Abbot(T), Henry (La
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Dictionary of North Carolina Biography Abbot(t), Henry (la. l740-May 1791), Baptist minister Shiloh Church actively participated in the work of at and revolutionary patriot, was born in London. His least four committees, including one delegated to "take father was the Reverend john Abbot, a minor or petty into consideration the defence and the state of the Sea canon of 51. Paul's Cathedral and rector of the city coast," another (the Committee of Privileges and church of 51. Michael in London. The' younger Abbot Elections) empowered to "send for Persons, Papers and was baptized in the Anglican church, received a Records"and report to the congress, and a third "tolerable" education, and in the 'I750s migrated to requested to "devise a more effectual way for America "without the consent or knowledge of his apprehending deserters." Undoubtedly one of Abbot's parents." most important contributions came with his service on Henry Abbot settled in Camden (until 1777 the committee that drafted a constitution and bill of Pasquotank) County, occupying himself first as a rights for North Carolina. schoo lmaster. In 1758 he embraced the General Baptist Henry Abbot had an interest not only in political faith and was baptized by Elder joseph Parker. Shortly guarantees but in religious liberties as well. Under thereafter, however, like many others in his region, colonial rule only the established church was authorized Abbot switched from the General to the more Calvinistic to perform the marriage ceremony, and this privilege Particular Baptists. He was ordained by Elders Charles was extended to dissenting sects only after ties with the Daniel and James Gamewell and began a lifelong effort mother country had been severed . Near the conclusion to spread the gospel along the Pasquotank River. From of the last session of '1776, Abbot, quick to take 1758 until about '1764 Abbot was a traveling evangelist advantage of the move toward independence, and undoubtedly became well known to congregations introduced a resolution providing that ministers of all on both sides of the river. He served briefly as minister denominations might perform the marriage rite. for a group at Tar River and in 1764 or '1765 accepted an Although passed in a slightly amended form, this invitation to become pastor of Shiloh Church in resolution was the forerunner of a state law approved by Pasquotank County, following the death of the previous the legislature some fifteen months later. minister, john Burgess. During the American Revolution, Abbot served as Organized in 1729, Shiloh was the first permanent recruiting officer for Pasquotank County and held a seat Baptist church in North Carolina. Forty years after its on the three-member Salt Commission for Edenton (Port founding, Shiloh, with Abbot as pastor, participated in Roanoke). His interest in affairs of state continued after the formation of the historic Kehukee Baptist the war. In 1788 he was one of Camden's representatives Association. Within five years, however, a dispute over at the Hillsborough Convention that rejected the the association's proper relationship with the Separate proposed United States Constitution and suggested Baptists, who had spread south from New England, led written assurance of certain individual liberties. A year to division and gave rise to a fundamental reevaluation later, when a second convention gathered in of qualifications for church membership. Formerly, a Fayetteville, he was again a delegate and voted with the mere desire for baptism was deemed sufficient evidence majority to ratify the historic document. of salvation, but a new wave of religious fervor Abbot was a peer of the most learned men in North produced in many churches a purge of members who by Carolina. He is generally recognized as author of the their own admission had been baptized prior to nineteenth article of the state constitution, which made conversion. One who made this confession was the formal acknowledgement that " all men have natural and Reverend Henry Abbot, and consequently, Abbot had to inalienable rights to worship almighty God according to be baptized for a third time in about 1779, before his the dictates of their own conscience." Variously church could be admitted formally to the reformed described as an "elegant gentleman" and "popular Kehukee Association. idol," Abbot came to exercise an influence hardly While distinguishing himself as a minister, Henry equaled by ministers from his area before or since. Abbot did not ignore political developments within the At his death he possessed six slaves and resided on a colonies. During his gubernatorial administration, three- or four-hundred-acre estate in Camden County. William Tryon had made no effort to conceal a personal ~tween 1766 and 1772, he married Mariam Caroon dislike for North Carolina Baptists; when a later Lurry Wilson, and although there were no children by governor, Josiah Martin, initiated a conciliatory policy this union, Abbot's wife had