Cumberland, as 
 
 187G. Bethurn,in congress 1831,-'33; Cameron, judge 
 
 Edward J. Hale, who for a long time con- in Florida, Davis, Duffy, Eccles, Jordan, Mil- 
 ducted the Fayetteville Observer with iudc- ler, Porterfield, S. D. Pnrviance, and many 
 fatigalile industry and unsurpassed ability, is others; but to those who have accurate infor- 
 a native of Moore County, boi-n in 1802. Ilis mation as to their lives and services we must 
 press was the leading one of the state, and con- leave this pleasing task, and especially as more 
 ducted at times with much violence, which space has been devoted to this interesting 
 doubtless age and time have corrected. He is county that the limits of our work justify. 
 
 <.^1^J^.. 
 
 CHARTER XVI. 
 CURRITUCK COUNTY. 
 
 Dr.. Henry Marchand Suaw, burn Novem- several sharp and heavy engagements at Roan- 
 
 ber 'Jiitli, 1819, died February 1st, 181)4, oke Island, Now Berne, and other places, in 
 
 resided in this county, whbdi he re[iresentcd which he boi'e himself with coolness, gallantry 
 
 in the senate of the state legislature in 1852; and enterprise. 
 
 and tlie Edenton district in the Thirty-third On February 1, 18t)4, he became engaged in 
 
 Congress, 1853,-'55, and Thirty-tifth Congress, a skirmish with some advanced troop s at 
 
 18o7,-'50 Batchelor's Creek, near New Berne, was mor- 
 
 He was one <>f the electors in 1857 on the tally wounded, and died immediately on the 
 
 Buchanan ticket. field. His fall was deeply lamented by his 
 
 He was born in Newport, Rhode Island; '-oinrades and his country. He died the death 
 
 the son of Rev. William A. Shaw, a minister be had often expressed a wish for — the death 
 
 of the Baptist church. Ho graduated as a of a soldier in defence of his country's rights, 
 
 physician in I'lnladelphia, in 183ij, and came ^I'l^l bis country's honor. 
 
 with his father to North Carolina, and settled " Tre, vero felix Agricohi; non vit?e tantum 
 
 in this county. claritate, sed etiam opportunitate mortis. "t 
 
 Wh.'U our civil war commenced, be cast Ins Emerson Etheridge, was born September 28, 
 
 fortunes witli the destiny of his adopted 1819, in tins county, and, when thirteen years 
 
 Uate, and was appointed colonel of the eighth 
 sgiment of North Carolina troo^is, and diil 
 
 .+;,'„ oo,.,.;,./^ ;,, fi.; . ■ u- tt • from the l)rilliaiicv of yoiir life, but in the ch'cum- 
 
 jtive sen ice m this po.-ition. He wa, m stancesof your death.'' 
 
 _,. .. , „ ,. "-.Moore n., 411 
 
 regiment ot North Carolina troo^is, and did t •• Thou truly art happy. Aarieola, not so much 
 
DAVIDSON AXI) DUPLIN COUNTIES. ' loG 
 
 cihl, i-noved to Tennossoe, iuid hecamo a ineiii- by few persons in tlii.s or any other country. 
 
 her of congress from Tennessee in the Thirty- Many other names chister around this aii- 
 
 thirtl (1853,-'55) Thirty-fourth, (1855, 1857,) cient county, the memories of whom deserve 
 
 also, Thirt^'-sixth Congress, (1859, -'60.) On to be cherished. The Baxters, Bells, Doziers. 
 
 the meeting of the Thirty -seventh Congress the Etheridges, (Willis, Caleb and Joseph 
 
 (1861, -'63) he was elected clerk of tiie house, W.) Ferrebees, Halls, Jones, Lindsays, Salyear 
 
 the dutiesof which he discharged with fidelity Simmons, and otiiers; hut our limits do not 
 
 and ability. He is a lawyer by profession, of allow the space, and we leave this duty to 
 
 large observation of men and measures, and some son of Currituck to rescue these materials 
 
 possesses rare conversational powers equalled from the carroding tooth of time. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 DAVIDSON COUNTY. 
 
 The revolutionary history of this count}' is In the war he entered the confederate army, 
 
 connected with that of Rowan County, from and served as colonel of the eleventh regiment 
 
 which it was taken in 1822. of North Carolina troops. But on being elec- 
 
 James Madison Leach I'esides in tliis county, ted a member of the confederate congress, 1864, 
 
 He is a native of Randolph County, born 1821, -'65, he resigned his commission in the army, 
 
 educated chiefly at home. He was for a time Since the war he has served as a member of 
 
 a cadet of the military academy at West Point, the Forty-second and Fort\--tliird Congresses. 
 
 He read law with his brother Julian E. Leach, 1871,-'75. 
 
 and attained nmch distinction at the bai- as an The political career of General Leach ha.~ 
 
 able, astute, and successful advocate. But his been brilliant and successful. In no instance 
 
 fame is chiefly based upon his success as a has he ever been defeated in an election be 
 
 statesman. In 1848, he was elected to the fore the people. His shrewdness as a politician, 
 
 legislature, and continuously to 1856, and his powers as an orator and logician, conil)ined 
 
 in 1856 he was one of the Filmore electors, with a pleasing address, render him invincible. 
 
 He was elected to the senate in 1865,-'66,-'67, He married iti 1846, Lizzie Montgomery 
 
 and again in 1879. He was elected a member Lewis, and has an interesting famil}' of three 
 
 of the Thirty-fourth Congress, 18o9,-'61, liis sons, Wilmont, Henr}^ Archer and James M. 
 
 opponent being General A. M. Scales. to inherit his name and reputation. 
 
 DUPLIN COUNTY, 
 
 The men of this ancient county in revolu- ration in 1777, the original is on file in the 
 
 tionary times, proved their devotion to the clerk's olHce ofthe county, they held that, "The 
 
 cause of liberty. They united in wresting King of England, nor an}' other foreign power, 
 
 their independence from England, in a decla- iiad anv right to the sovereignty of this state: 
 
1.56 ■ ■ AV^HEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 and they reiioniR'ed all allegiance to the same, A nionunient marks his grave in the Gotl- 
 and resolved to support and maintain th.> in- gressional hurying ground, 
 dependence of the state against the said Owen Rand'Keenan, son of Thomas, was 
 Kin^'." born March 24, 1806. Studied medicine, and 
 
 This is siirned by H^nry Cannon, William afterwards law. Member of the legislature 
 Dickson, Alexander Gray, Samuel Houston, 1834,-'35,-'36, and of the confederate con- 
 James Lockhart, Michael Keiinon, James Ken- gress, 1862. 
 
 non, James Sampson, Edward Toole, and Cliarles Hooks, a native of this county, often 
 
 others. represented it in the legishitui'e. In 1817, he 
 
 James Oillaspie was a native of this county, succeeded William R. King in congress, and 
 
 We know but little of him, except from the was re-elected to congress in 1821,-':^3. He 
 
 pul>!ic records, which inform ns that ho was also moved to Alabama. 
 
 often a member of the legislature, and amemiier Thomas Ke^nan,also a native of this county, 
 
 iVom this district in the Third Congress, (1703, and frcun whose family the county town de- 
 
 '95;) Fonrtii Cvingress, (1795,-'97;) Fifth (.'on- rives its name, was, in 1804, in the senate of 
 
 givss, (1798,-'99;) Eighth Congress, and until tlie legislature, and from 1805 to 1811, repre- 
 
 liis death, which occurod while he was in con- sented this district in congress. He removed 
 
 gress, January, lSij5, at Washington city. to Alabama, whore he died near Selma, in 1822. 
 
 DAVIE COUNTY. 
 
 CiiAELKS Pkice, late speaker of the house John E. Iltissey, represented Dulphin in 1815,- 
 
 (1876,) resides at Mocksville. He was born "K^-'^j-'lS, in the house, and from 1833 to 
 
 in AVarren County, July 2(!, 1847. He read 1836, in the senate. 
 
 law with ,hidgo J'earsoii; and after obtaining John B. Hus>ey received all the educational 
 a lit'cnse settled at Mocks\ille, where he soon advanta:xes of tlie day. He was educated at 
 by bis attainments, his pileasant address, and the Kenansville academy, the Cablwell insti- 
 bigb moral character, won '• troops of friends." tute, and the university. The war prevented 
 Sucli was the appreciation of the people that his graduating, and at the eai'ly ago of fifteen 
 in 1872, they elected him to the senate. He he entered the army in the thirty-eighth 
 was also a member of the constitutional con- North Carolina regiment, and was in several 
 vention of 1875, and a member of the house in engagements around Richmond. In 1863, he 
 1876. of which body, over members of more was assigned to the signal service at Smith- 
 years, he was chosen S[ie:iker; a just conipli-- ville, and was the signal officer of "The Helen," 
 ment to his genius, talents and aldlity. a Liveriiool blockade runner, in which capacity 
 
 We would do injustice to modest and sub- he made many successful trips to Nassau, Ber- 
 
 stantial merit, and solid ability, were we to mndas and Halifax. After this service hewas 
 
 omit in our sketches the name and services of assigned to duty on the Cape Fear, and was 
 
 John Bryan Ilussey. wounded at the fearful b.ittle of Fort Pislier, 
 
 He is a I'.ative of Dr.lplii Co'mty, boi-n Jan- taken pri-^onor and confined at Fortress Mon- 
 
 uai-y 1, 1846. His family is well known for roe and Fort Delaware. The war being over, 
 
 their abilit,> and integi'ity. A near relative, be was released. He studied law with Wil- 
 
EDGE(X)MBE COUNTY. 
 
 157 
 
 liaiii A. Allen, iui d was liceiisod in 1868. lie ville, and 8nbse(|uently conducted ) he News at 
 
 removed to Newton, and thence to Hickory, Kaleigh. He was appointed librarian to the 
 
 where he established the Piedmont Press, house of representatives in 1879, which position 
 
 In 1874, he started the Landmark at States- he now occupies with great saiisFaction to all. 
 
 EDGECOMBE COUNTY. 
 
 ALTiioroii this county, from its inland po.si- 
 tion, was not exposed to the dangers of attack 
 in the revolution, yet no section of the state 
 was more sensitive of its duty, or sent more 
 willing and patriotic sons to do battle in the 
 cause of the country. 
 
 Among these, conspicuously stands the name 
 of Henry Irwin, killed in battle 1777. He had 
 for a long time been a resident and merchant 
 of Tarboro, much esteemed i'or his integrity, 
 patriotism, and cournge, and very popular. 
 He was a member of the provincial congress, 
 at New Berne, in 1775, also of the congress at 
 Halifa.x, in 1776, and by that body appointed 
 lieutenant-colonel of the second regiment, 
 of which Edward Buncombe was colonel. 
 This gallant regiment marched to join the 
 army of tlie north, and on the fatal field of 
 Germantown, (October 4th, 1777,) both he 
 and his commandcr.fell. 
 
 Colonel Irwin left one son and two daugh- 
 ters. One of his daughters married Lovatt 
 Burgess, who.se only son.Thonuii Burgess, dis- 
 tinguished as a lawyer, die<l in Halifa.x a few 
 years since. Another daughter married Gov- 
 ernor Aionford Stokes, whoso only child l)y 
 this marriage was Mrs. William B. Lewis, of 
 Nashville, Tennessee, whose only daughter 
 married Monsieur Pageot, the French Min- 
 ister. 
 
 The battle of Germantown brought sailness 
 and sorrow to manv a hearthstone of North 
 Carolina, for in it the p.atriotic generals, Nash, 
 Turner, Lucas, and many others, gave up their 
 lives for their country, and here the veteran, 
 
 Colonel William Polk, received a severe and 
 dangerous wound. With a patriotism de- 
 serving all praise, a marble monument has 
 been erected over their graves by the lili- 
 erality of J. F. Watson, of Philadelphia. 
 
 A sister of Colonel Irwin married Lawrence 
 Toole, whose son, grandson, and great grand 
 son, bear the same name — Henry Irwin Toole, 
 all distinguished for ability- and influence. 
 The first took a connuission in the war, and 
 was in the battle of the Great Bridge, ^'ir- 
 ginia. 
 
 It would be unpardonable on this oc- 
 casion says an able article on the County 
 of Edgecombe in 1810, by Dr. Jeremiah Bat- 
 tle, (see University Magazine, April, 1861,) 
 not to mention the merits and services of 
 Colonel Jonas Johnston, born 1740, died Jul}' 
 29th 1779, who rose from obscurity and 
 acted a conspicuous part in our revolution- 
 ary struggles. Ho was born in the year 
 1740, in Southampton County, Virginia, 
 and came when a youth with his father to 
 this county. He was raised a plain indus- 
 trious farmer, without education. But he 
 •possessed native talent, and unflinching 
 patriotism. At an early day he embarked in 
 the cause of liberty, and ever proved himself a 
 true patriot, hero and statesman. From time 
 to time, he filled every office in the county 
 both civil and military. He repiresented the 
 county in the convention, 1776, and was ap- 
 pointed majoi' by the provincial congress. Ho 
 was a member of the commons in 1777,-'7S. 
 
 lie was a natural orator. After one of his 
 
158 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 speeches in the general assemhly, more remark- 
 able for sound sense, tlian for granniiatieal 
 stj'le, he was asked liy a professional gentle- 
 man '• where he got his education." He replied, 
 " at the plough handles." He was modest, yet 
 determined, prompt, yet cautions. From the 
 date of ills commission to his death he was 
 constantly employed. He was at thehattleof 
 jMoore's Creek Bridge, and in 1779 in com- 
 mand of a regimeut, he went to the assistance 
 of South Carolina. He was in the battle of 
 Stono, where he bore himself with the intrep- 
 edity of a veteran, receiving a wound. His 
 care and tenderness of the soldiers under his 
 command are remembered to this day with 
 affect I'm and gratitude ]>y those who served 
 under him. 
 
 From the privations of war, and the de- 
 bilitating effects of a soutiiern climate, bis 
 health gave way, arid he died, on his return 
 home, at the house of Mr. Amis, on Drowning 
 Creek, near the South Carolina line, on July 
 29, 1779. 
 
 He left- several children, one of whom was 
 the nuiternal grand-motiier of the late Richard 
 Hiues, member from this district to the Xine- 
 teenth Congress, (1825,-'27.) 
 
 The Haywood family, one of the most nunj- 
 erous, also one of the most distinguished in 
 the state, had its tirst origin in North Caro- 
 lina, iu this county. 
 
 For the genealogy of the Haywood family 
 see ajipendix. 
 
 Tliis genealogical table was the work of 
 much research, and is for the first time printed. 
 !t was compiled chiefly by the late Governor 
 Henry T. Clarke, one of this numerous family, 
 and may be useful in tracing lines of relation- 
 ship that would otherwise be obliterated by 
 time. Of the progenitor, John Haywood, lit- 
 tle infoi'iuation of his life and services are 
 preserved. 
 
 Of his son, William Haywood, died 1779, 
 we liave more information. He was a mem- 
 
 bei- of the committee of safety for the Hali- 
 fax district, 1775; a member of the pi'ovincial 
 congress at Halifax, in A[iril, 1776, also of 
 the same body at the same place in ^November 
 following, and was one of the committee to 
 form the state constitution, and by that body 
 appointed one of the council of the state. He 
 was the father often children, most of wiiom 
 reared families to usefulness and distinction. 
 These will be severally iKiticed in the coun- 
 ties in which they resided. 
 
 There are few families in the state with 
 whom are connected names better kno^vn. 
 
 Among them are two United States Sena- 
 tors, William Haywood and George E. Bad- 
 ger; three Governors, Dudley, Clarke, and 
 Manly; two Judges, Badger and John Hay- 
 wood, the historian of Tennessee; four mem- 
 bers of congress, William S. Ashe, E. B. Dud- 
 ley, Sion II. Rogers, and Thomas Ruffin; army 
 officers. General Junius Daniel, Colonel Wil- 
 liam H. Bell; navy officers. Admiral H. II. 
 Bell; lawyers, Badger, Burgess, Hogg, McRae, 
 Edward G. Haywood, and others. 
 
 Thomas Bloiiut who resided in this county, 
 and re[.resented this district iu congress, and 
 died while in congress, February 7th, 1812? 
 has already been noticed. 
 
 Henry Toole Clark, born 1808, died April 
 14th, 1874, .son of Honorable James W. 
 Clark, was l)oi'n on Iiis father's farm, " Wal- 
 nut Creek," about nine miles above Tarboro, 
 on the banks of Tar River. 
 
 His early education was conducted at a 
 school in Tarlxu'o, kei>t by George Phillips, and 
 the Louisburg academy, and when only four- 
 teen years old hewasseiit to the university at 
 Chapel Hill. Among his class mates were Hon- 
 orable Daniel M. Barringer, Rev. Samuel Ire- 
 dell Johnstone, and othei's. At this time this 
 veneralde institution contained a body of young 
 men unsurpassed at any period of Its history. 
 Graham and Manly (both afterwards govern- 
 or) Folk, and others, were on its rolls. 
 
EDGECOMIJE COUNTY. 
 
 159 
 
 After gi-adnating in 182(i, he read law in 
 Raleigh under the guidance of his kindsman 
 William II. Haywood, jr., who was his iiestor 
 in politics, as well as in law. Ho was admitted 
 to the !)ar, Imt never iirarticed, nor did ho 
 take much interest in politics until 1850, when 
 he was elected senator in the legislature from 
 Edgecomhe, and continued to occupy this 
 position without intermission until 18G1. In 
 1858, ho was chosen speaker which he occupied 
 until early in the summer of 1801, when he 
 summoned to IJaleigh, upon the illness of Gov- 
 ernor Ellis, and on his death he iiecamo gover- 
 nor of iliG state. Tliis was a perilous period of 
 our history and demanded the exercise of pru- 
 dence and sagacity; Governor Clark discharged 
 his duties to the host of his ability. 
 
 At the close of his administration he retired 
 to his iioine. near Tarlior, whore he was near 
 being captured by a raid of Federal cavalry. 
 He escaped, but his house was plundered, the 
 jewelry and watches taken from the ladies 
 of his family, and all the stores for their sup- 
 port carried off or destroj'ed. 
 
 After the war closed, Governor Clark was 
 agairi elected to the senate (ISiJG) under 
 Johnson's reconstruction acts. This was his 
 last public servic. 
 
 He had been for years the presiiling justice 
 of the peace for the cmmty. 
 
 During the whole course of his life he was 
 a laborious and devoted student of the history 
 of his -state. As a local chi-onicler of tlie 
 present, or a jiatieut antiquarian of the past, 
 he was uiirpiestionabie authority, recognized 
 as sucli by all. It was for many yea.rs the 
 earnest wish of his heart to have printed the 
 early journals of the assembly and such docu- 
 ments in theoifice of the secretary of the state, 
 as illustrated the early b.istory of our state, but 
 in vain. A distinguished statesman of South 
 Caroliiui, Waddy Thompson, was wont to say: 
 " North Carolina has a [ir.iud and glorious 
 revolutionary history, far superior to any of 
 
 her sister states, but has had none since." It is 
 because we have had so few like Governoi' 
 Clark, who wisli to [iroserve these precious 
 memorials, and 
 
 " l?e((U('atli tlicm 
 As a rich legacy unto tlieir issue '' 
 
 Thcue were few men in North Carolina bet- 
 ter posted iis to hoi' men, families and sections. 
 Gnly a year or two before his death, ho pro- 
 posed to mo t(j uiiito in a periodical, devoted 
 to history and genealogy, lie left on his table 
 at the time of his death, a letter on this sub- 
 ject to the Honorable Kemp P. Battle. 
 
 NVe do not claim for Governor Clark the 
 renown of the accomplished statesman, or tho 
 thrilling eloipience of the orator, but he v^'a- 
 an honesi man, and always oqual to any duty 
 assigned to him by his country; never above 
 or below, but just equal to the duties of his 
 station. 
 
 Simple and unart'ectod and unassuming in 
 his manners, modest in his demeanor, a gen- 
 tleman by birth and education, as well as by 
 disposition and natui'e; warm in his attach- 
 ments and sincere in his friendships, he lived 
 honored, respected, and trusted in life, and 
 enjoying the esteem, respect, and regard of 
 everyone who knew him. 
 
 He departed this life on April 14th, 1874. 
 On the day of his burial all business was sus- 
 pended, and the town and surrounding coun- 
 try united in the last tribute of resjiect to his 
 character. 
 
 He was married m February, 1850, to Mrs. 
 Mary \V. Hargr.iye, daughter of '!?heophilus 
 I'arker, who, with two sons and throe (laugh- 
 ters survive him. Truly to him miy be ap- 
 plied the exquisite lines of Bryant: 
 
 ■' He so lived, that whea the s>nuiaous came to joiu 
 The innumerable caravan, that moves 
 To that mysterious realm, where each shall take 
 His cuambei- in tlie halls of death. 
 
 .Sustained and soothed 
 
 By an unfaltering trust, he approached the grave. 
 Like one tliat draws the drapery off his couch 
 About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.'" 
 
160 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The Battle family, one of the most mimerous oiul edition of the first volume of Haj'wood's 
 and distinguished families of the state, had Reports, greatly enhanced in value by the ad- 
 its origin in this county. Elisha Battle, the dition of notes showing the changes made in 
 progenitor of the family, was born in Nanse- the course of forty j^ears' legislation, and new 
 niond Cwunty, Virginia, Januar}- 9, 1723. lie decisions construing the law. This edition 
 moved to Tar River, in this county, in 1748. was received by the profession with great 
 About 17(]4 he joined the Baptists, was chosen commendation, and gave Mr. Battle su -h a 
 deacon, and continued a consistent and zeal- reputation that he was appointed by the gov- 
 ons member of tliis denomination until his ernor, with other able jurists, to revise the 
 death. Equally useful was he in the affairs of statutes of the state. After the labor of three 
 state; he was elected for twenty years sue- years, these "Revised Statutes" were submitted 
 cessively to represent this county in the leg- to the legislature for ratification, and adapted, 
 islature; he was also a member of the provin- Mr. Battle had been associated with Mr. 
 cial congress at Halifax, which formed the Devereux as reporter of the decisions; of the 
 state constitution, and a member of the con- supreme court. On the resignation of his 
 vention at Ilillsboro, to deliberate uiion the associate in 1830, Mr. Battle became the sole 
 ratification of the Constitution of the United reporter. The fidelity and accuracv with 
 States. In 1742, he was married to Elizabeth whicli he discharged the duties of this post, 
 Sumner; in 1799 (March 6th,) he died, leav- won for him the approbation and applause of 
 ing eight children. the profession on the bench and at the bar, 
 
 William Horn Battle, late one of the judges and, therefore, upon the resignation olMudire 
 of the supreme and superior courts of North Toonier, bs^ was appointed by Goveruor Dud- 
 Carolina, was a native of this county, born ley, in August, 1840, one of the judii'es of the 
 October 17, 1802. lie was tlie son of Joel superior court, which ap[iointnient '.vas con • 
 Battle, and grandson of William, the fifth firmed at its next session by the Icgi.sla- 
 ehild of Elisha liattle, ju-^t mentioned. His ture. 
 
 education was received at the university. In 1843 he removed to Cluipel Hii!,nndin 
 
 where he graduated in 1820, delivering the 1845 was elected, by the trustees of the uni- 
 
 valedictory, then the prize of the scholar sec- versify, Professor of Law, conferring upon him, 
 
 oud ill rank. This was no small distinction at the same time, the degree of LL.D. On 
 
 among such scbolai-s as Bartholmnew F. ^Moore, the death of Judge Daniel, be was appointed 
 
 Bisliop Otey, Charles G. Spaight, and others (May, 1848.) by Governor Graham, one of the 
 
 of that class. He read law with Judge Hen- justices of the supreme court of tlie state, 
 
 derson, and M-as licensed to practice in 1S24. but this appointmenc was not confirmed by 
 
 From his modest and retiring demeanor, Ids the legislature, although, by the same body, 
 
 success was but slow, and gave I)Ut little pro- upon the resignation of Honorable Augustus 
 
 nnse of future eminence, and for years but Moore, one of the judges of the superior 
 
 few bi-iefs engaged his services. But he per- court, he was elected to fill that vacaiicj,-. He 
 
 severed, and finally attained the highest lion- liold this position for sonjc time. I:: Decem- 
 
 ors of his profession. This example should ber. 1852, he was elected by the legislature 
 
 certainly afi'ord encouragement to young and one of the justices of the supreme court. The 
 
 briefiess lawyers. His time was occupied in circumstances, so gratifying and honorable, 
 
 constant study, and in laying deep and broad connected v/ith this appointment are best ex- 
 
 his knowledge of the law. He prepared a sec- plained by the following correspondence: 
 
EDGECOMBE COUNTY. 
 
 ](J1 
 
 "CiTV OF Raleigh, 
 
 "House of Commons, 
 '•December Serf, 1852. 
 "SiK: The general assembly of the State of 
 North Carolina, now in session, on yostonlay, 
 with an unaniniitj' seldom equalled in the 
 conncils of the state, have elected you to the 
 elevated position of judge of the supreme 
 court. 
 
 "This will be doubtless unexpected to you, 
 but we trust that it will be gratifying. Tt 
 was done without any caucus or convention 
 arrangement; but both of the great pnrtius, 
 now so equally balanced in the legislature, 
 have with patriotic unaiiiniity thrown aside 
 the shackles of party, and offer to 3'our hands 
 the highest ofKce in their gift. 
 
 "In the languageof oneof your distinguished 
 compeers, we can say: 'To give a wholesome 
 exposition of the law, to settle the flnotn;i- 
 ting and reconcile the seeming conflicting 
 analogies of judicial deci-sious, to administer 
 justice in the last resort with a stead}' hand 
 ancTupriglit purpose,' are among the highest 
 civil functions that in our republic a citizen 
 can be called upon to discharge. This post we 
 now tender to you. In this case' the office has 
 sought the man, and not the man the olHce.' 
 We sincerely hope that you will ace<;pt it. 
 
 "With assurance of our personal regards fur 
 your health and happiness, we are faithfully 
 3'our friends, 
 
 "Jxo. II. Wheeler, J. G. iM.wDuuald, 
 "Jxo. Baxter, W. K. Martin, 
 
 "A. M. Scales, H. Sherrill. 
 
 "J. A. Waugii, Tv. a. Russell, 
 
 "0. H. Wiley, R. G. A. Love, 
 
 "JosiAH Turner, jr., B. L. Durham, 
 "W. J. LoNc. 
 
 "To Hou. Wm. H. Battle, 
 
 ''Raleigh, N. C" 
 
 "Chapel Hill, 
 
 "Derember 10, 18.52. 
 "Gentlemen: Your note, directed to me at 
 this place, informing me that the general as- 
 sembly had elected me to the office of judge 
 of the supreme court, and asking my accept- 
 ance of it, did not find me here, for the 
 reason that I had not then returned from my 
 circuit. You are aware that upon my arrival 
 in Raleigh, on my way home, I addressed a 
 communication to the honorable body, of 
 which you are members, in whicli I signified 
 my acceptance of the post which their partial- 
 ity had assigned me. This would seem to 
 
 render unnecessary an}- re|)ly to your note, but 
 tlie kind and frionrlly spirit which dict:ited it, 
 and the highly complimentary terms in which 
 it is couched, forbid my leaving it unnotice I. 
 "I do not pretend to be exempt from the 
 ambition of standing fair in the estimation of 
 my fellow-citizons, nor can I receive with in- 
 diif.M'ence any manifestation of their I'avor. T 
 accept with a grateful heart the high and rc- 
 spon.qhle office whi'jh they, by their represen- 
 tatives, have onferred ujion me I aoc^'pt it 
 with a deeper feeling of gratitude because it 
 was bestowed spontaneously and without dis- 
 tinction of party. I know full well that its 
 duties are of the gravest and most important 
 character, and that the successful pei'formance 
 of them demands the highest attributes of 
 the head and heart; attribute- Vvhich distin- 
 guished and illustrated the i>fficial life of him 
 whose vacant place I am now called upon to 
 occupy. I sometimes fear that I may not be 
 equal to the task which I have consented to 
 assume. I might shrink from the attempt 
 were I not cheered on b}' the reflection tlnit 
 my labors for twelve years in a scarcely L'ss 
 responsible ])osition have beea approved by 
 the i)res>jnt action of your honorable body. 
 With thisauimating refl>'ction, and trusting in 
 the beneficence of tlnit Providence which h:is 
 hitherto upheld and supported me, I enter 
 upon the discharge of the duties of rny pres- 
 ent offic3, determined to spend m^-self in the 
 service of my native state, which has so 
 highly honored me. 1 
 
 "For the kind and flatteringmanncr iti which 
 you have thought [)roi)er to aihlress me, please 
 accept the assurances of my most grateful ac- 
 nowledgments. 
 
 "I am, with sincere regard, very truly \'oiirs, 
 "William H. Battle. 
 "To Messrs. 
 "John H. Wheeler, J. G. MacDu'IALd, 
 "John Baxter, W.m. K. Martin, 
 
 "Alfred M. Scales, . II. Sherrill, 
 "J. A. Waugh, R. a. Ru.ssej.l, 
 
 "Calvin H. Wiley, R. G. A. Lo\ e, 
 "Josiah Turxee, jr., B. L. Durham, 
 "W. J.Long. 
 
 "Raleigh, N. C." 
 
 lie hell] this high position until th.e civil 
 war closed the courts, and in 1868 he returned 
 to Raleigh. The siiace allowed for this sketch 
 does not pjrmitany exteuded comments upon 
 the judicial decisions of Judge Battle. Ha 
 
1(32 WIIEKLER'S KEMlNISCEXCES. 
 
 won. liv lung 3-ears of diligence and lalior, a the i)rofessor8 in the ITiiitcd States Ohserva- 
 
 repatation of the highest or(hjr for modest toiy at Wasliington eitj',) Colonel W. L. 
 
 inerit, extoiisivc learning, ass:ieiated witli a Saundci's, Colonel Juiii us C Wheeler, (Profes- 
 
 firni and steady administration of justice. sor of Engineering at West Point,) Alexander 
 
 His moral character was spotless; he was a Mclver, Hon. A. M. W^addell, Joseph A. En- 
 consistent member of the Episcopal church, glehard, W'illiain and Eobert Bingham, and 
 His death occurred at Chapel Hill, March 14, many others. The classes of Mr. Battle were 
 1879. He was married June 1, 185'), to Lucy, remarkable for their order, attention, and ap- 
 second daughter of the late Kemp Plummer, a i>lication. He resigned this post in 185-1, and 
 distinguished lawyer of Warrenton ; she died having ali'cad}' been licensed, opened a law 
 February '24, 1874, bived and appreciated by offic>Mn Raleigh, and practiced with much sue- 
 all who knew her, for her ai.-complishments cess. 
 
 and \irtncs. The childi'en of tiiis distin- On the organization of the Bank of North 
 
 gui>lied couple are ])r. Joel D. (deceased,) Carolina, Mr. Battle, young as he was, was 
 
 Susan C. (deceased,) Kemp Plummer, Dr. chosen one of the directors with such veteran 
 
 William Horn, who mniried Miss Lindsay; financiers as George W. Mordecai, Gef)rge E. 
 
 Kicliai-d Henry, married the daughter of Judge Badger, ,r<ilin H. I5ryan,and others. In 1800, 
 
 Tiiomas S. Asbe; Mary (deceased,) married he was candidate for the legislature, and 
 
 to William Van Wyck, of New York; Junius, failed of an election by tlireo votes, 
 
 .killed at South Mountain, 1862; Lewis, killed In the .stirring and exciting scenes that 
 
 :at Gettysburg, 18G3. followed, Mr. Battle was for the Union, 
 
 Kemp Plummer Battle, the eldest living and the President of the Union Club of 
 pon of Judge William Horn Battle, was liorn Wake. But when Lincoln called for men to 
 near Lnuisbni-g, in Franklin County, De- sul.ijugate the south, he cast his fortunes with 
 cember 10, ]8:_)1. He was educatcil at the his state, and l.iecame a member of the con- 
 best schools in the country, and graduated at vention of 1861. and with Mr. Badger and the 
 tlie university in 1849, rec.-i\ing the first dis- other members, signed tlie ordinance of seccs- 
 tinetion in all bis studies. His companions in si<.>n He united with the conservative [larty 
 tbesc honors were Petei' ^1. Hale and T. J in electing Goverrioi- Vance b\- a large major- 
 Robiitson. Mr. Battle was made tutor of ity, and during the whole war was th,j warm 
 Latin and Greek immediately aftei' graduat- supporter of his measures. 
 
 ing; and after serving in that capacity for one In 18()0, he became a candidate for treasurer 
 
 session, be was chosen tutor of mathematics, of the state, at the I'eque^t of Governor 
 
 This position he held ior four years, during Wcu-tli. ami was almost unanimously elected, 
 
 the palmiest days (if this ancient and renowned His official ro[ioi't.s are considered models of 
 
 in-tirution. He -cems peculiarly lifted by na- financial ability, conciseness and accuracy, lie 
 
 turo and education for this oceU[)ation; his shared the fortunes of the conservative party 
 
 mind is clear and discriminating, cultivated to v-itii Govei'nor Worth and other officials, ami 
 
 a liigh degree, apt to l.^arn, and patient in ini- was depiived of his office in Julj-, 18(58, by the 
 
 parting iiistructioii, kind and generous in bis mandate of militarj- power. This is the last 
 
 temper, he had much success as a tutor. This ['ost of [)olitical [irerernient which .Mr. Battle 
 
 is e\inced by his training to usefulness such iield.norwas he sorry to quit the excitement 
 
 miiids as those of \V. L. DeRo.ssctt, I)uBrut7. and contests of such a life, since they were not 
 
 Cutlar, Major A. W. Lawrence, (late one of germane to his tastes, although he discharged 
 
EnGEr( )M1^ K COUNTY. 
 
 163 
 
 the (Infills (lovolviiiii; u[i(iii liiiu with talent 
 and fidelity. 
 
 But the gre.it mission of his life is the res- 
 toration of the nniversitj' of the state. It is his 
 almn mitcr'wx very truth, from wliich he imhihed 
 the knowledge and usefulness he liad taught in 
 her halls, and to huild up the hroken walls of 
 this literary Zion, he has devoted his time, all 
 his attention, and his private fortune. He was 
 elected a trustee of the university in 1S'!2, and 
 served on the executive committee until 1868; 
 he made an elahorate and exhaustive report of 
 a plan to reorganize the imiversity. Tliis 
 plan was not completed in consequence of a 
 change \n the hoard, hut when the appninr- 
 ment of trustetis became vested in the legis- 
 lature, he was elected one of the trustees, and 
 at the first meeting of the board was unani- 
 mously chosen secretary and treasurer. Here 
 was a field of labor demanding constant exei-- 
 tion, unflinching zeal, and intelligence. All 
 kinds of legal obstructions presented them- 
 selves, and the destitution of all financial 
 measures seemed to render the mission well 
 nigh hopeless. But Mr. Battle seemed a very 
 Hercules in this work, and threw himself with 
 such devotion into the cause, that success 
 smiled on liis efforts. The pa\'nient of inter- 
 est on the land scrip by the state, his elo- 
 quent ai^ieals to the Alumni and others for 
 aid, the attendance of a goodly number of 
 pupils, prove liis work to have been successful. 
 He is now the president of the university, 
 and we trust, under his guidance and his able 
 corps of co-adjutors, its usefulness and fame 
 will rival its former renown. Mr. Battle mar- 
 ried, in 18.5.5, Martha, daughter of James S. 
 Battle. Three of his sons have been stu<leuts in 
 the classes of the university — the fourth gener- 
 ation of this family who have joined this in- 
 stitution. 
 
 The genealogy of the Battle family: 
 Elisha Battle, born January 9, 1723, died 
 March C, 1799, married Elizabeth Sutuuer 
 
 1742, had eight children, to-wit: Sarah, John, 
 Elizabeth, Elisha, William, Denqisey, Jacob 
 and .letlu'o. 
 
 I. Sarah married (first) Jacol) Ililliard, and 
 had Elizabeth Ililliard, (who married \Vm. 
 Fort, and had Sarah who was married to 
 Orren Battle; 1 also .raeob, James, Maiw and 
 .Teremiah; and to Sarah and Jacoi) ITilliard 
 wore also born Jeremiah, who married Xaney 
 Ililliard. Sarah also marrie<l (second) Henry 
 Horn, and had I'iety, Charity, who married 
 T>nrweII Bunn, to whom were born .Teremiah, 
 William, Henry and Celia Bann, who was 
 married (first) to Sngg, and (second) Doctor 
 Fort; to Sarah and Henry Movn were lioi'n 
 (their last child) llenr^y. 
 
 n. John (ilied 1700,) marrieil France-! 
 Davis, to whom were born Mary, married to 
 Allen Andrews, to whom were horn Elizabeth 
 Andrews, mari-ied to John Cotton; John mar- 
 ried Miss l'o[)e and.Fesse married Miss Battle. 
 
 ITT. Elizabeth married to Josiah Crndup, 
 member of Congress, 1821,-'2:i, to \\h,)m were 
 born George, maia'ied Leah VMU; Josiah mai'- 
 ried Ann I)avis, who had Martha, -\rchibald 
 Davis, James, Eilward, Alston, and CuHeii 
 married .Miss Jones; to Elizabeth and Josiah 
 C^ruilup Were born two moi'G cliihlren, Chloe, 
 (married Joseph 1'., Leo, their (hiugbter Eliza- 
 betli married ("nlieii Andrews,) and Bethesdii 
 married to Fowler. 
 
 IV. Elisha Battle, dunijor, horn 1749, mar- 
 ried Mary, daughter of Benjamni Bunn, had 
 Amelia, married Ross, Doctor Jeremiah, died 
 1824, WiUiam married Laraond, Jesse mar- 
 ried Vick, Bennett married Hiiiton.and Sarah, 
 marrieil Andrews. 
 
 V. William, died 17^1, married Charity 
 Horn, . had Isa:ie, married -Mary; Ann married 
 Ross, (to whom were born William, .Tames B,, 
 and Charity who married Ilines;) Joel l)orn 
 1779, died 1820, married Mary, daughter of 
 Amos Johnson. These last had Laura married 
 to Phillips, Susan married to McKee, GhristOr 
 
164 AVIIEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 pher Columbus, Benjamin Dnssey, Cathovine, was member of eitber one or the other 
 married 'Ooctor Lewis, Richard, Amos John- l)ranches of the legishnture. 
 son, and William IIoili, (see his slvetoii for He was a member of that distinguished con- 
 bis descendants ) vention of 1835, t(^ amend the constitution of 
 
 VI. i)em[isey, born 1758, died 1857, married the state. The meed of exalted statesmanship, 
 -Tano Andrews, had Amelia, married to Cuth- or of brilliant eloquence, or of deep philoso- 
 bert of Georgia, Andrews married Duggan, phical research, cannot be claimed for him. 
 CuUcn married (tir.-t) P]lizalietb, dauglitor of Yet he was honest in his principles, and sin- 
 Jacob Rattle, and (second) Jane Lamon. cere in his convictinns, and a laborious and 
 
 VII. Jacob, born 1774, died 1S14, married useful man, rather than pretentious or showy, 
 .Mrs. Edwards, bad Marmaduke, Elizalietb, but of great popularity. 
 
 married in (1802) to Doctor Cullen Battle; After more than thirty years in the civil 
 
 Cullen, Thomas, Lucy, James S., born 1786, service of his state, in the war between the 
 
 died 1854, married (tirst) Tempy Battle, and United States and Mexico, he joined the army, 
 
 (second) ILirriet Westray;to James S., were and as captain of tlie line, and marched to the 
 
 born Marmaduke, William S., married seat of war. "Without any application or 
 
 Dancy, T'nrncr Westray married daughter of knowledge on his part, he was made C(~)lonel of 
 
 .Fudge Daniel; Cornelia married John S. Dan- the twelfth regiment of infantry. While su- 
 
 cy; Mary E. married (iirst) to W. F. Dancy, perintending a forward movement of this 
 
 (second) to Dr. N. J. Pittman, Martha married regiment from Vera Cruz, the visissitudes of 
 
 to Kemi) P. Battle, and Penelope married to war, the dangerous climate, with the weight 
 
 W. R. Co.x. of three score years, proved too much for his 
 
 VIII. Jethro married Martha Lane, died constitution. He was seized with the fever 
 1813, bad Joseph S., married (first) r.>unn, of the country, and died on May 12, 1847. 
 (second) Horn, to whom was born Temper- He was never married. By his will his 
 ance. married to .Marriott; H. L. Battle, ]^)i-. patrimonial estate, (land and slaves,) was be- 
 James, John, George, Mai'y Ann married queathed to his next of kin, (a nephew and a 
 Bridgers, Marcus and Martha; to Jethro and neice.) and the residue, about $40,000, to the 
 .Martha Battle was also born Orren, married poor of Edgecombe County. 
 
 Fort, and moved to Teriuessee; and Alfred, Tlie county court of Edgecombe has ordered 
 
 who bad -jethro: this Jetliro ilied in the Mex- the erection of an appropriate asylum as one 
 
 ican war; James L., M:u-y married to Tillory; of the first investments of the fund. 
 
 Elizabeth married, to Fort. This nolde chailty. as also the ei'eetion of a 
 
 The above table is i'rom a geneological county called after his name, perpetuates his 
 
 paper drawn by Governor Henry T. Clark, and 'ito bmg services in the councils of the state, 
 
 may therefore be relied upon as being aecu- '^-'kI Ids hiinented death, leading the columns 
 
 rate. of his troops to subdue the enemies of his 
 
 Louis Dickson Wilson, born 1789, died Au- country will keep his memory ever fresh in the 
 
 gust 12, 1847, was born, raised and lived in beart of every North Carolinian The end of 
 
 this county. his life was just as he could have wished it: 
 
 His education was not classical. He was " Whether on the scaffold high, 
 
 placed in a coimting-honse, and became 
 
 Or in the hattle's van, 
 The fittest pl^^ce for man to die, 
 
 student of men rather than of books. He was ^^ ^^''"'" ™^" <^'^'^* ^^'■' '"«■"•' 
 
 sueces-ful in business. From 1815 to 1846, he The brilliant eulogium [ironounced by Gov- 
 
KI )G1':C().MI5E COUNTY. 
 
 165 
 
 cnior Brogdoii in con,<?ress, in muniory of (Jeu- 
 eral Wilson, was worthy of the theme. 
 
 " Louis I). Wilson was one of nature's no- 
 l)lenien, and his s3-mpathie.s was ever on the 
 side of justice and humanity. 
 
 " lie was a man of strict integrit_y of cliarac- 
 ter, a friend of the poor and needy, and pos- 
 sessed many of the best traits and qualities of 
 human nature. lie was aifahie and social in 
 his maimer, the embodiment of patriotism and 
 the soul of lionor. 
 
 " Studiously- neat in his person, he was a 
 favorite- in all circles; he won the sohriquet 
 for years of the Chesterfield of the senate." 
 
 Duncan Ijamond Clinch, born 1798, died 
 1849, late brigadier-general in the United 
 States ;irniy, was a native of this count}'. 
 
 He was the sou of Joseiih Clinch, by a 
 daughter of ])uncan Laniond, a colonel in tlie 
 revolutionary wai', and a terror (otlie tories — 
 one of these tie hung in Nash County. 
 
 General Clinch had attained the rank of a 
 brigadier-general. "When the Seminole war 
 broke out in Florida, in 1835, he was in com- 
 mand of that district, and at the battle of 
 Onithlecooche (December 31st, 1835,) dis- 
 played tlie most ir.trepid coui-age. He re- 
 signed his commission the next year, and from 
 1848 to 1845, was a member of congress from 
 Georgia. 
 
 He married a Mi.ss Mcintosh. He died at 
 Macon, Georgia. November •27tli, 1849, leaving 
 several (children; one of his daughters married 
 General Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter 
 fame. A son. John Houston Mcintosh Clinch, 
 graduated at the university in 1844, in the 
 same t-lass with William A. Blount, Joseph 
 M. Graham. I'hilemon B. Hawkins, Thomas 
 Ruffin, and others. 
 
 Anotlier son, with his father's name, gradu- 
 ated at the same university in 1847, in the 
 same class with James J. I'ettigrew, John 
 i'ool, Matthew W. Ransom, and others. 
 
 The genealogy' of this family is connected 
 with tliat of the Bellamy's, which see. 
 
 William Dorsey Tender was a native and 
 resident of this county. He was educated at 
 the United States Military Academy at West 
 Point. One of the earliest and most enthusi- 
 astic in the cause he deemed just, he was made, 
 May 27, 1861, colonel of sixth regiment of 
 North Carolina troops, and such were his ser- 
 vices that he soon became a brigadier general. 
 He was universall_y regarded as one of the 
 bravest and most eflUcient officers in the army. 
 General A. I'. Hill pronounced him " one of 
 the best officers of his grade he ever knew." 
 
 General Lee, in his report on the Pennsyl- 
 vania campaign, dated July 31, 1863, thus 
 writes: 
 
 '' General Pender has since died. This 
 lamented officer has borne a distinguished part 
 in every engagement of this army, and was 
 wounded on several occasions, wliile leading 
 his command with conspicuous gallantry and 
 ability. The confidence and admiration in- 
 spired by his courage and capacity as an officer, 
 were only equalled by the esteem and respect 
 entertained, by all with whom he was associat- 
 ed, for the noble qualities of his modest and 
 unassuming character."' 
 
 Universally lamented and loved, he fell on 
 the bloody iiebl of Gettj'sburg, and his remains 
 now lie in the cemetery of Calvary church in 
 Tarboro. 
 
 An appropriate memorial window erected 
 l3y liis brother, Mr. David Pender, bears this 
 inscription 
 
 "III Meraoriain, 
 
 I liave fought a good tight; I have kept the faith '' 
 
 Major General VVilliarn Dorsey Pender, 
 
 born Febiuary 6th, 1834, died July 18th, 1863. 
 
 His name, so dear to every patriot, has been 
 preserved by calling a county after him, and 
 causes his gallantry and [latriotism to fie 
 cherislied in our hearts. 
 
 The battle of Gettysburg, enduring the first 
 three days in July, 181)3. was the bloodiest en- 
 counter of the whole war, and proved the 
 Waterloo of the unhaitpy contest. For here 
 the flag of the confederacy fell never to ri.se 
 
166 WHEELER'S EEMINISCEXCES- 
 
 no-nin. Es[)ecially did the loss fall on North in all the hattles fought hy this noble arrny of 
 Carolina, for here thousands of her bravest, Northern Virginia, until the curtain foil at 
 noblest sons found a soldier's grave. Not Appomattox, on tlie bloody drama, 
 only did General Pender, full of gallantry and After the war. Major Englehard rcsum-d the 
 spirit, but Colonel Isaac E. Avery, J. K. Mar- practice of the lawatTarboro, and in addition 
 shal also fell in this battle, General Pettigrew to his professional duties, exercised those of the 
 was wounded, a few days afterwards, died, clerk and master in ei-juity. 
 General Scales, Colonel Lowe, and others of He purchased, in 1865, James Pulton's in- 
 equal merit, were wounded. Of the ten terest in the Wilmington Journal, and became 
 thousand men lost by the confederates, the the successor, from March, 1866, of that able 
 larger portion were North Carolinians. Of editor, and so became a citizen of Wilmington, 
 Colonel Burgwyn's command, who was killed, then wielding a powerful influence throughout 
 (the Twenty-sixth North Carolina regiment,) the state. 
 
 five hundred and forty were killed out of In June, 1876, he was nominated at Kaloigh, 
 
 eight hundred. The heavy loss of the union by the democratic state convention for secre- 
 
 army could lie easily replaced, but the great tary of state. He entered with energy and 
 
 gaps in the confederate ranks could never ability into the canvass. He stood before the 
 
 be closed again. people almost every day, and with a po'>ver of 
 
 In reply to a recent letter of General Scales elocution rarely surpassed, and an oratory iire- 
 
 and Captain J. J. Davis, Colonel John B. sistable, so urged the cause that, on Noveni- 
 
 Bachelder has given a graphic account of this her 7, the whole ticket was elected, and he 
 
 desperate conflict, which, with the diagram?, the first in the number of votes received, 
 
 affords an intelligible and reliable account. He performed all the duties of his position 
 
 Joseph A. Englehard, the only son of Ed- with satisfaction and intelligence, e.itablished 
 
 ward Englehard, was born at Monticello, Mis- order out of chaos, and system iVoin ccuiiusiun. 
 
 sis.sippi, September 27, 1832. Major Englehard was a devoted friend 
 
 He was an educated man and graduated at to the cause of education. He delivered 
 the University of North Carolina, with the the Alumni address at the university, wiiere 
 first honors, in 1854, in the same class with his son had recently graduated. But this 
 William L. Saunders, and others. He then usefulness was soon to end, and after a short ill- 
 studied law at the Harvard law school, and ness he died on February 15, 1879, at tht; 
 with Judge Battle; in 1856 lie was licensed to Yarboro House, Raleigh. His death was the 
 practice. He settled at Tarboro, where he regret of his friends, and an irremediable loss 
 had married in 1855, Margaret, daughter of to the state. 
 John W. Gotten. Robert Rufus Bridgers, is a native (-f this 
 
 He entered the army in May, 1861, as captain county. He was born on Town Creek, No- 
 
 and quarter-master of the thirty-third regi- vcndier 23, 1819. 
 
 inent, and the next j'ear he was promoted to His early education was conducted by Ben- 
 quarter-master of General Branch's brigade, jamin Sumner, and finished at the uni\er,sity 
 with the rank of major. He was transferred in in 18-11, when he graduated in tlie sam- class 
 December, 1862, to Pender's brigade and be- with Governor Ellis, Samuel F. and Ih-. 
 came adjutant-general, and in May following Charles I'hillips, Judge Clarke, Vi'illi:::ii F. 
 he was made adjutant-general of Pender's, Dancy, John F. Hoke, and others. To receive 
 afterwards Wilcox's division, and participated honors in sueii a class was no light praise. 
 
FOKSYTII COUNTY. 
 
 167 
 
 He reail law, while pursuing his collegiate gress, aud was an active, useful, and able 
 
 studies, witli Governor Swain, and was licensed member. 
 
 by tlie supreme court to [iractice the week After the war he was elected president of 
 after he graduated, and soon entered upon an the Wilmington and Weldon railroad corn- 
 extensive and lucrative practice. He entered pany, and is distinguished for the ability and 
 the legislature in 1844. and was re-elected in fidelity with which he manages this important 
 18o6,-'58 and '60, trust. 
 
 After the state joined tlie confederacy, he lie married Mi.ss Margaret Johnston and 
 
 was elected a member of the confederate con- has an interesting family. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIl. 
 FORSYTH COUNTY. 
 
 This county presents the name of Colonel 
 Benjamin Forsythe, a native of this section, 
 who fell in l)attle in the war of 1812. He 
 resided at Germantown, was a native of 
 Stokes, and represented that county in the 
 legislature in 1807 and '08. He received a 
 lieutenant's commission, April 2-3, 1808, in the 
 regular arm}', and marched to Canada. In 
 September, 1812, he crossed at Cape Vincent, 
 attacked the British, and routed them. He 
 took many prisoners and much ammunition and 
 stores, with the loss of only one man. 
 
 •• In February following, he left Ogdensburg, 
 and crossed at Morristown, sur[)rised the Brit- 
 ish, and took tifty-two prisoners, among them 
 a major, three captains and two lieutenants, 
 without the loss of a man."* In 1813, he was 
 distinguished at the capture of Fort George, 
 Upper Canada. 
 
 For his gallant conduct he was rapidly pro- 
 moted, and attained the rank of colonel. 
 
 On June 28, 1814, General Smyth formed a 
 [ilan for ambuscading the British near Odel- 
 lowii. Colonel F(M'sytbe had orders to luake 
 
 ♦Xiles Uegistt-r, III.. 408. 
 
 the attack and then retreat; so as to draw the 
 enemy into the snare. He made the attack, but 
 instead of falling back as ordered, his personal 
 courage tempted him to made a stand on the 
 roail within fifteen rods of the enem\'. In 
 this exposed and perilous position he received 
 a fatal wound, which broke his collar bone. 
 He fell, mortally wounded, exclaiming with 
 his last breath: " Boys, rush on!" He was the 
 only person killed; several were wounded. The 
 enemy lost seventeen killed. His loss was uni- 
 versally lamented, and he was buried the next 
 day with the honors of war. 
 
 By his intrepid courage and his fearless dar- 
 ing, he became the idol of his troops, and the 
 terror of the enem^'. He was one of the best 
 partisan officers that ever lived. t 
 
 The legislature of North Carolina, in 1817, 
 with patriotic philanthrophy, adopted the 
 only son of Colonel Forsythe, and the only 
 daughter of Captain Blakel}^ of the navy, as 
 children of the state, and made provision for 
 their education at the public expense. James 
 
 tSoe Gardiner's Diet, of the Army; Drake's Biogra- 
 phy Sketches: >siles' Register, ill., 48. 
 
168 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 X. Forsvthe, tlie son, entered the freshman with the command of Captain George Moft'ett, 
 
 class at the universitj' in 182i, and suljse- (maldng sixty men altogether.) they pnrsued a 
 
 quently, with the acqniescoiice of Governor party of Indians between Forts Yonng and 
 
 Burton, he was appointed a midshipman in the Dinwiddie, and were drawn into an ambuscade 
 
 United States navy. He was on l>oard the on September 30, 1703. They were fired on 
 
 sloop of war, tlie Hornet, wliich was lost at from both sides of the trail, but maintained 
 
 sea.* the fight for a considerable time; at length 
 
 The c.unty seat of Forsyth preserves the tliey wei'e overpowered by numbers and were 
 
 name of Joseph Winston. forced to give awa\-, scatteiing as best they 
 
 He was born June 17, 1746, in Louisa County, could.- Se\eral were killed; young Winston 
 Virginia; a branch of tiie family, originally had his horse killed under him and was him- 
 from Yorlcshire, England, settled in Wales, self twice wounded in the body and through 
 and thence migrated to Virginia, where, says the thigh, making him well nigh helpless. 
 Alexander H. Everett, they were the most He managed, however, to conceal himself un- 
 distinguished in the colon}-. til the Indians had gone in pursuit of the 
 
 "Two hundred years ago," says the bio- fugitives, when a comrade fortunately came 
 graphical sketch of William Winston Seaton, to his aid, cari-ied him upon his back for three 
 (of the firm of Gales & Seaton,) " five broth- days, living upon wild roseberries, until at 
 ers, Winston, from Winston Hall, Yorkshire, length they reached a friendly frontier caljin. 
 England, gentlemen of fortune and family, Although he in time recovered, yet the ball 
 emigrated to the colony of Virginia. These in his body was never extracted, ami occasion- 
 brothers were men of comely statue and ap- ally caused him exquisite jiain. 
 pearauce. They settled in Hanover County, Early trained to arms, ibr he was in Brad- 
 stocking Virginia with a stalwait and pro- dock's defeat in 1755; in the rcvoluti(ni he 
 phetic race, extending to Kentucky, Mis- was the earl}- and devoted friend to the cause 
 sissippi, and North Carolina, in which states, of independauce, and co-operated with the 
 to this day, they are noted for their fine patriots of that period in the meetings of the 
 personal appearance." " The family of Win- people. 
 
 stons," says Mr. Sparks, '• was among the most In 1769 we fin<l that Joseph Winston and 
 
 distinguisiied of the colony, and the genius others petitioned the Virginia authorities for 
 
 and eloquence of Patrick Henry nuiy be sup- a grant of 10/)00 acres of land on the south 
 
 posed to have been transmitted through this side of the Gnyandotte river; failing in this^ 
 
 line, from which he desceiuled." The fiery he emigrated to North Carolina, and settled 
 
 spirit "in words that breathed and thoughts on the town fork of the Dan, in that part of 
 
 that burned," lighted the flame of liberty in tlie state, now Forsyth County. In 177'), he 
 
 the hearts of his countrymen and relations, ^y^s a member of the Hillsboro convention. 
 
 Among them his cousin, Joseph Winston, who which met on August 21, 1775, and erected v. 
 
 wou renown by his military career. provisional form of go\ernment for the state, 
 
 .roseph Winston received a. fair education, all hopes of reconciliation with the Royal 
 
 but at the age of seventeen, joined a com- government having been eudeil. Tlie .-word 
 
 pany of rangers, under Captain Phelps, who ^as drawn and the scabbard thrown away. In 
 
 marched from Louisa County to Jackson February, 1776, he was in the expedition 
 
 river, on the then frontiers, v»-here, uniting against the Scotch tories on Cross creek. In 
 
 ^MSS. letter of Governor Swain. this year he was created ranger (jf Suriy 
 
F0K8YT1I COUXTY. 1^,9 
 
 County, luid major of militia, serving in lluth- two-hundroil paces tliey wore again hailed and 
 erford's oxpeditiou against the Cherokee shown their true line of march, and wire then 
 Indians. In 1777, he was a meiid)er of the assured they were yet a mile from their posi- 
 Ilouse of Commons from Surry, and with tion in the alignment for the battle. They 
 Waightstill Avery, William Sliarpe and Rob- tlien lan down the declivity with great pre- 
 ert Lamer, placed u[H>n that commission cipitation to their horses, and mounting them, 
 which made a treaty with the Cherokees rode, like so many fox-hunters, at almost a 
 at Long Island on the Ilolston, a treaty break-neck s[ieed, through rough woods and 
 made without an oatli and yet one that has brambles, leaping branches and crossing ridges, 
 never been violated. In 1780, lie served without any guide who had a personal kuowl- 
 with Colonel Davidson in pursuit of Bryan's edge of the country. They soon came upon 
 tories, and was with Cleaveland in his move- the enemy, and, as if directed by the Provi- 
 ments against the loyalists on New River; lie dence itself, at the very point of their intend- 
 was in a skirmish on the Alamance, and com- ed destination, where they did great havoc in 
 manded a portion of the right wing at King's that bloody fray.* Li a few minutes the 
 mountain, October 9, 178i». action became general and severe, continuing 
 
 At King's mountain he was a major of the furiously for three-fourths of an hoar, when 
 North Carolina line, ser\ing with Colonels the enemy being driven from the east to the 
 McDowell and Cleaveland. The battle was west end of the mountain, surrendered at dis- 
 tierce and bloody, i:i wliich the Americans cretion. Ferguson was killed with two hun- 
 drove the British and tories from their lofty dred and six oi his officers and men, and eight 
 position, whence their commander. Colonel hundred and ninety-nine of tlie British were 
 Patrick Ferguson, had impi.iusly declared captured. Tlie Americans had eighty-eight 
 •' that (iod Almighty could not drive them." killed and wounded. ^' The whole mountain 
 In tlie plan of battle adopted by the colonels was covered with smoke and seemed to thun- 
 preseut on that occasion, Winston's battalion der." For his distinguished .services on that 
 had to make a lengthy detour of the mountain day the legislature of the state voted Joseph 
 from a [loint at the junction of King'^s Creek, Winston an elegant swonl. 
 and the (Quarry Koail, and thence to move to CoU.uel John Campbell, of Abington, in pre- 
 the east .-ide of the battle field and so reach a paring his " .Memoir of the Military Transac- 
 poiut where his men were to move up the tions of We.st Virginia," says: 
 juountain's side, an<l make part of the " wall ^,^^^ ^,^^ ^^^^.^^^^ ^^.^.^, ^^^ j..,^^,^ Mountain, 
 of lire " around Ferguson. The several corps Col^,„el Winston played a conspicuous part, 
 were put in motion for the posts they were He led the right wing on this- Bunker Hill ot 
 assigned in the day's operation. Both the the south,' and contributed greatly to. that 
 " , ■ , . , • ■ momentous victory, ot which the battle ot 
 
 right and left wmgs were .somewhat longer in (j^^^pg^^^ Guilford, and the surrender of Corn- 
 reaching their designated positions than had wallis at Yorktown, were the direct conse- 
 beeu expected. Winston's party had marched quences." 
 
 about a mile, when they reached a very steep ^j^. Jefferson, in a letter now before me,6ays: 
 ascent, which they took to be the point where ^. ^^^ ,e,acmbered well the deep and grateful 
 they were to move up to the enemy's lines. ^,^^^^,^,35,3,^ ,„,,,|^, 1,^ t,,;,t memorable vict.uw. 
 Some men came in view and directed them to j^ ^^^^^^ ^j^^ .^^^,,.,^1 ;„(„„.i.^f,o„ of the first turn 
 
 dismount and proceed, as being at the point of ^^ 
 
 attack assigned them, but before they had gone *Wlieeler's History of Kortli Carolina, II., 106. 
 
170 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 of the tiilo of f?iK'cess that euded the war with sister, who had a babe a month old, called to 
 
 the s'iil (if our independence." visit the mother, and proposed to adopt one 
 
 In Febrnarv, 1781,iieh'd a pa rtj- against a of the trio, and thus each would practically have 
 band of tories, had a running fight with them, a set of twins to rear. Mrs. Winston regarded 
 killed some and dispersed theresiduo; he then the proposition favorably-, and, asshe sat up in 
 joined General Greene with one hundred rifle- bed, carefully e.xamined all three to determine 
 men, and took part in tlie l)attle of Guilford which to part with and which to keep for her 
 Court House, .March 15, 1781; in which, al- own; at length she exclaimed: " I cannot, for 
 though Lord Cornwallis held the battle field, my life, decide; you cannot have either of 
 yet his losses were so great, and the shock he them, sister! As God has given them to me, 
 received so severe, that he afterward avoided He will give me strength to nurse them !" 
 battle, which before he so anxious!}' sought. And so He did, all of them lived and were 
 Crippled and wounded, he retired to Wil- well educated. One of thorn became a major- 
 mington, drew his slow length along, hoping general, another a judge, whilst the tliii'd be- 
 to meet Arnold, if not Clinton, but from the came a state senator and lieutenant-governor 
 effects of his barren victory at Guilford, he of Mississippi ; a brother of th'ese triplets, who 
 never recovered, and tinally was compelled to remained in North Carolina, fought in the war 
 snn-endei' at Yorktown, October 19, 1781. of 1812, became a major-general and a member 
 
 111 1711-3 and in 1803, Joseph Winston was a of the legislature, 
 memlier of congress. In 1800, he was a pre.si- Israel G. Law, born 1810, died 1878, at 
 
 dential elector, voting for Jefferson, ami again Bethania, (then in St(.ikes,) worked on a 
 
 in 1812, voting for Madis(m. farm till manhood, and then engaged in mer- 
 
 For three temns he represented Snrry chandizing, mannfactnring, and banking, in 
 
 County in the state sen.ite, and when Stokes all of which he was eminently successful. He 
 
 County was erected, he was appointed lieuten- was, in 1847, president of the branch bank of 
 
 ant-colonel, and for fi\-e terms represented Cape Fear, at Salem, and at the close of the 
 
 that county in the state senate, between 1700 war. obtained a charter for the First National 
 
 and 1812; in was during this last service that Bank at Salem. 
 
 he Was [ir.isented witli the sword for military He was a member of the state convention in 
 
 ser\ices in 1780,-'81 The county seat of For- 1865, with Judge Starbuek, and of the Fortieth 
 
 syth county derives its name from him. He and Forty-first ('ongress, 1867 to '71. 
 is its patron saint. He was a man of large v.'ealth, and well 
 
 He was a man of stately form, old school known as a sagacious financier. He died 
 
 manners, and of a commanding presence. His April 7th, 1878. 
 
 home was witinn the lofty mountains of Stokes We should do injustice to the trutli of his- 
 and Surry, whose " cloud eapit summits seemed tory to make no reference to the M<M-avians, 
 within a squirrel's jump of heaven." Here he located in this county. 
 
 died April 21, 1815, leaving many worthy de- "There is not," says Williamson, "a more 
 eendants. He was the uncle of AVilliam Win- industrious and temperate bodj' of people than 
 ston Seaton.of the Ndtio/hil ltitdliijfi)cn\ Wash- the Moravians, who live lietween the Dan and 
 ington city. Yadkin Rivers." 
 
 l>r. Di'aper, in his "King's Mountain In 1740, the British Parliament passed an 
 Heroes," adds the following incident: He left act by which the Uiiitas Fratuni, was acknowl- 
 tiiree sons, born at a single birth. A married edged as a Pi-otestaiit Episcopal Chureh. By 
 
FORSYTH COUNTY. . 171 
 
 this act, the free exercise of all their rights as called from ( Wach, the principal creek; and uxr 
 
 a church was secured throu^jhout Englaiul meadow,) aud made the savvey. In 1782, 
 
 and her colonies, which rigiit was denied to the legislature of Xorth (Carolina vested "in 
 
 them in other countries. Hence it was de- F. W. Marshal, and his heirs and assigns 
 
 sirable to make settlements, where this liberty forever, the Wachovia tract, and all the lands 
 
 of conscience could be enjoyed. Offers of in North Carolina acquired by tlie brethren, 
 
 land were made from various quarters; but Of the thirty thousand Germans who left their 
 
 the most acceptable was that of Lord Gran- native land for the far west, eighteen thou- 
 
 ville, the owner of large posse.ssions in North sand eventually settled in North Carolimi. 
 
 Q.,,.^li,i., The colony of Moravians sutlered all the trials 
 
 The Lord Proprietors, under charter of Charies and tribulations incident to a settlement in a 
 
 II., (March 24th, 1663,) on account of the new country. Their salt was Ijrought from Vir- 
 
 expenses incident to a distant colony, and ginia; and the first bee hive, (an emblem of 
 
 the small revenue derived, in 1729, surren- their industry,) from Tar River. The Indians 
 
 dered their claims to the Crown, receiving for a while committed depredations and mur- 
 
 in return X2,o00 steriing each ; only Lord Gran- ders. The war of the Regulation, and that of 
 
 ville retained his eighth part, which was laid the revolution iM-onght many troubles to these 
 
 off for him in 1743. He continued to receive peaceful and industrious non combatants. Hos- 
 
 rents, and have his agent and land office tile troops ravaged their fields and plundered 
 
 until the revolution. In the present century their property. But tlie mild character of 
 
 his heir brought suit in the circuit court of their people, their peaceful and indnstrions 
 
 the United States to assert his rights. Mr. lives, their patient labor, and indefatigable 
 
 Gaston was his counsel. The suit went on industry triumphed eventually. lu 1791, 
 
 appeal to the Supreme Court of tiie United they were visited by Geneial Wasliington, 
 
 States, and there was dismissed for want of i^'id the brethren of Wachnvia addressed him 
 
 an appeal bond.' ^ "«te of welcome, to wbi.h he responded as 
 
 Lord Granville ottered to Count Zinzendorft' to. low?:* 
 
 100,000 acres on reasonable terms. At a con- ,, y^ ^j^^ ^^-^^^ Brd/nvn of Wu.!,orl'> : 
 
 ference of the brethren, held in London, No- „ Gentlemen: I am greatly indebted to your 
 
 vember 29, 1751, the otter was accepted, and respectful and att'ectionate expression of per- 
 
 on August 9, 1753, John, Earl of Granville, sonal regard, and I am not le.^s obliged by the 
 
 , ,, ^.,, , 4. t I • • xi patriotic sentiment contained in your address. 
 
 conveyed the title to a tract lying m the 1 a j^^.^n, a society whose governing principles 
 
 forks of Gargalee, or Muddy Creek, Rowan .^YQ industry aud "love of order, much may l)e 
 
 Countv, to James Hutton,of London, Secre- expected towards the improvement ami pros- 
 
 taryot-the UrdUis Fratnu,>. By the repeated Parity of the country, in which these sUtle- 
 
 ■^ 1 ments are tornied; and exi)erience autiiorizes 
 
 divisions of Rowan, this tract has been sue- the belief that much will be attained. 
 
 cessively in Rowan county; in 1770, in Surry; "Thanking you with grateful sincerity 
 
 in 178!K in Stokes; and in 1848, in Forsvth. foi' y^u^' P'-ayers in my behalf, I desire to 
 
 ^ ,,,. , ^ " assure you of mv best wishes tor your 
 
 An agent was sent out (Bishop tepangeu- social and iudividurd happiness, 
 berg,) in 1752, who, with Churton, the Sur- " Gicorge Washington." 
 
 vey or General and Agent of Lord Granville, 
 
 ... ,.,, ,,. . , Bishop Ravenscroft, in his letters, describes 
 
 atter enduring incredible suflering and many ^ ' 
 
 privations, reached the Wachovia tract, so * The Moravians: For this vahuilile information we 
 
 are iudelited to the work of Rev. I.evin T. Reicliel, of 
 
 *Swaiu's Lecture on the Regulations: Moure I., 71. Salem, N. C, published in 18.57. 
 
172 WHEELER'S REMINISCEXOES. 
 
 at great length, a visit he made in August, 1827 wick, Ann and Elizabeth Kirkland, and Mary 
 
 to this benignant settlement , how cheerfully he riiillips. 
 
 was received, communed with the church, and We have not been favored with any recent 
 
 received with greatest cordiality and brotherly statistics of this academy, but up to 1S56 there 
 
 icreeting. had been three thousand four-hundred and 
 
 Tlie great feature of usefulness, and the seventy scholars entered; and in evidence of 
 
 most enduring monument of the societj' is the the healthfulness of the place, only twelve had 
 
 Salem Female Academy. The ancients were died while at school. 
 
 accustomed to inaugurate their rulers on the The founders and the principals, (all are 
 
 banks of a pure stream, hoping that their rule, M(.)ravians,) have rendered this service to the 
 
 like the pelucid stream, would refresh and country. They may well rejoice in their work, 
 
 fructify the v/hole land by its benign influ- and feel 
 
 enccs. So has this institution for nearly three- "The warrior's name! 
 
 *■„,(-! f „„t„,.,, „,,,t r,^,.fii i;,.;.wi. of,.n..,^i. 'Tho iiealert aiul cliimert on every tongue of fame, 
 
 tnurths ot a century sent toi th In ing stieamb g,^„,^^\^ j^^^ h:u-monioas to tlie grateful mi.ul, 
 
 of virtue and beauty to delight, purify, and Than he who fashions and ira.n-oves manldml " 
 invigorate our land It was established in Thomas Johnson Wilson, is a native of this 
 1804, therefore it is one of the oldest literary county. Lorn December 81, 1815. Studied 
 institutions in the south, and is held in grate- law, and was licensed 1874; elected solicitor 
 ful remembrance by many Christian mothers of Stokes and of Davidson Counties. He was 
 who here received their elementary education a member of the convention, 1861. and advo- 
 and the holy impressions of eternal truth, and cated the propriety of sulnnitting the question 
 liad the satisfaction of seeing their daughters of secession to the people, 
 and grand-daughters, educated at the same He was elected in 1874, judge of the eighth 
 place, connected with such pleasing and useful judicial circuit, and held the courts for six- 
 remembrances of their earlier days, months until the supreme court decided that 
 .The tir.st pupils connected with the Salem his predeces-or. Judge Cloud, was entitled to 
 academy, from Hillsboro,were Elizabeth Strud- hold over. 
 
 CHAPTER 'XIX. 
 
 FRANKLIN COUNTY. 
 
 The origin of lynchlav,- i During the revo- had a daughter, beautiful and accomplished, 
 
 lution there was a noted tory, (and thei'e were Iiy whose charms Beard was captiviited; and 
 
 but few.) in that portion formerly called Bute the tradition runs, that the hamlsome figure and 
 
 County, now embraced within the counties of commanding air of Beard had its effect on the 
 
 Franklin and Nash, called Major Beard, young lady, notwithstanding the difi'ereijce in 
 
 Major John H. Drake lived near Hilliardston ; politics between him and her father. On one 
 
 he and his family were decided whigs. He occasion. Beard encam[)ed for the night near 
 
KKAXKLIN COUNTY. 173 
 
 a mill on Swift Ureek. This became known son committeil any offence of magnitude, that 
 
 to Major Drake and other whigs, and they or- '• he ought to be taken to Lynch Creek;" and so 
 
 ganized a force to capture him. They came the word "Lynch law " became a tixture iu 
 
 upon the tories early in the morning while at the English language.' 
 
 breakfa-st, surprised and dispersed tiiem in Joseph J. Davis was born and l)red in Frank- 
 great confusion; they leaving their breakfast liu County. He is the sou of Jonathan Davis, 
 and horses. The whigs pursued them with great and his wife, Mary Butler; was born in 1828. 
 earnestness. Britton Drake, brother of the His early education was conducted by John 
 voung lady, of powerful frame and strength, B. Bobbib, and finished at Wake Forest Col- 
 araied with a rifle led the chase, and came sud- lege. He received the degree of batchelor of 
 dcnly on Beard, who wa.i hid behind some law, at the university in 1850, and after re- 
 small pines. He did not move until Drake, ceiving a license to practice, settled in Oxford, 
 who wa.s not aware of his position came right In 1852, he moved to Louisburg. In 1866, he 
 upon him. Beard was armed only with a was elected to the legislature, receiving every 
 sword; he sprang upon Drake, who was too vote in the county. When the civil war began 
 near and closely pursued, to shoot. He cLub- he entered the army as captain of the forty- 
 bed his rifle and felled Beard to the ground; seventh regiment, commanded by the late 
 and as Drake thought he was dead, for he was Sion H. Rogers. His i-ompany was ordered to 
 senseless, Drake left him for dead and went in New Berne, where he received his "first bap- 
 pursuit of other fugitives. When the pursuit tism of tire," at Banrington's Ferry; and 
 was over, he returned to the place of rencounter again at Blount's Creek. At the bloody bat- 
 with Beard, and found that he was not dead, tie of Grettysbury, his regiment was in the 
 After some consultation it was resolved to heaviest of the tight, and Captain Davis was 
 take him as a prisoner to headquarters of woundedand taken a prisoner; he v^as confined 
 Colonel Seawell, commanding in camp at a at Fort Delaware and at Johnson's Island for 
 ford on Lynch Creek, in Franklin County, twenty months, during this period, the curtain 
 about twenty miles oft". Ho was tied on his fell on the scene of war and he was discharged 
 liorse and carried under guard. After reach- on parole. He returned home and resumed 
 ing camp, it was determined to organize a his profession. 
 
 court-martial, and try him for his life. But He was selected as one of the electors in 
 
 before proceeding to trial, a report came that 1868, on the Seymour and Blair ticket, and was 
 
 a strong body of tories were in pursuit to res- nominated in 1874, and triumphantly elected 
 
 cue him; this created a panic, for they knew to congress; again in 1876, and again in 1S78. 
 
 Ins popularity and power, so they hung him. He married Kate, the daughter of Robert J - 
 
 Th'j^ reported pursuit proved a false alarm, and Shaw, and has an interesting family. 
 
 it lieitig suii-ge^ted that as the sentence had been We might say much of Mr. Davis' course in 
 
 inflicted, before the judgment of the court had congress, but this speaks for itself. No one 
 
 been pronounced therefore it was illegal. The was more attentive and faithful, and earnestly 
 
 body was then taken down, the court reorgati- esteemed by all who knew him. Much to tao 
 
 ized, he was tiied, condeuined,<uid re-hung by loss of the nation and the regrets of his associ- 
 
 the neck until he was dead. ates, he declined a re-nomination to congress. 
 
 The tree on which he was hung stood not — 
 
 s- ,. ^•,.-.,., -R^-.Vv Vovl ,», r v.uOr^ CiPPk- -md *The Hon. B. F. Moore coiumuuicated the afore- 
 far from Koclcv J^oia,on J.ynchs L.,ee^, ana g^j„g tradition to me, he received it froiu the L>r»ke 
 
 it became a saying in Franklin, when a per- family. 
 
174 
 
 WIIEELER'.S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Thomas Person, who died in November, 
 1799, at the home of his sister, Mrs. Tom Tay- 
 lor, in Franklin County, was a native of Gran- 
 ville. He was distingniished for his enter- 
 prise, his devotion to tlie cnnse of liberty, the 
 foe of oppression, and the friend of the down 
 trodden and persecuted. 
 
 He sympathized deeply with the RegiUa- 
 tors, suffering from the opi)ressive measures of 
 the public officers. I find in the journals of 
 the Colonial Assembly in the Public Records, 
 in London, as follows: 
 
 '■1770, December 6, Mr. Husbands presented 
 a petition of the in habitants of Orange 
 County, complaining of sundry grievances; 
 and praying for relief. 
 
 •• Mr. Person pres< nted a i>etition from the 
 inhabitants of Bute County, complaining of 
 the many exhorbitant and oppressive meas- 
 ures practiced by the public officers."* 
 
 For this independent course General Per- 
 son received severe treatment from General 
 7.'ryon; and was for a time confined in prison, 
 and at other times in prison bounds or on his 
 parole. When on parole, he boarded at the 
 house of Rev. Mr. Micklejolm, who preached 
 in Hillsboro. Soon after the battle of Ala- 
 mance, six of the Regulators were hanged 
 by order of Tryon, in sight of the Court 
 House. 
 
 At one tinie his life was m eminent peril 
 from the choleric Tryon, who in 1771 issued 
 his proclamation offering pardon to those who 
 would come in and take the oath of allegiance 
 to the King, except Thomas Person, and some 
 others. 
 
 The reverend divine, on one occasion, in 
 regard to his prisoner, is said to have dodged 
 the truth, or clearly equivocated. It was 
 suspected that the general had broken his parole 
 by passing the bounds of Hillsboro. In fact he 
 had much money and bonds at his home at 
 Goshen, exposed to marauders and thieves. 
 
 * Colonial Documents. 180 
 
 With the connivaTice of his friend, at night, 
 he mounted his fleet mare, rode to Goshen, 
 secured his valuables in a l)rick kiln, and re- 
 turned by dawn of day to Hilhboro. The 
 officers of Tryon demanded of the parson: 
 "If General Person had not left bis prison 
 lionds the night before." " I supped and break- 
 fasted witn the general," was the delphic 
 rejily. 
 
 The University Magazine, IV,, 2.i)0, says: 
 
 " A faithful biographical sketch of tbe Rev- 
 erend George Micklejolm is greatly to he de- 
 sired. He resided in Hillslioro before and 
 many j'cars after the revolution. <.'ii tlie first 
 attempt at organization of tbe university in 
 1794, be among others was named fur tliepresi 
 dency." 
 
 Bishop Meade in bis work " Old Churclies, 
 Ministers and Families in Virginia" stat'es that 
 "tbe successor of the Revei'end Johti Cameron, 
 (father of Judge Duncan Cameron) as the 
 rector of (himberland Parish in A'ii-ginia, at 
 his death 1815, was the Rovei'end John Mickle- 
 jolm, but not as tlie regul-ir minister. He 
 was then at an advanced age, and probably 
 died there." 
 
 But severe as liis trials were. General Per- 
 son was ready to take up arms in 1774, for 
 the cause of the people and against tlio pow- 
 ers of royaUy. 
 
 He was a member from (liranville, in 1774, 
 of the first colonial asseml)Iy tliat met at New 
 Berne, in open defiance of tbe royal governor. 
 He was also a mendjer of tbe pro\iiicial con- 
 gress that met at Halifax, April 1-5, 1776, and 
 again on November 12th following, which 
 body formed the constitution, and with Cor- 
 nelius Harnett and others was appointed one 
 of the council of state. This pnivos tli.' confi- 
 dence entertained for iiis patri<)ti.--iii and in- 
 tegrity. 
 
 He was elected to the first legislature under 
 the constitution (1777,) and continued in the 
 service of the [leople, enjoying their regard 
 
GASTON COUNTY. 175 
 
 and confidence till the day of his death. He two years old, and educated him at Sprig'.s 
 
 was a surveyor by profession and was an ex- college near Willianishoro, in Granville County, 
 
 tensive land owner. His deeds covered 70.- where John Hay wood, Sherwood IIayw(^od and 
 
 000 acres. He gave largely to the university, Robert Goodloe Ilarjier,* were educated, 
 
 and a hall called by his name hoars testimony lie died in 1799, and was buried at Persoutnn . 
 
 to his ability. He gave his friend, who had in Warren County, five miles from Littleton, 
 
 stood by him in his troubles. Parson Mickle- Judge Henderson, of our supreme court, 
 
 John, his " Goshen place" in Granville, where always spoke of General Person with the 
 
 he lived, which is called to tiiis day "the fondest afi'ection, (and acted as his counsel, 
 
 Glebe." wrote his will, which was, however, not found 
 
 General Person was never married. He after his death,) and often declared that "he 
 
 left two sisters, one of whom, Martha, married was one of nature's noblemen." His services 
 
 Major Thomas Taylor, in Franklin, at whose and his sufferings demand our respect, and his 
 
 house he died; and Mary, who married George patriotism our gratitude. His memory is very 
 
 Little;and one brother, William. He adopted appropriately preserved by calling one of the 
 
 William P. Little, his sister's child, when only best counties of the state after his name.t 
 
 ^yPJ^ 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 GASTON COUNTY. 
 
 TuE character and services of Kev. Hum- with credit and honor. He also served in a 
 
 phrey Hunter, born 1755, deserves a place in campaign against the Indians, umler Colonel 
 
 our record and renieml>rances,a3 a true christian Robert Mebane. He also served as lieutenant 
 
 and a patriotic citizen. •' lie was a native of in Captain Given's company, under General 
 
 Ireland and a man of letters," born near Lou- Rutherford, and was in the battle of Camden, 
 
 donderry; he combined in his character all the (August, 1780,) where he was taken prisoner, 
 
 elements of that Scotch-IrisU character, so After some time spent in confinement, he es- 
 
 conspicuous a type in our struggles for liberty, caped and returned home. After remaining at 
 
 With a widowed mother he came to America his mother's residence afew days heagain joined 
 
 and settled near Poplar Tent, then Mecklen- the army, under General Greene, as a lieuten- 
 
 burg County, and here he was raised. When ant under Colonel Henry Lee, and was 
 
 the orders were ottered for a convention, at woundeil in the severe battle of Eutaw 
 
 Charlotte, whieli met on May 19 and 20, 1775, 
 
 he attended, and his testimonv is clear on the * -Mr- Harper acquired great distinction iu after 
 
 "'-'"'' • .. life. There is a tradition that lie was born m this state, 
 
 subject of the celebrated dechiration of inde- and many have so stated. Dr. Hawks and Mr. Drake 
 
 ,,,^^. 1 1 ir„ ,, think d iff erentlv. 
 
 pendence at that timj an.l place, lie soon tTIio sketch, meagre as it is, is collated from the 
 
 „f>,.i- o„liii-,.fl •,« -1 iirivfitp ii' 'I corus of cav- journals of the colonial assembly iu London, our own 
 
 aftei eniisted as a pi u ate u. a coip^ or ca\ iegislative journals, and from a recent article in the 
 
 airy, commanded by Charles Polk, and served iiiileigh Observer. 
 
176 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCEXCES. 
 
 Springs. This closed his military ca.reer. He 
 returned home and renewed hie classical 
 studies. In 1787, he graduated at Mount Zion 
 College, in Winnsboro, South Carolina. He 
 then studied theology, under the care of the 
 presbytry of South Carolina, and was licensed 
 to practice. In the tirst years his services 
 were confined to South Caroliim. In 1805, 
 he accepted a call from the Steel Creek 
 church, in Mecklenbui-g County, and here he 
 labored successfully and acceptably for many 
 years, and there he died on August 21, 1827, 
 in the peaceful hope of a glorious immortality. 
 lie left several children, one of whom, Dr. C. 
 L. Hunter, is distinguished as an author and a 
 gentleman. He lies in the church yard of 
 Steel Creek church, and on his tombstone is 
 recorded the inscription: 
 
 " Sacred to the memory of the Reverend Humphrey 
 Hunter, who departed this life August 21, 1827, in the 
 T3d year of his age. He was a native of Ireland and 
 emigrated to America at an early period of his life. He 
 was one of tliose who early promoted the cause of lib- 
 erty in Meclilenbnrg County, May 20. 1775, and subse- 
 quently bore an active part in securing the independ- 
 ence of his country. For nearly thirty -eight years he 
 labored as a faithful and assiduous embassador of 
 Clirist, strenuously urging the necessity of repentance, 
 and pointing out the terms of salvation. As a parent, 
 he was kind and affectionate; as a friend, warm and 
 sincere; as a minister, persuasive and convincing. " 
 
 On tlie heights of King's Mountain, in the 
 southern part of this county, stands a plain 
 headstone bearing these words: 
 
 " Sacred to the memory of Maior William Chronicle 
 Captain WilIiHui Mattocks, William Raljb, and John 
 Boyd, who were killed iiere figliting in defense of 
 America, on the 7tli of October, 17S0 '' 
 
 William Chronicle lived near Armstrong's 
 ford, on the south fork of the Catawba river. 
 His mother was first married to a Mr. McKee, 
 and by this marriage she had one son, the late 
 James McKee, who was a soldier of the revo- 
 I'ltion, and the ancestor of several families of 
 t!iat name in this neighborhood. After his 
 death she married Mr. Chronicle, by whom 
 she had an only son, the gallant soldier of 
 King's Mountain. The universal testimony of 
 all who knew Major Chronicle is, that he was 
 
 an intrepid soldier and an earnest advocate of 
 liberty. His fii-st appearance in the war was 
 in South Carolina in 1779, after the fall of 
 Savannah. In the fall of 1780, a call was made 
 for a regiment from Lincoln, (then Tryon 
 County,) to repel the enemy marching from the 
 south, and flushed with victory. Of this regi- 
 ment William Graham was colonel, Frederick 
 Ilambright, lieutenant-colonel, William Chron- 
 icle, major. Major Chronicle was peculiarly 
 fitted for the life of a soldier. Brave to a 
 fault, energetic in movement, and calm in 
 action. 
 
 Colonel Graham, on account of illness, was 
 not at the battle of King's Mountain, and the 
 conmiand of the regiment devolved on Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Hambright and Major Chroni- 
 cle. Onward these brave men marched with 
 their leaders, and approached within gunshot 
 of the etiemy, when a volley was fired by the 
 enemy, who then retreated. The brave 
 Chronicle fell, pierced through the heart by a 
 rifle ball. At the same time fell Captain 
 Mattocks, William Rabb, and -lohti Boyd. 
 
 This battle of King's Mountain, from its lo- 
 cation and other causes, has never had the 
 important place in history that it deserves 
 " There is no difiiculty in declaring, that if 
 Ferguson had not fallen at King's Mountain, 
 Cornwallis would not have surrendered at 
 Yorktown. It was the pivot on which the 
 revolutionary war in the south turned."* It 
 is in many respects, the most important, the 
 most glorious battle fought in tlie great con- 
 test for liberty. It was fought on our side 
 exclusively by volunteers, without the pres- 
 ence or advice of a single regular officer. It 
 was won by raw militia, never before under 
 fire, over trained troops, commanded by a vet- 
 eran officer of approved and desperate courage, 
 who had no superior in the English army. 
 
 Frederick Hambright, born 1740, died 
 1817, was also one of the gallant heroes of 
 
 *Ujnversity Magazine, February, 1858, VH., p. 245. 
 
GATES COUNTY. 
 
 177 
 
 King's Mountain. He wa3 a native of Ger- 
 many; emigrated to America in 1727, and 
 tinally settled on Long Creek, then in Tryon 
 County, where he lived when the hattio of 
 King'8 Mountain took phice. lie early em- 
 harked in the cau.so of independence; in 1777, 
 was appointed lieutenant-colonel, and was 
 throughout the war an active and fearless offi- 
 cer. At the battle of King's Mountain, 
 Colonel William Graham, who had command 
 of the Lincoln regiment, on account of sick- 
 ness in his family, was absent, and the com- 
 mand devolved upon Colonel Hambright. 
 Nobly did he sustain this perilous charge; in 
 the conflict he was severely wounded by a 
 large rifle ball passing through his thigh; but 
 tie refused to leave the field, and continued 
 encouraging his men, he led them to battle 
 and to victory. The effects of this wound 
 caused him to falter in his walk, during the 
 remainder of his life. 
 
 He was twice married, and left a large 
 family to emulate his patriotic example. He 
 died in 1817, and was buried at Shiloh, in the 
 limits of the present county of Cleaveland. 
 His tombstone bears this inscription: 
 
 " In memory of Colonel Frederick Hambright, who 
 departed this life March, 1817, in the 90th year of his 
 affe." 
 
 Robert Hall Morrison, D.D., resides at Cot- 
 tage Home, near the line between Gaston and 
 Lincoln Counties. 
 
 He was educated at the university and grad- 
 uated in 1818, in the same class with James K. 
 
 Polk, Robert Donaldson, William D. .Mosely, 
 
 Hamilton C.Jones, Hugh Waddell, and others. 
 
 He studied for the ministry, and has spent a 
 
 life long service in this iioly calling. 
 
 He has had the charge of several Presbyterian 
 
 churches in the state; has been president of the 
 
 Davidson college, and until recently the loved 
 
 and venerated pastor of Unity church, near 
 
 Beattie's Ford. It has been my privilege to 
 
 sit for many years under the teachings of this 
 
 most excellent man. I can sa}' that I never 
 
 more truly felt the influence of religious 
 
 truth and its importance, than as it fell from 
 
 his lips, as also the force of the example of one 
 
 " Whose doctrine and who.se life 
 
 Uo-incident exhibit lucid proof, 
 That he is honest in the sacred cause.'' 
 
 He is now near the close of a long and v/ell 
 spent life; possessing the esteem of all who 
 know him. 
 
 He married Mary, the third daughter of 
 General Joseph (Jrahani,* by whom he had 
 several children: 
 
 L Isabella, married to General D. H. Hill. 
 
 II. Ann, married to General T. J. Jackson 
 (Stonewall.) 
 
 III. Margaret, married to .lames $rwin. 
 IV". Eugenia, married to General Rufus Bar- 
 ringer. 
 
 V. Joseph, married to Miss Davis. 
 
 VI. Alfred. 
 
 VII. Laura, married to John E". Brown. 
 
 VIII. Robert. 
 
 IX. Susan, married to Alphonzo C. Avery. 
 
 GATES COUNTY. 
 
 William Paul Roberts is a native of this moted to a captaincy, and in a short time, al- 
 
 county, born July 11, 1841. though the junior captain, was made major; 
 
 His occupation is that of a farmer, but his war and in that same year was promoted to a col- 
 record is brilliant. Entering the army in June, onelcy. In the next year, 1865, he was comrais- 
 1861, as a non-commissioned officer in the sec- sioned brigadier, then only in his twenty- 
 ond North Carolina cavalry, he was soon pro- ""S^or whose geueaology, see Lincoln County. 
 
178 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 fourth year, the 3'onngost lirigaclier in the ser- leading a retired life. But in 1875 his 
 
 vice. His brigade was one of the best known friends and admirers elected him to the consti- 
 
 and mo.st highly appreciated in the army of tutional conventioti, and in 1876 he waselected 
 
 Northern Virginia. a member of the house. Here his services were 
 
 After the war closed, General Roberts, like so appreciated that the state democratic con- 
 
 Ciiiciniiatus, went to the plough and sought vention in 1880, without his knowledge or con- 
 
 repo.-e in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, sent, nominated him as auditor of the state. 
 
 GRANVILLE COUNTY. 
 
 John 1'knn, born 1741, died 1788, one of John Williams, who lived and died in this 
 
 the signers of the declaration of independence county, was a native of Hanover County, Vir- 
 
 of July 4tli, 177<5, lived and died in this ginia. In April, 1770, while attending court 
 
 county. Mo was born in Caroline County, at Ilillsboro, he was set on by the regulators, 
 
 Vii'ginia, the only son of Moses Penn and and severely lieaten b}- them. His early edu- 
 
 iCaroline, his wife, who was the <laughter '' of cation was neglected, as he was raised to the 
 
 •Jobn ^laylnr of Caroline," distinguished as a trade of a house carpenter. But he possessed 
 
 politician and a political writer. His father strong native sense, and was chosen one of 
 
 died whilst ho was only a youth, and his educa- the first judges, in 1777, with Samuel Spencer 
 
 tion was defective. He read law with Ed- and John Ashe as associates. He was elected a 
 
 rnuiid I'endleton, and displaj-ed much genius member of the continental congress in 1778, 
 
 and eloquence. He moved in 1774 to Granville, and died in October, 1799. 
 and the next year succeeded Ricluird Caswell The Hicks family were distinguished among 
 
 as ii (leb'gate to the continental congress at those worthy of remembrance in Granville. 
 Pbiladelpbia. which sat from 1775 to 1780. Captain Robert Hicks lived abruit a mile 
 
 He was iippointed receiver of public taxes for from Oxford, in 1770. 
 
 North Carolina by Robert Morris this posi- The family is English, and settled in Brook- 
 
 tion he soon resigned. He died September, lyn. New York, in the locality now known as 
 
 1788. Hicks street. The family was distinguished 
 
 James Williams, who fell in jjarttle at King's in England for its courage and ability, and 
 
 Mountain on October 7,17S0. was a native of one of them was knighted for his deeds of 
 
 Granville County. He moved (1773) to Laurens daring. 
 
 district, South Carolina; became active in Robert Hicks entered the revolutionary 
 the partisan warfaie in that state, and dis- army, and was in the battle of Guilford, 
 tinguished himself in the l)attle of Mu.sgrove with the North Candina militia, where these 
 Mill. After that engagement he went to I'aw and undi.sciiJined troops were placed by 
 Ilillsboro, whore he raised a troop of cavalry, General Greene in the front line, and there, 
 and returned to South Carolina. He fell at overwhelmed by the British, fled; young- 
 King's Mountain, at the same moment tliat Hicks stood his ground, and fought sinyde 
 the k>ader of the British forces was slain, and handed, until nearly surrounded, and after his 
 was liuried on the battle held.* men had gone a considerable distance, he then 
 escaped and shared, during the remainder of 
 
 *L(issing; University Magazine, VII., 24.5. the war, its dangers and its glories. 
 
GRANVILLE COUNTY. 
 
 170 
 
 He died sndfleiily of a disease of the heart, 
 and left a large family, some of whom still 
 live in Granville. 
 
 One of his sons is a prv)fessor of a medical 
 college in New Orleans, and another moved to 
 Arkansas, another, Dv. John K. Hicks, one of 
 the best and purest of men, died not long 
 since, near Williamsboro in this county. Tiie 
 old homestead is now owned bj a colored man, 
 whose wife once belonged to one of Captain 
 Hicks daughters. Iler hus!)and now owns the 
 home from which her young mistress went 
 3'ear8 ago as a bride. How stiaijge is the rev- 
 olution of time and circumstance! 
 
 Captain Benjamin Norwood, like Robert 
 Hicks, was one of the revolutionary lieroes of 
 Granville. On the approach of Cornwallis he 
 recruited a companj', and was prctent in the 
 battle of Guilford, and, like Captain Hicks, 
 behaved with great personal gallantry. He 
 fought for some time after his men had 
 ingloriously fled. The conduct of these two 
 patriots should condone the conduct of their 
 men, who unused to the pom(), jiride and cir- 
 cumstance of war, utterly undisciiilined, were 
 opposed from tlie first to regular veterans. 
 Captain Norwood did good service in the war, 
 and died lamented and loved. He had two 
 brothers who lived in other portions of the 
 state. One in Lenoir, Caldwell County, and 
 the other in Orange. His wife was a sister of 
 Governor Aiken, of South Carolina, and Mrs. 
 Cicero W. Harris, of Wilmington, is one of his 
 descendants. 
 
 Roljert P.urton, born 1747, died 182.5, lived 
 and died in this county. He was born in 
 Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and moved 
 to Granville about 1775; here he was appointed 
 an officer in the army. He was a member of 
 the Ciuitinental Congress, 1787, and one of the 
 commissioners to run the line between North 
 Carolina and South Carolina in 1801, and 
 Georgia. 
 
 He was distinguished as a successful fanner. 
 
 He married the only daughter of Judge 
 Williams, and died in 1825, leaving nine chil- 
 dren surviving, among whom wtjretho Unrtons 
 of Lincoln, (Hon. Robert H. Burton and A. 
 M. Burton.) 
 
 The Henderson family, has been long 
 favorably known in North (larolina as one of 
 distinguished ability. Its name has been in- 
 scribed on a count}', on a town, and on a 
 village; the talents of its members have besn 
 displayed at the liar, in the pulpit, on the 
 bench, and in the halls of congress. The 
 progenitor of this family in North Carolina was 
 Richard Henderson^ who came from Hau- 
 over county, Virginia, about lT<7^f1xnd settled 
 in this county. 
 
 I found in the Roll's oiiico, London, among 
 the records of the Board of Trade, these en- 
 tries- 
 
 "1769, March 1st. At a meeting of the 
 Council ; present, Go\ernor Tryon, John Ruth- 
 erford, Benjamin Heron, Lewis Do Rosett 
 and Samuel Strudv/ick. 
 
 "Richard Henderson, Esq., was appointed 
 Associate Judge, &c., as also Maurice Moore, 
 Esq." * » » \iy Henderson, Governor 
 'L'rN'on reports, "is a gentleman of candor and 
 ability, born in Virginia, and lives in Hills- 
 boro, where he is highly esteemed. The Gov- 
 ernor stated that ho wished to have hppointed 
 to these two places, Mr. Edmund Fanning 
 and Mr. Marmadnke Jones, but thev de- 
 clined ." 
 
 I found among the papers of the Board of 
 Trade, on file in the Rolls Office, London, a 
 letter from Judge Henderson to Governor 
 Tryon, dated September 24th, 1770, at Hi lls- 
 boro, stating, "on that day, Herman Husbands, 
 James Huv.ter, William Butler, Ninian Bell 
 Hamilton, Jeremiah Fields, .Matthew Hamil- 
 ton, Eli Branson, Peter Craven, John Fruit, 
 Abraham Teague, and Samuel Parks, armed 
 with cudgels and cowskin whips, brokeup the 
 court and attempt'ed to strike the judge, ( Hen- 
 der.-ion,) and made him leave the bench. They 
 assaulted and beat John. Williams severely, 
 
180 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 and also Edmund Faiinintj, nntil he retreated 
 into the store of Messrs. Johnstone and Thack- 
 ston; they demolished Fanning's house. Not 
 only were these beaten, imt Thomas Hart, 
 JoliM Luttrel, (clerk of the crown.) and many 
 otliers. were severely whijiped." 
 
 Another entry, Januar}^ 2.5th, 1771, ordered 
 that Richard Henderson, who appeared as 
 prosecutor of the several charges against 
 Thomas Person, should pay all costs. 
 
 Another record: "Proclamation of Governor 
 .Martin, dated Pebruaiy 10th, 1775, issued as 
 govei'nor and as agent and attorney of Lord 
 Granville, forbidding Richard Henderson 
 from purchasing or holding anN' lands from the 
 Cherokee Indians." 
 
 Extracted from Governor Martin's dispatch: 
 " I enclose a copy of Lord Dunmore's procla- 
 mation, also Richard Heiider.son's plan of set- 
 tlement of a largo tract of hnid on the waters 
 of the Kentucky, the Cumberland, the Ohio, 
 and the Tennessee." 
 
 These extracts prove the entei-jirise and 
 character of Judge Hender.son, under the royal 
 rule. After independence had been declared, 
 and the state government organized and es- 
 tablished in North Carolina, he was elected 
 one of tliree judges of the coui't, which he de- 
 clined to accept, or resigned in a few months. 
 The chief reason tiiat caused this, was that 
 Judge Henderson was at that time the chief 
 manager of the " Transylvania Land Com- 
 pany." He and hia associates had bought, for 
 a fair considei'ation, of the Cherokee Indians, 
 who had offered their lands for sale, a rich 
 tiact of country, in which was embraced a 
 considerable jioi-tion of Kentucky and Tennes- 
 see. The treaty by which this purchase was 
 made was concluded in 1775, on the Watauga 
 river, at which Daniel Boone was present. 
 The states of Virginia and North Carolina de- 
 clared this void. 
 
 His tissocinles in this transactions were John 
 Willi:uns, Leonard Ilenly lUillock, of Gran- 
 
 ville, William Johnston, James Hogg, Thomas 
 Hart, of Orange. 
 
 The company took possession of these lands 
 on April 20th, 1775. 
 
 The Governor of North Carolina, (Martin,) 
 by proclamation, declared this purchase ille- 
 gal; the state of Virginia did the same, and 
 the state of Tennessee claimed these lands; 
 but the states of North Carolina and Virginia 
 each subsequently granted to the company 
 200,000 acres as remuneration. 
 
 In 1779, Judge Henderson was appointed 
 with Oroondates Davis, John Williams, of Cas- 
 well, James Kerr, and William Baily Smith, 
 to run the line between Virginia and North 
 Carolina into Powell's Valley. 
 
 The same year he opened a land office at 
 the French Lick, (now Nashville,) for the sale 
 of the company's lands. 
 
 Judge Henderson had several brother^, the 
 youngest of whom was Major Pleasant Hen- 
 derson. He was born in" 1750, and served in 
 the war of the revolution. In 1789, he suc- 
 ceeded John Haywood, as clerk of the House 
 of Commons, which position he held for forty 
 years, continuously. He married. (1780,) a 
 daughter of Colonel James Martin, of Stokes 
 County, and settled at Chapel Hill, where he 
 resided for man}' years, and reared a large 
 family. He moved in 18-31 to Tennessee, 
 where he died in 1842, in the 85th year of his 
 age, leaving Dr. Pleasant Henderson, of Salis- 
 bury, born 1802; Dr. Alexander Martin Hen- 
 derson, born 1807; Mr.s. Hamilton C. Jones, 
 of Rowan County. . 
 
 Judge Henderson married Elizabeth Keel- 
 ing, a step-daughter of Judge; Williams, and 
 had six children. 
 
 I. Fannjf, born 1764; married to -ludge 
 Spruce McCay, of Salisbury. 
 
 II. Richard, born July, 176(:!. 
 
 III. Archibald, born 17tJ8. 
 
 IV. P]lizabetli, bora 1770; married William 
 Lee Alexander. 
 
GRAX\'1LLK COUXTY. 181 
 
 V. Leonard, born 1778. lii« element. It wn^^ in the profession of the 
 
 VI. Jolm Lau'sou, born 177Cl. " biw tliat lie attained liis niateidess reputation, 
 Judge liiehiird Henderson ' returned home and was pronounced In- one qualified tojudge:* 
 
 from Tennessee in 1780, and surrounded by '• Tiie most perfect model of a lawyer the bar 
 
 peace and plenty, esteemed and loved by all of Xorth Carolina has ever produced." 
 
 who knew him, he departed this life on Jaun- "lie contributed," says Judge Murphey, 
 
 ary 30. 1785. " more to give dignity to the profession than 
 
 His .laughters, intelligent and accomplished, any lawyer since the days of General Davie, 
 
 married men of ability and high reputation, and Alfred Moore." 
 
 Each of his sons studied the profession of the Ho looked, as did Hooker, " with reverence 
 
 law, in which their father was distinguislied, on the scienc(! of the law," for with him, he 
 
 and they did his name no dishonor. thought, that " her voice was the harmony of 
 
 Richard Henderson, first sou of Richard, was the world and her seat the bosom of God." By 
 
 hiii-hly educated, graduated at university in the teachings of the law, men are taught the 
 
 1804, read law, and gave every promise of dis- great less(uis of obedience to rules and rever- 
 
 tinction; but he died at an early age. enee for their administration. No one under- 
 
 Archibald Henderson, b.)rn 17(38, died 1822, stood this better than did Ai'chibald Ilcuder- 
 
 the second sou of Richard and Elizabeth son, and in his practice no one more studiously 
 
 Keeling, lived and died in SalisbiiiT; and was observed it. Mr. Henderson has often said 
 
 the acknowledged head of the profession in that ho knew " but few men fitted for the 
 
 Western X'orth Carolina. He was eilucated bench. He had known many good lawyers, but 
 
 at the schools and a'cademies of the county, few good judges." The qualifications requisite 
 
 for his name does not appear among the gradu- for a good judge, are rarely combined. Many 
 
 ates of the university. He studied law with esteem legal learning, the first qualification, 
 
 his relative, Judge Williams, and settled in Mr. Henderson thought xtroiiff roiDinon sense, 
 
 t^alishury. He was a member of the House of tlic first (pialification; an intimate knowledge 
 
 Commons from Salisbury,iu 1807 to 1809,1814, of men, particularly of the middle or lower 
 
 181.5,1819; 1820, and a member of congress classes, their pa.ssions and prejudices, modes of 
 
 from 1799 to 1803. These were exciting thoughts, was the .swr»?d; good moral character, 
 
 limes in congress. Our limits do not allow us subdued feelings, without prejudice or par- 
 
 to detail the exciting questions of that day, tiality, was the /A/zc^; independence and energy 
 
 b;it .'lie may be alluded to. For the first time of will the fourt/i, and legal learning the last." 
 
 in ..ur history the election of president de- Lord Mansfield gave this advice to a brave 
 
 volv,;d on the bouse of representatives, and old admiral, who, for his gallantry and services, 
 
 the foundations of our republic were severely h-xd been appointed a judge by the crown, to 
 
 tested. Mr. Henderson, with William Baiay some distant point, and at once went to hiin, 
 
 Grove, Joseph Dickson, William H. Hill, to procure some law books to qualify himself, 
 
 voted for Aaion Burr, whilst Willis Alston, " You do not need any such aid," said Lord 
 
 Xathaniel Macon, Richard Stanford, Uichard Mansfield. "Go t.^ your post; hear both 
 
 Doid)« tSpaigbt, David Stone, and Robert Wil- si(los patiently, and then decide with energy 
 
 liams, supported Thomas Jefferson. .Mr. Heu- :"id firmness, according to your own views; but 
 
 derson was a decided federalist, and was able .i.'ive few or no reasons for your opinion." 
 
 and eloquent But, although be shone as "a It has been said tliat one of the best at- 
 
 bright, peculiar star" in politics, this was not *Judge A. D. Murphey. 
 
182 WHEELER'S KEMLNISCENCES. 
 
 torney -generals the state ever hud, never the circuit courts, was estahlished to be hekl 
 
 opened a law liook until lie had l>eeu appointed, by the same judges twice a ye.ir, at Rnieigh, 
 
 By his marriage with Sarah, daughter of Wil- in the intervals of the ridings ol' the superior 
 
 Ham Alexander, and the sister of Governor courts, tliis was called the court of confer- 
 
 Nathauial Alexander, Mr. Henderson had euce. Two vacancies occurred, occasioned by 
 
 Archibald and iMrs. Boyden, the relict of the death of Judge McCay and the elevation 
 
 Honorable Nathaniel Boyden; he died October of Judge Stone to the office of governor; to 
 
 21, 1822, and in the Lutheran church yard, in one of those Mr. Hender.son was elected. He 
 
 Salisbury, an appropriate monument marks his discharged the duties of judge in a maimer 
 
 grave, erected by the members of the bar. highly creditable to himself and satisfactory 
 
 Leonard Henderson, born 1772, died August to the public for eight years, then he resigned, 
 
 12, 1883. was the third sou of Richard and doubtless because of the laborious duties and 
 
 Elizabeth Keely; he was not the least talented, meagre compensation received, onl)' i?l,(jOO a 
 
 and in many respects the most distinguished, year was [laid. 
 
 even more than his able brother, of whom In 1810, the legislature, ap[ireciatingtlie evils 
 we have just written. He was born Octo- of this judicial system, and the inadequate 
 her 6, 1772, on ISIutbush Creek, in Granville compensaticui to the judges, organized the pre- 
 Couutv. He lost his father when a youth, sent supreme court, with its pi'esent powers 
 and his mother survived her husband only and more liberal salaries. On December 12, 
 live years. It is stated, as au evidence of the 1818, John Hall, Leonard Henderson and John 
 simplicity and frugality, as well as of the in- Louis Taylor were elected to this l)ench. 
 dustry, of the matrons of tliat day, that his These were the right men in the light place, 
 mother taught her sons, as well as her daught- It was peculiarly the sphere in which Judge 
 ers, to card and spin. Henderson was destined to achieve his great 
 The early education of Judge Leonard Hen- reputation. He possessed unquestionably 
 derson was obtaiiied in the country schools, genius of the highest order; above all he had 
 He read the Latin and Greek classics under au honest as well as a strong mind. His 
 the Reverend Mr. Fatillo, a Presbyterian knowledge of the great principles of jurispru- 
 clergyman, who married a sister of Robert deneo was deep and clear, in all his ()[jinions 
 Goodloe Harper, and with this limited stock of a search for the truth seemed t<j be the pre- 
 learning, which was as much as his finances dominant idea. He was impatient when he 
 would allow, he commenced the study of the found himself opposed by precedents, which 
 law with liis relative, Judge John Williams, to his mind were not supported by principle, 
 whose sister his paternal grandfather had His maxim was " bivcirlnn out fcici-nit liam," 
 married. After his admission to the bar he held, that is, if he could not find a straiglit, clear 
 for several years, tlie pla(-e of clerk of the dis- path, leading to truth, he would ni, ike one. 
 trict court at Hillshoro, a position of much •' This,'' sa^s Judge Battle, who was his jjupil 
 dignity and emolument. At this time, the and friend, and from whose admirabJe mem- 
 state was divided into few districts, and in oir, I extract these memoranda, " was the only 
 each district court was held twice a year. In fault he had as a judge." He had for years a 
 1806, this system was abolislied, and a su- law school where many listened with pleasure 
 perior court was held in each county twice a and profit to his lucid and learned teachings. In 
 year; these were divided into six circuits. A early life his mind had been tincturoil with 
 court of appellate jurisdiction, distinct from infi(_lelity, but a short time before iiis death 
 
GRANVILLE COUNTY. 
 
 ]88 
 
 lie professed a belief in Jesus, as the saviour of 
 sinners. Uo died at his residence near Wil- 
 liamsboro, in Auajust 13, 1833. A widow, iiec 
 Farrar, a niece of Jnilij^c Wiillianis, and five 
 chikh\ii survived him. 
 
 I. Archil)ahl Krskine, (since dead,) married 
 Anne, daughter of Richard Bullock. 
 
 II. Dr. "William Farrar Henderson, married 
 Agnes Hare, of Wiliiamsboro. 
 
 III. John Henderson, died unniarrit'd. 
 
 IV. Fanny, luarriod Dr. William V. Tayh)r, 
 who lived in Memphis. 
 
 V. Lury, married Dr Kicliard Sneed. 
 Jolin Lawson Henderson, son of Riciiard 
 
 and Elizabeth, born 1778, died about 184-1, 
 was the youngest son, and if equally gifted as 
 his distinguished brothers, acquired le-<s fame 
 as a lawyer and statesman, although more 
 liberally educated. He graduated at the uni- 
 versity in 18G0, in the same class with Wil- 
 liam Cherry, senator from Bertie. He studied 
 law, but from his retiring temper, modest 
 demeanor and indolent disi'osition, he did not 
 succeed in tiie practice. He was blessed with 
 a clear, dis(riminating mind, high and gene- 
 rous impulses. 
 
 He represented Salisbmy in the House of 
 Commons, 1815,-'16,-'23, and '24. 
 
 In 1827, he was elected the comptroller of 
 the state, and subsequently, the clerk of the 
 supreme oui't, in which office he died, at Ra- 
 leigh, 1844. He was never married. 
 
 Rol)ert Ballard Gilliam, born 1805, died Oc- 
 tober 17, 1870, was l)orn, lived and died in 
 Granville County. 
 
 He v,-as the sou of Leslie Gilliam, who was 
 a wortliy and respectable citizen, and for a long 
 tinic tlie sheriff of this county. 
 
 He was liiierally educated, and gi-aduated 
 at tlie university in 1823, in the same class 
 viith Daniel W. Courts, George F. Da.vi(lson, 
 Isaac Hall, Richmond M. Pearson, Alfred M 
 Scales, and others. He read law, and com- 
 menced the practice at a bar composed of gen- 
 
 tlemen of great power and eloquence. Among 
 these were the late Chief Justices RufKn and 
 Xasli, Governor Iredell, Geoi'ge E. Ihulger, 
 Willie P. Manguni, Samuel Hillman, William 
 ii. Haywood, Hugh Waddell, and others. In 
 this galax}- of talent and learning, Mr. (.iilliam 
 shone conspicuous. 
 
 He was a member of the convention in 1835, 
 the most distinguished body of statesmen ever 
 assemiiled in the state. 
 
 lie was a member of the commons in 183G,- 
 '38 and '40, and again in 1846,-'48 and 1862, 
 was elected speaker of the house. In 1863, he 
 was elevated to the bench, where he remaine<l 
 till the close of the late war between the 
 states. Upon the restoration of the Federal 
 authority, be was again i)laeed on the bench, 
 where he remained until 1808. 
 
 A few months before his death, lie was 
 elected a memljer of congress, (October 17, 
 1870,) but before he took liis seat he died. As a 
 statesman , he was a pure and pati'iotic ; as a law- 
 ycv, he was learned and able, and his ability 
 was only equalled bj^ the kindly qualities of 
 his heart. Such were the conspicuous traits 
 of his character, which endeared him to all who 
 knew him. He was twice married, first to 
 Miss Noble, of Virginia, and second to Miss 
 Kittrell, hut left no issue. 
 
 Abram Watkins Venable, born 1799, died 
 1876, w'as the son of Samuel Venable, and the 
 nephew and name sake of Abram B. Venable, 
 who was a mend»er of congress from Virginia, 
 1791 to 1799, and United States senator 1803 
 and 1804; was detailed by the Jelfersonian 
 party, on account of his financial abilities, to 
 be the president of the Bank of Virginia. He 
 perished in the burning of the Kiclunond 
 Theatre, December 2iith, 1811. 
 
 A. W. ^'enable was born in Prince Ed- 
 ward County, Virginia, October 17tb, 1799. 
 His niotlier was a daughter of Judge Carring- 
 ton. Educated at Hampden Sydney College, 
 where he graduated in 1816, he studied medi- 
 
184 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 cine for two years, and then went to Princeton, failed to pass. Such had been the course of the 
 
 where he.sjraduated in 1819. He then studied banks that great prejudice existed against them 
 
 hiw, and was admitted to the bar in 1821. amongst the people. Mr. Potter was elected to 
 
 He settled in Oxford, and in 1832 was elee- the Twentieth Congre.ss the next year, and re- 
 tor on the Jackson ticket, and again in 183G elected to the Twenty-second Congress. But 
 on the VanP)Uren ticket, with Nathaniel Ma- this brilliant career was brought to an ignom- 
 con and others. This was the last public act inous close by Potter himself. He committed 
 of Macon's long and eventful career in politics, a brutal nia3-hem upon two of his wife'-s rela- 
 
 Mr. Venable was elected, in 1847, a member tions, for which he was fined and imprisoned, 
 
 of congress, over Judge Kerr; and again in He then went to Texas and there was killed 
 
 1849, elected over Henry K. Nash, and re- in a private brawl, 
 
 elected in April, 1851. Memu.-an Hunt was born in this county. 
 
 He was again a candidate for congress in He served in the provincial congress at New 
 
 18.53, but from some dis.satisfaction of his party Berne, August 25, 1774, and at Halifax, April 
 
 as to Cuba and other questions, another demo- 4, 1776, and November 12, of that year. He 
 
 crat (Lewis,) was put in nomination, and Hon- was treasurer of North Carolina from 1777 
 
 oi-able Sion H. Rogers was elected. 
 
 to 1787, senator in the legislature in 1788, 
 
 During the civil war, Mr. Venable was a and was a man of distinction and much useful- 
 member of the confederate congress; when ness. 
 
 this clo.sed he retired from public life. His William Hunt, bis son, a distinguisliL-d otli- 
 
 health had tor some time failed, and he died ccr in the revolution, was ajipointed major in 
 
 at Oxford, February 24th, 187(J, leaving a son, Colonel Philip Taylor's regiment of state 
 
 Major Thomas B. Venable, antl other children, troops. He was the father of xMemucan Hunt, 
 
 to inherit his fame and virtues. who was sent by the Republic of Texas as 
 
 Robert Potter was a resident of Granville Euvoy to Washington city, 
 
 (.bounty. In early life he was a midshipman There are many other names connected with 
 
 in the navy, from which he resigned; studied Granville worthy of memory and record, as 
 
 law and entered the legislature in 1826, as a Amis, Bullock, Eatons. Hargrave, Hillman, 
 
 member from Halifax, and in 1828 he was elec- Hunt, Littles, Littlejolm, Pulliam, Robards, 
 
 ted from Granville. His course in the legisla- Sueed, Taylor, Wyclie, Yancey, and othei-s; but 
 
 ture was marked by a violent and vindictive want of sufficient material to form a sketch, 
 
 assault on the banks of the state, which he and the limits of our work, compel us to leave 
 
 pursued with such adroitness, that his bill to this pleasing task to some son of Granville, 
 
 to raise a committee to prosecute the banks was who will gather up the rich memorials of 
 
 carried by one vote, but the speaker, Thomas this grand old county, and present her sons in 
 
 Settle, sr., voting with the minority, the bill their true light to the admiration of posterity. 
 
GREEXE AND GUILFORD COUisTIES. 185 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 GREENE COUNTY. 
 
 Genkhal .Jesse Si'icuiHT, Imrii Septeinher 22, Congress; then lie dcelinoil ;i ro-oleetioii, and 
 1795. (lieil 1847, was a native of Greene removed to f\)luinl)ns, Mississippi. 
 County. He was the son of Rev. Scth Speight, ?Ie here entered again thepoiitieal arena, with 
 a Methodist preacher. Ills education was not brilliant success. He was sent to the legisla- 
 thorough, iiut his career in all the vicissitudes ture, elected speaker, and in 184-1 was made 
 of public life, proves that books are not al(Mie senator in congress, which post he occupied at 
 indispensible for success. lie possessed great the time of his death: this occurred at Col- 
 shrewdness of character, ambition, and un- umbus. May 1, 1847. 
 
 tiring perseverance, united to a warm and Witliout any extraoi-dinary endowments of 
 
 generous heart, to these iiualitirs were added niind,(-r advantages of liberal education, his 
 
 a commanding and comely person, (he was brilliant success was due to his simple- 
 
 the tallest man I ever saw.) He entered the hearted honesty, his energy of character,und his 
 
 House of Commons when in the prime of life, devotion to tlie pi-inciples of the constitution, 
 
 (the twenty-seventh j'ear of his age,) the next Joseph Dixon Wiis born in Greene County 
 
 year, 1823. lie was elected senator in thelegis- April 29, 1828, and re[U'esentcd the con.-.ty in 
 
 lature, of whicli he was speaker in 1828, and in the legislature in 181)8. On the death uf David 
 
 this he continued until 18:^9, when he was Hcaton, ( who died June 25, 1870.) Mr. Dixon 
 
 elected a mend)er of the Twenty-first Congress, was elected to serve tiie unex[iired term in 
 
 1837, ami served until the Twent^'-fourth the Forty-first Congress, 18C9,-'71. 
 
 GUILFORD COUNTY. 
 
 In this county one of the most important -n'estern Carolina. These were met at the 
 
 battles of the revolution was foaglit, March King's Mountain, October 7, 1780, and de- 
 
 15, 1780. important in its consequences, for it feated, then came the glorious victory of the 
 
 foruied a link in the chain of events that led Cowpens, of Morgan over Tarieton, with the 
 
 to the final independence of our country. fiower of the British army, (January 17, 1781,) 
 
 At this time the English authority was these, with the battle of Guilford, in March, 
 
 supreme in the south. Georgia was in their all presaged the final defeat and surrender of 
 
 undisputed power, Charleston had surrendered, Cornwallis at Yorktown, October 19, 1781. 
 
 Gates had been defeated at Camden, (1780) This triad of victories scaled the fate of the 
 
 and Lord Cornwallis advanced in "all the ro^-al power of England in America, for had 
 
 pride, ]>nnip and circumstance of glorious war," cithei' terminated diflerently, different, [icr- 
 
 and had taken position at Charlotte; here he haps, iiad been the fate of our counti'y's liberty, 
 
 held his lieadquarters. He had dispatched an An official reptnt nf the battle of Guilford, 
 
 experienced and approved officer with a strong b}' Lord Cornwallis, and also by General 
 
 force to intimidate and subdue the people of Greene, have been published, and will repay a 
 
18(3 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 cnret'ui [lernsnl,* they ai'c too long to be re- 
 publii-lied ln're; imt it may be well to present 
 some sketches of the lives and services of 
 those who tigiirod su [iroiuinently on that 
 occasion. 
 
 From an authentic work we extract the fol- 
 lowing:! 
 
 "Earl Cornwallis, (viscount Bronie) was 
 born ill Governor Square, London, December 
 31, 1738, and died October 5, 1805. 
 
 '• He was educated at Eton. While at col- 
 lege playing at hockey, he received a blow 
 which produced a slight I'Ut permanent obli- 
 quity of vision. The boy who accidently 
 cau.sed this was Shute Barrington, afterwards 
 Bishop of Durham. Ai'ter finishing his edu- 
 cation ho chose the army as his profession. 
 His first conmiission as Ensign in the Foot 
 Guards, is dated December 8th, 1756. His 
 first lesson in war was as aid to the Marquis of 
 Grandhy, in the contest between England and 
 France in 1761. He had been elected a mem- 
 ber of jiarlianient i'rom Eye, and upon the 
 death of bis father tlie following year, took 
 his seat in the House of Lords. When in par- 
 liament he was strongly opposed to the scheme 
 of taxing Aujcrica, hut when the war came, as 
 an officer of the arm^', he accejited active em- 
 [iloyment against the colonists. In February 
 lOtli, 1771). he emiiarked for America in com- 
 mand <if a division." 
 
 To all human sagacity this vrar at first would 
 aii[)c:ir t(_) prove but a holiday excursion, con- 
 sidering the paucity of the forces engaged. 
 Lord Ooinwallis gives the following as the 
 force of the two armies: 
 
 British. Americans. 
 
 August, 1776. . . -24.000, 16,000, 
 
 November, 1776 . 26,900, 4,500, 
 
 December, 1776 . 27,700, 3,300. ;[ 
 
 He was at the liattle of Brandywine, in 
 1777, where he disiilaycd mucli coolness and 
 
 *AVhee]er's History of Korth Carolina, II., 175. 
 
 ICoiresiioiuleiice of diaries first, marquis of Corn- 
 wallis. by C. Hoss in tliree vohuiies, London, 1859. 
 All accurate likeness of Lord Coniwallis, in my posses- 
 sion, sliows tliis defect. I have heard old men say, 
 who had liiunvn Lord Cornwallis, 'tliatbe was blind 
 in one eye." 
 
 ICornwallift" (.'orrespondeiice, I.. 29. 
 
 bravery, and was then sent south, and there 
 defeated General Gates at Camden, August 
 15, 1780. 
 
 The battle of Guilford was his last general 
 engagement, for he was compelled by Wash- 
 ington, to surrender at Vorktown, October 
 19th, 1781. 
 
 He returned to England, and his mischances 
 in America did not seem to lessen his reputa- 
 tion, for lie was appointed Governor of the 
 Tower, and in 1786, he was 3ent to the East 
 Indies as Governor and ascommauder-iu-chief. 
 Here he was distinguished for liis gallantry in 
 the war against the Sultan of Mysore, and on 
 his return to England, in conse |uenee of liis 
 faithful and honorable services, he was made a 
 privy counsellor, created a marquis, apipointed 
 master-general of ordnance, and sent as lord 
 lieutenant to Ireland. He was made min- 
 ister plenipotentiary to France, and as such 
 signed the treaty of Amiens. In 1804, he 
 succeeded the Marquis of Wellesly as Gov- 
 ernor General of India; in this situation he 
 died, to Ghazepoore, October 5th, 1805. 
 
 Colonel Banastre Tarletou, born 1754, died 
 1833, accompanied Lord C^ornwallis in his 
 campaign in the south, and commanded the 
 twenty -first regiment of dragi.iins. 
 
 He was born in Liverpool, August 21, 1754. 
 Studied law, but on tlio revolt of the colonist 
 of America, joined the army. He was dis- 
 tinguished for his daring, intrepidity, indomi- 
 talde energy, and sanguinary disposition. The 
 ardor of his temjier received a severe check 
 at the Cowpens, from (leneral ?>Inrgaii. lie 
 surrendered at Yorktown, and released on 
 pai'ole he returned to England. He married, 
 1798, Priscilla, the natui'al daughter of the 
 Duke of Ancaster, but he lived for some time 
 with Pei'dita, (Mrs. Robinsoii,) the former mis- 
 tress of the Prince of Wales; from whom he 
 received considerable sums of money. 
 
 He was a member of parliament from Li\er- 
 pool, from 1790 to 1806, and from 1807 to 
 
GUILFORD COUNTY. 
 
 187 
 
 ^^ 
 
 1812. lie was iiot'Tions tor liis criticisms on 
 military matters. In one of liis works sev- 
 erely lilamed L<ir(l Oornwallis for the fail- 
 ure of the British arms in America, and he 
 assumed to criticise the military character of 
 the Dnke of Wellington. 
 
 lie (lied January 25, 1833, without i.ssue.* 
 
 On the iicld of (;iiilfon!,fell Colonel Wilson 
 Wehster, one of tlio most gallant and efHcient 
 officers in the Bi'itish army, lie came to 
 America with Lord Cornwallis, and was very 
 active in the operations in New Jerse_y in 1777. 
 In 1779, he commanded at Verplanek's Point, 
 and resisted succes.sfully the attack of General 
 Kohert Howe. He cfimmanded the right wing 
 of the Bi'itish army at the battle of Camden, 
 South Carolina. 
 
 lie was severely wounded at tlie liattlc of 
 Guilford, and died a few days afterward, at 
 Elizabeth town, in Bladen County, where he 
 was buried. His remains, a few years ago, 
 were disinterred; of this event an interesting 
 account was given at the time, from the gifted 
 pen of Mrs. Hugh Waddell. 
 
 His father was an eminent physician of 
 Edinboro, Scotland. The following letter to 
 his father, from Cornwallis, does justice to his 
 merits, and credit to head as well as the heart 
 of the writer: 
 
 "' WiLMiN(iTON, North Cakolina, 
 " April 23d, 1781. 
 " Mv Dear Sir: 
 
 •'It gives me great concern to undertake a 
 task, which is not oidy a bitter renewal of my 
 grief, but must be a violent shock to an afi'ec- 
 tionate parent. 
 
 " You have for your support the assistance 
 of religion, good sense, and an e.xperience of 
 the uncertainty' of all human happiness. You 
 have for your sat isfi'.ction that your son died 
 nobly for the defense of his country, lionored 
 and lanirnted by his fellow soldiers, that he 
 led a Hie of honor and virtue, which must 
 secure him everlasting happiness. 
 
 * Cornwallis' Correspondence. 54 I have a ijerfect 
 A gem of art iu a full length portrait of this ollJcer, by 
 C-'' Sir J3lh« iieynolds, copied by Sully from the original 
 in London. 
 
 " When the keen sensibilities of the p:is-;ions 
 begin a little to subside, these eon.-iiderations 
 will give you real comfort. 
 
 " That the Almighty may givcyou fortitude 
 to bear this severest of trials, is the earnest 
 wish of 3'our companion in affliction, and your 
 faithful servant, 
 
 " Cornwallis." 
 
 David Caldwell, D. D., born 172.'). died 1824, 
 was so pati'iotic and so distinguished "in his 
 day and generation," that he richly deserves 
 our remembrance and gratitude. 
 
 He was a native of Pennsylvania; I)orn in 
 Lancaster County, March 22,1725. 
 
 His early education was neglecti.'d, his father 
 having apprenticed hiin to learn the trade of 
 a iiouse carpenter, and this he folliwed for 
 four 3'ears after his term of apprenticeship hail 
 e.xiiired. He was moral, studious, and early 
 liecame a member of the Presbyterian church. 
 He resolved to becomea minister of tlie gospel, 
 and after being prepared for college, he entered 
 Princeton, where ho gi'aduated iu 17<n. He 
 was sent by the Presbytery of Pliiladel[ihia, in 
 17G5, to North Carolina as a missiunary; which 
 was to be tlie ti(;ld of his labiu's and usefulness; 
 he settled in this county. He was a sincere 
 patriot and so decided in the cause of bis 
 adopted home, that he was severely peisccuted 
 iiy the tories and the British in 1781. They 
 ravaged his farm and burned his hnusos. 
 
 He studied medicine and combined the two 
 characters of the divine and the physician. In 
 the unhappy times of the Regulation troubles, 
 he did all in his power to alleviate the op- 
 pressions imposed on this impoverished people 
 by the hands of cruelty and extortion. Pie 
 was a member of the provincial congress at 
 Halifax, which foi-ined the state c(nistitntion, 
 and of the convention at Hillsboro, called to 
 consider the Constitution of the United States, 
 July 21, 1788. These were the only offices he 
 ever held of a political nature. For years he 
 conduc'ted at his house a classical school, at 
 which some of the tirst men of this a"e were 
 
188 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 educated. Judge Murpliey, Judge McCiij', 
 (jovcniiir M()[-oliL'ail, and otliers, received tVom 
 tliift excel lent teachei' their eai'lv education. 
 
 lie married in ITC'i, Rachel, the third 
 daughtoi' of Rev. Alexander fraiiiiiead, of 
 Mecklenhiii'g' Count}-. After a long life of 
 usefulness and honoi',he died August 25,1824. 
 
 Ale.\aiuler Martin, died in 1807, who for a 
 loug time resideil in this county, was born in 
 New .Jeisey. lie was liberally educated. His 
 In'other, C<Jonel Jaujes Martin, who resided in 
 Stokes, \va.-! a colonel in the revolution, and 
 the father of tlie late .Tudge .lames Martin of 
 Salisbury, \vlio mo\ed to Alabama and thei'e 
 die(b Another brother, 'riiomas, was an Epis- 
 copal uiinister, a graduate of rrinceton, and 
 taught school in Virginia. Another brother, 
 Sauuicl, was a captain in the revohitionary 
 v.'ar, and was at the battle of Eataw. He 
 mai'ried in Charlotte, where he died. 
 
 Alexandei', the subject of this sketch, moved 
 to \'irginia, and ihence to Guilford County; 
 in 1772, he was its re[iresentai.ive in the col- 
 onial assembly. 
 
 lie was a member of the tirst provincial 
 congress that mot at New Berne, 1774, in 
 opposition to tiie royal government, and again 
 in 1775. Tie' provincial congress that met at 
 Ilaiifa-x, (Apiil 4, 1776) ap^iointed him col- 
 onel of the second regiiiient in the conti- 
 nental ser^'ice. with .lobn I'atton as lieutenant- 
 ciilonel. lie juinrd the grand army of the 
 north, under General Washington. He was 
 at the battles of Brandywine, Septendier 11, 
 1777, and at Gern}anio\\n, (.>ctober 4, 1777, 
 where his brigade commander, Nasli, was 
 killed.* 
 
 *Tlie following is extracted fniui tlie University Mag- 
 azii.e, V , ofiS: 
 
 ■' Ovu' b; igade from Noilli C'yri'Iiua was inspected; 
 the H'xen regiments, wliicl; had been two years in ser- 
 V ce. were a.-certiJr.ed to be too small for their comple- 
 ment of officers, the brigade was reduced to three regi- 
 ments, t e surplus ollb ers were discliar-cd and sent 
 home. The first regiment was coiiniianded by j.homas 
 Clarke, of Hanover to which the (ith was attached; the 
 second wns commanded l.iy Colonel i'atton, to whicli 
 the -Ithreginunt whs attached; the tliii'd rigiment was 
 
 This battle terminated his military career. 
 Degraded by the court martial, he returned 
 home, and the magazine, from which we have 
 quoted, adds that " these officers who wero 
 dismissed proved very useful. On their re- 
 turn they found the state in great confusion; 
 tories were very abundant; robberies and 
 murders frequent. These oflicei-s used their 
 influence and experience in quelling and tak- 
 ing these tories lu-isoners and hanging many 
 of them; thus proving themselves in their own 
 state more useful than they could ba\-e been 
 to the country Ijad they been retained in the 
 army." 
 
 This sentence of the coui't martial did not 
 affect, as it is siiown by subsequent events, the 
 character, usefulness or popularity of Colonel 
 Martin, for, in 1779, lie was elected senator 
 from Guilford, and re-elected in 178b.-'81,-'82, 
 1787, -'88, and was chosen speaker of the sen- 
 ate during all these years. 
 
 On the capture of Governor Burke, 1781, by 
 the tories, under David Fanning, at Hills- 
 boro. then the seat of government, a? speaker 
 of the senate, he became cx-offido governor 
 of the state, and exercised the functions of 
 that offi<'e. 
 
 In 1782, and aga.in in 1789, he was elected 
 governor of tlie state, and was sjiiator in con- 
 gress from 1793 to 1799. 
 
 Governor Martin, by his su[iport of John 
 Adams and the alien and sedition laws, fist 
 
 commanded by Jethro Sumner, to which the otli regi- 
 mi nt was attached. The oldest captain of each n gi- 
 ment, that was broken up was retained in t e new regi- 
 ment, with the priviledge of select ng the men who 
 sliould compose their company from the regiment 
 to wluch they tirst belonged. 
 
 '■Alexander Martin, colonel of t' e second regiuieiit, 
 at the battle of Germantown, seeing a soldier slip into 
 a hollow of a gum tree, ordered him out, threatening to 
 run bini through with his sword. The soldier obeyed, 
 and our gallam colonel took shelter from danger by 
 getting into his place. Ibis was proved next diyiu 
 court-martial, and he was sent home to rjillsboro wth 
 a wooden sword. 
 
 "At the same court. General Stevens, of the \'irginia 
 line, was sentenced to go home to liis phuitation also 
 with a wooden sword, for drunkenness and disobedi- 
 ence, and to never ajiiear again in tlie American 
 service."' 
 
GUILFORD COUXTY. 
 
 189 
 
 his long enjo)'e(l popularity-, and was defeiitcil 
 for the senate In- Jefferson Franklin, of Surry. 
 Governw Martin had been, theretofore, uner- 
 ring in his campaigns in that perception of the 
 politic and prudent course to pursue; but here 
 he made a political blunder, which Talle^-rand 
 pronounced worse than a crime. He lingered 
 about like some superfluous actor of the 
 stage, when his day had passed, and he no 
 more luul the '' honors and troops of friends," 
 he once enjoyed. 
 
 Such long, laborious and continued services 
 in the political field should condone any errors 
 in his militar}' career. 
 
 He was fond of literature, and was for awhile 
 at Princeton College. He was one of tlie most 
 active and useful trustees of our university 
 from 1790 to the date of his death. As gov- 
 ernor, in his messages, he warmly advocated 
 the claims of the institution to the patronage 
 of the state. He was vain of his lilerar3- at- 
 tainments. His ode on the death of General 
 Nash, in 1777, and his eulogy on the death of 
 Governor Caswell (November 10, 1789} have 
 been printed, and may be considered as more 
 patriotic than poetic. He died at Danbury, 
 on the Dan River, in 1807, unmarried. 
 
 Xewton Cannon, born 1781, died September 
 29th, 1841, soldier and statesman, at one time 
 governor of Tennessee. He was a native of 
 Guilford C^iiunty, removed to Tennessee. - 
 
 His grandfatliei-, Kichard Thompson, was the 
 first man who fell at Alamance, (in the battle 
 between the regulators and Governor Tryon, in 
 1771.) Mr. Thompson was also the ancester of 
 Kobert Cannon, of Shelby ville, Jacob Wrigh, 
 of lUuherford Count}', John ThcMiipson, of 
 Da\i(Ucn, and Andrew Hynes,of Nashville.* 
 
 He was a member of the legislature of Ten- 
 nessL'e, 1811,-"12, and of the state constitu- 
 tional convention of 1824. 
 
 In 1813, he was appointe<l colonel of a regi- 
 ment of Tennessee mounted riiics, and coi.i- 
 
 *('aruther's Life of David Caldwell. ]> l.")3. 
 
 manded the left wing in the bi.ttle of Talla- 
 batcbie, Novcmlior .'Jd, 181-?, whore be dis- 
 phu'cd mu(di valor and skill. 
 
 He was elected twice a member of congress 
 from Tennessee, and served from 1814 to 1817, 
 and from 1819 to 1823. 
 
 He was a[)pointed l>y Monroe, one of the 
 commissioners to treat with the Chickasaws in 
 1819. He was Governor of Tennessee from 
 1835 to 1839, and died at Nashville on Sep- 
 tember 29th, 1841. He was a man of great 
 purity of character; of strong common sense 
 and of indomitai^le courage. 
 
 He married the eldest daughter of General 
 James Wellborn, of Wilkes County, who.se 
 mother was the daughter of Hugh Montgom- 
 ery, of Rowan. 
 
 General James Wellborn was a member of 
 the state senate fn.nu Wilkes County for 
 many years, from 1796 to 1829. 
 
 He was active, patriotic, and useful in the 
 legislature, and often spoke on various ques- 
 tions, always with great vehemence and earn- 
 estness. He was blest with a stentorian voice, 
 and when excited used it with great force. "In 
 the legislature of 1805, says Moore in his his- 
 tor}-, (page IIC,) the most remarkable feature 
 of this session was General James Wellborn's 
 proposition for the state to construct a great 
 road from Beaufort to the mountains. The 
 senator from Wilkes (.'ounty was prophetic in 
 bis fore cast and entitled to be considered, 
 the first to propose the great railway inaugu- 
 rated in 1848. 
 
 John Motley .Morehead, born July 4, 1790, 
 died August 27, 1866, .son of John Morehead 
 and Obedience Motley, was born in Pittsyl- 
 vania County, Virginia. He was educated at 
 the school of Dr. David Caldwell, and at the 
 university,* wh^re he graduated in 1817 in 
 
 *.Iudge Kerr in his oration •' on the life and character 
 of fioveruor Morehead at Wentworth." states that 
 •' (Jovenior Morehead gave evidence of his future emi- 
 nence hy the laurels he won in competition with such 
 class mates as .John Y. ilasou. of Virginia, and James 
 K. I'olk." They were never classmates. 
 
190 WHEELER'S KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 the siiuie class with Richard II. Alexaiidor, a knowledge of their modes of ;iL'lion and 
 
 Hardy B.Croom, and otliers. After leaving the thnught. His clients leane<l on hiiu for ad- 
 
 univrrsity, hi; studied law with Jnd;<e Archi- vice, for sni'i.ioi't, and for comfort. lie com- 
 
 bald D. .\Iur,.hev, and came to the bar in 1819. Lined brilliant, genius, labor and t:;ct, together 
 
 He was elected to the legislature in 1821 as a witli an energy and force that made him in- 
 
 memher from Rockingham, and after one evitably successfid. He rarely lost a casein the 
 
 year's service, he removed to Greensboro, civil docket, and although employed in every 
 
 where ho spent his long,useful and eventful life, important case he never had a client capitally 
 
 In 182G, he was elected to represent Guil- exe.'uted. Otiier advocates had doubtless 
 ford Cnunty, as also in 1827. It was here my a deeper knowledge of the law, but none had 
 good fortune to become well acquainted with greater success. In the force a!ul '■ the very 
 him, f.u' we were members of the same body, whirhvifnl of his fiussion " he often v,-on!d vio- 
 on the same committees, and lived in the late some rule of rhetoric or grammar; but it 
 same hntel. He had an open Imarted and w.as amply supi.lied by the power of his logic, 
 open banded manner that was magical and the point an.d force of his illustration, and his 
 irresistible. His person, then in the prime of imi.assionate elocution. Such was Mr. More- 
 life, was commanding and symmetrical, his head as an advocate. 
 
 conversational powers were unerpialled, Hut so devoted was he to his profession, that 
 
 abounding in humor, and anecdote, as well as he avoided the enticom.ents of politics. Hur- 
 
 iii kindness and sense. Such was his keen ing the period in which he iiraclicd law, 
 
 sense of the ludicrous that be (twenty-one years,) he had cons •nted to rep- 
 
 '■ Was wout tosettlietrtWe in aroar," resent the people only thrive times. His pro- 
 
 and was tlie charm of our little circle, which fe.ssion was his idol, and to this he devoted all 
 
 even to this day is remeudjei-od with mom-n- bis time and all the powers of bis intellect, 
 
 ful pleasure, for not one of that party (save and he was richl} rewarded, for he acliie\ ed 
 
 one) is left: Bailey, Jleares, Croom, Eccles, distinction in tliat high science, which Coke 
 
 Iredell. Walker, .Morehead and Owen all gone, pronounces " the perfection of rcas m." 
 
 After serving two years in the legislature Circumstances, bowevr, so ruled his destiny, 
 
 he declined to beagain a candidate; hisprivate that he was frequently forced to liecome a 
 
 and professional duties denmndingall his time prominent actor in theiield of i)olitics. In 1840, 
 
 and attention, and truly in that profession, he was nominated for governor, and many \\'ill 
 
 ihere 'Aero giants in those daysat the Guilford recollect, and all have heard of " ti;e log cabin 
 
 Ijar, and with them he had to wrestle for fame campaign." The (piiet state of North Carolim\ 
 
 and fortune. Strong in intellect, astute in v\'as jarred to her very founcbitions, was shaken 
 
 perce[ition, they wei'c very athletes in their with nnexam[iled excitement fVfini the ocean 
 
 efl'orts; it was no holiday excursion to encoun- to the mountains. From his attention to his 
 
 ter in the legal tournament such knights as profession, .Mi'. Morehead was not as well ver- 
 
 Bartlett Yancey, James Martin, Thomas Settle, sed in political history as his astute and prac- 
 
 Sr., AVm. A. Graliam, Richmond I'earson, Hugh tieal opponent, Romulus M. Saundeis, whose 
 
 Waddell, and others. To win laurels in such life had been spent in legislative and congres- 
 
 compctition was no light duty. The forte of sional duties, ai'.d to whom every point and 
 
 Mr. Morehead lay in his great amount of sound guard of [lolitical warfare was familiar. This 
 
 common sense, familiarity with the peojile, bis was an occasion of great interest. C'roM'ds of 
 s}'mpathies with their troubles and trials, and people met them at every appointment, from 
 
GUILFORD COUNTY 
 
 ]91 
 
 tlio sandy shores of Currituck, to the blue 
 uiouutaiiis of Cherokee, to witness these 
 ghidiatorial contests. Both were in tlie prime 
 of life — hoth ambitious Saunders was dex- 
 terous and well informed; .Morehead was apt 
 to perceive, quick to learn, and alwaj's read}'; as 
 Gavin Hogg- said of him on this occasion, "he 
 learned taster than any man ho ever knew," 
 and he was elected over his able and inde- 
 fatigable opi)i>nent by about 8,000 majority. 
 
 The manner in which he discharged the 
 duties of the executive ofUce has passed into 
 historv. He has written his name in characters 
 more durable than monumental brass in the 
 institutions of the state. Every engine as it 
 shrilly sounds in its progress along the ii'on 
 pathway, announces his zeal for the cause of 
 internal improvement. Every school-house 
 that decd<s our hills or valleys, preserves his 
 menior\- as the friend of education, and the 
 stately charities near our metropolis proclaim 
 his name as the protector and the fiiend 
 of the deaf and dumb, and of the unhapi^y 
 insane. 
 
 He was a candidate for governor a second 
 time and was opposed by the learned and elo- 
 quent Louis J). Henry; but the health of Mr. 
 Henry was feeble, and although he made an 
 aide canvass, he was defeated by Governor 
 Morehead. 
 
 After bis second term as governor had ex- 
 pired, he returned to the quiet comforts of 
 Blandwood, as bis home was called near 
 Greensboro, determined to devote liimself to 
 private pui'suits, for he could not be idle. 
 He bad elected, before entering political life, 
 commodious and extensive buildings for a 
 female seminar;," u'hich he called " Edgewood," 
 from which eilucated and accomplished young 
 ladies were sent forth annually. His energy 
 and enterprise established large cotton fac- 
 tories, thus competing with the Lowells of the 
 north. 
 
 He was also large! v eiu'agcd in the various 
 
 railroad interest of the state, and received 
 much vituperation from those opposed to his 
 energetic and vigorous views. He was the 
 first president of the North Car(dina railroad; 
 under his auspices it was put into opei'ation 
 anil conducted successfully for man}' years. 
 He retired from its pi'esidencj' in 1855. 
 
 In 1848, he presided over the convention 
 that nominated General Tayloi' for the presi- 
 denc\"; in 1858, he was elected to the com- 
 mons, and in 1800, he represented Guilford 
 County in the senate, with Cyrus P. Menden- 
 hall, G. Vu Shober and J. J. Gorrell as col- 
 leagues in the comtvions. 
 
 The first national position which Governor 
 MoreliL-ad ever filled, was that of a doiea'ate 
 from North C'arolina, t'> '• the i>eace congress," 
 Avhich assembled at Washington, early in 
 18G], with George Davis, Thomas Rufnn, 
 David S. Keid, Daniel M. Barringer as col- 
 leagues. The hope of peace was delusive, and 
 all efforts were idle. He went there the de- 
 voted friend of the union, and left the con- 
 vention ready to follow the destinies of his 
 state. 
 
 When the southern confederacy was estab- 
 lished, he was chosen by the legislature of the 
 state toreiiresent his district in the provisional 
 congress, but he had approached 
 
 " The seal and j'ellow leaf of Iff e ." 
 
 The des(dating effects of the war had seri- 
 ously injured his estate. He not only lost his 
 slaves, of which he had a great number, but a 
 considerable amount invested in confederate 
 bonds, nor were these all the saddening effects 
 of the war on Governor Morehead. Hh 
 health gave way; and with the hope of re- 
 storing his shattered constituuim, he repaired 
 to the Rock Alum springs of 'N'irginia, where 
 he died on Augu.st 27, 180(j, full of years, and 
 loved and regrerteil by the people of North 
 Carolina. 
 
 He married in 1822, Eliza, the eldest 
 daughter of the late Colonel Robert Lindsay. 
 
192 AVIIEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 He left the folloTving issue- P. Henderson, John W. Lancaster, Thomas D. 
 
 I. Letitia, who married Walker. McDowell, S. J. Person, and others. 
 
 II. John M., who married P]vans. He read hiw witli liis father, and George C. 
 
 III. Loiiisa. who married W. W. Avor3'. Mendeidiall, and was admitted to the hai' in 
 
 IV. Another daughter, married Kufus 184.5. 
 
 Patterson. He was appointed United States district 
 
 V. Emma, who married Julius A. Gra}'. attorney In- President Pierce, in 185-3, which 
 
 VI. James Turner. po.sitioa lie held until 18G1. 
 
 VII. Eugene. He was a delegate to the democratic na- 
 George C. Mendenhall was a native and tional convention, at Chariest (in and Balti- 
 
 resident of this county, well connected and iuoi-e, in April and June, ISdO, and acted with 
 
 highly esteemed. the union democrats after the state delegates 
 
 lie was a law^-er by profession, patient, had seceded. Ho was elected without be- 
 
 jiersevei'ing, and skilful in the practice; faith- ing a candidate to the state convention, May 
 
 ful and honest in all his dealings. 20th, 1861, and used his efforts to have the 
 
 He represented this county in the legisla- ordinance of secession submitted to a vote of 
 
 ture in- 1828,-'29, and '80, and again in 1840 t!ie people, 
 
 and '41. He was a member of the state senate, (1SG4) 
 
 He opposed Honorable Edmund Deberry for and was active in ailvocating peace measures 
 
 congress, and was defeated by a small majorit}'. In 1865. lie was appointed by Presi- 
 
 His death was unexpected as sad. On his dent Johnson, judge of the United States dis- 
 
 return home from Stanly superior court, trict court of North Carolina; but, as he could 
 
 in February', 1860, in an attempt to cross at not take "the test oath," declined. He was 
 
 Fuller's ford, on the Uharee river, which also appointed provisional judge Ijy (governor 
 
 had been swollen by recent rains, ho was Ilolden, which he declined. He was a member 
 
 drowned. of tlie state convontion of 1865, and assisted 
 
 John M. Dick was also a native and resi- in framing a constitution, which was rejected 
 
 dent of this county. He was born about 1791, by a pt)pu!ar vote. 
 
 studied law, and represented this county in the In 1868, he was elected one of the justices 
 
 legislature in the senate in 1819,-'20, -'29, and of the supreme court of the state; and when 
 
 '31, and in 1832 was elected one of the judges the United States court for the western dis- 
 
 of the superior courts of law and equity-, which trict North Carolina was created. Judge Dick 
 
 be held until his death, this occurred while was appointed by President (Jj-ant to the 
 
 he was riding the Edentv-n circuit, at the position of judge therein. In 1S4S, Judge Dick 
 
 house of Aliram Keddick. in Hertford County, married Mary E. Adams, of Pittsylvania 
 
 His character as a judge was distinguished County, Virginia, 
 
 for integrity and patience; he was the father John A. Gilmer, born November4, 1805, died 
 
 of Robert Paine Dick, now judge of the United Ma}' 14, 1868, wasa native of Guilford County. 
 
 States district court for western North Caro- His family were of Scotch-Irish decent. His 
 
 lina. He is a native and resident of tids father. Captain Robert Gilmer, was a man of 
 
 county, born October 5th, 1823. He wiis liber- simple habits, of excellent common sense and 
 
 ally educated, and graduated with the second inflexible integrity. He wasa wheelwright by 
 
 honors of his class at the university in 1843, trade; by his wife Anno, ;/tc Forties, he liad 
 
 in the same class was John L. Bridgers, Philo twelve children, of wbomthe subject of our 
 
GUILFOKI) COUNTY. 193 
 
 sketch was the (ilde^t. His early eaueatioii gross, 1857,-'59, and re-elected to tlie Thirty- 
 was such as couid be imparted l.y tlie county sixtli Coni,n'ess in l859,-'Gl,in whicii in; was 
 schools and liis own application; for, until he chairman of tlie committee on oleeti uis. On 
 was seventeen, he worked on liis father'.- larm tlie accession of Lincoln he was offered a seat in 
 in the summer, and attended school in tlie the cabinet as secretary of the treasury, but 
 winter. He entered the grammar school declined. 
 
 tausilit by Kev. Kli W. Caruthers, who was the Although at all times opposed to the doc- 
 
 succes-or of Rev. J)r. C.ddwcll, whei-o he con- trine of secession, yet when the state seceded 
 
 tinned for two years. His progress was rapid, and the war came, he went with his state, and 
 
 and he became a good scholar in the onlinary embraced the cause of the south with all his 
 
 branches of an English education, and in the native force of character, and, like Abiaham, 
 
 higher In-auches of mathematics, also well he offered np his only son niion the altar <if 
 
 versed in Latin and Greek. He went then to his country, and sent him forth to battle, his 
 
 Laurens County, South Carolina, where he only injunction being, to discharge all the 
 
 tauii-ht the Mount Vernon Orammar School duties of a soldier with energy and lldelity; 
 
 for three years. nobly diil that son ol>ey this mandate. 
 
 In Dec'.unber, 1829, he returned home and He succeeded James Robert McLean as a 
 
 studied law with Judge Murphey; and 188:!, member of the confederate congr,}ss, and sat 
 
 was licensed as counsellor and attorney at law. until its termination. 
 
 With no friends to advance his fortunes, with His son, John Alexander Cilmer, has re- 
 no capital but industry and good habits, and ccntly been ap[Kiiiited one of the judges ot 
 surroimded by such legal luminaries as John the supeiior courts, and '■ wins golden opinions 
 M. Morchead, William A. Graham, Settle, from all sorts of men," by his learning, pa- 
 Nash, Mendenliall, and others, his prospects tience, and fidelity. He was born about 183'J 
 were gloomy and progress painful an.d slow, or 1837; gi'aduated at the university in 1858; 
 But hv energy and perseverence he was soon read law with his father, and practiced with 
 among the most successful, and in the course success. Of his war recoi-d we have but little 
 of a few years was considered a leader of the information, but wo know that he was in the 
 profession. army ami nobly did his duty; that after the 
 
 Fame and fortune followed his footsteps, war closed he returned to his practice, and on 
 
 Because of his abilities and his genial disposi- the death of Judge Kerr, (December 7th, 
 
 tionhewas[H)pularwiththepeople. Iul846 was 1879,) he was ai.pointed by the governor 
 
 elected to the legislature as senator from Guil- judge of the sujierior court.. 
 
 ford County, and continued without any sue- He married a daughter of Joseph il. Lind- 
 
 cessful opposition to 1854. His course in the say. 
 
 legislature was liberal, patriotic, and pliilan- The father married on January 3d, 1832, 
 
 throphic. Juliana, daughter of Kevereiul William Parish, 
 
 He was the advocate of the construction of and the grandau»;hter of Colonel John Paisley, 
 
 the insane asylum, and as also of a liberal an ofHcer of the revolution, as also of General 
 
 system of internal improvements. Alexander Mebane, whose sketch will ijc 
 
 Li 1356, he was the whig candidate for gov- found in the Northampton County section. 
 
 ernor, hut was defeated by Governor Bragg, He died at Greensboro, on May 14th, 1868. 
 
 whose majority was over 13,000. Hi 1857, he The melancholy effects of tlie unhappy intes- 
 
 was elected a member of the Thirty-fifth Con- tine war preyed heavily on his spirits, uatur- 
 
194 WHEELER'S REMINISCEXCES. 
 
 ally elasiic. p.nd on hi-; rohust constitution, and John A. Lilling-toii, Jmlo'o Slaipn, and others, 
 
 so brort2,'lii liis lii'e to a pi-eniature close. He read law and was admitted to [iractice. 
 
 John ILunry Dilhird, horn 1825, late one of In 1850, he was elected a niciiiher of the 
 
 the associate justi'-es of the snpremo court of House of Commons, and aorain in 1852, and 
 
 the state, resides in this county. He was born was elected by the legislature superintendent 
 
 in Rockingliani County, in 1825. He was a of common schools for a term of two years. 
 
 student at the univoi'sit_y, whei'e he tinishcd He was so approved in his liio-h and important 
 
 his sopliMui'ire year, and then he went to the position that he was re-elected si.x times. 
 
 William and Mary, Virginia, wh.ei'e be ,£;Tadu- In 185G, he was licensed to preach by the 
 
 ated. After studying law, and being admit- Orange Presbytry. 
 
 ted to piactb-c in North Carolina, he settled So efficient was the system he inaugurated, 
 
 in I'atriclc C 'Unty, Vii-ginia. In a few years that the schools were kept in regular operation 
 
 be retiirncd to J-!ocki':g!iam and devoted him- during all of our long and l)!oody civil war. 
 
 self to bis profession. He was elected county His literary labors are "Alamance; or, the 
 
 attorney, and. was remarkal:)!e for his diligence Great and Final Exporiment ," publislied by 
 
 and accnraiy in the f n'ms he used. He was Harpers in 1847, which described the stirrino- 
 
 appoiiitcd. clerk and master, which position he scenes in this region in 1770, and was a very 
 
 Was well calculated to make him an admiralile successful book. 
 
 equit}- di-aftsinan, for wliicb, in his practice, he In 1850, lie published " Roanoke; or, where 
 
 became distinguished. is Utojiia?" likewise, an historical uiivel, pub- 
 
 His war record is short. He was captain in lished I>y Petersmi. He published, in 1851, 
 a company in the 45th North Carolina regi- " tlie North Car(diiia Reader," which work 
 ment, ;!nd did his duty faithfully. Aftei' the is admiraljly calculated to make oni- state bet- 
 war was over, he renev.-ed the practice of his ter known and our own [)eo[ile more familiar 
 profession with such success tliat be was pro- with our glowing history. 
 
 nounced by Chief Justice Pearson " to l)e tlie In 1805, during tlie war, be jiulilisbed, at 
 
 ablest equity lawyer in North Carolina." He Greensboro, "Scriptual "\'iews of National 
 
 removed iVonj Rockingliam County to Gieens- Trials." Mr. Moore, in Hi-itory of North Caro- 
 
 1) iro in 18(;s, and became one of the firm of lina, says of Mr. Wile\, that iiis achieved 
 
 Dillanl. Ruffin and Gilmer. success as an author is more than excelled by 
 
 In connection with Judge Dick, he estab- his great efforts in the cause of public educa- 
 
 lished a law school, whitdi sup[)lied the vacancy tion. 
 
 occasioned by the closing of the one so long Alliion W. Tonrgoe, who resided in Greens- 
 
 earrie<l on by thelnte Chief Jtistieo I'eai'son. boro, is prominent as a [lolitician, writer and 
 
 He married Anna J., daughter of Colonel advocate. He cariie to this state fVom Ohio, 
 
 Martin, of Henry ( 'ounty, A'irginia. Ilewasan and as Moore sa^'s, is " r-ne of the few ^iiose 
 
 elder ol' the I'lesbytenan tdiurcb, and a faith- advent has been licneticial to his adojjted 
 
 ful f ilb>wer of its exem[ilary teachings. state." He is a lawyer by profession, learned 
 
 Calvin H. Wiley,* was Imrn in in Guilford and laborious, and as a iiolitician, active and 
 
 County, -lanuary 2, 1819, and graduated at the alile. 
 
 university in 1840, in same class with Judge He was a member of the convention of 
 
 David A. Darnes, Governor Tod R. Cadwell, i^GS, Calvin J. Cowles, president, and, in 1870, 
 
 Jnlm \V. Cunningham, William Johnston, succeeded D. G. Fowle as a judge of the 
 
 ^Froiu the lavhig Writers of the South. superior courts. Hisjudicial appointment was 
 
GUILFOUD COUNTY. 193 
 
 opposed by Governor Wortli, who alle.u'eil Wlieelor Moore, J. L. .Morelieiul, S;ilonioii 
 
 some diium^ing' evidence iigainst hiin, but his Pool, and otliers. 
 
 career as ajiidiLCe,iiK«pite ofal)nndant caliunny, lie read law with .liidL^o I'tvuv-m; Married 
 
 redowned to liis credit. Uis literary ;j;if't.s are Effie, daughter ot Colonel A. Ilendcr.-^oii; rcp- 
 
 of a high order, aiicl much respected. resented xVlaniance (bounty in 1857; removed 
 
 lie iiad for some time previous been chair- to Mississipjii in 18(j1, and entered the army 
 
 man of tiie republican central committee of from that state; waselected colonel ol'the 30th 
 
 the state, and is now secretary of the national Mississippi; was wounded at Chicamauga, and 
 
 rei)ubliean committee, 'and ardent and active imprisoned at Johnson Island until 18U5. This 
 
 in support of the republican party. Perhaps familj' did ^-eoman's service in the war, for 
 
 few men have been more souiidly berated by there were si.x brothers, and throe l)rother3- 
 
 his political opponents, and none who seemed in-law in the field, and of these the most fell 
 
 to care less for such al}use. by wouiuls and e.\[iosnre. Ho returned to 
 
 Governor Worth, in a letter to Genera! North Carolina after the war, and was elected 
 
 Canby protesting against the appointment of a member of the state senate in lS7(i. He 
 
 Judg Tourgee said: died of heart disease on July 11. l>>-i.i, in tlie 
 
 , T 1 . I rn ., , Presbyterian Hosiiital, New York. His last 
 " 1 do not know loui'gee [lersonallv, but 
 
 know that he was a delegate to a political hours were soothed by the attention of kind 
 
 convention iield in Philadelphia, in 186(), and fi'iends and relatives; amoni;- them was his 
 
 his speech reported in the New York Herald, jitlectionate bn^thrr, Honorable A. M. Scales 
 
 enlii;;hteiiing the north as to the temper of the t i >t . , ■ , ■ ,, 
 
 people among whom ha had sett led, speaking '^'.''^" ^o';'"="' ^^t=U'l^'- 'vsi.lcs m Gn.ensboro. 
 
 of the loyal me:; selling everything tliey hall He is a native of AMrginia, born in Patrick 
 
 at a nominal value, an'cl tbat^twelve hundred County, Juno 13, 181(j. He was educated at 
 
 of these men liave been diiven from the n i,i i r t i-*. *. \.i . /. ^ 
 
 , . „ the franklin Institute, Mont<romerv Countv, 
 
 state. o J ^ > 
 
 Alabama, and at Trinity College. He left 
 
 "I was told,'" said Tourgee, " by a qnaker in college to join i'umming'sl)attery,13th North 
 
 North Carolin.a, as I was coming here, that he Carolina, and served in it until the end of the 
 
 had seen the bodies of 1,500 mr.rdered negroes civil war. He then studied law and was 
 
 taken from one [lond." Moore .says in his his- licensed to practice in 1868. 
 
 tory {II., 328) "that time has not changed He was elected to the House of Commons in 
 
 the drift of his feelings, as hi- late work of lS75,-'7ti, ami accpiired prominence. He was 
 
 fiction, ' the P'ool's Errand,' is conceived in chairman of committee on the insane as3dum; 
 
 the same spirit of miarepreseutation of the active in the advocacy of the Morganton 
 
 people of X(U'th Carolina." and colored asylum. He has been an ener- 
 
 Junius Irwing Scales resided in Greens- getic and useful mendjer of every di,-.trirt and 
 
 boro, but is a native of Rockingham County, state democratic convention sin.je 1870, and 
 
 He was born June 1, 1832; educated at Chapel has gathered laurels in the literary as well as 
 
 Hill, and graduated in 1858, in the same class the political field. His addresses before the 
 
 with Vine A. Allen, William 11. Battle, B. A. Methodist centennial in 187t), and on educa- 
 
 Capeheart, DeBrutz Cutlar, John W. Holmes, tional, and other topics, have won for him an 
 
 Alexander Mclver, Walker Meares, John enduring reputation as an orator and scholar. 
 
196 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 HALIFAX COUNTY. 
 
 The County- of Halif:iX, in its early liistory, ceiitni-_v has covered the grave of any one, it 
 
 is ili.stin;;-ni'^lieil for its rlevotion to liberty, and is diftieiilt to collect extensive information. 
 
 for tlie patriotism of lior sons. I found among the colonial records in the 
 
 Among the most aeti\'e and useful men in Rolls Oiliee in London, page 22, the following; 
 
 the early times of this county was Willie '• 1689, instructions for Colonel Cadwallader 
 
 Jones. Jones, our governor of Providence and the 
 
 The progenitor of this large and patriotic rest of the P)ahama Island," also the tVdlow- 
 faiidy was lioliin Joiios. He married, tirst, ing despatch of Governor Dobhs: 
 Sarah, daughter of Rev. William Allen; sec- 
 ond, Miss Eaton of Halifax. He had four '.'-March 20, 17G1. Thomas Falkner, ap- 
 , ., , , , , , , pointed hy order of the king and council, 
 chihlren, two sons and two daughters. secretary and clerk to the crow^,, vice Henry 
 
 I. Allen, horn 173!», married, first, Mary McCullock; and Robert Jones, Jr., attorney- 
 
 Ilaynes, an<l had three children: Reliecca general, vice Childs." 
 
 Tr.i„-..,i \T ,*i 1 c 1 1 i> 1 " 17Ci!, Mr. Marniaduke Jones, Mr. Charlton 
 
 E(n\ar(ls, Mai-tliu and ^aiali ; second, Rebecca i »< Vx • i. i ■ i „ 
 
 ' and Ml'. Dewey, appointed judges " 
 
 Eilwards, and had tiiree children: Kohin, "April 21. The Tuskaroras will move from 
 Rebecca, Kobei-t; third. Miss p];iton, had no- Bertie tliis week to New York on in vitation 
 
 issue "^ S^'' William Johnson, to unite with his 
 
 ,, -ivir ■ jieople. Ml'. J(uies, the attorney-general, ad- 
 
 U.^ Wiihe, married Mary Monttord, and vanced £1,200 to aid in huying Wagons and 
 
 had five children: Sally, .Martha, Anne Maria, provisions, on the credit of tlieir land." 
 Willie and Robert. 
 
 III. Elizabeth, married Thomas Gilchrist, and The legislature in 1802 enacted, that as the 
 
 had Giissy, who married Colonel Thomas Polk. Indian Chief Sacarusa, and others of the 
 
 I\ . -Mary, m;ii-ried (-Jovei nor Williams, and Tuscaroras of Bertie County, had requested 
 
 had two chililrt n: Allen and Willie. tlie concurrence of the assembly in the leases 
 
 From these four branches have sprung one they had m;;de preiiai-atory to tlieir depart- 
 
 of the largest families of the state, the mem- ure, the legislature consented. General Davie, 
 
 bers of which ]i:ive lieen distinguished for their for the United States, made a treaty with 
 
 courage ill the field, their sa'j;acity in council them, and just ninety-eight years after the 
 
 and their virtues in domestic life. Vv^ith much ci-eation of their reservation, the descendants 
 
 cai-e a geneab'gica! talde has been collected, and people of old King Blount left their 
 
 which is reliable lor its accuracy. Written ancient Iiunting grounds and joined (heir kiiis- 
 
 histoiy, tradition, and the results of Colonel men, the Iro'piois or Six Nations of New York. 
 
 (.':il(hvallader .bines, of Rock Hill, South Caro- A small remnant of the Tuscaroras yet sur- 
 
 lina, luive been called into requisition in its vive, and undei' their chief. Mount Pleasant, 
 
 c<'ni[iilation. live on their reservation near Niagara Falls. 
 
 Uf Robin Jones, the ancestor and founder of The jiresent King of the Sandwich Islands 
 
 this family, we regret that so little at this day is the grandson of Sacarusa, under whose lead 
 
 is known. When the dust of more than a the exodus of 1802 was accomplished. 
 
HALIFAX COUNTY. 
 
 197 
 
 "17(17, p. 162, Governor Tr3'oii informs the 
 board of trade of the death of Robert Jones, 
 on October 2nd, and that he had appointed 
 Marniaduke Jones, who had hmg been a resi- 
 dent, of the first credit and capacity, about 
 forty years old; educated in Eriijland, and 
 cousin to Sir Marniaduke Wyvil." 
 
 From these records Qi. 165) it appears that 
 thisfamily was at this early day liighly reputed, 
 and from Willie and Allen being sent to 
 England for their education, must have been 
 of considerable wealth. 
 
 Tlie tradition of the family is that Robin 
 Joiies came to Norfolk from Wales, England, 
 in the early part of the last century, as tiie 
 boatswain of u man-of-war; that while at Nor- 
 folk he fell in love, and failing to get a dis- 
 charge from service, as the ship sailed out of 
 the harbor, he leaped overboard as 
 
 " Leaiider swam the Ilelle-pout, 
 
 His true love for to see.'' 
 
 The lady reciprocated his affection and 
 rewarded his daring adventure with lier hand. 
 This wedded couple survived only about a 
 year, when both died leaving a son, called for 
 his father Robin. Thus friendless and un- 
 protected, he relied on his own exertion, and 
 by good manners and industrious habits, ac- 
 quired the means of education. When quite 
 a youth he returned to England, studied law 
 and was admitted to the bar. By good 
 fortune he gained the esteem of Lord Gran- 
 ville, one of the Lords Proprietors of North 
 Carolina, who appointed liim his agent and 
 attorney. lie settled at Occaneeche Neck, 
 on the Roanoke. By means of his profession 
 and this agency he soon reaped fame and 
 fortune. 
 
 Of the patriots of the revolution, none were 
 more distinguished than Willie and Allen 
 Jones, sons of Robin Jones. Together they 
 acted in defence of the rights of the people, 
 and together were the active opponents of 
 oppression. 
 
 Willie, educated at Eton, England, was 
 
 more distinguished as a writer than as an ora- 
 tor; of his legislative talent it is recorded that 
 he could draw a bill in better language than 
 any other man of his day. lie was the presi- 
 dent of the committee of safety for the whole 
 state, and as such was virtually the governor 
 in the interval between the retreat of Governor 
 Martin, and the inauguration of Governor 
 Caswell. lie succeeded his brother Allen as 
 member of the continental congress in 1780, 
 and was elected a member of the convention 
 that formed the constitution of the United 
 States, (1787) but declined the appointment, 
 and Dr. Hugh Williamson received the same. 
 
 He was a mem!)er of the convention that 
 met at Ilillsboro, July 21, 1788, to deliberate 
 on the constitution of the United States, and 
 by which convention the constitution was re- 
 jected. He was its decided opponent, and 
 with Dr. Caldwell, General Joseph McDowell, 
 and others, defeated its adoption, although it 
 was advocated by such able men as General 
 Davie, Governor Johnston, Judge Iredell, and 
 others. It was rejected by one hundred ma- 
 jority in the votes. 
 
 Willie Jones was often a member of the 
 legislature from Halifax, from 1776 to 1780, 
 and in 1788. 
 
 He married a daughter of Colonel Montford, 
 and died in 1801, near Raleigh, where he was 
 buried. 
 
 Mrs. Jones survived her husband for many 
 years; and died in 182-3. She combined great 
 brilliancy of mind with exquisite beauty of 
 p>erson. 
 
 Many anecdotes are narrated of hor wit and 
 amiability. 
 
 " When the British army was on route to 
 Virginia, in 1781," says Mrs. Ellet, in her 
 ' Women of the Revolution,' " they remained 
 several da^'s on the banks of the Roanoke, and 
 the English officers were quartered among the 
 families of the neighborhood. A passage of 
 wit occurred between Mrs. Jones and tlie 
 
198 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 celelirate<l Colonel Tarleton, who was severely tary services. lie married Miss Edwai'ils, the 
 cut hy thesahreof William Washington. On sister of Isaac Edwanls, the secretary i.>f the 
 Tarleton exitressing in In^r presence some op- colony under Governor Tryon. He was, like 
 probrious remarks as to Washington, tliat he his distinguislied hrotlier, educated at Eton, 
 was an illiterate fellow, hardly alile to write in England, and like liim, devoted to the 
 his name. ' Ah! cidoncl, you ought to know cause of his country. He was appointed a 
 better, for you liear [.roof on your person that brigadier-genera! by the legislature in 1776, 
 at lea~t he knows very well bow to make his and a member of the ci.mtiuental congress at 
 mark.' Tarleton concealed his mutilated hand rbiladulpbia, 1779, 'SO. Erom 1784 to '87, he 
 and changed the ciuivcr>ati(ui." repre-^enteil Northampton County in the sen- 
 Tlie daring and celebrated John Paul Jones, ate of the state, and in the next year he was a 
 whose real name was John Paul, of Scotland, memlier of the convention, that met at Iliils- 
 wheu 'piite young visited Mr. Willie Jones at boro, to consider the constitution. On this 
 Halifax, and laecame so fascinated with him occasion, and in political matters, he differed 
 and his charming wife, that he adopteil this from his l)rother, lie inclining to the federal 
 family's name. In this name (.John Paul Jones) piirty, and advocating a strong federal gov- 
 he offered his services to congress, and was ernment, while Willie was the sturdy advo- 
 niadea lieutenant, ]>ecendjer 22d. 1775, on the cate of state rights; he died in, 1798. 
 recommendation of Willie -Tones. He became Cadwallader .Jones, for a long time a resi- 
 so highly distinguished that he was soon dent of Hillsboro, was the son of Cadwallader 
 placed in comiuantl of a man-of-war, and did Jones and Mary Pride, of Virginia. He mar- 
 great damage to the English fleets and coast- ried Rebecca Edwards Long, daughter of Lans- 
 ing trade. In one of his encounters, whilst ford Long, the son of Nicholas Long, and the 
 commanding the " ]]on Homme Richard," lie granddaughter of Allan Jones, son of Robin, 
 attacked "The Seiapis" and captured her, He was universally beloved for his kindly- 
 after one of the most sanguinary sea liattles on disposition and generous bearing. Although 
 record. Congress voted him a gold medal po[)ular, he seemed to have avoided the en- 
 for his services, and. the French King, Louis tigements of politics, as I do not find his name 
 XVI.. invested him with mi litai'y orders and among the members of the legislature or of 
 a sword. congress, and yet from his abilities and ac- 
 He was born in Scotland, 1747, and died in rpiirement-^, he would have been an orriament 
 Paris, 17!t2. to either body. 
 
 •' The star spangled banner" of our nation In bis younger days he served as a midship- 
 was tii'st displayed by Jones, on the " Alfred," man in the United States Navy, and was on 
 in the Delaware, and to North Carolina be- board the Chesapeake when she was attacked 
 longs the honor of bringing his merits and by the Leopard, ^vhich brought on the war of 
 genius into tl e service of our navy.* 1812 with En-Jaml. He exchanged the navy 
 (general .Vllan Jones, who lived at Mount for the army and attained the raidc of major. 
 Callaiit, in Northampton County, near Cas- After the war be ilevoled himself to ngri 
 ton, was a l)rotlier of Willie Jones, and was culture, and was useful to the state as a mem- 
 distinguished for bis civil as well as his mill- ber i.f the board of internal imi-rovements. 
 
 Mr. Cadwallader .bn;es. jr., was born at 
 
 *.See his life by Jolni II. Slierlmnie. pnlilisi.f.,1 i,, \fr.„„f c ,n . t ; v n 4- /-. . 1 
 
 Wasliiii-ton, 1825; also by liisneice .MisslXvlor is"i ^^^"""^ '^^il'^H'f.- '" -\ortliampton County, and 
 
 and by A. S. Maclcensie, iS4.5. . , ■ „..^s Hijerally educated. He graduated at the 
 
ILALIFAX COUNTY. 199 
 
 university ill 1832, iii tlio same class with career, he joincil the ■' Army of tlic Xortli " us 
 
 Thomas S. Asho, now one of the justices of a vohmteer. 
 
 the supreme court, General Thomas L. Clitig- The campaign heiiii^ over, lie again roturniMl 
 
 man, James C. Dohbin, and others, lie died to college and graduated in 177t) with high 
 
 on February 5th, 1861. honors. He then returned to Noi'th Carolina, 
 
 His .sou, Cadwallader, who now lives at Uock and aided in raising a troop of lior.se, of which 
 
 Hill, South Carolina, v.'as distinguished as a he was elected lieutenant. His commission is 
 
 statesman and politician. He was in the leg- .signed by Richard Caswell, governor, and 
 
 islatnre from Orange County, in 1840, with dated April 5, 1779. 
 
 Judge Manguni and Governor Crahain, as col- It would e.veeed the limits of our work to 
 
 leagues; re-elected in 1842,-'48, and '50. record the military career of General Davie, 
 
 He was elected solicitor of the fourth cir- from the battle of Stoiio (in 1779, wheix' he 
 
 cuit, and served his native state faithfully, commanded the right wing of Lineoln'sarmy, 
 
 For fourteen coHseeutive years he was in her and was severely wounded,) to Kocky Mount 
 
 councils. He moved in 1857 to South Caro- Hanging Rock, Charlotte, and elsewhere. 
 
 liua, where he now resides, and where he He accompanied General Greene in his whole 
 
 lived when the civil war lu-oke out. He en- campaign in the soutli, and was present at 
 
 tered the military service of his adopted the battle of Guilford C(nirt-bouse, (March, 
 
 state, and was in the tight at Hilton Head, 1781,) Hobkirk's .Mill, and the evacuation of 
 
 in 1861, and in the seven daj-s' tight around Camden. 
 
 Richmond. His health failing, he was forced The records of the country abound in evi- 
 
 to resign, but he left four sons in his place, deuce of the brilliant career of General Davie, 
 
 two of them in the ranks, one oi' them was The war being over, and the country liberated, 
 
 severely wounded. On his return home he General Davie returned to his legal studies, 
 
 was elected state senator from the York dis- If his success as a military man had been 
 
 trict, South Carolina, gi't'at, his professional career was even more so. 
 
 He represented South Carolina in the Rich- The courts at that time were so arranged that 
 
 mond convention of 18C0, and in the ta.v a lawyer could attend every superior court in 
 
 paying convention of 1864. the state. This was an arduous dut}', and in- 
 
 Jolin Sitgreaves, who married Martha, volved great personal inconvenience and labor; 
 
 widow of Allen G. Green, has been already General Davie was employed in every case of 
 
 noticed.* imiiortance. He was elected to the convention 
 
 AVilliam Richard.son Davie, liorn 1756, died which met at Philadel[ihia, in May, 1787, but 
 1820, wlio married Sarah, daughter of Allan was called home before the close of its labors, 
 Jones, was a native of Egremont, in England, and therefore his name iloes not ap]>ear upon 
 When quite young his father, Archibald the federal constitution there adopted. He 
 Davie, brought him to America, and he was was a member of the state convention at Hills- 
 adopted by his maternal uncle, William Rich- boro, 1788, to consider tiiis pajier, and he was 
 ardson. His early education was conducted its ardent and able advocate. 
 at Cliarlotte, Xcu'tli Carolina, and he entered He was a meml)erof the Ilou.-e ol' Commons, 
 rrinceton college. But the v/ar for a time 1785, 1786, 1787, 1789, 1791, and 1798. 
 closed the halls of that institution, and with His efforts in the legislature for the ad- 
 that ardor, so conspicuous in his subsequent vaneement of the state, especially in the cause 
 
 *Seepage 140. of education, were constant. " I was present," 
 
200 
 
 AVIIEELER'S RExMINISCEXCES. 
 
 said .liulge Murphey, "in the ILnise of Com- 
 liions when Davie aildresseil the lioiiso for a 
 k^an of money for the university, anil althoni^'h 
 thirty years have elapsed, I have a most vivid 
 recollectiou of the greatness of his manner, 
 and the power of his eloquence. In the House 
 of Commons he had no rival. His eloquence 
 was irresistahlo." 
 
 He was a member of the board of trustees, 
 and as a grand niaster of the masons, he laid 
 the corner-stone of the university; to the day 
 of his death lie was its steady friend and bene- 
 factor. In 1798, he was appointed a brigadier- 
 general in the army of the United States, and 
 prepared " a system of cavalry tactics," which 
 was printed and used in the service. In Au- 
 gust of this year, he was elected to the legis- 
 lature, aud, in December following, elected 
 governor of the state. 
 
 The next year, Juno, 1799, he was appointed 
 with Oliver Eilswortli, then chief justice of 
 the supreme court, and Mr. Murray, (vice Pat- 
 rick Henry, declined,) embassadors to France, 
 and in November of that year they sailed in 
 the frigate " United States," on this mission. 
 
 lie remained abroad two years. lie was ap- 
 pointed by Mr. Jetfcrson, in June, 1801, to 
 negotiate with the Tuscarora Indians as to tlie 
 treaty between them and the state of North 
 Carolina. By this treaty the Indians extended 
 their leases until 1816, at which time their title 
 ended, and their lands reverted to the state. 
 
 He was a candidate for congress in 1803, and 
 was defeated by Honorable Willis Alston. 
 
 He removed in 1805 to Landsford, South 
 Carolina, where he died in 1820, leaving three 
 sons aud three daughters. 
 
 In the old grave yard at Halifax there are 
 many graves of the distinguished dead of 
 North Carolina. 
 
 Among them we copy the following four: 
 
 " Sarah Davie, daughter of General Allen Jones, liorn 
 September 23, 1762, married William K. Davie, April 
 11, 1782, died 1802, leaving three sons, Allen Jones, 
 
 Hyrter A., and Frederick William, and anions: others 
 
 these three daughters: Mary, Surah and Rebecca." 
 '■Thomas Amis died Xovt'inber 25, 17!)7. Erected 
 
 by his friend, llicliard liruneulian, of Orange." * * * 
 "John Sitgu':ues. jiid,L;e, &c , died March -Ith, 1802." 
 •'John Boylau of Xew .Jersey, died October 7, 1799, 
 
 erected by his affectionate brother, William Eoylan.'' 
 
 Ilutchins G. Burton, who married Sally, 
 daughter of Willie Jones and Mary Montford, 
 and the granddaughter of Rolnn Jones, was a 
 native of Granville County. He studied 
 law, and settled at Cliarlotto, Mecklenburg 
 County, which county he represented in 1810, 
 and by this legislature was elected attorney- 
 general of the stace. He then moved to Hali- 
 fax, aud in 1817 was elected to the legisla- 
 ture from that county*. 
 
 In 1819, he represented this district in the 
 Sixteenth Congress, and was re-elected in 
 1821 to the Seventeenth Congress. In 1824, 
 he was elected governor, and in 1826, he was 
 nominated, by John Q. Adams, as governor of 
 Arkansas; but this appointment was not con- 
 firmed by the senate. 
 
 He was of social and genial manners, and 
 wherever he went was universally popular. 
 
 He died in Iredell County in 1836, and lies 
 buried in the Unity church yard, near Beat- 
 tie's ford. 
 
 Andrew Jo3'nei', who married the widow of 
 Governor Burton, was born, reared, and died 
 in Halifax County. His son, " an old school 
 gentleman," was much esteemed, and of great 
 popularity. 
 
 He represented this county in the senate, 
 from 1835 to 1852. 
 
 John W. Eppes, who married Martha, 
 ilaughter of Willie Jones and Mary Montford, 
 was a native of Virginia. She was his second 
 wife, his first was a daughter of Thomas Jef- 
 ferson. He was a representative in congress 
 from 1803 to 1811; and again from 1813 to 
 1815, and a senator from 1817 to 1819, when 
 he resigned on account of ill health; he died 
 near Richmond, September, 1823, age fifty. 
 
 Pride Jones, son of Caldwallader Jones, re- 
 
HALIFAX COUNTY. 
 
 201 
 
 sides in Ilillsboro, mucli estoeinod as a gcntle- 
 mau and a scholar; has often been in tlie leg- 
 islature, and served in the confederate service 
 as lieutenant -colonel. 
 
 His son, Halcot Pride, did good service m 
 the War as captain of cavahy. 
 
 He has been twice married; lirst to a daugh- 
 ter of .fudge John A. Cameron; and second, 
 to a daughter of William Cain, Esq. 
 
 William Polk, born .July 9th, 1758, died 
 January 14th, 1834, wlio married Grizzle Gil- 
 christ, the daughter of Robin Jones, was born 
 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He 
 early drew lessons of patriotism from that ar- 
 dent and devoted people, and has testilied 
 that he was a spectator, (as the Reverend 
 Hampton Hunter has also testified,) at the 
 convention, assembled on May 20th, 1775, at 
 Charlotte, which declared their independence 
 of all allegiance to the British crown. 
 
 The tiles of the Pension Bureau, at Wash- 
 ington, presents his declaration I'oi' a pension, 
 and it tells in his own simple and unadorned 
 language of his military services and sufferings 
 endured to obtain the liberty we now enjoy. 
 
 Colonel Polk represented the count}' of 
 Mecklenburg from 1787 to 1791. 
 
 He wa.s appointed, in 1812, a general in tlie 
 United -States army, but age and other causes 
 compelled him to decline. 
 
 He removed to Raleigh, and wa.s for a long- 
 time president of the bank of the state. He 
 was grand master of the free mason lodges of 
 the state, and died Januarj- 14th 1834, pos- 
 sessing the esteem of all who knew him. 
 
 Extracted from the declaration of Colonel 
 William Polk, on file in Pension office, Wash- 
 ington, 1). C. He was born on July 9, 1758, 
 (seventy-five years old on July 9th, 1833.) 
 
 lie entered into service in war of the rev- 
 olution, in April, 1775, as second lieutenant of 
 a company commanded by Captain Ezekiel 
 i'olk, third regiment of South Carolina State 
 Troops of Mounted Infantry, Colonel Wil- 
 
 liam I'liompson, Major .Mason, coninuuiding; 
 rendezvoused at York, South Carolina, and 
 marched to Ninty-si.\ to oppose tlie tories, 
 thence to Dorchester, and thence to Granby. 
 An engagement took place at Canehrake, on 
 Beecndjer 22nd, 1775, where he was severely 
 wounded in the left shoulder, rr.)ni which he 
 was conKnod eight or nine months and from 
 the ett'ects of winch he still sutlers. 
 
 On November 26th, 1776, he was elcct-jd by 
 the Provincial C(n)gress of North Carolina, 
 Major of the Ninth North Carolina Continen- 
 tal P)atta]ion, and joined his regiment at Hali- 
 fa.K. He did duty by command of General 
 Moore, at Charleston. South Carolina, and at 
 Wilmington. This regiment was under com- 
 mand of Colonel John Williams, John Luttrel 
 being Lieuteiiant-Colojiel. From absence of 
 these officers, the command of the regiment 
 devolved on himself, and he marched with the 
 regiment to Georgetown, then in Maryland, 
 now in the District of Columbia, thence to 
 Trenton, where his regiment joined the grand 
 army under General Washington; was in the 
 battle of Brandywine, September 10, 1777, 
 and Gerraantown, October 4, 1777, where he 
 was wounded by a musket ball in the cheek. 
 He went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, 
 when the regiment was reduced, and he re- 
 turned to North Carolina to superintend the 
 recruiting service for the purpose of filling up 
 the regiments. In the fall or winter of 1780, 
 he was appointed a lieutenant colonel by John 
 Rutledge, Governor of South Carolina, and 
 had command of the Fourth, and then the 
 Third regiment of the State. He first must- 
 ered his regiment under General Thomas 
 Sumter, on Broad river. South Carolina. The 
 first active service was an attack on a block 
 bouse near Granby, on the Congaree, which 
 was carried hy his and 'Colonel Wade Hamp- 
 ton's regiment; was at the siege and reduc- 
 tion of Forts Mott and Orangeburg. He was 
 present at the battle of Eutaw Springs, Sep- 
 
202 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 teinlior 8, 1871, ( wliere liis lidi-se was killed 1. Rnl)in, died in 3'onth. (See Uni. Mag.) 
 
 under liiiii, and where his lirotlier was killed) 11. Martha, mai-ried first, James Green, 
 
 at the reduction of Matthas Foi't, and battle second, Judge John Sit.ijreaves; third, Ezekiel 
 
 ofQninhy. He held the rank of lieutenant Hall, horn 1762, died 1803. 
 
 colonel at the close of the war. He served in III. Sarah, married Willi.am R. Davie, born 
 
 177!h as volunteer aid to Governor Caswell in 1756, died 1820. (See his sketch.) 
 
 battle of Camden, August 16, 1780. Colonel IV. Rebecca Edwards Jones, born 1770, only 
 
 Polk died at Raleigh, January 14, 1834. daughter by his second wife, married Lunsford 
 
 General Lucius J. Polk, sou of ^ViHiam J. Long, .son of Nicholas Long, who was com- 
 
 Polk, and his wife, Mary L(uig. was a gallant uiissary general of the North Carolina foi-ces 
 
 officer in the late civil war. He was horn at in the revolution; in state senate, 1784, 
 
 Salisbury, on .luly 10th, 1833. He entered 1785 and 1787-, in the provincial congress of 
 
 the army as a private iu Genera! Cleburne's North Carolina, 1774,-75; married first, Mary 
 
 commar'd, and was sodii made a first lieuten- McKiuny, 1704; second, Mary Copeland, 1799. 
 
 ant, an<l as such was in the b:ittle of Shiioli, Issue to the above as follows: 
 
 where he received a wound in the face. He IV. ('/) Pebccca Edwards Long, born 1795, 
 
 Was jiromoted to be a brigadiei'-geiieral under inarried Colonel Cad\vallader Jones, son of 
 
 Cleburne, and joined his brigade in time for Major Cadwallader Jones, aid to Lafayette, 
 
 the fight at .Murfreesboro, where his ciuiimaud a grandson of I'eter Jones for whom I'eters- 
 
 made a brilliant charge on the enemy. burg is named, and Mary Pride, of Virginia; 
 
 He was complimented in General Bragg's resided in Ilillsboro, in the United States 
 
 report <d' this battle. He was engaged in nav_\ , and iu the army as major, (1812.) died 
 
 many other l.)attles, at Ringgold Gap, and 1861, (li) Mary Lunsford Long, married Dr. 
 
 Kennesaw Mountain, where he was badly W. J. P(ilk. 
 
 wounded by a cannon ball, whicli effectually II. {</) Allen Jones Green, married Lucy 
 
 disal)led him from future service in the field. Pride Jones, sister of Colonel C. Jones. 
 
 He married ihis cousin, Sally Polk, and re- III. {n) Allen Jones Davie, perished en 
 
 sides in Maury County, Tennessee. route to California; (b) Hyder Ali, married 
 
 We have now finished the sketches of this Betsy Jones; (r) Sarah, married V/illiam F. 
 
 extensi\-o and distinguished family \\'lio for DeSaussure, of South Carolina; (d) Mary 
 
 generations have [iroxed our asseition at the Ilaynes; (c) Relieccn, married Churchill Jones;, 
 
 commencement of this sketch, as lieiug " the ( /') Frederick William married first, Octavia 
 
 most active and useful men in tlmse eaiiy DeSaussure, and second, Mary P'razier. 
 
 times of the country." Issue to the above as follows: 
 
 Genealogy- of the Jones family. II. (a) had issue following: Mary, nuirried 
 
 Allen, son of Rdbin Jruios. linrn 1739, died Walter Izard; fifth, Allen, married Sallic 
 
 lSi>7, married fiist, Mary Ilaynes, second, Scott ; si.xth, Halcott married Virginia Taylor; 
 
 Rebecca Edwnnls, and third, Eaton; educated seventh, Lucy ; eighth, John Sitgreaves Greene 
 
 at Eton, England, lived at Mt. Gallant, near of Columbia, South Carolina; ninth, Fred. 
 
 Gaston, Northampton County, Xorth (':irolina; Lafayette married Virginia Colelough. 
 
 member of provincial congi-ess 1774, 177.3, and IV. ((f) had issue following: First, Allen C, 
 
 1776; brigadier-general in revolution, 1776; lives at Greensboro, Ala., Colonel in civil war, 
 
 continental congress, 1779 and 1786; conven- married Catherine Erwin ; second Cadwallader, 
 
 tion 1788. Issue as follows: married Annie Isabella Iredell, daughter of 
 
HALIFAX COUNTY. 203 
 
 tJovoriiorJanu's Iredell, to tln'sc liist wore iHtrii Mai'V, niarriod to \'h\U[> llolliiig; (A) f-ianih, 
 
 ((/) Fi-;inces Iredell, inarried to George Erwin married to E. W. 1 liiMiard. in coniiress from 
 
 of Alal)ama; (/>) Iredell married (first,) Klleii, Virginia, from ISll to 1S47; (r) Willie, mar- 
 
 daiighter of Governor Adams; (second) Laura ried (tirst,) Co-x, (second,) Jovner; ((/) -Tohn, 
 
 McMalion; (-■) Cadwalluder married Emma, dicnl unniainied. 
 
 daughterofltr. Charles E. Johnson; ((() Allen, To Willie Jones and Mary Montfort were 
 married Augusta Porclier; («•) Johnston, also born: (-') Anne Maria, marrieil to Joseph 
 attorney general of North Carolina, married I>. Littlejohn; (/-) Willie, died single; (c) 
 Elizaheth Watters Miller; (/') Annie Isabella; Robert A., died single; Itgislatiire LS20. 
 married Dr. Thomas C. Robertson, of South Miirtlia, daughter of Robin Jones, married 
 Carolina; (//) Willie; (/() llalcot Pride; (/) Judge Thomas Gilchrist;, issue, Griselda Gil- 
 Helen, married J. Strieker Coles. clirist, who married Colonel William Polk, of 
 
 IV. (-/) also had issue, thisd. Dr. Pride- Jones. Raleigh, to- whom were born, (n) General 
 
 married first, Mary E. A. Cameron, daughter of Thomas G. i'olk, married Mary Eloise Trotter; 
 
 Judge John Cameron; and second. Martha (/;) Dr. William J. Polk, who married Mary, 
 
 Cain; fourth, Mary Rebecca, married to P. 13. daughter of Lundsfoid Long and Rebecca 
 
 Ruffin; fifth, Robin, married Sarah Polk, killed Kdwards. To General Thomas G. I'olk were 
 
 in battle of Brandy Station; sixth, Sarah Ijorn, (*/) Jane, married to Dr. Bouch(!lle; {h) 
 
 Rebecca, married to Josiah Collins, jr. Mary, who was the tinst wife of Honorable 
 
 IV. (M had issue following: First, Griselda, George Davis, of Wilmington; (r) Vv'illiani; 
 
 married to Judge Russell Houston, Louisville, ((/) Richard; (r) Emily; (/) Thos. G. 
 
 Kentucky;second,Allen Jones, born 1824, mai'- Colonel AVilliam Polk married a second 
 
 ried first, Clendinin; second, Ann;i L. Fitz- time, Sarah Hawkins, issue- (.■) Lucius J. 
 
 hugh,-lIelen:i,Arks; third, Thomas G., married Polk; (J) Bishop Le uiidas Polk; (e) Mary, 
 
 Lavinia Wood, in 1825; fourth, Mary Jones, wife of Honorable George E. Badger; (/) 
 
 born 1831, at Salisbury, married to Joseph Rufus K Polk; (A)- Alex. Hamilton; («) Georg.e 
 
 Branch, brother of General L. O'B. Branch, W. Polk; (j) Susan, wife of Honorable Kenneth 
 
 General Lucius J., born 1833, at Salisbury ;fi,fth Rayner; (/,) Andrew J. 
 
 enlisted as private, became General [C.S. A.,] Elizabeth Eaton, only daughter of Robin 
 
 married Sally Polk and lives in Maury County, Jones by his serond wife, married Governor 
 
 Tennessee; sixth, Cadwallader of Helena Ark, Benj:unin Williams, vf Moore County, Gov- 
 
 married Carrie Lowry; seventh, Rufus, born in ernor of North Carolina in 1799 and 1807; 
 
 Tennessee, 1839, married Cynthia Martin. issue: 
 
 Willie, son of Robin Jones, married Mary I. Allen William, educated at Eton. 
 
 Montfort, educated at Eton, England; presi- 'fiiE Ckowell f.\mily. 
 
 dent of council of safety, 177t!; in legislature. It has lieen truly oljserved that truth is 
 
 1776 to 1779; continental congress, 1780; cou- stranger than fiction. 
 
 vention at Hillsboro, 1788; died at Raleigh in After the do.ith of Cromwell, and the ac- 
 
 1801, had issue as follows: cession of Charles II.. feai-iug pror-eeution 
 
 I. Sally, married (first,) Governor H. G. from the crown, John and Edward, two of 
 Burton; (second,) Colonel Andrew Joyner. the brothers of the Protector, in the same 
 
 II. Martha, married to John W. E}.pes, year, left Kngland for America. They settled 
 (wliose first wife was a daughter of Thomas first in Woodbridge, New Jersey. On their 
 Jefferson,) to the last named were born, (r/) voyage, more etlectually to avoid the storm 
 
204 
 
 WnEELER'8 REMINISCEXCES. 
 
 inipeiiding, tliej-, with nuich solemnity, oiiel iiiuler General Greene, and was i^^ the 
 
 changed their name to Crowell.* hattle of Entaw Springs, whioh decisive hattle 
 
 John, who emigrated from Now Jerso}' to closed his military career. 
 
 Halifax, married a Miss Lewis. He died He was a member of the legislature in 178(3, 
 
 early leaving several children. Joseph, one of and of the continental congress in 1787, and 
 
 his sons, married Miss Barnes. One of his in the First Congress, 1790, and re-elected to 
 
 daughters married Colnnel Monfort, whose 
 daughter was the wife of Willie Jones. Jlis 
 sketch we have already presented. A son of 
 Edward, the other hrotlier, settled in Georgia, 
 and married a sistei' of Governor Rayburn-. 
 
 Another son of Edward, Samuel, married 
 Miss ]>radford, daughter of Colonel Bradford 
 of the British army. He (Samuel) was in the 
 revolutionary war, aiul served as a major, 
 under General Greene. 
 
 He live-d on Flint River, in retirement, and 
 was distinguished for his modest, unobstrusive 
 
 the Second Congress, 1791,-'93. 
 
 In 1795, he was a member of the legislature 
 from Halifax town. On November 20, 1802, 
 he was chosen governor of the state, but died 
 on 27th of November, of the sanie year before 
 his inauguration. One son, Samuel Porter 
 Ashe survived him, who died near Browns- 
 ville, Tennessee, leaving three chihh'cn, John 
 Ashe, of Mississippi; Shepard Ashe, of Ten- ■ 
 nessee; and a daughter, who married Holmes. 
 
 WiUis Alston was born, reared, and died in 
 Halifax County. He was distinguished as a 
 
 character. He had several children; among politician, and entered public life as a member 
 
 them Colonel Jolin Crowell, who was a dele- 
 gate in congress, when tiie territory' of Ala- 
 bama was established in 1817, and when the 
 state constitution was formed; was the fii'st 
 representative in congress from that state, 
 serving till 1821. Soon after he was appointed 
 agent for the Creek Indians, then occupying 
 large portions of Alabama and Georgia, until 
 they were removed west of the Mississip[ii in 
 1836. He died near Fort Mitchell, in Ala- 
 bama, .June 25th, 1846. 
 
 John Baptista Ashe, (born 1758, died 1802,) 
 lived and died in Halifax. He was son of 
 Governor Samuel Ashe, born in 1745; M'as a 
 captain, at the battle of Alamance, in (gov- 
 ernor Tryon's army, 1771, and with ,lohn 
 Walker suffered at the hands of the regr.lators. 
 
 He was at tlie battle of Moore's Ci'eek 
 Bridge, a captain in Coilllonel Lington's regi- 
 ment. 
 
 He was promoted to rank of lieutenant eol- 
 
 *IIere iu the quiet retreats of North Carolina, the 
 restless and asiiiring blood of Cromwell found repose, 
 and the exquisite lines of Gray were realized: 
 •■ .Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest- 
 Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood '' 
 
 of the House of Commons in 1790, and served 
 till 1792, he became senator in 1794, serving 
 until 1796. He w^as elected to the Sixth 
 Congress, 1799, and served till 1815, and 
 in the Nineteenth Congress from 1825 to 
 1831. During the war he was chairman of the 
 committee of waj's and means; at that time 
 a most important position. Without great 
 abilities, he was a man of consummate tact, and 
 successful in all of his enterprizes. He was 
 consistent and uniform as a statesman. He 
 died April 10, 1837. 
 
 John Haywood was born, reared and lived 
 in this county. He was the son of Egbert 
 Haywood, who represented the county in the 
 provincial congress in November, 1776, at Hal- 
 ifax, which adopted the state constitution, and 
 in the house of commons in 1777, and 1778. 
 
 From the distracted condition of the 
 country at this time, the opportunities to ac- 
 quire education were few; but young Hay- 
 wood entered the profession of the law, in 
 which he was destined to become distin- 
 guished, under many disadvantages. To 
 the want of a systematic intellectual culture, 
 
HALIFAX COUNTY. 205 
 
 was adiK'cl an mii;ainl_v [torson, ami an lui- luil History nf 'IV'iuK'ssoe," aiul tlio secoiiil, 
 pleasant harsh voice. But possessing,' great "The Civil and Political llistor}' of Tennessee, 
 (letei'nunation of character, an ardent love of from its Earliest Sottlenieiit to 1796." The 
 stud}', and a loft}' ambition, he overcame those style of these works, however, i.s fiot elegant, 
 disadvantages, and soon rose to the iiead of and the reading is nnintere-^ting. It is chiefly 
 his profession. His succi'ss was manifested upon the fact of Ids Itoing one of the mo~t 
 by his election, in 1791, by the legislature as learned and profound lawyers of the nation, 
 attornev' general, the successor of Avery, Ire- that tlie fame of Judge Haywood rests. "" 
 dell and Moore, allshining lights in the law. He married early in life Martha Jvlwards, 
 He held this office until 1794, when he was from which union have sprung numerous de- 
 elected one of the judges of the superior scendeuts, many of whom live in Alal)ama 
 courts, in place of Judge Spencer, deceased, and Tennessee. 
 
 Such was the estimate of liis associates, that When in North Carolina he resided on a 
 
 Judge Hall decided in 1828, (in S|iier's case, farm he owned, about six miles north of Louis- 
 
 Devereux 496,) as follows: "With no disre- b rg, in Franklin County. 
 
 spect to the memory- of the dead ; or to the .John Henry Eiton, (born 1787, died 1856.) 
 
 pretensiuus of the living, a greater criminal senator in congress, secretary of war, governor 
 
 lawyer, than Judge Haywood never sat upon of Florida, and envoy to S[iain, was a native 
 
 the bench in North Carolina." of Halifax County He was educated partly 
 
 In 1809, he resigned the ofiice of Judge, to at tiie uuivei'sity, but never graduated. After 
 
 defend James Glasgow, against the charge leaving the university, he studied law, and 
 
 of fraud in issuing land warrants while he was emigrated to Tennessee. Here he entered 
 
 secretary of state. successfully into politics, and so became, at 
 
 The defendant was convicted, and Mr. Hay- the early age of thirty-one, by selection of 
 wood incurred a degree of odium, for jiis the governor, one of the senators in con- 
 course in defending him, that induced him to gress from Tennessee, which position he 
 leave the state. He sought new fields of ser- held from 1818 to 1829. During the first ses- 
 vice in Tennessee, Here betook rank with sion of his service, the invasion of Florida liy 
 the ablest advocates, and soon was elevated General Jackson, was an important and excit- 
 to the sui>reme court bench, in the place of ing question. The communication of the 
 Judge Cooke, and where he remained until president on the subject, was refei'red to a 
 his death, in Decemljer, 1826. committee, upon which was Mr. Eaton, Mr. 
 
 In addition to his labors at tiie bur and on King, of New York, Mr. Forsyth, of Georgia, 
 the bench. Judge Hajnvood, while in this state, and a member from Pennsylvania. Tiie 
 prepared " A Treatise on the Duty and Office majority of this committee submitted a report 
 of Justices of Peace, Sheriffs, &c.," "A Man- strongly condemning Jackson, froni which re- 
 nal of the Laws of North Carolina," and two poit Eaton and King dissented. Eaton never 
 volumes of re[torts; all works of high merit. during his life for a moment swerved in his 
 
 He also published several theological and devotion and fidelity to '• the Hero of New Or- 
 
 historical works. He was a firm believer in leans." His letters, signed •• W^'oming," in 
 
 ghosts, and of the reappearance of departed favor of Jackson were considered models of 
 
 spirits— the great weakness of a great mind, classical diction, and cogent reasoning. These 
 
 He published in 1823, two volumes of his- contributed much towanls elevating Jackson 
 
 tory. The first, ''On the Natural and Aboiigi- to the presidency. He further signalized his 
 
20G 
 
 wheelp:r's reminiscences. 
 
 attachment to him, by writing and publishing 
 an elaborate and voluminous" life of Jackson." 
 On the accession of this chief to the presi- 
 dency. Eaton was appointed secretary of war, 
 which position he held from 1829 to 1831, 
 until his Diarriage with Mrs. Timberlake, the 
 "the fair and fast" widow of Purser Tim-, 
 berlake of the navy. There was scandal con- 
 nected with this lady. The wives of Calhoun, 
 Ingham. Branch and Berrien refused to call 
 on her; Jackson took her part, and a dissolu- 
 tion of the cabinet was the result. Mr. Eaton 
 was governor of Florida, 1834,-'3G, and envoy 
 to Spain from 183(5 to 1840. 
 
 Governor Eaton was of commanding pre- 
 sence; his literary alii lit ies respectable, his 
 elocution graceful, and his voice remarkably 
 tine. He was social and generous in his inter- 
 course with his friends, and much esteemed. 
 
 He died in Washington City, November, 
 18o6. His widow married again, a!id recently 
 died in Washington. 
 
 J. J. Daniel, bora 1783, died 1848, one of the 
 justices of the supreme court. Born, reared and 
 (lied in Halifax. His early education was de- 
 fective; he studied law under General William 
 Iv. Davie. 
 
 He was a member of the legislature in 1807 
 and again 1812. 
 
 In 1816, he was elected one of the judges of 
 the superior courts, which ho held until 1832, 
 when he was elevated to the supreme court 
 bench; which exalted position he occuj)ied 
 until his death, February, 1848. 
 
 Judge Daniel was remarkable for his deep 
 and varied knowledge of his profession^ and bis 
 accurate and extensive stores of historical in- 
 formation. These were never ostentatiously 
 disj.layed, for he was as artless as innocence 
 itself. The appropriate language of his as-soci- 
 ate. Judge HutBn,on the occasion of his death, 
 describes his character in true and vivid col- 
 ors: 
 
 "Judge Daniel served his country through 
 
 a period of nearly thirty years acceptably, 
 ably, and faithfully. He had a love of learn- 
 ing, an inquiring mind, and a memory uncom- 
 monly tenacious; he acquired and retained an 
 extensive and varied stock of knowledge, es- 
 pecially in the history and principles of the 
 law; he was without ari'ogance or ostenta- 
 tion — even of his learning. He had the most 
 unaffected and charming simplicity and mild- 
 ness of manners, and had no other purpose 
 than "to execute justice, and maintain truth," 
 therefore he was patient in hearing argument, 
 laborious and earnest in investigation, candid 
 and instructive in consultation, and impartial 
 and firm in decision." 
 
 So appropriate .in eulogium from so compe- 
 tent a source was well deserved. 
 
 He married Maria Stith, whom he survived, 
 and by whom he had several children. 
 
 John K. J. Daniel was a native of Halifax. 
 He was educated at the universitj , wliere he 
 graduated in 1821, in the same class with Hon- 
 orable Anderson Mitchell and others, taking 
 the first honors. He read law and practiced with 
 much success. In 1831, he entei-ed political 
 life as a member of the House of Commons, 
 and served till 1884, at which session he was 
 elected attorney general of the state, which 
 position he held till 1841, when he was elected 
 a member of Twenty-seventh Congre.-s, and 
 re elected continuouslj* till the Thirty-second 
 Congress (1851.) For many years he was the 
 chairman of the committee on claims, for 
 which his unquestioned integrity, clear and 
 discriminating mind and patient industry, 
 rendered hira a model chairman. After leav- 
 ing congress, he removed toShreveport, Louis- 
 iana, where he died In 18G8. 
 
 Junius Daniel, born June 27, 1828, killed 
 in battle May 12, 1864, son of the precccding, 
 was born in the town of Halifax. Ilis early 
 education was conducted by J. M. Lovejoy, 
 Raleigh. He entered the military academy at 
 West Point in 1846. After graduating, he 
 was ordered to Newport, Kentucky. In 1852, 
 lie went to Mexico, where he remai:;e.i four 
 years repressing the Indiaris, with whom he 
 
HALIFAX COUNTY. 
 
 207 
 
 had frequent ekinnishes. On his return from 
 New Mexieo, his father havitii^ piir('haseil 
 lands in Louisiana, induced him to resign his 
 commission in the army and aid in cultivating 
 the soil. He was thus engaged, when Sumter 
 fell. His military education, and iiis exem- 
 plary character induced the authorities of 
 Louisiana to offer him a command, but ho pre- 
 ferred serving his own state. He came to 
 North Carolina and tendered iiis services to 
 Governor Ellis, they were promptly accepted, 
 and he was appointed colonel of the fourth, 
 afterwards fourteenth, regiment of North Car- 
 olina troops, with which he remained until 
 the expiration of the twelve months term of 
 service. He was then elected colonel of the 
 forty-third and also of the forty-tifth regi- 
 ments, both of which had enlisted for the 
 war, and aliout the same time he was tend- 
 ered the command of the second cavalry. 
 He accepted the command of the forty- 
 fifth regiment. In October, 1862, he was 
 commissioned brigadier. As a disciplin- 
 arian he had no superior; in attention to the 
 comforts and wants of his men, and handling 
 his troops in action, as was proved at Gettys- 
 burg, and Spottsylvania, he was the equal of 
 any officer in the army. His brigade con- 
 sisted of the thirty-second regiment, com- 
 manded by Colonel Brabble, who was killed at 
 Spottsylvania; the forty-third, commanded by 
 Keeuan, who was wounded and captured at 
 Gettysburg, and afterwards by Cary Whita- 
 ker, killed at Petersburg. The forty-fifth, 
 commanded first by Morehead, (who dietl at 
 Martinsburg,) and then by Boyd, who was 
 wounded and captured at Gettysburg, and was 
 exchanged, to be killed at Spottsylvania; the 
 fifty-third by W. A. Owens, killed at Win- 
 chester, and the twenty-second North Caro- 
 lina battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Col- 
 onel Andrews who was killed at Gettj-sburg. 
 What a sad record! How loudly does it speak 
 of the heroic gallantry of these devoted men! 
 
 General Daniel sfient the fall of 1802, with 
 his brigade at Drury's Bluff, and in Decem- 
 ber of that year, he was ordered to Norih 
 Carolina, under General D. H. Hill. Shortly 
 after the battle of Chancellorsville, he was 
 transferred to Lee's army, Rliodes' division, 
 attached to EwcU's corps, during the Peunsvl- 
 vania campaign, the division being the advance 
 column. When Carlisle, the extreme point of 
 advance, was reached. General Ewell made an 
 address to hia men, congratulating them on 
 their success. Turning to Daniel's brigade, 
 recently attached to his corps, said: "They 
 have shown themselves so obedient to all or- 
 ders, so steady and regular in their march, that 
 he entrusted to them the charge of bearing the 
 corps flag, confident that its honor would not 
 suffer while in the keeping of such troops." 
 The conduct of General Daniel at Gettysburg, 
 the first real opportunity he had had to dis- 
 play liis militar}' skill, won for him the esteem 
 and admiration of his associates in arms. His 
 brigade never faltered a moment on that dis- 
 astrous field, but moved with the precision of 
 a machine. We have to pass the intervening 
 period to the closing scenes, the battles of the 
 Wilderness, and Spottsylvania Courthouse, 
 
 The morning of May 5th, 1864, was an au- 
 spicious day in General Daniel's career. He 
 was then in the reserve, supporting the Stone- 
 wall and other brigades. General Joucs was 
 killed, and all gave way before the impetuous 
 charge of the enemy. At this critical mo- 
 ment, when to hesitate was to be lost, Daniel 
 ordered his brigade to charge, and he drove the 
 enemy back. On the same night, (May 5th, 
 1864,) Daniels brigade was ordered to the ex- 
 treme right, and was kept constantly engaged. 
 
 Grant had driven Johnson from his piosi- 
 tion, Raraseur and Harris had gone to retake 
 the works, the enemy were trying to break 
 Lee's second line, pushing the right of Daniel's 
 brigade heavily. He was a fe>v paces in the 
 rear of the Forty-fifth regiment; while giving 
 
208 WHEELER'S EE.MINISCENCES. 
 
 orders to one of his couriers he was strnek iu lie studied hwv with Judge John Haywood, 
 
 the abdomen by a niinie Ijall, which, in a few but he never pursued the profession. lie pve- 
 
 hours, proved his deatli wound. ferred the more excitino- career of politics, in 
 
 A short time before his dissohUion the doc- whicli he was omineutly successfuL His first 
 
 tors informed him that he was dying, and iisked appearance in public life was in 1811, as sena- 
 
 if a minister of the gospel might be called in ; tor in the legislature from Halifax County, 
 
 lie readily assented, and a minister was sent He was elected continuously until 1817, when 
 
 for. All knelt down iu prayer; after prayer he he was chosen governor of the state. 
 
 was very quiet, and requested to be raised up After serving the constitutional term, he 
 
 in bed; tluit being done he breathed once or was again elected a senator in the legishiture, 
 
 twice freely. "Now lay uie down," he said, in 1822, and tlie next year lie was elected sen- 
 
 and folding his hands across his breast, and at or in the Congress of the United States, 
 
 closing bis eyes, on May l-l!th, 18(34, the spirit and re-elected to the same distinguished post 
 
 of Junius Daniel departed for another and in 1827. He resigned on being selected by 
 
 better world. General Jackson as secretaiy of the navy. 
 
 His remains were taken to the place of his On the dissolution of the cabinet in conse- 
 birth; he was buried under venerable oaks quence of affair of Mrs. Eaton, already refer- 
 in the old cliureli yard at Halifax, wliere red to in the sk'.'tcli of Governor Eaton, Gover- 
 uianv of liis honored r-.dativcs sleep, "that nor Branch returned to his home, and was 
 sleep that knows no waking." elected a nieniber of the house of representa- 
 
 He left no children. His atfectionate wife, tives in 1831. .In 1834. he was again elected 
 
 Ellen, the daughter of the late John J. Long, to the state senate, and in 183-t, a nicndier of 
 
 still survives to ciierish with devoted affection the convention to revise the constitution of 
 
 his stainless reputation, his daring valor, and the state. In 1838, he was the democratic 
 
 his devoted patriotism. candidate for Governor of North Carolina, 
 
 Benjumin MeC'ullock, also a native of Hali- and was defeated by Governor Dudley. In 
 
 fax, was killed in the liattle of Elkhorn. He 1843, he was appc'intcd by the president 
 
 was the grandson of a man by the same name; Governor of Florida, after which he retired 
 
 these names are frequently mentioned in the from the arena of public life. 
 
 Colonial History of North Carolina He died at Enfield, on January 4th, 18(33. 
 
 Henry McCullock was, by order of the King, By his first wife, Miss Fort, he raised a large 
 
 appointed secretary, vice Kice, deceased. His ^nd lovely family. He married a second time 
 
 difficulties with Governor Johnston for sev- >ii-^. Bond, of Bertie County, (/(ce Jordan,) 
 
 eral vcars created great confusion in the col- who did not long survive her distinguished 
 
 oiiy.* hnsliand. 
 
 John Branch, born 1782, died 1863, was James Grant, of Iowa, was born and reared 
 
 born, raised, and die<l in Halifax County. His in Halifax County. His grandfather emigrated 
 
 ancestors were of true revolutionary stock, from Scotland. His father, whose name he 
 
 He was born November 4,1782; educated at bears, was boi'n in same county (17'Jl.) He 
 
 the university, where he graduated in 1801, in was elected a mci/iber of the legislature in 
 
 the same class with Thomas G. Amis, Thomas 1814, an<l in 1827, comptroller of the state. 
 
 D. Bennehan, Francis Little Dancy,and John He married Elizabeth, daughter of .^hltthew 
 
 Davis Hawkins. C. Whitaker, who represented Halifax in the 
 
 ^i^iu-dof Tnide;KonsO«ice,l2. state senate in 1807 to 1810. He died in 
 
HALIFAX COUNTY. 209 
 
 1834, U'iiviii^- four sons, of wlioia Jaiae.s, the Nash Comity, otio of thf most i;-ifte(l hiwyors 
 sul)joct of our preseut slcotch, was the eldest, of his day, and was ru-nisod in 182;J. He set- 
 After his academic course, lie entered llie tied first in Xaslnille, and then removed to 
 university, and grailuated in 18:51, in tliesame Halifax, where lie resided for many years, uti- 
 class with Giles Mehaiio, Calvin Jones, Jaeoh til he moved to KMleij;h, where lie lived until 
 Thompson, De B. Hooper, and others. As a his death. 
 
 scholar, young Grant was among the lirst of He was elected a iiieniher of the legislature 
 his class; and gave early presage of that high in 188';,-'40,'4-i and '44. He was defrated hy 
 order of ahility which has since achieved for one vote, in 1888, in conseiiueiice of the sup- 
 him friends, fortune and fame. port he had given t.i aid in the construction of 
 He read law, and with that enterprise which the Wilmington and Weldon railroad. In 
 marks his character he left his native state, 1846, he declined lieing a candidate, and never 
 and sought his fortunes in the growing west, again appeared as a politician. His course in 
 He first settled in Hlinois, and suhsciuoiitly the legislature was marked hy intelligence, in- 
 removed to Iowa, whilst it was yet a territory, dependence, and integrity. Never did tlu^ state 
 In 1846, he aided in organizing tin; constitution lia\'e a more devoted and selfsaeritii-ing ('iti- 
 of the emhryo state, and thus hecame identi- zeii. A mere politiciaii he ne\-er was. (Jlearin 
 tied with its history. Here he pursued with his convictions of right, ontsjiokeii in his views, 
 energy, integrity, and success, a career of pro- and firm, decided and fearless in his opinions, 
 fessioiiul labor and attained the highest he was little fitted for p.>!i't ics. Highly as he- 
 judicial honors, he has also amassed a princely apjireciated the confidejice and regard of his 
 fortune. He now occupies a [>rofessional posi- eountrymen, he never courted popular ap- 
 tion second to no lawyer in the groat noi'th- plause at tlie expense of i)riiiei[)les. This was 
 west. During the troubles of the civil war a p'>pnlarity that f)Iiowed him, but never was, 
 his generous character was shown in oontribnt- iiursiied by him. Therefore, in the law aird its 
 ing to the comfort and relief of the unfort- study, his great faculties found ani[jlo and 
 unate confederate prisoners. At the late ap[iropriate exercise, and in its prat-tice he 
 comnieiicement he gave to his Almx. muier sul)- had no sujierior. His reputation \vas fixed on 
 staiitial proofs of his munificent liberality, a high and permanent foundation by a brief 
 He delivered, at the ccminiencement of ]878, tiled in thecase of State r. ^\'ill, (1st Devereux. 
 an address before the Alumni society, dis- and Battle.) That argument, then, was with- 
 tinguished for its ability, research, path;)sand out a superior in the leg:d history of the s.ate, 
 eloquence. and so stands to this (hiy. It is, indeed, a 
 
 Bartholomew Figures ^loore, born January model without a rival. 
 
 29, 1801, died November 29, 1878, was a native In May, 1848, he was appointed by Gov- 
 
 of Halifax; born near Fishing Creek, in the ernor Graham, attorney general of the state, 
 
 upper part of the county; the fifth son of (and in December, he was elected to t lie posi- 
 
 James Moore, a revolutionary" soldier. tion b}" tlie legislature) which he resigned in 
 
 Having been prepared for college, he en- consequence of lieing aii[) )inted on a commis- 
 
 tered the Sopiiomore class, and graduated in- sion " to revise the statute laws of the state." 
 
 June, 1820; in the same class with William H. His associates in this work was Asa Biggs 
 
 Battle, Bishop Otey, Archibald G. Carter, and K. M. Saunders. They performed this 
 
 and others. duty in an able manner and submitted their 
 
 He read law with Thomas N. Mann, of work to tlie legislature of 18.54,-'55. 
 
210 
 
 WHEELER'S RExMINISCENCES. 
 
 Mr. Moore was the outspoken and fearless 
 friend of the uuion, and the bitter opponent 
 of tlie doctrine of secession. These opinions 
 he exprcssod openly, under all circumstances. 
 Many dillerod from him in these views, but 
 all respected his sentiments foi' they believed 
 in the purity of his convictions. 
 
 Immediately after the war closed, Mr. 
 Moore, with Governor Swain and William 
 Eaton wore invited by the president to Wash- 
 ington for conference and consultation as to 
 the best mode of restoring North Carolina to 
 the union.* 
 
 No Roman tribune stood forth more fearless 
 and bold, than did Mr. Moore on this occasion, 
 for the rights of the people and the citizen. 
 His sagaci. us advice, had it been followed by 
 Mr. Johnson, would have saved muoh anxiety 
 and suffering to the counti-y; but it was 
 unheeded. Mr. Moore subsequently in (1867,) 
 when negro suffrage was forced on the South 
 strongly opposed it, and he predicted the very 
 calamities of which its friends now complain, 
 and suffer. He also opposed the military rule 
 imposed by congress on the south, maintain- 
 ing that the people ought to be allowed 
 to choose their own rulers, and be governed 
 by their own laws, not inconsistent with 
 the constitution and laws of the United 
 States. 
 
 Profound as was Mr. ^[oore's reverence of 
 the law. and his respect for its ministrations, 
 his spirit of justice and the instinct of his 
 nature opposed any official interference of the 
 bench with popular rights. 
 
 On the enforcement of the Canhy constitu- 
 tion, which, by "general orders from these 
 headquarters," set up governors and judges, 
 appointed members of the legislature, and 
 displaced others, duly elected, in defiance of 
 popular will, political excitement throughout 
 the state was intense. The judges of the 
 supreme court openly took part in the can- 
 *See .'.ketch of Governor Sv.uii;, p. o'j 
 
 vass. It was against such participation that 
 Mr. Moore took a bold stand. He drew up a 
 protest signed by many prominent members 
 of the bar throughout the state, which was 
 the foundation of the notorious " contempt 
 proceedings," in 1869. The ermine of the 
 highest legal tribunal in the state received a 
 stain from which that court, as it then existed, 
 never recovered. 
 
 Although Mr. Moore held no ofhcial posit- 
 ion, for he never sought it; yet, from his long 
 and eventful life, his opinion had much weight 
 and it needed no official place to give his 
 opinions power with the people of North 
 Carolina. His ability, his acquirements, his 
 unblemished reputation and the candor of his 
 conduct, his fearless courage in declaring and 
 maintaining liis opinions, gave him a strong 
 hold on the confidence and regard of his 
 country. 
 
 The state may well place him high on her 
 roll of illustrious dead, as he was for a long 
 while one of her purest patriots. 
 
 I>Ir. Moore was the devoted friend of educa- 
 tion. In his will he bequeathed five thousand 
 dollars to the university, one thousand dollars 
 to the Oxford orphan asylum, and the same 
 sum to the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. 
 His devotion to the union is elo([uent]y ex- 
 pressed in his will, for 
 
 " E'en in his ashes lived their wonted fires," 
 his will speaks thus: 
 
 " I had i)een taught under deep conviction 
 of my judgement that there could be no 
 reliable liberty for my state, without the 
 union of the states; and being devotee! to my 
 state, I felt that I should desert her whenever 
 I should aid to destroy the union. I could 
 not imagine a more terrible spectacle than 
 that of beholding the sun sliining tin the broken 
 and dishonored fragments of states, dissevered , 
 discordant and belligerent, and a land rent 
 with ei\'il feu<ls and drenched in fraternal 
 bloo,!. 
 
 '■ I was truly happy when I saw the sun of 
 peace rising with the glorious promise to shine 
 once more on states equal, fi'ce, honored and 
 
HALIFAX COUNTS' 
 
 211 
 
 united. Although the promise has been loni? 
 delayed hy an unwise policy, and I myself 
 may never live to see the full orbed sun of 
 liberty yjiine on my countiy as once it was, 
 yet I have sti'oir^ hopes that my countrymen 
 will yet be blest with that <;lorious sigiit." 
 
 Over his remains, one who knew him long 
 and knew hira well, uttered these eloquent 
 and truthful words: 
 
 " Here lies one who reposes after a long 
 feast, where much love has been. Hero 
 slumbers in peace and patience, a veteran, 
 with all his wouuds in front, and not a blot 
 on this scutcheon, after four score years of 
 duty well done in the fierce and ceaseless 
 campaign of life."' 
 
 Mr. Moore was twice mnnied. In 1S28, 
 he married Louisa, the daughter of George 
 Boddie, of Nash, and, in 1835, Lucy, another 
 daughter of the same. 
 
 Lawrence O'Biyan Branch, son of Joseph 
 and Susan O'Bryan Branch, was born in the 
 village of Enfield, Halifax County, A'orth Car- 
 olina, on November 28, 1820. His grand- 
 father was a distinguished patriot of the revo- 
 lution of 1770, and the historj- of liis state af- 
 fords evidences of his daring and patriotism. 
 His father was a gentleman in atHueut circum- 
 stances, who died early. His uncle and guard- 
 ian had been the governor of North Carolina, 
 senator in congress, secretary of the navy un- 
 der General Jackson, and governor of Florida. 
 
 With him young Branch went to Washing- 
 ton city, and his early education was conducted 
 by S. P. Chase, afterwards Chief Justice of 
 the Supreme Court of the LTnited States, then 
 a teacher in Washington. On his return 
 to North Carolina, his studies, preparatory for 
 college, were directed by that weil known 
 teacher, W. J. Bingham, in Orange County. 
 In January, 1835, he was martriculated at the 
 university of the state, and passed with great 
 
 *Mucli of the material of this sketch is from an able 
 article in the Observer at lialeigh published at ti.e 
 lime of his death. 
 
 credit through the freshman clns-, but from 
 some difficulties in whicli his brother.^ became 
 involved at college, he was withdr;iv.-ii by his 
 guardian, and sent to Nassau Hall, ''linceton, 
 where he graduated in September, 18-38, with 
 the first honors, in one of the first classes of 
 that renowned institution. He delivered at 
 this commencement the English salutatory ad- 
 dress, being then only eighteen year- old. 
 
 He commenced the study of the law with 
 John Marshall, at Franklin, Tennesson'. During 
 the period of his studies, the political cam- 
 paign, so well known as the " Log Cabin Cam- 
 paign ,''-'Opeiied; and it is believed that his 
 mind and pen were more active in tlio exciting 
 scenes of politics than in the grave studies of 
 the law. He early commenced political life, 
 the firm advocate of state I'ights, ai;d never 
 for a moment, under any circimstances, 
 swerved friim such teachings. 
 
 After his studies of the law were enniiileted 
 lie settled at Tallahassee, Florithi ; but not 
 being of age, such were the genial manners of 
 the youthful stranger, that the legislature of 
 Florida passed a special act, allowing him to 
 be examined, atid if pronounced quii'ified on 
 examination by the judges, to allow !iim to 
 practice. He was admitted, and pi.icticed 
 with great success during the years r.f 1841,- 
 '42 and '43. 
 
 He early evinced a fondness for lailitar}' 
 life, and served as aid to General Leigh Reed, 
 in a campaign in Florida against the L'Srainole 
 Indians. 
 
 He married in April, 1844, Miss 'Sv.iicy H. 
 Blount, only daughter of General V\'i;liam A. 
 Blount, of North Carolina; and this and other 
 circumstances caused his removal to that state, 
 and he settled at Raleigh. His meiits were 
 soon appreciated here. He was select .d as a- 
 member of the literary board, direct ;r of the 
 bank of the state, elector on the presidential 
 ticket (Pierce and King,) and in 18.^2, presi- 
 dent of the Raleigh and Gaston railroad. 
 
212 WIIEP]LER'S KEMINISCEXCES. 
 
 It \\-(>nl(l exceed the limit prescrilied for this as nnfjiiestioned and reliable authority on a 
 
 sketch, to detail tiie ahility and fidelity with snhject,. which in the future, may again be- 
 
 whiuli he discharged all these iin[iortant come an important question in national poli- 
 
 trusts. But justice to Irnth and nnjiaralleled cics. Such a powerful sentinel nt our very 
 
 energy compels the olisei'vation, that to iiim post — gate, should, by either stratageni, force 
 
 does tlie country owe the usefulness, if not the or purchase, be brought witliin our lines, 
 
 existence of this I'ailroad, so iTiiportant, and Loved by many and respected by all of 
 
 then so vital to the state, as tlie only one his associates in congress, his influence in 
 
 leading to tlie capital. It had become dilapi- the house was unbounded. Such was his 
 
 dated; it had injured tlio state, and mined stern sense of justice, his unsuspected integ- 
 
 nuiny of its innocent stockholders. Under rity and vigilant sagacity', that those 
 
 his active suiierinteudency, it sprung' at once twin Cerelnis of the treasury, John Letcher 
 
 into activity, usefulness and profit, while his and George W. Jones, often asked his advice, 
 
 genial and fi'aidi manners, his pronijit and heeded his opinion and followed his counsel, 
 
 stern sense of right, won the respect and af- On the death of Aaron V. Brown, post- 
 
 fection of all with whom its multifarous con- master-general in Mr. Buciianan's cabinet, he 
 
 cerus bi'ouglit him in contact. Here he felt was telegrajihed as to his inclination.s to oc- 
 
 and tiinuglit was the a[ipropriate sphere of his cupy that impoi'ta.nt department, but being 
 
 usefulness. fr(.)m home, no answer was returned. On the 
 
 But the congressional district had become resignation of Honorable Howell Cobb, as sec- 
 disorganized. Private feud and personal am- retary of the treasury, lie was, on December 2, 
 bition had lost to (Uir national councils a re[i- 18G0, appoitited by the president to succeed 
 resenti\e from the metropolitan district, wiio hini. This was also declined. The clouds had 
 reflected the voice of a mai(nity of the people, become dark and heavy in our southern sky, 
 Without any solicitation on his jiart and and Mr. Branch had resolved upon his course, 
 against his inclinatioiis, be was nominated, in lie joined the standard of the south as a pri- 
 1855. as a candidate for congress. Tb.e ojipo- vate in the ranks of the Baleigh volunteers, 
 sition was well organized and run theirstrong- The governor of the state solicited him to 
 est man, w'ho was well and favoraldy known, of take the position of quartermaster and pay- 
 acknowledged genius, and of indefatigable master-general of the North Carolina forces, 
 energy. Mr. Branch was elected by a hand- These troublesome and intricate duties he dis- 
 some majoi-ity. Such was the acceptaliility of charged with energy and fidelity. But he 
 his conduct that he was again elected in 1S.t8, preferred more active service, and was ap- 
 without opposition, and again in 1859, by an pointed colonel of the thirty-third regiment ; 
 overwhelming majority. and after organzing it with great energy, went 
 
 Bid the limits of this sketch allow, ample at its head into the field. He was soon pro- 
 
 matei'ial is affoi-dcd by the records of the moted by the president to the command of the 
 
 nation, to show his imiusti'y, ability, fidelity 4th lu'igadc, in the confederate army, and as- 
 
 aud usefulness, ;is a niend)er of tiie national signed to duty at New Berne. Here on March 
 
 councils. Important and delicate positio;is 14, 18r>2, with an inadequate force, some of 
 
 were occu|)ieil by liim. As a member of the tliem raw-militia, with hastily ami ill-eon- 
 
 committee on foreign affairs, his celebrated structed fortifications, he withstood for more 
 
 I'ejiort on Cnlia mai'ked him as one of the than four hours the well appointed and fully 
 
 statesmen of the age, and is referred to now equip[icd forces, under General Burnsidc, more 
 
HAIJFAX COUNTY. 
 
 213 
 
 tliau doulile his iiuiiiliors, iiiflictiii<; heavy loss 
 on tlieni, and I'etiriiii;- in i;-oiid ordei' with his 
 coninuuid. Tliis was far from iiiipairinsi' liis 
 militarv reputation; for. witii his hriijadc, ho 
 was ordered to the l)attle fields of Virj^inia. 
 The battles of Hanover Conrt-honse, Mochan- 
 icsville, Cohl Harbor, Fraser's Farm, Malvern 
 Hill, Ce<lar Uun, Manassas, Fairfax Court 
 house, Harper's Ferry and Sharpsl)nri>;. attest 
 the valor of the brigade and the chivalric 
 bearing of its chief. More than fifteen l)attle 
 fields have been stained b}- their blood — their 
 force reduced more than a tliird in killed and 
 wounded. For its bravery at the battle: of 
 Hanover Court-house, it received tlie a[)[)ro- 
 l>ation of the general Commanding-geneial, 
 Robert E. Lee, ami tlie gallant bearing 
 I. f General Branch was particularly alluded to. 
 It was the first body of troops that crossed 
 the Chickahonnny, and engaged the heavy 
 forces of the enemy, dro\e tliem back and 
 took the first battle fiag from them. Of its 
 ilve colonels, two fell on tlie field of battle, two 
 wounded, the other taken prisoner; and its gal • 
 lant general was killed — for at Sharpsburg^ on 
 -September 19, 1862, after the heat of this se- 
 vere battle was nearly over, General Brancli 
 was struck by a minio ball in the head, and in- 
 stantly died, falling into the arms of his aid. 
 The ferocity and bloodthirsty disposition 
 displayed by the ommandei's of varii)us de- 
 tachments in the southern campaigns of thi^ 
 revolutionary war, has been often lemarked; 
 this has been accounted for in many ways, 
 more or less rational. The population was 
 small and widely scattered, and whilst the 
 British commanders seemed to be determined 
 to crush resistance by every means available, 
 yet they seemed also desirous to terrify l)y the 
 atrocity of those means. And yet, on the 
 other hand, some movements and engage- 
 ments of Marion, Sumter, and others, might 
 fairly be offset against the terrible massacre, of 
 Tarleton and Feri^uson. 
 
 The~e terrible scenes were only added to by 
 the fact that the population itself was more 
 equally divided in their adherence to the 
 crown, or to the cause of colonial indepen- 
 dence, than in anj' of the other i)rovinces. and 
 this brought about a mutual animo-;ity and 
 deadly hate terrific to conteiuplate ; such 
 scenes are alwa3's suppiised to accompan}' civil 
 wars, but on this occasion, owing to the [iro- 
 tracted struggle, thv.y became a systematie? 
 series of assassiniition, rapine, and extermina- 
 tion. Neighbors were arraigned against neigh- 
 bors, brothers against brothers, and even 
 fathers against sons. When a distinguished 
 man was slain, it was proven by the size of the 
 missile and th' dir.'etion in which it sped, 
 exactly who slew him, and the boast was made 
 acciii'dingiy. 
 
 But if the war of the .south was blackened 
 in its aspect, and the conduct thereof carried 
 on with an ardor asul urged by a foi'ce inci- 
 dent to a southern [ias-;ii)n, \'et there were not 
 wanting many instances of individual proiv- 
 ess, of partisan valoi' and of hor'Mc entei'prise. 
 To piesent an accurate sketch of Marion's and 
 Sumter's plots and counter-plots; fiecpiently 
 passing into those' deej) and dreary solitudes, 
 where it was as useless as it was dangerous for 
 an enemy to pursue; but wiiere the opportu- 
 nit}' [)resented itself, fiasliing upon the enemy 
 like a meteor fi'om the skies, with a sudden- 
 ness in their movements which astonished and 
 confounded; and with a desperation in the 
 valor displaj'ed w'liich could seldom lu; re- 
 sisted. A combination of rare and valiant 
 qualities that repeatedly gained a victory ovei- 
 forces tenfold the number imder this command. 
 The daring exploits of these twin " gods of 
 war," would make a picture that the pencil of 
 fiction itself could not surpass. 
 
 If we place opposite the names of Marion 
 and Sumter for skill and bloody deeds, the 
 names of Tarleton and Ferguson, we must add 
 and m dee lieavy and exceedingly dark the 
 
214 
 
 WIIEP]LEK'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 lines to represent rapine, robbery, and cold- high living. He enjoyed the respect of all 
 
 blooded bntchery in the pen portraits of the parties, and was of a genert)ns, kind disposition. 
 
 two last named. Against this picture we set the character of 
 
 We therefore turn to characters moving in a William Richardson Davie. None were more 
 
 higher pLiiie, and at the bare mention of John 
 Hamilton's name we have brought before us 
 ou the camera a character noted for brave ac- 
 tion in the tield, generosity to a fio when 
 
 distinguished feu- galianti'y and enterprise. 
 He was tall, well made, and remarkai)le for 
 his manly beauty and the dignity of his man- 
 ners, lie was studious in his habits, and of 
 
 fallen, and all t!ie nobler qualities typical of a most refined tastes. He was a typical soldier 
 soldier, although he was a loyalist and so fro- of the southern patriots. He excelled in feats 
 
 quently denounced for serving against the lib 
 erties of his adopted colony. 
 
 of horsemanship, and his eloquent and sonor- 
 ous voice, so distinct in articulatiii-.i and so 
 
 Moore tells ns (History of North Carolina, commanding in delivery, could be heard over 
 I., 249,) that after the battle of Moore's Creek a wide field. So heartily di+l he espouse the 
 the tories no longer dared <jpen emitodiment, cause of liberty that in oi-ganizing his corn- 
 but Lieutenant Colnnel John llamiltDii, a maud for the field, he expended the whole of 
 scotch merchant, late of Halifax, repaired to his patrimonial estates. To his daring cour- 
 St. Augustine, in Florida, and established a age, his extreme vigilance, and unrelenting 
 camp, where a regiment of loyalists was organ- activity, the cause of American independence, 
 ized. He soon raised a disciplined force is deeply indebl-ed. The terror with which 
 which proved to be a firmidable aid to the he inspired the tories prevented their forming 
 royal arms in America. Colonel Hamilton i" any considerable bodies, until Lord Corn- 
 had seen much nulitary service. He bad wallis approached the .Mecklenburg section, 
 fought at CuUoden; a man of large fortune and his lordship found in Colonel Davie and 
 
 and of fine social qualities, he was beloved 
 by his troops, and resjiocted by his opponents, 
 to whom he was uenerous and humane. 
 
 his gallant command, as obstinate an enemy 
 as he met in any of his canipaigns. Man}" are 
 the incidents of his gallantrv in the field. 
 
 Even Governor Burke acknowledii'ed his and the graphic description of the defence of 
 
 kindness to him while a prisoner. In the 
 attack on Savannah, December 2('!, 1778, he 
 was coni'ronted by (ieneral Howe, gallantly 
 sustaining the brunt of this battle, and ilowe 
 was defeated. 
 
 He came to North Carolina at the same time 
 with James Frazer, who settled at Frazer's 
 
 Charlotte, Septumber 26, 1780, where, with 
 his celebrated corps, he ciiecked the advance 
 (if the whole of Cornwallis' army, has so fre- 
 quently been recited as to become " familiar 
 as household words."* It was b^- such heav}- 
 blows as this that he severely ci-ippled the 
 enemy, and made their march so tedious and 
 
 Cross Roads, in Hertford County,and who had irksome as to break the spirit of their troops 
 
 served under him as captain, at CuUoden, and and make the subjugation of North Carolina 
 
 they were life long friends. Dr. G. C. Moore an impossibility. Not the creature of circum- 
 
 states that he knew Colonel Hamilton, who was stance, but an elegant soldier, ever brave 
 
 for a long time after the war the British consul i" the defence of his country's liberty, was 
 
 at Norfolk, Virginia; that he was a short, William Richardson Dave, 
 
 red faced man, full of gaiety, and fond of *Wheeler's History of North Carolina. II., 19,i. 
 
HERTFORD COUNTY. 
 
 2IJ 
 
 CHyXPTER XXXIII. 
 
 HKRTFORD COUNTY. 
 
 The year 1767, .says Moore in liis chronicles of 
 Hertford County, .saw the nucleus of a beautiful 
 village, perched on the lofty banks of the Meher- 
 rin River, in this county. For years previous, it 
 had been a favorite shipping point, from which 
 Captains Meredith and Anderson had conducted, 
 in their own vessels, a steady and lucrative trade 
 with different foreign sea-ports. In 1768 the Leg- 
 islature incorporated the town of Murfreesboro, 
 with William Murfree, Patrick Brown, Redmond 
 Hackett, William Vaughan and John Parker as 
 Commissioners. 
 
 The first house erected, was the residence of 
 William Murfree, whicii stands near the landing, 
 just beside the church-yard. The venerable and 
 useful Aunt Peggy Weaver was long the occu- 
 pant of this ancient edifice. She, too, has doubdess 
 gone, and, as with the original Commissioners, 
 
 "Each in his narrow bed forever laid. 
 The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." 
 
 The Murfree family is of English origin. Wil- 
 liam Murfree, born in 1730, was the founder of 
 the famil}-. He was a man of influence and re- 
 spectability, and took a decided stand in defence 
 of the liberties of the country, when threatened 
 by royal authority. He represented the county 
 in the Provincial Congress that met at Halifax in 
 November, 1776, which body formed our State 
 Constitution. He married Mary Moore, by whom 
 he had several children — Hardy, the founder of 
 Murfreesboro in North Carolina, as also of a vil- 
 lage of the same name in Tennessee ; James, 
 William, Sarah, who married Samuel Cryer ; 
 Patty, who married Benjamin Banks ; Betty, who 
 married Richard Andrews, and Nancy, who mar- 
 ried Jonathan Roberts. 
 
 Major Hardy Murfree, son of the above, was 
 born June 5, 1752, and was in the prime of'ilife 
 when the revolution commenced. 
 
 On the earliest organization of the military- 
 force of the country, he was appointed by the 
 Provincial Congress, at Hillsboro, on August 21, 
 1775, a Captain in the 2d Regiment of State 
 troops of the Continental Establishment, (Robert 
 Howe, Colonel), and joined the grand Army of 
 the North, under Washington. 
 
 Under his eye he was engaged in the battles 
 of Brandywine, Monmouth and elswhere. He 
 was promoted to the rank of Major, and was se- 
 lected to lead the desperate and successful attack 
 on Stony Point, July 16, 1779. 
 
 At this period, the affairs of the colonies were in 
 a most desperate condition. Washington, in a 
 letter to Col. Harrison, of Virginia, states that, 
 ' 'they were more distressed, ruinous and deplora- 
 ble than at any time since the war commenced, 
 and on the brink of ruin." t 
 
 Washington determined to strike the enemy, 
 and projected the attack on the strong fortress at 
 Stony Point. He directed "Mad Anthony" 
 Wayne to execute his plans. The attack was 
 made at midnight ; the British were surprised 
 and defeated. Two companies of North Caro- 
 lina light troops made the attack, led by Major 
 Murfree, whose bravery and gallant conduct is 
 mentioned in General Wayne's official dispatch 
 to Congress. 
 
 Both of these companies were of the Second 
 North Carolina Continentals, and led, with un- 
 loaded muskets, the forlorn hope in this desper- 
 ate enterprise. General Wayne was severely 
 wounded, and Captain John Daves, of New 
 Berne, second in command to Major Murfree's 
 
2l6 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Battalion, was also badly wounded, but their 
 victory was complete.* 
 
 This brilliant affair had a most exhilarating ef- 
 fect upon the spirits of the patriots, and cheered 
 them to renewed exertion in the cause of liberty. 
 Major Murfree continued in the service until the 
 close of the war, when he returned to his home. 
 
 He married Sallie,the daughter of Col. Matthias 
 Brickell, who was a pattern of modesty, as of 
 beauty, and by whom he was blessed with a large 
 family of children. He removed to Tennessee, 
 where he ended his days. 
 
 His son, William Hardy Murfree, (born 1781, 
 died 1827), was born and lived for a long period, 
 in Murfreesboro. He was educated at the Uni- 
 versity, where he graduated in 1801, in same class 
 with Ams, John Branch, Francis L. Uancy, and 
 others. 
 
 He studied hard, and stood high in his profes- 
 sion. 
 
 He entered public life in 1805, as a member 
 of the Legislature. In 1813 he was elected a 
 member of the XIII Congress, and re-elected at 
 the XIV, 1815-17; afterward, he declined a re- 
 election. He was able and eloquent, and sus- 
 tained the war measures of Mr. Madison's ad- 
 ministration. In 1825 he removed to Tennessee, 
 and died in Nashville, January 18, 1827, leaving 
 one son, William Law Murfree.'^ ].- .V; 
 
 Thomas Wynns, from whose family name the 
 county town of Hertford is derived, (Winton), 
 was a distinguished citizen of this county. Here 
 he was born, lived and died. He was possessed 
 of great enterprise, of unspotted integrity, and 
 of great personal worth. He lived near Winton, 
 at Barfields. 
 
 He was the youngest of four brothers — Ben- 
 jamin, William, George and Thomas — soldiers of 
 the Revolution, except Thomas, who was too 
 young to take an active part. While still a 
 youth, in 1 780, he was captured at sea in a vessel 
 
 »See Wayne's Assault on Stony Point, by Dawson, Mor- 
 risiana, 1863; Wayne's Dispatch, nth July, 1779, Marshal 
 iv. 123; Campbell's Memoirs of Hull, 163 ; Armstrong's 
 Life of Wayne, Sparks' Am. Bio.,iv. 46. 
 
 called the "Fair American," with others, and 
 carried to England. His good sense and accom- 
 plished manners, made his stay in London a 
 pleasant one. , 
 
 The rigorous blockade did not entirely deter 
 our people from their long established maritime 
 habits. Our vessels traded with the West Indies 
 and elsewhere. 
 
 On July 24, 1782, Captain Lewis Meredith ar- 
 rived at Edenton,from Bordeaux, with Lady Anne 
 Stewart, the daughter of the Earle of Bute, and 
 her husband. Baron de Polnitz. 
 
 Wynns early embarked in political life, and was 
 elected in 1 788, a member of the Convention at 
 Hillsboro,toconsidertheCon.stitution. In 1790 he 
 was elected to the State Senate, until 1 8 1 7, with the 
 excepticm of the period (from 1802 to 1807) when 
 he was a member of Congress, from this (the 
 Edenton) district. 
 
 This was the first time in her history that Hert- 
 ford County saw one of her citizens in Congress. 
 He was elected, to succeed Charles Johnson (who 
 died about 1 801), over Colonel Dempsey Burgess, 
 of Camden County, who had been an officer in 
 the Revolutionary war. After his service in Con- 
 gress, he declined a re-election, and returned to 
 the service of his native county, and was elected 
 continuously from 1808 to 181 7, a member of the 
 State Senate. Unspotted in public life, he was 
 a most useful and beloved citizen. 
 
 He married Susan, daughter of James Manning, 
 but no issue, and died June 8, 1825. His neph 
 ews, William B. Wynns and James D. Wynns, 
 were highly respected and useful citizens. 
 
 Henry W. Long was an eccentric and able 
 lawyer, a native of Hertford County, but never 
 in political life. He often aspired to popular favor, 
 but failing to receive it, devoted himself to his 
 profession. His innocent absence of mind was 
 the cause of much amusement to his brethren of 
 the bar, with whom he was very popular. He 
 married the only daughter of the popular and 
 polished Harry Hill, who often represented the 
 county from 1790 to 1795. 
 
HERTFORD COUNTY. 
 
 217 
 
 His only daughter married Richard I. Cowpcr, 
 long the Sheriff of Hertford, and a representative 
 in the Legislature. 
 
 It may be well to preserve the foct in our nicm 
 ories, that the Court House of Hertford County 
 has twice been burned — once in 1S30 by an in 
 cendiary, instigated by Wright Alien, who h(>i)C(l 
 by this means to destroy the evidence against him 
 of uttering a forged paper ; and again in March 
 20, 1862, by the Federal forces, under Captain 
 Allen Thomas, with his Massachusetts troops. 
 
 In 1 79 1, along with General Wynns and Harry 
 Hall, of Manney's Neck, as members of the Leg- 
 islature, appeared James Jones, of Pitch Landing. 
 He was the son of Colonel James Jones, and was 
 born in 1765. His father entertained much of the 
 ta.stes and ideas of the English people as to pri- 
 mogeniture, and left to his son the bulk of his 
 estate. He was fond of high living, elaborate 
 dress, and the accumulation of wealth. His son 
 was a member of the Legislature from 1792 to 
 1806, until his increasing business compelled him 
 to decline. He waxed richer and richer, until 
 1815, when he hazarded a bold speculation, to- 
 wit : he purchased all the naval stores in Eastern 
 North Carolina. Peace came, produce fell, and 
 he was ruined. His proud spirit could not brook 
 his fallen fortunes, and he sank under the blow. 
 He died in 1816. 
 
 He married Anne, the sister of Isaac Walton, 
 who lived near Nashville, Tennessee, and left a 
 large family. Among them was James Sidney 
 Jones, who stood at the head of the Bar, the peer 
 of Gavin Hogg, Gov. Iredell, and others. He 
 became very wealthy, and removed to Alabama. 
 
 Thomas Manney was born in Manney's Neck, 
 in this county, and was long one of its honored 
 citizens. He was the son of James Manney, a 
 wealthy and influential man, who represented the 
 county in 1778 and 1785. 
 
 His son read law with William H. Murfree — 
 settled in Murfreesboro, and practiced for some 
 years with great success. In 1817 he represented 
 the county in the Legislature. In 1820 he acted 
 as Secretary to Governor Franklin. 
 
 About 1825 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, 
 and practiced the law ; was elected one of the 
 Judges of the Superior Courts of that State, which 
 high office he held with the respect and esteem 
 of the whole country. He married in Murfrees- 
 boro, Rebecca, daughter of Rev. Daniel South- 
 all, and raised a large and distinguished family, 
 among them General Manney, and others. 
 
 He died at Na.shville, April 15, 1864. 
 
 The Gotten family and their descendants have, ./ 
 for nearly two centuries, been inhabitants of the 
 St. John Section, in this county. 
 
 Captain Arthur Gotten, the progenitor, came 
 from England early in and about 1750; made 
 voyages as commander of a ship between Eng- 
 land and North Carolina. He became wealthy, 
 retired from the sea, and in his old age built the 
 first brick house that was ever erected in Hert- 
 ford ; he was quick in temper, sudden in quarrel, 
 although a staid vestryman in the Church. He 
 bore undying hatred to the English, arising from 
 the barbarous murder of his father's kinswoman, 
 the gentle and loving Lady Alice Lisle, at the 
 hands of George Jeffries. His eldest son, Jesse, 
 lived and died in Northampton County ; Cullen, 
 in Hertford, and Godwin, (already referred to, 44) 
 at Mulberry Grove, where his great-grandson. Dr. 
 G. C. Moore, resided. 
 
 His oldest daughter married James Moore, of 
 Virginia ; another married Cornelius Moore, of 
 Northampton ; another. Dr. James Usher ; an- 
 other, Samuel Bell, and the youngest married 
 Powell, and afterwards, Moses Tyler, father of 
 the late Perry Tyler, of Bertie County. 
 
 One of the Lords Proprietors, who joined in 
 1729 in the surrender of the Charter of North 
 Carolina to the Crown, was an English Barrister, 
 John Gotten, of the Middle Temple, London. He 
 represented the district originally granted to Lord 
 Ashley. He was the grandson of the Rev. Thomas 
 Gotten, the father of Lady Lisle. Under his pro- 
 prietorship, several of his kinsmen and his name, 
 emigrated to Bertie and the surrounding precincts 
 Moore, 11, 53. 
 
2l8 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 With the exception of the Church of St. Paul 
 at Edenton, and the Quaker settlements of Pas- 
 quotank and Perquimans, there was scarcely a 
 point in the Albemarle region at which, in the 
 early days of Gov. Johnston, religious services 
 were held. Soon after the creation of Bertie pre- 
 cinct, as early as 1739, the Rev. Matthias Brick- 
 ell became rector of St. John's parish. He was 
 the first clergyman, west of the Chowan, who had 
 a parish. Much of the character for morality and 
 intelligence of the people of St. Johns, was owing 
 to the efforts of this godly man. He possessed 
 high social qualities and culture, and remarkable 
 for men of his cloth, created in the minds of the 
 people love and confidence. His church at Ahos- 
 kie saw, on each Sabbath, the people collected to 
 listen to his advice and instructions. 
 
 Parson Brickell died years before the Revolu- 
 tion, but left descendants. 
 
 His oldest son, Colonel Matt. Brickell, was a 
 leading man in the county, previous to 1775. He 
 was a member of the First Provincial Congress, 
 and died in the midst of the gigantic .struggle for 
 independence. One of his daughters married 
 Major Hardy Murfree; the other was the wife of 
 John Brown, and the great-grandmother of the 
 late John A. Anderson, and Dr. Godwin C. Moore. 
 His two sons, Thomas and John, were often mem- 
 bers of the Legislature. Thomas, 1781 to '85, 
 and John in the Senate, 1782. 
 
 For a full century the name of Brickell was 
 known and honored in this county, but during 
 the last fifty years has disappeared. ■' 
 
 He was the brother of Dr. John Brickell, one 
 of the earliest historians of the State, who came 
 from England to North Carolina with Governor 
 Burrington, in 1724. (Moore's Hist. i. 50.) 
 
 Dr. Brickell lived at Eldenton, where he prac- 
 ticed medicine. He went with a joint commis 
 sion to the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee. 
 
 In sketching the men of Hertford, this record 
 would be marred were the merits of that most 
 exemplary gentleman, Godwin C. Moore, passed 
 
 *Moore's Hist. Sketches, xiii. 559. 
 
 unnoticed. He was born in this county, about 
 1 806, at the same homestead where his ancestors 
 have lived for several generations. He was edu- 
 cated at the Hertford Academy in Murfreesboro, 
 and at the University ; studied medicine and grad- 
 uated at the Pennsylvania University, and en- 
 joyed a long and successful career as an able and 
 acceptable physician. His skill in the healing 
 art was only surpassed by his genial and generous 
 disposition. 
 
 He entered publiclifeasamember of the House 
 of Commons, 1831, in the Senate of 1842; 
 and again in the Commons in 1866. Modest 
 and retiring in his disposition, he never was am- 
 bitious of political favor ; his was the popu- 
 larity that sought him, not that which was pur- 
 sued. In 1837 h^ ^^^s urged, and did become a 
 candidate for Congress, against Hon. Samuel T. 
 Sawyer. And again, against Hon. Kenneth Ray- 
 ner ; the canvass was irksome, and no one regret- 
 ted his defeat less than himself. 
 
 In 1832 he married Julia, daughter of John 
 Wheeler, Esq. , who realizes in her lovely char- 
 acter, her unstinted kindness, womanly modesty 
 and affectionate disposition, every virtue that 
 adorns her sex. Numerous children have grown 
 up around them, and among them, not the least, 
 is Major John W. Moore, the author of a History 
 of the State, and of "Historical Sketches of Hert- 
 ford County." 
 
 Dr. Moore was an exemplary member of the 
 Baptist Church, and for forty years continuously 
 elected Moderator of the Chowan Association. 
 
 He died May 26, 1880. 
 
 In addition to Captain Frazer, (See ante, page 
 214) the general restoration of peace in the Revo- 
 lutionary war, brought no joy to John Brown, of 
 Cuttawiskey Mansh. He was an ardent Tory. 
 He was of gentle lineage and some culture, and 
 had been for many years, during the reign of 
 George II., an officer in the army. After the 
 Colloden Campaign, di.sabled by wounds, he re- 
 tired on half pay. 
 
 He came to America and sought repose among 
 
HERTFORD COUNTY. 
 
 219 
 
 his kindred near St. Johns. He married Sarah, 
 eldest dau<jhter of Matthias 15rickell. When the 
 Rcvohition commenced, liis children had reached 
 maturity, but the)- differed in their sentiment.s. 
 His son John left the paternal roof and joined a 
 Virginia Corps, the command of General Lafay- 
 ette, and attained distinction. 
 
 His daut^htcr Sarah married Cioilwin Gotten, 
 who was in the army under Howt. 
 
 Yet in spite of politics he wa.s hitjhly respected, 
 and unmolested by those opposed to him in sen- 
 timents. 
 
 Kenneth Rayner long resided in Hertford 
 County, and represented the county in the Leg- 
 islature. He also represented this district in Con- 
 gress. He is a native of Bertie. His father was a 
 worthy and exemplary minister of the Baptist 
 Church, a soldier of the Revolution in his youth.* 
 
 Mr. Rayner, after a partial classical education 
 at Tarboro Academy, studied law with Chief Jus- 
 tice Ruffin, but his active and ambitious temper 
 seemed rather to prefer the excitements of politi- 
 cal life, than the quiet pursuits of the law. His 
 first appearance in public life, was as a member 
 of the Convention of 1835, to revise the Consti- 
 tution. At this time, it had been more than forty 
 years since the State had formed her first Consti- 
 stution, and in the minds of many, some changes 
 were needed to enable her to keep pace with the 
 march of improvement in other States. Although 
 the youngest man in this body, Mr. Rayner made 
 an indelible impression. An abler body of men 
 never met in the State: -^ It was presided over by 
 Nathaniel Macon. The Governor of the State, 
 the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the first 
 minds of the State composed this body. 
 
 The speech of Mr. Rayner, on "Abolishing 
 the religious tests for office," which our puritan 
 fathers had inserted in the first Constitution, was 
 the speech of the Convention. The State felt 
 the magnetism of its power, and it placed him at 
 
 '='Mr. Rayner, in the 76th year of his age, died March 4, 
 1884, at the National Hotel in Washington City, the incum- 
 bent of the important position of Solicitor of the Treasury 
 Department. — Ed. 
 
 once among the leading men of iiis age. Its 
 impassioned tones aroused the State ; all acknowl- 
 edged its power and its truth ; all predicted from 
 this gallant beginning, a brilliant career in the 
 future. 
 
 • The next year he was elected to the Legisla- 
 ture, and continued until 1839, when he was 
 elected a Member of the 26th Congress. 
 
 William Nathan Harrell Smith, Chief Justice 
 of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, is a 
 native of this county. 
 
 His father. Dr. William L. Smith, was a native 
 of Connecticut, a graduate of Yale College and 
 a physician by profession. In 18 10 he came to 
 Hertford County where he settled, and married 
 Ann Harrell; he died in 18 13. 
 
 His son was born in Murfreesboro, in Sep- 
 tember 24, 1812; here his early education was 
 conducted at the Hertford Academy. After 
 graduating at Yale College in 1834, he studied 
 law at the Yale Law School, and returned to 
 his home to practice. He soon rose by his 
 solid acquirements and attention to his profes- 
 sion, to its highest rank. He was elected, in 
 1840, a member of the Legislature, and in 1848 
 he was elected Senator from this county, and at 
 the same session Solicitor of the Judicial Dis- 
 trict for four years ; he was re-elected to the 
 same position. In 1857 he ran for Congress, 
 and was defeated by Dr. H. M. Shaw ; but was 
 elected a member of the next Congress, (36th, 
 1859-61.) In 1858 he was again returned to the 
 Legislature. The sections of the North and the 
 South were arrayed in hostile attitude, and civil 
 war seemed then imminent. The South after 
 many ineffectual struggles to elect a Speaker, 
 put Mr. Smith forward as its candidate, and 
 he was elected. But before the result was 
 announced E. Joy Morris and some others 
 changed their votes to Mr. Pennington, of New 
 Jersey, who was accordingly declared Speaker. 
 He served through the exciting and harrassing 
 scenes of this Congress, and witnessed the inau- 
 guration of Mr. Lincoln. He then returned 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 home and joined his fortunes with those of his 
 native State. 
 
 He was a member of the Confederate Con- 
 gress at Richmond, during the continuance of 
 that body. In 1865 he was again elected a 
 member of the Legislature and aided in the 
 reconstruction of the State under the plans of 
 President Johnson. In March 1870, he was 
 induced to move to Norfolk, Virginia, where he 
 formed a law partnership with Hon. Asa Biggs, 
 still keeping up his practice in his native dis- 
 trict. Two years experience satisfied him that 
 there was no place better for a North Carolinian 
 than North Carolina itself. He returned to 
 spend the remainder of his days within her 
 borders, and settled at Raleigh. 
 
 One of he most famous cases in which Mr. Smith 
 was engaged was the defense of Governor Holden 
 in January, 1871, when he was impeached before 
 the Senate. It was no small compliment to his 
 integrity and ability to have been selected as 
 the advocate of one, to whom he had been 
 always opposed, and against whom were em- 
 ployed such counsel as Governors Graham, 
 Bragg and others. His efforts displayed such 
 ability and legal learning as stamped him one of 
 the first advocates of the age. Could Governor 
 Holden have been acquitted, such efforts had 
 done it. He might have said as did Hector: 
 
 " Si Pej'gama dcxtra dcffendi posscnt, 
 Etiain hac dcfcnsa finssent." 
 
 But it was all in vain. Governor Holden was 
 found guilty and still lies under the ban of this 
 sentence. 
 
 On the death of Chief Justice Pearson, Gov- 
 ernor Vance in January, 1878, appointed Mr_ 
 Smith his successor— and this appointment was 
 ratified by the people of the State at the polls 
 in the fotTBwing summer. 
 
 Chief Justice Smith is now in the maturity of 
 life — his countrymen have great confidence in 
 his integrity and learning ; and a brilliant as 
 well as useful career has been his. 
 
 He married, in 1839, Mary Olivia, the daugh- 
 ter of William B. Wise, of Murfreesboro. 
 
 Tristram Capehart lived at Murfreesboro ; he 
 was born in Bertie County, September 16, 1796. 
 He was one of the great and good men of his 
 generation, a philanthropist of the purest nature. 
 Many years prior to the civil war, he emanci- 
 pated a large number of his slaves, sending 
 them to Liberia, and giving them a large part of 
 his estate to aid them in life. 
 
 He was too young to serve in the war of 18 12, 
 but without consulting with his parents, he en- 
 listed ; his parents sent a substitute for him in 
 the ranks and had him return to his home. He 
 soon effected his escape and again enlisted him- 
 self Another substitute was sent to supply 
 his place, and yet a third, but his liberty-loving 
 heart could not be satisfied with the quiet of 
 home whilst his country was endangered from 
 foreign invasion. A braver soldier never wore 
 the American uniform. 
 
 He married Emily, daughter of Daniel South- 
 all of Virginia, a descendant of the Norfleets. 
 
 He died March 3, 1859, leaving two sons: 
 Archibald Ashbourne and Thomas. 
 
 His only brother, Cullen Capehart, born 
 March 17, 1789, on the shores of the Albemarle 
 Sound in Bertie County, long lived in that sec- 
 tion at his grand old home, Avoca, where 
 ancient southern hospitality was extended to 
 the brave and the fair. His maternal ancestors 
 were French Huguenots, the Razeures, the 
 father's descent being from the Ogilvies of 
 Scotland and the German Capeharts. He was 
 possessed of a noble soul, a brilliant intellect, 
 and a princely estate, and with all he was a true 
 patriot, sacrificing much for public good. He 
 married a great belle and beauty, Milly Stanley, 
 a daughter of William Stanley Rhodes, who 
 was descended from the Earls of Derby, the 
 Rhodes and the Averetts. He died at his resi- 
 dence, Avoca, November 22, 1S66, leaving 
 three children: Washington Capehart, Mrs. 
 William Anthony Armistead, Mrs. Thomas 
 Goode Tucker of Virginia. 
 
 Dr. William Anthony Armistead was a de- 
 
HERTFORD COUNTY. 
 
 scendant of the Armisteads of Gloucester, Vir- 
 ginia. His genealogy is traced back to the Lees 
 of that State, and to the Harramonds, the Jor- 
 dans, the Blounts, the Spaights, and the Hills 
 of North Carolina. He was born in Plymouth, 
 North Carolina, October ii, 1808, and died 
 January 17, 1856, in Virginia. 
 
 He was an eminent physician, |at the head 
 of his profession in Plymouth, and during the 
 summer months the resident physician of the 
 sea shore. 
 
 He was as great in heart as in mind, as nobly 
 didhe fill the station in life that he attained, 
 adding honor to the honored line of his ancestry. 
 
 He left only one child, Meeta Armfstead, who 
 married Archibald Ashbourne Capehart. 
 
 Judge David A. Barnes long resided at Mur- 
 freesboro, but was a native of Northampton 
 County ; the son of Captain Collin W. Barnes, 
 who was a most worthy man and greatly es- 
 teemed, the representative of his county in 1829 
 and 1830 in the Legislature. 
 
 David A. Barnes was educated at the Uni- 
 versity and graduated in 1840 in same class with 
 Governor Caldwell, John W. Cunningham, Lu- 
 cius J. Johnson, William Johnston, Judge Shipp, 
 C. H. Wiley, and others. He studied law, and 
 with such success that in 1865 he was made one 
 of the Judges of the Supreme Court. He was 
 elected a member of the Legislature in 1844, 
 1846 and 1850. During the war he was one of 
 the Military Council of Governor Vance. In 
 1873 he was a candidate for Congress and de- 
 feated by C. L. Cobb. He married Betty, the 
 daughter of Colonel Uriah Vaughan of Mur- 
 freesboro — to which place he removed ; by his 
 general manners and acquirements he always 
 enjoyed the regard and esteem of his fellow- 
 citizens. 
 
 Jesse J. Yeates was born and raised in this 
 county. His father, James Boon Yeates, was a 
 farmer, an enterprising and useful man, and his 
 grandfather, Jesse Yeates, served in the Revolu- 
 tionary war. 
 
 Tl:(' subject of our sketch was born in 1829; 
 received a collegiate education, read law with 
 Chief Justice Smith and was Solicitor of the 
 county from 1855 to i860 — this latter year he 
 was elected a member of the Legislature. 
 
 When the Civil war commenced he raised a 
 company and was elected Captain ; he was ap- 
 pointed Major of the 31st North Carolina Regi- 
 ment ; at the battle of Roanoke Island was taken 
 prisoner. He was Solicitor of the Judicial Dis- 
 trict from 1861 to 1866; and a member of t\ie 
 Governor's Council. In 1871 he was elected to 
 the State Constitutional Convention ; elected a 
 member of the 44th Congress, 1875-77, and 
 re-elected to the 45th Congress. 
 
 Major Yeates is much esteemed for his talents 
 and ability. He has been twice married; his 
 last wife is a daughter of James Scott, by whom 
 he has an interesting family. 
 
 Richard Jordan Gatling, the inventor of the 
 Gatling gun, is a native of this county, born Sep- 
 tember 12, 18 18. His father, Jordan Gatlin, 
 was an energetic, enterprising, and skillful 
 farmer. He died in April 1848. The primitive 
 log house where his son was born still stands, 
 in Manney's Neck, near Murfreesboro. 
 
 He received an " old-field school " education 
 and was himself a teacher for a while, in one of 
 those rudimental institutions. In 1844, he went 
 to St. Louis, Missouri, and was employed as 
 a clerk in a dry goods establishment. In 1849, 
 he studied medicine and attended a course of 
 lectures at the Indiana University, as also at 
 the Ohio Medical College, and received a di- 
 ploma as a physician. He located at Indian- 
 apolis, where he married in 1854, the youngest 
 daughter of Dr. John H. Sanders. 
 
 The crowning act of his life and of his many 
 ingenious inventions, was the production of the 
 " machine battery gun," which bears his name, 
 theidea of which he conceived in 1861. In 1866 
 after repeated trials at Frankford Arsenal, at 
 Washington and at Fortress Monroe, this 
 weapon was adopted by the United States. 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Since its use in the service of his own govern- 
 ment, Russia, Turkey, Italy, Austria, Egypt, 
 England, China, Japan, and other nations, have 
 also recognized its great utility and invested 
 largely in its purchase. 
 
 By his inventive genius he has raised himself 
 from an obscure log cabin in the wilds of Caro- 
 lina, to become an associate of emperors and 
 warriors ; and has revolutionized "the world of 
 arms" as effectually as the railway has sup- 
 planted the stage-coach, or the telegraph the 
 one-horse mail line. This affords a lesson to 
 the humblest of our nation, that by honest and 
 persistent labor he may be the associate as also 
 the peer of princes. 
 
 By his genius and industry he has acquired 
 fame and fortune. Dr. Catling now resides in 
 Hartford, Connecticut, (where his establishment 
 is), full of loyal love for the land of his birth, 
 and delights to see and talk with any one hailing 
 from " the old Niuth Sta/t:'"''- 
 
 Connected with the reminiscences of this an- 
 cient borough, occurred a notable event that 
 deserves to be recorded. 
 
 In 1825, General Lafayette on an extended 
 tour through this country, entered our State and 
 his first public reception was at Murfreesboro. 
 He was no ordinary visitor, and was the Nation's 
 guest. He had aided America to gain its inde- 
 pendence, by contributing his substance, enter- 
 ing her army, and shedding his blood in 
 battling for her cause. Every preparation was 
 made to receive the war-worn veteran with open 
 arms and hearts. Thomas Manney, then a 
 prominent lawyer and since a Judge in Tennessee, 
 made the address of welcome. After resting 
 here for two days, he passed on to Jackson, 
 Northampton County, where he was met by 
 Chief Justice Taylor and his companion in arms. 
 Colonel William Polk, and by them escorted to 
 Raleigh — thence to Fayetteville, and thus from 
 State to State. After his tour, he returned to 
 his French home, in the new frigate Brandy- 
 
 ■'See Potter's Am. Mag., May, 1S79. 
 
 wine, so called in compliment to Lafayette. 
 Congress voted him two hundred thousand dol- 
 lars and twenty-three thousand acres of public 
 land. 
 
 We should do injustice were we not to notice 
 the Chowan Baptist Female Institute, located at 
 Murfreesboro in this county, which fosters with 
 so much assiduity the real interests of society 
 and annually sends forth living streams of sci- 
 ence, beauty and morality to gladden and 
 improve our State. The building was erected 
 in 1850-51, it is four stories high, containing a 
 spacious chapel, parlor, library, and rooms suf- 
 ficient for one hundred pupils. In addition an 
 adjacent building for the steward's family, music 
 room, and an art gallery. 
 
 It is chiefly patronized by North Carolina 
 and Virginia, but occasionally it has had pupils 
 from various other States, from Maryland to 
 Texas. It has graduated nearly two hundred 
 ladies. Rev. A. McDowell, D. D., was placed 
 first in charge — and was succeeded by Rev. M. 
 R. Forey of New York, who, aided by Dr. G. 
 C. Moore, rendered substantial aid in collecting 
 funds. In 1854 Dr. Forey was succeeded by 
 Rev. William Hooper, who, after remaining a 
 few years, was, on account of his health, com- 
 pelled to resign, and Dr. McDowell again took 
 charge. Under his guidance and aided by an 
 able corps of teachers, this excellent institution 
 will continue to be a blessing to our country, 
 and an ornament of its section. 
 
 Near the town of Murfreesboro in the adja- 
 cent county, Southampton, Virginia, on August 
 21, 1 83 1, a fearful and bloody insurrection of 
 slaves occurred. Nearly one hundred white 
 persons were ruthlessly murdered. The negroes 
 were led on by Nat Turner, who pretended to 
 be a preacher, and under the assumed inspira- 
 tion of religion, perpetrated a series of wanton 
 murders and robberies. These atrocities quickly 
 aroused the whites, and armed forces from North 
 Carolina and Old Point were rapidly raised and 
 the insurrection subdued. Many of them were 
 
IIYDK COUNTY. 
 
 223 
 
 taken and executed on the gallows ; not, how- resisted the attack, and Hark was shot by him, 
 
 ever, until many, from the aged matron to the when his followers retreated. For his gallantry on 
 
 lielpless infant, had fallen victims to the be- this occasion, he was honored by General 
 
 sotted blacks. This first attack was led b\' a Jackson with a commission in the Navj'. 
 colored man named Hark, on the house of .Si- A sketch of the Wheeler family, who were 
 
 moil ]i!ount, who was, at the time, a helpless long residents of this county, will be found in a 
 
 cripple. Young lilount, his son, a mere j'outh, Memoir of the Author immediate!)- after the 
 
 Preface. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 HYI3K COUNTY. 
 
 David Miller Carter was a native of this 
 county, though much of his early life was spent 
 in Raleigh. He was prepared for college by 
 Mr. Lovejoy, and graduated at the University 
 in 185 1. He studied law and settled in the 
 town of Washington, and formed a partnership 
 with Hon. E. J. Warren. He pursued the pro- 
 fession with great success. He was a Whig in 
 politics, and strongly opposed to the doctrine 
 of secession. But when the Federal Govern- 
 ment announced the intention to coerce the 
 States, he raised a company to serve during the 
 war, which formed a part of the 4th North Caro- 
 lina Regiment. At the battle of Seven Pines, 
 he was severely wounded, so that he was never 
 again able to serve in the field. He was 
 assigned to duty as one of the three Judges of 
 the Military Court of Longstreet's Corps, with 
 the rank of Colonel, in which capacity he contin- 
 ued until he was elected (1864) by the people of 
 
 Beaufort County to represent them in the House 
 of Commons. 
 
 After the war was over he returned to the 
 care of his large farming interests and the 
 practice of his profession in Washington, where 
 he remained until his removal to Raleigh. 
 
 Colonel Carter was a public spirited man. 
 He devoted much of his time and energy to 
 the cause of education, and especially to the 
 University of which he was a steady friend and 
 a liberal benefactor, and to the management of 
 the Penitentiary, of which he was one of the 
 Directors. 
 
 His health gradually failing, he repaired to 
 Baltimore for medical aid — but in vain. He 
 died at Baltimore on January 7, 1877. He 
 married twice, first a daughter of D. P. Perry, 
 and second, a Mrs. Benbury, one of the most 
 amiable ladies of the State. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 TRKDELL COUNTY. 
 
 Hugh Lawson White, (born 1773, died 
 1840,) who became a Judge of the Supreme 
 Court of Tennessee and a Senator in Congress, 
 was a native of Iredell County. He was of 
 Irisli descent. His grandfather immigrated to 
 this country about 1742, and left si.x sons: James, 
 
 Moses, John, William, David and Andy — many 
 of whose descendants now reside in this county. 
 James, the father of Judge White, was a soldier 
 of the Revolution. He moved to Knox Coun- 
 ty, Tennessee, in 1786, served as a General in 
 the Creek War, was distinguished for his integ- 
 
?24 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 rity, ability and bravery. He bestowed on 
 his son every advantage of education. Judge 
 White's early education was conducted by Rev. 
 Samuel Carrick, Judge Roane, and Dr. Robert 
 Patterson of Philadelphia. In 1795, he studied 
 law in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the office of 
 James Hopkins. After completing his studies, 
 he returned home to Tennessee ; where he soon 
 acquired fame and fortune in the practice of his 
 profession, and at the early age of twenty-eight, 
 he was elected Judge of the Superior Court, 
 among such compeers as Andrew Jackson, 
 Jenkins Whiteside and GeorgeW. Campbell — by 
 no means an empty honor ; but in 1807, he re- 
 signed this position. Two years afterwards, 
 when the Supreme Court was established he was 
 unanimously chosen one of the Justices thereof, 
 where he presided for six years with great satis- 
 faction to the country and honor to himself 
 At this time Tennessee severely suffered from 
 the hostile devastations of the Creek Indians. 
 At this dark and perilous period, when the he- 
 roic Jackson was in the midst of a wild territory, 
 surrounded by savages, his scanty force dis- 
 affected and mutinous, Judge White left the 
 Bench, and with only one companion, sought, 
 and after great peril and exposure, found tlie 
 veteran, Jackson to whom he volunteered his 
 services, which were gladly accepted. 
 
 In 1 820 he was appointed by President Mon- 
 roe, (with Governor Tazewell of Virginia and 
 Governor King of Maine as colleagues,) a Com- 
 missioner, under the Convention with Spain, 
 which position he held for four years. In 1825 
 when General Jackson resigned his seat as Sena- 
 tor in Congress, Judge White was unanimously 
 elected his successor. He was re-elected in 
 1827, and in 1832, when hewas chosen President 
 of the Senate. In 1836 he was a candidate for 
 President. 
 He resigned his seat in the Senate in 1839, 
 
 ■Tile vote was as follows : VaiiBuren, 170 ; Harrison, 73 ; 
 White, 26 (Georgia and Tennessee); Webster, 14; Mangum, 
 
 having received instructions from the Legisla- 
 ture of Tennessee to vote for measures that his 
 judgment did not approve. He returned to his 
 home at Knoxville, and in the next year, (1840, 
 April, ioth,)fuIl of years, honored and esteemed 
 for his virtues, universally loved and respected, 
 he died. 
 
 William Sharpe, (born 1742, died 1818,) re- 
 sided and died in this county. He was the old- 
 est son of Thomas Sharpe, and was born in Ce- 
 cil County, Maryland. At an early age, he re- 
 moved to Mecklenburg County, where he mar- 
 ried a daughter of David Reese, one of the de- 
 cided patriots of that day, and a member of the 
 Convention of May 20th, 1775. 
 
 Mr. Sharpe was a Lawyer by profession. I 
 copy from the records of Lincoln County: "At 
 January Term, 1785, William Sharpe, Esq., pro- 
 duced in opeti Court his license to practice as 
 Attorney-at-Law, and was admitted to the 
 Bar accordingly." He removed to Iredell 
 County, then Rowan County, and was zealous 
 and active in the cause of the people. The 
 records of the Committee of Safety for Rowan 
 County prove his patriotism and courage. He 
 was a member of the Provincial Congress which 
 met atNewBerne, April, 1775, and at Hillsboro 
 in August following, also at Halifax in 1776; 
 he was aid to General Rutherford the same year 
 in his Campaign against the Indians, and the 
 next year with Waighstill Avery, Robert Lan- 
 ier and Joseph Winston, he was appointed by 
 Governor Caswell to treat with them. 
 
 He was appointed a member of the Conti- 
 nental Congress at Philadelphia in 1779, ^"^ 
 served till 1782. 
 
 He died in July, 18 18, leaving a widow and 
 twelve children. His eldest daughter married 
 W. W. P>\vin, of Burke, who was Clerk of the 
 Superior Court of that County for many years, 
 and the Agent of the State Bank. She was the 
 mother of fifteen children. The second, Ruth, 
 married Andrew Caldwell of Iredell, who was 
 
IREDl-.LL COUNTY. 
 
 often a member of the LcLjislaturc, and the 
 father of Judge David F. Caldwell, Hon Joseph 
 P. Caldwell, and Dr. Elam Caldwell of Lin- 
 colnton. 
 
 Dr. Charles Caldwell, an extensive and pop- 
 ular writer, professor in Transylvania Univers- 
 it\-, and one of the Founders of the Medical 
 School at Louisville, was a native of this sec- 
 tion. He resided for a time, in his early age, 
 near Mount Mourne, in Iredell County. He 
 was a man of gigantic proportions and capable 
 of great labor, physical and mental. He wrote 
 valuable papers on Malaria, Quarantines, Phys- 
 ical Education and Phrenology. In the last he 
 was an enthusiastic a follower of Combe, Spur- 
 ziem and others, and lectured extensively on the 
 subject in different sections of the country. 
 His tribute to Fisher Ames, in Rees' Encyclope- 
 dia, is unrivaled, He wrotea paper on Leibig's 
 "Theory of Animal Heat," which utterly refut- 
 ed the learned German's theory. 
 
 In 1819, while filling the Chair of Natural 
 History in the University of Pennsylvania, he 
 published "Life of General Nathaniel Greene," 
 which was mercilessly criticized in the North 
 American Review, (January, 1825.) He died 
 at his residence in the city of Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky, in July, 1853. He was probably at the 
 time of his death the oldest practicing physi- 
 cian in the United States, being 90 years of 
 age.- 
 
 David Franklin Caldwell, born 1790, was a 
 native of this county, educated at the Univers- 
 ity and studied Law with Archibald Henderson 
 at Salisbury. He was a Member of the House 
 of Commons from this county in 1816, '17, '18 
 and '19, and represented Rowan County in the 
 Senate in 1829, '30 and '31, of which he was 
 chosen Speaker. In 1844 he was elected 
 Judge of the Superior Court, the duties of 
 which office he discharged with dignity and 
 satisfaction. 
 
 -N. C. Uni. Mag. II., 297. 
 
 He died after a short illness, respected and 
 esteemed by all who knew hiin. He was twice 
 married, first to Miss Alexander, and secondly, 
 Mrs. Troy. 
 
 His brother, Hon. Jos. Pearson Caldwell, born 
 in 1808, died 1853, was also a native of this coun- 
 ty, where he lived and died. He was educated at 
 Bethany Academy, and studied Law with Judge 
 Caldwell. He was elected Senator in the Leg- 
 islature in 1833, '34, and in 183S, '40 and '42 he 
 was a Member of the House of Commons. 
 
 He was elected a member of the 31st Con- 
 gress, (1849, S'') ^"^ re-elected to the 32nd 
 Congress, (185 i and '53.) He was a useful and 
 worthy member, universally esteemed for his 
 abilities and genial temper. He died suddenly, 
 June 30, 1S53. 
 
 Robert Franklin Armfield was born July 9th, 
 1S29, near Greensboro, and educated at Trinity 
 College, North Carolina. He read law with 
 John A. Gilmer, and has been in the continu- 
 ous practice of his profession. 
 
 He was a member of the State Convention 
 of 1861, which passed the Ordinance of Seces- 
 sion, but resigned and went into the 'arm} as 
 a subaltern in the 3Sth North Carolina Regi- 
 iment, of which he afterwards became Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel. He was wounded at the Battle 
 of Shepherdstown, (1862). Whilst at home on 
 furlough, wounded, he was elected Solicitor for 
 the State in the Sixth Judicial District, in 
 which capacity he served until removed by 
 Governor Holden, in 1865. He has avoided 
 political office, declining several nominations to 
 the Legislature. He was elected however to 
 the Legislature in 1874, as Senator from the 
 counties of Iredell, Alexander and Wilkes, and 
 here was chosen President of the Senate, and 
 ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor of the State. 
 He married Miss Mary A. Denny of Guilford, 
 and is blessed with a large family. 
 
 David Moffit Furches, Judge of the Superior 
 Court, resides in this county. He is a native 
 of Davie County, born April 2nd, 1832. Edu- 
 
226 
 
 whep:lkr's reminiscences. 
 
 cated at Union Academy, he read law with 
 Judge Pearson, and settled at Mocksville. He 
 was a emmber of the Constitutional Conven- 
 tion in 1865, and '66. He removed to Stater- 
 
 ville and was once a candidate for Congress, but 
 was defeated by Major Robbins. He was made 
 Judge, August, 1875, to fill the vacancy occa- 
 sioned by the resignation of Judge Mitchell. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 JOHNSTON, JONKS AND LKNOIR COUNTIKS. 
 
 The same spirit of resistance to the illegal 
 exactions of authority, which subsequently ter- 
 minated in the battle of Alamanie, was early 
 evinced by the bold men of this county. 
 
 I extract from the Public Records in London, 
 the following, contained in a dispatch from 
 General Tryon to the Earl of Hillsboro : 
 
 "Brunswick, N. C, Dec. 24, 176S. 
 ■ I will mention another affair which happened 
 in August last. A body of about eighty men 
 came to the Court in Johnston County, with the 
 intention to turn the Justices off the bench, as 
 had been done in the spring before, in Anson 
 County The Justices thought it prudent (al- 
 though the first day of the court) to adjourn the 
 court for the term. Upon the notice of their 
 approach they collected some gentlemen who 
 were friends to the Government, and attacked 
 the insurgents with clubs ; and after a smart 
 skirmish drove them from the field." 
 
 William A. Smith resides in Johnston county. 
 He has only an old field school education, but 
 possesses such force of character and common 
 sense that has enabled him to attain positions 
 of importance and power. He was born in 
 Warren County, January 9, 1 828 ; worked on the 
 farm till fourteen years of age, when he engaged as 
 a hand on the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad. 
 Hoping to better his fortunes, he went to Lou- 
 isiana, and settled at Shreveport, but he soon 
 returned to his native State and settled in 
 Johnston County. The people soon discov- 
 ered his merits. In 186 1 he became a mem- 
 
 ber of the (Secession) Convention. In 1S64 
 elected to the Legislature. In 1865 he was a 
 member of the Convention called by Governor 
 Holden. In 1868 he was chosen President of 
 the North Carolina Railroad. In 1870 he was 
 elected by the people a member of the Senate, 
 of the Legislature, but was unseated. He was 
 elected to represent the Raleigh district in (the 
 43rd) Congress (1873-75). After serving in 
 Congress for one term he declined a re-election. 
 
 Nathan Bryan represented this, the Newberii 
 District in (the 4th and 5th) Congress 1795-99, 
 and was a man of great usefulness and piety. 
 He was prominent in the Baptist denomination. 
 He died while in Congress, at Philadelphia, in 
 1798, and was succeeded by Richard Dobbs 
 Spaight, Sr. Moore says that he was wealthy 
 and talented. 
 
 Hardy B. Croom (born 1798 — drowned Octo- 
 ber, 1837) was long a resident of Lenoir County. 
 He was born 1798 ; educated at the University, 
 where he graduated in 18 17, in the same class 
 with John M. Morehead and others. He read 
 law with Judge Gaston, and was distinguished as 
 a scholar and a gentleman. He represented 
 this county in the Senate in 1828. He married 
 Miss Smith of NewBerne. On a voyage from 
 New York, on the steamer "Home," he and 
 his famil)' were drowned, October 9, 1837. 
 
 An interesting question of law arose from this 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 227 
 
 tragic event. If Mr. Croom survived lii.s cliil- 
 ciren only for a moment, tlien a large estate went 
 to certain heirs ; if not, then, to other heirs. 
 
 William D. Mosely, late Governor of Florida, 
 (1845-49) was a native of Lenoir County. He 
 was educated at the University, and graduated 
 in same class with Robert Donaldson, Thomas 
 J. Green, Hamilton C. Jones, Rev. Robert 
 Hall Morrison, James K. Polk, Hugh Waddeli, 
 and others. He represented the county in the 
 Senate for many years, and in 1832 to 1835 was 
 elected Speaker of the Senate, and presided with 
 great dignity and satisfaction. His ancestors 
 are well known in our early History. Edward 
 M sely was the Surveyor General of the Provi- 
 dence in 1723 and charges against him for 
 malfeasance in ofifice were preferred by Sir 
 Richard Everhard — as also Burrington the 
 Governor. He was one of the Commis- 
 sioners with Christopher Gale, William 
 Little and Colonel Lovick, to run the divid- 
 ing line between Carolina and Virginia. Colo- 
 
 nel Byrd, I'itz Williams and Danridgc, being the 
 Virginia Commissioners. 
 
 Hon. George Davis in a late lecture (Novem 
 ber, 1879), " -^ Study: Colonial History," 
 speaks of Edward Mosely as one of the ances- 
 tors of Governor Mosely, as being one of the great 
 men of North Carolina; that of all men that 
 watched and guided the tottering footsteps of 
 our infant State, there was not one, who, in 
 intellectual ability, in solid and polite learning, 
 in scholarly cultivation and refinement, in cour- 
 age and endurance, in high Christian morality, 
 in generous consideration for the welfare of 
 others, in all true merit, in fine, in all that makes 
 a man among men, could equal Edward 
 Mosely." 
 
 In 1707 he was Chief Justice, and in 1709, 
 being then Surveyor General, was appointed 
 with his deputy, John Lawson, to run the 
 northern boundary line. 
 
 About 1840 Mr. Mosely removed to Florida, 
 where he was much esteemed, and was the iirst 
 Governor of the State, from 1845 to 1849. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 I.INCOLN COTINTV. 
 
 There are few portions of North Carolina, 
 around which the halo of chivalric deeds and 
 unsullied patriotism clusters more brilliantly, 
 than this section. The battle of King's Moun- 
 tain, Ramsour's Mill, the passage of the Ca- 
 tawba by Cornwallis, and the gallant resistance 
 and the lamented death of General Davidson ; 
 all shed a flood of memories around this region, 
 alike interesting and patriotic. But our present 
 duties are confined to biographical sketches, 
 and we leave this fair field of history for other 
 and more competent laborers. 
 
 Among the patriots of our Revolution, none 
 deserves our gratitude more than Joseph Gra- 
 ham, (born 1759 — died 1836); he was the founder 
 
 of this family in North Carolina. He was a 
 native of Penns}lvania, born in Chester Count)-, 
 October 1 3, 1 759. His mother was left a widow 
 with si.x small children and but slender means. 
 He removed to North Carolina, when her son, 
 Joseph, was about ten years old, and settled 
 near Charlotte. His early education was con- 
 nected at the academy in Charlotte, he was 
 distinguished for his assiduity and good conduct. 
 There studies made him acquainted with the 
 history of events and prepared his mind for the 
 revolutionary struggle which soon ensued. He 
 testified that he was present in Charlotte, May 
 20, 1775, when and where the first declaration 
 of independence was made, and speaks of the 
 
228 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 impression made on his mind by the solemn and 
 heroic decisions of that day.* 
 
 He enHsted at the age of nineteen years and 
 served in the 4th Regiment of North CaroHna 
 troops under Colonel Archibald Lytle, and in 
 Captain Goodsen's Company. They were 
 ordered to rendezvous at Bladensburg in Mary- 
 land. On this month they received intelligence 
 of the battle of Monmouth and that the British 
 had gone to New York, so their services would 
 not be needed. He returned home on furlough. 
 He was again called into service under General 
 Rutherford in 177S ; was in the battle of Stono, 
 June 20, 1779. The next year he was seized 
 with fever, and after two months' severe illness, 
 was discharged near Dorchester, and returned 
 home. After recruiting his health, while en- 
 gaged in endeavoring to aid his mother in 
 support of the family, and was ploughing in 
 the field, he heard that the British had defeated 
 Colonel Buford at the Waxhaw, and were ap- 
 proaching Charlotte; he joined the Mecklen- 
 burg Regiment, and was appointed Adjutant of 
 the Regiment, which was ordered by General 
 Davidson to Charlotte and there join General 
 Davie. 
 
 The British Army entered Charlotte, Septem- 
 ber 26, 1780, and General Graham was ordered 
 to cover the retreat of General Davie. A sharp 
 conflict took place about four miles on the road 
 to Silisbury, when General Davie's force was 
 not within supporting distance. Colonel Locke 
 of Rowan was killed and General Graham 
 
 sEx'ract from Declaration of General Joseph Graham, 
 sworn to in open C jurt in Lincoln County, North Carolina, 
 October 30, 1832, and now on file in the Pension Bureau at 
 Washington, D. C , in order to obtain the benefit of the act 
 of Congress pafsed June 7, 1S32. 
 
 " The deponent stat&s he has a record of his age; that he 
 was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on October IJ, 
 1759— that he removed to Mecl<lcnburg Cnunty, North 
 Carolina, when about ten years of age, that he was present 
 in Charlotte on the 20th day of Miy\ I775. "'hen the com- 
 niittee of the County of Mecklenburg made their cehhrated 
 Declaration of Independenee of the British Crown, upwards 
 of a year b;fore the Congress of the United .States did at 
 Philadelphia— that he resided in Mecklenburg County, 
 until June, 1792, and since that time in the County of Lin- 
 coln." Let the doubters of this event read this affidavit ! 
 
 received nine severe wounds, the scars of which 
 he carried to his grave. 
 
 His life was preserved by a large stock buckle 
 which broke the violence of the blow from a 
 sabre. He was for two months disabled from 
 service. As soon as he recovered from his 
 wounds he again entered into the service of his 
 country ; he raised a company of mounted rifle- 
 men, and joined General Davidson's command, 
 which disputed the advance of Lord Cornwallis 
 at Cowan's Ford on the Catawba river. His 
 command was the first to commence the attack 
 on the British troops, which was continued 
 until they had crossed. 
 
 It was here, on February i, 1781, that General 
 Davidson fell The North Carolina troops under 
 General Graham continued to harrass the Brit- 
 ish as they proceeded towards Virginia. Gen- 
 eral Graham attacked the guard at Hart's Mill, 
 near Hillsboro. The same day he was united 
 to General Lee's forces and was in that action 
 where a large number of Tories, under Colonel, 
 or Doctor, Pyles, were defeated. After being 
 in several other severe skirmishes, the British 
 retired to Wilmington. General Rutherford, 
 who had been for some time confined at St. Au- 
 gustine as a prisoner of war, taken at Gates' 
 defeat, returned to duty and ordered General 
 Graham to raise a legion of cavalry, of which 
 Robert Smith was Colonel, and Graham the 
 Major, and to march on Wilmington. Near 
 Fayetteville, he made a gallant and successful 
 attack on a body of Tories commanded by the 
 noted Tory, McNeil, at McFall's Mill on the 
 Raft Swamp, completely defeated him and dis- 
 persed his forces, twenty or thirty being killed 
 or wounded by the sabre only. 
 
 He surprised and defeated at Alfred Moore's 
 plantation, a mile below the ferry at Wilming- 
 ton, a band of Tories, and killed and wounded 
 twelve of them. He made an unsuccessful 
 attack on a British garrison in a brick house 
 which covered the ferry opposite Wilmington. 
 He was detached by General Rutherford, to a 
 place called Seven Creeks, near the South Caro 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 229 
 
 Una line, when he was attacked at midnight by 
 the noted Tory, Colonel Gainy. The Tories 
 were repulsed by General Graham's forces. 
 
 This detail of the services of General Graham, 
 is collected from his declaration, filed October 
 30, 1833, in the records of the Pension Bureau 
 at Washington to obtain a pension, (No. 17953)- 
 
 This campaign closed the military services of 
 General Graham in the Revolutionary War, and 
 he retired to private life. He was elected the 
 first Sheriff of Mecklenburg County ; and from 
 1788 to 1794, with but few intermissions, rep- 
 resented this county in the Senate of the 
 Legislature. 
 
 In 1 8 14, the war with the Creek Indians was 
 raging. General Graham was appointed to 
 command a brigade, and marched to the seat of 
 war. They arrived just as the final battle of the 
 Horse Shoe was fought, which ended the war. 
 He was for many years. Major General of the 
 5th division of the State Militia. 
 
 In 1802 he addressed the Legislature on the 
 subject of organizing the Militia, and on apian 
 for a Military Academy, for which he received 
 the thanks of the Legislature. This address 
 was printed by order of the Legislature. He 
 removed in 1792 to Lincoln County, and en 
 gaged in the establishment of iron foundries ; 
 for more than forty years he conducted this im- 
 portant interest with energy and success. 
 
 By a life of industry and temperance he 
 enjoyed a "green old age." He died on No- 
 vember 12, 1836, and was buried at McPelah, 
 in Lincoln County. Over his grave is the fol- 
 lowing inscription : 
 
 "Sacred to the memory of Majok General 
 Joseph Graham, who died November 12, 1836, 
 aged "J"] years. He was a brave, distingushed 
 and intelligent officer in the Revolutionary War, 
 and in various campaigns from May, 1778 to 
 November, 1781 ; commanded in fifteen engage- 
 ments with signal courage, wisdom and success. 
 
 "On September 26, i78oafter a gallant defense 
 of the ground first consecrated by the Declara- 
 tion of American Independence, hewaswounded 
 near Charlotte. In 1814 he commanded the 
 
 troops of North Carolina in their expedition 
 against the Creek^ Indians. His life was a 
 bright and illustrious pattern ol domestic, social 
 and public virtue. Modest, amiable, upright 
 and pious, he lived a noble ornament to his 
 country and a rich blessing to his family, and 
 (lied with the hope of a glorious immortality." 
 
 GENEALOGY OF THE GRAHAM FAMILY. 
 
 James Graham emigrated from County Down. 
 in Ireland, at the age of 18 years, and settled 
 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the early 
 part of the eighteenth century. He also ap- 
 pears to have resided for a time in Berks and 
 Lancaster Counties. The tradition is that he 
 was of the family of the chieftain and hero of the 
 same name, who bore such a conspicuous part in 
 the military annals of Scotland* in the century 
 
 -The expressirn "niilit.iry .innals of Scotland" is used in 
 pref rence to history, for the very good reason tliat the his- 
 tories, £0 far, have never done him justice. He lived in tlie 
 legends of Scotland, a prcrtotype of that herci (Stonewall 
 Jackson) (f a later day, who with a corps but half-armed, 
 drove more numerous and finely (quipped foes from the 
 field, and. with the captured supplies and arms, so prepared 
 his troops for further and greater conquests. Finally yield- 
 ing "to supfrior resources," he was told by the executioner, 
 that after death he was to be drawn and quartered. He 
 calmly replied that he would cheerfully submit to the 
 more general distribution of his body, as it might teach 
 mankind iluUe et ih-corum fro patria mart, and as a testimo- 
 ny of the cause for which he suffered. 
 
 Whilst Cromwell comiuered England against the Stuarts, 
 the Marquis conquered Scotland for them, but disgusted 
 with the cant of the Praise God Barebones he soon lost all 
 sympathy (or them and became their most active foe. The 
 Stuarts lost their sceptre by the Revolution of 1688, and 
 the memory of James Graham has since then received the 
 scant justice allotted to heroes of lost causes "He was 
 truly a Christian and a gentleman, and well deserved to 
 have his memory preserved and celebrated amongst the 
 most illustrious persons of the age in which he lived.". — 
 Clarendon's History ■ f the Great Kebellior. Hook XII, 367. 
 
 John Graham, of Claverhouse was of a very difierent char- 
 acter, and the odium justly altaching to his name, unre- 
 deemed by any marked talents or manly virtues, has misled 
 those historiaris, who did not take the trouble to gather 
 the evidence from the traditions among those with whose 
 ancestors he acted, therefore they pass him over in silence, 
 or unjusly condemn him. In these pages we cannot give 
 his life, nor does it become important to establish the 
 truth of the tradition of the Pennsylvania and North Caro- 
 lina Grahams. T5y the table of iheir geneology we find 
 that a son of the Pennsylvania J ames Graham called a son 
 Robert Montrose, and in thene.xt generation we find |ames 
 Monirose Graham and Junius Montrose Graham. John 
 Davidson, jr , who died about 1870, aged over ninety years, 
 frequently spoke of General Grahams's connection with the 
 Duke of Montrose, and the name "Montrose" was greatly 
 revered by General Graham. These and other things we 
 mention as famiiy traditons and reminiscences. The New 
 Berne family of Grahams have a similar tradition, but the 
 families are unable to trace back to a common ancestor. 
 They are believed, however, to be of the same house. 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 preceding, and finally illustrated the sincerity of 
 his faith in the conservative princ'ples for 
 which he had gained many a brilliant victory in 
 the open field, by a death upon the scaffold. 
 May 2 1 St, 1650. With the spirit of the pion- 
 eer, the young man made his way to the new 
 world, relying entirely upon his own exertions. 
 
 He was twice married in Chester. We are 
 not informed of the descendants of the first mar- 
 riage. 
 
 His second wife was a Mrs Mary Barber, nee 
 McConnell, who was remembered by the last 
 generation as a lady of culture and piety. She 
 survived him, and in 1769, joined the tide of 
 emigration southward, with her six children, 
 and settled in Mecklenburg County, North Car- 
 olina. She was accompanied by her brother in- 
 law, Charles Moore, who settled in the adjoin- 
 ing county of Lancaster, South Carolina, he 
 was the grand-father of the late Governor 
 Moore, of Alabama. She was not a disinter- 
 ested spectator of the Revolution, which soon 
 engaged the attention of the country, but like 
 all the other women, about the 'Hornets' Nest," 
 upheld its principles from first to last with un- 
 flagging zeal. She died July 19th, 1791, and 
 was buried at Sugar Creek Church. 
 
 Her children were John ; George ; Joseph ; 
 
 Sarah, married to Allison ; * Anne married to 
 
 Robert Barnctt, who died Septtmber 9th, 1830, 
 
 aged So; and Esther Barber who married Cathey. 
 
 I. John wasagraduateof Liberty Hall, formerly 
 
 ■He enlisted under Ji sepli Craham, when a call for vol- 
 unteer cavalry was made to nieei the liritish invasion of 1 7S0, 
 and was with Davie's rear-guard which successfully repelled 
 three charges of Tarleton's Legion (September 26,) on In- 
 dependence Square, in Charlotte, North Carolina. During 
 the fight, he insisted upon dismounting to t:et a steady aim 
 at an offiier, wh' ni he believed was Cornwallis, and was 
 only deterred from doing so through the peremptory order 
 ' to keep the saddle, " enforceil by the Cap-ain drawing 
 his •■word up' n him. Nearly a half-century afterwards, so 
 Governor William A. Graham was wont to tell, he would 
 speak about his disappointed shot with as much feeling as 
 if it had but ju-t occurred. 
 
 An hour or -o later, a little beyond Sugar Creek Church, 
 the Captain himself was left for dead on tl e field, with 
 nine wounds received whilst endeavoring to rescue his gal- 
 lant lieutenant, George Locke who had lingere 1 too long 
 in maintaining this parthian contest against overwhelming 
 
 called Queen's Museum, in Charlotte; was after- 
 wards at Princeton, and received the degree of 
 M. D., under Dr. Rush in Philadelphia. He 
 was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army, and 
 left an interesting diary, which is in the hands 
 of the Historical Society of North Corolina. 
 
 He moved to South Carolina, had charge of a 
 college on Black (?) River, married a Miss 
 Cooper and died without issue. 
 
 Below we present a copy of his diploma at 
 Liberty Hall, as a matter of historical interest : 
 State ok North Carolina, 1 
 Mecklenburg County. J 
 
 This is to certify that Mr. John Graham hath 
 been a student in the Academy at Liberty 
 Hall, in the State and county above-mentioned, 
 the space of four years preceding the date 
 hereof, that his whole deportment during his 
 residence there was perfectly regular, that he 
 prosecuted his studies with diligence, and made 
 such acquisitions, both in the Languages and 
 Scientific Learning, as gave entire satisfaction to 
 his teachers. 
 
 And he is hereby recommended to the friend 
 ly notice and regard of all lovers of religion and 
 literature wherever he may come. 
 
 In testimony of which this is given at Liberty 
 Hall, this 22nd diyof November, 177>S.='- 
 Isc Alexander, President. 
 Eph. Brevard, \ j^ustees 
 
 Abr'm Alexander, j 
 
 II. George (see sketch), twice married, first to 
 a Miss Cathey, second to a Mrs. Potts. He was 
 an ensign in the First North Carolina Regiment, 
 (James Moore, Colonel,) appointed Sept 1st, 
 
 ■'1 he exact date of changing the name would be a preg- 
 nant fact. It is certainly improbable that, after that time 
 when "in the year 1775, after our Revolution began and 
 the principal characters in Mecklenburg County met on 
 sundry days in <,)ueer.s's Museum, in Charlotte, to digest 
 Articles of a State Constitution in anticipation that the 
 province would proceed to do so," the trustees would much 
 longer continue to carry the royal name upon an institution 
 of learning to which British authority had refused a charter. 
 The Articles bear date September 1st, 1775. and were given 
 to the public in the same year, (1S37), that Mr. Force discov- 
 ered the "full copy of the whole proceedings," (declaration, 
 military order, and all in one) as attested and "signed by or- 
 der of the committee " This was four years before Dr. 
 McNitt's death, and it was Mr. Force's publication, which 
 doubtless, brought out his. — R. D. G. 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 231 
 
 1775. Issue were Polly, married to Geo. Cor- 
 rith, and Jennie married to Wm. E. McRce. He 
 was one of the party of thirteen, who, (in Oc- 
 tober 3, 1780, at Mclntire's Creek, seven miles 
 north of Charlotte, successfully ambuscaded and 
 stampeded a British foraging party of four hun- 
 dred and fifty infantry and sixty cavah}-, with 
 about forty wagons. Their names are worthy 
 of individual mention and are as follows : James 
 Thompson, Captain ; Francis Bradley, George 
 Graham, James Henry, Thomas Dickson, John 
 Dickson, George Houston, Hugh Houston, 
 Thomas McLure, John Long, John Robinson, 
 George Shipley and Edward Shipley. 
 
 III. Joseph (see sketch) married Isabella 
 Davidson. Issue : (a) John Davidson ; (b) So- 
 phia; (c) James; (d) Polly; (e) George Frank- 
 lin; (f) Violet Winslow Wilson; (g) Mary; (h) 
 Robert Montrose; (i) Joseph; (k) Alfred, (1) 
 Isabella, married to William Alexander. 
 
 (a) John D. married, first, Elizabeth Conner, 
 second, Jane Johnston. Of the first marriage, 
 were Mary Anne, married to James H. Orr, of 
 Charlotte; Isabella; Chas. C. married Mary E. 
 Mebane, of Greensboro — moved to Memphis; 
 Malvina S. married John A. Young; Joseph 
 Montrose married Mary Washington, of New 
 Berne — moved to Camden, Arkansas; Henry 
 W., Martha C. married P. K. Rounsaville; Eliza 
 D. married John S. Sloan, of Greensboro, North 
 Carolina, later of Brenham, Texas; James F. ; 
 Hamilton A. married Louise Mason, of Lam- 
 pasas, Texas, and Julia A. 
 
 Of the second marriage (a) Robert Clay ; (b) 
 Sophia married Dr. John Witherspoon, of Ala- 
 bama—issue John; Robert Sidney, M. D., mar- 
 ried Mrs . Mary Bratton nee Torrence ; Thomas 
 married Kate Hatch; Alfred married Tariffa 
 Cocke; Graham; Eliza married Judge Henry 
 Goldthwaite, Alabama; Mary married Charles 
 Dickey, of Brown Brothers, New York City; 
 Louisa married W. H. Anderson, of Mobile; 
 
 (c) James, born in 1793, University in 1814, 
 Legislature in 1822-24-28-29, United States 
 Congress 1833-45-47-49, died in 185 i. (c) Geo. 
 Franklin, University, and M. D., settled in 
 Memphis, married Martha Conner— issue; Anne 
 Eliza married William Johnston, of Charlotte, 
 North Carolina; (f) Violet married Dr. Moses 
 Widslow Alexander— issue, James G. ; Junius 
 Montrose, Hamilton L. ; Wistar Winslow, Syd- 
 enham Benoni married Emma P. Nicholson, 
 Captain of Infantry C. S. A., Legislature 1879, 
 1S83 ; Dovey married Rev. Mr. Cunningham ; Isa- 
 bella Louisa married Dr. William J. Hayes; Em- 
 ily; Eliza Rosinda; Mary Sophia; Julia Susan 
 married Thomas McGehee Smith; and Alice 
 Leonora. 
 
 (g) Mary married Rev. Robert Hall Morrison 
 (see sketch) ; (i) Joseph moved to Tennessee, 
 married Kimbrough — issue, George C, married 
 (i) Alabama Record, (2) Mrs. Perkins, (3) 
 Miss Daniels; Albert married Marshall; Joseph 
 married Mrs. Alston ; Lydia ; and Sophia mar- 
 ried Rutland. 
 
 (m) William A. married Susan, daughter of 
 John Washington, of New Berne— issue, Joseph, 
 married Elizabeth Hill, (University and M. D., 
 Captain and Chief of Division Light Artillery, 
 and Surgeon C. S. A.) ; John Washington mar- 
 ried Mrs. Rebecca Anderson, nee Cameron, 
 Lieut, and A. D. C, Captain and Major of 
 Infantry, C. S. A. ; in State Convention from 
 Orange in 1868, Legislature in 1871-1876; an 
 attorney. 
 
 William A. Jr. married Julia Lane, Univer- 
 sity and Princeton, Captain of Cavalry, C. S. 
 A., Major and A. A. G. of North Carolina; 
 Legislature from Lincoln County in 1874-79. 
 
 James Augustus married Elizabeth Webb, 
 University, from private to Captain of Infantry, 
 C. S. A.; A. A. & I. G., Cooke's Brigade, 
 Legislature from Alamance County in 1871-72, 
 an attorney. 
 
232 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Robert D., University, from private to Cap- 
 tain of Infantry, C. S. A., occasionally acting 
 Adjutant, and commanding Regiment ; after the 
 war finished his university course, and admitted 
 to the bar. 
 
 George W., married Sally Shaver, University 
 and M. D. ; Augustus W., married Lucy Horner, 
 University, an attorney. 
 
 Susan W. married Walter Clark, an attorney 
 at Raleigh. 
 
 Wm. A. Graham, (born Sept. 5, 1804, died 
 August II, 1875). Of his father we have already 
 given a faithful sketch, many of the Revolu- 
 tionary incidents of which were obtained 
 from his statement, when applying for a pen- 
 sion for his military services, which discloses 
 his patriotic character. His mother was distin- 
 guished for her personal accomplishments and 
 beauty* 
 
 He received his early education at the com- 
 mon schools of the county and commenced his 
 classical education at Statesville, under charge of 
 Rev. Dr. Muchat ; here he was noted for his thirst 
 for knowledge, and aptitude for learning. Such 
 was his desire for books that one of his class- 
 mates at the time, says of him, ' ' he was the 
 only student I ever knew who would spend his 
 Saturdays in reviewing his studies of the past 
 week." 
 
 After careful preparation he was sent to the 
 University, where he graduated in 1824. This 
 was one of the largest and ablest classes ever 
 sent forth by the University. It was one of which 
 Professors Olmstead and Mitchell declared that 
 "Yale might have been proud." Many of them 
 afterward won high distinction in political and 
 professional life — among these was John Bragg, 
 Judge and a Member of Congress from Ala- 
 bama; James W. Bryan, eminent as an advocate 
 and statesman; Thomas Dews, of Lincoln, a 
 son of genius and misfortune ; Mathias E. Manly, 
 Judge of Superior and Supreme Courts of North 
 
 '■Much of the material of tliis sketch h.is been g.-ithered from the 
 memorial oration on "Tlie life and character of Mr, Graham, by 
 Montford McGhee (1876;. 
 
 Carolina, (who divided with Governor Graham 
 the highest honors of the class) ; A. D. Sims, 
 member of Congress from South Carolina, 
 1845-48; and others. His collegiate career was 
 marked by obedience to rules, and habits of 
 diligent study. 
 
 He read law with Judge Ruffin and was ad- 
 mitted to its practice in 1826. He selected Hills- 
 boro as a residence and here he came in compe- 
 tition with such legal athletes as Ruffin, Murphy, 
 Mangum, Nash, and Badger, all of whom at- 
 tained positions as Judges. Against such giants 
 in the profession Mr. Graham had to contend, 
 and such was his assiduity, his high mental ac- 
 quirements, his perseverence and labor, that he 
 arose to the front rank, and was retained in all 
 the most important cases in this circuit. For 
 forty years he maintained this high position. 
 As an equity lawyer he was pre-eminent. In 
 1833-34-35 he was a member, from Hillsboro, 
 of the House of Commons, and from 1834 to 
 1840, elected from the County of Orange, and 
 for the two last years was elected Speaker. His 
 labors were incessent, as were his efforts for the 
 welfare of his country. But his talents were 
 soon to be transferred to the National Legisla- 
 ture. A political revolution in the State in 1840 
 brought about vacancies in the representation of 
 the State in the Senate of the United States. 
 Judge Strange, under instructions of the Leg- 
 lature had resigned his seat, as did also 
 Bedford Brown. Mr. Mangum and Mr. Gra- 
 ham were elected their successors. This was a 
 perilous time in political warfare. Mr. Graham, 
 although among the youngest members of the 
 Senate, bore himself with such dignity as to se- 
 cure the attention and the respect of this distin- 
 guished body composed of such illustrious men 
 as Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Buchanan, Wright, 
 and others. His speeches on the "Loan Bill," 
 the "Apportionment Bill," and other measures, 
 attracted the attention and the admiration of the 
 country. 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 233 
 
 On the expiration of his term (March 3, 
 1843) another revolution in politics occurred and 
 Mr. Haywood was elected his successor. 
 
 In 1844, he was nominated by the Whig 
 party as a candidate for Governor of the State. 
 His opponent was Michael Hoke of Lincoln 
 County. They were both natives of the same 
 county ; both in the prime of manhood, both of 
 fine address, of large political experience, and 
 both stood high in the forum and at the bar, 
 as also in the affections of their party. The 
 campaign was actively carried on, with unsur- 
 passed ability — Mr. Graham was elected. His 
 administration was so acceptable, that he was 
 re-elected by an increased majority over Louis 
 D. Henry. During his two terms, the State 
 made large and important progress in all her 
 substantial interests. 
 
 In 1848 he delivered an address, before the 
 Literary Societies at the University, remem- 
 bered as a solid and practical production. 
 
 In 1852, he addressed the New York Histor- 
 ical Society on the British invasion of North 
 Carolina, in 1780-81, which was an able and 
 accurate exposition of the services and suffer- 
 ing of North Carolina, in that perilous ordeal. 
 In i860 he delivered an address, at Greensboro, 
 on the life of General Nathaniel Greene and the 
 Revolutionary events of the State, in aid of 
 the erection of a monument at that place, to 
 General Greene. 
 
 In 1866 he delivered a discourse in memory 
 of the life and character of Hon. George E. 
 Badger, which was an able and faithful portrait 
 of that distinguished advocate and statesman. 
 He also delivered an address upon the life of 
 Hon. Thomas Ruffin. In 1875 he addressed 
 the citizens of Charlotte, on the "Mecklenburg 
 Declaration of Independence" of May 20, 1 775 ; 
 an exhaustive, unanswerable argument, proving 
 to the candid reader, beyond all cavil or question, 
 the authenticity of that memorable and patri- 
 otic document, and that no historical event is 
 better established. Upon these, chiefly rests 
 
 his fame as a writer and as an author. It is to 
 be regretted that he did not leave a more ex- 
 tended record of his researches and knowledge 
 as a historian. No one was more familiar with 
 every event connected with the history of the 
 country than was Governor Graham. He was 
 at the time of his death, the President of the 
 North Carolina Historical Society. 
 
 After his term as Governor had expired, he 
 was tendered by the President, the Mission to 
 Russia, or to Spain ; but as he had no desire to 
 leave the country, these were declined. 
 
 On the accession of Mr. Fillmore to the 
 Presidency (1850) he was tendered a seat in his 
 Cabinet, which he accepted. His first report, 
 as Secretary of the Navy, is dated November 
 20, 1850, and received the admiration and sanc- 
 tion of the country. He projected and carried 
 out the expedition to Japan under Commodore 
 Perry. Its success has marked an epoch in the 
 history of the age. It opened to commerce a 
 trade, before closed to the world, and established 
 friendly relations of an enduring character with 
 that extensive empire. 
 
 Another expedition was sent out in 1851, 
 under Governor Graham's administration of the 
 Navy Department — the exploration of the 
 valley of the Amazon, by Herndon and Gibbon. 
 
 The labors of Governor Graham as Secretary 
 of the Navy, were closed by his nomination, in 
 June 1852, as Vice President, on the ticket with 
 General Winfield Scott as President ; but the 
 election was in favor of General Franklin Pierce. 
 Governor Graham was again a member of the 
 Senate in the- Legislature of 1854. The ques- 
 tion, known as Free Suffrage, was the great 
 question of the session. Governor Graham 
 was opposed to the manner of the change by 
 legislative enactment, and advocated a conven- 
 tion. 
 
 The close of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
 brought signs ominous to the tranquility of the 
 country. The clouds had been gathering, dark 
 and heavy and were ready to burst. The elec- 
 
234 
 
 whf:eler'S reminiscences. 
 
 tion of a sectional President was considered by 
 many, and specially by South Carolina, a reason 
 for secession, and on December 20, i860, that 
 State held a convention which declared the con- 
 nection of that State with the Union dissolved, 
 and proceeded to place the State in an attitude 
 hostile to the United States. This example 
 was followed by other States south of her. 
 
 North Carolina's Legislature directed the 
 question of calling a convention to be submitted 
 to the people. The press, and the people were 
 much exercised on this momentous question. 
 The meeting of the people was largely attended, 
 and addressed by the ablest statesmen, as Mr. 
 Badger, Governors Morehead, and Graham, 
 in opposition to secession. The people with 
 just unanimity declared against calling a con- 
 vention. But when (April 19, 1861) Sumter 
 was fired upon, and surrendered to the Confed- 
 erate Army, the "Northern heart was fired." 
 ./ On the 15th Lincoln had called for 75,000 
 troops ; then the whole Southern section became 
 aroused, the glorious summer time of peace gave 
 place to the wintry blasts of war and discontent. 
 Virginia seceded. This placed North Carolina 
 in such a position that she must cither join in a 
 war against her neighbors and sisters, or unite her 
 fortunes with them and share their fate. She 
 did not now hesitate in her decision. Influ- 
 enced by their views, a convention was called, 
 which met on a day memorable in her history 
 (May 20, i86i). and passed an ordinance of 
 secession from the Federal Union, by a unani- 
 mous vote; the 20th of June of that year saw 
 North Carolina a member of the Confederacy. 
 To this measure Governor Graharn made a strong 
 but fruitless opposition. He wished the State 
 to hold her destinies in her own hands, that she 
 might act as the exigencies of the hour should 
 require. He was eminently conservative in his 
 views. He it was who opposed an ordinance to 
 define and punish treason, in a speech of great 
 power and matchless eloquence. 
 
 He was calm and considerate whilst the tem- 
 
 pests howled around him, and the signals of war 
 burned in every beacon height. 
 
 In December, 1863, Governor Graham was 
 elected to the Confederate Senate by a majority of 
 two-thirds of the Legislature, and took his seat 
 in May, 1864. This was a perilous period for the 
 Confederate cause, and it needed all the counsel, 
 comfort and support that could be afforded. 
 The brilliant success of early years of the war 
 had been followed by a succession of defeats 
 and disasters. The battle of Gettysburg, that very 
 Waterloo of the war, had been fought and lost 
 to the Confederates ; Vicksburg had fallen, and 
 the armies of the North had cut the South in 
 twain. Sherman had made his ' ' march to the 
 sea," his track was marked by rapine and deso- 
 lation. Ihe force opposed to the South, was 
 as seven to one.* It had become plain that the 
 war could not be longer successfully prosecuted 
 by the South. 
 
 In this cloud of gloom, a ray of hope appeared 
 in the form of a conference at Hampton Roads, 
 between Lincoln and the Confederate Commis- 
 sioners ; this took place on February 3, 1865. 
 The terms offered by Mr. Lincoln were, that 
 the seceded States should return to the Union, 
 with slavery as it was ; but that slavery was 
 liable to be abolished by an amendment to the 
 Constitution. The Southern Commissioners 
 demanded independence. There could be no 
 compromise reached, and the conference ended. 
 On their return, the commissioners, Mr. Davis 
 and Mr. Benjamin, made speeches to the public, 
 but they seemed fiat, almost insipid. The tenor 
 of the speeches rriade by Mr. Davis and Mr. 
 Benjamin, showed that they were not based upon 
 a realization of .the facts of the case, but Mr. 
 Graham did realize the true condition of affairs 
 in all its force. His letters, published in " The 
 Last Ninety Days of the War, "show how clearly 
 his vision swept the political horizon. The Con- 
 
 *The whole number of Confederates surrendered, includ- 
 ing Lee's command, amounted to 150,000. The whole 
 number of Federals amounted to 1,050,000. (Stephens' Hist. 
 U. S., p. 161). 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 235 
 
 gress of the Confederacy adjourned March i6, 
 1865. Governor Graham returned home, and 
 had a long conference with Governor Vance. 
 
 He laid before the Governor the views of the 
 President, the state of the Army, and recom- 
 mended that the Legislature be convened. He 
 stated that Richmond would soon fall, and that 
 Lee's Army would be disbanded for want of 
 food, if for no other cause. The Governor 
 agreed to summon his council, but the advance 
 of Sherman into North Carolina, hastened the 
 collapse of the Confederacy and decided events. 
 
 On Saturday, April 8, 1865, Governor Swain 
 wrote to Governor Graham to meet him at 
 Raleigh to confer with Governor Vance. Gov- 
 ernor Graham replied on the same day in a long 
 letter. Some difference of opinion as to the 
 true version of this interview between Governor 
 Vance and Governor Graham, exists up to this 
 time; in this we take no part. "The Last 
 Ninety Days of the War," gives the corres- 
 pondence on this subject. 
 
 The surrender left the State under tne control 
 of the Federal Generals. Governor Vance was 
 arrested and brought to Washington as a pris- 
 oner. A provisional Governor was appointed 
 with power to call a convention. A constitu- 
 tion was prepared, but it was not accepted by 
 the people. Mr. Graham opposed its ratifica- 
 tion. The "Reconstruction Measures" were 
 now passed and suffrage was adjusted on a new 
 basis ; all the black adult males were enfran- 
 chised, and a large portion of the white race was 
 disfranchised. Under this adjustment, a new 
 convention was called, and a new constitution 
 adopted. In this disordered state of affairs, a 
 convention of the Conservative party of North 
 Carolina, was called. It met in Tucker Hall, 
 Raleigh, on February 10, 1868 ; Governor Gra- 
 ham presided and spoke at length on the state 
 of the country. 
 
 He denounced the " Reconstruction Meas- 
 ures," as "outside the constitution," and with 
 dauntless spirit maintained the true principles 
 
 of government. The effect of this address 
 was to arouse the people from their despondency, 
 and infuse new life within them. From that 
 day the Democratic Conservative party dates 
 its existence. In a short time, this party gained 
 possession of the Legislature, and has retained 
 it ever since. 
 
 The Convention of 1865, had directed that 
 the Legislature should be called, and so it met in 
 the winter of that year. Governor Graham was 
 elected from the county of Orange, but not 
 being enfranchised, was not allowed to take his 
 seat. He was, however, elected by that Legis- 
 lature to the United States Senate, by a large ma- 
 jority. He repaired to Washington and offered 
 his credentials — which were laid on the table. 
 He presented a respectful and manly memorial, 
 but was not permitted to take his seat. 
 
 The State of North Carolina, in 1870, was 
 the theatre of scenes, unparalleled in American 
 History. The authority of the reconstructed 
 government had been in existence for two years 
 — and peacefully submitted to. Acts of a 
 " wild species of justice," occurred in the coun- 
 ties of Alamance and Caswell, but they were 
 few, and no where took the form of resistance 
 to law. These were deplored by all prudent, 
 thoughtful men. The Governor by proclama- 
 tion declared " these counties in a state of 
 insurrection." He sent troops into these coun- 
 ties, who arrested and imprisoned leading 
 citizens, without charge, or without process of 
 law. Measures were commenced to organize 
 Courts Martial for their trial. 
 
 Recourse was had to the //a/vas corpus, "the 
 great writ of right" among all English speak- 
 ing people. The Chief Justice (Pearson) was 
 applied to and he promptly issued the writ, but 
 owing to the action of the Governor, he (Pear- 
 son) declared ' ' the power of the Judiciary 
 exhausted." A petition for redress was then 
 made to Judge Brooks, of the United States 
 District Court, who ordered the writ to be 
 issued, the prisoners were brought before him, 
 
236 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 after hearing, patiently, argument on both sides, 
 were discharged. The question of jurisdiction 
 was argued by Governor Graham. Judge 
 Brooks' action did much to re-kindle the affec- 
 tion of the people towards the National Gov- 
 ernment. For his course in this unhappy event, 
 on December 14, 1870, a resolution was passed, 
 "impeaching the Governor, W. W. Holden, of 
 high crimes and misdemeanors;" on December 
 22, the Senate was organized as a court, and sat 
 for^forty days, — Governor Graham being the first 
 counsel on the part of the Managers. Holden was 
 found guilty, was ' ' deposed from office and dis- 
 qualified to hold any office of profit or trust in 
 the State." The first State to rid herself of a 
 Governor in this way. 
 
 In 1867, Governor Graham was selected by 
 its munificent donor, one of the Trustees to 
 distribute the princely charity of George Pea- 
 body, for educational purposes. 
 
 Governor Graham, although selected as one 
 of the almoners of the Peabody educational 
 fund, had always been the constant and devoted 
 friend of education. Especially was he unre- 
 mitting in his efforts in favor of the University. 
 He attended all its commencements, and was 
 active in its behalf. 
 
 Some time after this he received an additional 
 testimonial of the high esteem in which he was 
 held by States, as well as by individuals. The 
 boundary line between Maryland and Virginia, 
 had been undefined, and he was selected by 
 Virginia as one of the arbitrators. Several 
 meetings took place between him and the arbi- 
 trator selected by Maryland, but the matter 
 was unsettled at the date of his death. 
 
 A meeting of the boundary commissioners 
 had been appointed to take place at Saratoga 
 Springs in New York, in August, 1875. From 
 his constant and severe labors at the bar, his 
 friends felt that he was overtaxing his strength. 
 Symptoms developed themselves showing a 
 disease of the heart, and created serious appre- 
 hensions. He went to Saratoga accompanied 
 
 by Mrs. Graham and his youngest son. For 
 several days he appeared in his usual health, 
 but he was attacked with great severity at night, 
 and all that science and affection could suggest, 
 proved unavailing. He expired on August 11, 
 
 1875. 
 
 The intelligence of his death created a pro- 
 found sensation throughout the country. His 
 remains were borne in sorrow to his home at 
 Hillsboro. Meetings of the bar, of States, of 
 political opponents as well as friends in Mary- 
 land, Virginia, Washington City, and elsewhere, 
 were held, to express their great estimate of the 
 illustrious dead, and the deep regret at his loss. 
 
 His knowledge of men and books was deep 
 and varied. Whatever he professed to know he 
 knew thoroughly, and what he wished to know, 
 he rapidly acquired and exhausted. In the 
 character of his mind he was more solid than 
 showy. His imagination never run riot with 
 his judgment. In his addresses or speeches, 
 one may look in vain for any gay and gorgeous 
 flowers of literature scattered around his path, 
 but his power lay in solid argument and in the 
 broad and plain road of reason. He possessed 
 but little of that power which is often indulged 
 in by an impassioned speaker and which passes 
 like an electric shock, to the minds of his hearers, 
 bearing them along in the very torrent, tempest, 
 and whirlwind of passion. He rather let dis- 
 cretion be his tutor, and he never overstepped 
 the modesty of nature, in his addresses. This 
 moral and mental equilibrium, was doubtless 
 attributable to the Scotch-Irish blood that he 
 inherited. As an orator, he resembled rather 
 the massive solid Doric column, with but little 
 or no Corinthian ornament. 
 
 Such was William A. Graham. 
 
 We have now endeavored to trace the career 
 of Governor Graham from his cradle to his 
 grave. Most of our people have seen, known, 
 and admired him. In person he was of a tall 
 and commanding presence, — as Mr. McGehee 
 expresses it, " the ideal of the patrician." His 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 237 
 
 face and figure were so agreeable that nature 
 bestowed on him, as Lord Chesterfield expresses 
 it, "a perpetual letter of recommendation." 
 His manners, always modest, were kind and 
 genial, and friendly, yet forbidding any famili- 
 arity ; he was always dignified and self possessed. 
 
 Of the large family left by Governor Graham, 
 many have already made their mark ; among 
 them, his son William A. Graham, Jr. He 
 was born in Hillsboro, on December 26, 1839 ; 
 educated at the University, and at Princeton, 
 where he graduated in 18C0. 
 
 He entered the Army as a First Lieutenant 
 of Company K, Second North aCrolina Cav- 
 alry, and in May, 1862, was promoted to a 
 Captaincy, and was at Gettysburg, July 30, 1863, 
 where he was wounded. After this he was 
 Assistant Adjutant General, in which capacity 
 he served during the war. In 1874, he was 
 elected to the State Senate from Lincoln and 
 Catawba counties receiving every vote cast in 
 the two counties, and was re-elected from the 
 same district, August, 1876. His name was 
 canvassed for Congress as a suitable successor 
 of Honorable Walter L. Steele. 
 
 Major Graham married in 1864, Julia, daugh- 
 ter of John W. Lane, of Amelia County, Vir- 
 ginia, by whom he has an interesting family. 
 
 John Washington Graham, son of William 
 A, Graham, was born in Hillsboro, July 22, 
 1838. He was educated at the Caldwell Insti- 
 tute and the University, where he graduated in 
 1857, in same class with A. C. Avery, George 
 M. Duskin, William H. Jordan and others. 
 He served for two years as tutor, at the same 
 time studying law under Judge Battle and S. F. 
 Phillips. He entered the army as a subaltern in 
 the 27th North Carolina Regiment, and was pro- 
 moted to the rank of major. He was wounded 
 and taken prisoner at Petersburg. In 1S65 he 
 was Solicitor of Orange county, and served for 
 three years. He was elected in 1878 to the 
 Constitutional Convention, and to the Senate in 
 1868-70-76. In 1872, was the unsuccessful 
 
 nominee of the Democratic party for Treasurer. 
 He married Rebecca, daughter of Paul C. Cam- 
 eron, Esq. 
 
 General George']' Graham (born 1758 — died 
 1826), was a brother of General Joseph Gra- 
 ham, and the uncle of Governor William A. 
 Graham. lie was a native of Pennsylvania, 
 and came with a widowed mother and four 
 others to North Carolina, when only six years 
 of age, 
 
 He was educated at Charlotte and was distin- 
 guished for his assiduity and noble traits of 
 character. He was devoted to the cause of his 
 country's freedom ; in 1775 he with a few others 
 rode all night to reach Salisbury, there seized the 
 Tory lawyers, Dunn and Koothe, and carried 
 them to Camden, South Carolina, where they 
 were imprisoned. 
 
 He was, while the British were encamped at 
 Charlotte, active in attacking their foraging 
 parties, and rendered their^^supplies precarious 
 and hazardous. 
 
 He was a Major General of the Militia, often 
 a member of the Legislature, and for a long 
 time Clerk of the Court of Mecklenburg 
 County. He died, March 29, 1826, and lies 
 buried in Charlotte. The marble that" covers 
 his grave bears the following : 
 
 " Sacred to the memory of Major General 
 George Graham, who died March 29, 1826, in 
 the sixty-eighth year of his age. 
 
 He lived for more than a half of a century, in 
 the vicinity of this place, and was an active and 
 zealous defender of his country's rights in the 
 Revolutionary War ; and one of the gallant 
 twelve, who dared to attack and actually drove 
 400 British troops at Mclntire's, seven miles 
 south of Charlotte on October 3, 1780. George 
 Graham filled many high and responsible public 
 trusts, the duties of which he di.scliarged with 
 fidelity. He was the people's friend, not their 
 flatterer, and universally enjoyed theunlimited 
 confidence of his fellow-citizens. " 
 
 Genealogy of the Brevard Family. 
 
 The Brevard family, — this name was distin- 
 guished in the RevolutionaryjWar, for its devo- 
 tion to the cause of liberty. It is of Huguenot 
 
2.^8 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 origin. The Edict of Nantz, which granted 
 toleration in religion to France, was repealed in 
 1685, by Louis XIV, letting loose the blood- 
 hounds of persecution thereby. Thousands 
 fled to America for safety and freedom of con- 
 science. Speaking of one of these refugees 
 (Pierce Bowdoin) in a lecture before the Maine 
 Historical Society at the commencement of 
 Bowdoin College, in 1849, Mr. Robert Win- 
 throp says : 
 
 " He was one of that noble set of Huguenots 
 of whom Caspar de Coligny, the gallant admi- 
 ral who filled France with the glory of his 
 name, was one of its most devoted disciples, and 
 one of its most lamented martyrs ; which race 
 has given to our land, blood every way worthy 
 to be mingled with the best that has ever flowed 
 either in the veins of Southern cavaliers, or 
 Northern puritans. He was of that noble stock 
 that gave three out of the five Presidents to the 
 old ongress of the Confederation; and_ which 
 gav_ to South Carolina, her Lawrences, her 
 Marions, her Hugers, and her Marigalts ; her 
 Jays to New York ; her Boudinots to New Jer- 
 sey ; and her Dexters, and Faneuil, with the 
 cradle of liberty to Massachusetts." 
 
 And he might have added, her Brevards, with 
 the first declaration of independence to North 
 Carolina. Of such stock sprung the Brevards ' 
 of our State. 
 
 The first of this family, of whom much is 
 known, left his native land, on the revocation 
 of the Edict of Nantz (16S5) and went to the 
 north part of Ireland where he became intimate 
 with the family of McKnitts. 
 
 He is the first to whom the name can now be 
 traced; was a Huguenot, who fled from France 
 in the revocation of the Edict of Nantz in 1685, 
 and settled among the Scotch-Irish in the north 
 of Ireland. He came to Elk river, in Maryland, 
 in company with the family of McKnitts, one of 
 whom he subsequently married- — issue, i. John, 
 2. Robert, 3. Zebulon, 4. Benjamin, 5. Adam, 
 and 6. Elizabeth. 
 
 The three elder brothers with their sister 
 came to North Carolina, between 1740 and 
 1750. 
 
 I. John married a sister of Dr. Alexander 
 McWhorter, from New Jersey, and settled near 
 Center Church in Iredell County, — issue, (a) 
 Mary, (b) Ephraim, (c) John, (d) Hugh, (e) 
 Adam, (f) Alexander, (g) Robert, (h) Benja- 
 min, (i) Nancy, (k) Joseph, (1) Jane, (m) Re- 
 becca. 
 
 (a) Mary, Married General William Davidson, 
 who was killed in the Battle at Cowan's Ford, 
 February i, 1781 — issue, William Lee Davidson, 
 who married Betsy, daughter of Major John 
 Davidson (q. v.). Margaret married Rev. Finis 
 Ewing, to whom were born, Hon. Ephraim Bre- 
 vard Ewing, (Judge of Supreme Court of Mis- 
 souri — a large connection still living, to which 
 belongs the wife of Senator Francis Marion 
 
 Cockrell), and George Davidson married 
 
 Mushat. 
 
 (b) Ephraim, author of " a more formal de- 
 claration" than the Davie copy of the original, 
 married a daughter of General Thomas Polk, 
 and is buried beside his wife in Charlotte. He 
 was a graduate of Princeton and a member of 
 the medical profession, issue, Martha married 
 Dickerson of South Carolina — believed to be 
 the same that was killed in a duel by Andrew 
 Jackson, — to whom were born, James P. 
 Dickerson, Lieutenant Colonel, Palmetto Regi- 
 ment, fell in storming a fort in the attack upon 
 City of Mexico. 
 
 (d) Hugh, Legislature from Iredell, 1780-81. 
 
 (e) Adam, an attorney at Statesville, married 
 Sally Harper ; went with the first troops from 
 North Carolina to Washington's army, where 
 he served a year ; afterwards in battle of Ram- 
 sour's Mill, &c. — had issue, (i) Rebecca married 
 
 McRea, to whom was born Rev. J. M. Mc- 
 
 Rea, now of Salem, Indiana. (2) Sally mar- 
 ried John, son of Major John Davidson (q. v.) 
 and father of Matthew, whose son is Hon. R. 
 H. M. Davidson, the Member of Congress from 
 Florida. 
 
 (f ) Alexander married Rebecca, daughter of 
 Major John Davidson — issue, (i) Eliza married 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 239 
 
 Wm. Edward' ILij-nc of South Carolina, who 
 had Colonel Isaac llayne, of Charleston, At- 
 torney General, Commissioner from South Caro- 
 lina to Washington City, 1861; a daughter, 
 married Judge Butler of South Carolina ; a 
 daughter married Martin ; and a daughter who 
 married Taylor. 
 
 (2) Ephraim. 
 
 (3) Franklin married Margaret Conner. 
 
 (4) Robert married Harriet Davidson, and to 
 them were born Ephraim Jr. and Alexander F". 
 
 (5) Harriet married Major Daniel M. Forney, 
 (see Genealogy of Forney family). To these were 
 born Eloise married to General Jones Withers of 
 
 Mobile, Alabama ; Mariah married Judge 
 
 Moore of Alabama; Alexander B,; Harriet; 
 Mason ; Susan, wife of Dr. B. C. Jones of Ala- 
 bama ; and Emma, wife of Col. M. Smith of 
 Alabama. 
 
 (6) Theodore married Caroline Mays, and to 
 them were .born, Theodore Jr., Brigadier Gen- 
 eral, Confederate States Army, a lawyer at Tal- 
 lehassee, married Mary, daughter of Governor 
 Call of Florida, and had Caroline and Robert ; 
 Ephraim, a surgeon. Confederate States Army ; 
 Robert, M. D. married Mary Stoney. 
 
 (7) Joseph married Hopkins of South 
 
 Carolina, no issue. 
 
 (8) Mary married Professor Brumby of South 
 Carolina College, aad had Alexander Brevard, 
 Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Glover, Mrs. Dr. Gaston, 
 
 Haywood Glover, Ephraim, Mrs. married 
 
 McConnell. 
 
 (i ) Nancy married Jtidge Davidson, and both 
 were killed by Indians at the head of the Ca- 
 tawba river. 
 
