Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I, Part 4

Author: Wheeler, John H. (John Hill), 1806-1882
Publication date: 1851
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Lippincott, Grambo and Co.
Number of Pages: 662

USA > North Carolina > Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I > Part 4

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Martin, 1264.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

that the king's pardon should be issued to all pirates, who, within a limited time, should surrender themselves to any of the colonial governors (George I. 1717).

Teach, and twenty of his men, surrendered themselves to Governor Eden. His associates dispersed themselves, and some went to work. Teach's habits were illy suited to a life of peace and industry. His ill-gotten wealth was soon squandered in licentious courses. He fitted out a sloop at a place which now bears his name, within Ocracoke Inlet, called Teach's Hole, and again sallied forth on piratical adventures. Such was the annoyance of his depredations, that the Assembly of Virginia offered one hundred pounds reward for his apprehension.

Lieutenant Maynard, taking with him two small coasters, sailed from Hampton Roads on the 17th of November, 1718, in quest of Teach. He found him at his usual place of rendezvous, near Ocracoke. The action immediately commenced. Teach, with horrid oaths, boasted that he neither asked nor gave quarters. At one broadside, nineteen of Maynard's men were killed; to save them from such murderous fire, he ordered his men below, directing himself his vessel. The pirates board his ship; at this moment the lieutenant calls his men on deck; a fierce and deadly com- bat, hand to hand, ensues. The two commanders meet. They rush to combat, and the pirate Teach falls covered with blood. Eight of his fourteen men were killed, and the other six wounded, so that they could no longer fight. Maynard sailed up to the town of Bath with the head of Teach hung to the bowsprit of his vessel.

Thus died, amid his vices and crimes, a man whose valor was worthy of a better cause, and whose name is given to a place well known to every shipper on our coast. To this day, superstition still preserves his name with heaps of buried treasure. The character of Governor Eden suffered much by a supposed intimacy with Teach. Edward Mosely, who was a prominent man in the colony, declared* that "the Governor could raise an armed posse to arrest honest men, though he could not raise a similar force to apprehend Teach, a noted pirate;" and on Teach's dead body was found a letter of his secretary, Tobias Knight, intimating proof of Knight's friend- ship and Eden's respect.

Mosely was subsequently arrested for misdemeanort himself, and tried by the General Court, convicted, fined one hundred pounds, silenced as an attorney, and declared incapable of holding any office in the colony during three years. The Governor laid before the Council, 1719, an account of his proceedings against Teach. The Council expressed their approbation of his conduct.

In August, 1720, the Governor met the Legislature, assembled at the Court House in Chowan. At this session, a town which had been some time before established, was called, in honor to the Governor, Edenton.

% Williamson, ii. 11.

៛ Martin, i. 286.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Governor Eden died 17th March, 1722, aged forty-nine.

On Salmon Creek, in Bertie County, the stone that marks his grave has this inscription :-

" Here lyes ye body of CHARLES EDEN, EsQ.,

who governed this Province eight years to the great satisfaction of the Lords Proprietors, and y" ease and happiness of ye people. He brought the country into a flourishing condition, and died much lamented, March ye 26, 1722, ætatis 49.

And near this place, lyes also ye body of PENELOPE EDEN, his virtuous consort, who died Jan. the 4th, 1716, ætatis 39.

Vivit post funera, Ille Quem virtus non mamor in æternum sacrat."

Thomas Pollock (March 30th, 1722) again succeeded as Presi- dent of the colony ; on 30th August following, he died. On 7th September, William Reed was president ; during the period, unin- terrupted peace prevailed.

On the 15th January, 1724, GEORGE BURRINGTON, who had been appointed to succeed Governor Eden, opened his commission as governor.

In February, 1731, Governor Burrington thus officially to the Duke of New Castle, gives us his opinion of the inhabitants of North Carolina :-

" The people of North Carolina are neither to be cajoled or out- witted. Whenever a governor attempts to effect anything by this means, he will lose his labor and show his ignorance."

" The inhabitants of North Carolina are not industrious, but subtle and crafty; always behaved insolently to their governors ; some they have imprisoned, others they have drove out of the coun- ' try, and at other times set up a governor of their own choice, sup- ported by men under arms."*

Tranquillity prevailed in the colony. The associates in the government were, Christopher Gale, Chief Justice; James Stan- way, Attorney General; Edward Mosely, Surveyor general; Arthur Goffe, Receiver General; John Dunstan, Naval Officer ; Henry Clayton, Provost Marshal.

