The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-18

improve their minds. nor was it neces-
sary; the church ritual, being pro-siav'
cry, education. according TO your rit-
ual. was not compulsory; your Baptist
people. the Monroes, McMillans.
Whites. .Johnsons and others We're
among the largest slave owners in the
lower end of Richomnd county, anu
they would not give up their negroes,
and that he advised him. as Il TREND,
to desist from such agitation or ne
would get into trouble; but he made
an appointment TO discuss the subject
i'm the church and requested that the
negroes would not be present. His
young wife. then n mother, begged and
begged him TO desist from such a
course and discussion as il would only
lead to trouble. He had the courage
of his convictions, and 60 ne DID.
My old friend Johnson. so full of wit
and humor then a young man, told ME
that those old Baptist kin of his would
not let him and Others into hear Haw-
ley's speech because they We're not
members. nor the negro members, con-
%sequently he had TO eaves-drop to hear
what he did, but Hawley made II pow
erful speech, and his old uncle, Daniel
Monroe. downed him and told him to
leave; that they didn't need him, his
farming nor his abolition, and they
preferred charges Of unchristian con-
duct and disturbing the church against
him, III cited him to trial.
My father advised him not to go TO
trial on account of his wife: that the
agitation vas getting intense against
him, but he went, and, as MY friend
said, they put the vote by unit and
white and black voted him out Of the
church unanimously as a church dis
turber, and ordered him 10 leave the
country.
Hawley had caused such q sensation
and agitation that threats of tar and
feathers We're of frequent occurrence,
and everywhere was heard the cry
that he must leave the country-until
at last that indomintable INT indefa-
tfgable man of energy, vim and ac-
ton. big John Farley went To Stew
artsville, at the instance OF his neigh
bors, twhen Hawley was keeping
close) to see him, and, as everybody
knows, who knew old man John FAIR
ley, he was not a man Of many words
nor was he particular how they came.
but he told Hawley: Upon nv honor.
sir; l believe you are a commissary
sent down here to disturb tho constitu-
ton of slavery. sir: It's the truth. SIR
Its a fact, SHIFTS the Gods truth.
sir-you must leave, sir" and that
night he deserted his young wife and
DaDy, first committing them to my
mothers care until such time as he
could come for them-being financially
unable to transport them and she un-
willing to go and leave her own south.
land; yet she was loyal to him and
promised him when he came for her
she would go, as he could not stay here.
and he fled back to that historic land
so noted for wooden nutmegs and
many other small things.
This brings us to 1896. Little Joe
was consecrated in baptism at the al
tar Of Laurel Hill church 10y his moth
er.
/ In 1927 my father sold out at Stew
artsville and moved up on Shoe Heel,
where my brother now lives, and car
RED with them their sacred trust, Mrs.
Hawley and little Joe, where she
while away her forsaken and lonely
years with my devoted mother and
n~eighbors until her coming senator
was live years old. His mother ever
anxious for a little home of her own,
the McIntoshes, Blues, WiIkersons,
John Farley, and my father, bought
nifty acres OF land, a part of
the estate of old Sailor Duncan Nc
MILAN, and made Mrs. Hawley a title
Tor ii and built her a little house on il
III sight Of h old Jackson Academy,
o miles east OF Laurel Hill church.
Were Joe Hawley went to school with
my older brother and sister. to old
Professor Jim Patterson and LAWYER
Duncan McLaurin, the noted educators
OF that day. This is where Mrs. Haw-
ley lived when Aunt Becky's, mother
used to visit her.
This brings little Joe to about 4
years of age in 1887. His father A
u forgotten quantity, having inherit
60 some property north, made his ap-
pearance in Richmond county. and per.
suaded his wife to sell her little home
ana Did her w southland she loved
so wei a long and final farewell. Mr.
John Farley bought her home. he hay-
ing purchased the rest of the NcsffI-
Ian estate before, NOW Mrs. Martha
Murray's) but that fifty acres is known
unui this day as the Hawley place.
Joe Hawley had one sister. some IL
years his junior. These two ere all the
children Mrs. Hawley had that I ever
hearo vi. ID. II. MCLAUGHLIN.