USA > North Carolina > Chronology of North Carolina : showing when the most remarkable events connected with her history took place, from the year 1584 to the present time, with explanatory notes > Part 2
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CHRONOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
crept cautiously out right under the feet of the Indian at the door, and thence under the floor, where he re- mained until the Indians had " struck fire," plundered the house and left. The suspense of the mother in the meantime was as great as her joy when she found the Indians were gone and " Marville" alive! "Marville" remembered the impressions of that fire and water, ground and lofty tumbling scene, very distinctly to the day of his death, and always related it with laughter and animation.
While living on Green River, the Indians went to the field or pasture of Mr. Mills, and took out eleven fine blood mares ; a young man was sent down about the time, and discovered them, and instead of their flying away they pursued him to the house, about half a mile; his fright was so great, and the chase so close, that in- stead of running into the house, the door being ajar to receive him, he ran entirely round it three times! During this time the Indians halted about sixty yards from the house, about twelve or fifteen in number, and commenced an attack with bows, arrows and fire-arms, which was returned from within, by two or three men, and as many women, among them "Polly Stepp," a woman born never to be killed! Among the Indians was a very large man, who was leader, and who jumped up and down, making all sorts of gestures, and yelling all the time at the top of his voice ; at every leap in the air a new volley saluted the house. The fire from within was pretty steady, and by means of cracks between the logs and "port holes," effectual. Finally " Polly's" blood boiled till "no pent up Utica," could restrain her patriotism, and seizing a gun from one of the men, she squatted, took aim through a " port hole," fired, and lo!
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the yelling ceased, the arrows no more whizzed through the air, the powder flashes cleared up, the Indians were seen gathering up the dead, which were several in number, the conflict was over. "Poll" sprang to her feet, jumped about three feet high, cracked her heels together, let the gun fall, and exclaimed "I'll be damn'd if I hain't killed the big Ingin !" And so it was, the " chief" was slain, cansing the others to fly as for life ; they carried the horses with them, were pursued across
the "ridge," but made good their escape. Said " Poll," if I mistake not, when a child, was taken by the heels and her brains or part of them actually knocked out against a tree by an Indian, and she left for dead ; notwithstanding this, the "big Ingin" felt the force of her revenge, and she lived to a very old age, a monu- ment of courage and health. These are but a tithe of the incidents in the life and times of "father Mills," (as Bishop Asbury used to call him). I will close with one or two relating to three well tried and faithful servants "Lon" (London), "Sam" and "Liner" (Carolina). "Lon" and "Sam" were literally chopped to pieces at various times by the Indians, but they both lived to a very old age, truthful, faithful, obedient and honest to a fraction. Their funerals were solemn, and attended by nearly all the whites in the neighborhood. In a hot pursuit by Indians they were once compelled to seek shelter under the " crossing log" over a creek, by burying themselves not only under the log but under the water and bank. Immediately the Indians approached, and the first one whose foot struck the log brought "Lon" from his hiding place in spite of "Sam's" injunction of " silence of death," exclaiming as he rose, dripping with water, " Who steppy ober dis nigga ?" The Indians glided into
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the water, seized him, dragged him to the other side, tied his arms behind him, withed him to a sapling, and literally " hacked him up" with tomahawks, leaving him for dead. "Sam" was more discreet, lay still and escaped ; this daring feat checked the pursuit for some time, and thus Mr. Mills and other whites who outran the negroes, made good their escape. "Lon" lived, and all were saved, by " Who steppy ober dis nigga ?" Many the night have I spent until the " morning hours " listen- ing to the hair-breadth escapes of these old " war worn
darkeys." " Liner" was of pure African blood, and was put at the head of a mountain farm. Mr. Mills lost a very fine horse under "Liner's " practice ; on question- ing "Liner" closely as to treatment, he said he had "guv him all the backer in de house," having first boiled and distilled it ! Mr. Mills exclaimed with amazement, " What on earth did you do that for ?" "Why," with equal earnestness and amazement, said " Liner," "I taught wat was good for nigga, was good for hoss !"
The Barewallow, Ball Top, Sugar Loaf, Pilot, Point, Lookout, and many other adjacent mountains, were named by Mr. Mills. In the fall of 1834, he fell or was thrown from a horse, being in his 88th year; this fall irritated the wound in his ankle, received at " Cowpens," and which had always given him more or less pain ; inflammation followed, and a few days of severe pain terminated, on the 10th of Nov., his earthly career. He sleeps by his wife and daughter " Morning," and other relatives, near Edneyville, Henderson County, and sleeping, he has left a good name behind him-that of an industrious, kind hearted, honest man.
