5 t
If
JOH N H. WHEELER.
Jjorn, Hertford Co., No. Ca. Aug. 2d. 1802. Died, Washington, D. C Dec. 7th. 1S82.
A. M. Univ. of No. Ca. 1826; State Treasurer, 1845. U. S. Envoy to Nicaragua, 1853.
Author Hist, of No. Ca. and of Reminiscences of Eminent North Carolinians.
REMINISCENCES AND MEMOIRS
NORTH CAROLINA
AND
EMINENT NDRTH CAROLINIANS,
John H. Wheeler,
AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL
SOCIETIES OF NORTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, GEORGIA,
AND PENNSYLVANIA.
" T/s well that a State should often he reminded of her great citizens."
COLUMBUS, OHIO:
COt-UMBUS PRINTING \A^ O R K S ,
1884
.55
^6
TO
HON. KEMP P. BATTLE, LL. D..
President of the University of North Carolina,
as some evidence of
PERSONAL REGARD OF THE AUTHOR, AND DEVOTION TO THE FAME
AND HONOR OF THEIK NATIVE STATE,
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED.
It is well known to you that your venerated father encouraged tlie preparation and publication of this work. His letters to the author prove this. Rut he died before it was completed. Lest the same inevitable event should occur to the author now beyond the allotted period of human life, these Reminiscences and Mem- ories, the labor and research of a life, are now given as a grateful legacy to his kind and generous countrymen, who will admire the generous traits exhibited, and imitate the noble examples of their forefathers.
PRKFACB.
Washington City, No. 28, Grant Place, \ June 10, 1878. / To Hon. William H. Battle, L.L.D., Chapd Hill: Mv Esteemed Sir — Your recent letter as to "The Address on the Karly Times and Men of Albemarle," has been received. For the kind opinion, that ' ' the people of the State and es- pecially those of the Albemarle County, owe a debt of gratitude for this and other contributions to [heir iiistury, ' I sintcreiy liiiiiik. yuu.
Your letter further adds, that you ' ' have seen in the Raleigh Obseiva, a handsome tribute to the value and usefulness of my History of North Carolina, expressing a wish for an early publica- tion of a second edition , uniting yourself in a similar request.
Like expressions have been received from many respectable sources.
Recently, The Netvs of Raleigh, The Demo- crat of Charlotte, and other papers call for the publication of the "Reminiscences of Eminent North Carolinians," and appeal to her sons for contributions "to the Grand Old History of North Carolina."
It is hoped and believed this call will be heard and heeded.
While Virginia on one side and South Caro- lina on the other, have presented to the world the glowing record of the patriotism, valor and virtues of their sons, North Carolina equally rich
or richer in such reminiscences; and with traits of virtue, and honor, and sacrifices to patriotism, deserving of record, allows this record to be ob- scured by time, and to
"Waste its fragrance on the desert air."
It has been truly said that no State of our Republic, has, from the earliest period of its existence, shown a more determined spirit of in- dependence, and a more constant and firm resist- ance ■ • to every form of oppression of the rights of man " than North Carolina. This is evinced on every page of her history, and exhibited on the battle field, and in the exploits of individual prowess. This patriotic spirit has been accom- panied by noble traits of individual character ; as integrity of purpose, a straightforvvardness'o intention, and by simplicity and modesty in demeanor.
It was on the shores of North Carolina that the English first landed on this continent. It has been the refuge of the down-trodden, the op- pressed and persecuted of every nation, and here they found that freedom denied to them in the old world — with gentle manners and resolute hearts, their whole history exhibits a firm devo- tion to liberty, a keen perception of right and a ready and determined resistance to wrong. For this and this only, was life desirable to then;, and for this they were willing to die.
The gall.'.nt patron, who first sent a colon)' to
(6)
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES.
our shores was the victim of tyranny and op- pression. Her first Governor was .sacrificed in cicicnce of popular rights. Such seed could but produce goodly fruits. The character of this people was graphically described by one of the early Colonial Governors, as ' ' being insolent and rebellious * * * impatient of all tyr- anny and ready to resist oppression in every form."
An early historian has recorded our people, as being "gentle in their manners, advocates of freedom ; jealous of their rulers, impatient, rest- less, and turbulent when ruled by any other government than their own ; and under that and that only were they .satisfied. "
It was in the natural course of events and "the
inexorable logic of circumstances" that the sturdy
men of the age were ever ready to defend the
cau.se of right ; and in defense of liberty to pour
out their life blood, as at Alamance ; on the Cape
Fear, to beard the minions of power, and cause their
oppressor to leave the State and seek refuge
>;i -vhefe, and that the p • of Mecklenburgh
• ince of every othci should thunder to
!.- -rid theeternal princij': s of Independence
and Liberty.
The acts and characteristics of these illu.strious men, and of their descendants, we wish to preserve.
We enter upon this "labor of love " with
.inestness and pleasure. "J.' >.ught"
•■-s ,x ica.-ricd writer, on a sin: ; " that
J rac workint^, for our.selves alone, nor for those.
now iivmg. "Let us rcTicn^^er t- *■ *hni;-,p.-ir^;
yet unborn will respect and bless the patient and
pious hands, that have rescued from oblivion
these precious memorials."
The Memories of the last fifty years or more, cover an interesting period of our history.
