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UNIVERSITY OF NO- AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00032703343 
 
 This book must not 
 be taken from the 
 Library building. 
 
 Tim=^isat 
 
!H 
 
 h 
 
 
GOVERNOR 
 
 WILLIAM TRYON, 
 
 AND HIS 
 
 ADMINISTRATION 
 
 IN THE 
 
 PROVINCE OF NORTH CAROLINA, 
 1765-1771. 
 
 SERVICES IN A CIVIL CAPACITY AND MILITARY CAREER AS 
 
 COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF COLONIAL FORCES WHICH 
 
 SUPPRESSED THE INSURRECTION OF THE 
 
 REGULATORS. 
 
 BY 
 
 MARSHALL DeLANCEY HAYWOOD. 
 
 " I can see no generosity, far less justice, in the conduct of those who are 
 obstinately deaf to all evidence in favor of one whom they have been pre- 
 viously taught to condemn, and who seem to think that the strength of their 
 own cause depends on the amount of obloquy which they can contrive to heap 
 upon its opponents." Aytoun. 
 
 Raleigh : 
 
 E. M. UzzELL, Printer, 
 
 1903. 
 
 ^^rsss^^v^^ 
 
COPYKIGHT, 1902, 
 BY 
 
 !Maksiiaxl DeLancey Haywood. 
 

 TO THE MEMORY 
 
 REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS OF NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 WUO LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON IN THE AUT OF 
 WAR WHILE FIGHTING UNDER TBYON AT ALA- 
 MANCE IN 1771, AND AFTERWARDS MADE 
 USE OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE IN A 
 WAY NOT TO HIS LEKINO, 
 THIS VOLUME IS 
 
 DEDICATED. 
 
 To the present let us bid adieu 
 
 And with the past commune; 
 As Holy Writ enjoins, we'll view 
 
 The rock whence we are hewn. 
 
 Tales of a brave and warlike race 
 
 My pages will unfold — 
 Of peace and strife, of death and life. 
 
 Of word and action bold. 
 
 I'll seek to tell of men long gone. 
 
 Of long forgotten ways; 
 And how our fathers wrought and fought 
 
 In old colonial days. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Ever since I have learned to rely more upon documentary 
 evidence than upon the individual opinions of writers, I have 
 been convinced that history has dealt too harshly with the 
 memory of Governoe Teyon. The story of his life in North 
 Carolina, and my own opinion of him, will be found in this 
 book. 
 
 I know that my views are vei-y much at variance with those 
 generally accepted ; but I hold as true a declaration by the 
 old Puritan divine, Richard Baxter, who says: "As long as 
 men have liberty to examine and contradict one another, one 
 may partly conjecture, by comparing their words, on which 
 side the trath is like to be." 
 
 Thus holding, I now submit my views to the public — or to 
 that small portion of the public which shall do me the honor 
 to read what I have written. 
 
 Maeshaxl DeLancet Haywood. 
 
 127 East Edenton Street. 
 
 Ealeigh, North Carolina. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Close of the administration of Governor Dobbs in North Caro- 
 lina — Tryon appointed Lieutenant-Governor — His family and 
 ancestry — He arrives in the Colony — -Improves postal sys- 
 tem — Death of Governor Dobbs — Lord Adam Gordon in North 
 Carolina — Tiyon qualifies as Governor pro tempore 9-16 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Governor Tryon recommends New Bern for the capital of the 
 Colony — Is taken ill — Appointed permanent Governor — 
 Friendly to Dissenters — Reverend George Wliitefield — Re- 
 ligious and educational advancement — North Carolina moun- 
 tains and the mountaineers — The Stamp Act passed 17-31 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Attempts to enforce the Stamp Act — Resistance by the Colo- 
 nists — Armed demonstration against the sloop of war Dili- 
 gence — -Crew of the sloop Viper captured and imprisoned — • 
 Meeting of the Governor's Council — -Public Printer suspended 
 from office — Repeal of the Stamp Act — Personnel of the Gov- 
 ernor's Council 32-52 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Land-grant riots in Mecklenburg County — Henry Eustace Mc- 
 Culloh and George Augustus Selwyn — Their property confis- 
 cated during the Revolution — James Iredell befriends McCul- 
 loh — Cherokee boundary — Personnel of party running same — ; 
 Tryon accompanies party — Honored with Indian names — 
 South Carolina boundary — George Mercer, of Virginia, com- 
 missioned Lieutenant-Governor of North Carolina 53-61 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Tryon's house at Brunswick — Governor's Palace built at New 
 Bern — -Description of same-^Had no equal in America — Wash- 
 ington entertained there after the Revolution — Building de- 
 stroyed by fire — Whilom counties of Tryon, Dobbs, Bute, and 
 Glasgow — Town of Tryon and Tryon Mountain — Some coun- 
 ties and towns named for Whigs in England and America — 
 Wake County named for Mrs. Tryon, nee Wake — Esther 
 Wake a myth 62-76 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 First insurrection of the Regulators — Tryon's campaign against 
 them in 1768 — Official abuses — Scarcity of currency — Colonel 
 Edmund Fanning — First attack on Hillsborough by Regula- 
 tors — Hermon Husband and William Butler arrested — High 
 titles in small army under Tryon — Colonel Alexander Os- 
 borne — Judges Moore and Henderson 77-103 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Further violence of the Regulators — Outrages continue at Hills- 
 borough — House-burning in Granville County — Husband ex- 
 pelled from Assembly and imprisoned — Legislative measures 
 against the insurgents — Tryon's second military campaign — 
 Patriotic North Carolinians in his army — Partial list of 
 officers — General Waddell's force intercepted — Insurgents 
 routed at Battle of Alamance — Some of the killed and 
 wounded — Flight of Husband before the battle begins 104-139 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Tryon completes work of subjugation — Six insurgents hanged 
 and six pardoned — Captain Merrill executed — Tryon made 
 Governor of New York, but temporarily remains in North 
 C^1rolina — "Atticus" letter — Character of Robert Thompson — 
 Death of General Waddell — The Gillespies patriots in the 
 Revolution — Nearly all other Regulators Tories — Tryon's old 
 soldiers conquer Tory Regulators in the Revolution — All re- 
 ligious denominations disclaim Regulators — James Hasell, 
 
8 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Acting Governor — Governor Josiali Martin arrives — Martin 
 snubbed by Assembly, which compliments Tryon — Concluding 
 remarks about Tryon's administration in North Carolina — 
 Entrance upon his duties in New York 140-194 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Observations on Tryon's career in Revolution — Major-General of 
 Loyalists, and Lieutenant-General after return to England — 
 Tribute to his character by Judge Jones, of New York — 
 Death — Obituary in Gentleman's Magazine — Buried in family 
 vault at Twickenham — His will and that of his wife — Con- 
 clusion 195-208 
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Tryon Palace Frontispiece. 
 
 SiGNATUKE AND ArMOBAL SeAL OF GOVERNOR TrYON 12 
 
 Ruins of St. Philip's Church 24 
 
 Map of the B.^ttlefield of Ai.amance 1"24 
 
 Tomb of Governor Tryon 200 
 
GOVERNOR WILLIAM TRYON, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 CLOSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR DOBBS IN 
 NORTH CAROLINA— TRYON APPOINTED LIEUTENANT-GOV- 
 ERNOR—HIS FAMILY AND ANCESTRY— HE APJIIVES IN THE 
 COLONY— IMPROVES POSTAL SYSTEM— DEATH OF GOV- 
 ERNOR DOBBS— LORD ADAM GORDON IN NORTH CAROLINA 
 —TRYON QUALIFIES AS GOVERNOR PRO TEMPORE. 
 
 From a colony owned and controlled by a company of Eng- 
 lish noblemen — the "Lords Proprietors" — North Carolina be- 
 came a royal province in 1729. Thereafter Governors were 
 ajjpointed by the King. Tlie third person so commissioned 
 was Aethue Dobbs^ a native of Ireland, whose seat was Castle 
 Dobbs, in Carrickferg-iis, which is still o^\^led by his descend- 
 ants. Governor Dobbs was not to fame unknown before com- 
 ing to America. Besides being an author on scientific and 
 other subjects, he had occupied the posts of High Sheriff of 
 County Antrim and Surveyor-General of Ireland. He had 
 also been a member of the Irish Parliament for Carrickfer- 
 gus. Wlien the Chief Magistracy of North Carolina was as- 
 sumed by him, however, in 1754, he was nearing his three- 
 score and ten; and, as his age further advanced, it became 
 necessary that a deputy, or Lieutenant-Goveraor, should be ap- 
 pointed to discharge the more active duties of state. This 
 was accordingly done in 1764. The one thus chosen as Lieu- 
 
10 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 tenant-Governor of the province was Williaj: Tkyon, who 
 then held a commission in the regular army of Great Britain. 
 The eventful career, in North Carolina, of this noted i^er- 
 sou, who soon became fnll Governor (and was later Governor 
 of New York), will constitute the theme of this work. 
 
 Governor Trvon was bom in Surrey, at Norbury Park, a 
 handsome seat then owned by his family but which has since 
 passed into other hands. His entrance into the world took 
 place in 1729 — the same year in which North Carolina, one 
 of tlie chief scenes of his future achievements, was trans- 
 formed from a proprietaiy into a royal provinca He be- 
 longed to an English family of high standing, which is said 
 to have come originally from tlie Netherlands. In records 
 of the baronetage, knightage, and huidcd gentry of Great 
 Britain we often meet tlie name. "The firet of this family 
 that cajne into England was Peter Tryon, who quitted liie 
 Netherlands on aceo\mt of the troubles raised in that co\uitay 
 by the Didce of Alva. His ancestors had flourished tliere a 
 long time in wealth and honour ; so tJiat he did not come over 
 in an indigent manner to seek his fortune, but brought wilJi 
 him, as it is rejxirted, above 60,000?."* 
 
 While the Tryon family may be of Netherlandish origin, 
 as stated by the old historian just quoted, there are records 
 to show that the name, or one of the closest similarity, was 
 liorne in England as early as the Norman C\)nqiiest ; fi.n-, dur- 
 ing the reign of Henry the Third, a writ of inquisition as to 
 the title of an estate called Tryenestone, in Kent, was issued, 
 with the result reported that it had been "given to a certain 
 
 •MoranfB History of Essex (A. D. 1768), Vol. II. p. 251. 
 
OF NOKTII CAROLINA. 11 
 
 kiiiglit named Te.yan, wlio held it so long as lie lived; and, 
 after his decease, Hugh Tryan, his son and heir, retained it ; 
 and, after the said Hugli, Robert Tiyan, son and heir of the 
 said Hugh, retained it. So that the said Trian, Hugh, ami 
 Robert held the said land without challenge from the lijrd 
 William the King, Jhe Bas taixl, to the time of King John, who 
 took the said land, together with other lands of the Xonnans, 
 into his o\na hands, as his escheats^ and expelled the said 
 Robert, the last holder, from the Kingdom of England, and 
 held it in his own hand for two yeai-s, and afterwards gave it 
 to Alberic de Marinis, to hold at his pleasiire, who held it to 
 the time of our lord the King Heniy that now is." * It may 
 be that the Robert Tryan, whom King John "expelled from 
 the Kingdom of England," was the founder of the family 
 that resided in the Netherlands, and which we are told "had 
 flourished there a long time in wealth aaid honour." 
 
 Branches of the Tryou family have been settled in various 
 parts of England — in Essex, Northampton, and elsewhere. 
 Governor Tryon was the son of Charles Tryon, of Bulwick, 
 Northamptonshire. The latter's wife (mother of the Gov- 
 ernor) was the Honorable Lady Mary Tryon, nee Shirley, 
 daughter, by his second marriage, of Robert Shirley, iirst 
 Earl Ferrers. The first wife of Lord Ferrers was a daugh- 
 ter of Laurence Washington, of Garsden, Wiltshire, a member 
 of the family from which sprang General George Washing- 
 ton. 
 
 Through the Hoiise of Ferrei-s Governor Tryon was line- 
 ally descended from the Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth's 
 
 "County Records of the surnames of Francus, Franceis, French, in England, A. D. 
 1100-1350, by A. D. Weld French, p. 20S. 
 
12 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 sometime favorite, and from tlie Royal House of Plantag- 
 enet.* 
 
 The anus and crest of the Tryon family, as given liy 
 Burke, are as follows: Arms — Azuir^ a fcsse embattled he- 
 tween six estoiles or. Crest — A hears head saMe, powdered 
 ivifh estoiles or. The accompanying illustration of the ar- 
 morial seal of Governor Tryon is copied from a fac-simile in 
 Lossing's Field Bool- of the Bevohdion, and vas made by 
 Lossing from an original in tlie possession of the eminent 
 American divine and historian, Reverend Francis Lister 
 Hawks, gi'andson of John Hawks who superintended the erec- 
 tion of the Palace at Is"ew Bern. The inescuteheon, shown 
 on the Governor's shield in the illustration here given, may 
 have been adopted by him in right of his descent from tlie 
 Devereuxs, Earls of Essex, as it exliibits a similarity to the 
 amis borne by that family. 
 
 In the year 1757, at which time he held a commission as 
 captain in the First Regiment of Foot-Guards, Mr. Tryon 
 was united in marriage with Margaret Wake, then of Han- 
 over street, London, a lady possessing a dower of thirty 
 thousand pounds. 
 
 The brave and imfortunate Admiral Sir George Tryon, 
 wlio was drowned when his flag-ship, the Victoria, collided 
 M'ith the Camperdown, on the 22d of June, 1893, was of the 
 same stock as Governor Trv'on. He was not, however, his 
 lineal descendant. 
 
 The commission of William Tryon as Lieutenailt-Govcrnor 
 of North Carolina was issued from the Court of St. Jaines, by 
 
 •Compare monumontal inscriptions in ninth chapter of this work with 1868 edition 
 of Burke's Peerage (earldom of Ferrers): see also, 1900 edition of Burke's Landed 
 Gentry, p. 1595. 
 

 ^IGWATUHE AWD Ai^^Ol^I^L SE^IL ©P GO^^Ei^fSOil TI^YOWo 
 
OF NOETH CAROLINA. 13 
 
 order of King George the Third, on April 26, 1764. As Gov- 
 ernor Dol)bs was fast snccniiibing to the iiifimiities of age, he 
 had Av-ritten to friends at Court, reqiiesting tliat the King's 
 leave be obtained for his temporary return to Great Britain. 
 This was granted in the month following Tryon's appoint- 
 ment, but it was some time before the necessai-y papers 
 reached iSforth Carolina. Tryon arrived in the province, at 
 Cape Fear, on Wednesday, the 10th of October, 176 1 ; and 
 next day waited on Governor Dobbs, who had already been 
 apprised of his coming.* 
 
 It was the wish of Colonel Tr^-on to assume the reins of 
 government immediately upon his arrival. But Governor 
 Pobbs determined to remain until the fidhwing Spring, at 
 which time he had requested that a sloop of war should be sent 
 to convey him home. This delay proved a bitter disappoint- 
 ment to Tryon, who was making plans for immediate action 
 upon policies which he intended to pursue. Being accom- 
 panied by his family, great inconvenience was likewise ex- 
 perienced by him in securing suitable lodgings, as the Gov- 
 ernor's Villa was still in possession of its official occupant. 
 Furthermore, Tryon was under the necessity of drawing 
 largely on his personal revenues during the time intei'vening, 
 as the Governor's full salary could not be paid him until 
 Dobbs had vacated the Executive chair. Remonstrating 
 about this in a letter to the Earl of Halifax, Tryon declared 
 Ihat merceuai-y gain had not been the motive which brought 
 him to America ; but, at the same time, he had not come with 
 an idea of squandering his private fortune in unreasonable ex- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VI. pp. 1043. 1045. 1053. 
 
14 GOVEEXOK TKYOX 
 
 ])enditures. Concerning Governor Dobbs, hmvever, it was 
 added that be bad been very polite in his attentions to the 
 Trjon hoiisebold, and should receive all the respect due bis 
 character, age, and infirmities.* 
 
 Before coming to America, Tryon had consulted Lord 
 Hyde, the Postmaster-General of England, with a view of es- 
 tablishing more convenient mail routes in the colonies ; and 
 the prosecution of this design was one of the first matters 
 which engrossed his attention. Shortly after being sworn 
 in as Lieutenant-Governor — which ceremonial occurred at 
 Wilmington on the 27th of October, 1704 — he sought to 
 impress his views upon Governor Dobbs, and the latter issued 
 an addi-ess to the Assembly, in which were detailed the many 
 advantages which would probably acciiie from the execution 
 of Tryon's suggestions. The recommendations met with a 
 favorable reception, and several appropriations towards car- 
 rying them into efi'ect were made before the session adjourned. 
 Desiring the co-operation of the home goverament, Tryon 
 sent to Lord Hyde, in the month following, a dispatch of some 
 length in which were given the conditions whirh re(pured 
 the system in question. Aside from iujui-y to couuuerce, 
 caused by the irregularity with which letters were delivered, 
 the wTiter declared that needs of war ought to be considered. 
 Should the southern provinces be invaded, there were no re- 
 liable means through which aid could be smimioned from the 
 north. By water, the attempt to give an alanu would be a 
 precarious undertaking; while equally dangerous, and even 
 more uncertain, would be such an cifurt by land. In the lat- 
 ter event, Tryon went on to state, a messenger might ride 
 
 •Colonial Recorda of N. C, Vol. VI, pp. 1053-1065. 
 
OF NOKTIt CAROI.IK^A. 15 
 
 two Imndrod miles or more liefore being able to provide him- 
 self w-itli a fresh horse; and if by chance a hut should be 
 readied, no shelter could be obtained for the animal, which 
 must therefore be tiirned out to graze or stray, as the case 
 might be. One line, from New York to Williamsburg, Vir- 
 ginia, was already in operation; but, from the latter place 
 to South Carolina, conmiunication was well-nigh impossible. 
 It was recommended that the route should be extended via 
 the North Carolina to\TOS of Edenton, Bath, New Bern, Wil- 
 mington, and Brunswick, to Charleston, in South Carolina. 
 It was also urged that packet-boats should be ordered to call 
 with greater regularity at C-ape Fear, as a means of more fre- 
 quent intercourse with England.* 
 
 The venerable Governor Dobbs was destined never to leave 
 North Carolina. In the Spring of 1765 preparations were 
 made by him to embark; and the Assembly drew up an ad- 
 dress, in which were expressed regTet at parting and best 
 wishes for the speedy restoration of his health. After return- 
 ing grateful acknowledgments for these kind professions, the 
 Governor began placing his effects in readiness to ship, when 
 the attendant physician gave warning that "he had better pre- 
 ]>are himself for a much longer voyag'e." None too sofai 
 came the admonition, thus bluntly worded; for two days 
 thereafter, on Thursday,. the 2Sth of March, death brought re- 
 lief to the aged ruler and wafted his spirit to that — • 
 
 "Silent shore. 
 Where Ijillows never break, nor tempests ro.ar." 
 
 And when his remains were laid to rest there was not a 
 clergyman within a hundred miles of Brunswick, so the 
 
 "Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VI, pp. 1057-1060, 1291, 12S9-13C0, 1304. 1319. 
 
16 GOVERXOr. TKYON 
 
 Inirial sei-vice had to be conducted by a Justice of tbe Peace. 
 
 Lieutenant-Goveraor Tryon was escorting tbe distinguisbed 
 Britisb soldier, Lord Adam Gordon (second son of tbe Duke 
 of Gordon), tbrougb North Carolina when the news came 
 that Governor Dobbs bad passed away. Having been au- 
 rliorized to assume temporary control of the govenunent upon 
 lhe absence or death of his superior, Tryon returned to Bruns- 
 wick; and, on the 31st of March, took possession of tbe great 
 seal of tbe province, together with the Govei'uor's commis- 
 sion and other documents of a public nature.* 
 
 At a session of tbe Provincial Council, held in Wilmington 
 on the 3d of April, 17G5, tbe oath of office as Governor pro 
 tempore was administered to Tryou, Avbo thereupon issued a 
 proclamation which continued, for the time being, all official 
 connnissions then in force. He bad written to the Earl of 
 Halifax, when the vacancy first occurred, to secure that noble- 
 nwn's influence in obtaining a permanent appointment as Gov- 
 ernor, and it will be seen hereafter that this effort was suc- 
 cessful. 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VI, pp. 1320-1321; Ibid., Vol. VII, pp. 2-5, 103. 
 
OF NOETII CAROLINA. 17 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 GOVERNOR TRYOX RECOMJIENDS NEW BERN FOR THE CAPI- 
 TAL OF THE COLONY— IS TAKEN ILL— APPOINTED PER- 
 MANENT GOVERNOR— FRIENDLY TO DISSENTERS— REVER- 
 END GEORGE WHITEFIELD— RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL 
 ADVANCEMENT— NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AND THE 
 MOUNTAINEERS— THE STAMP ACT PASSED. 
 
 On becomiug temporary Chief Executive of the province, 
 Governor Tryon summoned the Legislature to meet on May 
 2, 1765, at New Bern. As is well kno\\ai, this town was set- 
 tled by Swiss and Gemian palatines brought to America by 
 Baron Christopher De Graffenried. To Tryon, however, is 
 due the credit of pointing out its advantages and establishing 
 there the seat of government. In a letter to the Board of 
 Trade he said that he had spent two months in a tour through 
 tlie province, and was determined in the opinion that public 
 business could be carried on nowhere else with so much con- 
 venience and advantage to far the greater part of the inhab- 
 itants.* 
 
 During the Summer and Fall of 1765, Tryon suffered a pro- 
 tracted illness which he said was the compound of every sort 
 of fever, called by the inhabitants "the seasoning of the cli- 
 mate." While his sickness continued he received the King's 
 commission which permanently vested him with the governor- 
 ship. This document was issued from Westminster on the 
 19th of July, 1765, and opened before the Council in Wil- 
 mington on the 20th of December following. In line with 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU. pp. 2, 5. 
 
18 , GOVERNOE TEYON 
 
 the usual custom, a proclamation was next in order announc- 
 ing the aiopointment.* 
 
 In compliance with the call therefor, the Legislature met 
 at New Bern on May 3, 1765, the day after the date specified 
 in the summons. The delay was caused hy the lack of a 
 quorum, f Immediately after his commission was formally 
 made known, Governor Tryon dissolved this Assembly and 
 issued writs of election for another session, to he held at New 
 Bern in April, 1766. 
 
 The town of New Bern soon began to feel good effects 
 from the new Governor's intention to make it the capital of 
 the province. Thomas Tomlinson arrived from England in 
 1764 ; and, during the following yeai", was enabled to establish 
 a school which accommodated more than thirty pupils. His 
 academy was legally incoiijorated by Chapter XIX of the 
 Private Laws of 1766. By Chapter XXVIII of the Private 
 Laws of 1786, when the Church of England had been dis- 
 established, the Glebe in New Bern was gi\-cn to this school. 
 A few years after the New Beni Acadcnsy began operations 
 a school in Edenton was incorporated by Chapter XXIII of 
 the Laws of 1770. 
 
 Peligion, too, in all denominations, obtained a finner foot- 
 hold after the arrival of Governor Tryon. Theretofore no 
 clerg;y'men but those of the Church of England had been au- 
 thorized to perform the marriage ceremony. By Chapter IX 
 of the Laws of 1766 Presbyterian ministers were vested with 
 that right. It is generally believed that Tiwon ^vas instru- 
 mental in securing the passage of the act just mentioned. 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. Vll. pp. 123, 133-134. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIF, pp. 41, 61. 
 
OF NOETII CAROLINA. V.) 
 
 The historian Williamson — himself a Presbyterian — seems 
 inclined to this opinion.* Other denominations were not in- 
 cluded, as none bnt Presbyterians claimed or e.xercised the 
 power, f 
 
 Like most gentlemen who held office under the Crown, 
 Tryon was an adherent of the Church of England, and he used 
 his best efforts to strengthen its establishment. Taxes, as in 
 England, to maintain it, were collected from churchman and 
 dissenter alike ; bnt beyond an approval of this injustice the 
 Governor never went. Doctor Williamson, in his History of 
 North Carol ina,-i;. remarks: "It was fortunate for the dis- 
 senters that Govenior Tryon was not a bigot. He did not con- 
 ceive that a vicious life could be expiated by persecutions in 
 favor of an established church ; nor did he believe that any 
 worship, in form or substance, could be acceptable to the Su- 
 preme Being that was not offered up with an approving 
 heart." 
 
 In an address on the Church of England in the Province of 
 North Carolina,^ which he delivered in Calvary Church, 
 Tarborough, 1890, at the celebration of the centennial of the 
 Diocese, the Eeverend Joseph Blount Cheshire, who has since 
 become Bishop of North Carolina, refers to Tryon in these 
 words: "With the administration of Governor Tiyon a new 
 era of activity in ecclesiastical affairs begins. Gabriel John- 
 ston and Arthur Dobbs were both zealous churchmen, but 
 Tryon's activity in seeking to advance the cause of the 
 Church and of religion in the province was quite beyond any- 
 
 *Williamson"s History of N. C. Vol. U, pp. 118-119. 
 tChurch History of N. C. p. 80, "ote. 
 t Williamson's History of N. C. Vol. 11, p. 118. 
 § Church History of N. C. p. 75. 
 
20 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 thing which had been seen before. Yet it was not the zeal 
 of a mere sectarian bigotry. All our historians have ad- 
 mitted that he met the dissenting interests of the country with 
 a generous appreciation and tolerance wliich to a very great 
 extent won their good-will. Upon the outbreak of the first 
 Regulation troubles in 1768 the Presbyterian ministers 
 imited in an address to him, in which they declared that they 
 had the highest sense of the justice and Ijenevolence of his 
 administration, under which they say that they enjoyed all the 
 blessings of civil and religious liberty, or words to that effect. 
 They also put forth a pastoral letter to their people, quite as 
 ardent in its expressions of loyalty to King George as was 
 Parson Micklejohn's sermon before the troops at Hillsboro' 
 ujxin the text, 'The powers that be are ordained of God.' 
 Governor Tryon, on his part, always speaks of the Presby- 
 terians, and also of the Quakers, with the highest respect. 
 As a civil administrator, bred in the school of military disci- 
 pline, he had less respect for the ruder and more extravagant 
 forms of religious enthusiasm, the 'Xew Lights' and the 
 'Separatists,' who were becoming so nmaerous in some quar- 
 ters. But no complaint has come down to us from any reli- 
 gious Ixidy against his ecclesiastical administration." 
 
 Tiyon's friendshij) for the Lutherans is shown by tlie fact 
 that he and "the Honorable Miss Tryon" (probably his sister) 
 joined in a subscription to aid them in securing a minister and 
 a school-master for their congregation in the county of 
 Rowan.* 
 
 The Moravians, too, came in for a full share of Tryon's 
 resjicct and admiration. From a wi>rk, by the Reverend 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIII. pp. 630-633. 
 
o 
 
 OF NORTH CAROLINA. 21 
 
 John H. Clewell, entitled the Ilistori/ of Wachovia* we have 
 a delightful picture, written in the conniiiniity diary of the 
 Moravian settlement (in what is now Forsyth county, N"ortli 
 Carolina), when that place was visited by Governor and ^Irs. 
 Tryon in September, 17(17. The entries given by Doctor 
 Clewell were made originally in German at the time of 
 Tryon's sojourn, and, as the testimony of eye-witnesses, are of 
 great value historically. On September ISth it is said of 
 the visiting party's entry into the town : "As the company 
 approached, our band of musicians with French horns and 
 trumpets greeted them. Half an hour later they dined in the 
 hall of the single brethren's house, the musicians furnishing 
 music while they sat at table. At the conclusion of the 
 repast the governor, accompanied by some of the gentlemen 
 of the party, took a walk through the village, inspecting the 
 property, the stables and the farm. As it began to rain, 
 they returned to their rooms. In the meantime, ]\Irs. Tryon 
 was entertained by the ladies of the congregation, she con- 
 versing with them in a charming and lovely manner. When 
 comfortably seated in the room, the governor had a long and 
 familiar conversation with Gratf. He was greatly interested 
 in our constitution and government." On the following day 
 we have the chronicle: "After having breakfasted, the gov- 
 ernor and his pai-ty went across the great meadow to Salem. 
 He examined everything with interest. He was pleased with 
 the regularity of the streets, and the care with which every- 
 thing is laid out. When we returned to Bethabara, dinner 
 
 ♦CleweU's Historj' of Wachovia, pp. 99-102. 
 
22 GOVEBNOE TBYON 
 
 was served, as yesterday, in the large hall, and later His Ex- 
 cellency examined the potter shop). The party then went to 
 Bethania, spending some time at the mill. In the evening 
 we were again in Bethabara, the governor having expressed 
 himself as greatly pleased with what he saw. As he passed 
 and greeted the young people, and saw them in front of the 
 houses, he said the coimtry would be blessed in these happy 
 children." Of Mrs. Tryon we also liave an attractive view 
 (Sunday, September 20th) from the same source: ''We had 
 arranged for a quiet afternoon for our visitors, but Mrs. 
 Tryon expressed a desire to play upon the organ ; and as she 
 played, a number of the girls sang. This pleased her. She 
 later requested Graif to perform on the organ, and he did 
 so. By this time the governor became interested in the mu- 
 sic, and came to the meeting hall from his room. An hour 
 was pleasantly passed in this way." Before leaving the 
 Moravians, Governor Tryon advised them to secure repre- 
 sentation in the Legislature, as the importance of their com- 
 munity fully justified such a privilege. In reply he was 
 told that such a step might arouse the jealousy of otlier sec- 
 tions, but his answer was that their prosperity would probably 
 arouse envy and jealousy whether they were represented or not. 
 On the 21st of September, Tryon returned to Salisbury from 
 this visit, after a hearty interchange of good wishes with his 
 hospitable entertainers. 
 
 One missionary of the Church of EiiglaJid, writing from 
 !Sorth Carolina in 1767, referred to Governor Tryon as "by in- 
 clination, as well as by his office, the defender and friend, the 
 patron and nursing father of the church established amongst 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 23 
 
 US ; a religious frequenter of its worship and a steady adherent 
 to its interest, prepared in times of the greatest danger and 
 distress to suffer with and for it.""" This extravagant praise 
 does not bear out the statement made by one historian that the 
 only reason for Tryon's tolerance was his utter indifference to 
 religion in general. 
 
 Under date of July 31, 17(55, Governor Tryon wTote to the 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, with reference to 
 religious and educational matters, a letter in which he said 
 that if the Society would send for his distribution as many 
 well-bound Bibles and Prayer Books for the ministers' desks 
 as there were parishes, it would have a better effect than a 
 ship-load of small books recommending the duty of a Chris- 
 tian ; for the igiiorant would hear their duty delivered out of 
 the fonner, when they could not instruct themselves in the lat- 
 ter. This incapacity was dxie, he thought, to a want of 
 schools in the province, which consideration impelled him to 
 solicit the Society's bounty and encouragement to Mr. Tom- 
 Hnson, the teacher then seated at jSTew Bern. The Governor 
 said he had recently held a long conversation with Mr. Tom- 
 linson, and was much impressed by the sense and decency 
 of his behavior, and the general good character he maintained. 
 In conclusion, Tryon remarked that he could not close his let- 
 ter without acquainting the Society that the Reverend George 
 Whitefield had preached a sennon at Wilmington in the pre- 
 ceding March which wouhl have done him honor had he deliv- 
 ered it at St. James's, allowing some little alteration of cir- 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU, p. 520 
 
24 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 cumstances between a discourse adapted to tlie Royal Chapel 
 and one prepared for the coiirt-honse at Wilmington.* 
 
 In the above-mentioned letter Governor Tryon stated that 
 considerable sums of money had been subscribed for finish- 
 ing the churches at Wilmington and Brunswick, and he 
 thought both would be completed in less than twelve months. 
 He does not mention that he himself had made a personal 
 contribution of forty guineas toward building the one at 
 Brunswick, yet such was the case.f The walls of the historic 
 edifice last alluded to, St. Pliilip's Church, are still standing 
 at old Brunswick. 
 
 In his work entitled Tales and Traditions of the Lower 
 Cape Fear.\ Mr. James Sprunt, of Wilmington, says: 
 
 "St. Philip's Church was built of large brick broiight from 
 England. ' Its walls are nearly three feet thick and are solid 
 and almost intact still, the roof and the floor only luiving dis- 
 appeared. Its dimensions are nearly as large as those of our 
 modem churches, being seventy-six feet six inches long, fifty- 
 three feet three inches wide, standing walls twenty-four feet 
 four inches high. There are eleven windows, measuring fif- 
 teen by seven feet, and three large doors. It must have pos- 
 sessed unu'li architectural beauty and massive grandeur witli 
 its high-pitched roof, its lofty doors, and beautiful chaucel 
 windows. 
 
 "Upon the fall of Fort Fisher, which is a few miles to 
 the south-east of Orton, in 1805, the Federal troops visited 
 the ruins of St. Philip's, and with jiick-axes dug out the cor- 
 
 • Colonial Recortls of N. C, Vol. VU, pp. 103-104. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VH, p. 164. 
 
 X Sprunt's Tale.s and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear, pp. 73-74. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 25 
 
 ner-stone, which had remained undisturbed for one hundred 
 and twenty-five years, and which doubtless contained papers of 
 great interest and value to our people. It is a singular fact 
 that during the ten-ific bombardment of Fort Anderson, 
 which was erected on Orton, and which enclosed with earth- 
 works the ruins of St. Philip's, while many of the tombs in the 
 church-yard were shattered and broken to pieces by the s.torm 
 of shot ajid shell, tlie walls escaped destruction; as if the 
 Power Above had shielded from annihilation the building 
 wliich had been dedicated to His seiwice. 
 
 "This sanctuary has long been a neglected ruin, trees of 
 larger growth than the suiTounding forest have grown up 
 within its roofless walls, and where long years ago the earnest 
 prayer and song of praise ascended up on high, a solemn still- 
 ness reigns, unbroken save by the distant munnur of the sea, 
 wliich ever sings a requiem to the buried past." 
 
 The parish in Wilmington (organized in 17291 has been 
 more fortunate than the one at Brunswack, and is still in 
 active operation, though its house of worship, St. James's 
 Church, is not the same which was used in the days of Gov- 
 ernor Tryon. The present building was erected many years 
 after tlie Revolution. 
 
 To what we have said concerning Tryon's efforts to ad- 
 vance the cause of education, it should be added that his 
 exertions were not designed to benefit the eastern part of the 
 province alone. In a message to the Colonial Legislature, on 
 December 5, 1770, he recommended to that body that, as soon 
 as funds could be raised, a seminary should be established in 
 the back-country settlements.* In reply, the Assembly prom- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VUI, pp. 285, 239, 312. 
 
26 GOVEK'S'OR TIJYON 
 
 ised favorable action as soon as the state of the public finance 
 justified such an expenditure, saying that an institution of 
 this character was very much to be desired, as morals and 
 good government largely depended upon the early training 
 given citizens of a country. At the same session, by Chapter 
 III of the Laws of 1770,* Queen's College (sometimes called 
 Queen's Museum) in Charlotte was incorporated ; and, for its 
 support, the trustees were authorized to levy and collect a 
 duty on all rum and other spirituous liquors brought into and 
 disj^osed of in Mecklenburg coimty. The trustees of this 
 college were nearly altogether men of the Presbyterian faith, 
 though Edmund Fanning and Abner Nash, two members of 
 the Church of England, Avere also on the board. Upon be- 
 ing submitted for the approval of the authorities in England, 
 according to the usual procedure, the act incorporating this 
 institution was annulled ; and another act, Chapter IX of the 
 Laws of 1771 (later passed as an amendment), became of no 
 effect in consequence thereof. It was not until the Revolu- 
 tion upset British authority that the desired legislation could 
 be made effective. Then, by Chapter XX of the Private Laws 
 of 1777 (April session), a charter was obtained vesting the 
 government of the college in a board of trustees, on which 
 were Thomas Polk, Adlai Osborne, Waightstill Aveiy, 
 Ephraiin Brevard, several of the Alexanders, and many other 
 prominent Presbyterians. At this time the North Caro- 
 linians were not so anxious to honor royalty, and Queen's 
 College became Liberty Hall. By Chapter XXIII of the 
 Private Laws of 1778 (April session) all moneys coming 
 
 *In the publication of Laws only the caption of this act is jrivcn. For full text see 
 Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIH. p. 486. 
 
OF XOKTH CAKOLIXA. 27 
 
 from the sale cif town lots in Charlotte were given to the ■^ 
 college. Though it had done much good in the cause of edu- 
 cation (for it ran some years without a charter), this in- 
 stitution did not long siu'vivc the Revolution. Chapter 
 XXIX of the Private Laws of 1784 (October session)' 
 changed its name to Salisbuiy Academy, and it was then re- 
 moved to Rowan county. We find the Oshornes, Brevards, 
 Polks, and others who had been interested in Liberty Hall, 
 among the earliest trustees and patrons of the University of 
 Xorth Carolina at Chapel Hill, which began its existence 
 shortly after the war. 
 
 In Liberty Hall, as if by way of retribution for the King's 
 j)ast injuries to it, were held the meetings, in 1775, which 
 brought forth the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. 
 Neither the remnants of this college nor the place of its loca- 
 tion seem to have made a very profound impression on Gen- 
 eral Washington in 1791, when he visited that part of North 
 Carolina. In his Dianj* on May 28th, of the year men- 
 tioned, he says: "Charlotte is a trifling place, though the 
 Court of Mecklenburg is held in it. There is a school 
 (called a college) in which, at times, there has been fifty or 
 sixty boys." As Washington, according to a well-known ac- 
 comit handed down to us by the Reverend Mason L. Weems, 
 "could not tell a lie," perhaps his description of the Char- 
 lotte of that day should not l)e questioned ; j'et, could the 
 General i-epeat his visit, he would now find a town no longer 
 "trifling," but enlightened educationally and progressive com- 
 mercially. And it may be here mentioned that one of the 
 
 * Washington's Diary (edited by B. J. Lossing, New York, ISCO), p. 197. 
 
28 GOVEKNOE TKYON 
 
 principal streets of Chariotte is called for Governor Tryon. 
 
 It has been said that the royal approval was denied the 
 act incorporating Qneeu's College because the institution was 
 not in iniison with the Church of England. This is probably 
 true ; but the fact that Great Britain was then afflicted \\'ith a 
 monarch who sometimes over\vorked himself in performing 
 the arduous duties devolving upon him as "Defender of the 
 Faith" was not the fault either of Tryon or the North Caro- 
 lina Assembly. 
 
 In February, 1706, Governor Tn'on became a member of 
 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreigii 
 Parts, making a handsome donation in money to that organ- 
 ization at the same time.* 
 
 One of the most laughable jjictures we have of the religious 
 transactions in the colony about the year 1766 is found in a 
 letter from the Eeverend Charles Woodmason, of the Estab- 
 lished Church, to the Society for the Propagation of the Gos- 
 pel.f Among other things, this worthy divine says that wlien 
 the Presbyterians saw they were not strong enough to cope 
 with the Church of England along the sea-coast, they cramped 
 its usefulness by building a chain of meeting-houses which 
 hedged it off from the back-country. Then, says the par- 
 son, the Almighty allowed the Presbyterians to be caught in 
 the nets they set for others, as the Baptists came down from 
 Pennsylvania and wormed them out of their strong-holds; 
 wherefore the rancor between the two sects was so gTeat tliat 
 a Presbyterian would prefer having ten children married to 
 members of the Church of England than one to a Baptist, and 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, p. 1G2. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VII, p. 287. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 29 
 
 the same was true of the antipathy horno l\y the Baptists to- 
 wards the Presbj-terians. As a consequence of these jeal- 
 ousies, said he, the C'hiu-ch of England was reaping great 
 good ; but, with some misgivdiig, he adds : "The Baptists have 
 great prevalence and footing in North Carolina, and have 
 taken such deep root that it will require long time and pains 
 to grub up their layers." In considering this statement, we 
 are impressed ^\^th the belief that the reverend gentleman 
 did not overestimate the difficulties his church had to en- 
 counter ; for, even at the present writing', the foundations or 
 "layers" of the Baptist denomination in North Carolina 
 have not been entirely grubbed up, and what further amount 
 of "time and pains" will be required to effect that end is diffi- 
 cult to estimate. 
 
 We shall now leave the churchmen and dissenters to their 
 three-cornered fight and take a look at the mountainous sec- 
 tion of the province. Though somewhat devoid of that re- 
 finement which first reached the sea-coast counties, the in- 
 habitants of the west were even then noted for their self- 
 reliance, and for the fearless love of lil>erty which was des- 
 tined to make King's Mountain the turning point in Ameri- 
 ca's gTeat struggle for freedom, fifteen years thereafter. 
 Vivid, indeed, is the portrayal both of locality and people 
 given in 1765 by Attorney-General Eobert Jones, junior 
 (sometimes known as Eobin Jones), wlio had recently visited 
 that section for his health. To Edmund Fanning he wrote : 
 "The coiuitry, I suppose, is as healthy as any under the sun ; 
 for although the cold is very intense in Winter, occasioned by 
 the north side of the mountains being continually covered 
 
30 GOVEE^'OIl TRYOX 
 
 Avitli snow from December till the middle of March, the 
 weather, I am told, is not liable to those sudden changes from 
 hot to cold that we experience here, and, in the Summer, the 
 air is the most agreeable medium between those extremes that 
 can be conceived, accomijanied by pleasant breezes. The in- 
 habitants are hospitable in their way, live in plenty and dirt, 
 are stout, of gi'eat prowess in manual athletics; and, in pri- 
 vate conversation, bold, impertinent, and vain. In the art of 
 war (after the Indian manner), they are well-skilled, are en- 
 terprising and fruitful of strategies ; and, when in action, are 
 as bold and intrepid as the ancient Romans. The Shawnese 
 acknowledge them their superiors even in their OAvn way of 
 fighting. The land, such as is capable of cultivation, is fei'- 
 tile beyond conception, being much better than any I ever 
 saw before ; but of that there is a vei^ small proportion, much 
 the greater part being too stony and baiTen. It may be truly 
 called the land of niOTintains, for thej' are so nmnerous that 
 when you have reached the sununit of one of them, you may 
 see thousands, of every shape that the imagination can sug- 
 gest, seeming to vie with each other which should raise his 
 lofty head to touch the clouds. The mountains and valleys 
 abound with medicinal herbs of almost every kind, and there 
 are some curious flowers and other curiosities well worth 
 seeing. There ai-e warm, hot, emetic, and sweet springs, 
 most of which I saw, but their virtues time must discover. 
 However, it seems to me that nature has been wanton in be- 
 stowing her blessings on that countiy, and that these waters 
 are the choicest of them."* 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, pp. 100-101. 
 
OF NOKTH CAKOLIXA. 
 
 Reluctantly departing from the beautiful scenes so graphi- 
 cally depicted by the above writer, Ave shall now carry our nar- 
 rative to the town of Brunswick, on the Cape Fear river, 
 where Governor Tryon tarries before proceeding to 'New 
 Bern, at which place he purposes to meet the uewly-elected As- 
 sembly. The Parliament of Great Britain has passed the 
 Stamp Act ; and news thereof is brought to ^North Carolina, 
 where officers of the Crown hear it without misgiving. Little 
 know they that a great storm is brewing — the pi-elude to a 
 storm still greater, which will sweep every vestige of royal 
 rule from the thirteen colonies. 
 
32 GOVEKNOR TKYON 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 atte:mpts to enforce the stamp act— resistance by 
 the colonists— armed demonstration against the 
 sloop of war di li a eyce— crew of the sloop viper 
 captured and imprisoned— meeting of the gov- 
 ernor's councii^public printer suspended from 
 office— repeal of the stamp act— perfiojxel of the 
 governor's council. 
 
 The month of October, in 1765, was marked by the first re- 
 sistance offered to the Stamp Act. Doctor William Hous- 
 ton, a resident of North Carolina, was appointed to dis- 
 tribute such stamps as should be sent into the province. The 
 sloop of Avar Diligence, which brought the first — and last — 
 cargo, uuili'r that hated enactment, arrived at Cape Fear on 
 the 28th of jSTovember, 1765.* Previous to this time, on 
 October 10th, about five hundred people had assembled in the 
 streets of Wilmington and hanged in effigy "a certain hon- 
 ourable gentlenmn," whose name does not appear in tlie 
 North Carolina Ga-zetie,-]- from which we get the acco\mt 
 The reason of this demonstration was tliat the gcntleuian 
 in question had expressed himself in favor of the stamp duty. 
 After the figure was cut down and consigned to tlie flames, 
 all male inhabitants of the town were brought to the bonfire. 
 Here they were compelled to drink the toast : "Liberty, 
 ])roperty, no stamp duty, and confusion to Lord Bute and all 
 liis adherents." On the 31st of the same month, says the above 
 paper, a great number of peo]ile again assembled "and pro- 
 
 • A Colonial OOiccr and His Times, by Alfred Moore Waddell, p. 84. 
 t Reprinted in the Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII. p. 123. ct seq. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 33 
 
 cUiced an effigy of Liberty, Avliicli tliey put into a coffin and 
 marched with it in solemn procession to the churchyard, a 
 drum, in mourning, beating before them, and the town bell, 
 muffled, ringing a doleful knell at the same time. But be- 
 fore they committed the body to the ground they thought it 
 advisable to feel its pulse ; and, when finding some remains of 
 life, they returned back to the bonfire, ready prepared, placed 
 the effigy before it in a large two-anned chair and concluded 
 the evening with great rejoicings on finding that Liberty 
 had still an existence in tlie colonies." 
 
 On November 16th it was the fortune of Stamp-Master 
 Houston to be an unwilling participant in some impressive 
 ceremonies in connection A\'ith the above matters. Imme- 
 diately upou his coming to Wilmington, three or four hiin- 
 dred citizens, with drums beating and colors flying, gathered 
 at the house where he lodged, and demanded whether he would 
 attempt to execute his office. He replied that he would be 
 sorry to perfonu any duties distasteful to the people of the 
 province. ISTot content ■with this evasive answer, the multi- 
 tude carried him to the court-house, where he was compelled 
 to sign a paper in which he declared that he woiild never at- 
 tempt to perform the duties devolving upon him as Stamp- 
 Master, and which he closed mth the not overtruthful state- 
 ment that tliis resignation was made of his own free-will and 
 accord. "As soon as the Stamp Officer had complied with 
 their desires," says the newsj^aper already quoted, "they 
 placed him in an ann-chair, carried him first round the court- 
 house, giving him three huzzas at every corner, and then pro- 
 ceeded with him round one of the squares of the town and sat 
 
34 GOVEEXOP TEYON 
 
 him down at the door of his lodgings, formed themeslves in a 
 large circle around him and gave him three cheers. They then 
 escorted him into the house, where was prepared the best 
 liquors to be had, and treated him very genteely. In the 
 evening a large bonfire was made, and no person appeared on 
 the streets without having 'Liberty' in large letters on his hat. 
 They had a large table near the bonfire, well furnished witli 
 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 with great decoinim, and 
 not the least insult was offered to any person." 
 
 Verily, these bibulous champions of liberty M-erc a decorous 
 set ; and the above circiunstances go to show that on one 
 occasion, at least, in the histoiy of North Carolina, matters 
 were so arranged as to avoid the complaint (said to have been 
 made at a conference of Governors in after years) that it 
 was "a long time between drinks." 
 
 In addition to the above account in the Gazette, its editor, 
 Andrew Stuart, gives a tale of woe in relating his personal 
 experiences. He was visited by a committee which de- 
 manded whether or not he would continue his business as 
 heretofore and piiblish a newspaper. lie replied that ho 
 could not lawfully do so withoiit stamped paper, and he had 
 none. Then followed threats of violence, when he said that, 
 rather than run the hazard of his life, of being maimed, or 
 having his printing-office destroyed, he would issue his paper 
 as usual. 
 
 In his Field Booh of the 11 evolution'''''' I^ssiug gives a de- 
 
 •Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution (edition 1851-'52), Vol. IT. p. 877 (priving illus- 
 trations). 
 
OF NOKTII CAKOLIXA. 35 
 
 scriptioii of the stamps sent to America. He says the impres- 
 sion was made upon dark blue paper (similar in appearance 
 to that now coimnonly known as tobacco paper), to which was 
 fastened a narrow strip of tin-foil. The ends of the foil were 
 passed through the parchment or paper to which the stamp 
 was to be attached, then flattened on the opposite side ; and a 
 piece of paper, with the rough device and number of the 
 stamp, pasted on to secure it. The device was a double Tu- 
 dor rose, enclosed by the Royal Garter. Above this was a 
 crown, and below was named the money value of the stamp. 
 
 Seeing the serious turn affairs had taken, Governor Tryon 
 sent out a circular-letter to the principal gentry of the Cape 
 Fear section, inviting them to a conference at his house near 
 Bi-unswick on the 18th of Xovcmljcr, 1705.* AVlicn they 
 came in response to his summons, he addressed them at some 
 Icng-th on the events of recent occuiTence and exhorted obe- 
 dience to the decrees of Parliament. The right of Great Bri- 
 tain to tax the colonies, he said, would not constitute his 
 theme of discussion, but that he hoped no one desired to 
 destroy dependence on the mother country. He then dwelt 
 on the advantages that would result from North Carolina's 
 acceptance of the law, saying that her commerce would there- 
 upon extend, while the rural colonies were obstructing their 
 own trade by a refusal to take the stamps. As a further in- 
 ducement, he offered to pay, at his own exj^ense, the duty 
 on all stamped paper on which he was entitled to fees. Nor 
 was this amount inconsiderable, for it included fees on land- 
 patents, testimonials, injunctions in chancery, marriage li- 
 censes, and letters of administration; on four wine licenses 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VH. pp. 127-131. 
 
36 GOVEENOE TEYOIf 
 
 each for the towns of Edenton, New Beni, Wibniugton, Salis- 
 bury, and Halifax ; two each for Brunswick and Cross Creek 
 (now Fayetteville) ; and one each for Bath and Tarborough. 
 Though recognizing the generosity of his offer, it soon became 
 evident that the men whom Tryon consulted were contending 
 more for principle than for money. After due consultation 
 they returned acknowledgments for the privilege of a con- 
 ference with the Governor, and declared that Tryon's known 
 sincerity left no room to doubt his professions. They also re- 
 cognized, so the reply stated, that his family influence, for- 
 tune, and other interests in England would always give 
 weight to remonstrances which he might make in behalf of 
 the province. Then referring to the Stamp Act, the convic- 
 tion was expressed that every view of it confirmed them in 
 the opinion that it was most dangerous to their liberties as 
 British sidtjects. To the King they promised every act of 
 loyalty and obedience consistent with the rights of a free 
 people. As to the Governor's offer to pay the fees, they said 
 that, with an approval of part, they could not deny the act's 
 validity as a whole. Assurances were also given that every 
 effort should be used to prevent insult and violence to officers 
 of the Crown, except distributors of stamps, who, they said, 
 were too much detested to be secure from the resentment of 
 the colonists. In conclusion they expressed a desire to pi'O- 
 mote the mutual interests of Great Britain and the colonies, 
 and to render Tryon's adminisi ration liai>py, easy, iind Imn- 
 orable. 
 
