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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at http : //books . qooqle . com/| Digitized by Google \A ii?. < Q W M fa H M w Digitized by Google Digitized by Google FORMATION OF THE COUNTY 17 ciary committee of the Assembly. It is interesting to know that the family of Bakers that came to Halifax County from Virginia were distinguished for several generations, and the heads of the family for four suc- cessive generations were named Blake. The first Blake Baker came to the county from South Quay, Va. The second Blake, son of the first, was trained as a cabinet maker, but studied law and became prominent as a rep- resentative in the Colonial Assembly from Halifax County. Of Blake the third, the attorney-general and judge, it is said that he was bred for the law and by dint of hard labor, for he was not brilliant, he came to be considered one of the ablest lawyers of his day. He left a son also named Blake. Joseph Montf ord, the first Clerk of the Court, was dis- tinguished as a mason and citizen. A biography of him is given in Part II., "Builders of the County." Stephen Dewey, the representative from the town of Halifax, was a lawyer and a man of considerable ability. He was a man of strong character. When he was elect- ed, the town had just been made a borough and there was some delay in its official recognition. Governor Dobbs had failed to issue a writ for an election. The election, however, was held and Dewey elected. As soon as the question was raised as to the legality of the elec- tion, Dewey promptly declined the office. The governor was then appealed to for the necessary writ and another election held, and Dewey was again elected. He served two terms. Digitized by Google CHAPTER FIVE. FORERUNNERS OF THE REGULATOR MOVEMENT. In 1759, an incident occurred in Halifax County, which showed the resentment of the people of this section of North Carolina toward a system which was in operation at the time in the province. The spirit shown in that incident was the same as that which was exhibited some fifteen years later when North Carolina in convention at Halifax declared for the absolute independence of the colonies. For many years previous to the formation of Halifax County, there had been much dissatisfaction in North Carolina on account of the exactions of the quit-rent col- lectors. The lands were not held in fee simple by the owners, but in addition to paying the regular price for the land they had to pay to the Lords Proprietors and later to the king an annual rental per acre. This was to be perpetual, for while a man might buy his land and get a deed for it, he was under obligation to the British Government to pay a yearly tax. There was no chance to escape this even though the settlers had paid the price asked for the land. The liberty loving North Carolinians did not like this system of feudalism, and often showed their resentment. When the Proprietors sold their claims to the crown - in 1729, Lord Granville reserved his right and refused to sell. His share, one-eighth of the whole, was allotted to him wholly in North Carolina. His line ran through the old town of Bath and the present town of Snow Hill and westward to the Mississippi river, taking in a large slice of the northern part of the province. Halifax County fell to the share of Lord Granville. Digitized by Google THE REGULATOR MOVEMENT 19 In the territory belonging to the king, the quit-rents were paid into the treasury of the province and helped to pay the expenses of the government. In Granville's district, however, the sums collected went into the cof- fers of his lordship, and hence were an additional cause for restiveness. Francis Corbin and Thomas Bodley were the agents of Lord Granville for the collection of his rents, and had made themselves odious by extortions and other evil practices. Charges against them were being investigat- ed by a committee of the Colonial Assembly, but the committee was slow in their deliberations and the As- sembly adjourned without action. Irritated by this seeming indifference, the people in the district concern- ed became aroused and threatened to take action them- selves upon the guilty agents. Matters hastened to a crisis in Halifax and Edgecombe counties. In January, 1759, the feeling against Corbin and Bod- ley became violently demonstrative ; and on January 24 a body of well mounted horsemen from Halifax and Edge- combe rode all the way to Edenton, the home of Corbin and Bodley, and seized the two agents in the night time and conveyed them to Enfield, where they were com- pelled to give bond for their appearance at the spring term of court. Having given bond and promising to dis- gorge all illegal fees and taxes collected, they were re- leased. Shortly afterward, Corbin and Bodley instituted suit against their abductors, and a number of them were put in jail at Enfield. Friends and sympathizers of the imprisoned men went to the jail one night and re- leased them. Not content with emptying the jail, the rioters warned the agents that they had better drop the suits or worse results would follow. Accordingly the suits were dropped and Corbin and Bodley paid the cost. Some months later, Corbin, who had been a member of the council, was dismissed by Governor Dobbs and re- moved from the agency by Lord Granville. This in a Digitized by Google SO HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY measure quieted the restlessness in the colony, and es- pecially in Halifax. A singular circumstance is that the Colonial Assem- bly was severe upon the rioters, while the governor was more favorable to them. Governor Dobbs intimated in some of his correspondence that his opponents in the Assembly found it to their interests to make up with Corbin, against whom the greatest charge was laid, and change sides, and there may have been some truth in what he said. Dobbs was a hot-headed Irishman who was in continual warfare with the Assembly throughout his administration, and the solution of the reason that the Assembly took sides against the rioters is that Dobbs was for them. Colonel Saunders, in the Prefatory Notes to the Col- onial Records, considers these rioters as the forerunners of the Regulators, who rose against the royal govern- ment of the province a few years later. Digitized by Google CHAPTER SIX. MUTTERINGS OF THE COMING STORM. For some years after the formation of the county, there is little to record except the mention of the rota- tion of the county officers and members of the Colonial Assembly. Joseph Montford continued to serve as clerk of the court until his death in 1776. He was also a rep- resentative in the Assembly for several terms, thus serving in a double capacity for a few years. Until the adoption of the Constitution in 1776, the Colonial Assembly consisted of an upper house known as his Majesty's Council, composed of the Governor and a number of men appointed by the king, and the lower house made up of delegates elected by the people. The history of the different assemblies was one of continued strife between the governor and the lower house. To the lower house, Halifax County, as well as other coun- ties of the State, sent its representatives. The follow- ing is a list of the representatives sent by the county and the town of Halifax for the sixteen years before the Declaration of Independence in 1776 : For the Borough of Halifax. Stephen Dewey 1760-61 Alexander Elmsley 1762-63 Abner Nash 1764-65 Joseph Montford 1766-75 For the County. Blake Baker and Alexander McCulloch 1760-61 Blake Baker and Joseph Montford 1762-65 John Bradford and William Branch 1766-68 Blake Baker and Alexander McCulloch 1760-61 Abner Nash and William Alston 1770-71 Benjamin McCulloch and John Alston 1772-74 Nicholas Long and Benjamin McCulloch 1775 Digitized by Google 1% HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Abner Nash, who represented the town and county at different times, afterwards became governor of the State. Halifax is not generally credited with having been the home of this Revolutionary governor, but it is quite clear that he lived in the town of Halifax for about twelve years before removing to Jones County. He own- ed a farm on Roanoke river and considerable real es- tate elsewhere in the county. While living in Halifax, he married the widow of the late Governor Dobbs, who was before her marriage with the governor, Miss Justina Davis. She died in 1771, before Governor Nash left the county, and is buried in the old churchyard at Halifax. Nash became Governor in 1780, but declined to serve longer than one year. William Tryon was sent from England in October, 1764, to act as deputy governor with Governor Dobbs. Tryon was a dashing soldier and soon became popular with the people of the province. Governor Dobbs died in April, 1765, and Tryon succeeded to the governorship. Almost immediately upon his accession, Governor Tryon found himself in the midst of a nation-wide excitement about the passage of the Stamp Act. Wilmington, Eden- ton, and Newbern had their periods of excitement and clashes with the king's officers over the sale of the stamps. There were riots and disturbances in various parts of the province. Halifax County, being far re- moved from the ports where the stamps were to be land- ed for sale, was intensely interested, but made no par- ticular demonstration. Governor Tryon found out the temper of North Carolina people when he asked John Ashe whether the people would continue their resistance to the Stamp Act duty and received as reply that "It will be resisted to blood and death." He, therefore, ad- vised the repeal of the act, and it was done the next year. In 1768, the movement of the Regulators in Orange County produced considerable excitement and some sym- pathy in Halifax. To show a kindred feeling with the Digitized by Google MUTTERINGS OF THE COMING STORM 33 Regulators, in their struggle against extortions and ille- gal taxes, the inhabitants of Halifax County petitioned the Governor and the Colonial Assembly that year to lighten the burdens under which they were living and to pass laws regulating the payment of fees for the is- suance of all legal papers, the collection of quit-rents, and the payment of taxes. The petition was presented by William Branch, one of the representatives for that year, and shows some of the hardships that the people of that time endured. No action, however, was taken upon the petition. When Governor Tryon called upon the counties of the Province, in 1771, to furnish troops to march against the Regulators, Halifax County refused to furnish any men to fight their comrades and friends in Orange and Alamance. It is to the credit of the county that it sent no soldiers to aid the royal governor in his merciless warfare upon the inhabitants of that section of North Carolina. With his sympathizers from other counties, he marched against the Regulators and defeated them at the Battle of Alamance. At a meeting of freeholders in the town of Halifax, August 22, 1774, John Webb was chosen moderator, and the following set of resolutions was unanimously adopt- ed: 1. We declare our loyalty to King George III. 2. That the proposed alteration in the administration of the criminal law in certain cases in Massachu- setts would be unconstitutional and oppressive, and deprive the accused of the privilege of being tried by a jury of his peers, and their indigent circum- stances would prevent them from having their wit- nesses transported to England. 3. That the Boston Port Bill was an illegal exercise of arbitrary power and an encroachment upon private property. 4. That the bill for changing the constitution of Massachusetts, now founded on charter, would be Digitized by Google 24 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY injurious to the liberties of that province and of America in general. 5. That the Americans can only be legally taxed by those who represent them, and that it would be im- practicable to send representatives across the sea. 6. That principles of honor, justice, and gratitude, as well as interest, should direct them on that occasion. 7. That all luxury and extravagance should be dis- couraged in order that debts in England might be discharged; and that sheep husbandry and manu- facture of wool be encouraged, and that every per- son should apply himself with assiduity to his occu- pation in life. 8. That exports to England be continued until all debts were paid. 9. That the trade with the British West Indies be continued. 10. That after the twentieth day of September next we import no article, directly or indirectly, from Great Britain, nor purchase from those who do import, until the duty on tea be taken off, except certain articles absolutely necessary. 11. That the East India Company has insulted Ameri- cans in sending over tea contrary to the wishes of the Americans; and that we will use no more tea until the tax is taken off. 12. That unanimity and concord should be encouraged. 13. That, as Joseph Montford on account of indisposi- tion cannot attend the meeting of the Assembly at Newbern, John Geddy be appointed in his place. 14. That the courts of law continue to exercise their jurisdiction. 15. That a copy of these resolves be inserted in the Newbern Gazette. From the tone of these resolutions it will be seen that the spirit of opposition to Great Britain was becoming defiant. Notwithstanding the fact that they disclaim any intention of being disloyal to the British Govern- ment, they boldly assert that certain acts of the British ministry were arbitrary and tyrannical and that a peo- Digitized by Google 3 Q O O « Oh W CO o O H O Digitized by Google Digitized by Google MUTTERINGS OF THE COMING STORM 25 pie can be legally taxed only by a body in which they are represented. It is noteworthy that all extravagance and luxury was discouraged in order that debts in England might be paid. These sturdy yoemen of Halifax saw that a separation from England was coming, but they wanted, when it did come, to be free of debt to their enemy. Here was a tea party also when they declared solemnly that they would use no more tea nor import any article from Great Britain until the tea tax had been re- pealed. This determined spirit of the people of Halifax was seen in all parts of the province, and when the first Pro- vincial Congress met in Newbern on the 25th of August, 1774, there was strong evidence that North Carolina was taking a long stride toward independence. In that Con- gress, Halifax County was represented by Nicholas Long and Willie (Wiley) Jones, and the town of Halifax by John Geddy. The Congress took wise precaution to guard the safety of the province by the appointment of committees of safety for the various counties. The com- mittee for Halifax was as follows : Willie Jones, Nicholas Long, John Bradford, James Hogan, Benjamin McCul- loch, Joseph John Williams, William Alston, Egbert Hay- wood, David Sumner, Samuel Weldon, and Thomas Haynes. Digitized by Google CHAPTER SEVEN. LEADING UP TO THE REVOLUTION. December 21, 1774, the Committee of Safety met in Halifax and elected Willie Jones chairman, and trans- acted some business of special note. While in session, it was reported to the committee that Andrew Miller, a merchant in the town of Halifax, had refused to sign the resolutions that were passed by the freeholders, known as the Resolutions of the Association. A sub-committee was appointed to summon him before the full committee. Miller came and gave as his reason for not signing the resolutions that he had in his hands certain goods be- longing to persons in England and that he could not ship these goods to England before the time given for the resolutions to go into effect. He stated that he did not think it just to sign as his creditors in England had no means to influence the repeal of the objectionable laws. His explanation was not satisfactory to the Committee, and by vote it was decided that a general boycott be instituted against Miller and whatever partner or part- ners he might have. This was perhaps the first instance of the kind in the State. Governor Martin refers to these resolutions of boycott against Miller in a letter to Lord Dartmouth. It is evident that these Halifax patriots were determined that their resentment to the mother country for the unjust treatment of the American col- onies should be forcible and unanimous. A few words of explanation of the conduct of Andrew Miller in thus defying his fellow citizens may be neces- sary. He was a Scotchman by birth and a man of much ability and good standing in his community. Several of his letters are given in full in the Colonial Records, in one of which he speaks of expecting Governor Mar- Digitized by Google LEADING UP TO THE REVOLUTION 27 tin to spend ten days with him. The county records show that he was one of the executors of the will of James Milner, a prominent attorney of Halifax. As will be supposed, Miller became a Tory and soon afterwards fled from Halifax. His property was confiscated in 1779, and he was a refugee at Charleston at the close of the war. It is not known where he went from there when that city fell into the hands of the American army under General Greene at the close of the Revolution. James Milner, mentioned in connection with the Tory, Andrew Miller, was a leading lawyer of the Halifax bar during the period just before the outbreak of the war. He practiced in the courts of the province even as far away as Hillsboro. He died before the beginning of the Revolution, and the records show that he left consider- able property. Several of his letters appear in the Co- lonial Records. When the second Provincial Congress met in Newbern, April 3, 1775, Halifax County was represented by Willie Jones, Benjamin McCulloch, and Nicholas Long, and the town of Halifax by Joseph Montford and John Webb. Little was done at this session and an adjournment was taken to Hillsboro in August the same year. At this session, which met August 21, Halifax County was represented by Nicholas Long, James Hogan, David Sumner, John Webb, and John Geddy. The town of Halifax was represented by Willie Jones and Francis Nash, who was living at the time in Hillsboro. One of the important things done by this Congress was the di- vision of the Province into five military districts and the appointment of a colonel for each district. The Revo- lution had actually begun; the Battle of Lexington had been fought; the Mecklenburg Declaration of Indepen- dence had been signed ; Washington had begun the siege of Boston; excitement was rife throughout North Carolina. The Congress also authorized the enrollment of five hundred minute men in each district. Nicholas Long Digitized by Google 28 HISTORY OP HALIFAX COUNTY was chosen colonel of the Halifax department, which was composed of the counties of Halifax, Edgecombe, North- ampton, and Granville. Henry Irwin was chosen lieuten- ant-colonel and Jethro Sumner, major. For the county of Halifax, the following were chosen officers of the minute men that were to be raised: John Bradford. Colonel ; William Alston, Lieutenant-Colonel ; David Sumner, First Major; Egbert Haywood, Second Major. Congress allotted to the county the enrollment of three companies of the militia that had been authorized. The Hillsboro Congress took a step toward State sove- reignty by the organization of a provincial government called the Provincial Council, which was to exercise the executive functions that had been wielded by the royal governor, who was now a refugee on a British gunboat at the mouth of the Cape Fear river. Cornelius Harnett, of Wilmington, was the chairman of this council and was thus the chief executive officer of the province. Halifax County was honored in having as a member of this Pro- vincial Council Willie Jones, who was among the first elected by the Congress. To act on the Committee of Safety of Halifax district, James Leslie, John Bradford, David Sumner, and John Webb were appointed from the county. During these troublesome times, Halifax County was specially free from anything like dominating Tory in- fluence. Only a few loyalists were found in the county, and these were kept under such surveillance that they exerted very little assistance to those who were trying to uphold the power of the king in North Carolina. Andrew Miller, as has been related, was a Tory, and John Hamilton, another merchant of Halifax, who, after his flight from Halifax in 1776, rose to high rank in the British army. Besides these two, there were a few others, who were obnoxious. All of them were watched by the patriots and arrested and brought before the Com- mittee of Safety for punishment, if they made any move in behalf of the king. Digitized by Google LEADING UP TO THE REVOLUTION 29 At a session of the Provincial Council, held at Smith- field, December 18, 1775, John Branch, sheriff of Halifax County, brought before that body Walter Lamb and George Massenbird, charged with certain crimes, and prayed punishment upon them as Tories. Lamb was remanded for trial at the next meeting of the Committee of Safety of Halifax County; but Massenbird seems to have experienced a change of heart and became penitent, under pressure, took the oath of allegiance to the Pro- vincial Council, and was released. It is not known why they were taken to Smithfield, but the presumption is that they had taken an appeal from the decision of the Halifax Committee. Digitized by Google CHAPTER EIGHT. HALIFAX COUNTY AND NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE. For Halifax County, North Carolina, and all America, the year 1776 was momentous. The preceding year had come to a close with the Revolution just commencing. In the beginning, the resistance to British authority was only rebellion. Except the Mecklenburg Declaration of May 20, 1775, there had been no intimation anywhere in America of a desire to separate from the mother country. All the colonies declared, in effect, that they were fight- ing for their rights as Englishmen and not to establish an independent nation. So firmly fixed in the minds of the people was the idea of loyalty to the British crown that, when the Mecklenburg Declaration was passed and Captain Jack despatched with a copy to the Congress at Philadelphia, he was coldly received even by the North ' Carolina delegation and the copy of the Declaration pigeon-holed indefinitely. As time, however, passed and the struggle with Great Britain became more and more desperate, a change took place in the feelings of Americans toward England. Be- fore even a year had passed, people all over the colonies began to think that the war, which had begun as a rebel- lion was fast becoming a revolution. In no colony was the growing spirit of independence more pronounced than in North Carolina, and in no county was it more alive than in Halifax. Ominously did the year 1776 open in North Carolina. Everybody felt that the war now under way was to be long and fierce. Early in January, the British Com- mander-in-Chief, whose headquarters were in Boston, sent his agents to various points in North Carolina to arouse the Tories and organize them for service against Digitized by Google NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE 31 the patriots. In the central and western part of the province, there was a bitter struggle for several months between the two factions; but the Tories were finally defeated and forced to submit or flee the country. In Cumberland County, where the Highland Scotch had settled, more than two thousand Tories assembled at Cross Creek and began their march upon Wilmington to meet a British army of invasion that was to make a landing on the Cape Fear. Before reaching Wilming- ton, however, they were totally defeated by the patriots, on February 27, and dispersed. The leaders of the Tories in this Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, Colonels Donald and Allan McDonald, the latter being the husband of the famous Flora McDonald, were captured and brought to Halifax and confined in the jail there. Colonel Nicholas Long, in command of the militia of Halifax district, ap- prehended other Tories that were trying to escape cap- ture after the battle and were passing through Halifax and confined them in jail. The names of forty-six of these refugee Tories are given in the reports of these captures besides others whose names are not given. They were detained in jail in Halifax until paroled some months afterward. After the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, sentiment in North Carolina for independence rapidly crystallized. Although a British army of invasion and twenty- seven enemy gunboats were on the Cape Fear, the peo- ple of the province set their faces steadfastly toward a separation from England. In Halifax County, the spirit of revolution was unchecked. So when the Provincial Congress met in Halifax April 4, 1776, it found a sympathetic people to give en- couragement to its deliberations. Samuel Johnston, of Edenton, was elected president and James Green, Jr., secretary. Halifax County was represented by John Bradford, James Hogan, David Sumner, Joseph John Williams, and Willis Alston. Willie Jones was elected to represent the town of Halifax, but, having been ap- Digitized by Google 32 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY pointed by the Continental Congress superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern department and being absent on account of the duties of that office, John Webb was chosen in his stead. After matters of a minor nature were disposed of by the Congress, the discussion of national affairs was en- tered upon. The sentiment for independence was well nigh unanimous, and it was enthusiastically decided that the Congress should go on record in some expression re- garding it. Accordingly, a committee was appointed to draft suitable resolutions. This committee, consisting of Cornelius Harnett, Thomas Burke, Allen Jones, Thomas Jones, Abner Nash, Thomas Person, and M. Kinchin, made their report on April 12. Cornelius Harnett was the chairman of the committee and made the report as follows : "It appears to your committee that, pursuant to the plan concerted by the British ministry for subjugating America, the king and parliament of Great Britain have usurped a power over the persons and properties of the people, unlimited and uncontrolled, and, disregarding their humble petitions for peace, liberty, and safety, have made divers legislative acts denouncing war, fam- ine, and every species of calamity against the continent in general. The British have been, and still are, daily employed in destroying people and committing the most horrid devastations on the country. The governors in different colonies have declared protection to slaves, who imbrue their hands in the blood of their masters. The ships belonging to America are declared prizes of war, and many of them have been violently seized and confiscated. In consequence of all which, multitudes of people have been destroyed, or from easy circumstances reduced to the most lamentable distress. "And whereas, the moderation hitherto manifested by the United Colonies, and their sincere desire to be recon- ciled to the mother country on constitutional principles have procured no mitigation of the aforesaid wrongs and Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE 3S usurpations, and no hope remains of obtaining redress by those means alone which have been hitherto tried, your committee are of the opinion that the House should enter into the following resolve, to wit : "Resolved, that the delegates from this colony, in the Continental Congress, be empowered to concur with the delegates of the other colonies in declaring Independence and forming foreign alliances, reserving to this colony the sole and exclusive right of forming a constitution and laws for this colony, and of appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a general rep- resentation thereof) to meet the delegates of the other colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out." This resolution, the first of the kind in all America, was adopted unanimously on the twelfth of April, antedat- ing the Virginia resolves of the same nature a little more than a month. As is well known, the Continental Con- gress acted upon this resolution of North Carolina, which was well seconded by Virginia by a like resolve on May 15, and a national Declaration of Independence was passed July 4, 1776. April 14, the Congress appointed a committee, of which John Bradford was a member, to prepare a tem- porary civil constitution for the purpose of changing from a provincial to a State government. The word "temporary" was used in the naming of the commit- tee probably for the reason that the decisive step for in- dependence had not yet been made. It is not known how far the committee proceeded in their deliberations, but no constitution was adopted at this session. Two men were appointed, by resolution, from each county, whose duty should be to receive, purchase, and procure firearms for the use of the troops. Egbert Hay- wood and David Crawley were appointed from Halifax County. The militia of the province was reorganized with brigadier-generals in command of the districts. Allen Jones, who lived at Mount Gallant in Northamp- Digitized by Google 34 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ton County, was appointed to command the troops of Halifax district. The following field officers for Halifax County were appointed: Willis Alston, Colonel; David Sumner, Lieutenant-Colonel; James Hogan, First Ma- jor; Samuel Weldon, Second Major. Before adjournment, the Congress provided for the erection in the county of a powder mill, and appointed Willie Jones, Benjamin McCulloch, and Josiah Sumner to have control of it. At this Congress, one of the most important ever held in the province, a great deal of business was transacted, that relating to Halifax County, owing to its peculiar in- terest, is given in full, — It was resolved that a declaration be published that the Congress was compelled to remove the prisoners, cap- tured in the late campaign, into other provinces on ac- count of the public safety. This action relieved the pressure in the Halifax jail, where there had been incar- cerated a large number of Scotch Tories. A committee was appointed to look into the matter of the seizure at Newbern of a vessel belonging to John Hamilton, a Tory merchant of Halifax. William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn were appointed delegates to the general Congress to be held in Philadelphia. John Webb was added to the committee for the coun- ty for procuring arms. Colonel Nicholas Long was di- rected to collect all the arms that may have been taken from Tories and hold them ready to supply recruits for the minute men. Colonel Long was requested to proceed to the Virginia line, with a detachment of troops, and escort General Charles Lee, an officer of the Continental army, to Hali- fax. He was passing through to inspect the troops in this State and in South Carolina and Georgia. It was ordered that 1500 minute men be enrolled in the districts of Edenton, Newbern, Halifax, and Wil- mington, and proceed to Wilmington for the defense of Digitized by Google NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE 35 the State. Halifax district was to furnish seven com- panies; from Halifax 100 men, Edgecomb 100/ Bute 100, and Northampton 75. All the militia of the colony was divided into six bri- gades, one brigade in each district, to be commanded by a brigadier-general. All males between the ages of 16 and 60 were declared subject to military duty. Each county was to be organized into a regiment, which was to be subdivided into companies of not less than fifty men. Bills of credit were issued to the value of $1,000,000 for the purpose of defraying all expenses of armaments, bounties, and other contingencies that should occur dur- ing the recess of Congress. It was resolved that "Any person or persons, who should attempt to depreciate said bills of credit by refusing to take the same in pay- ment of any debt or contract, or by speaking or writing with the intention to lessen their credit and currency, shall be considered as inimical to America." The Provincial Council and the Committees of Safety were dissolved, and, in their stead, was substituted a Council of Safety to consist of one man to represent the Congress and two from each of the six districts, which should serve until the next meeting of the Congress. Willie Jones was chosen to represent the Congress and Thomas Eaton and Joseph John Williams to represent Halifax district. After a session of a month and ten days, the Congress adjourned on May 14 to meet again in Halifax Novem- ber 10, 1776, unless sooner called together by the Coun- cil of Safety. Digitized by Google CHAPTER NINE. NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED IN HALIFAX. During the incipient stages of the Revolution, the town of Halifax was the scene of many stirring events. After the adjournment of the Provincial Congress, the Provincial Council of Safety, of which Willie Jones was a distinguished member, was in session in Halifax for more than a month during the summer of 1776. While in session on July 22, news of the passage of the Declara- tion of Independence at Philadelphia was received. The Council immediately passed the following resolution : "Resolved, that the committees of the respective counties and towns in this State, on receiving the Declaration of Independence, do cause the same to be proclaimed in the most public manner, in order that the good people of this colony may be fully informed there- of." While in session, July 25, the Council proceeded to change the test oath so as to make it conform to the character of the State as free and independent. By resolution, the preamble to the oath was made to say that the "Colonies are now free and independent states, and all allegiance to the British Crown is now forever at an end." On the 27th of the same month, the Coun- cil set apart by resolution, in conjunction with the Com- mittee of Safety of Halifax County, Thursday, August 1st, as a day for proclaiming the Declaration at the court house in Halifax. Accordingly, on that eventful day, a great concourse of people from all parts of the county met to witness the interesting ceremonies. The Provincial troops, that were in Halifax at the time, and the militia compa- nies were all drawn up in martial array to give interest Digitized by Google INDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED IN HALIFAX 37 to the occasion. At midday, Cornelius Harnett ascended a rostrum which had been erected in front of the court house, and even as he opened the scroll, upon which were written the memorable words of the Declaration, the en- thusiasm of the immense crowd broke forth in one loud swell of rejoicing. Harnett proceeded with his task in measured tones and read the immortal document to the mute and impassioned multitude with the solemnity of an appeal to Heaven. When he reached the end and read the names of the signers, among whom were William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn, North Carolina's members of the Continental Congress, a spontaneous shout went up from hundreds of mouths, and the cannon from the fort at Quanky and the Roanoke boomed the glorious tidings that the Thirteen Colonies were now free and indepen- dent States. Cornelius Harnett was lifted from the ros- trum and carried through the streets upon the shoulders of the enthusiastic populace. It was a great day in Hali- fax. Shortly before this great demonstration in Halifax, the following officers of the two companies of Halifax County militia had been appointed by the Council of Safety : James N. Parsons and Henry Dawson, Captains ; P. Cox and William Noblin, Lieutenants; Caleb Munday and John Champion, Ensigns. The total strength of the two companies as reported at that time was 105. At the same sitting of the Provincial Council of Safe- ty at Halifax, the following singular order was made: John Webb, of Halifax County, was allowed to export 18,000 hogsheads of staves to any of the French or Dutch cities on giving bond that he would import the proceeds in salt, arms, ammunition, and other warlike stores. Other matters relating to Halifax County came up during the session and were disposed of. An order of special note is one appointing a committee to examine certain lead mines said to have been discovered on Big Fishing Creek. It is not known what was the final re- Digitized by Google 88 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY port of this committee, but they made a partial report some time later in which they said that lead ore was not found in sufficient quantity to justify working. It was ordered also that the treasurer of the State pay Colonel Willis Alston fifty pounds to employ guards for the town of Halifax. John Hamilton, the Tory mer- chant, came before the Council and asked an appeal from an order of condemnation of his vessel at Newbern shortly before that time. This was allowed. It is of in- terest to know that Hamilton soon found out that the atmosphere of Halifax was not wholesome for Tories, and he fled to the British. As he was the most influen- tial of the Tories that joined the British army in North Carolina, the following sketch is given of him: "Before the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, there lived in Halifax a prosperous and influential man by the name of John Hamilton, who came from Scotland, his native country, in early life. He engaged in merchan- dising in Halifax and acquired a considerable fortune. Being well educated, he was naturally a leader, affable in manner and popular. "When the war of Revolution began, Halifax County, as a whole, was enthusiastically patriotic, and joined heartily in the movement for independence. It was a source of regret to the people of the county that so cap- able a man as Hamilton refused to join in this move- ment. His friends and neighbors urged and entreated him to enlist on the side of the colonies, but he stead- fastly claimed allegiance to the king. He continued his business, however, in Halifax until toward the close of 1776, when Governor Caswell issued his proclamation, calling upon all residents of the State to take the oath of allegiance to North Carolina within sixty days or move to other scenes. This proclamation caused a great many Tories to leave the State, among whom was Ham- ilton. He seems to have been the leader of the Tories even at that time, for he did most of the correspondence with Governor Caswell in securing passports for them. Digitized by Google INDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED IN HALIFAX 39 He, with others, went to Jamaica; but soon afterwards returned to the states, joined the British forces in Geor- gia in 1778, and assisted in the capture of Savannah that year. In the meantime, his property had been confiscat- ed by the State government. "Hamilton's career as a soldier in the British army was brilliant. He entered the army as a private, but rapidly won distinction, reaching the rank of colonel in little more than a year's time. In one of his many bat- tles with the patriots, he was captured by Colonel Wil- liam Washington in 1780, but shortly afterwards ex- changed and rejoined the British army. He was placed in command of the Royal North Carolina regiment in 1781 and commissioned to enroll in his regiment Tories of North and South Carolina and Virginia. He was with Lord Cornwallis, in his campaigns in the South, and sur- rendered with him at Yorktown. "After the treaty of peace, he went to England and lived there for several years. Later, he was British con- sul at Norfolk, Va., and often during his term of office there visited Halifax, and mingled freely with the friends he knew there before the outbreak of the war." Digitized by Google CHAPTER TEN. THE BIRTHPLACE OP THE STATE CONSTITUTION. While the Provincial Council of Safety was in session at Halifax, a resolution was adopted calling upon the people to elect, on the 15th of October, delegates to a Congress appointed to assemble at Halifax, November 12, 1776. This Congress was not only to make laws, but also to form a State constitution, and can, with proprie- ty be called the First Constitutional Convention of North Carolina. The elections were held throughout the State in accordance with the call. The following were elected to represent Halifax County in the Congress and Conven- tion : John Bradford, James Hogan, Willis Alston, Sam- uel Weldon, and Benjamin McCulloch. For the town of Halifax, Willie Jones was elected. During the session, James Hogan, having been elected Colonel of the seventh regiment of continental troops, tendered his resignation as delegate for the county, and Egbert Haywood was elected to the vacancy. The Convention met, as called, November 12th, and proceeded to organize. Richard Caswell was elected President of the body; Cornelius Harnett, Vice-Presi- dent; James Green, Jr., Secretary; and James Glasgow, Assistant Secretary. Willie Jones and Benjamin Mc- Culloch were members of the committee of privileges and elections. John Bradford was a member of the com- mittee to settle civil accounts of the State. This convention was a notable body. Among its mem- bers were some of the most distinguished men of the State. In the list of members, there are such names as Maurice Moore, Cornelius Harnett, Archibald McLean, Phileman Hawkins, Thomas Jones, Richard Caswell, Thomas Person, David Caldwell, Waightstill Avery, Al- Digitized by Google From the painting by Gilbert Stewart George Washington Digitized by Google Digitized by GOQQle BIRTHPLACE OF STATE CONSTITUTION 41 len Jones, William Hooper, Griffith Rutherford, Joseph Hewes, Willie Jones, Abner Nash, and many others, who have rendered the State illustrious service in peace and in war. With such a galaxy of heroes, the State could well make its beginning. Soon after assembling, the committee on Bill of Rights and Constitution was appointed. Halifax County was honored with two members of this committee of twenty- eight, Willie Jones and James Hogan. The committee was composed of the ablest men in the convention. One of the first matters of business was the admission of Watauga, in the district of Washington, Tenn., as a county. This was done by motion of Willie Jones and carried by a vote of 153 to 1. In waiting were the dele- gates from the new county, Charles Robertson, John Carter, and John Wade, and they were admitted and the oath administered to them. Some days later, John Se- vier, afterwards renowned in the history of the State and nation, another delegate from Watauga, arrived, and was admitted. James Hogan was appointed to admin- ister the oaths. John Bradford and Willie Jones were appointed to ex- amine the accounts of Colonel Nicholas Long, rendered at the last session of the Congress. The committee shortly afterwards reported that the accounts were cor- rect and that the allegations against him were ground- less. It is unknown just what these charges against Col- onel Long were, but the inference was that he was charged with misappropriation of funds or extravagance. It is certain that the committee, of which Bradford and Jones were members, made a searching investigation and declared that Colonel Long was blameless. By resolution, it was ordered that a battalion of vol- unteers be dispatched to the aid of South Carolina, which was, at the time, threatened by an invasion of British troops. Samuel Weldon was appointed major of this battalion and two of the lieutenants were Josiah Pearce and John Champion, of Halifax. Later, Josiah Digitized by Google 42 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Pearce resigned, and Albritton Jones, of Halifax was ap- pointed to succeed him. In the records of the meetings of this convention, sev- eral orders were entered relative to a magazine for the storage of ammunition for the State troops. It was probably located in the town of Halifax at or near the present spring of that name. From this magazine sup- plies were distributed to the troops operating anywhere in eastern North Carolina. Additional regiments for the Continental line were ordered by the Congress, and James Hogan was appoint- ed Colonel of one of these regiments, that was raised largely in Halifax County. The following men from the county were appointed officers in these regiments that were to be raised : Henry Dawson, Captain ; William Nob- lin, First Lieutenant; Jacob Barrow, Second Lieutenant. James Hogan was shortly afterwards assigned to the command of the seventh regiment of Continental troops. Henry Montf ord, of Halifax, asked permission to ship staves to the West India Islands, and his request was granted. December 6th, Thomas Jones, of Chowan County, Chairman of the Committee on Bill of Rights and Con- stitution, reported that the committee was ready to make its report. He read the report to the Convention, which body, by motion, appointed December 18 for its consideration. Automatically, therefore, the Constitution came up for discussion on the eighteenth. Thomas Jones, of Chow- an, and Willie Jones, of Halifax, are generally credited with being the authors of the Constitution as reported to the Convention that day. They were, therefore, ardent champions of its adoption. Very little opposition was developed as the document as written seemed to meet the requirements. The paper was read paragraph by paragraph, discussed pro and con, and adopted after amendments and changes were made. An engrossed copy was sent to James Davis, the State printer, at New- Digitized by Google BIRTHPLACE OF STATE CONSTITUTION 43 bern with directions to print and distribute a number of copies in each county. After the adoption of the Constitution, the Congress went into the election of State officers to serve until the next meeting of the General Assembly, which was, thereafter, to elect all officers of the State government. The following were elected: Richard Caswell, Governor; James Glasgow, Secretary of State; and the following Counsellors of State, — Cornelius Harnett, Thomas Per- son, William Day, William Haywood, Edward Starkey, Joseph Leech, Thomas Eaton. By the same Congress, the militia of Halifax County was reorganized with the following officers: Willis Alston, Colonel ; Samuel Weldon, Lieutenant-Colonel ; John Geddy, First Major; John Wheaton, Second Major. Having completed the task before it of drafting a Con- stitution for the new State and making laws and regu- lations, needed during that time that tried men's souls, the Congress and Constitutional Convention adjorned a few days before Christmas, thus giving to the world a gift, which has been a blessing to a large part of civili- zation. Digitized by Google CHAPTER ELEVEN. EARLY DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION. To give anything like a connected account of the serv- ices and activities of Halifax County soldiers during the Revolution is impossible for the reason that the rosters of the Continental line do not give the counties from which the companies were enlisted. The militia of the county was, also, embraced in the rosters of the dis- trict of Halifax, and it is not at all clear what counties of the district should be credited with certain troops. Two companies from the county, those of Captains Par- sons and Dawson, numbering 51 and 54 respectively, are mentioned in the reports as being with General Ashe at Wilmington in July, 1776. It is possible, therefore, to give in only a general way the part which Halifax took in winning on the battlefield the independence of the State. It is quite sure that these companies went with General Ashe the next year, and were with him in the campaign in Georgia when that State was conquered by the British. In the early part of 1777, a recruiting camp, called Camp Quanky, was opened at Halifax, for the purpose of recruiting the older regiments and for forming the three battalions ordered by the Congress. Colonel John Williams was in command of the camp and, according to the reports sent in from time to time, he was successful in enlisting the required number of men in a compara- tively brief time. The older regiments were brought up to the required number of men, who were quickly dispatched to the front. During the summer of 1777, the cause of liberty and in- dependence was hanging in the balance. Washington's army in the North had dwindled to a few thousand men, Digitized by Google EARLY DAYS OF THE REVOLUTION 45 and these were poorly equipped and supplied with arms. In great contrast to the condition of the American army was that of the British which had landed at New York, in July, numbering thirty thousand men, and was seeking to attack and destroy Washington's little command. Washington had sent out urgent appeals for reinforce- ments to all the states. Governor Caswell issued orders for North Carolina's quota of Continental troops to hurry to Washington's assistance. Halifax was made the place of rendezvous for all these troops before setting out for the north. Here about four thousand men assembled. In July, under the command of General Francis Nash and with such able leaders as Colonels Hogan, Sumner, Bun- combe, and Davidson, the troops set out, and, after march- ing about five hundred miles, joined Washington at Phila- delphia just in time to assist in the disastrous battles of Brandywine and Germantown, in which General Nash and Colonel Buncombe were killed besides a considerable number of the rank and file. It is interesting to note that Halifax jail appears to have been at this time the general prison for Tories captured at different places in the State. Shortly before the estab- lishment of Camp Quanky, the celebrated Flora McDonald spent some time in Halifax in the interest of her hus- band, Allan McDonald, who was captured at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge and confined in the Halifax jail. It is said that, during his confinement, she exhausted her means in trying to effect his release, which she finally succeeded in accomplishing. In the spring of 1777, the Tory hydra began to show itself in a limited way in Halifax County. The county records of that date show that the jail was filled with persons charged with disaffection to the patriot cause. Willie Jones, in a letter to Governor Caswell,, speaks of these prisoners as being very obnoxious. It is worthy of note that these Halifax County patriots were vigilant enough to prevent anything like organized bands of ma- rauders among the Tories, and, as soon as a Tory showed Digitized by Google r 46 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY his hand, he was promptly arrested and put into a dry place in jail. In Edgecombe County, there had been considerable trouble with the Tories. A marauding party of them had made an attack upon Tarboro, but Colonel Irwin, of that county had forestalled them and disarmed the whole crowd, forcing them to take the oath of allegiance. It is quite clear that some of these men who were giving trouble in Edgecombe had fled from Halifax. John Hamilton and Andrew Miller had left the county and State some months before. Other Tories had gone with them, and it was thought that Toryism was at an end; but William Brimage, a man of considerable influ- ence in Halifax, in 1777, became outspoken in his alle- giance to the British crown and made himself especially obnoxious. Governor Caswell issued a special order for his arrest at all hazard. General Allen Jones, in command of the brigade of the Halifax district, in one of his reports, speaks of William Brimage as one of the leaders of the cut throats. He fled from Halifax and was arrested near Edenton and lodged in jail there. His wife is buried in the old churchyard at Halifax. With him ended Toryism in Halifax County. Thereafter, there were no Tories in Halifax. With Toryism thus stamped out, Halifax County passed the remainder of the year 1777 with very little excite- ment. The only other thing of note was the session of the court of oyer and terminer, held by Judge Samuel Spencer in the summer of that year. In a letter to the governor, Judge Spencer complained that he had great difficulty in securing persons to act as clerk of the court and State's attorney. This was one of the few sessions of that court that was held in Halifax during the Revolu- tion, owing to the disordered condition of the country. In the fall of 1777, an incident occurred that is worthy of mention. Lieutenant John Allen, a gallant soldier in the battalion of Continental troops from Halifax, per- formed a heroic feat in bringing from Baltimore to New- Digitized by Google EARLY DAYS OP THE REVOLUTION 47 bern $2485.50, which was to be used to pay off soldiers. Allen was selected by John Perm, member of the Conti- nental Congress from North Carolina, for this special duty. He secured a swift horse, and, with the money concealed about his person, made the perilous trip through British and Tory lines to Newbern and delivered the money into the hands of Governor Caswell. Lieu- tenant Allen was highly commended by his superior offi- cers for this act of heroism. The report of this heroic act is found in the Colonial Records. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWELVE. HALIFAX COUNTY AND THE AMERICAN NAVY. In the summer of 1775, during the excitement incident to the war then going on, John Paul Jones, who after- wards won the title of "father of the American navy", came to Halifax and sojourned there for more than a year. He had, prior to that time, varied experiences, and had met with many misfortunes. In early manhood, he had gone from his native country, Scotland, as a sailor, had been master of a trader, had killed a man in self- defense during a mutiny of the sailors, and had to flee from the avengers of blood on account of that act. Com- ing to America, he had made his way to Virginia, and finally he found himself in Halifax. One morning, as the story is told, Willie Jones came down the street from his home, the Grove House, and saw sitting in front of the Eagle Hotel a stranger. As was the custom of Mr. Jones, he came up to the stranger and accosted him. "Where is your home?" asked Mr. Jones. "I have none," replied the other. "What is your name?" inquired the questioner. "I have none", replied the disconsolate stranger. Mr. Jones became interested, and, after a few more questions, succeeded in getting the stranger to tell him something of himself. He was invited to the Groves, and later, on account of his ready wit and gentlemanly bearing, became an adopted member of the family. The stranger was no other than the afterwards celebrated John Paul Jones. His name was John Paul, but, in com- pliment to Willie Jones, he assumed the name of Jones. Through the influence of Willie Jones, Joseph Hewes, a member of the Continental Congress from North Caro- Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by GoOQk HALIFAX COUNTY AND AMERICAN NAVY 49 lina, became acquainted with John Paul, probably during the Constitutional Convention in Halifax, and later nominated him for the position of Captain of the gun- boat, Ranger, which position was tendered him by vote of Congress. John Paul accepted the position tendered him, and never again was a visitor to Halifax, but he re- tained his admiration of Willie Jones even among the stirring scenes he later witnessed. As commander of the Ranger, John Paul Jones per- formed some daring deeds of valor in British waters and even upon British soil. He was received in France as a hero, and the French government, in the spring of 1779, fitted out a squadron, with the Bonhomme Richard as the flag ship, and put Jones in command. On the 23rd of September, 1779, the British frigate, Serapis, was en- countered, and the Bonhomme Richard, at once, pre- pared for action. The following account of the battle that followed is taken from that of James Fenimore Cooper, who pronounced it "The most bloody and obsti- nate battle in the annals of naval warfare." While not a quotation from Cooper, the account that follows is in accordance with the facts as brought out by him. When Jones sighted the enemy, it was about noon, and he at once ordered every stitch of canvas to be set. He did not, however, come in fighting position with the enemy until about seven o'clock in the evening, at which time objects on the water could be only dimly discerned, but the bright moon assisted the Americans. When within pistol shot, the Richard hurled a broad- side at the British ship, and the fight was on. The Sera- pis was a new ship, built in the best manner, and with a much heavier armament than the Richard. She was commanded by Captain Richard Pearson, of the British navy, a naval officer of experience and courage. In the early part of the action, the superior sailing qualities of the Serapis enabled her to take several ad- vantageous positions, which Jones was unable to prevent. Not long after the fight began, many of the 18-pound Digitized by Google 50 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY shot of the Serapis had entered the hull of the Richard below the water line, and she began to leak in a threat- ening manner. Jones ran the Richard up alongside the Serapis and prepared to board, but the flag pole of his ship was shot away and the Stars and Stripes dropped into the sea. Just before the boats closed, however, Captain Pear- son, of the Serapis shouted above the roar of the battle to Jones: "Has your ship struck her colors?" Jones thundered back his defiant and famous reply: "I haven't begun to fight yet". From the beginning to the ending of the battle, there was not a man on board the Richard, who was ignorant of the superiority of the Serapis. The crew of the Sera- pis were picked men, whereas the Richard's crew con- sisted of a part of English, French and American sailors, and a part of Maltese, Portuguese, and Malays, the latter contributing by their want of naval skill and knowledge of the English language to depress rather than encour- age any reasonable hope of success in a combat under such circumstances. The terror of the scene was soon heightened by both vessels taking fire ; but the fight continued with unabated fury. A rumor ran through the crew of the Richard that Jones had been killed. A frightened sailor ran up to haul down the flag. The flag had been shot away and Jones arrived upon the scene in time to knock the coward down and force him to continue the fight. At last the mainmast of the Serapis began to totter to its fall, her fire slackened, and about midnight the British flag was struck, and Captain Pearson surrendered his sword to Jones. So terribly was the Richard cut to pieces that it was found impossible, after the fight, to get her into port, and she sank soon after. Jones took his prize to Holland, and it is no exaggeration to say that the whole world was astonished at his bravery and success. He was re- ceived in Paris with the greatest demonstrations of Digitized by Google HALIFAX COUNTY AND AMERICAN NAVY 51 honor and respect. On one side of the English Channel it was "the pirate Jones," and on the other, "Jones, the hero." The King of France gave him a gold mounted sword and asked the consent of Congress to decorate him with the Order of Military Merit. Congress voted him its thanks and a gold medal. Later, he was made a Chevalier of France. Jones, now a hero of renown, remained in France until the early part of 1781 when he returned to America and was placed in command of the frigate America. He set forth his ideas of a navy, which the government was slow in adopting. He went again to France in 1783, where he remained for four years, and returned to Amer- ica in 1787. The next year Jones entered the service of Russia, but was later humiliated by the jealousy of the Russian officers and compelled to resign his command. Returning to France, he remained in retirement during the rest of his life. He died July 18, 1792, in the forty- fifth year of his age. His remains were buried in Paris, and, by neglect, the burial place was lost. In 1905, however, the remains were discovered by General Horace Porter, the American Ambassador to France, and transported to America and consigned to rest at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. There is a monument to the "Father of the American Navy" in Potomac Park, Washington, D. C. Digitized by Google CHAPTER THIRTEEN. PASSING EVENTS. Very little of historical importance occurred in Hali- fax during the years 1779 and 1780. Stirring events, however, in which troops from the county played a con- spicuous part, were transpiring elsewhere. "Mad" An- thony Wayne, in one of the most daring and extraordi- nary bayonet charges in all history, captured Stony Point on the Hudson river from the British, July 15, 1779. Major Hardy Murfree, of Hertford County, with a bat- talion of North Carolinians, some from Halifax, led a portion of the attacking columns and performed heroic service. Horatio Gates was disastrously defeated at Camden, S. C, by the British under Cornwallis, and Ben- jamin Lincoln surrendered Charleston. In both of these disasters, soldiers from Halifax participated with signal though unavailing bravery. At Charleston, James Hogan, who had shortly before been promoted to the rank of brigadier-general by the Continental Congress, fell into the hands of the British, was imprisoned at Haddrell's Point, S. C, and there soon afterward died. With him was captured, also, the regi- ment of 600 men he had enlisted at Halifax the year be- fore. It is said of General Hogan, whose home was near where Hobgood is now, that he refused the offer of a conditional parole because his men were not offered the same favor and preferred to remain and bear the hard- ships of prison life with them. His grave is somewhere in South Carolina, but the exact location is unknown. At Camden, the American army was almost anni- hilated by the veteran troops under Earl Cornwallis. Digitized by Google PASSING EVENTS 53 General Gates fled from the field early in the fight and left the doomed men to destruction. Hal Dixon's regi- ment of North Carolinians, some of them from Halifax, and some Marylanders, were the only troops to hold their ground to the last, retreating in good order from the field only when it was seen that all was lost. General Isaac Gregory, of Camden County, led the Edenton bri- gade, among whom were some Halifax militia, but he was wounded and forced to retreat. Two sessions of the General Assembly were held in Halifax during 1779, the first beginning January 19th and ending February 13th, and the second extending from October 18th to November 10th. In both of these sessions, the County was represented in the Senate by Orondates Davis and in the House of Commons, the first session, by Egbert Haywood and John Whitaker, and the second session by Willie Jones and Augustine Willis. The town of Halifax was represented in the House of Com- mons, both sessions, by Henry Montford. Not much legislation affecting the county was enacted. About the only thing of note was the petition of the people of the lower end of the county to be detached from Halifax and united to Edgecombe. There appears to have been no objection to this on the part of the Hali- fax members. John Whitaker, in response to the peti- tioners, introduced the bill for this slice of Halifax to be transferred to Edgecombe, and the generous deed was done. By vote of the Assembly, the following officers of the Halifax regiment of State Militia were elected : John Whitaker, Colonel ; James Allen, Lieutenant-Colonel ; John Branch, First Major; William Weldon, Second Major. Halifax, being at the time the real capital of North Carolina, was well guarded by the militia of the State. Several regiments were continuously held in camp in and around the town. The jail was also still crowded with military prisoners. In June, 1779, General Allen Jones, in command at Halifax, in a report to the gov- Digitized by Google 54 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ernor, said that he was compelled to give the prisoners all the liberty possible because of the crowded condition of the jail and because he feared an epidemic might break out among them. At the session of the General Assembly of 1780, the following officers of the Halifax regiment were recommended to the governor for appoint- ment and were accordingly commissioned: James Allen, Colonel; John Branch, Lieutenant-Colonel; William Wel- don, First Major; Thomas Scurlock, Second Major. The year 1781, was a stirring one for Halifax County and its people. Several events, occurring elsewhere, but participated in by Halifax County men, deserve more than a passing notice. At the Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina, January 17, 1781, Colonel Tarleton, with a command of British regu- lars, was signally defeated by General Daniel Morgan, of Virginia, with a small body of Continental troops and a few battalions of North Carolina militia. In this con- flict, Halifax County soldiers performed heroic service. Nicholas Long, a kinsman of Colonel Nicholas Long and a gallant soldier in the Halifax battalion of Conti- nental Cavalry, was with Colonel William Washington in his celebrated chase of Tarleton from the battlefield, in which Tarleton received a sabre cut in the hand admin- istered by Colonel Washington. In the pursuit Long be- came separated from his comrades and found himself assailed by two British troopers. He wheeled and took the back track, hotly pursued by the dragoons, who fired upon him but missed their aim. In the chase, the troopers became separated, and Long observing it, suddenly turned upon his pursuers, and, with his sabre, unhorsed both men in detail and held them at his mercy until as- sistance arrived. In Morgan's race with Cornwallis for the Catawba river and in Greene's retreat to the sheltering waters of the Dan, Halifax County troops performed their part. When Greene recrossed the Dan and fought Cornwallis to a standstill at Guilford Court House, men from Halifax Digitized by Google PASSING EVENTS 55 were in the thickest of the attacks and counter attacks. When the British army retreated to Wilmington about the first of April, 1781, it was clearly demonstrated that North Carolina had beaten the hitherto invincible Corn- wallis and was sending him to his doom. Digitized by Google r CHAPTER FOURTEEN. THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OP HALIFAX. After the retreat of Cornwallis from Guilford Court House to Wilmington in March, 1781, it was a matter of keen speculation as to what that discreet and intrepid offi- cer would next undertake. Patriot leaders all over the State had their attention focused upon him and were en- deavoring to forecast his next move. Lingering only three weeks in the city by the sea to rest his troops from their arduous campaign, Cornwallis proceeded north- ward to Virginia in response to orders he had received from the British Commander-in-chief in New York. General Greene, instead of pursuing the defeated Brit- ish, turned aside and led his army into South Carolina in order to expel the British from that State. Cornwallis was, therefore, left to march unopposed, across the State. Only a few regiments of State Militia were in arms, and they were busy watching the movements of the Tory forces that had begun to mobilize. At Halifax, as soon as it was known that Cornwallis was marching northward, there was great excitement among the people and hurried preparation among the soldiers stationed there. General Allen Jones, in command of the troops of the Halifax district, with Governor Nash, was holding his forces in readiness to attack the invading enemy if an opportunity should be presented. General Jones had his headquarters in Halifax and the regiments from Northampton, Edgecombe, Warren and Halifax were encamped along Quanky in daily expectation that the enemy would appear. About the first of May, it was known that the British had left Wilmington and were several days on the march. Scouting parties were sent out from Halifax to ascertain Digitized by Google Q n o W o CO W W H W W H « H Digitized by Google Digitized by Google THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF HALIFAX 57 their whereabouts. It was learned on May 3rd that Tarle- ton's dragoons had crossed Fishing Creek and were ad- vancing along the Huckleberry Swamp road. Governor Nash and General Jones held a hasty conference together with the commissioned officers of the different regiments, and the decision was reached that it would be a useless expenditure of life to undertake to oppose the advance of the British with untried militia against Tarleton's veteran cavalry. Accordingly, on the afternoon of May 3rd, General Jones retired with his command in the direction of War- renton, leaving Halifax to the mercy of the enemy. Gov- ernor Nash and the Council of State, together with other State officials, also left the town. Halifax, therefore, readily and quickly put aside its military appearance and assumed the air of an unpretentious village. The next day, Tarleton at the head of two hundred dragoons, crossed Quanky and rode into the town. The redcoats passed down the street, observed indifferently and scornfully by the people, and came opposite the Eagle Hotel where they halted. Tarleton and his aids dis- mounted and went into the hotel and secured rooms for Cornwallis and his retinue and himself and his aids. Again mounting, they rode back to meet Cornwallis and the rest of the army. The town was completely occupied on the afternoon of May 4th, and the British troops to the num- ber of about four thousand encamped on Quanky, on the Grove estate, on the plantation of Colonel Nicholas Long, and in the homes of the residents in and around Halifax. From Wheeler's History of North America the follow- ing incident of the occupation is extracted. It was origi- nally published in the People's and Howitt's Journal of New York : "On the march of the British army from Wilmington to Virginia, in 1781, Colonel Tarleton, near 'Twanky Chapel' in Halifax County, either from a scarcity of provisions or from a malicious desire to destroy the property of the American citizens who were opposed to the British, Digitized by Google 58 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY caught all the horses, cattle, hogs, and even fowls that he could lay hands on, and destroyed or appropriated them to his own use. The male, and most of the female in- habitants of the country fled from the approach of the British troops, and hid themselves in the swamps and forests adjacent; and when they passed through the upper part of the county, while every one else left the premises on which she lived, Mrs. Powell (then Miss Bishop) stood her ground, and faced the foe fearlessly. But it would not do ; they took their horses and cattle, and among the former, a favorite pony of her own and drove them off to the Camp, which was about a mile distant. Young as she was, she determined to have her pony again, and she must necessarily go to the British camp, and go alone, as no one would accompany her. And alone she went, on foot, at night, and without any weapon of defence, and in due time arrived at the British camp. "By what means she managed to gain an audience with Tarleton is not known, but she appeared before him un- announced, and raising herself erect, said, 'I have come to you, sir, to demand restoration of my property, which your knavish fellows stole from my father's yard.' 'Let me understand you, Miss/ replied Tarleton, taken com- pletely by surprise. " 'Well, sir/ said she, 'your roguish men in red coats came to my father's yard about sundown, and stole my pony, and I have walked here alone and unprotected to claim and demand him; and, sir, I must and will have him. I fear not your men; they are base and unprincipled enough to dare to offer insult to any unprotected female; but their cowardly hearts will prevent them from doing her bodily injury.' "And just then, by the light of a camp fire, espying her own dear little pet pony at a distance, she continued, 'There, sir, is my horse. I shall mount him and ride peaceably home; and if you have any of the gentlemanly feeling within you of which your men are totally desti- tute, or if you have any regard for their safety, you will Digitized by Google THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF HALIFAX 59 see, sir, that I am not interrupted. But before I go 1 wish to say to you, that he who can, and will not prevent this base and cowardly stealing from henroosts, stables, and barnyards, is no better, in my estimation, than the mean, good-for-nothing, guilty wretches who do the dirty work with their own hands ! Good night, sir/ And, with- out waiting further, she took her pony, uninterrupted, and galloped safely home. Tarleton was so astounded that he ordered that she should be permitted to do as she chose." This was Tarleton's first defeat at Halifax at the hands of a woman. He met with another more crushing a day or two later. Mrs. Ellet, in her "Women of the Revolu- tion", has recorded the names of two Halifax women, Mrs. Willie Jones and Mrs. Nicholas Long, whose patriotic zeal is greatly commended. Wheeler speaks as follows about Mrs. Jones: "Mrs. Willie Jones was a daughter of Colonel Mount- ford (Joseph), and combined with much personal beauty, great brilliancy of wit, and suavity of manner. One of her acquaintances says that she was the only person, with whom he was ever acquainted, that was loved devotedly, enthusiastically loved, by every human being who knew her/' There is a well known story regarding a passage of wit between Mrs. Jones and her sister, Mrs. John B. Ashe, on the one hand, and Colonel Tarleton on the other. The incident occurred at the home of Willie Jones, the Grove house. Colonel Tarleton, in the presence of the two ladies, referred to Colonel William Washington, who had wounded Tarleton in the hand at the Battle of Cow- pens, in an uncomplimentary way as an illiterate, igno- rant boor, hardly able to write his name. Mrs. Jones quickly resented the language used by the British officer. "Colonel Tarleton," she said, "You know very well that Colonel Washington, if he can't write as well as some men, knows how to make his mark." As she said this she glanced at Tarleton's hand, which bore the scar of Washington's sabre stroke. The fiery Briton turned red, but continued the conversation. Digitized by Google 60 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY "I would be happy to see Colonel Washington," said Tarleton, sarcastically, trying to recover his lost ground. "If you had looked behind you at the Battle of Cow- pens, Colonel Tarleton," rejoined Mrs. Ashe, in the same spirit, "You would have enjoyed that pleasure." That thrust was too much for the already chagrined officer, and his hand involuntarily grasped the hilt of his sword. At that moment, however, General Leslie, Tarle- ton's superior, entered the room, and, seeing the situa- tion, rebuked the discomfited Briton, and the incident closed. Wheeler speaks as follows of Mrs. Nicholas Long: "Mrs. Long was a Miss McKinney. Her husband, Col- onel Nicholas Long, was Commissary-General of the North Carolina forces. She was a woman of great energy of mind and body, and high mental endowments. She died at the advanced age of eighty, leaving a numerous offspring. Her virtues and patriotism were the themes of the praise and admiration of the officers of the army of both parties." While encamped at Halifax, foraging parties were sent out by Cornwallis into nearly every section of the county to gather supplies for his army before setting out to Virginia. Stedman, the historian who was with the British during the occupation of Halifax, records the fact that these foraging parties, or marauders, were guilty of some crimes that were a disgrace to the name of man. Tarleton, in his "Campaign in the Southern Provinces of North America", states that a sergeant and a dragoon were executed at Halifax for rape and robbery. The patriot forces, who had retired from the town upon the arrival of the British, kept watch upon the movements of the enemy, and were ready at any time to pounce upon them. The Edgecombe regiment under Colonel Hunter, Halifax under Colonel Allen, and North- ampton under Colonel Gee were still in arms and ready to strike the foe at a minute's notice. There were un- important clashes between the opposing commands at Digitized by Google THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF HALIFAX 61 Swift Creek, Fishing Creek, and near Halifax. In one of the bold dashes of the patriots into Halifax, one of the American cavalry-men became separated from his comrades, and, as he dashed for safety across Quanky bridge, was confronted on the bridge by several of the enemy. Beset behind and before, he reared his horse and made him leap the railing, plunging to the water thirty feet below. The horse was killed, but the daring hero made his escape. Tradition does not record his name. After a delay of about a week, Cornwallis crossed the river at Halifax and retired slowly through Northamp- ton and Brunswick County, Va., to Petersburg, where he was joined by the British army operating in the Old Do- minion under General Philips and the traitor, Benedict Arnold. Halifax was thus rid of the enemy and was at once reoccupied by General Allen Jones in command of the Halifax brigade. Cornwallis, after a short and decisive campaign in Virginia, surrendered his entire command to General Washington on October 19, 1781. Digitized by Google CHAPTER FIFTEEN. YEARS SUCCEEDING THE REVOLUTION. News of the surrender of Cornwallis was received in Halifax, late in October, 1781, with demonstrations of joy. The militia in arms paraded the streets and fired sa- lutes in honor of the glorious tidings. Everyone felt that the long war had victoriously ended, that the indepen- dence of the colonies was established, and that British dominion was forever terminated in the United Colonies. Each of the thirteen states was now independent, and, there were, therefore, thirteen sovereign republics, where a few years before there had been thirteen provinces. Each one was independent of all others and owed no alle- giance to any power on earth. An important question now uppermost in the minds of all was to determine where this spirit of sovereignty would lead and how to regulate its course. In the solution of this important and perplexing ques- tion, Willie Jones, the sage of Quanky Creek, performed an interesting part. He had served as a delegate in the Continental Congress during the closing years of the Revolution ; but now that the war had closed he refused to act in that capacity longer, saying that the Congress had been created as a war expedient, and, having done its work, there was no longer any reason for its existence. He, therefore, retired from the Congress to his home in Halifax, and refused to take part in any further business of a national character. North Carolina was the only sovereignty he acknowledged. For several years after the close of the Revolution, there is very little to record. When peace was declared the men, who had been on the firing line, in garrisons, and in camp, returned to their homes, and began again Digitized by Google YEARS SUCCEEDING THE REVOLUTION 63 the building up of their communities. Apparently, so glad was every one that the terrible war had closed that no one was thoughtful enough to perpetuate in writing, or otherwise, the part that the county had taken in the momentous struggle. It is said that, after the close of the Revolution, there was not even a pamphlet written on State history for a period of about forty-five years. In consequence of this neglect, North Carolina has never received credit for what her people did during those times. Along this line a letter written from Halifax to Archibald D. Murphy by Allen J. Davie in 1826 will be illuminating. Among other things he said : "In writing a history of this State, it will be almost absolutely necessary, in order to do justice to the part we bore in the Revolution to have access to my father's pa- pers, particularly of some books of correspondence writ- ten from '79 to '83, which show that North Carolina supported the troops of the whole Southern States, and, that without the aid of the specific tax laid by this State and placed under the management of my father, General Greene would have been forced to disband his army and the cavalry of Virginia, which they could not feed ; that both man and horse grew fat on the flesh pots of the Roa- noke ; circumstances for which, as a State, we have never, either as a State or as individuals, had justice awarded us. w Mr. Davie, in this letter, is referring to the services which his father, General William R. Davie, rendered the State while he was Commissary-General. It is clear, therefore, as "both man and horse grew fat on the flesh pots of the Roanoke," that Halifax County, occupying the greatest extent along the Roanoke, was a large part of the granary which supplied the needs of the southern army during the times that tried men's souls. During this period of comparative silence, it can only be inferred that the people of Halifax County were "pur- suing the even tenor of their way" with very little to Digitized by Google 64 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY characterize them above the people of other counties. Dr. Kemp P. Battle, of the University of North Carolina, in an address at the Centennial of Salem Academy in 1902, gave a pen picture of the conditions prevailing in North Carolina during the generation following the Revolution, much of which applies directly to Halifax County. Among other things, he says : "Our geographer of 1802 speaks kindly of our people. He described them as mostly planters, living three or four miles apart in a plentiful country, but with no ready market for produce. Many farmers turned their corn in- to whiskey and their wheat into flour, and sent them on lumbering wagons to distant regions, while others con- verted the grain into hogs, and the produce of the fields thus became at once a savory article of food and a grunt- ing but convenient vehicle for the transportation of it- self. Hogsheads of tobacco were placed on little wheels, with axletree and shafts and then rolled hundreds of miles to market. "The farmers with no near neighbors were extremely hospitable to travelers, who brought them the news from the great world ; but they had a plentiful lack of litera- ture and science." For Halifax County farmers, the only markets, of any degree of importance, during the period from 1780 to 1800, were Petersburg, Richmond, and Norfolk. To these towns of the Old Dominion, the farmers along the Roa- noke sent their produce, sometimes in wagons, and of- ten in boats, down the river and sound to the ocean, and up to Norfolk. Droves of hogs, sheep, and cattle were regularly driven overland to these cities. Hogsheads of tobacco, as mentioned by Dr. Battle, were regularly trans- ported on wheels to Petersburg, where tobacco factories had been located, and where there was a ready market. Halifax County, thus isolated, but naturally rich, began its slow development. Digitized by Google William R. Davie Digitized by Google Digitized by Google CHAPTER SIXTEEN. HALIFAX COUNTY AND THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION. Early in 1786, the question of North Carolina's attitude toward a central government for the thirteen indepen- dent States was uppermost in politics. In no county was it more discussed than in Halifax, where two distinct views were held. Willie Jones was an ultra States Rights man and looked with disfavor upon the proposi- tion. Opposed to him was General William R. Davie, who had located in Halifax for the practice of law in 1783, and who was an earnest advocate of the proposi- tion to unite the States in a stronger bond of union than existed under the Articles of Confederation. Each of these distinguished and able men had their earnest sup- porters. When the Constitutional Convention was called to meet in Philadelphia, in May 1787, the General Assembly se- lected the following delegates: Richard Caswell, Hugh Williamson, William R. Davie, Alexander Martin, Willie Jones, and Richard Dobbs Spaight. Halifax County had two in this eminent body, Willie Jones and William R. Davie. Richard Caswell was, at the time, governor of the State and decline to serve, William Blount, of Beau- fort County, being appointed in his place. Willie Jones refused to have anything to do with the convention and did not go. Davie went to Philadelphia and was present throughout the long session from May to September and had considerable influence in making and shaping the immortal document. After the Constitutional Convention adjourned, Gen- eral Davie returned to Halifax an enthusiastic advocate of the immediate adoption of the Constitution by the State. Willie Jones, however, counselled caution and de- Digitized by Google 66 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY lay. The State Convention to ratify or reject it was called to meet in Hillsboro in August, 1788. Both Willie Jones and William R. Davie were delegates from Hali- fax County, and were the real leaders of their respective views in the discussions. Soon after assembling, it was ascertained that the Anti-Federalists were in the majority. Willie Jones was the recognized leader of that division of the delegates and had the convention in his grasp from beginning to end. Notwithstanding the eloquence of Davie and the logic of James Iredell in advocacy of the constitution, when the vote was taken, the constitution was reject- ed by a vote of 84 to 184. North Carolina thus refused to enter the union and took no part in the election of George Washington as president in the fall of 1788. The next year, however, another convention at Fay- etteville ratified the Constitution, and North Carolina became a member of the Federal union. On April 16, 1791, George Washington, in his tour of the Southern States, while he was president, arrived in Halifax and spent a night in the ancient borough. There is nothing definitely known as to how he was entertained during his stay. Tradition has given out the informa- tion that he was royally banqueted at the Eagle Hotel, which stood near the river in the lot almost opposite the old Allen home, now standing. The president seems to have been somewhat impressed with the town ; for in his diary, which he kept on his journey from place to place, he has a lengthy paragraph conveying his im- pressions. The following is the paragraph referred to somewhat modernized as to punctuation and capitali- zation : "Halifax, N. C, Saturday, April 16, 1791. "At this place, I arrived at about six o'clock after cross- ing the Roanoke, on the south bank of which it stands. This river is crossed in flat boats which take in a car- riage and four horses at once. At this time, being low, Digitized by Google THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION 67 the water was not rapid, but at times must be much so as it frequently overflows its banks which appear to be at least twenty-five feet perpendicularly in height. The lands upon the river appear to be rich and the low grounds of considerable width, but these which lay be- tween the different rivers, namely, Appomattox, Notta- way, Meherrin, and Roanoke, are all flat and poor and covered principally with pine timber. It has already been observed that before the rain fell, I was travel- ling in a continued cloud of dust; but after it rained some time, the scene was reversed, and my passage was through water, so level are the roads. From Petersburg to Halifax, in sight of the road, are but few good houses with small appearance of wealth. The lands are culti- vated in tobacco, corn, wheat, and oats ; but tobacco and the raising of pork for market seems to be the princi- pal dependence of the inhabitants, especially toward the Roanoke. Cotton and flax are also raised but not exten- sively. Halifax is the first town I came to after passing the line between the two states, and is about twenty miles from this place, vessels by the aid of oars and set- ting poles are brought for the produce which comes to this place and others along the river; and may be car- ried eight or ten miles higher to the falls, which are neither great nor much extent; above these (which are called great falls) there are others, but none but what with little improvement may be passed. The town stands upon high ground, and it is the reason given for not plac- ing it at the head of navigation being none but low grounds between (it) and the falls. It seems to be in a decline, and does not, it is said, contain a thousand souls." One singular thing about this record in the diary of the "Father of His Country" is that he makes no men- tion of anyone he met at Halifax, notwithstanding the fact that a galaxy of brilliant men lived there at the time. It is said that Willie Jones was asked to be chairman of the committee to entertain the president during his so- journ, but he declined with the remark that he would be Digitized by Google 68 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY glad to meet Washington as a gentleman and soldier, but that he could not greet him as President of the Unit- ed States. This is understood to mean that the veteran States Rights advocate had never been reconciled to the adoption of the Federal Constitution and was still op- posed to North Carolina's membership in the national union. In the first election of members of Congress from North Carolina, in 1790, Halifax County furnished one of the five that represented the State in the House of Representatives. John B. Ashe, who had served with ability in the Revolution, received an almost unanimous vote in the Halifax district. He was re-elected in the fall of 1791 and served until 1793. Halifax County was signally honored during these early years of the State and Country's history. John Haywood, a lawyer of ability, was elected Attorney-General of the State in 1790 and served until 1794, when he was elected Judge of the Superior Court. General William R. Davie was appointed Major-General, in 1797, of a division of troops raised in anticipation of war with France. The next year, the project of war having passed, Davie was elect- ed Governor of North Carolina, but resigned in 1799 to accept the position of Ambassador to France. During the years 1787-1800, Halifax County exerted great influence in both State and National affairs. Per- haps, no county in the whole country had more men of ability and influence. Besides Willie Jones, William R. Davie, and John Haywood, already mentioned, there were Egbert Haywood, Nicholas Long, Willis Alston, Henry Montford, Orondates Davis, John Webb, Ben- jamin McCulloch, John Branch, Matthew C. Whitaker, and Peter Quarles, who had already made a state-wide reputation as men of real worth and ability. Digitized by Google CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. FIRST TWO DECADES OP THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. For twenty years following the beginning of the nine- teenth century, Halifax County had practically no his- tory. Nothing beyond the ordinary routine of daily mat- ters disturbed the equilibrium of public affairs. Great problems of national government were being worked out, it is true, and Halifax had a part to perform in their so- lution, but no memorials have been left. In the Federal House of Representatives, Halifax was again prominent from 1799 to 1815. John B. Ashe had retired from that position in 1793, and for six years the county lost the representative. In 1799, however, Wil- lis Alston, Jr., was elected, and was successively re- elected until 1815, when he retired from national poli- tics. Alston had no opposition for his first two terms, but, in 1803, he had the race of his life when his oppo- nent was General William R. Davie, who had shortly before returned from France almost a national figure. The campaign that year was bitter and exciting. Als- ton had always been a strong supporter of President Jefferson, and therefore, a Democrat, although his ene- mies called him an aristocrat. Davie was a Federalist, but had recently been appointed by President Jefferson to the position of Indian Commissioner for the Southern States, and had, in more ways than one, shown decided in- clination toward the dominant party. Alston won by a narrow margin. General Davie looked upon his defeat as the greatest humiliation of his life, and, shortly after the election, left Halifax and spent the remainder of his life on one of his farms in South Carolina. Alston was in Congress during the period of the War of 1812 ; and, although the war was not popular in North Digitized by Google 70 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Carolina, he was an earnest supporter of the administra- tion at Washington in the conduct of military affairs Halifax County furnished two companies for the national army in that war, but they saw very little service. In 1814, they were ordered to Norfolk to resist a threatened attack by the British upon that place. While encamped there, an epidemic of "Camp Plague" broke out among them and many died. It was during the epidemic that Colonel Andrew Joyner, who was in command of the third regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, endeared himself to the soldiers by his daily attention to their welfare. On account of the interest in the record of these sol- diers of Halifax County, who volunteered to resist the invasion of the British, the complete roster is here given : Jeremiah Slade, Lieutenant-Colonel; James Hill, First Major, Andrew Joyner, Second Major; James Overstreet, Captain; William C. Whitaker, Lieutenant; William Brickie, Second Lieutenant; Moses Grimmer, Fifer; pri- vates, John Vaughan, William Crowell, John Ricks, James Whitaker, Thomas Applewhite, Wallis Nicholson, Timothy Connell, Samuel Simmons, John Parker, John Scot, James Gaskins, Henry Bradford, Thomas Bradford, William Willey, John Bradford, George Goodwin, Willie Watson : Thomas B. Parker, David Douglas, Wilson Brantley, John Glover, Hall Hudson, John W. Branch, John Knight, James Merrit, Washington Turner, Samuel Brickie, John Shields, James Young, John Bryant, James Brantly, James Law- rence, Benjamin Pearce, John Matthews, Hansel Home, Cullen Grimmer, Jethro Parker, Miles Cross, Willis Shel- ton, Robert Saunders, Patrick McDaniel, Wilson W. Car- ter, John Scott, Edward King, Hiram King, Jesse A. Brooks, Blake Baker, Lewis Lewis, Joseph Pulley, Kin- chen Harris, Jacob Bartholomew, James Abington, com- posing the first company. Of the second company, the following is the roster: Isham Matthews, Captain; Thomas Nicholson, Lieuten- ant; John Alston, Ensign; Privates, Zachariah Sullivan, Digitized by Google FIRST DECADES OF NINETEENTH CENTURY 71 Francis Anderson, Halrin Ashe, William Brown, James Ashe, William H. Ballance, Robert Brinkley, Jesse Black- burn, Asa Blackburn, William J. Bradie, John Coolin, John Curtin, Jesse Christie, Samuel Carter, Gideon Dam- eron, William R. Daniel, Roderick Easley, Allen Easley, Eaton F. Allen, Allen Flood, Wilson Green, Thomas Green, William Gurley, Thomas G. Grimestead, Benjamin Green, Jesse Hamblet, Miley Harbin, David Harris, Jesse Har- low, Gabriel Hawkins, John Hawes, Hansel Hathcock, Edmund Jackson, Beverly Jackson, Robert Jones, John Jordan, John King, Solomon Lochlear, Exum Low, Samuel Lochlear, John Lee, Jr., John A. Losset, Jesse Moore, Al- fred Moore, John Moore, Jr., William Montford, William Moore, John Mann, James Mason, Arthur Manley, Guil- ford Nicholson, Thomas H. Green, William Onions, Eaton Powell, Rica Pullin, John Pugh, Ransom Powell, Frederick Pully, John Porter, Allen Powell, Michael Rand, Joseph Studivant, Abner Spear, Thomas Simmons, Peter Ship, Whiles Studivant, Arthur Spear, John Weaver, Lemuel Wilkins, John Wright, Sr., Caleb Woodard, Thomas Ward. This command of North Carolina veterans spent the fall and winter of 1814-15 in the trenches near Norfolk, Va. They were in expectation of active service when the British landed near Washington, D. C, defeated a small body of Americans at Bladenburg, Md., and captured the capital city. When the American forces at Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, resisted the attacks of the enemy and beat them off, it was expected that the next attempt would be upon Norfolk. The American forces, at that point, among whom were the Halifax companies, were in daily and almost hourly expectation that a landing of the enemy would be made. Admiral Cockburn, however, in command of the Brit- ish fleet operating in Chesapeake Bay, made a demonstra- tion against Norfolk, entered the mouth of the Elizabeth river, measured the American forces in that vicinity, and sailed out to sea without striking a blow. The Halifax boys were a little disappointed in not getting a chance to Digitized by Google 72 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY grapple with the red coats, and, after peace was declared, marched back to Halifax and were mustered out of service. During this period, Halifax County continued to have commanding influence in the affairs of the State. Hutchins G. Burton, who lived near Enfield, was elected Attorney- General in 1810, resigned in 1816, was elected to Congress in 1819, and served until he was elected Governor in 1824. William Drew was chosen Attorney-General in 1816 and resigned in November, 1825. He lived in the town of Hal- ifax. John Branch, of Enfield, became Governor of the State in 1817 and served one term. Joseph J. Daniel was elected to the Superior Court bench in 1816 and was later elevated to the Supreme Court. All of these men pos- sessed more than average ability and reflected honor upon themselves and the county, as well as the State. Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. THE VISIT OF LAFAYETTE. In 1824, General Lafayette, the great Frenchman, who came to America during the darkest days of the Revo- lution, and assisted Washington in achieving American independence, made a visit to the land he had fought for nearly fifty years before. Lafayette was a veteran of two Revolutions. After American independence was assured, he returned to France ; and when the great French Revo- lution came like a nightmare upon Europe, he espoused the cause of the people, but was a Conservative. Different from other great Frenchmen of that period, he escaped the guillotine, saw the rise and downfall of the first French Republic, witnessed the beginning and ending of the First Empire, and beheld the Restoration of the Bour- bon line of kings. Now, in his old age, he had come back to revisit the scenes of the battles of his young manhood. In the party, besides the General, were his son, whose name is unknown, and his secretary, Lerasseur, besides others, who have left no memorials. Everywhere throughout the country, north and south, the party was received with every mark of honor and esteem ; and nowhere more than in Halifax County. Lerasseur wrote very entertainingly of the receptions tendered the aged patriot in the large towns and cities of the United States. His account of the trip through Hali- fax County is very meager. He says: "From Murfreesboro we went next day to Halifax, where we crossed the Roanoke in a ferry boat amidst the thunder of artillery, which awaited the arrival of Gen- eral Lafayette on the opposite shore . . . We only slept at Halifax, and, in two days, after traveling over frightful Digitized by Google 74 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY roads, reached Raleigh. Nothing was neglected by Gov- ernor Burton in doing the honors of his dwelling to the national guest." The night spent in Halifax was Feb. 27, 1825. It is well established tradition that, in honor of the distinguished guest, a banquet was given at the Eagle hotel, and after the banquet, a ball occupied the attention of the guests until the "wee sma" hours of the morning. General Lafayette was said to have been a graceful dancer, and many a Halifax dame, before and after the Civil War, took pride in saying she danced with the General on that occasion. There was one circumstance that was the cause of much comment among the ladies present, that General Lafayette's hair was black while that of his son was gray. The illusion was dispelled, however, when the General frankly stated that he was wearing a wig. Next day, Lafayette and his party were escorted, on the way to Raleigh, as far as Enfield by a delegation ap- pointed for that purpose by Governor Burton. At En- field, he was entertained at the Branch residence, outside of Enfield, where a great crowd assembled to meet him. A school of boys taught by Alexander McClellan, one mile from town, carrying cornstalk muskets, attended in a body and attracted much attention. General Lafay- ette made a speech from the porch to the assembled throng, complimented the school boys for their soldierly bearing, and pleased the older people by referring to the gallant conduct of their fathers in the Revolution. Leaving Enfield, the party continued the journey to Raleigh, escorted by Adjutant-General Daniel, Colonel William Polk, and Chief -Justice Taylor, who had been ap- pointed to conduct the party to Raleigh. This visit of General Lafayette is commented upon as one of the big social events of the times. It is pointed out that the Eagle hotel, where the party was entertained in Halifax, had been honored before in having Washing- ton, on one occasion, as its guest, and in being the head- quarters of the members of the Provincial Congresses Digitized by Google THE VISIT OF LAFAYETTE 75 and the General Assemblies, before and during the Revo- lution. It was located on a slight elevation, on the right hand side of the street coming up from the river, and nothing is left now but the remains of the chimneys that tumbled to the earth some twenty-five years ago. The house in Enfield, in which Lafayette was enter- tained, was owned at the time by Governor Branch, who was then United States Senator from North Carolina, and was the birthplace of General L. O'B. Branch, who ren- dered distinguished service in the Civil War and who was four years old at the time of Lafayette's visit. Halifax town was, at the time, an important centre, both of commercial and social influence. The visit of the distinguished Frenchmen called together the principal men and women of the county, and, no doubt, the intel- lectual and social worth of the inhabitants was fully demonstrated. Digitized by Google CHAPTER NINETEEN. INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT. Before, during, and for twenty-five years after the Revolution, there is no mention of schools in the County. Planters, who did not send their children away to school, either to England or some of the northern Colonies, em- ployed private tutors for them. It is probable that several families, in some localities, united in employing a teacher and conducting a school at some central point, to which the children of the neighborhood were sent. There was no effort made, looking to public education, for more than thirty years after the close of the war. The first school, of which there is any mention, was taught by James B. Benson in the town of Halifax in 1806. Of this school there was an advertisement in the Halifax Journal, Oct. 6, 1806, in which the principal stated when the school would begin its first session, that the price of tuition was twelve dollars per year, and that the princi- pal would board four orderly, well bred boys in most ample and genteel manner. This school seems not to have ex- isted long, as a rival soon appeared on the scene. In the Halifax Journal of January 12, 1807, there ap- peared the following notice : "A school will be opened on Monday the 12th inst. in the town of Halifax for the re- ception of students, where will be taught the Latin and English grammatically, together with writing, arithmetic, the mathematics, geography, and the use of the globe. All persons interested in promoting a good school in this neighborhood are requested to meet at Mr. Hopkins' tav- ern on the 24th inst., in order to appoint managers to superintend this institution and to settle on terms of tui- tion &c." This notice was signed by Robert Fenner. Richard H. Long, and W. W. Jones. Digitized by Google INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT 77 About the year 1810, Vine Hill Academy was organized in Scotland Neck. In the same paper of date 1811, there is a notice setting forth the fact that the trustees have secured as principal Mr. Daniel Adams of Stratford, Conn., "who has for two years been principal of a very respectable school there, and will now teach the learned languages and the various branches preparatory for a college education." The notice that "it is hoped from the great respectability of his character, his experience and success, that this institution will receive the patron- age and support its infant state so much requires." This school continued as an important factor in the intellec- tual life of Scotland Neck for nearly a hundred years. From its establishment in 1815 to 1821, there are fre- quent notices, in the press of that day, of Union Academy, which was located in the town of Halifax. This institu- tion was in charge of William E. Webb, with Jesse N. Falcon as president of the Board of Trustees. Webb ap- pears to have been a man of some ability and influence, for he represented the County in the General Assem- bly three times before he became Principal of Union Academy. Farmwell Grove Academy, somewhere in the Aurelian Springs section, was established in 1820, and flourished until 1837. In "The Star" of June 21st, 1837, appears a well written report of the examination exercises of this school. Special mention is made of the address of Rev. S. J. Harris, in which was enforced the all-important point, that of the moral necessity of uniting religion and literature in order to insure the grand result of usefulness and happiness. This writer signs his name, "Spectator," and claims to have no interest in Farmwell Academy, other than philanthropy and a love of education. In the Raleigh Register of December 30, 1823, there is a notice of Enfield Academy in charge of Mr. Philip B. Wiley, of Newbern, and again in "The Star" of December 4, 1828, when Thomas L. Ragsdale was principal and Gov- ernor John Branch was president of the Board of Trus- Digitized by Google 78 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY tees. This school advertised that board at five dollars a month could be obtained in families convenient to the academy, "which occupies a high and healthful site re- mote from all scenes of dissipation." In 1828, a Mrs. Philips announced in the newspapers of the day that the first session of her academy for young ladies at Hyde Park closed on December 2nd by an exami- nation, which was attended by a numerous assemblage of the ladies and gentlemen of the vicinity. She claimed in the announcement, that all the branches taught in the best seminaries, with many ornamental accomplishments, would be given in her school, including needlework and embroidery, drawing, painting, and music on the piano, all for the price of $80 for ten months. She also stated that the school was fourteen miles west of Halifax on the direct road to Warrenton, that it was remote from all scenes of dissipation and extravagance, had pure air and water, and a neighborhood society, which for urbanity of manners is inferior to none in the country. Also advertised in "The Star" and the Raleigh Register, there are three other female schools, namely, the Scotland Neck Female Academy, La Vallie Female Seminary, and Mrs. E. C. Grant's Female Boarding School. One of these was on the road from Halifax to Warrenton, and was originally, perhaps, the school at Hyde Park already men- tioned. Mrs. Grant's School was located a few miles from Enfield at the place called Shell Castle, which continued as a boarding school for young ladies until after the Civil War. The La Vallie School included in its Board of Trus- tees David Outlaw, of Bertie, Samuel Arrington, of Nash, J. J. Daniel, formerly of Halifax, but at that time living in Raleigh as a member of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, Isaac Williams, Rev. S. Willis and Mason L. Wig- gins, of Halifax. The president of this school was Tippo S. Brownlow. A few years prior to the Civil War, Mr. Richard Parker conducted a select boarding school for young ladies at his home near Smith's Church about five miles from Weldon. Digitized by Google INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT 79 Mr. Parker was a member of the County, or "Old Field," Court, as it was called, held many public offices, and was guardian for quite a number of wealthy young ladies. This last fact was perhaps the explanation of the origin of this school, as, in this way, his wards were under his personal supervision and enjoyed the privileges of a hospitable Christian home. In all these schools, the fact is emphasized that accom- plished teachers from the North were employed and that much attention was given to "manners" and deportment, and that pupils from those schools went out to adorn many high places in this and other States. About 1840, the system of "Free Schools" was intro- duced in the county, but they were conducted in a desul- tory manner and very little good resulted from them. A maximum salary of $30 a month was paid teachers, and very inferior instruction was given in a pne-roomed house with more than fifty pupils of all ages and grades. Still the foundations laid with the "Blue Back" speller in those log schoolhouses with backless seats has caused many an ambitious youth and maiden to win excellence in other halls of learning. They have, therefore, done a work that will stand for all time. It was not the purpose of this chapter to give a com- plete account of the educational activities of the county, but merely to give some facts that will give the reader an idea of educational conditions from the earliest times to the outbreak of the War between the States in 1861. Since the close of that struggle, the system of public schools has been greatly improved until there is now not a corner of the county that is without excellent school facilities. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Halifax County, and particularly Halifax town, was for a number of years the political centre of North Carolina. The ancient borough was in reality the Capital of the State during and soon after the Revolution. There, many of the officers of the Commonwealth lived much of the time, and there, most of the records of state were kept. Of course, when the seat of government was removed to Raleigh, everything pertaining to State affairs was trans- ferred to that place. Halifax, therefore, lost much of its influence. Even after that, however, the town was a cen- tre from which radiated social, literary, and economic forces that were felt in remote portions of the State. One of the most potent of these influences was that of the press. In those early days of newspaperdom, the weekly paper had more power among its readers than the metropolitan daily had at a much later date. Its columns were eagerly scanned by an interested constituency and its statements ordinarily went unchallenged. Without telegraphic dispatches, or quick mail facilities, the news- paper of the first half of the nineteenth century, especially in Halifax County, was an unpretentious institution, but comparatively of immense influence. The first mention of a newspaper in the county was in 1784. James Iredell, who was afterwards United States Supreme Court judge, was on a visit that year to the home of Benjamin McCulloch, on Elk Marsh. In a letter to his wife on March 28th, 1784, he says: "They have begun to print a newspaper at Halifax, which is to be continued weekly." This was doubtless, a venture of Thomas Davis, who, at the time, enjoyed the distinction of being public printer. There is a letter in the State Digitized by Google s * H h Digitized by Google Digitized by Google SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 81 Records from Davis at Newbern to Governor Caswell ask- ing the assistance of the State in getting his press moved to Halifax. There is not a copy of this paper in existence, so far as is known, and it is not by any means certain as to how long it continued. July 23, 1793, the initial number of the North Carolina Journal was issued at Halifax, by Hodge and Wells. There is a file of this newspaper in possession of the North Caro- lina Historical Society, beginning with the issue of Janu- ary 7, 1805, and ending March 2, 1807, edited and printed by A. Hodge at $2.50 a year. The paper is eighteen inches long and eleven inches wide, four page, four columns to the page, without head rules, the paper and type being fairly good. It had the largest circulation in the State for many years, and probably discontinued its publication about 1810, at the time under the editorial management of Wright W. Batchelor. There is no mention of further newspaper ventures in Halifax until 1829, when the first issue of the Halifax Minerva made its appearance on January 24th of that year, edited and published by John Campbell. Its first number is a folio, eighteen inches long and twelve inches wide, and six columns to the page. In about one year, Edmund B. Freeman purchased an interest in the plant and became the editor, Campbell continuing to do the mechanical work. The name was changed to the Roanoke Advocate. There are four volumes of the Minerva and Advocate in the possession of one of the sons of John Campbell. A feature of every number of these interesting papers is the method of advertising. In every issue is seen an advertisement for a runaway slave, accompanied by a picture of the fugitive with a bundle of clothes in his hand, or hanging from a stick across his shoulder. An- other striking advertisement was that of cock fighting, illustrating two of the feathered heroes in a death strug- gle, and announcing the mains at a certain time and place with the stakes, sometimes reaching the sum of Digitized by Google 82 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY one thousand dollars. Those were the days before cock- fighting was forbidden by statute. As the town of Halifax was the main distributing point for merchandise brought up the Roanoke by sailing ves- sels, and later by steamboats, from Norfolk and interme- diate points, each issue of these papers gave the names of all vessels arriving and departing from the port of Hali- fax since the previous issue. From these papers, the information is derived that Hali- fax County was, at that time, exporting flour and meat. Large cargoes of those articles were sent down the river to Norfolk at every sailing of a vessel. In addition to the trade by the Roanoke, a large contingent of wagons and carts carried wheat, tobacco, cotton, and other products overland to Petersburg and Richmond. Hogs and cattle were driven afoot and bartered for such merchandise as was needed by the people of the county. All public traveling was by means of stage coaches be- fore the coming of the railroad. From Halifax there was a tri-weekly line to Raleigh, passing Enfield, Hilliardston, and Nashville, in Nash County. The trip was made in a day by leaving Halifax at 3 A. M. and arriving at Raleigh at 10 P. M. From Enfield, another line of stage coaches extended to Tarboro. There was also another from Hali- fax to Warrenton in one direction and across the Roanoke in another direction to Murf reesboro and Winton, branch- ing off to the left in Northampton County to Petersburg and Richmond. Not many accidents, or incidents even, are recorded of travel in those primitive days. Only one has been handed down as being serious enough to be remembered, and it occurred on the Raleigh line. In 1831, while crossing Cul- pepper bridge, the lead horse became frightened and un- manageable, and precipitated the vehicle, with its occu- pants, into Fishing Creek. One man was fatally injured in this wreck. Religiously, the people of the county were divided as now into the several denominations. The Baptists and Episco- Digitized by Google SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 88- palians were perhaps the first occupiers of the land. The former had established a church and built a house of wor- ship, the oldest in the county, on Kehukee Creek, a few miles southeast of the town of Scotland Neck in 1742. That old church was the scene of the schism in 1827, when the Baptist denomination was disrupted over the ques- tion of missions and secret societies. After the meeting of the Kehukee Association of that year at Kehukee Church, there were two distinct Baptist denominations in the State, the Primitive Baptists, sometimes called "Hard- shells," and the Missionary Baptists, who are now much the larger body. Other Baptist Churches were built a little later, in different parts of the County, among them Conocanara and Antioch being perhaps the best known. Among the earliest people, who settled on the Roanoke river and Fishing Creek, there were quite a number of Episcopalians. Rev. Thomas Burgess was the first mini*- ter of that denomination to reside in the county. He was in charge of the Parish of Edgecombe, which became the County of Halifax, before the two counties were separated. At the session of the Colonial Assembly of 1760, the first after Halifax had become a county, a bill was introduced to confirm an agreement made between Burgess and the wardens and vestry of the Parish of Edgecombe. The bill set forth the fact that he had been employed under an act of the Assembly, which had since been repealed, to serve the parish during his natural life for 120 pounds a year, and prayed that the agreement be confirmed. Governor Dobbs stated, in a report to the Board of Trade, that there were only six preachers of the estab- lished Church (the Episcopal) in the province at that time, of whom two were worthless, calling them by name, and the other four, among whom was Burgess, were good and competent men. This indirect testimony of the Gov- ernor as to the sterling qualities of the first Episcopal minister in the county is fully confirmed by tradition. His remains lie buried in the old Conocanara churchyard. In Halifax, the church in which Burgess officiated ia Digitized by Google 84 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY still standing. Although there are no records in exis- tence to show when it was built, there is strong presump- tion that it was erected a number of years before the out- break of the Revolution, probably about 1760. In Scot- land Neck, on the edge of old "Clarksville," is another ancient Church of the Episcopal faith. Soon after the formation of the county, another de- nomination, the Methodists, began to make its influence felt. John Wesley and George Whitefield had visited North Carolina some years before and planted the seeds of Methodism, which now began to flourish. Churches of that faith were built in various sections of the county, among the oldest being Ebenezer in the Aurelian Springs neighborhood, Haywoods near Halifax, Bradfords near Enfield, and the church in the town of Halifax. In these early days the Methodist Church took a high stand in the county. As was generally the case, the Meth- odist Circuit Rider followed closely in the track of civil- ization and in 1846 a church was organized in Weldon with seven members. These were Mrs. W. T. Whitfield, Mrs. Mary Allen, Capt. James Simmons, Mr. H. Wyatt and three others whose names are unknown. Capt. Simmons, the "Class Leader" for this little band, was Sheriff of the County and was a man of such sterling integrity he was elected without opposition as long as he would hold the office. A small wooden building was erected on the banks of the canal, in which to hold public services. This was roughly built and rudely furnished, but was the only church building in Weldon until 1874 when another and better one was built by the same congregation. People, in the early years of the nineteenth century, especially in Halifax County, were particularly free from the almost nerve racking complexities of the present. Mail facilities were extremely limited, and until 1840, when the first railroads in the county were built, if a com- munity received mail three times a week it was considered fortunate. Halifax was reached by a tri-weekly mail from Petersburg, and by one with the same frequency from Digitized by Google SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 85 Raleigh. The only postoffices that are known to have ex- isted as early as 1830 are Halifax, Enfield, Scotland Neck, Weldon, which was called Weldon's Place, Littleton, which was called Little's Ordinary, Brinkleyville, Palmyra, and CrowelFs Cross Roads. In the General Assembly of 1826, an act was passed in- corporating the Roanoke Steamboat Company and author- izing the incorporators, Andrew Joyner and Cadwallader Jones, to build a steamboat to navigate the Roanoke river, the Albermarle sound, and the James river. Their plan to open a regular line of steamers from Halifax to Norfolk did not rapidly mature ; for it was not until April 15, 1829, that the first steamboat to navigate the Roanoke arrived at Halifax. This was the rude steamer, Petersburg, in com- mand of Captain McRae. After discharging freight at Halifax, it proceeded to Weldon Place and returned the next day, proceeding later to Norfolk. This was the first trip ever made on the Roanoke by a steamboat. Since that time, Weldon, Halifax, Scotland Neck, Palmyra, and other points on the river have been visited by steamers that connected the Roanoke farms with Norfolk. After the introduction of the railroads, however, the boat line on the river was gradually discon- tinued above Hamilton in Martin County until now it is a rare thing for a steamboat to visit Halifax. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE. COMING OF THE RAILROADS. The early settlers who came to what is now Halifax County were either the enlarging or spreading out of the settlement of the first colonies of Virginia or adven- turous spirits exploring the Roanoke River from the sound to the falls, about one hundred miles, of a navi- gable though dangerous stream of water. This river, deep and turbulent, was impassable far- ther on account of the many rocks embedded in the stream and the tremendous falls over which the water swept, and the only means of passage was the small ■canoe or dugout then in general use. At the point where the town of Halifax was built, the river is broader and the banks not so steep, so the trail was opened into a highway of travel, a ferry across the river established and the nucleus of the town begun. The river to which the Indian had given the name of "Roanoke" or "River of Death" has been found navi- gable from the lower settlements on the sound up to this point and was for many years the only means of commercial transportation of any kind. At certain seasons of the year, this river yielded an enormous supply of fish of the very finest quality, es- pecially the white shad and the striped bass, or rock- fish, which annually leave the sound and larger wa- ters to deposit their spawn amid the rocks in the falls of the Roanoke. So fishing hamlets were established on either side of the river to provide shelter for the fishermen when not engaged in their dangerous though profitable work. One of these villages was called Blakely, and was at Digitized by Google COMING OF THE RAILROADS 87 a point about three miles below Weldon on the North- ampton side and was the head of navigation for any boat except the canoe or dugout. In the year 1832, a railroad was built out from Petersburg, Va., into North Carolina terminating at Blakely landing. The day of the opening of this road was celebrated with great re- joicing. The people came together for miles away and entered into the exercises with interest and enthusiasm. A dinner and speech making were then, as they often are now, features of the occasion. In 1834 another Railroad was built out from Norfolk, Va., into North Carolina with its terminus on the Northern side of the Roanoke just across from the landing at the point now called Weldon. The land on the South side of the river was the holding of a man of importance whose name was Daniel Weldon. At this time there were many prosperous and influential men in this community, owning and cultivating large farms of grain and fruit. These were the descendants of the pioneer settlers, James Bradley, William Gary, Joshua Jones, William Whitfield, Mark Petway, Samuel Wel- don, and many others. The cultivation of fruit was a popular industry and apple orchards were fine assets for these early settlers. Every man of importance cultivated orchards and made quantities of genuine apple brandy. The dangerous chemicals now used were then unknown and the pure apple brandy was the product of these distilleries which were owned and operated almost universally. And so what is now the town of Weldon was then known as Weldon's Orchard, or Weldon's Place and was the seat of one of these primitive industries which were con- sidered respectable and entirely moral. To illustrate this, it is said that Henry Sledge, a prosperous man of the county at this period and also a pious and devoted Christian gentleman, when told by his pastor that it was sinful to manufacture and use brandy, at once de- stroyed his large and profitable orchard, by cutting Digitized by Google 88 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY every tree to its roots, saying he would in this way re- move the temptation to evil. In the year 1835, Col. Andrew Joyner, who was elect- ed to the State Senate this year and was re-elected to the same position for sixteen years, was also elected President of the "Roanoke Navigation Co.," an organi- zation which had for its purpose the opening of a canal from a place called Rock Landing on the river, nine miles above Weldon, through which boats could pass and so avoid the rocks and falls in the river and find anchorage at Weldon's Orchard. A charter was pro- cured, the canal became a reality and the orchard be- came a junction of it and the two railroads, as well as the transportation facilities of the river below the falls. This canal was an important improvement at the time, as, in addition to the railroads mentioned, one had been built from Raleigh to Gaston in 1833, with its ter- minus at a landing on the river. A large basin was formed here and the boats from as far as Danville, Va. % would bring the produce of the farms down the river to Gaston and then through this canal to Weldon. The Company which undertook this work did it thoroughly and well. There are three locks in the canal, the ma- sonry of which is very fine, as is that of the aqueduct over Chockoyette near Weldon, and has stood without repairs for three fourths of a century. A large basin was formed just above the falls, at Weldon where the canal empties into the river, for the purpose of moving the boats which operated on the canal line. A large brick warehouse was built near this basin, in which an immense amount of tobacco and other pro- duce were safely stored. This opening up of a new method of transportation was of great importance to the farmers along its line, as previous to this the only means of marketing the tobacco was to convey it for sixty miles or more in large hogsheads on wooden sleds drawn by horses to Petersburg, Va. Quite a group of buildings were erected as the out- Digitized by Google o o > O O « W SB H Digitized by Google Digitized by Google COMING OF THE RAILROADS 89 come of this new enterprise. A man named Thomas H. Wyatt built a large storehouse with a small tavern or inn annexed on the corner of First and Sycamore Streets and these were the first of their kind on the ground. These stood until only a few years ago and were mementoes of these early days. A larger hotel was soon built by Mr. Michael Ferral and this was op- erated for a number of years. In the year 1833 a charter was granted to the Wil- mington & Raleigh Railroad. This was changed to Wilmington & Weldon, and in May, 1840, the first train of cars ran through from Wilmington to Weldon with William Hall as Conductor and G. G. Lynch as helper. Of these young men, Captain Hall died very early, but Mr. Lynch lived to a ripe old age. He was employed when quite a young man as route agent or mail inspector for the United States Government and was appointed to the same office by Thomas H. Reagan, Postmaster-Gen- eral in the Confederate Cabinet, which office he held until the close of the War. When the War between the States began, he held in his possession $250.00 in gold which belonged to the United States Government. Through all the terrible four years, he held this as a sacred trust and at the close of the war returned the money to the Postoffice Department of the Government. In 1855, the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad was ex- tended from South Gaston to Weldon, thus making that village the centre from which radiated four im- portant lines of railways, one of them the W. & W. being for many years the longest in the world. The large shed, which has so often been associated with Weldon, was built that year from under which the pas- senger trains of the four roads left for .their different destinations, upon the ringing of a signal bell. On the completion of the Wilmington & Weldon Rail- road to Weldon, a bridge was built across the river and a junction formed of this and the Seaboard and Roa- noke Railroad. The terminus of the road from Peters- Digitized by Google 90 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY burg was moved from Blakely to Weldon and a bridge built for that line also. This was a wooden bridge and was burnt in the year 1856, and not replaced until after the Civil War, when a new steel structure was erected on the old pillars about one mile below Weldon. This was in use until Nov. 26, 1877, when both bridges were washed away by the highest freshet ever known in the Roanoke River. The Petersburg bridge was never re- built, both roads using the Seaboard bridge. In the political campaign of 1844, Henry Clay, one of the Presidential candidates, came to Weldon on his way to Raleigh to speak in the interests of his party and to encourage and strengthen his constituents in the State. He was met and entertained at dinner at the Ferral hotel by Col. Joyner, the leading Whig of the section, who took him to spend the night at his home at Poplar Grove and accompanied him to Raleigh next day. The important issue discussed at this time was the annexation of Texas to the United States. Mr. Clay was supposed to favor this bill pending in Congress and his chances for election were considered good. In this speech, however, he strongly antagonized the bill and in the following election his opponent, James K. Polk, was elected. In the meantime Weldon's Orchard had become the town of Weldon. Another and a larger hotel was built and operated by W. T. Whitfield, who came to Weldon in 1834, stores and business houses were multiplied, and other enterprises engaged in. Among the promi- nent men of this period were Dr. William Lunsford Long, John K. Campbell, Hamlin and Elisha Allen, James Simmons, and E. N. Peterson. A weekly newspaper of modest pretensions was launched and flourished for some time. This was called the Weldon Patriot and was founded by J. T. Gresham and afterwards edited by Thomas L. Suiter. Two large mills, one for wheat and the other for corn, were built near the falls of the canal and were supplied with grain Digitized by Google COMING OF THE RAILROADS 91 from the neighboring farms, especially Mush Island, the fertile and prolific lands of Col. Nicholas Long, which at that time was called the Egypt of Halifax County. Col. Joyner, besides being President of the Roanoke Navigation Co., was President of the Seaboard & Roa- noke Railroad. For many years he was a member of the Senate of North Carolina and was promoter under the influence of Dorothy Dix of the Bill to establish a home at Raleigh for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind of the State. His wife, a lady of culture and refinement and wealth, was a veritable "Lady Bountiful," ministering to both the souls and bodies of men, and their home at Poplar Grove near what is now the City of Roanoke Rapids was a general dispensary for the neighborhood. Rev. Robert O. Burton of the Virginia M. E. Confer- ence married a daughter of Col. Joyner and was often in charge of Roanoke Circuit, to which the Methodist church at Weldon belonged. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO. "ROYAL WHITE HART LODGE." One of the oldest and most famous institutions in the county is the Masonic Lodge at Halifax. Because of its historic importance a somewhat extended account is given of the rise, progress, and spirit of this lodge. The first meeting was held April 20, 1764, in the home of David London, Halifax town, Province of North Carolina. Halifax was then one of the most important and flourishing towns in the State. It was at the head of navigation and was the home of a great many prominent people and statesmen. Here was held the Provincial Congress and here was the first demon- stration after the one in Philadelphia celebrating the Declaration of Independence. Among its citizens was Joseph Montford, an Englishman of noble lineage and a Mason who was closely connected with this Lodge from his arrival in Halifax until his death. It seems that at that time there were two Masonic lodges, but it is evident from its size and the amount of its funds that this one had been in existence for some years. From 1764 to 1772 and again from 1783 to the present time there is an unbroken record of these meetings. But it is a matter of regret that all records are missing from 1772 to 1783. It is believed that these records were carried home (for safekeep- ing during the Revolutionary period) by one of the members and they were lost to history. Diligent search continues to be made for them in the old homes in Eastern North Carolina. On May 20, 1768, an important meeting of this Lodge was held in which the Worshipful Master pro- duced a Charter from the Grand Master of England, to Digitized by Google ROYAL WHITE HART LODGE 93 wit : "Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, Grand Mas- ter of Masons in England, appointing Joseph Mont- ford, Master; Joseph Long, Senior Warden, and Nathen Brown, Jr., Warden — a regular constituted lodge of free and accepted Masons by the name of Royal Hart Lodge, town of Halifax, Province of N. C." This char- ter was dated London, March 21, A. L. 5767, the same being No. 403 in the list of English Lodges. It was unanimously and gratefully received and the Secretary was ordered to write a letter to the Grand Lodge of England returning thanks for the honor which the Grand Master had been pleased to confer on them. It is noticeable that the minutes of all their meetings were signed by the Worshipful Master, and the ut- most care was taken in their preparation. That these earnest men took masonry very seriously is evinced by the By-laws in which we read "To laugh in Lodge, fine five shillings. To whisper in Lodge, fine five shillings." In April, 1769, a meeting was held at which it was re- solved to build a Masonic Temple and the following is a part of the interesting minutes: — "Whereas we, the subscribers esteem it publicly bene- ficial to promote society, to laudably increase the means of obtaining benefit and happiness to those whom we are most nearly connected, and Whereas it is proposed and agreed to improve a lot in the town of Halifax, to wit: No. Ill so that the accommodation thereon may serve for various purposes, particularly that of a Ma- sonic Hall and Assembly room; — We therefore, obli- gate ourselves, our heirs, executors and Administra- tors respectively to pay or cause to be paid the sum an- nexed to our respective names and for the purpose of im- proving the said lot, etc." Joseph Montford — one bouse and lot (deed executed). Joseph O. Long, ten pounds Frederick Schulzer, ten pounds Digitized by Google 94 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY John Thompson ten pounds Alexander Telfair, ten pounds James Milner, ten pounds Charles Preston, five pounds William Martin, five pounds F. Stewart, ten pounds David Stokes, five pounds James Auld, three pounds Peter Thompson, five pounds Joseph Campbell, five pounds The house and lot donated by Joseph Montford at that date was worth $1,500.00, making the whole amount $2,000.00. This was indeed an enormous amount for these poor colonists, but it showed their intense devotion to the cause of Masonry. It is a noticeable fact that "Paid" was written after each amount promised. This temple was built and was a very imposing and rather elegant building for that day and time. It was situated in a large oak grove facing the public road. It was 30 x 30 feet, two stories. The lodge room was on the second floor, and the lower story was used for a pub- lic school — although the last day of school in this build- ing was in 1829. A description of the temple written in 1820 is inter- esting. "The roof was slate color, the building was white with green blinds, mahogany doors, red brick founda- tion and chimney. The ceiling which is arched, is blue and the interior woodwork is white." The beautiful silver candlesticks still used by this Lodge were purchased Feb. 26, 1784, and cost 11 pounds. The unique and handsome chair (with its approaching steps) was bought May 20, 1765. It is supposed these came from England. Visiting Masons say that the bal- lot-box is the finest they have ever seen tho* it is not so old as the other pieces, having been bought April 1, 1820. On March 10, 1772, Joseph Montford presented the Digitized by Google ROYAL WHITE HART LODGE 95 lodge with a beautiful Masonic chart, painted on heavy cloth and to this day it is in a fine state of preservation. A few days later — March 13, 1772, a meeting of special interest was held — The following quotation is from the records : "Bro. Joseph Montf ord produced a charter from the Grand Master of England — the Duke of Beaufort — appointing him Provincial Grand Master of and for America — which was recognized, and for which he was congratulated by the lodge and offered the chair, which he declined." For the third time we see this notable figure in this grand old lodge. First, with the charter from the Grand Lodge of England ; second, generously giving to the Roy- al White Hart Lodge a house and lot towards the erec- tion of a Masonic Temple; and now presenting his ap- pointment as Provincial Grand Master of America — and in his modesty declining even a seat in the East. Thus we see that a history however brief it may be cannot be written without the name of the most prominent Mason in America at that time, viz: — the Hon. Joseph Mont- ford. He was also the first Clerk of the Court for Halifax County, Treasurer of the Province of North Carolina, Colonel of Colonial Troops and delegate to the Provin- cial Congress, not mentioning the father of two brilliant and beautiful daughters who became the wives of two of North Carolina's most distinguished statesmen, viz : — The Hon. Willie Jones and the Hon. John Baptista Ashe. It is true that that Grand Lodge of England, which was organized in 1717, had, before this time, appoint- ed other Provincial Grand Masters in America — but their authority was limited to their Province or territory, and they in turn were subject to the Provincial Grand Master for Foreign Lodges at London, who was the ap- pointee of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England. But the authority vested in Joseph Montford was absolute and supreme in all parts of America, and he established lodges and chapters at his will and pleas- Digitized by Google 96 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ure, thereby attaining the highest masonic position ever held by any man on this continent. There are several reasons why he was selected to this high honor: his so- cial and political prominence, the exactness and faithful- ness that characterized everything that he attempted, his prompt and regular remittances to the Grand Lodge of England, and his idea of building a Masonic Temple which (at that time) was absolutely new in both Eng- land and America. This especially made a deep im- pression upon the Grand Lodge of England, and it un- doubtedly inspired them to build "Free Mason's Hall" in London, for they began immediately to raise funds for this purpose and four years later this magnificent struc- ture was completed. The contribution of "10 pounds 10 shillings from Joseph Montf ord — R. W. H. Lodge Hali- fax — Province N. C.," was the largest amount subscribed. Benjamin Franklin and his associates erected Free Masons' Lodge in Philadelphia about this time, which was the first Masonic Temple in this country and also in the world, and the temple in Halifax (now standing in its somber dignity) was the second. Up to this time it was customary for Masons to meet in Taverns or homes. Even the Grand Lodge of England was holding its meetings at the "Crown and Anchor in the Strand" (London), and the Royal White Hart Lodge met at "Bro. Martin's Tavern at the sign of the Thistle." After 1790 the Lodge became very prosperous. The members paid $5.00 per pair for gloves, $10.00 a plate for banquets and gave $25.00 a month as pensions to needy widows. Surely they never dreamed of the abandonment of the river traffic, the decline of the town and lodge and the decay of their beloved temple. It is the cherished hope of the Masons to restore the temple as it was in the heyday of its glory. Joseph Montford died March, 1776, in the early stage of the Revolutionary War, and was buried in the old Co- lonial churchyard where he had so often marshaled his lodge in a body for worship. We notice that the word Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google ROYAL WHITE HART LODGE 97 "Hart" is spelled in the old Records Heart until the ar- rival of the charter from England. In this charter this word is spelled "Hart" and from that time, all records conform to this spelling. There are many amusing instances recorded in the old records. At one of the early meetings a Committee of one was appointed to furnish "1 gal. of brandy, 1 gal. of rum, 1 gal. of gin, 1 cheese, 1 baked ham and some crackers the same to be charged to the candidate for the night." Surely these brothers were in a hilarious (or sad) state of mind before the night ended. Tho' it is recorded that the members of this lodge were deeply re- ligious, "observing feast days regularly and attending church on Sundays in a body." Copies of the sermons preached to them were carefully preserved. Marshall Delancy Hayward in his splendid work, "The Beginning of Free Masonry in North Carolina and Tennessee," records the lives of the members of this Grand Lodge and the great service they rendered the American cause during the Revolutionary War. It was the custom of Joseph Montford on the feast days of St. John to as- semble his lodge in the temple at five o'clock before sun- rise. He would open the Lodge until he came to the "Master's Station" when the opening stopped and a brother who was stationed at the East window would signal the first appearance of the Orb of Day — and at that instant rose also the only Provincial Grand Master that America ever had — to open and govern the only Provincial Grand Lodge that ever existed in America. The oldest Lodge in this country is St. Johns No. 1 Bos- ton. The second oldest is Solomon's No. 1 at Savannah, Ga. The charters issued by the Provincial Grand Lodge of America are the most beautiful and expensive Masonic Documents on this Continent. One of the finest speci- mens of this work is the charter issued to St. John Lodge in Newbern. It is as perfect as when it was proudly received by the Lodge 136 years ago. The second char- Digitized by Google 98 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ter of Royal White Hart Lodge under which it works today was issued by the Grand Lodge of North Caro- lina, Dec. 27, 1800. Royal White Hart Lodge retained its English allegiance thirteen years after its sister lodges were working under the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, because it paid ten pounds for a charter giv- ing it No. 1. After the Grand Lodge received the money, they changed their mind and wrote out another charter giving it No. 2. For years there was much bitter feel- ing in regard to this matter, but the lodge is well launched on its second century of faithful allegiance to the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, but this is men- tioned merely as historic truth. It was incorporated in 1800. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE. i EVENTS LEADING TO THE CIVIL WAE. For thirty years preceding the outbreak of the Civil War, Halifax County had more influence in national af- fairs than any other county in North Carolina. The only time the county ever had a United States senator and a member of the President's cabinet was during that period. John Branch, of Enfield, was elected senator in 1823 and re-elected in 1829. He, however, resigned the latter year to accept the position of Secretary of the Navy in President Jackson's Cabinet. Two years later, he resigned that position, also, because of the disruption of the cabinet on account of some social disagreements of the wives of the members. Branch returned to Enfield in 1831, and was the next year elected to Congress. He served only one term when he was succeeded by Jesse A. Bynum, of Halifax, who continued in office until 1841, when he in turn was suc- ceeded by another Halifax County man, John R. J. Daniel. Halifax County was, at the time, in the Sixth Congressional District, the other counties being Wake, Franklin, Warren, Edgecombe, Nash and Johnston. Daniel had been Attorney-General of the State, but was now elevated to a seat in Congress, where questions of great national importance were being discussed. Not only in national affairs did the county wield in- fluence during this period, but the affairs of State felt its energizing effect also. Spier Whitaker, of Enfield, was elected Attorney-General in 1842, holding that respon- sible position until 1847. Bartholomew F. Moore was chosen to the same post in 1848, and removed from his home in Halifax to Raleigh the same year. Joseph J. Daniel, of Halifax, was elevated from the Superior Digitized by Google 100 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Court to the Supreme Bench in 1832 and held the posi- tion until his death in 1848. During this period, there- fore, the county was well represented in the councils of both State and nation. Between 1840 and 1860, the county, along with the State and nation, passed through a crucial period lead- ing up to the great climax of 1861. The question of slavery was to the fore, and the people of Halifax Coun- ty were watching the trend of sentiment in the north with no little degree of uneasiness. The National Congress had been drawn into the discussion, first by the proposition to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, second by the annexation of territory, and also by the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act. Some of the most brilliant men in the United States were arrayed on one side or the other of this absorbing question. In 1840, according to the Federal Census taken that year, the county had a population of 24,325, of whom 16,865 were negro slaves. It is strange to note that when the census of 1850 was taken, the population had de- creased to 16,584, nearly the whole of the decrease being in the slave population, which dropped to 8954, nearly fifty per cent. No reason is assigned for this remarkable decrease. There is no record of any unusual sale of ne- groes to the States farther South, nor any plague to re- duce the number by death. Probably the most plausible conclusion is that a mistake was made by the census enumerators either in 1840 or 1850. The census of 1860 showed an increase over that of 1850 of about 3000. From 1846 to 1848, the United States was at war with Mexico. In North Carolina and Halifax County, the war was unpopular because it was considered an unworthy at- tempt on the part of our Government to bully a weak neighbor. The State raised and equipped two regiments for the war, one commanded by Colonel Robert Treat Paine, of Elizabeth City, and the other by Colonel L. B. Wilson, of Tarboro. Halifax County furnished no sol- diers for either regiment. The result of the war brought Digitized by Google EVENTS LEADING TO CIVIL WAR 101 new problems in the way of new territory to increase the tension over the slavery question. Some ten years before that time, the country was thrown into violent excitement over the Nat Turner in- surrection in Southampton County, Va. Turner was a slave, who incited the negroes of his neighborhood to rise against their masters, and, with himself at their head, they slaughtered a number of men, women, and children before the rebellion could be checked. Turner was final- ly overpowered, captured with a number of his deluded followers, given a trial, and hanged. During that period of excitement, the people of Halifax County were in a state of wild suspense. It was not known how far the conspiracy among the slaves extend- ed, and many rumors of similar risings in the county were current. None of these rumors, however, had foundation ; and when the Southampton insurrection collapsed, there was no further fear. Another insurrection that produced intense distrust and alarm was the John Brown raid in 1859. Halifax County was a unit in condemnation of such efforts on the part of the abolitionists. There were, it is true, in the county many who believed in a gradual emancipation of the negro race from bondage ; but such acts as the John Brown raid and the Nat Turner insurrection solidified sentiment against the agitators. After Brown and his fol- lowers were captured at Harpers Ferry, Va., given a trial, convicted, and hanged, sentiment in the county was well nigh unanimous that the abolitionists of the North, by their agitation and indiscreet utterances about the slavery question, had brought the country to the verge of war. