USA > North Carolina > History of North Carolina, V I pt 2 > Part 7
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The Edenton tea party
The Edenton ladies, shortly after the adjournment of the convention, held a meeting on October 25th, and declared that they could not be indifferent to whatever affected the peace and happiness of their country; and that since the members of the convention had entered into the particular resolves adopted by that body. they themselves proposed to adhere to the same resolves, and they therefore subscribed an association paper as a witness of their solemn determina- tion to do so. From that time East India tea was discarded by the ladies of Edenton .*
*In the carlier stages of the disagreement between the colonies and the mother country the sympathies of a large part of the English people were with the colonies, whose cause was strongly supported by many newspapers and by leading cartoonists. The following
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MARTIN'S ADMINISTRATION, 1771-75
1774
Governor Martin returns
On December 7th Governor Martin began his return jour- ney from New York by land, reaching New Bern on Jan- uary 15th. He observed the inhabitants everywhere greatly aroused, and committees carrying into execution the measures of the general congress. At .Annapolis he saw with horror his former companion in arms, General Charles Lee, then a British half-pay officer. drilling the people ; while in North Carolina he realized that the committees were completely exercising the functions of government. To his distress at the political situation there was to be added a sore personal affliction, the loss of a little son. the third child of whom he had been bereaved since his arrival in Carolina. He found awaiting him at New Bern his appointment as agent
extracts are taken from a volume entitled "The Boston Port Bill as Pictured by a Contemporary London Cartoonist," by R. T. H. Halsey, published by the Grolier Club. 1904:
"An account of a meeting of a society of patriotic ladies at Eden- ton, in North Carolina, appeared in various English papers about the middle of January, 1775. Possibly the imposing list of signatures attached to the resolutions passed at this gathering caused our car- toonist to select this incident as one fairly representative of the moral and physical support the women of the colonies were con- tributing to the common cause. No reader of English newspapers, during the long protracted dispute between the king and the colonies, could have remained ignorant of the political activities of the colonial women. .
"The above citations from the English press of the frugality. in- dustry and cheerful abstinence from many of the comforts of life displayed by the women of the American colonies, have been quoted to demonstrate that the political activities of the colonial women were well known to the public on whom our cartoonist depended for a market for the sale of his prints. The especial incident, the action of a society of patriotic ladies at Edenton, in North Carolina. which he had selected as being typical of the attitude of the women in the colonies, was described in several London papers about the middle of January, 1775.
"The following extract from the Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser (of January 16, 1775) tells of the association formed by the women of Edenton, in their endeavors to assist in carrying out the resolutions taken by the men of North Carolina, and furnished the cartoonist for his illustration-extract of a letter from North Carolina, October 27th ( 1774)- The provincial deputies of North Carolina. having resolved not to drink any more tea, nor wear any more British cloth, etc., many ladies of this province have deter- mined to give a memorable proof of their patriotism. and have ac- cordingly entered into the following honorable and spirited associa- tion. I send it to you to show your fair countrywomen how zealously and faithfully American ladies follow the laudable example of their
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WESTERN EXPANSION
and attorney of Granville; and there was at once need for his action.
The Transylvania colony
Richard Henderson, an eminent attorney, who had served on the bench a few years earlier, had arranged for the pur- chase from the Cherokee Indians of a large portion of their hunting grounds in Kentucky and Tennessee, and was pre- paring to occupy that wilderness with a colony. This was particularly in contravention of the king's proclamation, and of the acts of Virginia and of North Carolina. The territory, extending from the Ohio southward, lay partly in the king's domain and partly within the lines of Lord Granville. Gov-
husbands, and what opposition your matchless ministers may expect to receive from a people, thus firmly united against them':
"EDENTON. NORTH CAROLINA. October 25 ( 1774). "As we cannot be indifferent on any occasion that appears nearly to affect the peace and happiness of our country, and as it has been thought necessary. for the public good. to enter into several par- ticular resolves by a meeting of members deputed from the whole province. it is a duty which we owe, not only to our near and dear connections, who have concurred in them, but to ourselves, who are essentially interested in their welfare, to do everything, as far as lies in our power, to testify our sincere adherence to the same; and we do therefore accordingly subscribe this paper as a witness of our fixed intention and solemn determination to do so :
Abagail Charlton. Sarah Beasley,
Sarah Valentine,
Elizabeth Creacy. Grace Chayton.
