North Carolina General Assembly of 1781

Last updated
5th North Carolina General Assembly (1781)
1780 1782
Overview
Legislative body North Carolina General Assembly
Jurisdiction North Carolina, United States
Meeting place Bloomsbury, Raleigh, North Carolina
Term1781
Senate
Members50 Senators (50 counties, including Washington District/County)
Speaker Alexander Martin
Clerk John Haywood
House of Commons
Members106 Representatives authorized (50 counties with 2 each, 6 districts with 1 each)
Speaker Thomas Benbury
Clerk John Hunt
Sessions
1stJune 23, 1781 – July 14, 1781

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1781 met in Wake Court House (also known as Bloomsbury) from June 23 to July 14, 1781. Each of the 50 North Carolina counties were allowed one Senator and two members of the House of Commons; 6 districts/boroughs towns also elected one House member each. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Leadership

The governor of North Carolina during the time of this session of the legislature was Thomas Burke, who was elected by the General Assembly in June of 1781. James Glasgow served as Secretary of State and James Iredell served as Attorney General. [5]

Councilors of State

Councilor John Penn JohnPenn.jpg
Councilor John Penn
Councilor Willie Jones WillieJonesNC.jpg
Councilor Willie Jones

The North Carolina Constitution of 1776 required "that the Senate and House of Commons, jointly, at their first meeting after each annual election, shall by ballot elect seven persons to be a Council of State for one year, who shall advise the Governor in the execution of his office." [6]

The known North Carolina Council of State members elected by the General Assembly in 1781 included: [2] [1]

Members

Rep. Joseph McDowell, Jr JosephMcDowellJr.jpg
Rep. Joseph McDowell, Jr
Sen. Benjamin Williams NCG-BenjaminWilliams.jpg
Sen. Benjamin Williams
Rep. Richard Henderson Richard-henderson-judge.jpg
Rep. Richard Henderson
Rep. Richard Dobbs Spaight NCG-RichardSpaight.jpg
Rep. Richard Dobbs Spaight
Rep. William Hooper William Hooper.jpg
Rep. William Hooper
County or District/CityHouse of Commons MemberSenate Member
Anson County Vacant (no election held)Vacant (no election held)
Beaufort County Thomas Alderson William Brown
Beaufort County Charles Crawford
Beaufort County Thomas A. Grist
Bertie County William Horne Jonathan Jaycocks
Bertie County David Turner
Bladen County Samuel Cain unknown or vacant
Bladen County Unknown or Vacant
Brunswick County Vacant (no election held)vacant (no election held)
Brunswick County Vacant (no election held)
Burke County Hugh Brevard (died) Andrew Wood
Burke County Joseph McDowell, Jr.
Camden County Vacant (no election held)Vacant (no election held)
Camden County Vacant (no election held)
Carteret County John Easton Unknown or vacant
Carteret County Unknown or Vacant
Caswell County Josiah Cole Unknown or vacant
Caswell County Unknown or Vacant
Chatham County James Williams Ambrose Ramsey
Chatham County John Luttrell [note 1] [3]
Chowan County Thomas Benbury Charles Johnson
Chowan County Michael Payne
Chowan County Edmund Blount
Craven County William Bryan James Coor
Craven County John Tilghman (Tilman)
Cumberland County David Smith Ebenezer Folsome
Cumberland County Thomas Armstrong
Currituck County James Phillips Samuel Jarvis
Currituck County John Humphreys
Dobbs County Benjamin Sheppard Unknown or vacant
Dobbs County William Caswell
Duplin County Thomas Hicks James Kenan
Duplin County John Molton
Edgecombe County Henry Irwin Toole Elisha Battle
Edgecombe County James Wilson
Edgecombe County Robert Diggs
Franklin County William Brickell Henry Hill
Franklin County William Green
Gates County Jethro Sumner James Gregory
Gates County Joseph Riddick
Granville County Thomas Person Joseph Taylor
Granville County Richard Henderson
Guilford County James Hunter Alexander Martin
Guilford County William Gowdy
Halifax County John Branch, Sr. Oroondates Davis
Halifax County Benjamin McCulloch [note 2]
Hertford County Lewis Brown Pleasant Jordan
Hertford County Thomas Brickell
Hyde County Robert Latham William Russell
Hyde County Robert Jennett
Johnston County Joseph Boone Benjamin Williams
Johnston County Hardy Bryan
Jones County Frederick Hargett Nathan Bryan
Jones County Edward Whitty
Lincoln County Robert Alexander James Johnston
Lincoln County John Sloan
Martin County Samuel Smithwick Kenneth McKenzie
Martin County Samuel Williams
Mecklenburg County Caleb Phifer Robert Irwin
Mecklenburg County David Wilson
Montgomery County Robert Moss Thomas Childs
Montgomery County Peter Randle
Nash County Joseph Arrington Hard Griffin
Nash County Edward Nicholson*
New Hanover County Thomas Bloodworth John DeVane
New Hanover County Caleb Grainger
Northampton County John Dawson James Vaughan
Northampton County James Sikes
Onslow County Edward Starkey John Spicer
Onslow County Lewis Williams
Orange County Jesse Benton John Butler
Orange County Robert Campbell
Pasquotank County Unknown or vacant Edward Everagain
Pasquotank County Unknown or vacant
Perquimans County John Whedbee Jesse Eaton
Perquimans County Jonathan Skinner
Pitt County James Gorham Edward Salter
Pitt County George Evans
Randolph County Andrew Balfour
Randolph County Absalom Tatum John Collier
Randolph County Jeduthan Harper
Richmond County Edward Williams Charles Medlock
Richmond County Charles Medlock
Rowan County William Sharpe Matthew Locke
Rowan County Samuel Young
Rutherford County James Withrow William Porter
Rutherford County George Moore
Rutherford County David Miller
Sullivan County (became part of Tennessee)Unknown or vacantUnknown or vacant
Sullivan County (became part of Tennessee)Unknown or vacant
Surry County Samuel Cummings William Shepherd
Surry County Wilson T. Lewis
Tyrrell County Isham Webb
Tyrrell County John Harrington Jeremiah Frazier
Tyrrell County Nehemiah Norman
Wake County Burwell Pope Michael Rogers
Wake County James Hinton
Warren County Joseph Hawkins Nathaniel Macon
Warren County John Macon
Washington County (became part of Tennessee)Unknown or vacantUnknown or vacant
Washington County (became part of Tennessee)Unknown or vacant
Wayne County (newly established in 1779) Joseph Green Unknown or vacant
Wayne County (newly established in 1779) Burwell Mooring*
Wilkes County Joseph Herndon Charles Gordon
Wilkes County William Lenoir
Edenton District Robert Smith
Halifax District Henry Montfort
Hillsborough District Thomas Tullock
New Bern District Richard Dobbs Spaight
Salisbury District Anthony Newman (Nunan)
Wilmington District William Hooper

