120 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

Robert Howe was colonel of the Soon Continentals, which
he shortly led to Norfolk, where for a time he was in command.
Like Moore, he was appointed brigadier general in the Conti-
nental Army, and he succeeded Moore in command of the forces
in South Carolina, but later joined Washington and had a
distinguished career. After the war he died in Bladen and was
buried on his plantation, The Grange.

Alexander Lillington was colonel of the minute men of the
Cape Fear district. He became colonel of the Sixth Continen-
tals and later general of militia. He led his command to the aid
of Lincoln at Charleston, but on the expiration of the term of
duty he and his men retired from the city before it was too late.
The next year he was in command resisting the British on the
Cape Fear. He survived the war, but died a few years later.

Gen. John Ashe was the first brigadier general of the militia
of the Cape Fear district. As major general, in 1779 he led a
detachment to Georgia, but was defeated by British regulars.
In 1781 he was taken prisoner, and he died the same year at
Colonel Sampson’s, Sampson Hall.

After the surrender of the North Carolina Continentals at
Charleston, two new battalions were organized, Col. John Bap-
tista Ashe, +h had served at the North, being lieutenant colonel
of one and winning fame at Eutaw Springs.

Lieut. Sam Ashe (the younger) was captured at Charleston,
and after exchange served with Greene till the end of the war.

For three years Maj. Sam Ashe, a son of Gen. John Ashe,
had a cavalry company at the North.

Col. Thomas Clark, a native of the Cape Fear, was colonel of
the Continentals, and served so well that the General Assembly
urged Congress to appoint him brigadier general. With nearly
all the North Carolina Continentals he was made prisoner when
General Lincoln surrendered at Charleston.

Samuel Purviance was colonel of the New Hanover Militia.

In the First Regiment were Captains William Davis, Alfred
Moore, John Walker, and Caleb Grainger; Lieutenants John

Lillington, William Hill, Thomas Callender, and Samuel Wat-
ters, and Ensign Maurice Moore, jr. On the staff were Richard
Bradley, William Lord, and Adam Boyd, while James Tate was
chaplain.

In the Fourth Regiment were Captains Roger Moore, John
Ashe, jr., and John Maclaine.

Dr. James Fergus was surgeon of the Sixth Regiment.

The Revolution 121

Capt. John Hill won laurels at the bloody Battle of Eutaw
Springs.

Griffith John McRee was the commanding officer of the
North Carolina Continentals with Greene at the end of the war
and was a most efficient and distinguished officer.

Major McRee left three sons, one, Capt. William McRee, of
the United States Engineers, planned the Lundy Lane cam-
paign; another, Gen. Sam McRee, distinguished himself in the
Mexican War; and the other, Dr. James Fergus McRee, was
perhaps the most learned North Carolinian of his time.

One of the most picturesque characters of this period was
Maj. Jack Walker. He was born near Alnwick Castle, under
the shadow of the Grampian Hills, and in 1761, while yet a
youth of twenty, he landed at Old Brunswick. In stature he
stood six feet four, and he possessed enormous strength. ‘There
were no lions for him to conquer, but once when a mad bull
raged through the streets of Wilmington, Samson-like, he seized
the infuriated animal by the horns, threw him to the ground and
held him. As major of the North Carolina Continentals, he
fought valiantly at the North. Ever a warm patriot, he was
violent against those who sympathized with the Tories. The
people loved him, affectionately calling him “Major Jack,” and
he wielded great power among them. Although he amassed a
considerable fortune, he never married, his large estate descend-

ing to a favorite nephew, Maj. John Walker, who was the father

of Hon. Thomas D. Walker, Alvis Walker, John Walker, Capt.
George Walker, Dr. Joshua C. Walker, Henry Walker, Calhoun
Walker, and of the wives of Gen. W. H. C. Whiting, Maj.
James H. Hill, Capt. C. P. Bolles, Capt. John Cowan, and Mr.

Frederick Fosgate.

The above record is by no means complete, as during the
troublous time of the Revolution every patriot family on the
Cape Fear contributed its utmost to the cause of independence.

CORNELIUS HARNETT’S WILL.

In the sacred name of God, Amen.

The twenty-eighth day of April, one thousand seven hundred
and eighty-one, I, Cornelius Harnett of New Hanover County,
in North Carolina, Esquire, tho weak in body, but of perfect
mind and memory, do make & ordain this to be my last will and
testament in manner & form following, viz: