Yale University Library 39002009454886 TORY OF HALIFAX COUNTS L' •¦ 1 . '. ¦>jll ' L _ Jj B^iMiBiav IW ¦*! ^ Ej i Kill CM5 1933 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY W. C. i^jLLEN Superintendent Weldon Public Schools AUTHOR OF NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY STORIE& A child's HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF HAYWOOD COUNTY WHIGS AND TORIES ILLUSTRATED THE CORNHILL COMPANY BOSTON Copyright, 1918, by The Cornhill Company (^Hs.&G PREFACE In September, 1915, Mrs. W. C. Allen, at the time. President of the Junius Daniel Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, of Weldon, suggested to the chapter the idea of writing the history of Halifax County as the year's work. The membership responded enthusiastically to the suggestion and unanimously de cided to begin the task. An outline of the county's history was made and top ics assigned for investigation. The following members contributed papers : Mesdames Ida Wilkins, W. E. Dan iel, J. W. Sledge, J. A. Johnston, Lee Johnson, J. A. Musgrove, W. A. Pierce, O. W. Pierce, J. W. Pierce, T. C. Harrison, J. S. Turner, L, C. Draper, R. S. Travis, John Zollicoffer, W. L. Knight, Ashby Dunn, H. D. Allen, W. T. Shaw, and Misses Mary Sledge, Julia Rhem, Laura Powers, and Annie Musgrove. These pa pers, together with notes and additions by the editor, con stitute the story as it appears in this volume. In order to secure harmony of expression the editor has had to re write most of the material that was handed in. He has had also to verify the facts in order to be sure that there should be no misstatements. It is believed that a true story of the county is herein given. Halifax is one of the real historic counties of the state,, for within its borders some of the most important events; In the making of North Carolina have taken place. Many of the men who have had much to do with the shaping of the State have either been natives of the county or have resided here at different periods of their lives. Through out the colonial and Revolutionary periods, as well as the years since, Halifax County has played a conspicious part in the stirring events that have made North Carolina Vi PREFACE liistory so interesting and in the development of the State's resources. With the hope that this little volume will help to in troduce Halifax County more intimately to its own peo ple and serve to make it better known to people of other counties and states, the authors and editor now send it forth upon its mission. CONTENTS PART ONE chapter page I. The Original Inhabitants 3 II. The Evolution of the County . . .6 III. Early Settlements 9 IV. Formation of the County 14 V. Forerunners of the Regulator Movement 18 VI. Mutterings of the Coming Storm ... 21 VII. Leading up to the Revolution .... 26 VIII. Halifax County and National Independ ence . . 30 IX. National Independence Proclaimed in Halifax . . 36 X. The Birthplace of the State Constitu tion ... 40 XI. Early Days op the Revolution ... 44 XII. Halifax County and the American Navy 48 XIII. Passing Events 52 XIV. The British Occupation of Halifax 56 XV. Years Succeeding the Revolution . . 62 XVI. Halifax County and the National Consti tution .... 65 XVII. First Two Decades of the Nineteenth Century ... .... .69 XVIII. The Visit of Lafayette .... 73 XIX. Intellectual Development ... .76 XX. Social and Economic Development 80 XXI. Coming of the Railroads 86 vui CONTENTS chapter page XXII. "Royal White Hart Lodge" 92 XXIII. Events Leading to the Civil War ... 99 XXIV. In the Legislative Halls of the State . 102 XXV. The Call to Arms 106 XXVI. War's Alarms 110 XXVII. The Construction and Service of the Albemarle ... 115 XXVIII. Closing Incidents op the War . . .121 XXIX. Reconstruction Days 128 XXX. Since Reconstruction Days 132 XXXI. Some Odds and Ends of History . . 136 XXXII. Summary 143 PART TWO Builders of the County I. Joseph Montfobd . . 149 II. John Baptista Ashe . 151 III. Willie Jones .... . 153 IV. William R. Davie , . 156 V. James Hogan . 162 VI. Samuel Weldon . . 165 VII. John Haywood . 165 VIII. Willis Alston . 168 IX. Willis Alston, Jr. . 169 X. Nicholas Long . 170 XI. Orondates Davis . 171 XII. John Bradford . 172 XIII. John Paul Jones . 173 XIV. Abraham Hodge . . 176 XV. John Branch . . 177 XVI. Hutchings G. Burton . 181 XVII. Joseph J. Daniel . 183 CONTENTS chapter XVIII. John R. J. Daniel XIX. Bynum and Potter XX. Bartholomew F. Moore XXI. Andrew Joyner XXII. Lawrence O'Bryan Branch XXIII. Edward Conigland XXIV. Junius Daniel XXV. Francis M. Parker . XXVI. Spier Whitaker . XXVII. Walter N. Allen . . XXVIII. Thomas L. Emry XXIX. Richard H. Smith XXX. George Green Lynch XXXI. Thomas N. Hill . . XXXII. Peter Evans Smith . . XXXIII. Robert O. Burton, D. D XXXIV. Robert O. Burton, Jr. . XXXV. William T. Shaw, Jr. Others Who Have Wrought IX PAGE 185186188190 192 194196 201202204206 209 212 215218220223227 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Map of Halifax County . . Whitfield Avenue, Enfield, N. C. Grave of Joseph Montford Continental Currency George Washington John Paul Jones . .... Battle between the Serapis and Bon- HOMME Richard .... William R. Davie John Haywood .... Lafayette's Return The Roanoke River, near Weldon, N. C. Royal White Hart Lodge B. F. Moore Confederate Monument, Weldon, N. C. William R. Cox . . . . The General Davis Home, Halifax, N. C. Old Trinity Church, Scotland Neck, N. C. The Grove House . . . . Reception to Washington The Roanoke Mills, Roanoke Rapids, N. C. . A Typical Southern Scene Washington Avenue, Weldon, N. C. Colonial Cemetery, Halifax, N. C. Main Street, Roanoke Rapids, N. C. ^acing Page 8 16 24324048 5664 72 808896 104112120128 136144152160168 176184 192 xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS One op the Good Roads, Halifax County, N. C. .... Facing Page 200 Court House, Halifax, N. C. . " " 208 M. W. Ransom " " 216 Main Street, Littleton, N. C. . . . " " 224 INTRODUCTION GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Halifax County is situated in the northem portion of North Carolina, the most northerly point of the county lacking only about six miles of touching the Virginia State line. The Roanoke river skirts its northeastern border and Fishing Creek, a tributary of the Tar river, bounds it on the southwest. A strip of Martin County joins Halifax on the south. Warren County is on the northwest. The county is slightly triangular in shape, the narrow part of the triangle being the southwestem portion and broadening toward the northeast. It is about sixty miles long and averages about twenty miles wide, and contains nearly 681 square miles of land surface. In the southeastern section of the county, along the banks of the Roanoke river, the surface is level and the soil is exceedingly fertile. In the northwestern division, par ticularly west of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, the surface is rolling, resembling very much the Piedmont section of the state. Near the larger water courses, mini ature canyons are frequent, through which the smaller streams flow in their ceaseless journey to the larger ones. At frequent intervals, along the Roanoke, "guts" pour their muddy volume of water into the giant stream. On account of a curious topography, more than three- fourths of the drainage is south and southwest into Fish ing Creek, the water shed lying quite close to the south bank of the Roanoke. Besides the Roanoke river and Fishing Creek, which are not wholly within the county, there are a number of other water ways that give form and character to the xiv INTRODUCTION surface. Flowing into the Roanoke, are Kehukee, Look ing Glass, Quanky, Chockayotte, and Deep Creeks, and Conocanara and Cypress Swamps. Into Fishing Creek the following streams find their way: Deep, Powells, Butterwood, and Little Fishing Creeks and Marsh, Beech, Beaver Dam, Burnt Coat, Rocky, Jack Horse, and Bear swamps. Besides these, numerous rivulets and "branch es" -wind hither and thither in meadows and valleys. There are two Deep Creeks, one in the northern and an other in the southern end of the county. The climate is mild, highly suitable either for summer or winter residence and free from the extremes of either season. Out-door work is seldom interrupted by ex cessive heat or cold, or violent storms. The ground is seldom covered with snow for more than a few hours at the time. The mean annual temperature is about 58 de grees. In the eastern and southern portions of the county, the soil is a gray sandy loam with a brown or red subsoil. In the western and northern section, a red clay subsoil and sandy loam predominate. Along the water ways, the soil is, in many places, made up of rich vegetable deposits and is very fertile. The chief crops are cotton, corn, tobacco, potatoes, pea nuts, hay, and oats. Many a farmer averages more than one hundred dollars an acre for his money crops. The water power, supplied by the Roanoke river, is a source of present as well as future prosperity. From a point five miles above Roanoke Rapids, the river makes a fall of eighty-five feet to Weldon, thus furnishing a source of almost unlimited power. Numerous factories at Roa noke Rapids, Rosemary, and Weldon are supplied from this source, and those to-wns are also furnished with elec tric lights thereby. In the eastern division of the county, the forest gro-wth belongs to the normal type of upland piney woods, mixed with red cedar. Pine is the most important timber pro duct. Oak predominates in the western portion with an INTRODUCTION xv intermixture of hickory, sweetgum, and dogwood. Near the river banks, the willow, ash, sycamore, maple, and cypress flourish. Roanoke river, in the last few years, has been stocked with rockfish. Abundant also are shad, carp, catfish, and several other varieties. At certain seasons of the year the fishing interests are valuable. For many years, both before and after the War be tween the States, the county was well supplied with deer, but the vigilance of the hunter has rendered that kind of game scarce. Squirrels and quails are found in large num bers in all parts of the county. Wild turkeys are found in certain sections. Wild geese and ducks are hunted on the Roanoke during the -winter months. Agriculture is the chief occupation of the people. Manufacturing cotton goods, hosiery, damask, pulp, and lumber form another important line of business. Peanut factories, cotton seed oil mills, fertilizer factories, and box factories also give employment to hundreds of men and women. In 1916, the aggregate value of real and personal property in the county was over ten million dollars. There are six towns of considerable importance, name ly, Enfield, Halifax, Roanoke Rapids, Rosemary, Scotland Neck, and Weldon. Besides these, there are Hobgood, Tillery, Palmyra, Hollister, Ringwood, and Thelma. Lit tleton, a to-wn of much importance, is partly in Halifax and partly in Warren County. Halifax has the distinction of having been at different times the seat of govemment of the province and afterwards of the new State. It also has the higher distinction of being the birthplace of the State Constitution and where the famous Independence Resolutions were passed April 12, 1776. Enfield is the oldest town in the county and was for several years the seat of Edgecombe county when it included Halifax. En field was also for a number of years the site of the district court of the counties of Edgecombe, Granville, Bute, and Northampton. xvi INTRODUCTION Weldon, Roanoke Rapids, and Rosemary are extensive ly engaged in manufacturing. Scotland Neck is in the centre of the peanut industry, and is one of the largest markets in the world for that product. Hollister is a new town near the Warren County line where extensive lum ber manufacturing is done. Hobgood is the junction of two branches of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. There are twelve townships in the county as follows: Brinkleyville, Butterwood, Conocanara, Enfield, Faucetts, Halifax, Littleton, Palmyra, Roanoke Rapids, Roseneath, Scotland Neck, and Weldon. Two trunk lines of railroads traverse the county. The Atlantic Coast Line, the highway from New York to Flor ida, crosses the central section of the county. The Sea board Air Line passes through the northern portion and makes connection at Weldon with the Atlantic Coast Line. The Kinston Branch extends from Weldon to Kinston in Lenoir County through one of the finest sections of Halifax County. There are extensive cotton and knitting mills at Roa noke Rapids, Rosemary, Weldon, and Scotland Neck. There is also a large pulp mill at Roanoke Rapids. A large lumber plant at Weldon exports large quantities of lumber. Peanut factories at Weldon and Scotland Neck prepare immense quantities of peanuts for the northern and western markets. There is at Weldon, also, an ice plant that supplies a large section of country. Great improvements are constantly being made in building and equipping school houses, in the standardiz ing of the teaching force, in the enrichment of the course of study, and in the attendance of pupils. Besides the ru ral public schools that are found in every neighborhood, there are successfully operated city graded schools in Weldon, Enfield, Littleton, Roanoke Rapids, Rosemary, and Scotland Neck. At Littleton, there is a college for the education of girls. At Enfield is the School of Technology for the colored race. HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY PART ONE. CHAPTER ONE, THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS. Previous to the coming of white people, the Tuscarora tribe, or nation, of Indians held sway over the whole of Halifax County. They were the dominant peoples in Eastern North Carolina before the Albemarle country was settled. It is difficult to make an estimate as to the numbers of Indians that occupied the territory of the county at the time of the first settlements in the State. Excavations in various sections have brought to light many remains of that extinct race, which lead to the opin ion that they were numerous along the banks of the Roa noke river and Fishing creek, but few and scattered in other places. Perhaps there were never more than a thousand in the county. The country possessed by the Tuscaroras lay mostly along the Roanoke river, on both sides, and on the Neuse and the Tar. Other tribes in Eastern North Carolina were under the control to a large extent of the Tuscaro ras and acknowledged their sway. Among these smaller tribes may be mentioned the Meherrins and the Yeopins, who lived in what is now Currituck, Camden, Pasquo tank, Gates, and Northampton counties; the Pungos, the Chowanokes, and Croatans in what is now embraced in the counties of Perquimans, Chowan, Washington, Tyr rell, Dare, and Hertford; and the Corees, the Matche- 4 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY pungos, and the Mattamusketts in Hyde, Beaufort, Car teret, and Pamlico. Besides these, there were several other smaller and less important tribes ; but none of them lived in Halifax County. It is remarkable that for more than fifty years after the first settlements of white people in North Carolina there was complete peace between the races. While there were dreadful Indian wars and massacres in Virginia and the New England colonies, peace reigned in North Caro lina between the white man and his red skin brother. This condition may be accounted for on the ground that the early settlers were regardful of the rights of the Indian, careful not to take their lands without recompense, pay ing them honestly for their furs, and abstaining from all acts of violence and hasty vengeance. As in other parts of North Carolina, the Indians of Halifax County were living in a savage state. Their culti vation of the soil was of the rudest kind. Hardly any agricultural products were raised. Only a little Indian corn and a few potatoes, pumpkins, and melons were grown. The entire county with few exceptions was an unbroken wilderness. The women did what little agri cultural work was done. The men hunted the deer, the raccoon, the buffalo, and the wild turkey. The dress of both men and women was of the simplest sort, consisting of skins and gorgeous headgear. Their homes were the wigwam made in the easiest way of poles covered with bark or skins of beasts that had been killed in the chase. In religion, they were pagan, believing in a Great Spirit that presided over the happy hunting ground of the be yond. Nothwithstanding the fact that these Indians were few and in the lowest savage state, they have left some im pression upon the county. Besides the relics that have been found in various localities, consisting of arrow heads and tomahawks of stone and specimens of pottery, they have left some names, such as Quanky, Chockayotte, Ke hukee, and Conocanara. THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS 5 It is not known how soon the Indians vanished from the history of the county, but it is fairly well conjectured that nearly all of them had departed before 1720. At the close of the Indian War in 1713, the remaining Tusca roras left the State and went to New York except the friendly Indians under "King Blunt," who were given lands in what is now Bertie County. It is thought that the last of the tribe in Halifax County left a few years later and joined their brethren in New York, where they united with the Iroquois, making the sixth nation of that powerful confederacy. Halifax County was thus clear of Indians at the time the white settlers began to come. An incident is related of those early times that shows some of the traits of the red men of that day. While the Tuscaroras were occupying the "Indian Woods" in Ber tie County, some of them often came to Halifax. On one of these trips, an Indian chief became desperately anxious for a bearskin blanket that belonged to Willie Jones, a prominent resident of Halifax. To make it known that he wanted the blanket, the chief told Mr. Jones that he had dreamed that the blanket was his, Indians then thought that dreams must come true, Mr, Jones readily made the chief a present of the blanket. Shortly after wards the chief came again to Halifax. Mr. Jones called the Indian to him and said, "I dreamed last night that you gave me a tract of land of 500 acres in the Indian Woods." "Ah ! Willie, you beat me. You may have the land, but let's not dream any more," replied the chief. It is not known whether or not Mr. Jones took advan tage of this gift. CHAPTER TWO. THE EVOLUTION OP THE COUNTY. About 1656, the first permanent settlements in what is now North Carolina were made on the eastern side of the Chowan river by emigrants from Virginia, By 1663, the population had increased to such an extent that the Lords Proprietors, to whom Charles II., king of England, had granted the territory of North and South Carolina, com missioned William Berkley, one of the Proprietors and, at the time, governor of Virginia, to appoint a governor for the colony of Albemarle. Berkley probably did not exercise his authority except by advice, for from a letter of the Proprietors to the new governor, William Drum mond, it is very clear that they themselves commissioned him. In this letter of instruction to Governor Drum mond the country is called the county of Albemarle, named in honor of the Duke of Albemarle, one of the Pro prietors, the famous George Monk, who was one of the Parliamentary generals under Cromwell, and, after the collapse of the commonwealth, was the chief instrument in the restoration of Charles II. to the throne, and was rewarded for his services by being appointed to the peer age. In 1722, on account of the increase of population west of the Chowan river, the Colonial Assembly with the sanc tion of the governor and his council organized Bertie pre cinct, which is described in the act of the Assembly as follows: "That that part of Albemarle County lying on the west side of Chowan river, being part of Chowan precinct, bounded to the northward by the line dividing this government from Virginia, and to the southward by Albemarle sound and Morotuck river, as far up as Welch's Creek, and then including both sides of said river THE EVOLUTION OF THE COUNTY 7 and the branches thereof, as far as the limits of this gov ernment, be, and the same is hereby declared to be erect ed into a precinct by the name of Bertie precinct in Al bemarle County," "Morotuck" river as given in the wording of the act will be readily recognized as the Roanoke, the ancient In dian name being used instead of the modern one. Welch's Creek is a few miles up the Roanoke from Plymouth. So it is easily concluded that the present county of Halifax was included in this early precinct of Bertie. In May, 1732, Governor Burrington and his council sitting at Edenton heard a "Petition of the south side of Roanoke river. Fishing Creek, and places adjacent," pray ing to have a new precinct erected on the south side of Roanoke river extending as far up as the mouth of Cono canara Creek. The petition was favorably acted on and the precinct formed and named Edgecombe. In October of the same year, the limits of Edgecombe precinct were more clearly defined so far as the portion bordering the Roanoke river was concerned. The eastern point was to be the Rainbow Banks, which is about two miles below the town of Hamilton, and the northem and western to be the southern line of Virginia. Two members of the governor's council, Nathaniel Rice and John Baptista Ashe, protested against the formation of new precincts by the governor and his council with out the concurrence of the popular branch of the Assem bly as being in derogation of its rights. The governor and the other members were equally as determined as those two for the formation of the new precinct. So two me morials went to the Board of Trade in London, one from Ashe and Rice and another from the governor and his council, each memorial setting forth the reasons for and against the erection of the precinct, and each referring to the other in no complimentary terms. From that time, for about ten years, the contention was kept up as to the le gality of the act of the council, and Edgecombe precinct was a name only, its representatives being denied seats in 8 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY the Assembly. Finally at the session of the Colonial As sembly in 1741, under the administration of Gabriel John ston, the act was confirmed and ratified, and the precinct of Edgecombe was thus established and allowed two rep resentatives in the Assembly. Many of the deeds recorded in Book I in the office of the Register of Deeds at Halifax, bearing dates between 1732 and 1741, locate the lands either in Bertie or Edge combe precinct as the views of the draughtsman dictated. The deeds also, whenever the county is mentioned, locate the lands in Albemarle County, which shows that what is now Halifax County, in 1732 was either Bertie or Edge combe precinct in the county of Albemarle. In 1738, an act of the Assembly changed the precincts into counties and so Edgecombe precinct became Edgecombe County. In 1746, the northern portion of Edgecombe, that is the portion north and west of the present Warren County line, was cut off and converted into the county of Gran ville, which remained intact until 1764 when a portion of it was formed into Bute County, and later in 1779 Bute ceased to be a county and Warren and Franklin were formed from its territory. Soon after the formation of Edgecombe County, the territory embraced in it was divided into two parishes for the convenience of the Episcopal clergy and the ad ministration of the affairs of the established church. The parish of St. Mary included all that portion of the county south of Fishing Creek and Kehukee swamp. North of Fishing Creek to the Virginia line and west to the Gran ville County line was called Edgecombe Parish. Upon the formation of Halifax County a few years later, as will be seen, the parish of Edgecombe became the county of Hali fax. il ¦¦.^, ./ ^3 ^J^ l/" n .,.::(j,Jlj„j.'. -t V":;^ -ift -\ •iIn, I'll 'i;!:>'i.u'l!l;/i;{ ¦3:' CHAPTER THREE. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. All of the early settlers of the northern portion of North Carolina came from or through Virginia. The reason for this is obvious. The coast of North Carolina being destitute of good harbors and known to be dan gerous to shipping, all immigrants for the colony of Al bemarle landed in Virginia and came to their destina tion by an overland route. It is also well known that many of the residents of the Old Dominion came to the southern colony as soon as the way was opened. At first the settlers clung to the shores of the sounds, the route being across the Albemarle sound to Mackey 's Ferry about ten miles east of Plymouth, thence to Bath and across the Pamlico to Newbern and on to Wilmington, At first all the territory in the colony of North Caro lina was divided into two counties, Albemarle and Clarendon, the former being all the country around the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds and along the rivers flow ing into them, and the latter the country on the Cape Fear river. About 1670, Albemarle was divided into the precincts of Carteret, Berkley, and Shaftsbury, named in honor of three of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina. Fifteen years later, during the administration of Governor Seth Sothel, these three were abolished, and the territory di vided into four precincts and given the names of Curri tuck, Chowan, Pasquotank, and Perquimans, When Bertie precinct was organized in 1722, the tide of immi gration had flown westward across the Chowan river and was finding places of settlement along the banks of the Roanoke and on both the south and north sides of Fishing Creek, 10 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY The first grants mentioned were in 1720, although one is referred to as early as 1714, These grants and deeds based thereon were located on the "south side of Morotuck river," which seemed to be the favorite locali ties for settlements, until some ten or fifteen years later when some grants were located on Fishing Creek, show ing the gradual movement of population southward. According to the records in the ofiice of the Register of Deeds at Halifax, the first grants of land in the pres ent limits of the county were on Roanoke river and near the mouths of Kehukee and Quanky creeks. The earliest that are on record were to William Jones on April 5, 1720, which lapsed and was regranted to William Pope, April 1, 1723. Quite close to that one in point of time was one to Philip Rayford, August 13, 1720, and to George Smith about the same time. The grant to William Pope is described as being "on the south side of Moro tuck river and on Tuckahoe marsh ;" those to Philip Ray ford and George Smith on Conoconara Swamp. There were many other grants located on Conoconara Swamp, Quanky Creek, Elk Marsh, Fishing Creek, In dian Creek, and Looking Glass Creek between 1720 and 1730 by Robert Long, Cornelius Pierce, Thomas Smith, John and Jacob Pope, Michael Aaron, and others. About ten years later grants by Edward Jones, Robert Hill, Joseph Hale, Henry Dawson, John Daw&on, John Cotton, Joseph J. Alston, Marmaduke Norfieet, and others were located in the same section. Other grants were about the same time, or a little la ter, made to the following, whose names are given be cause of the interest that may attach to some of them on account of the fact that their descendants are still living in the county: James Allen, Thomas Bradford, Thomas Bryant, James Bradley, Aaron Drake, William Drake, John Edwards, Charles Evans, John Green, Davie Hop per, James Hale, James Joyner, Thomas Jenkins, Na than Joyner, Benjamin Johnson, James Moore, Thomas Matthews, Ephraim Owen, Edward Powers, John Rog- EARLY SETTLEMENTS 11 ers, Edward Simmons, John Sojourner, James Saunders, Thomas Turner, James Thompson, Robert Wood, Wil liam Whitehead, Robert Warren, and others. In 1722, a colony of Scotch Highlanders came across the Roanoke from Virginia and settled in a great bend in the river, and gave their settlement the name of Scotland Neck, The exact locality is not known, but it was some where in that large belt of fertile lands between the Caledonia farms and Palmyra. It is also unknown as to how many families were in this colony ; but they were an industrious set of people, had built comfortable homes, and