GEORGE SWAIN, the honored father of Hon. D. L. Swain, was born at Roxborough, Mass., 17 June, 1763.
2
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He was a hatter by trade. On the 1st September, 1784, having converted his small earnings (I believe he had no patrimony), into a cargo of notions-apples, cider, cheese, etc.,-he sailed from Providence, R. I., for Charleston, S. C. The vessel encountered a severe storm, was blown into the gulf stream, the principal part of the cargo was thrown overboard, and at the end of six weeks he found himself in Charleston, too poor and too proud to return to his friends. Placing his trunk in a wagon, he walked to Augusta, Ga., purchased an acre lot, near the middle of Broad street, for $75, sold it at the close of a year for $100, and removed to Wilkes, now Oglethorpe County. Here he put up a shop on the premises of the late Abram Hill, and carried on the hatting busines, until he married in 17SS. His wife was Caroline Lowry, widow of David Lowry, and daughter of Jesse Lane. He resided in Georgia eleven years, and, during the latter five years, represented Wilkes County, in the Legislature of the State. He was a member of the famous Convention which met at Louisville, in 1795, to amend the State Constitution, and, which, after repealing and repudiating the Yazoo land sales, directed the records of the General Assembly in relation to them to be burned.
Finding the climate of Georgia unfavorable to health, he removed in the winter of 1795-6, to Asheville, in Buncombe County, N. C.
About 1805, a post route was established on the recently constructed road through Buncombe County, and this road soon became the great thoroughfare, from North and South Carolina, and Georgia, to the western States. The Post Office at Asheville, in 1806, was made the distributing office, for Georgia, Tennessee and
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the two Carolinas. Mr. Swain took charge of the office, in the autumn of that year, though his commission bears date 1st January, 1807. During a period of quite twenty years, he was never absent on the arrival of a mail, and distributed every letter with his own hand.
He was a man of remarkable memory. He could repeat the entire book of Genesis, and was so familiar with the sacred volume, that on the first verse of any chapter being read, he was ordinarily able to repeat the second, and if he failed to do so, would turn to it, in a minute. He was during many years a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church. He died at his residence in Asheville, on the 2Sth December, 1829, in the 67th year of his age.
Col. ANDREW ERWIN was a native of Virginia. IIe was born about 1773, and died at his residence near the War Trace, in Bedford County, Tennessee, in 1833.
Andrew Erwin entered into the employment of the late James Patton, as an assistant peddler, when about 17 years of age. At 19, he married Jane Patton, the sister of his patron, and shortly thereafter became the partner of Mr. Patton as inn-keeper and merchant in Wilkesborough. The firm of Patton and Erwin con- tinued to exist for many years, and branches of it were established in various southern and western villages.
In 1800, and again in 1801, Mr. Erwin represented Wilkes County, in the House of Commons in the General Assembly. In 1803, he removed to Asheville, and suc. ceeded to the business of Jeremiah Cleveland, as mer- chant and inn-keeper. Mr. Cleveland was then and for some time after his removal to Greenville, S. C., con- nected in business with Patton and Erwin.
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At the time Mr. Erwin settled in Asheville, the village consisted of less than a dozen log houses, tenanted by & still smaller number of families. He was a man of ex- traordinary energy and enterprise, and (with very limited opportunities for improvement), great strength of mind. He may be justly considered the incipient founder of Asheville, at present one of the prettiest and most in- teresting villages of which we have any knowledge, north or south. He was the first: Postmaster, and throughout the entire period of his citizenship, foremost in every effort for the improvement of the town and county.
In the autumn of 1814, he removed to Augusta, Ga., and was shortly thereafter, the leading partner in mer- cantile firms in Savannah, Charleston, Nashville, New Orleans, and many other towns. His operations were too widely extended, and as might have been appre- hended, ended in disaster. Those who knew him best, never lost confidence in his integrity, and many families in prosperous circumstances in the southern and western States, are deeply indebted for the impetus imparted, in the career of their founders, by his liberality and genius.
Just as the war of 1812, with Great Britain, was closing, and after his actual residence among us had ceased, he was designated by Governor Hawkins to command a regiment of militia, ordered into service for the defence of our maritime frontiers. The regiment was barely mustered into service under Gen. Gray, at Wadesborough, when intelligence was received of the treaty of peace.
