USA > North Carolina > North Carolina historical and genealogical record > Part 9
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ber next or until the next General Election of County Committees.
"For Captain Beaty's Company -- Davis Jenkins, Jacob Forney.
"For Captain Carpenter's pany-John Dillinger, Nicholas Fri- day.
"Resolved, That Wm. Graham, Esq .. James Logan, Frederick Ham- bright, Robert Alexander, Robt. Parks, Alexander Gilliland and David Com- Jenkins be a Committee of Secrecy. "Resolved, That no persons of the County of Tryon shall sell or dis-
"Captain Coburn's Company --- Rob- pose of Salt, Iron, or Steel to any ert Alexander, In Lieu of Jas. Co- person within the county for more burn, Francis Armstrong.
than Two Hundred Percent from "Capt. Harden's Company-Joseph the first cost, purchased in Charles Harden, Benj. Harden.
Town, Cross Creek, or port where
"Capt. Hambright's Company ---- salt is to be got, upon the forfeit of Frederick Hambright, James Logan. paying Ten Shillings Proc. Money "Capt. Hampton's Company-An- for every Twenty Shillings worth drew Hampton. John Morris.
they shall sell or dispose of contrary
"Capt. Barber's Company-Alex- to this Resolve.
ander Gilliland, Robert Park's.
"Resolved, .That no persons sha t "Capt. Magness' Company-Wil -- bring up Rum from any place in this liam Graham. James McAfee. county and sell it for more than eight "Capt. Paris' Company-George shillings Gallon, by the quart or any Paris, John Earle. smaller measure at the rate of Ten "Capt. Aaron Moore's Company- Shillings Proc. Gallon; for every such John Walker, Esq, Robert Porter. offence shall pay Eight Shillings out "Capt. Baird's Company-James of every Gallon. Such persons as have Baird, Robert Armstrong.
license to Retail Liquors only except-
"Capt. Mckinney's Company- ed.
John McKinney, Thomas Townsend. "Capt. Kuykendall's Company- of this committee that the suits de- Wm. Yancey, John Ashley. pending in the inferior Courts of this "Pursuant to which appeared, Rob- County as well on the Civil Docket ert Alexander, John Dillinger, Fred- as on behalf of the Crown Docket erick Hambright. Alexander Gilli -- to be generally tried, and proceeded land, Robert Parks, George Paris, on as far as final judgment at the Robert Porter, John McKinney. Thom- next April term according to the as Townsend, Wm. Yancey and John rules of the said Court where the Ashley who subscribed the test as Trials can be had with justice to the required by the Provincial Congress. parties.
"The Committee Adjourned till tomorrow 8 o'clock.
"Met According to adjournment.
"Resolved, That it is the opinion
"Committee adjourned till the first Tuesday in June next.
"WILLIAM GRAHAM, Chairman" (C. R. Vol. 10, pp. 423-24.)
-
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
The committee was to meet soon- Provisions & such things as lyes in er than anticipated. Events were his power for the Support of the said rapidly moving to a crisis, and the Regiment, & be Ready at Major district committees sent out calls to Thomas Beatie's by the 15th Instant all town and county committees for with such support.
"WILLIAM GRAHAM, Chairman."
special meetings to act on matters of urgency. On a call from the chair- "The Committee adjourned till the man of the Salisbury district com- first Tuesday in June next, according mittee, the Tryon county committee to the former adjournment."
met at the home of Frederick Ham- bright on February 9th. The minutes of that special meeting follow:
"Oath administered to every mem- ber of the Committee
"Met in pursuance of Orders from "I, A. B. Do voluntarily and Sol- The Committee of Safety of Sals- emnly Swear upon the Holy evange- bary District dated Feb'y 6th, 1776. lists of Almighty God that I will not "The Persons for Tryon County reveal or make known to any per- at Capt. Hambright's on the 9th In- son or persons whatsoever any In- stant: telligence, Circumstance, matter or "Present: William Graham, Chair- thing which the majority of the Com- man; Frederick Hambright. Jamies mittee present shall think necessary Logan, Alexander Gilliland, Robert to conceal, and which the Committee Parks, James Beard, Robert Arm- by the Chairman, Deputy Chairman strong, John Dellinger, Robert Alex- or other presiding member shall or- ander, Francis Armstrong. der and Direct to be kept secret. So "Jamies Logan, Cierk, chosen for help me God." that day.
(C. R. Vol. 10, p. 440.)
