Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-08-15
Mr. PoIk's Grandfather.
From the Middletown tCt.) Sentinel, July sls

ReVOluil0n. IL Is utterly lalse-iheTe Is not a
word of ruth in it. Ezekiel Polk the grandla-
ther Of our candidate for President, was one of
The sgners 10 the celebrated Mecklenburg (N
C,) Declaration Of Independence. So says the
Jefersonan, printed al lha, place, the Editor of
hlch states that he has the first copy of that
Declaration ever printed. which has Ezekiel
Polk's name signed. Wonder if The Tribune
will correct this infamous SANDER.
l1 : We have repeatedly stated that we don't
oppose James X. Polk for ha, his grandfather
was, but for what he is and wha, he supports
and opposes. We should no, have thought of
audng to Mr. Folks ancestry had no, his par
lizans attempted 10 make him capital upon it.
In the pamphlet Life of Polk aud Dallas gol
up al Baltimore soon after the uoinlnalious the
first page reads thus:
JAMES X. Polk, who is the oldest of ten
children, was born IN Mecklenberg County, N
Carolina, on the second of November, 1895,
and Is consequently in The 49th year of his age
His ancestors, whose original name, Pollock
has, by obvious lransiuon, assumed lis present
form, emigraed more Than a century ago, from
Ireland, a country from which many of our
most distinguished men are proud 10 derive their
origin. They established themselves first IN
Maryland, where Snme of their descendants still
solourn. The branch of the family from which
is sprung the subject of this memoir. removed
10 The nelshborhood of Carlisle, in Pennsylva-
MA, and thence TO The Wes,ern Frontier Of
North Carolina, some time before the Revolu-
tionarv War. It's connection with that event
ful struggle is one of rare distinction. On the
twentieth Of May, l775, onsequently more than
a twelve month anterior 10 the Declaration of
the Fourth of July, tie assembled inhabitants
of Mecklenburg County publicly absolyed them
selves from their allegiance To the BRUSH
Crown, and issued formal Manifesto of Inde-
pendence in terms of manly eloquence, which
have become familiar as household words to
the American people. Col. Thomas Polk, the
prime mover in this act Of noble daring. and
pendence, was the grea, uncle of the present
Speaker, who is also connected with the Alex
anders, Chairman and Secretary Of the famous
meeting, as well as with DR.. Ephraim Brevard,
tho author of the Declaration llself.~
sTrad,ion ascrbes to Thomas Polk the prin-
cipal agency in bringing about the Declaration.
Here you see the leading partisans and init
mate friends of James K. Polk attempt TO glo-
rify him on account of the connection Of his
great-uncle, Thomas Polk, with the Mecklen-
burg Declaration OF Independence and the slrug-
gle Of the Revolution. But they are careful
no, TO say any thing of Ezekiel Polk, the grand
father of James h, and for avery good reason.
If he had been Revolutionary Patriot espe.
cially if he had jus, claim to the lofty renown
of being one of the Signers of the Mecklenburg
DeclarariOn-do you think that would have
been passed over in silence, and so much ado
made Of the prominence of a sreat-uncle in The
matter? This Memoir was made up with great
care-origi ginally for the Democratic Review, if
we mistake Ro,-and the long noe respecting
Thomas Polk and Dr. Brevard, of which we
have quoted The commencement, is copied from
JoneS's North Carolina, a work of gTea! research
and high character, which we are certain
(though we cannot now lay our hands on n)
contains the Mecklenberg Declaration, with the
names Of all the Signers. Does any man ina
CINE, if James K. Polk had really been descend
passed oversn silence, and all the honor heap
ed on greal-uncle?
But the Sentinel has been misled. Ezekiel
Folks name was indeed lnierpolated INTO
printed list of the Signers of that Declaration
land for purpose pretty we'll understood) but
IL never belonged there.
There is no room for cavi The Mecken-
burg Declaration is preserved in The National
Archives at Washington. The Editor of The
Globe has examined it, and reluctantly says:
Upon reference TO the Mecklenburg Decla-
ration of independence. contained in the Amer
lean Archives, we find that the impression
which has generally obtained that Ezekiel Polk,
Col. Folks grandfather, was a sgner of iha,
celebrated instrument, as erroneous. The name
attached 10 that declaration, which has led 10
this impression, is that of Thomas Polk, who
was the grand uncle of Col, Polk"
This is undoubtedly true. Now hear what
one of the real Mecklenburg Wings has to say
of the mailer:
MEcKLENBURG, June l9, lS4l.
AT the commencement of the War of The
Revolution, Ezekiel Polk, al that time a resi-
den; Of North Carolina, received Captains
Commission in The militia, and raised compa-
ny on The frontiers of The State, against the
Cherokee Indians. was one of that compa-
ny. After this, Ezekiel Polk was ordered TO
Dr0eeed with his comDanv into South Garollna