The Fort Dobbs Gazette

The Newsletter of Fort Dobbs State Historic Site and the Friends of Fort Dobbs

Volume XVII Issue 4 December 2020 Raffle Tickets on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Friends of Fort Dobbs raffle! All proceeds fund educational programming and events at the historic site. This year there is one bundled prize: a museum quality bow and pair of practice arrows. All three items were hand-made by Native American artist IN THIS ISSUE: Talon Silverhorn.* The 52” tall bow has a draw weight of about 40 pounds. p. 1 -Raffle Tickets are $10 each , or five for $40. -Living History Update

p. 2 -Photos from the Frontier

p. 3 -2021 Events

p. 4-6 Tickets may be purchased in person at Fort Dobbs, via email at Enlisted NC Soldiers [email protected], or over the phone at 704-873-5882. The winner will be selected on September 26, 2021 during the “Crisis in Carolina” p. 7 living history event. You do not need to be present to win! -Friends of Fort Dobbs Roll Call *Mr. Silverhorn is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Oklahoma. www.talonsilverhorn.com

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Living History Update Susi Hamilton, Secretary On November 14th, the site hosted our very first living history event since Office of Archives and History February: our annual “Military Timeline.” The event was a resounding success! 40 Dr. Kevin Cherry, reenactors interpreted 400 years of NC military history from the Roanoke Island Deputy Secretary settlement through the Vietnam War. Thanks to all who came out and for abiding by the common sense health precautions in place, which allowed us to have an Division of State Historic Sites event in the first place. Michelle Lanier, Director Hot on the heels of the Military Timeline, the fort hosted the quadrennial Charles LeCount, Deputy Director historic weapons safety training program. Staff and volunteers from across the Jennifer Farley, West Region state came to receive certification in either 18th or 19th century firearms. Special thanks to Allison’s Woods Outdoor Learning Center for the use of their range! Fort Dobbs Historic Site December 12th will be the fort’s annual “Winter with the Western Scott Douglas, Site Manager Company” living history program. This one day outdoor event will illustrate Jason Melius, Historic Interpreter aspects of daily life for the provincial soldiers as they prepared for the coming of Andrew Shook, Maint. Tech. winter in 1756. Mark your calendars and join us! Page 2 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE Volume XVII Issue 4 Photos from the Frontier “Military Timeline” photos courtesy Charles LeCount, Statesville Record & Landmark Page 3 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE December 2020 2021 Calendar of Events

What follows is a tentative schedule of special September 24: Fall School Day events for 2021. This schedule is subject to change, Students are invited to Fort Dobbs to learn about the based on public health requirements. Please check lives of people on the Carolina frontier through the site’s Facebook page or the fortdobbs.org demonstrations and hands-on activities. website for the most current information.. Pre-registration is required. $6 per student. Adults free.

February 27: The Defense of Fort Dobbs September 25-26: Crisis in Carolina : 1761 On February 27th, 1760, a large party of warriors engaged the garrison of Fort Dobbs in a Join soldiers, American Indians, and civilians from nighttime battle that left three soldiers and settlers the 18th Century as we look at ’s role and up to twelve Cherokee dead or wounded. in the Anglo-Cherokee War. Military encampments, trades demonstrations, On February 27th, 2021 Fort Dobbs State Historic vendors, period musical performances, and historic Site will hold a living history program weapons firings featured. commemorating the one battle to occur here. $4 admission (children under 5 free.) On-going displays of life for colonial soldiers, settlers, and Cherokee will be featured, in addition November 13-14: Military Timeline to scheduled weapons firing demonstrations. Visit with soldiers and support personnel from A special evening tour will be offered at 7:00pm hundreds of years of North Carolina history. The Saturday. Evening space is limited and pre- experiences of veterans of the Revolution, Civil registration is required. Contact War, World Wars and other conflicts will be shared [email protected] to register. through living history displays and scheduled historic weapons demonstrations. $2 admission (children under 5 free.) $2 admission (children under 5 free.) Additional $2 admission required for evening. December 10: April 24: Spring Living History End-of-Year Homeschool Day This living history will give visitors a glimpse of Homeschooling families are invited to Fort Dobbs what daily life was like for the garrison of Fort to interact with interpreters in hands-on activities Dobbs through on-going displays of barracks life, which will bring the 18th century to life! historic cooking, and scheduled weapons firing Pre-registration is required. demonstrations. $6 per student. Adults free. $2 admission (children under 5 free.) December 11: June 26: “Taken Shelter in Fort Dobbs” Winter on the Western Frontier In the spring of 1759, the Yadkin Valley was This living history will give visitors a glimpse of ravaged by fighting. Many British settlers fled, what daily life was like for the garrison of Fort while others found shelter within the walls of Fort Dobbs as they prepared to spend winter in the fort in Dobbs. Though no full-time soldiers were present, 1756. On-going displays of barracks life and the building offered refuge to civilians. historic cooking will be offered, as well as weapons Historic interpreters representing the settlers of firing demonstrations. Fourth Creek will offer on-going displays of life at $2 admission (children under 5 free.) the fort, as well as featured musket demonstrations. $2 admission (children under 5 free.)

