USA > North Carolina > Historical sketches of North Carolina : from 1584 to 1851, Vol. I > Part 61
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1812. 1813. 1814. - 1815. 1816.
H. W. Harrington, Neill McNair. J. L. Vaughan, S. McAllister, Jr. J. L. Vaughan, W. Thomas. Robt. Powell, Wm. Thomas. J. L. Vaughan, W. H. Leake.
352
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Years. Senate.
House of Commons.
1827. Erasmus Love,
George Thomas, Arch. McNair.
1828. Tryan McFarland,
Neill Nicholson, Nathan Gibson.
Neill Nicholson, James Murphey.
1831. 1832.
1833. Alexander Martin, 1834. John Fairley,
1835.
Alex. Martin,
1836.
Alfred Dockery,
John Mc Allister, Geo. Thomas.
1838. Alfred Dockery,
Duncan McLaurin, George Thomas.
1840.
Alfred Dockery,
Duncan McLaurin, John W. Covington.
1842.
Alfred Dockery,
Alexander Martin, Isaac Dockery.
Neil McNair.
1846. John Gilchrist,
Walter Leake Steele.
Walter Leake Steele. Walter Leake Steele.
CHAPTER LXV.
ROBESON COUNTY.
ROBESON COUNTY was formed in 1786, from Bladen County, and called in compliment of Colonel Robeson, who distinguished him- self in the battle of Elizabethtown, in Bladen County, (fought in July, 1781,) for the particulars of which reference is made to Chapter VII., on Bladen County:
It is situated in the southern part of the State, and bounded on the north by Cumberland, east by Bladen and Columbus, south by the South Carolina line, and west by Richmond County.
Its capital is LUMBERTON, on Lumber River, and is ninety-one miles south-west of Raleigh.
At this place died, in 1813, the Hon. Edward Harris, one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law, and is buried here.
Its population (1850) is 7,290 whites; 1,171 free negroes ; 4,365 slaves ; 11,080 representative population.
Its products (1840) are 248,195 bushels of corn ; 547,596 pounds of cotton ; 16,346 pounds of wool ; 5,541 barrels of turpentine ; 2,646 bushels of wheat ; 1,579 bushels of oats.
1
Members of the General Assembly from Robeson County, from its formation to 1851.
Years. Senate.
House of Commons.
1787. John Willis,
Elias Barnes, Neill Brown.
1788. John Willis,
Elias Barnes, Neill Brown.
1789. John Willis, Elias Barnes, Neill Brown. .
1791. John Willis,
Elias Barnes, Jacob Alford.
1792. Elias Barnes,
Ralph Rogan, John Gilchrist.
1793. Elias Barnes,
Jacob Alford, John Gilchrist.
1829. Tryan McFarland, 1830. Tryan McFarland, Tryan McFarland, Walter F. Leake,
. James Murphey, Isham A. Dumas. Walter F. Leake, Duncan McLaurin. Isaac Dockery, Duncan McLaurin. James Williams, Duncan Malloy. James Williams, Isaac Dockery. . Geo. Thomas, John R. Buie.
1844. Alfred Dockery,
1848. H. W. Covington,
1850. J. Mallory,
353
ROBESON COUNTY.
Years.
Senate.
House of Commons.
1794. Elias Barnes,
1795. Elias Barnes,
1796. John Gilchrist,
1797.
John Gilchrist,
1799.
Elias Barnes,
1800.
Elias Barnes,
1801.
Elias Barnes,
1802.
Elias Barnes,
1803.
Elias Barnes,
1804.
Benjamin Lee, ?
1805. Benjamin Lee,
1806.
Benjamin Lee,
1807.
Benjamin Lee,
-
1808. Benjamin Lee,
1809.
Benjamin Lee,
1810.
Benjamin Lee,
1811. Alfred Rowland,
1812.
Alfred Rowland,
1813. Alfred Rowland, ;
1814.
Alfred Rowland,
· 1815.
- Kenneth Black,
1816.
1817.
Kenneth Black, William Brown,
1818.
William Brown,
1819.
William Sterling,
1820. Kenneth Black,
1821.
Kenneth Black,
1822.
Isaac Sullivan,
1823.
M. D. Murphey,
1824.
1825. 1826.
Isaac Sullivan, John Gilchrist, John Gilchrist,
1827.
Arch'd McEachin, Arch'd McEachin,
1829.
Neill B. Johnson, Shadrach Howell,
Warren Alford, Malcolm Purcell. John Purcell, John Brown. John Purcell, John Brown.