 (k) Joseph married Rebecca, (daughter of 
 Captain Ely Kershaw, 2d South Carolina Reg- 
 ulars in war of 1776, captured at Charleston, 
 and died, a prisoner at Bermuda in 178 1), a 
 Lieutenant of the Continental line, at the age of 
 seventeen, and served until the close of the war 
 of 1776; settled in Camden, South Carolina, 
 Attorney, Judge, and author of Digest of Stat- 
 
 ute Laws of South Carolina. He had issue: Mrs. 
 Kershaw, to whom were born, J. B. Kershaw, a 
 Major General, Confederate States Army ; 
 Attorney, and Judge Superior Court in South 
 Carolina, (now of Camden, South Carolina). 
 Joseph had also the following children : 
 
 (1) Dr. Alfred Brevard, who married the 
 daughter of Duncan McRea, and died in 1836, — 
 issue, Edward; Alfred (C. S. A.), and Harriet 
 McRea, of Camden. Alfred left one daughter, 
 Harriet, also resident of Camden. 
 
 (2) S.irah Taylor married Benjamin T. Elmore, 
 brother of United States Senator, — issue, Au- 
 rora (wife of Colonel Jones, Treasurer of the 
 University of the South, Suwanee, Tennessee); 
 Sarah F. , wife of Charles S. Richardson, son of 
 Governor John P. Richardson of South Caro- 
 lina ; and Edward Brevard Elmore of Alabama ; 
 (3) Eugene ; (4) Edward ; and (5) Joseph). 
 
 (1) Jane married Ephraim, a brother of Ma- 
 jor John, and son of Robert Davidson of Chest- 
 nut Level, Chester County, Pennsylvania. 
 Though only a boy, was courier to General 
 William Davidson, in the Cowan's Ford cam- 
 paign. 
 
 (m) Rebecca married Jones, and moved 
 
 to Tennessee. 
 
 John Brevard was too far advanced in years, 
 when the Revolutionary War commenced, to be 
 in active service, yet he possessed, and instilled 
 in his children, that great love of liberty and 
 the rights of the people which possessed his soul. 
 So public and notorious was his attachment to 
 the cause of Independence and his opposition 
 to tyranny, that when the British Army came 
 to his house, and they found no one there except 
 his wife, an old lady, — his house and every out- 
 house was burned to the ground. No other 
 reason was given for such outrage, than that 
 " she had eight sons in the Rebel Army." 
 
 We regret that we have not been enabled to 
 obtain more extended information as to the 
 head of this family. The best efforts we have 
 made have been to secure information and more 
 
240 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 accurate genealogical knowledge of date of 
 births, deaths, and services of the different mem- 
 bers of this distinguished family. The name has 
 been worthily bestowed one of our loveliest 
 mountain villages, the capital of Transylvania 
 County. 
 
 We have from a reliable source, the names of 
 each of the descendants, and have presented 
 them to our readers, and now shall take them up 
 in these sketches, with such information as we 
 have been able to procure. 
 
 I. Mary Brevard the oldest daughter of John 
 Brevard, married General William Davidson, 
 born 1746 — killed, February i, 1781, whose 
 name is worthy of the memory and gratitude of 
 every true North Carolinian, for he sealed with 
 his life blood, his devotion to the cause of lib- 
 ertj', and independence. 
 
 He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 
 Lancaster County, and immigrated to North 
 Carolina in 1750. 
 
 He was educated at the Academy at Char- 
 lotte. When the war of the Revolution began, 
 the Provincial Congress at Halifax on April 22, 
 1776, placed the State on a war footing, by 
 raising four additional regiments to the two 
 already in the Continental service. Of the 
 4th, Thomas Polk was madeColonel,and William 
 Davidson, Major; and forming a part of a brig- 
 ade which marched under command of Briga- 
 dier Nash to join the Grand Army of the North 
 under Washington ; it was for three years under 
 the eye of that great chief, and participated 
 in the battles of Brandywine, September, 1777, 
 Germantown, October, 1777, and Monmouth, 
 June, 1778. 
 
 The North Carolina troops were sent in No- 
 vember, 1779, to reinforce the Southern Army, 
 commanded by Major General Lincoln at 
 Charleston. 
 
 There are no particulars recorded of the ser- 
 vices of Davidson in the actions of Brandywine, 
 Monmouth, or Germantown, and such has been 
 the carelessness or neglect, as to North Caro- 
 
 lina, that the student of history may look in 
 vain, for any statement or notice of the troops 
 of North Carolina, except that General Nash 
 was killed at Germantown, and that Colonels Polk 
 and Buncombe were wounded. But the brigade 
 of North Carolina troops was, unquestionably, 
 a part of the Army, and bravely performed its 
 duty.* 
 
 Previous to this event, he had been promoted 
 to the command of a regiment. As he passed 
 through North Carolina, Davidson obtained 
 permission to visit his family, which he had not 
 seen for nearly three years. The delay pro- 
 duced by this visit, saved him from captivity, 
 for on his arrival at Charleston, he found it so 
 closely invested that he was prevented from join- 
 ing his regiment. Lincoln surrendered May 12, 
 1770. Davidson returned home and raised troops 
 to suppress the Tories, who, encouraged by the 
 approach of the British, had become daring, 
 desperate and dangerous. At Calson's Mill, he 
 encountered a strong force of Tories, gave them 
 battle and a severe engagement occurred in 
 which Davidson was dangerously wounded by 
 a ball passing entirely through his body ; this 
 kept him from the field for two months. On 
 his recovery he immediately went into active 
 service, now promoted to be a Brigadier in 
 place of General Rutherford, who was taken 
 prisoner at Camden. He was active with Sum- 
 ter and Davie, in checking the advance of the 
 British troops. To that intent he posted his 
 command at Cowan's Ford, on the Catawba. 
 At daybreak, February i, 1781, the British 
 Army, under Lord Cornwallis, commenced 
 crossing. The picket of General Davidson, 
 challenged the enemy, and receiving no answer, 
 fired. 
 
 Lord Cornwallis had his horse killed under 
 him ; Colonel Hall was killed, also three privates, 
 and thirty-six wounded. General Davidson, in 
 
 2M;imiscript letter of Governor Graham, 1823; supple- 
 ment to Lee's Memoirs ; Washington's papers ; Letters 
 December, 1779-1 780 to Lafayette. 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 241 
 
 riding from the point where he expected the 
 enemy to cross to the place where they did, 
 was fired upon, a rifle ball passed through 
 his heart and he fell dead from his horse. As 
 the British only had muskets, and the Tories 
 rifles, and he was slain b_\' a rifle shot, it is be- 
 lieved he fell by the hand of a Tory. '' 
 
 General Henry Lee in his "Memoirs of the 
 War," says: 
 
 "The loss of General Davidson would have 
 always been felt at any stage of the war. It 
 was particularly detrimental in its effect at this 
 period, as he was the chief instrument relied 
 upon, by General Greene for assembling of the 
 militia. 
 
 ' ' A promising soldier, was lost to his country, 
 in the meridian of life, and at a moment when 
 his services would have been highly beneficial 
 to her. He was a man of popular manners, 
 pleasing address, active and indefatigable." 
 
 The Congress of the United States in 17S1, 
 passed a resolution to erect a monument to his 
 memory, but it has never been done. Tradi- 
 tion says that Richard Barry, one of the signers 
 of the Mecklenburg Declaration, and David 
 Wilson bore his body away and buried it by 
 torchlight, in the graveyard o^ Hopewell 
 church : 
 
 *' We buried iiini darkly at dead of night, 
 The sod with our bayonets turning, 
 By the str.iggling moonbeam's misty light, 
 And our torches dimly burning." 
 
 Many of General Davidson's descendants still 
 live in this region, honored and respected. A 
 county embalms his name, and a flourishing 
 institution of learning perpetuates his memory. 
 
 II. Dr. Ephraim Brevard was the eldest son of 
 John Brevard. When a boy, he had the mis- 
 fortune to lose one of his eyes. His education 
 was not neglected, however, and after a course of 
 preparatory studies, he entered Princeton Col- 
 lege, New Jersey. He studied medicine, and 
 settled in Charlotte as a practicing physician. 
 Here by the amiability of his manners, his 
 superior qualifications and principles, he ac- 
 
 ■■ It is said, and the tradition is, that a Tory l)y the name of 
 Hager, shot General Davidson. 
 
 quired friends and influence. The war for inde- 
 pendence had commenced, and the blow had 
 been struck at Lexington. 
 
 It was clear to all that Elngland thought the 
 colonies had to submit to any measures she 
 thought necessary. The spirit of the people 
 was aroused, and a meeting was called composed 
 of delegates from each captain's district for con- 
 sultation, to meet at Charlotte. This conven- 
 tion was organized by appointing Abram Alex- 
 ander as chairman, and John McKnitt Alexander 
 and Dr. Brevard as secretaries, and a committee 
 was appointed who drafted resolutions, one of 
 which declared themselves " free and independ- 
 ent people, and are, and of right ought to be, 
 a sovereign and self-governing association under 
 the control of no power other than that of our 
 God and of the general government of the Con- 
 gress ; to the maintenance of which they pledg- 
 ed their lives, their fortunes and their most 
 sacred honor." 
 
 These resolutions were drawn up by Dr. Bre- 
 vard, who, with two others, was a committee 
 for that purpose, and they were read and unani- 
 mously adopted. 
 
 Copy of a manuscript in the handwriting of 
 Adam Brevard, the brother of Dr. Ephraim 
 Brevard, the author of the Mecklenburg Dec- 
 laration of Independence, from the copy in the 
 possession of Rev. J. M. McRea, of Salem, 
 Indiana : 
 
 Iredell County, N. C, July 13, 1824. 
 
 July 4, 1776, a mere speck on the great and 
 fleeting current of time, but from which emana- 
 ted the most important decision of the com- 
 bined hnm.an intellect — I mean the Declaration 
 of Independence — an era which will grace the 
 historic page, while freedom and liberty, with 
 their concomitant blessings, are the porticn of 
 the human race. The inquiring mind sponta- 
 neously traces so rich a stream in a retrograde 
 direction in order to reach the fountain from 
 which it issued. What section or particular 
 portion of the United States may claim the 
 greatest, or some minor share in the above cele- 
 brated instrument, is immaterial to the following 
 disclosure, which fell under the observation of 
 
242 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the writer, when all the organs of both body 
 and mind were in their free and uncontrolied 
 exercise. I mean the Declaration of Mecklen- 
 burg County, of May 19, 1775. A detail of 
 facts with some collateral incidents (observed as 
 above), will rest the matter upon a basis in 
 which the rational mind may justly infer the 
 authenticity and truth of the whole matter. 
 
 In the month of either June or July, 1775, 
 being in Salisbury at a court of Oyer, when the 
 late Governor Martin as Judge, a gentleman, a 
 citizen of Mecklenburg County, arrived in town, 
 then on his way to Philadelphia, where Con- 
 gress was then in session, as delegate or bearer 
 of said Declaration from said county. His 
 identity and business soon transpired, and as 
 Salisbury was then inhabited by a number who 
 were Loyalists or Tories, (to use the then new 
 phrase) and timid Whigs, who had not embarked 
 in the Revolutionary struggle, the bearer, who 
 was a man of spirit, which he fully manifested in 
 the subsequent struggle, was treated by the 
 above persons as the tool of a precipitous and 
 unenlightened mob, who were rushing head- 
 long into an abyss where Congress had not 
 dared to pass. This intemperance was, how- 
 ever, very suddenlj' arrested by a gentleman 
 from the same county, who had entered with 
 all his powers into the impending contest, and 
 who offered to rest the propriety and justness 
 of the proceedings, both of Mecklenburg and 
 the delegate, upon a decision by the arm of 
 flesh, with any one inclinable to abide the re- 
 sult. Matters were soon hushed and the Dele 
 gate retired to rest, and resumed the journey 
 the next morning. 
 
 In the autumn of the year 1776, the writer 
 being one of the number who composed the 
 college, or academy of the Queen's Museum, 
 lived with a brother, Dr. Ephraim Brevard, into 
 whose possession the letters, orations, and 
 other exercises (usual in such institutions), 
 were handed over for wrapping paper and other 
 uses in his professional line. My curiosity 
 frequently led me to ransack and examine the 
 several contents for aid and assistance in my 
 own task, when I came across a Declaration of 
 Independence by Mecklenburg County. Upon 
 requiring an explanation from the Doctor, he 
 informed me that it was the mass, or rudiments 
 out of which he had, some time before drawn 
 the aforesaid instrument, which had been dis- 
 patched to Congress, as before noticed. The 
 whole of the above proceedings then opened 
 to view. 
 
 Being in Philadelphia in the latter part of the 
 
 year 1778, and of the year 1779, till May, dur- 
 ' ing that space Mr. William Sharpe, then of 
 Rowan County, North Carolina State, arrived 
 in that city a delegate from the aforesaid State. 
 The officers and soldiers of the States then gen- 
 erally, and of North Carolina in particular, 
 were extremely straitened, and some almost, 
 (I might safely say altogether) beggared by the 
 depreciation of their pay. The writer took 
 every proper opportunity within his sphere of 
 
 mixing in these occasional and (manuscript 
 
 has here become illegible) companies, when their 
 mutual wants, complaints, privations — their 
 several situations, forsaken and desolate for love 
 oi country, for which nakedness and starvation 
 were like to be their final reward. 
 
 Amongst a variety of topics the Declaration 
 of Independence became a subject of remark ; 
 the company was large, composed of a number 
 of the higher officers and members of Congress. 
 Amongst the former was, particularly. General 
 Charles Lee — -recently plunged into disgrace for 
 misconduct at the battle of Monmouth, and 
 • Tom Payne, you may say infidel Tom Payne, 
 if you please, — but to come to the point : 
 
 The Declaration of Independence of Meck- 
 lenburg County in the State of North Carolina, 
 somehow floated into notice. In a variety of 
 remarks and observations, which were promis- 
 cuously thrown out, Mr. Penn of North Caro- 
 lina, and some others, (whose names cannot 
 now be recollected), declared themselves highly 
 pleased with the bold and dignified spirit which 
 so enlightened a county of the State he had the 
 honor to represent, had exhibited to the world 
 and furthermore that the bearer of the instru- 
 ment had conducted himself very judiciously 
 on the occasion by previously opening his busi- 
 ness to the delegate of his own State, who 
 assured him that a very short lapse of time 
 would bring all the provinces, or new States 
 into the same situation as Mecklenburg county. 
 Dr. Ephraim Brevard was born in Maryland, 
 in the year 1744, was brought to North Caro- 
 lina in 1746 or 1750, and was sent with his 
 cousin Adlai Osborne on the conclusion of the 
 Indian War in 1760 or 1761 to Prince Edward 
 in Virginia, to a grammar school under a certain 
 William Cupples. 
 
 Adlai Osborne, Ephraim Brevard, and Thomas 
 Polk, went to Princeton College in 1766. Eph- 
 raim Brevard and Thomas Reese taught a school 
 for some time in Maryland, which enabled him 
 (Ephraim Brevard) to put himself under Dr. 
 Ramsey, to qualify himself as a physician. 
 They lived for some time in Philadelphia, 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 243 
 
 then moved to Somerset County, Maryland. 
 
 Dr. Ramsey was invited to Charleston, South 
 Carolina, and Dr. Brevard practiced in Char- 
 lotte, as before hinted ; then married, lost his 
 wife, entered the Southern Army, and was cap- 
 tured in the fall of Charleston, and I believe 
 there caught a disease which baffled all the skill 
 of medicine, as I, myself, heard Dr. Reid, the 
 Physician General to the Southern Army, de- 
 clare, as I rode with him from Charlotte to 
 John McKnitt Alexander's, where Dr. Brevard 
 expired. He was buried in Charlotte beside 
 his wife. " See Sonf/iim //o>/u-, o( ]i\\y S' 1S75, 
 furnished by Dr. J. M. Davidson, of Ouincy, 
 Florida. 
 
 A more extended notice of this immortal 
 paper will be presented under the head of Meck- 
 lenburg County. 
 
 Dr. Brevard served in the army as Surgeon, 
 and was taken prisoner at the surrender of 
 Charleston, May 12, 1780. From confinement 
 and unwholesome diet he was taken so seriously 
 ill that he was permitted to return home. He 
 proceeded as far as the house of John McKnitt 
 Alexander, his friend and compatriot. It was 
 there he breathed his last, in 1781, but he lies 
 buried by his wife in the lot now occupied by A. 
 Brevard Davidson, in Charlotte. On this same 
 lot was located the "Queen's Museum, "before 
 the Revolution, its name was changed to "Lib- 
 erty Hall." 
 
 In the words of Dr. Foote in his admirable 
 Sketches of North Carolina, "he thought clearly, 
 wrote well, fought bravely, and died a martyr to 
 that liberty which none loved better, and few 
 understood so well." 
 
 He left only one child, a daughter, who mar- 
 ried Mr. Dickerson of South Carolina, whose 
 son. Colonel James P. Dickerson, was Lieuten- 
 ant Colonel of the South Carolina Regiment in 
 the Mexican War, and fell in battle near the City 
 of Mexico. 
 
 We have seen that John Brevard's other chil- 
 dren were : 
 
 III. John, who served as Lieutenant in the 
 Revolutionary War. 
 
 IV. Hugh, also an officer and in battle of 
 Ramsour's Mill. 
 
 V. Adam was a blacksmith, served one year 
 in the army and afterward became distinguished 
 as a lawyer, wit, and writer. 
 
 VI. Alexander Brevard entered the army of 
 the Revolution as cadet, was promoted to cap- 
 taincy in the Continental Army and engaged in 
 the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, 
 Brandywine, Monmouth and Germantown. 
 The severity of this service, broke down his 
 health, and he was sent into the country for its 
 restoration. After a short absence he reported 
 in person to General Washington, who seeing 
 his delicate figure, reduced by suffering and war, 
 remarked to him that he was unfit for duty in the 
 service and advised him to return home. 
 
 He did so and his native climate soon improved 
 his health, he then joined the Southern army un- 
 der General Gates, by whom he was assigned to 
 the duties of Quartermaster in his command, 
 and as such served in the battle of Camden, Af- 
 ter Gates' defeat, and General Greene had suc- 
 ceeded to the command of the Southern army, 
 Brevard saw much active service before the close 
 of the war. In the hard-fought battle of Eutaw, 
 (the hardest in the South), he behaved with 
 great gallantry. 
 
 The war being ended, he returned home and 
 entered into the iron business with his father-in- 
 law, Major John Davidson, and General Graham, 
 who also had married a daughter of Davidson. 
 This business he continued until[his' death, No- 
 vember I, 1829. 
 
 He left seven children. Among them were 
 Ephraim, an extensive iron manufacturer ; 
 J. Franklin, in Legislature from Lincoln (1818); 
 Robert, an iron manufacturer ; Alexander Jo- 
 seph M., in Legislature (1827); Theodore, moved 
 to Alabama, there elected Judge, moved to Flor- 
 ida afterwards; Harriet, married to Daniel M. 
 Forney ; Mary, and others. 
 
 VII. Joseph, the youngest son of John Bre- 
 vard, held the commission of Lieutenant in the 
 Continental Army when only seventeen years 
 old. He was, as many of the family now are, 
 
244 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 delicate and small. A brother, Alexander, said 
 that he was ' ' always sorry when Joe had to go on 
 guard duty, for he was so small." He was de- 
 tailed by the commanding officer at Philadelphia 
 as his Secretary, and continued until he was ap- 
 pointed a Lieutenant of Cavalry in the Southern 
 army, in which he served until the close of the 
 war. He then studied law and settled in Camden, 
 South Carolina. Here he attained distinction in 
 the profession and was elected Judge of the Su- 
 perior Courts. He wrote a Digest of the Laws 
 of South Carolina, and several volumes of Re- 
 ports. He was elected a member of Congress 
 from his district 1819 to 1821, and died in Cam- 
 den, South Carolina. 
 
 The Forney family were among the early set- 
 tlers of Lincoln county. The founder was Jacob 
 Forney, sen., who was (born 1721, died 1804) 
 the son of a French Huguenot; he fled from 
 France on the revocation of the Edict of Nantz, 
 and setded at Alsace on the Rhine. At the age 
 of fourteen he came to Amsterdam, thence to 
 America; settled first in Pennsylvania, and in 
 1754 he moved to Lincoln county, North Caro- 
 lina. In the first years spent in this settlement he 
 was greatly harrassed by the Indians. When the 
 English were in pursuit of Morgan, their progress 
 was impeded by the high waters of the Catawba. 
 Lord Corriwallis made his headquarters in For- 
 ney's comfortable house for three days, consum- 
 ing his entire stock of cattle, hogs, poultry, &c. 
 The early records of the county exhibit the fol- 
 lowing : ' ' Ordered b}' the Court that Jacob 
 Forney and his two sons pay no taxes for 1780. " 
 He was too old to do much service in the Revo- 
 lution, but his sons, James, Peter and Abram, 
 did their duty as unwavering Whigs. He died 
 in 1804, near the place where he first settled in 
 Lincoln county. 
 
 Peter Forney, (born April, 1756, died Febru- 
 ary, 1834), was the second son of Jacob Forney, 
 sen. He was born in Lincoln county. During 
 the war of the Revolution his services were cheer- 
 fully rendered in defense of his country. After- 
 
 ward he devoted his attention to the manufacture 
 of iron, then a new and lucrative employment. 
 In it his industry, prudence and sagacity soon 
 made him prosperous, and he acquired fortune and 
 comfort. His home was the resort of many who 
 always found it " Mount Welcome," as it was ap- 
 propriately named. There rich and poor were alike 
 cared for. His unstinted hospitality and genial 
 manners, as well as the high and honorable conduct 
 which marked all his dealings with his fellow men, 
 rendered him the object of their regard, and even 
 affection. He was elected in 1794 to the House, 
 and in 1 801 -'02 to the Senate of the State Leg- 
 islature, and (in 1813 to 181 5) a member of 
 Congress. He served also as Elector on the 
 Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Jackson tickets. 
 With these repeated evidences of the partiality 
 of his friends, and with the weight of three score 
 and ten years pressing upon him, he declined 
 all further public service. After a short illness, 
 without pain or suffering, he quietly departed 
 this life February 1st, 1834. 
 
 He married on March 4, 1783, Nancy Aber- 
 nathy, by which union he had twelve children : 
 
 I. Mary, married Christian Reindhart. 
 
 II. David M. married Harriet Brevard. "• 
 
 III. Jacob, married Sarah Hoke, from whom 
 sprung : (1) David Peter, born 1819 ; (2) Joseph 
 B., born 1821 ; (3) William H., born 1823 ; ed- 
 ucated at University, an officer in Mexican War, 
 lawyer, member of Legislature, General in Civil 
 War, elected to the 44th Congress ; (4) Barbara 
 Ann, born 1826, married Rowan; (5) Emma, 
 born in 1832, married Rev. Thomas A. Morris; 
 (6) John H., born 1829, West Point; (7) George 
 H., born 1835, killed in battle of Wilderness ; (8) 
 Amelia, married J. M. Wylie ; (9) Maria Louisa, 
 married Williams. 
 
 IV. FAha., married first, Webb, and afterward, 
 Dr. John Meek, of Alabama. 
 
 V. Susan, married Bartlett Shipp, from whom 
 sprung : (i ) William, M. (Judge of Superior Court, ) 
 married (1) Cameron, (2) Iredell, Legislature, 
 Senator from Henderson 18G2 ;) (2) Eliza, mar- 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 245 
 
 ried W. V. Hjiiiim, Judge of Supreme Court ; 
 (3) Susan, married S. L. Johnson. 
 
 VI. Lavinia, married first John Fuienwider. 
 
 Vn. Nanc)% married Dr. Wm. Jolinson, from 
 whom sprung: (i) Ann, married Dr. Calloway; 
 (2) Martha, married Huntl}' ; {3) James I'rank- 
 lin ; (4) Robert; (5) WilUam ; (6) Jo.seph, mar- 
 ried Hooi<cr ; (7) Susan ; (8) Mary ; (9) Bartlett 
 S., of Baltimore. 
 
 VIII. Caroline, married Ransom H. Hunley. 
 
 IX. Sophia, married Dr. C. L. Hunter, whose 
 daughter married John H. Sharp, of Norfolk, Va. 
 
 X. James M., married Sarah Fuienwider. 
 
 A son, Moses, the third child, died unmarried, 
 in iMabama ; whilst the fifth child, Joseph, died 
 in youth. They should have been included in 
 the foregoing. — Ed. 
 
 Daniel M. Forney (born 1771, died 1847) was 
 a native of Lincoln county, the first son and the 
 second child of General Peter Forney, whose 
 sketch we have just given. His education was 
 such as the country schools afforded, but clear 
 and excellent judgment, and his genial manners, 
 early marked him for public usefulness. He 
 was in the prime of manhood wlien the War of 
 18 1 2 commenced, and he was appointed Major 
 in the United States Army. He served in that 
 capacity until the war closed, with gallantry and 
 credit. He was elected a member of (the 14th) 
 Congress 18 15-'! 7, and re-elected to the 15th, 
 but resigned and was succeeded by Hon. Wil- 
 liam Davidson, of Charlotte. From 1823 to '26 
 he was elected to the Senate of the State Legis- 
 lature. He removed in 1834 to Alabama, where 
 he spent his remaining days at his adopted home 
 in Lowndes county. He died in October, 1847. 
 
 Major Forney married Harriet, daughter of 
 Captain Alexander Brevard, by whom he had 
 several children. 
 
 Abram Forney (born 1758, died 1849) was 
 the youngest son of Jacob Forney, sen., and a 
 native of Lincoln county. He entered the Rev- 
 olutionary army early, and was engaged in the 
 battles of Ramsour's Mill, King's Mountain and 
 
 elsewhere. He lived to a good old age and de- 
 lighted to talk of the spirit-stirring events of the 
 war. He was the father of Captain Earheart 
 Forney, now of Lincoln. 
 
 Michael Hoke (born 18 10, died 1844) ^^'^^ ^ 
 native of this county, the son of Colonel John 
 Hoke. He was educated at Captain Partridge's 
 Military Acadcmj^ Middletown, Connecticut, 
 and read law with Robert H. Benton. He was 
 blessed with an agreeable person, brilliant ora- 
 torical ability, and attractive manners. This 
 won him "troops of fricnd.s." In 1834 he was 
 elected a member of the House of Commons, 
 which position he held until 1842, when he de- 
 clined a re-election. In 1844 he was nominated 
 as the Democratic candidate for Governor, in 
 opposition to Hon. William A. Graham, but, 
 after a campaign conducted with great ability, he 
 was defeated. It was a contest long to be remem- 
 bered in North Carolina. The dignified and 
 majestic presence of Graham was formidably 
 rivalled by the matchless manner and ready hu- 
 mor of Hoke. It was a war of giants. The 
 exposure to the malaria of the low country, and 
 his continued and earnest efforts, cost Colonel 
 Hoke his life. For within a month after the 
 election, to the great grief of sorrowing friends, 
 he died at Charlotte on September 9th, 1844, 
 after a short illness, certainly brought on by the 
 exposure and fatigues of the campaign. He 
 married I'rancis, .daughter of Robert H. Bur- 
 ton, and left several children, among them. Gen- 
 eral Robert Frederick Hoke, born 27th of May, 
 1837, who was educated at the Kentucky Mili- 
 tary Institute. He entered the army in the late 
 Civil War as a Lieutenant, and was engaged in 
 the first battle of the war, which occurred at 
 Bethel, and he was also in the last contest. He 
 won by his firmness, ability and gallantry, the 
 rank of Major General, and was several times 
 severely wounded. To record all the "hair- 
 breadth 'scapes," and the .services of General 
 Hoke would be to well nigh write the history of 
 the Army of North Virginia. 
 
246 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 John Franklin Ilokc, son of Colonel John 
 Hoke, and the brother of Colonel Michael Hoke, 
 is a native of this county. He is liberally edu 
 cated — a graduate of the University in 1841, in 
 the same class with Thomas L. Avery, R. S. 
 Bridgers, Robert Burton, W. J. Clarke, William 
 F. Dancy, John W. Ellis, Montford McGehee, 
 Charles and Samuel F. Phillips, Thomas Ruffin, 
 Robert Strange, Horatio M. Polk and others. 
 He studied law. In the Mexican War he was 
 appointed by the President a Captain, and com- 
 manded his company with much gallantry in the 
 severely contested battles of Cerro Gordo, Tol- 
 ema and National Bridge. 
 
 In the late Civil War he commanded a regi- 
 ment of North Carolina troops, and discharged 
 every duty with gallantry and fidelity. He is 
 one of the few field officers in that unhappy 
 contest from North Carolina who passed un- 
 scathed. He is now in the quiet practice of his 
 profession at his native place. 
 
 Dr. William McLean was a Surgeon in the 
 Revolution. He was a native of Rowan county ; 
 born April 2d, 1757, and was educated at Liberty 
 Hall College in Charlotte. He studied medicine 
 under Dr. Joseph Blythe; was appointed a Sur- 
 geon's Mate in the Urst North Carolina Regi- 
 ment on January i, 1782, commanded by Colo- 
 nel Archibald Lyde, and served in Charleston, 
 James Island and elsewhere, to the close of the 
 war. 
 
 He then settled on his farm in ' ' the South 
 Point " neighborhood, and engaged in an exten- 
 sive practice, in which he was eminently suc- 
 cessful. 
 
 In 1 8 14 he was elected Senator from Lincoln, 
 and in 181 5 he delivered an address at King's 
 Mountain commemorative "of the battle, and 
 caused to be erected, at his own expense, a head 
 stone of dark slate rock, with appropriate in- 
 scriptions on both sides. On the east side the 
 inscription is, • ' Sacred to the Memory of Major 
 William Chronicle, Captain John Mattocks, Wil- 
 liam Robb and John Boyd, who were killed here 
 
 on the 7th of October, 1780, fighting in defence 
 of America." And on the west side is inscribed : 
 " Colonel Ferguson, an officer belonging to His 
 Brittanic Majesty's service, was here defeated 
 and killed." 
 
 On the 19th of June, 1792, he married Mary, 
 daughter of Major John Davidson, and died in 
 Lincoln, October 25, 1828, leaving several chil- 
 dren, among them Dr. William B., John D. and 
 Robert G, McLean. 
 
 James Houston (born 1747, died 18 19) resided 
 and died in this county. He was born in 1747, 
 and was the early and devoted friend of his 
 country's liberty ; he took an active part in the 
 cause. In the battle of Ramsour's Mill, near 
 the present town of Lincolnton, between the 
 Whigs and Tories, he took an active part, and 
 by his undaunted courage contributed to the 
 success of the Whigs on that occasion. In this 
 engagement he was severely wounded in the 
 thigh, from the effects which he never recovered. 
 Seeing the man who inflicted this painful wound, 
 he shot him in the back, and killed him as he 
 ran. A copy of the muster roll of Captain 
 Houston's company is preserved. (See Dr. C. L. 
 Hunter's Sketches of Western N. C. 197.) 
 
 He was the father of a large family, distin- 
 guished for their manly appearance and bodily 
 strength. Dr. Joel Brevard Houston was one 
 of his sons. Captain Houston died on August 
 3, 18 19, and was buried in Center Church-yard. 
 
 Dr. C. L. Hunter, who has already been no- 
 ticed in the sketch of his father. Rev. Hum- 
 phrey Hunter (see page 176), resided in this 
 neighborhood. 
 
 In the holocaust offered on the altar of South- 
 ern rights, during the late unhappy Civil War, 
 there was no purer or devoted oblation than that 
 patriotic son of North Carolina. Stephen Dod- 
 son Ramseur (born May 31, 1837, fell in batde 
 October 19, 1864). He was the son of Jacob A. 
 and Lucy M. Ramseur, and was educated at the 
 Military Academy at West Point, where he 
 graduated in i860. He was commissioned as 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 247 
 
 Secoiul Licutcnaiil of .Arlillcr}', and was sta- 
 tioned at l'"ortress Monroe. W'lien the war be- 
 tween the States commenced, he felt it was his sa- 
 .sacrcd duty to stand by liis State; he therefore rc- 
 sitjned his commission in the United States A rnn-, 
 and tendered his services to the newh- formed l^on-- 
 ernment at Montgomery, Alabama, by which he 
 was appointed First Lieutenant of Artillery, and 
 ordered to the Mississippi. While on his way 
 to his post, he received a telegram announcing 
 his election to command the " Ellis Light Artil- 
 lery " then being formed at Raleigh. He re- 
 paired in haste to this new dut}', and in a \ery 
 short time secured the necessary complement of 
 men, guns, horses and other equipments. After 
 drilling and practicing his battery in the summer 
 of 1861, he proceeded to join the army in Vir- 
 ginia. He was stationed near Southfield, 
 on the south side of the James River, where he 
 spent the fall and winter. This battery was 
 composed of the flower of the youth and man- 
 hood of the State, and by its excellence in evo- 
 lutions and perfection in drills, was the c}'nosure 
 of attention and gained for its j-outhful com- 
 mander the encomiums of all reviewing gene- 
 rals. In the spring, when Richmond was men- 
 aced by McClellan, Captain Ramseur was or- 
 dered to report to General Magruder at York- 
 town. Before any serious fighting on the Pen- 
 insula occurred, Captain Ramseur was promoted 
 to the command of the 49th Regiment of 
 North Carolina Infantry. This regiment was 
 composed of raw troops, but by the exertions of 
 its practiced commander, it was soon prepared 
 for the front. It received its "first baptism of 
 fire" in the skirmishes which preceded the terri- 
 ble battles around Richmond. Encouraged and 
 inspired by the fearless intrepidity of its com- 
 mander, it participated with gallantry in the 
 seven da)-s' battles. In the last of these, at 
 Malvern Hill, July i, 1862, while leading a vic- 
 torious charge. Colonel Ramseur was wounded 
 in the right arm above the elbow, so severely 
 that some time elapsed before he was able to 
 
 reach his home. While at home he was given a 
 Brigadier's commission, and in October, 1862, 
 although far from recovered from his wound, he 
 repaired to Richmond and explained to President 
 Davis the reluctance he felt in accepting the e.x- 
 altetl rank offered him. Its acceptance was 
 urgc:d, and he was atlvised to return home until 
 health was restored. General Ramseur, instead 
 of returning home, sought out the army and as- 
 sumed the command of his brigade, which had 
 been left without a General since the death of 
 General George B. Anderson. This brigade 
 was composed of the Second, Fourth, Four- 
 teenth and Thirtieth Regiments of North Caro- 
 lina troops, and, although General Ramseur was 
 a stranger from another branch of the service, 
 and succeeded an officer of great ability, well 
 skilled in the art of war, commanding the confi- 
 dence and affections of his men — yet he dis- 
 armed all criticism by his high professional at- 
 tainments and his amiability of character, inspir- 
 ing his men by his own enthusiastic temper with 
 those lofty qualities which distinguish the sol- 
 dier. The brigade was attached to Jackson\s 
 corps, and at the battle of Chancellorsville (May 
 3, 1863), while leading a charge, General Ram- 
 seur was again wounded by the explosion of a 
 shell. This second wound did not take him 
 from the field. He continued with his brigade 
 through the Pennsylvania campaign, and in the 
 battle of Gettysburg/July, 1863), he led it with 
 distinguished courage. On the return of the 
 army from Pennsylvania, there seemed to be a 
 lull in the terrible din of war, and the division was 
 preparing to go into winter quarters, near Or- 
 ange Court House, when he obtained a leave of 
 absence, and on October 27, 1863, he was mar- 
 ried to Ellen F. Richmond, of Milton, North 
 Carolina. After spending some time at home, 
 he again repaired to his command. The next 
 general engagement in which he bore a part was 
 at the Wilderness (fought from 5th to 12th of 
 May, 1864), and Spotsj'lvania Court House 
 (lOth to 1 2th of May), in which his brigade be- 
 
248 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 haved with such desperate courage as to win the 
 unstinted applause of the whole army. In the 
 latter battle General Ramsour was again wounded 
 in his disabled arm, and had three horses shot un- 
 der him ; still he never left the field, but con- 
 tinued to lead his brigade in the charge. He was 
 complimented on the field by Generals Ewell 
 and A. P. Hill, and thanked by General Lee. 
 The next month he was promoted to a Major 
 General's rank, and assigned to the division for- 
 merly commanded by General Early. Early's 
 corps, composed of Gordon, Rhodes and Ram- 
 seur^s divisions, was detached from Lee and sent 
 to repel Hunter, who was threatening Lynch- 
 bvu-g. Early reached L)'nchburg in time to save 
 the city, and after the repulse of Hunter, marched 
 for the third time into Maryland. No serious 
 fighting occurred until the army reached Mon- 
 ocacy Bridge, where (June 9th) Ramseur and 
 Gordon defeated General Wallace. The Army 
 of the Valley then marched within five miles of 
 Washington (July, 1864), and but for timely re- 
 inforcements the Capital would ha\-e been cap- 
 tured. General Early, in "The Southern Mag- 
 azine," Baltimore, has given a full account of the 
 condition and consternation of the Federal Capi- 
 tal at that time. 
 
 The addition to the Federal forces caused 
 Early to hold a consultation with Generals Breck- 
 enridge, Gordon, Ramseur and Rhodes, and a 
 retreat was ordered to the lower Valley of Vir- 
 ginia. At the battle of Winchester (September 
 19, 1864), General Ramseur sustained the brunt 
 of battle from daylight until 9 or 10 o'clock, 
 when the other divisions came to his relief In 
 this fierce combat the gallant Rhodes was killed. 
 General Ramseur was transferred from Early's 
 old division to the division left without a Major 
 General by the fall of Rhodes. He commanded 
 this but one month, when he too met the death of 
 a gallant soldier at the battle of Cedar Creek, on 
 the 19th of October, 1864. 
 
 In his report of this battle. General Earh- 
 states : 
 
 "Major General Ramseur fell into the hands of 
 the enemy mortally wounded, and in him not 
 only my command, but the country, suffered'. 
 heavy loss. He was a most gallant and energetic 
 officer, whom no disaster appalled, but his cour- 
 a<Te and energy seemed to gain new strength in 
 the midst of confusion and disorder. He fell at 
 his post, like a lion at bay, and his native State 
 has reason to be proud of his memory."* 
 
 James Pinckney Henderson (born' in 1808, 
 and died 1858), the son of Major Lawson Hen- 
 derson, was born, raised, and educated in Lin- 
 coln county, in the town of Lincointon, He 
 studied law and was admitted to practice, about 
 1829. At this time, his health was prostrated 
 by a severe hemorrhage from the lungs; he 
 sought the mild climate of Cuba for relief, 
 where he spent the winters of 1833-34. He 
 returned, much improved; and, in hopes of 
 effecting a full restoration of health and the 
 improvement of his fortunes, he moved in 1835, 
 to Mississippi, Here he remained until the 
 Texas troubles commenced, and in common 
 with Houston, Lamar, and other brave spirits, 
 he drew his sword in the service of the "Lone 
 Star," republic, and spent the remainder of his 
 life under her flag. 
 
 For more than twenty years of his life, he 
 was spared to participate in the stirring events 
 of that eventful period. His brilliant career as 
 her Attorney General, her Secretary ofState.and 
 her first Governor ; Major General of her forces 
 in the Mexican War, (distinguished at Mon- 
 terey) ; her Minister Plenipotentiary to France 
 and England, and finally her Senator in the 
 Congress of the United States, all now has 
 become historical. These rapid strides of suc- 
 cess are due to his high sense of honor, his 
 integrity of character, his indomitable energy, 
 and to his deep knowledge of men and events. 
 He fell a victim to consumption, so fatal to 
 his family, and died while a member of the 
 
 «See Land we Love, May, i86S. 
 
LINCOLN COUNTY. 
 
 249 
 
 United States Senate, at Wasliington City, on 
 June 4, 1858, leaving a widow [lur Frances Cox, 
 daughter of John Cox of Philadelphia) and 
 tiiree children to mourn his loss. 
 
 Bartlett Shipp (born March 8, 1786— died 
 May 26, 1869) resided and died in this county. 
 He was the son of Thomas Shipp, who immi- 
 grated from Virginia and settled on Dan River 
 near Danbury, where his son Bartlett was born 
 — whose mother was a Joyce. 
 
 The early education of Mr. Shipp was defect- 
 ive and acquired by his own exertions. How- 
 ever, from an inquiring mind and a literary 
 taste,he mastered the English, and acquired a fair 
 knowledge of the classics. In his early days 
 he taught school, which tended to fi.x this rudi- 
 mental education. He realized the truism of the 
 Latin philosopher, "disco docfiuio." 
 
 Enterprising and patriotic, when the war be- 
 tween England and the United States began, 
 he enlisted as a volunteer in 1812, and marched 
 with a company from Stokes county. 
 
 After his service ended he returned and stud- 
 ied law, under Joseph Wilson, one of the most 
 brilliant and successful advocates of the day. 
 After obtaining his license, he settled in Wilkes 
 county. Li 18 18, he removed to Lincoln 
 county, where he married Susan, daughter of 
 Peter Forney, and where he resided for the bal- 
 ance of his life. As a lawyer, he was remarkable 
 for his strong common sense, his familiarity 
 with the elementary principles of his profession, 
 his stern advocacy of justice, and unspotted 
 integrity. 
 
 He grasped with intuitive perception the strong 
 points of a case, and used them in argument with 
 great ability and yet perfect frankness and sin- 
 cerity. These qualities made him popular with 
 his associates. But he was quite as fond of the 
 allurements of politics as the pursuit of his pro- 
 fession. He was often a member of the Legis- 
 lature (1824-26-28-29-30). He was po.ssessed 
 of strong convictions, and was not very choice 
 of terms in which he expressed them. But no 
 
 one had less vindictive feelings or was more 
 honorable or generous towards those who dif- 
 fered in opinion from him. 
 
 To his friends, whose merits he recognized 
 and whose sincerity he had tested, his attach- 
 ment was strong, no matter to what party they 
 belonged. Yet in the convictions of policy, he 
 was consistent, firm, and unyielding. 
 
 His last public service was as a member 
 of the Convention of 1835; tlie ablest body 
 of men that ever assembled in the State ; 
 which body amended our Constitution. Here 
 his experience and sagacity were universally 
 conceded. 
 
 He died at Lincolnton, on May 16, 1869, '" 
 the eighty-fourth year of his age ; respected 
 and loved by all who knew him. (Dr. Hunter's 
 Sketches, 275). 
 
 He left, by his marriage with Miss Forney : 
 
 I. William M. Shipp, graduated at Univer- 
 sity 1840, Judge of Superior Court, 18G3, who 
 now resides in Charlotte ; one of whose sons is 
 now a Cadet at West Point. 
 
 II. Eliza married William Preston Bynum, 
 late one of the Judges of the Supreme Court. 
 
 III. Susan married Johnson. 
 
 Robert H. Burton (born 17S1 — died 1842) 
 son of Colonel Robert Burton of Granville 
 county, was long an honored citizen of Lincoln 
 county ; educated at the University and studied 
 law. He applied himself with such assiduity 
 and fidelity, that he soon rose to the front rank 
 of the profession, and in 18 18, was appointed 
 one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of 
 Law, which, after riding one circuit, he re- 
 signed. In 1830, he was elected Treasurer of 
 the State, which he also declined. He was 
 much respected as a sincere Christian, an able 
 counsellor, and an honest man. He died in 
 1842, leaving a numerous family to mourn his 
 loss, and emulate his example. 
 
 David Schenck, one of the Judges of 
 the Superior Courts of the State, is a native 
 of Lincoln. 
 
250 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The Schenck family is of Swiss extraction. 
 In 1708, Henry, John, and Michael Schenck, 
 who were Mennonites, where driven out of 
 Switzerland by religious persecution, and being 
 invited by William Penn, they with a number 
 of other colonists, emigrated to the vicinity of 
 what is now Lancaster City, Pennsylvania. 
 
 In 1729, these colonists were naturalized by 
 a special act of Parliament on account of "their 
 industry and their peaceable and religious 
 conduct." 
 
 Michael Schenck who sprung from one of 
 these threebrothers.was born February 28, 1737, 
 and Michael Schenck, his son, was born near Lan- 
 caster, February 15, 1771. He immigrated to 
 North Carolina about the year 1795. He was 
 married. May ii, 1 801, to Barbara, daughter of 
 Daniel Warlick, who was killed in a fight with 
 the Indians, on the Ohio frontier. 
 
 In the year 1815, Michael Schenck erected a 
 Cotton Factory on Mill branch, two miles east 
 of Lincolnton. 
 
 We were shown two spindles which were used 
 in this, perhaps, the first cotton factory erected 
 south of the Potomac river. 
 
 It was rather a rude structure, compared with 
 our modern machinery. The whole consisting 
 of only seventy-five spindles, the iron shafts of 
 which were made in a blacksmith shop, by Da- 
 vid Warlick, who was a superior workman in 
 his day ; and the spools and other wood work 
 were made by Michael Beam, a neighbor of 
 Warlick. The house containing the machinery, 
 was a simple log structure twenty-five feet 
 square. 
 
 The spinning was done by means, of what 
 machinists call a mule — the thread being drawn 
 out horizontally and then wound on broaches. 
 It was then reeled, and sold as fast as it could 
 be manufactured at fifty cents per pound in 
 specie. 
 
 This factory was erected and put in operation 
 by Michael Schenck, who had emigrated to this 
 county from Pennsylvania. It was placed on 
 
 Mill branch two miles east of Lincolnton, and 
 the first yarn was made in the year 1815. 
 
 This proved profitable enough to justify Mr. 
 Michael Schenck in sending to Providence, Rhode 
 Island, for more improved machinery, which 
 was put in operation on the same site in 18 18. 
 This, in its turn, was laid aside, and Mr. Schenrk, 
 in copartnership with the late Colonel John 
 Hoke, Sr., of Lincolnton, and Dr. Bivings, 
 erected the large factory, on the south fork of 
 the Catawba, two miles south of Lincolnton, 
 but this was burned in 1863. 
 
 His son, Dr. David Warlick Schenck, son of 
 Michael, was born at Lincolnton, February 3, 
 1809, and was educated at the Academy of that 
 town. He studied medicine with Dr. James 
 Bivings, and afterwards attended lectures at 
 Jefferson College, in Philadelphia. He married 
 Susan Rebecca Bevens, daughter of Simeon 
 and Eliza Bevens, November 8, 1882, by whom 
 he left two children, Barbara and David. He 
 was eminent as a surgeon and one of the best 
 read men in the State. He died at Lincolnton, 
 December 26, 1861, a very encyclopedia of infor 
 mation. 
 
 His son, David Schenck, the subject of this 
 sketch, was born at Lincolnton. March 24, 1835, 
 and was educated at the Academy, principally 
 by Silas C. Lindslay, an eminent teacher of that 
 day. 
 
 He read law two years with Haywood W. 
 Guion and obtained his County Court license in 
 June, 1856. He then went to Judge Pearson's 
 Law School, at Richmond Hill, till June, 1857, 
 where he obtained his Superior Court license, 
 and settled immediately in Dallas, Gaston county, 
 North Carolina. He was elected County Solic- 
 itor, and enjoyed a lucrative practice at once. 
 
 On August 25, 1859, he married Sally Wil- 
 fong Ramseur, daughter of Jacob A. and Lucy 
 D. Ramseur, and sister of Major General S. D. 
 Ramseur. 
 
 In November, i860, he returned to Lincoln- 
 ton, his native place, and in 186 1, on the elec- 
 
MACON COUNTY. 
 
 251. 
 
 tion of Hon. Wm. Lander to the Confederate 
 Congress, he was elected to tlie State Conven- 
 tion to fill his place. 
 
 This was the only political office he ever held 
 and he always refused to hold any other. 
 
 He practiced his profession in competition 
 with such lawyers as William Lander, W. V. 
 Bynum, Haywood Guion, and J. I*". Hoke, and 
 received his full share of business. 
 
 In 1874, he received the Democratic nomina- 
 tion for Judge of the Ninth Judicial District, 
 and was elected by a majority of 2,100, nearly 
 double the former Democratic majority. His 
 term expired in 1882. He has a large family, 
 aiidlike "old Chuckey," he is "spreading him- 
 self" to take care of them. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVHL 
 
 MACON COUNTY. 
 
 James Lowrie Robinson was born in Franklin, 
 Macon county, September 17, 1838. His fa- 
 ther, James Robinson, came to North Carolina, 
 from Tennessee, was a merchant of note and 
 character, and died in the village that was the 
 birth place of his son, June, 1843. His early 
 training was only what the common schools of 
 his county and the village Academy afforded; 
 and a year at Emory & Henry College, was 
 added to his education by his own hard-earned 
 wages and the kind assistance of a friend and 
 relative. 
 
 When armed men sprang vp in every hamlet 
 of North Carolina, at the call of her authorities, 
 he volunteered as a private foot soldier in Com- 
 pany H, 1 6th North Carolina troops, and 
 became Quarter-master Sergeant in the same 
 regiment. At the re organization he was 
 elected Captain of the Company of which he 
 was a member and its triumphs became a part of 
 his history. Wounded at the Battle of Seven 
 Pines, he led his men over the fields of Manassas, 
 when it was baptized with blood a second time. 
 Participating in the engagement at Chantilly 
 I'arm, he was present at the terrible struggle 
 
 that decided the Maryland campaign at Sharps- 
 burg. 
 
 When he had laid aside his sword and returned 
 to peaceful vocations, his people recognized in 
 him the deliberate courage and solid qualities of 
 mind that are valuable in civil employments, 
 and chose him to be their Commoner in 1868. 
 He was returned without opposition in 1S70. 
 No mark of confidence could have bestowed 
 greater honor upon him. He had been one of 
 a bold and true minority that had withstood the 
 seductions of a reckless and extravagant admin- 
 istration, and had rendered success for the 
 Democracy possible. When chosen a repre- 
 sentative in 1S72, he was almost by common 
 consent, elevated to the highest honor of the 
 body of which he was a member, and when the 
 Speaker's gavel was again tendered him in 1S74, 
 it came as a palm of merit that he had no right 
 to put aside. 
 
 The retribution in the history of North Caro- 
 lina came in 1876. The ruined places were restor- 
 ed. The counties, bearing names conspicuously 
 North Carolinian, and composing his Senatorial 
 District, called him to serve them in the Upper 
 
252 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Chamber of the State's councils. He came 
 without opposition, and was chosen President 
 of that distinguished body. Long experience 
 and great familiarity with the duties of a pre- 
 siding officer over a deliberative body, made it 
 eminently fit that he be chosen to fill this high 
 position. His conduct of the business of the 
 Senate, from the assembling of the Legislature 
 until the promotion of Lieutenant Governor 
 Jarvis added to his growing reputation as a leg- 
 islator and parlimentarian. No man ever had 
 more loyal constituents and no people ever had 
 a more faithful servant. His Senatorial services 
 were endorsed by a re-election unsought and to 
 which no opposition was offered. 
 
 His elevation to the second place in the State, 
 is a natural result of unselfish services done his 
 people, of devotion to the tenets of his political 
 profession, and of the determination of North 
 Carolinians to call to command, men who have 
 been faithful in the ranks. In the flush of a 
 strong manhood, under his honors and delicate 
 duties, he will be found modest and simple, a 
 worthy Lieutenant stands ready to command. 
 
 Silas McDowell is placed among the "Living 
 Writers of the South, " as possessing energy and 
 an original Franklin like genius, eminently 
 worthy of consideration. He has long resided 
 in Macon county, although a native of York 
 District, South Carolina, when he was born, in 
 1795. His education was scanty; he was for 
 three sessions a student at the Newton Academy 
 at Asheville, working morning and evening and 
 on Saturdajs, to pay his board. 
 
 At an early age, he was apprenticed to the 
 trade of a tailor, in Charleston, South Carolina, 
 and after his time had expired he worked for ten 
 years at his craft in Morganton, and four years 
 at Asheville, where he married the niece of 
 Governor Swain. 
 
 In 1830, moved to Macon county. For si.x- 
 teen j-ears he was Clerk of the Superior Court 
 of Macon Count)', and for five years Clerk and 
 Master in I'lquit)-. He w.is alwaj's a hard stu- 
 
 dent, especially in practical mineralogy, geology, 
 and botany, not so much from books as from 
 the great volume of nature that this wild and 
 unexplored county presented to his inquiring 
 mind.. When asked by a learned professor, 
 who was struck with his original and correct 
 views of science, recently, "at what college he 
 had graduated ?" he pointed to the broad and 
 bold mountains around his homestead: "These 
 wild mountains are the only college at which 
 my name has ever been entered as a student !" 
 Like the great poet of nature, he did not need 
 the spectacles of books to read the great history 
 of nature. 
 
 Mr. McDowell has a pleasingly happy faculty 
 of describing scenery, the lofty cloud-capped 
 mountains, the weird craggs with their nestling 
 valleys. These first brought him before the 
 public, and his sketch "Above the Clouds," 
 was extensively copied in the papers of the 
 day(i829). This called for others, and they 
 came. His pen pictures of the Table Rock, 
 Casar's Head, Hawkbill Peak, Hickory Nut 
 Gap, and other sketches, have attracted thou- 
 sands to visit the wild and weird scenery in this 
 region of enchantment. 
 
 The most prominent work of his pen, is his 
 "Theory of the Thermal Zone," which has 
 attracted so much attention and has been pub- 
 lished in the Agricultural Reports of the United 
 States. The utility of this discovery is this : 
 when mountains enclose a valley, the thermal 
 belt or no frost stratum does not lie more than 
 two hundred and fifty feet above the level of 
 the valley. This is the true home of the grape, 
 as it is a warm and dry atmosphere that fully 
 develops all those luscious qualities, without any 
 danger of frosts killing the young germs. 
 
 An enthusiastic admirer of scenery, here will 
 find ample subject, while the health-inspiring 
 climate, so genial and salubrious, ever renders 
 existence a luxury. 
 
 Mr. McDowell died at his home in Macon 
 county, on July 1.4, 1S79. 
 
M/\RTIN COUNTY. 
 
 253 
 
 ClIAl'll'R XXXIX. 
 
 N4AKTIN COUNTY. 
 
 Wliitniill Hill lived and died in this county. 
 For sketch of whom, see Bertie county. 
 
 Asa Biggs (born 1811 — died 1878) was born, 
 reared and hv^ed for a long time, in Martin 
 county. He was born on February 4, 181 1. 
 After receiving a classical education, he studied 
 law, and was licensed in 1831. His first appear- 
 ance in the political theatre, in which he was 
 destined to perform a prominent part, was as a 
 member of the Convention, to amend the Con- 
 stitution, in 1835, the first convention called 
 since the adoption of the Constitution in 1767. 
 This was an admirable school for a young man, 
 just then twenty-four years old, and taking his 
 first lessons in political knowledge; for the 
 master minds of the State, as Macon, Gaston, 
 Branch, Daniel Outlaw, Carson, Spaight, Gil- 
 liam Morehead, Rayner, Meares and others, 
 were members of that illustrious body. How 
 well he improved this opportunity, his subse- 
 quent success in political life fully demon- 
 strated. 
 
 In 1840, was the " log cabin campaign," when 
 overwhelmingadversitybefelhis(the Democratic) 
 party. Mr.Biggs, however,survivcd this disaster 
 and was elected a member of the Legislature ; 
 He evinced such sagacity and foresight that gave 
 him prominence and influence. He proposed 
 (adverse tothe views of the Democratic party)that 
 wise measure of internal improvement of con- 
 structing a railroad from the mountains to Beau- 
 fort Harbor, at the expense of the State, 
 requiring all branches to be built by individual 
 enterprise. Had his views been adopted, our 
 railroad system would not have presented the 
 
 conllict of interest, or confusion of routes, all 
 tending to swell the importance of the com- 
 merce of other States only to our detriment. He 
 was re elected in 1842, to the House, and in 
 1S44 a member of the .State Senate. He was 
 elected a member of the 39th Congress, 
 1845-47, succeeding Hon. Kenneth Rayner, and 
 defeating Hon. David Outlaw, who in turn 
 defeated him for the next Congress (1847-49). 
 
 He was appointed one of a Commission (with 
 B. F. Moore, and R. M. Saunders) to revise the 
 Laws of the State, which work is a monument 
 of his patience, ability, and legal knowledge. 
 
 For the second time, Mr. Biggs was returned 
 to the Legislature (1854) a member of the 
 Senate. He was, unquestionably the leader of 
 the Democratic party in the Legislature. He op- 
 posed the proposition of the Whig party, led by 
 Governor Graham, to call a Constitutional Con- 
 vention, by a majority of the Legislature. Al- 
 though this measure was supported by the 
 prestige and power of the ablest men of the 
 Whig party, such was the force of the argu- 
 ments and the power of the speeches of Mr. 
 Biggs, that the measure was defeated. 
 
 By this Legislature, he was elected a member 
 of the United States Senate ; here he served 
 with credit to himself and satisfaction to his 
 State, until he resigned in 1858,10 accept the posi- 
 tion of United States District Judge, made vacant 
 b)' the death of Judge Potter. He was succeeded 
 in the Senate by Hon. Thomas L. Clingman. 
 For the place of Judge, he was well suited, by 
 his unsullied integrity, his patient research, and 
 extensive acquirements. But the war came on, 
 
254 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the State seceded, and he resigned the United 
 States Judgeship, and accepted a similar posi- 
 tion under the new (Confederate) Government, 
 which he held until the close of the war. 
 
 During the troubled times of the war, he was 
 a relugce, with his family, to Tarboro. As soon 
 as hostilities ceased he returned to his profes- 
 sion, which he pursued with success, until 1869. 
 Having been one of the signers of the protest, 
 by the Bar against the partisan conduct of 
 Members of our Supreme Court, in the Presi- 
 dential campaign of 1868, and feeling outraged 
 at the oppression of the Court in disbarring the 
 signers, he removed to Norfolk and became a 
 partner in the house of Kedar Biggs & Co. 
 
 In 1870, he formed a law partnership with 
 Hon. Wm. N. H. Smith, and continued in the 
 practice with Judge Smith until the removal of 
 the latter to Raleigh. In the Counting House, 
 Judge Biggs evinced the same sagacity and 
 probity, combined with labor, caution, and en- 
 durance for work, as he showed in the other 
 walks of life, and stood as high in this new field 
 of labor, as he had at the Bar or in the Senate 
 Chamber. He was an active and useful Mem- 
 ber of the Board of Trade of Norfolk, and 
 esteemed for his enterprise and public spirit. 
 While attending to his mercantile duties at liis 
 counting house, on March 6, 1S78, he was struck 
 with a disease of the heart, carried home and 
 in spite of all the skill of science and the kind- 
 ness of affection, he suddenly expired. 
 
 Judge Biggs left a wife and six children, three 
 sons, and three daughters, to mourn their loss. 
 
 The eldest of his sons, Captain William Biggs, 
 is the editor of the Oxford Lance. 
 
 Judge Biggs was a fair sample of a North 
 Carolina gentleman, solid rather than showy in 
 his acquirements, retiring and modest in his 
 opinions, but tenacious and firm when assailed. 
 Consistent and conciliatory in his course. As a 
 statesman he was pure and patriotic; as a law- 
 yer he was learned, able, and successful; as an 
 orator he did not rank or aspire, — 
 
 '■ The applause of listening Senates to command," — 
 
 But his addresses were replete with good sense, 
 and practical wisdom. Whatever position he 
 occupied, he was equal to his duty — never above 
 nor below it. As a gentleman, he was always po- 
 lite, yet zealous and tenacious; he possessed "that 
 chastity of honor," that regarded the slightest 
 imputation upon it, as a wound. As a parent 
 and a husband he was provident and affectionate, 
 and as a Christian, he was a devote member of 
 that much misrepresented, but pure and sincere 
 denomination, the " Primitive Baptist," and 
 in their faith he died. 
 
 Joseph John Martin is a native and resident of 
 Williamston, in this county. He was born No- 
 vember 21, 1833 ; educated at the Williamston 
 Academy, and read law with Judge Pearson. 
 
 He has served as Solicitor for the Second 
 Judicial District, for several years. He was a 
 delegate to the National Convention at Cincin- 
 nati, and was elected a Member of Congress to 
 the 46th Congress, as a Republican, receiving 
 12,125 votes, against 12,084 for J- J- Yeates, 
 Democrat. His seat was contested by Mr. 
 Yeates. 
 
 
meckli:ni5urg county. 
 
 255 
 
 CHAITI^R XL. 
 
 MECKLKNBURO COUNTY. 
 
 With the Centennial City of Charlotte, the 
 Capital of Mecklenburg are associated glowing 
 revolutionary remembrances. It was here that 
 the first Declaration of Independence was pro- 
 claimed, on May 20, 1775. The heroic battle 
 grounds of King's Mountain, Cowan's Ford, 
 Ramsour's Mill are in its vicinity. It was here 
 (September 20, 1780) with a handful of troops. 
 that General Davie held the forces of Cornwallis 
 in check, in whose retreat Colonel Lock was 
 killed, and General George Graham seriously 
 wounded. It was here, on December 3, 1780, 
 that the ' ' Fabius of America, " General Greene, 
 took command of the Southern Army. 
 
 Of " illustrious men," says Thucydides, "the 
 whole world is their sepulchre." But there are 
 some sacred spots which have been specially 
 consecrated in the memorials of all ages of 
 mankind by the holy halo which surrounds the 
 illustrious acts of patriots and martyrs. Of 
 these is Maranthon, Bannockburn and Lexing- 
 ton. History may well add Charlotte. 
 
 All hail to thee, thou good old Slate, the noblest of the 
 
 band ! 
 Who raised the flag of Liberty, in this our native land ! 
 All hail to thee, thy worthy sons were first to spurn the 
 
 yoke. 
 The tyrant's fetters from their hands, at Mecklenburg they 
 
 broke. 
 
 One of the great landmarks in North Caro- 
 lina history, especially that touching the Meck- 
 lenburg section, was the Queen's Museum, after- 
 ward called Liberty Hall, to which reference 
 has been made heretofore, (see Brevard and 
 Graham Genealogies in Lincoln county). We 
 
 extract from Caruther's Life of Caldwell, the 
 following: 
 
 "The history of Liberty Hall Academy is 
 interesting to the friends of literature, as a bold 
 and vigorous effort made for its promotion at 
 that early day, and under the most discouraging 
 circumstances, and it is especially interesting to 
 Presbyterians, as being one in a series of efforts 
 made by the people in that region, to establish 
 a literary institution, not only of a high order 
 but on Christian principles, and under Christian 
 influences. Both before and after its incorpora- 
 tion, the Presbytery of Orange exercised a 
 degree of supervision over Liberty Hall, as 
 they probably would have done over Queen's 
 College, if it had gone into operation ; but pre- 
 cisely on what grounds and to what extent, does 
 not appear. For this purpose the Presbytery 
 met, during its existence, much oftener in Char- 
 lotte, and Sugar Creek, than in any other part 
 of their bounds. They appointed committees 
 to examine the students, and they co-operated 
 with the Trustees in securing the services of Dr. 
 McWhorter. They sometimes held part of 
 their session in one of these places, and the 
 remainder in the other. Thus having met in 
 Charlotte, October i, 1775, they adjourned in 
 the evening to Sugar Creek, where they trans- 
 acted the rest of their business, and among 
 other things, they appointed Messrs. Caldwell 
 and Reese to examine the school in Charlotte." 
 Again : " Fourth Creek, April 10, 1778, Messrs. 
 McCorkle, Hall, and McCaule, are hereby ap- 
 pointed to write a letter to Dr. McWhorter, 
 concerning the Acadeni}' in Ciiarlotte. " 
 
256 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Again the same writer says: "As the pop- 
 ulation between the Yadl<in and Catawba rivers, 
 was almost wholly Presbyterian, except the 
 Germans, the act for incorporating Queen's 
 College at Charlotte, was of course obtained 
 through their influence, and the institution, if 
 it had gone into operation, would have been 
 sustained by them, though it was not chartered 
 as a Presbyterian college, for they had not then 
 felt themselves compelled, as they have done 
 since, to take that ground. * * * 
 
 "In April 1777, the first year of American In- 
 dependence, an act was passed by the Legisla- 
 ture of North Carolina, incorporating Isaac 
 Alexander, President; Colonel Thomas Polk, 
 Colonel Thomas Neal, Abraham Alexander, 
 Waightstill Avery, Adlai Osborne, John Mc- 
 Knitt Alexander, Dr. Ephraim Brevard, Rev. 
 David Caldwell, Rev. James Hall, Rev. James 
 Edmonds, Rev. John Simpson, Rev. Thomas 
 Reese, Rev. Thomas Harris McCaule, as Trus- 
 tees of Libcity Hall Academy. These gentlemen 
 had various powers, such as corporations of 
 this nature usually possess. The first meeting 
 of this respectable body was held in Charlotte, 
 January 3, 1778." * 
 
 So the change of name to Libcity Hall was 
 certainly determined on />cforc April, 1777, and 
 in less than two years after the culmination of 
 the meetings, that had been held within its 
 walls, in the Declaration of Independence in 
 the name of the "citizens of Mecklenburg 
 county." The Revolutionary War closed its 
 halls, and they were desecrated by Cornwallis' 
 troops, who burned them, when his retreat 
 upon Wilmington commenced. 
 
 The same author (p. 140) speaks of the early 
 educational advantages of North Carolina, as 
 follows : (see on this subject, Wheeler's History 
 of North Carolina, I. p. 116). 
 
 "When the Orange Presbytery was organized 
 the summer before the Regulation Battle, it 
 
 ■ Life of Cildwell, pp. 194-95. 
 
 consisted of seven ministers, and these all lived 
 in North Carolina. They were all men of class- 
 ical education, and most of them were graduates 
 of Princeton College. There seems to have 
 been, as already stated, a classical school in 
 Charlotte ; probably another in Granville or 
 Orange ; and Dr. Caldwell's school which had 
 now been in operation about five years, since 
 1766, and had prepared several young men for 
 college, some who became distinguished minis- 
 ters of the gospel. (Foote says : " Five of his 
 scholars became Governors, a number Judges, 
 about fifty were ministers of the gospel, and a 
 large number physicians and lawyers. The 
 number of pupils averaged fifty or sixty.) 
 
 There were several English schools within 
 the limits of what is now Guilford county, and 
 the people generally understood the value of 
 education. The Rev. Mr. Beuthahn (pronounced 
 nearly as if written Bittaun) who, as I am 
 informed, organized the German Reformed 
 Churches, in Guilford and Orange, taught a 
 German school for several years, about this time, 
 in the southeast corner of the former county ; 
 and the Lutherans had their preachers, who, 
 being from Germany, were educated men. In a 
 communication just received, from Bishop Van- 
 vleck, of Salem, he mentions the Revs. Nussman 
 and Arnt, who, having been sent out at an early 
 period, "labored faithfully in poverty and priva- 
 tions, until, on their urgent application, the 
 Revs. Charles A. Storh, Roschau, and Bern- 
 hard, were sent to to their assistance." 
 
 The German Reformed Churches had several 
 ministers, some of whom were devoted and use- 
 full men ; and the Moravians were well supplied. 
 There were several Baptist ministers in the 
 Province, but of their character I know nothing. 
 People in these circumstances could not be so 
 grossly ignorant, as they have been represented, 
 and the Quakers although they differ from most 
 others in their views of the iniiiistry, have al- 
 ways advocated and maintained a high degree 
 of English education. * •'■ * * 
 
AFICCKLI'-NBURG COUNTY. 
 
 257 
 
 A writer in tlic Kalci^'h Ohscivcr, says of edu- 
 cation in the colony of Carolina: " McMas- 
 ter's History of the People of the United 
 States, is a work which has met with a very 
 favorable reception from the public. Rut it 
 would be remarkable if a work of that nature 
 should not have here and there some coloring 
 to which just and reasonable exception might 
 well be taken. And so we are not surprised to 
 find that what McMaster says of education in 
 the Southern colonies, has met with a warm 
 "reply. Indeed it is not strange that Northern 
 writers deal unfairly by the South, because 
 Southern men have hardly dealt justly with her 
 themselves. They have not put the facts on 
 record. We ourselves have therefore been 
 somewhat to blame. But yet that does not 
 excuse a writer of history for taking it for 
 granted that things do not exist merely because 
 he has no information of them. McMaster is 
 quoted as saying in his history : "In the South- 
 ern States, education was almost wholly neg- 
 lected, but nowhere to such an extent as in 
 South Carolina. In that colony prior to 1730, 
 no such thing as a grammar school existed. 
 Between 1731 and 1776, there were five. Dur- 
 ing the Revolution there were none. Indeed if 
 the number of newspapers printed in any com- 
 munity may be taken as a guage of the educa- 
 tion of the people, the condition of the South- 
 ern States as compared with the Eastern and 
 Middle, was most deplorable. In 1775 there 
 were in the entire country, thirty-seven papers 
 in circulation. Fourteen of them were in New 
 England, four in New York, and nine in Penn- 
 sylvania ; in Virginia and North Carolina there 
 were two each, in Georgia one, in South Caro- 
 lina three. The same is true of to-day." 
 
 Mr. McCrady, of Charleston, has replied 
 vigorously on behalf of South Carolina, and we 
 trust that some one will likewise compile the 
 statistics of schools in the colony of North Caro- 
 lina, and give them to the public. In the mean- 
 time we will contribute our mite. It is true 
 
 that there were but few towns in this colony — 
 and that rendered impossible the village schools 
 which existed in PLngland, and which came 
 naturally enough in the thickly settled parts of 
 Massachusetts. But education was not wholly 
 neglected. Gentlemen living in the country 
 had tutors for their children, and there doubt- 
 less were schools in the more thickly settled 
 neighborhoods, o( which no record now exists. 
 There was higher education and that is an evi- 
 dence of the existence of grammar schools. 
 On the Cape Fear it seems to have been the 
 custom from 1740 to the Revolutionary War to 
 send the young men to Boston. We have 
 heard that Mr. William Hill, the father of Hon. 
 William Hill, came from Boston to the Cape 
 Fear to attend the wedding of one of his class- 
 mates. This was before 1750. He remained 
 on the Cape Fear and married there. A will 
 in our possession, dated 1735, directs the edu- 
 cation of the testators's children, and says that 
 they shall be taught F"rench — "perhaps some 
 Frenchman on the Peedee might be engaged." 
 We think it was the general practice in that 
 section to patronize Boston rather than England, 
 although we remember to have heard a tradi- 
 tion, that a vessel carrying a considerable num- 
 ber of young men to England to finish their 
 education, was lost at sea. Foote says that in 
 1760, Rev. James Tate opened at Wilmington, 
 the first iiassua/ school ever taught there. At 
 that time Wilmington could have had but a few 
 hundred inhabitants. There were chartered 
 academies at Edenton and at New Berne ; but 
 this does not signify that grammar schools were 
 lacking wherever the population was sufficient 
 to justify them. That there were not more 
 chartered academies was doubtless due to the 
 fact that the Royal governors insisted on a 
 clause in the charters requiring "the masters" 
 to belong to the established church and giving 
 the governor power to appoint them. That 
 was the settled policy — to extend the influence 
 of the established church, and as it was distasteful 
 
258 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 to the people, so chartered academies were 
 not popular. 
 
 It would seem that while the Cape Fear 
 largely patronized Boston, the northeastern 
 section sent her sons to England and the Pres- 
 byterians of the interior sought higher educa- 
 tion at Princeton. 
 
 About 1767, says P'oote, Joseph Alexander, 
 a fine scholar, in connection with Mr. Benedict, 
 taught a classical school of high excellence and 
 usefulness — this was at Sugar Creek, in the 
 vicinity of Charlotte. 
 
 In 1766, Dr. Caldwell opened his classical 
 school in Guilford. This, says Foote, was the 
 second permanent classical school in the upper 
 part of Carolina — that at Sugar Creek being the 
 first, and that of Mr. Pattilo, in Granville, the 
 third. Five of his scholars became Governors, 
 a number Judges, about fifty were Ministers of 
 the Gospel, and a large number physicians and 
 lawyers. The number of pupils averaged fifty 
 or sixty and came from different parts of the 
 State. About the same time, Dr. Pattilo taught 
 in Granville; in 1761, Rev. William Richardson, 
 the uncle of General Davie, located at the Wax- 
 haws, and doubtless he also taught school. 
 
 Large Scotch-Irish settlements in central 
 Carolina, began probably in 1747, and continued 
 up to the Revolutionary War. Says Foote : 
 ' ' almost invariably as soon as a neighborhood 
 was settled, preparations were made for the 
 preaching of the gospel by a regular stated 
 pastor ; and wherever a pastor was located, in 
 that congregation there was a classical school ; 
 as in Sugar Creek, Poplar Tent, Centre, Bethany, 
 Buffalo, Thyatira, Grove, Wilmington, and the 
 churches occupied by Pattilo in Orange and 
 Granville." And when we consider the very 
 considerable number of well educated men who 
 lived in this western section, and the number 
 who patronized Princeton college, we are pre- 
 pared to say that this part of Carolina must 
 have had a good record in regard to education. 
 About the same time the Moravians settled 
 
 Salem, and they early established a boarding 
 school for girls, which has continued in exist- 
 ence to this day, and is still youthful in vigor. 
 
 It is freely admitted that in the matter of 
 schools a great difference is observable between 
 the colonies of Massachusetts and of North 
 Carolina. For that difference there were sev 
 eral causes. Massachusetts was settled by colo- 
 nies — North Carolina was occupied by individ- 
 ual families. The people of Massachusetts 
 were forced by circumstances to remain in com- 
 munities ; those of North Carolina being under 
 no such pressure, lived apart. In the former 
 the establishment of towns was coeval with the 
 settlement ; in North Carolina, there was no 
 town until Bath was located in 1704 — probably 
 fifty years after lands were first taken up in the 
 province. Ihe people were scattered sparsely 
 here and there along the shores of the sounds 
 and on the banks of water-courses. Again, 
 the people were not all of the same religious 
 faith, while in Massachusetts the local preachers 
 were the teachers. From letters printed in 
 Hawks' history, we obtain a fair view of the 
 condition of North Carolina in 1709. The sec- 
 tion north of Albemarle Sound was, at that date, 
 divided into four precincts — Currituck, Pasquo- 
 tank, Perquimans and Chowan. Currituck had 
 a population, children included, of 539, whereof 
 97 were negroes. Pasquotank had 1,332, of 
 whom 2 1 1 were negroes. It was ' ' closer seated 
 than the other and better peopled in proportion 
 to its bigness." 
 
 Perquimans probably had about the same popu- 
 lation. Chowan was the largest but "thinnest 
 seated." There were " no inhabitants on the 
 road, for they plant only on the river, and they 
 are planted in length on these rivers, at least 
 twenty miles." The Albemarle section proba- 
 bly had at that time about 3,500 inhabitants. 
 Immediately across the sound there seemed to 
 have been no settlers — but there was "anew 
 colony of Pamplico, to reach which there are 
 about fifty miles desert to pass through without 
 
Ml-.CKI.KNHURG COUNTY. 
 
 259 
 
 any human creature inhabiting it." This was 
 Bath. The settlement was on the Pamlico river 
 and its branches. "They have begun to build 
 a town called Bath. It consists of about twelve 
 houses, being the only one in the whole province. " 
 That settlement probably did not contain 500 
 inhabitants. In 1709 a few Huguenots removed 
 from the banks of the James river and settled 
 between Pamlico and the Neuse. It was about 
 that time that Beaufort was laid out as a town, 
 and a little later the Swiss located at New 
 Berne. 
 
 Under these circumstances, with families far 
 removed from each other — with religious dis- 
 putes flagrant, and indeed all the politics of the 
 colony turning on religious dissensions — it is 
 easy to see why there was but little progress 
 made in establishing schools. Yet we find that 
 at Sarum, on the dividing line between Virginia 
 and North Caroh'na, there was a flourishing 
 school kept by a Mr. Mashburn ; that a Mr. 
 Griffin had a school in Pasquotank ; " that the 
 Quakers themselves sent their children to his 
 school;" ''that Mr. Adams took Mr. Griffin's 
 place in Pasquotank and he went to Chowan." 
 These schools are mentioned only incidentally. 
 There were doubtless schools at Bath and else- 
 where. In the colony there resided men of 
 learning, culture and refinement; men of means 
 who contributed to found libraries, to erect 
 churches, and to promote the welfare of the 
 people. Mosely, Hyde, Swann, Porter, Lil- 
 lington, Harvey, Saunderson, Pollock, Lowe, 
 the son in-law of Governor Archdale, and others 
 too numerous to mention, were men who were 
 not indifferent to education. If the facts could 
 be unearthed, it would probably appear that 
 there were many good schools in the province. 
 
 Men of education and intelligence, who were 
 influenced by the possession or prospect of 
 office, were with the Regulators in principle and 
 spirit, but not in measures, or not in their ultra 
 measures, just because they believed that the 
 people were not prepared for a conflict with the 
 
 established government. See Life of Caldwell, 
 pp. 140-41. Jones mentions Maurice Moore, 
 Thomas Person, and Alexander Martin, as of 
 this sentiment. 
 
 In the uprising of the Regulators, it is be- 
 lieved that Mecklenburg took a decided part. 
 We extract from the "Life of Caldwell," (p. 136) 
 by Caruthers, the following statement: 
 
 " As it had been found very difficult to pun- 
 ish any of the Regulators in their own county, 
 the Attorney General was authorized to prose- 
 cute them in any Superior Court, or Court of 
 Oyer and Terminer, in the Province; and on an 
 indictment being found, the Judges were directed 
 to issue a proclamation against the defendant, 
 commanding him to surrender himself and stand 
 his trial ; and on his failing to do so, he was held 
 to be guilty and outlawed, and his lands and 
 chattels forfeited. The Governor was empow- 
 ered to make drafts from the uiilitia to enforce 
 the execution of the laws ; and any persons 
 who were found embodied and in arms, with in- 
 tention of opposing the military force, if they 
 refused on command of a Justice or Sheriff to 
 lay down their arms and surrender themselves, 
 were to be treated as traitors. To diminish the 
 strength of the Regulators by division, four new 
 counties were established : one by taking a part 
 from each of the counties of Orange, Cumber- 
 land, and Johnston, which, in compliment to 
 Miss Esther Wake, a sister of Tryon's lady, 
 was called Wake ; another was formed from the 
 counties of Orange and Rowan, which was called 
 Guilford ; a third was formed out of the south- 
 ern part of Orange, to which the name of Chat- 
 ham was given ; and the northern part of Row- 
 an was erected into a county called Surry." 
 
 "Mecklenburg seems to have had no confidence 
 in the leaders o{ the Regulators, and a righteous 
 disgust for many of their excesses. As Rev. 
 Francis Cummins, the neighbor of Captain 
 James Jack, has expressed it, " they wanted 
 strength, eoiis/sfei/ey, a Congress, and a Wash- 
 ington at their head." Immediately after the 
 
26o 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Battle of Alamance (which wasin May i6, 1771), 
 Governor Tryon took steps to cure this more 
 methodical madness by swearing her " whole 
 militia companies together." So well did his 
 prescription work upon the consciences of a Bible- 
 reading community that when a convention of 
 delegates from these same militia companies 
 assembled in Charlotte on Alay 19, 1775, with 
 the common sentiment that ' the cause of Bos- 
 ton is the cause of all,' ' to take such measures 
 as might be thought best to be pursued,' and 
 indcpoidcncc was boldly proposed as the only 
 remedy, quite a scene was produced by the dele- 
 gate, who replied, "I should be glad to know 
 how gentlemen can clear their consciences after 
 taking that oath." The same argument that 
 satisfied him, and made the vote unanimous, 
 was effectually used by Dr. Caldwell in his con- 
 gregations in Guilford, and was a triumph of 
 sound reason and righteousness over the mach- 
 inations of tyrants.-'' 
 
 The same author, who, from the mouth of 
 eye witnesses, has given elsewhere, many un- 
 published incidents connected with the battle of 
 Guilford Court House, March 15, 1780, and the 
 affair on the Alamance, May 16, 1771, in speak- 
 ing of the six prisoners hung by Tryon at Hills- 
 boro, says: "Nor will the fjte of Captain Merrill 
 excite much less regret. He was from the Jer- 
 sey settlement, according to McPlierson ; or as 
 others say, from ^fcckliiiburi^- county. He was 
 regarded as a pious man ; was much esteemed 
 wherever he was known. He was within an easy 
 da)''s march of the place of meeting, with three 
 hundred men under his command, when he 
 heard of the defeat, and if he had got there in 
 time, the result would have been very different. 
 His men immediately dispersed ; but he was 
 taken prisoner, and his life was the forfeit." 
 
 *Kev. K. W. Caiuthti's " Life of Rev. Ur. Daviil Cald- 
 well," p. 136. 
 
 Dr.Caldwellwasa most influential character, and, althougli 
 not so mentioned Ijy the historians of the adjacent States, 
 figured conspicuously in connection with the battles, lioth 
 of Alamance, and of Guilford Court House. 
 
 To get pflsitivf information on this head, as 
 well as of a prior rebellion in Mecklenburg, 
 which arose out of British land titles, would 
 now be about as difficult as obtaining access 
 to the archives of an " invisible empire." 
 
 Under the head of Wake County, we will 
 publish documents to refute the siiwphi^ assump- 
 tion made by a critic in the A\>rth Amciicaii 
 Rcvic-a', of April 1S74, that "in the year 1819, 
 the Raleigh Register surprised its readers, etc., 
 with the announcement of a Mecklenburg 
 Declaration of Independence, dated May 20, 
 
 I775-" 
 
 The Polk Family. 
 
 Robert Polk was born in Ireland. The name 
 is a corruption of Pollock. He came to America 
 in 1735. Had eight children — six sons and two 
 daughters ; and settled in Somerset county, 
 Mar\land. Three sons of Robert — Thomas, 
 Ezekiel, and Charles — in 1750, came to Meck- 
 lenburg count)', then Anson county (Mecklen- 
 burg was formed in 1762 from Anson). John, 
 son of Robert, was the father of William. 
 
 William Polk, grandson of Robert had (i) 
 Charles, (2) Susan (married Alexander), (3) John 
 (4) Ezekiel, (5) Thomas, (6) Margaret (married 
 McRee). 
 
 Ezekiel Polk, son of William, married, first, 
 Miss Wilson ; second Mrs. Lennard, and was 
 the father of Samuel Polk, who married Jane 
 Knox, and so became the father of James Knox 
 Polk, (born November 2, 1795— died June 15, 
 1S49) who was the eldest of his children. He 
 was born eleven miles south of Charlotte, near 
 little Sugar Creek church. When he was about 
 eleven years old, his father moved to Tennessee. 
 He was educated at the University, where he 
 graduated in 1818, in the same class with Rob- 
 ert Donaldson, Thomas J. Green, William M. 
 Green, now Bishop of Mississippi, Hamilton C. 
 Jones, Edward J. Mallett, Rev. Robert H. 
 Morrison, William D. Mosely (since Governor 
 of Florida) and Hugh Waddell. He took the first 
 honors of his class. He never missed a single 
 
MICCKLENBURG COUNTY. 
 
 261 
 
 recitation during his whole course. lie read 
 law with Felix Grundy, and was admitted tj 
 the bar in 1820. He was elected a Member of 
 Congress in 1825 — in 1835 was Speak'T — which 
 he held for five sessions. After fourteen years' 
 service he declined a re-election. During this 
 long service he never was absent a day from the 
 House. 
 
 In 1839, he was elected Governor of Tennes- 
 see. In 1844 he was elected President of the 
 United States, by a majority of sixtyfive votes, 
 over Henry Clay. His cabinet was one of trans- 
 cendant ability. Mr. Buchanan in the State 
 Department, Robert J. Walker in the Treasury, 
 William L. Marcy in the War Department, 
 John Y. Mason, Clifford, and Toucey as Attor- 
 ney Generals, Cave Johnson as Postmaster 
 General, and George Bancroft as Secretary of 
 the Navy. 
 
 The events of his administration are recorded 
 in history. The war with Mexico enlarged the 
 limits of our Republic, and general prosperity 
 smiled on our country. His administration was 
 prosperous and glorious. In his letter accept- 
 ing the nomination, he declared that he would 
 serve only one term, and in a letter to Dr. J. G. 
 M. Ramsey of Tennessee, he reiterated this 
 determination, when many thought his name 
 was the only available means of success. He 
 died at Nashville on June 15, 1849. On his 
 tomb is inscribed this sentence : 
 
 "By his public policy he defended, estab- 
 lished, and extended the boundaries of his 
 country. He planted the laws of the American 
 Union on the shores of the Pacific. His influ- 
 ence and his councils tended to organize the 
 National Treasury on the principles of the Con- 
 stitution, and to apply the rule of Freedom to 
 navigation, trade, and industry."* 
 
 Thomas Polk, son of William Polk and Pris- 
 cilla Roberts, was the grand-uncle of President 
 Polk.t 
 
 ■See " Lrfe of James K. Polk," by John S. Jenkins, Au- 
 burn, James M Alden, 1S50. 
 
 tLossing's Field Hook of the Revolution, 11, 617, 624. 
 
 He was, originally, a survej or in the early 
 days of the colony, uniformly popular and re- 
 spected. He was the Colonel of the'county, 
 and represented Mecklenburg in thc^Colonial 
 Legislature. 
 
 He was with Abram Alexander a Member of 
 Assembly, in 1771 and 1775, from Mecklenburg 
 and appointed by the Provincial Congress in 
 1775, Colonel of the 2d Battalion of Minute 
 Men, with Adam Alexander as Lieutenant 
 Colonel, and Charles McLean as Major. 
 
 He succeeded General Davidson after the fall 
 of that officer at Cowan's Ford. 
 
 The first opportunity for showing his zeal, in 
 defense of his country, was in South Carolina, 
 in 1775. The Tories had embodied themselves 
 under Fletchal, Cunningham, and others, by 
 the inducement of Sir William Campbell, the 
 last of the Royal Governors in South Carolina. 
 They attacked the Whigs under General Wil- 
 liamson, at Cambridge, and at "Ninety Six" and 
 forced him to capitulate. The Council of Safety 
 ordered out General Richard Richardson's bri- 
 gade, supported by Colonel William Thompson's 
 Regiment of Rangers, and called upon the 
 Whigs of North Carolina, to aid in crushing the 
 Royalists. They promptly responded, and 
 marched with nine hundred men, under Colonels 
 Polk, Rutherford, Martin, and Graham. In a 
 severe battle they vanquished the Royalists. 
 
 The clouds of the Revolutionary War had 
 now begun to lower, and the brave spirits of 
 Mecklenburg were preparing for the fearful 
 storm to burst upon them. They were : 
 
 " Men who understood their rights, 
 And knowing, dared maintain " 
 
 Colonel Thomas Polk issued orders to each 
 captain of his Regiment, to send delegates to a 
 meeting at Charlotte, to be held on May 19, 
 177s ; which met, and on the 20th issued a 
 Declaration of Independence, avowing them- 
 selves " a free and independent people, under 
 the control of no power other than that of God 
 and the General Government of the Congress, 
 
262 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 to the maintenance of which they solemnly 
 pledged to each other their mutual coopera- 
 tion, their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred 
 honor." 
 
 This is the proudest page in the history of 
 North Carolina, and is full of patriotism, moral 
 grandeur and sublimity. That some who 
 have never risen to the height of this 
 great argument, should endeavor to throw some 
 doubts on this sublime act, is not to be won- 
 dered at, as the doubting Thomas would not be- 
 lieve in his Savior's resurrection unless he had 
 tangible and visible proof; yet to all fair 
 minds its verity safely rests on the dispatch of 
 the Royal Governor Martin, dated Fort John- 
 son, North Carolina, 30th June, 1775, to the 
 Earl of Dartmouth, in which he says: 
 
 "The resolves of the Committee of Meck- 
 lenberg, which your Lordship will find in the 
 enclosed newspaper, surpasses all the horrid 
 and treasonable publications that the inflamma- 
 ble spirits on this continent have yet produced, 
 and your Lordship may depend its authors and 
 abettors will not escape my due notice, when- 
 ever my hands are sufficiently strengthened to 
 attempt the recovery of the lost authority of 
 this government. A copy of these resolutions, 
 I am informed, was sent off immediately by 
 express to the Congress at Philadelphia." 
 
 I have copied the whole dispa'ich, the original of 
 which is extant, in the Rolls Office in London. 
 The dispatch is in the handwriting of Gov. 
 Martin. Endorsed upon it are these words : 
 " Enclosures. 
 " I. Minutes of the Council. 
 " II. Resolves of the Committee of Mccklen- 
 berg County. 
 
 " III. Printed Proclamation. " 
 These Resolutions were sent ofi (as Governor 
 Martin states he was informed) to the Congress 
 at Philadelphia, by Captain Jack, and "referred 
 to a committee, who reported on the first of 
 September, that the present Association ought 
 to be further relied on for bringing about a rec- 
 
 onciliation with the parent State." No fur- 
 ther notice was taken, and this brilliant spark 
 was lost in the blaze of the Federal Declaration 
 of Independence, published the following year.* 
 
 There were Resolves of Mecklenberg passed 
 on May 31, 1775, which were equally patriotic. 
 Their authenticity has never been questioned. 
 Therefore, it was very essential to obtain the 
 enclosure of Governor Martin. This paper was 
 missing from the files of the British rolls office. 
 To produce this would settle the doubts of all. 
 Mr.Jefferson, in a hasty letter to Mr. Adams, dated 
 July 9, 1 8 19, had pronounced the whole affair a 
 myth, f Mr. Bancroft, when Envoy to England, 
 has searched in vain for this newspaper en- 
 closed in Governor Martin's dispatch, and 
 offered a reward for its recovery. 
 
 The following note was then addressed to 
 the Deputy Master of the Rolls, who has charge 
 of these papers : 
 
 " Xi). 28 liuRY St., St, James', London, 1 
 " 28 Jan., 1864. / 
 
 " To Hon. Sir Thomas Hardy Duffiis,Dep. Master 
 of the Rolls House, Chaiieer}' Lane, London : 
 "Sir: Under instructions of the Duke of 
 New Castle, you have allowed me full and free 
 access to all the papers in your office relative 
 to the Colonial History of North Carolina. 
 
 " In Vol. 222, the official dispatch of Josiah 
 Martin, (No. 34) then the Royal Governor of the 
 Province of North Carolina, dated 30th June, 
 1775, enclosed several papers. 
 
 "One of these, 'The Cape Fear Mercury, ' 
 stated by Governor Martin to contain the Meck- 
 lenburg Resolves of the Independent Com- 
 mittee has been removed, and in the place 
 thereof is this endorsement in pencil : 
 
 " 'A paper taken Old by Mr. Turner for Mr. Ste- 
 venson, 13 Aug., 1837. 't 
 
 Lo5sing ii., 621. 
 
 tMr. Stevenson, of Virginia, was at the time Envoy fioni 
 the United States at London. 
 
 tAs it is now settled that Mr. Jefferson at the time was 
 opposed to independence, the North Carolina delegates may 
 not have apprised him of the Mecklenburg dispatch, and in 
 such a frame \he piitlitation which he must have seen made 
 no lasting impression on his mind. 
 
MI'.CKLKNHURG COUNTY. 
 
 263 
 
 " I wish very much to examine the newspa- 
 per in question, and will be obliged if you will 
 take such steps as you may conceive necessary 
 to have it restored to the Volume from whence 
 it has been removed, or ascertain its where- 
 abouts. 
 
 " I have the honor, &c., 
 
 JNO. H. WHKICLKR." 
 The following answer was received by me: 
 
 " Public Rolls Oi-fice, London, 1 
 2- Feb., 1864. / 
 
 "Sir: With reference to your letter of the 
 28th January, I am directed by the Master of the 
 Rolls to inform you, that he has communicated 
 with the Colonial Office on the subject, and has 
 this day received an explanation to the follow- 
 ing effect : That, in the opinion of the Libra- 
 rian of the Foreign Office, whatever papers 
 were removed by Mr. Turner in 1837, were 
 subsequently replaced in the Volume, and that 
 the omission to rub out the pencil memoranda 
 of their being taken out by Mr. Turner, has 
 led to the supjiosition that they have not been 
 restored. 
 
 " I have the honor to be, sir, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 "T. DUFFUS HARDY. 
 "Col. John H. Wheeler, St. James, London." 
 
 This, if not satisfactory, showed that this 
 important paper was not in place — if not lost. 
 Hon. John W. Stevenson, late United States 
 Senator from Kentucky, who is executor of 
 Mr. Stevenson, his father, has promised to look 
 among his father's papers for this newspaper. 
 Hut this paper is not indispensable to establish 
 the verity of the Mecklenburg Declaration. 
 
 The sivom statanent of General Joseph Gra- 
 ham, who was present at the place and time, 
 (see page 228), uncontradicted and uncoiitra- 
 dictable, states all the facts in a lucid, and im- 
 pregnable manner. The masterly and unan- 
 swerable argument of Governor Wil'iam A. 
 Graham, at Charlotte, Feb. 4, 1875, exhausts 
 the question, to say nothing of the researches 
 
 of Rev, Francis L. Hawks (see page 141) and 
 others. 
 
 Of this meeting Thomas Polk was a promi- 
 nent member. Associated with him in this 
 band of patriots was Abram Alexander, who 
 was the Chairman of the Convention, born 
 1718. He had been the Chairman of the Inferior 
 Court before and after the Revolution, and a 
 Member of the Colonial Legislature 1774-75. 
 He died April 23, 1786, and is buried in the 
 cemetery of Sugar Creek Church He was grand- 
 father of Dr. Cyrus Alexander, now of Cabar- 
 rus county. His eldest son, Dr. Isaac Alex- 
 ander, was at the Convention, but not a mem- 
 ber ; he graduated at Princeton, N. J., in the 
 class with James Madison and Aaron Burr, and 
 was the first President of the Queen's Museum 
 at Charlotte, N. C. 
 
 Adam Alexander was also a member of 
 the Convention; he was born in 1720; 
 was Lieutenant Colonel of a battalion of 
 Minute Men, appointed thereto by the Provincial 
 Congress at Johnston Court House, in 1775, 
 with Thomas Polk, as Colonel, and Charles 
 McLean as Major. He was appointed Colonel 
 of Mecklenburg county, with John Phifer as 
 Lieutenant Colonel, and John Davidson and 
 George A. Alexander as Majors, by the Pro- 
 vincial Congress at Halifax, on the 4th of April, 
 1776. He was the father of Hon. Evan Alex- 
 ander, who was educated at Princeton, and 
 member of 9th Congress from the Salisbury 
 district (i8o5-'09), elected vice Nathaniel Al- 
 exander, elected Governor. He was the grand- 
 father of Adam Alexander Springs, the common 
 ancestor of all the Springs family of the two 
 Carolinas. 
 
 Adam R. Alexander, who was a member of 
 Congress from the Memphis district, Tennessee, 
 was another grandson. Ezra Alexander, was 
 also a member of this body. He was a Cap- 
 tain in the Revolutionary War, and in 1780 
 fought the Tories in Lincoln county, '•' when 
 
 -See declaration of James Knox, on file in Pension Office. 
 
364 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 they were suppressed at the battle of Ramsour's 
 Mil'. 
 
 He died in 179O, aged 70, and is buried in 
 Sharon Graveyard. 
 
 Hezekiah Alexander was also a member. 
 He was more of a statesman than a soldier. 
 He was born in 1728, in Pennsylvania. By the 
 Provincial Congress at Hillsboro, (21st of Au- 
 gust, 1775) he was appointed with Griffith 
 Rutherford, John Brevard, Benjamin Patton, 
 and others, a Committee of Safety for the Salis- 
 bury District. In April, 1776, with William 
 Sharp he was appointed on the Council of 
 Safety. In April, 1776, he was appointed Pay- 
 master of the Fourth Regiment North Carolina 
 Continentals, of which Regiment Thomas Polk 
 was Colonel, James Thackston Lieutenant Col- 
 onel, and William Davidson Cajor. In Nov- 
 ember, 1776, he was elected a member of the 
 Provincial Congress from Mecklenburg county, 
 with Waighstill Avery, Robert Irwin, John 
 Phifer and Zaccheus Wilson as colleagues, which 
 Assembly formed the first Constitution of the 
 State. He died and was buried in Sugar 
 Creek Churchyard.* The head-stone placed 
 over his grave has the following : 
 
 "in memory 
 
 of 
 
 HEZEKIAH ALEXANDER, 
 
 Who departed this life July i8th, 1801." 
 
 John McKnitt Alexander was one of the 
 members in this celebrated Convention. He was 
 born in Pennsylvania in 1733, and when twen- 
 ty-one years of age came to North Carolina. 
 He was elected to Provincial Assembly in 1772; 
 also as a Delegate to Hillsboro on the 21st of 
 August, 1775 ; at Halifax in April, 1776. As 
 we have stated, he was an active participator in 
 the Convention of May 19th and 20th, 1775, and 
 preserved for 25 years the record of this proud 
 event, and sent copies thereof to General Wil- 
 
 *Called from a creek 011 which it is built, named liy the 
 Indians Siiga, or rather, Sooya Creek. 
 
 liam R. Davie, Dr. Hugh Williamson and oth- 
 ers. The original was consumed by fire in 1800, 
 when Mr. Alexander's house was burned. He 
 was the first Senator elected under the Consti- 
 tution from Mecklenburg county. Waighstill 
 Avery and Martin Phifer were his colleagues 
 in the Commons. 
 
 Robert D. Graham, Esq., a member of the 
 Charlotte Bar, whose researches have shed much 
 light upon the details of the organization, and 
 the several manuscripts of the Independent 
 Committee of Mecklenburg, writes of John 
 McKnitt Alexander as follows : 
 
 "He was a man of great versatility of talent ; 
 thorough end successful in whatever he under- 
 took. Put to the trade of a tailor when a boy, 
 he soon became widely known among his 
 cotemporaries as a surveyor, and long after 
 the war, was often a witness in land suits in the 
 western counties. He was an elder in his 
 church, and also Treasurer of the synod of the 
 two Carolinas, a member of the Royal, and 
 after the 20th, of the Independent County 
 Court, and several times a delegate in the Pro- 
 vincial Congress. His paper of the 19th of 
 May marks him as a statesman of the first order. 
 His advanced sentiments of patriotism were 
 acknowledged by making him a secretary of the 
 convention of delegates of "the citizens of 
 Mecklenburg county" — two from each militia 
 company — which met on May 19, 1775, re- 
 solved upon independence, and on the next day, 
 made "a more formal declaration" from the 
 old court house steps, together with "a long 
 string of grievances," "a military order for 
 purchasing ordnance stores" and "bylaws." 
 
 At the same time they also formed a County 
 Committee — which does not appear to have 
 been previously done, in propria foniia ; 
 although the leading spirits were on the alert, 
 and had had frequent meetings at Oncc/i's 
 jMusnmi — whose duty defined in the last para- 
 graph of the Declaration, was as ' 'Justices of the 
 Peace in the character of committee-men, to 
 
AI laKLlCNHURG COUNTY. 
 
 265 
 
 issue process, hear and determine all matters of 
 controversy, according to said adopted laws ; 
 and to preserve peace, union, and harmony in 
 said county ; and to use every exertion to spread 
 the love of country and fire of freedom through- 
 out America, until a more general and organized 
 government be established in this province." 
 
 No publication of these (5) bold resolves was or- 
 dered, and the committee went into office, not 
 to glorify themselves, or their county, as the 
 tirst in the race, but to discharge a specified 
 duty. How well they did that, may be .=een in 
 the Resolves which they proceeded, it seems, to 
 prepare for publication " to spread the love of 
 country and fire of freedom." They bear date in 
 print May 31, but has the newspaper publication 
 correctly copied the ti^'o fgiircs from the manu- 
 script? They begin with this significant clause : 
 " This day t/tr Coiniiiittir of tliis Coiody met and 
 passed the following resolves, etc. " A county 
 committee was a body duly acknowledged, au- 
 thorized, and provided for, by the last Congress, 
 which had met in the Province, the Fall preceding. 
 The manner of forming such committees was not 
 prescribed, nor the number of constituent mem- 
 bers. Once formed, it was a lawful body, and 
 might communicate with other lawful bodies 
 throughout the country. It was natural, there- 
 fore, that its resolves should be published by 
 the newspapers in preference to the original 
 Declaration of the convention of delegates which 
 formed it, and the evidence of participants is 
 that Captain Jack bore a copy of all the proceedings 
 with him to Philadelphia — probably as digested 
 by Brevard. 
 
 The Convention's Resolves had declared the 
 county independent, )wt of Congress, but of 
 Great Britain. The committee's resolves — 
 evidently recommendatory — went much far- 
 ther, and declared all the colonies indepen- 
 dent— "all commissions, civil and military, 
 heretofore granted by the Crown to be exercised 
 in the colonies, are null and void." The con- 
 vention had expressed themselves to the people 
 
 in a paper of five resolves adopted just after the 
 heated debate of the night before. To these 
 the " more formal declaration " added a sixth, 
 authorizing a dispatch to Congress. The com- 
 tec set forth in a duly attested paper of ' "XX" Re- 
 solves all that had been done on the 19th and 
 20th by way of Declarations, "a long string of 
 grievances," the military order on ordnance 
 supplies, and even the principal argument that 
 had then secured unanimity of action. Resolve 
 XVIII, showed "a decent respect for the opin- 
 ions" of those, elsewhere, who still ''abhorred 
 the idea of independence," (as did the prudent 
 Washington, until the month of May, 1776, 
 and preferred "dependence on Great Britain, 
 properly limited, than on any nation on earth, 
 or than on no nation," as the sage of Monticello 
 expressed himself to John Randolph, August 
 -5. '775) By its authors it was well understood 
 to be at once a defiance of the Crown, and a 
 justification before the world. 
 
 After the utter rout of the cavillers, who 
 questioned the fact of any declaration of inde- 
 pendence at all emanating from this county, a 
 recent spirit of criticism has arisen which tells 
 us that this committee certainly deserved well 
 of their country, but that their consolidated 
 resolves of May 31st, are "glory enough for 
 Mecklenburg." The doubting Thomases, who 
 could not be convinced, until they had found 
 the proceedings of a meeting, several days after 
 the feast, which, therefore, made so little im- 
 pression, that it was soon entirely forgotten, are 
 hardly fair judges. 
 
 On July 5, 1824, Dr. M. W. Alexander in a 
 public address at Hopewell church, in which he 
 gave a detailed statement from the secretary of 
 the proceedings, on May 19 and 20, 1775, used 
 this language: "These are transactions with 
 which you, together with the citizens of this 
 and the adjoining counties, have long been fa- 
 miliar — these have been the frequent topics of 
 conversation amongst us for nearly fifty years — 
 these were the proceedings, of our relatives, of 
 
266 
 
 WHEPXER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 our fellow-citizens, every individual of whom 
 has descended to the silent tomb; — but these 
 arc their living deeds of patriotism, which mis- 
 fortune cannot now tarnish, and which the ma- 
 lignant breath of envy dare not now assail to 
 blast." 
 
 And now at the end of nearly three score 
 years more, there are still some living who have 
 conversed with the participants, and eye wit- 
 nesses of the proceedings of this county con- 
 vention, who smile at the suggestion that the 
 old patriots, in recounting the adoption of the 
 original county declaration of five resolves, 
 might, possibly, have imagined it, and formu- 
 lated in their old age in the sincere belief that 
 it was a rcpivductioii of a paper containing XX 
 Resolves, with no allusion to the Battle of Lex- 
 ington, but covering much more ground, and 
 not signed by the delegates, but by the clerk, 
 by order of the committee. 
 
 The attention of the reader is called to the 
 following language in this oration of Dr. Moses 
 Winslow Alexander at Hopewell, July 5, 1824. 
 One paragraph we quote : 
 
 "A full copy of the whole proceedings was 
 then made out and attested, and Captain James 
 Jack, of Charlotte, was deputied as express to 
 Congress, then sitting in Philadelphia, accom- 
 panying said proceedings with a letter addressed 
 to Richard Caswell, Wm. Hooper, and Joseph 
 Hewes, then our representatives from this Prov- 
 ince — enjoining it on our said representatives to 
 use all possible means to have said proceedings 
 sanctioned and approved by the general Con- 
 gress. 
 
 On the return of Captain Jack, the delegation 
 learned by a joint letter from said three repre- 
 sentatives, that their proceedings were individu- 
 ally approved by the members of Congress, but 
 that it was deemed premature to have them be- 
 fore the House ; recommending perseverence, 
 order, energy, etc. 
 
 The Committee of Safety (mark you, not the 
 Delegation) of which Abraham Alexander was 
 
 chairman, held their regular and stated meetings 
 alternately at Charlotte, at James Harris' and 
 John Phifer's. This was a civil court founded 
 on military process. Before this Judicature all 
 suspicious persons were made to appear, who 
 were formally tried, banished, or bound to good 
 behavior. Its jurisdiction was unlimited as to 
 Toryism, and its decrees as final as the confi- 
 dence and patriotism of the country. Several 
 were arrested and brought before them from 
 Tryon, (now Lincoln,) Rowan, and the adjacent 
 counties. " 
 
 The point that I make is this : the above is 
 the conclusion of that part of the Doctor's 
 speech which was in quotation marks, as pub 
 lished. He prefaced it with these words: 
 " You will now permit me to read the proceed- 
 ings of that meeting, as drawn up and certified by 
 their clerk, and deposited in the safe keeping of 
 General W. R. Davie, for the benefit of some 
 future historian." Here then we have the 
 "foregoing statement " (covering the transac- 
 tions of the Delegation on two days, 19th and 
 20th) as to which the old secretary had certified 
 that though fundamentally correct, // might not 
 literally correspond with the record, but contain- 
 ing nevertheless the original Declaration, which, 
 but shortly thereafter he assured Judge Cam- 
 eron, he knew to be correct. Here, too, with- 
 a microscope, I think we may find the iiieiitio?i 
 of the tliree declarations, which have appeared to 
 vex the historiographers. After detailing the 
 transactions of May 19th, the .y/^^/^'wr;// proceeds 
 thus: 
 
 " May 20th, Delegation met. The select 
 committee reported a formal Declaration of In- 
 dependence (believed to be drawn by Dr. Eph- 
 raim, chairman of said committee) which was 
 unanimously approved and signed ; and which 
 together with the foregoing resolves, was pub- 
 licly read and proclaimed from the Court House 
 door, by Colonel Thomas Polk, to a large and 
 approving concourse of citizens, who had con- 
 
Jill'XKLKNHUKG COUNTY. 
 
 267 
 
 vened to sanction the proceedings of their dele- 
 gates. " 
 
 So that independence was resolved upon by 
 t\\Q delegation on the 19th of May; reiterated 
 by "a more formal Declaration on the 20th, 
 which was read by Colonel Polk, to the people, 
 and t/ien, (why not on the 31st?) a full copy of 
 the whole proceedings (plural) was made out and 
 attested" for Congress. The Delegation had 
 met on Thursday, the "more formal Declara- 
 tion " was made and a county committee ap- 
 pointed on Friday, and time was still left for the 
 "full copy of the whole proceedings" to be 
 made out, the attestation being placed thereto 
 upon Saturday, in these words: 
 
 "Signed by order of the Committee, 
 Eph. Bkevaku, 
 Clerk of the Committee," 
 
 This Saturday was the 21st of May, and I 
 believe that a sleepy (?) devil mistook the 2 for 
 a 3. and thus has enabled Ephraim so long to 
 vex Manasseh with the "31st May." 
 
 The resolutions thus quietly drawn off and 
 attested " the day after the feast," were pub- 
 lished in full, on June 13, 1775, in Timothy's 
 Carolina Gazette, and in Tlie South Carolina Ga- 
 zette, diwd Conntry Jonrnal oi ]\\ne, 1775, No. 
 498, printed at Charlestovvn by Charles Crouch, 
 on the Bay, corner of Elliott street," and also 
 in " .Vc-^c York Jonrnal diwd General Adveitiser" 
 of June 29, 1775. They appeared, partially, 
 in the Massachusetts Spy of the next month. 
 Besides these, publication was made in the Cape 
 Fear Merenry of June 30, 1 775, either of this 
 full copy of the "zohole proceedings," or else 
 the simple Declaration itself. 
 
 Here the presumption of a negative is very 
 strong, viz: that each Gazette was w/ furnished 
 with a manuscript from the committee. In its 
 absence they accepted as correct the 13th of 
 June edition of the "attested" copy. As un- 
 derstood by the delegation, and by the commit- 
 tee, there is not a word of compromise in either 
 paper. The committee's document was a sub- 
 
 stantial copy of all tiiat concerned the colonics, 
 generally to be found in the several papers, 
 passed upon and adopted in the two preceding 
 da}-s by the convention. Governor Martin, if 
 it was the latter which he saw, evidently under- 
 stood it as " DKCLARiNG the entire dissolntion of 
 the laws, government, and constitution of this 
 country." He properly appreciated the i8th 
 Resolution, as at once a modestly expressed 
 justification, and a defiance. " 
 
 Nothing could have more disgusted the subject 
 of this sketch than the suggestion that he had 
 given a certificate to the effect that the Davie 
 copy of the Declaration itself might not be 
 correct. 
 
 General William R. Davie was about the most 
 prominent man in the State at that day, and 
 was still residing at Halifax. With the Declara- 
 tion, Alexander sent him a statement of the 
 transactions attending its adoption, which may 
 be found in the speech at Hopewell, alluded to 
 above. Of this statement, he conscientiously 
 wrote : "It may be worthy of notice here to 
 observe that the foregoing statement, though 
 fundamentally correct, yet may not literally cor- 
 respond with the original record of the trans- 
 actions (plural) of said delegation and court of • 
 inquiry, as all those records and papers were 
 burned, with the house, in April 6th, 1800. 
 But previous to that time (1800) a full copy of 
 said records, at the request of Dr. Hugh Wil- 
 liamson, then of New York, but formerly a 
 representative in Congress from this State, was 
 forwarded to him by Colonel William Polk, in 
 order that those early transactions might 'fill 
 their proper place in a history of this State, 
 then being written by .said Doctor Williamso 1 
 of New York." 
 
 But on this certificate he has placed his con- 
 struction beyond cavil. He gave it September 
 3, iSoo. Within a year, he met Judge Duncan 
 Cameron at the .Salisbury Court and told him 
 that he had sent to General Davie a copy of the 
 Declaration " which he hne-w to be correct, and 
 
268 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 therefore the docimiciit is safe. " Judge Cameron 
 met him there at a subsequent term, when he 
 says his language was that the Davie copy is 
 perfectly correct. 
 
 The Martin copj' may be that of the day pre- 
 ceding, or the alteration may have been other- 
 wise made in inadvertance in transcribing, etc. 
 In this connection we will state that the Cen- 
 tennial celebration brought out the fact that 
 there is still in existence, a copy of the Declara- 
 tion, drawn off by Adam Brevard, the attorney, 
 and younger brother of Ephraim. See Soutli- 
 cni Home, July 5, 1875. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 R. D Graham. 
 
 Dr. J. G. M. Ramsay, the eminent historian 
 of Tennessee, writes that the Declaration of In- 
 dependence mentioned by Governor Graham in 
 his address on page twenty-five, as shown by 
 General Andrew Jackson at thg Hermitage in 
 the year 1828, to the Hon. Theodore W. Bre- 
 vard, Comptroller General, and Colonel Isaac 
 W. Hayne, the Attorney General of the State 
 of South Carolina, the declaration being printed 
 on satin and in a gilt frame, with the signatures 
 of the signers attached thereto, was undoubt- 
 edly a copy of the resolutions of May 20, 1775. 
 General Jackson unquestionably treated the in- 
 cident as a well known fact in the history of 
 that region of the State, the memory of which 
 he thus perpetuated. And as Governor Gra- 
 ham says .• Let it be noted that at the time of 
 the conversation, the Legislature of North Car- 
 olina had never noticed the matter of the Dec- 
 laration (it remained for subsequent cavillers to 
 doubt its authenticity) and no publication had 
 been made touching it, except the original com- 
 munication by John McKnitt Alexander, in 
 1819, the evidence collected by Colonel Polk, 
 in 1820, and two or three letters collected by 
 Mr. Macon ; neither had Martin's History yet 
 appeared, for its publication was in 1829. 
 Alexander Genealogy. 
 
 John McKnitt Alexander is buried at Hope- 
 
 well church, ten miles north of Charlotte — not 
 far from the grave of General William Davidson. 
 His tomb bears this inscription : 
 
 "Sacred to the memory of John McKnitt 
 Alexander, who departed this life, July 10, 
 1817 ; aged 84." 
 
 By his side is his wife, Jane Baine, who died 
 March 16, 1798, aged 30. (The name is spelled 
 Bean on the tombstone ) 
 
 He left two sons, (a) Joseph McKnitt Alex- 
 ander, M.D., and (b) William Baine Alexander. 
 
 The first married Dovey Winslow, who died 
 September 6, 1801, aged 25, leaving one son, 
 Moses Winslow Alexander, M. D. See the 
 Graham genealogy. 
 
 (a) Dr.Joseph McKnitt Alexander was born in 
 I774,and died October 18, 1841. His son, Moses 
 W., was born May 3, 1798, and died February 
 27,1845. Both were well known throughout 
 the country for integrity and skill in their com- 
 mon profession, and in death, as is seen above, 
 were only divided by the space of four years. 
 To distinguish them, the elder was oftener men- 
 tioned as Dr. McKnitt, than as Dr. Alexander, 
 and thus came to attest his written communica- 
 tions by the well known abbreviated signature 
 of/ McKnitl. 
 
 The Greek name of Alexander had long been 
 the most common patronymic in Mecklenburg, 
 and was borne by no less than seven of the 
 delegates to the convention, or committee,* that 
 assembled on May 19, 1775. 
 
 On the other hand, the ancestral name of 
 McKnitt was held by no family in the county, 
 and he accepted the soubriquet from the mouth 
 of those who held him in the highest esteem 
 both in Church and State. 
 
 A record of fourteen children, thirteen of 
 whom married and left issue, reminds us of the 
 early days of Israel. Such a people were not 
 dependent on " the historians of the adjacent 
 
 "The lerm coiiiiiiittee in those e.nr'y days was sometime.^ 
 applied even to ihe Conlinental Congress (see Ji nes' De- 
 fence ; and ihe veteran John .Sinieson, speaker of tl)e au- 
 thorized County Committees or Congresses.) 
 
M EC K L]-: N B U RG CO U NT Y. 
 
 269 
 
 States," or the memory of Mr. Adams (wlio 
 certainly forgot the issue of the Massac/tiisctts 
 Spy, of July 12, 1775) for the preservation of 
 their traditions. 
 
 (b) William Baine married Violet Davidson — 
 issue, fourteen children. 
 
 (1) Joseph married Nancy Cathey. 
 
 (2) William married Clarissa Alexander. 
 
 (3) Robert D. married Abigail Caldwell — is- 
 sue, (a) Rev. S. C. C. Alexander married Mary 
 Brown, (b) J. B. Alexander, M. D., married 
 Annie Lowrie, (c) William Davidson Alexander 
 married Susan Ramsay, (d) Agnes married to 
 Dr. W. Fewell. 
 
 (4) Benjamin married Violet McKoy. 
 
 (5) James McKnitt married Mary Wilson. 
 
 (6) George Washington married, first, Gilles- 
 pie ; second, Jelton. 
 
 (7) John married Harriet Henderson. 
 
 (8) Jane married John Sharpe. 
 
 (9) Margaret D. married David R. Henderson. 
 
 (10) Rebecca married Marshall McKoy. 
 
 (11) Sally D. 
 
 (12) Abigail married flenderson Robinson. 
 
 (13) Betsy married Dr. Isaac Wilson. 
 
 (14) Isabella married Dr. Calvin Grier. 
 
 John McKnitt Alexander in 1801 gave to 
 General William R. Davie, to preserve for 
 historical use a copy of the Mecklenburg 
 Declaration of Independence of May 20, 
 1775, which in the same year (iSoi) he 
 assured Judge Duncan Cameron he knew to 
 be correct. Of the statement accompanying it, 
 as to list of delegates, sequence, etc., he gave 
 the following certificate : "It may be worthy 
 of notice here to observe that the foregoing 
 statement though fundamentally correct, yet 
 may not literally correspond with the original 
 record of the transactions of said delegation 
 and court of inquiry, as all those records and 
 papers were burned with the house on April 6, 
 1800; but previous to that time (1800) a full 
 copy of said records, at the request of Dr. 
 Hugh Williamson, then of New York, but 
 
 formerly a representative in congress from this 
 State, was forwarded to him by Colonel William 
 Polk, in order that those early transactions 
 might fill their proper place in a history of this 
 State, by said Dr. Williamson in New York."' 
 
 Certified to the best of my recollection and 
 belief this 3d day of September, 1800, by J. 
 McK. Alexander, Mecklenburg county, N. C. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Henderson states that the copy 
 of the declaration in John McKnitt Alexander's 
 handwriting, was found in the possession of 
 General William Richardson Davie, after the 
 General's death. 
 
 General Davie was the foremost man of his 
 day, in North Carolina. The idea is perfectly 
 absurd that such a man could be imposed upon, 
 or that any one wouid dare impose upon him, 
 b} the fabrication of the declaration only 
 twenty- five years after its date, when his facul- 
 ties were so well preserved that several years 
 subsequently, his friends considered him their 
 most available candidate in the Halifax district, 
 to ovjercome their opponents then in the ma- 
 jority. Just after this, in 1 805, he removed to 
 South Carolina and the anonymous article, 
 which Dr. Welling {North Avurican Kcviru\ 
 April, 1874) attributes to Prof. Phillips, erro- 
 neously locates him in South Carolina, when 
 McKnitt Alexander sent him a copy, which he 
 repeatedly declared was correct. 
 
 The fate of the original of this document, 
 should that be of any historical importance, is 
 not without its parallel in history, for in an arti- 
 cle by W. L. Stone in the July number of Har- 
 per s Magazine (1883) we find the following 
 recited on the subject of the signing of the Dlx- 
 laration of Independence, of July 4, 1776: 
 
 " In thinking of that instrument, one is apt 
 
 'It is worthy of notice that Williamson's History of 
 North Carolina, terminated with ihe events of the year 
 1771 ; in his preface he says that he intended to continue 
 his history to 1790, but it was not done, and Mr Jefferson 
 may well say Williamson's History affords no record of" the 
 Declaration of 1775. (kivernor Stokes unqualifiedly asserts 
 that he saw this copy in the possession of Dr. Williamson, 
 ill 1793. «ntl 'li-it it wrs in ihe handwriting of John Mc- 
 Kniit Alexander. (Graham's Centennial Address, p. 80) 
 
270 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 to call up before liim an august assemblage 
 gravely seated around a table, with the Decla- 
 ration spread out upon it, and each member of 
 the Continental Congress in turn taking a pen 
 and with great dignity affixing to it his name. 
 Nothing, however, can be further from that 
 which actually took place, very few of the dele- 
 gates, if indeed any, signed the original docu- 
 ment on the 4th, and none signed the present 
 one now in Independence Hall, for the very 
 good reason that it was not then in existence. 
 
 "On July 19th, Congress voted that the Decla- 
 ration be engrossed on parchment. Jefferson, 
 however, says that New York signed on July 
 15th. Consequently, New York must have 
 signed the original Declaration before it had 
 gone into the hands of the engrosser. On what 
 day the work was done by the copyist, is not 
 known. All that is certainly known, is that on 
 August 2d, Congress had the document as en- 
 grossed. This is the document in existence 
 now in Independence Hall. It is on parchment 
 or something that the trade calls parchment. 
 On that day(August 2d) it was signed by all the 
 members present. 
 
 ' ' The original Declaration is lost, or rather was 
 probably purposely destroyed by Congress. 
 All the signatures were made anew. When the 
 business of signing was ended, is not known. 
 One, Matthew Thornton, from New Hampshire, 
 signed it in November, when he became a mem- 
 ber for the first time ; and Thomas McKean, 
 from Delaware, as he says himself, did not sign 
 till January, 1777. Indeed, this signing was, 
 in effect, what at the present day would be 
 called a " test oath." The principles of many 
 of the new delegates coming into Congress 
 from the different States, were not known with 
 certainty — some of them might be Tories in 
 disguise — and thus each one was required, on 
 first entering Congress to sign the Declaration. 
 In January, 1777, an authenticated copy, with 
 the names of all the signers, was sent to each 
 State for signatures — a fact which may have put 
 
 a stop to the business of signing. It shows, 
 however, the little importance that was attached 
 to this ceremony, that Robert R. Livingston 
 was one of the committee of five that reported 
 the Declaration, and yet did not sign it, unless 
 his signature is lost with the original docu- 
 ment- * * * 
 
 "The truth is the Declaration of Independence 
 was considered at that time, of much less im- 
 portance than now, nor did the signers dream 
 of its becoming a shrine almost of worship at 
 the present day. It was like the Scottish Cove- 
 nants of the previous century, which so strongly 
 tinctured the Mecklenburg Declaration of May 
 20, T775." 
 
 Another distinguished member of this Com- 
 mittee or Congress was Waighstill Avery. We 
 have already recorded his biography. (See p. "jG. ) 
 
 Rev. Hezekiah James Balch was also a mem- 
 ber of this body. He was a native of Deer 
 Creek, Harford county, Maryland, born 1748. 
 He was the uncle of Rev. Stephen B. Balch, ' 
 late of Georgetown, D. C. He graduated at 
 Princeton, in 1766, in the same class with 
 Waighstill Avery, Oliver Ellsworth, Luther 
 Martin, and others. He studied for the minis- 
 try and was appointed by the synods of New 
 York and Philadelphia, a missionary to North 
 Carolina. He was the first pastor of Rocky 
 River and Poplar Tent churches, and so con- 
 tinued until his death. He was as an exem- 
 plary Christian as he was a devoted patriot. 
 He combined great enthusiasm with unques- 
 tioned firmness. He died in 1776, and lies 
 buried in the churchyard of Poplar Tent. The 
 following inscription is over his remains : 
 
 "Beneath this marble are the mortal remains 
 of the Rev. Hezekiah J. Balch: the first pastor 
 of Poplar Tent Congregation, and one of the 
 original members of the Orange Presbytery. 
 He was licensed a preacher of the Everlasting 
 Gospel by the Presbytery of Donegal in 1766, 
 and rested from his labors in 1776, having been 
 pastor of Poplar Tent and Rocky River about 
 
M I<:CKLEN BU RG COUNTY. 
 
 ^^\ 
 
 seven years. lie was distinguished as one of 
 the committee of three, who prepared the Dec- 
 laration of Independence, and his eloquence, 
 the more effectual from his acknowledged wis- 
 dom, purity of motive, and dignity of character, 
 contributed much to the unanimous adoption of 
 that instrument on May 20, 1775." 
 
 John Davidson, another member of this body, 
 was born December 15, 1735. in Chester county, 
 Pennsylvania. He was the son of Robert Da- 
 vidson of Chestnut Levels, in that State. He 
 was much esteemed and popular. He was a 
 member of the Colonial Assembly in 1771. 
 He was appointed by the Provincial Congress 
 in April 1776, a Major in the Army, with Adam 
 Alexander as Colonel ; John Phifer, Lieutenant 
 Colonel, and George A. Alexander, Second 
 Major, and as such served in the campaign of 
 1776, under General Rutherford, against the 
 Cherokee Indians. 
 
 He was with Sumter in August, 1780, at the 
 battles of Hanging Rock and Rocky Mount. 
 He vvas enterprising and successful in business. 
 With Joseph Graham and Alexander Brevard, 
 he established Vesuvius Furnace, Terza Forge, 
 and other Iron Works in Lincoln county. 
 
 Prior to the Revolution he came to Meck- 
 lenburg, in North Carolina, and settled on 
 the Catawba in Hopewell congregation. He 
 was a delegate to the county convention 
 on May 19, 1775, signed the Declaration 
 of Independence, which was proclaimed in the 
 name of "the citizens of Mecklenburg count}', 
 on the next day," and afterward told his grand- 
 son, A. B. Davidson, Esq., of Charlotte, North 
 Carolina, (now living), that in coming to the 
 next meeting, that he was apprehensive that 
 some Tory might attempt to way-lay him on 
 the big road, which he ordinaril}' travelled, and 
 therefore, beingalone, came to Charlotte by the 
 bridle-paths. 
 
 He was well informed as to the merits of the ■- 
 question in dispute between Great Britain and 
 the American Colonies, and uncompromisingly 
 
 advocated independence as the only solution of 
 the controversy. He was appointed by the 
 Provincial Congress, a Major in the Mecklen- 
 burg Regiment, under Thomas Polkas Colonel, 
 and vvas re commissioned on the reorganization, 
 but then accpted a transfer of service to the staff. 
 He had, prior to the Revolution, entered the 
 military service against the Indians, and won his 
 way from the ranks as a private to the commis- 
 sion of Major. He declined to accept the same 
 rank under an officer who had never seen ser- 
 vice ; but nevertheless, he was one of the most 
 active "Hornets." Besides his service with 
 General Sumter, he was in the battles of Hang- 
 ing Rock and Ramsour's Mill. He furnished the 
 transportation to General William Davidson for 
 the Cowan's Ford expedition, February i, 1781. 
 
 He was of a very prepossessing appearance, 
 and preserved his mental faculties to the last. A 
 generous host, he often found an interested 
 audience among the rising generation, as he 
 related to them many transactions of "the 
 olden time," of which 'the historians of the 
 adjacent States ' had not yet taken the pains to 
 inform themselves. 
 
 He died, January 10, 1832 in the ninety- 
 seventh year of his age, at the house of his son- 
 in-law, Wm. Lee Davidson. His wife was Vio- 
 let Wilson, a sister of Samuel Wilson, and half- 
 sister of Captain James Jack. She died Decem- 
 ber 3, 1 8 18, in the seventy-seventh year of 
 her age. Issue : 
 
 I. Robert, born April 7, 1769, — died June 
 14, 1853; married Mrs. Margaret McQuirtcr, 
 daughter of Colonel Adlai Osborne of Rowan. 
 She was born April 7, 1776 and died January 9, 
 1864, without issue. 
 
 II. Wilson married Betsy Latta — issue, (a) 
 Robert F. married Eliza McCombs, (b) John 
 R. married Eugenia Conneghay, (c) James mar- 
 ried Sarah Springs, (d) William Lee married 
 
 — Pagan, S. C, (c) Joseph married Mary 
 
 Caldwell, (f) Benjamin (killed in C. S. A.) mar- 
 ried Kate Landon of Connecticut. 
 
2/2 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 III. John married Sally Brevard (daughter of 
 Adam Brevard, the attorney and one of " the 
 seven rebels "), died in 1S70 in the ninety-first 
 year of his age — issue, (a) Matthew, (b) Adam 
 Brevard, (c) Robert, (d) William Speight Mc- 
 Lean, (e) Augustus, (f) Eugene Constantine, 
 (g) Isabella married J. W. Moore, (h) Violet, 
 (i) Mary. 
 
 Of these children, the following were issue : 
 (a) Matthew married Mary J. Sylvester — issue, 
 Robert H. M. Davidson, Member of Congress, 
 1882-83, from Florida, and had eight children, 
 
 to wit : (i) Joseph (M. D.) married, first, 
 
 Blake; second, Laura Springs; (2) Edward ; (3) 
 William, (4) Egbert, (5) Juliamarried Stockton, 
 (6) Sally married Milligan, (7) Mary mar- 
 ried Drisdale, (8) Alice married 
 
 Stark. 
 
 (b) Adam BrevarJ married, first, Mary 
 Springs;* second, Cornelia, daughter of Hon. 
 Franklin H. Elmore, United States Senator from 
 South Carolina. Of the first marriage, issue is 
 as follows: (i) John Springs married Minnie Cald- 
 well, (2) William, (3) Robert, (4) Richard Aus- 
 tin, (5) Adam Brevard, jr., (6) LeRoy, (7) Bax- 
 ter ; daughters, (8) Laura married Rev. A. Sin- 
 clair, (9) Sally, (10) Jenny married Dr. J. M. 
 Miller, (i i) Isabella married C. G. Montgomery, 
 (12) Amanda married A. J. Beall, (13) Julia 
 
 "*"The Springs Family. — The father of Hon. Joliii Springs, 
 came from Germany and settled on an island in the Dela- 
 ware Bay, a few miles below Philadelphia. He removed to 
 South Carolina, and married Jane Baxter, daughter of the 
 distinguished Judge of that name. By purchase from the 
 Catawbas, he became a large land-owner, to which his son, 
 John Springs, added largely by purchase from the same 
 tribe of Indians. The son, in this way, became a man of 
 prominence in the State of South Carolina, whilst his high 
 character, enlightened and liberal spirit, added to attractive 
 manners, commanded universal esteem. An elder in the 
 Presbyterian church, he was a liberal contributor to all in- 
 stitutions of learning; never emulous of political preferment, 
 he nevertheless, at the solicitation of neighbors, frequently 
 served in the Legislature. 
 
 On January 9, 1806, he was married to his first cousin, — 
 issue as follows : (a) Richard Austin Springs, born January 
 19, 1807, died 1874; (b) LeRoy Springs, born November 
 24, iSii, died 1863; (c) Mary Laura, born Novemder 3, 
 1813, died October, 1872, wife of Hon. Adam Brevard Da- 
 vidson ; (d) Andrew Baxter Springs, born October 21 1S19; 
 (e) Sophia Convert, born Decemlier 30, 1821, wife of Hon. 
 W. R. Myers, a distinguished politician and banker in 
 North Carolina. 
 
 married Rev. T. J. Strohecker, (14) Blandina, 
 
 (15) Fanny, (16) . 
 
 (c) William Speight McLean, M. D., married 
 first, Jane Torrence — issue, James T. ; second, 
 Rebecca Reid, no issue; third, Mary Johnston. 
 
 (e) Augustus, died while a cadet at West 
 Point, monument erected by his classmates. 
 
 (f) Engene Constantine, Lieutenant United 
 States Army, in Mexican War, married Jane 
 Henderson — issue, (i) Egbert, (2) Sinclair, (3) 
 John, (4) Mary, (5) Sarah. 
 
 '-(g) Isabella married J. \V. Moore — issue, (1) 
 Robert, killed in C. S. A., (2) John married 
 Sally Erwin, (3) Harvey B. married Lucile Hall, 
 (4) Sally married Rev. Pharr, (5) Augusta, (6) 
 Catherine married R. A. Bost, (7) Laura mar- 
 ried Dr. F. H. Glover. 
 
 (h) Violet married Joseph H. Sylvester of 
 Florida. 
 
 (i)Mary married George Doby of South Caro- 
 lina. 
 
 IV. Polly married William McLean, M. D., 
 an Assistant Surgeon in the Revolutionary 
 Army, at the battle of Stono and King's Moun- 
 tain. He was the orator of the day on the 
 occasion of the semi-centennial of the battle of 
 King's Mountain. Mrs. Polly McLean sur- 
 vived until 185-, the ninety-sixth year of her 
 age. 
 
 Issue: (a) Richard Dobbs Spaight married 
 Jane Adams. To them were born : Joseph A. 
 of Yorkville, South Carolina, married, first, 
 Crenshaw ; second, Clara Dargon. 
 
 (b) Eliza married William Campbell — issue, 
 (t) George married, first, Sarah Sandifer ; sec- 
 ond Ellen Guthrie, (2) Eliza married William 
 Pitts, (3) William, 
 
 (c-d)John and Augustus Alexander (twins ) 
 John married, first, Jane, daughter of Ephraim 
 Davidson ; second, Martha Bigger ; to John 
 (c) and Jane were born, John married An 
 nie Erwin; Augustus ; Wm. Spaight; Martha 
 Jane married Dr. R. S. Adams ; and Robert 
 Alexander. 
 
m1':cklI':nhurg county. 
 
 273 
 
 (d) Augustus Alexander married Catherine 
 Schenck — issue, Mary married Dr. John Mc- 
 Lean (son of Thomas); Violet married to Ur. 
 George Hoke. 
 
 (e) William Baine married, first, Amanda 
 Hill ; sec )nd, Mrs. Stringfellow ncc Hope ; third, 
 Mrs. John D. Graham nee Johnston ; by first 
 marriage he had William Lee ; Mary married 
 Rev. Parks, M. D. ; Jane ; and Harvey ; by 
 the second marriage he had Robert, M. D., 
 and Amxnda married Henry Pitts of Alabama; 
 Violet married, first, Samuel Lindsay, and had 
 one daughter who married Rufus Adams ; and 
 second, to John Hart. 
 
 (g) Rebecca married Dr. Wilson — no 
 
 issue. 
 
 (h) Thomas Brevard married Harriet Pegram 
 and had John, M. D. , who married, first, Mary, 
 daughter of Augustus A. McLean ; second El- 
 mira Salmon, and had Alice, Lizzie, Annie and 
 Charles. 
 
 (i) Mary married Randolph Ervvin, M. D. — 
 issue, Sarah; Violet; Margaret; and Randolph. 
 
 (k) Robert Graham married, first, Emma Mc- 
 Neal — no issue ; second, Catherine Sandifer — 
 issue, Lucius Spaight ; James Graham married 
 Sabina Holland ; Sally ; Charles ; William 
 Thomas ; Robert Brevard ; and John Augustus. 
 
 V. Elizabeth married Wm. Lee Davidson, 
 son of General Wm. Davidson, who was killed 
 at Battle of Cowan's Ford, February i, 1781. 
 
 VL Isabella married General Joseph Gra- 
 ham. (See page 231.) 
 
 Vn. Violet man led Wm. Baine Alexander 
 and had Moses Winslow Alexander, who mar- 
 ried Violet Graham. (See Graham genealogy.) 
 
 VHL Sally married Rev. Alexander Cald- 
 well, son of Rev. David Caldwell, of Guilford — 
 issue, (a) John, father of Mary Caldwell, who 
 married Joseph Davidson, M. D., (b) David 
 Alexander married Mrs. Martha Caldwell ncc 
 Bishop — issue, (i)Sally married Dr. Edward 
 White, Surgeon C. S. A., and (2) Edward. M. 
 D., (3) Patsy married Davidson of Alabama. 
 
 IX. Rebecca married Alexander Brevard, one 
 of "the eight rebel sons " of John Brevard, for 
 whose zeal Cornwallis's troops burned his house 
 on the march from Cowan's Ford — issue, (a) 
 Robert who had (i) P^phraim, (2) Alexander; 
 (b) Theodore married Caroline Mays of Florida 
 — issue, (i) Theodore, Jr. , married a daughter of 
 Gov. Call, of Florida, Brigadier General C. S. 
 A.; (2) Ephraim, M. D , a Surgeon C.S.A., and 
 (3) Robert, M. D., married Mary Stoney. 
 
 X. Peggy married James Harris — issue, Vio- 
 let who married Hayes. 
 
 William Graham was another signer of this 
 Declaration. He was Irish by birth, but no 
 way connected with the distinguished family of 
 the same name mentioned in Lincoln county 
 sketches. In the spring of 1776, he raised a 
 regiment in Lincoln county, then Tryon, and 
 marched to Fort McFadden, in that portion 
 now, Rutherford county, against the *Schoffold- 
 ite Tories, and again he marched to Charles- 
 ton. His command was at the battle of King's 
 Mountain under Colonel Di.xon. He died 
 within the bounds of the Hopewell Congrega- 
 tion, a wealthy member of that church (see letter 
 of Wm. S. Harris). Another authority, Dr. C. 
 L. Hunter, states he died in Rutherford county, 
 very wealthy, and at a good old age. One of 
 his sons lived in Augusta, Georgia, where he 
 was a merchant of great wealth. 
 
 Henry Downs was from the Providence settle- 
 ment, and John Ford from the Clear Creek 
 county. 
 
 John Flenniken was also a member of this 
 body. He was, by birth, an Irishman, and 
 came first to Pennsylvania and finally settled in 
 North Carolina on the Catawba river, below 
 Beattie's Ford, where some of the name still 
 reside. 
 
 Robert and James Harris were both born at 
 Harrisburg, Pa. 
 
 '"Schoft'oUl or SchopIiot,a Tory Colonel of militia.a man 
 of bome influence, but a stupid, ignorant blockhead." 
 Moultrie's Revolution in North and South Carolin;i. 
 
274 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Robert owned much land near the Harrisburg 
 Depot, in Cabarrus county, and is buried at the 
 Spear graveyard, near Rocky River Church. 
 
 James Hved in the Clear Creek country. He was 
 the great-grandfather of Dr. Jno B. Harris and 
 William A. Harris. Others came to the State 
 in 1 74 1. Some of the descendants of Robert 
 are still living. The late William Shakespeare 
 Harris of Davidson College, was the grandson 
 or the youngest brother of this family. 
 
 Robert Irwin was a prominent politician and 
 an active member of this meeting of May 20, 
 1775. He was with Sumter in August, 1780, at 
 the battle of Hanging Rock, and his military 
 reputation was high. He was a General in the 
 State militia. He was popular with all classes, 
 and was a Member of the Provincial Congress, 
 from Mecklenburg, at Halifax, October, 1776, 
 with Waighstill Avery, Hezekiah Alexander 
 and Zacheus Wilson, as colleagues, which body 
 ■formed the first State Constitution. He was a 
 delegate to both conventions (the first at Hills- 
 boro, and the second at Fayetteville,) which 
 considered the Federal Constitution (the first 
 rejecting, the latter approving) with General 
 Joseph Graham as a colleague. He was long a 
 Senator in the Legislature from Mecklenburg, 
 (from 1778 to 1783,-1797 to 1800.) He was an 
 exemplary elder of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 He died, leaving seven children, and lies bur- 
 ied in Steel Creek churchyard. One of his 
 daughters married Washington Morrison ; an- 
 other daughter married McDowell — the father 
 of Robert Irwin McDowell, Esq., who now re- 
 sides in Charlotte. General Irwin married a 
 second time, Miss Barry of Hopewell. 
 
 William Kennon, whose name appears among 
 the Mecklenburg men as one of the Convention 
 of May 20, 1775, was active, intelligent and 
 zealous. He was Chairman of the Committee 
 of Safety of Rowan county, in 1774, whose 
 records have been preserved and published. 
 He resided in Salisbury, was a practicing law- 
 yer, and with his brother-in-law, Mr. Willis, 
 
 Adlai Osborne, and Samuel Spencer, seized 
 John Dunn, also a lawyer, " as a person dan- 
 gerous to liberty," and sent him to South Caro- 
 lina. He was a Member of the First Provincial 
 Congress that met in direct opposition to the 
 Royal Government at New Berne in August, 
 1774, and was appointed Commissary to the First 
 Regiment in 1776. 
 
 V Matthew McClure was also one of this band 
 of heroes. He was born in Ireland, came to 
 Mecklenburg quite young, settled six miles be- 
 low Davidson College; died in 1808. The 
 Kerns are his wife's relatives. 
 
 Neil Morrison was a member of this Conven- 
 tion. He has three grandchildren now living, 
 James H. Morrison and Mrs. Margaret Wilson, 
 now residing in Mecklenburg county and Mrs. 
 Margaret Osborne of Corinth, Mississippi. 
 
 Benjamin Patton, another signer, was a man 
 of iron firmness and indomitable courage. De- 
 scended from the stern C6venanters, he had 
 their inflexibility of purpose, and their purity 
 of principle. He was elected to the Provincial 
 Congress in 1774, a stirring epoch in the history 
 of the State, for it was already in open contempt 
 of the royal power in North Carolina. 
 
 The Governor fulminated a furious proclama- 
 tion declaring the meeting as against legal au- 
 thority and in open defiance of the Royal Gov- 
 ernment. The Council was summoned on this 
 occasion ; the Governor laid before them the 
 alarming condition of affairs. But this Council, 
 either alarmed at the threatening aspect of 
 affairs, or tinctured themselves with the inde- 
 pendent spirit of the times, declared that the 
 powers of the E.Kecutive were exhausted ; and 
 "that nothing could be done." 
 
 Tradition states that such was the zeal of Mr. 
 Patton, that when he could not get a horse, or 
 any conveyance, that he walked from Charlotte 
 to New Berne, rather than not join these patriots, 
 determined on liberty or death. He lived in 
 that part of Mecklenburg which is now Cabarrus. 
 John Paul Barringer, Martin Phifer, and Iknja- 
 
mecklI':nbukg county. 
 
 27s 
 
 mill Patton formed the Committee of Safety for 
 this section, with very full powers. They held 
 their meetings at the Red Hill, on the Salisbury 
 road, and were truly "a terror unto evildoers, " 
 and "a defense to those who did well." He 
 died near Concord, on the banks of the Irish 
 Buffalo. 
 
 John Query was also one of this Convention, 
 a native of Scotland, came this country and set- 
 tled on Clear Creek, in this county. He was a 
 man of good estate and of literary tastes. He 
 left one son, Cyrus, who died in this county 
 some few years ago. 
 
 Of John Phifer, one of this immortal band 
 of worthies — a sketch has already been pre- 
 sented. (See page 96.) 
 
 David Reese, another signer, was of Scotch- 
 Irish descent, a native of Pennsylvania, who 
 settled near Poplar Tent. He was an extensive 
 landowner on Coddle Creek. He had three 
 sons and three daughters. One of his sons was 
 educated at Princeton — studied for the ministry, 
 and died at Pendleton, South Carolina. One of his 
 daughters married Hon. William Sharpe, whose 
 biography we have given. She was the grand- 
 mother of Judge David F. and Hon. Joseph P. 
 Caldwell. 
 
 George Reese, one of his grandsons, lived at 
 West Point, Troop County, Georgia. 
 
 Zaccheus Wilson was one of this band of pa- 
 triots. He was much esteemed for his worth 
 and patriotism. He was a member of the con- 
 vention that met at Hillsboro in 1788, to delib- 
 erate on the Federal Constitution. 
 
 We have now in a rapid manner attempted to 
 gather up the fleeting traditions that patriotism 
 and affection, have preserved of these immortal 
 men — who declared the independence of the 
 Colony of North Carolina, on May 20, 1775, 
 more than a year in advance of the Declaration 
 of Congress at Philadelphia. 
 
 Both papers are equally true and authentic. 
 The one is the unanimous declaration of thirteen 
 States, pledged to mutual support and co-opera- 
 
 tion ; the other without any prompting or hope 
 of support made equally as bold and daring a 
 declaration. The one challenges our admira- 
 tion, the other our veneration. Botli are intiiwr- 
 till. If the one was destined to become the 
 Savior of the Country, the other was its fore- 
 runner, for it was truly as " the voice of one 
 crying in the wilderness, preparing the way, and 
 making the paths straight." 
 
 To the memory of Rev. Alexander Craighead, 
 whose influence in this behalf was greater, 
 possibly, than that of any other one man, the 
 following is written : 
 
 " This eminent divine belonged to a race dis- 
 tinguished for their love of liberty. He was 
 the son of Rev. Thomas Craighead, who came 
 to New England in 1715, and the grandson of 
 Rev. Robert Craighead of Dublin, Ireland, one 
 of the thirteen ministers who constituted the 
 Presbytery of Lagan ; he became one of the 
 subjects of a most unrelenting persecution ; was 
 compelled to preach in barns and administer the 
 holy sacrament at night. The death of Charles 
 I. only dissuaded them from emigration to Amer- 
 ica as far back as 1649, but the ascendency of 
 James I. renewed the former persecutions of all 
 Protestants, with increased vigor. The memory 
 of the horrid scenes of 1641, is familiar to all, 
 and the bare mention of the " seige of Derry " 
 is sufficient to make the cheek blanche and the 
 heart's blood turn cold. 
 
 But, although the arbitrary counsels of James 
 I. were defeated and the Crown secured to Wil- 
 liam of Orange, yet the warfare waged upon 
 them in Ulster, suppressed Protestant worship 
 and the ministers were compelled to flee for the 
 time. On their return to their former parishes 
 they took every occasion to express their loyalty 
 and devotion to the Crown, nevertheless they 
 became the objects of unfriendliness on the part 
 of the Established Church, and in their desire 
 to seek freedom in religious matters, such a vast 
 emigration to Pennsylvania took place as to be- 
 come a subject of investigation on th'^ part ol 
 
2/6 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 the Crown officers; it was 1780 before a repeal 
 of the Test Act was obtained, however, and not 
 until 1782, were marriages solemnized by Dis- 
 senters pronounced valid, and consequently, 
 between 1713 and 1782, the tide of emigration 
 to America was constant and full. The records 
 of the English Rolls Office mention tliis as re- 
 sembling " a contagious distemper," and the 
 President of the Proprietary Council of Penn- 
 sylvania, James Logan, in 1729 voiced "the 
 common fear that if the Scotch-Irish continued 
 to come, they will make tiiemselves proprietors 
 of the province." It is estimated that from 
 1729 to 1750 about twelve thousand annually 
 came from Ulster to America — a few went to 
 New England. 
 
 "The tide of emigration into South Carolina, 
 settled on the fertile lands of North and South 
 Carolina, and meeting the influx from Pennsyl- 
 vania, flowed in a health giving body, over be- 
 yond the mountains into what is now known as 
 Kentucky and Tennessee. They have left their 
 name and mark in almost every State of this Un- 
 ion. Chambers, in his 'Trish and Scotch Set- 
 tlers in Pennsylvanii, "rightfully claims for these 
 people a tendency to reform and elevate public 
 sentiment and morals, being men of intelligence, 
 resolution, energy, and of a religious and highly 
 moral character, devoted to religious and civil 
 freedom. They brought with them the West- 
 minster Confession of Faith, with its catechisms 
 and its Directory of Worship, endeared to them 
 by years of fierce trial and persecution. Tiiey 
 certainly were not the cut throats and villians 
 supposed to have emigrated from England by 
 legal compulsion, nor yet was their heroism and 
 attachment to liberty, of the ' ' Bob Acres" stamp, 
 as charged by a writer in the Xorth Aimrican 
 Reviciv, of April, 1874. 
 
 It is to these same men that we are indebted 
 ' ' for the germs of our civil liberties, "for, as Ban- 
 croft says ; " The first public voice in America 
 for dissolving all connection with Great Britain, 
 cam e not from the Puritans of New England 
 
 the Dutch of New York, nor the Planters of 
 Virginia, but from Scotch-Irish Presbyterians." 
 
 The subject of this sketch, Alexander Craig- 
 head, was certainly educated in all the elements 
 considered necessary for the discipline of a 
 Presbyterian Clergyman, to which sacred calling 
 he was licensed in 1734. He was an earnest, 
 and fervid preacher, a zealous promoter of re- 
 vivals, a great admirer and friend of George 
 Whitefield, whom he accompanied in some of 
 his tours. 
 
 As early as 1743 he evinced his ardent love of 
 personal liberty and freedom of opinion by pub- 
 lishing a pamphlet that was denounced as calcu- 
 lated to " foment or encourage sedition or dis- 
 satisfaction with the civil government that we 
 are now under, or rebellion, treason, or any- 
 thing that is disloyal," and history records the 
 fact that upon complaint made to the Synod of 
 Philadelphia, in the name of the Governor, 
 against this pamphlet, they declared their ab- 
 horrence of the paper, and inasmuch as it was 
 published anonymously, the Synod denied any 
 knowledge of Mr. Alexander Craighead being 
 the author thereof. It was evidently premature 
 in its denunciation of George II. as an unchristian 
 king. 
 
 On November 11, 1743, at a meeting at Mid- 
 dle Octorara in Pennsylvania, after various relig- 
 ious services, Mr. Craighead and his congregation 
 renewed "the covenants, the national and sol- 
 emn league," and after formally denouncing 
 George II. as an unfit king, then and there swore, 
 holding their swords in their uplifted hands 
 according to the custom of their ancestors and 
 of soldiers ready to conquer or die, to keep their 
 bodies, property, and consciences, against all 
 attacks, to defend Christ's Gospel and the na- 
 tional liberty, from foes within or without. This 
 movement greatly troubled the political as well 
 as the religious waters, for in 1745 we find that 
 Governor Morris, in his message to the Assem- 
 bly, denounced certain people for their aspira- 
 tions and machinations to obtain "Independ- 
 ency." 
 
Mi;CKLKN15URG COUNTY. 
 
 277 
 
 I\Ir. Craighead found in this attack upon him, 
 one of the causes for leaving the confines of 
 Pennsylvania, and in 1749 we find him* in Vir- 
 ginia, on Covvpasture river, joined to a settle- 
 ment of farmers who came from Pennsylvania, 
 a few years before, This was then on the fron- 
 tier of the colony. The failure of Braddock's 
 Expedition (i/SS) had laid the whole country 
 open to the devastation of the Indians and 
 French. 
 
 During the six years of his residence in Vir- 
 ginia, Mr. Craighead found little sympathy in 
 his yearnings for civil and religious liberty; he 
 became excctdingly restive under the tithings 
 and other exactions of the Established Church, 
 and in the autumn of 1755, we find him and 
 most of his congregation seeking peace and lib- 
 erty in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. 
 
 Henceforth, we can plainly see the influence 
 of this "man of God," for the good of man. 
 He received a call from the ' ' Sugar Creek 
 Church," three miles northeast of Charlotte on 
 the road to Salisburj-, and became its first pastor. 
 He was installed in September, 1758, by Rev. 
 Mr. Richardson, (hisson-inlaw, and the patron 
 of that noble hero, General VVm. Richardson 
 Davie,) in charge of this, which was the oldest 
 church in the upper countrj-. It was organized 
 in 1756, and to a great measure became the/rtr- 
 ent of the seven churches so largely represented 
 in the Convention of 1775 at Charlotte. f 
 
 Over twenty of the members of the Conven- 
 tion at Charlotte, who on May 20, 1775, pro- 
 nounced the Mecklenburg Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, were connected with the seven Pres- 
 byterian churches of the county ; two of which 
 were Rocky River and Sugar Creek. From 
 these two the other five took "life and being." 
 Such were the men, who, wheti informed of the 
 
 *Foote's Sketches of North Cai'olin.i, p. 189. 
 
 tFoote. — In this charge he was succeeded liy tlie Kev. 
 John Alexander, afterwards by Rev. Thomas Ciaighead, but 
 the latter only temporarily ; next by his grandson, Rev. 
 Samuel Craighead Caldwell who was ihe beloved past' r 
 of Hopewell and Sugar Creek Churches for Ihirlvlive 
 years; then by Rev. Ur. Robert Hall Morrison. 
 
 troubles " to the eastward," rallied to the cry: 
 "The cause of Boston is the cause of all!" 
 With Craighead they held that the rights of the 
 people were as divine as the rights of Kings, 
 for their fathers, and they themselves, had often 
 listened in rapt attention to his thrilling elo- 
 quence, and felt as if himself were he on whose 
 sole arm hung victory. 
 
 Abram Alexander, a ruling Elder of Sugar 
 Creek Church, was chairman of this conven- 
 tion. It was addressed by Rev. Hezekiah James 
 Balch, pastor of Rocky River and Poplar Tent, 
 who was also one of the committee of three to 
 draft the "more formal declaration," and nine 
 other ruling elders, of these seven churches, 
 were active participants in the proceedings. 
 Although Mr. Craighead died before the con\'en- 
 tion of May 20, 1775, at Charlotte, )-et the whole 
 American Nation should re\-ere his memory as 
 the fearless champion of those principles of civil 
 and religious freedom, which they now enjoy 
 and which first found expression from his old 
 CDnn-ades in the immortal Declaration, the true 
 date of which, in the language of another, " has 
 been as clearly established as the given name of 
 any citizen then living in the count)'." 
 
 A w riter in the A'cic York Rcviezv, reviewing 
 the "Life of Jefferson," by Tucker, clearly shows 
 that the preamble to the Bill of Rights, the 
 Mecklenburg Declaration and the Virginia Bill of 
 Rights contain nearly everything of importance 
 in the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 
 1776, upon which rests so much of Mr. Jeffer- 
 son's fame. Of this latter instrument and the 
 Mecklenburg Declaration, Judge Tucker .says: 
 (Vol. 2, p. 627) " Every one must be per- 
 suaded, at least all who ha\e been minute ob- 
 serxers of style, that one of these papers had 
 borrowed from the other. " 
 
 (See also" the observations in the writings of 
 Thomas Jefferson, by H. Lee, Philadelphia, 
 
 ■839-) 
 The spirit which moved Craighead to the use 
 
 i)f expressions frequent in documents prepared 
 
278 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 and used on similar occasions in Scottish history, 
 evidently influenced the mind of Jefferson, when 
 he indited the Declaration of Jul)- 4, 1776. He 
 tells us in his autobiography that when engaged 
 in preparing that National Declaration, he and 
 his colleagues searched everywhere for formulas, 
 among the writings of the Puritans, as well as else- 
 where. The greatest interest had attached to the 
 " proceedings at Middle Octorara," so that a re- 
 print of those proceedings was demanded and 
 appeared in Philadelphia ; and we must see that 
 most naturally a similarity of expression would 
 occur in these documents where they most 
 probably had a common origin, whose aid 
 was inx'oked to gi\-c \ehemence to their denun- 
 ciation of an "unchristian king," and to give 
 pledges of mutual faith and declarations of sacred 
 duty, and thus similar phrases are found in these 
 two great American Declarations to give firm 
 and presence to kindred thoughts. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. A, W. Miller in a sermon, de- 
 livered at Charlotte on May 14, 1876, most truth- 
 fully used the following language : 
 
 "If to the people of Mecklenburg count)-, 
 Providence assigned the foremost position in the 
 ranks of jxitriots, a century ago, let them never 
 cease to hallow the memory of that illustrious 
 hero, the Rev. Ale.xander Craighead, who pre- 
 pared them for it, at so great toil and pains, and 
 for years and years diligently sowed the seed that 
 produced the glorious har\-est. No ordinary 
 work was given him to do, and no ordinar\' train- 
 ing and discipline fitted him for it. 
 
 " Deeph- imbibing the spirit of the Scottish 
 Covenant, contending earnestl}' for the descend- 
 ing obligations of those covenants upon all whose 
 ancestors were parties to the same, and insisting 
 uppn making the adoption of the Solemn League 
 and Covenant a term of communion for members 
 of the church in the colonial as well as the mother 
 countr)-, testifying continually to the Head.ship 
 of Christ over the State, and the responsibility 
 of all kings and rulers to Him, a failure of whose 
 alletriance to Him would forfeit the allegiance of 
 
 the people to them ; proclaiming everywhere 
 these good old doctrines, with a fidelity, and a 
 courage, and a zeal, and a constancy, that ought 
 to have secured sympathy and commanded admi- 
 ration. Instead of this, he experienced the 
 usual fate of those who are in advance of the 
 age. He was opposed, resisted, denounced as an 
 extremist and ultra reformer, calumniated as an 
 agitator, and even censured by the General Synod 
 of the Presbyterian Church! It was not until he 
 came to North Carolina, that he found a conge- 
 nial element which he could mould and train 
 successfully in devotion to principles bearing fruit 
 in splendid achievements, which now, at this an- 
 niversary season, in another city, are command- 
 ing the homage of the representatives of the 
 world — so siicicssfiil/v tiaincd, that Charlotte oc- 
 cupied the front rank more than a year in advance 
 of Philadelphia — the latter on May 20, 1775, 
 counselling submission, the former declaring in- 
 dependence, and so Mecklenburg became the 
 leader of the land." 
 
 Space forbids the recital of further facts which 
 would but serve to justify the grandeur of this 
 pen portrait, nor can we incorporate herein all 
 the distinguished members of this Craighead 
 family, but must content ourselves with a bare 
 reference to several of them. 
 
 Nancy, a daughter of Rev. Alexander Craig- 
 head, was married to Rev. William Richardson, 
 pastor of Waxhaw Church, South Carolina, 
 almost on the Mecklenburg line. They had no 
 children born to them, but brought up as their 
 own, his nephew, William Richardson Davie, 
 and under this training he became a ' ' great 
 man in the age of great men," — a patriot, a .sol- 
 dier, a jurist, a statesman and a diplomatist. 
 
 The second daughter, Rachael, in 1766, was 
 married to Rev. Dr. Caldwell of Guilford, the 
 educator of a large number of the most eminent 
 men of the South, — divines, statesmen, lawyers, 
 and physicians. His log cabin served for many 
 years to North Carolina as an academy, a college, 
 and a Theological Seminar}." Wheeler i,p. 1 17. 
 
MKCKLlCNliURG COUNTY 
 
 279 
 
 The Uiird il;uiL;litcf, Jane, niaiTicd Patrick 
 Calhoun wlio by a second wife, a Miss Caldwell 
 of Abbeviiie, became the father of tlie renowned 
 J dim Caldwell Calhoun. 
 
 The sister of Rev. Alexantler Crait^head, 
 named Jane or Janet, married the Kc\'. Adam 
 ]^o)-d, October 23, 1725, and their son, l\c\-. 
 Adam Boj-d (born November 25, 173S, died in 
 Natchez, Mississippi, 1800) was the true friend of 
 the liberties of our colony ; he became editor of 
 the Cape Fear Mercury, and one of the Commit 
 tee of Safety in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 
 1775. Could the copy of the Cape Feai Merciiiy, 
 loaned from the Rolls Office in London, to Mr. 
 Stevenson, the United States Minister, as men- 
 tioned by the author, be found, it would cither 
 give us the original text of the Da\ie Williamson 
 cop)-, or show thaf the royal governor consid- 
 ered the copy of the whole proceeding as good 
 as the original declaration, or in his own language, 
 as "declaring an entire dissolution of the laws." 
 
 A nephew, Colonel George Craighead, born 
 .Ma\- 10, 1733, lived near Wilmington, Delawaie. 
 He was a man of great wealth, and in the Indian 
 War, prior to the Revolution, cquii)pcd his own 
 regiment for that service. 
 
 He was the intimate friend of George Wash- 
 ington, " dining at the same table, and calling 
 each other by the familiar name of George." 
 
 The oldest son of Rev. Alexander Craighead, 
 the Re\'. Thomas B. Craighead, was born in 
 Mecklenburg county, in 1750. He was a gradu- 
 ate of Princeton, 1775, and admitted to the I'res- 
 byterian ministry in 1 780. Subsequentlj' he 
 removed to Hay.sborough, Tennessee, six miles 
 east of Nashville, and there established the first 
 Presbyterian church, in the middle division of 
 the State. He married Miss Elizabeth Brow n 
 of Frankfort, Kentucky, and so became allied to 
 a family distinguished for high social standing, 
 intellect, and national reputation. The descend- 
 ants of this marriage are still numerous in Ten- 
 nessee, and in several other States of the South 
 and Southwest. In 1785 he became the first 
 
 President of the Board of Trustees of Davidson 
 Academy. Among the board were Senator 
 Smith, General Robertson, and General Andrew 
 lackson. This academy became merged into the 
 Cumberland College in 1806. In the latter part 
 of his life he had some difficulties that hindered 
 for a time, his usefulness, but which served to 
 draw forth the friendly influence and uncjuali- 
 tied approbation of (ieneral Jackson.* This 
 friendship is accounted for, by Dr. Ramsey, as 
 iuHuenced b\- a sense of gratitude as well as af- 
 fection toward all who bore the name ; for when 
 he was talccn jji-isoner at Waxhaw, after Buford's 
 defeat b)' Tarleton, and carried to the prison- 
 ship in Charleston harbor, his mother found a 
 refuge, and home, and kind friends, in Mr. Craig- 
 head's father's congregation, at Sugar Creek, 
 North Carolina, and when Mrs. Jackson visited 
 Charleston to see her son, she was accompanied 
 b)- Mrs. Nancy Dunlap, who had married again 
 after the death of her first husband. Rev. Wm. 
 Richardson. She was the oldest daughter of 
 Re\-. .Alexander Craighead. The General's 
 nidther died of fever at the Quarter House, six 
 miles from Charlest(.)n, and was cared for to the 
 List by Mrs. Dunlap. The kindness showii his 
 mother b)- the famil)-, in this trying period, was 
 never forgotten by General Jackson, and was the 
 motive assigned to the writer b)- President James 
 K. Polk, for the strong personal regard and at- 
 tachment which existed, and for the fact that 
 when Mr. Craighead was arraigned b)- the Synod 
 of Kentuck)-, Jackson appeared as his Judge 
 Advocate. 
 
 P'urther, the General was descended from the 
 same Scotch-Irish stock, born in the southern 
 part of Mecklenburg, as the line is now estab- 
 lished, spent his bo\-hood in this count)-, a. id 
 began the practice of law at Salisbui'}-. His 
 mother was a member of Waxhaw church, and 
 had her son baptised there, with the hope that 
 he might some day become a minister. The 
 impressions received at home, and in his earlier 
 
 *Parton's Jackson, II p. (155. 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 years, never were wholly lost. "The faniil)' 
 Bible, covered with check cloth, as hi.s mother's 
 was, lay on the stand at the Hermitage, where he 
 ended his days; and he died at last the death of 
 a Christian, in the communion of the church of 
 his mother, a member in full of the Presb)-terian 
 Church."* Howe's Churches of South Caro- 
 lina, 539. 
 
 Samuel Craighead Caldwell, son of Rev. Ur. 
 David Caldwell, died, June 3, 1825 ; and Rachel, 
 (second daughter of Rev. Alexander Craighead, 
 who was married 1766); married, first, Abigail 
 Baine Alexander — issue, (a) David Thomas and(b) 
 Jane, (a) David Thomas married Harriet David- 
 son, and to them were born : Samuel Craighead, 
 William Da\-idson, 1 homas, Sarah Jane, Robert 
 Baxter, Minnie and Alice ; married second, Ad- 
 eline Hutchin-son, and had one child, Addie. 
 (b) Jane married Rev. Dr. Walter Smiley Pharr, 
 who first married Miss Springs; (2) Samuel Craig- 
 head Caldwell married Elizabeth Lindsay and had 
 (a) Robert Lindsay, graduate of Universit}' of 
 Georgia, and of Union Theological Seminary of 
 Virginia, pastor at Statesville, North Carolina, 
 married Martha Bishop, and died aged twent)-- 
 seven, leaving one son, John Rice ; (b) Abigail 
 B., married to Robert D. Alexander and had 
 issue, Agnes, Brevard, Davidson, Lottie, and 
 Samuel Craighead Caldwell. The last, born 
 February 24, 1830, graduate of Davidson Col- 
 lege, 1848, Columbia Theological Seminary, 
 1853; pastor of Th)atira and Black Creek 
 churches, married Mar)- Holmes Brown, Ma\' 21, 
 1857, and had Samuel, Bettie Brown, Robert 
 C^wen, Mary Abigail ; lived at Wadesboro, North 
 Carolina; (c) Samuel Craighead born 18 10, 
 merchant at Grenada, Mississippi, lost on the 
 
 The .lullinr acknowleilyes his obligations to a goiunlrg- 
 ical memoir of the Craighead family (1658-1876) printed 
 for the descendants in Pl.iladelpliia, 1S76, by Tlioma & Co. 
 — an exceedingly inlereslirg compilation containi-g one 
 hundr(d and seventy-three pagep, which shows in the con- 
 cise and beautiful language of the distinguished au.lior, 
 Kev. Dr. Jpmes Clfddcs Craigh«ad, who, f.rfour ten years 
 edited the "New York Evang'elist," the great inlluence and 
 ability of this distinguished fondly, new sowidcly scattered 
 over the whole United Slates. 
 
 "Pathfinder," on the Mississippi Ri\er, unmar- 
 ried; (d) John McKnitt Madison, born 1812, 
 graduate of University of Georgia and of Union 
 Theological Seminary of Virginia, licensed 1835, 
 ordained 1836, pastor of Sugar Creek church 
 1837; at Rome, Georgia, in 1845; pro]3rietor oi 
 Rome Female College in i860. He married 
 Caroline li. Livy and had eight sons : Thomas 
 Parsons born November, 1851, died April, 1852, 
 Edwin Harper, born 1853, died 1872; Samuel 
 Craighead, born 1846, graduated (1S6S) at Prince- 
 ton ; Professor of Natural Science, Rome, Geor- 
 gia ; married Kate Pearson (1870) and had two 
 sons; Alfred Shorter born 184S, married Lizzie 
 Htitchinsnii, 1874, and had one daughter; John 
 Liv)', born 1850, graduate of Princeton, 1870, 
 and at Princeton Seminar}' 1874; pastor at Pleas- 
 ant Hill, Mo.; I<"ranklin Hawkins, bcrn 1857, ^ 
 merchant in R(_iine, Ga. ; and two who died in 
 infimcy ; 
 
 (g) Andrew Harper, born 1S14, graduate of 
 Centre College, Ohio, and of Union Theological 
 Seminary of Virginia, married Sarah Ann Wil- 
 liamson, and had issue as follows: John, Samuel 
 Craighead, Sarah Elizabeth, Willie Dobie, Wal- 
 ter Lindsay, and Anna; (f) Seled, born 1816, a 
 Baptist preacher, lived in Texas, has three chil- 
 dren ; (g) Septemus, born 18 18, an eminent law- 
 yer of Grenada, Mississippi, killed by accident ; 
 (h) Cyrus Kingsbury, born 1821, graduate (184 1) 
 at Davidson College and Union Theological Semi 
 nary, Virginia, 1846, ordained 1847, married 
 I'aimie A. McKinley, 1S50, and had issue as 
 follows: Ida Lindsay, Anna Hope, P'annie Ma- 
 ria, Bessie Morrison ; was pastor of Buffalo and 
 Bethel churches at Pittsboro and Denmark, Ten- 
 nessee, where he died, March 1876; (i) Walter 
 ■ Pharr, born 1822, a lawyer at Greensboro, North 
 Carolina, married Nannie Weatherly, and had 
 issue, P^arnest, Maggie, Mamie, Carrie, Nannie, 
 Daisy, Abby Wood. 
 
 The editor of these reminiscences in acknowl- 
 edging the invaluable aid contributed by Captain 
 Robert D. Graham, a member of the Bar of 
 
MECKLKNHURG COUNTY 
 
 281 
 
 Ciiarlotte, in execution of his woik, tlccnis it a 
 dut\- til notice the articles prepared bj- that f^en- 
 tleniaii on tlie sul)ject of tiic Meckienburt:;- 
 •Afanuscripts. 
 
 Tlicsc articles have attracted \'er\' Ljeneral atten- 
 tion, as they present this subject in a new and \er\- 
 strong lij^ht. Some of his salient points are, in 
 effect, as follows : 
 
 The "20th of May" is fount! to ha\'e been 
 " confirmed by an oath." That should be the 
 end of controversy as to that date, when consiil- 
 cred with the additional fact that no participant 
 or eye-witness of that impressive occasion, c\xr 
 named a different day for "the throwing up of 
 hats." No one doubts that every witness who 
 certified to it on honor, was prepared unhesitat- 
 ingly to swear to it. On the other hantl, the 
 Charleston printer's date of the " Mecklenburg 
 Resolves" as subsequent!}' found in their digest- 
 ed form, has never'iiad a single witness to testify 
 in its favor. It is a iiiilUiisfiliits, brought to the 
 attention of the people of Mecklenburg for the 
 first time in 1837 — "'^" Ishmacl with whom Isaac 
 can make no division of the inheritance." He 
 calls for the 21st May, "a day after the feast," 
 when the committee, for this special work, from 
 tlie |)receding manuscripts, and without the 
 further attendence of the ])opular assemblage' 
 "digested the system which formed in effect a 
 declaration of independence, as well as a com- 
 plete system of government." Accepting the 
 abridged statement of Mr. Bancroft as a Delphic 
 oracle, Mr. Graham cjuotes his emphatic oj)inion 
 in confirmation of this conclusion. Hist. U. .S. 
 
