North Carolina General Assembly of 1782

Last updated
6th North Carolina General Assembly (1782)
1781 1783
Overview
Legislative body North Carolina General Assembly
Jurisdiction North Carolina, United States
Meeting place Hillsborough
Term1782
Senate
Members50 Senators authorized
Speaker Alexander Martin, Richard Caswell
House of Commons
Members106 Representatives authorized
Speaker Thomas Benbury
Sessions
1stApril 15, 1782 – May 18, 1782

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. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

The General Assembly elected Alexander Martin of Guilford County as Governor on April 26, 1782. James Glasgow was Secretary of State. James Iredell was Attorney General. There was no Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina until 1868. [2]

Councilors of State

John Penn JohnPenn.jpg
John Penn

The General Assembly elected the following Councilors of State on May 3, 1782: [2]

Members

Governor Alexander Martin NCG-AlexanderMartin.jpg
Governor Alexander Martin
Sen. Willie Jones WillieJonesNC.jpg
Sen. Willie Jones
Sen. Nathaniel Macon NC-Congress-NathanielMacon.jpg
Sen. Nathaniel Macon
Rep. William Hooper William Hooper.jpg
Rep. William Hooper
Rep. Joseph McDowell, Jr JosephMcDowellJr.jpg
Rep. Joseph McDowell, Jr
Rep. Richard Dobbs Spaight NCG-RichardSpaight.jpg
Rep. Richard Dobbs Spaight

There was one Senator and two members of the House of Commons for each of the 50 counties. In addition, each of the six districts had one representative each. [1] [3]

The House of Commons leadership and staff included: Thomas Benbury, Speaker; John Hunt, Clerk; and Lovett Burgess Assistant Clerk. [3]

County/DistrictSenate MemberHouse MemberHouse Member
Anson County Thomas Wade Stephen MillerJohn Jackson
Beaufort CountyWilliam BrownRichard Nassau StephensJohn Gray Blount
Bertie CountyJonathan JaycocksWilliam HornDavid Turner
Bladen CountyThomas BrownBenjamin ClarkJohn Willis
Brunswick CountyArchibald McClain [1] /Alfred Moore [4] William WatersDennis Hawkins
Burke CountyCharles McDowell Waightstill Avery Joseph McDowell
Camden County Isaac Gregory Dempsey SawyerBenjamin Jones
Carteret CountyUnknownUnknownUnknown
Caswell CountyJohn WilliamsWilliam MooreJosiah Cole
Chatham CountyWilliam B. Smith [1] /James Williams [4] James Williams [1] /Elisha Cain [4] John Ledhill [1] /Matthew Ramsey [3]
New Bern District Richard Dobbs Spaight, Sr.
Chowan CountyJoseph BlountMichael Payne Thomas Benbury [note 1]
Craven County James Coor William BryanJohn Tillman/Tilghman
Cumberland CountyJames AtkinsEdward WinslowThomas Armstrong
Currituck CountyWilliam FerebeeThomas JarvisJoseph Ferebee
Dobbs County Richard Caswell, Sr. (2nd Speaker)William CaswellBenjamin Sheppard
Duplin County James Kenan Richard Clinton [1] /David Dodd [3] James Gillespie
Edgecombe CountyIsaac SessumsRobert Diggs [1] /Etheldred Phillips [3] James Wilson
Franklin CountyHenry HillSimon JeffreysHarrison Macon
Gates CountyWilliam Baker Jethro Sumner Joseph Riddick
Granville CountyWilliam Gill Thomas Person Philemon Hawkins, Jr.
Guilford County Alexander Martin (Speaker, Governor)William GowdyJames Hunter
Halifax County Willie Jones John BranchBenjamin McCulloch
Halifax DistrictHenry Montfort
Hertford CountyJohn Brickell/BakerWilliam Wynns [1] /Lewis Brown [3] Thomas Brickell
Hyde CountyWilliam Russell [1] /Abraham Jones [4] Robert JennettJohn Eborne
Johnston CountyThomas GrayArthur Bryan/Joseph BoonNathan Williams
Jones County Nathan Bryan Abner Nash [note 2] Unknown
Lincoln County James Johnston John MooreJohn Sloan
Martin CountyKenneth McKenzieWilliam SladeSamuel Williams
Mecklenburg County Robert Irwin Caleb PhiferDavid Wilson
Montgomery CountyThomas ChildsRobert MossPeter Randle
Nash CountyHardy GriffinJoseph ArringtonEdward Nicholson
Wilmington District William Hooper
New Hannover CountyCaleb GraingerTimothy BloodworthJames Bloodworth
Northampton CountySamuel LockhartJohn DawsonJames Spikes
Hillsboro/Hillsborough DistrictThomas Farmer
Onslow CountyDr. Isaac GuionThomas JohnstonGeorge Mitchell
Orange CountyWilliam MebaneWilliam McCauleyMark Patterson
Pasquotank CountyEdward EveraginJoseph JonesThomas Reading
Perquimans CountyJesse Eason [1] /John Whedbee [4] Jonathan Skinner Richard Wedbee
Pitt CountyJohn Williams [1] /Edward Salter [4] James GorhamJohn Simpson
Randolph CountyJohn CollierJeduthan HarperEdward Williams
Richmond CountyCharles MedlockRobert WebbThomas Crawford
Salisbury District Dr. Anthony Newman
Rowan County Matthew Locke William Sharpe Samuel Young
Rutherford CountyJames MillerWilliam GilbertDavid Dickey
Sullivan County (became part of Tennessee)Andrew Bledsoe Isaac Shelby Joseph Martin
Surry CountyWilliam SheppardSamuel CummingsTrangott Bagge
Tyrrell CountyJeremiah FrazierNehemiah NormanNathan Hooker
Wake CountyJoel LaneJames HintonBurwell Pope
Warren County Nathaniel Macon Joseph HawkinsJohn Macon
Washington County (became part of Tennessee)William CockeJoseph HardinThomas Haughton
Wayne CountyAndrew BassBurwell MooringRichard McKinnie
Wilkes County Elijah Isaacs Joseph Herndon William Lenoir
Edenton DistrictDr. Hugh Williamson [note 3]

