Skip to main content

Full text of "The North Carolina booklet : great events in North Carolina history"

See other formats 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

LYRASIS  members  and  Sloan  Foundation 


W 


http://www.archive.org/details/northcarolinaboo1913nort 


Vol.  XIII  JULY,  1913  No.  1 


'Ghe 


floHTH  CflHOIilNfl  BoOJ^IiET 


^^  Carolina!  Carolina!  Heaven' s  blessings  attend  her ! 
While  we  live  we  will  cherish,  protect  and  defend  her.'^ 


Published  by 

THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY 

DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION 


The  object  of  The  Booklet  is  to  aid  in  developing  and  preserving 
North  Carolina  History.  The  proceeds  arising  from  its  publication 
will  be  dovoted  to  patriotic  purposes.  Editob. 


ADVISORY  BOARD  OF  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 

Mrs.  Hubeet  Haywood.  De.  Richaed  Djxlaed. 

Mes.  E.  E.  Moffitt.  De.  Kemp  P.  Battle. 

Me.  R.  D.  W  Connoe.  Me.  James  Speunt. 

De.  D.  H.  Hii-l.  Me.  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood. 

Dr.  E.  W.  Sikes.  Chief  Justice  Walter  Clark. 

Me.  W.  J.  Peele.  Majoe  W.  A.  Geaham. 

Miss  Adelaide  L.  Fries.  De.  Chaeles  Lee  Smith. 

Miss  Maetha  Helen  Haywood. 

editor: 
Miss  Maey  Hilliaed  Hinton. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY 
DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION  1912-1914 

REGENT : 

Miss  MARY  HILLIARD  HINTON. 

VICE-REGENT : 

Miss  DUNCAN  CAMERON  WINSTON. 

honorary  regent: 

Mrs.  E.  E.  MOFFITT. 

recording  secretary: 

Mrs.  CLARENCE  JOHNSON. 

corresponding  secretary: 

Mrs.  PAUL  H.  LEE. 

treastjree: 

Mrs.  frank  SHERWOOD. 

registrar: 

Miss  SARAH  W.  ASHE. 

custodian  of  relics: 

Mrs.  JOHN  E.  RAY. 


CHAPTER  REGENTS 

Bloomsbury  Chapter Mrs.  Hubert  Haywood,  Regent. 

Penelope  Barker  Chapter Mrs.  Patrick  Matthew,  Regent. 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh  Chapter, 

Miss  Catherine  F.  Seyton  Albeetson,  Regent, 
General  Francis  Nash  Chapter ....  Miss  Rebecca  Cameron,  Regent 
Roanoke  Chapter Mrs.  Charles  J.  Sawyer,  Regent. 


Founder  of  the  North  Caeolina  Society  and  Regent  1896-1902: 

Mes.  spier  WHITAKER. 

Regent  1902: 

Mes.  D.  H.  HILL,  Se. 

Regent  1902-1906: 
Mes.  THOMAS  K.  BRUNBR. 

Regent  1906-1910: 
Mes.  E.  E.  MOFFITT. 


•Died  December  12, 1904. 
tDied  November  25,  1911. 


'the  north  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 

Vol.  XIII JULY>  ins No.  I 

CHRISTMAS  AT  BUCHOI,  A  NORTH   CAROLINA 
RICE  PLANTATION  * 


BY  EEBECCA   CAMERON. 

(Regent  General  Francis  Nash  Chapter  Daughters  of  the  Revolution.) 


Mj  grandfather  lived  on  a  rice  plantation  on  the  Cape 
Fear  River  in  the  section  known  as  "The  ]^eck,"  a  region 
noted  for  open-handed  hospitality^  wealth,  refinement,  and 
culture.  He  owned  a  large  number  of  negToes  and  was  an 
amiable,  easy-going  master,  much  more  interested  in  litera- 
ture than  in  rice  planting,  and  preserving  in  his  daily  life 
many  of  the  habits  of  his  English  ancestors. 

The  Chr*istmas  holidays  on  his  plantation  lasted  from 
Christmas  Eve — always  a  half-holiday — until  the  Yule  log 
burnt  in  two  after  ISTew  Year's  Day.  The  first  work  done 
in  the  jSTew  Year  was  the  selection  by  the  negroes  of  the  Yule 
log,  or,  as  they  called  it,  the  "Christmas  back-log,"  for  the 
next  Christmas  fire. 

The  driverf  marshaled  a  gang  of  the  best  axe  hands,  and 
down  they  went  into  the  swamp  to  select  the  biggest,  knot- 
tiest, most  indestructible  cypress  tree  that  could  be  found, 
which  was  felled  with  great  ceremony,  while  the  hands 
chanted  a  part  of  the  "Coonah"  song: 

Christmas  comes  but  once  a  year. 

Ho  rang  du  rango! 
Let  everybody  have  a  share. 

Ho  rang  du  rango! 

When  the  tree  was  cut  down  the  butt  end  of  the  stock  was 
measured  the  length  of  the  hall  fireplace  "up  to   de  gret 


'Published  in  The  Ladies'  Home  Journal,  Christmas,  1891. 

tOne  of  the  negroes  who  was  selected  by  the  overseer  as  a  superintendent  of  the  work- 
ing force  or  "  field  hands.  " 


4  THE  NOKTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

house/'  and  cut  or  sawed  off,  then  hauled  down  to  the  canal 
and  anchored,  where  it  would  get  thoroughly  water-logged 
during  the  ensuing  twelve  months. 

The  object  of  this  was  to  keep  it  from  being  burnt  out  too 
soon,  for  as  long  as  the  Yule  log  burned  the  whole  plantation 
force  had  holiday. 

A  day  or  two  before  Christmas  the  back-log  was  hauled  to 
the  house  and  given  a  bed  in  the  sand,  so  that  the  surface 
water  could  drain  off.  Christmas  morning,  the  moment  the 
first  misguided  fowl  "crowed  for  day,"  the  back-log  was  car- 
ried into  the  great  holly-wreathed  hall,  the  massive  brass 
andirons  were  dragged  forward  on  the  wide,  ample  hearth, 
a  bed  of  wet  ashes  was  carefully  prepared,  and  the  huge  log 
laid  on  it ;  and  then  an  artistic  fire  of  fragrant,  resinous  light- 
wood  and  seasoned  oak  was  built  up  against  it,  and  the  revels 
had  begun. 

The  week  before  Christmas — ah !  what  a  deliciously  busy 
md  expectant  season  it  was. 

The  fanners*  full  of  eggs  that  were  carried  into  the  store- 
room, gave  promise  of  endless  puddings,  pies,  and  cakes ; 
while  sundry  tantalizing  whiffs  that  were  borne  to  us  when- 
ever we  ranged  near  the  door,  and,  who  could  keep  away  ? — 
made  us  all  long  with  childish  eagerness  to  shorten  the  days. 

Busy  days  they  were  indeed.  Holly  and  mistletoe  had  to 
be  wreathed  for  the  hall,  dining  room  and  ball  room.  Candle 
papers  were  to  be  cut  and  dipped  in  melted  spermaceti.  Cake 
papers  of  most  elaborate  desigTi,  were  to  be  originated  by 
aunt's  artistic  fingers.  All  the  china,  silver  and  glass  had  to 
be  washed  and  polished ;  all  the  finest,  oldest,  oddest  things  in 
the  house  replenishing  were  brought  out  to  do  honor  to  the 
great  festival. 

The  linen  closets  were  ransacked  and  dozens  of  the  finest 


*  Fanners  were  large  square  split  baskets,  holding  about  two-and-a-half  bushels,  and 
were  for  carrying  rough  rice  from  the  fans  to  the  mortars. 


CHEISTMAS  AT  BUCHOI.  5 

damask  cloths  and  napkins  sent  down  to  the  hall  closets.  Re- 
lays of  sheets,  pillow-cases,  blankets  and  counterpanes  were 
put  into  readiness  for  the  impromptu  beds  that  were  going  to 
be  made  up  wherever  there  was  room  for  a  man  to  stretch 
himself. 

Christmas  eve  came  at  last  and  found  the  house  filled  with 
guests.  We  children  were  scrubbed  within  an  inch  of  our 
lives,  so  as  to  be  clean  for  Christmas,  mammy  well  knowing 
the  impossibility  of  getting  one  of  us  to  consent  to  the  daily 
bath  next  morning.  Then  there  was  a  great  flitting  abont  to 
hang  up  the  stockings,  and  mammy  must  take  notice  just 
whose  stocking  it  was  that  hung  at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  and 
whose  hung  on  either  side  of  the  fire-place,  and  on  the  bureau 
knob;  while  mammy's  own  stocking,  by  universal  consent, 
was  given  the  best  place  in  the  room,  and  hung  on  a  chair 
right  before  the  fire-place.  Then  we  were  tucked  into  bed, 
quite  sure  we  would  lie  awake  to  see  Santa  Claus,  but  only 
rousing  when,  at  4 :00  o'clock,  the  horn  at  the  quarters  blew 
a  long,  clear  blast,  and  we  felt  the  door  shake  as  the  men 
staggered  through  the  hall  passage  with  the  great  back-log. 

By  the  time  our  stockings  were  emptied  and  examined, 
grandpa,  fully  dressed,  had  come  out  of  his  room  into  the 
hall,  where  the  servants  had  set  out  all  the  materials  for 
making  egg-nog  on  a  gigantic  scale.  A  fanner  of  fresh  eggs, 
great  dishes  of  sugar,  and  the  claret  of  liquors.  When  the 
eggs  were  beaten  to  the  required  degree,  viz. :  until  the  yolks 
were  the  color  of  rich  cream  and  the  whites  adhered  steadily 
to  the  dish  when  it  was  turned  upside  down,  the  whole  was 
put  together  in  the  gigantic  china  punch-bowl,  relic  of  an- 
cestral feastings  across  seas  in  "ye  olde  countrie,"  I  would 
not  dare  to  say  how  many  eggs,  or  how  much  brandy  and  rum 
went  into  the  concoction  of  that  bowl  of  egg-nog. 

When  it  was  pronounced  right  a  waiter  of  glasses  was 


6  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

filled  and  handed  'round  to  the  assembled  company,  and  then 
''the  stand" — a  great  circular,  claw-footed  mahogany  table — 
was  lifted  out  on  the  wide  front  piazza,  the  flaming  sconces 
were  lighted,  and  the  egg-nog  bowl,  surrounded  by  pyramids 
of  tumblers,  placed  upon  it.  The  driver,  lurking  somewhere 
in  the  shadows,  began  to  beat  a  furious  tatoo  on  the  drimi, 
and,  as  if  by  magic,  all  at  once  the  house  was  surrounded  by  a 
sea  of  torch-bearing  negroes,  all  the  hands  from  the  quarters, 
who  had  come  over  to  wish  "ole  master"  a  happy  Christmas, 
and  to  receive  from  him  a  glass  of  egg-nog  apiece. 

My  grandfather  knew  every  one  of  his  negroes,  big  and 
little,  by  name,  and  his  greeting  was  always  personal  to  each. 
They  came  up  in  couples,  according  to  age  and  dignity,  and 
the  unvarying  formula  was :  "Sarvant  Master ;  merry  Christ- 
mas to  you,  an'  all  de  fambly,  sir!"  "Thank  you.  Jack; 
merry  Christmas  to  you  and  yours!" 

The  "drinking  Christmas"  is  at  last  ended;  the  negroes 
returned  to  the  quarters,  and  after  breakfast  reassembled 
again  to  "git  Christmas,"  as  they  phrased  it.  All  the  fam- 
ily gathered  on  the  front  piazza,  which  was  strung  with  hamp- 
ers filled  with  all  sorts  of  things  for  Christmas  gifts.  Grandpa 
invariably  gave  money,  fifty  cents  in  silver,  to  the  men,  a 
quarter  to  the  women,  and  a  shilling  and  sixpence,  respect- 
ively, to  "the  chaps"  (half-grown  boys)  and  little  children, 
who,  in  plantation  parlance,  were  called  "the  trash  gang." 
The  ladies  distributed  the  contents  of  the  hampers.  Gloves, 
comforters,  Madras  handkerchiefs,  printed  cotton  handker- 
chiefs, balls,  tops,  knives,  pipes,  shawls,  aprons,  cravats,  caps, 
hoods,  all  sorts  of  things  that  experience  had  taught  their 
owners  the  negroes  most  delighted  in.  Barrels  of  apples  and 
great  waiters  piled  up  high  with  gingerbread  and  cakes,  were 
divided  out,  until  the  last  little  bow-legged  tot  had  been  made 
happy. 


CHRISTMAS  AT  BUCHOI.  7 

From  the  piazza  in  a  straight  line  to  the  store-room  filed 
all  the  negro  women  who  were  wives,  "to  draw  Christmas," 
which  meant  getting  an  extra  allowance  of  meat,  rice,  molas- 
ses, coffee,  sugar,  flour,  dried  fruit,  and  anything  of  the  sort 
they  chose  to  ask  for,  to  make  their  holiday  feasting.  The 
week  before  there  had  been  a  great  hog  killing,  so  that  fresh 
pork  would  be  in  abundance  for  every  cabin"  at  the  quarters. 
Then  everywhere  revelry  had  full  swing.  The  gentlemen, 
headed  by  "ole  Master,"  went  deer  hunting,  with  a  pack  of 
hounds  and  out-riders,  returning  to  "a  great  dining  dinner," 
a  special  phrase  that  seemed  to  heighten  the  magnitude  of  the 
feast  to  the  negroes. 

The  evening  closed  with  a  dance  in  the  ball-room.  Uncle 
Eobin,  dressed  in  my  great-grandfather's  regimentals,  and 
looking  supremely  absurd,  was  the  head  fiddler,  and  a  re- 
markably fine  one,  too.  It  was  delightful  to  watch  him  as- 
cend the  musicians'  stand,  bowing  with  great  ceremoniousness 
to  the  friendly  greetings  of  the  neighborhood  gentry,  from 
whom  he  was  quite  sure  of  a  perfect  shower  of  gold  and 
silver  pieces  in  the  pauses  of  the  dance.  "Big  Ben"  and 
"Cousin  Hannah's  Ben,"  who  played  second  and  third  fiddle 
to  the  old  autocrat,  followed  with  due  humility  behind  him, 
quite  certain  of  as  many  reproofs  from  him  as  they  got  quar- 
ters from  the  young  gentlemen.  The  banjo  player  was  a 
unique — a  great,  big,  heavy,  awkward-looking  fellow,  black 
imtil  he  looked  blue — and  a  typical  negro ;  the  very  last  man 
on  the  plantation  that  you  would  have  suspected  of  having  a 
note  of  music  in  him,  but  just  give  him  a  banjo !  Dan  tuned 
languidly,  with  half-shut  eyes,  struck  a  note  or  two  to  test  the 
strings,  and  then — if  you  had  one  note  of  dancing  blood  in 
your  veins  you  belonged  to  him  till  he  chose  to  stop. 

All  the  negroes  came  over  to  the  house  "to  look  on,"  and  it 
would  have  been  hard  to  tell  which  half  of  the  company — 


8  THE  JSrORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

those  indoors  or  out — had  the  merriest  time.  Somewhere 
about  midnight  there  was  a  general  distribution  of  hot  apple- 
toddy  and  rum-punch,  and  after  that  came  the  Virginia  reel, 
and  the  ball  was  ended. 

The  second  day  after  Christmas  the  John  Coonahs*  began 
to  make  their  appearance.  Some  time  in  the  course  of  the 
morning  an  ebony  herald,  breathless  with  excitement,  would 
project  the  announcement :  ''De  John  Coonahs  comin' !"  and 
away  flew  every  pair  of  feet  within  nursery  precincts. 

There  they  come  sure  enough !  A  long,  grotesque  jDroces- 
sion,  winding  slowly  over  the  hill  from  the  quarters ;  a  dense 
body  of  men  (the  women  took  no  part  in  it,  save  as  specta- 
tors) dressed  in  the  oddest,  most  fantastic  garb,  representing 
birds  and  beasts  and  men,  ragged  and  tattered,  until  "ragged 
as  a  Coonah"  was  a  common  plantation  simile ;  with  stripes 
and  tatters  of  all  sorts  of  cloth,  in  which  white  and  red  flan- 
nel had  a  conspicuous  part,  sewed  all  over  their  clothes  in 
tufts  and  fringes.  "They  were,  indeed,  a  marvelous  spectacle. 
Rude  imitations  of  animals'  heads,  with  and  without  horns, 
hid  some  faces ;  pasteboard  masks  covered  some,  while 
streaks  and  spots  of  red,  white  and  yellow  paint  metamor- 
phosed others,  and  immense  beards  of  horse  hair  or  Spanish 
moss,  were  plentiful. 

The  leader — for  there  seemed  to  be  some  regiilar  organi- 
zation among  them,  thoug'h  I  could  never  piersuade  any 
negro  to  explain  it  to  me — was  the  most  fantastic  figure 
among  them  all.  A  gigantic  pair  of  branching  deer  horns 
decorated  his  head ;  his  arms,  bare  to  the  elbows,  were  hung 
with  bracelets  thickly  set  with  jingling  bells  and  metal  rings; 

•I  have  been  unable  to  discover  the  origin  of  the  Coonahs  and  do  not  know  in  how 
many  of  the  Southern  States  they  were  known.  My  impression  is  that  the  custom  waa 
introduced  into  South  Carolina  by  the  slaves  who  accompanied  Governor  Sir  John  Yea- 
mans  from  the  Barbadoes,  and  from  there  were  brought  by  his  descendants  into  North 
Carolina,  when  they  resettled  hie  old  colony  on  the  Cape  Fear  River.  They  were  con- 
fined altogether  to  the  low  country  or  tide-water  region.  The  Coonahs  were  an  institu- 
tion principally  known  on  the  South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Florida  coast,  and  in  New 
Orleans. 


CHRISTMAS  AT  BUCHOI.  9 

similar  bells  were  fastened  to  the  fringes  of  rags  around  his 
legs. 

The  banjo,  the  bones,  triangles,  castanets,  fifes,  drums  and 
all  manner  of  plantation  musical  instruments,  accompanied 
the  procession.  One  of  the  Coonahs,  generally  a  small  and 
very  nimble  man,  dressed  in  woman's  clothes,  and  though 
dancing  with  frantic  zeal,  never  violated  the  proprieties  sup- 
posed to  be  incumbent  upon  the  wearer  of  skirts. 

Once  before  the  hall-door  the  leader  snapped  his  whip  with 
a  crack  like  a  pistol-shot.  Everything  stood  still  for  an  in- 
stant ;  we  dared  not  draw  a  breath  and  could  hear  the  tumult- 
uous beating  of  our  hearts  as  we  pressed  close  to  mammy  or 
grandpa. 

The  awful  stillness  is  broken  by  another  resonant  crack  of 
the  whip,  and  at  the  instant  the  whole  medley  of  instruments 
began  to  play,  and,  with  their  first  note,  out  into  the  open 
sprang  the  dancers.  Those  weird,  grotesque,  even  hideous 
creatures  embody  the  very  ideal  of  joyous,  harmonious  move- 
ment. Faster  and  faster  rings  out  the  wild,  barbaric  melody ; 
faster  and  faster  falls  the  beat  of  the  flying  feet,  never  miss- 
ing the  time  by  the  space  of  a  midget's  breath.  One  after  the 
other  of  the  dancers  fall  out  of  line,  until  only  the  woman  and 
the  leader  are  left  to  exhibit  their  best  steps  and  movements. 

About  this  time  one  of  the  dancers,  a  hideous  travesty  of  a 
bear,  snatches  a  hat  off  the  head  of  the  nearest  pickaninny, 
and  begins  to  go  around  to  the  "white  folks"  to  gather  the 
harvest  of  pennies  with  which  every  one  is  provided.  All  the 
while  the  dance  was  in  progress  the  musical  voice  of  the 
leader  was  chanting  the  Coonah  song,  the  refrain  of  which 
was  taken  up  by  hundreds  of  voices. 

As  the  wild  chant  draws  to  a  close  out  of  the  hall  door  run 
a  bevy  of  white  children  with  laps  and  hats  full  of  nuts, 
raisins,   apples,  oranges,   cakes  and  candy,   and  scatter  the 


10  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

whole  among  the  crowd.  Such  a  scramble  as  follows !  The 
last  fragment  gathered  up,  all  at  once  the  leader  cracks  his 
whip,  and  whirls  around  with  his  face  from  the  house,  and 
the  crowd  marches  to  the  next  plantation. 

Some  time  during  the  Christmas  week  the  negroes  had  a 
grand  ball.  There  was  a  very  large  and  comfortable  servants' 
hall  attached  to  my  grandfather's  kitchen,  and  in  it  the  ball 
was  held.  It  was  made  gay  with  holly  and  myrtle  boughs, 
myrtle-wax  candles  in  the  ball-room  sconces  lighted  the 
scene,  aided  by  the  immense  silver  branch  candle-sticks,  the 
crowning  glory  of  the  great  drawing-room.  I^or  seldom  the 
ball  was  opened  by  "young  master  hisself,"  who  danced  either 
with  his  mammy,  the  driver's  wife,  or  some  newly-wedded 
bride. 

But,  meanwhile,  the  Yule  log  has  been  slowly  burning  out. 
Uncle  Tony,  coming  to  mend  the  fire,  discovers  that  the  log 
is  only  two  chunks  now.  When  the  family  go  to  dinner  he 
will  carry  one  chunk  out,  extinguish  the  fire  upon  it,  and  lay 
it  in  the  path  between  the  house  and  the  kitchen.  The  next 
morning  he  will  put  it  away  in  the  corner  of  the  woodhouse 
to  start  the  next  year's  Christmas  fire.  But  while  it  lies  in 
the  path  it  is  a  sign  well  understood.  Over  the  plantation  has 
flown  the  news:  "De  back-log  done  burn  in  two,  an'  Cousin 
Tony  lay  um  out !" 

The  long  merry  festival  has  ended.  The  negToes  will  dance 
and  frolic  all  night  long,  and  tomorrow,  at  daybreak,  the  over- 
seer's horn  will  blow;  each  gang  will  muster  under  its  head 
man,  and  the  plantation  work  begin. 


GENEEAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  11 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON 


An  Address  by  Major  W.  A.  Graham,*  Delivered  at  the  Unveiling 
OF  A  Monument  to  General  Davidson,  Voted  by  Congress, 
AT  the  Guilford  Battleground,  July  4,  1906. 


Mr.   President   of   the    Guilford  Battle    Ground   Company, 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

Fourth  of  July  celebrations  are  usually  expected  to  be  ac- 
companied witb  flights  of  eloquence  and  streams  of  oratory  as 
the  deeds  of  our  ancestors  and  the  blessings  they  have  secured 
for  mankind  are  brought  to  memory.  Although  a  century  and 
a  fourth  have  elapsed  since  he  of  whom  I  speak  to  you  gave 
his  life  as  a  part  of  the  price  of  the  independence  of  America, 
yet  so  little  history  has  been  written  concerning  his  services 
that  a  simple  memorial  oration  would  be  but  little  understood 
or  appreciated  by  my  audience.  In  order  to  have  true  history 
we  must  first  collect  the  "ana"  or  account  of  the  individual 
incidents  or  deeds  of  the  individual.  These  the  annalist 
arranges  with  reference  to  date  of  occurrence  and  then  the 
historian  is  ready  for  his  work.  Comparison  of  events  and 
individuals  with  panegyrics,  etc.,  follow.  Today  I  come  not 
with  an  oration,  but  with  some  "ana,"  some  annals,  some  his- 
tory concerning  my  subject,  and  hope  I  may  furnish  a  paper 
that  will  be  useful  to  the  writer  and  student  of  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina history.  I  fear  that  many  of  our  people  do  not  appre- 
ciate the  claims  of  the  State  to  the  glories  and  blessings  of 
the  Fourth  of  July — hail  its  coming  with  joyful  acclaim  and 
have  a  just  pride  in  all  that  concerns  it.  The  men  of  whom 
you  shall  hear  today  rendered  their  services  and  gave  their 
lives  to  establish  the  Fourth  of  July  as  an  important  date  in 
the  calendars  of  the  nations  of  the  earth. 


*  A  biographical  sketch  of  the  writer  of  this  article  appeared  in  Vol.  XI,  No.  1. 


12  THE  NOKTH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

Tten  while  we  will  never  cease  to  honor  the  memory  of  the 
men  who  followed  Lee  and  his  lieutenants  in  18 61-' 6 5,  let  us 
not  forget  the  services  of  those  who  followed  Washington  and 
Greene  in  1776-'81,  and  the  blessings  they  purchased  for  us. 

In  most  of  the  States  there  are  no  localities  to  recall  events 
of  the  Revolution.  The  oldest  inhabitant  almost  recollects 
the  first  house  or  even  when  the  Indians  left.  The  military 
monuments  relate  almost  wholly  to  the  Civil  War.  And  as 
the  father  tells  his  son  of  the  hero  commemorated,  embellish- 
ing with  real  or  imaginary  narration,  he  arouses  and  perpet- 
uates sectional  feeling  and  keeps  alive  in  the  youth  animosity 
for  a  portion  of  his  countrymen.  With  us  it  is  different: 
this  battlefield,  Moore'  Creek,  Charlotte,  and  the  other  places 
of  revolutionary  engagements,  are  object  lessons  in  teaching 
patriotism.  From  almost  every  hill-top  in  my  vicinity  we  see 
Kings  Mountain;  it  aids  in  perpetuating  the  valor  of  our 
ancestors  and  encouraging  love  for  the  Union. 

During  the  Civil  War,  when  the  body  of  the  heroic  grand- 
son was  interred  by  that  of  the  grandfather  of  Revolutionary 
fame,  pride  was  felt  in  his  conduct  and  generations  will  be 
taught  to  remember  it — but  there  was  and  has  been  no  lessen- 
ing of  the  admiration  and  veneration  of  the  deeds  of  the 
grand-sire  in  making  America  a  ISTation. 

GEN.  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON. 

Davidson's  Creek,  having  its  source  a  few  miles  north  of 
Mooresville,  in  Iredell  (formerly  Rowan)  County,  flows  in  a 
southeast  direction  and  empties  into  the  Catawba  River 
below  Seattle's  Ford,  in  Mecklenburg  County. 

Among  the  families  that  settled  upon  the  lands  of  the 
upper  portion  of  the  creek  prior  to  the  Revolution  were  those 
of  Davidson,  Ramsey,  Brevard,  Osborne,  Winslow,  Kerr, 
Rankin,  Templeton,  Dickey,  Brawley,  Moore,  and  Emerson. 
They  came  principally  from  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland. 


GE.NEKAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  13 

From  the  Davidsons  the  creek  derived  its  name.  They  were 
generally  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians  and  as  was  the  custom 
of  these  people,  organized  themselves  into  a  "congregation" 
for  the  promotion  of  religion  and  education. 

Among  the  early  settlers  was  George  Davidson  and  family, 
from  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1750.  His  young- 
est son,  William  Lee  Davidson,  was  bom  in  1746.  He  was 
educated  at  Charlotte  at  the  Academy,  which  afterwards  be- 
came successively  Queen's  Museum  and  Liberty  Hall,  but 
probably  attended  the  Centre  Academy  prior  to  coming  to 
Charlotte.  There  is  some  confusion  as  to  his  name — whether 
'^Lee"  is  properly  a  portion  of  it.  He  appears  upon  the  mus- 
ter rolls  under  both  names.  In  his  will,  which  is  recorded 
in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Superior  Court  in  Salisbury, 
he  says:  "I,  William  Lee  Davidson,"  and  signs  it  ''Wm.  L. 
Davidson."     This  settles  the  question. 

His  pension  and  land  grant  for  services  are  to  William 
Davidson.  He  is  not  mentioned  in  the  records  as  William 
Lee  until  he  becomes  lieutenant-colonel,  October  4,  1777.  So 
in  historical  matters  he  is  both  William  and  William  Lee, 
and  can  not  be  restricted  to  either  name.  I  think  Lee  was 
the  maiden  name  of  his  mother,  or  some  of  her  connection. 
His  eldest  son  was  called  George  Lee.  His  youngest  son, 
bom  several  months  after  his  death  and  named  for  him,  was 
called  William  Lee. 

William  Lee  Davidson,  after  reaching  his  majority,  made 
his  home  prior  to  his  marriage  with  his  cousin.  Major  George 
Davidson.  He  married  Mary,  the  eldest  child  of  John  Bre- 
vard, and  settled  on  Davidson's  Creek  at  what  is  now  known 
as  the  McPherson  place,  and  owned  afterwards  by  Hon. 
Rufus  Eeid.  He  also  owned  the  land  upon  which  Davidson 
College  is  located.  It  was  sold  by  his  son,  William  Lee,  to 
the  trustees  of  the  college  in  1835. 


14  THE  NORTH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

DAVIDSON"   COUNTY. 

In  1783  the  Legislature  organized  the  county  of  Davidson 
and  named  the  county  seat  E^ashville,  in  honor  of  Generals 
Davidson  and  l^ash.  When  Tennessee  was  conveyed  to  the 
United  States  this  ceased  to  be  a  part  of  JSTorth  Carolina,  as 
did  also  Washington,  Greene,  Hawkins,  Sullivan,  and  Sum- 
ner counties.  In  1822  the  present  county  of  Davidson  was 
formed,  as  the  State  desired  to  honor  his  name.  In  1777  the 
county  of  ISTash  had  been  organized. 

DAVIDSOISr    COLLEGE. 

August  26,  1835,  the  Concord  Presbytery  resolved  "that 
the  manual  labor  institution  which  we  are  about  to  build  be 
called  Davidson  College,  as  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  that 
distinguished  and  excellent  man.  General  William  Davidson, 
who  in  the  ardor  of  patriotism  fearlessly  contending  for  the 
liberty  of  his  country,  fell  (universally  lamented)  in  the 
battle  of  Cowan's  Ford." 

THE    DAVIDSON    MONUMENT. 

September  20,  1781,  Congress  enacted  the  following  reso- 
lution : 

"That  the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina  be 
directed  to  erect  a  monument  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States,  not 
exceeding  in  value  five  hundred  dollars,  to  the  memory  of  the  late 
Brigadier-General  Davidson,  who  commanded  the  militia  of  the  dis- 
trict of  Salisbury,  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  killed  on 
the  first  of  February  last,  fighting  gallantly  for  the  defense  of  the 
liberty  and  independence  of  these  states." 

This  matter  was  revived  in  Congress  at  different  times, 
notably  by  Senator  W.  A.  Graham  in  1841  and  1842,  and 
attention  was  called  to  it  at  various  times  by  the  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati  and  private  individuals,  among  them  Prof. 
W.  A.  Withers,  of  the  North  Carolina  A.  and  M.  College, 
and  later  by  the  Guilford  Battle  Ground  Company,  and  an 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  15 

appropriation  urged  to  execute  the  resolution  of  1781,  but 
not  until  1902,  through  the  labors  of  Hon.  W.  W.  Kitchin, 
the  present  worthy  Representative  from  this  the  Fifth  N^orth 
Carolina  District,  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  CongTess,  was  an  appropriation  secured.  He 
was  materially  aided  in  its  enactment  by  the  labors  of  Colonel 
Bennehan  Cameron,  who  represented  the  Society  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati, and  Col.  Joseph  M.  Morehead,  the  efficient  presi- 
dent of  the  Guilford  Battle  Ground  Company,  to  whose 
patriotic  services  much  of  the  work  of  preserving  and  adorn- 
ing this  historic  field  is  due.  By  means  of  this  appropriation 
of  five  thousand  dollars,  this  monument  has  been  erected. 
General  Davidson  ivas  a  citizen  of  Rowan  (now  Iredell) 
County,  and  his  services  are  to  he  credited  to  that  county,  and 
not  to  Mecklenburg,  as  is  sometimes  done. 

In  18Jf.8,  in  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  Governor  Gra- 
ham recommended  an  appropriation  for  monuments  to  Gen- 
erals Nash  and  Davidson,  as  Congress  had  neglected  to  make 
the  necessary  provision.     In  concluding  he  said: 

"It  would  be  a  fitting  memorial  of  the  patriotic  services  and  sacri- 
fices of  the  illustrious  dead  and  a  perpetual  incentive  to  the  living  to 
lead  such  lives,  and  if  duty  demanded  it,  to  devote  themselves  to 
such  deaths  for  their  country." 

SERVICES  IN  THE  REVOLUTION. 

The  commencement  of  hostilities  in  the  Revolution  was  not 
similar  to  a  riot  or  outbreak  where  one  day  there  is  order  and 
law,  and  the  next  strife  and  turmoil.  The  aspirations  of  the 
people  individually  and  collectively  for  liberty  and  self- 
government  were  well  fertilized  by  the  oppressive  conduct  of 
officers  of  the  Crown  and  the  unfriendly  legislation  of  Par- 
liament. The  approach  of  the  storm  was  visible  and  prepe- 
rations  were  made  for  its  coming.  The  flouring  mills  were 
the  points  where  neighbors  met.  As  he  communicated  his 
ideas  of  liberty  to  comrades  he  sowed  seed  in  fertile  groimd. 


16  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

or  watered  that  already  germinating;  tlie  work  continued 
until  the  harvest  was  ripe.  The  first  organizations  were  in 
captain's  ''beats,"  which  were  the  unit  of  organization  until 
"townships"  were  introduced  in  1868,  then  by  regiment  or 
county,  then  Superior  Court  districts  or  brigade,  afterwards 
State  or  Province. 

COMMITTEES  OF  SAFETY. 

The  first  governing  bodies  were  Committees  of  Safety,  and 
were  organized  in  New  Hanover,  Mecklenburg,  Rowan,  and 
perhaps  other  counties,  as  early  as  1773.  The  county  commit- 
tees were  generally  composed  of  two  representatives  from 
each  captain's  beat.  The  convention,  May  20,  1775,  at  Char- 
lotte, was  probably  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Mecklenburg 
County.  General  Graham,  in  his  address  at  Charlotte,  May 
20,  1835,  says  these  committees  continued  for  fifteen  years  or 
more. 

Subsequent  to -the  Eevolution  they  usually  met  after  the 
election  and  framed  instructions  to  Representatives  in  the 
Legislature,  that  he  received  such  instruction  in  1789  and 
1790  when  Senator.  That  at  that  time  (1835)  there  were 
laws  in  existence  that  had  been  suggested  by  these  commit- 
tees. The  journal  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  Rowan 
County  is  preserved  as  early  as  August  8,  1774,  and  shows 
existence  before  that  date. 

William  Davidson  appears  as  a  member  September  23d, 
and  was  probably  one  of  the  members  at  the  organiza,tion.  He 
is  appointed  a  member  of  a  committee  of  twenty-five  to  see 
that  the  resolves  of  the  Provincial  and  Continental  Con- 
gresses are  observed.  This  is  the  first  appearance  of  his  name 
upon  the  records.  At  the  same  session  he  is  appointed  a 
member  of  a  committee  to  cite  certain  persons  to  appear  be- 
fore the  Committee  of  Safety  to  answer  the  charge  of  advanc- 
ing the  price  of  powder. 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  17 

MILITIA  SERVICE. 

August  1,  1775,  formation  of  companies  of  "minute  men" 
is  authorized,  who  shall  be  ready  to  respond  immediately  to 
the  call  of  the  committee.  At  this  session  he  is  mentioned  as 
captain  of  militia  and  ordered  to  impress  some  ammunition 
in  the  possession  of  John  Work.  During  this  month  the  Pro- 
vincial Congress  provided  for  the  organization  of  the  State 
and  he  is  named  on  the  committee  for  Eowan  County.  The 
State  simply  extended  the  captain's  beat  and  county  organi- 
zation, retaining  the  name  of  Committee  of  Safety,  except 
for  the  State,  which  was  called  Provincial  Council. 

September  20th  his  militia  company  is  reported  as  contain- 
ing one  hundred  and  eighteen  men. 

October  17,  1775,  under  the  law  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, he  is  elected  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  for 
the  county  of  Rowan,  the  committee  being  now  elected  by  the 
freeholders  and  householders  of  the  county. 

i^Tovember  28th  he  reported  a  company  of  minute  men  as 
organized  and  a  committee  is  appointed  to  inspect  the  com- 
pany and  see  that  it  is  composed  of  "able,  effective  men." 

In  December,  1775,  he  served  under  General  Rutherford 
against  the  Schovilite  tories  in  South  Carolina  in  the  "Snow 
Campaign,"  probably  with  his  company  of  minute  men ;  also 
in  the  campaign  against  the  Cherokee  Indians  in  the  fall  of 
1776.     (State  Records,  Vol.  XV,  p.  113.) 

THE  NORTH   CAROLINA  LINE,   OR   CONTINENTALS. 

In  August,  1775,  ITorth  Carolina  organized  two  regiments 
to  serve  "during  the  war."  In  April,  1776,  in  compliance 
with  the  act  of  Congress  to  furnish  nine  battalions  "to  serve 
during  the  war,"  four  more  regiments  were  organized,  which, 
with  the  two  formed  the  year  before,  six  in  all,  constituted 
the  nine  battalions. 
2 


18  THE  NORTH  CAKOLINA  BOOKLET. 

William  Davidson  was  commissioned  Major  of  the  Fourth 
Eegiment  April  15,  17Y6. 

These  troops  were  designated  the  "North  Carolina  Line  or 
Continentals,"  as  distinguishing  them  from  the  militia,  which 
retained  its  former  organization,  and  was  called  into  service 
by  the  State  authorities  for  designated  terms  of  service,  gen- 
erally three  months.  This  distinction  of  troops  was  not  ob- 
served by  all  the  States.  Massachusetts  and  the  other  l^ew 
England  States  succeeded  in  having  Congress  to  recognize 
nearly  all  their  troops  as  Continentals,  however  short  the 
term  of  enlistment  or  call  to  service,  and  thus  had  a  large 
force  recorded  as  Continentals  who  did  not  serve  nearly  as 
long  as  many  of  the  l^orth  Carolina  militia,  and  the  IsTew 
England  States  thus  secured  the  appointment  of  a  much 
larger  number  of  general  officers  in  the  Continental  force 
than  they  were  justly  entitled  to,  and  obtained  for  their  troops 
the  benefit  of  the  acts  of  the  Continental  Congress.  The 
militia  was  under  control  of  the  State,  the  Continental,  of 
Congress. 

The  frequent  reduction  of  General  Washington's  forces  to 
inconveniently  small  numbers  by  the  return  home  of  many  of 
the  troops  of  the  Northern  States  whose  short  terms  of  enlist- 
ment would  expire,  interfered  much  with  its  efficiency  and 
prevented  action  of  importance  to  the  American  cause. 

This  New  England  Continental  Army,  except  the  officers, 
was  with  difficulty  kept  embodied  after  Washington  assumed 
command  during  the  siege  of  Boston,  owing  to  short  enlist- 
ments, and  soon  melted  away  when  the  British  evacuated  the 
city  in  March,  1776.  Having  had  a  short  military  service, 
they  returned  home  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  the  fireside  and 
the  appropriations  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

In  the  campaign  of  1776  the  loss  of  the  State  of  New 
York  and  the  retreat  through  New  Jersey  of  Washington 
with  his  depleted  army  is  attributed  to  this  cause. 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  19 

Early  in  177Y  Congress,  in  order  to  remedy  this  evil, 
ordered  the  North  Carolina  brigade  to  march  to  reenforce 
the  army  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  furnish  him  a  force 
that  could  be  depended  upon  for  permanent  and  efficient 
service. 

These  troops,  under  Colonel  Martin,  Generals  Howe  and 
Moore,  had  "seen  service"  against  the  Schovilite  tories  in 
South  Carolina;  under  Major-General  Lee  in  the  repulse  of 
Clinton  and  Parker  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  against  the 
Loyalists  of  the  Cape  Fear  section.  General  Moore  had  died 
in  April,  17Y7.  General  Howe  was  in  command  of  the  De- 
partment of  the  South.  Colonel  IsTash  was  promoted  to  brig- 
adier general  and  placed  in  command.  The  troops  were  in 
Charleston  as  late  as  February,  but  before  May  had  assem- 
bled at  Halifax  and  begun  the  march  northward. 

In  May,  1777,  Col.  Alex.  Martin,  of  the  Second  Regiment, 
writes  General  Washington  that  he  has  reached  Alexandria, 
Va.,  with  the  advance  of  the  brigade;  that  nine  battalions, 
with  a  total  of  forty-five  hundred  men,  had  left  Halifax  as 
reinforcements  to  his  army;  that  the  men  who  had  not  had 
smallpox  would  go  into  camp  (at  Georgetown)  for  inocula- 
tion ;  that  Major  Jethro  Sumner  would  proceed  immediately 
with  a  command  of  all  the  immunes.  A  report  of  Major 
Sumner's  command,  ten  days  later,  shows  only  one  hundred 
and  sixty  men.  This  would  indicate  that  4,300  men  went 
into  camp  for  inoculation.  The  number  which  died  can  not 
be  accurately  stated.  Governor  Graham,  in  his  address  upon 
the  "Life  and  Character  of  General  Greene,"  (December, 
1860),  states  that  "an  extensive  burial  place  is  still  recog- 
nized in  that  place  (Georgetown)  as  the  sepulchre  of  the 
l^orth  Carolina  troops  who  died  there  of  the  malady."  This 
was  twenty  years  before  the  discovery  of  vaccination.  The 
disease  was  communicated  by  applying  the  virus  from  one 


20  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

afflicted  witli  it  to  the  jjatient,  and  he  had  a  genuine  case  of 
smallpox.  Courage  to  endure  the  agonies  of  this  camp  was 
greater  than  that  to  face  the  enemy  in  battle. 

The  troops  reached  Washington's  army  in  June  at  Middle- 
brook,  ]^ew  Jersey,  and  were  organized  by  General  l!^ash. 

There  is  no  report  of  the  services  of  this  brigade  as  a  body 
in  the  campaigns  under  General  Washington.  It  is  only  from 
references  to  service  or  parts  of  it  by  other  officers  that  we 
procure  any  information.  Concerning  its  action  in  the  battle 
of  Germantown  in  which  the  brigade  was  a  part  of  the  divis- 
ion of  Major-General  Greene,  Marshall  and  other  historians 
only  state  that  General  ISTash  was  killed.  It  is  known  that 
Colonel  Irwin  and  Captain  Turner  were  killed.  Colonel  Bun- 
combe was  mortally  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  and  Colonel 
Polk  wounded. 

General  Sullivan,  of  ISTew  Hampshire,  in  his  report  to  the 
Governor  of  that  State,  says  a  North  Carolina  regiment, 
under  Colonel  Armstrong,  in  conjunction  with  his  own  divi- 
sion, had  driven  the  enemy  a  mile  and  a  half  beyond  Chew's 
house,  before  the  panic  occurred.  The  ISTorth  Carolina  bri- 
gade was  acting  as  a  unit,  and  it  is  possible  that  this  was  the 
work  of  the  entire  command  with  Colonel  Armstrong  con- 
spicuously in  the  van.  Davidson  is  promoted  this  date  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Fifth  Regiment.  Tradition  says 
for  gallantry  in  the  action. 

The  earliest  report  of  the  strength  of  the  brigade  on  the 
records  of  the  United  States  War  Department  is  November 
11,  1777,  and  shows  139  officers  and  1,025  men,  total  1,156 
present  for  duty. 

After  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  September  11,  1777,  the 
Second  and  Third  regiments  were  consolidated  and  were 
called  the  Second.  After  the  battle  of  Germantown  the  First 
and  Fourth  were  merged  into  the  First.     The  Eighth  Battal- 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  21 

ion  was  disbanded,  the  men  in  it  being  transferred  to  the 
Second  Regiment.  This  would  indicate  severe  loss  in  the 
I^orth  Carolina  troops  in  these  actions. 

Davidson  appears  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  First  in 
1777  and  1780.  In  May,  1778,  Congress  ordered  the  con- 
solidation of  the  l^orth  Carolina  troops  into  full  battalions 
and  that  the  officers  not  needed  to  command  these  battalions 
should  return  to  ISTorth  Carolina  to  command  the  four  addi- 
tional regiments  to  be  furnished  by  the  State.  Moon's  Creek, 
near  the  Virginia  line,  in  Caswell  County,  on  the  old  plank 
road,  about  midway  between  Danville,  Va.,  and  Yanceyville, 
!N^.  C,  and  Halifax  were  named  as  points  of  rendezvous  for 
the  troops;  and  commissioners  sent  to  these  points  to  desig- 
nate the  officers  of  the  respective  commands.  A  church  of 
the  Primitive  Baptists,  called  by  the  name,  now  marks  the 
locality  of  Moon's  Creek  encampment.  The  whole  to  assem- 
ble at  Bladensburg,  Maryland. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Davidson  assumed  command  of  those 
who  met  at  Charlotte,  being  joined  on  the  march  by  volun- 
teers from  other  points.  On  reaching  Moon's  Creek  news  of 
the  battle  of  Monmouth  was  received ;  that  the  British  had 
gone  to  'New  York  and  there  was  no  urgent  need  of  reinforce- 
ments. Many  of  the  men  from  western  ISTorth  Carolina  took 
furloughs  until  again  called  to  service.  There  was  consid- 
erable dissatisfaction  and  some  mutinous  conduct  on  the  part 
of  some  of  the  officers  and  men  as  to  payment  of  bounty  and 
fixing  a  definite  time  for  service  to  commence.  This  was  to 
be  after  passing  the  State's  border. 

July  18th  Colonel  Thackston  writes  Colonel  Hogan  about 
sending  the  paymaster  at  once  to  Colonel  Davidson's  relief, 
concerning  which  he  (Davidson)  had  written  him.  Colonel 
Davidson  assumed  command  of  those  who  continued  in  serv- 
ice and  after  these  disagreements  were  settled,   moved  to 


22  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

Bladensburg  to  join  the  contingent  that  had  assembled  at 
Halifax,  and  thence  to  Washington's  army.  They  remained 
with  this  army  until  November,  1779,  when  the  N'orth  Caro- 
lina Continental  Brigade  was  ordered  to  reinforce  General 
Lincoln  at  Charleston. 

In  May  the  Legislature  had  requested  the  brigade  to  be 
sent  south.  Congress  replied  that  this  was  impracticable  in 
the  summer,  but  it  would  be  done  in  the  fall.  The  brigade 
then  numbered  seven  hundred  and  thirty-seven  efficient  men. 
It  arrived  at  Charleston  in  March.  Colonel  Davidson  having 
obtained,  en  route,  a  furlough  to  visit  his  family,  did  not 
report  at  Charleston  before  it  was  encompassed  by  the  enemy 
and  thus  escaped  capture  at  the  surrender. 

The  muster  rolls  of  the  Continental  Line  show  that  the 
field  officers  of  a  regiment  each  had  a  company,  the  captains 
being  omitted  in  organization  of  such  companies.  In  Vol. 
XIV  of  the  State  Records,  page  294,  there  is  the  roll  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  L.  Davidson's  company  on  April  23, 
1779.  It  contained,  after  leaving  the  smallpox  camp,  sixty- 
two  men ;  nineteen  of  these  had  died,  nine  were  in  the  hos- 
pital, and  thirty-two  present  for  duty,  a  death  rate  of  thirty- 
one  per  cent.,  of  dead  and  disabled  and  forty-seven  per  cent. 
The  brigade  suffered  severely  in  the  service  with  General 
Washington. 

It  served  in  Pennsylvania,  ]S[ew  Jersey,  and  ISTew  York, 
going  as  far  north  as  West  Point  (one  of  Davidson's  men 
died  at  West  Point)  ;  fought  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth  and 
shared  in  all  the  hardships  of  this  memorable  epoch  of  the 
war  in  that  section. 

The  State  was  to  supply  the  clothing,  the  national  govern- 
ment the  rations ;  the  officers  to  purchase  both  for  themselves. 
Both  officers  and  men  suffered  severely,  the  arrearage  of  pay 
causing  the  officers  to  see  even  ^^harder  times"  than  the  men. 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  23 

as  is  shown  bj  coiTespondence  with  the  State  authorities.  A 
letter  from  General  Lockton  Mcintosh  to  Governor  Caswell 
from  the  camp  at  Valley  Forge,  states  that  no  troops  suffered 
more  in  the  intensely  cold  winter  of  l777-'78  than  did  those  of 
North  Carolina  in  Washington's  army. 

In  this  service,  although  we  see  but  little  recorded  mention 
of  Colonel  Davidson,  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his 
comrades  and  others  familiar  with  military  movements, 
shows  that  he  was  among  the  most  efficient  officers  of  the 
brigade. 

I  have  never  seen  a  report  subsequent  to  that  of  Colonel 
Martin  in  1777,  that  returns  more  than  2,000  men.  Of  the 
4,500  men  who  left  Halifax  in  May,  1777,  and  the  reenforce- 
ments  sent  in  1778,  only  737  effective  men  returned  to  North 
Carolina  in  December,  1779.  The  report  for  January,  1779, 
shows  present  1,339,  of  whom  448  are  sick.  The  Third  Regi- 
ment reports  35  effective  out  of  464. 

SERVICE  IN   NORTH   CAROLINA  MILITIA. 

When  Lord  Rawdon,  in  May,  1780,  began  his  advance  to- 
ward ISTorth  Carolina,  General  Rutherford,  who  commanded 
the  militia  of  the  Salisbury  district,  i.  e.,  of  Rowan,  Meck- 
lenburg, Lincoln,  Rutherford,  Burke,  and  the  counties  in 
what  is  now  Tennessee,  called  his  forces  into  service — some 
for  three  months,  the  usual  length  of  a  term  of  service,  and 
some  for  such  time  as  actually  needed. 

Colonel  Davidson  reported  to  him  at  Charlotte  for  duty. 
General  Rutherford  formed  a  battalion  of  light  infantry  (as 
mounted  infantry  were  then  designated)  of  one  hundred  men, 
and  assigned  him  to  this  command.  Principally  by  the  aid 
of  General  Graham's  "Revolutionary  Papers"  we  can  con- 
nectedly follow  his  service  from  this  time  until  death. 


24  the  north  carolina  booklet, 

colson's  mill. 
When  Lord  Eawdon  retired  to  Camden  he  went  with  Gen- 
eral Eutherford  to  Eamsaur's  Mill,  where  they  arrived  a  few 
hours  after  the  conflict  had  terminated.  From  here  he 
marched  with  General  Eutherford  to  suppress  the  Tory 
leader  Bryan  in  the  "forks  of  the  Yadkin."  The  forks  of  the 
Yadkin,  as  mentioned  in  history  of  this  time,  was  not  the 
territory  between  ISTorth  and  South  Yadkin  rivers,  but  that 
between  the  creeks  east  of  the  Yadkin,  mostly  in  what  is  now 
Surry  County.  Bryan,  whose  force  numbered  eight  hun- 
dred, having  learned  of  the  battle  of  Eamsaur's  Mill  and 
Eutherford's  advance  against  him,  hastily  departed  to  unite 
with  Major  McArthur  on  the  Pee  Dee.  Colonel  Davidson, 
with  his  command,  which,  according  to  Major  Blount's  letter 
to  Governor  ISTash,  numbered  160  (Vol.  XY,  page  6,  State 
Eecords),  being  mounted,  was  dispatched  down  the  west  side 
of  the  Yadkin  to  overtake  him,  but  the  start  he  had  and  the 
celerity  with  which  he  moved,  enabled  Bryan  to  reach  his 
friends  without  molestation.  Learning  that  a  party  of  Tories 
was  at  Colson's  Mill  (now  probably  Lowder's,  in  Stanly 
County),  near  the  junction  of  Eocky  and  Pee  Dee  rivers. 
Colonel  Davidson,  on  July  21st,  undertook  to  surprise  and 
capture  them,  but  his  movements  being  discerned  by  the 
enemy,  only  partially  succeeded ;  he  killed  three,  wounded 
four,  and  captured  ten.  He  was  severely  wounded  through 
the  loins,  attention  being  probably  called  to  him  by  his  con- 
spicuous uniform;  two  of  his  men  were  also  wounded.  He 
was  carried  home,  where  he  remained  two  months. 

APPOINTED   BRIGADIER   GENERAL. 

General  Eutherford  was  wounded  and  captured  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Camden,  August  16th.  Gen.  H.  W.  HarringixDU,  of  the 
Fayetteville  district,  was  assigned  temporarily  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Salisbury  district.    General  Sumner  having  been 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  25 

assigned  to  the  command  of  the  militia  service  other  than  that 
of  the  Salisbury  district,  had  Colonel  Davidson  appointed  to 
command  the  "horse"  of  his  command.  On  August  31st  the 
Legislature  appointed  Colonel  Davidson  Brigadier-General  of 
militia  for  the  Salisbury  district  during  General  Ruther- 
ford's absence,  and  Major  William  R.  Davie  colonel  of  the 
cavalry.  These  appointments  met  with  hearty  approval  in 
the  Salisbury  district,  but  General  Harrington,  being  offended 
at  the  appointment  of  General  Davidson,  gave  notice  of  his 
resignation  as  brigadier-general  of  militia  so  soon  as  the  con- 
dition of  affairs  in  his  immediate  command  would  admit, 
and  on  I^ovember  3d  tendered  it  to  the  Board  of  War.  He 
complained  of  being  deprived  of  command  of  the  first  brigade 
in  the  State,  a  deserved  compliment  to  the  Salisbury  district. 
General  Harrington  had  been  an  efficient  officer  and  per- 
formed valuable  services  in  the  Fayetteville  district.  There 
was  considerable  jealousy  between  the  militia  and  Conti- 
nental officers  when  thrown  in  the  same  command. 

Upon  the  reception  of  his  commission  General  Davidson, 
having  recovered  from  his  wound,  immediately  repaired  to 
Charlotte  and  entered  upon  his  duties.  He  still,  however,  re- 
tained his  commission  as  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  Continental 
line.  The  militia  were  assembling  to  oppose  the  advance  of 
Comwallis,  the  rendezvous  was  at  McCalpin's  Creek,  seven 
miles  from  Charlotte,  on  the  Camden  road. 

When  Ferguson  moved  into  Rutherford  and  Burke  coun- 
ties General  Davidson  ordered  a  force  of  militia  to  assemble  at 
Sherrill's  Ford  to  oppose  him,  the  supposition  being  that  Fer- 
guson would  cross  the  Catawba  near  the  mountains  and  move 
down  the  Yadkin  in  order  to  aid  Cornwallis  in  crossing  that 
stream.  Colonel  Francis  Locke,  of  Rowan,  one  of  the  most 
gallant  and  useful  officers  of  this  time,  commanded  at  Sher- 
rill's Ford,  and  was  to  be  reenforced  by  Colonel  Williams 


26  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

with  the  militia  of  Surry  and  other  counties.  Colonel  Locke 
had  won  the  battle  at  Ramsaur's  Mill,  three  months  before, 
when  sent  bj  General  Rutherford  on  similar  service. 

COKNWALLIS  AT   CHARLOTTE. 

The  Yadkin  had  been  designated  as  the  place  of  battle  and 
when  Cornwallis  advanced  on  the  25th  of  September  General 
Sumner,  with  his  command,  immediately  moved,  not  stopping 
until  he  had  crossed  at  Trading  Ford,  near  where  the  South- 
ern Railroad  now  crosses.  General  Davidson  took  position  at 
Mallard  Creek,  eight  miles  from  Charlotte,  and  committed  to 
Colonel  Davie  the  opposition  of  Cornwallis'  entrance  to  Char- 
lotte and  Davie  in  turn  committed  covering  the  retreat  to 
Adjutant  Graham.  There  seems  to  have  been  no  intention  to 
reenforce  the  parties  engaged  in  the  fight,  but  each  command 
was  expected  after  engaging  the  enemy,  to  escape  as  best  he 
could.  An  account  of  the  gallant  fight  at  Charlotte  and  the 
Cross  Roads  would  too  much  enlarge  my  narrative  and  is  well 
told  elsewhere.  Cornwallis  was  awaiting  news  from  FergTi- 
son  and  did  not  advance  beyond  Charlotte.  General  Sumner 
did  not  recross  the  Yadkin ;  General  Davidson  kept  his  com- 
mand at  Phifer's,  and  by  detachments  annoyed  the  expedi- 
tions sent  from  Charlotte  into  the  adjacent  country  for  pro- 
visions and  supplies,  and  kept  Cornwallis  in  ignorance  of  the 
movements  of  his  allies.  These  forays  extended  entirely 
around  Charlotte  and  there  were  engagements  almost  daily, 
the  most  noted  being  that  at  Mclntyre's  farm,  October  3d. 
The  reports  of  Cornwallis  and  his  officers  testify  to  the  gal- 
lantry of  the  troops  and  the  patriotism  of  the  Mecklenburg 
people  in  these  affairs.  While  the  militia  that  were  called 
into  ser^dce  to  oppose  Ferguson  were  assembling  at  Sherrill's 
Ford,  Colonels  Cleveland,  McDowell,  Sevier,  Shelby,  Hamp- 
ton, Winston,  of  IN'orth  Carolina,  and  Campbell,  of  Virginia, 


GENERAL  "WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  2Y 

of  their  own  accord,  were  assembling  for  the  same  object  such 
of  their  own  men  as  would  answer  their  call. 

When  they  had  assembled  about  1,500  men  near  Gilberts- 
town,  Rutherford  County,  the  question  as  to  who  was  entitled 
to  command  could  not  be  satisfactorily  adjusted,  as  they  were 
all  colonels.  On  October  4th  they  sent  Col.  Joseph  McDowell 
to  General  Gates  asking  for  an  officer  to  be  sent  to  command 
the  force.  The  following  are  extracts  from  this  communica- 
tion, viz. : 

As  we  have  at  this  time  called  out  our  militia  without  any  orders 
from  the  executives  of  our  different  States,  and  with  the  view  of 
expelling  the  enemy  out  of  this  part  of  the  country,  we  think  such  a 
body  of  men  worthy  of  your  attention  and  would  request  you  to  send 
a  general  officer  immediately  to  take  the  command  of  such  troops  as 
may  embody  in  this  quarter.  All  our  troops  being  militia  and  but 
little  acquainted  with  discipline,  we  could  wish  him  to  be  a  gentle- 
man and  be  able  to  keep  up  a  proper  discipline  without  disgusting 
the  soldiery. 

It  is  the  wish  of  such  of  us  as  are  acquainted  with  Gen.  Davidson 
and  Col.  Morgan  (if  in  service),  that  one  of  these  gentlemen  may  be 
appointed  to  this  command.  Benjamin   Cleveland. 

Isaac  Shelby. 

Andrew  Hampton. 

William  Campbell. 

Joseph  Winston. 

The  ISTorth  Carolina  men  belonged  to  General  Davidson's 
command,  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  he  would  have  been 
sent. 

In  the  meantime  Colonel  Campbell,  having  individually  the 
largest  number  of  men,  was  given  command,  and  on  October 
Yth  the  enemy  was  found  and  the  battle  of  Kings  Mountain 
won  before  a  commander  was  sent.  Soon  after  this  General 
Smallwood,  of  Maryland,  who  had  acted  so  gallantly  at  Cam- 
den and  had  been  appointed  Major-General  or  commander  of 
the  I^orth  Carolina  militia  in  service,  arrived  and  assumed 
command.     General  Sumner  was  affronted  at  the  appoint- 


28  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

ment  and  retired  from  service  for  a  time,  or  until  the  arrival 
of  General  Greene.  We  have  at  this  time  quite  a  chapter  of 
dissatisfaction  on  account  of  promotions.  Harrington  vs. 
Davidson,  Caswell  and  Sumner  vs.  Smallwood,  and  Small- 
wood  vs.  Baron  Stueben,  if  he  should  be  placed  over  him. 

The  time  for  which  the  militia  had  been  called  in  service 
expired  in  J^ovember.  General  Gates  had  been  relieved  of 
the  command  of  the  Southern  army  and  his  successor,  General 
Greene,  had  arrived  at  Charlotte  December  3d.  Early  in 
December  General  Davidson  ordered  into  service  another  de- 
tail of  militia  for  three  months.  It  seems  to  have  been  Gen- 
eral Rutherford's  plan  to  have  had  his  regiments  divided  into 
"details"  to  be  called  into  service  in  succession,  while  in  some 
commands  when  a  call  to  service  was  issued,  first  volunteers 
were  called  for  to  fill  it,  and  what  was  lacking  in  volunteers 
was  obtained  by  draft.  One  detail  had  been  sent  to  Charles- 
ton ;  another  had  been  called  to  meet  the  first  advance  of  Corn- 
wallis ;  now  a  third  is  needed  to  be  in  readiness  when  he  again 
enters  the  State. 

Davidson's  plan  of  campaig-n. 

Before  the  arrival  and  assumption  of  command  of  General 
Greene,  November  27th,  General  Davidson  wrote  a  private 
note  to  Col.  Alex.  Martin,  suggesting  a  plan  of  campaign  in 
opposition  to  Cornwallis : 

note  to  colonel  martin. 

Sib: — By  this  time  you  may  be  acquainted  with  the  position  the 
army  is  to  take  for  the  present.  In  the  meantime  it  appears  to  me 
that  the  proper  exertion  of  the  militia  of  my  district  might  greatly 
injure  if  not  totally  ruin  the  British  army.  I  have  been  deliberating 
on  this  matter  some  time  and  submit  my  plan  to  your  consideration, 
and  hope  that  you  will  endeavor  to  present  it  or  something  that  will 
be  more  eligible.  My  scheme  is  to  send  Gen.  Morgan  to  the  west- 
ward with  his  light  troops  and  riflemen;  one  thousand  volunteer 
militia,  which  I  can  raise  in  twenty  days,  and  the  refugees  from 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  29 

South  Carolina  and  Georgia  to  join,  which  will  make  a  formidable 
body  of  desperadoes,  the  whole  to  be  under  Morgan's  direction,  and 
proceed  immediately  to  Ninety-Six  and  possess  ourselves  of  the  west- 
ern parts  of  South  Carolina,  at  the  same  time  the  main  army  to 
move  down  to  the  wax  haws,  which  will  oblige  the  enemy  to  divide 
(which  will  put  them  quite  in  our  power),  or  vacate  the  present 
posts  and  collect  on  one  point,  in  which  case  we  can  command  the 
country,  cut  off  their  supplies  and  force  them  to  retreat  and  fight 
the  militia  in  their  own  way.  The  messenger  waits.  I  have  neither 
time  nor  room  to  make  further  observations.  I  think  the  scheme  prac- 
ticable and  certain  of  success,  unless  the  enemy  be  reenforced. 
Favor  me  with  your  opinion  on  this  matter,  and  believe  me,  dear  sir, 
Your  very  obedient  and  honorable  servant, 

Wm.  Davidson. 

N.  B. — This  comes  to  you  in  a  private  capacity.  (State  Records, 
XIV,  p.  759.) 

As  General  Davidson's  troops  were  all  infantry,  about  Jan- 
uary 1st  he  proposed  to  Adjt.  Joseph  Graham,  who  had 
already  served  one  term,  or  three  months,  although  exempt 
for  three  years  on  account  of  nine  months'  service  in  the  Con- 
tinental line,  and  who  had  just  recovered  from  wounds  re- 
ceived at  Charlotte  September  26th,  to  enlist  a  body  of  cav- 
alry, promising  him  such  rank  as  the  number  enlisted  would 
entitle  him  to.  In  a  few  weeks  he  had  fifty-five  men,  only 
three  of  whom  were  married,  embodied,  and  he  was  commis- 
sioned captain. 

OPPOSING  CORNWALLIS. 

General  Greene,  in  opposing  Cornwallis'  second  advance 
into  iN'orth  Carolina,  disposed  of  his  forces  as  follows :  Gen- 
eral Huger  with  the  Continentals  at  Cheraw,  S.  C,  on  the 
east;  General  Morgan  with  Howard  and  Col.  William  Wash- 
ington's cavalry  and  some  ISTorth  Carolina  militia  under 
Col.  Joseph  McDowell,  near  Broad  river,  on  the  west ;  for  a 
central  force,  connecting  these  and  prepared  to  act  with 
either  as  occasion  might  require,  he  relied  upon  the  militia  of 
Rowan  and  Mecklenburg,  under  General  Davidson.  The 
militia  of  these  counties  from  the  formation  of  committees  of 


30  THE  NOKTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

safety  until  the  close  of  the  war,  while  answering  in  full  pro- 
portion all  calls  for  troops  for  the  line  or  militia  service 
beyond  the  State,  seem  to  have  regarded  themselves  as  always 
ready  to  answer  calls  to  service  in  their  own  locality,  claiming 
no  exemptions  to  which  any  might  be  entitled  on  account  of 
any  previous  service.  They  only  asked  that  the  call  should 
be  for  fighting  and  not  for  ordinary  camp  duty;  as  soon  as 
the  fight  was  over  they  returned  home,  with  or  without  leave. 
The  history  of  the  Revolution  shows  no  history  of  greater 
valor  and  patriotism. 

At  the  battle  of  Cowpens,  January,  1781,  General  Morgan 
defeated  Tarleton,  and  by  death,  wounds,  and  capture  de- 
prived Cornwallis  of  the  service  of  one-fifth  of  the  most  val- 
uable of  his  regular  troops.  Cornwallis,  in  his  forward  move- 
ment, would  have  to  cross  the  Catawba;  arrangements  were 
made  to  annoy  and  injure  him  while  so  doing,  and  this  duty 
was  assigned  to  General  Davidson  and  his  l^orth  Carolina 
militia.  General  Greene  seems  to  have  had  no  intention  of  a 
battle  with  Cornwallis ;  he  ordered  General  Huger,  who  com- 
manded the  Continentals  at  Cheraw,  to  retreat  to  Guilford 
Court  House,  which  he  himself  proceeded  to  do,  and  when  he 
joined  him  there  continued  his  journey  across  the  Dan. 

General  Davidson  made  his  arrangements  at  the  respective 
fords  on  the  Catawba  River ;  pickets  of  cavalry  were  placed  at 
Tuckaseege,  Toole's  and  Cowan's  fords.  Col.  John  Williams, 
of  Surry,  with  two  hundred  men  at  Tuckaseege ;  Captain 
Potts,  of  Mecklenburg,  at  Toole's,  with  seventy;  Lieutenant 
Thomas  Davidson,  of  Mecklenburg,  at  Cowan's,  with  twenty- 
five.  It  was  supposed  that  the  crossing  would  be  at  Beattie's 
Ford,  the  best  crossing  on  the  river,  and  on  the  main  line  of 
travel  in  passing  through  this  section.  Here  were  assembled 
the  Orange  County  militia,  imder  Colonel  Farmer,  and  the 
Mecklenburg  under  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  and  some  of  the  Rowan 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  31 

men.  General  Davidson  made  his  headquarters  at  this  point. 
General  Greene  having  notified  him  that  he  desired  to  see 
General  Morgan  and  Colonel  Washington  at  Seattle's  Ford, 
dispatched  his  brother-in-law,  Ephraim  Davidson,  then  only 
a  lad,  to  notify  them.  On  January  31st  all  parties  had  arrived 
at  the  appointed  place  within  ten  minutes.  After  an  inter- 
view of  half  an  hour  they  separated.  The  enemy  appeared  on 
the  opposite  bank  during  the  conference.  In  The  North 
Carolina  Booklet  for  April,  1906,  is  a  detailed  account  of 
the  battle  of  Cowan's  Ford,  hence  I  omit  particulars  of  it. 
General  Davidson,  by  the  aid  of  Graham's  cavalry,  who  fre- 
quently crossed  the  river,  kept  well  posted  as  to  the  position 
of  the  enemy.  General  Greene  suggested  that  the  appear- 
ance at  Beattie's  Ford  was  probably  a  ruse  and  that  Corn- 
wallis  would  pass  Tarleton  over  the  river  during  the  night  at 
some  private  ford  and  attack  Davidson  in  the  rear  at  the  point 
selected  for  crossing.  Patrols  were  ordered  up  and  down  the 
river  between  the  fords,  to  be  kept  moving  all  night.  General 
Davidson,  after  Greene's  departure,  remarked  to  Captain 
Graham  that  "this  was  General  Greene's  first  view  of  the 
Catawba,  but  he  seemed  to  know  as  much  about  it  as  those 
who  were  reared  on  it." 

General  Davidson  had  probably  learned  through  friends 
that  Cowan's  had  been  selected  as  the  point  of  crossing,  and 
moved  Colonel  Polk's  force  and  Graham's  cavalry  to  this 
point,  where  they  arrived  after  dark  and  spent  the  night  near 
by.  Information  received  led  them  to  think  that  the  horse 
ford  would  be  chosen  as  the  route  for  the  crossing.  This  in- 
formation was  probably  gained  from  persons  who  had  heard 
the  inquiries  of  the  officers  as  to  the  fords.  The  horse  ford 
was  much  the  best  bottom  and  shallower  water,  while  the 
wagon  ford  was  not  half  the  length.  The  horse  ford  reaches 
the  bank  a  quarter  of  a  mile  below  the  wagon  ford. 


32  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

GENERAL  DAVIDSON  KILLED. 

General  O'Hara,  supported  by  Tarleton,  had  been  chosen 
as  the  force  to  cross  at  Cowan's.  The  British  entered  the 
water,  O'Hara's  infantry  in  front  with  poles  to  steady  them- 
selves against  the  swift  current,  Tarleton's  cavalry  following. 
About  the  time  O'Hara  moved  Webster  had  his  men  to  go 
into  the  river  at  Beattie's  Ford  and  fire  their  guns,  also 
opened  with  his  artillery,  made  a  feint  as  if  he  were  going  to 
cross  in  order  to  detract  attention  from  Cowan's.  As  soon  as 
Lieutenant  Davidson's  pickets  discovered  the  enemy  they 
opened  fire.  They  were  reenforced  by  Graham's  men,  dis- 
mounted, who  joined  in  the  firing.  General  Davidson,  hear- 
ing the  firing,  repaired  immediately  to  Colonel  Polk's  com- 
mand and  ordered  them  to  move  up  to  the  wagon  ford.  He 
directed  Captain  Graham  to  give  place  to  Polk's  men  and  to 
mount  his  men,  form  on  the  ridge  in  the  rear  and  be  prepared 
to  meet  any  attack,  as  General  Greene  had  suggested.  The 
enemy  reached  the  bank  before  many  of  Polk's  men  got  into 
position,  and  securing  the  crossing,  immediately  loaded  and 
advancing  up  the  bank  began  firing.  General  Davidson  or- 
dered a  retreat  for  one  hundred  yards  down  the  river.  The 
firing  became  so  heavy  that  his  command  fell  back  fifty  yards 
farther.  He  ordered  his  men  to  take  shelter  behind  the  trees 
and  renew  the  battle.  The  enemy  were  advancing  in  line, 
firing  slowly,  when  General  Davidson  was  shot,  being  in- 
stantly killed.  The  infantry  immediately  dispersed,  going 
through  the  bushes  to  avoid  the  enemy's  cavalry.  Captain 
Graham  brought  off  his  command  in  order. 

