USA > North Carolina > Alamance County > Some neglected history of North Carolina, being an account of the revolution of the regulators and of the battle of Alamance, the first battle of the American Revolution > Part 1
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GC 975.6 F55s 1707635
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02400 7699
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/someneglectedhis00fitc 0
SOME NEGLECTED HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
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FRONTISPIECE
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A PLAN of the Camp and Battle of Alamance, the 18 May 1771 Between the Provincials of North Carolina Commanded By His Excellency -- Governor TRYON and the Rebels who ffyled themselves Regulators = Mile Survey'd and Drawn By C.J.Santhier
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SOME NEGLECTED HIS- TORY OF NORTH CAROLINA
BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE REVOLUTION OF THE REGULATORS AND OF THE BATTLE OF ALAMANCE, THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
BY WILLIAM EDWARD FITCH, M.D. FIRST LIEUT. MED. RES. CORPS, U. S. A.
Author "Some Things the Colony of North Carolina Did and Did First in the Founding of English-Speaking Amer- iea." The Origin, Rise and Downfall of the State of Franklin, Under Her First und Only Governor, John Sevier; Member of the Connecticut Society of the Cincinnati ; the New York Society of the Founders and Patriots of America; the New York Society of Colonial Wars, and the Washington Continental Guard.
SECOND EDITION (Copyrighted)
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 325 WEST 145th STREET NEW YORK CITY
1914
1707635
DEDICATED
TO
HON. JOSEPH M. MOREHEAD
In acknowledgment of his consummate wisdom as a states- man, his valor as a soldier, his incorruptible integrity and his researches in the history and causes of the, Revolution of the Regulators, unsurpassed by any writer; and
TO
GENERAL JULIAN SHAKESPERE CARR
Because of his love for the "Old North State," his venera- tion for her heroes who bled at Alamance, his success as a model man, his philanthropy and loftiness of character.
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE,
A Plan of the Battle of Alamance. Frontispiece. Stamp Act Riot at Newberne in 1765. Facing 36
Front View of Tryon's Palace. 11
Husband Tossing the "Taxes" on the Table Before the Governor. 52
Portrait of Edmund Fanning ..
176
Regulator Battle-ground. 208
Armorial Seal and Signature of Gov. William Tryon 214
Battle of Alamance. 218
Execution of James Pugh 66
248
The First Liberty Bell. 260 66
Monument to the Battle of Alamance 262
CONTENTS
PREFACE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER I
Early Settlers Inherited Liberty-loving Spirits Which Their Fathers and Forbears of Old Fought for with Cromwell on English Soil; the Province of North Carolina from 1735 to 1740; Unlawful Taxes and Oppressive Government; Want of a Cir- culating Medium; William Tryon Commissioned Governor, 1764; Passage of the Stamp Act, 1765; Arrival of the Sloops "Diligence" and "Viper"; Governor Tryon's Barbecue; Duel of Simpson and Whitehurst: Boston Tea Party; the Building of the Governor's Palace at Newberne and Description of the Edifice.
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CHAPTER II
Harmon Husband, Member of General Assembly from Orange County; His Arrest While Attending Meeting of General Assembly: Governor Tryon's Proclamation to Weaken Organization of the Reg- ulators : the Causes Leading to the Confederation of the Regulators; Proofs That the Regulators Were Justifiable in Their Acts and That They Had Just Cause for Grievances; the Royal Governor's Re- ports to Lord Dartmouth; Convention of Regula- tors and County Officers at Mrs. Steele's Inn at Salisbury on March 7, 1771; Governor Tryon's Let- ter to Maurice Moore Pertaining to This Meeting; Unequal Representation of Western Counties as Compared with Eastern Counties ; the Atticus Let- ter; the Sheriff of Orange County Sells "Home- spun" Dress at Auction from a Poor Woman's Back for Her Husband's Taxes.
