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Halifax County, North Carolina

Birthplace of the "Halifax Resolves"

Six years prior to the American Constitution and three months prior to the creation of the Declaration of Independence the "Halifax Resolves" were written making it the first document in the American colonies promoting a full and complete separation from Great Britain.

The 4th North Carolina Provincial Congress met in Halifax on April 4, 1776 where a selected committee consisting of Cornelius Harnett of Wilmington, Thomas Burke of Orange County, Allen Jones of Northampton County, Thomas Jones of Chowan County, Abner Nash of New Bern, John Kinchen of Orange County, Samuel Johnston of Edenton and James Green, Jr., of New Bern compiled a Colonist grievance report which they completed on April 12, 1776. This document refered to as the "Halifax Resolves" was unanimously adopted by all 83 delegates present, and signed by the secretary of the committee James Green, Jr., making it the first official colony action calling for independence from Great Britian.

The Halifax Resolution was presented to the Colonies through their respective delegates assembled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the Continental Congress followed by similar recommendation from Virginia. The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, at which time the Declaration of Independence was adopted that included the signatures of the North Carolina Delegates William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn.

The adoption date of the "Halifax Resolves" is memorialized on the state flag of North Carolina. The original "Halifax Resolves" is protected by the National Archives in Washington, DC and a copy is on display in the State Archives located in Raleigh, North Carolina.






The Halifax Resolves



The Select Committee taking into Consideration the usurpations
and violences attempted and committed by the King and Parlia-
ment of Britain against America, and the further Measures to be
taken for frustrating the same, and for the better defence of this
province reported as follows, to wit,

It appears to your Committee that pursuant to the Plan con-
certed by the British Ministry for subjugating America, the King
and Parliament of Great Britain have usurped a Power over the
Persons and Properties of the People unlimited and uncontrouled
and disregarding their humble Petitions for Peace, Liberty and
safety, have made divers Legislative Acts, denouncing War
Famine and every Species of Calamity daily employed in destroying
the People and committing the most horrid devastations on
the Country. That Governors in different Colonies have declared
Protection to Slaves who should imbrue their Hands in the Blood
of their Masters. That the Ships belonging to America are declared
prizes of War and many of them have been violently seized and
confiscated in consequence of which multitudes of the people
have been destroyed or from easy Circumstances reduced to the
most Lamentable distress.

And whereas the moderation hitherto manifested by the United
Colonies and their sincere desire to be reconciled to the mother
Country on Constitutional Principles, have procured no mitigation
of the aforesaid Wrongs and usurpations and no hopes remain of
obtaining redress by those Means alone which have been hitherto
tried, Your Committee are of Opinion that the house should enter
into the following Resolve, to wit

Resolved that the delegates for this Colony in the Continental
Congress be impowered to concur with the other delegates of the
other Colonies in declaring Independency, and forming foreign
Alliances, resolving to this Colony the Sole, and Exclusive right
of forming a Constitution and Laws for this Colony, and of
appointing delegates from time to time (under the direction of a
general Representation thereof to meet the delegates of the other
Colonies for such purposes as shall be hereafter pointed out.











Halifax County Revolutionary Soldiers Records



CATO COPELAND
Revolutionary War Pension Application


JAMES CARTER
Revolutionary War Pension Records




BENJAMIN RICHARDSON
Revolutionary War Pension


Richardson, Benjamin Number: W4061
Mary

This woman’s former husband Elijah Bass was killed at the battle of Eutaw Springs

State of North Carolina,
Halifax County

On this 11th day of October 1841 personally appeared before me John Alston one of the acting magistrates and a member of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for said County (it being a Court of record) Mary Richardson a resident of said County aged ninety years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 and the act explanatory of said act passed March 3, 1837 and the act entitled An act granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows passed July 7th 1838. That she was married to Elijah Bass who was a private in the Army of the Revolutionary War in the North Carolina line that he served as such for the period of two and a half years and Enlisted under Captain Bailey of the tenth Regiment. She further declard that she was married to the said Elijah Bass on the 14th day of February 17 hundred & Seventy seven. That her husband the aforesaid Elijah Bass died (or was killed) in the aforesaid War at the Battle of Utaw Springs on the 8th day of September 17 hundred & Eighty one. That she was afterward (to wit) on the 14th day of February 17 hundred & Eighty three married to Benjamin Richardson who was a private in the North Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War who served as such for the period of twelve months under Capts. Joel Wren John White Jadan Harris & other officers. That he went out of Halifax & Warren Counties and served as a Militia Soldier in the Year 17 hundred and Eighty and a part of Eighty one. She further declares that her said husband Benjamin Richardson died on the 14th July 18 hundred & nine. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the 1st day January 17 hundred & ninety four viz at the time above stated. She further says on her oath that she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim to a pension. Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written before.

