Abstract:
It isn't a generally known fact, but on two separate occasions, North Carolina officially acted as guardian for two young children and provided for their education and upkeep. Both were aided because of incidents that occurred during the War of 1812. Udney Maria Blakely was the daughter of Captain Johnston Blakely, the gallant captain of the warship Wasp, which vanished at sea and was never found. The other ward was James Forsyth, the only son of Benjamin Forsyth, a hero from Stokes County who was killed during the fighting in Canada.