We shall leave the history of the earlier events to some faithful historian, and be it our task to take up the biographies of the leading men who have done " the State some service" with remi- niscences of their times and give the biography
and genealogy of each, as far as attainable. Bi- ography presents a more minute and accurate view of the lights and shadows of character, than general history. One is general, and the individual is a mere accessory ; the other is mi- nute, and directed to a single object. We often have a clearer idea of any event, when the mo- tives and the character of the chief actors are minutely described. We have in the " Life of Washington," by Marshal, the best history of the American Revolution. As to our genealogy, this is the first attempt to present the record of families in our State.
This untried path involved much research and labor. It is hoped it will be acceptable, and prove useful. We are far behind the age, on this subject. In England, Burke's great work (The Genealogical and Heraldric Dictionary of the British Empire) is a hand-book in every well appointed library.
In New England, ' ' Whitmore's American Genealogy" is valuable; the Genealogical So- ciety of Massachusetts is in full vigor, sustaining a (Quarterly Magaznie. Every locality and fam- ily in that section have preserved and published such materials ; these are commemorated by annual domestic gatherings ; thus strengthening the ties of affection and refreshing the memories of the past. In many cases genealogy is valu- able in preserving property to the true owners of estates, and the ties of kindred that otherw/se would be forever buried, and broken.
Some, with phlegmatic indifference may ridicule th-'5 atter,M>t ; exhibiting a supreme contempt for such vanity, as they call it ; but surely no one with a discreet mind and a sound heart can be in- sensible to the laudable feeling of having de- scended from an honest and virtuous ancestry, and having industrious and intelligent connec- tions of unsullied reputation. Such a thought instils a hatred of laziness and vice, and stimu- lates activity and virtue.
Such is a grateful oblation to departed worth. Not only is this a duty discharged to the dead.
PREFACE.
(7)
but a moral benefit may result to the living. It acts as an incentive to others, while they admire his services and brilliant career, to emulate his patriotic example.
"Oh, who shall lightly s.iy that Fame Is nothing but an empty name, While in that name there is a charm The nerves to brace, the heart to warm, When, thinking on the mighty dead, The youth shall rouse from slothful bed, And vow with uplifted hand and heart Like him to act a noble part."
Let US all cherish the recollection of talents, services, and virtues, of departed worth, and such faults as arc inseparable from our nature, be buried in the grave with the relics of fallen humanity.
Some pains have been taken with the table of contents and the preparation of the Index.
Mr. Stevens, in his "Catalogue of his English Library," says, correctly: " If you are troubled with a pride of accuracy, and would have it completely taken out of you, attempt to make an Index or Catalogue."
Dr. Allibone prints in his valuable Dictionary of Authors (I., 85), extracts from a number of the MoHt/tlj'RrL'in.v,\\\\\c\\ is well worthy r)f quota- tion here : ' 'The compilation of an index is one of those labors for which the public are rarely so forward to express their gratitude, as they ought to be. The value of a thing is best known by the want of it. We have often experienced great inconvenience for want of a good index to
many books. There is far more scope for the exercise of judgment and ability in compiling an index than commonly supposed. Mr. Oldys expresses a similar sentiment in his Notes and Queries (XI., 309): "The labour and patience; the judgment and penetration, required to make a good index, is only known to those who have gone through the most painful and least praised part of a publication.
Lord Campbell proposed in the English Par- liament (Wheatley on " What is an Index?" p. 27) that any author who published a book without an Index, should be deprived of the benefits of the copyright act. " Mr. Hinney of Philadelphia held the same views and Carlylc denounces the putting forth of books without a good Index, with great severity.
The History of Tennessee, by Dr. Ram.say, full of research and philosophy, fails in this re- spect. A book with no index is like a ship on the ocean without compass, or rudder.
In the following pages doubtless many worthy characters may have escaped notice — for the field is " so large and full of goodly prospects. " Nor would we if we could, exhaust this fair field ; but like Boaz, leave some rich sheaves for other and more skillful reapers in this bountiful harvest.
To you, my dear sir, who have so kindly and repeatedly encouraged these labors, I respect- fully commend them and subscribe myself Very sincerely yours,
Jno. H. Wheeler.
TABLE OF CONTENTS,
Dedication.— Preface.— North Carolina in the Colonial Period.— Memoir of the Author.
CHAPTER I.— ALAMANCE COUNTY.
Regulation Troubles. Oppressions and frauds of the officers of the Crown ; causes and conseiiuences. Sketch of Judge Ruffin, compared to Thomas Jefferson. Colonel Thomas M. Holt.
CHAPTER n.— ANSON COUNTY.
Sympathy with the Regulators, as to unlawful taxation— 1 768 ; copy of the oath taken ; resolutions that the Sheriffs and Magistrates should be elected by the people, Letter to Governor Martin. Character of James Cotten, a tory. Sketch of Judge Spencer ; his singular death. Sketch of Judge Thomas S. Ashe, now one of the Judges of the Supreme Court.
CHAPTER HL-BEAUFORT COUNTY.