General  Davidson  was  shot  through  the  left  breast  by  a 
small  rifle  ball.  As  the  British  carried  muskets  this  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  done  by  a  Tory,  who  acted  as  pilot  to 
the  enemy  in  crossing  the  river.  The  enemy  did  not  discover 
General    Davidson's   body.      They   buried    the   three    other 


GENERAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  33 

Americans  who  were  killed  at  the  river,  and  all  of  their  dead, 
including  Major  Hall.  He  fell  down  the  river  from  the  ford 
and  thej  moved  up  the  river  on  leaving.  General  Davidson's 
horse,  after  he  fell,  went  to  the  house  of  Maj.  John  David- 
son, where  Jos.  G.  Davidson  now  lives,  near  Toole's  Ford. 
Maj.  David  Wilson,  who  was  with  General  Davidson  when 
he  fell,  assisted  by  his  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  McCaul,  and  Richard 
Harry,  took  the  body  to  the  residence  of  Samuel  Wilson, 
where  it  was  prepared  for  burial  and  that  night  interred  at 
Hopewell  church,  some  three  miles  away,  by  torchlight,  as 
the  night  was  very  dark.  It  is  stated  by  some  writers  that 
the  body,  before  recovery,  had  been  stripped  of  its  clothing, 
but  this  is  very  improbable.  His  sword  was  recovered  and  is 
now  preserved  at  Davidson  College.  If  the  clothing  had  been 
taken,  the  sword  would  not  have  been  left.  His  gTave  is  still 
known,  although  unmarked  by  memorial  stone.  Mrs.  David- 
son was  informed  of  the  General's  death  at  her  home  some 
eight  or  ten  miles  away,  and  her  neighbor,  George  Temple- 
ton,  whose  descendants  still  live  in  the  community  near 
Mooresville,  accompanied  her  to  the  burial. 

Thus  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years  fell  one  of  the  most 
useful  men  that  jSTorth  Carolina  furnished  in  the  struggle  for 
independence,  after  more  than  six  years  service  in  various 
positions,  in  each  of  which  he  met  the  demands  of  the  occa- 
sion. 

Light  Horse  Harry  Lee  says  of  him  in  his  "Memoirs"  : 

"The  loss  of  Brigadier  Davidson  would  have  been  always  felt 
in  any  stage  of  the  war.  It  was  particularly  detrimental  in  its 
effects  at  this  period,  as  he  was  the  chief  instrument  relied  upon 
by  Greene  for  the  assembly  of  the  militia,  an  event  all  important  at 
this  crisis  and  anxiously  desired  by  the  American  general.  The 
ball  passed  through  his  breast  and  he  instantly  fell  dead.  This 
promising  soldier  was  thus  lost  to  his  country  in  the  meridian  of 
life  and  at  a  moment  when  his  services  would  have  been  highly 
beneficial  to  her.     He  was  a  man  of  popular  manners,  pleasing  ad- 


34  THE  NORTH  CABOLHSTA  BOOKLET. 

dress,  active  and  indefatigable;  devoted  to  the  profession  of  arms 
and  to  the  great  cause  for  which  he  fought.  His  future  usefulness 
may  be  inferred  from  his  former  conduct.  The  Congress  of  the 
United  States  in  gratitude  for  his  services  and  in  commemoration  of 
their  sense  of  his  worth,  passed  suitable  resolutions." 

He  made  his  will  December,  1780,  appointing  his  father- 
in-law,  John  Brevard,  his  brother-in-law,  Wm.  Sharp©,  and 
John  Dickej  executors.  Only  Dickey  and  Sharpe  acted,  and 
in  1783  presented  a  memorial  to  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
for  settlement  of  amount  due  for  his  services.  This  was 
ordered  paid.  The  matter  is  again  referred  to  in  the  session 
of  1790,  November  29th,  and  of  1792.  H.  J.  December  5th. 
When  he  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  the  militia,  he 
still  retained  his  j)osition  in  the  "line"  as  General  Rutherford 
would  when  exchanged,  assume  the  command  of  the  militia. 
In  December,  1780,  Greneral  Sumner  was  ordered  by  Con- 
gress to  report  the  supernumerary  officers  of  the  Continental 
line  who  were  unnecessary  on  account  of  the  reduced  number 
of  the  force,  and  could  be  dropped.  General  Sumner,  in 
making  his  report,  January  27,  1781,  to  General  Greene, 
regrets  that  the  country  is  to  lose  the  valuable  services  of  these 
officers.  He  includes  General  Davidson  in  the  list,  as  he 
states,  at  his  request.     (State  Records,  Vol.  XV,  p.  501.) 

On  December  31,  1780,  his  connection  with  the  ISTorth 
Carolina  Continentals  ended,  but  the  dropped  officers,  or 
their  widows,  were  to  receive  half-pay  until  seven  years  after 
the  close  of  the  war.     (101,  Vol.  XV.) 

DAVIDSON^S  BRIGADE  AFTER  HIS  DEATH. 

As  this  paper  is  intended  to  be  historical,  a  short  notice  of 
General  Davidson's  Brigade  after  his  death  is  annexed.  A 
full  account  of  this  is  given  in  General  Graham's  Revolution- 
ary Papers.  They  did  not  conclude  that  as  the  enemy  had 
left  their  borders  they  would  return  home  and  leave  him  to 


GENEEAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  35 

the  attention  of  those  whom  he  might  next  visit,  but  being 
unable  to  stop  his  advance,  formed  to  annoy  his  rear  and 
serve  as  best  they  could  wherever  needed  until  their  term  of 
service  expired.  They  assembled  at  Harris'  Mill,  on  Rocky 
River,  the  next  day  and  started  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  On 
the  11th  of  February  at  Shallow  Ford  they  requested  General 
Andrew  Pickens,  of  South  Carolina,  to  assume  command,  as 
there  was  no  general  officer  of  this  State  present,  and  Major 
James  Jackson,  of  Georgia,  afterwards  Governor  of  that 
State,  was  appointed  brigade  major,  or  as  we  say  now,  adju- 
tant-general. There  were  seven  hundred  of  Davidson's  men 
and  some  thirty  or  forty  refugees  from  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia.  General  Pickens  continued  in  command  until  the 
expiration  of  the  three  months'  term  of  his  men,  early  in 
March,  and  just  before  the  battle  of  Guilford  Court  House. 

General  Pickens,  being  from  South  Carolina,  has  caused 
historians  to  credit  these  troops  to  that  State.  General  Pick- 
ens was  a  brave  and  efficient  commander  and  his  association 
with  the  ITorth  Carolina  troops  entirely  pleasant,  but  the 
troops  were  N^orth  Carolinians  and  their  service  should  be 
credited  to  the  State.  On  February  18th  preparations  for 
battle  were  made  upon  the  alarm  of  "Tarleton  is  coming."  It 
proved  to  be  Light  Horse  Harry  Lee,  with  his  legion,  whose 
uniform — dark  green — ^was  the  same  as  that  of  Tarleton. 
This  was  the  first  intelligence  that  General  Greene  had  of  the 
whereabouts  of  Davidson's  command  or  that  Pickens  had  that 
Greene  had  recrossed  the  Dan.  The  brigade  then  served  with 
General  Greene  until  the  term  of  service  expired  early  in 
March,  participating  in  the  engagement  at  Clapps,  Whitsell 
or  Hart's  Mills,  Pyle's  massacre  and  other  points.  Some  of 
them  remained  longer  but  the  last  departed  for  home 
March  10. 


36         .    THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

A  query,  concerning  which  the  students  of  history  can  em- 
ploy themselves  is :  whether  the  seven  hundred  men  of  David- 
son's brigade,  nearly  all  of  whom  had  seen  service  in  two  or 
three  campaigns,  would  not  have  been  more  valuable  in  the 
battle  of  Guilford  Court  House  than  those  of  the  raw  troops 
of  Butler  and  Eaton ;  and  if  it  was  not  a  mistake  in  General 
Greene  to  defer  battle  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  latter  until 
Pickens  (or  Davidson's)  men  had  been  disbanded. 

PAPERS  RELATING  TO  GENERAL  DAVIDSON'S  SERVICES. 

ROLL  OF  W.  L.  DAVIDSON'S  COMPANY. 

Pension  Office.  Book  entitled  "North  Carolina  Miscellaneous 
Rolls."     Not  paged. 

Roll  of  Lieutenant  Col.  Davidson's  Company  on  the  23d  of  April, 
1779:    (Copied  from  Orderly  Book  of  Sergeant  Isaac  Rowel.) 

First  Lieutenant — Edward  Yarborough. 

Second  Lieutenant — Reuben  Wilkerson. 

Sergeant — Isaac  Rowel,  John  Horton,  John  Godwin. 

Corporal — Jesse  Baggett,  Dempsy  Johnson,  James  Thorp. 

Privates — Adam  Brevard,  Samuel  Boyd,  James  Boyd,  Uriah  Bass, 
Bird,  Cornett,  Timothy  Morgan,  Joseph  Furtrell,  Wm.  Grant,  Daniel 
Parker,  Council  Bass,  Pifer,  Barney  Johnson,  Richard  Sumner, 
Sothey  Manly,  Booth  Newton,  Pioneer,  Wm.  Scott,  Pioneer,  Lemon 
Land,  Waiter,  Hardy  Short,  John  Norwood,  Joshua  Reams,  Buckner 
Floyd,  Wm.  Hatchcock,  Solomon  Deberry,  Thomas  Wiggins,  Wm. 
Wilkinson,  John  Wilson,  David  Journekin,  Samuel  Davis. 

Left  at  Hospital — Barnaby  Murrel,  Drummer,  Wm.  Moore,  Charles 
Gibson,  James  Robards,  Sterling  Scott,  Waiter,  Hardy  Portiss,  Wm. 
Smith,  Isham  Jones,  Lithro  Lane,  left  at  Trenton,  Joshua  Lewis, 
Robert  Monger,  Wm.  Gray,  Jos.  Ward,  Isaac  Gunns,  Chas.  Thompson, 
John  Carter,  and  James  Goodson,  died  at  New  Windsor  Hospital, 
Maryland;  John  Feasley,  died  at  West  Point;  Henry  Short  and  Caleb 
Woodard,  at  Robertson's  Hospital  and  Matthew  Murrel,  Andrew 
Rowell,  Peter  Valentine,  Josiah  Measley,  Benj.  Brittle,  John  Clark, 
John  Batliss  and  John  Floyd,  at  Philadelphia  Hospital.  (State  Rec, 
XIV,  page  294.) 


GENEKAL  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  37 

davidson's  commission  as  bkigadiee  geneeal. 

State  of  North  Carolina. 
In  the  House  of  Commons,  31st  August,  1780. 
Mb.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen: 

Whereas  from  the  late  captivation  of  General  Rutherford  by  the 
enemy  in  South  Carolina  the  militia  of  Salisbury  district  is  in  a 
manner  left  destitute  of  a  general  officer  to  command  them;  therefore 
Resolved,  That  William  Lee  Davidson  be  appointed  Brigadier 
General  of  the  militia  for  said  district  until  the  return  of  General 
Rutherford  from  captivity.  Thomas  Benbury, 

Speaker  Commons. 

In  the  Senate  31st  August,  1780,  concurred  vrith. 

Alex  Martin, 
Speaker  Senate. 
council  of  yfASi. 

At  a  Council  of  War  held  at  the  camp  at  New  Providence,  in  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,  the  25th  of  November,  1780,  consisting  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  Major-General  Smallwood,  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Huger,  Brigadier-General  Morgan,  Brigadier-General  Davidson, 
Colonel  Kosciusko,  Chief  Engineer,  Colonel  Buford,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Howard,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Washington. 

The  Council  being  assembled  the  Commander-in-Chief  acquaints 
them  that:  The  want  of  provisions  and  forage  in  the  camp,  the 
advanced  season  of  the  year,  the  almost  total  failure  of  the  herbage, 
the  entire  want  of  a  magazine  of  salt  meat  and  the  uncertainty  of 
providing  it,  the  increasing  sickness  and  the  unwholesome  situation 
of  the  camp,  the  want  of  any  proper  accommodation  of  the  sick,  the 
want  of  hospital  stores  and  proper  comforts  necessary  for  sick  and 
diseased  soldiers,  the  probability  of  reinforcement  being  sent  from 
the  enemy  at  New  York,  the  invasion  of  Virginia,  and  the  apparent 
prospect  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  supporting  that  invasion  and  com- 
manding a  cooperation  with  Cornwallis,  the  State  and  strength  of 
the  army  compared  with  that  of  the  enemy,  and  the  expediency  of 
reinforcement  coming  to  our  army  are  the  motives  which  induced 
him  to  assemble  this  Council  of  War  and  request  their  opinion  of 
the  movement  and  the  position  that  the  army  ought  to  take  in  the 
present  circumstances. 

The  Council  having  fully  deliberated  upon  the  matter  before  them 
and  the  question  being  put  of  what  position  the  troops  ought  to 
take,  whether  at  or  near  Charlotte  or  at  the  Waxhaws  or  in  the 
neighborhood,  the  junior  member,  Lieutenant  Col.  Washington,  gave 
it  as  his  opinion  that  at  or  near  Charlotte  should  be  the  present 


38  THE  NOETH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

position  of  the  army  to  which  every  other  member  of  the  Council  con- 
sented but  Gen.  Smallwood,  who  was  for  the  army's  moving  to  the 
Waxhaws,  taking  post  there  for  three  weeks,  and  then  returning  to 
Charlotte. 

(Signed:)  H.  Walter  Gates. 

W.  Smallwood. 
Isaac  Htjgeb. 
Daniel  Mokgan. 
■  Wm.  Davidson. 
Thad  Kosciusko. 
("Thadeus  of  Warsaw.") 

N.   BUFORD. 

J.  E.  Howard. 

Wm.  Washington. 
— .  — .  Clovis,  Richmond,  Sec'y.  to  Gen.  Gates. 

Camp  Colo.,  Phifeb's,  October  6,  1780. 
To  Gen.  Gates: 

The  enemy  is  still  confined  to  Charlotte.  The  small  rifle  com- 
panies I  have  kept  hanging  upon  their  lines  have  been  of  service  in 
checking  their  foraging  parties.  They  are  probably  1,800  strong, 
including  those  Loyalists  they  have  received  recruited  in  the  South- 
ward. Besides  these  they  have  some  ununiformed  tories  who  follow 
the  fortunes  of  the  army;  rather  a  dead  weight  than  a  benefit. 

A  Col.  Ferguson,  in  the  British  service,  has  by  a  variety  of  means 
been  pernicious  to  our  interests  in  the  west  of  both  the  Carolinas. 
There  has  such  a  force  taken  the  field  against  him  as  will  probably 
rid  us  of  such  a  troublesome  neighbor.  As  the  main  strength  of  the 
British  in  the  Southern  States  seems  collected  in  Charlotte  I  have 
adopted  every  measure  in  my  power  to  annoy  them. 

Wm.  Davidson. 

October  8th,  1780. 
To  Gen.  Sumner: 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  enclose  you  a  large  packet  of  dispatches 
taken  yesterday  at  McCalpin's  creek  on  the  way  to  Camden  by  a 
small  party  of  my  brigade.  A  detachment  of  120  horses  under  Rut- 
ledge  and  Dixon  almost  surrounded  Charlotte  yesterday,  attacked  a 
pickquet  at  Col.  Polk's  mill  and  at  a  certain  Mr.  Elliott's  brought  a 
sentry  of  eight  Tories  who  are  now  on  their  way  to  you.  A  small 
party  of  riflemen  brought  off  fifty  horses  from  the  Tories  at  Col. 
Polk's  plantation  last  night.     Dixon  lost  one  man  killed. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.,  etc.,  Wm.  Davidson. 

(Vol.  XIV,  p.  644.) 


GENEEAL,  WILLIAM  LEE  DAVIDSON.  39 

Camp  Rocky  Rivee,  Oct.  10,  1780. 

Sir: — I  have  two  detachments  of  Cavalry  and  Infantry,  each  on 
the  enemy's  line.  A  considerable  quantity  of  powder  was  secured 
some  time  ago  within  four  miles  of  Charlotte,  which  I  knew  noth- 
ing of  until  Sunday  evening.  13  cags  were  brought  off  that  night, 
and  the  remainder  sixteen  have  this  moment  arrived  safe,  which  I 
will  forward  immediately.  Pray  let  me  know  if  his  Lordship's 
figures  have  been  deciphered  yet.  I  find  he  is  determined  to  sur- 
prise me  and  I  am  as  determined  to  disappoint  him.  Inclosed  you 
have  a  draft  of  the  enemy's  lines  which  was  sent  to  me  by  Col. 

P k,  whilst  a  prisoner.     I  believe  it  may  be  depended  on.     Col. 

Davie  is  very  poorly.  I  am  etc.,  etc., 

Wm.  Davidson. 

N.  B. — Gen.  Graham  in  an  address  at  Charlotte,  May  20,  1835,  says 
this  powder  had  been  moved  from  Camden  to  Charlotte  in  the  fall 
of  1779,  and  was  guarded  by  the  students  of  the  Academy;  that  when 
there  was  expectation  of  the  enemy  advancing  several  of  the  signers 
of  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  on  a  day  agreed  upon  came  with 
sacks  in  which  they  filled  the  powder  and  conveyed  it  to  places  of 
safety,  they  appeared  like  boys  going  to  mill.  It  was  concealed  in 
separate  places — afterwards  afforded  a  reasonable  supply — not  much 
was  damaged  and  the  enemy  got  none.  (N.  C.  Booklet,  January, 
1906.) 

Tuesday  evening  a  small  party  of  my  infantry  fell  in  with  two 
wagons  on  their  way  from  Camden  within  two  miles  of  Charlotte. 
They  killed  two  men,  took  and  brought  off  the  wagons,  horses  and 
portmanteaus   with   officers'   baggage.     (Page   786.) 

October  11,  1780. 
To  Gen.  Sumner: 

Nothing  new  from  Charlotte.  Had  we  more  men  we  could  make 
their  forage  cost  them  dear.  The  appearance  of  50  men  yesterday 
caused  400  to  return  without  a  handful.     Inform  Gov.  Nash. 


40  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 


AN  OLD  GRAVEYARD  IN  THE  HISTORIC  TOWN 
OF  HILLSBORO 


BY  ANNA  ALEXANDEE  CAMEEON. 


A  very  old  graveyard  it  is,  for  here  the  earliest  settlers  of 
this  ancient  borough  found  their  graves,  and  here  the  first 
church  erected  in  this  part  of  the  State  was  built — an  Epis- 
copal church,  whose  rector  was  "Parson  Micklejohn." 

After  the  Eevolutionary  War  the  church  fell  into  disuse, 
having  no  minister  in  charge,  and  so  went  to  decay,  nor  was 
another  Episcopal  congregation  gathered  together  again  under 
a  minister  until  18 — ,  when  the  Rev.  William  Mercer  Green, 
now  the  venerable  Bishop  of  Mississippi,  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  St.  Matthew's,  the  present  church,  which  was 
built  on  land  deeded  to  the  congregation  by  Chief  Justice 
Thomas  Euffin. 

On  the  site  of  the  old  church  stands  now  the  one  in  which 
the  Presbyterian  congregation  worships.  The  graveyard  hav- 
ing been  used  for  many  years  as  the  public  burying  ground  is 
so  thickly  peopled  with  the  dead  that  the  town  authorities 
have  forbidden  further  interments  except  in  private  squares, 
a  prohibition  rendered  necessary  by  the  frequent  invasion  of 
old  graves.  And  all  the  terrible  secrets  that  those  old  graves 
sometimes  revealed.  One  day,  not  many  years  ago,  the  sun- 
shine fell  soft  and  golden  into  one  of  them  where  rested  an 
old,  old  coffin,  in  which  face  downwards,  lay  the  skeleton  of  a 
woman.  The  poor,  pathetic  bones  were  in  such  a  position  that 
no  doubt  could  remain  that  the  unfortunate  creature  had  been 
buried  alive  and  had  struggled  wildly  to  escape  the  horrible 
imprisonment,  which  meant  a  still  more  horrible  death. 

In  the  northwest  corner  of  the  churchyard  in  a  small 
square  overgrown  with  brambles  and  creeping  vines,  is   a 


OLD  GRAVEYAED  IN  HILLSBORO.  41 

gray,  weather-stained  tombstone  on  which  the  inscription  is 
almost  effaced,  yet  enough  remains  to  tell  that  "Here  sleeps 
William  Hooper,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence," 
etc.  One  of  that  band  of  resolute  patriots  who  wrote  their 
names  none  the  less  firmly  and  boldly  because  thereby  they 
were  risking  all  but  honor  and  the  liberty  they  held  so  dear. 

Across  the  graveyard  towards  the  east,  amongst  waifs  and 
strays,  rests  a  bit  of  the  world's  strange  driftwood.  A 
French  captain  lies  here,  a  gentleman  of  courage,  honor  and 
refinement.  He  was  one  of  Caroline  Murat's  body  guard, 
and  after  the  downfall  of  the  JSTapoleonic  dynasty  he  left 
Naples  and  went  to  Spain.  Subsequently,  becoming  engaged 
in  a  revolution  on  the  island  of  Malta,  he  was  banished  and 
fled  to  'New  York.  From  thence  he  drifted  here  as  a  music 
teacher  in  a  large  female  school.  After  holding  this  position 
for  a  number  of  years  he  became  private  tutor  in  the  family 
of  a  wealthy  gentleman  of  the  place,  and  it  was  while  thus 
employed  that  he  began  to  lose  his  sight.  Although  treated 
with  the  most  generous  kindness  and  consideration  and  offered 
a  home  and  every  comfort  for  his  declining  years,  his  pride 
could  not  brook  the  thought  of  blindness,  helplessness  and  de- 
pendence, and  so  he  made  choice  of  what  he  thought  by  far  the 
most  honorable  alternative  by  ending  his  life. 

Long  ago,  when  the  inhabitants  were  few,  there  came  to  the 
village  a  peddler,  and  he  put  up  at  a  tavern  kept  by  an  old 
man  and  his  wife.  Anon  the  peddler  disappeared.  "Gone 
on,"  mine  host  said,  "to  other  pastures  green."  There  was 
just  a  suggestion  of  something  mysterious  about  the  sudden 
departure,  for  no  one  had  seen  him  go.  Still,  nobody  made 
it  his  business  to  inquire  closely,  and  in  time  men  forgot  or 
ceased  to  speculate  about  it. 

The  old  people  passed  away.  The  man,  in  a  gloomy  and 
morose  old  age,  hung  himself  in  his  barn,  and  the  wife  disap- 


42  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

p^ared,  none  knew  whither.  Years  afterwards,  in  digging  a 
grave  in  the  churchyard,  the  grave  diggers  came  to  something 
that  seemed  more  like  a  box  than  a  coffin,  and  on  unearthing 
it  it  proved  to  be  a  chest,  inside  of  which  was  the  skeleton  of 
a  man  whose  skull  had  been  fractured.  Amongst  some  of  the 
"old  people"  were  those  who,  on  seeing  the  chest  recognized 
it  as  a  very  peculiar  one  that  used  to  stand  in  the  passage  up 
stairs  at  the  tavern  and  which  could  not  be  found  when  the 
fixtures  of  the  tavern  had  been  sold.  Here,  then,  had  come  to 
light  the  unfortunate  peddler  and  the  crime  committed  so 
long  ago. 

Within  a  few  feet  of  the  door  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
has  lain  in  his  grave  for  more  than  half  a  century  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  men  that  l^orth  Carolina  has  ever  produced, 
Archibald  Debow  Murphey.  At  the  bar,  on  the  bench,  in  the 
Assembly  halls,  his  gTeat  intellect,  deep  culture,  expanded 
views,  perfect  courtesy  and  dignity  commanded  the  profound 
admiration  and  respect  of  his  compeers.  His  far-reaching 
mind  and  keen  foresight  grasped  and  would  have  developed 
schemes  for  the  internal  improvement  of  his  State,  which, 
with  the  slow  march  of  other  minds  of  less  impulsive  genius, 
were  yet  fifty  years  adown  the  future.  Deep  was  his  learn- 
ing, wide  his  range  of  thought,  keen  and  incisive  his  intellect, 
and  while  others  gradually  developed  an  idea  or  plan,  Minerva 
like,  it  sprang  to  life,  perfect  and  complete  in  his  superb  mind. 
Far  down  the  coming  years  swept  his  impetuous  thoughts,  out 
of  range  of  those  slower  moving  ones  that  could  not  keep  step 
with  the  strides  of  his  genius.  Today  the  things  he  planned 
and  argued  as  possible  and  of  immense  value  to  the  develop- 
ment and  internal  improvement  of  the  State,  are  realities. 
Then  they  were  regarded  as  the  wild  dreams  of  a  visionary. 
Judge  Murphey  was  at  least  half  a  century  in  advance  of  his 
generation.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  engaged  in  pre- 
paring a  history  of  N^orth  Carolina,  and  it  is  a  source  of  deep 


OLD  GEAVEYAED  IN   HILLSBORO.  43 

regret  and  irreparable  loss  to  the  State  that  the  rich  store  of 
material  he  had  collected  was  entirely  lost. 

Towering  above  all  else  that  siu-rounds  it,  stately,  clear  cut, 
and  stainless  as  the  character  of  the  sleeper  beneath  it,  rises 
the  shaft  on  which  is  carved  the  name  of  William  A.  Gra- 
ham, and  beneath  which  sleeps  until  the  resurrection  morn 
all  that  was  mortal  of  one  of  ISTorth  Carolina's  noblest,  most 
gifted  and  distinguished  sons.  A  gTeat  statesman,  and  an 
able  jurist,  a  Christian  gentleman,  a  man  who  went  up  stead- 
ily by  merit  to  the  highest  position  in  his  native  State,  and  to 
one  of  the  highest  in  the  ISTational  Government,  and  who 
retired  from  public  life  at  eventide  as  he  had  entered  it  in 
the  dawn  of  his  brilliant  young  manhood  ''sans  peur  et  sans 
reprocJie." 

I  see  him  yet,  the  tall,  stately  form  erect  and  elegant,  the 
fine  intellectual  face  so  scholarly  and  refined!  A  close  stu- 
dent, a  dee  J)  thinker,  wise  in  statecraft,  just  in  his  conclusions, 
fearless  in  his  advocacy  of  the  right  and  faithful  in  his  dis- 
charge of  a  trust.  Fair  as  a  Doric  column  stands  the  life,  pub- 
lic and  private,  of  this  noble  son  of  a  grand  old  common- 
wealth. 

Limited  space  forbids  an  extended  notice  of  many  other 
sleepers  here  worthy  of  most  honorable  mention.  Frederick 
JSTash,  a  distinguished  Chief  Justice  of  the  State  of  North 
Carolina,  a  man  whose  fine  intellect,  deep  culture  and  impar- 
tial discharge  of  the  high  duties  of  his  office  added  yet  further 
lustre  to  an  honored  name ;  the  Rev.  John  Witherspoon,  an 
able  and  popular  divine,  founder  and  first  pastor  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  here ;  Judge  ISTorwood  and  his  son,  the  late 
venerable  John  W.  Norwood,  who  has  within  the  past  few 
months  gone  to  his  rest  after  a  long,  honorable  and  useful  life. 
Dr.  James  Webb,  many  years  ago  well  known  throughout  a 
large  section  of  the  State  as  a  physician  of  great  merit  and 
high  character,  and  who  was  held  in  great  respect  and  affec- 


44  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

tion ;  Dr.  Edmund  Strudwick,  who  succeeded  Dr.  Webb,  and 
who  for  eminence  as  a  physician  and  skill  as  a  surgeon  had  a 
very  wide  reputation,  the  benediction  of  whose  life  still  rests 
upon  those  who  loved  him. 

Gallant  soldiers  sleep  amongst  the  dead  here.  Major  Ben 
Huske,  Alvis  ^N'orwood,  Capt.  Ed.  Scott,  Henry  ISTash,  Eos- 
coe  Richards,  of  whom  his  colonel  said:  "I  never  knew  a 
braver  man.  Whenever  I  called  for  volunteers  for  desperate 
work  Eoscoe  Richards  was  one  of  the  first  men  to  step  from 
the  ranks."  Frederick  ISFash,  who  laid  down  the  burden  of 
life  far  from  friends  and  home  after  months  of  suffering 
amidst  the  dreary  horrors  of  prison  life  at  Elmira,  IST.  Y., 
faithful  unto  death ! 

Ah !  those  days  long  ago,  yet  ever  near  in  memory,  when 
there  came  back  to  Southern  homes  only  a  coffin  in  place  of  a 
gallant  son  or  brother,  husband  or  father,  who  had  gone  forth 
in  the  strength  of  manhood  and  who  was  to  come  again,  if 
come  he  ever  did,  feet  foremost,  and  sometimes  only  the  poor 
remnants  that  shot  or  shell  had  left.  Vividly  do  I  recall  the 
burial  of  a  brave  young  soldier  who  had  been  brought  home 
from  the  carnage  of  the  "Chickahominy."  As  we  sat  in  the 
church  the  heavy  tread  of  those  who  bore  him  to  his  rest  passed 
by  the  door.  Alas  !  they  could  not  bring  him  into  the  church ; 
and  as  we  gathered  around  the  grave  in  the  exquisite  bright- 
ness of  a  summer  evening,  while  the  prayers  were  being  said, 
a  mocking  bird  in  a  tree  just  above  the  grave  sang  as  though 
all  the  world  was  mad  with  joy.  In  and  out  amidst  the  sol- 
emn words  of  prayer  ran  this  liquid,  rippling  strain,  note  after 
note,  the  very  sweetest  a  sweet  bird  ever  sang.  And  when  the 
grave  was  filled  and  we  turned  away,  still  the  same  glad  song 
flowed  on  and  on,  and  we  left  the  young  hero  sleeping  his  last 
long,  dreamless  sleep,  while  the  mockingbird  sang  his  requiem 

as  never  bird  sang  before. 
HiLLSBORO,  N.  C,  1892. 


KOANOKE  ISLAND.  45 


ROANOKE  ISLAND 

Of  the  Landing  of  Captain  Ralph  Lane»  with  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  Colonists, 
on  the  Coast  of  Carolina  in  1585 


BY  MAESHALL  DE  LANCEY  HAYWOOD. 


If  sandy  hills  could  speak  and  tell 
What  deeds  in  ancient  days  befell, 
We  first  would  hear  of  Redskin  braves 
Whose  bones  now  moulder  in  their  graves. 

And  then  upon  this  western  shore, 
Where  Christian  never  trod  before. 
Bold  Raleigh's  voyagers  were  seen — 
Sent  hither  by  the  English  Queen. 

Above  their  ships  within  the  bay 
Floated  St.  George's  banner  gay, 
While  on  the  decks,  for  action  set. 
Stood  culverin  and  falconet. 

Then  Captain  Lane,  with  eye  serene. 
Gazed  proudly  on  the  quiet  scene ; 
And  when  his  voice  the  silence  broke. 
In  solemn  tones  he  slowly  spoke : 

''My  noble  men,  so  true  and  brave 
When  tempest-tossed  upon  the  wave. 
In  safety  we  have  now  been  brought 
To  this  good  haven  which  we  sought. 


4:6  THE  NOETH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

"This  fertile  land,  so  fair  and  green, 
We  claim  of  right  for  Britain's  Queen, 
And  our  good  blades,  on  land  and  main, 
Shall  guard  it  from  the  fleets  of  Spain. 

"In  Holy  Scriptures  we  may  read 
A  man  once  took  a  mustard  seed 
And  cast  it  in  a  garden  fair, 
When  soon  its  branches  filled  the  air. 

"We  plant  a  nation! — ^may  it  stand 
For  all  that  makes  a  noble  land ; 
And  English  laws  shall  rule  this  State 
Where  dwell  the  happy,  wise,  and  great. 

"May  God,  to  Whom  our  fathers  prayed. 
Still  shelter  those  who  seek  His  aid ; 
And  may  His  favor  rest  on  all 
Who  gather  at  our  Sovereign's  call. 

"So  up  St.  George,  and  down  with  Spain ! 
Long  may  our  Queen  in  honor  reign  ! 
We'll  sweep  her  foes  from  every  sea, 
And  make  this  western  country  free !" 


PEESENTATION  OF  JOEL  LANE  TABLET.         47 


PRESENTATION  OF  JOEL  LANE  TABLET  TO 
THE  CITY  OF  RALEIGH 


On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-third  of  April,  1913,  the 
Bloomsbury  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  realized 
one  of  their  cherished  dreams  when  the  tablet  to  the  memory 
of  Colonel  Joel  Lane  was  formally  presented  to  the  city  of 
Raleigh. 

It  is  of  bronze,  and  is  placed  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the 
entrance  to  the  city  Municipal  Building,  a  most  appropriate 
location,  for  to  Colonel  Lane's  influence,  more  than  that 
of  any  of  the  other  commissioners  who  were  chosen  by  the 
Legislature  to  select  a  site  for  the  permanent  seat  of  govern- 
ment for  ISTorth  Carolina,  Raleigh  owes  its  location. 

The  State  had  been  much  inconvenienced  and  had  doubt- 
less had  many  vexatious  and  petty  jealousies  to  adjust,  with 
a  migratory  capital,  first  one  place  wishing  the  honor  and 
then  another.  Meeting  in  various  towns,  I^ew  Bern,  Hills- 
borough, Halifax,  Fayetteville,  and  once  at  Joel  Lane's  resi- 
dence at  Bloomsbuiy  in  1781,  when  Thomas  Burke  was  made 
Governor  of  the  State. 

In  consequence  of  these  disadvantages  a  law  was  passed 
by  the  Legislature  requiring  an  "unalterable"  seat  of  govern- 
ment, geographically  situated  as  near  the  center  of  the  State 
as  possible.  Men  of  ability  and  discretion  were  chosen  to 
act  for  the  State,  and  many  sites  were  offered.  It  was  a  most 
difficult  problem,  but  Colonel  Lane  finally  persuaded  the 
other  commissioners  that  the  tract  of  land  offered  by  him  was 
the  most  desirable.  It  was  a  part  of  the  tract  upon  which  he 
resided,  adjacent  to  the  little  tov^ni  of  Bloomsbury,  which  was 
also  called  Wake  Court  House,  and  which  in  the  lapse  of 
time  has  merged  into  the  larger  town  of  Raleigh,  and  its 
name  now  only  remains  a  memory. 


48  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

The  city  was  laid  off  into  lots  and  the  streets  were  named 
by  the  commissioners.  The  squares  not  required  for  pur- 
poses of  the  State  government  were  sold  to  private  individ- 
uals, some  of  which  are  still  owned  by  the  descendants  of  the 
original  purchasers.  Today  those  streets  lying  within  the 
bounds  of  the  original  tract  are  still  owned  by  the  State, 
though  the  State  does  not  maintain  them,  and  it  still  owns 
several  squares  which  were  reserved  at  that  time. 

Raleigh  is  situated  midway  between  the  mountains  and 
the  ocean,  in  a  beautiful  rolling  country,  where  the  hills  of 
the  mountains  just  begin  to  merge  into  the  level  country  of 
the  coast,  and  as  we  view  our  many  advantages  we  are  re- 
minded to  express  ourselves  as  one  of  our  historians  has 
done,  when  he  said :  ''Truly,  we  live  in  one  of  the  favored 
regions  of  the  globe."  It  was  a  wise  forethought  of  the  com- 
missioners when  they  had  incorporated  into  the  law,  and  also 
in  the  deed  executed  by  Colonel  Lane,  that  Raleigh  should 
be  the  unalterable  seat  of  government  for  ISTorth  Carolina. 

It  was  with  a  sincere  appreciation  of  these  benefits  that 
the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution  desired  to  place  this  tablet 
to  Colonel  Lane's  memory. 

The  tablet  is  inscribed : 

JOEL    LANE 

Colonial  and  Revolutionary  Patriot 

Who  Represented  Wake  County  on  the  Committees  of  Safety, 

and  in  the  Provincial  Congresses,  Constitutional 

Conventions  and  Legislative  Assemblies 

OF  North  Carolina. 

The  City  of  Raleigh 

Stands  on  his  Ancient  Domain. 

He  Died  on  the  29th  of  March,  1795. 

Erected  by  the  Bloomsbury  Chapter, 

Daughters  of  the  Revolution, 

A.  D.  1913. 


PEESENTATION  OF  JOEL  LANE  TABLET.         49 

The  presentation  ceremonies  were  simple,  the  program 
being: 

Address   of  Presentation — Miss   Mary  Milliard   Hinton,    State 

Regent  Daughters  of  the  Revolution. 
Unveiling  the  Tablet — Miss  Hinton. 
Acceptance  of  Tablet — Hon.  James  Iredell  Johnson,  Mayor  of 

the  City. 
Address  on  Life  of  Joel  Lane — Mr.  Joseph  G.  Brown,  President 

Citizens  National  Bank. 
Benediction — Rev.  Milton  A.  Barber,  Rector  of  Christ  Church. 

There  were  quite  a  number  of  people  present,  many  of 
them  descendants  of  Colonel  Lane,  who  expressed  their  ap- 
preciation of  the  beauty  of  the  tablet  and  the  patriotism  of 
the  Daughters. 

Miss  Hinton,  who  presented  the  tablet,  is  a  relative  of  Col- 
onel Lane's,  and  her  address  is  as  follows : 

MISS  hinton's  address. 

This  month,  two  years  ago,  the  Bloomsbury  Chapter, 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  in  celebration  of  its  first  anni- 
versary, presented  to  our  beautiful  capital  city  a  boulder 
and  tablet,  marking  the  site  of  the  old  town  of  Bloomsbury. 
Today  we  assemble  to  honor  the  memory  of  the  man  who, 
although  he  can  not  be  called  the  founder  of  Ealeigh,  it  is  an 
historic  fact  that  it  was  through  his  influence  that  the  capital 
was  located  at  this  particular  point.  To  Colonel  Lane  we  owe 
a  standing  debt  of  gratitude,  for  without  his  skillful  man- 
agement the  location  might  have  been  six  miles  farther  east, 
in  which  case  the  health  of  the  inhabitants  would  probably 
have  been  affected  by  the  miasmal  vapors  of  the  N^euse. 

Colonel  Joel  Lane  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of 
the  county  in  his  day.  This  position  was  won  because  he 
was  a  man  of  force  and  he  was  progressive.  Were  he  living 
in  this  age  of  wonderful  endeavor  and  achievement  he  would 
be  as  thoroughly  at  home  as  he  was  more  than  a  hundred 
4 


50  THE  NOKTH  CAKOLINA  BOOKLET. 

years  ago,  and  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  he  would  have 
been  urged  to  accept  the  office  of  Major  and  Commissioner 
of  Finance,  and  that  he  would  advocate  supplying  the  reser- 
voirs of  the  city — not  one,  but  several — with  water  from  the 
Neuse. 

As  each  year  passes  our  people  are  more  keenly  alive  to 
the  value  of  our  noble  history  as  a  guide  for  present  and 
future  living.  This  is  due  partly  to  the  galaxy  of  historians 
whom  we  have  cause  to  regard  with  pride,  whose  active  pens 
have  been  educational,  and  partly  to  the  zeal  of  our  patriotic 
orders — these  are  the  co-guardians  of  nation's  and  State's 
glorious  past  and  future  resplendent  with  promise. 

By  mementoes  such  as  these  we,  the  Daughters  of  the 
Revolution  are  striving  to  honor  the  memories  of  the  men 
and  women  who  labored  in  the  long  ago  to  make  our  lot 
happier,  and  to  cause  the  coming  generation  to  pause  and 
seek  the  unknown  truths,  to  inspire  them  to  employ  their 
talents  in  a  broader  sphere  of  usefulness. 

On  behalf  of  the  Bloomsbury  Chapter,  N^orth  Carolina 
Society  Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  and  at  the  special  re- 
quest of  our  beloved  Chapter  Regent,  Mrs.  Hubert  Hay- 
wood, it  affords  me  extreme  pleasure  to  present  to  the  city  of 
Raleigh,  through  her  most  honorable  Mayor,  Mr.  James  Ire- 
dell Johnson,  this  memorial  tablet,  asking  their  care  of  the 
same  henceforth,  and  trusting  that  it  may  serve  to  arouse 
greater  deeds  of  patriotism. 

Mayor  Johnson  accepted  the  tablet  in  a  most  graceful  man- 
ner, saying: 

MAYOE  Johnson's  acceptance. 

State  Regent  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution  and  Regent 

of  the  Bloomsbury  Chapter: 

It  was  a  gracious  thought  which  prompted  the  donation  of 
the  tablet  to  this  great  patriot,  and  it  is  fitting  that  the  tablet 


I 


PRESENTATION  OF   JOEL  LANE   TABLET.  51 

should  be  on  the  walls  of  the  building  which  stands  on  the 
ground  owned  bj  him.  The  whole  site  of  the  city  was  orig- 
inally owned  by  Lane,  and  in  days  to  come  visitors  will  see 
the  tablet  and  learn  of  the  man.  In  the  name  of  the  city  of 
Raleigh  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  accept  the  tablet,  and 
thank  the  Daughters  of  the  Eevolution  very  much  for  the 
magnificent  gift. 

Mr.  Joseph  G.  Brown,  who  is  one  of  Colonel  Lane's  collat- 
eral descendants,  then  made  this  interesting  and  instructive 
talk : 

MK.   brown's  ADDRESS. 

It  is  a  very  beautiful  custom  that  has  grown  up  in  our 
Southland,  and  indeed  in  all  sections,  of  setting  apart  one 
day  in  the  joyous  springtime  as  a  Memorial  Day  to  the 
heroes  who  gave  their  lives  in  their  country's  cause,  a  day 
when  with  loving  hearts  and  tender  hands  their  friends  may 
gather  about  their  last  resting  places  and  cover  their  graves 
with  flowers  while,  in  loving  memory,  they  recall  the  deeds 
that  made  them  noble  in  life  and  noble  in  death. 

And  so,  too,  it  was  a  beautiful  thought,  born  in  a  woman's 
heart,  to  establish  this  memorial — to  perpetuate  the  memory 
of  one  who,  in  the  days  that  tried  men's  souls,  stood  ever 
ready  to  lay  upon  his  country's  altar  his  best  services,  and, 
if  need  be,  his  life  blood. 

I  can  not  withhold  an  expression  of  appreciation  of  the 
loving  tenderness  with  which  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolu- 
tion have  ever  cherished  the  names  and  memory  of  those 
whose  patriotism  and  devotion  to  country  give  just  cause 
for  pride  to  those  of  us  through  whose  veins  their  blood 
courses. 

Worthy  indeed  is  your  association  and  it  ought  to  be 
strengthened  in  its  sacred  work.     It  should  not  be  content. 


52  THE  NORTH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

however,  simply  to  indulge  in  a  pride  of  ancestry,  or  to  build 
up  a  membership,  dependent  for  their  own  distinction  upon 
the  deeds  of  their  forefathers,  but  rather,  by  making  known 
the  problems  which  these  men  had  to  face  and  overcome,  to 
induce  our  young  people  to  emulate  their  wisdom  and  their 
valor. 

We  can  hope  for  no  greater  good  than  to  inspire  in  them  a 
courage  and  devotion  like  that  their  forefathers  displayed. 

Standing  under  the  shadow  of  this  splendid  edifice,  which 
marks  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  the  capital  city  of  J^Torth 
Carolina,  it  requires  no  little  stretch  of  the  imagination  to 
enter  into  and  even  for  a  brief  while,  to  become  a  part  of  the 
life  that  pulsated  in  and  around  the  little  village  of  Blooms- 
bury  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

The  Old  South  at  any  point  will  always  be  a  profitable 
study.  It  is,  indeed,  the  one  unique  page  in  our  national  his- 
tory. To  us  who  .are  gathered  here  today  there  is  special  in- 
terest in  the  story  of  that  period  and  of  him  who  has  trans- 
mitted to  so  many  of  us  the  blood  of  a  noble  race. 

As  some  one  has  well  said,  "It  was  in  the  old  South  that 
the  first  word  was  spoken  that  stirred  the  blood  and  fired  the 
heart  and  marked  the  way  of  freedom  from  British  tyramiy. 
The  very  declaration  of  independence  itself  was  written 
by  a  Southern  hand,  and  a  Southern  General  led  the  ragged 
Continentals  to  victory  and  became  the  father  of  a  free  re- 
public, and  for  many  years  it  was  the  guiding  hand  of  patri- 
otic Southern  men  that  shaped  the  destiny  of  the  young  re- 
public." 

They  were  found  in  places  of  high  position  in  the  army,  in 
the  navy,  in  ofiicial  and  commercial  life  everywhere,  and  in 
all  the  expansion  of  the  country  the  spirit  of  the  South  was 
dominant.  The  thrilling  story  of  the  republic  can  never  be 
told  without  placing  new  laurels  on  the  brows  of  Southern 
men. 


PRESENTATION  OF  JOEL  LANE  TABLET.         6B 

For  more  than  a  half  century,  however,  it  seems  that  her 
scepter  had  dej)arted,  but  today  we  see  again  the  command- 
ing spirit  of  the  South  in  the  persons  of  the  chief  magistrate 
of  the  nation,  and  of  his  associates  in  the  cabinet,  on  the  Su- 
preme Court  bench,  and  now  in  the  Court  of  St.  James,  and 
through  them  and  men  of  like  mould  from  other  sections,  we 
may  confidently  expect  the  domination  of  a  spirit  of  broad 
patriotism  that  in  affairs  of  government  will  know  no  feeling 
of  sectionalism,  no  l^orth,  no  South,  but  one  great  country, 
one  united  people. 

We  are  proud,  and  rightly  so,  of  the  honors  our  fathers 
won  and  of  their  achievements,  whether  on  the  field  of  battle 
or  in  the  public  forum. 

And  this  spirit  should  be  cultivated.  It  is  a  laudable  aspi- 
ration to  link  our  names  with  those  of  the  great  men  of  the 
past,  and  to  proclaim  the  virtues  of  our  ancestors.  If  we  will 
but  emulate  those  virtues  our  lives  may  be  made  the  purer 
and  better  thereby,  and  our  service  to  our  country  more  de- 
voted. 

In  such  a  spirit  have  we  come  today  to  do  honor  to  one 
whose  memory  we  revere,  who  was  bone  of  our  bone  and  flesh 
of  our  flesh,  and  to  whom  so  many  of  us  are  proud  to  trace 
our  lineage. 

We  would  perpetuate  his  memory,  and  by  this  tablet  com- 
mend to  those  who  come  after  us  the  heroic  virtues  which  en- 
nobled and  made  useful  his  life. 

It  was  far  back  in  the  sixteenth  century  when  Sir  Ralph 
Lane,  an  honored  Briton,  founded  the  colony  of  Roanoke, 
and  became  the  first  English  Governor  in  America,  and 
although  he  returned  to  the  old  country  and  finally  died  in 
Ireland,  yet  it  was  not  long  before  other  members  of  the  same 
family  were  on  American  soil,  and  laying  the  foundation  for 
our  own  beloved  State.     They  located  in  Halifax  County, 


54  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

and  there  was  bom  Joel  Lane  to  whom  this  tablet  is  erected. 
He  came  to  Wake  (then  a  part  of  Johnston)  County  in  1750. 

The  good  Lord  must  have  pronounced  upon  him  the  same 
blessing  that  he  bestowed  upon  the  old  patriarch,  Abraham, 
"And  I  will  make  thee  exceeding  fruitful  and  I  will  make  a 
nation  of  thee  and  kings  shall  come  out  of  thee." 

God  did  bless  him,  and  as  the  years  have  chased  each  other 
into  the  great  abyss  of  the  past  we  have  seen  his  children  and 
grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren  occupying  the  goodly 
lands  in  every  direction,  from  sea  to  sea  and  from  the  gulf 
to  the  great  lakes,  until  their  name  has  become  legion — for 
they  are  many,  and  from  their  ranks  have  come,  time  and 
again,  if  not  kings,  at  least  princely  men  and  queenly  women. 
Governors  and  judges  and  distinguished  leaders  in  civil  and 
military  life.  There  is  scarcely  a  State  in  the  Union  that 
has  not  felt  at  some  point  the  touch  of  their  helpful  hand, 
whilst  in  our  own  county  almost  every  old  family  has  some 
trace  of  their  blood. 

As  far  back  as  1772  the  name  of  Joel  Lane  appears  on  the 
roster  as  lieutenant-colonel.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Provincial  CongTess.  For  fourteen  years  he  was  State  Sen- 
ator, and  during  the  troublous  days  of  the  Revolution  (1781) 
the  General  Assembly  met  in  his  home. 

In  1792  he  deeded  one  thousand  acres  for  the  site  of  the 
city  of  Raleigh,  and  the  ground  upon  which  this  building 
stands  was  a  part  of  his  farm.  Some  of  us  are  old  enough  to 
remember  the  statements  of  our  parents,  as  I  well  remember 
those  of  my  mother,  Lydia  Lane,  about  the  killing  of  deer  at 
a  stand  just  inside  the  southern  entrance  of  Capitol  Square, 
and  of  many  other  interesting  incidents  of  those  days,  but  I 
have  not  the  time,  nor  is  this  the  occasion  to  record  and  relate 
them. 

It  was  long  before  Wake  County  was  established  that  Joel 


PRESENTATION  OF  JOEL  LANE  TABLET.         55 

Lane  settled  in  Bloomsbury.  He  was  one  of  the  commission- 
ers that  laid  out  the  county  boundaries. 

Its  first  court  was  held  on  June  4,  1771,  and  both  Joel 
Lane  and  his  brother  Joseph  were  among  the  members  of 
that  tribunal,  there  being  eight  others  besides  them.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  justice  of  the  court,  and  during  the  war  its 
presiding  justice.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  State  University 
and  in  1791  offered  to  donate  to  that  institution  640  acres  of 
land  if  it  would  locate  thereon. 

Following  his  ancestors  he  was  an  adherent  of  the  Church 
of  England,  he  kept  the  fasts  religiously,  and  led  his  family 
in  daily  devotions. 

He  occupied  many  positions  of  trust  and  in  them  all  served 
with  gTeat  fidelity.  The  commission  to  locate  the  capital  of 
the  State,  which  had  no  permanent  abiding  place  until  1788, 
met  in  his  home,  and  although  some  criticism  was  made  be- 
cause, while  accepting  his  hospitality,  they  selected  his  land 
as  a  permanent  site,  yet  he  evidently  retained  the  favor  and 
good  will  of  the  people,  for  he  continued  to  serve  them  in  the 
Senate  as  late  as  1795,  in  which  year  he  died. 

It  is  a  pity  that  no  stone  marks  his  last  resting  place.  His 
grave  on  Boylan  Avenue  is  covered  by  the  home  of  one  of  our 
citizens. 

I  have  endeavored  to  be  brief,  so  that  I  might  not  weary 
you  with  a  repetition  of  details  that  are  so  thoroughly  famil- 
iar. 

Only  a  few  days  ago  a  well-known  local  writer,  Col.  Fred 
Olds,  gave  an  interesting  story  of  an  imaginary  visit  of  Joel 
Lane  to  his  old  home.  Instead  of  the  scattered  village  he 
found  a  splendid  city,  her  streets  and  sidewalks  well  paved, 
her  business  houses  modern  and  well  equipped,  and  some  of 
them  almost  penetrating  the  clouds,  her  little  inn  replaced  by 
splendid  hotels,  a  beautiful  capitol  building,  a  splendid  post- 


56  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

office,  a  spacious  auditorium,  an  attractive  Country  Club, 
reached  by  cars  operated  by  the  same  mysterious  power  that 
converts  her  nights  into  day.  And  many  wonderful  things 
he  found  the  peoj)le  doing,  such  as  talking  with  each  other  at 
long  distances  over  the  wires,  speeding  across  the  country  in 
lightning  motor  cars,  and  flying  through  the  air  like  birds. 

Little  wonder  he  found  no  familiar  face  and  nothing  to 
remind  him  of  the  Bloomsbury  of  long  ago,  and  that  in  his 
utter  loneliness  he  was  content  to  go  peacefully  back  to  his 
quiet  resting  place. 

It  is  well  thus  occasionally  to  spend  a  brief  while  recalling 
the  faces  and  forms  and  characteristics  of  those  long  gone. 
Their  memories  are  sacred  to  us  yet.  We  pay  obeisance  to 
our  honored  dead. 

Yet  turn  we  forward  to  the  future's  call, 
By  beacon  lights  of  progress  onward  led, 
And  dedicate,  whatever  fate  befall, 
Unto  our  country's  needs,  our  lives. 
Our  strength,  our  all. 

These  simple  services  were  closed  with  the  benediction  by 
the  Rev.  Milton  A.  Barber,  Rector  of  Christ  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  Colonel  Lane  was  a  most  devoted  member, 
and  one  of  its  most  influential  pioneer  laymen. 

With  this  conclusion,  the  Daughters,  happy  with  the 
thought  that  they  had  accomplished  the  object  for  which  they 
had  so  pleasantly  worked  together,  and  with  thanks  to  the 
many  friends  who  had  given  them  assistance,  bade  each  other 
good-bye,  with  renewed  affection  and  esteem. 

Emily  Benbury  Haywood, 
(Mrs.  Hubert  Haj^wood) 
Regent  Bloomsbury  Chapter,  D.  R. 
Raleigh,  ]^.  C,  May  27,  1913. 


DEED  FOK  SITE   OF   CITY   OF   RALEIGH.  57 

DEED  OF  JOEL  LANE  FOR  SITE  OF  CITY  OF 
RALEIGH 

This  Identure  made  the  fifth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  &  ninety  two,  between  Joel  Lane, 
Esquire  of  Wake  County,  of  one  part,  and  Alexander  Mar- 
tin, Esquire,  Governor  of  the  State  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  of  the 
other  part,  Witnesseth  that  the  said  Joel  Lane,  for  the  sum 
of  one  thousand  three  hundred  &  seventy  eight  pounds,  current 
money  of  IvTorth  Carolina,  to  him  paid  by  Frederick  Hargate, 
Esquire,  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  appointed 
by  Act  of  Assembly  passed  in  dec''  in  the  year  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  &  ninety  one,  to  determine  on  the  place  for 
holding  the  future  meetings  of  the  General  Assembly  and  for 
the  residence  of  the  Chief  Officers  of  the  State  of  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina— the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged — Hath 
granted,  bargained  &  sold,  aliened  and  enfeoffed,  released  and 
confirmed  and  by  these  presents  Doth  grant,  bargain,  &  sell, 
alien  and  enfeoff,  release  and  confirm  to  the  said  Alexander 
Martin,  Esquire  and  his  Successors  in  Office  for  the  time 
being  a  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  Land  in  Wake  County  to  the 
Eastward  of  and  near  to  Wake  Court-house,  containing  One 
thousand  acres,  more  or  less  and  bound  as  follows:  Begin- 
ning at  four  sasafras,  two  white  oaks,  two  persimmons,  and 
an  elm  on  Rocky  Branch,  thence  north  ten  degrees  East  three 
hundred  &  thirty  four  poles  to  a  stake  in  the  Run  of  a  Spring 
Branch,  thence  East  three  hundred  and  twenty  seven  poles  to 
a  small  Hickory  &  Red  Oak,  near  a  craggy  Rock — thence 
north  forty  poles  to  a  stake  near  a  Red  Oak — then  East  one 
hundred  and  fifty  eight  poles  to  a  Stake  in  the  center  of  a 
Red-Oak  a  Hickory  &  two  post  Oaks, — then  South  two  hun- 
dred &  eighty  one  poles  to  a  White  Oak  in  Joshua  Suggs 
Line, — then  South  fifty  seven  degrees  west  two  hundred  & 


58  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

fiftj  six  poles  to  a  young  Hickory, — then  iSTorth  eighty  four 
degrees  west  one  hundred  and  thirty  poles  to  a  Post  Oak — 
then  west  one  hundred  and  forty  eight  poles  to  a  White  Oak 
on  the  Rocky  Branch, — then  up  the  Branch,  the  various 
courses  thereof  to  the  Beginning ;  and  all  the  Woods,  Timber, 
Trees,  Ways,  Waters,  Springs,  Emoluments  &  advantages  to 
said  tract  of  land  belonging: — To  have  &  to  hold  the  said 
Tract  of  Land,  with  all  the  Appurtenances,  to  the  said  Alex- 
ander Martin  Esquire,  and  his  Successors  in  Office  for  the 
time  being  for  the  sole  use  &  benefit  of  the  State  of  North 
Carolina  forever, — And  the  said  Joel  Lane,  for  himself  & 
his  Heirs,  doth  covenant  bargain  &  agree  to  &  with  the  said 
Alexander  Martin  Esquire  &  his  Successors  in  Office :  that 
he  the  said  Joel  Lane  &  his  Heirs  shall  &  will  warrant  & 
defend  the  premises,  with  the  appurtenances  to  the  said  Alex- 
ander Martin  &  his  successors  in  Office  for  the  time  being, 
for  the  Benefit  of  the  State  as  aforesaid  against  himself  & 
his  Heirs,  and  against  the  lawful  claim  of  all  persons  forever, 
— In  witness  whereof  the  said  Joel  Lane  hath  hereunto  put 
his  Hand  &  Seal  the  day  &  year  first  above  mentioned. 

Joel  Lane  (Seal) 
Signed  sealed  &  delivered 
in  presence  of 

Wm.  Christmas 

Willie  Jones 

Joseph  Brown 

Ackd. 

April  5th  1792— 

Received  of  Frederick  Harget,  Esquire  chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  authorized  to  purchase  Lands  for  the 
permanent  Seat  of  Government  a  warrant  on  the  Treasurer 


DEED   FOR  SITE   OF   CITY   OF   RALEIGH.  59 

for  the  sum  of  One  thousand  three  hundred  &  seventy  eight 
pounds  currency,  in  full  of  the  consideration  Money  above 
mentioned.  Joel  Lane 

Ackd. 

Witness 

Thos.  Blount. 

Wake  County.  June  Term,  1792. 

Then  was  the  above  Deed  duly  acknowledged  in   Open 
Court  by  Joel  Lane  Esq.  and  ordered  to  be  registered. 

H.  Lane  C.  C. 

Enrolled  in  the  Registers  Office  of  Wake  County  in  Book 
L  and  page  (illegible)  this  6th  day  of  June  1792. 


Jas.  Hinton  Register 


Examd.  by  Sol  Goodrich. 


Surveyed  for  the  Governor  of  the  State  for  the  time  being 
&  his  Successors  in  office  for  the  use  of  the  State  by  order  of 
the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  to  fix 
on  and  purchase  a  place  for  the  future  and  unalterable  place 
for  the  Seat  of  Government  A  Tract  of  Land  containing  One 
Thousand  Acres,  the  Courses  &  Distances  as  described  in  the 
Above  Plot.  Wm.  Christmas^  Surv'r. 

31st.  Day  March  1792. 


60  THE  NOKTH  CAROLHSTA  BOOKLET 


ROWAN  COUNTY  MARRIAGE  BONDS 


Contributed  by  Mrs.  M.  G.  McCubbins. 


Josua  Cox  to  Mary  :^eal.  May  17,  1769.  Joshua  Cox, 
Adam  Mitchell,  Thomas  Niel,  and  Richard  Cox.  Witnesses : 
John  Duncan,  William  Bostin  (  ?),  and  Samuel  (his  X 
mark)  Shaw. 

John  Conger,  jr.,  to  Mary  Ross.  June  5,  1769.  John 
Conger  and  Jonathan  Conger.  (Thomas  Frohock.)  A  note 
of  consent  from  John  Conger,  dated  June  5. 

Anthony  Coons  (Coors  ?)  to  Roxanna  Simmons.  Jime  16, 
1769.  Anthony  (his  X  mark)  Coons,  Peter  Simmons  ?  (in 
Dutch),  and  Benj"^  Milner.     (John  Frohock.) 

John  Cook  (Coots?)  to  Mary  McCueston.  July  18,  1769. 
John  Coots,  Hugh  Foster,  Walter  McCueston,  and  Francis 
McXary(  ?).     (Thomas  Frohock  and  William  Mebane.) 

Robert  Cherry  to  Sarah  McCuistan.  July  31,  1769.  Rob- 
ert Cherry,  John  McCuistin,  and  John  Anderson.  (Charles 
McAnaley.) 

John  Cole  to  Xancy  Purlee.  August  26,  1769.  John  Cole, 
Adam  Harmon  (Herin?).     (Thomas  Frohock.) 

James  Cathey  to  Isabell  Sloan.  February  14,  1770. 
James  Cathey,  Arch*^  Sloan,  and  Robert  Gordon.  (John 
Frohock. ) 

Joseph  Cartwright  to  Eve  Miller.  March  24,  1770. 
Joseph  Cartwright  and  Michael  Miller.     (Thomas  Frohock.) 

David  Collins  to  Thompson  (or  Thompsey)  Posting.  Octo- 
ber 1,  1772.  David  (his  X  mark)  Collins,  Henry  Zevely, 
and  Alex  Brown. 

William  Craige  to  Ann  McPherson  (or  McApherson). 
October  7,  1772.  William  Craig  and  William  Steel.  The 
bride's  brother,  Joseph  McPherson,  gives  note  of  consent. 


ROWAN  COUIN^TY  MAREIAGE  BONDS.  61 

dated  October  2,  1772  (as  bride  is  an  orphan)  and  Susanna 
Linn  is  a  witness.     (Max:  Chambers.) 

Hugh  Campbell  to  Elizabeth  Greer.  October  15,  1772. 
Hugh  Campbell,  Robert  Rogers,  and  Robert  Linn.  (Ad: 
Osborn,  C.  C.)  A  note  from  bride's  father,  Robert  (his  X 
mark)  Greer,  giving  his  consent,  October  15,  1772.  Wit- 
nesses :    James  White  and  Samuel  Jirwin. 

William  Cathey  to  Else  Hagan.  October  24,  1772.  Will 
Cathey  and  John  Hag-in. 

Thomas  Caradine  to  Elizabeth  Bell.  January  7,  1773. 
Thomas  Caradene  and  John  Cathey.  (Ad:  Osborn.)  A 
note  of  consent  from  bride's  father,  Thomas  Bell,  dated  Jan- 
uary 6,  1773,  and  witnessed  by  David  Roan. 


QUERY 

Simon  Murphy  and  Sarah  Duke  were  married  in  ISTorth 
Carolina  about  1760.  He  came  from  Virginia  and  she,  I 
think,  lived  in  ISTorth  Carolina.  They  came  to  the  upper 
part  of  South  Carolina  and  settled  in  Union  County  soon 
after  marriage.  They  had  two  sons  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Simon  may  have  fought  also.  Can  any  one  give  me 
information  about  the  Duke  family  ?     Address, 

Mes.  L.  D.  Childs, 
2202  Plain  Street, 
Columbia,  S.  C. 


RESOLUTIONS  OF  RESPECT   TO   THE   MEMORY   OF  MRS.  SOPHRONIA 
HORNER  WINSTON,  BORN  SEPT.  24,  1861;  DIED  FEB.  18,  1913 


IN  MEMORIAM 

Whereas,  God  in  His  divine  love  and  wisdom  has  called 
from  the  blessings  of  her  earthly  home  to  the  brighter  life 
of  ''the  Great  Beyond"  our  beloved  member,  Mrs.  Sophia 
Horner  Winston ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  l^orth  Carolina  Society,  Daughters  of 
the  Kevolution,  mourns  the  inexpressible  loss  sustained  in 
her  death. 

That  they  are  truly  thankful  for  the  radiating  influence  of 
her  beautiful  life,  whose  talents  were  conscientiously  em- 
ployed for  the  uplifting  of  mankind,  her  State,  and  her  coun- 
try, and  are  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  our  Society  has  lost  one 
of  its  most  brilliant,  useful  and  faithful  members,  who  though 
associated  but  a  short  period  with  our  organization,  has  left 
there  the  impress  of  her  phenomenal  gifts. 

That  they  will  miss  through  the  coming  years  her  wise 
counsel  and  the  inspiring  enthusiasm  and  optimism  that  her 
presence  ever  insured,  fully' realizing  that  to  have  known  and 
been  associated  with  her  has  been  a  rare  privilege. 

That  we  tender  to  the  bereaved  family  our  warmest  sym- 
pathy in  this  gTeat  sorrow. 

That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  minutes  of  the 
Society  and  a  copy  sent  to  the  family. 

Mart  Hileiard  Hinton^ 
Martha  H.  Haywood, 
Mrs.  Hubert  Haywood, 

Committee. 


I 


ELIZABETH  THROCKMORTON,  LADY  RALEIGH 
From  an  funrarinn  ni  the  collection  of  A.  B.  Andrews,  Jr. 


Vol,  XIII  OCTOBER,  1913  No.  2 


J5he 


floHTH  CflROIilflfl  BoOKIiET 


Carolina!   Carolina!  Heaven' s  blessings  attend  her ! 
While  we  live  we  will  cherish,  protect  and  defend  her^ 


Published  by 

THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY 

DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION 


The  object  of  The  Booklet  is  to  aid  in  developinj  and  preserving 
North  Carolina  History.  The  proceeds  arising  from  its  publication 
will  be  dovoted  to  patriotic  purposes.  Editob. 


ADVISORY  BOARD  OF  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 

Mrs.  Hubert  Haywood.  Dr.  Richard  Dillard. 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Moffitt.  Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle. 

Mr.  R.  D.  W  Connor.  Mr.  James  Sprunt. 

Dr.  D.  H.  Hill.  Mr.  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood. 

Dr.  E.  W.  Sikes.  Chief  Justice  Walter  Clark. 

Mr.  W.  J.  Peele.  Major  W.  A.  Graham. 

Miss  Adelaide  L.  Fries.  Dr.  Charles  Lee  Smith. 

Miss  Martha  Helen  Haywood. 

editor: 
Miss  Mary  Hilliakd  Hinton. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY 
DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION  1912-1914 

regent : 

Miss  MARY  HILLIARD  HINTON. 

vice-regent  : 

Miss  DUNCAN  CAMERON  WINSTON. 

honorary  regent: 

Mrs.  E.  E.  MOFFITT. 

recording  secretary: 

Mrs.  CLARENCE  JOHNSON. 

corresponding  secretary: 

Mrs.  PAUL  H.  LEE. 

treasurer: 

■  Mrs.  FRANK  SHERWOOD. 

registrar: 

Miss  SARAH  W.  ASHE. 

custodian  of  relics: 

Mrs.  JOHN  E.  RAY. 


CHAPTER  REGENTS 

Bloomsbury  Chapter Mrs.  Hubert  Haywood,  Regent. 

Penelope  Barker  Chapter Mrs.  Patrick  Matthew,  Regent. 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh  Chapter, 

Miss  Catherine  F.  Seyton  Albertson,  Regent. 
General  Francis  Nash  Chapter. ..  .Miss  Rebecca  Cameron,  Regent 
Roanoke  Chapter Mrs.  Charles  J.   Sawyer,  Regent. 


Founder  of  the  North  Carolina  Society  and  Regent  1896-1902: 

Mrs.  spier  WHITAKER.* 

Regent  1902: 

Mrs.  D.  H.  HILL,  SR.f 

Regent  1902-1906: 

Mrs.  THOMAS  K.  BRUNER. 

Regent  1906-1910: 

Mrs.  E.  E.  MOFFITT. 


•Died  December  12.  1904. 
fDied  November  25,  1911. 


THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 

Vol   XIll  OCTOBER,  1913  No.  2 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH* 

An  Address  Delivered  at  Old  Fort  Raleigh  on  Roanoke  Island, 
North  Carolina,  at  the  Celebration  of  Virginia 
Dare  Day,  August  19,  1913. 


BY  MARSHALL  DeLANCEY  HAYWOOD, 

Member  Roanoke  Colony  Memorial  Association,  General  Historian  of  the  Sons  of  the 

Revolution,  Historian  of  the  Masonic  Grand  Lodge  of  North  Carolina, 

Historiographer  of  the  Diocese  of  North  Carolina,  etc. 


My  Friends  and  Fellow-Countrymen: 

To  be  invited  to  appear  before  this  company  today,  amid 
such  inspiring  surroundings,  is  an  honor  which  might  well 
flatter  the  pride  of  any  true  American,  and  I  value  it  most 
highly.  For  many  years  I  have  been  a  member  of  the  Roan- 
oke Colony  Memorial  Association,  but  never  until  last  night 
was  it  my  privilege  to  set  foot  upon  Roanoke  Island. 

The  purchase  and  reclamation  of  the  site  on  which  stand 
the  remains  of  this  old  fortress  were  due  to  the  efforts  of  the 
late  Professor  Edward  Graham  Daves,  a  native  l^orth  Caro- 
linian residing  in  the  city  of  Baltimore.  This  scholarly  gen- 
tleman associated  with  himself  a  number  of  patriotic  per- 
sons who  were  interested  in  historical  and  antiquarian  work, 
and  soon  raised  funds  sufficient  for  the  purchase  of  Fort 
Raleigh.  During  the  Christmas  holidays  of  1893,  I  first  had 
the  pleasure  of  forming  the  acquaintance  of  Professor  Daves 
when  he  came  to  my  home  tovra.  and  delivered  an  interesting 
and  instructive  lecture  on  Roanoke  Island  and  the  daring 
Englishmen  who  first  discovered  and  colonized  it.     In  the 


'Owing  to  the  length  of  this  paper,  parts  were  omitted  in  delivery. 