Legislation

This General Assembly met during the midst of the American Revolution. Many of the session laws that they passed dealt with the war. Other laws dealt with taxes, setting up judiciaries, chartering towns, and regulating rivers and forests. [8] [9] [10]

Notes

  1. Thomas Benbury was elected Speaker of the House of Commons.
  2. Abner Nash was elected delegate to the Continental Congress on May 3, 1782. The seat in the House remained vacant.
  3. Hugh Williamson was elected delegate to the Continental Congress on May 3, 1782. The seat in the House remained vacant.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Hawkins (governor)</span> Governor of North Carolina (1777–1819)

William Hawkins was the 17th governor of North Carolina from 1811 to 1814.

<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.

The Hillsborough District Brigade of militia was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia established on May 4, 1776. Brigadier General Thomas Person was the first commander. Companies from the eight regiments of the brigade were engaged in 55 known battles and skirmishes in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. It was active until the end of the war.

The Salisbury District of North Carolina, was originally one of six colonial judicial districts established in 1766 by the Governor William Tryon of the Province of North Carolina. Immediately preceding the onset of the American War of Independence in 1775, these six regions were renamed "military districts" by the North Carolina Provincial Congress and used for organizing the North Carolina militia. The other military districts were Edenton, Halifax, Hillsborough, New Bern, and Wilmington districts. The military district designation was discontinued in 1835 during the North Carolina Constitution Convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halifax District Brigade</span> Military unit

The Halifax District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

The Wilmington District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

The Bute County Regiment was authorized on September 9, 1775 by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. It was subordinate to the Halifax District Brigade of militia commanded by Brigadier Allen Jones. The regiment was not engaged in any battles or skirmishes against the British during the American Revolution between 1775 and when it was disbanded on January 30, 1779. It was disbanded when Bute county was dissolved and split into Franklin and Warren counties. The regiment was split into the Franklin County Regiment and Warren County Regiment.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philemon Hawkins II</span> American politician (1717–1801)

Philemon Hawkins II was an American planter, military officer and politician who served in the North Carolina militia during the Revolutionary War.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1836–1837 met in the Government House 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.

The North Carolina General Assembly of 1781 met in Wake Court House 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.

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">Third North Carolina Provincial Congress</span>

The Third North Carolina Provincial Congress was the third of five extra-legal unicameral bodies that met between 1774 and 1776 in North Carolina. They were modeled after the colonial lower house. These congresses created a government structure, issued bills of credit to pay for the movement, and organized an army for defense, in preparation for the state of North Carolina. 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 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 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 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 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 3 4 5 6 7 Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina State House 1782". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina State Senators 1782". The American Revolution in North Carolina. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  5. Brawley, James S. (1991). "Spruce Macay". NCPedia.
  6. Maupin, Armistead Jones (1988). "Philemon Hawkins, II". NCPedia.
  7. Smith, Claiborne T. Jr. (1994). "Benjamin Seawell". NCPedia.
  8. Clark, Walter, ed. (1901). Journal of the Senate of the General Assembly of North Carolina, April 15, 1782 to May 18, 1782 (PDF). Nash Brothers.
  9. Clark, Walter, ed. (1899). Journal of the House of Commons of the General Assembly of North Carolina, April 15, 1782 to May 18, 1782 (PDF). Nash Brothers.
  10. Laws of North Carolina (PDF). 1782.