had raised several good crops of corn, to bacco, and wheat, when a tremendous freshet in the riv er swept away everything they had accumulated. Be coming discouraged, they abandoned the settlement and went to the Cape Fear country. From 1732 to 1741, the period of contest over the validity of the establishment of Edgecombe precinct, there was probably no county seat, the county courts be ing held in private homes. There is a deed on record proved at a court held for Edgecombe precinct at the home of Robert Long on Elk Marsh, August 15, 1732. It is reasonably clear that as early as 1732, people were living in all parts of what is now Halifax County. Immense grants of land had been located on Roanoke River north of Kehukee Creek as far north as the point where the old town of Gaston was situated. South and west of the Roanoke the tide of immigration had gone as far as the present town of Enfield and the neighbor hood of Aurelian Springs. The early settlers were es sentially an agricultural class and were looking for farming and grazing lands. They found them on the Roanoke near Looking Glass Run, Quanky Creek, Cono conara Swamp, Marsh Swamp, Chockayotte and Deep Creeks. Large farms were soon cleared in those sections and elegant country homes for those early times built. Enfield, which at the time was known as Huckleberry Swamp, was selected about 1745 as the county seat of 12 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Edgecombe County, By act of 1741, confirming the establishment of Edgecombe precinct in 1732, which had been changed from precinct to county in 1738, the Com missioners were empowered to levy a poll tax, not to ex ceed five shillings, for the purpose of erecting a court house. This was acted upon at an early date, and the building located at Huckleberry Swamp, which took the name of Enfield, probably in honor of old Enfield in England, This is the first mention of a to-wn in the coun ty. Enfield is, therefore, the oldest to-wn in the present limits of Halifax County, Soon after that event, by act of 1746, the judicial dis trict of Edgecombe, Northampton, and Granville was formed, and Enfield was made the place of meeting of the new court. This distinction for Enfield of being the seat of the judicial district continued until about 1758. The writs and subpoenas were all issued from Newbern, at the time the capital of North Carolina, but the courts were held at Enfield. In 1742, a settlement was made on Kehukee Creek which is of considerable note. This was a party of im migrants from Berkley, Va., led by William Sojourner. After establishing themselves in their new homes, they built Kehukee Baptist church, probably the oldest church of that denomination in eastern North Carolina. Some years later several Methodist churches were estab lished on Fishing Creek. Episcopal churches had been built some years before in several sections of Edgecombe County. It is well authenticated that religion and sobri ety characterized the early inhabitants of this section of North Carolina, An attendant upon a yearly meeting of one of the churches on Fishing Creek in 1755 has the following to say about the inhabitants of Edgecombe County: "The inhabitants were principally from Virginia and some from Pennsylvania and Jersey, They are thrifty and intelligent," He further says that the prevalent popu lation of the territory was English, the only settlement EARLY SETTLEMENTS 13 of another nationality being the one at Scotland Neck, which failed. The chief agricultural products of the times were rice, Indian corn, cotton in limited quantities, indigo, and to bacco. Naval stores, lumber, staves, pork, beef, hides, deerskins, furs, beeswax, and honey also formed a large part of the material wealth of the people. Tobacco, staves, and lumber were exported in considerable quan tities as early as 1746. CHAPTER FOUR, FORMATION OF THE COUNTY, As the population increased, it soon became apparent that the sections north and south of Fishing Creek in Edgecombe County were rivals of each other. It is prob able that the northern part of the county, that is, what is now included in Halifax, was the more populous, be cause it was the first settled. From a report given to the British Board of Trade, the population of Edgecombe County in 1758 was: whites, over 16, 1674: blacks, over 12, 1091, making a total of 2765. Allowing for children below the ages given in the enumeration, the total popu lation of Edgecombe County in 1758 was about 5000. As Edgecombe Parish, or the section north of Fishing Creek, was the more populous, it is probable that Hali fax County as organized in that year had nearly 3000 people living in its borders. In the latter part of the year 1757, Governor Arthur Dobbs and his council, sitting at Newbern, heard the pe tition of the residents of the parish of Edgecombe for the formation of a new county to be composed of all the territory of Edgecombe County north of Fishing Creek and Rainbow Banks on the Roanoke river. Early in the next year, the petition was granted and confirmed by the Colonial Assembly. A committee from the petitioners and the Assembly called upon Governor Dobbs and asked him to suggest a name for the new county and the place for the county seat. The governor immediately offered the name of Halifax, in honor of Charles Montague, Earl of Halifax, who was at that time President of the British Board of Trade, which had control of the commercial and economic affairs of the colonies, and Enfield was desig nated as the county seat. The name suggested was read- FORMATION OF THE COUNTY 15 ily accepted, but the acceptance of Enfield as the capital was delayed because it was thought that the location of the county town should be more thoroughly considered. Later, Enfield was rejected because it was too far from the center of the new county, and the village of Halifax was chosen instead. Thus the county of Halifax came into existence without much formality, the parish of Edgecombe becoming Halifax and the parish of St. Mary's Edgecombe. Halifax, which had thus drawn the prize of having been selected as the county seat, was an insignificant village. It is well authenticated that there were several families living on Quanky Creek near where it empties into the Roanoke as early as 1741. It was not until 1757, however, that this thrifty collection of homes on the Roanoke began to be thought of as a to-wn. In that year, by act of the Colonial Assembly, one hundred acres of land were purchased from James Leslie at the price of one hundred and fifty pounds and vested in a board of trustees to sell to expected residents in town lots, the proceeds of the sale to go toward paying Leslie for the land, to build a bridge over Quanky Creek, and the sur plus to go for town improvements. Four acres were to be reserved for municipal buildings. The town became of some importance in 1758, and when it was selected as the county seat, it immediately assumed a degree of thrift, that it maintained for a long number of years. Enfield having lost out in the contest for the county seat of Halifax, and losing also, on account of geographi cal reasons, the court house of Edgecombe, was destined further to lose the distinction of being the seat of the district court of Edgecombe, Northampton, and Gran ville. As soon as the county of Halifax was organized, the following year the district court was abolished, and the court house was purchased from Edgecombe County and moved to Halifax, or such portions of the building as could be used in putting up the new structure. The county, as established, embraced at first not only 16 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY what is now included in its boundaries but also the larg er part of what is now Martin County, The boundaries as defined at the time may be roughly stated as follows: Running from Rainbow Banks on the Roanoke river two miles below the town of Hamilton in a westerly direction to Fishing Creek about three miles above its junction with the Tar, thence up Fishing Creek to the Warren (then Bute) County line, and following that line to the Roanoke, It was a splendid domain for the making of a great county, about seventy-five miles long and averag ing about twenty broad. Thus established, Halifax entered the family of coun ties as the twenty-first on the list, Joseph Montford was elected first clerk of the County Court, and a full quota of officers was installed. To the Colonial Assembly, which met in Newbern in 1760, the county sent as its first representatives Alex ander McCulloch and Blake Baker. The town of Halifax, which had been made a borough, sent Stephen Dewey. These men at once took high rank in this legislative body of that early time. Being the first to represent the county in the legislative halls of the province, they have a distinction that others did not attain. Alexander McCulloch came to this county from Scot land and located a few miles westward of the town of Halifax. He married the daughter of Benjamin Hill of Bertie County, and was a successful farmer. He repre sented the county several times in the Colonial Assem bly and was afterwards for several years a member of the governor's council. Later he was deputy auditor of the province, having charge of the king's revenue, and still later he was clerk of the court of Halifax County. He was the ancestor of the family of McCuUochs that have rendered the name honorable. Blake Baker, the other represenative of the county in the Assembly of 1760, was the father of Blake Baker who was afterward attorney-general of the State and a judge. He himself was a lawyer and served on the judi- aHSzH w" >QH3 FORMATION OF THE COUNTY 17 ciary committee of the Assembly, It is interesting to know that the family of Bakers that came to Halifax County from Virginia were distinguished for several generations, and the heads of the family for four suc cessive generations were named Blake, The first Blake Baker came to the county from South Quay, Va, The second Blake, son of the first, was trained as a cabinet maker, but studied law and became prominent as a rep resentative in the Colonial Assembly from Halifax County, Of Blake the third, the attorney-general and judge, it is said that he was bred for the law and by dint of hard labor, for he was not brilliant, he came to be considered one of the ablest lawyers of his day. He left a son also named Blake. Joseph Montford, the first Clerk of the Court, was dis tinguished as a mason and citizen. A biography of him is given in Part II., "Builders of the County," Stephen Dewey, the representative from the town of Halifax, was a la-wyer and a man of considerable ability. He was a man of strong character. When he was elect ed, the town had just been made a borough and there was some delay in its official recognition. Governor Dobbs had failed to issue a writ for an election. The election, however, was held and Dewey elected. As soon as the question was raised as to the legality of the elec tion, Dewey promptly declined the office. The governor was then appealed to for the necessary writ and another election held, and Dewey was again elected. He served two terms. CHAPTER FIVE. FORERUNNERS OP THE REGULATOR MOVEMENT. In 1759, an incident occurred in Halifax County, which showed the resentment of the people of this section of North Carolina toward a system which was in operation at the time in the province. The spirit shown in that incident was the same as that which was exhibited some fifteen years later when North Carolina in convention at Halifax declared for the absolute independence of the colonies. For many years previous to the formation of Halifax County, there had been much dissatisfaction in North Carolina on account of the exactions of the quit-rent col lectors. The lands were not held in fee simple by the owners, but in addition to paying the regular price for the land they had to pay to the Lords Proprietors and later to the king an annual rental per acre. This was to be perpetual, for while a man might buy his land and get a deed for it, he was under obligation to the British Government to pay a yearly tax. There was no chance to escape this even though the settlers had paid the price asked for the land. The liberty loving North Carolinians did not like this system of feudalism, and often showed their resentment. When the Proprietors sold their claims to the crown in 1729, Lord Granville reserved his right and refused to sell. His share, one-eighth of the whole, was allotted to him wholly in North Carolina, His line ran through the old town of Bath and the present town of Snow Hill and westward to the Mississippi river, taking in a large slice of the northem part of the province, Halifax County fell to the share of Lord Granville, THE REGULATOR MOVEMENT 19 In the territory belonging to the king, the quit-rents were paid into the treasury of the province and helped to pay the expenses of the government. In Granville's district, however, the sums collected went into the cof fers of his lordship, and hence were an additional cause for restiveness, Francis Corbin and Thomas Bodley were the agents of Lord Granville for the collection of his rents, and had made themselves odious by extortions and other evil practices. Charges against them were being investigat ed by a committee of the Colonial Assembly, but the committee was slow in their deliberations and the As sembly adjourned without action. Irritated by this seeming indifference, the people in the district concern ed became aroused and threatened to take action them selves upon the guilty agents. Matters hastened to a crisis in Halifax and Edgecombe counties. In January, 1759, the feeling against Corbin and Bod ley became violently demonstrative ; and on January 24 a body of well mounted horsemen from Halifax and Edge combe rode all the way to Edenton, the home of Corbin and Bodley, and seized the two agents in the night time and conveyed them to Enfield, where they were com pelled to give bond for their appearance at the spring term of court. Having given bond and promising to dis gorge all illegal fees and taxes collected, they were re leased. Shortly afterward, Corbin and Bodley instituted suit against their abductors, and a number of them were put in jail at Enfield, Friends and sympathizers of the imprisoned men went to the jail one night and re leased them. Not content with emptying the jail, the rioters warned the agents that they had better drop the suits or worse results would follow. Accordingly the suits were dropped and Corbin and Bodley paid the cost. Some months later, Corbin, who had been a member of the council, was dismissed by Governor Dobbs and re moved from the agency by Lord Granville. This in a 20 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY measure quieted the restlessness in the colony, and es pecially in Halifax, A singular circumstance is that the Colonial Assem bly was severe upon the rioters, while the governor was more favorable to them. Governor Dobbs intimated in some of his correspondence that his opponents in the Assembly found it to their interests to make up with Corbin, against whom the greatest charge was laid, and change sides, and there may have been some truth in what he said, Dobbs was a hot-headed Irishman who was in continual warfare with the Assembly throughout his administration, and the solution of the reason that the Assembly took sides against the rioters is that Dobbs was for them. Colonel Saunders, in the Prefatory Notes to the Col onial Records, considers these rioters as the forerunners of the Regulators, who rose against the royal govem ment of the province a few years later. CHAPTER SIX. MUTTERINGS OP THE COMING STORM. For some years after the formation of the county, there is little to record except the mention of the rota tion bf the county officers and members of the Colonial Assembly. Joseph Montford continued to serve as clerk of the court until his death in 1776. He was also a rep resentative in the Assembly for several terms, thus serving in a double capacity for a few years. Until the adoption of the Constitution in 1776, the Colonial Assembly consisted of an upper house known as his Majesty's Council, composed of the Governor and a number of men appointed by the king, and the lower house made up of delegates elected by the people. The history of the different assemblies was one of continued strife between the governor and the lower house. To the lower house, Halifax County, as well as other coun ties of the State, sent its representatives. The follow ing is a list of the representatives sent by the county and the town of Halifax for the sixteen years before the Declaration of Independence in 1776: For the Borough of Halifax. Stephen Dewey 1760-61 Alexander Elmsley 1762-63 Abner Nash 1764-65 Joseph Montford 1766-75 For the County. Blake Baker and Alexander McCulloch 1760-61 Blake Baker and Joseph Montford 1762-65 John Bradford and William Branch 1766-68 Blake Baker and Alexander McCulloch 1760-61 Abner Nash and William Alston 1770-71 Benjamin McCulloch and John Alston 1772-74 Nicholas Long and Benjamin McCulloch 1775 22 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Abner Nash, who represented the to-wn and county at different times, afterwards became governor of the State, Halifax is not generally credited with having been the home of this Revolutionary governor, but it is quite clear that he lived in the town of Halifax for about twelve years before removing to Jones County, He o-wn- ed a farm on Roanoke river and considerable real es tate elsewhere in the county. While living in Halifax, he married the widow of the late Governor Dobbs, who was before her marriage with the governor. Miss Justina Davis, She died in 1771, before Governor Nash left the county, and is buried in the old churchyard at Halifax. Nash became Governor in 1780, but declined to serve longer than one year, William Tryon was sent from England in October, 1764, to act as deputy governor with Governor Dobbs. Tryon was a dashing soldier and soon became popular with the people of the province. Governor Dobbs died in April, 1765, and Tryon succeeded to the governorship. Almost immediately upon his accession. Governor Tryon found himself in the midst of a nation-wide excitement about the passage of the Stamp Act. Wilmington, Eden ton, and Newbern had their periods of excitement and clashes with the king's officers over the sale of the stamps. There were riots and disturbances in various parts of the province, Halifax County, being far re moved from the ports where the stamps were to be land ed for sale, was intensely interested, but made no par ticular demonstration. Governor Tryon found out the temper of North Carolina people when he asked John Ashe whether the people would continue their resistance to the Stamp Act duty and received as reply that "It will be resisted to blood and death," He, therefore, ad vised the repeal of the act, and it was done the next year. In 1768, the movement of the Regulators in Orange County produced considerable excitement and some sym pathy in Halifax, To show a kindred feeling with the MUTTERINGS OF THE COMING STORM 23 Regulators, in their struggle against extortions and ille gal taxes, the inhabitants of Halifax County petitioned the Governor and the Colonial Assembly that year to lighten the burdens under which they were living and to pass laws regulating the payment of fees for the is suance of all legal papers, the collection of quit-rents, and the payment of taxes. The petition was presented by William Branch, one of the representatives for that year, and shows some of the hardships that the people of that time endured. No action, however, was taken upon the petition. When Governor Tryon called upon the counties of the Province, in 1771, to furnish troops to march against the Regulators, Halifax County refused to furnish any men to fight their comrades and friends in Orange and Alamance. It is to the credit of the county that it sent no soldiers to aid the royal governor in his merciless warfare upon the inhabitants of that section of North Carolina. With his sympathizers from other counties, he marched against the Regulators and defeated them at the Battle of Alamance. At a meeting of freeholders in the to-wn of Halifax, August 22, 1774, John Webb was chosen moderator, and the following set of resolutions was unanimously adopt ed: 1. We declare our loyalty to King George III. 2, That the proposed alteration in the administration of the criminal law in certain cases in Massachu setts would be unconstitutional and oppressive, and deprive the accused of the privilege of being tried by a jury of his peers, and their indigent circum stances would prevent them from having their wit nesses transported to England, 3, That the Boston Port Bill was an illegal exercise of arbitrary power and an encroachment upon private property, 4, That the bill for changing the constitution of Massachusetts, now founded on charter, would be 24 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY injurious to the liberties of that province and of America in general, 5. That the Americans can only be legally taxed by those who represent them, and that it would be im practicable to send representatives across the sea. 6, That principles of honor, justice, and gratitude, as well as interest, should direct them on that occasion. 7, That all luxury and extravagance should be dis couraged in order that debts in England might be discharged; and that sheep husbandry and manu facture of wool be encouraged, and that every per son should apply himself with assiduity to his occu pation in life, 8, That exports to England be continued until all debts were paid, 9, That the trade with the British West Indies be continued, 10. That after the twentieth day of September next we import no article, directly or indirectly, from Great Britain, nor purchase from those who do import, until the duty on tea be taken off, except certain articles absolutely necessary, 11, That the East India Company has insulted Ameri cans in sending over tea contrary to the wishes of the Americans; and that we will use no more tea until the tax is taken off, 12, That unanimity and concord should be encouraged. 13. That, as Joseph Montford on account of indisposi tion cannot attend the meeting of the Assembly at Newbern, John Geddy be appointed in his place. 14. That the courts of law continue to exercise their jurisdiction. 15. That a copy of these resolves be inserted in the Newbern Gazette. From the tone of these resolutions it will be seen that the spirit of opposition to Great Britain was becoming defiant. Notwithstanding the fact that they disclaim any intention of being disloyal to the British Govern ment, they boldly assert that certain acts of the British ministry were arbitrary and tyrannical and that a peo- GRAVE OF JOSEPH MONTFORD, 1776, HALIFAX, N. C. MUTTERINGS OF THE COMING STORM 25 pie can be legally taxed only by a body in which they are represented. It is noteworthy that all extravagance and luxury was discouraged in order that debts in England might be paid. These sturdy yoemen of Halifax saw that a separation from England was coming, but they wanted, when it did come, to be free of debt to their enemy. Here was a tea party also when they declared solemnly that they would use no more tea nor import any article from Great Britain until the tea tax had been re pealed. This determined spirit of the people of Halifax was seen in all parts of the province, and when the first Pro vincial Congress met in Newbern on the 25th of August, 1774, there was strong evidence that North Carolina was taking a long stride toward independence. In that Con gress, Halifax County was represented by Nicholas Long and Willie (Wiley) Jones, and the town of Halifax by John Geddy. The Congress took wise precaution to guard the safety of the province by the appointment of committees of safety for the various counties. The com mittee for Halifax was as follows : Willie Jones, Nicholas Long, John Bradford, James Hogan, Benjamin McCul loch, Joseph John Williams, William Alston, Egbert Hay wood, David Sumner, Samuel Weldon, and Thomas Haynes, CHAPTER SEVEN. LEADING UP TO THE REVOLUTION. December 21, 1774, the Committee of Safety met in Halifax and elected Willie Jones chairman, and trans acted some business of special note. While in session, it was reported to the committee that Andrew Miller, a merchant in the town of Halifax, had refused to sign the resolutions that were passed by the freeholders, known as the Resolutions of the Association, A sub-committee was appointed to summon him before the full committee. Miller came and gave as his reason for not signing the resolutions that he had in his hands certain goods be longing to persons in England and that he could not ship these goods to England before the time given for the resolutions to go into effect. He stated that he did not think it just to sign as his creditors in England had no means to influence the repeal of the objectionable laws. His explanation was not satisfactory to the Committee, and by vote it was decided that a general boycott be instituted against Miller and whatever partner or part ners he might have. This was perhaps the first instance of the kind in the State, Governor Martin refers to these resolutions of boycott against Miller in a letter to Lord Dartmouth, It is evident that these Halifax patriots were determined that their resentment to the mother country for the unjust treatment of the American col onies should be forcible and unanimous, . A few words of explanation of the conduct of Andrew Miller in thus defying his fellow citizens may be neces sary. He was a Scotchman by birth and a man of much ability and good standing in his community. Several of his letters are given in full in the Colonial Records, in one of which he speaks of expecting Governor Mar- LEADING UP TO THE REVOLUTION 27 tin to spend ten days with him. The county records show that he was one of the executors of the will of James Milner, a prominent attorney of Halifax. As will be supposed. Miller became a Tory and soon afterwards fled from Halifax. His property was confiscated in 1779, and he was a refugee at Charleston at the close of the war. It is not known where he went from there when that city fell into the hands of the American army under General Greene at the close of the Revolution. James Milner, mentioned in connection with the Tory, Andrew Miller, was a leading lawyer of the Halifax bar during the period just before the outbreak of the war. He practiced in the courts of the province even as far away as Hillsboro. He died before the beginning of the Revolution, and the records show that he left consider able property. Several of his letters appear in the Co lonial Records. When the second Provincial Congress met in Newbern, April 3, 1775, Halifax County was represented by Willie Jones, Benjamin McCulloch, and Nicholas Long, and the town of Halifax by Joseph Montford and John Webb. Little was done at this session and an adjournment was taken to Hillsboro in August the same year. At this session, which met August 21, Halifax County was represented by Nicholas Long, James Hogan, David Sumner, John Webb, and John Geddy. The town of Halifax was represented by Willie Jones and Francis Nash, who was living at the time in Hillsboro. One of the important things done by this Congress was the di vision of the Province into five military districts and the appointment of a colonel for each district. The Revo lution had actually begun; the Battle of Lexington had been fought; the Mecklenburg Declaration of Indepen dence had been signed ; Washington had begun the siege of Boston; excitement was rife throughout North Carolina. The Congress also authorized the enrollment of five hundred minute men in each district. Nicholas Long 28 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY was chosen colonel of the Halifax department, which was composed of the counties of Halifax, Edgecombe, North ampton, and Granville. Henry Irwin was chosen lieuten ant-colonel and Jethro Sumner, major. For the county of Halifax, the following were chosen officers of the minute men that were to be raised: John Bradford. Colonel; William Alston, Lieutenant-Colonel; David Sumner, First Major; Egbert Haywood, Second Major. Congress allotted to the county the enrollment of three companies of the militia that had been authorized. The Hillsboro Congress took a step toward State