The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-08-02
W HIN G. 7. 0 N.
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST .. 1874.
MR.. POLK'S ANCESTRY-AGAIN.

The Globe of Wednesday takes up the subject
of Mr.. Folks ancestry again, for the purpose of
showing, what is not only admitted, but proven
upon oath by Thomas Alexander, viz. that Eze-
kiel Polk ,oas engaged with the Wings in the
earlier part of the war, and bore arms in CAM
paign against the Tories. But the Globe has not
proven, or attempted to prove, that Ezekiel Polk
did not turn Tory himself The affidavit of Tho
mas Alexander has not been assailed by the Globe,
or by its correspondent who appears to be fami-
liar with the family history as far back as the
reign of James II. neither does the Mecklenburg
Jefersonian, the Locofoco paper printed in the
vicinity Of Thomas Alexander's residence, i'm
peach the veracity of his statement.
To show how fully the statement of Mr.. Alex
ander may be relied on, we proceed to quote from
the American Archives, printed by order of Con-
gress, collateral evidence of Mr. Alexander's re-
collections. He states in his affidavit that Eze-
kiel Polk resided in South Carolina in the year
ITS, and consequently could not have been
delegate to the Mecklenburg Convention, for this
reason Mecklenburg is in North Carolina, and
the delegates were chosen from the Captains.
companies of that county hence the absurdity Of
Ezekiel Folks being either delegate or signer.
In confirmation of MIR. Alexander's statement, we
make the following extract from the proceedings
of the South Carolina Provincial Congress-, Nov.
10, IT'S, page As, vol. A, American Archives:
"Ordered, That Mr.. President do sign and is.
sue commissions appointing Ezekiel Polk, Esq,
to be Captain, and Samuel Watson and William
Polk, to be Lieutenants, of a company of Voun-
teer Rangers.
"Commissions were accordingly made out for
the said officers, signed, and dated the Sd instant
in the form following:
Here follows a form Of commssion.l
"Ordered, That the ordnance storekeeper and
powder receiver, do forthwith deliver 500 pounds
weight Of gunpowder, and proper cannon ball in
proportion, to the order of Captain Joseph Darrell,
for the use of Lyttetons bastion
"Ordered, That the same officer do likewise
deliver to Captain Ezekiel Polk, thirteen pounds
weight of gunpowder, lead in proportion and three
dozen f1ints, for the use of his company of Voun-
teer Rangers."-Journal, Non. IL.
Mr.. Alexander next states, that, after being
commissioned, he proceeded to Ninety-Sx, against
Cunningham and his party. 1t will be seen by
reference to the Archives p. SO, AZ, &C., that at
this time the difficulty was existing with Cunning
ham and his party, as the following extract shows :
"IN CONGRESS, CHARLEsTowN, Nov. 8, IT'S.
Whereas, information on oath hath been made
and laid before Congress, that, on the Sd of this
instant, November, Patrick Cunningham, Henry
O'Neal, Hugh Brown, David Reese, Nathaniel
Howard, and Henry Green, with sundry armed
persons did, from detachment of Rangers, take
quantity of gunpowder and lead, the property
of the public and which were then on the road
proceeding under the orders Of the late Council
Of Safety; wherefore, in pursuance of the treaty
made at the camp near Ninety-Six, on the 10th
day of September last, by order of Congress,
now do hereby make requsition, that the said
Patrick Cunningham, Henry o Neal, Hugh Brown,
David Reese, Nathaniel Howard, and Henry
Green, together with their aiders and abetters, be-,
by YOU or one of you, surrendered and delivered
up 10 the authority of Congress, in order that they
may be tried for their offence against their autho.
rity.
"Robert Cunningham having, ever since the
late Congress, constantly declared that he was
not included in it; and having, under his hand,
in public letter to me, declared the same, he has
been, for his bad practices in endeavoring to raise
connections against the authority of Congress,
apprehended, and he is now confined in Jail, where
he enjoys every convenience and accommodation
his situation can admit This tender treatment
he receives from our humanity, and not from his
merits. BY order of Congress.
WILLIAM HENRY DRAYToS,
"President.
ITO Col. Thomas Fletchall, and Messrs. John
Ford, Thomas Greer, Euan McLaurin, and
Benjamin Wofford."-Page AZ.
1t can scarcely be doubted but the powder and
lead in the above order, was to be used against
Cunningham and his followers.
: Here, then, the old Revolutionary soldiers
statement on oath, as to several particulars men,
toned incidentally in his affidavit, is verified by
the highest historical authority. 1t is matter of
record, and serves to show the reliabeness of his
other statement as to Ezekiel Folks taking Br-
iish protection But the latter circumstance