Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-12-22
Interesting Scrap Of History.

The following interesting narrative is
copied from the Vicksburg True Southron
of the 18th, having been furnished by an
intelligent Raymond (Miss.) contributor.
The story is well told, and is no doubt au-
thentic
a Scrap Of History for the True South
Ton.-It is often remembered that truth is
sometimes stranger than fiction, and it is
even thus in the story following, and which
is so well authenticated that it is woven in
the history of our country. In the year
1914, two brothers of Oliver Cromwell left
England for America, and settled in Wood
bridge, New Jersey. Thence they reno
we'd aud settled in Halifax county, North
Carolina. Their anne were John and
Edward Cromwell, and they and their IN.
c~estors were originally called Cromwell
They fed from England to seek an asylum
in America, from the political storms that
then impended over the name and house of
the Protector. While on their voyage to
this country, being apprehensive that per-
s~ecution would follow them from the adhe-
rents of Charles II, then on the throne of
England, they determined to change their
name ; which was done with much solemn
ceremony, by writing their name each on
paper, and each cutting from the paper the
letter NJ and casting it into the sea.
The family pedigree on parchment re.
cording these facts, with many others rela'
ting to the family, was with them 10 North
Carolina in an ornamental chest with othe'
things of value, when a party Of Tarleton',
Legion, in 1880, marauding through tina
portion of Carolina, seized the chest an
carried it off. These facts are undoubted
From the memory of the family the recor
was again made up and is still preserve
among them. In the calm retreats of Car
DINA, the proud aspiring blood of Crors
well found repose. The furious polite;
pillows tossed them on our pure virgi
shores. 1t is said hat these brothers ha
no participation in the political disturbanc
of their country, or the bloody work of the
brother; and in the peaceful and quiz
shades of Halifax county, far from politics
strife aud bloodshed, they sat securely III
der their own " vine and fig tree" Trul
the beautiful and exquisite lines of Ora
:. were here fully realized:
"Some mute, inglorious Milton here may res
! Some Cromwell g%uiltless of his country
blood"
Edward Cromwell, the son of this E
ward who emigrated from England, rem
we'd to Georgia and married Miss Raybur
|, a sister of Geo. Rayburn. He had a lar
! plantation on Flint River; lived in retir
: ment, and was a modest, unobtrusive cha
acter. He had several children, amor
whom was Col. John Crowell, formerly
4 member of Congress from Georgia, and f
r several years Indian Agent. He dwelt
: a magnificent residence at Fort Mitche
f near the C~hattahoochee river, and not d
Q tant many miles from Columbus. T
story of their ancestors is still told in t
family, but not boastiDgly, for they
g peaceful, quiet people, who oppose eve
! tendency to ostentation. The writer
e this has been often, when a child, at
. house of Col. Crowell, and never remark
IS any popularity in the family, althou
J, they had such a famous uncle as
b, obtaInned IN part from the history of No
r. Carolina, where they are we'll au.henticat