sove reignty by the organization of a provincial govemment called the Provincial Council, which was to exercise the executive functions that had been wielded by the royal governor, who was now a refugee on a British gunboat at the mouth of the Cape Fear river, Cornelius Harnett, of Wilmington, was the chairman of this council and was thus the chief executive officer of the province, Halifax County was honored in having as a member of this Pro vincial Council Willie Jones, who was among the first elected by the Congress, To act on the Committee of Safety of Halifax district, James Leslie, John Bradford, David Sumner, and John Webb were appointed from the county. During these troublesome times, Halifax County was specially free from anything like dominating Tory in fluence. Only a few loyalists were found in the county, and these were kept under such surveillance that they exerted very little assistance to those who were trying to uphold the power of the king in North Carolina, Andrew Miller, as has been related, was a Tory, and John Hamilton, another merchant of Halifax, who, after his flight from Halifax in 1776, rose to high rank in the British army. Besides these two, there were a few others, who were obnoxious. All of them were watched by the patriots and arrested and brought before the Com mittee of Safety for punishment, if they made any move in behalf of the king. LEADING UP TO THE REVOLUTION 29 At a session of the Provincial Council, held at Smith- field, December 18, 1775, John Branch, sheriff of Halifax County, brought before that body Walter Lamb and George Massenbird, charged with certain crimes, and prayed punishment upon them as Tories. Lamb was remanded for trial at the next meeting of the Committee of Safety of Halifax County; but Massenbird seems to have experienced a change of heart and became penitent, under pressure, took the oath of allegiance to the Pro vincial Council, and was released. It is not known why they were taken to Smithfield, but the presumption is that they had taken an appeal from the decision of the Halifax Committee, CHAPTER EIGHT. HALIFAX COUNTY AND NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE, For Halifax County, North Carolina, and all America,, the year 1776 was momentous. The preceding year had come to a close with the Revolution just commencing. In the beginning, the resistance to British authority was only rebellion. Except the Mecklenburg Declaration of May 20, 1775, there had been no intimation anywhere in America of a desire to separate from the mother country. All the colonies declared, in effect, that they were fight ing for their rights as Englishmen and not to establish an independent nation. So firmly fixed in the minds of the people was the idea of loyalty to the British cro-wn that, when the Mecklenburg Declaration was passed and Captain Jack despatched with a copy to the Congress at Philadelphia, he was coldly received even by the North Carolina delegation and the copy of the Declaration pigeon-holed indefinitely. As time, however, passed and the struggle with Great Britain became more and more desperate, a change took place in the feelings of Americans toward England. Be fore even a year had passed, people all over the colonies began to think that the war, which had begun as a rebel lion was fast becoming a revolution. In no colony was the growing spirit of independence more pronounced than in North Carolina, and in no county was it more alive than in Halifax. Ominously did the year 1776 open in North Carolina. Everybody felt that the war now under way was to be long and fierce. Early in January, the British Com mander-in-Chief, whose headquarters were in Boston, sent his agents to various points in North Carolina to arouse the Tories and organize them for service against NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE 31 the patriots. In the central and western part of the province, there was a bitter struggle for several months between the two factions; but the Tories were finally defeated and forced to submit or fiee the country. In Cumberland County, where the Highland Scotch had settled, more than two thousand Tories assembled at Cross Creek and began their march upon Wilmington to meet a British army of invasion that was to make a landing on the Cape Fear. Before reaching Wilming ton, however, they were totally defeated by the patriots, on February 27, and dispersed. The leaders of the Tories in this Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, Colonels Donald and Allan McDonald, the latter being the husband of the famous Flora McDonald, were captured and brought to Halifax and confined in the jail there. Colonel Nicholas Long, in command of the militia of Halifax district, ap prehended other Tories that were trying to escape cap ture after the battle and were passing through Halifax and confined them in jail. The names of forty-six of these refugee Tories are given in the reports of these captures besides others whose names are not given. They were detained in jail in Halifax until paroled some months afterward. After the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, sentiment in North Carolina for independence rapidly crystallized. Although a British army of invasion and twenty- seven enemy gunboats were on the Cape Fear, the peo ple of the province set their faces steadfastly toward a separation from England. In Halifax County, the spirit of revolution was unchecked. So when the Provincial Congress met in Halifax April 4, 1776, it found a sympathetic people to give en couragement to its deliberations, Samuel Johnston, of Edenton, was elected president and James Green, Jr., secretary. Halifax County was represented by John Bradford, James Hogan, David Sumner, Joseph John Williams, and Willis Alston. Willie Jones was elected to represent the town of Halifax, but, having been ap- NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE 33 usurpations, and no hope remains of obtaining redress by those means alone which have been hitherto tried, your committee are of the opinion that the House should enter into the following resolve, to wit : "Resolved, that the delegates from this colony, in the Continental Congress, be empowered to concur with the delegates of the other colonies in declaring Independence and forming foreign alliances, reserving to this colony the sole and exclusive right of forming a constitution and laws for this colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a general rep resentation thereof) to meet the delegates of the other colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out." This resolution, the first of the kind in all America, was adopted unanimously on the twelfth of April, antedat ing the Virginia resolves of the same nature a little more than a month. As is well kno-wn, the Continental Con gress acted upon this resolution of North Carolina, which was well seconded by Virginia by a like resolve on May 15, and a national Declaration of Independence was passed July 4, 1776. April 14, the Congress appointed a committee, of which John Bradford was a member, to prepare a tem porary civil constitution for the purpose of changing from a provincial to a State government. The word "temporary" was used in the naming of the commit tee probably for the reason that the decisive step for in dependence had not yet been made. It is not kno-wn how far the committee proceeded in their deliberations, but no constitution was adopted at this session. Two men were appointed, by resolution, from each county, whose duty should be to receive, purchase, and procure firearms for the use of the troops. Egbert Hay wood and David Crawley were appointed from Halifax County. The militia of the province was reorganized with brigadier-generals in command of the districts. Allen Jones, who lived at Mount Gallant in Northamp- 34 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ton County, was appointed to command the troops of Halifax district. The following field officers for Halifax County were appointed: Willis Alston, Colonel; David Sumner, Lieutenant-Colonel; James Hogan, First Ma jor; Samuel Weldon, Second Major, Before adjournment, the Congress provided for the erection in the county of a powder mill, and appointed Willie Jones, Benjamin McCulloch, and Josiah Sumner to have control of it. At this Congress, one of the most important ever held in the province, a great deal of business was transacted, that relating to Halifax County, owing to its peculiar in terest, is given in full, — It was resolved that a declaration be published that the Congress was compelled to remove the prisoners, cap tured in the late campaign, into other provinces on ac count of the public safety. This action relieved the pressure in the Halifax jail, where there had been incar cerated a large number of Scotch Tories, A committee was appointed to look into the matter of the seizure at Newbern of a vessel belonging to John Hamilton, a Tory merchant of Halifax, William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn were appointed delegates to the general Congress to be held in Philadelphia, John Webb was added to the committee for the coun ty for procuring arms. Colonel Nicholas Long was di rected to collect all the arms that may have been taken from Tories and hold them ready to supply recruits for the minute men. Colonel Long was requested to proceed to the Virginia line, with a detachment of troops, and escort General Charles Lee, an officer of the Continental army, to Hali fax, He was passing through to inspect the troops in this State and in South Carolina and Georgia, It was ordered that 1500 minute men be enrolled in the districts of Edenton, Newbern, Halifax, and Wil mington, and proceed to Wilmington for the defense of NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE 35 the State. Halifax district was to furnish seven com panies; from Halifax 100 men, Edgecomb 100, Bute 100, and Northampton 75, All the militia of the colony was divided into six bri gades, one brigade in each district, to be commanded by a brigadier-general. All males between the ages of 16 and 60 were declared subject to military duty. Each county was to be organized into a regiment, which was to be subdivided into companies of not less than fifty men. Bills of credit were issued to the value of $1,000,000 for the purpose of defraying all expenses of armaments, bounties, and other contingencies that should occur dur ing the recess of Congress. It was resolved that "Any person or persons, who should attempt to depreciate said bills of credit by refusing to take the same in pay ment of any debt or contract, or by speaking or writing with the intention to lessen their credit and currency, shall be considered as inimical to America." The Provincial Council and the Committees of Safety were dissolved, and, in their stead, was substituted a Council of Safety to consist of one man to represent the Congress and two from each of the six districts, which should serve until the next meeting of the Congress, Willie Jones was chosen to represent the Congress and Thomas Eaton and Joseph John Williams to represent Halifax district. After a session of a month and ten days, the Congress adjourned on May 14 to meet again in Halifax Novem ber 10, 1776, unless sooner called together by the Coun cil of Safety, CHAPTER NINE. NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED IN HALIFAX. During the incipient stages of the Revolution, the town of Halifax was the scene of many stirring events. After the adjournment of the Provincial Congress, the Provincial Council of Safety, of which Willie Jones was a distinguished member, was in session in Halifax for more than a month during the summer of 1776. While in session on July 22, news of the passage of the Declara tion of Independence at Philadelphia was received. The Council immediately passed the following resolution : "Resolved, that the committees of the respective counties and towns in this State, on receiving the Declaration of Independence, do cause the same to be proclaimed in the most public manner, in order that the good people of this colony may be fully informed there of." While in session, July 25, the Council proceeded to change the test oath so as to make it conform to the character of the State as free and independent. By resolution, the preamble to the oath was made to say that the "Colonies are now free and independent states, and all allegiance to the British Crown is now forever at an end." On the 27th of the same month, the Coun cil set apart by resolution, in conjunction with the Com mittee of Safety of Halifax County, Thursday, August 1st, as a day for proclaiming the Declaration at the court house in Halifax. Accordingly, on that eventful day, a great concourse of people from all parts of the county met to witness the interesting ceremonies. The Provincial troops, that were in Halifax at the time, and the militia compa nies were all drawn up in martial array to give interest INDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED IN HALIFAX 37 to the occasion. At midday, Cornelius Harnett ascended a rostrum which had been erected in front of the court house, and even as he opened the scroll, upon which were written the memorable words of the Declaration, the en thusiasm of the immense crowd broke forth in one loud swell of rejoicing. Harnett proceeded with his task in measured tones and read the immortal document to the mute and impassioned multitude with the solemnity of an appeal to Heaven. When he reached the end and read the names of the signers, among whom were William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn, North Carolina's members of the Continental Congress, a spontaneous shout went up from hundreds of mouths, and the cannon from the fort at Quanky and the Roanoke boomed the glorious tidings that the Thirteen Colonies were now free and indepen dent States. Cornelius Harnett was lifted from the ros trum and carried through the streets upon the shoulders of the enthusiastic populace. It was a great day in Hali fax. Shortly before this great demonstration in Halifax, the following officers of the two companies of Halifax County militia had been appointed by the Council of Safety : James N. Parsons and Henry Dawson, Captains ; P. Cox and William Noblin, Lieutenants; Caleb Munday and John Champion, Ensigns. The total strength of the two companies as reported at that time was 105. At the same sitting of the Provincial Council of Safe ty at Halifax, the following singular order was made: John Webb, of Halifax County, was allowed to export 18,000 hogsheads of staves to any of the French or Dutch cities on giving bond that he would import the proceeds in salt, arms, ammunition, and other warlike stores. Other matters relating to Halifax County came up during the session and were disposed of. An order of special note is one appointing a committee to examine certain lead mines said to have been discovered on Big Fishing Creek. It is not known what was the final re- 38 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY port of this committee, but they made a partial report some time later in which they said that lead ore was not found in sufficient quantity to justify working. It was ordered also that the treasurer of the State pay Colonel Willis Alston fifty pounds to employ guards for the town of Halifax. John Hamilton, the Tory mer chant, came before the Council and asked an appeal from an order of condemnation of his vessel at Newbern shortly before that time. This was allowed. It is of in terest to know that Hamilton soon found out that the atmosphere of Halifax was not wholesome for Tories, and he fled to the British. As he was the most influen tial of the Tories that joined the British army in North Carolina, the following sketch is given of him : "Before the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, there lived in Halifax a prosperous and influential man by the name of John Hamilton, who came from Scotland, his native country, in early life. He engaged in merchan dising in Halifax and acquired a considerable fortune. Being well educated, he was naturally a leader, affable in manner and popular. "When the war of Revolution began, Halifax County, as a whole, was enthusiastically patriotic, and joined heartily in the movement for independence. It was a source of regret to the people of the county that so cap able a man as Hamilton refused to join in this move ment. His friends and neighbors urged and entreated him to enlist on the side of the colonies, but he stead fastly claimed allegiance to the king. He continued his business, however, in Halifax until toward the close of 1776, when Governor Caswell issued his proclamation, calling upon all residents of the State to take the oath of allegiance to North Carolina within sixty days or move to other scenes. This proclamation caused a great many Tories to leave the State, among whom was Ham ilton. He seems to have been the leader of the Tories even at that time, for he did most of the correspondence with Governor Caswell in securing passports for them. ESTDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED IN HALIFAX 39 He, with others, went to Jamaica; but soon afterwards returned to the states, joined the British forces in Geor gia in 1778, and assisted in the capture of Savannah that year. In the meantime, his property had been confiscat ed by the State government. "Hamilton's career as a soldier in the British army was brilliant. He entered the army as a private, but rapidly won distinction, reaching the rank of colonel in little more than a year's time. In one of his many bat tles with the patriots, he was captured by Colonel Wil liam Washington in 1780, but shortly afterwards ex changed and rejoined the British army. He was placed in command of the Royal North Carolina regiment in 1781 and commissioned to enroll in his regiment Tories of North and South Carolina and Virginia. He was with Lord CornwaUis, in his campaigns in the South, and sur rendered with him at Yorktown. "After the treaty of peace, he went to England and lived there for several years. Later, he was British con sul at Norfolk, Va., and often during his term of office there visited Halifax, and mingled freely with the friends he knew there before the outbreak of the war," CHAPTER TEN, THE BIRTHPLACE OP THE STATE CONSTITUTION. While the Provincial Council of Safety was in session at Halifax, a resolution was adopted calling upon the people to elect, on the 15th of October, delegates to a Congress appointed to assemble at Halifax, November 12, 1776. This Congress was not only to make laws, but also to form a State constitution, and can, with proprie ty be called the First Constitutional Convention of North Carolina, The elections were held throughout the State in accordance with the call. The following were elected to represent Halifax County in the Congress and Conven tion: John Bradford, James Hogan, Willis Alston, Sam uel Weldon, and Benjamin McCulloch. For the town of Halifax, Willie Jones was elected. During the session, James Hogan, having been elected Colonel of the seventh regiment of continental troops, tendered his resignation as delegate for the county, and Egbert Haywood was elected to the vacancy. The Convention met, as called, November 12th, and proceeded to organize. Richard Caswell was elected President of the body; Cornelius Harnett, Vice-Presi dent; James Green, Jr., Secretary; and James Glasgow, Assistant Secretary. Willie Jones and Benjamin Mc Culloch were members of the committee of privileges and elections. John Bradford was a member of the com mittee to settle civil accounts of the State. This convention was a notable body. Among its mem bers were some of the most distinguished men of the State. In the list of members, there are such names as Maurice Moore, Cornelius Harnett, Archibald McLean, Phileman Hawkins, Thomas Jones, Richard Caswell, Thomas Person, David Caldwell, Waightstill Avery, Al- From fhe painting by Gilbert Steicart George Washington BIRTHPLACE OF STATE CONSTITUTION 41 len Jones, William Hooper, Griffith Rutherford, Joseph Hewes, Willie Jones, Abner Nash, and many others, who have rendered the State illustrious service in peace and in war. With such a galaxy of heroes, the State could well make its beginning- Soon after assembling, the committee on Bill of Rights and Constitution was appointed, Halifax County was honored with two members of this committee of twenty- eight, Willie Jones and James Hogan, The committee was composed of the ablest men in the convention. One of the first matters of business was the admission of Watauga, in the district of Washington, Tenn., as a county. This was done by motion of Willie Jones and carried by a vote of 153 to 1. In waiting were the dele gates from the new county, Charles Robertson, John Carter, and John Wade, and they were admitted and the oath administered to them. Some days later, John Se vier, afterwards renowned in the history of the State and nation, another delegate from Watauga, arrived, and was admitted. James Hogan was appointed to admin ister the oaths. John Bradford and Willie Jones were appointed to ex amine the accounts of Colonel Nicholas Long, rendered at the last session of the Congress. The committee shortly afterwards reported that the accounts were cor rect and that the allegations against him were ground less. It is unknown just what these charges against Col onel Long were, but the inference was that he was charged with misappropriation of funds or extravagance- It is certain that the committee, of which Bradford and Jones were members, made a searching investigation and declared that Colonel Long was blameless. By resolution, it was ordered that a battalion of vol unteers be dispatched to the aid of South Carolina, which was, at the time, threatened by an invasion of British troops. Samuel Weldon was appointed major of this battalion and two of the lieutenants were Josiah Pearce and John Champion, of Halifax. Later, Josiah 42 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Pearce resigned, and Albritton Jones, of Halifax was ap pointed to succeed him. In the records of the meetings of this convention, sev eral orders were entered relative to a magazine for the storage of ammunition for the State troops. It was probably located in the town of Halifax at or near the present spring of that name. From this magazine sup plies were distributed to the troops operating anywhere in eastern North Carolina. Additional regiments for the Continental line were ordered by the Congress, and James Hogan was appoint ed Colonel of one of these regiments, that was raised largely in Halifax County, The following men from the county were appointed officers in these regiments that were to be raised : Henry Dawson, Captain ; William Nob lin, First Lieutenant; Jacob Barrow, Second Lieutenant, James Hogan was shortly afterwards assigned to the command of the seventh regiment of Continental troops. Henry Montford, of Halifax, asked permission to ship staves to the West India Islands, and his request was granted. December 6th, Thomas Jones, of Chowan County, Chairman of the Committee on Bill of Rights and Con stitution, reported that the committee was ready to make its report. He read the report to the Convention, which body, by motion, appointed December 18 for its consideration. Automatically, therefore, the Constitution came up for discussion on the eighteenth. Thomas Jones, of Chow an, and Willie Jones, of Halifax, are generally credited with being the authors of the Constitution as reported to the Convention that day. They were, therefore, ardent champions of its adoption. Very little opposition was developed as the document as written seemed to meet the requirements. The paper was read paragraph by paragraph, discussed pro and con, and adopted after amendments and changes were made. An engrossed copy was sent to James Davis, the State printer, at New- BIRTHPLACE OF STATE CONSTITUTION 43 bern with directions to print and distribute a number of copies in each county. After the adoption of the Constitution, the Congress went into the election of State olficers to serve until the next meeting of the General Assembly, which was, thereafter, to elect all officers of the State government. The following were elected: Richard Caswell, Governor; James Glasgow, Secretary of State; and the following Counsellors of State, — Cornelius Harnett, Thomas Per son, William Day, William Haywood, Edward Starkey, Joseph Leech, Thomas Eaton. By the same Congress, the militia of Halifax County was reorganized with the following officers: Willis Alston, Colonel; Samuel Weldon, Lieutenant-Colonel; John Geddy, First Major; John Wheaton, Second Major. Having completed the task before it of drafting a Con stitution for the new State and making laws and regu lations, needed durihg that time that tried men's souls, the Congress and Constitutional Convention adjomed a few days before Christmas, thus giving to the world a gift, which has been a blessing to a large part of civili zation. CHAPTER ELEVEN. EARLY DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION. To give anything like a connected account of the serv ices and activities of Halifax County soldiers during the Revolution is impossible for the reason that the rosters of the Continental line do not give the counties from which the companies were enlisted. The militia of the county was, also, embraced in the rosters of the dis trict of Halifax, and it is not at all clear what counties of the district should be credited with certain troops. Two companies from the county, those of Captains Par sons and Dawson, numbering 51 and 54 respectively, are mentioned in the reports as being with General Ashe at Wilmington in July, 1776. It is possible, therefore, to give in only a general way the part which Halifax took in winning on the battlefield the independence of the State. It is quite sure that these companies went with General Ashe the next year, and were with him in the campaign in Georgia when that State was conquered by the British. In the early part of 1777, a recruiting camp, called Camp Quanky, was opened at Halifax, for the purpose of recruiting the older regiments and for forming the three battalions ordered by the Congress. Colonel John Williams was in command of the camp and, according to the reports sent in from time to time, he was successful in enlisting the required number of men in a compara tively brief time. The older regiments were brought up to the required number of men, who were quickly dispatched to the front. During the summer of 1777, the cause of liberty and in dependence was hanging in the balance, Washington's army in the North had dwindled to a few thousand men. EARLY DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 45 and these were poorly equipped and supplied with arms. In great contrast to the condition of the American army was that of the British which had landed at New York, in July, numbering thirty thousand men, and was seeking to attack and destroy Washington's little command. Washington had sent out urgent appeals for reinforce ments to all the states. Governor Caswell issued orders for North Carolina's quota of Continental troops to hurry to Washington's assistance. Halifax was made the place of rendezvous for all these troops before setting out for the north. Here about four thousand men assembled. In July, under the command of General Francis Nash and with such able leaders as Colonels Hogan, Sumner, Bun combe, and Davidson, the troops set out, and, after march ing about five hundred miles, joined Washington at Phila delphia just in time to assist in the disastrous battles of Brandywine and Germantown, in which General Nash and Colonel Buncombe were killed besides a considerable number of the rank and file. It is interesting to note that Halifax jail appears to have been at this time the general prison for Tories captured at different places in the State. Shortly before the estab lishment of Camp Quanky, the celebrated Flora McDonald spent some time in Halifax in the interest of her hus band, Allan McDonald, who was captured at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge and confined in the Halifax jail. It is said that, during his confinement, she exhausted her means in trying to effect his release, which she finally succeeded in accomplishing. In the spring of 1777, the Tory hydra began to show itself in a limited way in