Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-04-28
VOL. 80.
William Hooper.

this distinguished Revolutionary pat
rot resided in the city of Wilmington
is still standing on the lot owned by the
late DIR. james F. McRee and now
owned by Col. Roger Moore, fronting
on Second between Market and Prin-
cess streets. The name and fame of
William Hooper il fImlliar to all read
ers of the Revolutionary history of the
country. He WAS one of the 4igners
Of the Philadelphia Declaration OF In
dependence, was born in Boston June,
18th, 1912, and died in Hillsboroughr
y. c., IN October, 1890. He grad
II tied at Harvard G. 'liPge in 1850,
studied law with James Otis in
j )ston, and removed 70 Whining
ton, N. c., in 1867. where he socn
rose to eminence He was delegated
to the Continental Congress in 1775.
aud was till his death leader in the
! councils of North Carolina. HIS pri--
vate concerns compelled him to resign
! his seat in the Continental Congress
in 1777. BAing, during the same
/ period, a prominent member and dis
! tngushrd speaker in the conventions
/ of the people Of North Carolina, which
sat at Hillshorough and Halifax, he
reported at the convention which sat
at the former place in April, 1776, an
address to the inhabitants Of the Bri-
tish empr re. In Il paper written IN
1922. aud published in Wheeier's His
tory of North Carolina. the following
passage occurs: 'On the most trying
occasions, the loftiness and elias
ticity of his spirit were strik-
iugIy manifest. Events which cast
a gloom over the minds of others,
had no effect in dumping his
ardor, or in depressing his hopes The
disastrous result Of the battle of Ger
mantown, which spread Iii s:nay among
the Whigs, seemed to give fresh
courage to his zeal. When the report
of the battle reached Wilmington, he
was among party of patriotic friends
who were overwhelmed with conster-
nation. He instantly started from his
chair with unusual animation ana ex-
claimed. 1--WE have been disappointed
No matter ! Now. we have become the
assailants, there can be no doubt OF
the issua.'
"On his return to private life" cou-
tinu IS the same paper, "his family
resided at his seat at Masonborougi
Sound about eight miles from Will
mingtOn. There he continued
> taking part as occasion required
in public measures until January, 1871
: At this time fo,ce under .'laJor Craig
arrived IN Cape Fear river. Hr. Hoop
=. err found it necessary tn remove hi:
family, and having 40 place to reso1
to less dangerous, he remove d them tt
Wilmington, preferrlng to trust then
to the humanity of an open enemy
rather than suffer them to remain ex'
posed in a predatory warfare. He
. himself, sought safety in the country
His family remained i'll Wilmington
: until October, 1871. when they, will
to quit the town. Mr.. Hooper and hi
family returned to it immediately at
: t.r its evacuation by the British III No
vember of the sam" year He after
wards removed to HillsborOngh, ant
/ until about 1877 he continued TO hol'
Il "distir guished rank III the council
: of his country, and to maintain yer
4 Ligh position at the bar.
p The house in which he resided Will
4 living in Wilmington contains five
G s-x small rooms, and may easily b
Y taken apart for transportation to th
Centennial Exposition. The Ia" "tlic
;. of General Jackson has bce0 take
g from Salisbury for exhibition, and
think that the house in which Hoope
e lived would make most approprlat
4 and interesting addition to North Care
IF l;na's contribution to the His ORC
Department Of the National Centennia