"Resolved, according to the orders By the action of the committee at of Committee of Safety, Each Cap- this session, and pursuant to the di- tain in his District, cause every third rections of the district committee, effective to go and joyn the forces each captain detailed one-third of Raised in the Other Counties in this the men of his district, or company, Province to suppress all Insurrections to assist in the suppression of the that is raised & may be raising in Tories in the Cape Fear section. In our said Province that are against every part of the province the same the cause of American Liberty.
zeal was manifested. The detailed "Resolved, That Each man that militia from the western counties as- Refuses if alotted to go on this Im- sembled at Charlotte, Hillsboro and mergency shall be Deemed Enemies Salisbury. The militia was eventually to their Country, & shall be dealt mustered in and sent east, where with according to the Resolves of many participated in the battle of the Congresses or otherwise.
Moore's Creek Bridge on February
"Resolved, That Mr. William Moore 27, 1776. This was the first battle be now appointed Commissary for fought in North Carolina, and did the Regiment of Tryon County in much to strengthen the Whig cause the present Immergency for this in North Carolina. Province, to go against those that are The only record of the county against the cause of American Lib- court from October. 1775 to July, erty, & and that said William Moore 1777, is the April. 1776, term. Jus- shall now on sight prepare Waggons. tices Timothy Riggs, William Gra-
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
ham and Joseph Harden held a short some settlers and carried off several term of court. This may be account- prisoners. Others attacked the forts ed for by the frequent meetings of on the Holstein and Watauga. Most the Committee of Safety during of the settlers escaped, having been 1775-6, and the circumstances war. of warned. Some 20 women and children were victims of the tomahawk. Un- successful in their assaults on the
Fourth Provincial Congress.
---
The Fourth Provincial Congress forts, the Indian warriors crossed the met at Halifax April 4, 1776. Try- mountains and fell on the unsuspect- on county's delegates were Charles ing families on Crooked Creek, near McLean and James Johnson. At this Rutherfordton, and, coming up the session a brigadier general was ap- Toe, invaded the frontier of Rowan. pointed for each of the six military The unheralded appearance of these districts of the state; Griffith Ruth- murderous bands caused great con- erford being appointed for the Salis- sterration. On July 12 Rutherford bury district ( Wheeler, p. 79). Four wrote to the Council asking aid, and new regiments were ordered raised, summed up the situation thus: equipped and sent into the field, also "Honered Gentelmen,
three companies of light horse.
"This is furder to acquent you of
This Congress also was a turning oure Trobles; this day I Recd an point in the state's history. Up to its Express from Colo Backman and it meeting the war had been one for gives me account, that Last Weak rights as British subjects. After there Was 40 Indens on Crocked April there was a departure from Creek & that one Middleton is kill- that idea and independence was fore- ed there-Indins Was seen meney most in the minds of the people. This miles furder Down the Cuttaba Riv- Congress also discussed at length a er. I am applid Daley tow for Re- form of civil government for the lefe; ancesly waiting for youre In- state, which resulted in the Fifth structions; pray send, if Possible at Provincial Congress, or Constitution- Lest 1000 lbs. more Powder. besides what you first Voted, for People in
al Convention, of November, 1776.
In the spring of 1776 the county the frunters will move off if not militia system was reorganized. This supplid with that article. I Plead for was made necessary, especially in Edpedition. Mr. Alston the berrer Tryon county, on account of promo- is appointed Commesare for a Large tions and other causes. Those ap -- Number of men & as Salt is not to pointed for Tryon were Thomas be got without youre approbetion I Beatty, colonel; Andrew Hampton, Hope you will Give Orders to the lieutenant-colonel ;; Andrew Long, Merchants of Cross-Creek to Let the first major and Jacob Costner, second Commessarys of Salisbery District major. have at Lest 300 Bushels,
"I Am Gentelmen youre Humble
The Indian question again came to the front, insofar as Tryon was con- Servt.
"GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD."
cerned, in the spring and summer.
During the first week of July, (C. R. Vol. 10, pg. 662).