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Contents
CHAPTER III
Early Immigrants to North Carolina ; Tryon De- nounces Harmon Husband as a "Blatant Dema- gogue ;" Husband a Prisoner of Edmund Fanning; His Friendship with Benjamin Franklin; "Sermon on Asses ;" Parentage and Early Life; Location and Estates on Deep River; the Organization of the Regulators in April, 1767; Petition of Regulators to Governor and General Assembly; Regulators Go to Court; Copies of Cases as Disposed of at Hills- borough Court; Regulators Enter the Temple of Justice and Take Out Lawyers and Court Officials and Whip Them on Court-house Green; They Com- pel Edmund Fanning to Plead Law Before a "Mock" Judge; Take Him Out and Whip Him, Then Destroy His Furniture and Burn His Home; Fanning's Nativity and Education: Lord Gran- ville's Land Agents and Their Frauds; Unlawful Taxes and Extortionate Charges; Rednap Howell -His Nativity, Doggerel Poems, and Teachings as a Regulator; Preparations to . Resist Further Op- pression and Extortion
CHAPTER IV
Tryon's Preparations for War and Orders to General Waddell; the Cabarrus "Black Boys" Cap- ture a Convoy; General Waddell Receives This In- formation and Sends Dispatches to Tryon; Breaks Camp and Marches Eastward; Met by a Company of Regulators and Forced to Retreat; Tryon Re- ceives Waddell's Dispatches; Marches Toward Haw River; Regulators Send Petition to Tyron, Praying for an Audience; Transcript from Tryon's Journal; Regulators' Needs; Alamance Battle- ground; Seymour Whiting's Poem; Battle of Ala- mance: Tryon's Advance; Battle Fought on Planta- tion of Capt. Michael Holt: Strength of Governor's Army; Harmon Husband Fiées; Dr. Caldwell and Others Visit Tryon's Camp in Behalf of the Regula- tors ; They Present Second Petition ; Tryon's Procla- mation : the Battle Begins : the Governor Kills Mr. Robt. Thompson; Tryon's White Flag; Tryon's Army Retreats; Second White Flag; Tryon Rallies His Men and Leads a Charge : His Army Victorious ; Prisoners Taken; Tryon Orders Battle-field Set on
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Contents
Fire; Losses and Captures; Execution of Few, Mes- ser, and Pugh, Other Prisoners in Chains. ...... 185
CHAPTER V
After the Battle Tryon Begins His March of De- vastation; Husband's Estates His First Stop; Burns and Lays Waste His Property and Crops; Personal Mention of Husband and Family; His Implication in the Whiskey Riot in Pennsylvania ; Tryon Marches Through the Jersey Settlements, Pillaging with Fire and Sword; in Camp at Reedy Creek; Joined by Waddell June 4; Combined Army Marches to the Moravian Settlements; Celebration of King's Birthday; General Waddell Ordered to March Westward and Subdue and Enforce Submis- sion of Regulators in Rowan and Adjoining Coun- ties; Governor Begins His March Toward Hills- borough; in Camp at Guilford Court House; His Proclamation Outlawing Certain Regulators ; Breaks Camp and Marches to Hillsborough; Pris- oners Tried and Condemned: his Personal Super- vision of the Gallows and Details of Execution ; Dr. Caldwell Comforts Condemned Men: Place of Execution; Pugh as a Man and Patriot; Robert Matear and Governor's Enmity for Him; Captain Messer ; Captain Merrill and His Talk While on the Scaffold
CHAPTER VI
Tryon Receives Commission as Governor of the Province of New York; During Trial of Prisoners He Leaves Hillsborough : Goes into Camp at Stony Creek; Next Morning His Farewell to His Officers and Army ; Returns to His Falace at Newberne and Embarks for New York: Josiah Martin. the New Governor; Blood Shed at Alamance Battle-ground : the Graves of Patriots; the "Flower of Freedom" Which Sprang Therefrom : Monument to the Regu- lators that Fell at Alamance; the Monument Asso- ciation; Rev. Daniel Albright Long; Distinguished Guests in Attendance: the First "Liberty Bell" in America; the First Battle of the American Revolu- tion ; the First Declaration of Independence at Char- lotte; the Mecklenburg Declaration, May 20, 1775 .. 257
233
PREFACE
North Carolinians have for decades past been interested to an unusual degree in the Provincial and Colonial history of the "Old North State." A growing taste for history and antiquities has become apparent in our history, as has been mani- fested in various quarters by some of the gifted sons of the Old North State diving among the records and searching the traditions of the past for incidents and subjects worthy of patriotic commemoration.
No State in the Union can present a wider or more diversified field for historical inquiry than North Carolina. On her shores the first settle- ment of English colonists in America was estab- lished; within her borders the first resistance to British authority was organized; by her people the first battle of the American Revolution was fought; and the first actual declaration of inde- pendence was made, and some of the most bril- liant and important transactions of the Revolu- tionary period took place upon her soil.