 As noted in the beginning of this chai)ter, the sloop of war 
 Diligence brought a cargo of stamped paper to the Cape Fear 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 37 
 
 on N'ovember 28, 17G5. General Hugh Waddell's descend- 
 ant and biogTapher, the Honorable Alfred IMoore Waddell, 
 in his work entitled A Colonial Officer and His Times* has 
 given a graphic acconnt of her reception, as follows : 
 
 "Twelve days afterward the Diligence arrived in the Cape 
 Fear river with the stamps, and the welcome which awaited 
 her captain must have astonished him. His name was 
 Phipps, and his vessel was a twenty-gim sloop of war, which 
 was cruising off the coast of Virginia and the Carolinas. He 
 brought the stamps from Virginia, whither they had been sent 
 from England, and, doiibtless, anticipated no trouble what- 
 ever in delivering them to the Collector of the Port of Bruns- 
 wick. The idea of resistance of any kind probably never 
 occurred to him, and the suggestion of armed defiance on the 
 part of the people on shore would have seemed the wildest 
 absurdity to a commander of one of His Majesty's war ships. 
 
 "Comfortably pacing his deck, as the gallant sloop, with 
 colors flying and all her canvas set, glided eourtesying across 
 the bar like a fine lady entering a drawing-room, the captain 
 was doubtless already enjoying in anticipation the sideboard 
 and table refreshments that awaited him in the hospitable 
 mansions of the Cape Fear planters, and eager to stand, gim 
 in hand, by one of the tall pines of Brunswick and watch the 
 coming of the antlcred monarch of the forest before the inspir- 
 ing music of the hounds. 
 
 "As the Diligence bowls along 'with a bone in her mouth' 
 across the ruffled bosom of the beautiful bay into which the 
 river expands opjwsite Fort Johnston, a puff of white smoke 
 
 * A Colonial Officer and His Times, p. 86. et seq. 
 
38 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 leaps from lier port quarter, followed by a roar of salutation 
 from one of her guns; an answering thunder of welcome 
 comes from the fort, and the proud ship walks the waters 
 towards the town of Brunswick, eight miles farther up the 
 river towards Wilmington. An hour later she sights the 
 town, and a little while afterwards, with a graceful sweep 
 and a rushing keel, she gi-adually puts her nose in the wind as 
 if scenting trouble ; and then, at the shrill sound of the boat- 
 swain's whistle, the growling chains release the anchor from 
 its long suspense, and the Diligence rests opposite to the Cus- 
 tom House of Brunswick, with her gTinning port-holes open 
 and all her guns exposed. Then her rigging-blocks chuckle 
 as she lowers and clews her sails, and she rides at her moor- 
 ings beneath the flag of the Mistress of the Seas. 
 
 "The captain at once observes that the little town seems to 
 be unusually lively and ex]^)ectant. He soon discovers the 
 cause. A considerable body of armed men occupy the streets 
 and line the shore. Presently he is informed that Colonel 
 Hugh Waddcll, an experienced soldier, who had been on the 
 lookout for the Diligence with the militia of Brunswick 
 county, had notified Colonel Ashe of iSTew Hanover of his 
 movements ; and these two gentlemen, with the anned militia 
 of both counties, confronted him and infonned him that they 
 would resist the landing of the stamps and would tire on any 
 one attempting it. 
 
 "Here was one of His Majesty's twenty-gun sloops of war 
 oj^enly defied and threatened by British subjects armed and 
 drawn up in battle array. Here was treason, open, flagrant 
 and in the broad light of day — treason, armed and led by 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 39 
 
 the most distingiusbcd soldier of the province and the Speaker 
 of the Assembly. 
 
 "The captain of the Diligence prudently concluded that it 
 would be folly to attempt to land the stamps in the face of 
 such a threat, backed by such force, and promised a compli- 
 ance with the demands of the people. The 'Sons of Liberty,' 
 as they were afterwards called, then seized oue of the boats of 
 the Diligence, and, leaving a guard at Brunswick, marched 
 with it mounted on a cart to Wilmington, where there was a 
 triumphal procession through the streets, and at night a gen- 
 eral illumination of the town." 
 
 In addition to his o^Ta account of the above transaction, 
 Mr. Waddell quotes another writer, the Honorable George 
 Davis, who sa^^s: "This was more than ten years l^efore the 
 Declaration of Independence, and more than nine before the 
 battle of Lexington, and nearly eight years before the Boston 
 'Tea Party.' The destruction of the tea was done in the 
 night by men in disguise. And history blazons it, and New 
 England boasts of it, and the fame of it is world-wide. But 
 this other act, more gallant and daring, done in open day by 
 well-kno^\-ll men, with arms in their bauds, and under the 
 King's flag — who remembers, or who tells of it ?" 
 
 The full name of the commander of the Diligence was 
 Constantine Jolin Pliipps.* He was a distinguished naval 
 officer and Arctic explorer, the son of an Irish nobleman, 
 Baron Mulgrave, of j!^ew Boss, C-oimty Wexford. Upon 
 the death of his father. Captain Phipps succeeded to the title 
 
 "Compare Burke's Peerage (1895 edition), pp. 1C63-1064, with sig-nature to Phipps's 
 letter in A Colonial Officer and Hi3 Times, by Waddell. p. 113; for portrait and sketch of 
 Captain Phipps (Lord Mulgravc) see Quebec periodical entitled North American Notes 
 and Queries, July. 19C0. Vol. I, pp. 56, 61. 
 
40 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 and was himself later raised to the jjeerage of the United 
 Kingdom as Baron Mulgrave, of Mnlgrave, County York. 
 lu one of his exploring expeditions the future Admiral Nel- 
 son was a coxswain. Lord Mulgrave was in active service 
 against America during the Revolution, as was also his 
 brother and successor, Henry, aftei"Avards created Earl of 
 MulgTave and Marquis of Nonnanby. These titles are at 
 present vested in the Marquis of Normanby, a descendant of 
 the last named. 
 
 One of the shrewdest acts of Tryon's administration in 
 North Carolina was the prevention of all meetings of the 
 Assembly during the Stamp Act disputes. More than a year 
 and a half— from May 18, 17G5, till November 3, 17G6— 
 elapsed between two sessions. Having the right either to 
 prorogue or dissolve that body whenever he saw fit, this power 
 was freely exercised. Hence, when the Stamp Act Con- 
 gress (composed of delegates from nearly all the provinces) 
 convened in New York on October 7, 1765, North Carolina 
 was not a party thereto, as the Assembly, not being in ses- 
 sion, could not provide for the colony's rei3resentation — "an 
 explanation of the absence of such delegates," says the biogi'a- 
 pher of General Waddell, "which does not seem to have been 
 knovi'u to writers who have igiiorantly criticised the State for 
 a want of spirit at that timc."f 
 
 Though at times powerless to cope with the resistance 
 offered the measures of the home government, Ti-yon was a 
 man of strong determiuatinn and bent every energy to carry 
 
 * For full record of prorogations and digsolutions, see Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. 
 Vn, pp. 87-88. 118. 135. 188. 342. 
 tA Colonial Officer and His Times, by Alfred Moore Waddoll. p. 82. 
 
OF NOETH CAEOLINA. 41 
 
 out the decrees of Parliament. At that time Cape Fear was 
 said to he the ouly spot on the continent where vessels were 
 actually seized by the British authorities for non-compliance 
 with the laws concerning stamps, and it was soon learned that 
 the inhabitants of Cape Fear would be about the last people 
 on the continent to tamely submit to such a state of affairs. 
 On the ISth of February, 1766, the colonists drew up and 
 signed an agTeement Avhich avowed the utmost loyalty to the 
 King, yet declared the Stamp Act an infringement on the 
 constitutional rights transmitted to the people of America by 
 their brave forefathers, and i>ledged the united action of 
 the signers to prevent entirely the operation of that law.* 
 The parties to this compact were inhabitants of the vicinity 
 of Cape Fear. On Febmary 19th they marched to Bruns- 
 wick, where their force — according to one estimate — was aug- 
 mented by upwards of a thousand men. At Brunswick news 
 was received that several hundred more would soon arrive.f 
 In order to remove any misapprehension in the mind of Gov- 
 ernor Try on, two of the party (George Moore and Cornelius 
 Harnett) were deputed to wait on him and deliver a letter 
 which said that no disrespect or insult shoiild be offered his 
 person ; but that, being dissatisfied with the restrictions which 
 were laid on their river commerce, the force assembled was 
 going for a conference with the commanding officers of His 
 Majesty's war ships with the hoj^e of obtaining a peaceable 
 redress of their grievances.:]: This letter was signed by John 
 Ashe, Thomas Lloyd, and Alexander Lillington. An offer 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU, p. 168c. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU. p. 168d. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU, p. 178-179. 
 
42 GOVEENOE TETON 
 
 was also made by this committee of three to place a special 
 guard for the protection of the Governor, but the proposition 
 was contemptuously rejected, Tryon saying he had no fears 
 for his person or property, and hoped their protection would 
 not be given where it was neither needed nor desired. 
 
 When a conference was finally, held by the colonists with the 
 Collector of Customs and rauliing naval officer, those func- 
 tionaries agreed that no further restrictions should be placed 
 on the port unless u]K)n the order of the Sun-eyor-Geueral of 
 Customs when that officer should arrive.* 
 
 At one time during the troubles at Wilmington a general 
 muster was ordered in the town, and the Governor sought to 
 win over the militia by having an ox barbecued. He also 
 opened several barrels of beer for their entertainment ; but the 
 people rose in riot and "made a Douglas Larder of the feast by 
 dumping the ox into the river and knocking out the heads of 
 the beer barrels, f 
 
 On the 21st of February a committee was sent for William 
 Pennington, the Comptroller of Customs, William D17, the 
 Collector of the Port, and Thomas McGuire, an offi.eer of the 
 Admiralty Department, with all of whom a consultation was 
 desired. The two last named made their appearance, but 
 Pennington sought refuge with the Governor. One of the 
 party. Colonel James Moore, thereupon went to summon him, 
 and Tryon made answer that he had hiuiself detained Mr. 
 Penniug-ton, who was engaged with dispatches in relation to 
 the King's service ; but that any person desiring to consult 
 iiiiii might attend for that purpose. Thereupon a company 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VII, p. lesd. 
 t Martin's History of N. C, Vol. II. p. 2U. 
 
OF NORTH CAEOLINA. 43 
 
 of men went to the Governor's house and by threats of enter- 
 ing and capturing- Pennington by force (also promising safety 
 if be vohintarily complied), finally prevailed on him to come 
 out. Then marching off, they formed a circle, in tlie center 
 of which he and the other customs officers were placed, and 
 eompelled them to make a solemn oath that they would not 
 cither directly or indirectly attempt to execute the duties of 
 their respective offices, in so far as stamped papers were con- 
 cerned. All court officers and lawyers present were sworn to 
 the same effect.* 
 
 In giving an account of the above affair to the home gov- 
 ernment, Tryon said that, from the best accounts he could 
 get, the force in arms amounted to about five hundred and 
 eighty, with an additional hundred imarmed. He added that 
 the Mayor and coriwration officers of Wilmington, with some 
 masters of vessels and nearly all of the planters and other 
 inhabitants of Brunswick, New Hanover, Duplin, and Bladen 
 counties coui posed this corps, f 
 
 On visiting Fort Johnston, the Governor had the mortifica- 
 tion to find that the commandant, Captain John Dalrymple, 
 had pennitted all of the guns to be spiked. This was done 
 by order of Captain Jacob Lobb of the sloop Viper, to whose 
 commands Tryon had directed Dalrymple to hold himself sub- 
 ject. The armament thus temix)rarily disabled consisted of 
 twenty-three swivel-gims, eight eighteen-pounders, and eight 
 nine-poimders. Lobb was sharply reprimanded by Tryon for 
 his action in this matter, but justified himself by declaring he 
 had received word that several hundred men were approach- 
 
 * Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, p. 168e. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, p. 174. 
 
4-1: CxOVERNOR TEYON 
 
 ing, led by Colonel Hugh Waddoll, who purposed to take pos- 
 session of tlie fort, which was then garrisoned by only five 
 men and the commanding officer. There was danger, said 
 Lobb, that the guns would be captui-cd and brouglit to bear 
 on such of His Majesty's shijjs as were within range.* The 
 officer who carried out the order for spiking the guns was 
 Lieutenant Calder, then attached to the Diligence, imder 
 Captain Phipps.f He is believed to have been that Admiral 
 Sir Robert Calder who afterwards figured in naval warfare 
 against the French. 
 
 Captain Dalrymple, mentioned above, was an officer in the 
 British army, stationed in North Carolina for some years. 
 He died in the province, at Fort Johnston, on the 13th of 
 July, 1766.:}: His will was made in 17-43, twenty-six years 
 before his death, and is now on file in North Carolina. In 
 it he designates himself "second lawful son to Sir John Dal- 
 lymple of Cowsland, Baronet, of the Kingdom of Scotland." 
 The latter was a grandson of John Dalrymple, fii'st Viscount 
 Stair, and nephew of the second Viscount (later created Earl 
 of Stair), both of whom were conspicuous figures in the royal 
 councils of their day. 
 
 Before the Stamp Act dispute was settled the people of Wil- 
 mington had not been altogether inactive. Provisions on 
 board the Vipej- began to run low, and a boat was sent to 
 bring an additional supply. The citizens refused to furnish 
 this, and complacently dumped the Iwat's crew into jail. In 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VH, p. 180, et ecq. 
 
 t A Colonial OfTiccr and His Times, by A. M. Waddell. pp. 112-113; Alfred Moore Waddell 
 in North Carolina Booklel for July, 1901, p. 21. 
 
 } Colonial Recorila of N. C, Vol. VII, pp. 40, 91, 24), 24G. 445; Slate Records of N. C. 
 Vol. XI. pp. 1D4-15S; North Carolina Historical and Genealoeical Register. Vol. I, p. 201. 
 
or NORTH CAROLIXA. 45 
 
 response to Tryon's inquiry concerning this action, Moses 
 John DeRosset, the patriotic Mayor of Wilmington, replied 
 that gentlemen of the Cape Fear section of the province had 
 assembled to redress their grievances ; and, hearing that Cap- 
 tain Lobb was seizing merchant vessels which were without 
 stamped papers, had determined to cut off supplies from the 
 men of war until these ojiprcssive measures ceased. Seizures 
 by the government were made, said Mayor DeRosset, not- 
 withstanding the fact that nuisters of vessels produced certifi- 
 cates that no stamped papers could be obtained at the ports 
 from which they sailed. In conclusion, he added that, since 
 the local ofiicers had come to terms, sufficient provisions would 
 now be forwarded, and the Governor might rest assured that 
 all eiforts woiild be made to sustain His Majesty's seiwice.* 
 
 The Governor's Council met at Brunswick on the 26th of 
 Febmary, 1766. By advice of that body, Tryon issued a 
 proclamation denouncing the late assemblages of the people.f 
 He also suspended the Public Printer, Andrew Stuart, for 
 having published a communication whicli was considered 
 inflammatory. 
 
 Thwarted at every turn. Governor Tryon at one time had 
 contemplated calling on the Crown for a military and naval 
 force to uphold his authority. But soon, by a communica- 
 tion dated Mai-ch 31, 1766 (though not received until some 
 weeks later), notification came that tlie Stamp Act had been 
 repealed.:}; Furthermore, persons who had suffered by its 
 operations were indemnified for their losses. Then followed 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VH, pp. 185-186. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VH, p. 187. 
 
 J Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII. pp. 189, 193, 202, 217. 
 
46 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 eoiigratiilatioiis from tlie corjioration officers of Wilmingtou, 
 to which Tryon returned a polite but rather stilted acknowl- 
 edgment. Another address, by way of a remonstrance, soon 
 followed, in which it was said that moderation had ceased to 
 be a virtue when their rights as British subjects were igniored ; 
 but that the prudent action of Parliament, in repealing the 
 law, had relieved them from the unpleasant dilemma.* As- 
 surances were also given that they knew His Excellency's 
 conduct had always been regulated by no motive other than 
 a generous concern for the j^ublic good. With this the Gov- 
 ernor was more appeased, and gracioiisly declared that he 
 stood ready to forget all improprieties of -which the town and 
 its people had been guilty. In conclusion, he thanked the 
 gentlemen for characterizing as false an attack recently made 
 upon him by a Barbadoes newspaper. 
 
 The Council of the Province, appointed by the King when 
 Tryon was made Governor, consisted of James Hasell, John 
 Rutherford, Lewis Henry DeRosset, Edward Brice Dobbs, 
 Richard Spaight, John Sampson, Henry Eustace McCulloh, 
 Alexander McCulloh, Charles Ben-y, William Dry, Robert 
 Palmer, and Benjamin Heron.f Of these, Dobbs was an 
 officer in the British anuy, the son of Governor Dobbs, and 
 had seen service in the French and Indian War. He left the 
 province al)out the time of his father's death, and his prop- 
 erty in North Carolina was confiscated during the Revolu- 
 tion. 
 
 Spaight died in North Carolina 1i(-fore Tryon arrived. He 
 was a son of George Spaight, who married a niece of Gov- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VH, pp. 222-223. 2-12-243. 
 1 Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VU, p. 137. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 47 
 
 ernor Dobbs: hence Richard Spaight was a great-nephew of 
 the last named, and not his nephew, as has always been 
 stated in North Carolina histories. From him sprang Gov- 
 ernor Richard Dobbs Spaight, senior, and Governor Richard 
 Dobbs Spaight, junior, each of whom became Chief Magis- 
 trate of North Carolina after independence was achieved. 
 The elder Governor Spaight was also a member of the Conti- 
 nental Congress, and fell in a duel with the Honorable John 
 Stanly of New Bern on September 5, 1S02. 
 
 Of the other councilors mentioned above, Hasell was also 
 Chief Justice and became Governor ex officio, as President 
 of the Cbimcil, in 1771. Rutherford (who married the 
 A^dow of Govei-nor Gabriel Johnston) was broiight to North 
 Carolina by his cousin, James Murray, in 1739. He served 
 in the French and Indian War ; and was a loyalist diu-ing the 
 Revolution, as were also Hasell, DeRosset, and Henry Eus- 
 tace McCailloh, though the last named was not in America 
 when the war was in progress. Alexander McCulloh lived 
 in Halifax county. Of Henry Eustace McCulloh later 
 mention will be made in this work. DeRosset belonged to 
 an old Huguenot family, still extant in the Cajje Fear sec- 
 tion, and his loyalty to the House of Hanover was largely- 
 due to gratitude for the protection rendered his ancestors 
 when they were exiled from France. He was a brother of 
 Moses John DeRosset, to whom we have already had occasion 
 to refer. It is from the latter that the present DeRosset 
 family is descended. 
 
 Berry, another member of the Council, died by his own 
 hand in a fit of insanity.* He had been made Chief Justice 
 
 " For correct account, see A Colonial Officer and His Times, pp. 127-129, note. 
 
48 GOVEKXOR TEYON 
 
 (vice Peter Henley, deceased) by tlic King's commission, 
 lx!ai-ing date November 27, 1758, bnt did not arrive in the 
 colony till the Fall of the year following. He took the oath 
 of office as Chief Justice before Governor Dobbs on the 6th of 
 December, 1759. His service as a member of the Council also 
 began during the administration of Governor Dobbs. After 
 the death of Henley, and before Berry's arrival in America, 
 James Hasell was Chief Justice jn-o tempore. Descendants 
 of Chief Justice Beii-y ai-e still living in North Carolina. 
 
 Sampson's name is preserved by a North Carolina comity 
 called in his honor. Heron died before the Kevolution, about 
 1770. When the war came on. Dry became a supjiorter of 
 the American cause and occupied a seat at the council-board 
 of the whig Governor. Palmer was probably born in North 
 Carolina.* He lived at Bath and was Surveyor-General of 
 the province. He was a loyalist in the Revolution, and his 
 property in Noi-th Carolina was confiscated. He went to 
 England and there was pensioned by the government. 
 
 To fill vacancies in tlie above board, new eounciloi-s were 
 sworn as follows: James Murray, July 16, 1767; Samuel 
 Strudwick, December 14, 1767; Samuel Cornell, October 
 16, 1770; Martin Howard, November 19, 1770.f Murray, 
 like some fif the other councilors luentioned above, had also 
 occupied a similar post under Governors Johnston and Dobbs, 
 and the failure at first to insert his name in the commission 
 sent to Tryon was due to an oversight. He was bom in Scot- 
 laud and came to America in 1735. From North Carolina he 
 
 * See will of Robert Palmer, Sr.. in North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Regis- 
 ter. Vol. I, pp. 65. 369. 
 
 t Colonial Rocorcls of N. C. Vol. VII, pp. 160, 42.'>-428, 437, 601, 632; Ibid., Vol. VIII, pp. 
 119, 1C7. 24'J, 268; Ibid, Vol. IX, p. 1002; State Records of N. C. Vol. XI, page 210. 
 
OF NOKTII CAROLINA. 49 
 
 made protracted visits to Boston (later settling in New Eng- 
 land), and finally his continued absence caused Governor 
 Tiyon to vacate liis seat, together with that of Edward Brice 
 Dobbs (then with his regiment in Great Britain), for the 
 same reason. Murray was a loyalist during the Revolution, 
 and died in exile about the close of the war, in 1781. Ilis 
 correspondence has recently been collected in book forai, and 
 is a most valuable addition to the literature which treats of 
 colonial life in North Carolina, though it also relates largely 
 to New England, where the volume was published.* Stinid- 
 vrick, who accompanied Tiyon to North Carolina, was an 
 Englishman, the son of Edmund Strudwick of St. Ann's 
 Parish, Westminster, ajid came to take charge of the Stag 
 Park and Hawfields estates which he and his father had 
 bought from Governor Burringlon and the latter's son. Lieu- 
 tenant G«orge Burrington, junior. Cornell resided at New 
 Bern ; and in Januaiy, 1770, was described by Tryon as "a 
 merchant of the first credit in the province, a native of New 
 York, about forty years of age, and of a very genteel and 
 public spirit." Cornell's granddaughter, Caroline LeRoy, 
 was the second wife of Daniel Webster. The last councilor 
 to qualify, as above, Mai-tin Howard, came to North Carolina 
 from Rhode Island, where his advocacy of the Stamp Act 
 had caused his property to be destroyed during an uprising 
 of the populace. In addition to occupying a seat at the coun- 
 cil-board, he filled the office of Chief Justice of North Caro- 
 lina, and had no superior — if an equal — in the colonial 
 judiciary. Most historians have dealt very unj\istly with 
 
 • Letters of James Murray, Loyalist, edited by Nina Moore Tiflfany and Susan I. Lesley 
 (Boston. 1901). 
 
50 GOVERNOR TRYOX 
 
 his memory; for, thougli a loyalist (like nearly all of the 
 others mentioned above), he seems to have acted from con- 
 scientious motives, and was highly respected by members of 
 the legal profession, including those of the opposite political 
 faith. 
 
 Ujion the face of a commission constituting a board of 
 magistrates on the 29th of April, 1768, it would appear that 
 Sir ^Nathaniel Dukinfield, Baronet, and Marniaduke Jones, 
 Esquire, were then members of the Council ; and, in fact, both 
 of them were members at a later period, after Josiah Martin 
 became Governor.* But the commission of the peace, above 
 mentioned, evidently meant only to refer to these gentlemen 
 as magistrates; for, on two later occasions, Tryon recom- 
 mends that they be appointed to the Coimcil. This was ac- 
 cordingly done on May 1, 1771, though neither of them 
 qualified until after Governor Martin's arrival. 
 
 Sir Nathaniel Dukinfield lived in North Carolina for some 
 years, but finally went back to Great Britain. His great- 
 uncle, William. Dukinfield, Esquire, had been a land o-s\iier 
 in Chowan Precinct, North Carolina, prior to 1700, and died 
 alx>ut 1720. Sir Xathaniel was the son of Nathaniel Dukin- 
 field, Esquire, and a grandson of Sir Robert, first baronet 
 of the name. The title finally came to the Nortli <\Trolina 
 baronet through the death, witliout male issue, of several of 
 liis uncles. f Before being elevated to the Coimcil, Sir Na- 
 thaniel jnit in a claim for precedence, in wjiicli it was c<iii- 
 
 • Colonial Recor.isof N. C. Vol. VII. p. 730; Ibid.. Vol. VIII, pp. 107. 49.S, 001, 024; Ibid., 
 Vol. IX, pp. 19, 62, 291. 
 
 1 See Betham's BaroneUBC, Vol. II, pp. 370-381; Collection of the Private Law.s of 
 North Carolina, by F. X. Martin, p. 3; North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Rck'S- 
 tcr. Vol. I, p. 41 (January, 1900): Colonial Record:) of N. C., Vol. I. pp. 399, 558. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 51 
 
 tended that, next to the Goveiiior, lie should be considered 
 the first person of rank in the colony. This claim, however, 
 was disallowed both by the Provincial Council and the Earl 
 Marshal's office in England, so he had to content himself with 
 the eighth place in the line of precedence until his appoint- 
 ment to the Coimcil raised him five grades. He was a friend 
 of James Iredell, and is often referred to in the hitter's biog- 
 raphj' by McRee. 
 
 Marmaduke Jones, above referred to, was at first Attorney- 
 General of the colony, appointed to a vacancy caused by the 
 death of Robin Jones, who belonged to a different family. 
 Marmadidic Jones was, as Ti-yon states, a cousin of Sir Mar- 
 maduke W_)will, Baronet. He was also the gi'andson of an- 
 other Sir Marniadidie Wp'ill — living at an earlier period — 
 through one of the latter's daughters, Ursula, who married a 
 Mr. Jones of Furnival's Oaurt, London. Of the Attorney- 
 General, Tiyon says: "He is not inferior in abilities to any 
 of his profession in this counti-y." 
 
 Though not within the proper scope of this work, it may be 
 of interest to genealogists to call attention to a statement con- 
 cerning the Wy\'ill baronetcy (now dormant), which is made 
 by Burke in the 1838 edition of his work on Extinct and 
 Dormant Baronetages. He says that one William Wyvill, 
 of this family, removed to Maryland, and died there about 
 1750, leaving a son, Marmaduke, whose primogenitive rep- 
 resentative is now entitled to the baronetcy unless disbai'red 
 as an alien by the laws of Great Britain. 
 
 In the establishment of an admiralty system for America, 
 the Earl of Northumberland was created Vicc-Adniiral of 
 
•y^ GOVKEXOK TRYON 
 
 all the fulonies; and, by the same eoimnission, Tryon was 
 constituted Viee-Admiral for aSTorth Carolina.* Governors 
 of the colony before Tryon's time had also held the rank of 
 Vice-Adniiral. 
 
 During his incmnbeney in office, Governor Tryou prepared 
 a Avork entitled A Yiew of the PolHij of the Province of North 
 Carolina in the Year 1707. j- This was an aljle discoui-se on 
 the details of colonial government, and was highly com- 
 mended by the King himself. 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, p. 459; State Records of N. C. Vol. XI, pp 
 218-219. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, pp. 472, 498, 737-738. 
 
OF NOETH CAEOI.INA. 53 
 
 CHAPTEK IV. 
 
 LAND-GRANT RIOTS IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY— HENRY EUS- 
 TACE McCULLOH AND GEORGE AUGUSTUS SELWYN— THEIR 
 PROPERTY CONFISCATED DURING THE REVOLUTION- 
 JAMES IREDELL BEFRIENDS McCULLOH— CHEROKEE BOUN- 
 DARY — P£7J&0-Vi\'£L OF PARTY RUNNING SAME— TRYON 
 ACCOMPANIES PARTY— HONORED WITH INDIAN NAMES- 
 SOUTH CAROLINA BOUNDARY— GEORGE MERCER, OF VIR- 
 GINIA, COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR OF NORTH 
 CAROLINA. 
 
 It is doiilitful if anjthing in the whole Iiistoiy of North 
 Carolina, diu-ing the colonial era, was so prolific of jirolonged 
 controvei'sies as was the subject of titles to land ; and the 
 jicriod covered by the administration of Governor Tryon was 
 in no way exempt from this unpleasantness. 
 
 Among the largest land owners in the province were George 
 Augustus Selwj'n and Henry Eustace McCulloh, whose re- 
 spective fathers had, "by some legerdemain," as early as 
 17.37, obtained grants from King George the Second for 
 many hundred thousands of acres, mostly located in what 
 later became the counties of Mecklenburg and Duplin.* 
 
 McCulloh canie in person to jSTorth Carolina to manage 
 the interests he had inherited, but did not remain perma- 
 nently in the colony. He also acted as the attorney of Sel- 
 wjTi. When he went to Mecklenburg to have a reckoning 
 with the settlers on Mr. Selwyn's grant he was unable to come 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. V, Prefatory Notes, pp. xxxii-xxxv; Ibid., Vol. VII, pp. 
 10-35, 37-38, 275-278, 451-4.55, 1004; as to Henry McCulloh (the father of Henry Eustace 
 McCulloh), see State Records of N. C, Vol. XI, pp. 31-41, 45-73, 102-108, 118-121, 127. 
 
54 GOVEENOE TEYON 
 
 to an agTeement, owing to some contentions about the tenns 
 of sale on A\-hich deeds had been promised to those occupying 
 the property. Thereu2:)on the quarrel grew fiercer ; and, 
 when surveyors were sent to lay out the lands, their instru- 
 ments and chains were broken and they themselves badly 
 beaten by the JMecklenburgers. Though a pardon v\'as offered 
 to any two of the rioters who woidd disclose the names of the 
 others engaged in the affair, no arrests were ever made, and 
 the land controversy went into the courts, where it probably 
 remained until the Revolution, at which time the estates of 
 both Sclwyn and McCulloh fell imder the confiscation acts, 
 along with other lands, including the vast domain of Lord 
 Granville, for whom McCulloh was also agent at one time. 
 
 Among the relatives of McCulloh was the eminent Ameri- 
 can jurist, Jajues Iredell. The latter's biographer, in refer- 
 ring to McCulloh, says: "lie was a nuin of more than ordi- 
 nary ability and cidture; cunning, rather than wise. Of 
 loose morals, witli a decent regard for appearances, he veiled 
 his vices from the public eye. He had no instrumentality 
 in the ap23ointment of young Iredell to office in America ; but 
 knowing him to be a youth of gTeat promise, he employed all 
 his arts to win his confidence and secm-e his subservience to 
 his interests. He not only devolved on him all the duties of 
 his colleetorshii), but employed him as agent to transact his 
 private business. Through the agency of !Mr. Iredell, ho was 
 enabled to enjoy, uninterrupted for long jieriods, the jjlcas- 
 ures of a London life. He made ]\Ir. Irerlell no c(>ni)'.ensa- 
 tion for his services. Time; after time he would hint to him 
 thiit ho intended makinc;- hiiu his lielr. Often he would 
 
OF NOET3I CAROLINA. 55 
 
 aiuiise liim with the hope that he would resign his office in 
 his favor ; but always found a ready excuse to evade the per- 
 formance of his promise. His sagacity early detected the 
 small cloud, surcharged with the thunders of the revolution, 
 that was destined to spread over the continent. It was not 
 until thns warned that he rcsigiied his office. His property 
 was confiscated by tlie State. After this loss his letters to 
 Mr. Iredell became abject and piteous. The latter, true to 
 the generous instincts of his nature, forgiving McCulloh's 
 errors, made, without success, strenuous efforts to procure 
 his pardon and the restoration of his estates. The services 
 he rendered him were manifold and valuable. At the close 
 of the war, and after he had abandoned all hope of recover- 
 ing his American lands, with shattered fortimes, but still with 
 an income of twelve hundred guineas per annum, McCulloh 
 retired to a country-seat near London, where he died — as 
 false to his kinsman in death as he had been in life." " 
 
 George Augustus Selwyn (who probably never saw Xorth 
 Carolina) was a famous wit aud politician in England, the 
 son of Colonel John Selwyn of Matson, near Gloucester, and 
 a grandson of Major-General William Selwyn, who was Gov- 
 ernor of the Island of Jamaica about the beginning of the 
 eighteenth century. The great English churchman, Eight 
 Eeverend George Aug-nstus Selwyn, Primate of New Zealand 
 and aftenvards Bishop of Lichfield, Avas of this family, 
 though not lineally descended from any of the persons above 
 mentioned. 
 
 For some time prior to 1766 many disputes had occurred 
 
 • Life and Correspondence of James Iredell, by G, J. McRee, Vol. I, p. 9. 
 
56 .GOVERXOE TRYOX 
 
 between the people of ISTortli Carolina and the Cherokee 
 Indians over a boundary line abont which there was much 
 uncertainty. To put an end to this ti'onble (which had been 
 more than once the cause of bloodshed), Tryon determined 
 to go into the Indian counti'y and settle the differences by 
 definitely fixing the line ; and, in the Simiiner of the above 
 year, the Council of the province passed a resolution approv- 
 ing his purpose and authorizing him to direct tlie Surveyor- 
 General to proceed with the running of the boundary.* It 
 was also resolved that the Governor should have aaithority to 
 draw on the Receiver-General for all expenses requisite in 
 fitting up an expedition with this purj^iose in view. Tryon 
 agreed to meet the chiefs or head-warriors of the Cherokees 
 in Seirtendxr, 17C6 ; but, owing to a great prevalence of sick- 
 ness among the Indians, and the near apin-oach of the hunt- 
 ing season, the conference was postiX)ned until the following 
 Spring. 
 
 On May 1, 1767, Governor Tryon notified Messrs. John 
 Rutherford, Robert Palmer, and Jolm Frohock, the conunis- 
 sioners who were to nui the Ixiundary, that he had ordei'ed 
 a rendezvous of the party at Salisbury on the IStli of that 
 month. Rutherford and Palmer were members of the Pro- 
 vincial Council, and the latter was also Surveyor-General. 
 
 As it would have been fool-hardy to venture among the 
 Indians, even on a friendly mission, without an anned escurt, 
 Tryon ordered out a detachment of the jirovincial troops to 
 
 " For fuller particulars relative to Indians and expedition to settle Cherokee boundary, 
 see Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VH. pp. 108-112, 115-117. 16-1-165. 196-197, 207-221, 232- 
 240, 244-215, 248-249. 254-257. 268-271, 279-283, 360-361, 404, 415, 446. 448, 455. 460-471, 500- 
 610, 861-856, 991-1009. 
 
OF NOETII CAEOLINA. 
 
 57 
 
 act in that capacity. Of this body Colonel Hugh Waddell 
 was Commandant ; next \mder him were Lieutenant-Colonels 
 John Frohock and Moses Alexander. The staif officers were : 
 Colonel Edmimd Fanning, Adjutant; Captain Isaac Ed- 
 wards, Aid-de-camp; Captain William Frohock, Commis- 
 sary ; and the Eeverend John Wills, Chaplain. This party 
 was later joined by Alexander Cameron, Deputy Superintend- 
 ent of Indian Affairs for the southern colonies, and the 
 march from Salisbury was begun on May 21st. On the 31st 
 of the same month the Indians came to meet the Governor 
 and his party and were given a ''talk" by Tryon. After re- 
 ceiving their reply the Governor sent some of the band back 
 to Salisbury with an order for presents, to the value of one 
 himdred and seventy-five poimds, which bad l>een voted by the 
 Assembly as a token of good-will. On June -Ith (King 
 George's birthday) the real work of the expedition began, 
 when Messrs. Rutherford, Palmer, Frohock, Cameron and the 
 Cherokee representatives began the survey. A company of 
 twenty picked men, commanded in person by one of the com- 
 missioners, Lieutenant-Colonel Frohock, acted as a gaiard for 
 the party. Among the officers in this little military detach- 
 ment were Captain George Davidson and Lieutenant William 
 Davidson. The latter aftei-\vards became a brigadier-gen- 
 eral in the War of the Revolution, and was slain, while resist- 
 ing the passage of Lord ComwaUis over the Catawba river in 
 North Carolina, at the Battle of Cowan's Ford, February 1, 
 17S1. 
 
 Governor Tryon did not remain with the commissioners 
 and corps of engineers until the completion of the Cherokee 
 
58 GOVEENOE TEYON 
 
 boundarv, but returned to Brunswick shortly after coiicliuling 
 his inter\'iew and negotiations with the Indians. 
 
 When Commissioner Rutherford returned to make his re- 
 port to the Governor he stated that the head-waters of some 
 of the tributaries of the Mississippi river began only three 
 or four miles distant from a peak which had been named 
 Tryon Mountain,' where the line tenninated. Tiyon Moun- 
 tain lies in what is now Polk coimty, North Carolina, and it 
 is probable that Mr. Rutherford erred in his calculations 
 about the ]\Iississippi, thoiigh some of the waters which finally 
 flow into that great stream do have their source not many 
 miles westward of the peak mentioned. 
 
 In a letter to the Earl of Shelbum, dated July 14, 1767, 
 Tryon states that while on his tour among the Cherokees he 
 had been honored with the Indian name of Ohaiah Equah, 
 or Great Wolf. This sobriquet (which the savages gave as 
 a mark of high admiration) some historians have attempted 
 to twist into a term of reproach. Wheeler, with that plen- 
 titude of inaccuracy for which so much of his work is noted, 
 says that Tryon "knew when to use such force and cruelty as 
 achieved for him, from the Cherokee Indians, the bloody title 
 of the 'Great Wolf of Xorth Carolina.' " As loading them 
 dovm with presents was the only "force and cruelty" of which 
 the Governor was guilty on the above expedition, the Chero- 
 kees probably gave him his bloody title for some other reason. 
 And TiTon, we may note, seems to have had a fondness for 
 Indian nomenclature. On another occasion, when visited by 
 a sachem of the Tuscaroras, he requested a name by which 
 he and all future Governors should l)e known. Thereupon 
 the chief bestowed upon him his own niinic, Diagawekee. 
 
OF NOBTK CAROLINA. 59 
 
 Prior to the running of the Cherokee houndary there had 
 also been some disputed points on the subject of the dividing- 
 line between North and South Carolina.* When Tryon first 
 aiTired in America, commissioners, representing the two 
 provinces, were at work on the survey of the same ; and, when 
 he went to New York, the controversy was left as a legacy to 
 his successor. Governor Josiah Martin. Wliile this boimdary 
 disjiute with South Carolina was in progTess Tryon paid a 
 friendly visit of eight days' dm-ation to Governor Bull at 
 Charleston, in xipril, 1770. At Charleston he found his old 
 friend. Sir William Draper, who returned with him to the 
 Palace at New Bern, where he remained as a giiest for three 
 weeks, sailing for Virginia on the 24tli of May. Prior to 
 this, in the Summer of 1769, Tryon had also visited Lord 
 Botetourt, the Governor of Virginia, at Williamsburg. 
 
 Wlien in Williamsburg, Governor Tiyon wi-ote to the Earl 
 of Hillsborough, saying that he first came to America because 
 he believed his usefulness would be greater than it was in the 
 rank he had then held in the army, but he would now be glad 
 to return if given command of a regiment or made an aid-de- 
 camj) to the King. He added that if a regiment should be 
 his fortune, he would strive to make it as eSicient and well 
 disciplined as he had made the company of Grenadiers once 
 commanded by him in England. To this. Lord Hillsbor- 
 ough replied in a very complimentary letter, wherein he said 
 he had made Tryon's wishes known to His Majesty. Fiu^ 
 ther, he observed that the Governorship of New York had 
 recently been vacant, and Tryon was then thought of for the 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU, pp. 154-157; IbiJ., Vol. VUI. pp. 210-211. 554, et seg. 
 
GO GOVERNOK TRTON 
 
 position ; but, as his office in Xorth Carolina paid a better sal- 
 ary than the one in Kew York, it was not thought proper to 
 sacrifice his interests. Now, however, said Hillslx>rough, 
 that he had learned Tryon desired this change regardless of 
 the pecuniary disadvantage, it was too late to remedy the mat- 
 ter.* So the prospect of getting to New York did not seem 
 very bright at that time, though no doubt Tryon's wish was 
 kept in mind, for it was destined to be finally gratified. 
 
 On the 7th of September, 1769, a terrible storm devastated 
 the coast of North Carolina, nearly entirely destroying New 
 Bern, Brunswick, and other towns.f Hoiises, ships, growing 
 crops, trees, stores, live stock, and some human lives, fell a 
 sacrifice to its fwrj. Among the buildings destroyed was the 
 court-house at Brunswick, though the half-finished Palace at 
 New Bern sustained little injury. In one of his letters 
 Tiyon wrote that this hurricane was attributed to the effect 
 of a blazing planet or star Avhich had been seen both from 
 New Bern and Bnmsmck, rising in the east for several nights 
 between the 26th and the 31st of Augiist. Its tail was 
 very long, he said, and stretched upwards towards the south- 
 west. 
 
 On the 14th of December, 1768, the King issued a com- 
 mission from his Court at St. James, appointing George Mer- 
 cer to the office of Lieutenant-Governor of North Carolina. f 
 But it is probable that Mr. Mercer never came to the colony. 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI. pp. 54, 191. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VUI, pp. 71-75, 89, 115. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. IX, pp. 60, 277: State Records of N. C. Vol. XI, p. 219 ; 
 Martin's History of N. C, Vol. II, pp. 203, 250 ; Charles Campbell's History of Virg-inia, 
 pp. 487, i>.13-544 : Bishop Meade's Old Churches and Families in Virginia, Vol, II, p. 205. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 61 
 
 Tliei'c seems to he no record of his presence ; and fnrtlicrmore, 
 as he was vested with authority to temporarily act as Gov- 
 ernor on the death or absence of the chief executive, he would 
 (if in JSTorth Carolina) have talcen the reins of power in 
 1771, for the period between Ti-j'on's departure and the 
 amval of Governor Josiah Martin. At tl:e time last men- 
 tioned James Hasell, President of the Coiincil, became Gov- 
 ernor pro tempore. Colonel Mercer was a Virginian, and 
 had served under Washington in the French and Indian War. 
 Later he was made distributor of stamps for Virginia; and, 
 in the discharge of this office, seems to have met with pretty 
 much the same treatment as that accorded William Houston 
 in North Carolina — being first threatened by the colonists, 
 and then handsomely banqueted after complying with their 
 demands. But whether the Virginia entertaimuent, like that 
 given Houston, included "the best liquors to be had" does not 
 appear. 
 
62 GOVERNOR TETON 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 TRYON'S HOUSE AT BRUNSWICK— GOVERNOR'S PALACE BUILT 
 AT NEW BERN— DESCRIPTION OF SAME— HAD NO EQUAL IN 
 AMERICA— WASHINGTON ENTERTAINED THERE AFTER THE 
 REVOLUTION— BUILDING DESTROYED BY FIRE— WHILOM 
 COUNTIES OF TRYON, DOBBS, BUTE, AND GLASGOW— TOWN 
 OF TRYON AND TRYON MOUNTAIN— SOME COUNTIES AND 
 TOWNS NAjVIED for WHIGS IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA- 
 WAKE COUNTY NAMED FOR MRS. TRYON, NEE WAKE- 
 ESTHER WAKE A MYTH. 
 
 Before the Assembly had the "Pidace" built as an official 
 residence for the Governor at New Bern, Tiyon lived near 
 Brunswick, his house there being known as Castle Tryon.* 
 In his Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear,f ]\Ir. 
 James Sprunt gives some interesting facts relative to the 
 mansion at Brunswick. It was originally owned by the 
 Moore family and later sold to Captain John Russell of His 
 Majesty's sloop Scorpion, who named the place Russellbor- 
 ough. From Russell's widow it passed back to the Moore 
 family as a part of the famous Orton plantation, from which 
 it had been originally severed. In 1758 it was sold to Gov- 
 ernor Dobbs, who called it Castle Dobbs, after liis manor- 
 house in Ireland. It was subsequently occupied by Governor 
 Tiyon, who finally purchased it, in February, 1767, from 
 Major Edward Brice Dobbs, a son of the late Governor. 
 Mr. Siunint, who is sometliing of an anticpiary as well as a 
 gifted writer, has succeeded in locating the ruins of this 
 
 • Colonial Hccords of N. C, Vol. VII, i). IGl. 
 
 t Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear. pp. 67-71. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 63 
 
 house. He did so by consulting land titles, and also had the 
 assistance of an aged negro who had been reared in the vicin- 
 ity. This old negro said he never heard of Governor Dobbs 
 or Governor Trj'on ; but, when a boy, had heard of a man 
 named Governor Palace who lived in a great house between 
 Orton and Bnmswick. Acting on this clue, Mr. Spnmt and 
 the friends who accompanied him followed their venerable 
 guide to the former abode of Governors Dobbs and Tiyon, 
 situated in a dense undergrowth beyond an opening still 
 known as the Old Palace Field. The site of the "Palace" 
 counnands a fine view of the river. Approaching it are the 
 marks of a well-worn carriage road, and there are also traces 
 of a path leading down to the river landing kno^^^l as Gov- 
 ernor's Cove. Only the foundations of the house are now 
 visible. 
 
 "Wlien K'ew Bern was made the capital of the colony there 
 was no suitable place for the transaction of public business, 
 and the erection of a goveniment building became necessaiy. 
 By Chapter II of the Laws of 1766 it was provided that 
 such a structure should be built. This act passed its tliird 
 reading in the Assembly, or lower house, on l^ovember 17, 
 1766, and received its final ratification in the Council, or 
 upper house, on the 27th of the same month.* The title of 
 the bill was "An Act for erecting a convenient building 
 within the town of jSTew Bern for the residence of the Gov- 
 ernor, or commander-in-chief, for the time being." Though 
 Governor Tryon highly approved this measure, it seems to 
 have originated upon a recommendation from the Crown, the 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VII. pp. 320. 376. 
 
(34 GOVEENOR TRYON 
 
 reason being given that sncli an establishment had been made 
 in ahnost all the colonies on the continent foi' their respect- 
 ive Governors.* But Tryon never did things by halves ; and, 
 when the work was completed, no Governor or other ruler on 
 either of the American continents had an establishment to 
 equal it. It was not, however, simply a residence for the 
 Governor, but also served as a capitol or state-house — contain- 
 ing a hall where the Assembly met, a council-chamber, and 
 public offices. The work on this mansion was begim on the 
 26th of August, 1767. It was built of brick and trimmed 
 with marble. The latter material was also freely used on the 
 interior decorations. John Hawks, who came to America 
 with Tryon, superintended its construction. He estimated 
 that the cost would ag-gi-egate about 14,710 pounds. Includ- 
 ing furniture, etc., it finally amounted to one or two thousand 
 pounds more. Skilled artisans were brought from Philadel- 
 phia for the work. The first legislative appropriation (Chap- 
 ter II of the Laws of 1766) was only for five thousand pounds, 
 but this amount was afterwards increased by Chapter V of 
 the Laws of 1767. The sum of 10,000 pounds (proclama- 
 tion money) additional was appropriated by the latter act, 
 and 1,500 pounds was granted to supply a deficiency in the 
 former fund. In December, 1767, Tryon was able to report 
 that the work was being steadily pushed to completion. In 
 1770 the house, was ready for occupancy, and the public 
 records were moved into it in Januai-y and February of the 
 f(jllowing year.f 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, p. 273. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C Vol. VII. pp. 431, 542-M3, and Prefatory Notes of same vol- 
 ume, p. xii; Ibid., Vol. VIU. pp. 408, •ISO. 
 
OP NORTH CAROLINA. (35 
 
 Tlie main biiilJing was tliree stories high, had a frontag'e 
 of eighty-seven feet, and was fifty-nine feet deep ; while on 
 each side was a two-storied building — connected with the cen- 
 tral edifice by gTacefully curving galleries. Between the gal- 
 leries, in front of the Palace, was a handsome conrt-yard. 
 The rear of the building was fashioned in the style of the 
 Mansion House, or Lord Mayor's residence, in London.* 
 The plumbing was done by an expert who came over from 
 England for the express purpose. Eight tons of lead were 
 \ised in this work alone. All of the sashes and four of the 
 principal mantels were imported. In tlie council-chamber 
 there was a handsomely designed chimney-piece containing 
 decorations of Ionic statuary, with eohunns of sienna, the 
 fret-work on the frieze being also inlaid with the latter mate- 
 rial. In addition to this, and above the whole, were richly 
 ornamented marble tablets, on which were medallions of 
 King George and his Queen. f 
 
 Over the principal door of the vestibule was another tablet, 
 containing a Latin verse, ^vi'itten by Sir William Draper, 
 wliieli ran thus : 
 
 "Rege pio, fclix, dins inimica tyrannis, 
 Virtuti has cedes libera terra dedit; 
 Sint domus et dominus swclis exempla futuris, 
 Hie artcs, mores, jura, legcsque colant." 
 
 Frangois Xavier Martin, in his History of North Caro- 
 liim,'!^. by a free translation, renders this into English verse 
 as follows : 
 
 " Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution. Lossing says the contract called for a build- 
 ing two stories high. His illustration, however, shows three stories, 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VUI, pp. 7-8. 
 J Martin's History of N. C, Vol. U, pp. 265-266. 
 
G6 GOVEENOK TRYOX 
 
 ''In the reign of a monarcli, who goodness disclosed, 
 A free, happy people, to dread tyrants opposed, 
 Have to virtue and merit erected this dome; 
 May the owner and household make this the loved home, 
 \Miere religion, the arts, and the laws may invite 
 Future ages to live in sweet peace and delight." 
 
 Draper seems to have been the Admiral Dewey of his day, 
 as Martin refers to him as "the conqueror of Manila." Mar- 
 tin himself once visited the Palace in company with the gi-eat 
 Venezuelan patriot, Don Francisco de j\[irauda, and tells us 
 he heard Miranda say that the building had no equal in South 
 America. 
 
