Thomas Jefferson Hadley Explained

Thomas Hadley
Allegiance:United States
Birth Date:1728
Birth Place:Delaware, British America
Death Place:North Carolina, United States

Thomas Jefferson Hadley (1728 – September 1, 1781) was an American politician, settler, and soldier in the American Revolutionary War. He played a prominent role in the signing of North Carolina's constitution in 1776.[1] [2]

Early life

Thomas Jefferson Hadley was born in 1728, in New Castle, Delaware to Joshua Hadley, a Quaker originally from King's County (now County Offaly), Ireland, and Mary Rowland of Chester County, Pennsylvania.[3] Prior to travelling to the United States, his family were members of the Quaker Meetinghouse in Moate, County Westmeath.[4]

Career

Hadley travelled to North Caroline with his father 1759, firstly settling in Bladen County, with the family becoming early settlers of Cross Creek. Hadley and his family were members of the Cane Creek Quaker community in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, however following his participation in the American Revolutionary War, he was excommunicated. During the war, he reached the rank of captain. In 1776, he represented Campbellton at the North Carolina Constitutional Convention.[5]

Death and legacy

Captain Hadley was killed in 1781 by a party of Tories under the command of Col. Hector McNeill at his home on Cape Fear River, on the night following the Battle of Cross Creek.[6] His grandson Joshua Hadley became a settler in Texas, after becoming a recipient of a league of land in Anderson County.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wheeler, John Hill. Historical Sketches of North Carolina from 1584 to 1851: Compiled from Original Records, Official Documents, and Traditional Statements : with Biographical Sketches of Her Distinguished Statesmen, Jurists, Lawyers, Soldiers, Divines, Etc. 1851. Lippincott, Grambo and Company. en.
  2. Web site: BB&T – Our History. June 12, 2020. BB&T. en.
  3. Book: Confederate Veteran. 1917. en.
  4. Web site: Joshua Hadley b. 6 May 1703 Kings (now West Meath), Ireland d. 21 Oct 1772 Alamance County, North Carolina: Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties. August 10, 2020. www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us.
  5. Book: Ashe, Samuel A'Court. Biographical History of North Carolina from Colonial Times to the Present. 1906. C. L. Van Noppen. en.
  6. Book: Moffitt, Mrs E. E.. The North Carolina Booklet. 1906. North Carolina Society of the Daughters of the Revolution. en.
  7. Book: Britt, Morris F.. Implosion. July 2, 2017. Lulu.com. 978-1-387-13225-6. en.