The Wilmington morning star., 1946-09-05
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PLANTATIONS
FROM PAGE FOUR

residence of Genl. Alex Ellington.
1t would seem to have been a
singular selection for a gentleman
to have made for a residence, just
on the border Of the great Holly
Shelter pocoson or dismals, and
quite remote from the other gen.
try settlements. But in those days
stock raising was much attended
to, and here immense tracts of IN
occupied lands furnished pastur-
age and fine range.
Col. Ellington was nearly allied
to the Moseleys OF Mosely Hall,
and came to reside on the Cape
Fear about the same time with
them. He was an ardent WING and
patriot, and taking up arms early
in the revolution, he soon dis
tinguished himself as a bold and
sagacious leader. On the attempt
of the Scotch settlers about Cross
creek to move on Wilmington, for
the purpose Of cooperating with
the British forces intended to in
wade and subjugate North Caro-
lima, Genl. Ellington speedily or
ganized the militia of New Han
over and Duplin counties, and
marched rapidly in the direction
from W h i C h the enemy ap.
preached.
Selecting a position on Moore's
creek when il was crossed by a
bridge he threw up Entertainments,
and awaited the approach of the
Scots. on the arrival of Genl. Cas-
well the superior in command, he
approved of Lillington's plans, arc
arrangements for meeting the enc.
my. The result of the battle which
ensued is well known in history,
and its success was by his contem.
poraries mainly attributed to Lii
lington's prompt movement anc
skilful arrangements.
The Ellington Hall mansion wa
a quaint old structure Of anterevo.
lutlonary date, and standing alone
there was no house that approach.
ed in size Or appearance in that
wild region. When the writer visit
ed there while a youth, there was
quite a library of rare old English
books which would be highly price
at this day. At that time it was
owned and occupied by Mr.. Saml
Black, a highly respectable ane
worthy gentleman, who had mar
ried the widow of Mr.. John Lilling
ton, youngest son of the General
This place like all the residence.
of the early gentry had gone out o
the family, and into strangers
hands.
AS there is no other place of nott
on the East side of the River. W.
will recross the ferry at the Watts
and following the roads leadin,
West to where it crosses the mair
county road we come to Moore,
Fields. This was the residence O.
George Moore, Esq, one of The
most prominent gentlemen of hi.
day, both before and after
the Revolution. I remember the olc
mansion as it stood, but much de.
lapldated. Not a vestige Of it lief
now. There had been raised near
the house two mounds for rabbi
warrens, and a fish pond. Mr.
Moore was the father of a number.
Gus progeny.
He was twice married. His frs.
vile was a Miss Mary Ashe, a sis
ter l believe of Gov. Ashe. His sec
ond wife was a Miss Jones. There
IS extant an old copy of the Church
OF England Prayer Book, in the pos
session of one of his descendant.
(Dr. VIM H. Moore) in which is re
corded the birth and names of hi!
children by these marriages, ane
there were twenty-seven cd. From
those of the survivors, for man.
of them might have died during in
fancy, have sprung many of thu
families of the Cape Fear region
some of whose defendants r still
living there, among whom a b.
mentioned the Hon. George Davis
who as no superior if any equa
here, or in any part Of the state
| Also the Hon. Thos. S. Ashe, n o