HYDE COUNTY MILITIA
1755
CAPTAIN HENRY GIBBS, JUR. COMPANY
The modern National Guard stems directly from the militia of the thirteen original English colonies making it the oldest component of the armed forces of the United States. In the beginning, the greatest cultural influence on the early colonies came from Great Britain. English settlers brought with them English military ideas. Until very late in its own history, England had no full-time professional Army. Englishmen believed that every free, able- bodied man had the obligation to help defend the country. Citizen-soldiers were the militia. During the French and Indian War which began in 1754, much of the fighting was being done by militia regiments, frequently referred to as "Provincials" by the British. Provincials had little tolerance for European style warfare which was ill suited to combat in the colonies against Indians. Colonial militia, which often fought in small numbers and emphasized individual initiative, contributed badly needed skills in frontier warfare to the British Army. During this time, the militia in Hyde County and neighboring counties was called up to help protect our coastal area, such as Ocracoke Inlet, from French warships and privateers.
Hyde County Militia
List
for *Arromaskeet - October 1755
Captain Henry GIBBS, Jur.
Officers & NCO's: William GIBBS, Leiutenant Robert GIBBS, Ensign John SPENCER, Serjent Joseph JENNETT, Serjent Morris JONES, Serjent
Corprells: William SPENCER - Carbine John LOCKHEART - Fowling piece Thomas GIBBS - Fowling piece Thomas JONES - Buckanneer Samuell SELBY, Jur. - Muskitt
Privates: Samuell SELBY, Snr. - [Blank] Thos. HARRIS, Snr. - Buckanear David JONES - Muskitt Christopher JONES - Fuzee Thos. HARRIS, Jur. - Muskitt Edward SPENCER - Fuzee John MORRIS - Muskeet William MORRIS - Buckaneer Stephen HARRIS - Fowling piece Joseph WILLIAMS - Muskitt Samuell SMITH - Muskitt William TURNER - Muskeet Charles CUTHRELL - Muskeet Robeart HENRY - Fowling piece Hugh HENRY - Carbine Richard BRINN - Fowling piece John SWINDELL - Muskett William HARRIS - Fuzee Matthew CAPPS - Fuzee John CARRYONE - Muskeet William SWINDELL - Muskeet Abraham JONES - Fuzee Benjeman JACKSON - Muskitt Thomas SPENCER - Buckaneer Nathan BAKER - Buckanneer John BREACE - Fuzee Thomas SMITH - Muskitt Joseph CARRYONE - Carbine Ziddekiah SWINDELL - [Blank] Josiah SWINDELL - Carbine Caleb SWINDELL - Fuzee Joseph WALLS - Fowling piece William SELBY - Fuzee Andrew HOPKINS - Muskeet Hopkins WILLIAMS - Muskeet [ t ] STUCKBURY - Carbine John LEATH, Snr. - [Blank] Step[ t ]en EMMERY - Buckanneer Nicless COFFEE - Muskett James HALL - Fowling piece John HALL - Fuzee Joshua HALL - [Blank] John JENNETT - Buckanneer Wa[ * ] COX - Fuzee Solomon JONES - Carbine Buredge SELBY - Fowling peice John CARROW - Buckanneer George WILLSON - Fowling piece Nathan SPENCER - Fowling piece John SMITH, Jur. - Muskitt Luke LINTON - Muskitt John LINTON - Muskitt David DUNEIN [?] - [Blank] Henry BREICE - Muskitt Thomas ADKINS - Muskitt John SELBY - [Blank] James DAVISSON - Fowling peice Buries [?] WATSON - Fowling peice
On Reverse of Document:
"Captn H. GIBBS his list of his Company Hyde Regiment Octor 13th 1755"Note: *Arromaskeet was another name for Mattamuskeet
Sources:
N. C. Department of Archives & History, Hyde County Miscellaneous Records (1735-1908), Militia Papers, 1755, 1853 and no date. C.R. 053.928.3;
High Tides, Volume XV, Number 1, Spring, 1994, p. 41; "Henry Gibbs, Jur. Militia List of Arrowmaskeet, 1755."
DESCRIPTION OF FIREARMS
Fuzee - a flintlock gun
Carbine - any short-barreled lightweight rifle
Musket - a heavy smoothbore large caliber shoulder firearm fired by means of a matchlock, a wheel lock, a flintlock, or a percussion lock
Fowling Piece - a smooth bore weapon which fires buckshot and used to hunt birds
Buckanneer - designed for shipboard fighting, used grape or buck shot, short barrel sometimes flared at the end similar to the weapons used by pirates
Sources:
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary; Mr. Bill Brown, N.C. Department of Archives & History, Raleigh, NC.
High Tides, Volume XV, Number 1, Spring, 1994, p. 42.
Copyright 2002