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Oxford Public Ledger

Thursday, July 23, 1903

 

History Of Granville County

 

Granville Muster Roll, continued---First

Settlement in Granville and Patriotism

Of Its People

 

By William H. Harrison

 

Chapter IV.

 

 

A company of foot (infantry) belonging to Capt. William Burford:

 

John Comer Peak, Lieutenant: Paton Clemens, ensign, John Ross, 1st sergeant; William Jones, 2nd sergeant; James Dier, 3rd sergeant; James Paterson, Elias Easey and Edward Wilbour; Corporals; Bowlin Adcock; drummer. Privates: George Thompson, Leonard Adcock, William Jones, Francis Ross, Joseph Oky, John Peck, Mitchel Wilson, David Harris, Thomas Harris, Robert Harris, Jr., Samuel Harris, James Mclemore, Sr., James Mclemore, Jr., Nathan Oky, Jno. Adcock, Abraham Horton, John Cozzort, Jacob Cozzort, Peter Cozzort, James Horner, James Veazey, Paton Medison, John Boling, John Morring, James Ross, Francis Fare, Thomas Wellmineulber, John Landress, George Gess, Henry Whelor, Charles Ashley, Juins King, Philip Mereon, Samuel Daniel, Jesse Christeens, John Foster, William Clements, John Medisen, James Hopper, Thomas Hopper, John Wilbourn, Jas. West, Zekell Hampton, William buford, Jr., Robert Wallas, John Mathews,  Benjamin Enouch, George Lainmoor, James Goff, Joshua Kelley, William Ogelvie, Nicholas Halsten, Fredrick Peek, Mitcheal Redwine, Henry Widman, Jno. Rudolph Buzzard, Isaiah Phipps, Richard Cuderwood, Author Underwood, James Bennett, William Fowler, Edmun Parte, Zechariah Goss, Solomon Perce, Joseph Walker, Jeremiah Bullock, Robert Sorrell, Bejamin Carral, Luke Carrall, Isom Caudell, Thomas Bonner, Jr., Thomas Clements, Charles Meremen,John Curre, Fredrick Ross and Nathaniel Waller. 

 

Muster Roll of a company of militia belonging to the Granville Regiment, commanded by Capt. Jonathan Kittrell: 

 

Samuel Kittrell, Lieutenant; Clairbon Harris, ensign; Jonathan Kittrell, junior clerk; Samuel Fuller, 1st sergeant; John Parham, 2nd sergeant; Joseph Johnson, 3rd sergeant; Robert Phillips, Charles Floyde and Joseph Parish, corporals; . Geo. Briston, Sr., drummer. Privates: Jno. Hunt, William Roberts, William Floyde, Bressey Parish, Malachi Revees, Jno.Finch, Charles Moore, Abraham Eastridge, Jno. Bryant, Benjamin Ward; John Ransom, Robert Moore, William Spears, William Park, Thomas Pruett, Geo. Branch, Nicholas Robinson, Thomas Rollin, Fredrick Weavor, Traverse Borodown, Edward Silvey, Richard, Rothel, John Moore, Thomas Tharp, America Tharp, Valentine White, John Hopkins, Isaac Loyde, Jno. Jennings, Joseph Waldrop, Reuben Ballard, Williamson Finch, Jno. Dugger, John Revees, William Parham,Sherwood Harris, Isaac Kittrell, Pomfret Herndon, Jno. Edwards, Noel Johnson, John Guest, Thomas McDaniel, Edward Finch, Moses Phillips, Joseph Park, Ephraim Eastridge, Valentine Perry, Thomas Smith, Jesse Earl, Henry Tharp, Jno. Breston, Reuben Ranson, George McDaniel, Fredrick Revees, Samuel Devaughan, Mainos Weaver, Jesse Lain, Solomon Robinson, William Ham, George Bristowm Jr., John Parham,Jr., Buckner Robinson, James Mitchell, Edward Harris. Total 65. 