The character of Governor Burrington had little to recommend . him as a wise ruler, or sagacious statesman. He was appointed from family influence, his father having rendered service in pro- moting George I. to the English throne, and like all such appoint- ments, when not based on merit, was unfortunate. Without any great talent, he was deficient in ordinary prudence in matters of, state ; while his private life was disgraced by broils, and breaches

* MS. Documents on file in Offices of Board of Trade in London, from 1662 to 1769, procured through kindness of Honorable Geo. Bancroft.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

of the peace. He had not been in the colony two years, when so many complaints were made of his rash and injudicious conduct, that he was removed, and in April, 1725, Sir Richard Everhard was appointed. He qualified at Edenton, on 17th July, 1725.

The legislature met at Edenton on 6th November following, and the boundary line between North Carolina and Virginia was run this year. The commissioners on the part of Virginia were William Byrd, William Dandridge, and Richard Fitzwilliams ; those of our State, were Christopher Gale, Edward Mosely, and Samuel Swann. They commenced their labors 5th March, 1727.

The first of these (William Byrd) has left a record containing " the History of the Dividing Line," which has been published ; and which is not very complimentary to North Carolina .* He states " the borderers laid it to heart if their land was taken in Virginia, they chose much rather to belong to Carolina, where they pay no tribute to God or to Cæsar."

The people of South Carolina had already revolted from the feudal sway of the Lords Proprietors, and Governor Johnston was compelled to leave his government, and this colony reverted to the crown. Although this feeling did not extend to North Carolina, yet the proprietors found that their possessions did not yield them any permanent advantage. It was believed that the restless and turbulent spirit manifested by the people against the deputy of their fellow-subjects, would yield a loyal obedience to the direct repre- sentative of the Sovereign.

Accordingly, the Lords Proprietors (except Lord Granville) sur- rendered the government of the province, and all the franchises under the charter of Charles II., as well as' their property in the soil, to the English crown, for a valuable consideration. This was ratified by an act of Parliament (2 Geo. II. ch. xxxiv., 1729). Each of the proprietors received from the crown, the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds sterling.

John, Lord Carteret, Baron of Hawnes, as heir of his father (who died in 1696), was in possession of the share of Sir George Carteret. He was afterwards created Earl of Granville, and he thought fit to retain his eighth part of the soil. This was laid off, in 1743, for him, adjoining Virginia. Five commissioners were appointed by the crown, and five by Lord Granville. His terri- toryt was bounded on the north by the Virginia line, on the east by the Atlantic, on the south by a line in latitude 35° 34" from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and on the west by the Pacific. A princely domain !

Thus ended the proprietary government of North Carolina, en- during sixty-six years after the charter from Charles II.

The population did not exceed ten thousand persons in North Carolina. Its primary divisions was into three counties.

Westover MSS. Petersburg, 1841.

¡ Martin, vol. ii. 43.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

1st. ALBEMARLE; which was subdivided into six precincts, Curri- tuck, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan, Bertie, and Tyrrell.

2d. BATH, into four precincts, Beaufort, Hyde, Craven, and Carteret.

3d. CLARENDON, one precinct, New Hanover.

CHAPTER VI ..

FROM 1729 TO 1754.

North Carolina under the royal governors-Governor Burrington, 1729-His character, conduct, life, and death, in 1734-Nathaniel Rice, the Secretary, governor in 1734; who was succeeded by Gabriel Johnston, as governor- Line between North and South Carolina-Computation of time -altered by act of Parliament - First printing press in North Carolina, 1749-Fort Johnston built -- Moravians purchase land in North Carolina-First revisal of the laws of North Carolina-Governor Johnston, after being governor for twenty years, dies (1752) -- His life, character, and services-He is succeeded, for a time, by Nathaniel Rice; and, on his death, in January 1753, by Matthew Rowan-Population of North Carolina in 1754-Aid sent to Virginia, against the French, by North Carolina.

GEORGE BURRINGTON, who had been governor under the pro- prietors, was appointed, in 1770, by the king (George I.). He arrived in February 1731, and qualified as governor, at Edenton, on the 25th of that month. William Smith was Chief Justice; Ed- mund Porter, Judge of Admiralty; John Montgomery, Attorney- General; Nathaniel Rice, Secretary of the Province. The Council of the Governor, named in his commission, were John Baptist Ashe, Cornelius Harnet, Matthew Rowan, and four others.