1831. 1832.
Shadrach Howell, Shadrach Howell,
W.m. L. Miller, Alexander Watson. Alexander Watson, Benjamin Lee.
1833.
Shadrach Howell,
Alexander Watson, Giles'S. McLean.
1834.
Shadrach Howell,
1835.
Malcolm Patterson,
1836. Alfred Dockery,
1838.
Alfred Dockery,
1840. Alfred Dockery,
1842. Alfred Dockery,
1844. Alfred Dockery, - 1846. John Gilchrist,
Neill Regan, John McNeill.
Neill Regan, John McNeill.
1848. H. W. Covington, 1850. J. Malloy,
Wm. McNeil, Neal McNeill.
-
James McQueen, John Willis. John Willis, Joseph Wade. Joseph Wood, James McQueen. John Regan, Joseph Wood."
John Regan, Neill Brown .. Robert Haills, Hugh Brown. Hugh Brown, James McQueen.
Benjamin Lee, James McQueen. Benjamin Lee, James McQueen. Zachariah Jordan, Hugh Brown. Zachariah Jordan, Duncan McNeill. Zachariah Jordan, Duncan McNeill. Hugh Brown, Alexander Rowland.
Alexander Rowland, Hugh Brown. Hugh Brown, Wm. Sterling. Hugh Brown, John Gilchrist. John Gilchrist, Duncan McAlpin. Duncan McAlpin, Isaac Sullivan. Archibald S. Brown, Kenneth Black. Murdock McLean, Wm. Sterling. Archibald S. Brown, Murdock McLean. John Gilchrist, Wm. Sterling.
John Gilchrist, Francis L. Haynes. Francis L. Haynes, Kenneth Black. John Guinn, Isaac Sullivan. Archibald McEachin, Willis Pope. Jacob Alford, Archibald McEachin. John Gilchrist, Jacob Alford. Jacob Alford, Shad. Howell. Warren Alford, Shad. Howell. Shadrach Howell, Warren Alford. Shadrach Howell, Warren Alford. R. C. Rhodes, Malcolm Purcell.
1828,
1830.
Benjamin Lee, Giles S. McLean. Oliver K. Tuton, Alexander Watson. Alexander Watson, O. K. Tuton. O. K. Tuton, James Blount. Daniel A. Graham, Neill Regan. Neill Regan, Alexander Watson.
Neill Regan, John McNeill.
V
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
354
CHAPTER LXVI.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY was formed, in 1785, from Guilford County, and derives its name from Charles Watson Wentworth, Marquis of Rockingham, who was a distinguished friend of America in the . English Parliament, and acted in concert with William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, in opposition. to Lord North. In, 1782 he was the Premier of England .*
It is located in the north-western part of the State; and bounded on the north by the Virginia line, east by Caswell, south by Guil- ford, and west by Stokes.
Its capital is Wentworth, in honor of the family name of the House of Rockingham, and is distant one hundred and sixteen miles north-west of Raleigh.
Its population in 1850, was 8,747 whites ; 419 free negroes; 5,329 slaves ; 12,363 representative population.
Its products in 1850, was 1,777,205 pounds of tobacco; 431,085 bushels of corn ; 149,402 bushels of oats ; 61,015 bushels of wheat; 4,805 bushels of rye -; 23,947 pounds of cotton; 8,355 pounds of wool ; 20 tons of iron.
Hon. THOMAS SETTLE, at present one of the Judges of the Superior Courts, was born in this county about the year 1791.
He entered public life in 1816, as a member of the House of Commons, and was elected in 1817 and 1819, a member of Congress from this District, when he declined a re-election.
He appeared again in public life in 1826, as a member of the House of Commons, and was re-elected in 1827 and 1828. This last year he was the Speaker of the House, and by voting with the minority saved the Banks from the prosecution threatened by Robert Potter. In 1832, he was elected a Judge of the Superior Courts of Law and Equity, which elevated position he now holds with great satisfaction to the country and dignity to himself.
He married a sister of Hon. Calvin Graves, by whom he has been blest with several children, one of whom is the wife of Governor Reid, and a son who is his private Secretary.
DAVID SETTLE REID, the present Governor of North Carolina, is a native of Rockingham. He was born April 19th, 1813. He studied law and was ad- mitted to practice in 1843. His first appearance in public was in 1835, as Senator from Rockingham; and he was re-elected, continuously, until 1840.
In 1843 he was elected a member of Congress, and served until 1847, with great acceptability to his constituents.