His widow, Mrs. Jane Erwin, a lady in all respects worthy of her husband, still survives. She completed
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her SSth year, on the 27th Mav last (185S.) She lives on the beautiful estate, within two miles of the War Trace, in Bedford County, Tennessee, where Col. Erwin resided during the closing years of his life, and in sight of the modest inclosure which marks his burial place.
No one of the earlier citizens of Buncombe is entitled to more grateful remembrance than the Rev. GEORGE NEWTON, the first Presbyterian minister who settled on the western side of the Blue Ridge. We regret that we are unable to present an accurate sketch of his personal history, and the leading events of his life. His first residence was on Swannanoa. He is believed to have been the founder and first pastor of the three churches of Swannanoa, Asheville, and Reems Creek, anterior to 1797. About the beginning of this year he removed to the neighborhood of Asheville. The parson- age erected for him is a comfortable framed building, and is still standing. The log house known as Union Academy from 1797 to about 1809, stood about one hundred yards south of the parsonage, and was demo- lished about 1810, in the autumn of which year a brick building, which remained until the spring of 1858, was erected. The name of the Academy was changed by an act of the General Assembly, in 1809, to Newton Academy. Mr. Newton taught a classical school here, from 1797 to 1814. There was, probably, in 1797, and for several years after, no similar institution in Tennessee, Georgia, or either of the Carolinas, within the distance of one hundred miles ; and although the great body of his pupils, like their master, are in the grave, survivors may still be found in most of the southern and western States, and. among them Hon. B. F. Perry, of S. C., and D. L. Swain, men of merit and distinction, and many
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CHRONOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
others, who have not lived in vain. In the autumn of 1814, he removed to Bedford County, Tennessee was during many years principal of Dickson Academy, and pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Shellyville. He died about the year 1841. A neat marble obelisk, in the grave-yard at this place, marks the spot of his repose. His youngest son, the Rev. Alexander Newton, D. D., resides at Jackson, Miss., and is the pastor of the N. S. Presbyterian Church, in that city.
1767.
ALEXANDER MEBANE born . Nov. 26th.
1768.
Hon. ARCHIBALD HENDERSON born . Aug. 7th.
1770.
DAVID STONE born . Feb. 17th. Chatham, Guilford, Surry and Wake Counties formed.
TRYON's Palace at Newberne finished.
"Judge Martin says that he visited this edifice in 1783, with General Miranda of South America, who stated that even in South America, a land of palaces, it had no equal. It was dedicated to Sir William Draper, who was said to be the author of the lines placed over door of the entrance :
" ' Rege pio, dira inimica tyrannis Virtuti has edes libera terra dedit Sint domus et dominus secles exempla futuris Hic artes, mores, jura legesque colant.'
"Translated thus : 'A free and happy people, opposed to cruel tyrants, has given this edifice to virtue. May
١٠ ٦٠٫
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the house and its inmate, as an example for future ages, here cultivate the arts, order, justice, and the laws.' "
Ilow complete a burlesque upon its origin, object and tendency !
1771.
Battle of Alamance . May 16th.
This battle was fought by the "Regulators " against the Royal troops under Governor Tryon. By some the Regulators have been pronounced a treacherous and rebellious set of men. The following is from the pen of John H. Wheeler, Esq., and is exactly in accordance with the views of the writer :
" It is for the present and future ages to judge, whether these people deserved the cruel treatment they endured, and the opprobrium that has been cast upon them.
"That the Regulators were guilty of excesses, none can deny. This has been the case from all time, when justice and liberty contend against oppression and power. But the great principles that they contended for, the rights of the many against the exactions of the few, the rights of the people to resist taxation, unless imposed by their representatives, the refusal to pay more than was legal, and a right to know for what they were taxed, and how appropriated, if in that day cost them their property, their blood, and their lives, they were the principles which carried our nation through an eventful struggle, and are now recognized as the true principles of government, self-evident and incon- trovertible ; had this battle terminated differently (and five years after this would have been the case) the banks of Alamance would be venerated as another
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Bunker Hill, and Husbands, Merrill, and others ranked with the Warrens and patriots of another day."
Gov. TRYON leaves N. C. for N. Y. . June 30tl. JAMES HASSEL made Governor in . July.
Succeeded by Josiah Martin . Aug. 11th.
1772.
MARMADUKE WILLIAMS born
. April 6th.
Hon. HENRY SEAWELL born
. Dec. 244th.
1773.
Dr. JOSEPH CALDWELL born · . April 21st. WILLIAM HILL born . Sept. 23d.
1774.