Halifax County. The county records of that date show that the jail was filled with persons charged with disaffection to the patriot cause, Willie Jones, in a letter to Governor Caswell, speaks of these prisoners as being very obnoxious. It is worthy of note that these Halifax County patriots were vigilant enough to prevent anything like organized bands of ma rauders among the Tories, and, as soon as a Tory showed 46 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY his hand, he was promptly arrested and put into a dry place in jail. In Edgecombe County, there had been considerable trouble with the Tories. A marauding party of them had made an attack upon Tarboro, but Colonel Irwin, of that county had forestalled them and disarmed the whole crowd, forcing them to take the oath of allegiance. It is quite clear that some of these men who were giving trouble in Edgecombe had fled from Halifax. John Hamilton and Andrew Miller had left the county and State some months before. Other Tories had gone with them, and it was thought that Toryism was at an end; but William Brimage, a man of considerable influ ence in Halifax, in 1777, Ibecame outspoken in his alle giance to the British crown and made himself especially obnoxious. Governor Caswell issued a special order for his arrest at all hazard. General Allen Jones, in command of the brigade of the Halifax district, in one of his reports, speaks of William Brimage as one of the leaders of the cut throats. He fled from Halifax and was arrested near Edenton and lodged in jail there. His wife is buried in the old churchyard at Halifax. With him ended Toryism in Halifax County. Thereafter, there were no Tories in Halifax. With Toryism thus stamped out, Halifax County passed the remainder of the year 1777 with very little excite ment. The only other thing of note was the session of the court of oyer and terminer, held by Judge Samuel Spencer in the summer of that year. In a letter to the governor. Judge Spencer complained that he had great diflficulty in securing persons to act as clerk of the court and State's attorney. This was one of the few sessions of that court that was held in Halifax during the Revolu tion, owing to the disordered condition of the country. In the fall of 1777, an incident occurred that is worthy of mention. Lieutenant John Allen, a gallant soldier in the battalion of Continental troops from Halifax, per formed a heroic feat in bringing from Baltimore to New- EARLY DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 47 bern $2485.50, which was to be used to pay off soldiers. Allen was selected by John Penn, member of the Conti nental Congress from North Carolina, for this special duty. He secured a swift horse, and, with the money concealed about his person, made the perilous trip through British and Tory lines to Newbern and delivered the money into the hands of Governor Caswell. Lieu tenant Allen was highly commended by his superior offi cers for this act of heroism. The report of this heroic act is found in the Colonial Records. CHAPTER TWELVE. HALIFAX COUNTY AND THE AMERICAN NAVY. In the summer of 1775, during the excitement incident to the war then going on, John Paul Jones, who after wards won the title of "father of the American navy", came to Halifax and sojourned there for more than a year. He had, prior to that time, varied experiences, and had met with many misfortunes. In early manhood, he had gone from his native country, Scotland, as a sailor, had been master of a trader, had killed a man in self- defense during a mutiny of the sailors, and had to flee from the avengers of blood on account of that act. Com ing to America, he had made his way to Virginia, and finally he found himself in Halifax, One moming, as the story is told, Willie Jones came down the street from his home, the Grove House, and saw sitting in front of the Eagle Hotel a stranger. As was the custom of Mr. Jones, he came up to the stranger and accosted him. "Where is your home?" asked Mr. Jones. "I have none," replied the other. "What is your name ?" inquired the questioner. "I have none", replied the disconsolate stranger. Mr. Jones became interested, and, after a few more questions, succeeded in getting the stranger to tell him something of himself. He was invited to the Groves, and later, on account of his ready wit and gentlemanly bearing, became an adopted member of the family. The stranger was no other than the afterwards celebrated John Paul Jones. His name was John Paul, but, in com pliment to Willie Jones, he assumed the name of Jones, Through the influence of Willie Jones, Joseph Hewes, a member of the Continental Congress from North Caro- HALIFAX COUNTY AND AMERICAN NAVY 49 lina, became acquainted with John Paul, probably during the Constitutional Convention in Halifax, and later nominated him for the position of Captain of the gun boat. Ranger, which position was tendered him by vote of Congress, John Paul accepted the position tendered him, and never again was a visitor to Halifax, but he re tained his admiration of Willie Jones even among the stirring scenes he later witnessed. As commander of the Ranger, John Paul Jones per formed some daring deeds of valor in British waters and even upon British soil. He was received in France as a hero, and the French government, in the spring of 1779, fitted out a squadron, with the Bonhomme Richard as the flag ship, and put Jones in command. On the 23rd of September, 1779, the British frigate, Serapis, was en countered, and the Bonhomme Richard, at once, pre pared for action. The following account of the battle that followed is taken from that of James Fenimore Cooper, who pronounced it "The most bloody and obsti nate battle in the annals of naval warfare." While not a quotation from Cooper, the account that follows is in accordance with the facts as brought out by him. When Jones sighted the enemy, it was about noon, and he at once ordered every stitch of canvas to be set. He did not, however, come in fighting position with the enemy until about seven o'clock in the evening, at which time objects on the water could be only dimly discerned, but the bright moon assisted the Americans, When within pistol shot, the Richard hurled a broad side at the British ship, and the fight was on. The Sera pis was a new ship, built in the best manner, and with a much heavier armament than the Richard, She was commanded by Captain Richard Pearson, of the British navy, a naval officer of experience and courage. In the early part of the action, the superior sailing qualities of the Serapis enabled her to take several ad vantageous positions, which Jones was unable to prevent. Not long after the fight began, many of the 18-pound 50 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY shot of the Serapis had entered the hull of the Richard below the water line, and she began to leak in a threat ening manner, Jones ran the Richard up alongside the Serapis and prepared to board, but the flag pole of his ship was shot away and the Stars and Stripes dropped into the sea. Just before the boats closed, however. Captain Pear son, of the Serapis shouted above the roar of the battle to Jones : "Has your ship struck her colors ?" Jones thundered back his defiant and famous reply: "I haven't begun to fight yet". From the beginning to the ending of the battle, there was not a man on board the Richard, who was ignorant of the superiority of the Serapis, The crew of the Sera pis were picked men, whereas the Richard's crew con sisted of a part of English, French and American sailors, and a part of Maltese, Portuguese, and Malays, the latter contributing by their want of naval skill and knowledge of the English language to depress rather than encour age any reasonable hope of success in a combat under such circumstances. The terror of the scene was soon heightened by both vessels taking fire ; but the fight continued with unabated fury, A rumor ran through the crew of the Richard that Jones had been killed, A frightened sailor ran up to haul down the flag. The flag had been shot away and Jones arrived upon the scene in time to knock the coward down and force him to continue the fight. At last the mainmast of the Serapis began to totter to its fall, her fire slackened, and about midnight the British flag was struck, and Captain Pearson surrendered his sword to Jones. So terribly was the Richard cut to pieces that it was found impossible, after the fight, to get her into port, and she sank soon after. Jones took his prize to Holland, and it is no exaggeration to say that the whole world was astonished at his bravery and success. He was re ceived in Paris with the greatest demonstrations of HALIFAX COUNTY AND AMERICAN NAVY 61 honor and respect. On one side of the English Channel it was "the pirate Jones," and on the other, "Jones, the hero." The King of France gave him a gold mounted sword and asked the consent of Congress to decorate him with the Order of Military Merit, Congress voted him its thanks and a gold medal. Later, he was made a Chevalier of France, Jones, now a hero of reno-wn, remained in France until the early part of 1781 when he returned to America and was placed in command of the frigate America, He set forth his ideas of a na-vy, which the government was slow in adopting. He went again to France in 1783, where he remained for four years, and retumed to Amer ica in 1787, The next year Jones entered the service of Russia, but was later humiliated by the jealousy of the Russian officers and compelled to resign his command. Returning to France, he remained in retirement during the rest of his life. He died July 18, 1792, in the forty- fifth year of his age. His remains were buried in Paris, and, by neglect, the burial place was lost. In 1905, however, the remains were discovered by General Horace Porter, the American Ambassador to France, and transported to America and consigned to rest at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, There is a monument to the "Father of the American Na-vy" in Potomac Park, Washington, D. C, CHAPTER THIRTEEN. PASSING EVENTS. Very little of historical importance occurred in Hali fax during the years 1779 and 1780. Stirring events, however, in which troops from the county played a con spicuous part, were transpiring elsewhere. "Mad" An thony Wayne, in one of the most daring and extraordi nary bayonet charges in all history, captured Stony Point on the Hudson river from the British, July 15, 1779. Major Hardy Murfree, of Hertford County, with a bat talion of North Carolinians, some from Halifax, led a portion of the attacking columns and performed heroic service. Horatio Gates was disastrously defeated at Camden, S. C, by the British under CornwaUis, and Ben jamin Lincoln surrendered Charleston. In both of these disasters, soldiers from Halifax participated with signal though unavailing bravery. At Charleston, James Hogan, who had shortly before been promoted to the rank of brigadier-general by the Continental Congress, fell into the hands of the British, was imprisoned at Haddrell's Point, S. C, and there soon afterward died. With him was captured, also, the regi ment of 600 men he had enlisted at Halifax the year be fore. It is said of General Hogan, whose home was near where Hobgood is now, that he refused the offer of a conditional parole because his men were not offered the same favor and preferred to remain and bear the hard ships of prison life with them. , His grave is somewhere in South Carolina, but the exact location is unknown. At Camden, the American army was almost anni hilated by the veteran troops under Earl CornwaUis. PASSING EVENTS 53 General Gates fled from the field early in the fight and left the doomed men to destruction, Hal Dixon's regi ment of North Carolinians, some of them from Halifax, and some Marylanders, were the only troops to hold their ground to the last, retreating in good order from the field only when it was seen that all was lost. General Isaac Gregory, of Camden County, led the Edenton bri gade, among whom were some Halifax militia, but he was wounded and forced to retreat. Two sessions of the General Assembly were held in Halifax during 1779, the first beginning January 19th and ending February 13th, and the second extending from October 18th to November 10th. In both of these sessions, the County was represented in the Senate by Orondates Davis and in the House of Commons, the first session, by Egbert Haywood and John Whitaker, and the second session by Willie Jones and Augustine Willis. The town of Halifax was represented in the House of Com mons, both sessions, by Henry Montford. Not much legislation affecting the county was enacted. About the only thing of note was the petition of the people of the lower end of the county to be detached from Halifax and united to Edgecombe. There appears to have been no objection to this on the part of the Hali fax members, John Whitaker, in response to the peti tioners, introduced the bill for this slice of Halifax to be transferred to Edgecombe, and the generous deed was done. By vote of the Assembly, the following officers of the Halifax regiment of State Militia were elected : John Whitaker, Colonel; James Allen, Lieutenant-Colonel; John Branch, First Major; William Weldon, Second Major. Halifax, being at the time the real capital of North Carolina, was well guarded by the militia of the State. Several regiments were continuously held in camp in and around the town. The jail was also still crowded with military prisoners. In June, 1779, General Allen Jones, in command at Halifax, in a report to the gov- 54 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ernor, said that he was compelled to give the prisoners all the liberty possible because of the crowded condition of the jail and because he feared an epidemic might break out among them. At the session of the General Assembly of 1780, the following officers of the Halifax regiment were recommended to the governor for appoint ment and were accordingly commissioned: James Allen, Colonel; John Branch, Lieutenant-Colonel; William Wel don, First Major; Thomas Scurlock, Second Major. The year 1781, was a stirring one for Halifax County and its people. Several events, occurring elsewhere, but participated in by Halifax County men, deserve more than a passing notice. At the Battle of Co-wpens, South Carolina, January 17, 1781, Colonel Tarleton, with a command of British regu lars, was signally defeated by General Daniel Morgan, of Virginia, with a small body of Continental troops and a few battalions of North Carolina militia. In this con flict, Halifax County soldiers performed heroic service. Nicholas Long, a kinsman of Colonel Nicholas Long and a gallant soldier in the Halifax battalion of Conti nental Cavalry, was with Colonel William Washington in his celebrated chase of Tarleton from the battlefield, in which Tarleton received a sabre cut in the hand admin istered by Colonel Washington. In the pursuit Long be came separated from his comrades and found himself assailed by two British troopers. He wheeled and took the back track, hotly pursued by the dragoons, who fired upon him but missed their aim. In the chase, the troopers became separated, and Long observing it, suddenly turned upon his pursuers, and, with his sabre, unhorsed both men in detail and held them at his mercy until as sistance arrived. In Morgan's race -with CornwaUis for the Catawba river and in Greene's retreat to the sheltering waters of the Dan, Halifax County troops performed their part. When Greene recrossed the Dan and fought CornwaUis to a standstill at Guilford Court House, men from Halifax PASSING EVENTS 55 were in the thickest of the attacks and counter attacks. When the British army retreated to Wilmington about the first of April, 1781, it was clearly demonstrated that North Carolina had beaten the hitherto invincible Corn waUis and was sending him to his doom. CHAPTER FOURTEEN. THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF HALIFAX. After the retreat of CornwaUis from Guilford Court House to Wilmington in March, 1781, it was a matter of keen speculation as to what that discreet and intrepid offi cer would next undertake. Patriot leaders all over the State had their attention focused upon him and were en deavoring to forecast his next move. Lingering only three weeks in the city by the sea to rest his troops from their arduous campaign, CornwaUis proceeded north ward to Virginia in response to orders he had received from the British Commander-in-chief in New York. General Greene, instead of pursuing the defeated Brit ish, turned aside and led his army into South Carolina in order to expel the British from that State. CornwaUis was, therefore, left to march unopposed, across the State. Only a few regiments of State Militia were in arms, and they were busy watching the movements of the Tory forces that had begun to mobilize. At Halifax, as soon as it was known that CornwaUis was marching northward, there was great excitement among the people and hurried preparation among the soldiers stationed there. General Allen Jones, in command of the troops of the Halifax district, -with Governor Nash, was holding his forces in readiness to attack the invading enemy if an opportunity should be presented. General Jones had his headquarters in Halifax and the regiments from Northampton, Edgecombe, Warren and Halifax were encamped along Quanky in daily expectation that the enemy would appear. About the first of May, it was known that the British had left Wilmington and were several days on the march. Scouting parties were sent out from Halifax to ascertain owoma KCO W H I?HH nHHE-i oKO HMEH SUMMARY 145 Abner Nash 1780 — 1781 WiUiam R, Davie 1798—1799 John Branch 1817—1820 Hutchings G, Burton 1825—1827 W. W. Kitchin* 1909—1913 (?Elected from Person Co.) The following Comptrollers : John Craven 1784 — 1808 James Grant 1827 — 1834 The following Attorney-Generals were elected from Hal ifax County : John Haywood 1791 — 1794 Hutchings G, Burton 1810—1816 WUIiam Drew 1816—1825 John R, J, Daniel 1835—1840 Spier Whitaker 1842—1846 B, F, Moore 1848—1851 The county has furnished two judges of the Supr'eme Court of North Carolina : Joseph J. Daniel 1832—1848 Walter Clark 1889— Clark has been chief-justice since 1903, Five judges of the Superior Court have been chosen from Halifax: John Haywood 1794—1800 Joseph J, Daniel 1816—1832 Walter Clark 1885—1889 Spier Whitaker 1889—1894 W, R. Cox 1877—1879 Halifax County furnished four brigadier-generals to the Confederate service. 146 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Date of Rank L, O'B, Branch (killed at Antietam) Nov. 16, 1861 Junius Daniel (kiUed at Spottsylvania) Sept, 1, 1862 Lawrence S, Baker July 23, 1863 William R. Cox May 31, 1864 David C, Clark held the rank of brigadier-general in the State mUitia and received his commission from the State government. In the Revolutionary war, the county furnished one brigadier-general in the Continental service, James Ho gan. The "Father of the American Navy", John Paul Jones, was appointed Captain of the Ranger while resid ing at Halifax. The last soil held by CornwaUis, in North Carolina, was in Halifax just before his retreat to Virginia where he was soon bottled up and captured. At the Eagle Hotel both President Washington and General Lafayette were entertained with elaborate cere mony at different times. The Confederate iron-clad, the Ram Albemarle, was built near Scotland Neck, the first and only one built in the State. Halifax has furnished more Governors (five) than any other county in the State ; more attorneys-general (six) ; more members of Congress (fifteen) ; more brigadier- generals (six) than any other county. Soldiers from Halifax have always stood in the front line. They were among the first to march to Washing ton's aid in 1776, among the first at Bethel, among the foremost at Gettysburg, and the last at Appomattox. There are twelve townships, as foUows: Halifax, Wel don, Roanoke Rapids, Littleton, Conoconara, Scotland Neck, Roseneath, Butterwood, BrinkleyvUle, Fau- cette. Palmyra, and Enfield. There are ten towns, Wel don, Halifax, Enfield, Scotland Neck, Roanoke Rapids, Rosemary, Littleton, Hobgood, Palmyra, and HoUister. PART TWO PART TWO. BUILDERS OP THE COUNTY. Unknown are most of the real builders of the county. The men, who with axe and hoe, smote the forests and turned a wilderness into towns, farms, and gardens, lie mostly in unremembered graves. Few of the thousands, who wrought unselfishly in carving the county from the heritage of the woods, achieved distinction. Very few can be mentioned in a story of their deeds. Pity it is that the pages of the Recording Angel are not accessible to the historian; for many a hero and heroine, whose deeds are, doubtless, recorded in letters of gold, will have to be passed by with not even a word. Such is the fate of the great masses of humanity that come into exis tence, play for a brief time upon the world's stage, and pass off to an eternal oblivion. 'Tis but a few that catch the ear and attract the eye of men. In this part of the work, brief sketches of those who have had to do with the making of the county are given. Some, perhaps, who belong in the number, are not given for the reason that their footprints have become so dim that they could not be traced. Only those who have made a distinct impression upon the records of the county have been selected. The "uncrowned kings," who toiled and delved and dropped into unmarked graves, must be necessarily omitted. Even many of those who held rank and won honor among their fellows must go unrecorded. I JOSEPH MONTFORD. Among those who became prominent about the time of the formation of the county was Joseph Montford, 150 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY who was born in England in 1724 and came to North Carolina in early life. He received a liberal education in his native land before coming to America, an asset which was worth much to him in shaping his career in the land of his adoption. Coming to North Carolina about 1750, Montford lo cated on the north bank of Quanky Creek in what after wards came to be called Halifax. Before Halifax County was formed and while the territory north of Fishing Creek was called Edgecombe Parish, he was elected Clerk of the Court of Edgecombe County and served in that capacity at Enfield, the County seat of Edgecombe, un til Halifax County was organized in 1758, when he was elected Clerk of the Court of Halifax and was re-elected each year until his death. In addition to his duties as Clerk of the Court, he was called upon to serve in other capacities. When the Hali fax Judicial District was formed in 1760, Montford was chosen Clerk of the District Court. He was, alsio, one of the commissioners of the to-wn of Halifax in 1764, and member of the Colonial Assembly in 1762, 1764, 1766, 1767 and 1773. He was chosen Colonel of the Halifax militia before the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, and, in addition to other duties, he was made treasurer of the Northern Counties of the province in 1764. While serving in this last capacity, he came in direct antagonism with Governor Tryon, who was at the time engaged in his war with the Regulators. Tryon was organizing and equipping his army ready for his cam paign against the rebels of Orange County and needed money to pay his soldiers. He drew drafts upon Colo nel Montford, without authority of the Assembly, which Montford refused to pay. Tryon blustered and threat ened, but his drafts were not paid until the Assembly au thorized their payment. An unusual honor came to Colonel Montford in March, 1772, when he received a commission from the Duke of Beaufort, Grand Master of Masons of Great Britain, ap- BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 151 pointing him Provincial Grand Master of and for North America. So far as is known, this was the first and only time such a signal honor was bestowed. This commis sion was held until his death in 1776, Colonel Montford was a staunch patriot and stren uously advocated separation from the mother country, but an incurable disease was preying upon him and he was unable to do anything to bring about the desired condition. He died March 25, 1776, about the time the Revolution was getting fully under way. His remains rest in the yard of the Masonic temple at Halifax. In 1753, Colonel Montford married Priscilla Hill, daughter of Colonel Benjamin Hill, of Bertie County. There were three children. Henry married Sarah Ed wards, but died without offspring. Mary married Willie Jones; Elizabeth married John Baptista Ashe. These two won fame in their tilt with Colonel Tarleton in 1781 when the British were encamped at Halifax. II JOHN BAPTISTA ASHE. John Baptista Ashe was the eldest son of Governor Samuel Ashe, of Rocky Point, New Hanover County, and grandson of John Baptista Ashe, who was presiding of ficer of the Colonial Assembly in 1727. He was born in 1748. As a young man, he was an enthusiastic admirer of Governor Tryon and was with him at the Battle of Alamance in 1771. Later, when the war of Revolution began, he joined the patriot cause and was at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in February, 1776. He was ap pointed captain in the Sixth Continental Regiment in April, 1776; major in January, 1777; and Lieutenant- Colonel in November, 1778. That regiment was, in that year, consolidated with the first; but when it was sur rendered at Charleston in 1780, Colonel Ashe was not present and so escaped captivity. 