USA > North Carolina > North Carolina historical and genealogical record > Part 4
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It is interesting to note that there is recalled that his recommendations has been some misunderstanding as and policies as related to education to Governor Smith's burial place. and manufacturing stamped him as There have been reports from time a man of vision and initiative, and to time that he may have been bur- as a governor who is entitled to rank ied in St. James churchyard, at the with his many progressive successors.
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
RANDOLPH COUNTY HAS SOUTH'S OLDEST CEMETERY
By J. WORTH BACON
In a secluded spot surrounded by tion, they are merely going by what the tall pines of Randolph county is been handed down to them through one of the south's oldest cemeteries. the mouths of their fathers. Few persons other than those who
Much has been said about Mattie live in that immediate neighborhood Bell. of Revolutionary war fame, and have heard of that historic spot, yet vet I wonder how many North Caro- beneath its sod sleep the heroes who linians there are who know that made possible the liberty which this heroine sleeps in that cemetery we now enjoy.
of which I am writing about?
The writer visited this old ceme- Only a rough slab, not over two tery recently (1925). It is situated 2 feet high, marks the grave of Mat- miles east of the small village of tie Bell. On the slab are inscribed Glenola, but it is only by traversing these words:
one of North Carolina's worst roads that it is reached.
After winding our way through that wooded area we reached the cemetery and spent nearly an hour examining the spot and endeavoring to read the almost illegible writing
"Martha Bell Consort of William Bell departed this life the 9th of September, 1820. Aged 85 years."
was told that only recently & I on the tombstones of the Revolution- movement was inaugurated looking ary war soldiers who were buried towards the erection of a monument there nearly 150 years ago. cemetery isn't the largest in The to the perpetual memory of Mattie the Bell, but. until that is done only the state; as a matter of fact, it may rough slab which I have described re- be classed among the smaller ones. mains as a tribute to her memory. The enclosure is only about 150x
While in that section the writer 250 feet, and the cemetery, because made inquiry to determine whether of its location and owing to the fact or not there were any descendants that few of the dead have been bur- of Mattie Bell now living. I was di- ied there in recent years, is not kept in rected to the home of Mrs. Sarah the condition that it should be kent. Swaim, a woman of the old school.
Persons residing in that immediate with the promise that she could sup- section are unable to state with any ply me with the information which degree of certainty just how old the I wished to obtain.
cemetery really is, but markers on Three miles from the cemetery in several graves show that men were another secluded spot and resting buried there in the year 1700. It is beneath the roof of a small cottage, a positive fact that the cemetery is I found Mrs. Swain, but it was not at least 230 years old. Life long until I entered her home and began residents of the community are of the a conversation with her that I learned opinion that people were buried there that she was the great-granddaughter 300 years ago. However they have no of Mattie Bell.
record upon which to base the asser-
"No, I never saw Mattie Bell" she
-$
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
wid in answer to a question. "but I "These sons," continued Aunt heard my mother and father speak Sarah. "held the first camp meeting so much about her that I feel really knew her." ; ever held in the south. Old man Wil- liam Bell built the church, a log building. The meeting, as best I remember my father saying, began in December, 1801. and continued until January, 1802. One brother would preach one day and the other the next."
Having attained the ripe old age of more than 80 years, but still in possession of her mental faculties, Mrs. Swain, while seated in an old chair, and holding a cane in her hand told a few of the incidents that made Mattie Bell famous,
It was also told that Mattie Bell during the war held at bay a large
"Mattie Bell," she said, "before her company of British soldiers, and on marriage was Mattie McFarland and another occasion, to defend her home. came from Orange county. She first she killed several soldiers, firing thru married John McGhee, who died a- the porthole in the house.
bout 1775. Later she married William
Mrs. Swaim and her brother are £ Bell, who was the first sheriff of Ran- the only great grandchildren of Mat- dolph county, and later a member tie Bell. The brother is David Wel- of the legislature.
born, of Rutherford county.
"Mattie done a lot of things during the war, I'll tell you she did. One of tery. (It was named
But to go back to the Bell ceme- for Mattie the most daring things she did was Bell). People residing in that com- to carry a message through to the munity say that no more burials will American general. She narrowly es- occur there. A man was recently laid caped being shot, and even the British to rest in the sacred spot, but he will marveled at her bravery. I suppose likely be the last to be buried there. they didn't shoot her because she Older residents of Randolph county, was so brave."
however, will long remember Bell
Mrs. Swaim declared that Mattie cemetery, and they hope that some- Bell had two sons by her first hus- body will take care of it and preserve band. One of these sons, she said, was it to the memory of those oid saints a Methodist minister, while the oth- who have gone to their eternal re- er was a Presbyterian preacher. ward.