First assemblage of the people of N. C., inde-
pendent of the Crown, met at Newberne . Aug. 25th.
Martin County formed ·
. Sept. 5th.
1775.
Declaration of Independence, by the in-
habitants of Mecklenburg County . . May 20th.
This happened more than a year in advance of the National Declaration, thus North Carolina took the lead in throwing off the British yoke; the National Declara- tion was not made until July 4th, 1776, it was written by Thomas Jefferson, who adopted some of the language of the Meckenburg Declaration.
JOHN PENN died
. September.
Mr. Penn was one of the delegates from North Caro-
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CHRONOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
lina, who signed that immortal document, the Declara- tion of Independence. It is not (says Col. Wheeler,) very flattering to our State pride, that not one of our dele- gates were natives of the State.
Date of Gen. GEORGE WASHINGTON's Commis- sionor as Commander in Chief . June 19th.
This memorable document was presented by John Hancock, in presence of the Continental Congress; it read as follows :
"To GEORGE WASHINGTON, EsQ. :
"We reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these pre- sents, constitute and appoint you to be General and Commander in Chief of the armies of the United Colo- nies, and of all the forces now raised, or to be raised by them, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their services, and join the said army for the defence of Ame- rican liberty and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof, and you are hereby vested with full power and authority to act, as you shall think, for the good and welfare of the service. And we do hereby strictly charge and require, all officers and soldiers under your command, to be obedient to your orders, and diligent in the exercise of their several duties. And we do also en- join and require you to be careful in executing the great trust reposed in you, by causing strict discipline and order to be observed in the army, and that the soldiers be duly exercised and provided with all convenient neces- saries. And you are to regulate your conduct in every respect by the rules and discipline of war (as here given you), and punctually to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time, as you shall receive
2*
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from this or a future Congress, of these United Colonies or Committee of Congress. This Commission is to con- tinue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress. "
(Signed) " JOHN HANCOCK, "President.
"PHILADELPHIA, June 19th, 1775."
Insurrection among the negroes discovered " barely in time to suppress it" by the authorities of the County of Pitt . July 7th.
Provincial Congress assemble at Halifax, Aug. 20th. A copy of the Mecklenburg Declaration laid before the Provincial Congress. at Hillsboro', by Samuel Johnston Aug. 25th. . Fort Johnston burned by the militia under the command of Col. John Ashe . July 1Sth. Provincial Congress assemble at Johnston Courthouse . Oct. 18th.
Provincial Congress assemble at Johnston
Courthouse again . Dec. 18th.
1776.
Battle of Moore's Creek . Feb. 27th. Provincial Congress assemble at Newberne Feb. 28th. Provincial Congress assemble at Halifax . April 4th. The British ravage and burn Gen. Howe's plantation on the Cape Fear . . May 12th.
Intent upon revenging on General Howe the defeat of Lord Dunmore, Cornwallis and Clinton determined to ravage his plantation, and accordingly on the 12th of May, 1776, landed with a body of nine hundred troops for that purpose.
The sentry guard that had been posted to watch the
-
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CHRONOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
movements of the fleet, collected their horses and drove off the cattle, and while the enemy was marching over the causeway from the river to the dwelling house, a portion of the sentry guard maintained a steady fire, killing one man wounding several others, and taking a sergeant of the thirty-third regiment prisoner. The two British Generals surrounded the mansion and murdered in cold blood three helpless women, whom they found concealed in the chambers of the house. Having thus satiated and glutted their revenge, the victorious gene- rals were foiled in an attempt to surprise Major Davis, stationed at the mill at Orton, with about one hundred and fifty militia. 1707754
They burned the mill, ravaged Gen. Howe's planta- tion, carried off a few bullocks, and returned to their transports with the satisfaction (for satisfaction it un- doubtedly was to such men as Cornwallis) of having butchered three innocent, unoffending females.
This and other similar actions committed during the war, ought to have rendered Cornwallis forever after- ward incapable and unworthy of the name of Briton.
The site of General Howe's plantation and Orton Mill are still to be seen on the Cape Fear River, in the County of Brunswick, and are places where "patriots love to linger."
Gov. MARTIN leaves the Cape Fear . June 1st. Declaration of Independence · . July 4th.
News of the Declaration of Independence reached Halifax . July 22d.
Independence formally declared at Halifax Aug. 1st. Provincial Congress assemble at Halifax . Nov. 12th. Declaration of Rights ratified at Halifax . Dec. 17th. Constitution of N. C. ratified at Halifax . Dec. 18th.