 VII. .370-374- 
 
 T!ie printed Mecklenburg Resolves, as intended 
 b\- tlie parties who had enacted and witnessed 
 the ])romulgation of the sev.eral papers from 
 which they are digested, as construed by the two 
 cotemporary royal governors, and as accepted by 
 the great historian, contain the true sentiment 
 and suiistancc of the Davie copy of the first 
 paper unanimous!}- adopted and signed b}- the 
 delegate:;, after an e.\hau.sti\e ilebate to .satisfy 
 
 every conscientious scru[)!e, at 2 a in. — the 
 morning of the 20th Ma}-. 
 
 The 2 1st Ma}' would have been Sunda}- by 
 our calendar, but Mr. Graham has presented an 
 array of incontestable facts showing thnt it was 
 not Sunda}- with the ancient Mccklenburgers, 
 but that the 31st, instead, tlid fall on Sunday by 
 their calendar. 
 
 Ai.sf),Tn.vr -niicKi-; wkketiikee MSS. in Mi-:ck- 
 I r.NBi'Kn i.\ M.w, 1775 (.\Li. rn-:ci..\Ri\(; indkphnd- 
 
 KNCE,SPECL\L OR GE.NER.M., OF GkK.\T HkIT.AIN, BUT 
 .\'0T OF CON'GKESS, -rH.\T NEITHER ALLUDED, IN SO 
 M.\NY WORDS, TO A PRECEDING PAPER OF THE SAME 
 KIND,ANDNErriIEROF THEM WAS DATED MaY 3I.ST. 
 
 While the several papers of the 20th of May, 
 were the only documents in this connection ever 
 talk'ed of at home among tlie people, that which 
 was least heart! of there, was for reasons gi\-cn — 
 ('.i- imo ouiiies disccs — the onl}- one whicli the offi- 
 cers sent out for publication. The issue is 
 squarely stated tliat either the date of the actors, 
 (the 20th), or else that of the printer {the 31st) 
 is an error ; and such facts, as he remarks, have 
 hitherto been overlooked, by both sides, in the 
 heat of debate. His work as to the dates and 
 number of papers will fill the onlygap that seems 
 to ha\-e been left open by the many able advocates 
 of the original declaration. Several of the arti- 
 cles have appeared in the Charlotte Home and 
 Pcinocrat, and in the I'aniiei and Meehanic of 
 Raleigh. The latter pertinently obser\-es : 
 
 Others had suggested that the difference be- 
 tween the O. S. and N. S. might disprove the 
 exidence of the e}-e-witnesses, or demonstrate 
 the fallacy of their memories as to ///(-document 
 and the day, but lie is tlie first to establish the 
 facts, and tlieycorroljorate 'the signers' in e\-ery 
 particular. He shows that Mr. Bancroft has 
 been as much misunderstood on the (|uestion of 
 dates, as on that of the absolute character of the 
 Declaration of Independence. 
 
 General Thomas Polk, witli whose biography 
 this article on tlie Declaration of 20th May, 
 1775, was commenced, read the resolves, from 
 
28; 
 
 wheelp:r's reminiscences. 
 
 the steps of the Court House to the people. ■'■ 
 We propose to conthnie his biography from 
 that time. 
 
 By the Provincial Congress, which met at 
 Halifax, April 4, 1776, the State was placed on 
 a war footing ; Thomas Polk was elected Colonel 
 of the 4th Regiment in the Continental service, 
 with James Thackston as Lieutenant Colonel, 
 and William Davidson as Major. Tradition as 
 well as history is silent as to the military ser- 
 vices of Colonel Polk, during the excitingscenes 
 of Gates' advance and defeat, through this part 
 of the State ; when Lord Cornwallis advanced, 
 flushed with the victory at the battle of Camden, 
 fought August 16, 1780, over Gates, to Charlotte, 
 hundreds who were true patriots accepted protec- 
 tion for they saw no alternative but that, or the 
 ruin of their families and destruction of their 
 substance. 
 
 Among (jates' papers in the New York His- 
 torical Society is the following : 
 
 " From a number of suspicious circumstances 
 respecting the conduct and behavior of Colonel 
 Thomas Polk, Commissary of Provisions for the 
 Continental Troops, it is our opinion that the 
 said Colonel Polk should be ordered to Salisbury, 
 to answer for his conduct, and that the persons 
 of Duncan Ochiltree, and William McAferty, 
 be likewise brought under guard to Salisbury. 
 Given unanimously as our opinion this Novem- 
 ber 12, 1780. 
 
 HoR.vno Gates, 
 Isaac Huger, 
 Allen Jones, 
 John Butler."! 
 
 This was doubtless produced by the panic 
 which followed the defeat of Gates (in the Au- 
 gust previous) while Gates was flying with speed 
 before the British forces. That whatever " sus- 
 picious circumstances respecting the conduct of 
 and behavior of Colonel Thomas Polk " may 
 
 ■■Jolinson's " Trc\i-lilions anil Keininisceiices of tlie .\mer- 
 ican Revolution, 77. 
 tLossing II, 624. 
 
 have excited in the distempered mind of Gen- 
 eral Gates and others, history shows no record 
 of any investigation or coiidoiiitatioii of his con- 
 duct, or any condemnation of his course, public 
 or private, and that any distrust of the loyalty 
 of Colonel Polk, was not the opinion of General 
 Gates, and made no impression on his mind, is 
 shown by the following letter, written soon after 
 he took command at Charlotte, North Caro- 
 lina : 
 
 " Camp Charlotte, Dec. 15, 1780. 
 To Colonel Polk : 
 
 Sir — I find it will be impossible to leave camp 
 as early as I intended, as Colonel Kosciusko has 
 made no report yet, respecting a position on 
 the Pedee. 
 
 " I must therefore beg you to continue the 
 daily supplies of the 7\rmy and keep in readi- 
 ness three days provisions beforehand. I have 
 just received some intelligence from General 
 Nash and from Congress, which makes me wish 
 to see you. I am &c. , 
 
 Nathaniel Greene." 
 
 This letter proves the confidence which the 
 commanding General had in the energy and pa- 
 triotism of Colonel Polk, who owned extensive 
 mills near Charlotte and stores in the town. 
 
 He had been appointed Commissary of Pro- 
 visions for the Continental Troops in this region, 
 that had been stripped to destitution by an in- 
 vading army, and this was a position at once 
 perplexing, arduous and ungracious. In a let- 
 ter, the original I have in my possession, he 
 resigned the irksome office. 
 
 "Charlotte, 13th Dec, 1780, 
 
 On my Informing General Greene of my 
 resignation, he maid menshun of Col. WilhiL 
 Davie, which I think will do exceeding well, 
 will be always in Camp; I think him clever in 
 business. If it should meet your approl:),uion I 
 should be happy in releasment. 
 
 I am, Sir, with great respect, 
 
 To the Hon. \ Your humble serv't, 
 
 B'd of \\'ar j Thos. Polk." 
 
MECKLENRURG COUNTY. 
 
 283 
 
 That his resignation was not produced by any 
 abatement of his zeal for the cause of his coun- 
 try, is shown by the following, the original of 
 which is in my possession: 
 
 "Camp Yadkin Rivi:k, 
 
 Oct. nth, 1780. 
 
 (iENTLEMKN : 
 
 I have the pleasure to inform you that on Sat- 
 urday last, the noted Colonel Ferguson with 
 150 men fell on King's Mountain, Soo taken 
 prisoner, and 1,500 stand of arms. 
 
 "Cleaveland and Campbell comniaiulcJ. A 
 glorious affair. In a few days we will be in 
 Charlotte, and I will take possession of my house 
 and his Lordship take the woods. 
 I am Gentlemen, 
 with respect your humble scr\'ant, 
 
 Thomas Polk." 
 
 He was appointed in 17.S1, Brigadier General 
 to succeed the lamented General Davidson, who 
 fell at Cowan's Ford, in battle. 
 
 He died in Charlotte in 1793, and lies buried 
 in the churchward of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 He married Susan .Spratt and left several chil- 
 dren. 
 
 I. Ezekiel. 
 
 H. Charles married Miss Alexander, whose 
 son Thomas Independence Polk, so named b\- his 
 father because born on the 20th of May, (prinr 
 to 1790^) married Sarah Moore, and was the 
 father of Horace M. Polk and Charles Polk. 
 
 III. William Polk, whose biography we have 
 given (see page — ) was another son, killed at 
 Futaw or Cane Creek. 
 
 IV. James. 
 
 General Polk, after the Revolution, purchased 
 of the disbanded soldiers the land warrants issued 
 by the State for military services, and died pos- 
 sessed of princely estates, which his sons inher- 
 ited, but did not improve. They loved fun and 
 frolic better than stud)- or work. Two of them 
 settled in Sumter District, South Carolina; mar- 
 ried and died there, leaving no family. 
 
 His son, Ezekiel Polk, who was also a member 
 
 of the Convention of May 20, 1775 (see certifi- 
 cate of Captain Jack, who was present, and 
 bore the proceedings of the Convention to Phil- 
 adelphia American Archives, 4th series, jd vol- 
 ume, 858), and although partaking of the wild 
 and frolicsome spirit of the age in which he 
 lived, was brave and patriotic. 1 le commanded 
 a company in 1775, in the 3rd Regiment, South 
 Carolina State Troops, Colonel William Thomp- 
 son, and marched to subdue the Tories at "96," 
 and was in a severe engagement on December 
 2jd, 1775, at Cane Creek. His nephew, Wil- 
 liam, was an official in this company, and was 
 severely wounded (see declaration of Colonel 
 Polk). Here his brother was killed. 
 
 He was elected a Member of the Legislature 
 from Mecklenburg, in 17^2-93-94 with General 
 Joseph Graham, and William Graham, as col- 
 leagues. Ezekiel was reckless as well as frolic- 
 some. 
 
 "I heard," says Dr. Joseph Johnson, in his 
 ■Traditions and Reminiscences of the Ameri- 
 can Revolution in the South' (page 85) of one 
 instance told by himself: ' I was driving my 
 wagon with another young man, a friend. We 
 had just finished our dinner and had each taken 
 a good stiff drink, when a gentleman rode up in 
 a sulky. We concluded to havesomefuii. We 
 asked him to alight and take a drink. He did 
 so. We then told him that it was ' a wa>' we 
 had ' to make strangers dance for us. Then we 
 commenced cracking our whips about his legs, 
 for music to cheer him up. As he seemed to 
 take it gently and when we stopped the music, 
 he stopped the dance. He then said after such 
 a jig, we must have another drink with him, 
 this time and while he was opening his sulky- 
 box we dropped our whips, preparing to join 
 him, instead of producing a bottle, he drew a 
 pair of loaded pistols, and cocking them, pre- 
 sented them at us, with a look of earnestness 
 that showed he meant />//s///iSS. He said that 
 we must dance for him, or pay the piper. At 
 it we went ; while he whistled a rapid time, a 
 
284 
 
 WHEELER'S REIMINISCENCES. 
 
 Virginia reel, that kept lis active. I ne\'er had 
 such a sweat in all my life, and was glad when 
 he stopped. He told us that it would not al- 
 ways do ' to play tricks upon travellers.' He 
 then offered us, politely, a drink of brandy, 
 which we took, shook hands, and parted friends. 
 We had the lead, he followed suit, beat us with 
 our own cards, and won the odd trick. l^ut all 
 was fair." 
 
 "In the fall of 178J," saj-s Dr. John.soii, al- 
 ready just quoted, " I remained two or thr< e 
 months at Charlotte, and saw much of ("icncral 
 Polk and his sons. The GenenJ wa.s plain and 
 unassuming in his deportment ; more like an old 
 f.ir.ner or miller than a soldier or General." 
 
 His sons, Ezekiel, William. James and " Ptvil 
 Charity" Polk, were wild and frolicsome, 
 and in their fun, did not even spare their father. 
 On one occasion the General, speaking of "high- 
 way robberies committed bj' one nian, as im- 
 possible and ridiculous, that no one ma;! c^uild 
 rob him — that he never was robbed, n r wouli 
 any one man dare attempt it." 
 
 Charley who by his mad cap freal;s had won 
 the sobri<iuet, throughout the wliole countr)', of 
 " Pivi/ CV/iir/ii'," heard all this and lie resolved 
 to try the pluck of the (jeneral. Hearing that 
 his father was going on some by road to rec i\e 
 a sum of monc}', he way-laid him and demanded 
 instant delivery of all he liatl. The Gen<iral 
 grasped at his pistols, but Cliarles was too qiiick 
 for him, and the General seeing a pistijl aimed 
 at his breast, surrendered the mone)-. He went 
 home, fretted and mortified at the result 'i'he 
 young men condoled with their father, and in 
 quired the cause of his depression. He, then 
 narrated his mishap : " that he had been ri>bbed 
 of a large sum of money on the public road." 
 They all expressed surprise that he had not 
 gonearmedon theoccasion. He acknowledged 
 he was armed and had pistols, but bail no time 
 to use them. They then with much increaseu 
 surprise as they stated concluded that there 
 must have been several men who attacked him ; 
 
 but the General acknowledgi d tlat there was 
 only one ; but he adiled lie w as taken by surprise 
 and was off his guard. Cliarle)' then returning 
 the mone)' acknowledged that he had taken it 
 from him. 
 
 "What!" said the (.ieneial, "and did }ou 
 endanger and threaten \ our old f .llu r's life ;" 
 
 " No sir !" said Charles 
 
 " Did }'ou not present a [ii>l(_)l a', my breast?'' 
 
 " No, sir," said Charles. 
 
 "How can you say that?" said the fatiier. 
 
 "I assure you sir, it was only mother's brass 
 candlestick tliat I took off from ) our own mantle- 
 piece," said Charles produ;cing them. 
 
 Of his son William, we have alread)- written. 
 
 Leonidas Polk, son of William Polk and Sa- 
 rah Hawkins, was a Christian, a soldier and a 
 scholar. 
 
 He was educated at the United States Mili- 
 tary Academy, at West Point, and graduated 
 18:7; one year before Jefferson Davis, and two 
 years before Generals Lee and Johnson. After 
 a few years service, he exchanged the sword for 
 the gown, and became such a shining light in 
 the church, that he attained the position of 
 liishop in the Episcopal church for his piety, 
 zeal antl abilit)',"'' 
 
 The Civil War aroused liis military instincts 
 implanted by a long line of ancestry, and by his 
 own predilectionsand education. He tendered his 
 su-.iccs in defence of his home; he was 
 couunissioned a RLajor (jeneral in the Confed- 
 erate Army, ordered to command at Memphis. 
 He achieved a decided victory at Belmont (No- 
 vember 27, i86[) over General Grant. 
 
 At the battle of Murfreesboro, December 31, 
 1862, between Pragg and Rosencrans, General 
 Pollc, commanded the le't wing; General Bragg 
 in his ofiicial report coinmcnded him for his skill 
 and abilit}' in that sanguinary engagement. In 
 
 Tliis St.Uc lias riirai-,he'l lilitiallv. her pi.ition of rJiility 
 tollic i.lui).;li 
 
 Ilisliop I'.cckwith to (teoiyia; Uisliop Uavis to South 
 Caruli a; liisliop Ch- en to Missouri; Bishop Cicero II iwks 
 to .Mi.s.si>.sippi ; Bis-liop Polk to I.ousiana. 
 
AII'.CKLl'NBURG COUNTY. 
 
 285 
 
 VII. 
 VIH. 
 
 m my oilier battles General I'olk did good ser- 
 vice. In liigh position which exempted him 
 from military duty, with ample fortune and ever}- 
 comfort of life, he left all, to serve the cause he 
 deemed just, and laid down his life in its defense. 
 He was killed on the 14th day of June, 1864. 
 
 He married Frances Davcreu.x, of Raleigh, 
 by whom he had eight children : 
 I. Hamilton married Miss Buck. 
 U. Catherine married \V. Gale. 
 
 HI. Frances married P. Skipwith. 
 
 IV. Sally married Blake of South Carolina. 
 \\ Su.san married Pr. Joseph Jones. 
 
 \'I. Lilly married Wm. Huger. 
 William married Miss Lyon. 
 Lucia liiarried Ed. Chapman. 
 
 William Polk, son of John, who was the 
 son of Robert, had among others the following 
 children, Ezekiel, Thomas, and Margaret who 
 way married to McRee. P'rom these have sprung 
 all the Polks in our State. 
 
 Ezekiel, son of William Polk and Priscilla 
 Roberts, married, first. Miss Wilson ; secontl. 
 Miss Leonard, had eleven children, as follows: 
 
 L William m irried Elizabeth Dodd — issue, 
 (1) Clarissa, married to Taylor, had (a) Isaac, 
 (b) Caroline, (c) Claris.-^a, (d) Thomas, and (e) 
 Laura ; (2) Olivia married to D. D. Berry — is- 
 sue, (a) Elizabeth, (b) Clari.ssa, (c) Mary E.,(d) 
 John T., (e) David D., (f) William, (g) Olivia, 
 (h) Louisa and (i) Laura; (3) Thomas; (4) Jo- 
 seph ; (5) Caroline married to John Wirt and had 
 (a) Catherine, (b) Caroline; (6) Jackson — issue, 
 
 (a) Ann, (b) Oscar, (c) Virginia, (d) William; 
 (7) Mary married to Howard — issue, (a) Sarah, 
 
 (b) William; (8) Laura married, first, to Manlj' ; 
 second, to Taylor — issue, (a) Clarissa Manly, 
 (b) Elizabeth, (c) \Villiam. 
 
 II. Louisa married, first, to Niely ; second, 
 to D. C. Collier — issue, (1) Rufus P. married 
 Miss Lea, had (a) Harriet, (b) Kate, (c) Charles, 
 (d) Mary, (e) James, (I) Prudence, (g) Loui-sa, 
 (h) William; (2) Thomas Collier — issue, Wil- 
 liam; (3) Fanny; (4) Jackson Niely; (5) Adela 
 
 Bell ; (6) Mary Atwood— issue, (a) Adda, (b) 
 Josephine. 
 
 HI. Mary married to Hardeman — issue, (i) 
 Monroe, (2) Mary Fentress — issue, Thomas ; 
 (3) Leonidas, (4) Owen married S. M. Berry ; 
 
 (5) William. 
 
 IV. Charles P.— i.ssue. (i) Charles E., (_') 
 Eugenia, (3) IVrr)-, (4) Ann C, (5) James K. 
 
 V'. Bcnigna marriid Wood — issue, (i) Be- 
 nigna, who had Marj- and Bcnigna. 
 
 VL l^ugenia married Nelson — issue, (1) Sa- 
 rah, (2) Ada, (3) Sophia, (4) Charles, (5) Wil- 
 liam (6) Hugh. 
 
 VII. Clarissa married to Thomas McNeal — 
 issue (a) Jane married to Brown, had (i) Mary, 
 (2) Clara, (3) Co/'elia, (4) Lycurgus, ($) Albert, 
 
 [6) James ; (b) Clara married to Fulton, (c) Mary 
 married to Mark R. Roberts — issue, (i) Jane 
 Jewett, (2) Prudence McRay, (3) Evelina, (4) 
 Mary, (5) Ann, (6) Samuel, (7) Mark, (8) Albert, 
 (9) Eliza, (10) Napoleon, (11) Thaddeus, (12) 
 Mary Baker, (13) Thomas P" ; F^velinaL. married 
 Peters — i.ssue, (i) Arthur, (2) Clara, (3) George 
 W (4) Thomas ;(e) Prudence married John H. Bells 
 had (i) Leonidas, (2) ^\'ilson, (3) P>clina, (4) 
 Clara, (5) Mary Wood — issue, P'anny. 
 
 Among the notable celebrities of Mecklenburg 
 county, was Susan Smart wcvBarnett, remarkable 
 for her great age, and her accurate and vivid 
 recollections of the events of the Revolution. 
 
 Her father was John Harnett, who emigrated 
 from Ireland, and who married Ann, thedaugh- 
 tcr of Thomas Spratt, one of the earliest settlers 
 of this county. Thomas Spratt was the first 
 who crossed the Yadkin River with a wagon ; 
 and the first court ever held in Mecklenburg 
 county, was convened at his house. 
 
 Her brother, William Barnett was but ayouth 
 in the Snow Campaign of 1776, and did good 
 service. Her grandfather on the mother's side, 
 Thomas Spratt, had two sons, Thomas and Wil- 
 liam, and six daughters. Thomas served in the 
 Revolutionary War under Davie. Jane, one of 
 these daughters married Colonel Thomas Neil. 
 
286 
 
 WHEELER'S R1-:MINISCENCES. 
 
 One of lier sons fell most gallantly at the battle 
 of the Rocky Mount, commanding a regiment, 
 and another at Wright's Bluff; another daugh- 
 ter, Susan married Colonel Thomas Polk, on 
 wliom we have written. 
 
 Susan Barnett, the subject of this sketch, was 
 born in 1761 ; and her sister Mary was the first 
 white child born between the two rivers, the 
 Catawba and the Yadkin. She married Captain 
 James Jack, of whom, and whose genealogy, a 
 full and accurate account is given in the sketches 
 of North Carolina by Dr. C. L. Hunter (1877). 
 
 Captain Jack was the bearer of the Meck- 
 lenburg Declaration of May 20, 1775, to 
 the Continental Congress at Philadelphia. 
 
 Mrs. Smart was present at Charlotte on this 
 glorious occasion ; and man)- now alive have 
 listened with great pleasure to her glowing and 
 graphic accounts of the enthusiasm which 
 pervaded the whole communit}'. It was truly 
 a day of "the throwing up of hats," many of 
 which she stated, fell on the roof of the Court 
 House. 
 
 Many interesting incidents of the horrors of 
 war, were narrated by her. 
 
 After the surrender of Ceneral Lincoln to 
 Sir Henry Clinton at Charleston (May 12,1780), 
 Tarleton was sent by Lord Cornwallis to repel 
 troops approaching Charleston, under Colonel 
 ]5uford. These were surprised at Wa.xhaw and 
 mercilessly sabred. In this bloody affair Cap- 
 tain John Stokes was severely wounded, losing 
 one of his arms. General Sumter narrowly es- 
 caped capture at another point. He fled, how- 
 ever, and came to her father's home. 
 
 When asked how the defeat happened, Sum- 
 ter said: "It was a complete surprise. The 
 enemy crossed the creek and before we knew of 
 their presence, was in the middle of our camp. 
 I was in the marque asleep at the time, and was 
 carried out in the rear of the tent, mounted a 
 horse and escaped with the loss of my hat and 
 plume." 
 
 There we^e many others who fled to Char- 
 
 lotte. Among them a lad, who appeared much 
 jaded ; his face careworn and sunburnt. She 
 asked him where he was from. He replied, 
 " the Waxhaws. " 
 
 " Do yo know Major Crawford?" 
 "To be sure I do, he is m}* uncle. Who 
 are you ?" 
 
 "I am A iidiezv Jackson." 
 " What is the news about the British ?" 
 "They are on their way to Charlotte." 
 "And what have )'0u been doing down 
 there ?" 
 
 "We air pop[>iug thciit ociasioiially." 
 His long and slender face was then lit up with 
 a smile, and with grace and ease, he bid her 
 good-morning. 
 
 When the British came, they plundered the 
 house and then burned it. 
 
 Shortly before they left Charlotte, an express 
 was captured by the Whigs, from Lord Corn- 
 wallis to Camden. His Lordship wrote that 
 "he was going to leave Charlotte, for its inhab 
 itants were so inimical that they killed his men 
 from every bush, in cold blood, while engaged 
 in collecting forage for his army." 
 
 Miss Susan Barnett married in 1775, George 
 W. Smart, who died in May, 1S09. The house 
 she occupied for years was built by him. She 
 had been always in the habit of entertaining 
 travellers, as she lived on the public road. 
 William H. Crawford always stopped at iier 
 house on his way to and from Washington, and 
 was highly esteemed by her. She used to saj- 
 ' T have rarely been from home, but I have known 
 well, two of our Presidents, "Andrew Jackson 
 and James K. Polk. Little Jimmy Polk used 
 to pass along this road often to his school ; bare- 
 footed, with his breeches rolled up to his knees. 
 He was a mighty bashful little fellow." 
 
 Many of the connections of Aunt Susan 
 Smart still reside in this region. One of them, 
 George W. Smart, represented the county in 
 the Legislature in 1808.* 
 
 ■■Mucli in tliis is gathered from an article in the "C/u-skr 
 Pjltiutlu Standard," October I, 1851, signed B. G. S. 
 
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 
 
 287 
 
 Mrs. Susan J. Hancock is a native of New 
 Berne — born 1819 — //(vBlaney. Herfatherwas 
 a prosperous merchant, and bestowed on her 
 the best possible education. 
 
 She wasalways of a romantic turn ofmind, but 
 never wrote a line until she was thirty-five years 
 old, when she wrote articles for various South- 
 ern periodicals, which were well received. Her 
 poetry is impromptu and written to elicit much 
 of joy as well as sorrow. 
 
 New Berne at an early period fell into the 
 hands of the Union troops, and Mr. Hancock 
 was sent with many others over the lines without 
 provisions or protection. Her son fell in battle 
 near Richmond. He was a member of the 2d 
 North Carolina Regiment, comnKiuded by Col- 
 onel Tew. After the war was over she returned 
 to New Berne, there remained until she moved 
 to St. Paul, Minnesota. 
 
 She says, "if anything could make me forget 
 the unhappy past and my beautiful Southern 
 land, beautiful even in her desolation, it would 
 be the warm-hearted kindness with which I have 
 been welcomed to my new Western home." 
 
 Samuel Lowrie (born 1756, died 1818) lived 
 and died in Charlotte. He was born in Wil- 
 mington, State of Delaware, August 12, 1756, 
 and came with his parents to Rowan county, 
 N. C, when he was fifteen years old. He was 
 educated in Iredell county at the Clio Academy, 
 under charge of Rev. James Hall. When the 
 Revolutionary War came on he entered the 
 army, and was in the Battle of Kings Mountain 
 (October 7, 1780), and at the surrender of 
 Cornwallis at Yorktown (October 19, 178 1). 
 After the war closed he studied law, and was 
 admitted to the bar at Camden, South Carolina, 
 where he lived until his marriage in 1788, to 
 Margaret, daughter of Captain Robert Alexan- 
 der, who had served in the war as a Commis- 
 sary, and whose wife was the sister of Captain 
 James Jack, who bore the proceedings of the 
 Mecklenburg Declaration to Philadelphia. 
 
 Mr. Lowrie, on his marriage, settled in Char- 
 lotte in the practice of his profession. 
 
 Li 1804 he was elected a member of the Leg- 
 islature from Mecklenburg county, with Gene- 
 ral George Graham, George W. Smart and 
 Thomas Henderson as colleagues. He was re- 
 elected in 1805-06. This last year he was 
 elected one of the Judges of the Superior Courts 
 for the State, which elevated position he held 
 till his death (December, 1818). 
 
 He was twice married. By his first wife he 
 had— 
 
 L Mary, married Dr. David Dunlap. 
 
 n. liliza — died unmarried. 
 
 HL Margaret — same. 
 
 IV. Lillie, married Brawley Oats. 
 
 V. Robert Jack Alexander. 
 VL Samuel M. 
 
 By his second wife, Mary, daughter of Mar- 
 maduke Norfleet, of Bertie county, he had one 
 daughter, who married Rev. Mr. Henderson, of 
 lluntsviUe, Alabama. 
 
 Andrew Jackson. 
 
 We have alluded to the interview between 
 Mrs. Smart and Andrew Jackson when he was 
 quite a youth.* It seems to be settled in the 
 public mind that he was born in South Carolina, 
 but there is no certainty of the fact.f 
 
 His early life was very obscure and he himself 
 was uncertain of his birthplace. He remembered 
 many incidents of the Revolution more especially 
 these that transpired in North Carolina. Unques- 
 tionably he was of Irish descent, and lead law 
 wiht Judge McCoy in Salisbury, 'judge Alex- 
 ander Porter, of Louisiana, was an Irishman, 
 and from the same neighborhood where were 
 born and raised the parents of Jackson. 
 
 Judge Porter visited Europe a short time be- 
 fore his death, and made dilligent search into 
 this matter. He was satisfied that Andrew 
 
 *The Memories of Fifty Years, liy William H. Sparks, 
 Philadelphia. 1870. . "' 
 
 tCiOveriior Swain one of the most accurate genealogists 
 of the country, in his TucVer Hall address, states positively 
 that General Jackson was born at the house of George Mc- 
 Camie, in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, in the 
 15th of March, 1767. The line was not asaerlained on that 
 locality until long after Jackson had removed to Tennessee. 
 
WHEFXER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Jackson was born in Ireland, and brought to 
 the United States when only two years old. 
 This was also the opinion of Thomas Crutchfer, 
 who came with General Jackson to Nashville, 
 and it was the opinion of Dr. Boyd McNairy, 
 and his elder brother, Judge McNairy, who 
 came with him (Jackson) from North Carolina. ) 
 His early education was very limited, and so 
 defective that his orthography was almost ludi- 
 crous, and his general reading amounted to 
 nothing. So far as his legal knowledge was 
 concerned, at no time was he a respectable 
 county court lawyer, so far as mere legal train- 
 ing was concerned. It is wonderful how the nat- 
 ural vigor of his mind supplied the absence of 
 learning. 
 
 "The triumphs of mind, unaided by educa- 
 tion, are no more astonishing in the case of 
 General Jackson than others," says Mr. Sparks. 
 The great Warwick of England, "the King 
 Maker," never knew his letters. Marshal 
 Soult, one of France's greatest Marshals, could 
 not write a court sentence ; and Stevenson, the 
 greatest engineer the world ever saw, the in- 
 ventor of the locomotive, did not know his let- 
 ters at twenty-one. The Duke of Marlborough 
 could hardly write his own name. But Jackson 
 was naturally great. He did not need, as says 
 Johnson of Shakespeare, "the spectacles of 
 books to read the great volume of human na- 
 ture." As a Judge, his greatest aim was to get 
 the facts of a case, and decide all points upon 
 the broad principles of justice. He never 
 seemed to reason, On the presentation of any 
 subject to his mind, it seemed, with electrical 
 velocity, to cut through to a conclusion, as if 
 by intuition. He was more correct in his con- 
 clusions than any man of his age. His opin- 
 ions were formed at the first glance, arid rarely 
 or never changed. He was eminently self-reli- 
 ant. In all matters concerning himself he was 
 his own counsellor ; he advised with no man ; 
 cool and quick in thought, he seemed to leap 
 at a conclusion, from which he took no back- 
 
 ward step. His knowledge of men, from his 
 intimate and extended intercourse with all 
 classes of society, had so educated his faculties 
 that in a few moment's intercourse he meas- 
 ured the very inmost nature of a man. That 
 he was sometimes deceived is but natural, and 
 when the deception was ascertained he was 
 fierce and furious in his resentments. He was 
 quick and irascible in his temper, and when 
 angry was exceedingly violent in manner and 
 words ; his passion towered in proportion to 
 the provocation, and at times he was almost 
 savage. In the affair with Dickerson, after 
 he had received his adversary's shot, which 
 from his ski'l had been well nigh fatal, he stood 
 immovable, deliberately fired, and Dickerson 
 fell dead. He is said to have remarked, " had 
 his shot killed me, I would have, in dying, 
 killed him." But in private and social life, and 
 in the company of ladies especially, his man- 
 ners were as urbane and polished as any knight 
 of chivalry. This was the emanation of his 
 great soul which marked every movement in 
 the presence of ladies, and which brooked no 
 indignity from men. 
 
 "To the froward he was as fierce as fire. 
 But to the kind as gentle ns a lamb." 
 
 In his attachments he was almost fanatical. 
 To any one, however humble, who was his 
 friend and had proven it, he went to any length 
 to serve and protect him. His course toward 
 Dr. Gwinn and thousands of others prove the 
 devotion of his friendship. Rather than desert 
 the good name of his Biographer and Secretary 
 of War, Eaton, he dissolved his Cabinet — a 
 step that no other President would ever have at- 
 tempted. This devotion to his family, his friends, 
 and to his conceived duty, was not assumed, 
 or counterfeited, but bubbled up from his mag- 
 nanimous heart as naturally as does pellucid 
 water spring from the crystal fountain. His 
 principles, his undaunted courage, his frank 
 and outspoken temper, his sincerity in private 
 as well as public life ; his unsullied patriotism. 
 
meckl1':nburg county. 
 
 289 
 
 made him the clierished idol of the nation, and 
 captivated the hearts of admiring miUions. He 
 was one of tliose rare creations of nature, which 
 appear at long intervals to astonish and delight 
 mankind. 
 
 No attempt has been made in this sketch to 
 give facts and dates as to General Jackson's 
 career or services, for these are all recorded and 
 here become part of the nation's history, but we 
 opened this sketch to show the claim of our 
 State to this offspring of patriotism and genius. 
 It has been my fortune to see and read of the 
 illustrious men of our own and other times, but 
 no one that I have ever seen or read of, exceeded 
 Andrew Jackson in all those qualities that can 
 adorn or dignify our nature. 
 
 Joseph Wilson (born , died Au- 
 gust, 1829), who resided in Charlotte, was 
 distinguished as an advocate and criminal law- 
 yer. 
 
 His ancestors on the paternal side were 
 Scotch, and settled in 1730 near Edenton, and 
 in Perquimans county. On the maternal side 
 they were English, and settled on Nantucket 
 Island. His father moved first to Guilford 
 county, North Carolina, and then to Randolph, 
 where he married Eunice Worth. His parents 
 were of the Society of Friends. 
 
 His early education was directed by Rev. 
 David Caldwell, and he studied law with Reu- 
 ben Wood, whose daughter he married. He 
 was licensed to practice law in 1804; he came 
 to the bar at the same time with Israel Pickens. 
 He settled in Stokes county, and by force of 
 his talents, application to his studies, and force 
 of character he soon rose to the uppermost 
 ra,nks of his profession. He was elected to the 
 Legislature in i8io-'i i-'i2, and was distin- 
 guished as a firm and constant advocate of the 
 war. He was elected the latter year Solicitor 
 of the mountain circuit, then embracing nearly 
 the whole western portion of the State. The 
 unsurpassed ability, fearless zeal, and unflinch- 
 ing courage with which he discharged his du- 
 
 ties as Prosecuting Attorney, are still remem- 
 bered by the people of this section, which was 
 infested by many lawless men, who defied the 
 restraints of justice. He continued in the faith- 
 ful discharge of these duties until his death. 
 He left several children. One of them — Cath- 
 arine — married William J. Alexander; Rox- 
 anna married Dr. Pinkney Caldwell ; another 
 married Marshal Polk. 
 
 William Julius Alexander, who married a 
 daughter of Mr. Wilson, was long a resident of 
 Charlotte, born in Salisbury in March, 1797. 
 His early education was conducted by Rev. Dr. 
 Robinson, and he graduated at the University 
 in 1 8 16, in same class with John Y. Mason, 
 (afterwards Attorney General of the United 
 States, Secretary of the Navy and Envoy to 
 France), and others. He studied law with his 
 relative, Archibald Henderson. He settled in 
 Charlotte, and was distinguished as an advo- 
 cate and politician. He was a member of 
 House of Commons from Mecklenburg county 
 in 1826, re-elected in 1827-28, at which session 
 he was chosen Speaker, and in 1830 he was 
 elected Solicitor of the mountain circuit, made 
 vacant by the death of Mr. Wilson. In 1846 
 he was appointed Superintendent of the Branch 
 Mint at Charlotte. He died leaving a widow 
 and several children, one of whom, Catherine, 
 m.arried Colonel John F. Hoke, of Lincolnton. 
 
 The United States Branch Mint was located 
 at Charlotte, by act of Congress of 1835. It is 
 now used only as an Assay Office and is in charge 
 of Calvin J. Cowles, Esq. Its first superin- 
 tendent was John H. Wheeler, who was suc- 
 ceeded (in 1 841) by Burgess S.Gaither; Greene 
 W. Caldwell, William J. Alexander, and James 
 W. Osborne. 
 
 Calvin J. Cowles is now in charge of this in- 
 stitution as Assayer. 
 
 Greene W. Caldwell lived and died in this 
 county. He was born April 13, 1811, in Gas- 
 ton county, near the Tuckasege Ford on the 
 Catawba River. He studied medicine with a 
 
290 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Dr. Doherty near Beattie's Ford, but became 
 dissatisfied with this profession and abandoned it 
 for the law. But his element was political life, 
 and he was eminently successful as a politician. 
 In 1836, he was elected a member of the Legis- 
 lature. He was re-elected to each Legislature 
 until 1841, when he was elected a member of 
 the 27th Congress (1841-43). In 1844 he 
 
 Professor in the Virginia Military Institute, re- 
 garded " as superior to any other work in the 
 same branch of science." 
 
 In i860 he delivered a lecture in several places 
 in this State, complaining. of the gross injustice 
 done to the South, by the Northern historians, and 
 asserted that all the battles gained by the North 
 were insignificant compared with those of "the 
 
 was appointed Superintendent of the Mint at South which did all the open, real, and hard fight- 
 Charlotte, and in 1846 he was nominated by the 
 Democratic Convention as Governor, but de- 
 clined. He resigned his place in the Mint and 
 went to Mexico as a Captain of Dragoons. On 
 his return (1849) he was elected Senator, with 
 his two Lieutenants (E. C. Davidson and Harri- 
 son) as colleagues in the Legislature. In 1861 
 he was defeated for Congress by Hon. Alfred 
 Dockey.. 
 
 General D. H. Hill, long a resident of Char- 
 lotte, is a native of South Carolina, but his ser- 
 vices and fame are shared by North Carolina. 
 He was educated at the United States Military 
 
 ing. " This feeling with General Hill is intense and 
 has characterized his whole life and has become 
 as near a passion as his nature permits. He 
 has quiet and determined manners — not genial, 
 but reserved, it gives the impression to strangers 
 of one who is content to mind his own business 
 without concerning himself with the business of 
 any one else. 
 
 Having served with distinction in the Me.xican 
 War rising to the grade of Major by brevet, 
 he entered with great zeal into the cause of 
 the Confederacy, and took a conspicuous part 
 in our Civil War. To detail all the military 
 
 Academy at West Point, at which he graduated movements and battles in which General Hill 
 
 in 1842, in same class with Generals Newton, bore a conspicuous part, would be to write a 
 
 Rosecrans, Rains, Whiting, Longstreet and history of this war ; which is not the aim of 
 
 others, and was commissioned a Lieutenant of these sketches. The correspondence between 
 
 Artillery. In 1S47 he was promoted for gallant 
 and meritorious conduct in the battles of Con- 
 treras and Churubusco, and the storming of Clia- 
 pultepec, in the Mexican War. He resigned in 
 1849 and accepted a Professorship of Mathe- 
 matics in Washington College, Lexington, Vir- 
 ginia. This he subsequently resigned and 
 accepted a similar position in Davidson College, 
 in this State, which he resigned to accept the 
 Superintendency of the Military Institute at 
 Charlotte, of which flourishing school he was 
 the head, when the Civil War began. 
 
 He is esteemed as an admirable and able pro- 
 fessor, thoroughly versed in the studies of his 
 department, and possessing the faculty of stim- 
 ulating his students to their greatest efforts. 
 He published in 1858 a text-book on Algebra, 
 which Stonewall (T. J.) Jackson, then also a 
 
 General Hill and Edward Stanley, Military Gov- 
 ernor of North Carolina (March 1863) is one of 
 the keenest specimens of invective since the 
 days of Junius. 
 
 After the war was over he edited a magazine 
 called the Land ivc Love, and weekly paper at 
 Charlotte called the Southern Home. In these 
 periodicals the future historian will find rich 
 materials for his task. He is eminently and 
 sincerely religious in his temperament, an elder 
 in the Presbyterian Church, exemplary, con- 
 scientious, and zealous; and has written several 
 essays on Theology. 
 
 He removed to the Southwest, a few years 
 since and is the head of the University of 
 Arkansas, at Fayetteville in tnat State. 
 
 He married Isabella, the eldest daughter of 
 Rev. Dr. Robert Hall Morrison ; whose sister 
 
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 
 
 29I 
 
 Anna is the widow of Tliomas J. 'Stonewall' 
 Jackson. 
 
 ' The Osborne family is distinguished in the 
 annals of North Carolina for integrity, patriot- 
 ism and talents. 
 
 Twenty years before the Mecklenburg Decla- 
 ration of Independence, the Rev. Hugh 
 McAden made a tour through the western 
 part of North Carolina and found it a settled 
 country, with churches located here and there. 
 He kept a diary, and records that in September 
 1755, he was entertained at the house of Cap- 
 tain Alexander Osborne, and preached at a 
 church near there. 
 
 The Osbornes settled at an early day in New 
 Jersey. Alexander Osborne was the founder of 
 the family in North Carolina, he came to this 
 province sometime previous to 1755, and settled 
 in the county of Rowan. 
 
 Captain Osborne was at that time, forty-six 
 years of age. When Governor Tryon reviewed 
 the troops in Salisbury in 1768, the Major Gen- 
 erals were John Ashe and Thomas Lloyd. The 
 Colonels were Alexander Osborne, Edmund 
 Fanning, Robert Harris, James Sampson, Sam- 
 uel Spencer, James Moore and Maurice Moore. 
 
 In 1768 he marched to Hillsboro, with a reg- 
 iment of Rowan troops, under orders of Gov- 
 ernor Tryon, to aid in suppressing the regula- 
 tors. 
 
 Colonel Alexander Osborne married Agnes 
 McWhorter, sister of Rev. Alexander Mc- 
 VVhorter, President for a time of Queen's Col- 
 lege in Charlotte. 
 
 Colonel A. C)sborne's name is found on the 
 Committee of Safety for Rowan count}', in 
 1775. This was the last year of his life; he 
 died in 1776. In the graveyard at Centre 
 Church, his grave is seen marked by a slab, on 
 which are two panels, one for his own epitaph 
 and one for his wife, Agnes, who had died two 
 days before Colonel Osborne. He was buried 
 at Centre Church in the county of Iredell, only 
 a short distance from his home. Previous to 
 
 the erection of a church at Centre, the early 
 settlers congregated at his house for worship, a 
 fact mentioned in McAden's diary. 
 
 Colonel A. Osborne's onlj son Adlai, gradu- 
 ated at Princeton at the same time with his 
 cousin, ICphraim Brevard, who was a nephew of 
 Mrs. Alexander Osborne. 
 
 Colonel Alexander Osborne left four daugh- 
 ters : Rebecca, who married Mr. Nathaniel 
 Ewing : their son. Rev. Finis Ewing, married 
 a daughter of General William Davidson, who 
 fell at Cowan's Ford. Their descendants are 
 found in several of the northwestern States, as 
 also in Kentucky, and Ohio. Mary married John 
 Nesbit, — the family of that name in Georgia, 
 are descendants, the late Chief Justice Euge- 
 nius Nesbit, being one of the family. Jean 
 married Moses Winslow ; and Margaret married 
 Mr. John Robinson of Providence township, 
 Mecklenburg county. 
 
 Colonel Adlai Osborne was born June 4, 
 1744; he graduated at Princeton in 1768; mar- 
 ried in January 30, 1771, Margaret Lloyd, and 
 settled in Salisbury. He studied law, was ap- 
 pointed Clerk of the Court for Rowan under 
 the Crown, and continued until 1809. He was 
 a man of fine literary attainments, the firm 
 friend of education, and one of the first Board 
 of Trustees for the University. He died in 
 181 5, leaving a large family. 
 
 He participated in all the various meetings 
 held in Rowan during the Revolution, as will 
 be seen in reference to the journal of the com- • 
 mittee, which has been preserved. 
 
 Four of Colonel Adlai Osborne's sons gradu- 
 ated at Chapel Hill. The two elder, Thomas 
 Alexander and Edwin Jay, were in the first 
 class ever graduated there, (in 1798.) Adlai 
 Laurens, in 1802, and Spruce McCoy, in 1805. 
 
 Edwin Jay Osborne married Harriet Walker, 
 daughter of Captain John Walker of Wilming- 
 ton, North Carolina; studied law and settled in 
 Wilmington ; afterwards removed to Salisbury. 
 He was a man of many gifts and varied acquire- 
 
292 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 J>. 
 
 ments. He was distinguished as a fine conver- 
 sationalist. 
 
 His family consisted of three dau^jhters and 
 one son. Harriet Osborne who married Alex- 
 ander Duncan Moore of Wilmington, North 
 Carolina; Julia who married Mr. Frank of New 
 London, Connecticut ; Charlotte married Mr. 
 Holman of Alabama and James Walker Os- 
 borne. James W. Osborne, only son of Edwin 
 Jay and Harriet Osborne, was born in Salisbury, 
 North Carolina, on December 25, 181 1 , settled 
 in Charlotte, North Carolina ; married Mrs. Mary 
 A. Moore, daughter of John Irwin of Charlotte, 
 on April 5, 1842. Mrs. Osborne was the widow 
 of Thomas, J, Moore of South Carolina, by 
 whom she had one son, his namesake. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson Moore is a native of this 
 county, born April 30, 1843. He is the son of 
 the late ColonelThomas J. Moore of Madison 
 County, Mississippi, a native of Spartanburg, 
 South Carolina, who died at the early age of 
 twenty-six, yet left behind him an enviable 
 reputation as a lawyer and advocate. 
 
 His grandfather was General Thomas Moore, 
 of South Carolina, a soldier of the Revolution 
 and served his State as a General of brigade in 
 the war of 1812-15. He was a Member of 
 Congress from South Carolina from 1800 to 18 12 
 and again from 1 8 14 to 18 16, holding the posi- 
 tion at the time of his death. His mother was 
 Miss Mary Irwin, daughter of the late John 
 Irwin of this county, who after the death of her 
 first husband, married Judge Osborne, a sketch 
 of whose life is given in this volume. 
 
 Dr. Moore received his academic education at 
 the University of Louisiana; served during the 
 late war in the Confederate Army, going out as 
 a private in the first North Carolina Infantry, 
 (six months volunteers) (D. H. Hill's regiment) 
 and at the disbandment of the regiment 
 was appointed to a staff position, serving 
 for some time as one of the aid-de camps 
 of General D. H. Hill. After the war he stud- 
 ied medicine at the University of New York, 
 
 where he graduated with distinction in a class of 
 seventy-two, delivering the valedictory of his 
 class. He represented Mecklenburg in the State 
 Senate during the session of 1876-77. 
 
 Judge Osborne's family consisted of four sons 
 and three daughters. Three sons survived their 
 father, Robert D. Osborne, who served as a 
 private soldier in the late Civil War, was noted 
 for coolness and courage ; studied law, but died 
 in the prime of life. Frank Irwin Osborne, a 
 lawyer — practicing law in Charlotte — , Solicitor 
 of6thN. C, Judicial District, and James W. 
 Osborne, a graduate of Davidson College, also 
 a lawyer, residing in New York City. 
 
 These data of this able and estimable man 
 might seem ample, yet we preserve a more ex- 
 tended sketch from the pen of General D. H. 
 Hill, at the conclusion of the sketch of this 
 family. 
 
 Colonel Adlai Osborne, born June 4, 1744. 
 
 Margaret Lloyd Osborne, born June 23, 1754, 
 married January 30, 1771. 
 
 Colonel A. Osborne, died 18 15. 
 
 Mary Lloyd Osborne, oldest child of Colonel 
 Adlai and Margaret Lloyd Osborne was born 
 September 6, 1774. 
 
 Margaret McWhorter Osborne, born April 7, 
 1776. 
 
 Thomas Alexander Osborne, born February 
 
 14. 1778. 
 
 Edwin Jay Osborne, born March i, 1780. 
 
 Adlai Laurens Osborne, born October 19, 
 1782. 
 
 Spruce McCoy Osborne, born December 14, 
 1784. 
 
 Ephraim Brevard Osborne, born February 21, 
 1786. 
 
 Nancy Cecilia Osborne, born April 21, 1788. 
 
 Eliza Tabitha Osborne, born July 7, 1790. 
 
 PantheaL. Houston, born December i, 1793. 
 
 Franklin Washington Osborne, born January 
 
 I. 1795- 
 
 Mary Lloyd Osborne married, first, Mr. 
 Sharpe, a lawyer who lived in Statesville. Af- 
 
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 
 
 293 
 
 ter his death she married John Young of Iredell 
 county, and General John Young of Charlotte, 
 is their son. 
 I Margaret McWhorter married Robert David- 
 
 son ; died without children. 
 
 Thomas Alexander graduated at Chapel Hill, 
 in 1798; studied medicine; went to South 
 America, and died lighting in one of their wars. 
 
 Edwin Jay Osborne graduated at Chapel Hill 
 in 1798; studied law; settled in Wilmington, 
 North Carolina, married Harriet Walker ; by 
 this marriage left three daughters and one son : 
 Harriet (Mrs. Alexander Duncan Moore), Mrs. 
 Julia Frank, Mrs. Charlotte Holman, James W. 
 Osborne. 
 
 Spruce McCoy Osborne graduated at Chapel 
 Hill in 1805; studied medicine; entered the 
 army as surgeon ; was killed at the massacre of 
 Fort Mimms. 
 
 Ephraim Brevard Osborne studied medicine ; 
 married in Alabama ; settled in Texas ; left a 
 large family ; one of whom, Colonel Edwin Os- 
 borne, distinguished himself in our late war ; 
 another is Ezekiel Knox Polk Osborne an at- 
 torney at Charlotte, N. C. , and a third is Frank 
 J. Osborne a civil engineer. 
 
 Col. Osborne has taken orders and is now an 
 Episcopal minister, settled in North Carolina ; 
 he married Fanny Moore, his cousin, in the 
 second degree, a daughter of Harriet and Alex- 
 ander Duncan Moore, of Wilmington, North 
 Carolina ; they have five children. 
 
 Nancy Cecilia Osborne married Mr. Byers of 
 Iredell county ; left a large family. 
 
 Eliza Tabitha married Mr. Alexander Hogan ; 
 left no children. 
 
 Panthea L. Osborn married Colonel Houston ; 
 lived in Alabama ; has one descendant, Thomas 
 Houston, twenty one years of age; studying 
 for the Methodist ministry at the Vanderbilt 
 University, Tennessee. 
 
 Franklin Washington Osborne studied medi- 
 cine; died in Mobile, Alabama, a victim of yel- 
 low fever, whilst devoted to his practice. 
 
 We have met among the memoirs, published 
 at the time of the death of Hon. Jame.s W. 
 Osborne, one of the most distinguished members 
 of this family, whose memory is still warmly 
 cherished, an obituary notice so just and so 
 full, that we here insert it. It is from the pen 
 of General D. H. Hill. 
 
 "The nations of the earth, the most distin- 
 guished in history for prowess in the field, wis- 
 dom in legislation, progress in science and art, 
 purity of taste in polite literature, and refinement 
 in the social circle, are precisely those which 
 have most cherished the memory of their heroes 
 statesmen, scholars and patriots. It has been 
 well said that the land which erects no monu- 
 ments to its illustrious dead, will soon cease to 
 produce men worthy of a place in history. To 
 neglect departed greatness is to degrade living 
 eminence. 
 
 "The Bible, with its wonderful adaptation to 
 the wants of our race, sanctions cherishing ten- 
 der recollections of the saints of the Lord. 
 'The righteous shall be in everlasting remem- 
 brance.' 'The memory of the just is blessed.' 
 Here we have a prophecy and a command, both 
 involving a high obligation and a glorious priv- 
 ilege — to keep fresh and green in the minds of 
 men the memory of those who died in the full 
 hope of a blessed immortality. And thus the 
 friends of the late Hon. J. W. Osborne, feel that 
 in attempting a tribute to his exalted worth, 
 they are discharging a sad but gracious duty. 
 It is meet that we should revere the memory of 
 a man of mighty intellect, of profound scholar- 
 ship, and of matchless eloquence, who brought 
 all his rare and varied gifts and accomplishments 
 and laid them as an humble offering at the foot 
 of the Cross. There remains nothing now of 
 his manly person and noble mein, of his vast 
 learning and attainments, but 
 
 'The knell, the shroud, the coffin and the grave. 
 The deep, damp vault ; the darkness and the worm.' 
 
 "His simple faith in Christ was worth a thou- 
 sand-fold more than all his talents and acquire- 
 
294 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ments, and the lesson of his life comes home to "As an instance of the multifariousness of his 
 every bosom, "With all your getting^;, get un- learning, it may be mentioned that long before 
 derstanding." We can now think with grateful the Civil War, he had been a profound student 
 satisfaction that those great powers of mind, of military history and science. During the 
 which were our pride and astonishment on earth, siege of Yorktown, he gave a Division Corn- 
 are ever expanding in knowledge, ever getting mander such masterly reasons for its evacuation 
 new revelations of Divine love and ever attain- and so supported by authority and precedent, 
 ing new degrees of holiness. that he went to General Johnston and repeated 
 "Thesaddestsighton our afflicted earth is that them. Again, when the battle was in progress 
 of a man of great gifts, culture and refinement, ^^ Mechanicsville on the first of the seven days' 
 living out of Christ and deliberately choosing f^ ,^^ around Richmond, the same officer re- 
 
 to spend his eternity with the coarse, the brutal 
 and the depraved. With heartfelt gratitude we 
 adore that distinguishing love which made our 
 illustrious countryman choose that good part 
 which shall not be taken away. 
 
 ceived a letter from the Judge suggesting the 
 very movement that our troops were making. 
 Just after the battle of Chancellorsville, he 
 wrote : 'Lee has crushed Hooker with one wing 
 of his army. Let the other be thrown rapidly 
 
 "Tudsje Osborne was born in Salisbury, North ,^ r , -i -i ,. la ^ • 
 
 •' *= ' to Murfreesboro, annihilate Rosecranz and seize 
 
 Carolina, on the 25th of December, 1811, and 
 
 died in Charlotte on the i ith August, 1869, so 
 that he had hardly passed the meridian of life, 
 and until a short time before his death, ' his 
 eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.' 
 "He took his degree at Chapel Hill in June, 
 1830. At the University he specially delighted 
 in mathematics, and his success in that study 
 was eminent. His logical mind peculiarly fitted 
 him for the exact sciences. Hence, a distin- 
 guished lawyer said of him, that he had the first 
 legal mind in the State, though his varied and 
 extensive reading kept him from being as famil- 
 iar with the formula and technicalities of the 
 
 the waters of the Mississippi above Grant at 
 Vicksburg. ' There is every' reason to believe 
 that many Confederate officers thought that this 
 would be a wiser move than the advance into 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 "Fluency of speech was a natural gift with 
 Judge Osborne, and this, combined with his 
 vast acquaintance with books, made his language 
 the very choicest Anglo Saxon. His warm- 
 hearted, genial, pleasant manner, and bright, 
 kindly face added a charm to the whole, which 
 was absolutely irresistible. He had no equal as 
 a conversationalist, and his intimate friends can 
 never forget the grace and fascination of his 
 address. And so his ready command of the 
 best words, his learning, his enthusiasm, his 
 sonorous voice and graceful delivery, made him 
 one of the very first orators in the land. We 
 confess that we have been more impressed by 
 
 law, as were some of the routine lawyers. But 
 his keen perceptions and accurate judgment 
 made him know 7i'/iai tlu- laiv miffht to be in any 
 new case presented. 
 
 " The extent and variety of his reading was 
 truly marvelous. There was scarcely a subject 
 which he had not looked into, if indeed he had him than by Mr. Clay.or even by Mr. McDuffie. 
 not thoroughly mastered it. Few clergymen "The magic spell thrown around Judge Os- 
 
 outside of our Theological Seminaries were so borne in the social circle and on the hustings 
 well read in theology. He said to the writer of was his imperturbable good temper, and that 
 this, that there was a charm about the study of proceeded from his large hearted humanity, his 
 theology which no other reading possessed for sincere and unaffected love for his race. He 
 him ; and he devoured huge volumes of theo- had a kind word and a pleasant smile for every- 
 logic lore with the most eager relish. body, simply because he loved mankind. He 
 
MECKLENBURG COUNTY. 
 
 295 
 
 needed not a veil of charity to cover their crimes 
 and frailties; in his own simple guilelessness he 
 did not see their faults. Those who had known 
 him for thirty and forty years, say that they 
 never saw him angry. He had not an enemy 
 among the people with whom he has lived since 
 early manhood. We doubt whether he has one 
 in the world, notwithstanding the many impor- 
 tant trusts committed to him, the duties of which 
 he discharged faithfully and fearlessly. We 
 have seen liis antagonists quail beneath his bold, 
 yet courteous, advocacy of the truth. Yet the 
 most remarkable thing in the career of this great 
 man, was the hold he had upon the hearts of 
 men of every creed and party, although in his 
 official capacity he had often been opposed to 
 the interests and wishes of many. 
 
 "A brief summary of the incidents in his life, 
 and of the positions held by him, will show how 
 universal must have been the confidence in his 
 integrity, and how great must have been the 
 fascination of his amiability and philanthropy, 
 since he was enabled to discharge all his duties 
 conscientiously without giving offense and with- 
 out making an enemy. 
 
 "He studied law at Hillsboro,with Hon. W'm. 
 A. Graham, and was admitted to the bar at 
 Charlotte, in 1833. He took a high stand in 
 his profession at the very outset and maintained 
 it always. This was not due merely to his gen- 
 ius, his learning, and his eloquence, but in a 
 large degree to his unselfish and sympathetic 
 nature, which made him adopt his client's cause 
 as his own and identif)- himself thoroughly with 
 the interests, the views, and the feelings of the 
 client. 
 
 "He was twice Elector for the State at large, 
 first in the Clay campaign, and then in the con- 
 test between Seymour and Grant. He was ap- 
 pointed by President Fillmore, Superintendent 
 of the United States Mint at Charlotte, which 
 office he held for four years. He was chosen 
 by Governor Ellis to fill a vacant Judgeship in 
 1859, and the General Assembly confirmed the 
 
 selection November 26, i860. His decisions as 
 a Judge, were eminently wise, and just, and no 
 breath of suspicion ever soiled the spotlcssness 
 of his ermine. At the time of his death he was 
 a Senator in the General Assembly, as Meck- 
 lenburg still honored her own eminent men and 
 was not disposed, like some other counties, to 
 trust her interests to ignorant and incompetent 
 persons or greedy adventurers from abroad. 
 
 ' ' But it is as the Christian gentleman, we love 
 to think of our illustrious statesman. He was 
 sincerely and unaffectedly devout; a lover of 
 God and man. The Bible was a lamp to his feet 
 and a light to his path. For near twenty years 
 he was a ruling elder in the church at Charlotte. 
 In the last trying scenes of life his faith in Christ 
 was firm and unshaken. He could then say 
 with the Psalmist: "My flesh and my heart 
 faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and 
 my portion forever." 
 
 "It has been a favorite theory with Christian 
 poets and divines, that the characteristics of 
 the saints on earth will be preserved in Heaven, 
 ennobled, elevated and purified from all carnal 
 taint. Jeremiah in glory will be distinguished 
 for his pensive meditations, Isaiah for his re- 
 searches into the mystery of redeeming love, 
 John will carry his loving disposition with him, 
 Paul will retain his zeal and his energy. The 
 refined nations of antiquity held similar views, 
 and hence the classic allusions to death as an 
 eclipse, obscuring for a season, but afterward 
 allowing the same luminary to delight and to 
 dazzle. 
 
 " Wc who were in the belt of the late total 
 eclipse, observed a black spot projected on the 
 lower liirb of the sun. Gradually, the dark 
 shadow crept higher and higher. The great orb 
 sent out sickly and more sickly rays. The cat- 
 tle came lowing home. The bewildered fowls 
 of the air sought their roosts. The black spot 
 crept higher and yet higher, until darkness cov- 
 ered the sky, with here and there a star sending 
 forth a ghastly and unnatural light. Then the 
 
296 
 
 WHEFXER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 sun, like a mighty giant, threw off the black 
 mantle and came forth in all his strength, beauty, 
 and majesty, rejoicing our hearts with the saiiic 
 glorious beams that had been hid for a time. 
 ' And thus, as our friend was a star of the first 
 
 (1876) a member of the Legislature from Meck- 
 lenburg county, by 821 majority. 
 
 Robert Payne Waring is one of the worthiest 
 citizens of Mecklenburg county. He was grad- 
 uated at the University of Virginia, and became 
 
 magnitude, we contemplate his death as a tern- a commonwealth's attorney from 1855 to 1859 
 
 porary eclipse, and believe that when the 
 shadows of earth have passed away, the brilliant 
 intellect that dazzled us below, will shine out 
 with renewed effulgence above. We cannot 
 but think, too, that a man of his rare sweetness 
 of temper and forgetfulness of self, will find con- 
 genial companionship, amid the rejoicing and 
 unselfish hosts of Heaven throughout the cease- 
 less ages of eternity." 
 
 Randolph A. Shotwell, represented Mecklen- 
 burg county in 1876. He is a native of Vir- 
 ginia — born in West Liberty, December 14, 
 1844. He was at school in Pennsylvania when 
 the war commenced; and determining to unite 
 his fortunes with those of his native land, "ran 
 the blockade" through Washington and the 
 Federal lines, and joined the 8th Virginia Vol- 
 unteers, in time for the battle of Leesburg, 
 and was engaged in many battles and skirmishes 
 including among them Gettysburg. 
 
 In 1864 he was captured while scouting, and 
 held as a spy, and suffered many privations and 
 hardships. After the war was over he came, in 
 1866 to North Carolina, and started the Joiinia! 
 of Comiitoxc with Col. S. D. Pool. In 1868 
 he started the Vindicator at Rutherford. In 
 1870 he established the Citizen at Asheville. 
 He was arrested and carried to Raleigh, where 
 he was tried before Judge Bond for an alleged 
 connection with the Invisible empire, and con- 
 demned. He was sentenced to six years im- 
 prisonment in the Albany Penitentiary and a 
 fine of ^5,000. At the intercession of Colonel 
 Moseby, Plato Durham, and others, a pardon 
 was issued by President Grant. 
 
 On his return (November 1872) he became 
 associated with General D. H. Hill as editor, 
 and acted as such until 1877. He was elected 
 
 hen he was appointed United States Consul to 
 St. Thomas Island in the Danish Indies. He 
 filled this responsible and honorable position 
 with signal ability, reflecting great credit upon 
 our government. In June, 1861, he returned 
 to the United States where he was arrested and 
 held as a prisoner of state, in New York, until 
 October following. After the most thorough 
 investigation, no charge could be presented 
 against him. He had only, with his usual ur- 
 banity, lifted his cap in passing a vessel on the 
 water which bore the emblem of the infant 
 Confederacy. 
 
 Upon his release, he returned to North Caro- 
 lina, raised a company in June 1862, served as 
 captain till April, 1865, when he was captured 
 and kept at Camp Chase until July of the same 
 year. He then returned to his home in Char- 
 lotte, North Carolina, and became editor of the 
 Daily liiiios. 
 
 So fearless and outspoken was his condemna- 
 tion of the polititico military administration, 
 that he was arrested by the military command- 
 ant, in time of peace, and tried before a court- 
 martial where he was defended by Hon. B. F. 
 Moore, and Ed. Graham Haywood. Conviction 
 was a foregone conclusion, and he was offered 
 the alternative of paying a fine of $300, in three 
 days, or suffering six months imprisonment in 
 Fort Macon. 
 
 Such treatment gave him notoriety and his 
 paper a wider circulation. It was by his able 
 editorials he contributed largely to the change 
 of administration at the ballot box. Mr. War- 
 ing had been elector on the Buchanan ticket. 
 In 1870 he was sent to the Legislature, where 
 an important and novel question met him at the 
 threshold : ' ' Should North Carolina place her- 
 
MI'.CKLICNBURG COUNTY. 
 
 297 
 
 self on record as the first American State to 
 exercise the power of impeaching a Governor?" 
 Troops had been raised by this Governor, osten- 
 sibly to ferret out the perpetrators of two mys- 
 terious murders, but without a resort first to the 
 posse comitatiis — worst of all, this was done on 
 the eve of a general election. The best citizens 
 of the State, in two counties, had been arrested 
 without the pretense of indictment, or informa- 
 tion, and incarcerated as common felons to 
 await trial by a contemptible militia court-mar- 
 tial and this, too, in a time of profound peace. 
 Should such conduct, at the suggestion of prob- 
 able F'ederal interference be overlooked, or 
 should an example be made for posterity ? 
 Criminals who had robbed the state of millions 
 had escaped, whereas the intended defendant 
 was never suspected of sharing in their spoils. 
 Mr. W'aring's position was not doubtful. Lib- 
 erty is more valuable than money, and eternal 
 vigilance is its price. His influence was ac- 
 knowledged in appointing him on the committee 
 which prepared the articles of impeachment, and 
 
 which selected Messrs. Graham, Bragg, and 
 Merrimon, prosecutors. Messrs. Smith, Boy- 
 den, Conigland and McCorkle appeared for the 
 defendant. (See sketch of \\ . W. Holden, in 
 Wade county section.) He has since been re- 
 turned by increased majorities, generally, to 
 the State Senate, serving in that body on the 
 Judiciary Committee, and chairman of that on 
 Internal Improvements. 
 
 He has borne himself worthy of his anteced- 
 ents, and is ever alive to anything that touches 
 the dignity of the State. He is a strict con- 
 structionist of the Constitution as also of the 
 obligations of a gentleman. He has been twice 
 married — first to a daughter of Hon. Louis D. 
 Henry, and second, to the daughter Rev. N. 
 Aldrich, of whose charming society he has re- 
 cently been bereft. Since the organization of 
 the present Inferior Court of Mecklenburg 
 county, he has been unanimously chosen as 
 chairman at every election, — a terror to evil 
 doers and a praise to those who do well. 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 MOORE AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES. 
 
 Hon. Archibald McNeil resided in Moore 
 county. The records show that he represented 
 this county in the House in 1808-09, and in the 
 Stale Senate in 181 i-i 5-20-21-22, and was 
 elected a member 'of Congress (27th) — 1821- 
 23, and re-elected (29th) — 1825-27. 
 
 Hon. Archibald McBryde, also a resident of 
 this county, was a member of Congress (Xlth), 
 1809-11, and a member of the State Senate in 
 1813-14- I ^ 
 
 Governor Benj. WilliamsMooreo^ county was 
 elected a member of Congress (3rd) — 1793-95, 
 and Governor of the State, 1799 ; and re-elected 
 
 in 1809. In 1807-09 elected a member of the 
 State Senate. As General Davie had accepted 
 the Mission to France, Benjamin Williams was 
 chosen his successor as Governor. The new 
 Governor was a plain man of small pretensions. 
 He was simple, modest, and of irreproachable 
 character. He died in Moore county at his 
 residence, recently occupied by Dr. Charles 
 Chalmers. 
 
 He married Mary Eaton Jones, daughter of 
 Robin Jones of Halifax, by whom he had two 
 sons, Allen and Willie ; both of whom were edu- 
 cated in Eton College, England. 
 
298 
 
 WHEFXER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Dr. George Glasscock, during the early days 
 of our State, resided in this county at Cross 
 Hill. Dr. Glasscock was a native of Virginia. 
 His mother was the sister of Mary Ball, the 
 mother of Washington. Dr. Glasscock during 
 the march of Cornwallis and the raids of Fan- 
 ning, was with the Whigs as Surgeon. 
 
 He married Martha Howard and raised a fam- 
 ily of ten children, five sons and five daughters, 
 and his descendants are among the most enter- 
 prising and useful of our citizens. Dr. Glass- 
 cock was murdered in 1787 at the instigation of 
 Colonel Philip Alston 
 
 A cluster of houses soon acquired the character 
 of a town on the Cape Fear River, about 1730, 
 on the site now occupied by the town of Wil- 
 mington. Lots were surveyed and the village 
 was known as New Liverpool. In 1735, John 
 Watson obtained a grant for 640 acres of land 
 including the embryo city, and changed its 
 name of Newton. In 1 739, this name, by an act 
 of the assembly, was changed to Wilmington, 
 in honor of Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilming- 
 ton, the patron of Governor Gabriel Johnston. 
 Sir Spencer Compton, third son of Earl of 
 Northampton, was created Baron of Wilming- 
 ton, January 5, 1727; Viscount of Pevensy in 
 1730; Member of Parliament and Speaker of 
 the House of Commons. He was for some 
 time President of the Privy Council, and upon 
 the resignation of Sir Robert Walpole in Feb- 
 ruary 1742, was appointed first Lord of the 
 Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer. 
 He died July 2, 1742. (Martin's History, 
 294; Collins Peerage, III., 257; Uni. Mag., 
 v., 242.) 
 
 There is no portion of the State that was 
 more devoted to the cause of liberty during the 
 Revolution, than the Cape Fear section ; none 
 that more readily contributed its men and means 
 to its support. These glowing records exist, and 
 the fearless acts and heroic devotion of her sons 
 are written on the pages of history, and if gath- 
 ered, would form an imperishable monument to 
 their valor and patriotism. 
 
 Will not some son of New Hanover from this 
 "embarrassment of riches, " preserve, and pre- 
 sent these memorials in gratitude to worth and 
 valor? They would form a volume of thrilling 
 interest and greatest value. 
 
 The bold action of the New Hanover people 
 during the Stamp Act trouble was unsurpassed 
 by that of any other community. They seized 
 the Stamp Master in the Governor's Mansion, 
 and forced him to swear not to execute his office. 
 In consequence of their action, particular re- 
 strictions were laid on the Commerce of Wil- 
 mington, and the people embodied under the 
 leadership of John Ashe, marched to Ft. John- 
 son, where the Governor was, and demanded 
 redress, which was accorded. 
 
 In 1774 when the bill shutting up the Port of 
 Boston, was enacted by the British Parliament, 
 the citizens of Wilmington declared by public 
 resolutions : ''The cause of Boston to be the covi- 
 uioii cause of Aiuei-ica;" and the next month sent 
 by Parker Quince a ship-load of provisions to 
 their suffering and beleaguered countrymen. 
 
 The patriotic people of New Hanover 
 formed a Committee of Safety, with which 
 thepeople of Brunswick, Bladen, Duplin, and 
 Onslow united ; and when the Royal Governor 
 (Martin) summoned his Council to meet him in 
 January, 1776, on board of a Sloop of War, in 
 the Cape Fear River, this committee informed 
 the members of the Council that "the safety of 
 the country would not allow them to attend the 
 Governor." 
 
 The proceedings of this committee from No- 
 vember, 1774 to October, 177S, have been 
 printed from the original records, (Raleigh, 
 Thos. Loring, 1844), and prove the fearless con- 
 duct of the people. 
 
 The first conflict of arms after the military 
 organization of the State, occurred in this county 
 at Moore's Creek bridge, February 27, 1776, 
 when the colonists, under Caswell and Lilling- 
 ton met the royal forces, under MacDonald 
 and routed them with great loss. 
 
MfietefcWfBWRG COUNTY. 
 
 299 
 
 Among those devoted to the cause of the 
 people and whose life was laid down in the 
 struggle, was Cornelius Harnett, of whom a 
 biographical sketch has been presented (page 
 46). He is buried in Wilmington. 
 
 The Ashe family, whose services and whose 
 sacrifices in the cause of our country deserve 
 to be held in the perpetual memory of pos- 
 terity, is identified with this county. 
 
 Jones in his "Defense of North Carolina," 
 says: 
 
 "The Ashe family contributed more to the 
 success of the Revolution than any other in the 
 State. General John Ashe and his sons. Cap- 
 tain Samuel Ashe and his son William, Gov- 
 ernor Samuel Ashe and his son Samuel, Colonel 
 John Baptista, were all in constant service." 
 
 Every member of the Ashe family able to 
 bear a musket was in the army. 
 
 Some of this family have been already alluded 
 to, in sketches of Judge Thomas S. Ashe and 
 John B. Ashe. 
 
 We now present a genealogical table of this 
 distinguished family, followed by sketches of 
 such others as particularly deserve attention. 
 
 The family is of English origin and long set- 
 tled in Heightsbury, an ancient borough on the 
 river Willy in Wiltshire, England. 
 
 *John Baptista Ashe, the founder of the fam- 
 ily in North Carolina, was the friend of Lord 
 Craven, one of the Lord Proprietors of the 
 Province, and on this account visited the shores 
 of the new world. 
 
 He was prominent, active, and decided in the 
 affairs of the colony. 
 
 In 17725 he appeared as Counsel for Governor 
 Burrington who was then indicted for sedition 
 and treasable practices. I copy from the Rolls 
 Office, London, the following : 
 
 J: "1730, Dec. 14. Instructions issued to 
 Governor Burrington with his commission as 
 
 •Memoir of General lohn Ashe by A. M. Hooper, Wilnig, 
 1S54; Uiii Mag III, 366. 
 
 |. Kecorils of Board of Trade, London Proprieties, N. C, 
 No. 22, p. 37. 
 
 Governor of North Carohna, under the great 
 seal. William Smith, 'Nath.^Ricc, James Ten- 
 our, Robert Hatton, Edmund Porter, John Bap- 
 tista Ashe, Jas. Ilallard, Matthew ;^Rowan, 
 Richard Eyans, Cornelius Harnett, and John 
 Porter, Sen., named in the instructions as 
 Council:" 
 
 I copy from the same office, the following 
 extract from a Dispatch to the Duke of New 
 Castle, from Governor Burrington, dated Febru- 
 ary 20, 1732. 
 
 "Immediately before the Assembly met, Mr. 
 Price, the Secretary, and Mr. Ashe, came to- 
 gether from the Cape Fear to Edenton, the scat 
 of Govcinmcnt. Mr. Ashe when qualified, began 
 immediately to oppose me in the council. He 
 gained Mr. Smith and Mr. Porter to join him. 
 
 "Mr. Ashe is altogether bent on mischief I 
 have been a great friend to him. My benefits 
 he has returned with ingratitude. 
 
 "He is a great villian, and is unworthy of 
 sitting as Councillor in this Province. '' 
 
 The Governor adds, in the same dispatch that 
 "Cornelius Harnett, another of the council, 
 was bred a merchant in Dublin, and settled at 
 Cape Fear in this colony: "I am humbly of 
 opinion that Harnett's sitting in the council is a 
 disgrace toit, " (page 63). 
 
 On November 10, 1732, on the complaint of 
 George Burrington, Governor, to Wm. Owen, 
 one of the Justices of the General Court, that 
 John Baptista Ashe, did write and publish cer- 
 tain scurrilous libels to defame said Governor, 
 was committed to goal, until he gave bond and 
 security to appear before the Justices of the 
 General Court of the province." (See page 
 78.) 
 
 Mr. Ashe filed information, in return, which 
 the General Court, (William Little, Chief Jus- 
 tice ; William Owen, Macrora Scarborough, Jus- 
 tices) held at Edenton, last Tuesday in October, 
 1732, having duly heard and considered, decided 
 as their unanimous opinion, that the said infor- 
 mation being a prosecution against the said 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 George Burrington, Esq., now Governor, for a 
 crime or offense alleged to be done by him 
 whilst Governor; which by act of Parliament is 
 ordained elsewhere to be heard, and for that 
 the said court cannot compel the said Governor, 
 here to appear or answer thereto ; they cannot 
 hear or determine the same, and will not pro- 
 ceed in judgment. William Little, Chief Jus- 
 tice (page 79). 
 
 Thereupon Mr. Ashe, Nath. Rice, Secretary, 
 and John Montgomery, Attorney General, ad- 
 dressed a memorial to the Lord Commissioners, 
 at home, of great power, charging and impeach- 
 ing Governor Burrington of public misdemean- 
 ors and private wrongs, and praying protection 
 against oppression and relief against wrongs. 
 
 I copy further from the Rolls Office in Lon- 
 don, the following letter of Governor Burring- 
 ton, to Duke of New Castle. 
 
 " North Carolina, 
 
 June 5, 1734. 
 " May it please your Grace : 
 
 Having lived in this Province for some years 
 without receiving any money from the King, or 
 the country, I was constrained to sell not only 
 my household goods, but even my linen, plate 
 and lands and stocks. The many sicknesses 
 that seized me and their long continuance have 
 greatly impaired my constitution and substance. 
 My affairs and health being in a bad condition, 
 I humbly desire my Lord Duke, will be pleased 
 to obtain His Majesty's leave for my return to 
 England. 
 
 I am with profound duty, My Lord Duke 
 Your Grace's most humble and most devoted 
 servant. George Burrington." 
 
 He was allowed to return, and he died a mel- 
 ancholy death ; rioting as was his custom all 
 night, he was found dead in the streets of Lon- 
 don, one morning in the Bird Cage Walk, St. 
 James Park. 
 
 Gabriel Johnston succeeded Burrington 1734. 
 He died in 1735, leaving issue : I. John, H. 
 Samuel, and III. Mary. 
 
 Genealogy of the Ashe Family, -f- 
 John Baptista Ashe, the progenitor of the 
 family, was a lawyer practicing in the colony of 
 North Carolina, early in the eighteenth century. 
 He married Elizabeth Swann, the sister of Col- 
 onel Samuel Swann, and eminent lawyer, com- 
 piler of the Acts of the Assembly (1752) known 
 as "Yellow Jacket, " and speaker of the Assem- 
 bly, and along with Swann and others settled on 
 the Cape Fear. He was a man of wealth and 
 of culture. His literary abilities are attested by 
 his correspondence with the Home Government 
 arraigning Governor Burrington for his excesses 
 in the administration of the affairs of the colony. 
 He was the Speaker of the Assembly in 1727, 
 and Member of the Council in 1730. 
 
 He was fearless in his denunciation of Burring- 
 ton, who procured his imprisonment by a sub- 
 He lies buried at Gravely, four miles south of 
 Wilmington, now in possession of Marsdcn 
 Bellamy. 
 
 I. General John Ashe was born in North 
 Carolina, in 1 720; educated at Harvard College, a 
 popular leader and an eloquent speaker. Was 
 speaker of the Assembly from 1762 to 1765. 
 He opposed the Stamp Act, and from that time 
 until his death, in 1781, was the active and 
 constant champion of the cause of the colo- 
 nists. 
 
 Married Rebecca (sister of General James 
 Moore, and Judge Maurice Moore). To them 
 were born (a) John, a Major in the North Caro- 
 lina line ; (b) Samuel, commanded a troop of 
 light horses at the North during the war of '76; 
 (c) Harriet, married, first, to Davis — second to 
 Laspiere; (d) Eliza, married to William H. Hill, 
 Member of Assembly 1794, of Congress 1799; 
 United States District Attorney and appointed 
 to the Federal bench by President Adams. To 
 them were born Joseph Alston Hill, an orator 
 of great brilliancy, died, at an early age, in 1830, 
 and among other descendants may be mentioned 
 Wm. Henry Wright, United States Engineers ; 
 Griffith J. McRee; Judge Samuel Hall, of the 
 
!tft^€tet.l'Nl}UR-€ COUNTY. 
 
 301 
 
 Supreme Court of Georgia ; (e) Mary, married 
 to William Alston of Waccamaw, South Caro- 
 lina, whose son, Joseph Alston, was Governor 
 of South Carolina, 1812-1S14, and married 
 Theodosia, daughter of Aaron Burr; (f) Wil- 
 liam, lost at sea on a privateer, during the Rev- 
 olution ; (g) A'Court ; (h) Anna. None of 
 General Ashe's sons left issue. 
 
 II. Governor Samuel Ashe, was born on the 
 Cape Fear, 1725 ; educated at Harvard; studied 
 law with his uncle, Samuel Swann; became an 
 early, active and zealous adherent of the cause 
 of the colonies ; appointed by the Provincial 
 Congress, one of the Council of Thirteen to 
 govern the State, before the adoption of the 
 Constitution, and acted as its president ; Speaker 
 of the Senate, 1777, and one of the three judges 
 first chosen under the Constitution. He re- 
 mained on the bench until 179S, when he was 
 elected Governor, which office he filled three 
 terms. He died in 18 13. He married, first, 
 Mary, (daughter of John Porter who was one of 
 the incorporators of the town of Wilmington, 
 who when an infant in 171 1, was rescued by his 
 mother, a daughter of Governor Lillington, 
 from an Indian then in the act of dashing his 
 brains out against the house), by whom he had 
 (a) John Baptista, (b) Cincinnatus, and (c) 
 Samuel. 
 
 After the deatli of his first wife, he married 
 Elizabeth Merrick, by whom he had several 
 children, only one of whom, Thomas, arrived 
 at maturity ; (a) Colonel John^ Baptista Ashe, 
 just mentioned (also see page 204 ) served 
 throughout the war of 1776, was Lieutenant 
 Colonel of the North Carolina line; Speaker of 
 the House 1785; Member of Continental Con- 
 gress 1787 ; and of the United States Congress; 
 elected Governor in 1802, he died however, be- 
 fore qualifying. He married' Miss Montford, 
 a sister of Mrs. Wilie Jones, whose famous 
 repartee to Colonel Tarleton will long be re- 
 membered. Their son Samuel Porter Ashe 
 married Mary, a daughter of Colonel William 
 Shepperd — issue, John B. and Stephen. 
 
 (b) Cincinnatus was lost at sea in a privateer 
 with his cousin William. 
 
 (c) Samuel, born 1763, entered the army at 
 the age of sixteen, captured at Charleston, with 
 General Lincoln ; suffered terribly on prison- 
 ship ; after exchange served with Lafayette and 
 afterward with General Greene. He died in 
 1835 ; he married Elizabeth, a daughter of Col- 
 onel William Shepperd — issue, (a) Betsy, wife 
 of Owen Holmes, (b) Mary Porter, wife of Dr. 
 S. G. Moses of St. Louis, (c) John B., Member 
 of Congress from Tennessee, who married Eliza 
 Ha)- and moved to Texas, (d) William S. , born 
 1813 — died 1862, Member of Congress, 1849-55 ; 
 married Sarah Ann Green, and had Samuel 
 A'Court (^Vrti'5 Ohscivcr, Raleigh), John Grange 
 and others, (e) Thomas married Rosa Hill, (f ) Dr. 
 Richard Porter of San Francisco, married Lina 
 Loyall, (g) Susan, married to David Grove, 
 (h) Sarah, married to Judge Samuel Hall of 
 Georgia. 
 
 Thomas (the son of Governor Samuel Ashe 
 and his second wife, Elizabeth Merrick) married 
 Sophia Davis and had issue : (i) Pascal Paoli, 
 who married Elizabeth Strudwick, a daughter of 
 Colonel W. F. Strudwick by Martha, the sister 
 of Colonel William Shepperd, and had many 
 descendants, among them Dr. William Cincin- 
 natus Ashe of Alabama ; Hon. Thomas S. Ashe 
 (see page 6) of the Supreme Court of the State, 
 and Dr. Edmund F. Ashe of Wadesboro. (2) 
 Richard, who married Anna Moore and left 
 issue : Richard J. Ashe of California. (3) 
 Thomas, who married Elizabeth, sister of Ad- 
 miral Bell, United States Navy, who left issue 
 resident in Alabama. 
 
 HI. Mary, born 1723, married George Moore 
 and left issue. 
 
 General John Ashe (born 1720 — died i78i)son 
 of John Baptista, and his wife, Fllizabeth Swann, 
 was born at Gravely, Brunswick county, in 1720. 
 His education was liberal and was, it is believed, 
 finished at an ICnglish University.'-' 
 
 ■ .\ Memoir cf Clener.nl |ohn Ashe of the Revolution, by 
 A. M. Hooper and GiifTithMcRec, Wilmg. 1S54. 
 
302 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 He entered public life in 1762, as a Member 
 of the Colonial Assenably, and was chosen 
 speaker of this body. 
 
 His uncle, Samuel Swann, had filled this im- 
 portant position for nearly twenty years, with 
 great dignity. The speaker of the popular 
 branch of the Assembly held a commanding po- 
 sition, and was looked upon as the hereditary de- 
 fender of the rights of the people. In this high 
 place he in 1765 opposed the Stamp Act, and 
 resisted its enforcement. He so informed Gov- 
 ernor Tryon openly and fearlessly. As soon as 
 Colonel Ashe was informed of the approach of 
 the vessel containing the stamps, supported by 
 the efforts of Colonel Waddell, he embodied a 
 company of New Hanover militia, and prepared 
 for an open conflict. 
 
 When the Proclamation of the Governor, 
 (issued January 6, 1765) announced the arrival 
 of the stamps. Colonel Ashe demanded an in- 
 terview with the Stamp Master (Houston) who 
 was the guest of the Governor, which was re- 
 fused. Ashe threatened to burn the house, and 
 proceeded to execute the threat. The Governor 
 yielded, and Houston was surrendered. He 
 (Houston) was taken to the Market House and 
 made to sign a written pledge "never to perform 
 the duties of his office." 
 
 In 1770-71 Colonel Ashe was again elected 
 to the Lower House by the people. The trou- 
 bles with the Regulators now commenced, and 
 Colonel Ashe with Caswell, and others equally 
 distinguished in after days in the cause of the 
 people, felt it a duty to sustain the Government. 
 These have been already alluded to. 
 
 Colonel Ashe with his regiment was in the 
 battle at Alamance, and demonstrated that he 
 was not led by any factious opposition to the 
 Governor, but stood prompt and willing to sus- 
 tain the power of the Government. This may 
 have been an error, but Colonel Ashe thought 
 his course was in the line of duty. 
 
 In 1773, he was elected to the Assembly, and 
 was with John Harvey, Hcwes, Harnett, Howe, 
 
 Johnston, and Vail, a committee of correspond- 
 ence with the sister colonies, relative to the 
 proceedings of the British Parliament, and in 
 1774 he was with Caswell, Edwards, Harnett, 
 Hewes, Howe, Allen Jones, and Samuel John- 
 stone, a committee to reply to Governor Mar- 
 tin's speech. 
 
 This Assembly of March, 1774, was prorogued 
 by the Governor to May 26, and dissolved on 
 March 30, by Proclamation. Colonel Ashe and 
 others entered an Association this year, by 
 which they "bound themselves by every tie of 
 religion, honor, and nature, to be ready to go 
 forth and sacrifice their lives, and fortunes in 
 resisting force by force, to secure the safety and 
 freedom of their country. " 
 
 When it was ascertained that the Governor 
 (Martin) did not intend to call another assembly. 
 Colonel Ashe with John Harvey, Wm. Hooper, 
 Willie Jones, Samuel Johnston, and James Ire- 
 dell, projected a Provincial Congress, causing 
 delegates to be elected to meet at New Berne on 
 August 25, 1774. 
 
 The Governor issued a proclamation on Au- 
 gust 15, 1774, "condemning all elections and 
 assemblies of the people, and warning all offi- 
 cers of the King to prevent such illegal meet- 
 ings." 
 
 The Provincial Congress did meet at the time 
 and place designated. 
 
 In 1775, Colonel Ashe was appointed on the 
 Committee of Safety at Wilmington, and re- 
 signed his commission as Colonel, which ht held 
 under the Royal Government, and accepted the 
 same rank by election by the people. This is 
 the first instance of the acceptance of a military 
 commission under the authority of the people. 
 
 Apprehending that Martin meditated plans 
 to extend the fortifications of Fort Johnson, on 
 July 17, 1775, he attacked it with a force of 500 
 men and reduced it to ashes. 
 
 This overt act of violence was denounced by 
 Governor Martin in a Proclamation of August 
 8, 1775, " as a most treasonable outrage." In 
 
MOORl'. AND NI'IVV HANOVER COUNTIES. 
 
 303 
 
 the same proclamation, ho denounced the in- 
 tended meeting of the Provincial Congress at 
 Hillsboro, on August 20, 1775. 
 
 The Provincial Congress held a second session 
 at New Berne on April 4, 1775, in defiance of 
 this proclamation, and proceeded to place the 
 State under military organization. 
 
 Colonel Ashe and his brother in-law, Colonel 
 Moore, were rival candidates for the command 
 of the 1st Regiment. To the command Colonel 
 Moore was elected, with Francis Nash as Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel and Thomas Clark as Major. 
 
 Of the 2d Regiment, Robert Howe was elected 
 Colonel, with Alexander Martin as Lieutenant 
 Colonel, and John Patton as Major. 
 
 With patriotism and unabated zeal. Colonel 
 Ashe returned home and raised a regiment at 
 his own expense, on a pledge of his estate. So 
 enthusiastic was the feeling, that his recruits 
 unhesitatingly received the promissory notes of 
 Colonel Ashe in lieu of pay. 
 
 This Congress (at Hillsboro, August 20, 1775) 
 also substituted a form of civil rule (the Gov- 
 ernor having fled) administered through 
 L A Provincial Congress. 
 
 n. District Committees of Safety. 
 
 HL County and Town Committees. 
 
 B\' the Provincial Congress that assembled at 
 Halifax on April 4, 1776, Colonel Ashe was 
 promoted to the rank of a Brigadier General, 
 and took immediate command of the detach- 
 ments ordered for General Moore. 
 
 In 1779 he marched to the defense of Geor- 
 gia, and took post at Briar Creek. Here, on 
 March 3, 1779, he was surprised and defeated 
 by a superior force of British Regulars. 
 
 At the request of General Ashe, General 
 Lincoln ordered a Court Martial to examine into 
 this unhappy affair. 
 
 The Court Martial decided that "General 
 Ashe did not take all the necessary precautions 
 which he ought to have d>ne, to secure his 
 camp, and to obtain timely intelligence of the 
 movements, and approach of the enemy. But 
 
 they entirely acc^uit him of every imputation 
 or a want of personal courage, and that he re- 
 mained as long on the field, as prudence and 
 duty required, "'■' 
 
 In 1 78 1, General Ashe returned to his resi- 
 dence at Rocky Point, broken down in body 
 and mind, by misfortune and disease. Wilming- 
 ton was at this time a British Post, commanded 
 by Major Craig, (afterward Sir James Craig) and 
 Ashe was obliged to conceal himself in the re- 
 cesses of Burgaw Swamp,and only visit his family 
 by stealth. 
 
 He was betrayed to Major Craig by Manuel, 
 his confidential servant. A party of Dragoons 
 was sent to capture him. In his attempt to es- 
 cape, he was shot in the leg, and captured. He 
 was taken as a prisoner to Wilmington and finally 
 paroled. He died October, 1781, at the house 
 of Colonel John Sampson, in Sampson county, 
 on his way to the back country where he was 
 removing his family. 
 
 General Ashe was five feet, ten inches in 
 height, of olive complexion, brown hair, dark 
 hazel eyes, aquiline nose; features clear and 
 well defined, figure not large but rather slender, 
 and graceful in his carriage. 
 
 He married Rebecca, the daughter of General 
 Maurice Moore, sister of General James and 
 Judge Maurice Moore, by which union he had 
 seven children, one of whom, Mary, married 
 Mr. Alston of South Carolina, whose son Joseph 
 was the Governor of South Carolina (18 12-14) 
 and who married Theodosia, the only daughter 
 of Aaron Burr. 
 
 Another daughter of General Ashe, Elizabeth, 
 married Hon. William H. Hill, who represented 
 the Wilmington district in Congress, from 179910 
 1803. He was the son of William Hill, the ancestor 
 of the distinguished family of that name on the 
 Cape Fear. William Hill, the father, was a 
 native of Boston; a graduate of Harvard in 1756, 
 came to North Carolina on account of his health 
 and settled at Brunswick where he taught school. 
 
 A full account of this Ceurt is to be found in Moultrie. 
 
304 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 He married Margaret, daughter of Nathaniel ble pen to preserve the memory of the services and 
 
 Moore, and the grand-daughter of James Moore, talents of this distinguished man. 
 
 Governor of the two Carolinas by the daughter His oldest son, Charles, was a genius in fun 
 
 of Sir lohn Yeamans. His eldest son, John, and quite an amateur in the Drama. He gradu- 
 
 was a Lieutenant at the battle of the Eutaw ated at the University in 1817, and studied law. 
 
 Springs, and his son William the subject of this He possessed great vivacity, quick apprehension, 
 
 sketch, was distinguished in public life. He fluent and eloquent. He was the President of 
 
 studied law and was an eminent advocate. Wil- the Wilmington Branch Bank of the State, and 
 
 liam had a fine voice, and was fluent, eloquent, was esteemed, useful and intelligent, of a genial 
 
 and impressive. He was appointed by General temper and great hilarity. He bid fairto become an 
 
 Washington, United States District Attorney able advocate and useful citizen, but his untimely 
 
 for North Carohna; was in the Senate of the State death in 182 1, at the early age of 31, destroyed 
 
 in 1794 and represented his district in Congress such hopes. His son, William Henry Wright, 
 
 (6th and 7th) 1799 to 1S03. It was his for- of United States Army, whose early education 
 
 tune to have served in Congress in troubled was conducted by Rev. Adam Empie (whose 
 
 times. Party feeling ran high and bitter. The wife was Anne, the daughter of Judge Wright) 
 
 election of President (in 1801) for the first time and by whom he was prepared for William and 
 
 devolved on the House. William Hill voted Mary College, where he graduated with honor, 
 
 with Dickson, Grove and Henderson for Burr, He studied law with his uncle, Joseph A. Hill. 
 
 against Alston, Macon, Stanford, Stone, and 
 Spaight for Jefferson. 
 
 He was a decided Federalist. He married 
 Elizabeth, daughter of General John Ashe. 
 From this union sprung : 
 
 1. William Henry Hill. 
 
 2. Marry, who married Dr. James F. McRee, 
 and had Griffith J. McRee and others. 
 
 3. Julia, who married Dr. Ezekiel Hall, and 
 
 He soon abandoned this study and was appointed 
 a Cadet, at the United States Military Academy ; 
 here he was diligent and studious, and after grad- 
 uating was selected by Colonel Thayer as his 
 assistant in the construction of F"ort Warren. 
 
 In 1844, Lieutenant Wright published a 
 ' ' Treatise on Mortars. 
 
 In November, 1S45 he obtained a furlough to 
 visit Wilmington, where he was taken ill, and 
 
 had Judge Samuel Hall, of Georgia, and others. died at the residence of his uncle Dr. J. F. 
 4. Joseph Alston Hill, who died young, but McRee, on December 28, aged 31. 
 
 not until he had developed talents of peculiar 
 brilliancy. He was a member of the bar. In 
 the Legislature 1826-27-30; born 1800 — died 
 1830. 
 
 5. Anna, one of the daughters of W. A. 
 Hill, married Mr. Charles Wright, a son of 
 Judge Joshua Granger Wright,* born 1768; in 
 
 He married Eliza, daughter of J. R. London, 
 Esq., by whom he had two children. 
 
 William A. Wright, (born 1807— died Ma>', 
 1878) third son of Judge Joshua G. Wright, 
 was educated at the University, and graduated in 
 1825 at the early age of 18. He studied law, to 
 the faithful and laborious practice of which, he 
 
 Legislature from 1792 to 1800: Speaker of devoted the energies of his life. Mr. Wright 
 
 House 1800; elected Judge 1809; married Su- was the early and devoted advocate of Internal 
 
 san Bradly ; died 18 1 1, leaving eight children. Improvements. He was one of the original 
 
 It is to be regretted that more has not been corporators of the Wilmington and Raleigh, now 
 
 recorded of Judge Wright, but the data given of the Wilmington and Weldon Rail Road — elected 
 
 his public services will enable some more capa- g^ Director in 1836, and continued so until his 
 
 *3ee Uni. Mag., May 1S53. II., 187. death. He married Ann Eliza, daughter of 
 
IMOORK AND NEW HANOVI-:!^ COUNTIES. 
 
 305 
 
 William Hill, who survi\-cs him, with two mar- 
 ried daughters and a son. 
 
 Governor Samuel Ashe, son of Joiin l^aptista 
 A.shc, (born 1725 — died 1813) was educated at 
 Harvard, and studied law. He, however, served 
 throughout tiie Revolutionar}- War, in \arious 
 ijiilitary and civil capacities. 
 
 He was a Member of the Pro\incial Congress 
 at H iilsboro, on August 21, 1775, and one of 
 the council of thirteen to whom the government 
 of common wealth was committed. He was also 
 a member of the convention that met at Halifax, 
 on April 4, 1776, and also of the same, in Novem- 
 ber, 1776, which formed the State Constitution. 
 
 In 1777 he was chosen one of the three Judges 
 under the State Government, John Williams and 
 Samuel Spencer, being the others, which he re- 
 signed on being elected Governor of the State, 
 
 1795- 
 
 As a Judge he was firm, upright in character, 
 clear-headed and progressive. In the case of Bay- 
 ard and wife against Singleton, the idea was first 
 enunciated by him that the courts had the power 
 to pronounce a Statute of the Legislatiu'e uncon- 
 stitutional. To those who had been trained to 
 assertthe omnipotence of the British Parliament, 
 this seemed little short of treason; but it is now 
 settled law and considered as one of the bulwarks 
 of liberty. 
 
 He married first Mary Porter, and afterwards 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Merrick, by whom he had 
 
 Thomas, who married Davis — -whose son, 
 Pascal Paoli was the father of Judge Thomas S. 
 Ashe whose biography we have already gi\en. 
 
 By his first wife he had 
 
 I. John Baptista Ashe. 
 
 II. Samuel, Hediedin 18 13, and was buried 
 at the Neck Plantation, where many of the de- 
 scendants of the name, now 
 
 " Sleep the sleep that knows no waking.'' 
 
 John Baptista Ashe (born 1748 — died 1795,) 
 son of Governor Samuel Ashe, was distinguished 
 as a soldier and a statesman. Early in the Revo- 
 lution, he was appointed a captain in the 6th 
 
 Regiment of Continental Troops (Colonel A. 
 Lillington's). He had previously been under 
 fire at Alamance in 1771, and was badly treated 
 by the Regulators. I Ic was with General Greene 
 at the hard fought battle of the Eutaws (Septem- 
 ber 1 781). 
 
 After the close of the war he was elected to 
 that august body, the Continental Congress, in 
 1787, and a member of the First Congress of the 
 United States — 1789 to '91, and re-elected to the 
 next Congress, 1791-93. 
 
 During his career in the Continental and United 
 States Congress he displayed the same imtiring 
 opposition to sectional power, that had charac- 
 terized the name of A.she. I'isher Ames of 
 Massachusetts, was a Member of Congress with 
 Ashe, and their views were antagonistic. One, 
 intensely northern; the other, southern. On 
 calling the roll, this became so noticeable that 
 some one wrote — 
 
 " Fisher Ames and others say Aye, 
 John Baptista Ashe says Nay." 
 
 In 1795, he was elected from Halifax to the 
 Legislature, and b>- that bod\' elected Governor, 
 but died before being inaugurated, leaving one 
 son. 
 
 Samuel Ashe, the son of Governor Samuel 
 Ashe, (born 1763 — died 1835), was brave, mod- 
 est, and unobtrusive. He early entered the 
 army, and served to the close of the war. The 
 following is copied from the records of the Pen- 
 sion Bureau, which relates in a brief and modest 
 manner his militar)' ser\-ice. 
 
 Samuel Ashe, on June 10, 1828, filed an ap- 
 plication under Act of 1822 and declared that he 
 was an officer of the Continental Line of the 
 Revolution as Lieutenant, and served as such 
 to the end of the war, (sworn to before Thomas 
 E. Da\is, Clerk of Coint of Pleas for New 
 Hano\'er count)-, North Carolina.) 
 
 A letter is on file with this application by Mr. 
 Ashe, which states "he in the early part of 1779, 
 being about seventeen )-ears of age, received a 
 subaltern's commission in the 6th Regiment of 
 
3o6 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 North Carolina Line. He joined the North Caro- 
 lina Line at Charleston, and by orders of Briga- 
 dier General Hogan ; and he was appointed a 
 Lieutenant in ist North Carolina Regiment, 
 commanded by Colonel Thomas Clarke. At 
 the surrender of Charleston on May 12, 1 780, 
 he was taken prisoner at Haddull's Point, where 
 he remained until Summer of I 78 I, when he was 
 exchanged and sent under a flag to Jamestown, 
 Virginia. There he joined the army under the 
 Marquis De La Fayette. In August or Septem- 
 ber, with certain North Carolina troops he joined 
 the Army of the South under command of Gen- 
 eral Greene, under whose command he continued 
 until peace." 
 
 He married Elizabeth Shepherd, by whom he 
 had : 
 
 I. John B. Ashe, who moved to Tennessee, 
 and was a representative in Congress from that 
 State in 1843-45. 
 
 II. William Shepard Ashe, born 1S14; law}-er 
 by profession, rice planter and farmer. 
 Elected to State Senate in 1846-48, and elected 
 Member of Congress (31st,) 1849, and re- 
 elected to 32nd and 33rd, when he 
 declined a re-election and in 1855 became Presi- 
 dent of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, 
 in which position he continued until his death. 
 He was a man of indomitable energy, and perse- 
 verance ; of irresistible personal popularity. As 
 evidence of this he urged and procured the pas- 
 sage of the North Carolina Railroad b)^ a Demo- 
 cratic Legislature which was not favorable to 
 such improvement. Another instance of his 
 great influence over his associates and his mag- 
 netic power in controlling men occurred in 1854, 
 in procuring an appropriation of $150,000 for 
 the Cape Fear River, from a Democratic Con- 
 gress. Finding some of his Democratic friends 
 decidedly against the work, he persuaded them 
 to retire for awhile and they did so. Soon the 
 House was without a qucirum, and it became 
 necessary to go out to get a quorum, to take the 
 vote, and they were called in. The bill passed. 
 
 In the war (1861) he was of pronounced 
 Southern feelings and was in charge of the trans- 
 portation of the Confederacy with the rank of 
 Major. 
 
 He met a tragic death — returning from Wil- 
 mington on a hand-car, on September 14, 1862, 
 to his home, the mail triin near the bridge over 
 the North I'^ast River, ran o\-er the hand-car, in- 
 flicting such injuries on him that he died the next 
 day. 
 
 He married Sarah Green; and of a once large 
 and happy family, only two now remain — Capt- 
 tain Samuel A. Ashe of Raleigh, and Willie, his 
 sifter. 
 
 William Swann was the eldest son of Samuel 
 Swann and his wife, Sarah, daughter of Governor 
 William Drummond. This Samuel Swann was 
 the first of the name in North Carolina. 
 
 His grandfather, William, had been Collector 
 of the Royal Customs in Virginia, and he held 
 the same office at Edenton. 
 
 Samuel was Speaker prior to 17 15. He had 
 nine children by his first marriage two of these, 
 William and Thomas, were Speakers of the 
 Lower House. He was born May 11, 1653. 
 He married a second time, Elizabeth, daughter 
 of Major Alexander Lillington, and the widow of 
 Colonel John-^ahdal. By this marriage he had 
 Sarah, the wife of Frederrick Jones, 
 Elizabeth, wife of John Baptista Ashe ; Samuel 
 who was also Speaker, and the greatest man of 
 the name, and Major John Swann. The second 
 Samuel, born October 31, 1704, married and left 
 three children. 
 
 Edward Mosely married Anne Lillington, 
 aunt of Samuel and John Swann, who was the 
 widow of Henderson Walker. 
 
 On July II, 1787 Samuel Swann fell in a duel 
 with John Bradley. Moore's History Vol. I., 
 
 William Hooper, who was one of the signers 
 of the Declaration of Independence, (born 1 742 
 — died 1790), was a resident of Wilmington. 
 He was a native of Boston, the son of Rev. 
 
IMOORI'; AND Nl'.W IIANOVI-.R COUNTIKS. 
 
 307 
 
 William Hooper, a member of a Congregational 
 church in Boston. He was liberally educated, 
 and graduated at Cambridge 1760. He studied 
 law, under James Otis, and settled about 1767 
 in Wimington, to practice his profession. He 
 soon became Jistinguished for eloquence, and 
 learning. In the case of the heirs of Governor 
 Dobbs, to recover a landed estate of Abner 
 Nash who married the widow of Dobbs, he ex- 
 hibited extraordinary power. In 177.3 he rep- 
 resented the town, and in 1774 the county in 
 the General Assembly. 
 
 From 1773 to 1777, he was a Member of the 
 Continental Congress, and during this period 
 appended his name to the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence of July 4, 1776. 
 
 On his return to private life, he resided at his 
 seat at Masonboro Sound, about eight miles from 
 Wilmington, but the occupation of that place 
 by Major Craig, compelled him to seek safety in 
 flight. 
 
 -After the evacuation by the enem)- (in No 
 vember 17^1) he returned and shortly afterward 
 removed to Hillsboro. Hisdays were soured by 
 political collisions, and the disgust he felt and 
 expressed for some measures of legislation. He 
 died at Hillsboro, October, 1790, leaving a widow 
 {lice Clark, daughter of Thomas Clark of Boston) 
 two sons and a daughter. One of his sons, 
 William, was the father of the late Dr. William 
 Hooper, Professor of Languages in the Univer- 
 sity, the best prose writer of his day ; also of 
 Thomas, a Lawyer, and of James, who was a 
 merchant. 
 
 An article in a Raleigh Journal, says that 
 "there is a street called Blood worth, in that 
 capital," and asks, "who was Blood worth ; for," 
 it adds, "we never heard of this distinguished 
 man." This proves the evanescence of all hu- 
 man honors, and of popularity, and the impor- 
 tance of preserving the names and fame of those 
 who "have done the State some service." 
 
 It is but little that we could gather, but that 
 may be better than nothing. 
 
 Ilewasa Member from New Hanover, in 1779, 
 to 1794, with some intermissions. He was in 
 the Continental Congress, 1786, and of the First 
 Congress of the United States, 17S9 to '91, 
 and a Senator in Congress from 1795 to 1801, 
 and afterwards collector of customs at Wilming- 
 ton. He died August 14, 18 14. 
 
 When the question as to locating the seat of 
 Government for the State, came up in the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, and the contest was narrowed 
 down to Fayetteville or Raleigh, it was by his 
 vote the latter was selected ; by this act he sac- 
 rificed his popularity. 
 
 In gratitude to him, the Commissioners, who 
 laid out the city of Raleigh, perpetuated his 
 name by calling one of the streets after him. 
 
 He was not higliK' educated, but like Judge 
 Williams was a devoted patriot and of much 
 usefulness in the State Councils. Few men of 
 his day possessed broader views or a stronger 
 will. He was intensely radical, almost a red 
 Republican in his views and as intolerant of oppo- 
 sition as was General Thomas Person. (Moore 
 I. 246) 
 
 Edward Jones (born 1763 — died 1842) was 
 brother to William Todd Jones, the Irish patriot. 
 Born near Belfast; a merchant; settled in Wil- 
 mington, but failed as a merchant. He then 
 studied law, and attained high distinction. His 
 commanding talents, his genial manners, and 
 benevolent temper rendered him a universal fa- 
 vorite. He was elected a Member of the As- 
 sembly from Wilmington, in 1788, and by re- 
 peated elections to '91, when he was elected So- 
 licitor General of the State. In this capacity 
 Mr. Jones displayed great learning and talents. 
 In prosecution of the great frauds in 1796, he 
 completely eclipsed the pretentious Blake Baker, 
 then the Attorney General. (Moore I. 13.) 
 
 He died in Piltsboro, August 8, 1842. He 
 was the friend and patron of Johnson Blakely, 
 (born October 1781 — lost at sea 18 14) ; who was 
 the son of an Irish emigrant; born at Seaford in the 
 County Down, Ireland, in October, 1781. His 
 
W8 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 father came to Wilmington with his wife and 
 two small children, and in a short time after his 
 arrival, he died. Colonel Jones with the spon- 
 taneous generosity of an Irishman, took charge 
 of the boy, fed, clothed and educated him. He 
 was sent to the University. He felt that this 
 charge on his patron was not proper, and his 
 friends procured for him, February 5, 1800, an 
 appointment as Midshipman in the United States 
 Navy. He sailed under Commodore Preble to 
 the Mediterranean ; for his activity, assiduity, 
 and exemplary conduct, he soon was promoted. 
 In 18 14, he sailed from Portsmouth, New Hamp- 
 shire, in command of "The Wasp," for the 
 English coast; h^ encountered, on July 28, 
 18 14, the sloop of war "Reindeer." An action 
 ensued and the " Reindeer" was captured. Her 
 Captain and First Lieutenant were killed, as also 
 many of the crew. This won for Captain Blakely 
 the applause of the nation and the thanks of the 
 State. 
 
 He fell in with the "Avon," in August fol- 
 lowing, which ship, after a severe action, sur- 
 rendered to Blakely. 
 
 From the 1st to 15th August, Blakely took 
 fifteen ships from the English. One of these, 
 the "Atlanta," he placed under a Prize Master, 
 and sent home with dispatches. This is the last 
 authentic intelligence ever received from Cap- 
 tain Blakely. 
 
 His ship may have been sunk in a sea fight, 
 or foundered. And so perished, at the early 
 age of thirty three, this gallant officer. 
 
 He married (December 1813) Jane, daughter 
 of Mr. Hooper of New York ; left one daugh- 
 ter, Udney. In December, 1816, the Legisla- 
 ture adopted her as "the child of the State," 
 and ordered that she be educated and maintained 
 at the expense of North Carolina. 
 
 The widow of Captain Blakely married a sec- 
 ond time, Dr. Abbot of Santa Cruz, and 
 removed to that place, taking the daughter with 
 her. The daughter married in 1841, when 
 about twenty-six yeais old and died in 1842, 
 
 without issue. (Uni. Mag., February, 1850.) 
 James Innes of Wilmington. Much interest is 
 connected with this name, since from his will, duly 
 proven in 1759 before Governor Dobbs, the 
 "Innes Academy" had its origin. In April of 
 that year, the Legislature passed an act incor- 
 porating the Academy with Samuel Ashe, A. 
 McLain, William Hill, and others as Trustees. 
 Before the Academy building was completed a 
 theatrical corps had been organized in Wilming- 
 ton, and an arrangement was made between 
 them and the trustees, that the lower part of 
 the building should be fitted up and used ex- 
 clusively as a Theatre. This arrangement was 
 carried out, by a 'perpetual lease made to the 
 "Thalian Association." 
 
 The name of Colonel Innes is frequently met 
 in the accounts of the State. He was born in 
 Scotland, and lived at Point Pleasant, on the 
 North East Branch of the Cape Fear River, 
 about seven miles from Wilmington. He had 
 been an officer of rank in the British Army, and 
 was distinguished in the expedition against Car- 
 thagena, in South America. He was consid- 
 ered a man of mark and possessed of consider- 
 able estate. 
 
 When Governor Dinwiddle of Virginia, ap- 
 plied to President Rowan, then acting Governor 
 of North Carolina, for aid to check the French 
 and Indians on the Ohio, Colonel Innes marched 
 at the head of the North Carolina troops to 
 Winchester, Virginia. This was in 1754. 
 Washington Irving, in "Life of Washington," 
 gives an account of this campaign, and states 
 that "the North Carolina troops rendered no 
 service." 
 
 The Legislature ofNorth Carolina voted sixty 
 thousand dollars for subsistence of the forces 
 under Colonel Innes, but this was soon exhausted 
 and such was the feeling at Williamsburg that 
 not a dollar was voted to retain the force sent 
 to defend them. The North Carolina troops had 
 to return to prevent starvation. Col. Innes 
 was appointed Commander in-Chiel of the entire 
 
MOORE AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES. 
 
 309 
 
 forces by Gov. Uinwiddie, of Virginia, and re- 
 tained this position until the arrival of Gov. 
 Braddock in 1755. He died shortly afterwards 
 at Winchester, Virginia. 
 
 We further discover that after the death of 
 Colonel Innes, his widow, Jean, married Fran- 
 cis Corbyn, Lord Granville's agent, who lived 
 below Edenton, and who was seized in 1759. by 
 the people, taken to Enfield, compelled to give 
 bond to produce his books, and disgorge his 
 illegal fees. 
 
 Further research of some patient investigator 
 of history may discern more of the life and ser- 
 vices of Colonel Innes, which, as he was one of 
 the early settlers of the Cape Fear, would be of 
 great interest. 
 y Genealogy of the Davis Family. 
 
 Four brothers, Jehu, John, William, and 
 Roger Davis emigrated from South Carolina, to 
 the Cape Fear about 1723. 
 
 I. Jehu Davis, married Miss Assup, an Irish 
 lady and had issue — four children : (i) Jehu ; (2) 
 Thomas ; (3) Ann, and another daughter. 
 
 (i) Jehu Davis (son of Jehu the elder) mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Eagles and had issue two daugh- 
 ters: (a) Jane, and (b) Elizabeth. 
 
 (a) Jane married John Pugh Williams and had 
 issue: (i) Rebecca, who married Alfred Moore 
 (son of Judge Alfred Moore) and had issue : 
 Susan, who married Hugh Waddell, and Eliza- 
 beth who married Francis N. Waddell. 
 
 (2) Elizabeth E. who married John Haywood 
 (Treasurer of North Carolina) and had issue : 
 Fabius J., Elizabeth Rebecca, Francis, and E. 
 Burke. 
 
 (3) Mrs. Hall, who had issue, Mildred who 
 married Alfred Waddell. 
 
 (b) Elizabeth married Maurice Jones, and had 
 issue: (i) Margaret, who married Richard Ea- 
 gles, and had issue: Richard W. Eagles; Nancy, 
 who married Jacob Brewster ; and Margaret, who 
 married John Brewster ; (2) Sarah Jones, who 
 married Dr. Nath. Hill, (his second wife) and 
 had issue: Nath. M. Hill. 
 
 (2) Thomas Davis (son of Jehu the elder) 
 married Mary Moore, daughter of George 
 Moore (who was the son of " Old King Roger 
 Moore," the "chief gentleman in all Cape 
 Fear," and grandson of the first (iovernor James 
 Moore of South Carolina) and had issue: (i) Jehu, 
 (2) George, (3) Rebecca, (4) Sophia, (5) Jane, (6) 
 Ann, and (7) Thomas F. Davis. 
 
 (i) Jehu married Jane Quince and had issue : 
 Thomas I. Davis (who married Mary Elizabeth 
 Watters,and had William W. and Fred S. Davis, 
 Mary Quince, Annie W. Miller, Rebecca, Jane, 
 Sallie, Kate, and Julia Davis) and Mary Davis 
 who married John Poisson and had issue : Jehu 
 D. and Louis J. Poisson. 
 
 (2) George, married Mildred Watters, no 
 issue. 
 
 (3) Rebecca married James Moore (son of 
 General James Moore) and had issue : Junius A. 
 who married Eliza Clitheral, and Sophia mar- 
 ried Samuel Strudwick. 
 
 (4) Sophia married Thomas Ashe (son of 
 Governor Samuel Ashe) and had issue: Thomas 
 Ashe, Richard Ashe, and Pascal Paoli Ashe 
 (father of Hon. Thomas S. Ashe, Justice Su- 
 preme Court of North Carolina ; Cincinnatus, 
 Edmunds and others). 
 
 (5) Jane married Dr. Nath. Hill (his first wife) 
 and had issue (i) Mary, who married John A. 
 Lillington, and had John A., Margaret H., 
 Mary and Sarah Jane; (2) Jane, who married 
 Parker Quince ; (3) Sarah, who married Lewis 
 Toomer ; (4) Margaret married, first, Evan 
 Jones; second, Dr. Jas. Henderson. 
 
 (6) Ann Davis married Richard Quince and 
 had issue : Nancy, died unmarried. 
 
 (7) Thomas F. Davis married, first, Sarah 
 Isabella Eagles, and had issue: (a) Thomas F. 
 Davis (Bishop of South Carolina), (b) Junius 
 Davis, (c) Eliza, (d) George and (e) Joseph; 
 married, second, Anna Cutlar and had issue: 
 Horatio Davis. 
 
 (a) Thomas F. Davis (Bishop of South Caro- 
 lina) married, first, Elizabeth Fleming and had 
 
3IO 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 issue: Thomas F., who married Mary McCaa ; 
 married, second, Ann Moore and had issue: (i) 
 Ann F.., (2) Sallie married John S. Porcher, (3) 
 James M. married Miss De Saussure, (4) John, 
 (5) Bruce married Miss Reynolds, (6) Junius 
 married Sallie De Saussure. 
 
 (b) Junius married Ann Swann and had issue : 
 George, Josephine, Annie. 
 
 (c) Eliza married Dr. Louis J. Poisson and 
 had issue: (1) Frederick D. who married Luc\- 
 Anna Cutlar, (2) Marianna married Du Brutz 
 Cutlar. 
 
 (d) George Davis (Senator and afterward At- 
 .torney General C. S. A) married, first, Mary A. 
 Polk (daughter of General Thomas G. Polk) 
 and had'issue : Junius, Mary E., Emily P. mar- 
 ried John E. Crow, Louis P., Isabel E. married 
 S. P. Shotter, Meeta A. married, George 
 Rountree ; second, Monimia Fairfa.x, and had 
 issue : Mary F. and Monimia C. 
 
 (3) Ann Davis (daughter of Jehu the elder) 
 married Richard Quince. 
 
 II. John Davis (brother of Jehu the elder) 
 married a daughter of John Moore (son of James) 
 and had issue: Jessie, who married, first. Gov- 
 ernor Dobbs, and second. Governor Abner 
 Nash. 
 
 III. Roger Davis (brother of Jehu the elder) 
 married a daughter of Nathaniel Moore (brother 
 of "Old King Roger" Moorf) and had issue: 
 John (who married Harriet Ashe), William and 
 Roger. 
 
 Bishop Thomas Frederick Davis (born 1804 — 
 died 1871) was a native of Wilmington ; he was 
 carefull) educated and graduated at the Uni- 
 versity in 1822, in same class with Lucius Polk, 
 Gov. A. Rencher and others. He studied law, 
 and practiced for a time with success. But his 
 tastes and feelings led him to advocate higher 
 and more important interests than those of a 
 worldly chaiacter; he relinquished the bar to 
 take Holy orders. He was most acceptable as 
 a teacher of religion, and his public utterances 
 were marked with sincere piety and glowing 
 
 eloquence. He was chosen Bishop of South 
 Carolina and consecrated in 1853, in New York, 
 and for nearly a quarter of a century adminis- 
 tered to his loving congregations in holy things. 
 Physical infirmity (the loss of eyesight) clouded 
 the later days of hislife. He died in December 
 1 87 1, leaving the church, his country and his 
 family, to mourn his loss. 
 
 His brother, Hon. George Davis, (born March, 
 1820) now resides in Wilmington. His early 
 education was conducted by W. H. Harden and 
 completed at the University, where he gradu- 
 ated in 1838; he studied law and was admitted 
 to the bar, in 1841, of which he is at this time, 
 " a well deserving pillar," and stands in the 
 front ranks of the profession. His efforts as an 
 Essayist and Lecturer, have been most success- 
 ful. His address at the University in 1835* 
 and recently " An Episode on Cape Fear His- 
 tory," display his accuracy as a historian, and 
 his style as a writer. 
 
 He was a delegate to the Peace Congress at 
 Washington in 1861, to devise some plan by 
 which the evils of civil war might be averted. 
 With such able coadjutors as Barringer, More- 
 head, Reed and Ruffin, Mr. Davis might well 
 have hoped for an honorable peace. But all 
 was in vain and his counsel was unheeded. 
 
 He was elected a Senator from North Caro- 
 lina, in 1862, to the Confederate Congress; in 
 1S64, was succeeded by Hon William A. Gra- 
 ham. He was then appointed Attorney Gen- 
 eral of the Confederate States, which he held 
 until the war closed. Since that time, he has 
 devoted himself to his profession, with an assi- 
 duity that nothing can divert. 
 
 ?^Ir. Davis has been twice married; first, to 
 Mary, the daughter of the late General Thomas 
 G. Polk, and secondly to Miss Fairfa.x, daugh- 
 ter of Dr. Orlando Fairf.i.K of Richmond, Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
 Hugh Waddell (born 1799— died 1878; re- 
 
 Soutli .\llanlic. — Mis. Ciccio W. Hauls, January 1879 
 —245. 
 
MOORI-: AND NKVV HANOVER COUNTIKS. 
 
 3" 
 
 sided at the time of liis deatii in Wilmington; 
 he was born at Newfield, his father's plantation 
 in Bladen county, on March 21, 1799. He was 
 the grandson of General Hugh Waddell, of the 
 Regulation War, as also of General PVancis 
 Nash, who fell in battle, at Germantown, Octo- 
 ber 4, 1777. 
 
 Our annals do not present any name of a 
 more illustrious ancestry. His father, John 
 Waddell who married ]\Iiss Nash, spared no 
 pains to prepare his promising son for the great 
 battle of life. He graduated at the University, 
 (18 1 8) in the same class with James K. Polk, 
 Bishop Greene of Mississippi, Dr. R. H. Mor- 
 rison, General Thomas J. Green, Hamilton C. 
 Jones, and others. He, forawhile, studied medi- 
 cine but abandoned it for the law, of which pro- 
 fession he became a distinguished member. 
 
 He settled in Hillsboro, and there spent a 
 long and laborious life. He went, after the war, 
 to Wilmington and there remained with his son, 
 Hon. A. M. Waddell, until his death. 
 
 He was fond of public life and was a favorite 
 with the people. He represented Orange county 
 in 1828 in the Commons, and in 1844, and '46 
 in the Senate, of which he was, in 1836-37 the 
 Speaker. He was a gifted debater, a warm par- 
 tisan (for he lived in party times) ; and very 
 decided in his views. In private life he was 
 genial, generous and gentle. 
 
 He died at W'ilmington on Saturday, Novem- 
 ber 2, 1878. He was the third of five brothers 
 of whom three survived him : Maurice O. Wad- 
 dell of Chatham county; Francis N. Waddell of 
 Orange, and Alfred M. Waddell of Louisiana. 
 
 His sons are Dr. Douglas Waddell of Chat- 
 ham ; Hon. Alfred M. Waddell; Hugh Waddell 
 now of Washington, and Cameron Waddell of 
 Marion, South Carolina. 
 
 Alfred M. Waddell, son of Hugh W^addell, of 
 whom we have just given a brief sketch, was 
 born in Hillsboro, September 16, 1834. His 
 education was conducted at Bingham's school, 
 the Caldwell Institute at Hillsboro, and at the 
 
 Universit}', where he graduated in ICS53. He 
 studied Law ; was Clerk of the Court of Equity 
 for New Hanover county; delegate in i860 to 
 the National Convention which nominated John 
 Bell for President, and Edward Everett for Vice 
 President of the United States ; Editor of the 
 W'ilmington "Daily Ihia/ii" for one year, 
 1S60 ; served in the Confederate Army as Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel of Cavalry; elected to Congress, 
 (42nd, '43rd, 44th) 1871-79, and served 
 as Chairman, in the latter Congress, of the 
 Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, 
 the duties of which he discharged with singular 
 ability, and unspotted integrity. He was a 
 candidatefor the 46th Congress, but from over- 
 confidence on the part of his friends in his suc- 
 cess, and unusual zeal on the part of the oppo- 
 sition, he was defeated by Daniel L. Russell. 
 
 Colonel Waddell, however, possesses quali- 
 ties that well fit him for public stations ; scrupu- 
 lous integrity, high qualifications and laborious 
 habits, combined with an amiable disposition 
 and an accommodating temper. He has been 
 twice married and has an interesting family. 
 
 Owen Holmes (born 1796 — died 1841) was 
 distinguished as a lawyer and statesman ; he was 
 Elector for President in 1826 and voted for Van 
 Buren. He was elected one of the Judges of 
 the Superior Courts in 1836, by the Legislature, 
 which elevated position he declined to accept. 
 He died at Wilmington, June 1841, of appo- 
 ple.xy. 
 
 John Cowan was the eldest son of Colonel 
 Thomas Cowan, one of the old settlers of Wil- 
 mington. He began life as a merchant, but soon 
 abandoned this to accept the position of Cashier 
 of the Wilmington Branch of the State Bank, 
 which position he held at the time of his death, 
 being then but thirty-five. He was much es- 
 teemed for his amiable qualities, his courtly man- 
 ners, and his admirable business talents. 
 
 Edward B. Dudley long resided in Wilming- 
 ton, but he was a native of Onslow county, 
 where his father was a wealthy planter. In spite 
 
312 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 of the defects of his early education, by his en- 
 terprise and force of character, he arose to high 
 distinction. He entered public life as a Member 
 of Legislature from his native county, Onslow, 
 in 1811-13; he then moved to Wilmington, 
 and was elected from the town in 18 16- 17 and 
 again in 1834. He was the last representative 
 from this ancient town, for the Convention of 
 1835 abolished the borough representations. 
 
 His course was distinguished in the public 
 coucils as one devoted to the cause of the inter- 
 nal improvement of the State ; he was liberal and 
 patriotic; he subscribed $25,000 to construct the 
 Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, and became 
 its first President. 
 
 In 1829, he was elected a Member of the 
 twenty-first Congress ; after one Congress he de- 
 clined a re-election, for the reason, as he stated 
 himself, that Congress was no place for an honest 
 man. 
 
 The amended constitution of 1835, gave the 
 election of the Governor, to the vote of the peo- 
 ple ; and without any action or solicitation on 
 his part, he was nominated and elected the first 
 Governor of North Carolina elected by the peo- 
 ple. At the expiration of the second term. 
 Governor Dudley retired from public life, and 
 returned to his home in Wilmington, where he 
 died, October 30, 1855. 
 
 Governor Dudley was in person of the first 
 type of our race ; of large, commanding presence ; 
 of genial manners and pleasant address. He 
 was a statesman of enlarged and liberal views, of 
 generous impulses, and of unspotted integrity; 
 true to party and friends, in which his zeal 
 at times carried him beyond the bounds of pru- 
 dence ; his speeches and addresses evince no 
 superior ability, but are marked by good sense 
 and patriotism ; his ample fortune enabled him 
 to give expression to the generosity of his na- 
 ture — he was a charitable and obliging neighbor; 
 a devoted husband, an indulgent father, and a 
 sincere friend. 
 
 He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Wil- 
 
 liam H. Haywood, of Raleigh ; the sister of 
 William H. Haywood, Jr., Senator in Congress 
 (1843-46) and sister of the wife of Governor 
 Charles Manly, by whom he had several children, 
 among them : 
 I. Christopher. 
 II. Eliza, married Purnell. 
 
 III. William H., married Baker. 
 
 IV. Margaret, married Mcllhenny. 
 V. Jane, married Johnson. 
 
 Rev. Adam Empie, who lived and died in 
 Wilmington, was Rector of the Parish of St. 
 James, for a long time discharging his sacred 
 duty with great fidelity. He married a daughter 
 of Judge Wright. 
 
 On his election to the Presidency of William 
 and Mary College in Virginia, in 1827, he re- 
 moved to Williamsburg with his family; he 
 resigned this position in 1835, and accepted the 
 Rectorship of St. James Church in Richmond, 
 which had been built expressly for him, and 
 named in compliment of his old parish in Wil- 
 mington, and here he officiated, until increasing 
 years and declining health compelled his resigna- 
 tion. He then returned to the scene of his early 
 labors to die among the people with whom he 
 had passed so many years, having finished his 
 course on earth he calmly passed away ; leaving 
 behind him a record of a well spent life. 
 
 Rt. Rev. William M. Green resided for a long 
 time in Wilmington. 
 
 ' ' The venerable Bishop of Mississippi is still 
 living ; distinguished for his wisdom, the kindness 
 of his nature, the earnestness of his piety, and 
 the almost saintly purity of his life. The soldier 
 of the Cross from early manhood, he has ever 
 walked in an atmosphere of love ; lavishing upon 
 all around him the bounties of his goodness, and 
 the warmth of his affections. Holding the most 
 e.xalted position in the Church, he is always the 
 devoted, unaffected, humble man of God — so 
 gentle, yet so wise; so loving, yet so firm ; so 
 modest, yet so influential, long may he be spared 
 to the people of his diocese, his hosts of friends, 
 
MOOR]': AND NEW IIANOVKR COUNTIES. 
 
 313 
 
 and to the cliurch of which he is an honored 
 ruler. 
 
 " He graduated at the Univcrsit}- in iSiS, and 
 for a time was a professor in tlie Institution." 
 North Carohna was early the scene of evan- 
 gelization on the part of the Episcopal Church. 
 As early as August 13, 1587, at Raleigh's 
 Colony, on Roanoke Island, the chieftain, Man- 
 tec, was admitted into the "fellowship of 
 Christ's flock " by holy baptism, (Ander- 
 son's Colonial Church, I., 75,) and five days 
 after that event Hakluyt (III. 341) gravely in- 
 forms us that "Eleanor, daughter of the Gov- 
 ernor, and wife of Ananias Dare, one of the 
 assistants, was delivered of a daughter in Roan- 
 oke and the same was christened the Sunday 
 following, and because this child was the first 
 Christian borne in Virginia she was named Vir- 
 ginia Dare." And so around Roanoke Island as 
 a nucleus is formed the County of Dare, and its 
 county seat is named Manteo . Although this 
 settlement so soon passed away and the success, 
 ful colonization of this portion of the State was 
 left for other days and less pious hands, still the 
 churches, as the minutes of the General Con. 
 vention show, attained no little strength in 
 North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary war. 
 After the Revolutionary war the affairs of the 
 church were naturally at their lowest ebb. 
 
 Erom 18 1 7 to 1823 Bishop Richard Channing 
 Moore, of Virginia, was in charge of the Epis- 
 copal churches of North Carolina; until at a 
 convention in 1794, held at Tarboro, the Rev- 
 erend Charles Pettigrew was elected Bishop, 
 (see the sketch of this prelate under head of 
 Tyrrell County,) and the convention applied for 
 his consecration. Bishop White in his memoirs 
 (p. 172) states that Mr. Pettigrew set off to at- 
 tend the Convention, but was unable to reach 
 Philadelphia in time, abandoned his efforts and 
 soon afterward died. From 1794 to 18 17 all 
 was dreary ; then the coming of Reverend Adam 
 Empie and Reverend Bethel Judd, the one at 
 Wilmington and the other at Fayetteville, laid 
 
 the foundation of the restoration of the ICpisco- 
 pal Church in North Carolina. In May 22, 
 1823, John Stark Ravenscroft, D. D., (see his 
 sketch under head of Wake County,) was conse- 
 crated Bishop of the diocese; he died in 1830. 
 On September 23, 1831, Levi Silliman Ives, 
 D. D., was consecrated, (see his sketch under 
 head of JVa/cc County,) but on his defection 
 was deposed October 11, 1853, when the Right 
 Reverend Thomas Atkinson, D. D. , LL. D., 
 assumed the Episcopal chair to which he was 
 consecrated October 17, 1853. 
 
 KIGHT REVERNED THOMAS ATKINSON, D. U. , LL. D. 
 
 There have been more brilliant men in public 
 service — men of more marked characteristics 
 who have stamped their individuality upon the 
 age in which they lived, and men of more extra- 
 ordinary genius, but it is seldom that a character 
 is found so complete, so harmonious, so evenly 
 balanced and so thoroughly rounded in all of its 
 proportions, so symmetrical and beautiful in the 
 essentials of a godlike man as that of the late 
 venerated Bishop of North Carolina, Thomas 
 Atkinson, D. D., LL. D. 
 
 The influence for good of such a character 
 and of such a life as his cannot be over-esti- 
 mated. As the refreshing dew falls alike upon 
 the delicate plant and the coarser fibre of the 
 weed, causing each to bloom and blossom, so 
 does such a life shed its influences around. The 
 mere man of the world, and even the thought- 
 less and the dissolute could not but feel their 
 better nature stirred within them by the force of 
 such an example and the beauty of such a life. 
 We cannot contemplate too frequently such a 
 character, and we should be thankful that there 
 is virtue enough still left among men to enable 
 them to recognize the embodiment of so much 
 goodness in human nature. Though dead, he 
 yet speaks to us by his e.xample — an e.xample 
 of such holiness of life that it should excite us 
 who still survive, to strive earnestly to imitate it. 
 
 It has been thought that a brief sketch of this 
 distinguished divine could not fail to be of inter 
 
314 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 est, and not inappropriate to the Reminiscences. 
 
 The grandfather of Bishop Atkinson was the 
 son of a clergyman of the Church of luigland. 
 He was himself born, baptized and brought up 
 in the church, and never belonged to any other 
 religious body. He came to this country in 
 early youth, and after his marriage to IVIis.s 
 Pleasants, of Curls Neck, on the James River, 
 Va., settled near Petersburg, in Diiiwiddie 
 County, on a farm known as IVIansfield, named 
 after tlie great Elnglish jurist, Lord Mansfield. 
 The Bishop's parents were Robert and Mary 
 Tabb Atkinson, who inherited the family seat 
 Mansfield, and to them eleven children were 
 born. Thomas, the subject of this sketch, being 
 the sixth in order, was born on August 6, 1807. 
 Upon reaching the age of sixteen he was sent to 
 Yale College, but remained there not quite a 
 year, owing to a difficulty in which he became 
 involved with the faculty and which was strik- 
 ingly illustrative of his character even at that 
 early age. 
 
 Some of his college companions, in the exu- 
 berance of youth and without the least malice 
 aforethought, indulged on one occasion a little 
 too freely in the juice of the grape, and became 
 boisterously mischievous, not maliciously so, 
 but recklessly as boys frequently are even in the 
 absence of any stimulant. Young Atkinson was 
 not one of the rioters nor was he connected in 
 any way with the frolic, but knew all the parties 
 who were engaged in it. He was summoned 
 before the faculty and called upon to disclose 
 their names. This he respectfully but firmly 
 refused to do, stating that he was incapable of 
 acting the part of a spy or informer. He was 
 then told that his refusal would result in his ex- 
 pulsion from college. They little understood 
 the character of the youth who stood before 
 them when they supposed that a threat, or a 
 fear of punishment would cause him to do that 
 which his high-toned sense of honor forbade, 
 and he was consequently dismissed and returned 
 to his home. His conduct in that matter 
 
 met the entire approval of his parents, and 
 but a few years before his death it happened 
 that on one occasion, in the freedom of social 
 intercourse while narrating some incidents of his 
 early life he referred to that episode, quietly re- 
 marking in connection with it that he had never 
 felt any regret for the course he pursued. 
 
 In 1825 he entered Hampdcn-Sidney College, 
 Va. , joining the junior class, and graduated at 
 nineteen years of age with distinction in a class 
 that numbered among its members the eloquent 
 John S. Preston and Wm. Ballard Preston, the 
 latter Secretary of the Navy during the admin- 
 istration of General Taylor. He married in 
 1828 Josepha G., a daughter of John and Jane 
 Wilder, of Petersburg, and she and his immedi- 
 ate family, two sons and a daughter, still survive 
 him. 
 
 About the time of his marriage he was licensed 
 to the bar and practiced his profession with 
 great success, and would, without doubt, have 
 risen to distinction as a jurist, had it not pleased 
 God to call him to a different sphere of action. 
 November 18, 1836, he was admitted into the 
 order of Deacons in the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church by the Right Reverend William Meade, 
 Bishop of Virginia. He entered immediately 
 upon the duties of his sacred office in the city of 
 Norfolk, first as assistant to Rev. Dr. Parks, then 
 minister of Christ Church. Within a year after 
 his ordination to the Deaconate he was elevated 
 to the Priesthood by the Right Rev. R. Channing 
 Moore, D. D., and accepted a call to St. Paul's 
 Church, Norfolk, May 7, 1837, where he re- 
 mained about twelve months. He then removed 
 to Lynchburg in the latter part of the year 
 1838. Here he labored with great acceptability 
 as rector of the parish of St. Paul's until 1843, 
 when he was called to Baltimore to succeed the 
 Rev. Dr. Henshaw, in the rectorship of St. 
 Peter's Church in that city. Dr. Henshaw having 
 been elected Bishop of Rhode Island. 
 
 His abilities were at once recognized, and such 
 was the rerard felt for him that Grace Church 
 
MOORK AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES. 
 
 315 
 
 was built for him and he was made its rector 
 in 1852. His connection with that parish was of 
 short duration, however, for in 1S53 the Diocese 
 of North CaroHna called upon him to be its 
 Bishop. He accepted the call October 17th, and 
 was consecrated the same year in St. John's 
 Chapel, in the city of New York, at the same 
 time with the Rev. Thomas E. Davis, D. D., 
 a native of Wilmington, N. C, who had been 
 elected Bishop of South Carolina. Bishop 
 Brownell, of Connecticut, presiding, assisted by 
 Bishops Mcllvaine, of Ohio; Doane, of New 
 Jersey; McCoskry, of Michigan, and Otey, of 
 Tennessee. On that occasion the lines of En- 
 glish and American succession were reunited, 
 Bishop Spencer, of Madras, and Bishop Med- 
 ley, of Eredericton, taking part in the act of 
 consecration. After his consecration he resided 
 in Raleigh for a short time and then took up his 
 abode in Wilmington, wliich city continued to 
 be his home until his death on January 4, 1881. 
 He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity 
 from Trinity College, Hartford, 1846, and that 
 LL D. from the University of North Carolina, 
 1862, and also from the University of Cam- 
 bridge, England, 1867. 
 
 Bishop Atkinson assumed charge of the Dio- 
 cese of North Carolina at a very trying time in 
 its history. Bishop Ives, the successor of the 
 great Ravenscroft, had abandoned his charge 
 and had joined the Roman Catholic commun- 
 ion. There was great anxiety throughout the 
 Diocese as to the effect upon the Church in North 
 Carolina of the defection of their chief pastor 
 and it was feared that he who should be called 
 to that high office would meet with more than 
 ordinary difficulty in calming the troubled waters 
 and bringing order out of chaos. It required 
 administrative ability of a high order, firmness 
 without obstinacy, self reliance and fearlessness 
 in the discharge of duty, a personal magnetism 
 and a character unimpeached and unimpeacha- 
 ble. Dr. Atkinson upon whom the choice fell 
 was personally known to but few in the Diocese. 
 
 The hand of God was evident in the selection, 
 for under his wise administration, dissensions 
 ceased, confidence was restored and the Diocese 
 remained true to the teachings of the uncom- 
 promising Ravenscroft and to the "faith once 
 delivered to the saints." 
 
 Bishop Atkinson was a singularly prospered 
 man in every way, a fact brought prominently 
 forward by Bishop Lay of Easton, in his admi- 
 rable memorial sermon before the Diocesan con- 
 vention at Raleigh in May 1881, a discourse 
 from which most has been drawn in the prepra- 
 tion of this article. Said he, "I would set in 
 the forefront of this discourse the expression of 
 our devout gratitude to Almighty God for the 
 tenderness of his life long dealings with Thomas 
 Atkinson, late 15ishop of North Carolina. Few 
 lives have ever been so even and prosperous, so 
 laden with substantial blessings, so shielded from 
 calamnity. " Though never a wealthy man, the 
 Bishop had enough for the gratification of his 
 tastes, enough to enable him to practice a liber- 
 al hospitality and to avoid debt which he would 
 never incur, for he would not owe any man any- 
 thing but love ; enough to aid a friend and to 
 assist the needy, and hie charity was large. In 
 his domestic relations he was peculiarly blest. 
 He had fifty three years of wedded happiness 
 and children were born unto him and yet, dur- 
 ing all that time there was never a death in his 
 immediate family. Surely God blessed Thomas 
 Atkinson. 
 
 In his personal endowments also he was 
 greatly favored. It is told of the late Bishop 
 I'Llliott of Georgia, who was one of nature's no- 
 blemen in every way, that once at a country tav- 
 ern where he had stopped for the night, a poor 
 inebriate was recklessly bantering the bystanders 
 when his attention was arrested by the appear- 
 ance of the stately Bishop. Awed and sobered 
 for the moment by his commanding look and 
 towering form he turned to him and exclaimed 
 "who are you; are you a Judge, a member of 
 Congress or Governor of the State? Well, if 
 
316 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 you aint any of these you ought to be." Very 
 similar to the feehng expressed by that poor 
 creature towards Bishop Elliott, was that felt in 
 the presence of Bishop Atkinson. He was em- 
 inently dignified and commanding, yet cour- 
 teous and affable in manner, with a sensitive de- 
 ference for the opinions and feelings of others, 
 yet with a full and steady reliance upon himself. 
 He would attract attention in any assembly and 
 would be at once recognized as a leader of men. 
 As he passed along the crowded thoroughfares, 
 men would involuntarily turn to gaze upon so 
 noble a specimen of manly dignity. He was 
 intensely intellectual yet keenly alive to all the 
 kindly impulses and more gentle virtues of our 
 nature, a truly great man and remarkable in 
 this, that in whatever circle he moved whether 
 in the church, in society, or in the ordinary du- 
 ties of life he exercised a mighty influence for 
 good. His example was the refle.x of the pre- 
 cepts he inculcated. He was a devout lover of 
 the truth for the truth's sake, had no conceal- 
 ments but was open as the day, was true to his 
 convictions, to his friends and kinsfolk, and 
 above all, to his God. While gentle unto all 
 men, he was never pliant; ruling his Diocese 
 with firmness, yet with mildness, and temper- 
 ing justice with the benign influences of mercy; 
 though a leader of the hosts of God, yet child- 
 like in submission to the will of his heavenly 
 Father; kindly in his nature, warm in his affec- 
 tions, active in good works. 
 
 His mind was more massive than brilliant or 
 imaginative and its operations were marked with 
 a degree of intellectual energy which ever com- 
 manded attention. As a pulpit orator he was 
 distinguished for keen powers of analysis, sound 
 logic and effective reasoning. His style was 
 chaste, not florid, and more conversational than 
 declamotory, not disdaining ornament but using 
 it simply by way of illustration, and yet his ora- 
 tory was often fervid. But his great power lay 
 in the faculty he possessed of impressing all who 
 heard him, with his sincereity, no one could 
 
 doubt it, and this had an overpowering influence 
 upon all with whom he came in contact. He 
 was strong in debate, a close reasoner and if the 
 premises he laid down were admittted, there 
 was no escape from his conclusions. He had 
 naturally, a clear insight into character, was a 
 searching preacher and could track sin through 
 all its hidden ways with unerring skill and so 
 God blessed his work and the labor of his 
 hands. 
 
 In the House of Bishops his influence was 
 very great and we have been told that he never 
 rose to speak without commanding the atten- 
 tion of the members. This influence was shown 
 in a marked manner in the General Convention 
 of the Church held at Philadelphia in 1865, im- 
 mediately after the close of the war. Bishops 
 Atkinson and Lay thinking that no time should 
 be lost after the fall of the Confederacy in seek- 
 ing a resumption of our organic relations with 
 the portion of the church from which we had 
 been separated, attended that convention not 
 knowing how they would be received. We 
 again quote from the memorial sermon, already 
 referred to; says Bishop Lay: 
 
 "We came into a community exultant with 
 victory and enthusiastic in loj-alty, disposed to 
 take for granted that to return, was to ask 
 forgiveness. To the tact, the gentleness, the 
 manly out-spokenness of Bishop Atkinson the 
 Church is indebted for the favorable result of 
 this venture. After considerable discussion the 
 matter was referred to a committee consisting 
 of the five senior Bishops. After two days this 
 committee reported a preamble and resolutions. 
 In these we could not possibly concur. All 
 eyes were upon Bishop,Atkinson as he answer- 
 ed the appeal made to him. He knew that he 
 had that to say which must needs be distastful 
 to men full of exultation at the Southern down- 
 fall. With no diffidence and with no temper, 
 rather with the frankness of a child uttering his 
 thoughts, he opened all his mind. We are asked, 
 said he, to unite with you in returning thanks 
 
MOORE AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES. 
 
 317 
 
 for the restoration of peace and unit)-. The for- 
 mer we can say, the latter we cannot saj'. W'c 
 are thankful for the restoration of peace, but we 
 are not thankful for the unity described in the 
 resolution, n-establisliing tJic autlwrity of tlic Nat- 
 tional Goverivnent over all tlic land. We acqui- 
 esce in that result, we will accommodate our 
 selves to it and will do our duty as citizens of the 
 common government, but we cannot say that we 
 are thankful. We labored and prayed for a very 
 different termination, and if it had seemed good 
 to our Heavenly Father would have been vciy 
 thankful for the war to result othoiuisc than it 
 has resulted. I am willing to say that I am 
 thankful for the restoration o^ peace to the coun- 
 try, and unity to the Church. His language 
 'in consideration of the return of peace to the 
 country and unit}' to the Church,' was adopted 
 by a vote of sixteen to seven, the Southern 
 Bishops being excused from voting. Thus by 
 his promptitude, by the frankness with which 
 he met the immediate issues, by his calm de- 
 termination to allow no censure to be cast upon 
 those with whom he had been associated, he se- 
 cured a speedy adjustment of all possible differ- 
 ences and promoted no little the spirit of tolera- 
 tion and kindness." 
 
 The Diocesan Convention of North Carolina, 
 which was appointed to be held at Raleigh on 
 the second Wednesday in May, 1865, did not 
 assemble in that city until the 13th of Septem- 
 ber, having been postponed by the Bishop until 
 that time. 
 
 Every delegate to that Convention, will remem- 
 ber that period of doubt and anxiety when the 
 proposition to renew friendly relations with 
 the Northern portion of the Church was sub- 
 mitted. Some were strongly averse to taking 
 any action in the matter and were opposed to 
 the Bishop's attending the Convention at Phila- 
 delphia. We were a conquered people, at the 
 mercy of an exultant and arrogant foe, and the 
 indignities which had been heaped upon us in 
 matters political warranted the assumption that 
 
 they would be continued even in our spiritual 
 affairs. We were soured by defeat and its ruin- 
 ous results and were in no mood to court the 
 favor of those whose shouts of triumph were 
 still sounding in our ears. Besides, we feared 
 that the amiability of the Bishop's nature, his 
 conservative temperament, the strong ties of 
 affection existing between himself and his asso- 
 ciates in the Episcopate and his anxiety to renew 
 fraternal relations with Northern brethren might 
 e.xercise a controlling influence over him at the 
 sacrifice of his better judgment. The result 
 showed that we had been unjust in thought to- 
 wards our Northern brethren, and also how 
 greatly we had underestimated the grandeur of 
 our Bishop's character. His bearing was worthy 
 of himself and of the high position he held as 
 the peer of those in whose presence he stood. 
 Rather than have surrendered a principle or com- 
 promised his self respect he would have gone to 
 the stake without hesitation. 
 
 Bishop Atkinson was a man of large brain, 
 a just man, fair minded and liberal, a lover of 
 books and a thinker, and notwithstanding the 
 cares and responsibilities of his office found 
 time to keep up with the best literature of the 
 day, and frequently in the lecture-room delighted 
 large audiences from the rich stores of his varied 
 learning. But it was as an expounder of divine 
 truth, as a ruler in the Church that he was most 
 distinguished. He was conservative by nature, 
 not timid and yet not aggressive. His prudence 
 and his wisdom were manifest to all. When 
 these are combined as they were in him, with a 
 sincere and unselfish piety, they are irresistible. 
 The flourishing condition of the Diocese over 
 which he presided for more than a quarter of a 
 century, shows how faithfully and well he did 
 his work. Few men were more honored and 
 beloved than he, not only by his own flock but 
 by all classes and conditions, " for this Duncan 
 had borne his faculties so meek, had been so 
 clear in his great office " that all peoples did do 
 him reverence. 
 
318 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Surely we have great cause for thankfulness 
 for the example of such a life, prolonged as it 
 was beyond the period assigned b)- the Psalmist 
 as the limit of human existence, for it is such 
 men as he was, men of pra)'er and men of truth, 
 who constitute the strength and power of a State. 
 Eor more than forty years he was a faithful min- 
 ister of the Gospel, but the time at length ap- 
 proached for the aged warrior of the cross to 
 cease from his labors. To him death had no 
 terrors, for his life had been but a preparation 
 for eternity. His house was in order, for length- 
 ening shadows had long been gathering around 
 him, and so at last when the summons came on 
 the evening of January 4, 1881, it found him 
 ready and he gently fell <Lsleep — a peaceful, 
 blessed sleep, and bishops and priests, the high 
 and the low, the rich and the poor, a vast multi- 
 tude gathei'ed around his bier with bowed heads 
 and stifled sobs as he was borne onward to the 
 grave — for he was a good m.in. On the 7th of 
 January, 188 1, he was interred under the altar 
 of St. James' Church, Wilmington, North Caro- 
 lina, of which jxarish he was once rector. 
 
 The aforegoing sketch is nearly vcrhaliin the 
 sketch prepared b)' Colonel James G. I^urr, and 
 published in the "New South," edited and pub- 
 lished at Wilmington by Edward A. Oldham. 
 
 Colonel William McRee of United States En- 
 gineer Corps, (born 17S7 — died 1833), is the sub- 
 ject of a memoir written and published in Wil- 
 mington ;' by it our attention is called to a wortliy 
 and almost forgotten son, whose military talents, 
 according to the testimony of Mr. Calhoun, 
 General Scott and others, was of the highest 
 order. 
 
 His father was Collector of Customs and an 
 officer in the Re\'olutionary War, and died in 
 1 80 1. He was born in 1787 ; educated at West 
 Point, in 1803, and was made, in 1807, a Cap- 
 tain of Engineers, and promoted to Major in 
 1812. In the. war of 18 12 he was engaged on 
 our Northern borders, under Scott, Brown, 
 Gaines and others, and was particularl)- distin- 
 guished in the battles of Lunday's Lane, and 
 
 Fort Erie, and won from General Scott the eulo- 
 gium, that in his opinion and perhaps intheopin- 
 on of the whole army, that he combined more 
 genius with high courage than any officer in the 
 war of 1 8 12. Shordy after the battle of Eort 
 lirie, he was promoted to Colonel by brevet. 
 
 In 18 1 5 he was sent to Europe for the purpose 
 of examining the military schools and fortifica- 
 tions — and on his return made an able report. 
 In 1 8 19, indignant that a foreigner — General 
 Bernard — should be appointed in the Engineer 
 Corps, he resigned. He died of cholera in May, 
 1833, and was buried at St. Louis, Missouri. 
 His name is preserved on a beautiful fort at 
 Pensacola. 
 
 He left two brothers. Dr. James F. McRee of 
 Wilmington, and Major Samuel McRee, United 
 States Army. Uni. Mag. X. 196. 
 
 Dr. James F. McRee married Mary Ashe, 
 daughter of W. H. Hill. He was the father of 
 Griffith J. McRee, who married Penelope, daugh- 
 ter of Governor Iredell — the author of the "Life 
 and Correspondence of Judge Iredell." 
 
 William B. Meares (born December 8, 1787, 
 died October II, 1841), deserves to be remem- 
 bered among the distinguished men of this coun- 
 t\- ; successful as a Lawyer and Planter. 
 
 His first appearance in public life was as 
 Member of the Legislature in 18 18, from the 
 borough and as a Member in the State Senate in 
 182S-29-30-33. 
 
 "He was of great force of character, inde- 
 pendent, decided in his opinions, and bold and 
 fearless in expressing them. His mind was more 
 solid than brilliant, and more practical than im 
 aginative. He never, at the bar or in the Legis- 
 lature, or on the hustings, attempted to influence 
 his hearers by any appeal to their feelings ; but 
 relied solely upon the strength of argument ; 
 clear and concise statements, and sound logic. 
 
 He was, when in the Legislature, a candidate 
 for the Senate of the United States, and had he 
 lived, would have risen to high distinction in the 
 National Councils as he had already occupied in 
 the State Legislature. But'he died suddenly in 
 
MOOUK AND NEW IIANOVKR COl'NTIMS. 
 
 819 
 
 tho luuridiau of his life and the full maturity 
 of his powers." (Thalian Association.) 
 
 Lewis II. Marsteller (born May 6, 1794, died 
 Marcli 3, 1860) was a native of Virginia hut 
 was long a resident and tlie Representative of 
 New Hanover in the Councils of the State, and 
 prominent in the politics of the country. He 
 represented Xew Hanover in the Commons in 
 1833-34. and in the Senate in 1835-36. He 
 was also a Member of the Convention of 
 1835. Modest and retiring in his disposition, 
 he was a close observer of men and meas- 
 ures, and distinguished for his prompt at- 
 tention to every duty. Tliese (pialities, with 
 a clear head and amiable temper, gave him un- 
 bounded popularity. He was at one time the 
 most popular man in the country and was never 
 defeated for any position for which he was a 
 candidate before the people. 
 
 He was a decided politician of the Demo- 
 cratic faith. He was appointed Collector of 
 the Port of "Wilmington, by Mr. Van Buren, 
 and, until his health gave way, Clerk of New 
 Hanover County Court. 
 
 He was a useful citizen and honest and faith- 
 ful in every relation of life. (The Thalian As- 
 sociation.) 
 
 Joseph C. Abbot, Senator in Congress, and 
 .Member of the Legislature, resided in New Han- 
 over County. He was a native of New Hamp- 
 shire — born in Concord in 1825; received an 
 Academic education and studied law, and was 
 Editor of the M<m.chester American and other 
 papers. Entered the United States Army in 
 1861, raised a Regiment and was elected Col- 
 onel. In 1865 was brevetted Brigadier Gen- 
 eral, "for gallant conduct at Eort Fisher." 
 
 In 1867, was elected to the State Constitu- 
 tional Convention, and in 1868 a Member of 
 the Legislature, by which body he was chosen 
 Senator in Congress. His term expired in 1871. 
 He has been extensively engaged in Agricul- 
 tural and Manufacturing pursuits at his home 
 
 near Wilmington, and for a time was ccdlcctor 
 of the port of Wilmington. Ho died on Octo- 
 ber!), 1881. 
 
 Daidcl Lindsay Russell resides in Wilming- 
 ton. He was boi-n in Brunswick County, Au- 
 gust 7, 1845; he was educated at the Bingham 
 School in Orange County and at the University. 
 Read Law and was licensed to practice in 1808. 
 He was elected to the Legislature in 1864, from 
 Brunswick County, and re-elected in 1865. He 
 was elected one of tho Judges of the Superior 
 Courts in April, ISiiH, and served six years in 
 this responsible and elevated position. In 1871, 
 ho was elected to the Constitutional Conven- 
 tion, from the County of Brunswick, and in 
 1876 a Member of the Legislature. He was 
 elected a Member of the 46th Congress as a 
 National Republican, receiving 11,011 votes 
 against 10,730 for Alfred M. Waddell. 
 
 Colonel Henry K. Burgwyn resided in this 
 County. He was the eldest son of an intelli- 
 gent and wealthy gentleman on the Roanoke 
 river, bearing the same name, who, with Thomas 
 Pollock Burgwyn and Thomas Pollock Dever- 
 eux, were heirs of the late Thomas Pollock. 
 
 Thomas P. Devereux was long a distinguished 
 member of the Bar, reporter of the Su]ireme 
 Court, and greatly esteemed as a man of learn- 
 ing and culture. 
 
 The\^ are lineal descendants of Governor 
 Thonuis Pollock, who is referred to on page 29. 
 Their father resided in New Berne, and their 
 uncle George, on the Cape Fear. The immense 
 Roanoke o states of George Pollock descended 
 to them. Young Harry Burgwyn was worthy 
 of his lineage. He was only twenty-two years 
 old when he commanded the 26th Regiment. 
 To gallantry and courage in the field, he united 
 a gracious demeanor and inviting manner, with 
 peerless personal beauty. His appearance at 
 the head of his Regiment realized the descrip- 
 tion of his namesake at Agincourt: 
 
320 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 " I saw young Harry,— witli Ids beaver ou, 
 
 His cuisses on liis tliiglis gallantly arm'd— 
 
 Leap from the giountl like feather'd Mercury, 
 
 And vaulted with such ease into Ills seat. 
 
 As if an angel dropp'd down from the clouds 
 
 To turn and wind a tiery Pegasus, 
 
 And 'witch the world with noble horsenianshiii.' " 
 
 He led hia Regiment ou the fatal field of 
 Gettysburg, and out of 800 men tliere fi'll, 
 with their chivalric young leader, 54!» in that 
 desperate battle; all the iield ofKeers being 
 killed or wounded. 
 
 Robert Strange was the second son of Hon. 
 Robert Strange, at one time one of the Judges 
 of the Superior Courts of Law and Equity, and 
 subsequently in the Senate of the United States 
 as a member from our State. See Wheeler II, 
 130. Mr. Strange was born in Fayetteville, 
 July 27, 1823; graduated from tlie University 
 at the early age of 17, and adopted the profes- 
 sion of the Law. Shortly after his admission 
 to the Bar he removed to Wilmington and 
 soon became a prominent actor in public af- 
 fairs. He represented the County of New Han- 
 over in the Legislature from 1852 to 1854, and 
 was regarded as one of the most influential 
 members of that body. He was also State So- 
 licitor and for many years a director in the 
 Bank of Cape Fear. To mental capacities of 
 a high order he added great culture and unus 
 ual stores of varied and accurate knowledge. 
 As a profound lawyer lie occupied a most en- 
 viable position anu)ng his professional brethren, 
 and as a sound jurist and eloquent advocate he 
 was second to none within the limits of the 
 State. Few men possessed in so great a degree 
 the confidence of the public and few 
 so well deserved the same, for his integ- 
 rity was spotless. Gentle and unobstrusi\-e 
 in manner, yet firm and decided in his convic- 
 tions, with a natural dignity that inspired re- 
 spect and a chivalric sense of honor that re- 
 coiled from, the faintest approach of "things 
 unworthy," he was at all times and under all 
 
 circumstances the high-toned gentleman, and 
 of him was truly said by the Right Reverend 
 Thomas Atkinson, as he stood by his bier, 
 "Here lies the most spotless man I ever knew." 
 
 He was true to his fellow men, to his friends, 
 to his family and kin, and as true as mortals 
 can be, to his God! A christian gentleman who 
 to the grace of this life added those of the 
 [lurcr life to come. A brilliant future lay be- 
 fore hini; positions most gratifying to laud- 
 able ambition and which he would have emi- 
 nently adorned; but suddenly, in the midst of 
 the argument of a case in Court, he received 
 Ins summons to a higher trijjunal, to appear be- 
 fore that Great Judge from whose decision 
 there is no appeal. He died January 24, 1877, 
 in the 53d year of his age, cut down in the 
 full meridian of his powers. Amicus usqar at 
 aras. 
 
 Mr. Strange's first wife was Sarah Caroline, 
 the second daughter of Thomas Henry Wright, 
 who was the second son of Judge Joshua Gran- 
 ger Wright (see p. 304,) and one of the most 
 noted financiers of the State, President of the 
 celebrated Bank of Cape Fear from its origin 
 until his death. This was a man of man}' accom- 
 plishments, but especially distinguished for 
 his financial ability and his devotion to the 
 church. He was one of the founders of St. 
 James' church in Wilmington, the oldest parish 
 in the State. 
 
 Mr. Wright married Maiy Allan, daughter 
 of a Scotch merchant, who survived him with 
 a family of four sons and four daughters.* The 
 eldest daughter Anne Eliza, married Hon. 0. 
 P. xMeares, son of W. B. Meares, a distin- 
 guished lawyer. He is now Judge of the Crimi- 
 nal Court of New Hanover. 
 
 •Tlieir sons were Dr. Adam E. Wright, t'n|itaiu 
 James A. Wright ( killed iu the war) Lieiiten.int Josiiua 
 U. Wright and M;i.i. Thomas C. Wright, (als,) killed 
 m the war) and the daughters were, Auue Eliza, Sarah 
 Carohne, Susan and Mary Augusta. The third daugh- 
 ter married Dr. W. H. Hall, of Now York and the 
 vouugest married Mr. Clayton Giles, a merchant of 
 Wilmington. 
 
NORTHAMITON COUNTY 
 
 321 
 
 By his first marriago Mr. Strange had throe J). Hawkins, Esq., of Warren County. To them 
 
 sons; Thomas Wright, Rev. Kobert,an(lJosepli were born two daughters, the older of whom 
 
 Iluske, a merchant in New York City. His was named for his tir:5t wife, Caroline Wright, 
 
 second wife was Bettie Andrews, a sinter of Col. and the second was named Jane Hawkins. 
 A. B. Andrews, and a grand-daughter of Joiiii 
 
 ^<^^^M4 
 
 t®->~ 
 
 CHAl'TEU XLH. 
 NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
 
 Among the revolutionary worthies distin- 
 guished for virtue and patriotism who lived 
 in this County was General Allen Jones, whose 
 services we have recorded with those of his 
 distinguished brother, Willie Jones. 8ee p. 190. 
 
 Matt. Whitaker Kansom was born in War- 
 ren County, North Carolina, October 8,1826. 
 His father Robert Ransom, was a nuxn of su- 
 perior intelligence, the son of Seymour Ran- 
 som, who was a half-brother of Nathaniel 
 Macon On the maternal side Senator Ransom 
 is descended through his mother Priscilla 
 Whitaker, from tlie distinguished family of 
 that name in Halifax County. He was from 
 his boyhood ambitious of acquiring knowledge 
 and distinction ; and having passed through the 
 preparatory course of studies at home and at the 
 Warrenton Academy, he was sent to the Uni- 
 versity of the State, where he graduated in 
 1847 in a class which embraced a number of 
 young men who afterwards achieved reputation 
 in the world. Among these was the late Gen- 
 eral James Johnston Pettigrew, with whom he 
 divided the tirst honors. Mr. Ransom made 
 the study of Law a part of his collegiate course, 
 under the instruction of the late Judge Battle, 
 and was thus prepared while still in his twenty- 
 first year, to take his place at the Bar upon 
 leaving the University. His father was an 
 earnest Whig, and young Ransom was tlius a 
 
 Whig by iidieritunce, in the midst of a County 
 which was Democratic in the proportion of 
 nearly ten to one. These circumstances, how- 
 ever, had no tetidency to keep down the ambi- 
 tious aspirant to popular favor. His numerous 
 and influential family connections were nearly 
 all Democrats and faithful friends; so that 
 with superior talents and attainments far be- 
 yond his years, with the aid of a fine person, 
 captivating maimers and an eloquent tongue, 
 he at once took high rank at the Bar. Politi- 
 cally he was in a hopeless minority in the 
 County of Warren ; but his brilliant debut at the 
 Bar attracted tlie attention of the Whigs in 
 other parts of the State, and in 1852 his name 
 was placed on the Whig electoral ticket. In 
 December of that year, when only twenty-six 
 years of age, he, a Whig, was elected Attorney- 
 General of the State by a Democratic Legisla- 
 ture, in competition with the Hon. William 
 Eaton, a Democrat and lawyer of high stand- 
 ing and character, against whom there was not 
 and could not have been a serious ground of 
 complaint. General Ransom attributes these 
 early successes to the judicious counsels of his 
 father; but they attest at the same time his 
 own superior talents, his address, and knowl- 
 edge of men, for which his later life has been 
 distinguished. 
 
 In 1855 General Ransom resigned the office 
 
322 
 
 WIIEELEK'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 of Attorney-General. During the years that he 
 hehi it new political issues had arisen to divide 
 parties, upon which ho felt constrained to differ 
 from his Whig friends, though never to be alien- 
 ated from them personally and socially. He 
 could not follow them in their denial of or ef- 
 forts to curtail the political right.s of Roman 
 Catholics and Foreign-born citizens, and he thus 
 naturally drifted into association with the Dem- 
 ocratic party. The fact is well remembered by 
 men who have passed the meridian of life that 
 these short-lived political issues had much to 
 do with the final overthrow and dissolution of 
 the Whig party; and now for many years p;iBt, 
 General Ransom has been re-united under the 
 Democratic banner, with the great majority of 
 his old Whig friends. 
 
 It was during his incumbency of tlie Attor-" 
 ney-Generalship that General Ransom married 
 MissExum, a daughter of Joseph Exum, Esq. 
 of Northampton, a lady of rare excellence who 
 has blessed and adorned her husband's house- 
 hold and career in life. It was about this time 
 that he moved his residence to that County. 
 In 1858 he was elected to the Legislature, and 
 again in 1860, in the County of his adoptii>n. 
 
 Although deeply attached to the South l)y all 
 the ties of patriotism and personal interest, he 
 was a pronounced Unionist, from a conviction 
 that Southern rights and welfare would be im- 
 perilled by secession, and could only be preserved 
 within the Union. But when secession became 
 an accomplished fact, against his earnest pro- 
 test and opposition, av.d when it became a ne- 
 cessity to take sides in the impending conflict, 
 he hesitated not a moment in espousing the 
 cause of the State and of the Soutli. 
 
 In 1861 he was selected by the State as one 
 of three Peace Commissioners, sent to Mont- 
 gomery, Alabama, in the hope of averting the 
 calamities of civil war. His associates were 
 Ex-Governor Swain,|l're.sident of the Univer- 
 sity, and the late John L. Bridgers, Esq. Fail- 
 
 ing in this peaceful mission, he returned home, 
 and entered the military service. 
 
 The fact is interesting to note that General 
 Ransom volunteered as a private soldier, but 
 was immediately appointed by Governor Ellis 
 to the honorable and responsible rank of Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel of the 1st North Carolina 
 Infantry, with which he marched to the seat 
 of war in Virginia. He was afterwards chosen 
 by the otHcers, Colonel of the 35th Infantry, 
 and was soon promoted to a Brigadier General- 
 shiii. In 1865 he was again promoted, to the 
 rank of Major General,and was entrusted with 
 command as such; but in that supreme crisis of 
 the Confederacy he failed, however, to receive 
 the formal commission. General John B. Gor- 
 don has written a letter to General M. J. 
 Wright, compiler of the Confederate records, 
 affirming that General Ransom was promoted 
 to the rank of Major-General "for most distin- 
 guished gallantry." 
 
 The limits appropriated to this brief sketch 
 render it impracticable to enter upon a narra- 
 tive of General Ransom's military services. 
 It must suffice to say that they were distin- 
 guished and important, and served to place 
 him among the foremost leaders of the people 
 in North Carolina in that disastrous struggle. 
 While yet a Colonel, he was seriously wounded 
 in the breast and right arm (from which he 
 still suffers,) in one of the battles before Rich- 
 mond and Petersburg. His gallantry on 
 this occasion led to his rapid promotion. But 
 his achievements when clothed with higher 
 command, on wider fields of action, must be 
 left to the historian, or to the more preten- 
 tious biographer. 
 
 At the close of the war General Ransom ad- 
 dressed himself to the elevated and patriotic 
 task of restoring true peace, liberty and union, 
 by instilling in the minds of the people the 
 idea that the disastrous results of the struggle 
 were irreversible. He saw clearly that ^there 
 
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 
 
 323 
 
 was no hope for the South in the iiulcfiiiito 
 future that lay before us all, but in a frank 
 recognition of this truth; and his was the 
 honor, in virtue of superior sagacity and cour- 
 age, to take the lead in the statesman-like 
 work of reconstructing popular sentiment. 
 There were man}' able men in North Carolina 
 at that day who had ardently participated in 
 the struggle for Southern independence — sound 
 lawyers, practical statesmen, skilled in affairs — 
 but it remained for Matt. W. Ransom to con- 
 front the people with the unwelcome truth,that 
 they had passed through a revolution which 
 could never go backward, and that all their 
 hopes for the future must turn upon their un- 
 reserved acceptance of the results of that revo- 
 lution and adaptation to them. At Hender- 
 son in 1869, he delivered an eloquent address 
 to the thousands who were assembled at the 
 Agricultural Fair, and it is not too much to 
 say that all thoughtful men present were 
 startled and delighted by his bold utterances. 
 He was listened to with attention by all, and 
 the salutary truths that day proclaimed hj' a 
 man who had been a gallant soldier in the ser- 
 vice of the confedei'acy had their echo returned 
 from every part of the State. 
 