Mary Bonner,
Anne Johnstone,
Mary Jones,
Mary Ramsey.
Mary Woolard.
Mary Creney,
Lydia Bennett.
Jean Blair.
Anne Hall.
Tresia Cunningham.
Frances Hall.
Sarah Littlejohn,
Anne Haughton.
Mary Creacy.
Sarah Hoskins,
Elizabeth Roberts,
Mary Blount.
M. Payne,
Ruth Benbury,
Margaret Cathcart.
Elizabeth Cricket.
Penelope Barker, Mary Littledle.
Jane Wellwood.
Lydia Bonner,
Penelope Dawson.
Anne Horniblow.
Elizabeth Johnstone.
Susanna Vail.
Marion Wells.
Elizabeth Green.
Elizabeth Vail.
Sarah Mathews. Sarah Howe.
Elizabeth Vail.
Elizabeth Roberts. Mary Hunter,
J. Johnstone.
Rebecca Bondfield. Anne Anderson,
Elizabeth Patterson,
Saralı Howcott. Elizabeth Bearsley,
Margaret Pearson, Elizabeth P. Ormond, Elizabeth Roberts.
Our cartoonist has pictured in the closing cartoon of the series a living room of a colonial home, filled with women. both of high and lowly station, matrons and maidens. all clothed in gar- ments the materials of which bore no trace of having emanated from the looms of Manchester or Birmingham.'
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MARTIN'S ADMINISTR.ITION, 1771-75
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ernor Martin hastened to issue a strong proclamation for- bidding the proposed settlement from being made, and declair- ing that all who should enter into any agreement with the Indians would expose themselves to the severest penalties. Still Henderson did not remit his exertions to carry his design into execution. Daniel Boone blazed the way, and a colony was successfully established on the dark and bloody ground of Kentucky.
Proceedings on the Cape Fear
March 6, 1775 Troops organized
C. R., X, 48, 149
C. R .. IX. 1149-1157 March, 1775
C. R., X, 33
C. R .. X, 49
The general congress recommended that another should be convened on May roth; and early in February Colonel Harvey gave notice to the committees of safety to have elec- tions of deputies to attend another provincial convention. On the 20th of that month the New Hanover committee in- vited co-operation with that of Duplin, indicating that on March 6th there would be several matters of much concern to American welfare agitated. John Ashe, who had long been colonel of New Hanover County. had declined to accept a new commission from Governor Martin. thus disassociating himself from the military organization of the constituted authorities ; and the people of New Hanover had met and chosen field officers for a regiment, he becoming the colonel. Similar action was taken in Brunswick, and Colonel Robert Howe was training the people to arms. On March 6th an association paper was agreed to by the New Hanover com- mittee and recommended to the committees of the adjacent counties, by which the subscribers "most solemnly engage by the most sacred ties of honor, virtue, and love of country" to observe every part of the association recommended by the Continental Congress. At the same time it appears that there was a proposition to seize Fort Johnston, but it was thought not advisable. Some of the inhabitants of Wilming- ton were reluctant to sign the association paper, and Colonel Ashe appeared in the town at the head of some five hundred of his regiment and menaced the people "with military execu- tions if they did not immediately subscribe." Without doubt, being now an active leader in the throes of a revolution, Ashe used every influence that could be exerted to infuse zeal among the people, to fix the wavering and to overawe those
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THIE LOV.IL ELEMENT
who were disinclined to cast their fortunes with the revo- 1775 --
lutionists. The commanding figure on the Cape Fear, he was at once stalwart. bold and determined. With him were his Kinsmen, and Harnett and Howe, Moore and Lillington : unhappily, DeRosset and Waddell. leaders in the stamp act times, had passed away. For their resolute action. Harnett, Ashe, Howe, and Abner Nash were particularly marked out by the governor as proper objects of proscription, because "they stand foremost among the patrons of revolt and an- C. R., X, 58 archy."