two sons, William and regarding the Regulators, Abbot and another Baptist Thomas, by the first of her two previous marriages. The minister presented the governor with a letter of Reverend Henry Abbot died after a short but " violent" commendation from the Kehukee Association for his illness and was possibly buried at a now obliterated site spirit of toleration. on his plantation northeast of Shiloh. In 1776 Abbot and four other men were chosen to represent Pasquotank County in the provincial congress SEE: C. T. Bailey, ed., North Carolina Baptist AIII/al/ae that met at Halifax and endorsed American (t883); Lemuel Burkitt and jesse Read, A COl/cise History independence. At this gathering the minister from of tilt' Kellllke ~ Bllptist Ass()ciation (1850); Walter Clark, ed., 1 Abbot 2 State Records 01 North Carolilla, 16 vols. (188~ 1907); lawyer and newspaperman went a long way in a region Maloy Alton Huggins, A History 01 North Carolina where the money supply had largely vanished with the Baptists, 172 7-1932 ("1967); London Daily Advertiser, 30 Confederacy. With business partners, several of whom Jan. 1744; George Washington Paschal, History 01Nortll were also newcomers, he formed the Cape Fear Building Carolilla Baptists , 2 vols. (1930); Jesse Forbes Pugh, Tflree Company and bought three thousand acres of pine Hlllldred Years alollg tile Pasqllotallk (1957); William L. forest in Bladen County on the Wilmington, Charlotte Saunders, ed., Colonial Records 01 North Carolilza , to vols. and Rutherfordton Railroad, fifty miles west of (1886-90). Wilmington. From the throngs of unempl.oyed refugees JERRY W. COTTEN the partners recruited a work force that eventually numbered 150 and built a sawmill and woodworking Abbott, Joseph Carter (l511tty 1825-8 Oct. 188 1), plant that produced railroad cars, laths, fence pickets, Union general, United States senator, political lobbyist, broom handles, and the parts for prefabricated houses. newspaper editor, and manufacturer, was born a son of Some of these products were marketed as far away as Aaron Abbott in Concord, N.H. He had two brothers Cuba . Abbott and his associates also laid out the town of and six sisters. Upon graduation from Phillips Academy, Abbottsburg. Andover, Mass. , in 1846, Abbott returned to Concord, Even Abbott's enemies would often cheerfully undertook the study of law, and was admitted to the concede that Abbottsburg was perhaps the most New Hampshire bar in 1852. While maintaining a law promising economic development in southeastern North practice at Concord, he served as editor of the Carolina. The New Englander's politics were quite a Manchester (N.H .) Daily American (1851-57) and as different matter. Elected to the North Carolina editor and owner of the Boston Alias mId Bee (1859-61). Constitutional Convention of 1868, Abbott emerged as Meanwhile, Abbott had become active in the Whig one of the most influential delegates present, partly party. Though the party soon disappeared, the Whig because the convention had been elected in such a way ideal of nationalism and concern for economic growth as to exclude most of the established political leadership remained with Abbott all his life. With the disintegration of antebellum North Carolina. Few of the delegates had of the Whig organization, Abbott joined the short-lived any political experience at aU. Rare indeed was the Know Nothing party, which was transformed into the delegate who could match the political resources that "Fremont clubs" in 1856 and absorbed into the Abbott brought, with his legal training, newspaper Republican party shortly thereafter. His political background, and experience of political, military, and activities won for him political appointments: he was business leadership. adjutant general of the New Hampshire militia (1855--61) But Abbott's influence was not entirely a matter of and served on the commission that surveyed the political know-how. He also had at least $20,000, boundary between New Hampshire and Canada. contributed by railroad owner George Swepson, which With the outbreak of the Civil War, Abbott dropped aU he used to win passage of measures providing for state other activities to organize the Seventh Regiment of aid to railroads. Subsequent investigations have shown New Hampshire Volunteers, an achievement that that much of this money was used for bribes, for entitled him to serve as its commanding officer with the which Abbott was roundly condemned by both rank of colonel. He yielded the pOSition, however, to contemporary newspapers and later historians. Rarely H. S. Putnam, who had more military experience, and have his critics overlooked his New England origin; and, served instead as lieutenant colonel and second in generally speaking, the corrupting influence of Abbott command, in Florida and South Carolina. In 1863 and other carpetbaggers has attracted more attention Putnam was killed during an attack on Battery Wagner, than has that of the native-born members of the same near Charleston, and Abbott assumed command and the lobby rank of colonel.