(signed)
John Alston J.P.

Mary Richardson (her mark)

State of N. Carolina
Halifax County
I hereby certify that Mary Richardson who hath this day sworn to and subscribed to the foregoing declaration is unable by reason of bodily infirmity to attend Court to make her said declaration that she is credible person Given under my hand & seal this 11th day October 1841.

(signed)
John Alston J.P.

Halifax County, N.Car
March 12th, 1853
Sir
We the only surviving children and heirs at law of Mary Richardson the deceased, who was formerly the widow of Elijah Bass deceased Soldier of the Revolution, request you to allow W. Thos. Lumpkin of Washington City D.C. the liberty to examine our deceased Mother’s declaration and all the testimony on file in your office, relative to her claim for a pension on account of the Revolutionary services of her first husband the aforesaid Elijah Bass, and when the pension certificate is issued for the amount of pension money due us, who are the only surviving children & heirs at ???? of the said Mary Richardson deceased. Please deliver it to the said W. Thos. Lumpkin for us.

Hon. James R. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions Very Respectfully,
Washington City D.C.
Witness Lewis Shearin(signed) Hardy Richardson (his mark)
Witness Richard Hamtet(signed) Lucy Evans (her mark)
Witness Edward King (signed) Absalom Richardson (his mark)
Jessee Richardson (his mark)


State of North Carolina,
Halifax County

Came before me James W. Faucett, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Halifax aforesaid, Willie Qualls and William ???? resident of the said County of Halifax, who being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that the were well acquainted with Mary Richardson the wife of Benjamin Richardson deceased, reputed and believed to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War – that the said Mary Richardson lived and died in the county aforesaid, in the year A.D.. 1844 – that the said Mary Richardson left three children who are now living, Jesse Richardson, and Lucy Evans, formerly Lucy Richardson, now residing in the County aforesaid, and Absalom Richardson, a resident of the adjoining County of Warren. Willie Qualls (his mark)

The foresaid declaration affidavit was sworn to and subscribed by Willie Qualls and ???? ???? deposed on this 13th day of April A.D. 1855 and I certify that I know the affidavit to be credible persons and that I have no interest whatsoever in this claimant

State of North Carolina
Halifax County

I William W. Daniel Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Halifax and State aforesaid do hereby certify that James w. Faucett before whom the foregone affidavit was made, is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Halifax duly commissioned and qualified as such and that full faith and credit is due thereto. In testimony whereof I hereunto salesante my name and affix the seal of my office this the 14th day of May A.D. 1855.

(signed)
Wm.W. Daniel, Clerk

I know William Qualls well both of having been raised in this county & having been acquainted I may say from our boyhood. He is a worthy man & his statements would rely upon as soon as any man of my acquaintance. Mr. Wood, the other affiant is the son of an old revolutionary soldier whom I well know whose name was Wm. Wood. I do not know that I would know his son if I were to see him having grown up while my time was spent mostly at Washington, but I hear that he is a man of good character & I know the neighbourhood in which both he & Mr. Qualls live in that in which the Richardson family lived & in which Hardy Richardson the son Mary Richardson died a short time since and at whose house his mother lived & died. Knowing these facts & having understood from Rhesa Richardson a client of mine in a matter of law respecting some property due which he claims that Mary Richardson died about the time stated by affiants at her son’s Hardy’s now dead himself, in a needy & dependent condition but for the assistance of her son, I can confidently assure the Department that Mary Richardson mention in the affidavit and who I understand was the widow of Benj. Richardson a revolutionary soldier died about the time stated by affiants that there can be no doubt whatsoever about her death. The Richardsons are a family of fine persons of color & generally are industrious & well behaved people.