Character of the nobleman for whom it is named ; commissioned the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. Freemasonry in North Carolina ; it saves the life of an officer in battle. Jeffer- son's opinion of Washington. Sketch of the Blounts of Beaufort. Hon. C. C. Cambreling, long a Member of Congress from New York, a native of Beaufort. Sketch of J. J. Guthrie, drowned off Cape Hatteras. Hatteras described by Joseph W. Holden, and in the National Gazette of Philadelphia, in 1792. Sketch of Edward Stanley; a letter of Judge Badger, his relative, as to his course. Sketch of Richard S. Donnell ; of Judge Rodman, who agrees with Hooker in his opinion ol the law. James Cook, C. S N. Adventurous life of Charles F. Taylor, a native of this section ; participates in the war in Nicaragua ; its stirring events, facts never before pubhshed; the policy of Marcey an error; sad fate of Walker; tragic death of Herndon, with whom another North Carolinian (John V. Dobbin) was drowned. Central America described- The Minister of the United States is recieved. Revolution. Walker captures Virgin Bay, Grenada, and puts the Government to flight. Sketch of Walker and his adventurous Hfe. Scenes at the Capital ; the U. S. Min- ister in jeopardy. The General Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs executed by the invading forces. Letters between the General-in-Chief and the American Minister ; the last letter of Walker.
(lo) WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES.
CHAPTER IV.— BERTIE COUNTY.
Sketch of Whitmil Hill, a Member of the Provincial and Continental Congresses ; of David Stone, Judge of Superior Courts, Governor of the State and U. S. Senator. Genealogy of the family. Sketches of George Outlaw; of Willie Blount, Governor of Tennessee; of David Outlaw; of P. H. Winston; of James W. Clark. Genealogy of the Clark family.
CHAPTER v.- BLADEN COUNTY.
Battleof Elizabethtown, 1791; Cross Creek. Characterand services of James and Denny Porterfield. Sketch of John Owen, Governor of the State; of James J. McKay; of Thomas D. McDonald.
CHAPTER VL— BRUNSWICK COUNTY
Early history and character of its people, opposed to oppression, drove the Royal Governor, [Mar- tin] from the Country, July 10, 1775, seized the Stamp Master and destroyed the stamps sent to him from England; copy of the pledge given by the Stamp Master [William Houston]. Indignation of the people, and letter of Ashe, Lloyd and Lillington, offering lo jjrotect the Governor's person Sketch of General Robert Howe, his character as described by Governor Martin, who denounced him in a royal proclamation ; appointed Colonel of the zd Regiment of North Carolina troops in the Continental establishment ; marches to Virginia and drives the Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore, from that Province. Sketch of Cornelius Har- nett, his life and services ; his character described by Governor Burrington, the Royal Governor ; denounced by Governor Martin for the destruction of Fort Johnston. General John A. Lillington's Revolutionary services. The Moore family of Brunswick, Maurice Moore, Roger Moore and Nathaniel Moore, the early settlers of the Cape Fear region. Sketch of Judge Maurice Moore ; of General James Moore; of Judge Alfred Moore, his legal character described. Life and services of Benjamin Smith.
CHAPTER VII.— BUNCOMBE COUNTY.
Character and services of Colonel Edward Buncombe, after whom this County is named. Sketch of David L. Swain, his life, services and death ; Sketches of Professors Mitchell and Phillips of the University of North Carolina; of Samuel F. Phillips. Sketch of Zebulon B. Vance ; extracts from a work on the Vanre family, printed at Cork, Ireland, showing the relationship of General Andrew Jackson to the Vances ; letter to General Kilpatrick from Governor Z. B. Vance. Sketch of Robert B. Vance ; of James L. Henry, late one of the Judges of the Superior Court; of Augustus S. Merrimon, late Judge and U. S. Senator; of Thomas L. Clingman, late U. S. Senator, his life and services; duel with William L. Yancey; of John L. Bailey, late Judge of the Superior Court ; of Robert M. Furman ; of Thomas D. Johnston.
CHAPTER VIII.— BURKE COUNTY. Life, character and services of Waightstill Avery. Genealogy of the Averys. The McDowell family ; its genealogy and services in the Revolution. The Carson family. Life and services of John Car- son, the founder of the family. Sketches of Samuel P. Carson ; of Israel Pickens; of David Newland ; of Todd R. Caldwell; of James William Wilson.
CHAPTER IX.— CABARRUS, CALDWELL AND CAMDEN COUNTIES.
Life, character and services of Reverend John Robinson, D. D., and of Reverend Hezekiah J. Balch D.D.; copy of the tomb-stone of the latter. The Phifer family, and their genealogy. The Barringcr
TABLE OF CONTENTS. (n)
family, and their genealogy. Sketch of Nathaniel Alexander, a member of Congress and Governor of the State. Sketches of Dr. Charles Harris ; Robert S. Young ; of Daniel Coleman, of Cabarrus County ; of Samuel F. Patterson; of James C. Harper; of Clinton A. Cilley and of George Nathaniel Folk of Cald- well County.
CHAPTER X.— CARTERET COUNTY. '^'
First land sighted by the English, 1584; the lost Colony of Governor White. Indian wars with the Cores and Tuscaroras ; John Lawson, the first historian, murdered by them. Fort Hyde. Battle at Beau- fort. Sketch of the life and services of Captian Otway Burns.
CHAPTER XI —CASWELL COUNTY.
Life, character and services of Richard Caswell, the first Governor of the State under the Constitu- tion. Genealogy of the family. Sketches of Bardett Yancey ; of Romulus M. Saunders ; of Robert and Marmaduke Williams; of Calvin Graves; of Bedford Brown; of Jacob Thompson, Secretary of Interior in 1857, and Member of Congress from Mississippi; all natives of Caswell County. John Kerr, his sufferings at the hands of political opponents, and his release. The mysterious murder of John W. Stevens ; his char- acter.
CHAPTER XII.— CHATHAM COUNTY.