In 1848, without his concurrence or knowledge, he was nominated for Governor, and was defeated by a small majority. In 1850, when he had posi-
* Encyclopædia Americana, vol. xi. p. 55.
355
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. -
tively, by a letter published, declined the nomination, he was again nominated by the Democratic Convention and was elected, and is now the Governor of the State ; the first Democratic Governor ever elected by the people in North Carolina.
The distinguishing act that has marked Governor Reid's career, has been his successful advocacy of the cause of free suffrage, which he successfully vindicated, and which has eventually triumphed over the most powerful opposition.
DANIEL W. COURTS represented this county in 1846, '48, in the Commons, and in 1850 in Senate ; for his biography see Wake, Chapter LXV.
Members of the General Assembly from Rockingham County, from its formation to the last session.
Years. Senate.
1786. James Galloway,
William Bethell, Peter Perkins.
1787. James Galloway,
William Bethell, Peter Perkins.
1788. James Galloway,
William Bethell, Abram Phillips. Wm. Bethell, Abram Phillips.
1789. James Galloway, 1790. . 1791.
Abram Phillips, James Taylor. Henry Scales, John Leak. Thomas Henderson, James Taylor.
1792. 1793.
Robert Williams,
1794.
Robert Williams,
Henry Scales, George Peay. Thomas Henderson, George Peay. George Peay, Alexander Joyce. Alexander Joyce, Henry Scales. John Peay, Henry Scales.
Drury Smith, Joshua Smith. Theo. Lacey, Nathl. Williams. Samuel Hill, Nathaniel Williams. Nathl. Scales, Alexander Sneed.
Alexander Sneed, Joseph Gentry.
Alex. Sneed, Sampson Lanier. Alex. Sneed, Mark Harden. Mark Harden, Sampson Lanier.
Nathl. Scales,
Nathl. Scales,
1809.
Nathl. Scales,
Nathl. Scales,
1810. 1811. Nathl. Scales, 1812. Abraham Phillips,
1813. Abraham Phillips,
1814. Abraham Phillips, Wm. Bethell,
1815. 1816. Wm. Douglas,
1817.
Wm. Bethell,
1818. Wm. Bethell,
Wm. Bethell,
1819. 1820. 1821.
Wm. Bethell, -
Nathaniel Scales,
1822.
Thos. Blackwell, Nathl. Scales,
1823. ª
Thomas Blackwell, Henry Baughn, Thomas Blackwell, Thomas Blackwell, Edwd. T. Broadnax,
1824. 1825. 1826. 1827. 1828. 1829. Robert Martin,
1830. Robert Martin,
1831. Robert Martin,
House of Commons. -
1795. 1796.
Robert Williams, Thomas Henderson, 1797. Abraham Phillips, 1798. 1799. 1800.
1801.
Henry Scales, Abraham Phillips, Abraham Phillips, Abraham Phillips, Alexander Martin,. Alexander Martin, Nathl. Scales,
Thos. Wortham, Mark Harden. Mark Harden, Hugh C. Mills. William Douglas, Jos. S. Gentry. William Douglas, Jos. S. Gentry. Samuel Hill, John Odeneal. Samuel Hill, Wm. Douglas. Wm. Douglas, Thomas Blackwell. Wm. Douglas, Thomas Blackwell.
- Thos. Settle, Thomas Blackwell. Thomas Hill, Nathaniel Scales. Richd. W. Micheaux, Natlıl. Scales, Jr.
H. Baughn, W. Donnell. Thomas Blackwell, W. Donnell. John M. Moorehead, James Miller. Robert Martin, E. T. Broadnax. E. T. Broadnax, Robert Martin. Wm. Donnell, Robt. Martin. Robert Martin, James Barnett. James Barnett, Thomas Settle. James Barnett, Thomas Settle. Thomas Settle, Wm. Bethell. Wilson S. Hill, Wm. Bethell. Philip Irion, William Donnell. Wilson S. Hill, Benjamin Settle.
1802. 1803. 1804. 1805. 1806. 1807. 1808.
William Bethell, Charles Galloway, Robert Williams,
356
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
Years.
Senate.
House of Commons.
1832.
Robert Martin,
Benjamin Settle, Philip Irion.
1833.
Robert Martin,
Benjamin Settle, Philip Irion.
1834.
Robert Martin,
Philip Irion, Blake W. Brasswell.
1835.
David S. Reid,
Philip Irion, Blake W. Brasswell. Philip Irion, Blake W. Brasswell. R. P. Cardwell, B. W. Brasswell.
1836.
1838.