JRJ Daniel (signed)
Halifax NC
May 24, 1855

Contributed to the USGenWeb Project Halifax Archives by:
Deloris Williams [delwilliams@insightbb.com]






MOSES READ
Revolutionary War Soldier


State of North Carolina
Department of Cultural Resources
Division of Archives and History

This verifies that the following information is recorded in a manuscript volume in the custody of the State
Archives titled "Revolutionary Army Accounts (Volume VI, Page 90, Folio2):

Heading: Certificates received for the year 1786
Number: 55
Name: M. Read
Principal: 1 pound, 15 shillings, 3 pence

State of North Carolina
Department of Cultural Resources
Division of Archives and History

This verifies that the following information is recorded in a manuscript volume in the custody of the State
Archives titled: Copy of a Register showing the names alphabetically, rank, dates of Commissions and
enlistments, periods of service and occurrences, taken from the original muster and pay rolls of the North
Carolina Line of the late Army of the United States.

Page: 141
Name and Rank: Reed(,) Moses pt.
Regiment: 10th Regiment
Company: Coleman's
Date of Enlistment: 4 May 1777
Period of Service: 3 yrs.
Occurrences: Omitted from the muster rolls Feb. 1779
Other information: Register prepared at Philadelphia 28th July 1791

[Moses Read was the brother of Rev. Jesse Read, an early Primitive Baptist Preacher in Halifax, N.C.]

Contributed to the Halifax USGenWeb Archives by:
Helen Tice [htice@midsouth.rr.com]




JESSE READ
Revolutionary War Service Records


Copy of Veterans Records from the US Archives dated 21 March 1985:
Reed, Jesse
2 North Carolina Regiment
Revolutionary War
Lieutenant
Card #37449973
Appears as signature to a Roll of Capt. Clement Hall's Company in the 2nd North Carolina Battalion
commanded by Col. John Patten. Roll dated White Plains, Sept. 9, 1778

Lt. Jesse Reed, N.C. taken 8 Sept 1781 in "Battle of Eutaw Springs"
Promoted to Captain 15 October 1781 - served till close of War

Photostatic copy by:
Dept. of Archives and History
Raleigh, N.C.
29 May 1985
From records in it's archives

G.P.1
Richard Caswell Governors Papers
1777, page 132, August 31, 1777
Letter from Jesse Read of 5th Battalion
to Governor Caswell

"August 31st, 1777
Sir, this is to acquaint your Excellency that I am by order of Col. John Williams to continue
in this State as a Recruiting Officer for the 5th Battalion and his orders to me was to apply
to you for Recruiting Instructions and money which Capt. Stedman will receive for me as I am at
present not able to ride to Newborn. Sir, I verily believe that if you should send me the money
immediately I can recruite a good many men. I have lately recruited top men without having a
farthing of the Publicks money.
Sir, I remain your able servant.
Jesse Read
in 5th Battalion"

Rev. Jesse Read was an early Primitive Baptist Preacher in Halifax, N.C. and brother to Moses Read

Contributed to the Halifax USGenWeb Project Archives by:
Helen Tice [htice@midsouth.rr.com]



SHADRICK LASSITER
Revolutionary Soldier


Shadrick Lassiter, son of James Lassiter, Jr., was born ca.1755 in Northampton and died ca.1807 also in Northampton. His wife is believed to have been the daughter of John Bullock as Shadrick is mentioned in Bullock's will of 1789. Shadrick served during the Revolutionary War from the Halifax District died before he could apply for a pension from his military service.

I went to the NC Genealogy Library, located in the same building as the NC Archives. Published books and abstracts are filed here. In the book "Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants", page 305, I found a listing that matched your ancestor. However, his name was spelled Shadrach Lasciter. The listing stated: "Lasciter, Shadrach, NC Lieutenant, 6 Jan 1784, 731 acres"

This is proof that Shadrach had received a military bounty land grant for Tennessee. I returned to the NC Archives and found a similiar listing in the book "A List of Warrants Issued To The Officers And Soldiers In the Continental Line Raised In & Belonging To The State Of North Carolina". This is a typed transcript of the bounty land records. Your ancestor's listing was on page 78, entry # 396. Again, his name was spelled Shadrach Lasciter. But, additional information stated that the land grant was delivered to Thomas Davis. This means that Shadrach either sold or traded the land and never took possession of it.