The life and bloody career, in the Revolution, of David Fanning. Sketch of Charles Manly, Gover- nor in 1848 ; of Abram Rencher ; of John Manning.
CHAPTER XIII.— CHOWAN COUNTY. /
Governor Eden, (for whom the County-lown is named); sketch of him and his alleged intimacy with the noted pirate, Edward Teach commonly called " Black Beard" ; the bloody deeds of this marauder ; his wicked life and bloody end. The principles and character of the early inhabitants of Chowan. The pro- ceedings of the Committee of Safety in 1775; the names of the members. The Vestry of St. Paul's Church, and the patriotic resolves of the ladies of Edenton. Life, services and character of Samuel John- ston ; the opinion of the Royal Governor (Martin) of him, who removed him from the office of Deputy Nav- al Officer, and Mr. Johnston's reply to the Governor ; member of the Provincial Congress in 1775, and of the Continental Congress in 17S0 ; elected Governor in 1787 ; U. S. Senator in 1789 ; in 1800 Judge of the Superior Court. A devoted advocate of freemasonry. Genealogy of the Johnston family. The title of the Marquis of Annandale supposed to belong to them. Sketch of Joseph Hewes, signer of the Declaration of Independence ; of Hugh Williamson, a member of the Colonial and Continental Congresses ; and of the U. S. ; author of a history of North Carolina ; of Stephen Cabarrus, long Speaker of the House of Commons ; of Charles Johnson; of Thomas Benbury. Of James Iredell, appointed Judge of Supreme Court of the U. S. by General Washington ; of his son, James Iredell Jr., Speaker of the House in 1817 ; Judge of the Superior Court 1819; Governor of the State 1821 ; U. S. Senator in 1S27, succeeding Mr, Macon. In the war of i8i2, was Captain, with Gavin Hogg as one of his Lieutenants. Sketch of Gavin Hogg- Life and services of Agustus Moore, one of the Judges of the Superior Court ; sketch of his son, William A.Moore; of Governor William Allen, of Ohio, member of Congress in 1833 ; Senator in 1837-49, and Governor of Ohio in 1874, a native of Edenton. An amusing incident connected with the names of General Scott, Dr. Warren, Major Gilliam and others.
(i2) WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES.
CHAPTER XIV,— CRAVEN COUNTY.
Its early history ; the Palatines; De Graaffenreidt ; Governor Dobbs; Tryon's palace ; his clock, John Hawks, architect. "The cause of Boston, the cause of all ! " Committee of Safety in 1775 of Chow- an County. Names of its members. Sketch of Francois Xavier Martin, a historian of the State ; of the Blount family; of Abner Nash, his character as given by Governor Martin; a member of Congress, 1776; first Speaker of the Assembly; Governor in 1779; member of Congress 1781. Life, service and death of Richard Dobbs Spaight. Duels that have been fought in North Carolina. Sketch of John Stanley ; of William Gaston ; of John R. Donnel ; of John Sitgreaves ; of John N. Bryan ; of Edward Graham; of Francis L. Hawks ; of George E Badger ; of Matthias E. Manley ; of Charles R. Thomas ; of Judge Sey mour ; of William J. Clarke, and his talented wife, Mary Bayard Clarke, and his son William E. Clarke.
CHAPTER XV.— CUMBERLAND COUNTY. V
The Scotch heroine. Flora MacDonald, once lived in this County. Sketch of her life and character ;
of Farquard Campbell, Governor Martin's opinion of Kim; of William Barry Grove; of John Louis Taylor,
late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Judicial System of the State as it existed from
1798101804. Sketch of Henry Potter, Judge U. S. District Court ; of John D. Toomer; of Louis
D.Henery; of Robert Strange; of James C. Dobbin; of Warren Winslow; of Duncan K. MacRae ; of Mrs.
Miller; of Henry W. Hilliard of Georgia, a native of Cumberland ; of W. C. Troy.
CHAPTER XVI.— CURRITUCK COUNTY.
Sketch of Henry M. Shaw; of Emerson Etheridge, of Tenn., native of Currituck ; of Thomas J. Jarvis, Governor of North Carolina, 1882.
CHAPTER XVII.- DAVIDSON, DUPLIN, DAVIE, and EDGECOMBE COUNTIES.
Sketch of James M. Leach of Davidson ; of James Gillaspie ; of Thomas and O. Kenan ; of Charles Hooks of Duplin Co. Sketch of Henry Irwin, a Revolutionary hero ; of Jonas Johnston ; of John Hay- wood; genealogy of the Haywood family. Sketch of Henry T. Clark, Governor of North Carolina. The Battle Family, and their genealogy, including Judge Wm. H. Battle, and his son, Kemp P. Batde. Sketch of Duncan L. Clark, of U. S. Army; of Wm. D.Pender; of R. R. Bridgers; of Charles Price of Davie; of John B. Hussey of Davie.
CHAPTER XVIIL— FORSYTHE COUNTY.
Sketch of Col, Benj. Forsythe; of Joseph Winston ; of Israel G. Lash. The History of the Moravians.
CHAPTER XIX.— FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Lynch Law, origin of the term. Services nd Sufferings of General Thomas Person ; Sketch of Hon. J. J. Davis.
CHAPTER XX.— GASTON, GATES, AND GRANVILLE COUNTIES-
Sketch of Rev. Humphrey Hunter; Major Wm. Chronicle ; of Rev. R H. Morrison of Gaston County; of William Paul Roberts, of Gates ; of John Penn of Granville, one of the Signers of the Declaration of
TABLE OF CONTENTS. (i i) The last name in Chatham County should be Moreing.