The "Battle of Alamance" and the tyrannical oppression and extortion preceding this most important event in our provincial history is of great moment to all liberty-loving North Carolin- ians. Recorded instances of oppression and ex- tortion at the hands of all public officers, from
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Preface
the chief magistrate down to the sheriffs, when no longer endurable called forth the spirit of suc- cessful resistance which culminated in taking up arms against the officers of the Crown. But in the study of the events before us-the causes leading up to the "War of the Regulators," the "Battle of Alamance," the first battle of the Am- erican Revolution-we see the colonists ( Regula- tors) wearing a heavy yoke of British oppression. which they were attempting to throw off by means of arbitration, and when failing in this, although without an army, no ammunition, not or- ganized, with no General to lead them in battle, unused to military tactics, but firmly and unitedly asserting their rights, and in their defense boldly stepping forth to meet a well-organized and prop- erly-officered army led by 'Tryon, Governor-Gen- eral of the Province of North Carolina.
The struggle for American Liberty and Inde- pendence which began at the "Battle of Ala- mance" was a momentous event in the great drama of the world's history, which led up to the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Inde- pendence. At the "Battle of Alamance" was kindled the flame, though small in the beginning, that eventually, Vesuvius-like, spread with the rapidity of a wild forest fire, until the oppressed of the thirteen colonies were aflame with right- eous indignation and unitedly determined to throw off forever the YOKE of British oppres- sion. The incidents of extortion from 1765 to 1771 were fraught with such momentous conse- quences upon the destinies of civilization through- out the world that we can never tire in contem- plating the instrumentalities by which, under
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Preface
Divine guidance, the liberty and independence of the Colonists were effected. The "War of the Regulators" has taught mankind that oppression, misrule, and extortion under any government tends to weaken and ultimately destroy the power of the oppressor ; and that a people united in the cause of freedom and their inalienable rights are invincible by those who would enslave them.
Being a descendant of a Regulator, and having spent his childhood and early manhood in Ala- mance County, North Carolina; and having practiced his profession for three years in and around the spot made hallowed by the blood of patriots shed at the "Battle of Alamance," where he has listened with enraptured delight to the narration of thrilling scenes and circumstances occurring previous to, during, and after the "Bat- tle of Alamance' (all tending to make indelible impressions upon the tablet of memory), the au- thor feels a willingness to "contribute his mite" to the store of accumulated materials relating to the "War of the Regulators" and the "Battle of Ala- mance" which at the hands of historians has never received due mention or proper credit. The au- thor in this small volume has undertaken to prove that the Regulators were not, as Tryon and his sympathizers would have you believe, a mob made up of rowdy characters, but "the staunch yeoman of the province ;" and that the "Battle of Alamance" WAS THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. And if his feeble efforts in this undertaking shall impart additional information. assist in elucidating the justness of the cause of the Regulators, and add to the already glorious history of the Old North
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Preface
State, by causing the "Battle of Alamance" to be recognized as the first struggle for American Lib- erty and Independence, his highest aspirations will be amply gratified and his agreeable labors abundantly rewarded.
Many of the sketches and incidents herein re- corded are original. Others, somewhat condens- ed, have been taken from Wheeler's "Historical Sketches ;" "North Carolina Colonial and Revolu- tionary Records ;" "Sketches of North Carolina," by Dr. Foote; Hunter's "Sketches of Western North Carolina ;""Revolutionary Historyof North Carolina ;" Dr. Caruthers's "Life of Rev. Dr. Cald- well;" Maj. Joseph M. Morehead's "Address at Guilford Battle Ground ;" Bancroft's "History of the United States;" Mrs. Lutie McCorkle in "North Carolina Booklet;" and "Old Time Stories of North Carolina," and others when fall- ing within the scope of this work. To the au- thors of the above compilations the author ac- knowledges his indebtedness for much valuable data gleaned therefrom. "Like Ruth following the reapers of old, he has found scattered here and there 'handsful' of neglected golden grains, and having sifted them out, herewith presents his 'ephah of barley,' hoping it may be of use mentally to the present generation, as it was phys- ically of old to the inhabitants of Palestine."
W. E. F.
Savannah, Georgia.
October, '04.
INTRODUCTORY
ORIGINAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE PROVINCE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THE CHARACTER OF HER PEOPLE.
In all ages and among all races there have been two elements which are well defined by the terms, when used in their broadest sense, "Cav- alier" and "Puritan." The Puritan was a pes- simist and represented the unfortunate, unsuc- cessful, unhappy and discontented of his race. The Cavalier was an optimist and represented the successful. happy, and contented of his race, and when the Roman legions could no longer successfully resist the Barbarians it was he who preserved in the dark ages the virtue and beneficent portions of the Roman civili- zation for the further uplifting of mankind in the Renaissance. They were both religious.