 It was in tins spirit that in a memorial ad- 
 dress at the dedication of the Confederate Sol- 
 dier's Cemetery at Raleigh, he uttered the 
 beautiful sentiment, "I thank God that there 
 are flowers enough in this beautiful land of the 
 South to strew alike upon the graves of those 
 who fell in the Grey and in the Blue; and 
 that there are hearts large enough, and hands 
 gentle and generous enough to perform this 
 holy duty." 
 
 In -lanuai'v 1872 General Ransom was elected 
 to the United States Senate. In December, 
 1876, he was re-elected; and again, for the 
 third time that hc^ior was accorded him, in 
 Januaiy, 1883. His career in that body has 
 been one of great usefulness to the State and 
 to the country. He; speaks rarely, but always 
 effectively. In 187/) he made an elaborate 
 speech, the printed copy of which is entitled, 
 "The South faithful to her duties." It at- 
 tracted wide attention liy its liroad, liberal 
 and unsectional spirit, and by many passages 
 of true eloquence. 
 
 Perhaps no man who has ever represented 
 the State has been so successful in procuring 
 appropriations for its rivers and harbors, and 
 for public buildings. As a member of a body 
 in which his party is in a minority, his success 
 in carrying out his purposes has been remark- 
 able. Without the sacrifice of principle, in the 
 slightest degree, his habitual courtesy inspires 
 confidence and wins favor with men of the 
 most diverse views, while his knowledge of 
 men often enables him to bring them over to 
 his own. As a Senator, the purpose of General 
 Ransom has been to develope his State and the 
 South, and to pacificate the country. 
 
 It is worthy of mention that General Ran- 
 som has associated his name permanently with 
 that t)f the nation's capital, by his success in 
 procuring large appropriations for removing or 
 filling up the unsightly, pestilence-breeding 
 flats, or marshes that have accumulated in the 
 Potomac river, in front of the city. The su- 
 pervision of this important work has been very 
 properly entrusted, by his political opponents, 
 the Republican majority of the Senate, to a 
 sub-committee of which he is the Chairman. 
 
324 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 The Capital of this County was in 1753, called 
 Childs, after the Attorney C4eneral of the 
 Colony, and in 1765, its name was changed 
 to Ilillsboro', by Governor Tryon, in honor of 
 his illustrious patron the Earl of Ilillsboro', to 
 whom in a despatch, Tryon predicted its early 
 prosperity and renown. His own name, and 
 the name of his accomplished wife and sister 
 still give locality to its streets. It is a lovely, 
 healthful and a fomhul phicc; has not grown 
 much, l>ut is about the same as it was a cen- 
 tury ago. It has been always distinguished 
 for the intellectual and social qualities of its 
 hospitable inhabitants. The centre of stirring 
 events in our early struggles for liberty, its 
 citizens were leaders in the war of the Reg- 
 ulation. Here the Royal standard was dis- 
 played by Cornwallis and here he rested, 
 gathering strength to give battle at Guilford 
 Court House. It was here the Governor of 
 the State (Burke) was seized and carried to 
 Charleston by Fanning. It was here the Con- 
 vention met in 1788, to consider the Consti- 
 tution, which was rejected by that body.* 
 It is distinguished still as the home of those 
 giants in intellect of the State Distin- 
 guished too for the eloijuence and piety of 
 its clergy, as also for learning and ability of 
 its Bar, the excellence and perfc'tiou of its 
 schools and the morality and decorum of its 
 citizens. 
 
 Its resident citizens of anti-revolutionary 
 history were Edmund Panning, Ralph McNair, 
 James Hogg, Francis Nash, Thomas Burke ^ 
 Governors Caswell and Nash, William Hooper 
 and Judge Moore; names all connected with 
 
 *"Oue cause of its rejection by tlii>; Conveution was 
 a letter of Mr. Jeti'ersoTi, wliicli v'a.s read iu tae Con- 
 vention; tliat wliile tiienio'^t jiliildsopliic ot'onr state.s 
 mrii were ilcsirons (liat niiM> stiit<'s slionlil laviiy, and 
 tlms si'ciiif tile new ^dVeiiMnent, still Ik- i-ecDninicntled 
 that four slioukl reject, and thus insure tlie proposed 
 ameuduieuts." Moore XVI. 
 
 many interesting events, befoi'e, during and 
 subsequent to the Revolution. During the 
 Revolution President Monroe, Gov. Rutledge 
 of South Carolina, Col. "Williams of King's 
 Mountain, Generals Gates and Smallwood, Col. 
 Lee, Lord Cornwallis, Col. Wilson Webster, 
 Col. Tarleton and others, were sojourners dur- 
 ii)g a brief period. 
 
 / Henry E. Gotten, Esq., some years ago pub- 
 lished in the Southern Literary Messenger a 
 sketch of the history of this town. But it has 
 disappeared from our libraries, and we have 
 made frequent ineffectual efforts to obtain a 
 copy from Richmond. This on a more extended 
 scale is a tribute eminently due from a grate- 
 ful population to their illustrious dead. 
 
 Uni. Mag. (1801,) X., 374. 
 
 The early history of the men of Orange 
 County proves the sturdy spirit of her son in 
 opposing unlawful power. 
 
 The troubles as to taxes and extortions by 
 the Crown Officers, which began as early as 
 1771, culminating in the battle of Alamance, 
 have already been alluded to. (See page 1.) 
 The chief cause of their troubles was the con- 
 duct of Edmund Fanning, (born 1737, died 
 1818,) who was the son of Col. Phineas Fan- 
 ning, born in Connecticut. He was an accom- 
 plished scholar, a graduate of Yale, (in 1757,) 
 which college conferred on him the degree of 
 LL. D. in 1803. 
 
 He studied law and settled in Hillsljoro' in 
 1763; and was appointed Clerk of the Court 
 and Register of the County. He was elected 
 a member of the Colonial Assembly. By his 
 thirst for wealth, his exorbitant charges for 
 fees, and his intemperate zeal in regard to the 
 unfortunate regulators, he became odious to 
 the people ; in so much that they bm-nt his house, 
 which stood where the Masonic Hall now is 
 
 . . . . ■ '! "h 
 
ORANGE COUNTY 
 
 325 
 
 in Hillsboro', and l)eat liini severely. To escape 
 their anger, he accompanied Governor Tryon 
 to New York,* as secretary, in 1771. He raised 
 a regiment and became its commander. Ac- 
 tive and vindictive he served in several bat- 
 tles and was twice wounded. In 1775 he was 
 driven from his house in New York bj- the 
 people and his effects seized, and he retreated 
 on board of the " Asia," a man-of-war, for 
 safety. 
 
 Li 1794 he was appointed Governor of Prince 
 Edward's Island, and in 1808 was commissioned 
 as General. He took up his residence in Eng- 
 land in 1815 where in 1818 he died, leaving a 
 son Fredrick and two daughters. The cele- 
 brated lawyer, John Wickham, of Richmond, 
 was his nephew, and who under tlie advice of 
 Genl. Fanning accepted a Commission for a 
 time in the British Army. The late Col. Alex. 
 Fanning, of the U. S. A., Capt. Edw. Fan- 
 ning and Nathaniel Fanning, late of the U. S. 
 Navy, were nephews of Genl. Fanning. 
 
 Thomas Burke, born 1747, died 1783, lived 
 and died in this County and had an eventful 
 and romantic career. 
 
 "He was a native of Ireland and a man of 
 letters": Son of Ulrick Burke, of Galway. 
 He was highly educated, and studied medicine; 
 emigrated from Ireland in 1764, and came to 
 Accomac County , Virginia, where he engaged in 
 the practice of his profession. He became dissat- 
 isfied with medicine and studied Law; removed 
 to Norfolk and in 1774 finally settled in Hills- 
 boro'. The next year, being a ready and enthusi- 
 astic speaker, he became prominent in politics, 
 and his generous temper made him popular 
 with the people. He represented the County 
 with Thomas Hart in the I'rovincial Congress 
 at New Berne, the 4th of April 1775, and at 
 Halifax in November 1776. He took an active 
 
 *Drake in his " Dictionary of Am. Biography," says 
 tliat Col. P. married a daugliter of Governor Tryon. 
 Sabine makes the same statement. 
 
 part in framing the State Constitutidn. In De- 
 cember he vvas,with William Hooper aiidJoseph 
 llewes, appointed delegate to the Continental 
 Congress at Philadelphia where he served until 
 July 1781, wlien he was elected by the Legis- 
 lature Governor of the State, by acclamation. 
 He wasvery popular with the Whigson account 
 of bis patriotism, and consequently as odious to 
 the Tories. On the 13th of September, 1781, a 
 band of Tories led by David Fanning, before 
 day-break seized Governor Burke, tied him on 
 a horse, and carried him to the British head- 
 quarters at Wilmington; from thence he was 
 taken to Charleston, where he was placed on 
 James' Island, as a prisoner on parole. John 
 Iluske, of Fayettevillc, his private secretary, 
 was also captured and imprisoned with Gov- 
 eiior Burke and was placed with many desper- 
 ate characters. Fearing for his life, as he was 
 very obnoxious to them, he escaped after an 
 imprisonment of four months. In April 
 1782,he resumed bis place as Governor at Salem 
 In December he was defeated by Alexander 
 Martin for Governor.) Zt«. . - - ...^^^--.^ ■ 
 
 This was the severest blow of misfortune — 
 after all his trials, sacrifices and sufi'erings, to 
 be discarded by those for whom he had done 
 so much and suifered so much, was more than 
 bis nature could bear. Borne down by such 
 feelings of sorrow he died at Hillsboro' a few 
 days before Christmas, beloved and mourned 
 by a large number of admiring friends. His 
 patriotic services and bis imdeserved misfor- 
 tunes should have condoned far greater faults. 
 
 There is but little doubt, says Moore I., ( page 
 358,) "that disappointment and mental anguish 
 caused his premature death." 
 
 He married Mary Freeman, of Norfolk, Vir- 
 ginaand left one daughter surviving,who moved 
 to Alabama, where she resides. In a letter she 
 states of her father's personal appearance, that 
 he was "of middle stature, well formed, much 
 marked by the small pox,which caused the loss 
 
32G 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 of his left eye. The remaining eje was an ex- 
 pressive mild blue." 
 
 He was a brother, or near kinsman of Judge 
 Edamus Burke, of South Carolina, equally ec- 
 centric, and like Edamus Burke full of genius, 
 fun and frolic, of whom many anecdotes are 
 still remembered. 
 
 Col. William Shepperd, of Long Meadows, 
 (his ancestral home, near Hillsboro, N. C.,) was 
 a conspicuous member of the State Senate; he 
 was an oificer of the North Carolina line during 
 the revolution of 1776 — a terror to " The 
 Tories." 
 
 Many are the legends of his prowess, which 
 enlivens the blazing pine knots of '• the Old 
 North State," but sweeter far are the memories 
 of his benevolence. 
 
 Let one instance for each characteristic suf- 
 fice for this sketch. One to show that " bread 
 cast upon the waters will return after many 
 days," and the other to remind a wavering pa- 
 triotism and hesitating honesty of that great 
 self-sacrifice and stern devotion to principle, 
 which were the secrets of the success of our pa- 
 triotic grandfathers, and which not only were 
 rewarded, but will descend in mantles of glory 
 to the third and fourth generation ! Colonel 
 Shepperd had married Miss Elizabeth Hay- 
 wood, sister of Judge Haywood, of North Car- 
 olina, then I'emoved to Tennessee. Her sister 
 married a lawyer named Captain William 
 Bell, clarum ct L-cncndiilc nomai. He ilied, 
 leaving a lovely family without support, and 
 although Colonel Shepperd's family was nu- 
 merous, yet he adopted the orphaned family 
 as his own. They are since known to his- 
 tory, as Captain William H. Bell, of the 
 United States Army; Admiral Henry H. Bell, 
 U. S. N.; Captain John Bell, U. S. N.; a daugh- 
 ter married to Mr. McNair, of Edgecombe 
 County; a daughter Elizabeth J., who married 
 Thomas Ashe, grandson of Gov. Ashe, the 
 youngest brother of I'aoli Ashe, and another 
 
 married to Dr. Howell, of West Tennessee; an- 
 other Miss Haywood, a sister of Mrs. Col. Shep- 
 perd, married Mr. Johnstone, of North Caro- 
 lina, and moved to Tennessee; another married 
 Mr. Duffie, au eminent lawyer of North Caro- 
 lina, and after his death Dr. Buchanan, of St. 
 Stephens, Ala.; and after his death Mr. Adlai 
 Osborne; she left one son, Egbert. Judge Jas. 
 Osborne, the distinguished judge, was a son of 
 Adlai Osborne by his first wife, Miss Walker, 
 of Wilmington. A sister of Col. Wm. Shep- 
 perd — Martha — married Major Wm. F. Strud- 
 wick, of Hillsboro, a member of Congress. She 
 left Sam Strmlwick, of Alabama; Dr. Edward 
 Strudwick, of Hillsboro, and Eliza, who mar- 
 raied Paoli Ashe, (grandson of Gov. Sam Ashe) 
 formerly of New Hanover, afterward removed 
 to Alabama; and Martha married to Col. Elisha 
 Young; and Margaret, a famous beauty, wife 
 of Egbert Osborne. Captain William Bell (the 
 protege of Col. Shepperd,) whilst a young lieu- 
 tenant in the army, invented a contrivance for 
 turning round heavj^ ordnance with great ra- 
 pidity; for this invention, under a" relief bill," 
 the Government appropriated to him the sum 
 of §25,000, which money he invested in the 
 growing city of St. Louis, Missouri, and so be- 
 came immensely wealthy. When about to die, 
 immediately after the close of our civil war. 
 Captain Bell added a codicil to his will, Janu- 
 ary 11, 1866, distributing one-eighth of his mag- 
 nificent fortune, in the following significant 
 words: " To the descendants of my benefactor, 
 William Shepperd, of Orange County, North 
 Carolina." 
 
 The other incident is a legend of bloody war 
 during the revolution. R. C. in the " Farmer 
 and Mechanic " most graphically writes as 
 follows of Col. Wm. Shepperd: 
 
 He was very short, spare built man, of plain, 
 insignificant appearance, and the farther disad- 
 vantages of a very thin, piping voice, with one 
 eye; no one in search of a hero would have 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 327 
 
 
 p'ivcn liiiii a second tlionirht, and _yct that spare 
 frame was knit together with joints as Hexible 
 as a politican's principles, and muscles like 
 bands of finely tempered steel; and through 
 that solitary eye looked forth a spirit that no 
 danger could anpul, no adverse fortune subdue 
 or dismay. A democrat of intcnsest dye he 
 affected the roughest costume, and in an age 
 when gentlemen never wore aught but "purple 
 and fine linen," he clothed himself with home- 
 spun, woven on his plantation, and shoes made 
 by his own negroes. 
 
 He had organized a partizan force of Minute 
 men, some four or five hundred strong, men 
 who dwelt peaceably enough at home, until a 
 runner notified them that Sliepperd had work 
 for them to do, when at the rendezvous would 
 gather a band of rough but resolute men reaily 
 to execute any plan, however daring and haz- 
 ardous, of their idolized chief. 
 
 An English officer named Patton was then 
 raiding through Orange and the adjoining coun- 
 ties, carrying terror and devastation with him. 
 Born a gentleman and a soldier, and of superb 
 physical developement, he mocked at fear and 
 utterly devoid of con.science, staunch in his 
 loyalty to the king, and with a goodly scorn of 
 American rebels, he showed no quarter; rapine, 
 violence, and murder marked every step of his 
 onward progress, and none were able to stay 
 his course. 
 
 Col. Sheppcrd and liis troopers returning 
 home after the disastrous battle of Briar 
 Creek found Patton devastating the country, 
 and riding rough-shod over the people. Plan 
 after plan to capture him was devised, but Col. 
 Patton was as wary a soldier as he was brutal 
 as a man, and time and again he slipped through 
 Sliepperd's toils, and laughed him to scorn. 
 
 Finalh' Sheppcrd was ordered on some expe- 
 dition that withdrew his forces from the neigh- 
 borhood, and i'atton getting wind of it, came 
 
 down into the lion's don, quartered at "Long 
 Meadows" for a iiiglit and a da}', and although 
 treating Mrs. Sheppcrd witli extreme courtesy, 
 (for Patton, though absolutely without hu- 
 manity to women as women never failed to 
 treat a lady of his own rank with the most fin- 
 ished courtesy of manner) appropriated the 
 Colonel's stock, provender, and plantation sup- 
 plies like the frcc-bootcr that he was. 
 
 Col. Shepi)erd returning one night to visit 
 his wife, whom he passionately loved, discov- 
 ered that Patton was in the neighborhood, and 
 laid a plan to capture him. 
 
 Summoning his immediate body-guard of 
 twenty picked men, he stationed thirteen of 
 them in an old deserted school house to lie in 
 wait, while he and the others reconnoitcrcd. 
 Returned to the school house, what was his an- 
 ger and astonishment to find the building 
 " empty, swept and garnished," and a card 
 tacked up by Col. Patton to tell the reason why. 
 
 Patton also had been out reconnoitering, and 
 came to the school house, where a pack of carde 
 and jug of whiskey were helpingthe ambuscade 
 to forget their duty. All the muskets were 
 piled near the dooi', and their owners sitting 
 cross-legged on the fioor were deep in the mys- 
 teries of card playing, while the sentry lifted 
 the jug to his head a time or so too often. 
 
 Stepping lightly to the door, Col. Patton 
 seized one of their own muskets, and levelling 
 it at the absorbed card-players, cried out in his 
 ringing voice of irresistable command: " Sur- 
 render to Col. Patton of his Majesty's forces, 
 or I will shoot every man of you." Half drunk, 
 wholly surprised, and with instinctive obedi- 
 ence of soldiers to a born commander, they at 
 once surrendered. Still holding his musket at 
 point blank range, Patton made one of the men 
 advance and hand him the nmskets one by one, 
 stock foremost. Then lie was required to tie 
 his comrades, each man with his own halter, 
 the horses were in turn secured to tlieir mas- 
 
328 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ters, and thus yoked together man and beast, 
 the crest fallen thirteen were marched ahead 
 of their captor to the British camp. A sorry 
 enough spectacle, truly! 
 
 A tiery, passionate man, Col. Shepperd's rage 
 and mortitication were indescribable. His de- 
 sire to capture Patton became a perfect frenzy, 
 and he bent all his energy to its accomplish- 
 ment. 
 
 If a man will, he ciw, generally; and Col. 
 Sheppard's hour came at last. 
 
 Not very long after the disgraceful capture 
 of his men, there was to lie a sale in the neigh- 
 borhood. People had submitted, if they were 
 not subdued, Patton rode or walked through 
 the land a very Lord Paramount, and none 
 dared gainsay or resist. He was going to at- 
 tend the sale, not as a bidder, but to take vi et 
 artiiis whatever he saw tit. Shepperd stationed 
 some of his men below, and above the point 
 of attack that he had selected, eai'ly on the 
 day of the sale, and then dressed like a com- 
 mon farmer, as he always did, and with a loose 
 halter over his arm, he mounted his horse and 
 took a bridle path through the woods that 
 would bring him out into the road tluit Patton 
 must take to reach the sale. A house occu- 
 pied by a man t:amed Smith was on the left 
 of the road, above the lower anibuseadc of 
 Shepperd's men. 
 
 Down the road came Patton riding a superb 
 black mare, dressed in full British uniform, and 
 presenting a very briilant and splendid appear- 
 ance, lie was tall, large, and superbly hand- 
 some, and in courage and high soldierly quali- 
 ties fully Shepperd's equal. As he rode gal- 
 lantly on in all the pride of conscious beauty 
 and power, out of a bridle path to his right 
 rode a small ill-favored man, who saluting him 
 awkwardly, as he rode alongside, said : "I 
 bought some colts not long ago front a man 
 named Smith, who lives somewhere on this 
 road, and they have strayed away, and I expect 
 
 they have gone back to their old home, so I 
 am looking for them. Can you tell me where ^ 
 Smith lives ?" /^ 
 
 "Oh, yes," said Patton carelessly, raising his 
 I'ight arm and pointing across the road, "he 
 lives across the road yonder." He had turned 
 his face as he spoke, and in that instant a pair 
 of why arms were clasped around him like a 
 vice, and a small piping voice cried out, "Col. 
 Patton, you are my prisoner, sir." Patton was 
 a stammerer in his speech, and he stuttered 
 out, angrily. "It is a damned lie, sir. I am 
 no man's prisoner;" struggling desperately to 
 loose himself. He had not reckoned on the 
 immense strength hidden away in the small 
 body of his captor, and his efl'cu-ts availing 
 nothing. Drawing his sword with his left 
 hand he essayed to cut himself loose, but Shep- 
 perd was 80 small, and so close to him that the 
 slashes did not touch him. Patton shortened 
 his sword, and cut and thrust mei'cilessly until 
 the arm that pinioned him was gashed and 
 stabbed in a dozen places, l)ut the resolute lit- 
 tle Colonel never flinched. This, though long 
 in the telling, occupied only a moment, and 
 the horses feeling loose bridles on their necks 
 broke and ran, landing both riders in the road. 
 Patton being the heaviest fell underneath, and 
 when Shepperd's troopers came hurrying up, 
 attracted by the riderless horses passing them, 
 for everybody knew Patton's black mare, a 
 superb English thoroughbred, they found the 
 stubboi'n little Colonel holding his prostrate 
 foe in an embj'ace that seemed riveted like 
 bands of steel. 
 
 The arrival of reinforcements made the con- 
 test hopeless for Patton, who had been badly 
 hurt by his heavy fall, and he said: "I surren- 
 der, and claim the usage of a soldier and a 
 gentleman." Shepperd at once relieved him, 
 and when Patton was helped to las feet, he 
 held out his sword and said: "To whom do I 
 surrender?" "Col. William Sliepperd, sir," an- 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 32d 
 
 swored tlic Colonel with a ring ol" triuinph in 
 his voice. 
 
 "Colonel Sheppord!" exclaimed Patton, in 
 the utmost amazement and chagrin as he 
 looked at the small, insignificant speaker. 
 "Yes, sir. Col. Sliepperd, who has promised to 
 hang Col. Patton whenever he caught him," 
 said Shepperd, drawing from his pocket a pair 
 of handcuffs which he had carried for months 
 for the purpose of hraceleting Patton if ever 
 captured. 
 
 "With a spring like a tiger Patton sliook him- 
 self free from the troopers that surrounded 
 him, and catching up a limb of a fallen tree he 
 put his back against a large oak, and ex- 
 claimed, "Col. Shepperd, you shall never sub- 
 ject me to the disgrace of handcufls; I will 
 die first. I claim the usage of war, to be 
 treated like an officer and a gentleman. I will 
 never submit to be handcuft'ed." 
 
 "You are a robber, and a murderer, and 
 have forfeited all the consideration due a sol- 
 dier, sir," answered Shepperd, bitterly. "I 
 wear the uniform of a British officer, sir, and 
 I demand to be treated like an officer of his 
 Ma-jesty's army. I give you my word of honor 
 to make no effort to escape. I will go alone 
 with you, or any one else to headquarters. I 
 will consider myself your prisoner and deport 
 myself accordingly without constraint, but I 
 never submit to pei'sonal indignity, and no 
 man will handcuff me alive." 
 
 "Shepperd was no fool; and he saw plainly 
 enough that Patton would make a desperate 
 resistance, in which he would have to be either 
 killed outright, or so badly hurt that he would 
 be unfit for travel, so the plan of handcuffing 
 him was abandoned, and accepting his parole, 
 Shepperd made ready, and both men mounted 
 their horse.', and set off alone for Gates's head- 
 quarters near Asheville, eating, sleeping, and 
 riding together like brothers until they reach- 
 ed the American camp where Shepperd turned 
 
 his prisoner over to the authorities, and lie 
 was tried by drnndiead court martial, con- 
 demned, and executed. 
 
 lion. Augustin Shepperd, a member of Con- 
 gress for thirty years, was his nephew, and 
 he was the father of William and Mrs Gen- 
 eral Pender; Captain Frank Shepperd, of 
 Georgetown, and Hamilton Shepperd, Esq., of 
 Warrenton, Va., are his near kinsmen. One of 
 hissisters Pamela, married Col. Paoli Ashe, from 
 whom descended Hon. Thomas S. Ashe, of the 
 Supreme Bench of North Carolina, and other 
 brilliant men. Col. Shepperd left three sons, 
 "William, Egbert and Henry, all of whom after- 
 war dmoved to the Western District of Ten- 
 nessee. 
 
 Two of his sons mari-ied daughters of Mar- 
 niaduke Johnson, Esq., a wealthy gentleman, 
 of Warrenton, Va., William, his eldest son, 
 was most happily married to Mary Haywood, 
 and their daughter, Mary, is the wife of John 
 L. T. Sneed, Chief Justice of Tennessee, who 
 was a nephew of the illustrious Judge William 
 Gaston, of North Carolina. Col. Shepperd's 
 daughters were equally fortunate in tlieir alli- 
 ances. Of his daughters two were married to 
 the two Governors, Ashe of North Carolina, 
 that is — Elizabeth married Col. Sam. Ashe, 
 son of Gov. Sam. Ashe, and had WiUiam S. 
 Ashe and others; Mary married Samuel Porter 
 Ashe, son of Col. John Baptista Ashe (the old- 
 est son of Gov. Sam. Ashe, a U. S. Senator, 
 elected Governor, but died before qualifying.) 
 He was a citizen of Fayetteville before be re- 
 moved lo Tennessee, his oldest daughter, Sarah 
 married Wm. Barry Grove, a member of Con- 
 gress and a banker in Fayettesville; Susan mar- 
 ried David Hay, Esq., a gentleman of fortune, 
 whose sister, Susan, was the first wife of Judge 
 Wm. Gaston. 
 
 David Grove, a .son of Wm. Barry Grove 
 and Sarah, married Susan Hay Ashe, a daughter 
 of Sam. Ashe and Elizabeth. John Baptista 
 
330 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Ashe a soil of Col. Sam. Aelie and Elizal:)eth, (he 
 was a meniher of Congress from Tennessee) 
 married Elizabeth Hay, daughter of David and 
 Susan llay. 
 
 The youngest daughter, Margaret Lucia, mar- 
 ried to Dr. John Rogers, several years after 
 the death of Col. Shepperd, who died at Ilills- 
 ))oro. Dr. Rogers was an Irishman by birth, and 
 for a short time in the United States Navy; a 
 graduate of Geoi-getown, D. C, came to Wil- 
 mington about 1815, and became a teacher 
 t-here, for Rev. Dr. Empic, and afterwards Col. 
 Uill—about 1822 to 1826 had charge of the 
 Academy of ilillsboro. To these was born Dr. 
 J. Webl) Rogers, July 11, 1822, at "Long 
 Meadows," the old North Carolina homestead 
 of his grand-father, a graduate of the College 
 of New Jersey at Princeton. 
 
 He became an Episcopal clergyman, built six 
 churches in Tennessee; and Ijecoming a con- 
 vert to tlie Roman Catholic faith, returned to 
 the profession of the law, which he had stu- 
 died in early life. He is an author oi' several 
 theological and poetical works. The children 
 of Dr. J. Webl) Rogers have already attained 
 such distinction as to entitle them to much 
 more than passing notice. 
 
 Two sons, J. Harris Rogers and Wm. Shep- 
 perd Rogers are both electricians. By the 
 middle name of the older son named, the alli- 
 ance of the two families is noted. Arthur 
 Harris, his maternal ancestor, was the bosom 
 friend of William Shepperd, and served with 
 him in the State Legislature. The names of 
 Hon. Ishani' G. Harris, U. S. Senator, Hon. 
 Wm. R. Harris, Gen. Buckner Harris, Elisha 
 Harris, a wealthy planter before the late war, 
 Dr. George C. Harris, dean of St. Mary's Cathe- 
 dral, Dr. G. Whitson Harris, the famous sur- 
 geon, and many other names not unknown to 
 lame, are all grouped around this family centre. 
 
 These descendants, the Rogeis, have by their 
 patents in connection with electricity, obtained 
 
 great reputation and have become immensely 
 wealthy. 
 
 The Mebane family have been very well 
 known and esteemed in Orange County, and 
 its descendants have not only been distinguished 
 in this section, but have pervaded Tennessee 
 Kentucky, Missi8sippi,Indiana, Arkansas, Louisi- 
 ana, Texas and other sections. (Revo. Incidents 
 in the old .Morth State, by E. W. Caruthers.) 
 
 Colonel Alexander Mebane, the founder of 
 the family in North Carolina, came from the 
 North of Ireland, emigrated to America and 
 settled in Pennsylvania, where he remained 
 for several years. He removed to Hawfields, in 
 Orange County, before the revolution, lie was 
 an industrious, upright man, thrifty in worklly 
 matters, and soon acquired considerable wealth. 
 
 Under the Royal Government he received a 
 conimission as Colonel and was made a Justice 
 of the Peace. When the revolution began he 
 and all of his sous were decided and became 
 active defenders of the rights of the people, 
 when opposed to the oppressions of the Crown. 
 On this aceount'the British and Tories devas- 
 tated his property. He was too old to be an ac- 
 tive soldier himself, but his sons were brave and 
 zealous defenders of the cause of independence. 
 He had six sons : 1st William, 2nd Robert, 3d 
 Alexander, 4th John, 5th James, 6th David. 
 
 William Mebane was a captain in the rev- 
 olution and a member of the Senate in the State 
 Legislature in 1782; married first to Miss Rainy, 
 second to Miss Abercrombie, but had no issue. 
 
 Robert was the soldier of the family, a Col- 
 onel in the Continental army. He was with 
 General Rutherford in his campaign in 1776 
 against the Overhill Cherokee Indians and in 
 man^' battles with the British and Tories, in 
 which he displayed unflinching courage. In 
 the battle of Cane Creek, in an endeavor to in- 
 tercept the fierce marauder Fanning, who had 
 seized the Governor, Colonel Mebane displayed 
 great valor, and when General Butler had or- 
 
ORANGK COUNTY. 
 
 331 
 
 (Icred a retreat, Colonel Mebane rushed be- 
 fore the retreating party, stopped them and 
 turned the defeat into victory. Towards the 
 close of the Ijattle ammunition becoming scarce, 
 ho passed along the line bare headed, carrying 
 powder in liis hat and distributing it among 
 the men, urging them to coiitinuc the figlit_ 
 lie WiXri afterwards, witli his Keginient on the 
 Cape Fear, lighting the Tories T5ut he was 
 notified that his services were needed in the 
 northei-n part of the State and he set out, ac- 
 companied only by his servant. On his return 
 he came upon a noted Tory and horse thief, 
 Henry Hightower, who was armed with a 
 l>ritish musket. Fearless of the consequences 
 Mebane pursued him; when within striking dis- 
 tance and with his arm uplifted, Ilightower sud- 
 denly wheeled and shot him dead. He was the 
 model of a soldier, brave, fearless, of active and 
 conmianding presence. 
 
 Alexander Mebane was the statesman of the 
 family, born in Pennsylvania, 26th of November, 
 1744. He was a member of the Provincial Con- 
 gress at Halifax, 16th December 1776, that 
 formed the State constitution, and of the con- 
 vention at Hillsboro' which rejected the consti- 
 tution of the United States. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Legislature from Orange County, 
 from 1783 to 1793 and in the latter year was 
 elected a member of the United States 
 (3rd) Congress and re-elected, but died be- 
 fore taking his seat on 5th of July, 1795. He 
 was distinguished for sound practical sense,8terii 
 integrity and indomitable firmness. He was 
 married, first to Mary Armstrong, of Orange 
 County; second, to Miss Claypole, of Philadel- 
 phia. 
 
 He left several children,, lames, William and 
 Dv John A. Mebane, of Greensboro'. His son, 
 James Mebane, inherited his father's talents 
 as a statesman, was one of the first students 
 who entered the University and the founder 
 of the Dialectic Society, which perpetuates 
 
 his memory by his lil'e-sizo portrait that may 
 still be seen in their hall. He was a mend)er 
 of the Legislature in 1808,-'9, '10, '11, '22, '23 
 and '28. In 1821 he was elected Speaker of 
 
 the House. 
 
 He married Klizul)ctli, the only child of 
 William Kinchen, by which union he had six 
 children, five sons and one daughter. Among 
 these is Giles Mebane, the faithful and able 
 Senator in the Legislature (1877-78) from 
 Orange, Person and Caswell. Kinciien, an 
 older son, was a Presbyterian clergyman. The 
 younger sons were James and Lemuel. 
 
 Dr. Alexander Wood Mebane, a son of Wil- 
 liam, was born in this County, liberally educa- 
 ted, graduated in Philadelphia and settled in 
 Bertie County on the Chowan river, wliere lie 
 became one of tlie successful and enterprising 
 men of that section. He was a man of unblem- 
 ished reputation, faithful to every duty, active 
 and energetic in every good work and enter- 
 prise. These qualities and abilities were duly 
 appreciated, for in 1829 and 1830, he was elected 
 member of the House of Commons and in 1833, 
 '34, '35, and 36, he was in the Senate; and in 
 1848 he was a candidate for Elector on the 
 Cass ticket in opposition to Kenneth Payner. 
 
 This was his last public service. 
 
 He married Mary Howe, a lady of fine es- 
 tate, by whom he had several children, one of 
 whom was the wife of the Hon. John Pool. 
 Grandison and Howe were brothers; Mai'v 
 Frances and Mrs. Jordan were sisters of Dr. 
 Mel>ane. 
 
 Colonel John Mebane, son of Alexander .Me- 
 bane, senior, and brother of Alexander Mebane, 
 junior, resided in Chatham. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Legislature from 1790 to 1811. 
 About the close of the war of '76 he married 
 Mrs. Sarah, widow of William Kinchen, by 
 whom he had two children, John Brigga Me- 
 bane, who was a member of the Legislature 
 in 1813; and Mr. Thomas Hall, of Rockingham 
 County. 
 
332 
 
 WnEELP]R'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Captain James Mebaiie was active in the 
 revolutionary struggles. He married Margaret 
 Allen, of the Hawfields. 
 
 David Mebane, the youngest son of the pa- 
 triarch of this family, was not old enough to be 
 of much service in the war of the revolution, 
 lie, however, served in two campaigns and did 
 all in his power. lie represented the County 
 of Orange in the Legislature in 1808, 1809-'10. 
 lie married Ann Allen, of the Hawfields and 
 left a large family, among them George A. 
 Mebane of Mason Hall, merchant and Post- 
 M aster. 
 
 Brig. Genl. Francis Nash was the brother of 
 Governor Abuer Nash, whose biography we 
 have recorded. (See page 132.) 
 
 He was much respected, and in the colonial 
 period of the state, was a member of the Su- 
 perior Court under the Royal rule. 
 
 When the revolution commenced he was on 
 the 22(1 of April, 1776, appointed Lt. Colonel of 
 the first Regiment of North Carolina troops in 
 the Continental e8tablishment(.Tas. Moore,CoI.; 
 and Thos. Clark, Maj.;) upon the death of Col. 
 Moore, he became Colonel. He was subse- 
 quently promoted to be a Brigadier-General, 
 and ordered to join the Grand Army of the 
 North under Washington.* He commanded a 
 brigade at the battle of Germantown ( Oct. 4, 
 1777,) where he received a mortal wound. His 
 thigh was shattei'ed by a spent cannon ball 
 and the same shot killed his aid, Major With- 
 erspoon, son of Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, Presi- 
 dent of Princeton College. 
 
 He was buried at Kulpsville, Montg(jmery 
 County, Pennsylvania, twenty-six miles from 
 Philadelphia. By the patriotism and liberality 
 of John F. Watson, a monument has been 
 placed over his remains. 
 
 •Extract from Journal, of theCoiitineutal Cougress, 
 "July 14, 1775, Resolvcc] tliat General Nash proceed 
 immediately with the Vii.«iiiia and North Carolina 
 ti'oops, together with rolimcl I'rocter's corps of artil- 
 lery to join General Washington.'' 
 
 The Continental Congress on Nov. 4th 1777, 
 passed the following: 
 
 "Resolved, that his excellency Governor Cas- 
 well, of North Carolina, be requested to erect 
 a monument of the value of five hundred dol- 
 lars, at the expense of the United States, in 
 honor of the memory of Brigadier-General 
 Francis Nash, who fell in the battle of Ger- 
 mantown on the 4th day of Oct. 1777, bravely 
 contending for the independence of his coun- 
 try." 
 
 This pledge is yet unredeemed. P)v jxuior] 
 
 General Nash married Sally, daughter of 
 Judge .Maurice Moore, leaving one daughter, 
 Sally, who married John Waddell and who 
 had ten children, viz: I, Ilaynes married Fan- 
 ning; II, Frank mai'ried Moore; III, Hugh 
 married Susan Moore; IV, Maurice; V, Sally 
 mai-ried DeRossett; VI, John; VH, Alfred; 
 VIII, .Mary; IX, Claudea; X, Fanny married 
 John Swan. 
 
 Frederick Nash, (born 1781, died 1858,) son 
 of Governor Abner Nash and nephew of Gen- 
 eral Francis Nash, was born on the 9th Feb- 
 ruary, 1781, in the old colonial palace at New 
 Berne, his father then being Governor, the 
 successor of Richard Caswell, first governor 
 elected under our State constitution. 
 
 His education was conducted by Rev. M. 
 Pattillo, a Presbyterian minister of piety and 
 learning, at Williamsboro, Granville County, 
 and he was prepared for college by Rev. Thomas 
 P. Irving, of New Berne, a divine, and scholar 
 of eminent attainments ; he graduated at 
 Princeton, in 1799, in same class with .John 
 Forsythe, of Georgia; Jas. C. Johnston, of Ed- 
 enton, and others. He returned home and com- 
 menced the study of the Law, in the practice of 
 which from his ability, learning and assiduity, 
 he attained high distinction. It was natural, 
 from such qualifications, that his fellow citizens 
 should look to him as a suitable representative 
 iu the halls of Legislation. Li 1814-15 he rep- 
 
ORANGE COITNTY. 
 
 333 
 
 resented New Benie in the Logislature, where, 
 from his ability and i»iirity of character, he 
 wielded great influence. lie continued to 
 reside at New Berne in the practice of his 
 profession until 1808, when he removed to 
 llillshoro', and purchased the residence of 
 his friend, Judge Cameron, where he resided till 
 his death. In 1814-15 and 1816-17 he repre- 
 sented Orange County in the Legislature, and 
 in 1818 was elected one of the judges of the 
 Superior Courts. lie possessed those qualities 
 which Lord Campbell has designated as essen- 
 tial to a good judge: '' Patience in hearing, 
 evenessof temper, and kindness of heart." He 
 served eight years in this laborious and impor- 
 tant position when he resigned; and in 1827- 
 28 represented llillsboro' in the House of Com- 
 mons. He was again elected in 1830 to the 
 Superior Court Bench, and in 1844 succeeded 
 Judge Gaston as one of the justices of the Su- 
 preme Court. On the resignation of Judge 
 Rulhn he was made Chief Justice. Here was 
 a field where his extensive learning, his amenity 
 of temper and his " even-handed justice" had 
 full employment. He occupied this important 
 post till his death, which occurred at llillsboro' 
 on 5th Decend:)er, 1858. 
 
 He married Mary Kallock, of Ehzabethtown, 
 New Jersey, and left a lai'ge family. 
 
 Among them: I, Frederick; 11, Henry K.; 
 Ill, Shepperd; IV, Sally; V, Maria. 
 
 For much of this sketch we are indebted to 
 the Memoir of Judge Nash, by the late Hon. 
 John 11. Bryan. Uni. Mag., X., 257. 
 
 Archibald Debow Murphey, (born 1777, died 
 3rd February, 1832,) son of Colonel Archibald 
 Murphey, was born in Caswell County, near 
 Milton. His early education was conducted by 
 Rev. Dr. David Caldwell, and finished at the 
 University, where he graduated in 1799, in the 
 second class graduated at that institution. In 
 this class were Francis Nash, William Benton, 
 John Phifer and others. Such was his reputa- 
 
 tion as a scholar, that he was appointed to the 
 chair of Ancient Languages in the Uiuversity, 
 which he filled acceptably for three years, when 
 he resigned and studied law under William 
 Duffy, then residing in Hillsboro. lie rapidly 
 advanced in his profession, at that period, 
 adorned by the ability of such legal celebrities 
 as Camei'on, Norwood, Nash, Seawell, Yancey, 
 Rulfin, Badger and others. Among these he 
 held a high position, and which fully justified 
 the remark of Pinkney that the Bar was not a 
 place where false and fraudulent reputation for 
 talents can be maintained. His practice for 
 years was not exceeded by that of any lawyer 
 in the State; and his success was equal to its 
 extent. Particularly did he excel in the Equity 
 branch of the profession and in the examina- 
 tion of witnesses. In 1818 he was elected one 
 of the judges of the Superior Courts, and in 
 this elevated position he well sustained his rep- 
 utation for learning and ability which had been 
 so well established at the Bar He commanded 
 the admiration of the prc^fession and the peo- 
 ple, by the courtesy, patience, dignity and jus- 
 tice of his rulings. After riding the circuit 
 for two years he resigned, and returned to the 
 less laborious and more germane practice of his 
 profession. From 1812 to 1818 he was a Sen- 
 ator in the Legislature from Orange County 
 In this new arena he was more conspicuous than 
 he had been at the Bar, or on the Bench, and 
 wielded a larger influence than any other mem- 
 ber in the Councils of the State. In 1819 he 
 published " A Memoir of Improvements Con- 
 templated, and the Resources and Finances of 
 the State," dedicated to' Gov. Branch, which 
 will I'ank with the efforts of a Clinton or a Cal- 
 houn, and which elicited from the North Amer- 
 ican Review, high commendations. With his 
 mind absorbed in the gigantic schemes of in- 
 ternal improvements, at the same time he as- 
 siduously labored in his profession and literary 
 pursuits. Judge Murphey conceived the pm-- 
 
334 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 pose of writing the History of the State. He 
 knew her resources; he was familiar with her 
 early records; he had studied her interets; he 
 had visited every section from the mountains 
 to the seaboard ; he knew personally every lead- 
 ing man of eminence or intelligence in the 
 State. He had gathered material from every 
 source, public and private, at home and abroad. 
 He fully felt the importance and tlie necessity 
 of a good history of the State. In a letter to 
 General Joseph Graham, (20tli July, 1621,) he 
 says: 
 
 "We want such a work, we ncitiier know 
 outsiders; nor are we ktiown to others. We 
 want pride; we want independence; we know 
 nothing of our State and we care nothing al)out 
 it." 
 
 At his instance, the Legishiture througli Mr. 
 Gallatin our Envoy in England caused the offi- 
 ces of the Board of Trade in the Rolls offices in 
 London, to he explored, a rich mine never de- 
 velo[ted; he corresponded with Mr. Jefferson, 
 Mr. Madison and other literary men of other 
 states, and with tlie families of Govs. Burke, 
 Caswell, Jolmston,and witli many revolution- 
 ary officers then living, as Generals Gi'aluim 
 Lenoir, Col. Wm. Polk and ntliers all uf whom 
 contributed their treasures of knowledge freely 
 to him. 
 
 The Legislature in 1826, upon liis applica- 
 tion, granted authoiity to him to raise liy a 
 lotter}^, a sum sufficient to carry out his pa- 
 triotic intentions. But beyond publishing one 
 or two chapters on the Indians, ill health and 
 decayed fortune arrested this great enterprise; 
 poverty and adversity clouded the evening of 
 his days. He died at Ilillsboro', February 3rd, 
 1832, and is buried in the Presbyterian grave 
 yard, a few feet from the front door of the 
 church. He left two sons, Dr. V. Vloreau 
 Murphey,of Macon, Missis8i[)pi, and Lieutenant 
 P. U. Murphey of the Navy (since dead,) and 
 several grand children, among whom Judge 
 
 Archibald Murphey Aiken, who worthily sus- 
 tains the high reputation of his illustrious pat- 
 ronomic and ancestor. 
 
 We acknowledge our indebtedness for much 
 of the material of this truthful memoir to the 
 able address of Gov. W. A. Graham. (N. C. 
 Uni. Mag. Aug., 1860.) 
 
 William Norwood, born 1707 died 1840, one 
 of the Judges of the Superior Courts of North 
 Carolina, was a native of Orange county. lie 
 was elected a member of the Legislature from 
 Ilillsboro' in 1806, and re-elected in 1807. 
 
 He was elected one of the Judges of the 
 Superior Courts in 1820 and after serving with 
 great aeceptaliility for sixteen years, he re - 
 signed in 1836, on account of his ill health; 
 he died in 1840. 
 
 Dr. William Montgomery, born 1791, died 
 1844, long a resident, and a representative 
 from this county, entered public life in 1824, 
 as a Senator from Orange count}^ in the Leg- 
 silature, and served till 1834, when he was 
 was elected a member of the 24th Congress 
 (1835-'37) and continued to the 25th and 26th 
 Congress, 1841 where he declined further pub- 
 lic life. He was distinguished for the inflexi- 
 bility of his political principles, and his fidelity 
 to his party. 
 
 Willie Person .Mangum, born 1792, died 
 Sept. 14th, 1861, a native and resident of this 
 County was born in 1792, and educated at tlie 
 University where he graduated in 1815, in the 
 same class with John H. Bryan, Isaac Croom, 
 Francis L. Hawks, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. 
 aud others. He studied law, and became so 
 distinguished in the profession that in 1819 at 
 the early age of 28 he was elected one of the 
 Judges of the Superior Courts. He had been 
 the previous year, elected a memher of the 
 Legislature. In 1823 he was elected a mcmljcr 
 of the 28tli Congress (1824) and re-elected 
 to the next Congress, after 1826 he was again 
 elected a Judge of the Superior Courts. In 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 335 
 
 1829 he was elected and voted for Jackson; 
 in 1831, he was elected Senator in Congress 
 and served till 1836 wlien, under instructions, 
 he resigned. His party came again into 
 power, and 18-11 he was again elected Senator 
 and re-elected in 1847 and served till 4th 
 March, 1854. He lived in high party times, 
 and his political life was chequered with alter- 
 nate success and defeat. Yet he hore the one 
 with dignity and moderation, and the other 
 with calmness and resignation. 
 
 In 1837 he received the electoral vote of 
 South Carolina for President. On the death 
 of Gen. Harrison (1841) and the accession of 
 Mr. Tyler to the Presidency, he was elected as 
 pre.siding officer in the Senate, and through the 
 term of Mr. Tyler's administration held this 
 dignitied position. 
 
 He now retired from the husy theatre of pol- 
 itics in which he had been so prominent an ac- 
 tor, to his country home at Red Mountain. His 
 latter days were clouded by sorrow at the loss 
 of a favorite son in battle. He died at home 
 on Sept. 14th, 1861. 
 
 He married Miss Cain of Orange. 
 
 \ Thomas H. Benton, (born 178^, died 1858,) 
 was born near Hillsboro, N. C.,at Hart's Mills, 
 March 14th, 1782. He was educated at the 
 University, but never graduated. He studied 
 law under St. George Tucker at William and 
 Mary College, Va. He entered the United 
 States Araiy, but soon resigned his commis.sion 
 as Lieutenant Colonel; and in 1811 settled 
 in Nashville, Tenn., where he commenced the 
 practice of law. After a short time he emi- 
 
 \ grated to St. Louis, Missouri, and became con- 
 nected with the press. He soon arose to posi- 
 tion and influence, and in 1820 was elected to 
 the Senate of the United States. To the Sen- 
 ate he was repeatedly re-elected for "thirty 
 years," and there was no public measure from 
 1821 to 1851 in which he did not take an active 
 part; every subject he discussed was exhausted 
 
 by his research and powers of investigation. 
 He was a decided democrat, and the chief sup- 
 porter of Jackson and Van Buren in the Sen- 
 ate. His long term of service caused others, 
 who wished his place,"to supplant him, by strong 
 efforts they were finally successful. He was, 
 however, returned to 33rd Congress (1853-55) 
 as a member of the House. He then retired 
 from public service and devoted the balance 
 of his life to the compilation of his Register of 
 Debates. He died at Washington (Mty April 
 10th, 1858. 
 
 General Geo. B. Anderson, (born April Iz, 
 1831, died Oct. 16, 1862,) was the son of Wil- 
 liam E. Anderson, born near Hillsboro. His 
 mother was Eliza, daughter of Geo. Burgwyn, 
 of New Hanover. 
 
 His education was conducted by William 
 Bingham, and at the Caldwell Institute, imtil 
 1848, when he was, on the recommendation of 
 Hon. A. W. Venable, appointed a cadet at the 
 United States Military Academy, where he 
 graduated in 1852. He was then appointed 
 Lieutenant of Dragoons. After spending six 
 montlis in the Cavalry School, at Carlisle, he 
 was appointed assistant to Lt. Parke of the En- 
 gineers and ordered to locate the route for a 
 railroad to California. This duty performed, 
 he joined his regiment in Texas, and marched 
 over to Fort Riley, Kansas, where the troops 
 were constantly engaged in arresting predatory 
 parties, headed liy Lane and Ossawatomie 
 Brown, or Missouri mobs. When the war of 
 1861 began he resigned his commission in the 
 United States Army, and hastened to North 
 Carolina to share the fortunes of his native 
 State. He was the first officer of the old army 
 who tendered his sword and services to North 
 Carolina. He was appointed on May 18, 1861, 
 by Gov. Ellis, colonel to the 4th Reg't, N. C. 
 troops; John A. Young, of Charlotte, was the 
 Lt. Col., and Bryan Grimes, of Pitt, Major. 
 The Regiment after being organized at Garys- 
 
336 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 bvu-g, marched to the front. Though engaged 
 in slight skirmislies at "Williamsburg, the 4th 
 Regiment did not receive its real baptism till 
 May 31, in the bloody battle of Seven Pines. 
 Here, in the absence of General Featherston, 
 Colonel Anderson commanded a Brigade, con- 
 sisting of the 49th Va., Col. (Ex-Gov.) Wm. 
 Smith; 27th and 28th Georgia, and the 4th N. 
 C The latter went into this battle with 520 
 men and 27 officers. It lost 86 men killed, 376 
 wounded , and 24 officers. Such was the gallant 
 bearing and skillful conduct of Colonel An- 
 derson, that lie received the highest encomiums 
 from his commander, Gen. D. H. Hill, and was 
 promoted on .June the 9th to be a Brigadier- 
 General, and the 2n(l, 4th, 14th and 20th regi- 
 ments of North Carolina troops were assigned as 
 his brigade. 
 
 In the series of battles around Richmond 
 the brigade earned an immortality of renown. 
 At Malvern Hill, Gen. Anderson was wounded 
 in the hand. At the liattle of Sharpsburg, 
 Sept. 17th, he occupied a priniiiticnt position 
 on slightly rising ground. While thus exposed 
 he was struck by a niinnie ball near the ankle 
 joint and fell. He was carried with diffi- 
 culty and danger to the rear, and subsequently 
 across the Potomac to Sheperdstown. Ac- 
 companied by his brother. Lieutenant Robert 
 Walker Anderson, who was afterwards killed, 
 May 5th, 1864, in the Wilderness, he was car- 
 ried in a wagon up the valley to Stanton, thence 
 by rail to Raleigh. Here at the residence of 
 his brother, Wm. E. Anderson, he received 
 every attention that science and affection 
 could offer. After a fortnight of intense suf- 
 fering, mortification set in, and amputation 
 was resorted to, as the last hope, but he sank 
 under the operation. On the 16th of Oct. 
 1862, his pure and noble spirit departed for 
 another and better world. 
 
 He was buried in the city cemetery with 
 obsequies suitable to his gallant conduct, and 
 
 his heroic death. He married Nov. 8tli, 1857, 
 Miss Mildred Ewing, of Louisville. 
 
 While endeavoring to sketch the heroes, 
 statesmen and patriots, the patient and labo- 
 rious educator of our day should not be ne- 
 glected. We extract from "the Living Writers 
 of the South," the following tribute to the 
 carefulness and merits of one of our most dis- 
 tinguished men in that useful profession of edu- 
 cation — William Bingham. 
 
 He is of the third generation of a race of 
 teachers — teachers who have always main- 
 tained a prominent place in that lion()ral)le 
 calling. Colonel Bingham was born a school 
 master. He was born on July 7th, 1835, and 
 has followed like the "pacr Ascamuf''^ of Virgil 
 in the "jyi.ssibas iqtds'' of his illustrious sires, 
 his father and grand father. After due prep- 
 aration by his father, he entered the Univer- 
 sity and graduated in 1856 in the same class 
 with Clement Dowd, (Mr. Dowd's thesis at 
 this commencement was "the corrupting in- 
 fluences of political controversy," ) John T. Gil- 
 more, Thos. B. Slade and others, attaining the 
 first distinction throughout the course. 
 
 This nursery of so manj^ distinguished youths 
 of our State, the Bingham School, was estab- 
 lished by the Rev. William Bingham in 1793, 
 it was removed from New Berne to Hillsboro 
 and still survives in undiminished usefulness 
 the pride and ornament of the State. He com- 
 menced teaching at 12 years of age,and in 1861 
 was an author of a text book in Latin. 
 
 He has published: 
 
 1. A Grammar of the Latin, with exercises 
 and vocabularies, Greeiusboro, 1863. 
 
 2. Ca?sar's Commentaries with notes 1864. 
 
 3. A Grammar of the English language, 
 1867, which is pronounced to be the best gram- 
 mar ever published in the United States. 
 
 Col. Bingham is preparing an edition of 
 Sallust's "Jugurthine War, and Conspiracy of 
 Cataline " 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 337 
 
 Without some reference to this nlmn mnttr, 
 the University of North Carohna, a hook of 
 roininiscetisee of eminent North Carolinians 
 wouhl he incomplete. 
 
 When we consider the extended list of her 
 alumni, who have risen to eminence and to he- 
 come ornaments of their native land, hoth at 
 home and in other States; so many of that 
 band of i^radiiates have become laurel crowned 
 and honored in every sphere of life's duties, 
 that their (dmn nutter cannot but feel elated 
 with much of the same pride, whicli the poet 
 says, swelled the breasts of the mother of the 
 gods on Mount Olympus, as she looked upon 
 her children- 
 
 Spo all her procciiy, illustrious siglit! 
 Behold and count tlicni ;isthcy rise to sight, 
 .She sees around her in the blest abode, 
 A hundred sons, and every son a god! 
 
 Therefore, I have extracted from apulili^hed 
 address of the late Hon. William 11. Battle, 
 delivered June, IStio, the following reminis- 
 cences: 
 
 It is the boast of our State that in its or- 
 ganic law, provision is made for the instruction 
 of her youtli in all useful learning. By the 
 4l8t section of the Constitution it is declared : 
 "That a school or schools shall be established b}' 
 the legislature for the convenient instruction 
 of youth, with such salaries to the masters, paid 
 by the public, as may enable them to instruct 
 at low prices ; and all useful learning shall be 
 duly encouraged and promoted in one or more 
 universities." The merit of those who adopted 
 this wise provision cannot be duly appreciated, 
 without adverting for a moment to the time 
 at, and the circumstances under which it was 
 nuidc. The war of the Revolution had but 
 fairly commenced, and the Declaration of In- 
 dependence had only a few months before been 
 promulgated, when a convention of the people 
 met at the town of Halifax for the purpose of 
 preparing a constitution or form of govern- 
 ment for the State. The country was poor. 
 
 the people generally but slightly educated, and 
 the war then raging was of douljtful issue, yet 
 the members of the convention were resolved 
 that their posterity should enjoy the advanta- 
 ges of education which had been denied to the 
 most of them. There can be no doubt that a 
 large majority of those members had been in- 
 structed only in the plain rulesof reading, writ- 
 ing and arithmetic, but destitute as they were 
 of book learning, the}' had, in the business of 
 social and political life, improved their mental 
 faculties, and had thereby educated themselves 
 to a due appreciation of the rights and privil- 
 eges to which, as free men, they were entitled. 
 A few, and but a few of them, were men who 
 had been more favored by fortune, and were 
 well instructed in all the branches of a classical 
 and scientific education. Prominent among 
 these were Richard Caswell, Thomas Burke, 
 •lohn Ashe, Samuel Ashe, Abner Nash, David 
 Caldwell, Joseph Ilewes, Thomas Jones, Allen 
 Jones, Willie Jones, Cornelius Harnett, Archi- 
 bald McLaine and VVaightstill Avery. Richard 
 f^aswell was president of the convention, and 
 Tliomas Burke was chairman of the committee 
 on the constitution. They were both eiuinent 
 lawyers, and it is to them and their enlightened 
 compeers that we are indebted to that section 
 of the constitution from which have emanated 
 our University, our Colleges and our noble sys- 
 tem of Common Schools. The constitution was 
 ratified the 18th day of December, 1776, and the 
 war ceased by a definite treaty of peace which 
 secured our independence in September, 1783; 
 but was not until the year 1789 that the finan- 
 cial condition of the State justified the legisla- 
 ture in making the necessary expenditures for 
 the foundation of a University. In that year 
 the charter of this institution was granted, and 
 among the patriotic and enlightened members 
 who advocated it, no one stood more conspicu- 
 ous than Gen'l William R. Davie. Of his 
 efforts on that occasion, the late Judge Mur- 
 
338 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 phey, who delivered the first animal address he- 
 fore your Societies, tlms spoke in that address: 
 " The General Assembly resolved to found our 
 University. I was present at the House of 
 Connuons, Avhen Davie addressed that body 
 upon the bill granting a loan of money to the 
 Trustees for erecting the building of this Uni- 
 versity, and although more than thirty years 
 have since elapsed, I have the most vivid recol- 
 lections of the greatness of his manner and the 
 powers of his eloquence upon that occasion." 
 After the grant of the charter, the iirst object 
 which engaged the attention of the Trustees, 
 was to fix upon a site for the institution. The 
 first Board consisted of forty menibei's who re- 
 sided in various parts of the State, and were 
 all men distinguished for position and influence. 
 The committee appointed by them for the pur- 
 pose, after a careful examination of many places 
 which had been suggested them as suitable, se- 
 lected Chapel Hill. This place was so-called 
 from its being the site of one of the anti-revo- 
 lutionary churches of the English Establish- 
 ment. The church building is said to have 
 stood on the lot now occupied by Capt. Rich- 
 ard S. Ashe. It may not be uninteresting to 
 revert to the terms in which the location was 
 spoken of in one of the public journals of that 
 day : 
 
 "The seat of the University is on the sum- 
 mit of a very high ridge. There is a gentle 
 declivity of 300 yards to the village, whi^i is 
 situated in a handsome plain considerably 
 lower than the site of the public buildings, but 
 so greatly elevated above the neighboring 
 country as to furnish an extensive landscape. 
 The ridge appears to commence about half a 
 mile directly east of the college buildings, 
 where it rises abruptly several hundred feet. 
 
 This peak is called Point Prospect. The 
 flat country spreads oft" below, like the ocean 
 giving an immense hemisphere, in which the 
 eye seems to be lost in the extent of space." 
 
 The building committee, having in the year 
 1793 secured a competent contractor in the per- 
 son of Mr. James Patterson, of Chatham Coun- 
 ty, the 12th da}' of October in tliat year was 
 fixed upon for laying the corner stone of the 
 first building. The following account of the 
 ceremony subsequently appeared in the journal 
 to which we have already referred: "A large 
 number of the brethren of the Masonic order 
 from Hillsboro', Chatham, Grrauville and War- 
 ren attended to assist at the ceremony of plac- 
 ing the cornerstone, and the procession for this 
 purpose moved from Mr. Patterson's at 12 
 o'clock in the following order: The Masonic 
 brethren in their usual order of procession, the 
 Commissioners, the Trustees not commission- 
 ers, the Hon. Judge McKay and other public 
 officers; then followed the gentlemen of the 
 vicinity. On approaching the south end of the 
 building the .Masons opened to the right and 
 left,and the Commissioners,etc., passed through 
 and took their place. The Masonic procession 
 then moved on round the foundati'ou of the 
 building, and halted with their usual ceremo- 
 nies opposite the southeast corner, where Wil- 
 liam Richardson Davie, Grand Master of the 
 Fraternity, etc., in this State, assisted by two 
 Masters of Lodges and four other officers, laid 
 the corner-stone, enclosing a plate to commem- 
 orate the transaction." 
 
 The Rev. Dr. McCorkle, a member of the 
 Board of Trustees, then made an appropriate 
 and eloquent address to his fellow members and 
 the spectators, which closed as follows: " The 
 seat of the University was next sought for, and 
 the public eye selected Chapel Hill, a lovely sit- 
 uation, in the centre ,of the State, at a conven- 
 ient distance from the capital, in a healthy and 
 fertile neighborhood. May this hill be for reli- 
 gion as the ancient hill of Zion; and for litera- 
 ture and the muses may it surpass the ancient 
 Parnassus! We this day enjoy the pleasure of 
 seeing the corner stone of the University, its 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 339 
 
 t'ouiulatioii, its material, and llie arrliitcct of 
 tlie buildings, and we hope ere long to see its 
 stately walls and spire ascending to their siuii- 
 niit. Ere long we hope to see it adorned with 
 an elegant village, accommodated with all the 
 necessaries and conveniences of civilized so- 
 ciety." This address was followed by a short 
 prayer, which closed with the united Anioi 
 of an immense concourse of people. 
 
 The building, since called the East, having 
 been suiHciently prepared, Mr. Hinton James, 
 of Wilmington, the first student, arrived on the 
 Hill the 12th day of February, 1795, and the 
 exercises of the institution were soon after com- 
 menced. The first instructor was the Rev. 
 David Kerr, a graduate of Trinity College, 
 Dublin, who was Professor of Ancient Lan- 
 guages, and he was assisted by Samuel Allen 
 Holmes in the preparatory department. Shortly 
 afterwards Charles W. Harris, a native of Ire- 
 dell County, in this State, and a graduate of 
 Princeton College in New Jersey, was ap- 
 pointed Professor of Mathematics, but he held 
 the office only one year, when he was succeeded 
 by the Rev. Joseph Caldwell, who was also a 
 graduate of Princeton, and a native of New 
 Jersey. The first commencement, at which the 
 degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred, was 
 held in the year 1798, when seven young gen- 
 tlemen, among whom was Mr. Hinton James ^ 
 received that degree. 
 
 For several years after the erection of the 
 first building, the accommodations for the stu- 
 dents, both in the collegiate and the prepara- 
 tory department, remained nearly the same. 
 The old Chapel and the East were the only edi- 
 fices, and the latter was then only two stories 
 high, and contained but sixteen rooms. The old 
 chapel was the Aula Personua in which the de- 
 grees were for many years conferred. 
 
 The South building was commenced, carried 
 up a story and a half, and then left for a long 
 time in an unfinished state. We are told by 
 
 |)r. Hooper in his adniiralile address before 
 Alumni of this institution, entitled "Fifty 
 Years Since," that the students who could not 
 well prepare their lessons in the crowded dor- 
 mitories of the East, wore in the habit of erect- 
 ing cabins in the corners of the unfinished brick 
 walls of the South, where they could pursue 
 their studies to better advantage. But Dr. 
 Caldwell, who was then President, could not 
 long endure this state of things; and by his ac- 
 tive exertions, the sum of twelve thousand dol- 
 lars was raised by subscription, which enabled 
 the Trustees to have the South building com- 
 pleted. This was done in 1812; and about the 
 year 1824, the West building was erected and 
 an additional story was put upon the East. 
 Shortly afterwards the new chapel was built; 
 and in 18-18 extensions were added to the East 
 and West buildings, which was done mainly for 
 the accommodation of the two Literary Socie- 
 ties, whose two rooms in the third story of the 
 South had become too small for the increased 
 number of members. The buildings since erec- 
 ted have been the University library, and the 
 wings to the East and West. The two last were 
 finished and prepared for occupation only a 
 short time before the commencement of the 
 war. The beautiful and commodious Society 
 Halls contained in them have been the admira- 
 tion of all beholders. 
 
 At the commencement of the institution, 
 and for several years afterwards, the range of 
 studies was very contracted. Greek was not 
 introduced into the course until 1804, and in 
 the year 1807, we learn that Morse's Geogra- 
 phy was one of the principal studies of the Soph- 
 omore class. The higher mathematics were not 
 introduced until the Rev. Elislia .Mitchell came 
 here as professor of that science in 1819. The 
 same year witnessed the advent of Denison 
 Olmsted as the first Professor of Chemistry; 
 and in the year following, the Rev. Shepherd 
 K. KoUock, was in like manner the first Pro- 
 
340 
 
 \yHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 sessor of Rhetoric and Logic. After that time 
 the number and variety of studies were .2;reatly 
 increased, and it is believed that the present 
 college curriculum is on as high a scale as any 
 in the United States. 
 
 The University has, in the main, been for- 
 tunate in its governors and instructors. Dur- 
 ing the first nine years of its existence, it had 
 no president, but was under the management 
 of a professor as a presiding otiicer; that otiicer 
 however, was, for the greater part of the time, 
 the same distinguished gentleman who after- 
 wards became its first president. Of his emi- 
 nent merits in that respect it is unnecessary for 
 me to speak at this time and in this place. The 
 beautiful monument erected to his memory by 
 the Alumni of this institution, and which now 
 graces and adorns the college campus, full}' at- 
 tests his claim to distinction, not only as the 
 head of the University, but as a learned divine 
 and an early and etiicient advocate of a system 
 of internal improvements and of common 
 schools in the State. His presidency extended 
 from his first appointment in 1804, until his 
 death in 1835, with the exception of an inter- 
 val of four years, from 1812 to 1816, during 
 which the unsuccessful administration of Dr. 
 Robert H. Chapman occurred. Of the present 
 incumbent,* I shall say nothing, except that he 
 has filled the office with distinguished success 
 for nearly thirty years. In administering the 
 affairs of college, and in businessof instruction, 
 the presidents were aided by a succession of 
 many learned and able professors. Of tliose 
 who are now members of the faculty, it will not 
 be expected of me to speak; and of those who 
 have gone from us and are still living, I will 
 merely refer you to Dr. William Hooper and 
 John DeBerniere Hooper, to Bishop Green, of 
 Mississippi, to Professor Hedrick, and to Drs. 
 Deems, Wheat and Sbipji. Among the dead 
 
 •Hon. David L. Swain. 
 
 there are several names which the friends of 
 the University ought not to permit to be for- 
 gotten. There was Charles W. Harris, to whose 
 brief sojourn here we were indebted for Dr. 
 Caldwell; there was Archibald D. Murphey,who 
 afterwards became one of the most distin- 
 guished jurists and statesmen of North Caro- 
 lina; the Rev. William Bingham, of whom 
 Chief Justice Taylor said, that as a teacher of 
 a school he was well qualified to raise its repu- 
 tation, " by the extent of his acquirements, the 
 purity of his life, and the judgment by which 
 he accommodated the discipline and instruc- 
 tions of the school to the various talents and 
 dispositions of the youth." There was Dr. Ethan 
 A. Andi'ews, so well known for his classical la- 
 bors; and Dr. Olmsted, who, as Professor of 
 Natural Philosophy at Yale College, so gi-eatly 
 increased the reputation which he had estab- 
 lished as Professor of Chemistry here ; there was 
 Nicholas M. Hentz, a learned man, but not so 
 widely' known as his accomplished wife, Mrs. 
 Caroline Lee Hentz; there was Walker Ander- 
 son, who afterwards removed to Florida and 
 became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of 
 that State; and finally there was Dr. Elisha 
 Mitchell, whose varied, extensive and profound 
 literary and scientific acquirements were lost 
 to the world a few years ago by a tragical event 
 which sent a pang of sorrow to every votary of 
 science throughout the land. 
 
 In referring to the instructors of the institu- 
 tion, the tutors should not be passed over with- 
 out a notice. Among the living and the dead, 
 they have very able and distinguished repre- 
 sentatives. Among the living are ex-Governor 
 Morehead, Hamilton C. Jones, Anderson 
 Mitchell, Giles Mebane, Judge Manly, ex- Sec- 
 retary Jacob Thompson, and others whose 
 names may yet swell the trump of fame. Among 
 the dead, I would point you to James Martin, 
 afterwards a Judge of the Superior Court; to 
 Gavin Hogg, long one of the ablest lawyers of 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 341 
 
 the State; to Lewis Williams, who was a nieiii- 
 berofthe House of Representatives so lonsi;tliat 
 he aeijuired tlie name of father of the House; 
 to Williaii) I). Moseley, for many years Speaker 
 of the Senate in this State, ami afterwards 
 Governor of Florida; to James II. Otey, tlie 
 able and learned Bishop of Tennessee; to the 
 Rev. Josepli II. Saunders, whose earl\' death 
 cut short a hi-ight career of usefulness iu his 
 church; to Edward D. Simms, whose growing 
 reputation as a professor in the University of 
 Alabama was closed by death before he had at- 
 tained the mei'idian of his years; and to Al)ra- 
 ham F. Morehead, the youngest member of a 
 distinguished family ,who would doubtless have 
 greatly increased the fame of that family, had 
 he not died in tlie earliest dawn of manhood. 
 I name with peculiar sadness George P. Bryan, 
 George B. Johnston, Iowa Royster and E.Gra- 
 ham Morrow, who have so recently been cvn- 
 signed to soldiers' graves. 
 
 From this hasty and imperfect s'^etch of the 
 origin and history of the University, it appears 
 clearly and stroiigly"that - Vtie founders of our 
 republic and their successors, have always had a 
 deep sense of the 'importance of a collegiate ed- 
 ucation. The; enquiry is naturally presented, 
 how far their hopes have been realized from 
 this institution; in other wcn-ds, with what 
 nieaPjure of success has it been attended in pro- 
 m<jting and advancing the weal of the State? 
 . A practical solution of this enquiry may perhaps 
 be obtained by ascertaining, if we can, what 
 influence the men who received their educa- 
 tion here have had in the management and di. 
 rection of the affairs of the General aud State 
 governments. It is unnecessary on this occa- 
 sion, to go into minute details on this subject, 
 but we can say in general, and say with cer- 
 tainty, that there is scarcely an office or place 
 of profit or trust, or any position in the busi- 
 ness of life, professional or non-professional, 
 ecclesiastical or lay, military or civil, which 
 
 has not been filled, time and again, by some 
 one who has received his education, in whole 
 or in part, at this University. To the general 
 government it has furnished one President, at 
 least five mend)ors of the cabinet and foui- min- 
 isters to foreign rourts, while of the number 
 which it has sent to the Senate and House of 
 Representatives it is difficult to make a reck- 
 oning In the State government there is hardly 
 any office which has not been filled by those 
 who have gone forth from these halls. It has 
 its representatives in the highest places of the 
 church, among the leaders at the bar, anil in 
 the chambers where suffering humanity most 
 needs the aid of educated science and skill. 
 It has supplied banks and railroads with pres- 
 idents, clerks and superintendents. It sends its 
 AlurP'.d to explore mines and to construct rail- 
 Toads; and above all and best of all, it furnishes 
 to agriculture and commerce some of their mo.-t 
 enlightened, energetic and skillful votaries. 
 
 The exciting times through which we have 
 just passed and are now passing, have prevented 
 me from bringing more particularly to your at- 
 tention the men whom our University has sent 
 forth to act their parts in the world. It is only 
 l)y the offices which they have filled, or the 
 places ^ rhich they have occupied, that I have 
 recalled them to your recollection. Many of 
 them have paid the great debt of nature, and 
 gone to render to their Maker an account of 
 their stewardship. Others are still living to 
 perform, it may be, higher duties to their coun- 
 try, and to obtain greater rewards for them- 
 selves. Of all these, dead or living, I have 
 nothing further to say. But with your indul- 
 gence, I will occupy a few more moments of 
 your time in recalling from the dim recollections 
 of the past the names of a few men, each of 
 whom was regarded as the college genius of 
 the day, and who with well directed energies 
 and a longer life, might have left a name which 
 the world would not willingly have let die. 
 
342 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 William Cherry was a native of Bertie 
 <-ouiity, and was graduated here in the year 
 1800. While in college he was not a very dil- 
 igent student, Init his aptitude for learning 
 was so marvellous that, it was said, he could 
 prepare his lesson after the recitation hell had 
 commenced ringing. Having selected the law as 
 his profession, he had already attained an ex- 
 tensive practice and a high rank at the Bar, 
 when his career was cut short by death, caused 
 by intemperance, at the early age of twenty- 
 seven. Those who were engaged in practice 
 with him could not but wonder at the admir- 
 able manner in which he managed his causes, 
 knowing as they did that the time which he 
 ought to have spent in thepreperation of them, 
 was passed at the card table and around the in- 
 toxicating bowl. A story is still remein.^ered, 
 that on one occasion, in the forgetfulness cause(3 
 by a deep debauch, he opened an important 
 cause by making a very aljle argument on the 
 wrong side; but being made aware of his mis- 
 take just as he was about to close, he, immedi- 
 ately, with admirable presence of mind, com- 
 menced a reply for his own client, by saying 
 that the argument which he had just made was 
 what he supposed would be urged by his oppo- 
 nent, and that he would proceed to answer it, 
 and expose its fallacy. Tradition, however, re- 
 ports that his first argument was so masterly 
 that he could not answer it successfully, and 
 thus lost his cause. 
 
 About fifteen years after Mr. Cherry left the 
 University a young man from the County of 
 Nash was, with many others, suspended from 
 college in consequence of what was long known 
 as the great rebellion of 1817, which resulted 
 in the expulsion of the leaders, Messrs. George 
 C. Drumgoole and William B. Shepard, and the 
 resignation of the President, Dr. Chapman. 
 The expelled members both afterwards became 
 distinguished men, but talented as they un- 
 doubtedly were, they were decidedly inferior 
 
 in genius to their classmate and friend, Thomas 
 N. Mann. He became a lawyer, and at the 
 time when he fell a victim to consumption, 
 while under thirty years of age, he was one of 
 the best read and most profound lawyers in the 
 State. Though so young, he was appointed by 
 the then President of the United States as 
 Charge iV Affaires to Central America and died 
 while on his way to the court of that country. 
 In the year of 1824, Thomas Dewes, a young 
 man from the County of Lincoln, took his de- 
 gree of Bachelor of Arts, dividing with Prof. 
 Simms, Judge Manly and ex-Governor Graham 
 the highest honor of the class. His parents were 
 poor, and it is said resorted to the humble oc- 
 cupation of selling cakes for the purpose of pro- 
 curing means for the education of their prom- 
 ising boy. After his graduation, he studied 
 law and commenced the practice with every 
 prospect of eminent success, when, unhappily, 
 a morbid sensitiveness of temperament drove 
 him to habit'' of intemperance, during one of 
 the fits of which he came to an untimely end 
 His name which ougi^t to have gone down to 
 posterity on account of gr^at deeds achieved by 
 extraordinary talents, will pr6>l>ably be remem- 
 bered only in connection with a tappily turned 
 impromptu epitaph. When ex-Gove'r^of Svvain 
 was at the Bar, he was, on a certain xpccasion, 
 at the same Court with Messrs. James R. Djdge , 
 Hillman and Dewes. Mr. Swain had seen son?®" 
 where a punning epitaph on a man namea 
 Dodge, which ended with the couplet that 
 
 "After dodging all he could, 
 He couldu't dodge tlie devil." 
 
 This he wrote on a piece of paper and handed 
 
 it to the other members of the Bar, whose 
 
 merriment it very much excited. After a while 
 
 it reached the hands of Mr. Dodge himself, 
 
 who, seeing from whom it came and supposing 
 
 that Hillman and Dewes were participes erimi- . 
 
 rds, immediately wrote on the back the follow 
 
 ing: 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 343 
 
 "Here lie a Hillraau anil a Swai". 
 
 Tli<-ir lot let no man choose 
 Tliev lived in sin and died in pain, 
 And the devil lias his Dews." 
 
 Those who are familiar with the playful and 
 happy turn of thought and e.xiiresjsion which 
 distinguish the lighter writings of Washington 
 Irving will not be surprised to learn that Mr. 
 J)odge is his nephew. 
 
 The next and last college genius to whom T 
 shall call your attention was the late Gen. James 
 Johnston Pettigrew. Born in the County of 
 Tyrrell, he was prepared for college at the cel- 
 ebrated school of William J. Bingham, a son 
 of the Rev. William Bingham already men- 
 tioned, and entered the Freshman class here in 
 the year 1843. Ilis whole college course was a 
 continued series of literary triumphs. In a class 
 containing many members of more than ordi- 
 nary- talents he was among the best, if not the 
 very best, in all his studies; but mathematics 
 was his speciality. In that he was far ahead of 
 all his classmates. I well remember being pres- 
 ent at the examination of the class on Astron - 
 omy, when the learned Professor, after having 
 worried several members by putting questions 
 which they could not answer, called up Mr 
 Pettigrew. As he did so one of the class, in 
 a whisper loud enough to be heard half across 
 the room, said, "You can't stick him," and sure 
 enough he couldn't. After taking the Bach- 
 elor's degree, and after a short term of service 
 n the Naval Observatory in Washington city, 
 he selected the Law as his profession, and went 
 to Europe to perfect himself in that depart- 
 ment of it called the civil law. On his return 
 he settled in Charleston and became connected 
 in practice with his distinguished relative, the 
 late Hon. James L. Petigru, who was perhaps 
 the ablest and most profound lawyer in South 
 Carolina. During his brief residence there he 
 became one of the representatives of the city in 
 the Legislatureof the State. While a member 
 of that body he greatly distinguished himself 
 
 by .sending in from a committee a minority re- 
 port against a scheme then proposed for taking 
 steps towards the reopening of the slave trade. 
 He himself constituted the minority, and his 
 report was so profound in its views, and so con- 
 vincing in its arguments, that the proposed 
 measure failed to secure the sanction of the 
 Legislature, though strongly urged in a icpurt 
 agreed upon by all the other members of the 
 committee. 
 
 Wlien the war broke out between the North 
 and the South he espoused the cause of his sec- 
 tion of the country. After some service at Char- 
 leston he came to this State, was elected Colo- 
 nel of one of its regiments and was afterwards 
 promoted to the rank of Major-General. Of his 
 merits as a soldier and an officer it is unneces- 
 sary for me now to speak. His untimely death, 
 in a slight skirmish near the banks of the Poto- 
 mac during General Lee's retreat from Penn- 
 sylvania, caused his friends and his country to 
 deplore an event which extinguished the light 
 of his genius long ere it had attained its merid- 
 ian splendor. 
 
 My young friends, my task is done and no 
 one can feel more sensibly than myself how im- 
 perfectly it lias been accomplished. No one 
 can know more fully than myself how difficult 
 it has been to withdraw my thoughts from the 
 unhappy condition of our country and apply 
 them to the work of attempting to prepare an 
 offering worthy of your acceptance. 
 
 In the commencement of my address I had 
 occasion to refer to the low condition to which 
 the war had suddenly reduced our beloved LTni- 
 versity. Its declension was as great as it was 
 sudden. Before the war it had attained, in a 
 very few yeart^, a height of prosperity of which 
 scarcely a parallel can be found in any country. 
 In the extent and variety of its studies, the 
 nund)er and ability of its instructors and the 
 number of its students, it surpassed nearly all 
 sinular institutions in our own section of the 
 
344 
 
 WHEELEE'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 country, and was lieginiiing to rival the old, 
 time-honored establishments of Yale and Har- 
 vard. In the year 1858 its catalogue showed a 
 larger number of under gi-aduates than that of 
 any other college in the United States, except 
 Yale. All this success was accomplished in a 
 very short time. A glance at the rapidly in- 
 creasing ratio of its graduates will illustrate the 
 truth of my remark. For the first ten years 
 after the date in which degrees were conferred 
 h\ the University, the number of students 
 who received the Baccalaureate was 53 ; for 
 the second decade it was 110 ; for the third 
 259 ; for the fourth 146 ; for the fifth 308 ; for 
 the sixth 448 ; and for the seventh the annual 
 number was going on at a rate which would 
 have produced 882, nearly the double of that 
 which immediately preceded it. 
 
 Another striking manifestation of the grow- 
 ing fame and the wide-spreading influence of 
 the University was afibrded by the honor of 
 having had among the visitors at each of the 
 commencements of 1847 and 1859 the then 
 President of the United States and a part of 
 his cabinet. On the first of these occasions 
 one of her own sons came to greet his fair 
 mother, and on the second a stranger from a 
 distant State came to do her honor. 
 
 The editor deems that no apology to the 
 reader is needed for completing this sketch of 
 the history of the University from the pen of 
 an illustrious father, by adding the following 
 from the pen of his illustrious son. 
 
 Hon. Kemp P. Battle, the President, on 
 University day 1883, in Gerrard Hall, gave a 
 most interesting History of the Buildings of 
 the University of North Carolina : 
 
 This anniversary day commemorates the lay- 
 ing of the corner stone of the Old East Build- 
 ing, on the 12th of October, 1793. I have al- 
 ready recounted at length the celebration of 
 that momentous event, when Wm. Richardson 
 Davie, in stately dignity, arrayed in his Grand 
 
 Master's Regalia, with his silver trowel in the 
 hand which had weilded the warrior's sword, 
 surrounded l)y Alfred Moore, W. H. Hill, 
 Treasurer .John Haywood, Alexander Mebane, 
 John Williams, Thomas Blount, Frederick 
 Hargett, and other eminent men of that day, 
 including the generous donors of our land, 
 Benjamin Yergain, Colonel John Hogan, Mat- 
 thew McCauley, Christopher Barbee, Alexan- 
 der Piper, James Craig, Edward Jones, John 
 Daniel, Mark Morgan and Hardy Morgan, gave 
 tangible form to the institution, for which he 
 had labored with such persistent energy and 
 wisdom, while Dr. Samuel E. McCorkle in- 
 voked the blessing of Heaven on the enterprise. 
 
 The building was of humble size, only two 
 stories high, with 16 rooms, designed for the 
 occupancy of four students each, but it sheltered 
 many able young men struggling hard and 
 struggling successfully for the inestimable 
 benefits of diciplined minds — such men as 
 Judge Archibald Murphey, Governor John 
 Branch and Francis L. Dancy, John L. Haw- 
 kins, Wm. Hardy Murfree, Judge John Cam- 
 eron, Judge James Martin, Judge John R. 
 Donnell, Gavin Hogg and Chancellor Williams 
 of Tennessee, of the earlier students, not to 
 mention the names of great men who inhab- 
 ited it in succeeding years. 
 
 The Old East was intended only as the 
 South wing of a grander structure looking to 
 the East, to front a wide avenue, nearly a 
 mile long, leading through the forests east- 
 wardly to the conspicuous eminence of which 
 Gen. Davie speaks : "This peak," he says, "is 
 called Point Prospect. The flat country spreads 
 out below like the ocean, giving an immense 
 hemisphere, in which the eye seems to be lost 
 in the extent of space." The name has by the 
 mutation of time become singularly inappro- 
 priate. The growth of trees and brushwood 
 has shut out the " prospect " and the irreverent 
 successors of Davie, not being able to see the 
 
OKANGE COUNTY. 
 
 345 
 
 " Point," have with tar-heel ol)8tinacy and tar- 
 heel appropriateness changed it into " Piney." 
 
 It will doubtless interest you to hear a few 
 sentences in Davie's own language, describing 
 the laying of this corner stone. He says : " A 
 large number of the brethren of the Masonic 
 Order from Ilillsboro, Chatham, Granville and 
 Warren attended at the ceremony of placing 
 the corner stone ; and the procession for thin 
 purpose mo\'ed from *Mr Patterson's at 12 
 o'clock, in the following order : the Masonic 
 brethren in tlieir usual order of i)rocession ; 
 the commissioners ; the Trustees, not comnns- 
 sioners ; the lion. Judge Mackay and other 
 public officers ; then followed the gentlemen 
 of the vicinity. On approaching the south end 
 of the building the Masons opened to the 
 right and left and the commissioners, &c., pas- 
 sed tlu-ough and took their places. The Ma- 
 sonic procession then moved on around the 
 foundation of the building and then halted 
 with their usual ceremonies, opposite the 
 Southeast corner,where "VVm. Richardson Davie, 
 Grand Master of the Fraternity, &c., in this 
 State, assisted by two Masters of Lodges and 
 fom- other officers, laid the corner stone, en- 
 closing a plate to commemorate the transac- 
 tion." 
 
 " The Rev. Dr. McCorckle then addressed 
 the Trustees in an excellent discourse suited 
 to the occasion." I give only a few sentences. 
 He commenced by saying : " It is our duty to 
 acknowledge that sacred scriptual truth, "Ex- 
 cept the Lord build the house, they labor in 
 vain who build it ; except the Lord watchcth 
 the city, the watchman walketh but in vain." 
 He then contended that " the advancement of 
 learning and science is one great means of en- 
 suring the happiness of mankind." • * * 
 "Liberty and law call for general knowledge 
 
 •Note. — Mr. Patterson was the architect. His tem- 
 porary dwelling was on Cameron Avenue East. 
 
 ill the people and extensive knowledge in the 
 matters of State ; and these demand public 
 places of education." • • • « How can 
 glory or wealth l)e procured and preserved 
 without liberty and laws? " • • • 
 "Knowledge is wealth, it is glory, wlietber 
 among philosophers, ministers of State or Reli- 
 gion, or among the great mass of the people. 
 Britons glory in the name of a Newton and 
 honor him with a place among the sepulchres of 
 their Kings. Americans glory in the name of a 
 Franklin, and every nation boasts of her great 
 men, who has them. Savages cannot have, 
 rather cannot (■diiadc them, though many a 
 Newton has been born and buried among 
 them." « * * "Knowledge is liberty and 
 lav/. When the clouds of ignorance are dis- 
 pelled by the radiance of knowledge, power 
 trembles, but the authority of the laws remain 
 inviolable." * * * "And how this knowl- 
 edge, productive of so many advantages to 
 mankind, can be acquired without public places 
 of education, I know not." Dr. McCorckle 
 concludes as follows : "The seat of the Uni- 
 versity was sought for, and the public eye se- 
 lected Chapel Hill, a lovely situation, in the 
 centre of the State, at a convenient distance 
 from the capitol, in a healthy and fertile neigh- 
 borhood. May this hill be for religion, as the 
 ancient hill of Zion ; and for literature and the 
 muses may it surpass the ancient Parnassus. 
 We this day enjoy the pleasure of seeing the 
 corner-stone of the University, its foundation, 
 its material and the architect for the building, 
 and before long we will see its stately walls 
 and spires ascending to their summit. Ere 
 long we hope to see itadorned with an elegant 
 village, adorned with all the necessaries and 
 conveniences of civilized society." 
 
 " The discourse," says Davie, "was followed 
 by a short and animated prayer, closed with the 
 united Amen of an immense concourse of peo- 
 ple." 
 
846 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 The hopes thus expressed so earnestly l>y Dr. 
 McCorckle, we on this day, ninety years from 
 thedelivery of his noble discourse fully realize. 
 We see around us eight stately buildings, from 
 which have issued five thousand students, in 
 long procession, dispersing over this broad 
 Southern land to take their places among its 
 strongest and wisest and best leaders, in peace 
 and in war. The great institution thus inau- 
 gurated has supplied with mental nourishment 
 our fathers and grand-fathers, sheds its lus- 
 trous influence on us to-daj^, and will be an ed- 
 ucational luminary to all the ages which are 
 to follow. 
 
 The Old East was designed to be no 
 ephemeral structure. The foundation is a 
 stone wall three feet thick. The mortar is of 
 two measures of lime to one of sand. The 
 sleepers are 3 by 10 inches and are only 14 
 inches apart. The timbers are of the best heart, 
 the bricks carefully made on the University 
 grounds and Inirnt hard as the imperishable 
 i-ocks. The lime was burnt likewise on our own 
 land from shells brought by boat from Wil- 
 mington to Fayettevdle and thence hauled by 
 wagon. Among the donations of this period I 
 find 50 bushels of shells by Richard Bennehan, 
 grand-father, as the royal charters say, "of 
 our well-beloved cousin and trusted counsellor," 
 Paul C. Cameron. 
 
 The Old East continued in its primitive con- 
 dition until 1824, when its roof was adorned 
 by another story nearer to the skies. At the 
 same time the Old West was built of a corres- 
 ponding size. In 1848 the length of both was 
 extended towards the north so as to admit new 
 Society Halls and Libraries. I remember well 
 the ceremonies of the inauguration of the new 
 Hall, of which I was a member. I violate no 
 confidence in describing them, because by gen- 
 eral consent the seal of secrecy was removed. 
 The Professor of Rhetoric, a graduate of the 
 class of 1818, still surviving, the veneralde 
 
 Bishop Green, of the Episcopal diocese of Mis- 
 sissippi, a classmate of President Polk, of Rev 
 Dr. Morrison, now living, the first President of 
 Davidson College, and of our good old friend. 
 Gen. Mallett, of New York, opened the exer- 
 cises with iirayer. A 3'oung lawyer of the class 
 of 1841, now regarded as one of the most cul- 
 tured members of that profession our Sia'te 
 has produced, who, notwithstanding he has at- 
 tained the honor of being the second law offi- 
 cer of a country of 50,000,000 people, has not 
 lost a particle of his early love for the Univer- 
 sity, Gen. Phillips, delivered an address, which 
 for appropriateness and literary ability, I have 
 never heard surpassed and seldom equalled. 
 The first President of the Society in 1795 was 
 still living, the venerable James Mebane, who 
 had occupied the high office of Speaker of the 
 Senate. His father, Alexander Mebane, one 
 of the early members of Congress under the 
 constitution of 1789, had been one of our early 
 Trustees, was one of the committee who selec- 
 ted the site of the University and assisted in lay- 
 ing the corner stone. As James Mebane had a 
 distinguished father, so he had a distinguished 
 son, likewise Speaker of the Senate, one of the 
 best of men, Giles Mebane, of Caswell. I had 
 the eminent honor of sitting by the side of this 
 noble father of the Dialectic Society, and pre- 
 sidingjointly with him over its deliberations. 
 I wish that I could produce the words of wis- 
 dom which fell from his lips on that night. 
 The oil portrait over the President's chair in 
 the Dialectic Hall is a perfectly faithful image 
 of the President of 1795. He was of stately 
 figure, tall and ponderous. His bearing was 
 like Washington's, grave and dignified, al- 
 ways courteous, but repelling familiarity. He 
 was seated on an elevated platform. In front 
 were officers of the Society. I recall Thomas 
 Settle, the Vice President, who showed then 
 the powers which have made him so eminent 
 since, once a Judge of the Supreme Court of 
 
OKANGE COUNTY. 
 
 347 
 
 North CiiroliiKi, now Judge of the District 
 Court of tlie riiited States for Florida. The 
 Secretary was Washington C. Kerr, tlie State 
 Geologist, one of the most eminent scientific 
 men this University or the State lias produced. 
 The President of the Society, a nmrkcd con- 
 trast to the President of 1795, sat on tlie same 
 platform, on his right. While the old Presi- 
 dent's weight was near 230, the new balanced 
 about 100 jioiinds. lie was thin even to ca- 
 daverousness. He was. conspicuous as one of 
 the smallest hoys in college. Whatever dig- 
 nity he had was borrowed for the occasion. 
 He was a hard student, but jokes and laughter 
 were more natural to him in those days than 
 severity or even gravity of demeanor. 
 
 Having thus presided over the ])ialectic 
 Society, jointly with the first President, I feel 
 that I have a kind of Apostolic succession in 
 that body. 
 
 Having finished the story of the Old East 
 and West Iniildings, I return to iiiy starting 
 point. 
 
 The lots of the village of Chapel Hill were 
 sold on the same 12th of October, 1793, the 
 price for all, about $3,000, being considered 
 highly satisfactory. It was pressingly neces- 
 sary to provide a resideiice for the President, 
 or presiding Professor, and also a Steward's 
 Hall, wherein the hungry students of the per- 
 iod might turn hog and hominy, beef and po- 
 tatoes and the juicy " collards" into muscle 
 and bones and brains and nerves. The Presi- 
 dent's Mansion is the house on the Avenue 
 west of the New West Building, which we 
 are now getting ready for the occupancy of 
 our Professor of Physics and any company 
 which he may bring with him from Bonny 
 Maryland. In that house were sheltered 
 David Kerr and Joseph Caldwell and Dr. Chap, 
 man, then it passed into the possession of Dr. 
 Elisha Mitchell, who fell a martyr to his love 
 of scientific accuracy on the loftiest srmmit of 
 
 the Rlack .Mountains. President Caldwell 
 preferred to rest under his own vine and fig 
 tree, the present residence of Pfof. Hooper, 
 which was purchased by the University after 
 Caldwell's death. The old President's house 
 contained in the small room at the head of the 
 stairs, the library of the institution. 
 
 The Steward's Hall was situate nearly oppo- 
 site the New East Building in the centre of 
 Cameron Avenue. It .was there that mo.st of 
 the students for many years boarded at Com- 
 mons, paying for the first year $30, or $3 per 
 month, for the ne.xt four years |40 per year or 
 $4 per month, in 1800 rising to $.57 per year, in 
 1805 to $60, in 1814, under the inflated war 
 prices to $66.50, in 1818 to $95, or $9.50 per 
 month, in 1839 to $76, when the system was 
 abandoned and every man made his own con- 
 tracts for the supplies of life. It was in this 
 Imilding that the "Balls" of the old days were 
 given, at which tradition hath it, venerable 
 Trustees and Faculty, even the great Presi- 
 dent himself, together with their pupils, with 
 hair powdered and plaited into "pigtails", and 
 legs encased in tight stockings and knees re- 
 splendent with liuckles, mingled in the mazy 
 dance with the beauteous damsels of the day, 
 whose brilliant dresses and angelic beauty far 
 lie it from me to describe. I must for that 
 purpose call into my service the scientific pens 
 of my unmarried professors, glowing with 
 electric energy and chemical forces, or of Dr. 
 Manning's students, so well qualified by re- 
 searches into the ancient laws, to give informa- 
 tion on such antiquarian matters. 
 
 At the Commencement of 1881 wo had a 
 most eloquent and instructive address to the 
 students by an excellent specimen of tiie old 
 school, an octogenarian. Gen. Mallett, of New 
 York, lately called to his final home. I intro- 
 duced him as having received his diploma 63 
 years before that day, and stated that for 70 
 years he had never taken a glass of ardent spir- 
 
348 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 its, and t her cf ore that he had still the inestimable 
 blessings of mens sana in eorporc sano, and that 
 other still g^i'eater blessings, mens sibi conscia 
 rerti In his autobiography, printed only for 
 his relatives — a cop}' being given our Historical 
 Society at the urgent request of Mrs. Spencer, 
 we find an account of the Ball given in com- 
 pliment to his class, when graduating. I 
 must extract a description of his dress: 
 
 "The style of costume," says Gen. Mallet, 
 "and even the manners of the present genera- 
 tion are not in my opinion an improvement on 
 a half century ago. The managers would not 
 admit a gentleman into a l)all-room with boots, 
 or even a frock coat; and to dance without 
 gloves was simply vulgar. At Commence- 
 ment Hall, (when I graduated, 1818,) my 
 coat was broadcloth of sea-green color, high 
 velvet collar to match, swallow-tail, pockets 
 outside with lapels, and large silver-plated but- 
 tons; wnite satin damask vest, showing the 
 edgeof a blue undervest; a wide opening for 
 bosom rutlies, and no shirt collar. The neck 
 was dressed with a layer of four or five three- 
 cornered cravats, artistically laid, and sur- 
 mounted with a cambrick stock, pleated and 
 buckled behind. My pantaloons were white 
 canton crape, lined with pink muslin, and 
 showed a peach blossom tint. They were 
 rather short, in order to display flesh colored 
 silk stockings, and this exposure was increased 
 by very low cut pumps with shiny buckles. 
 My hair was very black, very long and queued. 
 I should be taken for a lunatic or a harlei^uin 
 in such costume now." 
 
 I challenge Mr. Chief Manager Roberts to 
 produce a dress as gorgeous as this on any stu- 
 dent of the Ball of 1883. 
 
 Having provided dormitories for sheltering 
 the students and food for their bodily susten- 
 ance, and halls for their mental instruction, the 
 Trustees next addressed themselves for provi- 
 sion for the religious and moral training. The 
 
 old ante-revolutionary Chapel of the Church 
 of England, from which the place took its 
 name, originally New Hope Chapel, the place 
 being likewise New Hope Chapel Hill, had 
 gone to decay. A building under the control 
 of the Trustees must be erected. When it 
 was barely above the ground the treasury ran 
 low; when the strong box was tapped it gave 
 a hollow sound. An old bachelor, one of that 
 class, which having no immediate claims on its 
 bounty, sometimes redeems by beneficence to 
 public objects their failures in social duty, came 
 to their releif. His name was Thomas Person. 
 He had been an ardent lover of liberty, had sym- 
 pathized with the Regulators in their abortive 
 etibrt to shake off colonial oppressors, and had 
 suffered from the ravages of Tryon's army. 
 He was prominent in resisting the exactions of 
 the British Government, which led to the war 
 of Independence. He appeared at Newbern as 
 a delagate from Granville to the first Assem- 
 bly held in defiance of the royal authority 
 in August, 1774, of which that noble patriot, 
 John Harvey, was moderator. He was one of 
 the thirteen Council of Safety which was the 
 supreme Provisional Government, after the end 
 of the lioyal authority. He assisted in 1776, 
 as a memijer of the Congress at Halifax, in 
 forming our State constitution, in which alone 
 of all others was a provision requireing the es- 
 tablishment of a University. He was the first 
 Brigadier General of the District of Hillsboro. 
 He was among the band of forty of the greatest 
 men the State had in 1789 — the first Board of 
 Trustees of the University, among whom were 
 six Governors; eight Judges, of whom two 
 were Judges of the Supreme Court of the Uni- 
 ted States; fifteen members of Congress, of 
 whom three were Senators, besides able men 
 like Archibald Maclaine, Frederick Hargett, 
 Stephen Cabarrus, Wm. Lenoir, Joel Lane, 
 John Haywood, Joseph McDowell, Joseph Gra- 
 ham, and others, who were great in war, or as 
 
ORANGE • COUNTY. 
 
 349 
 
 trusted officers or legislators of our State, or 
 in the pursuits of private life. "With these 
 I'ersou was a fit associate. As Senator from 
 Granville he gave his vote for the new institu- 
 tion. He did more. He put his hand into 
 his pocket. He pulled out and dropped into its 
 treasury shining gold. In grateful memory of 
 his services to the State the General Assem- 
 bly gave his name to a gallant little county 
 carved out of old Orange. In gratitude for 
 his generous gift the Trustees called the new 
 Chapel after him — Person Hall — or as it still 
 appears on the diploma, Aul/i Pirsonici. 
 
 In this Hall our ancestors worshipped for 
 nearlj' fift}' years. On its platform veidant 
 Freshmen and sapient Sophomores and dignified 
 .luniors spouted about "They tell us, sir, that 
 we are weak," and "Blind old Bard of Scio's 
 Rock}' Isle," and "Boys standing on Burning 
 Decks," and "Lindens when the Sun was low," 
 and on grand Commencement occasions "most 
 potent, grave and reverend Seniors made Latin 
 Salutatories, in which every allusion to "/o/-- 
 mom-v'ma puelh: Septentriowilis Carolimvi^" (all 
 the Latin the boj's understood), was greeted 
 with tumultuous applause, delivered valedicto- 
 ries loaded with mournful farewells, and disser- 
 tations in Literature, Science and History, 
 worthy to live forever — or at an}- rate to til! the 
 pages of a UnirtTsiti/ Montldy, 
 
 Although this building is named Person Hall, 
 yet, because of its use as a church on Sundays 
 and for morning and evening prayers, it gained 
 the name of "the Chapel," and when Gerrard 
 Hall was built, the former was called and is so 
 known to this dav by old students as "the Old 
 Chapel." I have heard recent students speak 
 of Physics Hall, but that is a desecration. 
 "Throw Physic(s) to the dogs". I would as 
 soon steal the old General's monument and 
 convert it into a door-step, as purloin his 
 name from his building. So whenever a visi- 
 tor asks you where is Dr. Venerable's Indust- 
 
 trial Museum, which he has collected and ar- 
 ranged with such intelligent skill, carry him 
 straight to person hall. 
 
 A larger Hall was needed for the growing 
 institution. The building where we now are 
 assembled was begun in 1822. It was called 
 after another revolutionary hero — not a bach- 
 elor, but childless. He was a native of Carteret, 
 but long a resident of Edgecombe. Major Chas. 
 Gerrerd. He served in the war of the revo- 
 lution from the beginning to the end. As a 
 soldier he was "brave, active and persevering." 
 His character asa citizen,husband,father, friend 
 and neighbor was justly admired by all who 
 knew him. His rank in the army (Lieutenant ) 
 entitled him to a grant of 2560 acres, which 
 he located at the junction of Yellow Creek 
 with Cumberland river, not far below the city 
 of Nashville. I hold in my hand the original 
 grant sealed M'ith the great seal of the State. 
 This tract, the fruit of his toil and suffering and 
 blood, he regarded with peculiar affection, and 
 when he bequeathed this, with some 10,000 
 acres additional' which he had purchased, 
 he requested in his will that it should perpetu- 
 ally remain the propierty of the University. 
 For 35 years the Trustees regarded this wish 
 as sacred. But after this long experiment, 
 after losses from neglect and perfidy of agents 
 and the onerous charges of high taxes, while 
 the black cloud of debt hung over the institu- 
 tion, they concluded with sorrow to authorize 
 its sale. Two of their ablest lawj-ers, Gaston 
 & Badger, after examination reported the fol- 
 lowing resolution, 
 
 "Whereas, The Trustees of the University 
 of Norih Carolina have been compelled to di- 
 rect a sale of a valuable tract of land, be- 
 queathed by Major Charles Gerrard, with the 
 request that the same might be perpetuall}' re- 
 tained by the University, and 
 
 Whereas, They are solicitous not only to 
 manifest their own sense of the liberality of 
 
350 
 
 WHEELER'S KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 the donor, Init as far as may be practicable to 
 perpetuate its remembrance, 
 
 Resolved, Therefore that |2,000, part oftlie 
 l^urchase money of said land shall be applied 
 to the tinishing of the new Hall at the Uni- 
 versity, and that the same shall be called by 
 the name of ' Gerrard Hall.' " 
 
 Five years afterwards this resolution was 
 carried into effect. I wish you to note [lar- 
 ticularly the spelling of the name of the old 
 hero. The original will and the orliituary 
 notice in the Norl/i Cuniliii'i JoNni'il, puldislied 
 at HaUfax, by Hodge & Wills, Oct. 16th, 1797, 
 give the name Gerrard. Judges Gaston and 
 Badger in their resolution have the same speh 
 ling, which I am particular about, because un- 
 fortunate carelessness has often coni'nunded 
 our benefactor's name with that of Stephen 
 Girard, the benefactor of rhiladel[iliia. I am 
 quite sure that in every respect, except m 
 wealth and money-making cunning our gallant 
 lieutenant of the revolution was vastly the 
 superior of the Philadelphia trader. 
 
 I witnessed once in this Hall one of those 
 exhibitions of uncontrolable, unreasoning 
 fright, whicli sometimes hajipen to crowds and 
 which the ancients attributed to temporary 
 madness, inspired by the God, Pan. A cry 
 was raised "the Gallery is falling ! " There 
 was a rush of the crowd amid screams of ter- 
 ror. There was for a moment imminent 
 danger of trampling to death in the narrow 
 stair-cases. I recall vividly bow tiriu and se- 
 vere was the attitude of President Swain, of 
 Morehead, Graham, Battle, and other Trustees, 
 who sat on the rostrum. There was no serious 
 damage done. Some gallant young men, who 
 were on the outside, displayed their heroism 
 by catching in their arms the frightened dam- 
 sels leaping from the windows, but I heard no 
 complaints on either side. A |100 reward 
 offered on the s[)ot failed to detect the giver 
 of the false alarm. 
 
 An architect's examination proved that not 
 Sampson, in all his long-haired glory, could have 
 pulled down the galleries, even if they were 
 loaded with bad Philistines, instead of good 
 North Carolinians, but still additional pillars 
 were inserted and other alterations made to 
 give public confidence and afford larger room 
 
 When this Hall was l>uilt it was intended 
 to have a broad avenue running along the 
 Southern wall, East and West. Hence the 
 porch on the South side of the building. The 
 merchants of the village claimed that tins 
 would injure their trade by diverting travel 
 from Franklin Street, and the plan was aban- 
 doned to the mystiiication of all who do not 
 know this veracious history. 
 
 We will now return to what we call the 
 South, but what was known for manj' years as 
 the ".Main" Building, the old plan of grand 
 structui-es to face the East, just as the capitols 
 at Washington and Kaleigh, were faced under 
 the intiuence of orientalization was soon aban- 
 doned, and the European plan of a quadrangle 
 — in old times a veritable prison in which the 
 students were locked at night, giving rise to 
 tlie expression "being in quad," was adopted, 
 probably at the suggestion of Dr. Caldwell and 
 Prof. Harris, who were educated at Princeton. 
 Its corner stone was laid in 1798. Its walls 
 reached the height of a story and a half, and 
 then remained roofless for years. Dr. Wm. 
 Hooper in his " 50 Years Since," a most inter- 
 esting and amusing production, tells how the 
 students of that day packed in the East Buil- 
 ding four in a room, built cabins in the corners 
 of the South in order to secure greater privacy 
 for devotion to their books, and how, "as soon 
 as si>ring brought back the swallows and the 
 leaves, they emerged from their den and chose 
 some shady retirement, where they made a 
 path and a promenade," like the Peripatetics of 
 ancient Greece. He states moreover, what 
 sounds strange to us, that holidays were some- 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 351 
 
 times given for the curious reason that the 
 inclemenc}' of the weather prevented stiuh/. 
 
 To finish this buildiui;: was the ijreat problem 
 of the young University. Tlie Trustees in de- 
 spair did not hesitate toprai'tit-e what was com- 
 mon in old time, even for Imildiiig churches 
 and dcniiminatioual schoids, hut which tlie 
 sounder morals of our day make a crimiiuil of- 
 fence; the raising of mone}' hy lotteries. I have 
 their circular of 1802, announcing witli sanc- 
 timonious gravity tluit " the interests of the 
 University of North Carolina and of learning 
 and science generally, are concerned in the im- 
 mediate sale of these tickets." The highest 
 prize was $1,500, and was drawn by Gen. Lavv- 
 reuce Baker, of Gates. The lucky number, 
 113S, was announced as an important item by 
 the Metropolitan Journal, the Raleigh Rir/ister. 
 
 Still the building was unfinished, and still 
 the intellectual squatters of the University sat 
 shIj diro, as the Professor of Latin would say. 
 President Caldwell mounted with heroic en- 
 ergy his stick-back gig and painfully traveled 
 over the State in 1809, and again in 1811, so- 
 liciting subscriptions. 
 
 It would be interesting to contrast his jour- 
 neys with those of the present day, when one 
 can dine in Goldsboro' and breakfast next morn- 
 ing in Asheville. The battle of New Orleans 
 occurred on the 8th of January, 1815. The 
 news did not reach Raleigh until the 17th of 
 February. Prof. Charles W. Harris writes in 
 1795 to Dr. Caldwell, at Princeton, that bis 
 best way of reaching Cliapel Hill is to buy a 
 horse and sulky and thus travel in his own 
 conveyance, selling the same at Chapel Hill. 
 He is confident that the trip can be made 
 in tkirtij days. 
 
 Last week the President of 1883 left New 
 York at a quarter before four o'clock in 
 the afternoon, in a luxurious coach, which 
 ran so smoothly that reading and even 
 writing was easy. So well lighted at night that 
 
 he read with comfort and pleasure Anthony 
 Trollope's most interesting autobiography un- 
 til bed-time at Washington, then went regu- 
 larl\' to bed, had a refreshing night's rest, and 
 dined next day at a quarter before two in the 
 afternoon at home — less' than twenty-two hours. 
 It was doubtless the achings and weariness 
 of these journeys which caused Dr. Caldwell 
 20 years after to astonish the State by his elo- 
 quent and practical Carlton letters, advocating 
 the N. C. Rail Road from the Tennessee line 
 to Beaufort. Ilis labors were successful. He 
 secured about |12,000, and while our people 
 were going crazy over the naval victories of 
 1814 the rejoicing students moved into the 
 completed " South Building." The corner- 
 stone was laid the year when the gi'eat Napo- 
 leon gained the first victory of the Pyramids, 
 the year before he usurped the power of 1st 
 Consul; it was finished the year when he laid 
 down the imperial title for a petty throne in 
 Elba, the year liefore his fiual ruin at Water- 
 loo. When that corner stone was laid the 
 land was ringing with preparations for a war 
 with France. The building was ready for oc- 
 cupancy while we were fighting England. It 
 has lately sheltered cavalry of the conquering 
 Union army in the great civil war. 
 
 It was one of the grandest buildings in 
 North Carolina in those days. It afforded am- 
 ple recitation rooms. It furnished for a third 
 of a century halls and libraries for the two so- 
 cieties, which before its erection were forced 
 to meet by turns in Person Hall. I have 
 thought that it should have been called in honor 
 of the Father of the University, Gen. Davie. 
 The omission thus to recognize bis great ser- 
 vices has been rectified by the happy thought 
 of a gifted lady, on whom the Muses of History 
 and Poesy have benignly breathed, Mrs. C. P. 
 Spencer, by calling the historical tree which 
 sheltered the venerable men, who under its 
 shaile located the site of the University, which 
 
352 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 in spite of a century's storms and the fierce as- 
 sault of the thunderbolt, still rears its majestic 
 head above the neighboring oaks, the Dav'w 
 Poplar. • 
 
 In 1852 the Trustees did tardy honor to the 
 first benefactors of the University. T e char- 
 ter was granted in 1789. The first meeting of 
 the Board was held in 1790 at the flourishing 
 town of Fayetteville. The President of the 
 Board was a King's Mountain hero, Gen. Wm. 
 Lenoir who has given his name to a county and 
 town of our State-the last survivor of this illus- 
 trious foi'ty-dying in 1839 at the age of 88. Gen. 
 Benjamin Smith, of Brunswick, then a mem- 
 ber, made the first donation for the cause of 
 higher education in North Carolina. lie giad- 
 ened the hearts of all present by the gift of 
 20,000 acres of land in Tennessee It is true 
 they were not immediately available. They 
 were afterwards surrendered to the Chicka- 
 saws and subsequently repurchased b}' the 
 Govermiient. It was forty years before they 
 were made available. They were ultimately' 
 sold for $14,000, after being shaken up by the 
 greatest earthquake, which has afflicted Amer- 
 ica since its discovery, into lakes and hills 
 The proceeds went into the endowment and 
 were swallowed up by the great civil war, 
 which with more terrible voracity than a hun- 
 dred earthquakes engulped so much of the 
 wealth and population of the Southern Coun- 
 try. 
 
 Benjamin Smith was a man of mark. He 
 was in youth an aide-de-camp of Washington 
 in the disastrous defeat on Long Island. He 
 was conspicuous for his gallantry under Moul. 
 trie. By his fiery eloquence the militia of Brun- 
 swick volunteered to serve under him in the 
 threatened war against France. He was fifteen 
 times Senator from Brunswick. He was cho 
 sen Governor in 1810. IIis county called its 
 capital, Smithville, in his honor. His name 
 survives too in the bleak and stormy island at 
 
 the mouth of the Cape Fear. The land he 
 gave us, as was also the land of Gerrard, was 
 won by valor and blood in the war for free- 
 dom. Their sacrifices were not useless. Their 
 monuments are far more enduring than brass 
 or marble. Centuries will come and go. 
 Families will grow great and be extmguished. 
 Fortunes will be made and lost. Offices will 
 be struggled for and ambitious hopes realized, 
 but the names of the contestants will vanish as 
 if written on the sea shore. Reputations blazing 
 in pulpit, or foruiu, and senate chamber will 
 fade as rapidly as the meteor's path. But the 
 blessings of the gifts of Person, Gerrard and 
 Smith will never cease. For nearly a century 
 they have planted learning and sound princi- 
 ples in the minds of men over all our Southern 
 land. In all the ages to come their work will 
 go on. The thousand young men, who will 
 have their mental panoply supplied from tlie 
 University armory to engage in life's varied 
 conflicts, will hold their names in honor. As 
 long as the University lasts they will never be 
 forgotten, and the. University will Inst forever ! 
 
 I will say only a few words of the New 
 West buildings. Prior to 1850 the highest 
 number of students was 170. After the dis- 
 covery of the California gold mines, and con- 
 sequent increase in the supply of the circu- 
 lating medium, there ensued wonderfully pros- 
 perous times for all the world, and especially 
 for our Southern States. The old North Caro- 
 lina families who had carried their lares and 
 penates into the fertile regions of the South- 
 west sent back their sons to their native State 
 for education. Students swarmed into the 
 University. They overflowed the old build- 
 ing and were camped in little cottages all over 
 the town from Couchtown to Craig's. In 1858 
 there were as many as 456, of whom 178 were 
 from other States than North Carolina. The 
 New East and New West were built for their 
 accommodation^ and finished in 1859. The two 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 358 
 
 societies aided in a considerable degree in the 
 construction and adornment of their beautiful 
 Halls and library rooms. Probably no Socie- 
 ties in America have superior accommodations 
 in these respects, and I am bound to say that 
 in my opinion, no Societies, by intelligent and 
 honest devotion to the purposes of their crea- 
 tion better deserve them. Long may they 
 flourish. 
 
 We come at last to the Memorial Hall, 
 which though about to take a winter nap, will 
 in the spring, we hope, rise rapidly in all its 
 harmony and grandeur. I have already ex- 
 plained to the students that a miscalculation 
 as to the cost was made by the architect, and 
 hence a delay is necessary in order to replenish 
 our Treasury. I desire it to be understood 
 that very experienced builders think that the 
 work ought to be stopped for a while in order 
 to allow the timbers to dry. They are green 
 as yet, and greenness is a fault in architectural 
 as well as intellectual timbers. After being 
 securely covered so that the rain and snow 
 shall not reach them, the great rafters will by 
 the end of winter shrink to their iiiial dimen- 
 sions and support their majestic roof with no 
 wai-pings or distortions. 
 
 Such a Hall is necessary, in order to enable 
 us to accommodate our visitors — the people of 
 North Carolina. "We have gained much odium 
 by turning from our door the good citizens, 
 who made long journeys in order to hear the 
 eloquence of our Representatives and Gradu- 
 ates. Every pereon, rich and poor, who desi- 
 res, should have, and shall have a comfortable 
 seat during our commencement exercises. 
 
 This hall will supply all our needs. It will 
 hold 2450 seated without crowding, and if 
 needed 4000 can be pleasantly cared for by 
 utilizing the aisles. You can gain a vivid idea 
 of its proportions by noting that the New 
 "West Building can be placed in it, centre to 
 
 centre, and whirled around without touching 
 its walls. 
 
 It will be a Memorial Hall, not alone of my 
 predecessor, who so long and so ably presided 
 over this institution, Gov. Swain, but of all the 
 departed good and great — Trustees, Professors, 
 Alumini — who have aided and honored the 
 University. It will lie a Memorial of those 
 gallant Alumni who, at the call of our State, 
 gave up their lives in the great civil war. 
 Though God gave them not the victory, and 
 though we will not question the wisdom of the 
 decision of the All-Wise, yet we must always 
 honor the courage, the devotion to duty, the 
 high resolve and the willing sacrifice of our 
 Confederate Dead. 
 
 A writer in the New.'?- Obsirrer, buys the plan 
 of honoring the great and worthy men of the 
 University of our State, trustees, professors 
 and students, by placing on the walls of Me- 
 morial Hall tablets in their memory, has met 
 with great favor. Such has been its reception 
 that we are able to pronounce it crowned with 
 success. 
 
 We have not seen the list of all for whom 
 tablets have been pledged, but we have heard 
 of the following, who are certainly deserving 
 of the highest honor-for example, there is 
 Samuel Johnston, the first named of the board 
 of trustees, that of 1789; forty of the most ill- 
 ustrious men of the day. Gov. Johnston was 
 the first who held executive power in our State, 
 having been president of the provincial coun- 
 cil of 1775, which was our provisional govern- 
 ment. He was president of the convention 
 which adopted the constitution of the United 
 States; also one of the first Senators, where he 
 he ranked with the ablest men of America. 
 He was afterwards judge and governor. 
 
 Tablets are also engaged for Gen. Wm. Le- 
 noir, of King's Mountain fame, who was the 
 first president of the first board of trustees, and 
 and the last survivor of the board, dying in 
 
354 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 1839; also to Benjamin Hawkins, one of the 
 lirst Senators of the United States; to Judge 
 Archibald Miirphej^, probably the most progres- 
 sive man in the annals of North Carolina; to 
 Gov. Morehead, one of the ablest governors 
 any State ever had; to the great jurist and fi- 
 nancier, Judge Duncan Cameron; to the pure 
 and steadfast Gov. Worth; to the wise states- 
 man, Bartlett Yancey; to the distinguished 
 botanist, Louis DeSchweinitz; to the active 
 revolutionary patriot, Archibald Maclaine; to 
 our eminent fellow citizen, John H. Bryan; 
 to the scholar and eloquent divine, Dr. Wm. 
 Hooper; to the gallant general, Bryan Grimes, 
 to Judge Battle, than whom no State ever 
 had a purer judge or more upright citizen; to 
 Burtyn Craige, who as a publicman, and ardent 
 lover of North Carolina and a strong lawyer has 
 had few equals; to Michael Hoke, who so well 
 illustrated our people by his manly characteris- 
 tics, whose brilliancy ranked him with the gi- 
 ants of his generation. We mention these as 
 occurring to our minds just now, and hope to be 
 furnished with a complete list at an early day. 
 
 This memorial hall will be the grandest his- 
 torical building in the South. Mr. P. C. Cam- 
 eron, chairman of the building committee, 
 promises that the next commencement (1885) 
 shall be held in it. 
 
 Associated with the University of North 
 Carolina is the name of Charles Force Deems, 
 D. D., L. L. D., who was an inhabitant, "part 
 and parcel" of her fame from 1842 to 1848. 
 He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec- 
 ember 4th, 1820. He is a graduate of Dickin- 
 son College, Pennsylvania, in the class of 1839. 
 In his twentieth year, he was made general 
 agent of the American Bible Society, and 
 (hose North Carolina as his field of labor, and 
 ever since he has claimed that State as his 
 home — though greatly honored in New York 
 City and elsewhere, he always speaks of North 
 C'arolina as "home". 
 
 Here he became adjunct professor in logic 
 and rhetoric in the University at Chapel Hill 
 in conjunction with Doctor, (now Right Rev- 
 erend Bishop) Green and remained for five 
 years, when he accepted the chair of Natural 
 Science in Randolph-Macon College, Virginia, 
 which position he occupied for one year. Re- 
 turning to North Carolina, he was stationed 
 at New Berne, and became a delegate to the 
 General Conference held at St. Louis ; it was 
 during its session that he was elected president 
 of the Greensboro' Female College; he had 
 charge of this institution for five years. In 
 1854 he returned to the regular work of the 
 ministry, and after preaching at Goldsboro' and 
 at Wilmington, he was re-elected to the Gen- 
 eral Conference, where he was chosen presi- 
 dent of the Centenary College of Louisiana He 
 has been repeatedly invited to professorship 
 and presidencies of colleges, but it was in Dec- 
 ember 1865 that Dr. Deems removed to New 
 York City, and there engaged in literary labor 
 and in July 1866 began to preach in the chapel 
 of the University ; his congregation there as- 
 sembled soon crystalized into a new society 
 and became known as the "Church of the 
 Strangers." In 1870, through the munifi- 
 cence of the famous railroad magnate, Cor- 
 nelius Vanderbilt, who became a devoted 
 friend of Dr. Deems, this congregation found 
 its home by the purchase of the Mercer Street 
 Presbyteran Church, (No 4. Winthrop Place,) 
 where they were most solemnly installed Oc- 
 tober 9, 1870, and has since become one of the 
 great institutions of the great commercial me- 
 tropolis. 
 
 Dr. Deems received his degree of doctor of 
 divinity from the Randolph-Macon College 
 when he was only thirty years of age, and in 
 1877 the T^iiversity of North Carolina con- 
 ferred upon him the honorary degree of L L D. 
 
 lie is the author of more than a dozen vol- 
 umes of different religious works, among 
 
ORANGE COUNTY, 
 
 355 
 
 wliich may 1)0 inentioued "Tlie Hour' Altiir ;" 
 "What Now"; "Annals of Southern'' Metlio- 
 diem "; "Weights and Wings" and '' Wlio was 
 Jesus ? " 
 
 He is one of the Council of the University 
 of New York, a T)ireetor of the American 
 Tract Society and a life ineinher of the New 
 York Historical Society founded Ijy another 
 North Carolinian, Rev. Dr. F. L. Hawks. Dr. 
 Deems is tlie president of the American Insti- 
 tute of Christian i'liilosophy, of which lie was 
 the chief founder. 
 
 In Patton's "Lives of the Clergy," we iind 
 the following, touching this eminent divine: 
 "He is impassioned even in argument, and 
 there is in all that he writes and says the glow 
 of earnest and sincere feeling. In his preach- 
 ing there is a display of the finest powers of 
 the national orator and thorough scholar. His 
 thoughts are rapid and are all aglow with beau- 
 tiful sentiment and tender emotion, which can 
 only be imparted by extensive learning. 
 
 Dr. Deems enjoys great popularity at the 
 South, and was esteemed one of the foremost 
 theologians and public men in the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church. 
 
 Dr. Deems has shown his love of North Caro- 
 lina by founding a fund for the help of young 
 men pursuing their education in the University 
 of North Carolina. It is a memorial to his son. 
 Lieutenant Theodore D. Deems, who fell in 
 our civil war. Mr. William II. Vanderbilt's 
 munificence and the accrued interest has car- 
 ried the "Deems' Fund" to over twelve thou- 
 sand dollars. 
 
 Paul Carrington Cameron, of Orange County 
 North Carolina, the second son of Hon. Dun- 
 can Cameron and his wife Rebecca Bennehan, 
 was born Sept. 25th, 1808 at Stagville, Orange 
 County, the residence of his gradfather, Richard 
 Bennehan. 
 
 He received his education partly at the Uni- 
 versity of North Carolina (1825-20) and partly 
 
 at what is now Trinity College, Hartford, 
 Conn. At this latter Institution he gradu- 
 ated, July 1820. He read law in Raleigh in 
 the office of his father Judge Cameron, look 
 ing forward to the practice of that profession 
 with eager ambition. Like many other south- 
 ern gentlemen, however, he was heavily 
 weigiited at the start by circumstances and re- 
 sponsibilities that could neither l)e delegated 
 nor ignored, and found himself compelled to 
 turn his energies and abilities into channels 
 where the sense of duty fulfilled alone must 
 be his reward, where no hopes of laurels to 
 be achieved, or the enjoyments that are found 
 in congenial studies would stimulate his eftort. 
 A large landed interest,and the guardianship 
 of numerous slaves demanded his care, and 
 he became of necessity a planter, managing 
 not only his own estate, but his fathers, and 
 those of vai'ious near relatives committed to 
 his charge in the States of North Carolina, Ala- 
 bama and Mississippi. 
 
 Mr. Cameron has exhibited in the conduct 
 of these responsibilities for more than fifty 
 years, an administrative and financial ability, 
 an energy and an integrity which would have 
 secured him high honors on any field of action. 
 His career has been characterized by the simple 
 straight -forward devotion to what he conceived 
 dutj/ in every relation of life. As a son, as the 
 head of a family, as a citizen, and as the guar- 
 dian of nineteen hundred slaves, his course may 
 challenge inquiry, and would doubtless repay it. 
 The ver}' mistakes of such men are instructive. 
 That Mr. Cameron has never ei'red, no one will 
 atfirmjthathe has been able to please every 
 body in the conduct of his wide and nmltifari- 
 ous interests is equally doubtful; but his strict 
 sense of honor, of justice, and his unflinching 
 adiierence to what appeared to him right, at 
 the time, have never been called in question. 
 
 He engaged with great earnestness in all agri- 
 cultural improvements, advocated the early in- 
 
356 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 troduction of all labor-saving machines, and 
 the adoption of the best and most intelligent 
 systems of farming. He was President of the 
 first agricultural society organized in the 
 county of Orange, North Carolina, and his ad- 
 dress at its first meeting is yet a model of prac- 
 tical suggestion aud sagacious forecast. Mr. 
 Cameron has also been always an ardent sup- 
 porter of internal improvements and though in- 
 curi'ing losses occasionally as all pioneers in 
 such work do, has always been a large stock- 
 holder and contractor on our i-ail- roads. On 
 the building of the North Carolina Central 
 Rail-Road he was the first man to enter on the 
 work and the first to complete his section. 
 Subsequently he succeeded Col. Fisher as its 
 President, and was for years one of its Direc- 
 tors. A director also for the last ten years of 
 the R. & G. and of the R. & A. Air Line Rail- 
 road s He was a member of the State Senate in 
 1856. Wherever an important committee could 
 procure. Mr Cameron as its chairman, the public 
 has long felt secure that the business in hand 
 would be done, and well done. His conservative 
 attitude towards the old has always been ac- 
 companied by most intelligent and discrimining 
 liberality towards the new, and this fine spirit 
 keeps him now in advanced life, still fresh and 
 indomitable, m rapport with all around him,ac- 
 cepting the new order of thing and making 
 the best of the inevitable with unimpaired 
 judgment and sagacity. 
 
 Mr. Cameron has never sought office, and 
 never has accepted it but at the call of duty 
 and when he felt he could serve the State. 
 The successful management of his large estates 
 and their complicated interests, the perform- 
 ance of his duty to his own family, and large 
 circle of friends, the exercise of an ample and 
 genial and truly southern hospitality have sufli- 
 ciently employed his energies. He was one of 
 the very few southern planters whom emanci- 
 pation found free from debt, so that he retained 
 
 his landed property and reestablished his for- 
 tune on the new basis, with undiminished 
 credit and success. 
 
 His army of slaves had ever received strict 
 humane attention. He took pride in the 
 knowledge that all his dependants were well 
 fed, clothed and housed, and that their con- 
 dition miglit challenge comparison with that 
 of any in the fifteen slave States of the Union. 
 When freed at the close of the civil war, they 
 parted from their master with kindly feeling, 
 aud the elder ones greet him yet, whenever 
 they chance to meet him, with the same exhi- 
 bition of attachment. He has a right to be 
 as proud of this record as of any other of his 
 life's work's, and he probably is, for he tells 
 with some zest in these latter days of a family 
 of negroes devised to him by a friend "for 
 emancipation," whom he settled in Liberia 
 under the care of the American Colonizaton 
 Society, providing them with house and food 
 for twelve months, and one thousand dollars 
 in gold as an an outfit. They returned from 
 Africa and presented themselves at his door in 
 Orange County, begging him to take them back. 
 
 Reviewing his life in a late letter to a friend, 
 Mr. Cameron writes: "Best of all I have been 
 a trustee of the University of North Carolina, 
 steadfast and true to its every interest at all 
 times, and anxious now to make it in the 
 future the best ornament of the State-" 
 
 When the University was restored and re- 
 organized after the calamities that befel it 
 upon the death of Gov. Swain, he was made 
 Chairman of the Committee on Repairs, and in 
 fact did all the work. Its speedy rehabilita- 
 tion, and re-occupation in 1875 were due to his 
 energetic oversight. He has been since an ac- 
 tive and influential and most judicious member 
 of the Executive Committee to which is entrus- 
 ted the practical conduct of the aflairs of the 
 Institution. One striking evidence of the 
 public estimation of the value of Mr. Cam- 
 
orangk county. 
 
 357 
 
 eroii's services, is seen in the fact that he was 
 unanimously elected Chairman of the Alumni 
 Association and continued for a succession of 
 j'ears against his earnest protest as not being 
 a graduate. 
 
 Mr. Cameron is a capital jMiMic speaker. 
 lie goes to the point, commands attention, and 
 is always effective. Those wlio have been so 
 fortunate as to hear his singularl}^ neat, elegant, 
 and impressive short speeches on various occa- 
 sions at the University Commencements will 
 remember them long as models of their kind. 
 His frequent visits in term time to the Uni- 
 versity and short, unpremeditated addresses to 
 the students, present him in a most amiable 
 and interesting light. His fine ruddy complex- 
 ion and bright dark eye, surrounded by an 
 aureole of snow-white curling hair, his air of 
 habitual comuiand, conjoined with the tine 
 courtesy of a through-bred gentleman of the 
 old school aftbrd a picture that our young peo- 
 ple will do well to keep in mind. 
 
 One aspect of Mr. Cameron's character 
 which should not be omitted in even a slight 
 sketch, is his benignant interest in young peo- 
 ple, and in their pleasures. For years he has 
 made a point of being a spectator at the Com- 
 mencement dances, giving them dignity, and 
 endorsing their claims to public respect by his 
 presence. 
 
 He stands now representative to the rising 
 genei'ation of a class of men, the like of whom 
 will never again be seen in our country. Their 
 faults as well as their virtues have been the 
 product of a system of life now passed away 
 forever. The southern slaveholders will figure 
 in History, will adorn the pages of Romance, 
 and will be held up alternately to the admira- 
 tion, and the scorn of mankind as magnate, as 
 despot, as tyrant or afl patriarch, according as 
 friend or foe shall depict him. We who know 
 them well, who recall the high-toned chival- 
 rous gentleman, the ardent and patriotic 
 
 citizen, the generous friend anil noighlior, tlie 
 devoted husband and father, the just and hu- 
 mane master — we take courage when we 
 reflect that the Final Judge of all is not a man. 
 He alone knows through what diflScultics the 
 southern planter went forward to his duty; 
 how fearfully weighted by his inheritance ; — 
 h(nv blinded, bow hampered, how weakened by 
 circumstances which neither he nor his fathers 
 could control. 
 
 Kemembei'ing what we do, we look with 
 reverence and afl'ection on those who remain. 
 Their failings have vanished from our vision 
 with the system that brought them to light, 
 and we bid our young men take courage by 
 the example of their virtues to go on in the 
 path of duty, self-sustained, fearless and per- 
 severing. 
 
 Mr. Cameron married, Dec. 20th 1832, Anne, 
 daughter of Chief Justice Euffin at his resi- 
 dence on the Alamance. This union has se- 
 cured his domestic happiness now for more 
 than fifty years. Seven of their children have 
 lived to maturity. Their home the centre for 
 man\^ years of a large and amiable hospitality, 
 and interesting family connection was at Far- 
 intosh, their plantation in Oi'ange county, but 
 of late they reside chiefly in Ilillsboro'. 
 
 Julian Shakspeare Carr was born at Chapel 
 Hill the seat of the University of North Caro- 
 lina, in the county of Orange, October 12th, 
 1845. His father, John W. Carr, descended 
 from a Scotch family, is a gentleman of consid- 
 eration in the county, who, before and since 
 the war, has tilled the responsible stations of 
 Magistrate, Justice of the Inferior or county 
 court, and County Commissioner. His mother 
 is of the highly respectable family of Bullock, 
 of Granville county, and a sister of Colonel 
 Robert Bullock, a distinguished citizen of 
 Florida. 
 
 Mr. Carr acquired the rudiments of education 
 in the vicinity of his home, and was prepared 
 
558 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 for college under the tuition of J. L. Stewart, 
 Esq., now a prominent lawyer resident at Clin- 
 ton. He spent nearly two years at the Univer- 
 sity, beginning in June, 1862, but in the early 
 part of 1864, before attaining to nineteen years 
 of age, he enlisted in the Third North Carolina 
 Cavalry, which was then at Dinwiddle Court 
 House, and with little time for soldierly train- 
 ing, he was brought face to face with the enemy , 
 in some of the fiercest conflicts of the desper- 
 ate and protracted struggle before Petersburg 
 — among them Thatcher's Run and Burgess' 
 Mill. A wi-iter, Mr. II. V. Paul, with oppor- 
 tunities for obtaining correct information, states 
 that the command to which Mr. Carr belonged 
 very gallantly assisted in covering the retreat 
 of the army from Petersburg to Appomattox, 
 and during the engagement was cut in two at 
 Five Forks. He never lost a single day's duty 
 during the entire period of his service, was a 
 general favorite among his comrades, and pre- 
 ferred to be simply a private, in order to be 
 among " the boys," although he carried in his 
 pocket a detail as an officer on the staff of Gen- 
 eral Barringer. 
 
 At the close of the war Mr. Carr returned to 
 his college course at the University, but re- 
 mained only one session. He then engaged in 
 merchandisining the town; but soon becoming 
 dissatisfied with his prospects in that small, se- 
 cluded community, he gave up the business, and 
 set out upon a tour of observation through the 
 South and West. Passing through Georgia, 
 Tennessee and Mississippi, and at length reach- 
 ing Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, he 
 decided to locate in that thriving town, lleim- 
 mediatelj' entered into business with an uncle 
 and a Mr. Kingsbury, under the name and firm 
 of Carr & Kingsbury. This was in 1868. He 
 continued in this connection for aliout eigliteen 
 months, when the opportunity offered of his 
 engaging in a business near his birth-place, 
 whicii was destined to eclipse in magnitude and 
 
 importance, m the near future, anything his 
 imagination, or day dreams, could have con- 
 ceived of. 
 
 It seems that Mr. Carr is indebted to the 
 foresight of his father for the idea of quitting 
 Arkansas to return home, and engage in the 
 manufacture of tobacco. We are told by Mr. 
 Paul that after a residence at Little Rock for 
 eighteen months, " his father saw an opportu- 
 nity of purchasing a third interest in W". T. 
 Blaclm-ell's tobacco factory, at Durham, ami 
 being anxious that his son should settle nearer 
 home, insisted and prevailed upon him to re- 
 turn. Accordingly, in 1870, he joined that 
 firm, and ever since had the entire control of 
 its mercantile and financial departments." 
 
 And this brings us to the original history of 
 the greatest business enterprise which North 
 Carolina — perhaps the South — has ever known; 
 a brief sketch of which will be presented. 
 
 Among the several suits in which W. T. 
 Black^vell & Co. have been involved by the 
 necessity of defending their business against 
 encroachments, is that of a party who applied 
 in 1877, to the Commissioner of Patents, for 
 the Registration of the Durham Bull Trade 
 Mark. This application was made more than 
 seven years after W. T. Blackwell had become 
 the purchaser, at auction sale, made by Mager 
 Green, the Executor of J. R. Green, of the said 
 Trade Mark and Factory. It is alleged,however, 
 that the applicant brought suit in Iredell 
 County in 1875, as the assignee or partner of 
 J. R. Green, against Blackwell & Co. But this 
 was five 3'ears after Blackwell's purchase, and 
 after Blackwell & Co. had raised the business 
 of the firm, under the Durham Bull Trade Mark 
 from a position of insignificance, and little 
 value, to one of world-wide fame and princely 
 revenue. 
 
 From depositions taken in this case before a 
 Justice of the Peace in the Autumn of 1877, in 
 Orange County ,|the following facts ai-e derived. 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 359 
 
 They ai'e of liistorical value and interest, since 
 they leave no douht about the origin of this, 
 the greatest southern business enterprise; an 
 enterprise wliich has inaugurated and given im- 
 pulse to the grand career of industrial develop- 
 ment upon which the State has entered. 
 
 Mr. James R. Elacknall, a difterent name, 
 the readers will notice, from the future propri- 
 etor of the great Durham factory — stated in 
 his deposition that the first parties he ever 
 knew to manufacture smoking tobacco at Dur- 
 ham were Morris & Wright, in the year 1860. 
 This firm was succeeded in 1861 and 1862 by 
 Blaeknall & Morris, and during these latter 
 years W. H. Bowles became a partner, when the 
 firm took the name of Blaeknall, Morris & Co. 
 
 In June 1862, W. P. Ward bought out 
 Bowles; and John R. Green in November 
 bought out Morris and Blaeknall, when the 
 firm became Ward & Green. They were equal 
 partners, and engaged in the manufacture of 
 chewing and smoking tobacco. This firm held 
 together until sometime in 1864, when, perhaps 
 in March, Ward bought Green out. Their busi- 
 ness had been, mostly, the manufacture of 
 chewing tobacco. Ward continued it until 
 November 1865, when he in turn sold out to 
 Green. 
 
 Dp to this time there was but one tobacco 
 factory at Durham, which place was little more 
 than a way station on the North Carolina rail- 
 road, twenty-six miles west of Raleigh. The 
 "factory" had the appearance of a cow-house, 
 the top of which was scarcely ten feet above 
 the ground, while around it, within a distance 
 of a few hundred yards were perhaps a dozen 
 small dingy dwellings, a country store or two, 
 a smithy, and, as may be supposed, a whisky 
 shop. Such was Dui'ham, nineteen years ago, 
 and for some years later. A more dreary, in- 
 auspicious outlook — one less calculated to in- 
 spire the hope of future developements cannot 
 be imagined. 
 
 Tlie frequent mutations in the pn)prictor- 
 ship of the sole Durham tobacco factory, up to 
 the close of the war, as above recounted, can 
 leave no doubt that the business was far from 
 being prosperous or remunerative. 
 
 But it seems that in the spring of 1865, an 
 incident befell the establishment, such as, in 
 the ordinary course of human affairs, is ac- 
 counted a gi'eat disaster, but which in this case 
 turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and the 
 source of the greatest good fortune. In April 
 of that year, it will be remembered, at the close 
 of the war, and after the suspension of hostili- 
 ties, the two armies of General Sherman and 
 General Joe Johnson were encamped around 
 Durham station. Green, who was then the 
 owner of the factory, had stored away in his 
 ware-house many thousand 2:tounds of the fin- 
 est smoking tobacco, which is grown no where 
 else in such perfection, as in that vicinity. It 
 is not in the nature of soldiers, at such a time, 
 with pay-day remote, to stand on ceremonies; 
 and "not to put too fine a point upon it," they 
 helped themselves bountifully to Green's to- 
 bacco. He had not at that time adopted the 
 famous Trade Mark, and it is to be supposed 
 that he had not arrived at the perfection in 
 the manufacture which his successors have at- 
 tained to; but the inherent virtues of the old 
 Granville and Orange weed could not be mis- 
 taken, or confounded with the inferior pro- 
 ducts of other less favored regions of the earth. 
 The opposing hosts lay encamped in the vicin- 
 ity of Durham station only a few days, but long 
 enough to become familiar with the locality, 
 and with the name of the tobacconist whom 
 they had so liberally patronized. They were 
 soon mustered out of the service by the bellig- 
 erents and returned to their respective homes; 
 not doubtless, without a pipe-full or two, in 
 their wallets, at any rate with a lively recollec- 
 tion of the fragrant Durham antidote to all 
 the imaginary ills that flesh is heir to. The 
 
360 
 
 WHEELER'S EEMmiSCENCES. 
 
 consequence was that from their distant homes, 
 from Maine to Texas, they sent their orders to 
 Mr. Green for his unrivaled smoking tobacco. 
 The}' boasted of its virtues to their neighbors, 
 and regaled their senses with its odors; and 
 thus was laid the foundation of the world-wide 
 celebrity of the Durham smoking tobacco. 
 
 The introduction of the Durham Bull as the 
 conspicuous characteristic of the Trade Mark 
 was not made until the Autumn of 1866. This 
 fact rests upon the testimony of more than one 
 witness. James Y. Whitted, a manufacturer 
 of tobacco at Hillsboro' and a man whose char- 
 acter is avouched by liis neighbors, deposed 
 that he, in the year 1866, suggested to Green, 
 the idea of adopting the Durham Bull as his 
 Trade. Mark, and that Green acted upon the sug- 
 gestion, in the Autumn of that year. Several 
 other deponents state that Green never used 
 the Bull as a Trade Mark prior to that date. 
 But the conclusive proof of this fact is the 
 certificate of copy-right taken out by Green 
 in the Clerks Office of the Southern District of 
 New York, May 2nd, 1866, which makes no 
 reference to the Bull. In this copy-right the 
 brand is in the following words: "Genuine 
 Durham Smoking Tobacco manufactured by J. 
 R. Green, the right whereof he claims as pro- 
 prietor in conformity with the act of Congress, 
 &c." 
 
 Ward deposed that up to the time he resold 
 to Green in November, 1865, there was no 
 representation of a Bull, nor any part of a 
 Bull used on packages of smoking tobacco, or 
 any sign by any one at Durham. The absence 
 of any reference to the Bull as a Trade Mark 
 in the above certificate of the copy-right, 
 coupled with this testimony of Ward, a part- 
 ner or sole owner in 1862, 1863, 1864, and 
 1865, is fatal to any claim founded on an al- 
 leged purchase of an mterest in the Trade 
 Mark, at an earlier date. Indeed, Ward be- 
 came a partner in the business before Green 
 
 purchased an interest, and could not fail to be 
 thoroughly informed in regard to its history. 
 In 1869 J. R. Green disposed of a half in- 
 terest in his business to W. T. Blackwell and 
 James R. Day. These gentlemen, up to that 
 date, were engaged in the sale of manufac- 
 tured tobacco at Kinston in the lower part of 
 the State. The terms of the contract are stated 
 in a paper signed by J. R. Green, and dated, 
 Durham, March 30, 1869. Green acknow- 
 ledges the receipt from Blackwell and Day of 
 fifteen hundred dollars, "to be used in the 
 manufacture of tobacco for the present year, 
 and it is hereby agreed that the full amount 
 shall be used for the tobacco business exclu- 
 sively and for no other purpose, for twelve 
 months from date; and it is hereby agreed 
 that J. R. Day, of the firm of Blackwell & 
 Day, is to give all his personal attention to the 
 management of the business; and that I agree 
 to give such attention to the busmess as my 
 health will admit, and at the expiration of 
 twelve months we are to divide equally all the 
 profits, if there be any, between myself and 
 Blackwell & Day, after allowing me one thou- 
 sand dollars for the rent of factory and the 
 advantages of my trade, and in case of loss 
 each party interested shall bear their propor- 
 tionable part." 
 
 [signed] J. R. Green. 
 
 This contract is doubly interesting, as form- 
 ing at once, an important link in the narra- 
 tive, and as illustrating the contrast between 
 the small begining, and the vast progress made 
 within a few brief years, of this remarkable en- 
 terprise. 
 
 Mr. Green's health was failing. Early in 
 July, 1869, he went to the Catawba Springs, in 
 the hope of finding relief; but he continued to 
 sink rapidly, and died on the 21st day of that 
 month. He left a will, in which his father 
 Mager Green, was named as Executor. 
 
 The latter, in pursuance of the authority 
 
OEANGE COUNTY. 
 
 361 
 
 (loiived from tlie will, in November, advertised 
 the tobacco factory, tbe ground on which it 
 stood, the brand and Trade Mark for sale pri- 
 vately. The advertisement was published in 
 both the Raleigh Sentinel and Standard, the 
 loading newspapers of the State, published 
 Tiearest the property. The sale, however, was 
 not effected under this advertisement, and the 
 Executor again advertised the property for 
 sale, at auction, on the 9th of April, 1870. 
 This advertisement was posted at various places 
 in Orange, and contiguous counties, and the 
 sale took place in accordance with its terms. 
 William T. Blackwell became the purchaser. 
 The price paid was two thousand two hundred 
 and ninety-two dollars. The conveyance was 
 made to William T. Blackwell, without nam- 
 mghis partner, Mr. Day; but the latter appears 
 to have retained his interest. 
 
 Mr. Julian S. Carr being produced as a wit- 
 ness by Mr. Blackwell, deposed that in Sep- 
 tember, 1870, he connected himself with 
 Messers Blackwell and Day, who were manu- 
 facturing both plug and smoking tobacco, in 
 Durham, under the lu-m name of W. T. Black- 
 well. The term of co-partnership was for 
 three years, during which they continued to 
 operate under the firm name of W. T. Black- 
 well, and to use the Trade Mark, " Genuine 
 Durham Smoking Tobacco," in connection 
 with the side view of a Durham Bull. The 
 name on the labels was W. T. Blackwell, suc- 
 cessor to J. R. Green & Co. Neither Mr. 
 Day nor Mr. Carr, by the terms of their part- 
 nership, acquired any interest in Blackwell's 
 brand or Trade Mark. They only acquired a 
 right to use it during the three years of their 
 partnership. Mr. Carr states that he, on be- 
 half of Mr. Blackwell, paid the purchase 
 money for the property, including the Factory, 
 the lot on which it stands, the brand and 
 Trade Mark, at Hillsborough, the county town 
 on the 3l8t day of August, 1871. 
 
 Mr. Carr, in response to a question, by 
 Jilackwell's coiinsel explained his duties in 
 connection with the establishment, as follows 
 " I had " he says, " entire charge of the oiiice 
 duties of W. T. Blackwell, and of W. T. Black- 
 well & Co.; superintended and directed their 
 correspondence, managed their finances, lines 
 of credit, etc. The firm of W. T. Blackwell 
 expired by limitation the 12th day of Septem- 
 ber, 1873; immediately thereafter, on the same 
 day, the same parties, to wit: W.T. Blackwell, 
 James R. Day and myself, associated ourselves 
 in business under tbe firm name of W. T. 
 Blackwell & Co. and they continued to use the 
 same Trade Mark as that used by the firm of 
 W. T. Blackwell, to wit: "Genuine Durham 
 Smoking Tobacco," with the side view of a 
 Durham Bull, in gilt letters, on steel blue pa- 
 per; there was this change, however, made in 
 the wording of the label used by W. T. Black- 
 well & Co.: where the label of W. T. Black- 
 well read "Successor to J.R.Green & Co.," 
 the label used by W. T. Blackwell & Co. reads 
 " Sucessors to W. T. Blackwell." 
 
 Mr. Carr, in reply to a question by the Re- 
 spondent's counsel, states that the year before 
 he entered into the partnership Blackwell 
 manufactured less than ninety thousand pounds 
 of tobacco, and employed, not exceeding one 
 dozen hands, and that in the course of the cur- 
 rent year, 1877 when the deposition was given, 
 Blackwell & Co., had in one week shipped 
 eighty odd thousand pounds of smoking to- 
 bacco, upon which they paid the United States 
 Government an Internal Revenue tax of more 
 than nineteen thousand dollars. In the month 
 of April of that year they paid the Govern- 
 ment sixty thousand dollars in taxes on to- 
 bacco, while their average monthly taxes were 
 forty thousand dollars, or nearly half a million 
 in twelve months. During this time they em- 
 ployed in tbe manufacture of smoking tobacco 
 alone two hundred and twenty-five hands. 
 
362 
 
 WHEELER'S REMmiSCENCES. 
 
 Ill reply to the question "to what is the in- 
 crease and growth of your business attributa- 
 ble ?" Mr. CaiT replied that they attributed 
 their success to the superior quality of the to- 
 bacco grown in the adjacent country, to their 
 careful selection of the best, to extensive ad- 
 vertising, and to the energy with which the 
 business had been conducted. 
 
 The peculiar fitness of Mr. Carr for the man- 
 agement of a great enterprise is best attested 
 l)y the extraordinary success which has at- 
 tended his labors. When he entered the firm 
 of W. T. Blackwell & Co., the business was 
 small, insignificant, indeed, if compared with 
 what it soon became. The whole machinery 
 of administration was to be organized, and 
 adapted to the rapidly growing business, and 
 it required an organizing and directing talent 
 of a high order to meet the constantly recur- 
 ring emergencies. The history of this country 
 has shown that it requires no extraordinary 
 amount of talent to fill the office of Secretary 
 of the Treasury, for instance, with passable 
 credit. The new appointee, selected from con- 
 siderations of his political standing and services 
 to the party; or with reference to the equitable 
 distribution of honors among the States, steps 
 into office, finding the machinery in motion, 
 polished and oiled; and for months, his great 
 duty is not to direct, but to learn from his 
 subordinates. The experienced messenger who 
 brings him a paper to sign, properly made out 
 by an obscure clerk, recorded by another, 
 docketed by half a dozen others, and certified 
 by auditors, comptrollers, and other heads of 
 bureaus, becomes the new Secretary's first in- 
 structor. What he fails to learn from the 
 messenger, he ekes out day by day, and week 
 by week, from the chiefs of the several 
 branches of his department. If he is an apt 
 scholar, he may, in the course of twelve months 
 begin to understand the motive powers, and 
 operations of the department of which he has 
 
 been the nominal head, and which the country 
 gives him the credit of being the controlling 
 spirit. But persons who have had opportuni- 
 ties of seeing and knowing how public affairs 
 are managed at the seat of Government, are 
 well aware of the insignificant part played by 
 new heads of departments. And such minute 
 knowledge of afl:airs is necessary to a just ap- 
 preciation of a genius like that of Alexander 
 Hamilton, who at thirty-one years of age, or- 
 ganized and successfully administered the 
 Treasury Department. His successors have 
 only to learn their routine duties from their 
 subordinates. He planned them, and adapted 
 them to the situation of the country, under 
 an entirely new form of Government. And 
 akin to the great achievement of Hamilton 
 has been the work of Mr. Carr. Beginning 
 from next to nothing, he has developed a vast 
 enterprise, involving the employment of many 
 hundred thousand dollars, and nearly a thou- 
 sand men, women and boys. He has wisely 
 directed capital to the most useful applications; 
 he has assigned to an army of laborers, their 
 several places and spheres of dutj', and by the 
 judicious subordination of ranks and employ- 
 ments, which are various and unlike, he pre- 
 serves order and co-operation, to the common 
 end of producing the best results. 
 
 Among the most gratifying incidents connec- 
 ted with this great and successful North Caro- 
 lina manufacturing enterprise, is the fact that 
 it originated with, and has been directed, in all 
 its stages of development, by natives of the 
 State. Taken in connection with many simi- 
 lar ventures in the manufacture of tobacco, 
 cotton and other articles, within the last few 
 years, there is left no ground for longer hold- 
 ing the idea that yankee, or northern genius 
 alone, is equal to such achievements. It is cir- 
 cumstances that develope men. Slavery absorb- 
 ed all the active capital of the south, and applied 
 it almost exclusively to agriculture. Capital 
 
ORANGE COUNTY. 
 
 363 
 
 was thus applied for two reasons. In tlie first 
 place, it required too great an out -lay of capi- 
 tal to engage in manufacturing with slave 
 lahor, in competition with the free labor of the 
 Xorth. ' To realize this fact, it is only necessar}- 
 to imagine that the great firm of Blackwell's 
 Durham Toi)acco Companj', in addition to their 
 iialf a million of capital, invested in grounds, 
 liuildings, nuichinery, and raw material, were 
 nil (lor the necessity of owning as slaves, eight 
 hundred lahoi'crs, worth an average of one 
 thousand dollars each. 
 
 Here, then, was the great obstacle to South- 
 ern enterprise before the war. But the im- 
 pediment being removed, we see in all direc- 
 tions the development of Southern genius for 
 business enterprises of every kind — nowhere, 
 however, with such astonishing results as at 
 Durham, North Carolina, and by the renowned 
 firm of Blackwell & Co., of which Mr. Carr has 
 been to a great extent the organizing and di- 
 recting spirit. 
 
 The businessof the company has grown stead- 
 ily and rapidly from the time Mr. Carr became 
 a partner and director of its affairs. We have 
 seen that, prior to that time, Mr. Blackwell, 
 by his sagacity and enteqjrise and with his very 
 limited capital, had been able to turn out 
 nearly ninety thousand pounds of the manu- 
 factured article in a year. The product of the 
 establishment is now about four million of 
 2>ounds, or nearly a fifty -fold increase in four- 
 teen years. Mr. B. employed a dozen hands, 
 all told ; the company last year employed seven 
 hundred and fifty; and still the work goes on 
 increasing. Before the considerable reduction 
 which was made in the tobacco taxes, in May, 
 1882, the company paid for stamps, in a single 
 year, §645,601.33. And who must not be 
 amazed at the statement in view of the fact 
 that thirty-five years ago, and prior thereto, 
 tlie whole revenue of the State Government 
 was only about eighty thousand dollars! Kany 
 
 one had predicted at that time that the 3'oung 
 men and women, and many who had reached 
 middle life, would live to see the day when a 
 manufacturing company on North Carolina soil, 
 to be located at a place which then had no 
 name, would pay taxes to the United States 
 Government dght times greater than the State 
 tax; he might have escaped arrest and confine- 
 ment as a harmless lunatic, but on no other 
 grounds. 
 
 The flourishing town of Durham, now con- 
 taining 4,000 industrious irdiabita!its, owes its 
 existence to the Blackwell-Durham Tobacco 
 Company. It is true that similar and dissimi- 
 lar industries have grown up all around it,l)nt 
 they all owe their success to the world-wide 
 renown achieved by this great establishment.* 
 
 In 1882 Mr. Blackwell sold his entire inter- 
 est in the company; and in January, 1883, the 
 purchasers obtained a charter under the laws 
 of the State. The authorized capital is one mil- 
 lion; and a half million was paid in at the time. 
 Mr. .Julian S. Carr became the President of the 
 company, and a principal share-holder ; Mr. M. 
 E. McDowell, Vice-President, and Mr. Jno. A. 
 McDowell,Secretary; Sam'l H.Austin, jr.,Treas- 
 urer. 
 
 By genuine goodness of heart and afi'ability 
 of manners, by integrity and liberality Mr. 
 Carr has endeared himself to all classes of the 
 people; to rich and poor; to those to whom he 
 employs, and to those with whom he deals, 
 and has social intercourse. He takes an active 
 part in the benevolent movements of the day, 
 is a firm and efficient supporter of religion, and 
 
 *Since tlip Author of tliese Reminiscences wrote liis 
 aketcli of "Durlijini," the county of Durliam lins been 
 erected by an act of tlic Lcf^islatuic, dated Fcliiiiary 
 38tli, 1881. And one of flic luiiss! ihosmtohs coiiiities 
 of tlie State owes its nauic and sudden >:i(>\vtli to the 
 enterprise inaugurated by W. T. BlackweU and Com- 
 pany. 
 
 Whether the County should be established or not 
 ■was left to a vote of the iicoplc embraced in the terri- 
 tory. The election was lield on tlie 3iid 'I'liMisday in 
 A])iil and the Justices of the Peace met on the Isl Mon- 
 day in May. The act of the Legislature authorizing 
 this action was ratified February 38th, 1881. 
 
364 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 has been made a trustee of the University and 
 member of the Executive Committee, and 
 trustee of Trinity College. He is also President 
 of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Fe- 
 male Seminary at Durham; and doubtless its 
 best patron; President of the Board of Trustees, 
 Greensboro Female College, Greensboro. He 
 is Vice-President of the Durham Cotton Man- 
 ufacturing Company, and holds the same rela- 
 tion to the companies organized for the manu- 
 facture of wool and of wooden wares. He is 
 Vice-President of the North Carolina State 
 Exposition, and a member of the Executive 
 Committee of the National Tobacco Associa- 
 tion.* 
 
 Mr. Carr was married, in 1873, to Miss Nan- 
 nie Graham Parish, daughter of the late Col. 
 D. C. Parish, a gentleman of high standing and 
 for a number of years mayor of the new and 
 thriving town of Durham. 
 
 *In politics Mr. Carr is a Democrat. He was a dele- 
 sate to the late Dciiiuriatir National Convention at 
 Chicago, and wa.s honoieil by the State Delegation 
 with tne position on the Committee of Resolutions, or 
 " Platform." 
 
 He is still a young man, but has already at- 
 tained to a high place in the regards of the 
 people. In spite of his^manifold duties as the 
 head of a great manufacturing establishment, 
 he has found time to store his mind with a 
 knowledge of literature, and to keep abreast of 
 current events in the political world. If his 
 ambition should lead in that direction, he is 
 destined to fill a still higher place in the public 
 eye, and to applj' his remarkable talents for 
 business to the business of the people. 
 
 Note. — The heartfelt tribute to the memory 
 of Chief-Justice Thomas RutBn, so long a resi- 
 dent of this County, will be found in Ala- 
 mance County, page 3. That of Governor 
 William A. Graham, also a resident of Hills- 
 boro', will be found in Lincoln County, page 
 232. 
 
 Two more illustrous characters cannot be 
 found; the glory of our race, the inheritance 
 of our State, their fameprevaded the civilized 
 world. 
 
 -^Vi^'* 
 
 [gilf5EE^IMd 
 
PASQUOTANK COUNTY. 
 
 365 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 PASQUOTANK COUNTY. 
 
 Connected with memories of the County is 
 the name of John L. Baily, born August 13th, 
 1795; died June 30th, 1877 late one of the 
 Judges of the Superior Courts of the State ; 
 wlio was tlie son of Gabriel Baily and born 
 ill Pasquotank Count}'. He was educated at 
 Cliapel Ilill, and studied law with Governor 
 Iredell, at Edenton. In 1824 he represented 
 this County m the House of Commons and was 
 elected to the Senate in 1827 and 1828; he was 
 elected one of the Judges of the Superior Courts 
 ill 1836, which position he filled with honor 
 to himself and the great satisfaction of the 
 countr}'. He resigned in 1863. As a Judge he 
 was patient, impartial, kind and learned; as a 
 citizen, just and loyal; as a friend, sincere and 
 genial. Preferring the bracing climate of Bun- 
 combe County, even to that of his native Coun- 
 ty, he removed to Asheville some years ago, 
 where he died. His amiable wife, daughter of 
 Thomas Brownrigg, of Chowan County, had 
 died a few years before him. lie was the father 
 of Thomas B. Baily and Wm. II. Baily, Esqs., 
 of Charlotte, as also of Mrs. Caine. 
 
 William Biddle Shepard, born 1799 ; died 
 1832; resided and represented this County. He 
 was born in New Berne; the son of William 
 Shepard, who was the father of a family noted 
 family for their talents and eloquence. He 
 married Mary, daughter of John Blount, by 
 whom he had ten children, viz: 
 
 I. Ann, married Ebenezer Pettigrew; H. 
 John, who first married Maria Long, second, 
 
 Gamble; IH Wm. Biddle; IV. Mary, 
 
 married John II. Bryan; V. Frederick Blount, 
 VI. Hannah, single; VU. Penelope,8ingle; VHI. 
 
 (Jharles, in Congress, who married first, Jones, 
 second, Donnel; IX. Richard; X. James B. 
 
 William, the subject of our present sketch, 
 was the second son. and was educated at the 
 University, where he stood high for scholar- 
 ship, but he never graduated because of an un- 
 fortunate difRculty which occured at the time; 
 be studied law and practiced with success; his 
 first entrance into public life was as a member 
 of the twenty first Congress (1829-31) and he 
 served till 1837 when he declined a re-election. 
 He was a member of the State Legislature for 
 several sessions, from 1838 to 1850, and was 
 very popular from his decided state-rights 
 opinions, and the ability and firmness with 
 which he maintained them. 
 
 He died in Elizabeth City, in 1852 ; he was 
 twice married, first to Miss Cazenove, of Alex- 
 andria, and second to Miss Collins, of Edenton. 
 
 George W Brooks, was born March 16, 1821 
 in this Count}' ; his father, Wm. C. Brooks, 
 was an eminent merchant of Ehzabeth City, 
 who came from Gates County. His ancestors 
 were amongst earliest settlers in the Albemarle 
 region of the State and emigrated from Vir 
 ginia. Branches of the same family are still 
 in Virginia and at one time were one of the 
 leading families of Essex and the adjacent 
 Counties. 
 
 His mother's maiden name was Catha- 
 rine B. Davis, of Pasquotank. She first mar- 
 ried Captain Hugh Knox. After the death 
 of Captain Knox, she married Mr. Brooks, 
 and so was the mother of Judge Brooks. 
 Her ancestors were also amongst the earliest 
 settlers in Pasquotank County and were 
 
366 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 prominent in tlieir Conntj% many of them 
 filling important positions in the Legislatm-e of 
 the State and the local posts of trust at home. 
 
 Judge Brooks was mostly educated at Bel- 
 videre in Perquimans County, North Carolina. 
 The Society of Friends in that section, as early 
 as the year 1834, had founded an Academy at 
 that place, which from the foundation to tlie 
 present, has taken high rank amongst the best 
 schools of the country. At the school many 
 of the men now prominent in Eastern Nortli 
 Carolina were educated and some, distin- 
 guished for practical worth, in other States. 
 
 In 1844 he was licensed to practice law in 
 the County Courts of the State and in 1846 was 
 admitted as an attorney in the Superior Courts. 
 
 From his first entrance at the har he was 
 successful. The numerous friends of his father, 
 made so by his kindness, rectitude and fidel- 
 ity, flocked to the support of the son, and 
 gave him at once a start in life. His first 
 appearance was not flattering. He was slow 
 and almost painfully awkward from eml.>arrass- 
 ment and diffidence ; l)ut still, amidst the 
 tribulation which a young lawyer endures at 
 first 111 the presence of a critical audence, he dis- 
 played a power of endurance and pertinacity, 
 that was at once recognized as the talisman of 
 success. He was penniless when he came to the 
 Bar, and in 1861 at the beginning of the war he 
 had accumulated a large estate, which was ad- 
 mitted by all to have been justly and lionora- 
 ably acquired. 
 
 At the beginning of the war he owned a 
 large number of slaves, all of them purchased 
 by him and nearly all purchased at their own 
 request to save them from the hands of the 
 negro-buyer. For some years before 1861, he 
 predicted their emancipation and often when 
 ^asked to purchase a negro he refused upon tlie 
 ground, that the tenure of ownership was in 
 the near future to end. 
 
 His arguments upon this subject were dis- 
 
 tasteful to public sentiment and grew to be 
 the subject of harsh criticism amongst the 
 leading democrats of his region ; many of 
 his personal and warmest friends frequently 
 remonstrated with him, against his utterance 
 of opinions so widely at variance with the 
 wishes and convictions of the public. 
 
 He made no political speeches and no haran- 
 gues to the public ; but he claimed the, right 
 to express his private opinion upon public 
 matters, and he never yielded that right to 
 public clamor or private remonstrance. In 
 1852 he consented to represent his native 
 County in the Legislature of the State. He 
 only consented to prevent a division in the 
 Whig Party in his county. He served with 
 perfect acceptability to his constituents one 
 term, but positively refused to accept a re- 
 nomination. He has always refused to mingle 
 in the strife of politics. 
 
 He was a firm adherent of the Whig Party 
 up to the civil war. During that war he was an 
 avowed LTnion man; though his conduct was 
 calm and quiet, and showed his actions to be 
 the result of conviction, produced by reflection 
 rather than mere sentiment, the result of the 
 passions of the hour. 
 
 During the whole civil war he was the same, 
 — true to his conviction of the ultimate tri- 
 umph of the Federal Government, yet kind to 
 opponents and always ready to succor the dis- 
 tress of Federal or Southern sufferers. 
 
 In August 1865, he was appointed Judge of 
 District Court for the District of North Car- 
 olina, and his nomination was confirmed by 
 tlie United States Senate in January 1866. 
 In 1866 he was elected a delagate to the Con- 
 vention which met to frame a Constitution for 
 North Carolina. He stood high in that body, 
 but with the close of that Convention his re- 
 lation with the public ceased except as a judge. 
 
 The business in the federal Courts of North 
 Carolina before the war was nominal. The 
 
PASQUOTANK COUNTY. 
 
 367 
 
 terms of the Circuit Courts rarely coiisumefl a 
 week, and a few liours sufficed to dispose of 
 the dockets of the District Courts. 
 
 Since the war the Circuit Courts have usually 
 continued for several weeks at each term and 
 the labor of the judges has been severe and 
 constant. Hundreds of cases have been tried 
 in open court at each term, and the busi- 
 ness at chambers has been quite as laborious 
 as in the court room. The district courts have 
 also been crowded since 1867 with cases in 
 bankruptcy, besides a large accession of other 
 questions upon the Revenue Laws of the United 
 States and questions of private right. 
 
 No judge performed more labor since 18G6 
 than Judge Brooks; and in the discharge of 
 his duties he won and retained the highest re- 
 spect of the Bar of North Carolina, for learn- 
 ing, for courtesy and practical good sense. His 
 decisions are rarely questioned and the people 
 regarded him as an honor to the bench. 
 
 Besides the ordinary business of the Court 
 in which he presided, he was called upon to 
 determine questions under the recent amend- 
 ments to the Constitution of the United States 
 at a time of intense excitement, when there 
 was serious alarm felt lest a fearful strife should 
 break forth, growing out of the points upon 
 he was called to adjudicate. 
 
 In the year 1870, Governor Holden declared 
 several Counties of North Carolina in a state 
 of insurrection and sent troops who arrested 
 and held in custody a number of citizens of 
 those Counties. These sued out writs of ha- 
 beas corpus from Chief-Justice Pearson, of tlie 
 State Court. The writs were issued, but by 
 direction of the Governor the prisoners were 
 not returned. An act of the Legislature of 
 North Carolina had been passed, empowering 
 the Governor upon good cause to declare any 
 County in insurrection and to employ the 
 miltia force to repress such insurrection. 
 
 When the Governor refused the prisoners 
 in obedience to the writs issued by Chief-Jus- 
 tice Pearson, that Judge declared that he had 
 no power to proceed and that the power of the 
 judiciary was exhausted. The prisoners still 
 remained in military custody. 
 
 Immediately they procured writs from Judge 
 Brooks, returnable before him at Salisbury in 
 August, 1870. The questions arising upon 
 these proceedings were of the gravest kind, 
 involving the construction of the 14th amend- 
 ment to the Constitution of the United States 
 and the act of February fifth, 1867, passed in 
 pursuance thereof. The prisoners were sup- 
 posed to be Democrats, seeking relief at the 
 hands of the federal government from the 
 wrongs of their own State officers; the coun- 
 sel for the prisoners, all leading Democrats, 
 filed argument upon argument to convince the 
 Court that the Federal arm ought to interfere. 
 The Judge was easy to convince; he had com- 
 mon sense, the text of the Constitution, the 
 written statute and the bias of a life-time on 
 his side. He extended the ^gis of the Fed- 
 eral Constitution over the citizen of the Uni- 
 ted States and proclaimed to eternity that the 
 United States is a nation charged to vindicate 
 the wrongs of the subject in every corner of 
 its domain and armed with power to resist the 
 tyranny of any or either of the several States. 
 He granted the writ of habeas corpus and 
 extended the federal jurisdiction to the case 
 The prisoners exulted in their liberty and a 
 shout of triumph went up from the people and 
 the press over the result. The Judge enjoyed 
 an ovation such as seldom honors the bench, 
 and at the time, no honor would have been too 
 great for the State to lay at his feet. 
 