(12) Chapter XVII, read Duncan L. Clinch, Jiot Clark.
(13) Chapter XXII, place a semicolon after the name "William Polk."
(the following are to take the place of the chapters .mentioned.) CHAPTERS XXXIJl AND XXXIV.— HERTFORD AND HYDE COUNTIES. The Murfree Family. Sketch of General Thomas Wynns ; of the Cotten Family; of Rev. Matthias Brickie; of Dr. Goodwin C. Moore ; of John Brown; Sketch of Kenneth Rayner ; of Willian N. H. Smith; Tristram Capehart ; of CuUen Capehart and of Dr. Wm. Anthony Armistead; of David A. Barnes; of Jesse J. Veates ; of Richard J. Catling; Gen. Lafayette's visit to North Carohna : The Chowan Female Institute; Insurrection of Slaves; Sketch of David Miller Carter of Hyde Coup.ly. The Wheeler Family referred to.
CHAPTERS XXXV & XXXVL— IREDELL, JOHNSTON, JONES AND LENOIR COUNTIES. Sketch of Hugh Lawson White; ofWm.Sharpe; of Dr. Charles Caldwell; of David F. Caldwell; of Hon. Jose])h P. Caldwell; of Hon. Robert F. Armficld ; of Hon. David M. Furches of Iredell. Revolution- ary proc-edings in Johnston County, in 1768. Sketch of Wm. A. Smith ; of Hon. Nathan Bryan of Jones County, of Hardy B. Croom and of Hon. Wm. D. Mosely of Lenoir County.
CHAPTER XXXVII. —LINCOLN COUNTY. Sketch of Gen. Joseph Graham.— Genealogy of the Grahams. Sketch of Gov. W. A. Graham. Geneal- ogy of the Brevards. The Huguenots. Sketch of Gen. William Davidson ; of Dr. Ephraim Brevard, author of the Declaration of May 20, 1775. The Forney Family ; of Michael Hoke and his son Robert F. (Major Genl. C. S. A.); of John F. Hoke ; of James Houston ; of Dr. Wm. McLean ; of Dr. C. L. Hunter; of Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur ; of Gen. James P. Henderson; of Bartlett Shipp ; Robert H. Burton ; Hon. David Shenck.
Chapter XXXVIII and XXXIX., read McDowell, wo/ McDonald. Chapter XLL, write " I (enry K. Burgwynn" at end of tliis paragraph.
Coauty ; tf tl—
S'^'.-'.' li of Gen. Jcseph Gia.iaui; L-o.mil L':i\ 'ds,in ; of the Forneys; of Mich.ic", M [.ean ; of Dr. C. L. Hunter ; of Viii "^V. Schenck ; of Robert H. Builu..
CHAPTER XXXVIII AXD XXXIX.-
Sktii ii of Tames Lowrie Robinson (Spe.-'H 1 ; ■, jf Silas M
OUNTV
II XX.
TABLE OF CONTENTS. (13)
Independence ; of James and John Williams ; of Robert Burton. The Henderson Family — their genealogy. Sketch of Robert B. Gilliam ; of A. W. Venable ; of M. Himt , of Robert Potter.
CHAPTER XXL— GREENE AND GUILFORD COUNTIES.
Sketch of Gen. Jesse Speight; of Joseph Dixon. Battle of Guilford Court House, March 15, 1781, be- tween General Greene and Lord Cornv.allis. Sketch of Cornwallis ; of Col. Tarleton; of Col. Wilson Webster. Cornwallis'.s letter to his father as to the fall of Webster.
Sketch of Dr. David Caldwell; of Alexander Martin; of Newton Cannon, Governor of Tennessee, a native of Guilford ; of Governor Moorehead ; of George C. Mendenhall ; of Judge John M. Dick, and his son, Judge Robt. P. Dick; of John A. Gilmer; of John H. Dilliard ; of Rev. Calvin H. Wiley; of James J. Scales ; of John H. Staples.
CHAPTER XXIL— HALIFAX COUNTY.
The Jones Family- its genealogy; John Paul Jones adopts this name. Sketch of Wm. R. Davie, a General of the Revolution; of Hutchins G. Burton; of Andrew Joyner ; of John W. Eppes; of William Polk of the Cromwell Family ; of John B. Ashe ; of Willis Alston ; of John Haywood ; of John H. Ea*-^" ; of J. J. Daniel; of John R. J. Daniel; of Junius Daniel; of John Branch; of Lawrence O'B. Branch; of James Grant; of B. F. Moore.
CHAPTERS XXXIII AND XXXIV.— HERTFORD AND HYDE COUNTIES.
The Murfree Family. Sketch of General Thos. Wynns ; of the Wlieeler Family ; of Rev. Matthias Brickie; of Kenneth Rayner; of Godwin C. Moore; of Solon Borland; of Wm. H. H. Smith; of Jesse J. Yeates ; of Richard J. Gatlin. The Chowan Female Institute. Sketch of David Miller Carter ; of Hugh Lawton White of Tenn.; of the Osborne Family — Adlai Osborne, Spruce McCoy Osborne, Edward Jay Osborne, and Judge James W. Osborne; of David F. Caldwell; of Joseph P. Caldwell; of Professor Caldwell; of D. M. Furches; of Robeit F. Armfield.