 In December, 1770, the first meeting of the Assembly was 
 held in its new quarters at New Bern.'" The Governor, in 
 his official message, said he gladly embraced the opiDortimily 
 to render acknowledgments for the Palace which had been 
 built for himself and his oflieial successors; adding that it 
 was a public ornament, a credit to the provance, and an honor 
 to British America. He also said he was confident that the 
 strength of materials, the ability, integTity, and diligence of 
 the architect, and the skill of the artisans who had been em- 
 ployed would all contribiite to render it a lasting montimeut 
 to the liberality of the colony. Little could he foresee that in 
 less than two decades nothing but charred ruins would mark 
 the site of this noble edifice ! 
 
 For his instnnnentality in having the Palace built, Tryon 
 has received as much hostile criticism as for any other act of 
 his administration, and it is true that the colony could ill 
 afford the outlay of money emi)loyed in that work. But tlie 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIO, pp. 2S2, 285. 
 
OF NOETII CAROLINA. 6Y 
 
 Governor looked to tlie future, and — of course, not foreseeing 
 tlie Eevolution and the removal of tlie seat of governnicnt — 
 no doulrt thought that lie was doing the province a good ser- 
 vice hy the erection of a mansion and state-house which 
 would be useful to Worth Carolina for many years to come. 
 To the gratification of personal vanity also, it must be said, 
 his action was largely due ; for, with all his strong points, 
 he was vain to a marked degTee, and it probably never en- 
 tered his head that any house could be too good for a digTii- 
 tary holding the high and mighty office of Goveenoe, Cap- 
 tain-Geneeal, and Oommandee-in-Ohief in and ovee 
 His Majesty's Peovince of ISToeth Caeolina and Vice- 
 AmiiEAL OF THE SAME. And the Assembly also seems to 
 have held sentiments somewhat similar; for, in a dispatch to 
 the Earl of Shelburn, dated January 31, 1767, Tryon says 
 that the act of apj^ropriation for the building was carried 
 through that body by a veiy large majority. 
 
 In connection with the alcove, it may not be out of place to 
 observe that no public building, in any way a credit to the 
 State, has ever been erected in ISTorth Carolina without bring- 
 ing do^vn denunciations upon those resj^onsible for it. When 
 the old Capitol in Raleigh was burned (June 21, 1831) the 
 economical legislators of that day ajDpropriated fifty thousand 
 dollars, which they regarded as a princely sum, for the pur- 
 jjose of building a new one, and api^oiuted commissioners to 
 superintend its erection. These commissioners (all honor to 
 their memory!) thought they knew more about building 
 Capitols than the Legislature did, and invested the fifty thou- 
 sand dollars in a foundation. Then succeeding Legislatures 
 
GS GOVERXOE TRYON 
 
 had to spend considerably over half a uiillion dollars in put- 
 ting a superstructure on top of that foundation, and these 
 appropriations caused the political death of many of the 
 State's best citizens ; but now the chief fault found with the 
 Capitol is that it is too small. It may be that the building 
 committee which bought the foundation for the Capitol took 
 the idea from the plan which Tiyon was charged vriih pur- 
 suing — only Tryon got considerably more than his founda- 
 tion completed before he asked for further appropriations. 
 
 And another "Governor's Palace" also caused a tempest 
 in a tea-pot alxiut ninety-five years after Tryon's death, when 
 a far-seeing Chief Magistrate, Governor Jai-vis, recommended 
 to the General Assembly that an Executive Mansion be built 
 in Burke Square, at Ealeigh, to supply the place of an old 
 one, at the foot of Fayetteville Street, wliich had become 
 uniit for use and had been sold. When the new building 
 was being put up people called it "Jarvis's Folly," and news- 
 papers deplored the fact that no poor man could thereafter 
 afford to be Governor, as such an establishment wo\ihl require 
 an independent fortune to keep it up. Yet the house is now 
 considered an honor to the State, and quite often some poor 
 man shows a willingness to offer himself a living sacrifice by 
 becoming its official occupant. 
 
 But to return to the Palace at New Bern : during the short 
 time in which it was occupied by Governor Tryon — he lived 
 there but little over a year — it was the seat of extensive hos- 
 pitality, lx)th to prominent Americans and men of rank from 
 abroad. \Vlien the building was first opened a grand ball 
 was given by way of a house-warming. Of this entertain- 
 
OF NORTH CAEOLINA. 69 
 
 nieut vre can catch a faiut glimpse in the corrcspondeuce 
 between James Iredell and Sir Nathaniel Dukinfiekl, wherein 
 the baronet recalls how the dignified councillor, Samuel 
 Cornell, "hopped a reel" at the close of the evening.* 
 Whether or not the erection of Tryon's vice-regal edifice was 
 regarded with favor by other sections of the colony probably 
 caused little concern in New Bera. The fortunes of that 
 town were fixed, for a time at least, and the dull routine of 
 governmental administration was relieved by gay social gath- 
 erings of Carolina's elite when the Assembly met. 
 
 "A goodly place, a goodly time. 
 For it was in the golden prime 
 Of good Haroun Alrascliid." 
 
 One thing — the style of royalty assumed by the Governor 
 at his Palace balls — does not seem to have made a very pleas- 
 ant impression on the colonial gentry of North Carolina; 
 for, \^heu Judge Maurice Moore, under the pseudonym of 
 "xVtticus," attacked Tiwon, it was said of the latter : "Your 
 solicitude about the title of Her Excellency for Mrs. Tryon, 
 and the arrogant reception you gave to a respectable company 
 at an entertainment of your own making, seated with your 
 lady by your side on elbow-chairs in the middle of the ball- 
 room, bespeak a littleness of mind, which, believe me, sir, 
 when blended with the dignity and importance of your office, 
 renders you truly ridiculous." 
 
 In the early stages of the Eevolution, Abner Nash, Richard 
 Cogdell, Alexander Gaston, and other patriots seized the 
 artillery (six pieces) with which the Palace was fortified, 
 
 •Life and Correspondence of James Iredell, Vol. I. p. 173. 
 
70 GOVEKXOR TKYON 
 
 and Josiali Martin (Tiyou's successor, and tlie last of the 
 Royal Governors) had to flee from his home and seek refuge 
 on shipboard.* After the war the Palace was allowed to 
 go to ruin. In its last years it was put to all kinds of uses: 
 public entertainments were held therein; sometimes the Leg- 
 islature met there; and usually it served the purposes of a 
 school-house. The basement was used as a store-room for 
 rubbish. The last mentioned circumstance explains why the 
 Iniilding is not there now ; for, among other matter kept in the 
 cellar, there was a large amount of combustibles, including 
 hay. Sometime after night-fall, on February 27, 179S, an 
 old negro woman was sent into the basement to hunt among 
 the straw for hens' eggs. It being very dark, she carried with 
 her a blazing pine-knot, which she laid down in order to 
 gather the eggs — aaid it is not nccessai-y to trouble the reader 
 with an account of what followed. 
 
 When the main edifice was burned one of the wings shared 
 its destruction, but the other is still standing. After the 
 Revolution the State Legislature appointed commissioners to 
 sell the land and buildings. One of the lots was purchased 
 by Major John Daves, a distinguished veteran of the War 
 for Independence ; and his son, John Pugh Daves, built upon 
 it the house occupied by himself as a residence during the 
 remainder of his life. James McKinlay (who married the 
 latter's half-sister) bought the lot on which now stands the 
 original wing. This house has had many vicissitudes. The 
 first floor M'as used at one time as a stable and carriage-house, 
 and there were kept the horses of General Washington at the 
 
 •Life and Correapondence of Jamss Iredell, Vol. I, p. 2-10: Colonial Records of N. C, 
 Vol. X, pp. 41, ct eai., 63, 145. 
 
OF Is'OETII CAROLINA. Yl 
 
 time of his visit to New Beru. After the death of its first pur- 
 chaser it was inherited by the children of John Pugh Dares, 
 and they conveyed it to the parish of Christ Church, by which 
 it was nsed as a chapel and parochial school. At the time of 
 its con\'ersion into the chai3el much of the wood-work, when 
 removed, was found to be of red cedar, in a remarkable state 
 of preservation, notwithstanding the lapse of so many years. 
 It is now used as a private dwelling. In dimensions it is 
 fifty by forty feet. 
 
 The commissionei'S, mentioned above, did not sell the site 
 of the main building, as that was needed for an extension of 
 George Street southward to the Trent river. 
 
 In his History of the Presbyterian Church in New Bern" 
 the Reverend Lachlan C. Vass says that the United States 
 troops during the War Between the States attempted to pull 
 do-mi what remained of the walls of the old buildings, in 
 order to get the brick ; but that, so strong was the cement, no 
 whole bricks could be gotten, and hence the attempt was given 
 lip. He also states that sundry relics of the Palace and 
 Tryon were then (1886) in New Beni, including a fine 
 clock, a silver tea-kettle, a child's chair, a marble and rose- 
 wood table, a writing-desk once used by the Governor, dresses 
 worn by ladies of New Bern to the Palace balls, etc. 
 
 When General Washington visited New Bern in April, 
 1791, the Palace was used for the fetes which were given iu 
 his honor. On the 21st of the above month he was enter- 
 tained at a public dinner there ; and afterwards attended a 
 dance, where the company included upwards of seventy 
 
 * History of the Presbyterian Church in New Bern. p. 94. 
 
t\i GOVEKNOR TEYON 
 
 ladies.* Little did Tryou think, when taking his ease in this 
 fine mansion, that, in so few years, its occupant would be 
 driven from America and the house itself used in doing honor 
 to a man whom, above all others. King George held in abhor- 
 rence as an arch rebel and traitor ! 
 
 The picture of the Palace shown in this work is based upon 
 a plan preserved by John Hawks, the architect. 
 
 At its session of 1768 the colonial Assembly, by Chapter 
 Xf of its enactments, erected a coiinty in the Piedmont sec- 
 tion of the province (out of a part of Mecklenburg) and 
 called it in honor of the Governor. But Tryon county, North 
 Carolina (like Tryon county, Xew York), is now a thing of 
 the past; for, by Chapter XXIII of the Laws of 1779, the 
 name was wiped from the map by the erection out of it of two 
 new counties — ^named for Revolutionary patriots — Lincoln 
 and Rutherford. By Chapter XIX, :}: passed at the saine 
 session, a similar thrust was made at Lord Bute ; for Bute 
 county was likewise divided into two new counties — Warren 
 and Franklin. Liven an honor paid to old Governor Dobbs 
 (who died before the Revolution was ever thought of) was 
 afterwards revoked l)y the passage of Chapter XLVII of the 
 Laws of 1791, whereby Dobbs county was also divided into 
 two new counties, which were given the names of Lenoir and 
 Glasgow ; but the "jjatriot" from whom the latter took its 
 name was afteinvards convicted of forging laud gTants, so 
 
 "Washington's Diary published in Pennsylvania Magazine of History, 1896, Vol. II, 
 No. 2. p. 185. 
 
 i See Iredell's collection of statutes, also Martin's: Chapter X in Davis's collection is 
 different. 
 
 t See Iredell's collection of statutes. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 73 
 
 Greene was substituted for Glasgow by Chapter XXXIX of 
 the Laws of 1799. 
 
 Though Tryou county has been abolished, there is a town 
 (in the county of Polk) which takes its name from the Gov- 
 ernor, as does also Tryon Mountain, several miles distant 
 therefrom, to which reference has already been made. 
 
 It has been suggested that the counties called in honor of 
 Johnston and Martin, who were royal Governors, escaped a 
 change because there were two whig Governors who bore the 
 same names. And, as illustrative of the gratitude of om- 
 ancestors to friends in Great Britain, it is well to observe 
 that while the war was in full blast, in 1777, John Wilkes 
 and the Earl of Camden had counties named for them. 
 Burke county probably took its name from Governor Thomas 
 Burke; for, at the same session, one was named for Gov- 
 ernor Caswell, a contemporary statesman in Xorth Caro- 
 lina. It lias been often stated that tlie county men- 
 tioned was named for Edmund Burke. Possibly it Avas a 
 liking for botli of these Burkes which caused the name to 
 be selected. In 1779 one was named for the Duke of Kich- 
 niond; and, as late as 1785, after independence had been 
 won, Charles Watson Wentworth, Marquis of Rockingham, 
 received a similar honor. For him, also, the county-seat of 
 Rockingham is called Wentworth. There is likewise a town 
 of Rockinghajn in the above mentioned county of Richmond. 
 Before the Revolution, in 17(30, a county was given the name 
 "f Pitt for William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham; 
 furthermore, in 1770, by way of an additional honor, Chat- 
 liam county was erected, and the county-seat of the latter is 
 
74 GOVEKNOE TETON 
 
 caUed Pittsborougli, as a compliment to tlie same statesman. 
 And names of the royal family — despite its hostility to the 
 colonies — are still preserved by the counties of Brunswick, 
 Orange, New Hanover, Mecklenburg, and Cumberland. 
 
 jSTor should we omit to mention the coimty of Wake, about 
 the origin of whose name has centered so much discussion. 
 Wake county, in which Raleigh, the State capital, is situated, 
 •was erected by Chapter XII of the Laws of 1770, the act 
 being passed by the Assembly on December 23d, and by the 
 Coimcil on the 27th of that month, with a proviso that it 
 should not take effect imtil Marcli 12, 1771. The cJuii-ter 
 of the new county was formally signed by Governor Tryon 
 on May 22, 1771.* From this it would appear that his ap- 
 proval was given while encamped with his anuy at Sandy 
 Oreek after the battle of Alamance ; for, on that day he was 
 at Sandy Creek, as sho-wn by his military Order Book. Por- 
 tions of the comities of Johnston, Ciunbcrland, and Orange 
 were severed for the erection of Wake, which, under the En- 
 glish church-establishment, was known as the Parish of St. 
 Margaret. That the name of Wake was given in honor of 
 a member of the family to which Ti-yon was allied by mar- 
 riage has never been questioned ; but the perplexing point 
 has been whether it was named for Mrs. Tiyon, nee Wake, 
 or for her sister. The historian Martin states that it was 
 called in honor of the Governor's wife ; Jo. Seawell Jones of 
 Shocco, in his Defence of North Carolin<i, ascribes the name's 
 origin to Miss Esther Wake, a beautiful yoimg lady who was 
 
 • Colonial ReconJB of N. C. Vol. VUI, pp. 299. 333-334 ; copy of charter in archives of 
 Wake county. 
 
OF NOETII CAROLINA. 75 
 
 the sister of Mrs. Tryou; Judge Gastou (a New Beni man, 
 whose mother was once a member of Tryon's household) con- 
 tended that Miss Esther was a creation of Jones's imagina- 
 tion; Wheeler and Governor Swain wei-e inclined to the 
 opinion of Gaston ; Doctor Battle wavers between historical 
 doubts and his early reverence for the memory of the lovely 
 Esther; Mrs. Spencer supports the statement of "Shocco" 
 Jones, and here the matter stands, so far as past writings are 
 concerned.* 
 
 But, after all said and done, no one has been able to find 
 any trace in the old records of this "rare and radiant maiden" 
 whom the Tar-heels call Esther. None of the letters of the 
 colonial period mention her. No known documents of any 
 sort in either North Carolina or New York have a word to 
 say of her. When the Governor's House in Fort George, 
 New York, was burned, her name is not given among those 
 of its inmates, though the members of Tryon's household are 
 enumerated. Nor is she mentioned in the will of Mrs. 
 Tryon, who left no children on whom to settle her fortune, 
 and therefore divided it among her friends. 
 
 So all this about settles the fact that Esther Wake — that 
 vision of loveliness which for so many years has been the idol 
 of North Carolina romancers — was none other than a crea- 
 ture of fancy, brought forth from the realms of Faii-yland 
 by the pen of a sentimental writer. Many historians, other- 
 
 * Martin's History of N. C. Vol. n, p. 271; Jones's Defence, pp. 18. 44-45; Gaston, Swain, 
 and Bryan, mentioned and quoted by Hon. K. P. Battle in N. C. University Magazine, 
 November. 1894, p. 91, et seq.; Wheeler's History of N. C, Part H, p. 414; Mrs. C. P. 
 Spencer in Raleigh (N. C.) News and Observer (supplement), Sunday, November 25, 1894. 
 
76 GOTEENOR TRYOX 
 
 v.'ise acfurato, have been firm believers in her cxisteiiee, and 
 no one can regret more than the author of this biography 
 that our beautiful and fascinating heroine has failed to ma- 
 terialize. Queen of Love and Beauty, farewell ! — and peace 
 to your ashes, if you left any. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 OHxYPTEE VI. 
 
 FIRST INSURRECTION OF THE REGULATORS— TRYOX'S CAJI- 
 PAIGN AGAINST THEM IN 17G8 — OFFICIAL ABUSES — 
 SCARCITY OF CURRENCY— COLONEL EDMUND FANNING— 
 FIRST ATTACK ON HILLSBOROUGH BY REGULATORS— HER- 
 MON HUSBAND AND WILLIAM BUTLER ARRESTED— HIGH 
 TITLES IN SMALL ARMY UNDER TRYON— COLONEL ALEX- 
 ANDER OSBORNE— JUDGES MOORE AND HENDRESON. 
 
 The subject to which we now come is that insurrection in 
 Xorth Carolina whose supporters, as the historian Williauisou 
 puts it, called themselves RcfjuJaiors, lest others should call 
 them a mob. In fact, "the mob" was really the only name 
 by which they were at first knomi, even among themselves. 
 
 The War of the Regulation has been the tlieme of so many 
 books, magazine articles, oratorical flights on North Caro- 
 lina's greatness, and attempts at jxtetry, that to se].)arate the 
 ^^•hcat from the chaif is well-nigh impossible. 
 
 Scarcelj- has there ever l>een a reference to the battle of 
 Alamance that it is not characterized as the scene where the 
 first blood of the Eevolution was shed, yet no v,-ritor has at- 
 tempted to prove by contemporary evidence that the Regula- 
 tors even so much as dreamed of independence. On the other 
 hand, wiien an opportunity to fight for liberty presented itself 
 a few years later, they nearly all became Tories, as will be 
 shown later on. And the North Carolina militia soldiers 
 who marched from their homes to the scene of the disturb- 
 ances in Orange county are spoken of in the average history 
 as the Royal Troops of England ! 
 
7a GOVEHNOE TEYOI^ 
 
 In an article by Doctor John Spencer Bassett, published 
 in the Annual Report of the American Historical Associa- 
 tion for 1894, that -writer reaches the very sensible conclu- 
 sions : 
 
 First. That the Regulation was not attempted as a revolu- 
 tion. It was rather a peasants' uprising, a popular upheaval. 
 
 Second. That the Regulation was not a religious move- 
 ment. It was rather of an economic or political nature. 
 
 It was not only not religions, continues Doctor Bassett, but 
 it had the opposition of at least four of tlie five leading denom- 
 inations in the disaffected district. 
 
 To get at the true source of trouble with the Regulators 
 is rather difficult, though there is no imcertainty about the 
 cause which provoked the movement. This was the extor- 
 tionate conduct of county officials in North Carolina, made 
 more burdensome by the scarcity of a circulating mediran or 
 legal tender money. 
 
 The British had nothing to do with it. It was a North 
 Carolina insurrection and suppressed by North Carolina sol- 
 diers sei-ving imder North Carolina officers — all except Tryon 
 himself were NortJi Carolinians, and even he was one for 
 the time being. But of course any treason against North 
 Carolina was indirectly treason against the King, as its 
 supreme ruler; and, in the formal bills of indictment, etc., 
 the King's name is used, as is always the case in British 
 dduiiiiions. 
 
 The man whose name, above all others, has been associated 
 with the official abuses complained of, was Colonel Edmund 
 Faruiing. This person graduated from Yale in the class of 
 
OF NOETII CAROLINA. Y9 
 
 1757.* TliOTigli certainly not so black as painted, histoiy 
 charges him with being giiilty of many extortionate and 
 irregular practices ; and we are told that he conducted himself 
 with an insufferable hauteur in his dealings with the people. 
 The idea (to quote his own words) of being "arraigned at 
 the bar of their shallow understanding" did not have a very 
 soothing effect on him. And it must be said that his blind 
 adherence to each and every move of either the King or Gov- 
 ernor, in both the colonial and revolutionary periods, would 
 not (even were he above reproach in all other respects) give 
 an impression that such adherence was altogether disinter- 
 ested in a native American, for he was born in New York. 
 During the Eevolution (at which time he had returned to 
 New York) he remained loyal to Great Britain and was 
 Colonel of the "King's American Regiment." 
 
 That some of Fanning's illegal charges were made in pur- 
 suance of rules laid down for his gaiidance by the Superior 
 Court, of which he was an officer, must be admitted. When 
 he was found guilty at the September Term, 1768, of charg- 
 ing six shillings for registering a deed, while the law was sup- 
 posed to allow only two shillings and eight pence, his case was 
 refeiTed to John Morgan, Esquire, of the Inner Temple, Lon- 
 don, upon the following statement : 
 
 "On an indictment in Hillsborough Suijerior Court of 
 Justice, for said province, in September last, Echnund Fan- 
 ning, Register of Orange county, duly appointed and quali- 
 fied, was found guilty of extortion in his office as Register 
 for taking 6s on Deed No. 13. 
 
 • For sketch of his life, see pp. 458-462, Vol. II of Biographical Sketches of the Gradu- 
 ates of Yale College, by Franklin Bowditch Dexter; see also, sketch by Edward Jenner 
 Wood in North Carolina University Magazine for February, 1899, p. 135. 
 
so GOVERNOK TKYOX 
 
 "On the trial it was given in evidence and declared from 
 the Bench that the taking did not hy any means appear to be 
 a tortious taking, as the said Register had, previous to his 
 entering on the said office, requested the Justices of the 
 County Court (the supreme jurisdiction of the county) to 
 consider on the fee-bill, who after so doing in open Court, 
 instructed the said Register that he was legally entitled to 
 6.S and odd jience, at least, for every deed whatever, with pro- 
 bate, order for registering, and Register's certificate of the 
 due registering; and, in case of other instmments, more — as 
 by bill drawn up by the Court and delivered to the said Reg- 
 ister. The opinion of the late Attorney-General of North 
 Carolina was likewise taken on this matter, who declared 
 that the Register was entitled to demand fees to the amount 
 of 8s 7d on any deed. 
 
 "On application, several other Registers furnished him 
 with Bills under their hands, for fees taken for the same ser- 
 vices, for considerably more than Gs. 
 
 "The said Register, however, to be within the law as he 
 conceived, demanded and took upon all deeds C>s only."' 
 
 Uix)n these facts and the deed itself submitted to him, Mr. 
 Morgan gave it as his opinion : 
 
 "On the Deed 13 and endorsements, I am of opinion that 
 the Register is entitled to four fees, viz. : (1.) For the deed ; 
 (2.) For the certificate of the examination of the feme covert; 
 (3.) Certificate of persons examining, being justices; (4.) 
 The oath of execution and order to register." Morgan fur- 
 ther obsei'ves: "I think in the present ease the Register was 
 not liable to be indicted, for two reasons: (1.) I am clearly 
 of opinion lie was legally entitled to more than he took as to 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 81 
 
 ISTo. 13; (2.) Supiwse he was not, we should then inquire 
 quo anvnio he took the 6s. The answer is: not wath intent 
 to extort, but through an invohmtary mistake — under a sup- 
 position of right, consequently he is not criminal. In this 
 case, Mr. Fanning did actually intend to take less than he 
 conceived himself entitled to. And on entering into his 
 office, acted in the most prudent manner, by requesting the 
 Justices of the County Court, to ascertain his fees. I should 
 think that the very allowance of a court of justice would be 
 sufficient to exculpate Mr. Fanning at conunon law had he 
 taken more than he was entitled to by the Act of Assembly ; 
 and that, in such a case, there would not have been any mode 
 of proceeding but by action of debt. He may be said to have 
 acted with the approbation of the Justices; and therefore, 
 for their honour, it is incimibent on the Judges, befoi-e whom 
 this matter is pending, to give all the relief they can to Mr. 
 Fanning."* 
 
 If none of Fanning's offenses were worse than the one just 
 cited, surely he has been abused beyond his deserts. And it 
 may be added that some charges against him are untitle on 
 their face. Take, for example, the statement of Eeverend 
 E. W. Caruthers that Frohock (the Clerk of Rowan coimty) 
 and Fanning made it a practice to charge fifteen dollars for 
 a marriage license, when the law allowed a much smaller 
 amount; and tliat Fanning, in particular, would charge five 
 dollars for recording a deed when the law allowed only one 
 dollar, f Now, if, instead of relying on hearsay, Doctor 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VUI, pp. 33-36. 
 t Life of Caldwell, by Caruthers. pp. 114-115. 
 
82 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 Canithers had consulted the laws of the period of which he 
 jjrof esses to treat, he would see that the word ''dollar" is 
 nowhere to be found. All fees were presci'ibed and paid ac- 
 cording to the English system — ^pounds, shillings, and pence. 
 Nor is it merely quibbling over monetaiy terms to make this 
 contradiction of Caruthers ; for, when Fanning was indicted 
 as above, the record shows that his charge for recording a 
 deed was six shillings, and that lacks a good deal of being 
 iive dollars. 
 
 In his History of North Carolina, Williamson makes the 
 charge that Fanning, being unused to action and deiicient in 
 courage, fled precipitately from the field of Alamance with 
 all of his command except Captain Francis Nash's comjiany ; 
 yet one of the chief reasons assigned by Tryon for afterwards 
 appointing Fanning to oflice in New York was the fact that 
 he had behaved so well under fire in this battle, the Governor 
 saying to the Privy Council at the time of making the ap- 
 pointment: "He is a gentleman, my Lords, that on the auspi- 
 cious 16th of May, Her Majesty's birthday, headed two hun- 
 dred men at the battle of Alamance and, by his brave example 
 contributed to the success of that day."* 
 
 The estimation in which Colonel Fanning was held by the 
 colonial Assembly of North Carolina is sliown by the pas- 
 sage of a resolution through that body on January 25, 1771, 
 finding the charges ag-ainst him "false, wretched, and mali- 
 cious"; and declaring that (so far as anything had been 
 made to appear to the House) his conduct had been "fair, 
 just, and lionoural)k', both as a member of tlie House in par- 
 
 • Documents relating to the Colonial Records of the State of New York, Vol. VIU. p. 327. 
 
OF NOETH CAROLINA. 83 
 
 ticiilar and of the conununity in general." This resolution 
 was not only jja-ssed, but passed unanimously by an Assem- 
 bly in which were such men as Griffith Rutherford of Eowan, 
 Thomas Polk of Mecklenburg, Eichard Caswell of the bor- 
 ough of K"ew Bern, Robert Howe of Bninswick, Howell 
 Lewis of Granville, JSTeedham Bryan of Johnston, John 
 Campbell of Bertie, Cornelius Harnett of the borough of 
 Wilming-ton, and others of like character.* 
 
 When the War of the Revolution was ended Fanning re- 
 moved to Nova Scotia. There he became a member of the 
 Council, and was later made Governor of St. John's Island, 
 now known as Prince Edward Island. At the time of his 
 death, which occurred in 1818, he was a resident of London 
 and held a general's commission in the British service. 
 From an English stand-point, in the Oentleinans Magazine, 
 it was then said : "The world did not contain a better man in 
 all the varioiLs relations of life: a husband, a parent, and a 
 friend. As a landlord and master he was kind and indul- 
 gent. He was much disting-uished in the American war, 
 and raised a regiment there, by which he lost a very large 
 liroperty." 
 
 The number of literaiy degi-ees conferred upon Edmund 
 Fanning was somewhat remarkable, and not only attests his 
 scholastic excellence, but also the high esteem in which he 
 Avas held in America, as well as in England, both before and 
 after the Revolution. He was graduated Bachelor of Ai-ts 
 from Yale in 1757, and later was made Master of Arts by 
 the same institution, which also conferred upon him the de- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIII, pp. 303-304, 461. 
 
8.4 GOVEENOE TETON 
 
 gree of Doctor of Laws in 1803. He was given the degree 
 of Master of Arts by Hansard in 1764, and by King's Col- 
 lege (now Columbia) in 1772. In 1803 Dartmouth con- 
 ferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws, and the Uni- 
 versity of Oxford, in England, gave him the degree of Doctor 
 of Civil Law in 1774. It may be qiiestioned whether any 
 American-born citizen up to the time of Fanning was ever 
 the recipient of so many honors of a like kind. And it should 
 be remembered that Yale and Dartmouth conferred their 
 highest degrees after the Revolution, when the bitter feeling 
 engendered by that war, in which Fanning sided against the 
 colonies, had not been wiped away. 
 
 One of Colonel Fanning's nephews was the great Virginia 
 lawyer, John Wickham, who was of counsel for the defense in 
 Aaron Burr's trial for treason. 
 
 Edmimd Fanning should not be confused with the Tory 
 marauder and outlaw, Ctilonel David Fanning of North 
 Carolina. They were in no way related. And it should also 
 be noted that the statement, often made, that Ednuuid Fan- 
 ning was a son-in-law of Governor Tryon is entirely without 
 foundation in fact. 
 
 Something also shonld be said of the P'rohocks of Rowan, 
 against whom Carutlicrs makes so many sweeping charges. 
 Another writer. Reverend Jethro Rmnple, in his Histoiy of 
 Roivan County* gives tJie impression that tliey were not such 
 a corrupt set after all. Of Colonel John Frohock (who died in 
 1772), Rumple' says his great fortune was amassed by enter- 
 ing unoccu]ii('d public lands; and tlmt he (nnied real pro]!- 
 
 • History of Rowan County, pp. 57-61. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 85 
 
 erty on the Yadkin, Saxapahaw, and Tar rivers, and in Vir- 
 ginia. This account adds: "He mentions neither wife nor 
 child in his will, and it is presumed that he was not married. 
 Besides the kindness shown in the liberation and education 
 of his body sei'vaut, Absalom, he expressly enjoins that his 
 debtors should not be oppressed or sued, but ample time given 
 to them to j^ay their debts to his executors." The same 
 \\Titer continues: "Dr. Caruthers designates Thomas Fro- - 
 hock as a 'bachelor,' but the evidence of his will is to the con- ' 
 traiy. His will, in 1794, leaves his property to his son, 
 Alexander Frohock, and to his daughter, Elizabeth, who was 
 in;uTied to Charles Hnnt, a merchant of Salisbury. * * * * 
 He gave to the towm the lot now kno^\^l as the 'English Grave- 
 yard' or 'Oak Grove Cemetery,' and the School House lot im- 
 mediately in front." Beside* these brothers there was a 
 third, William Frohock, at one time an officer of militia and 
 Deputy Sheriff of Rowan. John Frohock was Clerk of 
 the District Court, and Thomas was Clerk of the Superior 
 Court. They at one time lived in Halifax county. When 
 the to^\•n of Charlotte was first given a charter (Chapter 
 XI, Private Laws of 1768), John Frohock was one of the 
 three conmaissioners vested with the govei-nment of that now 
 famous borough, his associates being Abraiam Alexander 
 and Thomas Polk. The last named also acted as Towti 
 Treasurer. 
 
 The seareity of a circulating medium had a good deal to 
 do with the insurrection of the Regiilators. There was little 
 money in the province, especially in the middle and western 
 sections, and taxes could not be paid without it. Time and 
 again would the Assembly attempt to stem the difficulty by a 
 
86 GOVEBNOE TRTON 
 
 method which had been before employed — the emission of 
 paper currency — but its action woukl fail to receive the 
 royal assent, and therefore become of no effect.* Finally, 
 some relief was obtained by a small issue of "notes of credit," 
 which, though not legal tender, sufficed as a domestic mediimi. 
 Wliile the misconduct of the public officials in the counties, 
 where the Regulators rose up in arms, was bad enough in 
 itself, it has been made to appear far worse by many writers 
 who receive with implicit faith all the wild and improbable 
 traditions of the section where the trouble occurred. Take, 
 as an example, the statement in the first series of a work 
 entitled The Old North State in 1776,-f by the Eeverend E. 
 W. Caruthers, where that -writer says: "In the county of 
 Orange, and not far from the present seat of Chapel Hill, 
 when the Sheriff was going over the coiuitiy distraining and 
 selling the property of every man who did not instantly pay 
 the amount of tax demanded, accompanied, too, by his depu- 
 ties, and perhaps some others, well armed and attending him 
 as a life guard, he came to the house of a poor man who was 
 not at home; but, as if determined not to be wholly disap- 
 pointed in his object, and not finding anything else, or not 
 enough of anything else to satisfy his demands, he took oif 
 his wife's dress, which she had on at tlie time, and which she 
 had made with her own hands, sold it Tinder the hammer for 
 her husband's tax, and then, giving her a box or slap with 
 his hand, told her to go and make another. This was related 
 to me some foui'tocn or fifteen years ago by an old gentleman 
 
 • Colonial Records of N.C. Vol. VU, pp. 570. 678-683, 709, 792, 866, 892, 922, 987: Ibid., 
 Vol. VIII, pp. 9. 651. 
 t The Old North State in 1776. pp. 21-22. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 87 
 
 of respectability in that region ; and he gave it merely as illus- 
 trative of the course pursued by the 'tax gatherers' in that 
 quarter." While this is given by the writer just quoted as 
 illustrative of the coiu-se pursued by the tax gatherers, it is 
 still more illustrative of the fact that the "old gentleman of 
 respectability" who told this tale to Doctor Caruthers had a 
 very gullible listener. That household furniture (even in- 
 cluding beds) was levied on then, as now, for the non-pay- 
 ment of taxes, is tnie. But asking sensible persons to believe 
 that the sheriffs of that day went around collecting taxes in 
 the peculiai-, not to say indelicate, manner above described, 
 is too great a strain on human credulity. 
 
 This same Doctor Oaruthers, in his Life of the Reverend 
 David Caldwell,* favors us with a touching little romance 
 concerning the death of James Few, which runs as follows: 
 "He was engaged to be married to a young lady whom Fan- 
 ning seduced. He then joined the Eegulators ; was taken on 
 the field of battle, and, at the instigation of Fanning, was 
 executed on the spot." The above italics are in the original. 
 Of the death of Few — who, by the bye, was a married man, 
 and not a blighted young bachelor — mention virill later be 
 made. Tryon's official report says that it occun-ed on the 
 day after the battle, and omits to state that he was hanged as 
 a delicate little attention to Ck)lonel Fanning. 
 
 As early as Augiist, 1766, there had been some movement 
 at Haddock's Mill, on the Eno river, a few miles from Hills- 
 borough, to consult for the redress of grievances.-)- It was 
 provided that no liquor should be accessible at this meeting, 
 
 * Life of the Reverend David Caldwell, p. 158. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C Vol. VU, pp. 249-252. 
 
88 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 which was a very wise precaution ; for, if the performances of 
 the Regulators a few years later were indulged in when sober, 
 there is no telling to what extreme they would have gone if 
 driuLk. The tenn "Eegulator" was borrowed from tin organ- 
 ization which had previously existed in South Carolina.* 
 
 Sometime in the year 1768 a second meeting was held and 
 a set of resolutions passed, setting forth the gTievances of 
 which the people complained. The parties to this compact 
 boimd themselves to pay no greater taxes than the law j^ro- 
 vided and to see that the taxes were properly applied ; to exer- 
 cise the legal right of petitioning the Governor and legisla- 
 tive body of North Carolina, or the King and Parliament, if 
 necessary ; and to join in defraying the exjjenses of presenting 
 their case in the manner projwsed. This was moderate 
 enough, as was also a memorial dated March 22, 1768, which 
 demanded that the public officers should give an accoimt of 
 their stewardship to the people.f But less than a month later 
 began to appear that mob violence which was regarded by all 
 of the respectable citizens of the colony as a blot on the good 
 name of North Carolina. On the 8th of April rioters, to the 
 number of about one hundred, came into Hillsborough to take 
 from the Sheriff a horse -which had been levied on for the 
 non-payment of taxes; not content with this, they bound 
 the Sheriff with ropes, maltreated other inliabitants, and 
 amused themselves by firing shots through the house of Ed- 
 niuiul Fanning, who was then absent from towni.:}: Immedi- 
 ately after this disorder, Lieutenant-Colonel John Gray, of 
 
 " Article on Reprulation, by Dr. J. S. Bassett, in Report of the American Historical 
 Association for 1894, p. 164. note (quoting authorities). 
 tColonial Records of N. C. Vol. VH. pp. f)71-fi72. 699-700. 
 } Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VH, pp. 705-707. 
 
OF NOBTH CAEOLINA. 89 
 
 the Orange county militia, prepared to raise troops to protect 
 the town against future attacks. For this purpose he called 
 a council of the officers under him. These were Major 
 Thomas Lloyd, Adjutant Francis ISTash, and Captains Holt, 
 Hart, Thompson, King, Mebane, Lytle, and Thackston. In 
 a letter dated April 17th, two of these gentlemen, Captains 
 ISTash and Hart, reported that when the militia was ordered 
 to assemble only about one hundred and twenty effective men 
 could be gotten together, as so many of the inhabitants were 
 in sympatby with the mob. All of the officers, however, said 
 this letter, behaved with the utmost loyalty, firmness and reso- 
 lution, and to a man could be relied upon to ventiu'e their 
 lives and fortunes in support of any measures for the suppres- 
 sion of such a lawless and rebellious crew.* 
 
 As already mentioned, Edmimd Fanning was absent from 
 Hillsborough when these occun-ences took place. But he 
 returned post-haste, immediately upon hearing of the dis- 
 turbances, to assume conmiand of the Orange coimty militia, 
 of which he was colonel. He also dispatched a special mes- 
 senger to Governor Tryon, then at Wilmington, giving an 
 account of the troubles existing. In his letter Fanning stated 
 that the agitation among the people had first arisen in Anson 
 eoimty and then spread into the territoiy adjoining; and 
 that, at the time of his writing, the Regulators in Orange 
 had a plan on foot to raise a force of about fifteen hundred 
 men and march them into Hillsborough on the 3d of May, 
 when they would lay the town in ashes if their demands were 
 not complied witli. In order to frustrate their plan, he also 
 
 * Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VU, pp. 710-712. 
 
90 GOVEENOE TETON 
 
 said it was his intention to have the ring-leaders arrested 
 under cover of night, though he feared this might precipitate 
 matters. 
 
 That the capture of Hillsborough, on May 3d, was proposed, 
 does not rest upon Fanning's testimony alone; for, in the 
 records of proceedings by a coimcil of the Regulators on April 
 25th, we find that a clergyman visited them and "by the power 
 of persuasions and argiunent" induced thorn to promise they 
 would not go into town before the lltli of that month unless 
 some of their property was in the meantime levied on for 
 taxes, in which event twelve of their niunber were to go in 
 for a parley upon the matter.* Though Fanning had said 
 he woidd consider it a disgrace to have to call on an outside 
 force to aid in suppressing a disturbance in his own county, 
 the Provincial Coimcil took a different view ; and, by its 
 advice, the Governor ordered the militia colonels of Bute, 
 Halifax, Granville, Rowan, Mecklenburg, Anson, Cumber- 
 land, and Johnston counties to be ready to furnish assistance 
 if required. Being willing to share personally any danger 
 which might arise, Tryon wrote Colonel Fanning: "The best 
 testimony I can give of my approbation of such steady be- 
 haviour in so righteous a cause is the offer, A\hich I A^ath sin- 
 cerity make, to come up and join you against all your op- 
 posers ; and this I will do as soon as you inform me ray pres- 
 ence is necessary."! 
 
 It was doubtless Tryon's intention from the first to com- 
 mand personally the provincial forces if a resort to arms be- 
 came necessary. Concerning his military tastes, Saunders 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VII. pp. 713-716. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, p. 717. 
 
OF NOETH CAEOLINA. 
 
 91 
 
 observes: "That he possessed personal courage, is doubtless 
 true ; and that he was well versed in the learning of his profes- 
 sion and possessed of a practical knowledge of its details, no 
 one can deny who has studied his record. Undoubtedly he 
 was fond of the pomps ajid vanities of life generally; biit, 
 possibly, he was never quite so happy as when riding at the 
 head of a column of gallant men, and doubtless the feather in 
 his hat was just a trifle, at least, more showy than the feathers 
 worn by men of equal rank, though, perhaps, not of equal mili- 
 tary ability. But Tryon, when in aSTorth Carolina, at least, is 
 considered to have been something more than a mere soldier 
 seeking the bubble reputation at the cannon's mouth; but, 
 for all that, he was always a soldier, and while an adept in 
 the arts of diplomacy whenever it pleased him to employ them, 
 he always had in view the use of anned troops as the last 
 resort."* 
 
 Upon being called together (April 27, 1768) for consul- 
 tation on tlie alarming state of affairs in Orange county, the 
 Council of the province, besides advising the Governor to get 
 the militia in readiness for an emergency, also recommended 
 that a proclamation be issued against the imlawful assem- 
 blages.f This proclamation was carried to the Regulators' 
 country by Captain Isaac Edwards, Secretary and Aid-de- 
 camp to the Governor. 
 
 As soon as the plans had been completed to arrest the ring- 
 leaders of the Eegidators and thus thwart their design of a 
 second armed descent on Hillsborough in May, 1768, Major 
 Thomas Lloyd, one of the magistrates in Orange county, 
 
 ♦ Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIII. Prefatory Notes, by W. L. Saunders, p. XXXV. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, pp. 720-722. 
 
92 GOVEENOE TEYON 
 
 issued a wan-ant for Herraon Husband, the chief agitator in 
 the movement. With a small force of armed men, Captain 
 Thomas Hart rode ont of Hillsborough on the night of May 
 1st, and, a little after simrise on the day following, served the 
 warrant on Husband, whom he took back to town before an 
 alarm could be given. William Butler was arrested about 
 the same time. Knowing that Husband could not be se- 
 CTirely kept where his faction was in the ascendant. Justice 
 Lloyd made out papers committing him to the jail in New 
 Eern; but, by many good promises, before he was taken 
 there, he prevailed on the authorities to admit him to bail* 
 Butler was also released. It had been ordered that all per- 
 sons arrested on charges of riot should be carried, for safe- 
 keeping, either to ISTew Bern or Wilmington. 
 
 Next to Orange, it is probable that Anson coimty was the 
 scene of more trouble than any other place. In April, 1768, 
 while the County Court was being held there, a mob as- 
 sembled and broke up proceedings. In a letter to the Gov- 
 ernor, Colonel Samuel Spencer gave an accoimt of the trou- 
 bles; and, for further particulars, refen-ed His Excellency 
 to William Hooper, who was one of the law;}'ers driven out of 
 the court-house, and by whom the letter was carried. f Upon 
 receiving the news from Anson, Tryon issixed a proclama- 
 tion (May 17, 1768) commanding the rioters to desist from 
 their lawlessness. In response to a petition from the people 
 of that county, he also promised that any officer who had been 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU, pp. 742-743; Husband's narrative in Wheeler's 
 History. Part U, pp. 316-317. 
 
 + Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VH, pp. 722-728, 751, 806, etseq.: North Carolina Uni- 
 versity Magazine, August, 1855, p. 252. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 93 
 
 giiilty of dishonest practices should be held to accoimt for 
 the same. 
 
 Each person who joined the Association of Regulators in 
 Ansou was required to subscribe an oath declaring that if 
 the goods of any fellow-member were seized for the non-pay- 
 ment of taxes, the same should be forcibly recovered; that 
 if any Regulator was imprisoned, he should be rescued ; and 
 that if any one of their number was fined or otherwise put to 
 expense by the government, his loss shoidd be shared by the 
 entire association. 
 
 In July, 1768, Governor Tryon went in person to Hills- 
 borough ^vith a view of pacifying the discofitented element, 
 but his endeavors were not successful. In the early part of 
 Aiigust he received notice that a large body of insurgents 
 had assembled and made threats that they would come in 
 and burn the town if their demands were not acceded to. 
 Immediately tlie militia was ordered out; and, by the 12tli 
 of August, a force of between two and three hundred had been 
 raised from Orange coimty, but the Regidators did not attack. 
 
 Marching through Rowan and jMeckleubiu'g counties to 
 gather up recruits, Tryon was quite successful in his efforts. 
 Colonel Alexander Osborne commanded the Rowan regiment 
 and the regiment from Mecklenburg was imder Colonel 
 Robert Hai-ris. Another Colonel Robert Harris, in the same 
 expedition, commanded the regiment from Granville.* As 
 both these gentlemen had names and ranks exactly similar, 
 care should be taken not to confuse them. 
 
 On August 26th a grand review was held at Salisbury, when 
 
 * For references to these officers, see Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU, pp. 828, 832, 
 888; Ibid.. Vol. Vm, p. 698. 
 
94 GOVEENOE TRYON 
 
 both Tryon and Colonel Osborne addressed the troops.* The 
 former stated that a Superior Court, to try those concerned 
 in the recent disturbances, had been ordered to convene 
 at Hillsborough, and an amied force was necessary for 
 its iDroteetion. He also explained that no troops would be 
 forced into this service by draft, but only volunteers accepted. 
 Then he dismounted; and, with the King's colors in his 
 hands, called for those companies which were ready to serve. 
 The tirst to volunteer was a company under Captain Dob- 
 bins, to the custody of which Tryon then committed the colors 
 as a compliment to its zeal. All of the other companies then 
 followed in succession except one commanded by Captain 
 Knox, and this officer was so disgiisted at the action of his 
 men that he immediately left them and joined the volunteers 
 alone. The company here mentioned, however, aftenvards 
 sent an apology to the Governor, saying that a misunderstand- 
 ing, and not disaffection, had caused its action; and many 
 came back as volimteers. "The general battalion was then 
 dismissed, and the Field Officers, Captains, and other gentle- 
 men waited on the Governor to dinner, where the health of 
 His Majesty and the Eoyal family, prosperity to the prov- 
 ince, and success to the Kowan and Mecklenburg Volunteers 
 were drank. Before the company broke up the Governor 
 acquainted Colonel Osborne, in the presence of Captain Dob- 
 bins and the rest of the officers, that he presented His Maj- 
 esty's colours to the Rowan regiment of militia as an honour- 
 able testimony of the loyalty of that regiment and of the 
 spirit tliey testified in turning out as volunteers in the service 
 
 • For journal from which this account of expedition is drawn, sec Colonial Records of 
 N. C. Vol. VII. p. 819, et acq. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 95 
 
 of their King and country. And that, in consideration of 
 Captain Dobbins and his company first joining the union 
 colours, His Excellency desired and requested that Captain 
 Dobbins' company might always caiTy into and bring out of 
 the field the King's colours and that the Ensign of the said 
 company should always can-y those colours whenever brought 
 into the' field." So states the Governor's military journal. 
 The Captain Dobbins here mentioned appears to have been 
 that Alexander Dobbins who afterwards served with Colonel 
 Osborne and others on the Committee of Safety and in the 
 State militia forces of Eowan coimty during the Revolution, 
 when most of the inhabitants of that section were pretty 
 effectiially weaned from the "King's colours." 
 
 Leaving the Eowan regiment at Salisbury, Governor Tiyon 
 moved forward to the home of Major Martin Phifer, where 
 he held a consultation with Colonel Hai-ris and other officers 
 of the Mecklenburg regiment. He then arranged with them 
 for a meeting to be held later at the house of Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Moses Alexander. 
 
 It is not necessai-y to weary the reader with a detailed 
 account of the march of the Mecklenburg and Rowan regi- 
 ments back to Hillsborough. They arrived there on the 19th 
 of September. Two days later they were joined by the 
 Orange and Granville regiments, the former commanded by 
 Colonel Edmimd Fanning, and the latter by one of the Colo- 
 nel Robert Harrises heretofore mentioned. 
 
 In the matter of commissioned officers, it is doubtful if so 
 remarkable a military make-up as Tryon's army ever existed. 
 In numbers the whole body of troops would not exceed a 
 colonel's command in the present regular army of the United 
 States, and yet John Rutherford, Lewis Henry DeRosset, 
 
96 GOVEKNOE TBYON 
 
 John Sampson, Benjamin Heron, Samuel Strudwieik, and 
 Robert Palmer were all made Lieutenant-Generals, while 
 Thomas Llojd and John Ashe became Major-Generals. 
 
 Among the Colonels were: James Moore (artillery), Alex- 
 ander Osborne, Edmund Fanning, Robert Harris of Meck- 
 lenburg, Robert Harris of Gramalle, James Sampson, Samuel 
 Spencer, and Maurice Moore. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonels: Robert Schaw (artillery), John Fro- 
 hock, Alexander Lillington, John Gray, and Samuel Benton. 
 
 Majors: Abner ISTash, Robert Howe, William Bullock, 
 Martin Phifer, John Hinton* and Walter Lindsay. 
 
 Aids-de-eamp : Isaac Edwards and Jvlm Abraham Collet. 
 
 Quartermasters: Lewis Coffer for Rowan regiment and 
 William Bedford for Mecklenburg regiment. 
 
 Conunissaries : Thomas Hart for Orange and Granville 
 regiments, Hugh Montgomery for Rowan regiment, and 
 Moses Alexander for Mecklenburg regiment. 
 
 Captain of Artillery: Samuel Swann, jimior. 
 
 Surgeon-General: Anthony Newman. 
 
 Surgeon for Mecklenburg regiment: Dominicus Hawk. 
 
 Besides these there were many other officers, the records of 
 whose services are unfortunately lost. 
 
 Seeing the Superior Court hedged about by the pro- 
 vincial troops, the Regulators made no attempt to internipt 
 its proceedings when it convened in Septemljcr, first at Salis- 
 bury and then at Hillsborough. Of the trilnmal just men- 
 tioned Martin Howard was Chief Justice, while Maurice 
 Moore and Richard Henderson were Associate Justices. 
 
 "Major (afterwards Colonel) Hinton then commanded Johnston county troops. When 
 Wake was cut off from Johnston he lived in Wake. For an interesting account of his 
 life, by Miss Mary Hilliard Hinton, see South Atlantic Quarterly (Durham. N. C). Vol. 
 I, p. 182. April, 1902. 
 
OF NOETH CAROLINA. 
 