66  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

following  April  I  spent  several  happy  days  at  his  hospitable 
home  in  Baltimore,  and  there  learned  more  of  the  work  he 
had  so  much  at  heart,  but  a  few  months  later  I  was  greatly 
shocked  to  hear  of  his  death,  which  occurred  while  he  was  on 
a  visit  to  Boston.  His  only  son  at  present  surviving  is  Mr. 
John  Collins  Daves,  of  Baltimore,  now  vice-president  of  this 
Association.  From  its  organization  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  Professor  Daves  was  president  of  the  Association,  and 
he  was  succeeded  in  office  by  his  no  less  patriotic  brother 
Major  Graham  Daves,  of  ISTew  Bern,  in  this  State,  who  zeal- 
ously pushed  forward  the  work.  After  the  death  of  Major 
Daves,  which  occurred  in  1902,  Vice-President  William  D. 
Pruden  became  acting  president,  and  later  was  succeeded  by 
the  present  incumbent,  the  Reverend  Eobert  Brent  Drane, 
D.D.  Both  Mr.  Pruden  and  Doctor  Drane  have  rendered 
and  are  still  rendering  valuable  services  to  the  good  cause 
of  keeping  alive  the  glorious  memories  of  this  spot. 

'Nor  must  I  fail  to  mention  those  who  have  filled  the  office 
of  Secretary-Treasurer  of  this  Association.  The  first  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer was  Professor  John  Spencer  Bassett,  a  stu- 
dent and  teacher  of  history,  born  in  our  State  but  now  resid- 
ing in  Massachusetts.  Upon  his  resignation,  Mr.  A.  B.  An- 
drews, Jr.,  of  Raleigh,  was  chosen.  Miss  Leah  D.  Jones  (now 
Mrs.  Charles  L.  Stevens),  of  Kew  Bern,  next  succeeded; 
and,  in  turn,  gave  place  to  Mr.  William  Blount  Shepard,  of 
Edenton,  who  discharged  the  duties  of  that  office  until  his 
much-lamented  death  last  January.  Mr.  Shepard's  succes- 
sor is  the  present  capable  and  energetic  incumbent.  Dr.  Rich- 
ard Dillard,  also  of  Edenton. 

In  making  choice  of  a  subject  on  which  to  speak  this  morn- 
ing, I  have  selected  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  one  of  the  great- 
est men  of  whom  the  annals  of  England  can  boast,  and  also 
one  of  the  most  versatile — statesman,  colonizer,  explorer, 
fort-builder,  ship-builder,  historian,  courtier,  soldier,  sailor, 


SIK  WALTER  BALEIGH.  67 

scientist,  chemist,  poet,  and  orator.  An  English  writer.  Hep- 
worth  Dixon,  has  said :  ^'Raleigh  is  still  a  power  among  us ; 
a  power  in  the  Old  World  and  in  the  New  World ;  hardly  less 
visible  in  England  than  in  America,  where  the  beautiful 
capital  of  a  chivalrous  nation  bears  his  name."  To  Raleigh 
belonged  the  masterful  mind  and  gaiiding  hand  which  first 
sent  forth  English  civilization  to  this  continent  and  this 
spot  more  than  three  centuries  ago. 

There  are  countless  variations  in  the  spelling  of  the 
surname  Raleigh,*  but  only  one  pronunciation — with  a  very 
broad  Devonshire  accent  on  the  first  syllable,  as  if  it  were 
written  Rawley,  and  that  was  the  way  it  was  written  when 
young  Walter  was  entered  as  a  student  at  the  University  of 
Oxford.  He  himself  wrote  it  Ralegh,  in  later  life.  His- 
torians, as  a  general  rule,  use  the  orthography  Raleigh,  which 
is  the  form  I  shall  adopt — from  force  of  habit,  as  our  State 
so  named  its  capital  city,  wherein  I  have  spent  my  life. 

When  this  land  of  ours  was  first  discovered  the  "Virgin 
Queen"  of  England  called  it  Virginia  in  honor  of  herself, 
but  let  me  remind  you  that  North  Carolina  is  the  "Virginia" 
of  Queen  Elizabeth  and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  The  present 
State  of  Virginia  was  not  settled  until  1607,  when  Elizabeth 
had  been  in  her  grave  four  years  and  when  the  heroic  Raleigh 
was  mewed  up  in  the  Tower  of  London  by  that  great  Queen's 
unworthy  successor.  The  eminent  English  historian,  James 
Anthony  Froude,  in  his  work  entitled  English  Seamen  in 
the  Sixteenth  Century,  says:  "Of  Raleigh  there  remains 
nothing  in  Virginia  save  the  name  of  the  city  called  after 
him."  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  there  is  a  very  small  village 
called  Raleigh  somewhere  in  West  Virginia  (which  State  was 
a  part  of  Virginia  until  1862),  but  I  have  personal  knowledge 
of  the  fact  that  Doctor  Froude  was  slightly  mistaken  in  his 
supposition  that  the   "city  of  Raleigh" — ITorth   Carolina's 


*Stebbing'3  Life  of  Raleigh,  pp.  30-3L 


68  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

beautiful  capital — is  in  Virginia.  I  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Raleigh,  my  home  still  stands  within  its  limits ;  and  it  grieves 
me  bayond  measure  to  see  so  great  a  historian  as  Froude  com- 
placently present  my  native  town  to  our  sister  State  of  Vir- 
ginia. I  refuse  to  be  moved  in  any  such  way.  And  then, 
too,  Virginia  has  recently  drawn  so  heavily  upon  North  Caro- 
lina in  the  matter  of  men  that  she  should  be  willing  for  us 
to  keep  both  the  city  of  Ealeigh  and  Roanoke  Island  with 
this  old  fortress  built  by  Sir  Walter's  colonists.  There  is 
scarcely  an  institution  of  any  importance  in  Virginia  today 
which  has  not  had  to  come  to  North  Carolina  for  its  president. 
Among  these  are  the  University  of  Virginia,  Washington 
and  Lee  University,  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  the 
Randolph-Macon  Woman's  College,  the  Virginia  Life  In- 
surance Company,  and  the  Virginia  Trust  Company,  while 
the  general  manager  (though  not  titular  president)  of  the 
Old  Dominion  Trust  Company  is  also  a  North  Carolinian. 
In  view  of  all  this,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen,  it  does  seem  to  me 
that  Virginia  should  be  duly  grateful  for  what  North  Caro- 
lina has  already  done  for  her,  and  leave  us  in  the  quiet  and 
undisturbed  possession  of  Roanoke  Island  and  our  capital 
city  of  Raleigh. 

But  I  am  drifting  from  my  subject.  I  came  here  not  to 
discourse  upon  self-exiled  North  Carolinians  residing  in  Vir- 
ginia, but  to  call  your  attention  to  the  career  of  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  under  whose  patronage  came  the  English  explorers 
who  claimed  this  land  in  the  name  of  Queen  Elizabeth  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1584. 

It  may  be  well  to  state,  at  the  outset,  a  fact  already  known 
to  most  of  you,  that  Raleigh  himself  never  saw  the  North 
American  continent,  though  he  was  twice  in  South  America, 
Nevertheless  his  was  the  world-vision  and  his  was  the  purse 
without  which  the  expeditions  to  this  place  would  not  have 
been  undertaken  so  soon. 


SIE  WALTER  RALEIGH.  69 

Many  of  my  hearers  may  recall  tbe  striking  observation 
of  Macaulay  concerning  the  navy  of  Great  Britain  in  the 
latter  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  Said  that  historian : 
"There  were  gentlemen  and  there  were  seamen  in  the  navy 
of  Charles  II.  But  the  seamen  were  not  gentlemen,  and  the 
gentlemen  were  not  seamen."  However  true  this  may  have 
been  in  the  days  of  King  Charles,  it  was  widely  different  in 
the  reign  of  his  great  predecessor  Queen  Elizabeth,  many  of 
whose  fleets  and  vessels  were  commanded  by  men  of  high  birth 
as  well  as  approved  valor.  Sea-fighting  was  then  considered 
a  gentleman's  trade,  and  there  was  no  surer  road  to  the 
Queen's  favor  than  to  join  the  ranks  of  those  who  were  her 
main  reliance  when  struggling  with  Spain  for  the  freedom 
of  the  seas.  In  all  England  there  was  no  shire  so  prolific  of 
these  hardy  aventurers  as  Devon,  the  birthplace  of  Raleigh. 
Says  the  novelist  Kingsley:  "It  was  the  men  of  Devon,  the 
Drakes  and  Hawkinses,  Gilberts  and  Raleighs,  Grenvilles  and 
Oxenhams,  and  a  host  more  of  'forgotten  worthies'  whom 
we  shall  learn  one  day  to  honor  as  they  deserve,  to  whom 
England  owes  her  commerce,  her  colonies,  her  very  exist- 
ence." Sir  Walter  Ealeigh  was  related  by  blood  to  the  Gil- 
berts, Grenvilles,  and  Drakes,  as  well  as  other  noted  Devon- 
shire families,  including  the  Courtneys,  Carews,  St.  Legers, 
and  Russells. 

In  a  recent  biography  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  by  William 
Stebbing  (who  uses  the  orthography  Ralegh)  an  account  of 
the  Raleigh  family  is  given  as  follows :  "The  Raleghs  were 
an  old  Devonshire  family,  once  wealthy  and  distinguished. 
At  one  period  five  knightly  branches  of  the  house  flourished 
simultaneously  in  the  county.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  III  a 
Ralegh  had  been  Justiciary.  There  were  genealogists  who, 
though  others  doubted,  traced  the  stock  to  the  Plantagenets 
through  an  intermarriage  with  the  Clares.  The  Clare  arms 
have  been  found  quartered  with  those  of  Ralegh  on  a  Ralegh. 


70  THE   NOETH    CAKOLIBTA   BOOKLET. 

pew  in  East  Budleigh  Church.  The  family  had  held  Small- 
ridge,  near  Axminster,  from  before  the  Conquest.  Since  the 
reign  of  Edward  III  it  had  been  seated  on  the  edge  of  Dart- 
moor, at  Eardell.  There  it  built  a  picturesque  mansion  and 
chapel.  The  Raleghs  of  Fardell  were,  writes  Polwhele,  'es- 
teemed ancient  gentlemen.'  But  the  rapacious  lawyers  of 
Henry  VII  had  discovered  some  occasion  against  Wimund 
Ralegh,  the  head  of  the  family  in  their  day.  They  thought 
him  worth  the  levy  of  a  heavy  fine  for  misprision  of  treason ; 
and  he  had  to  sell  Smallridge."  Wimund  Raleigh,  whose 
wife  was  a  Grenville,  left  a  son  Walter,  born  in  1497.  This 
Walter  engaged  at  times  in  seafaring,  and  owned  three  sepa- 
rate estates,  viz. :  Fardell,  Colaton-Ealeigh,  Wythecombe- 
Raleigh,  and  Bollams.  His  third  wife  was  Mrs.  Katherine 
Gilbert,  widow  of  Otho  Gilbert  of  Compton  Castle  and  Green- 
way  Castle,  and  a  daughter  of  Sir  Philip  Champernoun  of 
Modbury.  To  this  marriage  were  born  several  children, 
among  whom  was  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  of  whom  I  shall  speak 
today. 

Walter  Raleigh,  afterwards  known  to  fame  as  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  was  born  at  Hayes,  in  Budleigh  Parish,  Devonshire. 
Some  accounts  give  1552  as  the  year  of  his  birth,  though  the 
inscriptions  on  several  of  his  oldest  engraved  portraits  seem 
to  indicate  that  he  was  born  in  1554.  Two  pictures,  slightly 
differing,  of  the  house  where  he  was  born  may  be  found  in 
the  first  volume  of  the  History  of  North  Carolina,  by  Francis 
L,  Hawks,  and  in  the  fifth  volume  of  Applet  on  s  Cyclopcedia 
of  American  Biography.  Raleigh's  father,  having  determined 
that  his  son  should  have  educational  advantages  becoming  his 
station  in  life,  entered  him  as  a  student  in  Oriel  College  at 
the  University  of  Oxford,  in  1568.  In  the  following  year 
young  Raleigh  went  abroad  and  pursued  his  studies  in  the 
University  of  France,  but  left  that  institution  to  fight  as  a 
volunteer  under  the  renowned  Huguenot  leaders  the  Prince 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  Yl 

de  Conde  and  Admiral  Coligny.  He  was  present  at  the  bat- 
tles of  Jaruac  and  Moncontour;  but  was  absent  from  Paris, 
though  still  in  France,  at  the  time  of  the  Massacre  of  St. 
Bartholomew.  In  1576  he  was  again  in  London,  but  a  year 
or  two  later  went  to  the  Netherlands  and  assisted  the  Hol- 
landers in  their  warfare  against  the  Spaniards  under  the 
Duke  of  Alva. 

Soon  after  Raleigh's  return  to  England  from  the  ISTether- 
lands  his  thoughts  began  to  turn  to  the  New  World  beyond 
the  seas.  His  eldest  half-brother.  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert, 
had  set  hope  on  western  discoveries  as  early  as  1566,  but  at 
that  time  Queen  Elizabeth  was  unwilling  for  him  to  absent 
himself  from  Ireland,  where  he  was  president  of  the  English 
colony  recently  established  in  Munster.  By  1578,  however, 
Gilbert  renewed  his  efforts,  and  was  engaged  in  fitting  out  a 
fleet  of  eleven  ships  at  Dartmouth,  in  Devonshire.  This  enter- 
prise Raleigh  joined,  but  only  seven  of  the  eleven  ships  could 
be  gotten  to  sea.  Gilbert  was  Admiral  of  the  fleet,  Carew 
(afterwards  Sir  Carew)  Ealeigh,  a  brother  of  Walter,  was 
Vice-Admiral,  and  Walter  Raleigh  commanded  the  Falcon. 
Though  Gilbert  had  announced  that  he  was  going  on  a  voyage 
of  discovery,  the  unusually  heavy  armament  carried  by  his 
ships  led  many  to  believe  that  the  "discovery"  of  Spaniards 
was  his  chief  aim.  This  fleet  went  to  the  Azores,  and  possibly 
as  far  as  the  West  Indies,  engaged  in  an  undecisive  fight  with 
a  Spanish  sea-force,  and  lost  one  ship,  which  foundered  in  a 
gale — the  others  returning  to  Dartmouth  in  1579. 

After  his  return  to  England  with  Gilbert's  fleet,  Raleigh 
spent  some  time  in  London;  and,  in  June,  1580,  was  sent  to 
Ireland  as  captain  of  a  company  which  was  to  operate  against 
the  insurgent  natives  and  their  Spanish  allies,  the  latter  of 
whom  had  landed  in  that  country  to  join  forces  with  the  ene- 
mies of  England.  These  Spaniards,  with  the  assistance  of 
some  Italians,  had  built  Eort  del  Oro  at  Smerwick  in  county 


T2  THE    NORTH    CAEOLHSTA   BOOKLET. 

Kerry,  and  had  heavily  garrisoned  that  stronghold.  The 
Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland,  Baron  Grey  of  Wilton,  together 
with  the  sea  forces  of  Admiral  Sir  William  Winter,  besieged 
this  fort  in  due  time,  and  it  later  surrendered  uncondition- 
ally. By  Lord  Grey's  order,  Ealeigh  and  one  Macworth 
(another  officer  of  the  besiegers)  marched  in  and  put  to  the 
sword  more  than  four  hundred  Spaniards  and  Italians,  also 
hanging  such  of  the  Irish  as  could  be  found  there.  Some  of 
the  foreign  officers  of  rank  were  spared  and  held  for  ransom. 
Though  Lord  Grey  gave  the  order  for  this  butchery,  we  are 
forced  to  doubt  if  Raleigh  had  any  scruples  in  performing 
his  part  of  the  bloody  work.  Of  him  his  biographer  Stebbing 
says:  '^Towards  American  Indians  he  could  be  gentle  and 
just.  Llis  invariable  rule  with  Irishmen  and  Anglo-Irishmen 
was  to  crush."  While  Raleigh  remained  in  Ireland  he  en- 
gaged in  numerous  skirmishes  with  the  insurgents,  also  serv- 
ing as  a  member  of  the  temporary  commission  for  the  govern- 
ment of  Munster.  Returning  to  England  in  1581,  he  first 
attracted  the  personal  notice  of  the  Queen  by  throwing  his 
handsome  cloak  over  a  muddy  place  in  her  pathway  at  Green- 
wich, thereby  saving  her  shoes  from  being  soiled.  This  inci- 
dent was  first  recorded  in  1662  (less  than  fifty  years  after 
Raleigh's  death)  by  Fuller  in  his  Worthies  of  England.  Sir 
Walter  Scott,  as  many  of  my  hearers  may  remember,  gives  a 
graphic  account  of  this  piece  of  gallantry  in  the  novel  Kenil- 
worth. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  cause  of  Raleigh's  rise  in  the 
favor  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  he  soon  became  a  man  of  great 
wealth  in  consequence  of  patents  and  monopolies  received 
through  royal  grants.  In  1583  he  was  given  portions  of  all 
revenues  from  the  wine  licenses  of  the  kingdom,  thereafter 
aggregating  from  eight  hundred  to  two  thousand  pounds 
sterling  per  annum.  In  1584  he  was  knighted — an  honor 
always  sparingly  bestowed  by  the  hand  of  Elizabeth.     In  the 


SIK  WALTER  KALEIGII.  73 

year  following  lie  was  made  '^Warden  of  the  Stannaries" — 
which,  translated  into  our  American  language,  means  Super- 
visor of  the  Tin  Mines.  He  became  Lord  Lieutenant  of 
Cornwall,  and  Vice-Admiral  of  the  two  counties  of  Corn- 
wall and  Devon  in  1585.  In  1585  and  1586  he  represented 
the  shire  of  Devon  in  Parliament;  and,  in  the  latter  year, 
obtained  a  vast  land-grant  (about  forty  thousand  acres)  in 
the  Irish  counties  of  Cork,  Waterford,  and  Tipperary.  This 
grant  also  included  the  salmon  fisheries  of  Blackwater.  He 
received,  in  1587,  grants  of  English  lands  in  the  shires  of 
Lincoln,  Derby,  and  jSTottingham,  which  had  been  forfeited 
by  Anthony  Babington  and  other  conspirators  against  the 
life  of  Elizabeth.  He  also  became  Captain  of  the  Queen's 
Guard,  thereby  being  thrown  into  personal  attendance  upon 
Her  Majesty. 

I  have  already  spoken  of  lialeigh's  venture  with  Sir  Hum- 
phrey Gilbert  when  the  latter's  fleet  went  on  a  western  voyage 
in  1578.  In  1583  Gilbert  fitted  out  another  expedition  of  a 
similar  nature.  In  his  fleet  of  five  vessels  the  largest  was  the 
bark  Raleigh,  furnished  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  who  earnestly 
desired  to  command  it  in  person,  but  the  Queen  needed  his 
services  at  home,  and  forbade  his  departure  from  England. 
After  two  days  sailing,  the  Raleigh  left  the  remainder  of 
Gilbert's  fleet  and  returned  to  Plymouth,  on  account  of  sick- 
ness which  had  broken  out  among  her  crew,  but  the  admiral 
continued  on  his  way  with  his  four  remaining  ships.  He 
finally  reached  a  place  which  is  now  a  part  of  JSTewfoundland, 
and  formally  took  possession  of  that  locality  in  the  name  of 
Queen  Elizabeth.  The  expedition  to  ISTewfoundland  was  the 
last  voyage  of  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert.  On  his  return  he  re- 
fused to  take  refuge  in  his  largest  ship,  the  Golden  Hind,  but 
cast  his  fortunes  with  those  who  manned  the  Squirrel,  a  little 
craft  of  ten  tons,  whose  decks  were  already  overburdened 
with  heavv  ordnance.     In  the  midst  of  a  great  storm,  south 


74  THE  NOKTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

of  the  Azores,  the  heroic  Gilbert  was  last  seen,  calmly  sitting 
in  his  little  ship  with  a  book  in  hand,  while  night  was  ap- 
proaching. As  he  got  within  hailing  distance  of  his  comrades 
on  the  other  vessels  he  called  out  the  ever-memorable  words 
"We  are  as  near  to  heaven  by  sea  as  by  land,"  and  a  little 
later  his  anxious  friends  on  the  Golden  Hind  saw  the  lights 
of  the  Squirrel  disappear  from  the  face  of  the  waters. 

The  tragic  ending  of  this  voyage  of  his  beloved  brother 
did  not  deter  Sir  Walter  Ealeigh  from  further  efforts  to 
colonize  America.  In  1584,  the  year  following,  on  the  25th 
of  March  (which  was  ISTew  Year's  Day  under  the  old  Julian 
Calendar,  then  in  use)  he  secured  from  Queen  Elizabeth  a 
charter  or  Letters  Patent,  empowering  him  or  his  heirs  and 
assigns  to  "discover,  search,  find  out,  and  view  such  remote 
heathen  and  barbarous  lands,  countries,  and  territories  not 
actually  possessed  of  any  Christian  prince,  nor  inhabited  by 
Christian  people."  He  was  also  authorized  to  fortify  any 
new  settlements  made  under  his  authority  and  to  "encounter 
and  expulse,  repel  and  resist,  as  well  by  sea  as  by  land,  and 
by  all  other  ways  whatsoever,  all  and  every  such  person  or 
persons  whatsoever,  as  without  the  especial  liking  and  license 
of  the  said  Walter  Raleigh,  and  his  heirs  and  assigns,  shall 
attempt  to  inhabit  within  the  said  countries."  It  was  pro- 
vided that  the  laws  enacted  for  the  government  of  the  new 
settlements  should  be  "as  conveniently  as  may  be,  agreeable 
to  the  form  of  the  laws,  statutes,  government,  or  policy  of 
England,  and  also  so  as  they  be  not  against  the  true  Christian 
faith  now  professed  in  the  Church  of  England."  This  charter 
contained  many  other  provisions,  which  it  is  not  my  purpose 
here  to  quote.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  Ealeigh  was  thereby 
given  what  he  most  desired — an  opportunity  to  extend  the 
sovereignty  of  England  over  the  lands  and  waters  of  the  New 
World. 

For  the  carrying  out  of  his  plans,  Raleigh  secured  the 


Sm  WALTER  KALEIGH.  75 

services  of  Philip  Amadas  and  Arthur  Barlowe,  two  stalwart 
English  sea-captains,  and  fitted  up  for  their  use  two  barks, 
"well  furnished  with  men  and  victuals/'  in  which  they  saile4 
out  of  the  Thames  on  the  27th  of  April,  1584.  Fortunately 
for  history,  a  record  of  this  voyage  has  been  preserved  in  the 
volumes  of  Hakluyt,  it  being  in  the  form  of  a  report  to  Sir 
Walter  Ealeigh,  written  by  Captain  Barlowe.  On  June  10th 
the  explorers  reached  the  Canaries,  and  just  a  month  later 
wended  their  way  through  the  West  Indies.  They  found  the 
climate  there  very  unwholesome,  and  many  members  of  the 
two  crews  were  taken  sick.  They  tarried  twelve  days  to  re- 
cuperate and  take  on  fresh  supplies,  and  then  struck  out  for 
this  locality  where  good  climate  may  always  be  found  in 
abundance.  Delicate  odors  from  our  Carolina  coast  were 
wafted  to  them  before  they  sighted  land,  for  Barlowe  tells 
us  that  on  the  2d  of  July  "we  smelled  so  sweet  and  so  strong 
a  smell  as  if  we  had  been  in  the  midst  of  some  delicate  garden 
abounding  with  all  kinds  of  odoriferous  flowers,  by  which  we 
were  assured  that  the  land  could  not  be  far  distant;  and, 
keeping  good  watch  and  bearing  but  slack  sail,  the  fourth  of 
the  same  month  we  arrived  upon  the  coast,  which  we  sup- 
posed to  be  a  continent  and  firm  land,  and  we  sailed  along 
the  same  a  hundred  and  twenty  English  miles  before  we  could 
find  any  entrance  or  river  issuing  into  the  sea." 

Though  the  above  quoted  record  says  that  the  voyagers 
first  reached  our  coast  on  the  4th  of  July,  we  must  remember 
that  the  Independence  Day  we  now  celebrate  on  the  Fourth 
of  July  does  not  fall  on  the  same  anniversary;  for,  between 
the  Julian  Calendar  or  "old  style"  then  used  and  the  Gre- 
gorian Calendar  or  "new  style"  now  used,  there  is  a  differ- 
ence of  ten  days,  making  July  14th  the  present  anni- 
versary of  the  coming  of  Ealeigh's  first  expedition  in  1584.* 


*In  the  18th  century  (Washington's  birthday  for  example)  the  difference  was  eleven 
days,  not  ten. 


76  THE  NOKTH  CAKOLINA  BOOKLET. 

As  already  stated,  Captains  Amadas  and  Barlowe  sailed 
up  our  coast  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  before  effecting 
a  landing.  Finally  an  inlet  was  discovered,  and  the  explorers 
sailed  in.  Barlowe  tells  us  that  ''after  thanks  given  to  God 
for  our  safe  arrival  thither,"  two  boats  were  manned  and  a 
landing  effected.  After  this,  formal  proclamation  was  made, 
declaring  that  England's  sovereign  was  "rightful  Queen  and 
Princess  of  the  same,"  and  that  the  newly  discovered  country 
should  be  held  for  the  use  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  by  authority 
of  the  Letters  Patent  issued  to  him  by  Her  Majesty. 

Some  difference  of  opinion  exists  as  to  which  of  the  numer- 
ous North  Carolina  inlets  Amadas  and  Barlowe  first  entered. 
Many  believe  that  the  inlet  they  used  has  since  been  closed 
by  storms  which  have  piled  up  sand-bars  where  the  old  chan- 
nel ran.  It  is  not  my  purpose  to  discuss  that  matter  here. 
It  is  sufficient  for  us  to  know  that  they  were  "conducted  in 
safety  to  the  haven  where  they  would  be,"  that  they  first  re- 
turned thanks  to  God  for  deliverance  from  the  dangers  of  the 
deep,  and  then  began  viewing  the  lands  adjacent  to  their 
anchorage. 

The  narrative  of  Captain  Barlowe  goes  quite  into  detail 
explaining  the  habits  and  traits  of  the  natives,  the  location 
of  lands  and  waters,  the  fauna  and  flora  of  the  country,  and 
many  other  interestiug  conditions  there  existing,  but  too  long 
here  to  be  quoted. 

The  ships  were  anchored  for  two  days  before  any  natives 
were  seen  by  the  explorers.  On  the  third  day  they  espied 
a  small  boat  containing  three  men.  Two  of  these  remained 
in  their  canoe,  and  the  third  walked  up  the  shore  near  the 
ships,  later  being  taken  on  board  and  presented  with  some 
articles  of  apparel.  After  viewing  the  ships  with  interest, 
he  returned  to  his  own  boat,  later  beginning  to  fish,  and  came 
back  with  a  large  supply  of  fresh  fish  which  he  presented  to 
the  English.     The  next  day  numerous  Indians  were  seen  in 


SIK  WALTER  KALEIGH.  77 

small  boats,  among  them  being  Granganimeo,  brother  of  the 
savage  monarch  who  held  sway  in  that  locality.  The  king 
himself,  Wingina  bv  name,  had  recently  been  wounded  and 
hence  was  unable  to  do  the  honors  of  the  occasion.  Gran- 
ganimeo  left  his  boats  and  came  up  the  shore,  followed  by 
forty  of  his  braves.  These  spread  a  mat  upon  the  ground, 
and  the  king's  brother  seated  himself  thereon,  as  did  four  of 
his  principal  followers.  When  the  English  approached  the 
shore,  they  were  invited  to  a  seat  on  the  mat  by  the  Indians. 
Then  Granganimeo  ''made  all  signs  of  joy  and  welcome, 
striking  on  his  head  and  breast,  and  afterwards  on  those  of 
his  visitors,  to  show  that  all  were  one,  at  the  same  time  smil- 
ing and  making  the  best  show  he  could  of  all  love  and  famil- 
iarity." 

Speaking  of  the  natives  Captain  Barlowe  says :  "After 
they  had  been  divers  times  aboard  the  ships,  myself,  with 
seven  more,  went  twenty  miles  into  the  river  that  runs  to- 
wards the  city  of  Skycoak,  which  river  they  call  Occam ;  and 
the  evenino-  following  we  came  to  an  island  which  thev  call 
Eoanoak,  distant  from  the  harbor,_  by  which  we  entered,  seven 
leagues."  Thus  was  this  island  of  Eoanoke  discovered  by  the 
English.  On  it  was  a  small  village  of  nine  houses,  well  forti- 
fied after  the  Indian  fashion.  Granganimeo  being  absent 
from  this  village,  his  wife  came  to  the  waterside  to  meet  the 
explorers,  and  entertained  them  vnth  much  pomp  and  cere- 
mony, commanding  her  tribesmen  to  attend  their  wants,  and 
feasting  them  with  a  profusion  of  savage  hospitality.  Of 
the  natives  it  is  recorded :  "We  found  the  people  most  gentle, 
loving,  and  faithful,  void  of  all  guile  and  treason,  and  such 
as  live  after  the  manner  of  the  golden  age." 

After  trading  with  the  Indians  for  some  time,  learning 
as  much  as  they  could  of  the  country,  and  mapping  the  out- 
lines of  the  coast  for  future  use,  the  explorers  once  more  be- 
took themselves  to  their  ships  and  sailed  back  to  England, 


78  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

arriving  safely  about  the  middle  of  September.  They  took 
with  them  two  natives,  Wanchese  and  Manteo,  of  whom  I 
shall  have  more  to  say  later  on. 

At  the  end  of  Captain  Barlowe's  narrative  is  a  "record  of 
some  of  the  particular  gentlemen  and  men  of  account"  who 
were  witnesses  of  the  events  which  had  transpired.  They 
were :  Philip  Amadas  and  Arthur  Barlowe,  Captains ;  and 
William  Greenvile,  John  Wood,  James  Browewich,  Henry 
Greene,  Benjamin  Wood,  Simon  Ferdinando,  ISTicholas  Pet- 
man,  and  John  Hewes,  members  of  the  ship's  company. 

One  laughable  mistake  occurred  during  the  stay  of  the 
English  in  the  vicinity  of  Roanoke  Island.  When  they  first 
arrived,  they  pointed  to  the  mainland  and  made  signs  to  an 
Indian  that  they  wished  to  know  the  name  by  which  the 
whole  continent  was  called.  The  Indian,  not  understanding, 
replied:  "Win-gan-da-coa."  So  it  was  duly  reported  to  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  that  the  domain  which  the  Queen  had  granted 
him  was  named  "Wingandacoa,"  and  it  was  formally  recorded 
under  that  name  in  the  contemporaneous  descriptions  and  on 
the  maps  of  the  newly  discovered  country.  When  later  voya- 
gers learned  more  of  the  dialect  used  by  the  savages,  they 
ascertained  that  when  the  Indian  had  said  "Win-gan-da-coa" 
his  remark  (when  translated)  meant:  "You  wear  gay 
clothes." 

When  Amadas  and  Barlowe  returned  to  England  with  their 
tales  of  strange  adventure,  and  glowing  accounts  of  the  dis- 
coveries they  had  made,  also  showing  Wanchese  and  Manteo 
in  their  wild  and  gorgeous  costumes,  the  effect  on  the  public 
mind  was  almost  magical.  Sturdy  adventurers  of  all  ranks 
and  classes  eagerly  sought  an  opportunity  to  gain  fortunes  in 
expeditions  across  the  Atlantic.  Elizabeth,  the  "Virgin 
Queen,"  was  so  impressed  with  the  accounts  brought  back 
by  Amadas  and  Barlowe  that  she  named  the  new  land  "Vir- 
ginia" in  honor  of  her  sino'le  condition  in  life.     As  for  Sir 


SIB  WALTER  RALEIGH.  T9 

Walter  Raleigh,  his  fame  spread  far  and  wide,  and  he  at 
once  sought  opportunities  to  send  forth  other  fleets.  As  com- 
mander of  his  next  expedition  he  was  fortunate  in  securing 
the  services  of  his  kinsman,  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  member 
of  an  ancient  Devonshire  family  whose  name  has  been  spelled 
in  almost  as  many  ways  as  that  of  Raleigh.  Sir  Richard  him- 
self signed  it  "Greynvil,"  the  printed  accounts  of  his  voyages 
have  it  recorded  "Greenville"  and  '^Granville,"  many  (if  not 
all)  of  his  descendants  write  it  "Granville,"  and  historians 
generally  use  the  orthography  "Grenville,"  which  last  men- 
tioned style  I  shall  adopt.  The  naval  annals  of  the  world 
can  not  boast  of  a  more  heroic  figure  than  this  selfsame  Sir 
Richard  Grenville,  who  was  afterwards  mortally  wounded 
while  fighting  one  English  vessel,  the  Revenge,  against  a 
Spanish  fleet  of  fifty-three  ships — an  exploit  immortalized 
by  Tennyson  in  his  poem  The  Revenge,  a  ballad  of  the  fleet, 
1591. 

It  was  on  the  9th  day  of  April,  1585,  that  Sir  Richard 
Grenville  sailed  out  of  Plymouth  with  the  second  expedition 
of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  Grenville's  fleet  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing ships:  the  Tiger,  the  Roe-Buck,  the  Lion,  the  Eliza- 
heth,  the  Dorothy,  and  two  small  pinnaces.  The  "principal 
gentlemen"  in  this  expedition  are  set  down  as  Master  Ralph 
Lane,  Master  Thomas  Candish  [Cavendish],  Master  John 
Arundell,  Master  Raymund,  Master  Stukeley,  Master  Bre- 
mige.  Master  Vincent,  and  Master  John  Clarke.  Some  of 
these,  we  are  told,  were  captains,  and  others  were  needed  for 
their  "counsel  and  good  discretion."  Among  these  latter  were 
Thomas  Hariot,  the  historian  of  events  occurring  on  the 
voyage,  and  John  White,  an  artist  whose  paintings  of  Indian 
life  are  still  preserved  in  the  British  Museum.  We  shall  learn 
more  of  White  later  on.  Ralph  Lane,  who  afterwards  won 
the  honor  of  knighthood,  was  Grenville's  second  in  command, 
and  was  later  left  at  Roanoke  Island  as  Governor  of  the 
2 


80  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

Colony.  After  leaving  England  on  its  voyage  to  America, 
the  fleet  touched  at  the  Canaries  and  Antilles,  and  then  an- 
chored at  Cotesa,  a  small  island  near  the  island  of  St.  John. 
The  voyagers  rested  a  day  at  Cotesa,  and  then  sailed  over 
to  Mosquito  Bay,  on  the  island  of  St.  John.  There  Grenville 
landed  with  some  of  his  men  and  erected  a  fortification,  later 
adding  to  his  fleet  by  building  a  new  pinnance,  which  was 
finished  and  launched  on  the  23d  of  May.  The  Spaniards 
on  the  island  sent  a  flag  of  truce  and  protested  against  the 
erection  of  this  fortress,  but  Grenville  somewhat  cooled  their 
resentment  by  saying  he  had  only  stopped  for  supplies ;  that 
he  would  depart  from  their  shores  in  peace  if  these  supplies 
were  furnished,  but  would  use  force  if  they  were  not.  The 
Spaniards  promised  compliance,  but  failed  to  keep  their 
word,  whereupon  Grenville  set  flre  to  his  fortification  and 
sailed  away,  bent  on  squaring  up  matters  with  the  Dons. 
Within  the  next  two  days  he  captured  two  Spanish  frigates, 
ransomed  the  officers  and  some  passengers  of  rank,  and  placed 
Lane  in  command  of  one  of  these  vessels.  The  fleet  needing 
salt.  Captain  Lane  went  to  the  southwest  side  of  the  island 
of  St.  John,  and  landed  twenty  men  who  threw  up  an  en- 
trenchment, after  which  they  commenced  to  get  salt.  We 
are  told  that,  when  the  Spaniards  beheld  Lane,  there  "came 
down  towards  him  two  or  three  troops  of  horsemen  and  foot- 
men, who  gave  him  the  looking  and  gazing  on  but  durst  not 
come  near  him  to  ofi^er  any  resistance."  So  Lane  sailed  off 
and  rejoined  the  fleet,  after  which  they  went  to  the  island  of 
Hispaniola  (now  called  ILayti),  which  was  reached  on  the 
1st  of  June.  Upon  news  of  their  arrival  at  Hispaniola,  the 
Spanish  Governor  sent  them  a  courteous  message,  promising 
to  call  and  pay  his  respects.  He  accordingly  came  on  the 
5th  of  June,  "accompanied  by  a  lusty  friar  and  twenty  other 
Spaniards,  with  their  servants  and  negroes."  Thereupon 
Grenville,  with  his  officers  and  various  crews,  dressed  up  in 


SIB  WALTER  RALEIGH.  81 

their  gayest  attire  to  receive  them.  The  English,  both  ojfficers 
and  men,  were  feasted  sumptuously  and  provided  with  all 
manner  of  costly  entertainment  during  their  stay,  and  left 
with  great  good  will  towards  the  Spaniards,  though  the 
chronicler  of  those  events  stated  in  his  narrative  that  the 
Englishmen  believed  that  the  courtesy  of  the  Spaniards  was 
due  to  fear  of  Grenville's  formidable  armament.  If  the 
Spaniards  had  been  stronger,  it  was  added,  the  English  might 
have  received  the  same  treatment  which  had  been  accorded 
their  countrymen  Sir  John  Hawkins  at  San  Juan  d'Ulloa, 
Captain  John  Oxenham  near  the  Straits  of  Darien,  and  divers 
others  who  had  tasted  Spanish  cruelty. 

After  leaving  Hispaniola,  Grenville's  fleet  touched  at 
numerous  small  islands  on  its  voyage  northward,  and  finally 
came  to  the  coast  of  what  is  now  ISTorth  Carolina  but  which 
these  explorers  called  Florida.  On  the  23d  of  June,  it  was 
stated  that  they  '''were  in  great  danger  of  a  wreck  on  a  breach 
called  the  Cape  of  Fear."  On  the  26th,  Ocracoke  Inlet  (then 
called  Wococon)  was  reached,  and  two  days  later  the  Tiger 
was  run  aground  and  sunk  through  the  treachery  (not  then 
discovered)  of  Simon  Ferdinando,  by  whom  she  was  piloted. 
The  settlers  sent  word  of  their  arrival  to  King  Wingina  at 
Eoanoke  Island  on  July  3d,  and  three  days  later  Manteo,  who 
had  returned  to  America  with  the  voyagers,  was  sent  ashore. 

Fearing  to  go  further  through  the  inland  waters  in  the 
large  ships,  many  of  the  officers  and  crew  set  off,  on  July 
11th,  in  well  armed  and  fully  provisioned  pinnaces  and  other 
small  boats  to  explore  the  mainland.  On  the  16th  of  July 
occurred  the  first  act  of  English  hostility  towards  the  In- 
dians— the  beginning  of  countless  bloody  onslaughts  and  sav- 
age reprisals  which  were  to  follow  throughout  the  succeeding 
centuries  and  extend  down  to  a  time  within  the  memory  of 
men  still  living.  An  Indian  had  stolen  a  silver  cup  belonging 
to  one  of  the  Englishmen.     A  party  was  sent  to  demand  its 


82  THE  NOKTH  CAKOLINA  BOOKLET. 

return.  This  demand  not  being  complied  with,  the  village 
and  gi'ain  crops  of  the  Indians  were  burned  (the  savages 
themselves  having  fled),  and  the  attacking  party  returned  to 
the  fleet,  on  the  18th,  at  Wococon  or  Ocracoke  Inlet. 

At  the  end  of  July  the  English  received  a  call  from  their 
old  friend  Granganimeo,  who  visited  the  fleet  in  company 
with  Manteo.  Granganimeo  was  shown  through  the  ships 
of  the  fleet,  and  kindly  entertained  during  his  stay. 

On  August  5,  1585,  Captain  John  Arundell,  having  been 
ordered  to  return  to  England,  did  so.  The  remainder  of  the 
fleet,  under  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  set  sail  on  Augiist  25th, 
leaving  a  garrison  or  colony  of  one  hundred  and  seven  men 
on  Roanoke  Island.*  The  English  Governor  or  '^General" 
of  the  colony  was  Ralph  Lane,  heretofore  mentioned.  These 
colonists  under  Lane  remained  on  the  island  nearly  a  year. 
Of  Lane  personally,  the  historian  Hawks  observes :  "He  had 
the  rough  courage  of  a  soldier  of  his  day,  he  endured  hard- 
ships with  his  men,  he  had  judgment  to  see  that  Roanoke 
Island  was  not  a  proper  site  for  the  colony,  and  to  devise  a 
plan  by  which  two  parties,  one  on  the  land  and  the  other  on 
the  water,  should  attempt  to  meet  and  find  on  the  Chesapeake 
Bay  a  better  locality,  of  which  he  had  heard  from  an  Indian 
prince,  his  prisoner.  He  had  wit  and  prudence  enough  to 
secure  the  fidelity  of  that  prisoner  by  keeping  his  only  son 
as  a  hostage ;  he  pursued  the  wise  policy  of  attaching  that 
son  to  him  by  great  personal  kindness.  *  *  *  The  per- 
sonal attachment  he  had  created  in  his  young  hostage  was  the 
means  of  discovering  a  widespread  plot  for  the  destruction 
of  the  colony  by  the  natives."  The  young  hostage,  just  men- 
tioned, was  Skiko,  son  of  Monatonon,  King  of  the  Chawa- 
nooks  or  Chowan  Indians.  When  Skiko  was  first  captured, 
he  attempted  to  escape,  and  Lane  threatened  to  have  his  head 
cut  off,  thereby  frightening  him  into  better  discipline.     He 


*For  list  of  colonists  under  Lane,  see  Hakluyt  (1810  edition),  Vol.  Ill,  pp.   310-311. 


Sm  WALTER  EALEIGH.  83 

later  treated  him  with  marked  kindness,  in  conseqnence  of 
which  he  remained  a  friend  of  the  English  throughout  the 
remainder  of  their  stay. 

Lane's  only  sources  of  information  concerning  the  interior 
of  the  country,  except  that  in  his  immediate  neighborhood, 
were  the  statements  made  to  him  by  the  Indians,  and  hence 
his  accounts  are  not  always  accurate.  Like  the  ancient  He- 
rodotus (who  recorded  the  wonderful  tales  told  him  by  all 
travelers  and  thereby  gained  an  unenviable  reputation  for 
mendacity)  Lane  was  often  misled,  but  narratives  of  what 
came  under  his  personal  observation  are  trustworthy.  One 
laughable  inaccuracy  in  the  geographical  knowledge  of  the 
early  settlers  (probably  based  on  Indian  authority)  was  the 
belief  that  a  near-by  river  flowed  out  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  or 
some  bay  in  the  South  Sea  or  Pacific  Ocean !  Another  ac- 
count said  that  this  river  gaished  out  of  a  huge  rock  at  its 
source,  and  this  rock  was  so  close  to  a  great  western  sea  that 
in  storms  ''the  waves  thereof  are  beaten  into  the  said  fresh 
stream,  so  that  the  fresh  water,  for  a  certain  space,  groweth 
salt  and  brackish." 

During  the  stay  of  Lane's  colony  at  Roanoke,  Granganimeo 
died,  and  thereby  the  English  lost  a  trusty  friend.  Upon  his 
death,  for  some  reason  not  given,  his  brother.  King  Wingina, 
changed  his  name  to  Pemisapan.  Thereafter  he  entered  into 
numerous  confederacies  with  other  tribes  for  the  destruction 
of  the  whites,  but  these  conspiracies  were  thwarted  by  the 
vigilance,  courage,  and  sagacity  of  Lane,  aided  by  timely 
warnings  from  Manteo,  young  Skiko,  and  other  friendly  In- 
dians. Old  Ensenore,  father  of  King  Wingina  alias  Pemisa- 
pan, was  also  friendly  to  the  colonists,  but  he  died  on  the  20th 
of  April  1586.  Wanchese,  who  had  gone  to  England  in 
company  with  the  friendly  Manteo,  became  a  lifelong  enemy 
of  the  English,  for  some  cause  which  does  not  now  appear  to 
be  recorded. 


84  THE  NOETH  CAKOLINA  BOOKLET. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  the  King's  father,  the  Indians 
(having  no  one  to  restrain  their  unfriendly  designs)  entered 
into  a  gigantic  conspiracy  for  the  purpose  of  exterminating 
the  whites.  The  plan  was  to  go  secretly  by  night  and  set  fire 
to  the  houses  occuj^ied  by  Lane,  Hariot,  and  other  chief  men 
of  the  colony;  and,  when  they  rushed  from  the  flames,  un- 
dressed and  unarmed,  to  shoot  them  down,  afterwards 
slaughtering  and  dispersing  their  followers.  The  secret  of 
this  conspiracy  was  communicated  to  Lane  by  young  Skiko. 
The  evil  genius  at  the  head  of  the  proposed  uprising  was 
King  Pemisapan,  formerly  known  as  Wingina,  and  Lane 
promptly  determined  to  strike  the  first  blow,  and  once  for  all 
rid  his  colonists  of  their  inveterate  enemy.  He  sent  word 
to  the  savage  king  that  he  wished  to  meet  him.  The  chief 
accordingly  came  to  a  place  specified,  with  a  large  following 
of  armed  tribesmen.  At  a  given  sigTial  the  king  was  shot 
dovyn  with  a  pistol,  and  a  general  battle  ensued.  In  the 
course  of  the  melee,  which  proved  a  defeat  for  the  savages, 
their  leader  (who  was  supposed  to  be  dead  from  the  pistol 
wound)  suddenly  sprang  up  and  took  to  his  heels.  As  he 
ran,  an  Irish  boy  who  held  Lane's  petronel  (a  hand-gun  or 
large  pistol)  wounded  him  again,  but  he  disappeared  into  the 
forest,  pursued  by  an  Irishman  named  Edward  I^ugent.  Lane 
and  some  of  his  men  soon  followed,  and  met  ISTugent  coming 
out  of  the  wilderness  with  the  King's  head  in  his  hand.  Thus 
were  the  settlers  freed  from  their  bitterest  and  most  formid- 
able enem}^,  and  for  some  time  thereafter  they  were  little 
troubled  by  unfriendly  savages. 

During  their  entire  stay  on  the  island  of  Roanoke  and  in 
its  vicinity,  the  colonists  were  industriously  engaged.  They 
shot  game,  caught  fish,  and  planted  corn  in  proper  season,  all 
the  while  keeping  armed  watch  against  the  approach  of  un- 
friendl}^  Indians.     Nor  were  their  old  enemies  the  Spaniards 


SIB  WALTER  KALEIGH.  85 

out  of  mind,  as  they  had  no  assurance  that  these  would  not 
pay  them  an  unfriendly  visit  by  water. 

In  the  Roanoke  company  of  colonists  was  a  courageous 
captain,  Edward  Stafford  by  name,  of  whom  Lane  says :  ''I 
must  truly  report  of  him,  from  the  first  to  the  last,  he  was 
the  gentleman  that  never  spared  labor  or  peril,  either  by  land 
or  water,  fair  weather  or  foul,  to  perform  any  service  com- 
mitted unto  him."  This  officer  was  sent  with  a  well-manned 
boat  to  the  vicinity  of  an  inlet,  with  instructions  to  be  on  the 
watch  for  any  ships  which  might  be  sent  from  England.  On 
June  1,  1586,  Stafford  sent  a  messenger  to  Lane  with  the 
information  that  he  had  sighted  a  gTeat  fleet  of  twenty-three 
sail ;  but,  as  he  could  not  make  out  whether  they  were  friends 
or  foes,  all  should  be  on  their  guard.  Great  was  the  joy  of 
the  colonists  when  the  commander  of  this  formidable  fleet 
turned  out  to  be  the  renowned  Admiral  Sir  Francis  Drake, 
circumnavigator  of  the  world,  whose  daring  warfare  against 
the  Spaniards  had  been  the  wonder  of  all  Europe,  and  who 
was  to  gain  a  fame  still  greater  two  years  thereafter  by  his 
share  in  destroying  the  '^Invincible  Armada"  of  King  Philip. 

Like  a  true  patriot,  Drake  placed  the  resources  of  his  well 
manned  and  thoroughly  equipped  fleet  at  the  disposal  of  the 
colonists  on  Eoanoke  Island.  A  bark,  pinnaces,  canoes,  muni- 
tions of  war,  food,  clothing,  and  all  else  needful,  were  offered 
them,  with  a  sufiicient  complement  of  seamen  to  man  such 
craft  as  should  be  left  for  their  use.  In  accepting  this  gener- 
ous proffer,  Lane  requested  Drake  to  receive  on  his  fleet  and 
take  to  England  all  men  whose  health  had  suffered  during 
their  stay  in  America,  and  to  replace  them  with  capable  sea- 
men and  skilled  artisans.  The  admiral  was  also  requested 
to  leave  a  ship  to  convey  the  colonists  back  to  England  two 
months  thereafter,  in  August,  if  a  promised  relief  expedition 
under  Grenville's  command  should  not  be  sent  to  them  by 
their  patron  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.     With  the  advice  of  his 


86  THE  NORTH  CAEOLHSTA  BOOKLET. 

captains,  Drake  decided  to  leave  the  Francis,  a  brig  of  seventy 
tons,  and  to  put  provisions  on  board  in  sufficient  quantities 
to  supply  a  hundred  men  for  four  months.  Two  pinnaces  and 
four  smaller  boats  were  also  to  be  left,  with  Captains  Abra- 
ham Kendall  and  Griffith  Heme  to  direct  navigation.  While 
these  preparations  were  in  progress  a  great  storm  arose  and 
continued  for  some  days.  All  vessels  in  the  fleet,  including 
the  Francis,  were  driven  out  to  sea  many  miles ;  but  Drake 
returned  with  a  much  larger  bark,  the  Bonner,  of  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  tons,  and  tendered  her  to  Lane  in  place  of 
the  Francis,  with  like  conditions  and  equipment.  Wishing 
to  have  the  advice  of  his  officers  in  the  determination  of  a 
matter  so  important.  Lane  called  a  council  and  it  was  the 
opinion  of  all  that  ''the  very  hand  of  God  seemed  stretched 
out  to  take  them  from  hence,"  for  the  relief  expedition 
under  Sir  Richard  Grenville  had  been  promised  them 
before  Easter,  and  that  season  was  long  passed.  England, 
it  was  believed  by  those  at  Roanoke,  had  so  much  to  occupy 
her  armies  and  fleets  against  traitors  at  home  and  enemies 
abroad,  that  the  needed  help  could  not  be  sent  across  the 
water,  so  all  the  colonists  decided  to  return  at  once  in  the 
English  fleet.  Drake  thereupon  sent  up  pinnaces  to  bring 
off  their  belongings,  among  which  were  valuable  maps  and 
charts  of  the  country.  These  latter,  unfortunately,  were 
washed  overboard  and  lost  while  the  men  were  endeavoring 
to  place  them  aboard  ship.  The  colonists  themselves,  how- 
ever, got  safely  on  board,  and  Drake  "in  the  name  of  the 
Almighty,  weighed  his  anchors"  on  the  19th  of  June,  1586, 
arriving  in  the  English  harbor  of  Plymouth  on  the  27th  of 
July. 

Though  delayed  by  many  vexatious  circumstances  bej^ond 
his  control  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  had  not  been  unmindful  of 
the  welfare  of  the  colonists  left  at  Roanoke,  and  sent  (but 
too  late)  a  well-provisioned  ship  for  their  relief.     This  ves- 


I 


SIR  WALTER  KALEIGH. 


87 


sel  arrived  not  long  after  Lane  and  his  men  had  departed 
in  Drake's  fleet.  Finding  the  former  settlement  abandoned, 
the  relief  ship  returned  to  England,  but  not  in  time  to  com- 
municate the  discouraging  news  to  another  expedition  of  three 
ships  sailing  bj  Raleigh's  orders  under  the  command  of  Sir 
Richard  Grenville.  Finding  none  of  his  countrymen  at 
Roanoke,  but  unwilling  to  abandon  England's  claim  to  the 
land,  Grenville  left  fifteen  of  his  men  to  hold  possession 
of  the  island,  and  returned  to  England  with  his  ships. 

In  the  next  year,  1587,  Raleigh  perfected  plans  for  another 
attempt  at  colonizing  Roanoke,  and  wisely  came  to  a  realiza- 
tion of  the  fact  that  no  colony  could  be  made  permanent  with- 
out the  presence  of  women.  He  therefore  issued  a  charter  or 
commission  constituting  John  White  as  Governor,  with  twelve 
councilors,  under  the  corporate  name  of  "The  Governor  and 
Assistants  of  the  city  of  Raleigh  in  Virginia."  JSTinety-one 
men,  seventeen  women,  and  nine  boys  made  up  the  company. 
Two  more,  Virginia  Dare  and  another  baby  named  Harvie, 
were  born  after  the  arrival  in  America,  making  one  hundred 
and  twenty-one  white  persons  in  all.*  In  this  expedition 
was  the  faithful  Manteo,  who  had  again  visited  England,  and 
now  returned  to  his  native  wilds  with  the  whites.  With  him 
was  another  friendly  Indian,  named  Towaye. 

The  three  ships  bearing  the  colonists  of  1587,  sailed  out 
of  Portsmouth,  England,  on  the  26th  of  April,  and  arrived 
at  Cowes,  on  the  Isle  of  Wight,  the  same  date,  tarrying  in 
the  latter  place  for  eight  days.  Leaving  Cowes,  they  reached 
Plymouth  on  the  5th  of  May;  and,  on  the  8th  of  the  same 
month,  began  their  westward  journey.  On  the  16th  of  May, 
Simon  Ferdinando,  the  pilot,  to  whose  former  base  conduct 
I  have  already  alluded,  abandoned  the  fly-boat  in  the  Bay  of 
Portugal,  rejoined  the  fleet,  and  remained  to  practice  more 
treachery  later  on.     The  captain   (Edward  Spicer)   and  the 


*For  list  of  colonists  under  White,  see  Haklu>-t  (1810  edition),  Vol.  Ill,  p.  348. 


88  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

daring  crew  of  this  flj-boat  were  not  so  helpless  as  the  pilot 
supposed  they  would  be.  They  immediately  set  sail  in  their 
little  craft  and  safely  crossed  the  Atlantic,  rejoining  their 
comrades  at  Roanoke. 

Sailing  as  before  stated,  the  fleet  with  the  colonists  under 
Governor  White  passed  through  the  West  Indies,  stopping  at 
various  islands  there  for  drinking  water,  salt,  game,  and  other 
supplies,  and  started  northward  from  Hispaniola  about  the 
6th  of  July,  arriving  ten  days  later  at  Caj)e  Fear,  where  the 
traitor  Ferdinando  came  near  causing  another  wreck,  his 
design  being  thwarted  by  the  vigilance  of  Captain  Edward 
Stafford,  of  whose  courage  and  good  conduct  in  the  previous 
expedition  under  Lane,  I  have  already  spoken.  On  July 
22d,  Hatorask  (Hatteras)  Inlet  was  reached,  and  there  the 
large  ships  anchored.  Governor  White  manned  a  pinnance 
with  forty  of  his  best  men  and  started  for  Roanoke  Island, 
where  he  hoped  to.  find  the  fifteen  men  left  by  Grenville  in 
1586,  the  preceding  year.  None  of  these  fifteen  could  be 
found,  but  the  bones  of  one  (who  had  been  murdered  by  the 
savages)  were  discovered.  It  later  was  learned  that  all  had 
been  treacherously  slain,  except  some  who  escaped  in  a  small 
boat  and  were  probably  lost. 

The  day  after  his  arrival  at  Roanoke,  Governor  White  and 
a  strong  body  of  his  men  walked  to  the  north  end  of  the 
island,  where  the  "city  of  Raleigh"  had  stood.  They  found 
the  fort  destroyed,  but  many  of  the  small  dwelling  houses 
were  in  fair  condition,  and  the  party  immediately  set  to  work 
repairing  these  huts.  On  the  28th  of  July,  George  Howe, 
one  of  the  colonists,  was  shot  and  killed  by  some  Indians 
who  were  the  remnants  of  Wingina's  tribe,  with  whom  was 
Wanchese.  On  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  Captain  Staf- 
ford took  a  party,  with  Manteo  as  g-uide  and  interpreter,  and 
met  the  Indians  on  August  1st,  offering  to  make  peace  with 
them,  forgetting  all  past  differences.     The  savages  promised 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  89 

that  their  chiefs  would  come  in  for  a  conference  on  this  sub- 
ject and  give  their  answer  in  the  course  of  the  next  seven 
days.  jSTothing  being  heard  in  that  time,  Governor  White 
and  Captain  Stafford  headed  a  party  of  colonists  which  at- 
tacked an  Indian  encampment  and  wounded  one  or  more 
before  it  was  discovered  that  they  had  fired  upon  a  friendly 
tribe  from  Croatan.  The  account  of  this  transaction  says: 
"Although  the  mistaking  of  these  savages  somewhat  grieved 
Manteo,  yet  he  imputed  their  harm  to  their  own  folly,  saying 
to  them  that  if  their  weroances  [chiefs]  had  kept  their  prom- 
ise in  coming  to  the  Governor  at  the  day  appointed,  they 
had  not  known  that  mischance." 

Both  in  America  and  England  instructions  in  the  principles 
of  the  Christian  religion  had  been  imparted  to  Manteo,  the 
never-failing  friend  of  the  whites ;  and,  before  the  colonists 
left  England,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  had  expressly  commanded 
that  this  Indian  should  be  baptized  as  soon  as  practicable 
after  arrival  in  his  old  home  on  Roanoke.  It  was  probably 
decided  that  this  ceremony  should  take  place  in  America  in 
order  that  the  example  might  have  the  effect  of  causing  other 
Indians  to  embrace  Christianity.  Manteo  was  accordingly 
baptized  on  Roanoke  Island  on  the  13th  of  August,  at  the 
same  time  being  (by  Raleigh's  orders)  created  Lord  of  Roan- 
oke and  of  Dasamonguepeuk,  as  a  reward  for  his  faithful 
service.  This  was  the  first  administration  of  the  sacrament 
of  baptism,  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Church  of  England, 
which  ever  took  place  within  the  limits  of  the  present  United 
States.  Five  days  later,  on  the  18th,  a  daughter  was  born 
to  Ananias  and  Eleanor  Dare,  this  little  girl's  mother  being 
a  daughter  of  Governor  White.  As  she  was  the  first  child 
born  in  the  new  country,  she  was  called  Virginia,  by  which 
name  she  was  baptized  on  the  first  Sunday  after  her  birth. 

During  the  latter  half  of  August  it  was  determined  to  send 
back  to  England  for  further  supplies,  but  gTcat  difficulty  was 


90  THE   NORTH    CAEOLIJSTA    BOOKLET. 

exj)erieiiced  in  securing  the  services  of  any  officer  to  under- 
take the  mission.  All  the  colonists  finally  united  in  a  re- 
quest that  Governor  White  himself  should  go.  This  request 
was  at  first  refused,  White  saying  that  his  return  would  be 
looked  upon  by  the  public  in  England  as  a  desertion  of  those 
whom  he  had  persuaded  to  undertake  the  voyage  to  America, 
and  would  consequently  bring  gTeat  discredit  upon  his  name. 
ITe  also  had  misgivings  about  his  personal  belongings,  which 
he  feared  might  be  lost  when  the  colonists  moved  further  in- 
land, as  it  was  their  intention  to  do  later  on.  The  colonists 
then  grew  even  more  importunate,  and  White  finally  con- 
sented, with  much  reluctance,  after  being  given  a  signed  cer- 
tificate wherewith  to  justify  his  course  in  departing  from 
the  colony  which  he  had  been  sent  to  govern.  He  accordingly 
set  sail  with  one  ship  and  a  fly-boat  on  the  27th  of  August, 
1587.  At  the  outset  of  this  return  voyage,  quite  a  number 
of  the  fly-boat's  crew  were  disabled  by  the  breaking  of  a 
capstan.  Later  the  two  crafts  separated,  as  the  larger  one 
(with  the  marplot  Ferdinando  on  board)  wished  to  trade  at 
the  island  of  Tercera.  White  would  not  delay,  but  proceeded 
in  the  fly-boat.  All  on  board  came  near  perishing  for  lack 
of  drinking  water,  and  the  boat  lost  its  course  in  consequence 
of  foul  weather.  Finally  those  on  the  boat  sighted  a  port, 
which  turned  out  to  be  the  Irish  town  of  Smerwick  (the 
scene  of  Raleigh's  bloody  work  in  1580),  and  there  the  crew 
gained  much  needed  help.  From  Smerwick  the  boat  pro- 
ceeded to  Dingen,  five  miles  distant.  There  the  boatswain, 
the  boatswain's  mate,  and  the  steward  died  on  board,  and 
the  master's  mate  and  two  other  sick  sailors  were  taken 
ashore.  On  ISTovember  1st,  Governor  White  took  shipping 
for  England  on  another  boat,  and  arrived  in  due  time  at  a 
port  in  Cornwall. 

In  April,  1588,  Governor  White  made  a  futile  attempt 
to  return  with  supplies  for  the  relief  of  Raleigh's  colonists 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  91 

who  had  been  left  on  Roanoke  Island.  The  failure  of  this 
attempt  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the  English  went  out  of  their 
way  in  an  attempt  to  secure  Spanish  prizes,  were  beaten  in 
a  sea-fight  which  ensued,  and  finally  were  forced  to  return 
for  repairs.  A  few  weeks  later  the  great  Spanish  Armada 
came.  Then  all  the  ships  and  seamen  in  England  were 
needed  for  purposes  of  national  defense.  Two  more  years 
elapsed  before  White  had  another  opportunity  to  return  to 
America,  even  then  going  as  a  passenger  on  a  ship  whose 
first  object  was  trading  with  or  fighting  against  Spaniards  in 
the  West  Indies,  after  which  it  was  to  sail  northward  and  see 
if  any  of  the  colonists  could  be  found  on  or  around  Roanoke 
Island.  The  narrative  of  his  experiences  on  shipboard, 
during  this  voyage.  White  communicated  to  Richard  Hak- 
luyt,  dating  his  letter  of  transmittal  at  "my  house  at  Newtown 
in  Kilmore,  the  4th  of  February,  1593,"  which  was  several 
years  after  his  return.  The  small  fleet  of  three  ships,  in 
which  he  took  passage,  sailed  out  of  Plymouth  on  the  20th 
of  March,  1590.  They  cruised  in  the  vicinity  of  Spain  and 
on  the  north  coast  of  Africa  for  a  few  weeks  and  then  set 
sail  for  the  West  Indies.  On  May  7th,  fresh  water  was  se- 
cured on  the  island  of  St.  John,  in  the  West  Indies,  and  a 
large  Spanish  prize  was  taken  on  the  next  day.  Then  fol- 
lowed numerous  sea-fights,  and  pillaging  by  land,  in  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Spaniards.  On  July  2d,  White's  old  friend  Cap- 
tain Edward  Spicer,  joined  the  fleet  at  Cape  Tyburon,  after 
a  long  voyage  from  England.  We  also  find  mention  of  Cap- 
tain Lane,  who  was  probably  Ralph  Lane,  former  Governor 
of  Roanoke.  On  the  13th  of  July  the  coast  of  Florida  came 
into  view,  and  on  August  3d  the  fleet  sighted  what  is  now 
the  coast  of  JSTorth  Carolina,  but  was  forced  out  to  sea  in  a 
storm,  to  avoid  ship-wreck  on  the  banks.  Later  the  inland 
waters  were  entered,  and,  on  the  15th,  Roanoke  Island  was 
in  close  view.     From  this  island  was  seen  to  arise  a  column 


92  THE  NOKTH  CAEOLUSTA  BOOKLET. 

of  smoke,  which  raised  hopes  that  the  colonists  were  still  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  locality  where  they  had  been  left.  A  dili- 
gent search  for  them  proved  fruitless.  On  the  16th  of  August, 
White  went  ashore,  accompanied  by  Captains  Spicer  and 
Cooke,  with  a  sufficient  armed  escort.  Orders  were  left  with 
the  master-gunner  on  shipboard  to  have  shots  iired,  at  stated 
intervals,  from  two  minions  and  a  falcon  (small  pieces  of 
ordnance)  to  attract  the  attention  of  any  English  who  might 
be  in  the  neighborhood;  but  reverberating  echoes  were  the 
only  answer.  On  going  ashore  in  the  direction  of  another 
column  of  smoke,  the  fire  was  located,  but  no  human  being — 
white  man  or  Indian — ^was  found  near  it.  The  party,  being 
much  fatigued,  camped  on  the  island  for  the  night,  but  later 
returned  to  the  ships. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  the  greatest  catastrophe  of  the 
voyage  occurred  when  a  boat  containing  eleven  men  capsized 
in  trying  to  enter  an  inlet,  and  seven  were  drowned.  Those 
lost  were  the  gallant  Captain  Spicer,  to  whose  daring  at  sea 
I  have  alluded  more  than  once,  also  Master's-Mate  Ealph 
Skinner,  Surgeon  Hance,  Edward  Kelley,  Thomas  Bevis,  Ed- 
ward Kelborne,  and  Robert  Coleman.  The  remaining  four 
were  saved  by  the  heroic  eiforts  of  Captain  Cooke  and  four 
stout  seamen  who  rowed  to  their  rescue.  The  sailors  were 
much  disheartened  by  this  deplorable  accident,  but  Governor 
White  and  Captain  Cooke  prevailed  on  them  to  proceed  with 
an  exploration  of  the  vicinity  which  they  wished  to  make. 
Before  Roanoke  Island  was  again  reached,  dark  had  settled, 
and  another  great  fire  was  seen  in  the  woods.  White's  nar- 
rative of  the  voyage  says :  "When  we  came  right  over  against 
it,  we  let  fall  our  grapnel  near  the  shore  and  sounded  with 
a  trumpet  a  call,  and  afterwards  many  English  tunes  of 
songs,  and  called  to  them  friendly,  but  we  had  no  answer. 
We  therefore  landed  at  daybreak;  and,  coming  to  the  fire, 
we  found  the  grass  and  sundry  rotten  trees  burning  about 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  93 

the  place."  White  and  his  companions  went  through  the 
woods  for  a  considerable  distance,  and  then  sailed  around 
the  island  until  they  reached  the  point  where  the  colony  had 
been  left  in  1587.  Upon  the  departure  of  White  for  Eng- 
land in  1587,  it  had  been  agreed  that  if  the  colonists  re- 
moved, thej  should  cut  on  trees  and  posts  the  name  of  the 
locality  to  which  they  had  gone,  and  a  cross  should  be  cut 
over  the  name  if  they  were  distressed.  Upon  one  tree  were 
found  the  letters  C  K  O,  and  CROAT  OAI^  was  cut  on  an- 
other, but  both  were  without  the  sign  of  distress  agreed  upon. 
Of  the  further  investigation  White  says :  *'We  entered  into 
the  palisado,  where  we  found  many  bars  of  iron,  two  pigs 
of  lead,  four  iron  fowlers,  iron  sacker  shot,  and  such  like 
heavy  things,  thrown  here  and  there,  almost  overgrown  with 
grass  and  weeds.  From  thence  we  went  along  the  waterside 
toward  the  point  of  the  creek,  to  see  if  we  could  find  any  of 
their  boats  or  pinnace,  but  we  could  perceive  no  sign 
of  them,  nor  any  of  the  falcons  or  small  ordnance  which  were 
left  mth  them  at  my  departure  from  them.  At  our  return 
from  the  creek,  some  of  our  sailors,  meeting  us,  told  us  they 
had  found  where  divers  chests  had  been  hidden,  and  long 
since  digged  up  again  and  broken  up,  and  much  of  the  goods 
in  them  spoiled  and  scattered  about,  but  nothing  left,  of  such 
things  as  the  savages  knew  any  use  of,  undefaced.  Presently 
Captain  Cooke  and  I  went  to  the  place,  which  was  in  the  end 
of  an  old  trench,  made  two  [s-ic]  years  past  by  Captain 
Amadas,  where  we  found  five  chests  that  had  been  carefully 
hidden  of  the  planters,  and  of  the  same  chests  three  were  my 
own,  and  about  the  place  many  of  my  things  spoiled  and 
broken,  and  my  books  torn  from  the  covers,  the  frames  of 
some  of  my  pictures  and  maps  rotten  and  spoiled  with  rain, 
and  my  armor  almost  eaten  through  with  rust.  This  could 
be  no  other  than  the  deed  of  the  savages,  our  enemies  at 
Dasamonguepeuk,   who  had  watched  the   departure   of  our 


94  THE    NORTH    CAROLINA   BOOKLET. 

men  to  Croatoaii,  and,  as  soon  as  tliej  were  departed,  digged 
up  every  place  where  they  suspected  anything  to  be  buried. 
But  although  it  much  grieved  me  to  see  such  spoil  of  my 
goods,  yet  on  the  other  side  I  greatly  joyed  that  I  had  safely 
found  a  certain  token  of  their  safe  being  at  Croatoan,  which 
is  the  place  where  Manteo  was  born,  and  the  savages  of  the 
island  our  friends." 

Returning  from  the  scene  of  desolation  at  the  old  fort. 
White,  Coobe,  and  the  remainder  of  their  party  regained 
their  ships,  and  then  determined  to  proceed  to  Croatan.  After 
losing  several  anchors  in  a  storm  and  suffering  other  mishaps, 
however,  it  was  determined  to  go  to  the  West  Indies  for  re- 
pairs, spend  the  Winter  there,  and  return  in  the  Spring  to 
the  vicinity  of  Roanoke  for  a  further  search.  The  captain 
of  one  vessel,  the  Moonlight,  objected  to  this  plan,  as  his  ship 
was  in  bad  shape  generally  and  needed  supplies,  so  he  forth- 
with sailed  for  .England.  The  remaining  vessels  pursued 
their  course  to  the  West  Indies,  took  several  Spanish  prizes, 
and  later  joined  a  large  fleet  of  warships  under  the  command 
of  Admiral  Sir  John  Hawkins.  This  admiral  was  watching 
for  a  Spanish  fleet  which  was  known  to  be  in  the  West  Indies ; 
but,  by  the  counsel  of  his  officers,  he  later  decided  that  his 
ships  should  '^spread  themselves  on  the  coast  of  Spain  and 
Portugal,  so  far  as  conveniently  they  might,  for  the  sure 
meeting  of  the  Spanish  fleet  in  those  parts."  In  this  last 
mentioned  plan  the  ship  on  which  White  sailed  did  not  join, 
as  its  captain  determined  to  return  to  England.  Leave  was 
accordingly  taken  of  the  redoubtable  Hawkins  on  Sunday, 
the  13th  of  September,  and  White  reached  Plymouth,  in 
England,  on  the  24th  of  October. 

