The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-12-26

ever he saw that he had determined
men to deal with, and ended the IN
rest by allowing a satisfactory Dill
to pass h Legislature.
Edgecombe came again into the
iiInelight during the Granville DIS
trfct troubles. Matters went from
to worse until the people OF b az
fected portion of the colony applied
to the Acknowledgement for informa-
vised them to follow one OF two
courses. either to petition the Earl
Of Granville Or TO ask the LegaStS-
ture to consider their grievances. Al
though William Williams, Edge
combe's Representative. presented a
ance with the advice given, no action
was taken. AS the Legislature
adjourned without permitting the Cit
zens to obtain any relief, a riotous
outbreak took place on nua "a,
1853. Severa months p AFTER
this date before ~ca1TnneSs
Although the rioters had no quarrel
with the royal Governor, nevertheless
seeds of discomfort were planted. The
men of Granville District contended
for their rights. Whether the rioters
be today called patriots or not, their
acts constitute the second chapter OF
Edgecombe's preparation for hnal re-
SlStdIlCc 10 lOlSlSh OPpI CSS1oA.
When the regulation reached a
point where force was necessary 70
stamp it out, Governor Tryon called
upon our county to furnish troops, but
the inhabitants showed little nthus
asTn. Colonel William Haywood re-
ceiyed a letter in which Tryon said
if the county did not nave men OF
spirit and ability to comply with his
Instructions he would endeayor to set
tie the disturbance wlfhOI Edge-
conIbe's assistance; however he trust
ed the men of the county would not
show themselves backward. Rednap
; Howell. one of the most prominent
Regulators, wrote a letter from Hall
fax on February 16, 1771, to James
Hunter. Therein he said: Il found
it needless to raise the country, but
I ara satisfied it could be easily done
if the occasion required. However 1
haye animated the people here to join
the Regulation. On Saturday, come
two weeks, they are to have a meeting
for the If it once takes
start here it will run into the neigh
boring counties Of E~dgecombe, Butte
! and Northampton, and his will I'm
doubtedly facilitate justice to poor
| Carolina.'
Only four years later those who
helped a royal governor in his cam
paign against the Regulators became
rebels themselves. The Regulation
failed; therefore the participants
merited the death of traitors. On the
other hand, the Revolution was sue
c~essful, and rebels against British au-
thority were transformed into pa
triots. Edgecombe needs to offer no
excuse for her conduct during Tryon's
campaign. He fought men who had
grievances and who attempted to OBJ
tain justice in the best way they could
think Of. The disturbance OF estab-
lished authority is a thing to be de
piored, but occasions arise when e x
traOrdinary procedure must be used.
Because E~dgecombe's soil was never
the scene of conflict between British
troops and Continentals, it must no
be inferred that the county presented
a calm spectacle. Tarhoro's name is
often found in b Revolutionary
records But let us first examine the
attitude of the people Of the county
towards independence. When roya'
authority no longer meant anything
to the inhabitants, except the Tories
a committee of safety was formed and
its orders were implicitly obeyed
Thus the patriots demonstrated their
disadvantage. Some loved the mother
country and left North Caroline
rather than swear allegiance.
A few Scotch merchants at the com.
m~encement of hostilities lived il
SASS ~
naming subjects to Great Britain
Under the expulsion law they had Il
leave. The native Tories caused milo
disturbances in the county,. One O.
these outbreaks is set forth in the fol
lowing letter to Governor Caswel
from observation-disclosures Henry Irwin
who was shortly to join Genera
WaShington'S army:
Marlborough. 10Th July. Att.
Dear Sir:-Being extremely unWel
prevented my attending at Halifax.
am now got better. and would Wis
. your Excellency's permission to go al
to the Northward to join my Resi
ment, as l can't promise myself an,
advantage / can be OF to the army q,
staying here.
I am very sorry to Inform you o
too many evil persons in this and tn
+ neighboring counties being Joined i
!, a most wicked conspiracy: but am i