 The decision referred to, although it did 
 present at the time only a local aspect, is, in 
 fact, a national one. and may one day form the 
 basis of an opinion of as wide notoriety as the 
 Dred Scott case. It in fact ranks with it in 
 
368 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 interest, and like it must form the departure 
 for olaslung- political creeds hereafter. 
 
 Judge Brooks married Margaret, daughter 
 of James Costin, of Gates County, on June 20, 
 1850, and he had five children: Three sons, 
 William, George and James, and two daugh- 
 ters; Margaret and Sally. lie died at his home 
 in Elizabeth City on January 6th, 1882, amid 
 the regrets of the Country at the loss of so 
 pure and good a man. 
 
 Gen. James Green Martin, born 1819, died 
 October 1878, was a native of this county. 
 He was educated at the United States Mili- 
 tary Academy and graduated June 30th, 1840, 
 in the same class with Sherman, Thomas and 
 others. He was assigned to the Artillery and 
 performed the varied duties of that service, 
 at home and abroad with credit. He was en- 
 gaged in the war with Mexico; and was sever- 
 ely wounded at the battle of Cherubusco, on 
 the August 20th, 1847, from which he lost 
 his right arm. He was brevetted Major "for 
 gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle 
 of Contrereas and Cherubusco." On the com- 
 mencement of the civil war, he was stationed 
 at Fort Riley. He promptly resigned his com- 
 mission in the United States Army, and tend- 
 ered his services to his native State. The 
 Governor appointed him Adjutant General of 
 the State, a mo.st important position, and well 
 did he fill it, for it was unc.er his provident 
 care that the troops of the State were or- 
 ganized, equipped and amply provided for. 
 It was his suggestion that the "blockade run- 
 nino;" ships were first employed to bring cloth- 
 ing and supplies from Europe for the troops and 
 the people. In 1862 when he had accom- 
 plished his duties as Adjutant General, he was 
 commissioned Brigadier General and labored 
 faithfully, zealously and gallantly to the close 
 of the war; which found him at Asheville. 
 Pleased with the advantages of climate, and 
 
 the salubrity of this section, he resolved to 
 make it his home; here he remained, till his 
 death. He was the law partner of Hon. John 
 L. Baily, whose genial and generous temper 
 was so germain to that of Gen. Martin. He 
 was twice married. By his first wife. Miss 
 Reed of New Castle, Delaware, he had four 
 children. His second wife was the daughter 
 of the late Hon. Charles King, who was the 
 son of Rufus King. 
 
 John Pool* is a native of Pasquotank County, 
 born June 16, 1826, educated at the Univer- 
 sity at which he graduated in 1847. Studied 
 law and practiced it successfully. Elected to 
 the State Senate in 1856 and again in 1865. 
 He was a member of the State Convention in 
 1865 and was the Whig candidate for Gover- 
 nor in 1858, but was defeated by Governor 
 Ellis. 
 
 He was elected Senator in Congress in 1868 
 and served till March, 1873. 
 
 Mr. Pool's course in public life has been 
 marked b}' a strict adherence to his views of 
 right; never pandering to party or persons to 
 secure popularity. This devotion to duty has 
 doubtless, while it secured him friends, pro- 
 duced some political enemies. He has retired 
 from the arena of politics and devotes his time 
 to the duties of his pi'ofession. 
 
 No further seek his merits to disclose, 
 
 Or draw his frailties froui their quiet abode. 
 
 He has been twice married; first to Miss 
 Sawyer, by whom he has one daughter [Mrs. 
 Mills;] and second to Mary, daughter of Dr. 
 A. W. Mebane, by whom he has a sob and two 
 daughters. 
 
 Luciau D. Starke, long a resident of Eliza- 
 beth City, was raised in Suffolk, Virginia. 
 His native ability is excelled by his cultivated 
 
 *Mr. Pool died in Washingtou City on August 16th, 
 
 1884. 
 
PERQUIMANS COUNTY. 
 
 369 
 
 iiuiniiers. He edited "the Pioneer," a dem- Port. lie entered tlie iirmy duriiii^ the Civil 
 ocratie paper at Elizabeth City, with much War, Eerviiig on the Stall' of the late lamented 
 ability, and was for a time Collector of the Col. William F. Martin. 
 
 ^^'^^^^^.5^^;^^:^^7<^ 
 
 PERQUIMANS COUNTY. 
 
 John Harvey is a name that should ever be 
 cherished in the early annals of our history. 
 He was a prominent leader in the Assembly, 
 and was for a long time Speaker in the House 
 and was Moderator of that band of heroes 
 w'ho met at New Berne m 1774, in open defi- 
 ance to the Royal Governor as advocates of 
 liberty and independence. Unfortunately, he 
 died before independence was secured; but 
 his name and his elFcrts are entitled to our re- 
 spect and _ofi-atitude. His name is still, pre- 
 served by many families in this region, and 
 his patriotism duly remembered. 
 
 Josiah T. Granburj^ was long a useful and 
 honorable citizen of this Coun^-y. He was 
 distinguished for his success as a farmer — one 
 ot the most extensive in this fertile section of 
 the State. But his means and fortunes were 
 wrecked by the vicissitudes of the civil war, 
 and his active spirit sunk under its calamities. 
 In his viewsof statenianshiphe was a devoted 
 admirer of the tenets of Jetferson and Jack- 
 son; so strong and fixed were these opinions 
 that they tinged his whole life. 
 
 His only child married Lucius J. Johnson, 
 who shared with Mr. Granbury his political 
 preferences, his high intellectual acquirements 
 and his devotion to duty. " Mr. Johnson," says 
 Moore, " was of that stock of men which made 
 
 the upper portion of Chowan celebrated for a 
 century past, fc>r its patriotism and intelli- 
 gence." He was greatly beloved as a man, and 
 respected as a faithful and able advocate. He 
 died, Major of the 17th N. C. State Troops, 
 with his face to the foe in the last battle of 
 Kinston in March 1865. 
 
 J. W. Albertson is a native of this county; 
 of Quaker parentage, born September 9, 1826. 
 Educated at Belvidere Academy and at the 
 Friends' Boarding School in Guilford County. 
 He studied law and was licensed to practice in 
 1849. Elected to the Legislature in 1852. In 
 1856 he became a Democrat on principle. 
 Elected Solicitor in 1868, and was so accepta- 
 ble and faithful that he was appointed Judge 
 of the Superior Court in April, 1872. 
 
 On the resignation of Richard C. Badirer, in 
 1878, he was appointed by the President Dis- 
 trict Attorney for the eastern district of North 
 Carolina, which position he discharged with 
 credit to himself and satisfaction to his coun- 
 try. 
 
 William H. Bagley, is a native of Perquimans 
 county, born July 5th, 1833, son of Col. Willis H. 
 Bagley, long the Sheriff of this county, a pop- 
 ular and useful citizen. lie was liberally ed- 
 ucated under John Kimberly, at the Hertford 
 Academy. For a time he was editor of the 
 
370 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Sentinel in Elizabeth City; studied law and 
 wa8 licensed in 1859. Although opposed to 
 secession,yet when the State actually embarked 
 in the war, he felt it to he his duty to share 
 her fortunes, and so entered the Confederate 
 service as a private, but was soon made a First 
 Lieutenant in the Eighth Regiment N. C. 
 Troops. He was in the battle of Roanoke Is- 
 land, where he was taken prisoner. After his 
 exchange he was appointed Captain of his com- 
 pany, and subsequently promoted to be Major 
 of the 66th Regiment where he served on the 
 coast defenses in North and South Carolina, 
 and Georgia, until his resignation in 1864. 
 He hud been elected to the Senate, from the 
 first Senatorial District, composed of the co- 
 
 unties of Perquimans and Pasquotank in Aug. 
 1862, and was re-elected in 1864. In Jui^^ 1865 
 he was appointed by President Johnson Super- 
 intendent of the Mint at Charlotte; but being 
 unable to take the test oath he was prevented 
 from filling that position. In December of that 
 year he was Private Secretary of Gov. Worth; 
 at the close of which service he was elected 
 Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State, which 
 elevated position he n jw holds. He is a prom- 
 inent member of the order of Odd Fellows 
 and has been M. W. Grand Master, and held 
 the highest honor of the order in his State. 
 He married (March 1st 1866,) Adelaide, daugh- 
 ter of Gov. Worth, for whose biography see 
 Randolph County. 
 
 ->'^b^V^^^^:7^^ 
 
 PERSON COUNTY. 
 
 General Henry Atkinson, of the U. S. Army, 
 born 18-Q2, died 1842, was a native of this coun- 
 ty. He was appointed a Captain in the 3rd 
 Regiment of Infantry, 1808; Colonel of 45th 
 Infantry, 1814, and a Brigadier-General 1820. 
 He was a gallant and active officer and com- 
 manded the Western Army at the defeat of the 
 Sioux Indians, and took their celebrated Chief, 
 Black Hawk, prisoner near Bad Axe River, 2d 
 August, 1832. 
 
 He died at Jetierson Barracks, Missouri, 14th 
 June, 1842. Ilis brother, Richard Atkinson, 
 was a Member of the Legislature fro;n Person 
 County, from 1807 to 1820, except 1815-'16. 
 Like his distinguished brother, he was of mili- 
 tary tastes, and was Colonel of a North Caro- 
 lina Regiment in the war with the Creek In- 
 
 dians, in 1815-'16. He died in Person County 
 on 3rd December, 1821.* 
 
 Edwin Godwin Reade, son of Robert and 
 Judith A. Reade, was born November 19, 1812, 
 at Mt. Tirzah, in Person County, in which 
 county he has always resided. His father died 
 while he was a child, and his early advantages 
 were few. 
 
 His mother's means were limited, but she 
 was a wise, christian woman and guided her 
 sons, of whom she had three, with much care. 
 
 Edwin was liberally educated by Rev. Alex- 
 ander Wilson, D.D. Studied law under Benja- 
 min Sumner; obtained his license to practice in 
 1835, and practiced with profit and honor. In 
 
 'Dictionary of Am, Biography by Thomas S. Drake, 
 Boston, 1872. 
 
PERSON COUNTY. 
 
 371 
 
 1855 he was elected a Member of the 
 (34tli) Congress. He declined a re-election, 
 and determined to retire from public life. 
 
 In 1861 he was prevailed upon by friends of 
 the Union to be a candidate for a seat in the 
 convention to oppose the secession of the State. 
 He was elected by a large majority, but the 
 convention was defeated by a popular vote. 
 When another convention was soon after call- 
 ed, and wlien it was apparent tliat tlie State 
 would secede, he was not a candidate. After 
 Secession was accomplished by a vote of the con- 
 vention, he cast his lot with his State. Judge 
 Reade was elected to the Confederate States 
 Senate, and served therein during the war. 
 
 In December, 18G3,in his absence, and with- 
 out his active solicitation, he was elected by 
 the legislature a judge of the Supreme Court. 
 
 At the close of the war in 1865 he was ap- 
 pointed a judge in the Provisional Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 In the fall of 1865 he was unanimously 
 elected to the state convention, called to form 
 a constitution, and was chosen President of 
 that body by acclamation. 
 
 The legislature that met in Dec. 1865 elect- 
 ed him one of the Justices of the Supreme 
 Court. In 1868, under the new government, 
 he was nominated by buth parties and elected 
 by nearly a unanimous vote to the office of 
 Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; his 
 term of office expired in 1878. Ue returned 
 to his practice in Roxboro, where he resides. 
 
 He was married December, 1836, Emily A.L. 
 Moore, daughter of Phillips Moore. 
 
 He was always a Whig and as opposed to 
 secession has been a Unionist. 
 
 He is a clear, chaste and forcible writer, and 
 was distinguished as an acute lawyer, and an 
 eloquent and persuasive advocate and public 
 speaker, lie has been a member of the Pres- 
 byterian church from his youth and is now a 
 ruling elder. He has discharged ably and well 
 
 the duties of all the positions which he has 
 ever occupied. 
 
 There lived near Roxboro, a Scotchman 
 named James Williamson. His first wife was 
 a daughter of Dempsey .Moore. Of this mar- 
 riage was born John Gustavus Adolphus Wil- 
 liamson, one of the most prominent sons of Per- 
 son, a lawyer by profession, and an eminent 
 statesman; represented his county in the House 
 of Commons in 1823, was afterwards Consul to 
 Venzucla and later appointed Chargt; d'Affaires 
 at Caraccas. 
 
 His second wife was Susan Paine, daughter 
 of Major Paine, who lived at Paine's "Ornery." 
 Of tliis ir.arriage were born three sons, Robert, 
 James and Alexander; and four daughters, 
 Mary,Parthenia, Annie and Madrid [named for 
 the Capital of Spain.] 
 
 Mary married Mr. Donaho, who died in Mil- 
 ton. Parthenia married Judge Dick, father of 
 the present Judge R. P. Dick. She is still liv- 
 ing in Greensboro'. Susan married a brother 
 of Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin, formerly of 
 Hillsboro'. Madrid married a young lawyer by 
 the name of Jones, and moved to Tennessee. 
 
 Dr. Robert Williamson, the oldest son of his 
 second wife, was a prominent physician in Rock- 
 ingham County, where he he died about the 
 year 1843. James M., second son by same mar- 
 riage, moved to Tennessee, and followed the 
 law, represented this County in the State Leg- 
 islature, 1834. 
 
 Alexander, the third son by the same mar- 
 riage, was a successful merchant in Memphis, 
 left a large estate. 
 
 The fiist we learn of the Barnett family is 
 that, .John Barnett, of Scotch-Irish descent, 
 came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. 
 His son John married Miss Carrie of that 
 State. He lived at Bailey's Bridge, on the line 
 of Person and Halifax counties. This was then 
 the famous place* to settle questions of honor 
 by the pistol. Immediately upon the Virginia 
 
372 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 and North Carolina line the officers of the law 
 in either State could be evaded by passing from 
 one State to the other. It was here that Judge 
 Cameron once vindicated the code. 
 
 John Barnett was summoned to cut out a 
 direct road from Halifax C. H., in Virginia, to 
 to Hillsboro'. Commencing at Halifax he came 
 on by Adam's Creek. At this fqrd he was re- 
 minded by the red land of that in Pennsylva- 
 nia. And fancying a similarity in its fertility he 
 immediately went to the land-office and "took 
 up" a large number of acres of land located 
 here. This land fell into the hands of John 
 W. Williams, as the heir or executor of one 
 Towler. 
 
 A brother-in-law of this John Barnett, 
 named Currie, also settled upon these lands, 
 now occupied by J. M. Barnett, Esq., who also 
 owned the Towler place. Thus we trace the 
 Currie family of Caswell County. 
 
 Richard Stanford, was a Member of Congress 
 from 1797 to 1816 continuously, nearly twenty 
 years. He died in Washington City, in April, 
 1816, during the session of Congress, and lies 
 buried in the Congressional Cemetery. He was 
 a prominent politician of his day, and was the 
 confidential friend of the distinguished John 
 Randolph of Roanoke. Mr. Stanford's unex- 
 pired term was filled by Hon. Samuel Dickens, 
 who often represented Person in the State Leg- 
 islature, he removed in 1820 to West Tennes- 
 see, which was then called the Chickasaw pur- 
 chase; he died there many years ago, full of 
 wealth and the good will of his countrymen. 
 Hon. James Cochran, (the maternal grandfather 
 of James Cochran Dobbin,) was a native of Per- 
 son, and a Member of Congress from 1809 to 
 1813; he lies buried at Lea's Chapel, five miles 
 west of Roxboro'. 
 
 Hon. Robert Vanhook was a native of Per- 
 son, he served in both branches of the State 
 Legislature and was elected twenty-two times, 
 from 1807 to 1834, the last year he had no op- 
 
 position, and died before the convening of the 
 Legislature. Major Isham Ed\yards [father of 
 Col. L. C. Edwards,] was elected to fill the va- 
 cancy. Mr. Vanhook was a politician of the 
 Jefl:ersoniaii school, he was not a great man 
 mentally, though highly gifted in procuring the 
 good will of the people and retaining it. 
 
 Hon. Thomas McGhee, [father of Montford 
 McGhee, Esq.,] was a wealthy farmer onllyco, 
 and served five sessions in the State Legislature 
 [lower branch] 1826-'29-'30-'31-'33, and was 
 Governor's council during the administrations 
 of Dudley and Morehead and was many years 
 president of the bank at Milton. 
 
 His son, Montford McGhee, born in this 
 county, on December 4, 1822, was educated at 
 the University; graduated in 1841, in the same 
 class with Thos. L. Avery, R. R. Bridgers, Wm. 
 J. Clarke, John W. Ellis, John F. Hoke, Charles 
 and Samuel F. Phillips. He studied law with 
 Judge Butler, and spent some time at Harvard 
 College. He removed to Caswell County, and 
 was a delegate to the Convention in 186.5, and 
 as Representative in 1862 and 1866. Elected 
 to the Legislature in 1879, and since continued 
 to 1882 with great acceptability. He has 
 attained high distinction as a writer, and his 
 eulogy on Governor Graham ranks him with 
 the most polished writers of the State. 
 
 He is at present a prominent member of the 
 Legislature and of the bar. Highly esteemed by 
 his friends and his associates as a gentleman and 
 a scholar. He has recently been appointed by 
 the State Board of Agriculture, Commissioner 
 of Agriculture, succeeding Col. L. L. Polk, 
 [1880.] 
 
 He married a daughter of Judge Badger in 
 18.54. 
 
 John W. Cunningham, resides in this Coun- 
 ty. He was born in Petersburg, Virginia on 
 Feb. 6th, 1820; educated at Bingham Acad- 
 emy, and at the University, where he grad- 
 uated in 1840, in the same class with David A. 
 
PITT COUNTY. 
 
 373 
 
 Barnes, Tod K. Caldwell, C. C. Graham. Lucius Govrs. Ellis juid Clark, and member of the 
 
 I. Johnston, Wm. Johnston, 0. H. Prince, Will- Convention of ISTo. These manifestations of 
 
 iam M. Shipp, Calvin A. Wiley and others. ... ,. , , , . 
 
 , , , ,,<,,. ,r.rr^ .. ,^ public conndenco and reaiard.evmce the proper 
 
 He was elected to the Senate in 1852- 4- b ' 
 
 and 8 ; was a member of the Convention 1861, appreciation of Mr. Cunningham's integrity and 
 
 (scccfsion.) Keelected to the Senate in 1864, ability. He married xVliss Sue Somerville of 
 
 '66-'72 and 1876. Councillor of State under Warrenton. 
 
 ><mmM^ 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 PITT COUNTY. 
 
 Dr. Robert Williams of Pitt County, was dis- 
 tinguished in the Revolutionary War, as a de- 
 voted Patriot, a skilful Surgeon and able Phy- 
 sician. He served as surgeon during the whole 
 war, and after the war was over he devoted 
 his services to his extensive practice. He was 
 selected by the people to fill many positions of 
 honor and trust. He was a member of the 
 Convention that met at Hillsboro, July 21st, 
 1788, to consider the Federal Constitution; 
 and was repeatedly elected to the Legislature 
 of the State for nearly thirty years, [from 
 1786 to 1814.] He was also a member of the 
 Convention of 1835, that met at Raleigh to re- 
 vise the State Constitution. 
 
 He died in Pitt County on November 12, 
 1842, aged 83, much esteemed and much re- 
 gretted. 
 
 Byran Grimes, Major-General C. S. A., born 
 
 Nov. 2, 1828; died Aug 14, 1880. 
 
 " He was not born to shame; 
 
 Upon his blow .slianie was ashamed to sit, 
 
 For it was a ihione where Honor raitrht be crownerl 
 
 Sole monarch of the universal earth." 
 
 The tragic death of General Grimes, and the 
 assassin-like mode by which it was accom- 
 plished, produced a thrill of sorrow through- 
 out the State, and added interest to the exalt- 
 ed traits that adorned his character. He was 
 born, lived, and died in Pitt County. 
 
 There are few counties in North Carolina 
 whose early record is more distinguished by 
 devotion to liberty than tlie county of Pitt_ 
 Its inhabitants, as early as July, 1775, under 
 the ties of religion, honor and regard for pos- 
 terity, resolved to execute the measures of 
 the General Congress, then sitting at Phil- 
 adelphia, and to oyipose the execution of the 
 arbitrary and illegal acts of the British Parlia- 
 ment." These resolutions were signed by John 
 Simpson, chairman, and ninety-two others. 
 Among these signers was the great-grand 
 father of General Grimes. His grand -father 
 [William] was a leading and influential pat- 
 riot, and represented Pitt ('ounty in 1793 and 
 '94, the date of hie death. His father, whose 
 
374 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 patronymic he bore,wasamost upright, honest, 
 and enterprising farmer, and raised his sons to 
 that useful and honorabie avocation. On these 
 sons he bestowed every advantage that wealth 
 and education could present. General Grimes 
 was born November 2d, J828; and graduated 
 at the University of North Carolina in 1848, 
 in the same class with Victor Clay Barnnger, 
 [now a judge in Egypt,] Oliver H. Dockery, 
 [in Congress 1867, '68, '69, '71,] Seaton Gales, 
 late Document Clerk to the House of Rep- 
 resentatives; Willie P. Mangum, Jr., [now 
 Consul of the United States in China,] Judge 
 Oliver P. Mears, and others. Averse to polit- 
 ical excitement and public position, he embraced 
 the pursuit of agriculture, and was disting- 
 uished for his success and enterprise in a sec- 
 tion of the State distinguished for its fertility 
 and prolific productions. lie, however, in the 
 exciting times of 1861, was a member of the 
 convention at Raleigh that seceded from the 
 Union. Witii his characteristic sincerity he sus- 
 tained his opinions and convictions of duty by 
 his deeds. He entered the Confederate service, 
 and was appointed by Governor Ellis, major of 
 the 4th Regiment of North Carolina State 
 Troops, commanded by George B. Anderson as 
 colonel, and John H. Young as lieutenant-colo- 
 nel. He served throughout the whole war. 
 He was among the first to enter tbe field and 
 was the last to quit it. Such was his gallantry 
 and devotion to the cause that he was distin- 
 guished in every prominent battle in Northern 
 Virginia. He was with LeeatSharpsburg and 
 Gettysburg, and was severely wounded at 
 South Mountain. For his gallantry he was 
 promoted through the several grades of service 
 and attained the position of Senior Major- 
 General of Stonewall Jackson's corps. In these 
 fearful ordeals his brave spirit had never quail- 
 ed, and he gallantly led his troops in the des- 
 perate and furious strife. Like Henry, of Nav- 
 arre, at Ivry,he was ever "foremost in the fray," 
 
 and, like Henry, urged his troops to combat. 
 
 "Press where you see my white plume shine amidst 
 
 tlie ranks o( war, 
 
 Audbeyouroriflanime to-day tlie helmet of Navarre." 
 
 This poetic idea was realized by General 
 Grimes, for his division made the last charge 
 Appomattox. The history of that last effort 
 of the Lost Cause tells us that General Lee, 
 seeing the last gallant and fruitless chargd 
 asked "What troops are those?" When told 
 that it was a North Carolina division, his 
 placid face brightened and he exclaimed, 
 "God bless North Carolina! She is the first and 
 last in every charge." 
 
 I add, "God bless Pitt County!" Her son, 
 Henry "Wyatt, was the first ottering on the 
 altar of his country at Bethel in 1861, and her 
 son, Grimes, led the last charge at Appomattox. 
 Pitt, glorious Pitt, the alpha and omega of the 
 civil war! 
 
 The war ended, General Grimes returned to 
 his home and to its peaceful pursuits. But 
 his active and useful career was soon to be ter- 
 minated by a tragic end. On Saturday evening, 
 the 14th, of August, 1880, General Grimes 
 was returning from Washington to his home 
 in his buggy. A lad, about twelve years of 
 age, named Bryan Sattherwaite, was with 
 him. When about two miles from his resi- 
 dence, near Bear Creek, about six o'clock in 
 the evening, ho was fired upon by some mis- 
 creant in ambush and killed. His death oc- 
 curred in a few moments after the fatal shot 
 was fired. Thus perished one of the purest 
 and best men of the State. 
 
 Prominent in his character was his devoted 
 patriotism, his modest and decided conduct, 
 his devotion to truth, and his abhorrence of 
 an}' kind of artifice or intrigue. Decided, 
 honest and firm in his opinions, he expressed 
 them with dignity, firmness and courtesy. His 
 gallantly in the field was only excelled by his 
 kindness to and scrupulous regard for his troops. 
 
PITT COUNTY. 
 
 375 
 
 "Ilislife '.VIS /Miilr, anil fli(> cli'iiuMitM 
 S" mixed ill liim, tli:it Natiiie iiii^'lit sfuiiil ii|) 
 All I s ly to all tlie wdi-IiI, TIuk iv is a mnn " 
 
 General Grimes was the ready and devoted 
 friend of every movement to advance the well- 
 fare and prosperity of his State. lie was the 
 steady and consistent advocate of all inipmve- 
 inonts and of eliicition. lie was the constant 
 friend and [)atron of luis Alma Mater, in so 
 nuich so, that one of the literary societies (the 
 IMiilaiithropic) has procured his portrait, ex- 
 ecuted by that faithful artist, Wm. Garl 
 Browne, to whose s^enius and talent our State 
 is deeply indebted for the preservation of the 
 features of so many of her distinguished sons. 
 The following letter to .Mr. Browne, post- 
 marked on the same day he was killed, is prob- 
 ably the last letter that General Grimes ever 
 wrote. 
 
 " W.-vsHixuTON, N. C, Aw/ust 12, 1880. 
 
 W. G.\RL Browne, Esq., 
 
 " Wa.shin</ton C'iti/, IJ. C. 
 " My De.vr Sir -. Your letter torwarded 
 through Mr. Cowper to hand. When the por- 
 trait is completed, please put it in a suitable 
 frame and write in paint colors and small let- 
 ters on the liack of the canvas, "Bryan Grimes, 
 Major-General Provisional Army Confederate 
 States," also 3'our own name as artist. Have 
 it boxed and addressed to the Philanthropic 
 Society, Chapel Hill, N. C, cai'e of Messrs. 
 James Pender, C. B. Aycock and Locke 
 Craige, committee. Prepay the frefght by ex- 
 press, at same time notify the gentlemen that 
 you have, by my request, shipped the box to 
 their address. Send original portraits back to 
 Kaleigh, care of Pulaski Cowper, and send 
 your bill for it all to me. I will not insult 
 you by asking if the portrait is well done, for 
 T know otherwise it could not come from your 
 hand. 
 
 Very trul}' yours, 
 
 Bryan Grimes." 
 
 (Postmarked 14th August, 1880, the day he 
 was killed.) 
 
 The perpetrator of his foid as-iassination 
 was never convicted; the alleged cause was 
 that General Grimes became an important 
 witness in some criminal matter, and the par- 
 ti(^s took this means to [irevcnt his testimony 
 from lieing giveti. 
 
 General Grimes was twice married; first to 
 Miss Bettie Davis, and second to .Miss Char- 
 lotte Bryan, daughter of the late Hon. .John 
 H. Bryan, (member of Congress 1825-27,) and 
 leaver a large family to deplore his untimely 
 fate. 
 
 In Moore's "History of North Caroliiui" is 
 the following tribute to General Grimes: " In 
 the disastrous, final retreat there were many 
 brave deeds done by the troops of North Caro- 
 lina. Especially did Major-General Bryan 
 Grin^es and Brigadier General William K. Cox 
 distinguish themselves. General Grimes had 
 won his way to the proud position he then held 
 amid the few immortals, surviving the many 
 glorious conflicts waged by the Army of North- 
 ern Virginia. His bravery and devotion were 
 supervised by an intelligent and scrupulous re- 
 gard for his command, and no officer rendered 
 fuller or more patriotic duty to the Southern 
 cause." General Grimes furnished the histo- 
 rian with a most interesting sketch of the clos- 
 ing scenes of the conflict in Virginia. From 
 this narrative I make a number of extracts : 
 "About 9 o'clock," saj's General Grimes, "I 
 heard the roar of artillery in our front, and in 
 consequence of information received, I had ray 
 command aroused in time, and passed through 
 the town of Appomattox Court House before 
 daylight, where, on the opposite side of the 
 town, I found the enemy in my front. Throw- 
 ing out skirmishers and forming a line of bat- 
 tle, I reconnoitred and satisfied myself as to 
 their position, aud awaited the arrival of Gen- 
 
376 
 
 WHEELER'S KEMINISCENCES. 
 
 eral Gordi)ii for instrnctioiis, who, awhile he- 
 fore day, aeeonipaiiied I)}' General Fhz Lee, 
 came to nij position, when we held a council 
 of war. General Gordon was of the opinion 
 that the troops in our front were cavah-y, and 
 that General Fitz Lee should attack. Fitz Lee 
 thought that they were infantry, and that 
 Gordon should attack. The}' diseus-ied the mat- 
 ter so long that I became impatient, and said 
 it was the duty of some one to attack, and 
 that too immediately; and I felt satisfied tliat 
 they could be driven from the cross-roads oc- 
 cupied by them, which was the route it was 
 desirable our wagon train should pursue, anj 
 that I would undertake it. Whereupon Gor- 
 don said: "Well drive them off;" I replied, "I 
 cannot do so with my division alone, but re- 
 quire assistance." He then said, "You can 
 take the other \wo divisions of the corps." 
 About this time it was becoming sufficiently 
 light to make the surrounding localities visible. 
 "I then rode down and invited General 
 Walker, who commanded a division on m}- 
 left composed principally of Virginians to ride 
 with me, showed him the positioti of the en- 
 emy, and explained to him my views and plan 
 of attack. He agreed with nie as to its ad- 
 visability. * * * The enemy, observing me 
 placing these troops in [KisitidU, opened upon 
 me with four pieces of artillery. I then gave 
 the signal to advance; at the same time Fitz 
 Lee charged those posted at the cross-roads, 
 when my skirmishers attacked the breast- 
 works, which were taken without nnichlosson 
 my pai't; also capturing sevei'al pieces of ar- 
 tillery and a large numlxn- of prisoners, I at 
 the same time moving the division up to the 
 support of the skirmishers oi crhdoit. by lu'ig- 
 ades, driving the enemy in confusion for three- 
 quarters of a mile beyond a range of hills cover- 
 ed with oak under-growtlu * * * I t'nen sent 
 anorticer to General Gordon announcing our 
 success and that the Lynchl)urg road was open 
 
 for the escape of the wagons, and that I awaited 
 ordei's. Thereupon 1 received an order to 
 withdraw, whi.-h I declined to do, su[ip,)sing 
 that General Gordon did not uiulorstaiid the 
 commanding position which my troops occu- 
 pied, but he continued to send me orders to 
 the same effect which I still disregarded being 
 under the impression that he did not compre- 
 hend our favorable location, until finally I re 
 ceived a message from him with an additional 
 one as coming fVom General Lee ti) fall back. 
 * * * As my tn.)ops approached their position 
 of the morning, I rode up to General Gordon 
 and asked where I should form line of battle. 
 He replied, " Anywhere you choose." 
 
 "Struck by tne strangeness of the repl^', I 
 asked an e.xplanation, whereupon he informed 
 me that we would be surrendered. I expressed 
 very forcibly my dissent at being surre idered 
 and indignantly u.ibraided him for not giving 
 me notice of such an intention, as I could have 
 es^-aped with my division, and joined General 
 Jo. Johnston, then in North Carolina; further- 
 more, that I should then inform my men of 
 the purpose to surrender, and wh:)m3>ever 
 desired to escape that calamity could go 
 with mc, and galloped off to carry this idea 
 into effect. Before reaching my troops, how- 
 ever, General Gordon overto.ik me, and [fac- 
 ing his hand on my shoulder, asked me if I was 
 going to desert the army and tarnish my own 
 honor as asoldier; that it would be a retlection 
 upon General Lee and an indelible disgrace to 
 me that, I, an ofhcer of rank, should escape 
 under a flag of truce which was pending. I 
 was in a dilemma and knew not what to do, 
 but finally concluded to say nothing to my 
 troops on the subject. * * * We were then 
 beyond the creek at Appomattox Court House, 
 and stacked arms amid the bitter tears of bron- 
 zed veterans, regretting the necessity for cap- 
 tulation." 
 
 Dr. Richard H. Lewis, the most distinguith- 
 
PITT COUNTY. 
 
 377 
 
 (uH-nlisl :ui(l iuirist in Xnrtli ('arDliiKi, was 
 l>nni oil tlic ISth of Febmaiy, 1850, iu I'itt 
 Couiitv; the son of K i eh lud Henry Lewis, ot" 
 Htlgeconibe, wlio was the son of Erwiii Lewis, 
 of tliat County, wliose father, Erwin Le\vis, 
 moved to Edgeeombe from Brnnswiek County, 
 \'irginia, and wasa deseendant of Henry Lewis 
 nne of the throe brothers who came to \'ii-jjinia 
 from Engl;ind in KjO'), and who settled in 
 l5runswiek,Cliarles settling in Augusta County, 
 and John on the James Kivor. 
 
 lie entered the Freshman elass at the Uni- 
 versity at Chapel Hill in July 1806, and re- 
 mained there until the republicans broke it up 
 in 18(58, having completed his sophomore year. 
 I le obtained his first distinction the second ses- 
 sion of the Freshman, and during the wh">le 
 Sophomore 3'eai'. From Chapel Hill he went 
 to the I'niversity of Virginia, and there re- 
 mained for two years, the last in the study of 
 medicine. The first was devoted chiefly to 
 the study of belles lettres, and he received a 
 diplonui in Moral Philosophy and French. He 
 entered the Medical Department of the Uni- 
 vcreity of Maryland, in Baltimore, and grad- 
 uated there in the following spring, March 
 
 1871. After graduation lu; was apiiointcd as- 
 sisitant physician of the [University Hospital 
 and the following year was elected Resident 
 l^h^^siciau. Devoting hiiuself exclusively to 
 one branch of tlie profession — namely, disea.ses 
 of the eye and ear, he became fitted for it by- 
 taking a course under Prof. J. J. Chisolm of 
 Baltimore, and afterwards at the Koyal Lon- 
 don ()[ihthalmic Hospital, Moorsfield, Lon- 
 don. He first settled in Savannah, in the 
 spring of 1875, and was elected Professor of Dis- 
 eases of the Eye and Ear, in the Savannah 
 Medical College. 
 
 Married to Miss Cornelia V. Battle, daugh- 
 ter of Hon. Kemp P. Battle, on February 13th, 
 1877, he gave up a successful pi'actice in Savan- 
 nali and returned to North Carolina to settle. 
 His license to practice in this State was obtained 
 from the State Board of Medical E.xaminers 
 and he joined the State Medical Society at 
 Salem in the following May. At the meeting 
 of the Society in Wilmington in May 1880, he 
 lie' was elected a member of the State Board 
 of Medical Examiners, Dr. Hicks vie, of Gran- 
 ville, resigned. 
 
 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 
 
 Jonathan Worth, son of Dr. David Worth, 
 was born in (luilford Count}', N. C, Novcmlier 
 18th, 1802. He died in 1809. He received a 
 fair English education, at the neighboring "old 
 field schools," being much indebted to William 
 Reynolds for the .solid training he there receiv- 
 ed. At the age of 18 years ho was sent to the 
 academy at Greensboro', where he remained for 
 two and a half vears. His conduct there was 
 
 nuvrked for his diligence and proficiency in his 
 studies. His father being unable to continue 
 him longer at the academy, he took charge of 
 a school, near the re.sidenceof Hon. A. D. Mur- 
 pliey, in Orange County, and commenced read- 
 ing law under the direction of that learned 
 and distinguished lawyer. On April 20th, 1824, 
 he married Martitia Daniel, a niece of Judge 
 Murphey,and in January, 1825, he obtained his 
 
878 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 license to practice law. Soon afterwards lie ^or Cons^ress, Mr. Worth charging that certain 
 
 settled at Ashehoro', Randolph County, and political acts of his opponent indicated, on his 
 
 commenced the practice of his profession, part, a meditated defection from the support 
 
 Owing to extreme ditRdence and the total ab- of Mr. Clay. Mr. Worth was defeated, 
 
 senceof anything like oratorical display, others lie again applied himself diligently to the 
 
 not more, (and perhaps less,) learned, took the practice of his profession, with success, until 
 
 lead of him in practice. Notwithstanding his in 1845, when a convention of delegates from 
 
 great need of professional gains, at this peiiod, the Counties composing his Congressional dis- 
 
 he has been often heard to remark, that he trict nonunated him for Congress. He accepted 
 
 would rather lose a fee than make a speech, the nomination and entered the tield, but was 
 
 After lingering at the bar for several years, defeated by his competitor. Gen. Alfred Dock- 
 
 with few clients, he determined as a means of ery. 
 
 overcoming this diffidence, to become a candi- After this he devoted himself assidiously to 
 
 date for the Legislature, hoping the canvass to the practice of his profession until 1858, 
 
 might give him more assurance. He was elec- ^vhen he was elected to the State Senate from 
 
 ted (18.30,) ahead of his competitors. The ne.xt Randolph and Alamance Counties. In the 
 
 year, (1831,) he was again a candidate and re- Session of 1 858^.59, he introduced resolutions 
 
 elected. At this session, he distinguished him- raising a Joint Select Committee to investigate 
 
 self by the introduction of resolutions denounc. the management of the N C. Railroad, of 
 
 ing nullification, which, after an able but which Committee he was made Chairman, 
 
 stormy debate, in which he participated, passed His report upon this subject, and the debates 
 
 the House by a large majority. After this tei-m which grew out of it, were, by far, the most 
 
 in the Legislaturehe seems to have withdrawn important topics before that Legislature; and 
 
 from politics and devoted himself to his profes- a controversy, through the newspapers, resulted 
 
 8ion,a8 wefind him busy at the courts in his cir- between Mr. Worth and .Mr. C. F. Fisher, the 
 
 cult, and surrounded by clients. This atten- the President of the Road, the severity of 
 
 tion to his profession brought such success and ^^'''ic"'' ^^'"« *^"ly surpassed by the ability dis- 
 
 pecuniary ease, as that he was again induced P'ayed. It is believed that good to the State 
 
 by his friends, to becon,e a candidate for the ^^-i^ the result of this investigation and con- 
 
 Legislature in 1840, on the Harrison ticket, troversy, an.l it cannot be unjust to his lament- 
 and was elected to the Senate l)y an over- 
 whelming majority. 
 
 At the session of 1840, the leading legisla- 
 tive measure was the putting in operation of 
 a system of Public Schools. He was made 
 Chairman of the .Joint Committee on Educa- 
 tion and, as such, drew up and reported a bill 
 which passed both Houses, all the prominent 
 ^jrovisions of which remained unchanged until 
 the system of Public Schools was broken up 
 by the civil war. 
 
 He was always an admirer of Henry Clay; 
 and, in 1841, he opposed the Hon. A. Rencher 
 
 ed competitor, to say that Mr. Worth, through- 
 out the contest, more than met the expect- 
 ation of his friends. 
 
 .Mr. Worth was re-elected to the Senate in 
 1860-61. This period is made memorable by 
 the secession of the Southern States from tiie 
 Union. Having always disbelieved in the 
 doctrine of secession, .Mr. Worth was among 
 the foremost and the most active in resisting 
 a disruption of the Union, and in endeavoring 
 to prevent his own State from throwing her- 
 self into the vortex of revolution. In the Leg- 
 islature, he voted against submitting the ques- 
 
PITT COUNTY. 
 
 379 
 
 tioii of calling a conveution to the [leople, and 
 the Legislature deciding against liini, lie ad- 
 dressed a circular letter to his constituents ad- 
 vising them to vote against the convetition as 
 tiie surest way to defeat secession. His advice 
 was heeded, not only 1)\- his own constituents, 
 hut hy tlie people of the State. Suhsequently, 
 however. a convention was called and the ord- 
 inance of secession passed. Mr. Worth declined 
 to he a candidate for this conveution. With 
 the other })roniinent Union men of tlie South, 
 after secession was accomplished, he gave his 
 adhesion to the </i,/(^('/o government, and acted 
 in good faith towards it. 
 
 In 18(J2-(;3, he was elected to tlie lower 
 House of the Legislature, and at the session 
 of 1862 was elected Puhlic Treasurer of the 
 State, over lion. D. W. Courts, the popular in- 
 cumbent of that office. He was re-electe<^l 
 without opposition, in 1864, and held the pos- 
 ition until the State government was over- 
 thrown hy the Federal forws in 1865, 
 
 In the sanie year he was appointed to the 
 sanie'position under the provisional government 
 organized by President Johnson ; hut resigned, 
 in a short time, and became a candidate for 
 Governor against Provisional Governor Hol- 
 den, 
 
 •Mr. Worth was elected b}' a large majority, 
 and entered upon the discharge of E.xecutive 
 duties on the discontinuance of the Provision- 
 al government, which took place Decemljer 
 2Sth, 1865. 
 
 He was re-elected Governor in 1866, by an 
 iucre.ised majority, defeating, in turn, his old 
 com[ietitor for Congress, Gen. Alfred Dockery. 
 He continued in the Executive office until 
 July, lo68, when the then government was 
 superseded by that organized under the Recon- 
 struction Acts of Congress— surrendering the 
 position, under a protest, denying the consti- 
 tutionality of the.se acts of Congress, and the 
 legality of his removal. 
 
 The following eloijueut and able [protest of 
 Governor Worth is preserved to show the 
 high liandod cour.se of the " powers that be," 
 at this time and the supremacy of the military 
 over the civil government: 
 
 State of Noitli Caroliiiii, 
 
 Kxecutivo Depiirtiiicnt. 
 Hai.kkjei, July 1st, 1888. 
 Gov. W. \V. HoMeii, 
 
 Kuli-iffli, N. (.;. 
 
 Sir; Yesterday iiiontiiift I was verbally notilliMl by 
 Cliief Justice Pear.soii, that, in obedience to a tele- 
 Kraiii troiii CiMi. ("auby, he woald, to-day, at 10 A. M., 
 iidiiiiiii.sler Ici you Ilii- oath leijuired preliiuinnry to 
 yoiu ciileriiiij; upon I hi' disc liai ;;c of the duties of 
 Ciril (iariTitor n( theStiitf; and thai, thereupon, you 
 would diiiiaiid possession of my ollice. 
 
 1 intimated to ibi' .Induce my opinion that such i)ro- 
 cecdiM.i.'uas premature, even iimler theieconstiuetion 
 le^'islation of t'oii'tress, and that I should probably 
 decline to Nuricniler the otiiee to you. 
 
 .\t sundown, yesterday »'veuius:, 1 received from 
 Col William-', Coinuiandaut of this military post, an 
 extract from the General Order, No. 120, of (general 
 t'anby, as follows; 
 
 " Headquarters 2ud Military District. 
 Ch.\klkston, S. C, June 30th, 18(58. 
 General Order, ) 
 No. 120. S 
 
 (Extract.) 
 
 "To facilitate tlie organization of the new State 
 governmoiits, the following appointments are made: 
 To be Governor of North; Caroliaii, VV. W. Holdeu, 
 elect, (■(■(•? Jonathan Worth removed; to beLieutenant 
 Goveruor of North Carolina, Tod R. Caldwell, Lieu- 
 tenant liovernor elect, to fill an original vacancy — to 
 take ettect July 1st, 18G8, on the meeting of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of North Carolina". 
 
 I do not recognize the validity of the late election 
 under which you, and those co-operating with you, 
 claim to be invested with the civil government of the 
 Sta'e. You have no evidence of your election, save a 
 certiticate of a Major-General of the United States 
 Anny. 
 
 I regard all of you as, in eft'ect, appointees of the 
 military power of the United States, and not as " de- 
 riving your powers from the consent of those you 
 claim to govern." Knowing, liowever, that you are 
 backed by military force here, which I could not re- 
 sist if 1 would, I do not deem it necessary to offer a 
 fntle opposition, but vacate the office, without the 
 ceremony of actual eviction, offering nofurtlier oppo- 
 sition than this my protest. 
 
 1 would submit to actual expulsion, in order to 
 bring before tlii' Sni)renie Court of the United States 
 tlie nuestion as to llie coLKtitiifionality ot the legisla- 
 tion under which yuii claim to be the riglUful Govern- 
 or of the State, if the past action ol that tribunal fur- 
 nished any hope of a speedy trial. 1 surrender the 
 otfice to you under what I consider military duress, 
 without sloi)piiig, as the occasion wouUl well justify, 
 to comment upon the singular coincidence, that the 
 present State (government is surrendered «*• irillioutle- 
 (jdliti/, to liiin, whose ow?i otlicial sanction, but three 
 years ago, declared it rtilid 
 
 I am, very respectfully, 
 
 JONATHAN WORTH, 
 Governor of North Carolina. 
 
3 80 
 
 WHEELER'S REMrNISt'EN( ES. 
 
 He continned to reside at tlic city of Raleigh 
 until his death, which occurred September 5th, 
 1869, in the 67th year of his age. 
 
 In the space allotted to the distinguished 
 sons of the Oitl North State in this volume, it 
 is impossible to do justice to so long, eventful 
 and well-spent a life. 
 
 Gov. Worth was a good lawyer, a faithful 
 legislator, an expert financial officer, and an 
 able governor. In nothing that he ever did 
 was there any attempt at display, and ho made 
 no speeches "for Buncombe." Indeed, he was 
 thoroughly pnictk-ul, and most remarkable for 
 the accuracy of his judgment ami the sound- 
 ness of his conclusions; which, alter all, is the 
 nearest approach to the perfection of human 
 wisdom. The State may have produced more 
 brilliant sons, but none of sounder judgment 
 or who, from their stand-point, labored with 
 an eye more single to her liest interests. It 
 was his fortune to adnnnister the aflairs of the 
 State amid a period of delicacy, danger and 
 excitement. But such were the purity of his 
 motives and the fidelity of his conduct that 
 during his " administration as Governor not a 
 single instance occurred in the State when a 
 Sheriff had to summon either civil or military 
 aid to execute the process of the law." Be- 
 ginning life without fortune, but industrious, 
 practical, prudent, honest, receiving from his 
 native State the noblest reward she had to be- 
 stow, liis success and example may well be 
 pointed to the young men of the State for en- 
 couragement and imitation. 
 
 The characteristics which marked liis public 
 coiuluct, governed him in his private relatioivs. 
 Tt> these may be added intense affection for 
 his family and friends, to whom he was kind 
 and indulgent, and for whoni he could not do 
 enough. He niarried (1824) Martita iJaniel, 
 a niece of Judge Murphey, whom he left a wid- 
 ow with six children, one son and five daugh- 
 ters. He lived to see allot his children mar- 
 
 lied. One of his daughters married .Maj. Wil- 
 liam II. Baglcy, Clerk of the Supreme Court. 
 and his only son, David G. Wcu'th, is now the 
 most prominent commission merchant in the 
 city of Wilmington. 
 
 Col. Andrew Balfour was a resident of this 
 County. He was a native of Scotland, and 
 came to this country in 1772, and settled, first 
 at New Port, R. I Among those whose lives 
 were sacrificed to the cause of freedom, says 
 Caruthers, in liis admiral)lo little work;* and 
 whose patriiitie services deserve to be remem- 
 bered, was Andrew Balfour. The first notice 
 we have of him, in North Carolina, is a letter 
 to his wife, dated Salisbury, July, 1774; that 
 he had bought a plantation in Randolph coun- 
 ty, at the headwaters of the Uharee. When 
 the Revolutionary war came, he determined 
 to join the defenders of his adcpted Country, 
 and was appointed Colonel of the County, and 
 became active and prominent. He was elected 
 a member of the Legislature (the first after 
 Randolph County was created), in 1780. In 
 the fall of that year he and Jacob Shepherd, 
 who was a prominent Whig, were captured by 
 a party t>f Tories from the Peedee, but were 
 rescued by Captain Childs, from Montgomery. 
 One of the victims, Shepherd, left the neigli- 
 l»orhood, but Balfour remained only, to meet 
 an untimely fate. A narrative of Judge .Mur- 
 phey fui-nislu'd forthe Uni. Mag., by Gov.Swaim 
 gives an account of this most bloody affair: 
 " In one of his predatorv excursions, he (Fan- 
 ning) went on Sunday, the 9th of March, 1782,^ 
 to the house of Andrew Balfour, which he had 
 plundered three years l)efore. One of Bal- 
 four's neighbors (Cole), rode at full-speed to 
 
 *Kevoliitioiiary Incidents, &c., by Kev. E. W, Ciir 
 uthers, PliiUi., 1854, p. 397. 
 
RANDDLPII COirS^TY, 
 
 381 
 
 Balfour's lioiiso, and wariu'd liiia nt" I lie daiigiT. 
 Balfour had hardly irot out of his house, before 
 he saw Fan iiiug galloping up. lie ran, l)ut one 
 of Fanning's part^' (named Authrey) fired at 
 him and broke his arm. lie returned to his 
 house and entered it; his daughter and sister 
 clung to him iu despair. Fanning and his 
 troop immediateU' entered, tore the women 
 away with violence, and threw them on the 
 tloor, and held them under their feet I ill they 
 had shot Balfour. As he fell Fanning shot 
 him through the head, and he died instantly. 
 An indictment Wiis found against Fanning, 
 at the Superior Court at Ilillsboro', for this 
 murder, but he was ne\er aiiiirehended." 
 
 A sketch of this desperado (Kanniiiir) is re- 
 corded on page 11± 
 
 His sister and her aunt Margaret went to Sal- 
 isbury to reside; Mrs. Balfour, who had not 
 ci-me from Rhode Island as yet to join her 
 husband, with her two little children, now 
 came to this State and joined them ; their mis- 
 fortunes met with cordial sympathy from the 
 kind people of that place. In a few ycai's an 
 arrangement was made, by the intluence of 
 (Jen. Steele, to appoint her post-mistress, the 
 j)rofits of which yielded a comfortable support. 
 The duties of this position she discliai'ged 
 with fidelity and s itisfactiou for many years 
 His daughter, Tibby, married John Troy, and 
 liad John Balfour Troy (in Legislature Iroia 
 Randolph in 1827), and Rachel, who nuirrieil 
 Lewis Beard, now of Mississippi. 
 
 Col. Balfour's son, Andrew, married Mar\-, 
 daughter of John Ilenly, who was a member 
 of the Society of Friends, and had nine children 
 ^-ali of whom removed west, except Eliza, 
 wife of Col. Drake, of Asheboro'. 
 
 The third and onl\- remaining child of Col. 
 Balfour, Margaret, married Hudson Hughs, of 
 S disbury, one of wh >se daughters married 
 Samuel Reeves. 
 
 Herman Ilusliands, who resided for a long 
 time on Sandy Creek, in this County wascon- 
 siiicuous in the Regulation troubles. (See page 
 1-) 
 
 He was a native of Pennsylvania and is said 
 to have been a relative of Benjamin Franklin. 
 He was a man of indomitable firmness, great 
 shrewdness, and of strong luitive intellect. 
 He enjoyed the confidence of the people, who 
 often elected him to the Legislature before 
 the Revolution. But his independent course 
 rendered him obnoxious to the friends of 
 Royalty. 
 
 I extract from the Journals of the House of 
 As.sembly at New Berne: " 20 Dec, 1770. On 
 motion the House resolved itself into a Com- 
 mittee of the Whole, to take into considera- 
 tion the conduct of Herman Husbands, a mem- 
 ber of this Hou.se." 
 
 After some time spent therein the Chairman 
 reported: 
 
 "1. That Herman Husbands is one of the 
 Regulators and principal mover in the late se- 
 ditions — and is unworthy of a seat in this 
 House, and that he be immediately expelled. 
 This resolution was agreed to by the House 
 and whereupon Husbands ap])eared at tlie bar 
 of the House, and the Speaker pronounced the 
 said sentence."- -C'Olonial Doc. 174. 
 
 The same day the following restlution was 
 l)assed : -'Thonuis Pearson is charged by Mr. Mc- 
 Knight as guilty of extortion and usury, and 
 unworthy of a seat in this House. Maurice 
 Moore and Mr. Locke, and others appointed a 
 committee to enquire into the facts." 
 
 " — 25 Jan, Resolved that Richard Hender- 
 son, who ajipeared as prosecutor of several 
 charges against Thomas Pearson, pay all costs" 
 
 — " 31 Jan. Hu.sbands arrested by order of 
 Gov. Tryon for a libel and juit in the Xew 
 Berne jail. — Ih. 175. 
 
 After the battle of Alamance (lU .May 1771) 
 
382 
 
 "WHEELER'S EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 he retreated to Marylaiul, and thence to Penn- 
 sylvania. 
 
 In a letter in the Rolls office, in London, 
 from President Ilassell. dated 9th of Aui^ust, 
 1771, is this extract. 
 
 "In a letter I received by express from Governor 
 Eden, ot Maryland, dated 9tli ult , lie liad received in- 
 formation tliat IIci iiian Husbands, with eifflit or ten 
 of ins associafts wcii' there, and he could not arnst 
 iiim, ashe couhi not identity him. I answereil liy tlie 
 pame express, and sent a yoiuif; man wlio could swear 
 to the i(lentity of Hiisliailds; I scut also a copy of a 
 
 F reclamation ottVi luir lar^'c rewards for takin.i^ them, 
 wrote also to President .Nelson, of Virginia, and 
 President Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, requesting 
 them to aid in Husbands' ai)piehen8iou." Col. Doc. 178. 
 
 A reward was c ffered for him by Gov. Tryon. 
 He was the read}' and determined opponent 
 of illegal oppression. He was concerned with 
 Gallatin and Breckenridge in the whisky insur- 
 rections in 1794, apprehended and taken to 
 Philadelphia. By the influence of Dr. David 
 Caldwell, who happened to be im Philadelphia 
 
 at the time, Dr. Rush and others, he was re- 
 leased, and died on his return home. 
 
 Hon. John Long was horn in Loudon County 
 Va., but long a resident of Randolph County, 
 He was a man of uiiljlemished reputation, of 
 strong native intellect, and of much public 
 spirit. He was Senator from Randolph in the 
 Legislature in 1814-15; and elected a member 
 of 17th Congress, (1821-23,) and re-elected 
 to 19th and 20th (1825) Congresses. His death 
 was the result of a singular accident. He was in 
 feeble health for some time, and on the day pre- 
 vious to his death, he walked out on his farm; 
 whilst attempting to climb a fence, he fell, the 
 top rail falling upon him. He was enabled by 
 great exertion to walk back to his house, but 
 died on the next day. He left several child- 
 ren. 
 
 ->'^t^^5>^^tV^^^:><^ 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 RICHMOND AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTIES 
 
 Alfred Dockery,bt)rn December 11, 1797, died 
 I)ecember3, 1873, in Richmond County; he was 
 burn within a mile of the residence at which he 
 lived and died. His father, Thos. Dockery, 
 was a poor man. He reared a large famil}' of 
 children, but one of whom is now living, Dr. 
 Henry Dockery, ot Hernando, Mississippi. 
 Thos. Dockery was unable to give his children, 
 even at that early day, the simplest elements 
 of an education. Alfred was the eldest of the 
 children, and the heavy burden of providing 
 the means of subsistence for his younger bro- 
 
 thers and sisters devolved on him. Hence, his 
 education fn early life was entirely neglected, 
 and he was often heai'd to say tliat he had never 
 attended school for three months consecutively 
 in his Hfe. Li 1823 he married Sallie Turner, 
 of Anson County, with whom he lived in un- 
 interrupted felicity until his death, which oc- 
 curred December 3d, 1873, leaving seven child- 
 ren surviving him. General Dockery, as he 
 was familiarly called, began life on a small 
 scale as a farmer, and by industry and energy 
 amassed quite a handsome estate. He lost much 
 
KICIIMOND COUNTY. 
 
 m?, 
 
 of this by the hvtc wiir, l>ut hy unconquoriihle 
 energy he retrieved his fortunes, and died \h->s- 
 sessed of a fine property. 
 
 General Dockery made his first appearance 
 in public life as a member of the House of Com- 
 mons from the Cou'ity of Riehmtrnd, in 1822. 
 He was then twenty-five years of age. Hav- 
 ing devoted some thirteen years to laying the 
 foundations of his fortune, during wiiicii time 
 he had made much progress in the acquisition 
 of useful knowledge, he consented to serve the 
 people of Richmond in the Convention of 1835, 
 which was called to remodel the old Constitu- 
 tion ado|)ted by the Congress at Halifax in 
 1776. In this body, of which lie was an in- 
 dustrious and faithful member, he was governed 
 by liberal and generous views, and no doubt 
 gathered rich lessons of knowledge and exper- 
 ience from such men, his associates, as Gaston 
 Macoii, Toomer, Seawell, Meares,. Edwards and 
 others. The AVhig party, which was formed in 
 1833, carried the elections in North Carolina 
 in 1836. A strong Whig influence, based on 
 a demand for a general reform in federal aflairs 
 and for a system of internal improvements by 
 the State government, swept the old Jackson 
 Democratic party from power, and Edward B. 
 Dudley, of New Hanover, was elected Gov- 
 ernor. General Dockery was elected to the 
 Senate of the State Legislature from Richmond, 
 in 1836, as a Whig, and he continued to serve 
 the County in the Senate up to 1844 inclusive, 
 making a continuous service of ten years in 
 that body. In 1845 he was an independent 
 Whig candidate for Congress in the Randolph 
 District, against the regular nominee, Hon. 
 Jonathan AVortli, and was elected liy more 
 than nine hundred majority. In 1847 he de- 
 clined a re-election; but, in 1851, impelled hy 
 a strong love for the Union, which he believed 
 to be in peril, he boldly bore the Whig Union 
 flag against the organized power of secession 
 led by Hon. Green W. Caldwell, of Mecklen- 
 
 burg, and after one of the most animated can- 
 vasses that ever occurred in the State, he was 
 elected to Congress b}' twelve hundred ma- 
 jority. At the peril of his life in this canvass, 
 (for his District ran along the Soutli (^arolina 
 line,) he boldly proclaimed everywhei'e his un- 
 dying attachment to the Union, even declar- 
 ing tliat, if elected, he "would vote men and 
 money to whip South Carolina back into the 
 Union, if she attempted to secede." The excite- 
 ment was intense, and ho was in (constant 
 personal danger, yet nothing could deter him 
 from a stern and fearless performance of duty. 
 In 1854 he was the Whig candidate for Gov- 
 ernor of the State against Governor Bragg, 
 and was defeated by only about 2,000 majority. 
 The State, which had gone Whig in 1836 by 
 6,000 majority, in 1840 13,000, in 1842 by 5,000 
 in 1844 by 3,000, in 1846 by 8,000, began to 
 pass into the hands of the Democrats in 1848, 
 the Whig majority that year being only 875, 
 on account of the strength with the people of 
 the Free Suffrage issue broached by Governor 
 Reid. In 1850 the State went Democratic by 
 nearly 3,000 majority, and in 1852 by nearly 
 6,000. It was under these circumstances, with 
 this large majority against him, that General 
 Dockery took the field as the Whig candidate. 
 The exhibition of mental power and physical 
 endurance on the part of both candidatcji, 
 Bragg and Dockery, mark this as ^/if campaign 
 of campaigns in this State. 
 
 The people of Western North Carolina cher- 
 ish his memory with much aftection. They owe 
 no small debt of gratitude to the man who did 
 so much in ]854 to coerce the reluctant Democ- 
 racy of the east and centre into a more active 
 support of internal improvements, without 
 which the Western portion of the State are shut 
 in from the world and deprived of the means 
 and advantages which are indispensible to their 
 progress and prosperity. 
 
381 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Greiiei-iil Doekery was ahvaj-s a Union Whig. 
 
 He deplored the di.S3>hition of that grand old 
 
 party, which he regarded as the strongest link 
 
 in the chain which held the States together. 
 
 With Washington, Hamilton, Webster and 
 
 ©lay, he held the Union to be iudissoUible. 
 
 He, of coui'se, profoundly deprecated secession, 
 
 and faithfully and earnestly warned the people 
 
 to the last moment of the awful, far-reaching 
 
 calamities which must tiow from it; yet, when 
 
 the issue was joined in battle Iietweeu the two 
 
 sections, his sympathies were with his native 
 
 South, and he gave without a murmur si.x sons 
 
 to the army, one of whom, John Morehead 
 
 Doekery, a noble youth, fell a victim to camp 
 
 disease. After the war, never having lost his 
 
 ingrained conviction of the neeessit3' of one 
 
 great common government for all the States 
 - "^ _ ... ' 
 
 he earnestly advised reconciliation and har- 
 
 mon3^, and lived to see the Union reconstruct- 
 ed on the basis of the equal rights of all, with 
 no star on its ensign "erased or polluted," and 
 destined, as he fondly hoped, to endure for all 
 time. After the war his participation in pub- 
 lic affairs was not so active or constant as it 
 had previously been, yet such was the confi- 
 dence reposed in his judgment and patriotism 
 by his fellow-citizens of the County of Rich- 
 mond, that in 18*jo they elected him unani- 
 mously to the State Convention called under 
 the Pro.isional Government then m operation. 
 The duties of this position he discharged 
 with his accustomed intelligence and honesty; 
 and in 186(3, much against liis wish, he was 
 nominated by the original Union men of the 
 State for the office of Governor. There was 
 no prospect whatever of his election. He de- 
 clined to canvass in the then unsettled condi- 
 tion of the country, as he could not perceive 
 that any good would result from a canvass. 
 The vote he received would have been doubled 
 if he had taken the field and addressed the 
 people in the different sections of the State. 
 
 He evinced on this occasion his usual disregard 
 of self when a high public duty was to be per- 
 formed, first, in consenting to the use of his 
 name when his defeat was known to be inev- 
 itable, and secondly, in endorsing the so-called 
 Howard amendment, under which he was him- 
 self with many of his Union friends, debarred 
 from office. 
 
 Under the new State government General 
 Doekery occupied for a time the position of 
 President of the Board of Directors of the 
 State Penitentiary. 
 
 Much of the success of the Board in its man- 
 agement of the affairs of the Penitentiary, is 
 due to his prudence, honesty, firmness and 
 strong common sense. 
 
 General Doekery was a zealous member of 
 the Baptist Church, and was deservedly influ- 
 ential in its Conventions and Associations, and 
 was for many years a trustee of Wake Forest 
 College. His benevolence was proverbial. 
 The poor and needy of all races always found 
 in him a friend. No one really in need of 
 help was ever turned away empty from his 
 door. His contributions during his lifetime to 
 the churches and to different institutions of 
 learning, aggregate a large sum. 
 
 Oliver H. Dockeiy, son of the above, was 
 born on August 12th, 1830, reared and re- 
 sides in Richmond County. He has been care- 
 fully educated; graduated at the University in 
 1848, in the same class with Victor C. Barrin- 
 ger, Seaton Gales, Strange, and others; he then 
 read law, but never practiced it. He was 
 elected a member of the Legislature 1858 and 
 1859, and an elector on the Bell and Everett 
 ticket in 1860, and made a gallant but unsuc- 
 cessful canvass; under the force of circum- 
 stances he was for a time a captain in the Con- 
 federate service, but soon took a decided 
 stand for the re-establishment of the national 
 government, and the re-construction of the 
 State. He was elected to fill an unexpired 
 
RICHMOND COUNTY. 
 
 385 
 
 term in tlio40tl. Congress, (18tJ7) over Thomas 
 C. Fuller, and re-elected to the 41st Con- 
 gress, 1809-71. lie was a candidate for the 
 next Congress, but was defeated by A. M. 
 Waddell. 
 
 Col. Dockery has been twice married; his 
 present wife is a daughter of the late Judge 
 Settle, and sister of Judge Settle, of the U. S. 
 District Court in Florida. 
 
 He was the Republican candidate for Con- 
 gress in 1882, before the people of the State at 
 large, and was defeated by Judge Risden T. 
 Bennett, by a small majority. 
 
 Gov. Joseph Roswell Hawley is a native of 
 Richmond County; born Oct. 31st, 1826; re- 
 moved to Connecticut in 1837; graduated at 
 Hamilton College, New York in 1847; read law 
 and was editor of the " Hartford Evcnhyj 
 Press," iu 1857; entered the army in 1861 as 
 Captain in the 1st Reg. Connecticut Volunteers; 
 attained the rank of Brigadier, and was brev- 
 etted Major-General. In 1866 was elected 
 Governor of Connecticut; President of the Na- 
 tional Republican Convention in 1868, and 
 was elected a member of the 42nd Congress, 
 (1873,) and re-elected to the 43rd and 46th 
 Congresses. He was made President of the 
 Centennial Commission in 1876. 
 
 Walter Leak Steele, was born April 18th, 
 1823, at Steele's Mills on Little River in the 
 northwestern part of Richmond County. His 
 father was Thomas Steele, who was a Member 
 of the House of Commons, and his mother was 
 Judith Mosely Leak. His paternal grand- 
 father came to this country from England 
 near Carlisle, in the army of Lord Coruwallis 
 and surrendered at Yorktown. He settled 
 first iu Granville, where he was married and 
 thence removed, successively to Montgomerj' 
 and Richmond; in the latter County he died. 
 His maternal grandfather was Walter Leak, 
 who was born in Buckingham County, Va., but 
 
 removed with his fatlu'r to Anson ('iiimty,a 
 few 3-oars pi-ior to the war of the Revolution 
 and settled on the Peedee I'ivcr. He was a 
 rebel soldier in that wai-. The subject of this 
 sketch, after attending Ihc ordinary country 
 schools, until he was fourteen years old, went 
 to the Preparatory Department, at Randolph 
 Macon College, then located at Boydton, Ya. 
 After entering college and remaining but part 
 of a session, he left and matriculated at Wake 
 Forest College. Ho remained there but one 
 session, and in January 1840, entered the 
 Freshman class at f'hapel Hill, at which place 
 he graduated in June 1S43, with the second 
 distinction; liut for what he thought a slight 
 violation of college law, but which the Faculty 
 viewed, no doubt properly, in a diti'erent light 
 causing his exodus from the Institution, he 
 would have graduated in 1843. Three months 
 after leaving college he was married to Harriet 
 A. Crawford the youngest daughter of Thomas 
 Crawford of Paris, Tennessee. 
 
 In 1846, after a bitter personal contest, he was 
 elected to the House of Commons from the 
 County of Richmond, re-elected in 1848 and 
 1850. In 1852 he was Senator from Richmond 
 and Robeson In 1854, was again a member 
 of the House. In 1856, having determined to 
 support Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency, re- 
 garding the contest as solely between the 
 Democrats and the Republicans, which latter 
 party had absorbed the Whig Part^^, at the 
 North. He was a candidate for the Senate, 
 and defeated by Gen. Alfred Dockery. In 
 1858, he was again a candidate, and elected. 
 In 1861, he was the Principal Secretary of the 
 Convention which passed the ordinance of se- 
 cession, or separation, as it is called in the jour- 
 nals of that body. He was for a short time in 
 the army, as a private in the 3d Regt. of State 
 troops, but never in any engagement. He of- 
 fered to raise a cavalry company, but the tender 
 was refused by Gen. Holmes. His wife hav- 
 
386 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ing died, leaving a family of small ciiildren, he 
 was again married in 18G4, to Mary J. Little 
 of Anson County, a daughter of hie cousin, 
 Thomas S. Little. 
 
 In 1868, he "took the stump," in opposition 
 to "the Reconstruction Acts," deeming them a 
 flagrant violation of the Constitution. In 1872 
 he was on the Greeley electoral ticket, for the 
 6th District, canvassing it in company with 
 Judge Thos. S. Ashe, who was then the Dem- 
 ocratic candidate for Congress. 
 
 In 1852, while a member of the Senate, he 
 was elected by the Legislature one of the 
 Trustees of the University, and continued as 
 such until a change in the Constitution, by 
 Act of Congress, when he was displaced by 
 Gov. Holden. The Constitution having been 
 amended, he was again elected in 1872, and 
 took an active part in resuscitating the Insti- 
 tution, and is now a memlier of the Board. 
 
 In 1876 he was elected a member of the 
 House of Representatives of the U. S. for the 
 term beginning March 4th, 1877, and re-elected 
 in 1879, without opposition. In 1878, he de- 
 livered the address before the Alumni Asso- 
 ciation of the University, at the annual Com- 
 mencement. During this Congress he was a 
 member of the committees on Agriculture and 
 Revolutionary Pensions and on Railway and Ca- 
 nals. His course was quiet and modest, seldom 
 participating in debates. lie made two some- 
 what elaborate speeches, one on " silver cur- 
 rency " and the other upon "taxation." He is a 
 free-trader, so far as it is practicable, believing 
 that" Peter ought not to be robbed for Paul's 
 benefit." He is a strict constructionist, and be- 
 lieves that, "that is the best Government which 
 governs the least." He regards the Consti- 
 tution as the only bond of union, thinks it the 
 Supreme Law, as are all acts passed in pursu- 
 ance of it. He regards the Government as one 
 of limited powers and all those powers are enu- 
 merated in the Constitution &nt\ " exprinsio unius, 
 
 est cxditsio alterius." Even when a State ii 
 inhibited the use of a power, the United States 
 do not have it, uiilese it is granted. 
 
 Alfred .Moore Scales was born Novemlier 26, 
 1827, at Ingleside, the old homestead, in this 
 county. He is the son of Dr. Robert H. Scales, 
 who married Jane W. Bethell. His grand- 
 father, Nathaniel Scales, was for several years 
 a member of the Legislature, his wife was 
 named Annie Allen. The matei'nal grand- 
 father was General William Bethell, also a 
 member of the Legislature, his wife was 
 named Mary Watt. Beyond this little is 
 known of his ancestors. There is a tradition 
 in the family handed down from father to son 
 which says that the first Scales who came to 
 this country was quite a youth, not more than 
 twelve years of age; that he come from Eng- 
 land, and not until after the ship had lost 
 sight of land was he found in the cabin. The 
 captain of the vessel was much enraged and 
 threatened to throw him overboard. The lit- 
 tle fellow was not intimidated, but entreated 
 the captain not to molest him and that upon 
 his arrival in America he might sell him to pay 
 his pa.s8age money, and he would stand by the 
 contract. To this the captain agreed, and so 
 on their arrival in America he was sold. His 
 master proved to be an unfeeling, hard-hearted 
 man, who fed him badly, clothed him slightly, 
 and worked him hard. But the lad was active, 
 industrious and faithful. He attracted the at- 
 tention of a humane man in the neighborhood, 
 who saw the sufferings of the youth, and 
 kindly furnished him with warm clothing, for 
 which young Scales paid him when he became 
 of age, as he had promised. He fulfilled his 
 contract to serve until he became twenty-one, 
 and the first money he made for himself was 
 used to pay for the clothing so kiiidly furnished 
 by the neighl^or. From this boy the Scales 
 family in Rockingham had its origin, such an 
 ancestor is certainlj' more creditable than the 
 
RICHMOND COUNTY. 
 
 387 
 
 pi-( 
 
 ul, aristocratic 
 
 .loo.l, 
 
 That lias crept tliroiii.'h scoiuidn-ls ever since the 
 tlood." 
 
 Dr. Scales, tlie father of General Scales, liad 
 seven sons and three dauijjhters. Every son 
 was in the civil war, except one "who was dis- 
 ahled, three sons and one son-in law died of 
 wounds and diseases incurred and contracted 
 in the war. 
 
 General Scales was educated at the Caldwell 
 Listitute and fitted to enter the junior class at 
 college. 
 
 Then he entered at Chapel Hill in 184G, hut 
 only remained for one session. He sought em- 
 ployment, and was placed in charge of a free 
 school with the pay of $15 per month, and be- 
 fore the first month ended was offered double 
 the amount to continue the school as a subscrip- 
 tion school, with the promise of an increase of 
 salary. The ofter was accepted and at the end 
 of the year, the salary was again increased. 
 He was then made tutor in the Caldwell Insti- 
 tute, hut resigned after one year's service to 
 begin the study of law with Judge Settle, af- 
 terward with Judge Battle, and so he paid his 
 own way until he was located in the practice 
 of his profession. He was made County So- 
 licitor in 1852 and as such M'as most acceptable 
 to the people and the bar. He became a mem- 
 ber of the House of Commons for 1852-53, and 
 stood as candidate for Congress in the District 
 in 1854, which had always given the Whigs a 
 majority of at least one thousand. His com- 
 petitor, Col. R. C. Puryear, was very popular 
 and an able man. He had already served one 
 term in Congress, but his majority was veiy 
 much decreased by General Scales. In 1854 
 General Scales was again sent to the Legisla- 
 ture, where he served as Chairman of the Com- 
 mittee on Finance. He was nominated for 
 Congress by acclamation in 1857 against his 
 former competitor and was elected to the 35th 
 Congress by a nuijority of seven hundred. Af- 
 
 ter two vears service he was unanimously fe- 
 iiominated and canvassed the District against 
 General Jas. M. Leach. The contest was ex- 
 citing — their friends were well-satisfied with 
 the champions chosen. The District was Whig 
 in sentiment and General Leach received a 
 majority of the suffrage. 
 
 He was made Clerk and Master of the Court 
 of Ecjuity of Rockingham County in 1858, and 
 this he held until the civil war began. 
 
 lie was nominated with Governor D. S. 
 Reid on the ticket in favor of the Convention 
 of 1860, opposed by Dr. E. T. Brodnax and 
 Thomas Settle. The discussion was made by 
 Settle and Scales, as Governor Reid was in 
 Washington City, serving on the Peace Con- 
 ference. General Scales did not favor immed- 
 iate secession; several States had already sev- 
 ered their relations with the General Govern- 
 ment, and he took the ground that a conven- 
 tion was necessar}' to place our State in a con- 
 dition to act as she might deem best, and she 
 could only be heard by her convention. He 
 wished to save the Union of the States; if 
 this failed, then we should not hesitate to de- 
 clare our intentions and act with the other 
 Southern States, and share one common fate. 
 The opponents made the contest a question of 
 union or dissolution, and when the contest be- 
 gan at least two-thirds of the people were 
 against any convention. They had only one 
 week in which to discuss the points, and Scales 
 was beaten b}- only 150 majority. 
 
 In 1861 he was one of the electors of the 
 State at Large on the Breckenridge and Lane 
 ticket. In this, as in every othev act of his 
 political career, he evinced his firm, undeviat- 
 ing devotion to democratic principles, — which 
 can be said of very few in these times of pol- 
 itical tergiversation. Many, it is true, have 
 since joined the Democratic ranks, but General 
 Scales is one of the original panel, not a tales- 
 man or time-server in any sense. 
 
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Shortly after this Mr. Lincohi issued his call 
 for troops. A convention was called and Gen- 
 eral Scales was pnt forward as a candidate but 
 he dechned, saying: " That every man who was 
 alile should go to the field and that there might 
 he perfect unanimity at home, he advised the 
 election of Dr. Brodnax and Governor Reid, 
 since their age would prevent their service in 
 the iield. 
 
 Gen. Scales volunteered at the beginning of 
 the war as a private, but was at once elected 
 Captain of his company. lie was subsequently 
 promoted to be Colonel, and then to be Brig- 
 adier-General. He was in the battle of Will- 
 iamsburg, those around Richmond, the battle 
 of Fredericksburg (in which Gen. Pender was 
 wounded and Gen. Scales, as senior Colonel 
 took command of the brigade.) He was also 
 in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he was 
 severely wounded, and for his gallantry and 
 coolness on that iield received a high tribute 
 from the gallant General Pender. He took 
 part in the battle of Gettysburg and was again 
 severly wounded and again received the en- 
 comiums of his division commander, General 
 Pender, who died from wounds received in 
 that battle. In the same ambulance they 
 were borne to Staunton, Va. He was in the 
 battles from Orange C. II. to Petersburg, and 
 in many skirmishes. Ilereturnei to his pro- 
 fession when the civil war had ended, and was 
 a candidate for the convention called to change 
 our State Constitution, and was elected, but 
 the convention was not ordei'ed by a majority 
 
 of the people. In 1872 he was prominently 
 urged to make the canvass for the Governor- 
 ship, but was compelled to decline, because of 
 his disabilities. He was elected a member of 
 the 44tb, 4.5th, 4Gth, and 47th Congresses, 
 (1874 to 1881.) In the two last named he has 
 served as chairman on Indian Affairs. 
 
 We have thus given a faithful detail of the 
 services of General Scales. The advice of the 
 Roman philosopher to the historian, is that it 
 is not lawful to extol too much, because some 
 future act may mar the record, but we sin- 
 cerely say that a more sincere, patriotic and 
 pure public man does not exist in this or any 
 other country. No one doubts where to find 
 him; he is in the foremost van, when his coun- 
 try, or her interests, or honor is at stake. Cau- 
 tious and courteous, he is calm and considerate 
 in council, and when resolved is as firm and 
 devoted in action. No one has a firmer seat 
 in the affections of his constituents, or could 
 command greater respect of his colleagues in 
 Congress, and when he speaks is listened to with 
 proper respect. His reports on various im- 
 portant questions are valuable state-papers, 
 showing eminent ability, research and the 
 early training of a judicial mind 
 
 [He was re-elected to the 48th Congress, 
 receiving 12,532 votes to 9,932 votes for Win- 
 ston, lilteral. 
 
 At the election held Novemljer 4th, 1884, 
 General Scales was elected Governor of the 
 State, receiving 143,249 votes against Dr. Tyre 
 Yorke'8 123,010, a majoity of 20,239.]— £ti 
 
 -^^^:^^^^^^^^)<^ 
 
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. 
 
 389 
 
 ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. 
 
 Hon. Thomas Settle, sen'r. born 1791; died 
 1857; was bora in this County. He was distin- 
 giiishoil for bis ability as a statesman and as a 
 judge, and esteemed for his virtues, learning, 
 and deportment. He entered public life as a 
 member of the House of Commons from 
 Rockingham in 1816 and in 1817 succeeded 
 Bartlett Yancey as Representative in the 15th 
 Congress, and was re-elected to the Itith Con- 
 gres (1819-21,) when he declined re-election. 
 He was succeeded by Romulus M. Saunders. 
 In 182(i he was again returned to the Legisla- 
 ture, and re-elected in 1827-28. During the 
 latter years he was Speaker of the House. 
 His course as a member of the Legislature was 
 marked by patriotism, consistency, and dignity. 
 When the iievy crusade of party was directed 
 against the banker's institutions of the State, 
 led by the unscrupulous energy of Robert Pot- 
 ter, the bill was carried by one vote to prose- 
 cute and crush the banks, as Speaker, Judge 
 Settle voted with the minorit \' and prevented 
 its passage. 
 
 In 1832 he was elected one of the Judges 
 of the Supreme Court, which elevated 
 position he held for nearly a quarter of a cen- 
 tury with great satisfaction to the country 
 and credit to himself. Increasing 3'ears caus- 
 ed his resignation. His health, from the labor 
 of a long life, failed, and, universally lamented, 
 he died in August, 1857. 
 
 He married Heni'ietta, the daughter of Az- 
 ariah, and the sister of Hon. Calvin Graves. 
 
 We give a correct genealogy of this family 
 from reliable and authentic sources. It is sel- 
 dom that a family less numerous can show 
 more distinguished members. In this table 
 
 there are the names of two Senators in U. S- 
 Congress, and four members in the House of 
 Representatives, three judges, a governor, and 
 a formidable aspirant for the Presidency, be- 
 sides others distinguished for their ability in- 
 tegrity and virtues. 
 
 (For the genealogy of the Settle family, see 
 after sketch of Gov. Reid,page 391.) 
 
 Thomas Settle jr., son of the above, whose 
 sketch has just been presented, was born Jan. 
 23rd, 1831. 
 
 He was liberally educated, and graduated at 
 the University in 1850, in the same class with 
 John Manning, W. C. Kerr, and others. He 
 read law with Judge Pearson, and was licensed 
 to practice in 185-1. During the administration 
 of Gov. Reid, who had married his sister, he 
 was for a time the private secretary of the 
 Governor. 
 
 This was his first entrance on the storms- 
 sea of political life, which was germane to his 
 tastes, and in which he has had a prosperous 
 voyage. He was elected a member of the 
 Legislature, from 1854 to 1859; the latter year 
 he was chosen Speaker of the House. He was 
 one of the Electors in 1856, and cast with 
 others the vote of the State for Mr. Buchanan. 
 
 In 1860 he advocated the claims of Stephen 
 A. Douglas, for- the Presidency. How far 
 personal preferences iniluenced his judgment 
 (for they were closely connected by marriage), 
 is not known, but doubtless the matchless 
 genius and brilliant eloquence of this distin- 
 guished statesman greatlj"^ moved his support- 
 ers. 
 
 In February 1861, he was the candidate of 
 the Union party for a seat in the Convention, 
 
390 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 and he was triuiiiphaiitlj elected over an active 
 and able opposition. But the Convention, de- 
 feated by the popular vote, never met. Al- 
 though a Union man, and opposed to the doc- 
 trine of secession, yet when the war actually 
 commenced, he joined his fortunes with those of 
 his State and entered the army as Captain of a 
 company in the 3rd Reg. of Volunteers to 
 serve for twelve months. Upon the expiration 
 of his term of erdistment, Mr. Settle returned 
 from the army, and was elected Solicitor of 
 tlie 4th Judicial Circuit and won much praise 
 by the vigorous and faithful performance of his 
 duty. He was elected in 1865amemlier of the 
 (Ilolden) convention, held at Raleigh, October 
 12th, 1865, and in the same year to lie a Sen- 
 ator in the Legislature, of which liods' he was 
 chosen Speaker. A rare instance in the his- 
 toiy of the State, where the same person so 
 young was honored with the Speakership of 
 each House. He took an active and promin- 
 ent part in the convention in devising manner 
 to reconstruct tlie liroken down walls of our 
 political Zion. Li April, 1868, he was elected 
 one of the judges of the Supreme Court of the 
 State. This elevated position he held until 
 1871, when on February 18th, of that year, he 
 was commissioned Envoy Exti'aordinary and 
 Minister Pleni[iotentiary to Peru. He was also 
 rresident of the National Convention that 
 nominated Grant. After a short residence 
 abroad, he returned home, and in 1872 he was 
 iioniinated as a candidate for Congress, in the 
 Fifth Congressional District, opposing General 
 James M. Leach. This was a'contest involving 
 fierce and frequent contests, but General Leach 
 was elected by 268 majority. Leach received 
 10,735, Settle 10,487. ' 
 
 He was re-ajipointed one of the Associate 
 Justices of the Supreme Court of the State, 
 whicli beheld until he was nominated as the 
 Republican candidate for Governor in 1876, 
 and was defeat «d by Governer Vance, by more 
 
 than 13,000 votes; Vance receiving 123,307 
 votes, and Settle 110,178. This closed Judge 
 Settle's career for the present in our State, as 
 he was appointed Judge of the United States 
 District Court for the northern district of Flori- 
 da, Jan. 30th, 1877, and now resides at Jack- 
 sonville, in that State. Judge »Settle married 
 (as the genealogical diagram shows) Mary, 
 daughter of Tyre Glenn, and has many chil- 
 dren to inherit his genial disposition and many 
 kind qualities. 
 
 David Settle Reid is a native of this County 
 the son of Reuben Reid; born April 13th, 1813. 
 He was educated in the schools of the County 
 and studied law. But he was more distin- 
 guished as a faithful and frank statesman than 
 as a lawyer. Bold and intrepid, he often led 
 where the timid doubt, and when success had 
 followed his eftbrts all conceded the sagacity 
 and justice of his plans. Ilisiirst appearance 
 in public life was in 1835, as Senator from 
 Rockingham County. Such was the wisdom 
 of his course, that he was continuously re-elec- 
 ted by the people until 1840. He was then 
 elected a member of the 28th Congress (1843- 
 45), and re-elected to the 29th Congress (1845- 
 47). In 1848 he was nominated for Governor 
 by the Democratic State Convention, without 
 his knowledge or consent. The opposition had 
 triumphed and was jubilant over victory won 
 in a hundred fields, and defeat seemed to be 
 the certain prospect of the Democrats. The 
 opposition was well-organized and their leader 
 Charles Manly, able, genial and popular. 
 
 But Mr. Reid felt it to be his duty to at- 
 tempt what his friends felt certain he could 
 accomplish. He did make a gallant canvass, 
 and so reduced the majority, that their 
 leaders felt and knew, as the English at Guil- 
 ford, that "such another victory would ruin 
 them." At the next convention, although he 
 had written a decided letter that under no 
 circumstances could he be again a candidate, he 
 
KOCKINCTTAM (^OUNTY, 
 
 391 
 
 was nominated and elected Governor ol' tlie 
 State. 
 
 In 1858 he was elected to tlie Senate ct' the 
 United States, and served continuously until 
 18:>!i. 
 
 The great lever whit'h moved tiio incuhusof 
 the Whig party, used by Governor Reid, was 
 the question of free suffrage. It may be tiiat 
 Governor Reid and his many friends may see, 
 and that too not in the far future, that they 
 couunitted a blunder. 
 
 Governor Reid was keenlj' alive to the great 
 troubles then aiiproacbing. lie had been long 
 in Congress, anil most observant of the affairs 
 of the nation. lie felt that tlie ship of state, 
 i)uilt by our fathers, and wliieb was freighted 
 with all our hopes and happiness, was drifting on 
 a lee-shore, and in peril lie would have bad 
 this bitter cup to have [lassed from him, and 
 with this hope, he was a delegate with the 
 sage and the wise of our country to the "Peace 
 Congress," at Washington in the year of 1861. 
 But futile were its etforts. The storm had 
 arisen,aiid no human power could avert its fury 
 Yet Governor Ueid viewed wi h calm phil- 
 osophy and resignation these sad occurrences 
 and though priviledgecl by age from going to 
 the tield, still he contributed by his counsels in 
 the Confederate Congress, to urge such meas- 
 ures as would enure to the benefit of his coun- 
 try. 
 
 Since the war he has remained at his home 
 attending to his family, his farm and his prac- 
 tice. 
 
 There are few men in tlie State who enjoy 
 more of the respect, regard, and the affection 
 of the people than Governor Reid, for unatlec- 
 ted simplicity of character, stern integrity, 
 and unsullied purity of life. The most promi- 
 nent trait ill the character of Governor Reid 
 is the consistency and uniformity of his politi- 
 cal career. Cautious and circumspect in form- 
 ing his opinions, and when once formed, his 
 
 tirniiicss and ability in maintaining them. No 
 one who knows him. or who has observed hia 
 long, successful ami i)rilliant career, can ever 
 doubt where to liiid him - the unwavering sup- 
 porter of popular rights and democratic |irin- 
 cipl«s. 
 
 lie married, as wilJ be seen by the genealog- 
 ical diagram, Henrietta, daughter of Judge 
 Thomas Settle, sen'i-. 
 
 Josiali and .lohn Settle, twn brotlicrs, came 
 from Kngland. .lohn Settle located in Vir- 
 ginia. Josiah Settle located in what is iiovt 
 called Rockingham county, 2\'oitli Carolina. 
 lie was the father of David Settle, who mar- 
 ried Rhoda -Mullins, and had issue: I Thomas, 
 born 1789. He entered public life as a mem- 
 ber of the House of Cunimons in ]81(J; was 
 elected in 1817 and 1819 a member of Con- 
 gress, when he declined re-election. Apiieaicd 
 again in pulilic life in 1820 as a member of tlic 
 House of t'ommona, and was re-elected in 
 1827-28. The last year he was Si^eaker of the 
 House. In 1882 elected Judge of the Suiier- 
 ior Court. .Married Henrietta Graves; died 
 1857. To whom were born: 1. Thomas, born 
 1831. Elected to Legislature in 1854-55-of], 
 during the last two years was S^Deaker of the 
 House. Elected to the Senate and made 
 President of the Senate in 18t!5-()6. Elected 
 Solicitor of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in 1859, 
 held this position for nine years with the ex- 
 ception of one ycai', when be was in the Con- 
 federate army. Klected Judge; Associate 
 Judge of the Supreme ( ourt of N. C. in 18tJ8. 
 Apjiointed Envoy Extraordinary and .Minister 
 Plenipotentiary to Peru 1871:; resigned in 
 the spring of 1872. Was appointed Associate 
 Justice of the Supreme Court of N. C. in the 
 fall of 1872 by Gov. Caldwell. 
 
 Resigned in 1876 to accept the Republican 
 nomination for Governor; was appointed Dis- 
 trict Judge of Federal Court for northern dis- 
 trict of Florida in 1877, by President Grant. 
 
392 
 
 WIIEELEK'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Married Mary (Tlenn; had (a) Nettie, (h) 
 Mary, (c) Thomas, (d) Douglas, (e) Elizabeth, 
 (f) Caroline, (g) David, (h) Florida, (i) 
 Julia. 
 
 2. David, born 1841; elected to Legislatur* 
 1870-72. 3. Henrietta, married David Settl* 
 Reid, and had Thomas Settle Reid and Reuben 
 David Reid. 4. Caroline, married Hugh K. 
 Reid. 5. Fanny, married let to John W. 
 Covington, and had Fanny and Nettie, 2nd to 
 O. II. Dockery, and had Olivei- and Carrie 
 May. 
 
 II Josiah, III Benjamin, Legislature 1831- 
 34; IV Elizabeth, married Reuben Reid and 
 had David Settle Reid, born 1813; in the Leg- 
 islature 1835-40; Congress 1843-47; Governor 
 1850-ti4; before his second term as Governor 
 expired was elected U. S. Senator 1854-5f>. 
 
 V Maiy married Robert Martin and had 
 Martha Drenen Martin, who married Stephen 
 A. Douglas, born 1814 in Vermont, Judge in 
 Illinois 1841; Congress 1843; Senator 1847; 
 died 18(il. They had Robert and Stephen A; 
 VI Lucinda, married John W. Ellington; VII 
 Matilda, married James Patrick; VIII Frances, 
 married John Dilworth, had Andrew Dilworth 
 at one time comptroller of the State of Missis- 
 sippi. 
 
 John Henry I)illard, one of the Associate 
 Justices of the Supreme Court, is a native of 
 Rockingham county, and not having the [)leas- 
 ure of an intimate acquaintance, we adopt a 
 well-written sketch giving the dates of his life 
 and 8ervices,.from the RnLi.c/h Oiscrro', which is 
 perhaps more acceptable than any sketch we 
 could prepare. 
 
 He was born near Leaksville in Rockingham 
 county in 182.5. He was a student at the Uni- 
 versity of JNorth Carolina, and after complet- 
 ing his sophomore year went to William and 
 Mary College, Virginia, where he graduated 
 with high distinction. He was admitted to 
 practice law in North Carolina at the age of 21; 
 
 moved to Patrick county, Virginia, and was 
 elected Commonwealth's Attorney, which 
 otHce he filled with high credit to himself for 
 several years. He married Anna J., diaughter 
 of the late Col. Martin, of Henry county, Vir- 
 ginia After a few years he returned to the 
 county of Rockingham, North Carolina, and 
 devoted himself to the practice of his profes- 
 sion with great diligence and success. He was 
 elected County Attorney of Rockingham, and 
 served in that capacity for several years,, and 
 was always noted for the accuracy with which 
 his bills of indictments were framed, so much 
 BO that his "forms," passing into the hands of 
 other prosecuting attorneys, have been used 
 with unvarying success by them. Having been 
 appointed Clerk and Master in Equity, he be- 
 came, at an early age, enamored of and de- 
 voted to Equity Jurisprudence, in which, in 
 the after years of his practice he has become 
 pre-eminently distinguished. 
 
 At the commencement of the late war, he- 
 was elected Captain of a companj' of volunteers 
 from his native county, and served the Con- 
 federacy with fidelity in the 45th Regiment of 
 N. C. Troops. At the close of the war, he re- 
 sumed the practice of his profession with the 
 greatest zeal and diligence, and with renewed 
 success and ability, that he attained such emi- 
 nence, both at the Bar of the Circuit and Su- 
 preme Court, as to merit from the late Chief 
 Justice Pearson the compliment of being the 
 ablest equity lawyer in North Carolina. 
 
 He removed from Rockingham county to 
 Greensboro in 1868 and associated himself in 
 the practice of law with Col. Thomas Ruffin, 
 of Orange, then a resident of Greensboro, and 
 Col. John A. Gilmer, of Greensboro the style 
 of the firm being Dillard, Ruffin & Gilmer. 
 
 Since the death of Chief .Justice Pearson, in 
 connection with Judge Dick, he has established 
 and conducted with success a law school in the 
 city of Greensboro, at the same time maintain- 
 
KOCKINGIIAM COUNTY. 
 
 393 
 
 ini^a large aiuUucrative praotit'C iiitlic several atUKiU of Mississippi. ITaniiltoii, his second son 
 counties in the 7th and Stli Judicial Districts, was graduated at the University oi Miss- 
 Mr. Dillard is a man of imposing personal issippi 1853, read law at Jackson in the law 
 appearance, great simplicity and geniality of office of his relative, Hon. (>. O. Glenn, 
 manner, and remarkably courteous, especially then Attorney General, and one of the most 
 
 to the younger members of the legal profes- 
 sion, who always receive from him the hearti- 
 est sympathy and encouragement and enter- 
 tain for him a respect and admiration ainonnt- 
 ing often to the warmest affection, lie has 
 always been decidedin his political views, and 
 a faithful member of the Democratic juirty, 
 though never a partisan nor an aspirant for 
 political preferment. 
 
 ^Ir. DiUard is an elder in the Presbyterian 
 Church at Greensboro, and a gentleman of un- 
 impeachable character and incorruptable integ- 
 rity, devoted to the institutions of the State, 
 and ardently attached to every enterprise that 
 tends to the moral and material growth and 
 prosperity of North Carolina. 
 
 llamilton Henderson Chalmers; at present 
 
 brilliant orators in the State. He resided for 
 a short time in New Orleans, and there stud- 
 ied the civil law and was admitted to the bar. 
 On the outbreak of the civil war he returned 
 to Miss., and during the war served upon the 
 statr of bis brother. Gen. J. R. Chalmers, and 
 of Gen. P. 15. Starke Settling in Hernando, 
 .Miss., at the close of hostilities, he devoted 
 iiitnself with great vigor to the practice of hi* 
 profession and rose rapidly to its front rank. 
 He was au ardent and active participant in the 
 politics of the period, and though seeking no 
 office became a prominent leader in the Demo- 
 cratic party of the State. Upon the accession 
 t)fthe Democracy to the control of the State 
 in 1875, in obedience to the almost unanimouB 
 wish of the bar of his section, lie was appointed 
 
 Associate Justice (1878) of the Supreme Court to his present seat upon the Suiireme bench at 
 
 the early age of forty, being, with the e.xcep- 
 tion of Judge Starkey, the youngest man who 
 ever occupied the position in .Miss. Judge 
 Chalmers married Emily H. Erwin, daughter 
 of Sidney Erwin and Caroline Carson, his wife, 
 of Burke County, North Carolina, and is thus 
 by marriage connected with two of the most 
 
 of Mississippi, was born in Rockingham County, 
 N. C, Oct. 15tli, 1835. He is the son of Joseph 
 W. Chalmers, and Fanny Henderson his wife, 
 a niece of Chief Justice Leonard Henderson. 
 Joseph W. Chalmers resided in Halifax County, 
 Va., but Hamilton was born at the residence 
 of his maternal grandfather in North Carolina. 
 
 Shortly after his birth, the father removed prominent and extensive families of AVest- 
 
 with his family from Virginia, first to Tenn- 
 essee, and subsequently to Holly Springs, Miss., 
 where Hamilton grew to manhood. Joseph 
 W. Chalmers, soon became one of the fore- 
 most lawyers of his adopted State, and was 
 successively Chancellor and elected State Sen- 
 ator, being the successor in the Senate of Hon. 
 Robt. J. Walker, upon the accession of the lat- 
 ter to the Secretary-ship of the Treasury. Sen- 
 ator Chalmers died at the early age of forty- 
 eix years, and was cut off in a career which 
 bade fair to make his name illustrious in the 
 
 ern North Carolina. His older brother, Ji-s. 
 R. Chalmers was a general officer of great dis- 
 tinction in the Confederate army and is now 
 (1878) a prominent and influential member 
 of Congress from Mississippi. 
 
 [On Jan. 4tb, 1885, Judge Chalmers died, at 
 Jackson, Miss. — Ed.] 
 
 James R. Dodge died at the residence of bia 
 daughter, Mrs. Chalmers Glenn, in Rocking- 
 ham County, on the night of February 24th, 
 1880. He was bright and cheerful to the last, 
 and though in good health and spirits, for the 
 
394 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 ast few years he liiid always expressed himself 
 as only waiting for his Master's call. His quiet, 
 peaceful death was certainly in accord with the 
 proverh that had l)een his guide through life. 
 '^Keep iniiocency, and cleave to the thing that 
 is right, and that will give a man peace at 
 last." 
 
 The following sketch of his life is in a great 
 measure gleaned from a manuscript written 
 by himself only three months before his death, 
 and given to his wife to keep for the benefit of 
 his children and grand-children. It was, of 
 course, never intended for publication, but 
 a part of it is co[iied by permission, feeling it 
 would be of great interest and that, as he says 
 it '•may aid the young by showing that energy 
 and strict integrity will after many vicissi- 
 tudes, lead to a peaceful old age, and if joined to 
 christian faith, may lead to something better." 
 "I fear," snys he, "I have not profited much by 
 his advice, (all that my excellent father, after 
 his misfortunes, had to give,) except in one 
 thing: 'be striclii/ honest,' and in this respect, I 
 am now, in 7iu/ old wje, nvl/ini/ to fnvc thr morhV 
 
 Mr. Dodge was born October 27th, 1795, in 
 -lohnstowii, a village on the Mohawk, in the 
 State of New York, famous as the residence 
 of Sir William Johnson, the former Governor 
 of all the Indian tribes in the North. Full of 
 life and vivacity, and fond of all field sports, 
 he received a good Academic education, and 
 althougb his father vvishe<l him to iiuish at 
 Union C<illege, his great desire was to see un- 
 discovered lands, and to join Western expedi- 
 tions. When he was seventeen years old the 
 war of 1812 began, and as his father was a 
 Brigadier-General, and in command at Sack- 
 ott's Harbor, he was with him as an aid. Full 
 of glee and perfectly happy, he there saw com- 
 pany and sights that he enjoyed; Commodore 
 Chauncey and Captain Woolsey of the Navy, 
 and Col. McComb, afterwards commander-in- 
 chief of the army, were guests at his father's 
 
 table. This life suited him so well that after 
 their discharge and the return of his father to 
 Albany, where he then lived, he joined as a vol- 
 unteer in a company called "the Alban}^ In- 
 dependent Volunteers," Capt. Judson, and they 
 marched to Brooklyn Heights, to meet Gen. 
 Packenham, and remained there until Gen. 
 Packenham changed his course for New Orleans, 
 where he met Gen. Jackson and defeat. 
 
 After peace he became a clerk in his uncle's 
 store, in New Yoi'k city, and passed some years 
 in his family. Enjoying the most refined so- 
 ciety, with a promise and prospect of getting^ 
 into business through hisuncde's aid, he yet be- 
 lieved he could achieve a more splendid success 
 in the South, and embarked in the brig John, in 
 October 1817, for Charleston, S. C.,recomended 
 in the best letters from New York that the 
 city could afford. When off the coast of Vir- 
 ginia they encountered a most terriffic storm 
 which kept all hands and the passengers at the 
 pumps for thirty-six hours, and the}' finally put 
 in at Norfolk, Va. Here he met an old friend, 
 Hiram Paulding, afterwards an Admiral, then 
 a midshipman on tlie Macedonian, which was 
 dismantled and partially wrecked in the same 
 storm. "While" (I quote his own words,) "in 
 Norfolk during the repairing of the brig, I 
 made an excursion to Petersburg, Va., to see 
 something of Southern life. But my fate was 
 sealed, for better or worse; the brig John was 
 condemned, my Charleston trip and hopes 
 destroyed, and I made a speculation, the cause 
 of all my future misery and happiness. After 
 struggling for two j-ears, ruin came, and in the 
 year 1820, still full of hope and armed with 
 the kindest letters ftom all who had known 
 me in PcterslMirg, and also with a license to 
 practice law in Virginia,given me, I fear, more 
 of favor than desert, like Christian in the Pil- 
 grim's Progress did his sins, I strapped on my 
 back my now debt of many thousand*, Jumped 
 into the stage, then our only conveyance, and 
 
KK()CKIX(HiAM COT NT V 
 
 ?,9[: 
 
 laiuKMl in the streets of Raleii;li, tint kimwint;; 
 otic huiiiaii lieiiig in North Carolina, ami not 
 havinij fifty doUars. But Rufiin ami otluMs to 
 whom my letters were directed, gathei'ed 
 around me. That noble court, Taylor, Hend- 
 erson and Hall, repeated my license. Badjjer, 
 Archibald Henderson and Gaston honored me 
 with a friendship that lasted durint:: 1 heir lives. 
 The\' are now no more, and wiMi .Manl\- and 
 Guion, and a nund)er more known afterwards, 
 now,although of different denominations, all fill 
 christian graves. Soon collections that had been 
 given me in Petersburg, brought me to old 
 Stokes, and at the County court at German ton , I 
 found the same reception from John Morehead, 
 Thos. Settle, Augustine H. Shepperd, Nicholas 
 L. Williams, and others, now all gone except 
 the last He was my fate; througli him I be- 
 came acquainted with liis niece, then a small 
 girl, but of a family famous for excellent wives. 
 Her uncle Lewis Williams was in Congress 
 with luy uncle William Irving, of New York, 
 and in process of time she became my wife." 
 Mr. Dodge was a member of the Episcopal 
 churcli, and as a delegate to the Episcopal 
 Convention that elected him, voted for Bishop 
 Ravenscroft. During liis life lie filled numv 
 
 places of honnr and trust, as Solicitor of the 
 Suj^erior Court for the liincolnton district; for 
 twelve or fourteen years Clerk of the Legis- 
 lature; and also for many years Clerk of the 
 Supreme Court in Morganton. He was mar- 
 ried to Miss Susan "Williamson May '24th, 
 182fNand resided in Wilkesboro' for eight years. 
 After he was elected Solicitor he removed to 
 Lincolnton. where he resided four years. He 
 was succeeded by his old friend Hamilton C. 
 Jones, as Solicitor; and "then, upon consulta- 
 tion with my sympathizing and truly pious 
 wife, we retired to the banks of the Yadkin, 
 our cottage and farm. She managed at home, 
 and I labored night and day at Court, at Ra- 
 leigh and at Morganton. At home we were al- 
 waj's happy; care or troul>le never entered our 
 door, and these yeais were far the happiest of 
 my life. After many years of toil had passed, I 
 well remember the look of my old friend Rufiin, 
 then Chief Justice, when I handed to my old 
 friend Jacob Ramsour $700.00, which was the 
 last del)t I owed on earth. He was paid, and 
 it is still the last." 
 
 "The moral of this sketch is, persevere and 
 do not look back, and our apparent misfortunes- 
 may be blessings in disguise." 
 
 -^^i^i^^'^i^f^^^ 
 
 ROWAN COUNTY. 
 
 In a dispatch from the Royal Governor, Ar- 
 t hur Dobbs, now on file in tlie Rolls Office, Lon- 
 don, dated 1754, the population of Rowan 
 County is stated to be l,4in whites and 54 
 blacks. He states: 
 
 " Salisbury, then ju.st laid out, had seven or 
 eight log houses. We have fixed on a place for 
 * fort, (called Fort Uobbs,) on Third Creek 
 ivhere it falls into the Yadkin." Col. Docs. 125 
 
 Judge Murphey, (Uni. Mag. 293,) states: 
 " The first settlers of Rowan, near Salisbury, 
 before 1751, were Paul Biffle and John White- 
 sides, on Grant's Creek to the north; John 
 Dunn, John Gardiner, Alexander Douglas, oi 
 Crane Creek to the south ;Matthew Locke,Frai 
 cis Locke, John Brandon, Alexander Cathey 
 and James Graham on the west. James Car 
 ter and Hugh Foster owned the land uiion 
 
^96 
 
 WIIEKLER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 / 
 
 (y\. 
 
 which the town was built. Elias Brock aiul 
 John Whitesides I)nilt the first court-house." 
 
 This commences the record of tliis veneralile 
 County,'- ah urbe eonclitii.." From tliat time and 
 througli all the trials of the revolution to the 
 present da^' the people of Rowan have Ijeen 
 distinijuished for their patriotism and devotion 
 to liberty. They were decided in opposition t(i 
 the illegal exactions of the crown officers, which 
 produced on the ResTulation troubles; the jour- 
 nal of tiieir Committee of Safety (from 1774 to 
 1776,) proves their sturdy resistance to wn-ong 
 and their ardent support of justice. This journal 
 has been preserved and{irinted. (Wiieeler II, 
 3(50.) 
 
 Prominent among the names of this commit- 
 tee is the name of Hugh Montgomery; he was 
 a native of Ireland. At an early age he fell in 
 love with a Miss .Moore, who was of noble birtli. 
 This was strongly opposed by her friends,but the 
 attachment was reciprocated — and she was con- 
 veyed secretly on board of a ship, where she met 
 her lover, and was married; the youthful p:iir 
 escaped in safety to America. He was himself of 
 a goodly stock, a near relative of General Rich- 
 ard Montgomery, who fell in the battle of Que- 
 bec, (Dec. 1775). lie settled tirst in I'enn.syl- 
 vania and afterward removed to Salisltury, 
 North Carolina. He was constant and active 
 an promoting the cause of independence and 
 was one of the most fixed and forward of the 
 daring spirits of that day. Among whom were 
 Griffith Rutherford, John Brevard, Matthew 
 Locke, John Louis Beard, William Sharp, .Max 
 well Chambers, Wm. Kennon, Geo. Henry Bar- 
 ringer, John Nesbit and Charles McDowell.* 
 
 By his enterprise and industry he amassed 
 a handsome fortune. He died at Salisbury 
 Dec. 23d, 1779, leaving one son and seven 
 daughters. His son, Hugh . i utgomery jj-. 
 
 Mr. M was A proniiuniil member of tlie Provincial 
 Coagre.ss from Kow;ni, t,,,, met, iit llillsuu o' August 
 8l8t, 1775. Aut,usi 
 
 married Miss Parnell of Virginia, and by her 
 he had several/children; one of whom Lemuel 
 P. Mimtgomery was Col. of the 39th Regiment 
 U. S. Infan,try. He fell in the battle of the 
 Horse-Shoe March 27th, 1814, in the 25th year 
 of his age', the first to mount the breast-works 
 and wa^pierced by a ball through the head. 
 
 Tlie eldest daughter married Dr Anthony 
 
 / -J 
 
 Newipau, who settled in Nashville, and whose 
 son, Lemuel Daniel Newman, was born in North 
 Carolina, then moved to Georgia; was a Lieu- 
 tenant in the 4tli Regiment U.S. army and com- 
 manded the Georgia vjolunteers in the action 
 with the Florida Indians, distinguished himself 
 in an atack on the Creek Indians in Autossee 
 Towns in Dec. 1813, and was severely wounded 
 at Camp Defiance Jan., 1814. He was a member 
 of Congress from Georgia, from 1831 to 1833. 
 He died in Walker County, Georgia, in 1851. 
 
 The second daughter married Mr. Stewart, 
 who settled in Greensboro', Tenne.ssee, where 
 his family now reside. 
 
 The third daughter married Mr. Blake, 
 whose graud3(Mi, James Blake, distinguished 
 himself in the war with Mexico under General 
 Taylor. 
 
 The fourth daughter married Captain Edwin 
 Ingram, of Richmond County, who entered the 
 army of the Revolution as a private and rose to 
 the rank of captain. He was "the Marion" of 
 the State, daring and active in the cause. He 
 was tendered on account of his services and 
 losses, five hundred pounds by the General 
 Assembly of North Carolina which he declined 
 to accept. He was the grandfather of Maj. San- 
 ders .M. Ingram, of Richmond, who behaved so 
 gallantly under Taylor and Scott in Mexico. 
 
 The fifth daughter, married Colonel David 
 Campbell, distinguished at the battle of King's 
 Mountain; he moved to Tennessee and estab- 
 lished Campbell Station. Several of his sons 
 were distinguished in the Indian wars, under 
 Jackson and Harrison; especially William B. 
 
UOWAN COUNTY 
 
 3:)7 
 
 Cainpl)ell, wlio was born in Tennessee. He 
 WHS Attorney General of the State, served in 
 the Cherokee and Creek wars; elected to Con- 
 >;ress from Tennessee, from 1837 to 1843. lie 
 was Colonel of the 1st Regt. of Tennessee Vol- 
 iinteer.s in the Mexican war, and distiiif^uished 
 himself at the battles of Monterey, National 
 Bridge and Cerro Gordo. From 1850 to '53^ 
 he was elected Governor of the State of Tenn- 
 essee, and in 1857 waff chosen by a unaninions 
 vote of the Legislature, Judge of the Circuit 
 Court. In 1862 he was appointed by Lincoln 
 a Brigadier-General in the Union army, which 
 his health caused him to decline. At the close 
 the war he was again elected a member of 
 39th Congress, (1865-'67,) and died at Leb- 
 anon, Tennessee, Aug. 19th, 1867. 
 
 The sixth daugliter married General James 
 Wellborn, of Wilkes County, whose eldest 
 daughter married Newton Cannon, Governor 
 of Tennessee (for sketch of whom see page 189.) 
 The seventh daughter married Montford 
 Stokes, who was Governor of North Carolina, 
 (for sketch of whom see Wilkes County.) 
 
 Connected with Kowan and her disting- 
 uished personages is the name of Elizabeth 
 Steele. It was at her house in Salisbury on 
 ':he evening of February 1st, 1781, that "the 
 '''abius of America,"General Nathaniel Greene 
 arrived, after a hard day's ride through the 
 vain, alone, fatigued, hungry, penniless and 
 down-hearted; as he expressed himself to Dr. 
 lieikd who had charge of ihe sick and wounded 
 prisoners at this place. Mrs. Steele heard this, 
 ind the fire of patriotism was augmented by 
 ':he deep sympath}', wliich is ever the promi- 
 lent feeling in a true v.-oman's heart. Hardly 
 had the General seated himself at a well-spread 
 table, before a eheerful fire, when Mrs. Steele 
 3ntered, and I'eminded her distinguished guest 
 that she had overheard his desponding remarks, 
 she drew from under her apron two small bags 
 
 of s[ie(ie, her earnings for years. "Take them" 
 she Said "for you will want them, and I can do 
 without them." '-Nevei'" says his biographer, 
 "did relief couie at a more needed moment." 
 The hoi'o i-csumod that night his dangerous 
 journey, for the Hritisb ai'uiy under Lord 
 Cornwallis, had that day cro.ssod the Catawba 
 and Wins advancing oti' Salisbury.. This scene 
 has booii made the subject of both painting and 
 sculpture. On the wall hung a picture of 
 (ileorge the 3d,which had been sent as a present 
 from England to Mrs, Steele, by some friends 
 at Court Filled with the painful memoriea 
 of the sufferings of his country, and of the 
 blood that even that day had been spilled in 
 its defence by the myrmidons of power, Gen- 
 eral Greene took the picture from the wall and 
 wrote on its back "Oh George, hide thy face 
 and mourn," and replaced it with its face to 
 the wall. 
 
 Mrs. Steele died in 1790. She was twice 
 m;irried. By her first husband she had a daugh- 
 ter, who married Kev. Sanmel McCorkle; by 
 her second husband, ( William Steele, )8he had 
 General John Steele (born Nov. 1st, 1764, died 
 Aug. 14th, iai-27)vvho was born in Salisbury. 
 lie was educated as a merchant, but as soon 
 as he arrived at manhood he devoted himself 
 to agriculture and politics. 
 
 In 1787 and 1788, he was elected a member 
 of the Legisliiture from the borough of Salis- 
 bury. In the- latter year he was also a mem- 
 ber of the Convention at Hillsboro,(July 21st, 
 1788,) to consider the Constitution of the 
 United States, and with Davie, Iredell, John- 
 ston and others made active but fruitless ettbrts 
 for its adoption. His course on this occasion 
 did not affect his popularity, for the next year 
 he was elected a mend^er of the first Congress 
 of the United States (1789-91) and was re- 
 elected to the next Congress, (1791-93.) In 
 1794 he was again elected a member of the 
 Legislature, and re-elected in 1795. On July 1st 
 
898 
 
 WHEELP]R'S EEMINISCEXCES. 
 
 was elected to the House in November 1876, by 
 1006 majority. 
 
 [At the election held November 4th, 1884, 
 he was elected to the House of Representa- 
 tives from the seventh Congressional District, 
 receiving 14,262 votes, against 10,851 for Mr. 
 Ramsay. — £</.] 
 
 William Kennon appears among the leading 
 patriots of the County. We regret that the 
 records of the County give so little informa- 
 tion as to his life and services. 
 
 The proceedings of the Committee of Safety 
 for Rowan County, of which he was often chair- 
 man prove his vigilance and activity in the 
 <;ause of independence. He was a member of the 
 Provincial Congress, which, in opposition to 
 the Royal Government, met at New Berne in 
 August 1774, and also in the same place in 1775. 
 He was one of the Convention or Committee, 
 .that met at Charlotte on May 20, 1775. The 
 memorial of John Dunn shows that he, (with 
 Adlai Osborne,SamuelSpencer, and Mr. Willis, 
 Kennon's brother-in-law, )were active in appre- 
 hending said Dunn and expatriating him. He 
 resided in Salisbury and was an attorney. 
 
 Dunn, as shown by his memorial was a man 
 of al)ility, and of character, but of mistaken 
 views. Murphey tells us " that he was a native 
 of Ireland, and in consequence of some private 
 feud, suddenly left his native land, and came 
 to America, where he settled on Reid's Creek, 
 and married Mary Reid. He followed, for a 
 livelihood, teaching and shoe-making. He stud- 
 ieil law and removed to Salisbury where he 
 
 1796, he was appointed by General Washing- 
 ton first Comptroller of the Treasury, which 
 he held throughout the remainder of Washing- 
 ton's administration, all of Adams', and re- 
 signed in 1802, in opposition to the wishes of 
 Mr. Jefferson. In 1806, he was again in the 
 Legislature, and that year succeeded Gen. 
 Davie as Commissioner to adjust the bound- 
 aries between North and South Carolina. This 
 delicate, protracted and difficult negotiation 
 was managed by him with singular address 
 and abihty. In 1811-12 and 13, he was again 
 ■elected to the Legislature and in 1811 was 
 Speaker of the House. On Aug. 14th, 1812, 
 he was again elected, and on that day he died. 
 From the varied and important positions 
 held by General Steele from his early man- 
 hood, to the day of his death is seen the warm 
 attachment and contidonce of his countrymen 
 for him, and their high appreciation of his ser- 
 vices and aliility. 
 
 He married in 1783, Mary Nesfreid, who 
 survived him many years, by whom lie had (I) 
 Ann, who married Jesse A. Pearson; (II) Mar- 
 garet who married Dr. Stephen L. Farrand; 
 (III) Eliza, who married Col. Robert Mac- 
 Namara. 
 
 A daughter nf Dr. Fcrrand, married to A. 
 Henderson, recently died. Their son, John S. 
 Henderson has entered the theatre of public 
 life,enjoying the contidence and hopes of a large 
 circle of admiring friends. He is quite young; 
 being born June 6tli, 1846. He has been liber- 
 ally educated, at Dr. Wilson's Academy and 
 the University. At the age of eighteen he practiced with much success. He was the Col- 
 
 entered the army as a private in company B, 
 10th North Carolina Regiment and served as 
 a private to the close. He was elected as the 
 ^conservative candidate to the Cotistitutional 
 Convention of 1871, though the Convention 
 was not held. He was elected to the Conven- 
 tion of 1875, and took a leading position. He 
 
 onel of the Rowan iMilitia, and in 1771 march- 
 ed to Hillsboro' to protect the Court against the 
 intimidations of the Regulators.* 
 
 Afterthe war was over, Dunn returned to Sal- 
 isbury where he ended his days, and lies buried 
 
 •See Uiii. Mug. I. 204. 
 
/ 
 
 ^ ROWAN 
 
 /' 
 
 within three miles of thaL^lace. lie left two 
 danshters, one of whom married a son of .lohn 
 Louis Board, of whom John Beard of Fh>rida 
 is a son. The other dangliter married Mr. Kishor 
 wlio wasthe mother of the Hon. Charles Fisher, 
 of wliom we sliali soon hear. 
 
 Jolin II. Steele, (born 1792, died 18(35), was 
 horn in North Carolina, a relative of General 
 Steele. He was Governor of the State of 
 New Hampshire in 1844 to 1846, and died at 
 Petersboro', New Hampshire, July 2, 1805. We 
 know but little beyond this, and the fact that 
 while onr State has jjiven Senators and Gover- 
 nors to the south and southwest, she has also 
 ojiven Governors totwoof the Yankee States — 
 Joseph R. Hawle}', of Connecticut and John H. 
 Steele, of New Hampshire. 
 
 Griffith Rutherford was long a resident of 
 Rnwan, lived in the Locke settlement and was 
 distinguished in the Indian and Revolutionary 
 wars for his valor and enterprise. 
 
 lie was a native of Ireland and first appears 
 in North Carolina history as a memlier of the 
 Legislature from Rowan in 1775, at New Berne. 
 He served as Senator, and was re-elected, with 
 some interuiiseions, till 1786. His first essay 
 in arms was in 1776, when he commanded an 
 army of 2400 men, raised to subdue "the 
 Overhill Cherokee Indians;" this he did most 
 completely and with great slaughter. He was 
 an active member of the Committee of Safety 
 and on April 22, 1776, was appointed one of 
 the six Brigadier-Generals by the Provincial 
 Congress at Halifax. He commanded his bri- 
 gade at the ill-fated battle of Camden, (Aug. 
 1780,) where he was taken prisoner. He wsis 
 sent to C;harleston,and from thence to Augus- 
 tine with Col. Elijah Isaacs, taken also at Cam- 
 den; Lieut. Col. Stephen Moore and Col. Hen- 
 derson; on June 22, 1781, they were exchanged. 
 He again took the field, and took command at 
 Wilmington, when that phiee was evacuated 
 
 COUNTY 
 
 390 
 
 by the British. After the war was over he re- 
 moved to Tennessee and served in the Councils 
 of that State. 
 
 His name is preserved both m North Caro- 
 lina and Tennessee, by calling counties after 
 him, and we regret that so little is known of his 
 services and character.* 
 
 Blanche, daughter of Gereral Rutherford, 
 married a son of General Matthew Locke 
 
 The Locke family was once a large, influen- 
 tial and patriotic family in Rowan. The first 
 of this race came from Ireland to America in 
 the 17th century, and settled in Lancaster, 
 ['ennsylvania. From thence, three brothers: 
 Matthew, Francis and George, came to North 
 Carolina. Matthew and Francis settled in liow- 
 au and George in Iredell Count}-. 
 
 General Matthew Locke, (boi-n in 1730. died 
 1801,) washy nature energetic, public spirited 
 and popular. The determined foe to every torm 
 of oppresion, fraud or peculation. In the excite- 
 ment as to illegal fees exacted by the Crown offi- 
 cers and wrung from an oppressed people, he was 
 their friend and adviser. He was in 1771 
 with Herman Husbands appointed by the peo- 
 ple to receive the fees due the sheriti" ami 
 Clerk of the Court. He was elected in 1776 
 a meml)er of the Provincial Congress at Hali- 
 fax, and to the .same body in Nov. 1776, which 
 formed our first State Constitution. He was 
 continued a member of the Legislature under 
 the Constitution in 1777 to 1792. He was 
 elected a Brigadier-General of State troops. 
 In 1793 he was elected a member of 3rd, 4th 
 and 5th Congre.sses, 1795 to 1799, and was suc- 
 ceeded by Archibald Henderson. He died Sep- 
 tember 7, 1801. He married Mary, daughter 
 of Richard Brandon, a name distinguished in 
 the annalsof those troubled times, for devotion 
 to popular rights and the cause of freedom, and 
 left a family of thirteen cliildren, eight sons 
 
 *A listoItlieprisoncr.ssiMit to St. Ausrustincis found 
 ill Johnson's Traditions of tlie Kevoliition, 81S. 
 
400 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENSES. 
 
 and five daughters. Four of liis sons were at 
 one time in tlie Revolutionary army; among 
 them was: 
 
 George Locke, who contended bravely and 
 fell in the cause of his country. He was active 
 in harrassing the advance of the Britisli arniy, 
 under (.'or-iwallis. in 1780. 
 
 While the British were encamped at Char- 
 "lotte, Col. Wm. R. Davie ordered Capt. John 
 Brandon, and Lieut. Joseph Graham, with 
 twenty -five men to reconnoitre their camp; 
 when they marched within fifty yards of their 
 lines, Brandon proposed to advance and de- 
 liver a voUej', which they did. Tarleton's troop 
 gave chase and pursued the Americans; when 
 Graham, Locke and others had seen that their 
 capture was imminent they turned oft" from the 
 main road; Graham was sabred, and left for 
 dead; Locke was killed and Brandon owed his 
 life to the fleetness of hie horse, and was chased 
 at full speed to Davie's camp. Tliisstatement 
 of this melancholy aftair is from a son of Col. 
 Brandon, (A. W.,) whose father had narrated 
 the facts to him. 
 
 Another son of Gen. Matthew Locke, John, 
 married Blatiche, the daughter of Gen. Grif- 
 fith Rutherford; another son married Marga- 
 ret, daughter of Caleb Phifer; and a daughter 
 of Gen. Locke married Martin Phifer. Another 
 daughter, Ann, married Andrew Beard, of 
 Burke County, and anothei', Jane, married 
 Gen. Robt. Weakly, of Tennessee. 
 
 The following is a copy of the inscription of 
 
 the head -stone over his grave in the graveyard 
 
 of Thyatira church: 
 
 "111 Mriiioiy 
 of 
 Matthew Locke, Esq., 
 Died Till iSf]it., 1^01; ag<(l 71. 
 A iiioiiioter i>f civilization, a Legislator and n patri- 
 otic friend ot liis country; in his jirivate character a 
 a tender liusliand, an atiectionate parent, and an in- 
 dulgent master, ever a friend to the poor; and attentive 
 to his luippiness in that state, where we eonteniphite 
 his existence, leaving memorv to retain him here." 
 
 Col. Francis Locke, a brother of Gen. Mat- 
 thew Locke, though not a statesman as was 
 
 his distinguished brother, was a true and tried 
 soldier in the perilous period of our revolution- 
 ary struggles. He commanded a detachment of 
 men in the revolution, and on the 22d of June 
 1780, attacked at Rainsour's Mill, near the 
 present town of Lincolnton, a superior^force of 
 Tories under the command of Cols. Bryan and 
 Moore, and routed them with great slaughter. 
 A full account of this battle from the pen of 
 General Graham may be found in the history 
 of North Carolina. [Wheeler II, 227.] 
 
 ^He married (the sister of Gen. Matthew 
 Locke's wife,) the daughter of Richard Bran- 
 don, and left four sons and three daughters. 
 Among them were, (I) John, who was a Major 
 in the Revolutionary war, died April 1833, 
 aged eighty-two years. (II.) Francis, born in 
 Rowan County 1766, appointed Judge Dec. 
 1803; resigned 1818; elected Senator in Con- 
 gress, 1816, and resigned without taking hia 
 .seat as Senator; Presidential Elector 1809. 
 Died, (unmarried,) in 1823. 
 
 Hon. Spruce McCay, was born, lived and 
 died in Rowan County. He was educated by 
 the Rev. David Caldwell; studied law, and 
 arose to eminence and usefulness. He was ap- 
 pointed Judge of the Superior Courts in 1790, 
 and died in 1808. 
 
 He married i^'anny, daughter of Richard Hen- 
 derson. \JVilliam S. McCay was the only son 
 of this union. 
 
 James Martin, was the son of Col. James 
 Martin and resided for many years in Salis- 
 bury. He graduated at the University in 1806, 
 in the same class with Judge John A. Cameron^ 
 Durant Hatch and others. He read law and 
 soon attained such rank in the profession that 
 in 1826 he was elected one of the Judges of 
 the Superior Courts. He resigned in 1835. He 
 married Miss Alexander, and removed to Mo- 
 bile, Alabama, where he died. 
 
 George Mumford represented this County in 
 
1U)WA\ COUNTY. 
 
 401 
 
 IS 10 anil ill isll, and tliis district in ContrresB 
 ill 1S17. Ilo attc'iiile<l a hall at \Vasiiin,ii;ton 
 City in tiie (load of winter; tlie i'X[H)siire 
 liroui^lit on diptheiia, and Doceinber 31, 1S15, 
 it terminated his life, lie was succeeded by 
 Hon. Charles Fisher. 
 
 Tiie in-o^enitor of tiie Pears m family was 
 l\ii-]iiii(iii(l I'earson, horn 1770, died 1819, who 
 was a native of Dinwiddle Count}', Virginia, 
 and came, when only nineteen years old, to 
 Xortli Carolina and settled in the forks of the 
 Yadkin. 
 
 When the Revolutionary war came on, he 
 joined the arm\' and was appointed a Lieu- 
 tenant in Captain Bryan's Compati}'; the 
 first muster that occurred after the Declaration 
 of Independence. Pearson requested some of 
 his men to load their guns. Bryan came ou 
 the ground and ordered those men into ranks. 
 I'earson declined, and tendered his resignation 
 to Br3-an, who immediately ordered his arrest, 
 which was resisted. They then came to a par- 
 ley, and as Bryan advocated the cause of the 
 Loyalists, and Pearson the rights of the people, 
 it was finally agreed by all parties, that on a 
 day fixed, the question between the opinions 
 should be settled by a fair fist fight, and which- 
 ever whipped, the company should be com- 
 manded by the victor. The}' met, they fought, 
 the lieutenant was conquered; so the "Fork ' 
 company was for liberty, and Bryan's party on 
 Dutchman's Creek, was for the King. This 
 circumstance was narrated to me by Chief- 
 Justice Pearson, and shows by what slight 
 circumstances, events of magnitude are often 
 influenced. Captain Pearsun and his company 
 did good service in harrassing the advance of 
 Cornwallis' columns, and was at the passage of 
 the Catawaba on July 1, 1781, when General 
 Davidson was killed. He was a successful plan- 
 ter and an enterprising merchant. He died in 
 1819, leaving one daughter, Betsy, who mar- 
 ired Judge John Stokes, a Colonel in the Rev- 
 
 olutionary war; severely wounded at Hiiford's 
 defeat, where ho lost, an arm. He was ap- 
 pointed United States District Judge in North 
 Carolina by General Washington. He vasthe 
 I) rother of Governor Mont ford Stokes. Stoke 
 ('otinty was called in honor of iiim. He died 
 in Fayetteville, October, 1790. 
 
 Jesse A. Pearson, the son of Richmond, rep- 
 resented this County in the House of Commons 
 in 1808, '9,-'14 and '15. He commanded a regi- 
 ment in 1814, in General Graham's brigade, and 
 moved against the Cherokee nation, to repress 
 their hostilities; afterwards he was electedMaj- 
 or-General of the militia of the State. He was a 
 soldier,"sudden and quick in quarrel;"he fouglit 
 a duel with General Montford Stokes, near 
 Salisbury, in which Gen. Stokes was wounded. 
 
 He married first a daughter of General Steele, 
 and secotid Mrs. Wilson, whose daughter, by a 
 former husband, married Archibald G Carter, 
 of Davie County. He died in 1823 and left no 
 issue. 
 
 Joseph Pearson, also a son of Richmond, was 
 a native of Rowan County. He was a lawyer 
 by profession and a politician. He represented 
 the borough of Salisbury in 1804 and '5 and 
 this District in the 11th, 12th and 13th Cong- 
 resses,1809-'15. Like his brothers he was ready 
 to make good his words by his acts. About 
 1811, whilst in Congress, he fought a duel on 
 political grounds, with Hon. John J. Jackson, 
 of Virginia. He died in Salisbury on Oct. 27th, 
 1834. He was thrice married, first to Miss 
 McLinn; second Miss Ellen Brent; and third 
 Miss Worthington of Georgetown, D. C. 
 
 Richmond Pearson, son of Richmond, and 
 brotlier to the above was active and enterpris- 
 ing, but never in public life. He was devoted to 
 agriculture and the internal improvements of 
 the State. He, with George Fisher, in a boat, 
 passed the falls of the Yadkin. 
 
 By his second marriage he left: 
 
 I. Sarah, who married Isaac Crooni. 
 
402 WHEELER'S ^llEMINISCENCES. 
 
 II. Eliza, who married W. G. Bentley of erenx boiny his eoiiipetitor, in 1S48 lie was elo- 
 Bladeii; vated to the Supremo Court Bench, (to till 
 
 III. liichinond M. [8ee sketch holow.) the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judj;e 
 
 IV. Giles, who died 1847. . Daniel,) Robert Strany-o and Wm. II. Battle 
 
 V. John Stokes Pearson, who married Miss were his opponent.s. 
 
 Beatti^f Bladen County in 1848. In 1858 on the death of Chief Justice I^ashhe 
 
 Richtnond M. rcarsi)n,(I)orn -June 1805, died was appointed his successor. In 18(j5 he was a 
 
 1878,) Chief Justice of the Supreme C'ourt of candidate for the Constitutional Convention 
 
 the State, was a son of the last named and the held that yoar,aiid was defeated by .\Ir. Ilaynes, 
 
 grandson of the progenitor of the family; he but the same year was (under the new Consti- 
 
 bore the patronimic of both. His early educa- tutiou,) a^i^ain elected Judge of the Supreme 
 
 tion was conducted by John Mii.shat of States- Court ; and by his associates, (Justices Battle 
 
 ville and at Washington city under the care of and Reade,) again a})pointed Chief Justice, 
 
 his uncle Joseph Pearson. Ho graduated at the In 18G8 upon a I'oorgauization of this Court, 
 
 University m 1823, in the same class with Dan- ho v/as by the people elected Chief-Justice, 
 
 iel W. Courts, Robert B. Gilliam, Isaac Hall and being nominated on lioth tickets, and this 
 
 others. He studied law with Judge iieiider- elevated and responsible position he held until 
 
 son, and was licensed to practice in 182G. He his death Jamiary 5th, 1878; his life ended in 
 
 entered p)ublic life as a member from Rowan paralysis of the brain, at Winston, as he was 
 
 in the Plouse of Commons m 18211, and con- going to Raleigh to attend the January term 
 
 tinuecl until 1832; with David F. Caldwell, of the Supreme Court. 
 
 Thos. G. Polk and Charles Fisher, as colleagues. He married first Miss Williams, daughter of 
 We pause to admire the distinguished delega- Col. John Williams, by whtmi he left several 
 tion then representaing this County and Bor- cliildren, and second Mrs. Bynum, relict of 
 ough, rarely equalled and never excelled. Pi'e- Gen. John Gray Bynum, ?u:t; McDowell, daugh- 
 senting Speakers to both houses,(ii'i 1830,)Cald- tor of Capt. Charles McDowell of Burke Coun- 
 well in the Senate, and Fisher in the House. ty. We have sketched in an accurate manner 
 In 1835, he was a candidate for Congress, the public services of Judge Pearson in chrono- 
 His opponents were Abram Reneher and Burton logical order. As a Judge he was uncjuestionably 
 Craige. Mr. Rencher was a State-rights Demo- one of the ablest of his day. Judge McKoy 
 crat, Mr. Craige a nullifying southern states- M'ho presided at a meeting of the Bar in Ra- 
 man ami Mr. Pearson an old line Whig, or loigh, on tlio occasion of Judge Pearson's death. 
 Federalist. The address of Mr. Pearson, to the stated : "As perhaps the great connnon-law law- 
 freemen of the 9tli Congres.sional district, was jqv of his age and time,I would say in my opin- 
 a powerful document, an early demonstration ion nogreater has ever lived. His loss will be felt 
 of his acute reasoning powers for which he be- and deeply deplored by those long accustomed 
 came so distinguished. Ho wasopposed tonulli- to look for the productions of hisbrain and pen 
 lication as a doctrine dangerous to the exist- to illumine their journey through the mazes and 
 ence of the government. Mr. Reneher was elect- labyrinths heretofore marked by no guide save 
 ed;Mr. Pearson accepted his defeat with that principle, and no beacon save the hghts of legal- 
 calmness which was characteristic of his nature, lore. 
 
 In 183G Mr. Pearson was elected one of the ''He taught the young to reason, and when 
 
 Judges of the Suiierioi' Courts, Thomas P. Dev- once a conclusion was arrived at by the stu 
 
KOWAX COirXTV 
 
 403 
 
 (lent, it was siu'li a I'oiiclii.sioii as satisliod (lie 
 im-csti^^'atiiii;: iiiiiid in its soarcli of truili; and 
 did li nor to tlie teai-lior wlio [ilannod ami led 
 tlie yonni;- mind alonir tlie cliannel of patirnt 
 tliouii'lit and tiiorou,ii:h invcsti,<.'ution. Aitliontjli 
 it was nr.t in\' fortune, said Joseph .\1oKo\', to 
 iiavc availed myself of his ndmirahle tniinini^, 
 vet as often as I met in aririiniont tliose mental 
 athletes, trained hy his master hand, I have le- 
 i^retted that fate which denied to me similar 
 advantages." 
 
 For many years Judge Pearson held at his 
 home, at Richmond Hill, a law-school, where 
 hundreds of young men have been trained, 
 who now adorn the profession. 
 
 lUusti-ious as is his fame as a Judge, yet it 
 is due to the integrity of history to say, that 
 his course, to the minds of many, in the excit- 
 ing and troubled scenes of 1871, shows more of 
 thepartizan than the patriot, and it was not 
 passed unnoticed by the representatives of the 
 people. His course in virtually denying the 
 great writ of right, the habeas corpas, in the 
 cases of Moore and Kerr, was the subject of 
 much complaint, and tarnished the judicial er- 
 mine, that should always be worn pure, un- 
 stained and without reproach.* 
 
 Charles Fisher, (born 1789, and died 1849,) 
 was born in Rowan County. His father re- 
 moved from Shenandoah County, Virginia, be- 
 fore the Revolution, and served as a Captain 
 in that war. lie was educated by Rev. J)r. 
 John Rojjinson, of Poplar Tent, Cabarrus 
 Couuty, and by the Rev. Dr. .McPheeters, of 
 Raleigh; then read law, but never practiced. 
 
 lie entered public life as a Senator, in the 
 Legislature of 1818. The next year he Avas 
 elected over Dr. W. Jones, a member of the 
 1.5th Congress, to fill the vacancy occasioned 
 by the death of Hon. Geo. Mumford, and was 
 
 *See pages 110 and 367 as to opinion of Judge Pearaon, 
 in the Kerr case. 
 
 re-elected to the ne.\l ,1(11 h, ( IS|!I- 21) C-mgress 
 over II>!i. .lohii Long, when he declined a re- 
 elertioa. He was suciM'ed.'d by llenrv W . ('in- 
 ner. He determined to ajiply binisi-lf to his 
 [trivate business and the care of his young and 
 increasing family, iiut the people elected him 
 in 1822, to the House of ('onimons, and with 
 few interruptions, he was re-elected till IS.Ki; 
 in IS.JI he was <-hos(Mi Speaker. II'' was a 
 memhcr ot tin; CJonvcntioii of IS;];'), to amend 
 the C>)iist,itiition of the State This, as has 
 been often before observed, was the ablest body 
 ever as3erni)led in the State, and amid the ga- 
 laxy of talent there displayed, Mr. Fisher shone 
 conspicuous. ''Primal Inter jares." His efi'orts 
 on religious toleration, freculom of suffrage, 
 popular rights, and other subjects were much 
 approved and marked him as an astute states- 
 man. He was one of the committee who 
 drafted the Constitution, and was one of the 
 most useful and active members of the Conven- 
 tion. In 1839, he was again brought forward 
 as a candidate for Congi'ess; liis paity was in a 
 hopeless minority, the opposition was active 
 and the candidate Dr. Pleasant Henderson was 
 exceedingly popular. Mr. Fisher was elected 
 by 183 votes. After serving this Congress, 
 (the 26th,) he declined being a candidate. 
 
 In 1845, while absent from the State, he was 
 nominated again for Congress. At first he re- 
 fused to he a candidate on account of his pri- 
 vate affaii's, as the district was then repre- 
 sented by a popular man( Hon. D. M. Barringer,) 
 and the Whig party predominated. Mr. Fisher 
 against his wishes and interests, was neverthe- 
 less persuaded to be a candidate. He entered 
 into this canvass, as he did everything else, 
 with determination, zeal and activity. Mr. B. 
 was elected by 27 votes. This was the only 
 election in which Mr.Fisher was ever defeated 
 before the people. 
 
 He was tlie choice of his party in 1846, as 
 Governor of the State, but by a letter to the 
 
404 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Cdnvention, (ho lieing al)seiit from the State,) 
 he informed them that he was forced h_v his 
 his private atfairs to docline. This dedinatit.)!! 
 produced great ooiifusiiin. Gi-een W. Cahlwell 
 was then nominated, but he declined, and 
 James B. Shepard was nominated by the Cen- 
 tral Committee, and defeated. Mr. Fisher's 
 private business forced him to frequent visits 
 to the West. On his return from one of these 
 trips he was taken ill at Hillsboro',Scott County, 
 Mississippi, where after an illness of ten days 
 he died on May 7th, 1849. 
 
 He married Christiana.the daughter of Lewis 
 Beard, by whom he had several children, one 
 of tliem, Charles F. , was Senator in the Legis- 
 lature HI 1854, and President of the Central 
 Railn)ad. In 1861 he was appointed Colonel 
 of the 6th Regiment North Carolina Troops and 
 marched to Virginia. He fell July 21st, 1861, 
 in the battle of Mannassas. No purer ottering 
 was made in the cause of his country ,thaii this 
 excellent and gallant man. A letter from Gen. 
 Thos L. Clingman to Col. S. D. Pool, published 
 in "Our Living and Our Dead," dated at Ashe- 
 ville, 1878, describes his heroic death: "Colonel 
 Fisher moved his regiment by the flank, into 
 the pines. About sixty yards from the woods 
 Rickett's battery was stationed; Colonel Fisher 
 did not see the battery until he had passed it. 
 Captain Isaac Avery's company was just oppo- 
 site the battery. Finding themselves in this 
 dangerous proximity, they flred into the bat- 
 tery at only sixty yards distance, this fire killed 
 most of the cannoneers and their horses. The 
 men ran down on them and finished the sur- 
 vivors with their muskets and bowie knives. 
 Immediately after this. Colonel Fisher liaving 
 passed the battery, received a ball which [icne- 
 t rated his brain and he fell dead about thirty 
 yards to therearof the battery they had taken. 
 Captain Avery stated to me that while he was 
 for a moment, on one of the captured pieces, he 
 saw Colonel Fisher, who had moved forward 
 
 to reconnoitre, waving his rifle aliove his head 
 triumphantly. There was a regiment, they 
 thought from Alabama, about two hundred 
 yards to their rear, which continued to fire 
 upon them — it was this fire that killed young 
 Mangum and several others. Many think it 
 probable that Colonel Fisher was thus killed. 
 His regiment had advanced so far to the front 
 and was on the ground so lately occupied by 
 the enemy in heavy force, that the mistake 
 was natural. 
 
 "The services of Colonel Fisher and his regi- 
 ment cannot be overestinuited on this occasion. 
 Neither then, nor at any time since, have I 
 doubted that this movement saved the day to 
 the Confederacy." 
 
 Colonel Fisher was of indomitable energy, 
 of enthusiastic temperament, brave and bold as 
 a lion, and gentle and as pure as a woman. A 
 more gallant and chivalric knight never 
 couched a lance, or wore a sword. His pure 
 and unselfish character, his irreproachable life 
 his high sense of honor, his devotion to hig 
 duty, his manly courage tempered by a gentle- 
 ness and courtesy, as rare as it was winning, 
 was seen and felt by all who knew hiin. 
 He fell at his post of duty, in a cause in which^ 
 afterwards many thousands ottered up their 
 lives; but never was there a nobler or purer 
 spirit, than Charles F. Fisher. lie died, as his 
 brave spirit would have desired had he had the 
 choice; on the field of victory, happy in the 
 purity and l>rilliancy of his life and in the cir- 
 cumstances of his death. He could say as 
 Cicero of Agricola. '-Tu vero felix ! non vitoe 
 tantum claritate, sed etiam opportunitate mor- 
 tis." 
 
 History informs us, in the early part of 
 this century a great battle was fought on the 
 banks of the Danube. A determined charge 
 on ihe Austrian centre gained the 'victory for 
 France. The courage and example of one sol- 
 dier, who tliere fell, contributed to the success 
 
ROWAN COUNTY. 
 
 4i)i 
 
 iif the clmrgo. Ever since at the parades of 
 his battalion, the name of Latour d' Auvergne 
 was first called; when the oldest Sergeant step- 
 ped to the front and presenting arms, answered 
 "Died on the field of honor." When in Spirit- 
 Land, beyond the grave, where the shades of 
 the gallant dead assendile, when the gloi-ious 
 roll-call is made, and the name of Fisher is 
 reached, it will be for the majestic spirit of a 
 Jackson, ora Lee to advance and pronounce the 
 proudest eulogy of our race. "Died on the 
 field of duty."* 
 
 Colonel Fisher married a daughter of Hon. 
 David F. Caldwell, by whom he hadhislovttly 
 a!id accomplished daughter. Miss Frances C. 
 Kisher, author of many interesting works, 
 among them"Valarie Aylmer,"" Morton House" 
 and others, under the nom de plume of Chris- 
 tian Reid. Of her first work, which has placed 
 her high among the writers of fiction in this 
 country, Mr. Leon of the Mobile Register says: 
 " Before Cooper, Si nmis, Hawthorne and other 
 pens had made light literature respectable, pro- 
 duction of home works of fiction had dwindled 
 into a mere farce. Since tlie war, novels by 
 .American authors that have attracted atten- 
 tion can be counted ou the fingers of one hand. 
 Three of these are of Southern birth. One of 
 these is "Valarie Avlmer." No work has called 
 forth more general and more honest criticism 
 and the result has been highly favorable. The 
 style is pure, clear and free from affectation 
 and pedantry, which gives promise of a vigor 
 that can but grow into a brilliant future. 
 
 "This work is one of graceful and pleasant 
 description not without rare strength in char- 
 acter outlining, but with the promise of 
 powerful shading in society picturing." 
 
 The A'ei« York Evening Post, reviews that 
 book: " Valarie Aylmer is undeniably quite 
 charming and as a literary work is worthy of 
 praise. 
 
 • Gen. Richard Taylor on Jackson. 
 
 "Christian Rcid, the pseudonvinous author, 
 sliows on every jiaiic a wide acquaintance 
 with literature, not that encyclopedic ped- 
 antry which is so manifested liy certain nov- 
 elists, and ranges fmni Talmud to Tenny- 
 .*)ii, but an easy familiarity with the best au- 
 thors, and a love for all they have in them, 
 pure and lovely and of good report. No reader 
 of" Valarie Aylmer" will lay down the book 
 without sharing in our own desire to hoar from 
 Christian Reid iigain." 
 
 John W. Ellis, (born 1820; died 18G1,) late 
 Governor of North Carolina, son of Anderson 
 Ellis, was a native of Rowan County, of that 
 portion now known as Davidson County. His 
 early education was conducted by Robert Alli- 
 son, at Beattie's Ford; continued at Randolph 
 Macon, and finished at the University, where 
 he graduated in 1841, in the same class with 
 Thos. L.Avery, R. R. Bridgers, Robert Burton, 
 Wm. J. Clark, Wra. F. Dancy, John F. Hoke, 
 V. Mc. Bee, Montford McGehee, Richmond 
 N. Pearson, Charles I'hillips, Saml. F. Phillips, 
 Thos. Ruffin,Jas. G. Shepherd, Robert Strange 
 jr., Jas. F. Taylor and others. A large class 
 and distinguished in after life for their abil- 
 ity and usefulness. He read law under Judge 
 Pearson and was admitted to the bar in 1842; 
 when he opened a law office in Salisbury; and 
 there he practised with great success. 
 
 In 1844 he was elected a member of the 
 House of Commons from Rowan, with Hon. 
 Nathaniel Boyden, and Maj. John B. Lord as 
 colleagues, ( with a constituency opposed to his 
 political views, as were his distinguished asso- 
 ciates.) This proved the early and just appre- 
 ciation on the part of the people of his worth 
 and of their confidence in his character as a 
 statesman; he was re-elected in 1846; and in 
 1848. His course in the Legislature was mark- 
 ed by candor, liberality and philanthropy. To 
 his political opponents he was tolerant and can- 
 did, and his liberal support of the internal 
 
401) 
 
 WHEELEK'S REMTNISCEXCES. 
 
 iniprovenient.s of t)ie State, in sin)[iiii'tiiio; the 
 Central anil other rail roads in tlie country; 
 and his support of the hill whicii ho ofiered for 
 the erection of an Asylum for the Insane (on 
 the memorial of that "White Winged Messen- 
 ger of Mercy," Miss Dix,) will perpetuate his 
 philanthropy '' to the last syllable of recorded 
 time" So highly were his services appreciated 
 that at this session(1848)he was elected one of 
 the Judges of the Superior Courts of the State. 
 Among the yfiungest men (iicingonly 28,)ever 
 elected in the State, to so high a position. Plis 
 career as Judge received the approiiation of the 
 bar and the press, and the country justified the 
 wisdom of this selection. 
 
 As a Judge he was quick to perceive, prompt 
 to decide and tirm to act. Patient and polite, 
 genial in private intercourse and easy of access 
 without hauteur or levity, he bore his higli 
 honors to tlie satisfaction ot the whole people 
 of the State, and was so universally esteemed 
 that iu 1S5S, he was elected the Governor of 
 the State, by the people by more than 16,000 
 votes over the eloquent and gifted, McRae. 
 
 lie was re-clocted Governor, by a large ma- 
 jority over lion. -Inhn Pool. His administra- 
 tion fell u[ion troubled times. The civil war 
 was inaiiguiate(l,and he,as Governoi', was called 
 upon by the President to furni.sb troojis t(^ 
 carry it on. This he promptly refused. 
 
 On 15th of April, 1861, the President issued 
 his |iroclamatio!i for seventy five thousand men 
 "inordoi-to siqipress combinations opposed to 
 thego. crnineMt and to cause the law to lie duly 
 execiiiedjto suppi'ess wrongs already committed 
 to re[)o.ssess the foils, places and property which 
 have been seized from the Union; orders more 
 particularly to Ite'sent thn.mgh t!ie WarDept." 
 
 To t'lis ({o.criior Ellis, replied on the same 
 date:' Your (lcspat(h is received and if genuine, 
 whi'li its extra.ordin.ary character leads me to 
 dt'ubr, I have to say in reply that I regard 
 the levy of troops made b}' the administration 
 
 a usui'pation of power. I can be no party to 
 this wicked violation of the laws of tlie coun- 
 try, and to this war upon tlie liberties of a 
 free peo[)le. You can get no troops from North 
 Carolina. 
 
 "I will reply more in detail when your call 
 is received by mail." 
 
 The health of Governor Ellis, never robust, 
 under the pressure of these fearful events so 
 rapidly accumulating, completely gave way, 
 and he died July 1861, at the White Sidjihur 
 Springs, amid the regret of his friends and to 
 the great loss of the State. 
 
 (tov. Ellis had been twice married, first to a 
 daugliter of Col. Philo White, in 1843; and 
 second to Miss Daves of New Berne. 
 
 Nathaniel Boyden (born 1795, died 1873,)was 
 long a resident and a representative of Rowan. 
 He was a native of Massachusetts, educated at 
 the Williams College and graduated in 1821, 
 and at Union College, Schenectady ,N'ew Y^ork. 
 He came the next year to North Carolina, and 
 took up his abode in Guilford Comity. He had 
 studied law before he came south, and ob- 
 tained his license in this State to practice in 
 1823 and removed to Stokes County near Ger- 
 mantown where he resided till 1832, teaching 
 school, when he removed to Surry Countv, 
 whicli he represented in 1838 and 1840. In 
 1842 he removed to SalislMuy where he resided 
 until his death. He represented Rowan in the 
 Senate 1844, and in 1847 was elected a mem- 
 ber of the 30th Congress. In 1865 he was a 
 member of the State Convention. In 1868 he 
 was elected to the 40th Congress, and in 1871 
 one of the Associate Justices of the Supremo 
 Coui't of the State, this elevated position he 
 held until his death, which occurred at Salis- 
 bury on Nov. oth, 1873. 
 
 Judge Boyden was possessed of a st ong and 
 well balanced mind, highly cultivated and ot 
 an oxtraor<linary memory. Ilis professional ca- 
 
liOWAN COUNTY. 
 
 407 
 
 reoi' was markeil liy untiriiiLC iii<liistry, recti- 
 tude of depdi-tiueut and scru[)ulona fidelity to 
 his oliciits, witli stroiiiT moral couraii'e that was 
 ready for the diseharae of any duty devolv- 
 inic up;)u him, and a thorough knowlcdi^e id' 
 Ins profession. These ■ ssential elenient.s ciowned 
 liis life with snecoss. During liis residence in 
 Stokes he married liutli, dauiJ-hter of IIu.i;h 
 Martin Esq., by wh^ni he had several ehild- 
 ren, aiid iu Dec. lS-t5 he niirried Jane, relict 
 <d" Dr .Mitchell, and the daughter of the late 
 Archibald Ilendersnn of Salisbury, whose char- 
 acter and lit'e has bemi already sketched. (See 
 page LSI.) 
 
 Burton Craige (born ISil, dieii 1875,) was 
 a native of Rowan County, the sou of David 
 Craige. He was educated by Kev. .Jonathan 
 Otis Freeman, and at the University, where 
 he graduated in 1829. He studied law, and 
 in 1832 entered the Legislature as a member 
 trom the Borough of Salisbury, and also in 1834 > 
 he was elected to the 33th, 34th, SSth and 
 3(5th Congresses (1853 to '60.) He was a mem- 
 ber of the State Convention of the 20th of 
 May 1861, and introduced the ordinance of Se- 
 cession, which passed unanimously. He was 
 a member of the Confederate Congress, and a 
 heart}' .sympathizer in the Southern cause. 
 
 .Members of Ci)nfederate Congress: 
 
 1801. George Davis, William T. l)ortch,(Sen- 
 iite.) Wra.N.H.Smith,Thomas KnUin of Wayne, 
 T. D. McDowell, A. W. Venable, John M. 
 Morehead, R. C Puryear, Burton Ciaige, A 
 T. Davidson. 
 
 1864. Wm. A.Graham, Wni. T. Dortcli, (Sen- 
 ate.) Wm. N. H. Smith, R. R. Bridgers,Thos. 
 C. Fuller, James .M. Leach, J. T. Leach, of 
 Johnston, Josiah Tinnier, John A. Gilmer, Jas. 
 G. Ramsey, Burgess S. Gaither and Geo. \V. 
 Logan. 
 
 Mr. Craige was a man of warm feelings, and 
 generous impulses, of high sense of honor, and 
 
 at tinies rash, impulsive and impetuous. He 
 died at Concord^ Cabarrus County, on Dec. 
 30th, 1875. 
 
 Mr. Craige married Fli/.abet h, daughter of 
 Col. .faines Krwiii of Uurkc '"ounty. by whrtni 
 hf hud several children; among them Kerr 
 ('raige, who represented Rowan iu 1.S72, and 
 is now a i)racticing lawyer in Salisbury. 
 
 Hamilton C. Jones, (born 17118,) ri>sidcd for 
 miuiy years and died in this County lie was a 
 native of Greenville, Va.; libei'ally educated. 
 He graduated at the (Iniversity of N(n-tb Car- 
 olina m the same class in ISIS, with Bi-sliop 
 Green, Roliert Donaldson, Robert II. .Morri- 
 son, Wm. D. Mosely, James K. Polk, Hugh 
 Waddell, and others. He read law with 
 Judge Gaston at New Berne, and after being 
 admitted to the bar, settled at Salisbury, where 
 he practiced with success. He entereil [lub- 
 lic life as a membci- i'r.i-.n IJowan in 1827, and 
 was re-elected in 18-JS, and iu 1838 and 1840, 
 In the latter year he wa,s elected Solicitor of 
 this Judicial District, and re-elected in 1844, 
 He was a faithfuland active otlicer. From his 
 pen originated the annisiug articles on Cousin 
 Sally Dillard, and otiier proijuetions. He was 
 considered a genial companion, full of wit. 
 All his efforts in the Legislature weve enlight- 
 ened by his e.Kquisite genius and biunor. 
 
 Francis E. Shober reside-; in Salisltury, but 
 is a native of Salem, where he was born, .March 
 15, 1S31. He was educated at a .Moravian 
 sjttlement, and at the University where he 
 gi'aduated in 1851, in the same class with Da- 
 vid Miller Carter, Bartholomew Fuller, Benj. 
 S. Hedrick, Rufus L. Patterson, and others. 
 He studied law, and w is licensed in 1853. 
 Wiien the dark days of ISiJl came, Mr. Shober 
 opposed sece.ssion, and in 18;i2 was elected tj 
 tlui Legislature as a C.niservative a^d re- 
 elected in 1864. He was elected a nie:ubcr of 
 
408 WIIEELE Irs KKMIXTSCKXCKS. 
 
 Congress (lSij;)-71,) und re-elected to the and his piety, as his Icvvely tiaughtcr I's for ?ier 
 
 next Congi'ess. winning, manners and her vh-tues. 
 
 At the opening of 4(3th Congress, he was This, fanulj is well known in North ("arolina, 
 
 elected Acting Secretary of Senate, wljiclt p<^ distin-guisli.-d for talent, industry and integrity, 
 
 sition he now holds. Gotleih, (in Legislature 1S06,-'08,) estah- 
 
 Mr Shober married May Wheat, daughter lished at Salem the iirst i)aper manufactory in 
 
 of Rev. Dr. Wheat, who is as distinguished in North Carolina; and Emanuel, who often re[ire- 
 
 literary and religious society, for his learning- sented Stokes County from 1819 to 18i8. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 RUTHERFORD COUNTY. 
 
 John I'axton. resided for H long {ime'in this ill-fated l.attleof Monoilgehala, (July 9, _755.) 
 
 Coimtv. lie was a native of Virgini;»,an(t re- lie afterward removed to Lincoln, (then Tryon 
 
 m n-ed to this State, and settled at Morganton. C(vnuty,)and settled on Seipe's Creek,ahout ten 
 
 Here he became a merchant, but was not sue- niileseafst of Lincoln. About this time,the Cher- 
 
 cessful and failed. He was a candi.late for okee Indians committed many outrages. He 
 
 Congress in 1817, and defeated by Hon. Felix joined the army under Col. Grant and marched 
 
 Walker. He studied law late in life, in this against the Cherokees. A battle was fought 
 
 he was more fortunate; and in 181S he was in the fall of 1762, in which Grant was repulsed 
 
 elected by the Legislature, one of the Judges by the Indians. On his return he settled on 
 
 of the Superior Couits, and was not excelled Crowder creek, about four miles from King's 
 
 for integrity, patience and ability He died Mountain. He was a decided friend of Amer- 
 
 whilst returning froni the Edenton Circuit in ican independence, and became a mend.er 
 
 182i:;, at Judge Hall's house in Warren County. of the first convention at Ilillsboro, in July 
 
 1775, and a member of the Provincial Congress 
 
 Felix Walker, born 1753, died 1828, resided 1^,1,1 ,^^ ^]^,^^ pi^ce, Aug. 20th, 1775. All his 
 
 a long time in this County, and was its repre- ^.pnwn g^ns were active in the war. In Aug- 
 
 sentative in the Legislature and of this Dis- ^,^,- 177,-, Jie was the tiist to sign a document, 
 
 trict in Congress. He was a native or Virginia, ,^vbich was sigiied by every freeholder in Tryon 
 
 b irn in Hampshire County, on the 19th ot Qounty, agre .ang to unite in defense of na- 
 
 Julv, 175o, and was reared to mercantde [lur tional freedom.* 
 
 suits. His grandfather, John Walker, emi- |[y ^ll^,^\ ju i7()(5_ Hg j,.,,! eight sons and 
 
 grated froai Deny, Ireland, in 1720, and set- ,10 daughters. The elde.st of these sons is the 
 
 tied in Delaware, where he married and where sni,ject of tliis sketch, (who was born, as already 
 
 hi> s .a. J )hn, was b )rii, on arriving at the age ...jt^ted in Hampshire County, Virginia, on July 
 
 of ina;;ho id, his father went to Virginia, where 
 
 , . 1 1 • 1 1 i- ,. 1 ,,,^ f;,,w, TT,, ■» This (liiLMiiii:iat was fouiiil aiuoas tlic papers ot 
 
 he married and resided tor a long time, lie ' 
 
 Ciiii. William Grah. I'll ot iiillicrloriltiiii. It wa,-; 110- 
 
 was a volunteer in the Regiment, commanded ^.^.^.^^ .^^ ,^,,_,,^, ,,^.^..,,,..1., and.'oi.ir.I in Wherba's lli.s- 
 
 by George Washington and was pre.ssnt at the t,>i'y of Xoitu Jamliiia. p. 11. 2:31;, 
 
lIUTIlKIiFOKD COrXTY. 
 
 409 
 
 19th, l7-')3.) ile was li uiml as an a|_i[)rentice 
 for four yeui's, to a incM\'liaiit. in Oharlostoii, 
 ((Ta,)i-;;e L'ar'cer.) .Vftoi- lial'ij; ro'nwl fr.)'u 
 fliis service, he wis placeil with Dr. .Iii.se;ih 
 Oobson, where he roeeived all the education 
 ho ever possossol. He went in IToo withOol- 
 onel Rif'iard Henderson, to Koiitui'ky, (then 
 called Louisa.) (A)h>nol llendors )n had made 
 ;i juirchase in that section, from the CluMMki'c 
 Indians, at Lona; Island ou tlie ll:)lsti)n, they 
 united their f)rces with Daniel 15 > )'ic, wli> 
 was tlieir pilot to "the promised land." The 
 company amounted to thii'ty persons. 
 
 this time tlie Indians in Westoi'ii Carolina he- 
 cainc very t rouhhisome, and hii returned li')nio 
 as Captain of a Company of Lii^lit Drai^oonSjto 
 protei't the frontier. He was stationed at Xol- 
 lachiickey. The Indians were suhdued; he re- 
 returned to Watau'j^a and resume 1 his duties 
 as Clerk of the C )urt.. When Rutherford 
 C ) luty was erected from Tryon, since become 
 Li;i-)ln (ill I77:t,) he was a[ip )inted Clerk of 
 the C)'U-t. He resided at Ci'ie Creek f)r 
 miny ye.irs, attendeil to his firiu aul his du- 
 ties as Clerk of tlie Court, which duties h" dis- 
 chari^ed to the threat satisfaction of tlie eom- 
 
 Among these were Captain William Twitty; muiiity and witli profit to himself. 
 
 Samuel Cohurn, James Bridges, Thomas John- In 1792 he was elected a niemlter of the 
 
 son, John Hart, William Hicks, James Peck, House of Commons from Rutherford County 
 
 and Felix Walker were of this company, from to the Legislature, then sitting at N"ew Berne, 
 
 Rutherford County. They were the first ex- and elected again in 1798 and LSOO, 1801,1802, 
 
 plorers of this section, and were charmed 1803 and 1804, 
 
 with the l)rilliant prospects before them. A In 1817 he was elected a member of the 
 
 sad reverse however overtook them on tlieir 1.5th Congress, and was re-elected to the Kith 
 
 way. On March 25th, 1775, before day, they and 17th Congresses. In his first election the 
 
 were fired nj)on by Indians. Captain Twitty Hon. John Paxton was his opponent. He was 
 
 was killed. Walker was severely w.)unded,and succeeded by Dr. Robert 13. Vance. His course 
 
 the camp dispersed. Mr. Walker's life was fir in C ingress was calm and sedate rather than 
 
 a time in extreme jeipardy. By the unreiuit- showy. A devoted friend of Greueral Jackson; 
 
 ting attention of C)lonel Boone, he recovered, he defended his ctinduct of the war with the 
 
 and in July returned to his farther's home in Seminoles. He was the author of the phrase that 
 
 Rutherfordton. After remaining home some has become historical iu p;ilitics, "Talkin"- for 
 
 months he went to the Watauga, a branch of Buncombe." 
 
 the Holston, which heads in the mountains. He removed soon after leaN'in"" Con.>-ress to 
 
 opposite Ashe County. The County of Wash- Clinton, .Mississippi, where he died in 1828. 
 
 ington had just been formed and he was a[i- General Walker was twice married- first 
 
 pointed by the people, clerk of the first court Susan, daughter of Colonel Charles Robinson, 
 
 ever heard of in this section. He continued who died soon after her marriage- .second, 
 
 in office for four years. The war of the Revo- Isabella, daughter of William Henry, of York 
 
 lution then raging, his patroitic spirit caused District, South Carolina, by whom he had sev- 
 
 him to go to Mecklenburg and Join the army, eral children. One of his grandsons (S. R. 
 
 On recommendation of Colonel Thomas Polk Walker) now resides in New Orleans and with 
 
 he was appointed Lieutenant in Captain Rich- whose aid, and the autobiography of Genera", 
 
 ardson's Company, in Colonel Isaac lliiger's Walker, this sketch is chiefly compiled. 
 
 Regiment. He marched to Charleston in May, Colonel Wm.Graham,born 1742,died 1835, was 
 
 177fJ, and was stationed on James' Island. At long a resident of thissection of this State. He 
 
410 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 was born in Aa;j:;usta County ,Virj,-ini:i, in 1742, 
 ftnd came to North Carolina previous to the Rev 
 ohrtion. lie owned lands in Tryon County, lli^ 
 patriotic principles were well known,and when 
 the Revolution commenced, as Commanding- 
 officer, he had the general snperintetidency of 
 several Forts on the frontier of the State. 
 
 He Wa.ss a member from Lincoln County, of 
 the Provincial Congress which met at Halifax, 
 on Nov. 12th 1776, which formed the State 
 Constitution. He was in ciramand,in 1776, of 
 the Regiment from Liiicjln and RutherfM-.l 
 Counties, which marched under General Rutli- 
 erford, against the Cherokee Indians. 
 
 In the expedition of 1780, tiiat marched 
 from Charlotte for the relief of Charleston, he 
 commanded a Regin:ke;it from Lincoln County. 
 On their arrival at Charleston they found the 
 city SI completely invested, that they could 
 afford no relief. The Regiment returned, and 
 united with General Rutherford, in the attack 
 upon the Tories, under the command of Col. 
 Moore at Ramsour's Mill, Imt too late to ren- 
 der aid, aa the Tories ha<I two hours before 
 been defeated. 
 
 In Sept. 1780, he marched with his Reg-, 
 iment to join Colonels Canipbell, Sevier and 
 Shelby, at King's Mountain, but on account of 
 ill health did not participate in that glorious 
 
 victory 
 
 General Graham full of years and full of 
 honors, died in April 1805. He married .Mrs. 
 Susan Twitty, widow of Capt. Twitty, wlio 
 had been killed by the Indians, when with 
 
 Daniel Boone in Kentucky, (vsee' sketch of 
 Felix Walker page 408.) 
 
 John Gray Byaum, represented this County 
 in tlie Senate of the State Legislature in 1840, 
 18)0 and 1862, but was a native of Stokes 
 County. Graduated at the University in 1833, 
 he studied law with .ludge Gaston, and prac- 
 ticed with niuch success. lie was bold, incis- 
 iveand aggressive in hi-* ch.UMcter as a politi- 
 cian and distinguisheii for his enterprise and 
 ability. He remived from Rutherf trdton to- 
 Wilmington where he died October 17th, 
 18.57. 
 
 He left a son and a widow, n:e McDowell, 
 who at'terwards married Hon Richmond .M. 
 Pearson. His brother, William Preston Bynum, 
 was one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, 
 and distiiiguiished for his integrity, firmness, 
 and ability. Judge Bynum resided at Char- 
 lotte, and married Eliza, the daughter of the 
 late Bartlett Shipp, of Lincoln County. 
 
 John Baxter, born March .5,1819, represented 
 this County in the Legislature of North Caroli- 
 na 1842,and of the County of Henderson in 1852 
 and 1856, he now resides in Knoxville, Tennee- 
 see. He read law with James E. Henry, of 
 Spartinburg District, South Carolina, and 
 was admitted to the bar in 1841. In 1852 he 
 was elected Speaker of the House of Com- 
 mons. He removed to Tennessee and contin- 
 ued to practice his profession there. He is 
 at present Judge of the 0. S. District Court, 
 and resided at Knoxville, Tennessee. 
 
SAMPSON COUNTY. 
 
 411 
 
 SAMPSON COUNTY. 
 
 Gabriol Holmes, born 1709, died 182!), was 
 a mail distiuijnislied in the service of the State, 
 a native of this County. lie resided at Clinton. 
 His classical education was conducted by Rev. 
 Dr. McCorkle, of Iredell County, and finished 
 at Harvard University, he then read law with 
 Chief-.Iustice Taylor, at Raleigh. He was a 
 gentleman of polished manners, of a kindly dis- 
 position and of great po[ ularity with the peo- 
 ple. At an early period of his age (1793) he 
 was elected a member of the Legislature and 
 eontined by successive elections until 1813. 
 
 In 1821 he was elected by the Legislature 
 Governor of the State; and in 1825 he was 
 elected a member of the 19th and re-elected to 
 the 20th Congress (1827-'29). He died Sep- 
 tember 26, 1829, and his grave-stone in tlie 
 Congressional Cemeter}-, at "Washington, marks 
 this event . 
 
 General Theophilus Hunter Holmes was 
 born in Sampson County in 1804, and was 
 the son of Governor Gabriel Holmes, and 
 was a grandson of Theophilus Hunter, of Wake. 
 He married Miss Laura Wetmore, a niece of 
 Hon. Geo. E. Badger, and sister of Mrs. P. A. 
 Wiley, Mrs. Samuel J. Hinsdale, Rev. Dr. Geo. 
 B. and Wm. R. Wetmore. He was a brother of 
 Lucius Holmes, an eminent lawyer of Sampson 
 County. He leaves a daughter and three sons. 
 He graduated at West Point in the same class 
 Avith Jeiterson Davis and. served with distinc- 
 tion in the geminole war in Florida, and the 
 Mexi. n war, in which he was breveted fo _ 
 
 gallantry. He was for sometime Commander 
 of Governor's Island in New York. Hei'e- 
 signed early in 1801, and tendered his services 
 to his native State, was appointed Brigadier- 
 General by President Davis and rose to the 
 rankof Major-General and Licutenant-General 
 in the Confederate army. He served two 
 years in the trans-Mississippi department, 
 where he directed the movement of forty 
 thou.sand soldiers. He was one of the few 
 men in the Confederacy who declined promo- 
 tion. While in Little Rock, Arkansas, without 
 any solicitation, President Davis tendered him 
 a commission as Lieutenant-General. He de- 
 clined the promotion, and it was not until 
 President Davis again pressed it on him that 
 he accepted. He died in June 1880, after a 
 lingering illness at his home in Cumberland 
 Count}'. 
 
