Chronicles of the Cape Fear River 1761 1762 (April) 1762 (November) 1764-1765 1766-1768 1769 1770-1771 1773 (January) 1773-1774 1775 George Moore John Ashe George Moore John Ashe John Ashe Alexander Lillington John Ashe James Moore John Ashe James Moore John Ashe James Moore John Ashe James Moore John Ashe James Moore John Ashe William Hooper John Ashe William Hooper PROVINCIAL CONGRESSES. BorouGH MEMBERS FROM WILMINGTON. Aug. 1774 April 1775 Aug. 1775 April 1776 Nov. 1776 Francis Clayton Cornelius Harnett Cornelius Harnett Archibald Maclaine Cornelius Harnett William Hooper New HANovER CoUNTY MEMBERS. Aug. 1774 April 1775 Aug. 1775 April 1776 Nov. 1776 John Hooper William Hooper William Hooper John Ashe George Moore Alexander Lillington Samuel Ashe William Hooper James Moore John Ashe John Ashe John Devane Samuel Ashe Sampson Moseley John Hollingsworth John Ashe Samuel Ashe John Devane Sampson Moseley John Hollingsworth Resistance Before the Revolution THE STAMP ACT ON THE CAPE FEAR. (Extracts from an address delivered by Capt. S. A. Ashe before the North Carolina Society of Colonial Dames at Old Brunswick, N. C.) When the next year [1765] a bill was introduced to carry the resolution into effect, it met with considerable opposition in the House of Commons, for the protests of the colonists were not unheeded. Still, the ministry, under Lord Bute, persisted, and the measure was carried. All America was at once stirred. Bold and courageous action was taken in every colony, but in none was a more resolute spirit manifested than here upon the Cape Fear. The governor was Tryon, who had but lately suc- ceeded to that office. He was an officer of the army, a gentle- man by birth and education, a man calculated by his accom- plishments and social qualities to shine in any community. He sought the speaker of the House, and asked him what would be the action of the people. “Resistance to the death,” was the prompt reply. That was a warning that was full of meaning. It pledged the speaker to revolution and war in defense of the people’s rights. The Assembly was to meet in May, 1765. But Tryon astutely postponed the meeting until November, and then dissolved the Assembly. He did not wish the members to meet, confer, con- sult, and arrange a plan of opposition. He hoped by dealing with gentlemen, not in an official capacity, to disarm their an- tagonism and persuade them to a milder course. Vain delu- sion! ‘The people had been too long trained to rely with confi- dence on their leaders to abandon them now, even though Par- liament demanded their obedience. The first movement was not long delayed. Within two months after the news had come that the odious act had been passed, the people of North Carolina discarded from their use all clothes of British manufacture and set up looms for weav- ing their own clothes. Since Great Britain was to oppress them, they would give the world an assurance of the spirit of independence that would sustain them in the struggle. In October information was received that Dr. Houston, of Duplin County, had been selected in England as stamp master. At [91] SiS a by ple reer oonte aa = v- oe - ee yg a ene an Lh ee tS ea ae ee Sse ache Sa a ee ee ca = Sn ete