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY FORTS AND DEFENSES
BY COL. FRED A. OLDS
In 1668 the King of Great Brit- out of the Cape Fear. In 1747 these ain gave instructions to the "Gov- Augustine, Florida. They came in ernor of Albemarle." as all the thirty boats and played havoc at North Carolina territory was then four points --- Brunswick town, below called, that forts were to be pro -- . "ilnington, now not even a ruin; vided and must be built and garri- Ocracoke, (where Sir Walter Ral- eigh's first colonists landed and took possession of the country in the name of Queen Elizabeth in 1584) on Ocracoke inlet, which was long an important port of entry; Bear inlet, which is in Onslow county. soned. But nore were built, for Governor George Burrington, in h's first report on the Colony of North Carolina, made in 1735, said that there were "no forts or garrisous for them. no public arms or ammu- not far north of New River; and nition" What the people had done Core sound at Beaufort. This great- for the public defense had been with private weapons and ammunition.
est of all raids caused what was for many years spoken of as "Spanish
The General Assembly in 1745. Alarm." .
during the war between England and the French and Spanish nations. took up the matter of public defense and named a "Board of Commission- ers" to take necessary steps to zuard the lower Cape Fear river. then as now the most important waterway. Among these commissioners were Gov. Gabriel Johnson. Matthew Ro- wan, Edward Moseley. Roger Moore. James Innes and John Swann and they were directed to build a fort large enough for twenty cannon, this to be named Fort Johnson, in honor of the Governor, who had been the chief executive since 1734. Not until 1764 was Fort Johnson completed, by William Dry. and it was built of tapia, a mixture of sand and shell lime, which was so poor an artificial stone that it actually crumbled when the cannon were discharged.
This fort was built chiefly to keep
This raid caused the most stir -- ring appeals to be made to the British "Board of Trade and Plan- tations," which governed the colon- ies, each of which was spoken of as one of "His Majesty's Planta- tions." These appeals went to the Earl of Halifax, for cannon for forts at the four danger points which had been raided. The General As- sembly of North Carolina voted what was called an "Aid" to the King; in other words, appropriated 7,000 pounds for building the forts. To get this money it took 2,000 pounds of what was known as "powder money." paid by incoming ships, as a tax, to be used for the defense of the Colony, and 6.000 pounds from a fund which had been voted by the General Assembly for "founding and endowing a public school." The Gen- eral Assembly also voted 7.000
the Spanish pirates and marauders pounds as an "aid to His Majesty
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
made a great raid on the coast of dell. The fort and its garrison had Carolina, from their stronghold, St. bien inspected in December, 1756, the King," for the defense of his by a commission especially sent by province.
the General Assembly. Fort Dobbs
The first commander £ of Fort was built as a refuge for the "back settlement."
Johnson was Capt. John Dalrymple. who arrived in March, 1755, with his commission signed by Maj .- Gen Braddock, who commanded His Ma- jesty's armies in America. Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia sent by Dal- rymple to Governor Dobbs a letter. in which he spoke of Fort Johnson as "Johnson's Fort." Governor Dobbs wrote in 1756 to London, "We are mounting batteries and are pushing our fort at Cape Fear, where can- non and stores will be wanted in- mediately in case of war."
In this letter Governor Dobbs also informed the Lords of Trade and Plantations: "We are also erecting a small fort on our western fron- tier as a defence against the Cher ;- kee Indians. The Catawba Indians are our friends." This western fort was Fort Dobbs, named for the gor- ernor. It was really a block house with a palisade of logs around it. It was of oak logs, was 53 by 40 feet in size and 2412 feet in height, with three floors, from which 100 muskets could be fired at once.
This commission found that this fort was the only defense of the western settlement and recommend- ed the building of another on che upper Catawba river, at the foot of the east side of the Blue Ridge. That ridge was the eastern boundary of the powerful Cherokee Nation, which mustered several thousand warriors. It was announced later that this fort was intended mainly to defend the Catawba Indians, who were good friends and allies of the whites. from attacks by the Chero- kees. The Frerch war was on and the French were busy among both the Cherokee and Catawba, to arouse feeling against the British settlers, but the Catawba actually expressed anger at this effort to protect them. saying that the fort was an croachment on their possessions. This was built at what is now Old Fort, on the Southern Railway, near Marion.