The  fate  of  the  colonists  left  on  Roanoke  Island  in  1587 
is  one  of  the  unsolved  mysteries  of  the  ages.  Some  believe 
they  were  massacred.  Others  contend  that,  when  all  hope 
for  help  had  been  abandoned,  they  became  absorbed  into  the 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  95 

tribe  of  Croatan  Indians,  whose  friendship  for  the  whites 
had  been  so  often  manifested.  Mr.  Hamilton  McMillan  and 
Dr.  Stephen  B.  Weeks  have  written  monographs  in  support 
of  this  contention,  while  Bishop  Cheshire  and  others  have 
vigorously  argued  the  contrary.  As  a  single  word,  cut  on  a 
tree,  was  the  only  message  found,  I  shall  not  endeavor  to 
discuss  the  conflicting  theories.  In  the  words  of  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet J.  Preston,  a  Virginia  poetess : 

"The  mystery  rests  a  mystery  still. 
Unsolved  of  mortal  man; 
Sphinx-like,  untold,  the  ages  hold 
The  tale   of  CRO-A-TAN." 

Some  writers  have  ignorantly  charged  that  Raleigh  heart- 
lessly abandoned  the  Lost  Colony  of  1587,  and  made  no  effort 
to  discover  and  rescue  its  members.  This  is  far  from  true. 
One  old  nautical  historian,  Samuel  Purchas,  while  referring 
to  the  year  1602,  says  that  Ealeigh  then  sent  Captain  Samuel 
Mace,  who  had  been  to  Virginia  twice  before,  on  another 
voyage  to  hunt  for  the  Lost  Colony  "to  whose  succor  he  had 
sent  five  several  times  at  his  own  charges."  By  the  time  Mace 
returned  from  this  voyage,  Raleigh  had  been  attainted  as  a 
traitor,  his  estates  had  been  confiscated,  and  he  could  do  no 
more. 

As  every  one  knows,  Raleigh's  explorers  brought  back  with 
them  an  edible  tuber,  theretofore  unknown  to  Europeans, 
called  the  potato.  Raleigh  experimented  with  it  on  his  estates 
in  Ireland  with  so  much  success  that  it  became  the  chief  food- 
stuff of  that  country  and  is  generally  called  the  Irish  Potato 
after  the  land  to  which  it  was  transplanted.  Thus  an  im- 
portation by  Raleigh,  who  had  often  wasted  Ireland  with 
the  fire  and  sword,  has  often  been  the  salvation  of  that  country 
when  other  food  crops  have  failed.  Tobacco,  too,  was  brought 
from  the  ISTew  World,  and  Raleigh  was  joined  by  his  friends 
in  acquiring  its  use  by  puffing  it  from  small  silver  bowls. 

3 


96  THE  NOKTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

We  have  all  heard  the  story  of  how  Sir  Walter's  first  smoke 
was  interrupted  by  an  alaraied  servant  who  dashed  a  cup  of 
spiced  ale  in  his  face  to  extinguish  the  fire. 

Art  and  archecology  in  our  day  are  also  debtors  to  the 
Roanoke  colonists,  for  Governor  White  was  a  talented  artist, 
who  not  only  made  maps  of  the  new  land  but  also  water- 
color  drawings  of  the  natives.  His  paintings  of  the  Indians 
are  still  preserved  in  the  British  Museum.  At  the  time  of 
the  Jamestown  Exposition,  in  1907,  Colonel  Bennehan 
Cameron,  of  this  State,  employed  a  competent  artist  to  make 
copies  of  these  paintings  for  the  use  of  the  North  Carolina 
Historical  Exhibit ;  and,  after  the  close  of  the  Exposition, 
he  presented  them  to  the  North  Carolina  Hall  of  History 
in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  where  they  may  still  be  seen. 

And  now,  as  Raleigh  bade  farewell  to  his  cherished  hopes 
of  colonization  on  this  spot,  we  must  say  farewell  to  the  sad 
story  of  its  failure.  The  prosecution  of  these  noble  but  un- 
successful designs  cost  an  immense  sum,  and  not  a  few  lives. 
I  have  already  told  how  seven  men  were  drowned  by  the  cap- 
sizing of  a  pinnace ;  and  others,  who  are  known  to  have  sought 
safety  in  small  boats  amid  the  horrors  of  Indian  warfare, 
were  doubtless  lost  at  sea.  These  sad  circumstances  lend  a 
touch  of  reality  to  the  beautiful  poem  Ilatteras,  by  the  late 
Joseph  W.  Holden,  of  Raleigh,  wherein  a  skull  cast  up  on 
Cape  Hatteras  is  supposed  to  voice  its  tale  of  the  past  and 
warning  to  the  present  in  these  lines : 

"When  life  was  young,  adventure  sweet, 
I  came  with  Walter  Raleigh's  fleet, 
But  here  my  scattered  bones  have  lain 
And  bleached  for  ages  by  the  main! 
Though  lonely  once,  strange  folks  have  come, 
Till  peopled  is  my  barren  home; 
Enough  are  here:  oh,  heed  the  cry, 
Ye  white-winged  strangers  sailing  by! 
The  bark  that  lingers  on  this  wave 
Will  find  its  smiling  but  a  grave!" 


SIK  WALTER  KALEIGH.  97 

It  was  in  1588  that  all  true  Englishmen  flew  to  arms  at 
news  of  the  coming  of  the  great  fleet  which  the  Spaniards 
in  their  pride  called  the  "Invincible  Armada."  On  sea  and 
land  every  available  man  was  mustered  into  the  service  of 
the  realm  which  was  so  much  imperiled.  The  lion-hearted 
Queen  herself,  though  no  longer  young,  laid  aside  womanly 
apparel  and  rode  through  the  great  camp  at  Tilbury  in  a 
full  suit  of  armor,  encouraging  her  people  in  a  speech  filled 
with  expressions  of  confidence  in  their  fidelity  and  valor. 
In  the  course  of  her  address  she  said :  "We  have  been  per- 
suaded by  some,  that  are  careful  of  our  safety,  to  take  heed 
how  we  commit  ourselves  to  armed  multitudes,  for  fear  of 
treachery ;  but  I  assure  you  I  do  not  desire  to  live  to  distrust 
my  faithful  and  loving  people.  Let  tyrants  fear;  I  have 
always  so  behaved  myself  that,  under  God,  I  have  placed  my 
chiefest  strength  and  safeguard  in  the  loyal  hearts  and  good 
will  of  my  subjects,  and  therefore  I  am  come  among  you, 
as  you  see  at  this  time,  not  for  my  recreation  and  disport, 
but  being  resolved,  in  the  midst  and  heat  of  battle,  to  live 
or  die  amongst  you  all." 

In  the  defense  of  England  against  the  Spanish  Armada 
it  is  needless  to  say  that  Ealeigh  played  the  part  of  a  loyal 
subject  and  true  man.  When  a  council  of  nine  was  formed 
to  consider  the  state  of  national  fortifications  and  defenses, 
Raleigh  sat  in  that  body,  being  styled  "Lieutenant-General 
of  Cornwall."  The  only  member  of  this  council  below  the 
rank  of  knighthood  was  Ralph  Lane,  former  Governor  of 
Roanoke,  and  he  was  later  knighted  in  recognition  of  his 
many  services  to  the  kingdom  at  home  and  abroad.  In  both 
England  and  Ireland,  Raleigh  was  active  in  disciplining  the 
levies  raised  to  defend  the  realm  against  the  Armada ;  and, 
v/hen  it  became  apparent  that  no  fighting  was  soon  to  be  done 
on  land,   he  relinquished  his   army  commands   and   betook 


98  •  THE   NORTH    CAROLINA   BOOKLET. 

himself  to  the  channel,  there  aiding  materially,  as  captain 
of  a  ship,  in  the  destruction  of  the  Spanish  war  vessels. 

In  March,  1589,  after  having  spent  more  than  forty  thou- 
sand pounds  in  his  attemj^t  to  plant  colonies  in  ''Virginia," 
with  no  financial  returns  for  the  outlay,  Raleigh,  as  Chief 
Governor,  sold  his  rights  to  trade  (though  not  his  patent)  in 
that  locality  to  a  corporation  or  company  composed  of  Thomas 
Smith,  John  White,  Richard  Hakluyt,  and  others. 

In  1589,  as  a  retaliation  for  the  Armada,  the  English 
fitted  up  a  fleet  for  the  purpose  of  restoring  Don  Antonio 
to  the  throne  of  Portugal,  and  thereby  weakening  Spanish 
influence  in  that  kingdom.  Six  warships  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  volunteer  vessels,  under  Sir  Francis  Drake  and 
Sir  John  ISTorris,  went  on  this  expedition.  With  them  sailed 
Raleigh  in  a  ship  of  his  o\vn.  The  English  burned  Vigo, 
destroyed  two  hundred  vessels  in  the  Tagus  River  (many 
of  them  containing  stores  for  a  new  invasion  of  England), 
and  attacked  Lisbon,  Aside  from  the  capture  of  valuable 
spoils  little  else  was  accomplished. 

In  1592,  Philip  of  Spain  was  believed  to  be  fostering  fur- 
ther hostile  designs  upon  England,  and  Elizabeth  decided 
to  divert  his  attack  by  sending  a  fleet  against  the  Spanish 
possessions  in  Panama.  Raleigh  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  English  fleet.  On  May  6th,  he  set  sail,  but  on  the 
next  day  he  was  overtaken  in  a  swift-sailing  boat  by  Sir 
Martin  Frobisher,  with  the  Queen's  peremptory  order  to  re- 
turn to  England  and  to  leave  his  fleet  under  the  joint  com- 
mand of  Erobisher  and  Sir  John  Burgh.  Raleigh  remained 
with  the  fleet  long  enough  to  give  particular  directions  to 
his  two  successors  in  command  and  then  sailed  back  to  Eng- 
land, much  puzzled  to  know  the  reason  of  his  recall.  He 
was  not  left  long  in  doubt.  Court  gossip,  connecting  his 
name  with  that  of  a  maid  of  honor,  Elizabeth  Throckmorton, 
had  come  to  the  ears  of  the  Queen  and  she  promptly  sent  the 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  99 

offending  courtier  to  the  Tower  of  London.  A  letter  written 
at  the  time  sajs  of  Ealeigh  and  Miss  Throckmorton :  ''It  is 
affirmed  that  they  are  married,  but  the  Queen  is  most  furi- 
ously incensed."  The  exact  date  when  Raleigh's  marriage 
to  Miss  Throckmorton  took  place  does  not  appear,  but  the 
Queen  later  needed  his  services  and  ordered  his  release, 
though  it  took  him  a  long  time  to  regain  the  favor  of  his 
royal  mistress.  As  for  his  wife,  she  became  his  heroic  and 
devoted  friend  and  companion  throughout  the  remainder  of 
his  life,  in  adversity  and  prosperity  alike,  never  ceasing  her 
labors  in  his  behalf  until  his  head  rolled  from  the  block  in 
1618.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Sir  E^icholas  Throckmorton, 
then  deceased,  a  former  councilor  at  the  court  of  Elizabeth. 
Lady  Kaleigh  is  described  as  tall,  slender,  blue-eyed,  and 
golden-haired. 

As  England  was  not  an  absolute  monarchy  even  in  the 
days  of  Elizabeth,  and  as  Raleigh  had  been  committed  to  the 
Tower  without  due  process  of  law,  he  might  possibly  have 
secured  an  earlier  release  through  legal  means,  but  chose  a 
more  unique  method,  by  writing  a  letter  to  Robert  Cecil, 
trusting  that  it  would  come  to  the  eye  of  the  Queen.  As  the 
Queen  was  going  away  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Tower  for  a 
short  season,  her  imprisoned  courtier  sent  forth  a  lamentation 
in  these  words:  "My  heart  was  never  broken  till  this  day 
that  I  hear  the  Queen  goes  away  so  far  off — whom  I  have 
followed  so  many  years  with  so  great  love  and  desire,  in  so 
many  journeys,  and  am  now  left  behind  her  in  a  dark  prison 
all  alone.  While  she  was  yet  nigher  at  hand,  that  I  might 
hear  of  her  once  in  two  or  three  days,  my  sorrows  were  the 
less ;  but  even  now  my  heart  is  cast  into  the  depth  of  all 
misery.  I  that  was  wont  to  behold  her  riding  like  Alexander, 
hunting  like  Diana,  walking  like  Venus,  the  gentle  wind 
blowing  her  fair  hair  about  her  pure  cheeks  like  a  nymph; 
sometimes  sitting  in  the  shade  like  a  Goddess;   sometimes 


100  THE    NOKTH    CAKOLINA   BOOKLET. 

singing  like  an  angel ;  sometimes  playing  like  Orpheus.  Be- 
hold the  sorrow  of  this  world !  Once  amiss  hath  bereaved 
me  of  all !  Oh  Glory,  that  shineth  in  misfortune,  what  is 
become  of  thy  assurance  ?  *  *  *  She  is  gone  in  whom 
I  trusted,  and  of  me  hath  not  one  thought  of  mercy."  When 
we  reflect  that  the  Queen,  at  the  time  this  letter  was  written, 
was  in  her  sixtieth  year,  gray-haired,  wrinkled,  and  ugly  as 
the  proverbial  home-made  sin,  we  are  almost  tempted  to  doubt 
Sir  Walter's  sincerity  in  painting  her  as  a  beautiful  fairy 
princess  with  all  the  entrancing  attributes  of  heavenly  angels, 
heathen  deities,  anel  earthly  heroes.  Raleigh's  imprisonment 
in  the  Tower  was  not  rigorous.  He  was  in  the  custody  of 
his  cousin,  Sir  George  Carew,  Master  of  Ordnance  in  that 
strong-hold,  and  the  Queen  had  given  orders  that  his  friends 
should  have  free  access  to  him,  while  servants  attended  his 
every  want.  Even  his  offices  were  not  taken  away  from  him, 
and  he  discharged  his  duties  by  deputies.  On  one  occasion 
when  it  came  to  his  ear  that  the  Queen  would  soon  pass  down 
the  Thames  in  her  barge,  he  asked  Carew  to  let  him  be  dis- 
guised as  a  boatman  and  go  near  the  barge  under  guard,  that 
he  might  feast  his  eyes  on  the  royal  object  of  his  adoration 
once  more.  The  request  was  of  course  refused,  whereupon 
Raleigh  became  frantic  and  attacked  his  keeper  in  seeming 
desperation,  though  no  further  harm  was  done  than  the  in- 
jury of  his  Cousin  George's  new  periwig. 

There  is  a  homely  old  saying  that  "fair  words  butter  no 
parsnips,"  and  Raleigh  soon  discovered  that  they  were  equally 
powerless  to  unlock  the  gates  of  the  Tower  of  London,  But 
his  release  came  in  September.  In  that  month  Frobisher 
and  Burgh  returned  to  Plymouth  with  the  fleet  of  which  he 
was  still  the  titular  "General"  or  Admiral,  and  with  them 
brought  many  valuable  spoils  taken  from  the  Spaniards,  so 
the  services  of  Raleigh  were  needed  in  making  partition  be- 
tween the  Queen  and  those  who  financed  the  voyage.    Among 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  101 

the  latter  was  Admiral  Sir  John  Hawkins,  who  had 
urged  that  Raleigh  should  be  sent.  He  accordingly  went 
to  Plymouth  under  guard.  Though  one  of  Raleigh's  con- 
temporaries had  described  him  as  "the  best  hated  man 
of  the  world  in  court,  city,  and  country,"  his  reception  at 
Plymouth  did  not  seem  to  indicate  it.  Referring  to  his  ar- 
rival there,  Robert  Cecil  wrote:  "I  assure  you,  sir,  his 
poor  servants,  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  forty  goodly 
men,  and  all  the  mariners,  came  to  him  with  shouts  of  joy. 
I  never  saw  a  man  more  troubled  to  quiet  them.  But  his 
heart  is  broken,  as  he  is  extremely  pensive,  unless  he  is 
busied,  in  which  he  can  toil  terribly.  The  meeting  between 
him  and  Sir  John  Gilbert  was  with  tears  on  Sir  John's  part. 
But  he,  finding  it  known  that  he  has  a  keeper,  whenever  he 
is  saluted  with  congratulations  for  liberty,  doth  answer^  ^'No, 
I  am  still  the  Queen  of  England's  poor  captive.'  I  wished 
him  to  conceal  it,  because  here  it  doth  diminish  his  credit, 
which  I  do  vow  to  you  before  God  is  greater  among  the  mari- 
ners than  I  thought  for."  Finally  the  Queen's  anger  sim- 
mered do^vn,  and  Raleigh  was  relieved  from  his  nominal 
captivity. 

In  1594  Raleigh  secured  a  charter  from  Queen  Elizabeth 
for  his  first  expedition  to  Guiana,  on  the  northern  coast  of 
South  America.  As  a  preliminary  he  sent  one  of  his  most 
experienced  officers,  Captain  Jacob  Whiddon  to  spy  out  the 
route  and  report  his  findings.  Upon  Whiddon's  return,  Ra- 
leigh's expedition  sailed  in  1595.  With  him  were  his  nephew, 
John  Gilbert,  son  of  Sir  Humphrey,  and  Captain  Laurence 
Keymis.  On  the  voyage  to  South  America  the  forces  of  Ra- 
leigh captured  and  burned  the  town  of  St.  Joseph  on  the 
island  of  Trinidad.  On  the  continent  of  South  America  the 
explorers  penetrated  far  inland,  up  the  Orinoco  River, 
and  enjoyed  most  friendly  relations  with  the  natives,  who 
had  suffered  much  from  Spanish  cruelty  and  were  conse- 


102  THE    NORTH    CAROLINA   BOOKLET. 

quentlj  willing  to  render  all  aid  and  assistance  to  the  Eng- 
lish upon  learning  that  they  were  enemies  of  Spain.  Much 
time  was  spent  in  explorations  bj  Ealeigh  before  he  left  the 
continent.  It  was  his  hope  to  sail  northward  for  the  purpose 
of  making  a  personal  attempt  to  find  and  relieve  his  settlers 
here  on  Roanoke,  but  he  was  prevented  by  storms  and  other 
circumstances.  While  in  South  America  he  collected  much 
ore,  as  samples,  though  he  did  not  engage  in  mining  on  a 
large  scale.  On  his  return  voyage  the  Spanish  towns  of 
Cumana,  Santa  Maria,  and  Rio  de  la  Hacha  refused  to 
furnish  his  fleet  with  supjDlies,  and  were  sacked  and  burned 
in  consequence.  Before  Raleigh  left  England  his  enemies 
had  prophesied  that  he  would  never  return,  but  would  enter 
the  service  of  Spain.  This  absurd  charge  was  disproved  by 
his  return,  and  then  those  same  enemies  sought  to  discredit 
his  account  of  discoveries,  especially  of  precious  ores.  Some 
modern  historians — Hume  and  others — have  branded  Ra- 
leigh's narrative  as  a  collection  of  lies,  but  recent  discoveries 
of  rich  gold  fields  in  Venezuela  (a  part  of  Raleigh's  Guiana) 
have  partly  or  wholly  justified  his  statements.  In  1596,  in 
fulfillment  of  a  promise  to  the  Indians  to  return  to  Guiana, 
Raleigh  sent  Captain  Keymis  with  the  ships  Darling  and 
Discovery,  laden  with  presents  for  the  Indians.  In  the  mean- 
time San  Thome,  in  Guiana,  had  been  heavily  fortified  by  the 
Spaniards,  so  Keymis  avoided  that  town  and  went  towards 
the  mines  by  another  route.  Later  he  returned  to  England, 
bringing  with  him  little  more  than  samples  of  gold  ore.  Thus 
ended  Raleigh's  earlier  expeditions  to  Guiana- — ventures  to 
be  resumed  near  his  life's  end,  as  I  shall  relate  hereafter. 

When  rumors  of  the  coming  of  the  Spanish  Armada  of 
1588  first  reached  England,  Raleigh  had  boldly  volunteered 
for  an  expedition  to  sail  into  the  Spanish  harbors  and  burn 
the  ships  of  King  Philip  while  they  were  being  fitted  up. 
This  advice  was  rejected  as  the  dream  of  a  desperate  vision- 


SIE  WALTER  RALEIGH.  103 

ary.  Eight  years  later,  however,  in  1596,  when  news  came 
that  the  indefatigable  Philip  was  building  another  fleet  (sixty- 
ships)  for  an  invasion  of  Ireland,  where  he  hoped  for  many 
allies,  Raleigh  again  urged  Elizabeth  to  strike  the  first  blow, 
and  this  time  his  advice  was  followed.  The  result  was  a 
brilliant  success.  With  the  English  fleet  of  ninety-six  sail, 
went  twenty-four  Dutch  ships,  making  one  hundred  and 
twenty  vessels  in  all.  On  these  ships  were  fourteen  thousand 
English  and  twenty-six  hundred  Dutch  troops.  Lord  Ad- 
miral Howard  and  the  Earl  of  Essex  were  in  joint  command. 
This  fleet  divided  itself  into  four  squadrons,  one  of  which 
was  commanded  by  Ealeigh,  under  whom  were  thirteen  hun- 
dred and  fifty-two  sailors  and  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  soldiers.  The  fleet  sailed  out  of  Plymouth  on  June  1,» 
1596,  and,  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month  anchored  within 
half  a  league  of  Cadiz.  In  the  attack  on  that  city  the  fol- 
lowing day,  Raleigh  led  the  van  in  a  vessel  called  the  War- 
spright,  with  a  crew  of  two  hundred  and  ninety  men.  As 
the  Warspriglit  advanced,  followed  by  five  other  English 
ships,  four  huge  galleons  appeared,  bearing  the  usual  saintly 
names  of  those  "children  of  the  Devil,"  the  Spaniards.  They 
were  the  St.  Philip,  the  St.  Matthew,  the  St.  Andrew,  and 
the  St.  Thomas — "those  Apostles  aforesaid,"  as  Raleigh  after- 
wards called  them.  All  of  these  galleons  moored  under  the 
guns  of  Fort  Puntal,  with  three  galleys  about  each ;  and 
then  the  batteries  on  sea  and  land  opened  a  furious  can- 
nonading on  the  invaders.  The  largest  Spanish  ships  were 
the  St.  Philip  and  the  St.  Andrew,  wh^'ch  had  been  with  the 
fleet  of  fifty-three  which  sank  the  ship  Revenge  and  killed  its 
commander  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  Raleigh's  kinsman.  Ra- 
leigh now  vowed  that  he  would  be  "reveiiged  for  the  Revenge 
or  second  her  with  his  own  life."  This  was  no  idle  boast. 
Though  the  Warspright  was  nearly  sunk,  the  ships  of  the 
other  English  commanders  came  rushing  to  her  assistance, 


104  THE   NORTH    CAEOLINA   BOOKLET. 

and  two  got  the  start  of  her,  but  Raleigh  was  unwilling  to 
relinquish  his  perilous  post  of  honor,  so  he  again  succeeded 
in  running  ahead  and  blocked  further  advance  by  laying  his 
ship  athwart  the  channel  in  order,  as  he  said,  that  ''none 
other  should  outstart  him  that  day."  He  and  his  crew  next 
grappled  the  St.  Philip,  and  were  soon  reinforced  by  the  ether 
English  vessels,  when  a  wild  panic  seized  the  Spaniards,  who 
ran  their  galleons  aground  and  attempted  to  burn  them,  but 
the  English  were  too  quick  for  this  and  captured  all  but  the 
St.  Philip  and  the  St.  Thomas  which  were  blown  up  by  their 
captains.  The  English  spared  the  lives  of  their  captives, 
but  the  Dutch  partly  paid  off  their  score  for  Alva's  cruelties 
by  mercilessly  butchering  prisoners  until  the  forces  of  the 
Lord  Admiral  and  Kaleigh  beat  them  off.  These  Flemings, 
Raleigh  declared,  contributed  little  or  nothing  to  the  winning 
of  the  victory.  Toward  the  close  of  the  sea-fight,  Ealeigh 
was  badly  w^ounded  in  the  leg,  but  had  himself  borne  ashore 
on  the  shoulders  of  his  men  when  the  land  forces  disembarked. 
After  landing,  the  troops,  under  the  chief  command  of  Essex, 
first  swept  eight  hundred  Spanish  horsemen  from  their  path, 
and  then  captured  all  the  fortifications  of  the  city  except  the 
castle ;  and  that,  too,  surrendered  on  the  next  day.  Spoils 
of  the  town  and  ransoms  for  w^ealthy  prisoners  were  the  re- 
wards of  the  victors.  Said  Raleigh:  ''We  stayed  not  to 
pick  any  lock,  but  brake  open  the  doors ;  and,  having  rifled 
all,  threw  the  key  into  the  fire."  The  "key"  here  alluded 
to  was  the  city  of  Cadiz,  which  had  been  described  as 
one  of  the  three  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  Spain.  Other  locali- 
ties around  Cadiz  were  also  sacked  and  burned,  and  the  vic- 
torious expedition  finally  returned  to  England,  Raleigh  ar- 
riving there  ahead  of  the  rest  on  August  6th. 

Raleigh's   splendid   services   at   Cadiz  restored  h"m   in   a 
large  measure  to  the  good  graces  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and 


SIK  WALTER  EALEIGH.  105 

he  once  more  became  an  inmate  of  her  Court,  where  there 
was  a  bitter  rivalry  between  himself  and  Essex. 

So  happy  were  the  English  over  their  victories  in  Spain 
that,  in  1597,  they  organized  a  campaign  against  Spanish 
possessions  in  the  West  Indies.  This  expedition  by  sea  is 
known  as  the  "Islands  Voyage."  Time  will  not  allov.  me 
to  go  into  its  full  details.  In  the  course  of  the  cruise,  Raleigh 
landed  without  orders  and  stormed  the  strongholds  of  the 
island  of  Fayal,  thereby  kindling  anew  the  jealousy  of  his 
chief  commander,  the  Earl  of  Essex,  who  arrived  too  late 
to  share  the  honors  of  the  day.  IsTumerous  rich  ships  of  the 
Spaniards  also  fell  a  prey  to  the  English  on  this  voyage. 

I  can  not  here  tell  in  full  the  story  of  the  feud  between 
Ealeigh  and  Essex,  but  it  was  bitter  and  lasting.  Though 
Ealeigh  was  at  his  post,  as  Captain  of  the  Guard,  when  the 
fallen  Earl  was  in  later  years  led  to  the  block,  he  withdrew 
before  the  final  stroke  for  fear  it  should  be  charged  that  he 
gloated  over  the  execution.  In  later  years,  when  it  was 
charged  that  he  had  a  hand  in  the  destruction  of  his  former 
rival,  he  said :  "It  is  true  that  I  was  of  an  opposite  faction, 
but  I  take  God  to  witness  that  I  had  no  hand  in  his  death. 
*  *  *  My  soul  hath  many  times  been  grieved  that  I  was 
not  nearer  to  him  when  he  died,  as  I  understood  afterwards 
that  he  asked  for  me,  desiring  to  be  reconciled." 

In  1600,  Ealeigh  was  advanced  to  the  important  post  of 
Governor  of  the  Isle  of  Jersey,  and  greatly  improved  the 
conditions  of  that  locality  by  his  administration  of  its  affairs. 

The  great  Queen  Elizabeth  died  in  the  early  Spring  of 
1603,  and  gave  place  to  the  cowardly  descendant  of  a  warlike 
race  of  Scottish  monarchs.  King  James  the  First  of  England 
and  Sixth  of  Scotland.  Before  the  arrival  of  James  in 
London,  his  mind  had  been  poisoned  against  Raleigh  by  the 
latter's  enemies,  and  he  was  not  long  in  stripping  Elizabeth's 
former  favorite  of  all  the  honors  held  by  him.     In  a  short 


106  THE   NOKTH    CAROLINA   BOOKLET. 

time  Ealeigh  was  deprived  of  his  posts  as  Captain  of  the 
Guard  and  Governor  of  Jersey,  likewise  being  shorn  of  the 
monopolies  and  special  privileges  conferred  by  the  late  Queen. 
He  was  also  ejected  from  Durham  House  (an  episcopal  resi- 
dence) and  Sherborne  Castle  upon  which  he  held  long  leases. 
If  he  could  now  conveniently  be  proved  a  traitor,  the  efforts 
for  his  destruction  would  be  crowned  with  complete  success. 
Finally  that  opportunity  presented  itself  when  Lord  Cobham 
became  involved  in  a  conspiracy  to  seat  Lady  Arabella  Stuart 
on  the  throne  of  England.  In  an  effort  to  save  his  own  life, 
Cobham  had  accused  Raleigh ;  later  the  conscience-stricken 
nobleman  retracted  his  charge;  afterwards  renewed  it,  with 
more  retractions  later,  and  this  was  the  farcical  evidence 
upon  which  Raleigh  was  convicted.  In  much  bitterness  of 
spirit  he  wrote  his  wife :  "All  my  services,  hazards,  and 
exjDenses  for  my  country — plantings,  discoveries,  fights,  coun- 
cils, and  whatever  else — malice  hath  now  covered  over.  I 
am  now  made  an  enemy  and  a  traitor  by  the  word  of  an  un- 
worthy man." 

On  September  21,  1G03,  Raleigh  was  indicted  for  having 
conspired  to  deprive  the  King  of  his  Crown,  to  alter  the  true 
religion,  and  to  levy  war.  The  trial  was  begun  in  Winchester 
on  ISTovember  17th,  Lord  Chief  Justice  Pophani  presiding. 
The  eminent  legal  dignitary  just  named  had  been,  by  turns, 
a  gambler,  a  drunkard,  and  a  highwayman,  afterwards  mend- 
ing his  ways  to  some  extent  and  reading  law.  With  Popham 
sat  many  other  men  of  note,  the  King  being  careful  to  select 
one  or  more  whom  he  knew  to  be  bitter  enemies  of  Raieigh. 
Attorney-General  Coke,  Serjeant  Hele,  and  Serjeant  Phillips 
were  attorneys  for  the  prosecution.  In  that  day  the  laws 
of  England  did  not  give  prisoners  the  advantage  of  counsel, 
and  hence  Raleigh  had  to  plead  his  own  cause,  which  he  did 
with  ability,  dignity,  and  decorum.  I  shall  not  trouble  my 
hearers  with  an  account  of  this  trial.     The  absurdity  of  the 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  lOY 

accusation  is  now  admitted  by  all  men,  while  tbe  underhanded 
displacement  of  impartial  jurymen  and  the  disgraceful  con- 
duct of  the  King's  attorneys  will  ever  remain  as  blots  upon 
the  justice  of  the  reign  in  which  they  occurred.  In  speaking 
of  the  behavior  of  Attorney-General  Coke  during  the  trial, 
an  eminent  Baltimore  lawyer,  J.  Morrison  Harris,  said  in 
an  address  on  Ealeigh  before  the  Maryland  Historical  So- 
ciety in  1846 :  "The  conduct  of  Coke,  the  King's  attorney, 
was  disgraceful  to  the  position  he  occupied — to  the  sovereign 
he  represented — to  the  profession  to  which  he  belonged — the 
age  in  which  he  lived — and  the  manhood  he  shamed.  He 
was,  throughout  the  trial,  ungenerous  and  unjust;  overbear- 
ing and  cruel ;  brutal  and  insolent."  Continuing,  Mr.  Harris 
says:  ''Venality  soiled  the  ermine  of  the  judge,  and  power 
controlled  the  decision  of  the  jury.  The  former  pronounced 
his  doom  with  as  much  alacrity  as  he  had  formerly  shewn 
in  taking  purses  on  the  highway,  or  bribes  upon  the  bench; 
and  the  latter,  in  their  eagerness  to  perform  their  part  well, 
overdid  it ;  so  that  the  malignant  Coke,  when  he  heard  that 
they  had  found  him  guilty  of  treason,  exclaimed  to  the  mes- 
senger: 'Surely  thou  art  mistaken;  I  myself  only  accused 
him  of  misprision  of  treason !'  "  The  programme  for  Raleigh's 
conviction  having  been  duly  carried  out  by  the  jury,  he  was 
condemned  to  be  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered.  He  peti- 
tioned for  a  reprieve,  writing  to  Cecil :  "Your  Lordship  will- 
find  that  I  have  been  strangely  practiced  against,  and  that 
others  have  their  lives  promised  to  accuse  me." 

On  December  10,  1603,  James  granted  Raleigh  a  re- 
prieve and  the  prisoner  was  carried  from  the  place  of  trial 
at  Winchester  back  to  London,  where  he  was  confined  in 
the  Tower  to  await  the  King's  pleasure. 

In  his  work  entitled  Ker  Majesty's  Tower,  Hepworth 
Dixon  says:  "The  most  eminent  and  interesting  prisoner 
ever  lodged  in  the  Tower  is  Raleigh ;  eminent  by  his  personal 


108  THE   JSrOKTH    CAROLINA    BOOKLET. 

genius,  interesting  from  bis  political  fortune.  Raleigli  has, 
in  higher  degree  than  any  other  captive  who  fills  the  Tower 
with  story,  the  distinction  that  he  was  not  the  prisoner  of 
his  country  but  the  prisoner  of  Spain."  And  so  he  was, 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  captivity.  While  in  the  Tower 
he  did  not  spend  his  time  in  useless  repining,  but  well  ex- 
emplified the  truth  of  the  old  lines : 

"Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make 
Or  iron  bars  a  cage; 
A  free  and  quiet  mind  can  take 
These  for  a  hermitage." 

The  story  of  Raleigh's  confinement  is  a  long  record  of  noble 
literary  and  scientific  achievements,  too  numerous  to  relate. 
The  most  important  of  his  productions  was  a  History  of  the 
World,  which  would  have  immortalized  his  name  if  he  had 
no  other  title  to  distinction.  Some  of  his  poetical  produc- 
tions are  most  charming. 

Though  the  statement  may  be  strong,  I  doubt  if  there  has 
ever  been  a  man  in  the  history  of  the  world  of  whom  so  many 
biographies  have  been  written  as  those  which  treat  of  Ra- 
leigh's career.  Xumerous  publications  of  his  works  have 
also  been  made,  the  standard  edition  being  issued  in  eight 
volumes  by  the  University  of  Oxford  in  1829,  the  first  volume 
in  this  series  giving  two  separate  biographies  (written  many 
years  before),  one  by  William  Oldys  and  the  other  by  Thomas 
Birch,  and  the  last  volume  containing  a  collection  of  his 
poems. 

At  times  Raleigh's  confinement  in  the  Tower  was  light, 
and  at  times  oppressive  beyond  reason.  Within  the  confines 
of  that  gloomy  stronghold  "Raleigh's  Walk"  still  preserves 
his  name.  Once,  during  his  imprisonment,  to  test  the  effect 
which  his  death  would  have  upon  the  public  mind,  the  news 
was  spread  abroad  that  he  had  committed  suicide.  Later  his 
captors  tempted  him  to  take  that  step  by  placing  weapons 


SIK  WALTER  KALEIGH.  109 

within  his  reach  and  turning  his  mind  to  the  subject  by  dis- 
coursing upon  that  custom  of  the  old  Romans  when  they 
wished  to  end  the  ills  of  life.  When  conversations  took  this 
turn,  Raleigh  ''spoke  very  gravely  against  self-murder,  saying 
that  for  himself  he  would  die  in  the  light  of  day  and  in  the 
face  of  his  countrymen." 

In  his  confinement  Raleigh  had  many  unflinching  and  in- 
fluential friends,  among  the  most  devoted  being  Prince  Henry, 
heir  apparent  to  the  throne,  whose  untimely  death  added  to 
the  misfortunes  of  the  captive.  Prince  Henry  constantly 
labored  for  Raleigh's  release  and  visited  him  frequently  in 
the  Tower,  while  the  prisoner  sought  to  return  the  kindness 
by  giving  his  royal  visitor  the  benefit  of  his  long  experience 
in  state-craft  and  military  operations  on  land  and  water.  One 
naval  treatise  he  wrote  for  the  especial  instruction  of  Henry. 
Queen  Anne  was  also  Raleigh's  friend.  Among  the  countless 
throngs  who  sought  his  society  while  he  was  a  prisoner  was 
Thomas  Hariot,  who  had  been  one  of  the  voyagers  to  Roanoke 
Island,  and  to  whose  pen  we  of  the  present  day  are  indebted 
for  much  of  the  early  history  of  English  colonization  on  this 
spot.  Raleigh  readily  and  generously  gave  of  his  means  to 
enable  Hariot  to  pursue  his  studies ;  and,  when  powerless  to 
render  him  further  assistance,  sought  and  obtained  for  him 
congenial  employment  in  the  service  of  the  Earl  of  ISTorth- 
umberland,  a  patron  of  letters  and  benefactor  of  scholars. 

Raleigh  was  a  sailor  at  heart  and  took  a  keen  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  the  mariners  of  his  country.  While  in  the 
Tower  he  contrived  a  process,  designed  for  their  benefit, 
whereby  salt  water  could  be  made  fresh  and  used  for  drink- 
ing purposes.  Later  he  was  deprived  of  his  chemical  appa- 
ratus, and  the  secret  was  thereby  lost,  not  being  re-discovered 
until  modern  times. 

At  times  Raleigh  had  his  heroic  and  devoted  wife  as  the 
companion  of  his  confinement,  and  one  of  his  sons  was  born 


110  THE   NOBTH    CAEOLINA   BOOKLET. 

in  the  Tower.  Lady  Kaleigh  exhausted  every  means  in  the 
interest  of  her  husband  during  life,  and  called  down  curses 
(later  fulfilled)  upon  those  who  robbed  him  and  his  children 
of  Sherborne  Castle  and  other  property  which  his  wealth 
had  beautified.  The  Sherborne  estate  alone  had  brought  an 
income  of  five  thousand  pounds  annually,  and  yet  in  later 
years,  by  way  of  restitution,  Raleigh  was  only  given  eight 
thousand  pounds  in  satisfaction  of  the  ninety-nine  year  lease 
which  he  had  held.  In  speaking  of  Raleigh's  family  it  may 
be  here  mentioned  that  he  left  two  sons:  Walter  (unmar- 
ried), to  whose  death  in  South  America  I  shall  later  call  at- 
tention; and  Carew  (1605-1666),  who  was  educated  at  Ox- 
ford, was  a  Cavalier  in  the  Civil  War  of  the  next  reign,  mem- 
ber of  Parliament,  cooperator  with  Monk  in  the  Restoration, 
and  Governor  of  Jersey,  the  post  formerly  held  by  his  father. 
The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Philippa  Weston,  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage  widow  of  Sir  Anthony  Ashley.  By  this 
marriage  Carew  Raleigh  had  two  sons,  Walter  (a  knight, 
who  died  unmarried)  ;  and  Philip,  who  married  and  left  four 
sons  and  three  daughters.  Through  them  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
doubtless  has  descendants  now  living. 

Though  King  James  could  not  be  moved  by  mercy  to  order 
the  release  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  from  the  Tower,  his  cu- 
pidity was  finally  responsive  to  appeals  in  the  prisoner's  be- 
half. Raleigh  still  had  hopes  of  great  wealth  to  be  found  in 
the  Spanish  possessions  in  Guiana,  in  South  America,  where 
he  had  voyaged  before,  in  1595,  and  James  was  not  averse 
to  having  a  chance  at  such  a  share  as  would  fall  by  law  into 
the  Royal  treasury,  though  too  cowardly  to  hold  himself 
answerable  to  Spain  for  having  authorized  the  sailing  of  this 
expedition.  Raleigh  was  accordingly  released  from  the  Tower 
in  1616,  and  for  the  last  time  sailed  westward  on  the  28th  of 
March,  1617.  With  the  eight  thousand  pounds  allowed  him 
for  his  lease  on  Sherborne  Castle,  with  some  purchase  money 


SIK  WALTER  RALEIGH.  Ill 

which  had  been  paid  Lady  Raleigh  for  landed  property  held 
in  her  own  right,  and  the  sale  of  family  plate,  Raleigh  risked 
his  all  in  this  expedition,  though  history  sometimes  ac- 
cuses him  of  going  on  this  voyage  when  he  knew  it  would 
be  unsuccessful.  While  in  the  Tower  he  had  agreed  to  either 
bring  back  a  ton  of  rich  gold  ore  from  Guiana,  or  return  and 
spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  prison.  Raleigh's  flagship, 
the  Destiny^  was  commanded  by  his  son.  Captain  Walter 
Raleigh,  and  with  him  also  sailed  a  nephew,  Captain  George 
Raleigh.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  attempted  to  keep  the  destina- 
tion of  his  expedition  a  secret,  but  his  confidence  was  be- 
trayed by  the  King  himself  in  an  attempt  to  shift  from  his 
own  shoulders  all  blame  in  the  eyes  of  the  Spanish  minister 
in  London.  Hence  before  Raleigh  had  gotten  well  out  to 
sea,  his  destination  was  known  in  the  Court  of  Madrid.  King 
James  had  authorized  Raleigh  to  seek  gold  in  territory  which 
he  knew  was  then  occupied  by  Spain.  He  likewise  knew 
that  the  supposed  feeling  of  the  Devil  for  holy  water  was  a 
Damon  and  Pythias  friendship  in  comparison  vsdth  the  hatred 
which  existed  between  English  and  Spanish  colonists  in  the 
I^ew  World,  and  yet  he  sought  to  convince  Spain  that  he 
had  no  unfriendly  motive  in  authorizing  Raleigh  to  proceed 
westward.  Raleigh's  fleet  finally  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Orinoco  River,  in  South  America ;  but  there  he  became  ill, 
and  hence  was  unable  to  head  the  expedition  which  was 
preparing  to  march  inland.  The  leadership  of  these  land 
forces  he  confided  to  a  veteran  sailor  who  had  been  with  him 
in  Guiana  before.  Captain  Laurence  Keymis,  with  Captain 
George  Raleigh,  second  in  command.  Keymis  first  met  a 
Spanish  force,  which  he  routed,  and  then  took  possession 
of  the  town  of  San  Thome.  Further  up  the  road  towards 
the  mines  of  which  he  was  in  search,  another  Spanish 
detachment  was  discovered  to  be  in  ambush,  and  so  formid- 
able were  their  numbers  that  Keymis  deemed  it  prudent  to 
4 


112  THE   NOKTH    CAEOLINA   BOOKLET. 

return  to  the  ships.  In  the  course  of  the  fighting  which  had 
occurred  Raleigh's  son  and  namesake  was  killed.  This  young 
man  had  been  a  wild  character  in  youth,  but  doubtless  had 
gathered  wisdom  in  his  more  mature  years,  as  evidenced  by 
so  prudent  a  commander  as  his  father  entrusting  him  with 
important  posts  on  both  land  and  water  during  this  expedi- 
tion. His  death  was  of  course  a  deep  grief  to  his  father. 
The  failure  of  the  expedition  to  the  mines  was  a  source  of 
much  disappointment  to  Raleigh,  and  his  reproac3ies  to 
Keymis  caused  the  unfortunate  Captain  to  commit  suicide. 
The  chances  of  success  in  Guiana  now  being  most  unfavorable, 
Raleigh  made  a  voyage  all  the  way  to  ITewfoundland  in  order 
to  re-fit  and  renew  his  efforts  against  the  Spanish  possessions 
in  South  Ameria.  In  ISTewfoundland  a  portion  of  his  crew 
became  mutinous,  and  he  deemed  it  advisable  to  return  to 
England,  which  he  accordingly  did.  Prior  to  his  return.  Don 
Diego  Sarmientos.  de  Acuna,  Count  Gondomar,  diplomatic 
representative  of  Spain  at  the  English  Court  had  made  formal 
complaint  to  King  James  on  account  of  the  breach  of  peace 
which  had  been  committed  by  his  fleet-commander  at  a  time 
when  no  war  existed  between  England  and  Spain,  and  had 
denounced  Raleigh  as  a  pirate.  King  James  was  then  making 
every  effort  to  effect  a  match  between  Prince  Charles,  his 
heir,  and  a  Spanish  princess,  so  he  basely  denied  all  responsi- 
bility for  the  expedition  he  had  authorized,  and  issued  a 
proclamation  for  the  arrest  of  Raleigh,  who  was  accordingly 
taken  into  custody  and  re-committed  to  the  Tower.  Says  Mr. 
Harris,  in  the  address  already  quoted:  "A  writ  of  Pri^^ 
Seal  was  then  despatched  to  the  Judges,  commanding  them 
to  order  its  [the  former  warrant's]  execution.  They  shrank 
from  the  flagrant  injustice.  They  declared  that  neither  the 
writ  of  Privy  Seal,  nor  even  a  warrant  under  the  Great  Seal, 
could  authorize  them,  after  so  long  an  interval  of  time,  to 
execute  the  sentence  without  first  affording  the  prisoner  an 


SIK  WALTER  RALEIGH.  113 

opportunity  of  pleading  in  person  against  it;  and  they  re- 
solved to  bring  him  to  the  bar  by  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  to 
answer  why  execution  should  not  be  awarded  against  him." 
The  King  approved  this  plan,  and  Raleigh  was  hurried  from 
a  sick  bed  to  the  bar  at  Westminster.  It  is  needless  to  tell 
of  the  outcome  of  these  proceedings,  wherein,  at  the  instiga- 
tion of  Spain,  an  illustrious  Englishmen  was  doomed  to  die 
on  the  false  charge  that  he  had — sixteen  years  before — 
plotted  to  dethrone  King  James  in  favor  of  Arabella  Stuart, 
a  claimant  who  then  had  the  warm  support  of  Spain.  With 
all  haste,  James  signed  the  death  warrant,  and  Raleigh  was 
led  to  the  block  in  Palace  Yard,  on  October  29th  (ISTo- 
vember  8th  new  style)  1618.  On  the  day  of  execution 
the  High  Sheriff  offered  his  prisoner  a  slight  delay  in  order 
that  he  might  warm  himself  before  he  said  his  prayers,  but 
this  offer  was  declined,  Raleigh  saying  that  an  ague,  to  which 
he  was  subject,  would  soon  come  on  again  and  cause  his  ene- 
mies to  say  that  he  quaked  from  fear.  He  met  his  death  with 
courage  and  Christian  fortitude.  To  a  question  from  Dean 
Tounson,  as  to  his  religious  belief,  he  replied  that  he  died 
in  the  faith  professed  by  the  Church  of  England,  and  hoped 
to  have  his  sins  washed  away  by  the  precious  blood  of  our 
Savior  Christ.  He  carefully  felt  the  edge  of  the  executioner's 
axe,  remarking  that  it  was  "a  sharp  remedy  but  a  cure  for 
all  diseases."  As  he  was  about  to  kneel  on  the  block  he  was 
told  to  turn  his  face  toward  the  east,  but  answered  that  it 
was  "no  matter  how  the  head  should  lay  if  the  heart  were 
right."  At  the  request  of  friends,  however,  he  did  face  east- 
ward. Then  he  gave  a  signal,  and  the  fatal  blow  was  struck. 
Soon  after  Raleigh's  death,  when  King  James  was  still 
striving  to  effect  a  Spanish  match  for  his  son,  he  caused  a 
letter  to  be  written  to  one  of  his  representatives  in  Spain, 
saying  that  he  "had  caused  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  to  be  put  to 
death  CHIEFLY  for  the  giving  them  [the  Spaniards]  satis- 


114  THE    NORTH    CAROLINA    BOOKLET. 

faction."  In  commenting  on  this  admission,  Dr.  Hawks  truly 
observes :  '^JSTo  further  evidence  is  necessary.  Raleigh  was 
murdered  and  James  was  his  murderer."  And  the  memory 
of  Raleigh  left  its  mark  on  the  heart  of  that  murderer ;  for, 
in  later  years,  when  young  Carew  Raleigh  was  brought  to 
Court  by  his  kinsman,  the  Earl  of  Pembroke,  that  nobleman 
soon  carried  him  therefrom  because  the  conscience-stricken 
King  was  haunted  by  the  lad's  resemblance  to  his  father, 
declaring  that  he  "looked  like  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  ghost." 

In  j)ersonal  appearance  Raleigh  is  represented  to  have  been 
tall  and  well-proportioned,  with  thick  curly  locks,  beard,  and 
mustache,  full  red  lips,  bluish  grey  eyes,  high  forehead,  and 
long  bold  face.  A  number  of  portraits  of  him  were  painted, 
among  these  being  more  than  one  by  Federigo  Zuccarro,  a 
Florentine  artist  who  lived  in  England  during  the  reigii  of 
Elizabeth.  One  of  the  Zuccaro  portraits  was  handsomely 
copied  in  oil,  several  years  ago,  by  order  of  Mr.  Walter  F. 
Burns,  who  presented  the  reproduction  to  Chief  Justice  Clark, 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State.  Though  highly  valuing 
this  beautiful  gift  from  an  esteemed  friend,  the  Chief  Justice 
generously  decided  that  a  more  appropriate  place  for  it  to  be 
displayed  would  be  the  Mayor's  Office  in  Raleigh,  so  he  pre- 
sented it  to  that  city.  Mr.  Burns,  at  whose  order  this  copy 
was  made,  is  a  grandson  of  Captain  Otway  Burns,  commander 
of  the  privateer  S^iapdragon  in  the  War  of  1812-'15,  an 
American  successor  of  the  daring  sea-rangers  of  the  reign  of 
Elizabeth. 

In  an  address  delivered  in  the  city  of  Raleigh  before  the 
State  Literary  and  Historical  Association  of  j^orth  Carolina, 
on  JSTovember  4,  1909,  the  Right  Honorable  James  Brvce, 
Ambassador  from  Great  Britain  to  the  United  States,  said, 
referring  to  those  who  have  both  made  and  written  history : 
"Such  an  one  was  the  famous  man  who  may  be  called  the 
first  founder  of  ISTorth  Carolina  and  whom  you  have  fitly 


SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH.  115 

commemorated  in  the  name  of  the  chief  city  of  your  State — 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  The  adventurer  is  always  an  attractive 
type,  because  spirit,  courage,  and  love  of  discovery  have  a 
perpetual  fascination,  and  when  the  explorer  or  conqueror 
has  aims  not  wholly  selfish,  we  are  glad  to  palliate  his  faults. 
Raleigh  had  his  faults,  but  he  was  a  fine  specimen  of  the 
bold,  versatile,  keen-witted,  large-visioned  man  of  the  Eliza- 
bethan age,  not  very  scrupulous,  but  with  gifts  which  engage 
our  sympathy,  and  rich  in  intellectual  power.  He  was  both 
a  man  of  action  and  a  man  of  letters,  and  might,  had  cir- 
cumstances allowed,  have  shone  as  brightly  in  the  latter  as  he 
did  in  the  former  field.  He  was  a  true  Elizabethan  in  his 
intellectual  culture,  in  his  largeness  of  spirit,  in  his  far- 
reaching  imagination — a  worthy  contemporary  of  Shake- 
speare and  Sir  Philip  Sidney  and  Edmund  Spenser  and 
Francis  Bacon." 

Though  iNTorth  Carolina's  capital  city  of  Raleigh  is,  in 
itself,  a  monument  "more  lasting  than  brass,"  a  plan  is  now 
on  foot  to  erect  in  that  city  a  bronze  likeness  of  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  that  coming  generations  may  behold  the  majestic 
form  of  this  gTeat  fore-runner  of  English  civilization  in 
America.  A  sum  something  upwards  of  a  thousand  dollars 
(made  up  of  small  contributions)  has  already  been  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  of  the  association  which  is  to 
erect  this  monument,  Mr.  Joseph  G.  Brown,  President  of  the 
Citizens  ISTational  Bank,  of  Raleigh,  and  this  sum  will  doubt- 
less be  increased  to  a  proportion  which  will  creditably  carry 
out  the  patriotic  plans  of  the  promoters  of  this  worthy  enter- 
prise. 

In  Dixon's  work  on  the  Tower  of  London,  already  quoted, 
that  author  says  of  the  execution  of  Raleigh:  "That  day 
was  thought  to  be  a  very  sad  day  for  Englishmen.  The  parti- 
sans of  Spain  went  mad  with  joy.  Yet  the  victory  was  not 
to  Spain.     A  higher  power  than  man's  directs  the  course  of 


116  THE   NOKTH    CAKOLINA   BOOKLET. 

a  nation's  life;  tiie  death  of  a  hero  is  not  a  failure,  for  the 
martyr's  blood  is  stronger  than  a  thousand  swords.  The  day 
of  Raleigh's  death  was  the  day  of  a  new  English  birth.  Eliot 
was  not  the  only  youth  of  ardent  soul  who  stood  by  the  scaffold 
in  Palace  Yard,  to  note  the  matchless  spirit  in  which  the 
martyr  met  his  fate,  and  to  walk  away  from  that  solemnity — 
a  new  man.  Thousands  of  men  in  every  part  of  England, 
who  had  led  a  careless  life,  became,  from  that  hour,  the  sleep- 
less enemies  of  Spain.  The  purposes  of  Raleigh  were  ac- 
complished in  the  very  way  his  genius  had  contrived.  Spain 
held  the  dominion  of  the  sea,  and  England  took  it  from  her. 
Spain  excluded  England  from  the  New  World,  and  the  genius 
of  the  ISTew  World  is  English." 

In  closing  these  remarks  I  can  not  do  better  than  quote  the 
beautiful  lines  of  jSTorth  Carolina's  most  gifted  poet,  Henry 
Jerome  Stockard,  when  treating  of  the  same  heroic  character 
of  whom  I  have  spoken  today: 

"And  lie  still  lives,  the  courteous  and  the  brave, 
Whose  life  went  out  in  seeming  dark  defeat. 
The  Tower  held  not  his  princely  spirit  immured, 
But  in  those  narrow  dungeon  walls  he  trod 
Kingdoms  unlimited  by  earthly  zones, 
And  from  its  dismal  gates  passed  unafraid 
To  an  inheritance  beyond  decay, 
Stored  in  the  love  and  gratitude  of  man. 
He  lives  in  our  fair  city,  noble  State, 
Puissant  land — in  all  each  hopes  to  be! 
He  lives  in  noble  words  and  splendid  dreams. 
In  strenuous  actions  and  in  high  careers. 
An  inspiration  unto  loftier  things." 


ABSTKACT  OF  HISTOET  OF  THE  UNIVEESITY.  117 


ABSTRACT  OF  VOLUME  I  OF  BATTLE'S  HISTORY 
OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


The  Constitution  of  1776  instructed  the  General  Assembly 
to  provide  one  or  more  universities.  The  charter  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  ISTorth  Carolina  was  granted  in  1789,  mainly  by 
the  influence  of  General  William  Richardson  Davie.  The 
Trustees  were  the  prominent  men  of  the  State.  There  was  a 
meeting  of  these  Trustees  within  a  month  after  the  charter 
was  ratified,  the  Senator  from  Bertie,  Charles  Johnson,  an- 
cestor of  the  present  Mayor  of  Raleigh,  then  President  of  the 
Senate,  being  Chairman.  At  a  meeting  soon  afterwards. 
General  William  Lenoir,  President  of  the  Senate,  was  elected 
permanent  President  of  the  Board.  Subscriptions  were  asked 
for.  General  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Brunswick,  afterwards 
Governor,  donated  25,000  acres  of  military  land  warrants 
to  be  located  in  West  Tennessee.  In  1835  these  were  sold 
for  $14,000. 

It  was  voted  to  locate  the  University  within  fifteen  miles 
of  Cyprett's  Bridge  over  New  Hope  Creek  in  Chatham 
County,  and  a  committee  of  the  Board  selected  the  site  on  the 
eminence  in  Orange  County  known  as  ISTew  Hope  Chapel 
Hill.  About  1,300  acres  of  land  were  donated  for  the  pur- 
pose. A  village  was  laid  out  and  lots  sold,  the  words  "'New 
Hope"  being  omitted  in  the  name  of  the  village. 

On  October  12th,  1793,  the  corner-stone  of  the  first  build- 
ing, the  Old  East,  was  laid  with  Masonic  ritual.  General 
Davie  being  Grand  Master.  Reverend  Samuel  E.  McCorckle, 
D.D.,  delivered  an  able  and  wise  address. 

It  was  concluded  not  to  have  a  President  but  only  a  "Pre- 
siding Professor."  A  Presbyterian  divine.  Reverend  David 
Ker,  a  graduate  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  was  chosen.  The 
doors  were  opened  for  students  January  15,  1795,  but,  owing 


118  THE   NOKTH    CAROLINA   BOOKLET. 

to  the  rainy  weather  and  muddj  roads,  the  first  to  arrive  two 
weeks  afterwards  was  Hinton  James  of  iSTew  Hanover.  It 
was  near  a  month  before  others  came,  but  by  May  the  num- 
bers increased  to  41  in  the  sjDring  and  near  100  in  the  fall. 
Charles  Wilson  Harris,  of  Cabarrus  County,  graduate  of 
Princeton  with  high  honors,  was  chosen  Tutor.  The  next 
year  he  was  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  on  the  resignation 
of  Dr.  Ker,  Presiding  Professor.  Having  determined  to  be  a 
lawyer,  Professor  Harris  induced  the  Trustees  to  elect  in  his 
place  Rev.  Joseph  Caldwell,  likewise  a  high  honor  graduate 
of  Princeton,  and  a  Tutor. 

Professor  Harris  induced  the  students  to  form  a  Literary 
Society.  This  was  in  June,  1795.  It  was  called  the  Debat- 
ing Society.  Three  weeks  afterwards  the  Concord  Society 
was  formed,  and  the  next  year  Debating  was  changed  to  its 
Greek  equivalent,  Dialectic,  and  the  Concord  was  trans- 
formed into  the  Philanthrophic.  James  Mebane  was  first 
President  of  the  former  and  James  Gillespie  (or  Gillaspie) 
of  the  latter.  Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle  is  proud  of  the  fact  that 
he,  as  President  in  1848,  and  the  venerable  James  Mebane, 
President  of  1795,  jointly  presided  over  the  Dialectic  Society 
on  the  dedication  of  a  new  Hall. 

The  first  scheme  of  studies  was  the  work  of  Dr.  McCorckle. 
In  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  a  "Plan  of  Education," 
the  work  of  General  Davie,  was  adopted.  He  relegated  the 
young  and  untaught  boys  to  a  Grammar  School.  The  more 
proficient  were  grouped  in  the  Collegiate  Department.  It 
is  noticeable  that  in  choice  of  studies,  for  example  French 
for  German,  and  with  large  liberty  of  election  for  scientific 
studies,  Davie  was  twenty-three  years  ahead  of  President 
Jefferson's  noted  plan  of  the  University  of  Virginia,  But 
when  Dr.  Caldwell  in  1804  became  President,  he  naturally 
introduced  the  classical  curriculum  of  Princeton,     This  was 


ABSTRACT  OF  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY.  119 

continued  substantially  for  many  years,  in  1858  liberty  to 
elect  Civil  Engineering  and  Agricultural  Chemistry  being 
allowed. 

About  this  time  there  were  repeated  efforts  by  lotteries  and 
by  soliciting  private  subscriptions  to  obtain  funds  for  com- 
pleting the  South,  then  called  Main.  Building.  President 
Caldwell  journeyed  to  many  points  in  the  State  for  the  pur- 
pose with  considerable  success.  Larger  donations  had  been 
ceived  from  General  Thomas  Person  and  Major  Charles 
Gerrard,  the  latter  being  in  Tennessee  land  warrants  not  then 
convertible  into  money. 

In  1812  Dr.  Caldwell  resigned  the  Presidency  for  the  Chair 
of  Mathematics.  In  his  place  was  chosen  Rev.  Robert  Hett 
Chapman,  D.D.,  of  the  State  of  ISTew  York.  On  account  of 
his  being  a  Federalist  in  the  hot  blood  times  of  the  war  with 
Great  Britain,  he  had  a  stormy  time.  In  1810  he  resigned 
his  office  and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Caldwell. 

About  this  time  the  University  had  a  few  years  of  pros- 
perity. The  Legislature  had  given  to  the  University  a  large 
number  of  land  warrants  to  be  located  in  Tennessee.  These 
had  been  granted  to  l^orth  Carolina  Continental  soldiers,  who 
had  died  without  leaving  heirs,  or  who  could  not  be  found. 
Tennessee  after  becoming  a  State  in  1796,  claimed  that  she 
was  entitled  to  the  warrants  by  right  of  eminent  domain. 
The  Trustees  appointed  Archibald  D.  Murphey  and  Joseph 
H.  Bryan  of  Bertie,  a  Congressman,  to  represent  their  inter- 
ests before  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  After  much  diffi- 
culty a  compromise  was  granted  by  that  body.  One  third 
were  allotted  to  the  University  and  two  thirds  to  colleges  in 
that  State.  Owing  to  funds  thus  obtained  the  institution  was 
prosperous  until  the  panic  of  1825.  President  Caldwell  was 
allowed  to  visit  Europe  for  the  purchase  of  books  and  appa- 
ratus. The  teaching  force  was  increased.  Elisha  Mitchell 
became  Professor  in  1818,  at  first  of  Mathematics,  in  1826 


120  THE   NOKTH    CAKOLINA   BOOKLET. 

changing  to  Geology  and  Mineralogy.  In  the  same  year, 
1826,  James  Phillips  accepted  the  Chair  of  Mathematics. 
These  two  were  strong  members  of  the  Faculty  for  many 
years;  Dr.  Mitchell  until  1857,  when  he  lost  his  life  on 
Mount  Mitchell,  and  Dr.  Phillips  in  1867,  when  he  died  sud- 
denly at  Prayers  in  Gerrard  Hall. 

Owing  to  the  panic  of  1825  the  sales  of  the  Tennessee  lands 
of  the  University  ceased  and  the  University  was  much  im- 
poverished. In  1835  Dr.  Caldwell  died  after  a  most  painful 
and  long-continued  disease. 

In  order  to  place  the  management  of  the  University  on  a 
business  basis,  an  Executive  Committee  of  seven  Trustees  in 
and  near  Raleigh  was,  in  1835,  formed  with  full  power.  As 
the  land  market  had  improved  the  Committee  empowered 
Charles  Manly  and  Samuel  Dickens  of  Tennessee  to  sell  all 
the  University  lands  in  that  State.  This  was  done  and  about 
$170,000  was  realized.  The  late  Governor  David  Lowry 
Swain  was  chosen  President  and  the  University,  having  an 
assured  income,  entered  on  a  career  of  prosperity. 

The  professors  who  have  not  been  named,  worthy  of  men- 
tion, are:  James  S.  Gillespie  (or  Gillaspie),  1797-'9,  who  was 
also  Presiding  Professor;  Archibald  D.  Murphey,  1800-'01; 
William  Bingham,  1801-'05 ;  Andrew  Rhea,  1806'-14;  Wil- 
liam Hooper,  1817-'37;  Ethan  A.  Andrews,  1822-'28 ;  Deni- 
son  Olmsted,  1817-'25;  Shepard  K.  Kolloch,  1819-'25; 
Nicholas  M.  Hentz,  1826-'31 ;  Walker  Anderson,  1833  ;  Wil- 
liam Mercer  Green,  1838-'49 ;  Manuel  Fetter,  1838-'68 ; 
John  DeBerniere  Hooper,  1838-'48. 

Of  these  Murphey  became  an  eminent  judge,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished pioneer  in  the  advancement  of  public  schools ; 
Bingham  was  the  founder  of  the  Bingham  School ;  William 
Hooper,  an  eminent  divine  and  President  of  Wake  Forest 
College ;  Andrews,  joint  author  of  a  widely  known.  Latin 
Grammar;  Olmsted  began  the  first  Geological  Survey  of  the 


ABSTRACT  OF  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY.  121 

State,  whicli  was  continued  by  Dr.  Mitchell,  and  was  author 
of  scientific  school  books;  Walker  Anderson  became  Chief 
Justice  of  Florida ;  Green,  Bishop  of  Mississippi  and  Chan- 
cellor of  the  University  of  the  South ;  Hentz,  author  of  a 
valuable  treatise  on  the  Arachnidse  (Spiders)  ;  Hooper  and 
Fetter  accurate  scholars  in  their  departments. 

In  1847  the  Commencement  was  honored  by  a  visit  from 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  a  graduate  of  1818,  James 
K.  Polk,  with  his  Attorney-General,  John  Y.  Mason,  a  gradu- 
ate of  1816.  Twelve  years  later  James  Buchanan,  with 
Jacob  Thompson,  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  a  graduate  of 
1831,  was  present  at  the  exercises. 

The  University  steadily  increased  in  numbers,  the  maxi- 
mum in  1857  being  461.  Then  on  account  of  the  threaten- 
ing war  there  began  to  be  a  diminution,  until  in  1860'61 
there  were  only  376.  Although  the  numbers  of  the  Faculty 
and  students  greatly  diminished  and  the  salaries  of  the 
Faculty  were  only  partially  paid.  President  Swain  pluckily 
kept  the  exercises  carried  on  all  during  the  war.  Even  a 
truncated  Commencement  was  held  in  June,  1865. 

The  University  sent  to  the  army  42  per  cent  of  all  students 
from  1830  to  1867,  viz.,  1,068.  Of  the  younger  alumni, 
1850  to  1862,  57  per  cent,  842  out  of  1,478.  Dr.  S.  B. 
Weeks  ascertained  these  facts  and  adds  that  312  lost 
their  lives.  There  were  702  officers  and  365  privates.  Out 
of  5  Tutors,  4  lost  their  lives.  Out  of  a  Faculty  of  14,  some 
old  and  ministers  of  the  gospel,  6  volunteered  for  the  war.  It 
is  stated  that  out  of  84  in  the  class  of  1860  all  became  soldiers 
except  one,  detained  by  ill  health. 

In  1858  the  new  Caldwell  monument  was  erected  by  the 
Alumni,  of  marble  in  the  place  of  the  weather-beaten  sand- 
stone shaft  near  the  new  West  Building.  President  Polk 
made  the  motion  and  gave  the  first  contribution. 

The  Trustees  in  1859  made  an  investment,  which  by  the 


122  THE    NORTH    CAROLINA   BOOKLET. 

fortunes  of  war  caused  the  bankruptcy  of  the  University. 
They  subscribed  for  $200,000  stock  in  the  Bank  of  ISTorth 
Carolina.  They  paid  cash  for  $110,000  but  incurred  a  debt 
to  the  bank  for  $90,000.  The  bank  stock  became  worthless 
but  the  debt  remained.  The  final  outcome  will  be  seen  in 
the  second  volume. 

Dr.  Battle  has  a  chapter  giving  the  characters,  virtues  and 
failings  of  the  Professors,  Tutors,  officers  and  servants  of 
the  University  during  the  three  decades  prior  to  the  closing 
in  1868  ;  President  Swain,  Mitchell,  Phillips,  Fetter,  Hooper, 
Green,  Deems,  Judge  Battle,  Graves,  Sr.,  Hubbard,  Wheat, 
Shipp,  Martin,  Hepburn,  Hedrick,  C.  Phillips,  Brown,  S. 
Phillips,  Smith,  Kimberly. 

Of  the  servants  he  describes  Dave  Barham  and  Doctor  'No- 
vember. He  also  faithfully  gave  the  breaches  of  discipline 
by  the  students,  the  humorous  pranks  and  the  punishments. 
He  described  the  hazing  which  was  stopped  for  several  yearg 
by  a  Freshman  barricading  himself  and  firing  with  pistol 
on  his  assailants,  drawing  blood  but  not  killing.  The  cessa- 
tion was  voluntary,  in  consideration  of  the  free  pardon  of 
offenders.  In  the  sport  of  throwing  fireballs  the  old  belfry 
was  burned  and  a  bell  of  uncommon  tone  destroyed. 

Under  the  old  regune  all  students  were  required  to  attend 
prayers  twice  a  day  except  on  Saturday  when  the  afternoon 
service  was  dispensed  with.  They  were  also  required  to  at- 
tend religious  services  on  Sunday  and  Bible  classes  in  the 
afternoon.  Professor  Green  and  Dr.  Mitchell  for  years  offici- 
ated alternately  in  the  Chapel.  About  1848,  when  the  Epis- 
copal church  edifice  was  completed.  Professor  Green  started 
an  agitation  for  allowing  students  exemption  from  Chapel 
services,  provided  they  would  attend  elsewhere.  This  was 
resisted  by  President  Swain,  Dr.  Mitchell,  Dr.  Phillips  and 
others  of  the  old  school.  After  a  long  controversy,  which 
did  not  cease  with  the  departure  of  Bishop  Green  to  Missis- 


ABSTEACT  OF  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNIVEESITY.  123 

sippi,  the  question  was  settled  in  1860  by  allowing  exemp- 
tions to  communicants,  to  those  whose  parents  requested  such 
exemption,  and  to  those  declaring  that  their  consciences  did 
not  allow  them  to  attend  Chapel  worship.  President  Swain 
granted  special  exemptions  with  liberality. 

In  1854  the  curriculum  was  extended  in  the  direction  of 
scientific  studies.  Tutor  Charles  Phillips  was  elected  Pro- 
fessor of  Civil  Engineering  and  spent  a  year  at  Harvard 
preparing  for  its  duties.  Benjamin  S.  Hedrick  took  charge 
of  Agricultural  Chemistry.  The  Trustees  did  not  allow  its 
ofiicers  to  be  active  in  politics,  and  as  Professor  Hedrick 
published  a  letter  advocating  the  election  of  Fremont,  in  the 
inflammatory  state  of  the  public  mind  incurring  widespread 
odium,  he  resigned  by  request.  Mr.  John  Kimberly  took  his 
place. 

The  University  with  fluctuating  numbers  had  during  the 
war  continuous  exercises.  The  professors  were  paid  in  Con- 
federate money,  which  rapidly  depreciated,  and  were  only 
able  to  live  by  strictest  economy.  The  Trustees  gave  some 
help  by  granting  leave  to  cut  firewood  from  their  woodlands. 
One  hundred-dollar  gold  bonds  were  issued  to  the  profes- 
sors, one  to  each,  but  the  distress  was  severe.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  there  was  due  them  $7,000  for  which  8  per  cent 
bonds  were  given.  The  University  owed  $103,000  and  the 
assets  were  $200,000  of  worthless  bank  stock  and  other  se- 
curities of  insigTiificant  value.  Valuable  members  of  the 
Faculty,  e.  g.,  Professors  Hepburn  and  Martin,  were  forced 
to  seek  other  fields  of  labor. 

