The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-01
PICTURE OF GOV.
BENJAMIN. SMITH
Presented to Grand Lodge
of the State.
He WAS GRAND MASTER.
GAVE THE UNIVERSITY 10000
ACRES OF LAND.
AND DIED A PAUPiR IN SOUTH 0RT
Body Was Held by the Sheriff for Debt. Ma
sols Stole il and Hired Negro to
Bury it Originator Of The
Elizabeth Grape.
GAVE THE UNIVERSITY 10000
ACRES OF LAND.
AND DIED A PAUPiR IN SOUTH 0RT

An interesting perl0u OIL North caro-
lina's history is recalled by picture re-
ceived here this week.
1t is a fine life-size portrait of Ben
iamin Smith. one of the States Revolu-
tionary governors.
This portrait was presented to the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina by Barn
well Rhett Hayward of Albany, \.
Y, through Wilmington Lodge, No. $40,
A. L. and A. NJ.
1t is a profile picture, showing fine
forehead, firm mouth and curly hair. The
portrait is done III crayon, copied from
a daguerreotype, probably the only pic
ture of Governor Smith in existence.
1t will be given a conspicuous place
among the portraits of the Grand Mas
tiers of the State.
Governor Smith was born January
10th, 1896.
He was Grand Master Of North Caro-
lima in the years 1S0S-1S09 and 1910.
Governor of North Carolina in 1910.
Major General of the State militia in
the year .
Colonel and Aide-de Camp of General
Washington in the Continental Army.
He was one of the most remarkable
men the State has ever produced and
there are many interesting stories of him
still remembered and told.
Governor Smith was once very
wealthy man. but before his death he
impoverished himself by giving his prop
erty to the support of worthy objects
Fifty thousand acres of land was his gift
to the State University and when he died
he was in absolute poverty. He lived
and died in Smithville (now Southport
named for him.
Under the laws of that day even the
bones of man after death could be
levied ION for debt, and this, according
to the stories now current. is what hap
pened when Governor Smith died. Be
fore the body could be buried Governor
Smiths debtors secured a levy on the
body and had it held under guard in an
old building. for the purpose of COM
pelling the friends of the deceased TO
pay his debts.
The debts being quite numerous and
larger than they cared to pay, the Ma
sons of Smithville (SouthporD rssorted
to the trick of making drunk the deputy
sheriff on guard over the body. While
The man slept off his intoxication they
stole away the corpse and gave an old
negro So to tahe it across the river and
bury it in St Philips church yard.
For long time it was supposed the
darky had kept his contract, but just be-
fore his death he confessed that he had
not. While crossing the river, he said.
he became frightened and threw the
body overheard. In order. however, to
cover ,lp this act he went OH to the
church and made a new mound in the
grave yard. which was thereafter sup
posed to contain the bones of Governor
Smith
Prominent among the Masons who
planned the theft of the body from the
sheriff was Maj. General Cowan, grand
father of G. =. benson, of this city.
The Elizabeth grape, now so COM
mon. was first grown at Smithyille
tSouthport) by Governor Smith and was
named for his wife, Elizabeth Smith.
According TO the story a vessel was
wrecked near the mouth of the Cane
Fear and Governor Smith picked up
and resuscitated sailor from it. who
washed ashore at Smithvilla Southport.
Tied around the sailor was n piece OF
grape vine, which Governor Smith
planted and pronagated, calling it the
elizabeth Grape"
There are perhaps many other INFER
esting stories of this remarkable man
that might be collected and printed.
Governor Smith was mem
Der of one of the earlier Masonic Lodges.
organized under the authority Of the
Grand Lodge of England and under
Provincial Grand Masters. On the
register of the Grand Lodge Of England.
published in 1862 there is a list Of reg
ular lodges according to seniority and
constitution and on this list is the fol-
lowing entry: ''213-A lodge at Whining
ton on Cape Fear River, in the Province
of North Carolina. March, 1888.
This evidence Of the existence OF such
a lodge at that time is corroborated by Il
well established tradition that before ana
perhaps during the Revolution there were
meetings Of a Masonic lodge in the settle
ment eight miles from Wilmington on the
sound from which the settlement took
its name Of Masonboro. These meet
ings were neld in the private residence
of William Hooper, one of the signcrs
Of the Declaration of Independence, and
the walls of this residence (which was
recently burned bore Masonic emblems
which were visible until a very recent
date. In this same settlement of Mason
sboro. which was the summer residence
Of many Wilmington people, dwet other
prominent Revolutionary characters,
chief among whom was Cornelius Har-
nett, and most il not all of them, includ-
ing Governor Smith. are confidently be-
lieved to have been members of this lodge,
although. as the records of the lodge
were lost. or. like the records of the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina. were
destroyed by the British during the Rev
olution. there is no conclusive evidence
as to its membership.
However this may be. there is no doubt
that Governor Smith lived in that sec
ton and was Grand Master Of the
State, it was therefore proper that Mr.,
Hayward should send the picture to the
Grand Lodge through one Of the vii
mington lodges.