The Lords of Trade and Planta- tions in 1755 directed Dobbs to em-
In 1755 this fort was built by ploy a skilled engineer to make 2 survey for a fort at Cape Lookout.
Capt. Hugh Waddell and a company he took with him. He was only twenty near Beaufort, and prepare a plan years of age then. It was on Fourth for one which would give both se- Creek. between Statesville and Sal- curity and defense.
isbury, not far from where the
In 1756-57 many people took reť- Southern Railway now crosses that uge with the Moravians. who en- stream. In 1760 Waddell was there closed their town Bethabara, in with his trusty men when the Chero- what is now Forsyth county, with kees made a great attack, which was a strong palisade, and also enclosed handsomely and effectively repulsed. their mill, nearby. At the mill some February 26, 1760. Governor Dobbs of the fugitives had built houses. reported that there were 46 soldiers For the refugees another town was in its garrison, commanded by Wal- laid out by the friendly and kind
-
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
Moravians and was named Bethany. contract for 2,900 pounds, in two Day and night guard was kept &- years, to be paid out of the "pow- gainst the Cherokees, who had made der money" for that period. threats that they would raid and
January 6, 1761, upon news of capture the settlements. Several the death of King George the See- ond and the accession of King Geor- ge the Third, Fort Johnson fired a royal salute of 21 guns and so did
times the Indians were in sight, but the church bells scared them so bad- ly they never mustered up enough courage to make the assault. There British war vessels lying in harbor were two religious services each Sunday, and a service each evening during the week. Troops were sent to these settlements and these at- tended the services; on Easter day 400 of them were at the service.
Reports in 1758 were made to the Governor from the various forts. James Moore, junior captain at Fort Johnson, said his men were clothed and paid and were properly enlist- ed. Capt. Charles McNair made
there. In 1764 the governor recom- mended to the General Assembly in his address to them that Forts John- son and Granville be garrisoned by regular British troops and that they be properly cared for until such . troops arrived and took charge.
Matters took quite another turn when Governor Dobbs in a letter to the British government at London let it be known as his opinion ina: a Forts Johnson and Granville ought similar report as to his company at to be strongly garrisoned "to put Fort Granville at Ocracoke (named down the republican sentiments" te saw were beginning to prevail ex- tensively.
of for Earl Granville, who was pro- prietor of the northern half North Carolina, about 26.000 square miles in area). Captain Paine made a similar report as to his company at the fort on Core Sound. Another report was made by Capt.
In 1770 Capt. Abraham Collet, then commanding Fort Johnson, made a remarkably accurate and val- uable map of North Carolina and dedicated it to King George the as to his company at Bear River in- Third. It was splendidly engraved let fort.
and printed in London and is of
In August, 1760, Governor Dobbs large size. It shows only two forts reported that Capt. Grainger, who in the state, Fort Johnson and one, had succeeded Dalrymple in com -- not named. at the northern end of mand of Fort Johnson. had been Roanoke Island. It does not show any ordered to go to Fort Granville at forts at Bear River inlet, Beaufort, Ocracoke and take command or Ocracoke, or at any other point on Core Sound. It does show "Fort Barnwell" on Neuse river. between. New Bern and Kinston. When Gov- ernor Tryon made his first expedi- tion against the Regulators, in 1768 when he marched from his capita .. there, but had refused to do so and had resigned his commission. It was also set out that Dalrymple had been a failure as a commander during the time he was at Fort Johnson. Captain Paine was then transferred from Fort Granville to New Bern, to Hillsboro. he had a Fort Johnson. In 1760 Governor fort built at the latter town and named it after Capt. Collet. It was
Dobbs wrote to London that he could get Fort Johnson finished by private only a small earthwork; a temporary
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
affair, with an officer and 20 men Fort Fisher was a small British Governor Dobbs had talked about stockade about twenty miles from " republican sentiments." These de- Wilmington, on the southeast branch velop.d with a vengeance and the of Cape Fear river, near the home "patriots" made their plans, in their of Frederick Jones, As the patriots revolt against the stamp tax, to sei ?? were on the point of attacking it in Fort Johnson. Dalrymple was in 1781 the garrison retired and got to command and his "garrison" was of Wilmington. where Major Craig was two men. He and they spiked the in command.