In  1867,  the  affairs  of  the  University  being  desperate,  an 
effort  was  made  towards  a  reorganization.  To  effect  this 
the  Faculty  resigned  their  offices  but  were  requested  to  hold 
their  chairs  until  the  Commencement  of  1868.  When  that 
time  came  it  was  evident  that  the  Trustees  would  lose  their 
places  under  the  Reconstruction  Constitution  of  1868.     They 


124  THE   NOKTH    CAROLINA   BOOKLET. 

therefore  reelected  the  President  and  all  the  professors.  The 
new  Trustees  treated  this  reelection  as  invalid  and  vacated  all 
the  chairs. 

In  the  foregoing  condensed  narrative  it  has  been  found 
necessary  to  omit  much  of  the  first  volume  of  the  history, 
which  contains  full  accounts  of  the  following  subjects  among 
others : 

1.  Early  meetings  of  Trustees. 

2.  Journal  of  the  Committee  who  selected  the  site. 

3.  Sale  of  lots  in  the  new  village. 

4.  Letters  of  Charles  W.  Harris  and  Dr.  Caldwell  from  Chapel  Hill. 

5.  Subsequent  careers  of  Dr.  afterwards  Judge,  Ker  and  of  Pro- 
fessor Harris. 

6.  Early  rules  and  queries  of  the  two  Literary  Societies. 

7.  Letters  of  John  Pettigrew  giving  social  life  of  the  early  students. 

8.  Wild  conduct  of  early  students. 

9.  The  first  Commencement  and  graduates. 

10.  The  "great  Secession"  and  its  cause. 

11.  The  trials  of  Dr.  Chapman. 

12.  Letters  of  Slade  and  other  students. 

13.  Dr.  Caldwell's  narrative  of  his  European  trip. 

14.  Judge  Murphey's  address. 

15.  Judge  Gaston's  address. 

16.  Legislature  refuses  relief. 

17.  The  Droomgoole  myth. 

18.  The  Harbinger  journal  and  contents. 

19.  Sketches  of  professors  and  graduates. 

20.  History  of  the  Buildings  and  much  other  matter. 

21.  Subsequent  careers  of  Alumni. 

Kemp  P.  Battle. 


THE    NAMING    OE    WAKE    COUNTY.  125 


THE  NAMING  OF  WAKE  COUNTY 


His  peers   to  him  attention  gave, 
With  listening  air;    and  aspect  grave, 
While  thus  the  worthy  Baron  spoke: 
"Our  lovely  shire  a  name  must  take; 
And,  bring  of  all  this  promise  fair. 
The  garden  spot,  I  here  declare 
That  Beauty's  self  that  name  should  make 
And  I  propose  sweet  Esther  Wake." 

With  loud  acclaim  the  name  they  hail. 
A  name  that  ne'er  in  time  shall  fail. 
Wherever  heard,  whenever  spoken. 
To  be  to  every  heart  a  token 
Of  Beauty's  power,  and  soft  control 
O'er  manhood's  ardent  soul. 
1856. 

These  lines  were  written  by  the  late  Dr.  William  Cameron, 
of  Hillsboro,  ISTorth  Carolina,  and  embody  the  tradition  that 
Wake  County  was  named  by  Governor  Tryon  in  honor  of  his 
sister-in-law,  Miss  Esther  Wake,  of  Ireland,  who  was  perhaps 
the  only  popular  member  of  the  royal  Governor's  family  in 
the  Colony ;  and  who  is  said  to  have  been  very  beautiful  and 
amiable,  and  much  given  to  field  sports  and  hard  riding. 

There  is  or  was  a  ford  on  Eno  long  known  as  ''Miss  Esther 
Wake's  Ford."  Perhaps  some  of  our  old  country  folk  know 
it  still  Rebecca  CAMEROisr. 


126  THE   NOBTPI    CAKOLIjSTA   BOOKLET. 


CAPTAIN  JAMES  IREDELL  WADDELL 


BY  CAPTAIN  S.  A.  ASHE. 


At  the  end  of  four  long  years  of  terrific  struggle,  it  was 
Lee  himself  who  said:  "God  bless  North  Carolina."  With 
the  part  our  soldiers  bore  so  resolutely,  so  gloriously,  we  are 
all  somewhat  familiar;  but  while  the  great  theatre  of  action 
was  on  land,  there  were  perils  and  high  resolves,  and  crown- 
ing glories  also  on  the  deep.  Beleagured  and  blockaded  as 
were  the  Confederate  States,  the  Stars  and  Bars  were  borne 
across  the  oceans,  and  were  carried  in  triumph  around  the 
woxld.  There  were  heroes  of  the  seas  as  Avell  as  of  the  tented 
field.  Such  a  one  was  James  Iredell  Waddell — a  descendant 
of  Hugh  Waddell,  who  won  great  fame  in  the  Colonial  wars, 
and  who  in  Stamp  Act  times  proudly  bore  the  plume  of  a 
stalwart  patriot.  Also,  he  was  a  grandson  of  General  Fran- 
cis ITash — who,  under  Washington,  received  his  mortal 
wound  on  the  bloody  field  of  Germantown ;  while  through 
his  arteries  coursed  the  hot  blood  of  many  other  warriors  of 
the  olden  time. 

He  was  born  in  Pittsboro,  on  July  13,  1824.  His  father 
was  Francis  Nash  Waddell,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name 
was  Elizabeth  Davis  Moore. 

In  the  ante-bellum  days  the  vocations  open  to  a  young 
gentleman  in  North  Carolina  were  the  law,  or  medicine; 
the  life  of  a  planter,  or  a  military  career.  The  latter  suited 
the  temper  of  James  Iredell  Waddell ;  and  in  September, 
1841,  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  Midshipman  and  was  ordered  on  duty  at  Norfolk. 
That  was  before  the  Naval  school  was  established  at  An- 
napolis, and  the  boys  were  required  to  go  on  cruises,  study- 
ing while  at  sea,  and  afterwards  were  examined  for  promo- 


CAPTAIN   JAMES  IREDELL  WADDELL.  127 

tion.  Young  Waddell  bad  hardlj  donned  his  uniform  before 
bis  figbting  blood  sbowed  itself. 

An  older  Midsbipman,  by  name  of  Wearing,  was  offensive 
to  bim,  and  Waddell  promptly  called  bim  to  tbe  field  of 
bonor.  In  tbe  encounter  tbe  bigb-spirited  Carolinian  re- 
ceived a  wound  in  tbe  bip  tbat  caused  bim  to  limp  a  little  all 
tbrougb  life. 

Tbe  record  at  tbe  department  is  simply:  "On  leave  to  re- 
covered from  tbe  effect  of  a  duel."  Years  afterwards  wben  tbe 
naval  service  was  undergoing  tbe  transformation  incident  to 
tbe  introduction  of  steam,  wben  science  was  being  added  to 
tbe  necessary  attainments  of  JSTavy  Officers — ^wben  tbe  style 
of  men  like  Jobn  Paul  Jones,  Jobnson  Blakely  and  Lawrence 
and  Decatur  was  becoming  obsolete — and  steam,  and  ma- 
cbinery,  and  turrets  and  armor  plates  were  about  to  sup- 
plant tbe  gallant  sailing  frigates,  tbe  cbange  was  loudly 
bemoaned ;  and  at  tbat  time,  among  those  wbo  were  being  ed- 
ucated for  tbe  service,  tbe  pluck  of  Waddell  was  an  inspira^ 
tion ;  and  bis  sense  of  bonor,  bis  fearlessness,  bis  bearing 
and  prompt  challenge  of  an  older  officer  to  mortal  combat — 
made  bim  an  ideal  hero,  and  invested  bim  with  a  halo 
among  the  young  fighters  who  dreamed  of  a  future  career 
famous  for  carnage  and  glory. 

Tbe  record  of  his  service  in  bis  junior  years  shows  that  be 
served  on  tbe  Pacific;  that  on  tbe  breaking  out  of  tbe  war 
in  Mexico  be  was  ordered  to  tbe  Gulf — and  was  on  duty  in 
tbe  blockade  of  Vera  Cruz,  and  was  in  tbe  battle  of  Palo  Alto, 
being  with  the  sailors  and  marines  sent  by  Commodore  Con- 
ner to  the  assistance  of  General  Taylor. 

In  1848,  having  passed  bis  examination,  he  was  on  duty  at 

tbe  Observatory  at  Washington.     Three  years  later,  he  was 

ordered  to  tbe  practice  ship  at  Annapolis,  and  then  to  tbe 

Germantown — a  vessel  named  to  commemorate  the  battle  in 

5 


128  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

which   his    distinguished   grandfather   received   his    mortal 

wound. 

******* 

In  1848,  he  had  married  at  Annapolis,  Miss  Ann  Sellmon 
Iglehart,  and  had  thus  become  connected  with  some  of  the 
old  established  families  of  that  region.  Their  home  was  at 
Annapolis  where  he  was  again  on  duty  when  I  first  knew 
him  in  1858.  He  was  a  splendid  specimen  of  manhood. 
He  was  six  feet,  one  inch  in  height,  with  a  powerful  frame, 
weighing  more  than  two  hundred  pounds,  well  proportioned, 
with  a  fine  person.  His  features  were  well  cut,  betokening 
resolution  and  decision.  He  had  a  noble  bearing,  intelli- 
gence kindled  his  eye,  and  withal  gracious  and  courtly,  he 
was  radiant  with  kindliness.  Mrs.  Waddell  was  small  in 
person.  She  was  a  lovely  and  affectionate  woman.  They 
had  no  children,  and  the  life  of  each  seemed  centered  in  the 
other.  Though  long  married,  they  still  were  lovers.  It  was 
agreeable  to  observe  them,  the  strong  great  man — the  lovely, 
little  woman — wandering  over  the  grounds  together — happy 
in  themselves,  a  charming  idyl  of  real  life. 

His  life  was  as  a  spotless  mirror ;  bright,  effulgent  with 
honor ;  adorned  mth  virtue  and  with  high  attributes — while 
his  person  and  noble  countenance  recalled  the  lines : 

A  combination  and  a  form  indeed 

Where  every  god  did  seem  to  set  his  seal 

To  give  the  world  assurance  of  a  man! 

The  following  summer  he  was  on  the  practice  ship ;  and  at 
sea,  when  he  had  leisure,  he  daily  occupied  himself  in  study- 
ing international  law.  Without  premonition  of  the  future, 
he  then  acquired  that  knowledge  of  international  law  which 
served  him  so  well  on  the  sudden  occasion  in  after  years. 

As  an  officer,  he  was  a  disciplinarian,  without  being  harsh ; 
exacting,  but  not  tyrannical.     He  commanded  obedience,  and 


CAPTAIN  JAMES  lEEDELL  WADDELL,.  129 

compelled  respect ;  but  there  was  nothing  to  beget  any  feeling 
of  repugnance  among  those  subject  to  his  orders. 

He  returned  from  his  last  cruise  as  an  officer  in  the  United 
States  jSTavy  August,  1861,  and  tendered  his  resignation, 
which  the  Department  refused  to  accept. 

On  a  dark  and  stormy  night  early  in  January,  1862,  he, 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Iglehart,  shipped  as  oystermen 
on  board  an  oyster  dredging  boat  and  sailed  out  into  the 
Chesapeake;  and  after  some  striking  adventures,  narrowly 
escaping  capture,  made  good  their  way  into  Dixie. 

The  I^avy  Department  at  Washington  struck  his  name 
from  the  navy  roll,  spitefully  entering  on  the  record,  "Dis- 
missed." 

Lieutenant  Waddell  who  had  been  the  ordnance  officer 
at  the  Naval  station  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  was  in  1864  sent 
abroad  to  carry  on  the  work  of  distressing  the  commerce  of 
the  enemy.  Vessels  carrying  the  United  States  flag  had 
measurably  disappeared  from  the  Atlantic  ocean.  But  in 
the  Pacific  a  whaling  fleet  was  still  to  be  found,  and  it  was 
important  to  destroy  it. 

The  Navy  department  selected  Lieutenant  Waddell  for 
that  service.  His  reputation  as  a  seaman  was  superb,  and  he 
enjoyed  the  entire  confidence  of  the  department. 

Captain  Bulloch,  the  representative  of  the  Confederate 
government  in  Europe,  had  succeeded  in  purchasing  the  Sea 
King,  a  vessel  built  for  the  East  India  trade,  and  on  her 
maiden  voyage.  She  was  commodious  and  well  adapted  to 
carrying  a  large  complement  of  men ;  sailed  well  under  can- 
vas, and  had  her  screw  propeller  so  adjusted  that  when  not 
in  use  it  could  be  raised  out  of  water.  In  September,  1864, 
flag-officer  Barron  at  Paris,  pursuant  to  instructions  from 
the  department,  gave  to  Lieutenant  Waddell  his  particular 
directions. 


130  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

His  orders  were  to  the  effect  that  he  should  proceed  to 
London  and  sail  on  the  steamer  Laurel  to  the  Island  of 
Madeira.  The  Laurel  had  already  on  board  a  cargo  appar- 
ently of  merchandize — hut  really  of  cannon  and  munitions 
of  war,  which  had  been  invoiced  as  machinery  and  other  in- 
nocent goods  and  chattels.  •  ~~" 

The  difficulties  that  beset  Confederate  operations  abroad 
were  almost  insurmountable ;  the  British  authorities  being 
vigilant  to  give  no  offense  to  the  United  States. 

The  Sea  King,  a  new  screw  steamer,  however,  had  been 
secretly  purchased,  and  she  also  set  sail  for  Madeira. 

On  October  19th  the  two  vessels  met  off  Funchal,  and,  a 
preconcerted  signal  being  given,  recognized  each  other,  and 
proceeded  to  an  anchorage  on  the  shores  of  an  uninhabited 
island  some  miles  distant,  where  the  transfer  of  stores  was 
rapidly  made,  and  Lieutenant  Waddell  read  his  commission, 
and  raising  the  Confederate  flag  over  the  Sea  King,  christ- 
ened her  the  Shenandoah.  The  little  nook  in  which  the 
vessel  lay  was  well  protected  and  the  sea  was  smooth.  The 
day  was  bright  and  lovely,  and  Lieutenant  Waddell  was 
inspired  by  the  auspicious  circumstances  with  the  confident 
hope  of  success.  In  thirteen  hours  the  consort  had  dis- 
charged every  conceivable  outfit  intended  for  the  Shenan- 
doah, and  then  remained  only  to  receive  such  passengers  as 
were  to  return. 

Captain  Waddell  has  left  an  account  of  the  cruise  of  the 
Shenandoah — from  which  I  make  some  quotations :  "I  now 
felt,"  says  Waddell,  "that  I  had  a  good  and  fast  ship  under 
my  feet — but  there  was  a  vast  deal  to  be  done,  and  to  ac- 
complish all  that  a  crew  was  necessary." 

In  picking  out  the  crew  of  the  two  vessels  in  England  par- 
ticular efforts  were  made  to  secure  adventurous  spirits  who 
might  be  induced  to  enlist  on  the  Shenandoah.     Ko  married 


CAPTAIN   JAMES  IREDELL  WADDELL.  131 

man  was  shipped,  and  none  were  taken  except  with  the  hope 
that  when  the  time  came  thej  could  take  service  under  the 
Confederate  flag;  but  out  of  the  55  men  present  only  23  were 
willing  to  adventure  in  such  an  undertaking. 

Waddell's  force  was  indeed  so  weak  that  they  could  not 
weigh  anchor — without  the  assistance  of  the  officers.  These 
were  young  Confederates  who  had  been  sent  abroad  for  such 
service,  the  first  Lieutenant  being  William  C.  Whittle,  of 
Virginia,  whose  fine  capacity  rendered  him  of  great  assist- 
ance to  Captain  Waddell.  The  officers  threw  off  their  jackets, 
and  amid  hearty  cheers,  soon  had  the  anchor  hanging  at  the 
bow;  and  the  Shenandoah  entered  upon  her  new  career, 
throwing  out  to  the  breeze  the  flag  of  the  South  and  taking 
her  place  as  a  Confederate  cruiser  on  her  ocean  home,  as  a 
war  vessel  duly  commissioned  according  to  the  law  of 
nations.  That  flag,  wrote  Waddell,  "unfolded  itself  grace- 
fully to  the  favoring  breeze  and  declared  the  majesty  of  the 
country  it  represented,  amid  the  cheers  of  a  handful  of  brave 
hearted  men — and  the  Shenandoah  dashed  upon  her  native 
element,  as  if  more  than  equal  to  the  contest — cheered  on 
by  the  acclamations  of  the  Laurel,  which  was  steaming  away 
for  the  land  we  love — to  tell  the  tale  to  those  who  would  re- 
joice that  another  Confederate  cruiser  was  afloat !" 

But  work  was  to  be  done !  The  Sea  King  was  to  be  meta- 
morphosed into  a  cruiser,  and  armed  with  a  battery  for  which 
she  was  not  constructed.  The  deck  was  to  be  cleared,  the 
stores  put  away,  the  guns  mounted,  gun  ports  cut  in  the 
vessel's  sides,  and  the  ship  put  in  readiness  to  uphold  the 
honor  of  the  Confederate  flag.  All  was  to  be  done  in  mid- 
ocean,  without  an  organized  force,  and  with  a  small  crew 
never  before  associated  together. 

While  the  situation  was  itself  embarrassing,  other  em- 
barrassments forced  themselves  on  the  mind  of  Captain  Wad- 


132  THE  JSrOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

dell.  In  his  memoir  of  his  cruise,  he  wrote:  ''The  novel 
character  of  my  political  position  embarrassed  me  more  than 
the  feeble  condition  of  mj  command,  and  that  was  fraught 
with  j)ainful  aj)prehensions  enough.  I  had  the  compass  to 
guide  me  as  a  sailor,  but  my  instructions  made  me  a  magis- 
trate in  a  new  field  of  duty  and  where  the  law  was  not  very 
clear  even  to  the  lavr7ers.  I  was  on  all  matters  to  act 
promptly  and  without  counsel ;  but  my  admirable  instruc- 
tions and  the  instincts  of  honor  and  patriotism  that  ani- 
mated every  Southern  gentleman,  who  bore  arms  in  the 
Southj  bouyed  me  up  with  hope  and  supported  me  amid  the 
difficulties  and  responsibilities  bearing  upon  me." 

jSToble  man  !  chivalrous  soul !  brave  heart ;  We  here,  after 
these  many  years,  behold  you  raising  aloft  in  those  distant 
waters  the  sole  and  solitary  Confederate  banner  that  then 
floated  upon  the  bosom  of  the  ocean.  Alone  it  is  borne  by 
the  breeze  over  the  great  waste  of  waters — the  only  emblem 
of  our  nation's  sovereignty  upheld  beyond  the  limit  of  our 
beleagured  States.  We  now  realize  the  difficulties  that  beset 
you.  We  know  the  perils  of  the  deep — the  storms  and  hurri- 
canes that  sweep  the  ocean — the  fury  of  the  wild  waves 
moved  by  mighty  winds — but  these,  these  have  no  place  in 
your  thoughts  as  you  unfold  the  flag  of  your  country  then 
heroically  struggling  for  existence,  but  jour  mind  is  intent 
only  on  the  honor  of  your  countrymen ! 

The  Shenandoah  was  a  composite  vessel — the  frame  of 
iron,  the  hull  of  teak — six  inches  thick ;  she  could  steam 
about  nine  miles  an  hour — could  condense  about  500  gallons 
of  water  a  day;  and  used  about  twenty  tons  of  coal  a  day; 
was  very  fast;  under  favorable  circumstances — making  15 
miles  an  hour  under  sail. 

I  am  much  indebted  for  some  account  of  life  on  board  the 
Shenandoah  to  Lieut.  W.  C.  Whittle  and  also  recently  have 


CAPTAIN   JAMES  lEEDELL  WADDELL.  133 

had  the  pleasure  of  talking  over  the  same  subject  with  Lieu- 
tenant Grimball,  both  of  whom  were  schoolmates  with  me 
at  Annapolis  and  who  were  Captain  Waddell's  main  depend- 
ence for  assistance  in  his  long  and  adventuous  cruise. 

Captain  Whittle  says:  ''Captain  Waddell  though  brave 
and  courageous  was  naturally  discomfited  and  appalled  at 
the  work  to  be  done. 

"The  battery  consisted  of  four  8-inch  smooth  bore  cannon, 
two  rifled  Whitworth  32-pounders  and  two  12-po under  signal 
guns. 

"Every  man  and  officer  pulled  off  his  jacket  and  rolled  up 
his  sleeves,  and  with  the  motto  'Do  or  die,'  went  to  work  at 
anything  and  everything.  The  Captain  took  the  wheel  fre- 
quently, steering  the  ship,  to  give  one  more  pair  of  hands 
for  the  work  to  be  done.  We  worked  systematically  and 
intelligently,  doing  first  those  things  that  were  most  impera- 
tively necessary.  By  the  22d  of  October,  after  four  days  of 
hard  work,  the  decks  were  cleared,  the  guns  mounted,  and 
the  carpenters  began  to  cut  portholes  in  the  sides  of  the  ship." 

Five  days  later,  the  Shenandoah  entered  upon  her  first 
chase,  and  made  a  prize.  And  then  other  prizes  followed. 
From  these  prizes  they  secured  twenty  enlistments,  increasing 
the  crew  from  nineteen  to  thirty-nine ;  so,  including  the  ofii- 
cers,  they  had  all  told  sixty-two  men,  besides  the  prisoners, 
who  were  now  and  then  sent  away  on  some  bonded  vessel. 

On  December  8th,  they  made  Tristam  da  Canha,  near  St. 
Helena,  and  passing  to  the  east  of  Africa,  they  reached  Mel- 
bourne, Australia,  January  25,  1865.  There  they  landed 
all  their  prisoners,  and  after  refitting  left  on  February  18th. 
After  leaving  the  harbor,  a  number  of  men  who  had  secreted 
themselves  on  board,  came  on  deck  and  enlisted,  increasing 
their  crew  to  144  men. 

Sailing  northward  in  May,   after  many   adventures   and 


134  THE  NORTH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

capturing  many  j)rizes,  they  reached  the  shores  of  Kam- 
skatka. 

Captain  Whittle  says :  "We  were  in  the  Arctic  and  contig- 
uous regions  during  the  summer.  It  was  most  interesting, 
as  we  went  north  towards  the  pole,  to  mark  the  days  grow 
longer  and  longer,  and  to  experience  the  sun's  being  below 
the  horizon  a  shorter  and  shorter  time,  until  finally  the  sun 
did  not  go  out  of  sight  at  all,  but  would  go  down  to  the  lowest 
point,  and  without  disappearing,  would  rise  again.  In  short, 
it  was  all  day. 

"We  went  up  as  far  as  Gifinski  and  Tansk  Bays,  but  could 
not  enter  for  ice,  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  thick.  Frequent 
captures  were  made,  and  the  smoke  of  the  burning  vessels 
made  landmarks  against  the  skies." 

It  was  now  in  the  middle  of  summer,  and  on  June  23 
Waddell  captured  two  whalers,  which  had  left  San  Francisco 
in  April  and  had  on  board  papers  of  April  17th,  in  which 
was  found  the  correspondence  between  General  Grant  and 
General  Lee,  and  a  statement  of  the  surrender  at  Appomat- 
tox; but  the  same  papers  also  contained  President  Davis's 
proclamation  from  Danville,  declaring  Lee's  surrender  would 
only  cause  the  prosecution  of  the  war  with  renewed  vigor. 

How  harrowing  must  have  been  this  news  to  these  daring 
Confederates,  then  amid  floes  of  ice  in  the  Polar  Ocean ! 
But  they  were  men  of  nerve.  Whittle  says :  "We  felt  that 
the  South  had  sustained  great  reverses ;  but  at  no  time  did 
we  feel  a  more  imperative  duty  to  prosecute  our  work  with 
vigor.  Between  June  22d  and  28th  we  captured  24  whaling 
vessels,  eleven  being  taken  on  the  28th." 

Some  of  the  prisoners  expressed  their  opinion  that  the 
war  was  over;  but  notwithstanding,  eight  of  the  prisoners 
taken  that  day  enlisted  on  board  the  Shenandoah. 

On   June  29th,   the   Confederate  flag  was  flying  in   the 


CAPTAIN   JAMES  IREDELL  WADDELL.  135 

Arctic  Ocean;  but  on  that  day  Waddell  turned  his  prow 
away  from  the  pole  and  passed  southward  through  Bering 
Straits. 

In  July  5th,  they  passed  the  Aleutian  Islands,  one  of 
which  was  a  volcano  and  was  in  a  state  of  eruption,  smoke 
and  fire  issuing  from  its  peak.  That  was  the  last  land  seen 
by  the  Shenandoah  for  many  days. 

Let  us  pause  for  a  moment  and  consider  the  strange  situa- 
tion of  this  Confederate  cruiser — a  war  vessel  representing 
the  sovereignty  of  a  nation  that  had  expired  amid  the  throes 
of  disaster; — in  mid-ocean,  separated  by  thousands  of  miles 
from  any  friendly  hand,  subject  to  vicissitudes — uncertain  of 
the  present ;  apprehensive  of  the  future. 

Brave  hearts,  true  men,  bold  seamen !  They  feared  not 
the  fury  of  the  waves,  nor  the  storms  of  the  ocean,  but  they 
knew  well  man's  inhumanity  to  man !  They  knew  that  the 
jSTavy  Department  of  the  United  States,  freed  from  the  re- 
straints imposed  by  fear  of  retaliation,  would  be  vindictive 
and  tyrannical  to  the  last  degree. 

That  department  had  always  proclaimed  the  Southern 
people  rebels,  and  their  cruisers  only  pirates.  On  the  land 
we  had  forced  a  recognition  of  belligerent  rights:  but  at  sea 
we  had  been  powerless  to  retaliate. 

On  August  2d,  when  in  north  latitude  16  degrees  and  122 
west  longitude,  seeing  a  sailing  bark,  the  Shenandoah  made 
chase  under  steam  and  sail,  and  overhauled  her  at  4  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  It  proved  to  be  the  British  bark  Barra- 
conta,  thirteen  days  out  from  San  Francisco,  en  route  to  Liv- 
erpool. When  the  British  captain  was  asked  for  the  news  of 
the  war,  he  inquired  in  astonishment : 

"What  war  ?" 

"The  war  between  the  United  States  and  the  Confederate 
States." 


136  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

''Why/'  said  be,  "that  war  has  been  over  ever  since 
April.     What  ship  is  that  ?" 

''The  Confederate  ship,  Shenandoah,"  was  the  reply. 

Then  came  the  information  of  the  surrender  of  all  the 
Confederate  forces,  the  capture  of  President  Davis,  and  the 
entire  collapse  of  the  Confederate  cause;  and  the  additional 
information,  says  Whittle,  "that  Federal  cruisers  were  search- 
ing for  us  eA'^erywhere  and  would  deal  summarily  with  us,  if 
caught.  Files  of  recent  papers  confirmed  it  all.  The  infor- 
mation was  appalling.  We  were  bereft  of  country,  bereft  of 
ground  of  hope  or  aspiration,  bereft  of  a  cause  for  which  to 
struggle  and  to  suffer ! 

"That  independence  for  which  our  brave  people  had  so 
nobly  fought,  suffered  and  died,  was  under  God's  ruling,  de- 
nied to  us.  Our  anguish  of  disappointed  hopes  can  not  be 
described ! 

"^Naturally  our  minds  and  hearts  turned  to  our  dear  ones 
at  home.  What  of  the  fate  of  each  and  all  who  were  dear 
to  us  ?  These  were  the  harrowing  thoughts  that  entered  into 
our  very  souls,  the  measure  and  intensity  of  which  can  not 
be  portrayed. 

"Then  of  ourselves !  We  knew  the  intensity  of  feeling  en- 
gendered by  the  war — and  particularly  in  the  breasts  of  our 
foes  towards  us. 

"We  knew  that  every  eifort  would  be  made  for  our  capture, 
and  felt  that  if  we  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  fired  as 
their  hearts  were,  we  could  not  hope  for  a  fair  trial  and  judg- 
ment. Even  during  the  war,  we  had  been  opprobriously 
called  pirates,  and  we  knew  if  captured,  we  would  be  sum- 
marily dealt  with  as  such. 

"These  were  reflections  that  disquieted  us,  but  they  caused 
no  demoralization,  or  craven  fear,  but  were  borne  by  true 
men  with  clear  consciences,  who  had  done  their  duty  as  they 


CAPTAIN   JAMES  IKEDELL  WADDELL.  13Y 

saw  it,  with  all  the  powers  given  them  by  God.  It  was  a 
situation  desperate  to  a  degree  to  which  history  furnishes 
no  parallel.  The  first  duty  was  to  suspend  hostilities  and  to 
proclaim  such  suspension. 

"The  following  entry  was  made  in  the  log  book  August 
2,  1865,  the  Shenandoah  then  being  off  the  coast  of  Mexico: 
'Having  received  by  the  bark  Barraconta  the  sad  intelligence 
of  the  overthrow  of  the  Confederate  government,  all  attempts 
to  destroy  shipping  or  property  of  the  United  States  will 
cease  from  this  date,  in  accordance  with  which  First  Lieu- 
tenant W.  C.  Whittle  received  the  order  from  the  commander 
to  strike  below  the  battery  and  disarm  the  ship  and  crew.' 

"The  next  step  was  to  seek  asylum  with  some  strong  nation, 
strong  enough  to  maintain  the  ruling  of  the  law  of  nations 
and  resist  any  demand  for  our  surrender  to  our  enemies,  so 
that  we  might  have  a  full  and  fair  trial." 

Writing  of  that  critical  time.  Captain  Waddell,  wrote: 
"My  own  life  had  been  checkered,  and  I  was  tutored  to 
disappointments.  The  intelligence  of  the  issue  of  the  fear- 
ful struggle  cast  a  deep  stillness  over  the  ship's  company, 
and  would  have  occupied  all  my  reflection,  had  not  a  respon- 
sibility of  the  highest  order  rested  upon  me — as  to  the  course 
I  should  pursue,  which  involved  not  only  my  personal  honor, 
but  the  honor  of  that  flag  intrusted  to  me,  which  had  thus 
far  been  triumphant.  I  determined  to  run  the  ship  for  a 
Euroi^ean  port — which  involved  a  distance  of  17,000  miles — 
a  long  gantlet  to  run,  and  escape.  But  why  should  not  I 
succeed  in  baffling  observation  and  pursuit?  The  ship  had 
up  to  that  time  traveled  40,000  miles  without  accident.  I 
considered  it  due  to  the  honor  of  all  concerned  to  avoid  any- 
thing that  had  a  show  of  dread — under  the  severe  trial  im- 
posed upon  me:  that  such  was  my  duty  as  a  man  and  an 


138  THE  NOKTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

officer  in  whose  hands  was  placed  the  honor  of  my  country's 
flag  and  the  welfare  of  my  command," 

And  so  Waddell  determined  to  sail  for  England.  jSTo 
longer  did  he  have  legitimate  authority,  for  his  commission 
expired  with  the  collapse  of  the  Confederacy;  yet  so  well 
disciplined  had  his  crew  become,  that  to  the  very  end  the  con- 
duct of  his  crew  was  remarkable. 

On  the  15th  of  September,  running  at  the  rate  of  15  miles 
an  hour,  the  Shenandoah  turned  Cape  Horn,  and  took  her 
course  northward  for  Liverpool.  "We  passed  many  sails," 
says  Whittle,  "but  exchanged  no  signals.  We  were  making 
no  new  acquaintances."  They  crossed  the  equator  for  the 
fourth  time  on  October  11,  1865.  On  October  25th,  in  the 
afternoon,  when  about  500  miles  south  of  the  Azores,  they 
sighted  a  supposed  Federal  cruiser.  Their  courses  con- 
verged. The  stranger  was  apj)arently  waiting  for  the  ap- 
proaching vessel. 

Quoting  now  from  Captain  Waddell:  "The  situation  was 
one  of  anxious  suspense.  Our  security,  if  any  remained,  de- 
pended on  a  strict  adherence  to  our  course.  Deviation  would 
be  fatal ;  boldness  must  accomplish  deception.  Still  we 
forged  towards  the  sail,  and  it  would  be  madness  to  stop. 
Darkness  finally  threw  her  friendly  folds  around  the  anxious 
hearts  on  the  little  ship  and  closed  the  space  between  the 
vessels.  What  a  relief !  We  could  not  have  been  four  miles 
away." 

The  Shenandoah's  head  was  then  turned  southward  and 
steam  ordered.  It  was  the  first  time  she  had  been  under 
steam  since  crossing  the  equator  on  the  Pacific  side ;  indeed, 
the  fires  had  not  been  lighted  for  a  distance  of  more  than 
13,000  miles.  The  Shenandoah  ran  fifteen  miles  to  the  east- 
ward and  then  steamed  north  for  100  miles,  when  a  strong 
southwest  wind  dashed  her  to  within  700  miles  of  Liverpool. 


CAPTAIN   JAMES  IREDELL  WADDELL.  139 

A  calm  then  ensued,  leaving  the  Shenandoah  in  sight  of 
eleven  sails  during  daylight,  but  the  ship  was  continued 
under  sail  until  night  again  took  her  in  its  friendly  em- 
brace. After  furling  all  sails,  the  vessel  was  put  under 
steam  and  pushed  her  way  towards  the  desired  haven. 

The  Shenandoah  entered  St.  George's  Channel  on  the 
morning  of  N^ovember  5th,  just  122  days  from  the  Aleutian 
Islands.  "We  saw  no  land,"  says  Captain  Waddell,  "^after 
leaving  the  Aleutian  Islands  until  the  beacon  light  in  St. 
George's  Channel  was  seen  exactly  where  it  was  looked  for. 
We  had  sailed  23,000  miles  without  seeing  land  and  still  saw 
the  beacon  exactly  where  we  expected." 

The  daily  calculation  of  the  ship's  position  was  very  ac- 
curate, when  that  fact  is  considered.  It  was  indeed  a  most 
remarkable  record  in  navigation.  They  received  a  pilot  after 
night,  and  when  he  was  informed  of  the  character  of  the 
vessel,  he  said :  "I  was  reading  a  few  days  ago  of  her  being 
in  the  Arctic  Ocean."  Asked  for  American  news,  he  said 
the  war  had  gone  against  the  South.  That  was  in  ISTovember. 
Lee's  surrender  was  in  April. 

"The  quiet  satisfaction  seen  in  all  countenances,"  says 
Captain  Waddell,  "for  our  success  in  reaching  a  European 
port  was  unmistakable." 

Indeed,  there  was  cause.  The  chief  danger  was  now  past. 
On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  ISTovember,  1865,  the  Shenan- 
doah steamed  up  the  Mersey,  bearing  aloft  the  Confederate 
flag.  A  few  moments  after  she  had  anchored,  a  British  naval 
officer  boarded  her — to  ascertain  the  name  of  the  steamer — 
and  he  gave  Captain  Waddell  official  information  that  the 
American  war  had  terminated.  'No  longer  was  there  any 
Confederacy !  The  Southern  States  were  again  a  part  of  the 
United  States. 

The   Confederate   flag,    representing  neither   people   nor 


140  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET, 

country,  an  emblem  of  an  era  that  had  closed  in  the  history 
of  mankind,  was  then  sorrowfully  lowered,  this  historic  act 
taking  place  at  10  a.  m.  on  the  6th  of  November,  1865.  The 
vessel  was  then  given  in  charge  to  the  British  government. 

For  a  day  or  two  some  correspondence  was  in  progress  be- 
tween the  British  and  American  authorities  in  regard  to 
the  Shenandoah,  her  officers  and  crew.  But  on  the  8th  of 
iN'ovember  the  crew  were  suffered  to  depart,  and  soon  the 
British  government  turned  the  vessel  over  to  the  United 
States  authorities,  by  whom  she  was  sold  to  the  Sultan  of 
Zanzibar,  and  later  she  was  lost  at  sea. 

She  was  the  only  vessel  that  carried  the  Confederate  flag 
around  the  world,  and  she  bore  it  at  her  mast  head  seven 
months  after  the  surrender  of  the  Southern  armies  and  the 
obliteration  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

In  her  cruise  of  thirteen  months,  she  ran  58,000  miles  and 
met  with  no  accident;  and  for  a  period  of  eight  months  she 
did  not  drop  her  anchor.  She  destroyed  more  vessels  than 
any  other  ship  of  war  known  in  history,  except  alone  the 
Alabama,  and  inflicted  heavy  loss  on  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States. 

The  feeling  of  the  United  States  was  so  intense  against 
Captain  Waddell  that  he  lingered  some  time  in  Europe  be- 
fore venturing  to  return  to  America.  Finally  he  came,  and 
in  1875  the  Pacific  Mail  Company,  owned  largely  by  Eng- 
lishmen, running  lines  of  steamers  from  San  Francisco  to 
Japan  and  Australia,  engaged  him  as  commander  of  one  of 
its  fine  steamships.  For  some  years  he  continued  in  that 
service,  but  on  one  of  his  return  trips,  as  he  was  nearing  the 
coast,  his  vessel  struck  a  rock  or  bar  not  laid  down  in  any 
chart,  some  thirteen  miles  from  shore,  which  had  doubtless 
been  thrown  up  by  a  recent  earthquake.  He  had  120  pas- 
sengers on  board,  many  being  women  and  children.     He  at 


CAPTAIN   JAMES  IREDELL  WADDELL.  141 

once  took  personal  command,  and  by  the  perfect  discipline 
lie  had  maintained  among  the  crew,  he  controlled  the  excited 
passengers.  Indeed  his  was  a  personality  that  would  in- 
sjDire  confidence  under  all  circumstances.  Through  an  open- 
ing fifty  feet  long,  water  poured  into  the  vessel.  He  put  all 
men  at  the  pumps,  turned  toward  the  shore  and  got  his 
boats  and  life  rafts  ready.  He  got  within  three  miles  of  land 
before  he  found  it  necessary  to  abandon  the  sinking  vessel. 
Eapidly  he  had  the  women  and  children  transferred  to  the 
small  boats,  and  then  the  men,  and  then  the  crew — until  at 
length  he  alone  remained  the  sole  human  being  upon  his  fated 
ship.  Then  hurrying  the  boats  away,  he  himself  stepped 
upon  a  life  raft,  and  when  not  more  than  fifty  yards  away, 
the  great  vessel  plunged  into  the  waves,  creating  a  vortex  of 
waters  from  which  he  barely  escaped.  But  no  soul  was  lost. 
His  perfect  self-command,  his  perfect  discipline,  secured  the 
safety  of  every  passenger.  They  were  landed  without 
trouble  on  the  neighboring  shore,  and  the  admirable  conduct 
of  Captain  Waddell  won  the  highest  praise. 

But  after  that  he  determined  to  abandon  a  career  upon 
the  sea,  and  eventually  returned  to  Annapolis. 

Later,  there  being  much  trouble  in  controlling  the  fleet  of 
oyster  boats  on  the  Chesapeake  that  set  at  defiance  the  laws 
of  Maryland,  the  governor  of  that  State  invited  Captain 
Waddell  to  take  charge  of  the  State  guard  boats  in  the  Chesa- 
j)eake.  He  soon  established  order  and  made  the  oystermen 
respect  the  law. 

He  continued  in  this  service  at  Annapolis  until  his  death, 
March  15,  1886,  being  then  in  the  6 2d  year  of  his  age.  The 
Legislature  of  Maryland  was  in  session  at  the  time  and  ad- 
journed to  do  him  honor.  The  old  Confederate  soldiers 
formed  in  line  and  marched  to  his  residence.  General 
George  H.  Stuart  acted  as  marshal  and  the  pall-bearers  were 


14:2  THE  NORTH  CAKOLINA  BOOKLET. 

Captain  Morris,  Captain  Murray,  General  Bradley  Johnson 
and  other  distinguished  Confederates,  while  the  escort  of 
honor  was  commanded  by  Colonel  William  Morris.  The 
governor  and  State  officers  participated. 

Indeed  it  was  a  State  funeral — the  only  one,  that  we  re- 
member, ever  accorded  to  a  Confederate  in  a  State  north  of 
the  Potomac. 

Thus  was  laid  to  rest  this  brave  son  of  the  Cape  Fear,  who 
never  ceased  to  love  his  native  soil  and  his  friends  and  kin- 
dred in  JSTorth  Carolina.  His  life  was  full  vicissitudes,  but 
his  guiding  star  was  honor,  and  he  was  a  shining  example 
of  all  that  is  admirable  in  human  character  and  all  that  is 
meritorious  in  human  conduct. 

Like  many  other  heroes  of  the  great  drama,  he  has  passed 
away  and  his  grave  is  adorned  with  flowers  by  the  loving 
hands  of  patriotic  women — Confederate  women,  who  suffered 
for  the  lost  cause  -and  who  perpetuate  its  sacred  memories. 
In  the  time  of  sorrow,  they  and  their  Confederate  sisters 
throughout  the  Southland  bore  themselves  with  unsurpassed 
fortitude,  and  in  these  later  days,  they  treasure  the  hallowed 
past  and  keep  bright  the  fame  of  our  fathers  and  brothers 
and  tenderly  pay  deserved  tribute  to  their  honored  dead. 
Duty,  Christian  duty,  is  their  watchword,  and  the  people 
of  ISTorth  Carolina  and  of  the  South  in  the  ages  to  come — 
the  descendants  of  our  people  here  to  remote  posterity — will 
bless  them  for  their  noble,  patriotic  and  devoted  work  in 
preserving  the  unsullied  records  of  the  heroes  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy. 


MAKEIAGE    BONDS    OF    ROWAN    COUNTY.  143 


MARRIAGE  BONDS  OF  ROWAN  COUNTY, 
NORTH  CAROLINA 


CONTRIBUTED  BY  MRS.  M.  G.  McCUBBINS. 


John  Cochran  to  Elizabeth  Patten.  February  7,  1773. 
John  Cochran,  Richard  paton  and  Andrew  Cochran.  (Ad: 
Osborn. ) 

John  Chambers  to  Eebecah  Graham.     June  13,   177 

John  Chambers  and  Jas.  Cathej.  (Ad:  Osborn.)  A  note 
of  consent  from  bride's  father,  James  Graham,  dated  June 
13,  1774,  witnessed  by  George  Howard. 

Hugh  Cathey  to  Jane  Bailey.  August  4,  1774.  Hu: 
Cathey  and  James  Brandon.  (Ad:  Osborn.)  A  note  of 
consent  from  bride's  father,  Charles  Bailey,  dated  August 
3,  1774. 

Richard  Cathey,  to  Elizabeth  Giles,  a  spinster.  September 
6,  1774.  Richard  Cathey  and  William  Giles.   (Ad:    Osborn.) 

Hugh  Cunningham  to  Elizabeth  Smith,  a  spinster.  Sep- 
tember 15,  1774.  Hugh  (his  X  mark)  Cunningham  and 
John  Johnston.     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

James  Cooke  to  Anne  McConnell.  August  15,  1774. 
James  Cook  and  Joseph  Dickson.     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

Leonard  Crider  to  Margaret  Vervele.  February  14,  1775. 
Leonard  Crider  (in  Dutch  ?)  and  George  Gonter.  (Ad : 
Osborn.) 

John  Campbell  to  Juda  Peterson.  February  15,  1775. 
John  Campbell,  William  Brandon  and  John  Lock.  (No 
name.) 

Henry  Chambers  to  Agness  McHenry.  May  11,  1775. 
Henery  Chambers  and  John  McHenry.     (David  Flowers.) 

William  Clark  to  Sarah  Jones.  August  17,  1775.  Wil- 
liam Clark  and  George  Gonder.     (David  Flowers.) 

6 


144  THE  NOKTH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

John  Calahan  to  Jane  Templeton.  August  19,  17Y5.  John 
Calahan  and  George  Templeton.      (David  Flowers.) 

James  Cowen  to  Easther  Lewis.  August  22,  1775.  James 
Cowan  and  Henry  Dobbin.     (David  Flowers.) 

John  Carson  to  Sarah  Slaven.  August  31,  1775.  John 
Carson  and  Robert  Nevins.      (David  Flowers.) 

Joshua  Crowdir  to  Rebecca  (Rebena?)  Smith  (a  spinster) 
January  19,  1776.     Joshua  Crowder  and  Arch*^  Kerr. 

Arthur  Chambers  to  Ruth  Woods.  May  9,  1776.  Arthur 
Chambers  and  Samuel  Woods.     (Ad:     Osborn.) 

Robert  Chambers  to  Lettice  Boyd.  May  10,  1776.  Robert 
Chambers  and  Robert  Boyd.     (Ad:  Osborne.) 

Valentine  Calahan  to  Elizabeth  McCreedy.  May  28,  1776. 
—  Callahan  and  James  Bone  (?).  (Ad.:  Osborn.)  A  note 
from  Andrew  McCreedy. 

Samuel  McCorkle  to  Elisabeth  Gillespie.  June  29,  1776. 
Samuel  McCorkle  and  Adlai  Osborn.      (No  name.) 

David  Craige  to  Mary  Foster.  July  20,  1776.  David 
Craige  and  Adlexander  Brown.     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

Benjamin  Cowen  to  Anne  Henley  Jenkins.  April  9,  1778. 
Benjamin  Cowan  and  William  Cowan.     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

James  Coyle  to  Jean  Harrington.  September  12,  1778. 
James  Coile  and  William  (his  X  mark)  Harrington.  (Ad: 
Osborn.) 

Joseph  Chambers  to  Mary  Campbell.  September  14, 
1778.     Joseph  Chambers  and  George  Reed.     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

Daniel  Clenard  to  Mary  Hinkle.  November  8,  1778  ( ?). 
Daniel  (his  X  mark)  and  Geo.  (his  X  mark)  Hoover.  ( Jno. 
Macay.) 

Eleazer  Cummins  to  Isabell  (?)  Caswell  ( ?).  December 
15,  1778.  Eliazar  Comens  and  James  Eraser.  (William 
R.  Davie.) 

Jonathan  Cox  to  Mary  Konne  (?).  May  (?)  8,  1779. 
Jonathan  Cox  and  Joseph  (his  X  mark)  Cox.  (Jo.  Brevard.) 


MAEEIAGE    BONDS    OP    KOWAN    COUNTY.  145 

]Sr.  B. — This  is  mixed  and  Joseph  may  have  married  instead 
of  Jonathan. 

Robert  Carlisle  to  Elizabeth  Cash.  February  3,  1779. 
Eobert  Carlile  and  John  Cochran.     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

Christophel  Cupp  to  Prusilla  Landuse.  May  17,  1779. 
Christophel  Cupp  ( ?)  and  Johannes  Cochenour  ?  (these  are 
in  Dutch?)     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

John  Cochran  to  Margret  Huston.  September  9,  1779. 
Jno.  Coghlan  and  Jno.  Bailey.  (Ad:  Osborn  and  Jo. 
Brevard. ) 

Hugh  Cunningham  to  Mary  Kent  (?).  February  10, 
1780.  Hugh  Cunningham  and  Jonathan  Conger.  (B.  Booth 
Boote.) 

Isaac  Cowin  to  Mary  Pelton.  JSTovember  8,  1780.  Isaac 
(his  X  mark)  Cowin  and  Nicholas  (his  X  mark)  Aldredge. 
(H.?  Giffard.) 

Thomas  Cook  to  Ann  Clayton.  January  20,  1781.  Thomas 
Cook  and  Lambert  Clayton. 

George  Clark  to  Elizabeth  Allen.  March  14,  1781  (?). 
George  Clark  and  John  Smith.     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

James  Cook  and  Margaret  Thompson.  June  22,  1782  (  ?). 
James  Cooke  and  John  Hide  (?). 

James  Chambers  to  Margret  Erwin.  October  19,  1782. 
Abraham  (his  X  mark)  Ervin.     (Ad:  Osborn.) 

Lambert  Clayton  to  Serah  Davidson.  December  14  (11  ?), 
1782.     Lambert  Clayton  and  Jas.  Ker.     (H.  C.  Caule.) 

Joseph  Crofts  to  Sarah  Wells.  December  16,  1782  (3  ?). 
Joseph  Crofts  and  Thos.  (his  X  mark)  Willis.  (William 
Crawford. ) 

John  Current  to  Susanna  Remington.  December  13 
(19?),  1782.  John  Current  and  William  Clark.  (William 
Crawford.) 

Albert  Carson  to  Ellie  Patterson.  December  20,  1782. 
Robert  Carson  and  James  Patterson.      (?)  H.  C.  Caule. 


146  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

William  Craige  to  Deborah  Orman.  1783.  William 
Craig  and  Joseph  Chambers.      (Wm.   Crawford.) 

Samuel  Cummins  to  Elizabeth  ISTevins.  January  28, 
1783.  Samuel  Cummins  and  John  Edgard.  (William 
Crawford.) 

Amos  Church  to  Elizabeth  Swink.  February  25,  1783. 
Amos  (his  X  mark)  Swink  and  Henry  Giles.  (A  mistake 
surely.     (William  Crawford.) 

Samuel  Cowin  to  Phebe  Lewis.  Jun.  (  ?)  14,  1783. 
Samuel  Cowan  and  Samuel  (his  X  mark)  Lewis.  (Wm. 
Crawford.) 

Jacob  Clever  to  Christina  Billing.  August  11,  1783, 
Jacob  Clevey  (  ?)   and  Leonard   (his  X  mark)   Ca.  ? 

James  Kilehand  to  Mary  Wason.  August  14,  1783. 
James  W.  Calahan  and  John  Wason.      (Jno.  McNairy.) 

John  Chriwer  (  ?)  to  Cathrin  Kup  (  ^).  Xovember  1, 
1783.     John  (his  X  mark)  Chriver  and  Peter  Brown. 

Isaac  Cowin  to  Sarah  Stewart.  December  18,  1783.  Isaac 
(his  X  mark)  Cowin  and  Da\dd  (his  X  mark)  Stewart. 
(Jno.  McXairy.) 

(To  be  Continued.) 


Biographical  Sketches  of  the  contributors  to  this  issue  of 
The  Booklet  have  been  published  heretofore  as  follows : 

Mr.  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood Yol.  VIII,     1 

Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle Vol.    VII,     2 

Captain  S.  A.   Ashe Vol       IX,     4 


Vol.  XIII  JANUARY,  1914  No.  3 


15he 


floRTH  CflROLmA  BoOKIiET 


** Carolina!  Carolina!  Heaven^ s  blessings  attend  her ! 
While  we  live  we  will  cherish,  protect  and  defend  her.'^ 


Published  by 

THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY 

DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION 


The  object  of  The  Bookxet  is  to  aid  in  developing  and  preserving 
North  Carolina  History.  The  proceeds  arising  from  its  publicatiOB 
will  be  devoted  to  patriotic  purposes.  Editob. 


ADVISORY  BOARD  OF  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 

Mrs.  Hubert  Haywood.  Dr.  Richard  Dillard. 

Mrs.  E.  E.  Moffitt.  Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle. 

Mr.  R.  D.  W  Connor.  Mr.  James  Sprunt. 

Dr.  D.  H.  Hill.  Mr.  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood. 

Dr.  E.  W.  Sikes.  Chief  Justice  Walter  Clark. 

Mr.  W.  J.  Peele.  Major  W.  A.  Graham. 

Miss  Adelaide  L.  Fries.  Dr.  Charles  Lee  Smith. 

Miss  Martha  Helen  Haywood. 

editor  :  ~~~ 

Miss  Mary  Hilliard  Hinton. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY 
DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION  1912-1914 

regent: 
Miss  MARY  HILLIARD  HINTON. 

vice-regent: 

Mrs.  CHARLES  P.  WALES. 

honorary  regent: 

Mrs.  E.  E.  MOFFITT. 

recording  secretary: 

Mrs.  clarence  JOHNSON. 

corresponding  secretary: 

Mrs.  PAUL  H.  LEE. 

treasurer: 

Mrs'.  FRANK  SHERWOOD. 

registrar: 

Miss  SARAH  W.  ASHE. 

custodian  of  relics: 

Mrs.  JOHN  E.  RAY. 


CHAPTER  REGENTS 

Bloomsbury  Chapter Mrs.  Hubert  Haywood,  Regent. 

Penelope  Barker  Chapter Mrs.  Patrick  Matthew,  Regent. 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh  Chapter, 

Miss  Catherine  F.  Seyton  Albertson,  Regent. 
General  Francis  Nash  Chapter. ..  .Miss  Rebecca  Cameron,  Regent 
Roanoke  Chapter Mrs.  Charles  J.  Sawyer,  Regent. 


Founder  op  the  North  Carolina  Society  and  Regent  1896-1902: 

Mrs.  SPIER  WHITAKER. 

Regent  1902: 

Mrs.  D.  H.  HILL,  SR.f 

Regent  1902-1906: 

Mrs.  THOMAS  K.  BRUNER. 

Regent  1906-1910: 

Mrs.  E.  E.  MOFFITT. 


•Died  December  12,  1904. 
tDied  November  25.  1911. 


THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 

Vol.  XIII  JANUARY,  J9I4  No.  3 


NEW  YEAR'S  SHOOTING,  AN  ANCIENT 
GERMAN  CUSTOM 


By  Major  Wm.  A.  Graham. 


The  Germans  who  came  from  the  Fatherland  direct  or  via 
Pennsylvania  to  the  country  adjacent  to  the  Catawba  River 
and  perhaps  to  other  sections  of  the  State  brought  with 
them  the  custom  of  "N^ew  Year's  Shooting,"  which  from  the 
opening  words  of  the  sermon  seems  to  have  been  a  custom 
in  the  old  country  in  which  the  tenants  on  ISTew  Year's  Eve, 
going  to  the  mansion  of  the  Baron  or  Landlord,  delivered 
an  address  and  saluted  him  by  firing  their  guns. 

It  was  not  a  carousal  of  boys  on  a  spree,  but  one  of  the 
steadiest,  and  generally  an  elderly  man,  was  the  preacher, 
who  promptly  left  if  there  was  any  misbehavior. 

The  custom  has  now  become  almost  obsolete,  but  there  are 
still  a  few  communities  who  prepare  for  the  visit  of  the 
shooters  by  having  a  supply  of  eatables  on  hand  for  them. 

Assembling  about  midnight,  they  went  from  house  to 
house  until  sunrise,  having  designated  some  place  where 
they  would  breakfast.  Here  the  preacher  left  and  the 
others,  principally  the  young  people,  spent  some  time  in 
drinking,  dancing,  prize  shooting  and  other  festivities  com- 
mon to  the  Christmas  season  in  those  days. 

The  desire  was  to  reach  the  house  unobserved  by  the  ocr- 
eupants.  Assembling  before  the  house,  the  preacher  called 
out  three  times :    "Hello,  Major  (or  William)  Graham!"    At 


148  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

the  third  call  the  landlord  answers,  "Hello."     Then  follows 

the  sermon: 

Good  morning,  Landlord  and  Landlady! 

Sons  and  daughters  and  all  who  are  within  your  house. 

I  wish  you  all  a  happy  New  Year  in  this  year  of  our  Lord  1914. 

I  wish  you  all  great  health,  long  life,  which  God  will  bestow  you  on, 

Keep  joy,  peace  and  encouragement  and  God  will  bless  your  whole 

intent. 
On  your  house  and  all  therein 
I  wish  you  all  a  blessing. 
Praise  Him  in  times  of  all 
Who  gives  you  houses,  lands  and  all. 
The  poor  and  needy  praise  the  Lord 
Who  blessings  need  of  every  sort. 
In  every  part  I  wish  you  ease, 
That  God  may  give  you  luck  and  peace. 
God  preserve  the  house  that  you  are  in, 
Where  you  go  out,  where  you  come  in. 
In  this  world  both  man  and  wife 
Grow  tired  of  this  earthly  life 
And  seek  an  eternal  rest, 
Choosing  some  other  subject  for  the  best. 
And  I  wish  from  my  heart 
From  this  world  we  do  depart 
We  may  all  sing  new  hymns 
Like  David  did  in  former  times. 
But  you  are  like  that  frail  flower. 
Born  to  flourish  but  an  hour, 
That  with  the  sun  does  uprise, 
Unfolds,  and  with  the  evening  dies. 
Such  and  so  withering  are  our  earthly  joys 
Which  time  and  sickness  soon  destroys. 
A  thousand  wretched  souls  have  fled 
Since  the  last  setting  sun; 
But  the  Lord  hath  lengthened  out  our  thread 
And  still  our  moments  run. 
Great  God,  let  all  our  hours  be  thine, 
Then  shall  our  sun  in  smiles  decline. 
Never  build  your  hopes  too  high. 
But  keep  God  always  before  your  eye. 
And  that  you  and  I  are  born  to  die. 
Time  by  moments  steals  away. 
First  the  hour  and  then  the  day, 


NEW  year's  shooting.  149 

Small  the  daily  loss  appears, 

But  soon  it  doth  amount  to  years. 

Sad  experience  may  relate 

What  a  year  the  last  has  been; 

Crops  of  sorrow  have  been  great 

In  this  vain  world  of  sin. 

That  they  must  lie  within  the  tomb 

The  sons  of  Adam  know  is  their  certain  doom. 

As  runs  the  glass,  man's  life  does  pass. 

Xerxes  the  Great  did  surely  die; 

This  must  be  the  case  with  you  and  I. 

I  have  this  New  Year's  morn  called  you  by  your  name, 

Disturbed  you  of  your  rest,  meant  no  harm  by  the  same; 

Here  we  stand  upon  your  land 

With  guns  and  pistols  in  our  hand. 

And  when  we  pull  trigger  and  powder  burn. 

You'll  hear  the  roaring  of  our  guns. 

Here  we  are  in  your  yard, 

A  little  distance  all  apart. 

And,  as  it  may  be  your  desire, 

Our  guns  shall  either  snap*  or  fire. 

As  I  hear  no  objection. 

We'll  now  proceed  to  your  protection. 

After  the  sermon  comes  the  firing.  Beginning  at  the  head 
of  the  line  each  one  fires  until  all  have  shot.  A  loud  re- 
port is  highly  prized  and  to  secure  this  by  overloading 
sometimes  the  guns  burst  or  are  kicked  out  of  the  hands  of 
the  person  firing.  Others  fire  with  the  muzzle  pointed  to 
the  ground  to  increase  the  volume  of  the  report.  A  large 
attendance  at  New  Year's  shooting  was  considered  a  good 
omen  for  the  next  wheat  crop,  caused  by  the  settling  of  the 
powder  smoke  upon  the  ground.  The  firing  over,  the 
preacher  says : 

If  you  are  a  man  of  grace. 

Come  to  the  door  and  show  your  face. 

The  landlord  opens  the  door,  the  shooters  enter,  exchange 
the  compliments  of  the  season,   partake  of  such  entertain- 

*If  on  account  of  sickness  or  other  cause,  firing  is  not  desired,  the  landlord  calls  out 
"  Snap." 


150  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

ment  as  has  been  prepared  and  then  proceed  to  the  next 
house,  continuing  the  march  until  sunrise. 

It  is  a  pretty  manner  of  extending  ISTew  Year's  saluta- 
tion and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  it  will  soon  be  obsolete. 

The  original  sermon  was  in  German,  and  in  many  places 
it  was  preached  in  that  language  prior  to  1860.  There  are 
several  versions  in  English ;  the  one  I  have  given  is  the 
one  used  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  writer. 

Mr.  R,  M.  Beal,  of  Lincolnton,  gives  the  following  ver- 
sion as  that  used  by  him  and  his  associates: 

THE  NEW  YEAB'S  SHOOTING. 

Good  morning.  Landlord  and  Landlady, 

Sons  and  daughters  and  all  that  are  within  thy  house. 

I  wish  you  a  happy  New  Year, 

Great  health  and  long  life. 

Which  God  bestow  upon  you  in  mercy 

As  long  as  you  are  upon  the  earth. 

I  hope  you  lovers  of  every  kind. 

Please  your  heart  and  please  your  mind, 

Whose  heart  is  pure,  whose  hands  are  clean, 

Whose  tongues  still  speak  the  things  they  mean, 

No  slander  dwells  upon  your  tongue 

You  hate  to  do  your  lovers  wrong. 

A  state  of  sin  I  despise 

But  love  the  honor  in  the  eyes, 

Don't  be  too  proud,  don't  build  your  hopes  too  high, 

Keep  God  always  before  your  eye 

And  recollect  you  are  born  to  die 

As  well  as  I. 

The  hoar  frost  that  shrouds  the  ground, 

The  hail  that  sends  the  dreadful  sound. 

The  icy  hand  the  rivers  hold 

From  the  dread  arms  of  winter's  cold, 

The  branches  we  are  ordained  to  shoot 

From  David's  stock  to  Jacob's  root. 

To  this  New  Year's  morning  1914 

I  have  called  you  by  your  name 

And  meant  no  harm  by  the  same. 

If  these  proceedings  don't  agree, 


NEW  year's  shooting.  151 


Make  us  an  answer  se-ri-ous-ly. 
That  we  may  hold  our  credit  by 
And  burn  our  powders  in  aegy  sly — 
But  since  it  has  been  your  desire, 
Guns  and  pistols  shall  snap  and  fire. 


152  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

EARLY  TIMES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAR 


By  Captain  S.  A.  Ashe. 


AN   ADDRESS   DELIVERED  BEFORE  THE   NORTH   CAROLINA  SOCIETY   OF 
COLONIAL  DAMES  AT  BRUNSWICK,  N.   C. 

As,  when  some  devotee  repairs  to  a  sacred  shrine  and  lifts 
his  silent  thoughts  to  the  throne  in  Heaven,  his  being  be- 
comes penetrated  v^ith  the  softening  atmosphere  of  the  hal- 
lov^ed  sanctuary  and  his  piety  is  nourished  by  his  emotions; 
so,  on  such  an  occasion  as  this,  when  we  draw  nigh  to  these 
venerable  ruins,  where  our  forefathers  gathered  in  years 
long  past,  and  which  speak  to  us  of  their  patriotic  deeds  in 
perilous  times,  our  own  natures  must  be  uplifted  and  our 
patriotism  strengthened  and  made  more  fervent. 

Here  we  find  visible  objects  connecting  us  with  an  inter- 
esting past  and  attesting  the  verity  of  legends  and  memo- 
ries that  we  dearly  cherish.  Here  at  the  gateway  of  our 
noble  river  stands  a  monument  that  speaks  to  us  of  the 
very  beginning  of  life  upon  the  Cape  Fear,  of  the  first  set- 
tlement, of  its  early  days,  and  of  its  growth,  developmeiit 
and  expansion.  But  more  particularly  it  is  a  mournful 
memorial  of  the  conflicting  interests  between  the  newer 
city — ISTewton  it  was  originally  called — and  the  first  toA\ai 
laid  off  as  a  center  for  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  younger  sister,  with  her  superior  advantages,  sur- 
vived the  contest  and  won  the  victory ;  and  Wilmington  be- 
came the  great  heart  of  the  Cape  Fear  region,  sending 
warm  blood  of  energy  and  intelligence  through  the  arteries 
of  the  country,  and  growing  in  strength  and  importance  in 
every  succeeding  generation ;  while  Brunswick  faded  away 
with  the  Colonial  days,  and  her  ruins  here  are  only  vestiges 
of  the  Colonial  period.  They  bid  us  pause  and  reflect 
upon  their  history. 


EAELY  TIMES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAB.  153 

They  recall  to  our  remembrance,  the  important 
changes  that  Time  has  wrought  among  us.  The  services 
held  within  these  walls  were  those  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, the  ministers  being  under  the  authority  of  the  Bish- 
ops of  London ;  and  the  worshippers  with  loyal  hearts 
gloried  in  being  subjects  of  His  Sacred  Majesty,  the  King. 
The  fountain  of  honor,  the  resplendent  source  of  earthly 
glory,  was  the  beloved  and  revered  Monarch  who  sat  on 
his  throne  in  his  royal  palace  across  the  water.  His  min- 
isters ordered  our  affairs,  selected  our  Governors,  appointed 
our  counsellors  and  local  officers,  and  allowed  or  annulled 
the  enactments  of  our  legislatures.  Yes,  then  our  fore- 
fathers were  British  subjects,  and  earnestly  and  anxiously 
sought  the  smiles  of  their  Sovereign,  and  had  neither  hope 
nor  desire  for  any  change. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  arrival  of  the  vessel  that  brought 
here  the  pioneer  family.  She  came  with  bended  sail  across 
yonder  bar  and  boldly  coursed  the  broad  harbor  and  drew 
near  to  the  haven  where  she  would  be.  There  were  anxious 
mothers — the  children,  the  household  servants,  and  all  the 
accompaniments  of  the  family.  Oh !  noble  river :  thus  was 
borne  upon  your  bosom  the  first  germs  of  a  people  destined 
in  time  to  occupy  a  vast  country  and  by  their  deeds  and 
virtues  to  become  famous  on  the  pages  of  history.  Ah ! 
that  bark !  freighted  with  precious  lives,  animated  with  high 
hopes  of  a  happy  future  here  on  the  virgin  banks  of  this 
splendid  river :  maids  and  matrons ;  brave,  courageous  and 
enterprising  men — they  come  to  found  a  people ;  to  lay  the 
foundations  of  a  settlement  amid  the  solitude  of  an  un- 
broken wilderness.  But  soon  the  axes  ring;  great  trees 
fall ;  clearings  are  made ;  houses  rise,  and  settlers  hasten  to 
make  new  homes  on  these  broad  and  placid  waters. 

With  these  first  enterprising  families,  nearly  every  one 


154  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

of  US  here  present  today  is,  perhaps  in  some  way,  connected ; 
and  it  is  from  such  a  standpoint,  that  we  children  of  the 
Cape  Fear  find  a  particular  interest  in  the  incoming  of  our 
Fathers,  in  their  first  clearings,  in  the  first  family  prayers 
that  ascended  from  the  hearthstones  of  old  Brunswick,  and 
in  the  redemption  of  our  loved  section  from  its  original 
condition  of  primeval  wilderness. 

Among  the  immigrants  from  foreign  parts  were  men  of 
learning,  culture,  and  social  position,  and  they  found  con- 
genial society.  Indeed  social  conditions  on  the  Cape  Fear 
were  exceptionally  fine.  The  native  sons,  children  of  South 
Carolina  and  of  Albemarle,  could  boast  refinement,  as  well 
as  wealth  and  strength  of  character ;  and  preeminent  among 
all  were  the  Moores  and  their  kinspeople,  who  were  called 
by  those  who  had  antagonistic  interests,  "The  Family." 
"The  Family"  was  not  on  easy  terms  with  the  new  Governor, 
Gabriel  Johnston,  who  with  his  immediate  friends  had  pur- 
chased lands  around  Newton,  and  had  cast  the  whole  influ- 
ence of  the  administration  in  favor  of  that  town  and  against 
Brunswick,  And  so  after  a  hot  and  strong  fight,  by  very 
doubtful  tactics,  the  Governor  carried  his  point  and  ISTewton 
took  its  place  among  the  few  incorporated  towns,  under  the 
name  of  Wilmington:  and,  backed  by  all  the  official  influ- 
ences of  the  administration,  and  of  others  interested  in  its 
land  values,  and  sustained  by  a  more  thriving  trade  because 
of  its  superior  location,  it  soon  became  the  chief  emporium 
of  the  Cape  Fear  and  the  local  seat  of  government. 

But  still  there  centered  in  Brunswick  many  interests. 
There  an  elegant  and  refined  society  held  sway;  and  later 
other  Governors  resided  there,  as  well  as  some  of  the  Crown 
officers. 

At  length,  however,  ]^ew  Bern  became  the  established 
seat  of  government  and  the  residence  of  the  Governor;  and. 


EAKLY    TIMES    ON    THK    CAPE   FEAR.  155 

perhaps  because  of  its  exposed  position  during  the  periods 
times  of  the  Revolution,  Brunswick  was  entirely  deserted, 
and  passed  into  history,  its  light  going  out  with  the  end  of 
the  Colonial  period. 

But  to  us,  as  long  as  this  ruin  endures,  it  will  be  a  memo- 
rial of  exceeding  interest.  It  recalls  to  us  the  joyous  aspect 
of  the  social  side  of  Colonial  days.  Here  was  a  seat  of  ele- 
gance, refinement  and  culture,  and  of  a  fine  hospitality  un- 
surpassed anywhere  in  the  Southland. 

Here  gathered  the  Colonial  dames  who  imparted  a  charm 
to  daily  life,  and  whose  gTacious  presence  cast  a  refining 
and  elevating  influence  throughout  the  Cape  Fear  region. 
These  were  indeed  the  Colonial  Dames  of  the  earlier  times. 

You  know,  fair  ladies,  the  immutable  order  of  nature — 
evolution — development.     First,   the  bud ;   then   the  flower. 

In  a  spacious  garden  that  adorns  the  banks  of  our  be- 
loved river,  fit  for  some  modem  Maecenas  and  his  elegant 
spouse,  where  a  multitude  of  roses  beautify  nature,  one  can 
see  some  lovely  buds  of  the  variety  known  as  American 
Beauty — in  time,  by  natural  processes,  these  become  full 
blowra,  glorious  roses — the  admiration  of  all  who  love  per- 
fection in  nature. 

The  Colonial  Dames  of  Old  Brunswick  were  as  the  lovely 
buds :  the  Dames  of  today — are  the  perfect  development — 
the  glorious  full  blown  American  Beauties:  living  roses  in 
a  veritable  garden  of  Hesperides  with  heavenly  souls  and 
divine  forms,  and  whose  charms  and  graces  make  them 
actual  goddesses  for  the  souls  of  men  to  worship. 

Such  a  picture  is  only  an  illustration  of  what  was  to  be 
found  in  all  the  mansions  that  adorned  the  banks  of  the  Cape 
Fear.  Happy  indeed  was  life  in  these  abodes  of  culture 
and    refinement;    there    being    abundant    crops,    increasing 


156  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

wealth  and  social  pleasures  that  gave  a  delightful  flavor  to 
the  placid  current  of  happy  existence. 

But  there  were  occasions  of  excitement.  The  course  of 
public  affairs  often  ran  in  channels  calling  for  bold  and 
courageous  action. 