Before 24 hours had elapsed he
while the Council was still in ses- sion at Halifax, the Cherokees had dispatched another express that the Y'alen on the inhabitants in South Indians were making great progress Carolina. plundered homes, killed in destroying and murdering in Ro-
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
Tran. "Thirty-seven persons" he and join Col. Christian and his Vir- said, "were killed last Wednesday ginians at Big Island, on the Hol- and Thursday on the Catawba," and stein. On August 23, Gen Person "I am also informed that Colonel was dispatched to Rutherford's camp McDowell and ten men more and one with particular directions, and on hundred and twenty women and chil- September 1st Rutherford, with a
dren are besieged in some kind of a great cavalcade of horses bearing his fort, and the Indians around them; provisions and ammunition, entered no help to them before yesterday, and Swannanoa Gap and pressed for- they were surrounded on Wednesday. ward. He took with him 2000 privates I expect the next account to hear is and 80 light horse, with supplies for that they are all destroyed .. . three forty days carried by 1400 pack of our captains are killed and one horses. To defend the frontier in his wounded. This day I set out with absence, he ordered three captains what men I can raise for the relief and 130 men to range in Tryon, 175 of the district. Pray gentlemen, con- in Rowan, and 100 in Surry, that then sider our distress; send us plenty of extended to the Indian line in the powder, and I hope under God we of mountains.
Salisbury district are able to stand them."
Within a month from his depar- ture Rutherford returned to Old Fort, reaching Salisbury early in October. His expedition had been complete and fully successful. The Indian towns had been entirely
Rutherford acted with that energy that ever distinguished him. Within a week he was on the frontier with near 2500 men, for western North Carolinians had sprung to arms at the destroyed; the growing crops dam- first call, animated by a consuming aged and destroyed and the Indians purpose to inflict heavy punishment completely subjugated. or scattered. upon their murderous foe. By treaties soon afterwards made the
President Rutledge, of S. C., had middle Cherokees ceded all their earlier suggested a joint movement possessions east of the Blue Ridge, on the part of North Carolina, South together with the disputed territory Carolina and Virginia, against the on the Nolachucky, Watauga, and Indians. He proposed to send Major New Rivers,
Williamson with 1100 men against After reaching Old Fort, General the lower Cherokees, and that a force Rutherford, to destroy some towns from North Carolina should attack not on his route, and, perhaps to aid the Middle Towns. and, joining Wil- Col. Christian, directed Capt. Wil- liamson, should proceed against Val- liam Moore and Captain Harden, with ley River and the Hiwassee, while the light horse of Tryon county, CỬ the Virginians should come down the hundred in number, to return to the Holstein and attack the Over-hill Indian country. Leaving Cathey's towns. The Council of Safety, in ses- Fort on October 29, they penetrated sion at Joel Lane's, in Wake coun- to the towns on Cowee mountain. A ty, agreed to this proposition, and detachment, pursuing the feeing In- directed the milicia from the Hills- dians to Soco Creek, "crossed pro- boro district and from Surry coun- digious mountains, which were al- ty to join Rutherford, while a Regi- most impassable, experiencing there ment of 300 men under Col. Joe a severe shock of an earthquake, Williams was to cross the mountains reached Richland Creek Mountains,
E
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
and then returned to Pigeon River." mittees in reference to Tryon coun- Work of Committees. ty, follows:
The county Committees of Safety functioned in each county in a rath- er czaristic manner. This committee
"Gentlemen of the Commity of Rowan County,
"With these we send you under
constituted the only board of author- gard Ambrous Mills one of the great- ity for the county, and was in a small est Enemys of our pese in Tryon measure only accountable to the dis- County a companion of Robinson, trict committee, who in turn acted and Been lying out in the mountens under orders from the Provincial since before the South Carolina cam- Council. The dictatorial policies of paign; has held a Coraspondence with the committees may be excused on Camron; has acknowledged himself the ground that the events of the to have been in the Indian Nations, period from June, 1775, to Novem- he Seems Simple but is Subtile and ber, 1776, warranted extreme mea- Insinuating and has had Influence sures.
enough to pradgudise not only his
County officials of Tryon county, neighbours but many at a great dis- in common with those of other coun- tance against the Cause of Ameri- ties, . were under direction of the can liberty, in Short his Character county committee, as well as the is so netorious that we expect that county militia. Various other every gentelman in Rowan is ac- duties were performed by the com- quainted with it and we hope that mittees similar in character to those he will be confind till he has a fare performed by the present board of tryel in every article above mention- county commissioners.
ed and a great deal more can be prov-
These committees confessedly ex- ed against him when required. For ercised a usurped, but very neces- further perticquelers Inquire of sary, authority; governed with an Cpt. Cook Commander of this gaurd; extraordinary firmness and boldness, for fear of a Resque we will not in- tempered, however, by as remark- form you of our own Circumstances able moderation and wisdom. They but hope Mr. Cook will think to in- dealt. strictly with open foes-they form you.