152 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Under the command of General Jethro Sumner, Col onel Ashe organized, at Salisbury, another regiment of Continentals, which did splendid service, under his com mand, at the Battle of Eutaw Springs and at other points in South Carolina, He held this command until the end of the war. In 1776, he married Elizabeth Montford, daughter of Joseph Montford, of Halifax, and thereafter made that town his home. At the close of the Revolution, he re signed his commission in the army and entered heartily into the business life of the town and county. Entering politics, he was elected to the House of Com mons in 1784 and again in 1786, and became Speaker of that body. In 1787, he was a member of the Congress of the Confederation and State Senator in 1789. He had, like his brother-in-law, Willie Jones, opposed the adop tion of the Federal Constitution in 1788; but, after the amendments were practically secured, he favored its adoption, differing from Jones in that respect. At the Constitutional Convention of 1789, which met in Fayetteville, Colonel Ashe was a member from Halifax and chairman of the Committee of the Whole, which had under consideration the Federal Constitution, and pre sided over the deliberations of the convention whenever the constitution was being discussed. He was an enthus iastic advocate of its final adoption, and was influential in securing a favorable vote for it. At the first election of members of the Federal Con gress, Colonel Ashe was chosen to that body and re elected in 1791, serving with distinction until 1793, In 1795, he again represented Halifax in the General As sembly, but retired to private life after his term of office expired. In 1802, he was elected Governor of the State, but when the committee from the General Assembly came to notify him of his election, they found him des perately ill ; and in a few days thereafter he died without taking the oath of office. He left one son, Samuel Porter Ashe, whose descend- oOiz;l-HW o EH o MEHPho BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 153 ants live in Tennessee. Colonel Ashe was an anti-Feder alist, but later became an advocate of the Constitution, and still later a Jeffersonian Democrat. HI WILLIE JONES. In many respects, one of the most remarkable men of the Revolutionary period in North Carolina was Willie Jones, of Halifax. At one time, and through a number of years, he exerted more influence than any other man in the State ; and stands out conspicuously as one of the really noted characters of that day. The Jones family originally came from Wales to Vir ginia about the middle of the seventeenth century, Rob ert, or Robin, Jones, third of the name, moved to North Carolina and became agent for Lord Granville. He was a la-wyer of ability, educated in England where he at tracted the attention of Granville, and was appointed Attorney-General for North Carolina in 1761, By his profession as attorney for the crown and agent of Granville's great domain, he rapidly acquired wealth and became probably the largest landed proprietor on the Roanoke. He married first Sarah Cobb in 1737 and was the founder of the Jones family of Halifax and Northampton Counties, Allen Jones, who held the rank of brigadier-general of State militia during the Revolution, was born Decem ber 24, 1739. Strange that the exact date of the birth of his more distinguished brother, Willie Jones, the sub ject of this sketch, is not given; but it was probably in 1741. Nothing is known of the boyhood and youth of the two boys, except that they were educated in England at the celebrated Eton College, where they were under the charge of Lord Granville. After completing their education, the brothers returned to North Carolina and became planters, Allen making his home at "Mt. Gallant," 154 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Northampton County, and Willie coming to Halifax about 1763 and building "The Grove" house in Halifax town. The first appearance of Willie Jones on the political stage was as a member of the Provincial Congress that met in Newbern in 1774. He was also a member the next year when the Congress again met at Newbern, April 3, 1775, and at Hillsboro, August 20. The two meetings of the Congress in Halifax, AprU, 1776, and November, 1776, were the two most important sessions of that body, Jones was influential at both sessions. His election to all of these conventions, which could not but be regarded as preliminary to a separation from the mother country, shows him to have been the leader of the patriot cause in Halifax County; and his home is said to have been the meeting place for consultation between the prominent patriots from every section of the province. At the Congress of November, 1776, he took a promi nent part. He was a member of the committee on privi leges and elections and, also, of the committee for draw ing up a Bill of Rights and the Constitution. It is said that these documents were written by Thomas Jones, of Chowan County, but with the assistance of Willie Jones. It was said of him that he could draw a bill in better language than any other man of his day. The Congress at Halifax organized what was known as the Council of Safety, consisting of representatives from each of the five military districts of the State. Willie Jones was elected president of the Council, and, therefore, was acting Governor of North Carolina until Richard Caswell was elected in December, 1776. At the sessions of the General Assembly of 1776 — 1782 and 1788, he was a member either from the borough of Halifax or from the county. In 1787, he was elected a delegate to the convention which met in Philadelphia to adopt the Constitution of the United States; but he de clined to serve because he was not in sympathy with the purposes of the Convention. He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1780. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 155 One of the most spectacular events in his notable career was his opposition to the ratification of the national con stitution by the Convention at Hillsboro. Jones was the leader of the opposition, and the manner in which he conducted the consideration of the measure was master ly. When the vote was taken it was found that the ratification was lost by a vote of 184 to 84. This was his last appearance as a public man. He died in 1822 at his summer home near Raleigh and was buried in his garden, and the location of his grave has been lost. He has been honored by having a county, Jones, and a town, Jonesboro, named for him. Willie Jones married, in 1776, Mary Montford, a daugh ter of Joseph Montford, who was a lady of many attrac tions and superior qualities. Their children were Anne Ward, who married Joseph B. Little John ; Sally, who mar ried Hutchings G. Burton and, afterwards, Andrew Joy ner; Patsy, who married John W. Eppes, and two sons, Robert Allen and Willie, who died unmarried. Willie Jones was no orator in the ordinary acceptation of that term. Though he held the HiUsboro Convention in the hollow of his hand, he made no speech of more than a few sentences. He swayed the convention by his person al magnetism and his individual influence over the mem bers. Feeling sure of his hold upon the convention, he made motion that the question of ratification be put with out discussion, saying that he had made up his mind and that he supposed others had also, emphasizing the point that discussion would be a waste of time and an expense to the State. James Iredell, the leader of the Federalists, in reply, pointed out that discussion was involved in the very idea of the convention, and, if it had not been, the Assembly should have instructed the delegates to vote at their homes without coming together. Jones had the good sense to withdraw his motion, and the debate went on, participated in by Iredell, Davie, Johnston, and Mac- lain ; but when the vote was taken it was found that Jones' position was sustained. 156 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY He left a lengthy will which is on record at Halifax, from which a few extracts are taken : "Now, as it is possible and indeed probable that my wife will not be satisfied with the provisions which I have hereinbefore made for her, and consequently could refuse to be bound by this very will and claim dower in and a distribution share in my estate (he then revokes all pro visions made in her favor and continues), and I leave to my wife to do better for herself, if she can, than I had hereinbefore done for her. I give to my wife the liberty of getting firewood for her own use on any of my lands, except my groves, and they are to be held sacred from the axe," Another provision of his will directs that, if he should die in Raleigh, he be buried by the side of his little girl who is buried there; and, if he should die at Halifax, he be buried near his little girl in the orchard. About forty yards north of the site of the "Grove House" is a little thicket in which is the grave of the little child that is men tioned. One other peculiarity of the will gives a trait of his char acter: "My family and friends are not to mourn my death even by a black rag; on the contrary I give to my wife and three daughters each a Quaker colored silk to make them hoods on the occasion." With all of his peculiarities, Willie Jones was a remark able man, and the county has not seen his like again, IV WILLIAM R, DAVIE. Though acting such a prominent part in the history of the State and Nation, William Richardson Davie was not born on Carolina soil. He was born at Egremont, Cum berland County, England, June 24, 1756. He was brought to America by his father Archibald Davie in 1763 and left in charge of his maternal uncle. Rev. William Rich- BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 157 ardson, a Presbyterian minister residing in the Wax- hans settlement, in South Carolina, Having no children, Mr. Richardson adopted the boy and made him heir to his estate. He was sent to school at the Queen's Museum, Charlotte, N, C, and afterwards to Princeton College, then in charge of Dr. Witherspoon. In the summer of 1776, he served with a party of stu dents in the American army, and in the fall returned to college and took the degree of Bachelor of Arts with the first honors. His uncle died before Davie's return to the State. Having selected the law as his profession, he began its study in Salisbury. In 1777, he joined a de tachment of 1200 troops under the command of Allen Jones, ordered to the defense of Charlotte; but the at tack on that city being abandoned by the enemy, the de tachment returned after reaching Camden. In 1779, he joined a troop of cavalry raised in the Salisbury district, of which William Barnett was elected captain and Davie, lieutenant. The troop soon after joined the Southern army and was attached to Pulaski's Legion. For distinguished service in the field, Davie was suc cessfully promoted to the rank of captain and later to that of major. He took part in the Battle of Stono, in which he was severely wounded, which disabled him from any fur ther service that year. While recuperating from his wound he secured his license to practice law ; but in 1780, he answered again the call to arms, and, having obtained leave of the General Assembly, he raised a troop of cav alry and two companies of infantry, equipping them out of his own funds derived from his uncle's estate. While in command of this troop. Major Davie took a brilliant part in several encounters. He arrived with his command after the defeat of the Tories at Ramseur's Mill, and was dispatched by General Rutherford in pursuit of the fugitives. He took an active part in the Battle of Hanging Rock, of which there is a good narrative in Davie's own words in Wheeler's History of North Caro lina, After the Battle of Hanging Rock, Major Davie car- 158 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ried his wounded to Charlotte for surgical attention and set out to join the army of General Gates at Rugeley's Mill, When he came within a few miles of Camden, S. C, he met General Gates himself in full retreat. Gates ordered Davie to fall back to Charlotte, saying that Tarle ton's dragoons were in pursuit and would soon be upon them, Davie's reply was characteristic. He said, "My men are accustomed to Tarleton and do not fear him," He then hurried on toward Camden, Meeting General Huger soon after, Davie asked him how far Gates' orders should be obeyed, Huger answered,"Just as far as you choose, for you will never see him again." Finding the rout complete. Major Davie retraced his steps and took post at Charlotte. On September 20, 1780, Davie having been promoted to the rank of Colonel with instructions to raise a regi ment of cavalry, with 150 dragoons fell upon about 400 of the enemy at Wahab's Plantation and routed them, killing and wounding about 60 and capturing ninety-six horses and 120 stands of arms. This remarkable feat of arms was accomplished after a ride of sixty miles, and all done within twenty-four hours. Shortly after this he was joined by Sumner and Davidson with about 1000 poorly equipped militia. When CornwaUis advanced on Charlotte, September 26, 1780, Colonel Davie had only 150 mounted men with him and a few volunteers under Major Graham. Posting one company near the Court House, where the men would be sheltered by a stone wall, and two others where they were sheltered by dwellings, he repulsed three attacks of the British and held his ground until he was outflanked and was forced to retreat. The coolness and skill of Colonel Davie, in this affair, in which with a handful of men, he kept the whole British army at bay for hours, have been highly praised. After the disastrous defeat at King's Mountain, CornwaUis retired into South Carolina follow ed by Davie's command, that harassed his rear guards no little. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 159 In December, 1780, General Nathanael Greene took command of the Southern army at Charlotte, Greene at once appointed Davie Commissary-General, which he ac cepted with reluctance because he regretted leaving act ive military service, and began his new duties in January, 1781, He was with the army of the South for five months, being present at the Battles of Guilford Court House, Hobkirk's HUI, the evacuation of Camden, and the Siege of Ninety-Six. In the summer of 1781, Colonel Davie was sent by General Greene as a confidential messenger to the General Assembly of North Carolina for the purpose of representing the wants of his army, a mission, which he, by reason of his tact and knowledge of the members, successfully accomplished, securing a liberal contribution of men and supplies. In July, 1781, he became Commissary-General of North Carolina with headquarters at Halifax, which position he held until the close of the war. During this period, the credit of the State had fallen so low that Davie was obliged to pledge his individual credit in order to ob tain supplies. It was during this period also that the Roanoke lands furnished supplies for nearly the whole of Greene's army. After the close of the war. Colonel Davie, in February, 1783, resumed the practice of law and located in the town of Halifax, and about the same time married Sarah Jones, the daughter of General Allen Jones, of Mount GaUant, Northampton County. There were seven judicial districts in the State at that time and Colonel Davie practiced law in all of them ex cept the Morganton district. He was a brilliant advo cate and soon built up a large and lucrative practice. It was said of him that, in the fifteen years he was at the bar, there was not a capital case in the State in which he was not retained by the defense. One of the most famous of the capital cases, in which he appeared, was the trial of the celebrated Tory, Colonel Samuel Bryan, for treason, at Salisbury. Davie and Bryan had been enemies on the 160 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY battlefield. They had met in mortal conflict at Hanging Rock. Davie had done all that he could to destroy Bryan and his command; but now, peace had come and Davie was employed by Bryan to defend him. True to his client, Davie left no stone unturned to clear him; but the pre judice against the Tory was too great and Bryan was convicted. Later, however, he was pardoned by the Gov ernor, In 1787, Davie was a delegate from North Carolina to the Constitutional Convention, which met in Philadelphia, in May, to prepare a Federal instrument of govemment. He was then thirty-one years old, but, by his eloquence and knowledge, made a decided impression upon the con vention, A critical question before the convention was the equal representation of the large and small states in the Senate, the large states contending for representa tion according to population and the small states for equal representation. North Carolina was then one of the large states. In order to avoid a disruption of the Convention, a committee of one from each state was appointed to de cide the question, and Davie was appointed as the mem ber of that committee from North Carolina, In this mat ter. Colonel Davie voted with the small states, and, by a majority of one, secured for the small states equal repre sentation in the senate. He left the Convention a few days before adjournment in obedience to the call of a client, and for that reason his name does not appear among the signers of that document. He was active in the State Convention of 1788, at Hills boro, in advocacy of the ratification of the Federal Con stitution, but it was defeated then under the leadership of Willie Jones. After the Constitution was ratified at Fay etteville the next year. President Washington tendered Colonel Davie the appointment of District Judge, but it was declined. He represented the borough of Halifax in the House of Commons in 1786, 1787, 1789, 1791, 1793, 1794, 1796, and 1798, While a member of the General Assembly, he la- THE ROANOKE MILLS, ROANOKE RAPIDS, N, C. BUILDERS OFTHE COUNTY 161 bored unceasingly for the establishment of the State Uni versity, and finally secured the act of incorporation in 1789, He was the real founder of that great institution, and as Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina laid the corner stone of the first building in 1793, In view of the probability of war with France, Colonel Davie was appointed by Governor Spaight, in 1794, Major-General of the third State division of militia ; and, in 1798, Congress having provided a provisional army of 10,000 men, he was appointed by President Adams Brig adier-General and confirmed by the Senate on July 1, 1798. In the same year, he was elected Governor and in augurated, December 27, On June 1, 1799, he was appointed by President Adams Ambassador to France, and, on September 10, resigned the governorship to accept this foreign post of duty. He was one of the three men to draw up a treaty with the French government, which was ratified by Congress, September 10, 1800. General Davie was the most dis tinguished looking man in that trio of eminent men. An eyewitness of the meeting of the American embassy with the French Emperor said, "I could but remark that Bona parte, in addressing the American Legation at his Levees, seemed to forget that Governor Davie was second in the mission, his attention being more particularly to him," General Davie returned from France in 1801, and, in 1802, he was appointed by President Jefferson Commis sioner on the part of the United States government for the settlement of the affairs between the State of North Carolina and the Tuscarora Indians, He met the agents of the State and the Indian Chiefs at Raleigh, and the treaty was signed December 4, 1802, by virtue of which the remnant of the Tuscaroras, who had continued to hold their lands in the "Indian Woods," removed to New York in June, 1803, In the spring of 1803, General Davie was prevailed upon to beoome a candidate for Congress against Willis Alston, who had recently abandoned the Federalist party 162 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY and had become a disciple of Thomas Jefferson, Davie made no canvass, but party spirit ran high. He was charged with being an aristocrat and being opposed to Jefferson, and on election day he was defeated. This was his last appearance in a public capacity. Having lost his wife, soon after his return from France and having met defeat at the polls, he retired altogether from public life. In November, 1805, he removed from Halifax to Tivoli, an estate he had in South Carolina just across the line, where he spent the remainder of his life in ease and dignity. In his retirement, however, he was not forgotten by his countrymen. He was appointed by President Madison Major-General in the United States army during the War of 1812 and confirmed by the senate, March 2, 1813 ; but he declined the appointment. General Davie died November 18, 1820, and was buried at Waxhaw Churchyard just across the river from his plantation. Governor Gaston, of South Carolina, who is said to have written his epitaph, called him "a great man in an age of great men." His memory is perpetuated by the name of one of the counties in the State and by the name of a poplar on the campus of the State University. JAMES HOGAN. James Hogan was prominent in North Carolina history during the Revolution; but there is very little kno-wn about his early life. He was born in Ireland, but the date and place are unknown. Nor is it kno-wn when he came to the New World. He was a scion of that sturdy Irish stock that was restive under British domination, and had come to America to escape its tyranny. It is not known when he came to North Carolina, but he found his way to Halifax County, in early life, and made his BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 163 home about two miles from the present town of Hob good. In October 3, 1751, he was married to Ruth Nor fieet, a young woman of that section of Halifax County. When the Provincial Congress met in Halifax, April 4, 1776, James Hogan appeared as one of the delegates from the county. He was enthusiastically in favor of the resolution for independence passed by that body on April 12. He was again a delegate to the Provincial Congress and Constitutional Convention that met in Halifax, November 12, 1776. But early in that session, he was elected Colonel of the Seventh North Carolina Continental Regiment; and at once resigned member ship in the Congress. After the organization of the regiment, and after be ing disciplined in the school of the soldier at Halifax, Colonel Hogan led his troops northward, along with other regiments that had been mobilized at Halifax, and joined General Washington in time to take part in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, After these two disastrous battles, Washington dispatched Colonel Hogan to North Carolina to raise reinforce ments. Having established a recruiting station at Hali fax, Hogan soon had another regiment of 600 men un der arms. He led them North and joined Washington at Valley Forge, He was with the Army of the North during 1778 and 1779, When General Robert Howe was promoted to the rank of Major-General, the General Assembly of North Carolina recommended Colonel Thomas Clark, of New bern, for the vacancy; but General Washington said that Hogan, on account of his conspicuous gallantry at Germantown, was entitled to the honor. He was, there fore, elected and commissioned brigadier-general, Janu ary 9, 1779, and continued to serve with the Army of the North, his brigade consisting of the four North Carolina regiments then with General Washington, In February, 1780, the tide of war having rolled south ward, Hogan's brigade was sent to the relief of General 164 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Lincoln at Charleston, S. C. The brigade passed through Halifax on its long march from Philadelphia to Charles ton, and reached its destination in April, finding that Gen eral Lincoln was shut up in Charleston with less than twelve hundred men, Hogan joined him with about fif teen hundred regulars, but he was unable to restore con fidence, Lincoln surrendered. May 12; and with one stroke of bad fortune. General Hogan and nearly the whole of the North Carolina Continentals became prison ers of war. Of the 1800 regulars, surrendered at this time, the North Carolina line numbered over 1200. With the exception of some officers, who were at home on fur lough and several troops of militia, the entire fighting force of North Carolina was put out of the conflict. Hali fax County was struck hard by this blow. General Hogan and his brigade were imprisoned at Haddrell's Point, S, C, near the present location of the town of Mount Pleasant, There, Hogan and his brigade endured extreme suffering on account of the lack of food and the ravages of disease. Even permission to fish was denied the men thus imprisoned, and they were more than once threatened -with deportation to the West Indies, Once was General Hogan offered a parole to return home ; but seeing the misery of his men, he indignantly refused the parole unless the rank and file were to have the same privilege. At that point. General Hogan disappears from history. It is certain that he died in this prison camp at Haddrell's Point, and now lies buried, probably, where the busy feet of the people of Mount Pleasant go tramping over his remains. Chief Justice Clark says, "History affords no more striking incident of devotion to duty, and North Carolina should erect a tablet to his memory and of those who perished there with him." BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 165 VI SAMUEL WELDON. Another man, who has left an impress upon the coun ty and yet is comparatively unknown, is Samuel Weldon, in honor of whom the town of Weldon is named. The place and date of his birth are unkno-wn ; but he became prominent in the affairs of Halifax soon after the forma tion of the county in 1758. In 1776, the Provincial Congress, in session in Halifax, elected Weldon Major of the county militia. On Dec, 23, 1776, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and, on April 24, 1778, he became Colonel, His rapid pro motion would indicate ability and popularity. This last rank, he was, soon afterward, forced to resign on account of ill health. He retired to his farm on the Roanoke river near where the present town of Weldon is. He was a member of the Provincial Congress of 1776, that met in Halifax, and it is known that he exercised in fluence of note in that body. For some years he held the position of Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Ses sions. Not much else is known of his public services. His will was probated in 1782. VII JOHN HAYWOOD. John Haywood was born in Halifax County, March 16, 1762. He was a son of Egbert Haywood, an officer of the Revolution and a representative Irom the County in the Provincial Congress of November, 1776, being elected to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of James Ho gan Colonel of the Seventh Regiment of Continentals. He also represented the county in the House of Commons in 1778. But little is known of the early life of John Haywood. 166 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY He was but thirteen years old when the war of indepen dence began, and, on account of his youth, took no active part in the struggle that followed. Near the close of the war, however, young Haywood became attached to the .staff of a North Carolina officer, though the name of the officer is unknown. Wheeler, in his "Reminiscences," has the following to say of him : "From the distracted condition of the country, at this time, the opportunities to acquire an education were few ; but young Haywood entered the profession of the law, in which he was destined to become distinguished, under many disadvantages. To the lack of a systematic educa tion was added an ungainly person and an unpleasantly harsh voice. Possessing, however, great determination, an ardent love of study, and a lofty ambition, he overcame those disadvantages, and soon rose to the head of the profession." In many of his legal battles, he was often pitted against William R. Davie. Chief -Justice Walter Clark has this to say in an address delivered some years ago : "It is stat ed of him (Davie) , in comparison -with his great legal ri val, John Haywood, that while the latter carefully pre pared every point, Davie would size the strong points of the case and throw his whole strength upon them." His success as a la-wyer was shown by his election, in 1791, as Attorney-General of the State, when he was not yet thirty years old. He held this position until 1794 when he was elected Judge of the Superior Court to suc ceed Samuel Spencer, deceased. In both of these positions of trust and responsibility, Haywood displayed unusual ability and efficiency. In 1800, however, his career on the bench was terminat ed in a remarkable way. James Glasgow, Secretary of State, was indicted for issuing fraudulent land warrants. The indictment was drawn by Attorney-General Blake Baker, a native of Halifax but at that time living in Edge combe County. In drawing the bill of indictment, Baker sought the counsel of Haywood. Before the trial came BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 167 off, Glasgow approached Haywood with a retainer's fee of one thousand dollars. Judge Haywood at once resigned his position on the bench and accepted Glasgow's offer. In the trial, however, Glasgow was convicted ; but Haywood moved an arrest of judgment alleging thirteen errors in the bill of indictment, which he had assisted the attorney- general to formulate. On account of his conduct in this case, Haywood be came the victim of a torrent of criticism. While there was no moral turpitude in what he did, the public never forgave him for what seemed so. Shortly afterward, he removed to Tennessee and settled on a farm near Nash ville, where he lived and died. During his residence in Halifax County, he lived near Crowell's, where he taught a law school. His memory is perpetuated by Haywood's Chapel because he gave the land on which the church was buUt, After leaving Hali fax, Haywood resided for some years in Franklin Coun ty about six miles north of Louisburg, Just before mov ing to Tennessee, he lived in Raleigh. In Tennessee, Haywood began almost a new career. He soon became one of the leading la-wyers of that new State. Often he was matched with Felix Grundy, one of the most noted orators of the west, and he always ap peared to good advantage. He continued at the bar in Tennessee, building up a lucrative practice until 1812, when he was elevated to the Superior Court bench. Six years later he became Judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, and held that position until his death in 1826. Judge Haywood's memory is perpetuated in Tennessee by the name of one of the Counties in that State. Hay wood County, North Carolina, is named in honor of John Haywood, of Edgecombe County, for forty years State Treasurer. 