In  the  system  of  government,  as  the  Governor  repre- 
sented in  Proprietary  times  the  will  of  the  Palatine  or  of 
the  Lords  Proprietors,  and,  in  after  years,  he  received  his 
instructions  from  the  Colonial  office,  his  relations  to  the 
people  were  those  of  a  foreign  ruler;  while,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  Assembly  represented  the  people,  and  its  mouth- 
piece was  the  Speaker.  The  Speaker  stood  before  the  people 
as  a  champion  of  their  rights  and  principles ;  he  was  the 
guardian  of  their  liberty.  In  him  was  reposed  the  public 
trust  of  maintaining  and  defending  their  sacred  rights 
against  all  encroachments ;  and  his  courage,  patriotism,  and 
devotion  constituted  •  the  very  ark  of  their  safety. 
Although  his  position  was  not  so  exalted  as  that  of  the  rep- 
resentative of  His  Sacred  Majesty,  the  King,  yet  the  power 
of  the  Speaker  with  the  people  at  his  back  was  greater  and 
more  important  than  that  of  the  Royal  Governor. 

For  fifty  years,  with  some  slight  intermissions,  this  high 
and  responsible  post  was  entrusted  by  the  people  to  a  single 
family.  For  fifty  years  Maurice  Moore's  family  connec- 
tions controlled  and  directed  public  affairs  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  so  wisely,  vigorously,  and  patriotically  managed 
the  cause  of  the  people,  that  in  nearly  every  conflict  with 
the  successive  Governors  they  won  the  victory. 

The  Parliament  of  the  British  Empire  in  1765 
usurped  the  authority  of  taxing  the  Colonists.  To  admit  it 
was  to  court  the  chains  of  political  slavery.  The  asserted* 
right  was  stoutly  denied.  To  assist  the  King,  each  Colony 
had  been  used  by  taxing  itself  to  raise  a  fund  and  present 


EARLY  TIMES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAK.  157 

it  to  the  King,  under  the  name  of  "an  aid" ;  but  because  of 
the  great  expense  incurred  in  the  war,  then  ended,  Parlia- 
ment resolved  itself  to  lay  a  tax  on  the  Colonists  as  on  all 
other  British  subjects.  A  resolution  declaring  that  policy 
was  adopted  by  Parliament,  almost  without  debate.  But 
when  the  next  year  a  bill  was  introduced  to  carry  the  reso- 
lution into  effect,  it  met  with  considerable  opposition  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  for  the  protests  of  the  Colonists  were 
not  unheeded.  Still  the  ministry,  under  Lord  Bute,  per- 
sisted, and  the  measure  was  carried.  All  America  was  at 
once  stirred.  Bold  and  courageous  action  was  taken  in 
every  Colony,  but  in  none  was  a  more  resolute  spirit  man- 
ifested than  here  upon  the  Cape  Fear.  The  Governor  was 
Tryon,  who  had  but  lately  succeeded  to  that  office.  He  was 
an  officer  of  the  army,  a  gentleman  by  birth  and  education, 
a  man  calculated  by  his  accomplishments  and  social  qualities 
to  shine  in  any  community.  He  sought  the  Speaker  of  the 
House,  and  asked  him  what  would  be  the  action  of  the  peo- 
ple— "Eesistance  to  the  death,"  was  the  prompt  reply.  That 
was  a  warning  that  was  full  of  meaning.  It  pledged  the 
Speaker  to  revolution  and  war  in  defense  of  the  people's 
rights. 

The  Assembly  was  to  meet  in  May,  1765.  But  Tryon 
astutely  postponed  the  meeting  until  l!Tovember,  and  then 
dissolved  it.  He  did  not  wish  the  members  to  meet,  confer, 
consult,  and  arrange  a  plan  of  opposition.  He  hoped  by 
dealing  with  gentlemen,  not  in  an  official  capacity,  to  dis- 
arm their  antagonism  and  persuade  them  to  a  milder  course. 
Vain  delusion !  The  people  had  been  too  long  trained  to 
rely  with  confidence  on  their  leaders  to  abandon  them  now, 
even   though   Parliament  demanded  their  obedience. 

The  first  movement  was  not  long  delayed.  Within  two 
months  after  the  news  had  come  that  the  odious  act  had 


158  THE  NOETII  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

been  passed,  the  people  of  North  Carolina  discarded  from 
their  use  all  clothes  of  British  manufacture  and  set  up 
looms  for  weaving  their  own  clothes.  Since  Great  Britain 
was  to  oppress  them,  they  would  give  the  world  an  assur- 
ance of  the  spirit  of  independence  that  would  sustain  them 
in  the  struggle.  In  October,  information  was  received  that 
Doctor  Houston,  of  Duplin  County,  had  been  selected  in 
England  as  Stamp-Master.  At  once  proceedings  were 
taken  to  nullify  the  appointment.  At  that  time  Wilming- 
ton had  less  than  500  white  inhabitants,  but  her  citizens 
were  very  patriotic  and  very  resolute. 

Rocky  Point,  fifteen  miles  to  the  northward,  had  been 
the  residence  of  Maurice  Moore,  of  Speaker  Moseley  and 
Speaker  Swann,  Alexander  Lillington,  John  Swann,  George 
Moore,  John  Porter,  Col.  Jones,  Col.  Merrick,  and  other  gen- 
tlemen of  influence.  It  was  the  centre  from  which  had 
radiated  the  influences  that  directed  popular  movements. 
Nearer  to  Onslow,  Duplin  and  Bladen,  than  Wilmington 
was,  and  the  residence  of  the  Speaker  and  other  active  lead- 
ers, it  was  doubtless  there  that  plans  were  considered,  and 
proceedings  agreed  upon  that  involved  the  united  action  of 
all  the  neighboring  counties.  At  Wilmington  and  vicinity, 
were  Plarnett,  DeRossett,  Toomer,  Walker,  Clayton,  Gregg, 
Purviance,  Eustace,  Maclaine  and  DuBois ;  while  near  by 
were  Col.  Waddell,  Maurice  and  James  Moore,  the  Davises, 
Howe,  Smith,  Grange,  Ancrum,  and  a  score  of  others  of  the 
loftiest  patriotism.  All  were  in  full  accord  with  the 
Speaker  of  the  Assembly ;  all  were  nerved  by  the  same 
spirit ;  all  resolved  to  carry  resistance,  if  need  be,  to  the 
point  of  blood  and  death. 

We  fortunately  have  a  contemporaneous  record  of  some 
of  their  proceedings,   "^'On  Saturday,  the  19th  of  last  month," 


EARLY  TIMES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAK.  159 

says  the  North  Carolina  Gazette,  published  at  Wilmington, 
in  its  issue  of  November  20,  1765 : 

''About  7  o'clock  in  the  evening,  near  five  hundred  people  assem- 
bled together  in  this  town  and  exhibited  the  effigy  of  a  certain  hon- 
orable gentleman;  and  after  letting  it  hang  by  the  neck  for  some 
time,  near  the  courthouse,  they  made  a  large  bonfire  with  a  number 
of  tar  barrels,  etc.,  and  committed  it  to  the  flames.  The  reason 
assigned  for  the  people's  dislike  to  that  gentleman  was  from  being 
informed  of  his  having  several  times  expressed  himself  much  in 
favor  of  the  Stamp  Duty.  After  the  effigy  was  consumed,  they  went 
to  every  house  in  town,  and  brought  all  the  gentlemen  to  the  bonfire, 
and  insisted  on  their  drinking  'Liberty,  Property,  and  No  Stamp 
Duty,'  'Confusion  to  Lord  Bute  and  all  his  adherents';  giving  three 
huzzahs  at  the  conclusion  of  each  toast.  They  continued  together 
until  12  of  the  clock,  and  then  dispersed  without  doing  any  mischief." 

Doubtless  it  was  a  very  orderly  crowd ;  since  the  editor 
says  so.  A  very  orderly,  harmless,  inoffensive  gathering; 
patriotic,  and  given  to  hurrahing;  but  we  are  assured  that 
they  dispersed  without  doing  any  mischief. 

And  continues  the  same  paper: 

"On  Thursday,  the  31st  of  the  same  month,  in  the  evening,  a  great 
number  of  people  assembled  again,  and  produced  an  effigy  of 
Liberty,  which  they  put  into  a  coffin  and  marched  in  solemn  pro- 
cession with  it  to  the  churchyard,  a  drum  in  mourning  beating  be- 
fore them;  and  the  town  bell  muffled  ringing  a  doleful  knell  at  the 
same  time;  but  before  they  committed  the  body  to  the  ground,  they 
thought  it  advisable  to  feel  its  pulse,  and,  finding  some  remains  of 
life,  they  returned  back  to  a  bonfire  ready  prepared,  placed  the  effigy 
before  it  in  a  large  two-armed  chair,  and  concluded  the  evening  with 
great  rejoicings  on  finding  that  Liberty  had  still  an  existence  in  the 
Colonies. 

"Not  the  least  injury  was  offered  to  any  person." 

The  editor  of  that  paper,  Mr.  Stewart,  was  ai>parently 
anxious  to  let  his  readers  know  that  the  people  engaged  in 
these  proceedings  were  the  very  soul  of  order,  and  the  es- 
sence of  moderation.  So  far  they  had  done  no  mischief  and 
offered  no  injury  to  anyone.     But  still  they  had  teeth,  and 


160  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

thej  could  show  them.     Ill  fared   any   man  who  stood  in 
their  way. 

The  next  item  reads: 

"Saturday,  the  16tli  of  this  instant,  that  is  November:  William 
Houston,  Esq.,  Distributor  of  stamps  for  this  Province,  came  to  this 
town;  upon  which  three  or  four  hundred  people  immediately  gath- 
ered together,  with  drums  beating  and  colors  flying,  and  repaired  to 
to  the  house  the  said  Stamp  master  put  up  at,  and  insisted  upon 
knowing  'Whether  he  intended  to  execute  his  said  office  or  not.'  He 
told  them,  'He  should  be  very  sorry  to  execute  any  office  disagree- 
able to  the  people  of  this  Province.'  But  they,  not  content  with  such 
declaration,  carried  him  into  the  courthouse,  where  he  signed  a 
resignation  satisfactory  to  the  whole.  They  then  placed  the  stamp 
master  in  an  arm  chair,  carried  him  around  the  courthouse,  giving 
at  every  corner  three  loud  huzzahs,  and  finally  set  him  down  at  the 
door  of  his  lodging,  formed  a  circle  around  him,  and  gave  three 
cheers.  They  then  escorted  him  into  the  house,  where  were  pre- 
pared the  best  liquoirs,  and  treated  him  very  genteelly.  In  the 
evening  a  large  bonfire  was  made  and  no  person  appeared  on  the 
streets  without  having  "Liberty"  in  large  capital  letters  on  his  hat. 
They  had  a  table  near  the  bonfire,  well  furnished  with  several  sorts 
of  liquors,  where  they  drank  in  great  form,  all  the  favorite  American 
Toasts,  giving  three  cheers  at  the  conclusion  of  each." 

"The  whole  was  conducted,"  says  the  editor,  "with  great 
decorum,  and  not  the  least  insult  offered  to  any  person." 

This  enforced  resignation  of  the  Stamp-Master  was  done 
under  the  direction  of  Alderman  DeRossett,  who  received 
from  Houston  his  commission  and  other  papers,  and  necc'S- 
sarily  it  was  a  very  orderly  performance.  The  ringing  huz- 
zas, the  patriotic  toasts,  the  loud  acclaim,  echoing  from  the 
court-house  square,  reverberating  through  the  streets  of  the 
town,  but  Mr.  Stewart  is  quite  sure  that  no  mischief  was 
done,  and  not  the  least  insult  was  offered  to  any  person.  These 
and  other  similar  proceedings  led  the  Governor  to  send  out 
a  circular  letter  to  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  Cape 
Fear  region,  requesting  their  presence  at  a  dinner  at  his 
residence  at  Brunswick  on  Tuesday  the  19th  of  November, 


EARLY  TIMES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAE.  161 

three  days  after  Dr.  Houston  resigned;  and  after  the  din- 
ner, he  conferred  with  these  gentlemen  about  the  Stamp 
Act.  He  found  them  fully  determined  to  annul  the  Act, 
and  prevent  its  going  into  effect.  He  sought  to  persuade 
them,  and  begged  them  to  let  it  be  obsei*ved  at  least  in  part. 
He  plead  that  if  they  would  let  the  act  go  into  partial  oper- 
ation in  the  respects  he  mentioned,  he  himself  would  pay 
for  all  the  stamps  necessary.  It  seems  that  he  liked  the 
people,  and  they  liked  and  admired  him ;  and  difficult  in- 
deed was  his  position.  He  was  charged  with  the  execution 
of  a  law  which  he  knew  could  not  be  executed,  for  there  was 
not  enough  specie  in  the  Province  to  buy  the  necessary' 
stamps,  even  if  the  law  could  be  enforced ;  but,  then,  the 
people  were  resolved  against  recognizing  it  in  any  degree. 
The  authority  of  the  King  and  of  the  Parliament  was  de- 
fied, and  he,  the  representative  of  the  British  Government, 
was  powerless  in  the  face  of  this  resolute  defiance.  While 
still  maintaining  dignity  in  his  intercourse  with  the  people, 
the  Governor  wrote  to  his  superiors  at  London,  strongly 
urging  the  repeal  of  the  law.  A  week  later  the  stamps 
arrived  in  the  sloop  of  war,  the  Diligence.  They  remained 
on  the  sloop  and  were  not  landed  at  that  time. 

Now  there  was  a  lull ;  but  the  quietude  was  not  to  remain 
unbroken.  In  January  two  merchant  vessels  arrived  in  the 
harbor,  the  Patience  and  the  Dobbs.  Their  clearance  papers 
were  not  stamped  as  the  Act  required.  The  vessels  were 
seized  and  detained  while  the  lawfulness  of  their  detention 
was  referred  to  the  Attorney-General,  Robert  Jones,  then 
absent  at  his  home  on  the  Roanoke.  But  the  leaders  of  the 
people  were  determined  not  to  submit  to  an  adverse  decision. 
They  held  meetings  and  agreed  on  a  plan  of  action. 

In  view  of  the  crisis,  on  January  20th,  the  Mayor  of  the 
town  retired  to  give  place  to  Moses  John  DeRossett,  who  had 
2 


163  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

been  the  foremost  leader  in  the  action  previously  taken  by 
the  town.  One  whose  spirit  never  quailed  was  now  to  stand 
forth  as  the  head  of  the  Corporation. 

On  the  5th  day  of  February,  Capt.  Lobb,  in  command  of 
the  Viper,  had  made  a  requisition  for  an  additional  supply 
of  provisions,  and  Mr.  Dry,  the  Contractor,  sent  his  boat  to 
Wilmington  to  obtain  them.  The  inhabitants,  led  by  the 
Mayor,  at  once  seized  the  boat,  threw  the  crew  into  the  jail, 
and  in  a  wild  tumult  of  excitement,  placed  the  boat  on  a 
wagon  and  hauled  it  through  the  streets  with  a  great  dem- 
onstration of  fervid  patriotism.  The  British  forces  on  the 
river  were  to  receive  no  supplies  from  Wilmington ;  their 
provisions  were  cut  off,  and  they  were  treated  as  enemies — 
not  friends,  so  long  as  they  supported  the  odious  law  of 
Parliament.  Ten  days  later  came  the  opinion  of  the  Attor- 
ney-General to  the  effect  that  the  detained  merchantmen 
were  properly  seized  and  were  liable  to  be  confiscated  under 
the  law.  This  was  the  signal  for  action.  The  news  was 
spread  throughout  the  counties,  and  the  whole  country  was 
astir.  Every  patriot  "was  on  his  legs."  There  was  no 
halt  in  carrying  into  effect  the  plan  agreed  upon.  Imme- 
diately the  people  began  to  assemble  and  detachments,  under 
chosen  leaders,  took  up  their  march  from  Onslow,  Bladen 
and  Duplin.  On  the  18th  of  February,  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Cape  Fear  counties,  being  then  assembled  at  Wilming- 
ton, entered  into  an  association,  which  they  signed,  declar- 
ing they  preferred  death  to  slavery ;  and  mutually  and  sol- 
emnly they  plighted  their  faith  and  honor  that  they  would 
at  any  risk  whatever,  and  whenever  called  upon,  unite  and 
truly  and  faithfully  assist  each  other,  to  the  best  of  their 
power,  in  preventing  entirely  the  operation  of  the  Stamp 
Act. 

The  crisis  had  now  arrived.     The  hand  of  destiny  had 


EAKLrY    TIMES    ON    THE    CAPE   FEAB.  163 

struck  with  a  bold  stroke  the  resounding  bell.  The  people, 
nobly  responding,  had  seized  their  arms.  At  all  times, 
when  some  patriot  is  to  throw  himself  to  the  front,  and  bid 
defiance  to  the  established  authority  of  Government,  there  is 
a  Rubicon  to  be  crossed — and  he  who  unsheathes  his  sword 
to  resist  the  law  must  win  success  or  meet  a  traitor's  doom. 
But  the  leaders  on  the  Cape  Fear  did  not  hesitate  at  the 
thought  of  personal  peril.  At  their  call,  the  people,  being 
armed  and  being  assembled  at  Wilmington,  chose  the  men 
who  were  to  guide,  govern  and  direct  them.  They  called  to 
the  helm  John  Ashe,  the  trusted  Speaker  of  the  Assembly, 
and  associated  with  him  Alexander  Lillington  and  Col. 
Thomas  Lloyd,  as  a  Directory,  to  manage  their  affairs  at  this 
momentous  crisis.  Their  movement  was  not  that  of  an 
irresponsible  mob.  It  was  an  orderly  proceeding,  pursu- 
ant to  a  determined  plan  of  action,  under  the  direction  of 
the  highest  ofiicer  of  the  Province,  who  was  charged  with 
maintaining  the  liberties  of  the  people.  In  effect,  it  was 
the  institution  and  ordaining  of  a  temporary  government. 
It  was  resolved  to  organize  an  armed  force  and  march  to 
Brunswick;  and  Col.  Hugh  Waddell  was  invested  with  the 
command  of  the  miltary.  Let  us  pause  a  moment  and 
take  a  view  of  the  situation  at  that  critical  juncture.  Close 
to  Brunswick  in  his  mansion,  was  Governor  Tryon,  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  King;  no  coward  he,  but  resolute,  a  mili- 
tary man  of  experience  and  courage.  In  the  town  itself 
were  the  residences  and  ofiioes  of  Col.  Dry,  the  Collector  of 
the  port,  and  of  other  ofiicers  of  the  Crown.  Off  in  the 
river  lay  the  detained  merchant  vessels  and  the  two  sloops  of 
war,  the  Viper,  commanded  by  Capt.  Lobb,  and  the  Dili- 
gence, commanded  by  Capt.  Phipps,  whose  bristling  guns, 
26  in  number,  securely  kept  them;  while  Fort  Johnston, 
some  miles  away,  well  armed  with  artillery,  was  held  by  a 


164  THE  NOETH  CAEOLIJSTA  BOOKLET. 

small  garrison.  At  every  point  flew  the  meteor  flag  of 
Great  Britain.  Every  point  was  protected  by  the  aegis  of 
His  Sacred  Majesty.  For  a  subject  to  lift  his  hand  in  a 
hostile  manner  against  any  of  these  was  treason  and  re- 
bellion. Yes,  treason  and  rebellion,  with  the  fearful  pun- 
ishment of  attainder  and  death :  of  being  hanged  and  quar- 
tered. 

Well  might  the  eloquent  Davis  exclaim,  "Beware,  John 
Ashe !  Hugh  Waddell,  take  heed !" 

Their  lives,  their  fortunes  were  at  hazard  and  the  dishon- 
ored grave  was  open  to  receive  their  dismembered  bodies ! 
But  patriots  as  they  were,  they  did  take  care — not  for  them- 
selves, but  of  the  liberties  of  their  country.  At  high  noon, 
on  the  19th  day  of  February,  the  three  Directors,  the  Mayor 
and  Corporation  of  Wilmington,  the  embodied  soldiery  and 
the  prominent  citizens  moved  forward,  crossed  the  river, 
passed  like  Caesar  the  fateful  Rubicon,  and  courageously 
marched  to  the  scene  of  possible  conflict.  It  was  not  only 
the  Governor  with  whom  they  had  to  deal,  but  the  ships  of 
war  with  their  formidable  batteries,  that  held  possession  of 
the  detained  vessels.  It  was  not  merely  the  penalties  of 
the  law  that  threatened  them,  but  they  courted  death  at 
the  cannon's  mouth,  in  conflict  with  the  heavily  armed  sloops 
of  war,  from  whose  power  they  had  come  to  wrest  the  mer- 
chantmen.    But  there  was  neither  halt  nor  hesitation. 

As  they  crossed  the  river,  a  chasm  yawned  deep  and  wide, 
separating  them  from  their  loyal  past.  Behind  them  they 
left  their  allegiance  as  loyal  British  subjects — before  them 
was  rebellion — open  flagrant  war ;  leading  to  revolution. 
Who  could  tell  what  the  ending  might  be  of  the  anticipated 
conflict ! 

There  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  Cape  Fear  were  gathered, 
in  their  cocked  hats ;  their  long  queues ;  their  knee-breeches 


EARLY    TIMES    ON    THE    CAPE    FEAB.  165 

and  shining  shoe  buckles.  Mounted  on  their  well-groomed 
horses,  they  made  a  famous  cavalcade,  as  they  wound  their 
way  through  the  sombre  pine  forests  that  hedged  in  the 
highway  to  old  Brunswick.  Among  them  was  DeRossett, 
the  Mayor,  in  the  prime  of  manhood,  of  French  descent, 
with  keen  eye,  fine  culture  and  high  intelligence;  who  had 
been  a  soldier  with  Innes  at  the  North;  bold  and  resolved 
was  he  as  he  rode,  surrounded  by  Cornelius  Harnett,  Fred- 
erick Gregg,  John  Sampson  and  the  other  Aldermen  and 
officers  of  the  town. 

At  the  head  of  a  thousand  armed  men,  arranged  in  com- 
panies, and  marching  in  order,  was  the  experienced  soldier, 
Hugh  Waddell,  not  yet  thirty-three  years  of  age,  but  already 
renowned  for  his  capacity  and  courage.  He  had  won  more 
distinction  and  honors  in  the  late  wars  at  the  ISTorth  and 
West  than  any  other  Southern  soldier,  save  only  George 
Washington ;  and  now  in  command  of  his  companies,  offi- 
cered by  men  who  had  been  trained  in  discipline  in  the  war, 
he  was  confident  of  the  issue.  Of  Irish  descent,  and  com- 
ing of  a  fighting  stock,  his  blood  was  up,  and  his  heroic  soul 
v/as  aflame  for  the  fray. 

Surrounded  by  a  bevy  of  his  kinsmen,  the  venerable  Sam 
and  John  Swarm ;  and  his  brothers-in-law,  James,  George 
and  Maurice  Moore ;  by  his  brother,  Sam  Ashe,  and  Alexan- 
der Lillington,  whose  burly  forms  towered  high  above  the 
others ;  by  Home,  Davis,  Col.  Lloyd  and  other  gallant  spir- 
its, was  the  Speaker,  John  Ashe,  now  just  forty-five  years 
of  age — on  whom  the  responsibility  of  giving  direction 
chiefly  lay;  of  medium  stature,  well  knit,  olive  complexion, 
and  with  a  lustrous  hazel  eye,  he  was  full  of  nervous  en- 
ergy— an  orator  of  surpassing  power,  elegant  carriage  and 
commanding  presence.  Of  him  Mr.  Strudwick  has  said : 
"That  there  were  not  four  men  in  London  his  intellectual 


166  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

superior,"  and,  that  at  a  time  when  Pitt,  Fox,  Burke,  and 
that  splendid  galaxy  of  British  orators  and  statesmen  gave 
lustre  to  British  annals. 

How,  en  this  momentous  occasion,  the  spirits  of  these  men 
and  of  their  kinsmen  and  friends,  who  gathered  around, 
must  have  soared  as  thej  pressed  on  resolved  to  maintain 
their  rights.  Animated  by  the  noble  impulses  of  a  lofty 
patriotism,  with  their  souls  elevated  by  the  inspiring  emo- 
tions of  a  perilous  struggle  for  their  liberties,  they  moved 
forward  with  a  resolute  purpose  to  sacrifice  their  lives 
rather  than  tamely  submit  to  the  oppressive  and  odious 
enactments  of  the  British  Parliament. 

It  was  nightfall  before  they  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Brunswick,  and  George  Moore  and  Cornelius  Harnett,  rid- 
ing in  advance,  presented  to  Governor  Tryon  a  letter  from 
the  Governing  Directory,  notifying  him  of  their  purpose. 
In  a  few  minutes  the"  Governor's  residence  was  surrounded, 
and  Capt.  Lobb  was  inquired  for — but  he  was  not  there. 
A  party  was  then  dispatched  towards  Fort  Johnston,  and 
thereupon  Tryon  notified  the  British  Naval  Commanders 
and  requested  them  to  protect  the  Fort,  repelling  force  with 
force.  In  the  meantime  a  party  of  gentlemen  called  on  the 
Collector,  Mr.  Dry,  who  had  the  papers  of  the  ship  Patience ; 
and  in  his  presence  broke  open  his  desk  and  took  them  away. 
This  gave  an  earnest  of  the  resolute  purpose  of  the  peo- 
ple. They  purposed  to  use  all  violence  that  was  necessary 
to  carry  out  their  designs.  Realizing  the  full  import  of  the 
situation,  the  following  noon  a  conference  of  the  King's  ofii- 
cers  was  held  on  the  Viper;  and  Capt.  Lobb,  confident  of 
his  strength,  declared  to  the  Governor  that  he  would  hold 
the  ship  Patience  and  insist  on  the  return  of  her  papers.  If 
the  people  were  resolved,  so  were  the  ofiicers  of  government. 
The    sovereignty    of    Great    Britain    was    to    be    enforced. 


EAELY  TIMES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAR.  167 

There  was  to  be  no  temporizing  with  the  rebels.  The  honor 
of  the  Government  demanded  that  the  British  flag  should 
not  droop  in  the  face  of  this  hostile  array.  But  two  short 
hours  later,  a  party  of  the  insurgents  came  aboard  and  re- 
quested to  see  Capt,  Lobb.  They  entered  the  cabin,  and 
there,  under  the  royal  flag,  surrounded  by  the  King's  forces, 
they  demanded  that  all  efforts  to  enforce  the  Stamp  Act 
cease.  They  would  allow  no  opposition.  In  the  presence 
of  Ashe,  Waddell,  DeRossett,  Harnett,  Moore,  Howe  and 
Lillington,  the  spirit  of  Capt.  Lobb  quailed.  The  people 
won.  In  the  evening  the  British  commander,  much  to  the 
Governor's  disgust,  reported  to  that  functionary — "That 
all  was  settled."  Yes.  All  had  been  settled.  The  vessels 
were  released ;  the  gTievances  were  redressed.  The  restric- 
tions on  the  commerce  of  the  Cape  Fear  were  removed.  The 
attempt  to  enforce  the  Stamp  Act  had  failed  before  the 
prompt,  vigorous  and  courageous  action  of  the  inhabitants. 
After  that,  vessels  could  come  and  go  as  if  there  had  been 
no  act  of  Parliament.  The  people  had  been  victorious  over 
the  King's  ships ;  with  arms  in  their  hands,  they  had  won 
the  victory.  But  the  work  was  not  all  finished.  There,  on 
the  Diligence,  were  the  obnoxious  stamps,  and  by  chance 
some  loyal  ofiicer  of  the  government  might  use  them.  To 
guard  against  that,  the  other  officers  were  to  be  forced  to 
swear  not  to  obey  the  act  of  Parliament,  but  to  observe  the 
will  of  the  people.  Mr.  Pennington  was  His  Majesty's  con- 
troller, and  understanding  that  the  people  sought  him,  he 
took  refuge  in  the  Governor's  Mansion,  and  was  given  a  bed 
and  made  easy;  but  early  the  next  morning.  Col.  James 
Moore  called  to  get  him.  The  Governor  interfered,  to  pre- 
vent; and  immediately  the  Mansion  was  surrounded  by  the 
insurgent  troops,  and  the  Directory  notified  the  Governor, 
in  writing,  that  they  requested  His  Excellency  to  let  Mr. 


168  THE  NOETH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

Pennington  attend,  otherwise  it  would  not  be  ''in  the  power 
of  the  Directors  appointed  to  prevent  the  ill  consequences 
that  would  attend  a  refusal."  In  plain  language,  said  John 
Ashe,  "Persist  in  your  refusal,  and  we  will  come  and  take 
him."  The  Governor  declined  to  comply.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments he  observed  a  body  of  near  five  hundred  men  move 
towards  his  house.  A  detachment  of  sixty  entered  his 
avenue.  Cornelius  Harnett  accompanied  them,  and  sent 
word  that  he  wished  to  speak  with  Mr,  Pennington.  The 
Governor  replied  that  Mr.  Pennington  was  protected  by  his 
house.  Harnett  thereupon  notified  the  Governor  that  the 
people  would  come  in  and  take  him  out  of  the  house,  if 
longer  detained,  Now  the  point  was  reached.  The  people 
were  ready ;  the  Governor  was  firm.  But  Pennington 
v/isely  suggested  that  he  would  resign,  and  immediately 
wrote  his  resignation  and  delivered  it  to  the  Governor, — 
and  then  he  went  out -with  Harnett  and  was  brought  here  to 
Brunswick,  and  required  to  take  an  oath  never  to  issue 
any  stamped  paper  in  North  Carolina :  so  was  Mr.  Dry,  the 
Collector:  and  so  all  the  Clerks  of  the  County  Courts,  and 
other  public  ofiicers.  Every  officer  in  all  that  region,  ex- 
cept alone  the  Governor,  was  forced  to  obey  the  will  of  the 
people  and  swear  not  to  obey  the  Act  of  Parliament. 

On  the  third  day  after  the  first  assemblage  at  Wilming- 
ton on  the  18th,  the  Directors,  having  completed  their  work 
at  Brunswick,  took  up  the  line  of  march  to  return.  With 
what  rejoicing  they  turned  their  backs  on  the  scene  of  their 
bloodless  triumph !  It  had  been  a  time  of  intense  excite- 
ment. It  had  been  no  easy  task  to  hold  more  than  a  thous- 
and hot  and  zealous  patriots  well  in  hand,  and  to  accomplish 
their  purposes  without  bloodshed.  Wisdom  and  courage 
by  the  Directors,  and  prudence,  foresight  and  sagacity  on 
the  part  of  the  military  officers  were  alike  essential  to  the 


EARLY    TIMES    ON    THE    CAPE   FEAR.  169 

consummation  of  their  design.  They  now  returned  in  tri- 
umph, their  purposes  accomplished.  The  odious  law  was 
annulled  in  North  Carolina.  After  that,  merchant  vessels 
passed  freely,  in  and  out  of  port,  without  interference.  The 
stamps  remained  boxed  on  shipboard,  and  no  further  effort 
was  made  to  enforce  a  law  which  the  people  had  rejected. 

Two  months  after  these  events  on  the  Cape  Fear,  Parlia- 
ment repealed  the  law,  and  the  news  was  hurried  across  the 
Atlantic  in  the  fleetest  vessels.  The  victory  of  the  people 
was  complete.  They  had  annulled  an  act  of  Parliament, 
crushed  their  enemies  and  preserved  their  liberties.  Thus 
once  more  were  the  courageous  leaders  on  the  Cape  Fear,  in 
their  measures  of  opposition  to  encroachments  on  the  rights 
of  the  people,  sustained  by  the  result.  On  former  occa- 
sions they  had  triumphed  over  their  Governors:  now  in 
cooperation  with  the  other  provinces,  they  had  triumphed 
over  the  British  Ministry  and  the  Parliament  of  Great 
Britain. 

While  in  ever}'  other  province,  the  people  resolutely  op- 
posed the  Stamp  Act,  nowhere  else  in  America  was  there 
a  proceeding  similar  to  that  which  was  taken  at  Wilmington. 
ISTowhere  else  was  the  standard  of  Liberty  committed  to  the 
care  of  a  Governing  Directory,  even  though  its  creation  was 
for  a  temporary  purpose;  nowhere  else  was  there  an  army 
organized,  under  officers  appointed,  and  led  to  a  field  where 
a  battle  might  have  ensued.  Had  not  His  Majesty's  forces 
yielded  to  the  will  of  the  insurgents,  the  American  Revolu- 
tion would  have  probably  begun  then — and  here — on  the 
soil  of  Old  Brunswick. 

The  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  was  hailed  on  both  sides  of 
the  water  with  every  demonstration  of  joy.  The  city  of 
London  was  illuminated  with  bonfires  and  every  churchbell 
rang  out  its  joyous  peals.     With  still  greater  satisfaction, 


170  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

did  the  Colonists  welcome  the  news  of  their  triumph  and  of 
peace!  The  furious  storm  of  popular  resentment  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  wave  of  loyalty  and  love.  In  that  era  of  good- 
will, Governor  Tryon  overlooked  all  differences — except 
as  to  three  of  the  chief  actors  in  the  affair.  He  had  some 
caustic  words  for  DeRossett,  the  courageous  Mayor  of  Wil- 
mington ;  he  suspended  from  his  office  as  Judge,  Maurice 
Moore ;  and  he  nourished  enmity  with  John  Ashe ;  so,  when 
the  new  Assembly  met,  the  wave  of  loyalty  being  at  its 
height,  Ashe,  jDcrhaps  not  wishing  to  be  a  cause  of  disturb- 
ing it,  refrained  from  seeking  reelection  as  Speaker,  and  re- 
mained away  from  the  Assembly  for  three  days,  until  an- 
other Speaker,  more  agreeable  to  his  Excellency  and  more 
in  accord  with  the  prevailing  sentiment,  should  be  chosen. 
John  Harvey,  from  the  Albemarle  region,  who  had  not 
been  personally  concerned  in  the  Stamp  Act  trouble,  was 
elected  Speaker;  and  the  Assembly,  radiant  with  happiness, 
and  zealous  to  display  their  loyalty  and  affection,  hastened 
to  abandon  its  strenuous  opposition  concerning  the  location 
of  a  capital  for  the  Province,  and  begged  the  King  to  estab- 
lish it  in  'New  Bern,  and  also  appropriated  a  large  sum 
for  the  erection  of  a  residence  for  the  Governor,  and  en- 
trusted the  money  to  Governor  Tryon,  to  be  disbursed  at  his 
discretion.  And  so  it  came  about  that  a  few  years  later,  the 
Governor  removed  from  Brunswick  to  New  Bern,  the  people 
having  erected  there  for  him  one  of  the  finest  buildings  in 
America  as  an  outgrowth  of  the  Stamp  Act  troubles  on  the 
Cape  Fear.  But  while  Parliament  repealed  the  Stamp  Act, 
it  would  not  entirely  relinquish  its  claimed  right  to  tax  the 
Colonists.  Eight  years  later  it  taxed  tea  imported  into 
America.  Boston  would  not  allow  a  cargo  of  taxed  tea  to  be 
landed,  but  threw  it  overboard.  As  a  punishment  that  port 
was  closed.     No  vessel  was  allowed  to  enter  or  depart  from 


EAKLY  TIMES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAR.  171 

it.  All  work  there  ceased.  The  people  suffered  for  food. 
Again  the  patriots  of  Wilmington  assembled.  They  de- 
clared the  cause  of  Boston  to  be  the  cause  of  all.  Men  and 
women,  alike — indeed  the  Colonial  Dames  taking  the  lead — 
subscribed  liberally,  both  money  and  provisions ;  and  Parker 
Quince  tendered  his  vessel  to  carry  the  cargo,  and  he  sailed 
with  her  himself  to  Salem  freighted  with  the  generous  offer- 
ings of  the  Cape  Fear  people. 

And  not  only  did  Wilmington  respond  nobly,  but  she  called 
on  others  to  contribute.  On  the  24th  of  July  there  was  a 
general  meeting  of  all  the  counties  of  the  Cape  Fear,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  urge  the  entire  province  to  join 
in  the  good  work,  and  contributions  were  collected  from  the 
interior  at  ISTew  Bern  and  sent  forward  from  there  as  well  as 
from  the  Cape  Fear. 

And  that  same  meeting  took  a  still  more  important  ac- 
tion. The  Governor  could  postpone  or  dissolve  a  meeting 
of  the  Assembly.  It  was  desirable  to  have  a  body  repre- 
senting the  people,  that  he  could  not  dissolve.  It  was  de- 
sirable to  establish  a  governing  body  for  the  Province,  differ- 
ent from  the  Assembly  which  was  a  part  of  the  Colonial 
Constitution.  This  meeting  at  Wilmington  appointed  a 
committee  to  call  on  the  counties  to  elect  a  revolutionary 
body  to  direct  affairs  in  N^orth  Carolina,  and  the  committee 
sent  out  handbills  urging  all  the  counties  to  take  that  revo- 
lutionary action.  Pursuant  to  that  recommendation,  the 
first  Provincial  CongTCss  was  elected,  and  met  at  ISTew  Bern 
on  August  24th,  and  after  that  the  local  affairs  of  the  people 
were  generally  managed  by  revolutionary  committees. 
Gradually  the  connection  between  the  people  and  the  Brit- 
ish Government  was  being  severed,  and  the  first  great  step 
was  the  calling  of  the  Provincial  Congress  by  the  people  of 
the  Cape  Fear. 


172  THE  NORTH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

Blind  and  passionate,  Parliament  had  proceeded  to  pass 
measures  of  fearful  import,  as  if  to  force  the  people  to  des- 
perate resistance.  First,  they  decreed  that  any  one  charged 
with  resisting  their  proceedings  should  be  carried  to  Eng- 
land and  he  tried  there,  instead  of  in  his  own  country ;  next, 
afeserting  their  right  to  modify  and  annul  the  government  of 
any  Colony,  they  passed  a  bill  seriously  modifying  the 
government  of  Massachusetts,  in  utter  disregard  of  the 
rights  of  the  people  under  their  charter;  and  then,  as  if  to 
show  what  they  deemed  a  model  government  for  the  Ameri- 
ern  Colonies,  and  what  the  people  here  might  expect,  they 
established  a  government  in  Canada  in  which  the  people  had 
no  legislature,  but  the  power  of  making  the  laws  was  vested 
exclusively  in  a  Council  appointed  in  England.  These  meas- 
ures appalled  America.  There  was  no  other  topic  of  con- 
versation, no  other  subject  of  thought,  but  the  imperiled 
rights  and  liberties  of  the  people.  The  dangers  foreshad- 
owed by  the  first  Stamp  Act  had  now  come  in  terrible  form ; 
no  longer  were  the  people  to  be  British  subjects,  but  British 
slaves.  The  iron  entered  into  the  souls  of  men,  and  again 
our  forests  and  fields  resounded  ^\dth  the  cry  of  "Resistance 
unto  death."  In  the  intervening  decade  Moses  John  De- 
Rossett,  Hugh  Waddell,  John  Harvey  and  other  patriotic 
spirits  had  passed  away;  while  Hooper,  Iredell  and  other 
great  souls  had  reached  the  stage  of  action.  John  Ashe  was 
still  in  the  forefront  among  the  leaders.  He  had  been  Colo- 
nel of  the  militia  of  New  Hanover,  but  declining  a  reap- 
pointment by  the  Governor,  about  the  first  of  March,  1775. 
he  organized  a  regiment  of  troops,  not  under  the  laws  of 
the  Province,  and  was  elected  by  them  to  be  their  Colonel. 
Robert  Howe  likewise  organized  troops  in  Brunswick,  and 
was  engaged  in  drilling  them.  Events  now  moved  rapidly. 
On  April  19th,  occurred  the  battle  of  Lexington,  the  news 


EARLY    TIMES    ON    THE    CAPE   FEAR.  173 

by  couriers  reaching  Wilmington  on  May  the  6th,  and  the 
excitement  became  intense.  At  Kew  Bern  feeling  ran 
equally  high,  and  Governor  Martin,  who  had  succeeded 
Tryon,  feared  to  remain  in  his  palace.  Sending  his  wife 
and  children  to  New  York,  he  fled  to  the  protection  of  the 
garrison  at  Fort  Johnston,  arriving  there  on  the  2d  of  June. 
He  had  already  applied  to  General  Gage  for  a  supply  of 
arms  and  ammunition  to  arm  his  loyal  adherents,  and  now 
he  concerted  measures  to  organize  the  Highlanders  and  the 
loyalists  in  the  interior.  In  command  of  the  fort,  he  could 
readily  disj)atch  emissaries  through  the  country,  and  his 
holding  it  was  a  menace  to  the  people,  for  information  was 
received  of  his  purpose  to  strengthen  it  and  increase  the  gar- 
rison. Indeed  he  had  applied  for  ten  thousand  stand  of 
arms,  to  equip  the  loyalists  of  the  interior.  The  patriotic 
leaders  learning  his  intention,  deemed  it  time  to  act,  and  it 
was  resolved  that  the  fort  should  be  dismantled  and,  if  pos- 
sible, the  cannon  removed.  Gov.  Martin,  however,  on  hear- 
ing that  steps  were  being  taken  for  this  purpose,  acted 
quickly.  He  fled  from  Fort  Johnston,  taking  up  his  quarters 
on  the  sloop  of  war,  the  Cruiser,  and  removed  all  the  am- 
munition on  board  a  transport,  and  dismounted  the  cannon, 
placing  them  under  the  guns  of  the  sloop  of  war.  The 
Patriot  forces  had  been  put  in  motion  and  Brunswick  was 
the  appointed  rendezvous.  There  Howe  brought  his  contin- 
gent from  Brunswick  County;  there  three  hundred  were 
marching  from  Bladen;  and  there  Ashe,  with  a  part  of  his 
IN^ew  Hanover  regiment,  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  17th 
of  July  on  a  schooner  from  Wilmington.  Learning  of 
the  removal  of  the  military  stores  to  the  transport,  Ashe 
formed  the  plan  of  burning  her  with  fire  rafts ;  but  later 
that  design  was  abandoned,  and  the  next  evening  five  hun- 
dred men  marched  from  Brunswick  to  Fort  Johnston;  and 


174:  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

Ashe  witli  his  own  hands  applied  the  torch,  and  the  Fort 
was  burned  and  demolished.  They  had  driven  the  Royal 
Governor  from  North  Carolina  soil ;  and  they  had  destroyed 
the  fort  built  for  the  protection  of  the  people,  which  Mar- 
tin had  resigned  to  convert  into  a  foothold  for  his  loyal  ad- 
herents. This  was  an  act  of  war,  and  in  the  then  circum- 
stances, was  open  treason.  But  bold  hearts  fear  no  conse- 
quences. The  irrevocable  step  was  taken.  'No  apprehen- 
sions could  deter  the  Cape  Fear  people.  As  for  the  lead- 
ers, the  Royal  Governor  awarded  them  high  distinction. 
He  urged  on  the  King  that  in  all  proclamations  of  amnesty 
an  exception  should  be  made  of  John  Ashe,  Robert  Howe, 
Cornelius  Harnett  and  Abner  ISTash,  Kash  having  been  the 
leader  in  seizing  the  cannon  at  the  Governor's  mansion  at 
JSTew  Bern. 

The  struggle  then  begun  to  assert  the  immemorial  rights 
of  the  people  as  British  subjects,  soon  changed  its  aspect, 
and  had  for  its  object  entire  separation  from  Great  Britain 
and  complete  independence.  At  the  very  outset  no  other 
people  were  bolder  than  the  inhabitants  of  Wilmington  and 
the  people  of  the  Cape  Fear,  and  none  were  more  fixed 
and  more  resolute  in  their  purpose,  and  none  made  greater 
sacrifices  in  the  cause  of  independence.  According  to  their 
plighted  faith,  they  went  forward  in  the  cause,  and  freely 
offered  their  lives  and  sacrificed  their  fortunes,  and  they 
emerged  from  the  long  and  doubtful  struggle  with  only 
their  sacred  honor  preserved,  and  their  liberties  secured  as 
the  cherished  heritage  of  their  posterity.  As  long  as  Free- 
dom has  her  votaries,  the  daring  deeds  of  our  Cape  Fear 
people  must  ever  receive  the  highest  applause,  and  those  who 
would  learn  the  lessons  of  patriotism  can  find  in  the  cour- 
ageous leaders  of  those  old  days,  examples  of  virtue  and 
heroism,  which  they  may  emulate,  but  which  they  cannot 
hope  to  excel. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   UNIVEKSITY.  1Y5 

ABSTRACT  OF  VOLUME  II  OF  DR.  K.  P.  BATTLE'S 

HISTORY  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA,  1868=1912 


Under  the  Constitution  of  1868  the  Trustees  of  the  Uni- 
versity were  appointed  bj  the  Board  of  Education,  not  by 
the  General  Assembly.  They  were  new  men  as  a  rule,  who 
held  this  office  for  the  first  time.  Only  five  of  the  old  Board 
were  reappointed,  and  only  one  of  them  had  been  at  all  ac- 
tive. The  Executive  Committee  was  composed  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Education,  eight  in  number,  including 
the  Governor,  and  three  Trustees  elected  by  the  Board 
Trustees. 

The  Board  met  on  the  23d  of  July,  1868.  They  declared 
the  offices  of  President  and  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  the 
chairs  of  the  Professors  to  be  vacant.  President  Swain  con- 
tended that  under  the  Constitution  he  was  still  President. 
His  contention  was  not  recognized  and  was  cut  off  by  his 
death. 

The  Board  referred  the  election  of  a  teaching  staff  to  the 
Executive  Committee.  These  chose  Solomon  Pool,  late  an 
University  Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics,  then  holding 
an  appointment  in  the  United  States  Revenue  service,  Presi- 
dent, and  the  following  Professors:  Alexander  Mclver,  a 
first  honor  graduate  of  1853,  late  Professor  in  Davidson 
College,  Professor  of  Mathematics ;  Fisk  P.  Brewer,  Pro- 
fessor of  Greek;  an  Honor  Graduate  of  Yale,  Brother  of 
Judge  Brewer  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court, 
son  of  Rev.  Josiah  Brewer,  Missionary  to  Turkey;  David 
Settle  Patrick,  Professor  of  Latin,  Graduate  of  1856,  Prin- 
cipal of  a  high  school  in  Texas ;  James  A.  Martling,  Profes- 
sor of  English,  Principal  of  high  school  in  Missouri,  brother- 
in-law  of  Superintendent  Ashley ;  George  Dixon,  Yorkshire, 


176  THE  NOKTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

England,  Lecturer  on  Chemistry,  Botany  and  Theoretical 
Farming.  R.  W.  Lassiter,  of  Oxford,  was  elected  Secretary 
and  Treasurer. 

The  sale  of  the  landscrip  by  the  late  Trustees  was  disap- 
proved and  efforts  were  made  to  rescind  it  but  without  suc- 
cess. As  Congress  stopped  for  awhile  the  location  of  lands  by 
the  late  Confederate  States,  the  purchaser  delayed  payment. 
There  was  therefore  no  income  from  this  source.  The  Gen- 
eral Assembly  declined  to  gra.nt  an  appropriation  for  the 
support  of  the  University,  and  as  tuition  was  offered  free, 
there  was  no  income.  The  consequence  was  that  after  the 
experiment  of  a  year,  few  students  appearing,  the  doors 
were  closed  in  1870. 

The  University  being  forced  into  bankruptcy  by  the  fail- 
ure of  the  Bank  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  the  Federal  Court  de- 
cided that  such  of  its  property  as  is  necessary  for  its  life 
could  not  be  sold,  because  it  is  a  part  of  the  State.  But 
property  held  for  investment  was  subject  to  sale.  The 
Court  then  allotted  to  the  University  its  buildings  and  con- 
tents and  nearly  six  hundred  acres  of  land. 

At  the  instance  of  Professor  Mclver,  after  he  became 
Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  an  effort  was  made 
to  revive  the  University.  A  meeting  of  the  Alumni  wa? 
called.  The  Trustees  of  1868  were  asked  to  resign  in  favor 
of  new  trustees,  to  be  nominated  by  the  Alumni.  It  was 
thought  that  Governor  Caldwell  would  appoint  these  nomi- 
nees. As  resignations  were  not  forthcoming  the  scheme 
fell  through. 

The  friends  of  the  University  then  obtained  a  constitu- 
tional amendment,  giving  the  appointment  of  Trustees  to  the 
General  Assembly,  who  in  1874  elected  a  new  Board  of 
Trustees.  This  was  resisted  by  Goveraor  Caldwell,  who 
claimed  that  nomination  by  himself  and  confirmation  by  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    UNIVEBSITY.  177 

Senate  were  demanded  bj  the  Constitution.  But  the  Su- 
preme Court  decided  that  the  election  was  valid. 

When  the  act  of  Congress  prohibiting  the  location  of  the 
landscrip  was  repealed,  $125,000  of  this  fund  went  into  the 
hands  of  the  Trustees  of  1868.  They  had  invested  it  in 
Special  Tax  Bonds  of  the  State  and  some  not  special  tax. 
In  accepting  the  landscrip,  the  State  agreed  to  make  good 
any  loss  in  the  principal  of  the  fund.  The  new  Trustees 
therefore  petitioned  the  General  Assembly  to  pay  the  Uni- 
versity $7,500  a  year,  being  six  per  cent  interest  on  $125,000. 
This  was  done  by  a  majority  of  one  in  the  House  but  a  two- 
thirds  majority  in  the  Senate.  The  Special  Tax  Bonds  were 
destroyed  by  the  Trustees  according  to  the  act. 

The  buildings  being  greatly  in  need  of  repair  a  commit- 
tee, of  which  K,  P.  Battle  was  chairman,  was  appointed  to 
solicit  contributions  from  Alumni  and  other  friends  of 
education.  They  secured  $20,000  promised,  of  which  over 
$18,000  was  collected.  Mr.  P.  C.  Cameron  superintended 
repairs,  which  cost  over  $13,000.  The  rest  of  the  fund  was 
used  in  paying  professors. 

The  Board  met  in  June  1875,  to  elect  professors. 

For  the  Chair  of  Mathematics  was  chosen  Rev.  Charles 
Phillips,  D.D.,  of  wide  reputation  in  that  department,  of 
which  he  had  been  the  head  in  the  University  and  at  David- 
son College. 

Rev.  Adolphus  Williamson  Mangum,  a  high  honor  gradu- 
ate of  Randolph-Macon  College,  whose  sermons  had  wide 
reputation,  was  Professor  of  Philosophy. 

To  the  Chair  of  ISTatural  Sciences  was  elected  Alexander 
Fletcher  Redd,  Alumnus  of  Virginia  Military  Institute,  who 
had  charge  of  Chemistry  and  Physics  in  the  Homer  School. 

Mr.  John  Kimberly,  onoe  Professor  of  Agricultural  Chem- 


1T8  THE  NOETII  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

istrj  in  this  University,  was  chosen  to  the  Chair  of  Agricul- 
ture. 

The  Professor  for  the  Chair  of  Engineering  and  the  Me- 
chanic Arts  was  Ralph  Henry  Graves.  He  was  a  first  honor 
student  of  this  Univ'^ersity.  He  then  was  distinguished  at 
the  University  of  Virginia,  attaining  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Science,  and  Civil  and  Mechanical  Engineering.  He 
was  then  Professor  of  Drawing  and  Technical  Mechanics  in 
the  Virginia  Polytechnic  College,  after  which  he  was  a 
teacher  in  the  School  of  Horner  and  Graves  at  Hillsboro. 

To  the  Chairs  of  Greek  and  French  was  elected  John 
deBerniere  Hooper,  a  first  honor  graduate  of  this  institution. 
He  was  then  tutor  and  professor  of  Latin  and  French.  Re- 
signing in  1848  he  was  Principal  of  schools  in  Warren,  Fay- 
etteville  and  Wilson. 

George  Tayloe  Winston  was  made  Adjunct  Professor  of 
Latin  and  German,  soon  to  be  full  professor.  A  first  honor 
Alumnus  of  this  University,  of  the  United  States  Naval 
Academy  and  graduate  and  Instructor  of  Cornell  University. 

It  was  determined  to  have  no  President.  Professor  Phil- 
lips was  elected  Chairman  of  the  Faculty.  The  exercises 
were  ordered  to  begin  on  the  1st  of  September  but  the  formal 
opening  was  on  the  5th.  On  this  occasion  there  was  much 
enthusiasm,   Governor  Brogden  making  a   stirring  address. 

The  Dialectic  Society  was  reopened  by  Judge  W.  H.  Battle 
and  Mr.  T.  M.  Argo,  and  the  Philanthropic  by  Colonel  W.  L. 
Saunders.  There  had  been  no  meetings  since  the  suspension 
of  1868. 

The  number  of  students  reached  69.  The  experiment  of 
a  Chairman  of  the  University  proved  unsatisfactory,  chiefly 
owing  to  the  ill  health  of  Dr.  Phillips.  In  1876  the  Board 
resolved  to  elect  a  President.  Kemp  P.  Battle,  a  first  honor 
graduate  of  1849,  Tutor  of  Mathematics  1850-'54,  ex-State 


HISTORY    OF    THE    UNIVEESITY.  179 

Treasurer,  a  Trustee,  member  of  the  Ealeigh  bar,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  University,  was  cbosen  by  over  tbree- 
fifths  majority.  He  began  at  once  to  bring  the  University  to 
the  attention  of  the  7:;eople  by  j)rinted  circulars  and  by  educa- 
tional addresses.  On  his  recommendation  the  Trustees  de- 
creed that  the  anniversary  of  the  laying  the  cornerstone  of  the 
first  dormitory  (Old  East),  October  12,  1793,  should  be  a 
holiday  (University  Day). 

The  next  year,  1876-7  there  vs^as  increase  of  numbers  to 
126. 

At  the  commencement  of  1877,  Governor  Vance  delivered 
his  admirable  address  on  the  Life  and  Character  of  David 
L.  Swain. 

In  the  summer  of  1877  was  held  the  first  Normal  School  in 
the  United  States  connected  with  a  university  or  college.  It 
had  signal  success.  The  latest  modes  of  teaching,  by  experts 
from  North  and  South  were  adopted.  Lectures  were  deliv- 
ered by  eminent  men  of  the  State.  Professor  John  J.  Ladd, 
of  New  Hampshire,  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  of 
Staunton,  Virginia,  was  Superintendent  of  the  school.  Pres- 
ident Battle  being  in  general  charge.  Sessions  were  regu- 
larly held  until  1884  inclusive  and  were  a  potent  factor  in 
breaking  up  the  general  education  lethargy.  Women  were 
admitted  in  1877  by  courtesy,  afterwards  by  law. 

The  total  number  in  the  eight  schools  were  2,480  some 
teachers  of  course  attending  more  than  once.  According  to 
the  testimony  of  Dr,  Barnas  Sears,  the  eminent  Manager  of 
the  Peabody  Fund,  of  Governor  Vance,  President  A.  D.  Hep- 
burn, Colonel  Bingham,  Superintendent  Scarborough,  Pres- 
ident Pritchard  and  many  other  eminent  educators,  the 
school  was  one  of  the  greatest  movements  for  education  ever 
had  up  to  that  time  in  the  State.  It  stimulated  the  growth 
of  Graded  Schools,  introduced  kindergarten  instruction,  and 


I 


180  THE  NOETH  CAROLIISrA  BOOKLET. 

kindled  desire  to  work  for  the  uplifting  of  our  youth  in  the 
hearts  and  minds  of  such  men  as  Mclver,  Alderman,  Joyner, 
Noble  and  others,  whose  names  are  conspicuous  in  this  benef- 
icent work. 

The  establishment  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Sta- 
tion, which  has  been  of  conspicuous  benefit  to  farmers,  was 
the  work  of  the  University,  President  Battle  being  the  first 
to  advocate  it  by  pen  and  speaking,  and  the  headquarters  were 
for  some  years  at  Chapel  Hill. 

By  1881  the  subscriptions  in  excess  of  what  was  needed 
for  repairs  were  exhausted.  Application  was  made  to  the 
General  Assembly  for  relief.  As  no  appropriation  for  sup- 
port had  ever  been  granted  to  the  University  much  opposition 
was  experienced.  An  elaborate  printed  argument  was  made 
in  answer  to  the  objections.  The  Alumni  Association  had  a 
meeting  in  Raleigh,  at  which  Mr.  P.  C.  Cameron  and  Presi- 
dent Battle  made  addresses  on  the  history  of  the  institution 
and  at  a  banquet  afterwards  many  members  of  the  General 
Assembly  made  short  speeches.  Five  thousand  dollars  an- 
nually was  obtained,  Governor  Jarvis  giving  powerful  help. 

In  1882  the  State  University  Railroad  was  finished,  Miss 
Julia.  J.  Spencer,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Cornelia  P.  Spencer,  now 
Mrs.  Love,  driving  the  last  spike.  A  dinner  was  given  by 
the  ladies  of  Chapel  Hill  to  the  hired  convicts.  On  account 
of  meagreness  of  funds  it  was  built  10  2-5  miles,  to  the  near- 
est point  on  the  ISTorth  Carolina  railroad,  now  called  Univer- 
sity Station.  It  was  necessary  to  use  the  most  rigid  econ- 
omy. President  Battle  was  the  President  and  General  R.  F. 
Hoke,  Superintendent,  both  without  salary.  The  Richmond 
and  Danville  Railroad  Company,  the  lessee  of  the  !N"orth 
Carolina  Railroad  Company,  bore  much  the  larger  part  of  the 
cost,  taking  payment  in  stock. 

The  completion  of  the  railroad  increased  the  attendance 


HISTORY    OF    THE    UNIVEKSITT.  181 

at  Commencements,  fo  that  it  became  necessary  to  build  Me- 
morial Hall.  Tablets  commemorative  of  great  men  of  tke 
University  adorn  its  v^^alls,  and  in  addition  the  names  of  the 
alumni  who  lost  their  lives  as  Confederate  soldiers.  It  ac- 
commodates 2,400  persons  seated  and  by  using  the  aisles  a 
much  larger  number. 

In  1885  a  successful  effort  was  made  to  obtain  from  the 
General  Assembly  a  grant  of  $15,000  in  addition  to  the 
$5,000  voted  in  1881,  Governor  Scales  using  his  powerful 
influence  in  behalf  of  the  bill.  This  with  the  $7,500  inter- 
est of  the  Land  Grant  made  $27,500.  Adding  tuition  re- 
ceipts and  interest  from  donations,  there  was  now  the  largest 
income  in  the  history  of  the  institution.  There  was  added 
to  the  faculty:  For  the  English  Language  and  Literature, 
Eev.  Thomas  Hume,  D.D.,  LLD.,  of  Virginia ;  for  the 
Science  and  Art  of  Teaching,  Professor  Nelson  B.  Henry,  of 
Missouri;  for  Modern  Languages,  Professor  Walter  Dallam 
Toy,  of  Virginia;  for  Agricultural  Chemistry  and  Mining, 
Wm.  B.  Phillips,  Ph.D.,  of  North  Carolina;  for  Assistant 
Professor  of  Mathematics,  James  Lee  Love,  Ph.B. ;  for  Nat- 
ural History,  Assistant  Professor  George  F.  Atkinson,  Ph.B. 

The  University  did  not  long  enjoy  the  whole  of  this  un- 
usual income.  The  farmers  of  the  State  were  stirred  up  to 
demand  a  separate  institution  for  Agriculture  and  Mechani- 
cal training.  The  $7,500  a  year  Land  Grant  was  taken 
away,  and  it  became  necessary  to  dispense  with  two  professors 
and  one  assistant  professor. 

In  1889  the  centennial  of  granting  the  charter  was  cele- 
brated with  great  eclat.  Numerous  alumni  and  representa- 
tives of  other  institutions  were  present  and  the  speeches  were 
models  of  eloquence  and  appreciation  of  the  institution. 

At  the  Commencement  of  1890  the  Alumni  History  Chair 


182  THE  NORTH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

was  endowed,  Judge  James  Grant  and  General  Julian  S. 
Carr  being  the  largest  contributors.  President  Battle  bj  re- 
quest, visited  many  cities  and  towns  and  procured  additions 
to  the  amount  then  raised. 

In  1801  President  Battle,  after  fifteen  years  service,  re- 
signed his  office  receiving  laudatory  resolutions  from  the 
Trustees,  faculty  and  students.  George  T.  Winston,  LL.D., 
who  had  shown  eminent  abilities  dealing  with  University 
problems,  who  had  become  widely  and  favorably  known  as 
President  of  the  State  Teachers'  Association,  and  by  able 
public  addresses,  was  unanimously  elected  as  his  successor. 

The  inaugTiration  of  the  new  President  was  on  October  14. 
1891.  Addresses  were  made  by  ex-President  Battle,  by 
President  D.  C.  Gilmer,  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  and 
by  Hon.  Walter  H.  Page,  now  Ambassador  to  Great  Britain. 
Then  President  Winston  outlined  the  policy  of  his  adminis- 
tration in  his  usual  clear  and  strong  style. 

President  Winston  began  an  active  canvass  of  the  State  for 
students,  and  had  great  success,  the  numbers  increasing  by 
1895  to  471.  The  State  appropriations  were  likewise  in- 
creased. The  attacks  on  the  University  he  met  with  such 
ability,  ridicule  and  sarcasm  that  they  finally  ceased.  His 
resignation  in  1895  was  received  with  much  regret.  He  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  be  President  of  the  University  of  Texas, 
subsequently  returning  to  his  native  State  as  President  of 
the  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College. 

Tn  the  same  year  was  held  the  centennial  of  the  opening 
of  the  doors  for  students  on  January  15,  1795.  The  exercises 
were  exceedingly  instructive  and  interesting.  Hon.  Alfred 
Moore  Waddell  spoke  on  the  University  up  to  1860 ;  Mr. 
Henry  Armand  London  on  1860  to  1875 ;  Mr.  Adolphus  H. 
Eller,  1875  to  the  date.  Dr.  Stephen  B.  Weeks  gave  an  ex- 
haustive study  of  the  University  in  the  Civil  War.  Mr.  James 


HISTORY    OF    THE   UNIVERSITY.  183 

D.  Lynch  furnished  a  beautiful  ode,  which  by  his  request 
was  read  by  Dr.  Alderman.  Mrs.  C.  P.  Spencer  contribu- 
ted a  stirring  ode. 

At  the  centennial  banquet  toasts  were  responded  to  by 
Governor  Elias  Carr,  Hon.  Robert  W.  Winston,  ex-Govemor 
Thomas  M.  Holt,  Major  William  A.  Guthrie,  Mr.  Herman 
H.  Home,  Hon.  Locke  Craig,  Dr.  Charles  D.  Mclver,  Hon. 
Marion  Butler,  Professor  Alexander  W.  Graham,  Lion. 
Josephus  Daniels,  Dr.  Paul  B.  Bairringer.  About  $12,000 
was  pledged  for  building  a  new  hall  for  offices  and  lecture 
rooms,  to  be  called  Alumni  Hall. 

After  passing  resolutions  of  regTet  at  the  departure  of 
President  Winston  and  appreciation  of  his  services.  Profes- 
sor Edwin  A.  Alderman  was  elected  his  successor.  Dr.  Alder- 
man was  a  first  honor  graduate  of  the  University,  won  the 
MangTim  medal  for  oratory,  was  eminently  successful  as  a 
graded  school  superintendent,  as  organizer  of  Teachers'  In- 
stitutes, as  President  of  the  State  Teachere'  Associations  and 
Professor  of  Teaching  and  Llistory  in  Summer  Schools,  in 
the  iSTormal  and  Industrial  College,  and  the  University. 
Besides  being  an  inspiring  teacher,  he  has  a  wonderful  gift 
of  oratory,  not  excelled  as  a  speaker  on  educational  topics. 

The  formal  inauguration  of  President  Alderman  was  on 
the  27th  of  January,  1897.  The  occasion  was  brilliant.  The 
General  Assembly  took  a  recess  in  its  honor  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  representatives  of  State  Universities  and  Colleges 
attended.  Mr.  Robert  H.  Wright  spoke  in  behalf  of  the  stu- 
dents, Dr.  K.  P.  Battle  in  behalf  of  the  faculty,  then  Gov- 
ernor Russell  delivered  into  Dr.  Alderman's  hands  the  char- 
ter and  seal  of  the  University  with  appropriate  and  eloquent 
words.  Dr.  Alderman  replied  accepting  the  office  as  a  clear 
duty. 

The  next  speaker  was  the  very  able  Professor  IST.  M.  But- 


184  THE  NOETIt  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

ler,  now  President  of  Columbia  University,  New  York.  He 
proved  that  this  is  a  century  of  education.  Then  came  Dr. 
Alderman's  masterly  address,  outlining  the  functions  of  a 
true  university. 

On  21st  February,  1897,  the  Trustees  passed  an  ordinance 
admitting  women  to  the  post-graduate  course.  xVpplicants 
have  been  few  in  number ;  but  among  them  have  been  bril- 
liant students.  Women  attended  the  Summer  Normal  School 
but  never  heretofore  the  University  curriculum. 

In  the  same  year  the  Department  of  Pharmacy  was  added 
to  the  curriculum  and  Dr.  E.  V.  Howell  was  elected  Pro- 
fessor. The  Summer  School  of  1897  was  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Professor  Clinton  W.  Toms.  He  was  soon  after- 
wards elected  Professor  of  Pedagogy  but  declined  the  post 
and  went  into  lucrative  business. 

The  successive  Summer  Schools  are  described,  the  last, 
that  of  1912,  under  the  management  of  Profesosr  IsT.  W. 
Walker,  having  an  increased  attendance,  471.  The  close 
was  signalized  by  the  acting  of  an  interesting  play  founded 
on  North  Carolina  History,  called  Esther  Wake.  It  was 
composed  by  Professor  A.  Vermont,  one  of  the  teachers.  Su- 
perintendent of  the  Graded  Schools  of  Smithfield. 

In  this  year  the  cornerstone  of  the  Alumni  Building  was 
laid.  General  J.  S.  Carr  made  the  presentation  to  the  Trus- 
tees and  Hon.  F,  D.  Winston  delivered  the  address  of  accept- 
ance.    Both  speeches  were  in  handsome  style. 

FoT  the  first  time  in  our  history  Judge  Thomas  C.  Fuller 
delivered  an  address  on  the  practice  of  the  law,  of  great  value 
not  only  to  law  students  but  to  the  public  at  large  also. 

In  1899  the  University  lost  one  of  her  most  learned  and 
widely  known  professors,  Dr.  John  Manning,  Dean  of  the 
Department  of  Law.  At  a  meeting  held  in  his  honor  ad- 
dresses on  his  life,  character  and  services  were  delivered  bv 


HISTORY    OF    THE    UNIVERSITY.  185 

Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle,  Dr.  Eben  Alexander,  Dr.  J.  Crawford 
Biggs,  Mr.  M.  A.  Newell  of  the  Law  School  and  President 
Alderman. 

Hon.  James  Cameron  MaeRae,  late  a  Justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  was  deemed  bj  the  Trustees  eminently  worthy 
to  take  his  place. 

In  the  same  year  Mr,  George  M.  McKie  was  made  In- 
structor in  the  Art  of  Expression.  Professor  Cobb  dropped 
Mineralogy  from  his  title  and  was  Professor  of  Geology. 
Professor  Harrington  resigned  the  Chair  of  Latin  and  Greek 
and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Henry  M.  Linscott  and  ex-Judge 
Biggs  yielded  his  professorship  of  Law  to  Dr.  Thomas  Ruf- 
fin,  and  resumed  active  practice. 

In  1900  Dr.  Alderman  resigned  the  Presidency  and  ac- 
cepted that  of  Tulane  University.  His  parting  address  was 
full  of  feeling  and  wise  counsels  to  his  Alma  Mater. 

The  Commencement  of  this  year  was  devoted  mainly  to  the 
celebration  of  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  reopening, 
or  re-birth  of  the  L^niversity.  Elaborate  historical  addresses 
were  delivered  by  ex-President  Battle,  his  subject  being  "The 
Struggle  and  Story  of  the  Re-birth  of  the  University"  ;  by 
ex-President  George  T.  Winston,  on  "The  First  Faculty,  Its 
Work  and  Opportunity";  by  Mr.  Wm.  J.  Peele,  on  "The 
Students  of  1875."  Lastly  was  a  masterly  address  by  Pres- 
ident Alderman  on  "The  University ;  Its  Work  and  its 
E^eeds."  !N"early  the  whole  of  President  Winston's  most  able 
address  and  much  of  those  of  Peele  and  Alderman  are  given 
in  the  text  of  this  history. 

At  this  time  were  begim  by  the  munificence  of  Mr.  James 
Sprunt,  of  Wilmington,  annual  historical  monographs  on 
subjects  of  l^orth  Carolina  history.  The  first  was  Biograph- 
ical sketches  of  the  Delegates  and  Ofiicers  of  the  Convention 
of  1861,  by  James  G.  McCormick,  to  which  was  added  the 


186  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

"Legislation  Enacted   by  the  Convention,   and  Legislation 
proposed  but  rejected,"  by  Dr.  K.  P.  Battle. 

The  second  was  "The  Congressional  Career  of  ISTathaniel 
Macon,"  by  Edwin  M.  Wilson  and  Macon's  Letters,  annota- 
ted by  Dr.  Battle. 

These  give  an  idea  of  the  character  and  scope  of  the 
Sprunt  publications,  which  are  annually  issued,  since  1907, 
under  the  supervision  of  Drs.  Hamilton  and  Wagstaff. 

The  presentation  of  the  Carr  Dormitory  was  made  by 
Colonel  W.  H.  S.  Burg-win,  and  the  acceptance  was  by  Hon. 
R.  H.  Battle.  Both  speeches  were  pronounced  to  be  in  excel- 
lent taste. 

Dr.  Francis  Preston  Venable  in  1900  was  chosen  unani- 
mously as  President  in  the  place  of  Dr.  Alderman.  On  Oc- 
tober 12th  he  gave  a  rapid  review  of  the  history  of  the  Uni- 
versity. His  first  report  shows  a  faculty  of  35  with  527 
students.  He  showed  that  the  University  has  furnished  25 
Governors,  105  Judges,  17  United  States  Senators,  66  Fed- 
eral Representatives,  600  members  of  the  State  Legislatures 
and  leaders  of  every  community.  The  majority  of  the  super- 
intendents and  principals  of  gi-aded  schools  were  traced  to 
Chapel  Hill. 