CHAPTER XXXV AND XXXVI.— IREDELL, JOHNSTON, JONES AND LENOIR COUNTIES.
Revolutionary proceedings in Johnston County, 1768. Sketch of Wm. A. Smith ; of Nathan Bryan of Jones County ; of Hardy B. Croom ; of Wm. D. Mosely.
CHAPTER XXXVII.— LINCOLN COUNTY.
Sketch of Gen. Joseph Graham ; Family Genealogy of the Brevards. Huguenots ; of General William Davidson ; of the Forneys ; of Michael, Robert F. and John T. Hoke ; of James Graham ; of Dr. Wm. McLean; of Dr. C. L. Hunter; of Gen. Stephen D. Ramseur ; or Gen. Jas. P. Henderson ; of Judge Da- vid W. Schenck ; of Robert H. Burton.
CHAPTER XXXVIII AND XXXIX.— MACON AND MARTIN.
Sketch of James Lowrie Robinson (Speaker) ; of Silas McDonald of Macon ; of Asa Biggs; of Jos. J. Martin.
(14) WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES.
CHAPTER XL.— MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
The Polk Family,— its genealogy ; The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence ; it is denounced by the Royal Governor, Josiah Martin. Sketches of the Members of the Convention ; of Abram Alexander ; of Hezekiah James Balch ; of John Davidson— with genealogy ; of Wm Graham ; of Robert Irwin ; of Wm. Kennon ; of David Reese ; of Adam Craighead ; of Gen. Thomas Polk,— letter of Gen Greene to Gen- eral Polk. " Devil Charley." Sketch of Bishop Polk of Andrew Jackson. Bishops furnished by North Carolina to other States. Susan Spratt nee Barnett, a Revolutionary relic. Sketch of Mrs. Susan Hancock ; of Judge Sam. Lowrie ; of Joseph Wilson; of Wm. J. Alexander ; of Greene W. Caldwell; of D. H. Hill ; The Osborne family, and a graphic sketch of Judge James W. Osborne, from the pen of D. H. Hill ; Judge R. P. Warring.
CHAPTER XLL- MOORE AND NEW HANOVER COUNTIES.
Sketch of A. McNeil; of Archibald McBryde ; of Governor Benjamin Williams ; of Di. George Glass- cock, of Moore County. The Ashe Family,— its genealogy. John Baptista Ashe's controversy with the Royal Governor, and is imprisoned by him. Letter of Burrington, showing his own character and purely. Battle of Briar Creek. Sketch of the Hill family ; of Wm. Hooper ; of Timothy Bloodworth ; of Edward Jones; of Johnson Blakely ; of James Ennes ; of the Davis family; of the Waddell family; of Owen Holmes ; of John Cowan ; of Gov. Dudley ; of Bishop Atkinson ; of Rev. Adam Empie ; of Bishop Green ; of Wm. B. Meares; of Wm. H. Marsteller ; of General Abbot.
CHAPTER XLIL— NORTHAMPTON AND ORANGE COUNTIES.
Sketch of General Allan Jones ; of General Matt. W. Ransom ; of Edmund Fanning ; of Governor Burke, seized by Tories and carried to Wilmington. The Mebanes. Sketch of General Francis Nash ; of Judge Frederick Nash; of Judge Murphy; of Judge Norwood ; of Dr. Wm. Montgomery; of Willie P. Mangum ; of Thomas H. Benton ; of Gen. Geo. B. Anderson ; Memoirs of Chapel Hill ; Sketch of Dr. Charles F. Deems ; Hon. Paul C. Cameron ; Prof. Hubbard ; of Wm. Bingham; of John W. Graham.
CHAPTER XLIIL— PASQUOTANK, PERQUIMANS AND PERSON COUNTIES.
Sketch of John L. Bailey ; of Wm B. Shepard ; of George W. Brooks ; of Gen. James G. Martin ; of John Pool; of Pasquotank; of John Harvey; of J. W. Albertson ; of William H. Bagley, of Perquimans', of Hustavus A. Williamson ; of General Henry Atkinson, U. S. Army ; of Richard Atkinson ; of Judge E. G. Reade ; of John W. Cunningham, of Person County.
CHAPTER XLIV— PITT AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES. Sketch of Dr. Robert Williams ; of General Bryan Grimes, of Pitt ; of Jonathtn Worth, of Pitt ; Colonel Andrew Balfour, his gallant services and tragic end ; Herman Husbands, a leader of the Regulators; Hon. John Long, Member of U. S. Congress.
CHAPTER XLV —RICHMOND AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTIES.
Sketch of A. Dockery ; of A. H. Dockery; of Governor ; Joseph R. Hawley ; of Walter Leake Steele, of Richmond ; of Thomas Settle Sen.— genealogy of the Settles,— of his son Thomas, now Judge in Florida ; of David Settle Reid ; of John H. Dilliard ; of Hamilton Henderson Chalmers, a Judge of the Supreme Supreme Court of Mississippi.
TABLE OF CONTENTS. • (,5)
CHAPTER XLVI.— ROWAN COUNTY.