 97 
 
 During the progress of the court at Hillslwrough, William 
 Butler, Samuel Devinney, and John Philip Hartzo were con- 
 victed of rioting and attempts to rescue distrained property 
 from the Sheriff. Upon the first named defendant was im- 
 posed a fine of fifty pounds and a sentence to six months' im- 
 prisonment, and the otlier two were each fined twenty-five 
 pounds and given a three months' sentence. But, as at that 
 time the trouble seemed to be ended, the Governor by a pardon 
 caused their release from prison and susi^ended the payment 
 of the fines for six months. A full general pardon was after- 
 wards proclaimetl, and tlms the fines were remitted. Con- 
 cerning these prosecutions, Go\'enior Tryon, in one of his 
 letters, observes: "To say that tliese insurgents had not a 
 colour for their shewing a dissatisfaction at the conduct of 
 their public officei-s Avould be doing them an injustice; for, 
 on a pi-osecution at the Superior Court, carried on by the 
 Attorney-General in the virtue of my directions, b<)th the 
 Register and Clerk of the county were foimd gaiilty of taking 
 too high fees. It manifestly appearing that Colonel Fan- 
 ning, the Register, had acted with the utmost candour to the 
 people, and that his conduct proceeded from a misconstruction 
 of the fee-bill, he was in court honorably acquitted of the 
 least intentional abvise in office. Colonel Faiming, however, 
 immediately after the above verdict, resigned up to me his 
 commission as Register."* 
 
 Quite a number of Regulators were indicted at the above 
 court, though only Butler, Ue%amrey and Hartzo were tried. 
 The other cases were continued. 
 
 Tlie insurgents having all submitted or dispersed, Tryon 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VU, pp. SS4-S85. 
 
98 GOVEKNOE TETON 
 
 naturally tliouglit that resistance was at an end and disl>andcd 
 his troops on the 2d of Octohor ; hnt, as will he seen in the 
 next chapt-er, the real troiihle was just beginning. 
 
 In his farewell order the Governor said : "His Excellency 
 returns both the officers and men of the anny his gTateful 
 and unfeigned thanks for the patient and persevering con- 
 duct with which they have supported the govenuuent, their 
 own honour, and the credit of the administration, as by their 
 spirited behaviour they have greatly contributed to the dis- 
 persing of the rioters and in bringing tliem to a siibmission 
 to govermuent and a sense of their error. These measures 
 being hap])ily effected, it is His Excellency's pleasure that 
 Colonel Osborne cari-y a proclamation of pardon, with a few 
 exceptions, for the insurgents, which Colonel Osborne will 
 read at the head of the brigade at Salisbui-y, and aftenvards 
 affix it up at the court-house door." 
 
 Colonel Alexander Osborne, whose military services have 
 been frequently referred to in this chapter, came to North 
 Carolina about 1755 from New Jei-sey, where he was Ixirn 
 in 1709. He died July 11, 1770, at the beginning of the 
 War for Independence ; and, in him, the cause of the colonies 
 lost an able supporter, whose sei-vices to the ^Vllig govern- 
 ment had already been of value.* The family to which he 
 belonged is said to be descended from the Dukes of Leeds, 
 whose surname is Oslx)rno.f Colonel Alexander Osborne was 
 the father of Colonel Adlai Osborne, a useful Revolutii)nary 
 patriot, and from him also spring-s the Osborne family (now 
 chiefly resident in Mecklenburg county) which has so ]U'onii- 
 
 " Sketches of Western North'Carolina. by C. L. Hunter, p. 186. 
 t See Memoir of General Josepli Gardner Swift, p. 03. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 99 
 
 iiently figured in the leij,'al, political and military annals of 
 North Carolina. 
 
 As mnch will be said of the colonial judiciary later on in 
 this work, a few words concerning the personnel of the Conrt 
 may not be out of place. Of the Chief Justice, Martin How- 
 ard, mention has already been made, which renders it unneces- 
 saiy to speak of him further. The Associate Justices were 
 Maurice Moore and Eichard Henderson, who received their 
 appointments at the same time, March 1, 1708."'^ 
 
 Judge Moore had also filled the above position once before, 
 but was turned out of oflice on account of his resistance to the 
 Stamp Act. Of him, at the time of his second appointment, 
 Tryon says: "This gentleman I suspended during- the late 
 distractions in the colonies. His proper conduct and be- 
 haviour since tliat period, and the British Act of Grace siib- 
 sequent to those troiibles, induced me, with the approbation 
 of the Council, to reinstate Mr. Moore in oflice." Some his- 
 torians declare that JMoore sympathized with the Regulation 
 movement; but, when this riuuor was afloat during his life- 
 time, he said: "I have been cahunniated before now, but 
 never so capitally as in this case." And, in a military capac- 
 ity, he marched a.gainst them. The Moore family, of which 
 he was a member, had been prominent in the Cape Fear 
 country since the days of Governor Burrington ; and, prior to 
 that time, was of great power in South Carolina, where sev- 
 eral of the name had filled the office of Governor. As at the 
 time of the Stamp Act, so in the days of the Revolution, IMau- 
 rice Moore's great influence went with the colonies, and there 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VII, pp. 6S1, 6D7. 
 
100 
 
 GOVEENOE TETON 
 
 is further abiuidnnt reason for Ivclieviiio- that he ever had the 
 good of iSToi-th Carolina at heart. Pnit that strong prejudices 
 were among other strong points in his make-up we are also 
 convinced, for the famous "Atticus" letter, in view of his 
 own connection with a few of the mattei-s treated therein, 
 speaks more for his ability as a writer than for his consist- 
 ency. He was a member of the North Carolina Provincial 
 Congress at Halifax, in November, 1776, and died on the 
 15th of Januai-y, 1777.* One of his sons was Associate 
 Justice Alfred Moore of the United States Supreme Court. 
 Jvidge Richai-d Henderson was one of those striking figures 
 in OTu* colonial history, in whose character the attributes of 
 pioneer and statesman Avere jointly predominant. He is 
 now chiefly remembered for his unsuccessful attempt to set up 
 a new commonwealth in the present l>cautiful regidu which 
 was then, in fact, a "dark ajid bloody gi-ound." He was lx)rn 
 in Hanover coimty, Vii-g-inia, on the 20th of April, 1735 ; and, 
 when a boy, not over ten years old, was brought by his father 
 to Granville county. North Carolina. His first legal service, 
 of a public nature, was as King's Deputy Attorney. When 
 later apjDointed Judge, in 1768, he is referred to by Governor 
 Tryon as "a gentleman of candour and ability, boni in Vir- 
 ginia, and about thirty-three years of age." In addition to 
 his civil positions, he also held, prior to the Eevolution, a 
 commission as colonel of militia under the Crown. When the 
 War for Independence came on he cast his lot with the Ameri- 
 can cause. On September 25, 1775, lie was elected President 
 of the whihim "Colony of Transylvania" — (a part of the prcs- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. X, p. 913; see also, address by Junius Davis in N. C. 
 Supreme Court Reports. Vol. 121. p. 8S4. 
 
OF NORTH CAKOLINA. 101 
 
 cnt States of Keiituckv and Tennessee) — which colony aided 
 in sustaining the niensnres of the Continental Congress; in 
 1778 and again in 1782 he was a member of the j^ortli Caro- 
 lina Coimcil of State ; on August 14, 1778, he was elected a 
 Judge of the SuiDcrior Courts of Xorth Carolina, but declined 
 the office ; was one of the commissioners appointed to settle the 
 boundary between Virginia and K'orth Carolina in 1779 ; rep- 
 resented Granville county in the House of Commons at the ses- 
 sion of 1781, and perhaps served the State in other capacities.* 
 He died January 30, 1785. Among his children were Chief 
 Justice I^eonard Henderson and the eminent attorney, Archi- 
 bald Henderson, whom Judge llurphey describes as "the 
 most perfect model of a lawyer that the bar of jSTorth Caro- 
 lina has produced." Many talented representatives of this 
 family now living have also added honors to the name. Of 
 Judge Richai'd Henderson's experiences with the Regulators 
 later mention will be made. 
 
 During the encampment of the colonial troops at Hills- 
 borough (September 25, 1768) they were addressed in a ser- 
 mon by the Reverend George Micklejohn, S. T. D., who dis- 
 coursed on the duty of submission to the established jwwers.f 
 A few years later the pai-son still held to these principles, and 
 retained his loyalty during the war -with Great Britain — "a 
 High Churchman in religion and a High Tory in politics," 
 
 •Colonial Eecoi-ds of N. C, Vol. X, pp. 256, et sea.. 373, et seQ.. 3S2. et seg.: State Records 
 of N. C. Vol. XU, pp. 7£6, £51; Ibid.. Vol. XIV, p. 353. et scq.; Ibid.. Vol. XVI, p. 95; Ram- 
 sey's Annals of Tennessee, pp. 117-119; Ch. XVI of the Public Laws of N. C. for 1779: 
 article on Henderson family in Wake Forest Student for 1899, p. 1, by Dr. T. B. Kings- 
 bury. For account of the E-ovemment of Transylvania colony, see Kentucky publication 
 by Georffe W. Ranck. entitled "Boonesboro," issued by Filson Club. 
 
 i-Tiiis sermon was afterwards printed by order of the Assembly. For title, etc., see 
 North Carolina University Magazine, August, 1855, pp. 250-251, 7iote. 
 
102 GOVEENOE TETON 
 
 one Yi-ritcr has called him. After the war he removed to 
 Virginia. When he died he was more than a hundred ^-ears 
 old. Bishop Meade, in his work on Old C]iurches and Fami- 
 lies of Virginia,* states that Pai-son Micklejohn had taught 
 school prior to the Revolution ; and, after the close of hostili- 
 ties, was solicited hy some gentlemen to resmne his occupa- 
 tion, but he refused, saying that he would have nothing to do 
 with their little American democrats, for it was hard enough 
 to manage them l>efore the Revolution, and now it would be 
 impossible. 
 
 On Sunday, the 12th of May, 1771, during Tryon's second 
 campaign against the Regiilators, his troops were favored 
 with a sermon which even exceeded that of Parson Micklejohn 
 in war-like spirit.f This was delivered by the Reverend 
 James Macartney, who chose as his text a selection from the 
 thirty-sixth verse of the twenty-second chapter of St. Luke, 
 "He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy 
 one." 
 
 Besides other infonuation contained in the biogTaphy by 
 Caruthers we are also indebted to that author for some poeti- 
 cal effusions of the period embracing the War of the Regula- 
 tion. These are from the ix}n of Rednap Howell, who is 
 called the Poet Laureate of the Regulators, and arc mostly 
 directed at Edmund Fanning, who — though a college-bred 
 man and the son of wealthy parents — is represented as a weary 
 pauper when first wending his way into Xorth Carolina : 
 
 * Old Churches and FamiHes of Virginia, Vol. I, p. 488, 
 t State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX, p. 840, 
 
OF NORTU CAROLINA. 103 
 
 "When Fanning first to Orange came, 
 He locked both pale and wan; 
 An old jjatched coat was on his back, 
 An old mare he rode on. 
 
 "Both man and mare wan't worth five pounds, 
 As I've been often told; 
 But, by his civil robberies, 
 
 He's laced his coat with gold." 
 
 Two more verses represent a dialog'ue bet^veen the partners 
 in iniquity, and run as follows: 
 
 "Says Frohock to Fanning: 'To tell the plain truth, 
 When I came to this country I was but a youth; 
 My father sent for me: I wan't worth a cross, 
 And then my first study was stealing a horse; 
 I quickly got credit, and then ran away, 
 And haven't paid for him to this very day.' 
 
 "Says Fanning to Frohock: "Tis folly to lie, 
 I rode an old mare that was blind of an eye; 
 Five shillings in money I had in my purse. 
 My coat it was patched, but not much the v.'orse; 
 Cut now we've got rich, and it's very well known 
 That we'll do very well if they'll let us alone.' " 
 
 Howell was a school-teacher by profession and a brother 
 of Governor Eichard Howell of ISTew Jersey. A grand- 
 daughter of Governor Howell mamed JefFerson Davis. Eed- 
 nap Howell w^as never pardoned for his participation in the 
 Insurrection of the Eegulators — his name being specifically 
 excepted from all "acts of grace" — and what became of him 
 is not knowni. \yiien la.st heard of he v.as in Virginia. 
 
104 GOVERNOR TEYON 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 FURTHER VIOLENCE OF THE REGULATORS— OUTRAGES CON- 
 TINUE AT HILLSBOROUGH— HOUSE-BURNING IN GRANVILLE 
 COUNTY— HUSBAND EXPELLED FROM ASSEMBLY AND IM- 
 PRISONED—LEGISLATIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE INSUR- 
 GKNTS— TRYONS SECOND MILITARY CAMPAIGN— PATRI- 
 OTIC NORTH CAROLINIANS IN HIS ARMY— PARTIAL LIST OF 
 OFFICERS— GENERAL WADDELL"S FORCE INTERCEPTED— 
 INSURGENTS ROUTED AT BATTLE OF ALAMANCE— SOME OF 
 THE KILLED AND WOUNDED— FLIGHT OF HUSBAND BE- 
 FORE THE BATTLE BEGINS. 
 
 As heretofore observed, Tryon issued a pardon to all con- 
 cerned in the disturbances of 1768 and times previous thereto, 
 with a fc.v exceptions, and ordered his proclamation to he 
 made public by Colonel Osborne. At a later period, Sep- 
 tember 9, 1769, another proclamation of pardon was issued, 
 which included each and every offender, with no exceptions 
 whatever.* This rendered things more quiet foV some 
 months, but the real trouble was yet to begin. 
 
 On September 24, 1770, while Judge Eichard Ilendei'son 
 was holding court at Hillsborough, the Regulators (including 
 Ilernion Husband, Robinson York, William Butler, Rednap 
 Howell, Jeremiah Field, James Hunter, Samuel Devinney, 
 and others) broke into the court-room, attempted to strike 
 him while on the bencli, and beat Jnhn Williauis, afterwards 
 a highly respected Judge. William Hooper, one of the 
 greatest and best men of whom the annals of North Caro- 
 lina can boast, they "dragged and ])araded through the streets, 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VUI, p. 67. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 105 
 
 and treated with eveiy mark of contempt and insult." James 
 Iredell (afterwards a Justice of the United States Supreme 
 Court) was auotlier la\\'j'er attending this session of Orange 
 Court, but the "parcel of banditti," as he called the Regula- 
 tors, failed to get their clutches on him, as he had gone to 
 visit a friend in the country. Edmund Fanning, whom the 
 Regulators considered the chief aiithor of their troubles, 
 was dragged by his heels out of the court-room over rough 
 cobblestones, suffered a severe injury to one of his eyes, and 
 v\ould probably have been murdered had he not broken loose 
 from the mob and taken refuge in a near-by house. The 
 Regulators next turned their attention to Fanning's residence, 
 vdiich Avas torn to jDieces by them, after which they whipped 
 Alexander jMartin (at a later time Governor), Captain Mi- 
 chael Holt, Captain Thomas Hart, and other prominent citi- 
 zens — while Francis If ash (afterwards a Brigadier-General in 
 the Continental Army and mortally wounded at Germantown), 
 Tyree Harris, High Sheriff of Orange, and many otliers had 
 to take to the woods in order to escape like treatment. Later 
 the rioters swarmed through the streets of Hillsborough and 
 anuised themselves by breaking the windows of residences. 
 Finding himself powerless to enforce authority. Judge Hen- 
 derson ordered an adjournment of court and fled by night 
 from the t0A\Ti. Next day the Regiilatoi-s again came into 
 the court-house; and, after setting up a mock judge, got pos- 
 session of the docket, in which they made many entries, teem- 
 ing with billingsgate and profanity. One contemporaneous 
 newspaper account says they even took dowii the decomposed 
 corpse of a negro who had been hanged in chains and placed 
 it in the seat which Henderson had vacated. A few months 
 
106 GOVERNOR TRTON . 
 
 later the dwelling and out-lioiiscs of Judge Henderson, in 
 Granville county, were destroyed by the toi'cli of incendiaries 
 who belonged to the Kegidating element.* 
 
 As Chief Justice Howard was not in the colony when the 
 outrages at Hillsborough occurred (September, 1770), f he 
 could not have been "driven from the bench," as stated in 
 the Defence of North Carolina, by Jo. Seawell Jones. The 
 same work says: "The rioters respected the character of 
 Judge Moore." If calling this distinguished jjcrsonage a 
 rascal, rogue, villain, and a scoundrel, and threatening to 
 flog or kill him if he came to hold court at Salisbury,:}: was 
 the way in which these worthies showed their "respect," then 
 Judge Moore did hold their respect to a most remarkable de- 
 gi-ee ! But, serioTisly six-aking, it would seem that the Kegu- 
 lators were really far less bitter against Chief Justice Howard 
 than they were against Associate Justices Moore and Hen- 
 derson ; for, when informed that, owing to the riots, no court 
 would be hold at Salisbury, "tliey said there would have been 
 no danger for the Chief Justice to have held a co\irt ; but, as 
 to the Associate Justices, they were silent."§ 
 
 The old Assembly having l>een dissolved by Governor 
 Tryon, a new one met in ac^'ordance with his smmuons at 
 New Bern on the 23d of October, 1770.1[ In this body, as 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C Vol. VIU. pp. 235-260. 202; see also, quotation from New 
 York Gazette in Annual Register (London) for 1770, p. 231; Life and Correspondence of 
 James Iredell. Vol. I, pp. 80. 379. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIU. p. 218. 
 
 {Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI. pp. 519-520. 
 
 § Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VHI. p. hii. 
 
 II In the beginninrj of House Journal 1769 is erroneously given as year of meeting ; but 
 in the general proceedings the date is given 1770, as it should be. Sec Coloni.il Records 
 of N. C. Vol. VIII, p. 303. ct suq. 
 
OF NOKTII CAROLINA. 107 
 
 oue of the representatives from Orange county, ajipeared 
 Hennon Husband, a chief of the EeguLators. During the 
 progress of the session, on the 20th of December,* Mr. Hus- 
 band was brought before the House (sitting as a Committee 
 of the Whole, mth Colonel John Campbell of Bertie as chair- 
 man), charged with simdiy misdemeanors, and expelled in 
 accordance with the following resolutions : 
 
 Eesolvcd, That it appears to this committee that Herman Husband, a 
 member of the committee, is one of the people who denominate them- 
 selves Regulators, and that he hath been a principal mover and promoter 
 of the late riots and seditions in the county of Orange, and other parts 
 of the province. 
 
 Resolved, That it appears to this committee that a letter published in 
 the North Carolina Gazette of the 14th of December, directed to the 
 Honorable Maurice Jloore, Esquire, at New Bern, and signed by James 
 Hunter, is a false, seditious, and malicious libel. 
 
 Resolved, That it appears to this committee that the above named Her- 
 man Husband was the publisher of the said libel. 
 
 Resolved, That it appears to this committee that the said Herman 
 Husband was guilty of gross prevarication and falsehood in his examina- 
 tion before the committee of propositions and grievances relative to the 
 said libel. 
 
 Resolved, That it appears to this committee that the said Herman Hus- 
 band hath insinuated in conversation that in case he should be confined, 
 by order of the House, he expected down a number of people to release 
 him. 
 
 Resolved, That it is opinion of this committee that such an insinua- 
 tion is a daring insult offered to this House, and tending to intimidate 
 the members from a due discharge of their duty. 
 
 After passing the above, further proceedings were had, as 
 follows : 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VUI, pp. 330-331. 
 
108 GOVERNOR TRYOX 
 
 Resolved, Tliat the conduct of the said Herman Husband, botli as a 
 member of this House in particular, and of the community in general, 
 has justly incurred the contempt of this House and rendered him un- 
 worthy of a seat in the Assembly. 
 
 Resolved, That the said Herman Husband be immediately expelled 
 from this House. 
 
 Ordered, That the said Herman Husband appear at the Bar of the 
 House, and that Mr. Speaker pronounce the said sentence — 
 
 Whereupon, the said Herman Husband appeared at the Bar of the 
 House, and Mr. Speaker pronounced the said sentence accordingly. 
 
 After his expulsion from the Assembly, Mr. Husband pre- 
 pared to return to his followers, when the Council advised 
 Tryon that if this were allowed it might further endanger 
 the peace of the province. Thereupon a bench-warrant was 
 issued by Chief Justice Howard for the apprehension of Hus- 
 band, and he was accordingly committed to the jail in New 
 Bern.* As no evidence was then accessible to establish the 
 charge of rioting, the prisoner was charged in the warrant 
 with the libel on Maurice Moore. 
 
 As may be supjx)sed, the Regulators were highly Incensed 
 at the arrest of their representative, and at once gave ojjcn 
 threats that they would go down in a body and forcibly effect 
 his release. This caused some conccni for the safety of New 
 Bern, and troops were ordered to be in readiness to repel the 
 anticipated attack. That a movement on New Bern was 
 meditated, there is little doubt. Emissaries were dispatched 
 by the Regidators to different parts of the province to stir 
 up further discontent and raise re-inforcemcnts. Nor was 
 the government idle; for there was a chain of well affected 
 counties through which the insurgents must pass. In these 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C Vol. VUI. pp. 494. 54G, et seq. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 109 
 
 Colonel John Ilinton of Wake, C-olonel ISTeedbam Brjan of 
 Jolmston, Colonel Eichard Caswell of Dobbs, and possibly 
 other officers, were all prepared with their regiments to inter- 
 cept the march of the Regulators.* But, on February 8, 
 1771, while preparations on lx)th sides were progressing, 
 Husband was released from jail, the grand jui-y having 
 failed to find a true bill. The profxised movement on ISTew 
 Bern was thereupon abandoned. But the discontented ele- 
 ment in Orange county grew no more orderly. Proclamation 
 after proclamation was issued by the Governor — having about 
 as much effect as sennons would have on mud-turtles, and 
 matters went from bad to woi-se each day. First had come 
 a letter from Judge Moore, saying that the designs of the 
 insurgents went further than to promote inquiry into the con- 
 duct of civil officers, and that no legal process of any kind 
 could be served among them.f Then the complaint from 
 Judge Henderson was received, telling of the indignities 
 offered him at Hillslwrough, and soon followed the news that 
 he had been birmed out of house and home. In February, 
 1771, a court having been ordered to sit at Hillsborough,:!^ 
 the following remonstrance from the Chief Justice and his 
 associates was laid before the Governor : 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your Excellency having signified to us your opinion that it is expe- 
 dient that the Chief Justice, Associate Justices, and Attorney-General 
 should attend the ensuing Superior Court at Hillsborough, we do ac- 
 quaint Your Excellency that we have conferred together upon the subject, 
 and, considering the violences committed there at the last Court, and be- 
 ing well informed that the disturbances and the distractions in that dis- 
 
 •Colonial Records ot N. C, Vol. VHI, pp. 500-501. 
 tColonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIU, p. 192. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI, p. 538. 
 
110 GOVERNOE TIIYON 
 
 tiict are rather increasing than declining, we submit it to Your Ex- 
 cellency as our opinion that we cannot attend that Court with any hopes 
 of transacting the business of it; or, indeed, with any prospect of per- 
 sonal safety to ourselves. 
 
 M. HOWARD, C. ./., 
 
 M. MOORE, 
 
 R. HENDERSON. 
 JIarch 18th, 1771, New Bera. 
 
 Of the continited excesses indnlgcJ in by the Regulators, 
 Williamson, in his History of Nortli Carolina* says: ''Their 
 demands and their violence increased at every meeting. 
 Their success produced no reformation. They broke and 
 trampled under foot all the bonds of civilized society, and 
 gave reins to every disordered passion ; for vice itself, by 
 repeated acts of violence, had changed its name and color. 
 They prevented the Superior Court from sitting in Hills- 
 borough, insulted the Judges, and maltreated the inhabitants. 
 K^ot satisfied with abusing Judge Henderson at court, they 
 burnt his stables and com on the twelfth of November, and 
 they biirnt his dwelling-house on the fourteenth. It was no 
 longer a question whether clerks, registers or law;^'ers should 
 be permitted to receive more than legal fees, and sheriffs be 
 compelled to accotmt for all the taxes they had collected. It 
 was now to be determined whether civil government should 
 prevail, or every man's property be exposed, without redress, 
 to the avarice or resentment of a lawless mob." 
 
 Affaii-s had finally reached that ™iint wliere it would have 
 been not only unjustifiable, but criminal, in Governor Tryon 
 longer to submit to the i)revailing anarchy, and this ho now 
 realized. Under similar circumstances at the present time 
 
 •History of North Carolina. Vol. H, p. 138. 
 
OF NOETJI CAEOLIXA. Ill 
 
 no mob would be allowed to indidge in such excesses for half 
 so long a period. In a message to the Council and Assembly, 
 on the 5th of December, 1770, Tryon set forth at some length 
 the distracted state of affairs and asked that provision be 
 made for raising and arming a sufficient body of troops with 
 which to march into the country of the insurgents and 
 put an end to their lawlessness. The Council pledged its 
 co-operation; and the lower house, if anything, seemed 
 even more anxious to adopt measures for the suppression 
 of the disturbances.* The latter (sitting as a Committee 
 of the Whole, with Colonel William Hay^vood of Edge- 
 combe as chaii-man) took the Governor's speech into con- 
 sideration and reported its conclusions; thereupon, another 
 conmiitte« was appointed to draw up a reply. The latter 
 committee (composed of Maurice Moore, chairman, Joseph 
 Hewes, Robert Howe, Edmimd Fanning, Samuel Johnston, 
 Abner N"ash, and Cornelius Harnett) , on December 10th, sub- 
 mitted its report, which was duly adopted. Therein it was 
 said : "The late daring and insolent attack made on the Supe- 
 rior Court at Hillsborough, by the people who call themselves 
 Regulators, we hold in the utmost detestation and abhorrence. 
 The deliberate and preconceived malice with which it Vi'as 
 contrived, and the biiital fury Avitli which it was executed, 
 equally bespeak them unawed by the laws of their coraitry, 
 insensible to every moral duty, and wickedly disaffected to 
 govei-nment itself. The dissolute principles and licentious 
 spirit by which these people are actuated and stand united, 
 render them too formidable for the ordinary process of law. 
 Sensible of this, sir, we owe it to our sovereign, our constitu- 
 
 * Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI, pp. 2S4, 239. 306. 312. 
 
112 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 ents, and ourselves, to adoj^t measures at once spirited and 
 decisive." And sncli measures (contained in a bill introduced 
 by Samuel Johnston of Chowan, aftenvarda Governor) were 
 adopted alx>ut a month later, on Januiy 15, 1771.* It is 
 doubtful if so drastic a measure as this ever passed an Ameri- 
 can Assembly. Among other things, it provided that if any 
 persons, to the number of ten or more, should unlawfully, riot- 
 ously, and tumultuously assemble together after the first day 
 of the succeeding February, and should refuse to disjierse on 
 the command of one or more magistrates or of the Sheriff, the 
 offenders shoidd, on due conviction by a jurj', be adjudged 
 felons and suifer death without benefit of the clergy; that it 
 should be the duty of any sheriff to smnnion a j^osse to seize 
 the persons of rioters so assembled, and, if any rioter should 
 be killed in resisting arrest, the person killing him should 
 not be held answerable to the law for such act ; that if, when 
 the courts should convene after the first day of the following 
 March, any j^erson or persons should assault, beat, wound, 
 or openly threaten the Judge or other officers of the Court, 
 hinder sheriffs in the discharge of their duties, burn or other- 
 wise destroy any churdi, chapel, court-hovise, prison, dwell- 
 ing, or ont-house, such person or persons, and their aiders 
 and abettors, if duly convicted before a jury, shoidd l)c ad- 
 judged felons and suffer death without benefit of the clergy ; 
 that if any pereon should be presented by a grand jury for 
 the crimes above specified and sliould evade arrest, procla- 
 matiiiu of (Mitbnvry should issue against him, and any party 
 thereafter slaying him should not be held ac('o\iutablc for the 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIII, pp. 319. 481. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 113 
 
 deed ; that the Governor and Ctommander-in-Chief should 
 ha%'e power to make drafts on the militia if a militaiy expe- 
 dition should l)e found necessary, and that the cost of such 
 expedition should be paid out of the public treasury ; that if 
 a body of men should gather together in arms for the purpose 
 of resisting the militaj-y forces thus ordered out, and should 
 fail to lay down their arms and surrender when so com- 
 manded, such men should be deemed traitors and dealt with 
 imder the law against treason; tbat any judge in the proviuce 
 should have power to issue wan-ants against any of the classes 
 of offenders mentioned above, although such offenders might 
 reside in districts other than the one wherein he was holding 
 court ; that the Justices of every Inferior Court and the min- 
 ister of each parish in the province should cause this act to 
 be publicly read before the people on the second day of each 
 court, or at least onoe every three months, during the continu- 
 ance of this act; and that the act should continue in force 
 for the space of one year, and no longer. 
 
 The above act (Chapter I of the Laws of 1770) is some 
 times known as the Johnston Act,, after its author, and some- 
 times as the Riot Act. When it was sent to England to be 
 passed upon by the authorities there, even in that country — a 
 land where the remains of quartered Jacobites had recently 
 been exhibited like so much meat on a spit-rack — even there, 
 parts of this law were declared "irreconcilable with the prin- 
 ciples of the constitution, full of danger in its operation, and 
 imfit for any part of the British Empire."* Permission, 
 however, was given the Carolina Assembly to continue in 
 force such sections of the act as were not considered too severe. 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VUI. p. 516; Ibid., Vol. IX, p. 289. 
 
114: GOVEENOK TETON 
 
 The Regulators, no doubt believing themselves secure by 
 reason of their nuraljers, were not at all frightened by the 
 Johnston Act, though its passage, as might be supposed, did 
 not put them in a very amiable frame of mind. Of their 
 sentiments on the subject we have some knowledge from a 
 deiwsition made in 1771 by Waightstill Avery.* It seems 
 that, in the year mentioned, this gentleman was cajjtured at 
 a ferry by the insurgents; and, when an inn was reached, 
 one of their number advised him to "call for a bowl of toddy 
 and treat the captains, for they were going to ride on to the 
 Regulating Camp." The toddy being forthcoming at Mr. 
 Avery's expense, he was simply detained, not being mal- 
 treated ; but, while in the camp, he had an opportunity to get 
 the sentiments of the insiu-gents. One of their niunbcr, 
 Thomas Hamilton, stood in the midst of the crowd and deliv- 
 ered himself as follows : "What basiness has Maiirice Moore 
 to be a Judge ? He is no Judge ; he was not appointed by 
 the King — he nor Henderson neither. They'll neitlier of 
 them hold court. The Assembly have gone and made a Riot- 
 ous Act, and the people are more enraged than ever. It was 
 the best thing which could be done for the coimtry, for now 
 we shall be forced to kill all the clerks and lawyers, and we 
 will kill them; and I'll lx> damned if they are not put to 
 death. If they had not made that act we might have suf- 
 fered some of them to live. A Riotous Act ! There never 
 was any such act in the laws of England, or any other cmiu- 
 try but France; they brought it from France, and tlicy'U 
 bring the Incpiisitiou next." 
 
 On March 11, 1771, tlie grand jury fur the district of iS'ew 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. VoL VHI. p. 518, ct eeq. 
 
OF NOETJI CAROLINA. 115 
 
 Bern returned sixty-two bills against different Eegiilators.* 
 Among those indicted were Hennon Husband, James Ilnnter, 
 James Few, Jeremiah Field, Robinson York, John Pugh, 
 William Butler, Samuel Devinney, Rednap Howell, Ninian 
 Hamilton, Ninian Beall Hamilton, and John Fruit. 
 
 On the IStli of March, Governor Tryon began active prep- 
 arations for the forcible reduction of the EegTilators. First 
 he submitt<>d his proposition to the Council ;f and, in the 
 record of this matter, the Journal says: "The board taking 
 the same into their serious consideration, it is their unani- 
 mous opinion that the most effectual measures to reduce the 
 people calling themselves Regulators be pursued by raising 
 a body of sufficient forces from the militia, and marching 
 against them with all expedition." 
 
 Both the Cbuncil and Grand Jury, upon Tryon's offer to 
 command the colonial forces in person, were favorable to the 
 plan, and he sent out a circular letter on the day following 
 (March 19th), calling upon the colonels of militia for detach- 
 ments from tlieir regiments. He also fonvarded a request 
 to General Gage, Commander-in-Chief of the British forces 
 in America, for two field-pieces with which to cover any fords 
 which the Regulators might fortify. Some artilleiy (swivel- 
 guns) the Governor already had. Going in person to Wil- 
 mington, Tryon there made plans for raising the troops of 
 that section, and promoted Colonel Hugh Waddell to the rank 
 of general. Expresses to President Nelson, acting Governor 
 of Virginia, and Governor Bull of South Carolina, were 
 also sent, requesting that they take precautions to the end that 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI. pp. 531-532. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. Vm, p. 538. 
 
116 GOVERNOE TEYON 
 
 none of the insurgents should be suffered to seek shelter l^y 
 crossing the borders into those colonies.* 
 
 The plan agreed upon was that General Waddell should 
 proceed to raise the forces of the western counties, and form 
 a rendezvous at Salisbuiy; while Tiyon, with the eastera 
 troops, should close in from the opposite direction. Salis- 
 bun' had recently been occupied by a force of Regulators ; 
 but the officer there in command of the calonial forces, Major 
 Dobbins (who had been promoted from captain since Tryon's 
 first expedition), succeeded in presei'ving the peace, with the 
 aid of a detachment from Mecklenburg, marched down in 
 great haste under Colonel Moses Alexander and Captain 
 Thomas Polk.f Acting imder Major Dobbins on this occa- 
 sion was Cajitain Griffith Rutlierford, who aftenvards sei-ved 
 the colonies as a brigadier-general during the Revolution. 
 Another captain in this force was George Henry Berger, who 
 also became a useful Revolutionary patriot in later years. 
 
 On the 23d of April, Tryon began his march from New 
 Beni ; and, nine days later, arrived at Hunter's Lodge, in 
 Wake county, which was appointed as the place of rendezvous 
 for the eastern troojis. Here the forces of the vicinity, under 
 Colonel John Hinton, awaited him, together with some addi- 
 tional detachments from other counties. 
 
 If it is allowable for history to draw on fiction, in the 
 course of a nan-ative, it will be a pleasure for us here to pause 
 and recall the account of a North Carolina novelist, who tells 
 of the progress of his hero who marched from New Bern 
 under the Governor's banner: 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VUI. pp. 540-642. M7-548. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. ViU, pp. 635. 548. 
 
OF NORTH CAEOLINA. 117 
 
 "For days and nights, and nights and davs, did they march 
 and encamp, decamp and march again, over roads and through 
 forests, by river and by brook ; and, as they marched, others 
 came to swell their ranks. Sometimes the army, emerging 
 from a dense wood, came face to face with a motley com- 
 pany of volunteers cheering and waving their caps. Again, 
 some quick-eyed woodsman would see afar the glinmier of 
 arms and the cloud of dust that overhimg some detachment 
 approaching in the distance. Thus came the re-inforcements 
 from the counties Craven and Carteret, from Dobbs and from 
 'New Hanover, from Johnston and from Onslow and fi-om 
 Wake; and the cheers were loud and long when Bullock 
 dashed among them with his company of light-horse, when 
 Neale s^vuiig into line with his band of sturdy riflemen, and 
 when Moore toiled into the column with his little battery of 
 artillery."* 
 
 Though the list cannot be fully given, it will doiibtless be 
 of interest to record the names and ranks, so far as can be 
 learned, of the officers serving immediately under Tryon in 
 his Alamance campaign.f Of the force under General Wad- 
 dell mention will presently be made. The officers, so far as 
 known, in the Governor's little army were: Lewis Henry 
 DeRosset, Adjutant-General; Robert Campbell, Assistant 
 Adjutant-General; Robert Howe, Quartennaster-General ; 
 Alexander Lillington, Assistant QTiartermaster-General ; 
 John Rutherford, Judge-Advocate-General ; Thomas Clark, 
 Provost-Marshal-General ; Reverend James Macartney, Chap- 
 
 •From "Wallannah: A Colonial Romance," by Will Loftin Har^rave. 
 t Compiled chiefly from Tryon's Journals, Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIII, pp. 574- 
 600. 659-677; State Records of N. C, Vol. XIX. pp. 836-854. 
 
118 GOVERNOE TEYON 
 
 lain; and James Moore of I^eM^ Hanover, Colonel of Artil- 
 lery. The colonels commanding county detachments were: 
 John Ashe of Brnnswick, Eichard Caswell of Dobbs, 
 Joseph Leech of Craven, William Cray of Onslow, William 
 Thompson of Carteret, Edmnnd Fanning of Orange, Need- 
 ham Bryan of Johnston, and John Hinton of Wake. Among 
 officers of lesser rank were: Lieutenant-Colonels Eichard 
 Cogdell and Abner Nash; Majors Francis Mackilwean and 
 Eichard Clinton; Captains Christopher Xeale (Craven Ean- 
 gers), Philemon Hawkins (Bute Light-Horse), John Patten 
 (Beaufort), William Bullock (Governor's Body-guard of 
 "Gentlemen Volunteer Light-Horse"), Eobert Salter (of 
 Pitt), John Walker (New Hanover Artillery-), James Moore 
 (of Wake), Simon Bright (of Dobbs), Francis Nash (of 
 Orange), Nathaniel Hart (of Orange), Farquard Campbell 
 (of Oimiberland) ; Adjutant William Burke ; Lieutenant 
 John Baptista Ashe ; Ensign Eobert Fenner, Ensign William 
 Bryan, and Ensign William Peyton. Captain James Moore 
 of Wake eoimty should not be confused with Colonel James 
 Moore of New Hanover. As Aids-de-Camp to the Governor 
 were Captains Philemon Hawkins of the Bute Light-Horse, 
 Isaac Edwards, William Palmer, Willie Jones, Thomas Clark 
 (also Provost-Marshal-General), and John Malcom. The 
 last two were appointed to succeed Edwards and Palmer, who 
 had resignied. The Surgeons were: Thomas Cobham and 
 Thomas Haslin. Doctors Matthewson and Powers were 
 Surgeons' Mates. Captains Eichard Blaekledge and Thomas 
 ILart were Commissaries, and Ensign Alexander Gillespie 
 conmianded the Coi-^js of Pioneers. 
 
 The troops under General Waddcll did not join Tryun in 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. H!) 
 
 time to take part in the battle of Alamance. They were nse- 
 ful, however, in completing the work of subjugation already 
 begim. The forces commanded by Waddell were a detach- 
 ment of artilleiy under Colonel Robert Scliaw and county 
 detachments, officered as follows: Colonel Robert Harris (of 
 Mecklenburg), Colonel Samuel Silencer (of Anson), Colonel 
 William Lindsay (of Rowan), and Colonel Thomas Neel 
 (of Tryon). Among other officers were Majors Francis 
 Ross, Samuel Snead, and William Luckie; and Ca^Dtains 
 Griffith Rutherford and Adam Alexander. Colonel ]\Ioses 
 Alexander and Captain Thomas Polk acted as Commissaries ; 
 the Reverend Mr. Terry was Chajslain, and Doctor Richards 
 (transferred from Tryon's command) served as Surgeon.* 
 
 The above lists by no means include all the officers; 
 for, as in the 1768 exiDedition, the number of officers was 
 far in excess of the forces they commanded. According 
 to Governor Tryon's statement, tliere were about eleven 
 hundred men immediately imder him, officers included, 
 while the Regulators numbered about two thousand. The 
 forces under General Waddell (which were not, however, in 
 the battle) did not exceed three hundred.f In one entiy in 
 his Journal it is said by Tryon that the Wake detachment 
 and the Light Infantry did not join the anny before the 20th 
 of May. This means that they did not re-join the army till 
 May 20th, after being detailed on a special service. The 
 records show that the ^Yake county troof)S were in seiwice 
 at the time of the battle ;:}: and, in after years, when Richard 
 
 • This list of officers is compiled cliiefly from Waddell's Journal. Colonial Records of 
 N. C. Vol. Vni. pp. 601-608. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI. pp. 607. 610. 677. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VUI, p. 584. 
 
120 GOVKKNOE TEYON 
 
 Caswell was Governor during the Eevolution, he sent a mes- 
 sage to the Legislature which contained a complimentary 
 reference to Colonel Hinton of the Wake detachment (a 
 noted patriot), whose "bravery and resolution," lx)th at Ala- 
 mance and Moore's Creek Bridge, Caswell said he had per- 
 sonally witnessed.* The jxisitiou of the Wake troops in the 
 line of battle is also set forth in Martin's History of North 
 Carolina. 
 
 During the trouble with the Regulators, Bute county was 
 apparently seriously disaffected to the govenuuent. When 
 Colonel William Johnston ordered a muster of his regi- 
 ment, from which to draw the small quota of fifty men, it 
 was said that the troops broke ranks and declared for the 
 insurgents. Shortly after this, however, a board of officers 
 (which was appointed to investigate the matter) found that 
 Colonel Johnston had not made proper efforts to raise the 
 quota. Thereupon he was removed from command and suc- 
 ceeded by Colonel Thomas Eaton.-}- jSTot desiring that Bute 
 should be backward in I'endering the sei'vice required, one 
 of its leading citizens, Philemon Hawkins, soon raised an 
 effective and well armed troop of light-horse, which he 
 tendered to the Governor. This offer was accepted, and 
 the men of Bute rendered valiant service at Alamance, 
 their coimnauder at one time acting as an aid-de-eamp 
 to His Excellency. Captain Hawkins and his son, Phile- 
 mon Hawkins, junior (the latter a courier on Tryon's staff), 
 were later colonels in the Revolution. Colonel Benja- 
 min Hawkins, United States Senator from North Carolina, 
 
 •state Records of N. C. Vol. XH. p. 707. 
 
 f Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIII. pp. 652, 688. 672. 
 
OF XOETII CAROLINA. 
 
 121 
 
 and Indian Agent for the Sontheni States, was another son 
 of Tryon's Aid-de-Camp ; Avhile William Hawkins, "War 
 Governor" of jSTorth Carolina dnring the second conflict with 
 Great Britain in 1812, was a son of the younger Philemon. 
 When Colonel Philemon Hawkins, jnnior, died (February 
 28, 1833), his obituary stated: "He belonged to a troop of 
 cavaliy at the battle of Alamance, which was fought on the 
 16th of May, 1771, and for the distinction he merited on 
 that occasion was presented by the Commander-in-Chief, Gov- 
 ernor Ti-yon, with a beautiful rifle." 
 
 We shall now give an account of the battle of Alamance, 
 with its accompanying circ\imstances. Wlien Tryon en- 
 camped at Hunter's Lodge,* the seat of Colonel Theophilus 
 Hunter, about four miles south of where the city of Raleigh 
 now stands, he remained there four days, from the 4th till 
 the 8th of May. There was a good deal of difficulty in secur- 
 ing the services of the troops from Wake county, many of 
 them having to be forcibly drafted into the army, though 
 their commander. Colonel Hinton, was imtiring in his efforts 
 to aid the government.f Finding that he could not carry his 
 artillery over the Granville Tobacco Path, which went in 
 the direction of Hillsborough, Tryon had a way cleared 
 throiigh the woods and called it Ramsgate Eoad. This 
 road — with its name corrui^ted into "Ramcat" — is still in 
 use near Raleigh. 
 
 Marching westward from Hunter's Lodge on May 8th, 
 Tryon and his army camped in the vicinity of Hillsborough 
 
 ' As I once stated in my pamphlet biography of Colonel Joel Lane, Hunter's Lodge was 
 a diiTerent plantation from Spring Hill, the seat of Theophilus Hunter. Jr. 
 t State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX, pp. 838-839. 
 
122 GOVERNOR TEYON 
 
 on the next day; and, after some delay, pitched their tents, 
 on the 14th, at Great Alamance Camp.* At Ilillslxiroug-h 
 the Governor received an express from General Waddell, 
 stating that a supply of ammunition coming to him from 
 Charleston, South Carolina, had been intercepted and blown 
 up by the Regulators, after which they had assembled in such 
 numbers as to ciit oif his march, and he had been compelled 
 to retreat to Salisbury.f The destruction of Waddell's am- 
 munition train was etfected by some young nien styling them- 
 selves "Black Boys," their faces being blacked as a disgiiise. 
 They lived in that part of Mecklenburg which is now Cabar- 
 rus coimty. The sviecess of this "gunpowder plot," as it 
 was afterwards called, having deprived Tryon of the aid of 
 his most trusted ally, he was left in a vei-y critical position 
 to face a force which outnumbered him twofold. "Citizen 
 against citizen," says Williamson, "the difference was gi'cat 
 in favor of the Regulators ; but they were called together in 
 haste, to risk their lives for a nameless something, that was 
 hardly described or understood. The object was painted in 
 different shapes and colors, according to the craft or imagina- 
 tion of different leaders. The militia, well appointed, were 
 commanded by an experienced officer. They resented the 
 turbulence of men who had compelled them to leave their 
 homes at a critical season of the year and they were contend- 
 ing for the security of their possessions.":}: 
 
 When the opposing forces drew near each other the Regu- 
 lators presented another petition to Tryon, rinjuesting a re- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. Vni. pp. B7G-B82. 
 
 t Williamson's History of N. C. Vol. U, p. 145; Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIII. pp. 
 608. 610. 622. 
 t Williamson's History of N. C. Vol. U. p. 147. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 123 
 
 dress of grievances. Tliereupon one of His Excellency's 
 Aids-de-Camp, Captain Malcom, was sent fonvard with the 
 answer that both personally and ofBcially the Governor had 
 already nsed every possible measure to quiet the disturbances 
 and now had nothing further to ofter ; that he demanded 
 immediate submission to the government, a promise to pay 
 the taxes they had so long withheld, a peaceful retiu'u to 
 their homes, and a solemn assurance that they would no 
 longer protect persons imder indictment from a trial by the 
 courts. One hour, he said in conclusion, would be given 
 them in which to consider the terms offered ; and, if rejected, 
 the consequences which followed would be attributable to 
 them alone.* To this proposition came the dignified reply 
 that the messenger might go back and tell Billy Tryon they 
 defied him, and a fight was all they wanted. Even then the 
 Governor did not resort to force, but sent a magistrate to 
 fonnallj^ command them to disperse ; and, later still, for- 
 warded his ultimatum by Captain Hawkins. 
 
 When the above courtesies were being interchanged, both 
 armies had been drawn uj) for action. After treating of the 
 day preceding the battle, the historian Martin says, referring 
 to Tryon's force: "The army moved the next morning, at 
 break of day, without beat of drum, leaving their tents stand- 
 ing, and their baggage wagons in the camp; one company, 
 from the detachment of Johnston county, with such men as 
 were not able to march briskly, remained behind, as a guard 
 to the camp, under the orders of Colonel Bryan; the wagon 
 horses were kept in their gears, and the whole army was 
 
 •Martin's History of N. C, Vol. U, p. 280; Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIH, pp. 640- 
 642; State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX, p. 843. 
 
124 GOVERNOR TKYOX 
 
 d^a^\^l into a hollow square. At a distance of five miles 
 from the camp, the armies being within half a mile from 
 each other, three guns were fired, as a signal to form the line 
 of battle, which was immediately done. The Governor's men 
 were drawn into two hollow lines, at the distaiu'e of one hun- 
 dred yards from each other ; the detachment of the counties of 
 Craven and Beaufort formed the right wing of the front 
 line, and those of the counties of Carteret and Orange the 
 left, with the artillery in the centre ; the detachment of the 
 county of Xew Hanover, and three companies of the county 
 of Dobbs, foi-med the right wing of the second line, and those 
 of the counties of Onslow and Johnston, with the rest of that 
 of Dobbs, the left; the detachment of the county of Wake, 
 with a troop of light-horsemen from that of Duplin, rc-in- 
 forced the rear-guard ; the rangers covered the flanks on lioth 
 sides, facing to the right ; the troop of light-horse, from the 
 county of Orange, escorted the Governor; the detachment of 
 the counties of Carteret and Onslow were directed, in case 
 of an attack on tlie left wing, to form an angle for their re- 
 spective lines to cover the left flank."* 
 
 While encamped near Hillsborough, two officers of Tryon's 
 anny, Captain John Walker and Lieutenant John Baptista 
 Ashe (not Colonel John Ashe, as so many historians state), 
 had been captured by the Begulators, tied to trees and bru- 
 tally beaten.f Word was later brought to Tryon's camp that 
 these gentlemen would be exposed to the fire of their own 
 friends by being placed in front of the Regulators' line of 
 battle. The Governor thereupon sent forward one of his 
 
 • Martin's Hisloiy of N. C, Vol. H. p. 179. 
 
 t State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX, pp. 844-845. 
 
1 
 
 r^ -" - f --■ 
 
 y^".'' 
 •i-^ 
 
 L r 
 
 ^r I 
 
 / 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 125 
 
 aids to say that several Regulators, who had been captiired, 
 were j^laced in a position of safety, and he hoped — in view 
 of this fact — the same consideration would be shoAvn to the 
 above officers. In answer, the proposition was made that 
 the seven Regulators should be exchanged for Ashe and 
 Walker. These unequal terms Tryon at first refused, but 
 some of his officers finally persuaded him to agree, and Haw- 
 kins rode over to receive the prisoners. The insurgents, who 
 seem to have grown more unreasonable and fool-hardy each 
 moment, then sent word that they would comply within an 
 hour. This was more than Tryon could stand, and the mar- 
 vel is that he restrained himself so long. As an ultimatum. 
 Captain Hawkins was directed to inform the Regulators that 
 the Governor would delay no longer; and, imless they dis- 
 persed, they would be fired upon at once. "Fire and be 
 
 d d !" was the reply. Then, says Martin (from whose 
 
 history this account is largely drawn), the Governor gave the 
 word. x\t first he was not obeyed ; and, rising in his stii'rups, 
 he called out : "Fire ! Fire on them or on me !" This sent 
 forth an opening volley, and the action became general. 
 
 In his official report of the battle, to the Earl of Hillsbor- 
 ough, King George's Secretary of State, Tryon wrote: "I 
 have the happiness to inform Your Lordship that it has pleased 
 God to bless His Majesty's arms in this province with a signal 
 victory over the Regulators. The action began before twelve 
 o'clock on Thursday, the IGth instant, five miles to the west- 
 ward of Great Alamance river, on the road leading from 
 Hillsborough to Salisbury. The loss of our army in killed, 
 wounded, and missing amounts to about sixty men. We had 
 but one officer killed and one dangerously woimded. The 
 
126 GOVEKNOE TEYOK 
 
 action lasted two hours; but, after about half an hour, the 
 enemy took to tree-fighting and much annoyed the men who 
 stood at their guns, which obliged me to cease the ai'tillery 
 for a short time and advance the first lines to force the rebels 
 from the covering. This succeeded, and we pursued them 
 half a mile beyond their camp, and took many of their hoi-ses 
 and the little provision and ammunition they left liehind 
 them. This success I hope will lead soon to a perfect restora- 
 tion of peace in this country; though, had they succeeded, 
 nothing biit desolation and ravage would have sj^read itself 
 over the country."* 
 
 Of the killed, wounded, and missing, reported above, only 
 nine were killed. The best estimate of the numliers of the 
 Regulators arrayed at Alamance is probably that which says 
 two thousand, tliough several contemporary accounts state 
 that there were twice that number, including unarmed. 
 About two months after the battle, one writer (and he vciy 
 miich prejudiced in favor of the Regulators) says a field- 
 piece, which was fired into the insurgents, killed one man and 
 frightened iliree thousand seven hundred from off the ground, 
 leaving only thre« hundred to settle the matter.f If this be 
 true, it may be questioned whether, since the invention of gun- 
 powder, a single shot ever caused such demoralization. 
 