In  1900  were  completed  the  Mary  Ann  Smith  Dormitory 
and  the  Alumni  Building,  also  new  heating  plant,  water  and 
sewerage. 

In  1907  Dr.  K.  P.  Battle  and  Rev.  Dr.  Thomas  Hume  re- 
signed their  professorships  and  accepted  Carnegie  pensions. 

The  cornerstone  of  the  library,  the  building  of  which  was 
donated  by  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie,  was  laid  with  Masonic 
honors.  Hon.  Francis  D.  Winston  was  the  orator  and  his 
address  was  interesting  and  eloquent.  In  1908  there  were 
Memorial  services  in  honor  of  Professor  Gore  and  Mrs.  C.  P. 
Spencer.     Reunion  exercises  were  held  of  certain  war  classes. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   UNIVERSITY.  187 

namely,  of  1858,  1859,  1860,  1861.  These  were  very  in- 
teresting, Mr.  James  P.  Coffin,  of  Arkansas,  being  the  chief 
speaker.  Resolutions  commendatory  of  the  work  of  Dr.  K. 
P.  Battle  were  read  from  the  rostrum  by  Colonel  Paul  B. 
Means  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  Colonel  Means 
accompanied  them  with  a  full  history  of  Dr.  Battle's  labors 
for  the  University. 

On  University  Day  Dr.  Venable  reported  the  faculty  94  in 
number;  students  790.  The  address  of  the  occasion  was  by 
Hon.  Elmer  E.  Brown,  United  States  Commissioner  of  Edu- 
cation. The  new  Biological  Laboratory  was  named  after 
General  Wm.  R.  Davie. 

Public  exercises  in  1909  were  held  in  honor  of  the  one 
hundredth  birthday  of  General  R.  E.  Lee,  the  orator  being 
Dr.  Woodrow  Wilson,  now  our  President.  He  made  a  mas- 
terly analysis  of  the  great  Southerner. 

In  1910  began  an  experiment  in  student  government,  it 
being  committed  to  the  presidents  of  the  various  classes,  an 
undergTaduate  in  law,  medicine,  and  pharmacy,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Senior  class  elected  by  the  Council.  They  are  act- 
ing wisely  and  effectively.  Appeal  from  their  decision  can 
be  taken  to  the  faculty. 

At  the  Commencement  of  1910  the  chief  interest  was  in 
the  reunion  of  the  classes  of  1860  and  1870.  Of  the  foraier 
83  out  of  84  entered  the  Confederate  Army.  The  chief 
speaker  was  Major  W.  A.  Graham,  The  class  of  1870  was 
composed  of  those  who  would  have  graduated  in  that  year,  if 
the  University  had  not  been  closed.  Ex-President  George 
T.  Winston  and  Dr.  Richard  H.  Lewis,  of  Raleigh,  were  the 
very  effective  speakers.  Mr.  Alexander  J.  Eeild  eloquently 
detailed  the  history  of  the  class  of  1855. 

The  Raleigh  Department  of  the  University  Medical 
School,  Dr.  Hubert  A.  Royster,  Dean,  was  discontinued.    Al- 


188  THE  NOKTH  CAKOLINA  BOOKLET. 

though  it  had  done  excellent  work  it  was  impossible  to  plaoe 
it  on  a  proper  basis  without  a  great  increase  of  funds,  which 
could  not  be  procured. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Association  of  School  Superin- 
tendents was  held  in  Chapel  Hill.  State  Superintendent 
J.  Y.  Joyner  presided,  and  many  educational  topics  were 
discussed. 

The  excellent  Dean  of  the  Law  School,  ex-Judge  James  G. 
MacRae,  died  amid  the  general  grief.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Prof.   L.  P.  McGhee. 

University  Day  was  peculiarly  honored.  The  speakers 
were  President  Daniel  H.  Hill,  of  the  Agricultural  and  Me- 
chanical College,  Professor  W.  C.  Smith  of  the  State  ~Rot- 
nial  and  Industrial  College,  President  R.  H.  Wright  of  the 
Eastern  Training  School,  President  Howard  E.  Rondthaler 
of  Salem  Female  College,  Pres.  W.  R.  Thompson  of  the  Stone- 
wall Jackson  Training  School,  and  Mr.  C.  L.  Williams,  a 
Senior,  in  behalf  of  the  University.  Meetings,  banquets  and 
speeches  among  the  Alumni  were  held  in  many  distant  local- 
ities. 

In  1911  there  were  interesting  meetings  of  the  war  classes 
of  1861,  1862,  1863,  1864,  1865,  1866,  1867,  1868.  Of  the 
class  of  1861,  called  by  name  the  "Great  War  Class,"  came 
first  Captain  Thomas  B.  Haughton,  Captain  J.  M.  B.  Hunt 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  E.  E.  Edmondson  in  attendance. 
Each  of  the  other  classes  was  represented  by  veterans,  some 
of  whom  made  short  speeches. 

At  this  time  Dr.  Albert  R.  Ledoux,  of  iSTew  York,  donated 
$5,000  to  establish  a  fellowship  in  Chemistry.  He  was  the 
first  Director  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  then 
located  at  Chapel  Hill.  The  General  Assembly  appropriated 
$300,000  for  sundry  buildings  and  the  Trustees  of  the  Pea- 
body  Eund  $40,000  for  an  Education  Building. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    UNIVERSITY.  189 

In  1911,  University  Day  address  was  by  Dr.  C.  Alphonso 
Smith,  of  the  University  of  Virginia. 

In  1912  the  Medical  Building  was  dedicated,  the  speakers 
being  Dr.  R.  H.  Lewis,  President  Venable,  Dr.  Isaac  Man- 
ning, Dr.  A.  A.  Kent,  President  of  the  State  Medical  So- 
ciety, Dr.  Richard  H.  Whitehead,  of  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  Dr.  Edgar  F.  Smith,  Provost  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania.     Its  name  commemorates  President  Caldwell. 

On  May  12,  1912,  died  Mr.  Richard  H.  Battle,  a  first 
honor  gTaduate  of  1854,  long  Trustee  and  Secretary-Treas- 
urer of  the  University.  He  was  a  leader  of  the  Raleigh  bar 
and  had  held  high  office  in  the  State.  He  donated  shortly 
before  his  death  a  valuable  law  library  to  the  University. 

At  Commencement  Dr.  H.  H.  Home  was  the  Alumni  ora- 
tor. The  Commencement  orator  was  Dr.  Edwin  Anderson 
Alderman,  President  of  the  University  of  Virginia. 

On  July  15th  died  Rev.  Thomas  Hume,  D.D.,  a  most  ac- 
complished scholar,  eminent  divine  and  inspiring  teacher. 

Three  handsome  dormitories  were  erected,  named  respect- 
ively Kemp  Plummer  Battle,  Zebulon  Baird  Vance  and 
James  Johnston  Pettigrew. 

In  addition  to  the  free  tuition  granted  by  the  General 
Assembly  to  those  of  bodily  infirmity,  to  ministers  and  sons 
of  ministers,  and  to  those  preparing  to  teach,  there  are 
attached  to  the  institution  eight  fellowships,  86  scholarships, 
and  the  Deems  and  Martin  Funds  for  loans  to  indigent  stu- 
dents. There  are  also  13  prizes  offered  for  excellence  in 
scholarship. 

A  list  of  scientific  and  historical  publications  is  given 
showing  active  work  by  members  of  the  faculty.  This  is 
only  a  small  part  of  their  labors. 

The  annual  lectures  by  eminent  men,  delivered  under  the 
John   Calvin  MclSTair  will,   on  Harmony  of  Religion   and 


190  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

Science,  were  given  by  Dr.  Frank  H.  Smith,  Dr.  Francis 
L.  Fatten,  President  David  Starr  Jordan,  Dr.  Henry  Van 
Dyke,  President  A.  T.  Hadley. 

The  debates  with  other  universities,  Korth  and  South, 
show  that  this  University  won  in  25  competitions  and  lost  in 
only  10. 

A  full  description  by  Dr.  Joel  Whitaker,  an  Alumnus 
prominent  in  athletics,  showing  the  part  taken  by  the  Uni- 
versity in  football  and  baseball,  is  given.  In  both,  especially 
in  baseball  games  the  University  gained  the  majority.  To 
these  are  added  the  tennis  matches  and  the  athletic  meets,  in 
which  the  University  holds  fine  record.  The  mass  meetings 
are  chronicled  and  also  a  specimen  of  student  cheers  and  yells. 

Dr.  Battle  describes  minutely  the  walks  around  Chapel 
Hill  to  romantic  spots,  such  as  Piney  Prospect,  Meeting  of 
the  Waters,  Judge's  Spring,  Otey's  Eetreat,  Laurel  Hill, 
Fern-banks,  etc.  To  which  should  be  added  the  beautiful 
Arboretum  created  in  the  east  of  the  Campus  by  the  labor 
and  taste  of  Dr.  W.  C.  Coker. 

Then  follows  a  poem  on  the  "Roaring  Fountain,"  by  Mrs. 
Spencer,  and  one  on  Chapel  Hill  (Zion  Parnassus),  by  Rev. 
Mark  John  Levy,  now  of  Chicago. 

Additional  information  in  regard  to  President  Swain,  Dr. 
James  Phillips,  and  others  is  given,  and  in  order  to  show  that 
the  pranks  of  our  students  detailed  in  Volume  I  were  not  un- 
precedented. Similar,  or  worse,  frolics  of  students  of  Co- 
lumbia University  prior  to  1800  are  given. 

In  the  appendix  is  valuable  information. 

1.  List  of  Trustees  under  the  Constitution  of  1868. 

2.  List  since  the  reopening  1875-1912. 

3.  Senators  and  Representatives  who  voted  for  the  revival 
of  the  University. 


HISTORY    OF    THE   UNIVERSITY.  191 

4.  Lists  of  those  who  voted  for  the  appropriation  to  the 
University  in  1881  and  1885. 

5.  List  of  subscribers  to  tKe  revival  of  the  University, 
about  $20,000  in  1875. 

6.  Stockholders  in  the  Gymnasium  Association. 

7.  Donations  to  the  Library  and  Chair  of  History. 

8.  Description  of  the  General  University  and  Society  Cat- 
alogues. 

9.  Description  of  the  Faculty  of  1912. 

10.  Degrees  in  course  1877  to  1912. 

11.  Portraits  in  the  University  Library  and  the  two  So- 
ciety Halls. 

12.  Specimens  of  the  Dramatic  and  Musical  efforts  of  the 
students. 

13.  jSTames  of  the  Alumni  in  high  offices  not  mentioned  in 
Vol.  L,  compiled  by  Hon.  Walter  Murphy. 

Lastly  is  a  full  index  of  the  book  prepared  by  Mr.  Put- 
nam. 

We  are  unable  for  lack  of  space  to  give  the  names  of  all 
the  eminent  men  who  preached  Baccalaureate  and  Y,  M.  C. 
A.  sermons,  and  delivered  the  Alumni,  Commencement,  Uni- 
versity Day,  and  other  addresses.  The  list  shows  that  the 
students  were  privileged  to  listen  to  the  great  men  of  the 
country,  divines,  statesmen,  scientists,  educators,  journalists 
and  others,  including  the  President  and  Secretary  of  State 
and  of  the  l^avy  of  the  United  States  together  with  Govern- 
ors and  Judges  galore. 

The  total  number  of  students  in  1912-'13  was  837. 

Teachers  at  Summer  School,  463. 

Professors  46,  Instructors  13,  Fellows  and  Assistants  24. 
Total  engaged  in  teaching  83. 

Of  the  number  of  students  610  were  undergTaduates,  23 
were  graduate  students,  131  in  the  Law  School,  54  were  in 
the  Medical  School,  32  were  in  Pharmacy. 


192  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 


MARRIAGE  BONDS  OF  ROWAN  COUNTY, 
NORTH  CAROLINA 


Contributed  by  Mrs.  M.  G.  McCubbins. 


John  Don  (spelt  Dunn  on  outside  of  bond)  to  Sarah  Cross. 
May  26  (or  29),  1758.  John  (his  X  mark)  Doun,  Andrew 
Cathey  and  James  (his  X  mark)  Douthey.  (The  above  men 
are  planters  of  "Roan  County.") 

Morgan  Davis  to  (no  name  given).  January  19,  1763. 
Morgan  Davies,  Benjamin  Evans  and  Madad  (his  X  mark) 
Reed.      (John  Frohock.) 

John  Douthit,  Jr.,  to  Elinor  Davis.  March  9,  1764. 
John  Douthit,  Jr.,  Phillip  Howard,  Jr.,  and  James  Davies, 
(Thomas  Frohock.)  (A  note  from  the  bride's  father,  James 
Davies,  Sr.,  giving  his  consent.  It  is  address^ed  to  John 
Frohock  and  dated  March  8,  1765.) 

Marshall  (his  X  mark)  Duncan,  Jr.  to  (no  name  given). 
April  2,  1765.  Marshall  (his  X  mark)  Duncan,  Jr.,  Mar- 
shall (his  X  mark)  Duncan,  Sr.,  Thomas  (his  T  mark)  Den- 
ston  Rogers.  John  Duncan,  John  (his  X  mark)  Callahan. 
Darby  (his  D  mark)  Callahan  are  witnesses.)  (A  complete 
marriage  bond  was  enclosed  in  the  above  giving  the  bride's 
name — Bety  Densten  Rogers  "Daughter  of  the  widow  Cath- 
arine Densten  Rogers").      (John  Frohock). 

William  Dobbins  to  Eliz:  Erwyn.  September  8,  1768. 
William  Dobbins,  Alexander  Erwyn  and  Joseph  Luckie. 
(Thos.  Frohock.) 

William  Doornail  to  Margaret  King.  February  14,  1769. 
William  (his  W  mark)  Doornail,  William  Alexander  and 
William  Milliken.  (Tho.  Frohock.)  A  note  of  consent  from 
Thomas  King  dated  February  13,  1769,  in  which  tlie  groom's 
name  is  spelt  "Doornell." 


BOW  AN  COUNTY  MARRIAGE  BONDS.  193 

James  Dobbins  to  Margaret  MclSright.  January  24,  17Y0. 
James  Dobbins,  James  McKnight  and  James  McKoiin. 
(Thomas  Frohock.) 

William  Douthit  to  Sarah  Job.  January  31,  1772. 
William  Douthit,  George  (his  X  mark)  McNight  and  John 
Douthit,  Jr.  (Thomas  Frohock.)  A  note  from  bride's 
father,  Thos.  Job,  dated  January  28,  1772.  He  and  the 
clerk  spell  the  groom's  name  "Douther." 

John  Dunn  to  Frances  Petty.  March  23,  1775.  John 
Dunn  and  Waightstill  Avery.      (Ad:  Osbom.) 

Benjamin  Davis  to  Isbell  Holland.  February  6,  1776. 
Benjamin  Davis  and  John  Conger.      (Ad:  Osborn.) 

James  Daniel  to  Rebecca  Atherton  (a  widow).  April  5, 
1779.     James  Daniel  and  David  Woodson.      (Ad:  Osborn.) 

Jacob  Debalt  to  Elizabeth  Goodman.  June  5,  1779. 
Jacob  Debalt  (in  German  ?)  and  John  Misenheimer.  (Jo. 
Brevard.)  (It  is  possible  that  Elizabeth  Goodman  may 
have  become  the  bride  of  John  Misenheimer  as  his  name  is 
placed  with  the  gToom's.) 

Thomas  Degle  to  Rebecca  Nealy.  July  24,  1779.  Thomas 
(his  X  mark)  Degle,  and  Thomas  Renshaw.  (Jo.  Brevard.) 
(Thomas  Renshaw's  name  also  appears  in  the  groom's  space 
as  above.) 

Conrad  Dooty  to  Lovis  Hoover.  August  27,  1779. 
Conrad  (his  X  mark)  Dooly  and  Conrad  (his  X  mark) 
Shaver.      (Ad:  Osborn.) 

Joseph  Davis  to  Susanna  MeCrary.  December  28,  1779. 
Joseph  Davis  and  William  Silvers  ( ?).  (B.  Booth  Boote.) 
(Messrs.  Davis  and  Silvers  (  ?)  are  planters.) 

John  Davidson  to  Nancey  Brevard  (spinster).  Novem- 
ber   27,    1779.     John   Davidson    and    Joseph    Byars.      (B. 


194  THE  NOETH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

Booth  Boote.)  (Messrs.  Davidson  and  Brevard  are  plant- 
ters. ) 

Andrew  Donnell  to  Agnes  Braij.  September  29,  1779. 
Andrew  Donnell  and  John  Bralj  (Braty  ?).     (Jo:  Brevard.) 

William  Duffy  to  Prudence  Carson  (spinster).  August 
1,  1780.  William  Duffy  and  John  Carson.  (H.  (  ?)  Gif- 
fard.) 

David  Duncan  to  Cathrenah  McCulloh.  Ad  (?)  Bran- 
don. January  6,  1766.  David  Duncan  and  James  Carson. 
(Thomas  Frohock.) 

Thomas  Donnohoi  to  Ann  Lyhins  (?)  (Syhins).  July 
9,  1767.  Thomas  (his  X  mark)  Donnahoe  and  Hugh  Mont- 
gomery.     (John  Frohock.) 

Valentine  Day  to  Eve  Reigher.  August  4,  1767.  Valen- 
tine Day  and  Christopher  Spray  her  (in  German  ?). 
(Thomas  Frohock.) 

William  Davidson  to  Mary  Brown.  December  10,  1767. 
William  Davidson,  Hugh  Brevard  and  James  Holmes.  (Ko 
name.) 

Cleveare  ( ?)  Duke  to  Lucy  Smith.  June  13,  1768. 
Clevears  Duke,  John  Wyld  and  George  Magonne.  (John 
Frohock.)  A  complete  bond  is  enclosed  in  which  Duke 
signs  his  name  "Clevers  Duke"  and  Thomas  Frohock  adds 
his  signature.  (John  Frohock  is  Clerk  of  the  Superior 
Court. ) 

John  Dunn  to  Sarah  Grier.  March  8,  1782.  John  Dunn 
and  John  Johnson  (  ?).      (T.  H.  McCaule.) 

John  Darcey,  (or  Dancey)  to  Abigail  Davis.  August  27. 
1783.     John  Dancey  and  Myock   (?)   Davis.      (No  name.) 

Mark  Dedman  to  Hanna  Baily.  ^November  7,  1785. 
Mark  dedmon  and  William  (his  X  mark)  Baily.  (Max: 
Chambers. ) 


ROWAN    COUNTY    MAKKIAGE    BONDS.  195 

Peter  (  ?)  Dowell  to  Elizabetli  Collier.  September  (  ?)  7, 
1785.  Richard  Dowell  (no  witnesses  unless  the  bond  is  not 
signed  by  the  groom  who  may  be  Peter  Dowell.      (No  name.) 

Joseph  Dial  to  Margaret  Hinkle.  March  13,  1786. 
Joseph  Dial  and  Jesse  Hinkle.      (W  ( ?)   Cupples.) 

James  Dauson  to  Jane  Citchen.    August  16,  1786.    James 
(his  X  mark)  Dauson  and  Hugh  Gray, 
(To  be  Continued.) 


Vol  XIII  APRIL,  1914  No.  4 


IShe 


floRTH  CflROIilHfl  BoOKIiET 


^^  Carolina!  Carolina!  Heaven'' s  blessings  attend  her ! 
Wliile  we  live  we  will  cherish,  protect  and  defend  her.^* 


Published  by 

THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY 

DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION 


The  object  of  The  Booexet  is  to  aid  in  developing  and  preserving 
North  Carolina  History.  The  proceeds  arising  from  its  publication 
will  be  devoted  to  patriotic  purposes.  Editor. 


ADVISORY  BOARD  OF  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 

Mes.  Hubert  Haywood.  Dr.  Richard  Dillard. 

Mrs.  E.  E.  Moffitt.  Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle. 

Mr.  R.  D.  W  Connor.  Mr.  James  Sprunt. 

Dr.  D.  H.  Hill.  Mr.  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood. 

Dr.  E.  W.  SiKES.  Chief  Justice  Walter  Clauk. 

Mr.  W.  J.  Peele.  Major  W.  A.  Graham. 

Miss  Adelaide  L.  Fries.  Dr.  Charles  Lee  Smith. 

Miss  Martha  Helen  Haywood. 

editor  : 
Miss  Mary  Hilliard  Hinton. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  SOCIETY 
DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION  1912-1914 

regent : 

Miss  MARY  HILLIARD  HINTON. 

vice-regent  : 

Mrs.  CHARLES  P.  WALES. 

honorary  regent: 

Mrs.  E.  E.  MOFFITT. 

RECORDING   SECRETARY: 

Mrs.  clarence  JOHNSON. 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY : 

Mrs.  PAUL  H.  LEE. 

treasurer: 

Mrs.  frank  SHERWOOD. 

registrar  : 

Miss  SARAH  W.  ASHE. 

CUSTODIAN   OF   RELICS: 

Mrs.  JOHN  E.  RAY. 


CHAPTER  REGENTS 

Bloomsbury  Chapter. Mrs.  Hubert  Haywood,  Regent. 

Penelope  Barker  Chapter Mrs.  Patrick  Matthew,  Regent. 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh  Chapter, 

Miss  Catherine  P.  Seyton  Albertson,  Regent. 
General  Francis  Nash  Chapter. ..  .Miss  Rebecca  Cameron,  Regent 
Roanoke  Chapter Mrs.  Charles  J.  Sawyer,  Regent 


Founder  of  the  North  Carolina  Society  and  Regent  1896-1902: 

Mrs.  SPIER  WHITAKER. 

Regent  1902: 

Mrs.  D.  H.  HILL,  SR.f 

Regent  1902-1906: 

Mrs.  THOMAS  K.  BRUNER. 

Regent  1906-1910: 

Mrs.  E.  E.  MOFFITT. 


•Died  December  12,  1904. 
tDied  November  25,  1911. 


THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET 


Vol.  XIII  APRIL,  J9I4  No.  4 


MEMORIES  OF  1865=1871 


By  Prof.  J.  T.  Alderman.* 


"  Lest  we  forget." 
Virgil  in  the  Aeneid  gives  a  graphic  description  of  the 
long  siege  and  final  destruction  of  Troj  the  native  city  of 
the  Trojan  hero  Aeneas.  Long  years  of  wandering  and 
suffering  had  passed,  but  the  memory  of  Aeneas  v^as  active 
and  in  recounting  those  direful  afflictions  he  exclaims  with 
touching  pathos: 

"Quaeque  ipsi  miserrima  vidi, 
Et  quorum  pars  magna  fui." 

A  half  century  has  passed  since  the  banner  under  which 
the  southern  soldiers  fought  was  furled  and  laid  to  rest. 
The  men  in  gTay  encompassed  by  overwhelming  numbers 
finally  laid  down  their  arms  and  turned  their  war-stained 
faces  toward  the  ruined  homes  of  their  beloved  Southland. 

'No  treaty  of  peace  had  been  arranged  and  signed  at  a 
friendly  court;  no  specific  indemnity  had  been  claimed  and 
adjudicated  which  could  be  met  and  satisfied;  no  terms  were 
arranged  by  which  the  dignity  and  honor  of  a  liberty  loving 
people  could  be  sustained  in  their  hour  of  disappointment 
and  defeat.  Only  a  complete  subjugation  more  galling  and 
humiliating  than  had  ever  been  known  in  the  annals  of 
warfare  awaited  them.  These  men  who  had  taken  up  arms 
in  a  cause  which  they  felt  was  just  returned  to  their  deso- 
lated homes  conscious  of  an  integTity  untarnished  by  the  re- 
sults of  the  war.     It  must  now  be  their  chief  concern  to  re- 


*See  Biographical  Sketch,  Vol.  VI,  pp.  209,  210,  211,  January  Booklet,  1907. 


200  THE  NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

establish  their  homes  and  restore  the  forlorn  spirits  of  those 
most  dear  to  them  and  again  set  up  the  domestic  penates 
which,  perchance,  had  escaped  the  ravages  of  fire  and  sword. 

The  people  of  the  South  from  the  establishment  of  the 
Federal  Union  had  been  loyal  to  the  government  and  had 
furnished  a  large  proportion  of  the  men  who  gave  it  stability 
and  character  among  the  family  of  nations.  They  held  to 
the  doctrine  of  '^States'  Rights"  as  guaranteed  to  them  by 
the  Constitution.  They  delegated  to  the  general  government 
those  powers  named  in  the  compact  and  stood  firmly  by  the 
compromises  made  by  the  men  who  arranged  the  govern- 
ment. They  were  proud  of  the  ''Stars  and  Stripes,"  and 
were  jealous  for  the  good  name  of  the  Republic.  They  felt 
secure  in  the  great  Union  and  prospered  in  their  private  and 
state  affairs.  Culture  and  refinement  were  the  boast  of 
southern  life.  Hospitality  was  open  and  unbounded  by  state 
lines  and  social  conditions.  The  broad  plantations  were 
aglow  with  prosperity  and  master  and  servant  felt  the  stimu- 
lating influence  of  thrift  and  industry.  All  worked  together 
in  harmony  to  make  a  people  happy.  Truely  it  was  the 
"Sunny  South." 

The  people  of  other  sections,  jealous  of  our  standing  and 
influence  in  the  shaping  of  national  affairs,  had  in  the  early 
years  of  the  nineteenth  century  determined  to  crush  the 
South  by  any  means  that  could  be  devised.  The  most  plaus- 
ible pretext  that  could  be  presented  to  strike  a  popular  senti- 
ment was  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  South.  They  had 
found  that  the  slave  could  not  be  made  profitable  in  IS^ew 
England  and  the  isrorth,  so  the  slave  dealers  carried  him  to 
the  farmers  of  the  South  and  sold  him  for  full  value.  With 
the  money  they  returned  to  their  homes  in  the  l^orth  and 
immediately  were  seized  with  an  unbounded  sense  of  phil- 
anthropy and  love  for  the  down-trodden  negro,  whom  their 
ship  masters  had  stolen  from  the  jungles  of  Africa.     The 


MEMORIES  OF  1865-1871.  201 

southern  people  were  not  seafaring  people  and  owned  no  sea- 
going vessels. 

Songs  and  stories  were  written  to  inflame  the  minds  of 
the  people  ready  to  he  aroused  to  a  most  frenzied  agitation. 
As  a  result  the  war  came  on  and  the  nation  was  torn  asunder 
in  deadly  conflict. 

Deliberately  the  ^^Torth  planned  to  humiliate  the  South  in 
every  particular.  Regiments  of  liberated  slaves  were  organ- 
ized to  fight  their  former  masters.  Confederate  prisoners 
were  placed  under  negro  guards  whose  language  and  actions 
toward  them  were  brutal  in  the  extreme.  The  helpless  men 
were  tortured  by  the  cruel  soldiers  in  black,  and  if  a  high- 
strung  prisoner  dared  resent  their  insolence  by  word  or  look, 
he  was  put  to  tortures  unbearable.  Handling  guns  careless- 
ly, they  were  frequently  discharged  among  the  prisoners, 
then,  reports  were  made  that  it  was  done  to  quell  insurrec- 
tion. The  ISTorth  refused  to  exchange  prisoners.  They  freely 
admitted  that  it  was  bad  policy  to  let  the  men  get  away  from 
them,  as  each  man  they  let  go  was  equal  to  four  of  their 
own.  With  every  facility  for  taking  care  of  the  Confederate 
prisoners  they  were  ill  treated  and  poorly  fed,  while  the 
South  was  exhausted  in  her  resources  and  had  but  little  to 
maintain  the  soldiers  and  the  Federals  held  in  southern 
prisons.  When  Gen.  Lee  was  asked  to  order  that  the  scant 
rations  be  given  to  the  soldiers  and  let  the  prisoners  go 
without,  he  rose  to  the  greatness  of  a  true  man  and  said, 
''While  we  have  a  crust  we  will  divide  with  our  prisoners." 

The  historic  "Sherman's  march  to  the  sea"  has  never  had 
its  equal  among  civilized  nations.  Indeed  Hell  did  break 
loose  in  Georgia  and  continued  to  engulf  in  its  sulphurous 
smoke  and  ashes  all  the  region  it  touched  through  the  Caro- 
linas.  Sherman  himself  declared  that  "A  buzzard  could  not 
follow  in  his  wake  without  taking  his  rations  with  him."  Old 
men,  women  and  children  were  treated  in  the  most  horrible 


202  THE  NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

manner  and  no  effort  was  made  bj  the  officers  to  restrain  the 
brutal  men.  It  was  an  invasion  for  plunder.  In  my  father's 
home  no  article  of  value  that  could  be  moved  was  left. 
Clocks,  pianos,  furniture  of  every  kind  was  hewn  to  pieces, 
beds  were  ripped  open  and  the  feathers  were  carried  away 
by  the  winds.  Choice  pieces  of  bed-covering  of  beautiful  and 
rare  designs  made  by  my  mother  in  her  girlhood  days  were 
roughly  folded  and  put  upon  the  sore-backed  mules  for  saddle 
blankets.  The  counterpanes  upon  which  she  had  spent  so 
ranch  care  and  labor  making  them  rare  and  dainty  were  torn 
from  the  beds  and  used  for  every  rough  and  foul  purpose. 
Precious  heirlooms  which  were  so  highly  prized  for  the  asso- 
ciation of  loved  ones  in  the  long  ago  were  torn  into  shreds 
or  carried  away.  Dresses  and  all  wearing  apparel  fared  no 
better  fate.  The  soldier  seemed  to  take  delight  in  abusing 
and  demolishing  before  her  eyes  those  things  upon  which  she 
had  bestowed  especial  care  in  trying  to  make  home  com- 
fortable and  attractive.  ]Srot  a  piece  of  bedding  was  left 
except  the  heavy  mattresses  and  one  quilt  which  in  the 
rummaging  had  fallen  behind  an  old  chest.  Every  piece  of 
table  ware  of  any  value  was  gone.  The  soldiers  set  fire  to 
the  house  and  would  have  succeeded  in  burning  it  had  not 
my  mother  followed  them  and  put  out  the  flames. 

My  father  was  a  minister  and  had  not  been  called  into 
the  army.  His  library  was  pillaged  and  depleted.  The 
soldiers  took  his  hat  from  his  head,  his  watch  from  his  vest 
pocket,  his  purse  of  Confederate  money;  they  carried  away 
all  of  his  clothes  except  those  he  had  on.  These  desperadoes 
were  not  camp  followers,  they  were  the  regular  soldiers  in 
blue  uniforms,  and  were  marched  up  in  line  with  flag  and 
music,  the  officers  were  with  them.  My  father  tried  to  get 
some  protection,  but  they  swore  at  him  and  told  him  to  send 
for  Wheeler's  cavalry  if  he  wanted  protection.  They  com- 
pelled him  at  the  point  of  a  bayonet  to  shoulder  a  heavy 


MEMORIES  OF  1865-1871.  203 

wagon  wheel  and  carry  it  about  two  hundred  yards  and  put 
it  on  a  wagon  which  was  broken  down  so  they  could  load  it 
with  corn  to  carry  to  the  camp.  Previous  to  this  they  had 
hung  him  to  a  tree  to  make  him  tell  where  the  horses  were 
concealed ;  as  they  had  found  them  in  the  meantime  they  let 
him  down. 

My  father  and  Mr.  Gray  Culbreth  had  hidden  their  horses 
in  a  dense  marsh  or  swamp  with  briars  and  matted  under- 
brush. The  mud  and  water  was  a  foot  or  more  deep  and 
almost  impassable  on  account  of  its  roughness.  It  was 
a  dark  densely  tangled  place  nearly  a  mile  through.  The 
Yankees  came  to  Mr.  Culbreth's  home  first.  They  demanded 
the  horses  but  no  one  would  tell  where  they  were.  After  a 
number  of  threats  the  ofiicers  said,  "We  will  make  you  tell" ; 
they  then  placed  a  rope  around  his  daughter,  a  beautiful  girl 
of  seventeen,  and  mounting  their  horses  and  with  a  stroke  of 
a  keen  whip  drove  her  through  the  mud  and  briars  to  the 
hiding  place  of  the  horses.  It  was  months  before  she  re- 
covered from  the  harsh  treatment  and  exposure. 

The  cattle  were  ruthlessly  shot  down  in  the  lots  and  left 
otherwise  untouched.  J^ot  a  living  thing  of  value  was  left 
on  the  place,  except  one  hen  which  had  made  her  escape 
under  an  old  bam.  When  the  army  came  to  the  place  on 
the  15th  of  March,  1865,  we  had  plenty  of  provisions  such 
as  were  found  on  a  well-proivided  farm  to  last  the  family  for 
two  years.  They  left  the  granaries  and  bams  empty ;  no 
scattered  corn  was  left  that  might  serve  to  feed  the  children. 

I  was  a  boy  and  proud  of  a  beautiful  little  horse  that  my 
father  had  given  me.  A  Yankee  made  me  hold  my  horse  for 
him  to  mount  and  ride  away.  I  never  saw  my  horse  again. 
I  had  a  small  beautifully  bound  Bible  which  I  had  as  a 
present  from  my  father ;  a  soldier  put  it  into  his  pocket  and 
carried  it  away. 

My  mother  and  sisters  were  made  to  hear  the  vilest  oaths 


204  THE   NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

and  the  most  insulting  language  that  foul-mouthed  men 
could  utter.  The  wearing  apparel  of  the  young  ladies  was 
taken  out  and  after  rude  jests  were  thrown  into  the  mud  for 
the  horses  to  trample.  It  had  been  very  difficult  to  secure 
silks  and  other  fancy  goods  for  the  ladies  to  wear,  but  the 
girls  had  saved  some  from  the  old  dresses  of  their  mothers 
with  jealous  care  for  special  occasions,  even  these  did  not 
escape  the  savage  hands  but  were  either  carried  away  or  were 
torn  to  shreds.  The  children's  toys  and  keepsakes  and  play- 
things fared  no  better. 

One  of  Sherman's  staff  officers,  Major  George  Wade 
l^ichols,  who  was  an  eye  witness  to  such  scenes,  playfuly  de- 
;scribes  their  habitual  acts  of  plunder  and  rapine.  He  de- 
scribes the  soldiers  searching  for  hidden  treasures,  poking 
•every  foot  of  soft  ground  to  find  the  hidden  plate,  jewelry, 
and  other  rich  goods.  He  says  that  watching  these  proceed- 
ings was  one  of  the  pleasurable  excitements  of  the  long 
march.  He  gives  a  full  page  picture  of  one  such  scene;  the 
men  have  found  the  hidden  box  of  jewelry,  a  lone  woman  is 
standing  on  a  porch  begging  for  the  watch  that  had  been 
her  mother's  while  the  cruel  jests  are  playing  upon  the  faces 
and  lips  of  her  tormentors.  These  acts  of  plunder  took  place 
in  full  view  of  the  commissioned  officers  and  no  restraints 
were  offered. 

In  one  place  a  gentleman  found  a  marauding  Federal  sol- 
dier trying  to  outrage  his  daughter.  For  the  protection  of 
his  daughter  he  killed  the  soldier  with  blue  coat  and  brass 
buttons  on.    The  father  was  soon  apprehended  and  hanged. 

The  system  of  tortures  practiced  was  not  for  obtaining 
provisions  and  sustenance  for  the  invading  army,  but  mainly 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  valuables  of  the  people  along 
the  way.     Dr.  Bachman  presents  the  following  picture: 

"When  Sherman's  army  came  sweeping  through  Carolina,  leaving 
a  broad  track  of  desolation  for  hundreds  of  miles,  whose  steps  were 


MEMOKIES  OF  1865-18Y1.  205 

accompanied  with  fire  and  sword  and  blood,  reminding  us  of  the 
tender  mercies  of  the  Duke  of  Alva,  I  was  near  the  home  of  a  Mrs. 
Ellerbe,  a  lady  seventy  years  old.  I  witnessed  the  barbarities  in- 
flicted on  the  aged  as  well  as  the  young  and  delicate  females. 
Officers  high  in  command  were  engaged  in  tearing  from  the  ladies 
their  watches,  their  wedding  rings  and  other  mementoes  of  those 
they  loved  and  cherished.  A  lady  of  declicacy  and  refinement  was 
compelled  to  strip  before  them  that  they  might  find  watches  and 
other  valuables  concealed  under  her  dress." 

Species  of  torture  known  only  to  the  Spanish  Inquisition 
were  brought  into  play  to  force  the  poor  negroes  to  tell  what 
they  knew  concerning  the  valuables  of  their  white  people. 
Coolly  and  deliberately  those  hardened  men  proceeded  on 
their  way  as  if  they  had  perpetrated  no  crime,  for  they  were 
sustained  by  the  officers  with  Federal  commissions  in  their 
pockets. 

It  is  not  pleasant  to  rehearse  the  scenes  of  actual  occur- 
rence of  those  unhappy  days,  but  they  made  history  and  led 
to  serious  conditions  which  followed  in  their  effort  to  re- 
store our  homes  in  peace.  These  things  are  facts,  and  why 
should  not  our  children  know  the  facts  ?  Of  course  there  are 
those  who  would  like  to  have  the  veil  drawn  across  this 
period.  They  may  well  blush  to  have  their  deeds  brought  to 
light.  The  facts  ought  to  be  known.  What  have  we  to  be 
ashamed  of  ?  Those  who  committed  the  crimes  are  hailed  as 
heroes,  while  those  who  suffered  they  would  call  traitors. 

Attila,  the  Scourge  of  God,  led  the  savage  Huns  from  the 
north  of  Europe  and  devastated  the  sunny  plains  of  Italy. 
Cortez  and  Pizarro  dealt  out  cruelty  and  treachery  upon  the 
unlettered  and  barbarous  inhabitants  of  Mexico  and  Peru. 
The  frenzied  leaders  of  the  French  Revolution  were  men  of 
low  origin  and  were  determined  to  destroy  the  better  classes. 
But  here  in  a  civilized  land  we  see  a  great  army,  commanded 
by  officers  commissioned  by  the  United  States  government, 
with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  in  one  hand  and  fire  and  sword  in 


206  THE   NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

the  other,  devastating  the  homes  of  a  defenseless  people,  pour- 
ing out  bitter  denunciations  and  wreaking  their  vengeance 
upon  helpless  women  and  children. 

Sunday  morning,  March  19,  1865,  was  the  dreariest  day 
I  ever  saw.  The  sky  was  hazy  with  smoke  and  the  sun  ap- 
peared to  come  through  the  red-tinged  atmosphere  with  diffi- 
culty. All  nature  seemed  charged  with  the  bodings  of  evil. 
We  were  cold  and  hungry.  The  little  children  were  crying 
for  food.  It  was  a  Sabbath  morning,  but  there  was  no  peace- 
ful rest  in  our  home.  All  was  distress,  for  there  was  nothing 
from  which  our  mother  could  prepare  the  morning  meal.  The 
Yankee  cavalry  came  again  early.  They  were  looking  to 
see  if  anything  had  been  left  that  could  be  of  use  in  preserv- 
ing life.  This  was  the  fourth  day  of  their  pillage  and  every 
thing  was  gone. 

Suddenly  they  stopped  their  plundering,  for  the  drum 
sounded.  We  heard  the  roaring  of  cannon  in  the  distance. 
I  heard  an  officer  say  "There  is  trouble  ahead."  We  after- 
ward learned  that  it  was  the  battle  of  Bentonsville,  twenty 
miles  distant.  The  men  wheeled  into  line  and  dashed  away. 
The  incessant  roar  of  cannonading  produced  a  feeling  of  awe 
in  our  young  minds,  that  the  succeeding  years  have  not 
effacG^d. 

During  the  years  prior  to  the  Civil  War  and  up  to  its 
close  there  had  been  a  kindly  feeling  of  friendship  between 
the  negro  slaves  and  the  white  people.  They  had  been  faith- 
ful and  true  to  the  white  people  in  all  those  trying  times. 
Hundreds  of  young  men  in  the  Southern  army  had  their 
faithful  servants  who  stood  by  them  and  protected  them,  often 
at  the  expenses  of  their  own  lives.  The  negroes  on  the  planta- 
tions managed  the  farms  well  and  furnished  supplies  for  the 
southern  army.  They  talked  fondly  and  eagerly  about  our 
soldiers  in  the  camps  and  at  the  front. 


MEMORIES  OF  1865-1871.  207 

If  they  had  been  let  alone  there  would  have  been  no 
hostility  between  the  races  to  this  day.  It  was  only  when 
instigated  by  designing  men  who  were  really  enemies  to  both 
white  and  black  that  antagonism  began  to  disturb  the  friend- 
liness that  was  almost  universal  between  the  races  in  the 
South.  There  were  exceptions  it  is  true,  but  the  masses  of 
the  negroes  even  when  they  knew  that  they  were  freed  from 
bondage  felt  kindly  toward  their  former  masters. 

But  even  this  condition  was  too  good  to  be  allowed  to  exist 
in  the  South.  The  ISTorth  had  determined  to  humiliate  the 
people  and  make  the  yoke  galling  and  bitter.  The  negroes 
were  taught  that  the  white  people  of  the  South  were  their 
enemies  and  must  be  hated  as  such.  They  were  encouraged 
to  become  insolent  and  assert  their  equality  and  demand 
immediate  social  recogTiition.  They  were  made  to  believe 
that  if  their  demands  were  not  welcomed  and  acceded  to  that 
it  was  their  duty  to  burn  or  otherwise  destroy  the  property 
of  their  fonner  masters.  Emissaries  by  the  thousands  came 
among  them  to  inflame  their  minds  and  passions  and  to  work 
upon  their  superstitious  natures  and  lead  them  to  acts  of 
violence.  Before  the  war  they  had  as  a  rule  been  faithful  to 
every  trust  and  outrages  such  as  have  so  often  happened 
since  were  unknown.  The  white  people  felt  kindly  toward 
them.  There  was  no  antipathy  toward  them  because  they 
had  been  freed,  it  was  not  of  their  doing  and  no  one  blamed 
them.  The  men  of  the  South  would  have  sympathized  with 
them  and  they  would  have  lived  side  by  side  in  peace.  But 
this  could  not  be,  for  it  was  decreed  at  Washington  that  the 
South  should  drink  to  the  bitter  dregs  and  no  device  or  plan 
that  could  humiliate  must  be  left  unenforced. 

Seeing  the  dark  shadows  that  overhung  the  South,  hundreds 
of  the  best  men  sought  security  and  opportunity  in  the  far 
distant  West.  Those  who  remained  felt  the  pall  darker 
days  to  come. 


208  THE   NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

Even  under  these  adverse  conditions  we  managed  to  get 
along  with  a  semblance  of  peace  until  white  men  of  the  baser 
sort,  men  who  had  been  deserters  or  ^^bushwhackers"  during 
the  war,  combined  with  the  negroes  and  organized  what  was 
known  as  the  "Union"  or  "Loyal  League."  Just  what  was 
carried  on  in  their  meetings  we  could  only  judge  by  results. 
The  negroes  became  insolent  and  unbearable,  but  the  white 
men  who  were  with  them  were  ten  times  worse.  The  negroes 
were  encouraged  to  acts  of  violence,  to  theft,  to  become  loud 
in  their  demands,  to  acts  of  outrage  upon  helpless  women — 
a  thing  never  before  known  among  them.  We  feared  the 
negroes  where  they  were  in  large  numbers  but  much  more 
the  men  who  led  them  on.  We  never  knew  when  it  might  be 
our  turn  to  see  the  midnight  sky  lighted  up  by  the  blazing 
barn,  the  mills  burned  to  the  water  line,  or  even  the  dwellings 
burned  to  ashes — frequently  done  by  spiteful  men  and 
charged  to  an  innocent  negro. 

The  presence  of  the  Federal  soldiers  in  every  community 
encouraged  the  negroes,  who  had  now  become  insolent,  to  acts 
of  violence  and  outrage,  and  if  the  sufferers  complained  were 
answered  with  a  sneer  or  an  oath  and  dared  to  touch  the 
negro  or  interfere  with  his  liberties.  There  was  no  appeal. 
The  courts  were  powerless,  the  administration  of  affairs  was 
a  farce,  because  the  officers  were  themselves  of  the  baser  sort 
or  dared  not  antagonize  the  Yankee  soldier  who  was  ready 
at  all  times  to  interfere  against  the  better  citizens.  The  mili- 
tary is  usually  a  protection  to  the  proper  welfare  of  a  com- 
munity, but  here  was  a  spectacle  of  the  military  being  de- 
liberately used  to  suppress  the  good  and  protect  the  vile. 
Property,  life  or  honor  was  not  secure  at  any  time. 

Those  were  times  that  tried  men's  souls.  How  well  do  I 
remember  the  intense  anxiety  of  my  parents  if  the  girls 
were  out  of  their  sight  without  protection. 

The  brave  men  of  the  South  had  laid  down  their  arms  at 


MEMOKIES  OF  1865-1871.  209 

Appomattox,  they  had  been  paroled  and  made  to  swear  not 
to  take  up  arms  again.  In  fact  they  were  almost  without 
arms  or  any  means  of  defense.  But  the  vilest  reptile  will 
strike  when  he  is  imposed  upon.  Could  the  men  in  whose 
veins  flowed  the  blood  renowned  at  Alamance,  and  Mecklen- 
burg, and  Manassas,  and  the  Wilderness,  lie  still  like  be- 
labored hounds  while  every  species  of  insult  was  heaped  upon 
them  ?  Must  they  let  every  spark  of  manhood  vanish  and 
see  their  homes  ruined !  The  conditions  must  be  met  and 
their  families  and  property  saved.  But  how!  The  Yankee 
soldiers  were  quartered  in  every  community  and  what  could 
our  people  do  ?  Open  resistance  would  be  useless  as  they 
would  be  immediately  apprehended  as  rebels  and  insti- 
gators of  treason  as  was  often  done. 

Every  white  man  who  had  taken  any  part  in  the  Civil  War 
was  disfranchised  and  not  allowed  to  participate  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  civil  affairs.  Only  the  class  known  as  de- 
serters and  desperadoes  were  left  to  cooperate  with  the 
negroes  in  running  the  local,  county,  and  state  affairs. 
Orders  were  issued  from  Washington  to  the  soldiers  quar- 
tered in  each  locality  to  "forbid  and  prohibit  the  assembling 
of  bodies  of  citizens  under  any  pretense."  Military  gover- 
nors were  set  up  over  the  States  as  foreign  satraps  had  been 
placed  over  conquered  nations  in  the  heathen  days  of  old. 
Irresponsible  men  came  from  the  jSTorth  as  adventurers  to 
take  advantage  of  our  misfortune  and  usurp  authority  and  fill 
the  time  honored  stations  of  trust  and  honor  and  despoil  the 
remaining  resources  of  revenue. 

Then  came  the  period  of  Reconstruction  so  called.  Vol- 
umes have  been  written  about  the  horrors  of  this  period. 
It  was  not  my  purpose  to  add  to  the  volume  of  literature  on 
the  subject,  but  to  give  the  experience  of  one  who  passed 
through  the  times  as  a  boy. 

Here  was  an  example  of  the  people  who  had  been  instru- 


210  THE  JSrOBTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

mental  perhaps  more  than  any  other  section  of  the  Union 
in  making  a  great  Republic,  who  had  furnished  its  share  of 
the  strongest  statesmen  of  all  time,  who  had  furnished  the 
finest  examples  of  statecraft  and  legal  ability,  where  civiliza- 
tion and  culture  had  reached  their  highest  perfection, — a 
people  foremost  in  sending  the  light  of  the  Gospel  to  the 
hungering  souls  of  the  earth,  a  people  whose  ancestry  was  of 
the  purest  stock,  whose  hospitality  had  been  open  to  all  good 
men  everywhere — a  people  from  sheer  hatred  and  malice  to 
be  blotted  politically  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  to  be 
reconstructed  by  such  a  mongrel  set  as  was  collected  in 
Washington  and  those  sent  to  the  South  to  perform  the  great 
transformation.  The  annals  of  history  have  never  presented 
a  greater  farce. 

The  sanctity  of  the  church  service  was  invaded.  During 
the  existence  of  the  Confederate  Government  the  Episcopal 
Church  inserted  in  its  Book  of  Common  Prayers  a  prayer 
for  the  President  of  the  Confederacy.  After  the  war  closed 
the  prayer  for  the  President  was  left  out  altogether,  where- 
upon Major-General  Wood  issued  an  order  by  which  all  the 
Clergy  of  that  Church  "were  suspended  from  their  functions 
and  forbidden  to  preach  or  perform  divine  service,"  unless 
they  should  pray  publicly  for  the  President  of  the  United 
States.    This  took  place  in  Alabama. 

On  a  cold  ISTovember  day  in  1871  I  witnessed  an  occur- 
rence in  Mayesville,  S.  C,  which  caused  my  blood  to  boil  in 
my  veins.  I  recite  this  because  it  was  an  example  of  what 
was  going  on  all  through  the  Southland. 

Old  Colonel  Mayes  was  one  of  the  most  cultured  and 
polished  gentlemen  whom  I  ever  knew.  He  was  an  old-time 
planter  with  broad  plantations  around  him.  His  sons  were 
successful  men,  he  had  given  them  beautiful  homes  around 
his  plantation.  Before  the  war  he  had  been  a  member  of 
the  United  States  Congress.     He  was  a  public  spirited  man 


MEMORIES  OF  1865-1871.  211 

and  had  been  honored  by  his  State.  He  was  quiet,  reserved, 
and  dignified — an  old-time  gentleman.  He  had  furnished 
succor  and  help  during  the  war.  A  large  number  of  the 
negroes  were  freed  on  his  plantations ;  among  them  was  one 
who  had  given  a  great  deal  of  trouble  as  the  worst  among 
the  lot.  On  the  i!Tovember  day  above  referred  to  an  election 
was  being  held  on  the  platform  of  the  railroad  station.  This 
special  negro  who  had  given  Colonel  Mayes  so  much  trouble 
was  conducting  the  election.  The  general  amnesty  bill  had 
just  been  passed  by  Congress  and  this  was  the  first  effort  the 
old  man  had  made  after  the  close  of  the  war  to  cast  a  ballot. 
The  negro  ordered  him  to  take  off  his  hat  and  hold  up  his 
right  hand.  There  was  the  picture.  The  old  gentleman,  tall 
and  straight,  full  of  honors  and  the  weight  of  years,  the  cold 
^N^ovember  winds  driving  the  long  locks  of  his  white  hair, 
his  hand  raised  repeating  the  oath  after  the  negro. 

One  day  I  was  busy  in  the  store  when  a  negro  came  in  and 
read  to  me  a  summons  to  go  with  him  as  a  witness  in  a  petty 
trial.  I  went  and  found  a  little  renegade  Yankee  holding  a 
magistrate's  court.  I  and  the  magistrate  were  the  only  white 
men  present. 

The  negroes  were  urged  to  make  advances  and  demand 
social  equality.  With  a  few  exceptions,  however,  they  dis- 
played better  judgment  than  their  advisers ;  and  refrained 
from  what  would  have  brought  on  a  war  between  the  races. 
The  counsel  of  the  well  trained  and  better  class  of  negroes 
prevailed  to  a  great  extent  among  them. 

These  are  a  few  of  the  scenes  and  memories  that  still  linger 
with  me.  Michael  Angelo  decorated  the  walls  of  St.  Peter's 
with  his  immortal  picture  of  "Crownless  Desolation,"  in 
which  he  portrays  the  purgatorial  griefs  of  those  subjugated 
by  the  ruthless  cruelty  of  war.  Could  the  artist  have  visited 
our  Southland  after  the  smoke  of  battle  had  cleared  away 
a  new  impetus  might  have  touched  his  brush.      Cities  de- 


212  THE   NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

stroyed  ;  towns  and  villages  laid  waste  ;  churches,  schools,  and 
other  public  buildings  rotting;  every  industry  destroyed; 
landscape  horrors  and  flame-scarred  wastes ;  all  of  these  were 
the  evidences  of  a  once  prosperous  and  happy  people. 

Fostered  by  the  dominant  powers  at  the  jSTorth,  the  Union 
League  had  gathered  into  its  ranks  all  of  the  lower  class  of 
the  people  as  well  as  the  newly  liberated  negroes  who  were 
thus  encouraged  to  take  part  in  public  affairs  and  lord  it 
over  their  former  masters.  Conditions  were  beyond  descrip- 
tion and  were  growing  more  tense  every  day.  There  was  no 
help  to  be  expected  from  the  magistrates  or  the  courts,  for  all 
were  of  the  same  character. 

But  the  spirit  of  the  men  of  the  South  again  asserted  itself 
and  those  who  had  surrendered  at  Appomattox  and  the 
younger  men  saw  that  something  must  be  done  to  protect  the 
honor  of  the  home.  We  knew  not  whence  it  came  but  the 
order  known  as  the  Ku  Klux  Klan  came  to  our  relief.  Others 
have  discussed  the  origin  and  merits  of  the  great  movement. 
Memory  takes  us  back  to  the  time  when  there  seemed  to  be  a 
lifting  of  the  dark  clouds  along  the  horizon  and  hope  again 
beckoned  our  loved  ones  to  take  courage  and  calm  their  fears. 

In  the  first  volume  of  The  Booklet,  Mrs.  T.  J.  Jarvis 
presented  two  most  excellent  papers  on  the  Ku  Klux  Klan. 
William  Garrott  Brown  in  the  May  number  of  the  Atlantic 
Mo7ithIy  for  1901,  gives  a  most  delightful  article  on  the 
subject.  In  1877  James  Melville  Beard  wrote  a  very  read- 
able book  entitled  "The  Ku  Klux  Klan."  His  book  came  out 
so  soon  after  the  Congressional  investigation  of  affairs  in  the 
South  that  he  wrote  very  cautiously,  but  it  is  easy  to  read 
between  the  lines. 

The  Congressional  reports  of  the  Commission  sent  to  the 
States  where  the  order  existed  are  very  full  of  interesting 
matter  but  nearly  all  filled  with  venom  toward  those  impli- 
cated.    Prof.  Hamilton,  of  the  State  University,  has  written 


MEMORIES  OF  1865-1871.  213 

a  book  on  the  Reconstruction  period  which  promises  to  be  a 
valuable  addition  to  our  literature  on  the  subject. 

Tom  Dixon's  books,  while  fanciful  and  dramatic,  revealed 
conditions  as  they  existed  in  many  sections.  Many  other 
publications  have  been  presented  through  papers  and  maga- 
iznes,  but  none  have  given  the  history  in  full  of  the  great 
movement.  Many  valuable  articles  have  been  printed  in  our 
state  papers,  but  there  should  be  a  specific  treatise  put  up  in  a 
more  permanent  form.  The  experiences  of  Judge  Kerr,  Joe 
Turner,  and  Randolph  Shotwell,  and  perhaps  a  hundred  more 
should  not  be  forgotten. 


214  THE   NOKTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

ANSON  COUNTY 

By  Mrs.  J.  G.  Boylin. 


On  account  of  the  distance  from  the  Bladen  Court  House, 
where  the  settlers,  all  of  the  Pee  Dee  section  who  numbered 
between  two  or  three  hundred  tithables,  had  to  go  to  return 
their  taxes,  the  distance  being  a  hundred  miles  or  so,  the 
following  act  was  passed  in  1749  for  the  establishing  of  a 
county,  and  St.  George  Parish,  and  appointing  a  place  for 
court  house,  and  prisons,  and  stocks. 

This  act  was  passed  by  the  council,  and  General  Assembly, 
numbering  fifty-four  members,  held  at  jSTew  Bern  courthouse. 
The  ast  was  read  as  follows : 

"We  pray  that  it  may  be  enacted  by  his  excellency,  Gabriel  John- 
ston, and  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province,  and  by  the  authori- 
ty of  the  same.  That  Bladen  county  be  divided  by  a  line,  begin- 
ning at  the  place  where  the  South  line  of  this  Province  crosseth  the 
Westernmost  branch  of  Little  Pee  Dee  river,  then  by  a  straight  line 
to  a  place  where  the  commissioners,  for  the  running  of  the  South- 
ern boundary  of  this  line  crossed  that  Branch  of  Little  Pee  Dee 
called  Drowning  Creek,  then  up  the  branch  to  the  head,  then  by  a 
line  to  run  as  near  as  may  be  equidistant  from  Saxapaw  river,  now 
near  Chatham,  and  Great  Pee  Dee  river  and  that  the  upper  part  of 
the  said  county,  and  Parish,  so  laid  off  and  divided  be  erected  into 
a  county,  and  parish  by  the  name  of  Anson  County,  and  St.  George 
Parish  and  that  all  the  inhabitants  to  the  Westward,  shall  belong, 
and  appertain  to  Anson  County,  and  that  said  Anson  County  shall 
enjoy  all  and  every  privilege,  which  any  other  county,  or  parish  in 
this  province  holds  or  enjoys." 

This  new  County  was  named  for  Lord  George  Anson,  a 
famous  English  ISTavigator,  who  was  bom  in  April,  1697,  and 
died  in  June,  1762.  Between  the  years  1724  and  1735  he 
was  engaged  in  active  service  along  the  coast  of  the  Carolinas. 
To  conunemorate  his  daring  deeds  and  protective  sendee  to 
the  colonists,  this  county  of  Anson,  and  a  town,  Anson- 
borough,   in  South   Carolina  preserve  his  name.    His  long 


ANSON"   COUNTY.  215 

service  on  tlie  coast  of  the  Carolinas,  however  useful,  was  in 
no  way  brilliant,  but  be  was  popular  with  the  colonists. 

At  this  time  Anson  County  included  all  of  Western  ISTortb 
Carolina  from  'New  Hanover  and  Bladen,  on  the  East,  to  the 
state  line  on  the  West. 

Anson  county  is  one  of  the  oldest  counties  of  the  state. 
On  a  map  dated  1783  it  shows  this  county  to  have  been  the 
fifteenth  county  that  was  founded.  Little  Pee  Dee  river  ex- 
tended to  Bladen  and  the  Saxapaw  formed  a  part  of  the 
boundary  of  what  is  now  Chatham  County. 

From  Anson  County  were  formed  the  following  counties, 
and  for  the  same  reason  that  Anson  was  taken  from  Bladen. 
The  settlers  were  becoming  more  numerous,  and  too,  they 
were  now  being  called  to  attend  the  courts,  either  to  attend 
to  their  own  business,  and  sometimes  as  jurors  and  witnesses. 
An  act  was  passed  to  establish  Rowan  County  in  1753.  At 
this  time  Rowan  extended  to  Virginia.  Mecklenburg  was 
taken  from  Anson  in  1762.  Montgomery  County  in  1778 
and  on  account  of  the  high  waters  of  the  Pee  Dee  Richmond 
was  taken  in  1779. 

In  the  year  1754  at  a  general  assembly  held  at  Wilming- 
ton an  act  was  passed  for  laying  out  a  town  on  John  Jenkins's 
place  on  the  south  side  of  the  Pee  Dee  river  to  be  known  as 
Gloucester.  Charles  Robinson,  Caleb  Howell,  Thomas  Tom- 
kins,  William  Forbes  and  Edmond  Cartlege  were  appointed 
commissioners  with  full  power  and  authority  to  lay  off  the 
fifty  acres  of  land.  It  was  to  be  divided  into  lots  of  one  half 
acre  each,  with  convenient  streets,  and  squares,  a  lot  for  a 
court  house,  jail,  church,  churchyard  and  market  to  be  re- 
served. Any  person  had  a  right  to  take  up  one  of  these  lots, 
upon  the  payment  of  forty  shillings  proclamation  money,  to 
be  paid  to  the  treasurer  if  he  intended  to  become  an  inhabi- 
tant. Thomas  Tomkins  was  appointed  treasurer.  Each 
owner  was  required  to  build  a  good  frame  store  or  brick 


216  THE  NOKTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

house  no  less  than  twentj-four  feet  in  length,  and  sixteen 
feet  in  width. 

This  town  was  situated  where  the  road  leading  from 
Cher  aw  crosses  the  road  leading  from  Maskes  Ferry  to  Cam- 
den in  Anson  County.  This  land  was  bought  from  William 
Best  by  Captain  Patrick  Boggan,  In  the  year  1786,  some 
of  the  commissioners  having  died,  James  Marshall,  Stephen 
Pace,  Jonathan  Jackson,  Frederick  Wilobey  were  appointed 
commissioners  who  were  to  build  the  public  buildings. 

In  1787  the  name  of  the  new  town  was  changed  to  Wades- 
boro,  taking  this  name  from  Col.  Wade  of  Eevolutionary 
fame. 

An  academy  was  founded  in  1800  for  the  town  of  Sneeds- 
boro,  with  William  Pegues,  Thomas  Godfrey,  Allen  Chap- 
man, William  Pierce,  Isaac  Jackson,  Laurence  Moore  and 
John  Battle  as  trustees. 

In  1802  an  act  was  passed  to  establish  an  academy  in 
Wadesboro.  The  trustees  were  as  follows:  James  Marshall, 
Robert  Troy,  James  Goodrich,  Joseph  Ingram,  Sr.,  Tody 
Robinson,  Pleasant  May,  John  Jennings,  Esq.,  the  Rev. 
William  Taylor,  Rev.  John  Culpepper,  and  Rev.  Daniel 
Gould,  Joseph  While,  William  Threadgill,  Jesse  Beverly, 
James  Coleman,  James  Hough  and  Augustus  Shepherd. 

In  1781,  August  4th,  Col.  Wade  called  out  half  of  his 
regiment,  and  was  joined  by  parties  from  Richmond,  and 
Montgomery,  and  proceeded  against  the  Tories,  numbering 
between  four  and  five  hundred  on  Drowning  Creek,  who  were 
engaged  in  disarming  the  settlers  within  twenty  miles  of  the 
Pee  Dee  and  carrying  off  men,  who  were  fit  for  service  across 
Downing  Creek,  into  what  they  called  the  protected  land. 
After  a  sharp  engagement  at  Beatler's  Bridge  on  Drowning 
Creek,  lasting  until  twelve  o'clock  at  night  the  Tories  drew 
off,  A  dozen  Tories  having  been  killed,  while  Wade  only 
lost  four. 


ANSON   COUNTY.  217 

On  Fanning's  return  from  Wilmington  he  heard  that  Wade 
was  going  to  attack  McNeill,  who  held  the  protected  ground. 
There  was  a  narrow  causeway,  through  which  Wade  would 
have  to  cross.  At  Wade's  first  attack  eighteen  of  Tanning's 
horses  were  slain,  but  the  Tories  at  once  dismounted  and 
made  a  deadly  assault,  firing  as  they  advanced.  In  this  en- 
counter Wade  lost  nineteen  men,  with  fifty-four  prisoners 
taken,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  horses,  while  Fanning  only 
lost  one  man,  with  a  few  wounded. 

Another  interesting  event  was  the  massacre  at  Piney  Bot- 
tom and  the  revenge  taken  by  the  Whigs. 

When  Gates  was  defeated  at  Camden,  the  British  overran 
South  Carolina,  and  many  of  the  Whigs  fled  from  the  Pee 
Dee  section  into  ISTorth  Carolina.  Among  them  was  Col. 
Wade.  He  with  Col.  Culp  decided  to  return  home,  and 
having  loaded  their  wagons  with  salt  and  such  other  articles 
as  were  needed  in  the  Pee  Dee  section.  Having  crossed  the 
Cape  Fear,  at  Mcl^eil's  Ferry,  night  approaching  they  took 
up  Camp.  That  night  John  MclTeil  having  learned  where 
this  company  of  Whigs  were  camping  sent  runners  out  to 
collect  the  Tories,  many  of  whom  were  lying  out  in  the 
swamps  and  other  places,  with  directions  to  meet  at  Long 
Street  to  pursue  Wade  the  next  night. 

Just  a  little  before  day  they  came  upon  Wade  and  his  party 
encamped  on  Piney  Bottom,  a  branch  of  Rockfish,  all  being 
apparently  asleep.  The  Tories  fell  upon  the  Whigs,  killing 
five  or  six  of  them.  The  rest  escaped  leaving  everything 
behind. 

A  motherless  boy  who  had  been  taken  by  Col.  Wade,  being 
aroused  by  the  firing  of  the  guns,  not  being  fully  awake  cried 
"Parole  me.  Parole  me."  Duncan  Furgeson,  a  renegade 
deserter,  told  him  to  come  he  would  parole  him.  He  dropped 
on  his  knees  begging  for  his  life,  but  seeing  this  man  ap- 
proaching him  he  jumped  up  to  run.    Furgeson  overtook  him 


218  THE  NORTH   CAHOLINA  BOOKLET. 

and  split  his  head  open  with  a  broad  sword,  so  that  one  half 
fell  on  one  shoulder  and  one  on  the  other.  The  wagons  were 
plundered,  the  officers  taking  the  money,  the  men  whatever 
thej  could  carry  away.  The  Tories  burned  the  wagons,  and 
pretended  to  bury  the  dead,  but  the  bodies  were  afterwards 
found  scratched  up  by  the  wolves,  but  were  buried  by  Whig 
scouts.  As  soon  as  Gulp  and  Wade  reached  home  they  col- 
lected about  a  hundred  men,  all  swearing  that  they  would 
never  return  until  they  avenged  the  death  of  the  motherless 
boy.  On  Thursday  they  camped  on  the  land  of  Daniel  Pat- 
terson, the  piper,  on  Drowning  Creek.  They  caught  him  and 
whipped  him  until  he  gave  the  names  of  all  those  who  were 
at  Piney  Bottom.  They  then  entered  into  Moore  County 
and  captured  and  murdered  all  who  had  been  connected  with 
the  massacre.  Gen.  Wade  had  John  Mcl^eil  tried  for  his 
life  on  account  of  the  robbery  and  murder  committed  at 
Piney  Bottom.  He  was  acquitted  on  account  of  not  having 
witnesses. 

1765—1768. 

Gov.  Tryon  says  that  the  first  trouble  that  grew  into  the 
war  of  the  Regulation  began  in  Anson  and  spread  to  Orange. 
At  this  time  Samuel  Spencer  was  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  pleas 
for  Anson.  In  the  year  1768  a  mob  tried  to  take  possession 
of  the  court  house  (at  this  time  the  court  house  of  Anson  was 
old  Mt.  Pleasant,  now  called  the  Hooker  Place,  owned  by 
the  heirs  of  the  late  T.  J.  Ingram).  Col.  Spencer  went  to 
the  door  and  demanded  what  they  would  have.  They  an- 
swered that  they  had  some  matters  to  settle  and  wanted  the 
use  of  the  court  house.  Col.  Spencer  read  them  a  clause  in 
the  act  of  Parliament  of  George  the  First  against  riot  and 
unlawful  assemblies,  at  which  the  mob  became  very  much  en- 
raged and  threw  up  their  clubs  and  threatened  to  tear  down 
the  court  house  and  jail.  They  then  proposed  for  a  few  of 
their  company  to  represent  them  and  set  forth  their  griev- 


ANSON   COUNTY.  219 

ances.  Col.  Spencer  retired  to  his  desk  for  transaction  of 
his  business,  whereupon  the  whole  mob  entered,  demanding 
the  reason  for  their  being  taxed. 

Col.  Spencer  explained  to  them  the  necessity  of  reasonable- 
ness of  taxation.  In  this  time  one  of  them  took  Mr.  ISTeed- 
lock,  a  magistrate,  aside  and  another  took  the  other  justices 
off  the  bench  and  entirely  obstructed  the  proceedings  of  the 
court.  They  held  consultations  among  themselves  and  de- 
cided to  let  the  court  house  stand,  and  passed  resolutions 
to  resist  the  sheriff  in  collecting  taxes.  Before  they  dis- 
persed they  elected  Mr.  Charles  Eobinson  as  representative 
to  the  General  Assembly  in  place  of  Mr.  John  Crawford, 
without  giving  the  Governor  the  trouble  of  issuing  a  new  writ 
of  election  on  that  vacancy. 

Each  member  of  the  mob  took  oath  that  in  case  any  officer 
made  distress  on  any  goods  or  the  estate  that  he  with  other 
assistance  would  go  and  take  it  from  the  officer,  and  restore 
it  to  the  party  from  whom  taken,  and  in  case  any  one  who 
joined  this  company  of  regulars  for  the  nonpayment  of 
taxes  should  be  in  prison  or  under  arrest  or  otherwise  con- 
fined that  he  would  immediately  raise  as  many  of  said  sub- 
scribers as  necessary  to  set  said  person  and  his  estate  at  lib- 
erty. 

All  these  troubles  were  represented  to  Gov.  Tryon  in  a  let- 
ter written  by  Col.  Spencer.  In  reply  Gov.  Tryon  gave  Col. 
Spencer  authority  to  raise  the  Anson  regiment  of  militia  to 
enable  him  to  secure  and  bring  to  trial  the  ringleaders  and 
suppress  any  future  trouble.  On  the  17th  of  May,  1Y68,  Gov. 
Tryon  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  county  of  Anson  com- 
manding and  requiring  all  persons  interested  in  any  way  or 
connected  with  this  insurrection  to  disperse  and  retire  to  their 
respective  homes.  In  case  they  refused  he  commanded  all 
officers,  both  civil  and  military,  to  use  all  lawful  means  of 
suppressing  the  same. 


220  THE  WORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

This  outbreak  on  the  part  of  Anson  County  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  open  resistance,  to  the  oppression  of  the  officers 
of  the  crown.  Even  as  early  as  this  date  the  great  principle 
was  laid  dov^n  "that  taxation  and  representation"  should 
always  be  associated,  that  neither  Parliament,  nor  the  Gover- 
nor, nor  any  other  power  had  the  right  to  tax  the  people 
without  their  consent  freely  given  through  their  representa- 
tives in  the  General  Assembly. 

On  March  19,  1T71,  Governor  Tryon  called  for  fifty  volun- 
teers from  Anson  to  march  against  the  insurgents.  There 
were  2,550  volunteers  called  from  the  Province. 

The  delegates  from  Anson  to  the  first  Provincial  Congress 
held  at  New  Bern  were  Samuel  Spencer  and  William  Thomas. 
Delegates  to  the  third  Congress,  which  met  at  Hillsboro,  1775, 
^ere  Thomas  Wade,  Samuel  Spencer,  William  Thomas, 
David  Love  and  William  Pickett.  The  field  officers  were 
^appointed  at  this  Congress.  The  regimental  muster  was  held 
sat  the  home  of  Griffith  Lacy.  Samuel  Spencer  was  Colonel ; 
-James  Auld  was  Major. 

