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North Carolina General Assembly of 1778
Three sessions of the general assembly by North Carolina held in 1778-1779
Three sessions of the general assembly by North Carolina held in 1778-1779
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | 2nd North Carolina General Assembly (1778-1779) |
| body | North Carolina General Assembly |
| country | United States |
| state | North Carolina |
| meeting_place | 1st New Bern, 2nd Hillsborough, 3rd Halifax sessions |
| term | 17781779 |
| before | 1777 |
| after | 1779 |
| chamber1 | North Carolina Senate |
| membership1 | 41 Senators (41 counties, including Washington County/District) |
| chamber1_leader1_type | Speaker |
| chamber1_leader1 | Whitmell Hill |
| chamber1_leader2_type | Clerk |
| chamber1_leader2 | John Sitgreaves |
| chamber2 | North Carolina House of Commons |
| membership2 | 88 Representatives (41 counties with two each, 6 districts with one each) |
| chamber2_leader1_type | Speaker |
| chamber2_leader1 | John Williams, Thomas Benbury |
| chamber2_leader2_type | Clerk |
| chamber2_leader2 | John Hunt |
| session1_start | April 14 |
| session1_end | May 2, 1778 |
| session2_start | August 8, 1778 |
| session2_end | August 19, 1778 |
| session3_start | January 19 |
| session3_end | February 13, 1779 |
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1778 met in three sessions in three locations in the years 1778 and 1779. The first session was held in New Bern from April 14 to May 2, 1778; the second session in Hillsborough, from August 8 to August 19, 1778; the third and final session in Halifax, from January 19 to February 13, 1779.
Each of the 39 North Carolina counties and Washington District/County were authorized by the North Carolina Constitution of 1776 to elect one Senator to the Senate and two representatives to the House of Commons. In addition, six districts (also called boroughs) were authorized to elect one House representative each. Richard Caswell was elected governor by the legislature.
Legislation
This general assembly established Wilkes County in 1778 This general assembly established the following counties in their last session in 1779: Franklin, Gates, Jones, Lincoln, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rutherford, Warren, and Wayne Counties. For additional laws and minutes of the 1778 General Assembly, see Legislative Documents.
Councilors of State
The General Assembly elected the following Councilors of State on April 18, 1778:
- Joseph Leech, from Craven County
- Thomas Bonner from Beaufort County
- William Cray from Onslow CountyWilliam Cray Died in office.
- Edward Starkey from Onslow County
- Robert Bignall from Edgecombe County
- Richard Henderson from Granville CountyRichard Henderson declined to serve.
- William Haywood from Edgecombe CountyWilliam Haywood declined to serve.
- William Bryan from Craven County
- John Simpson from Pitt County
- Frederick Jones from New Hanover County (elected on February 3, 1779)
House of Commons
House leadership
- Speaker: John Williams (Granville County), until April 28, 1778; Thomas Benbury (Chowan County) elected to replace Williams.
- Clerk: John Hunt (Franklin County)
- Assistant Clerk: Joseph Blithe
House members
The members of the House and the counties and districts they represented are listed below.
| County | House of Commons Member |
|---|---|
| Anson County | George Davidson |
| Anson County | Stephen Miller |
| Beaufort County | Alderson AllersonAlderson Allerson was elected county entry taker. His seat was declared vacant on 19 January 1779. |
| Beaufort County | Thomas Respress, Jr.Thomas Respress was elected to replace Alderson Allerson. He took office on February 2, 1779. |
| Beaufort County | William Brown |
| Bertie County | William Jordan, Jr. |
| Bertie County | Simon Turner |
| Bladen County | Thomas AmisThomas Amis was elected to another office. His seat was declared vacant on May 2, 1778. |
| Bladen County | Benjamin ClarkBenjamin Clark was elected to replace Thomas Amis. He took office on August 8, 1778. |
| Bladen County | Samuel Cain |
| Brunswick County | Lewis DupreeLewis Dupree took office on August 8, 1778 after a special election. |
| Brunswick County | William Gause |
| Burke County | Ephraim McLaineEphraim McLaine was elected, but there is no evidence of service. |
| Burke County | Charles McLeanCharles McLean took office on August 13, 1778. |
| Burke County | Thomas Whitson |
| Bute County | Benjamin Hawkins |
| Bute County | Adkin McLemore |
| Camden County | Caleb GrandyCaleb Grady's seat vacated because he held another public office. |
| Camden County | Willis BrightWillis Bright was elected to replace Caleb Grandy. He took office on January 21, 1779. |
| Camden County | John GrayJohn Gray's seat was vacated because he held another public office. |