Page 4 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE Volume XVII Issue 4 Enlisted Soldiers of the North Carolina Provincials By Jason Melius

North Carolina Provincial soldiers served in many account thereof by the Post to their of the campaigns of the . While commanders, or brings them to WillsCreek, several hundred individuals served in the province’s shall have Two pistoles reward for each, and forces, the names of most of those men have been lost to reasonable charges, paid by EDWARD time. To date, we have been able to identify twenty. BRICE DOBBS. Many of the names come to us through desertion N.B. The above deserters stole and took with advertisements and courts martial verdicts while the them five waggon horses, and their arms, and soldiers served outside of the colony. The first six names it is supposed are gone into Pennsylvania.” come from desertion ads place in April and May of 1755 in the Pennsylvania Gazette: Carver had served in Innes’s 1754 NC Provincial Regiment. When it disbanded in Winchester, VA on “Deserted on the 16th inst. from Lieutenant August 11, 1754, he was one of several men who enlisted Richard Miller, of Captain Thomas Clarke in the regular army and went on to fight in the Colony of Independent Company, One Thomas Caravar, New York. a mill wright by trade, aged 26 years, 5 feet 10 inches high, fair complexion, full faced, and Maxedon is believed to have been of Tuscarora well set, liv and work for some Time near decent. He received a land grant in Orange County in 1789 Philadelphia; was one of the North Carolina for 245 acres. Nothing further is known about the other forces, disbanded at Winchester: Had on, A men. Yet, thanks to this advertisement, we know the white waistcoat, and sometimes wears a red physical characteristics of each soldier. Such details are great coat. He was born in King County, in quite rare. Ireland.” We know the names of two other deserters from June, 1755 thanks to an orderly book kept during General Edward Braddock’s Expedition against : “Lancaster, May 26, 1755. Deserted from his majestycompany of soldiers Richard Skelton, and Caleb Cary, Soldeirs, from North Carolina, commanded by Edward belonging to Capt. Edward Brice Dobbs’s Brice Dobbs, Esq; when on their march to Company of Americans, tried for Desertion; WillisCreek, on the 19th instant, the five are, by the Sentence of the Court martial following recruits, viz. found Guilty, and adjudged to receive 1000 lashes each.” John Giggs, a Dutchman, about 33 years of age, 6 feet high, and is strong made: He wore 1758, Rev Thomas Barton kept a diary of during his hair when he went off, and had on long the campaign commanded by General John Forbes to take trowsers, and a brown jacket. Fort DuQuesne. One of his diary entries relates the names of two NC deserters who were tried, convicted, sentenced Jeptha Hetherington, born in Carolina, is to death, and then pardoned: about 20 years of age, 6 feet 3 inches high, th well made, and a little mark with the Sunday September 24 . Receiv’d Orders from smallpox. Major Halkett to attend John Hannah Soldiers of the 1st Virginia Regt., Thomas William Riely, born in England, about 28 Williams Soldier in the Maryland Companies, years of age, 5 feet 7 inches and an half high, Benjamin Murphy & Salathiel Nixon of the is smooth faced, and has short black hair. N Carolina Companies, & John Doyle of the Pennsylvania Regiment, who are all adjudgd John Maxedon, born in Carolina, about 28 to suffer Death by general Court Marial, years of age, 5 feet 9 inches and a half high, is whereof Col. Mercer was President, & orderd smooth faced, and has short black hair. by the General to be shot at 7 OClock on markwith the smallpox: Had on an old brown Tuesday Morning next— coat, a red waistcoat, and leather breeches: The rest had on their Regimentals, which is Monday September 25th. Visited the Prisoners blue coats, with red lapels, and blue breeches. in the Evening, who I found in Tears under Whoever takes up and secures said deserters terrible Apprehension of approaching in any of his majestygoals, and sends a speedy Death...