cannon. and then "took to the woods" Fort Hancock, named for John The fort was a most wretched affair. Hancock, a signer of the Declara-
The Revolution came on flying tion of Independence, was in being feet. Governor Josiah Martin, who in 1779. The General Assembly gave in June, 1775, by night had left his 5,000 pounds to complete it. Cap !. palace at New Bern, passed out to Cottineau was in command.
s.a by Fort Granville at Ocracoke and entered the Cape Fear and took refuge at Fort Johnson, next went ahoard a British crusier stationel there as a guard ship as a safer place, having directed the command- er of the fort to dismount all its cannon and place them on the hook so they would be under direct fire from the vessel. He made a report of this and said Fort Johnson was a "wretched little fort" July 18th the "patriots" made their assauit, a bloodless one, and captured thin fort. under the eyes of the thor- oughly scared governor, and set it afire. Next day they completed the destruction of the war material in it. Afterwards Robert Howe occu pior it Later in the war five British regiments encamped at the place, now the town of Southport.
The site of this fort was property until 1794. when it was coded to the United States. but the latter did not rebuild it until 1809
At Fort Point, in Carteret county. near Beaufort, was another fort.
Yet another, a frontier fort guard against the Indians, was Fort Defiance, now in Caldwell county, at the foot of the Blue Ridge. There are yet traces of it. It was a block house, with a palisade. on a hill over- locking the "Happy Valley" of the upper Yadkin river.
Fort McGarghey was located near Little Brittain Presbyterian church. in what is now Rutherford county. It was built about 1765, as a pro- tection against the Indians, and was used to some extent during the Rev- olution. This was a large block house, built by individuals of the commu- nity.
In 1812 Fort Hamilton, named for Alexander Hamilton. was at Beaufort, at the place where Fort Hancock had been and where Fort Macon now stands.
In 1835 Fort Macon was begun. In 1836 the garrison was withdrawn. It was named for Nathaniel Macon. One of the original buildings, the a noted North Carolinian, for many quarters of the commanding officer, years a leading member of the Unit- was nover destroyed and yet stands. ed States senate and house of rap- part of it being now the public li_ resentatives. By an act of the Gen- brary of the towa. The site is Unit eral Assembly five acres of land in ed States government property.
Carteret county, "on the west side
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HISTORICAL AND .GENEALOGICAL RECORD
of, and adjoining Old Topsail Inlet" the capture of Fort Fisher by the were in 180; ceneo to the United States; "that harbour being at pres- ent in an unguarded state. with gen- erally 10 feet of water on its bar. which renders it necessary that the United States should erect a fort there, to defend the said port and
harbour. Bryant Helen, Jeconias Pickens and James Stanton are ap- pointed commissioners to survey this land."
The same act goes on to continue to both Forts Macon and Caswell. in force the grant of land for the The reply is somewhat vague and fort at Smithville (Fort Johnson) at the dates given do not harmonize the mouth of the Cape Fear river with those in the North Carolina . until 1808, and says: "From various laws, as set out above. It says that causes and circumstances this fort "Fort Macon, on Bogue island. at is not perfectly completed. although the entrance to Beaufort harbor, it is so far done as to be ready for was established as a United States the mounting of cannon." Smith- military post about 100 years ago; ville is now called Southport.
Fort Macon was occupied by the North Carolina troops in April, 1851. and the following year was retaken by the United States, after a regi lar attack by land and water. It was abandoned as a fortification in 1876. During the war with Spain in 1898. two or three cannon were mounted and a regiment of infantry was en- camped on the reservation.
Fort Caswell was begun in 1835. also, near what is now Southport and in sight of Fort Johnson, and when it was finished the latter was abandoned. In 1861 it had no garri- son, but was in charge of a ser -- geant. It was occupied by North Car- olina militia January 10, 1861, un- on news of the taking of Fort Sum- ter at Charleston. but the state di- rected that it be returned to the United States. On April 16, 1861.
Federal forces. For many years, un- til 1910, it was without garrison or guns and was a ruin. Then a new fort or series of forts were built, the reservation containing 2.325 acres. In 1322 the fort was again abandoned. Nearly all its cannon nad been sent to France in 1917-18.