David S. Reid, David S. Reid,
1840.
David S. Reid,
R. P. Cardwell, Geo. D. Boyd. . R. P. Cardwell, Peter Scales.
1842.
Geo. D. Boyd,
1844. George D. Boyd,
Peter Scales, R. P. Williamson.
1846. George D. Boyd,
Danl. W. Courts, Joseph Neal.
1848. Wm. D. Bethell,
Danl. W. Courts, T. W. Keen.
1850. Daniel W. Courts,
Thomas Ruffin, Jr., Horatio Kallam.
CHAPTER LXVII. 7
ROWAN COUNTY.
Date of formation-Origin of name-Situation and boundaries-Population and products-By whom settled-Colonial history-Regulation troubles- Governor Tryon in Salisbury (1768)-General Waddell driven back with his troops (1771), by the people-Committee of Safety for Rowan-Their Journal from 1774 to 1776-The seizure and abduction of Boothe and Dunn, two Tory lawyers-Their petition to be restored-Affair at Tor- rences', now Iredell-Character of the distinguished citizens, Griffith Rutherford, John Steele, Jesse A. Pearson, Archibald Henderson, Charles Fisher, Richmond M. Pearson, David F. Caldwell, John W. Ellis, Nathaniel Boyden, H. C. Jones, and others, and the Members of the General Assembly.
THERE is no county in the State whose early history and whose distinguished sons, afford so fair and ample subjects of history as Rowan. This material of itself, amplified as it deserves, would fill a volume. Is it an idle hope that some son of hers will under- take this pious and patriotic duty ? It is due to the memory of the past ; it is worthy of the emulation and imitation of the future.
Rowan County was formed in 1753 from Anson County. Until Surry (in 1770) and Burke (in 1777) were taken off, this county comprehended most of the western part of the State of North Carolina and Tennessee. The history of Rowan, then, is the his- tory of Western Carolina.
Rowan is situated in the western part of the State; bounded on the north by Davie County, one of her daughters ; east by the Yadkin River, which separates her from Davidson (another daughter); south by Stanly, and Cabarrus; and west by Iredell, another daughter.
Like a venerable mother, she sits with her children comfortably settled around her.
357
ROWAN COUNTY.
Salisbury, her capital, is nearly west from Raleigh one hundred and eighteen miles. It derives its name from a town in England about seventy miles west from London. It is a word of Saxon origin, meaning a dry town .* -
This name during the past summer (1851) was most appropriate. Its population (1850) 9,901 whites ; 115 free negroes ; 3,854 slaves ; 12,328 representative population.
Rowan was early settled (about 1720), by the Protestants from Moravia, fleeing from the persecutions of Ferdinand the Second; and by the Scotch, who, after the unsuccessful attempts of Charles Ed- ward, grandson of James the Second, to ascend the English throne, and whose fortunes were destroyed on the fatal field of Culloden, (16th April, 1746), had fled to this country ; and by the Irish, who after the, rebellion of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, in the times of James ,the First, were forced to leave their country. These, or their ancestors, previously had come from Scotland, and hence the term of Scotch Irish.
I have in my possession a petition from Rowan County to Governor Dobbs (in 1754), which states that "the inhabitants of Rowan were composed of almost all the nations of Europe."
The prudence of the German, the sagacity of the Scotch, and fiery ardor of the Irish, here united; and were fit materials to form an industrious, thrifty, and gallant nation.
" Tantæ molis erat condere gentium."
In the beautiful description of the ablest historian of his age,
" Here was a colony of men from civilized life, scattered among forests, hermits with wives and children, resting upon the bosom of nature, in per- fect harmony with the wilderness of their gentle clime.
" Careless of religious sects, or unmolested by oppressive laws, the early settlers enjoyed liberty of conscience and personal independence. Free- dom of the forest and of the river. The children of nature listened to the inspirations of nature. They desired no greater happiness than they en- joyed. North Carolina was settled by the freest of the free."t
- Such a people were truly happy, until the wily serpent of ty- ranny entered their paradise.
Fleeing from religious persecutions and powers, in the full en- joyment of unrestrained liberty, such a people were little fitted to be the passive subjects of either priestly or kingly power. Hence their early history is rife with incidents of quick perception of wrong, active resistance, and steady and sturdy advocacy of liberty.
In the struggles of the Regulators against the extortions of Governor Tryon and the crown officers in 1769, 1770, and 1771, the spirit of Rowan was manifested.