North Carolina, in the early days of her Colonial existence, was peopled by the Cava- lier emigrants from the Continent and the Brit- ish Isles. They were a practical people and
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Introductory
emigrated to America, not as refugees from civil, metaphysical, philosophical, or religious intolerance incident to that bitter contro- versial age, but to challenge new opportuni- ties in fresh and undeveloped fields, and in search of fertile lands, that they might cultivate and reap the fruits thereof, with the avowed purpose of building a new state upon a new continent. They were a high-spirited people, fully able to take care of themselves and to de- fend their rights and liberties in either the "old" or "new" world.
Later on the Province became the home of the oppressed of all nations; but Cavalier and Puritan alike prospered in this goodly land. They both came to the Province of Carolina to better their condition, and there is still and will always be in every country and in every race the Puritan element, which by its very discon- tent and determination to better its condition is always adding to the Cavalier element. The Puritan of today will be the Cavalier of the next decade.
The descendants of both Cavalier and Puri- tan have just reason to bless the kind Provi- dence that guided their fathers in their wan- derings to such a place of comparative rest, or, in the words of Governor Berkeley of Virginia. "to the land of Eden."
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Introductory
On the sandy banks of Roanoke Island, be- tween Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, the English flag was first unfurled to the breeze of the new world. It was on this island the first expedition of Sir Walter Raleigh landed on July 4, 1584. "The fragrance of the flowers, as they drew near the island," says Amadas in his report to Queen Elizabeth, "was as if they were in the midst of some delicate garden, abounding in all manner of odoriferous flow- ers." Such, no doubt, it seemed to them dur- ing their sojourn on the island; and notwith- standing the disastrous termination of that and several succeeding expeditions, this same tide- water section of the Province of North Caro- lina has presented its peculiar fascinating at- tractiveness to many generations who have arisen, enjoyed its magnificent grandeur, and passed away. "In this same report is to be found mention of the celebrated Scuppernong grape, yielding its most abundant crops under the saline atmospheric influence and semi-trop- ical climate." Sir Walter Raleigh found grow- ing on this island a vegetable of the night-shade family, the Solanum tuberosum, whose escu- lent tubers now form a part of the bill of fare for almost all nations -- the Irish potato. It is said Sir Walter Raleigh carried a cargo of this new and strange vegetable to England in 1586
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Introductory
and brought them to the attention of Queen Elizabeth.
From the glowing description of the coun- try in its primitive abundance, transmitted to Queen Elizabeth and her court, they named the new country Virginia, being discovered in the reign of a virgin Queen. But having failed in his several attempts to plant a colony on Ro- anoke Island. Sir Walter Raleigh surrendered his patent and gave up the problem of coloni- zation.
In 1587, thirty years before the Pilgrims landed in New England, John White, who had visited the new world two years before with Captain Amadas of Raleigh's expedition, fitted out a colony of one hundred men with their wives and children and came to Roanoke Is- land. Landing on July 22, 1587, they found a few houses standing, left by the men of Sir Walter Raleigh's expedition, who had attempt- ed a settlement two years before. They named the place "Fort Raleigh." On the 18th of August. 1587, was born the first white child of English parentage in the new world-Virginia. daughter of Annias and Elenor ( White) Dare. This baby was the granddaughter of Gov. John White.
"In 1607, at Jamestown in Virginia, was established the first permanent English settle- ment (colony) in America. The charter of this
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Introductory
colony contained none of the elements of lib- erty, not even an elective franchise, and no rights of self-government; but it was clearly stipulated that the rights and doctrines of the Church of England should be adopted as the religion of the colony. The infant colony suf- fered many hardships-dissensions, threatened famine. and from the fear of unfriendly In- dians; but through the energy of Capt. John Smith was enabled to maintain its stand and in due time to show signs of prosperity.
"In 1619, Lord Delaware, Governor of Vir- ginia, seeing among the new settlers an impa- tient desire for liberty and the rights of self- government, convoked a provincial congress, the first ever convened in America, and restor- ed to the settlers full rights as Englishmen. This guarantee of political rights led to rapid colonization. By various modifications of their Charter, in a few years the colonists ob- tained nearly all the rights and privileges which they could claim as British subjects, but the Church of England was coeval with the settle- ment at Jamestown, and seems to have been considered the religion of the colonists and the established church." (Hunter, Sketches of Western North Carolina.) The exact date the first permanent settlement was made in the Province of Carolina has not been ascertained. It is recorded that in 1622 the Secretary of the
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Introductory
Virginia Colony traveled overland to the Chowan River and described in glowing terms the fertile lands, the salubrious climate, and the kindness of the natives. In 1629 Charles I granted to Sir Robert Heath, under the name Carolina, the territory between 31 and 36 de- grees North latitude, in which to plant colo- nies.