 William Rufus King,l:iorn April 7, 1786, died 
 April 17, 1853; an illustrious statesman, was a 
 native of this County. His ancestors were from 
 the north of Ireland, and among the earliest 
 settlers on the James River in Virginia. Hi.s 
 father, William King, was an intelligent and 
 successful planter and a popular and useful citi- 
 zen. He was a member of the State Conven- 
 tion ot Virginia, which adojjted the Federal 
 Constitution; removed to North Carolina and 
 became a member of the Legislature from 
 Sampson Count}-. His mother was of Hugue- 
 not descent. Mr. King was sent to the Uni- 
 versity of North Carolina when omy twelve 
 
412 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 years old. He entered the law-offiee of Win. 
 Duffy, of Fayetteville, and came to the bar in 
 1805. He was elected a member of the Legis- 
 lature in 1806 and re-elected in 1808 and 1809, 
 but on Ijeingjduringthe latter year ,eleeted Soli- 
 citor of this Judicial Circuit, he resigned his seat 
 in the Legislature. In August of the next year 
 he was elected a mendier of the 12th Congress 
 when only twenty- -four years old, but did not 
 take bis seat until the fall of that year, at the 
 1st Session of the 12th Congress, (1811 and 
 '13.) 
 
 The advent of Mr. King in Congress was at 
 a period of unexample I excitement. The pow- 
 ers of England and France seemed to rival each 
 other by orders and decrees in their efforts to 
 destroy American commerce. Every attempt 
 that reason could suggest to have them repeal 
 these unlawful acts were in vain. The nation 
 demanded at the bands of Congress decided and 
 vigorous action, even to the hazard of war 
 Mr. King unhesitatingl}' arrayed himself on the 
 side of the bold and patriotic spirits of the 
 House, who were determined to repel aggres- 
 sion l)j' force and maintain the rights and honor 
 of the nation. 
 
 The Berlin, Milan and Ramboulet decrees 
 were repealed by Frani'c, and indemnity 
 subsequently granted; but England persisted 
 in carrying out her nefarious "Orders in Coun- 
 cil." No alternative was left but an appeal to 
 arms, the ultimu. raiio of nations. In June 1812, 
 war with England was declared by the United 
 States, Mr. King voting and advocating this 
 measure. 
 
 He was re-elected to the 13th Congress, 
 (1813-15) and continued to support with all 
 his influence every measure that would enable 
 the government to prosecute the war to a suc- 
 cessful termination. The war being closed in 
 1816, Mr. King resigned his seat in Congress 
 to take the position of Secretary of Legation, 
 to Hon. William Finkncy, appointed Minister 
 
 to Naples and Russia. Mr. King spent two 
 years in Europe studying the institutions of the 
 various governments and the condition of their 
 people. On bis return home he moved (1818- 
 '19) to Dallas, in the then Territory of Ala- 
 bama, and was a member of the Convention 
 which formed a Constitution for the State, and 
 trom that State (with John W. Walker as a 
 colleague) he was elected a Senator in Con- 
 gress. Ho was c^ontinued in this exalted posi- 
 tion by repeated elections till 1844, when he 
 was appointed Minister to France; where he 
 remained until the summer of 1846, when he 
 returned. In 1848, on the resignation of Hon. 
 Arthur P. Bagbv as Senator, who was appoint- 
 ed Minister to Russia, .Mr. King was appointed 
 by the Governor of Alabama his successor in 
 the Senate, and in the next year he was elected 
 for the full term, by the Legislature. 
 
 In 1850, on the death of General Taylor, Mr. 
 Fillmore succeeded him as President. By a 
 unanimous vote of the Senate, Mr. King was 
 elected to the Presidency of that illustrious 
 body. 
 
 In 1852 he was placed by the Democratic Con- 
 vention on their ticket as Vice-President with 
 General Pierce as President. But his long and 
 successful career was now brought to a close. 
 His failing health had compelled him to seek 
 the mild climate of Cuba, and he there took 
 the oath as Vice-President before the Ameri- 
 can Consul. He returned to his home at Ca- 
 hawba, Alabama, where he died on April 17, 
 1853. 
 
 Mr. King never married. His long political 
 career was marked by acts of noble generosity 
 and patriotism; no stain ever effected his char- 
 acter. He was a fit type of the Chevaliers of 
 old, who were " without fear and without re- 
 proach." 
 
 James Martin, senior, who resided in this 
 County, was a native of New Jersey, and 
 
SAMPSON COUNTY 
 
 413 
 
 moved to North Carolina, May, 1774. lie was 
 brother to Govei'iior AlexaiKlor Martin, (al- 
 ready mentioned on pa^e 188.) ilia military 
 career is best recoi'ded in his own statement on 
 oatli, tiled in tlie I^easion Bureau of tiie Go%'- 
 erijuient. 
 
 1- 
 
 Stath of NoUTI! C.vrolin.v, 
 stokes County. 
 On the 17tli day of October, AD. 1832, per- 
 sonally appeared in open Court before the 
 Judge of the Superior Court of Law for the 
 County of Stokes in the State of North Caro- 
 liiux, now sitting;, Jarnes .Martin, senior, aged 
 ninety years in May last, who being tirst duly 
 sworn according to law, doth, on his oath make 
 the following declaration in order to obtain 
 the benefit of the .\ctof Congre-s, pa.ssed Jan- 
 uary 7th, 1832. That he entered into the ser- 
 vice of the United States of America in the 
 Kovdlutionari' wai, and served as herein sta- 
 ted. 
 
 In .May. 1774, I removed from the State of 
 New Jersey to (Tuilfoi-d County on the Dan 
 River, ami on the 22d day of April, 1774, 1 was 
 appointed Colonel-C nnmandant of the Guil- 
 ford liesciment of .Militia by Samuel Johnsoti, 
 President in Congress, then .sitting, and after- 
 wards made Governor of this State, and soon 
 after there was an insurrection of the Scjtch 
 Tories in the year 1775, in and ab;)ut Fayette- 
 ville. I was ordered by my brother., Alexan- 
 der .Martin, who was appointed Colonel of Sec- 
 ond Regular Regiment to raise the Guilford 
 .Militia and march theuito Fayette, as ordered 
 bv Congress in order to suppress tlicui, when I 
 accordingly went, and marche;l to Fayette 
 where said C )lonel Alexander Martin was 
 jdaced, having been made Colonel of the Sec- 
 ond Regiment in the regular s avii-e of the 
 United Srates, but previous to my liaving 
 marched there the Scotch T'ories had embodied 
 and had started to Wilmington, but were met 
 liy an armed force of .\lilitiu commanded U}- 
 Cijlonel Caswell, and a battle ensued at a place 
 called Moore's Bridge, and he killed their 
 Commander as he attempted to cross said 
 bridge, and the rest took to tilght;and said Col- 
 onel Martin and myt.elf took m ist of theirhead 
 nieii and imprisoned them, and then I u-as or- 
 dered home with my Ucgimcnt. The ti:,ic I 
 spent in raising tbcm, until I returned lini,;c, 
 was about two months as near as I can rt'col- 
 lect, for I kept no written jom'nal. 
 
 About the middle of Juiu', 177(i, soon after 
 the above campaign, I Wiis called upon and 
 commanded b}^ General Rutherford, of IJowan, 
 to raise as many of the (Jnilford .Militia as I 
 could muster, to march tiiem to join him at the 
 Catawba River, and to march thenc{! to the 
 Cherokee towns of the Indians in order to de- 
 stroy them. Accordingly I marched with 
 about 4000 Militiamen and joined the (leueral 
 as he ordered. Lieutenant-Colonel John Pais- 
 ley assisted mo to raise the men, and marched 
 with us, and thence he marched to the Tur- 
 key Cove at the foot of the Blue Ridge, and 
 thence crossed over it to the Swanano to 
 Pigeon River, thence to French Broad River, 
 and thence to Teimessee River where we came 
 to some of their towns, which we burnt, and 
 cut down their corn; moving f rom on(! town as 
 we destro^'ed it and luarclied to another. Our 
 Comnii.ssary had about 3000 beeves and pack- 
 horses loaded with sacks of ftour, and where 
 we encamped one night the beeves and pack- 
 horses destroyed the whole of it to the veiy 
 stuiups, and destroyed the grass to the hare 
 ground. 
 
 General Rutherford took the pick of the 
 better half of the army and went to the '-Over 
 Hills," as they were called, and left me with 
 the remainder of the troops to guard the pro- 
 visions until ho came back. lie was gone 
 ah )ut two or three weeks before lie returned, 
 but had 111 skirmishes with the Indians, and I 
 beliex'e saw none, and destroyed some of their 
 towns as he rep:>rted; and while be was gone 
 to the Southern Army of the Militia on the 
 same intention, we had marched through our 
 camp and fell into an ambuscade the Indians 
 had made ab )ut a mile and a half from my 
 camp and had a smart skirmish with them. I 
 heard their guns tiring very i)lain, and the 
 Commander sent to me for assistance, and in 
 the mean time I sent a Colonel Cleveland with 
 about loO men for his assistance, but before 
 Cleveland got to tlieni they had routed the In- 
 dians and killed about ten or twelve of them, 
 and they lost about as many of their .Militia 
 men. 
 
 I had sent out scouts every day to recon 
 iioitre the country but never haiipened to fa'i 
 into their ambuscades; and after having do 
 stroyed all their towns and corn we marchc I 
 for home by orders from our (General. A i'nw 
 of the rndia.s had skulked about our camp, 
 and a few of our men, when they caught ilicm 
 out single, they killed, but had lio battle with 
 them. And from the time I received the or- 
 
414 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENSES. 
 
 ders to raise tlie Militin, until we returned 
 home, (the orders to raise the Militia eanie to 
 me aliout the middle of June, 1776, and we did 
 not return until about the last of Oetolior or 
 first of November, 177(),) being about four 
 months in service in all. 
 
 After our return he had some little relaxa- 
 tion, until an express was sent to me from our 
 Court House, that Tories in the south end of 
 the County, now called Randolph County, were 
 in a state of insurrection with one William 
 Fields, their head Colonel, and wished to go to 
 the British at Wilmington. I repaired to the 
 Court House directly and ordered out Samuel 
 Gilaspie,our Captain of Light Horse Company 
 and to(jk b'ields, tlieir leader and brother, and 
 three or four more of their leaders, and brought 
 them prisoners to the Court House, and our jail 
 not being sutficieut I sent them to Hillsboro' 
 jail, and previously I had ordered all their guns 
 taken from them and all tliey could find among 
 the disaffected and bring them to the Court 
 House and give them (o the honest Wnig 
 party that had none, and the time I spent at 
 the Court House to order tlie suppression of 
 the Toi'ies in our County could not be less 
 than six weeks, ofi:' and on,and I returned home 
 to Dan River where I then lived; this is from 
 recollection, as I said before, for I kept no 
 journal. 
 
 In 1781, about the 1st of January or the last 
 of December, 1780, 1 was ordered and com- 
 manded by General Green to raise and call 
 upon the Guilford Militia en masse, and to 
 equip themselves as the law d.rects,and for me 
 to come and join in his camp under the regular 
 service and not to report without leave, but 
 guns were wanting by a number of the men, 
 and I had to have recourse to impress and l)or- 
 row as many as I could get, and I could raise 
 only al)out 200 to go with me to camp, and 
 they hearing that the British were man-hing 
 towards us in Guilford, it struck such a terror 
 on them that some of that number deserted 
 before the battle at Old .Martinsville; however 
 I marched and joined General Green with what 
 I had, and we retreated before the British un- 
 til we came to Roanoke and crossed the river 
 at Bo3'(rs Ferry and come to Halifax Court- 
 House in Virginia and encamped two or throe 
 weeks. The JBritish had followed us in sight of 
 the river, and sometimes were facing our rear, 
 but no skirmishes took place at that time and 
 they returned again to Guilford County where 
 they harrassed and plundered the inhabitants 
 as they pleased; an 1 General Green, in ILxli- 
 
 fa.x, had encamped more than three weeks, and 
 re-crossed the Roanoke River and marched 
 back in Caswell County and thence to part of 
 Guilford, just mannjuvering about until he 
 could collect all the Militia of the different 
 counties of the State, and also from Virginia, 
 to meet the enemy for battle. And I came 
 a.nd marched with General Greene to the High 
 Rock Ford on the Dan River and camped 
 there on the east side of it, and the British 
 manoeuvering on the west side of the County, 
 and General Greene after halting there about 
 three weeks thought he had collected all the 
 forces from Virginia and lower counties of the 
 State resolved to move toward the British to 
 give them battle, as he did. 
 
 He came to Guilford's old Court-House 
 where he made a halt, and hearing that the 
 Briti.sh was moving towards him he drew up 
 his men in three lines about 100 yards behind 
 each other and waited the advance of the 
 British. I was posted in the front line with 
 scarce a C(nnplete Captain's company, com- 
 manded by Captain Forbes, a brave, undaunted 
 fellow. We were posted behind a fence and 
 I told the men to set down until the British, 
 who were advancing, came near enough to 
 shoot; when they came in about 100 yards, a 
 British ofiicer with a drawn sword, driving up 
 his men. I asked Captain Forbes if he could 
 take him down; he said he could for he had a 
 good rifie, and asked me if he should shoot 
 then; I told him to let him come in 50 yards 
 and then take him down, which he did. It 
 was a captain of the British army, and at that 
 instant General Greene sent his aid-de-camp for 
 me to go to him, and I went and asked him 
 his command. He told me as he had begun 
 battle, and I had not a complete regiment, he 
 wished me to go with Major Hunter to the 
 Court House in case of a defeat, to rally the 
 men, which we did, and collected about -500, 
 and was marching them to the battle ground 
 when I met General Stephens, of the Virginia 
 Corps, retreating. 1 asked him if the re- 
 treat was by General Greene's oi'ders. He said 
 it was. I then retreated with him and or- 
 dered the men to repair to the Troublesome 
 Iron Works to outfit as General Greene had or- 
 dered me, which we obeyed The British then 
 took possession at the Court-IIouse, and after 
 a few days they moved off towards Wilming- 
 ton. General Greene hearing of their move- 
 ments, started after them, but our Militia of 
 the country being so disheartened I could not 
 bring any to join him again. This was in 1781; 
 
SAMPSON COITNTY. 
 
 415 
 
 the time I spent then from the time I re- 
 ceived orders, was about two months. 
 
 In 1778 or 177t>, I forijet which, a party of 
 Tories commanded l)y one Bryan, their leader, 
 on the Yadl<in River, rose in a Ixxly in Surry 
 County, and started to join the Britisliat Wil- 
 mington, and l)eing informed ot it by e\-[)ress, 
 I ordered out Captain Gilaspie witli his Light 
 Horse Company, anil I went witli tliem; I got 
 on their track, pursued as far as Warry Creelc 
 and found tliey had got out of our reach and 
 returned back again. Tiie time we spent then 
 until we returned home, was about six weeks, 
 that is one month and fifteen days. 
 
 We had then some relaxation until the year 
 1781, of better than two months, when about 
 the 1st of July I was ordered by General Ruth- 
 erford, of Rowan, to raise part of my Kegi- 
 meut. and to join him on his way to Wilming- 
 ton to try to dislodge a British Major Craig 
 stationed there. 1 raised about 200 Militia 
 men and niarcbed and joined hiin at the Raft 
 Swamp, and hearing a numlicr of Tories had 
 taken refuge in it, General Rutherford took 
 about one-half of the army and myself the 
 other; he entered the north end of it, and I 
 the south end. We made our way with much 
 ditHculty through bogs and morasses, and some 
 of the men and horsemen mired, (but got out 
 again,) but found no Tories nor anyliody else, 
 save several camps wbich we supposed had been 
 made by them. Hence we proceeded towards 
 Wilmington, but battled at a small stockade. 
 Fort Roslea. about 20 miles from Wilmington 
 of the southeast branch of the Cape Fear 
 River,near Fred'k Jones,and near a bridge over 
 it, and our army camped on the north side of 
 it. While we contemplated to storm the said 
 Fort we were saved the trouble and danger 
 without fighting by their vacating, which 
 we supposed was ordered by Maj. Craig, posted 
 at Wilmington. At this time we heard of 
 the captureof the British General Cornwallis, 
 being taking l)y General Washington at York- 
 town, near" the mouth of James river. We 
 marched then to the town of Wilmington 
 ■which we found was vacated by the British 
 Major Craig, and supposed it was by the order 
 of his Britisli General — I think his name was 
 
 Clinton, to leave the State and come to him, 
 and we thought it very lucky by their vaca- 
 ting the town we were released from the 
 danger of fighting, so we were ordered home 
 again. And the time we spent on this cam- 
 paign was from about the 1st of July until we 
 got home again, the 25th November, the same 
 year, 1781, was about four months. The whole 
 time I was in the service was sixteen months 
 and eleven days; this from my best recollec- 
 tion of memoiy, for I kept no written jour- 
 nal. 
 
 JAS. MARTIN. 
 
 Sworn and suliscribed in open Court the 
 year and dav aforesaid, this 17th day of Octo- 
 ber, 1832. 
 
 TIIOS. ARMSTRONG, 
 
 CLrk 
 
 This terminated his luilitary career. He rep- 
 resented Stokes County in the Legislature in 
 1791 and 1792. He left an interesting family; 
 one of them was Judge James Martin, alreadv 
 mentioned, page 400. 
 
 John Martin, a native of Essex County, Vir- 
 ginia, moved to North Carolina, in 1768. He 
 was active in Revolutionary times, subduing 
 the Tories, and making forays on them. In 
 politics as in war, he was active, spirited, and 
 successful. He represented Stokes County in 
 the Legislatures of 1798, 1799, 1811 and 1812. 
 He, like Yorick, was " a fellow of infinite jesr, 
 of most excellent humor." He died in April, 
 1822, and left many children to inherit his gen- 
 ial wit and humor. The mother of General 
 John Gray Bynum and of Judge W. Preston 
 Bynum was his daughter. 
 
 [Sketch of Joseph Winston will be found 
 on page 168, that of Benjamin Forsythe on 
 page 167. Both illustrious residents of this 
 County.] 
 
 =^;^;^iv 
 
416 
 
 WHEELER'S EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 SURRY COUNTY. 
 
 In 1775 this was a frontier County and was 
 considered to extend with the territorial limits 
 of North Carolina to the Mississippi. Its earl} 
 inhabitants were the devoted friends of Amer- 
 ican liberty. In that year(l 775 )her heroic men 
 formed a Committee of Safety; its journal has 
 been preserved, as also are names worthy of 
 record. Benjamin Cleveland was the Chair- 
 man, William Lenoir its Secretary, Joseph 
 Winston, Jessie Walton, John Hamlin, Sajm- 
 uel Freeman, Benjamin llerndon, Charles 
 Lynch, John Armstrong, James Thimpton, 
 Richard Goode, George Lash, David .Martin, 
 Charles Waddle and others, were Hb mend)ers. 
 Their resolutions lireathe a determined resis- 
 tance to oppression and formed a government 
 simple and effective for the protection of the 
 citizen. 
 
 Benjamin Cleveland, the chairman of this 
 committee, was one of the most active and 
 resolute heroes of the Eevolution and worth- 
 ily is his name preserved in one of the most 
 beautiful counties of the State. He devoted 
 himself to the cause of liberty. He was in 
 the Provincial Congress wliichmet at Hillsboro', 
 August 21,1775 and he was appointed an Ensign 
 in the 2nd. Continental Regiment, raised by the 
 State, commanded by Robert Howe. His luanie 
 does not appear in the rolls of this regiment, 
 which service was long and active,but we have 
 abundant proof that Colonel Cleveland was an 
 active, resolute and usefu. officer, and a terror 
 to the Tories. On one occasion two men, 
 (Janes and Coil), abandoned and atrocious 
 characters, were brought before him. Cleve- 
 land, after consulting some of the leading men 
 of tlie community, hanged them. For this act 
 
 he was indicted in the Superior Court of the 
 district at Salisbury for murder, but on a pe- 
 tition to the Legislature he was pardoned. 
 
 Soon after this event he' was taken prisoner 
 by some Tories at the Old Fields, on JSTewRiv- 
 er, to which place he had gone alone on private 
 business. They took him some distance into a 
 secluded portion of the country, and first re- 
 quired him to give them passes to protect them 
 from the Whigs. He knew when this was ac- 
 complished they would kill him. He was some 
 time in writing the passes, as he was but an 
 ordinary pensman, and he was in no particular 
 hurry. While thus engaged, his brother, Cap- 
 tain Robert Cleveland, with a party of men, 
 knowing the peril ot his brother, pursued and 
 fired upon them. They incontinently fleil; and 
 so Colonel Cleveland's life was saved. Several 
 months after this, one of these same Tories, 
 Riddle, his son and another man, were captured 
 and brought before Cleveland. He hanged all 
 three of them at the Mulberry Field Meeting 
 House, where the town of Wilkesboro' now 
 stands. Such resolution and promptness was 
 called for liy the dariug and desperate conduct 
 of the Tories. 
 
 He was, although daring and rash, a most 
 useful officer. He commanded the left wing 
 of the Americans at the battle of King's Moun- 
 tain, October 7, 1780, and was engaged in the 
 battle of Guilford Court House. 
 
 When Wilkes County was taken from Surry 
 (1777) he was one of the first members elected 
 to the Legislature; and in 1779 was elected to 
 the Senate. He had an impediment in his 
 speech, which prevented' any efibrt at oratory; 
 hut he was as brave as he was patriotic. For 
 
SUKllY COUNT V, 
 
 417 
 
 sometime he was the surveyor of Wilkes 
 County. 
 
 It is related of Col. Clevehmd that he owned 
 a copy of a very remarkable book, entitled, 
 " The Life and Adventures of Mr. Cromwell, 
 the natural son of Oliver Cromwell," written 
 by a man who was the son of a great beauty, 
 named Elizabeth Cleveland, a daughter of an 
 orlicer of the palace of Hampton Comt, who 
 had attracted the attention of the King. 
 Charles I, and who, when Oliver Cromwell 
 assumed the reigns of government, won his 
 sympathies; and the author of that book was 
 their offspring. The mother subsequently' 
 married a Mr. Bridge and disappeared from 
 further notoriety. This book was published 
 after tlie author's death in 17-31; a French 
 translation appeared in 1741, and again it was 
 printed in 1760. To this book Col. Benjamin 
 Cleveland attached great store, asserting that 
 through Its author he rightfully claimed de- 
 scent from Oliver Cromwell. 
 
 In his work on the Cromwell family. Noble 
 denounces this book as too marvelous to be 
 true, and whilst Noble, Guizot and others, who 
 liave written of Cromwell, assert that he most 
 probably had natural children, yet the e.\tra- 
 ordinary adventures recited in that book make 
 it appear to be a fictitious narrative 
 
 A most singular vanity and quaint c<)nccit! 
 We know that the Clevelands derive their 
 name from a tract in the North Riding of 
 Yorkshire, England, yet called Cleveland. 
 John Cleveland came early to Virginia and 
 settled in Prince William County, on that since 
 celebrated stream. Bull Run. Here Benjamin 
 was born. May 26, 1738; subsequently he re- 
 moved to Orange County, Va., and there mar- 
 ried Miss Mary Graves and in 1769 removed, 
 with his father-in-law and family to North 
 Carolina, settling on Roaring creek, in that 
 part of Rowan afterwards Surry, and later 
 Wilkes' County. In 177o (Sept. 1), he be- 
 
 came an ensign in Co\. Robert Howe's regi- 
 ment. He was in the Cross Creek expedition 
 1775; in the Cherokee war under Gen. liuth- 
 erford, 1776; at Brier Creek in 177<S-79. At 
 Ramsour's .Mill, and chased Bryan's band from 
 the State; he was also in the expedition to 
 New River. The brightest laurels won by 
 Cleveland were gathered on King's .Mountain. 
 Ilayne 8[)eaks of him tlius — 
 
 Now by God's grace, wo have thorn," cried Cleveland, 
 
 my noble colonel he, 
 Resting to pick a Tory off, quite cooly, on his Icnee; 
 " Now by God's grace, we have them, the snare is subtly 
 
 .set, 
 The game is baggetl: wo hold them safe as pheasants in 
 
 a net." 
 
 He was ever a source of terror to the Tory; 
 his subsequent career was a terrible ordeal and 
 his. adventures were most thrilling. 
 
 But they were incidents of the time. "Cleve- 
 land's Heroes" or "Cleveland's Bull Dogs," 
 welcome names to the patriots, became "Cleve- 
 lani's Devils" to the Tories.* 
 
 William Lenoir, born 1751, died 1839; the 
 Secretary of the Committee of Safety for Surr^' 
 County, just alluded to; was born in Bruns- 
 wick County. Virginia, on April 20, 1751, the 
 youngest of a family on ten children. When 
 he was only eight years old, his father moved 
 to Tari)oro' North Carolina. His education was- 
 limited, and was obtained by his own personal 
 exertions. When about twenty years of age he 
 married Ann Ballard, of Halifax, and in March, 
 1775, moved to the County of Surry(since erec- 
 ted into Wilkes County) and settled near Wil- 
 kesboro'. He was early an active and decided 
 iigent favoring the cause of independence. In 
 a private diary of his, of which I have a copy 
 in manuscript, he says: " I was a member of 
 the Committee for Suriy County, and clerk 
 thereof for about eighteen months, and duly- 
 attended its regular meetings at a distance of 
 
 *Draper's King's Jlouutain. 
 
418 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENSES. 
 
 fifty miles from home, without reward or fee. The Williams family is one of the moi^t ex- 
 I was appointed Justice hy the Congres-i and tensive as well as most talented families of om- 
 was one of the iirst appointed hy the General State. Its branches have extended to the West 
 
 Assembly, and under which I still act." 
 
 He served in the Indian war as a Lieutenant 
 under General Uutherforl, in Captain Cleve- 
 land's C<impany, where he suffered great hard- 
 ships. After this campaign was over, he was 
 constantly engaged in subduing the Tories, who 
 were daring and dangerous. In the battle of 
 King's Mountain he was a Captain in Colonel 
 Cleveland's Regiment, and in this desperate 
 and bloody victory was wounded in the arm 
 and side He was also at the defeat of Pyles, 
 near Haw River, and in the engagement his 
 horse was killed under him. He raised a com- 
 pany and endeavored to unite with General 
 Greene at the battle of Guilford, but did not 
 succeed. After tbe warhe returned home, and 
 was an active and useful citizen. He was the 
 oldest magistrate in the County; a Trustee of 
 the University; member of the Senate from 
 1781 to 1795, and for years Speaker of the Sen- 
 ate. He was a member of the Convention that 
 sat at Hillsboro' to consider the Constitution 
 of the United States, and took an active part 
 in its discussion. 
 
 The latter part of his life was devoted to 
 reading and retirement, and he manifested 
 mucli anxiety for the destiny of our Republic, 
 that at a day, in the near future, from abuse 
 
 and the Southwest ; and wherever they are they 
 have marked their career b}' enterprise and in- 
 tellect. 
 
 The annexed diagram will explain more fully 
 and the descriptive statement will enal)le us to 
 know all about the Williams family. 
 
 The progenitor of this family was Nathaniel 
 Williams, a native of ILmover County, Vir- 
 ginia. He had four sons and one daughter: I, 
 Robert; II, Betsy; III, John; IV, Nathaniel, 
 and V, Joseph. I, Robert settled in Pittsyl- 
 vania County, Virginia; a lawyer; marrie<l 
 Sarah Lanier; issue: (a) Nathaniel, Judge of 
 Superior Courts in Tennessee; (b) Polly, wife 
 of Matthew Clay, member of Congress 1797- 
 1813; (c) Lucy, wife of Robert Call; (d) Patsy, 
 wife of John Henry; (e) Sarah, wife of James 
 Chalmers, (they lived in Halifax, Virginia, the 
 grand-parents of Gen'l Jas. R. Chalmers, mem- 
 ber of Congress from Mississippi;) (f)Elizabeth, 
 wife of Rev. John Kerr, member of Congress, 
 father of John Kerr, also a member of Congress 
 1853-185.5, and of Mary Mary G. Kerr, wife of 
 Nicholas L. White, (see V. j. below,) and of 
 Martha, wife of Dr. Frank Martin; (g) Frances, 
 wife of Thomas D. Connally, of Tennessee ; to 
 them was jjorn Rev. John Kerr Connally, (who 
 married Alice C.,a daughter of James Thomas, 
 
 and corruption, and the wild theories of politi- of Richmond, Va.,) Mary E,, wife of James 
 
 cians it would follow tbe fate of the republics Turner Morehead, son of Governor J. M. More- 
 
 of other days, and so utterly fail. head, and Fannie, married to C. W. Gnerrant, 
 
 His character was one of great moral worthy of Rockingham, N. C; (g) Frances, wife.of 
 
 and [lure patriotism ;his friendships were sincere Gen. Barcilia Graves, 
 
 and ardent; his hospitality, open and unbound- 11, Cetsy, married to Hicks; III, John mar- 
 
 ed. Full of years and full of honors he de- 
 part eil this life May ti, 1839, at his home. Fort 
 Defiance, Wilkes County. He married, as al- 
 ready stated, Ann Ballard, of Halifax The 
 County of Lenoir worthily preserves his name 
 in grateful menioiy. 
 
 ried Williain.son, settled in North Carolina; is- 
 sue: (a) ('hristopher II., member of Congress 
 from Tennessee 1837-1843 and 1849-1853; (b) . 
 Eliazlieth, married to General Azeriah Graves, 
 grand-parents of Judge Thomas Settle. IV, 
 Nathaniel, married and had issue: (a) Robert, 
 
SURRY COUNTY. 
 
 419 
 
 appoiiitod Governor of Mississi[)i)i by Fresiclcnt 
 Jeiferson; (I)) Nathaniel, and (c) Elizabeth, 
 married to J5aldwin, of Louisiana. Jo.seph, llio 
 fourth and youngest son of Nathaniel Williams, 
 of Hanover, Virginia, when he came to North 
 Carolina was employed to aid his cousin Joseph 
 in mercantile pnrsuits. He was in the Revolu- 
 tionary War, and attained the rank of major ; 
 was engaged in several severe skirmishes with 
 the Tories, who were desperate and daring in 
 this section, and to whom Major Williaius was 
 especially obnoxious. He made many narrow 
 escapes. He raised ten children — eiglit sons 
 and two daughters. He was elected Clerk of 
 the Court in Surry County, and continued in 
 that position until his death in 1828. He mar- 
 ried Rebecca Lanier, of Granville. Issue: (a) 
 Robert, who, Lanman says, was born in Cas- 
 well County ; he was highly endowed by na- 
 ture and of a cultivated mind; the friend of 
 education and of every improvement in thewel- 
 fiire of the State. He was the indefatigable 
 Treasurer of the University, and for years one 
 of its most earnest and faithful trustees; dur- 
 ing the war he resided in Raleigh, and became 
 the Adjutant-General of the State, and to this 
 day the records of that office, as kept by him^ 
 are models of accuracy and neatness ; the only 
 perfect copy of all the acts of the General As- 
 sembly from 1776 were collected through his 
 labor and industry ; he was a Representative in 
 Congress from 171)7 to 1803, and iu 1805 was 
 appointed Commissioner of Land Titles in Mis- 
 sissi[)[)i Territory, and there served for four 
 years ; he then removed to Tennessee o.nd 
 thence to Louisiana, where he died ; he was a 
 lawyer' by prolession ; married Rebecca Smith, 
 of Granville, (b) Joseph, Clerk of Surry Supe- 
 rior Court ; married Susan Taylor ; issue : (I) 
 Susan, wife of James R. Dodge, (see page 393,) 
 to them were born (1st) Richard Irwin Dodge, 
 Col. U. S. A.; (■2d) Annie, wife of Chalmers L. 
 Glenn, of Rockingham ; (3d) Mary H. Dodge, 
 of Winston, Forsythe County, N. C. Col. 
 Richard Irwin Dodge has one son, Frederick P. 
 Dodge, of New York City; Mrs. Chalmers L. 
 Glenn has three eliildren : James D., of Rock- 
 
 ingham, in Legislature of 1881-83; Robert 13., 
 an attorney in Stokes County, in Legislature of 
 1881-83 ; and Edward T. B., of C. F. and Y. V. 
 R. R. 
 
 To Joseph and Susan Taylor Williams were 
 also born (II) Rebecca, wife of Frank Dedrick, 
 and (III) Midshipman John T. Williams, of 
 Warrenton. 
 
 (c) John, the tliird son of Josei)li Williams, 
 moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he com- 
 menced the practice of the law and was very 
 successful. During the Seminole War he 
 raised a troop of volunteers, composed of intel- 
 ligent and high-toned gentlemen ; among them 
 were Hugh L. Wliite, Thomas L. Williams, 
 and others. After a victorious campaign he 
 returned home, where he found a commission 
 appointing him colonel of the 39th Regiment 
 of Infantry, U. S. A. He was ordered to the 
 Creek Nation, and iu the engagement of Tolio- 
 peka, or the Horse-Shoe, his regiment bore the 
 brunt of the battle. The report of General 
 Jackson on this sanguinary conflict did not, in 
 the opinion of Colonel Williams, do justice to 
 his regiment, and hence the long enmity be- 
 tween them. From 1815 to 1823 he was a 
 Senator in Congress, highly respected for his 
 integrity and ability. In 1825 he was ap- 
 pointed by Mr. Adams, Envoy to the Central 
 American States. He married Melinda, daugh- 
 ter of General James White and sister of Judge 
 Hugh L. White, the candidate against Martin 
 Van Buren for the Presidency of the United 
 States. He was the father of Joseph' L. Wil- 
 liams, member of Congress from 1839 to 1843; 
 of Colonel John Williams, of Knoxville, and of 
 Margaret, first wife of Chief Justice Pearson, of 
 Nortli Carolina. He died at Knoxville, Au- 
 gust 7, 1837. 
 
 (d) William, a successful merchant and 
 farmer, lived at Strawberry Plains, East Ten- 
 nessee. He married Sarah, daugliter of Colo- 
 nel King, of Virginia; issue: Sarah, married 
 to Rev. Thomas Stringfield. 
 
 (e) Lewis, who lived and died iu political 
 strife. He was born about 1782, educated at 
 the University, wliere he graduated in 1808. 
 
420 
 
 WIIEELER'.S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 He entered political life as a lueniber of the 
 House of Commons in 1813, and was re-elected 
 in 1814. He became a Representative in Con- 
 gress in 1815, and continued a member as long 
 as he lived. Whilst attending Congress he 
 died on February 23, 1842. Greatly esteemed 
 for his sterling independence and his integrity, 
 his abilities were such tliat by common consent 
 lie was styled "the Father of the House." 
 Mr. Adams' oration on the occasion of his deatli 
 was a beautiful tribute to liis worth, as was also 
 the brilliant efl'ort of Mr. Rayner. He never 
 married. 
 
 (f) The twin-brother of Hon. Lewis Williams 
 was Thomas L. W^illiams, long the Cliancellor 
 of Tennessee; he married Folly McClung, a 
 niece of Judge Hugh L. White. The following 
 are their issue: (1st) Rebecca, wife of tlie son of 
 Gov. Shelby, of Kentucky ; (2d) Melinda, wile 
 of Ciiief Justice Naptou, of Missouri ; (3d) 
 Margaret,, wife of Hon. Jolin G. Miller, Slem- 
 ber of Ccmgress from Missouri, and atterward 
 of H. W. Douglas, of Nashville, Tennessee, 
 and (4tli) of Mrs. Dr. J. Walker Percy, of 
 Huntsville, Alabama. 
 
 (g) Rebecca, married Colonel John H. Wim- 
 bish, of Virginia; issue: Rebecca, wife of Dr. 
 Pleasant Henderson, and afterward of Hon. 
 
 'CJloger Q. Mills, Member of Congress from 
 ie.xias. 
 
 (h) Dr. Alexander, who marrie<l Catherine 
 Dixon, only daughter of Colonel William Dix- 
 on, first Postmaster (1782) of Greenville. 
 
 (i) Fannie, married Colonel John P. Erwin, 
 of Nashville, Tennessee. 
 
 (j) Nicholas Lanier, the last and youngest 
 son of Joseph Williams, is now in his 70th 
 year ; resides at Panther Creek, enjoying a 
 green old age, and preserving the respect and 
 regard of all who know him. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Council of State and also a Trustee 
 of the University. He married Mary G. Kerr ; 
 issue: (1st) Bettie, wife of John A. Lillington ; 
 (2d) Joseph, a Trustee of University, 1875, 
 married M. Lou, daughter of Tyre Glenn, of 
 Yadkin County ; issue: Glenn and Mary ; (3d) 
 Lewis, who lives in the old homestead in Yad- 
 kin; married Sarah A., daughter of Colonel 
 Wm. G. Smith, of Anson County ; issue: Mary 
 G., Eliza Helms, William Smith, Lena Pearl, 
 and Lanier Williams. 
 
 Jesse Franklin, born 1760, died 1824, the 
 son of Bernard and Mary Franklin, the third of 
 seven sons, was born in Orange County, Vir- 
 ginia, March 24, 1760. His education was lim- 
 ited. His father removed to Surry County just 
 
 ])revious to the commencement of the war. 
 Tlie Tories were so troublesome, ])hHidering the 
 Whig families of everything valuable, tliat a 
 Ibrt was built near Wilkesboro', in which they 
 secured themselves and families when actively en- 
 gaged away from home. Troops were raised to 
 suppress these outrages, when Jesse joined Colo- 
 nel Cleveland, his maternal uncle, to disperse 
 them. Of Colonel Cleveland as a partisan 
 leader and his severity toward the Tories w(! 
 have already written. Franklin was in tlie 
 battle of King's Mountain as Adjutant of Colo- 
 nel Cleveland's battalion, and displayed great 
 courage. When the enemy was conquered, tlie 
 commanding officer, after the fall of Ferguson, 
 delivered the sword of that soldiei- to Franklin, 
 saying, "You deserve it, sir!" This was pre- 
 served for a long time in the ilimily as an heir- 
 loom. He was also at the battle of Guilford 
 Court House. He performed some further un- 
 important military services, in partisan warfare 
 against tlie Tories, who formed a large part of 
 the population in this section. After the war 
 most of these Tories left this part of the State. 
 
 After discharging a .soldier's duty in the 
 field, Mr. Franklin then became useful as a 
 representative of the peojile. He entered the 
 House of Commons as a member from Surry in 
 1793, re-elected 1794, and in 1795 he became a 
 Member of the 4th Congress. In 1797 he was 
 again elected to tlie Legislature, and in 1799 he 
 was elected a Senator in Congress, and served 
 until 1805. In 1804 he was chosen President 
 of tlie Senate. It is worthy hei'e to remark 
 that at this date the President of the Senate 
 and the Speaker of the House (Nathaniel Ma- 
 con) were both of the delegation iVom Noi'th 
 Carolina. Proud days for the old North State! 
 
 In 1805 and 180G he was elected Senator of 
 the State Legislature; and in 1807 he was 
 again returned to the Senate of tlie United 
 States, and there served until March 4, 1813. 
 Governor James Turner, of Warren, was his 
 colleague in the Senate. His course in this 
 highest legislative body of the world was 
 marked by profound sagacity and elevated pa- 
 triotism. The high appreciation of his abilities 
 and his integrity is shown by his election as 
 President of the Senate and his appointment as 
 leading member on the most resjionsible com- 
 mittees. He was placed on the committee on 
 the celebrated ordinance of 1787 ; also on the 
 case of Smith, of Ohio, implicated in the trea- 
 son of Burr, and in other important positions. 
 
 He was a warm advocate "of Mr. Madison and 
 of his war measures ; and as violently opposed 
 
TYRRELL COUNTY. 
 
 421 
 
 to all monopolies and banks. At tlie close of 
 his term he 'declined a re-election, hopinj^ to 
 S[)end the balance of iiis days in repose and re- 
 tii-ement; but he accepted the appointnii.'iit, at 
 tlie special request of General Jackson, of com- 
 missioner to treat with the Cliickasaw Indians 
 on tlie Bluff', where Memphis now stands. 
 
 In 1820 he was elected by the Legislature to 
 succeed (irovernor John Branch ; and, after this 
 duty, he retired from tlie (oils and excitements 
 of public life ; and in 1824 his long, eventful 
 and useful career was terminated. He was dig- 
 nified and commanding in person, clear and de- 
 ci<led in his opinions, and displayed great sa- 
 gacity and common sense in all his actions. 
 
 Meshach Franklin, the brother of Ciovernor 
 
 Jesse Franklin, was distinguished as a states- 
 man and politician in Surry County. He en- 
 tered public life as a member of tlie House of 
 Commcitis in 1800, and was elected a I^leniber of 
 tiie 10th Congress (1807) and served till 1815 ; 
 afterward became a member of the State Senate 
 in 1828-29. He died in December, 1841. 
 
 Jesse Franklin Graves, one of the Judges of 
 the Superior Court, a native of Surry County, is 
 the grandson of Governor Fi'anklin, whose 
 sketch we have just given. He was Ixun Au- 
 gust ;n, 1829. He read law under Judge Pear- 
 son, and was a member of Governor Ellis' coun- 
 cil. He served in the Legislature in 1870-77, 
 but has wisely preferred the quiet practice of 
 the law to the varying fortunes of politics. 
 
 CHAPTER XL VIII. 
 
 TYRRELL COUNTY. 
 
 Mention has been made of Colonel Edward 
 Buncombe. Josepii Buncombe, the uncle of Col- 
 onel Edward Buncombe, the namesake of Bun- 
 combe County, came from the Island of St. 
 Kitts, West Indies, (where there were several 
 of the same name, John among the number,) 
 and purchased from the Moseleys the farm now 
 knoy.n as " Buncombe Hall," in that part of 
 Tyrrell which is now Washington County, North 
 Carolina. One of the Moseleys was Secretary 
 of State for a long time, and as all entries of 
 land were made in his office, he was aware of the 
 location of all the unentered lands in the State, 
 and wa.s thus enabled to make large entries for 
 himself. At wliat dale Joseph Buncombe came 
 over to this country cannot be go.thered from the 
 records or the memorj' of the oldest inhabitant. 
 He resided for several years at Buncombe Hall, 
 and the cellar of his house is still visible not far 
 I'rom the creek, in close proximity to an Indian 
 fort, Tin the margin of the swamp ; of him, at 
 this day, little seems to be known. He returned 
 to the West Indies on a visit, where he died, 
 and devised Buncombe Hall to his nephew, Col- 
 onel Edward Buncombe. 
 
 On the death of Joseph Buncombe, Dr. Lenox 
 and Robert West, of Bertie, went to the West 
 Indies for the purpose of making a speculation 
 out of Colonel Buncombe, and offered to pur- 
 
 chase his estate in Carolina. His wife, Eliza, 
 advised against a sale, and remarked that the 
 land must be valuable, or those gentlemen would 
 not have come so far to purchase, and prevailed 
 upon him to go and see it first himself, which he 
 did in 1765, or thereabouts. On viewing the 
 land, he was pleased with it, and returned to 
 St. Kitts in 17f>fi for the juirpose of moving his 
 family to Carolina. On his return he found a 
 new accession to his family in the person of 
 Eliza Taylor Buncombe. When this child was 
 twelvemonths old theColonel I'emoved his fiiniily 
 to Buncombe Hall — he then being twenty-four 
 years of age. Between his first and second visits, 
 the "old Hall," with fifty-five rooms in it, was 
 built for him by Colonel Lee. He brought with 
 him a chaplain, a physician, two or three ladies, 
 friends of Mrs. Buncombe, a shepherd for his 
 sheep, a flock of two hundred, a hind for his 
 cattle, and upward of two hundred negroes, 
 thinking to cultivate sugar. The maiden name 
 of Mrs. Buncombe was Eliza Taylor. At the 
 age of six j'ears the little girl, Eliza Buncombe, 
 was sent to New York to boarding school, and 
 boarded with the foniily of Mr. A brain Lott, at 
 that time Treasurer of the State, and a consignee 
 ol' Colonel Buncombe, and a ver}' wealthy man. 
 With thi.s fjimily she remained for ten years. 
 The other children, Hester and Thomas, were 
 
422 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 placed under the tutelage and protection of Cul- 
 len Pollock, Esq., of Edenton, I presume, after 
 the death of Mrs. Buncombe and after the Col- 
 onel went into the army. The former event 
 seems to have taken place not many years after 
 her arrival in tins country. On attaining wo- 
 manhood, (sixteenor seventeen,) Eliza Buncombe 
 was married to John Goelet, Esq. , of New York, 
 and was regarded, generally, as a most beautiful 
 woman, and, from various accounts, not far short 
 of Scott's apostrophe — 
 
 " Ne'er did Grecian chisel trace 
 A nymph, a naiad, or a grace. 
 Of lovelier form or finer face." 
 
 When the colonists were in open rebellion 
 against tlie mother country, on account of the 
 oppressive stamp and tea acts, the revolution in 
 its full blaze, and the British forces on our 
 shores, Edward Buncombe, having become some- 
 thing of a politician, and being a brave, chival- 
 ric gentleman, of a sanguine temperament, and 
 burning with patriotic ardor to bare his bosom 
 to the battle's rage in defense of his adopted 
 country's rights was appointed by the State Pro- 
 vincial Congress, which met at Halifax April 4, 
 1776, colonel of the Fifth Regiment of North 
 Carolina troops — he immediately conceived the 
 idea of raising, by enlistment, a regiment of sol- 
 diery, principally from the counties of Washing- 
 ton and Tyrrell, and sent out recruiting officers 
 to others. He soon succeeded in raising a regi- 
 ment, at Ms oivn, expense, which he quartered 
 and drilled at Buncombe Hall for about one 
 year, preparatory to joining the army under 
 Washington. By a simple computation it may 
 be seen that the raising and quartering of a 
 regiment which, probably, at that time consisted 
 of from 500 to 700 men, for about one year, by a 
 private individual, was a matter of no small ex- 
 pense ; hence the magnitude and justice of the 
 unliquidated claim- which tlie heirs of Colonel 
 Buncombe have, from time to time, asserted as 
 due them by the Nation. Full of ardor, and 
 enjoying, to an unlimited degree, the confidence 
 of his troops, with his blushing honors crowding 
 upon him in anticipation, young and buoyant, 
 he sallied forth to the scene of war and joined 
 General Washington's army, hut at what point 
 the writer has not been enabled to discover. 
 He served in the Revolutionary War to the date 
 of the battle at Germantown, (1777,) at which 
 time and j)lace he received his mortal wound. 
 As a wounded officer, he was put on his parole, 
 and on one occasion, being at the house of one 
 of Washington's generals, he remained stand- 
 
 ing. At length, being asked by the Generg.1 
 who he was, the Colonel made a response, char- 
 acteristic of the man, " I am Colonel Edward 
 Buncombe, Fifth tlegiment of North Carolina 
 troops, of Buncombe Hall, North Carolina, and 
 a gentleman, and if a gentleman should come 
 to my house, I would ask him to take a seat and 
 a glass of wine." At this rebuke the General 
 smiled, and accordingly invited him to both. 
 The Colonel, being somewhat convalescent of 
 his wounds, went to an evening party at a friend's 
 house in the city, and while descending the 
 stairway, by some means or other fell over tlie 
 railing, which fall, together with his wounds, 
 resulted in his death. He died in Philadelphia 
 at the age of thirty, leaving Cullen Pollock and 
 Dr. Lenox executors of his will. His wife, Eliza, 
 died anterior to the war, and her remains were 
 deposited in the middle aisle of St. Paul's 
 Church, Edenton. The Colonel's sister, Mrs. 
 Ann Caines, and Mrs. Buncombe's brother, the 
 Rev. Samuel Oakes Taylor, have frequently writ- 
 ten to the family in Carolina, and their letters 
 are still extant. When the Colonel left for the 
 war, he made Cullen Pollock his agent, who 
 leased out Buncombe Hall and the negroes there- 
 on to one Cook for $800 per annum for four years. 
 This Cook was cousin to the Colonel, but pos- 
 sessed a name of not very " genteel memory," 
 and of him, in connection with the Buncombe 
 family, might be said what Coriolanus said of 
 Rome : 
 
 "Thou hast lost the breed of noble blood." 
 
 Immediately on the death of the Colonel, this 
 Cook broke open a closet almost hermetically 
 sealed with wax, and surreptitiously abstracted 
 tlierefrom all the silverwai-e and plate, wliich 
 was afterward seen in possession of his heirs, 
 with the initials E. E. B. on them. He cut 
 down, for firewood, the left-hand side of the 
 beautiful avenue leading from the gate to tlie 
 house, and finally paid the price of his lease, 
 $3,200, by a certificate of discharge in bank- 
 ruptcy at Edenton. This agent, Cullen Pollock, 
 was so negligent that he permitted a large por- 
 tion of the Buncombe Hall tract to escheat for 
 the non-payment of taxes. Colonel Buncombe's 
 estate was sued to pay for Eliza Buncombe's 
 board for ten years, and several negroes were 
 necessarily sold. 
 
 Colonel Buncombe's popularity seems to have 
 been commensurate with his hospitality ; as 
 proofs conclusive of the former the foUovring in- 
 cidents may suffice : His repeated elevations to 
 the State Legislature, his appointment by the 
 
TYRRELL COUNTY. 
 
 423 
 
 Legislature to the Colonelcy, taking his horses 
 from Ills carriage three miles from tlie Court 
 House, tlien situated near the mouth of Scuji- 
 ]iernong River, at Mrs. Bateman's, anil thepop- 
 ulace hearing him upon their sliouhlers to and 
 from tlie Court House. Wlien liis friend, Culleu 
 Pollock, foisiding with the Loyalists, was tarred, 
 feathered, and shot at through iiis windows, his 
 carriage thrown over the dock, etc., so indig- 
 nant was Colonel Buncombe that he huckled on 
 ■his arms, took his bodyservant with him, manned 
 a boat and went to Edenton, and dared the man 
 or set of men who were at the liead of the as- 
 sault to sliow themselves. The instigator was 
 Nat. Allen, who, tliough regarded at the time as 
 a Hots[)ur, thinking with Falstaif that " discre- 
 tion was the better part of valor," secreted him- 
 self in his house until the Colonel had left town. 
 Their object undoubtedly was to drive Mr. Pol- 
 lock away and confiscate his estate. Buncombe 
 County, in selecting a name for their County, 
 duly appreciated the memory and eminent mili- 
 tary services of Colonel Buncombe, and did them- 
 selves great credit. 
 
 As an illustrationof his proverbial hosjiitality, 
 he often entertained most sumptuously a great 
 many friends after the true style of a West India 
 gentleman, his table being spread with the 
 richest viands, which palled not on the most 
 fastidious epicurean taste ; his door-latch was 
 alway hanging on the outside, and when he had 
 gentlemen at his house whose company he par- 
 ticularly appreciated, to prevent their leaving 
 lie had the bridge taken up and hid in the swamp 
 till he was willing they should leave. On his 
 gatepost, according to tradition, and the fact is 
 mentioned in "Jones' Defense of North Caro- 
 lina," was inscribed this distich — 
 
 " Welcome all 
 To Buncombe ILill." 
 
 Noble generosity, hospitality unparalleled ! 
 His particular associates and friends were Cul- 
 len Pollock, Dr. Lenox, Judge Ledell, Gov. 
 Johnston, Mr. Ilia, of Norfolk, Mr. Donaldson, 
 of Petersburg, Va., and others. And for such 
 a voluntary sacrifice of life and fortune in the 
 cause of his adopted country did he, during his 
 life, or have his Aem' since iiis immolation upon 
 tlie altar of that country, received at her hands 
 anything like fair indemnification or even ade- 
 (juatc compensation. All history tells us of the 
 "ingratitude of Republics." It has become 
 merged intoa political aphorism. Wliatashame- 
 ful commentai'y //ii's upon the text deduced from 
 the preceding notes. Another instance of his 
 
 giving succor to the opjjressed, against an infu- 
 riate majority, may be found in the caseof jjoor 
 Davidson, a Tory, who, when his life was in 
 jeo])ardy from the Republicans, found a refuge 
 in the carriage of Colonel I'uncombe, who carried 
 him to his house and thus protected him from 
 lawless violence. His reward is not of earth, 
 hut of heaven, for military ])rowess and chiv- 
 alric valor on the " tented field," and for gen- 
 tlemanly deportment and urbanity of manner in 
 private life have been permitted to pass away, 
 by an ungrateful country, without its suitableancl 
 merited requital. " Sic transil (jlorlri. mundi." 
 
 "Oil ! pity if thy holy tear 
 
 Iiiiniortal declis the wini; of lime; 
 'Tis when the soldier's hoiiorM ))ier 
 
 Demands tlie glitt'ring drop siiblhiie. 
 For who from busy life removed 
 Such glorious, daiig'roiis toil h.as prov'd, 
 As he who, on tlie enil)attled plain, 
 Dies bravely fightinj;', or nobly slain?"' 
 
 Onc! of his (laughters married Dr. Goelet, of 
 Washington ; another, Mr. Clark, of Bertie 
 County. 
 
 Colonel Buncombe was distinguished for his 
 undaunted courage, his martial appearance, and 
 his open, nnstinted hospitality ; worthy is his 
 name preserved in one of the most lovely Coun- 
 ties of our State. 
 
 The Pettigrew family is of French origin, but 
 at an early period branches settled-in both Scot- 
 land and Ireland. James Pettigrew, of the 
 Irish branch , was an officer in Ki ng James' army , 
 at the battle of the Boyne, (ir/JO)'between Will- 
 iam and James II. He emigrated to Amcn-ica in 
 1740,* and rested for awhile in Pennsylvania; 
 then \vent to Virginia, thence to North Carolina, 
 and finally settled in Abbeville, South Carolina, 
 where he lived to a good old age. When he re- 
 moved from North Carolina he left his third son, 
 Charles, who had been born in Pennsylvania in 
 1'743. This gentleman's early education was, in 
 part, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Waddle, (Wirt's 
 famous "Blind Preacher,") and in 1773 he was 
 made Master of the Public School at Edenton 
 by (lovernor Martin. In 1775 he went tt) Eng- 
 land to be admitted to holy orders, and was or- 
 dained by the Bishop of London. He returned 
 to North Carolina and devoted himself to his 
 field of labor. For years he was Rector of the 
 Church at Edenton. He married Mary, daugh- 
 ter of Col. John Blount, and thus became con- 
 
 *For many facts and mnchof tliis sk<'leh,seo Memorial 
 of J. .lolinston l'<'tli!;n'W, r.riyadicrCii'ncral in Confeder- 
 ate aniiy, bv \V. H.Trescott,' Charleston, 1S"(). 
 
424 
 
 WHEELEE'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 nected with an influential ianiily. His sym- 
 pathies with his countrymen were not confined 
 to his priestly relations, for in 1780 he accompa- 
 nied the troops called into service for a Soulliern 
 campaign. Soon after tlie Revolntion efforts 
 were made tohuild up more efficiently the broken- 
 down walls of the Church, and in 1794 he was 
 unanimously chosen, by tlie Convention, Bishop 
 of the new Diocese ; but ho died before liis ou- 
 secration. 
 
 Bishop Pettigrew Iwt one son, Hon. Ebeiie7.er 
 Pettigrew, who inherited not only tlie estate, 
 but the genius, energy and excellence of charac- 
 ter of his father. He was born near Edenton 
 March 10, 1783, and took charge of the estate, 
 on Lake Phel])?, draining and improving that 
 noble plantation by skill, science and enterprise. 
 For years he devoted himself entirely to agricul- 
 tural pursuits, avoiding politics and public life. 
 He was elected to the Senate of the State Leg- 
 "islaturein 1809 and 1810, and was nominated 
 as a candidate for the twenty-fourth Congress, 
 (1835-37,) in op^iosition to Dr. TliomasH. Hall, 
 one of the most popular and influential men of 
 the then dominant party, (Jackson — Democrat,) 
 and was triumphantly elected. As an evidence 
 of the regard and confidence of liis neighbors, 
 he received every vote but tliree in Tyrrell 
 County. 
 
 Such v.-as the acceptability of liis jmblic 
 service in Congress that he could Inive been 
 re-elected witliout opposition, but he percnip- 
 torily refused to serve. He now devoted him- 
 self exclusively to the pursuits (if agriculture. 
 Under his example and advice the country was 
 vastly improved. He (aught his neighbors how 
 to drain and cultivate tlie soil, and how to lay 
 off their canals and ditches. His own iarm^ on 
 the margin of his beautilhl lake, was tiie sub- 
 ject of universal admiration. Strangersfroni a dis- 
 tance visited it to viewits beantiesand the magni- 
 tude of the work. His life was one of labor and 
 "usefulness, and he left behind him the impress 
 of his energy and intellect. He certainly did 
 more to build up the County, to improve and 
 enrich it, tlian any man of his age. He mar- 
 ried. May 17, 1815, Anne, eldest daugliter of 
 William Shepard, Esq., of New Berne. Mr. 
 Siicpard was the lather of Hon. William B. 
 Shepard, Hon. Cimrles B. Shepard, and James 
 B. Shepard, and of Mrs. Jolm H. Bryan. He 
 died at Magnolia, in Tyrrell County, July 8, 
 1848, leaving several children, amoif'g tliem (the 
 third son) was — 
 
 J. Johnstiui Pettigrew, who was born at Lake 
 Scuppernong, Tyrrell County, North Carolina, 
 
 on July 4th, 1828. The earlier part of his life 
 was passed with his maternal grandmother ; from 
 his seventh to his fiftecntir year he was at the 
 school of Mr. Bingham, in Hillsboro'; in May, 
 1843, he entered the University of North Caro- 
 lina, then under the charge of that eminent 
 and successful preceptor. Governor D. L. Swain ; 
 his collegiate career was so brilliant as to have 
 becomeacoUege tradition. When hegraduated in 
 1847 the faculty, the trustees and the press were 
 exultant, and predicted for him a future of ' 
 brilliant success ; the event of his graduation 
 is an era in the history of that ancient iustitu- 
 ti(m. Nor were his classmates ordinary com- 
 ])etitors, they were powerful in tlie generous 
 struggle for knowledge, which Bacon says- "is 
 power." Their success in after life is evidence of 
 their mental superiority. Among them were 
 Alfred Alston, Duncan L. Clinch, Eli W. Hall, 
 John Pool, Matt. W. Ransom, Charles E. Sho- 
 ber, and Thos. G. Skinner, and others. That 
 the universal acknowledgment of his merits was 
 not confined to the partiality of friendship may 
 be inferred from the fact that Mr. Polk, then 
 the President of the United States, himself a 
 graduate in 1818 of the University, who was 
 present at the commencement, and accompanied 
 by Commodore Maury, at his suggestion, ten- 
 dered to Mr. Pettigrew tlie position of Assistant 
 Professor in the National Observatory, at Wash- 
 ington City. Crowned with the honors of his 
 alma mater, and promoted by the appreciation 
 of the Chief Magistrate of the Republic, with 
 the regard of liis teaciiers and the atfection and 
 admiration of his associates, and a large and 
 influential connection, who were proud of his 
 promise and powerful to sustain him in the 
 career of anibition ; with great mental gifts 
 highly cultivated, tke vista of life opened 
 to" Mr. Pettigrew bright and promising. His 
 positiiui at Washington was one that af- 
 forded access to the best society, as well as 
 opportunities of distinction in the scientific 
 world. 
 
 The oflices of the Observatory were eminently 
 filled by Maury, iNevvcome, and otliers. But 
 from a restless disposition, so often the coin- 
 paniiui of genius, wliich prefers conflict with 
 men in the battle of life rather than the se- 
 cluded pursuits of science, he remained only 
 for a sliort time at tlie Observatory. He felt 
 "cribbed, cabined, and confined" in the clois- 
 ters (d' that institution. Accordingly he entered 
 the law office of James Mason Camiibell, of 
 Baltimore, and commenced the study of law ; 
 upon tlie invitation of liis distinguished relative, 
 
TYURELL COUNTY. 
 
 425 
 
 Jiiiiies L. Pottij^rcw,* lie comjileteil liis law stud- 
 ies ill Ills office. Alter his udiuission to the bar, 
 at the instance of his I'riends, who wished him 
 to have every advantage that a finislied educa- 
 tion could present, he eniharked in 1850 on a 
 tour in Europe, where he spent two ycirs in 
 visiting England, Ireland, Germany, Hungary, 
 Italy, IS|iain, and Switzerland, studying their civil 
 and military institutions, their laws, and their 
 lonns of goverunient. While at Madrid he was 
 tendered the post ot'Secretary of Legiition hy Mr. 
 13arringer, then our envoy to Spain; this he 
 declined. He returned home and comuienced 
 the practice of lii-s profession at Cliarlestou, in 
 connection with his relative, James L. Petti- 
 grew. Although he enjoyed great success, 
 yet his connection Avith the bar was but of short 
 duration, for the excitement of politics had 
 sui)erior charms. Me took an active interest iu 
 the couvcntiou of the State to send delegates to 
 the Uincinnati convention, and in October, 1856, 
 he was chosen a member of the Legislature from 
 the City of Cliarlestou. Ilis career as a politi- 
 cian was hiief, but bi'illiaut and useful. He 
 was del'eated in the October election of 1858. 
 This disappointment enabled him to carry out 
 a i)urt)ose long cherished by him. Ho felt an 
 irrepressible desire for military service ; when 
 a student at Berlin he had endeavored to pro- 
 cure admission into the Prussian Army. He 
 again went to Europe and offered his services to 
 the Sarilinian Government; his ai)plication was 
 successful, but on Ids way to join the army he 
 met the news of the peace of Villa-Franca, 
 whicli put an end to his journey. He devoted 
 to study a few months in Spain, and returned 
 home at tlie ck>se of 1859, when he wrote a 
 book, ''Spain and the Spaniards" — a book of 
 the greatest interest and the sole memento left 
 of his taleuts as an author. Mr. Pettigrew re- 
 turned from Europe and was convinced, as he 
 long had feared, that the conflict between the 
 sections of our country was only a question of 
 time, and that, too, not very remote. With 
 this ccHivictioU he had been desirous of expe- 
 riencing active military service abroad on a 
 large scale ; therefore he closely studied works 
 on military science in various modern languages. 
 On his return he devoted himself to the ira]nove- 
 ment of the militia organizations. He was 
 elected Captain of a i-ifle company, which ho 
 drilled iu the zouave tactics — its efKciency he 
 had seen exhibited in Paris. Events of great 
 
 ♦This should be spollcfl Pcttio;ni ; tho South Carolina 
 branch kept tho French teniiiiial in their name. — Ed. 
 
 importance now crowded upon each other. Tiic 
 Stale of South Carolina seceded from the Union, 
 and called upon her sons to rally to the sup- 
 jxirt of that government which they had been 
 taught to love and obey. Major Anderson had 
 smldenly evacuated Fort Moultrie and secured 
 Foit Sumter under cover of tho night. Fort 
 Sumter was fired ujjon and surrendered, and 
 we were in the presence of civil war. The nn- 
 ex[)ected occupation of Fort Sumter precipitated 
 events. Pettigrew was ordered by Governor 
 Pickens to demand of Anderson the evacuation 
 of that fort. Tho result of that demand wo 
 give 111 Pettigrew's own words: 
 
 "To F. W' . Pickens, Governor. 
 
 "Sir: I have the honor to report that |iur- 
 suant to the instructions of your Excellency, I 
 proceeded this morning to Fort Sumter in com- 
 pany with Major Ellison Copers, Acting Adju- 
 tant of my regiment. We were courteously re- 
 ceived by Major Anderson, the commanding 
 otHcer. I stated to him in the presence of all 
 his officers that you had been astonished at the 
 reception of the news of his having transferred 
 his garriscm to Fort Sumter ; that by the under- 
 standing between the State of South (.'arolina 
 and the President the })roperty of the United 
 States was to be respected, and on the other 
 side the military posts should remain in an un- 
 changed condition. In a word, the question 
 was to be considered a jiolitical, not a military 
 one. I enforced strongly that we had per- 
 formed our part of this agreement ; that we 
 had discountenanced and repressed every attempt 
 of the people upon the ])roperty of the United 
 States, and I demanded iu your name that af- 
 fairs should be restored to tiieir previous condi- 
 tion. He replied that he was a Southern man 
 in his feelings upon the question at issue, and 
 had so informed the Department when ap- 
 pointed ; that he knew nothing of the agree- 
 ment mentioned; that he was the military 
 commander of all tho forts in tho harbor, and 
 did not consider that he had reinforced them 
 in merely transferring his garrison from one to 
 another ; that he had been informed that he 
 wouM be attacked in case the report of our 
 Commission was unfavorable ; that Fort Moul- 
 trie was indefensible against an ordinary skill- 
 ful attack ; that he had acted entirely on his 
 own responsibility. He declined to yield to my 
 demand. 
 
 " Very respectfully, 
 
 "J. Johnston Pettiurew." 
 
 All hopes of peace were ended, and each sec- 
 
426 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 tion prepared to take })art in the bloody arbi- 
 trament presented. The feeling of the South 
 was well expressed by Colonel Pettigrew, who 
 in July, 1861, received a stand of colors for his 
 regiment, (to which he had been appointed,) 
 and on receiving tliem said: "The flag of the 
 Republic is oui's no more. That noble stand- 
 ard wliicli so often has waved over victorious 
 fields now threatens us with destruction. In 
 all its former renowns we participated ; Soutli- 
 ei'n valor bore it in its proudest triumphs, and 
 oceans of Soutliern blood have watered the 
 ground beneath it. Let us lower it with honor 
 and lay it reverently upon the eartli." Col- 
 onel Pettigrew was offered tlie position of Adju- 
 tant-General under the belief that his adminis- 
 trative ability could accomplish more good in 
 organizing the forces of the State than by re- 
 stricting him to a single regiment. But he 
 preferred the active duties of the field, and de- 
 clined. At the request of General Beauregard, 
 and witli tlie approbation of the Executive, he 
 proceeded to organize a rifle regiment. Com- 
 panies were rajiidly raisetl and tendered to iiim, 
 and his selection of field and staff officers 
 agreed on. The regiment was tendered to tlie 
 Secretary of War, at Montgomery, then the 
 seat of the Confederate Government. The 
 views of the War Department were not to re- 
 ceive organized regiments, but only companies, 
 reserving to itself the selection of field officers. 
 This was not agreeable, and the several comj)a- 
 nies composing the regiment, unwilling to ac- 
 cept officers unknown to them, sought and ob- 
 tained admission into other regiments. This left 
 Colonel Pettigrew without a command, but his 
 ardent temperament would not allow him to be an 
 idle spectator in the fearful strife then imminent. 
 He went to Riclimond, to whicli place the Con- 
 federate Government had been removed, and 
 tendered his services. He was only in Rich- 
 mond a few days when he received a letter 
 from the Governor of North Carolina, inform- 
 ing him he had been ajipointed and commis- 
 sioned Colonel of the Twelfth Regin.ient of 
 North Carolina troops. On the next day he 
 started to his command at Raleigh. He was 
 soon ready for tlie fray, and marched with his 
 troojis to the front only a few days too late to 
 jiarticipate in the first battle of Manassas. 
 During the winter of 1861-62 he was encamped 
 at Evansport, on the Potmnac, and then at 
 Charleston, where his high military attainments, 
 his untiring devotion to duty, so won the ad- 
 miration and esteem of all associated with him 
 that without his knowledge he was apixjiuted 
 
 Brigadier. He called on the President, and to 
 his surprise he declined the appointment on the 
 ground that he had never been under fire, never 
 handled troops in action, and that no man who 
 had never been seriously tried in battle should 
 be appointed to be a Brigadier-General. The 
 President replied that he " was fully satisfied 
 witli General Pettigrew's qualifications; that 
 he had been besieged by applications for briga- 
 diership upon every conceivable ground — this 
 was the first instance of an officer refusing pro- 
 motion." Neither yielded, and Colonel Petti- 
 grew returned to Fredericksburg and remained 
 there a few days. At the expiration of that 
 time General French, his brigade commander, 
 was ordered to Wilmington. Major-General 
 Holmes, commanding at Fredericksburg, sent 
 for Colonel Pettigrew and urged his acceptance, 
 and said: "Colonel Pettigrew, it is important 
 to this command and to the country that you 
 take this office. I regard it as your duty to do 
 so." Pettigrew yielded his own convictions, 
 and wrote a letter of acceptance. 
 
 Soon after this General Pettigrew was ordered 
 to Yorktown, and with Whiting's Division was 
 engaged in the battle of Seven Pines ; while 
 the battle was raging he was instructed to drive 
 the enemy from a position in the woods, where 
 they were strongly posted. Tlie position had 
 been before attempted by a regiment, which had 
 fiiiled. In making the attack the regiment was 
 exposed to a fire of a batter}' of artillery on the 
 flank. Pettigrew, leading one of his regiments, 
 was attem[)ting to carry the ])Osition byassault_ 
 when he was wounded. An attempt was made 
 to remove him from the field ; exhausted from 
 the loss of blood, he enquired how the <lay had 
 gone, and when told that it was against us, he 
 insisted that the men should leave him and go 
 to tlie front to join their company. It was re- 
 ])orted that he was killed, and his friends 
 mourned for him as if dead ; he liad been taken 
 prisoner and was sent to Fort Delaware. When 
 exchanged , still sufferin g from his wounds, he re- 
 paired to his command, near Petersburg, and 
 joined his brigade in the army of Northern Vir- 
 ginia, under General Lee. He took part in the 
 liattle of Gettysburg. In the first day's figlit, 
 Pettigrew and his brigade were in the thickest 
 of the battle, and proudly bore his banner 
 against the retreating foe. His bravery was 
 Conspicuous ; his cool and heroic conduct was 
 magnetic ; it inspired his decimated command to 
 action and daring. 
 
 "I never realized before," said Capt. Jos. 
 Davis, " the worth of one man. His presence 
 
TYRKKLL COUNTY. 
 
 427 
 
 and liis cheering coiuniauds nerved the arms of 
 all." 
 
 On the second day his comiuand was held in 
 reserve. On the third day Pettigrcw was placed 
 in cliarge of Heth's division, and in that I'atal 
 and gallant charge, on Cemetery Hill, he was in 
 the line on the left of Piekett's command. His 
 was not a snpporting column. Pickett reached 
 the crest of the hill and held it awliile. Petti- 
 grew iiaving greater obstructions did not reaeli 
 that j)oint. Both were rcj)ulsed by an over- 
 whelming force wliich occupied an impregnable 
 ])Osition. Pettigrew fell iiainfully wounded ; 
 Burgwynn, l\Iar.s]iall, McCrea and Iredell, all 
 sons of Nortli Carolina, here gave up tlieir lives, 
 anil ])roved tliat Nortii Carolina had followed the 
 Confederate banners to the fui-tliest point. Tlio 
 in'ij;ht, warm bcjams of the sun on tlie 1st day 
 of July, ISf)!), shone on 3,000 as gallant men in 
 Pettigrew 's brigade as ever shouldered a mus- 
 ket ; on the morning of the 4th only 825 v.'erc 
 left. 
 
 The Coni'ederate army fell back upon Hagers- 
 town without any annoyance from theenemy, and 
 crossed the Potomac at Williamsport and Falling 
 Waters. General Longstreet's corps, of which 
 Heth's division formed a part, crossed at the latter 
 jdace. On the morning of the 14th of July, 
 18fi3, this division, after a weary night's march, 
 stopped for rest and breakfast about a mile and 
 a quarter from the bridge, at Falling Waters. 
 For some inexplicable reason General Heth had 
 not thrown out any pickets ; about 9 o'clock, 
 while he, General Pettigrew and several other 
 oificcrs were walking to the left of the division, 
 their attention was attracted by a small squad 
 of cavalry riding out of a wooded valley about a 
 mile off. Their small number, (about twenty- 
 five,) and tlieir jiroximity, led General Heth to 
 suppose they were a Confederate troop, and be- 
 fore the error was discovered they had reached 
 the group of officers, when a few scattered shots 
 werefired by these reckless troopers in sightof the 
 whole division. They made their escape as rap- 
 idly as they had made their attack. General Pet- 
 tigrew was shot through the bowels and mortally 
 wounded. He was carried to the house of Mr. 
 P>oyd, half-way between Martinslnirg and Win- 
 chester, where, on tlie ITth of July, 1863, three 
 days after being wounded, in tlie early stillness 
 of a summer morning, his gallant spirit rested 
 with his God. He died as he had lived, a brave 
 and noble man. 
 
 The Bishop of Louisiana, who was with him 
 on the sad ajid solemn occasion, declared that 
 "in a ministry of near thirty years, I never 
 
 witnessed a more sublime scene of Christian 
 resignation and of hope in death." ^ 
 
 When we study his earnest, nolde and self- 
 sacrificing character, his modest and reticent 
 demeanoi', his brave and daring courage, his 
 solid and extended acquirements, we can realize 
 the loss to our country and our State in his death, 
 and with Burke exclaim: "When death, by 
 one stroke, makes such a disj)ersion of talent, 
 virtue and accomplishments, we feel the vanity 
 of all eartldy pursuits. What shadows we are, 
 and what shadows we pursue !" 
 
 John Hooker Haughton, eldest son of John 
 and Mary R. Haughton, was born in Chowan, 
 August 29, 1810. He received his academic edu- 
 cation in the town of Edenton, and was gradu- 
 ated from the University, in 1832, with Thomas 
 L. Clingman, Thomas S. Ashe, James C. Dob- 
 bin, William F. Davidson, Robert B. Burton, 
 Thomas B. Hill, and others. He read law with 
 his distinguished kinsman, Thomas B. Haugh- 
 ton, of Chowan, and settled in Tyrrell, to which 
 County liis parents had previously removed. 
 There he practiced his profession until 1837, 
 when he removed to Chatham, and located at 
 Pittsboro'. In this large County, populated by 
 a thrifty and intelligent people, he soon ac- 
 quired a lucrative practice, and became a leader 
 at the bar in this and adjoining counties. In 
 1857, having purchased a plantation in the 
 County of Jones, he removed to New Berne, 
 where, following his profession with unabated 
 zeal and vigor, he soon ranked among the fore- 
 most lawyers at that bar, distinguished in the 
 history of the State for its able advocates and 
 jurists. Mr. Haughton was thrice married. His 
 first wife was a daughter of that influential, 
 lios])! table and genial gentleman. Dr. Robert 
 Williams, of Pitt. His second wife was Miss 
 Eliza Alice Hill, whom he married in 1838. 
 Miss Hill was a daughter of Col. Thomas Hill, 
 of the Gape Fear section, a gentleman of wealth 
 and high social position. By this marriage 
 Mr. Haughton became connected with many of 
 the prominent families of the lower Cape Fear. 
 Mr. Haughton's third wife was Miss Martha 
 Harvey, of New Berne, whom he married in 
 18r)8. She died May 26, 187G, and he survived 
 her only four days. Jlr. Haughton belonged to 
 tlie Whig party, and, until his removal to New 
 Berne, was the acknowledged leader of that 
 party in the County of Chatham. He repre- 
 sented Chatham both in the House of Cotnmons 
 and in the Senate, and he was, during his whole 
 life, prominently connected with all the political 
 movements in the State. He was nominated for 
 
428 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINIRCENCES. 
 
 Congress, but the district being largely Demo- 
 cratfc, was defeated by tlie Hon. James C. Dob- 
 bin. As a public speaker, Mr. Haugbton was 
 clear, logical and ibrcible. As a lawyer be was 
 learned, laborious and zealous, and always com- 
 ■nianded a leading practice in tbe Courts be at- 
 tended. Mr. Haugbton was cheerful and social 
 in liis disposition, fond of anecdotes and told a 
 story well. In all tbe domestic relations he was 
 kind, alfectionate, tender and true. He dis- 
 charged all bis duties with intelligence and 
 fidelity to his counti-y and State. In iiict, he 
 was a man of unusual public spirit and liberality, 
 and by bis large subscriptions to works of in- 
 ternal improvement greatly impaired his estate. 
 The war between tbe States deprived him of his 
 ample fortune and brought, with increasing 
 years, much trouble and anxiety ; yet be main- 
 tained bis cheerfulness to the last, illustrating 
 bow a good man could bear adversity as well as 
 pros[)erity witli equanimity. 
 
 Dr. Edward Ransom resides at Columbia, in 
 
 this (Tyrrell) County, lie is a native of Vir- 
 ginia, born in Gb)ucester County on tbe ]2tbof 
 February, 1833. He was educated at tbe Uni- 
 versity of Virginia and graduated at Hampden- 
 Sidney. He was first elected to the Senate in 
 1873, and in 1874 was elected an Elector on tbe 
 Grant ticket. In 1875 he was elected on an In- 
 dependent platform from Tyrrell Countyto the 
 Constitutional Convention. The position of 
 parties and of tbe State was critical in tbe ex- 
 treme. On the preliminary question of adjourn- 
 ment tbe parties were so evenly divided that upou 
 his vote depended whetlier tbe body should or- 
 ganize. Dr. Ransom was elected President and 
 turned tbe scale by which tbe State was re- 
 deemed. Dr. Ransom's course was apjiroved 
 by the State and by bis own constituents, for 
 be was elected to the Legislature tbe next year. 
 A biographical .sketch of that eminent North 
 Carolinian, Dr. Edward Warren, (Bey,) will be 
 found in tlie article immediately following tbe 
 preface, page xlix. 
 
 WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 " Beneath the rule of men 
 Enth-ely great, the pen is greater than the sword. 
 Ik-lioUrtlie arch m.igioian's wand ! In itself 'tis notliing, 
 Rut rateliing sorcery from a nia.ster's liand, 
 And aided hy the gigantic power of tlie press. 
 It paralyzes the tiu'ones of nionarchs." 
 
 — Jiii!wer. 
 
 " Few persons have ever lived in North Caro- 
 lina," says an editorial in tbe North Carolina 
 Unlvcrsilii Macjazine, February, 1854, "whose 
 biograpliy would be more interesting than tliat 
 of tbe late Joseph Gales, born 1761, died 1841.' 
 It is deemed proper to prelace tbe sketch now 
 attempted by some historical memoranda of the 
 press in our State. 
 
 Martin informs us in bis History of North 
 Carolina (vol. II, 54) tbata printing press was, 
 in 1749, imported into tbe Trovince, and setup 
 at New Berne, by James Davis, from Virginia. 
 This was greatly needed, for from the want of 
 such an establishment the laws were in manu- 
 script, scarce, defective and inaccurate. 
 
 The first book printed was " A Revisal of tbe 
 Laws, by Edward Moseley and Samuel Swan," 
 and, from its homely binding, was familiarly 
 known as Tlie Yelloiv Jacket. A copy of this 
 edition is in the Library of Congress, presented 
 
 by Hon. Samuel F. Phillips. Wlien the Gov- 
 ernment was moved from New Berne to Wil- 
 mington, in 1764, Andrew Stuart set up a press 
 in the latter town, and issued tbe first number 
 of the North Carolina Gazette cmd Weekly Post- 
 Boy. Tliis was followed by the Cape Fear 
 Mercury, in 1769, which was countenanced and 
 sustained by tlie Committee of Safety, but ilis- 
 continued at an early period of the Revolution. 
 It was in this paper that Gov. Martin first saw, 
 as he expressed it, "tbe most infamous publi- 
 cation of a set of people, styling tliemsclves a 
 Committee for the County of Mecklenburg, most 
 traitorously declaring tbe entire dissolution of 
 the laws, government and constitution of this 
 country." A copy of this ])aper was_ ibr- 
 waided in tbe dispatch of Gov. Martin to 
 his Government, dated 20th of June, 1775, 
 which paper was withdrawn for Mr. Stevenson 
 on the 15th of August, 1837, and has since iiever 
 been recovered. There was no newspaper in the 
 State from this date until the 28th of August, 
 1783, when Robert Keitli issued, at New Berne, 
 the first number of tbe North Carolina Gazette, 
 or Impartial Intelligencer and Weekly General 
 Advertiser. This was followed by tbe North 
 
WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 429 
 
 Carolina Gazette, printed by F. X. Martin, at 
 New Berne, 1794. The li.st of nevv.spajier.s 
 established before the publication of tlic Ralei<j;li 
 J'crfifilcr, by Joseph Gales, in 17'J1>.. may be 
 iound in the Universiti/ Magazine, III, 46. 
 
 The family of Gales came from Eckington, 
 England, where Josej)!!, the subject of our pres- 
 ent sketcii, was born. With no patrimony save 
 probity, aided by capacity and industry, he 
 comnienced the great battle of life, receiving as 
 good an education as the country afforded. At 
 the age of tliirteen lie was bound for a term of 
 seven years to the trade of book-binding and 
 piinting, and he became master of the cral't. 
 fie married, ill 1TS4, Winifred Marshall, daugh- 
 ter of John Marshall, of Newark-upon-Treut, 
 and established himself at Sheffield, Yorkshire, 
 as printer and publisher. In 1787, with little 
 capital, but with what is more valuable tlian 
 money, "the character of an honest and in- 
 dustrious business man," he is.sued the first 
 number of the Sheffield licgisl'T, which, by its 
 high tone, ]n'obity of purpose and ability, had 
 an unprecedented circulation. " His lines had 
 fallen in pleasant places," and he prospered. 
 The hajjpiness of his domestic circle was en- 
 hanced by the birth of several children, among 
 them were Joi^cpli, born at Eckington, April 10, 
 1786, died at Washington, July, 1860, and 
 Sarah, born at Sheffield, 1789, alter ward the 
 wife of W. W. Seaton. Mr. Gales was aided, 
 as an assistant editor, by a prepossessing youtli 
 who became an invaluable friend, and finally his 
 successor as editor of his journal. This youth 
 was James Montgomery, tlie poet. 
 
 The troubled waves of the Erencli Revolution 
 reached the shores of England and excited the 
 whole country. No district was more convulsed 
 tlian Sheffield. Mr. Gales and his co-editor 
 sympathized with the cause of reform. Riots 
 took place. Dr. Priestly 's hou.se was attacked. 
 Hamilton Rowiui escaped to America, as did 
 Priestly. Emmet was hanged. The habeas 
 corpus act was suspended. The printing of an 
 insurrectionary letter to the London Club was 
 traced to Gales' printing office, and Mr. Gales 
 was only saved from arrest and tlie jail by plac- 
 ing the German ocean between him and his per- 
 secutors. He safely readied Amsterdam and 
 went thence to Hamburg. Tiiere he was joined 
 by his family, and in September, 1794, tliey em- 
 barked for America, landing in Philadelphia, 
 then the .seat of Government. Here tlie steno- 
 graphic skill of Mr. Gales found ready emiiloy- 
 ment, as the art of short-hand, in which Mr. 
 Gales was well versed, was tlien almost un- 
 
 known in the United States. He soon purchased 
 a jKiper, the Independent Gazetteer, from the 
 widow of Col. John Oswald. Years of pros- 
 perity now followed the dark days that they had 
 passed. Tiiey met a warm welcome, and found 
 many of their old English friends, as Dr. Priestly 
 and others, refugees from oppression. Tiie yel- 
 low lever, in 1799, again visited Pliiladelphia, 
 and Mrs. Gales was one of the victims. Mr. 
 Gales yielded to the inducements jiresented by 
 some of the members of Congress from North 
 Carolina, and decided to remove to Raleigh. He 
 dis[)osed of his [lajier to Samuel Harrison Smith, 
 who, in 1800, accompanied the Government to 
 Wasliington, where his journal was rebaptized 
 as the National Intellujcneer. 
 
 Witli the characteristic kindness of a pure 
 and simple-hearted people, Mr. Gales found a 
 cordial welcome in North Carolina, and he at once 
 establishedajournal,reviving the name and motto 
 of the one with wbicli he had fouglit so brave a 
 contest in Sheffield, the Raleigh Itcijinter. Here, 
 at tills kind and genial capital of a noble old com- 
 monwealth, more than an ordinary lifetime was 
 passed, tranquilly and happily, by Mr. Gales, 
 who enjoyed in its lovely climate the blessings 
 of health and the respect of a generous com- 
 munity. Surrounded by warm friends and a 
 family of aflectionate and gifted children, the 
 autumn of life came to him with its mellow influ- 
 ences, and Mr. Gales sought repose from the 
 constant labors of prolonged and active employ- 
 ment. Mr. Gales decided to remove to Wash- 
 ington, where his son, Jo.seph, and his daughter, 
 the wii'e of Col. Seaton,' resided, to spend the re- 
 mainder of his days. This announcement pro- 
 duced some excitement in the place where Mr. 
 and Mrs. Gales had so long resided, and were 
 so warmly respected. They could not be parted 
 from silently and without emotion. A public 
 dinner, at which every respectable citizen was 
 jiresent, was prepared, and over which Governor 
 Swain jiresided ; guests from a distance, among 
 them Chief Justice Mar.shalland Judge Gaston, 
 united to pay tribute in expressions of respect 
 and aflection to their venerable iind beloved 
 friend. 
 
 Governor Swain, in his address, June A, 1867, 
 at Raleigh, on the erection of a monument to 
 Jacob Johnson, father of Andrew Johnson, 
 offers this grateful tribute to tiie memory of 
 Joseph Gales : "Tlie venerable Joseph Gales 
 was the senior of the editorial fraternity in years 
 and journalistic experience. No one that knew 
 him ever thinks of him butas the impersonifica- 
 tion of kindness, benevolence and charity. His 
 
430 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 eldest son, Joseph Gales, jr., at Washington, 
 was joined by W. W. Seaton, who had married 
 his sister. Col. Seaton liad edited a paper at 
 Raleigh, and thenames of Gales and Seaton were 
 transferred from the head of the Register to the 
 National Intelligencer, the Register returning to 
 its original status, with Joseph Gales, sr., as 
 editor, continued the assurance so familiar to 
 newspaper readers of the last generation : 
 ' Ours are the plans of fair delightful peace, un- 
 warp't hy party rage, to live like brothers.'" 
 Raleigh thus gave to Washington city abi'ace of 
 editors, trained in the office of the Raleigh Reg- 
 ister, who published, for nearly a half a century, 
 a paper that, for ability, fairness, courtesy, dig- 
 nity, purity and elegance of style, was pro- 
 nounced by a competent judge to compare favor- 
 ably with the London Times, and certainly 
 second to no gazette in this country." 
 
 Joseph Gales, sr., came to Washington, and 
 in his declining years found congenial occupa- 
 tion for his generous nature in managing tlic 
 affairs of the African Colonization Society ; and 
 surrounded by respect, friendshi]) and affection, 
 were the last days of Joseph Gales on cartli 
 spent. He died in 1841. His venerable wife, 
 whose genius had aided liis labors, and whose in- 
 telligence had brightened his checkered life, had 
 already preceded him by two years to that — ■ 
 
 "Bourne from whence no traveler returns." 
 
 The Register passed into the hands of his third 
 son, Weston Raleigh Gales, who edited it until 
 his death, July, 1848, and was succeeded by his 
 son, Seaton Gales, bt)rn 1828, died 1878, wliose 
 premature death all who knew him so deeply 
 regret. We trust a short slcetch of him will 
 not be unacceptable to our readers. He was 
 born in the city of Raleigh, May 17^ 1828, and 
 graduated at the University in June, 184S. On 
 the death of his father, in tlie following raontli, 
 he took charge of the Register, and, although 
 only twenty years of age, conducted it with 
 ability and dignity. 
 
 On the commencement of tlie war he entered 
 the army, and served four years as Adjutant- 
 General of a brigade in Northern Virginia, and 
 did a soldier's duty in nearly all the battles 
 fought by that army. After the war be con- 
 tinued his editorial duties, and was associated 
 from ISGfi to 1809 with Rev. William E. Pell in 
 the management of tlie Raleigh Sentinel, which 
 under their joint efforts acquired great popu- 
 larity and influence. He was nominated in 
 1875 as a candidate for the Convention to amend 
 the Constitution. His canvass was able, elo- 
 
 quent and active ; but his party was defeated. 
 As an orator he was fluent, ready, and eloquent ; 
 and as a lecturer, instructive, jileasing, and 
 learned. His addresses on Odd-Fellowship, in 
 behalf of the Oxford Orphan Asylum, and at 
 Charlotte on the Centennial celebration, were 
 very appropriate and exceedingly graceful. He 
 was apj>ointed Superintendent of the Document 
 Room of the House of Representatives at tlie 
 opening of the Forty-fifth Congress, which 
 position he held at the time of his sudden and 
 unexpected death, on December 2, 1878. He 
 left a wife and children to mourn their irrepar- 
 able loss. 
 
 Henry Seawell, born 1772, died 1835, lived 
 and died in Raleigh. He was a native of Frank- 
 lin County ; a man of strong native intellect, 
 but qf little education. He often represented 
 Wake County in the Legislature ; from 1790- 
 1800, 1801-2, 1810-12 in the Commons ; and 
 lS21-2f), 1831-32 in the Senate. In ISlO he 
 was ajipointed by the Governor one of the 
 Judges of tlie Superior Courts, but the Legisla- 
 ture did not ratify the appointment. In 1813 
 he was elected Judge, which he resigned in 
 1819. In 1832 he was again elected Judge, 
 which he held until his death, 11th October, 
 1835. About 1820 he was appointed by the 
 President one of the Commissioners under the 
 Treaty with Ghent. He married the daughter 
 of Colonel Jolin Hinton, and left a large family. 
 
 A few men of the State were better known 
 and more highly appreciated as an advocate, 
 judge, statesman, and financier than Duncan 
 Cameron, born 1777, died 1853. He was a 
 native of Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Bishop 
 Meade in his work, "Old Churches, Ministers, 
 and Families in Virginia," says: 
 
 " This family was ancient and highly respect- 
 able. There were four brothers (two of them 
 ministers) who came to America from Scotland. 
 Rev. John Cameron, one of these, succeeded 
 Mr. Craig. He was educated at the King's 
 College, at Aberdeen. His first charge in 
 America was St. James' Churcli, in Mecklen- 
 burg County, Virginia. In 1784 he went to 
 Petersburg, and after spending some years there 
 he went to Nottaway Parish. He taught school , 
 and was made Doctor of Divinity by the Col- 
 lege of William and Mary. As a teacher Ire 
 was thorough and methodical, stern and au- 
 thoritative, but he made good scholars. He 
 continued Rector of Cumberland Parish until 
 his death in 1815. His successor was theRev. Jno. 
 Micklejohu, whose name often occurs in North 
 Carolina history, but not as a regular minister." 
 
Wake county. 
 
 431 
 
 Rev. John Starke Ravenscroft succeeded him, 
 who ill 1823 was consecrated Bishop of tlie 
 diocese of North Carolina. Dr. Cameron mar- 
 ried Miss Nash in Cliarlotte, Virginia, hy whom 
 lie had several children, who inherited liis 
 virtues, piety and abilities. Among these was 
 the distingnislied subject of our present sketchy 
 who was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, 
 in 1777. lie studied law with Paul Carrington ; 
 came to the bar of North Carolina in 1798 and 
 settled in llillsboro', and there commenced the 
 practice. By his assiduity and acquirements he 
 soon attained fame and fortune. In 1800 lie 
 was appointed Clerk of the Court of Conference, 
 (then the court of last jurisdiction,) and prepared 
 and published the reports of cases decided in 
 that court. It was entitled, " Reports of Cases 
 Determined by the Judges of the Superior 
 Courts of Law and Equity of the State of North 
 Carolina, at their meeting on the lOtli June, 
 1800, held pursuant to an act of Assembly for 
 settling questions of law and equity arising in 
 the circuit, by Duncan Cameron, Attorney-at- 
 Law, Raleigh, from the press of Hodge & Boylan, 
 Printers of the State, 1800." This was an octavo 
 of 108 pages. In 1804 this court, which had 
 been styled the Court of Conference, was made 
 a court of record. The judges were required 
 to reduce their opinions to writing, and file 
 them, and deliver the same viva voce in open 
 court. The following year (1805) the name 
 was changed fjoni the Court of Conference to 
 the Supreme Court, and'converted from a tem- 
 porary to a permanent tribunal. Chief Justice 
 Taylor, "the Mansfield of North Carolina;" 
 Judge Hall, proverbial for integrity, amiability 
 and sound common sense, and Judge Henderson , 
 who in genius, judgment and power of fasci- 
 nation in social intercourse, was without a peer, 
 were, says Governor Swain, the three Judges 
 in 1822. ^Francis L. Hawks was the reporter, 
 who had not yet attained his 25tli year, but gave 
 promise of that distinction he afterward attained 
 in another sphere as a brilliant writer, a learned 
 divine, and eloquent speaker, who enjoyed a 
 higher transatlantic reputation than any other 
 American in tlie line of his ])rofession. ' Wil- 
 liam Drew, of Halifax County, standing on 
 the thin partition which divides great wit 
 and ph rensy , was Attorney-General. Of the bar 
 were Wm. Gaston, facile princeps, Archibald 
 Henderson, Joseph Wilson, Judges Murjdiey, 
 Ruffiu and Seawell; Hogg, Mordecai, Badger, 
 Devereux and James F. Taylor. In 180G, 1807, 
 1812 and 18i:J he represented Orange County 
 in the House of Commons. In 1814 he was 
 
 elected Judge of the Superior Court, vice Ed- 
 ward Harris deceased, which he resigned, after 
 presiding with satisfaction to tlie bar and the 
 country, in 1816. In 1819, 1822, and 1823 he 
 was in" the Senate of the Legi.slature. In 1819 
 he was chosen President of the State Bank. His 
 coui'se in the Legislature was marked by dig- 
 nity, urbanity and patriotism — especially in 
 the exciting ])eriod of tlie war with England ; 
 he was a leading and unflinching advocate for 
 its active prosecution. He was the devoted 
 friend of internal improvement, and of all 
 schemes to develop the resources of the State, 
 with whicli subject no one was more familiar. 
 He was a member of the Board of Internal Im- 
 jirovement, and tliere was no one in whose 
 judgment and opinion people had more confi- 
 dence and respect. 
 
 As a financier he was unrivaled, not only by 
 the clearness of his judgment as from the in- 
 tegrity of his character and the proverbial cau- 
 tion of the race from whicli lie came. For 
 years he presided over the largest banking iu- 
 stitution of the State, " the Bank of the State of 
 North Carolina," whose affairs he conducted with 
 unparalleled skill and success. He was elected 
 its President in September, 1831, and resigned 
 in January, 1840, and was succeeded by the 
 late George W. Mordecai, who married his 
 daughter. In private life he was a sincere 
 and unshrinking friend, a kind neighbor, 
 just and charitable. But, yet in his younger 
 days at least, he observed the advice of Polonius : 
 
 " Beware of eiitniiico into quarrel, 
 But Ijeing in, so l)ear tlij'self tliat tlie oppo-ser 
 Will beware of thee." 
 
 About 1804 he had an affair of luuior with 
 William Duffey, E.sq., in which Judge Cam- 
 eron was wounded. But in the course of his 
 long life, and especially its close, his career was 
 marked by Christian sincerity and benevolence, 
 and he was a devoted and humble member of 
 the church. He mairied, in 1803, Rebecca, 
 daughter of Richard Bennehan, by whom he 
 had several children. 
 
 Moses Mordecai was a native of Warren 
 County, and the eldest of the large and talented 
 family. He read law with George Fitts, and 
 settled in Raleigh, and became one of the most 
 able lawyers of tlie State. He died at Raleigh 
 at an early age. His brothers were: 
 
 Samuel, studied medicine under Dr. Stephen 
 Davis, graduated at I'hiladelphia and moved 
 to Mobile, where he acquired fame and fortune. 
 
 Alfred, giaduated at West Point, was sent 
 
432 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 •with McClellan to Europe to report upon tlie 
 improvements in warfare. On the commence- 
 ment of the Civil War lie resigned his commis- 
 sion . 
 
 George W. , who was a lawyer, President of the 
 Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, and also of the 
 Bank of the State of Nortli Carolina. He died 
 a few years ago universally respected and re- 
 gretted. 
 
 Edmund B. Freeman, was horn at Falmouth, 
 in the State of Massachusetts, in 1*795, and 
 died in 1848. In 1805 he was hrought to this 
 State by his father, the Rev. Jonathan Otis 
 Freeman, who for many years was at the head 
 of many classical schools of a liigh cliaracter — 
 as Murfreesboro', Salisbury, and elsewhere The 
 son, after completing his education, devoted 
 himself to the study of the law, and after due 
 preparation was admitted to practice. He, liow- 
 ever, never attended much to the profession. 
 In early life he became editor of tlie Halifax 
 Compiler, a paper publislied in tlie town of 
 Halifax. About tlie year 1830 he was elected 
 reading clerk of the House of Commons, and 
 continued to fill tliat office by successive elec- 
 tions lor several years. In 1835 he was cliosen 
 principal clerk to the Convention whicli was 
 then called to amend tlie Constitution of the 
 State. About the same time lie was appointed 
 deputy clerk of the Supreme Court, and con- 
 tinued to act as such, witli a short intermission, 
 until the death of his principal, John L. Hen- 
 derson, Esq., in 1845. He was then appointed 
 by the judges principal clerk of tlie court, and 
 continued in the oflrce until his duath, wliich 
 occurred on July 3, 1848, tlie very day on which 
 the court itself expired, being abolished by tlie 
 adoption of tlie new Cnustitution. As clerk of 
 their court, the judges had tlie most exalted 
 opinion of Mr. Freeman's eminent integrity and 
 capacity, and the members of tlie bar with 
 whom be was brouglit into contact and close re- 
 lations had not onlj' the most implicit confi- 
 dence in him, and regard i'or him, as an officer, 
 but also affection for him as a man. Indeed, it 
 has been truly said of him that he was honest, 
 competent and laithful in evei-y ]mblic duty 
 which he was ever called upon to discbarge, and 
 that in all the relations of private life he was 
 kind-hearted, generous and true. He was 
 twice married: "first to Miss Mary McK. Stith, 
 of Halifax, by whom he bad one child, and 
 then to Mrs. Fiireman, the widow of Wm. 
 Foreman, of Pitt County, who died many years 
 before him, without leaving any children by 
 him. His only child, a daugliter, married Ham- 
 
 den S. Smith, Esq., of Raleigh, who died a few 
 years ago, leaving bis widow and three sons, 
 who are still living. 
 
 We should do injustice to merit and to long 
 and i'aithful pulilic service were we not to record 
 the character and services of a servant of the 
 State, William Hill, who for nearly forty years 
 was Secretary of State, and died in this respon- 
 sible position. 
 
 William Plill was born in Surry (now Stokes) 
 County, N. C, on the 23d of September, 1773, 
 and died in Raleigh on the 29th of October, 
 1857, being eighty-four years, one month and 
 six days old. 
 
 Of his early life little is known beyond the 
 few brief reminiscences occasionally narrated by 
 himself. His father, who removed from Caro- 
 line County, Va., was a Baptist minister, a 
 sterling patriot and an honest man. During 
 the war of the Revolution his stirring appeals 
 stimulated the Whigs of this section. He was 
 Chaplain in the American army at the battle of 
 Guilford Court-house. His son William was 
 then about eight years old, and he well recol- 
 lected hearing the roar of the artillery, being 
 only four miles distant from the field of battle. 
 He has been heard to relate that a short time 
 prior to this battle a band of Tories called at his 
 father's house, where he and his mother were, 
 and inquired for his father. On being told that 
 he was not at homethey departed, avowing their 
 intention to hang him if they found him. He 
 had incurred their hate by his devoti(m to the 
 patriot cause. He was a member of the con- 
 vention tliat met at Ilillsboro' in August, 
 1775, to imjirovise a system of government for 
 the State. The maiden name of his wife, the 
 mother of the subject of this memoir, was Eliza 
 Halbert. She was a native of Caroline County,/' 
 Va. -' 
 
 The late Secretary had in youtli but lim- 
 ited educational fiicilities. He followed the plow 
 for several months during the year to obtain 
 money sufficient to pay his tuition at school the 
 remainder of the year. At the early age of six- 
 teen he taught school, thus improving his mind 
 while he earned a livelihood. 
 
 In the month of July, 1795, having obtained 
 a letterof introduction from Major Mark Hardin, 
 of Chapel Hill, to James Glasgow, then Secrc- 
 taiy of State, he came to Raleigh and entered 
 his (Glasgow's) office as a clerk. Associated 
 with him in the like capacity was William 
 White, Esq., who succeeded Glasgow in office 
 in 1798. He continued in the same position 
 under Secretary White until aliout Januarv, 
 
WAKK COUNTY. 
 
 433 
 
 1803, when he was niiirriod to Miss Surah, 
 ihiiigliter of Col. John (ileihly. Col. Geddy 
 was a stauncli Wlii;;'. He was captured l)y tlio 
 British and imprisoiu'd for a lonj:; time in 
 Charleston. S. C. lie was a member of the lirst 
 convention of the people lield in tiie State on the 
 25t]i of Auf^iist, 1774, at New Berne; also of 
 tlio convention held at liillsboro' on the 21.st 
 of Awgnst, 177") ; and he represented Halifax 
 (_,\)unty in tiie State Ijej^islatnre from 177-1 to 
 18:i5. 
 
 A son and four daughters, all now living, 
 were tlie fruits of this marriage. His wife died 
 on February 14, 1833. A short time after his 
 marriage ho engaged in the mercantile business 
 at Haywood, Chatham County, wliere he re- 
 mained but a short time, returning to Raleigh 
 during the year 1804. Here, for a while, he fol- 
 lowed tlie same ])ursuit, at Riciiard Smith's old 
 stand, Mr. Smith being then his clerk. At the 
 session of the Legishiture of 1804-5 he was ap- 
 pointed Jlagistrate for Wake County. At the 
 February term of the court of pleas and quar- 
 ter sessions in the year 1806, lie was elected 
 Register of the County ; and at February term, 
 1807, he was elected County Court Clerk, which 
 office he held until he was elected Secretary of 
 State in November, 1811, succeeding William 
 White, who died in October, 1811. 
 
 In the year 1834 or 1835 he again married. 
 His second wife was Mrs. Frances C. Blount, 
 relict of Joseph Blount, Esq., of Chowan 
 County. Her maiden name was Connor. Sbe 
 is a lineal descendant from John Archdale, a 
 Quaker, .wlio succeeded Philip Ludwell as Gov- 
 ernor of Carolina in the year 1694. Uy this 
 marriage there was no issue. 
 
 At the burning of the old Cajjitcd in 1831, 
 Mr. Hill succeeded, by strenuous efforts, in pre- 
 serving the records of his office, and had them 
 removed to what is now the site of the Deaf and 
 Dumb A.sylum. By laboring incessantly he 
 succeeded in arranging all his papers before the 
 meeting of the Legislature. 
 
 He held tire office of Secretary of State, 
 through all the mutations of party, to the day of 
 his death. 
 
 .Mr. Hill joined the M. E. Church in 1811, 
 when Bishops Asbury and McKendree jireached 
 in the old State-house. He was baptized jni- 
 vately, by immersion. There was then no 
 church building in Raleigh. The first church 
 built here was that of Rev. Mr. fTlendening, a 
 Unitarian, and the building is now used as a 
 shop. It is situated on Hargett street, near the; 
 shop of David Royster, sr. The next church 
 
 was the Presbyterian, and the next the Metho- 
 dist. The only person now living in Raleigh 
 who joined the church with Air. Hill is Wesley 
 Whitaker, sr. 
 
 Many years ago he journeyed to Tennessee, 
 then a!i almost unbroken forest. At that time 
 it was a perilous undertaking. Robberies were 
 by no means uncommon, and Indian outrages 
 were of frequent occurrence. The passage of the 
 mountains, too, was fraught with danger, as 
 there were but few roads, and they almost im- 
 passable. While there he met a widow lady 
 with an infant, lelt by her husbatid's death in a 
 land of strangers, friendless and alone. She 
 was endeavoring to make her way back to her 
 relatives in Carolina. Obedient to the generous 
 impulses of his nature he endeavored to secure 
 lier conrlbrt and to shield her as far as he could 
 fro)n the hardships incident to the journey, fre- 
 quently carrying her infant for hours in his 
 arms. In 1811, when a candidate for the office 
 he so long and worthily filled, he was oj)posed 
 by a gentleman of deserved poimlarity and pow- 
 erful family influence. Twice they received each 
 an e(iual number of votes. Several membeis of 
 the Legislature were confined to their rooms by 
 sickness, and a committee was appointed to visit 
 them and obtain their votes. One of these gen- 
 tlemen, a brother of the widow above mentioned, 
 hut an entire stranger to Mr. Hill, ree(dlected 
 hearing his sister speak of the kindness shown 
 her by him, and cast his vote, on that account, 
 for William Hill. That one vote secured his 
 election. 
 
 Jlr. Hill had two brothers, one of whom is 
 still living. The other was at the battle of the 
 Horse Shoe, under Gen. Jackson, and was called 
 by the Indians "Captain Big John Hill." He 
 luis been dead several years. 
 
 In conclusion we append an article, ])ublished 
 several years ago in the Asbeville Messcnijcr, and 
 supposed to have been written by the late Gen. 
 John G. Bynum : 
 
 " William Hill — Secretary of State. Perhaps 
 there is not a gentleman in North Carolina who 
 has held office as long, or given as general satis- 
 faction to the whole State through its represen- 
 tatives and private business intercourse, as the 
 one whose name stands at the head of this ar- 
 ticle. James Glasgow was the first Secretary 
 of the State of North Car(dina after the declara- 
 tion of Independence. He held that ofliee until 
 1798, and was succeeded by William White, 
 who held it till removed by death in 1811, when 
 the present Secretary took possession of an office 
 
434 
 
 WHEELER-8 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 tliat lie has held without interruption over forty 
 years ; ever foithful, ever at his post. Mr. Hill 
 was born in Sorry County, on Dan River, in 
 1773, we believe; his fatherwasa Baptist, and was 
 first recommended to consideration by a letter 
 (now in the Secretary's office) from Mark 
 Hardin to Glasgow. Amid all the changes of 
 political strife, the contention, ascendency and 
 overthrow of parties in the State, and the 
 consequent scrambling for office, the finger of 
 proscription has never been applied to our now 
 venerable citizen and faithful public servant. In 
 glancing at the order in which he has the books 
 and papers pertaining to his office arranged, 
 while paying him a visit in June last, we were 
 struck with the order, precision and methodical 
 arrangementofeverytliing belonging to this im- 
 jjortant public office. After years of labor, he 
 lias just com])leted the arrangement of every 
 book and pajier in his office in alphabetical order. 
 He begins with the counties commencing at A 
 and going through, then he takes up the names 
 in the same order ; then in the file of his -papers, 
 he takes up the years beginning with the first 
 records at 1(J94. The counties are arranged 
 from 1735, and State papers from 1776. A refer- 
 ence may be now had by him to anything per- 
 taining to the history of the State and the Col- 
 ony that has been preserved, in a moment's 
 time, for the last 150 years, now shrouded in tlic 
 gloom of by-gone days, and many and singular 
 and woeful are the musty records that are now 
 imprisoned and speechless upon his shelves. 
 The first grants given by the State of North 
 Carolina were dated in 1777. Mr. Hill is now 
 in a green old age, and little to hope from the 
 pleasures of this fleeting world more than that 
 consciousness, which is of m<jre value than gold, 
 of having honestly and faithi'uUy performed his 
 pai-t upon the stage of human action, with an 
 eve single to truth, honesty and the glory of his 
 (iod. 
 
 "His probation upon the confines of this 
 earth is fast ap])roaching that point 'where the 
 good man meets his fate, and evinces to the 
 world the excellence of religion and the blissful 
 reward of a virtuous and consistent course of 
 conduct. Such men are a blessing to the world 
 in life, glorify their Creator in death, and leave 
 the world the better tor having lived in it, and 
 their friends ' not without hope.' Mr. Hill lias 
 long been a faithful attendant, a sincere wor- 
 shiper and a consistent luember of the Metho- 
 dist Church. Long may lie live to adorn her 
 communion, and spread abroad in society the 
 sweet influences of virtue, honor and religion. 
 
 and when he dies may his exit bo calm, tri- 
 umphant and peaceful, for — 
 
 ' Death i.s the crown of life ; 
 Were death denied, poor man would live in vain. 
 Dcatli wounds to cure ; we fall, we rise, we reign, 
 Sprinf; from our fetters, hasten to the sliies, 
 Wliere hlooming Eden withers from oiu' sight. 
 The King of Terrois is the Prince of Peace.' " 
 
 His son. Dr. William G. Hill, was long a 
 resident in Raleigh, and much respected as a 
 generous and kind friend and skillful jihysician. 
 He died a few years since universally esteemed. 
 His son, Theophilus H. Hill, is named among 
 " the Living Writers of the South," by James 
 Wood Davidson, A. M., ISG'J. He is also a na- 
 tive of the vicinity of Raleigh, born 1836. He 
 is a lawyer by profession, and at one time edited 
 the Spirit of the Age. He wrote verses early in 
 life, always under impulse or inspiration, with- 
 out system or object. A small volume of Mr. 
 Hill's production appeared in 1861, entitled 
 " Hespor and other Poems," full of fire, ir- 
 regular, hasty and crude. His later poems. 
 Narcissus, A Gangese Dream, The Pit and the 
 Pendulum and Sunset, give proof of the poetic 
 genius he possesses, when regulated by study 
 and system. Rev. Dr. Craven, the President of 
 Trinity College, pronounces Tiie Song of the 
 Butterfly one of the finest of tliis kind of poetry 
 in tlie English language. Much may bo hoped 
 in the future of Mr. Hill. The critic in 
 "The Living Wi'iters of the South," on Mr. 
 Hill's productions, says that he has been too care- 
 less of the gift he possesses, trusting too much 
 to tlie inspiration of genius, rather than to re- 
 flection and study ; tliat there is something of 
 the moody style of Poe and not enough of clieer- 
 ful romance is his poems. 
 
 Mrs. Betty M. Zimmerman was a native of 
 North Carolina, the daughter of Rev. Thomas 
 Meredith, an eminent divine of the Baptist de- 
 nomination, and who resided near Raleigh, ed- 
 itor of the Baptist Recorder . Some years ago 
 she married R. P. Zimmerman, of Georgia. For 
 several years she resided in Augusta, but the 
 shadow of death there fell upon her life and 
 clouded its brightness, for there sleeps her boy, 
 to whom she alludes in the beautiful jioems, 
 Three Years in Heaven and Christmas Tears. 
 Since the war she has lived in Atlanta. Her 
 writings display genius and taste, and with 
 study and application she would rank among 
 the best of "The Female Writers of the South." 
 
 Andrew Johnson, born 1808, died 1875, was 
 a native of Raleigh. He })resents a notable in- 
 stance of a man rising from the humblest ranks 
 
WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 435 
 
 of socioty, rciiroil in igni)nuice uinl iiuligonco, 
 wlio by integrity, energy and j)erseverauce at- 
 tained tlie highest positions of Iionor and dis- 
 tinction. His father, Jacob Johnson, lived and 
 died in Raleigh ; his death was hastened by 
 exertions in saving tlie liil' of a friend from 
 drowning. 
 
 In the Raleigh Star of January 12, 1812, 
 the following obituary notice appeared : 
 
 "Died, in this city on Saturday last, Jacob 
 Johnson, who for many years occupied an hum- 
 ble but useful station. He was the city con- 
 stable, se.xton and porter to the State Bank. 
 In his last illness lie was visited by tiie piiuci- 
 j)al inhabitants of tlie city, by all of whom he 
 was esteemed for his honesty, sobriety, industry, 
 and his humane, friendly dis[)osition. Among 
 all by wliom he was known and esteemed, 
 none lament him, except perhaps his own 
 relatives, more than the publisher of this paper, 
 for he owes liis life on a particular occasion to 
 the kindness and humanit}' of Johnson." 
 
 His son Andrew was left an orpiian at a ten- 
 der age. He was apprenticed to a tailor, and 
 worked at the trade until he was seventeen 3'ears 
 old. He never had the advantages of school. 
 It is said that he was taught to read by his wife, 
 but this is doubtful. He told me that he was 
 when a boy delighted to hear Dr. William G. 
 Hill read, as he often did, to the boys at woik 
 from the speeches of Burke, Pitt and others 
 from the Columbian Orator, but he did not 
 know a letter of the alphabet. Dr. Hill, see- 
 ing the interest he took in the book, gave the 
 book to him. This was the first book he ever 
 owned, and from this book, by application and 
 industry, he, unaided by any one, learned to 
 read. He felt the importance of knowledge and 
 resolved — 
 
 " Witli such jewels 
 As (lie aspiring iiiiiid brings from tlio caves of linowledge 
 To win liis ransom from tliose twin jailers of the daring 
 
 heart. 
 Low birth a'^d iron fortune." 
 
 Ami in this fearful and unequal contest his 
 elforts wc^re successful. He moved to Grreenville, 
 Tennessee, and nutrricd ; here his conduct 
 was so exemplary that in 1830 he was chosen . 
 tnayor of the place ; in 1835 he was elected to 
 tlie State Legislature, and from 1843 to 1853 
 was a Representative in the Congress of the 
 United States. "Here," says Forney of the 
 Press, in his flowing, expressive style, "we 
 knew him well, a calm, quiet man, usually, 
 who bore the reputation among the members of 
 being too radical and fond of imiiracticable re- 
 
 forms. l>ut when roused he was impetuous, 
 rash and dogmatic. He took no advice from any 
 one, neither from the precepts of history nor the 
 examples before him. He never yielded his 
 opinions or condescended to explain them, or 
 ask other persons for their opinion. He seemed to 
 delight in alarming the timid or irresolute by 
 the rapid advance of his theories and ultraisms." 
 His land system and judiciary reforms were so 
 ultra to tliem that it was predicted that he 
 would be slii[)wrecked in the storm he had him- 
 self evoked, and swallowed up by the waves of 
 radicalism. I'ut he knew tiie workings of the 
 poj)ular tide intimately and thoroughly. The 
 storm came upon him and his opponents. It 
 elevated him and cruslied them forever. The 
 peoj)le had confidence in him, for he sprung 
 from the people — they " loved him because ho 
 first loved them." In 1853 they nominated 
 him for Governor (when tlie State had first been 
 carried by the Whigs against General Pierce) 
 in opposition to Gustavus A. Henry, an able, 
 active and pi'acticed statesman, whose eloquence 
 won for him the title of " The Eagle Orator," 
 yet, with these odds, Johnson fearlessly entered 
 thefield,and byargurnentand truth overcame the 
 elegant and ornate Henry. But the campaign 
 of 1855 was most critical in the political wars 
 of Governor Johnson, as it was the most impor- 
 tant. The canvass commenced with the meteoric 
 advent of the American party which was visible 
 in the political hori2»u. It had just begun 
 its career of unparalleled and brilliant success, 
 and had swept within its orbit men of all par- 
 ties and of all jjrinciples. This new organiza- 
 tion, called " the Know Nothing party," a most 
 appropriate name, was so called from "the secrecy 
 and mystery of its rites, binding its votaries 
 by oath to oppose the election of all foreigners 
 and Catholics, and to so amend the Constitution 
 that all foreigners should remain for twenty- 
 one years, after reaching this country, before 
 they should be permitted to vote. Never did a 
 task appear more hopeless than any op])osition to 
 this powerful and progressive party. Yet John- 
 son buckled on his armor for the fray — the more 
 formidable the advance the heavier was his 
 resistance and the heavier were his blows. The 
 election of Mr. Gentry, his opponent, seemed 
 so certain that Jolinson's friends invited him 
 to witlidraw, or at least begged him to be more 
 moderate in his declamation and less hostile and 
 aggressive in his attacks. But he spurned their 
 timid counsel, and opened his campaign by 
 heavy and stalwart blows, which fell heavier as 
 the contest thickened ; victory perched on John- 
 
43r. 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 son's baiiuer, and lie obtaiiieil a trimni)liaiit 
 majority. In 1857 lie was elected a Senator of 
 the United States, which he resigned in 1862 on 
 being ajipointed Military Grovernor of Tennes- 
 see. These were troublous and jierilous times, 
 but Governor Johnson bore himself as became 
 a man of courage and discretion. In 1864 ho 
 was elected Vice-President, and on the death of 
 Lincoln (Aiiril 15, 1865,) he became President 
 of the United States: His course as President 
 did not please tlie dominaat party, and on Feb- 
 ruary 22, 1868, the House of Representatives 
 ado])ted resolutions of imj)eachiuent, founded 
 chiefly on alleged misconduct under the ten- 
 urc-ot-office act. He was tried by the Senate, 
 organized as a high court of impeachment, and 
 acquitted. After his term as President expired 
 he returned to his home in Tennessee, and was 
 elected again Senator in Congress for the term 
 commencing 1875, and sat during the extra 
 session. He died soon after this at his residence, 
 July 31, 1875. The verdict ol' the country was 
 that he was an honest and remarkable man. 
 
 Three brothers, Joel, Joseph and Jesse Lane, 
 removed from the County of Halifax, on the Roa- 
 noke, more than one hundred years ago, to 
 Wake County, (formed 1770,) then Johnstun, 
 (1746.) Colonel Joel Lane built on Hillsboro' 
 street, in Raleigh, the residence of the late 
 Wm. Bojdan, and was one of the wealthiest and 
 best known of these brothers. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Provincial Council, which met at 
 Hillsboro' August 21, 1775. The General 
 Assembly in June, 1781, met at his house; 
 Colonel Lane was at this time Senator from 
 Wake, and continued to represent the County 
 up to the date of his death in 1795. On April 4, 
 l7y2, lie conveyed one thousand acres of land 
 to the State immediately contiguous to his resi- 
 dence, at Wake Court House, upon which the 
 City of Raleigh now stands.* 
 ^ General Joseph Lane, Governor Henry S. 
 •Lane, Senator and Governor of Indiana, and 
 the late George W. Lane, Judge of United States 
 Court of Alabama, were cousins, the grandsons 
 
 * The coimiiissiouers to whom this conveyance was made 
 were Frederick Ilargett, Willie Jones, Josepli McDowell, 
 Thomas Blonnt, AVm. Johnson Dawson and Jas. Martin. 
 The place was fixed by an ordinance of the convention 
 tliat met at Hillsboro' Auo;nst, 1788. The corner stone 
 of tlie State House was laid in December, 1792, and in 
 December, 1794, the General Assembly met in it for the 
 iirst time. It was consumed by accidental tire on June 
 21, 1831, and on July 4, 1833, the corner stone of the pres- 
 ent State House was laid. The first Legislature of North 
 Carolina met at the house of Ricliard Sanderson, on Lit- 
 tle River, in Perquimans County, in 1715. Up to tliis 
 time the Legislature had no local habitation. 
 
 of Jesse and great nephews of Colonel Joel 
 Lane. 
 
 Josepli Lane was born in Buncombe Ciiunty, 
 North Carolina, on Ueceinber 14, 1801. In 
 1804 his father migrated to tlie West, and 
 settled in Henderson County, Kentucky. 
 Thence, in the year 1816, his son went into 
 Warwick County, Indiana, where he became a 
 clerk in a mercantile house, a position in which 
 he remained some years. Having married and 
 fixed his ai)ode, as he then thought, ibr life, in 
 Vanderburgh County, young Lane soon gained 
 the confidence and esteem of the people, and at 
 the election of 1822 was chosen by the voters 
 of that County and Warwick a member of the 
 Indiana TiCgislature. He was barely eligible 
 when he took his seat, and though at that early 
 age "a man of family," he seems, from the 
 acc(.uints of his contemporaries, to have pre- 
 sented at his entrance into public life the appear- 
 ance of quite a juvenile legislator. Hon. Oliver 
 H. Smitli, for several - years a United States 
 Senatoi-, and a political opponent of General 
 Lane, in a work recently published, thus de- 
 scribed his appearance at tiie opening of the 
 Legislature, of which body ho himself was also 
 a new member : "The roll calling progressed 
 as I stood by the side of the clerk. ' The 
 County of Vanderburgh and Warwick,' said the 
 clerk. I saw advancing a slender, freckled-faced 
 boy, in appearance eighteen or twenty years of 
 age. I marked his step as he came np to my 
 side, and have often noticed his air since ; it 
 was General Lane, of Mexican and Oregon 
 fame in after years." 
 
 The youthful representative of Vanderburgh 
 and Warwick was subsequently freijuently re- 
 elected by the voters of those Counties, and con- 
 tinued to serve them, at intervals of one or two 
 years, in one or the other branch of the Legis- 
 lature, from the year 1822 to 1846, a period of 
 twenty-four years. To any one who knows the 
 fidelity of General Lane to tlie high and re- 
 sponsible public trusts confided to him, it is 
 needless to say, that as a member of the Indiana 
 Legislature he was vigilant, active and eflicient. 
 Tenacious of the rights and zealous to promote 
 the interests of his constituents, he was at the 
 same time just and liberal in liis views on all 
 questions affecting the rights and interests of 
 other portions of the State. At a time when it 
 was thought that Indiana, over-burdened with 
 debt, would be compelled to repudiate, he 
 labored untiringly to save the State from this 
 deep disgrace, and had the satisfaction at last 
 of seeing his efforts crowned with success. 
 
WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 437 
 
 Always capable of expressing his views clearly 
 and lorcibly ou every subject of legislation, 
 General Lane jnstly thouglit tiiat too much of 
 the time of all legislative bodies was consnined 
 in idle and unjjrofitable debate. He accordingly 
 did not obtrude his opinions on the body of 
 which he was a member, on all occasions, 
 whether suitable or unsuitable ; but strove to 
 discharge his legislative duties in a way which, 
 if not ([uite so ostentatious, lie well knew was 
 far more (^'editable to himself and useful to his 
 constituents. 
 
 An ardent supporter of the administration of 
 General Jackson and Martin Van Buren as long 
 as the latter ibllowed " in the ibotsteps of his 
 illustrious predecessor," General Lane took an 
 active part in the struggles between the Demo- 
 cratic and old Whig parties, and by his great 
 weight of character and frcijuent and laborious 
 canvassing, he infused a spirit like liis own into 
 the Democracy of his State. 
 
 In the spring of 1840 tlic war commenced 
 between the United States and Mexico, and a call 
 was made ui>ou Indjana for volunteers. Among 
 the first to respond to this call was Joseph Lane. 
 Without waiting for a commission from the 
 President, regardless of every consideration of 
 self interest or self aggrandizement, looking 
 only to the ftxct that his country required his 
 services, he enlisted as a private in Captain 
 Walker's company, Second Regiment of Indiana 
 Volunteers. His fellow-soldiers, however, had 
 no idea of permitting to remain in the ranks 
 one whom nature had so obviously endowed 
 with the qualities of a commander. He was 
 accordingly, on the completion o1' the regiment, 
 unanimously elected Colonel. Soon after, on 
 the recommendation of the Indisma delegation 
 in Congress, and witliout any solicitation on his 
 ])art. President Polk sent him a commission of 
 Brigadier-General. 
 
 The first .service, if service it can be called, 
 required of General Lane, after his arrival in 
 Mexico was extremely irksome and disagreeable. 
 Stationed by order of the commanding-general, 
 with his brigade, in a swamp on the banks of 
 the Rio Grande, lie was compelled to remain 
 inactive several montlis. Here, under the 
 swelting lieats of a tropical sun, his troops were 
 decimated by the diseases peculiar to tliat 
 pestilential climate. He, himself, was almost 
 the only man belonging to the brigade who was 
 not prostrated at some period during their 
 long confinement on that fatal spot. At length 
 the welcome order came to advance to Saltillo, 
 ol' which place, on his arrival, he was appointed 
 
 by General Butler civil and military Governor. 
 Here, however, lie was not long permitted to 
 remain, being ordered, with his command, after 
 the battle of Monterey, to join General Taylor. 
 
 On February 22 and 23, 1847, was fought 
 the great battle of Buena Vista, which in noth- 
 ing, save the number of the C(unbatants, falls 
 short of the most famous of modern times. 
 Tlie disposition of the American troops by tlie 
 commanding-general was such tliat, <luriug the 
 engagement, the brigade of General Lane was 
 in the hottest of the fight from the beginning 
 to the end. The hostile operations of the op- 
 l)osing armies, resulting in the great battle of 
 the 23d, commenced on the heights around 
 Buena Vista on the 22d. On the afternoon of 
 that daj', the Mexican lines being sufficiently 
 advanced, a sliell thrown i'roiii a howitzer, by 
 order of Santa Anna, was the signal for the 
 attack. Immediately a heavy fire, in continued 
 rolling volleys, was opened by the Mexican light 
 troops under Ampudia, upon the American 
 skirmishers on the opposite ridge of the moun- 
 tain. The Americans replied with spirit, and 
 the firing was kept up with much animation on 
 both sides, but without any definite result, 
 until darkness put an end to the combat, and 
 both parties retired, to await a renewal of the 
 strife on a more extended scale on the following 
 day. 
 
 On the morning of the '23d the battle was re- 
 newed, and raged with the greatest fury through- 
 out the day. Tlie first movement of Santa Anna 
 was to turn the lett flank of the Americans. 
 Four companies, under Major Gorman, were de- 
 spatched by Gen. Lane to intercept tliis move- 
 ment. Soon after, three companies of the Second 
 Illinois, and three of Marshall's Kentucky regi- 
 ments, were sent to Gorman's assistance. While 
 these troops were engaged with the enemy on 
 the brow of the mountain, a large body of Mexi- 
 cans, six thousand strong, advanced to the plain, 
 toward the position held by Gen. Lane. He im- 
 mediately formed his little band, now reduced 
 to 400 men, into line, to receive the onset of 
 this immense force. Hardly was this movement 
 completed when the Mexicans opened a tre- 
 mendous fire from their entire line, which was 
 returned by the Americans with ])romptness and 
 good eftect. " Nothing," says an eye-witness, 
 "could exceed the imposing and iearful appear- 
 ance of the torrent of assailants, which, at this 
 moment, swept along toward tlie little band of 
 Lane. The long lines of infantry delivered 
 a continued and unbroken sheet of fire. But 
 their opponents, though few in number, were 
 
438 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 undismayed, and defended tlieir position with a 
 gallantry worthy of the highest praise. Several 
 times I observed the Mexican lines, galled by 
 the American musketry, and shattered by 
 the fearful discharges from O'Brien's battery, 
 break and fall back, but their successive forma- 
 tions beyond the ridge enabled them to force 
 the men back to their position, and quickly re- 
 place those who were slain." 
 
 Thus commenced the battle on the plain of 
 Bueua Vista on the morning of the 23d, and- 
 continued to rage with unabated fury and vary- 
 ing success to that close of that memorable and 
 eventful day. In j)roportion to the violence and 
 impetuosity of the assaults of the Mexicans on 
 the American lines, was the steady and unshaken 
 firmnesswith which those assaults were received. 
 If at any time a regiment, overcome by superior 
 numbers, was compelled to give way, another 
 quickly advanced to the rescue, drove back the 
 enemy, and enabled it to regain its former posi- 
 tion. In this way the Mexican General was 
 kept at bay, his strength defied, his most skill- 
 ful combinations and manceuvers baffled and de- 
 feated by his vigilant and active foe. Late in 
 the afternoon, finding stratagem and force alike 
 unavailing, the day drawing to a close and no 
 chasm yet opened tor his legions in the ranks ot 
 the eneniy, Santa Anna determined, bj' assailing 
 the weakest part of the American line with an 
 overwhelming force, to make a last desperate 
 effort to win the day. Collecting all his infantry, 
 he ordered them to charge the Illinois and Ken- 
 tucky regiments. Tiiese brave troops made a 
 gallant resistance against the fearful odds op- 
 posed to them ; but, seeing their leaders fall, and 
 overpowered by vastly superior numbers, they 
 gave way and began to fall back. Gen. Lane, 
 at this critical moment, hastened forward with 
 liis brigade, and opening a destructive fire upon 
 the Mexicans, checked their advance, and en- 
 alded the retreating regiments to form and return 
 to the contest. This was Santa Anna's last 
 struggle on that hotly-contested and bloody field. 
 Night spread her mantle over the scene of con- 
 flict. The weary Americans sank to repose on 
 a gory bed, expecting a renewal of the strife on 
 the following day. Morning came — but no 
 enemy appeared. Silently during the night, 
 Santa Anna, with his shattered legions, had re- 
 tired, leaving the victorious Americans masters 
 of the field. 
 
 Gen. Lane, having been transferred in the 
 summer of 1847 to the line of Gen. Scott's 
 operations, reached Vera Cruz in the early part 
 of Septemlier. On the 20th of that month he 
 
 set out toward the City of Mexico with a force 
 of about two thousand five hundred men, con- 
 sisting of one regiment of Indiana and one of 
 Ohio volunteers, two battalions of recruits, five 
 small companies of volunteer horse, and two 
 pieces of artillery. This force was subsequently 
 augmented at Jalapa by a junction with Major 
 Lally's column of one thousand men, and at Pe- 
 rote its strength was further increased by a com- 
 pany of mounted riflemen and two of volunteer 
 infantry, besides two pieces of artillery. Several 
 small guerrilla parties appeared atdifferenttimes 
 on the route and attacked the advance and rear 
 guards, but were quickly repulsed ; and the 
 column continued its advance unmolested along 
 the great road leading through Puebla to the 
 City of Mexico. 
 
 At this time Col. Childs of the regular army, 
 with a garrison of five hundred effective troops 
 and one thousand eight hundred invalids, was 
 besieged in Puebla by a large force of Mexicans 
 commanded by Santa Anna in person. This 
 general, notwithstanding his many defeats, with 
 a spirit unbroken by misfortune, and an energy 
 that deserves our highest admiration, however 
 much we may reprobate the cause in which he 
 was engaged, had collected the remnant of his 
 beaten army, determined, if possible, to wrest 
 Puebla from the gi'asp of the American general, 
 Scott, and thus cutoff his communications with 
 the sea coast. The gallant Childs well under- 
 stood that the maintenance of his post was of 
 the utmost importance to the success of the cam- 
 ■ paign. Every officer and soldier under his com- 
 mand seemed also to comprehend the immensity 
 of the stake ; and both officers and soldiers ex- 
 hibited the loftiest heroism, and the most un- 
 yielding fortitude, in meeting the dangers and 
 enduring the fatigues and privatio'ns of a jiro- 
 tracted siege. Aware that a strong column, 
 under Gen. Lane,- was marching from Vera Cruz 
 to their relief, the great object to be gained by 
 the garrison was time. Santa Anna, also aware 
 of Gen. Lane's approach, redoubled his exer- 
 tions to carry the place by storm, superintend- 
 ing the ojierations of the corps in person, direct- 
 ing the guns to such parts of the defenses as 
 appeared most vulnerable, and watching with 
 intense anxiety the effect of every shot. Con- 
 vinced at length by the obstinate resistance of 
 the besieged, and the lessening distance between 
 him and his advancing and dreaded foe, that he 
 must abandon his position and encounter the 
 "Marion of the war" in an open field, he 
 silently and cautiously withdrew, and with the 
 main body of his troops moved in the direction 
 
WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 439 
 
 of Huciitla, iiitentling, wlien Gon. Lane liad 
 passed tliat point, to iiiake an attack upon liis 
 roar, wliik' anotlier strong force sliould assail 
 him at the same time from tlie direction of Pu- 
 ehla. Gen. Lane heing informed of Santa Anna's 
 movements, at once penetrated liis designs. 
 Witli tlie promptness of decision disphiyed in all 
 liis milifary operations, he djvided his force, 
 leaving tlie Ohio volunteers and a battalion of 
 recruits, with two field guns, to guard the wagon 
 trains. With the remainder of his column lie 
 marched, by a route diverging from the main 
 road, directly toward Huentla. 
 
 On the morning of October 9th the people 
 of Hnamantla were startled and dismayed to 
 behold the formidable and glittering array 
 spread out over the neighboring hills. White 
 flags were immediately hung out in a token of 
 submission, and tlie place seemed to have sur- 
 rendered without a blow from its panic-stricken 
 inhabitants. But suddenly the advanced guard, 
 under Captain Walker, having entered the town, 
 was assailed on every side by volleysof musketry. 
 He immediately ordered a cliarge upon a body of 
 500 lancers, stationed witli two pieces of artillery 
 in the plaza. A furious and deadly combat en- 
 sued. Gen. Lane advancing at the head of his 
 column encountered the heavy reinforcement or- 
 dered up by Santa Anna, who had now arrived 
 with his whole force. Soon the roar of battle 
 resounded through every street, and street and 
 plaza were reddened with blood and covered 
 with heaps of the slain. The Mexicans, for 
 a short time, combated their assailants with 
 the energy"- and fury of despair. But tlie steady 
 and well-directed valor of the soldier of tlie 
 " Republic of the North," bore down all oppo- 
 sition. The Mexican ranks were broken and 
 tlirown into disorder ; the order to retreat was 
 given ; and the American flag waved in triumph 
 over the treacherous city of Huentla. 
 
 This was the last field on which Santa Anna 
 appeared in arms against the United States. 
 Tliis remarkable man, universallyacknowledged 
 to be able and active, was never a successful 
 Commander. Wliether tliiswant of success is to 
 be ascribed to the superior generalship of tlie 
 leaders and prowess of the troops opposed to 
 liim, or to his own instability of purpose in the 
 very crisis of battle, when vigor and decision 
 are most re(iuire(l, we will not stop to ini^uire. 
 Having, during the progress of the war, col- 
 lected several large armies, and led them to de- 
 feat, he had determined with that which re- 
 mained to him to make a last effort to retrieve 
 his fortunes, and Huentla was selected as the 
 
 Waterloo, wliere his waning star should shine 
 out in cloudless effulgence, or sink to rise no 
 more. If he did not encounter a Wellington on 
 that field, he encountered one wiio, with Well- 
 ington's courage, united many of the higher 
 qualities of a military' commander. Perhaps ho 
 relied upon Gen. Lane's want of exjierience ; 
 but the courage and conduct of the latter at 
 Buena Vista should have admonished him of the 
 hopelessness of a contest in an open and equal 
 field with such an officer, at the head of troojis 
 comparatively fresh, in high spirits, with full 
 confidence in the skill and courage of theif 
 leader, and burning to rival the heroic deeds of 
 their countrymen at Chapultepec and Cerro 
 Gordo. Although Santa Anna from this time 
 withdrew from an active jiarticipation in the 
 contest between the belligerent nations, the 
 bloody drama in which he liad played so con- 
 spicuous a part was not yet closed. Much re- 
 mained to be done to complete the conquest so 
 auspiciously begun on the banks of the Eio 
 Grande and prosecuted with such vigor by Scott 
 in the valley of Mexico. Many bloody fields 
 were yet to bo won ; many desperate bands of 
 guerrillas yet to be defeated and dispersed, to 
 render the subjugation of the country complete. 
 
 Defeated at Huentla, the remnant of the 
 Mexican force fell back on Atlixo, where, on 
 October 18th, a large body, with munitions 
 and supplies, and two pieces of artiller}', were 
 collected, under the orders of Gen. Rea. Gen. 
 Lane hearing of the concentration of the enemy's 
 troops at that point, hastened with the small 
 force at his disiiosal to attack tliem. Al'ter a long 
 and fatiguing march on a hot and sultry day, 
 he encountered the enemy strongly jiostcd on a 
 hill-side, vvitliin a mile and a half from Atlixo. 
 The Mexicans made a show of desjieiate resist- 
 ance, but being vigorously assaulted by the cav- 
 alry, closely followed by the entire column, thej' 
 gave way and fled in confusion toward the town. 
 It was not until after night-fall that the whole 
 command of Gen. Lane reached Atlixo, having 
 mjirched ten Spanish leagues since eleven o'clock 
 in the forenoon. Disposing his troops in such 
 mannei- as to command the approaches b}' the 
 main roads, he opened a vigorous cannonade 
 from a heiglit which commanded the town. 
 The guerrillas, however, had fled, and the aii- 
 tliorities having soon after surrendered tlie place 
 into his hands, his weary troojis entered the 
 town and sought the repose they so much 
 needed. 
 
 It is impossible, within the limited space al- 
 loted to this sketch, to present a detailed account 
 
440 
 
 WHEELER'S REMmiSCENCES. 
 
 of all Gen. Lane's military operations at this 
 period. In authentic histories of the war and 
 official documents filed in the archives of gov- 
 ernment, the reader will find tiie record of his 
 achievements — his long and toilsome marches 
 by niglit and by day over a wild and rugged 
 country, full of narrow defiles and dangerous 
 passes ; his frequent surprises of the enemy ; his 
 sudden incursions far away into remote valley 
 and plain ; liis fierce combats and glorious vic- 
 tories. At Tlaxcala, Matamoras, Jalapa, Tu- 
 lancingo, Zacuata})lan,' as at Huentla and 
 Olintla, Mexican valor yielded to the force of his 
 impetuous and well-directed assaults. On every 
 field tlie ranks of tlie enemy went down before 
 tlie tliundcring charge of his cavalry, the fierce 
 onset of his resistless infantry. The faTne of 
 his achievements soon spread tlirougli Mexico, 
 and the terror with which the enemy was in- 
 spired by his deatli-dealing blows and almost 
 ubiquitous presence, was equaled only by the un- 
 bounded confidence and enthusiasm infused into 
 his followers by bis gallant bearing, and tlie 
 prestige of a name ever relied on by them as tlie 
 sure guarantee of victory. For one quality as 
 much as any other, perhaps more than even his 
 dauntless courage. Gen. Lane was distinguished 
 throughout tlie war — humantfyto thevauquisJied. 
 His bright fame was unsullied, his escutcheon 
 untarnished bya single act of wanton outrage or 
 crnelty during tlie wiiole time lie bore a commis- 
 sion in the American army. Wlien the figlit 
 was over and the victory won, tlie field of car- 
 nage where a short time before foeman liad met 
 foeman in deadly conflict, presented the specta- 
 cle of stern and swarthy warriors imbued with 
 tlie liumano spirit of their leader, bending over 
 tlie lieajis nf the dying and tlio dead, selecting 
 now a i'riend and now a foe. iVom wliom tlie 
 vital spark had not yet fled, staunching his 
 wounds, and if the sufferer had not yet passed 
 beyond tlie jiower of liiiinan aid to save, restor- 
 ing him l)y tlieir kind ministrations to life and 
 health, tlimily, home and friends. An officer 
 thus distinguished Cor courage and Immanity ; 
 unyielding f)rtitiide under tlie severest priva- 
 tions; an originality and promiitness in the for- 
 mation of his plans, surpassed only by the bold- 
 ness and rapidity of their execution ; a celerity 
 of movement which annihilated time and dis- 
 tance ; with a power of endurance that defied 
 hunger and thirst, heat and cold — such an 
 officer, never for a moment relaxing his exer- 
 tions, and daily adding some new name to the 
 list <if his conquests, could not fail to attract the 
 attention and excite the admiration of fhearmv, 
 
 and win the approbation and applause of his 
 countrymen in all parts of the United States. 
 There was a tinge of romance in his exploits 
 which possessed on irresistible attraction, and 
 ciptivated the imagination of all classes of ad- 
 mirers. But imagination has had little to do 
 with tlie final judgment which his countrymen 
 have pronounced upon his conduct. The paral- 
 lel traced at the time between his deeds and 
 character and those of an illustrious hero of the 
 Revolution, suggested to his countrymen a suit- 
 able way of testifying their appreciation of his 
 services and admiration of his character ; and 
 they have, with a unanimity whicb shows that 
 the parallel is not altogether imaginary, be- 
 stowed upon him a title,prouder than any ever con- 
 ferred by a patent of nobility from jirince or po- 
 tentate— the title of " The Marion of the Mexi- 
 can War." 
 
 On March 10, 1848, the treaty of peace 
 between the United States and Mexico was 
 ratified by the Senate. General Lane remained 
 some months in Mexico after peace was con- 
 cluded, directing the movements 'and superin- 
 tending the embarkation of troops returning 
 lunne. 
 
 Returning to the United States in duly, a 
 few days after he reached home he was ap- 
 pointed by President Polk Governor of the 
 Territory of Oregon. This appointment, en- 
 tirely unsolicited. General Lane, against the 
 wishes of many of his friends, concluded to 
 accept ; and having made the necessary prepa- 
 rations, started across the plains in September, 
 with an escort of twenty men. After a journey 
 across tlie plains and mountains, full of peril 
 and hardship, he ari'ived in Oregon in March, 
 1849, and immediately organized the Territorial 
 Government. 
 
 Of the ability with which he performed the 
 duties of Governor, no better testinnmy could 
 be given than is furnished by the fact that 
 when superseded by Governor Gaines, on the 
 accession of General Taylor to the Presidency, 
 he was elected by the people of Oregon Delegate 
 in Congress, a position which he long held. 
 
 The military career of General Lane did not 
 close with the termination of hostilities between 
 the United States and Mexico. In Oregon he 
 was destined to add other laurels to those 
 already won. The Indians of that territory 
 gave the whites much trouble, destroying lives 
 and jiroperty, and thereby greatly impeding 
 the progress and retarding the settlement of 
 the country. In 1853 occurred a formidable 
 outbreak on Rogue river, in the southern part of 
 
WAKE OOllNTY. 
 
 441 
 
 Orcgun. (u'lu'ral Lane iimiK'diaf(.'ly coUectcil 
 ii I'urco, composed of settlors, iniiiers iuul a lew 
 officers ami soliliers of the regular army, at- 
 tacked tlie Indians near Table Rock, and after 
 a desperate conflict, in whicli lie was severely 
 wounded, drove them from their position. 
 Following uj) tliis success with great vigor, he 
 administered such chastisement that they soon 
 gave up the contest, and were glad to accede to 
 any terms of peace. 
 
 Ho continued in Congress till the admission 
 of Oregon as a State, when lie was chosen 
 Senator in Congress until 1801. 
 
 In 1800 he was nominated as Vice-President 
 with i\[r. Breckearidge, but defeated. He has 
 since retired from public life, but his gallant 
 son, Lafayette Lane, born 1812, elected a mem- 
 ber to tiie 44th Congress, 1875-77, worthily 
 bears his name and his honors — the worthy son 
 of a gallant father. 
 
 William Woods HoUleu resides in Raleigh, 
 a native ol' Orange County, where he was born 
 November 24, 1818. His early education was 
 at an " old field school" until he was sixteen 
 years old, when ho was employed at Dennis 
 Heartt's j)rinting office, in Hillsboro', N. C. 
 At the ago of eighteen he went to Raleigh and 
 was employed in the office of Thomas J. 
 Lema_y, Esq. He read law and was admitted to 
 the bar in 1841. But his appropriate element 
 was the press. In June, 1843, he purchased 
 of Thomas Loringthe Raleigh Siandard, which 
 he conducted for twenty-five years with un- 
 paralleled ability and success. No ])ai)erin the 
 State ever wielded a more powerful influence in 
 North Carolina. It killed and made alive. Al- 
 though it was thought at the time to be an un- 
 meaning and empty boast, yet history records 
 that its favor did make the political fortunes of 
 many, while. its frowns withered, with upas-like 
 influence, the hopes of others. In 1846 Mr. 
 Holden was elected a member of the House of 
 Commons from Wake County, but this was not 
 the arena suited to his character or his tastes, 
 and he declined a re-election. He served several 
 years as a member of the Literary Board, un- 
 der the administrations of Governors Bragg and 
 Ellis. He was also one of t!ie commissioners of 
 the Deaf and Dumb Institution and of the Insane 
 Asylum. He was a member of the Secession 
 Convention in 1801, and signed the ordinance 
 separating North Carolina from the Union. 
 During the war Mr. Holden was a sufferer, and 
 his office was ravaged by violence. On May 29, 
 1805, he was appointed by the President Pro- 
 visional Governor of North Carolina under the 
 
 roconstruction plan of I'rosidt'ut Johnson. In 
 1800 he was ollered the mission to San Salva- 
 dor, whicli lie declined.* 
 
 Ill A{)ril, 1808, he was elected Governor of 
 the State for four years by popular vote over 
 Judge Thomas S. Ashe, which stood 92,235 
 for Holden and 73,594 for Ashe. Parties 
 were now arrayed in angry antagonism, and 
 madness and misrule marks this era. Mat- 
 ters came to such a crisis that the House of 
 Represontativos on December 20, 1870, pre- 
 sented eight articles of impeachment again.st 
 Governor Holden " lor high crimes and misde- 
 meanors" to the Senate, wliich as a high court 
 of impeachment jiroceoded to try the same. 
 Chief Justice Pearson presided ; the managers 
 appointed by the House were Thomas Sparrow, 
 chairman; James G. Scott, of Onslow ; Wm. 
 G. W'elch, of Haywood; T. D. Johnston, of 
 Buncombe; G. A. Gregory, of Martin ; Jno. W. 
 Dimham, of Wilson ; C. W. Broadtbot, of Cum - 
 berland. Governors W. A. Graham and Thomas 
 Bragg and Judge A. S. Merrimon were coun- 
 sel for the managers. Nor were the counsel for 
 the respondent obscure or less able. They were 
 Hon. W. N. H. Smith, now Chief Justice of 
 the Supreme Court ; Nathaniel Boyden, J. M. 
 McCorkle, Edward Conigland and Richard Bad- 
 ger, Esquires. After a patient examination of 
 the testimony and arguments by both sides, the 
 Senate did, iilarch 22, 1871, by a vote of two- 
 thirds of the members, pronounce W. W. Hol- 
 den guilty of the charges contained in six of 
 the eight articles, and pronounced the sentence 
 that " iie be removed from the office of (lov- 
 ernor and disqualified to hold any office of trust, 
 honor or profit under the State of North Caro- 
 lina" — the first of the United States to get 
 rid of a Governor in this way. After this 
 event Governor Holden, (succeeded by Todd 
 R Caldwell as Governor.) came to Washington, 
 and for a time was tlie editor of the National 
 liepuhVican: After being for a time in this 
 position he returned to Raleigh and was aj)- 
 pointed Postmaster of that place. Gov. Hol- 
 den is now in "the sear and yellow leaf of life." 
 lie lias been twice married: first to Miss A. 
 Young in 1841, and second to Louisa Virginia 
 Harrison, by whom he has an interesting family. 
 In this sketch we have tried to state only ac- 
 knowledged facts, without extenuation or " set- 
 ting down aught, in malice." History will 
 
 * His defeat by Governor AVorth in 1865 is recited in 
 tlie sketch of tluit gentleman under head of Randolph 
 County. 
 
442 
 
 WHEIiLEE'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 isliow tliat lie was " uioro sinned against than 
 sinning." 
 
 Judge Daniel Gr. Fowle resides in Raleigh. 
 He was born and raised in Washington, Beau- 
 fort County, the son of the late Samuel R. 
 Fowle, a prominent merchant at that place, a 
 native of Boston, and a useful citizen. He 
 studied law and has attained eminence in his 
 ]irofession. He served in the army as Lieutenant- 
 Colonel of the Thirty-first Regiment and as 
 Adjutant-General of the State. In 1865 he was 
 ajjpointod by Governor Holden one of the judges 
 of the Superior Court. He is now in the suc- 
 cessful jtractice of his profession and a promi- 
 nent candidate for Governor, and known as the 
 silver-tongued orator. He has been twice mar- 
 ried : first to a daughter of Judge Pearson, and 
 then to Mary, daughter of Dr. Fabius J. Hay- 
 wood, of Raleigh. 
 
 John Watrous Beckwith is now the Episco- 
 jial Bishop of Georgia. He is a native of Ra- 
 leigh, son of Dr. John Beckwith, and graduated 
 at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. He read 
 law and jiracticed for a time, but exchanged, as 
 Hawks and others, tlie bar for the pulpit. He 
 was ordained as a deacon at Wilmington in 
 1854, and a priest at Warrentou in 1856. He 
 was residing in Maryland at the opening of the 
 war, and, as his brother Polk^ felt it a duty to 
 God and his country to join the suffering South. 
 He entered as Chaplain, served through Missis- 
 sippi, South Carolina and Georgia until the war 
 ended. He then took charge of St. John's 
 Church at Savannah, and in 1868 was conse- 
 crated Bishop of Georgia. He is a fluent speaker 
 and blessed with winning eloquence. 
 
 The Right Reverend John Stark Ravenscroft, 
 D. D., Bishop of the Protestant E[)iscopal 
 Church in the North Carolina diocese from the 
 date of his consecration^ Ajiril 22, 1823, to the 
 date of his death, March 5, 1830, was during a 
 part of his episcojiate a resident of the city of 
 Raleigh. We collate from a memoir by Mr. 
 Walker Andersim, attached to the edition of 
 his "Works," the following: Bishop Ravens- 
 croft, born in the year 1772 upon an estate near 
 Blanford, County of Prince George, Virginia, 
 long a ])ossession of his family. He was the 
 only child of Dr. John Ravenscroft, a gentle- 
 man of fortune, educated for the practice of 
 medicine ; the mother was a daughter of Mr. 
 Hugh Miller, a Scotch gentleman resident of 
 the same County, both parents being descended 
 on the mother's side from the extensive and re- 
 spectable family of Boilings Hesays: "Though 
 a native of Virginia, of which State ray pro- 
 
 genitors, as far back as I have been able to trace 
 them, with tlie exception of my maternal grand- 
 father, were also natives, yet my first recollec- 
 tions are of Scotland, my parents having re- 
 moved there from Virginia the same year in 
 which I was born ; and after an interval of 
 about two years sjient in the north of England 
 purchased and settled finally in the south of 
 Scotland, where my mother and two sisters still 
 reside." Here his father died, 1780, and his 
 mother availed herself of the excellent opportu- 
 nity which Scotland afforded of giving her son a 
 classical education ; after he had finished his 
 course at one of the most respectable grammar 
 schools in that country, she placed him at a 
 seminary of somewhat higher grade in the north 
 of England, where, besides continuing his clas- 
 sical studies, he was instructed in matheniatics, 
 natural philosophy and other sciences. He left 
 Scotland and reached Virginia in January, 1789, 
 then just seventeen years old. He came to look 
 after the remains of his father's property. In 
 this he was so far successful as to be subsequently 
 in easy if not affluent circumstances. He en- 
 tered William and Mary College, intending to 
 devote himself to the study of the law, of which 
 Mr. Wythe was then the professor, but owing 
 to the extreme laxity of discipline in the col- 
 lege, joined to the large pecuniary allowance 
 made by his guardian, habits of extravagance 
 and dissipation were induced, and he did not 
 derive any great benefit from the lectures of 
 this eminent lawyer. This fact is frankly con- 
 fessed in the autobiographical sketch referred to. 
 It does not appear that he was ever licensed in the 
 profession, but in Williamsburg he formed the 
 acquaintance of a lady, whose lovely character 
 appears from that time to have exerted an in- 
 fluence over his wayward disposition sufficiently 
 powerful to counteract the advei'se influence of 
 his former bad habits and want of religious 
 I)rinciples, and to make him the estimable and 
 respectable man he afterward became, until the 
 more powerful operation of Divine grace brought 
 him into God's ministry. About the year 1792 
 he visited Scotland for the last time, converted 
 his inheritance into money, which justified him 
 in marrying the estimable lady just referred to, 
 on his return to Virginia. This event occurred 
 a short time previous to his coming of age, when 
 he married the daughter of Lewis Burwell, of 
 Mecklenl)urg County, Virginia, and settled in 
 Luneuburgh County, not far from Mr. Bur- 
 well ; here he devoted himself to the usual pur- 
 suits of a country life. As a husband, a master 
 and a member of society, Mr. Ravenscroft was 
 
WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 443 
 
 evcrvtliiiig tliat was ostiniublc, and tlie absurd 
 stoi'ies of iiis loudness for gaming and other low 
 vices are utterly groundless. It is true that 
 his good <]unlities were all obscured by a more 
 than ordinary neglect and ])erliaps contempt 
 of religions obligations. And it is tlii.s that 
 led him, when afterward connected with the 
 church, to loathe himself to the degree which 
 was so remarkable a trait of his religious char- 
 acter. But many a mere moralist has built his 
 claims for acceptance with his God upon a 
 foundation far more sltmder than tlie morality 
 wliicli Mr. Ravenscroft practiced during tins 
 period of his life, though without any reference 
 to his accountability. Some groundless stories 
 respecting the immediate causes and manner of 
 his conversion have been related, and even j)ub- 
 lished, but it is well for Mr. Ravenscrol't's own 
 reputation that he left in writing an excellent, 
 interesting and detailed account of the rise and 
 progress in his heart of th'at great rchange by 
 which he " put off, concerning the former con- 
 versation, the old man and put on the new man." 
 Up to that time that he lived without " God in 
 the world," as he himself was ever most ready 
 to acknowledge, and his life had been the mere 
 details of an ordinary irreligious life, passed iu 
 the obscurity of the country, possessing neither 
 novelty or instruction. 
 
 Though blessed in many ways, more espe- 
 cially with a wife who seems to have found her 
 happiness in promoting his ; with an estate 
 that was equal to his utmost wishes, and with 
 the respect and affection of a large circle of 
 friends, he yet experienced that truth which 
 enters so largely into the experience of every 
 man, that the happiness of this world is empty 
 and unsatisfying, and his well-informed mind, 
 after a night of delusion, was brought to the 
 conviction that " here was not his rest." This 
 he tliought he found in a body of Christians 
 then called Republican Mdliodists ; and influ- 
 enced by a personal attachment for one of their 
 preachers, Mr. John Robinson, of Charlotte 
 County, he and his wife, "who opened her 
 mouth with wisdom, and whose tongue was 
 the law of kindness," t.jok membership with 
 that body. This was in the year 1810 ; in 
 1815 he became much exercised on the subject 
 of the ministry, believing he was called thereto, 
 and was earnestly solicited by his brethren to 
 assume its duties. He was compelled, after 
 thoroughly canvassing the matter, to look to 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church for that de- 
 posit of apostolic succession, in which alone is 
 the verifiable power to minister in saci'ed things, 
 
 to be found in the United States. On Fc^jruary 
 17, 1810, Bishop Moore gave him letters of 
 license as a lay-reader, and on April 25, 1817, 
 in the Monumental Ciuirch at Riclimond he was 
 made deacon, and, for reasons satisfactory to the 
 Bisliop and standing committee of the dioce.se, 
 at the same time he had conferred upon him the 
 orders of priesthood, being ordaiued thereto on 
 May 6, 1817, at Fredericksburg ; he returned 
 to his parishes of Cumberland, in Lunenburg, 
 and of St. James, in the County of Mecklenburg. 
 Having lost his wife in 1814, he was married to 
 his second wife in 1818, a Miss Bufbrd, of Lu- 
 nenburg County, whose consistent Christian 
 character was at once a comfort and an aid to 
 him during their union. 
 
 In 1823 he received an invitation to take 
 charge of the large and floiu-ishing congregation 
 at Norfolk, but not conceiving that any call of 
 duty accompanied this invitation, he promj)tly 
 declined it, " as notliing in the shape of emolu- 
 ment could move him from where he was, and 
 induce him to sacrifice his predilections and 
 attachment to his own flock." He was shortly 
 afterward "called" to the Monumental Church, 
 in Richmond, to be the assistant of that venerable 
 prolate. Bishop Moore. For the good of the 
 church, Mr. Ravenscroft was preparing to yield 
 to what he considered as an imperative call of 
 duty and to accept this invitation, when a call 
 of a yet more imperative nature reached him 
 from North Carolina, coming under circum- 
 stances which at once forbade a rejection. 
 
 The churchin North Carolina had shared the 
 same fate during the Revolutionary war that 
 had involved all other portions of it in this coun- 
 try in so much gloom and depression. The vio- 
 lent prejudices, to the injustice of which it is 
 hardly necessary to recur, which had brought 
 odium and persecution upon its ministers else- 
 where, existed here in their full vigor. The 
 effect, indeed, of these prejudices seems to have 
 been more remarkable in North Carolina than 
 any where else, the churcii being identified as 
 one of the concomitants of royalty. The cry of 
 "down with it, down with it even to the ground," 
 accomplished the wishes of the enemies of the 
 church ; and long after this Zion had arisen 
 from tlie dust and put on her beautiful gar- 
 ments, in other [jortions of her borders, her 
 children here had still to weep when they re- 
 membered her. It was not until the year 1817 
 that tiiree clergymen who had been called to the 
 towns of Fayetteville, Wilmington and New 
 Berne, encouraged by some influential laymen 
 in the two last-mentioned towns, proposed a. 
 
444 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 convention for t-lie inirpose of orgcanizing the 
 church in this State. A convention was accord- 
 ingly held in New Berne, June, 1817, attended 
 by three clergymen and six or eight lay dele- 
 gates. The second convention was more num- 
 erously attended, and the church irom that 
 time continued rapidly to increase, or, to speak 
 more propeidy, to revive from her long and 
 deadly torpor. At a convention held in Salis- 
 bury, attended by all the clergy and an unus- 
 ually full delegation of laymen, in the year 
 1823, Mr. Ravenscroft was unanimously elected 
 bishop of the diocese, and fuinished with the 
 requisite testimonial ; he received his high com- 
 mission in the city of Philadelphia, April 22, 
 1823, where he received his consecration at the 
 iiands of the venerable Bishop White, Bishoj)s 
 Griswold, Kemj), Croes, Bowen and Brownell 
 being also present and assisting. 
 
 ]3ishop Ravenscroft was only required to de- 
 vote one-half of his time to tlie diocese, tlie other 
 portion was used in the pastoral charge of the 
 congregation at Raleigli. He set out on his 
 Episcopal tour in June, within one month after 
 his consecration. 
 
 His devotion to both his diocese and parish 
 always continued unremitted, besides " the care 
 of all the churches," which to a mind so solic- 
 itous as his, respecting every thing that con- 
 cerned their well being, was a source of constant 
 and corroding anxiety. The mere physical labor 
 of hisannual visitations wasanimmensestrain on 
 his system. The farthest western County was 
 more than three hundred miles distant from the 
 more eastern, and yet long after disease had 
 established itself in his enfeebled body he punc- 
 tually and resolutely made his yearly visits to 
 both sections, and these were only discontinued 
 a short time previous to his death, when he had 
 become utterly incapable of travel. 
 
 In 1828 he was compelled to give up his pas- 
 toral duties in the congregation at Raleigh; im- 
 mediately the large congregations of New Berne 
 and Wilmington both sought his services, in- 
 terrupted and hindered as they were, but these 
 he declined, and selected the village of Will- 
 iamsborough (now in Vance County) as the place 
 of his residence, the congregation of that parish 
 being small and never had the benefit of regular 
 services. About this time he lost the whole of 
 his worldly substance by a surety debt, the issue 
 of which was his utter financial ruin ; and yet 
 a greater misfortune befell him, for, in January, 
 1829, he lost his faithful spouse by death. Yet 
 was he willing to meet the will of God, and so 
 confiding in that blissful hope of immortality, 
 
 he lingered until Mareii 5, 1830, the date of his 
 death. His remains were deposited beneath the 
 chancel of Christ Church at Raleigh. 
 
 In person. Bishop Ravenscroft was large and 
 conimanding, with a countenance; in its general 
 aspect, perhaps, austere, but susceptible of the 
 most benevolent expression. His manner cor- 
 respfinded with his person, especially when ex- 
 ercising his ministerial functions, being ren)ark- 
 ably dignified, and so solemn and impressive as 
 to inspire all who had witnessed it with rever- 
 ence. As a man he was liberal in his views, 
 independent in his principles, just almost to 
 punctiliousness, honest in his intentions, warm 
 and kind in his feelings, bold and fearless in the 
 cause of truth, and remarkably regardless of 
 self in all he said or did. 
 
 As a citizen he was warmly attached to the 
 free institutions of our country, and was often 
 heard to rejoice thatthe church, of which lie was 
 an overseer, was unttauimeled by any alliance 
 with the civil power. 
 
 As a neighbor, he was kind and charitable, 
 being considerably skilled in medicine ; he was, 
 while resident in Virginia, the chief physician 
 in his neighborhood, and performed the laborious 
 duties attached to this beneficent species of 
 charily with cheerfulness and alacrity. 
 
 As a minister of the divine word, Bishop 
 Ravenscroft was faithful, diligent and zealous. 
 He loved to proclaim the goodness of God and 
 the glad tidings of the gosi>el ; and liis appeals 
 to the hearts and understanding were fervid and 
 animated. He preached the gospel in its utmost 
 purity. His success as a preacher no doubt 
 arose in part from the familiarity which his 
 early experience had given liim with all the re- 
 cesses of the unconverted heart, and the search- 
 ing fidelity with which'he jiortrayed its utmost 
 secret workings. Not like the "spy who had 
 merely discovered the outward defenses of the 
 enemy's camp, but like one who had been born 
 and bred within its precincts, he knew every as- 
 sailable point, every defenseless outpost, and 
 bearing down upon it wirh impetuous force^ it 
 was impossible to withstand the assault. 
 
 His solemn and impressive manner, his finely 
 modulated voice, his commanding figure, and 
 evident earnestness in the sacred cause in which 
 he was engaged, never failed to command the at- 
 tention and to move the hearts of his auditory; 
 all were constrained to admit his zeal and sin- 
 gleness of purpose. Long may the mild influ- 
 ence of his pious example continue to bless the 
 church which he so dearly loved, and may she ever 
 pay a gratefaland merited tribute to his memory. 
 
WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 445 
 
 Levi Silliraan Ives, D. D., LL. D., was born 
 in Meriden, Conn., September 16, 1797, but at 
 a very early age removed witli his parents to 
 Turin, Lewis County, New York, where lie 
 lived until he attained his fif'teentli year, and 
 was then entered at the academy in Lowville. 
 During the later months of the war witli Great 
 Britain iie was in the military service of the 
 United States, but upon the return of peace lie 
 became a student once mo:'e, and joined the 
 classes at Hamilton College in 1810. 
 
 At first lie studied for tlie Presbyterian min- 
 istry, but belbre he was ordained was compelled 
 to leave tlie college by a very serious illness, 
 and when health was restored he changed his 
 religious views and united himself to the Prot- 
 estant Episcojjalians. He removed to New 
 York city in 1820, and studied theology with 
 Bisliop Hobart, by whom he was ordained in 
 August, 1822 ; tliree years afterward he married 
 Ecbeeca, a daughter of the bishop. His first 
 mission was to Batavia, in Genessee County, . 
 New York ; subsequently he was called to 
 Trinity Cliurch, Philad'el])hia, where he was 
 ordained to the, priesthood by Bishop White, 
 and in 1827 removed to Lancaster, Penn., where 
 he had cliarge of Christ Churcli. In tlie next 
 year he served as an assistant minister at Christ 
 Church, New York city, for about six months, 
 when he became rector of St. Luke's in that 
 city ; here ho remained until he was consecrated 
 bishop of tlie diocese of North Carolina in Sep- 
 tember, 1831. In North Carolina he became 
 po])ular for his efforts in behalf of education, 
 and his success in providing foi' the spiritual 
 welfare of the slave population. 
 
 His works on theology, entitled tlie ''Apostles' 
 Doctrine and Fellowship," New York, 1844, and 
 the "Obedience of Faith," New York, 1849, 
 gained him great distinction as a theologian. 
 When the excitement as to the Oxford tracts 
 began in the Episcopal Church, he made a 
 strong eflort in favor of that movement, and so 
 alienated from himself the confidence of his 
 diocese.* From that time his position became 
 exceedingly uncomfortable and most unhajiiiy, 
 and while in Kome in 1852 he ojieiily allied 
 
 * It is uii error to s:iy tliat Bisliop Ivt'S iii:nli; a stroii;; 
 eflViit ill favor of the O.xfoid uiovemoiit, and so alienated 
 from liiniselt tlie coiilidctice of Ids diocese. Bishop Ives 
 in conmion witli pciliaps a largo majority of his clergy 
 heartily sympathized with that movement, as it w;is only 
 carrying out tliosc chinch principles for which Bishop 
 Kavenscroft had contended Bisliop Ives alienated the 
 confidence of his diocese by endeavoring to introduce 
 Romish practices, especially auricular confession, and to 
 maintain that they were authorized by the church. — J. 
 B. C, jr. 
 
 him.self with the Church of Rome. Such an act, 
 as might be expected, received the severe de- 
 nunciations of the Protestant religious papers, 
 and Doctor Ives defended his course in the pub- 
 lication of a book, entitled " The Trials of a 
 Mind in its Pi'ogress to Catholicism," (London 
 and Boston, 1834.) On his return to America 
 he became professor of rhetoric in St. Joseph's 
 Theological Seminary, and lectured in the con- 
 vents of the Sacred Heart and of the Sisters of 
 Charity, in New York city. He also occasion- 
 ally .lectured in jiublic, and became active in 
 the cause of the Church of Rome as president of 
 the conference of St. Vincent de Paul. To 
 him the City of New York is indebted for the 
 establishment in 1858 of the " Catholic Male 
 Protectory," and the "House. of the Angels," 
 a home for vagrant and orphan children bf 
 Catholic parentage ; both of these were emi- 
 nently successful, and were subsequently re- 
 moved to West Chester County, in that State. 
 Until his death, in 1868, he was i^resideut of 
 these institutions. Dr. Ives was a very able 
 but strangely erratic gentleman, and a most 
 eloijuent speaker ; his conversion to the Romish 
 Church was an exceedingly unfortunate circum- 
 stance, and without honor or profit ; on the con- 
 trary, it drew upon him a great amount of 
 obloquy, and will give his name for ever here- 
 after a notoriety most undesirable, * over which 
 his sincerest friends lament as over a premature 
 death . 
 
 Rev. Richard Sliar]) Mason, D. D., was for a 
 long time a resident of Raleigh, and the rector 
 of the Episcopal Church, iVom 1840 until his 
 death in 1875. He was a man of deep and 
 diversified learning, and of exemplary and 
 agreeable manners. A native of the Island of 
 Barbadoes, one of the P^nglish West India 
 Islands, where he was born December 29, 1796, 
 lie was brought to this country when quite 
 young by his ]iarents, and educated in Phila- 
 delphia. He was admitted by Bishop White in 
 1817 as deacmi of the Episcojial Church, and 
 became rector of Christ Church, New Berne. 
 In 1820 he was received into the order of priests 
 by Bishop Moore (Rich'd Channing) in St. 
 Paul's Church, Edenton. Dr. Mason remained 
 some ten years in New Berne, a faitlil'ul, active 
 pastor, and an earnest, self-denying missionary ; 
 for t!ie church had then scarcely any foothold 
 
 * I think the (h'st words most accurate. Bishop Ives' 
 friends could not have felt his death a sad event, except 
 that it would have jiarted them. They felt his defection 
 to Kome ninch inoie deeplv than they could have felt his 
 death.— .T. B. ('., jr. 
 
446 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 in this diocese beyond the limits of New Berne, 
 Wilmington and Fayetteville ; to these Dr. 
 Mason rejoiced to minister. 
 
 In 1828 he was elected ]iresident of Geneva, 
 now Hohart, College, New York, which he ex- 
 changed in 1835 for the presidency of Newark 
 College, in Delaware. There he trained many 
 pupils who became distinguished in after lii'e ; 
 he remained for five years, when he became the 
 rector of Christ's Church, at Raleigh, and here, 
 for the space of an ordinary lifetime, he dis- 
 charged ins sacred duties with zeal, integrity 
 and great usefulness. All who knew Dr. 
 Mason can testify to the purity of his life and 
 the sincerity of liis character. Ke died 1875 
 universally loved and res})ected, leaving a wife 
 and several children. Mrs. Mason is quite an 
 authoress, and is named among " Soutliland 
 Writers," and one of " theLi ving Female Writers 
 of the South," (by May T. Tardy, Pliiladel- 
 phia, 1870,) for possessing great merit as a 
 writer, and genius as an artist in sculpture ; 
 had she devoted her life to art, she would have 
 rivaled Harriet Hosraer or Viniiie Ream in ex- 
 cellence. Her head of General Lee, cut in 
 cameo, is said to be an exquisite work. 
 