| Camden County | William BurgessWilliam Burgess was elected to replace John Gray. There is no evidence of service. |
| Carteret County | John Easton |
| Carteret County | Solomon Shepperd |
| Caswell County | Peter Farrar |
| Caswell County | John Williams |
| Chatham County | Alexander Clark |
| Chatham County | James Williams |
| Chowan County | Thomas Benbury |
| Chowan County | Jacob Hunter |
| Craven County | Nathan Bryan |
| Craven County | John TillmanJohn Tillman resigned on April 30, 1778. |
| Craven County | Abner NashAbner Nash was elected to replace John Tillman. He took office on August 14, 1778. |
| Cumberland County | Peter Mallett |
| Cumberland County | Robert Rowan |
| Currituck County | William Ferebbe |
| Currituck County | Holowell WilliamsHolowell Williams was elected, but there is no evidence that he took office. |
| Dobbs County | Jesse Cobb |
| Dobbs County | William Fellows |
| Duplin County | Richard Clinton |
| Duplin County | Thomas Hicks |
| Edgecombe County | Jonas JohnstonJonas Johnston was named county entry taker. His seat was declared vacant on April 27, 1778. A new election was held. Johnston was re-elected and he took office on August 8, 1778 |
| Edgecombe County | Isaac Sessums |
| Granville County | John WilliamsJohn Williams resigned on April 28, 1778 when elected to Continental Congress. |
| Granville County | Thomas PersonThomas Person was elected to replace John Williams. He took office on August 8, 1778. |
| Granville County | Thorton Yancey |
| Guilford County | James Hunter |
| Guilford County | Robert Lindsay |
| Halifax County | Haywood |
| Halifax County | John Whitaker |
| Hertford County | William Baker |
| Hertford County | Arthur Cotton |
| Hyde County | Abraham Jones |
| Hyde County | Joseph Hancock |
| Johnston County | William Bryan |
| Johnston County | John Bryan, Jr. |
| Martin County | Nathan Mayo |
| Martin County | E. Edward Smithwick |
| Mecklenburg County | Caleb Phifer |
| Mecklenburg County | David Wilson |
| Nash County | Thomas Hunter |
| Nash County | Hardy Griffin |
| New Hanover County | Timothy Bloodworth |
| New Hanover County | John Devane |
| Northampton County | Joseph Bryan |
| Northampton County | Robert Peebles |
| Northampton County | Robert Nash |
| Onslow County | Benijah Doty |
| Onslow County | George Mitchell |
| Orange County | John ButlerJohn Butler was named county record taker. His seat was declared vacant on April 27, 1778. |
| Orange County | Thomas BurkeThomas Burke was elected to replace John Butler. He took office on August 8 and resigned on August 18 when elected to the Continental Congress. |
| Orange County | Mark PattersonMark Patterson was elected to replace Thomas Burke. He took office on January 20, 1779. |
| Orange County | William McCauley |
| Pasquotank County | Thomas Harvey |
| Pasquotank County | Thomas Relfe |
| Perquimans County | Charles Blount |
| Perquimans County | John HarveyThere is some question about sources that say it died earlier than this date. |
| Pitt County | William RobesonWilliam Robeson was named county entry taker. His seat was declared vacant on April 27, 1778. |
| Pitt County | John SimpsonJohn Simposon was elected to replace William Robeson. He took office on August 8 and was then elected to Council of State, so he resigned on August 18. |
| Pitt County | James GorhamJames Gorham was elected to replace John Simpson. He took office on January 21, 1779. |
| Pitt County | John Williams |
| Rowan County | Matthew Locke |
| Rowan County | Moses Winslow |
| Surry County | Matthew Brooks |
| Surry County | Frederick Miller |
| Tryon County | William GilbertWilliam Gilbert was expelled from office on February 8, 1779 for fraud. |
| Tryon County | Joseph Hardin Sr. |
| Tyrrell County | Joshua Swann |
| Tyrrell County | Isham WebbIsham Webb died in April 1778. |
| Tyrrell County | Benjamin SpruillBenjamin Spruill was elected to replace Isham Webb. He took office on August 8, 1778. |
| Wake County | Lodwick Alford |
| Wake County | Hardy Sanders |
| Washington District/County | Luke Boyer |
| Washington District/County | William CookeWilliam Cooke was named county clerk of court and his seat was declared vacant on April 27, 1778. |
| Washington District/County | Jesse WaltonJesse Walton was elected to replace William Cooke. He took office on January 19, 1779. |
| Wilkes County | Benjamin Cleveland |
| Wilkes County | Elijah Isaacs |
| Edenton District | Joseph Hewes |
| Halifax District | Willie Jones |
| Hillsborough District | William Courtney |
| New Bern District | Richard Cogdell |
| Salisbury District | Matthew Troy |
| Wilmington District | William Hooper |
Senate
Senate leadership
- President pro tempore: Whitmell Hill, until his election to the Continental Congress; Allen Jones elected to replace Hill
- Clerk: John Sitgreaves
Senate members
The following senators and the counties they represented are listed.
