The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-02
PALACE.
n Colonial sant ny
Gabriel hast
Diary Recently Decentralization
nixcence of Upper Cape Fear IN
Colonial and revolutionary Times.

Red Springs. Y. g. Aprii -
Editor OF The Messenger:
One Of the romantic spots in eastern
North Carolina is the deserted vii
lage" OF Brompton on the Cape Fear.
four miles above Elizabeth. In Bladen
county Here Governor Gabriel John
ston during his administration built =
large place on a high blum on the west
side OF the river and named the place
Brompton after Il village OF that name.
her a suburb OF London. The first
story was built cf brick, imported from
London. So local tradition says. and u
upper story of wood. About the year
1852 this palace was destroyed by fire.
A circular well ninety feet in depth
was situated near the palace. the walls
of which are of imported brick. on the
west side OF the palace grounds n large
grove of mulberry trees were planted
and the dead trees were standing when
/ last visited the spot several years
since. South o. the palace stand the
rock walls OF the silk house" where
the silk worms were placed. II any
earlier attemp. at silk culture was
made anywhere in the south / am
not advised Of the fact.
-NoN u lioih HI BdlaNG a. n OAu
court house OF Bladen county. which
was destroyed by fire in 1865. In the
destruction of this building many re-
cords were lost which would throw a
great light on the events of that period.
It was on the kings road near the
palace that the British army passed In
1881 on its way to Wilmington after
the battle OF Guilford Court House and
here. tradition says Cornwallis found
ra1nrnI ITnhusar dead - nm a 80 w-n
on. He (Webs:er) had been Wounds
on the knee at the Guilford battle and
was being carried to Wilmington for
surgical aid. He lies in an unmarked
grave about one mile south OF Eliza
BEETHOVEN. =
Mr.. Johnston. of Georgia, "A lawyer
by profession and great-grandson OF a
brother OF Governor Gabriel Johnston.
found recently among the papers in
herited from his ancestor a manuscript
reciting many facts relating TO the
ante-revolutiona~y period. This brother
of the governor for some cause nu-
known, possibly from participation in
the rebellion Of 1745. had incurred the
enmity of the british and sought re-
fuge in North Carolina during the ad-
ministration of his brother Gabriel,
and. according to the statement in This
manuscript. was concealed at the CO.
lonial palace iii us destruction In 175s,
He emerged from concealment during
the Revolutionary war and with his
son. enlisted with Francis Marion. who
organized his famous band at Eliza
BEETHOVEN. This band. according TO
the Johnston manuscript. was COM
posed largely OF Cape ear gentlemen.
The fact that Governor Johnston in
vited the fugitives from Culloden TO
come to North Carolina and his con-.
duct c~ritized by the government, lends
color to the statement that he a
sheltered his own brother. Gabriel
Johnston was j Scotch physician OF
eminence and was personally acquaint-
ed with many Lowland families who
had espoused The cause OF Prince
Charles. and many OF these immigrants
settled in close proximity to the palace.
In those days came the B~allantynes
Buies, Clarks. McDougaIds, McNeills.
McMillans, Shaws. n many others.
Many well authenticated historic facts
are mentioned IT, this manuscript. The
name Of Colonel Folsome, a patriot Of
hcer, Is frequently mentioned and the
averment Is made that the at
Hillsboro had such a high regard for
him that he was entrusted with blank
commissions to be filed out by him at
his discretion.
Can any reader of The Messenger
give any account OF this Colonel Fat
some? {:
1t Is worthy OF mention that the facts
set forth In this Johnston diary are
discredited by certain North Caro-
linians. The authenticity Of the Meek
ienburg Declaration OF May 20th. rs.
was denied by persons who ought TO
have known better. / look forward TO
the publication Of the Johnston paper
within "A short neriod and then ra,~
Verrons- H.McA.