Governor Burrington did not begin his administration under such auspices as would tend to benefit the colony. His disposition .. was not fitted for his station. He soon became involved in diffi- culties with his council, the Assembly, and the judges. The records of the colonial offices and board of trade present evidence from Mr. Montgomery, the Attorney-General, Mr. Porter, one of the council, Mosely, Ashe, and others, of the misbehavior of Governor Burring- ton; while the records of the General Court, sitting at Edenton (March 1726), show that he was indicted for slanderous and vicious conduct; for breaches of the peace on the house of Sir Richard Ever- hard, on the persons of Robert Kenyon, Robert Rawle, the provost marshal, and others. His eccentric conduct created such a storm, that he found it impossible to resist its fury ; and, under pretence of visiting South Carolina, he left the colony, went to Charleston, 1734, and soon after sailed to England. His death occurred soon after. Rioting, in his usual manner, all night, he was found mur- dered, in the morning, in the Bird Cage Walk, in the corner of St. James' Park, in London.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

The government devolved on the Secretary, Nathaniel Rice, who was qualified as governor, at Edenton, on the 17th of April, 1734. His administration was of a very short duration, for, during the summer under the recommendation of Spence Compton, Baron of Wilmington, GABRIEL JOHNSTON was appointed governor. He arrived in the River Cape Fear, in October 1734, and in November, he took the oaths of office, in the town of Brunswick, at the Court House in the precinct of New Hanover.

Governor Johnston was a Scotchman by birth, a man of letters and of liberal views. He was by profession a physician, and held the appointment of Professor of Oriental Languages in the Uni- versity of Saint Andrews, where he had received his education. He was an able poetical writer, and figured in "the Craftsman," a periodical for which Lord Bolingbroke, Pulteney and others wrote.

He met the Legislature at Edenton. His addresses to them show that he fully appreciated the lamentable condition of the colony, by the imprudence and vicious conduct of his predecessor, and his earnest desire to promote the welfare of the people.

At the next session (September 1736) he again addressed the House, bewailing the deplorable condition of the colony; the loose morals of the people; the want of provision for education; the dis- regard of law; the violation of justice; the oppression of the poor; and the contempt of all law by the rich; and concluded by observ- ing, "that while he' was obliged by his instructions to maintain the rights of the crown, he would show a regard to the privileges, liber- ties and happiness of the people."

In March 1736, the Assembly having imprisoned .his Majesty's officers for distraining for quit rents, the governor dissolved them, so as to put a stop to practices in them so derogatory to the crown and subversive of order.

Under his prudent administration the colony revived, and from this period increased in population, wealth and resources.

This year (1738), commissioners ran the line between North and South Carolina. The king had fixed its beginning at the north-east of Long Bay, to run thence north-west to 35º north latitude, thence west to the South Sea. The commissioners on the part of North Carolina were Robert Holton, Matthew Rowan, and Edward Mosely. The commissioners began at a cedar stake on the sea shore, by the mouth of Little River, and having run a north-west line until they arrived, as they conceived to 35°, they altered their course by "mutual consent" and ran west to the Pee Dee. This stopped the line for the present. Afterwards, it was extended twenty miles by private" persons. It was continued in 1764. This was taken for the true line, according to Governor Tryon's proclamation (May 1765). Governor Martin, some years after (1771), informed the Assembly that he was instructed to continue said line as far as the Salisbury road, thence until it strikes the lands of the Catawba In-

* Manuscripts from offices of Board of Trade in London.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

dians, thence leaving those lands to the south, to the Catawba River, then due west. The ridiculous zigzag that our southern line presents, was the effect of private intrigue .*

The primary division of the province into three counties, Albe- marle, Bath, and Clarendon, was in 1738 abolished; the precincts were now called counties, and a sheriff appointed for each, chosen by the governor, out of three persons recommended by the county court for this purpose.

In February 1742, six northern counties refused to pay taxes, owing to their dissatisfaction as to the representation of members for the Assembly. Jurors refused to attend courts. t.

France having declared war against England (1744), the defence- less seaboard of North Carolina received the attention of the Legis- lature. A fort was ordered to be built sufficient to mount twenty- four pieces of cannon, on the south bank of Cape Fear, by the Legislature which met at Newbern' about 1745, and was called, in honor of the governor, Fort Johnston.

In 1749, a printing press was imported into the province by James Davis, from Virginia.}

The people known as Unitas Fratrum, or United Brethren, ob- tained an act of Parliament authorizing them to establish settle- ments on the American Provinces. They purchased of Lord Granville, one hundred thousand acres between Dan and Yadkin, and named it Wachovia, after an estate of Count Zinzendorff in Austria. This land was conveyed to James Hutton, who was Secre- tary to the United Brethren, in trust for the brethren. During our Revolution (1776) it was conveyed by Hutton to Marshal, and by act of our General Assembly in 1782, secured to the proper owners.

