Salisbury District, North Carolina Explained

The Salisbury District of North Carolina, was originally one of six colonial judicial districts established in 1766 by the Governor William Tryon of the Province of North Carolina. Immediately preceding the onset of the American War of Independence in 1775, these six regions were renamed "military districts" by the North Carolina Provincial Congress and used for organizing the North Carolina militia. The other military districts were Edenton, Halifax, Hillsborough, New Bern, and Wilmington districts. The military district designation was discontinued in 1835 during the North Carolina Constitution Convention.[1]

Background

In 1766, the Province of North Carolina House of Burgess, at the direction of Province of North Carolina Governor William Tryon, divided the state into six judicial districts. The districts did not do away with the county divisions of the state, which continued.[2] Since the boundaries of Tryon County (part of the Salisbury District) originally stretched into territory which was later found to belong to South Carolina (due to surveying errors), the Salisbury District was, for a time, the legal center of modern-day northwestern South Carolina as well.

After the Third North Carolina Provincial Congress held at Hillsborough, North Carolina (Aug. 20-Sept. 10, 1775), the "judicial" districts became known as "military" districts.[2] These districts were used to organize the North Carolina Minutemen Battalions for a six month trial as state troops, beginning on September 1, 1775. By April 10, 1776, the Provincial Congress decided in favor of District Brigades of militia with county militia regiments. Each brigade was led by a brigadier general. The county militia regiments were subordinated to the brigade. At that time, two additional districts were added, further dividing the western part of the state (Washington District Regiment in 1776 and Morgan District in 1784). Also, district representatives were chosen and sent to the North Carolina Provincial Congress. These representatives were instrumental in the passage of the Halifax Resolves in April 1776 during the Fourth Provincial Congress, which is now often referred to as the "Halifax Congress."[3]

History

The Salisbury District was based in the town of Salisbury, North Carolina, in Rowan County. Salisbury was established as the county seat of Rowan County in 1755, two years after Rowan County was created from Anson County.

Edmund Fanning was made the first official associate justice for the Judicial District of Salisbury in March 1766. The third colonial court, which regularly assembled at Salisbury, was the court of oyer, terminer and general jail delivery. This court had jurisdiction over criminal cases. The Salisbury District court met in June and December of each year.[4]

James Smith had served as the justice presiding over the "Court of Pleas and Quarter Session for Rowan County," under King George III, from 1770 thru 1775. From 1775, he "took a prominent and active part in every movement tending to throw off the yoke of tyranny..." On April 22, 1776, he was appointed to major in the Rowan County Regiment of the North Carolina militia, which was commanded by Colonel Francis Locke. Colonel Lock assumed command from Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford who was selected as commander of the Salisbury District Brigade.[5]

Boundaries

The Salisbury District originally included Anson, Guilford, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Surry, and Tryon counties. A later addition was the Washington District (also known as the original Washington County, North Carolina), which covered most of the present day State of Tennessee.[6] Eventually, as new settlements were carved out of the wilderness, the Salisbury District encompassed the counties of Lincoln, Montgomery, Richmond, Rutherford, Wilkes (all in present-day North Carolina), and Sullivan (in present-day Tennessee) as well.[7]

Delegates

The delegates from the Salisbury District to the North Carolina Provincial Congress were:[12] [13]

The delegates from the Salisbury District to the North Carolina House of Commons were:[16]

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: North Carolina General Assembly 1801 to 1900. Lewis, J.D.. April 18, 2019. The American Revolution in North Carolina.
  2. Web site: History of Rowan County, North Carolina, Containing Sketches of Prominent Families and Distinguished Men. Daughters of the American Revolution. Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter, Salisbury, N.C.. Rumple, Jethro. 1881. 2011-06-25 .
  3. Web site: The American Revolution in North Carolina, North Carolina's Provincial and State Troops, Not Militia. March 15, 2019. Lewis, J.D..
  4. Web site: Rowan County, North Carolina. Lewis, J.D.. The American Revolution in North Carolina . June 26, 2011.
  5. Web site: Rowan County Regiment. The American Revolution in North Carolina. Lewis, J.D.. April 17, 2019.
  6. "...all that part of this State comprehended with the lines aforesaid shall be henceforth be and remain Washington County and is declared to be part of Salisbury District."—North Carolina State Records, Vol. 24; p. 141; NC Laws -1777; Chapter 31; Whitney; p. 681
  7. http://www.combs-families.org/combs/records/nc/rw-pay.htm North Carolina Revolutionary pay vouchers
  8. Web site: North Carolina Districts and Counties in 1775. The American Revolution in North Carolina. Lewis, J.D.. April 17, 2019.
  9. Web site: North Carolina Districts and Counties in 1779. Lewis, J.D.. The American Revolution in North Carolina. April 17, 2019.
  10. Web site: North Carolina Districts and Counties in 1783. The American Revolution in North Carolina. Lewis, J.D.. April 17, 2019.
  11. US Federal Census for Iredell, Mecklenburg, and Rowan Counties. See also FamilySearch.com
  12. Web site: 4th Provincial Congress. Lewis, J.D.. The American Revolution in North Carolina. April 18, 2019.
  13. Journal of the Proceedings of the Provincial Congress of North Carolina, Reprinted in pursuance of a resolution of the General Assembly of North Carolina, passed in the session of 1830-1831.
  14. Rumple, p 134, 135, 172; moved to Georgia
  15. Hunter, p 171
  16. Web site: North Carolina State House of Commons 1777 to 1835. Lewis, J.D.. April 18, 2019.
  17. Rumple, p 169
  18. Rumple, pp 87-89
  19. Web site: Spruce Macay. Brawley, James S.. 1991. NCPedia. April 18, 2019.
  20. Web site: John Lewis Beard. NCPedia. Brawley, James S.. 1979. April 18, 2019.
  21. Web site: Evan Shelby Alexander. Murphy, Eva. 1979. April 18, 2019. NCPedia.
  22. Web site: Joseph Pearson. NCPedia. April 18, 2019. Wall, James W.. 1994.
  23. Web site: Archibald Henderson. Folmsbee, Stanley J.. 1988. NCPedia. April 18, 2019.
  24. Rumple, p 462
  25. Web site: Stephen Lee Ferrand. Littleton, Tucker Reed. 1986. NCPedia. April 18, 2019.
  26. Web site: Charles Fisher. NCPedia. McFarland, Daniel M.. 1986. April 18, 2019.
  27. Web site: David Franklin Caldwell. NCPedia. Brawley, James S.. 1979.

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