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR. IN THE LEGISLATIVE HALLS OF THE STATE. Before following in the wake of the part Halifax County took in the tremendous cataclysm of the War between the States, a retrospective view of the part taken by her sons in the State's legislative halls will be interesting. From the first, the county sent to the General Assembly some of her best men. Among them are many names that are familiar and honorable in the county. Some of them reached great prominence in State and Nation. The fol- lowing list is of interest to every native of Halifax Coun- ty. They were the representatives from the adoption of the Constitution in 1776 to the outbreak of the war in 1861. Halifax Town. Year House of Commons Year House of Commons 1777 Willie Jones 1806 1778 Willie Jones 1807 1779 Henry Montford 1808 1780 Henry Montford 1809 1781 Henry Montford 1810 1782 Henry Montford 1811 1783 Henry Montford 1812 1784 Henry Montford 1813 1785 Charles Pasteur 1814 1786 Wm. R. Davie 1815 1787 Wm. R. Davie 1816 1788 Goodrum Davis 1817 1789 Wm. R. Davie 1819 1790 Wm. R. Davie 1820 1791 Wm. R. Davie 1821 1792 Richard H. Long 1822 1793 Wm. R. Davie 1823 1794 Wm. R. Davie 1824 1795 John B. Ashe 1826 1796 Wm. R. Davie 1827 1797 Thaddeus Barnes 1828 1798 Wm. R. Davie 1829 1799 Richard H. Long 1830 1800 Richard H. Long 1831 1801 Isaac Hilliard 1832 1802 Basset Stith 1833 1803 William Drew 1834 1804 Thomas Hall 1835 1805 Allen Gilchrist Allen J. Davie Joseph J. Daniel William P. Hall William Drew Holcott J. Pride Jeptha Dupree Peter Brown William Drew William Drew Joseph J. Daniel William Drew Hutchings G. Burton Thomas Burgess Robert A. Jones Thomas Burgess Thomas Burgess Jesse A. Bynum Jesse A. Bynum Robert Potter Jesse A. Bynum Jesse A. Bynum Wm. L. Long Wm. L. Long Wm. L. Long Wm. L. Long Wm. L. Long Thomas Ousby Robert C. Bond Digitized by Google LEGISLATIVE HALLS OF THE STATE 108 By the Constitution of 1835, borough towns were abol- ished. Halifax town was, therefore, no longer entitled to a representative in the General Assembly. It will be ob- served that a considerable number of these men, who rep- resented the town in the legislative body of the State, had already achieved a State and national reputation. Willie Jones was a national figure, though he held few positions of trust under the Federal government. William R. Davie, John B. Ashe, and Jesse A. Bynum, at different times, held positions of trust at the National Capitol. Hutchings G. Burton was afterwards Governor of the State. Wil- liam Drew was Attorney-General for nine years. Joseph J. Daniel was afterwards on the Supreme Court bench for sixteen years. In the list of members in the General Assembly for Halifax town, from which the above is taken, there is a note at the year 1825, which gives the following informa- tion: "No member was elected this year in consequence of the election having been broken up by a brawl between the contending candidates, Potter and Bynum, and their friends." It is known that Jesse A. Bynum and Robert Potter were on unfriendly terms because Bynum refused to introduce Potter to a certain lady. In 1825, they were contending candidates, and so bitter were the passions aroused between the candidates and their friends that on election day a fight ensued, in which one man was killed and a number bruised and disfigured. As all the election judges and poll holders participated in the fight, on one side or the other, no election could be held, and the town, therefore, had no representative that year. Halifax County. Year Senate House of Commons 1777 John Bradford Jos. John Williams, Egbert Haywood 1778 Orondates Davis Egbert Haywood, John Whitaker 1779 Orondates Davis Willie Jones, Augustine Willis 1780 Orondates Davis Willie Jones, William Weldon 1781 Orondates Davis John Branch, Benjamin McCulloch 1782 Willie Jones John Branch, Benjamin McCulloch Digitized by Google 104 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Year Senate 1783 Benjamin McCulloch 1784 Nicholas Long 1785 Nicholas Long 1786 Benjamin McCulloch 1787 Nicholas Long 1788 Willie Jones 1789 John B. Ashe 1790 Peter Quarles 1791 Peter Quarles 1792 Peter Quarles 1793 Peter Quarles 1794 Willis Alston 1795 Willis Alston 1796 Willis Alston 1797 Stephen W. Carney 1798 Stephen W. Carney 1799 Stephen W. Carney 1800 Stephen W. Carney 1801 Stephen W. Carney 1802 Stephen W. Carney 1803 Joseph John Alston 1804 John Alston 1805 Gideon Alston 1806 Gideon Alston 1807 Matthew C. Whitaker 1808 Matthew C. Whitaker 1809 Matthew C. Whitaker 1810 Matthew C. Whitaker 1811 John Branch 1812 Matthew C. Whitaker 1813 John Branch 1814 John Branch 1815 John Branch 1816 John Branch 1817 John Branch 1818 John Alston 1819 John Alston 1820 John Alston 1821 John Alston 1822 John Branch 1823 Thomas Burgess 1824 Isham Matthews 1825 Isham Matthews 1826 Isham Matthews 1827 Isham Matthews 1828 Isham Matthews 1829 Isham Matthews 1830 Isham Matthews 1831 Isham Matthews 1832 Isham Matthews House of Commons John Whitaker, John Geddy Benjamin McCulloch, John B. Ashe John Whitaker, John B. Ashe John B. Ashe, Augustine Willis John Dawson, John Branch John Jones, John Branch Peter Quarles, Marmaduke Norfleet John Dawson, Willis Alston Willis Alston, Thomas Tabb Willis Alston, Eaton Pugh Stephen W. Carney, James A. Tabb Eaton Pugh, John A. Tabb Eaton Pugh, Stephen W. Carney John A. Tabb, Eaton Pugh Wood J. Hamblin, James A. Tabb Sterling Harwell, M. C. Whitaker Sterling Harwell, Wood J. Hamblin Mat'w C. Whitaker, Sterling Harwell Mat'w C. Whitaker, Sterling Harwell Mat'w C. Whitaker, Sterling Harwell Mat'w C. Whitaker, Sterling Harwell William Williams, M. C Whitaker William Williams, M. C Whitaker William Williams, M. C Whitaker William Williams, Daniel Mason William Williams, Lewis Daniel Wm. E. Webb, Joseph Bryant Wm. E. Webb, Benjamin Edmonds Wm. E. Webb, J. J. Daniel Wm. E. Webb, J. J. Daniel James Barnes, W. J. Hamblin J. Grant, R. Jones Richard Jones, Wilson W. Carter Richard Jones, Jesse A. Dawson Richard Jones, Jesse A. Dawson Jesse A. Dawson, Neville Gee Richard Jones, Willis Alston Willis Alston, Jesse A. Dawson Willis Alston, Jesse A. Dawson Robert A. Jones, Isham Matthews Willis Alston, Robert A. Jones Willis Alston, R. B. Daniel Geo. E. Spruill, R. B. Daniel Geo. E. Spruill, Anthony A. Wyche Geo. E. Spruill, Wm. E. Shine Geo. E. Spruill, Rice B. Pierce Jesse A. Bynum, Thomas Nicholson Jesse A. Bynum, Thomas Nicholson Thomas Nicholson, John R. J. Daniel Charles Gee, John R. J. Daniel Digitized by Google ^J^e^C^-^ "^^C Digitized by Google Digitized by Google LEGISLATIVE HALLS OF THE STATE 105 Year Senate House of Commons 1833 Isham Matthews Wm. M. West, John R. J. Daniel 1834 John Branch Wm. L. Long, John R. J. Daniel 1835 Andrew Joyner Sterling: H. Gee, Wm. M. West 1836 Andrew Joyner I. Matthews, S. H. Gee, B. F. Moore 1838 Andrew Joyner W. W. Daniel, M. A. Wilcox, S. Wh'tfkr 1840 Andrew Joyner S. H. Gee, B. A. Pope, B. P. Moore 1842 Andrew Joyner S. H. Gee, B. A. Pope, B. P. Moore 1844 Andrew Joyner S. H. Gee, B. F. Moore 1846 Andrew Joyner L. M. Long, M. C. Whitaker 1848 Andrew Joyner Wm. L. Long, Richard H. Smith 1850 Andrew Joyner W. B. Pope, Dudley C. Clanton 1852 Andrew Joyner Richard H. Smith, James D. Perkins 1854 M. L. Wiggins Richard H. Smith, James D. Perkins 1856 M. L. Wiggins William Hill, John W. Johnson 1858 Matthew C. Whitaker William Hill, William L. Long 1860 Matthew C. Whitaker Archibald H. Davis, W. B. Pope Many of these men took high rank in the affairs of the State and the United States. Orondates Davis, in 1780, was chosen to serve on the Board of War for North Caro- lina. The other members were Alexander Martin, who afterwards became governor, and John Penn, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Willis Alston was a member of Congress from 1799 to 1815 and again from 1826 to 1831. John Branch was a member of Con- gress for a long time, both in the Senate and the lower house, Governor of North Carolina, Secretary of the Navy in President Jackson's cabinet, and later Governor of the Territory of Florida. John R. J. Daniel was Attorney- General of the State and later member of Congress for twelve years. Spier Whitaker, and B. F. Moore were, at different times, Attorney-General of North Carolina. Per- haps no county can show an abler list of representatives in the General Assembly of North Carolina. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE. THE CALL TO ARMS. The year 1860 was ominous. Mutterings of the coming storm were clear and distinct. National politics had be- come a national problem. The Whigs had disbanded. The Democrats were divided into factions. The Abolitionists had united with the disorganized elements of Whigs, Know-Nothings, Free-Soilers, and other political frag- ments until there was now in the northern states a com- pact, well organized party, determined to destroy the in- stitution of slavery at any cost. Early in the year the political pot began to boil. John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, was nominated for Presi- dent by one faction of the Democratic party, and Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, was nominated by the other. The Abolitionists, now called Republicans, nominated Abra- ham Lincoln, of Illinois. The campaign was bitter and personal. Lincoln was elected by a big majority in the electoral college, but by a distinct minority vote. He re- ceived not a single vote in Halifax County. As soon as it was known that Lincoln had been elected, the Legislature of South Carolina called a convention to consider the proposition of seceding from the union. The convention met, and, on December 20th, unanimously passed the ordinance of secession. The example of South Carolina was rapidly followed by Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. Early in Febru- ary, the seven States met in convention at Montgomery, Ala., and elected Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, Presi- dent of the Southern Confederacy, and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, Vice-President. North Carolina had as yet taken no official step in these rapidly happening events. Near the beginning of Febru- Digitized by Google THE CALL TO ARMS 107 ary, however, the General Assembly passed an act sub- mitting the question of calling a convention to the people. The election, for or against calling a convention and for electing delegates, was held February 28th, and, by a sub- stantial majority, the call for the convention was defeat- ed. The vote in Halifax County was significant. For the convention the county registered a vote of 1,049, and against the convention 39. The county, however, selected two union men as representatives. The State, as a whole, elected an overwhelming majority of union men, and if the convention had met before the capture of Fort Sum- ter, North Carolina would probably have remained in the union. An evil time was just ahead. Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4th, 1861, and declared, in his inaugural ad- dress, his purpose to collect custom duties at all southern ports. That declaration, of course, meant war. He, at once, dispatched reinforcements to Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. The Confederate forces there fired upon the Federal ships and demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter. Upon the demand being refused, the bom- bardment of Sumter began ; and, on April 12th, the fort was surrendered. Immediately a thrill shot through the nation. President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunters to put down the "re- bellion" in the South. Governor Ellis refused to send North Carolina's quota in response to this call, and thus placed the State in direct conflict with the United States Government. The General Assembly was, at once, called in extra session. Halifax County's representatives that year were Matthew C. Whitaker in the Senate and Archi- bald H. Davis and W. B. Pope in the house. With other representatives, they voted to call a convention to meet in Raleigh, May 20th, 1861. The call was submitted to the people and carried almost unanimously. Halifax County sent Richard H. Smith, of Scotland Neck, and Dr. Charles J. Gee, of Weldon, as her representatives. When the convention met on May 20, there was no other Digitized by Google 108 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY thought than secession. A majority of the delegates were union men, but in the crisis that had come there could be no other solution than secession and war. The vote was taken on May 20, almost in silence. The two representa- tives from Halifax, along with the others, recorded their votes in favor of severing the political bonds that bound the states together. The vote for secession was unani- mous. For more than a month before the convention met, the feeling in the State was general that war was inevitable. In fact, Governor Ellis, anticipating the action of the con- vention, had authorized the mobilizing of the militia. Thousands of men volunteered within three days after the fall of Fort Sumter, and even before the State authori- ties were ready for them. Among the first companies in the State to volunteer was the "Enfield Blues," a company composed of 109 men rank and file. The officers of the company were D. B. Bell, Captain ; M. T. Whitaker, First Lieutenant ; F. M. Parker, Second Lieutenant; Carey W. Whitaker, Junior Second Lieutenant. At Raleigh on April 17, 1861, along with other companies from various points in the State, the "Enfield Blues" were enrolled in what was afterwards known as the Bethel Regiment under the command of Colonel D. H. Hill. After remaining in camp at Raleigh for a few weeks, the regiment was ordered to Virginia, and, passing through Richmond, marched up Main Street, receiving an ovation from the populace. As this regiment was the first from the State and the Enfield Blues the first com- pany from Halifax County, it will not be improper, before mentioning other companies and other Halifax County men, to follow briefly the military fortunes of this heroic body of men, who risked life, fortune, and honor in a cause they thought right. From Richmond, the regiment was ordered to join Gen- eral Magruder, who was stationed near Yorktown, Va., and who was directed to check the advance of the Feder- Digitized by Google THE CALL TO ARMS 109 als from Fort Monroe. Hill was ordered to take position at Bethel Church, where, on June 10, he was attacked by a superior force under the command of General Pierce. In the battle which followed, the Enfield Blues, under the command of Lieutenant Parker, was stationed on the right wing and did splendid service. They aided in re- pelling the attacks of the enemy and in driving him from the field. Not a man of the company received a scratch in this remarkable conflict, in which about one hundred of the Federals were killed or wounded and only one, on the side of the South, killed and a few slightly wounded. After the Battle of Bethel, the regiment was disrupted and the elements distributed through other commands. Captain Bell resigned August 31, 1861, and Lieutenant F. M. Parker succeeded him, Carey W. Whitaker succeeding to the position of Second Lieutenant and Carr B. Corbett becoming Junior Lieutenant. On October 16, same year, Captain Parker was elected Colonel of the Thirtieth Regi- ment, and, therefore, severed his connection with the En- field Blues. Lieutenant M. T. Whitaker became Captain upon the resignation of Colonel Parker. Another member of the company, Spier Whitaker, was later made adju- tant of the Thirty-third Regiment. Through the vicissitudes of war the company passed, losing in battle and by disease, recruiting and diminish- ing, until at the last sad drama, at Appomattox, only three of the original company, that fought at Bethel, were left, John Beavens, J. S. Whitaker and Spier Whitaker. Dur- ing the years between Bethel and Appomattox, many a deed of heroism and many a noble sacrifice were made ; but history cannot throw a bouquet nor record a tear. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX. WAR'S ALARMS. During the spring and summer of 1861, North Carolina equipped and sent to the battle front in Virginia and Tennessee more than fifty thousand men. Regiments were organized at various points in the State, and camps of in- struction in the school of the soldier were busy centers of military life. Halifax County was not behind in furnishing the flow- er of her soldiery in this crisis. Immediately following the organization of the Bethel regiment, the First Regi- ment of volunteers was mustered in at the Race Track near Warrenton. Montf ord F. Stokes was elected Colonel ; Matt W. Ransom, Lieutenant-Colonel, and John A. Mc- Dowell, Major. Halifax County sent one company of 157 men ; and during the service of the company through the period of the war, the following officers served in turn : Captains, S. H. Gee, W. H. Day ; First Lieutenants, A. L. Pierce, C. Branch; Second Lieutenants W. B. Williams John Wynn, D. E. Stokes, R. J. Day. Upon its organization, the regiment was ordered to Richmond, and became a real fighting force in the Army of Northern Virginia. It was assigned to Holmes' brigade and received its first baptism of fire in the Seven Days Battle, where about one-half of the entire regiment were either killed or wounded. All the regimental officers were shot down and the surviving men continued the pursuit of the enemy without officers or orders. Colonel W. R. Cox, at the time in command of the Second Regiment, was ordered to take command also of the First. The pursuit was continued to Malvern Hill, where the Federals made a desperate stand and checked the Confederate drive. In the last charge of Lee's lines upon the union works at Digitized by Google WAR'S ALARMS 111 Malvern Hill, the First Regiment performed heroic and herculean tasks, and its dead were afterwards found near- est the enemy's defences. Later that year, the regiment participated in the Battle of Antietam, where it lost, in killed and wounded, about one-half of its total number. The next year it underwent another baptism of fire at Chancellorsville, and again at Gettysburg and Winchester. Continuing its career of martial glory, the first regiment met the enemy at the Wilderness, Spottslyvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg ; and furled its banners at Appomattox. It is beyond the compass of this work to give a narra- tive of the exploits of all the volunteer companies from Halifax County in the War between the States. It would require a much more extended volume than the one now being prepared. Hardly more than a mere mention can be made of them, together with a few references to the services rendered. The Twelfth Regiment was organized in the summer of 1861, and Company E, Halifax Light Infantry, became an integral part of it. James H. Whitaker was chosen Captain; J. H. Brickell, First Lieutenant; and John Formey, Second Lieutenant. Along with many another this regiment was sent to Virginia to assist in holding the Confederate lines around Richmond. The Fourteenth Regiment was organized soon afterwards with Junius Daniel, a gallant son of Halifax County, as Colonel. Dan- iel rose to the rank of brigadier-general, and was killed, at Spottsylvania, while brilliantly leading his brigade. In July, 1861, the Twenty-fourth Regiment of volun- teers was organized at Weldon. Company D, David C. Clarke, Captain, Halifax County troops, was enrolled in this splendid body of men. It participated in the battles around Richmond, at Fredericksburg, and Pe- tersburg. It formed a part of General Ransom's Com- mand, sent into Northampton County in June, 1863, to repel a Federal raid from the Chowan river to- ward Weldon, having for its object the burning of the Digitized by Google 112 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY railroad bridge across the Roanoke river. Ransom met the enemy at Boone's Mill and inflicted upon him such a defeat that he fled precipitately to the shelter of his gunboats below Winton. The next year, Company D was a part of Ransom's brigade that made the memorable charge in the capture of Plymouth. Later, in the summer of 1861, the Forty-First Regiment was organized with the Scotland Neck Mounted Rifle- men as one of its best fighting units. At the head of this well equipped and well disciplined company were Ather- ton B. Hill, Captain ; Benjamin G. Smith, First Lieuten- ant ; Norfleet Smith, Second Lieutenant. It became a part of the cavalry division of the Army of Northern Virginia, In March, 1862, the Forty-Third Regiment was organ- ized at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh. Junius Daniel, who was at the time Colonel of the Fourteenth Regiment, was elected to command this valiant body of troops. Daniel was much in demand at the time and had been chosen to head the Forty-Fifth Regiment, which was mobilized about the same time. He accepted the latter position, and was shortly afterwards promoted to the rank of brigadier-general. Halifax County furnished two companies for this regi- ment, Companies D and F, the former commanded by Cary Whitaker, Captain ; Thomas W. Baker, First Lieu- tenant; John S. Whitaker, Second Lieutenant. Dur- ing the period of enlistment, William Beavans and George W. Willis also served in the position of Sec- ond Lieutenant. Company F was officered as follows: William R. Williams, Captain; William C. Ousby, First Lieutenant; Henry A. Mason, Second Lieutenant. The foregoing were promoted during the progress of the war to the position of captain, and William R. Bond, J. H. Morris, W. L. M. Perkins, and Jesse A. Macon served in turn in the position of Second Lieutenant. The Forty-Third Regiment saw active service at Kins- ton, Newbern, and Plymouth in this State, and at Gettys- burg, Drury's Bluff in Virginia, and in the famous Val- Digitized by Google CONFEDERATE MONUMENT, WELDON, N. C. Digitized by Google Digitized by Google WAR'S ALARMS 113 ley campaign under General Early. In all of these strug- gles, the Halifax County men acquitted themselves hero- ically. When General Pickett was given the command against Newbern in January, 1864, the Forty-Third was assigned to his division, and was in the attacking force that met defeat on that occasion. In April, the same year, it was with General Hoke in his successful assault upon Plymouth. When the Junior Reserves were mustered into the Seven- tieth Regiment in the summer of 1864, Halifax County furnished one of the regimental officers, perhaps the youngest officer in the southern army, Walter Clark, who has since become distinguished in State and Nation. He was first elected Lieutenant-Colonel, but shortly after- wards, upon a reorganization of the regiment to meet the wishes of Lieutenant-General Holmes for more expe- rienced senior officers, Clark was chosen Major. Halifax County had no company in this regiment but its history is interesting because of the close connection with it of one of the most distinguished sons of the county. In the bio- graphy of Judge Clark, given elsewhere, will be found a brief summary of the services of this body of troops. In December, 1864, the Seventy-First Regiment of Junior Reserves was organized at Weldon with J. H. An- derson as Colonel. Halifax County furnished one company officered as follows: W. R. Williams, Captain; David C. Whitaker, First Lieutenant; W. K. Martin and W. T. Purnell, Second Lieutenants. The regiment was in service only about four months, but the Halifax Company had been organized in July of the preceding summer and had done provost duty at Weldon until attached to the Sev- enty-First Regiment. Almost immediately after its organization, Colonel Anderson was ordered to Belfield (now Emporia), Va., to check the advance of the Federals upon that place. This was gallantly done, and, upon the retreat of the enemy, he was pursued several miles. The weather was in- tensely cold and the soldiers suffered very much from the Digitized by Google 114 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY lack of proper clothing and bedding. For their gallant service, on this occasion, the General Assembly passed a resolution of thanks. Later, the regiment was attached to Hoke's division, and was under fire at Kinston, South West Creek, and Bentonville, surrendering with Johnston at Durham. Just previous to the organization of the Seventy-First Regiment of Junior Reserves, by act of the Confederate Congress the Seventh Cavalry was formed, which body of troops was afterwards designated as the Seventy-Fifth Regiment. Halifax County furnished one company with the following officers: W. K. Lane of Wayne County Captain ; John A. Collins, First Lieutenant ; W. F. Parker, Second Lieutenant. No explanation is given why a man from Wayne County was elected Captain more than the fact that this was a company of Junior Reserves, and it was desired to have an experienced officer to command. During its term of service, John H. Branch also served as first lieutenant. The regiment served in eastern North Carolina, at Petersburg, and surrendered at Appomattox. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN. THE CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE OP THE ALBEMARLE. During the entire four years of warfare, from 1861 to the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, April 9, 1865, not a foot of Halifax County soil was occupied by Federal troops. In a very important sense, we were remote from the war zone and felt no shock of arms nor heard the din of battle. Nevertheless, the county and particularly Weldon held a strategic position throughout the war. Weldon was selected, early in 1861, as a mobilization camp for troops intended for the Virginia campaigns. Just across the Roanoke, in Northampton County, was es- tablished a school of instruction where raw recruits were drilled and seasoned into grim warriors. Here, many of the regiments were organized and trained before being sent^o the firing line. The railroad lines through Weldon were the main ar- teries that transported reinforcements and supplies to Lee's army from the South. With these railroads in the hands of the Confederacy, the war might be brought to a successful conclusion or prolonged indefinitely ; with them severed, Richmond would fall and the gray line around Petersburg would be irretrievably broken. Hence the ef- fort of the Federals, early in the war, to burn the railroad bridge at Weldon and the determined purpose of the Con- federates to hold it. Weldon was, therefore, a place of much importance, fay more than its size, at that time, warranted. For a long time, Lieutenant-General Holmes, in command of the de- partment of Eastern North Carolina, made his headquar- ters there; and later, during the closing months of the war, Brigadier-General Baker, in command of the same department, issued most of his orders from that point* Digitized by Google 116 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY The concentration camps for troops from many portions of the State and the far South were located on the out- skirts of the town, and troops were constantly marching and countermarching through the principal thorough- fares. Weldon, therefore, presented all the appearances of war without any of its accompanying horrors. Elsewhere in the county, also, there was considerable military activity, although no fighting occurred. Near Scotland Neck, at Edwards' Ferry, the Ram Albemarle, that performed such remarkable service in the recapture of Plymouth, was built. As that extraordinary vessel contributed such an important chapter in the record of the war in North Carolina, a general statement about its construction, equipment, manning, and services will not be inappropriate. As to the construction and equipment, the best authority is the builder of the wonderful naval prodigy, Gilbert Elliott, of Elizabeth City, who was when he began its construction just nineteen years of age. His report, taken from Vol. V of the North Carolina Regi- mental Histories, is here given: "During the spring of 1863, having been previously en- gaged in unsuccessful efforts to construct war vessels, of one sort or another, for the Confederate Government, at different points in Eastern North Carolina and Virginia, I undertook a contract with the Navy Department to build an iron-clad gunboat, intended, if ever completed, to oper- ate on the waters of Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. Ed- wards' Ferry on the Roanoke river, in Halifax County, North Carolina, about 30 miles below the town of Weldon, was fixed upon as the most suitable for the purpose. The river rises and falls, as is well known, and it was necessary to locate the yard on ground sufficiently free from over- flow to admit of uninterrupted work for at least twelve months. No vessel was ever constructed under more ad- verse circumstances. The shipyard was established in a corn field, where the ground had already been marked out and planted for the coming crop, but the owner of the land, W. R. Smith, Esq., was in hearty sympathy with the en- Digitized by Google CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE OF ALBEMARLE 117 terprise, and aided me then and afterwards, in a thousand ways, to accomplish the end I had in view. It was next to impossible to obtain machinery suitable for the work in hand. Here and there, scattered about the surrounding country, a portable saw mill, blacksmith's forge, or other apparatus was found, however, and the citizens of the neighborhoods on both sides of the river were not slow to render me assistance, but co-operated cordially in the com- pletion of the iron-clad, and at the end of about one year from the laying of the keel, during which innumerable difficulties were overcome by constant application, de- termined effort, and incessant labor, day and night, suc- cess crowned the efforts of those engaged in the under- taking. "Seizing an opportunity offered by comparatively high water, the boat was launched, though not without mis- givings as to the result, for the yard being on a bluff she had to take a jump, and as a matter of fact was 'hogged* in the attempt, but to our great gratification did not thereby spring a leak. "The plans and specifications were prepared by John L. Porter, Chief Constructor of the Confederate Navy, who availed himself of the advantage gained by his ex- perience in converting the frigate Merrimack into the iron-clad Virginia at the Gosport navy yard." Mr. Elliott gives a very minute detailed statement as to the size and armament of the vessel. Continuing he says : "The Albemarle was 152 feet long between perpen- diculars ; her extreme width was 45 feet ; her depth from the gun-deck to the keel was 9 feet, and when launched she drew 6 1-2 feet of water, but after being ironed and completed her draught was about 8 feet. The keel was laid, and construction was commenced by bolting down, across the center, a piece of frame timber, which was of yellow pine, eight by ten inches. Another frame of the same size was then dovetailed into this, extending out- wardly at an angle of forty-five degrees, forming the Digitized by Google 118 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY side, and at the outer end of this the frame for the shield was also dovetailed, the angle being thirty-five degrees, and then the top deck was added, and so on around to the other end of the bottom beam. Other beams were then bolted down to the keel, and to the one first fastened, and so on, working fore and aft, the main deck beams being interposed from stem to stern. The shield was sixty feet in length and octagonal in form. When this part of the work was completed she was a solid boat, built of pine frames, and if caulked would have floated in that condition, but she was afterwards covered with four- inch planking, laid on longitudinally, as ships are usually planked, and this was properly caulked and pitched, cot- ton being used for caulking instead of oakum, the latter being very scarce and the former almost the only article to be had in abundance. Much of the timber was hauled long distances. Three portable saw mills were obtained, one of which was located at the yard, the others being moved about from time to time to such growing timber as could be procured. 'The iron plating consisted of two courses, seven inches wide and two inches thick, mostly rolled at the Tredeger Iron Works, Richmond. The first course was laid length- wise, over a wooden backing, 16 inches in thickness, a 2- inch space, filled in with wood, being left between each two layers to afford space for bolting the outer course through the whole shield, and the outer course was laid ilush, forming a smooth surface, similar to that of the Virginia. The inner part of the shield was covered with a thin course of planking, nicely dressed, mainly with a view to protection from splinters. Oak knees were bolt- ed in, to act as braces and supports for the shield. "The armament consisted of two rifled 'Brooke' guns mounted on pivot-carriages, each gun working through three port-holes, as occasion required, there being one port-hole at each end of the shield and two on each side. These were protected by iron covers lowered and raised by a contrivance worked on the gun deck. She had two Digitized by Google CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE OF ALBEMARLE 119 propellers driven by two engines of 200 horse power each with 20-inch cylinders, steam being supplied by two flue boilers, and the shafting was geared together. The sides were covered from the knuckle, four feet below the deck, with iron plates two inches thick. The prow was built of oak, running 18 feet back, on center keelson and solidly bolted, and it was covered on the outside with iron plat- ing two inches thick, and tapering off to a four-inch edge, formed the ram. "The work of putting on the armor was prosecuted for some time under the most disheartening circumstances, on account of the difficulty of drilling holes in the iron in- tended for her armor. But one small engine and drill could be had, and it required, at the best, twenty minutes to drill an inch and a quarter hole through the plates, and it looked as if we would never accomplish the task. But 'necessity is the mother of invention', and one of my as- sociates in the enterprise, Peter E. Smith, of Scotland Neck, North Carolina, invented and made a twist-drill with which the work of drilling a hole could be done in four minutes, the drill cutting out the iron in shavings instead of fine powder. "For many reasons it was thought judicious to remove the boat to the town of Halifax, about twenty miles up the river, and the work of completion, putting in her ar- mament, machinery, etc., was done at that point, although the actual finishing touches were not given until a few days before going into action at Plymouth." Having been completed, the Albemarle was placed under the command of Captain James W. Cooke, of the Confederate Navy, and manned by a complement of dar- ing sailors. Being ordered to co-operate with General Hoke in his attack upon Plymouth, Cooke drifted down the river stern foremost until he came within a few miles of Plymouth. He then attacked the two Federal gun- boats, the Southfield and Miami, sank the former, and chased the latter to the Albemarle Sound, silencing also the batteries on the river shore. The next day General Digitized by Google 120 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Hoke carried the Federal works by storm, captured the to\ '., and took the entire garrison prisoners of war. As for the Albemarle, a few more months of glory end- ed her career on the spot of her greatest achievement. Shortly after the recapture of Plymouth, Captain Cooke proceeded down the Roanoke to its mouth and engaged, in the Albemarle Sound, a Federal fleet of seven vessels. After a teriffic battle of four hours, in which her smoke stack was riddled and she was otherwise crippled, at the cost of enormous losses to the Federals, she steamed back to Plymouth, and lay almost a wreck until the night of October 27, 1864, when she was torpedoed and sunk by Lieutenant William B. Cushing of the United States Navy. Subsequently, the Albemarle was raised and towed to the Norfolk Navy Yard, and, being stripped of her armament, machinery, etc., was sold October 15, 1867. Thus ended the career of one of the first iron-clad gun- boats ever built and the only war vessel ever constructed in Halifax County. Its riddled smoke stack is now in the museum of the Historical Commission at Raleigh. Digitized by Google Ur*~- &> &°*^ Digitized by Google Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT. CLOSING INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. Halifax County soldiers played an important, and fre- quently a conspicuous, part in many of the great events of the war. They were ever among the foremost in nearly all of the great battles. There was no deed of daring, no perilous duty to perform, no sacrifice to make, no suffer- ing to endure that Halifax veterans were not ready to undergo. The story of their patriotism, their endurance, and their fortitude under most trying circumstances would more than fill a volume. Only a few references to their deeds and dangers can be made. It is difficult to tell the story of the private soldier because of the lack of information, but the record of the officers, in many a duplicate, will give a fair estimate of the heroism of the men in the trenches. Halifax furnished to the Confederate service five brig- adier-generals ; namely, L. O'B. Branch, Junius Daniel, W. R. Cox, L. S. Baker, and David C. Clark, the last men- tioned holding a State commission, while the others were commissioned by the Confederate Government. Branch was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in January, 1862, and given command of about 5000 troops with headquarters at Newbern. In March, of that year, he was attacked by about 15,000 Federals, and, after a stubborn resistance, was compelled to retreat, surren- dering Newbern and the Pamlico country to the enemy. Branch afterwards commanded a brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, and, at the Battle of Antietam, was killed. Daniel, whose commission as a brigadier dated from September 1, 1862, was a gallant officer. His courage, en- durance, and skill, were exhibited on many hard fought Digitized by Google 122 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY battlefields ; and in one of the most stubbornly contested conflicts of the whole war, Spottsylvania, he was slain while cheering on his men. "Last at Appomattox" is a legend that has long been claimed for North Carolina, and, in its glory, Halifax County is entitled to a share. General W. R. Cox, a na- tive of Scotland Neck, led the last charge of the last at- tacking column that fired the last shot, on the morning of Lee's surrender, a few minutes before the capitulation took place. Cox's brigade, among whom were some gal- lant sons of Halifax, thus did the last duty for the Con- federacy, and, when ordered, stacked their arms with the deepest feeling of humiliation and regret. Brigadier-General David C. Clark, coimmissioned by the State government, was, for a time, in command of the district of the Roanoke, and guarded the county against invasion from the southeast, again and again foiling the raiding parties of the enemy from Plymouth and the Albemarle country. General Baker was a cavalry officer. During the last six months of the war, he was in command of the District of Eastern North Carolina with headquarters at Weldon. Judge J. M. Mullen, of Petersburg, Va., at one time a resi- dent of the county, has given, in Volume V of the Regi- mental Histories, an interesting account of "The Last Fifteen Days of Baker's Command at Weldon". With his permission, a part of that article is inserted here: "After the evacuation of Plymouth, Washington, Kin- ston, and Goldsboro, Brigadier-General L. S. Baker was sent to Weldon, charged with the duty of holding on to that place, not only for the purpose of preserving railroad communication between the other forces in North Caro- lina and the Army of Northern Virginia, and those along the line of the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad from Goldsboro to that point, but of collecting supplies for these armies from that portion of Eastern North Caro- lina not actually in possession of the enemy. The author- ities recognizing the importance of this position in these Digitized by Google CLOSING INCIDENTS OF THE WAR 123 respects, it being one of the principal sources of supply for the armies in the field, instructed General Baker to hold it until the last moment, and, at the same time, to watch out for and repel any raids of the enemy coming from the Blackwater and Chowan, and from Plymouth, Washington, and Goldsboro. With the force under his command, this was no light duty, and he was necessarily absent from Weldon most of his time looking after the various points under his supervision. Weldon, however, was the headquarters of his department, which was styled 'The Second Military District of North Carolina'. In his absence, the captain of our battery (Captain L. H. Webb, Company A, Thirteenth Battalion, North Carolina Light Artillery), was in command. ****** "The task imposed upon this small force, consisting of two or three hundred infantry and our battery number- ing about one hundred and twenty-five men, was no light one. For weeks it had been in a state of constant activity and excitement, enhanced towards the last with continued suspense and anxiety. It had been constantly on the move to meet threatened advances from the directions of the Tar and lower Roanoke, and the Chowan and Blackwater rivers. If I remember aright, during the month of March, it had been sent upon two expeditions through Northamp- ton, Hartford, and Bertie counties, to repel reported raids of the enemy's cavalry from the Chowan, one, to and below Tarboro to meet a threatened advance from the lower Tar and Roanoke, and one, down at the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad towards Franklin, to check a cavalry raid from the Blackwater. This last expedition, however, was in April, the command returning to camp therefrom the night of April 6. It was under command of Colonel Whitf ord, who had with him not to exceed two hundred infantry, (about fifty of whom were members of our company, armed with inferior rifles) , and two guns from our bat- tery. I was with the expedition as a cannoneer of one of the guns of the battery. I forgot to say that we were con- Digitized by Google 124 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY veyed down the Seaboard road upon two or three flat cars, and possibly a box car or two. Upon reaching Boykin's Depot, about twenty-five miles from Weldon, we discovered that, all below that point, the enemy had torn up and burned the track so that it was impossible for us to pro- ceed further on the train. Disembarking, we reconnoi- tered the situation for several miles around and remained there until next morning, when hearing that the enemy was making his way in the direction of Weldon, we boarded the train and started back. After passing Seaboard, a small station about ten miles east of Weldon, Colonel Whit- ford, who was riding on the engine, saw one or two men run across the track some six or seven hundred yards ahead. He at once ordered the train stopped. This precaution was not taken any too soon ; for as soon as some of the infantry were put off as skirmishers and the situation was taken in, it was discovered that the track for some distance just ahead of us was torn up and that the enemy had ambus- caded both sides. We had passed Seaboard about a mile. As soon as the train was stopped the enemy opened fire upon us. Colonel Whitf ord caused the train to be run back to Seaboard, where the remainder of the command was put in position to await the return of the skirmishers, who were ordered to fall back as soon as they could ascertain with some certainty the force and purpose of the enemy. They soon reported that the enemy, consisting of a regi- ment of cavalry, had retired in the direction of Jackson, which was distant some eight miles in a southeast direction from where we were and away from Weldon. Colonel Whitf ord concluded to follow on after them, but I sus- pect with no hearty desire to meet up with them, for he could but know that our force was not able to cope suc- cessfully with a full regiment. Upon reaching Jackson, we learned there that the regiment was the Third New York Cavalry, about six hundred strong, well mounted and thoroughly equipped with Spencer repeating car- bines, and had passed through that town some hours be- fore, and then must be near Murfreesboro, some twenty- Digitized by Google CLOSING INCIDENTS OF THE WAR 125 five miles distant. After waiting several hours at Jack- son, our guns were ordered back overland to Weldon, while the infantry under Colonel Whitf ord's command re- tired to Halifax. I shall always remember with pleasure one little incident connected with this affair. Several weeks before, as we had more men than were required or needed to man the guns, about sixty of our company had been armed with rifles and acted with the infantry. When the train was halted and skirmishers thrown off, I was anxious to join them and endeavored to get one of the riflemen to exchange places with me. I knew he was dis- affected, and it occurred to me that he would not hesitate to shirk danger ; but I reckoned without my host. He re- jected the overture with some indignation, and remarked that if anybody had to use his rifle he proposed to do it himself; and I ascertained that he behaved as gallantly as any man. This but illustrates that it was not cowardice that caused a great many of our soldiers to waver in their allegiance towards the close of the war, but the ter- rible hardships to which they were subjected, the dis- tressing accounts of suffering of their loved ones at home, and the intuitive knowledge that defeat was inevitable. I remember with sadness, without any feeling of censure, many instances of desertion of as brave men as ever marched to the tap of a drum. "On April 7, about 5 o'clock p. m., a telegram was re- ceived by Captain Webb, who was in command, from Gen- eral Johnston, ordering that all trains north of the Roa- noke river be recalled at once, all the artillery that could be moved got on the south side, and such heavy guns in the defences north of the river as could not be moved be destroyed, and the railroad bridge burned. Steps were at once taken to execute the order, and by hard service all night, the next morning (Saturday, 8th) found every- thing in the shape of guns, ordnance, quartermaster and commissary stores, removed from the north side of the river and delivered in Weldon, and combustibles at once gathered and placed at each end of the railroad bridge to Digitized by Google 126 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY fire it as soon as all the trains were safely over. The bridge, however, was not fired that day, why, I will let Captain Webb speak. I quote from his diary: 'General Baker came up about 10 o'clock A. M. and ordered me with my battery and Williams' section of artillery across the river again. Upon getting my battery over the river, I put my guns in position along the old line as I thought best, and awaited ulterior orders from headquarters. My only support were the feeble remains of a company of so- called cavalry under Captain Strange. In all the twenty men of his command, there was not a single man or offi- cer decently mounted. With my old fiery Bucephalus, Duncan, I could have charged and overturned every skel- eton of a horse in his company. But the men were all true Tar Heels, and there was no braver man than Cap- tain Strange. On the afternoon of the 10th, the artillery was ordered back to the south side, and preparations made to leave Weldon.' According to Captain Webb, there were then at that point about five hundred men, including at least seventy-five stragglers, furloughed men, convales- cents from the hospitals, and detailed men." Judge Mullen proceeds, in his story, to tell of the aban- donment of Weldon and the retreat of the command to- ward Raleigh, in an effort to join General Johnston at that place. The little army left Weldon on April 12th and had not gone far on the way when news of the surrender of Lee reached them, and the realization that the cause was indeed a lost one came upon them. Nevertheless, they continued to push on, hoping to join Johnston and with him to strike one more blow in behalf of the expiring Con- federacy. At Eidgeway, the command separated, the bulk of the men returning to their homes, while fifty under the immediate direction of General Baker continued their ef- forts to join Johnston. At Earpsboro, however, on April 18th, General Baker received information that Johnston had surrendered. He, therefore, sent a flag of truce to General Sherman surrendering his command on April 19th. Digitized by Google CLOSING INCIDENTS OF THE WAR 127 At Weldon, after Baker's Brigade had left, the great- est excitement prevailed. People from the Northampton side of the river came crowding into the town to escape the imagined evils that they supposed would follow in the wake of the Federal army of occupation. The railroad bridge was the scene of the greatest interest and alarm. All the trains and engines in Weldon and vicinity were run on the bridge, and, on the 13th of April, fire was ap- plied, consuming the structure and letting fall the engines to the bottom of the river. This was supposed to cut Weldon off from the danger of immediate occupation by the union forces. Such, however, was not the case, for not many days passed before the blue coats came and as- sumed general direction of affairs, coming from the Northampton side of the river as patrol parties from Grant's army in Virginia and from Goldsboro, that was then in the hands of Sherman. In a few weeks, all the soldiers, surrendered by Lee at Appomattox and by Johnston at Durham, found their way to their homes, and people generally began to realize that the long war had ended. Halifax County men, who had surrendered, returned, feeling that they had fought a good fight in support of the old regime and had failed, and were now ready to accept the result in good faith and make the most of it. The Federal forces lost no time in completely occupy- ing the county. Patrol posts were established at Halifax, Enfield, and Weldon, and Federal soldiers and officers were seen in every community. The war was over, but the bit- terness of defeat was present. Digitized by Google CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE. RECONSTRUCTION DAYS. Recovery from the effects of the war was slow but steady. The men, who had followed Lee in Virginia or suffered in the trenches around Petersburg and Richmond, now entered heartily into the task of rebuilding the waste places. Some of the soldier boys, who had been wounded or held in prison, did not get back to their homes until late in the summer or early fall of 1865. When they did re- turn, however, they, too, began the work of rebuilding. The war, it is true, was ended, but the battles of peace, no less stern and unrelenting, had to be fought; and the man- hood of Halifax, that had heard without fear the whistle of bullets, or seen without dismay, the glimmer of bay- onets, did not hesitate to do their part. Halifax County was in the gloom of defeat and in dan- ger of alien domination ; but it needed development. The four years of war had arrested the march of progress in almost every line of industry. There was no enterprise in agriculture, no manufacturing, no lumbering, no bank- ing, and none of the many other lines of business now be- ing conducted so successfully in the county. The red hand of war had blasted every important industry, and stagna- tion was stalking abroad. But the heroes of the trenches were no less brave in home