The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-12-26
their orders, as they may occasion

their orders as they may OCCASION
ally require.
RevertinE once more to the Tories
it is an interesting fact that net long
after the outbreak OF h Revolution
Information of an instruction OF
British sympathizers was brought 70
TarborO, and at q public meeting held
In the town Jonas Johnston aroused
the citizens to a high pitch Of patriot
ism. He raised a band OF volunteers
and marched the same evening to the
point Of disturbance. Colonel n
ston, although a Virginian by birth,
spent most Of his life in E~dgecombe.
He was a child when his father set
tied in the county. Being a plain
armer without education, his rise to
fame deserves special comment. Not
withstanding educational deficiencies.
Jonas Johnston filled every office in
the county, both civil and military.
After a speech in the General As
semb1y, which showed a great deal
Of good sense despite glaring gram
NAUTICAL blunders. a professional gen
ueInan asked him where he got his
education" and the reply came back,
"at the handle Of the piow."
During the struggle for indepen-
deii.e Colonel Johnston served North
Carolina in the double capacity OF
legislator and soldier. He fought the
Tories at Moore's Creek and, less than
a year afterwards, WIS taking part in
the convention that formed the State
Constitution. In 1879 he rel with
his regiment to South Caroline, and
took part in the battle of Stone. Here
he received a wound which, together
with his already weakened condition,
caused him to succumb while on his
return northward. For more than a
generation the soldiers who had been
d his command kept alive his
memory in the community on account
Of his are and tenderness for their
welfare.
Edgecombe sem to the Provincial
Congress of North Carolina, held al
H~illsborough on the Goth of August,
l775, five men whose names ought to
stand forth upon the pages Of the
county's history. These patriots, in
defiance Of British authority, met their
feloW-delegates from the other coun-
ties Of the Province and proceeded
to organize for resistance. They We're
Robert Bigna11, Henry Irwin, Duncan
Lemon, Thomas Hunter and Thomas
II. Hall. In the Congress Of April,
1T76, that declared for independence.
~EdgecoInbe was represented by Viii
liam Haywood, Duncan Lemon
Elisha Battle, Henry Irwin and Ma
thaniel Boddie. She sent to the Con
gress at Halifax, held on the 18th OF
November Of the same year, William
Hayw- I'D, Elisha Battle, Jonas John
ston, Isaac Sessums and Williams
Horn.
Brief sketches of a few Of the
c%ounty's patriots should prove OF
value. William Haywood, whose
name will be found ia two OF The
groups just presented, was q son OF
Colonel John Haywood. Bot father
and son became prominent in Edge
combe affairs. Passing over the
Colonial period we find William Hay
Woo a emb of the COMMITTEES o.
Safety in his district. On September
9th, 1878, he was elected colonel fol
the county Of Edgecombe. In th<
Congress of April. 1875, he served Or
severai committees, the importance O
which ma be judged by their works
They had the various tasks Of ~settlins
the military and naval accounts, o.
drafting a temporary Constitution INT
of signing paper currency. In the No
vember Congress he was placed upoI
the committee on military affairs
was mad chairman Of the committee
on privileges and elections, etc. f.
served in the Governors council unit
August 14th, 1878. The list Of vii
liam Haywood's honors could be con
tinued, but sufficient matter has beer
offered to prove that his figure during
the Revolution occupied a place o
Statewide Importance.
AAo1A Ac6$AAA1s o1 AAAOAS AAA01
two thousand descendants, has a lons
list of successes to his credit. H
possessed a high character and de
served prosperity. In business, reli
gion and politics the people Of Edge
combe demonstrated their apprecia
ton Of his worth. From one of tn,
first commissioners Of the town o
Tarboro he gradually advanced to
wider life. Perhaps the office Of jus
tice Of the peace may be said to havi
been the lowest rung of his ladder t,
fame. While the War for Indepen
dence was progressing he worked fo
! North Carolina in the capacity of Sen
ator from Edgecombe. His popularit,
reached its height in 1878, when tn,
State Constitutional Convention mad
him chairman Of the committee o
{ the whole.
l talents and b possessor OF a class;
4 cal education. would have shon