 The most pitiable feature of the battle we find in a report 
 by Gideon Wright (of the then newly created county of Sur- 
 ry), who fought under Tiyon. Wi'ight's account, as pre- 
 served in the Moravian records, while s])eaking of the killed 
 and wounded and of the battle in general, says "miniy had 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIII. p. 609. 
 f Colonial Records of N. C Vol. VUI, p. 647. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. • 127 
 
 taken refuge in the woods," whereupon the Governor ordered 
 the woods to be set on fire, and in consequence some of the 
 wounded were roasted alive.* Doctor Clewell, in his excel- 
 lent work, which reprints Wright's account, seems to infer 
 that the killed and wounded alone were in the woods, and 
 that the Governor's order was aimed at the woimded. As a 
 matter of fact, these woods were swarming with riflemen, who, 
 as Tryon's report mentions, had taken to "tree-fighting," i. e., 
 fighting from behind trees — and were doing some execution 
 among tlie provincial militia, when it l>ecame necessary to 
 drive out the Regulators so engaged. After the battle, at 
 least, it must be acknowledged that Tryon showed no dispo- 
 sition to torture the wounded, for he had their injuries dressed 
 by the saane surgeons who were in attendance on his ow\\ 
 men.f 
 
 Though a terrible fate awaited some of the captured Regu- 
 lators, one of Tryon's first acts after the battle was to offer 
 a general pardon to all parties concerned (except outlaws and 
 prisoners) who, before the 21st of May, should suiTcuder 
 themselves, give up their arms, take the oath of allegiance, 
 and promise future obedience to the laws. It was later rep- 
 resented to the Governor that, owing to bad roads and swollen 
 streams, many Regulators would be unable to comply in time, 
 so four successive extensions of the time were afterwards 
 made.:}: Among those excepted from the benefit of these 
 proclamations were the young men who destroyed General 
 Waddell's ammunition, and several other persons, including 
 Captain Merrill, who was later executed. 
 
 'CleweU's History of Wachovia, p. 110. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. X. p. 1023; State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX, p. 845, 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VUI. pp. 608. 611, 613, 617. 
 
128 GOVERNUK TKYON 
 
 111 making aeknowledgiiicnts to bis army on the day after 
 the battle, Tryon said : 
 
 "The Gtjveriior, impressed with the most alTectionate sense 
 of gratitude, gives thanks to both officers and soldiers for the 
 vigorous and generous support they afforded him yesterday 
 in the battle near Alamance. It is to their valour and steady 
 conduct that he owes, under the providence of God, the signal 
 victory obtained over the obstinate and infatuated rebels. 
 His Excellency sympathizes with the loyalists for the brave 
 men that fell and suffered in the action ; but, when he reflects 
 tliat tlie fate of the constitution depended upon the success 
 of the day, and the important service thereby rendered to 
 their King and coimtry, he considers the loss — though at 
 present the cause of affliction to tlieir relations and friends — 
 as a monument of lasting glory and honour to themselves 
 and families. 
 
 "The dead to be interred at 5 o'clock this evening in front 
 of the park of artillery. 
 
 "Funeral service to be })erfonned with military honours 
 to the deceased. 
 
 "After the ceremony of prayers and thanksgiving for the 
 signal victory it has pleased Divine Providence yesterday to 
 grant the army over the insurgents."* 
 
 In a second and more exact list of his casualties, Trj'on re- 
 ports that, of tlie force under his c«mmand, nine were killed 
 and sixty-one wounded. Of these there is something in the 
 records to show names, though not quite fifty per cent, is 
 given. f The only officer killed was the bearer of the Koyal 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIU. pp. 6S4-585. 
 
 t For list of names, etc., here Riven, see Colonial Recoi-ds of N. C, Vol. IX, pp. GO, 62-C4, 
 92-93, 129-131, 397, G94, 801-802; State Records of N. C, Vol. XVI, p. 135. 
 
OF NORTH CAEOLINA. 129 
 
 standard, Ensigu William Biyan of Craven. This gentle- 
 man was a near kinsman of Brigadier-General William 
 Bryan of the Revolution, and belonged to the well-known 
 Bryan family still resident in New Bern. The King's 
 colors dropped over his Iwdy as he fell, and he was interred 
 with military honors along with the other soldiers slain in 
 the action. It will be remembered that Governor Tryon in 
 1768 had promised that the honor of canying the standard 
 should always be assigned to the Rowan regiment ; but, at 
 Alamance, this could not be done, as the detachment from 
 Rowan was then marching in General Waddell's division, 
 which did not reach the scene of action in time to participate. 
 So the custody of the colors remained with Craven, the Gov- 
 ernor's home county, and Ensign Bryan gave his life in their 
 defense. 
 
 Among the wounded in Tryon's army were Ensign William 
 Peyton (of Beaufort county), and the following non-com- 
 missioned officers and privates: Thomas Caressy, William 
 Fullerton, Cliarles Yeats, Isaac Reed, Henry Costin, Moses 
 GrifSn, Benjamin Clash, Andrew Freasure, Thomas Clark, 
 John Strange, William Gilbert, Thomas Bryant, Thomas 
 Garnish, Daniel Pegram, James Hall, Thomas Kilpatrick, 
 Charles Harrington, Christopher Acklin, Sweeting Bond, 
 Thomas Tortle, James Nelson, William Lunsdale, John 
 Neville, Thomas Kersley, and William Hiscock. Some of 
 these were woimded more than once. Ercasure, of the artil- 
 lery, was woimded in the ankle, and then blown up by the 
 powder he was serving — "hoist with his o^vn petard." John 
 Strange, one of the injured, was drowned a few months after 
 the battle. Though not woimded, Alexander Curtis was' 
 
130 GOVEKNOR TBYON 
 
 seriously disabled by sickness contracted in this campaign. 
 The worst hnrt man seems to have been Thomas Bryant, who 
 was struck five times. In the proceedings of the Colonial 
 Assembly we find a petition from Fearnaught Beasley, set- 
 ting forth that her son was killed in the battle, but not men- 
 tioning his given name. Similar petitions are on record 
 from Ann Fergiison, Elizabeth Harper, and Faithy Smith, 
 whose husbands lost their lives in the action. The given 
 name of Mrs. Smith's hnsband (as might be supjiosed) was 
 John, but only the surnames of the others are stated. 
 
 After the fight at Alamance, not only the provincial sol- 
 diery but also the wounded Regulators were cared for by 
 snrgeons from the Governor's anny.* For the acconunoda- 
 tion of those who were too badly injured to proceed on the 
 march, a hospital was improvised by fitting up for such use 
 the residence of Captain Michael Holt, a wealthy land owner 
 of that section, on whose plantation the battle was fought. 
 Captain Holt, it mil be remembered, was one of the military 
 officers mobbed by the Eegulators in 17(i8 ; but, by the begin- 
 ning of the Revolution (February, 1776), he had so far 
 become reconciled to his old enemies as to go with them 
 into the Moore's Creek campaign — being at first himself a 
 loyalist, unlike most of Tryon's old officers. Before reach- 
 ing McDonald's rendezvous, however, he turned back, yet 
 was later made a prisoner of war, and taken to Philadelphia. 
 He was finally released by order of the Continental Congress, 
 upon a recommendation from the North Carolina Cnunuittcc 
 of Safety, which foiuid upon investigation that "when he was 
 fully acquainted with the intentions of the Tories, he did act- 
 iially return home, and was the means of inducing a number 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. X. p. 1023; State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX, p. 845. 
 
OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 131 
 
 of others to follow his example without a junction with the 
 Scotch army."* 
 
 As iUiistrative of the fact that the services of the men under 
 Tryon at Alamance were always held in grateful remem- 
 hrance, it is noteworthy that, while the Eevolution was at 
 its height, appropriations were made hy the Whig Legisla- 
 ture of North Carolina for the relief of soldiers who were 
 suffering from injuries received while fighting against the 
 Regulators on that occasion. f 
 
 The statement has been made by the historian Martin that, 
 out of a company of thirty men from Beaufort county, fifteen 
 were either killed or wounded by the Regulators.:]: This, if 
 correct, was a far gi-eater percentage than might be expected 
 from the general result; for, in the matter of killed, the 
 whole amiy lost only nine. But, including both killed and 
 wounded, the statement may be true. The commander of 
 this company of Beaufort men was Captain John Patten 
 (not Potter, as misprinted in Martin), and his force fonued 
 a part of the regiment of Colonel William Thompson. Cap- 
 tain Patten afterwards won fame as a colonel of Continentals 
 in the Revolution, as we shall hereafter take occasion to note. 
 
 The loss sustained by the insurgents, in killed and wounded, 
 is placed by Williamson at about two hundred ; Martin says 
 upwards of twenty were killed, and many more wounded. § 
 
 In view of the fact that most of the men engaged were 
 experienced backwoodsmen and hunters, the bad niarksman- 
 
 • Tour in America, by J. F. D. Smyth. VoL I. pp. 226-232; Colonial Records of N. C, 
 VoL X. pp. 601, 828. 
 t State Records of N. C. Vol. XVI, p. 135. 
 J Martin's History of N. C, Vol. II, p. 276. 
 § Williamson's History of N. C, Vol. II, p. 149; Martin's History of N. C, Vol. U, p. 275. 
 
132 GOVEKXOE TEYON 
 
 ship displayed at Alamance, particularly by the Reg-ulators, 
 is almost incredible. As has been seen, only nine of the pro- 
 vincial troops were killed, thou,c;li the wonnded numbered 
 many more. In an account written from ISTew Bern to the 
 Boston Gazette/' at the time of the battle, it was said that the 
 bullets fired by the Regulators flew over the heads of Tryou's 
 men b}' the tens of thousands ; and this may not be an exag- 
 geration, as the insiu-gents were upwards of two thousand in 
 number. The Reverend Morgan Edwards, a Baptist clergy- 
 man, who visited Alamance and its vicinity in 1773, says the 
 Regulators "lodged in the trees an incredible number of balls, 
 v.'hich the hunters have since picked out and therewith killed 
 more deer and turkeys than they killed of their antago- 
 uists."t 
 
 Though only nine of Tryon's men were slain at Alamance, 
 the slaughter of his troops by hostile writers since that time 
 has been something fearful. In an account quoted by Ca- 
 ruthers, James Pugh alone is credited with killing and 
 wounding fifteen militiamen — six more than were killed by 
 all the Regulators together! Verily, the pen is mightier 
 than the sword. 
 
 Nor, in recording the work of extermination, should the 
 claims of George Parsons be forgotten. Parsons, on the 
 night before the battle, moulded twelve bullets for his rifle. 
 In after years, however, he modestly admitted that he had 
 killed and wounded only eleven of Tryon's men, because 
 once his gun had "choked in loading." 
 
 As the insiu'gents were not systematically enrolled, we 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VHI. p. 616. 
 
 t Morgan Edwardi*. quotcl in David Benedict's History of the Baptist Denomination in 
 America {edition of ISIJ). Vol. \l. p. 96, note. 
 
OF NOETH CAROLINA. 133 
 
 have no definite return of their losses, and only one or two 
 names of the killed hare come down to lis. Robert Thomp- 
 son is said to have been killed by Tryon personally. Of 
 Thompson's character we shall have something to say in the 
 next chapter. 
 
 On May 17th, just after the interment of the soldiers 
 slain at Alamance, James Few was hanged at the head of the 
 anuy. He had been engaged in the Hillsborough riots and 
 was under ban of outlawry therefor. Tliough far from the 
 lunatic that historians have represented him to be, Few 
 was of a fanatical turn religiously and believed himself 
 raised up by the baud of God to liberate his country — a belief 
 which greater men, as Oliver Gromwell, for example, have 
 entertained with reference to themselves, and still not been 
 considered maniacs. Several days after the above execution. 
 Captain Willie Jones, with a company of horse, raided the 
 plantation of Hcrmou Husband and there found a letter 
 from Few, in which the wi-iter said that he had been sent by 
 heaven to relieve the world from oppression and was to 
 begin in North Carolina.* This paper, which gave an in- 
 sight into the mental condition of its author, was discovered 
 too late to influence the Governor to spare his life. As a rea- 
 son for the immediate execution, instead of having Few tried 
 with the other prisoners, Tryon claimed that there was great 
 murmuring among his troops because none of the insurgents 
 were summarily dealt with, notwitlistanding the gi-eat sac- 
 rifice of blood and life their armed resistance and general 
 lawlessness had caused. Without the example of such an 
 execution, it was said, some of his men refused to go farther, 
 
 • Williamson's History of N. C, Vol. II. p. 149, noU. 
 
134 GOVERNOE TETON 
 
 while others declared that they would give no quarter in the 
 future, should another fight occur.* As it was, the proba- 
 hility is that Few was offered a conditional pardon and re- 
 fused it ; for, in Clewell's History of ^Vacllovia,■\ an extract 
 is given from the comnumity diary of the Moravians, bearing 
 date May 24, 1771, which (on the testimony of a messenger 
 from Alamance) says : "A certain yoimg man, a fine yoimg 
 fellow, had been captured, and, when given the alternative 
 of taking the oath or being hanged, he chose the latter. The 
 Governor wished to spare his life, and twice urged him to 
 submit. But the young man refused. The messenger de- 
 scribed how, with the rope arotmd his neck, he was urged to 
 vield, but refused, and the Governor turned aside with tears 
 in his eyes as the young man was swung into eternity." The 
 old Moravian who made this entry observes: "This severity 
 we call inliuman obstinacy !" The point connecting Few with 
 this incident is the fact that he was the only Kcgulator hanged 
 before June. The devastation of the plantation of William 
 Few (father of James) was not on account of his son's con- 
 duct, but because the father himself was chai-ged with being 
 "very active in promoting the disturbances of the country.":}: 
 The J^orth Carolina Assembly, however, probably did not 
 consider this charge against the father as true, for a l>ill was 
 later passed paying him for the property dcstroj'cd. As to 
 James Few, mention has been made in a previous chapter of 
 the sweet and sad romance which has floated down to us of 
 how he was a young man engaged to Ix' married, when the 
 
 •state Records of N. C. Vol. XIX, p. 845. 
 tCleweH's History of Wachovia, p. 109. 
 J State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX. p. 852. 
 
OF NOKTII CAROLINA. 135 
 
 wicked Fanning came upon the scene and fore^'er blasted liis 
 life by seducing his prospective bride; and how this great 
 sorrow made a maniac of the youthfvd lover, who thereupon 
 arrayed himself with the Regulators in order to have a chance 
 at the life of the man who had done him so great an injury. 
 This tale was first printed by Caruthers and afterwards em- 
 bellished by the matchless eloquence of Francis L. Hawks. 
 Now, as a matter of fact, James Few was a married man; 
 and, at his death, left a son and a daughter (twins) born 
 February 9, 1771. During the Revolution, or just after the 
 close of the war, his widow became the wife of a Tory, where- 
 upon members of the Few family in Georgia (who had emi- 
 grated from ISTorth Carolina and were all good Whigs) took 
 his children from their mother and carried them to Georgia, 
 where they were raised in the family of their imcle. Colonel 
 Benjamin Few, a distinguished Revolutionary officer. In 
 her new home, Sallie Few, a daughter of the Regiilator, mar- 
 ried the Reverend John Garvin, originally an Englishman, 
 who was a clergyman of the Slethodist Church in Georgia. 
 One member of the family of Few in Georgia was the Hon- 
 orable William Few, at one time a colonel of the Revolu- 
 tionaiy forces of that State and later a member of the Con- 
 tinental Congress.* The Regulator had a sou also, named 
 William, who was one of the two children carried South for 
 the reason above mentioned. WTiat became of the last named 
 is not known. He may have died young. The Few family 
 came to ISTorth Carolina from Maryland, but their original 
 
 * For memoir of Colonel William Few. by Charles C. Jones, Jr.. and Few's autobiog- 
 raphy, see Magazine of American History, November, 1381, Vol. Vn, pp. 340-3.58; portrait 
 of Few in same, facing p. 321. 
 
136 GOVEENOB TRTON 
 
 place of residence in America was Pennsylvania, to which 
 province they came with Penn's colonists. 
 
 Whatever may be thought of the cause he espoused, the man- 
 ner in which James Few, the Regulator, went to his death, 
 scorning a recantation of his principles while others l^cgged 
 for mercy, furnishes an example with but one parallel in 
 American history. The story of his execution recalls the 
 fate of a Confederate martyr in later years, Sam Davis of 
 Tennessee, M'ith the lines to his memory by a Northern writer : 
 
 "They offered life and freedom 
 If he would speak the word; 
 In silent pride he gazed aside 
 As one who had not heard. 
 They argued, pleaded, threatened — 
 
 It was but wasted breath. 
 'Let come what must, I keep my trust,' 
 He said, and laughed at death. 
 
 "He would not sell his manhood 
 
 To purchase priceless hope; 
 Where kings drag down a name and crown. 
 
 He dignified a rope. 
 Ah, grave! where was your triumph? 
 
 Ah, death! where was your sting? 
 He showed you how a man could bow 
 
 To doom, and stay a king!" 
 
 But we must now turn from tliis long digTession and 
 resume our narrative of tlie events wliicli followed Tryon's 
 victory. As already stated, Few was the only person who 
 was executed at once. But many prisoners were taken, and 
 twelve of these were afterwards capitally convncted, though 
 only half of this number actually suffered death. Some of 
 
OF NOKTII CAEOLINA. 137 
 
 the particulars of their trial and conviction before the Court 
 at Hillsborough will be later given. 
 
 After perusing an account of the battle of Alaniance, a 
 faint, sorrowful voice in the heart of some anxious reader 
 may ask : "What of Hermon Husband, the chief Regulator ? 
 In a list of killed and wounded, infinitesinmlly meagTe though 
 it be, sui'elv something may be foiuid to tell of his fate. 
 That he was a man of might, full well we know; for did he 
 not join with several hundred other patriots and drive Judge 
 Henderson away from Hillslwrough ? And did not these self- 
 same partiots, with no outside assistance, punish John Wil- 
 liams upon discovering that he was guilty of practising law ? 
 And was not William Hooper subjected to treatment scarcely 
 less severe for a similar offense 'i And furthermore, did they 
 not administer a well-merited chastisement to the rapacious 
 Fanning and demolish his house, leaving not one stone above 
 another ? Oh, Alamance ! Alamance ! — 'where tyrants con- 
 quer'd and where heroes bled' — may thy mute rocks iind 
 utterance in all succeeding ages to tell how this great leader 
 fell !" And then the lamentation of the faint, soiTOwful 
 voice dies away, and out gurgles a sigh of relief, when it is 
 learned that the name of Mi'. Husband fails to appear among 
 the victims of the fight. The truth is, he was not there. 
 Like the war-steed that paweth in the valley and rejoiceth 
 in his strength, he went forth to meet the armed men, mock- 
 ing at fear, and was not affrighted ; but, when he smelt the 
 battle afar off, the odor thereof reminded him of what Tip to 
 that time he seems to have forgotten — that he was a Quaker, 
 with conscientious scruples against carnal warfare. So, leav- 
 ing his less pious followers to try conclusions with the hated 
 
138 GOVEENOE TRYON 
 
 Tryon, he scampered away to Pennsylvania — there to breed 
 fresh discord after the Revolution as a participant in the 
 Whiskey Insurrection, for which he was sentenced to be 
 hanged, though afterwards pardoned. 
 
 The name "Alamance" is supposed by some to be of Indian 
 origin, while others contend (more correctly, perhaps) 
 tliat it is derived from the Gotliic word Alamans — ''all 
 men" — a term anciently applied to the federated tribes of 
 Germany. This word, in a slightly changed form, still sur- 
 vives in the French and German languages to signify the 
 coimtry whose inhabitants it originally designated. The 
 locality in iS'orth Carolina where the name occurs was settled 
 largely by German immigrants. The creek known as the 
 Great Alamance was the first object so called in the old county 
 of Orange. Many years later, in 1848, the county of Ala- 
 mance was erected by act of the Legislature, the bill for its 
 creation being introduced by the Honorable Giles Mebane. 
 Though some contended at the time that the name should 
 be given a different orthograi)hy, Mr. Mebane was correct, 
 according to old records and maps. Tryon himself spelled it 
 as it is now written, and it is the same on the map "survey'd 
 and drawn by O. J. Sauthiei-" in 1771, as shown by illustra- 
 tion in the present volimie. Even at an earlier date "Great 
 Alamance Creek" appears on a map of N^orth Carolina drawn 
 by Captain John Collet and published by an act of the Brit- 
 ish Parliament in 1770. In the dedication of his collection 
 of North Carolina statutes, published in 1773, James Davis 
 also spells it "Alamance." A different spelling, it is true — 
 "Allemauce" — is given by Maurice Moore in his "Atticus" 
 Idler. Great Ahuuance Creek Hows into llaw river, and one 
 
OF NORTH CAKOLINA. 139 
 
 of the tributaries of Great Alamance is another creek called 
 the Little Alamance. 
 
 The location of the battlefield of Alamance is in Alamance 
 county, about nine miles from the jireseut town of Burlington 
 (formerly Company's Shops), in a south-westerly direction. 
 The spot vvhere the action took ])lace is marked by a granite 
 monument which was dedicated on the 29th of May, 1880, 
 when Judge Daniel G. Fowle, Colonel Thomas M. Holt (each 
 of whom later successively became Governor of the State), 
 Reverend Daniel Albright Long, and others delivered ad- 
 dresses. The movement toward erecting the above memorial 
 was inaugurated at the suggestion of Doctor Long, in an 
 address near the battle gTound on the 4th of July, 1879. On 
 the monument is this inscription : 
 
 HERE 
 
 WAS FOUGHT THE 
 
 BATTLE OF 
 
 ALAMANCE, 
 
 MAY 16, 1771, 
 
 BETWEEN THE 
 
 BRITISH AND THE 
 
 REGULATORS. 
 
 Another side bears the date of the erection of the shaft, 
 1880, and there is also some emblematical ornamentation cut 
 on the granite. 
 
140 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 TRYON COMPLETES WORK OF SUBJUGATION — SIX INSUR- 
 GENTS HANGED AND SIX PARDONED— CAPTAIN MERRILL 
 EXECUTED— TRYON MADE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, BUT 
 TEMPORARILY REMAINS IN NORTH CAROLINA— "ATTIcrS" 
 LETTER— CHARACTER OF ROBERT THOMPSON— DEATH OF 
 GENERAL WADDELL— THE GILLESPIES PARTRIOTS IN THE 
 REVOLUTION— NEARLY ALL OTHER REGULATORS TORIES— 
 TRYON'S OLD SOLDIERS CONQUER TORY REGULATORS IN 
 THE REVOLUTION— ALL RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS DIS- 
 CLAIM REGULATORS— JAMES HASELL, ACTING GOVERNOR- 
 GOVERNOR JOSIAH MARTIN ARRIVES— MARTIN SNUBBED 
 BY ASSEMBLY, WHICH COMPLIMENTS TRYON— CONCLUD- 
 ING REMARKS ABOUT TRYON'S ADMINISTRATION IN NORTH 
 CAROLINA— ENTRANCE UPON HIS DUTIES IN NEW YORK. 
 
 Though, ill rarrving on war against the insurgents, Tryon 
 spread desolation among tlieir plantations, he issued the 
 strictest orders for protecting the property of friendly and 
 neutral inhabitants, hoth before and after the battle. On 
 May 13th the following appears in his military .journal: 
 "His Excellency having been informed that the army has com- 
 mitted outrages on the properties of the inhabitants seated 
 on the road, contrary to his express commands, and .scandalous 
 and dishonourable to the ser\'ice — he does once more strictly 
 forbid every person belonging to the army from taking or dis- 
 turbing the i)roperty of any person whatsoever; as they will, 
 on complaint made, receive the severest punishment the 
 nature of the oifence deserves, besides making restitution to 
 the person they injure." On June 1st we find the order: 
 "The soldiers not to burn any fence rails on any account. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 141 
 
 on pain of being severely pnnished." And again, on Jnne 
 4th: "Any jjerson that is detected taking anything out of 
 the gardens or hoiises of any of the inhabitants of this settle- 
 ment or doing am^ injury to their persons and properties, 
 shall be most severely punished." 
 
 It was not until the 4th of June that General Waddell 
 succeeded in effecting a junction vdth Tryon's army; and 
 two days later their forces celebrated King George's birth- 
 day and the victory of the 16th of May. The King's birth- 
 day fell on the 4th of June, but the celebration was post- 
 poned until the Moravian settlement was reached.* The 
 Moravians had sent Tryon word that they held ready for his 
 reception the same room he had occupied during his visit in 
 1767, and this message greatly pleased him.f After his 
 arrival (June 3d), Ti-yon and his troops lay encamped in 
 the town for several days. With them were many prisoners 
 chained together. These were taken with the army for the 
 double reason that the sight might overawe the inhabitants of 
 the districts through which they jjassed and because there was 
 no place of safe-keeping where they could be left till Tryon's 
 return to Hillsborugh. At the Moravian settlement the cele- 
 lu-ation of the King's birthday was carried out in due form 
 with a grand military review. "The army was drilled for sev- 
 eral hours, and the manoeuvres of the Battle of Alamance were 
 repeated. \^dley after volley was fired, both from the mus- 
 ketry and artillery, imtil the houses in the village trembled 
 and shook. This display of an army of three thousand men, 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIU, pp. 592-593; State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX. 
 p. 851. 
 tCleweU's History of Wachovia, p. UO. 
 
142 GOVERNOR TKYON 
 
 under the command of select officers, was a grand and impos- 
 ing sight. At two o'clock the manoeuvres were finished and 
 the army marched back to its quarters." So says the town 
 record heretofore quoted.* After this disphiy the Governor 
 was waited on by a committee composed of Frederick William 
 Marshall, Jolm Michael Graff, Kichard Utley and Traugott 
 Bagge, all leading men of the conunimity, who delivered an 
 address, filled with expressions of loyalty and good-will, to 
 which His Excellency made an appreciative reply. It was 
 on the 7th of June that Tryon's forces again directed their 
 march towards Hillsborough. The Governor himself tarried 
 a short wliilo before following theni. 
 
 While the Moravian records are of the greatest value his- 
 torically, they also throw some light on the humorous side 
 of the Eeg-ulation movement. Thus, on May 17th, before 
 news of the battle had been received, we find the entry : "Old 
 man Jarvis is loud in his threats against the Moravians for 
 their unwillingness to take up anns against the Governor, and 
 he declares that if the battle is decided in their favor, severe 
 pimishment will follow for Bethabara." On May 22d, Mr. 
 Jarvis again passed through, and "pleaded with Meyer to 
 use his good influence with the Governor when he caaue to 
 Wachovia. Jarvis said the Regulators would never forget 
 the kindness if the Moravians interceded for them." Another 
 venerable patriot seems also to liave gi-ound out words, not 
 wisely, but too well, as the following will show: "Old man 
 Borg, a Regulator, was in tovni to-day, making wild and 
 excited speeches, filled with lies, and trying to stir u]) our peo- 
 ple to take part in the troubles." Later old man Borg again 
 
 •See Clewell's History of Wachovia, pp. 114-115. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 143 
 
 passed through, in search of wounded comrades; then "he 
 said that the people in Bethabara had given him good advice, 
 and that he intended to follow it." When some Moravians 
 wished to see the wounded men, Mr. Borg upbraided them 
 for their curiosity ; thereupon "three Regulators became very 
 angTy, and replied to the old man, telling him he had no 
 right to find fault, since he had not been near the fighting." 
 The record 'also states that, according to reports, "the lead- 
 ers were the first to run from the battlefield, and the common 
 people, after resisting for a time, also fled into the forest."* 
 On the 8th of June, General Waddell was detached with 
 a considerable force of infantry, and some artillery (the lat- 
 ter being composed chiefly of seamen), to enforce the sub- 
 mission of such insurgents and suspects as had not siUTen- 
 dered.f This step was taken upon receipt of a report that 
 inhabitants of the counties of Mecklenburg, Tryon and a part 
 of Eowan meditated further resistance. But neither Tryon 
 nor Waddell met \vith any opposition after the fight at Ala- 
 mance. That action brought the Regulators to a realization 
 of the fact that, while His Excellency was verj' fond of issu- 
 ing proclamations, he could sometimes resort to stronger 
 measures, when the occasion required. After his victory at 
 Alamance, Tryon advanced into the plantations of the prin- 
 cipal persons implicated in the insurrection, and burned 
 such buildings as lay in his route.:}; iVmoug the farms thus 
 devastated was one, in a high state of cultivation, belonging 
 to Hermon Husband. Upon his wheat fields and clover 
 
 o 
 
 * Cleweirs History of Wachovia, pp. 105-108. 
 + Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VHI, pp. 649. 674. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI. pp. 615. 651; State Records of N. C. Vol. XIX. 
 p. 846. 
 
144 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 meadows tlio soldiers grazed tlieir horses (amouuting to sev- 
 eral Inmdreds), and a contemporaneous accoimt says tlie anny 
 left the jjlace without a sjiear of corn, grass or herbage grow- 
 ing, and without a house or fence standing. The plantation 
 buildings — "though mean" — of James Hunter, who Tryon's 
 Journal says was the general of the rebels and an outlaw, 
 were also burned. The phrase ''though mean" is pi"obably 
 intended to convey the idea tliat these houses were too insig- 
 nificant to be worth biTrning, but Hunter no doubt thought 
 that the act of destroying tlicm was even more mean. 
 
 Six thousand four lumdred ami nine persons came into 
 camp and took the oath of allegiance before the militia was 
 disbanded ; and seven or eight hundred stands of arms were 
 surrendered.* 
 
 Under the law against treason, as laid down by the act of 
 Assembly heretofore quoted, the jjroperty of all convicted 
 liegidators was forfeited ; but, in the case of at least two 
 (Merrill and Matear), the lands were restored to their fami- 
 lies, f 
 
 When the forces of Tryon and Waddell parted early in 
 June the former returned to Hillsborough ; and, almost im- 
 mediately after his arrival, a special Court of Oyer and 
 Terminer was convened for the trial of ])risoners taken in 
 the battle.:]: Over this court Chief Justice Howard pre- 
 sided, together with Associate Justices Moore and Henderson. 
 Twelve of the Re^lators were found guilty of treason, undi'r 
 the act of tlie North Carolina Assembly defining lliat crime, 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. IX. p. 78. 
 
 tCoIonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI, p. 650; Ibid.. Vol. IX, pp. 36, 65. 311. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VIII. p. 650. 
 
OF NORTH CAKOLINA. 145 
 
 and were condemned to death. Those hanged were six in 
 number: Benjamin Merrill, Robert Matear, James Pugh, 
 and three whose names are not known. The remaining six 
 were reprieved by Tryon, who forwarded a petition to the 
 King, begging that a pardon be extended to them, which 
 was accordingly done.* Those who thiis escaped the gal- 
 lows were: Forester Mercer (Messer?), James Stewart, 
 James Emerson, Herman Cox, William Brown, and James 
 Copeland. The authorities in ISTorth Cai'olina evidently 
 thought that a reprieve from the Governor was equal to the 
 King's pardon; for, "by some strange irregularity," the pris- 
 oners were set at liberty during Tryon's absence, and went on 
 their way rejoicing before the royal instructions concerning 
 them were received by Governor Martin. 
 
 It has been the custom of some writers to inveigh bitterly 
 against Governor Tryon for the execution of the Regulators, 
 as if they were hanged merely to gratify a thirst for blood 
 on his part. As a matter of fact, he had no more to do with 
 these executions than the present Governor of ISTorth Carolina 
 has with the punishment which the law imposes upon capital 
 offenders. The Hillsborough trials were not courts-martial; 
 they were presided over by three judges, all natives of America, 
 and two of whom afterwards supiwrted the colonies during the 
 Revolution. The verdicts were rendered by a jury composed 
 of North Carolinians, acting under a law passed by the North 
 Carolina Assembly. When several thousand men had been 
 in open and armed insurrection against the colony, and had 
 been guilty of all manner of excesses, only twelve were con- 
 victed ; and the Governor pardoned half of that small num- 
 
 * Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI, p. 635; Ibid., Vol. IX. pp. 36-37. 274. 311. 
 
146 GOVERNOK TKYON 
 
 ber. Now, all tliis being true, it seeins rather bard that 
 Tryon sliould be blamed because be did uot entirely nullify 
 the findings of law and fact by fifteen North Carolinians- 
 three judges and twelve jurymen. 
 
 The place where the six Regulators suffered death is just 
 beyond the limits of the town of Hillsborough, a few hun- 
 dred yards in front of the residence of the late Paul C. Came- 
 ron, and about a quarter of a mile from tlxe historic Euo 
 rivei". In a gi"ove of many acres, filled with massive white- 
 oaks and other survivors of the original forest, is a large slab 
 which was placed by Mr. Cameron on the spot where the 
 gallows stood. All around is an extensive and well-kept 
 lawn, crossed by a slight depression, overgi-own with grass, 
 which was once the Indian Trading Path. Everything is 
 beautiful, serene, peaceful, \vith nothing but the music of 
 song-birds to break the stillness, and one finds difiiculty in 
 realizing that this lovely place was once the scene of so dis- 
 tressing an incident as the one there presented in the ''old 
 colony days." Were the power of sjjeech given those oaks 
 and the stream hard by, how strange a tale would come forth ! 
 
 "Old trees at night are like men in thought, 
 By poetry to silence wrought; 
 They stand so still and they look so wise 
 With folded arms and half-shut eyes, 
 More shadowy than the shade they cast 
 When the wan moonlight on the river past; 
 The river is green and runneth slow — 
 
 We cannot tell what it saith; 
 It kcepeth its secrets down below, 
 
 And so doth Death!" 
 
 The person whose fate probably excited more comjiassion 
 than that of any other Regulator put to death, was Captain 
 
OF NORTH CAEOLINA. 147 
 
 Benjamin Merrill, ■who was an officer of militia in Rowan 
 coimty and raised a company to join the insui'gents. He was 
 largely instrumental in turning back the brigade of General 
 Waddell. Afterwards he was captured by a force under 
 Colonel Fanning, and his life paid the penalty. It is said 
 that when he was brought out for execution, one of Tryon's 
 soldiers was heard to declare that, if all men went to the gal- 
 lows with a character such as Captain Merrill's, hanging 
 would be an honorable death. On being permitted to speak, 
 Merrill said he had been deceived concerning the objects of 
 the revolt, for the leaders had at first assured him that the 
 disputes were to be adjusted without bloodshed ; that after- 
 wards he was pressed to further action by the report (which 
 he too late found to be false and propagated to shield old 
 offenders) that Tryon had raised the militia to lay waste the 
 country and destroy the inhabitants ; but that now all was 
 over, and he hoped that the multitude would profit by his 
 miserable end when he was hung up as a spectacle before 
 them. Concerning his private life, he declared that he knew 
 of no charge which could be justly laid against him; that 
 fifteen years previously he had been converted, but had since 
 been a backslider, yet now felt that he was forgiven, and— 
 though the halter was around his neck — he would not ex- 
 change places with any man on the gi-ound. In conclusion, 
 he referred feelingly to his wife and children, saying: "I 
 entreat that no reflection may be cast upon them on my ac- 
 coimt ; and, if possible, shall deem it as a bounty should you, 
 gentlemen, petition the Governor and Council that some part 
 of my estate may be spared for the widow and fatherless. It 
 will be an act of charity; for I have forfeited the whole by 
 the laws of God and man." 
 
148 GOVEENOR TKYON 
 
 Merrill was a Baptist ; and the old Baptist chronicler, from 
 whose narrative we take the above, says: "All pitied him, 
 and blamed the wicked Hunter, Gelaspie, Howell, Husband, 
 Bntler, and others who deceived and seduced him."* 
 
 (^i]itain ilerrill's dying request for the restoration of his 
 property to his family was fomvarded to the King by Gov- 
 ernor Tryon, who wrote Lord Secretary Hillsborough a letter, 
 from which we take the following: "Benjamin Merrill, a Cap- 
 tain of Militia, at the hour of his execution, left it in charge 
 to the officers to solicit me to petition His Majesty to grant 
 his plantation and estate to his wiie and eight children. He 
 died imdcr a thorough conviction of his crime and the justice 
 of his sentence, and addressed himself to the spectators to take 
 warning by his suffering. His Majesty's indulgence to this 
 request would, I am persuaded, be dutifully and affection- 
 ately received by his unhappy widow and children." This 
 restitution was accordingly made in pursuance of an order 
 transmitted to Governor Martin by T^ird Ilillslwrough, who 
 said: "In the last letter I received from Mr. Tryon relative 
 to the affairs in North Carolina, and which is dated from 
 New York, he expressed a wish that the plantation and estate 
 of Benjamin Merrill, a Captain of Militia, and who was one 
 of the six rebels executed on the llHli of June, may be granted 
 to his wife and the eight children he left behind him, and I 
 have it in command from the King to signify to you His 
 Majesty's ])leasure that you do accordingly take the proper 
 measures that whatever property, belonging to tlml iinhajipy 
 person, became forfeited to the Crown by his ainviction, 
 should be regranted to his widow and children. "f 
 
 " Morgan Edwards, quoted in David Benedict's History of the Baptist Denomination in 
 America (rditiori of 1813). Vol. U, pp. 117-U8. 
 t Colonial Itecords of N. C. Vol. VHI. p. 6.50; Ibid.. Vol. IX, pp. 65-66. 
 
OF NOETII CAROLINA. 149 
 
 111 the Life of Caldwell * by Caruthers, there is an affect- 
 ing tale from a Tennessee newsjiaper, in which a writer gives 
 an aeeouiit of the death f>f Captain Messer. Bnt in justice 
 to Doctor Canithers it shonld be observed tliat he says he 
 never heard of it from any source other than the one quoted. 
 This is to the effect that when Messer was about to be hanged 
 on the day after the battle, one of his children went to Tryon 
 and asked to lie lianged in the place of his father. ''Wlio 
 told you to say that ?" asked the Governor. "No one," re- 
 plied the child. "Then why do you ask ?" continued Tryon. 
 "Because," was the answer, "if you hang my father, my 
 mother and her children will starve." Then the account goes 
 on to tell how the heart of the wicked Tryon was momentarily 
 softened, and that Messer was not hanged that day, but after- 
 wards released and sent to take Hermon Husband — the re- 
 ward of which service should be a pardon to the captor ; how 
 Messer failed in his effort, returned, and was executed with 
 due formality ; and how the little boy who had pleaded for 
 bis father's life was taken away by the Governor to act as his 
 foot-page — \vith the addition of a few more distressing details 
 which it is not necessary here to repeat. Altogether it makes 
 a very dramatic narrative, but the probability is that the 
 "Mercer" whom Tryon reported in the list of those who were 
 pardoned was none other than this Messer. Mercer and 
 Messer are written enough alike to cause a mistake, and the 
 latter is a name still found in the Piedmont section of l^orth 
 Carolina. 
 
 Concerning James Pngh, Caruthers says: "When placed 
 under the gallows, he appeared perfectly calm and composed ; 
 
 •Life of Caldwell, p. 166. 
 
150 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 told them that he had long been ])repared to meet his God in 
 another world ; refused to make any acknowledgment of what 
 he had done; and requested of the Governor permission to 
 address the people for one-half hour in his own defence. 
 Having obtained this permission, he told them that his blood 
 would be as good seed sown on good gTound, which would 
 soon produce a hundredfold ; recapitulated the causes of the 
 late conflict ; asserted that the Eegulators had taken the life 
 of no man previous to the battle, nor had they aimed at any- 
 thing more than a redress of their gTievances; charged the 
 Governor with having brought an army there to murder the 
 people instead of taking sides witli them against a set of dis- 
 honest officers ; advised him to put away his comipt clei-ks and 
 tax-gatherers, and be a friend of the people -whom he was 
 appointed to govern ; but when lie told him that his friend 
 CJolonel Fanning was not fit for the oflSce which he held, he 
 was suddenly intermpted ; the barrel was turned over, at 
 the instigation of Fanning, and he was launched into etei-nity 
 before he liad finished his speech, and before the half-hour 
 which had been promised him was expired."* 
 
 According to Caruthers, nearly everything which hap- 
 pened to the Regulators was "at the instigation of Fanning." 
 As an instigator, the bold, bad Colonel seems to have l>een 
 quite successful. Gommentins: upon the description of Pugh's 
 execution as given by Doctor Caruthers, an apt comment has 
 been made as follows : "It was tlie habit of those at the ix>riod 
 at whicli this accoimt was written (long after the event, and 
 the writer depending ujxm tradition or rimior for his facts), 
 to bring Fanning in, as the suggesting fiend or active demon 
 
 ■ Life of Caldwell, by Caruthers. p. 165. 
 
OF NOETII CAEOLINA. 151 
 
 when any specially dark scenes were depicted. In the first 
 place, Fanning was the Colonel in charge of the Orange de- 
 tachment, and with such a commander as Tryon, a thorough 
 soldier and a stickler for forms, it would have been a serious 
 breach of military discipline for him to leave his place and 
 communicate with the Sheriff of the county who had the 
 execution in charge. This Tryon would never have allowed. 
 Again, the hanging of these men was not a lynching. They 
 were executed in due form of law. They were drawn to the 
 place of execution in carts or wagons, of which there were 
 many with the army, and if any improvised platform was 
 needed one of these was used. The probabilities, then, are 
 all against the use of as crude a means as a barrel, particularly 
 as Tryon, if not present at the execution, took an active inter- 
 est in all the preliminaries."* 
 
 In pronouncing sentence upon each of the condemned in- 
 surgents. Chief Justice Howard used the form prescribed by 
 the laws of England in cases of treason, to-wit, that the pris- 
 oner should be carried to the place from whence he came; 
 that he should be dra-wni from thence to the place of execution, 
 and hanged by the neck ; that he should be cut down while yet 
 alive ; that his bowels should be taken out and burned before 
 his face ; that his head should be cut off ; and that his body 
 be divided into four quarters, which were to be placed at the 
 King's disposal. It is needless to say that the blood-curd- 
 ling details of these sentences were never carried out. Yet 
 in New England, where there had also been some troubles 
 with the authorities, the newspapers seized upon the matter 
 
 'Hillsboro: Colonial and Revolutionary, by Francis Nash, p. 25. 
 
152 GOVEENOE TETON 
 
 for effect.* One of these papers, the Massachusetts Spy, 
 contained articles signed "Leonidas" and "Mucins Seasvola," 
 which were published after Tryon went to New York. The 
 people of New Bern seem to have been greatly incensed at 
 this attack on their former Governor, and held an indigna- 
 tion meeting which ordered the offending periodical to be 
 publicly burned by the common hangman, f Then the meet- 
 ing proceeded to pass resolutions, reading a stately lecture to 
 the editor (editors were called printers in those days), in 
 which it was said : "It is certainly difficult to conceive to what 
 a degree of iniquity a man may arrive, who, like Leonidas, 
 has the effrontery to set truth and decency at defiance; and 
 you, Mr. Printer, in undertaking to be the publisher of such 
 vile calumnies, fall little short of him in point of guilt. Be 
 it known to him, and to you, sir, that the beloved memory of 
 Governor Tryon is, and will continue to be, deeply impressed 
 on our grateful hearts, and we trust will be transmitted by 
 us to our latest posterity; while the stigmatized name or 
 Leonidas, and yours, Mr. Printer, will be consigned to that 
 infamy justly attendant on such egi-egious calumniators." 
 
 Then follows a defense of Tryon's campaign against the 
 Regulators. This says of the course pursued by him on that 
 occasion : "His Excellency tried every expedient that human 
 prudence could suggest to prevail on the miscreants to lay 
 down their arms, take the oaths to government, and surren- 
 der up to public justice their outlawed chiefs, promising 
 them upon such easy terms His Majesty's most gracious 
 pardon for all their past numerous transgressions; but they 
 rejected his offers with contempt Nay, some of the auda- 
 
 •Account of the Regulation, by Dr. J. S. Bassett, in Report of the American Historical 
 Association for 1894. p. 209. 
 tColonial Records of N. C, Vol. X, pp. 1019-1024. 
 
OF NORTJI CAKOLINA. 153 
 
 cioiis wretches cried out to his troops : 'Fire and be damned !' 
 Others exclaimed : 'Here's death in one hand, and no mercy 
 in the other ! Battle ! Battle !' He then directed the Sheriff 
 to order them to disperse, agreeable to the riot act, which the 
 Sheriff did, but to no purpose. Yet still he forebore attack- 
 ing them, till the hour allowed in such cases by the said act 
 was expired ; and even then he sent an express messenger 
 to inform them that the hour was elapsed, requiring them 
 once more to lay down their arms and submit to the govern- 
 ment — declaring that, in case of their refusal, he would, 
 without further delay, fire upon them ; but they spurned his 
 threats and contemned his admonitions, still crying out : 
 'Battle ! Battle !' In such situation, what could or ought 
 His Excellency do but perform his duty (which he most 
 gallantly did) as a brave and experienced ofBcer, by reducing 
 to reason and proper submission a parcel of abandoned prof- 
 ligates, who seemed to set all laws, divine and human, at 
 defiance, and were overrunning the country with every species 
 of rapine and violence. Yet these are the men of whom 
 Leonidas and Mucins Sccevola, and their partisans, are advo- 
 cates ; and dare, in their behalf, to attack and traduce one of 
 the brightest characters on this continent." 
 
 This stinging rebuke to "Mr. Printer" declared, in con- 
 clusion, that a sight of the resolutions passed should shock 
 his guilty soul and force him to curse the day he unhappily 
 imdertook to make his paper the infamous vehicle of svich a 
 detestable slander ; while "Leonidas" and "Mucins Scasvola" 
 were admonished to pacify the Divine vengeance for their 
 awful crime by imfeig-ned repentance and "pxiblicly asking 
 pardon of God and the world, and of His Excellency Gov- 
 ernor Tryon in particular." 
 
154r GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 Of the letter signed "Lconidas," Dr. Samuel Cooper, of 
 Boston, was supposed to have been the author. This we 
 learn from the diai-y of Josiah Quincy, junior, who visited 
 North Carolina in 1773. 
 
 It was while with his troops at Hillsborough, in 1771, that 
 Tryon received intelligence that he had been appointed Gov- 
 ernor of New York. Accordingly he left his army on the 
 21st of June, and returned to New Bern (reaching there the 
 24th) to make his preparations for departure.* Before leav- 
 ing the army, it was drawn up in two long columns, facing 
 inward, and through these lines the Governor rode, "taking 
 an affectionate and painful leave of those brave men, through 
 whose spirit, obedience and attachment he had surmounted 
 all his difficulties." His "After Orders," for the disposition 
 of his army, were as follows : 
 
 "His Excellency having received at Hillsborough camp His 
 Majesty's commands to repair immediately to New York to 
 take upon him the government of that province, he cannot 
 quit this army without a particular and sincere acknowledg- 
 ment to the officers and men for the steady and uniform con- 
 duct they have observed throughout the campaign. He will 
 embrace the first opportunity to represent to His Majesty 
 the important services that through their zeal and bravery 
 they have rendered to their King and country. 
 
 "Colonel Ashe will take command of the army and march 
 with them to Colonel Bryan's (excepting the Wake detach- 
 ment, which will be discharged at Hunter's), from whence 
 the several detachments will march under the command of 
 their respective commanding othccrs to their particular coun- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VUI. pp. 650. 675; Ibid., Vol. XIX. pp. 853. 864. 
 
OF NOKTII CAROLINA. 155 
 
 ties and be there discharged. The Commissary will supply 
 the anny with provisions as usual until they get to Colonel 
 Bryan's and then furnish the commanding officers of the 
 several detachments with a sufficient quantity to serve them 
 to their respective homes. The whole of tlie artillery and 
 ammunition to be escorted from Colonel Bryan's to New 
 Bern by the. detachment under the coimnand of Colonel 
 Leech." 
 
 Probably the most laughable mishap which occurred dur- 
 ing Tryon's campaign was near the Yadkin river, after the 
 battle.* It seems that several hundred horses were turned 
 loose at night to gi-aze, each having tied to his neck a bell, 
 intended to aid in finding any which might stray. Near 
 their pasture was a garden containing some bee-hives, from 
 which several soldiers attempted to steal honey. In the dark- 
 ness the hives were overturned and the bees began stinging 
 the horses, which thereupon set out at a full gallop for the 
 near-by camp, demolishing fences as they went, and carry- 
 ing with them their hundreds of discordant bells, which 
 made night hideous. The outer sentinels at once fired their 
 pieces, and the cry to arms rang through camp, for it 
 seemed that all the Kegiilators in Carolina had joined in 
 this furious night attack. But soon the cause of the dis- 
 turbance became known, and quiet reigned once more. 
 
 After Tryon left North Carolina and had been installed 
 as Governor of New York, Judge Maurice Moore fired a 
 farewell shot at him, under the pseudonym of "Atticus," in 
 a letter of which the following is a copy : 
 
 •state Records of N. C, Vol. XIX, p. S49. 
 
156 GOVEKNOK TRYON 
 
 To His Excellency William Tryon, Esquire. 
 
 1 am too well acquainted with your character to suppose you can 
 bear to be told of your faults witli temper. You are too much of the 
 soldier, and too little of the philosopher, for reprehension. With this 
 opinion of Your Excellency, I have reason to believe that this letter will 
 be more serviceable to the province of New York, than useful or enter- 
 taining to its governor. 
 