 

Commmand of Capt. Solomon Alston in 1771:

 

Philmore Bradford, Lieutenant; Jones Fuller; ensign; John Bridgers, 1st sergeant; William Hewet, 2nd sergeant; William Bailey, 3rd sergeant; John Cape, Joeph Parker, Ares Hedgepth, corpals, Private: John Bradford, Richard Champion, Joseph Champion, William Hendley, William Bailey, William Wilkerson, William Parnal, William Simmonds, William Heflin, William Bletcher, William Champion, William Lunceford, Richard Bailey, John Megehe, James Cannaifax, John Holt, John Brumet, Joseph Waide, Peter Jones, Hanimon Wilkerson, James Heflin, Jr., John Heflin, Simon Secre, Joel Muda, George Livingston, Luke Hurp, Peter Vincent, Alexander Vincent, John Sutten, Robert Mills, Jr., James Leathers, Benj. Megehe, Joseph Megehe, Thomas Adderson, Joseph Nevils, Charles Champion, Charles Heflin, Joseph --------------

 

David Allen, Gilliam Harris, Jr., Ligha Harris, John Harris, Christopher Harris, Nathan Harris, David Harris, Edward Harris, Isral Fuller, Joseph Fuller, John Duglas, Richard Cate, Richard Dodd, Richard Name, Daniel Nowling, James Nowling, Charles Nowling, John Simmonds, Christopher Parnal, Stephen Hicks, Samuel Homes, Jeremiah Bailey, John Boddy, James Winningham, Sherwood Winningham, Chas. Hewet, Thomas Pritty, Rubin Rains, David Dodd, Willis Howard, Richard Luvet, John Prevet, John Pearce, Benj. Rite, Charles Cannon, David Nowling, William Askue, James Puckett, William Cape, John Nelson, Thomas Going, Sr., Thomas Going, Jr., John Going, Moses Going, John Smith, Joseph Gyne, Edward Gyne, Nathaniel Gyne, Ephriam Jones, Abraham Jones, Burlet Tylor, Philmore Pettigrew, Larrence Pettiford, Isham Mitchell. Total 97. 

 

A muster roll of Capt. Jas. Yancey, company of foot {infantry} 

 

Jesse Sanders, Lieutenant; Joel Chaldler, ensign; John Harris, 1st sergeant; James Jones, 2nd sergeant; John Hart, 3rd sergeant; Joesph Roberts, Samuel Rusdon, John Chaldler, Sr., corporals. Private: William Wharton, Charles Walde, Chas. Harris, Ambros Jones, John Baynes, Seth Pette Pool, John Pette Pool, Jacob Winfree, Robert Sanford, Francis Howard, Thomas Willingham, William Matthews, William Whitehead, Isaac White, James Williamson, William Sovane, Josiah Stovane, Milenton Eazley, Joseph Hart, John Stovane,Sr., Abraham Crenshaw, Richard Jones, James Jones, John Ran, Thomas Mutter, Pleasant Hart, Ambrose Harris Duncan, Richard Duty, Edmond Swinney, Joseph Yancey, David Wilkerson, William Hart, George Rice, Ransom Boswell, Harvey Spaudling, William Chaldler, William Puryear, John Chaldler,Jr., Benj. Jones, Thomas Winfree, Mathew Harris, William Holdermess, Patrick O' Bryan, Mieagah Bullock, Luke Sanders, John Wilkerson, Meshack Wills, Drury Stovaul, Samuel Addoms, Joseph Adams, John Graves, Gideon Crenshaw, Nathaniel Malone, David Pendergrass, Benj. Harrison, Jr., Jno. Jones Cupperson, William Hickmon, William Duncan, Owen Geisen, Charles Edwards, Vinson harrison, George Rice, John Davis, John Owen, Thomas Moore, Hezkiah Tabor, Shaderick Roberts, John winfree, John Stanback, John Tabor, Thomas Yancey, Hurdy Crouse, Ansel Jarriot, Edward Jones, Joel Pope, Andrew Feet, Joshua Seaton, William Ford, James Jones,Jr, William Morgin, William Cox, Robt. Pryor, John Puryear, Simeon Ford, Benj. Tabor, William Allen, B. Smith, Josphua Carnal, Phillip Yancey, Hazelwood Wilkerson, William Atkins, Joshua Nunn, Johnathan Pope. Total 94. 