development than they had been on the battlefield. With no less courage, in the piping times of peace, than they had displayed on a hundred fields of carnage, the boys that went out to battle with enthusiasm in 1861 and returned in 1865, unconquered but overwhelmed, entered with zeal into the task of development. With industry and enterprise characteristic of a people determined to Digitized by Google S*i 3 H W O W « Digitized by Google Digitized by Google RECONSTRUCTION DAYS 129 succeed, the county soon began to emerge from its stupor and to put on new life. Gloom and disaster, however, almost as bad as the storm of war was just ahead. With the advent of peace and the freedom of the negro, grave feelings of uneasiness became apparent as to the status of the f reedman and his political affiliations, if he should be given the ballot. During the war, the county had been represented in the State Senate by Mason L. Wiggins and in the House by Henry Joyner and Archibald H. Davis. For the year 1866, Mason L. Wiggins was re-elected to the Senate. D. C. Clark and W. A. Daniel were chosen to represent the county in the House. To represent Halifax in the Con- vention of 1865, called to rescind the ordinance of seces- sion and to ratify the emancipation of the slaves, Edward Conigland and W. W. Brickell were chosen. In this time of stress and uneasiness, all eyes were focused upon the Federal Congress, anxiously awaiting action by that body regarding the restoration of the State to its position as a member of the union. It was not until 1867, however, that Congress decided definitely upon a policy for the seceded states. In March, that year, the first of the reconstruction acts were passed, organizing North and South Carolina into a military district with General E. R. Canby as military governor with headquar- ters at Charleston, S. C. The same year, Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment, which conferred the fran- chise upon the negro men of the South, and, by statute, withdrew it from thousands of white men, who had taken part in the late war. By this reconstruction measure, more than 3000 negro men became legalized citizens in Halifax county, and cast their ballots for the first time in the election of 1868. In that year, the number of votes cast were as follows : Dem- ocratic, 1,593 ; Republican, 3,206. This vote compared with that of 1856 shows a startling increase. In that year, the vote was as follows : Democratic, 688 ; Whig, 509. There was, therefore, an increase in 1868 of 3,602, at least five- Digitized by Google 130 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY sixth of which was the negro vote. The white voters, as is apparent, found themselves overwhelmed by this ava- lanche of negro ballots. An evil day consequently dawned ; and Halifax County, that had hitherto furnished men of learning and ability to the councils of State and nation, now found itself in the hands of ignorant ex-slaves, de- signing scalawags, and worse carpetbaggers. Henry Epps, a former slave, was elected in 1868, to the State Senate, and two other negroes, H. T. J. Hayes and Ivey Hutchings, and a carpetbagger, John H. Renfrow, were elected to the House. The government of the county fell entirely into the hands of the negroes and their confed- erates, the scalawags and carpetbaggers. This domination continued until 1888, when the alien government was completely overthrown, and the native white people again assumed control. During that period, however, of political stagnation, from 1868 to 1888, the county made decided advances in material prosperity. In 1868, the towns in the county were of little note. Halifax had lost its pristine significance and was of small commercial importance. Weldon was noted only as be- ing the terminus of four railroads. Scotland Neck was merely two villages, Clarksville and Greenwood, a mile apart, Enfield, with about five hundred people, was per- haps the largest town in the county. Littleton had just emerged from the stigma of being called Little's Ordinary and was a mere hamlet. Palmyra was a small neighbor- hood on the Roanoke. Hobgood, Roanoke Rapids, Rose- mary, and Hollister were not as yet in existence. Since 1868, however, the forces of industry have brought about a wonderful change in the commercial im- portance of the country. Tremendous strides have been made in the development of agriculture. Land, which, in 1868, produced no more than a half bale of cotton to the acre, now produces a bale and a half. In manufacturing, the most wonderful progress has been made. At the close of the civil war, there was not a factory of any kind in the county, and that record continued until about 1890. Digitized by Google RECONSTRUCTION DAYS 131 In that year a knitting mill was built in Scotland Neck. In 1892, Major Thomas L. Emry began the development of the water power of the Roanoke river at a point about five miles above Weldon, and from his efforts has come the magic town of Roanoke Rapids with its large cotton fac- tories, knitting mills, and paper mill and a population of over six thousand people. Weldon has also become a man- ufacturing center. At Hollister, the Fosburgh Lumber Company has one of the largest plants in the county. In 1868, there was not a bank in the county. Now there are ten. In railroad building, the county has been among the first in the State. Besides the two trunk lines that were built before the outbreak of the Civil War, two other lines, the Kinston Branch and the Norfolk and Carolina, have been completed since 1880. In all about fifty miles of railroad have been constructed since the civil war. Digitized by Google CHAPTER THIRTY. SINCE RECONSTRUCTION DAYS. Until 1880, the government of the county was entirely in the hands of the ignorant element. They held all the remunerative offices and sent to the General Assembly regularly from 1868 to 1880 a negro to the Senate and a negro and a white man, a carpetbagger or a scalawag, to the House. In 1880, however, the conservatives asserted themselves and elected to the General Assembly Spier Whitaker, representative in the Senate and William H. Day and M. T. Savage in the House. The "radical" ele- ment again triumphed at the polls in 1882, but, in 1884, it was again overthrown by the election to the Senate of J. M. Mullen, and David Bell and A. J. Burton to the House. Again in 1886 the alien government became es- tablished to be finally overthrown in 1888 by the election of Thomas L. Emry to the Senate and W. H. Anthony and Thomas H. Taylor to the House. Since that time the following representatives have served terms in the General Assembly : Year Senate 1891 W. E. Bowers 1893 W. H. Day 1895 I. E. Green 1897 E. T. Clark 1899 E. L. Travis 1901 E. L. Travis 1903 E. L. Travis 1905 W. H. Thorne 1907 W. E. Daniel 1909 E. L. Travis 1911 A. Paul Kitchin 1913 W. E. Daniel 1915 W. L. Long 1917 W. L. Long House of Representatives W. W. Hall, A. B. Hill W. H. Kitchin J. M. Grizzard, J. A. House Scotland Harris, J. H. Arrington W. P. White, H. S. Harrison W. F. Parker, W. P. White W. F. Parker, W. P. White T. C. Harrison, Sandys Gale John B. Neal, A. Paul Kitchin A. Paul Kitchin, H. S. Harrison W. T. Clement, P. N. Stainbach, A. H. Green W. T. Clement, W. P. White J. H. Darden, T. H. Taylor J. H. Darden, T. H. Taylor Digitized by Google SINCE RECONSTRUCTION DAYS 133 These men, most of them still living, performed a part in rescuing the county from the grip of reconstruction evils that is little short of marvellous. Some of them at- tained positions of honor outside of the county, and, there- fore, deserve more than a passing mention. W. H. Day afterwards removed to Raleigh and became one of the most prominent attorneys in the State capital. Kitchin had, in 1878, been elected to Congress defeating two negroes, John A. Hyman, of Warren, and James E. O'Hara, of Halifax, both running on the Republican ticket. Travis is now, 1917, chairman of the State Corporation Commission, having been elected to a position in that body in 1910. Daniel was solicitor for this judicial district from 1894 to 1906, making a splendid record in that capacity. Previous to 1871, for ten years, Halifax County had been in the First Congressional District ; but in that year it became incorporated in the Second. In 1870, Charles R. Thomas, a Republican, was elected to represent the dis- trict in Congress, and re-elected in 1872. Thomas was a scalawag from Newbern. In 1874, the district did an un- precedented thing in electing a negro, John A. Hyman, of Warren County, to the national Congress. Two years later, Curtis H. Brogden, of Goldsboro, who had been governor of the State for two years, was chosen ; but in 1878 Brogden failed of the nomination on the Republican ticket and two negroes, John A. Hyman, of Warren, and James E. O'Hara, of Halifax, were candidates, both claim- ing to have been nominated by the Republican Conven- tion. Seeing a chance of success, the Democrats nomi- nated W. H. Kitchin, of Scotland Neck. A spectacular three-cornered fight was the result, and Kitchin was elected by a plurality vote. For twenty years following that time, the second dis- trict was represented in Congress by negroes, James E. O'Hara, of Halifax, H. P. Cheatham, of Vance, and George H. White, of Edgecombe. In 1900, however, Claude Kitchin, of Scotland Neck, was elected and has been con- Digitized by Google 134 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY tinuously in Congress since. He has taken high rank and is now Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the House and the floor leader of the Democrats. Halifax County took an active part in the World War. Claude Kitchin, Chairman of the Ways and Means Com- mittee of the House of Representatives of the National Congress, voted against the Declaration of War with Ger- many, April 6, 1917, but, finding himself in the minority, he accepted the result as conclusive and allied himself with the President of the United States in the greatest war preparation ever undertaken by a nation. The war meas- ures that startled the world in the enormous revenue raised for the prosecution of the war and the transporta- tion of two millions of soldiers to Europe were largely the product of his efforts. More than twelve hundred men were sent by the Hali- fax County Exemption Board to the training camps, and about one hundred, besides, volunteered for different lines of service. Many saw active service on the battlefields of France, and some made the extreme sacrifice for country and humanity. In every drive for Liberty Loans or for war work, the county went "over the top" early in the campaigns. In the iight, therefore, for the liberation of mankind and in mak- ing the world safe for democracy and Christianity, the county did no small part. Both men and money answered the call and answered it gloriously. At present, Halifax County ranks as one of the fore- most in the State in political influence, in educational progress, in religious development, in material prosperity, and in general industrial activity. Perhaps, there is no county in North Carolina that stands higher in any of these activities. On the Supreme Court Bench, the chief- justice, Judge Walter Clark, is a native of Halifax. The Chairman of the North Carolina Corporation Commission, E. L. Travis, lives in Halifax. The Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the Federal House of Represen- tatives, Claude Kitchin, lives in Scotland Neck. William Digitized by Google SINCE RECONSTRUCTION DAYS 135 W. Kitchin, who was a member of Congress for twelve years and Governor of North Carolina for four years, is a Halifax County man, though he now lives in Raleigh. In educational activity the county ranks high. Wel- don, Roanoke Rapids, Rosemary, Scotland Neck, Enfield, and Littleton have splendid systems of public graded schools with valuable brick buildings in which the schools are conducted. Halifax, Hobgood, and Hollister have also good schools. Religiously, also, the county is wide awake. In other lines of progress, the county is by no means a laggard. If we compare Halifax County of the present with one hundred and fifty years ago, we shall see a wonderful dif- ference. Then, a few hundred people lived here ; now fifty thousand. Then, only two villages in the county; now five thriving towns with large industrial and commercial activities. Then, no roads worthy the name; now splen- did sand-clay turnpikes traversing almost every section. Then, no industry of any note ; now, almost every line of business in the modern world represented. Then, no schools ; now, six city school systems besides other High Schools and rural schools of splendid efficiency. Then, few churches; now beautiful and substantial houses of worship in every neighborhood. In short, Halifax County in a few generations, has leaped from the desolation of the wilderness, unknown and unhonored, into the cal- cium light of railroads, telegraph lines, telephones, elec- tric lights, schools, newspapers, churches, paved boule- vards, factories, paper mills, and all the conveniences and improvements of the modern community. Well might it be said "What wonderful changes time hath wrought!" Digitized by Google CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE. SOME ODDS AND ENDS OP HISTORY. There are numbers of interesting incidents connected with the history of Halifax County, not vitally concerned in the story as given in the preceding pages, but are so absorbing that mention may very well be made in a chapter of "Odds and Ends." The Crowell Family. From Wheeler's History of North Carolina: "Two brothers, John Crowell and Edward, came to North Carolina and settled in Halifax. They emigrated from Woodbridge, New Jersey. They are originally from England; and they or their ancestors were originally called Cromwell. "In the year 1674, says the Annalist of Philadelphia, two brothers of Oliver Cromwell left England for Amer- ica and settled in New Jersey. They fled from England, from the political storms that impended over the name and house of the late Protector. "While on the voyage, fearing that persecution would follow from the adherents of Charles II., then on the English throne, they resolved to change the name. This was done with solemn ceremony, and by writing their name each on paper, and each cutting from the paper the M and casting it in the sea. "The family pedigree on vellum, recording these facts, was with the family in North Carolina, in an ornamental chest with other valuables, when by a party of Tarleton's Legion, in 1781, this chest was seized and taken off. These facts are undoubted. The record was again made up from the recollections of the family, and is still preserved Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google SOME ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY 137 among them. From one of them, these interesting and curious facts are derived. 'Here, in the quiet retreats of North Carolina, the as- piring blood of Cromwell found repose, and in the peace- ful precincts of Halifax, the exquisite poetry of Gray was fully realized : 'Some village Hampden, who with dauntless breast, The petty tyrant of his fields withstood, Some mute, inglorious Milton here may rest, Some Cromwell guiltless of his Country's blood.' " This story of the Crowell family has been robbed of some of its interest in the last few years by the statement that Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector, was the only son of his father surviving infancy. These brothers, who came to America from England, could not, therefore, have been his. Another story of this interesting incident was found among the papers of the late S. S. Alsop, a part of which is here quoted: "After the death of Oliver Cromwell, which happened about the year 1658, his eldest son, Richard Cromwell, having been named as his successor, quietly assumed the reins of government. It was very soon discovered, how- ever, that the talent and disposition of Richard were by no means of an order to enable him to hold with firmness that which his father had won by the exercise of much energy, skill, and political address. Being a man of peace- ful disposition, amiable, and unambitious, Richard allowed himself to be deposed without the least effort to prevent it. Charles II. was now recalled from Normandy and offered the throne. Richard Cromwell, in the mean- time, had retired to his country seat, where, in the pur- suit of more congenial employment, he lived to a very old age in the practice of all social and domestic virtues, and in the enjoyment of those rich and pleasant rewards which ever follow a well-spent life. After the death of Richard, his sons emigrated to America, about the begin- ning of the eighteenth century, and settled in New Jer- Digitized by Google 138 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY sey. Before landing, however, a family council was held when, in the known unpopularity of the family on this side, especially in the middle and southern provinces, it was agreed to drop from the name the letter (m), thus leaving it Crowell, as it is at present written. "Shortly after the settlement of the family in New Jer- sey, Edward and Joseph Crowell were born, and from thence, about 1730, immigrated into this State. Here Joseph married a Miss Barns, a woman, says Wheeler, re- markable for her personal beauty. "Edward Crowell, who settled near what is now known as Crowell's X Roads, married a Miss Raburn, a sister of Matthew Raburn, afterwards Governor of Georgia." ADVENTURES OP A PRIVATEER. A story from the pen of James Moore, father of B. F. Moore, at one time Attorney-General of North Carolina, is interesting enough to find a place in this volume. The following is his own account: "In 1775-6, enlistments were made in the neighbor- hoods where the musters were held, and I was very anx- iously concerned because I was not of the age required for a soldier (i. e. 16). At this time I was only ten or eleven years old, and during a part of the period from thence till I reached the required age, I was at school; but as soon as I was sixteen, which was in 1781, the year in which Cornwallis was taken, I entered on board a privateer schooner called the Hannah, which sailed out of Edenton on an eight weeks' cruise. "Our captain's name was Kit Gardiner, an Englishman by birth. William Gold, of Connecticut, was lieutenant, and Daniel Webb, of South Quay, Nausemond County, Virginia, was first prize master. "We sailed in March from Edenton and crossed the Ocracoke bar and soon was in the Gulf Stream with heavy surges. We sprung our bowsprit and put into Beaufort harbor and put another in. From there we sailed and Digitized by Google SOME ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY 139 cruised off Charleston, took four prizes and condemned three. The fourth was a Bermudean, a neutral, and he had two sets of consignments, one for a British port and the other for an American, by which means she was cleared at Wilmington, N. C. "The first prize was a schooner from Cork, Ireland, to New York. She was taken first by a privateer out of Philadelphia and retaken by the Charleston frigate. This frigate was built in Newburyport, fifty miles eastward of Boston (I was shown the spot where it was said she was built) and was called the Boston. She happened to be in Charleston when the British took that city, and they changed her name and called her Charleston. After her capture she was their regular packet from Charleston to New York. "In our cruise, we took a schooner called the Lord Corn- wallis, laden with Governor Martin's effects. He was Governor of South Carolina and became traitor; and when laying in provisions against the siege, he caused the barrels to be filled with sand instead of pork. "The second prize was from New Hampshire laden with salt and garden seeds, such as peas, beans, etc. I was put aboard of her. Our place of rendezvous was Beaufort, N. C. Now as we took the vessel near Charleston, the port to which she was bound, it was reasonable to suppose that her provisions were nearly exhausted, which was the case. "With these, we undertook to make Beaufort, but in- stead of that, the first port was Newburyport, fifty miles eastward of Boston, and, sixteen days after, we were tossed and carried by contrary winds, going all around the different capes till we were off the Banks of Newfound- land and in view of the Agamenticus Hills, whose appear- ance, when seen at sea, is like three burly-headed clouds. We sailed along thence and arrived at Newburyport, sold our cargo (salt) at one dollar a bushel, and I received what the prize master saw fit to allow me, which was four dollars only." Digitized by Google 140 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Governor Burton's Apparition. There is a well authenticated story connected with the death of Governor Hutchings G. Burton in 1836. The following account is the language of S. S. Alsop, who left some valuable notes on the history of the county: "Governor Burton had a summer home in the western part of the county near Ringwood named Rocky Hill, at which he was residing at the time of his death. He had bought a large tract of land in Texas and had started to see it, with a view of removing if he liked it. Reaching Salisbury, where he had some business in court, he met with his cousin, Robert Burton, of Lincoln County, and started to spend some time with him. They stopped at the Wayside Inn, with some other lawyers to spend the night, when he was taken with cramp and died within twenty-four hours. His last words were, 'Oh, my dear wife and children. Lord, receive my spirit/ He was buried in Unity Church yard, in Lincoln County, a Pres- byterian church, of which he was a member. "His wife had been on a visit and was returning to her home, Rocky Hill, which is on a high elevation — about dusk. She was driven in a carriage by her servant Wil- liam and had with her a grandchild, an infant, and a nurse. At the same time, she and William saw Governor Burton riding down the hill on a white horse, which he usually rode. Just then the infant cried and Mrs. Burton turned her head to see what was the matter. When she turned her head again expecting her husband to speak, the apparition had disappeared. She at once asked Wil- liam where was his master. He did not answer and she repeated the question. He then said, 'Hush, Missus/ and told her he had ridden on down the hill and disappeared. He could never speak of it afterwards. "On account of the slow mails of that day, Mrs. Burton did not hear of her husband's death until three weeks had passed, and found that the apparition had appeared at the very hour of his death." Digitized by Google SOME ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY 141 Historic Homes. In the southern end of the town of Halifax, near Quanky Creek, was built about the year 1765, the famous home of Willie Jones, known as "The Grove Place". The four front rooms were built of material brought from the wreck of the home of Robert Jones, father of Willie Jones, in Northampton County. This home of the elder Jones was known as "Jones' Castle" and had been built near the beginning of the eighteenth century of material said to have been brought from England. Willie Jones, the owner, was a man of considerable means, and greatly beautified not only the house but also the grounds. There was a race-track near the residence, which was used extensively by the residents of Halifax and by those who came from afar for the sport there af- forded. Willie Jones owned blooded horses and was the leader in that line of sports as well as in many other lines. The house is noted for having been, at different times, the headquarters of a part of three armies. During the Revolutionary war, Lord Cornwallis was entertained there while the British army was encamped in the town on its way to its Waterloo at Yorktown. In this house, also, Colonel Tarleton met his defeat in repartee at the hands of Mrs. Jones and her sister, Mrs. Ashe. During the war between the States, Colonel McRae, by invitation of the owner, had his regiment quartered there for some weeks. At the close of the war, the house was unoccupied and was taken possession of by a part of the Federal army of occupation. For some years after the Civil War, the house was unoccupied. Willie Jones, at his death, willed the home to his son, Willie W. Jones, who lived and died an old bachelor; and at his death, his sisters, Mrs. Eppes and Mrs. Burton, ac- quired possession. It remained in the Eppes family for many years and came to be called "The Eppes Home". It is now in decay, but an effort is being made by the Hali- fax Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to reclaim and rebuild it. Digitized by Google 142 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY It is sometimes erroneously called the "Paul Jones House". John Paul Jones did reside there for some time, but only as a guest or protege of the owner, Willie Jones. Another historic house is "Quanky", where Colonel Nicholas Long, of the Revolution, lived. It was located just across Quanky Creek from the "Grove Place". Not one stone is left upon another now, and not even the site can be definitely determined. Here, during the Revolu- tion, Colonel Long, who was, at the beginning of the war, in command of the Halifax regiment, entertained the high officials of the State and nation. "Rocky Hill", the summer home of Governor Hutch- ings G. Burton, near Ringwood, is still standing, owned now by Mr. S. Harrison. Governor Burton, during his life as a public man, lived in the town of Halifax at the Grove House ; but spent the greater part of the summers at "Rocky Hill", and was making it his permanent home at the time of his death in 1836. Besides these historic homes, there are other buildings of more or less note. The home of General William R. Davie is still standing in the town of Halifax. The "Con- stitution Building", where the first State Constitution of North Carolina was written, is in a dilapidated condition, as is the old Town Hall, where the Convention met in 1776, both being in the town of Halifax. Here, also, is the Masonic Temple, a building venerable and historic. Between it and the river, on Main Street, is the site of the old Eagle Hotel, so famous during the Revolution and for years afterward. Now, hardly the foundations can be discerned. Digitized by Google CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO. SUMMARY. Halifax County was formed from Edgecombe County in 1758 and named in honor of Charles Montague, Earl of Halifax, who was, at the time, Secretary of the British Board of Trade. The first settlements were made on Roanoke river and Conoconara swamp about 1723, and on Quanky Creek near the same time. The first resistance to British oppression took place in Halifax County when armed men seized Corbin and Bodly, agents of Lord Granville, near Edenton and brought them forcibly to Enfield, in 1759, and lodged them in jail. Joseph Montf ord, the first and only Grand Master of Masons for the Continent of North America, lived in Hal- ifax. April 12, 1776, the Provincial Congress, in session in Halifax, passed the famous resolution instructing the delegates in the Continental Congress from North Caro- lina to vote for a National Declaration of Independence, antedating similar resolutions from other colonies. November 12, 1776, the first Constitutional Conven- tion of North Carolina met in Halifax and organized the State government. From 1776 to 1782, nearly every session of the General Assembly met in Halifax. Halifax County had one of the representatives in the Continental Congress for several years, Willie Jones. In the National Convention of 1787, Halifax County had two of the six representatives from North Carolina, Wil- lie Jones and William R. Davie. Jones, however, refused to serve and afterwards opposed the ratification of the Constitution. Digitized by Google 144 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Halifax County has had one ambassador to France, William R. Davie, and one member of the President's cab- inet, John Branch. The County has had the following members of the Na- tional House of Representatives : John B. Ashe 1787—1788 John B. Ashe 1789—1793 Willis Alston 1799—1815 Hutchings G. Burton 1819—1825 Willis Alston 1825—1831 John Branch 1831—1833 Jesse A. Bynum 1833—1841 John R. J. Daniel 1841—1853 L. O'B. Branch 1855—1861 W. H. Kitchin 1879—1881 James E. O'Hara (negro) 1883—1887 W. W. Kitchin* 1897—1909 Claude Kitchin 1901— (♦Elected from Person Co.) One Senator in the United States Congress was from Halifax County, John Branch, who served from 1823 to 1831. The following Councillors of State were from Halifax County. Usually there were seven from the State at Large: Willie Jones 1781—1782 Willie Jones 1787—1788 John Branch 1793—1798 John Branch 1801—1804 Gideon Alston 1807—1830 Isham Matthews 1834—1835 Henry Joyner 1866 Halifax County has given the following Governors to the State: Digitized by Google m P O w § • o w w Digitized by Google Digitized by Google SUMMARY 145 Abner Nash 1780—1781 William R. Davie 1798—1799 John Branch 1817—1820 Hutchings G. Burton 1825—1827 W. W. Kitchin* 1909—1913 (♦Elected from Person Co.) The following Comptrollers: John Craven 1784—1808 James Grant 1827—1834 The following Attorney-Generals were elected from Hal- ifax County : John Haywood 1791—1794 Hutchings G. Burton 1810—1816 WilliamDrew 1816—1825 John R. J. Daniel 1835—1840 Spier Whitaker 1842—1846 B. F. Moore 1848—1851 The county has furnished two judges of the Supreme Court of North Carolina: Joseph J. Daniel 1832—1848 Walter Clark 1889— Clark has been chief-justice since 1903. Five judges of the Superior Court have been chosen from Halifax: John Haywood 1794—1800 Joseph J. Daniel 1816—1832 Walter Clark 1885—1889 Spier Whitaker 1889—1894 W. R. Cox 1877—1879 Halifax County furnished four brigadier-generals to the Confederate service. Digitized by Google 146 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Date of Rank L. O'B. Branch (killed at Antietam) Nov. 16, 1861 Junius Daniel (killed at Spottsylvania) Sept. 1, 1862 Lawrence S. Baker July 23, 1863 William R. Cox May 31, 1864 David C. Clark held the rank of brigadier-general in the State militia and received his commission from the State government. In the Revolutionary war, the county furnished one brigadier-general in the Continental service, James Ho- gan. The "Father of the American Navy", John Paul Jones, was appointed Captain of the Ranger while resid- ing at Halifax. The last soil held by Cornwallis, in North Carolina, was in Halifax just before his retreat to Virginia where he was soon bottled up and captured. At the Eagle Hotel both President Washington and General Lafayette were entertained with elaborate cere- mony at different times. The Confederate iron-clad, the Ram Albemarle, was built near Scotland Neck, the first and only one built in the State. Halifax has furnished more Governors (five) than any other county in the State ; more attorneys-general (six) ; more members of Congress (fifteen) ; more brigadier- generals (six) than any other county. Soldiers from Halifax have always stood in the front line. They were among the first to march to Washing- ton's aid in 1776, among the first at Bethel, among the foremost at Gettysburg, and the last at Appomattox. There are twelve townships, as follows : Halifax, Wel- don, Roanoke Rapids, Littleton, Conoconara, Scotland Neck, Roseneath, Butterwood, Brinkleyville, Fau- cette, Palmyra, and Enfield. There are ten towns, Wel- don, Halifax, Enfield, Scotland Neck, Roanoke Rapids, Rosemary, Littleton, Hobgood, Palmyra, and Hollister. Digitized by Google PART TWO Digitized by Google Digitized by Google PART TWO. BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY. Unknown are most of the real builders of the county. The men, who with axe and hoe, smote the forests and turned a wilderness into towns, farms, and gardens, lie mostly in unremembered graves. Few of the thousands, who wrought unselfishly in carving the county from the heritage of the woods, achieved distinction. Very few can be mentioned in a story of their deeds. Pity it is that the pages of the Recording Angel are not accessible to the historian; for many a hero and heroine, whose deeds are, doubtless, recorded in letters of gold, will have to be passed by with not even a word. Such is the fate of the great masses of humanity that come into exis- tence, play for a brief time upon the world's stage, and pass off to an eternal oblivion. 'Tis but a few that catch the ear and attract the eye of men. In this part of the work, brief sketches of those who have had to do with the making of the county are given. Some, perhaps, who belong in the number, are not given for the reason that their footprints have become so dim that they could not be traced. Only those who have made a distinct impression upon the records of the county have been selected. The "uncrowned kings," who toiled and delved and dropped into unmarked graves, must be necessarily omitted. Even many of those who held rank and won honor among their fellows must go unrecorded. I JOSEPH MONTFORD. Among those who became prominent about the time of the formation of the county was Joseph Montford, Digitized by Google 150 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY who was born in England in 1724 and came to North Carolina in early life. He received a liberal education in his native land before coming to America, an asset which was worth much to him in shaping his career in the land of his adoption. Coming to North Carolina about 1750, Montford lo- cated on the north bank of Quanky Creek in what after- wards came to be called Halifax. Before Halifax County was formed and while the territory north of Fishing Creek was called Edgecombe Parish, he was elected Clerk of the Court of Edgecombe County and served in that capacity at Enfield, the County seat of Edgecombe, un- til Halifax County was organized in 1758, when he was elected Clerk of the Court of Halifax and was re-elected each year until his death. In addition to his duties as Clerk of the Court, he was called upon to serve in other capacities. When the Hali- fax Judicial District was formed in 1760, Montford was chosen Clerk of the District Court. He was, also, one of the commissioners of the town of Halifax in 1764, and member of the Colonial Assembly in 1762, 1764, 1766, 1767 and 1773. He was chosen Colonel of the Halifax militia before the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, and, in addition to other duties, he was made treasurer of the Northern Counties of the province in 1764. While serving in this last capacity, he came in direct antagonism with Governor Tryon, who was at the time ♦engaged in his war with the Regulators. Tryon was organizing and equipping his army ready for his cam- paign against the rebels of Orange County and needed money to pay his soldiers. He drew drafts upon Colo- nel Montford, without authority of the Assembly, which Montford refused to pay. Tryon blustered and threat- ened, but his drafts were not paid until the Assembly au- thorized their payment. An unusual honor came to Colonel Montford in March, 1772, when he received a commission from the Duke of Beaufort, Grand Master of Masons of Great Britain, ap- Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 151 pointing him Provincial Grand Master of and for North America. So far as is known, this was the first and only time such a signal honor was bestowed. This commis- sion was held until his death in 1776. Colonel Montford was a staunch patriot and stren- uously advocated separation from the mother country, but an incurable disease was preying upon him and he was unable to do anything to bring about the desired condition. He died March 25, 1776, about the time the Revolution was getting fully under way. His remains rest in the yard of the Masonic temple at Halifax. In 1753, Colonel Montford married Priscilla Hill, daughter of Colonel Benjamin Hill, of Bertie County. There were three children. Henry married Sarah Ed- wards, but died without offspring. Mary married Willie Jones; Elizabeth married John Baptista Ashe. These two won fame in their tilt with Colonel Tarleton in 1781 when the British were encamped at Halifax. II JOHN BAPTISTA ASHE. John Baptista Ashe was the eldest son of Governor Samuel Ashe, of Rocky Point, New Hanover County, and grandson of John Baptista Ashe, who was presiding of- ficer of the Colonial Assembly in 1727. He was born in 1748. As a young man, he was an enthusiastic admirer of Governor Tryon and was with him at the Battle of Alamance in 1771. Later, when the war of Revolution began, he joined the patriot cause and was at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in February, 1776. He was ap- pointed captain in the Sixth Continental Regiment in April, 1776; major in January, 1777; and Lieutenant- Colonel in November, 1778. That regiment was, in that year, consolidated with the first; but when it was sur- rendered at Charleston in 1780, Colonel Ashe was not present and so escaped captivity. Digitized by Google 152 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Under the command of General Jethro Sumner, Col- onel Ashe organized, at Salisbury, another regiment of Continentals, which did splendid service, under his com- mand, at the Battle of Eutaw Springs and at other points in South Carolina. He held this command until the end of the war. In 1776, he married Elizabeth Montford, daughter of Joseph Montford, of Halifax, and thereafter made that town his home. At the close of the Revolution, he re- signed his commission in the army and entered heartily into the business life of the town and county. Entering politics, he was elected to the House of Com- mons in 1784 and again in 1786, and became Speaker of that body. In 1787, he was a member of the Congress of the Confederation and State Senator in 1789. He had, like his brother-in-law, Willie Jones, opposed the adop- tion of the Federal Constitution in 1788; but, after the amendments were practically secured, he favored its adoption, differing from Jones in that respect. At the Constitutional Convention of 1789, which met in Fayetteville, Colonel Ashe was a member from Halifax and chairman of the Committee of the Whole, which had under consideration the Federal Constitution, and pre- sided over the deliberations of the convention whenever the constitution was being discussed. He was an enthus- iastic advocate of its final adoption, and was influential in securing a favorable vote for it. At the first election of members of the Federal Con- gress, Colonel Ashe was chosen to that body and re- elected in 1791, serving with distinction until 1793. In 1795, he again represented Halifax in the General As- sembly, but retired to private life after his term of office expired. In 1802, he was elected Governor of the State, but when the committee from the General Assembly came to notify him of his election, they found him des- perately ill ; and in a few days thereafter he died without taking the oath of office. He left one son, Samuel Porter Ashe, whose descend- Digitized by Google o H O g S OB o § O W Digitized by Google ^ _Coo gl e BUILDERS OP THE COUNTY 153 ants live in Tennessee. Colonel Ashe was an anti-Feder- alist, but later became an advocate of the Constitution, and still later a Jeffersonian Democrat. HI WILLIE JONES. In many respects, one of the most remarkable men of the Revolutionary period in North Carolina was Willie Jones, of Halifax. At one time, and through a number of years, he exerted more influence than any other man in the State ; and stands out conspicuously as one of the really noted characters of that day. The Jones family originally came from Wales to Vir- ginia about the middle of the seventeenth century. Rob- ert, or Robin, Jones, third of the name, moved to North Carolina and became agent for Lord Granville. He was a lawyer of ability, educated in England where he at- tracted the attention of Granville, and was appointed Attorney-General for North Carolina in 1761. By his profession as attorney for the crown and agent of Granville's great domain, he rapidly acquired wealth and became probably the largest landed proprietor on the Roanoke. He married first Sarah Cobb in 1737 and was the founder of the Jones family of Halifax and Northampton Counties. Allen Jones, who held the rank of brigadier-general of State militia during the Revolution, was born Decem- ber 24, 1739. Strange that the exact date of the birth of his more distinguished brother, Willie Jones, the sub- ject of this sketch, is not given ; but it was probably in 1741. Nothing is known of the boyhood and youth of the two boys, except that they were educated in England at the celebrated Eton College, where they were under the charge of Lord Granville. After completing their education, the brothers returned to North Carolina and became planters, Allen making his home at "Mt. Gallant/' Digitized by Google 154 HISTORY OP HALIFAX COUNTY Northampton County, and Willie coming to Halifax about 1763 and building "The Grove" house in Halifax town. The first appearance of Willie Jones on the political stage was as a member of the Provincial Congress that met in Newbern in 1774. He was also a member the next year when the Congress again met at Newbern, April 3, 1775, and at Hillsboro, August 20. The two meetings of the Congress in Halifax, April, 1776, and November, 1776, were the two most important sessions of that body. Jones was influential at both sessions. His election to all »of these conventions, which could not but be regarded as preliminary to a separation from the mother country, shows him to have been the leader of the patriot cause in Halifax County; and his home is said to have been the meeting place for consultation between the prominent patriots from every section of the province. At the Congress of November, 1776, he took a promi- nent part. He was a member of the committee on privi- leges and elections and, also, of the committee for draw- ing up a Bill of Rights and the Constitution. It is said that these documents were written by Thomas Jones, of Chowan County, but with the assistance of Willie Jones. It was said of him that he could draw a bill in better language than any other man of his day. The Congress at Halifax organized what was known as the Council of Safety, consisting of representatives from each of the five military districts of the State. Willie Jones was elected president of the Council, and, therefore, was acting Governor of North Carolina until Richard Caswell was elected in December, 1776. At the sessions of the General Assembly of 1776—1782 and 1788, he was a member either from the borough of Halifax or from the county. In 1787, he was elected a delegate to the convention which met in Philadelphia to adopt the Constitution of the United States; but he de- clined to serve because he was not in sympathy with the purposes of the Convention. He was a member of the Continental Congress in 1780. Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 155 One of the most spectacular events in his notable career was his opposition to the ratification of the national con- stitution by the Convention at Hillsboro. Jones was the leader of the opposition, and the manner in which he conducted the consideration of the measure was master- ly. When the vote was taken it was found that the ratification was lost by a vote of 184 to 84. This was his last appearance as a public man. He died in 1822 at his summer home near Raleigh and was buried in his garden, and the location of his grave has been lost. He has been honored by having a county, Jones, and a town, Jonesboro, named for him. Willie Jones married, in 1776, Mary Montf ord, a daugh- ter of Joseph Montf ord, who was a lady of many attrac- tions and superior qualities. Their children were Anne Ward, who married Joseph B. Littlejohn ; Sally, who mar- ried Hutchings G. Burton and, afterwards, Andrew Joy- ner; Patsy, who married John W. Eppes, and two sons, Robert Allen and Willie, who died unmarried. Willie Jones was no orator in the ordinary acceptation of that term. Though he held the Hillsboro Convention in the hollow of his hand, he made no speech of more than a few sentences. He swayed the convention by his person- al magnetism and his individual influence over the mem- bers. Feeling sure of his hold upon the convention, he made motion that the question of ratification be put with- out discussion, saying that he had made up his mind and that he supposed others had also, emphasizing the point that discussion would be a waste of time and an expense to the State. James Iredell, the leader of the Federalists, in reply, pointed out that discussion was involved in the very idea of the convention, and, if it had not been, the Assembly should have instructed the delegates to vote at their homes without coming together. Jones had the good sense to withdraw his motion, and the debate went on, participated in by Iredell, Davie, Johnston, and Mac- lain ; but when the vote was taken it was found that Jones' position was sustained. Digitized by Google 156 HISTORY OP HALIFAX COUNTY He left a lengthy will which is on record at Halifax, from which a few extracts are taken : "Now, as it is possible and indeed probable that my wife will not be satisfied with the provisions which I have hereinbefore made for her, and consequently could refuse to be bound by this very will and claim dower in and a distribution share in my estate (he then revokes all pro- visions made in her favor and continues) , and I leave to my wife to do better for herself, if she can, than I had hereinbefore done for her. I give to my wife the liberty of getting firewood for her own use on any of my lands, except my groves, and they are to be held sacred from the axe." Another provision of his will directs that, if he should die in Raleigh, he be buried by the side of his little girl who is buried there ; and, if he should die at Halifax, he be buried near his little girl in the orchard. About forty yards north of the site of the "Grove House" is a little thicket in which is the grave of the little child that is men- tioned. One other peculiarity of the will gives a trait of his char- acter: "My family and friends are not to mourn my death even by a black rag ; on the contrary I give to my wife and three daughters each a Quaker colored silk to make them hoods on the occasion." With all of his peculiarities, Willie Jones was a remark- able man, and the county has not seen his like again. IV WILLIAM R. DAVIE. Though acting such a prominent part in the history of the State and Nation, William Richardson Davie was not born on Carolina soil. He was born at Egremont, Cum- berland County, England, June 24, 1756. He was brought to America by his father Archibald Davie in 1763 and left in charge of his maternal uncle, Rev. William Rich- Digitized by Google BUILDERS OP THE COUNTY 157 ardson, a Presbyterian minister residing in the Wax- hans settlement, in South Carolina. Having no children, Mr. Richardson adopted the boy and made him heir to his estate. He was sent to school at the Queen's Museum, Charlotte, N. C, and afterwards to Princeton College, then in charge of Dr. Witherspoon. In the summer of 1776, he served with a party of stu- dents in the American army, and in the fall returned to college and took the degree of Bachelor of Arts with the first honors. His uncle died before Davie's return to the State. Having selected the law as his profession, he began its study in Salisbury. In 1777, he joined a de- tachment of 1200 troops under the command of Allen Jones, ordered to the defense of Charlotte; but the at- tack on that city being abandoned by the enemy, the de- tachment returned after reaching Camden. In 1779, he joined a troop of cavalry raised in the Salisbury district, of which William Barnett was elected captain and Davie, lieutenant. The troop soon after joined the Southern army and was attached to Pulaski's Legion. For distinguished service in the field, Davie was suc- cessfully promoted to the rank of captain and later to that of major. He took part in the Battle of Stono, in which he was severely wounded, which disabled him from any fur- ther service that year. While recuperating from his wound he secured his license to practice law ; but in 1780, he answered again the call to arms, and, having obtained leave of the General Assembly, he raised a troop of cav- alry and two companies of infantry, equipping them out of his own funds derived from his uncle's estate. While in command of this troop, Major Davie took a brilliant part in several encounters. He arrived with his command after the defeat of the Tories at Ramseur's Mill, and was dispatched by General Rutherford in pursuit of the fugitives. He took an active part in the Battle of Hanging Rock, of which there is a good narrative in Davie's own words in Wheeler's History of North Caro- lina. After the Battle of Hanging Rock, Major Davie car- Digitized by Google 158 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ried his wounded to Charlotte for surgical attention and set out to join the army of General Gates at Rugeley's Mill. When he came within a few miles of Camden, S. C, he met General Gates himself in full retreat. Gates ordered Davie to fall back to Charlotte, saying that Tarle- ton's dragoons were in pursuit and would soon be upon them. Davie's reply was characteristic. He said, "My men are accustomed to Tarleton and do not fear him." He then hurried on toward Camden. Meeting General Huger soon after, Davie asked him how far Gates' orders should be obeyed. Huger answered,"Just as far as you choose, for you will never see him again." Finding the rout complete, Major Davie retraced his steps and took post at Charlotte. On September 20, 1780, Davie having been promoted to the rank of Colonel with instructions to raise a regi- ment of cavalry, with 150 dragoons fell upon about 400 of the enemy at Wahab's Plantation and routed them, killing and wounding about 60 and capturing ninety-six horses and 120 stands of arms. This remarkable feat of arms was accomplished after a ride of sixty miles, and all done within twenty-four hours. Shortly after this he was joined by Sumner and Davidson with about 1000 poorly equipped militia. When Cornwallis advanced on Charlotte, September 26, 1780, Colonel Davie had only 150 mounted men with him and a few volunteers under Major Graham. Posting one company near the Court House, where the men would be sheltered by a stone wall, and two others where they were sheltered by dwellings, he repulsed three attacks of the British and held his ground