I went back to the Index of Tennessee Land Grants, but did not find a land grant for anyone named Thomas Davis that matched this grant in acreage. This means that Thomas Davis must have also sold or traded the land. This may have happened several times before the land was actually deeded. The man who held the title to the land at the time it was deeded is who it will be filed under. Without a specific land description, there is no way to follow the trail.

The two attachments are photos of the only original record that exists today - at least the only record I was able to find. The book is titled "Land Office (State) Western (Military District)", file number S. S. XVII (old file number S. S. 979). Shadrack's record is entry number 396. This original document is bound and preserved in the North Carolina Archives.


This file was contributed to the USGenWeb Project
for Halifax County by: Donna Lassiter Jackson [dlassiterj@wk.net]



JOEL ETHERIDGE
Revolutionary Soldier

Halifax Co., NC and Crawford Co., Georgia - Revolutionary Pension File

Joel Etheridge was the son of Caleb & Agnes Clark Etheridge, who settled on land located
in Edgecombe County which later became part of Halifax County, North Carolina.



JOEL ETHERIDGE / ETHERDGE - R.3375
State of Georgia
County of Crawford
In the matter of JOEL ETHERIDGE applicant


In Court of Ordinary Application - for pension under act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
On this fourth day of October A.D. eighteen hundred fifty two personally appeared in open court before the Court of Ordinary, a court of public record now sitting JOEL ETHERIDGE a resident of said county & state aged ninety years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he served two tours in the Revolutionary War in the service of the United States in the North Carolina Militia during the years 1780 & 1781, which is particularly described as follows; that the Militia was divided into three classes & numbered one, two, & three that he belonged to number three; that sometime about the month of either May or June in the year 1780 he resided in the County of Halifax in said state North Carolina, that there & there he was called into the service of the United States; that he did actually enter said service for & during the time or space of three months (Deponent believes it was not less than three months & to the best of his remembrance knowledge & believe it was not for a longer time) under CAPTAIN JOHN WILLIAMS - who commanded a company in the Regiment of North Carolina Militia commanded by COL. SOWELL. That the company rendezvoused at Franklin C.H. in said state then marched to Wake C.H. thence through Saulsbury & Charlotte being the notable places through which he marched;

that he was discharged at Halifax about August or September A.D.1780, that he received a written discharge but that all his old papers have been destroyed among which is his written discharge. That he again entered the service of the United States during the year 1781 for the term of three months & actually served three months in the Company commanded by CAPTAIN GREEN in the Regiment of North Carolina Militia commanded by COL KENAN that the Major commanding the Battalion until it joined the aforesaid Regiment was GRIFFIN; that he rendezvoused at Tarborough; that the march was through Kingston the object being to march to Wilmington; that was the line between the counties of Duplin & Hanover they were attacked and Deponent was severely wounded by several wounds by a sword one of which was upon his head which disabled him for some time

That the company to which he belonged was never actually attached to a greater division of the army was a Colonels' command but thinks that the Colonel I both tours regulated his activities by orders received from a superior officer. [crossed out reads: thinks it was GENERAL GREEN] That in this last tour he was discharged again at Halifax receiving a written discharge but which has been destroyed as stated in respect to his first discharge.

Declarant further states under oath as aforesaid that he has no documentary evidence whatever of his service, nor does know of any soldier living who was with him by whom he could establish the facts of his service. Declarant also states & answers under oath the Interrogatories required to be propounded by the regulations of the Department of War.

To the first Interrogatory he answers : I was born on the 21st day of February A.D.1762 in the County of Halifax State of North Carolina

For the second Interrogatory he answers: I have not an original record of my age there was one but it is destroyed. I have a copy in my Bible which is at home.

To the third Interrogatory he answers: I was living in Halifax County North Carolina after the Revolutionary War until about 1790 of 91 when I moved to Edgefield District state of South Carolina where I lived near about twenty years when I removed to Jones County Georgia & where have been living ever since - living in this county (Crawford) twenty four or five years where I now live.

To the fourth Interrogatory he answers: That I have stated in my Declaration that I belonged to the class Militia & suppose that it was a draught.