must recant or leave-but very ten- "We are gentelmen with great derly and considerately with those Respact Your most obedient Hum- who might be won to the cause. ble Servents, These, unmolested, were either left "JOHN WALKER, "JAS. MCENTIRE, "GEORGE BLACK, "JAS. COOK." to persuasive force of events as they unfolded, or were tactfully urged to make common cause with their neigh- bors, in resistance against oppres- "June 12, 1776."
sion. The power these committees "We have sent the deposition of exercised was practically absolute. It Robert Ranken, a worthy man of this could not be efficient without being neybourhood that may be depended so-but it was rarely exercised co- on." pressively. (Nash "The N. C. Con-
stitution of 1776 and its Makers," "To the Coronor or Keeper of the Public Gole for the District of Salisbury.
p. 8)
Some of the examples of the business transacted by these com-
"We do hereby Require you to
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
Take into your Costeday the above was, in the course of time liberated; named Ambrous Mills, a Netorious joined Ferguson with the Loyal mili- offender against the Commin Caus tia of Tryon county and fought at of America and him Safely Keep Earle's Ford and Kings Mountain in the Publick Gole until Discharg- where he was captured and hanged ed by Order of Congress or Commit- a few days later. As viewed a cen- tee. tury and a half after the occurrence,
"Given under our Hands this 15th he was too severely dealt with at of June 1776.
"MATTHEW LOCK,
Biggerstaff's. His descendants are among the ablest and best citizens in the south and southwest. (Draper,
"GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD." (Letter from the Safety Commit- p 481-82).
tee of Tryon county to the Safety William Mills. a son of Col. Am- Committee of Rowan county, C. R. brose Mills, was born November 10.
Vol. 10, pp 609-10).
1764. He was very popular and serv-
Col. Ambrose Mills, named above, ed against the Indians in 1776. He was a noted Loyalist, and was sub- acted as Major under his father at sequently hanged at Biggerstaff's Kings Mountain, where he was bad-
Fields, near Rutherfordton, along ly wounded and left for dead, and with other Tories, on October. 1780, was subsequently saved from being after being captured at Kings Moun- executed at Biggerstaff's by leading tain. He was born in England about Whigs and Tories, who interferred, 1722, and was taken while yet young knowing of his worth and goodness. to Maryland. He married Miss Mourn- In after years he settled in the moun- ing Stone. settling on the James tain region of the southwestern por- River, and finally removing to the tion of North Carolina, in Hender- frontiers of South Carolina, where son county. Mills' River and Mills' his wife was killed by the Indians Gap. in that section, are named for during the Indian War of 1755-61, him. Early in life he married Elea- leaving an only son, William. afterwards married Miss
He nor Morris, by whom he had two Annie sons and five daughters. He was a Brown, of the Chester region, sister handsome, noble, generous man. He of the noted Loyalist leader, Col. died on his birthday, 1834, as a con- Thomas Fletchall; and about 1765 sequence of a fall from his horsc, settled on Green River, in Ruther- being 88 years of age. He lived a ford county, and by his marriage happy, married life of 69 years- had three sons and three daughters. his venerable companion surviving In 1776 he served against the Chero- him. (Draper, p. 482, and Grissom's kee Indians. In 1778 he and the no- "History of Methodism in N. C.) torious David Fanning raised 3
The following proceedings of the corps of 500 men with the design Tryon county safety committee illus- of joining the Royal standard at St. trates some of the activities of that Augustine, Fla., when one of the body in 1775-76: party betrayed their plans.
Mills "North Carolina,
and sixteen others were apprehend- "Tryon County.
"This day I had a certain John
ed. and conveyed to Salisbury jail; Fanning undertaking to rescue them Auston before me whome by his on the way but his force proved too Trav.ling through Different parts of weak to effect the purpose. Mills the Country Sotherly-and has Pub-
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
lickly Refused to Take the Oath Pro- session the Constitution was form- scribed By Our Council in Said Pro- ally adopted and Richard Caswell elected governor. The Constitution
"These are therefore to Require as adopted at this convention was You to him safely take To Salisbury the result of many months of close Gaol, there to be Continued untill study and comparison on the part Such Times as he may be Dealt with of the delegates who composed the According to Order of Superior Au- Fourth and Fifth Congresses. That thority. these men did a thorough job in fram- "Given under my hand this July 1776, 9th ing this instrument of basic law is evidenced in the fact that, with a "WILLIAM GRAHAM." few modifications, the state opera :- "To the Gaoler at Salsbury." ed under it until 1868. Tryon coun- (C. R .. Vol. 10. p. 661). ty's representatives in this conven- "Extract From Proceedings of tion were Joseph Hardin, Robert Council of Safety Held at Salisbury, Abernethy, William Graham, William September 7, 1776. Alston and John Barber.
"Saturday, September 7th, 1776. "Met According to Adjournment.
A resume of this constitution would occupy several pages, and as that "Resolved, That the Troops sta- does not necessarily come within the tioned on the Frontiers of Tryon scope of this sketch no comment will County, by order of General Ruther- be made, other than that this con- ford, for the protection of this state, stitution provided a radical departure, be continued til! further Orders of in many respects, from the old mode this Board, General Rutherford or of government. While some change Congress.
was made in the duties of county "Ambrose Mills and John Auston officers, the names of these offices of Tryon County having been brought were retained. Provision was made before this board for acting inimi- for election of senators and mem- cal to the Cause of American Free- bers of the house of commons. the dom. and after examination it was former to be voted for by freehold- thought proper to discharge them, ers and the latter by freemen. Plans the first having entered into bond were also laid at this convention to and taken the Oath of Allegiance assist other states in their resistance to this State, and the other having to the British.
also taken the said Oath of Alle- giance.
Notwithstanding the treaty of peace that had in the fall of 1776
"Adjourned till Monday Morning been informally agreed upon with 8 o'clock." the Indians, in February, 1767. they (C. R. Vol. 10, p. 827) Fifth Provincial Congress. again became hostile and a detach- ment of militia was ordered to range The Fifth Provincial Congress, or in the District of Washington (now Constitutional Convention, met in in Tennessee) to prevent depreda- Halifax November 12 to December tions. Griffith Rutherford was direct- 23, 1776, at the call of the Council ed to raise eight irdependent com- of Safety. Much of the time of the paries, four for Washington and preceding Congress, held earlier in four for Tryon. Burke and Surry the year, had been devoted to out- counties, to be employed in build- lining this instrument, and at this ing stockades, in scouting and in
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HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL RECORD
protecting the frontiers Ashe, Vol. members of the company saw at least 1, p. 571.) one period of service. These troops
From the outbreak of the war in were re-organized by an act of the 1775, until the middle of 1780 this Third Provincial Congress, which section was singularly free from the makes the task of checking the men ravages and depredations of the and officers indeed difficult.
enemy. Activities of the main armies After the war actually began in had been confined to the extreme 1775 these companies of militia were south and to the northern states. It called upon for their quotas. Their is almost impossible, among the ranks were swelled with new re-
shifting scenes of that day, when cruits and volunteers. At the same the militia were going and coming time men were recruited from the every few months to locate the com- county in companies for service in manders and their troops and trace the First and Second Regiments of their services in camp; we can only Continental Troops. Twenty-six men catch glimpses of these gallant men from Tryon county participated in the Snow Campaign in South Caro-
now and then through the shadowy lights of history, and leave conjec- lina in December, 1775, were at ture to fill the spaces in their career.
Charleston in June, 1776, and as- To give anything like a connected sisted Rutherford in his Indian chase account of the services and activi- across the Blue Ridge. Part of the ties of the Tryon, Rutherford and Tryon soldiers left in 1777 for the Lincoln county soldiers during the "Grand Army" in New Jersey, and Revolution is impossible, for the during the latter part of 1777 fought reason that the Continental line does under Washington at Brandywine and not give the counties from which the Germantown, and spent the winter companies were enlisted. The militia at Valley Forge. In practically every of Tryon, later Rutherford and Lin- engagement of importance during the coln, were embraced in the rosters war some of Tryon county's men took of the district of Salisbury, and it an active part.
is not at all clear what counties of
The general assembly of 1777 was the district should be credited with the first session held under the pro- certain troops. It was during the per- visions of the new Constitution, which iod of the Revolution, too, that Try- provided for two departments, the on county was abolished and Lincoln representatives of both which were and Rutherford formed from it, which to be elected by the people. Tryon complicates research work along that county's representative in this ses- particular line.
sion was Charles McLean in the sen-
In 1775 Tryon county had ap -- ate, but the county failed to elect proximately a dozen troops of mili- any representatives in the house of tia, but the records do not show con- commons. clusively how many companies were
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