Robert Fletcher (North Carolina politician)

Robert Fletcher
North Carolina House of Representatives
In office 1870–1874
Personal details
Born	1815 North Carolina
Died	1885(1885-00-00) (aged 69–70)
Political party	Radical Republicans

Robert Fletcher (1815-1885) was a Reconstruction era politician in North Carolina who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. ^[1] He served his community in other positions including being a sub-elector and a county commissioner.

Biography

Fletcher was born in 1815 in North Carolina and was an African American of Congo descent ^[2] and described as literate. ^[1]

He was elected in April 1868 to serve as commissioner for Richmond County. ^[3] Later that year in October he was appointed as a Republican sub-elector for the county. ^[4] He served on the Pitt County Board of Assessors in 1869 and then as the Richmond County commissioner the following year in 1870. ^[1]

A convention of the Richmond County Republicans in July 1870 nominated Fletcher to run for the house. ^[5] H. S. Wade stood as an independent Radical against him. ^[6] Before the election it was reported that Fletcher was in favor of impeaching governor William Woods Holden. ^[7] Fletcher was elected to serve in the North Carolina House of Representatives in September 1870. ^[8] At the start of 1872 he co-signed a letter by governor Tod Robinson Caldwell printed in the newspapers to discourage the Colored people of North Carolina from being tempted by offers of work in other states. ^[9] He was re-elected in 1972 ^[10] but failed reelection when he stood for the final time in 1974. ^[11] He kept involved in politics including attending the Richmond County Republican Conventions and giving a speech at the 1876 event. ^[12]

See also

• African American officeholders from the end of the Civil War until before 1900

References

1. Foner, Eric (1 August 1996). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. LSU Press. p. 75. ISBN   978-0-8071-2082-8 . Retrieved 23 June 2024.
2. "Robert Fletcher - Republican convention in Richmond County Jul 1870". Wilmington Journal. 1 July 1870. p. 3. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
3. "Official: Headquarters Second Military District". The Daily Standard. 21 May 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
4. "Third District: Sub-Electors". The Weekly Standard. 21 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
5. "Richmond County". The Charlotte Democrat. 5 July 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
6. "1870 Robert Fletcher running against H.S.Wade". The Eagle. 7 July 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
7. "Robert Fletcher favors Holder Impeachment". The Tarborough Southerner. 1 September 1870. p. 1. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
8. "Members of the State Legislature". The People's Press. 2 September 1870. p. 3. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
9. "To the Colored People of North Carolina". Tri-Weekly Era. 20 January 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
10. "The Next House of Representatives". The Raleigh News. 12 September 1872. p. 1. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
11. "The Richmond Radicals". The Daily Journal. 14 June 1874. p. 4. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
12. "Victory Assured! Richmond County Republican Convention". Spirit of the South. 9 September 1876. p. 1. Retrieved 25 June 2024.