 Tlie beginning of your administration in tliis province was marked 
 with oppression and distress to its inhabitants. These, sir, I do not 
 place to your account; they are derived from higher authority than 
 yours. You were, however, a dull, yet willing instrument, in the hands' 
 of the British ministiy, to promote the means of both. Y'ou called to- 
 gether some of the principal inhabitants of your neighbourhood, and in a 
 strange, inverted, self-afi'ecting speech, told them you had left j-our native 
 country, friends, and connexions, and taken upon yourself the government 
 of North Carolina with no other view than to serve it. In the next 
 breath, sir, you advised them to submit to the Stamp Act, and become 
 slaves. How could you reconcile such baneful advice with such friendly 
 professions? But, sir, self-contradictions with you have not been con- 
 fined to words only; they have been equally extended to actions. On 
 other occasions you have played the governor with an air of greater dig- 
 nity and importance than any of your predecessors; on this, Your 
 Excellency was meanly content to solicit the currency of stamped paper 
 in private companies. But, alas! ministerial approbation is the first 
 wish of your heart; it is the best security you have for your office. 
 Engaged as you were in this disgraceful negotiation, the more impor- 
 tant duties of the governor were forgotten, or wilfully neglected. In 
 murmuring, discontent, and public confusion, you left the colony com- 
 mitted to j'our care, for near eighteen months together, without calling 
 an assembly. The Stamp Act repealed, you called one; and a fatal one it 
 was! Under every influence your character afforded you, at this as- 
 sembly, was laid the foundation of all the mischief which has since 
 befallen this unhappy province. A grant was made to the Crown of 
 live thousands pounds, to erect a house for the residence of a governor; 
 and you, sir, were solely entrusted with the manugeini'iit, of it. The 
 infant and impoverished state of this country could not alVord to make 
 such a grant, and it was your duty to have been acquainted with the 
 circumstances of the colony you governed. This trust proved eipially 
 
OF NOETII CAEOLINA. 157 
 
 fatal to the interest of the province and to Your Excellency's honour. 
 You made use of it, sir, to gratify your vanity, at the expense of both. 
 It at once afforded you an opportunity for leaving an elegant monument 
 of your taste in building beliind you, and giving the ministry an in- 
 stance of your great influence and address in your new government. 
 You, therefore, regardless of every moral, as well as legal obligation, 
 changed the plan of a province-house for that of a palace, worthy the 
 residence of a prince of the blood, and augmented the expense to fifteen 
 thousand pounds. Here, sir, you betrayed your trust, disgracefully to 
 the governor, and dishonourably to the man. This liberal and ingen- 
 ious stroke in politics, may, for all I know, have promoted you to the 
 government of New York. Promotion may have been the reward of 
 such sort of merit. Be this as it may, you reduced the next assembly 
 you met to the unjust alternative of granting ten thousand pounds 
 more, or sinking the five thousand they liad already granted. They 
 chose the former. It was most pleasing to the governor, but directly 
 contrary to the sense of their con.stituents. This public imposition upon 
 a people, who, from poverty, were hardly able to pay the necessary ex- 
 penses of government, occasioned general discontent, which Y'our Ex- 
 cellency, with wonderful address, improved into a civil war. 
 
 In a colony without money, and among a people almost desperate with 
 distress, public profusion should liave been carefully avoided; but un- 
 fortunately for the country, you were bred a soldier, and have a natural, 
 as well as acquired fondness for military parade. You were entrusted 
 to run a Cherokee boundary about ninety miles in length; this little 
 service at once afforded you an opportunity of exercising your military 
 talents, and making a splendid exhibition of yourself to the Indians. 
 To a gentleman of Your Excellency's turn of mind, this was no un- 
 pleaslng prospect; you marched to perform it, in a time of profound 
 peace, at the head of a company of militia, in all the pomp of war, and 
 returned with the honourable title, conferred on you by the Cherokees, 
 of Great Wolf of North Carolina. Tiiis line of marked trees, and Your 
 Excellency's prophetic title, cost the province a greater sum than two 
 pence a head, on all the taxable persons in it for one year, would pay. 
 
 Your next expedition, sir, was a more important one. Four or five 
 hundred ignorant people, who called themselves Regulators, took it into 
 their heads to quarrel with their representative, a gentleman honoured 
 with Your Excellency's esteem. They foolishly charged him with every 
 
158 GOVERNOE TEYON 
 
 distress they felt; and, in revenge, shot two or three musket balls 
 through his house. They at the same time rescued a horse which had 
 been seized for the public tax. These crimes were punishable in the 
 courts of law, and at that time the criminals were amenable to legal 
 process. Your Excellency and your confidential friends, it seems, were 
 of a different opinion. All your duty could possibly require of you on 
 this occasion, if it required anything at all, was to direct a prosecu- 
 tion against the offenders. You should have carefully avoided becom- 
 ing a party in the dispute. But, sir, your genius could not lie still ; you 
 enlisted yourself a volunteer in this service, and entered into a nego- 
 tiation with the Regulators which at once disgraced you and en- 
 couraged them. They despised the governor who had degraded his own 
 character by taking a part in a private quarrel, and insulted the man 
 whom they considered as personally their enemy. The terms of accom- 
 modation Your Excellency had offered them were treated with con- 
 tempt. What they were, I never knew. They could not have related 
 to public offences; these belong to another jurisdiction. All hopes of 
 settling the mighty contest by treaty ceasing, you prepared to decide it 
 by means more agreeable to your martial disposition, an appeal to the 
 sword. You took the field in September, 1768, at the head of ten or 
 twelve hundred men, and published an oral manifesto, the substance of 
 which was that you had taken up arms to protect a superior court of 
 justice from insult. Permit me here to ask you, sir, why you were ap- 
 prehensive for the court? Was the court apprehensive for itself? 
 Did the judges or the attorney general address Y'our E.xeellency for pro- 
 tection? So far from it, sir, if these gentlemen are to be believed, they 
 never entertained the least suspicion of any insult, unless it was that 
 whicli they afterwards experienced from the undue influence you offered 
 to extend to them, and the military display of drums, colours, and 
 guards, vnth which they were surrounded and disturbed. How fully 
 has your conduct, on a like occasion since, testified that you acted in 
 this instance from passion, and not from principle! In September, 
 1770, the Regulators forcibly obstructed the proceedings of Hillsborough 
 Superior Court, obliged the ollicers to leave it, and blotted out the re- 
 cords. A little before the next term, wlien their contempt of coiirls 
 was suUicieutly proved, you wrote an insoh-nt letter to the judges and 
 attorney general, commanding tliem to attend it. Why did you not protect 
 tlie court at this time? Vou will blush at the answer, sir. The conduct 
 
OF NOETJI CAKOLINA. 159 
 
 of the Regulators at the preceding term made it more than prohable 
 that these gentlemen would be insulted at this, and j'ou were not unwill- 
 ing to sacrifice them to increase the guilt of your enemies. 
 
 Your Excellency said that you had armed to protect a court. Had you 
 said to revenge the insult you and your friends had received, it would 
 have been generally credited in this country. The men, for the trial 
 of whom the court was thus extravagantly protected, of their own ac- 
 cord squeezed through a crowd of soldiers and surrendered themselves, 
 as they were bound to do by their recognizances. 
 
 Some of these people were convicted, fined, and imprisoned; which 
 put an end to a piece of knight-errantry, equally aggravating to the 
 populace and burthensome to the country. On this occasion, sir, you 
 were alike successful in the diffusion of a military spirit through the 
 colony and in the warlike exhibition you set before the public; you at 
 once disposed the vulgar to hostilities, and proved the legality of arm- 
 ing, in cases of dispute, by example. Thus warranted by precedent and 
 tempered by sympathy, popular discontent soon became resentment and 
 opposition; revenge superseded justice, and force the laws of the coun- 
 try; courts of law were treated with contempt, and government itself 
 set at defiance. For upwards of two months was the frontier part of 
 the country left in a state of perfect anarchy. Your Excellency then 
 thought lit to consult the representatives of the people, who presented 
 you a bill which you passed into a law. The design of this act was to 
 punish past riots in a new jurisdiction, to create new offences and to 
 secure the collection of the public tax; which, ever since the province 
 had been saddled with a palace, the Regulators had refused to pay. 
 The jurisdiction for holding pleas of all capital offences was, by a 
 former law, confined to the particular district in which they were com- 
 mitted. This act did not change that jurisdiction; yet Your Excel- 
 lency, in the fullness of your power, established a new one for the trial 
 of such crimes in a different district. Whether you did this through 
 ignorance or design can only be determined in your own breast; it was 
 equally violative of a sacred right, every British subject is entitled to, 
 of being tried by his neighbours, and a positive law of the province you 
 yourself had ratified. In this foreign jurisdiction, bills of indictment were 
 preferred and found, as well for felonies as riots, against a number of 
 Regulators; they refused to surrender themselves within the time limited 
 by the riot act, and Your Excellency opened your third campaign. These 
 
160 GOVERNOR TEYON 
 
 indictments charged the crimes to have been committed in Orange 
 county, in a distinct district from that in which the court was held. 
 The superior court law prohibits prosecution for capital offences in 
 any other district than that in which they were committed. What dis- 
 tinctions the gentlemen of the long robe might make on such an occasion, 
 1 do not know; but it appears to me those indictments might as well have 
 been found in Your Excellency's kitchen; and give me leave to tell you, 
 sir, that a man is not bound to answer to a charge that a court has no 
 authority to make, nor doth the law punish a neglect to perform 
 that which it does not command. The riot act declared those only 
 outlawed who refused to answer to indictments legally found. Those 
 who had been capitally charged were illegally indicted, and could not be 
 outlaws; yet Your Excellency proceeded against them as such. I mean 
 to expose your blunders, not to dofond their conduct; that was as inso- 
 lent and daring as the desperate state your administration had re- 
 duced them to could possibly occasion. I am willing to give you full 
 credit for every service you have rendered this country. Your active 
 and gallant behaviour, in extinguishing the flame you yourself had 
 kindled, does you great honour. For once your military talents were 
 useful to the province, you bravely met in tlic field, and \anq>iished, an 
 host of scoundrels whom you had made intrepid by abuse. It seems 
 difficult to determine, sir, whether Your Excellency is more to be ad- 
 mired for your skill in creating the cause, or your bravery in suppress- 
 ing the effect. This single action would have blotted out forever half 
 the e\Tls of your administration; but alas, sir, the conduct of the general 
 after his victory was more disgraceful to the hero who obtained it than 
 that of the man before it had been to the governor. Why did you stain 
 so great an action with the blood of a prisoner who was in a state of in- 
 sanity? The execution of James Few was inhuman; that miserable 
 wretch was entitled to life till nature, or the laws of his country, de- 
 prived him of it. The battle of the Allemance was over; the soldier 
 was crowned with success, and the peace of the province restored. 
 There was no necessity for the infamous example of an arbitrary execu- 
 tion, without judge or jury. I can freely forgive you, sir, for killing 
 Robert Thompson at the beginning of the battle; he was your prisoner, 
 and was making his escape to fight against you. The laws of self- 
 pre.servation sanctioned the action, and justly entitle Your Excellency to 
 an act of indemnity. 
 
03? NORTH CAEOLINA. 161 
 
 The sacrifice of Few, under its criminal circumstances, could neither 
 atone for Ids crime nor abate j-our rage; this task was reserved for his 
 unhappy parents. Your vengeance, sir, in this instance, it seems, 
 moved in a retrograde direction to that proposed in the second com- 
 mandment against idolaters; you visited the sins of the child upon 
 the father, and, for want of the third and fourth generation to extend 
 it to, collaterally divided it between brothers and sisters. The heavy 
 affliction, with which the untimely death of a son had burthened his 
 parents, was sufficient to have cooled the resentment of any man whose 
 heart was susceptible of the feelings of humanity; yours, I am afraid, 
 is not a heart of tliat kind. If it is, why did you add to the distresses 
 of that family? Why refuse the petition of the town of Hillsborough in 
 favour of them, and unrelentingly destroy, as far as you could, the 
 means of their future existence? It was cruel, sir, and unworthy a 
 soldier. 
 
 Your conduct to others after your success, whether it respected person 
 or property, was as lawless as it was unnecessarily expensive to the 
 colony. When Y'our Excellency had exemplified the power of govern- 
 ment in the death of a hundred Regulators, the survivors, to a man, be- 
 came proselytes to government; they readily swallowed your new- 
 coined oath, to be obedient to the laws of the province, and to pay the 
 public taxes. It is a pity, sir, that, in devising this oath, you had not 
 attended to the morals of those people. You might have easily re- 
 strained every criminal inclination, and have made them good men, as 
 well as good subjects. The battle of the Allemance had equally dis- 
 posed them to moral and to political conversion; there was no necessity, 
 sir, when the people were reduced to obedience, to ravage the country 
 or to insult individuals. 
 
 Had Y'our Excellency nothing el.se in view than to enforce a sub- 
 mission to the laws of the country, you might safely have disbanded 
 the army within ten days after your victory; in that time the chiefs of 
 the Regulators were run away, and their deluded followers had returned 
 to their homes. Such a measure would have saved the province twenty 
 thousand pounds at least. But, sir, you had farther employment for the 
 army; you were, by an extraordinary bustle in administering oaths, and 
 disarming the country, to give a serious appearance of rebellion to the 
 outrage of a mob ; you were to aggravate the importance of your own ser- 
 vices by changing a general dislike of your administration into disaffec- 
 
162 GOVEENOK TKYON 
 
 tion to His Majesty's person and government, and tlie riotous conduct, 
 that dislike had occasioned, into premeditated rebellion. This scheme, 
 sir, is really an ingenious one; if it succeeds, you may possibly be re- 
 warded for your serv'ices with the honour of knighthood. 
 
 From the 16th of May to the 16th of June, you were busy in securing 
 the allegiance of rioters, and le\'ying contributions of beef and flour. 
 You occasionally amused yourself with burning a few houses, treading 
 down corn, insulting the suspected, and holding courts-martial. These 
 courts took cognizance of civil, as well as militaiy offences, and even 
 extended their jurisdiction to ill-brecding and want of good manners. 
 One Johnston, who was a reputed Regulator, but whose greatest crime, I 
 believe, was writing an impudent letter to your lady, was sentenced, in 
 one of these military courts, to receive five hundred lashes, and re- 
 ceived two hundred and fifty of them accordingly. But, sir, however 
 exceptionable your conduct may have been on this occasion, it bears lit- 
 tle projjortion to that which you adopted on the trial of the prison- 
 ers you had taken. These miserable wretches were to be tried for 
 a crime made capital by a temporary act of assembly, of twelve months 
 duration. That act had, in great tenderness to His Majesty's sub- 
 jects, converted riots into treasons. A rigorous and punctual execution 
 of it was as unjust as it was politically unnecessary. The terror of the 
 examples now proposed to be made under it was to expire, with the law, in 
 less than nine months after. The sufferings of these people could there- 
 fore amount to little more than mere punishment to themselves. Their 
 ofl'ences were derived from public and from private impositions; and 
 they were the followers, not the leaders, in the crimes they had com- 
 mitted. Never were criminals more justly entitled to every lenity the 
 law could afford them; but, sir, no consideration could abate your zeal in 
 a cause you had transferred from yourself to your sovereign. You 
 shamefully exerted every influence of your character against the lives of 
 these people. As soon as you were told that an indulgence of one day 
 had been granted by the court to two men to send for witnesses, who 
 actually established their innocence and saved their lives, you sent an 
 aide-de-camp to the judges and attorney general, to acquaint them 
 that you were dissatisfied with the inactivity of their conduct, and 
 threatened to represent them unfavourably in England if they did not 
 proceed with more spirit and despatch. Had the covirt submitted to in- 
 fluence, all testimony on the part of the prisoners would have been ex- 
 
OF NOETil CAliOLINA. 163 
 
 eluded; they must have been condemned, to a man. You said that your 
 solicitude for the condemnation of these people arose from your desire 
 of manifesting the lenity of government in their pardon. How have 
 your actions contradicted your words ! Out of twelve that were con- 
 demned, the lives of six only were spared. Do you know, sir, that your 
 lenity on this occasion was less than that of the bloody JeHries in 168-5 Y 
 He condemned five hundred persons, but saved the lives of two hun- 
 dred and seventy. 
 
 In the execution of the six devoted offenders, Your Excellency was as 
 short of General Kirk in form, as you were of Judge Jeffries in lenity. 
 That general honoured the execution he had the charge of with phiy of 
 pipes, sound of tnunpets, and beat of drums; you were content with the 
 silent display of colours only. The disgraceful part you acted in this 
 ceremony, of pointing out the sjjot for erecting the gallows, and clear- 
 ing tlie field around for drawing up the army in form, has left a 
 ridiculous idea of your character behind you, which bears a strong 
 resemblance to that of a busy undertaker at a funeral. This scene 
 closed Your E.xeellency's administration in this country, to the great 
 joy of every man in it, a few of your own contemptible tools only ex- 
 cepted. 
 
 Were I personally Your Excellency's enemy, I would follow you into 
 the shade of life, and show you equally the object of pity and contempt 
 to the wise and serious, and of jest and ridicule to the ludicrous and 
 sarcastic. Truly pitiable, sir, is the pale and trembling impatience of 
 your temper. No character, however distingiiished for wisdom and vir- 
 tue, can sanctify the least degree of contradiction to your political opin- 
 ions. On such occasions, sir, in a rage, you renounce the character of a 
 gentleman and precipitately mark the most exalted merit with every 
 disgrace the haughty insolence of a governor can inflict upon it. To 
 this unhappy temper, sir, may be ascribed most of the absurdities of 
 your administration in this country. It deprived you of every assistance 
 men of spirit and abilities could have given you, and left you, with all 
 your passions and inexperience about you, to blunder through the du- 
 ties of your office, supported and approved by the most profound ignor- 
 ance and abject servility. 
 
 Your pride has often exposed you to ridicule, as the rude petulance of 
 your disposition has to contempt. Your solicitude about the title of 
 Her Excellency for Mrs. Tryon, and the arrogant reception you gave to 
 
164 GOVEKNOE TEYON 
 
 a respectable company at an entertainment of your own making, seated 
 witli your lady by your side on elbow-chairs, in the middle of the ball- 
 room, bespeak a littleness of mind which, believe me, sir, when blended 
 with the dignity and importance of your office, renders you truly ridicu- 
 lous. 
 
 High stations have often proved fatal to those who have been pro- 
 moted to them; yours, sir, has proved so to you. Had you been con- 
 tented to pass through life in a subordinate military character, with 
 the private virtues you have, you might have lived serviceable to your 
 country and reputable to yourself; but, sir, when, with eveiy disquali- 
 fying circumstance, you took upon you the government of a province, 
 though you gratified your ambition, you made a sacrifice of yourself. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 
 Attictjs. 
 
 In caustic style and elegant invective the above letter 
 would be difficnlt to equal. Yet some of the criticisms come 
 with poor grace from Judge Moore. The act he ridicules for 
 converting riots into treasons was passed by an Assembly in 
 which he himself was a leading member ; furthermore, he 
 was chairman of a legislative committee which recommended 
 measures against the Regulators "at once spirited and deci- 
 sive," and it was probably this recommendation which caused 
 the Johnston Act to be introduced and passed.* The same 
 committee, through Chairman Moore, gave voice to regrets 
 nothing short of lamentations on the "afflicting occasion" of 
 Tryon's purposed departure from the province in 1770, de- 
 plored the "ill-fated means" which would cause North Caro- 
 lina to lose his services, and made tlie "warmest return of 
 gratitude and respect" for the "well-known benevolence of 
 his disposition and friendly concern for tlie welfare of man- 
 kind." If the first campaign against the Regulators were 
 simply a costly display to gi-atify Tryon's vanity — "a piece 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIH. pp. 311-313. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 165 
 
 of knight-errantry equally aggravating to the populace and 
 burthensome to the country" — it is strange that Mr. Moore, 
 in his military capacity, deemed it his duty to go into that 
 expedition. He was an officer in the Governor's army, and 
 could not have been ordered out against his will; for, as 
 Tiyon officially announced before the troops at Salisbury, 
 only volunteers were desired. Concerning the disturbances 
 of 1768, he tells the Governor: "All your duty could possibly 
 require of you on this occasion, if it required anything at all, 
 was to direct a prosecution against the offenders." Yet 
 Orange county in 1768 was far more turbulent than was 
 Rowan in March, 1770, when Moore complained to Tryon 
 that no legal process of any kind could be there executed. 
 And if the Governor were a bloody Jeffries for allowing to be 
 even partly carried out the sentences of the Court assembled 
 at Hillsborough, certainly a Justice of that Court should be 
 slow to cast reproach u^Mn him for it. But when Judge 
 Moore, in this "Atticus" letter, declared that he could freely 
 forgive the Governor for killing Robert Thompson, that asser- 
 tion no doubt came with all sincerity from the depths of his 
 soul : for Mr. Thompson it was who had harangued the Regu- 
 lators in a speech wherein he denounced Moore as a rascal, 
 rogiie, villain, and a scoundrel; and said that, while acting 
 as Judge, the latter had attempted to cheat him out of his 
 landed possessions for the benefit of a counter-litigant to 
 whom he was partial.* And this Thompson, by the bye, who 
 was hand in glove with Regulators of the most rabid variety — • 
 men who openly advocated the indiscriminate assassination 
 of public officials — this Thompson is the same whose blessed 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. VHI, p. 520. 
 
166 GOVEENOK TKYON 
 
 memory as a peace-maker is tluis preserved by Doctor Hawks 
 in an accoimt of the battle of Alamance: "Among other 
 peaceful men who passed to and fro, in the good work of con- 
 ciliation, was Robert Thompson, a man deservedly beloved 
 and respected for his in-eproaehable character. He was 
 without arms, and was not one of the Regulators."* 
 
 While treating of the War of the Regulation, it may be 
 well to speak of three aspects which thus far we have omitted 
 to mention: first, the part later borne in the Revolution by 
 the men who fought against the Regulators ; second, the part 
 borne in the Revolution by the Regulators themselves ; third, 
 the religious character of those engaged in the revolts of 1768 
 and 1771. 
 
 Tryon himself was an ardent and active Royalist in the 
 Revolution, as was also Edmund Fanning; and almost all 
 members of the Governor's Council, in North Carolina, sym- 
 pathized witli Great Britain. With these exceptions, nearly 
 every officer of note in the army under Ti-yon, at Alamance, 
 went heart and soul into the struggle for freedom during the 
 Revolution ; and, were the names of this galaxy of patriots 
 omitted from the annals of the fight for indejjendence, little 
 material would be left for the historian of that epoch in 
 North Carolina. Though he little realized it at the time, 
 Tryon gave practical instruction in the art of war to a set 
 of apt pupils who would soon make use of their knowledge in 
 a way not much to his liking. One of these, Robert Howe, 
 marched at the head of a Continental Reaiment in December, 
 1775, to the assistance of Virginia, aided in the operations 
 against Lord Dunmore (though too late for the fight at Great 
 
 • Hawks, Graham, and Swain Lectures on the Revolutionary History of North Caro- 
 lina, p. 33. 
 
OF NORTH CAEOLINA. 
 
 167 
 
 Bridge), was formally thanked for his services by the Vir- 
 ginia House of Burgesses, and afterwards rose to the rank 
 of Major-General in the Continental army ; Francis Nash, 
 another of Tryon's pupils, became a Brigadier-General, first 
 served against Sir Henry Clinton in South Carolina and 
 afterwards joined Washington, under whom he fell while 
 fighting at Gennantowu in 1777 ; James Moore, likewise a 
 Brigadier-General of Continentals, was a splendid type of 
 soldier, whose untimely death by sickness, early in the war, 
 lost to North Carolina a patriotic and fearless defender ; John 
 Walker, whom the Regulators treated with such brutality, while 
 a prisoner, distinguished himself as an officer of the Line, and 
 was an aid-de-cami3 to General Washington ; John Baptista 
 Ashe, whom the Regulators maltreated with Walker, was Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel of Continentals, and also Governor-elect at the 
 time of his death ; Thomas Clark, a Brevet Brigadier-General 
 of Continentals in the Revolution, had also served imder Tryon ; 
 then there were Generals Griflith Rutherford, Alexander Lil- 
 lington, John Ashe, and Richard Caswell, all of whom held 
 commissions in either the State or the Continental forces. 
 Caswell was likewise Governor during the war ; as also were 
 Abner Nash, and Willie Jones (acting), while Alexander Mar- 
 tin, whom the Regulators "severely whipped" at Hillsborough, 
 was Governor for several terms, besides having served as a 
 Colonel in the Continental Line. John Patten, whose Beau- 
 fort county men fought so desperately at Alamance, entered 
 the American army at the outbreak of the Revolution and 
 remained to its close in 1783, when he was Colonel of the 
 Second Continental Regiment. In the years l777-'78-'79 
 he was in the principal battles fought by Washington in the 
 
1G8 GOVEENOK TEYON 
 
 North ; and, in 1780, was serving under General Lincoln in 
 Charleston when that city was beleaguered and captured by 
 Sir Henry Clinton. For some time after that he was a 
 prisoner of war. His name is often misspelled Patton in the 
 records. 
 
 Besides the above officers of Tryon's army, let us recall 
 such names as Polk, Phifer, and Alexander of Mecklenburg; 
 Hinton of Wake ; Cogdell, Bryan, aiid Leech of Craven ; 
 Bryan of Johnston ; Osborne, Montgomery and Dobbins of 
 liowan ; Clinton of Duplin ; Hawkins of Bute ; Fenuer of 
 Halifax; Mebane, Lytle, and Thackston of Orange; Salter 
 of Pitt ; Cray of Onslow ; Spencer of Anson, and hosts of 
 others — all these aided in suppressing the mob violence aimed 
 at North Carolina by the Regulators; and these, too, again 
 stood by the old State in her hour of need, when those selfsame 
 Regulators united with the troops of King George in endeav- 
 oring to effect her subjugation in the dark hours of the Revo- 
 lution. Besides these we should take into consideration the 
 civil services of such gi-eat Revolutionary patriots as William 
 Hooper, Cornelius Harnett, Samuel Johnston, and others of 
 like character, who, either in the Assembly or in the courts, 
 were active supporters of Tryon's administration when it was 
 opposed by the Regulators. Even the idtra-democratic John 
 Harvey seems to have been most friendly in liis disposition 
 towards the Governor,* though many times has his name 
 been cited by historians as a leader of opposition to govern- 
 ment measures during the insurrections of 17C8-'71. If the 
 Regulators were patriots, and Tryon, while operating against 
 them, was playing the part of a tyrant, tlien the above men 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIII. pp. C97-C98. 
 
or NORTH CAROLINA. 169 
 
 were either the tools or the dupes of a tyrant ; and Noiili 
 Carolina can ill afford to make this charge against her brave 
 sons who, during seven long years, fought, starved, and shed 
 their blood in her defense. 
 
 While the above names are being recorded a feeling of sad- 
 ness is awakened that General Hugh Waddell no longer figures 
 in our narrative. In the prime of a vigorous manhood, yet 
 old in the school of war, this great soldier passed away in 
 
 1773— 
 
 "Like a summer-dried fountain, 
 
 When our need was the sorest." 
 
 In the French and Indian War, during the administration 
 of Governor Dobbs, he had served with great distinction ; had 
 proved his devotion to ISTorth Carolina by resisting the earlier 
 parliamentary encroachments of Great Britain, and again 
 by volunteering against the faction which destroyed the col- 
 ony's domestic tranquility : yet just on the eve of the Kevolu- 
 tion, when his splendid talents would have found a wider 
 and more useful field, death sounded the final roll-call, and 
 his long service was at an end. His life has been most 
 fittingly portrayed in a volume of biography which is the 
 work of one of his many gifted descendants. Honorable 
 Alfred Moore Waddell. From General Waddell also sprang 
 the noted North Carolina lawyer, Hugh Waddell, and Com- 
 mander James Iredell Waddell, an officer in both the United 
 States and Confederate States Navies, whose cruiser, the 
 Shenandoah, was the only vessel which ever carried the flag 
 of the Southern Confederacy around the world, and which, 
 in the number of prizes captured, ranked second only to the 
 far-famed Alabama. 
 
170 GOVEBNOE TEYON 
 
 But, calling a halt on this digression, we miist now return 
 to the subsequent history of the Regulators. For some time 
 after they were routed at Alamance, these jiersons were 
 kept busy endeavoring to secure pardons for their partici- 
 pation in the uprising. "Either through friends or in per- 
 son," says an account we have already quoted, ''Jeremiah 
 Field, Ninian Bell Hamilton, Matthew Hamilton, James 
 Hunter, Thomas Welborn, William Butler, and John Fruit 
 petitioned the Governor for pardon."* To do Hunter full 
 justice, however, it must be said that his neighbors were far 
 more solicitous for his safety than he himself was. After an 
 absence of about ten months, he returned to his old home; 
 and, on all occasions, appeared in public as if he had nothing 
 to fear. In holy horror, on March 8, 1772, Governor IMartin 
 wrote the Earl of Hillsborough that it was with the utmost 
 concern that he had the honor to inform His Lordship that 
 Hunter, the outlawed ring-leader of the insurgents, had made 
 his appearance publicly at the Inferior Court lately held in 
 Guilford county, and that the magistrates, sitting in their 
 judicial capacity, and armed with all the powers of the laws, 
 though repeatedly moved to order him to be apprehended, 
 had shamefully suffered him to brave the offended justice 
 of his coimtry with impunity, and to depart at leisure and 
 without notice.f Later in this letter, Martin says : ''Hunter 
 is a most egregious offender. He was the leader of the 
 insurgents in arms, was called their general, and has ap- 
 peared from the beginning a ring-leader in sedition. He 
 is said to have a better capacity than his associates, who 
 
 * Account of the Regulation, by Dr. J. S. Bassett, in Report of the American Historical 
 Association for 1S9-1. p. 207 (citing authorities), 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. IX. pp. 268-269. 
 
OF NORTH CAEOLINA. 
 
 171 
 
 pay him implicit obedience and treat liim with a respect 
 savouring- of enthusiastic reverence. He received, among 
 other of these gi-aceless wretches, the King's pardon for trea- 
 sons and violences committed in the year 1768 ; and yet seems, 
 like them, hardened rather than reclaimed, by His Majesty's 
 most gi-acious indulgence." Hunter not only had the temer- 
 ity to appear at court, but he also appeared in person before 
 Governor Martin himself, when the latter passed through 
 Guilford county in 1772.* Along with some otber Regu- 
 lators, he visited His Excellency to apply for a pardon, 
 and seems to have made quite an impression upon the there- 
 tofore irate Chief Executive. Somewhat more moderate is 
 a second letter from Martin to Lord Hillsborough, giving an 
 accoimt of the interview, which says that he reprehended 
 Hunter for his defiance of a Court of Justice by appearing 
 in the face of it, while he stood in so criminal a state, with 
 any other design than to render himself up. To this reproof, 
 says Martin, Hunter submissively replied that, if he had 
 offended by so doing, it was innocently and ignorantly, and 
 that he heartily asked pardon for it. After his observations 
 concerning Hunter, Goveimor Martin sets forth a scathing 
 arraignment of the county oflicers, saying that his progress 
 through the scenes of the recent disturbances had completely 
 opened his eyes with reference to the ills to which the people 
 had recently been subjected — that now he could clearly see 
 that they had been provoked by the insolence and oppression 
 of a set of mercenary attorneys, clerks and other petty officers, 
 who first brought down upon themselves the resentment of 
 the inhabitants, and then worked up the government in their 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. IX. pp. 313. 329. 
 
172 GOVEENOE TEYON 
 
 own defense by representing that the vengeance which the 
 wretched people, in folly and madness, aimed at their oppres- 
 sors, was directed against the constitution or government itself. 
 Martin adds that since becoming acquainted with the barba- 
 rism and profound igiiorance of these oppressed and wretched 
 people, all of his indigiiation had been melted into pity. 
 
 In December, 1771, the Assembly petitioned Governor 
 Martin to grant a general pardon to all persons concerned in 
 the recent insun-ection, except Hemion Husband, Eednap 
 Howell, and William Butler, whose crimes the petitioners 
 declared were too atrocious to merit any degi'ee of lenity. 
 This pardon would cover many exceptions at first made, 
 including James Hunter (who commanded the Regulators at 
 Alamance after Husband's flight), and also the nine men 
 engaged in the "gimpowder plot," by which General Waddell's 
 anmiunition was destroyed. Colonel Moses Alexander, of 
 Mecklenburg, had interested himself in behalf of those last 
 mentioned, who were: James White, junior, James Ashmore, 
 Joshua Hadley, Robert Davis, Benjamin Cochrane, William 
 White, William Wliite, jimior, John White, and Robert 
 Caruthers. Though willing that a general pardon should 
 issue. Governor Martin did not think he had power to gi-ant 
 it, but laid the matter before the home government, with a 
 recommendation for favorable action.* In replj', Lord Hills- 
 borough said that the King authorized the Provincial Assem- 
 bly to pass an act of grace, suspending proceedings till His 
 Majesty's pleasure should be known to the contrary. 
 
 To what has boon said of James Himter, some additional 
 remarks may be made. In August, 1775, it was rumored 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. IX. pp. 57. 68-69. 98. 169. 172. 276. 
 
OF NOETH CAEOLINA. 173 
 
 that he would bring an aimed force against the Provincial 
 Congress at Hillsborongh, but no such movement was at- 
 tempted.* In Febi-uary, 1776, he was one of those whom 
 Governor Martin authorized to enlist Loyalists for the Cross 
 Creek rendezvous. This, in itself, would not stamp Mr. 
 Hunter as a Tory ; for, in the same manifesto were named 
 several prominent Wliigs, either for the purpose of \vinning 
 tliem over to the Eoyal standard or injuring their influence 
 with the Americans by exciting suspicion against them. 
 Hunter's name, however, does appear along with that of Par- 
 son Mieklejolm and others of the same vicinity, in a list of 
 prisoners paroled by the Provincial Congress at Halifax 
 (April, 1776), and ordered to the eastern part of the State, 
 where their influence would not be felt.f 'Wliether Hunter 
 went, however, is doubtful, for, ou September 6, 1776, he 
 took the oath of allegiance to ISTorth Carolina.:]: 
 
 It had doubtless been agreed by the State authorities that 
 Himter should be allowed to remain neutral; for, in Sep- 
 tember, 1780, when drafted into the army, he refused to 
 sei-ve. Thereupon the Sheriff levied uiwn his property ; and, 
 with six thousand pounds (in the plentiful paper currency 
 of that day) employed a substitute to act in his stead. At 
 the next session of the Assembly, in 1781, Hunter peti- 
 tioned for redress, which was gTanted in a joint resolution 
 ordering "that the Sheriff of Guilford county be and he is 
 hereby directed to refund to James Hunter, of said county, 
 all the effects and moneys levied upon ****** fQj. ^he 
 purpose of hiring a substitute," etc.§ 
 
 * Life and Correspondence of James Iredell, Vol. I, pp. 261-262. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. X, p. 560. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. X. p. 826. 
 
 § State Records of N. C. Vol. XVII, pp. 644. 726, 735. 
 
174 GOVEENOB TRYON 
 
 Hunter's two old associates, John and Daniel Gillespie, 
 rendered the State faithful service, as did also Thomas Per- 
 son, though the last named Regulator was not among those 
 arrayed at Alamance. Witli these exceptions, nearly all the 
 old Regulators who later engaged in the Revolution were 
 Loyalists. 
 
 Time and again has the statement been made that the Revo- 
 lutionary patriot. General John Butler, of North Carolina, 
 was a Regulator. This is a mistake, prohahly due to confus- 
 ing his name with that of his brother William. The latter 
 was a Regulator and a very pronounced one. With John, 
 however, the case was different. He was one of the witnesses 
 for the prosecution when the Regulators were indicted at 
 New Bern ;* and, shortly after the battle of Alamance, we 
 find him petitioning for the pardon of his brother, as one who 
 he said was "very sensible of his folly, and who sincerely 
 promised never to be of such a riotous party again. "f Had 
 John been a Regulator, it is probable that he would have 
 realized that his intercession would not favorably influence 
 the Governor. William Butler himself declared : "It is with 
 the utmost abhori-ence that I reflect on the proceedings of the 
 people formerly called Regiilators, being fiilly convinced that 
 the principles which they espoused are erroneous, and there- 
 fore most sincerely promise never to engage in the like again." 
 If we may judge by the wording of their petitions, all the 
 Regulators were penitent enough after the battle. But tlioy 
 should not be too harshly criticised on account of tliis sudilcn 
 change of front ; for, though Satan is authority for the state- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VUI. p. 532. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. IX. pp. 99-100. 
 
OF NOETH CAROLINA. 175 
 
 ment, it is too often true that "all that a man hath will he 
 give for his life." Then, too, the fact that the families of 
 many were reduced to want by their absence, no doubt had a 
 powerful influence in bringing the Regulators to seek pardon. 
 This is sho-mi by many of their petitions, including that of 
 William Butler. 
 
 About the beginning of the Revolution the Regulators re- 
 ceived all sorts of pardons from all sorts of sources — from the 
 King, the Royal Governor, and the rebel Congresses (both Con- 
 tinental and Provincial). Each of the contending countries 
 was graciously moved to overlook their past misconduct, if 
 they would only prove by their deeds that they were worthy of 
 forgiveness. On the 3d of May, 1775, Lord Dartmouth 
 wrote from the Court of St. James to Governor Martin that 
 the addresses to the King from the North Carolina counties 
 of Guilford, Dobbs, Rowan and Surry, breathed such loyalty 
 and attachment to Great Britain that royal clemency would 
 soon be extended to all of the old Regiilators except Hermon 
 Husband.* The promised pardon was later issued in due 
 form. The petition from Guilford, mentioned in Dart- 
 mouth's letter, was headed by the name of John Field, and 
 the one from Rowan and Surry (these two counties jointly) 
 by Samuel Bryan — both Loyalists in the Revolution, and one 
 (Bryan) sentenced to death for high treason in 1782, though 
 afterwards pardoned and exchanged. On the address from 
 Dobbs county the name of Joseph Taylor, junior, comes first ; 
 but on none of these petitions are the lists of subscribers given. 
 Dartmouth also said in his letter that, if war came, it would 
 be politic for Governor Martin to hold out encouragement to 
 
 "Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. IX, pp. 1127. 1160, 1161. 1241. 
 
1Y6 GOVEKNOK TEYON 
 
 tlie Regulators by issuing military commissions to the lead- 
 ing men among them.* Before receiving this communica- 
 tion, Martin had written His Lordship that if the King him- 
 seK pardoned the Regulators it would have a better effect than 
 if he allowed the North Carolina Assembly to do so. If the 
 Assembly issued the pardon, the Governor said, it would 
 diminish the credit which would go to the Crown in conse- 
 quence of this act of mag-nanimity.f But the Whigs of 
 North Carolina were bent on showing the Regulators that the 
 King was not the only pardon-granting institution in exist- 
 ence; so, when the Provincial Congi'ess met at Hillsborough 
 in August, 1775, a committee was appointed to quiet their 
 fears by assuring them that they would be i^rotected if Great 
 Britain shoiild attempt to harm them.:}; Protection promised 
 from such a source against such a power as the forces of King 
 George no doubt seemed ludicrous in the extreme. The Con- 
 tinental CongTess later employed missionaries to ease the 
 "tender consciences" of the Regiilators by absolving them 
 from their allegiance. On the above committee from the Pro- 
 vincial Congress at Hillsborough were sevei-al of Tryon's old 
 officers whom the Regulators had good cause to hate — Maurice 
 Moore, Richard Caswell, and others. One old Regulator, 
 Thomas Person, also served as a member of this committee, 
 but was in a hopeless minority. Had lie then been able to 
 engage the influence of James Hunter (who later came over to 
 the Auiei'iean side), and that of a few other loaders of the 
 revolt fit 1771, tlic movement might liavc met with better suc- 
 cess. As it was, the Regulators pondered a while over their 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. IX, p. 1241. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. IX. p. 1268. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. X, p. 1G9. 
 
OF NOKTH CAROLINA. 177 
 
 embarrassment of riches, in the way of pardons, and then 
 came to the ■worldly-wise conchision that the battle would be 
 won by the strong, so sided with King George and Governor 
 Martin. Later their judg-ment was destined to be rndely 
 shaken. 
 
 Next to the recently arrived Scottish Highlanders — includ- 
 ing many who had survived the carnage of Culloden — the 
 Regulators were Governor Josiah Martin's main reliance 
 during the Revolution. The very word Regulator became a 
 synonym for Tory. As to the Highlanders, loyalty was a 
 part of their very being ; in fact, their so-called rebellions in 
 Scotland had been nothing more than ultra-loyalty to a race 
 of monarchs whose right to the throne, so far at least as 
 heredity counts, all must admit. 
 
 When General Donald McDonald began his movements in 
 1776 for re-establishing royal rule, the Regulators were 
 prompt to co-operate with him. On the other hand, those 
 North Carolina troops who opposed him were commanded 
 by Brigadier-General James Moore, a veteran of the Ala- 
 mance campaig-n, who had fought under Tryon. Moore, how- 
 ever, was not personally present when the Royalists were 
 finally intercepted, as it had been uncertain where the fight 
 would occur. But many of the officers in his command — 
 as Colonels Richard Caswell of Dobbs, Alexander Lillingtou 
 of New Hanover, John Hinton of Wake, and others — had 
 also received their first lessons in war while serving imder 
 Tryon ; and for a second time they conquered the Regulators, 
 in a battle fought on the 27th of February, 1776, at Moore's 
 Creek Bridge. 
 
 Colonel William Purviance, an ofiicer in the American 
 
178 GOVERNOE TRYON 
 
 service, reported in Februaiy, 1776, that there were not two 
 hundred old Regulators in the army under McDonald.* But 
 if they were not there then, they came later ; and many, who 
 were on their way to join the Royal standard, turned hack 
 when they heard how the battle had gone. In April, 1776, 
 a committee was appointed by the State to look into the cases 
 of prisoners who had been taken. f In this list, though a 
 large majority are Highlanders, we find many names which 
 look strangely familiar to those who have studied the history 
 of the RegTilators. There are the names of Devinney, Field, 
 York, and others. Devinney, who had formerly been fined 
 and imprisoned for his violence when a Regulator, now had to 
 answer the charge of belonging to a party of Tories by w^hom 
 Captain Dent was shot. William Field was once a member 
 of some sort of court, instituted in 1770-'71 by the Regula- 
 tors, which sentenced George Mabry to exile unless he should 
 pay a disputed debt, and which also enforced said sentence by 
 a threat to whij) Mabry and burn his home if he failed to leave 
 the colony. Now Field had been captured while "Colonel of 
 a Division" in the Royalist forces.:}: He violated his "solemn 
 assurances" to the Whig government that he would remain 
 neutral, though possibly he was one of those too conscientious 
 to violate the oath Tryon forced on the Regulators. With 
 him, as prisoners, were his three brothers: Robert (captain 
 of a company of sixty men), Joseph (a lieutenant), and Jere- 
 miah. One of these, Jeremiah, liad been spokesman of the 
 mob which broke up the court that Judge Henderson was hold- 
 ing at Hillsborough in 1770. As William and Jeremiah were 
 
 •Colonial Recorda of N. C. Vol. X, pp. 465-468. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. X. pp. B98-C03, 841. 
 
 t Colonial Reconis of N. C. Vol. X. pp. 1018-1019. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 1Y9 
 
 with Cornwallis at Yorktown, they seem to have gotten back 
 into the British service after their first capture. Among the 
 "Lamentations of Jeremiah," after the war, was the asser- 
 tion that he had fought twice — once for his country and once 
 for his King — had been beaten both times, and wouhl fight 
 no more.* The Yorks, too, had been prominent Regulators, 
 and one of them, Robinson, is said to have been "clerk" of the 
 mock court which made the famous docket entries at Hills- 
 borough in 1770. Now, he and Seymore York, probably his 
 brother, had been locked up by the Whigs because each was 
 commanding a company of Loyalists. Robinson, when sent 
 a prisoner to Maryland, broke jail in September, 1776, and, 
 in the advertisement for his recapture, he was described as 
 having "red hair, curled on his neck, remarkable large lips, 
 and bad teeth," and as being "a very chattering fellow." 
 Lyman York was another captain in the royal service.f 
 
 When the Regulators were repairing to McDonald's ren- 
 dezvous at Cross Creek (now Fayetteville), one prophetic in- 
 dividual wrote from JSTew Bern: "An express arrived here 
 yesterday from the back countiy, informing us that the Regii- 
 lators and Tories were making head there, and intended 
 marching to Cross Creek, and from thence to Cape Fear. I 
 am of opinion they will get well flogged before they reach 
 Cape Fear, provided they will fight. "t Aud well flogged they 
 were — so well that when the British invasion of 17S1 was in 
 progress, Cornwallis was much disheartened at the small 
 number of Regiilators which turned out at his call. From 
 His Lordship's o\\ti pen (April 10, 1781) we have the state- 
 
 " Life of Caldwell, by Caruthers, p. 177. 
 
 + Sabine's American Loyalists (1864 edition). Vol. II, pp. 463-464. 
 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol, X, p. 452, 
 
180 GOVERNOR TRYON 
 
 ment: "Many of the inhabitants rode into camp, shook me 
 by the hand, said they were glad to see us and to hear that 
 we had beat Greene, and then rode home again. I could not 
 get 100 men in all the Eegulators' country to stay with us, 
 even as militia."* Like their compatriot, Jeremiah Field, 
 these people probably knew when they were beaten enough. 
 
 Before leaving this subject, let us see how the movement, 
 culminating in the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, was 
 viewed in Great Britain. An old English publication, the 
 Annual Register^ for 1776, in giving an account of this cam- 
 paign, says: "The connection he [Governor Josiah Martin] 
 had formed with a body of desperate people, lately consid- 
 ered rebels to the King's government, now equally enemies 
 to the provincial establishment, whom we have frequently 
 had occasion to take notice of under the name of Regulators, 
 as well as the Highland emigrants, seemed to insure the re- 
 duction of the insurgents, even independent of the exi^eeted 
 force [from Ireland]. That Colony [JSTorth Carolina] was 
 deemed the weakest in America, except Georgia ; and the two 
 parties we have mentioned were numerous, active, daring; 
 and the former were at this time, as well as [were] the latter, 
 zealously attached to the royal cause. The Highlanders were 
 considered as naturally war-like, and the Rcg-ulators, from 
 situation, habits, and manner of living, to be much boldei', 
 hardier, and better marksmen than those who had been bred 
 to other courses, and in more civilized parts of the country." 
 This same account later says: "The provincial parties were 
 so close in the pursuit, and so alert in cutting the country and 
 seizing the passes, that M'Donald at length found himself 
 
 •Clinton-CornwalUs Controversy (1888 edition). Vol. I. pp. 39B-397. 
 
OF NOETH CAKOLINA. 181 
 
 imder a necessity of engaging a Colonel Caswell, who, with 
 about a thousand militia and minnte men, had taken posses- 
 sion of a place called Moore's Creek Bridge, where they had 
 thrown iip an intrenchment. The royalists were by all ac- 
 counts much superior in number, having l^een rated from 
 3,000 to 1,500, which last number M'Donald, after the action, 
 acknowledged them to be. The emigrants began the attack 
 with great fury ; but M'Leod, the second in command, and a 
 few more of the bravest officers and men, being killed at the 
 first onset, they suddenly lost all spirit, fled with the utmost 
 precipitation, and, as the provincials say, deserted their Gen- 
 eral, who was taken prisoner, as were nearly all their leaders, 
 and the rest totally broken and dispersed. This victory was 
 a matter of great exultation to the Carolinians. They had 
 shewn that their province was not so weak as was imagined ; 
 for though their force actually in the engagement was not 
 considerable, they had raised 10,000 men in about ten days. 
 But what was still more flattering, and, perhajM, not of less 
 real importance, they had encountered Europeans (who were 
 supposed to hold them in the most sovereigTi contempt, both 
 as men and as soldiers) in the field, and defeated them with 
 an inferior force. If the zeal of these people could have 
 been kept domiant until the arrival of the force from Ireland, 
 it seems more than probable that the Southern colonies would 
 have considerably felt the impression of such an insurrection. 
 But now their force and spirits were so entirely broken, their 
 leaders being sent to different prisons, and the rest stripped of 
 their arms and watched with all the eyes of distiiist, that 
 no futui'e effort could be reasonably expected of them."* 
 
 'Annual Register for 1776. star-pages 156-158. 
 
182 GOVEENOE TEYON 
 
 Among the number of Highland settlers at Cross Creek 
 was Flora McDonald, the Scottish heroine, who had accom- 
 panied her husband to America. 
 
 One North Carolina officer who personally participated in 
 the Moore's Creek campaign was Nathaniel Rochester, for 
 whom the city of Rochester, in New York, was aften\'ards 
 named. In an autobiography, Rochester says: "On our ar- 
 rival about daybreak at Devo's Feriy, about 20 miles from 
 Cross Creek, or headquarters, we met about 500 men with 
 General McDonald on their retreat, they having been met 
 and defeated at Moore's Creek Bridge by Colonel Caswell, 
 commander of a regiment of minute men. ***** We 
 took the 500 prisoners. Being, however, in a sparsely settled 
 country, where provisions could not be obtained, I was obliged 
 to discharge all but about fifty, who were appointed officers 
 by McDonald, after swearing those discharged that they 
 would not again take up anns against the United Colonies ; 
 notwithstanding which they did afterwards join Lord Com- 
 wallis when he marched through North Carolina. * * * * 
 They were sent under a guard as prisoners of war to Freder- 
 ick Town, in Maryland, where they remained until exchanged. 
 In disarming the prisoners at Devo's Ferry, the Scotch gave 
 up their dirks with much reluctance, these having, as they 
 said, been handed do\\'n from father to son for many gener- 
 ations."* 
 
 The brilliant achievement of the patriots at Moore's Creek 
 Bridge was of such importance that more than four years 
 elapsed before the Tories again made an organized stand on 
 the soil of North Carolina ; and then, at Ramsour's Mill, on 
 
 • See autobiography of Rochester on p. 99 of " Fragments of Revolutionary History." 
 edited by Gaillard Hunt for the District of Columbia Society of Sons of the Revolution. 
 
OF NOETH CAEOLINA. 183 
 
 the 20tli of June, 1780, they were again hadly beaten. 
 Though we may be sure that the news of Moore's Creek was 
 not many weeks in reaching Old England, it has not even yet, 
 it seems, reached some of the people of New England ; for 
 the Massachusetts statesman, Honorable George F. Hoar, con- 
 temptuously intimated in the United States Senate,* on the 
 5th of January, 1901, while engaged in a debate, that this 
 was a battle of which he had never heard ! As a matter of 
 fact, the number of men engaged at Moore's Creek Bridge 
 was more than double the entire forces present at both of the 
 world-famous battles of Lexington and Concord, in Senator 
 Hoar's own State; and, imlike the two Massachusetts fights, 
 Moore's Creek was a great victory for the Americans. 
 