1749. Emigrants from west of Scotland flocked to the Cape Fear about this period.

The boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina, which had been run from the sea shore to Peter's Creek, which falls into Dan River, near the Sauratowns, was continued this year to the Holstein River, opposite to a place called Steep Rock. The com- missioners of Virginia were Joshua Fay and Peter Jefferson; those of North Carolina, William Churton and Daniel Weldon.

The computation of time was this year (1750) altered by act of Parliament. Hitherto, the year commenced in March. 'The day following the 2d September 1752, was reckoned the 14th, omitting eleven days.

The first revisal of the colonial laws was made this year (1752) in a small folio volume; it received the nickname of "Yellow Jacket," from the yellow hue of its binding.

* Williamson, ii. 54.

+ Manuscript documents from office of Board of Trade in London ; pro- cured through Hon. George Bancroft, late envoy at that court.

į Martin, ii. 54.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Governor Johnston's official dispatch to the Duke of New Castle, dated April, 1739, states "that having called a new Assembly, they had passed many beneficial laws. One, granting the king a rent roll; one for the improvement of trade ; one for speedy administration of justice. That, after five years' struggle, during which no means had been left unattempted to induce him to depart from his instructions, he had brought matters in this unhappy country to system, where disorder had before reigned, and placed it on a firm foundation."*

Under the administration of Governor Johnston, the province increased in population, wealth, and happiness. At the time of the purchase by the crown, its population did not exceed thirteen thou- sand ; it now was upwards of forty-five thousand.

Its exports were 61,528 barrels of tar ; 12,055 barrels of pitch ; 10,429 barrels of turpentine; 762,000 staves; 61,580 bushels of corn; 100,000 hogsheads of tobacco, besides pork, beef, bacon, lard, and other commodities.

Governor Johnston died this year, August, 1752, after presiding over the province for nearly twenty years.

He deserves the gratitude of every citizen of the State as a statesman, a scholar, and patriot. While these pages feebly present his services to the State, his name is preserved in calling the patri- otic and public spirited county of Johnston in honor to his memory.

On his death, the administration devolved on Nathaniel Rice, the first councillor named in the king's commission, who dying in Janu- ary following, was succeeded by Matthew Rowan, the next coun- cillor, who qualified at Wilmington on the Ist of February, 1754, and met the Legislature at Newbern, on the 23d of March following.

Nothing of exciting interest occurred during the administration of President Rowan, save, the issuing of forty thousand pounds in bills of credit ; the erection of a county in honor of his name, and the liberal appropriation of many towards building churches and purchasing glebe lands to support its ministers.

Rowan's official dispatch to the Duke of New Castle, states (1754) that he had received a requisition from Virginia for military aid ; - that he had sent nine hundred and fifty effective men.

The colony then had a population, as stated by Rowan, of militia, 15,400 ; exempts, 1,000; outposts, 1,500; slaves, 10,000.

Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, sent an express to President Rowan of the alarming movements of the French on the Ohio, and that GEORGE WASHINGTON had been sent thither to examine and report ; that he had ascertained the French had taken post on one of the branches of that river, built a fort, and engaged the Indians to join them. He desired the aid of men from North Carolina.

The President issued his proclamation for the Legislature to assemble at Wilmington on the 19th of February, 1754, who met

* MS. documents from London relating to Carolina, from 1662 to 1769, procured by kindness of Hon. George Bancroft, late envoy from United States do England.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

and appropriated one thousand pounds to the raising and paying such troops as might be raised to send to the aid of Virginia.

Colonel James Innes, of New Hanover, marched at the head of a detachment, and joined the troops raised by Virginia and Mary- land. But no provision being made by Virginia for supplies or conveniences, the expedition was countermanded, and Colonel Innes returned with his men to North Carolina.

CHAPTER VII.

FROM 1754 TO 1765.

Arthur Dobbs, governor (1754)-His conduct-His officers-People seize and imprison Lord Granville's agent-Courts of law held in each district, 1762-On the death of Dobbs (1765) Tryon succeeds.

ARTHUR DOBBS was appointed Governor by the crown in 1754, and in the fall he arrived at Newbern.

Governor Dobbs was a native of Ireland, a man of letters and liberal views. He had been a member of the Irish Parliament, and distinguished for his attempts to discover, through the Hudson Bay Company, a north-west passage to Japan, China, and India.

He brought, as an acceptable oblation, several pieces of cannon and one thousand firelocks, a present from the king to the colony.

He brought to the colony a more powerful advocate for rights of the people, than arms. Rice, a printer, is encouraged to carry on his business.