In March, 1770, MAURICE MOORE, one of the Judges of the colony, at- tended Salisbury to hold the Superior Court. He reported. to Governor
* See Bailey's Dictionary.
+ Bancroft, ii. 154.
1
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
358
Tryon at Newbern, that " from the opposition of the people to the taxes, no process of the law could be executed among them." Doubtless Judge Moore sympathized with these people, for soon after he became the sturdy opponent of the Governor, and was active as the friend of liberty, and died in the ser- vice of the State .*
Governor Tryon repaired in person to Salisbury. In his ori- ginal journal, published now for the first time, procured from the archives of the English government (see Alamance), we can see his actions, and admire the spirit of a' Knox (maternal ancestor of James Knox Polk), who refused to join him with his troops.
Violent as the acts of the Regulators were, the subsequent op- pressive conduct of the crown officers justified their conduct.
The clerk of Rowan County (Thomas Frohawk) was allowed to charge fifteen dollars for a marriage license. I have one of these ancient documents in my hands. It is signed by the Governor, with the great seal of State, and countersigned by the Clerk of the Superior Court. What can we think in this free age, "in the open light of the nineteenth century," of such official conduct, when a royal governor condescends to use such means to swell his reve- ' nues ; and
" wring
From the hard hands of peasants, their vile trash By any indirection."t
The effect of this conduct was, says a late interesting and ac- curate writer on this age,t "that some of the inhabitants on the head waters of the Yadkin took a short cut."
This can be no reproach, since the institution of marriage is of God, not of man. In Pennsylvania, in this enlightened age, no license of law is necessary to celebrate marriage.
The legal fee for recording a deed was one dollar. The high price of the court fees shut the door of the court house against the poor man.
The indignation of the people of Rowan was roused. On the 7th March, 1771, a public meeting was held at Salisbury, and a committee consisting of JAMES HUNTER, JOHN INYARD, WILLIAM WELLBORN, THOMAS FLAKE, JOHN CURRY, JAMES WILSON, SAMUEL WAGNER, DAVID GILLESPIE, JAMES GRAHAM, HENRY WADE, PETER JULIAN, JEREMIAH FIELDS, JOHN VICKNEY, SAMUEL JONES, and JOSHUA ZAGUR, who, armed with the authority of the people, met the clerk, sheriffs, and other officers of the crown, and compelled them to disgorge their ill-gotten extortions.
By a writing signed by these officers, they agreed to settle and pay over all moneys, over and above their lawful fees .?
This was "indemnity for the past." "The security for the future" was, that " when any doubt should arise as to fees, they should not be paid to the officers, but to such officers as were appointed by the people."
Matthew Locke and Herman Husbands were among those selected to re-
* See his life in Chapter VIII, Brunswick, and Husbands', book in the Chapter Orange, Chapter LVIII.
t Julius Caesar, Act iv, Scene 2d.
# Caruthers life of Rev. David Caldwell.
§ Martin, ii. 274.
(
ROWAN COUNTY. 359
ceive these fees. 'An instance of more determined resistance, or of purer democracy, is not to be found in the annals of any people.
The power of the government was exercised to put down this movement. The military spirit of the Royal Governor (Tryon) resolved to appeal to the sword.
He sent General Waddell to Salisbury to raise troops, and ordered muni- tions of war from Charleston. We have seen how the brave spirits of Ca- barrus intercepted the wagons at Phifer's mill (now Long's tavern), and destroyed the powder, lead, flints, &c. ;* and when Waddell advanced his troops from Salisbury to join Tryon, the bold sons of Rowan rose in arms, and ordered him back. At Pott's Creek, on 10th May, 1771, he held a coun- cil of his officers, and they wisely fell back and re-crossed the Yadkin. But for this, Waddell would have been at the battle of Alamance on the 16th.
After that disastrous event, in which, for want of skill in their leaders and concert among their men, the Regulators were subdued, the bloody " Wolf of North Carolina," as Tryon was called by the Indians, advanced in all "the pomp and circumstance", of official station, and joined Waddell on 4th June, near Salisbury, about eight miles east of the Yadkin River. He marched then to the Moravian settlements in Stokes, through Rocking- ham, Guilford, and Orange on the High Rock road, to Hillsboro', where he had court held, to try the Regulators, by his pliant tool, Judge Howard. On the 20th he left Hillsboro', and reached Newbern on the 24th ; and, on the 30th, left North Carolina for the colony of New York, to which he had just been appointed governor. Thus was our State rid of one who had been her most oppressive ruler, and bloodthirsty tyrant. - This record, too, settles the point never before known, and about which Caruthers doubted, that Tryon did not advance as far as Salisbury after the battle of Alamance. He dispatched General Waddell with his troops, con- sisting of three hundred and forty men, reinforced with four companies from Orange, the light infantry from Cumberland, and the artillery company from Wilmington, with a brass cannon and six half-swivel guns, to the north-west of Rowan (now Iredell), Mecklenburg, and Tryon (now Lincoln), in order to suppress the people of that region, and compel the inhabitants to take the oath prescribed, and put down any insurrection. When this duty had been performed, Waddell was to disband the troops.