Documents never before published as to early times in Rowan. Population in 1754; first settlers their
names; Committee of Safety, 1774-76. Sketch of Hugh Montgomery — his decendants. leroic conduct of Mrs Steele. Sketch of General John Steele; of John V. Steele, Governor of New Har. pshire; of Wm. Kennon ; of Griffith Rutherford — his gallant services in the Indian and Revolutionary Wars. Sketch of the Locke family; of Spruce McCoy ; of James Martin ; of George Mumford ; of the Pearsons; of Judge John Stokes; of Charles Fisher, and his son, Colonel Charles F. F'isher, killed at Manasses, Va., and his daughter, Miss C. Fisher, distinguished as an authoress; of Governor John W. Ellis; of Nath. Boyden ; of Burton Craige; of Hamilton C. Jones; of of Francis E. Shober; of John L. Henderson.
CHAPTER XLVH.— ivUTHERFORD, SAMPSON, STOKES AND SURRY COUNTIES.
Sketch of Judge John Paxton; of Felix Walker, author of the world-wide expression "talking for buncombe;" of Colonel Wm. Graham; of Gen. John G. Bynum, and his brother, Judge Wm. P. Bynum; of Judge John Baxter, of Rutherford ; of Gov. Holmes ; of Gen. Tlieo. H. Holmes ; of Wm. R. King. Vice President of U.S. of Col. Benj. Forsythe of Stokes County ; of James Martin, his Military services in the Revolution, as de- posec to, by himself; of John Martin, of Stokes; of Benjamin Cleaveland, of Surry; Names of the Committee of Safety, of Surry County; Sketch of William Lenoir; of the Williams family; of Jesse Franklin ; ofMeshach Franklin ; of Judge Jesse Franklin Graves.
CHAPTER XLVIII.— TYRRELL AND WAKE COUNTIES.
Edward Buncombe, his Military services and heroic death. The Pettigrews, James and his son Ebenezer, and his gallant grandson J. Johnston Pettigrew ; Sketch of Dr. Edward Ransom ; of Joseph Gales, first Editor of the Raleigh Register; The Press of North Carolina. Sketch of Joseph Gales of Washington, D. C; of Weston R. Gales, of Raleigh ; of Seaton Gales; of Judge Sewall ; of Judge Duncan Cameron; of Edmund B. Freeman; of Dr. Richard H. Lewis. Sketch of William Hill, Sec. of State; of Dr. William G. Hill; of Theophilus Hill; of Mrs. Zimmerman, Poetess; of Andrew Johnson, President of United States; of General Joseph Lane, and of the Lane family ; of Governor W. W. Holden ; of Bishop Ravenscroft ; of Bishop Ives ; of Rev. Dr. Richard S. Macon ; of Bishop Beckwith ; of Octavius Coke ; of Randolph A. Shotwell ; of Don- ald W. Bain.
CHAPTER XLIX.— WARREN COUNTY.
Military services of General Jethro Sumner in the Revolution. The Hawkins family, with its genealogy; Sketch of Dr. James G. Brehon ; of Nathaniel Macon ; of Gov. James Turner ; of Daniel Turner ; of Whar- ton J. Green; of Kemp Plummer ; of Judge Hall; of Judge Edward Hall; of Judge Blake Baker; of Gov. William Miller; of Weldon N. Edwards; of the Bragg family ; State Capitol burned, June, 1831.
CHAPTER XLIX.— WATAUGA, WAYNE, AND WILSON COUNTIES.
Sketch of Daniel Boone ; of John Sevier. The State of Frankland, and its rise, progress, and fall. Sketch of Ezekiel Slocumb; of Col. Thomas Ruffin; of Gov. C. H. Brogden ; of Gov. Montford Stokes, and his de- scendants ; of Henry G. Williams, of Wilson ; Isaac F. Dortch ; of Richard W. Singletary.
/^
MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR,
i®Siil iifflH aSMKlili
Of Hertford County, North Carolina.
BORN AUGUST^ 1806, DIED DECEMBER 7, 1882, Bv HON. JOSEl'II S. FOWLER, Ex-Senatok Fkom Tennessee.
" Excgi monumentum tsre perenniiis^ Hetjalique situ pijramidnm nltius ; Quorf non imher edax. non Aqnilo impoteng Possit diruere, aut innumerabilis Annorum series, cl/uga lemporum.'^
— UOR. Cau., XXX.
TJO.M Mooru's "Historical Si'ictches of Ileitford County," wo learn the fol- ^ey lowing: (|] L Among the early citizens of the
ei villiigeof Murfreesboro, in this county,
S was John Wheeler. He was of an ancient 1 family, long seated around New York. In the latter end of tlie 17th century-, under a grant of land from Charles II., Jo.^eph Wheeler emigrated from England, and settled in New- ark, New Jersey. Like William i'enn, he was the son of a gallant naval officer. Sir Francis AVheeler, an English admiral, was his father, and the grant of land from the Crown was in reward for faithful services, lie and his young wife had followed soon after the conqtiest of the New Netherlands by the Duke of York, son of Charles I., afterwards James II.
To them was born, in 1718, their son Ephraira Wheeler, to whom, and his wife Mary, the tirst American John AVheeler was born in the year 1744. John had bestowed upon him the best advantages of educai ion — he was educated as a
physician. When the Revolutionary war came on, he entered the army under General Mont- gomery', and accompanied him in the perilous and ill-fated campaign to Quebec, and was in the battle (December 31, 1775.) in which that gallant officer fell. In Toner's "Reminiscences of the Medical Men of the Revolution" he is prominently mentioned. Aaron Burr served also in this campaign. Dr. Wheeler accom- panied General Greene in his southern cam- paign, and was with him in the hard fought and glorious victory at Eutaw Springs, Sep- tember 8, 1781, and until the close of the war. Pleased with the genial climate of the South, he settled near Murfreesboro and brought his family with liim. llis wife Elizabeth Long- worth, was the neice of Aaron Ogden, after- wards the Governor of New Jersey, and Sen- ator in Congress. Ho lived near Murfreesboro for years, in the practice of his profession, in which he had great skill and much success.