 Wliat has been said in this chapter concerning the part 
 borne by the Regulators in the Revolution is not simply for 
 the purpose of casting reproach upon them. Though too 
 mau}^ of them were animated by j^ersonal hatred of the Whig 
 leaders and fear of Great Britain, some, no doubt, sincerely 
 believed in the righteousness of tlie Royal cause and so deemed 
 themselves justified in pursuing the course they did. Many 
 men remained loyal from conscientious motives. But as it 
 is so often said and reiterated that the Regulators "began the 
 Revolution," truth demands evidence to show which side they 
 espoused in that war. 
 
 It is proper to add that when Governor Martin ordered a 
 rally of the royal forces just prior to the battle of Moore's 
 Creek Bridge, be included in his commission some members 
 of the American party, among whom were Paul Barringer 
 of Mecklenburg, Philemon Hawkins, senior, and Philemon 
 
 * Congressional Record, Vol. 34, Part I, p. 589. 
 
184 QOVEENOE TRYON 
 
 Hawkins, junior, of Bute, and possibly others. Of the three 
 just mentioned, Governor Swain, in one of his published 
 addresses, says : "These gentlemen were sturdy and well-tried 
 Whigs throughout the Revolutionary War. Governor Martin 
 may have been misinformed in relation to them, or may have 
 inserted their names in order to render them objects of sus- 
 picion, and strip them of their influence among the Whigs. 
 ***** Similar injustice may possibly have been done 
 to others."* 
 
 Many surmises and speculations have been made as to why 
 nearly all of the Regulators became Tories. Some of their 
 defenders say it was becaiise they were too conscientious to 
 violate the oath of allegiance they had been compelled to take 
 after the battle of Alamance. But this belief is difficult to 
 accept. They were not superior in morals to the great pa- 
 triots of the Revolution, many of whom — Washington in- 
 cluded — had held military commissions and civil offices prior 
 to the war and, hence, had sworn allegiance to the King. The 
 real causes of the disaffection of the Regulators were hatred to 
 the Revolutionai-y patriots who had defeated them at Ala- 
 mance and fear of Great Britain. The ablest defense of the 
 Regulators ever written is from the pen of the great North 
 Carolina historian, Honorable William L. Saunders, LL. D.f 
 That writer, in part, says: "The famous Hillsborough Pro- 
 vincial Congress in 1775 made haste on the first day of its 
 session to resolve that the Regulators who broke their oaths 
 ought to be protected from jumishment therefor, and ap- 
 pointed Caswell, Moore, Patillo, and others, a committee to 
 
 * Hawks, Graham, and Swain Lectures on the Revolutionary History of North Carolina, 
 p. 117, note. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VIII. Prefatory Notes, p. xxxiv. 
 
OF NOETH CAROLINA. 185 
 
 persuade tlieni that they ought to break them — Caswell, 
 whose bayonets had forced the oaths dowai their throats; 
 Patillo, who, with the other Presbyterian pastors in the 
 province, had addressed a laudatoi-y letter to Tryon and a 
 denunciatory one to their congi-egations about the crime of 
 being a Regulator ; and Moore, who had been on a court that 
 convicted twelve of the Regulators of treason and sentenced 
 them to death !" This quotation from Saunders will form the 
 basis of a true analysis. It was largely to pay old scores that 
 the Regiilators became Tories. Then, too, there was another 
 cause, as given by the earliest Tennessee historian, Judge 
 John Haywood, a native of North Carolina, who says that 
 fear of British authority made them Tories ; and the writings 
 of Judge Haywood certainly do not display any love for 
 Tryon or the civil officers under his administration which 
 might prejudice him against the Regulators. Probably the 
 best summing up of the whole movement was that written in 
 October, 1780, by John Adams, of Massachusetts, while 
 Minister to Holland.* Adams says: "There v.-ere some 
 warm disputes in North Carolina concerning some of the 
 internal regulations of the province ; and a small number of 
 people in the back parts rose in arms, under the name of Regu- 
 lators, against the government Governor Tryon marched 
 at the head of some troops drawn from the militia, gave battle 
 to the Reg-iilators, defeated them, hanged some of their ring- 
 leaders, and published proclamations against many others. 
 These people were all treated as having been in rebellion, 
 and they were left to solicit pardon of the Crown. This 
 established in the minds of those Regulators such a hatred 
 
 • See Life and Works of John Adams, Vol. VII, p. 234. 
 
•186 GOVEKNOE TKYON 
 
 towards the rest of their fellow citizens, that in 1775, when 
 the war broke out, they would not join with them. The King 
 has since promised them pardon for their fonner treasons 
 upon the condition that they commit fresh ones against 
 their country. ***** In conjimction with a uumher of 
 Scotch Highlanders they rose ; and Governor Caswell marched 
 against them, gave them battle, and defeated them. This 
 year they have risen again, and been again defeated. But 
 these people are so few in number, and there is so much ap- 
 parent malice and revenge, instead of any principle, in their 
 disaffection, that any one who knows anything of the human 
 heart will see that, instead of iinally weakening the cause in 
 North Carolina, it will only serve to give a keenness and an 
 obstinacy to those who support it." 
 
 Some writers say that those who resisted the Stamp Act 
 and those who rose iip as Regulators were alike, in that both 
 movements were against British opj^ression. Biit exactly 
 wherein the British — either King or Parliament — had any- 
 thing to do with alleged irregiilarities of county officials in 
 the backwoods of North Carolina is difficult to see. The 
 abuses which caused the Regulators to rise were no more 
 attributable to the King or government of Great Britain than 
 to the Shah of Persia or the Holy Roman Empire. On the 
 other hand, the Stamp Act came from the highest legislative 
 authority of Great Britain. Nor did the people of Cape 
 Fear, in 1766, seek to substitute anarchy for the administra- 
 tion of the laws of the colony, even though tliey did tempo- 
 rarily coop up the Governor and bully a few Crown officials. 
 Some also there are who say that the Regulators slain at 
 Alamance were the first martyrs of the Revolution; if this 
 be true, they were veiy different in ju-inciples from those who 
 
OF NORTH CAKOLINA. 
 
 187 
 
 survived the battle, for, as has already been shown, the sur- 
 vivors were among the most bitter enemies of the Eevolu- 
 tionarv movement. 
 
 In politics, religions, irreligious, and manias the Regu- 
 lators were quite variable. Accordingly as the whim moved 
 them, they praised the reigning monarch as the best of rulers, 
 or drauk: "'Damnation to King George and success to the 
 Pretender." They fomid fault with Judges Moore and Hen- 
 derson because they were "not appointed by the King." To 
 Governor Martin, in 1772, they made "the most solemn protes- 
 tation of their innocence and abhorrence of the design to sub- 
 vert the government." One of their principal written agree- 
 ments began : "Being conscious of our loyalty to King George 
 the Third, on the present throne, and our fii-m attachment to 
 the present establishment and form of government," etc* 
 If they themselves are to be believed, the Regulators had no 
 quarrel in particular Avith Great Britain, yet Tryon was 
 right when he said that, had they succeeded in the battle of 
 Alamance, all law and order in North Carolina would have 
 been at an end. 
 
 At the time of their uprising all of the religious denomi- 
 nations in the colony held the Kegiilators in the utmost abhor- 
 rence. Yet not a few writers in more recent years have 
 attempted to make it appear that they were a deeply religious 
 set and only sided against America in the Revolution becaiise 
 they were too pious to violate the oaths of allegiance taken 
 prior to the war. Caruthers, in his Life of Caldwell,-]- says 
 that they, for the most part, bad been religiously educated and 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. Vm. pp. 246, 519; Ibid.. Vol. IX, p. 329: Husband's 
 Book, reprinted in Wheeler's History of N. C, Part II, p. 309. 
 tLife of Caldwell, pp. 115, 148. 
 
188 QOVERNOE TBTON 
 
 taught to regard the Bible as a revelation from heaven. He 
 also intimates that they were largely Presbyterians. Yet 
 Tryon always spoke with gratitude of the aid afforded him 
 by the Presbyterians, and quite a number of Presbyterian 
 clergymen (including Doctor Caldwell himself) issued a 
 pastoral letter to their flocks in 1768, saying that very few 
 of their faith were engaged in the insurrection, but that to 
 these — "who had been seduced from the peaceable deportment 
 and loyalty of their profession and ancestry" — they would 
 sound a note of warning. These same clergjauen, in an ad- 
 dress to Governor Tryon, on August 23, 1768, gave utterance 
 to extravagant professions of loyalty, which need not be here 
 quoted, and also say: "We humbly hope Your Excellency 
 has found but a very small proportion of the people of our 
 denomination among the present insurgents; and we assui'e 
 you, sir, if any there are, they have departed froni the inva- 
 riable principles of their profession, which some, bred in the 
 wilderness, for want of proper instruction, may be supposed 
 ignorant of."* 
 
 In endeavoring to prove that the Regulators were mostly 
 Baptists, a great deal has also been written ; yet a noted Bap- 
 tist divine, the Reverend Morgan Edwards, who passed 
 through the scene of the then recent disturbances a little over 
 a year after the battle of Alamance, says that he made it his 
 business to inquire into the matter, and could aver that there 
 were only seven Baptists in the entire movement, and these 
 had every one been expelled from congregations to which they 
 belonged in consequence of a resolve passed by the Baptist 
 Association at Sandy Creek on the second Saturday in Octo- 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. VH, pp. 813-816. 
 
OF NOETII CAEOLINA. 189 
 
 bcr, 1769, wliicli said: "If any of our members shall take 
 up arms against the legal authority, or aid and abet them that 
 do so, he shall be excommunicated." Of the Regulators 
 afterwards indicted, says the same authority, only one (Cap- 
 tain Merrill) was a Baptist. Edwards also states- that on oue 
 occasion an armed band of Regulators marched into a meet- 
 ing of Baptists and threatened to disperse it in consequence 
 of the passage of the above resolution.* 
 
 Again, it has been said that many Quakers sympathized 
 with the insurrectionists; yet Doctor Stephen B. Weeks, in 
 his work on Southern QuaJicrs and Slavery.-f quotes records 
 to show that all Quakers were expelled from their societies 
 who had anything to do with the movement — not only for 
 joining the Regulators, but even for "aiding them," as in the 
 case of one Himiphrej- Williams. 
 
 The author of the present biogTaphy being of the Anglican 
 "persuasion," and not a great admirer of the Regulators, has 
 until recently rejoiced in the belief that no one ever charged 
 members of the Church of England with being engaged in the 
 outbreak, but this rejoicing is now turned into humiliation 
 and sorrow ; for in the book written by Husband himself:}: is 
 the statement: "We found our body to consist promiscuously 
 of all sects, but the men who we put the most trust in were 
 of the Church of England communion." 
 
 In connection with that deeply religious character which 
 the Reg-ulators are supposed to have possessed, it is of interest 
 to recall the entries on the docket-book in Hillsborough which 
 
 * Morgan Edwards, quoted in David Benedict's History of the Baptist Denomination in 
 America (edition of 1813), Vol. U, p. 116. 
 I Southern Quakers and Slavery, pp. 182-183. 
 1 Reprinted in Wheeler's History of N. C, Part U, p. .315. 
 
190 GOVERNOE TETON 
 
 they made when holding a mock court after driving out Judge 
 Henderson at the Septemher Term, 1770. One entry by 
 them says: "The Elect pays cost." Another, in the suit of 
 Isaiah Hogan vs. Hermon Husband: ''Hogan pays & be 
 damned." On the case of John Mellund vs. William Court- 
 ney, is the remark : "Damned Kogues." In Michael Wilson 
 vs. David Harris, appears the entry : "All Harrises are 
 Rogues." In a judgment by default, in Sales Brown vs. 
 William Lewis: "The Man is sick. It 'tis damned roguery." 
 In Solomon Turvil vs. James Tun'il, where an execution was 
 levied on two negroes : "Negroes not worth a dam. Cost ex- 
 ceeds the whole." In Ezekiel Brumfield vs. James Ferrel, 
 for slander, is the advice and charitable observation: "Let 
 them agree, for Ferrel has gone Hell-ward." 
 
 We are not advised of the religious denomination to which 
 the parties belonged who made the above entries. They 
 were probably not those religiously educated Presbyterians 
 who had been taught to regard the Bible as a revelation from 
 heaven, for they adjudged that the "elect" should jjay the 
 costs. And the phraseology employed does not bear any 
 striking similitude to the dialect (so easily recog-nizable) 
 which is used by the Society of Friends: hence it is prob- 
 able that the Quakers did not do it, either. So it must have 
 been the work of some members of the Church of England, 
 or those seven excommunicated Baptists mentioned by Mor- 
 gan Edwards. 
 
 Upon Tryou's departure from New Bern, James Hasell, 
 President of the Council, qualified as Governor pro iempore 
 (July 1, 1771). On August 11th the new Governor, Colonel 
 Josiah Martin, arrived by sea from New York, after a pas- 
 sage of nineteen days, and was sworn in on the day after his 
 
OF NORTH CAEOLIKA. 191 
 
 arrival. Trv-on reached New York and had a consultation 
 with Martin just before the latter set out for jS^rth Caro- 
 lina.* Colonel Martin belonged to a very ancient English 
 family, of Nonnan origin, which traced its descent from 
 Martin of Tours, a general in the army of William the Con- 
 queror. Like Tryon, Governor Martin was a soldier by pro- 
 fession. He married his cousin, Elizabeth Martin, a daugh- 
 ter of Josiah Martin, of Long Island, ISTew York. One of the 
 Governor's brothers was later created a baronet. This 
 was Sir Henry Martin, of Lock Inge, in Berkshire. The 
 father of Sir Henry and Governor Martin lived for many 
 years on the West Indian Island of Antigua, and there the 
 Governor was probably born.f Some axithorities state that 
 Governor Martin died in New York. This is a mistake, 
 probably caused by confusing him with his uncle or a rela- 
 tive of the same name. 
 
 On his way from England to North Carolina, the new 
 Governor was taken sick in New York, and bitterly com- 
 plained in a letter to the Earl of Hillsborough of being unable 
 to proceed to the government with Avhich he had been en- 
 ti-usted, in time to share the dangers of the war there exist- 
 ing.:}: Ultimately, however, he was rather friendly to the 
 Reg-ulators. The historian Williamson ascribes this to jeal- 
 ousy. That ^^Titer says : "Martin sickened at the praises of 
 Tryon. He had little reason to exjDect that his own achieve- 
 ments would ever swell the trump of fame. He could hardly 
 rise to the standard of Tryon, but he might possibly reduce 
 the character of Tryon, in the province, to his o^\'n level. 
 
 • Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. IX, pp. 3. 9. 15-17. 
 + Betham's Baronetage. Vol. IV, pp. 210-211. 
 t Colonial Records of N. C. Vol. IX, pp. 16-17. 
 
192 GOVERNOB TBYO^f 
 
 The man who scatters censure is sure to please the ignorant 
 and the disappointed. He takes the beaten road to popu- 
 larity. It may be trodden without the aid of virtue or tal- 
 ents."* 
 
 If such ungenerous feelings as those suggested by William- 
 son indeed found place in Martin's bosom, it is certain he 
 concealed them under a polite exterior, for never did he men- 
 tion Tryon in his letters save with respect. Nor, in those 
 letters, did he ever attribute to his predecessor aught but 
 credit for the Alamance campaig-n, tliough he severely de- 
 nounced the extortionate county officials, who, he said, stirred 
 up the trouble. 
 
 One thing seems certain, however, that the ISTorth Carolina 
 Assembly always looked with far more favor upon Tryon than 
 upon Martin. As late as December, 1773, when desiring to 
 have an important measure laid before the King, the Assembly 
 passed a resolution entirely igTioring their own Governor and 
 ordering that a committee "do address His Excellency, Wil- 
 liam Tryon, Esquire, the present Governor of New York, 
 who, happily for this country, for so many years presided over 
 it, and of whose good intentions to its welfare we feel the 
 fullest conviction ; that they forward to him our dutiful ad- 
 dress to His Majesty, and re([uest that he should be pleased 
 to convey the same to our most gracious sovereign, support 
 oiu' earnest solicitations with his interest and influence, and 
 that lie accept of this important trust as a testimony of the 
 great affection this colony bears him, and the entire confidence 
 they repose in him." Governor Martin was cut to the quick 
 by this insult, yet preserved his temper under the provoca- 
 tion with more than ordinary grace. Concerning the Asscm- 
 
 • WilliamBon's History of N. C, Vol. II, p. 163. 
 
OF NOKTH CAROLINA. _ 193 
 
 blv and its action, he wrote Lord Hillsborough a letter saying: 
 "I am glad, with all my heart, that their evil dispositions 
 towards me have drawn upon my friend Governor Tryou a 
 compliment and mark of confidence to which his services in 
 this country so greatly entitle him. It is a real mitigation of 
 the pain I have felt from the wound given me, through him, 
 that his merits are illustrated by it ; and it is my sufficient 
 consolation that I have been assured that all but the imme- 
 diate contrivers of it look back with shame and indignation 
 to the unmerited insult in which they blindly concurred."* 
 
 Strange as it may now seem. North Carolina was a more 
 populous colony than New York in 1771. Indeed, so late as 
 1790, when the first official census was compiled, North Caro- 
 lina had 393,751 inhabitants, while New York had only 
 340,120. Nor do these figures include Tennessee as a 
 part of North Carolina. Only two States, Virginia and 
 Pennsylvania, then exceeded North Carolina in population. 
 By the most recent census (1900), North Carolina droj)s 
 down to the fifteenth place, yet ranks ahead of Virginia, and 
 has more than twice the population of any State in New 
 England except Massachusetts ; while Tennessee (North Caro- 
 lina's daughter), which had only 35,791 inhabitants by the 
 census of 1790, contains a greater population, by the census 
 of 1900, than either North Carolina cr Virginia. 
 
 Not only was North Carolina more populous than New 
 York in 1771, but the Governor's salaiy in the former seems 
 to have been larger, while the Palace at New Bern was the 
 most elegant structure in America. All this being true, it 
 is somewhat strange that Tryon should have preferred the 
 
 •Colonial Records of N. C, Vol. IX. pp. 787. 800. 
 
194 GOVERNOR TRTON 
 
 northern colony. If he foresaw, in even a small degree, its 
 future greatness, it speaks well for his sagacity. 
 
 On July 9, 1771, two days after his arrival in New York, 
 Tryon was sworn in as Governor. His predecessor in that 
 office was a Scottish nobleman of tlie House of Murray, whom 
 one Revolutionary poet, no respecter of persons, has described 
 as — 
 
 "That silly old fellow, much noted of yore. 
 And known by the name of John, Earl of Dunmore." 
 
 Lord Dunmore had been Governor of New York for a very 
 brief period (since October 19, 1770), and left that province 
 to become Governor of Virginia, where he remained until 
 the war put an end to Royal authority. He seems to have 
 been transferred from the Governorship of New York to that 
 of Virginia against his will, as he endeavored to persuade 
 Tryon to exchange governments with him, which arrangement 
 had been authorized by the King, if agreeable to both parties. 
 Tryon, however, preferred New York, and was swoni in 
 accordingly.* Next the members of the Coimcil qualified, 
 and a procession was formed which proceeded in state to the 
 Town Hall, where the appointment of the new Governor was 
 formally proclaimed to the multitude. 
 
 • Documents Relatins: to the Colonial History of the State of New York. Vol. VIII, p. 278. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 195 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS OX TRYON'S CAREER IN REVOLUTION— MAJOR- 
 GENERAL OF LOYALISTS, AND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 
 AFTER RETURN TO ENGLAND— TRIBUTE TO HIS CHARAC- 
 TER BY JUDGE JONES, OF NEW YORK— DEATH— OBITUARY 
 IN GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE— BURIED IN FAIMILY VAULT 
 AT TWICKENHAM— HIS WILL AND THAT OF HIS WIFE- 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 As this narrative is limited to Xorth Carolina, it leaves 
 untold some of the most momentous events of Tryon's life. 
 At first it was the author's purpose to follow him through 
 the years he ruled New York, to tell of the rupture with 
 Great Britain, and to place on record the part he bore as a 
 Major-General in command of American Loyalists, when 
 vainly endeavoring to re-establish Royal rule. But on second 
 consideration it has been deemed preferable simply to devote 
 a few concluding remarks to his administration in the more 
 northern province, and let a detailed account await the pen 
 of some ISTew Yorker, "native and to the manner bom." That 
 writer, if the task be undertaken, should bring to his work a 
 generous appreciation of the circiunstances by which Gov- 
 ernor Tryon was beset. He was an Englishman, not an 
 American, and should not be harshly criticised for refusing 
 to turn against a monarch who had twice confided to him 
 the government of important provinces. 
 
 In a private letter to the author of this present work, a 
 distinguished North Carolina lawyer writes: "Tryon has 
 been the worst misrepresented man in our history." This is 
 too true ; nor has misrepresentation been confined to North 
 Carolina. In New York as well, his years of toil in the 
 
196 GOVEENOR TKTON 
 
 upbuilding of that province have been to a large extent lost 
 sight of, while the minutest details of his hostility are cher- 
 ished and exaggerated. Do we ever stop to think that Tryon 
 committed no act during the entire Revolution which did not 
 have its counterpart in the warfare carried on by Americans ? 
 Historians aver that he attempted to kill or capture General 
 Washington, and therefore denounce him as a savage, as if 
 war could exist without such methods. Indeed, Washington 
 himself was none the less a savage ; for, while writing to 
 Richard Henry Lee, on December 26, 1775, concerning the 
 Loyalist Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, he said: "I 
 do not think that forcing His Lordship on shipboard is suf- 
 ficient ; nothing less than depriving him of life or liberty will 
 secure peace to Virginia."* Did Tryon burn and destroy 
 in his Connecticut expeditions ? Yes, but the Americans 
 were no better in dealing with their enemies. In both New 
 York and New England it was nothing unusual for the homes 
 of Loyalists to be burned. Nor can North Carolina or Vir- 
 ginia cast the first stone at Tryon for warfare of this char- 
 acter. In January, 1770, wlien Norfolk, in the latter State, 
 had been partly burned by the British, the Virginia House 
 of Burgesses authorized Colonel Robert Howe, of the North 
 Carolina Continentals (afterwards a Major-General), to burn 
 up the Tory section of the town. This he accordingly did, 
 and afterwards was honored with an official vote of thanks 
 by the Virginia Convention for his services to that province.f 
 Indeed, the history of war, in all times, is more or less a 
 record of devastation and smoking ruins. We read, in the 
 one authority worthy of all credence, how Samson caught 
 
 • WritinKS of Washington (1837 edition). Vol. HI, p. 216. 
 t Jones's Defence of North Carolina, p. 2-12, vt acq. 
 
OF NOETH CAROLINA. 197 
 
 three hundred foxes, put fire to their tails, and sent the 
 affrighted incendiaries scampering through the cornfields of 
 the Phillistines. Then, passing over the succeeding ages and 
 coming nearer home, it is not pleasant to scrutinize too closely 
 our "domestic infelicity" of 1861-'65. When Sheridan laid 
 waste the Valley of the Shenandoah, and then boasted that a 
 crow would starve in attempting to fly over it without carry- 
 ing a supply of rations, little praise was accorded him by 
 inhabitants of Virginia. Wlien Sherman made his famous 
 march to the sea, and burned more houses in a -day than Tryon 
 did in a life-time, it is equally true that very few of the poems 
 and songs, commemorative thereof, were the products of 
 Southern bards. When the city of Chambersburg was sent 
 up in smoke by Confederate troops under General Early, it 
 was not considered a very commendable exploit by the people 
 of Pennsylvania. Yet Sheridan, and Sherman, and Early, 
 all find favor with historians of their respective sections. 
 And as to Samson — well, it is neither necessary nor profitable 
 to discuss that gentleman's military record, for foxes are too 
 few ever again to be employed with any degree of success in 
 the warfare of nations. 
 
 As every well-equipped representative of royalty is sup- 
 posed to be provided with an hereditaiy title, the historical 
 writers of both North Carolina and New York have seen to 
 it that Governor Tryou shall not be lacking in this respect. 
 Sometimes they give him the honor of knighthood, as Sir 
 William Tryon ; others confer upon him a baronetcy, as Sir 
 William Tryon, Baronet ; and occasionally he is even elevated 
 to the peerage, as Lord Tryon ! If King George had con- 
 ferred all these splendid honors upon the Governor during his 
 life-time it would have been very flattering to the latter's 
 
198 GOVERN©B TEYON 
 
 vanity ; but, unfortunately for Tryon, peerages and other 
 titles emanating from American historians and pamphleteers 
 have never been officially recognized by the House of Lords 
 or His Majesty's College of Arms. 
 
 Tryon remained nominally Governor of New York uutil 
 March 22, 1780, when James Eobertson qualified as his suc- 
 cessor by appointment from the King. Of course neither 
 Tryon nor Robertson was recognized by the State after its 
 independent government had been established. The name 
 of Governor Tryon appears at the head of the list of names 
 enumerated in the confiscation acts of both North Carolina 
 and New York, and the counties of Tryon in these States 
 were expunged from the map. Shortly after relinquishing 
 the government of New York, he sailed for England, where 
 he finally rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General. 
 
 Among the Loyalists Tryon had his enemies as well as 
 among the Whigs, yet many of the former were his devoted 
 friends. Judge Thomas Jones, the Loyalist historian of 
 New York, was one of his admirers, and writes of him thus : 
 "He was beloved, esteemed, and almost adored by the people 
 in the colony. Wliile Governor he heard all complaints with 
 the utmost patience. His ears were always open, as well to 
 the poor as to the rich ; he was easy of access ; he refused ad- 
 mittance to no man; he was kind, charitable, liumaiie, and 
 benevolent ; had ever the good of his country at heart ; de- 
 spised, abhorred, and abominated all kind of )ieculation ; he 
 never did a mean act while Governor of the colony ; he was 
 universally looked upon as a brave soldier, an honest man, 
 and a good Christian."* 
 
 "History of New York, by Judge Thumaft Jones, Vol. I, p. 165. JudKO Jones was an 
 American Loyalist and .-lied in 1792, but his work was not published till 1879. 
 
OF NORTH OAEOLINA. 199 
 
 The death of Governor Tryon occurred in London, at his 
 house on Upper Grosvenor Street, January 27, 1788. In the 
 Gentleman's Magazine, for February of that year, appeared 
 the following obituary : 
 
 Died. — At his home in Upper Grosvenor str., sincerely lamented, 
 Lieut.-Geueral Tryon, Colonel of the 29tli regiment of foot, late Governor 
 of the province of New York, and commander in chief of his Majesty's 
 forces there. His remains were deposited in the family vault at Twicken- 
 ham. The importance of his character in the annals of this country pre- 
 cludes the necessity of expatiating on the eminent services that distin- 
 guished his life. Illustrious as a legislator, he suppressed the rising 
 seeds of revolt in North Carolina, during the time of his administration 
 in that province. Calmed to peace under his mild and beneficent sway, 
 the people relinquished every other ambition than that of looking up 
 with filial attachment to their friend and protector, whose jurisprudence 
 breathed much of paternal tenderness, as of legislative authority. Called 
 to the government of New York, a wider field of action opened to this 
 accomplished statesman, whose superior powers of wisdom and philan- 
 thropy were unceasingly exerted for the real welfare of the colonists. 
 His princely munificence extended to the most inconsiderable of the 
 people; and the heart-felt gratitude that pervaded every branch of the 
 community will make the name of Tryon revered across the Atlantic 
 while virtue and sensibility remain. In private life the benevolence of 
 his heart corresponded -nith the endowments of his mind, difl'using hon- 
 our and happiness in an extensive circle, and obtaining permanent ad- 
 vantages for those who, being in early youth elected to his patronage, 
 now live to pour the tear of sorrow over his honour'd tomb. 
 
 The passage in this obituary, telling how the Regulators 
 were calmed to peace under Tryon's mild and beneficent sway, 
 is calculated to provoke a smile; for it will be remembered 
 that it was not mildness which broke up their revolt, nor was 
 it beneficence. These means failed. Then the military 
 power of North Carolina was employed, and proved more 
 potent. 
 
200 QOVEENOE TBYON 
 
 For interment tlie remains of Governor Tryon were carried 
 to the burial-ground of the old parish church of St. Mary's 
 in Twickenham, Middlesex, and deposited in an altar-tomb, 
 where rest many other members of his family. On the top 
 of this tomb are three inscriptions, which read : 
 
 HERE LIETH 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 SELINA, COUNTESS DOWAGER FERRERS, 
 
 WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 
 
 MARCH 20th, 1762, 
 
 IN THE 80th YEAR OF HER AGE. 
 
 HERE LIETH THE BODY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HONOURABLE LADY MARY TRYON, 
 
 WIDOW OF CHARLES TRYON, ESQ-- 
 
 OF BULWICK IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, 
 
 AND DAUGHTER OF ROBERT, EARL FERRERS. 
 
 SHE DIED MAY 17th, 1771, AGED 68. 
 
 ALSO THE BODY 
 
 OF 
 
 LIEUT.-GENERAL WILLIAM TRYON, 
 
 SON OF CHARLES TRYON OF NORTHAMPTON, ESQ' 
 
 AND OF THE AFOREMENTIONED LADY MARY, 
 
 LATE GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW 
 
 YORK AND COLONEL OF THE 29th REGIMENT OF FOOT, 
 
 WHO DIED THE 27Tn OF JANUARY, 1788, 
 
 AGED 58 YEARS. 
 
■=3 
 © 
 
 o Til 
 •a Ci 
 
 n 2 
 
 & HI 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 201 
 
 On a panel, on the south side of the tomb, is an inscription 
 of which the following is a copy : 
 
 HERE ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS. MARGARET TRYON, 
 
 LATE OF GREAT YARMOUTH IN THE COUNTY OF NORFOLK, 
 
 RELICT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 
 
 WILLIAM TRYON, 
 
 WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE I6th DAY OF FEB', 1819, 
 
 IN THE 86th YEAR OF HER AGE. 
 
 On the north side is another panel, which contains two in- 
 scriptions, as follows : 
 
 HERE LIETH THE BODY 
 
 OF 
 
 MISS MARGARET TRYON, 
 
 DAUGHTER OF THE LATE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL 
 
 TRYON AND MARGARET TRYON, 
 
 WHO DIED JULY 28th, 1791. 
 
 AGED 30 YEARS. 
 
 ALSO OF 
 
 MISS ANN TRYON, 
 
 DAUGHTER OF THE LATE CHARLES TRYON, ESQ^ 
 
 AND OF 
 
 LADY MARY TRYON OF BULWICK, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, 
 
 WHO DIED JULY 10th, 1822, 
 
 AGED 82 YEARS. 
 
202 GOVEENOE TETON 
 
 Tlioiigh many other men of note (among them Alexander 
 Pope) are interred near the last resting-place of Governor 
 Tryon, the sepulchre of most interest to Americans is in a 
 vault beneath the chancel of the adjoining church ; for there, . 
 unmarked by any memorial, lie the remains of the old cava- 
 lier, Sir William Berkeley, sometime Governor of Virginia 
 and one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina. There, too, 
 rests the body of Lord John Berkeley, also one of the Carolina 
 Proprietors and a brother of Sir "William. Of the remains 
 of Governor Berkeley a most remarkable circumstance is re- 
 lated by the Reverend R. S. Cobbett, in his Alemoriah of 
 Twickenham* while referring to the interment in St. Mary's 
 Church of Admiral Byron (grandfather of Lord Byron), who 
 died in 1786. This is to the effect that when the vault was 
 opened the body of Sir William Berkeley was foimd lying on 
 the ground without a coffin, cased in lead exactly fitted to the 
 shape of the body, showing the form of the features, hands, 
 feet, and even nails. The lead appeared to be beaten firmly 
 over the body, which presented the appearance of a figure in 
 armor. 
 
 Though they were not contemporaries (Berkeley died before 
 Tryon was born), it is a singular coincidence that these two 
 old Governors of adjoining American colonies should, after 
 years of turmoil and strife spent in the New World, be 
 brought together in a quiet church-yard of their native Eng- 
 land — • 
 
 "Among familiar names to rest, 
 
 And in the places of their youth." 
 
 Governor Tryon has no lineal descendants now living, 
 though at least two children were born to him — one before 
 
 * Memorials of Twickenham, p. 37. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 203 
 
 he came to North Carolina, and the other after his arrival in 
 the colony. In an old letter, so stained by age that it is 
 almost illegible, written at Wilmington, North Carolina, 
 by Mrs. John Burg-win, to her sister, Mrs. Hugh Waddell, on 
 the 22d of November, 1768, I find the passage: "You no 
 doubt heard long ago that Mrs. Tryon has a son." This little 
 child is probably the same whose death Governor Tryon an- 
 nounced to the Earl of Hillsborough on the 31st of March, 
 1760, saying: ''I thank you, my Lord, for yoiir communica- 
 tion of the happy increase in Their Majesty's family by the 
 birth of a princess, an intelligence that afforded me much 
 satisfaction, though I received it while under affliction for the 
 death of my own son." Margaret Tryon, daughter of the 
 Governor, died unmarried at the age of thirty. She was born 
 in the year 1761, before her father was sent to North Caro- 
 lina. She was the young lady who made such a narrow 
 escape from death by fire in New York, on December 29, 
 1773, when the Governor's hovise, in Fort George, was acci- 
 dentally burned. In this conflagration, it may be added, all 
 of Tryon's private papers, which he had been years in accu- 
 mulating, were destroyed.* The New York Assembly voted 
 him five thousand pounds to indemnify this loss, but much of 
 the proi^erty, particularly the pajjers, could not be replaced 
 at any price. 
 
 The last will and testament of Governor Tryon is now on 
 file in the Principal Registry of the Probate, Divorce, and 
 Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice, in Loudon, 
 as is also that of his wife, Mrs. Margaret Tryon. Copies of 
 these documents are now before me. The Governor, in his 
 
 ' Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York, Vol. VUI, p. 407 
 
204 GOVEKNOR TEYON 
 
 will (executed November 21, 1787; probated February 21, 
 1788) styles himself: "William Tryon, of Upper Grosveuor 
 Street, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, Lieutenant- 
 General of His Majesty's Forces, and late Governor of the 
 Province of New York, in North America." The will is a 
 trifle too complicated in its terms and conditions to be here 
 set forth. It disposes of an estate amounting to thousands 
 of pounds, largely invested in stock of the Bank of England. 
 Among the legatees are the testator's wife, Mrs. Margaret 
 Tryon (also sole executrix) ; his daughter, Margaret Tryon ; 
 his four sisters, Ann, Mary, and Harriot Tryon, and Mrs. 
 Sophia Bulstrode; his friends. Fountain Elwin, Eobert 
 Palmer, and Edmund Fanning; Mary Stanton, of the town 
 of Northampton, Elizabeth Saunders of the same town, and 
 William Saunders, youngest son of the last named. It was 
 provided that the legacy to Mrs. Saunders should be a life 
 estate, with a reversion to any children thereafter born by her, 
 and "not be subject or liable to the intermeddling, debts, or 
 engagements, of her present husband or any after taken hus- 
 band." It was also provided that all domestic and household 
 servants in the employ of the testator should receive one year's 
 wages over and above the amounts due them for their services. 
 Mrs. Tryon, widow of the Governor, survived her husband 
 many years, also outliving her daiighter, and died on the 
 10th of February, 1819, in the eighty-sixth year of her age. 
 In 1757, at the time of her marriage to Mr. Tryon, then a 
 Captain in the Foot-Guards, the Gentleman's Magazine 
 alluded to her as : "Miss Wake, of Hanover Street, London." 
 In her will (executed May 30, 1818; probated March 3, 
 1819) she refers to herself as: "Margaret Tryon, formerly 
 of the Parish of Saint Luke's, Chelsea, in the County of 
 
OF NOBTH CAEOLINA. 205 
 
 Middlesex, but now of Great Yarmouth, in the County of 
 Norfolk, widow of the late Lieuteuant-General Tryon." 
 Thoiigh the class receiving her legacies included many per- 
 sons, the most niunerous beneficiaries of Mrs. Tryon's will 
 were members of a family named Elwin, possibly her rela- 
 tives, though she does not so state. The will begins by setting 
 forth that, owing to the previous death of her daughter Mar- 
 garet, the sum of fifteen thousand pounds (left by the father 
 of the testator, Mrs. Tryon) has come into her possession as 
 representative of her said daughter. Disposition of her prop- 
 erty is then made as follows: Thomas Horatio Batchelor, of 
 Horstead, in the County of JSTorfolk, seventeen hundred 
 pounds ; Mrs. Mary Ann Ficklin, of the city of !N"orwich 
 (widow of the Reverend Robert Ficklin), fifteen hundred 
 pounds ; Hastings Elwin, late of Sloane Street, Chelsea, three 
 hundred poimds; Fountain Elwin (son of Hastings), one 
 hundred pounds; Harriot Elwin (daughter of Hastings), 
 fifty pounds ; Reverend Robert Elwin, of the city of jSTorwich 
 (son of the late Robert Elwin), one hundred pounds; Phil- 
 ippa Elwin, Caleb Elwin, and Fountain John Elwin 
 (daughter and sons of the late Thomas Elwin), one hundred 
 pounds each; Thomas Henry Elwin (son of the said Foim- 
 tain), three hundred pounds; Rebecca and Philippa Elwin 
 (children of the said Fountain), twenty pounds each; Mrs. 
 Virtue Elwin, of the city of Norwich, widow, one hundred 
 poimds; Major Fountain Elwin, of His Majesty's Forty- 
 fourth Regiment of Foot, one hundred pounds and a silver 
 waiter; Lieutenant Jonathan Wrench, late of His Majesty's 
 Forty-fourth Regiment of Foot, fifty pounds; Mrs. Ann 
 Wrench, of Islington, widow, one hundred povmds per annum 
 during her natural life ; Miss Wrench (daughter of Mrs. Ann 
 
206 GOVEENOB TKYON 
 
 Wrench), one Inmdred pounds; Mrs. Ann Tieed (widow of 
 Surgeon William Reed), fifty pounds; Mrs. Dorothy Longe, 
 of Coltishall, in the County of Norfolk, widow, one hundred 
 pounds; Captain Robert Longe, of the East Norfolk Militia, 
 one hundred pounds per annum for his natural life ; William 
 Pennington, and his wife, Penelope, of the Hot Wells, Bris- 
 tol, the remainder of a lease, owned by testator, on property 
 in Sloane Street, Chelsea, occupied by Lady Skipwith, and 
 one hundred pounds additional to the said Penelope Penning- 
 ton ; Mrs. Howard (wife of William Howard, of Sloane 
 Street, Chelsea), one hundred pounds; Mrs. Mary Leigh 
 Bennett (daughter of the Reverend John Leigh Bennett), 
 one hundred pounds and a diamond ring; Miss Mary Tryou, 
 of Winchester, spinster, one hundred pounds; Miss Ann 
 Tryon, formerly of Hounslow, spinster, fifty pounds ; Miss 
 Margaret Burton, of Knightsbridge, spinster, twenty-five 
 pounds; Mrs. Mary Barrett, of Great Yarmouth, widow, 
 twenty pounds ; Mrs. Sparrow, wife of a carpenter at Knights- 
 bridge, five guineas. To her servants, William Rix and Ann 
 Newborn, she bequeathed twenty pounds each, and one year's 
 wages in addition to what should be due them at the time 
 of her death, together with mourning ; to Mary Harbord and 
 Sarah Saxton, two other servants, were bequeathed ten poimds 
 each, one year's additional wages, and mourning. Fifty 
 guineas went to the poor of the parish of Saint Luke's, Chel- 
 sea; and Fountain Elwin, of Enfield, was named as resi- 
 duary legatee!. The executors were Fountain Elwin, of 
 Enfield, Major Fountain Elwin, of the Forty-fourth Regi- 
 ment of Foot, and Hastings Elwiu, formerly of Sloane Street, 
 Chelsea. 
 
OF NOETH CAROLINA. 207 
 
 It is noted at the end of Mrs. Tryon's will that a bequest 
 of twenty guineas to Captain Robert Palmer, of Shrewsbury, 
 had been stricken out. Possibly Captain Palmer had died. 
 It is probable that this was the same Robert Palmer who had 
 been a member of Governor Tryon's Council in North Caro- 
 lina, as the councilor went to England, as heretofore noted. 
 Palmer, it will be remembered, is also mentioned in the Gov- 
 ernor's will. William Pennington, mentioned in Mrs. Try- 
 on's will, was the same who had been Comptroller of Cus- 
 toms at Cape Fear, and had there encountered so much oppo- 
 sition in attempting to execute the duties of his oihce. In the 
 fashionable English resort at Bath, he was master of cere- 
 monies for some time. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 This contribution to the biographical and historical liter- 
 ature of North Carolina is now finished. Many writers there 
 are who could have performed the task more creditably ; but, 
 as no one seems to have been moved to such an eifort, I have 
 thought it well to put forth what I have been able to learn of 
 the life of our sometime friend and final enemy. The enmity 
 of Tryon, however — his career in the Revolution — has no 
 direct bearing on the history of North Carolina ; and I believe 
 that it was against his personal inclination ever to engage in 
 hostilities against any of the American colonies. Even from 
 a stand-point of policy, if we give him credit for no good 
 qualities whatever, it must be conceded that he had nothing to 
 gain and all to lose by a war between the colonies and their 
 mother country. But when the time came that no man could 
 serve both Britain and America, he chose to array himself 
 
208 GOVEENOR TETON 
 
 in the cause of his own coiintrv, and under the banner of his 
 royal benefactor, with feelings, mayhap, akin to those voiced 
 in after years by a naval hero who offered the toast, with ref- 
 erence to America : "Our country ! In her intercourse with 
 foreign nations, may she always be in the right ; but our 
 country, right or wrong." In the bloody tribunal of war the 
 cause of independence won, and it may be that Great Britain, 
 as well as America, is better for the separation. This mutual 
 benefit was anticipated by Governor Jonathan Trumbull, of 
 Connecticut, as early as the 23d of April, 1778, when, in 
 his military correspondence with General Tryon, he said: 
 "The British nation may, perhaps, find us as affectionate and 
 valuable friends in peace as we now are detennined and fatal 
 enemies, and will derive from that friendship more solid 
 and real advantage than the most sanguine can expect from 
 conquest." 
 
NDEX, 
 
 Acklin, Christopher, wounded at 
 Alamance, 129. 
 
 Adams, John, quoted, 185. 
 
 "Alabama'' cruiser, 1G9. 
 
 Alamance, Battle of. 7-t, 77, 120 et 
 scq., 1.52-153. 100, 166167, 170, 
 184. 186, 192. 
 
 Alamance Battle Monument, 139. 
 
 Alamance Creeks, 138-139; see also 
 Alamans. Allemance, Great Ala- 
 mance and Little Alamance. 
 
 "Alamans" probable origin of Ala- 
 mance, 138. 
 
 Alexander, Abraham, 85. 
 
 Alexander, Moses, in Cherokee 
 boundary expedition, 57; act.s 
 against Regulators, 95-96, 116, 
 119, 168. 172. 
 
 Alexander family, 26. 
 
 "Allemance," 138, 160; see also 
 Alamance. 
 
 Alva, Duke of. 10. 
 
 American Historical Association, 
 Publications, quoted, 78, 88, 
 152, 170. 
 
 Anderson, Fort, 25. 
 
 Annual Register, quoted. 106, 180- 
 181. 
 
 Anson County (N. C), 90, 92, 
 119, 168. 
 
 Antigua, Island of, 191. 
 
 Ashe, John, leads demonstration 
 against sloop "Diligence," 38, 
 41; acts agoinst Regulators, 96, 
 118, 124, 154; Revolutionary pa- 
 triot. 167. 
 
 Ashe, John Baptista, acts against 
 Regulators, 118: captured and 
 beaten, 124-125; Revolutionary 
 patriot. 167; elected Governor, 
 167. 
 
 AiShmore. James, 172. 
 
 "Atticus" letter, written by Mau- 
 rice Moore, 156-164; see also 69, 
 100, 138, 155. 
 
 Avery, Waightstill, Trustee of Lib- 
 erty Hall, 26; captured by Reg- 
 ulators, 114. 
 
 Bagge, Traucott, 142. 
 
 Baptists, 28-29. 148; disclaim Reg- 
 ulators, 188-190. 
 
 Barbadoes, 46. 
 
 Barrett, Mary, 206. 
 
 Barringcr. Paul, Revolutionary pa- 
 triot, 183. 
 
 Bassett, John Spencer, quoted, 78, 
 88, 152, 170. 
 
 Batchelor, Thomas Horatio, 205. 
 
 Bath (England), 207. 
 
 Bath (N. C), 15, 48. 
 
 Battle, Kemp P., quoted. 75. 
 
 Beasley, Fearnauglit, 130. 
 
 Beasley, , killed at Ala- 
 mance, 130. 
 
 Beaufort County (N. C), 118, 
 124, 131. 
 
 Bedford, William, acts again.st 
 Regulators, 96. 
 
 Benedict, David, Baptist historian, 
 quoted, 132, 148, 188. 
 
 Bennet, John Leigh, 206. 
 
 Bennet, Slary Leigh, 206. 
 
 Benton, Samuel, acts again.st Reg- 
 ulators, 96. 
 
 Berger, George Henry, acts against 
 Regulators, 116. 
 
 Berkeley, Lord John, his grave 
 near Tryon's, 202. 
 
 Berkeley. Sir William, Governor of 
 Virginia, his grave near Tryon's, 
 202; remarkable state of his 
 body when exhumed, 202. 
 
 Berrv, Charles. Chief Justice and 
 Councilor, 46-48. 
 
 Bertie County (N. C), 83. 
 
 Bethabara ; see Moravians. 
 
 Betham's Baronetage, quoted, 50, 
 191. 
 
210 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 "Black Boys" blow up Waddell's 
 ammunition, 122, 127, 172. 
 
 Blackledge, Kiehard, acts against 
 Regulators, 118. 
 
 Bladen County (N. C), 43. 
 
 Bond, Sweeting, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Booklet, quoted, 44, 
 
 Boonesboro (Ky.), 101, 
 
 Borg, , a Regulator, 142. 
 
 Boston (Mass.), 49, 154. 
 
 Boston Gazette, quoted, 132. 
 
 Botetourt, Lord, Governor of Vir- 
 ginia, 59. 
 
 Boundary, Cherokee, Tryon's ex- 
 pedition to settle, 55-50, 157. 
 
 Brevard, Ephraini, Trustee of Lib- 
 erty Hall, 26, 
 
 Brevard family, 27, 
 
 Bright, Simon, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 118, 
 
 Bristol (England), 206, 
 
 Brown, Sales, 190, 
 
 Brown, William, a Regulator, 145, 
 
 Brumfield, Ezckiel, 190, 
 
 Brunswick (N, C), 15-16, 25, 31, 
 36, 38, 41, 58, 60, 62-63, 
 
 Brunswick County (N, C), 43, 74, 
 83, 118, 
 
 Bryan, Ncedham, Assembljnnan, 
 83; act.s against Regulators, 
 123, 168; sec also 154-155, 
 
 Brj-an, Samuel, 175, 
 
 Bryan, William, Ensign, killed at 
 Alamance, 118. 129. 
 
 Brvan, William, Revolutionary pa- 
 triot, 129, 168. 
 
 Bryan family, 129. 
 
 Bryant, Thomas, wounded five 
 times at Alamance, 129-130. 
 
 Bull, William, Governor of South 
 Carolina, .59, 113, 
 
 Bullock, William, acts against 
 Regulators, 96, 117-118, 
 
 Bulstrode, Sophia, 204. 
 
 Bulwick Park, a seat of the Trvon 
 family in England, 11, 200, " 
 
 Burgwin, Mrs, .John, 203. 
 
 Burke, Edmund. 73. 
 
 Burke, Thomas, 73. 
 
 Burke, William, acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 118, 
 
 Burke County (N, C), origin of 
 its name in doubt, 73, 
 
 Burke's Extinct and Dormant Bar- 
 onetages, quoted, 51, 
 
 Burke's General Armorv, quoted, 
 12. 
 
 Burke's Peerage, quoted, 39, 
 
 Burke Square in Raleigh, 68, 
 
 Burlington (N, C), 139. 
 
 Burr, Aaron, 84, 
 
 Burrington, George, Governor, 49, 
 99, 
 
 Burrington, Jr., George, 49, 
 
 Burton, Margaret, 205, 
 
 Bute, Lord, 32. 
 
 Bute County (N. C), 72, 90, 118, 
 120, 168, 184. 
 
 Butler, John, Revolutionary pa- 
 triot, not a Regulator, 174. 
 
 Butler, William, a Regulator, 92, 
 97, 104, 115, 148, 170, 172, 174- 
 175, 
 
 Byron, Admiral, liis grave near 
 Tryon's, 202, 
 
 Byron, Lord, 202, 
 
 Cabarrus County (N, C), 122. 
 
 Caldwell, David, 87-88 ; Life of, by 
 Caruthers; see Caruthers, Eli W, 
 
 Calder, Robert, 44, 
 
 Camden, Earl of, 73, 
 
 Camden County (N, C), 73. 
 
 Cameron, Alexander, Indian Agent, 
 57, 
 
 Cameron. Paul C, 146. 
 
 Campbell, Charles, Virginia histo- 
 rian, quoted, 60. 
 
 Campbell, Farquard, acts against 
 Regulators, 118, 
 
 Campbell, John, Assemblvman, 83, 
 107. 
 
 Campbell, Robert, acts against 
 Regulators, 117, 
 
 Cape Fear section of North Caro- 
 lina, 13, 15, 31-46, 99, 179, 186, 
 207, 
 
 Caressy, Thonuis, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 211 
 
 Carteret County (N. C), 117-118, 
 124. 
 
 Caruthers, Eli W., biographer and 
 liistorian, quoted, 81-82, 84-87, 
 132, 135, 149-151, 179, 187. 
 
 Caruthers, Robert, 172. 
 
 Castle Dobbs, seat of Governor 
 Dobbs in Ireland, 9; Governor's 
 house in North Carolina named 
 for, 62-63. 
 
 Castle Tryon, Governor's house in 
 North Carolina, 62-03. 
 
 Caswell, Richard, Assemblyman, 
 83; acts against Regulators, 
 109, 118, 120; Revolutionary pa- 
 triot, 167; commands at Battle 
 of Moore's Creek, 177, 186; see 
 also 176, 184-185. 
 
 Catawba River, 57. 
 
 Chambersburg (Pa.), 197. 
 
 Chapel Hill (N. C), 27, 86. 
 
 Charleston (S. C), 15, 59, 122, 
 168. 
 
 Charlotte (N. C), 26-27, 85. 
 
 Chatham, William Pitt, Earl of, 
 73-74. 
 
 Chelsea (England), 204, 206. 
 