 James Saunders, son of William Saunders 
 and Bet.sy Hubbard, his wife, daughter of 
 Thomas Hubl)ard, was horn April 25, 1765, in 
 Lancaster County, Vii-ginia, where the Saunders 
 family had been established for near a century. 
 On February 16, 1790, he left tlie old home- 
 stead intending to go to the then far West, but 
 by the persuasion of relatives was prevailed 
 upon to remain for near three years in the 
 County of Brunswick, Virginia, when having 
 abandoned liis purpose to go West, he came to 
 North Carolina and settled in the Edenton dis- 
 trict. On January 7, 1798, he marrie<l Hannah, 
 widow of Jacob Simons, of Chowan County, and 
 daug]]ter of James Sitterzen, of Perquimans 
 County, who, with Zebulon Clayton, Richard 
 Sanderson, James Sumner, Thomas Doctar, 
 Jacob Chancey, Joseph Sutton, Nathaniel 
 Carrutliers, John Stephey, Marmaduke Norfleet, 
 John Stephenson and Thomas West, were on 
 March 23, 1734, a^qjointed by Governor Gabriel 
 Johnston, " by and with the advice and consent 
 of His Majesty's council, justices of the peace 
 for the precinct of Perquimans, to set and hold 
 a court on the third Monday in the montlis of 
 April, July, October and January yearly." 
 
 The only child of tliis marriage was Joseph 
 Hubbard Saunders, who was born in Chowan 
 County on December 26, 1800. He was educated 
 at home in the country and in the town of 
 
 Edenton until he was about fifteen years of age, 
 when he was sent to Raleigh to school, where 
 he remained until January, 1819, when he 
 entered tlie University of North Carolina, join- 
 ing the sophomore class, half advanced. In 
 June, 1821, he graduated with distinction, 
 being, as his contemporaries said, the best 
 writer in the college. After his graduation he 
 remained at the university as a tutor and as a 
 student at law with Judge Nash. Abandoning 
 the study of the law for the study of tlieology 
 with a view to entering the church, he resigned 
 his tutorship upon the death of his father in 
 1824, and returned to Edenton, and for several 
 years was in charge of tlie academy at that 
 jilace. 
 
 On February 6, 1831, in Richmond, Virginia, 
 he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Mooie, and 
 on Blarch 18, 1832, at Warrenton, North Caro- 
 lina, he was made a priest by Bisliop Ives of 
 the Episcopal Church. In 1832 and 1833 he 
 was in charge of the Episcopal Church at War- 
 renton, pi-eacbing also at stated periods at 
 Louisburg, Williamsboro', Halifax and Scotland 
 Neck. On April 25, 1833, he married Laura 
 Lucinda Baker, daughter of Dr. Simmons 
 Jones Baker, of Martin County, North Carolina. 
 In 1834 he removed to Raleigli in consequence 
 of the establishment of the Episcopal school, of 
 which institution lie was one of the principal 
 promoters, and had been appointed chaplain. 
 In spite of the favorable auspices under which 
 it was managed the attempt to establish a 
 diocesan school for the education of boys in 
 Noi'th Carolina proved, for causes unnecessary 
 here' to mention, unsuccessful, and in the fall 
 of 1836 he moved to Pensacola, Florida, hav- 
 ing received a call to the charge of tlie parish 
 tliere. mainly through tlie instrumentality of 
 Judge John A. Cameron and Judge Walker 
 Anderson, then citizens of the phice, but formerly 
 of North Carolina. On October 24, 1839, lie 
 died of fever, t!ie yellow fever being epidemic 
 at that time, and was buried under the vestry 
 room of his church. 
 
 A man of great learning united with rare 
 practical sense, of deep and unaffected piety, 
 and of tireless energy, it was his fortune to 
 take a prominent part in shaping the destiny of 
 the church he loved so well, botli in his native 
 and in his adopted State. Wiien lie entered 
 its ministry in North Carolina it had no bishop 
 and but a handful of clergy ; before he left it 
 an impetus had been given that is felt to this 
 day. That day was the seed time, the present 
 is the harvest. How he accomplislied so much 
 
WAKE COUNTY. 
 
 447 
 
 in so short a time is a wonder to every one who 
 recalls that he died ere he was yet forty years 
 of age. To this day even he is always referred 
 to in North Carolina as " the Reverend Mr. 
 Saunders." In what esteem he was held in 
 Florida will he shown hy an extract from a 
 letter i'rom Hon. Walker Anderson, afterward 
 chief justice of the Supreme Court of Florida, to 
 Rev. W. M. Green, then professor at the Uni- 
 versity of North Carolina, now the venerahle 
 hishop of Mississippi : 
 
 Pensacola, Florida, October 27, 1839. 
 " My Dear Sir: It has heen a long time since 
 we interciianged a letter, and it is, a sad occa- 
 sion that ])rotnpt8 me now to renew our cor- 
 respondence. We have lost a beloved and 
 valued friend, and I know it will aiford you a 
 mournlhl })leasnre to learn some particulars of 
 his last JiDurs. Our excellent jiastor, the Rev. 
 Jlr. Saunders, has been removed from his labors 
 on (larth to his reward in heaven, and left a 
 whole community in tears. He died on Thurs- 
 day morning, the 24th instant, after a distress- 
 ing illness of eight days with malignant brain 
 i'ever. You iiave heard doubtless of the terri- 
 ble scourge witli vvhichournearneighbor. Mobile, 
 has been visited this fall. Among the fugitives 
 from that phace many came here, and, bringing 
 the seeds of disease with them, they came only 
 to linger and die among strangers. ' There 
 were, therefore, many calls upon the sympathy 
 of all ; none responded to such calls more freely 
 than our dear friend. He was continually 
 abi'oad day and night with the sick and dying, 
 eximsing himsell fearlessly to the sun and the 
 dews. On the Sunday before his illness com- 
 menced he preached at the request of the Com- 
 niodor.e of the squadron here on board of the 
 tlagsliip, and on his return complained that, he 
 felt the sun beating powerfully on his head as 
 he was preaching ; for the service was on deck, 
 and his being elevated brought his head near to 
 the awning, which was between them and the 
 sun. Though he felt his liead affected from 
 this time, he did not complain much of it, and 
 •on Tuesday niglit, being called up at midnight 
 to visit a young lady who was dying with yel- 
 low fever, he went, having to walk near a half 
 mile in a high, keen wind. He was up the 
 whole night, and spoke to me afterward of the 
 r.cvei-e trial of feeling he underwent from the 
 painful circumstances of the death-bed he at- 
 tended. On Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock 
 he was taken with a chill, followed by high 
 fever. From the first he had the best mediital 
 
 advice, the fleet surgeons from both the Ameri- 
 can and French squadrons being assiduous in 
 their attention, and I need not say he was 
 nursed as faitiifully as the most devoted love 
 could dictate hy his anxious and sorrowing peo- 
 ])le. His disease at first seemed to be a common 
 bilious fever, such as has prevailed lately to 
 some extent among us, but which is usually 
 mild and easily managed, and in his case it 
 seemed to yield readily to the prescriptions, but 
 on Monday we began to perceive indications of 
 an affection of the brain, and during that night 
 we could no longer mistake the malignant ciiar- 
 acter of the attack. On Thursday morning 
 after waking from a sleep of some hours his 
 mind was greatly obscured, and before that 
 night came a dismal darkness had settled over 
 his fine and well-balanced intellect. He raved 
 inces.santly and incoherently, hut in all his 
 wanderings God and Christ and heaven was the 
 burden of' his thoughts. He was ever going 
 through some of the services of the church or 
 in a loud and anxious tone exhorting his ])eople. 
 He would call on us to ])ray, and with a devout 
 and impassionate manner repeat scraps from the 
 Prayer Book, and once he got as far in the 
 Lord's Prayer as the petition ' Thy will be 
 done.' This continued with but little inter- 
 mission for forty-eight liours ; for even when 
 his strength failed him by bending your ear to 
 his lips you would find he still was whispering 
 al)out the church and kindred topics. He sunk 
 to rest without apiiarent suffering, though while 
 his extremities were chilling with the damps of 
 death, the heat of tlie top of his head was almost 
 painful to the touch. Not a single glimmering 
 of reason was permitted to cheer those who 
 watched his parting struggle. He was buried 
 on the afternoon of Thursday with more than 
 the ordinary marks of respect. The floor of 
 of his vestry room was removed and his grave 
 dug beneath the spot in which he was in the 
 habit of sitting when there. The vestry, be- 
 sides addressing a letter of condolence to his 
 widow, full of admiration for his cliaracter and 
 sorrow for his loss, have determined to erect a 
 tablet to his memory. So universal was the 
 reverence in which he was held that on the day 
 of his death and funeral the stores of the whole 
 city were closed, the Creoles an(l Catholics unit- 
 ing heartily with his own people in this demon- 
 stratiini of respect, and the officers of the French 
 squadron, which is lying in our harbor, at- 
 tended tlie services in full unifirm." 
 
 By his marriage with Miss Baker he left four 
 
448 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 children : 1. Richard Benhury,horn in Raleigh, 
 March 12, 1834 ; 2. William Lawrence, horn in 
 Raleigh, July 30,1835 ; 3. Anne, horn in Pensa- 
 cola, April 20, 1837 ; 4. Joseph Huhhard, Oc- 
 toher, 1839. 
 
 I. Richard was educated liberally, and gradu- 
 ated at the University in June, 1854, and alter 
 a course of study in clieniistry, estahlislied liim- 
 self at Oha})el Hill as a chemist and druggist, 
 and has been ever since engaged, excejit when 
 absent in the army, which in response to the 
 call of the Uovernor he entered as a member of 
 the Orauge Light Infantry, commanded by Cap- 
 tain R. J. Ashe, and was elected second lieuten- 
 ant ; went with his company to Raleigh April, 
 1861, and formed part of the First Regiment 
 North Carolina Volunteers, Col. J). H. Hill, 
 known as "the Bethel Regiment," and was 
 engaged in the battle. He was promoted and 
 commissioned as captain and A. Q. M. of the 
 regiment. He was mustered out after the ex- 
 piration of his term of service. He married in 
 November, 1856. at the residence of her uncle, 
 Frederick Stanton, Mary Stanton, daughter of 
 late Gerard Brandon , ex-Governor of that State. 
 They have had five children, and reside at 
 Chapel Hill. 
 
 II. Wm. NLawrence Saunders, tlio present 
 Secretary of State, was born in Raleigh, July 
 30, 1835 ; graduated in June, 1854 ; studied law 
 with Judge Battle, and admitted to the bar 
 1856. He moved to Salisbury, and resided 
 there till the civil war ojiened ; he volunteered 
 in. April, 1861, as a meml)er of tlie Rowan 
 Rifle Guards, commanded by Captain Frank 
 McNeely, and ordered to Fort Johnston, below 
 Wilmington. He was appointed a lieutenant 
 in the Rowan Artillery, then in camp of in- 
 struction near Weldon. This battery was with 
 the '1th Regiment Ncu-th Carolina tro0[)s, and 
 with this regiment marched to Manassas Junc- 
 tion, arriving there a few days after the l)attle. 
 Having been appointed captain by Governor 
 Clark, he returned to Salisliui-y and enlisted a 
 c<unpiany of inlantry for the war, and took it to 
 Raleigh 'for instruction at Camp^Mangum ; they 
 became a part of the 46th Regiment North 
 Carolina troops, Cohuiel Hall. In May, 1862, 
 the regiment was (U'dei'ed to Goldsboro', thence 
 to Richmond, and then to Drury's Blufi', where 
 it became a part of General J. G. Walker's 
 brigade. He was twice wounded, once at the 
 first battle of Fredericksburg in the right cheek, 
 and at tiie Wilderness in May, 1864, very 
 severely, the ball entering the left corner of his 
 mouth and jiassing out at the back of the neck 
 
 on the right side. In 1862 he was promoted 
 to be major ; in 1863 he was made a lieutenant- 
 colonel, and oo "January 1, 1864, hewas elected 
 colonel of his regiment. His military career 
 terminated at Appomattox by the surrender of 
 Lee on April 9, 1865, when and where he was 
 paroled. 
 
 After the war closed, with his health and 
 strength much impaired by his wounds, he re- 
 turned to Florida and engaged in ]ilanting. In 
 1870 he returned to this State and was elected 
 Secretary of the Senate, and re-elected in 1872, 
 when with his brother-in-law. Major Engle- 
 hard, he established the Wilmington Journal, 
 winning great re])ulation as a sagacious politi- 
 cal writer. This had great influence in achiev- 
 ing tlie final triumph of the Democratic power 
 in the State. In November, 1876, he estab- 
 lished the Observer. On the death of Major 
 'Englehard, February 15, 1879, he was ap- 
 pointed his successor as Secretary of State, which 
 important position he now occupies, to the 
 gratification of the people of North Carolina. 
 He is keenly alive to the success and progress 
 of her institutions. His recent letter, Febru-' 
 ary 21, 1880, to Colonel John D. Taylor, of 
 Wilmington, on tlie subject of the sale or no 
 .sale of the North Carolina railroad, was allowed 
 to be one of the ablest arguments presented on 
 that side. He is now in the prime of life, and 
 may lie be spared for numy years of usefulness 
 to his country. 
 
 He married February 3, 1864, at the house of 
 Thomas Barnes, near Mariann-a, Florida Call, 
 third daughter of the late John W. Cotten. 
 In July, 1865, his wife died. We have not at- 
 tempted to enlarge this sketch by any display 
 of the usefulness, ability or talent of Colonel 
 Saunders. This can be done at some future 
 time ])y abler hands. 
 
 IV. Joseph Hubbard Saunders, named for his 
 father, graduated at the University in June, 
 
 1860. When the war began he joined in April, 
 
 1861, the Orauge Light Infantry, Captain 
 Ashe. In December he was appointed a lieu- 
 tenant by Governor Clark in Com]>any A, 33d 
 Regiment, then under instruction at Raleigh^ 
 commanded by Colonel L. O'B. Branch. 
 
 This regiment was 'ordered to New Berne, 
 and after General Branch's promotion, a.ssigned 
 to his brigade. After the engagement at New 
 Berne, tlie brigade was ordered to Virginia and 
 assigned to command of General A. P. Hill. 
 In 1862 he was promoted to be captain ; in 1863 
 to be major, and in 1864 to be lieutenant-colonel. 
 He was in all the severe ensiageraentsof Niu'thern 
 
WAKE f;OTTNTY 
 
 449 
 
 A^iiginia. He was twice wounded — ouce at 
 second Manassas in tiie right shoulder, and 
 again at Gettysburg, very severely; tlie ball 
 entered tlie left nostril and passing out the left 
 ear. Ills wound was supposed to be mortal, 
 and he was left on tlie fielil. He was captured by 
 the enemy and carried to Chester Hospital, and 
 after some months to Johnson's Islaiul, where 
 he was imprisoned until March, ISGf). He was 
 tlien paroled lor exchange and returned Iiome. 
 He resides with his motlier, unmarried. 
 
 William Kuffiu Co.\ was born in Scotland 
 Neck, North Carolina ; he removed to Ten- 
 nessee, and was educated at Franklin College, 
 near Nasliville ; after gradiuiting he became a 
 student of the Lebanon Law School, and being 
 licensed to practice, opened an office in Nash- 
 ville. Before the civil war began he had re- 
 turned to North Carolina, and settled in Edge- 
 combe County, where he engaged himself in 
 agricultural interests. In the civil war he was 
 early commissioned major of the 2d North 
 Carolina State troops, and soon attained the 
 rank of brigadier-general in tiic armies of the 
 Confederacy, and commanded his division in the 
 last charge of the Army of Northern Virginia 
 a few hours before the flag of truce announced 
 tlie surrender at Appomattox. And so North 
 Carolina justly claims that at Bethel she bore 
 the first assault at arms, and at Appomattox 
 she fired tiie last gun in defense-of tlie liberties 
 of the South. 
 
 Since tlie war General Co-t returned to the 
 practice of the law at Raleigh ; for six years he 
 was the solicitor of the Metropolitan district, 
 and afterward he was appointed judge of the 
 Superior Court for the same district, which he 
 resigned to canvass his district for election to 
 the United States House of Representatives ; he 
 was elected to the 47th Congress over Moses A. 
 Bledsoe. General Cox is one of the trustees of 
 tlie University of the South ; was a delegate to 
 the Ueuiocratic convention which met in New 
 York7~a,nd was elected to the St. Louis Demo- 
 cratic convention but declined the honor, and 
 for several years was chairman of the State 
 Democratic convention. In every public posi- 
 tion to which he has been called his course has 
 been marked with fidelify, integrity and talent. 
 His first wife was Penelope, daughter of James 
 S. Battle ; his second wife is a daugliter of 
 Bishop Lyman. 
 
 Octavius Coke resides in Raleigli, a member 
 of the legal profession. He is a native of Vir- 
 ginia, born at Williamsburg, October 4. 1840. 
 Educated at William and Mary College, he 
 
 studied law and became a member of the bar in 
 1800. When the civil war l)egan he enlisted in 
 tlie 32d Virginia Inl'antry, and soon attained 
 the rank of captain, and so served during tlie 
 whole contest. He was severely wounded at 
 tlie battle of Sharpsburg and of Five Folks. 
 When the war ended he settled in Chowan 
 County, where he married Miss Wood. Ho was 
 a Democratic elector in 1872, and a member 
 of the State Senate in 1870. He has now per- 
 manently located in Raleigh, (1880,) and is 
 chairman of the State Democraticcommittee. His 
 brother, Richard ('oke, became Governor of the 
 State of Texas, and now represents tliat State 
 in the United States Senate. 
 
 A sketch of Dr. Richard H. Lewis, the cele- 
 brated oculist, will be found in I'itt County, of 
 which he is a native. 
 
 Donald William Bain is a native of Riileigh, 
 born April 2, 1841. Educated at Mr. Lovejoy's 
 Academy. He entered the service of the State 
 in the office of comptroller under Governor 
 Brogden, in 1857, where he served until ap- 
 pointed chief clerk of the treasury, which posi- 
 tion he now holds. In February, 1807, he was 
 appointed Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge 
 of North Carolina. The systematic business 
 habits he has used render his services invalu- 
 able and most satisfixctory ; he has the regard 
 and confidence of every one who knows him. 
 
 Hon. Kemi>P. Battle in his centennial address, 
 "Early History of Raleigh," page 44, says of 
 insurrections : It is impossible for us to imagine 
 what terror rumoi's of insurrections among 
 slaves caused our ancestors. They created a 
 wild panic in which reason and sense had no 
 part. We find such rumors common in tlie 
 early part of the century. The most notable 
 was in June, 1802, when the discover} that one 
 Frank Sumner had embodied a company of 
 thirteen men under his leadershij) as captain, 
 threw the whole country from Tar river to the 
 Atlantic into consternation. Volunteer compa- 
 nies were organized for ]iatrolling and arresting 
 suspected persons. Martial law reigned su- 
 preme. The writ of habeas corpus was sus- 
 jiended in jiractice, though not by law, as to 
 the negro race. At the time one hundred men 
 were locked up in Martin County jail. Captain 
 Frank Sumner for his ill-timed ambitiou was 
 promptly hung by judgment of a special court, 
 and his deluded followers were glad to escape — 
 one with the loss of his ears, one with branding, 
 the rest with flogging. 
 
 A similar panic about that time occurred in 
 
450 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Franklin County, but after great excitement in 
 all middle North Carolina, and many arrests, 
 the accused were pronounced "not guilty " by 
 the court hastily convened for the emergency. 
 
 When Nat. Turner's massacre of fifty-five 
 persons occurred in Southampton, Virginia, in 
 1831, the whole of Raleigh was placed under 
 arms. The able-bodied were divided into four 
 companies, each to patrol the streets every fourth 
 night. The old men were organized as Silver 
 Grays. Tiie fortress was ' the Presbyterian 
 Church, and it was agreed tliat whenever the 
 State House bell should sound the women and 
 children were to hasten to its ])rotecting walls. 
 At last one night O'Rourke's blacksmith shop 
 took fire. It was night, says my informant, 
 whose hair is frosted now ; but he remembers 
 as vividly as if it were yesterday, the women 
 with dislieveled hair and in their night clotlies 
 running for life througli the streets. It was no 
 laughing matter to them. One of our most 
 venerable and intelligent old ladies, (and she is 
 an uncommonly brave women,) although she 
 
 disbelieved the stories, yet when she lieard the 
 loud clangor of the bells at midnight, drew her 
 children around her, determined to beg the 
 enemy to kill them first so that she might see 
 tiiem safe in death rather tlian be the first to 
 die, leaving them to brutality and torture. But 
 her son, then a mere boy, brandished his de- 
 ceased father's sword and prepared to defend 
 the household. I hope he will pardon me for 
 mentioning an act so much to his credit. It 
 was our Raleigh poet — James Fontleroy Taylor.- 
 Tiie negroes were frightened more than the 
 whites. They fled and hid under houses, in 
 garden shrubbery, lay between corn rows, any- 
 where for safety. There never was a time when 
 the colored people of Raleigh would have risen 
 against our people. It is greatly to the credit 
 of both races that notwithstanding party ani- 
 mosity and sudden emancipation, the kindly, 
 personal feeling between the whites and their 
 old servants has never been interrupted. See 
 ante, pages, 127, 128, 222 and 223, touching 
 these matters. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 WARREN COUNTY. 
 
 Gen. Jethro Sumner lived and died in War- 
 ren County. His father emigrated from Eng- 
 land and settled near Suffolk, Va. His son emi- 
 grated to Bute (since 1Y79 Franklin and Warren 
 Counties) and was sheriff of Bute for some years. 
 When the Revolutionary war began he was ap- 
 pointed, in April, 177(), Colonel of the third 
 regiment of Continental troops by the Provin- 
 cial Congress of the State of North Carolina. 
 He joined the Gi'and Army of the North under 
 Washington, aud after a campaign he was ap- 
 pointed Brigadier-General and ordered to join 
 General Gates in the South. He behaved with 
 gallantry at Camden. He then joined General 
 Greene and was with him in his soiitliern cam- 
 paign, anil commanded the North Carolina 
 troops at the hard-fought battle of Eutaw, Sep- 
 tember 8, 1781, where his charge with bayonets 
 contributed to the success of that decisive 
 battle. This was one of the severest battles and 
 decisive of the whole Revolution. General 
 
 Greene's first line was composed of Marion's, 
 Sumter's and Col. Pleasant Henderson's Regi- 
 ments, Lee's Legion and Pickens' Corjjs. Tiie 
 second line was composed of Sumner's Brigade 
 of North Carolina Continentals, under Col. Jolin 
 B. Ashe, Major Armstrong, and Major Blount, 
 with the Virginians on the left and Marylanders 
 in the center. The British were driven from the 
 field, and only escaped annihilation by seizing 
 a large brick house, from which their fire was 
 so destructive that Greene forebore further at- 
 tack. The force of each was about 2,000 men ; 
 of these, 1 ,200 were left on the field. More 
 than half the force of Greene were Nortli Caro- 
 linians. The first line behaved well, but the 
 second line sustained the brunt of the fight. The 
 chai'ge by Sumner with fixed l)ayonets was bril- 
 liant, and the proud Englishman was beaten at 
 his favorite weapon. Many men of each line 
 were transfi.xed by their opponents, and thus 
 "fightins fell." 
 
WARREN COUNTY. 
 
 451 
 
 The war being over, General Sunnier resigned, 
 and married a wealthy widow (Mrs. lleiss) of 
 New Berne, by wlioni he had three children ; 
 one of these, Mary Sumner, married Hon. 
 Thomas Blount. (See page 158.) 
 
 General Sumnerlies buried in Warren County, 
 near the road between Louisburgatid Warrenton, 
 near tlie old Shocco Cliapel. Tlie stone that 
 marks ins grave bears this inscription: "To 
 the memory of Gen. Jethro Sumner, one of the 
 heroes of 177<5." 
 
 The Hawkins family is one of the most ex- 
 tensive as well as one of the most respectable in 
 the State. They liave pervaded not only our 
 own State, but many other portions of tlie south 
 and southwest, and wherever tliey have gone 
 they have left indelible traces of genius, enter- 
 prise, integrity and ])atriotism. 
 
 The family is of English origin ; emigrated 
 to this country about tlie reign of Queen Anne, 
 1705, and settled in Gloucester County, in Vir- 
 ginia, where tlie founder of this family, Phile- 
 mon Hawkins, was born, on September 28, 1717. 
 He removed from Gloucester County, Va., at the 
 age of twenty, to Warren (tlien Bute) County, 
 iu this State. 
 
 IMiilemoii Hawkins was enterprising and ener- 
 getic. Born to but little fortune, reared to liard 
 labor, with little or no education, without patron- 
 age or powerful friends, he boldly resolved to 
 make tor himself a name and place, in a new 
 country, inhabited then only by Indians and 
 semi-savage wliites. His inilustry, energy and 
 cajjacity caused the country around liim to grow, 
 and lie grew with it. He prospered beyond 
 even his own hopes or the expectations of his 
 friends. His reputation and position is shown 
 by the fact that he was an officer in the Colonial 
 Government, and was aid to Governor Tryon in 
 the battle of Alamance. From his own position 
 in society, and the liberal means at his command, 
 he exerted much influence. He was given to 
 liospitality and kindness ; no private house in 
 the whole borders of the State was better known 
 and none where more enlarged and unstinted 
 hos]iitality disitensed than at the house of Col. 
 I'iiilemon Hawkins, sr. He enjoyed the regard 
 and resjiect of the community. He lived in the 
 enjoyment of a well-spent life, and died in 1801, 
 in the eighty-third year of his age. He mar- 
 ried Delia Martin, by whom he had six cliildren, 
 four sons and two daughters, as shown by this 
 genealogical table : 
 
 Pliilemon Hav.'kins, the founder of the family, 
 was the son of Philemon Hawkins, of Virginia, 
 born in Gloucester County, Va., in 1717 ; mar- 
 
 ried Delia Martin and had issue : I. Delia, mar- 
 ried to L. Bullock, no issue ; II. Colonel John, 
 married a sister of Hon. Nathaniel Macon, 
 and had (1) Col. Joseph, whose daughter mar- 
 ried to Williams, (2) Gen. Micajah, (3) Gen. 
 John IL, (-1) Philemon, (5) a daughter, married 
 to Baker, (f)) another married to Williams, (7) 
 and another married to Alston. 
 
 III. Philemon, son of Philemon, jr., of Pleas- 
 ant Hill, born 1752, married Lucy Davis, died 
 1883, had twelve children : (1) William, Gov- 
 ernor, married Ann Boyd, and had eight chil- 
 dren : (a) Lucy, married (1st) CVdeman, (2d) 
 Conner ; (b) Emily, married to Nutall, (c) Ma- 
 tihla, (d) William J., (e) Celestia, married to 
 Amis, (f) Mary, (g) Henrietta; (2) JohnD., 
 married Jane Boyd, and had eleven children: (a) 
 Ann, married to Young, (b) Lucy, married to 
 Cane, (c) Mary, married to Jones, (d) Vir- 
 ginia, married to Anderson, (e) James, (f) 
 Frank, (g) Dr. William J., (h) John D., (i) 
 Pliilemon, (k) Alexander, (1) Jane; (3) Joseph 
 W., married Mary Boyd, and had eight chil- 
 dren : (a) Alexander, (b) Peter, (c) Philemon 
 H., (d) George, (e) William D., (f) Ann Leis- 
 ter, (g) Lucy Henderson, (h) Rufus ; (4) Benja- 
 min F. , married Sally Persons, and had Thomas, 
 Henry and Benjamin; (5) Philemon, (6) George, 
 (7) Frank, died unmarried, (8) Eleanor, ihmt- 
 ried to Sherwood Haywood, and had nine chil- 
 dren: (a) Nancy, married to William A. Blount, 
 (b) Sally, (c) Rufus, (d) Lucy, married to 
 13rvan, (e) Delia, married (1st) to Williams, 
 (2d) t'o George E. Badger, (f ) Frank, (g) Rob- 
 ert E., (h) Maria, (i) Richard ; (9) Ann, mar- 
 ried William P. Little, and had seven children : 
 (a) Lucy, married to Terry, (b) Mary, married 
 to Mosely, (c) Thomas P., died unmarried, 
 lived in Hertford County, (d) George, (e) 
 Minerva, married to Graham, (f) William, (g) 
 Susan, married to Dr. Charles Skinner ; (10) ' 
 Delia, married to Stephen Haywood, and had 
 five children : (a) Margaret, (b) Dallas, (c) Lu- 
 cinda, (d) Sally, (e) Philemon ; (11) Sarah, wa.s 
 the second wife of Col. William Polk, of Ra- 
 leigli, had issue: (a) Lucius, (b) Leonidas, (c) 
 Mary, first wife of George E. Badger, (d) 
 Rufus, (e) George W., (f) Susan, married to 
 Kenneth Rayner, (g) Andrew ; (12) Lucy 
 Davis Ruffin,' first wife of Louis D. Henry, no 
 issue. 
 
 To Philemon Hawkins and Delia Martin were 
 also born (IV.) Benjamin, born 1754, died 1816; 
 in Congress, 1782 ; Indian agent, 1785 ; U. S. 
 Senator, 1789 ; he had one son, Madison, and 
 three daughters. (V.) Joseph, died unmarried. 
 
452 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 (VI.) Ann, marrifd to Micajali Thomas ; no 
 issue. 
 
 Benjamin Hawkins (born 1754, died 1816) 
 was born in Bute, now Warren County, the son 
 of Col. Philemon Hawkins, sr., and Delia, 
 his wife. He was reared in habits of industry 
 and economy. His education was the best the 
 country afforded. With a younger brother 
 (Joseph) he was sent, after being prepared at 
 other institutions, to Princeton College, where 
 they remained until tlie war closed its walls, he 
 being then in the senior class. The study of lan- 
 guages seemed to be h'\s forte, and he was familiar 
 with not only the Latin and Greek, but also was 
 proficient in the modern languages, especially 
 the French. This accomplishment caused Gen- 
 eral Washington to invoke his aid in his inter- 
 course with the French officers, and he was for 
 awhile a member of Washington's military 
 family. He was at the battle of Monmouth 
 with Washington in 1779, ])robably as a volun- 
 teer aid. In 1780 he was selected by the Legis- 
 lature as commercial agent to procure supplies 
 at home or abroad for the su[)port of the war ; 
 he repaired to the West Indies and procured 
 munitions, arms and provisions, and shi})ped 
 them on board of vessels belonging to John 
 Wright Stanley, (tlie father of John Stanley,) 
 then a wealthy merchant at New Berne. These 
 vessels witli their cargoes were captured by the 
 British, which ruined the fortunes of Mr. Stan- 
 ley, and when lie applied to the State for in- 
 demnity, and was refused, he sue^ Colonel 
 Hawkins individually, but tlie court held that 
 the contracts of an agent of the State did not 
 bind liim individually. In September, 1782, 
 he was elected by the Legislature a member of 
 Congress in the old Confederation, and re-elected 
 in 1783 ; he was present at Annapolis tliatyear 
 and witnessed the resignation of Washington as 
 Commander-in-Chief of the armies of America ; 
 March 21, 1785, he was appointed with Daniel 
 Carroll and William Perry to treat with the 
 Cherokees and all other Indians south of them. 
 He was also appointed by Congress with An- 
 drew Pickens, Joseph Martin and Lauchlin Mc- 
 intosh, to negotiate with tlie Creeks. They 
 concluded the treaty of Joephinton, and also 
 the treaty with the Creeks of Hopewell. In 
 1786 he was again elected a member of Congress 
 to serve until 1787, and in 1789 he was elected 
 Senator in Congress, with Samuel Johnston as 
 a colleague, the first two United States Sena- 
 tors chosen to represent this State ; he took his 
 seat January 13, 1790, and served for six years. 
 After his term in the Senate had expired liie was 
 
 appointed by the President " agent for sujier- 
 iutending all Indians south of the Ohio." In 
 1801 he was reappointed by Mr. Jefferson joint 
 commissioner with Generals Wilkerson and 
 Pickens to negotiate treaties with the Chicka- 
 saws, Choctaws and Natches. It is a well- 
 known trait in Indian character that whenever 
 war is waged in tlieir vicinity their belligerent 
 and restless temper will cause them to take a 
 part. When General Jackson was carrying on 
 the war with the Creeks it was deemed best by 
 tlie Government that a regiment sliould bo 
 raised among the friendly Indians to prevent 
 their joining the enemy. The regiment was 
 raised and Hawkins was appointed Colonel, and 
 the celebrated half-breed Mcintosh, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel. This regiment was snjiplied for a 
 time by Colonel Hawkins at his own charge. 
 Colonel Hawkins from exposure and bad health 
 wished to resign the charge of his responsible 
 appointment as superintendent, but tlie Gov- 
 ernment seemed unwilling to give him up. He 
 died in this service Juno 6, 1816, leaving one 
 son and three daughters. He was a man of 
 literary attainments, and left works on "Topog- 
 raphy" and "Indian language," valuable and 
 interesting. "A sketch of the Creek country" 
 from his pen has been printed by the Georgia 
 Historical Society at the private expense of Wm. 
 B. Hodgson. 
 
 Colonel Joseph Hawkins was a son of Piiile- 
 mon and brother of above. In 1782-83 and 
 1812-13 he was in the Legislature ; educated, as 
 we have stated, at Princeton. His namesake 
 (son of Colonel John Hawkins) was in 1825 
 Comptroller of the State. General Micajah 
 Thomas Hawkins, a son of Colonel John Haw- 
 kins, was in the Senate of the State in 182;! and 
 in 1827, and a member of Congress from 1831 
 to 1841. He served again in the Legislature 
 of 1846. General John H. Hawkins entered the 
 Legislature in 1809, and served in the Senate 
 of 1830-3 1 , and in the House of 1835r36. Piiile- 
 mon, second sou of Philemon, was in the Leg- 
 islature of 1803-6, 1807-8, 1810-11, 1817-18. 
 Governor William Hawkins, son of Philemon 
 Hawkins, jr., was in the Legislature of 1804-5, 
 and elected Governor in 1811; died in 18?^!^-^ 
 For Sarah Hawkins, who married Colonel Wil- 
 liam Polk, see sketches p. 201, and of their sons. 
 General Lucius J. Polk, see p. 202, and Bishop 
 Polk, see p. 284. 
 
 James G. Brelion, who was a surgeon of the 
 Revolution, died at his residence in Warrenton 
 on April 8, 1819, at an advanced age. He was 
 a native of Ireland, where he had received a 
 
WARREN COUNTY. 
 
 453 
 
 liberal education. He emigrated to America 
 and settled for a time in Maryland. In tlie 
 records of the committee of safety of Maryland, 
 October, 177fi, is an order for Dr. Brebon to 
 deliver up to Timotliy I5owers all tbe books on 
 pliysic, or any otlierkind in bis possession taken 
 on board of any of tlie captured vessels at St. 
 George Island. (Force's Am. Arcb., vol. 2, 
 (i54.) He removed to Warren ton and began to 
 practice, but tbe war raged and be was ap- 
 pointed a surgeon in tlic navy, and served at 
 different posts to tbe close of tlie war, wlien lie 
 returned to bis prol'ession. He was distinguislied 
 for liis skill as a surgeon and bis learned scien- 
 tific researclies. He was celebrated for gener- 
 ou.s bos))i(ality and bis unrivaled colloquial 
 ' powers. (^See Dr. Toner on tbe Revolutionary 
 Burgeons.) 
 
 Natbaniel Macon, born Dec. 17, 1758, died 
 June 29, 1837 ; was born, lived and died in War- 
 ren County. To attein|)t to mention all tlie ser- 
 vices of tbis [)atri(it, from liis cntiance in public 
 life as a soldier of tbe Revolution to its close as 
 Senator in Congress, (1827,) would comprise tlie 
 bistory of our Republic at important and interest- 
 ing epoclis, but neitberour plan or abilities will 
 ])ermit tbis attempt. We propose to confine our- 
 selves to facts and dates, leaving to tbe bistorian 
 to delineate and present bis cbaractcr, a cbar- 
 acter so unique yet so perfect, so grand and 
 yet so simple, so eccentric and yet so unselfisb 
 and pure. 
 
 His ancestors were from Virginia ; be was 
 sent to Princeton College, wbere be jiursued with 
 diligence his studies till tbe war of tbe Revo- 
 lution closed tbat institution. He returned 
 bome and entered tlie army as a private soldier 
 in a company commanded by bis brotlier, wliere 
 be served for some years. Tiiis step was 
 marked by an idiosyncrasy so peculiar to bis 
 whole life, and so different from tlie ordinary 
 conduct of men. He not only refused rank 
 which was open to him, but refused any com- 
 pensation for his service. He marclied with his 
 company to South Carolina, then the theater of 
 war, and liad bis lull share of all the hardships 
 and disasters of tliat terrible campaign. He 
 was present at tbe iall of Fort Moultrie, the 
 surrender of Charleston, tbe defeat of Camden, 
 and the lapid retreat of Greene across tbe upper 
 jiart of North Carolina. He was in camp on 
 tbe banks of tbe Yadkin when a summons came 
 to Mr. Blacon, from tbe Governor of North 
 Carolina, to attend a meeting oi' the General 
 Asscmlily to which lie bad been elected by the 
 people of Warren County without his knowl- 
 
 edge and in his absence ; be declined to go. 
 This incident came to tbe knowledge of General 
 Greene, who sent for the young man and asked 
 him tbe reason of tbis unexpected course — tbis 
 jireferenee of a ca'.np destitute of every comfort, 
 and with gloomy prospects, to a comfortable 
 seat in the Legislature. Mr. Macon, in bis 
 sententious way, said " his country needed the 
 services of all her sons — tbat be bad seen the 
 faces of tbe British many times, and as yet 
 never saw their backs, and be meant to stay in 
 tbe army until be did.''' Greene instantly saw 
 tbe material of which tbe man was made — de- 
 voted jiatriotism — and determined to ulilize it. 
 He told him '' that be could do more good as a 
 member of tbe Legislature than as a soldier, 
 and that. in tbe army be was but one man, but 
 in the Legislature be might urge many to fur- 
 nish supplies by showing tbe utter destitution 
 and distress be bad seen ; tbat it was bis duty 
 to go." Only under such orders and such high 
 prouiptings did be leave tbe army, and by bis 
 influence contributed to obtain su))plies which 
 enabled Greene to face Cornwallis at Guilford 
 Court House, fight bim, and drive him froin the 
 South then and forever, for this forced tbe 
 British to retreat upon Wilmington, and then 
 followed Yorktown. The military career of Mr. 
 Macon here ended, and bis political life, so long 
 and so successful, began. He was elected the 
 first Senator in 1780, from tbe County of 
 Warren, and served continuously until 1785. 
 From this time be devoted bimself to his farm 
 and family until 1791, when be was elected a 
 member of tbe 2d Congress, in whicb be was 
 continued until 1815, when he was chosen 
 Senator in place of Francis Locke, resigned, 
 and was continued b}' repeated elections until 
 1828, when be resigned his office as Senator in 
 Congress, as trustee of tbe University, and as 
 a justice of the peace in a laconic note of two 
 lines. During tbis service be was elected 
 Speaker of the House 1801 to 1806, and Presi- 
 dent of tbe Senate in 1825-2G-27. At one time, 
 1804, tbe State of North Carolina gave a Presi- 
 dent to tbe Senate of tbe United States in 
 Governor Jesse Franklin, and a Speaker of 
 the House in Nathaniel Macon. His i)olitical 
 life thus continued over forty years by free elec- 
 tions of tbe people and tbe Legislature. He 
 was a Representative in Congress under Wash- 
 ington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison, and 
 Senator nnder Madison, Monroe and John 
 Quincy Adams. Although offered again and 
 .again high executive office, be never accejited 
 any office except from the people or their ira- 
 
454 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINiSCENCES. 
 
 mediate representatives, the Legislature. He 
 venerated Washington ; he had an affectionate 
 regard for Madison and Monroe, but Mr. Jeffer- 
 son was to him his Magmis Apollo of politics. 
 He was a devoted friend of Jackson and his 
 constant supporter. His la.st public office (1830) 
 was as elector in the support of Van Buren for 
 President. He often spoke in Congress, always 
 sententious, decided and to the point. It is 
 regretted that in his day few short-hand re- 
 porters or that no Congressional Record existed, 
 but Mr Benton has reaorded that " he spoke 
 more good sense while getting in his chair and 
 getting out of it, than many delivered in long 
 and elaborate speeches." He allowed no re- 
 porter to amplify or condense his remarks. He 
 was opposed to all nepotism, and in his long 
 public career of forty years in Congress he 
 never once recommended any relative of his 
 to public office. What a contrast with modern 
 times. He never attended a convention or cau- 
 cus, for he said he trusted them once and then 
 they cheated him. He was a hard-money man, 
 as the only constitutional currency. He said 
 that this was right, for he had seen the evils of 
 paper money, and meant to save the people 
 from it. He was opposed to all pensions to 
 officers and soldiers of the Revolution, and re- 
 fused any pension for himself, although entitled 
 to one, for he urged that all had been rewarded 
 by the establishment of independence and free- 
 dom, and tliat was sufficient in itself. On this 
 principle he voted against the bill for Lafayette's 
 benefit. On tlic riglits of the States to secede 
 he addressed the following letter toS. P. Carson, 
 dated — 
 
 " Buck Springs, February 9, 1833. 
 
 " Sir : I have received your letter of the 24th 
 ulto. 
 
 "There can be no doubt that the United 
 States are in a deplorable situation, and that 
 the publication of the opinion you desire would 
 be useless. My opinion has never been a secret, 
 and I have always stated it to tliose who wanted 
 to know it. In the year 1824, the Constitution 
 was buried. The Senators who were then pre- 
 sent will, it is believed, recollect, the fact, and 
 was never afterward quoted by me while I con- 
 tinued in the Senate. Tlie opinions of General 
 Washington, Mr. Jefferson and Governor Clinton 
 were known but not resjiected. I never believed 
 that a State could nullify and remain in tlie 
 Union, hut ahvays believed tliat a State could 
 secede token she pleased, provided she would pay 
 her proportion of tlie public debt. 
 
 A 
 
 " This right I have considered the best guard 
 to public liberty and the public justice that 
 could be desired, and it ought to have prevented 
 what is now felt in the South — oppression. 
 
 "A government of opinion established by 
 sovereign States cannot be maintained by force. 
 The use of force makes enemies, and enemies 
 cannot live in peace. 
 
 " Nathaniel Macon." 
 
 His private character was but a reflex of his 
 public career. He was exact, just and cautious, 
 not wealthy, he did not covet riches, but lived 
 independently and within liis means. Punctual 
 in all his obligations he paid as he went, avoid- 
 ing all suretyship aud debt. When in his last 
 illness and he knew, as he liad been informed ' 
 by his physician, that it was fatal, he asked far 
 his bill of the physician and paid it, a7id so died 
 not oiving a cent to any man. His house, plain 
 and simple, always had a welcome for all. In 
 person he was portly, of strongly marked fea- 
 tures, and of pleasant address. 
 
 No portrait it is believed of him is extant, for 
 he would never allow one to be taken. On one 
 occasion while in the discharge of some public 
 duty, an artist attempted to take his likeness. 
 When it was discovered, Mr. Macon was indig- 
 nant and threatened to prosecute the offender. 
 His chirograi)hy was like his character, sim])le, 
 plain and determined, without ornament or af- 
 fectation. 
 
 He was devoted to agriculture, and often in 
 the recess of Congress worked with his hands in 
 gathering his crops. In his dress lie was plain 
 but always neat. He wore a suit all of the 
 same material, of superfine navy blue, in the 
 fashion of the olden time ; a hat made of a coon 
 skin, broad brimmed, with fair-topped boots 
 outside of the pantaloons, for he said that 
 leather was stronger than cloth. In religion 
 he inclined to " the Baptist persuasion,'' and 
 he was an earnest and constant student of the 
 Bible. He married Hannah Plummer, and had 
 two daughters, one of whom married William 
 Martin, and the other William Eaton ; he died 
 at home suddenly, June 29, 1837. He had 
 selected his burial })lace many years before his 
 death, a spot of land barren and stony, and not 
 likely ever to be cultivated ; and employed two 
 of his neighbors to make his coffin of the 
 plainest material, so it could be paid for before 
 it was used. Such was Nathaniel Macon. 
 
 James Turner, born 1766, died 1824, was a 
 native of Virginia, born in Southampton County. 
 His iatlier, Thomas Turner, moved to Warren 
 
Warren county. 
 
 455 
 
 County, then Bute, when liis son was very 
 3'oung. Hia advantages in education were but 
 tew. He early enlisted in the cause of inde- 
 j)endence, and was a private in the same coin- 
 I)any with Uv. Macon, lie entered iniblic life 
 as a member of the House of Commons in 1798 ; 
 re-elected in 1799 and 1800 ; and elected to the 
 Senate in 1801-2 ; in the latter session, 1802, he 
 was elected Governor of the State. In 1805 lie 
 was elected one of the Senators in Congress, and 
 served until 1816, wlien he resigned. He was 
 firm in his support of the war measures of the 
 Government, and in this he difl'ercd from his 
 colleague, Governor Stone. He was a man of 
 great personal worth, a faithful representative 
 and a sincere friend. He died August 15, 1824. 
 He was thrice married : 1. To Mary Anderson, 
 of \Varrent(m, in 1793, by whom he had four 
 cliildren: Thomas, Daniel, Rebecca, who mar- 
 ried Hon. George K. Badger, and Mary, tliere 
 was one daughter, probably Mary, who married 
 Dr. Pope, of Wariienton ; 2. Mrs. Anne Coch- 
 ran ; o. Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, who survived 
 him, leaving two daughters, Sally P, (wife of 
 Hon. Mark Alexander^ of Mecklenburg County, 
 Virginia) and Ann, wi-fe of Henry Coleman, of 
 Viiginia. 
 
 His son, Daniel Turner, was born in War- 
 ren County, 1796. He was educated at West 
 Point ; in 1814 was appointed a lieutenant of 
 artillery. He was stationed on Long Island, 
 and ai<led General Swift in superintending 
 the defenses of New York harbor. He then 
 was ordered to Plattsburg under General Ma- 
 comb. The war being over he resigned in 1815. 
 In 1819-23 lie was a member of the House of 
 Commons, and was elected a member of the 
 20tli Congress, (1825-27,) and was succeeded by 
 Robert Potter. He for a time was the principal 
 of tlie Warrenton Academy, distinguished alike 
 for his learning and amiability. He was ap- 
 jiointed navy agent at Mare's Island, Califor- 
 nia, wliere lie resided until his death. He mar- 
 ried a daugliter of Francis S. Key, of Washing- 
 ton City, (listinguished as a lawyer and the 
 author of our national song, " The Star-Span- 
 gled Bann-er." 
 
 Kemp Plumracr, long a distinguished resi- 
 lient of Warren County, wa.s a native of Vir- 
 ginia, born 17G9. He read law with Chancellor 
 Wythe and settled in Warrenton. He was a 
 member of the Legislature in 1794 in the Com- 
 mons, and in 1815-16 was elected to the Senate. 
 He married Susan Martin, by whom he had a 
 large family. One of his daughters was tlie 
 wife of Hon. William H. Battle, late of Cliapel 
 
 Hill, and the mother of Hon. Kemp Plummer 
 Battle. 
 
 John Hall, born 1767, died January, 1833, 
 resided and died in this County. He was a 
 native of Virginia, born at Waynesboro', the 
 son of Edward and Eleanor Hal), 7ice Stuart. 
 His father came from Ireland, settled first in 
 Pennsylvania and moved to Virginia in 1736 ; 
 he was in moderate circumstances. The mother's 
 family were of wealth and distinction. Judge 
 Archibald Stuart and Alexander H. H. Stuart, 
 Secretary of tlie Interior under Fillmore, were 
 among its members. 
 
 Judge Hall was educated at William and 
 Mary College, where he was fellow-student of 
 the Riglit Reverend John Starke Ravenscroft. 
 He studied law at Staunton, Virginia, under his 
 relative. Judge Stuart. In 1792 he settled in 
 Warrenton, North Carolina, wliere he resided 
 until his death. His correct and studious habits 
 and his extensive learning were duly appre- 
 ciated, and won for him the esteem and respect 
 of ail who knew him. His merits attracted the 
 attention of the Legislature, and in 1800 elected 
 him one of the judges of the Sui)erior Courts, 
 upon the adoption of the present Superior Court 
 system in 1806, and lie rode the circuit regu- 
 larly until 1818, wjicn on December 12 of that 
 year he was elected with Leonard Henderson 
 and John L Taylor to the Supreme Court bench, 
 which position he held until a painful and dis- 
 tressing malady compelled him to resign (in 
 December, 1832) and caused his death soon 
 after; this occurred at his residence in Warren- 
 ton, January 29, 1833. His biograpjier and 
 pupil (William Eaton, jr., Esq.,) from whose 
 admirable memoir of Judge Hall mucli of this 
 brief sketch has been collated, states of him : 
 "Althougli not a man of showy or brilliant en- 
 dowments, he had a .sound judgmentand varied 
 and extensive learning. In uprightness, im- 
 ])artiality and independence ; in the patient and 
 laborious duties of liis high office ; in kindness 
 and courtesy, he liad nosujicrior in North Caro- 
 lina — a State tliat lias produced so many jurists 
 of rare judicial excellence." Although in po- 
 litical feeling he was of the Jeffersonian school, 
 he had too correct a .sense of tlie proprieties of his 
 position to be active in political contests, and 
 was free from all jjartisan or political influences. 
 In 1829 ho was, while on the bench, elected one 
 of the electors on the Jackson ticket. He was 
 an active and bright member of the Masonic 
 fraternity, and in 1804 presided as Grand Mas- 
 ter of the order in the State. In jirivate life 
 he was simple and unatfected, frank and sin- 
 
456 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 cere, of unaffected modesty, humane and benevo- 
 lent. He was prompt and punctual in the pay- 
 ment of his debts. In person he was considei'ahly 
 above the middle size, agreeable features, florid 
 complexion and a face indicative of amiability 
 and candor. He died a communicant of the 
 Episcopal Church, the sacrament of which was 
 administered to him in his own chamber shortly 
 before his death by Rev. Joseph H. Saunders, 
 then rector of Emannel Church at Warren ton. 
 He married Mary Weldon, who died August, 
 1852, leaving eight children. Among tliese 
 was Edward, who was born 1795. He was an 
 educated gentleman ; graduated at the Univer- 
 sity of North Carolina in same class of 1815 
 with F. L. Hawks, Willie P. Mangum, and R. 
 D. Spaight. He studied law and became so 
 devoted to his profession tbat in 1841 he was 
 appointed judge of the Suiierior Courts. Very 
 few of his opinions were overruled, and he was 
 considered one of the most learned judges of the 
 State. For many years preceding his death he 
 retired from all business. He was a gentleman 
 of great purity of cliaracter and integrity. lie 
 died in November, 1877, in the eight3'-second 
 year of his age, unmarried. 
 
 Blake Baker resided and represented Warren 
 County in the House of Commons in 1807. He 
 had previously been the Attorney-General of 
 the State (1794 to 1803) and in 1808 was ap- 
 pointed one of the judges of the Superior Courts 
 by the Governor ; not being elected by the 
 Legislature his commission expired in the same 
 year. He died in 1818. He married Elizabeth, 
 the eldest daughter of Christopher Clark, of 
 Bertie County, the aunt of Governor Henry T. 
 Clark, but had no issue. 
 
 William Miller represented this County in 
 1810 in the House of Commons, and from 1811 
 to 1814, and !iad for his colleague William R. 
 Johnson, distinguislied for his success with race 
 horses, to wliich amusement the people of War- 
 ren are still much addicted, In the year 1814 Mr. 
 Miller was elected Governor of the State, and 
 served till 1817. His administration was during 
 the war wit!) England, and Governor Millernobly 
 sustained all the war measures of Mr. Madison 
 and promptly and efficiently aided in its vigor- 
 ous prosecution, hi Marcli, 1825, he was ap- 
 pointed by the President charge d'affaires to 
 Guatemala, Central America, and died while on 
 that mission. 
 
 Weldon Nathaniel Edwards, born 1788, died 
 1873, was long a resident and representative of 
 this County. He was a native of Northampton, 
 born about two miles from Gaston ; he read law 
 
 with Judge Hall. He succeeded Governor Mil- 
 ler in 1814 as a member of the Legislature, and 
 was re-elected in 1815. In 1816 he was elected 
 a member of the 15th Congress, succeeding 
 Mr. Macon, who had been elected to the 
 Senate and served until the 18th Congress, 
 1825-27, when he declined a re-election to 
 Congress, and was succeeded by Daniel Tur- 
 ner. He was elected to the Senate of the 
 Stctte in 1833, and served till 1844. He was a 
 delegate in 1835, with Mr. Macon, to the con- 
 vention to amend the State Constitution. In 
 1850-52 he was elected again, and chosen to 
 preside over the Senate. In 1861 he was elected 
 to and was chosen President of the convention 
 which met at Raleigli on May 20, 1861. This 
 body jiassed the ordinance of secession of 
 Nortli Carolina from the Union, and it closed 
 the political career of Mr. Edwards, wliich in 
 liic to him had been so full of promise and en- 
 joyment, and which closed under circumstances 
 of sorrow and melancholy. The war and its 
 sad effects had impaired his large estate, the 
 desolation of his section and losses of his i'riends 
 pressed deeply upon his generous and humane 
 disposition. Pie died December 18, 1873. He 
 married, in 1823, Lucy Norfleet, of Halifax, 
 with whom he lived for ini^re than fifty years in 
 quiet and unbroken felicity.* 
 
 There are few I'amilies that have produced 
 members who have served their country with 
 more integrity and ability than the Bragg fam- 
 ily. The father, Thomas Bragg, was a citizen 
 and native of Warren County. He was indus- 
 trious and intelligent, a house carpenter by 
 trade. It was while he was engaged in repair- 
 ing the old State House that it was destroyed 
 by fire, the elaborate and matchless statue of 
 Washington, made in Italy by Canova, being 
 lost in the flames. f His wife was a lady of ex- 
 traordinary energy and intelligence, who im- 
 parted to her children the same decided traits of 
 character that she possessed. This accords with 
 the remai-k of Dr. Rush in his work "On the 
 Mind," tliat he " never read of a great man 
 who did not have an active and intelligent 
 mother," verifying the trite adage, "The 
 hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." 
 Dickens says, "The virtues of mothers are vis- 
 
 * Although naturally depross(>(] by tlie suifcrings of his 
 people, yet his last days were spent in peace and plentj' — 
 his estate was worth near $100,000.— Ed. 
 
 t An appropriation was m.ade to rebuild the Capitol at 
 a cost of about 8300,000. The commissioners for re- 
 building were Samuel F. Patterson, then Ticasiu'er of 
 the State; Duncan Cameron, Alfred Jones, Cliarlcs 
 Manly and Beverly Daniel. 
 
WARREN COUNTY. 
 
 457 
 
 itcd oil their cliiklion, as well as the sins ul' tlic 
 fathers." 
 
 Three sons were born to this couple in War- 
 ren County, N. C: John, Braxton and Tlioinas. 
 
 John Bragj^j born 1808, died 1878, was horn 
 in Warrcnton. His father, though in nioderato 
 circumstances, afforded him every advantage of 
 education, lie was sent to the best schools in 
 tlie country, and to the University, where he 
 graduated in the same class of 1824 with Will- 
 iam A. Graham, Matthias E. Manly, David 
 Outlaw and others. Many of these subsc(iuently 
 attained the higliest jiositions in the .State, as 
 the.se sketches prove, lie studied law with Hon. 
 Edward Hall, son of Judge John Hall, and 
 practiced with great success for five years. He 
 was elected a member of the House of Commons 
 in 1830, and by successive elections until 1835. 
 In the latter year he was appointed by General 
 Jackson a member of tlie Board of Visitors of 
 tlie United States Military Academy at West 
 Point. 8()on after tliis he removed to Mobile, 
 Ala. During the Presidential canvass of 183*5 
 lie was associate editor of the Mobile Beyister. 
 As a polemical writer, he possessed great power, 
 and acquired influence and reputation as a jour- 
 nalist. So competent an autliority as Colonel 
 Forsyth ])ronounced him '' without any superior 
 as a p<ditical writer in the State of Alabama." 
 In 1837 and until 1840 he was the attorney for 
 the Bank of Mobile, and in 1842 he was ap- 
 ])ointed, by Governor Fitzpatrick, judge of the 
 Si.Kth Judicial Circuit ; afterward he was elected 
 to tliis position by the Legislature over Gen. 
 George W. Crabb. At the expiration of his 
 term of office (six years) he was unanimously re- 
 elected by the same hotly. During the time, 
 however, the election of judges was transferred 
 from the Legislature to the people. Although 
 it was well known that Judge Bragg was decid- 
 edly averse to the innovation, and stood aloof 
 from the canvass, the people elected him by a 
 large majority over Aaron B. Coo{)er, of Monroe. 
 
 As a judge, he was considered austere and un- 
 bending. Rigidly upright in his own conduct, 
 he was unsi)aring to any attempt at fraud or 
 chicanery. His virtues were of the Roman 
 type. 
 
 In 1851 the Democratic party had become 
 sadly disorganized in the Jlobile district, arid in 
 order to harmonize the contending factions, 
 which his non-interference in active polities en- 
 abled him to eflect, he consented to be a candi- 
 date for Congress, and was elected byamajori+v 
 of nearly 2,000 votes over Hon. C. C. Langd> i. 
 He served during only one session in Congress, 
 
 positively declining a re-election. He felt that 
 tiiere was such a decadence of public integrity 
 and personal virtue at Washington, as com- 
 l)aretl with the days of Macon, who was his 
 model of a statesman, that " the post of honor 
 was a private station." 
 
 Retiring from all professional as well as polit- 
 ical pursuits, he did not appear again in jmblic 
 affairs till his election to the Constitutional 
 Convention of 1861, as the representative from 
 Mobile County. Disqualified by age and former 
 pursuits from military service, he remained on 
 his farm in Lowndes County during the war. 
 There (April 12, 1865) he was subjected to the 
 grossest [icrsonal indignities, his farm wantonly 
 destroyed, aiid his dwelling burned over tlie 
 heads of his wife and children by the troops of 
 General Wilson. He moved to Mobile, where 
 he died on August 1(1, 1878. 
 
 He married a sister of Dr. William R. Hall, of 
 Lo%vndes County, Ala. His brother. Captain 
 William Bragg, of Wilcox County, died iu tlie 
 (Confederate army. His distinguislied brother, 
 Tliomas Bragg, (born November 9, 1810, died 
 January 21, 1872,) was a native of Warren 
 County, son of Thomas and Margaret ]>i'agg. 
 His education began at the Warrenton Acad- 
 emy, with such teachers as Geo. W. FrejMiian, 
 afterward Bishop of Arkansas, and Bishop Ot<y , 
 of Tennessee, and was completed at the Mili- 
 tary Academy at Middletown, Coj.-u., under 
 Captain Allen Partridge, where he renuiined 
 nearly three years. He then commenced the 
 study of the law under Judge John Hall, and 
 after obtaining his license he settled in Jack- 
 son, Northampton Count)^, N. C, where he prac- 
 ticed ills profession with brilliant success. In 
 1842 he was elected a member of the House of 
 Commons, where he took a high position, and 
 was the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, 
 lu 1854 he was elected Governor of the State by 
 tiie Democratic party, over that veteran |)oli- 
 tician. Gen. Alfred Dockery,and was re-elected, 
 in 1856, over that excellent an<l able statesman, 
 John A. Gilmer. In 1858-59 lie was elected 
 Senator in Congress, which he resigned in 18G1, 
 w'.ien his State withdrew from tlie Union. 
 
 On February 22, 1862, when the Confederate 
 Government was organized at Riciimond, Mr. 
 Davis tendered Governor Bragg the position of 
 Attorney-General. This high duty he performed 
 with great ability until 1863, when he was suc- 
 ceeded by Hon. George Davis. He returned to 
 his profession ; but the vicissitudes of the war 
 made a deep impression on his mind. In the 
 summer of 1870, when civil liberty and private 
 
458 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 riglitf wvre menaced by lawless power on the 
 one liaml, and "a wild species of justice" on 
 the otiier, his efforts were unremitting in the 
 sn]>port oi' justice and order. He, with others, 
 addressed the following note to Judge Bond, 
 then holding the United States Circuit Court at 
 Raleigh : 
 
 " Raleigh, September 30, 1871. 
 "Hon. H. L. Bond, Judge of U. S. Circuit Court. 
 " Sir: We have the honor, in the interest of 
 the peace of the people of North Carolina, to 
 address you this note. 
 
 " 'Die i'act that a secret, unlawful organization, 
 called ' the Ku Klux or Invisible Empire,' ex- 
 ists in certain parts of the State has been mani- 
 fested in the recent trials before the court in 
 which you preside. We condemn without res- 
 ervation all such organizations. We denounce 
 tliem as dangerous to all good government, ancl 
 we regard it as the eminent duty of all good citi- 
 zens to suppress them. No right-minded man 
 in North Carolina can palliate or deny the crimes 
 committed by these organizations ; but we think 
 if tlie further prosecution of the persons charged 
 witli these offenses were continued until Novem- 
 ber term, it would enable us to enlist all law- 
 loving citizens of the State to make an energetic 
 and effectual effort for the restoration of good 
 order. We assure you that we believe belore 
 the November term of the Circuit Court that 
 this unlawful organization will be effectually 
 suijpressed. 
 
 " In presenting these considerations to your 
 honor, we declare that it is our duty and pur- 
 ])ose to exert all the influence we possess and all 
 the means in our power to absolutely suppress 
 the organization, and to secure a lasting and 
 permanent jieace to the State. The laws of the 
 country must and shall be vindicated. We are 
 satisfied, and give the assurance, that the peo- 
 ])le of North Carolina will unite in averting and 
 forever obliterating an evil which can bring 
 nothing hut calamity to the State. In the name 
 of a just and honorable people, and by all the 
 considerations which appeal to good men, we 
 solemnly protest that tliese violations of law 
 and [lublic justice must and shall cease. 
 
 " We have the honor to be, etc., 
 " Thomas Brago, Geo. V. Strong, Daniel G. 
 FowLE, Jas. H. Batchelor, B. F. Moore, 
 Wm. M. Suipp, M. W. Ransom, Will. H. 
 Battle, R. H. Battle, jr., and D. M. Bar- 
 ringer." 
 In a reply, dated October 2, 1871, Judge 
 Bond stated that he was unable to comply with 
 this modest and reasonable request. 
 
 The last public service of Governor Bragg 
 was his connection as counsel for the managers 
 in the impeachment of Governor Holden, which 
 has already been referred to. (Page 441.) 
 
 From the hour of the arrest of private citi- 
 zens in Alamance and Caswell Counties to the 
 conviction of Holden, the mind of Governor 
 Bragg was never free from deep anxiety, and 
 from the grave responsibilities resting on him as 
 the leading and great tribune, guarding tlie 
 rights and liberties of the people. So heavy 
 and severe were his labors that when he left the 
 impeachment chamber lie went an invalid to his 
 sick room, a broken-down, afflicted man. The 
 silver cord of his life had been broken ; tlie 
 health-giving influences of mineral s]n'iugs and 
 medicine had lost all tlieir power. His life had 
 now come to its end. Surrounded by liis af- 
 flicted and disconsolate family, in full possession 
 of his vigorous intellect, and in a calm reliance 
 on the rewards promised to an honest, useful 
 and well-spent life, Gov. Tliomas Bragg de- 
 parted this life at Raleigh, January 21, 1872. 
 
 "Call no man good till he dies," said the 
 illustrious ancient ; and now that death has 
 closed the scenes of his long, useful and event- 
 ful life, we can, without fear of reversal, pro- 
 nounce Governor Bragg worthy of the esteem and 
 reverence with which his memory is cherished 
 by a grateful community. He was a good as 
 well as a great man. 
 
 A corrcsiiondent, in one of the papers of the 
 day, has recorded that he witnessed "the last 
 of earth " with this distinguished man. He says : 
 "Holding his hand with affection, I saw the 
 last evidences of life slowly pass away from him. 
 Never shall I forget the calmness and composure 
 with which, a few moments before he died, he 
 uttered these words : "I have no doubt that I 
 have my sins to answer for; all men must so ac- 
 count. I have endeavored to lead an exemplary 
 life ; I have never seen the time that I felt I 
 could be persuaded, through favor, affection, re- 
 ward, or the hope of reward, to do otherwise 
 than my conscience would dictate to me, as right 
 and projier. The future has been, and is now, 
 a deep, dark mystery." 
 
 Governor Bragg needs no eulogy. The peo- 
 ple hold his memory in respectful reverence. 
 
 He married in Petersburg, Va., and left a 
 large family. 
 
 "Green be the turf above thee, 
 Friend of my bettor days ! 
 None knew tliee but to love thee ; 
 None named thee but to praise." 
 
 — Halleck on the death of Drake. 
 
WARREN COUNTY. 
 
 459 
 
 Braxton Biagj,', (born 1815, died 1876,) son 
 of Tlionuis anil Margaret Brjigg, was born in tbis 
 County. 
 
 After proper early education, lie was nj)- 
 jwinted, in 1833, a Ciulet at the U. S. Military 
 Academy from the Warren district, Gen. Mic^i- 
 jali T. Hawkins being then member of Congress. 
 lie gradnateil in 1837, and was appointed a lieu- 
 tenant of the Tliird Artillery. In 1839 to 1843 
 he served in Florida in the war with the Semi- 
 noles. He was breveted captain for gallant con- 
 duct in Mexico at the defense of Fort Brown, 
 May 9, 184G, and major, for gallantry at Mon- 
 terey, .September 23, 1846; breveted fieutenant- 
 colonel for Bnena Vista 1847, anil appointed 
 major of First Cavalry March 3, 1855. He re- 
 signed January 3, 1850, and resided on his plan- 
 tation, at Thibodeaux until our civil war be- 
 gan. He was appointed a brigadier-general 
 (March, 1861) in the Confederate army, and a.s- 
 signed to command at Pensacola. In February, 
 1802, he was was made a major-general, and 
 joined the army of the Mississippi in command 
 of the Second Corps, and bore an imj)ortant part 
 in the battle of Shiloh. He was made general 
 in place of A. S. Johnson, and succeeded Beaure- 
 gard in command of that army after that battle. 
 In August he entered Kentucky, and was com- 
 l)elled to retire after the battle of Perryville, 
 Ocfober 9, 1862. He was then relieved from 
 tliis command, but was soon restored, and took 
 command of the army oj)posed to Rosecrans. 
 After the battle of Murfreesboro', December 31, 
 1862, where he gained partial success, he was 
 compelled to retire. On September 19, 1863, 
 he defeated Rosecrans at Chickamauga, and on 
 November 25, 1863, he was defeated by General 
 Grant at Missionary Ridge, and again was re- 
 lieved of his command. At Wilmington he was 
 again )>laccd in command, just before its capture 
 by the Union forces. After the war he led a quiet 
 life, and died very suddenly, (falling dead in the 
 street,) from a disease of the heart, at Galveston, 
 on Sei)tember 27, 1876. Thus ended the last of 
 this triumvirate of genius, of worth and talent. 
 The memory of Gen. Thomas J. Green should 
 be giuirded well and protected in love. He, gen- 
 erous to a fault, noble and grand, fiery and im- 
 l)ulsive, heard the Texau cry for freedom, left a 
 home of luxury, sought the fichl where blood 
 like water flowed, unsheathed his sword in de-» 
 fense of a stranger's laud, and bravely fought 
 for unknown homes. The cry of the oppressed 
 reached his ears and was echoed in his unselfish 
 heart — that heart gave its first beat of life 'neath 
 Warren's sky — bravely and nobly he fought, his 
 
 blood stained the plains and broad prairies of 
 Texas land ; the " Lone Star State " was saved 
 from Mexican persecution, and his chivalric na- 
 ture was satisfied. Years passed, but Warren's 
 memory remained still fresh in his mind, here- 
 turned, settled, and many yet there are who re- 
 member with i)leasure how Esmeralda's door, 
 whether touched by the hands of rich or poor, 
 ever swung upon the hinges of hospitality.- But 
 he, too, who had aided so much to build the 
 temple of fame, passed away just as the blood- 
 bespattered flag of our land was unfurled for its 
 last mighty eft'ort in the southern heavens, but 
 in passing away his noble heart beat with a 
 quickened pulse of pride, for he knew that Ms 
 only sou, shrouded in the patriotic mantle of his 
 sire, was battling for Warren, Carolina and the 
 Soulh. 
 
 From the graceful pen of E. A. Oldham, of 
 the Nezv South, we find that Wharton J. Green 
 is of an old Warren County stock, his ancestors 
 being among the earliest settlers of that County, 
 then a i)art of old Bute. Losing his mother at 
 four years of age, his father, Gen. Thomas J. 
 Green, placed him with a maternal uncle while 
 he went off to engage in the struggle for Texan 
 independence, just then beginning. The latter 
 was forthwith commissioned a Brigadier-General 
 by the Congress of the young republicand directed 
 to return to New Orleans and raise a brigade 
 for active service. This he speedily accom- 
 l)lished, consuming in the effort almost his en- 
 tire private means. Returning to Texas on the 
 day that Santa Anna, who had been captured at 
 San Jacinto, was to have sailed for Vera Cruz, 
 General Green assumed the responsibility of 
 bringing him ashore and detaining him a pris- 
 oner of war — an act which was approved by the 
 succeeding Congress. 
 
 Subsequently he was captured with the ill- 
 fated Mier expedition, every tenth man of 
 which was shot in cold blood, by order of his 
 former captive, the then tyrant of Jlexico. 
 After twelve months' confinement in the Castle 
 of Perote he and seven others effected their es- 
 cape by drilling a hole through an eight foot 
 wall. On his arrival in Texas he wrote and 
 published an account of the expedition. Upon 
 tiie aunexafion of Texas, General Green re- 
 turned to his native County, where he lived and 
 died. 
 
 Naturally of an adventurous disposition, he 
 helped* to settle three different States, and was 
 during his life a member of the Legislature of 
 five, including the first one of California. Foote 
 in his history of Texas says of him, that he did 
 
460 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 more toward acliieviiif; Mic indciJCtuloncc of tliat 
 Republic tlian any other wlio figured iu the 
 revolution. 
 
 His only son partook of liis roving nature in 
 his younger days, and tried various schools in 
 different States, including Lovejoy's Academy, 
 at Raleigh; Georgetown College; a preparatory 
 course for Harvard, in Boston ; West Point 
 Military Academy ; Univer.sity of Virginia, and 
 Cumberland University. 
 
 On his marriage in 1858, he devoted a year 
 to foreign travel. Returning in 1859, he set- 
 tled on his farm on Shocco creek, Warren County. 
 Altliough educated for the law his predilection 
 for country life and agricultural pursuits in- 
 duced him to abandon it shortly after obtaining 
 his license. Nurtured in the school of State's 
 rights, with the resolutions of '98 as his vadc- 
 Hjecwm and Mr. Calhoun his political high ])iiest, 
 and believing as fervently as he did in liis own 
 existence that the only hope for the perma- 
 nency of our system of government lay in the 
 strictest construction of the Constitution, it was 
 but natural that he .sliould liave espoused with 
 ardor the cause of his State wiien tlie right to 
 resume delegated powers came to be settled by 
 the arbitrament of arms. 
 
 When it became known in the beginning of 
 18(il that the Federal Government liad deter- 
 mined to reinforce and victual the beleagured 
 garrison of Fort Sumter, he hurried to Charles- 
 ton to tender his services to the Governor of 
 South Carolina, and arrived in time to hear the 
 first gun of the mighty struggle which it ush- 
 ered in. Returning home, he volunteered in 
 the Warren Guards, which was one of the three 
 first companies to reach the State encampment 
 at Raleigh. It was shortly afterward assigned 
 to the (2d) twelfth regiment, which was the 
 second to leave the State imd report for duty in 
 Virginia. While in camp at Norfolk he was, 
 without solicitation on his part, authorized by 
 the War Department to raise a regiment of his 
 own to be attached to Wise's Legion. Before 
 his two last companies arrived in camp, hearing 
 of the fall of Hatteras, and feeling assured that 
 Roanoke Island would be taken because it should 
 be the next point of attack, he was permitted 
 on his own application to proceed thither, thereby 
 losing rank, inasmuch as he had to take that 
 of lieutenant-colonel commanding, the regi- 
 ment not being complete so as to permit him to 
 take the grade above. 
 
 He reached the Island on February 8, 1862, 
 the morning of the day of surrender and after 
 it had been virtually decided on. Protesting 
 
 against its being done, he was sent forward 
 witli his command (the 2(1 North Carolina Bat- 
 talion) to interce])t tlie Federal advance, the 
 officer in command promising to reform the 
 other commands and come to his assistance. 
 They met and repulsed Burnside's advanced 
 regiments, and were in line of battle when a 
 white flag passed them from the rear in token 
 of surrender. 
 
 Subsequently he was wounded during the 
 siege of Washington, North Carolina, and 
 afterward wounded and captured at Gettys- 
 burg. He was detained a prisoner at John- 
 son's Island until within a week of the sur- 
 rendei-. Probably no man in tlie South felt 
 more keenly the final blow, for none was more 
 conscientiously devoted to the cause or more 
 sanguine of its successful issue. Nevertheless, 
 recognizing " The Nation " as an establislied 
 fact after Appomattox, lie in cominon witli others 
 similarly minded bowed to the inevitable. His 
 only ambition since has been to see his State 
 resume her [ilace at the council board of States, 
 the I'ecognized peer of any under tlie altered 
 condition of affairs, as she certainly was of all 
 before the change took place. He is essentially 
 "a new man," never having held a civil posi- 
 tion of any kind. He was a delegate to the 
 Democratic national convention in New York, 
 in 1868 ; to a similar convention in St. Louis, 
 and elector on the Democratic ticket of 1868. 
 All his life, however, he has been a close student 
 of passing events, and his reading confined al- 
 most exclusively to liistory and governmental 
 polity. His political articles have appeared 
 from time to time in many of the leading papers 
 of tlie day, and indicate an aggressive tone of 
 thought. Tiie defense and advancement of his 
 State and section is evidently the controlling 
 impulse in all he writes. 
 
 He was nominated for Congress in the 2d 
 district some six years ago against Governor 
 Brogden, the Republican candidate, and con- 
 sented to run only to keep his own party 
 together, being fully conscious of tlie hopeless- 
 ness of success. 
 
 Although a pronounced partisan, he is re- 
 served, diffident and retiring in his nature ; 
 ever fearful of giving unintentional offense and 
 perhaps a little too sensitive in taking it. Four 
 years ago he purchased the fiimous "Tokay' 
 Vineyard," near Fayetteville, where he and his 
 family now reside. Naturally one of the love- 
 liest spots in the State, it has, under the en- 
 thusiastic efforts of its proprietor, beei> very 
 materially beautified and improved. It is said 
 
WATAUGA COUNTlf. 
 
 461 
 
 to be the largest single vineyard in the .South, 
 if not this side of the Rocky Mountains. While 
 opposed to prohibitory legislation on principle, 
 lie is nevertheless a. iViend of temperance, and 
 believing that tliat cause can be best subserved 
 by the work in which he is engaged, he is a 
 vine grower through convictions of its moraliz- 
 ing influence as well as tliose of self interest. 
 
 lie received the nomination for C()ngress from 
 this, tiie third, district, at the hands of the 
 Warsaw convention on the 96th ballot and on 
 tlie third after his name had been presented. 
 He made an active and effective campaign, and 
 will wo believe make an active and efficient 
 member of the House of Representatives, (48tb 
 Congress.) He was renominated and elected to 
 tlie 49th Congress. 
 
 The Joneses of Warren are well known. Mr. 
 Macon's mother was a Jones. 
 
 Edward Jones was the progenitor of a numer- 
 ous offspring. 
 
 Robert H. Jones was distinguished as a law- 
 yer and statesman. He was a member of the 
 Legislature in 1816-17-18, and 1823-26-27. 
 He was appointed U. S. District Attorney by 
 Mr. Jefferson, and Attorney-General of the 
 State, 1828. His brother, Edward, was the 
 father of Joseph Sewall Jones, the author of 
 "The Defense of North Carolina ;" another. Hill, 
 was a Methodist ])reacher. His brother, on the 
 paternal side, William J. Jones, was a man 
 of excellent sense and of much popularity. He 
 represented the County in 1827-28, and was the 
 first sheriff elected by the people. 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 WATAUGA COUNTY. 
 
 Watauga County, in its capital or County 
 town, preserves the name of Daniel Booue, 
 (born August 22, 1734, died, 1820.) He was a 
 native of Berks County, Pa. His Aither came 
 to North Carolina wliile Daniel was a small 
 boy, and settled in tlie Forks of the Yadkin. 
 Here the scenes of his youtli and of his eaily 
 manhood were passed. 
 
 In 1769 Boone, accompanied by bold and ad- 
 venturous spirits, left lionie fur the dark and 
 bloody ground of Kentucky, and from that date 
 to 1771 was witli them cxjdoring tlie rich and 
 lovely regions, altliougli cunstantly exposed to 
 tlie attacks of tlie Indians. In 1774 he con- 
 ducted a party to the falls of the Ohio, and built 
 a fort wliere Boon.sboro' novv stands ; here he re- 
 ])ulsed at various times the attacks of the sav- 
 ages. In December, 1775, a furious assault was 
 made by which Booue lost one man and another 
 wounded ; but the Indians wore repulsed with 
 great slaughter, and apjieared to be reconciled. 
 Tliis caused the whites to be less guarded. On 
 July 14, 1776, as three young ladies (two of 
 them daughters of Colonel Calloway and one of 
 them a daughter ot Cidonel Boone) were stroll- 
 ing in the woods, they were captured by the In- 
 dians.. At the time Boone was off hunting, but 
 when lie returned, without any aid or waiting 
 
 to collect a force, he followed the trail of the 
 Indians, and came iu sight of them, and by his 
 unerring rifle killed two, recovered the girls and 
 returned to the fort in safety. One of these mar- 
 ried Samuel Henderson, the brother of Judge 
 Henderson and Pleasant Henderson. This ro- 
 mantic incid(;nt obtained more notoriety by its 
 mention in "The Last of the Mohicans," by 
 James Fennimore Cooper. 
 
 In 1778, while engaged in making salt at the 
 Licking River, be was captured and taken to 
 Detroit. He was adojited into an Indian family, 
 and hearing an attack was to be made on the 
 fort at Boonsboro', he made his escape, and 
 reached the fort, 160 miles distant, in four days, 
 during which he had but one meal. He found 
 the fort in a bad condition and put everybody 
 to work to repair it. The Indians, finding Boone 
 had escaped, jtostponed tlu^ attack. 
 
 On August 8 a large force appeared before 
 Boonsboro' and demanded its surrender. The 
 assailants were four hundred and forty-lour In- 
 dians and eleven Frenchmen, commanded by 
 Captain Duquesne. . Boone requested a parley 
 of three days, at the end of wbich he informed 
 the French commander he would defend the 
 iVirt to the last extremity. A treaty was agreed 
 upon. After signing it he was informed that it 
 
462 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 was a custom to shake hands, and the moment 
 the savages took hold of each white man's hand 
 they endeavored to lioUl hira fast. Boone felt 
 the sinewy grasp, and his companions were be- 
 trayed into a like perilous position. Now arose 
 a mighty struggle, a contest for life — 
 
 " Now gallant Boone, now hold tliy own. 
 No maWen's arm is 'round thee thrown ; 
 U'hat hv.. grasp thy fi-aine would feel 
 Throngh bars of brass and triple steel." 
 
 Fortune favors at this moment of peril her 
 gallant son, and the knife of Boone found a 
 bloody sheath in bis adversary's bosom ; his 
 men and himself escaped to the fort. The In- 
 dians were compelled to raise the siege after a 
 heavy loss and retired. Sucli was the life that 
 Boone led until the defeat of the Indians by 
 Wayne, in 1*792, wbich brought peace to this 
 lovely section. Boone, when this new territory 
 came into the Union, by carelessness on his part, 
 and cunning and chicanery of others, lost his 
 possessions in Kentucky. 'This he did not much 
 regret, as he said the country had become too 
 crowded, and "he wanted more room." He 
 went to Missouri, where he lost his wife, in 
 1813, and he returned to tlie house of his son,* 
 Major Nathan Boone. In 1810 he went to live 
 with his son-in-law, Flanders Calloway, and 
 died at Chariton, Missouri, September 26, 1820. 
 (Drake's Dictionary of "American Biographv of 
 Men of the Times," 1876.) 
 
 The character of Boone represents the type of 
 the men in the early age of our Republic, 
 brave, enterprising, noble and generous ; nor is 
 his character confined to our own country ; it 
 has been celebrated in the exquisite lines of 
 Byron. 
 
 "Of all men 
 Who passes for life and death, most lucky 
 Ts Daniel Boone, backwoodsman of Kentucky. 
 (Jrime came not near him. She is not the child 
 Of solitude. Healtli shrank not from him, 
 For hor home is in the rarely-trodden wild." 
 
 '■ An 1 tall and swift of foot were they 
 
 Beyond your dwarfing city's jjale abortions. 
 Because their thoughts had never been the prey 
 
 Of careor gain. The green woods were their portions. 
 Motion was in their days, not in tlieir slumbers, 
 
 And cheerfulness the handmaid of their toil ; 
 Nor yet too manj' or two few their numbers ; 
 
 Corruption could not make their hearts her soil. 
 Serene, not sullen ; even the solitudes 
 
 Of this unsigliing people of the woods." 
 
 — Doyi Juan, viii, Ivi. 
 
 John Sevier, horn September 23, 1745, died 
 
 * Major Nathan Boone was afterward a lieutenant- 
 colonel in the United States army, and died at Spring- 
 field, Miss., January, 1857, aged 75. 
 
 September 24, 1815, was a contemporary of 
 Boone and possessed many similar traits of char- 
 acter with that daring, distinguished and en- 
 terprising patriot. He was a member of the 
 1st Congress (1790) from North Carolina, from 
 a portion of territory formed that year into the 
 State of Tennessee. 
 
 General Sevier "descended from an ancient 
 1 family in France whose name was Xavier, and 
 his own uniform, bold and unique signature is 
 something like that chirography. "The chiro- 
 graphy is a beautiful and curious specimen. His 
 father, Valentine Xavier, was born in London, 
 and emigrated to America in the first j)art of 
 the last century — settled on the Shenandoah, 
 in Virginia, where John Sevier was born about 
 1744. 
 
 When but a young man he married MissI 
 Sarah Hawkins, by whom he had six children. || 
 
 She was delicate, and never moved from East- 
 ern Virginia, but died there soon after the birth 
 of her sixth child. ^ 
 
 During Sevier's visit to his family in 1773, 
 Lord Dunmore, the Governor of Virginia, then 
 fitting out an expedition against the Shawnees 
 and other tribes north of tlie Ohio river, pre- 
 sented to Sevier the commission of captain, to 
 command a company raised under his own eye 
 and care in the County of Dunmore. This ex- 
 pedition ended with the perilous and fearful 
 battle of Point Pleasant, where James Robert- 
 son and Valentine Sevier entitled themselves to 
 much honor and distinction. 
 
 The settlers on the Holston, Watauga, and 
 Nolachucka were beyond the influence and power 
 of the State laws and executive officers of North 
 Carolina, and therefore, as wise men, who knew 
 the advantage of laws and officers, acknowledged 
 as authoritative, they, in 1772, adopted a form 
 of government called the " Watauga Govern- 
 ment," and they elected John Sevier as one of 
 four delegates to a convention at Halifax, North 
 Carolina. He attended a session of the General 
 Assembly, and in 1777 procured the establish- 
 ment of a district and the extension of State 
 laws, establishment of courts, &c. The patriotic 
 sentiments of the man were avowed in the selec- 
 tion of the name for this district where he had 
 cast his lot, and where were the bold and hardy 
 pioneers with whom he was associated. This 
 was "Washington District," North Carolina. 
 The people had enjoyed the advantages of their 
 inchoate and infant government of Watauga 
 from 1772 to this date, and had accomplished 
 many things worthy of note. Tliey opened 
 paths across the mountains, felled the forests, 
 
WATAUGA COUNTY. 
 
 463 
 
 years afterward, deemed a good oi)portunity 
 presented for her to gain the credit of an act of 
 "supererogation," and passed hiws to confirm 
 marriages and otiicr deeds and doings of these 
 wayward " chihlren in the woods." 
 
 July 2], 1776, " Okl Abraham," in com- 
 mand of a band of Cherokecs from Chilliowee 
 mountains, attacked the Watauga fort, com 
 
 ... - 7 many 
 
 hearts faulting, fearful and desponding — taking 
 shelter under British protection-certificates. 
 
 The tories were numerous, desperate and 
 daring. The British in possession of South 
 Carolina, Georgia and i)arts of North Carolina 
 and Virginia,- the hopes of the patriots were 
 feeble, and tlie sun of independence well nigh 
 obscured. But soon it beamed forth on the 
 
 manded by Sevier and Robertson ; and, as the heights of King's Mountain, (October 7 178o") 
 best teat performed, he chased the "lovely which achievement has been frequently referred 
 latharine to the captain's arms ;" and we have to in these pages. Sevier had his full share of 
 heard her say she used to feel ready to have the dangers, and has receive.l full credit for the 
 another such a race and leap^over the pickets same— a sword and a vote of thanks were ex- 
 
 '■ "' ' ' ' " tended to him by the Legislature of North 
 
 Carolina. He rendered other important mili- 
 tary services at Musgrove's Mill and other places 
 against the British and tories, and afterward 
 in defending the frontiers against the ravao-es 
 of the Indians, and in 178l"he conducted sev- 
 eral expeditions to the Chicamauga towns. 
 
 to enjoy another such an introduction. 
 
 On this same day was fought the battle of 
 the Flats. Other skirmishes occurred here and 
 there at different times. 
 
 Captain Sevier was actively engaged in the 
 I'xjjedition of Colonel Christian, ordered out by 
 Virginia, and joined the Virginia troops at 
 
 Double Springs, and he neglected no oppor- Peace being made with England, yet no t)eace 
 funity to pursue the Indians or chastise them came to this section ; for in 1784 " the State of 
 hiranyof their insults or outrages. He promptly Franklin" mingled in the seethino- cauldron of 
 
 of 
 
 united with others, without envy, or 'jealous/, political excitement,* and Sevi'eT'sel ''upT'^'^ov- 
 
 or reservation, and he as readily fitted out expe- ernmeut indeitendent of the State of North 
 
 (litions from his own neighborhood and with Carolina. Our space and limits do not allow 
 
 his own means, without boasting, without fear, us to give the history of tliis very interestincr 
 
 a\\y\.v{\X\inever a failure. In 1777 lie was made epoch in the life of Sevier. In 1788 he was 
 
 lieutenant-colonel. arrested and imprisoned in the jail at Moro-an- 
 
 In 1778 It is probable that his finst wife died, ton. The mild measures of the old mother 
 
 for on August 14, 1779, he was married to Miss State toward her young and wayward dauo-hter 
 
 Catharine Sherrill, of whom it is truly and granting pardons to individuals, and yieldin<^ 
 
 liandsomely said, "she could outrun, outjump, up a section already beyond her control in*^- 
 
 walk more erect, and ride more gracefully and 
 skillfully than any other female in all the 
 mountains round about or on the continent at 
 large. '^ 
 
 In 1779 Captain Sevier raised troops, entered 
 tlie Indian territory, burned their towns, made 
 prisoners, and fouglit the successful battle of 
 " Bo; d's Creek." 
 
 A few days after tlie battle of Boyd's Creek, 
 Colonel Sevier was joined by Colonel Arthur 
 Campbell with a Virginia regiment, and by 
 Colonel Isaac Shelby with his troops from Sulli- 
 van County, North Carolina, and afterward these 
 three colonels iu harmony scoured the Cherokee 
 country, scattered liostile bands, destroyeil the 
 homes of the Indians, and then returned to 
 tlieir own in better security and some more con- 
 fidence of peace. 
 
 The critical year of the American Revolution 
 
 duced Sevier and his party to come into meas- 
 ures of compromise. The County was ceded to 
 the United States, and organized as " the Ter- 
 ritory south of the Ohio river." The proba- 
 tionary territorial stage was passed through ; 
 Tennessee was created a State, and John Sevier 
 (1790-1801) was chosen Governor, and after- 
 ward from 1803-9. In 1811 he was elected a 
 member of Congress from Tennessee, with Felix 
 Grundy and John Rhea as colleagues, and was 
 re-elected in 1813. In 1815 he was jjersuaded 
 by Mr. Madison to accept tlie appointment of 
 commissioner to adjust the difficulties with the 
 Creek Indians. Tiiis duty, considering his 
 age and health, was too severe, and while en- 
 gaged in its services he was taken sick at an 
 encampment on the east side of the Tallapoosa 
 river, near Decatur, Georgia, where on Septem- 
 tember 24, 1815, he died. 
 
464 
 
 WHEELER'iS REMINISCENCES. 
 
 WAYNE COUNTY. 
 
 Goldsboro', the capital of Wayne, is situ- 
 ated near the center of the County, about 
 a mile from the Neuse river. Tlie land 
 on which the town is located was originally 
 owned by Arnold Borden, Lemuel H. Whit- 
 field, Wright Langstoneand James Rhodes, and 
 called in token of regard after M. T. Goldsboro', 
 tlie assistant engineer of the Wilmington and 
 Weldon Railroad. On February 23, 1839, the 
 first train reached Goldsboro'. The first build- 
 ing erected in the village was by Mr. Borden 
 for a hotel. In 1848 the County seat, wliich 
 was at Waynesboro', was moved to Goldsboro'. 
 
 EzekielSlocumb was a native of Wayne County, 
 and rendered important service to his country 
 inthe Revolutionary struggle. He was at the bat- 
 tle of Moore's Creek Bridge, February 27, 1 770, 
 the earliest battle in the Revolution in the South, 
 and lie would say his wife, too, was there. Her 
 lioroic and romantic conduct is noticed in Mrs. 
 Ellett's "Women of the Revolution," and also 
 in Wheeler's History of North Carolina, II, 
 457. She was one of the most remarkable 
 women of her day. Her maiden name was 
 Hooks, sister of Hon. Cliarles Hooks, who was 
 a member of Congress in 1810, 1819-25 from 
 the Wilmington district, and wlio moved to 
 Alabama. She was born in Bertie County in 
 1760. During her husband's absence in the 
 army she took the entire charge of his farm, 
 i and she used to say she did all the work a man 
 ever did except mauling rails, and to do away 
 with that exception she went out " one day and 
 manled a few." 
 
 Mr. Slocumb was an officer in the battle of 
 Camden, (August Id, 1780,) where General 
 Gates was defeated by Lord Cornwallis. On 
 the march of the British Army in 1781, after 
 the battle of Guilford, from Wilmington to Vir- 
 ginia, his farm was visited and ravaged by the 
 troops, and Slocumb, in attempting to protect 
 his friends and family, had many narrow es- 
 capes. He, with the aid of Major Williams, 
 1^ raised a troo[) of about two luindred men and 
 
 •j iollowed the royal army, succeeded in cutting 
 off their foraging parties, and greatly harrassed 
 the enemy until they crossed the Roanoke, 
 when, with his troop, he joined La Favette, and 
 was at Yorktown October 19, 1781. "Then he 
 
 resigned and returned to his home blessed with 
 the esteem of his brother officers and the re- 
 spect of his fellow-citizens. The latter so ap- 
 preciated his services that they tendered him 
 every position of honor and trust in their gift. 
 He was a member of the House of Commons in 
 1808, also 1812-18. Their son Jesse was 
 elected a member of Congress 1809-21, and 
 died while a member, December 20, 1820, and 
 was succeeded by William S. Blackledge, of New 
 Berne. 
 
 In the Congressional Cemetery at Washing- 
 ton are cenota])hs erected to members of Con- 
 gress who died before their terms of office ex- 
 pired. We copy from one of these as follows : 
 " In memory of Hon. Jesse Slocumb, a Repre- 
 sentative of the United States from the State of 
 North Carolina, died Decemb6r 20, 1820, aged 
 forty years." 
 
 A biographical and historical account of the 
 Slocum and Slocumb families of America was 
 publislied by the author, Charles E. Slocum, TVI. 
 D., Ph. D., of Syracuse, New York, in 1880. 
 The work is well executed, handsomely printed, 
 illustrated with portraits and the family arms in 
 colors. The Hon. Edward Salter, (a member 
 of the Legislature in New Jersey in 1857-8-9, 
 and Speaker in 1859,) has also given the results 
 of his investigation into tlie history of the Slo- 
 cumb family. He says that the family in 
 America is supposed to have been Anthony Slo- 
 cum or Siocoine, as his name was sometimes 
 given, who, after he came to this country, set- 
 tled at Taunton, Massachusetts, and who was 
 one of the first purchasers of Dartmouth, inthe 
 same State. He had a son, Giles, who settled 
 near Newport, Rhode Island, and who in turn 
 had sons, Giles, born March 27, lfi47 ; Nathan- 
 iel, born December 25, 1652, and John. The 
 last two settled in Monmouth, New Jer.sey, 
 about 1667. John Slocum, better known as 
 Ca]>tain John Slocum, became quite prominent 
 in the country. In 1683 he was appointed by 
 the Colonial Legislature captain oi' the militia, 
 and the same year was appointed Chief Ranger 
 of the County. The duties of this office were 
 to keep a register of all horses and cattle in the 
 County, and to visit all parts of tlie County to 
 see that no stolen stock was bought or sold. 
 
WAYNE COUNTY. 
 
 465 
 
 and lie was authoiizfd to fiiiploy lis many dei)U- 
 ties as lie tlunight necessary. Tradition says 
 lie was one of tlie three men who first owned 
 the land at and in tiie vicinity of the now famed 
 summer resort, Long Branch. His hrotlier 
 Nathaniel lived on land adjoining his. Cap- 
 tain John Slocum married Meribali, daughter 
 of George Parker, of Rhode Island, and it is 
 said died wii'iiout issue, hut descen<laiits of his 
 brother are now numerous, and living where 
 their ancestors settled over two centuries ago. 
 
 In Ward's history of Shrewsbury, Massachu- 
 setts, the genealogy is given of what is [iroba- 
 bly a branch of this family, who spell their 
 name Slocomb. Tiiere is a traditit>n that three 
 brothei's decided to adojjt three methods of sj)ell- 
 ingtlie name, that the descendants might know 
 from which one they descended. Among the 
 earlier settlers of Virginia, whose names are 
 given in Holten's List of Emigrants, the only 
 one which approaches tliat of this family is 
 Davey Slowcomc, who came from London, 1636. 
 
 In England an ancient family of landed gen- 
 try, in Somersetsliire, were the Slocombes, and 
 from them it is probable the American family 
 descends. Lanuian's Biograpliical Dictionary 
 of Congressmen gives the name of the Hon. 
 Jesse, formerly a member of Congress from 
 North Carolina, as Slocum, but the original 
 records of Congress show that he himself si)elled 
 it Slocumb. The noted general in the late war, 
 one of Sherman's division commanders in his 
 " Marcli to the Sea," Henry W. Slocum, bom 
 1827, who was a member of the 41st and 42d Con- 
 gresses from New York, spells his name as does 
 the New Jersey branch. The grandfather of 
 Hon. Jesse Slocumb was Joseph. There was a 
 person of this name admitted freeman at New- 
 port, Rhode Island, 1727, after which his name 
 does not again appear there. About this time, 
 and during a few years subsequent, there was 
 quite an exodus from Rhode Island, New Jer- 
 sey and Pennsylvania to V^lrginia, the Caroli- 
 nas and Georgia, and it is probable that this 
 Josepli was among the number. He had two 
 sons, John, Charles and Ezekiel ; the latter 
 was the father of the Hon. Jesse. 
 
 The arms and crest of this ancient family of 
 Slocumbes, as described in both Burke and Fair- 
 bank's " Armories of Lauded Gentry " are as 
 follows : 
 
 "Arms: On a fess gu belwe three griffins' 
 heads covpcd .sa. , as many sinister wings or. 
 
 " Crest : A griffin's head gu beiwe two wings 
 expanded or." 
 
 The derivation of the name is probably from 
 
 combe, generally meaning a valley, but more 
 literally cut-shaped depressions in hillsides ; 
 and sloe, a kind of wild plum. It may have 
 been that the first who received the surname of 
 Slocumbe owned a combe or valley noted for 
 sit)es, or lived near one ; or perhaps from some 
 noted |K;rson of the name Combe, an ancient 
 surname, wearing tlie leaves of the blackthorn 
 or sloe as a badge or emblem, as the Earl of 
 Anjoii wore tlie sprigs of broom as a badge or 
 emblem of humility, from which came the sur- 
 no.meof Broome in the Blantaganet royal family 
 of England. The blackthorn, or sloe, is an 
 emblem of difficulty, and a sprig of it worn by 
 the first Slocombes might mean " Valley men 
 difficult to overcome," or hard to conquer. 
 
 in Ireland the sloe was designated by the 
 Irish word aij-uc (amy,) and from this conies 
 the surname Arney, and it is often found at the 
 end of names of places, as in Killamy, meaning 
 church of the sloes ; Clonarny, sloe meadows ; 
 Mullamy, mountain of sloes, etc. 
 
 Thomas Rutfiu was born in Frauklin County, 
 tlic son of Henry J. G. Ruffiu, who was the son 
 of Etlieldred Rufhn and Mary, daughter of 
 William Haywood. His father represented 
 Franklin County in the Senate in 1828. Col- 
 onel Ruffin was liberally educated. He gradu- 
 ated at the university in 1841. He studied law 
 and removed to Missouri where he from 1844 to 
 1848 served as the attorney for the yth judicial 
 district. He returned to North Carolina and 
 was elected to tlie 33d Congress, (1853-5.5,) and 
 was continuously re-electecl until 1861. During 
 the 37th, 38th and 39thCongre8ses(]861 to 1867) 
 the State had no representatives in the United 
 States Congress. At the beginning of the civil 
 war he was appointed a captain in tlie 1st Nortli 
 Carolina Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Robt. 
 Ransom, and behaved with great gallantry in 
 the many battles in wliicii tliis regiment was 
 engaged. He was the colonel of the regiment; 
 wlien in battle near Fairfax Court House he 
 was severely wounded, from the effects of which 
 he died at Alexandria, Virginia, in October, 
 1803. 
 
 Samuel Ruffin came to North Carolina from 
 Virginia in 1752. High sheriff of Edgecombe 
 in the time of George III ; had (1) Lamon 
 Ruffin and (2) Etheldred Ruffin, lived in Edge- 
 combe, afterward Greene, who married Mary 
 Haywood, issue thereto : (a) Samuel, (b) Sarali,'^ 
 (c) Henry John Gray, (d) Charity Ann, (e) 
 Peggy Elizabeth and (f) James. 
 
 (b) Sarah, married Henr}' or John Haywood ; 
 issue, John Hayward and Samuel R. Haywood. 
 
466 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 John married Rebecca Palmer; issue, John, 
 Rebecca, Sarali and Susan. Samuel R., married 
 Eliza Perry ; issue, Allen, Mary and others. 
 
 (c) Henry John Gray, in Legislature from 
 Greene and Franklin, married Mary Tartt ; 
 issue, Pemiuah Watson Ruffin ; Lamon, died 
 in C. S. A. ; Etheldred, died in C. S. A., mar- 
 ried Elizabeth Kennedy ; (issue, Mary Lee, 
 married to John E. Woodward, and had Thomas 
 Ruffin Woodward and John E. Woodward,) 
 Sally Blount Ruffin, Patrick Henry, Lafayette, 
 Dr. George W., died in C. S. A., Thomas, 
 member of U. S. and C. S. Congress, colonel 
 1st North Carolina Cavalry, killed at Bristow 
 Station ; Mary Haywood, married Samuel Ger- 
 aldin Williams ; issue, Mary L. E. Williams ; 
 William Haywoiid, (who married Agnes K. 
 Chadwick ; issue, Samuel Ruffin, married 
 Blanche Forster, and had James Forster Ruffin, 
 Hanson Chadwick Ruffin, William Haywood, 
 Thomas, Susan Drum and Mary Tartt Ruffin,) 
 and to John Gray and Mary Tartt Ruffin was 
 also born Samuel Ruffin, who married Anne 
 Haywood, daughter of William H. Haywood, 
 United States Senator. 
 
 (d) Charity Ann, married to — Wood ; issue, 
 Julius Wood, (married Miss McConico ; issue, 
 iour children,) William Haywood Wood, Frank 
 Wood, who married and had four children ; (ej 
 unmarried; (f) James Ruffin, married Miss 
 Stanton, and iiad Willie and Elizabeth, who 
 married Gray Little, and had two daughters. 
 
 Curtis H. Brogden, born December 6, 1816, 
 was born, reared and resides in Wayne County, 
 about ten miles southwest of Goldsboro'. His 
 grandfather, Thomas Brogden, was of English 
 and Scotch origin, who came from Maryland 
 and settled in Wayne County before the Revo- 
 lutionary war. He was noted for his physical 
 strength and activity, and also, like all Irish- 
 men, he was noted for his genial temper and 
 generosity. He literally "carried his heart in 
 his hand." Having served as a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary war, he afterward married a Miss 
 Pierce, and his son. Pierce Brogden, was the 
 father of the subject of our present sketch ; an 
 industrious, hard-working farmer of unblem- 
 ished character. He nuirried the daughterof 
 John Beard, an Irishman, who possessed all 
 the noblest traits of Irish character. She was 
 a most exemplary, Christian woman, and to her 
 example and lier pious influences may be traced 
 that high moral character for which her son has 
 ever been distinguished. For this son of her 
 love and hopes she cherished the fondest affec- 
 tion. She encouraged his love of books, and 
 
 lived to see him respected for his virtues and 
 abilities, and the honored representative of the 
 people. His early days were, from the circum- 
 stances of his family, devoted to labor on a 
 farm. He worked every summer to make a 
 support, and in the winter after the crops were 
 stored away attended school, but whether in the 
 field or at home, he never neglected his books. 
 When he had attained sufficient education he 
 was employed to teach "an old field school," 
 which duty he discharged to the advantage of 
 his pupils aud great acceptability to his patrons. 
 Whatever he attempted he " did with all his 
 might," and was always successful ; while his 
 generous disposition and his genial manner 
 rendered him popular and caused him " to win 
 golden opinions from all sorts of men." His 
 career in political life is interesting and roman- 
 tic. He had never attended a militia muster 
 until he was by age ordered to the muster field. 
 The second time he attended he was made cap- 
 tain of the company, and soon arose by suc- 
 cessive promotions in the service to be major- 
 general. He had never heard a political speech, 
 or seen a candidate for the Legislature until the 
 day that he became, by the wishes of the people, 
 a candidate himself, on July 4, 1838. On tiiat 
 day he ploughed until eight o'clock, rode ten 
 miles to the Court House, mustered three hours 
 in the field, and marched to the Court House 
 where the candidates for the Legislature an- 
 nounced themselves. After the otiiers had 
 spoken he unexpectedly to every one announced 
 himself also as a candidate in a speech which 
 surprised his audience, and won for him a tri- 
 umphant election by tlie largest majority ever 
 given in the County for any candidate. Wiien 
 he took his seat in the House he was the young- 
 est member of a body composed of such men as 
 William A. Graham, Michael Hoke, Kenneth 
 Rayner, Robert B. Gilliam, David S. Reid, 
 Hamilton C. Jones and others. Among " these 
 burning and shining lights " he was not ob- 
 scure. If not a practiced politician he was an 
 attentive and close observer. It was remarked 
 of him that he learned more and faster than 
 any one in the Assembly. When he spoke he 
 realized Fielding's advice, " a man speaks bet- 
 ter when he knows what he is talking about." 
 Being a devoted Democrat, he openly expressed 
 liis sentiments, and sometimes encountered op- 
 jiosition. ■ 
 
 On a notable occasion Hon. Kenneth Rayner 
 undertook to measure swords with him, thinking 
 to disarm him with ease, but he came " to shear, 
 and got shoru himself." 
 
WAYNE COUNTY. 
 
 46'7 
 
 Such was tlio prudence and sagacity of his 
 course that for ten successive sessions he was 
 elected from Wayne to the Legishiture. At the 
 session of 1856-57 he was elected Comptroller 
 o*' the State, and was re-elected for ten years, re- 
 ceiving the approbation of the Legislature and 
 the support of both i)arties. The finance com- 
 mittees of each session examined liis accounts, 
 and invariably complimented his fidelity, accu- 
 racy and neatness. In 18G8 Governor Brog- 
 den was chosen an elector on the Presidential 
 ticket, and presided over tlie Electoral College, 
 when it met at Raleigh in December, and cast 
 the vote of the State I'or Grant and Colfax. The 
 same year he was elected a trustee of the Uni- 
 versity, and in 1869 a State director in the 
 Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. 
 
 For many years he presided as one of the 
 justices of Wayne County Court, which his ac- 
 quaintance isith the fundamental principles of 
 the law (for he had read law and received a 
 license to practice) eminently fitted him. 
 
 In the " North Carolina Manual," of 1874, p. 
 364, it is stated that William Thompson was 
 State Senator from Wayne County in 1852, 1854 
 and 1856 ; tliis is an error, as the "Journals " of 
 the Senate show that Governor Brogden was the 
 Senator from Wayne during the years mentioned. 
 
 In 1869, because of his well known integrity and 
 ability, he was appointed collector of internal 
 revenue ; but as lie never had received any office, 
 save trom the people or the Legishiture, although 
 the place was a lucrative one, he declined it. He 
 was again elected, in 1868 and 1870, to the 
 Senate, and served until 1872, xifhen he was 
 elected by the people Lieutenant-Governor of 
 the State, after an active canvass, by a majority 
 of 2,000 votes. On July 14, 1874, on the death 
 of Gov. Todd R. Caldwell, he as.sumed the duties 
 of Governor of the State. His course as Gov- 
 ernor has cliallenged the admiration and respect 
 of every citizen of the State. Cautious in his con- 
 duct, firm in his decisions, liberal to his friends, 
 while just to those who differed from him, his 
 administration will descend in history as an ex- 
 ample worthy of remembrance by all. His in- 
 augural address was a model document. 
 
 On May 20, 1875, he delivered an address at 
 the Centennial, celebrated in Charlotte, which 
 was highly eloquent, poetic and patriotic. And 
 the next year, as Governor, he represented the 
 State at the Centennial celebration in Philadel- 
 phia on July 4, 1876. 
 
 In 1876 he was elected a member of the 45th 
 Congress over Wharton J. Greene, and served 
 
 on the important committee " on the revision of 
 the laws regulating the counting of tlie electoral 
 votes for President and Vice-President," of 
 which Hon. Milton J. Southard was chairman. 
 Tliis question should be settled, or at some 
 future day it will prove the rock upon which our 
 national ship of State will be seriously injured, 
 if not wi'ecked. 
 
 After his term in Congress had expired, 
 (March 4, 1879,) Governor Brogden retired to 
 his home in Wayne in possession of the sincere 
 regard of his friends and the high respect of 
 all parties. 
 
 Governor Brogden has never married. Poli- 
 tics (like painting to Michael Angelo) has been 
 too jealous a mistress to allow any rival in his 
 affections. 
 
 The example presented in the life and career 
 of Governor Brogden is well worth the study of 
 every youth of our nation. From the jjlough 
 he, by good conduct, reached the presidency of 
 the Senate and the Governorship of the State, 
 and a seat in Congress. 
 
 William T. Dortch was born in Nash County in 
 1824, now resides at Goldsboro', in tliis County. 
 He is no relation to William B. Dortch, of Ten- 
 nessee. He graduated at the University in the 
 same class (1849) with Kemp. P. Battle, Peter 
 M. Hale, Charles R. Thomas and otiiers. Mr. 
 Dortch read law with B. F. Moore, and prac- 
 ticed with such success that he is the acknowl- 
 edged head of the profession in his section of 
 the State. He was elected to the Legislature 
 (House) in 1858 and 1860, and was Speaker till 
 September, 1861, when he (witli George Davis 
 as colleague) was chosen Senator from North 
 Carolina ; and again 1864, with William A. 
 Graliam as a colleague. 
 
 Since the war closed he has pursued his pro- 
 fession, yet he takes a great interest in whatever 
 concerns the honor and welfare of his State. He 
 was active in opposing the sale of the Western 
 Railroad to Messrs. Best & Company ; and in 
 the Senate (1880) he was most decided and ac- 
 tive, but he was overruled, and the sale has been 
 accomplished. Time will prove who was right. 
 He still pursues his profession in partnership 
 with his son, Isaac F. Dortch, (born 1849,) who 
 represented tlie County of Wayne in the House in 
 1874, tlie Counties of Wayne and Duplin in the 
 Senate of 1876. lie married Lucy, a daughter 
 of Dr. Thomas Hogg. Mr. Dortch is clear and 
 cool in his judgment, slow to form his opinion, 
 but when once convinced and determined, he is 
 as firm as the rock of Gibraltar. 
 
4(i8 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES, 
 
 WILKES COUNTY. 
 
 Montford Stokes (born 1760, died 1842,) lived 
 for a long time and represented this County in 
 the Legislature — in the Senate, 1826, and in the 
 Comino'is in 1819-29 and 1830. He was the son 
 i>f' Je¥e(m Stokes, born in Halifax County. His 
 early days were spent on the ocean in the em- 
 ploy of Josiah Collins, sr., sailing out of the 
 port of Edenton. Leaving the merchant service, 
 he entered the infant navy of our Revolution, 
 and served under Commodore Stephen Decatur, 
 the father of the distinguished commodore of the 
 war of 1812, who was killed by Barron in a duel 
 in 1820. During one of his cruises his vessel 
 was captured by the British, in 1776, lu^ar Nor- 
 lulk, and he was confined on board of the ju-ison 
 ship, in New York harbor, wliere his sufferings 
 weie intense. After tlie war he abandoned the 
 sea and removed to Salisbury, where for many 
 years he was the Clerk of the Superior Court, 
 and with superior abilities he discharged his 
 duties with great satisfaction. His intelligence 
 and clerical accomplishments led to bis selection 
 as principal clerk of the Senate ; here he ac- 
 quired sucn powerful influence that he was 
 elected Senator in Congress in 1815 and until 
 1823. He had been jtreviously elected to this 
 distinguished station and had declined it. In 
 1830 lie was elected by the Legislature Gov- 
 ernor of the State over Richard Dobbs Spaight, 
 jr. His old friend, General Jackson, appointed 
 hiui, in 1831, Indian agent in Arkansas, wher ■ 
 he resided until his death in 1842. Governor 
 Stokes in his character was unquestionably a 
 man of genius, learning and of the highest cour- 
 age. But his roving, roUicksomedisposition pre- 
 dominated over his better qualities, and careless 
 of his own ; he was greatly harrassed in pecu- 
 niary matters. He was of uuquestioned cour- 
 age, and " sudden and quick in quarrel." He 
 fought a duel, near Salisbury, at Mason's old 
 field, with Jesse A. Pearson, to whom we have 
 already alluded, (page 401,) and was severely 
 wounded, the efiects of which he carried to his 
 grave. 
 
 Governor Stokes was twice maridg^ first, to 
 Miss Irwin, in Tarboro', the »is#rof (.the gal- 
 lant Captain Henry Irwin, of the Second North 
 Carolina Continental troops, who fell at Ger- 
 mantown in 1777, by whom he had one daugh- 
 ter, Mary Adelaide, who married, first, Hugh 
 
 Chambers, of Salisbury, and, second, William 
 
 B. Lewis, of Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Lewis was 
 one of the auditors of the Treasury from 1827 
 to 1837 under Jackson, and whose only daugh- 
 ter married, about 1830, Mons. Pageot, the 
 French Minister, and now resides in Paris. 
 Major Lewis died 1864. Governor Stokes mar- 
 ried a second time Rachel, a daughter of Hugh 
 Montgomery, by whom he had ten children, 
 five sons and five daughters. 
 
 I. Hugh M., well educated, graduated at 
 the University in the same class (1815) with 
 John H. Bryan, Isaac Croom, Edward Hall, 
 Lemuel Hatcli, F. L. Hawks, Willie P. Man- 
 gum, Priestly Manguin, Uichard Dobbs S})aight, 
 and otliers. Read law with Jmlge Murphey, 
 succeeded his father as clerk of the Su[)erior 
 Court of Rowan for two years, resigned and 
 settled in Wilkesboro' and practiced law ; elected 
 a member of the House of Commons in 1819. 
 Taught school until he died. 
 
 II. David, for some years a midshipman in 
 the United States Navy, wjis dismissed from this 
 service and entered the revenue marine service. 
 He married in Norfolk. 
 
 III. Rebecca Camilla, married Major Wra. 
 
 C. Emmett, a native of Maryland, but lived in 
 Tennessee, at Murfreesboro',- then moved to 
 Nashville. After some years, removed to North 
 Carolina, where they lived until the deatli of 
 Mrs. Emmett, when he returned to Tennessee 
 and married a second time. 
 
 IV. Thos. J., married in Wilkes County, re- 
 moved to Tennessee, where he lived and died, 
 leaving several children. 
 
 V. Sarah M., married Joseph W. Hackett, 
 who lived and died in Wilkes County. 
 
 VI. Henry J., died young. 
 
 VII. Montford Sidney, born October 6, 1810, 
 was a nudshipman in the United States Navy, 
 in which he served some five years, when he 
 resigned and returned home. When the war 
 with Mexico began. North Carolina put a regi- 
 ment in the field, of which Robert T. Paine, 
 of Chowan, was colonel ; John Fagg, of Bun- 
 combe, lieutenant-colonel; Montford S. Stokes, 
 of Wilkes, major. The conduct of Major 
 Stokes was so commendable that he was voted a 
 sword by his regiment. In the late civil war 
 he was appointed colonel of the first regiment 
 
WILSON COUNTY. 
 
 469 
 
 of North Carolina State troops, with Matt. W. 
 llansom as liontcnant-colonel. In the battle of 
 Chickahouiiiiy ho was, on June 26, 1802, se- 
 verely woiiiiiled, and died at Richmond on July 
 7 following. He died like a hero and a patriot. 
 The following account, written at the time, is 
 given of the death of Colonel Stokes : 
 
 "After visiting my friend, who had been 
 wounded severely, I went to the hospital to see 
 Colonel Stokes. As soon as I saw the pros- 
 trated and mutilated form of i)oor Stokes, I 
 ti'it tliat lie had fought his last battle, and soon 
 would join that — 
 
 ' Mij^lity Ciiniviin 
 Which lialts at iii.^ht-time in ttie valo of iloath.' 
 
 His surgeon stood mournfully by. His cheek had 
 the jiallor of death ; his eye had lost its luster, 
 and liisliands had theclamtnycoldnessof dissolu- 
 tion. He needed stiranlanis, the doctor sug- 
 gested, and I asked him if I should procure 
 some for liim. He rcjdied with promptness, 
 opening mournfully his languid eyes: ' Yes, I 
 should be glad to liave some, but the otiier boys 
 here need it as much as I, and we cannot get 
 enough for all. I am very thankful, but do not 
 wish that you should trouble yourself for me.' 
 These were the last words I ever heard from tlie 
 lips of M. S. Stokes. How characteristic of 
 the man. The celebrated reply of the generous 
 and gallant Sydney on the fatal field at Zutjdien, 
 when lie passed the cup of water from his dying 
 and parched lips to those of a suflering soldier, 
 so lauded in history, does not excel in self- 
 sacrifice, pliilanthropy and moral grandeur this 
 dying remark of the brave Stokes. Such are 
 
 the jewels of North Carolina, and none more 
 brilliant than this." 
 
 VIII. Catherine, married Dr. Alexander, a 
 native of Mecklenburg, and moved to Alabama. 
 
 IX. Ann, married Hon. Roland Jones, a na- 
 tive of Rowan County, but a resident of Shreve- 
 port, Louisiana. He wasajudgeand wasa mem- 
 ber of 33d Congress, 1853-55. He died in the 
 midst ol" his family at Shreveport. 
 
 X. Racliel Adelaide, married Lemuel P. Crane, 
 of Louisiana, a lawyer. He died, leaving sev- 
 eral children. Mrs. C. still resides at Shreve- 
 port. She and her sister, Mrs. Jones, are the 
 sole survivors of Governor Stokes' family. 
 
 General James B. Gordon wasa native of this 
 County, and was of the most accomplished and 
 of the most gallant oHicers. He was much 
 loved and esteemed by all who knew him. He 
 entered the service a.s a lieutenant in Colonel 
 Stokes' regiment. He served in the Legisla- 
 ture, 1850, as a member from Wilkes. He was 
 made major of tlie 1st North Carolina regiment 
 and afterward transferred to 1st regiment of 
 cavalry- — tlie crack regiment in the service com- 
 manded by Colonel Robert Ransom. He so 
 distinguished himself in many battles tliat he 
 was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general 
 on May 11, 1804; at Yellow Stone Tavern, near 
 Riclimond, in a raid of General Sheridan, he 
 was killed ; with him fell at the same time the 
 lamented and daring General J. E. B. Stuart, 
 of Virginia. Of so elegant a gentleman, so 
 gallant a soldier, Aristo miglit well have said: 
 " Natura il fece epoi ruppe la stampa t" Nature 
 having formed him, then broke the mould in 
 which he was cast. 
 
 WILSON COUNTY. 
 
 Ricliard W. Singletary resides in Wilson, but 
 is a native of Beaufort County, born February 
 10, 1837 ; educated at Lovejoy's Academy, and 
 the University where he graduated in 1858, in 
 same class with Wm. M. Coleman, John A. 
 Gilmer, James T. Morehead, James T. Scales 
 and others. He read law, but never practiced 
 the profession, owing to his ill health. He en- 
 tered the army as a volunteer in Company H, 
 27th North Carolina troops, and rose rapidly to 
 the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was wounded 
 at Sharpsburg September 17, 1862, where his 
 
 regiment lost two-thirds of its number in killed 
 and wounded. In consequence of his wound, 
 Colonel S. resigned, but in a few months after 
 he accepted a captaincy in the 44th regiment, 
 and was wounded in the battle of Spottsyivania 
 Court House, which caused him to retire from 
 the .service. After the war he moved (in 1868) 
 to Wilson and became engaged in editing the 
 Plain Dealer. 
 
 He was elected in 1875 a member of the Con- 
 stitutional Convention, and in 1876 a member 
 of the House. 
 
m 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 FINALE. 
 
 We have now finished our book of Reminis- 
 cences of the Men of North Carolina, which we 
 trust will prove acceptable to the kind people 
 of whom, and for whom, it has been compiled. 
 
 Doubtless, as we anticipated in the beginning, 
 some worthy names have escaped mention, and 
 others have been recorded that might as well, 
 perhaps, have been omitted. However that 
 may be, it has been a labor of love and the 
 study of a lifetime. 
 
 We do not believe that genealogical trees or 
 doomsday books are the essentials of human 
 happiness, yet we do believe in " pride of 
 family " to a certain extent. There was a time 
 once, in this republican land of ours, when 
 many glorified themselves in ignoring the fact 
 that they came from a distinguished ancestry, 
 as if the spirit of our democratic institutions 
 opposed any reference to family histories. That 
 we were born of an honest and industrious race 
 lor several generations back was quite sufBcient, 
 and so it may be. And yet if a man were 
 asked if he had a grandfather, we would logi- 
 catTy infer that he must have had one, but this 
 he could not assert as a historical or legal fact, 
 unless there was some record of that fact. 
 
 This indifference to family records is passing 
 away, and now our peoj^le are taking more in- 
 terest in such researches. These annals of our 
 venerated ancestry certainly are not — 
 
 " Airy tongues, that syllabic men's names. 
 On sands and shore." 
 
 We trust they have answered the question so 
 forcibly put by one of the distinguished sons of 
 the State : "Who are the people of North 
 Carolina, and what was their origin and career?' 
 And so remind their descendants of those noble 
 men who lived and died for their country — 
 
 " In ourselves their souls exist 
 A part of ours." 
 
 The only merit claimed by us is the patient 
 and painstaking labor, which has cheerfully 
 been bestowed in collecting them together, and 
 so presenting them to my countrymen as a gar- 
 land of glorious memories to refresh and regale 
 the senses of our kind readers. And so we close 
 with the sentiment so beautifully expressed by 
 Judge Whiting, already alluded to: "Let it 
 not be thought that we are working for our- 
 selves alone, or for those now living. Let us 
 hope that tliousands yet unborn will bless tlie 
 patient and pious hands that have rescued from 
 oblivion these jirecious memorials of men — 
 
 " Wliose tongues are silent quite ; 
 Whose bodily forms are reminiscences 
 Fading." 
 
 " All these wore lionored in theirgeiierations and were 
 tlie glory of tlieir times. There be of them that have 
 left a name behind them that their praises miglit be re- 
 ported. * ♦ * 'J'lieir bodies are buried in peace, but 
 tlieir name liveth forevermore." — Ecclesiasticus, xliv, 
 7-14. 
 
INDEX 
 
 ■ PAOE 
 
 Abbot, Gen. Joscpb 319 
 
 Adamr, John, on Caswell. 105 
 
 Aiken, Gen 61 
 
 Alamance, battle of 
 
 1, 103, 381 
 
 Albcrtson, J. W 369 
 
 Alexander, Abram 
 
 263, 266, 277 
 
 Alexander, Adam 263 
 
 Alexander, R 263 
 
 Alexander, Ezra 263 
 
 Alexander, genealogy 268 
 
 Alexander, George 97 
 
 Alexander, George A 271 
 
 Alexander, Hezekiah 264 
 
 Alexander, JobnMcKnitt. 
 
 264, 268, 269 
 Air cander, M. W., ad- 
 
 ct. ess on M^nklenbnrg 
 
 Declaration 265 
 
 -Alexander, Nathaniel 97 
 
 Alexander, William Ju- 
 lius 289 
 
 Allen, "William 126' 
 
 Alston, PiAU?..: 112 
 
 Alston, Willis •..■■■■■ 204 
 
 AmHas, Philip 101 
 
 Anderson, Geo. B 335 
 
 Andenson, Robert W 336 
 
 Annandale 121 
 
 Arm/ioid, Robert F 225 
 
 A-Tisiead, Walker K 136 
 
 Armstrong, William J. A. 220 
 
 Ashe, gencalorv 8, 300 
 
 Ashe, John } tista 
 
 7, 204, 299, 305 
 Ashe, Gen. Jolin, resist- 
 ance to stafnp act 
 
 40, 298, 300 
 
 Ashe, Samuel 301, 305 
 
 Asha, Samuel Porter 301 
 
 Ashe, Gov. Sam\iel 305 
 
 PAOE 
 
 A.shc, Samuel Acourt 306 
 
 Ashe, Thomas S 6 
 
 Ashe, Williams 306 
 
 Atkinson, Gen. Henry 370 
 
 Atkinson, Bishop Tlioma.s. 313 
 "Atticus" attacks Gov. 
 
 Tryon 51 
 
 "Atticus letters" of Mau- 
 rice Moore 51 
 
 Avery, Alphonso C. 81 
 
 Avery, genealogy 76 
 
 Avery, Waightstill ....76, 270 
 
 Aver>, Waightstill W. ... 81 
 
 Badger, Geo. E 18, 142 
 
 Bagley, William H 869 
 
 Baker, Gen. Lawrence S.. 126 
 
 Baker, Blake ^56 
 
 ^.llcy, J^^hn L 365 
 
 (Not Baily, a.s spelled in text.) 
 
 Bain, Donald W 449 
 
 Balburnie, William 64 
 
 Balch, Rev. Hezekiah J... 
 
 95, 270, 277 
 
 Balfour, Andrew 380 
 
 Barlow, Arthur 101 
 
 Barnes, i^.iviil A -i+ 
 
 Baraett family 371 
 
 Barringers 1x1 , 96 
 
 Battle 'family 160 
 
 Battle, Elisha 160 
 
 Battle, Kemp P 162, 4 49 
 
 Battle, William H 160 
 
 Baxter, John 410 
 
 Beard, John 466 
 
 Beard , Maj 172 
 
 Beckwith, John W 442 
 
 Benton, Thomas H 335 
 
 Bennet, Risden Tyler 8 
 
 (Not Richard, as printed.) 
 
 Bibb, William W 108 
 
 Biffle, Paul 395 
 
 PAOE 
 
 Biggs, Asa 253 
 
 Bingham Academy 336 
 
 Bingham, William 336 
 
 Bi.shops from North Caro- 
 lina to other States 284 
 
 "Black Beard" 116 
 
 Blackledge, Wm. S...137, 464 
 Blakely,Johnson,U.S. N. 307 
 
 Blake, James 396 
 
 Bloodworth, Timothy 307 
 
 Blount family..lvii, 11, 12, 130 
 
 Blount, Willie 32 
 
 Blount, Simon 223 
 
 Blount, Thojnas 158 
 
 "Bon Homme Richard".. 198 
 
 Boone,- Daniel 461 
 
 Jjorlaud, ki.:It,;"> . S>3-' 
 
 Boyden, Nathaniel ''06 
 
 Bragg family 56 
 
 Branch, j'ohn 208 
 
 Branch, L.O'B 211 
 
 Brandon, Mattiiew 97 
 
 Brevard famiiv 237, 243 
 
 Brickell family 216, 218 
 
 Bridgers, Robert R. ... luti 
 
 Brehon, T)i. James G 452 
 
 Br-,A)ks, Judge George W. 
 
 Ill, 235, 365 
 
 Briar Creek -^03 
 
 Brogden, Curtis H 466^ 
 
 Brown, John ^l-o 
 
 Brown, Bedford., 107, 109, 1 ^ ' 
 
 Bryan, Francis •■ l-i ^ 
 
 Bryan, John H.. \ 
 
 Bryan, Nathan.... ;••• -" 
 
 Brunswick County, ?-sist- 
 ance to thi stamp Zpt, 
 
 1766 •• 39 
 
 "Buffaloes" 127 
 
 Bnford's defeat 279, '285 
 
 Burk-), Gov. Thomas, 
 
 112, 1S« ^^ 
 
472 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Buncombe, Col. Edward... 
 
 56, 240, 421 
 
 Burgess, Dempsey 99 
 
 Burgess, Tlioiuas 157 
 
 Biirringtoii, Gov. George. 300 
 Burrington, Gov. George, 
 
 on the Moores 50 
 
 Burrow, George 129 
 
 Burgwyn, Henry K 319 
 
 'Burns, Otway 102 
 
 Burr, Tlieodosia 303 
 
 Burton, Hutchins G 200 
 
 Burton, Robert 179 
 
 Burton, Robert H 179, 249 
 
 BynuDi, John Gray 410 
 
 Cabarrus, Stephen 122 
 
 Caldwell, Andrew 224 
 
 Caldwell, Dr. Charles. .97, 225 
 Caldwell, David, D. D.... 
 
 187, 278 
 Caldwell, Judge D.avid F. 225 
 
 Caldwell, Dr. Elani 225 
 
 Ciildwell, Greene W 289 
 
 Ciildwcll, Joseph P 225 
 
 Caldwell, Todd R 94 
 
 Calhoun, John C..65, 129, 279 
 
 Cambreling, C. C 12,13 
 
 Camden, battle of 105, 175 
 
 XaBSCTDii ; JVj« .- Johii ..... . . 430 
 
 Carjpron, Duncan 267, 431 
 
 Camero :i , Paul 355 
 
 Campbel), Fanjuard 145 
 
 Campbell, David 396 
 
 Can e Creek ,^battle of. 84 
 
 Cannon , NewLon .■ 1 8C 
 
 'Cape Fear Meieury"' 
 
 Ic2, 262, 279 
 ^ajiitol of North C .roJina. 
 (See State House.) 
 
 Gipeliart, Triatraui 220 
 
 Ca})ehart, Cullcn 220 
 
 X^apehart, Archibald A.... 221 
 
 (Urr, Julian S 357 
 
 Carwn family 88 
 
 a;-b..u,Oa.W. p .gg 
 
 -'J'arru.gum, t'^ml 43^ 
 
 Caswr';!, Gr;,. Richard . .. 103 
 
 Ca.tr; i avidM 223 
 
 Catawb;. River, passage of, 
 
 b3V\ijord Cornwallis 228 
 
 ^-nafuiers, Dr. Cliarlos.... 297 
 C'^i'inem, Hamilton Eon- 
 
 xderson 393 
 
 GiilrpdlHii^ 'Js, 337 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Charleston, siege of.. .240, 286 
 Charlotte occupied by the 
 
 British 230 
 
 Charlotte, memories of .... 255 
 Charlotte, U. S. branch 
 
 mint at 289 
 
 Cherry, William 342 
 
 Chowan favors indepen- ■ 
 
 dence 117 
 
 Chowan Baptist Female 
 
 Institute 222 
 
 Chronicle, William 176 
 
 Churton, agent of Lord 
 
 Granville 171 
 
 Cilly, Clinton A 99 
 
 Civil War began and 
 
 closed, when? 274 
 
 Clark, James W 34 
 
 Clark, Gov. HenryT.,lxii, 158 
 
 Clark, William J 143 
 
 Clay'.<5 debts paid by James 
 
 C. Johnson 120 
 
 Cleveland, Benj 416 
 
 Clinch, Gen. Duncan L... 165 
 
 Clingman, Thomas L 72 
 
 Clinton, Sir Henry 46 
 
 Cogdell, Richard.. "^ 129 
 
 Cochran, James 372 
 
 Coke^ Oct;\vius 449 
 
 Cileman, Daniel 98 
 
 Compton, Sir Spencer... . 298 
 
 Conigiand, Ed«ard 296 
 
 Cook, James, Capt. C. S. 
 
 N 19, 20 
 
 Congresses, provincial 6 
 
 Congresses, Confederate, 
 North Carolina delega- 
 tion 407 
 
 Constitutions of States. 
 
 ^ when framed 4i, 42 
 
 Conventions, State, on 
 Nortli Carolina Consti- 
 tution 42 
 
 Constitution of United 
 
 States rejected 133 
 
 Corbyn, Francis 309 
 
 Core Indians 101 
 
 Cornwallis, Lord 186 
 
 Gotten, Arthur 217 
 
 Gotten, Godwin 43 
 
 Gotten, James 5 
 
 Gotten, John 217 
 
 Gotten, Henry E 324 
 
 CointS, Judges of U. S., in 
 North Carolina 139 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Court House of Hertford 
 
 burned 217 
 
 Cowan, John 311 
 
 Cowan Ford battle, Feb. 1, 
 
 1781, 228 
 
 Cowles, Calvin J 289 
 
 Cox, William R 449 
 
 Craige, Burton 407 
 
 Craige, Major James, Brit- 
 ish service 52 
 
 Craighead, Alexander 
 
 275, 276 
 
 Craighead, Thomas B 279 
 
 Crane, Lemuel P 469 
 
 Groom, Hardy B 226 
 
 Groom, Major .• 129 
 
 Cunningham, John W.... 373 
 
 Crowell family 203 
 
 Cross Creek, memories of. . 35 
 
 "Dalton" on Gaston 138 
 
 , Daniel, Judge J. J 206 
 
 \ Daniel, J. R. J 206 
 
 Daniel, Gen. Junius 206 
 
 Davidson, John 271 
 
 JDavidson, Gen. William.. \ 
 
 1 228, 238, 240 i 
 
 Davie, William R 199 ' 
 
 214, 255, 267, 269, 277, 278 
 
 Davis, Bishop 309, 310 
 
 Davis, Charles 310 
 
 DavJs, Geoige.. 310 
 
 Davis, Josepli J 173 
 
 Daves, John P 128, 215 
 
 Dawson, William John- 
 ston .._. 118 
 
 Declarations of Indepen- 
 dence, Ma J 2 5 ""l^r*- 
 2^!^ July 4, 1776, then- 
 construction and destruc- 
 tion 238, 241 
 
 262, 269, 270, 275, 277; 278 
 
 DeGraaffenreidt 128 
 
 Deems, Charles For..e ... 354 
 
 Dewcs, Thomas. 342 
 
 Devereux, Thomas P 319 
 
 Dickens, Samuel 372 
 
 Dickeraon, Jame6P...238, 288 
 
 Dick, Joim M 192 
 
 Dick, Robert P ..'.'.'"." 192 
 
 "Diligence," the sloop of 
 war, brings the royal 
 stamps to Wilmington.. 39 
 
 Dillard, John H 194, 392 
 
 Dixon, Joseph 185 
 
INDEX. 
 
 47; 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Dobbin, James C 107, 149 
 
 Eockorv, Alfred 382 
 
 Dockery, Oliver A 884 
 
 Dobbs,"Gov 128 
 
 Dodj,'e, Jivmcs R 393 
 
 Douglas, Stephen A.. 389, 391 
 
 Dowd, Clement 67 
 
 Donnel, John R 139 
 
 Donael, Richard S 19 
 
 Downs, Henry 273 
 
 Dortch, William T 467 
 
 Dortch, Isaac F 4G7 
 
 Drake, John H 172 
 
 Dudley, Edward B... .311, 312 
 Duels^ 
 
 Baxter and Erwiu 135 
 
 Brancli and Forsytli .... 90 
 
 Bynum and Jennifer.... 135 
 
 Cameron and Dufty 90 
 
 Carson and Vance 
 
 90, 93, 135 
 Clingman and Yancev.. 
 
 75, 135 
 
 Gilly and Graves 99 
 
 Flauner and Walker.... 135 
 
 Henry and Stanley 
 
 135, 148 
 
 Harris and Yellowly.... 135 
 
 Howe and Gadsden.. 44, 135 
 
 Jones and Johnson 135 
 
 Law and Blanchard 135 
 
 Stanley and Spaight.... 134 
 
 Stanley and Inge 135 
 
 Stokes and Pearson 401 
 
 Simpson and White- 
 
 hur.st 135 
 
 Dunn, John .395, 398 
 
 Durham tobacco interests. 363 
 
 Early on Ramscur 248 
 
 Easton, John 129 
 
 Eaton, John H.i 205 
 
 Eaton, Mrs., and Jack- 
 son's Cabinet.. 206, 208, 288 
 
 EJenton 116 
 
 Edi'>n , Gov. Charles 116 
 
 Edwards, Weldon N 456 
 
 EJv'ards on D. L. Swain.. 62 
 Education in Nortli Caro- 
 lina 256, 257, 258, 259 
 
 EUis, Hon. John W 405 
 
 Embargo opposed by Gov. 
 
 Stone 32 
 
 Empie, Rev. Adam 312 
 
 Engelhard, Joseph A UU; 
 
 PACK 
 
 English statntes in force.. 147 
 Epidemic, 1816, in Bertie 
 
 County 35 
 
 Episcopal Church 
 
 117, 313, 316, 317 
 
 Eppes, John W 200 
 
 Erwin, W. W 224 
 
 Etheridge, Emerson 154 
 
 Eutaw Springs, Sept. 8. 
 
 1781 36, 450 
 
 Eve, 0. B., life saved in 
 
 battle by Masonry 11 
 
 Everett, Edward, on Gas- 
 ton 139 
 
 Ewell, Gen., compliments 
 the troops of Nortli Car- 
 olina 207 
 
 Fanning, David, Tory 
 
 112, 381 
 
 Fanning, Edmund 51, 324 
 
 Felton, Boone 106 
 
 Fisher, Charles . i03 
 
 Fisher, Ciiarles F 404 
 
 Fisher, Frances C 405 
 
 Flenuiken, John 273 
 
 Flag, first of U.S 198 
 
 Folk, George N ' 99 
 
 Forney family 244 
 
 Forsythe, Col. Benjarain .. 167 
 
 Forsythe, James N 167 
 
 Fowle, Daniel G.. 442 
 
 Franklin, State of. ; 463 
 
 Franklin, Jesse 420 
 
 Franklin, Mesliack 421 
 
 Frazer, James 214 
 
 Freeman, Edmund B 432 
 
 Freeman, Jonathan Otis.. 432 
 
 Furches, David M 225 
 
 Furman, Robert M 75 
 
 Gale, Christopher, of Eden- 
 tori 114 
 
 Gales, Joseph, sr 428 
 
 Gales, Weston R 430 
 
 Garret, Thomas M 33 
 
 Gaston, Dr. Alexander.... 129 
 Gaston, William. .33, 137, 171 
 Gatling, Dr. Richard Jor- 
 dan 106, 22) 
 
 Gatling, Dr. John «-r>ia^ 
 
 Genealogy of — '^~- ' ^^^ 
 
 Alexander.... 268 
 
 Ashe ......'.%, 300 
 
 Avery , ,, , ^..^^.^.^ JZfi. 
 
 PAG I 
 
 Genealogy of — (couunued.) 
 
 Barringer Ixi, . 
 
 Barnett ? 
 
 Battle 
 
 Blount Ivii, 
 
 Bragg ' 
 
 Brevard 237,J^ 
 
 Brickell 2 
 
 Carson 
 
 Caswell, Gov. Richard . 1 
 
 Clark Ixii , 1 1. 
 
 Clinch, Gen. Duncanjj^ 165 
 
 Gotten .'.'.. ..7^17 
 
 Craighead, Rev. Dr. 
 
 Alexander 278 
 
 Crowell 203 
 
 Davidson 271 
 
 Davis... 
 Donnel, 
 Dudb 
 
 309 
 13!» 
 
 24 
 
 Richard S 
 
 •/-'uv. EdwardB 
 
 orney 
 
 Gaston r~:Z'. 
 
 Graham 229 
 
 Hawkins 451 
 
 Haywood Ixii, 158 
 
 Henderson 179, 183 
 
 Hill 303 
 
 Iredell 124 
 
 Jo'in.'^.'^r'n, Chowp"^ , . 120 
 
 Jones .\. .... 202 
 
 Lillington 4> 
 
 Locke 40i 
 
 Lowrie 287 
 
 McDowell 8: 
 
 Mebane 33i 
 
 Montgomery, Rowan:-... " 
 
 Moore 51, 52 
 
 Morehead 192 
 
 Morrison, Rev. Robert 
 
 H 177 
 
 Nash 382 
 
 O-sborne 291 
 
 Pearson 40' 
 
 Pettigre w 42b 
 
 Phifer Ix.-i, 96 
 
 Polk 2n<l-2P= 
 
 Ruffin ...' Mt 
 
 Fvuinders ,... 'I 
 
 Settle r 
 
 Sheppard b 
 
 Shepperd 3^ 
 
 Shiiip 2' 
 
 Slocnirb 4 
 
 Spaight ; 
 
 Stanley , — ^-^lo' 
 
• 74 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 jfenealogy of — (coutiuuea.) 
 
 Steele 398 
 
 Stokes 468 
 
 'trange 320 
 
 'aylor 147 
 
 learner 455 
 
 Villiamson 371 
 
 Williams 418 
 
 Wright 304 
 
 Wynns 216 
 
 Yancey 106 
 
 Grermantown battle, Oct. 
 
 4, 1777.... 157, 240 
 
 Germans in Cabarrus 
 
 County xxxix 
 
 Gettysburg battle 165, 426 
 
 Gillaspie, James 156 
 
 Gilliam, Henry H 117 
 
 Gilliam, Robert B Ill, 182 
 
 Gilmer, John A ........ ..192 
 
 jlasgow, .-James 129, '205 
 
 Glasscock, Dr. George 298 
 
 Goelet, Dr 423 
 
 Goldsboro' 4 64 
 
 Gordon, Jam^s B 469 • 
 
 Graaffenieidt ind the 
 
 Swis.s i)a]atii.os 128, 129 
 
 Graham, Geu. Joseph... 
 
 - --.. I?'^^ 231 
 
 Gn.hamy^.:?g?;C!....231, 237 
 
 Gra.iam, Edward 140 
 
 Graham, William 273 
 
 Graham, William A ..231, 232 
 Gra':am, William A. jr... 23V 
 
 Graiam, John W 237 
 
 ■^i'!int, James, of Iowa 208 
 
 Granlmry, Josiah T 369 
 
 Gn-ves, CaWin 108 
 
 Greene, Rt. Rev. William 
 
 M 312 
 
 Greene, Gen. Nathaniel... 
 V 397, 453 
 
 Green, Gen. Thomas J.... 459 
 KJreen, Col. Wharton J... 459 
 
 Gregory, Isaac 99 
 
 ' ' '^«sa|-f , William 99 
 
 ■ i m cb,, Gen . B ry an 373 
 
 iswoi Vj Conn., massacre 
 t fort, ia-Revohitionary 
 
 vVar 79 
 
 rove, William (-"arry 146 
 
 ■iindy, Felix ..56. 46.3 
 
 .dger, J. C. I : 75 
 
 'iiford Court House, bat- 
 ti^o-L... 185, 186 
 
 PAGK 
 
 Guilford Court House bat- 
 tle described by James 
 
 Martin, sr 413 
 
 Guion, Dr. Isaac 136 
 
 Guion, Haywood W 250 
 
 Guthrie, John J 14 
 
 Habeas Corpus,. 110, 111, 235 
 
 Hale, Edward J 154 
 
 H,.ger, the tory, kills Gen. 
 
 Davidson 241 
 
 Hall, Edward 456 
 
 Plall, Judge John 455, 457 
 
 Hambright, Frederick 176 
 
 Hanging Rock, battle of.. 271 
 Hamilton, Col. John, loy- 
 alist 214 
 
 Hancock, Susan J 287 
 
 Hardy, Wasliington M.... 88 
 
 Harnett, Cornelius 46, 299 
 
 Harris, Dr. Charles 1)7 
 
 Farris, Maj. Tliomas 97 
 
 Han-io, William S 97 
 
 Harris, Rouct and James 273_ 
 
 Harper, James G 13, 98 
 
 Harper, Robert Goodloe... 175 
 
 "Hatteras," a poem 16 
 
 Harvey, John 367 
 
 Haughton, John H 427 
 
 Hawkins family 451 
 
 Hawks, Francis L 140 
 
 Hawks, John 128, 263 
 
 Hawley, Joseph R 385 
 
 Haj'wood family. Ixiii, 114, 158 
 
 Haywood, John 113, 204 
 
 Henderson, Pleasant 
 
 113, 180, 461 
 Henderson, Richard.... 51, 179 
 
 Henderson en Person 175 
 
 Henderson, Archibald 181 
 
 Henderson, Leonard 182 
 
 Henderson, John Lawson. 183 
 
 Henderson, James P 248 
 
 Henderson, John S 398 
 
 Henry, James L 69 
 
 Henry, Louis D 148 
 
 Hewes, Joseph 122 
 
 Hicks family 178- 
 
 Highlanders 145 
 
 Hill, Gen. A. P., eulogy 
 
 Oil Sen. Pender 165 
 
 Hill, Gen. Daniel Harvey 290 
 
 Hill, WhitmiU 30, 253 
 
 Hill, William... 303, 432 
 
 Fill. Dr WilHat^.G ..... 4.34 
 
 PAQB 
 
 Hill, William H 3J3 
 
 Hilliard, Henry W l.-i3 
 
 Hillsboro', Henry E. Cot- 
 ten's sketch of. 324 
 
 Hines, Richard 158 
 
 Hogg, Gavin 124 
 
 Hoke, John F 246 
 
 Hoke, Michael 245 
 
 Hoke, Robert F 245 
 
 Holden, William W 110 
 
 220, 297,367,379, 441, 458 
 
 Holmes, Gabriel 411 
 
 Holmes, Gen. Theophilus 
 
 H 411 
 
 Holmes, Owen 311 
 
 Holt, Tliomas M 4 
 
 Hooks, Charles 156 
 
 Hooper, William 306 
 
 Horse-shoeor To-ho-iie-ka, 
 
 battle of, 1814 229, 419 
 
 How .-, Robert 42, 46 
 
 Howard, Martin 51 
 
 Houston, William, put un- 
 der ])ledge not to exe- 
 cute tlie stamp act... 40,- 302 
 
 Houston, James 246 
 
 Huguenots 238 
 
 Hunt, Memucan 184 
 
 Hunt, William 184 
 
 Hunter, Dr. C. L 176 
 
 Hunter, Humphrey 175 
 
 Husband, Herman 
 
 174, 179, 381 
 Hussey, John B 156 
 
 Impeachment and trial of 
 Gov. Holden 220, 441 
 
 Indians — Tuscaroras, Nat- 
 chez and Chickasaws 
 
 101, 196, 224 
 
 Independence — 
 
 In Chowan County 117 
 
 In Craven County 129 
 
 In Duplin County 155 
 
 In Meckl en bnrg County 2j9 
 
 Ingram, Edwin ,ri96 
 
 Innes, Col. James 308 
 
 Insurrection among slaves 
 
 127, 222, 449 
 
 Iredell, James, Jndge 
 
 120, 123 
 
 Iredell, Gov. James, jr.... 
 
 120, 123 
 
 Irwin, Henry 157, 468 
 
 Irwin, Robert 274 
 
INDEX. 
 
 4T5 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Ives, L. Silliiniiu, bishop 
 ofN.Caroliua.143, 313, 445 
 
 Jack, James 266, 286 
 
 Jackson, Andrew 
 
 90, 205, 224, 287 
 Jaokson coiiufcted with 
 
 Vance family 64 
 
 Jackson and Carson 92 
 
 Jackson and the Mecklen- 
 
 !mrg Declaration 268 
 
 Jackoou and the Craig- 
 
 heads. 279 
 
 Jarvi.s, Thomas J 125 
 
 Jefterson, Thomas, diary 
 
 of 278 
 
 Jcfl'erson, Thomas, on the 
 effects of the battle at 
 
 King's Mountain 169 
 
 Jefferson, Thomas, on 
 
 Washington 9 
 
 Jefterson and the Meck- 
 lenburg Declaration 
 
 262, 277, 278 
 
 Johnson, Andrew 434 
 
 Johnson, Cliarles 122, 123 
 
 Johnson, Jonas 157 
 
 Johnson, Tiiomas D 76 
 
 Johnson, Fort, destroyed 
 
 by (ren. John Ashe 302 
 
 Johnstone family and the 
 marquisate of Annan- 
 dale 121 
 
 Johnstone, Gov. Samuel.. 
 
 118, 123 
 Johnstone, Gabriel ...118, 300 
 
 Johnstone, John 120 
 
 Johnstone, James C 120 
 
 Johnstone, Dr. Samuel.... 
 
 118, 119 
 Johnstone, Rev. Samuel J. 120 
 
 Jones, Allen 196, 321 
 
 Jones, Cadwallader 196 
 
 Jones, Edward 307 
 
 Jones, Jian'.iltonC 407 
 
 Jones, James 217 
 
 Jones, John Paul 198 
 
 Jones, Pride 201 
 
 Jones, liobert JI 461 
 
 Jones, Edward 461 
 
 Jones, Willie 196 
 
 Jo""or, Andrew 200 
 
 Judd, ilev. Bethel 313 
 
 Judiciary, U.S., in North 
 Carolina ,..,..139, 2h6 
 
 PAOE 
 
 Judiciary system of North 
 
 Carolina 147, 160, 182 
 
 Judiciary, ijualificationsof 181 
 
 Keerl, Thomas M 139 
 
 Kendriek, J. G 27 
 
 Keenan, Owen K 156 
 
 K-emin, Thomas 156 
 
 Kennon, William 274, 398 
 
 Kerr, John 110 
 
 King, William K 411 
 
 King's Mountain 64 
 
 84, 169, 176, 246, 418, 463 
 
 Kirk, Col. George W 110 
 
 Kirkland, Ann, at Salem 
 
 Academy 172 
 
 Ku-Klux-Clan...llO, 235, 458 
 
 Lafayette, Gen., visits 
 
 North Carolina 222 
 
 ijane, Joseph, Joel and 
 
 Jesse 436 
 
 Lanier, Robert 169 
 
 Law, Israel G 170 
 
 " awson, John 50, 101 
 
 Leach, James M 155 
 
 Lee, Gen. Robert E., on 
 
 Pender 1 65 
 
 Lee, Gen. Robert E., on 
 
 Branch 213 
 
 Lcc, Gen. Robert E., on 
 
 North Carolina trooj)s .. 374 
 Lee, Gen. Henry, on Da- 
 vidson 241 
 
 Lenoir, William. 352, 353, 417 
 
 Lewis, William B 468 
 
 Lewis, Di. Richard H 376 
 
 Liberty llall, or Queen's 
 
 Museum 230, 255, 263 
 
 Lillington, Gen 47 
 
 Lincoln'ssurrender, (1780) 240 
 
 Lisle, Lady Alice 217 
 
 Little, William, chief jus- 
 tice 115 
 
 Locke family 400, 453 
 
 Long, John 382 
 
 Long, Henry W 216 
 
 Love, Robert 69 
 
 Lord Proprietois relin- 
 
 quisli their patent 171 
 
 Lowrie, Samuel 287 
 
 Lynch law, origin of the 
 
 name 172 
 
 fliao A rici!. Rufus ¥....._ .3 
 
 PAOli 
 
 MacBryde, Archibald 297 
 
 MacCay, Hon. Spruce 400 
 
 MacClure, Matthew 274 
 
 MacCullock, H. Eustace... 208 
 MacCullock, Benjamin .... 208 
 
 MacDonald, Flora 145 
 
 MacDowell, Thomas D.... 38 
 
 MacDowell, Silas 252 
 
 McDowells... 82 
 
 McFadden, F(^ 273 
 
 McGeliee, Thonias 372 
 
 McGehec, Jloritford 372 
 
 Mclntirc's Creek skirmish 231 
 
 McKay, James J 37 
 
 McKnitts 238 
 
 McLean, Dr. William. 246, 272 
 
 McNeil, Archibald 297 
 
 McRae, Duncan K 153 
 
 McRee 123, 318 
 
 Macon, Nathaniel 453 
 
 Macon on secession 454 
 
 Maco!'. on Caswell.,.,...,,^. ^165^ 
 
 Manly, Basil 112 
 
 Manly Charles 113 
 
 Manly, Matthias E..j 143 
 
 Maun, N 209 
 
 Manney, Thomas 217 
 
 Manning, John 216 
 
 Mangum, Willie P ...124, 334 
 
 Marsteller, Lewis H 3'9 
 
 Marshall on Iredell........ j23 
 
 Martin, Alexander 1S8 
 
 Martin, Francois X 129 
 
 Martin, Gc'i James G.... 368 
 
 Martin, Judge James 400 
 
 Martin, James, sr 412 
 
 Martin, Joseph John 254 
 
 Martin, Josiah, last roy") 
 governor of North Caro- 
 lina 41, 132 
 
 Martin, Josiah, his account 
 of the battle of Moore's 
 
 Creek 104 
 
 Ma.soii, Rev. Richard S.... 445 
 Masonry, FrcC .9, 10, 11, 120 
 Matthews, Massei:din .... 64 
 Maynard, Lieut., kill: 
 
 Blackbeard ^I'j"] 
 
 Meade, Bishop of Va 174 
 
 Meares, William B 318 
 
 Mebane family 330 
 
 Mecklenburg County, Dec- 
 laration of Inde])en- 
 dence, 1775..41,95. 201, 22^ 
 2-Jii, 241, 2r.O tj 275, 1. 
 
i76 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Mecklenburg and the Reg- 
 ulators 259 
 
 Mendenliall, George C 192 
 
 Merrimon, Hon. Angustu.s 
 
 S 69 
 
 -Meredith, Lewis 216 
 
 Mexican War 437, 459 
 
 Michal, Dr. G. W 93 
 
 Micklejohn, Rev. John.... 174 
 
 Miller, Mrs. Mary Ayer... 153 
 
 Mint, U. S., at Charlotte.. 289 
 
 Mitchell, Elisha 63 
 
 Montrose, a Graham le- 
 gend 229 
 
 Moore's Creek battle, Feb. 
 
 27, 1776 
 
 48, 51, 52, 104, 298 
 
 Moore, Alfred 48, 52, 102 
 
 Moore, Bishop Richard C. 313 
 
 Moore, Augustus 126 
 
 Moore, Bartholomew F.... 209 
 
 jl?'"'e; Cbpvlps 230 
 
 Moored Dr. Godwin C 217 
 
 Moore, Maurice 50, 300 
 
 Moore, Dr. Thomas J 292 
 
 Moore, William Armistead 128 
 
 Moravians 2, 170 
 
 Mordecai, George W 432 
 
 Mordecai, Moses 431 
 
 Murehead, Jwl.u M... 189, 192 
 
 MoiinsM. M 115 
 
 Mosely, Edward... 48, 227, 306 
 
 Mosely, W. D 227 
 
 Morrison, Neil 274 
 
 Morrison, Re>-. Dr. Robert 
 
 Hall 177, 231 
 
 Monts'^mery, (Jol. Lem. P. 396 
 
 Montgomery, Hugh 396 
 
 Muuiford, George 400 
 
 Murlree family 215 
 
 Murfreesboro' 215 
 
 Murphey, A. D 333 
 
 Nash, Abner 132 
 
 Nash, Fra?icis. ..o^, 133, 332 
 
 Nash, Fredeiick 133, 332 
 
 Ne.^'Cos, admirable con- 
 duct in Civil War 127 
 
 New Berne 128 
 
 Kftw Berne Council of Safe- 
 
 tv 129 
 
 Newland, David 93 
 
 Newman. Dr. Anthony 396 
 
 ■"Tewton, George 396 
 
 ' naragua . 20 
 
 PAGE 
 
 "Ninety-six" 261 
 
 Norcum, Dr. James 124 
 
 North Carolina and South 
 
 Carolina separated 50 
 
 North Carolina men who 
 have become distin- 
 guished abroad 12 
 
 North Carolina kind and 
 
 generous to settlers 13, 99 
 
 Nortli Carolina, education 
 
 in 256 
 
 North Carolina, presiding 
 officers of both Houses of 
 
 Congress from 122, 453 
 
 North Carolina in Cabinet 151 
 North Carolina Provincial 
 
 Congresses 6 
 
 North Carolina restored to 
 
 the Union 210 
 
 Norwood, Benjamin 179 
 
 Nnlliilcation 91 
 
 Oath, Regulators' as to 
 
 crown officers 4 
 
 Odem, John B., person- 
 ates Gen. Win field S. 
 
 Scott 126 
 
 Ogden, Aaron ii 
 
 Ogilvy, Lady 121 
 
 Orangeburg, S. C. , siege of 201 
 
 Osborne, Alexander 291 
 
 Osborne, Adlai 291 
 
 Osborne, Edward Jay 291 
 
 Osborne, Judge James W. 
 
 292, 296 
 Osborne, Sprace McKay.. 293 
 
 Outlaw, David 33 
 
 Outlaw, George 32 
 
 Owen, John 37 
 
 Owen, James 37 
 
 Palace, Royal, New Berne. 128 
 
 Palatines 128 
 
 Patterson, Samuel F 98 
 
 Patterson , Rufus L 98 
 
 Patton, Benjamin 274 
 
 Patton, John 14, 188 
 
 Patton, Montraville 86 
 
 PattiUo, Rev. H 182 
 
 Paxton, Judge John 408 
 
 Peai-.-on family 401 
 
 Pearson, R. C 
 
 94, 110, 367, 403 
 
 Pender, William D 165 
 
 Pe-^-^er. Lee's eulogy C" •■ IG5 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Penn, John 178 
 
 Person, Thomas 174 
 
 Pettigrew, Charles. ...313, 423 
 
 Pettigrew, Ebenezer 424 
 
 Pettigrew, Gen. J. John- 
 ston 343, 424 
 
 Phifer family Ixvi, 96, 275 
 
 Phillips, Charles 63 
 
 Phillips, Rev. James 62 
 
 Phillips, Samuel F 63 
 
 Phillips, Mary 172 
 
 Pickens, Israel 93 
 
 Plummer, Kemp 455 
 
 Polk, Oharley 284 
 
 Polk, Ezekiel 260 
 
 Polk, James K 260 
 
 Polk, Leonidas 284 
 
 Polk, Lucius J 202 
 
 Polk, Robert 260 
 
 Polk, Thomas 
 
 . 261, 281, 282, 283 
 
 Polk, William H 201 
 
 Polk, William, son of John 285 
 
 Pollock, Gov. Thomas 
 
 129, 319 
 
 Pool, John 368' 
 
 Porter, Alexander, on the 
 birthplace of Jackson... 287 
 
 Potter, Henry 148 
 
 Potter, Robert 184 
 
 Porterfield, Denny 35 
 
 Porterfield, James 35 
 
 Price, Charles 156 
 
 Pultuey, name assumed by 
 Johnstone 121 
 
 Query, John 275 
 
 Q ueen ' s Museum 
 
 230, 243, 255, 263 
 
 Raft Swamp battle 228 
 
 Raleigh, Sir Walter 101 
 
 Raraseur's Mill, battle of.. 84 
 Ramseur, Gen. Stephen D. 246 
 Ramsay, Dr. J. G 51., in 
 Jackson's copy of the 
 Mecklenburg Declara- 
 tion 268 
 
 Ramsay, Dr. J. G. M., on 
 Jackson's love for Craig- 
 head 279- 
 
 Ransom, Edward 428 
 
 Ransom, Matt. W....^ 321 
 
 Ravenscroft, Bisliop ./ohn 
 ■ SUvlc. :■..:... in, 3]i, 442 
 
INDEX. 
 
 47V 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Rayner, Kenneth 219 
 
 Reade, Edwin G 370 
 
 Reese, David 275 
 
 Reese, George 275 
 
 Rognlators, their oath 4 
 
 Regulators, their jninish- 
 
 raent 1, 259 
 
 Reid, Davids 390 
 
 Rcncher, Abratn 115 
 
 Robertson, James 462 
 
 Roberts, William P 177' 
 
 Robinson, Rev. John 95 
 
 Robinson, James Lowrie.. 251 
 Rocky Mount, battle at.... 271 
 
 Rodman, William B 19 
 
 Rogers, Dr. John, his I'am- 
 
 ily 330 
 
 Ruffin, Thomas 2, 465 
 
 Russell, Daniel L 319 
 
 Rutherford, Griffith. ...37, 399 
 Rutherford, John, a tory.. 37 
 
 Salem Academy 172 
 
 Salter, Edward 129 
 
 '^•■"•dors, Rev. Joseph H. 446 
 
 , ...iei-,, Komulus M 106 
 
 - ' i- William L 44S 
 
 inuol... 99 
 
 jmiel T 100 
 
 .,.., ;;ov. Alfn-d M 386 
 
 - ! s, James T 195 
 
 ■ ' , 1 249, 250 
 
 ■T 273 
 
 ,, . .. .. uiield 126 
 
 beabury, iJish^i Samuel, 
 tutor of Waightstill Av- 
 ery 78 
 
 Seaton, William W... 170, 428 
 
 Seawell, Henry 4gO 
 
 Secession 406^ 44 ] , 454 
 
 Settle, Thoma?, sr 389 
 
 Settle, Thomas, jr 389 
 
 Seven Pines, battle of, 
 
 May 31, 1862 223 
 
 Sevier, John 462 
 
 Sharpe, William 224 
 
 Shaw, Henry M 154 
 
 Sheering, Charles, killed.. 112 
 
 Sheppard family 139 
 
 Sheppard, William P. 365 
 
 Shepperd, William 326 
 
 Shipp, Bartlctt 249 
 
 Shipp, William M 249 
 
 Sliober, Francis E 407 
 
 Shotwell, Randolph A 296 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Singletary, George E. B.. 14 
 Singletary, Richard W.... 469 
 
 Sitgreaves, John 139, 199. 
 
 Skinner, Jo.seph B 125 
 
 Skinner, Rev. Thomas E. 125 
 
 Slaves, insurrection of. 222 
 
 Slocumb, Ezekiel 464 
 
 Slocumb family 464 
 
 Smart, Susan 285 
 
 Smith, Gov. Benjamin, aide 
 to Washington.. 53, 54, 352 
 
 Smith, William H 219 
 
 Smith, William A 226 
 
 Snap Dragon 102 
 
 Spaight, Richard D 133 
 
 Speight, Jesse 185 
 
 Spencer, Samuel 5 
 
 Spottsylvania C. H., bat- 
 tle of. 207 
 
 Springs family 263, 272 
 
 Stanford, Richard 372 
 
 Stamp Act in North Caro- 
 lina 39, 40 
 
 Stanley family 17, 135 
 
 Staples, John N 195 
 
 Starke, Lucien 8, 308 
 
 State House location 436 
 
 State House burned, J'me, 
 
 1831 .-. 456 
 
 Stedman, Elisha '57 
 
 CLeeie, John, Gov. of New 
 
 Hampshire 399 
 
 Steele, John, Salisbarv... 397 
 
 Steele. Mra. Elizabeth 397 
 
 Steele^ WalterL 385 
 
 Stephens, John W, killed HI 
 S..evC!ison, Andrew W., 
 borrowed the " Cape 
 
 Fear Mercury" 2G2, 279 
 
 Stokes, Montford 468 
 
 Stokes family 468 
 
 Stone, David 30,31, 32 
 
 Stone, Zedekiah 30 
 
 Stony Point 215 
 
 Strange, Robert 149 
 
 Strange, Robert 320 
 
 Strudwick, Elizabeth 172 
 
 Stuart, Lady Anne 216 
 
 Sugar Creek Church 277 
 
 Sumner, Gen. Jethro .131, 450 
 
 Swain, David L 56 
 
 Swain, George 57 
 
 Swan, Samuel 300, 306 
 
 Swan, William 306 
 
 Tobacco at Durham 363 
 
 PAOK 
 
 Tarleton, Banastre 
 
 186, 197, 286 
 
 Tayloe, Charles F 20 
 
 Tayloe, Jonathan 30 
 
 -Taylor, James F 450 
 
 -Taylor, John Louis 146 
 
 Tea, resolutions against... 118 
 
 Teach (see Blackbeard).... 116 
 
 Thermal Belt 252 
 
 Thomas, Charles R 143 
 
 -Thompson, Jacob 109 
 
 'Tliompson , Richard 1 89 
 
 Thurman, Allen G 126 
 
 Toole, Henry I 157 
 
 Toomer, John D 148 
 
 Tonrgee, Albion W.. .111, 194 
 Troops in Revolutionary 
 
 Wail, 186 
 
 Troops in late Civil War. 234 
 
 Transylvania Land Co 180 
 
 Troy, Wesley C 153 
 
 Tryon, Gov ....4, 40, 128, 226 
 
 Tryon Palace 128 
 
 Tryon, destroyers of his 
 
 ammunition train 95 
 
 Turner, James 454 
 
 Turner, Daniel 455 
 
 Tuscaroras 196, 200 
 
 "The University;" its 
 sketch by Hon. Wil- 
 liam H. Battle ..58,1 63 337 
 "'ii)6 University;" ii.g 
 buildiugo,hv Hon. Kemp 
 P. Battle...". :5H 
 
 Uuitas Fratrnni 
 
 =Yauce ifrffiVi J : : 
 
 Vance, David «..> 
 
 Vance, Dr. Robert 04, 97 
 
 Vance, Gen. Robert B 68 
 
 Vance, Zebnlon B 60, 65 
 
 Venable, Abram W 183 
 
 Van Hook, Robert 372 
 
 Wachovia Tract, Wash- 
 ington's visit to 171 
 
 Wachovia Tract, Bishop 
 
 Ravenscrolt's visit to 171 
 
 Waddell, Alfred M oil 
 
 Waddell, Hugh. ..39. 310, 311 
 
 Waddell , Maurice Q 311 
 
 Walker, Felix 408. 
 
 Walker, Gen. William, in 
 Nicaragua 24 
 
478 
 
 WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Waring, Robert Payne.... 296 
 
 Warren, Dr. Edward, 
 (Bey) xlix, 127 
 
 Warren, Judge Edward «' . 19 
 
 Washington as described 
 by Jefferson 9 
 
 Washington despairs in 
 1779 215 
 
 Washington city attached 
 by Early, Jnly, 1864... 248 
 
 "Wasp," under Blakely 
 takes the "Reindeer," 
 "Avon," and the "Ata- 
 lanta" 308 
 
 Waxhaw settlement 
 
 279, 28fi, 287 
 
 Webster, Col. Wihson, let- 
 ter to, by Lord Cornwal- 
 lis 187 
 
 Webster, Daniel and Car- 
 son £2 
 
 Welling, Dr. J. C, quoted 
 
 ■ 269. 276 
 
 Wellboin, Gen. James.... 
 
 189, 397 
 
 Wilson, Joseph Harvey... 289 
 
 Wilson, Zacchens 275 
 
 W^inston, Joseph 168 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Wiley, J. McC 98 
 
 Wiley, Patrick H 34 
 
 Wheeler family 
 
 Wlieeler, Dr. John 
 
 Wheeler, John, jr i 
 
 Wheeler, John H ii, 289 
 
 Wheeler, Junius, U. S. A.. ii 
 Wlieeler, Samuel Jordan. . . ii 
 
 Wiiitesides, John 395 
 
 Whitson,Dr. J. McD 93 
 
 White, Hugh L 223 
 
 White, lost colony of 101 
 
 White, William 106 
 
 Wiley, Rev. Calvin H 194 
 
 Wiley, J. McCaleb 98 
 
 Williams, Gov. Ceujamin. 
 
 203, 297 
 
 Williams, James 178 
 
 Williams, John 178 
 
 Williams, Lewis 419 
 
 Williams, Nicholas L 420 
 
 Williams, Joseph 113 
 
 Williams, Marinaduke 108 
 
 Williams, Robert.... 108 
 
 Williams, Dr. Robeit^ of 
 
 Pitt 373 
 
 Williams, Samuel 5 
 
 Wilmington 298 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Williamson, James 371 
 
 Williamson, Dr. Hugh L. 
 
 122, 267 
 
 Wilson, Thomas J 172 
 
 Wilson, Louis D 164 
 
 Wihson, Joseph 289 
 
 Winchester battle, Sept. 
 
 1864 248 
 
 Winslow, Warren 152 
 
 Winston, Joseph 168 
 
 Winston, Patrick H 34 
 
 "Wingfield" 127 
 
 Wortli, Gov. Jonathan.... 377 
 
 Wright, Joshua Granger. 304 
 
 Wright, William A 304 
 
 Wright, William H 304 
 
 Wynns, James D 120, 216 
 
 Wynii.3, Gen. Thomas 216 
 
 ^"Wyoming" letters of 
 
 Eaton 205 
 
 Yancey, Bartlett 106 
 
 Yancey, William L 73 
 
 Yeates, Jesse J 221 
 
 Y'oung, Robert S 79 
 
 Zimmerman, Mrs. Betty M. 434 
 
 Zinzindorff, Count 171 
 
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