-
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CHRONOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
GOVERNORS OF NORTH CAROLINA, FROM 1763 TO 1776.
1663. William Drummond.
1667. William Stevens.
1674. Sir George Carteret.
1678. Sir George Eastchurch.
1680. John Jenkins.
1681. Henry Wilkison.
1683.
Seth Sothel.
1689. Philip Ludwell.
1693. Thomas Smith.
1694.
John Archdale.
1699.
Thomas Harvey.
1699. Henderson Walker.
1704. Robert Daniel.
1712. Edward Hyde.
1712. George Pollock.
1713. Charles Eden.
1722. Thomas Pollock.
1724. George Burrington.
1725. Sir Richard Everhard.
THE ROYAL GOVERNORS.
1729. George Burrington.
1734. Gabriel Johnston.
1753. Matthew Rowan.
1754. Arthur Dobbs.
1765. William Tryon.
1771. Josiah Martin.
1777.
MAURICE MOORE died. Burke, Camden, Caswell, Nash, and Wilkes Counties formed.
CHRONOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Laws and Constitution of North Carolina printed by James Davis.
Battle of Germantown, Pa., fought . Oct. 4th.
In this hard-fought battle the following distinguished North Carolinians were killed: Gen. Francis Nash, Col. Henry Irwin, Captain Turner, Adjutant Lucas, and six soldiers. The following, from the N. C. Reader, will enable the reader to form some idea of the charac- ter of Gen. Nash :
"Francis Nash was a resident of Orange County. He was clerk of the court and member of Assembly under the colonial government.
"He was the brother of Governor Abner Nash, and the uncle of Hon. Frederick Nash, now one of the judges of our Supreme Court.
"In the contest for liberty he took an early and de- cided stand.
"On the 22d of April, 1776, he was appointed by the State Congress, colonel of the first regiment of con- tinental troops. From his bravery and talents he was soon promoted to be a brigadier-general.
" He joined, with the North Carolina troops, the army of the north, and commanded the reserve troops at the bloody battle of Germantown, on the 4th Octo- ber, 1777. When in this position, covering the retreat of Washington, a spent cannon-ball struck him, carrying away his right thigh, and killing his horse, and, at the same moment, his gallant aid-de-camp, Major Wither- spoon, son of Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, president of Nas- sau Hall College.
" He was carried from the field mortally wounded.
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CHRONOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
with the retreating army ; and at the house of Mr. De Haven, in Montgomery County, under most excru- ciating sufferings, he died the next day.
" A memorial of his gallant services has been erected over his remains by the patriotic exertions of John Fanning Watson, Esq., of Germantown, in the Menonist burying-ground, at Kulperville, twenty-six miles from Philadelphia. It bears this inscription :
" Vota vice mea, Jus Patria. In Memory of GENERAL FRANCIS NASH, Mortally wounded at Battle of Germantown, Here interred October, 1777, in presence of the army here encamped."
.
And also by the patriotic liberality of the same hand, a marble has been erected, bearing this inscription.
"IN HONOR TO THE BRAVE. Hic jacet in pace COLONEL HENRY IRWIN of North Carolina, CAPTAIN TURNER, ADJUTANT LUCAS and six soldiers, Killed in the battle of Germantown. One Cause, one Grave.
J. F. W."
The gratitude of every North Carolinian is due to Mr. Watson for his liberality, and while the marble erecte
,
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CHRONOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
by his exertions remains a monument to the memory of our countrymen, let the recollection of the noble act remain a monument to his memory with us and our children.
1778.
Gen. PAUL BARRINGER born in . . Sept.
Hon. WILLIAM GASTON born
. Sept. 19th.
Rev. WILLIAM MCPHEETERS, D.D., born . Sept. 28th.
1779.
JOSEPH HUGHES died . Nov. 10th.
Franklin, Gates, Jones, Wayne, Montgom- ery, Randolph, Richmond, Rutherford,
and Warren Counties formed.
1780.
Battle of Ramsour's Mill* . . June 22d.
Gen. GATES defeated at Camden
. Aug. 16th.
Battle of King's Mountain
. Oct. 7th.
In the battle of King's Mountain, Col. Williams, of S. C., Major Chronicle, of Lincoln County, N. C., and Capt. John Mattocks were killed, and Col. Hambrite wounded. Our entire loss was twenty-eight killed, and sixty wounded. The next day after the battle, a court martial was held and about twenty Tories hung. At the forks of the branch where Major Chronicle and Captain Mattocks were buried, a monument is erected ; on it is the following inscription :
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