88 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River Permanent Settlement 89 part of the Governor was made to pacify the people of Wil- mington, but their opposition to the Stamp Act was persistent, and on the 26th of June, the mayor, recorder, and aldermen of Wilmington presented an address to Governor Tryon congratu- lating him on its repeal and on the happy prospect of the union and harmony thereby established between the colony and the | COLONIAL MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL mother country. ! ASSEMBLY. 6< . . . In 1767, on the rise of the Legislature,” Says Martin, ““Gov- (Compiled by the North Carolina Historical Commission.) ernor Tryon lost no time in carrying into effect his darling BorouGH MEMBERS FROM WILMINGTON. scheme of building a palace, having exerted all his influence to 1739 (40)-1740 William Farris obtain the passage of the bill for its erection. This measure ASSIA TSS Wiliam Farris was thought by many to have laid the foundation of the series alias item sone hate : : ‘ ; : 1746 Th Clark of disorders and commotions which terminated in the Battle of 1746 (47)-1754 Aide Dechiaass Alamance. However, it afforded him an opportunity of leaving . : : Cornelius Harnett behind an elegant monument of his taste in building and giving 1754-1760 single State should contribute the two great events in the history of the present age—the alpha and omega of the dominion of England over her old North American colonies.” Cornelius Harnett the ministry an instance of his great influence. For the plan 2760 Cornelius Harnett of a governor’ s house was substituted that of a palace worthy of pt (April) secs stints the residence of a prince of the blood. The purchase of the ; ; : 1762 (November) Cornelius Harnett ground and the erection of the foundation absorbed the sum 1764-1765 Cornelius Harnett which the Legislature had been pleased to bestow, which was 1766-1768 Cornelius Harnett an ample appropriation for the completion of the building.” 1769 Cornelius Harnett 1770-1771 Cornelius Harnett The last years of colonial rule, under Gov. Josiah Martin, 1778 (January) Cornelius Harnett were filled with incidents of thrilling and dramatic interest. SEeaer ys Cornelius Harnett A dark cloud of uncertainty and doubt seemed to hang over the wre Cornelius Haragtt destinies of our country. This period can not be passed over New Hanover County MEMBERS. without reference to an event of such momentous import and sisi John Swann immortal significance as to deserve forever a place upon the dahon sil Maurice Mo banner of our Commonwealth. I refer to the date, April 12, aeceaarsa ; ; 1736 Maurice Moore 1776, and the accompanying resolution: John Swann 1738-1739 Nathaniel Moore John Swann John Swann Maurice Moore R 1744-1745 John Swann After a period of nearly two hundred years the flag which George Moore had been planted on the coast of North Carolina began to wane, 1766 Piece! Seay the unfitness of England to govern her colonies had become eins rtdeti tees : ; 3 John Swann more and more obvious, and amid the commotions and excite- ose ; z : 1746-1754 Rufus Marsden ment of an indignant nation an American independence was at John Swann last asserted by the people of Mecklenburg. So this dramatic John Ashe chapter can be closed with a sentence from Jones’s M emorials of 1754-1760 George Moore North Carolina: “It is curious to observe that the annals of a xeeo x: onn ra eorge oore John Ashe “Resolved, That the delegates of this colony in the Continental Con- gress be empowered to concur with the delegates of the other colonies 1739-1740 in declaring independence.”