 

Perhaps the first settlements in Granville county were in the Northern part of the county on Nutbush and Grassy Creeks in the year 1715. The next earliest settlement was on Tar river, though I have been unable to learn qith any degree of certainty exactly where the latter settlement was made. The early settlers who first came to Northern Granville and Person were so much impressed with the beautiful rolling country and the picturesque scenery that they called it "The Land Of Eden." 

 

The houses of the first settlers were very small and rude structures. In some cases men of wealth lived in log huts when they first settled. Later many of them built larger and more pretentious houses. 

 

From the earliest days the people of Granville have been noted for their patriotism. Even before the Revolutionary War they showed their patriotic devotion to home and country by defending themselves from the crom the encroachments of any people. In the war of the Revolution their bravery  was shown on every battle field on which they fought and among its leading men were some who were among the first to sound the battle cry of liberty just preceding the war. Just before t the Revolutionary war a number of prominent men of Granville county, in convention assembled, passed among the other resolutions, the following, which I find in the excellent booklet entitled "Great Events in North Carolina History," by Thomas M. Pittman, Esq., of the Henderson bar: 

 

"That by the civil compact existing between our King and his peoples allegiance is the right of the first magistrate and protection the right of the people, that a violation of this compact would rescind the civil institution binding both King and people together." 

 

"That the King at the head of his American Assemblies, constitutes a Supreme Legislature in the respective colonies, and that and that its free men we can be bound to no law, but such as we assent to, either by ourselves or our representatives. That we derive a right from our charters to enact laws for the regulation of our internal policy of government, which reason and justice confirm to us as we must know what civil institutions are best suited to our state and circumstances. 

 

John Penn one of the signers of that immortal instrument--the Declaration of Independence--was a native of Granville. He lived on a farm now owned by Mr. W. L. Taylor, situated about three and a half miles east of Stovall. He died there in the year of 1788 and was buried in what was then his garden. It is remembered by many of our people that his remains were interred in 1894 by Dr. Schneck, of Greensboro, Dr. J. G. Hunt, of Oxford and Mr. W. L. Taylor, above mentioned, and removed to Guilford Battle Ground. The old cellar which was under his dwelling can still be seen. Dr. J. G. Hunt is a lineal descendant of the Penns. Frances Penn, a first cousin of John Penn, above mentioned, married John Hunt, Esq. of Granville on august 8th, 1771, and the latter is the great-grandfather of Dr. Hunt. Several members of the Hunt family in this county are named Penn for relatives of the Penn family. John Penn was the father of two children--William and Lucy, William Penn moved to Virginia shortly after the death of his father. Lucy Penn married Edmond Taylor, who was related to Zachary Taylor, a former President of the United States. An other branch of the Taylor family located in Lousiana, from which Gen. Dick Taylor, of civil war frame, was descended. 

 

Col. Edmond Taylor built an elegant residence in Granville and it is said his house was the first one in the county which had the first conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in North Carolina and Virginia, both these States at that time being embraced in one conference. This conference was held in the year, 1804. Bishop Asbury presided. Seventeen ministers were ordained at this conference. This old home is still standing and is well preserved. 

 

The first white woman who came to Granville County was Abigail Sugan, a French Huguenot. She married a man named Cook, who was so poor that his wife was forced to the necessity of swaddling the first child born to them in old meal sacks gathered up at his little mill. Upon Cook's death she was married a second time to one Christmas who lived at the place known as Jones White Sulpbur Springs in what is now Warren county. Five of this woman's descendants were generals in the confederate army; and three members of the United States Senate, namely Matt W. Ransom, of North Carolina. Harris of Tennessee, and Cockrill, of Missouri, are descent of her. 

 

While writing of the early history of Granville, it will, perhaps, be of interest to our people to know something of the Earl of Granville, whom we have mentioned before, and in whose honor the county was named.

 

 

 

 

(Note: This was the last of the completed transcription done by our former Coordinator, Tina Smith, and I wish to thank her for her many generous contributions)

 

 

 

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