The disaffected in the interior
But amid these evidences of defection the governor found some comfort. The Regulators had never been pardoned, and were still fearful of punishment. From time to time, as apprehensions arose, others would follow those who had earlier removed from the province ; and many of the former insurgents were yet uneasy. The king had recommended to the Assembly to pass an act of oblivion, but session succeeded session without bringing the comforting assurance that there were to be no more prosecutions. Now some of the Regu- lators presented addresses to the governor, much to his satis- C. R., IX, faction. Some two hundred inhabitants of Rowan and Surry assured him of their determination to continue his Majesty's loyal subjects. More than one hundred residents of Guilford. "being before an unhappy people, lying under the reflection of the late unhappy insurrection," declared that they held a firm attachment to his Majesty. From An- son came the assurance from more than two hundred to con- tinue steadfast in the support of government. The governor speedily took measures to attach these people to him, giving them every encouragement : and so hopeful was he of their united support that on March 16th he wrote to General Gage, at Boston. asking for arms and a good store of ammunition, and promising, with the aid of the Regulators and High- landers, to maintain the king's sovereignty in North Caro- lina. He had indeed ascertained that many of the High- C. R., IX, landers who had so recently settled in the province, and 1167 others being, like the Regulators, oath bound, would enroll themselves beneath his banner ; and he sent emissaries among
1160 et seq.
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MARTIN'S ADMINISTRATION, 1771-75
1775
them and association papers for them to sign. To strengthen this movement, he caused the several addresses received by him to be published in the North Carolina Gasette, and soon had the satisfaction of finding that some fifteen hundred men were enrolled in his support.
The Assembly and the Convention
C. R., IX, 1178
The two bodies sit together
C. R., IX, 1213
The Association signed
The Provincial Convention or congress was to meet at New Bern on April 3d and the Assembly on the 4th, the two bodies being composed substantially of the same members. On April 2d Governor Martin issued a proclamation forbidding the convention to be held, and exhorting members to with- draw themselves and desist from such illegal proceedings. Nevertheless the convention met. chose Harvey moderator and proceeded to business : and on the 4th the house met. Harvey being chosen speaker. On the following day the governor issued another proclamation, commanding all his Majesty's subjects to break up the illegal convention, but his warnings were disregarded. Indeed, on that very day, the Assembly being in session and Harvey in the chair as speaker, the mem- bers of the convention who were not assemblymen. and there were about twenty more of the former than of the latter in attendance, took their seats in the house, which was then con- verted into the convention ; and the body proceeded to the transaction of business as such, later the business of the house being resumed. On information of this proceeding. Gov- ernor Martin's wrath knew no bounds, and quickly changing the upper house of the legislature into a council, he brought the subject before them, but was advised that it was inexpedi- ent to take notice of it. The convention signed the associa- tion adopted by the general congress, thanked Hooper, Hewes, and Caswell for their services as deputies and re- elected them to attend the next congress, to be held on May Ioth, and invested them with power to bind the province in honor by any act that they might do. It recommended the encouragement of arts and manufactures, and that premiums should be offered by the local committees to pro- mote industries throughout the province. It declared that his Majesty's subjects have a right to nieet and petition the throne and to appoint delegates for that purpose, and that
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THE ASSEMBLY-CONVENTIONN
the governor's proclamations commanding the convention 1775 --
to disperse was a wanton and arbitrary exercise of power.
To the house the governor made a long and heated address, inveighing against the illegal convention, pointing out that it was dishonorable to the Assembly for such a body to meet, and warning them of the dangerous precipice on which they who had solemnly sworn allegiance to the king then stood, and informing them of the satisfaction he had received in the assurance of support by the inhabitants of the interior.
The reply of the house was spirited and hold. It declared C. R., IX, that the members, with minds superior to private dissensions. 1195, 1201 had determined calmly, unitedly, and faithfully to discharge the sacred trust reposed in them by their constituents; ac- knowledging their allegiance to the king, they declared that the same constitution which established that allegiance bound his Majesty under as solemn obligations to protect his sub- jects, making each reciprocally dependent. Asserting that the king had no subjects more faithful than the inhabitants of North Carolina. or more ready, at the expense of their lives and fortunes, to protect and support his person, crown, and dignity, they expressed their warm attachment to their sister colonies and heartfelt compassion for Boston, and declared the fixed and determined resolution of the colony to unite with the other colonies to retain their just rights as British subjects. They reiterated what the convention had affirmed with regard to the legality of that body, approved the proceedings of the Continental Congress, and resolved to exert every influence to induce the inhabitants of North Carolina to observe the rules it had recommended. They thanked the North Carolina deputies for their faithful con- duct, and approved of their re-election by the convention. The governor, on the evening of Friday, the 7th, having obtained information of the nature of the Assembly's ad- dress to him. early the next morning dissolved the body.