168 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY VHI WILLIS ALSTON. Joseph John Alston, father of the subject of this sketch, came to Halifax County about the year 1730. He came from what is now Gates County, where his father, John Alston lived. Later he married a daughter of WiUis Wil son, of Norfolk, Va., and from that union was bom, in 1750, WUlis Alston, usually referred to as WUlis Alston, Sr., to distinguish him from his more celebrated son of the same name. Willis Alston was a strong and sturdy character. He early became a leader among his neighbors and friends and even in his teens, he was a champion of the rights of Americans against the growing tyranny of England, Dur ing the Stamp Act troubles and the discontent over the tea tax, Alston was an undaunted patriot for one so young. When the Provincial Congress met in Halifax, April 4, 1776, he was a member from the county, and took an active part in the passage of the famous independence resolution, which has been read around the world. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of November 12, 1776, and was an important factor in the framing of the first State Constitution. Upon the organization of the State militia at the ses sion of the Provincial Congress that met in Halifax at the same time with the Constitutional Convention, Willis Als ton was elected Colonel ; Samuel Weldon, Lieutenant-Colo nel; John Whitaker, First Major; James AUen, Second Major. Alston, however, resigned in 1778 and was suc ceeded by Weldon. There is no record of the war service of Willis Alston more than the bare mention of his election as Colonel of the Halifax regiment. It is more than probable that this regiment was used throughout the war as a garrison for the town of Halifax and saw no active service in battle. H iz; Ho ccfe«HMHo<h"aHEHH V fe o ijoo BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 185 tained a stock of varied and extensive knowledge, and especially became well versed in the History and the Prin ciples of the Law, He was without arrogance or ostenta tion, even of his learning; had the most unaffected and charming simplicity and mildness of manners, and no other purpose in office than to 'execute justice and main tain truth' ; and, therefore, he was patient in hearing ar gument, laborious and calm in investigation, candid and instructive in consultation, and impartial and firm in de cision." XVIII JOHN R, J, DANIEL. The subject of this sketch was born in Halifax County in 1802 and graduated from the State University in 1821. After his graduation, he located at Halifax for the prac tice of law, which he pursued with great success. No man, in the early part of the nineteenth century, was more bril liant at the Halifax bar than John R. J. Daniel. In 1831, he was elected to the House of Commons and re-elected in 1832, 1833, and 1834, In the last mentioned year, he was chosen Attorney- General of the State, which position he held until 1841, when he was elected to Con gress as the representative in the House of Representa tives from the Second District, He was re-elected con tinuously until 1851 when he retired from active partici pation in public affairs. While in congress, he was for several years chairman of the Committee on Claims, a post of duty for which his unquestioned integrity, clear and discriminating mind, and patient industry especiaUy fitted him. He was a good speaker and debater, Thomas H, Benton, in his book, makes several extracts from his speeches while in Congress and pays him a deserved tribute. He is said to have been a man of iron wUl, sometimes over bearing and tyrannical, tenacious of his rights and fond of having his own way. Once he became involved in a 186 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY law suit with a neighbor over two acres of farm land, which both claimed ; and, after considerable litigation and the expenditure of much ill nature and display of temper, he was beaten in the final adjudication and had to pay the bill of cost amounting to $2700.00. It may be supposed that this was done with no very amiable disposition by a man, who believed in his own case and saw no show of reason in the contentions of his opponent. After serving his last term in Congress in 1851, he bought a farm near Shreveport, La., where he resided much of the time untU his death in 1868. He was a cousin of Judge Joseph J. Daniel, father of General Junius Dan iel, and immediately or remotely connected -with the large family of that name in this and adjoining counties. XIX BYNUM AND POTTER. During the early years of the nineteenth century, two men, Jesse A. Bynum and Robert Potter, lived a number of years in the town of Halifax and had considerable weight in the administration of public affairs. They pos sessed brilliant intellects, but because of violent tempers, they became involved in many difficulties that have brought reproach and almost ignominy upon their names. Because of their bitter rivalry, mention is made of them in the same connection. Bynum was born in Northampton County and educat ed at Union College, New York, but came to Halifax quite early in life and began the practice of law. He represent ed the borough of Halifax in the General Assembly in 1823 and 1824 and again in 1827 and 1828. In 1825, he and Robert Potter were opposing candidates, and so warm did the campaign become that on election day the voting was broken up by a street fight between the adher ents of the two candidates. Consequently, there was no election and no representative from the town that year. Robert Potter was elected the next year. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 187 In 1833, Bynum became a candidate for Congress ; and conducted such a brilliant campaign, he was elected by a big majority over his Whig opponent. He was re-elected continuously until 1841, when he retired to private life and removed to Louisiana. While in Congress he had two personal difficulties, one with Congressman Jenifer, of Maryland, resulting in a duel, which terminated, after several ineffectual shots, in a reconciliation ; and another, on the fioor of the House, with Congressman Garland of Louisiana. His career after his retirement from Con gress is unknown. Robert Potter was born in Granville County but lived for several years in Halifax. He was a man of ability, but of such violent temper and perverse nature that his career was a reproach upon his name. He and Bynum were on bad terms, it was said, because Bynum refused to introduce him to a certain young lady. Their bitter personal rivalries were carried into the political cam paigns and fisticuffs were frequent. As already related, the election of 1825 was broken up by a street row ; but, in 1826, Potter was elected as the representative in the House of Commons from the town of Halifax. In 1827, Potter removed from Halifax to Granville County, and so lost connection with this immediate sec tion; but because of his remarkable subsequent career, the story of his life is followed, though its recital reveals the ignominy of his character. In 1828, he was chosen to represent Granville County in the House of Commons, and made himself very popular by championing a bill to inquire into the condition of the banks, some of which at the time were very corrupt. In 1830 he was elected to Congress and re-elected in 1832; but on account of the commission of a nameless crime, for which he was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to jail, he did not serve his term out. Strange to say, how ever, that after serving his term in jail, he was again elected to the House of Commons from Granville County ; but was expelled for cheating at cards. 188 HISTORY OF HALLFAX COUNTY After this second disgrace, Potter became an object of detestation; and, to escape public censure, he fled to Texas. There he took part in political matters and rose to prominence. Later, he moved to Louisiana and located near Caddo Lake. There he led a life of gross immoral ity, and, after forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, he was warned by his indignant neighbors to leave the com munity. He did not, however, obey the warning. Short ly afterwards a number of men came to his house by night, took him outside, and told him he richly deserved death ; but they would give him a chance for his life. They then gave him a start of one hundred yards and told him that hi,"? life would be the forfeit if any of his pursuers should get in shooting distance of him. Potter immediately ran for the lake and plunged in to escape death by diving. His pursuers came to the edge of the lake, and, as he came to the surface for breath, fired upon him and he sank to a watery grave. Thus died in disgrace and ignominy one of the most brilliant ^nd corrupt men ever connected with Halifax County, XX BARTHOLOMEW P, MOORE, Bartholomew Figures Moore was born at Sycamore Al ley, Halifax County, January 29, 1801. His father, James Moore, came to the county from Northampton, Va, He was a sailor in the Revolutionary War, and saw service of a very exciting nature in that eventful struggle. Some of his adventures have already been narrated in a former chapter. "Bat" Moore, as the distinguished son is familiarly known, entered the University of North Carolina in 1818 and graduated therefrom in 1820. He then read law un der Thomas N. Mann, a prominent lawyer of Nash Coun ty, securing license to practice and locating at NashviUe, N, C, in 1823, At first he had but little success, and. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 189 it is said, practiced several years without making ex penses. He persevered, however, overcoming all difficul ties by his indomitable wUl power untU he reached the very summit of the profession in the State, In December, 1828, he was married to Louisa, daugh ter of George Boddie, of Nash County, She died the next year, and, in 1835, he married Lucy, another daughter of George Boddie, In that year, he removed to his native County and began the practice of his profession in the town of Halifax, where he met with great success. He entered politics in 1836 and was elected to the House of Commons that year. He was a candidate in 1838, but was defeated at the polls by a majority of one vote, said to have been cast against him because he voted for an ap propriation for the building of the Wilmington and Wel don Railroad, He was again elected in 1840 and re-elected in 1842 and 1844, In 1847, he was appointed by Governor Graham to the position of Attorney-General of the State, and elected by the General Assembly in 1850, The next year he was ap pointed by Governor Reid on the commission to revise the statute laws of the State, in accordance with an act of the General Assembly of that year. The Revised Code was reported to the Legislature of 1854, and, with some modifications, passed into law. He was a member of the Commission appointed to edit and publish the code, which was done in 1855, During the whole period of his residence at Halifax he was laboriously and successfully engaged in the practice of the law in all the courts in his circuit except the coun ty courts, all of which, except Halifax, he discontinued upon his appointment to the office of Attorney-General, He removed to Raleigh in 1848, where he resided at the time of his death in 1878. In Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, stands one of the most beautiful and costly monuments in North Carolina, It occupies a prominent position, and its symmetrical pro portion and artistic beauty make it a notable object. Its 190 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY total height is twenty-three feet. The design is Gothic and the spire is surrounded by a crown and cross. On the west side is the following inscription : "Bartholomew Figures Moore, LL. D. Born January 29, 1801, Died November 27, 1878 Citizen, La-wyer, Statesman To himself, his family, and his country He was true. To evade a duty was to him impossible. In the dis charge of duty he was diligent; difficulty intensified his effort. A devoted son of North Carolina, A never fail ing friend and liberal benefactor to her interests, an un compromising foe to oppression, a profound jurist, and a fearless patriot." XXI ANDREW JOYNER. One of the most universally popular men that ever lived in Halifax County was Colonel Andrew Joyner, who was born, November 5, 1786, near the town of Halifax, His father, Henry Joyner, was a prominent planter and busi ness man. Not much is known of the early life of Andrew Joyner. He was probably as well educated as the limited means of acquiring an education in that day would allow. His first service of a public nature was during the War of 1812. He was enrolled in the Third Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, and before the regiment was ready for service he was given the rank of Major. Shortly af terwards he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Col onel in the First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers. He served in that capacity during the period of the war. In 1814, his regiment was ordered to Norfolk, Va,, to assist in repelling a threatened British attack upon that town. Admiral Cockburn, the ranking British Naval of ficer in the Chesapeake, had been threatening a descent BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 191 upon the place. Finding it, however, well fortified and garrisoned, he did not attack; but sailed away to the South, During the stay of the First Regiment at Norfolk, an epidemic of "Camp Plague" broke out, and almost every man in the command suffered from it. During the prevalence of the epidemic, Joyner was so indefatigable in his efforts to relieve the sufferings of the men that he endeared himself to the survivors to such an extent that, in his political campaigns in later life, not one of them ever voted against him. In 1835, he was elected Senator from the county to the General Assembly, and re-elected continuously untU 1852. He was the presiding officer of the Senate in 1838, 1840, and 1846. In his campaigns for election, he usually won easily. He was a Whig, but sometimes he was elected unanimously. Not an old soldier of any political faith ever voted against him. Colonel Joyner turned his attention to "big" business enterprises. He was an earnest advocate of internal im provements, voted regularly for railroads every time he had an opportunity, and was a promoter of steamboat lines on the Roanoke river. He was President of the Roa noke Navigation Company, that put on the first steamboat that ever made a trip on the Roanoke, He was also Presi dent of the Weldon and Portsmouth railroad, which after wards became the Seaboard, and directed the affairs of that company from his headquarters in Weldon for many years. While Colonel Joyner was so closely indentified with the railroads, he would never allow one of his children to ride on a pass. He had a highly developed judicial mind and was particularly active in settling disputes between neighbors. So well known was he in this respect that his home near Weldon was generaUy spoken of as "Colonel Joyner's Court of Equity." He was twice married, first to Temperance WiUiams and second to Sarah Jones Burton, widow of Governor Hutchings G. Burton. Numerous children survived. 192 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Colonel Joyner died Sept. 20, 1856, and is buried at Pop lar Grove near Weldon, XXII LAWRENCE O'BRYAN BRANCH, One of the Brigadier-Generals, fumished by Halifax County to the Confederate army during the War between the States, is the subject of this sketch. He was bora, in Enfield, November 28, 1820, was a grandson of John Branch, sheriff of Halifax County during the Revolution, and a nephew of John Branch, member of Congress, gov ernor, senator, and cabinet member. His ancestry and immediate family relationship were brilliant. His father. Major Joseph Branch, upon the death of his wife on Christmas day, 1825, removed to Tennessee, and shortly afterwards died, leaving his son, Lawrence, to the guardianship of his distinguished brother, John Branch, The boy was brought back to North Carolina and was with his, uncle in Washington during his career as a mem ber of Congress and a cabinet official. Upon the disrup tion of President Jackson's cabinet in 1831, young Branch retumed with his uncle to Enfield, where he entered a preparatory school and was ready for college by the time he was fifteen. In 1835, he entered the University of North Carolina, The next year, however, he matriculated at Princeton, was graduated from that institution in 1838, and deliv ered the English salutatory. He studied law in Tennessee, obtained license, and began to practice in Florida before he was twenty-one years of age. In 1841, when the Sem inole War began, he enlisted and was aid to General Reid, In 1848, he returned to his native State and located in Raleigh for the practice of law. Here his rise was rapid, for, in 1852, he was presidential elector on the Pierce and King ticket and member of Congress in 1854. In 1852, he became President of the Raleigh and Gas ton Railroad Company and served two years when he re- MAIN STREET, ROANOKE RAPIDS, N. C. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 193 signed to become a member of Congress from the Raleigh district. In this latter capacity, he served with ability until 1861 when he resigned because he saw that North Carolina was about to secede from the union. Upon his retirement from Congress, President Buchanan tendered him the portfolio of Secretary of the Treasury, but he declined it for the same reason that he gave up his seat in Congress, Returning to Raleigh, in April, 1861, he, at once, joined the Raleigh Rifles as a private. He was made Quarter master-General the same month and elevated to the posi tion of Paymaster-General on May 20, In September, the same year, he resigned that position to accept the com mission of Colonel in the Thirty-Third Regiment, a posi tion that would give him more active duties in the field, which was more in keeping with his tastes. In January, 1862, Colonel Branch was commissioned by President Jefferson Davis Brigadier-General and sta tioned at Newbern for the protection of that city and to safeguard eastern North Carolina. Branch had five thousand men, under his command, but the city was at tacked in March, the same year, by 15,000 Federals and Branch was obliged to evacuate his fortifications and re treat to Kinston, Being relieved of his separate com mand. General Branch was given a brigade in the army of Northern Virginia, and was in the battle of Hanover Court House, where, on account of signal bravery and distinguished services, he was praised by General Lee. General Branch was conspicuous for his gallantry in the Battles of the Seven Days, Cedar Run, Second Bull Run, Fairfax Court House, Harpers Ferry, and Antietam. At the latter place, while standing with some officers, near the firing line, he was shot through the head and fell into the arms of Major Joseph A. Engelhead, and died almost immediately. The remains were brought to Raleigh for burial. General Branch married Nancy Haywood Blount, daughter of General W. A. Blount, and left four children, 194 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY as f oUows : William A. B, Branch, an officer in the War be tween the States, and, from 1891 to 1895, member of Con gress from the First Congressional district. The daugh ters were Susan, who married Robert H. Jones ; Nannie, married Armistead Jones ; Josephine married Kerr Craig of Salisbury. XXIII EDWARD CONIGLAND. Edward Conigland was born in the county of Donigal, Ireland, April 22, 1819. He was the fifth son of Dr. Pat rick and Margaret Brison Conigland. His father was a skilled physician, and gave his sons the best educational advantages the times afforded. Dr, Conigland's death, however, occurred when Edward was but fourteen years of age ; and his mother, owing to financial losses, emigrat ed, with her children, to America, arriving in New York, October 26, 1834. Like many another young Irishman, coming to this country, Edward found that life in the New World was not one of ease. He was, therefore, glad to do any kind of work that offered itself to keep the wolf from the door, and had but little opportunity to pursue his classical stud ies he had begun in Ireland. He was diligent enough, however, to bend his energies to the acquisition of know ledge and the improvement of his mind in whatever way chance offered. Through the mediation of an influential friend, he was elected to membership in the Metropolitan Debating Association, which had been established by young men of cultivated tastes and literary aspirations for mutual improvement, one of the exclusive social or ganizations in New York City. On several occasions, when the public was admitted to the debates, the talent displayed by young Conigland, both as a writer and a speaker, was much complimented in the New York Jour nal, In 1844, having studied law in New York and being a BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 195 good mathematician and linguist, he came to Halifax County and taught school in the home of Isaac Falkland for a year or two. During his career as a teacher, he con tinued his study of law ; and, in 1846, procured license to practice in the Courts of North Carolina, establishing an office in the town of Halifax, Like most young lawyers, he came into lucrative prac tice slowly, having what is known as the "starving pe riod" for several years. His talent and industry, however, ultimately put him in the first rank of his profession. His services were desired and employed in many counties in the State, Two of the most celebrated legal cases, in which he was engaged, were the impeachment trial of Governor Holden and the Johnston WUl Case. In the former, he was counsel for the defense and used all the tremendous force of his brilliant intellect to save the ac cused Governor from conviction ; but to no avail. In 1865, he was one of the delegates from Halifax Coun ty to the Constitutional Convention in Raleigh. The stand he took in that convention gained for him the ap proval and high regard of the people of the State. He had not been a soldier in the War between the States because of his defective hearing, but he showed, in his speeches and his votes in that body that he was a patriotic North Carolinian. Forming a partnership, for the practice of law, in 1875, with the late Robert 0. Burton, he continued the work of his profession with increasing success until his tragic death in December, 1877, brought his career to a close. On December 4, that year, he was returning home from one of his farms near Halifax, walking on the railroad track, and in a few minutes would have been with his family, when he was run down and kUled instantly by a freight train, Edward Conigland was married three times, first to Eliza Tillery, of Halifax County ; second, to Mary Wyatt Ezell, of Jackson, N, C, and third, to EmUy Long, of Northampton County, None of his descendants now re side in the county. 196 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY XXIV JUNIUS DANIEL. In many respects, the most distinguished soldier that Halifax County has produced was Junius Daniel, the sub ject of this sketch. He was the youngest son and the last surviving issue of John R. J, Daniel, who was distin guished as Attorney-General and member of Congress for a long time. He was born in the town of Halifax on the 27th day of June, 1828, and, at the age of three, met with the loss of an admirable mother. His youth was passed in a quiet and an uneventful manner in the elementary schools of his native town. When about fifteen years of age, he was sent to the ex cellent academy of J, M, Love joy, of Raleigh, and re mained in that school until 1846. While in that institu tion, he was spoken of as "admirably made, muscular, a quick eye, and as determined a spirit as ever animated a body." His record in the Lovejoy Academy was ad mirable. In 1846, under the appointment of President Polk he en tered the MUitary Academy at West Point. After a high ly creditable and honorable career as a student, both in deportment and scholarship, he was graduated therefrom in 1851. While in school there and during some maneu vers on the drill ground with the artiUery corps, a heavy gun was thro-wn on him, injuring his spine, which affect ed his health for several years. After graduation, he was ordered to Newport, Ky., as assistant quartermaster ; but in the fall of 1852, he was sent, in charge of a detachment of soldiers, to New Mex ico, and was stationed at Fort Albuquerque where he re mained five years. While in this service, some refractory soldiers entered into a conspiracy to kiU him and at tacked him in his quarters. When set upon, Daniel drew his sword, which, however, was shattered at the first thrust and fell from his hand. Although dis- BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 197 armed, he, by his powerful strength, kept his assailants at bay until the attention of the guard was attracted, and he was rescued. In 1857, he resigned his commission in the service of the United States government, at the solicitation of his father, and began a career as an agriculturist in Louisiana, This occupation was not altogether accord ing to his tastes, and he was not reluctant to give it up at the first favorable opportunity, which was not long in coming. He was, according to a report, a good farmer, showing great adaptability to a career that he was compelled to force himself to like. He married, in October, 1860, Ellen, an accomplished daughter of Colonel John J. Long, of Northampton County, He returned to Louisiana, and was engaged vigorously in working his large plantation when the first gun was fired at Sumter and a continent became engulfed in war. When Lincoln called for troops to crush the South, the State of Louisiana offered Daniel a commission in the service of that State. He, however, preferred to serve with the troops of North Carolina and hastened home. Arriving in Halifax, he tendered his services to Governor Ellis, and was immediately accepted. He was shortly afterwards elected Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, but later of the Fourteenth, which he ac cepted and remained the commanding officer until the period of enlistment expired. He was then tendered command of the Forty-Third and the Forty-Fifth regi ments, which had enlisted for the period of the war. About the same time, he was offered by Governor Clark the command of the Second North Carolina Cavalry. He accepted the command of the Forty-Fifth. Soon thereafter. Colonel Daniel was ordered by Gen eral Holmes to lead the four regiments then in Raleigh to Goldsboro and there organize them into a brigade. This was done so efficiently that General Holmes recom mended Daniel to the authorities at Richmond for ap- 198 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY pointment as brigadier-general. The Confederate gov ernment, however, had been too liberal in appoint ments, and had already commissioned more brigadiers than there were brigades to command. So Daniel found himself a brigadier without a commission and had to give place to one who had a commission but no command. He then organized another brigade, only to see it assigned to another. Later, he was called upon to organize a third, and this he retained command of as senior colonel for nearly twelve months. During this period, he was serving under the different departmental officers, all of whom urged his promotion, but to no avail. In June, 1862, he was ordered to Peters burg, and, with the brigade, joined General Lee's army before the Seven Days' Battles, but took no active part therein. In October, 1862, the long delayed commission as a brigadier-general was received. His brigade was composed of the following regiments : The Thirty-Second, commanded by Cowan; the Forty-Third, by Kenan, wounded and captured at Gettysburg; the Forty-Fifth, first by Morehead, who died at Martinsburg, Va,, in Janu ary, 1863, then by Boyd, who was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, exchanged and killed at Spottsylvania ; the Fifty-Third, by Owen, kiUed at Winchester; and the Second North Carolina Battalion, by Lieutenant-Colonjl Andrews, killed at Gettysburg, What a melancholy rec ord! General Daniel spent the fall of 1862, with his brigade, at Drury's Bluff. In December, he was ordered to North Carolina, under the command of General D. H. Hill to repel a diversion of Foster in favor of Burnside at Fredericksburg, Va. Shortly after the Battle of ChanceUorsviUe, he was transferred to Lee's army, Rode's division, Ewell's Corps during the Pennsylvania cam paign which followed. At