until he was outflanked and was forced to retreat. The coolness and skill of Colonel Davie, in this affair, in which with a handful of men, he kept the whole British army at bay for hours, have been highly praised. After the disastrous defeat at King's Mountain, Cornwallis retired into South Carolina follow- ed by Davie's command, that harassed his rear guards no little. Digitized by VjOOQ IC BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 159 In December, 1780, General Nathanael Greene took command of the Southern army at Charlotte. Greene at once appointed Davie Commissary-General, which he ac- cepted with reluctance because he regretted leaving act- ive military service, and began his new duties in January, 1781. He was with the army of the South for five months, being present at the Battles of Guilford Court House, Hobkirk's Hill, the evacuation of Camden, and the Siege of Ninety-Six. In the summer of 1781, Colonel Davie was sent by General Greene as a confidential messenger to the General Assembly of North Carolina for the purpose of representing the wants of his army, a mission, which he, by reason of his tact and knowledge of the members, successfully accomplished, securing a liberal contribution of men and supplies. In July, 1781, he became Commissary-General of North Carolina with headquarters at Halifax, which position he held until the close of the war. During this period, the credit of the State had fallen so low that Davie was obliged to pledge his individual credit in order to ob- tain supplies. It was during this period also that the Roanoke lands furnished supplies for nearly the whole of Greene's army. After the close of the war, Colonel Davie, in February, 1783, resumed the practice of law and located in the town of Halifax, and about the same time married Sarah Jones, the daughter of General Allen Jones, of Mount Gallant, Northampton County. There were seven judicial districts in the State at that time and Colonel Davie practiced law in all of them ex- cept the Morganton district. He was a brilliant advo- cate and soon built up a large and lucrative practice. It was said of him that, in the fifteen years he was at the bar, there was not a capital case in the State in which he was not retained by the defense. One of the most famous of the capital cases, in which he appeared, was the trial of the celebrated Tory, Colonel Samuel Bryan, for treason, at Salisbury. Davie and Bryan had been enemies on the Digitized by Google 160 HISTORY OP HALIFAX COUNTY battlefield. They had met in mortal conflict at Hanging Rock. Davie had done all that he could to destroy Bryan and his command; but now, peace had come and Davie was employed by Bryan to defend him. True to his client, Davie left no stone unturned to clear him ; but the pre- judice against the Tory was too great and Bryan was convicted. Later, however, he was pardoned by the Gov- ernor. In 1787, Davie was a delegate from North Carolina to the Constitutional Convention, which met in Philadelphia, in May, to prepare a Federal instrument of government. He was then thirty-one years old, but, by his eloquence and knowledge, made a decided impression upon the con- vention. A critical question before the convention was the equal representation of the large and small states in the Senate, the large states contending for representa- tion according to population and the small states for equal representation. North Carolina was then one of the large states. In order to avoid a disruption of the Convention, a committee of one from each state was appointed to de- cide the question, and Davie was appointed as the mem- ber of that committee from North Carolina. In this mat- ter, Colonel Davie voted with the small states, and, by a majority of one, secured for the small states equal repre- sentation in the senate. He left the Convention a few days before adjournment in obedience to the call of a client, and for that reason his name does not appear among the signers of that document. He was active in the State Convention of 1788, at Hills- boro, in advocacy of the ratification of the Federal Con- stitution, but it was defeated then under the leadership of Willie Jones. After the Constitution was ratified at Fay- etteville the next year, President Washington tendered Colonel Davie the appointment of District Judge, but it was declined. He represented the borough of Halifax in the House of Commons in 1786, 1787, 1789, 1791, 1793, 1794, 1796, and 1798. While a member of the General Assembly, he la- Digitized by Google CO M g o I w w Digitized by Google Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 161 bored unceasingly for the establishment of the State Uni- versity, and finally secured the act of incorporation in 1789. He was the real founder of that great institution, and as Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina laid the corner stone of the first building in 1793. In view of the probability of war with France, Colonel Davie was appointed by Governor Spaight, in 1794, Major-General of the third State division of militia ; and, in 1798, Congress having provided a provisional army of 10,000 men, he was appointed by President Adams Brig- adier-General and confirmed by the Senate on July 1, 1798. In the same year, he was elected Governor and in- augurated, December 27. On June 1, 1799, he was appointed by President Adams Ambassador to France, and, on September 10, resigned the governorship to accept this foreign post of duty. He was one of the three men to draw up a treaty with the French government, which was ratified by Congress, September 10, 1800. General Davie was the most dis- tinguished looking man in that trio of eminent men. An eyewitness of the meeting of the American embassy with the French Emperor said, "I could but remark that Bona- parte, in addressing the American Legation at his Levees, seemed to forget that Governor Davie was second in the mission, his attention being more particularly to him." General Davie returned from France in 1801, and, in 1802, he was appointed by President Jefferson Commis- sioner on the part of the United States government for the settlement of the affairs between the State of North Carolina and the Tuscarora Indians. He met the agents of the State and the Indian Chiefs at Raleigh, and the treaty was signed December 4, 1802, by virtue of which the remnant of the Tuscaroras, who had continued to hold their lands in the "Indian Woods," removed to New York in June, 1803. In the spring of 1803, General Davie was prevailed upon to become a candidate for Congress against Willis Alston, who had recently abandoned the Federalist party Digitized by Google 162 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY and had become a disciple of Thomas Jefferson. Davie made no canvass, but party spirit ran high. He was charged with being an aristocrat and being opposed to Jefferson, and on election day he was defeated. This was his last appearance in a public capacity. Having lost his wife, soon after his return from France and having met defeat at the polls, he retired altogether from public life. In November, 1805, he removed from Halifax to Tivoli, an estate he had in South Carolina just across the line, where he spent the remainder of his life in ease and dignity. In his retirement, however, he was not forgotten by his countrymen. He was appointed by President Madison Major-General in the United States army during the War of 1812 and confirmed by the senate, March 2, 1813 ; but he declined the appointment. General Davie died November 18, 1820, and was buried at Waxhaw Churchyard just across the river from his plantation. Governor Gaston, of South Carolina, who is said to have written his epitaph, called him "a great man in an age of great men." His memory is perpetuated by the name of one of the counties in the State and by the name of a poplar on the campus of the State University. V JAMES HOGAN. James Hogan was prominent in North Carolina history during the Revolution; but there is very little known about his early life. He was born in Ireland, but the date and place are unknown. Nor is it known when he came to the New World. He was a scion of that sturdy Irish stock that was restive under British domination, and had come to America to escape its tyranny. It is not known when he came to North Carolina, but he found his way to Halifax County, in early life, and made his Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 16a home about two miles from the present town of Hob- good. In October 3, 1751, he was married to Ruth Nor- fleet, a young woman of that section of Halifax County. When the Provincial Congress met in Halifax, April 4, 1776, James Hogan appeared as one of the delegates from the county. He was enthusiastically in favor of the resolution for independence passed by that body on April 12. He was again a delegate to the Provincial Congress and Constitutional Convention that met in Halifax, November 12, 1776. But early in that session, he was elected Colonel of the Seventh North Carolina Continental Regiment; and at once resigned member- ship in the Congress. After the organization of the regiment, and after be- ing disciplined in the school of the soldier at Halifax, Colonel Hogan led his troops northward, along with other regiments that had been mobilized at Halifax, and joined General Washington in time to take part in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. After these two disastrous battles, Washington dispatched Colonel Hogan to North Carolina to raise reinforce- ments. Having established a recruiting station at Hali- fax, Hogan soon had another regiment of 600 men un- der arms. He led them North and joined Washington at Valley Forge. He was with the Army of the North during 1778 and 1779. When General Robert Howe was promoted to the rank of Major-General, the General Assembly of North Carolina recommended Colonel Thomas Clark, of New- bern, for the vacancy; but General Washington said that Hogan, on account of his conspicuous gallantry at Germantown, was entitled to the honor. He was, there- fore, elected and commissioned brigadier-general, Janu- ary 9, 1779, and continued to serve with the Army of the North, his brigade consisting of the four North Carolina regiments then with General Washington. In February, 1780, the tide of war having rolled south- ward, Hogan's brigade was sent to the relief of General Digitized by Google 164 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Lincoln at Charleston, S. C. The brigade passed through Halifax on its long march from Philadelphia to Charles- ton, and reached its destination in April, finding that Gen- eral Lincoln was shut up in Charleston with less than twelve hundred men, Hogan joined him with about fif- teen hundred regulars, but he was unable to restore con- fidence. Lincoln surrendered, May 12; and with one stroke of bad fortune, General Hogan and nearly the whole of the North Carolina Continentals became prison- ers of war. Of the 1800 regulars, surrendered at this time, the North Carolina line numbered over 1200. With the exception of some officers, who were at home on fur- lough and several troops of militia, the entire fighting force of North Carolina was put out of the conflict. Hali- fax County was struck hard by this blow. General Hogan and his brigade were imprisoned at Haddrell's Point, S. C, near the present location of the town of Mount Pleasant. There, Hogan and his brigade endured extreme suffering on account of the lack of food and the ravages of disease. Even permission to fish was denied the men thus imprisoned, and they were more than once threatened with deportation to the West Indies. Once was General Hogan offered a parole to return home ; but seeing the misery of his men, he indignantly refused the parole unless the rank and file were to have the same privilege. At that point, General Hogan disappears from history. It is certain that he died in this prison camp at Haddrell's Point, and now lies buried, probably, where the busy feet of the people of Mount Pleasant go tramping over his remains. Chief Justice Clark says, "History affords no more striking incident of devotion to duty, and North Carolina should erect a tablet to his memory and of those who perished there with him." Digitized by Google BUILDERS OP THE COUNTY 165 VI SAMUEL WELDON. Another man, who has left an impress upon the coun- ty and yet is comparatively unknown, is Samuel Weldon, in honor of whom the town of Weldon is named. The place and date of his birth are unknown ; but he became prominent in the affairs of Halifax soon after the forma- tion of the county in 1758. In 1776, the Provincial Congress, in session in Halifax, elected Weldon Major of the county militia. On Dec. 23, 1776, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and, on April 24, 1778, he became Colonel. His rapid pro- motion would indicate ability and popularity. This last rank, he was, soon afterward, forced to resign on account of ill health. He retired to his farm on the Roanoke river near where the present town of Weldon is. He was a member of the Provincial Congress of 1776, that met in Halifax, and it is known that he exercised in- fluence of note in that body. For some years he held the position of Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Ses- sions. Not much else is known of his public services. His will was probated in 1782. VII JOHN HAYWOOD. John Haywood was born in Halifax County, March 16, 1762. He was a son of Egbert Haywood, an officer of the Revolution and a representative irom the County in the Provincial Congress of November, 1776, being elected to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of James Ho- gan Colonel of the Seventh Regiment of Continentals. He also represented the county in the House of Commons in 1778. But little is known of the early life of John Haywood. Digitized by Google 166 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY He was but thirteen years old when the war of indepen- dence began, and, on account of his youth, took no active part in the struggle that followed. Near the close of the war, however, young Haywood became attached to the staff of a North Carolina officer, though the name of the officer is unknown. Wheeler, in his "Reminiscences," has the following to say of him : "From the distracted condition of the country, at this time, the opportunities to acquire an education were few ; but young Haywood entered the profession of the law, in which he was destined to become distinguished, under many disadvantages. To the lack of a systematic educa- tion was added an ungainly person and an unpleasantly harsh voice. Possessing, however, great determination, an ardent love of study, and a lofty ambition, he overcame those disadvantages, and soon rose to the head of the profession." In many of his legal battles, he was often pitted against William R. Davie. Chief-Justice Walter Clark has this to say in an address delivered some years ago : "It is stat- ed of him (Davie) , in comparison with his great legal ri- val, John Haywood, that while the latter carefully pre- pared every point, Davie would size the strong points of the case and throw his whole strength upon them." His success as a lawyer was shown by his election, in 1791, as Attorney-General of the State, when he was not yet thirty years old. He held this position until 1794 when he was elected Judge of the Superior Court to suc- ceed Samuel Spencer, deceased. In both of these positions of trust and responsibility, Haywood displayed unusual ability and efficiency. In 1800, however, his career on the bench was terminat- ed in a remarkable way. James Glasgow, Secretary of State, was indicted for issuing fraudulent land warrants. The indictment was drawn by Attorney-General Blake Baker, a native of Halifax but at that time living in Edge- combe County. In drawing the bill of indictment, Baker sought the counsel of Haywood. Before the trial came Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 167 off, Glasgow approached Haywood with a retainer's fee of one thousand dollars. Judge Haywood at once resigned his position on the bench and accepted Glasgow's offer. In the trial, however, Glasgow was convicted ; but Haywood moved an arrest of judgment alleging thirteen errors in the bill of indictment, which he had assisted the attorney- general to formulate. On account of his conduct in this case, Haywood be- came the victim of a torrent of criticism. While there was no moral turpitude in what he did, the public never forgave him for what seemed so. Shortly afterward, he removed to Tennessee and settled on a farm near Nash- ville, where he lived and died. During his residence in Halifax County, he lived near CrowelTs, where he taught a law school. His memory is perpetuated by Haywood's Chapel because he gave the land on which the church was built. After leaving Hali- fax, Haywood resided for some years in Franklin Coun- ty about six miles north of Louisburg. Just before mov- ing to Tennessee, he lived in Raleigh. In Tennessee, Haywood began almost a new career. He soon became one of the leading lawyers of that new State. Often he was matched with Felix Grundy, one of the most noted orators of the west, and he always ap- peared to good advantage. He continued at the bar in Tennessee, building up a lucrative practice until 1812, when he was elevated to the Superior Court bench. Six years later he became Judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, and held that position until his death in 1826. Judge Haywood's memory is perpetuated in Tennessee by the name of one of the Counties in that State. Hay- wood County, North Carolina, is named in honor of John Haywood, of Edgecombe County, for forty years State Treasurer. Digitized by Google 168 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY VIII WILLIS ALSTON. Joseph John Alston, father of the subject of this sketch, came to Halifax County about the year 1730. He came from what is now Gates County, where his father, John Alston lived. Later he married a daughter of Willis Wil- son, of Norfolk, Va., and from that union was born, in 1750, Willis Alston, usually referred to as Willis Alston, Sr., to distinguish him from his more celebrated son of the same name. Willis Alston was a strong and sturdy character. He early became a leader among his neighbors and friends and even in his teens, he was a champion of the rights of Americans against the growing tyranny of England. Dur- ing the Stamp Act troubles and the discontent over the tea tax, Alston was an undaunted patriot for one so young. When the Provincial Congress met in Halifax, April 4, 1776, he was a member from the county, and took an active part in the passage of the famous independence resolution, which has been read around the world. He was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of November 12, 1776, and was an important factor in the framing of the first State Constitution. Upon the organization of the State militia at the ses- sion of the Provincial Congress that met in Halifax at the same time with the Constitutional Convention, Willis Als- ton was elected Colonel ; Samuel Weldon, Lieutenant-Colo- nel; John Whitaker, First Major; James Allen, Second Major. Alston, however, resigned in 1778 and was suc- ceeded by Weldon. There is no record of the war service of Willis Alston more than the bare mention of his election as Colonel of the Halifax regiment. It is more than probable that this regiment was used throughout the war as a garrison for the town of Halifax and saw no active service in battle. Digitized by Google w « W H O S Digitized by Google Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 169 IX WILLIS ALSTON, JR. Willis Alston, son of the first of the name, was born on his father's farm, in the upper part of the county, in 1770. He was given as liberal an education as the exigencies of the times would permit. In spite of disadvantages along that line, by close application and diligent study, he be- came one of the best informed men of his day. He early turned his attention to politics, and, in 1790, when he was just twenty-one years of age, he was elected to the House of Commons, and served in that body during the sessions of 1790, 1791, and 1792. In 1794, he was elected to the Senate and served in that branch of the General Assembly two years. Again, having served many years in Congress, he returned to the House of Commons in 1819 and again in 1820, 1821, 1823, and 1824. Alston early became an earnest admirer of Thomas Jefferson and an ardent disciple. As a Republican (Dem- ocrat), he was elected to the Federal Congress in 1799, and was biennially reelected until 1815, when he retired from Congress for ten years and was again elected in 1825, serving until 1831. In 1803, he was opposed for re-election to Congress by William R. Davie, who had recently returned from France. It was thought that the great popularity of Davie would win the election; but the result showed a majority for Alston. This was, perhaps, his greatest political triumph. During the agitation preceding the war of 1812, Alston was distinctly a war advocate, because he thought Eng- land had violated every right of nations. Willis Alston was married twice, first to Pattie Moore, of Halifax County, and second to Sallie Madeline Potts, of Wilmington. There were no children of the first mar- riage, but of the second the following were born: Charles J. P., who married Mary Janet Clark, whose oldest son is Dr. Willis Alston, of Littleton; Ariellah, who married Digitized by Google 170 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Colonel James B. Hawkins ; Leonidas ; Missouri, who mar- ried Archibald Davis Alston ; and Edgar. Willis Alston died in Halifax, April 10, 1837. He served in the Federal Congress longer than any other man from Halifax County, and, while not brilliant, he was a safe and wise represen- tative. NICHOLAS LONG. Nicholas Long, the founder of the Long family of Halifax County, came to North Carolina when a young man and settled near what is now the town of Halifax. The exact date of his coming to the county is unknown, and the date and place of his birth are likewise obscure. Shortly after coming to Halifax, Long built his country home, "Quanky," which was just across Quanky Creek from the "Grove House." He is mentioned in Wheeler's "Reminiscences" as being a wealthy planter and his home as being the headquarters for prominent men who from time to time visited Hali- fax. It is said that, when President Washington visited Halifax on his tour of the South, he stopped with Colonel Long for several days. In similar ways the reputation of "Quanky" came to be more than State wide. Before John Harvy issued his call for the first Provin- cial Congress to meet in Newbern, August 24, 1774, he came to Halifax to consult with Willie Jones and Nicholas Long. Both Jones and Long were at the time members of the Provincial Assembly ; and when the Congress was called, they were elected members and served in the double capacity at Newbern. Long was also a member of the Second Provincial Congress at Newbern the next year and also at Hillsboro. At the latter Congress, the State -was divided into military districts, each district to raise and equip five hundred men. Nicholas Long was ap- pointed Colonel of the Halifax district. A grant of land was made to Robert Long in Halifax Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 171 County, but it is not known whether he was an ancestor of Nicholas Long. The grant is dated 1725. Later, in the progress of the struggle for independence, each county was empowered to raise and arm a regiment of minute men, and the position of Commissary-General of the State forces was created. Colonel Long was chosen to this latter position. He personally superintended, to- gether with his wife, the work shops on his own farm for the purpose of manufacturing implements of war, ammu- nition, clothing, and other supplies for the soldiers. Mrs. Long possessed great energy and firmness with mental power of no common order. Her praises were the theme of conversation among the officers, who knew her. She died at the advanced age of eighty leaving a numer- ous offspring. Colonel Long held the position of Commissary-General of the State troops until 1781, when he resigned and was succeeded by William R. Davie. The last public service he rendered, of which we have any record, was in the sen- ate the sessions of 1785 and 1786. As a legislator, or sol- dier, or planter, Colonel Long proved his worth and has left a worthy name to his numerous descendants. XI ORONDATES DAVIS- Very little is known of the early life of the subject of this sketch. He lived in that portion of the county near the old Conocanara Church. Receiving a limited educa- tion, he became a lawyer and practiced in the courts of the Halifax Judicial District, just before and during the Rev- olutionary War. He was a member of the State Senate four consecutive terms, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781. He was a man of consider- able influence and strength of character as is shown by the commanding position he took in the General Assem- bly. When the Board of War was created in 1781 to direct the war in North Carolina, Davis was elected as a mem- Digitized by Google 172 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY ber of the Board. The other two members were Alexan- der Martin, who afterwards became Governor, and John Penn, one of the signers of the Declaration of Indepen- dence. On account of the fact that the Board of War did not have its duties clearly defined, it was in frequent collision with the Governor on questions of jurisdiction, and was soon discontinued. General Davie, who had business be- fore the Board several times without its being settled to his satisfaction, severely criticised the personnel of it. He said, in speaking of it : "Nothing could be more ridiculous than the manner in which it (the Board) was filled. Martin, being a war- rior ( ?) of great fame, was placed at its head. Penn, who was only fit to amuse children, and Davis, who knows nothing but a game of whist, were placed on the Board/' General Davie was no doubt prejudiced, but the Board was soon afterwards discontinued and Davis retired to private life. XII JOHN BRADFORD. Only fragments of information regarding John Brad- ford have come down to us. He was one of the early set- tlers in the Enfield section, and built a home about two miles southwest of that town. He was living there at the time the county was organized in 1758, and had command- ing influence in shaping its policies. He was a man of natural ability and high character. In 1766, he was elected to represent the county in the Colonial Assembly and re-elected in 1767, and 1768. He was, therefore, a member of the law-making body of the Province during a very critical period of its existence. The third Provincial Congress at Hillsboro, in August, 1775, appointed John Bradford a member of the Committee of Safety for the District of Halifax. He served in that ca- pacity as long as there was need for the services of such a committee. In 1776, he was a member of both sessions \ Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 173 of the Provincial Congress that met at Halifax. The next year he was elected to represent Halifax County in the State Senate, as the first from the County. After the close of the Revolution, he was the Presiding Justice of the County Court, and held this position many years. He died about 1786 and left a number of children, one of them, Henry, became a minister and gave his name to Bradford's Church. Most of his descendants left the County and went South. XIII JOHN PAUL JONES. The most famous man connected with the history of Halifax County is John Paul Jones, the Revolutionary hero, who won the title of "Father of the American Navy." He was born in Kirkbean, Scotland, July 6, 1747, and died in Paris, France, July 18, 1792. He was the youngest son of John Paul, a gardener, and was christened John Paul, the same name as his father; but after coming to Amer- ica, for reasons that are apparent, he added the surname Jones. His mother was Jean Macduff, the daughter of a Highlander. Having lived near the sea during his boyhood days, it was natural that he should follow life on the sea. He began early, being apprenticed at the age of twelve to a ship owner, and by the time he was a little beyond man's estate he had sailed all over the North Atlantic in trading, smuggling, and slaving vessels, and had climbed to the top of his calling, the Captain's berth. In the meantime, his brother William had settled in Vir- ginia, on the banks of the Rappahannock river as man- ager of the estate of William Jones, from whom William Paul, it is said, had inherited some land. William Paul died in 1773, and John Paul came to Virginia that year to take charge of his brother's property. Previous to that time, John Paul had met with varied ex- periences on the sea. He had, in the spring of 1770, flogged Digitized by Google 174 mSTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY a mutinous carpenter on board the merchant ship, John, of which he was master. Shortly after the flogging, which was light, the man died and John Paul had to face the charge of having caused his death. He was, however, acquitted. Soon after this occurrence, a mutiny broke out among the crew of the John, and John Paul, in defending himself from them, was forced to kill their leader. On ac- count of this unfortunate circumstance, he was obliged to resign his position as master of the trader. Then it was he came to Virginia. In the Mentor Magazine of October 16, 1916, the follow- ing paragraphs, in connection with John Paul Jones oc- cur: "One day in the early part of the year 1775, Willie Jones, a planter of North Carolina, came into the little town of Halifax from his estate, and found a young man sitting on a bench in front of the tavern, who seemed to be in the deepest throes of melancholy. 'What is your name?' he asked him. 1 have none', was the answer. 'Where is your home?' he asked. 1 have none', was the reply. "He then talked with him a little further, and invited him to share his home. The dejected stranger was none other than John Paul, who later took the name of Jones with the permission of Willie Jones ; and from that time on he used the name of John Paul Jones. Later he dropped his first name and used simply Paul Jones on his visiting cards." At the "Grove," it is supposed, John Paul Jones so- journed for a year or more, and was treated with the greatest courtesy. It was here that he became acquainted with Joseph Hewes, who was a delegate from North Car- olina to the Continental Congress, and served on what is now called the Naval Committee. The two immediately became intimate friends, and Hewes used his influence in having John Paul Jones commissioned in the Continental Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 175 Navy as an officer. Later, by the same influence, he be- came Captain of the United States Gunboat Ranger. Although John Paul Jones was identified with Halifax but a short time, his sudden rise to eminence is traceable directly to his association with Willie Jones and through him with Joseph Hewes. All he needed was, at the psy- chological moment, to be brought to the attention of Congress and to be given an opportunity to display his wonderful talent. To Willie Jones and Joseph Hewes be- long the credit of having been chiefly instrumental in do- ing this. To those two eminent North Carolinians is given the honor of having "discovered" John Paul Jones. Reference has already been made, in this work, to the splendid achievements of John Paul Jones. His brilliant victories on the ocean together with his illuminating views as to the building and equipping of a defensive and an ag- gressive fleet have justly won for him the title of "Father of the American Navy." He was worthy of all the honor that came to him and more. Of natural brightness of in- tellect, of pleasing manners, and of tireless application, he had made himself an accomplished man of the world. With little advantage of an education in the schools, he taught himself until he could speak French as his mother tongue, and was equally at ease in Spanish. His daring, his defiance of great odds, his harassing of the British commerce, his capture of numerous prizes, his influence in securing France as an ally, all make a thrill- ing story that leads us to see what a capable man he was and what a wonderful genius Halifax County gave to the world. After the Revolution, he was at different times in the service of the Prussian government and of Russia. His last days were spent in France, where he died and was buried. After lying in French soil for more than one hun- dred years, his body was disinterred in 1905 and brought to America. It now rests in a crypt in the Chapel of the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Albert Bushnell Hart, the eminent American historian, has the following to say in praise of John Paul Jones : Digitized by Google 176 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY "Jones was still a young man, barely forty-five years old, at the time of his death ; and his meteoric career was compressed into the fourteen years between 1775 and 1789. For the paling of his glory in later years, he was in part to blame. His killing of the mutineer threw a cloud upon his early life. He was gay, extravagant, over fond of the ladies, and often in money difficulties. Be- ginning so young, shooting up so rapidly, he made ene- mies that followed him to the end. A man as eager, as adventurous, as impetuous as John Paul Jones was bound to outrun cooler and more sagacious men like Franklin and John Adams. "Against these faults is to be set the amazing bril- liancy of Jones's character and deeds. His successes were not those of a dashing adventurer who took all the chances and was usually lucky in winning. Jones's splendid re- sults came from his careful preparation, his personal in- terest in his men, his ability to execute naval manoeuvers at the precise moment. He was a naval genius also in his constructive plans. Throughout his life, Jones showed a wonderful spirit of organization. He was one of the first men to suggest a plan for the systematic building and use of the American Navy, which would have been much to the advantage of the nation had it been followed." XIV ABRAHAM HODGE. Abraham Hodge was born in the State of New York in 1755 and died in Halifax, August 3, 1805. During the Revolution he conducted the Whig press of Samuel Lon- don of New York. For a time, he was in charge of Wash- ington's traveling press while the army was stationed at Valley Forge. He was thus employed, during those dark days, in disseminating Republican principles and cheering the drooping spirits of his countrymen. Soon after the close of hostilities, he came to Halifax ^^ Digitized by VjOOQ IC Q H O S •< Digitized by Google Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 177 County and established a printing office; and in 1784 or 1785, he was elected public printer by the General As- sembly. He held that position until 1798 and discharged the duties of the office with ability and satisfaction. Dur- ing that time, Hodge conducted his printing plant at Hali- fax, and at the same time had presses in Fayetteville, Newbern, and Edenton. July 23, 1793, he began, at Hali- fax, the publication of the North Carolina Journal, a news- paper that reflected the Federalist views of government. The State was Jeffersonian, and Halifax County particu- larly so at the time. Hodge was, therefore, displaced as public printer in 1798 and Joseph Gales elected to succeed him. Undaunted, however, by this political rebuke, Hodge continued to edit his newspaper, the North Carolina Jour- nal, as his conscience dictated, and the interests of the State, in his opinion, required. He was conspicuous as a man of natural ability and of acquired learning. He was one of the first men in the State to contribute to the library of the University of North Carolina, and there- after until his death he was regular in his gifts to it. Some months before his demise in 1805, he made a will in which he made his partner, William Boylan, his execu- tor, and bequeathed to him his printing plants and other property. Hodge had been public printer for fifteen years previous to 1798, and had otherwise done a great work. He had three printing plants in the State, and was editor of one of the most influential newspapers in the South, the North Carolina Journal, published at Halifax. XV JOHN BRANCH. John Branch was born November 4, 1782, about two and a half miles northwest of Enfield, on what is still known as the Branch plantation. His father, also named John, took an active part in the Revolution, and was spe- Digitized by Google 178 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY daily vigilant in running down the few Tories in the county. While sheriff of the county, in 1776, he took two Tories to Smithfield before the Council of Safety for trial. He also represented the county in the House of Commons in 1781, 1782, 1787, and 1788. But little is known of the boyhood of John Branch. After being prepared for college, he entered the Univer- sity of North Carolina, from which he graduated in 1801. During his college career, he became well acquainted with Thomas H. Benton, the great North Carolinian who rose to eminence in Missouri, and who was an alumnus of the University of North Carolina. Benton, in his "Thirty Years in Congress," says : "I was particularly grieved at this breach between Mr. Branch and the President, having known him from boyhood, been school-fellows together, and being well acquainted with his inviolable honor, and long and faithful attachment to General Jackson." Branch's first appearance in public life was in the State Senate in 1811. He was again chosen to that body in 1813, where he served continuously until 1817, and again in 1822. In 1817, he was elected Governor of the State and served the constitutional term of three years. He carried the simplicity of his early life into the Ex- ecutive Mansion. Once, during his term as Governor, a stranger rang the bell. Governor Branch, dressed in a suit of homespun jeans, answered the call. Upon inquir- ing for the Governor, the stranger was greatly astonished when informed that he was speaking to him. He was an educational governor of the early days. He was alive to the importance of a public school system, and, in his message to the General Assembly in 1819, he urged the appropria- tion of means to that end. He was, however, disappoint- ed, for it was several years later before the public schools became an actuality. Upon his retirement from the office of Governor, President Monroe tendered him the office of Judge of the district of the Territory of Florida, which he declined. In 1822, while a member of the State Senate, he was Digitized by VjOOQ IC BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 17fr elected United States Senator, the only time the county has ever had that honor, and was re-elected in 1828. While in the Senate, Branch differed with his colleague, Nathaniel Macon, on the question of internal improve- ments, and voted for an appropriation to build the Dismal Swamp Canal while Macon voted against it. Branch, how- ever, was on the winning side. Soon after his entrance upon his second term as sen- ator, he was tendered by President Jackson the portfolio of Secretary of the Navy, which he accepted. John H. Eaton, at that time living in Tennessee but a native of Halifax County, was made Secretary of War. Thus, there was the singular coincidence of two natives of Halifax County being in the President's cabinet at the same time. President Jackson's cabinet was disrupted in a singular way, and, as two Halifax County men were closely identi- fied with the incident, it is here related. Secretary Eaton had married a widow Timberlake, about whom there were some uncomplimentary rumors. As a consequence of these rumors, she was not received in the best circles of Washington. President Jackson was an intimate personal friend of Secretary Eaton and noticed the snubs that Mrs. Eaton was receiving. He, therefore, undertook to have the social ostracism removed. He sent R. M. Johnston,, of Kentucky, to Secretary Branch to express to him that the President thought the rumors regarding Mrs. Eaton were untrue, and intimated a wish that Branch might use his influence in Mrs. Eaton's favor. Branch resented the effort of the President to influence his social relations, and at once tendered his resignation. His example was immediately followed by the other mem- bers of the Cabinet. President Jackson thus found that his diplomacy in social matters was not equal to his skill on the battlefield. Even Martin Van Buren, the Secretary of State, who was only remotely connected with the affair, left the cabinet. After his return home from Washington, Branch wrote several articles for the Roanoke Advocate, published at Digitized by Google 180 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Halifax, explaining his connection with the affair, and thereby strengthened himself with the people. At the time of his retirement from the cabinet, the campaign was on for the nomination of a member of Congress. Jesse A. Bynum, of Halifax, was a candidate for the nomination, but there was a feeling that Branch ought to be nomi- nated. Bynum, therefore, retired from the contest and Branch was nominated and elected to the Congress of 1831-32. In 1834, Branch was again elected to the State Senate. In 1835, he and Joseph J. Daniel represented the county in the Constitutional Convention, held that year in Raleigh. On motion of Branch, Nathaniel Macon, of Warren County, was chosen President of the Convention. Both he and Daniel voted against the amendment to elect the Governor by the people instead of by the General As- sembly. When the amendment to abolish the borough system came up, Branch voted in favor of it, but Daniel opposed it. Both were in favor of abolishing the religious restrictions in the constitution. Later, when the new instrument of government was submitted to the people for ratification, the vote of Hali- fax County was 239 for and 441 against ratification. The vote of the State was 26,771 to 21,606 in favor of the new constitution. This was the first change in the Constitu- tion since its adoption in 1776, which shows the conserva- tism of the people of North Carolina. In 1838 Branch was the Democratic candidate against Edward B. Dudley, the Whig candidate, for Governor. Dudley was elected. Branch's defeat may have been brought about by his course in the Constitutional Con- vention of 1835. It was his last appearance before the people as a candidate for office. In 1843, he was appoint- ed by President Tyler to the position of Governor of the Territory of Florida, and, after the expiration of his term of office, he retired to private life. He died at Enfield, January 4, 1863, and is buried at the family cemetery near that town. He was married Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 181 twice, first to Miss Fort and second to Mrs. Bond. He left a large family of children, whose descendants are numer- ous in the county. No man connected with the county ever had so many honors bestowed upon him. He was, at different times, a member of the General Assembly, Governor of the State, Senator and Representative in Congress, Secretary of the Navy, and Governor of Florida. To have held so many offices shows that he was no ordinary man. The most striking traits in his character, to which his success is due, were his incorruptible integrity, indomitable will power, and urbanity. He was a gentleman of the old school, who went to his grave full of years and honors. XVI HUTCHINGS G. BURTON. Hutchings G. Burton was born in Mecklenburg County, Va., in 1782. His father, John Burton, was an officer in the Revolutionary war ; and, dying when his son was three years old, made his brother, Colonel Robert Burton, of Granville County, N. C, guardian of the child, requesting his brother to adopt him into his own family and rear him as his own son. The uncle took the boy to his home in Williamsboro where he grew up and remained until he en- tered upon his business career. His mother also accompa- nied him to Granville County. He was given a liberal education for that day. After attending the academy at Williamsboro, he entered the University at Chapel Hill, but did not complete his college course. Leaving the University, he read law under Judge Henderson, one of the ablest jurists of his day. Upon re- ceiving his license to practice law, he located in Charlotte. In 1809 and again in 1810, he represented Mecklenburg County in the House of Commons. His advance at the bar must have been rapid, as, in 1810, he was elected At- torney-General of the State, which position he held until 1816, when he resigned. Digitized by Google 182 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY In 1812, he went to Halifax on a visit to a former school- mate, Willie Jones, Jr. There he met Sarah, the youngest daughter of the late Willie Jones, and they were married in the following December. He immediately located in Halifax and made his home at the "Grove House." In 1817, he represented the borough of Halifax in the House of Commons. In 1819, he was elected to Congress and served two terms. He was elected Governor of North Carolina in 1825 and brilliantly occupied that position for two years. One of the first things Governor Burton did was to urge, in his message to the General Assembly, the prime importance of the Public Schools ; and, the same year, an act drawn by Bartlett Yancy was passed, entitled "An act to create a fund for the establishment of Common Schools." This was the beginning of our public school system, and makes memorable the administration of Governor Burton. It was during Governor Burton's first term that Lafayette made his visit to the State, and was magnificently enter- tained at the Governor's home in Raleigh. In 1826, he was nominated by President John Quincy Adams as Governor of the Territory of Arkansas, but his nomination was never confirmed by the Senate. He re- tired from the executive mansion in 1827 to private life, .and lived the remainder of his days quietly at his home. Governor Burton was an orator of rare ability and a tftump speaker of unusual power ; but while in Congress, he rarely ever spoke upon the questions before the house. He explained that, himself, by saying that in the Con- gress, at the time, were such lights as Clay, Calhoun, Webster, and Randolph, and they overawed him. Burton felt under restraint in their company, but had he felt in- clined he could have displayed ability of no ordinary kind. He had a summer home in the western part of the county near Ringwood, named "Rocky Hill," where he was residing at the time of his death, the circumstances of which were rather singular. Some time previous to 1836, he had bought a tract of land in Texas with a view Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 18S of going to the "Lone Star Republic" to live. He left his family at "Rocky Hill" and set out by stage coach to see his farm in Texas. Reaching Salisbury, where he had some business in court he met with his cousin, Robert Burton, of Lincoln County. After completing his busi- ness in Salisbury, he intended spending a few days with his cousin before going to Texas. On the trip to Lincoln County, the party stopped at the Wayside.Inn to pass the night. Here, Governor Burton was taken, during the night, with cramp and died within a few hours. His last words were, "Oh, my dear wife and children! Lord, re- ceive my spirit." His death occurred April 21, 1836. His remains were buried in Unity Churchyard, in Lincoln County. Mrs. Burton, at her home at "Rocky Hill," did not hear of his death until three weeks after the funeral, and, even then the first intimation of it was a newspaper account of his death and burial. XVII JOSEPH J. DANIEL. Joseph J. Daniel was born in Halifax County, Novem- ber 13, 1784. Very little is known of his boyhood. It is said that his early education was defective ; but, later he became a close student of the law under the tutelage of William R. Davie. By diligent application, he overcame his early deficiencies and became in early manhood one of the most brilliant lawyers in North Carolina. His first appearance in public life was in 1807, when he was elected to the House of Commons from the borough of Halifax. He was but twenty-three years of age at the time, but showed wisdom and discretion far beyond his years. He was elected to the House of Commons from the county in 1811 and 1812, and to the same body from the town in 1815. In 1816, he was appointed Judge of the Superior Court, and, in 1832, was elevated to the Su- preme Bench, which position he held until his death in 1848. Digitized by Google 184 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY There are but scanty details regarding the career of Judge Daniel. It is said that he was never out of the State but one time and that was when he attended the trial of Aaron Burr in 1807 in Richmond, Va. He was devoted to the State and County, and was always grateful to both for the honors he received. He was not a good speaker at the bar, but a fine conversationalist. His ready wit and strong personality were the chief means by which he ad- vanced so rapidly in his profession. He was judge of the Superior Court for sixteen years, and served the same length of time on the Supreme Bench. This long tenure of office, in itself, shows that he was a man of no ordi- nary ability. His reports of cases decided in the Supreme Court and his written decisions are models of conciseness and terseness, not a superfluous word being used. Judge Daniel is said to have had an artless simplicity of character, and not to have been practical in the every day affairs of life. One, who knew him well, said that the simplest details of the farm were Dutch to him. He could not even plant a row of corn. Another who also knew him said that he was kind and charitable, and that he had known him to send around a servant with meal and meat to his indigent neighbors. In Judge Daniel^ day, it was no reflection upon a man to "take a drink" with a friend; and whenever he did, Judge Daniel insisted on the English custom of paying for his own drink. He owned a residence in the town of Halifax and a country home at his farm, "Burnt Coat," near Heathsville. He married Maria Stith, whom he survived. Several chil- dren survived him, and his descendants are numerous in this State and others. Chief -Justice Ruffin had the following to say of Judge Daniel on the occasion of the adoption of resolutions by the bar on the occasion of his death: "Judge Daniel served his country through a period of nearly thirty-two years acceptably, ably, and faithfully. He had a love of learning, an inquiring mind, and a mem- ory uncommonly tenacious ; and he had acquired and re- Digitized by Google W B" H H H H o o Digitized by Google Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 185 tained a stock of varied and extensive knowledge, and especially became well versed in the History and the Prin- ciples of the Law. He was without arrogance or ostenta- tion, even of his learning; had the most unaffected and charming simplicity and mildness of manners, and no other purpose in office than to 'execute justice and main- tain truth' ; and, therefore, he was patient in hearing ar- gument, laborious and calm in investigation, candid and instructive in consultation, and impartial and firm in de- cision." XVIII JOHN R. J. DANIEL. The subject of this sketch was born in Halifax County in 1802 and graduated from the State University in 1821. After his graduation, he located at Halifax for the prac- tice of law, which he pursued with great success. No man, in the early part of the nineteenth century, was more bril- liant at the Halifax bar than John R. J. Daniel. In 1831, he was elected to the House of Commons and re-elected in 1832, 1833, and 1834. In the last mentioned year, he was chosen Attorney- General of the State, which position he held until 1841, when he was elected to Con- gress as the representative in the House of Representa- tives from the Second District. He was re-elected con- tinuously until 1851 when he retired from active partici- pation in public affairs. While in congress, he was for several years chairman of the Committee on Claims, a post of duty for which his unquestioned integrity, clear and discriminating mind, and patient industry especially fitted him. He was a good speaker and debater. Thomas H. Benton, in his book, makes several extracts from his speeches while in Congress and pays him a deserved tribute. He is said to have been a man of iron will, sometimes over- bearing and tyrannical, tenacious of his rights and fond of having his own way. Once he became involved in a Digitized by Google 186 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY law suit with a neighbor over two acres of farm land, which both claimed ; and, after considerable litigation and the expenditure of much ill nature and display of temper, he was beaten in the final adjudication and had to pay the bill of cost amounting to $2700.00. It may be supposed that this was done with no very amiable disposition by a man, who believed in his own case and saw no show of reason in the contentions of his opponent. After serving his last term in Congress in 1851, he bought a farm near Shreveport, La., where he resided much of the time until his death in 1868. He was a cousin of Judge Joseph J. Daniel, father of General Junius Dan- iel, and immediately or remotely connected with the large family of that name in this and adjoining counties. XIX BYNUM AND POTTER. During the early years of the nineteenth century, two men, Jesse A. Bynum and Robert Potter, lived a number of years in the town of Halifax and had considerable weight in the administration of public affairs. They pos- sessed brilliant intellects, but because of violent tempers, they became involved in many difficulties that have brought reproach and almost ignominy upon their names. Because of their bitter rivalry, mention is made of them in the same connection. Bynum was born in Northampton County and educat- ed at Union College, New York, but came to Halifax quite early in life and began the practice of law. He represent- ed the borough of Halifax in the General Assembly in 1823 and 1824 and again in 1827 and 1828. In 1825, he and Robert Potter were opposing candidates, and so warm did the campaign become that on election day the voting was broken up by a street fight between the adher- ents of the two candidates. Consequently, there was no election and no representative from the town that year. Robert Potter was elected the next year. Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 187 In 1833, Bynum became a candidate for Congress ; and conducted such a brilliant campaign, he was elected by a big majority over his Whig opponent. He was re-elected continuously until 1841, when he retired to private life and removed to Louisiana. While in Congress he had two personal difficulties, one with Congressman Jenifer, of Maryland, resulting in a duel, which terminated, after several ineffectual shots, in a reconciliation ; and another, on the floor of the House, with Congressman Garland of Louisiana. His career after his retirement from Con- gress is unknown. Robert Potter was born in Granville County but lived for several years in Halifax. He was a man of ability, but of such violent temper and perverse nature that his career was a reproach upon his name. He and Bynum were on bad terms, it was said, because Bynum refused to introduce him to a certain young lady. Their bitter personal rivalries were carried into the political cam- paigns and fisticuffs were frequent. As already related, the election of 1825 was broken up by a street row; but, in 1826, Potter was elected as the representative in the House of Commons from the town of Halifax. In 1827, Potter removed from Halifax to Granvilte County, and so lost connection with this immediate sec- tion; but because of his remarkable subsequent career, the story of his life is followed, though its recital reveals the ignominy of his character. In 1828, he was chosen to represent Granville County in the House of Commons, and made himself very popular by championing a bill to inquire into the condition of the banks, some of which at the time were very corrupt. In 1830 he was elected to Congress and re-elected in 1832 ; but on account of the commission of a nameless crime, for which he was arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced to jail, he did not serve his term out. Strange to say, how- ever, that after serving his term in jail, he was again elected to the House of Commons from Granville County ; but was expelled for cheating at cards. Digitized by Google 188 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY After this second disgrace, Potter became an object of detestation; and, to escape public censure, he fled to Texas. There he took part in political matters and rose to prominence. Later, he moved to Louisiana and located near Caddo Lake. There he led a life of gross immoral- ity, and, after forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, he was warned by his indignant neighbors to leave the com- munity. He did not, however, obey the warning. Short- ly afterwards a number of men came to his house by night, took him outside, and told him he richly deserved death ; but they would give him a chance for his life. They then gave him a start of one hundred yards and told him that, his life would be the forfeit if any of his pursuers should get in shooting distance of him. Potter immediately ran for the lake and plunged in to escape death by diving. His pursuers came to the edge of the lake, and, as he came to the surface for breath, fired upon him and he sank to a watery grave. Thus died in disgrace and ignominy one of the most brilliant and corrupt men ever connected with Halifax County. XX BARTHOLOMEW F. MOORE. Bartholomew Figures Moore was born at Sycamore Al- ley, Halifax County, January 29, 1801. His father, James Moore, came to the county from Northampton, Va. He was a sailor in the Revolutionary War, and saw service of a very exciting nature in that eventful struggle. Some of his adventures have already been narrated in a former chapter. "Bat" Moore, as the distinguished son is familiarly known, entered the University of North Carolina in 1813 and graduated therefrom in 1820. He then read law un- der Thomas N. Mann, a prominent lawyer of Nash Coun- ty, securing license to practice and locating at Nashville, N. C, in 1823. At first he had but little success, and, Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 189 it is said, practiced several years without making ex- penses. He persevered, however, overcoming all difficul- ties by his indomitable will power until he reached the very summit of the profession in the State. In December, 1828, he was married to Louisa, daugh- ter of George Boddie, of Nash County. She died the next year, and, in 1835, he married Lucy, another daughter of George Boddie. In that year, he removed to his native County and began the practice of his profession in the town of Halifax, where he met with great success. He entered politics in 1836 and was elected to the House of Commons that year. He was a candidate in 1838, but was defeated at the polls by a majority of one vote, said to have been cast against him because he voted for an ap- propriation for the building of the Wilmington and Wel- don Railroad. He was again elected in 1840 and re-elected in 1842 and 1844. In 1847, he was appointed by Governor Graham to the position of Attorney-General of the State, and elected by the General Assembly in 1850. The next year he was ap- pointed by Governor Reid on the commission to revise the statute laws of the State, in accordance with an act of the General Assembly of that year. The Revised Code was reported to the Legislature of 1854, and, with some modifications, passed into law. He was a member of the Commission appointed to edit and publish the code, which was done in 1855. During the whole period of his residence at Halifax he was laboriously and successfully engaged in the practice of the law in all the courts in his circuit except the coun- ty courts, all of which, except Halifax, he discontinued upon his appointment to the office of Attorney-General. He removed to Raleigh in 1848, where he resided at the time of his death in 1878. In Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, stands one of the most beautiful and costly monuments in North Carolina. It occupies a prominent position, and its symmetrical pro- portion and artistic beauty make it a notable object. Its Digitized by Google 190 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY total height is twenty-three feet. The design is Gothic and the spire is surrounded by a crown and cross. On the west side is the following inscription : "Bartholomew Figures Moore, LL. D. Born January 29, 1801, Died November 27, 1878 Citizen, Lawyer, Statesman To himself, his family, and his country He was true. To evade a duty was to him impossible. In the dis- charge of duty he was diligent; difficulty intensified his effort. A devoted son of North Carolina. A never fail- ing friend and liberal benefactor to her interests, an un- compromising foe to oppression, a profound jurist, and a fearless patriot." XXI ANDREW JOYNER. One of the most universally popular men that ever lived in Halifax County was Colonel Andrew Joyner, who was born, November 5, 1786, near the town of Halifax. His father, Henry Joyner, was a prominent planter and busi- ness man. Not much is known of the early life of Andrew Joyner. He was probably as well educated as the limited means of acquiring an education in that day would allow. His first service of a public nature was during the War of 1812. He was enrolled in the Third Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers, and before the regiment was ready for service he was given the rank of Major. Shortly af- terwards he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Col- onel in the First Regiment of North Carolina Volunteers. He served in that capacity during the period of the war. In 1814, his regiment was ordered to Norfolk, Va., to assist in repelling a threatened British attack upon that town. Admiral Cockburn, the ranking British Naval of- ficer in the Chesapeake, had been threatening a descent Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 191 upon the place. Finding it, however, well fortified and garrisoned, he did not attack; but sailed away to the South. During the stay of the First Regiment at Norfolk, an epidemic of "Camp Plague" broke out, and almost every man in the command suffered from it. During the prevalence of the epidemic, Joyner was so indefatigable in his efforts to relieve the sufferings of the men that he endeared himself to the survivors to such an extent that, in his political campaigns in later life, not one of them ever voted against him. In 1835, he was elected Senator from the county to the General Assembly, and re-elected continuously until 1852. He was the presiding officer of the Senate in 1838, 1840, and 1846. In his campaigns for election, he usually won easily. He was a Whig, but sometimes he was elected unanimously. Not an old soldier of any political faith ever voted against him. Colonel Joyner turned his attention to "big" business enterprises. He was an earnest advocate of internal im- provements, voted regularly for railroads every time he had an opportunity, and was a promoter of steamboat lines on the Roanoke river. He was President of the Roa- noke Navigation Company, that put on the first steamboat that ever made a trip on the Roanoke. He was also Presi- dent of the Weldon and Portsmouth railroad, which after- wards became the Seaboard, and directed the affairs of that company from his headquarters in Weldon for many years. While Colonel Joyner was so closely indentified with the railroads, he would never allow one of his children to ride on a pass. He had a highly developed judicial mind and was particularly active in settling disputes between neighbors. So well known was he in this respect that his home near Weldon was generally spoken of as "Colonel Joyner's Court of Equity." He was twice married, first to Temperance Williams and second to Sarah Jones Burton, widow of Governor Hutchings G. Burton. Numerous children survived. Digitized by Google 192 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Colonel Joyner died Sept. 20, 1856, and is buried at Pop- lar Grove near Weldon. XXII LAWRENCE O'BRYAN BRANCH. One of the Brigadier-Generals, furnished by Halifax County to the Confederate army during the War between the States, is the subject of this sketch. He was born, in Enfield, November 28, 1820, was a grandson of John Branch, sheriff of Halifax County during the Revolution, and a nephew of John Branch, member of Congress, gov- ernor, senator, and cabinet member. His ancestry and immediate family relationship were brilliant. His father, Major Joseph Branch, upon the death of his wife on Christmas day, 1825, removed to Tennessee, and shortly afterwards died, leaving his son, Lawrence, to the guardianship of his distinguished brother, John Branch. The boy was brought back to North Carolina and was with his uncle in Washington during his career as a mem- ber of Congress and a cabinet official. Upon the disrup- tion of President Jackson's cabinet in 1831, young Branch returned with his uncle to Enfield, where he entered a preparatory school and was ready for college by the time he was fifteen. In 1835, he entered the University of North Carolina. The next year, however, he matriculated at Princeton, was graduated from that institution in 1838, and deliv- ered the English salutatory. He studied law in Tennessee, obtained license, and began to practice in Florida before he was twenty-one years of age. In 1841, when the Sem- inole War began, he enlisted and was aid to General Reid. In 1848, he returned to his native State and located in Raleigh for the practice of law. Here his rise was rapid, for, in 1852, he was presidential elector on the Pierce and King ticket and member of Congress in 1854. In 1852, he became President of the Raleigh and Gas- ton Railroad Company and served two years when he re- Digitized by Google go Q O < O 6 & <5 2 Digitized by Google s Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 193 signed to become a member of Congress from the Raleigh district. In this latter capacity, he served with ability until 1861 when he resigned because he saw that North Carolina was about to secede from the union. Upon his retirement from Congress, President Buchanan tendered him the portfolio of Secretary of the Treasury, but he declined it for the same reason that he gave up his seat in Congress. Returning to Raleigh, in April, 1861, he, at once, joined the Raleigh Rifles as a private. He was made Quarter- master-General the same month and elevated to the posi- tion of Paymaster-General on May 20. In September, the same year, he resigned that position to accept the com- mission of Colonel in the Thirty-Third Regiment, a posi- tion that would give him more active duties in the field, which was more in keeping with his tastes. In January, 1862, Colonel Branch was commissioned by President Jefferson Davis Brigadier-General and sta- tioned at Newbern for the protection of that city and to safeguard eastern North Carolina. Branch had five thousand men, under his command, but the city was at- tacked in March, the same year, by 15,000 Federals and Branch was obliged to evacuate his fortifications and re- treat to Kinston. Being relieved of his separate com- mand, General Branch was given a brigade in the army of Northern Virginia, and was in the battle of Hanover Court House, where, on account of signal bravery and distinguished services, he was praised by General Lee. General Branch was conspicuous for his gallantry in the Battles of the Seven Days, Cedar Run, Second Bull Run, Fairfax Court House, Harpers Ferry, and Antietam. At the latter place, while standing with some officers, near the firing line, he was shot through the head and fell into the arms of Major Joseph A. Engelhead, and died almost immediately. The remains were brought to Raleigh for burial. General Branch married Nancy Haywood Blount, daughter of General W. A. Blount, and left four children, Digitized by Google 194 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY as follows : William A. B. Branch, an officer in the War be- tween the States, and, from 1891 to 1895, member of Con- gress from the First Congressional district. The daugh- ters were Susan, who married Robert H. Jones ; Nannie, married Armistead Jones ; Josephine married Kerr Craig of Salisbury. XXIH EDWARD CONIGLAND. Edward Conigland was born in the county of Donigal, Ireland, April 22, 1819. He was the fifth son of Dr. Pat- rick and Margaret Brison Conigland. His father was a skilled physician, and gave his sons the best educational advantages the times afforded. Dr. Conigland's death, however, occurred when Edward was but fourteen years of age ; and his mother, owing to financial losses, emigrat- ed, with her children, to America, arriving in New York, October 26, 1834. Like many another young Irishman, coming to this country, Edward found that life in the New World was not one of ease. He was, therefore, glad to do any kind of work that offered itself to keep the wolf from the door, and had but little opportunity to pursue his classical stud- ies he had begun in Ireland. He was diligent enough, however, to bend his energies to the acquisition of know- ledge and the improvement of his mind in whatever way chance offered. Through the mediation of an influential friend, he was elected to membership in the Metropolitan Debating Association, which had been established by young men of cultivated tastes and literary aspirations for mutual improvement, one of the exclusive social or- ganizations in New York City. On several occasions, when the public was admitted to the debates, the talent displayed by young Conigland, both as a writer and a speaker, was much complimented in the New York Jour- nal. In 1844, having studied law in New York and being a Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 195 good mathematician and linguist, he came to Halifax County and taught school in the home of Isaac Falkland for a year or two. During his career as a teacher, he con- tinued his study of law; and, in 1846, procured license to practice in the Courts of North Carolina, establishing an office in the town of Halifax. Like most young lawyers, he came into lucrative prac- tice slowly, having what is known as the "starving pe- riod" for several years. His talent and industry, however, ultimately put him in the first rank of his profession. His services were desired and employed in many counties in the State. Two of the most celebrated legal cases, in which he was engaged, were the impeachment trial of Governor Holden and the Johnston Will Case. In the former, he was counsel for the defense and used all the tremendous force of his brilliant intellect to save the ac- cused Governor from conviction ; but to no avail. In 1865, he was one of the delegates from Halifax Coun- ty to the Constitutional Convention in Raleigh. The stand he took in that convention gained for him the ap- proval and high regard of the people of the State. He had not been a soldier in the War between the States because of his defective hearing, but he showed, in his speeches and his votes in that body that he was a patriotic North Carolinian. Forming a partnership, for the practice of law, in 1875, with the late Robert O. Burton, he continued the work of his profession with increasing success until his tragic death in December, 1877, brought his career to a close. On December 4, that year, he was returning home from one of his farms near Halifax, walking on the railroad track, and in a few minutes would have been with his family, when he was run down and killed instantly by a freight train. Edward Conigland was married three times, first to Eliza Tillery, of Halifax County ; second, to Mary Wyatt Ezell, of Jackson, N. C, and third, to Emily Long, of Northampton County. None of his descendants now re- side in the county. Digitized by Google 196 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY XXIV JUNIUS DANIEL. In many respects, the most distinguished soldier that Halifax County has produced was Junius Daniel, the sub- ject of this sketch. He was the youngest son and the last surviving issue of John R. J. Daniel, who was distin- guished as Attorney-General and member of Congress for a long time. He was born in the town of Halifax on the 27th day of June, 1828, and, at the age of three, met with the loss of an admirable mother. His youth was passed in a quiet and an uneventful manner in the elementary schools of his native town. When about fifteen years of age, he was sent to the ex- cellent academy of J. M. Lovejoy, of Raleigh, and re- mained in that school until 1846. While in that institu- tion, he was spoken of as "admirably made, muscular, a quick eye, and as determined a spirit as ever animated a body." His record in the Lovejoy Academy was ad- mirable. In 1846, under the appointment of President Polk he en- tered the Military Academy at West Point. After a high- ly creditable and honorable career as a student, both in deportment and scholarship, he was graduated therefrom in 1851. While in school there and during some maneu- vers on the drill ground with the artillery corps, a heavy gun was thrown on him, injuring his spine, which affect- ed his health for several years. After graduation, he was ordered to Newport, Ky., as assistant quartermaster ; but in the fall of 1852, he was sent, in charge of a detachment of soldiers, to New Mex- ico, and was stationed at Fort Albuquerque where he re- mained five years. While in this service, some refractory soldiers entered into a conspiracy to kill him and at- tacked him in his quarters. When set upon, Daniel drew his sword, which, however, was shattered at the first thrust and fell from his hand. Although dis- Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 197 armed, he, by his powerful strength, kept his assailants at bay until the attention of the guard was attracted, and he was rescued. In 1857, he resigned his commission in the service of the United States government, at the solicitation of his father, and began a career as an agriculturist in Louisiana. This occupation was not altogether accord- ing to his tastes, and he was not reluctant to give it up at the first favorable opportunity, which was not long in coming. He was, according to a report, a good farmer, showing great adaptability to a career that he was compelled to force himself to like. He married, in October, 1860, Ellen, an accomplished daughter of Colonel John J. Long, of Northampton County. He returned to Louisiana, and was engaged vigorously in working his large plantation when the first gun was fired at Sumter and a continent became engulfed in war. When Lincoln called for troops to crush the South, the State of Louisiana offered Daniel a commission in the service of that State. He, however, preferred to serve with the troops of North Carolina and hastened home. Arriving in Halifax, he tendered his services to Governor Ellis, and was immediately accepted. He was shortly afterwards elected Colonel of the Fourth Regiment, but later of the Fourteenth, which he ac- cepted and remained the commanding officer until the period of enlistment expired. He was then tendered command of the Forty-Third and the Forty-Fifth regi- ments, which had enlisted for the period of the war. About the same time, he was offered by Governor Clark the command of the Second North Carolina Cavalry. He accepted the command of the Forty-Fifth. Soon thereafter, Colonel Daniel was ordered by Gen- eral Holmes to lead the four regiments then in Raleigh to Goldsboro and there organize them into a brigade. This was done so efficiently that General Holmes recom- mended Daniel to the authorities at Richmond for ap- Digitized by Google 198 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY pointment as brigadier-general. The Confederate gov- ernment, however, had been too liberal in appoint- ments, and had already commissioned more brigadiers than there were brigades to command. So Daniel found himself a brigadier without a commission and had to give place to one who had a commission but no command. He then organized another brigade, only to see it assigned to another. Later, he was called upon to organize a third, and this he retained command of as senior colonel for nearly twelve months. During this period, he was serving under the different departmental officers, all of whom urged his promotion, but to no avail. In June, 1862, he was ordered to Peters- burg, and, with the brigade, joined General Lee's army before the Seven Days' Battles, but took no active part therein. In October, 1862, the long delayed commission as a brigadier-general was received. His brigade was composed of the following regiments : The Thirty-Second, commanded by Cowan; the Forty-Third, by Kenan, wounded and captured at Gettysburg; the Forty-Fifth, first by Morehead, who died at Martinsburg, Va., in Janu- ary, 1863, then by Boyd, who was wounded and captured at Gettysburg, exchanged and killed at Spottsylvania ; the Fifty-Third, by Owen, killed at Winchester; and the Second North Carolina Battalion, by Lieutenant-Colonol Andrews, killed at Gettysburg. What a melancholy reo- ord! General Daniel spent the fall of 1862, with his brigade, at Drury's Bluff. In December, he was ordered to North Carolina, under the command of General D. H. Hill to repel a diversion of Foster in favor of Burnside at Fredericksburg, Va. Shortly after the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was transferred to Lee's army, Rode's division, Ewell's Corps during the Pennsylvania cam- paign which followed. At Carlisle, Pa., General Ewell conferred a great honor upon General Daniel and his brigade. After reaching Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 199 that place. General Ewell made a speech to Rode's divis- ion, complimenting them upon the successes of the march, their military bearing, and soldierly conduct. Then turn- ing to Daniel's brigade, recently attached to the division, he said: "You have shown yourselves so obedient to all orders, so sturdy and regular on the march and so well disciplined, that I will intrust to you the bearing of the 'Corps flag,' confident that its honor could never suffer while in the keeping of such troops." This was a proud moment for General Daniel and the highest compliment that could have been conferred on his troops. The older brigades murmured at this prefer- ence, but the flag was valiantly borne in many hard fought battles. General Ramseur said that he coveted that flag and that he never saw troops move with more precision on parade than the troops who bore it when ordered to change their position under the full fire of the enemy. This tribute came from an honored rival and could not have been meant for mere pleasantry. The action of General Daniel at Gettysburg and the troops under his command won for him the highest es- teem among his fellow soldiers of whatever rank. The senior captain of the Forty-Third Regiment, Cary Whit- aker, who commanded the regiment after Kenan was shot down and who afterwards sealed his patriotism with his blood, is reported to have said that General Lee thus ac- costed General Daniel after the battle: "General Daniel, your troops behaved admirably and they were admirably handled." General Daniel made an admirable report of the battle of Gettysburg, which is of sufficient interest to reproduce, at least, a portion of it: "I cannot, in justice to the officers and men of my com- mand, close this portion of my report without recording my honest conviction that the conduct of the troops, who participated in this engagement, will furnish brighter ex- amples of patient endurance than were ever exhibited be- fore. Entering the fight in the first day at about one P. Digitized by Google 200 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY M. and hotly engaged until four P. M., during which time they constantly drove before them a superior force of the enemy, losing nearly one-third of their number and many valuable officers ; exposed during the second day to a gall- ing fire of artillery from which they suffered much, they moved at night in a line of battle on the enemy's strong positions, after which, with less than two hours' rest and having made a fatiguing night march, they reported to General Johnson and entered the fight again at four A. M. on the third day and were not withdrawn until between three and four in the afternoon, then skirmishers remain- ing engaged until nearly twelve at night, and this whole time being constantly exposed to, and suffering from, the enemy's fire. Shortly after twelve, they were required to repeat the march of the preceding night and occupy the positions from which they had driven the enemy on the first day. Nor was there exhibited by any portion of the command during the three days in which they were en- gaged any disposition to shrink from the duties before them or any indication of that despondency with which men similarly exposed are so often affected." The next engagement, in which Daniel's brigade took part, was at Spottsylvania Court House, May 11, 1864. During a desperate charge of the Federals, the Confeder- ate lines were broken and the enemy was rapidly advanc- ing, when Daniel's brigade, which had been on the reserve line up to that time was brought into action, and, being led by General Daniel in a gallant charge, checked the ad- vance of the Federals and converted a defeat into a vic- tory. On the next morning, at the "Horseshoe Bend," hear Spottsylvania Court House, General Daniel fought his last battle. General Edward Johnson's division had been surprised early in the morning and most of it cap- tured or killed. General Daniel was leading his brigade to recapture the works when he was struck in the abdo- men by a minie ball. He was carried in a litter to the hospital about one mile in the rear and kept under the in- fluence of opiates until the next day when he died. His Digitized by Google H fc P O O X t-H a? Q ^ O K Q O O o H W H O w fc o Digitized by Google Digitized by Google BUILDERS OP THE COUNTY 201 last thought was of his wife in her distant home unable to reach him. His remains were brought to Halifax and interred in the old churchyard, overlooking the blue hills of North- ampton. The grave is unmarked even by a stone, and, after the present generation has passed away, may be en- tirely lost to memory. XXV FRANCIS M. PARKER. Francis Marion Parker was born in Nash County, Sep- tember 21, 1827. His father, Theophilus Parker, was a thrifty merchant and farmer. The son had the privilege of country life, and enjoyed the wholesome opportunity of being reared on a prosperous farm. He was educated at the well known Love joy Academy in Raleigh, where he had the opportunity of being under the tutelage of learned and competent instructors. Receiving a liberal education at this institution, he returned to his father's farm and took up the duties of a planter. A few years later, he married Sallie T. Philips, of Edgecombe County, and, having purchased a farm near Enfield, made his home there. Here he was living with his family when the War be- tween the States began in 1861. Even before the State se- ceded Parker had already made preparation for the war. In April, he assisted in organizing the Enfield Blues and became the Second Lieutenant of the company. In May, his company was assigned to the First North Carolina Regiment, which afterwards came to be called the Bethel Regiment, and, in the latter part of the month, was or- dered to Virginia to assist in repelling the threatened Fed- eral advance from Fort Monroe. At Bethel, on June 10th, Parker received his first bap- tism of fire and distinguished himself with signal gal- lantry. On August 31, 1861, he became Captain of the Enfield Blues, but held that position only about six weeks Digitized by Google 202 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY when he was offered and accepted the commission of Colo- nel of the Thirtieth Regiment of North Carolina volun- teers, which position he held until he was wounded and forced to retire from the service. Colonel Parker was in the thickest of the Seven Days' Battles around Richmond, where his regiment performed heroic service. He was also in the battles of Seven Pines, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, and Spottsylvania. He was severely wounded at the last mentioned conflict and was obliged to retire from active service. In all these great struggles, more than the average soldier was expected to experience, Colonel Parker showed a patriotic devotion of the highest type and rare military skill. After the close of the war, Colonel Parker retired to his country estate, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died January 18, 1905. XXVI SPIER WHITAKER. Two distinguished sons of Halifax County have borne the name of Spier Whitaker. The first of the name was born in 1798, became prominent in politics in the early forties, was Attorney-General of North Carolina four years, 1842-46, and, after his term of office expired, re- moved with his family to Iowa, and died in his adopted State after the close of the War between the States. Spier Whitaker, son of the one just mentioned, was born in Enfield, March 15, 1841. At an early age he en- tered the school of Major Samuel Hughes in Orange County, where he was prepared for college. In the fall of 1857, he matriculated at the University of North Carolina, and would have received his diploma in June, 1861, if he had remained until then; but the war clouds began to gather in increasing blackness, and young Whitaker, along with others, left college in April and volunteered as a Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 203 private in a company being raised by Captain Richard J. Ashe. His company was assigned to the Bethel Regiment. He was in the Battle of Bethel and was in the maneuvers around Yorktown until his company was ordered to New- bern the latter part of the year and attached to the com- mand of General L. O'B. Branch for the defense of East- ern North Carolina. He was in the thickest of the fight at Newbern, and fell into the hands of the enemy as a prisoner of war. After being held four months, he was exchanged and at once resumed his position in the ranks. He was made second lieutenant, and, with his company, joined Lee's army just before the first invasion of Maryland. He was in the memorable Battle of Antietam and the most of the ter- rible struggles of 1863 and 1864. At Appomattox, he sheathed his sword and went to his father's home in Iowa. Young Whitaker, however, was not satisfied with life in the West, and, after studying law under the tutelage of his father, returned to North Carolina in the fall of 1866 and located at Enfield. He became solicitor in 1867, a po- sition he filled with splendid ability for several years. He was elected to the State Senate in 1881, and, in 1882, re- moved to Raleigh to form a law partnership with John Gatling. In 1888 he was chairman of the State Democratic Ex- ecutive Committee and conducted a masterly campaign that year. The next year, he was appointed by Governor Fowle to the position of Superior Court Judge and was elected for the unexpired term in 1890. He retired from the judgeship in 1894, and resumed the practice of law in Raleigh. In 1898, the Spanish-American war having broken out, he volunteered his services and was appointed and commissioned Major by President McKinley. He, however, did not see active service, for the war ended be- fore the North Carolina troops were called to the front. Major Whitaker returned to Raleigh in 1899 and again resumed the practice of his profession. He died in the capital city, July 11, 1901. Digitized by Google 204 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY XXVII WALTER N. ALLEN. Walter N. Allen was born March 1, 1834, near Littleton. He was the oldest son of James V. Allen and his wife, Eliza Mason Johnson, and a great grandson of James Al- len, who was Colonel of the Halifax regiment of minute men during the closing months of the Revolutionary War. His grandfather, John Allen, was also a soldier of the Revolution, being yet in his teens when commissioned a second lieutenant and entrusted with the important duty of carrying from Philadelphia to Newbern $2485.50 in gold to pay off the soldiers of the Continental line. After receiving an elementary education in the schools of his neighborhood, Walter Allen, more generally known by his middle name of Norman, entered Lake Forest Col- lege, where he studied for two years. Leaving Lake For- est, he matriculated at the University of North Carolina in the school of law and continued his studies for two years longer. In 1856, he secured his license to practice law and was admitted to the bar in Halifax. In 1857, he went to Kansas, locating in Jefferson County. In that new country, he quickly became prominent. In 1858, he was appointed county attorney and the next year was elected to the same position at the polls. In 1863, he was appointed clerk of the district court of Jefferson County by William McDowell, Judge of the First Judicial District of Kansas. In 1865, he was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives as the member from Jefferson County. While a member of that body, he was active in opposing the proposition to appropriate 500,000 acres of the public lands to the railroad company then traversing the county, taking the ground that these lands were held in trust by the State for the support of the public schools. In 1867, Allen was elected clerk of the court. During his term of office, he came into violent conflict with the Board of County Commissioners. The proposition was ^\ BUILDERS OP THE COUNTY 205 submitted to the voters of the county to issue bonds to the amount of $300,000, in equal proportions, to the Atchi- son, Topeka, and Santa Fe and the Atchison, Oskaloosa, and Lawrence railroads. The election was held and the commissioners declared the bond issue carried, ordering Allen, as Clerk of the Court, to make the entry in the books of the county, subscribing to the stock of these railroads to the amount of $300,000. Allen refused to make the entry, and the commissioners instituted legal proceedings against him to oust him from office. In the end, he was dismissed from office and imprisoned. These proceedings brought about a revulsion on the part of the people and an injunction was gotten out re- straining the commissioners from issuing the bonds or subscribing to the stock of the railroads. Allen was re- leased from jail and promptly became one of the most popular and influential men in that part of the State. He entered strenuously into the campaign to remove the com- missioners from office and to put irt a board opposed to the bond issue. He took the stump, and, in a series of brilliant speeches, completely routed the bond advocates and carried the county against the railroad domination of its politics. From the beginning, Jefferson County was heavily Re- publican; but Allen, who was a staunch Democrat, was able to secure a majority vote whenever he came before the people and made a personal canvass. Because of po- litical conditions in Kansas, which was always overwhelm- ingly Republican, he failed to realize his ambitions. Con- sequently he turned his attention to agriculture and lived upon his estate near the city of Topeka, giving his talents to the development of agricultural interests of Kansas. In 1882, he purchased the Topeka Democrat, the lead- ing Democratic paper of the State and became managing editor. The same year he purchased the Topeka State Journal, a Greenback organ, and united it with the Demo- crat, becoming editor-in-chief of the consolidated papers. For a number of years, he, as editor of the principal Dem- Digitized by Google 206 HISTORY OP HALIFAX COUNTY ocratic paper in the State, exerted an influence in party councils that was almost paramount. About 1890, Allen turned his attention to the organiza- tion of the farmers of the Mississippi Valley into a union for protection against the grain and meat speculators. He succeeded in getting an immense number of farmers to- gether in St. Louis and was elected the first president of the organization. He spent his remaining years in the Herculean task of perfecting this union and in making it a mighty instrument for good to the farmers of the west. After going to Kansas, Norman Allen made two visits to his birthplace, once during the war between the States and again in 1885. He died Feb. 5, 1905. He left one son, Pope Walker Allen, who resides in Topeka, Kansas. XXVIH THOMAS L. EMRY. Among the captains of industry of Halifax County, the name of Thomas L. Emry is prominent. He was conspic- uous, during the closing years of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, in some of the most notable industrial enterprises of the eastern part of North Carolina. The story of his life is interesting and inspiring. Thomas L. Emry was born in Petersburg, Va., Decem- ber 18, 1842, and was left an orphan at the age of six years. For eleven years the fatherless and penniless boy lived an unknown life in the city of his birth, acquiring such an education as the schools of that day could give him and his limited opportunities would permit. In 1859, Tom Emry, as he was generally called, left Petersburg and came to Halifax to live, engaging in the business of a tinner, at which he worked for more than a year. Some of the work he did during that time, is still in existence in some portions of the county. As a tinner, however, his career was short. Digitized by Google BUILDERS OP THE COUNTY 207 When South Carolina seceded from the Union in De- cember, 1860, Tom Emry, then a mere boy of eighteen, Listened to the Palmetto State and volunteered his ser- vices for the period of the war. He was attached to the Sixth Regiment of South Carolina volunteers and was present at the bombardment and capture of Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861. In July, the same year, his regiment was ordered to Virginia and reached the battlefield of Bull Run on the afternoon of July 22 in time to witness the com- plete defeat and precipitous retreat of the Union Army. In the fall of 1861, he was transferred, at his request, from the Sixth Regiment of South Carolina troops to the Twelfth North Carolina Regiment, and rejoined the Hali- fax Light Infantry, of which he had been a member before going to South Carolina. With this regiment and com- pany he remained during his active participation in the war and until he was wounded and had to retire from the service. Tom Emry was a gallant soldier. He was in the Seven Days' Battles around Richmond, and, on the last day at Malvern Hill, won the admiration of his comrades and the praise of his Colonel and brigade commander by his he- roic conduct in action. The following is an extract from the report of Colonel B. 0. Wade relative to his gallant be- havior: "It is gratifying to know that the bravery of some was without precedent. The noble daring of private T. L. Emry won the admiration of all his command, he having seized the flag and rushed through a shower of bullets to the brow of the hill and there stood defiantly waving it in the enemy's face until it and staff were completely riddled with bullets." On account of wounds received in battle, he became in- capacitated for heavy duties, and, for the remainder of the war, was placed on detail for less arduous work. He thus passed through the remaining portion of the war without special mention. Returning to Halifax, at the close of the war, he en- Digitized by Google 208 HISTORY OP HALIFAX COUNTY gaged in mercantile business and soon established him- self as one of the commercial factors of the county. In 1869, he located in Weldon, and, at once, took a leading position in the industrial development of the town. For nearly twenty years, he was Mayor of Weldon, President of the Roanoke and Tar River Agricultural Society, for over fifteen years, and until the day of his death one of Weldon's most enterprising citizens. In 1886, Major Emry, as he was now generally known, was elected a member of the Board of County Commis- sioners and served in that capacity for two years. In 1888, he was nominated by the Democratic party for the Sen- ate of North Carolina, and was elected in November of that year, overcoming the heavy Republican majority in the county. He served only one term, declining to be drawn deeply into politics to the neglect of his business. Major Emry's greatest distinction, however, was not as a soldier or a political leader, but as an industrial or- ganizer and promoter. Some years after coming to Wel- don to live, he became interested in the development of the immense water power of the Roanoke river. With an eye to the great value of that power and with the purpose of its ultimate utility, he purchased a tract of land near what was known as the "Great Falls," about five miles up the river from Weldon, and began active preparation for har- nessing the tremendous energy that was running to waste. About 1892, by his untiring zeal, enterprise, and perse- verance, he succeeded in interesting several capitalists in the possibilities of utilizing the more than 50,000 horse power then unharnessed. A corporation, consisting of Charles Cohen and James M. Mullen, of Petersburg, Va. ; John L. Patterson and S. F. Patterson, of Winston-Salem ; W. S. Parker, of Henderson; and W. M. Hobliston, of Richmond, Va., together with Major Emry, was formed in 1895, and work was begun in the building of dams across the river and the construction of mills. The great enterprise was, therefore, fairly launched and Roanoke Rapids became an actuality. Digitized by Google i 3 Digitized by Google Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 209. One of Major Emry's associates in the development of "Great Falls" as a manufacturing point thus speaks of him: "To Major Thomas L. Emry belongs the honor of discovering the advantages of this place as a manufactur- ing site. He built the first power plant ever erected here. When he began it, I doubt if he knew where the next pay roll was coming from. He was a man of indomitable en- ergy, however, and finished it." Major Emry lived to see the fruition of his dreams, a great manufacturing centre on a site chosen by himself. His name is associated with the magic city, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest potentialities in its development and growth. He died September 8, 1910. XXIX RICHARD H. SMITH. Previous to the war between the States, agriculture was almost the only industry of importance in Halifax County. The agriculturist, or planter, as the large farmer of that day was called, was generally a man of influence and note in his community. As tilling the soil was the occupation upon which the welfare of the county chiefly depended, the man who brought wealth to his community in that way was a benefactor. Richard H. Smith was one of the influential planters, among a number of such men in the lower part of the county, during the decades immediately preceding the Civil War. Born near Scotland Neck, May 10, 1812, he grew up on the farm of his father, William R. Smith, im- bibing the strength, character, and spirit of the well-bred country boy of that period. At the age of five, he was sent to school at the Vine Hill Academy in Scotland Neck. When twelve years old he entered the school of W. E. Webb at Hyde Park in the Littleton section of the county, and remained there three years. There is no record of his work as a student either at Vine Digitized by Google 210 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Hill or at Hyde Park ; but as he was a model boy, it can well be inferred that he made good marks and won the respect and confidence of his teachers and class-mates. After spending a year at Oxford, he matriculated at the University of North Carolina in the fall of 1828, receiv- ing his diploma of graduation in 1832. In the spring of 1833 he went to Warrenton, N. C, and began the study of law under Edward Hall, an attorney of that town. After finishing his course and before applying for license to practice, he was married, December 4, 1834, to Sally Hall, daughter of Judge John Hall. Aban- doning the practice of law, he turned his attention to ag- riculture, and, assuming the burden of management, he soon became an agriculturalist of recognized ability. Well educated and endowed with natural talents of a high or- der, he early became a leader among the farmers of the county. He was not a politician by nature and refused to seek political preferment. In 1848, however, he was persuaded by