Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-08
From the National Freemason.
Governor William Richardson DaVie, the
Third Grand Master Mason i'm North Car

From the National Freemason.
Governor William Richardson Davie, the
Third Grand Master Mason i'm North Car
DINA.
This eminent citizen and Mason of North
Carolina and an honored leader in the pop
uIar mind in our revolutionary struggle
was born at Egremont, near White Haven
England, June 90, 1756. His father brought
him to America when he was but five years
of age, and, on his return, he left him with
his maternal uncle, Rev. William Richard
son, of South Carolina. At proper age
he was placed under the care of DR.. With
erspoon, of the College of New Jersey, at
Princeton, where he was graduated in 1776-
few weeks before Washington and his bro
ken army passed through there in their
| flight to the Delaware.
Young Davie returned to North Carolina
resolved on becoming Il soldier. Not then
obtaining q commission, he went to Sails
bury and studied law, supposing the war
would not continue many months. Young
Davie became FESTIVE, and he induced q
popular friend to raise troop of Dragons,
of which the fedgling hero was made lieu
tenant. They marched toward Charleston,
and the command devolvingon Lieutenant
Davie, he procured the attachment of his
CORPS to the legion of Count Pulaski. In
that capacity he fought at Stone Ferry, in
1779, where he was SO badly wounded that
he was confined for five months in hos
pital.
In 1850, Davie was placed at the head of
legiOnary corps, with the commission of
Major from the Governor of North Caro-
lima He spent the last shilling of be-
quest made by his lately deceased uncle
and guardian in equipping this corps, and
then went to the field to oppose the prog
ress OF the British troops toward the inte-
rior Of the Carolinas. He nobly aided
Sumter Ill his operations in the vicinity of
the Catawba, early in August, and was hast
ening to join the army of Gates, when it
was defeated and dispersed near Camden.
He was afterWard with Rutherford at Ram
sour's Mills, and nobiy confronted the
enemy at Charlotte, after a brilliant display
of courage and skill at Wahab's Plantation.
For his services during that campaign, he
was rewarded with the commission of Col
onel commandment of the cavalry of North
Carolina.
When Greene the noble Masonic asso-
ciate of Washington, took command of the
Southern army, he appointed his brother,
Col. DAVE, his commissary- general. In
all the important operations which fol-
lowed, DaYie was exceedingly efficient
and at the trying hour at ninety-six
in the summer Of 1881, Greene sent
Colonel Davie to present the condi-
ton OF his army to the Legislature of
North Carolina. He performed the
service we'll; and prospects Of peace APP
pcaring in the autumn, he left the army, |
and married daughter of General Allen |
Jones, in 1888, and in the town # Halifax,
on the Roanoke, commenced the practice
Of law. In that pursuit he soon became
eminent and was chosen a delegate to the
convention which framed the Federal Con-
stitution. In 1897, he was commissioned
4 maJor-general of militia, and the next
year he was appointed brigadier in the
army of the United States. In 1898, he
was elected Governor of the State of North
Carolina, and was soon afterwards appoint
ed by President Adams as associate envoy
extraordinary to France, with Ellsworth
and Murray. After his return he went TO
reside at Tivoli, a beautiful estate on the
CataWba river, in South Carolina. His
wife died in 1903, and he remained in re-
tirement until his own death, which oc-
CURED at Tivoli, in December, 1920, when
he was in the sixty fourth year of his age
Governor Davie is believed to have been
made Mason in the "Royal White Hart"
Lodge at Halifax; which had existed in
Halifax from the year 1867, but whose
labors were suspended during the war.
In 1887, upon the return of peace the old
Lodges resumed work, and formed q
Grand Lodge for North Carolina, of which
Gov. Davie became the third Grand Mas
ster. and in which Office he continued until
he became the French Ambassador, in
1899.
The famous North Carolina Universe
ty,' at Chapel Hill, which has sent forth
so many distinguished men and Masons
into all the departments of life, is indebted
to Bro. Davie as founder and friend As
Grand Master, he laid the cornerstone. on
the 14th of April, 1898.
Two Lodges of North Carolina have ]
borne his honored name ; one in licking (
ton, the William r. Davie" Lodge. and
one in Berthe County, the ''Davie" Lodge. '
At home Gov. Davie was the friend of {
the distressed, the safe counselor of the
and the peacemaker of ALL {
He was the cement of the Lodge. He had {
4 deep sense of God, and was a devoted {
Christian. No person approached him, {
however distinguished by his talents or {
character, who did not speedily feel that !
ne was in the presence of a superior man. {
The ignorant and the learned, the weak t
md the wise, were all instructed and de- g
lighted by the irresistible charm of his s
conversation. In person he was tall and '
inely proportional, his figure erect and
his countenance possessing
great expression, and his voice full and |
energetic. He met death with the firm t
less of Christian soldier. j