Notes:

  1. John Luttrell was killed while in office leading the Chatham County Regiment at the Battle of Lindley's Mill on September 13, 1781.
  2. Benjamin McCulloch, Edward Nicholson, Jeduthan Harper, and Burwell Mooring were disqualified from taking their seats in the House of Commons since they were considered to be Prisoners on Parole. New elections were ordered for August.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina General Assembly</span> Legislative branch of the state government of North Carolina

The North Carolina General Assembly is the bicameral legislature of the State government of North Carolina. The legislature consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The General Assembly meets in the North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Williams</span> American politician

Benjamin Williams was the 11th and 14th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 1799 to 1802 and from 1807 to 1808. He was the first of two North Carolina Governors since the American Revolution to serve nonconsecutive terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina General Assembly of 1777</span> Sessions of the first general assembly of North Carolina held in 1777

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1777 met in two sessions in New Bern, North Carolina, from April 7 to May 9, 1777, and from November 15 to December 24, 1777. This was the first North Carolina legislature elected after the last provincial congress wrote the first North Carolina Constitution. This assembly elected Richard Caswell as the state's first constitutional governor.

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.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1779 met in three sessions in three locations in the years 1779 and 1780. The first session was held in Smithfield from May 3 to May 15, 1779; the second session in Halifax, from October 18 to November 10, 1779; the third and final session in New Bern, from January to February, 1780.

Joseph Riddick was a North Carolina politician who served as Speaker of the North Carolina Senate for 11 years from 1800 to 1804 and from 1806 to 1811. Only Bartlett Yancey and Marc Basnight have led the state Senate for a longer span of time. Riddick was also a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. He attained the rank of General in the NC Militia.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1780-1781 was the fourth elected legislative body of the State of North Carolina. The assembly consisted of a Senate and House of Commons that met in three sessions in at least two locations in the years 1780 and 1781. Each of the existing 50 North Carolina counties were authorized to elect one Senator and two members of the House of Commons. In addition, six districts also elected one House member each. The first two sessions were probably held in New Bern, North Carolina in April and September 1780. The third session met in Halifax from January 27, 1781 – February 13, 1781.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1836–1837 met in Raleigh from November 21, 1836 to January 23, 1837. The assembly consisted of the 120 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 50 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters in August 1836. During the 1836 session, the legislature created Davie County, but it was not until 1842 that Davie County began sending delegates to the General Assembly. William H. Haywood, Jr was elected speaker of the House of Commons and Charles Manley was elected clerk. Hugh Waddell was elected President of the Senate and Thomas G. Stone was elected Clerk. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. was the Governor in 1835 and 1836. He was elected by the previous legislature. In 1837, the Governor of North Carolina, Edward Bishop Dudley from New Hanover County, was elected, for the first time, by the people vice the legislature. The Whigs would control North Carolina politics until 1850. While in power, their notable achievements included funding railroads and roads, public education, and State chartered banks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina General Assembly of 1860–1861</span>