In an official dispatch (December, 1757) Governor Dobbs gives a wretched account of the state of quit-rents, misconduct of Ruther- ford and Murray, who raised factions against the Governor, and a curious record of "Mr. Starky, the treasurer, who governs many in the Assembly by lending them money."*

Governor Dobbs was qualified at Newbern on 1st of November, 1754. He was accompanied by a number of his relations, who had hopes of offices and preferments.

He adopted measures to conciliate the Indian tribes, now import- ant by the advances of the French on the Ohio. He commissioned Colonel Hugh Waddell, of Rowan County, to treat with the Catawbas and Cherokees.

"A storm, or hurricane, happened in North Carolina, which began on Monday, September 20, 1761, and continued till Friday following, but raged with most violence on the 23d.

" Many houses were thrown down, and all the vessels, except one,

* MS. papers relative to Carolina (tempus Geo. II.) procured from offices in London, through Hon. George Bancroft, late envoy to that court.

. HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

in Cape Fear River, driven on shore. It forced open a new chan- nel for that river, at a place called the Haul-Over, between the Cedar House and the Bald Head. This new channel was found on, soundings to be eighteen feet deep at high water, and is near half a mile wide."*

Governor Dobbs' administration of ten years was a continued contest between himself and the Legislature on matters frivolous and unimportant. A high-toned temper for royal prerogatives on this part, and an indomitable resistance on the part of the colonists. One incident will prove the spirit and conduct of both parties.

A bill had been introduced in the upper House for the appoint- ment of a printer to the province, and rejected by the other. The governor announced to the lower House that he had appointed An- drew Steuart printer to the king, and required them to make pro- vision for his salary. The House replied that they knew no such office, and of no such duty. t

Superior courts of justice were established in the districts of Edenton, Newbern, Wilmington, Halifax, and Salisbury, to be held semi-annually by the chief justice and one associate.

The people were much oppressed by Lord Granville's agents. They seized Corbin, his agent, who lived below Edenton, and brought him to Enfield, where he was compelled to give bond and security, to produce his books, and disgorge his illegal fees.

Governor Dobbs died at his seat on Town Creek, 28th March, 1765, in the 82d year of his age.

The persons who composed his council during his administration were James Hassel, Mathew Rowan, James Murray, Francis Corbin, John Dawson, Lewis H. DeRossett, John Rieusett, James Jones, John Swann, John Rutherford, Richard Spaight, Edward B. Dobbs, Charles Berry, John Sampson, Henry E. McCullock, Alexander McCullock, William Day, Robert Palmer, and Benjamin Herron.

The judges were James Hassell, Peter Henly, Charles Berry, George Nicholas, Joseph Anderson, and Charles Elliott. Thomas Childs, Attorney-General.

* London Mag., Dec. 1761. + Martin, ii. 189.

HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

CHAPTER VIII.

FROM 1765 TO 1771.

Tryon's administration from April, 1765 to July, 1771 ; his character-Early resistance of the Mecklenburg people- John ' Ashe and the Stamp Act, 1765-Paper seized-Conduct of the people of New Hanover, 1766-Duel between Captain Simpson, of his majesty's sloop-of-war the Viper, and Lieutenant Whitechurst, a relative of Mrs. Tryon, in which Whitechurst is killed-Suicide of Chief Justice Berry-Repeal of the Stamp Act- Palace for the governor ; a description of its splendor-Regulation troubles commence, 1766-Herman Husbands; his character-Colonel Edmund Fanning, of Orange; his character-People of Anson County and Rowan sympathize with the Regulators-Tryon's expedition to Mecklenburg and Rowan-He raises a body of troops, and marches to Hillsboro'-Fanning indicted and convicted-Husbands indicted and acquitted by the jury- Judge Moore, in Rowan, cannot hold court-Sheriff of Orange resisted by the Regulators and beaten-Sheriff of Dobbs resisted, and one of his deputies killed-Court at Hillsboro' broke up by the Regulators -- Judge Henderson retreats-Fanning and John Williams beaten by the Regulators -Governor marches against the Regulators in strong force-Battle of Alamance, May 16, 1771-Regulators defeated- First blood of the colonists shed in these United States by royal troops-Tryon marches to join Wad- del, as far as Jersey settlement, in Davidson-Tryon returns to Hillsboro', where court is held, and six of the Regulators are hanged-Tryon em- barks, June 30, 1771, to New York, to which colony he had been appointed governor.

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Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I, Part 4

Author: Wheeler, John H. (John Hill), 1806-1882 Publication date: 1851 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Lippincott, Grambo and Co. Number of Pages: 662

Author: Wheeler, John H. (John Hill), 1806-1882
Publication date: 1851
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Lippincott, Grambo and Co.
Number of Pages: 662