Although later Governor Martin called for the election of new members to be held on June 23d, this was the last Assembly ever convened under royal authority. It was also the last appearance in public affairs of that sterling patriot, John Harvey, whose health had long been delicate ; and now.
Reciprocal duties declared
April, 1775 The Assembly dissolved
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MARTIN'S ADMINISTRATION, 1771-75
1775
wasted by disease, he bade farewell to those associates who had given him so many evidences of their esteem and con- fidence, and who, under his guidance, had entered upon that determined action which subsequently led to the indepen- dence of the colony. About the middle of May he fell from his horse and died, lamented by his compatriots.
Death of Harvey
North Carolina at Court
Barker and Flin-lv suppress address to king
C. R. IX, 1208 North Carolina excepted
In England some conciliatory measures had been pro- posed that, however, did not at all appeal to the colonists. Thomas Barker, who twenty years earlier had been a lawyer of influence in the Albemarle section, and once treasurer, was now in England, and Alexander Elinsly, who also had been a member of the Assembly and a man of influence in that section, being also in London, to them it was given in charge by the Assembly of 1774 to present the address of the province to the Crown. They took the liberty of sup- pressing that address as adopted by the Assembly and of writing another, which was received with favor by the Board of Trade : and Governor Tryon, being also at London. exerted himself in behalf of North Carolina; so that when, about the middle of February, a bill was introduced into Parliament forbidding trade with the colonists, North Caro- lina and New York were excepted. This was regarded in the province as an unenviable distinction, and was ascribed to a purpose to detach North Carolina from the common cause, while at the same time leaving open communications by which Great Britain could continue to receive needed supplies of naval stores so essential for naval operations. This tender was at once rejected by the inhabitants with disdain, and North Carolina, paying no attention to it, re- mained faithful to the common cause. To the northward military companies were forming, and the Virginia Assembly provided for the raising of a company in each county. Such a proposition was brought forward in the North Carolina convention, but was then deemed inexpedient.
C. R., IX, 1214
The battle of Lexington
But all hopes that the peace would not be broken quickly vanished. On April 19th the first clash of arms occurred
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THE W.IR BEGINS
it Lexington, and information of that battle was hurried from Boston by successive couriers to Charleston. On C. R., IX. 1234, 1239 May 3d the courier from Nansemond reached Edenton; on May 6th, New Bern : two days later, Wilmington and Bruns- wick. On May 9th, Montfort, at Halifax. despatched the news to Burke at Hillsboro, and it spread rapidly through- out the province. It created great excitement. The people were stirred as never before. A new phase was now im- parted to public affairs, the people feeling that they must fight. Independent military companies at once began to be organized. It was the same throughout all America. Toward the end of April Caswell and Hewes left the prov- ince to attend the Congress. In Virginia and Maryland C. R., IX, they were escorted through the several counties by the mili- 1219 tary companies, and on reaching Philadelphia they found twenty-eight companies organized and 2000 men drilling morning and evening, and only martial music could be heard in the streets. The change had been electrical.
On May 16th Nash and others had begun the formation of companies at New Bern. The governor, fearing that some mounted cannon on the palace grounds would be seized and carried off, on May 23d caused them to be dismounted ; and when Nash and a committee of citizens waited on him to ascertain the cause of this action, the governor said that the carriages were unsafe, and he was making preparations to celebrate the king's birthday: but while he was indignant at being called to account by the people, he was also alarmed and prevaricated in order to quiet them.