1
r
We now approach a more serious insurrection (as Governor Tryon would have called it) among the people of Rowan-the Revolution-which termi- nated in our Liberty and Independence.
- The efforts of Tryon had been too successful, for, with all his faults, he was a soldier, and a determined one. To this quality he added the address of a statesman, for he had enlisted under his banners, before the designs of the British were openly discovered, many of the bravest and best officers of his day. Richard Caswell was one of his Colonels at Alamance; Waddell was a true patriot, and so was Rutherford.
When the designs of the mother country were known, and it was seen that the total subjugation of the people was the object, ROWAN did not hesitate to throw herself, in that dark and dubious struggle, on the side of liberty.
To the first assemblage of patriots, adverse to the oppressions of the British Crown, at Newbern, August 25th, 1774, she sent as delegates, WM. KENNON, MOSES WINSLOW, and SAMUEL YOUNG.
To the same place, in April, 1775, she sent GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD, WM. SHARP, and WM. KENNAN.
To Hillsboro', on 21st August, 1775, MATTHEW LOCKE, JAMES SMITH, MOSES WINSLOW, SAML. YOUNG, WM. KENNON, and WM. SHARP.
This Congress appointed as Field Officers and Minute Men, for Salisbury District, THOS. WADE, of Anson, Colonel; ADLAI OSBORNE, of Rowan, Lieut .- Colonel ; JOSEPH HARBEN, Major.
To Halifax, on the 22d April, 1776, GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD and MATTHEW LOCKE.
At this Assembly GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD was appointed Brigadier-General
* See page 65.
32
360
HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
of the Salisbury District ; FRANCIS LOCKE, Colonel of Rowan ; ALEX. DOBBINS, Lieutenant-Colonel ; JAMES BRANNON, Major ; JAMES SMITH, 2d Major.
Officers of the Battalion, WM. TEMPLE COLE, Captain ; JAMES CARR, Ist Lieutenant ; DAVID CRAIGE, * 2d Lieutenant.
Members from Rowan to the Congress at Halifax, which formed the Con- stitution, November 12, 1776-GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD, MATTHEW LOCKE, WM. SHARPE, JAMES SMITH, JOHN BREVARD.
In 1775, the Royal Government had ceased, by the retreat of Governor Martin. The Civil Government of North Carolina vested in
1. A Provincial Council for the whole State, composed of two members from each Judicial District, and one for the State at large, who was chair- man and de facto Governor. , They had power to call out troops, appoint officers, draw upon the treasury, and do all things necessary for the defence and protection of the State. The members from the Salisbury District were SAML. SPENCER, of Anson, and WAIGHTSTILL AVERY, of Mecklenburg.
2. Committees of Safety for the towns were composed of a President and twelve members, who were to sit in the principal town in each district, re- ceive information, and transmit it to the Provincial Council, and had appel- late power over
3. County Committees of Safety, who were elected by the freeholders of each county, who were to correspond with the Committee of Safety for the Town, who, if necessary, referred the communication to the Provincial Coun- cil; had power to examine all suspected persons ; arrest, imprison and pun- ish ; prevent persons in debt from absconding, and compel others to pay their debts ; and to take especial care that the public interest suffered no detri- ment.
For Rowan County were appointed JAS. MCCAY, ANDREW NEAL, GEORGE CATHY, ALEXANDER DOBBINS, FRANCIS MACKORKLE, MATTHEW LOCKE, MAX- WELL CHAMBERS, HENRY HARMON, ABRAHAM DENTON, WM. DAVIDSON, SAML. YOUNG, JOHN BREVARD, WM. KENNON, GEO. HENRY BARRINGER, ROBT. BELL, JOHN BICKERSTAFF, JOHN COWDEN, JOHN LEWIS BEARD, JOHN NESBIT, CHAS. McDOWELL, ROBT. BLACKBURN, CHRISTOPHER BEEKMAN, WM. SHARPE, JOHN JOHNSON, and MORGAN BRYAN.
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