Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-03-06
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SysANNAH SMART.

A CAROLINA WOMAN OF THE REVOLUTION.
The county of Mecklenburg, N. c., so fa-
nous for its battles, the spirit of its people,
the prowess of its heroes, and the noble dar-
ing of its women, during the Revolutionary
struggle, has many records Of heroism writ
ten in the hearts of the inhabitants, which
have never been made public. The history
of the Scottish Presbyterians of the whole
Catawba region, will be remembered with
thrilling interest, and told to youthful gene
rations as an example both political and re-
ligious, as long as the principles of true re-
publicanism and the love of liberty shall
reign in the land. One of these home pic
lures which have found no place in the great
gallery of history, 1 shall offer to the reader.
The subject was living in 1851, ninety years
of age, keeping house by herself, and enter
tanning travellers; having twenty or thirty
negroes under her charge, and dispensing
with the services of an overseer. The inteli-
gent gentleman who furnished the details of
this sketch-D. G. Stinson, Esq.-said her
servants were better trained than any he ever
saw, and appeared perfectly happy, as did
their indulgent and venerable mistress. The
late Colonel Dickinson was relative of Mrs.
Smart, and visited her shortly before his de-
parture for Mexico.
The maternal grandfather of our heroine,
Thomas Spratt, was of Irish extraction, and
removed from Pennsylvania to Mecklenburg
County; being the first settler who ever
crossed the Yadkin in carriage, for such
luxuries were unknown in those log-cabin
days. The first court covened in the county
was held in his dwelling. He had two sons
who fell in battle, and six daughters, one Of
whom was the wife of Colonel Thomas Neil,
who commanded in the campaign of 1776
against the Cherokees, and was noted for
his bravery and services. Another daugh-
ter married Colonel Thomas Polk, who, with
his son William, served with distinction un-
der the immediate command of Washington,
and was, besides, celebrated for his efforts
in the cause of public education. To him
Mecklenburg was indebted for the establish
ment of Queens Museum, or Liberty Hall.
Ann Spratt, another daughter, was the moth
er of the subject of this memoir. She mar
ried John Barnett, who also emigrated from
Ireland. Mary, their eldest daughter, was
said to be the first child born between the
Yadkin and Catawba Rivers. She married
Captain James Jack, the bearer of the Neck
lenburg Declaration of Independence to the
Continental Congress. Mr.. Wylie, Of Char
lesion, is one of her descendants.
Susannah Barnett was born in l761. As
her family and connections were conspicu-
ously active in the Revolutionary war, her
earliest recollections were of its stirring E.
vents. She was present at the great gather
ing Of the people at Charlotte, on the 10Th
and Goth of May, 1775. The provincial con-
vention of North Carolina had assembled at
Newbern, in opposition to the proclamation
of Governor Martin, and had approved of
the acts of their representatives in the Con-
tinental Congress of the united colonies
On the 10Th May, handbills were brought by
express, containing news of the battle of
Lexington, which had taken place exactly a
month before. These were read to the vast
assemblage, and filled all with enthusiasm.
Then there was no sectional feeling; but the
same sentiment pervaded the masses north
and south. An attack on the liberties of
Massachusetts was viewed as an attack upon
Carolina. 1t was glorious day for old Meek
lenburg; and often described by Mrs. Smart
as "the day of throwing up Of hats" The
love of country and liberty fred the hearts
of all classes. The brother of Susannah,
William Barnett, though but lad, was bent
on joining the patriots. He persuaded an
old negro, Derry, to hide his clothes in the
woods, and swinging himself from the win
dow by rope, one night, he went to Char
lotte, volunteered, and did excellent service
in the snow campaign of 1776.
In 1880, in that darkest period of the
Revolution for the Carolinas, when, after the
fall of Charleston, British military govern
ment prevailed everywhere, the state-in
the language Of General Greene-"cut off
from the Union like the tail of snake;"