Carlisle, Pa., General EweU conferred a great honor upon General Daniel and his brigade. After reaching BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 199 that place. General EweU made a speech to Rode's divis ion, complimenting them upon the successes of the march, their military bearing, and soldierly conduct. Then turn ing to Daniel's brigade, recently attached to the division, he said: "You have shown yourselves so obedient to all orders, so sturdy and regular on the march and so weU disciplined, that I will intrust to you the bearing of the 'Corps flag,' confident that its honor could never suffer while in the keeping of such troops." This was a proud moment for General Daniel and the highest compliment that could have been conferred on his troops. The older brigades murmured at this prefer ence, but the flag was valiantly borne in many hard fought battles. General Ramseur said that he coveted that flag and that he never saw troops move with more precision on parade than the troops who bore it when ordered to change their position under the full fire of the enemy. This tribute came from an honored rival and could not have been meant for mere pleasantry. The action of General Daniel at Gettysburg and the troops under his command won for him the highest es teem among his fellow soldiers of whatever rank. The senior captain of the Forty-Third Regiment, Gary Whit aker, who commanded the regiment after Kenan was shot down and who afterwards sealed his patriotism with his blood, is reported to have said that General Lee thus ac costed General Daniel after the battle: "General Daniel, your troops behaved admirably and they were admirably handled." General Daniel made an admirable report of the battle of Gettysburg, which is of sufficient interest to reproduce, at least, a portion of it : "I cannot, in justice to the officers and men of my com mand, close this portion of my report without recording my honest conviction that the conduct of the troops, who participated in this engagement, wiU fumish brighter ex amples of patient endurance than were ever exhibited be fore. Entering the fight in the first day at about one P. 200 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY M, and hotly engaged until four P, M., during which time they constantly drove before them a superior force of the enemy, losing nearly one-third of their number and many valuable officers ; exposed during the second day to a gaU- ing fire of artUlery from which they suffered much, they moved at night in a line of battle on the enemy's strong positions, after which, with less than two hours' rest and having made a fatiguing night march, they reported to General Johnson and entered the fight again at four A. M. on the third day and were not withdra-wn until between three and four in the afternoon, then skirmishers remain ing engaged until nearly twelve at night, and this whole time being constantly exposed to, and suffering from, the enemy's fire. Shortly after twelve, they were required to repeat the march of the preceding night and occupy the positions from which they had driven the enemy on the first day. Nor was there exhibited by any portion of the command during the three days in which they were en gaged any disposition to shrink from the duties before them or any indication of that despondency with which men similarly exposed are so often affected." The next engagement, in which Daniel's brigade took part, was at Spottsylvania Court House, May 11, 1864. During a desperate charge of the Federals, the Confeder ate lines were broken and the enemy was rapidly advanc ing, when Daniel's brigade, which had been on the reserve line up to that time was brought into action, and, being led by General Daniel in a gallant charge, checked the ad vance of the Federals and converted a defeat into a vic tory. On the next morning, at the "Horseshoe Bend," hear Spottsylvania Court House, General Daniel fought his last battle. General Edward Johnson's division had been surprised early in the morning and most of it cap tured or kUled. General Daniel was leading his brigade to recapture the works when he was struck in the abdo men by a minie ball. He was carried in a litter to the hospital about one mUe in the rear and kept under the in fiuence of opiates untU the next day when he died. His fePOoX3 Oa «p o o BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 209 One of Major Emry's associates in the development of "Great Falls" as a manufacturing point thus speaks of him: "To Major Thomas L, Emry belongs the honor of discovering the advantages of this place as a manufactur ing site. He buUt the first power plant ever erected here. When he began it, I doubt if he knew where the next pay roll was coming from. He was a man of indomitable en ergy, however, and finished it," Major Emry lived to see the fruition of his dreams, a great manufacturing centre on a site chosen by himself. His name is associated with the magic city, and he wUl be remembered as one of the greatest potentialities in its development and gro-wth. He died September 8, 1910, XXIX RICHARD H. SMITH. Previous to the war between the States, agriculture was almost the only industry of importance in Halifax County. The agriculturist, or planter, as the large farmer of that day was called, was generally a man of infiuence and note in his community. As tilling the soil was the occupation upon which the welfare of the county chiefly depended, the man who brought wealth to his community in that way was a benefactor, Richard H, Smith was one of the influential planters, among a number of such men in the lower part of the county, during the decades immediately preceding the CivU War, Born near Scotland Neck, May 10, 1812, he grew up on the farm of his father, William R. Smith, im bibing the strength, character, and spirit of the well-bred country boy of that period. At the age of five, he was sent to school at the Vine Hill Academy in Scotland Neck. When twelve years old he entered the school of W. E. Webb at Hyde Park in the Littleton section of the county, and remained there three years. There is no record of his work as a student either at Vine 210 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Hill or at Hyde Park ; but as he was a model boy, it can well be inferred that he made good marks and won the respect and confidence of his teachers and class-mates. After spending a year at Oxford, he matriculated at the University of North Carolina in the fall of 1828, receiv ing his diploma of graduation in 1832. In the spring of 1833 he went to Warrenton, N. C, and began the study of law under Edward Hall, an attorney of that town. After finishing his course and before applying for license to practice, he was married, December 4, 1834, to Sally HaU, daughter of Judge John Hall. Aban doning the practice of law, he turned his attention to ag riculture, and, assuming the burden of management, he soon became an agriculturalist of recognized ability. WeU educated and endowed with natural talents of a high or der, he early became a leader among the farmers of the county. He was not a politician by nature and refused to seek political preferment. In 1848, however, he was persuaded by his fellow citizens to become a candidate for the house of Commons on the ticket with William L. Long. Andrew Joyner, a veteran of the War of 1812, was the candidate on the same ticket for the senate. At the polls the ticket received a majority vote, and "Dick" Smith, as he was famUiarly caUed, began his public career. As a legislator, he incurred unpopularity because he voted for the charter of the North Carolina RaUroad, and, in the election of 1850, he was defeated. He was, however, renominated in 1852 and elected, and also again in 1854. Retiring from politics at the end of his term in 1855, he devoted his energies to his farming interests, and amassed a fortune that was considerable for that day. Although out of politics, he took an active interest in the great questions then agitating the country, chief among them that of slavery, which seemed destined to disrupt the Union. He was an ardent supporter of States Rights and a strict constructionist, and, with other Southern men, viewed the unreasonable acts of the radical element BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 211 in the North with alarm. There seemed no chance for a peaceful settlement of the dispute between the North and the South, but Richard H, Smith was a union man and la bored for peace until aU hope of a solution of the trouble had passed. In January, 1861, the General Assembly, by an act, sub mitted to the people the question of the call of a conven tion to consider the matter of secession, and, at the same time, called for the election of delegates to the convention if it should be called by vote of the people, Richard H, Smith was one of the candidates of the opponents of the convention and was elected, but the call for the conven tion was defeated. In May, however, of the same year, another convention was called by a majority vote of the people, and Richard H, Smith and Charles J, Gee were sent as the delegates from Halifax County, The country was in a state of excitement, Sumter had fallen and President Lincoln had called upon North Carolina and other Southem States for troops to wage war upon the Southern Confederacy, The war had actually begun. So when the convention met in Raleigh, May 20, there was no union sentiment among the members. All were for immediate secession. By a unanimous vote the ordi nance was passed, the Halifax representatives being among the most ardent advocates of the step. During the war that followed, "Dick" Smith remained at his home near Scotland Neck, his age excluding him from active participation in military service. He was, however, a diligent student of affairs as they transpired, and, at the end, saw and felt the crash with composure. The beginning of the war found him a man of wealth. The end revealed him almost financially bankrupt. Perhaps the most eminent service Richard H. Smith performed was what he did as a churchman. He was one of the organizers of Trinity Parish and a vestryman for more than fifty years. For fifty-nine years he was a del egate from his church to the Diocesan Convention, and in October, 1865, was a delegate to the General Convention 212 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY of the Episcopal Church, which met that year m Phila delphia, One of the great questions before the ecclesias tical body was the reunion of the northern and southem branches of the Church, Along with other southern mem bers, Richard H, Smith's voice was raised in behalf of reconciliation. He gained the ear of the convention and the two bodies voted to forget the past and to bury all differences. When the Roanoke and Tar River Agricultural Society was organized a few years after the close of the CivU War, Richard H, Smith was chosen its first president. Largely by his efforts and the efficiency of the secretaries of the Fair Association, the successful series of fairs, which had a great influence upon the activities of the county, was held for a number of years at Weldon, He died March 3, 1893, at his home near Scotland Neck. XXX GEORGE GREEN LYNCH. As a trusted employee of the Postoffice Departments of both the Confederacy and the United States, George Green Lynch had the unusual distinction of having been personally commended by both governments for merito rious services. His was a career notable and conspicuous for patriotic self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. Born near Whitakers, Edgecombe County, November 28, 1817, he grew up on his father's farm and early devel oped the sturdy character of integrity for which he was so weU known in later life. Taught only in the primitive schools of that day, his education was not as profound as would be supposed from the record of the exceUent ser vice which he afterwards rendered. He was, however, a close student of that which was most worth whUe, and became, as years passed, a man of strong personality and more than average intelligence. About 1840, George Lynch entered the service of the BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 213 United States Government as Route Agent of the Post- office Department, and, in a few years, was made Special Agent of the same division of the government. He held the latter position, when the Confederate Government was organized at Montgomery, Ala., in February, 1861. Without waiting to see what course North Carolina was going to take in the crisis, but, believing that the state was going to secede from the Union, he tendered his resigna tion to the department in Washington, March 1, 1861. In answer to his letter of resignation, he received the fol lowing communication: "G. G. Lynch, Esq., of North Carolina, has been in the service of this Department as Route Agent and Special Agent for the long period of sixteen years and upwards, and has always distinguished himself by the most constant and untiring devotion to the public interests. "From our knowledge of him both personaUy and offi cially, we cheerfully, and, as an act of justice, testify our high appreciation of his services, and regret that circum stances impel him to resign his office. (Signed) HORATIO KING, Postmaster-General (Signed) A. N. ZEVERLY, 3rd Assistant P. M. G." July 1, 1861, he was tendered and accepted the position of Special Agent of the Postoffice Department of the Con federate Govemment under Postmaster-General John H, Reagan, which position he held untU the downfaU of the Confederacy, During the period of his connection with the Confeder ate Government, he was trusted with many dangerous and important missions. His field of operations was the entire South and portions of the West, through which he traveled, establishing postoffices and making coUections for the government. At one time, he personally conveyed from Augusta, Ga., to WUmington, N. C, $50,000 in gold. 214 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY for which he was highly complimented by General Rea gan in a letter written October 30, 1863. At another time, he was sent to West Virginia to estab lish mail communication between the army of General Floyd, who was in command of that department, and the country to the east and south. Later, he was commis sioned by General Reagan to establish postal service in such parts of Missouri as were in possession of the Con federacy. For three months he was engaged in this ardu ous task while his f amUy knew not whether he was alive or dead. So successful, however, was he in carrying out the or ders of his superiors that he was offered by President Jef ferson Davis the position of Assistant Postmaster-Gen eral with headquarters west of the Mississippi River, which, however, he declined. He continued his strenuous duties in a subordinate position until defeat settled upon the arms of the Confederacy in April, 1865. After Lee's surrender, he returned to his home out of employment but stUl vigorous and optimistic. The next year he was made General Agent of the WU mington and Weldon RaUroad Company with headquar ters at Weldon and was continuously in its employment until his death, December 28, 1886. During this time, he was a trusted employee and personal friend of some of the financiers, who were then laying plans for the great At lantic Coast Line Railroad Company. Judge Lynch, as he was then famUiarly known, may be considered as one of the factors, though in a modest way, of the formation of that standard railroad of the South. Judge Lynch was married February 19, 1846, to Emma Whitaker, from which union now survive six children, Mrs. Margaret Pierce, George G. Lynch, Adolphus B. Lynch, Mrs. F. S. Overton, Mrs, L, B, TUlery, and Mrs, B. W. Arrington. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 215 XXXI THOMAS N. HILL. Halifax County has been noted in the past, as weU as in the present, for its able jurists. Some of the most pro found students of the law have lived and practiced at the Halifax bar, and have shed lustre upon the name of the County. Among the legal lights of the latter part of the nine teenth century, the name of Thomas N, HUl is conspic uous. He was the second son of Whitmel John HiU and La-vinia Dorothy Barnes Hill, and was born March 12, 1838, near HUl's Cross Roads in the Scotland Neck sec tion of Halifax County, the neighborhood still retaining its name from the Hill family. After preparatory study at Vine Hill Academy in Scot land Neck and at the Warrenton High School, he entered the Freshman Class at the State University in 1853, and was graduated with distinction in June 1857, receiving the bachelor's degree. Later the master's degree was con ferred upon him by his alma mater. Some of his class mates were Robert Bingham, superintendent of the Bing ham Military School at Asheville; A, C, Avery, of Mor ganton, for years a Superior Court and a Supreme Court Judge; Thomas S, Kenan, Attorney-General, and later Clerk of the Supreme Court ; John W. Graham, for a long time one of the most eminent lawyers of the State; and Thaddeus Belsher, founder of the University of Columbus and CarroUton College in Mississippi. Leaving college, he attended for two years Judge Pear son's Law School and became grounded in the principles of common law. In December, 1858, he was licensed to prac tice in the County Courts, and, the next year, received li cense to practice in the Superior Courts of the State. In 1860, he opened a law office in Halifax, but later the same year changed his location to Scotland Neck. In politics, he was a Whig and a Union man. During the 216 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY fall and winter of 1860-61, when troublous times arose, he opposed secession and argued strenuously for the union as it existed. When, however, the State seceded. May 20, 1861, and war was inevitable, he enlisted as a private in the Scotland Neck Mounted Riflemen, afterwards Com pany G of the Third North Carolina Cavalry. He was a soldier for about a year, for in May, 1862, whUe in the army, he was elected Solicitor for Halifax County. Re turning home, he took up his new duties and continued in office until 1866 when he declined re-election. He was im mediately appointed Clerk and Master in Equity by Judge Fowle, who was on the Superior Court Bench at that time. He resigned this office in 1867, and devoted his energies to the practice of his profession. As an office lawyer, Tom Hill, as he was familiarly known, had few superiors among his contemporaries. He was often appointed Referee, and, in that auxiliary court, his knowledge of law and his power of analysis were at their best in the investigation and determination of diffi cult questions both of law and fact. His report as Referee in the case of Badger vs. Daniel, in Volume 79 of the North Carolina State Reports, is an Ulustration of his careful preparation. He had an extensive practice in the courts of Halifax, Northampton, Warren, Bertie, Martin, and Hertford counties, in the Supreme Court at Raleigh, and in the United States Circuit and District Courts. For more than forty-five years, he had as his opponents or associates, in the trial of cases, some of the ablest law yers in the State, Among them may be mentioned John Catling, Fabius H, Busbee, Joseph B, Batchelor, and John W, Hinsdale, of the Raleigh bar ; WiUiam W, Peebles, Rob ert B, Peebles, Matt, W. Ransom, Thomas W. Mason, and W. C, Bowen, of the Northampton bar ; Henry A. Gilliam, of Edgecombe; James E, Moore, of Martin; WiUiam D. Pruden, of Chowan; B. B. Winborne, of Hertford; Wil liam A. Jenkins, of Warren; Edward Conigland, Robert O, Burton, WiUiam H, Kitchin, Spier Whitaker, William H, Day, John A, Moore, WUIiam A. Dunn, Claude Kitchin, f-^ ^u^ L^c^yy^^ , BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 217 Edward L. Travis, James M. Mullen, Walter Clark, and Walter E, Daniel, of the Halifax bar. In 1877, upon the creation of the Inferior Courts, he was elected Chairman of the Halifax County Inferior Court Board of Justices and continued as the presiding officer of that Court untU it was abolished by act of the General Assembly some years later. As presiding judi cial officer. Judge Hill was fair and impartial in his de cisions, and retained the highest respect and confidence of his associates. January 1, 1878, he located in Halifax for the second time, and shortly thereafter, he became a candidate be fore the Democratic State Convention for the nomination for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The following notice of his candidacy is taken from the Raleigh News in its issue of June 6, 1878 : "Mr, Thomas N, Hill, a gentleman prominently spoken of in connection with a place on the Supreme Court Bench, is in the city ; but if he ever finds the office or the office finds him, it will have to seek him, for he appears to be entirely too modest and unassuming for the practical busi ness of political electioneering, but it is said by those who know him that a very high order of merit is concealed about his person and that he has few superiors in the law." When the convention met. Judge Hill received a large vote, but was defeated by the venerable Judge W. N. H, Smith, of Hertford County. In 1888, he was again a can didate and was defeated by James E, Shepherd, of Beau fort County, who was elected and was afterwards elevated to the Chief Justiceship, It appears, therefore, how nar rowly Judge Hill failed of being signally honored by his fellow citizens. In 1902, he was importuned to become a candidate be fore the Democratic State Convention for the nomination of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court against the then incumbent, Judge Walter Clark, another distinguished jurist of Halifax County, Judge HiU, however, declined 218 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY to be a candidate before the convention, but afterwards announced his candidacy as an independent, "subject, however," as he explained, "to such action as may be tak en by any State Convention composed of Democrats that may assemble hereafter for the purpose of making a nom ination in opposition to Judge Clark," Shortly after his announcement, the Republican State Convention met and passed the foUowing resolution : "Resolved, that, whereas the Republican party desiring the elevation to the Bench of the best fitted lawyer of the State, regardless of party affiliations, the candidacy of the Hon, Thomas N. HiU, of Halifax, for Chief Justice of North Carolina, is hereby endorsed, and, we, the Republi cans of the State, in convention assembled, do earnestly recommend him to the people of the State for this high office." Although his candidacy was urged by a campaign com mittee with headquarters at Greensboro, and a thorough canvass made, he faUed of election. This was his last ap pearance before the public, for he died July 24, 1904, at his home in the town of Halifax- He was a communicant of the Episcopal Church, a member of the Masonic Frater nity, the State Bar Association, the American Bar Asso ciation, and the Sons of the Revolution. He was twice married, first to Eliza Evans Hall, June 4, 1861, who died October 25, 1884, from which union there were ten children, four sons and six daughters ; sec ond to Mary Amis Long, daughter of Nicholas Long, of Weldon, on March 1, 1887, who died October 12, 1901, without issue. XXXII PETER EVANS SMITH. Peter Evans Smith, son of WiUiam Ruffin Smith and Susan Evans Smith, was bom in Edgecombe County, Jan uary 20, 1829, and, like most boys of that day, was reared on a farm. He was named for his maternal grandfather, BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 219 who lived near Old Sparta in Edgecombe County, He was the oldest of thirteen chUdren, When old enough to attend school, he was sent to the Vine HUl Male Academy in Scotland Neck; but later, he was thoroughly prepared for college at the famous Wil liam Bingham School in Orange County, In September, 1846, he matriculated at the University of North Caro lina. It is said that he was so well prepared that he did not have to study as much as other freshmen ; but whUe his class-mates were struggling over their lessons for next day, Peter Smith was sitting under the Davis Poplar play ing the flute or violin, or out elsewhere taking daguerro- types. On the day of graduation, however, he stood among the best in his class and received his diploma. At the age of twenty-five, he married Rebecca Whitmel HiU, daughter of Whitmel J, Hill ; and, although he had no fondness for the life of a farmer, he was given a farm by his father, settled upon it, and became an agri culturist. He was a born mechanic, but did not have the opportunity, in early life, to give attention to his devel oping genius along that line. For some years, he followed the life of a planter, but finally gave up his farming inter ests and turned his attention entirely to shop work. As a mechanic and inventor, he is probably best kno-wn. He was the first man in the county to introduce the use of the planing mill. He invented the method of shrinking tires; an electric buoy, similar to the kind now used in New York harbor; a drill for boring holes through iron raUs, which was stolen by some Federal raiders during the CivU War and patented afterward ; a cotton planter, which was among the first of that useful implement on the farm ; and others of a minor nature. He was a raUroad buUder of considerable note, was one of the principal contractors in the construction of the Kinston branch of the Wil mington and Weldon RaUroad, and of the Norfolk and Carolina, During the CivU War, Peter Smith was no slacker. His mechanical genius caused his services to be in demand in 220 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY other departments more important than in the ranks. A notable example of the work he did during that time is the construction of the Confederate Ram Albemarle at Edwards' Ferry near Scotland Neck. Gilbert Elliott, of Elizabeth City, had the contract for buUding the boat; but Peter Smith was the chief buUder. Much of the credit for the success of that wonderful piece of mechanism is due him. After the CivU War, he lived quietly and unpreten tiously at his home in Scotland Neck, working at his trade as a mechanic. He had his shops in "Old ClarksviUe" and in addition to his regular work in that line, he mended clocks, watches, locks, and guns for his neighbors free of charge. His genius, which, in more populous centers, might have brought him fame and fortune, was expended unsparingly in the interests of his friends almost without pay. XXXIII ROBERT 0, BURTON, D, D, Among the men intimately connected with the rise and progress of Methodism in Halifax County, the name of Robert O. Burton stands preeminent. For more than fifty years, he labored as an itinerant minister in the Roa noke section of North Carolina, most of the time in desti tute localities, where the people heard him gladly. The story of his life is an almost complete account of the be ginning of the Methodist Church in this portion of the State, Robert Oswald Burton was born in CampbeU County, Virginia, June 30, 1811, His father planned for him a military career and fashioned his education with that in mind. As soon as he was prepared, he was sent to the West Point Military Academy to take up his studies there ; but the young soldier, although a brilliant student, did not complete the course. Feeling that he was called to preach the gospel, he resigned the West Point Cadetship, after two years, and returned home. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 221 Shortly after giving up his prospects of a mUitary ca reer, he joined the Virginia Conference, in 1833, which met that year in Petersburg, and was ordained deacon the same year and elder in 1837. He was sent in the former year, as an itinerant preacher, to that portion of the Vir ginia Conference included in North Carolina with head quarters at Weldon. This was the beginning of his con nection with Halifax County, a relation which continued to the day of his death. When the North Carolina Conference was organized in 1837, he became a member of that body and retained his membership for more than fifty years. During all those years, he was one of the most prominent members and wielded an influence which was felt throughout the state. He filled some of the most important pastorates in the Conference and was several times Presiding Elder, On March 29, 1842, he was married to Elizabeth Joy ner, daughter of Colonel Andrew Joyner of Weldon, and built his home, Wyandoke, near Poplar Grove, the home of his father-in-law, a few miles from town, near the pres ent city of Roanoke Rapids, Throughout all the years of his ministry, even in other counties, he held this house as an anchorage to which he returned, an experience that few Methodist preachers have. Here he reared a family of nine children. The extent of his work can be best judged from the list of charges that he had at different times : In 1834, Junior preacher on Amelia circuit; 1835, GranviUe circuit; 1836, Greensboro; 1837, Salisbury; 1838-42, Agent of Randolph-Macon College; 1843, P. E. of Washington District ; 1846, Henderson Circuit ; 1847- 48, Raleigh Station; 1849-50, Roanoke Circuit; 1851-54, Roanoke Circuit; 1855-58, P, E, Raleigh District; 1858, transferred to the Virginia Conference; 1859-62, P. E, Petersburg District ; 1863, Greenville Circuit ; 1864, Mili tary encampment at Garysburg; 1865, Greenville Circuit; 1866-68, Union Circuit; 1869, Supt. of Colored work; 1870, transferred to North Carolina Conference; 1871-3, 222 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Supt, Colored work; 1874-76, Roanoke Circuit; 1877, Lit tleton Circuit; 1878, Henderson Circuit; 1879-80, Roar noke Circuit; 1881, Edgecombe Circuit; 1882-83, P. E. Wilmington District; 1884, P. E. Greensboro District; 1885-88, Warrenton Circuit ; 1889, Ridgeway Circuit. As a pulpit orator, he had few equals in the North Caro lina Conference. His language was impassioned and forceful, and he rarely ever spoke without leaving a pro found impression upon his hearers. His influence in the Conference was almost unlimited. Whenever Dr, Burton spoke, the audience gave immediate attention, Dr, Burton was not a politician in the sense of seeking advantage for himself. He never made an effort to ad vance his own interests in the Episcopacy of his church. Several times his name was prominently mentioned in connection with the bishopric, but he declined to put forth any effort to obtain it. His principal ambition was to serve, and, if he could do that in an humble position bet ter than in an exalted one, he was content. Whatever honors, therefore, came to him were unsought and wholly deserved. Dr. Burton was a man of intense religious convictions, convincingly in earnest when trying to persuade, and dig nified in both speech and demeanor. While all that was in his general character, he was not slow to see the point of a joke, or to appreciate real shafts of wit. The follow ing paragraph is taken from an appreciative sketch of him printed a few years ago in the Roanoke News, "There was a humorous side to Dr, Burton's character and many are the quaint stories told of him by those who knew him well. One of these is that upon an occasion when he was dining away from home, having helped a lady quite plentifully, from a dish he was serving, with more candor than good breeding she remarked, 'I didn't want a cart load.' Dr. Burton did not reply, but, biding his time, he soon saw that she had eaten all on her plate, and then said to her, 'Sister, back your cart up and I'll load it again,' " BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 223 One of the most dramatic incidents in his career oc curred at the annual Conference in Greensboro in 1889, The motion was made to put the name of R, 0, Burton on the superannuated list. Immediately Dr, Burton took the floor in his own behalf and combatted the motion, declar ing that he was able to do the work of the pastorate and that he wanted to die with his armor on. He made one of the greatest speeches of his life and succeeded in getting the Conference to place his name on the supernumerary list instead. He was thus allowed in his old age and f aUing health to continue in the ministry though with light work, Dr, Burton was married twice. His second wife was Mary Olivia Pearson, His first marriage was blessed -with an offspring of four sons, his second of three sons and two daughters, all of whom reached maturity. Hav ing reached his four score years by reason of his strength, he breathed his last December 17, 1891, at his home near Weldon. xxxrv ROBERT 0, BURTON, JR, Among the able lawyers that Halifax County has pro duced, Robert O. Burton, Jr., ranks high. Although he died at an age before most men attain their greatest suc cesses, he can be classed with those who have reflected honor upon the county and state. He was the fourth son of Dr. Robert O. Burton, a dis tinguished Methodist minister, and Elizabeth Joyner Burton, daughter of Colonel Andrew Joyner, a veteran of this War of 1812 and for a long time senator from Halifax County. Born January 9, 1852, he was a mere lad at the time of the Civil War and experienced the hardships of that period and grew to manhood during Reconstruction Days. Who can tell but that the privations of those days taught him lessons that contributed no little to the sturdy character he afterwards developed? Of his boyhood days, one of his earliest friends, a 224 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY school-mate, has the following to say : "His early years were spent like other boys of his neighborhood with the distinction of being a favorite at all times among his com rades and school-fellows. At the old school taught by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Archer, it was this writer's privUege to share this comradeship. Was a game of 'prisoners base' proposed? 'Bob Burton' was the one boy clamored for on both sides. Was a less bright boy troubled with the solving of what seemed to him intricate problems in percentage, or partial payments? Bob Burton was the friend to stand between him and Mr, Archer's rod, while he, too, sometimes felt the persuasive eloquence of this same rod. His nature was calm, cool, thoughtful, and de liberate, and he was at all times ready to help the needy, de fend the weak, and exact justice for his childhood friends," Early in life, Robert Burton felt himself called to the practice of law. Unwilling, however, to enter this learned profession without being fully equipped, as a boy, he began to canvass the situation to secure the funds needed for the completion of a college course. The dis asters of the war and reconstruction days left the boy, along with others, almost penniless. His father's in come, now reduced, and his mother's fortune, now swept away, added nothing to his prospects. His opportunity to complete his academic education seemed indeed slight. Determined, however, to go to college, the nineteen year old boy taught school for a year near Ridgeway, N. C, and practiced the most rigid economy in order to save money. He boarded that year in the home of Thomas Carroll, whose daughter he afterwards married. His work as a teacher was as conscientiously done as his larger labors afterwards as a lawyer were accomplished. Finishing the school year as a teacher, he prepared to enter college in the fall of 1872. He matriculated at Ran dolph-Macon and was a close student for about two years. He did not take a degree, but his work was so well done that he won the respect and confidence of the faculty and student body. It is said that as a student he was methodi- feo HH (fiHto BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 225 cal and systematic. When prevailed upon by his fellow students to play ball with them, he would promise to play only for a certain length of time, and when it was out, he would quit and go back to his studies. No one was more conscientious in his work than he. Leaving coUege in 1873, he taught school again for a year in order to pay some college debts. While teaching he read law privately, and, in 1874, received his license and located in the town of Halifax. There he formed a partnership with Edward Conigland, which continued until the tragic death of the latter in 1877, For fifteen years, he practiced at the bar of Halifax and was one of the leading barristers in that historic town. He fought many legal battles during that time, and in all of them, he won fairly or lost because his adversary had the bet ter cause. In 1889, in search of a broader field, he moved to Rich mond, Va., and remained about a year. Returning to North Carolina, he located in Raleigh, and, for nine years was one of the leading attorneys of the capital city. En dowed with two natural gifts, a strong mind and un wearied diligence, Robert Burton built up a wide practice, which began to be lucrative and exacting. Speaking of his success, the News and Observer made the following remark : "Mr. Burton's most notable victory at the bar was when he won the difficult and celebrated case of State vs. WUmington and Weldon RaUroad, By the terms of its charter, that railroad claimed and exercised exemption from taxation. The Supreme Court of the United States had affirmed their right to exemption in a case that went up before it built any branches. After it had built numerous branches and had come to be one of the best paying raUroads in the whole country, the State felt that, even if the exemption on the main line could hold, the road could not go on building numerous branch lines and feed ers without subjecting such property to taxation. There was much agitation of the matter between 1888 and 1891, HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY during the administration of Governor Fowle, After an in vestigation of the matter, Governor Fowle and State Treasurer Bain determined to test the right of the claimed exemption, and Mr. Burton, Mr. Ryan, and per haps other attorneys were retained to represent the State. Mr. Burton entered into this difficult case with aU his zeal, giving almost his whole time to a study of the ques tion. Most of the lawyers thought that the exemption was unlimited and perpetual, and that nothing could be done which would subject that property to taxation. The difficulties were many. But Mr, Burton's ability and gen ius were able to overcome them. He made a test case that was tried when Judge Connor was on the Superior Court Bench. Judge Connor decided that Mr. Burton's con tention was sound and he had won first blood. The case was one of such great importance that Judge Connor rendered his decision in an ably written opinion. The railroad appealed to the Supreme Court, Mr, Burton's argument there was one of the ablest that has been heard in the chamber of the State's highest court. The court affirmed Judge Connor. The opinion of the court was de livered by Justice Clark. The opinions of Judge Connor and Justice Clark, sustaining the contention made for the State by Mr. Burton, made it so clear that the exemp tion could not long stand that at the next session of the Legislature a compromise was effected by which the rail road surrendered all claim to exemption from taxation. It is the most important case that has been decided in North Carolina in a quarter of a century, and his success in that case gave Mr. Burton wide reputation and rank with the first lawyers of the State." That case established his reputation in North Carolina and, thereafter, his success was assured. Some years af terward, the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Company, having recognized his ability in the great legal battle against them, secured his services to represent them at the State capitol ; and, true to his instincts as a la-wyer, he accepted the trust, thus becoming the defender of the Coi'- BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 227 poration that he had so ardently fought a few years be fore, a distinct compliment to his ability and integrity. The last legal battle in which he appeared was the cele brated case of Gattis vs. KUgo, which was tried in Oxford the latter part of November, 1900. His speech on that occasion for the defendant was one of the best ever de livered in the GranviUe Courthouse. He went home and took his bed with a raging fever. He died December 27, 1900, Robert 0, Burton was a la-wyer. He was devoted to his profession, and avoided politics. May 29, 1878, he was married to Mary CarroU, who survived him. XXXV WILLIAM T. SHAW, JR. One of the young men that Halifax County sent to the Great European War and who came not back again was WiUiam T. Shaw, Jr., who was kUled in action in the Sec ond Battle of the Marne, July 16, 1918. The record of his brief life deserves a place in the annals of the county. WUIiam Shaw, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Shaw, of Wel don, was born June 21, 1892. His early life was spent un der ideal influences, developing in him those high traits of character that distinguished him throughout his brief life. As a pupil in school, he easily led his classes and was regarded by teachers and class-mates as a boy of superior mold. He was fond of athletics, and was usually leader of the boys on the playground. In all his school life, both on class and on the athletic field, he was the champion of fair play. WiUiam Shaw's word went a long way in the decis ion of questions of right or wrong among his play-fellows. Before completing the course at the Weldon High School, he was sent to the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Raleigh, N. C, for the purpose of studying textile industry. There, as he had done in the preparatory school, HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY he led his classes, graduating with honor in 1914, WhUe in college, he was made captain of one of the companies of the cadet battalion, and ranked high as a soldier and a dis ciplinarian. In a competitive drill, his company easily won the prize as the best trained men in college. Leaving college in 1914, he accepted work in one of the cotton mills in DanvUle, Va., where he remained a year. Returning to Weldon in 1915, he was made Superintendent of one of the mills of the Weldon Manufacturing Company, and continued in that capacity until August, 1917, when he volunteered for service in the Great War. He entered the Officers' Training Camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., for three months' intensive drill for a commission in the Unit ed States army. In November, he was commissioned cap tain, an honor bestowed upon few. Upon winning this high honor at the Training Camp, William Shaw was assigned to the Fifty-First Regiment of Infantry and ordered to report for duty at Fort Ogle thorpe early in December, 1917, His duties there for four months brought him in contact with some of the best drUled men in the United States Army, and in every trial of skill, Shaw was a match for the best. Early in May, 1918, William Shaw's regiment received orders for overseas duty and entrained for Hoboken. There he was detained for several weeks, but finally embarka tion orders came and he joined his company in France about the last of May. After a month's training behind the lines, his regiment was ordered to the front about the time the Germans made their last great drive in July. Ar riving upon the battle front, these fresh American troops, anxious for a trial of strength with the famous Prussian guards, were thrown into the thickest of the fight and brought the advance of the enemy to a standstill, A few days later when the time came for the great counter at tack of the allies. Captain Shaw led the charge upon the hitherto invincible Prussians and forced them to give ground ; but in that victorious advance, Shaw received a mortal wound, dying in the arms of victory. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY WiUiam Shaw was a hero and a patriot, AVhen great pressure was brought to bear upon him to remain in the productive occupation he was in and take deferred classi fication in the draft, he replied that it was his duty to go and fight for the cause of humanity and justice. When his mother endeavored to persuade him to remain at home un tU there was a more urgent call, he said, "It is my duty to go, and, mother, it is your duty as a Christian to bid me go." Thus did he see his duty clearly, and seeing it he dared to perform it. OTHERS WHO HAVE WROUGHT, To give a biographical sketch of all the men who have left their impress upon the County and State would take these pages far beyond the original purpose, and yet there are others whose lives and deeds are like "Apples of gold in pictures of silver". Only a brief mention of them can now be made because of the difficulties in getting posses sion of the facts. Perhaps some Boswell will be induced to do the delving that is necessary to discover the hidden gems, and will some time bring them to the light, Abner Nash, who, afterwards, became Governor of the State, lived in the county many years. He was, for sev eral times, a member of the General Assembly, part of the time representing the town of Halifax and at other times the County, He owned at one time immense tracts of land on the Roanoke river, but he later sold his belongings and moved to HiUsboro. Rev, Thomas Burgess was a pioneer Episcopal minis ter, who was among the first religious teachers to work in the borders of the present county. He was one of the few ministers of the Church of England in North Caro lina in the middle of the eighteenth century. His field was the parish of Edgecombe, which later became the County of Halifax. He was for years rector of the Episcopal Church in the to-wn of Halifax, 230 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY WiUiam E. Webb was an educator of ability and a man of considerable influence in the town of Halifax during the first quarter of the eighteenth century. In addition to being a teacher and Principal of Union Academy, he was for three terms a representative from the county in the General Assembly. John Campbell was for some years editor of the Hali fax Minerva, a weekly newspaper published in the town of Halifax about 1830. He later quit the newspaper work and came to Weldon to live, became a railroad employe, organized the first lodge of Odd Fellows in North Caro lina, and later, became the first Grand Master of the Grand Jurisdiction of North Carolina. William H. Kitchin was one of the Democratic war- horses of the period following the Civil War. Leading a forlorn hope in 1878, he accepted the nomination for Con gress, and, by adroit political maneuvering, divided the opposition to him into two hostile camps and was elected by a plurality vote. His influence in politics was felt in the State for a number of years, and he was considered one of the best stump speakers in Eastern North Carolina. His two eminent sons. Will and Claude, are still adding honor to the County of Halifax. Rev. Thomas G. Lowe was, during the period following the Civil War, a distinguished minister of the Methodist Church, He was an eloquent speaker and was kno-wn all over the State as one of the best equipped preachers of the Methodist denomination. He lived in the town of Halifax, William A, Dunn, for a number of years following the CivU War, was a prominent lawyer of Scotland Neck. He had a large practice, and, for a long time, was a leader sociaUy, economically, and commercially of his section of the county, John A. Collins was a prominent physician of Enfield, and a political leader for almost a generation. Small of body but with a big heart and brain, he wielded a large influence in the affairs of the county until his death in 1916. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 331 WiUiam H. Day was a lawyer of considerable ability of Weldon during Reconstruction Days, and for years after ward. He was one of the best criminal lawyers of his day. In later life he moved to Raleigh and was prominent at the bar of that city when he died. W. T. Whitfield, who was born near Weldon, made his home in that place in 1834 when a boy fourteen years old and was a factor in the upbuilding of the place for seventy- six years, dying at the age of ninety. For thirty-five years, he was the agent of the Southern Express Company in Weldon, He was a prominent Odd Fellow, and did much in building up that brotherhood in North Carolina. And these lived and wrought and "slept with their fathers", and their works do follow them. THE END, INDEX AI4BEMAELE, the ironclad ram used by the Confederates m the Cml War, 116-120. Allen, EUsha, 90 Allen, Hamlm, 90. AUen, James, 53, 57. Allen, John, 46, 47. Allen, Walter N., sketch of, 204,-206. Alston, William, 25, 28. Alston, Wilhs, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43, 68, 105; sketch of, 168. Alston, WiUis, Jr., 69; sketch of, 169, 170. Ashe, John B., 7, 68, 69, 95, 103; sketch of, 151-153. Bakeh, Blake, representative of Hali fax County in Colonial Assembly, 16, 17. Baker, L. S., 121. Barrow, Jacob, 42. Bertie precinct, organized in 1722, 6; Halifax County included in, 7; new precinct formed from, caUed Edge combe precinct, 7. Blount, William, 65. Bradford, John, 25, 28, 31, 33, 40, 41; sketch of, 172, 173. Branch, John, 53, 54, 68, 72, 77, 99, 105, 144; sketch of, 177-181. Branch, L. O'B., 75, 121; sketch of, 192-194. Burgess, Rev. Thomas, 229. Burke, Thomas, 32. Burton, Hutchings G., 103; curious story connected with his death, 140; sketch of, 181-183. Burton, Rev. Robert 0., sketch of, 220-223. Burton, Robert O, Jr., sketch of, 223- 227. Bynum, Jesse A., 99, 103; rivalry be tween, and Robert Potter, 186-188. Campbell, John, 81, 230. CampbeU, John K., 90. Caswell, Richard, 40, 43, 45. 65. Champion, John, 37, 41. Chowan, river, 6. Clarendon County, 9. Clark, David C, 121. CoUins, John A., 230. Colonial Assembly, Ust of representa tives to, from Borough and County of Halifax, 21. Committee of Safety appointed, 25; met in Hahfax, Dec. 21, 1774, 26. Conigland, Edward, sketch of, 194, 195. Constitutional Convention and Con gress, 40-43. Cox, P., 37. Cox, W. R., 121. Crawley, David, 33. CroweU family, 136-138. Daniel, John R. J., 99; sketch of, 185, 186. Daniel, Joseph J., 72, 99, 103; sketch of, 183-185. Daniel, Junius, 121; sketch of, 196- 201. Davie, WUIiam B., 63, 63, 68, 69, 103, 144; sketch of, 156-162. Davis, James, 42. Davis, Orondates, 53, 68, 105; sketch of, 171, 172. Dawson, Henry, 37, 42. Day, WiUiam, 43. Day, WUIiam H., 231. Dewey, Stephen, first representative of town of HaUfax in Colonial As sembly, 16, 17. Drew, WiUiam, 72, 103. Dunn, WilUam A., 230. Eaton, Thomas, 35, 43. Edgecombe precinct organized in 1732, 7; long contest over, 7, 11; became Edgecombe County in 1738, 8; di-vided into two parishes, of which Edgecombe Parish be came Halifax County, 8. EUiott, GUbert, constructer of the 234 INDEX Confederate ram Albemarle, 116; description of the vessel by, quoted, 116-119. Emery, Thomas L., sketch of, 206- 209. Enfield, oldest town in Halifax Count- ty, 11, 12; made county seat of Edgecombe County in 1745, 11, 12; seat of district court of Edgecombe, Northampton, and Gran-viUe, 12. Enfield Academy, 77. Fakmwell Grove Academy, 77. Freemasonry in Halifax, 92-98. Geddy, John, 25, 27, 43. Glasgow, James, 40, 43. Green, James, 31, 40. Green, James, Jr., secretary of Pro vincial Congress at Halifax, April 4, 1776, 31. Halifax County, formed in 1758 from part of Edgecombe precinct, 7, 14; settled as early as 1732, 11; population in 1758 nearly 3000, 14; Halifax selected as county seat, 15 ; resolutions passed by freeholders of, August 22, 1774, 23, 24; spirit of independence in, pronounced, 30, 31; its part in the Revolutionary War, 31-61; and the national consti tution, 65, 66; influential in Federal Congress, 69; roster of two com panies of volunteers in war of 1812 from, 70, 71; visit of Lafayette to, 73, 74; schools in, 76-79; news papers in, 80, 81; coming of rail roads, 87; cultivation of fruits popular industry, 87; in the Mexi can War, 100; in the State Legisla ture, 103-105; in the Ci-vdl War, 107-127; reconstruction days in, 128-131; list of state representa tives, 1891-1917, 132; active part of county in the World War, 134; members of National House of Representatives from, 144; State oflScers from, 144, 145. Halifax, town, chosen as county seat of Halifax County, 15; occupied by the British, 57; celebrates surren der of CornwaUis, 62; Visit of Wash ington to, and his description of, in his Diary, 66, 67; for many years after the Revolution poUtical centre of State, 80; Ust of representatives in the State Legislature, 102; his toric homes in, 141, 142. Hamilton, John, 28, 34; sketch of, 38, 39. Harnett, Cornelius, 28, 32, 37, 40, 43. Haynes, Thomas, 25. ¦ Haywood, Egbert, 25, 28, 33, 40, 53, 68. Haywood, John, 68; sketch of, 165- 167. Haywood, WUUam, 43. Hewes, Joseph, 34, 37, 41. HiU, Thomas N., sketch of, 215-218. Hodge, Abraham, 81; sketch of, 176, 177. Hogan, James, 25, 27, 31, 34, 40. 41, 42, 52; sketch of, 162-164. Hooper, WilUam, 34, 37, 41. Indians, various tribes in HaUfax County before the coming of the wliites, 3; cultivation of soil by, rude, 4; peaceable relations with whites, 4; disappeared by 1720, 5. IvedeU, James, 66. Irwin, Henry, 28. Johnston, Samuel, president of Pro- ¦\dncial Congress at Halifax, April 4, 1776, 31. Jones, Albritton, 42. Jones, AUen, 32, 33, 63, 56, 57, 61. Jones, John Paul, 48-51; sketch of, 173-176. Jones, Thomas, 32, 42, 43. Jones, WiUie, 25, 26, 27, 31, 34, 37, 40. 41, 42, 45, 53, 62, 65, 67, 68, 95; sketch of, 153-156. Joyner, Andrew, 88, 91; sketch of, 190- 192. Kehukee Creek, settlement on, in 1742, 12; oldest Baptist church in North CaroUna at, 12. Kinchin, M., 32. Kitchin, Claude, 133, 134. Kitchin, W. H., 133, 230. La Vallie Female Academy, 78. Leech, Joseph, 43. London, David, 92. INDEX 235 Long, Nicholas, 25, 27, 34, 41, 57, 68; sketch of, 170, 171. Long, WilUam Lunsford, 90. Lynch, George Green, 212-214. Lowe, Rev. Thomas, G., 230. McCulloch, Benjamin, 34, 40, 68, 80. McCulIough, Alexander, representa tive of Halifax County in Colonial Assembly, 16, 17. Martin, Alexander, 65, 105. MiUer, Andrew, Merchant of Halifax, boycotted for refusing to sign Reso lutions of the Association, 26; prop erty confiscated in 1779, 27. Milner, James, 27. Montford, Joseph, 16, 21, 26, 27, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97. Montford, Henry, 42, 53, 68. Montford, Joseph, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 143; sketch of, 149-151. Moore, B. F., 99, 105; sketch of, 188- 190. Moore, James, story of a privateer's adventures by, 138, 139. Mtmday, Caleb, 37. Nash, Abner, 22, 32, 41, 56, 57, 229. Nash, Francis, 27. Newspapers in Halifax, 80, 81. NobUn, WilUam, 37, 42. North Carolina, early settlers of, from Virginia, 9. Parker, Francis M., sketch of, 201, 202. Parsons, James M., 37. Pearce, Josiah, 41. Penn, John, 34, 37, 105. Peterson, E. K., 90. Potter, Robert, 103; rivalry between, and Jesse A. Bynum, 186-188. Provincial Congress at HaUfax, 25, 27; authorizes enrollment of minute men, 27, 28; organizes Provincial CouncU, 28; important steps in favor of independence of the col onies, 31-35. Provincial Council ot Safety, at HaU fax, 36, 37, 40. Quarles, Peter, 68. Quit-rents, trouble over, 18-20. Regulators, in Orange County, 22, 23. ReUgion, progress of, in Halifax, 82- 84. ' Rice, Nathaniel, 7. Roanoke Navigation Company, open ing of Canal by, 88. Roanoke, river, 3; called "Morotuck" by the Indians, 7. Royal White Hart Lodge, 92-98. Scotland Neck Female Academy, 78. Scurlock Thomas, 54. Sevier, John, 41. Shaw, WilUam T., Jr., sketch of, 227- 229. Simmons, James, 90. Smith, Peter Evans, sketch of, 218- 220. Smith, Richard H., sketch of, 209-212. Spaight, Richard Dobbs, 66. Starkey, Edward, 43. Sumner, David, 25, 27, 28, 31, 34. Sumner, Jethro, 28. Sumner, Josiah, 34. Tobies, very few in Halifax County, 26, 28. Tyron, WUIiam, governor of Province in 1765, 22; calls on counties for troops to fight Regulators, 23. Tuscaroras, Indians who inhabited Halifax County before the coming of the whites, 3. Union Academy, 77. Vine HiU Academy, 77. Webb, John, 27, 28, 32, 34, 37, 68. Webb, WilUam E., 77, 230. Weldon, Samuel, 25, 34, 40, 41, 43; sketch of, 165. Weldon, WiUiam, 53, 64. Wheaton, John, 43. ¦Whitaker, John, 53. Whitaker, Matthew C, 68, 107. ¦Whitaker, Spier, 105; sketch of, 202, 203. -Whitefield, W. T., 231. WilUs, Augustine, 53. Williams, Joseph John, 25, 31, 35. Williamson, Hugh, 65. Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, opened in 1840, 89. Swves-HowluidPbess 271 Franklin St. ^OSTOM 03 lit,!/ ;;i!rJi 'Mmhm'.' ,1 /(I f I'M,, isiisyi' '£. I.'i: I'lliir''"' '1 '''I'i I'M'. r. v!,!"i^i#i|i;; .'''•y'lrffll -H:!^¦'^ ^M 1 -.ll; ?SliS Iii ;;ii K til 1 ( » »' ii.^' 3 l'!!)ltll iiip:!!