His death occurred on October 14, 1814, and he lies buried in Northampton County, near
WHEELER'S REMINISCENCES.
Mnrfreesboro. He left several works in man- acript on medical science, which evinced tlie depth of his acquaintance and his devotion to his profession. His son John was born in 1771. In his early youth he was engaged with his cousin, David Longworth, in business as lial)lisher8 and booksellers in New York, Here he attracted, by his attention to business, the notice of Zedekiah Stone, who was then in Now York, and by v.'honi he was induced to remove to Bertie County, North Carolina. Ho was there married to Elizabeth Jordan. January 6th, 1796, and after the death of his triend, Mr. Stone, Murfreesboro became his home. At this place he was engaged in mer- cantile and shipping afiairs until the day of his death. From his enterprise, industry, sagacity, and integrity he attained great suc- cess, and his memory, to this day, is cherished in that section as "the honest merchant." lie was a man of unspotted integrity, so strong that venality and indirection cowered before him. After a long life of industry, usefulness and piety (for he was a consistent member of the Baptist Church for more than forty years) he died, lamented and belovetl, August 7tb, 1832. His family surviving him, consisted of two sons by his first marriage, John H. Wheeler, late Public Treasurer of the State, and Dr. S. Jordan Wheeler, late of Bertie County. By a second wife (Miss Woods) he left one daughter, Julia, the peerless wife of Dr. Godwin C. Moore; and by a third wife, among others. Colonel JuniusB. Wheeler, now Professor of Civil and Military Engineering and the Art of War in the United States Mil- itary Academy at West Point. He is the author of several military works on civil and military engineering, and on the art of war, which have been adopted as text books by the War Department. He has thus written his name in the useful literature of the nation and discharged "that debt," which Lord Coke says, "every man owes to his profession."
Professor Wheeler was born in 1S30; edu- cated in pttrt at the University of North Car- olina, and when only a boy volunteered as a private in Captain William J. Clarke's com- pany in the Mexican war. He was in every battle from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. At the fiercely contested affair at the Nnvional Puente, one of the lieutenants was killed, and young as he was, he was appointed by the President as the successor, on the repor^ of his commanding otlicer, now on file, that "he had seen young Wheeler under heavy fire, and he had proved to the command that he was made of the stuff of which heroes are made." On his return from Mexico he could have remained as an officer in the army, but he declined on the ground of want of qualification, he there- fore resigned his commission. The President determined to retain him in the service, and he appointed him a cadet at West Point, where he graduated among the first of his class. After serving for several years in the Corps of Engineers in Louisiana, Wisconsin and elsewhere, he was appointed to succeed the late Professor Mahan in the position he now occupies.
Dr. Samuel Jordan Wheeler, brother of the above, w'as born in 1810; was educated at the Hertford Academy, and graduated from Union College, Schenectady; he studied medi- cine with Dr. Nathan Ch:ipman in Philadel- phia, and practiced for years with success. He has been an earnest co-laborer in the cause of education and religion, as the Chowan In- stitute and the Church at Murfreesboro bear witness; he was professor in a college in Mississippi. He recently died in Bertie County, loved and respected for his purity of character. He married Lucinda, daughter of Lewis Bond.
John Hill Wheeler.
The conspicuous services rendered the State of North Carolina, and her eminent citizens, by this accomplished man, will forever pre-
JOHN HILL WHEELER.
serve his nienioij from oblivion. Born in the dawn of the present centnry, ho has been tlie witness of the most remarkable events in the history of the republic. In the connty of Hertford he tirst saw tlie light, August 6, 1806.
lie was prepared for college at Hertford AcadLni}' by Dr. John Otis Fieenian, an emi- nent divine. He was then placed at the Columbian University, Washington, J). C , and graduated in the class of 1826. In the year 1828 he took his degree of Master of Arts in the Universitj' of North Carolina. He studied his profession, tlic law, tinder the direction of Chief Justice Taylor, of Xorth Carolina. He was elected to the Legislature before ho was admitted to the bar. in the3'ear 1827. Then State Legislatures were honored bodies, and secured some of the best talent in the States.
This Legislature containevl manj' eminent and able men, auiong thvui were Judges Gaston, Nash and Bailey, George E. Spri- uell, John M. Morehead, James Iredell, and many more. To win position in such a body was tl e [iromise of a fruitful manhood, in a youth just twenty-one years of age. For an earne. i and aspiring mind, it proved a valua- ble seij lol. Success was not to be hoped for witht>!.t severestuily and thorough preparation. To tu. -ide into revorentiui indifference was notl :.. i-liaracteri.-tic of hi.smind. Independ- ent i ! .is feelings, whilst respecting the ability of Ir' ju'ileagues, he claimed equal rights in the ! } . Conscientious in the execution of the it trust com. ' ' ' r.m ]>y a gen- e'.X' . ..id \jroad— &;->- . he could not
see .litir dignity -©vei'.-^liii.'TTrK'Bd, He sum- mon' : .11 his powers to the v.-ork.and won 1^7 hir;; :i conspicuous and honorable po,sition. So V ••: (lid he perform the task assigned him, that \iu. approving constituents returned