The state chronicle., 1891-08-09

The complex nature OF Ourry
less mixed, perhaps,
than the nations average, is shown
by the names of justices of the
peace. Lenoir, Lanier Creson,
French extraction; Dobson, Frish,
Houzar, German; Cleveland, Free
man and others, English.
Court at that time was held IN
Richmond in what is now Forsyth
near the corner where that county
meets Surry, Yadkin and Stokes.
These courts Of pleas and quarter
sessions had wide jurisdiction, there
being only six places in the State
for holding Superior Court.
Without any violence to the
imagination one can picture notable
gathering of Surry's backwoodsmen
at Old Richmond court day, always
a great factor in rural Southern
life, it must then have been largely
attended. Settlers from the upper
Yadkin we're then talking politics
with men from the banks Of the
Dan. Rough hunters in leather
leggings, knee-breeches, often of
leather, carrying always their trusty
and well-handled gun, came to
bring scalps Of wolf, s'panter'' and
wild cat, for which they were paid
by the court ten shillings each for
wolf and panther, two shillings,
sixpence for wild cat. Here might
be seen men of brains and influence,
such as Robert Lanier and Joseph
Williams, merchants, planters,
land-traders. The former had been
treasurer of Rowan before the
Fdivision Of the county, the latter,
a relative and business partner OF
Lanier, was for many years clerk Of
court for Surry. During the
Revolution Williams was a leading
Wing, colonel of militia who did
good work for the State. His de-
scendants have been noted in the
annals of North Carolina and Ten
nesSee.
Joseph Winston was here trans
acting business: "License is granted
Joseph Winston to keep tavern a
his now dwelling house who enter
bond with Robert Lanier an,
Joseph Williams, Secretary" ;" "Win
ston's name belongs to history
With Waightstill, Avery, Lanie1
Sharpe and the Virginia Commits
sioners he made the treaty of tn
Long Island of Holstein. A tru
Wing, a fine fighter, a hero c
Kings Mountain being commar
der of the right wing in that battle
a leader in Stokes after Surry's d
. vision, member of Congress,
! through all a man of unrightness,
is fit that his name should be perp'
trated by one of the pluckiest towr
j in all Carolina.
| Among other well-known name
n is that of Gray Bynum, who can
2 into court presided over by Arm
l strong, Lanier, Cleveland, Creso
s and qualified as justice in May y
is This same MARTIN Armstron
e gentleman as he is called in Q
e deeds, is an interesting fgur
p His bold, beautiful sign
d ture indicates an educate
le man. He was a colonel before t.
ii Revolution. In the Colonial R
l. cords, as edited by Saunders, O.
is finds an order from Tryon to c.
e. Armstrong and Lieut.. Col. LAME
y. showing that, though not in t
a Battle of Alamance, they we
be ready to help put down the risir
Ill During the Revolution Armstro
1g was an efficient soldier, joined t
Continental army, going north a
ng serving under Gates till the
er banding of his regiment. At M
of court, l774, a days work is beg
to with, "The King against Mar
nd Armstrong, A. & B. The ju
nd whose names are under-writt,
ry being impaneled and sworn find |
sh Deft. Guilty and not justifabl
l A bit of humor here, when {
my notes the fact that the defend:
ter himself was one of the Esquires
4 / fore whom the case was tri
nd That Armstrong; countrymen
pot long time honored him is proved