 Cherokee boundary. Trvon's expe- 
 dition to settle, 55-59, 157. 
 
 Cheshire, Joseph P.lonnt, quoted, 
 19. 
 
 Church of England, 18-19, 22-24, 
 28-29. 189-190. 
 
 Clark. Thomas (General), acts 
 against Regulators, 117-118; 
 Revolutionary patriot, 167. 
 
 Clark, Thomas (private), wounded 
 at Alamance. 129. 
 
 Clash, Benjamin, wounded at Ala- 
 mance. 129. 
 
 Clewell, John H.. historian, quoted, 
 21-22, 127, 134, 141-143. 
 
 Clinton, Sir Henry, 167-168, 180. 
 
 Clinton. Richnrd, acts against 
 Regulators. 118, 168. 
 
 Cobhett, R. S., English historian, 
 quoted, 202. 
 
 Cobham, Thomas. Surgeon in Try- 
 on's army. 118. 
 
 Cochrane, Benjamin, 172. 
 
 Coffer, Lewis, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 96. 
 
 Cogdell, Richard, acts against 
 Regulators, 118, 168; seizes ar- 
 tillery at New Bern, 69. 
 
 Collet, John Abraham, acts against 
 Regulators, 96. 
 
 Colonial Officer and His Times, see 
 Waddell. 
 
 Coltishall (England), 206. 
 
 Columbia University, see King's 
 College. 
 
 Connecticut, 196, 208. 
 
 Cooper, Samuel, of Boston, attacks 
 Tryon under pseudonym of "Le- 
 onidas," 152, 154. 
 
 Companv's Shops (N. C), 139. 
 
 Concord" Battle of, 183. 
 
 Congressional Record, quoted, 182. 
 
 Copeland, James, a Regulator, 145. 
 
 Cornell, Samuel, Councilor, 48-49, 
 69. 
 
 Cornwallis, Lord, 179-180. 
 
 Costin, Henry, woiraded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Courtney, William, 190. 
 
 Cowan's Ford, Battle of, 57. 
 
 Cox, Herman, a Regulator, 145. 
 
 Craven Countv (N. C), 117-118, 
 124, 129, 168. 
 
 Cray, William, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 118, 168. 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver, 133. 
 
 Cross Creek (Favetteville, N. C), 
 36, 179, 182-183. 
 
 Culloden, Battle of, 177. 
 
 Cumberland County (N. C), 74, 
 90, 118. 
 
 Currency, paper, 85-86. 
 
 Curtis, Alexander, soldier under 
 Tryon, 129. 
 
 Dalrymplo, .John, commanding offi- 
 cer of Fort .Johnston, 43-44. 
 
 T)alr\Tnp!e. Sir .John, 44. 
 
 nalryraple, John (Lord Stair), 44. 
 
 Dnrtmouth, Earl of, 175. 
 
 Dartmouth College, 84. 
 
 Daves. John, buys part of Palace 
 grounds at New Bern, 70, 
 
212 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Daves, Jolin Piigh, 70-71. 
 
 Davidson, George, iu Cherokee 
 boundary expedition, 57. 
 
 Davidson, William, in Cherokee 
 boundary expedition, 57; killed 
 in Revolution, 57. 
 
 Davis, George, quoted, 39. 
 
 Davis, James, his collection of 
 laws, quoted, 72. 
 
 Davis, Mrs. Jefferson, 103. 
 
 Davis, Junius, quoted, 100. 
 
 Davis, Robert, 172. 
 
 Da\-is, Sam, 136. 
 
 Defence of North Carolina, by 
 Jones; see Jones, Jo. Sea well. 
 
 De Graffenried, Baron Christo- 
 pher, 17. 
 
 Dent, , killed by Tories, 
 
 178. 
 
 DeRosset, Lewis Henry, Council- 
 or, 46-47 ; acts against Regula- 
 tors, 95, 117. 
 
 DeRosset, Moses John, Mayor of 
 Wilmington, 45-47. 
 
 Devereux, Robert, Earl of Essex, 
 ancestor of Governor Trvon, 
 11-12. 
 
 Devinnev, Samuel, a Regulator, 97, 
 104, il5, 178. 
 
 Devo's Ferry, 182. 
 
 Dewey, George, G(5. 
 
 Dexter, Franklin Bowditeh, quoted, 
 79. 
 
 "Diagawekee" Indian name for 
 Tryon, 58. 
 
 "Diligence" sloop of war, armed 
 demonstration against by colon- 
 ists, 32, 30-39, 44. 
 
 Dissenters befriended by Tryon, 
 18-19. 
 
 Dobbins, Alexander, acts against 
 Regulators, 94-95, 116, 168; 
 Revolutionary patriot, 95. 
 
 Dobbs, Arthur, Governor of North 
 Carolina. 9; services in Ireland, 
 9; Tryon Lieutenant-Governor 
 under, 9; applies for leave of ab- 
 sence from colony. 13; advo- 
 cates Trvfin's plan for postal 
 system, 14 ; dies at Brunswick, 
 
 15; succeeded as Governor by 
 Tr\-on, 16; churchman, 19, 22- 
 23; his house at Brunswick, 02- 
 63; county named for, 72; Gov- 
 ernor during French and Indian 
 War. 169. 
 
 Dobbs, Edward Briee, son of Gov- 
 ernor Dobbs and Councilor, 46, 
 49, 62. 
 
 Dobbs Castle, seat of Governor 
 Dobbs in Ireland, 9 ; Governor's 
 hou.se in North Carolina named 
 for, 62 63. 
 
 Dobbs County (N. C), 72, 109, 
 117-118, 124, 175. 
 
 Docket entries made at Hillsbor- 
 ough bj' Regulators, 190. 
 
 Draper, Sir William, visits Tryon 
 at New Bern, 59, 65 ; writes 
 Latin quatrain on Tryon Palace, 
 65. 
 
 Dry, William. Councilor and Col- 
 lector of Customs, 42, 46, 48. 
 
 Duel between Stanlv and Spaight, 
 47. 
 
 Dukinfield. Sir Nathaniel, Coun- 
 cilor. 50-51. 69. 
 
 Dukintield, Natluiniel, 50. 
 
 Dukinfield, Sir Robert, 50. 
 
 Dukinfield, William, 50. 
 
 Dunniore, .John Murray, Earl of, 
 and Governor of Virginia, 166, 
 194. 
 
 Duplin County (N. C), 43, 124, 
 168. 
 
 Early, Jubnl A., compared with 
 Tryon, 197. 
 
 Eaton, Thomas, supercedes Wil- 
 liam .Tohnston as Colonel, 120. 
 
 Edenton (N. C), 15, 18, 36. 
 
 Edenton .Academy. 18. 
 
 Education in North Carolina, pro- 
 moted by Tryon, 18, 20. 23, 25- 
 28. 
 
 Edwards. Isaac. on Cherokee 
 boundary expedition, 57: nets 
 against Resulators, 91. 00. 118. 
 
 Edwards. Morgan, quoted, 132, 148, 
 188-189. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 213 
 
 Elwin, Caleb, 205. 
 Elwin, Fountain, 204-20G. 
 Elwin, Fountain (Major), 205- 
 
 206. 
 Elwin, Fountain John, 205. 
 Elwin, Harriot, 205. 
 Elwin, Hastings, 205-206. 
 Elwin, Pliilippa (daughter of 
 
 Fountain). 205. 
 Elwin, Philippa (daughter of 
 
 Thomas), 205. 
 Elwin, Rebecca, 205. 
 Elwin, Robert, 205. 
 Elwin, Eev. Robert. 205. 
 Elwin, Thomas, 205. 
 Elwin, Tliomas, Henry, 205. 
 Elwin, Virtue, 205. 
 Emerson, James, a Regulator, 145. 
 Enfield (England), 206. 
 Eno River, 87. 
 Episcopal Church; see Church of 
 
 England. 
 Essex County (England), 11. 
 Essex, Morant's History of, quoted, 
 
 10. 
 Essex. Earl of; see Devereux. 
 
 Fanning. David, Tory marauder, 
 84. 
 
 Fanning, Edmund, 78-84; Trus- 
 tee of Queen's College, 26; on 
 Cherokee boundary expedition, 
 57 ; acts against Regulators, 95- 
 96. 118; indicted, 79-81, 97; 
 lampooned by Rednap Howell, 
 102-10.3; assaulted by Regula- 
 tors, 105; Assemblyman, 111: 
 Tory in Revolution, 116; see also 
 29, 135, 1.37. 150-151, 20-4. 
 
 Favetteville (N. C), see Cross 
 Creek. 
 
 Favetteville Street in Raleigh, 68. 
 
 Fenner, Robert, acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 118, 168. 
 
 Ferguson, Ann, 130. 
 
 Ferguson. , killed at Ala- 
 mance. 130. 
 
 Ferrel. .Tames. 190, 
 
 Ferrers, Earl of; see Shirley. 
 
 Few, Benjamin, 135. 
 
 Few, James, a Regulator, 87; in- 
 dicted, 115; hanged, 133; his 
 character, 133-136. 
 
 Few, Sallie, 135. 
 
 Few, William, a Regulator, 134, 
 100, 161. 
 
 Few, William, Revolutionary pa- 
 triot, 135. 
 
 Few, William (son of James), 135. 
 
 Few family of Georgia, 135. 
 
 Ficklin, Mary Ann, 205. 
 
 Ficklin, Robert, 205, 
 
 Field, Jeremiah, a Regulator, 104, 
 115, 170, 177-180. 
 
 Field, John, 175. 
 
 Field, Jo.seph, 177. 
 
 Field, Robert, 178. 
 
 Field. \\'illiam, a Regulator, 178. 
 
 Filson Club of Kentucky, 101. 
 
 Fisher, Fort, 24. 
 
 Fort Anderson, 25. 
 
 Fort Fisher, 24. 
 
 Fort George (N. Y. ), burned, with 
 Tryon's papers, 75, 203. 
 
 Fort '.Johnston, 37, 43-44. 
 
 Forsyth County (N. C), 21. 
 
 Fowle, Daniel G., Governor, 139. 
 
 Fragments of Revolutionary His- 
 tory, bj' Hunt ; see Hunt, Gail- 
 lard. 
 
 Franceis, family of, 11. 
 
 Francus, family of, 11. 
 
 Franklin, Benjamin, 72. 
 
 Franklin County (N. C). 72. 
 
 Freasure, Andrew, wounded at Al- 
 amance. 129. 
 
 Frederick Town (Md.), 182. 
 
 French, family of, 11. 
 
 French, A. D.' Weld, quoted, 11. 
 
 French and Indian War, 46-47, 
 169. 
 
 Friends, Society of; see Quakers. 
 
 Frohock. Alexander, 85. 
 
 Frohock, Elizabeth, 85. 
 
 Frohock, .John, 84-85, Commis- 
 sioner to run Cherokee bound- 
 ary, 56-57 ; lampooned by Red- 
 nap Howell, 102-103; Clerk of 
 Court. 81 : acts against Regula- 
 tors, 96. 
 
214 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Frohock, Thomas, 85. 
 
 Frohoek, William, on Cherokee 
 boundarv expedition, 57 ; Dep- 
 uty Sheriff, 85. 
 
 Fruit, John, a Regulator, 115, 170. 
 
 Fullerton, William, wounded at 
 Alamance, 129. 
 
 Gage, Tliomas, Commander of 
 British forces, sends artillery to 
 Tryon, 115. 
 
 Garnish, Thomas, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Garvin, John, 135. 
 
 Garvin, Sallie, 135. 
 
 Gaston, Alexander, seizes artillery 
 at New Bern, 69. 
 
 Gaston, William, quoted, 75. 
 
 Gazette, North Carolina, quoted, 32. 
 
 "Gelaspie" (Gillespie), 148; see 
 also Gillespie. 
 
 Gentleman's Magazine, quoted, 83, 
 199, 204. 
 
 George, Fort (N. Y.), burned with 
 Tryon's papers, 75, 203. 
 
 George Street in New Bern, 71. 
 
 Georgia. 135. 
 
 Germantown, Battle of, 167. 
 
 Gilbert, William, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Gillespie, Alexander, acts against 
 Regulators, 118. 
 
 Gillespie, Daniel, a Regulator and 
 Revolutionary patriot. 174. 
 
 Gillespie, John, a Regulator and 
 Revohitionary patriot, 174. 
 
 Gillespie; see also "Gelaspie." 
 
 Glasgow, James, 72-73. 
 
 Glasgow County (N. C). 72-73. 
 
 Gloucester (England), 55. 
 
 Gordon, Lord Adam, visits North 
 Carolina, Ifl. 
 
 Gordon. Duke of, 10. 
 
 Gniir. .Tflin ^Michael, 21, 142. 
 
 Granville, Lord, 54. 
 
 Granville County (N. C), 83, 90, 
 95-90, 100 101. 
 
 Granville Tobacco Path, 121. 
 
 Gray. John, nets against Regula- 
 tors, 88 89, 96. 
 
 Great Alamance Camp, 122. 
 Groat Alamance Creek, 125, 138- 
 
 139. 
 Great Bridge, Battle of, 166-107. 
 Great Yarmouth (England), 201, 
 
 205-206. 
 "Great Wolf," Indian name for 
 
 Tryon, 58, 157. 
 Greene, Nathanael, 73, 180. 
 Gicenc County (N. C), 73. 
 Grifiln, Moses, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 Grosvenor Street in London; see 
 
 Upper Grosvenor Street. 
 Guilford County (N. C), 170, 173, 
 
 175. 
 "Gunpowder Plot" bv Regulators, 
 
 122, 127, 172. 
 
 Hadley, .Tosluia. 172. 
 
 Halifax, Earl of, 13, 16. 
 
 Halifax (N. C), 100. 
 
 Halifax Counfv (N. C). 85, 90, 
 168. 
 
 Hall. .James, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Hamilton, Matthew, a Regulator, 
 170. 
 
 Hamilton, Ninian, 115. 
 
 Hamilton, Ninian Beall. 115, 170. 
 
 Hamilton. Thomas, a Regulator, 
 114. 
 
 Hanover County (Va.), 100. 
 
 Hanover Street in London, 12, 204. 
 
 Harbord, Mary, 206. 
 
 Hargravc, Will Loft in. quoted. 11 7. 
 
 Harnett. Cornelius, Assemblyman, 
 83. Ill ; see also 41, 168. 
 
 Harper, Elizabeth. 130. 
 
 Harper, , killed at Ala- 
 mance, 130. 
 
 Harrimrton, Charles, wounded at 
 Alamance, 129. 
 
 Harris. David. 190. 
 
 Harris. Robert (Granville Coun- 
 ty), nets against Rcg\ilalnrs. 93, 
 95-96. 
 
 Harris, Robert CMccklenburg Coun- 
 ty), acts against Regulators, 93, 
 96. 119. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 215 
 
 Harris, Tyree, escapes from Regu- 
 lators, 105. 
 
 Hart, Nathaniel, acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 118. 
 
 Hart, Thomas, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 89, 92, 90, 118; assaulted 
 M' Regulators, 105. 
 
 Hartzo, John Philip, a Regulator, 
 97. 
 
 Harvard College, 85. 
 
 Harvey, John, 168. 
 
 Haspll, James, Councilor, Chief 
 Justice, and Acting Governor, 
 46-48, 61, 190. 
 
 Haslin, Thomas, Surgeon in Try- 
 on's army, 118. 
 
 Ilaw River. 1.38. 
 
 Hawfields (N. C), 49. 
 
 Hawk, Dominicus, Surgeon in Try- 
 on's army, 96. 
 . Hawkins, Benjamin, 120. 
 
 Hawkins, Sr., Philemon, acts 
 against Regulators, 118, 120- 
 121, 12.3, 125, 168; Revolution- 
 ary patriot. 183. 
 
 Hawkins, Jr., Philemon, acts 
 against Regulators, 120-121; 
 Revolutionary patriot, 183-184. 
 
 Hawkins, William, Governor, 121. 
 
 Hawks, Francis L., quoted. 12, 135. 
 
 Hawks, John, architect cf Tryon 
 Palace, 12, 64, 72. 
 
 Haywood, John. Tennessee histo- 
 rian, quoted. 185. 
 
 Haywood, William, Asserablvman. 
 111. 
 
 Henderson, Archibald, 101. 
 
 Henderson, Leonard, Chief Justice, 
 101. 
 
 Henderson, Richard, Judge, 100- 
 101 ; his court broken up bv 
 Regulators, 104, 106, 109-110"; 
 refuses to re-open court, 109- 
 110; his property burned by 
 Regulators, 109-110; denounced 
 by Regulators, 114: presides 
 over trial of Regulators for 
 treason, 144; see also 96, 137, 
 178, 187, 190. 
 
 Henderson familv, 101. 
 
 Henley, Peter, Chief .Ju.stice, 48. 
 
 Heron, Benjamin, Councilor, 46, 
 48 ; acts against Regulators, 96. 
 
 Hewes, Joseph, Assemblyman, 111. 
 
 Highlanders, Scotch, Tories in the 
 Revolution, 177, ct seq. 
 
 Hillsborough, Earl of, 58, 124, 148, 
 170-171, 191, 19.3. 
 
 HilLsborough (N. C), 79, 87, et 
 seq. 
 
 Hinton, John, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 96, 109, 116, 118, 120- 
 121, 168; Revolutionary patriot, 
 168, 177. 
 
 Hinton, Mary Billiard, quoted, 96. 
 
 Hiscock, William, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Historical and Genealogical Reg- 
 ister, North Carolina, quoted, 
 44, 50. 
 
 Hoar, George F., 183. 
 
 Hogan, Isaiah, 190. 
 
 Holland, 185; see also Nether- 
 lands. 
 
 Holt, Michael, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 89; assaulted by Regu- 
 lators, 105; his course in the 
 Revolution. 130. 
 
 Holt, Thomas M., Governor, 139. 
 
 Hooper, William, 108; assaulted 
 by Regulators, 92, 104, 137. 
 
 Horstcad (England), 205. 
 
 Hot Wells (England), 206. 
 
 Houuslow (England), 200. 
 
 Houston. William, Stamp-Master, 
 32; forced to resign. 33-34, 61. 
 
 Howai-d, Martin, Councilor and 
 Chief Justice, 48-50, 99, 106; 
 refuses to hold court, 109-110; 
 presides over trial of Regula- 
 tors for treason, 144, 151. 
 
 Howard, William. 206. 
 
 Howe, Robert, Assemblyman, 83, 
 111; acts against Regulators, 
 96. 117: Rovolutionirv patriot, 
 110; burns Norfolk, 196. 
 
 Howell, Rednap, a Regulator, 
 lampoons Fanning and Frohock, 
 102-103; his fate unknown, 103; 
 .see also, 104, 115, 148, 172. 
 
21G 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Howell, Ricliard, Governor of New 
 Jersey, 103. 
 
 Hunt, Charles, 85. 
 
 Hunt, Gaillard, quoted, 182. 
 
 Hunter, C. L., quoted, 98. 
 
 Hunter, James, a Eegulator, in 
 riot at Hillsborough, 104; in- 
 dicted, 115; his farm devas- 
 tated, 144; applies for pardon, 
 170; Governor Martin's opinion 
 of, 170-171; his course in the 
 Revolution, 172- 173, 170. 
 
 Hunter, Theophilus, 121.. 
 
 Hunter, Jr., Theophilus, 121. 
 
 Hunter's Lodge, seat of Theophi- 
 lus Hunter, 116, 121, 154. 
 
 Husband, Hcrmon, a Regulator, in 
 riot at Hillsborough, 104; ar- 
 rested, 02 ; expelled from As- 
 sembly and imprisoned. 107- 
 109: indicted, 115; flees from 
 Battle of Alamance, 137; his 
 farm devastated, 143; partici- 
 pant in Whiskey Insurrection in 
 Pennsylvania. 138; see also, 133, 
 148, l'72, 187, 190. 
 
 Hvdp, Lord, Postmaster-General of 
 'Great Britain, 14-15. 
 
 Indians; see Cherokees, Shawnese, 
 Tusearoras. 
 
 Indian Trading Path at Hillsbor- 
 ough, 145. 
 
 Iredell, James, 51, 54-55, 69, 72, 
 105, 107, 173. 
 
 Ireland, 9. 62, 180-181. 
 
 Islington (England), 205. 
 
 Jamaica, Island of, 55. 
 
 Jarvis, Thomas J., Governor, 68. 
 
 Jarvis, , a Regulator, 142. 
 
 Jeffries, Judge, 163. 165. 
 Johnston, Gabriel, Governor, 19, 
 
 47-48, 73. 
 Johnston, Samuel, Governor, 73 ; 
 
 .Assemblyman, 111, 1C8; draws 
 
 "Riot Act." 112. 
 Johnston, William, removed from 
 
 command of Bute militia, 120. 
 Johnston, , a Regulator, 162. 
 
 "Johnston Act," 112, 162, 164; 
 English opinion of, 113; see 
 al.so "Riot Act." 
 
 Johnston County (N. C.), 73, 83, 
 90. 109, 117-118, 123-124, 168. 
 
 Johnston, Fort, 37, 43-44. 
 
 Jones, Jr., Charles C, quoted, 135. 
 
 Jones. Jo. Seawell, quoted, 74-75, 
 106, 196. 
 
 Jones, Marmaduke, Councilor and 
 Attorney-General, 50-51. 
 
 Jones, Robert ("Robin"), 29, 51. 
 
 Jones, Thomas, New York histo- 
 rian, quoted, 197. 
 
 .Tones. Willie, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 118, 133; Acting Gov- 
 ernor, 167. 
 
 Jones, , of Furnival's Court, 
 
 London, 51. 
 
 Jones' Defence of North Carolina ; 
 see Jones, Jo. Seawell. 
 
 Kentucky, 101. 
 
 Kersle.y, Thomas, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Kilpatrick, Thomas, wounded at 
 Alamance, 129. 
 
 King. , acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 89. 
 
 "King's .-American Regiment," 79. 
 
 King's (Columbia) College, 84. 
 
 King's Mountain, Battle of, 29. 
 
 Kingsbury, Theodore Bryant, 
 quoted. 101. 
 
 Kirk. General, 163. 
 
 Knightsbridge (England), 206. 
 
 Knox. , acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 95. 
 
 Lane, Joel, 101. 
 Lee, Richanl Ilcnry, 196. 
 Leech, .loseiih. acts against Regu- 
 lators, 118. 1,55, 168. 
 Leeds, Pukes of, 98. 
 Lenoir, William, 72. 
 Lenoir County (N. C), 72. 
 "Leonidas" (pseudonym), 1.52-153. 
 LeKoy, Caroline, 49. 
 Lesley, Susan 1., quoted, 49. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 217 
 
 Letters of James Murray, Loyal- 
 ist, quoted, 49. 
 
 Lexingtou. Battle of, 183. 
 
 Lewis, Howell, Assemblyman, 83. 
 
 Lewis, William, 190. 
 
 Liberty Hal! ; see Queen's College. 
 
 Lichfield (England), 55. 
 
 Lillington, Alexander, 41 ; acts 
 against Regulators, 90, 117; 
 Revolutionary patriot, 107, 177. 
 
 Lincoln, Benjamin, 72, 108. 
 
 Lincoln County (N. C), 72. 
 
 Lindsay, Walter, acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 06. 
 
 Lindsay, William, acts against 
 Regulators, 119. 
 
 Little Alamance Creek, 138-139. 
 
 Lloyd, Tliomas, 41. 
 
 Lloyd, Thomas, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 89, 91, 96. 
 
 Lohb, Jacob, Captain Royal Navy, 
 spikes guns of Fort .Johnston, 
 43-45. 
 
 London (England). 12, 51, 54-.55, 
 199, 203-204. 
 
 Long, Daniel Albright, 139. 
 
 Long Island (N. Y.), 190-191. 
 
 Longe, Dorothy, 206. 
 
 Longe, Robert! 206. 
 
 Lords Proprietors of Carolina, 9, 
 202. 
 
 Lossing, B. .J., historian, quoted, 
 12, 34-35, 65. 
 
 Luckie, William, acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 119. 
 
 Lunsdalc, William, wounded at Al- 
 amance, 129. 
 
 Lutherans, lief riended by Tryon. 20. 
 
 Lytle, , acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 89, 168. 
 
 Maliry, George, threatened by Reg- 
 ulators, 178. 
 
 Macartney, George, Chaplain in 
 Tryon's army, 102, 117. 
 
 McCulloh, Alexander, Councilor, 
 40-47. 
 
 McCulloh, Henry, 53. 
 
 McCulloh, Henrv Eustace, Coun- 
 cilor, 46-47, 53-55. 
 
 McDonald, Donald, in command of 
 Tories, 130, 177-182; defeated 
 and captured at Moore's Creek, 
 177-182. 
 
 McDonald, Flora, Scottish heroine, 
 in North Carolina, 182. 
 
 McGuire, Thomas, Admiralty offi- 
 cer, 42. 
 
 JIcKinlay, James, 70. 
 
 McLeod, , killed at Moore's 
 
 Creek, 181. 
 
 McMund, John, 190. 
 
 Mackihvean, Francis, acts against 
 Regulators, 118. 
 
 McRee, Grifiith John, biograjjher, 
 quoted, 50, 54-55, 70, 107, 173. 
 
 Maddock's Mill (N. C), 87. 
 
 Magazine of American History, 
 quoted, 135. 
 
 Malcom, .Jolm, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 118, 123. 
 
 Manila (P. I.), 66. 
 
 Mansion House, London, 05. 
 
 JIarshall, Frederick William, 142. 
 
 Martin, Alexander, Governor, 73, 
 167; assaulted by Regulators, 
 105, 107. 
 
 Martin, Elizabeth, of Long Island, 
 N. Y., marries her cousin. Gov- 
 ernor Josiah Martin, 191. 
 
 Martin, Francois Xavier, histo- 
 rian, quoted, 42, 50, 60, 65, 72, 
 74-75, 123-125, 131. 
 
 Martin, Sir Henry, 191. 
 
 Martin, .Tosiah, Tryon's successor 
 as Governor, arrives in North 
 Carolina, 190; his family and 
 ancestry, 191; his opinion of 
 Regulators, 170-172; sentiments 
 towards Tryon, 191-193; snubbed 
 by Assembly, 191-192; raises 
 Loyalists, 177, 180-184; see also, 
 50, .59, 61, 70, 73, 145, 148. 
 
 Martin, Josiah, of Long Island, 
 N. Y., uncle and father-in-law 
 of Governor Josiah Martin, 191. 
 
 Martin family of Long Island, N. 
 Y., 191. 
 
 Martin's History North Carolina; 
 see Martin. Francois Xavier. 
 
218 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Martin County (N. C), 73. 
 
 Miii-vland, 51. 135, 179, 182. 
 
 Massachusetts, 183, 18.5. 
 
 Massachusetts Spy, quoted, 152. 
 
 Matear, Roliert, a Regulator, 
 hanged, 144145. 
 
 Matson ( Kngland ) , 55. 
 
 Matthewson. , Surgeon's 
 
 Mate in Tryon's army, 118. 
 
 Meade, William, quoted, 60, 102. 
 
 Mebane, Alexander, acts against 
 Regulators, 80, 108. 
 
 Mebane, Giles, 138. 
 
 Mecklenburg County (N. C. ), 20, 
 28, 53-55, 72, 74." 83, 90, 93-96, 
 110, 119, 122. 143, 108, 183. 
 
 Mecklenburg Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence, 27. 
 
 Mercer (Messer?), Forester, a 
 Regulator, 145, 149. 
 
 Mercer, George, Lieutenant-Gov- 
 ernor of North Carolina. 00 01. 
 
 Merrill. Benjamin, a Regulator, 
 hanged, 127, 144-14.5, 147-148, 
 189; his speech from the gal- 
 lows, 147. 
 
 Messer ( or Mercer ) , Forester, 145, 
 149. 
 
 Micklejohn, George, 172; preaches 
 to Tryon's army, 20, 101-102. 
 
 Middlesex (England), 200, 204- 
 205. 
 
 Miranda, Don Francisco de, 66. 
 
 Mississippi River, 58. 
 
 Montgomery, Hugh, acts against 
 Regulators, 96, 108. 
 
 Monument to Regulators at Ala- 
 mance, 139. 
 
 Moore, Alfred, 100. 
 
 Moore, George, 41. 
 
 Moore, James (New Hanover), 
 acts against Regulators, 90, 117- 
 118; Revolutionary patriot, 107, 
 
 m. 
 
 Moore, James (Wake County), acta 
 against Regulators. 118. 
 
 Moore, Maurice, 99-100; writes 
 "Attieus" letter, 69, 100. 138, 
 1.55; copy of letter, 156-164; 
 acts against Regulatoi's, 96; de- 
 
 nounced by Regulators, 114; 
 
 libelled by Husband, 107-109; 
 
 presides over trial of Regulators 
 
 for treason, 144; inconsistency 
 
 of, 100, 104; see also 100, 111, 
 
 170, 184-185. 187. 
 Moore family, 62, 99. 
 Moore's Creek Bridge, Battle of, 
 
 120, 130, 177-182. 
 Morant's History of Essex, quoted, 
 
 10. 
 Moravians at Wachovia, Salem and 
 
 Bethabara entertain Tryon, 20- 
 
 22, 141-142; see also 126, 134. 
 Morgan, John, 79. 
 Mountaineers of North Carolina, 
 
 29. 
 "Mucins Scevola" (pseudonym), 
 
 152-153. 
 Mulgrave, Lord; see Phipps. 
 JIurpliry, Archibald De Bow, 
 
 quoted, 101. 
 Murray, James, Councilor, 47-49. 
 Murray, John, Earl of Dunmoro 
 
 and Governor of Virginia, 194. 
 
 Nash, Abner, Trustee of Queen's 
 College, 26; seizes artillery at 
 New Bern, 69 ; acts against 
 Regulators, 96, 118; Assembly- 
 man. Ill; Governor, 107. 
 
 Nash, Francis, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 82, 89, 118; escapes from 
 Regulators, 105; killed in Revo- 
 lution, 167. 
 
 Nash. Francis, historian, quoted, 
 150-151. 
 
 Neale, Christopher, acts against 
 Regulators, 117-118. 
 
 Neel, Thomas, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 119. 
 
 Nelson, .James," woiuided at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Nelson, William. Acting Governor 
 of Virginia, 115. 
 
 Nethevlands, Tryon family said to 
 have come from, 10-11; see also 
 Holland. 
 
 Neville, .Tohn, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 219 
 
 New Bern (N. C), 12, 15, 17, 19, 
 23, 36, 47, 49, GO, 62-72, 75, 83, 
 92, 106, 109, 115-116, 129, 132, 
 152, 154-155, 179, 190, 193. 
 
 New Bern Ac;ideniv, 18. 
 
 New England, 49, "193, 196. 
 
 New Hanover County (N. C), 43, 
 74, 117-118, 124. 
 
 New Jersey, 98, 103. 
 
 Newman. Anthony, Surgeon-Gen- 
 eral in Tryon's army, 96. 
 
 "New Lights" ( religious sect ) , 20. 
 
 New York, Tryon's administra- 
 tion in, 195, et scq.; see also 10, 
 15, .59 60, 75, 79, 148, 152, 154, 
 1.56-157, 190-191, 193-194, 200. 
 
 New York Gazette, quoted, 106. 
 
 New Zealand, 55. 
 
 News and Observer, quoted, 75. 
 
 Non-conformists, see Dissenters. 
 
 Norbury Park, a seat of the Tryon 
 family in England, 10. 
 
 Norfolk County (England), 201, 
 205-206. 
 
 Norfolk (Va.), 196. 
 
 Norm.Tnb}', Marquis of, 40. 
 
 North American Notes and Que- 
 ries, quoted, 39. 
 
 North Carolina Gazette, quoted, 
 107. 
 
 Northampton (England) , 204. 
 
 Northampton County (England), 
 11, 200-201. 
 
 Northumberland. Earl of, Viee-Ad- 
 mlr.il of American Colonies, 51. 
 
 Norwich (England). 205. 
 
 Notes and Queries, North Ameri- 
 can, quoted, 39. 
 
 Nova Scotia, 83. 
 
 "Ohiah Equah" (Great Wolf), In- 
 dian n:ime for Tryon, 58. 
 
 Old Churches and Families in 
 Virginia, quoted, 102. 
 
 Old North State in 1776, by Ca- 
 ruthers: see Caruthers, Eli W. 
 
 Onslow County (N. C), 117-118, 
 124, 168. 
 
 Orange County (N. C). 74. 77, 79, 
 86, 88, et ser/., 118. 124, 16S. 
 
 Orton Plantation, 24-25, 62. 
 Osborne, Adlai. Trustee of Liberty 
 
 Hall, 26; see also 98. 
 Osborne, Alexander, 98; acts 
 
 against Regulators, 93-96, 104, 
 
 168. 
 Osborne family, 27, 98. 
 Oxford University (England), 83. 
 
 Palace, Tryon, 12, 60. 02-72, 156, 
 et seq., 193. 
 
 Palmer, Robert, Councilor, 46, 48; 
 Commissioner to run Cherokee 
 boundary, 56-57 ; acts against 
 Regulators. 96; removes to Eng- 
 land, 204. 207. 
 
 Palmer, William, acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 118. 
 
 Parishes of St. Ann (England), 
 49; St. James, 24-25; St. Luke 
 (England). 204. 206; St. Marga- 
 ret, "74 ; St. Mary (England), 
 200, 202; St. Philip, 24-25. 
 
 Parsons, George, a Regulator, 132. 
 
 Patillo, Hcnry^, 184-185. 
 
 Patten, John, acts against Regula- 
 tors, 118, 131; "Revolutionary 
 p.atriot. 131, 167-168. 
 
 Pegram, Daniel, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Penn, William, 136. 
 
 Penningion, Penelope, 206. 
 
 Pennington, William. Collector of 
 Customs. 42-43 ; removes to Eng- 
 land, 204, 206-207. 
 
 Pennsylvania, 136, 138, 193. 
 
 Pennsylvania Magazine of History, 
 quoted. 72. 
 
 Person, Thomas, a Regulator and 
 Revolutionary patriot, 174. 
 
 Peyton, William, acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 118; wounded at Ala- 
 mance. 129. 
 
 Phifer. Martin, acts against Regu- 
 lators. 95-96. 168. 
 
 Philadelphia (Pa.). 64. 130. 
 
 Phipps, Constantine John (Lord 
 Mulgrave), Captain of sloop 
 "Diligence," 37, 39 40. 
 
 Phipps, Henry (Lord Mulgrave) ,40. 
 
220 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 
 73. 
 
 Pitt County (N. C), 73, 118, 168. 
 
 Plaiitagenet, Royal House of. Gov- 
 ernor Tryon descended from, 12. 
 
 Polk, Thomas, Trustee of Liberty 
 Hall, 20; Assemblyman, 83"; 
 City Treasurer and Commis- 
 sioner of Charlotte, 83; acts 
 against Regulators, 110, 119, 
 168. 
 
 Polk County (N. C), 58, 73. 
 
 Polk family. 27. 
 
 Pope. Alexander, his grave n-ar 
 Tryon's, 202. 
 
 Population of North Carolina 
 compared with that of other 
 colonies, 193. 
 
 Postal system improved by Tryon, 
 14-15. 
 
 "Potter" (Patten), 131. 
 
 Powers, , Surgeon's Mate 
 
 in Tryon's army, 118. 
 
 Presbyterians, 18'-20, 28-29, 188- 
 190; disclaim Regulators, 20, 
 188. 
 
 Prince Edward Island, 83. 
 
 Pugh, James, a Regulator, 132; 
 hanged. 145; speech from the 
 gallows, 150. 
 
 Pugh. .lolm. a Regulator, 115. 
 
 Purviancc, William, Revolutionary 
 patriot, 177. 
 
 Quakers, 20; disclaim Regulators, 
 
 189-190. 
 Queb(>e, 39. 
 Queen's College, Queen's Museum, 
 
 or Liberty Hall, in Charlotte, 
 
 26-28. 
 Quincy, .Tr., .Tosiah, l.')4. 
 
 Raleigh (N. C), 67-68, 74, 121. 
 Ramsgate ("Ramcat") Road, cut 
 
 by Tryon. 121. 
 Ramsour's Mill, Rattle of, 182. 
 Ranck, C.eorgo W., quoted. 101. 
 Reod. Ann, 200. 
 Reed Isaac, wounded at .\lamance. 
 
 129. 
 
 Reed, William, 206. 
 
 Regulators, Insurrection of, 20, 77, 
 et seq. 
 
 Rhamkatte Road, see Ramsgate. 
 
 Rhode Island, 49. 
 
 Richards, , Surgeon in 
 
 Tryon's army, 119. 
 
 Richmond. Duke of, 73. 
 
 "Riot Act," 112-114, 144, 162, 164; 
 see also "Johnston Act." 
 
 Kix. William, 206. 
 
 Robertson, James, succeeds Tryon 
 as Governor of New York, 197. 
 
 Rochester, Natlianiel, Revolution- 
 ary patriot, his autobiography 
 quoted, 182; city of Rochester, 
 N. Y., named for, 182. 
 
 Ross, Francis, acts against Regu- 
 lators. 119. 
 
 Rowan County (N. C), 27, 83- 
 85, 90, 93, 9.5-ni), 119, 129, 143, 
 105. 108. 175. 
 
 Rumple, Jitliro, quoted, 84-85. 
 
 Russell, John, Captain in Royal 
 N.avy, 62. 
 
 Rutherford, Griffith, .Assemblyman, 
 83 ; acts against Regulators. 
 116; Revohitionarv patriot, 72, 
 167. 
 
 Rutherford. John, Councilor. 46- 
 47 ; Commissioner to run Chero- 
 kee boundary. 50-58 ; acts against 
 Regulators, 95-117. 
 
 R'.itherford County (N. C), 72. 
 
 Sabine. Lorenzo, quoted, 179. 
 
 Saint Ann's Parish (Engl.nnd). 49. 
 
 Saint James' Church at Wilming- 
 ton, 24-25. 
 
 Saint .Tames. Court of, 23. 
 
 Saint John's Island. 83. 
 
 Siint Luke's Parish (England), 
 201 205. 
 
 Saint Margaret's Parish in Wake 
 County, 74. 
 
 .Saint Mary's Church, in Twicken- 
 ham, England, burial place of 
 Governor Tryon. Governor Berke- 
 ley. Lord Berkeley, et ah, 200, 
 202. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 221 
 
 Saint Philip's Cliurch at Bruns- 
 wick, 24-25. 
 Salem; see Moravians. 
 Salisbury (N. C), 22, 36, 85, 93, 
 
 95-96, 98, 106, 115-116, 122. 
 Salisbury Academy, 27. 
 Salter, Robert, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 118, 168. 
 Sampson, James, acts against Reg- 
 ulators, 90. 
 Sampson, John, Councilor, 46, 
 48; acts against Regulators, 96. 
 Sampson County (N. C), 48. 
 Sandy Creek, 74. 
 Sandy Creek Baptist Association 
 excommunicates Regulators, 188- 
 189; see also Baptists. 
 Saunders, Elizabeth, 204. 
 Saunders, William L., quoted, 90- 
 
 91, 184-185. 
 Sauthier, C. J., 138. 
 Saxapahaw River, 83. 
 Sa.xton, Sarah, 206. 
 Schaw, Robert, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 96, 119. 
 "Scorpion" sloop of war, 02. 
 Scotch Highlanders; see Highland- 
 ers. 
 Selwyn, George Augustus, 53-55. 
 Sehvyn, George Augustus (Bish- 
 op), 55. 
 Sehvyn, John, 55. 
 Selwyn, William, 55. 
 "Separatists" (religious sect), 20. 
 Shawnese Indians.30. 
 Shelburne, Earl of. 58. 
 "Shenandoah" cruiser, 169. 
 Shenandoah Valley, 197. 
 Sheridan, P. H., compared with 
 
 Tryon, 197. 
 Sherman. W. T., compared with 
 
 Tryon, 197. 
 Shirley, Lady Jlary, wife of 
 Charles Tryon and mother of 
 Governor, 11, 200. 
 Shirley. Robert, Earl of Ferrers, 
 grandfatlier of Governor Tryon, 
 11, 200. 
 Shirley, Srlina, Countess Ferrers, 
 grandmother of Governor Tryon, 
 200. 
 
 Shrewsbury (England), 207. 
 Sketches of Western North Caro- 
 lina, by Hunter; see Hunter, 
 C. L. 
 Skipwith, Lady, 206. 
 Sloane Street in Chelsea (Eng- 
 land), 205-206. 
 Smith. John, killed at Alamance, 
 
 130. 
 Smith, Faithy, 130. 
 Smj-th, J. F. D., quoted, 131. 
 Sneed, Samuel, acta against Regu- 
 lators, 119. 
 Society for the Propagation of the 
 
 Gospel, 23, 28. 
 "Sons of Liberty," 39. 
 South Atlantic Quarterly, quoted, 
 
 96. 
 South Carolina, 59, 88, 99, 115, 
 122, 167. 
 I Southern Quakers and Slavery, by 
 Weeks; see Weeks, Stephen B. 
 Spaight, George, 47. 
 Spaight, Richard, Councilor. 46-47. 
 Spaight, Sr.. Ri,.-hard Dobbs. 47. 
 Spaight, Jr., Richard Dobbs, 47. 
 Spaight-Stanly duel, 47. 
 Sparrow, Mrs.. 206. 
 Spencer, Mrs. Cornelia Phillips, 
 
 quoted, 75. 
 Spencer. Samuel, acts again.st Reg- 
 ulators, 92, 96, 119, 168. 
 Sprunt, James, quoted, 24, 62 ; ex- 
 cavates ruins of Tryon's house 
 at Brunswick, 62-63. 
 Stag Park, sold by Burrington to 
 
 Strudwick, 49. 
 Stair, Lord, 44. 
 
 Stamp Act, 31-46, 156, 186; Stamp 
 Act Congress, 40; description of 
 stamps. .35. 
 Stanly, John. 47. 
 Stanly-Spaight duel, 47. 
 Stanton, Mary, 204. 
 Stewart, James, a Regulator, 145. 
 Strange, John, wounded at Ala- 
 mance and afterwards drowned, 
 129. 
 Strudwick. Edmund. 49. 
 Strudwick, Samuel, Councilor, 48- 
 49; acts against Regulators, 96. 
 
222 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Stuart, Andrew, threatened by col- 
 onists, 34 ; suspended from of- 
 fice as public printer, 45. 
 
 Surry County (N. C), 126, 175. 
 
 Swain, David L., quoted, 75, 184. 
 
 Swann, Jr., Sanuiel, acts against 
 Regulators, 96. 
 
 Swift, Joseph Gardner, 98. 
 
 Tales and Traditions of the Lower 
 Cape Fear, by Sprunt; see 
 Sprunt, James. 
 
 Tar River, 85. 
 
 Taylor, Jr., Joseph, 175. 
 
 "Tea Partv" at Boston, 39. 
 
 Tennessee,' 101, 13G, 193. 
 
 Terry, . Chaplain of Wad- 
 dell's Brigade, 119. 
 
 Thackston, James, acts against 
 Regulators, 89, 168. 
 
 Thompson, Robert, Regulator, kill- 
 ed at Alamance, 133, 100; his 
 violent character, 165-160. 
 
 Thompson, William, acts against 
 Regulator.s, 118, 131. 
 
 Thompson, , acts against 
 
 Regulators, 80. 
 
 TifTany, Nina Jloore, quoted, 49. 
 
 Tomliiison, Thomas, school-master 
 at New Bern, 18, 23. 
 
 Tortle, Thomas, wounded at Ala- 
 mance, 129. 
 
 Tour in America, by Smyth; see 
 Smyth, J. F. T>. 
 
 Transylvania, Colony of, 100-101. 
 
 Tiont'River (N. C), 71. 
 
 Trian, 11. 
 
 Trumb\ill, Jonathan, Governor of 
 Connecticut, 208. 
 
 Tryan, Hugh, 11. 
 
 Tryan, Robert, 11. 
 
 Tryenestone, seat of a family of 
 tryan, 10-11. 
 
 Tryon. Ann, sister of Governor 
 tryon. 201, 204, 200. 
 
 Tryon, Charles, father of Governor 
 Tryon. 11, 200. 
 
 Tryon, Sir George, Admiral, 12. 
 
 Tryon, Harriot, sister of Governor 
 tryon, 20-1. 
 
 Tryon, Margaret, wife of Governor 
 
 Tryon, 12, 21-22, 09, 103, 200, 
 
 20 i, 203-207. 
 Tryon, JIargaret, daughter of Gov- 
 
 eruor Tryon, 201, 203-206. 
 Tr3-on, Lady Mar.y, daughter of 
 
 Robert Shirley, Earl of Ferrers, 
 
 and mother of Governor Tryon, 
 
 11, 200. 
 Trjon, Mary, sister of Governor 
 
 tryon, 204-200. 
 Tryon, Peter, 10. 
 Tryon, , sislcr (?) of 
 
 Governor Tryon, 20. 
 Tryon (N. C), 73. 
 Tryon Castle, Governor's house at 
 
 Brunswick, 02-63. 
 Tryon County (N. C), 72, 73, 119, 
 
 i97. 
 Tryon County (N. Y.), 72, 143, 
 
 197. 
 Tryon Mountain, 58. 73. 
 Tryon Palace; see Palace. 
 Tryon Street in Charlotte, 28. 
 Tu'rvil, James, 190. 
 Turvil, Solomon, 190. 
 Tusearora Indians, 58. 
 Twickenham, England, burial place 
 
 of Governor Tryon. Governor 
 
 Berkeley, Lord Berkeley, ct al., 
 
 200, 202. 
 
 University of North Carolina, 27. 
 
 University Maafa^ine (North Caro- 
 lina), quoted, 75. 79, 92, 101. 
 
 Upper Grosvenor Street in Lon- 
 don, 199.204. 
 
 Utley, Richard, 142, 
 
 "View of the Polity of the Prov- 
 ince of North Carolina," work 
 on civil government written by 
 Tryon, 52. 
 
 "Viper" sloop of war, 43. 
 
 Viririnia, 59, 61, 85, 100-103, 115, 
 106-167, 193-194, 196, 202. 
 
 Wachovia ; see Moravians. 
 Wachovia, History of, by Chnvell ; 
 see Clewell, John H. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 223 
 
 Waddell, Alfred Moore, biogra- 
 pher, quoted, 32, 37-40, 44, 47, 
 169. 
 
 Waddell, Hugh, leads demonstra- 
 tion against sloop '"Diligence," 
 37-39 ; commands armed escort 
 on Cherokee boundary expedi- 
 tion, 57 ; promoted to General, 
 115-119; his force intercepted by 
 Regulators, 122; effects a junc- 
 tion with Tryon, 141; death of, 
 169; see also 40, 44, 127, 141, 
 143. 
 
 Waddell, Mrs. Hugh, 203. 
 
 Waddell, Hugh (lawyer), 203. 
 
 Waddell, .James Iredell, 169. 
 
 Wake, Esther, a mythical charac- 
 ter, 74-76. 
 
 Wake, Margaret, marries Tryon, 
 12, 204; see also Tryon, Mrs. 
 Margaret. 
 
 Wake County, origin of its name, 
 74-76; see also 109, 116 121, 
 124, 154, 168. 
 
 \\ ake Forest Student, quoted, 101. 
 
 Walker, John, acts against Regu- 
 lators, 118; captured and beat- 
 en, 124-125; aid-de-camp to 
 Washington, 167. 
 
 "Wallanuah" (novel), quoted, 116. 
 
 Warren County (N. C), 72. 
 
 Warren, Joseph, 72. 
 
 Washington, George, his opinion 
 of Charlotte and Liberty Hall, 
 27; visits New Bern, 70-72; his 
 sentiments concerning Lord Dun- 
 more, 196; see also 11, 61, 167, 
 184. 
 
 Washington, Laurence, 11. 
 
 Webster. Daniel, 49. 
 
 Webster, Caroline LeRoy, 49. 
 
 Weeks. Stephen B., quoted, 189. 
 
 Weems, Jlason L., 27. 
 
 Welborn, Tliomas, a Regulator, 
 
 Wentworth, Charles Watson, Mar- 
 quis of Rockingham, 73. 
 
 Wentworth (N. C), 73. 
 
 West Indies. 191. 
 
 Westminster (England) , 49. 
 
 Wheeler. John H., historian, 
 quoted, 92, 187, 189. 
 
 Whiskey Insurrection, 138. 
 
 White, Jr., James, 172. 
 
 White. Robert, 172. 
 
 White, William, 172. 
 
 White, Jr., William, 172. 
 
 Whitefield, (Jcorge. preaches in 
 North Carolina, 23-24. 
 
 Wickham, .Tohn, 84. 
 
 Wilkes, Jolin, 73. 
 
 Wilkes County (N. C), 73. 
 
 Williams, Humphrey, 189. 
 
 Williams, John, attacked by Regu- 
 lators, 104, 137. 
 
 Williams, Michael, 190. 
 
 Williamsburg (Va.), 15, 59. 
 
 William-son.Hugh, historian, quoted, 
 19. 77, 110, 122, 131, 133, 191- 
 192. 
 
 Wills, John, Chaplain on Chero- 
 kee boundary expedition, 57. 
 
 Wills of Governor and Mrs. Tryon, 
 203-207. 
 
 Wilmington (N. C), 14-16, 23-25, 
 32, 36, 38, 44-46. 83, 89, 92, 115. 
 
 Winchester (England), 206. 
 
 \\'ood, Edward .Jenner, quoted, 79. 
 
 Woodmason, Charles, missionary, 
 28-29. 
 
 Wrench, Ann, 205-206. 
 
 Wrench, Jonathan, 205. 
 
 Wrench, , 205. 
 
 Wright, Gideon, 126. 
 
 Wyvill, Sir Marmaduke, 51. 
 
 Wyvill, Marmaduke (of Mary- 
 land), 51. 
 
 Wyvill, Ursula, 51. 
 
 Wyvill, William, 51. 
 
 Wyrill family of Maryland enti- 
 tled to English baronetcj', 51. 
 
 Yadkin River, 85, 1.55. 
 
 Yale University, 78-79, 83-84. 
 
 Yeats, Charles, wounded at Ala- 
 mance. 129. 
 
 Yarmouth ; see Grecit Yarmouth. 
 
 York, Lyman, 179. 
 
 York, Robinson, a Regulator, 104, 
 115, 178, 180. 
 
 York, Seymore, 179. 
 
 Yorktown, 179. 
 
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