_ the Cape Fear section. 68 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River Colonel Ashe, on his removal, sold the Clayton Hall estate to Dr. James F. McRee, who retired from the practice of medicine in Wilmington and made his residence here, where he carried on planting operations with fair success. He abandoned the old settlement, and built on what was known as the Sand Ridge, and renamed the place, calling it Ashe-Moore, in compliment to the two families so long known and distinguished in the Cape Fear region. Dr. McRee had acquired a higher reputation than any other physician of his day in the Lower Cape Fear, or even in the whole State. The writer enjoyed the privilege of being his pupil, and of his long friendship, and to speak of him in such terms as he esteemed him, as a noble gentleman and physi- cian, might seem like extravagant eulogy. The next place on the river is The Vats. Here the river changes its course, making a sharp, sudden bend, and a promi- nent point of rocks jutting into the stream gives the name of Rocky Point to all that portion of country lying west, as far as the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad. This place was first located by Maj. Maurice Moore, one of the earliest pioneers of It is related that Major Moore and Governor Burrington, both of them exploring in search of rich lands, happened to reach this point about the same time. As they stepped on shore from their boats, both claimed possession by right of prior location and occupation. But the colonel stoutly resisted His Excellency’s pretensions, and by dint of strong will held the property. The arbitrary disposition exhib- ited on this occasion rather strikingly illustrates what is said to have been characteristic of the Moore family, especially that branch of it. The lands of this place were very rich, and it continued in the Moore family for several generations. It was finally sold by Judge Alfred Moore to Mr. Ezekiel Lane, a most worthy gentleman, who here laid the foundation of quite a large estate, acquired by farming alone. Commencing with small means, he became the largest landowner in the county of New Hanover, his estate being mostly composed of those Rocky Point lands. The next two places, adjoining and to the south of The Vats, were Spring Field and Strawberry, owned by Mr. Levin Lane, a son of Mr. E. Lane, a planter like his father, and a most worthy and highly respectable gentleman. Mr. Lane resided at Strawberry. Let us return to The Vats and cross the river by the ferry re PEE LIE SBT PAPE ONS REGO R. i a i i 5 i : EARS AEE, AIR san ean ag ee aa ed ee WRG 8 EEE REL IE I TED HACER ES SOIR RR Stoeger eee REESE! NOR ERATE ALLE POR NCE AY ott ty ae Permanent Settlement 69 there, Traveling eastward by the New Bern Road about four miles, we come to Lillington Hall, the residence of Gen. Alex- ander Lillington.1 It would seem like a singular selection for 4 gentleman to make for a residence, just on the border of the Great Holly Shelter pocosin or dismal, and quite remote from the other gentry settlements. But in those days stock raising was much attended to, and here immense tracts of unoccupied lands furnished rich pasturage and fine range. Genera] Lillington was nearly allied to the Moseleys, of Moseley Hall, and came to reside on the Cape Fear about the sme time with them. He was an ardent Whig and patriot, and taking up arms early in the Revolution, he soon distinguished himself as a bold and sagacious leader. On the attempt of the Scotch Settlers about Cross Creek to move on Wilmington for S Bitpose of codparating with the Britich force iesieotied boin- vade and subjugate North Carolina, General Lillington speedily rganized the militia of New Hanover and Duplin Counties and Marched rapidly in the direction from which the enemy “Pproached, Selecting a position at Moore’s Creek where it was “Tossed by a ridge, he threw up intrenchments and awaited the “Pproach of the Scots. On the arrival of General Caswell, the Superior jn command, he approved of Lillington’s plans and “Trangements for meeting the enemy. The result of the battle iy Ich ensued is well known to history, and its success was, by “entemporaries, mainly attributed to Lillington’s prompt and skillful arrangements. Lillington Hall mansion was a quaint old structure of fae Revolutionary date, and standing alone; there was no house Wh 4pproached it in size or appearance in that wild region. ai the writer visited there while a youth there was quite a > nad of rare old English books which would be highly prized Sa 18 day. At that time it was owned and occupied by Mr. face Black, a highly respectable and worthy gentleman, who ah arried the widow of Mr. George Lillington, the youngest ae of the colonel. This place, like all the residences of the Y gentry, has gone out of the family and into stranger hands. 8 there is no other place of note on the east side of the river, WwW : ; — Will recross the ferry at The Vats, and following the road 1 of feueral Lillington married a daughter of Mr. William Watters, one * nost esteemed planters of Brunswick. The Watters family in Y Senerati : for its worth and ex- Ce] ation has been most highly regarded for . lence, Mrs. Lillington is said to have been on the field with her hus- ban d at the Battle of Moore’s Creek.