Page 5 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE December 2020 ...an Officer came in with the General’s Sometimes family members received relief funds Order [pardon] to John Hannah, Thomas when their husbands were killed in combat. Private James Williams, Benjamin Murphy & Salathial Chappel was killed during the Forbes Campaign in 1758. Nixon, who seemd more affected and more His widow sought and received financial help from the NC penitent at the thought of Living than the General Assembly. thought of dying. They were immediately dis-chargd.” “Mr. Ashe presented a Petition of Elizabeth Chappel setting forth that her It turns out that prior to enlisting the NC husband James Chappel who was enlisted Provincials in 1758, Benjamin Murphy appears on a 1754 by Col. Granger and afterwards killed at Muster Roll for the Granville County Militia Regiment the Ohio Praying relief &c. commanded by Col William Eaton. The House taking the Petn under North Carolina’s General Assembly offered a Consideration reenlisting bonus of £5 Proclamation Money in 1759. Salathial Nixon returned to North Carolina following the Resolved that the sum of Twenty pounds successful campaign to take Fort DuQuesne and was Proclamation Money be paid by the Public awarded £5 Proclamation money. Treasurer into the hands of The Honble Matthew Rowan Esq. for the use of the said Salathial [N]ixon late Soldier in Capt Elizabeth Chappel out of the Money paid John Pains Company was allowed five into the Treasury for the defraying the pounds proclamation money for returning contingent Charges of Government and from Fort Du Quesne to this Province, that this Resolve be sent to the Council for agreeable to act of Assembly. Concurrence.” A January 1756 letter from Captain Peter Hogg to Gabriel Regan, another man who served under Colonel , both of the Virginia Major Hugh Waddell in the Forbes Campaign, was killed in Regiment, relates the capture of another NC deserter. action in 1758. His widow, Susanah Regan, asked the NC General Assembly for help. She received £20 Proclamation “P.S. Mr McManus Writes to me for one Money pension. Augt. Cole a deserter from Capt. Dobs compy [,] I recd him over from Majr “On Reading the Petition of Susanah Lewis, …” Regan, Widow of Gabriel Regan and maturely considering the same, this House In General Forbes 1758 Orderly Book, we find the have Resolved, that the said Susanah name of another deserter, Charles Ross, who was punished Regan Widow of Gabriel Regan who was with 500 lashes for his crime. killed in the service of this Province on an ‘Charles Ross, private Soldier in the No Expedition against Fort Du Quesne, be Carolina Compy. Try’d for Desertion is allowed Twenty Pounds Proc Money to be found Guilty & Judg’d to receive 500 paid out of the Public Treasury by a Lashes”. Warrant from His Excellency the Governor, and that the said Treasurer be The names of a few soldiers are found in the allowed the same on passing his Account Colonial and State Records of North Carolina. These with the Public, and desire your Honors soldiers received compensation for wounds received while Concurrence.” fighting the French and Native Americans. Robert Campbell survived being wounded and Michael Fitzgarrell served in western Maryland in scalped by Cherokee warriors in March of 1760, shortly 1756 under Captain McManus. He was wounded fighting after the attack on Fort Dobbs. He was destitute and unable French allied Indians and petitioned the NC General to provide for himself. He initially received £20 and was Assembly for a pension. He was awarded £20 Proclamation awarded an additional £50 Proclamation Money, then Money in 1757. returned to Europe shortly after. “Read the petition of Michael Fitzgarrell “This House have resolved that Robert setting forth that he enlisted in his Majestys Campbell who was a soldier under the Service in the year 1756 under the command of Capt. Hugh Waddell and was Command of Capt Thomas McManus, and shot scalped and wounded in the service of that he is disabled by a shot in his right arm this Province and so disabled as to be and Wrist which he received during his under a perpetual disability of hereafter Campaign that Year Humbly Praying Relief.” gaining his livelihood be allowed for his