The writer asked Senator F. M. Simmons to obtain from the Secre- tary of War official information as
that work on it began in 1826 and was completed in 1834; that it was first garrisoned by United States troops December 4, 1834; that the garrison was withdrawn February 2, 1836; that it was re-garrisoned July 28th, 1842; was seized by North Carolina Confederate forces in April, 1861, and was re-occupied by United States troops April 25th, 1862, and that it is now a military reservation of the United States; military reservation contain- ing about 400 acres; that it appears the land was acquired by the Unit- ed States by acts of the State legis- lature ratified December 28, 1807. and January 4, 1826, and by a deed from Jonas Small and Joseph Davis, May 1, 1810" (This evidently means Fort Hamilton, the predecessor of Fort Macon).
The letter of the secretary of war says as to Fort Caswell: "It is on it was regularly taken over by the the eastern end of Oak island and state. It was abandoned by its gar- was established as a United States rison after the magazines had been military post about 1825. when work exploded January 16, 1865,
after on it was first begun; was in progress
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
of construction as late as 1850; was town) which was evacuated January seized by citizens of North Caro- 16, 1865; Bald Head at the river mouth on an island of that name; Campbell, near Fisher, on the beach, blown up and evacuated January 15, 1865; Davis, a small work, nearer Wilmington; Lee, another small work; Meares, another small work.
lina and North Carolina state troops January 8-10, 1861; was blown up and abandoned by the Confederates January 16-17, 1965, and re-occu- pied by United States troops January 17, 1865, and is new a
military reservation of about 2,750 acres. It appears that the land was acquired by the United States by an act of the legislature ratified December 26, 1825, and by a deed from P. R. Dickinson and I. M. Van Cleef, Oct- ober 12, 1825."
On Roanoke Island were Forts Barstow, Blanchard, Forrest and Hill. all of which were captured early in the war by the United States forces.
At Hatteras inlet, a dozen miles south of Cape Hatteras, were Forts Hatteras, Clark and Huger, all were captured in August, 1861.
The forts during the War Between the States, 1861-65. were numerous, At Plymouth were Forts Comfort, Wessels, (sometimes called Sande :- son), Williams and Worth. Plymouth was captured by the Federals in 1862; recaptured by the Confeder -- ates in 1864; all its garrison, in- but only three were important, Fish- er, guarding the New inlet, below Wilmington; Caswell. at the mouth of the Cape Fear river. thirty miles below Wilmington, and Macon at Beaufort. At Caswell in April. 1861, cluding Gen. Wessels, being captur- not a cannon was mounted, and one ed then.
At New Bern was Fort Thomp-
man was in charge. This was the case at Fort Macon also. Fort Fisher was son, which was captured March 14, entirely of sand. and the largest fort 1862, when that town was taken. in the Confederate States, and easily Fort Hamilton was on the Ron- the most important. It was begun noke river, in Martin county, near late in 1861 and had a garrison of Williamston; Fort Branch on the 1,900. It was captured January 15, Roanoke, near Hamilton, Martin coun- 1865. The other forts on the Cape ty. Fort Ocracoke was at Ocracoke Fear river below Wilmington were inlet, on the site of old Fort Gran- Anderson, on the west side of the ville, of colonial times. Fort Hill river (on the site of the colonial was at Washington, on the Pamlico fort at St. Philip, at old Brunswick river.
X 708517
912008 4
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
WILL HONOR SOUTHERN LEADERS IN "WESTMINSTER ABBEY OF SOUTH"
BY J. B. HICKLIN
1
A memorial tablet honoring the lan call for the addition of monu- memory of Jefferson Davis, first and ments to southern leaders each year only president of the Southern Con- until the great concourse that play- federacy, was dedicated in an elab- ed outstanding parts in the shap- orate ceremony at Old Calvary Epis- ing and making of the section have copal church, at Fletcher, N. C., on all been recognized This will in- Sunday, September 13, 1931. The clude leadership and outstanding dedicatory services drew large dele- achievement, in all lines - poetry gations of members of the United and literature and statesmanship, Daughters of the Confederacy and as well as other great figures pro- others from all parts of the south. duced by the south.
The exercises were under the aus-
It is a great dream that Mr. Mc- p'ces of the North Carolina Division, Clellan has visioned, and it is al- U. D. C. ready coming true. The public re- The inscription on the marker un- sponded almost instantly to his sug- veiled reads as follows: gestion of building a great "outdoor "JEFFERSON DAVIS Westminster Abbey of the South" at Fletcher, in the most gloriously beautiful section of the land that is called Dixie: Every state will be called upon to memorialize the names of their most beloved sons and daughters. A great many of them have already done so.
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