In 1643 Sir William Berkeley, Governor of Virginia, issued an ultimatum which "ordained that no minister should preach or teach publicly or privately, except in conformity with the doc. trines of the church of England, and non-con- formists were banished from the colony." (Bancroft, Vol. I, p. 270.) Hunter in his sketches says it was natural to suppose that in- dividuals as well as families, who disliked such religious persecution, would descend the streams until they found suitable soil in Caro- lina for locations where they could dwell in peace and happiness and serve God according to the dictates of their own conscience. In 1653 Roger Green led a company across the wilderness from Nansemond in Virginia to the Chowan River and settled near where the pres- ent town of Edenton now stands. There they prospered, and others, influenced by their suc- cess, soon followed. In 1662 George Durant purchased from the Yeopin Indians the neck of land on the north side of Albemarle Sound,
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Introductory
which still bears his name. In 1663 Governor Berkeley, of Virginia, visited the Chowan set- tlement, and was so well pleased with its pros- perity that he decided to take it under his gov- ernment, and appointed Mr. William Drum- mond as Governor of the Chowan settlement. Sir Robert Heath, having failed to make use of his grant issued by Charles I, embracing the lands from "sea to sea" between 31º 36° N., it was revoked by Charles II in 1663 and patent- ed to the Earl of Clarendon and seven other Lords Proprietors, and in 1665, upon request of the "County of Albemarle," or Chowan set- tlement. which wished to be out of the territory of Virginia, the territory of Carolina was in- creased to extend from 29° to 36° 30" north lati- tude, including the whole region from the pres- ent northern boundary of North Carolina to the St. John's River in Florida, including all of the present States of North Carolina, South Car- olina, and Georgia, and a portion of Florida, extending from "sea to sea." These charters were liberal in the concession of civil rights and the proprietors were permitted to exercise toleration toward non-conformists if it should be deemed expedient. Flattering inducements were extended to new emigrants from abroad, and settlements steadily increased. They were allowed to set up a representative government with certain limitations, and thus a degree of
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Introductory
popular freedom was conceded, though not in- tended to be permanent-but once permitted could never be recalled. It had an important influence in producing an insatiable desire for. and a determination to exercise the rights of freemen ; principles which caused the organi- zation of the Regulators and the rights for which they fought at "Alamance," and which we now enjoy. In 1667 Governor Drummond died and the Colony of Carolina was without a governor. The General Assembly was con- vened, the first to make laws for the Province of Carolina, and Samuel Stephens was chosen Colonial Governor. "Here," says Bancroft. "was a colony of freemen scattered among the forests, hermits with wives and children resting upon the bosom of nature, in perfect harmony with the wilderness of their gentle clime." The planters of the Albemarle settlement were men led to the choice of their residence from a hatred of restraint. Who doubts that these men were capable of self-government? Let those who do study the history of North Caro- lina. Its inhabitants were restless and turbu- lent in their imperfect submission to an op- pressive government from abroad. The ad- ministration of the Province was humane and tranquil when left to themselves. but any laws not of their own making were oppressive.
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Introductory
"North Carolina was settled by the freest of the free and the bravest of the brave. The set- tlers were gentle in their tempers, of serene minds, enemies to violence and bloodshed. Not all of the successive revolutions had kindled vindictive passions. Freedom, entire freedom, was enjoyed without anxiety or without guar- antees. The charities of life were scattered at their feet like the flowers of their meadows." ( Bancroft, Vol. 2, p. 158.) "North Carolina was the most free and independent country ever organized by man. Freedom of con- science, exemption from taxation except by their own consent; gratuities in land to every immigrant and other equitable considerations claimed the prompt legislative action of the col- onists. These simple laws suited a simple peo- ple, who were as free as the air of their coun- try ; and when oppressed were as rough as the billows of the ocean." ( Wheeler's History of North Carolina, Part I, p. 30. ) "In 1673 John Locke was employed by the Earl of Shaftsbury, one of the Lords Proprietors, to draft and pre- pare a constitution for the government of the Province of Carolina. He prepared an elabor- ate scheme, the 'Fundamental Constitution,' which provided for three orders of nobility and four houses of Parliament. It was never fully and successfully put into operation and was en-
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