50 Chromecles of the Cape Fear River

Fear, and, on September 4, 1747, began to ascend the river.
New Hanover County then included what has since become
Brunswick, and the people from Duplin to Lockwood’s Folly
sprang to their horses and hurried to Brunswick. Eleazar
Allen, Roger Moore, Edward Moseléy, and William Forbes
were appointed commissioners to take measures for defense;
while Maj. John Swann was invested with the immediate com-
mand of the troops. The companies of Capt. William Dry,
Capt. John Ashe, and Capt. John Sampson, from the upper
part of the county, alone numbered 300 men; so the defenders
doubtless were about a thousand. On the 6th, the Spaniards
possessed themselves of Brunswick, and for four days the battle
raged. At length, on September 10, one of the Spanish vessels
was blown up and the others were driven off. All that day

Colonel Dry was burying dead Spaniards, for a considerable

number of them perished, and twenty-nine were taken alive. It
was from the destroyed vessel that the painting in the vestry

room of St. James’s Church in Wilmington, “Ecce Homo,” was
taken. The spoils from the wreck were appropriated for the
use of the churches in Brunswick and Wilmington.

Because of these incursions, a fort was built the next year to
guard the river—Fort Johnston. It was garrisoned by com-
panies raised in the vicinity, and some of the young officers
trained to arms there afterwards became distinguished in the
French and Indian War and in the Revolution, among them
Gen. James Moore and Gen. Robert Howe.

Tur War OF JENKINS’ Ear.

Catherine Albertson, in her very interesting book entitled
In Ancient Albemarle, says, with reference to this interesting
episode:

The real cause of this war in 1740 was the constant violation
on the part of the English of the commercial laws which Spain
had made to exclude foreign nations from the trade of her
American colonies. But the event which precipitated matters
and gave to the conflict which followed the name of “The War
of Jenkins’ Ear” was as follows:

The Spaniards captured an English merchant vessel, whose
master they accused of violating the trade laws of Spain. In
order to wring a confession from the master, Captain Jenkins,
his captors hung him up to a yardarm of his ship until he was
nearly dead, and then let him down, thinking he would confess.

 

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Permanent Settlement 51

tly denying that he had been engaged in any
Ings, and since no proof could be found against
n of the Spanish ship cut off one of the English

d wave would carry him, and was taken straight
of Parliament with his story. Such was the in-

oth Lords and Commons at this insult to one of
» and so loud was the clamor for vengeance, that
» Who for years had managed to hold the English

leash, was now compelled to yield to the will of
Parliament declared war on Spain.

his upon this declaration, King George called upon
rusty and well-beloved subjects in Carolina” and the other

tw :
eine pace to raise troops to help the mother country in
Sgle with arrogant Spain. Carolina responded nobly to
Gus Gabriel vit as the following extract from a letter from
ohnston to the Duke of Newcastle will testify :
“ssure Your Grace that we have raised 400 men
nce who are just going to put to sea. In those
ts of the colony adjoining to Virginia, we have got
» though some few deserted since they began to

" transports at Cape Fear. I have good
leve we could have raised 200 more if it had been

tinent ee cnt Ray the bills of exchange in this part of the con-

the people, and
Immediately

reason to be

companies. I must, in justice to the Assembly of
-our Grace that they were very zealous and
Promoting this service. They have raised a sub-
) pounds, as it is reckoned hereby, on which the

sisted ever since August, and all the transports

he King’s call left home and country to fight
ever returned to their native shores; but we
e Carolina troops took part in the disastrous

do know that thes

nga
Ge alegre of Cartagena and Boca-Chica; and that King
ti “Oops saw fulfilled Walpole’s prophecy, made at the

Me of aoe
the Tejolcing over the news that Parliament had de-

ae nae ae ie ne

Olina in this war. Nor do we know how many |

 

I atin ——