| County | Senate Member |
|---|---|
| Anson County | John Childs |
| Beaufort County | Thomas Respess |
| Bertie County | Zedekiah Stone |
| Bladen County | Thomas Owen |
| Brunswick County | Alexius M. Foster |
| Burke County | Charles McDowellCharles McDowell held another public office, so his seat was declared vacant on April 22, 1778. |
| Bute County | Edward Jones |
| Camden County | Joseph Jones |
| Carteret County | William Thompson |
| Caswell County | James Sauders |
| Chatham County | Ambrose RamseyAmbrose Ramsey held another public office, so his seat was declared vacant on April 22, 1778. |
| Chatham County | John BirdsongJohn Birdsong was elected to replace Ambrose Ramsey. He took office on August 8, 1778. |
| Chowan County | Luke Sumner |
| Craven County | James Coor |
| Cumberland County | Ebenezer Folsome |
| Currituck County | Solomon Perkins |
| Dobbs County | Benjamin Exum |
| Duplin County | James Kenan |
| Edgecombe County | Elisha Battle |
| Granville County | Robert Harris |
| Guilford County | Ralph GorrellRalph Gorrell held the office of county entry taker, so his seat was declared vacant on April 22, 1778. |
| Guilford County | Alexander MartinAlexander Martin was elected to replace Ralph Gorrell. He took office on August 12, 1778. |
| Halifax County | Oroondates Davis |
| Hertford County | Robert Sumner |
| Hyde County | William Russell |
| Johnston County | Needham BryanNeedham Bryan held another public office, so his seat was declared vacant on April 22, 1778. |
| Martin County | Whitmell HillWhitmell Hill was appointed to the Continental Congress, so he resigned on August 12, 1778. |
| Martin County | Kenneth McKenzieKenneth McKenzie was elected to replace Whitmell Hill. He took office on January 19, 1779. |
| Mecklenburg County | Robert Irwin |
| Nash County | Nathan Boddie |
| New Hanover County | John Ashe, Jr. |
| Northampton County | Allen Jones |
| Onslow County | Henry Rhodes |
| Orange County | John Kinchen |
| Pasquotank County | John Lowrie |
| Perquimans County | John EasonJohn Eason held the office of county entry taker, so his seat was declared vacant on April 15, 1778. |
| Perquimans County | Thomas HarveyThomas Harvey was elected to replace John Eason. He took office on January 20, 1779. |
| Pitt County | Robert Salter |
| Rowan County | Griffith Rutherford |
| Surry County | William Sheppard |
| Tryon County | William Graham |
| Tyrrell County | Jeremiah Frazier |
| Wake County | Michael Rogers |
| Washington District | Charles Robertson |
| Wilkes County | John Brown |
Notes:
References
References
- (1913). "A Manual of North Carolina". North Carolina Historical Commission.
- Wheeler, John H.. (1874). "The Legislative Manual and Political Register of the State of North Carolina".
- Lewis, J.D.. "North Carolina State House 1778".
- Lewis, J.D.. "North Carolina State Senators 1778".
- Holloman, Charles R. 1979.[http://ncpedia.org/biography/caswell-richard-0 Caswell, Richard.] NCpedia.
- North Carolina Laws, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 22, page 178
- North Carolina Laws, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 19, pages 227{{endash230
- North Carolina Law, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 20, pages 230-232
- North Carolina Law, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 18, pages 225-227
- General Assembly of 1778-1779. (1779). "North Carolina Law, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 23, An Act for dividing Tryon County into two district counties by the name of Lincoln and Rutherford".
- North Carolina Laws, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 21, pages 232-234
- General Assembly of 1778-1779. (1779). "North Carolina Law, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 22, An Act for dividing Guilford County into two district counties by the name of Randolph and Guilford".
- Lewis, J.D.. "Laws of North Carolina, 1784".
- Johnston, Hugh Buckner. (1988). "Jonas Johnston".
- Powell, William S.. (1991). "Thomas Owen".
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