his fellow citizens to become a candidate for the house of Commons on the ticket with William L. Long. Andrew Joyner, a veteran of the War of 1812, was the candidate on the same ticket for the senate. At the polls the ticket received a majority vote, and "Dick" Smith, as he was familiarly called, began his public career. As a legislator, he incurred unpopularity because he voted for the charter of the North Carolina Railroad, and, in the election of 1850, he was defeated. He was, however, renominated in 1852 and elected, and also again in 1854. Retiring from politics at the end of his term in 1855, he devoted his energies to his farming interests, and amassed a fortune that was considerable for that day. Although out of politics, he took an active interest in the great questions then agitating the country, chief among them that of slavery, which seemed destined to disrupt the Union. He was an ardent supporter of States Rights and a strict constructionist, and, with other Southern men, viewed the unreasonable acts of the radical element Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 211 in the North with alarm. There seemed no chance for a peaceful settlement of the dispute between the North and the South, but Richard H. Smith was a union man and la- bored for peace until all hope of a solution of the trouble had passed. In January, 1861, the General Assembly, by an act, sub- mitted to the people the question of the call of a conven- tion to consider the matter of secession, and, at the same time, called for the election of delegates to the convention if it should be called by vote of the people. Richard H. Smith was one of the candidates of the opponents of the convention and was elected, but the call for the conven- tion was defeated. In May, however, of the same year, another convention was called by a majority vote of the people, and Richard H. Smith and Charles J. Gee were sent as the delegates from Halifax County. The country was in a state of excitement. Sumter had fallen and President Lincoln had called upon North Carolina and other Southern States for troops to wage war upon the Southern Confederacy. The war had actually begun. So when the convention met in Raleigh, May 20, there was no union sentiment among the members. All were for immediate secession. By a unanimous vote the ordi- nance was passed, the Halifax representatives being among the most ardent advocates of the step. During the war that followed, "Dick" Smith remained at his home near Scotland Neck, his age excluding him from active participation in military service. He was, however, a diligent student of affairs as they transpired, and, at the end, saw and felt the crash with composure. The beginning of the war found him a man of wealth. The end revealed him almost financially bankrupt. Perhaps the most eminent service Richard H. Smith performed was what he did as a churchman. He was one of the organizers of Trinity Parish and a vestryman for more than fifty years. For fifty-nine years he was a del- egate from his church to the Diocesan Convention, and in October, 1865, was a delegate to the General Convention Digitized by Google 212 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY of the Episcopal Church, which met that year in Phila- delphia. One of the great questions before the ecclesias- tical body was the reunion of the northern and southern branches of the Church. Along with other southern mem- bers, Richard H. Smith's voice was raised in behalf of reconciliation. He gained the ear of the convention and the two bodies voted to forget the past and to bury all differences. When the Roanoke and Tar River Agricultural Society was organized a few years after the close of the Civil War, Richard H. Smith was chosen its first president. Largely by his efforts and the efficiency of the secretaries of the Fair Association, the successful series of fairs, which had a great influence upon the activities of the county, was held for a number of years at Weldon. He died March 3, 1893, at his home near Scotland Neck. XXX GEORGE GREEN LYNCH. As a trusted employee of the Postoffice Departments of both the Confederacy and the United States, George Green Lynch had the unusual distinction of having been personally commended by both governments for merito- rious services. His was a career notable and conspicuous for patriotic self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. Born near Whitakers, Edgecombe County, November 28, 1817, he grew up on his father's farm and early devel- oped the sturdy character of integrity for which he was so well known in later life. Taught only in the primitive schools of that day, his education was not as profound as would be supposed from the record of the excellent ser- vice which he afterwards rendered. He was, however, a close student of that which was most worth while, and became, as years passed, a man of strong personality and more than average intelligence. About 1840, George Lynch entered the service of the Digitized by Google BUILDERS OP THE COUNTY 21S United States Government as Route Agent of the Post- office Department, and, in a few years, was made Special Agent of the same division of the government. He held the latter position, when the Confederate Government was organized at Montgomery, Ala., in February, 1861. Without waiting to see what course North Carolina was going to take in the crisis, but, believing that the state was going to secede from the Union, he tendered his resigna- tion to the department in Washington, March 1, 1861. In answer to his letter of resignation, he received the fol- lowing communication: "G. G. Lynch, Esq., of North Carolina, has been in the service of this Department as Route Agent and Special Agent for the long period of sixteen years and upwards, and has always distinguished himself by the most constant and untiring devotion to the public interests. "From our knowledge of him both personally and offi- cially, we cheerfully, and, as an act of justice, testify our high appreciation of his services, and regret that circum- stances impel him to resign his office. (Signed) HORATIO KING, Postmaster-General (Signed) A. N. ZEVERLY, 3rd Assistant P. M. G." July 1, 1861, he was tendered and accepted the position of Special Agent of the Postoffice Department of the Con- federate Government under Postmaster-General John H. Reagan, which position he held until the downfall of the Confederacy. During the period of his connection with the Confeder- ate Government, he was trusted with many dangerous and important missions. His field of operations was the entire South and portions of the West, through which he traveled, establishing postoffices and making collections for the government. At one time, he personally conveyed from Augusta, Ga., to Wilmington, N. C, $50,000 in gold, Digitized by Google 214 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY for which he was highly complimented by General Rea- gan in a letter written October 30, 1863. At another time, he was sent to West Virginia to estab- lish mail communication between the army of General Floyd, who was in command of that department, and the country to the east and south. Later, he was commis- sioned by General Reagan to establish postal service in such parts of Missouri as were in possession of the Con- federacy. For three months he was engaged in this ardu- ous task while his family knew not whether he was alive or dead. So successful, however, was he in carrying out the or- ders of his superiors that he was offered by President Jef- ferson Davis the position of Assistant Postmaster-Gen- eral with headquarters west of the Mississippi River, which, however, he declined. He continued his strenuous duties in a subordinate position until defeat settled upon the arms of the Confederacy in April, 1865. After Lee's surrender, he returned to his home out of employment but still vigorous and optimistic. The next year he was made General Agent of the Wil- mington and Weldon Railroad Company with headquar- ters at Weldon and was continuously in its employment until his death, December 28, 1886. During this time, he was a trusted employee and personal friend of some of the financiers, who were then laying plans for the great At- lantic Coast Line Railroad Company. Judge Lynch, as he was then familiarly known, may be considered as one of the factors, though in a modest way, of the formation of that standard railroad of the South. Judge Lynch was married February 19, 1846, to Emma Whitaker, from which union now survive six children, Mrs. Margaret Pierce, George G. Lynch, Adolphus B. Lynch, Mrs. F. S. Overton, Mrs. L. B. Tillery, and Mrs. B. W. Arrington. Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 215 XXXI THOMAS N. HILL. Halifax County has been noted in the past, as well as in the present, for its able jurists. Some of the most pro- found students of the law have lived and practiced at the Halifax bar, and have shed lustre upon the name of the County. Among the legal lights of the latter part of the nine- teenth century, the name of Thomas N. Hill is conspic- uous. He was the second son of Whitmel John Hill and Lavinia Dorothy Barnes Hill, and was born March 12, 1838, near Hill's Cross Roads in the Scotland Neck sec- tion of Halifax County, the neighborhood still retaining its name from the Hill family. After preparatory study at Vine Hill Academy in Scot- land Neck and at the Warrenton High School, he entered the Freshman Class at the State University in 1853, and was graduated with distinction in June 1857, receiving the bachelor's degree. Later the master's degree was con- ferred upon him by his alma mater. Some of his class- mates were Robert Bingham, superintendent of the Bing- ham Military School at Asheville; A. C. Avery, of Mor- ganton, for years a Superior Court and a Supreme Court Judge; Thomas S. Kenan, Attorney-General, and later Clerk of the Supreme Court ; John W. Graham, for a long time one of the most eminent lawyers of the State; and Thaddeus Belsher, founder of the University of Columbus and Carrollton College in Mississippi. Leaving college, he attended for two years Judge Pear- son's Law School and became grounded in the principles of common law. In December, 1858, he was licensed to prac- tice in the County Courts, and, the next year, received li- cense to practice in the Superior Courts of the State. In 1860, he opened a law office in Halifax, but later the same year changed his location to Scotland Neck. In politics, he was a Whig and a Union man. During the Digitized by Google 816 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY fall and winter of 1860-61, when troublous times arose, he opposed secession and argued strenuously for the union as it existed. When, however, the State seceded, May 20, 1861, and war was inevitable, he enlisted as a private in the Scotland Neck Mounted Riflemen, afterwards Com- pany G of the Third North Carolina Cavalry. He was a soldier for about a year, for in May, 1862, while in the army, he was elected Solicitor for Halifax County. Re- turning home, he took up his new duties and continued in office until 1866 when he declined re-election. He was im- mediately appointed Clerk and Master in Equity by Judge Fowle, who was on the Superior Court Bench at that time. He resigned this office in 1867, and devoted his energies to the practice of his profession. As an office lawyer, Tom Hill, as he was familiarly known, had few superiors among his contemporaries. He was often appointed Referee, and, in that auxiliary court, his knowledge of law and his power of analysis were at their best in the investigation and determination of diffi- cult questions both of law and fact. His report as Referee in the case of Badger vs. Daniel, in Volume 79 of the North Carolina State Reports, is an illustration of his careful preparation. He had an extensive practice in the courts of Halifax, Northampton, Warren, Bertie, Martin, and Hertford counties, in the Supreme Court at Raleigh, and in the United States Circuit and District Courts. For more than forty-five years, he had as his opponents or associates, in the trial of cases, some of the ablest law- yers in the State. Among them may be mentioned John Gatling, Fabius H. Busbee, Joseph B. Batchelor, and John W. Hinsdale, of the Raleigh bar; William W. Peebles, Rob- ert B. Peebles, Matt. W. Ransom, Thomas W. Mason, and W. C. Bowen, of the Northampton bar; Henry A. Gilliam, of Edgecombe; James E. Moore, of Martin; William D. Pruden, of Chowan ; B. B. Winborne, of Hertford ; Wil- liam A. Jenkins, of Warren; Edward Conigland, Robert 0. Burton, William H. Kitchin, Spier Whitaker, William H. Day, John A. Moore, William A. Dunn, Claude Kitchin, Digitized by Google f^ uuim. 6*A-***C*7*- . Digitized by Google V Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 217 Edward L. Travis, James M. Mullen, Walter Clark, and Walter E. Daniel, of the Halifax bar. In 1877, upon the creation of the Inferior Courts, he was elected Chairman of the Halifax County Inferior Court Board of Justices and continued as the presiding officer of that Court until it was abolished by act of the General Assembly some years later. As presiding judi- cial officer, Judge Hill was fair and impartial in his de- cisions, and retained the highest respect and confidence of his associates. January 1, 1878, he located in Halifax for the second time, and shortly thereafter, he became a candidate be- fore the Democratic State Convention for the nomination for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The following notice of his candidacy is taken from the Raleigh News in its issue of June 6, 1878 : "Mr. Thomas N. Hill, a gentleman prominently spoken of in connection with a place on the Supreme Court Bench, is in the city ; but if he ever finds the office or the office finds him, it will have to seek him, for he appears to be entirely too modest and unassuming for the practical busi- ness of political electioneering, but it is said by those who know him that a very high order of merit is concealed about his person and that he has few superiors in the law." When the convention met, Judge Hill received a large vote, but was defeated by the venerable Judge W. N. H. Smith, of Hertford County. In 1888, he was again a can- didate and was defeated by James E. Shepherd, of Beau- fort County, who was elected and was afterwards elevated to the Chief Justiceship. It appears, therefore, how nar- rowly Judge Hill failed of being signally honored by his fellow citizens. In 1902, he was importuned to become a candidate be- fore the Democratic State Convention for the nomination of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court against the then incumbent, Judge Walter Clark, another distinguished jurist of Halifax County. Judge Hill, however, declined Digitized by Google 218 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY to be a candidate before the convention, but afterwards announced his candidacy as an independent, "subject, however," as he explained, "to such action as may be tak- en by any State Convention composed of Democrats that may assemble hereafter for the purpose of making a nom- ination in opposition to Judge Clark." Shortly after his announcement, the Republican State Convention met and passed the following resolution: "Resolved, that, whereas the Republican party desiring the elevation to the Bench of the best fitted lawyer of the State, regardless of party affiliations, the candidacy of the Hon. Thomas N. Hill, of Halifax, for Chief Justice of North Carolina, is hereby endorsed, and, we, the Republi- cans of the State, in convention assembled, do earnestly recommend him to the people of the State for this high office." Although his candidacy was urged by a campaign com- mittee with headquarters at Greensboro, and a thorough canvass made, he failed of election. This was his last ap- pearance before the public, for he died July 24, 1904, at his home in the town of Halifax. He was a communicant of the Episcopal Church, a member of the Masonic Frater- nity,, the State Bar Association, the American Bar Asso- ciation, and the Sons of the Revolution. He was twice married, first to Eliza Evans Hall, June 4, 1861, who died October 25, 1884, from which union there were ten children, four sons and six daughters ; sec- ond to Mary Amis Long, daughter of Nicholas Long, of Weldon, on March 1, 1887, who died October 12, 1901, without issue. XXXII PETEE EVANS SMITH. Peter Evans Smith, son of William Ruffin Smith and Susan Evans Smith, was born in Edgecombe County, Jan- uary 20, 1829, and, like most boys of that day, was reared on a farm. He was named for his maternal grandfather, Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 219 who lived near Old Sparta in Edgecombe County. He was the oldest of thirteen children. When old enough to attend school, he was sent to the Vine Hill Male Academy in Scotland Neck; but later, he was thoroughly prepared for college at the famous Wil- liam Bingham School in Orange County. In September, 1846, he matriculated at the University of North Caro- lina. It is said that he was so well prepared that he did not have to study as much as other freshmen ; but while his class-mates were struggling over their lessons for next day, Peter Smith was sitting under the Davis Poplar play- ing the flute or violin, or out elsewhere taking daguerro- types. On the day of graduation, however, he stood among the best in his class and received his diploma. At the age of twenty-five, he married Rebecca Whitmel Hill, daughter of Whitmel J. Hill ; and, although he had no fondness for the life of a farmer, he was given a farm by his father, settled upon it, and became an agri- culturist. He was a born mechanic, but did not have the opportunity, in early life, to give attention to his devel- oping genius along that line. For some years, he followed the life of a planter, but finally gave up his farming inter- ests and turned his attention entirely to shop work. As a mechanic and inventor, he is probably best known. He was the first man in the county to introduce the use of the planing mill. He invented the method of shrinking tires; an electric buoy, similar to the kind now used in New York harbor; a drill for boring holes through iron rails, which was stolen by some Federal raiders during the Civil War and patented afterward ; a cotton planter, which was among the first of that useful implement on the farm ; and others of a minor nature. He was a railroad builder of considerable note, was one of the principal contractors in the construction of the Kinston branch of the Wil- mington and Weldon Railroad, and of the Norfolk and Carolina. During the Civil War, Peter Smith was no slacker. His mechanical genius caused his services to be in demand in Digitized by Google 220 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY other departments more important than in the ranks. A notable example of the work he did during that time is the construction of the Confederate Ram Albemarle at Edwards' Ferry near Scotland Neck. Gilbert Elliott, of Elizabeth City, had the contract for building the boat; but Peter Smith was the chief builder. Much of the credit for the success of that wonderful piece of mechanism is due him. After the Civil War, he lived quietly and unpreten- tiously at his home in Scotland Neck, working at his trade as a mechanic. He had his shops in "Old Clarksville" and in addition to his regular work in that line, he mended clocks, watches, locks, and guns for his neighbors free of charge. His genius, which, in more populous centers, might have brought him fame and fortune, was expended unsparingly in the interests of his friends almost without pay. XXXHI EOBEET 0. BUETON, D. D. Among the men intimately connected with the rise and progress of Methodism in Halifax County, the name of Robert 0. Burton stands preeminent. For more than fifty years, he labored as an itinerant minister in the Roa- noke section of North Carolina, most of the time in desti- tute localities, where the people heard him gladly. The story of his life is an almost complete account of the be- ginning of the Methodist Church in this portion of the State. Robert Oswald Burton was born in Campbell County, Virginia, June 30, 1811. His father planned for him a military career and fashioned his education with that in mind. As soon as he was prepared, he was sent to the West Point Military Academy to take up his studies there ; but the young soldier, although a brilliant student, did not complete the course. Feeling that he was called to preach the gospel, he resigned the West Point Cadetship, after two years, and returned home. Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY £21 Shortly after giving up his prospects of a military car- reer, he joined the Virginia Conference, in 1833, which met that year in Petersburg, and was ordained deacon the same year and elder in 1837. He was sent in the former year, as an itinerant preacher, to that portion of the Vir- ginia Conference included in North Carolina with head- quarters at Weldon. This was the beginning of his con- nection with Halifax County, a relation which continued to the day of his death. When the North Carolina Conference was organized in 1837, he became a member of that body and retained his membership for more than fifty years. During all those years, he was one of the most prominent members and wielded an influence which was felt throughout the state. He filled some of the most important pastorates in the Conference and was several times Presiding Elder. On March 29, 1842, he was married to Elizabeth Joy- ner, daughter of Colonel Andrew Joyner of Weldon, and built his home, Wyandoke, near Poplar Grove, the home of his father-in-law, a few miles from town, near the pres- ent city of Roanoke Rapids. Throughout all the years of his ministry, even in other counties, he held this house as an anchorage to which he returned, an experience that few Methodist preachers have. Here he reared a family of nine children. The extent of his work can be best judged from the list of charges that he had at different times : In 1834, Junior preacher on Amelia circuit; 1835, Granville circuit; 1836, Greensboro; 1837, Salisbury; 1838-42, Agent of Randolph-Macon College ; 1843, P. E. of Washington District; 1846, Henderson Circuit; 1847- 48, Raleigh Station; 1849-50, Roanoke Circuit; 1851-54, Roanoke Circuit; 1855-58, P. E. Raleigh District; 185F transferred to the Virginia Conference ; 1859-62, P. Petersburg District; 1863, Greenville Circuit; 1864, T tary encampment at Garysburg; 1865, Greenville Cr 1866-68, Union Circuit; 1869, Supt. of Colored 1870, transferred to North Carolina Conference Digitized by Google 233 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY Supt. Colored work; 1874-76, Roanoke Circuit; 1877, Lit- tleton Circuit; 1878, Henderson Circuit; 1879-80, Roa- noke Circuit; 1881, Edgecombe Circuit; 1882-83, P. E. Wilmington District; 1884, P. E. Greensboro District; 1885-88, Warrenton Circuit; 1889, Ridgeway Circuit. As a pulpit orator, he had few equals in the North Caro- lina Conference. His language was impassioned and forceful, and he rarely ever spoke without leaving a pro- found impression upon his hearers. His influence in the Conference was almost unlimited. Whenever Dr. Burton spoke, the audience gave immediate attention. Dr. Burton was not a politician in the sense of seeking advantage for himself. He never made an effort to ad- vance his own interests in the Episcopacy of his church. Several times his name was prominently mentioned in connection with the bishopric, but he declined to put forth any effort to obtain it. His principal ambition was to serve, and, if he could do that in an humble position bet- ter than in an exalted one, he was content. Whatever honors, therefore, came to him were unsought and wholly deserved. Dr. Burton was a man of intense religious convictions, convincingly in earnest when trying to persuade, and dig- nified in both speech and demeanor. While all that was in his general character, he was not slow to see the point of a joke, or to appreciate real shafts of wit. The follow- ing paragraph is taken from an appreciative sketch of him printed a few years ago in the Roanoke News. "There was a humorous side to Dr. Burton's character and many are the quaint stories told of him by those who knew him well. One of these is that upon an occasion when he was dining away from home, having helped a lady quite plentifully, from a dish he was serving, with more candor than good breeding she remarked, 'I didn't want a cart load.' Dr. Burton did not reply, but, biding his time, he soon saw that she had eaten all on her plate, and then said to her, 'Sister, back your cart up and I'll load it again/ " Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 223 One of the most dramatic incidents in his career oc- curred at the annual Conference in Greensboro in 1889. The motion was made to put the name of R. O. Burton on the superannuated list. Immediately Dr. Burton took the floor in his own behalf and combatted the motion, declar- ing that he was able to do the work of the pastorate and that he wanted to die with his armor on. He made one of the greatest speeches of his life and succeeded in getting the Conference to place his name on the supernumerary list instead. He was thus allowed in his old age and failing health to continue in the ministry though with light work. Dr. Burton was married twice. His second wife was Mary Olivia Pearson. His first marriage was blessed with an offspring of four sons, his second of three sons and two daughters, all of whom reached maturity. Hav- ing reached his four score years by reason of his strength, he breathed his last December 17, 1891, at his home near Weldon. XXXIV ROBERT 0. BURTON, JR. Among the able lawyers that Halifax County has pro- duced, Robert 0. Burton, Jr., ranks high. Although he died at an age before most men attain their greatest suc- cesses, he can be classed with those who have reflected honor upon the county and state. He was the fourth son of Dr. Robert O. Burton, a dis- tinguished Methodist minister, and Elizabeth Joyner Burton, daughter of Colonel Andrew Joyner, a veteran of this War of 1812 and for a long time senator from Halifax County. Born January 9, 1852, he was a mere lad at the time of the Civil War and experienced the hardships of that period and grew to manhood during Reconstruction Days. Who can tell but that the privations of those days taught him lessons that contributed no little to the sturdy character he afterwards developed? Of his boyhood days, one of his earliest friends, a Digitized by Google S24 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY school-mate, has the following to say: "His early years were spent like other boys of his neighborhood with the distinction of being a favorite at all times among his com- rades and school-fellows. At the old school taught by Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Archer, it was this writer's privilege to share this comradeship. Was a game of 'prisoners base' proposed? 'Bob Burton' was the one boy clamored for on both sides. Was a less bright boy troubled with the solving of what seemed to him intricate problems in percentage, or partial payments? Bob Burton was the friend to stand between him and Mr. Archer's rod, while he, too, sometimes felt the persuasive eloquence of this same rod. His nature was calm, cool, thoughtful, and de- liberate, and he was at all times ready to help the needy, de- fend the weak, and exact justice for his childhood friends." Early in life, Robert Burton felt himself called to the practice of law. Unwilling, however, to enter this learned profession without being fully equipped, as a boy, he began to canvass the situation to secure the funds needed for the completion of a college course. The dis- asters of the war and reconstruction days left the boy, along with others, almost penniless. His father's in- come, now reduced, and his mother's fortune, now swept away, added nothing to his prospects. His opportunity to complete his academic education seemed indeed slight. Determined, however, to go to college, the nineteen year old boy taught school for a year near Ridgeway, N. C, and practiced the most rigid economy in order to save money. He boarded that year in the home of Thomas Carroll, whose daughter he afterwards married. His work as a teacher was as conscientiously done as his larger labors afterwards as a lawyer were accomplished. Finishing the school year as a teacher, he prepared to enter college in the fall of 1872. He matriculated at Ran- dolph-Macon and was a close student for about two years. He did not take a degree, but his work was so well done that he won the respect and confidence of the faculty and student body. It is said that as a student he was methodi- Digitized by Google o H H H Eh w m & Digitized by Google Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 325 cal and systematic. When prevailed upon by his fellow students to play ball with them, he would promise to play only for a certain length of time, and when it was out, he would quit and go back to his studies. No one was more conscientious in his work than he. Leaving college in 1873, he taught school again for a year in order to pay some college debts. While teaching he read law privately, and, in 1874, received his license and located in the town of Halifax. There he formed a partnership with Edward Conigland, which continued until the tragic death of the latter in 1877. For fifteen years, he practiced at the bar of Halifax and was one of the leading barristers in that historic town. He fought many legal battles during that time, and in all of them, he won fairly or lost because his adversary had the bet- ter cause. In 1889, in search of a broader field, he moved to Rich- mond, Va., and remained about a year. Returning to North Carolina, he located in Raleigh, and, for nine years was one of the leading attorneys of the capital city. En- dowed with two natural gifts, a strong mind and un- wearied diligence, Robert Burton built up a wide practice, which began to be lucrative and exacting. Speaking of his success, the News and Observer made the following remark : "Mr. Burton's most notable victory at the bar was when he won the difficult and celebrated case of State vs. Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. By the terms of its charter, that railroad claimed and exercised exemption from taxation. The Supreme Court of the United States had affirmed their right to exemption in a case that went up before it built any branches. After it had built numerous branches and had come to be one of the best paying railroads in the whole country, the State felt that, even if the exemption on the main line could hold, the road could not go on building numerous branch lines and feed- ers without subjecting such property to taxation. There was much agitation of the matter between 1888 and 1891, Digitized by Google 336 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY during the administration of Governor Fowle. After an in- vestigation of the matter, Governor Fowle and State Treasurer Bain determined to test the right of the claimed exemption, and Mr. Burton, Mr. Ryan, and per- haps other attorneys were retained to represent the State. Mr. Burton entered into this difficult case with all his zeal, giving almost his whole time to a study of the ques- tion. Most of the lawyers thought that the exemption was unlimited and perpetual, and that nothing could be done which would subject that property to taxation. The difficulties were many. But Mr. Burton's ability and gen- ius were able to overcome them. He made a test case that was tried when Judge Connor was on the Superior Court Bench. Judge Connor decided that Mr. Burton's con- tention was sound and he had won first blood. The case was one of such great importance that Judge Connor rendered his decision in an ably written opinion. The railroad appealed to the Supreme Court. Mr. Burton's argument there was one of the ablest that has been heard in the chamber of the State's highest court. The court affirmed Judge Connor. The opinion of the court was de- livered by Justice Clark. The opinions of Judge Connor and Justice Clark, sustaining the contention made for the State by Mr. Burton, made it so clear that the exemp- tion could not long stand that at the next session of the Legislature a compromise was effected by which the rail- road surrendered all claim to exemption from taxation. It is the most important case that has been decided in North Carolina in a quarter of a century, and his success in that case gave Mr. Burton wide reputation and rank with the first lawyers of the State." That case established his reputation in North Carolina and, thereafter, his success was assured. Some years af- terward, the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Company, having recognized his ability in the great legal battle against them, secured his services to represent them at the State capitol ; and, true to his instincts as a lawyer, he accepted the trust, thus becoming the defender of the Cor- Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 227 poration that he had so ardently fought a few years be- fore, a distinct compliment to his ability and integrity. The last legal battle in which he appeared was the cele- brated case of Gattis vs. Kilgo, which was tried in Oxford the latter part of November, 1900. His speech on that occasion for the defendant was one of the best ever de- livered in the Granville Courthouse. He went home and took his bed with a raging fever. He died December 27, 1900. Robert O. Burton was a lawyer. He was devoted to his profession, and avoided politics. May 29, 1878, he was married to Mary Carroll, who survived him. XXXV WILLIAM T. SHAW, JR. One of the young men that Halifax County sent to the Great European War and who came not back again was William T. Shaw, Jr., who was killed in action in the Sec- ond Battle of the Marne, July 16, 1918. The record of his brief life deserves a place in the annals of the county. William Shaw, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Shaw, of Wel- don, was born June 21, 1892. His early life was spent un- der ideal influences, developing in him those high traits of character that distinguished him throughout his brief life. As a pupil in school, he easily led his classes and was regarded by teachers and class-mates as a boy of superior mold. He was fond of athletics, and was usually leader of the boys on the playground. In all his school life, both on class and on the athletic field, he was the champion of fair play. William Shaw's word went a long way in the decis- ion of questions of right or wrong among his play-fellows. Before completing the course at the Weldon High School, he was sent to the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Raleigh, N. C, for the purpose of studying textile industry. There, as he had done in the preparatory school, Digitized by Google 228 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY he led his classes, graduating with honor in 1914. While in college, he was made captain of one of the companies of the cadet battalion, and ranked high as a soldier and a dis- ciplinarian. In a competitive drill, his company easily won the prize as the best trained men in college. Leaving college in 1914, he accepted work in one of the cotton mills in Danville, Va., where he remained a year. Returning to Weldon in 1915, he was made Superintendent of one of the mills of the Weldon Manufacturing Company, and continued in that capacity until August, 1917, when he volunteered for service in the Great War. He entered the Officers' Training Camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., for three months' intensive drill for a commission in the Unit- ed States army. In November, he was commissioned cap- tain, an honor bestowed upon few. Upon winning this high honor at the Training Camp, William Shaw was assigned to the Fifty-First Regiment of Infantry and ordered to report for duty at Fort Ogle- thorpe early in December, 1917. His duties there for four months brought him in contact with some of the best drilled men in the United States Army, and in every trial of skill, Shaw was a match for the best. Early in May, 1918, William Shaw's regiment received orders for overseas duty and entrained for Hoboken. There he was detained for several weeks, but finally embarka- tion orders came and he joined his company in France about the last of May. After a month's training behind the lines, his regiment was ordered to the front about the time the Germans made their last great drive in July. Ar- riving upon the battle front, these fresh American troops, anxious for a trial of strength with the famous Prussian guards, were thrown into the thickest of the fight and brought the advance of the enemy to a standstill. A few days later when the time came for the great counter at- tack of the allies, Captain Shaw led the charge upon the hitherto invincible Prussians and forced them to give ground ; but in that victorious advance, Shaw received a mortal wound, dying in the arms of victory. Digitized by Google BUILDERS OF THE COUNTY 229 William Shaw was a hero and a patriot. When great pressure was brought to bear upon him to remain in the productive occupation he was in and take deferred classi- fication in the draft, he replied that it was his duty to go and fight for the cause of humanity and justice. When his mother endeavored to persuade him to remain at home un- til there was a more urgent call, he said, "It is my duty to go, and, mother, it is your duty as a Christian to bid me go." Thus did he see his duty clearly, and seeing it he dared to perform it. OTHERS WHO HAVE WROUGHT. To give a biographical sketch of all the men who have left their impress upon the County and State would take these pages far beyond the original purpose, and yet there are others whose lives and deeds are like "Apples of gold in pictures of silver". Only a brief mention of them can now be made because of the difficulties in getting posses- sion of the facts. Perhaps some Boswell will be induced to do the delving that is necessary to discover the hidden gems, and will some time bring them to the light. Abner Nash, who, afterwards, became Governor of the State, lived in the county many years. He was, for sev- eral times, a member of the General Assembly, part of the time representing the town of Halifax and at other times the County. He owned at one time immense tracts of land on the Roanoke river, but he later sold his belongings and moved to Hillsboro. Rev. Thomas Burgess was a pioneer Episcopal minis- ter, who was among the first religious teachers to work in the borders of the present county. He was one of the few ministers of the Church of England in North Caro- lina in the middle of the eighteenth century. His field was the parish of Edgecombe, which later became the County of Halifax. He was for years rector of the Episcopal Church in the town of Halifax. Digitized by Google 230 HISTORY OF HALIFAX COUNTY William E. Webb was an educator of ability and a man of considerable influence in the town of Halifax during the first quarter of the eighteenth century. In addition to being a teacher and Principal of Union Academy, he was for three terms a representative from the county in the General Assembly. John Campbell was for some years editor of the Hali- fax Minerva, a weekly newspaper published in the town of Halifax about 1830. He later quit the newspaper work and came to Weldon to live, became a railroad employe, organized the first lodge of Odd Fellows in North Caro- lina, and later, became the first Grand Master of the Grand Jurisdiction of North Carolina. William H. Kitchin was one of the Democratic war- horses of the period following the Civil War. Leading a forlorn hope in 1878, he accepted the nomination for Con- gress, and, by adroit political maneuvering, divided the opposition to him into two hostile camps and was elected by a plurality vote. His influence in politics was felt in the State for a number of years, and he was considered one of the best stump speakers in Eastern North Carolina. His two eminent sons, Will and Claude, are still adding honor to the County of Halifax. Rev. Thomas G. Lowe was, during the period following the Civil War, a distinguished minister of the Methodist Church. He was an eloquent speaker and was known all over the State as one of the best equipped preachers of the Methodist denomination. He lived in the town of Halifax. William A. Dunn, for a number of years following the Civil War, was a prominent lawyer of Scotland Neck. He had a large practice, and, for a long time, was a leader socially, economically, and commercially of his section of the county. John A. Collins was a prominent physician of Enfield, and a political leader for almost a generation. Small of body but with a big heart and brain, he wielded a large influence in the affairs of the county until his death in 1916. Digitized by Google BUILDEBS OP THE COUNTY 431 William H. Day was a lawyer of considerable ability of Weldon during Reconstruction Days, and for years after- ward. He was one of the best criminal lawyers of his day. In later life he moved to Raleigh and was prominent at the bar of that city when he died. W. T. Whitfield, who was born near Weldon, made his home in that place in 1834 when a boy fourteen years old and was a factor in the upbuilding of the place for seventy- six years, dying at the age of ninety. For thirty-five years, he was the agent of the Southern Express Company in Weldon. He was a prominent Odd Fellow, and did much in building up that brotherhood in North Carolina. And these lived and wrought and "slept with their fathers", and their works do follow them. THE END. Digitized by Google Digitized by Google INDEX Albemarle, the ironclad ram used by the Confederates in the Civil War, 116-120. Allen, Elisha, 90 Allen, Hamlin, 90. Allen, James, 53, 57. Allen, John, 46, 47. Allen, Walter N., sketch of, 204,-206. Alston, William, 25, 28. Alston, Willis, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43, 68, 105; sketch of, 168. Alston, Willis, Jr., 69; sketch of, 169, 170. Ashe, John B., 7, 68, 69, 95, 103; sketch of, 151-153. Baker, Blake, representative of Hali- fax County in Colonial Assembly, 16, 17. Baker, L. S., 121. Barrow, Jacob, 42. Bertie precinct, organized in 1722, 6; Halifax County included in, 7; new precinct formed from, called Edge- combe precinct, 7. Blount, William, 65. Bradford, John, 25, 28, 31, 33, 40, 41; sketch of, 172, 173. Branch, John, 53, 54, 68, 72, 77, 99, 105, 144; sketch of, 177-181. Branch, L. O'B., 75, 121; sketch of, 192-194. Burgess, Rev. Thomas, 229. Burke, Thomas, 32. Burton, Hutchings G., 103; curious story connected with his death, 140; sketch of, 181-183. Burton, Rev. Robert O., sketch of, 220-223. Burton, Robert O, Jr., sketch of, 223- 227. Bynum, Jesse A., 99, 103; rivalry be- tween, and Robert Potter, 186-188. Campbell, John, 81, 230. Campbell, John K., 90. Caswell, Richard, 40, 43, 45, 65. Champion, John, 37, 41. Chowan, river, 6. Clarendon County, 9. Clark, David C, 121. Collins, John A., 230. Colonial Assembly, list of representa- tives to, from Borough and County of Halifax, 21. Committee of Safety appointed, 25; met in Halifax, Dec. 21, 1774, 26. Conigland, Edward, sketch of, 194, 195. Constitutional Convention and Con- gress, 40-43. Cox, P., 37. Cox, W. R., 121. Crawley, David, 33. Crowell family, 136-138. Daniel, John R. J., 99; sketch of, 185, 186. Daniel, Joseph J., 72, 99, 103; sketch of, 183-185. Daniel, Junius, 121; sketch of, 196- 201. Davie, William R., 63, 65, 68, 69, 103, 144; sfcetch of, 156-162. Davis, James, 42. Davis, Orondates, 53, 68, 105; sketch of, 171, 172. Dawson, Henry, 37, 42. Day, William, 43. Day, William H., 231. Dewey, Stephen, first representative of town of Halifax in Colonial As- sembly, 16, 17. Drew, William, 72, 103. Dunn, William A., 230. Eaton, Thomas, 35, 43. Edgecombe precinct organized in 1732, 7; long contest over, 7, 11; became Edgecombe County in 1738, 8; divided into two parishes, of which Edgecombe Parish be- came Halifax County, 8. Elliott, Gilbert, constructer of the Digitized by Google 234 INDEX Confederate ram Albemarle, 116; description of the vessel by, quoted, 116-119. Emery, Thomas L., sketch of, 206- 209. Enfield, oldest town in Halifax Count- ty, 11, 12; made county seat of Edgecombe County in 1745, 11, 12; seat of district court of Edgecombe, Northampton, and Granville, 12. Enfield Academy, 77. Fabmwell Grove Academy, 77. Freemasonry in Halifax, 92-98. Geddt, John, 25, 27, 43. Glasgow, James, 40, 43. Green, James, 31, 40. Green, James, Jr., secretary of Pro- vincial Congress at Halifax, April 4, 1776, 31. Halifax County, formed in 1758 from part of Edgecombe precinct, 7, 14; settled as early as 1732, 11; population in 1758 nearly 3000, 14; Halifax selected as county seat, 15; resolutions passed by freeholders of, August 22, 1774, 23, 24; spirit of independence in, pronounced, 30, 31; its part in the Revolutionary War, 31-61 ; and the national consti- tution, 65, 66; influential in Federal Congress, 69; roster of two com- panies of volunteers in war of 1812 from, 70, 71; visit of Lafayette to, 73, 74; schools in, 76-79; news- papers in, 80, 81; coming of rail- roads, 87; cultivation of fruits popular industry, 87; in the Mexi- can War, 100; in the State Legisla- ture, 103-105; in the Civil War, 107-127; reconstruction days in, 128-131; list of state representa- tives, 1891-1917, 132; active part of county in the World War, 134; members of National House of Representatives from, 144; State officers from, 144, 145. Halifax, town, chosen as county seat of Halifax County, 15; occupied by the British, 57; celebrates surren- der of Cornwallis, 62; Visit of Wash- ington to, and his description of, in his Diary, 66, 67; for many years after the Revolution political centre of State, 80; list of representatives in the State Legislature, 102; his- toric homes in, 141, 142. Hamilton, John, 28, 34; sketch of, 38, 39. Harnett, Cornelius, 28, 32, 37, 40, 43. Haynes, Thomas, 25. Haywood, Egbert, 25, 28, 33, 40, 53, 68. Haywood, John, 68; sketch of, 166- 167. Haywood, William, 43. Hewes, Joseph, 34, 37, 41. Hill, Thomas N., sketch of, 215-218. Hodge, Abraham, 81; sketch of, 176, 177. Hogan, James, 25, 27, 31, 34, 40, 41, 42, 52; sketch of, 162-164. Hooper, William, 34, 37, 41. Indians, various tribes in Halifax County before the coming of the whites, 3; cultivation of soil by, rude, 4; peaceable relations with whites, 4; disappeared by 1720, 5. Ivedell, James, 66. Irwin, Henry, 28. Johnston, Samuel, president of Pro- vincial Congress at Halifax, April 4, 1776, 31. Jones, Albritton, 42. Jones, Allen, 32, 33, 53, 56, 57, 61. Jones, John Paul, 48-51; sketch of, 17&-176. Jones, Thomas, 32, 42, 43. Jones, Willie, 25, 26, 27, 31, 34, 37, 40, 41, 42, 45, 53, 62, 65, 67, 68, 95; sketch of, 153-156. Joyner, Andrew, 88, 91; sketch of, 190- 192. Kehukee Creek, settlement on, in 1742, 12; oldest Baptist church in North Carolina at, 12. Kinchin, M., 32. Kitchin, Claude, 133, 134. Kitchin, W. H., 133, 230. La Value Female Academy, 78. Leech, Joseph, 43. London, David, 92. Digitized by Google INDEX 235 Long, Nicholas, 25, 27, 34, 41, 57. 68; sketch of, 170, 171. Long, William Lunsford, 90. Lynch, George Green, 212-214. Lowe, Rev. Thomas, G., 230. McCulloch, Benjamin, 34, 40, 68, 80. McCullough, Alexander, representa- tive of Halifax County in Colonial Assembly, 16, 17. Martin, Alexander, 65, 105. Miller, Andrew, Merchant of Halifax, boycotted for refusing to sign Reso- lutions of the Association, 26; prop- erty confiscated in 1779, 27. Milner, James, 27. Montford, Joseph, 16, 21, 26, 27, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97. Montford, Henry, 42, 53, 68. Montford, Joseph, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 143; sketch of, 149-151. Moore, B. F., 99, 105; sketch of, 188- 190. Moore, James, story of a privateer's adventures by, 138, 139. Munday, Caleb, 37. Nash, Abner, 22, 32, 41, 56, 57, 229. Nash, Francis, 27. Newspapers in Halifax, 80, 81. Noblin, William, 37, 42. North Carolina, early settlers of, from Virginia, 9. Parker, Francis M., sketch of, 201, 202. Parsons, James M., 37. Pearce, Josiah, 41. Penn, John, 34, 37, 105. Peterson, E. K., 90. Potter, Robert, 103; rivalry between, and Jesse A. Bynum, 186-188. Provincial Congress at Halifax, 25, 27; authorizes enrollment of minute men, 27, 28; organizes Provincial Council, 28; important steps in favor of independence of the col- onies, 31-35. Provincial Council of Safety, at Hali- fax, 36, 37, 40. Quarles, Peter, 68. Quit-rents, trouble over, 18-20. Regulators, in Orange County, 22, 23. Religion, progress of, in Halifax, 82- 84. Rice, Nathaniel, 7. Roanoke Navigation Company, open- ing of Canal by, 88. Roanoke, river, 3; called "Morotuck" by the Indians, 7. Royal White Hart Lodge, 92-98. Scotland Neck Female Academy, 78. Scurlock Thomas, 54. Sevier, John, 41. Shaw, William T., Jr., sketch of, 227- 229. Simmons, James, 90. Smith, Peter Evans, sketch of, 218- 220. Smith, Richard H., sketch of, 209-212. Spaight, Richard Dobbs, 65. Starkey, Edward, 43. Sumner, David, 25, 27, 28, 31, 34. Sumner, Jethro, 28. Sumner, Josiah, 34. Tories, very few in Halifax County, 26,28. Tyron, William, governor of Province in 1765, 22; calls on counties for troops to fight Regulators, 23. Tuscaroras, Indians who inhabited Halifax County before the coming of the whites, 3. Union Academy, 77. Vine Hill Academy, 77. Webb, John, 27, 28, 32, 34, 37, 68. Webb, William E., 77, 230. Weldon, Samuel, 25, 34, 40, 41, 43; sketch of, 165. Weldon, William, 53, 54. Wheaton, John, 43. Whitaker, John, 53. Whitaker, Matthew C, 68, 107. Whitaker, Spier, 105; sketch of, 202, 203. Whitefield, W. T., 231. Willis, Augustine, 53. Williams, Joseph John, 25, 31, 35. Williamson, Hugh, 65, Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, opened in 1840, 89. Digitized by Google Digitized by Seaver-HowlandPmsi 271 Franklin St. 'BOSTQM Google Digitized by Google J Digitized by Google j^-\ »% *&ja}ass*sim The borrower must return this item on or before the last date stamped below. If another user places a recall for this item, the borrower will be notified of the need for an earlier return. Non-receipt of overdue notices does not exempt the borrower from overdue fines. Harvard College Widener Library Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-2413 / j jpr i mk Please handle with care. Thank you for helping to preserve library collections at Harvard. 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