To the fifth Interrogatory he answers: I have stated in my declaration the names of the names of the officers under whom I served and that the company was attached to no other division of the army than a regiment hence there were no other officers for me to know than Captains & they do not seem to come within the class mentioned in the Interrogatory, I have stated as fully in my declaration as to the circumstances of the service as my memory will allow. I am very old & feeble & it has been so long ago that I can not remember more than I have stated that could be of satisfaction to the Department.

Interrogatory the sixth: he answers that "I have stated in my Declaration that I received written discharges & that they were destroyed & he thinks they were given by the respective Captains under whom he served.

To the seventh Interrogatory he answers: I [A?] will refer to JOEL MATTHEWS, PHILIP MATTHEWS, JAMES MATTHEWS, JAMES J. RAY, THOMAS CRUTCHFIELD, WILLIAM HARTMAN, all living within the vicinity of Knoxville, Crawford, Georgia.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn to an subscribed the day & year above written aforesaid in open court.

[signed]
JOEL ETHERDGE




March 25, 1938
Mrs. R. L. Wilkinson
Pooler, Georgia

Joel Etheredge
R.3375
BA-J/AWT
Dear Madam;

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Joel Etheridge of Crawford County, Georgia.

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, R.3375, based upon the service of Joel Etheridge (Etherdge) in the War of the Revolution. This is the record of the only Joel Etheridge found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office. The surname was searched under similar spellings.

Joel Etheredge was born February 21, 1762 in Halifax County, North Carolina. The names of his parents were not given. Joel Etheredge lived in Halifax County, North Carolina during the Revolutionary War and, moved from there about 1790 to Edgefield District, South Carolina where he lived about twenty years, then moved on to the state of Georgia.

He applied for pension October 4, 1852, then a resident of Crawford County, Georgia and alleged that he enlisted sometime in May or June 1780, served three months in Captain John Williams' company, Colonel ?Sowell's? North Carolina regiment, and that he served in 1781 in Captain Green's company, Colonel Kenan's North Carolina and while on the march to Wilmington, they were attacked near the line between Duplin and Hanover Counties, and he was seriously wounded, served three months.

The claim for pension was not allowed, as proof of the alleged service was not furnished. The papers on file in this claim contain no reference to family.

Very truly yours,

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
To the Administrator


(Records transcribed & contributed to the USGenWeb Project by:
Deloris Williams [delwilliams@insightbb.com]
microfilm copies of M805 - Roll 307 - Image 585 - File - R.3375

[Family information obtained from the Rose-Hill-Clerc-Carstens Genealogy
Ancestry.com by Judy Henry [jchenry@)flash.net]






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Visit the HALIFAX ARCHIVES for additional Revolutionary Soldier's records!







The State Library of North Carolina



Virtual Marching Tour of the American Revolution




The American Revolution




National Archives Pictures American Revolution



Destination North Carolina - Halifax County



American Revolution Genealogy Links



War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records

National Archives & Records Administration



NARA ~ Obtaining copies of Veterans Service Records






Information on NC Revolutionary War Military Units and Enlisted Men





Willie Jones of Halifax Co., NC

Willie Jones [pronounced "Wylie"] was born to a prominent Northampton County family on December 24, 1740. He attended Eton College in England and then returned home to NC where he married Mary Montiford, a daughter of Joseph Montiford of Halifax. Willie & Mary built "The Groves" estate in Halifax County for their home using many materials from Willie's parents estate "The Castle" in Northampton Co. The Groves was a gracious home that proudly displayed wood carvings from England and granite steps that were made in Scotland. Wylie who apparently enjoyed horseracing had a track built in his yard and had North Carolina's first bay window installed in his home giving full view of his track to watch the races. According to Sharon Kilpatrick, the Jones' had five children: Willie William, Robert, Anna Maria who married Joseph B. Littlejohn, secretary to William R. Davie during his visit to France; and Martha Burk, who married John Wayles Eppes, a Congressman, Senator, and judge. Willie Jones had a intense love for his family and for the people of North Carolina. He served brilliantly during the Revolutionary War and was a respected political figure and Statesman. During his later years he concentrated on his agricultural pursuits and passed away at his summer home in Raleigh, NC on June 18, 1801. For detailed accounts of his many remarkable lifetime accomplishments please visit the following sites:

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
History of Jones County, North Carolina
History of Halifax Co., NC Verona Joyner Langford North Carolina Collection





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