Governor Martin seeks safety
A day or two later an emissary arrived from New York and informed Governor Martin that General Gage was about to send him the arms and munitions desired. and there was reason to suppose that the shipment had been discovered. A report also had been propagated that the governor had formed a design of arming the negroes and proclaiming freedom to those who should resort to the king's standard, and the public mind was much inflamed against him. Indeed, there was then brewing a plot for a negro insurrection in
1775
May, 1775
C. R., IX, 1256 ; X, 41. 43
The governor questioned
Martin, Hist. of North Carolina, II, 353
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MARTIN'S ADMINISTRATION, 1771-75
1775 -
July, 1775 C. R .. X, 94 Negro insurrection planned
the region near Tar River. By timely good fortune, on July 7th the plot was discovered.
On the following night the negroes were to rise and mur- der the whites. moving from plantation to plantation, and then, having embodied. they were to march to the west, where they expected to be received and protected by the inhabitants who were still attached to the king. Companies of light horse scoured the country, and the negroes were speedily suppressed, but apparently not without some of them being killed.
Martin leaves New Bern, May 31, 1775
The purpose was avowed in some of the colonies to seize the royal governors and detain them, and Governor Martin, fearing the discovery of the shipment of arms, especially in connection with his alleged design to arm the negroes, be- C. R., X, 41 came very apprehensive for his personal safety. The mili- tary companies formed at New Bern were a menace, and, separated from the king's forces, he had no friends to pro- tect him. He hurried his private secretary to Ocracoke to stop any vessel bringing in arms, ordering it to proceed to Fort Johnston. The same night he despatched his wife and family to New York, bearing letters to General Gage, and he asked that a royal standard should be furnished him. Being now entirely alone, on the last day of May he locked the palace. left the key with a servant. and took his departure southward. Giving out that he was going to visit Chief Justice Hasell, he took flight for Fort Johnston, where he C. R., X, 44 safely arrived on June 2d. His flight perhaps gave a new inipulse to the popular movement, strengthening the hands of Nash, Cogdell. and Gaston ; and on June 8th the associa- tion was being signed in every part of the county, and the militia were forming into companies and choosing their own officers.
C. R., X, 45 The last election
Elections were held for assemblymen on June 23d, and a considerable number of inhabitants gathering at New Bern on that occasion, they went to the deserted palace and took possession of the six cannon there, and removed them to the court-house.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE MECKLENBURG RESOLVES, MAY 31, 1775
The Mecklenburg declaration .- Historical statement .- Documents and observations .- Conditions in May .- Mecklenburg aroused .- The great meeting at Charlotte .-- Colonel Polk proclaims the resolves .- Independence declared .- The old government annulled .- The leaders in Mecklenburg .- The effect elsewhere .- At Salisbury .- At New Bern. - Bethania. - Reconciliation still desired. - Apprehensions. - Thomas Jefferson .- The Regulators .- The patriots in the interior .- The clashing in Anson -New Hanover acts .-- Governor Martin's plans .- McDonald arrives .- New Hanover impatient .- Fort Johnston burned .- The Revolution progresses .- Dunn and Boote confined.
In May. 1775. the condition of public affairs was alarming. Boston was occupied by a hostile British army, and "the cause of Boston was felt to be the cause of all." The situation having been dis- cussed by some of the leading citizens of Mecklenburg County. and several local meetings having been held at different points in the county. Colonel Thomas Polk called for the election of two delegates from each of the militia districts of the county "to take into con- sideration the state of the country, and to adopt such measures as to them seemed best to secure their lives. liberties, and property from the storm which was gathering and had burst on their fellow- citizens to the eastward by a British army" ( statement of G. Graham and others). The delegates, having been chosen, met at Charlotte. The news of the battle of Lexington had arrived and the people were much excited (ibid.). Resolutions were adopted that were with great formality read by Colonel Polk to a large concourse of citizens, composed of nearly one-half of the men of the county, drawn together by their interest in the occasion (ibid.).
The manuscript records of these proceedings appear to have been in the possession of John McKnitt Alexander until the year 1800. In 1704 he sent a copy of them to Dr. Hugh Williamson. In April. 1800, his residence was destroyed by fire and these original records were then burnt.
Subsequently John McKnitt Alexander sought to reproduce the burnt records. Apparently he made some rough notes as a basis for reproduction on a half sheet of paper, which he preserved. Attached to that half sheet, when discovered after his death in 1817, was a
1775
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THE MECKLENBURG RESOLVES, 1775
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