Samuel  Spencer,  one  of  the  State's  most  prominent  men  of 
Kevolutionary  times,  is  buried  on  the  land  of  his  relative, 
Mr.  S.  P.  Spencer,  on  Smith  Creek  about  a  mile  from  the 
Pee  Dee  River,  with  no  slab  to  mark  his  grave. 

This  is  what  the  Fayetteville  Gazette  of  1794  says  of  his 
death : 

"At  his  seat  in  Anson  County  on  the  20th  circuit  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Spencer,  LL.D.,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  this  State.  His  Honor's  health  having  been  declin- 
ing about  two  years,  but  he  has  performed  the  last  circuit 
three  months  since,  and  we  imderstand  he  intended  to  leave 
home  in  a  few  days  for  this  town  where  Superior  Court  is 
now  sitting  had  it  not  been  for  the  following  incident. 

"He  was  sitting  on  his  piazza  with  a  red  cap  on  his  head, 
when  it  attracted  the  attention  of  a  large  turkey  gobbler. 


ANSOX   COUNTY.  221 

The  Judge  being  sleepy  began  to  nod.  The  turkey  mistaking 
the  nodding  and  the  red  cap  for  a  challenge  to  battle  made 
so  violent  and  unexpected  attack  on  his  Honor  that  he  was 
thrown  from  his  chair  on  the  floor  and  was  so  beat  and 
bruised  that  he  died  in  a  few  days." 

Samuel  Spencer  is  the  progenitor  of  some  of  the  most 
prominent  people  in  the  State,  namely  Londons  and  Jack- 
sons. 

A  Philadelphia  paper  at  the  time  of  this  occurence  makes 
this  (Zhi  deppre)  criticism : 

"In  this  degenerate  age, 
What  host  of  knaves  engage, 
And  do  all  they  can  to  fetter  braver  men. 
Dreading  that  they  should  be  free. 
Leagued  with  scoundrels  pack, 
Even  turkey  cocks  attack 
The  red  cap  of  liberty." 

I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Col.  F.  J.  Coxe  for  a  gTeat  part 
of  this  interesting  data,  which  he  collected  while  a  student  at 
the  University  of  ]S[orth  Carolina,  which  I  have  used  in 
this  paper.  I  have  consulted  Wheeler's  and  Ashe's  histories^ 
also  Colonial  Records. 


222  THE   NOKTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 


THE  PFLEGERIN 


By  Adelaide  L.  Fries. 


It  was  a  mere  matter  of  business  that  set  me  delving  among 
the  memoirs  in  the  Salem  Archives.  From  the  beginning — , 
that  is  to  say,  from  1753, — it  has  been  the  custom  in  Wa- 
chovia at  the  funeral  of  a  member,  to  read  an  account  of  the 
life  of  the  deceased,  and  many  of  these  memoirs,  autobiog- 
raphies in  their  major  part,  were  deposited  on  the  Archive 
shelves,  where  they  have  rested  until  this  present,  as  forgot- 
ten as  the  men  and  women  of  whom  they  spoke.  When  some 
impulse  of  patriotism,  love  of  order, — what  you  will, — led 
me  to  undertake  the  making  of  an  Index,  it  was  with  the 
expectation  that  the  work  would  be  monotonous  in  the  ex- 
treme. Except  to  fill  a  gap  in  a  genealogical  table,  who 
cares  where  Johann  Schmidt  was  born  and  when  he  died,  or, 
indeed,  whether  he  died  or  was  born  ?  And  yet  now  and 
again  there  came  a  surprise,  and  some  tim&-yellowed  page 
would  outline  a  life  so  typical  of  the  period,  so  full  of  human 
interest,  that  all  the  old  longing  for  the  story-writer's  gift 
welled  up  afresh,  and  its  absence  seemed  almost  a  tragedy — 
the  threatened  reburial  of  men  and  women  who  lived  again 
after  a  lapse  of  more  than  a  century. 

When  I  was  a  child  I  read  a  story  of  which  only  the  mys- 
terious title  remains  in  memory,  "The  Story  That  Wouldn't 
Be  Told."  Why  it  did  not  wish  to  be  told,  or  how  it  avoided 
the  telling,  is  long  since  forgotten,  but  in  contradistinction  to 
that  shy  tale  the  memoirs  have  haunted  me  and  insisted  upon 
relation,  and  reluctant  obedience  is  at  last  given.  ITo  attempt 
is  made  to  weave  a  modem-style  romance, — that  is  left  for 
some  more  gifted  pen, — but  the  simple  life  of  a  real  woman 


*See  Biographical  Sketch,  Vol.  IX,  p.  236,  April  Booklet,  1910. 


THE  PFLEGEEIN.  223 

18  presented,  as  she  moved  through  the  scenes  of  a  country 
village  a  century  and  more  ago. 


It  was  a  perfect  day  in  late  October,  1766,  hut  the  slight, 
fair-haired  girl,  seated  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  gazed 
with  unseeing  eyes  upon  the  masses  of  gold  and  crimson 
leaves  that  hid  all  but  a  hundred  or  two  feet  of  the  road  over 
which  she  had  but  lately  come.  So  far  as  foliage  was  con- 
cerned it  had  been  a  royal  progress,  that  journey  southward 
from  Pennsylvania,  for  day  after  day  the  slowly-moving 
heavily-laden  wagons  seemed  just  in  the  wake  of  the  first 
sharp  frost  of  the  season,  and  the  forests  all  along  the  way 
had  flung  out  their  red  and  yellow  banners  as  though  to  give 
the  travellers  glad  greeting. 

The  little  company,  however,  was  royal  only  in  the  faith 
which  was  leading  them  to  a  new  home  in  a  distant  colony. 
In  outward  seeming  they  were  simple  enough, — the  sturdy 
drivers  of  the  stout  horses,  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  and  his 
wife,  three  women  and  a  dozen  young  girls,  several  of  whom 
were  now  busily  putting  away  the  remains  of  the  midday 
meal,  preparatory  to  the  start  on  their  further  journey. 

To  them  J  ohanna  gave  as  little  heed  as  to  the  beauties  of 
the  autumnal  landscape,  for  the  weeks  of  travel  had  devel- 
oped an  almost  military  precision  of  life,  and  each  served 
in  turn  with  the  deftness  born  of  experience.  To-day  she  was 
free,  and  something  in  the  surroundings  of  the  noon  rest 
had  taken  her  back  to  the  hills  of  IS^ew  Jersey,  where  her 
eyes  had  first  consciously  seen  the  autumn  glory ;  the  removal 
thither  from  Connecticut  having  taken  place  w:hen  she  was 
little  more  than  an  infant. 

How  well  she  remembered  that  day  in  1Y56  when  the 
rumors  of  months  crystallized  into  definite  news  of  Indian 
war,  and  preparations  were  made  for  hasty  flight;  and  a 
Moravian,  coming  to  her  father's  mill  for  meal,  cheerfully 


224  THE   NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

returned  without  his  intended  freight  in  order  to  convey  the 
Colvers  and  their  effects  to  ISTazareth  and  to  safety.  Her 
parents,  who  had  long  awaited  an  opportunity  to  join  the 
Moravians,  gladly  accepted  a  position  in  a  neighboring  vil- 
lage, an  older  sister  was  sent  to  Bethlehem,  and  Johanna  and 
a  younger  sister  were  placed  in  a  little  school  just  being 
started  in  Nazareth  to  care  for  children  who  like  herself 
had  been  driven  in  by  the  war  from  unprotected  districts. 

The  lessons  taught  in  the  school  were  of  the  simplest.  She 
learned  to  speak  German,  to  read  and  write  in  German  and 
English,  to  cipher,  to  knit,  to  sew,  and  to  share  in  the  varied 
activities  of  the  household.  Religious  instruction  was  also 
carefully  given,  and  not  until  she  was  older  would  she  see 
the  real  pathos  of  her  inner  life  during  that  time.  Of  imagi- 
native mind  and  emotional  temperament,  the  tenderly  told 
stories  of  the  Saviour's  love  and  care  had  at  first  the  strange 
effect  of  driving  her  almost  frantic  with  terror,  for  her  father, 
unwilling  to  have  his  child  baptized  by  other  than  a  Moravian 
pastor,  and  unable  to  secure  the  services  of  one  in  his  far-off 
Connecticut  home,  had  neglected  the  rite  altogether,  and  being 
unbaptized  she  became  obsessed  with  the  idea  that  she  was 
wholly  in  the  power  of  the  Evil  One,  and  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  love  which  her  soul  craved.  Too  shy  to  hint  her 
trouble  the  poor  little  thing  struggled  on,  and  at  last  light 
began  to  break  in  on  the  eager  mind,  and  she  found  courage 
to  pray,  to  hope,  and  finally  to  speak  to  the  kindly  woman 
in  charge  of  the  children,  who  dispelled  her  fear,  comforted 
the  tender  little  heart,  and  promised  that  when  she  was  older 
she  should  receive  adult  baptism,  and  assured  her  that  mean- 
while she  was  perfectly  safe  in  the  Saviour's  keeping. 

A  year  in  the  Bethlehem  school  gave  opportunity  for  more 
study,  and  of  this  she  gladly  availed  herself;  then  her  long 
cherished  wish  was  granted,  and  she  was  baptised,  admitted 
to  the  Choir  of  Older  Girls  and  placed  with  other  young 


THE  PFLEGEEIN.  225 

girls  of  tbe  congregation  in  the  Sisters'  House,  there  to  learn 
the  serious  business  of  self-support.  An  interruption  came 
in  the  form  of  a  severe  illness,  through  which  she  went  to  the 
very  gates  of  death,  hut  they  did  not  open,  health  and  strength 
returned,  and  now  she  was  one  of  those  selected  to  go  to  the 
new  little  Moravian  settlement  in  ITorth  Carolina,  there  to 
begin  a  Choir  of  Older  Girls,  as  the  older  women  of  the 
company  were  to  form  the  nucleus  of  the  Choir  of  Single 
Sisters.  Would  she  like  the  new  home  ?  Would  the  work 
be  harder  or  easier  than  in  Bethlehem  ?  Would  she,  per- 
chance, be  asked  in  marriage?  There  were  many  more 
brethren  than  sisters  in  Wachovia  so  far,  and  all  the  young 
women  who  had  come  with  earlier  parties  had  been  quickly 
wedded.  And  if  an  oifer  came  would  she  wish  to  accept  it, 
or  would  she  rather  be  Vorsteherin  of  the  Single  Sisters 
like  Sister  Krause,  and  manage  the  money,  or  better  yet, 
be  Pflegerin,  like  Sister  Schmidt  in  Bethlehem,  and  have  all 
the  Sisters  look  up  to  her,  and  listen  to  what  she  said,  and 
have  even  the  minister  consult  her  ?  On  the  whole  that 
sounded  attractive,  and —  But  Sister  Krause's  voice  was 
calling  her  to  take  her  place  in  the  wagon,  and  air-castles 
vanished  in  the  wearily  impatient  wish  that  the  journey  was 
over  and  she  could  rest. 

Very  cheerful  the  little  village  looked  next  day  as  they 
drove  into  it,  and  were  warmly  welcomed,  bountifully  fed, 
and  conducted  to  the  house  which  had  been  set  apart  for  their 
use.  And  how  interesting  it  was  in  the  morning  to  go  here 
and  there,  seeing  the  places  already  familiar  through  letters, 
and  hearing  retold  the  stories  of  early  experiences  in  the 
wilderness.  Here  was  the  cabin  to  which  the  first  settlers 
came  on  that  chill  l^ovember  day  in  1753,  and  in  which  they 
held  their  first  lovefeast  while  the  wolves  howled  in  the  forest 
near  by.  Well  might  they  howl,  for  their  day  was  done ! 
Some  were  to  fall  before  the  hunter's  gun,  and  the  rest  would 


226  THE   NORTH   CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

vanish  before  the  onmarching  civilization  of  which  that  care- 
fully selected  group  of  colonists  was  the  sign.  Here  was  the 
church,  center  of  the  village  and  of  the  village  life,  with  its 
bell,  whose  daybreak  peal  had  more  than  once  startled  lurk- 
ing Indians  into  believing  themselves  discovered,  and  had 
so  averted  the  attack.  The  substantial  walls  and  loopholed 
attic  made  the  church  almost  a  fort,  and  beside  it  was  the 
stockade,  whose  protection  had  been  shared  by  many  a  fright- 
ened farmer,  coming  to  the  village  for  shelter  during  the 
troubled  years  of  Indian  warfare.  High  on  the  hill  lay  the 
little  graveyard,  and  at  its  foot  the  garden  of  medicinal  herbs, 
eloquent  reminder  of  the  good  Dr.  Kalberlahn,  whose  fame 
had  spread  far  and  wide,  but  who,  alas !  had  been  one  of  the 
first  victims  of  the  epidemic  of  1759.  Then  there  were  the 
shops  for  the  tailor  and  the  shoemaker,  the  homes  of  married 
people,  the  newly-opened  Sisters'  House,  and  the  Brothers' 
House  occupied  by  the  unmarried  men.  There  was  also  the 
village  kitchen,  a  source  of  surprise  to  the  casual  visitor,  but 
the  quite-to-be  expected  thing  in  the  eyes  of  the  new  arrivals 
for  the  pioneer  Moravian  settlers  had  been  quick  to  realize 
the  value  of  practical  cooperation,  and  it  was  their  system 
of  community  organization,  "the  labor  of  all  for  the  good  of 
all,"  which  made  possible  the  almost  phenomenal  industrial 
success  of  the  earlier  years  in  their  first  villages.  Then 
there  was  the  mill  a  mile  or  two  away,  the  farm  and  the 
dairy, — plenty  of  work  for  willing  hands ;  and  when  the  fa- 
tigue of  their  trip  was  over  the  Sisters  and  Older  Girls  were 
assigTied  to  tasks  suited  to  their  strength  and  ability.  In 
that  little  village,  if  nowhere  else  in  the  world,  all  work  was 
honorable,  the  cow-herd  and  the  cook  were  as  carefully  se- 
lected as  the  merchant  or  the  minister,  and  all  met  together 
in  the  conference  which  made  the  plans  and  gave  to  each  his 
share  of  labor. 

It  seemed  to  Johanna  that  everybody  was  happy  except 


THE  PFLEGERIN.  22Y 

herself,  and  that  she  was  not  made  her  the  more  unhappy. 
The  fact  is  that  the  sensitive  nature,  which  would  later  make 
her  so  dearly  beloved  for  her  quick  sympathy  and  ready  aid 
of  all  who  came  to  her  for  advice  or  help,  was  now  finding 
temporary  expression  in  a  morbid  craving  for  approval,  and 
a  tendency  to  droop — and,  it  must  be  confessed,  to  pout, — 
under  real  or  fancied  reproof,  to  her  own  sorrow  and  to  the 
annoyance  of  all  about  her.  She  did  not  understand  herself, 
and  no  one  fully  understood  her,  but  they  were  patient  with 
her ;  and  by  and  by  she  learned  the  hard  lesson  of  self-control, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Holy  Communion.  In  those  days 
privilege  of  the  Sacrament  was  highly  prized  and  carefully 
guarded,  and  each  Communion-day  was  preceded  by  heart- 
searchings,  deep  though  tender;  and  it  happened  not  infre- 
quently that  quite  an  interval  elapsed  between  the  taking  of 
vows  in  baptism  or  confirmation  and  admission  to  the  Lord's 
Table.  To  Johanna  the  granting  of  this  privilege  was  the 
sign  and  seal  that  her  strivings  after  a  higher  life  had  found 
favor  with  God  and  man,  and  from  that  hour  she  "thanked 
God  and  took  courage." 

But  she  never  learned  to  really  like  Bethabara,  and  her 
thoughts  turned  with  ever  increasing  longing  to  the  new  town 
being  built  six  miles  to  the  south.  Salem — "Peace" — the 
very  name  seemed  to  her  a  prophecy!  When  she  came  to 
Wachovia  the  work  was  just  begun;  since  then  she  had  lis- 
tened eagerly  to  every  word  concerning  it,  as  the  young  men 
who  had  gone  thither  from  Bethabara  and  the  hired  laborers 
built  first  a  Brothers'  House,  then  homes  for  married  people, 
and,  ultimately,  a  CongTegation  House,  with  the  meeting- 
hall  in  its  second  story.  There  was  something  fascinating 
about  a  town  all  prepared  as  to  houses  before  the  people  came. 
How  happy  the  Brethern  must  be  when  their  own  particular 
house  was  finished,  and  the  company  of  builders  could  wel- 
come into  it  the  young  men  and  boys  who  had  remained  in 


228  THE  JSrOKTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

Bethabara.  Perhaps  even  happier  were  the  four  who  hav- 
ing toiled  earnestly  at  town-building,  were  now  to  be  wedded, 
three  to  move  into  three  of  those  empty  waiting  houses,  while 
the  fourth  went  to  the  farm  near  by.  Who  before  had  ever 
attended  a  quadruple  wedding  ?  'All  Bethabara  was  inter- 
ested, but  Johanna,  who  knew  all  the  brides,  and  was  warmly 
attached  to  two  of  them,  was  in  a  tingle  of  excitement  from 
the  day  when  her  friends  told  her  of  their  acceptance  of  the 
proposals  to  the  hour  of  the  solemn  bethrothal  service,  and  the 
still  more  solemn  exchange  of  marriage  vows  in  the  presence 
of  the  entire  population  of  the  village. 

Later  there  followed  the  consecration  of  the  meeting-hall 
in  Salem,  organization  of  the  new  congregation,  and  installa- 
tion of  the  pastor  and  other  officers,  and  at  last,  at  last,  word 
was  received  that  the  rooms  for  the  Single  Sisters  were  ready. 
The  breath  of  Spring  was  in  the  air  and  in  Johanna's  soul 
that  April  day,  and  when  their  few  possessions  were  arranged 
in  the  new  rooms,  and  they  knelt  for  their  first  evening  prayer 
in  Salem,  her  throbbing  heart  chanted  joyfully:  ''Home — 
peace,  home — peace!" 

And  peace  remained  with  her  through  all  the  following 
years,  despite  difficulties  and  hardships  not  a  few.  At  first 
it  was  a  struggle  to  provide  the  bare  necessaries  of  life,  for 
remunerative  work  was  scarce;  but  the  Sisters  tilled  their 
garden,  sewed,  and  washed,  and  knit,  and  spun,  and  helped 
in  the  homes  of  married  people,  and  by  their  united  effort  the 
hardest  years  were  safely  passed.  Then  came  the  Revolution, 
with  its  manifold  anxieties,  which  in  their  turn  passed  away. 
And  Johanna  was  like  a  plant,  rooted  in  the  shadow  and 
coming  rapidly  into  blossoming  when  brought  to  the  light. 
Appointed  assistant  to  Sister  Pflegerin  Quest,  she  was  so 
helpful,  and  showed  so  much  tact  in  her  relation  to  the  other 
Sisters  and  Older  Girls,  that  she  was  soon  made  "house  dien- 
erin,"  and  charged  with  the  supervision  of  all  household  af- 


THE   PFLEGERIN.  229 

fairs.  This  position  also  made  her  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gation Council,  composed  of  the  leading  men  and  women  of 
the  congregation,  for  in  those  days  the  women  were  accorded 
a  much  more  active  voice  in  matters  of  the  town  and  Church 
than  they  were  permitted  to  have  in  later  times. 

Johanna  threw  her  whole  heart  into  her  work,  dedicating 
her  life  to  the  service  of  her  Church  among  the  Sisters,  and 
in  1780  she  was  received  as  an  Akoluthe.  She  now  began  ac- 
tively to  plan  for  the  erection  of  a  separate  house  for  the 
Single  Sisters,  as  their  rooms  in  the  Congregation  House 
were  becoming  overcrowded,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  each 
year  some  Sisters  married  and  moved  into  other  homes.  It 
had,  indeed,  always  been  the  intention  that  there  should  be  a 
Sisters'  Hoiuse,  but  while  their  Choir  was  small  and  poor  it 
seemed  wiser  to  wait.  Money  was  still  very  scarce,  but  a 
few  hundred  dollars  were  held  in  reserve  for  that  purpose, 
and  Johanna  began  to  collect  small  offerings  from  the  Sisters 
and  little  girls,  and  cherished  them  in  faith  that  a  way  would 
open.  Then  permission  was  given  to  ask  aid  from  congrega- 
tions elsewhere,  as  well  as  of  friends  in  the  village;  and  in 
1783  preparations  were  begun  for  building. 

But  her  faith  was  not  so  soon  to  be  rewarded.  On  a  cold 
winter  night  in  January  there  rang  through  the  sleeping  town 
the  weird,  piercing  cry  of  "F-i-r-e !  F-i-r-e!"  Hastily 
dressing,  men  and  women  seized  their  buckets  and  hurried  to 
the  scene,  there  to  form  in  two  long  lines,  the  men  passing 
full  buckets  of  water,  and  the  women  returning  them  empty 
to  be  refilled.  But  it  was  in  vain,  and  when  morning  came 
the  tavern  was  a  smoking  ruin,  and  Jacob  Meyer  and  his 
family  were  without  a  roof  over  their  heads.  Every  house 
in  the  village  was  already  full,  but  place  was  cheerfully  made 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  Meyers,  and  quite  as  promptly 
it  was  decided  that  the  tavern  must  be  at  once  rebuilt,  the  ma- 


230  THE   NORTH   CAROLIICA  BOOKLET. 

terial  already  gathered  for  the  Sisters'  House  being  used  as 
far  as  it  would  go. 

For  another  year,  therefore,  Johanna  and  her  associates 
waited,  with  what  patience  they  could  command,  and  at  last 
the  tavern  was  completed,  work  on  the  Sisters'  House  was  re- 
commenced, the  cornerstone  was  laid  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies, the  walls  were  raised,  and  the  day  of  dedication  ap- 
proached. 

It  so  happened  that  just  at  this  juncture  Bishop  Watteville 
visited  Salem,  as  the  representative  of  the  Unity's  Elders' 
Conference.  The  Revolution  had  left  many  problems  for 
which  his  wise  counsel  was  much  needed,  but  details  of  the 
congregational  life  were  just  as  carefully  considered.  One 
point  discussed  was  that  Sister  Pflegerin  Quest  and  Sister 
Vorsteherin  Krause  were  growing  old  and  scarcely  able  to 
conduct  the  affairs  of  the  growing  Choir.  Sister  Quest  was 
asked  whether  she  would  relinquish  her  position  and  go  to 
Bethabara,  there  to  teach  the  school  for  little  girls  as  long  as 
her  health  permitted,  to  which  she  cheerfully  agreed.  Sister 
Krause  was  retired,  with  the  understanding  that  she  would 
help  as  much  as  she  could,  and  the  mantles  of  both  fell  on 
Johanna  Colver,  the  timid  child,  the  moody  girl,  now  the 
ablest  and  best  beloved  Sister.  Humbly  but  trustfully  she  ac- 
cepted the  call,  and  was  installed  by  Bishop  Watteville  a  few 
days  before  the  Choir  House  was  finished. 

The  5th  of  April,  1786,  was  probably  the  happiest  day  of 
Johanna's  life.  At  the  head  of  her  Choir,  surrounded  by 
sympathizing  friends ,  she  moved  from  the  Congregation 
House  to  the  new  Sisters'  House,  which  was  opened  with  im- 
pressive and  appropriate  ceremonies.  There,  a  few  days 
later.  Bishop  Watteville  solemnly  consecrated  her  a  Deacon- 
ess of  the  Moravian  Church,  and  she  entered  upon  eleven 
years  of  earnest  and  successful  service. 

The  duties  and  responsibilities  of  her  position  were  mani- 


THE  PFLEGEEIN.  231 

fold.  According  to  the  Principles  laid  down,  the  Single  Sis- 
ters' Choir  was  to  be  "a  garden  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  wherein 
girls  and  women  were  to  be  trained  "for  all  kinds  of  service; 
it  might  be  for  marriage,  or  for  work  in  the  Choir,  among 
children,  or  in  families,  or  as  Choir  Sisters  passing  their  days 
in  quiet  and  union  of  heart  with  the  friends  of  their  souls, 
thinking  with  deep  interest  on  the  things  of  the  Lord,  and 
praying  for  them."  As  Pflegerin  Johanna  was  charged  with 
"the  care  of  the  inner  or  soul  life  of  her  Choir  Sisters,"  not 
only  those  of  adult  years,  but  even  wee  maidens  just  growing 
out  of  babyhood.  Dearly  she  loved  these  little  folk,  and  sought 
to  win  their  confidence,  so  that  even  in  tender  years  she  might 
draw  them  into  communion  with  her  Saviour.  In  modern 
times  there  is  no  one  person  in  the  community  who  quite  takes 
the  place  that  Johanna  Colver  filled.  Many  of  the  mother's 
duties,  of  the  Sunday  School  teacher's  opportunities,  of  the 
pastor's  responsibilities,  were  hers,  and,  as  the  girls  grew 
older,  she  helped  them  to  find  means  of  self-support,  and  was 
their  trusted  confidante  in  all  the  perplexing  problems  of 
young  womanhood,  while  to  the  older  Sisters  she  gave  her  af- 
fectionate interest,  and  to  the  aged  her  tender  care. 

As  Vorsteherin  she  was  the  treasurer,  the  business  manager 
of  the  Choir, — a  230sition  bringing  many  difficulties  and  anxie- 
ties, for  to  complete  their  House  the  Sisters  had  been  obliged 
to  borrow  a  considerable  sum  from  the  Salem  Congregation, 
from  potter  Gottfried  Aust  and  tanner  Johanna  Herbst,  and 
to  keep  up  the  interest  and  pay  off  the  principal  was  no  small 
task,  even  with  the  help  of  all  the  Sisters,  and  the  unfail- 
ing support  of  tanner  Herbst,  who  would  never  accept  any 
interest  on  his  loan,  and  finally  gave  them  the  principal  as 
well. 

'Not  to  every  one  is  it  given  to  see  the  end  as  well  as  the  be- 
ginning of  an  undertaking,  but  one  year  before  Johanna  died 
she  had  the  joy  of  knowing  that  the  debt  was  fully  paid,  and 


232  THE  NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET, 

that  her  cherished  House  would  pass  unencumbered  into  other 
hands, — for  that  she  would  soon  leave  it  she  knew  full  well. 
One  of  the  marvels  of  Johanna's  life  was  that  she  accom- 
plished so  much  despite  her  bodily  weakness.  In  the  very 
month  in  which  she  became  Pflegerin  the  first  attack  of  lung 
trouble  manifested  itself,  though  for  some  years  an  occasional 
hemmorhage  seemed  to  have  little  effect  upon  her  strength. 
A  vacation  in  Pennsylvania  refreshed  her  after  the  strain 
incident  to  an  epidemic  from  which  many  of  the  Sisters  suf- 
fered in  1792,  but  in  1795  the  disease  took  firm  hold  on  her, 
and  her  streng-th  gradually  but  steadily  failed.  Toward  the 
end  she  suffered  much,  and  oh,  how  she  longed  for  rest! 
''Dear  Saviour,  pity  me,  and  bring  these  painful  hours  to  a 
close.  I  am  ready  to  go,  and  there  is  naught  to  keep  me 
here,"  so  she  prayed  in  an  hour  of  utter  weariness,  though  as 
a  rule  she  waited  with  utmost  patience  for  the  final  summons. 
Asking  a  friend  to  read  her  the  Daily  Texts  for  some  days 
ahead,  that  for  March  5th  was  reached,  "The  Lord  shall  be 
unto  thee  an  everlasting  light,  and  thy  God  thy  glory,"  Isa. 
60:19.  "Oh,  that  I  might  go  home  on  that  day,"  she  ex- 
claimed; "think  of  the  joy  and  wonder,  to  go  out  into  the  sun- 
shine, into  the  day  that  shall  have  no  end."  And  even  so  it 
was.  On  the  5th  of  March,  1797,  she  peacefully  fell  asleep, 
while  her  weeping  Sisters,  gathered  in  an  adjoining  room, 
sang  hymns  wherewith  to  comfort  their  aching  hearts.  Soon 
the  trombonists  gathered  in  front  of  the  House,  and  through- 
out the  village  people  paused  to  listen  to  the  message  floating 
out  on  the  evening  air: 

A  pilgrim,  us  preceding, 
Departs  unto  her  home, 

The  final  summons  heeding, 
Which  soon  to  all  must  come, 

0  joy!  the  chains  to  sever 
Which  burden  pilgrims  here, 

To  dwell  with  Christ  forever 
Who  to  our  souls  is  dear. 


THE   PFLEGERIN.  233 

The  second  stanza,  tbough  used  at  the  departure  of  any  un- 
married Sister,  might  have  been  Johanna's  own  statement  of 
her  life's  ideal,  and  many  an  eye  grew  moist  as  the  tune  was 
recognized : 

My  happy  lot  is  here 

The  Lamb  to  follow; 
Be  this  my  only  care 

Each  step  to  hallow, 
And  thus  await  the  time 

When  Christ,  my  Saviour, 
Will  call  me  hence,  with  Him 
To  live  forever. 

Once  more  the  sweetly  solemn  strains  stole  over  the  village, 
this  time  breathing  a  prayer  that  each  who  listened  might  in 
turn  find  ready  entrance  into  that  heavenly  mansion ;  and  as 
the  last  note  sank  into  the  evening  silence  quivering  lips 
whispered  with  sorrow  and  yet  in  perfect  trust:  "Sister 
Pflegerin  Colver  has  indeed  gone  home." 


234  THE   NORTH    CAEOLINA   BOOKLET. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  MRS.  SPIER 
WHITAKER  nee  HOOPER 


By  Mks.  E.  E.  Moffitt. 


Mrs.  Spier  Whitaker  was  born  in  Chapel  Hill,  iSTorth  Caro- 
lina, and  lived  there  during  a  large  part  of  her  girlhood. 
Prior  to  her  marriage  she  was  Miss  Fanny  DeBerniere 
Hooper,  the  second  daughter  of  Professor  John  Deberniere 
Hooper  of  the  University,  who  was  the  son  of  Archibald  Mac- 
laine  Hooper,  the  well-known  editor  and  writer  of  Wilming- 
ton, North  Carolina — a  contributor  on  historical  subjects  to 
various  journals — who  married  Miss  Charlotte  DeBerniere. 
Fanny  DeBerniere  Hooper's  mother  was  before  her  marriage 
Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Hooper,  daughter  of  William  Hooper, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  scholar  and  litterateur,  a  Professor  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  ISTorth  Carolina,  later  President  of  Wake  Forest 
College,  and  the  author  of  Fifty  Years  Since,  Force  of  Kahit, 
Sacredness  of  Human  Life,  Imperfections  of  Primary 
Schools,  and  many  other  sketches.  He  married  Frances  Pol- 
lock Jones,  daughter  of  Colonel  Edward  Jones,  Solicitor-Gen- 
eral of  JSTorth  Carolina,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  Mary 
Mallett  Jones  who  was  the  daughter  of  Peter  Mallett,  member 
of  one  of  the  Committees  of  Safety  in  the  Revolution  and 
Commissary  of  the  fifth  and  sixth  regiments  of  the  Conti- 
nental Line.  Mary  Elizabeth  Hooper  was  the  great  grand- 
daugher  of  the  William  Hooper  who  was  one  of  the  signers  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  son  of  Reverend  William 
Hooper,  second  rector  (1747-1767)  of  Trinity  Church,  Bos- 
ton. She  (Mary  Elizabeth  Hooper)  was  the  granddaughter 
of  William  Hooper,  son  of  the  "Signer,"  who  married  Helen 
Hogg,  daughter  of  James  Hogg  of  Hillsborough,  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina, a  native  of  Scotland  who  came  to  America  in  1774,  was 
influential  in  the  Revolutionary  period,   and  married  Miss 


FANNY   DeBERNIERE    HOOPER   WHITAKER 


This  picture  is  a  copy  of  a  daguerreotype  taken  about  the  time  of  her 
marriage.     There  is  no  good  recent  picture. 


MRS.  SPIER  WPIITAKEE.  235 

Alves.  J.  DeBerniere  Hooper  was  the  grandson  of  the  "Sign- 
er's" brother  George — who  married  Katharine  Maclaine, 
daughter  of  Archibald  Maclaine  of  Wilmington,  prominent 
among  Revolutionary  patriots.  The  one  son  of  this  marriage, 
Archibald  Maclaine  Hooper — father  of  Professor  J.  De- 
Berniere Hooper,  before  mentioned  as  the  father  of  Fannie 
DeB.  Whitaker — married,  as  has  been  said,  Charlotte  De- 
Berniere who  was  the  daughter  of  Colonel  John  DeBerniere 
of  the  British  army  who  had  married  near  Belfast,  Ireland, 
Miss  Anna  Jones,  daughter  of  Conway  Jones  of  Rostrevor, 
and  whose  grandfather,  Jean  Antoine  DeBerniere,  a  Hugue- 
not of  noble  birth,  had  fled  from  French  persecution  and  set- 
tled first  in  Ireland/ 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  Mrs.  Whitaker  was 
descended  from  those  who  bore  a  considerable  part  in  the  pe- 
riod of  the  American  Revolution — William  Hooper,  Archi- 
bald Maclaine,  Peter  Mallett.  Karnes  might  be  cited  to 
show  that  patriotic  interests  and  military  records  are  to  be 
found  also  in  collateral  branches  and  that  force  of  talent  has 
been  evident  in  these  lines.  Among  these  names  there  is  that 
of  an  ancestral  uncle,  Colonel  and  Brevet  Brigadier-General 
Thomas  Clark  of  the  Revolutionary  army.  A  brother  of  J. 
DeBerniere  Hooper  was  Johnson  J.  Hooper,  lawyer,  Secre- 
tary of  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America,  a 
conspicuous  and  influential  editor,  one  of  the  most  successful 
humorous  writers  of  the  day — author  of  "Simon  Suggs," 
"Widow  Rugby's  Husband"  and  "Other  Tales  of  Alabama/' 
etc. 

The  late  Mrs.  C.  P.  Spencer,  in  a  memorial  of  J.  DeB, 
Hooper  in  1886,  says: 

"The  Hooper  family  is  one  long  and  well  known  In  Nortli  Caro- 
lina and  other  Southern  states.  Wherever  known  they  are  strongly 
marked  by  certain  family  traits;   a  high-toned,  passionate  sense  of 


1  The  genealogical  data  for  this  sketch  was  furnished  by  Miss  Bessie  Lewis  Whitaker. 


236  THE   NORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

honor,  a  quick  and  generous  sensibility,  a  love  of  letters,  combined 
with  intellect  of  a  fine  and  flexible  quality.  In  many  of  them  these 
mental  gifts  are  accompanied  by  a  rare  strain  of  subtle  humor, 
imparting  to  their  conversation  and  writings  the  real  Attic  flavor 
and  salt." 

Miss  Fanny  Hooper  imbibed  much  of  great  educational 
value  from  the  atmosphere  of  her  home.  Her  father,  revered 
by  all  who  knew  him,  was  "justly  dear  to  learning,  to  social 
life,  to  the  cause  of  education,  and  the  Church  of  God,"-"-  her 
mother  a  "sweet,  high-minded,  'other-worldly'  woman. "^  She 
has  said  that  her  parents  instilled  into  their  children^  a  love 
of  learning  and,  at  a  time  when  such  matters  were  compara- 
tively ignored,  imbued  them  with  a  knowledge  of  and  admira- 
tion of  a  worthy  ancestry.  She  was  formally  educated  at  the 
■Chowan  Female  Institute,  Murfreesboro,  IvTorth  Carolina— a 
ischool  well  known  at  this  period  for  thorough  scholarship  and 
iigh  standards — where  she  graduated  at  the  head  of  her  class 
and  was  the  valedictorian.  Her  essay,  a  humorous  produc- 
tion entitled  "Lucifei"  Matches"  was  written  in  verse  and  is 
jDreserved  today  as  a  happy  effort  of  the  girl  whose  mind 
showed  at  this  early  age  the  vivacity  and  brilliant  tendencies 
retained  and  developed  through  life. 

She  married  July  31,  1866,  Mr.  Spier  Whitaker,  son  of 
Colonel  Spier  Whitaker,  of  eastern  ISTorth  Carolina — a  lawyer 
learned  and  widely  successful,  essentially  a  "gentlemen  of  the 
old  school,"  Attoxney-General  of  l^orth  Carolina  for  four 
years,  later  a  resident  of  Davenport,  Iowa.  Spier  Whitaker, 
the  son,  was,  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  to  Miss  Hooper,  an 
alumnus  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  one  of  the 
fifty-seven  of  the  members  of  the  historic  class  of  1861  who 


1  William  Mercer  Green,  Bishop  of  Missiasippi. 

2  Dr.  E.  A.  Alderman  in  an  address  on  William  Hooper. 

'  The  children  of  J.  DeBerniere  Hooper  and  Mary  E.  Hooper: 

Helen  DeBerniere  Hooper  (deceased),  who  married  James  Wills. 
Fanny  DeBerniere  Hooper  (  deceased ),  who  married  Spier  Whitaker. 
Henry  DeBerniere  Hooper  (  deceased  ),  who  married  Jessie  Wright. 
Julia  Charlotte  Hooper,  who  married  Ralph  Graves. 


MES.  SPIEK  WHITAKEK.  237 

left  the  University  for  the  battlefield  a  few  weeks  before  the 
end  of  the  course  that  was  crowned  nevertheless,  through  the 
University  diplomas,  by  an  alma  mater  ready  to  yield  ap- 
proval and  award  degrees  to  honorable  sons^  He  was  First 
Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  of  the  Thirty-third  North  Caro- 
lina Regiment,  Lane's  Brigade,  Hill's  Division,  Jackson's 
Corps,  Army  of  jS'orthern  Virginia.  As  a  Confederate  sol- 
dier, he  served  with  distinguished  gallantry  during  the  four 
years  of  the  war — literally  from  Bethel  to  Appomattox.  He 
was  caj)tured  at  JSTew  Bern  by  Burnside  and  was  a  prisoner 
of  war  for  about  four  months  at  Governor's  Island,  the  ''Rip 
Raps,"  and  Fort  Delaware.  He  was  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  the  Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania,  Gettysburg — in  fact  in  every  battle  of 
his  regiment  except  one.  His  services  were  conspicuous 
many  times  during  the  war  and  the  commendation  accorded 
him  after  Gravelly  Hill  has  been  often  quoted.  He  after- 
wards became  one  of  ]^orth  Carolina's  ablest  lawyers,  "his 
reputation  extending  far  beyond  State  bounds."'  He  ren- 
dered able  and  important  service  to  the  State  as  Chairman 
of  the  Democratic  State  Executive  Committee  in  1888  when 
he  conducted  a  campaigTi  "with  a  skill  and  success  that  were 
phenomenal."^  As  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Courts  of  the 
State  he  has  left  an  enviable  record — a  record  bearing  close 
investigation  and  study.  "He  brought  to  the  Bench  a  mind 
well  stored  with  legal  learning  and  his  decisions  showed  him 
equipped  for  determining  knotty  points  of  the  law  continually 
arising.'*  During  the  time  he  served  as  Judge  he  concen- 
trated the  great  force  of  his  will  and  effort  upon  the  ameliora- 


1  "Commencement  day  was  on  the  first  Thursday  in  June,  1861.  Only  thirty  out  of 
the  eighty-seven  graduates  were  present.  The  diplomas  of  the  absent  were  forwarded  to 
them.  Very  likely  some  of  them  reached  their  owners  on  the  battle-field,  but  I  never 
heard  of  it-"— Dr.  Kemp  P.  Battle.  (See  Battle's  History  of  the  University,  Vol.  I  ).  The 
foregoing  note  may  account  for  the  statement,  sometimes  heard,  that  the  diplomas  of  the 
class  of  1861  were  delivered  on  the  battle-field. 

2 Daily  Call,  Raleigh,  1889. 

3  Daily  Call,  Raleigh,  1889. 

<  News-Observer  Chronicle,  1894. 


238  THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

tion  of  conditions  in  the  jails  and  county  homes  of  the  State. 
He  was  appointed  Major  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  United  States 
Volunteers  in  the  war  with  Spain,  1898-99,  which  regiment 
though  on  active  duty  in  this  country  and  Porto  Rico,  was 
never  engaged  in  battle. 

An  esteemed  friend  and  college-mate  and  Confederate 
army  comrade  of  Judge  Whitaker's  thus  referred  to  him  af- 
ter his  death :  ^"He  possessed  an  excellent  mind  which  was 
of  a  philosophic  turn  and  cultivated  in  many  fields  of  litera- 
ture. He  was  an  able  lawyer  and  was  distinguished  as  a 
logician.  He  was  a  man  of  a  high  sense  of  honor  and  to  his 
intimates  was  a  most  delightful  companion,  whose  quaint 
himior  added  piquancy  to  their  enjoyment  of  his  company. -*■ 
In  reference  to  his  wife,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch, 
another  valued  friend  of  the  early  days  of  strong  associa- 
tions, recently  said :  "She  was  indeed  an  unusual  woman — 
and  as  a  young  maiden,  so  lovely  in  person,  so  bright  and  fas- 
cinating. She  developed  into  a  woman  of  rare  intellectual 
gifts  and  doubtless  her  intelligent  husband  by  his  association 
with  her  stimulated  her  mental  powers  and  gave  them  play 
so  that  they  were  not  repressed,  notwithstanding  her  house- 
hold cares. "^  The  homage  he  accorded  her,  the  stimulus  he 
gave  through  his  own  need  of  intellectual  sympathy  in  life's 
mental  interests,  and  his  influence  that  caused  her  yielding 
to  the  solicitations  of  friends — these  did  contribute  much  to- 
wards her  being  known  beyond  her  home.  For  finely 
equipped  as  she  was,  she  shrank  from  all  initiative  and  from 
being  to  the  slightest  extent  before  the  public. 

After  her  marriage,  she  lived  in  Raleigh,  IsTorth  Carolina, 
for  some  months,  but  as  her  husband  soon  became  engaged  in 
much  practice  in  eastern  North  Carolina,  they,  within  a 
year,  began  residence  in  Enfield,   Halifax   County,    North 


1  Major  E.  J.  Hale  in  Fayetteville  Observer  1901. 

2  Captain  S.  A.  Ashe  of  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


MRS.  SPIER  WHITAKEE.  239 

Carolina,  which  place  was  their  home  until  the  year  1882 
when  they  came  with  their  five  children^  to  Raleigh.  Here 
she  lived  until  the  death  of  her  husband  in  July,  1901.  Af- 
ter some  intervening  years  spent  partly  with  her  sisters  in 
Chapel  Hill  and  partly  in  Raleigh,  she  and  her  daughter  in 
1907  folloTved  her  two  youngest  sons  to  Birmingham,  Ala- 
bama, where  she  resided  until  her  death  on  ISTovember  28, 
1911.  This  brief  statement,  covering  the  period  of  her  mar- 
ried life  and  another  decade  of  thought  and  love  and  service 
can  only  suggest  the  real  biography.  Her  intense  delicate, 
sensitive  nature  knew  no  compromise  in  life's  duties.  There 
is  not  much  more  to  say  than  that,  as  was  said  by  one  who 
loved  her,  "her  large  heart  and  large  mind  were  given  in 
large,  unstinted  service,"  this  service  given  first  in  accord- 
ance with  the  heart's  first  dictates  but  shutting  out  none  of 
the  wide  and  universal  sympathies.  Mental  and  spir- 
itual activity  was  necessary  for  her — that  activity  that  tends 
to  development  and  benefit  if  not  to  absolute  rest  of  mind 
and  the  happiness  of  the  unquestioning. 

Literary,  historical,  patriotic  interests  played  a  part  in  her 
life.  The  I^orth  Carolina  Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
Revolution,  founded  by  her  and  made  up  even  now  of  her 
personal  friends,  desires  to  pay  a  tribute  to  her  and  to  trace 
at  the  same  time  the  history  of  the  society  by  showing  some- 
thing of  her  work  in  connection  with  it  during  her  long  resi- 
dence in  Raleigh  and  by  pointing  out  her  contributions  to  the 
history  of  the  State  and  her  efiicient  patriotic  interests. 

In  1894 — September  10th — she  was  asked  by  the  ISTational 


iThe  children  of  Fanny  DeBerniere  (Hooper)  Whitaker  and  Spier  Whitaker  are: 
DeBerniere  Whitaker,  University  of   North  Carolina,  Engineer.      Vice-President 

and  General  Manager  Juragua  Iron  Company,  Santiago  de  Cuba. 
Bessie  Lewis  Whitaker,  A.M.,  University  of  North  Carolina:  Teacher.     Present 

address,  Bertram  Hall,  Cambridge,  Mass. 
Percy  duPonceau   Whitaker,  B.S.,  University  of  North  Carolina.    Advertising 

Counsel,  Denver,  Colorado. 
David    Spier   Whitaker,   University    of   North   Carolina.     Merchandise  Broker, 

Denver,  Colorado. 
Vernon  Edelen  Whitaker,  University  of  North  Carolina.     General  Agent  A.  B.  & 

A.  R.  R.,  Atlanta,  Georgia. 


240  THE   NOKTH   CAKOLINA  BOOKLET. 

Society  of  tbe  Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  through  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  ISTorth  Carolina  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revo- 
lution, to  consider  the  position  of  regent  for  the  Society  in 
the  State  of  JSTorth  Carolina,  the  reason  for  the  request  being 
based,  said  the  Secretary,  ■*■  on  her  "interest  in  such  matters  as 
well  as  ancestral  and  other  qualifications."  She  became  a 
member  of  the  JN^ational  Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Rev- 
olution December  18,  1894.  She  was  appointed  State  Regent 
for  jSTorth  Carolina  for  a  term  extending  from  January  7, 
1895,  to  January  1,  1899.  She  was  retained  as  Regent  by 
the  jSTorth  Carolina  Society  until  her  resignation,  formally 
tendered  July  6,  1902. 

Her  work  in  creating  conditions  for  the  establishment  of 
a  State  Society  began  immediately  after  her  appointment. 
Gradually,  constantly,  and  persistently  she  interested  her 
friends  in  the  work  and  the  objects  and,  on  October  19,  1896, 
the  anniversary  of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  she  organized 
the  JSTorth  Carolina  Society.  Her  work  in  effecting  the 
organization  was  accomplished  under  difficulties ;  for,  even 
so  recently,  women  were  not  as  easily  aroused  as  now  to  a 
sense  of  the  importance  of  an  opportunity  for  preserving 
family  records  and  contributing  to  the  cause  of  historical  re- 
search and  the  inculcating  of  historical  interests.  Before 
beginning  this  work,  she  had  made  a  careful  study  of  the 
history  and  standards  of  the  National  patriotic  societies  and 
it  was  the  strict  and  unvarying  requirement  of  membership 
through  lineal  descent  that  determined  her  allegiance  to  this 
particular  society.  In  January,  1897,  the  JSTorth  Carolina 
Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution  adopted  a  pro- 
visional State  Constitution  and  By-Laws,  the  objects  as  stated 
in  this  constitution  being  to  ^'perpetuate  the  patriotic  spirit 
of  the  men  and  women  who  achieved  American  independence ; 
to  commemorate  Revolutionary  events — especially  those  con- 

iMr.  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 


MRS.  SPIER  WHITAKEE.  241 

nected  with  North  Carolina ;  to  collect,  publish  and  preserve 
the  rolls,  records  and  historic  documents  relating  to  that  pe- 
riod ;  to  encourage  the  study  of  the  country's  history ;  and 
to  promote  sentiments  of  friendship  and  common  interests 
among  the  members  of  the  Society."  It  was  through  the  zeal 
and  ability  of  Mrs.  Whitaker  as  regent  and  the  able  coopera- 
tion of  other  women  that  the  growth  of  the  Society  became 
assured  and  that  its  influence  steadily  widened. 

In  the  North  Carolina  Historical  and  Genealogical  Regis- 
ter, October,  1900,  Vol.  1,  there  is  an  outline  by  Mrs.  Whita- 
ker of  the  activities  of  the  society,  in  which  she  shows  that 
it  had  labored  steadily  to  promote  the  objects  for  which  it 
was  established  as  set  forth  in  its  constitution,  in  line  with 
which,  among  other  activities,  a  hall  had  been  rented  for  busi- 
ness meetings  where  historical  and  other  papers  were  read 
and  these  and  other  matters  germane  to  the  Society  were  dis- 
cussed and  where  were  kept  its  nucleus  of  a  library  and  a 
collection  of  relics ;  a  genealogical  department  established  as 
an  adjunct  to  the  Society ;  a  gold  medal  offered  to  a  pupil  of 
the  Raleigh  Graded  Schools  for  an  essay  on  an  assigned  his- 
torical subject;  steps  taken  towards  marking  hitherto  neg- 
lected graves  of  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  in  Wake  County ; 
resolutions  sent  (in  1898)  to  United  States  Senators  and 
Representatives  from  North  Carolina  (at  request  of  the  Ti- 
conderoga  Historical  Society,  Ticonderoga,  New  York),  ad- 
vocating the  passage  of  a  bill  for  the  Government  ownership 
and  preservation  of  old  Fort  Ticonderoga ;  an  appeal  made 
through  a  circular  letter  (May,  1898)  to  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives in  Washington  for  the  appropriation  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  to  carry  into  eifect  two  resolutions  of  the 
Continental  Congress  in  1778  and  1781  for  the  erection  of 
monuments  to  Brigadier-General  Francis  Nash  and  William 
Lee  Davidson  of  North  Carolina ;  a  movement  inaugurated 
May  4,  1898,  when  troops  were  being  organized  for  the  Span- 


242  THE  NOETH  CAEOLINA  BOOKLET. 

ish  War  for  the  formation  of  a  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  etc. 
The  movement  that  has  proved  perhaps  of  most  lasting  bene- 
fit to  the  State  is  referred  to  as  the  "publication  of  TiiElSroRTH 
Caeolina  Booklet,  containing  articles  of  great  historic 
value,  for  the  most  part  contributions  from  distinguished 
writers  of  the  State."  "This,"  she  continues,  "formerly  un- 
der the  able  management  of  its  first  editors.  Miss  Martha 
Helen  Hayveood  and  Mrs.  Hubert  Hayv^^ood,  with  the  former 
of  whom  the  idea  of  its  publication  originated — palmam  qui 
meruit  ferat — is  now  in  the  hands  of  Miss  Mary  Hilliard 
Hinton  and  Mrs.  E.  E.  Moffitt."  As  late  as  May  12,  1912, 
Captain  S.  A.  Ashe  wrote  of  The  Booklet  thus:  "I  recall 
the  origin  of  The  Booklet.  A  noble  oak  has  grown  from 
the  acorn.  What  an  advantage  it  has  been  to  the  State !  How 
many  subjects  have  been  explored— how  many  historical  inci- 
dents have  been  rescued  from  oblivion — what  a  medium  it 
has  been  of  thought — what  a  stimulus  to  writing  for  the  pub- 
lic to  read.  Our  jDoople  before  The  Booklet  began  were  not 
in  the  habit  of  writing  for  the  public.  N^ow  many  use  the 
pen  as  if  they  had  been  brought  up  in  JSTew  England.  I  re- 
joice in  the  good  it  has  brought  our  people." 

Mrs.  Whitaker  was  the  very  heart  of  The  Booklet  enter- 
prise. It  was  she  who  gave  it  living  force,  she  who  seem- 
ingly not  active  in  its  publication  was  the  vital  spark  that 
gave  it  action. 

As  stated  by  Mrs.  Whitaker  in  the  outline  in  the  Histori- 
cal Register,  the  direct  object  of  The  Booklet  was  to  "begin 
a  fund  for  the  rearing  of  a  monument  to  the  first  signers  of 
an  American  Declaration  of  Independence — the  patriotic 
ladies  of  the  famous  Edenton  Tea  Party  of  October  25, 
1774,  whose  declaration  antedated  by  nearly  two  years  that  of 
the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  the  same  town,  by  seven 
months  that  of  Mecklenburg,  and  by  a  year  and  eight  months 
the  ISTational   Declaration   at   Philadelphia."     It  was   Mrs. 


MRS.  SPIER  WHITAKER.  243 

Whitaker  who  proposed  that  the  Society  attempt  to  create  a 
fund  for  the  "purpose  of  commemorating  the  heroism  of  the 
women  of  the  Revolution  by  erecting  a  memorial  to  the  tocn 
much-ignored  ladies  of  the  historic  Edenton  Tea  Party  of 
1774."  Correspondence  retained  by  her  attests  the  interest 
and  response  on  the  part  of  prominent  men  who  cooperated 
with  her  and  the  Society  in  the  work  of  securing  historic 
testimony  as  to  the  occasion  of  the  Edenton  Tea  Party.  She 
also  appealed  directly  to  persons  in  England  who  had  access 
to  records  there.  Evidence  of  the  incident  alluded  to — 
casually  mentioned  by  Wheeler  in  his  History  of  North 
Carolina — ^was  secured  in  an  authoritative  record  which  had 
been  published  in  the  Morning  Chronicle  and  London  Ad- 
vertiser in  England  and  she  also  obtained  directly  from  Eng- 
land a  list  of  the  fifty-one  ladies  who  signed  the  Edenton 
document,  endorsing  on  October  25,  1774,  the  resolves  of  the 
provincial  deputies  who  had  held  a  Congress  in  ITew  Bern, 
JSTorth  Carolina,  the  preceding  August.  After  some  years 
the  object  proposed  was  accomplished  by  the  Society  through 
the  publication  of  The  JSTorth  Carolina  Booklet,  referred 
to  in  the  foregoing — the  publication  devoted  to  developing 
and  preserving  incidents  in  the  history  of  the  State  which  pre- 
viously had  not  received  sufficient  recognition  and  notice,  the 
publication  that  achieved  success  through  the  work  and  skill 
of  members  of  the  Society  who  volunteered  to  take  charge 
of  it,  and  through  the  historical  contributions  of  educators 
and  historians  of  the  State.  The  first  issue  appeared  in 
May,  1901.  On  October  24,  1908,  a  bronze  tablet  was 
erected  in  the  Capitol  in  Raleigh  which  bears  this  inscrip- 
tion :  "Erected  by  the  !N"orth  Carolina  Society  of  the  Daugh- 
ters of  the  Revolution  to  the  fifty-one  ladies  of  Edenton  who 
by  their  patriotism,  zeal  and  early  protest  against  British 
authority  assisted  our  forefathers  in  the  making  of  this  Re- 
public   and    our    Commonwealth."     Considerable    thought 


244  THE   ]N"ORTH    CAROLINA   BOOKLET. 

was  given  to  the  form  of  the  memorial.  There  is  this  refer- 
ence to  it  in  a  letter  from  the  writer  of  the  present  sketch, 
who  is  a  member  of  the  Society,  to  Mrs.  Whitaker:  "Your 
idea  of  the  memorial  that,  instead  of  a  shaft  or  statute  or 
painting,  it  should  have  the  educational  form  is  an  admirable 
one.  You  formulate  ideas.  Would  that  they  could  ma- 
terialize !  And  I  think  they  will,  though  a  long  time  after 
this." 

Mrs.  Whitaker  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
State  Literary  and  Historical  Association,  organized  in  Ra- 
leigh October  23,  1900.  She  became  a  member  of  the  Colo- 
nial Dames  of  America,  May  27,  1897;  in  1900  she  was 
second  vice-president  of  that  society  in  North  Carolina.^ 
On  January  3,  1901,  she  organized  the  Raleigh  local  circle 
of  Colonial  Dames.  She  was  a  member  of  the  recently  or- 
ganized National  Society  known  as  the  Descendants  of  the 
Signers.  She  evidently  considered  membership  in  the 
Huguenot  Society  of  America— though  we  have  obtained  no 
record  of  the  membership — as  there  is  correspondence  rela- 
tive to  her  eligibility  through  the  lines  DeBerniere  and 
Crommelin.  Although  she  did  not  actually  and  directly 
engage  in  work  for  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolution  after 
the  death  of  her  husband  in  1901,  her  influence  and  her  name 
never  ceased  to  be  connected  with  it.  Pier  formal  resigna- 
tion was  tendered  July  6,  1902.  The  record  of  the  meeting 
of  that  date  has  the  following  statement  in  regard  to  it: 
"The  resignation  was  received  with  profound  regret  and  the 
Secretary  requested  to  express  the  sentiments  of  the  Society 
in  the  loss  they  sustain  in  her  withdrawal.  She  has  been 
Regent  from  the  organization  of  the  Society,  and  to  her  un- 
tiring zeal  and  labors  the  Society  owes  its  existence  today. ''^ 
After  her  removal  to  Birmingham  she  was  made  an  honorary 

iSee  North  Carolina  Colonial  Dames  Directory  for  1900. 
iRaleigh  News  and  Observer,  July  6,  1902. 


MRS.  SPIEK  WHITAKEK.  245 

life  member  of  the  Society.  A  clipping  from  the  Raleigh 
paper,  the  date  of  which  is  missing,  states  that  "Mrs.  Spier 
Whitaker,  founder  of  the  Society  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
Revolution  in  North  Carolina,  was  elected  Honorary  Regent 
for  life  by  a  unanimous  standing  vote." 

Mrs.  Whitaker's  tenderest  allegiance  was  always  with  the 
old  Southern  Confederacy.  Her  name  was  among  the  first 
on  the  roll  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy  in  Raleigh, 
for  on  April  14,  1896,  she  became  a  member  of  the  Johnston 
Pettigrew  Chapter  of  that  Society.  Her  feeling  for  the  cause 
may  be  found  in  her  own  expression,  in  reference  to  various 
organizations  in  which  she  was  interested — "the  Daughters 
of  the  Confederacy  being  by  far  the  closest  to  my  heart." 

In  response  to  requests  of  compilers  and  editors  she  from 
time  to  time  showed  the  facile  pen  and  the  work  of  the  stu- 
dent and  scholar.  Her  writing,  unfortunately,  must  be  sought 
where  it  was  placed  not  on  her  own  account  but  solely  in  the 
interest  of  some. cause  or  to  record  some  life  she  knew.  Her 
circular  letter  written  to  enlist  the  first  interest  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  ISTorth  Carolina  Society  Daughters  of  the  Revolu- 
tion— prepared  first  upon  the  request  for  a  contribution  to 
the  Monumental,  or  Ladies'  Edition  of  the  News  and  Ob- 
server on  the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  the  Confederate 
monument  in  Raleigh,  May  20,  1895 — is  still  extant  and  is 
an  appeal  replete  with  fine  distinctions,  delicate  touches,  and 
fervid  feeling.  The  purport  may  be  seen  in  these  words: 
"In  our  devotion  to  these  unsuccessful,  tear-crowned  heroes 
ajid  that  Confederacy,  unique  and  radiant,  which  is  in  eccen- 
tric orbit  through  stormy  skies  descending,  blazed  for  a  brief 
space  among  the  constellations  of  the  nations  and  went  out  in 
darkness,  let  us  not  forget  those  who  participated  in  the  trium- 
phant struggle  of  the  Revolution,  from  whom  our  Southern 
Chivalry  derived  and  inherited  that  splendid  courage  and 

4 


246  THE   JNTORTH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

heroism  which  have  forever  glorified  both  themselves  and  the 
cause  for  which  thej  fought."  Traces  of  her  pen  may  be 
found  among  various  papers  and  circular  letters  issued  by 
the  Society  from  time  to  time.  And  we  find  preserved  oc- 
casional newspaper  and  pamphlet  articles  from  her  pen,  the 
titles  of  which  being  somewhat  as  follows:  "ISTorth  Carolina 
Society  Daughters  of  the  Revolution,"  March  25,  1901,  in 
North  Carolina  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register. 
"Daughters  of  the  Revolution,"  in  Literary  and  Historical 
Activities,  1900-1905.  "Just  to  the  South"  (Letter)  in  the 
Democrat,  Clinton,  ISTorth  Carolina,  June,  1905.  "Xorth 
Carolina  Descendants  of  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence," Raleigh  News  and  Observer,  July  3,  1907.  "Wil- 
liam Hooper  and  His  Descendants"  (answer  to  communica- 
tion), ISTorfolk  Virginian^Pilot,  July  3,  1907,  and  AsJieville 
Gazette,  August  14,  1907.  "Colonel  (or  General)  Thomas 
Clarke" — article  not  signed,  Raleigh  News  and  Observer, 
July  31,  1892. 

She  was  called  upon  to  supply  family  book-plates  for  use  in 
publications ;  apparently  the  Hooper  and  Maclaine  plates 
were  included  in  some  elaborate  book  on  the  public,  semi-pub- 
lic, and  private  libraries  of  the  Thirteen  Colonies,  compiled 
by  James  Terry  in  1904.  As  a  close  student  of  family  history, 
she  was  asked  to  contribute  a  number  of  biographical 
sketches  of  historical  and  genealogical  interest,  embodying 
fruits  of  her  research  for  family  data,  to  the  Cyclopwdia  of 
American  Biographies  (Lamb's  Biographical  Dictionary  of 
the  United  States),  edited  by  John  Howard  Brown,  published 
by  the  James  H.  Lamb  Company,  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
1901.  These  articles  include  as  titles  the  names  Archibald 
Maclaine  Hooper,  George  DeBerniere  Hooper,  John  DeBer- 
niere  Hooper,  Johnson  J.  Hooper,  William  Hooper,  Clergy- 
man ;  William  Hooper,  Signer  Declaration  of  Independence ; 
William  Hooper,  Educator,  Edward  Jones,  Johnston  Blake- 


MRS.  SPIER  WHITAKER.  247 

ley  Jones,  Abraham  Rencher,  Joseph  Caldwell.  The  eleven 
sketches,  not  signed,  and  apparently  not  credited  on  any  list 
of  contributors,  are  acknowledged  in  part  through  a  statement 
which  appears  in  the  published  sketch  of  J.  DeB.  Hooper,  as 
follows:  "The  data  used  in  preparing  the  sketches  of  the 
Hooper  family  which  appear  in  this  work  were  furnished  by 
Mrs.  Spier  Whitaker,  a  careful  student  of  the  annals  of  the 
family."  The  editor  also  acknowledges  this  extensive  ma- 
terial relating  to  the  Hooper  family  in  a  private  letter  of 
January  22,  1900,  in  which  he  speaks  of  her  "invaluable  as- 
sistance" in  the  matter  of  preparing  the  sketches,  referring 
at  the  same  time  to  the  necessity  for  utmost  conciseness  and 
the  final  making  of  the  sketches  as  nearly  like  those  she  sent 
as  consistent  with  the  scope  of  the  Encyclopsedia.  Private 
memoranda  establish  the  fact  that  there  was  also  personaly 
acknowledgment  of  the  Jones,  Rencher,  and  Caldwell 
sketches.  For  The  ISTorth  Carolhsta  Booklet  of  July, 
1905,  she  contributed  a  valuable  account  of  the  life  and  times 
of  William  Hooper,  the  "Signer,"  vdth  a  genealogical  ac- 
count of  the  Hooper  family.  She  wrote  by  request  for  the 
Biographical  History  of  North  Carolina  a  life  of  Thomas 
Clark  of  the  Revolution,  which  sketch,  however,  is  still  held 
by  the  editors,  awaiting  publication  in  one  of  the  later  vol- 
umes to  be  issued  within  the  next  few  years.  In  an  early 
volume  of  the  same  work,  a  part  of  her  sketch  of  her  husband. 
Spier  Whitaker,  is  published.  The  full  sketch  and  another 
separate  account  of  the  Whitaker  family  are  still  unpub- 
lished. 

Obviously  it  has  been  difficult  to  locate  some  of  her  writ- 
ing. Probably  some  of  her  work  is  not  to  be  found  at  all. 
Her  object  in  writing  was  clearly  not  for  personal  recogni- 
tion; it  may  be  understood  from  her  owa  remark  in  corre- 
spondence of  1894  with  some  editor  or  publisher,  when  she 
says  "I  hope  I  am  not  too  late,  being  exceedingly  anxious  that 


248  THE  NOK.TH   CAROLINA  BOOKLET. 

the  facts  should  he  accurately  stated."  As  some  one  has  re- 
cently said,  "It  is  characteristic  of  her  that  she  should  have 
last  herself  and  her  name  and  the  credit  due  her  in  the  work. 
She  was  so  self-effacing — or  rather  so  unaware — so  uncon- 
scious of  herself  and  her  rarity." 

A  robust  constitution  gradually  weakened  under  the  strain 
of  disease  too  insidious  to  be  recognized  until  its  work  had 
become  advanced.  Death  was  not  expected  until  a  few  days 
before  the  end.  The  calamity  to  her  family  was  felt  as  a  dis- 
tinct shock  by  the  many  friends  in  her  own  State  of  Xorth 
Carolina,  in  Alabama,  and  elsewhere,  for  she  was  widely 
known  and  loved.  The  funeral  was  held  from  Christ  [Epis- 
copal] Church,  Raleigh,  ISTorth  Carolina,  to  which  congrega- 
tion she  had  belonged.  The  interment  was  in  Oakwood  Cem- 
etery by  the  side  of  her  husband. 

Hers  was  a  rare  mind,  of  many  gifts  and  marked  original- 
ity. A  too  highly  sensitive  nature,  and,  for  many  years,  a 
slight  lameness  due  to  rheumatism,  had  made  her  for  some 
time  almost  a  recluse.  But  far  from  being  self-centered,  she 
was  always  appreciative  of  friends,  always  thoughtful  of  oth- 
ers, much  occupied  with  correspondence,  full  of  interest  in 
all  that  went  on  about  her  in  home  and  town,  an  accurate 
and  comprehensive  reader,  an  indefatigable  student,  and  a 
close  observer  of  current  events.  Her  remarkable  fund  of 
information  was  evident  both  in  her  speech  and  writings  and 
her  quick  perception,  unusual  memory,  and  originality  made 
her  delightful  in  conversation.  Interested  to  the  last  days 
of  her  life,  when  she  was  well-acquainted  with  pain,  in  de- 
tails of  home-making,  full  of  broad,  genuine  sympathy  and 
great  charity — with  a  mind  and  heart  occupied  with  great 
subjects  and  with  great  depths  of  affection — she  was  a 
womanly  woman  whose  greatest  weakness  was  an  under- 
estimation of  herself  and  an  unwarranted  reserve.  Keenly 
interested  in  all  intellectual  movements  and  problems  and 


MRS.  SPIER  WHITAKEB.  24:9 

strongly  favoring  the  saner,  quieter  efforts  of  women  to  take 
part  even  in  legislation  and  government,  she  herself,  endowed 
as  she  was  with  beauty  of  person  and  beauty  of  mind  and 
heart  and  soul,  wished  to  live  the  simplest  life  of  greatest  re- 
tirement. As  said  by  one  who  knew  her  for  many  years, 
''She  was  a  noble  woman,  one  of  the  best  God  sends  to  this 
earth."! 

The  picture  of  Fanny  Hooper  as  a  girl  of  seventeen,  still  in 
possession  of  her  children,  is  loveliness  itself.  The  glimpses 
of  her  girlhood,  as  pictured  in  words  by  those  who  knew  her 
then  are  not  less  beautiful.  In  this  youth  she  married  Spier 
Whitaker,  the  young  soldier  and  law-student  who  proved  his 
worth  and  nobility  as  she  did  hers.  Her  life  was  primarily 
given  to  the  love  and  sacrifice  and  the  work  and  the  joys  of 
wife  and  mother.  Incidentally  she  contributed  much 
thought  and  influence  where  it  was  of  value  in  her  time. 
Her  friends  as  well  as  her  five  children  "rise  up  and  call  her 
blessed"  while  mourning  her  loss  and  grieving  that  she  was 
not  spared  longer  for  love  and  service  and  for  the  blessing  of 
her  presence  for  those  who  can  not  understand  her  going. 

iDr.  Kemp  P.  Battle,  University  of  North  Carolina. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS,  Vol.  XIII 

PAGE 

Christmas  at  Buchoi,  A  North  Carolina  Rice  Plantation 3-10 

By   Rebecca   Cameron. 

General   William   Lee    Davidson 11-39 

By  Major  W.  A.  Graham. 

An  Old  Graveyard  in  the  Historic  Town  of  Hillsboro 40-44 

By  Anna  Alexander  Cameron. 

Roanoke    Island    (poem) 45-46 

By  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood. 

Presentation  of  Joel  Lane  Tablet  to  the  City  of  Raleigh 47-56 

By  Emily  Benbury  Haywood. 

Deed  of  Joel  Lane  for  Site  of  City  of  Raleigh 57-59 

Rowan  County  Marriage  Bonds 60-61 

By  Mrs.  M.   G.   McCubbins. 
Illustration:     The  Joel  Lane  Tablet. 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh 65-ll« 

By  Marshall  DeLancey  Haywood. 
Abstract  of  Volume  I  of  Battle's  History  of  the  University  of 

North    Carolina    117-124 

By   Dr.   Kemp   P.   Battle. 

The  Naming  of  Wake  County   (poem) 125 

By  Dr.  William  Cameron. 

Captain  James  Iredell  Waddell 126-142 

By  Captain  S.  A.  Ashe. 

Rowan  County  Marriage  Bonds 143-146 

Illustration:     Elizabeth  Throckmorton — Lady  Raleigh. 

New  Year's  Shooting,  an  Ancient  German  Custom 147-157 

By  Major  W.  A.  Graham. 

Early  Times  on  the  Cape  Fear 152-174 

By  Captain   S.  A.   Ashe. 
Abstract  of  Volume  II  of  Battle's  History  of  the  University 

of  North  Caroina,   1868-1912 175-191 

By   Dr.   K.  P.  Battle. 

Rowan   County   Marriage    Bonds 192-195 

By  Mrs.  M.  G.  McCubbins. 

Memories  of  1865-1871 197-213 

By  Professor  J.  T.  Alderman. 

Anson  County  214-221 

By   Mrs.   J.    G.    Boylin. 

The  Pflegerin 222-233 

By   Adelaide   L.    Fries. 

Biographical  Sketch  of  Mrs.  Spier  Whitaker 234-249 

By  Mrs.  E.  E.  Moffitt. 
Illustration:     Mrs.  Spier  Whitaker. 


^