Record #:

8565

Author(s):

Wadsworth, E.W.

Abstract:

Riddles Knob is supposedly haunted by Captain William Riddle, a Tory hanged in 1781 by Colonel Ben Cleveland at Tory Tree in Wilkesboro. During the American Revolution, North Carolinians were divided in their loyalties. In western North Carolina, neighbor fought against neighbor until the Tories were defeated and taken prisoner by the Patriots. Acting under a North Carolina law, Colonel Cleveland summoned a jury to try the accused men and all were quickly found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. Colonel Cleveland then took his volunteer militia through the New River valley hanging more Tory leaders including Captain William Riddle.

Source:

The State (NoCar F 251 S77), Vol. 50 Issue 5, Oct 1982, p8-10, il

Subject(s):

Ghosts--Wilkesboro