Page 6 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE Volume XVII Issue 4 present subsistence the sum of Twenty said County, Permits suffers and encourages Pounds and that Capt. Hugh Waddell pay the disorderly persons, to dance and play at cards said sum and be allowed the same on his and dice in his house upon the Lords Day and passing his accounts with the public And also upon reading the affid of Joseph Ryall and that Thomas Kersey one of the Volunteers another Affd of said Joseph Ryall and John concerned in the taking the scalps produced to Bragg….” this Assembly and was then shot through the Body and at present unfit for labour be John Rogers’ name first appears on a militia muster allowed Ten Pounds to be paid also by Capt. for Captain George Merrick’s Wilmington Militia Hugh Waddell and allowed him on passing his Company in 1754. The date Rogers enlisted in the NC accounts with the Public to which desire Your Provincials is unknown, but by 1758 he was a Sergeant Honours concurrence.” serving in Major Hugh Waddell’s Company in western Pennsylvania during the Forbes Campaign. During this Thomas Keasey was awarded £10 in 1760, and a campaign he was credited with taking the only French further £25 in 1762 for wounds he received fighting the allied Native American captured by Forbes’s army. His Cherokee in 1760. actions provided much needed intelligence and ultimately lead to Forbes’s successful capture of Fort DuQuesne. “It appearing to the House, that Thomas Keasey, formerly in the Service of this Rogers was promised a reward of 450 guineas province against the Indians, was, (in an (roughly equivalent to £475 Sterling). Unfortunately, Engagement with the Enemy) Desperately Colonel Forbes died before Rogers could collect his Wounded, whereby he is rendered incapable reward. He took his case to the NC General Assembly. to get his Livelihood; Therefore, the House, ‘Mr. Cary laid before the House the Petn of Resolved, That the said Thomas Keasey be John Rogers setting forth That he was allowed Twenty five pounds for his Sergeant in the Company Commanded by Maj subsistence for one year; and that the same be Hugh Waddell and Employ'd in the Expedition paid into the hands of Mr. John Frohock (for against Fort Du Quesne. the use of the said Thomas Keasey) by the Treasurer out of the Contingent Tax, and That the Commanding Officer at Loyal allowed him in his Account with the Public.” Hanning Promised a reward of Fifty Guineas and another Officer of Four Hundred Guineas Sometimes we stumble upon names in later for taking of an Indian Prisoner That in sources. A write up of the North Carolina Regiment of Consequence thereof and to distinguish his 1756 in the Colonial and State Records of North Carolina Zeal for the Public Service at the Hazard of provides us with a mention of Sergeant Joshua Johnson. his life he did take an Indian Prisoner in Novr 1758 who gave satisfactory Intelligence &c— “The four companies were under the com- That General Forbes is since dead therefore mand Captains Edward Brice Dobbs Caleb Conceives he cannot obtain the Reward. Grainger Thomas Arbuthnot Thomas McManus Dr Wm Furguson Surgeon In Therefore prays the house will consider the Arbuthnot's Wm Furguson and Henry Johnson said service and make some allowance for the were Lieutenants Rogers Ensign and Joshua same. Johnson Sergeant John Paine was lieutenant in McManus's company. At the request of the The House took the said Petition under General that a Field officer be appointed to consideration and on Motion Resolved That command the North troops Captain Dobbs the Petr be allowed for his said Service twenty was made Major.” pounds Proclamation Money and that the same be paid out of Tax for Contingencys.” Joseph Ryall served at Fort Granville, which stood near Portsmouth, NC, in 1759. He was one of two men who Rogers £475 Sterling bounty was reduced to £20 brought charges against a local Justice of the Peace and Proclamation Money, or approximately £10, 8s Sterling. tavern keeper. After failing to appear and defend himself,

Valentine Wade was struck from the Commission of the Peace. The names and brief glimpses into the lives of the “Upon Complaint being made that Valentine twenty men above are the only window we have into the Wade one of his Majestys Justices of the experiences of the common North Carolina Provincial Peace for the County of Carteret and who soldier during the French and Indian War. We will keep keeps a Tavern in the Town of Portsmouth in researching and hope to discover the names of other men who served their province in wartime.

Page 7 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE December 2020 FRIENDS OF FORT DOBBS ROLL CALL The Friends of Fort Dobbs supports the mission of Fort Dobbs State Historic Site: “To preserve and interpret the history of Fort Dobbs and North Carolina's role in the French and Indian War.” THANK YOU NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS!

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