The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-11-14
CHARACTERS OF
THE REVOLUTION
Ancestors of Major Reading
Blount Chapter of the
3. A. r.

Dry OF the spirit OF the men and the
women who achieved American indie
pendence, which is the object Of our
society, we should learn all we could
Of their lives, private and public. We
think it proper to start with the Rev
dictionary ancestors of the members
Of the Major Reading Blount Chap
ter, who are as follows:
Major Reading Blount, John Gray
Blount, Colonel Jacob Blount, General
Daniel Bray, Colonel James Bonner,
Robert Tripp, Lieutenant Jesse Bry-
an, Benajah Douglas, Asa Douglas,
Joseph Guilford, Colonel Miles Har-
yey, John Wilson,. Dolphin Davis,
Northumberland Thomas Bonner,
Governor Richard Dobbs Spaight,
Frederic Maclin, Captain George Hub
bard, Captain Charles Crawford and
Colonel Joseph Leach.
Major Reading Blount, for whom
our chapter is named, was born at
Blount Hall, N. c., n married Lucy
Harvey in the house now occupied by
Miss Ida T. ROdman. our regent. He
was captain of the Fifth Regiment of
North Carolina Continental troops,
April 16, 1875, and was promoted to
major in 1871. In the War of the
Revolution he served under Generals
Jethro Sumner and Nathaniel Green.
bravery at the battles Of Guilford
Court House and Eutaw Springs.
Major Reading Bloun was the son of
Colonel Jacob Blount, also Of Revo-
iutionary fame. He died Oct. is,
1907, and was buried at Tranters's
Creek.
Colcne1 Jacob Blount was born in
Beaufort county, N. c., 1926. He was
a emb of the two Provincial on
crosses. at Hillsboro, n. c., August
20, 1875, and at Halifax, N. c., April,
ATS. He was also paymaster for the
during the Revolution. Four Of Col
onel Jacob Blount's sons assisted in
establishing American independence
in various positions. Colonel Jacob
Blount died in 1889 at Biount Hall,
and was buried at the same place.
John Gray Blount, brother Of Major
Reading Blount, was born at Blount
Hall, N. G. He was a member Of the
General Assembly Of North Carolina
in 1882. He was also deputy pay
master, and was sent IN a special
mission to the West Indies to pur-
government, and was ~conrlissary for
the district Of Washington. n. G.
John Gray Rloun was one of the
largest real estate owners in North
Carolina. He owned vast tracts Of
iand along the Ohio River and in
cne-fourth of the area Of RicEland
township, Beaufort county, II. c., was
owned by him, and a large part OF
this tract is still in the possession Of
his descendants. The city of Ashe-
Vile, n. c., now stands upon a large
tract granted to him by the State Of
North Carolina. He was also a sur
Vcyor, and his compass is now owned
by his great-grandson, Colonel Will
liam Blount Rodman. OF Norfolk, Va.
John Gray Blount died at Blount Hall,
and was buried in the Episcopal
Church yard, Washington, n. c.
Captain Daniel Bray, the hero OF
his State, was born in kingswood, n.
l., October IL, 1851. He assisted
Washington in securing boats for the
famous crossing Of the Delaware river
on Christmas night. To obtain the
boats, to keep the Tories from be-
iraying them, TO cut out the fiat boats
in the k of the cold winter
night, to float them down around the
rapids and ice, to keep them from
being crushed was a most difficult and
hazardous undertakings which would
nave appalled, q less brave heart; but
1t was successfully pliShed by
Captain Daniel Bray and his com
pany. He was at the battles Of Mill
stone. N. J., Germantown. Pa, and
Monmouth. He was ap-
pointed general in the New Jersey
militia and did efficient service in the
War OF 1912, equipping and sending
soldiers to the front. General Bray
was noted for his daring and zeal IN
he struggle for liberty, and served
until the close Of the revolution. He
died December 5. 1919. and was
buried at Baptisttown, n. J.
Robert Tripp was born in the col
ony of Rhode Island in 1922. He was
Il member of the Halifax Convention
which formed the State Constitution
1916; and he was also one of the frs'
justices OF the peace under the con
stitution. His home was at Core
Point on the south side of PamHce
river, four miles from the old his
toric town Of Bath. which was in fui
view Of his home. His body lies buried
at his homestead h anything &c