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1860–1861 met in Raleigh, North Carolina in regular session from November 19, 1860, to February 25, 1861. They met in extra sessions from May 1, 1861, to May 13, 1861, and from August 15, 1861, to September 23, 1861. This General Assembly decided that each county should vote for special delegates who would decide whether North Carolina should secede from the Union. On May 20, 1861, those special delegates convened in Raleigh and voted unanimously that the state would no longer be a part of the United States of America.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1782 was the state legislature that first convened in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on April 15, 1782, and concluded on May 18, 1782. Members of the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Commons were elected by eligible North Carolina voters.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1783 was the state legislature that convened in Hillsboro, North Carolina from April 18, 1783, to May 17, 1783. Members of the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Commons were elected by eligible North Carolina voters. This was the last assembly to meet during the American Revolution. Much of their time was devoted to taking care of the North Carolina soldiers that fought in the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress</span>

The Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress was the last of five extra-legal unicameral bodies that met beginning in the summer of 1774. They were modeled after the colonial lower house. These congresses created a government structure, issued bills of credit to pay for the movement, organized an army for defense, wrote a constitution and bill of rights that established the state of North Carolina, and elected their first acting governor in the fifth congress that met in 1776. These congresses paved the way for the first meeting of the North Carolina General Assembly on April 7, 1777 in New Bern, North Carolina. The Fifth Congress met in Halifax from November 12 to December 23, 1776. Richard Caswell served as president, with Cornelius Harnett as vice-president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835</span>

The North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 was a meeting of delegates elected by eligible voters in counties in the United States state of North Carolina to amend the Constitution of North Carolina written in 1776 by the Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress. They met in Raleigh, North Carolina from June 4, 1835, to July 11, 1835, and approved several amendments to the constitution that were voted on and approved by the voters of North Carolina on November 9, 1835. These amendments improved the representation of the more populous counties in the Piedmont and western regions of the state and, for the first time, provided for the election of the governor by popular vote rather than election by the members of the General Assembly.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1835 met in Raleigh from November 16, 1835 to December 22, 1835. The assembly consisted of the 137 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 65 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters in August 1835. This was the last assembly elected before the amendments to the Constitution of North Carolina from the North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 took effect. Thus, the House of Commons included representatives from towns and the number of members of the house was greater than 120. William H. Haywood, Jr was elected speaker of the House of Commons and Charles Manley was elected clerk. William D. Mosely was elected President of the Senate and William J. Cowan was elected Clerk. Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jr. was elected the Governor by the assembly and served from December 10, 1835 to December 31, 1836. He was the last governor of North Carolina to be elected by the General Assembly.

The North Carolina General Assembly of April to June 1784 met in New Bern from April 19 to June 3, 1784. The assembly consisted of the 120 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 50 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters in April 1784. As prescribed by the 1776 Constitution of North Carolina, the General Assembly elected Alexander Martin to continue as Governor of North Carolina. In addition, the assembly elected members of the Council of State.

The North Carolina General Assembly of October 1784 met in New Bern from October 25, 1784 to November 26, 1784. The assembly consisted of the 116 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 55 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters on August 20, 1784. As prescribed by the 1776 Constitution of North Carolina the General Assembly elected Richard Caswell as Governor of North Carolina and members of the Council of State.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1785 met in New Bern from November 18, 1785, to December 29, 1785. The assembly consisted of the 114 members of the North Carolina House of Commons and 54 senators of North Carolina Senate elected by the voters on August 19, 1785. During the 1785 session, the legislature created Rockingham County. As prescribed by the 1776 Constitution of North Carolina the General Assembly elected Richard Caswell to continue as Governor of North Carolina and members of the Council of State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina General Assembly of 1868–1869</span>

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1868–1869 met in Raleigh from November 16, 1868 to April 12, 1869 with a special session from July 1, 1868 to August 24, 1868. This was the first assembly to meet after the approval of the new Constitution of North Carolina in 1868. As prescribed in this constitution, the assembly consisted of the 120 members in the North Carolina House of Representatives and 43 senators in the North Carolina Senate elected by the voters on August 6, 1868. This assembly was in control of the Republican Party and was dominated by reconstruction era politics.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1862–1864 met in Raleigh from November 17, 1862 to December 22, 1862. Extra sessions were held on January 19, 1863–February 12, 1863; June 30, 1863–July 7, 1863; November 23, 1863–December 14, 1863; and May 17–30 1864. The assembly consisted of the 120 members of the North Carolina House of Commons from 82 counties and 50 senators representing one or more counties in North Carolina Senate elected by the voters in October 1862. Zebulon Baird Vance was Governor of North Carolina during this assembly. This assembly met during the American Civil War as part of the Confederate States of America. Much of the legislation passed by this assembly dealt with the managing the state and its population during wartime.

References

  1. 1 2 Wheeler, John H. (1874). "The Legislative Manual and Political Register of the State of North Carolina" . Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Connor, R.D.D. (1913). A Manual of North Carolina (PDF). Raleigh: North Carolina Historical Commission. p. 453-. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina State House 1781". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  4. Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina State Senators 1781". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  5. Watterson, John (1979). "Thomas Burke". NCPedia.
  6. "1776 Constitution of North Carolina". Avalon Project. December 18, 1776. Retrieved October 6, 2019.