William Tryon
63-752: Herman Husband Benjamin Merrill ( POW ) [REDACTED] The Regulator Movement in North Carolina , also known as the Regulator Insurrection , War of Regulation , and War of the Regulation , was an uprising in Provincial North Carolina from 1766 to 1771 in which citizens took up arms against colonial officials whom they viewed as corrupt. Historians such as John Spencer Bassett argue that
126-639: A lavish home built in 1770 in New Bern . This was resented by the Regulators, who were already paying substantial taxes. William (The Regulator) Butler was quoted as saying, "We are determined not to pay the Tax for the next three years, for the Edifice or Governor's House, nor will we pay for it." Governor Josiah Martin succeeded Governor Tryon in office just after the end of the rebellion. His policies eased
189-488: A hero of the colonies for defeating the larger group of Regulators with his small, well prepared militia. However, as the initial excitement over the battle died down, many newsmen, especially in the Boston area, began to question the reasons behind the rebellion and investigated further. Several reasons were found to regard the destruction of the Regulators as an act of an oppressive government. Most particularly admonished were
252-456: A lack of provisions which led them to thieve from local farmers, from which they acquired the ignominious name of the "Watermelon Army". The federal forces rounded up suspects, including Husband, who was specifically sought after. The detainees were held in miserable conditions and then marched back east for trial. He was tried for treason, but acquitted. Friends interceded to secure Husband's release. After spending about six months in prison, at
315-642: A millennial preacher as well as a political reformer. He called for progressive taxation , paper money, and, as a proponent of greater participation of common people in government as well as in religion, more democracy. In 1782 he released a pamphlet entitled "Proposals to Amend and Perfect the Policy of the Government of the United States of America" where he argued in favor of smaller legislative districts and legislatures for each county in order to maximize
378-478: A popular upheaval." The western region of Provincial North Carolina experienced dramatic population growth in the 1760s. Thousands of colonists arrived from the eastern districts seeking greater opportunities. The inland section of the colonies had once been predominantly composed of planters with an agricultural economy. Merchants and lawyers began to move west, upsetting the social and political structure. They were joined by new Scots-Irish immigrants, who populated
441-547: Is available to assist patrons with finding information but they cannot offer patrons legal advice. Some of the current services offered by the branch libraries include children's, young adult, and adult programming, genealogy and local history, homeschooling resources, and homework help for students. Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center offers patrons access to free downloads for audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, videos, and resources for education purposes. Patrons are able to access these resources remotely online via
504-756: Is the West Regional Branch Library which opened in 2010, and the oldest branch was the Gillespie Street Branch, which originated as the James Walker Hood Library in 1942 and was a branch specifically for African Americans. Its mission statement is “The library opens windows to the world by encouraging expression, enlightenment, and exploration”. In 2012, the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center received
567-631: Is the fourth largest public school system in the state of North Carolina . There are 17 high schools in Cumberland County: Cape Fear, Cross Creek Early College, Cumberland International Early College, Douglas Byrd, E.E. Smith, Fuller Performance Learning Center, Gray's Creek, Howard Health and Life Sciences, Jack Britt, Massey Hill Classical, Pine Forest, Reid Ross Classical, Seventy-First, South View, Terry Sanford, Alger B. Wilkins, Ramsey Street, and Westover. The Cumberland County Public Library & and Information Center began as
630-433: Is water. As of the 2020 census , there were 334,728 people, 128,135 households, and 78,365 families residing in the county. At the 2010 census , 302,963 people, 107,358 households, and 77,619 families resided in the county. The population density was 464 people per square mile (179 people/km ). The 118,425 housing units had an average density of 181 units per square mile (70 units/km ). The racial makeup of
693-752: The Battle of Alamance . Captain Benjamin Merrill had about 300 men under his control and would have assumed control over military leadership after James Hunter, but he was unable to serve in the Battle of Alamance. Governor Arthur Dobbs , who wrote such popular works as Trade and Improvement of H'elend and Captain Middleton's Defense, served as the Royal Governor of North Carolina until his death in 1765. William Tryon succeeded him. Tryon had
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#1732772429861756-463: The Battle of Culloden . In 1771 parts of Cumberland County, Johnston County , and Orange County were combined to form Wake County . In July 1784 the western part of Cumberland County became Moore County ; the eastern part became Fayette County in honor of the Marquis de la Fayette , but the name Cumberland County was restored three months later. The county was represented as Fayette County in
819-619: The National Medal for Museum and Library Service , which is only awarded to five libraries in the United States each year. In 2018, the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center won two grants via the American Library Association and the Arts Council of Cumberland County for a total of $ 5,300.00. One grant was used to support a pilot program at a local high school and the other to support
882-527: The North Carolina General Assembly of April 1784 . In 1855 the northern part of Cumberland County became Harnett County . Finally, in 1911 parts of Cumberland County and Robeson County were combined to form Hoke County . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 658.48 square miles (1,705.5 km ), of which 652.56 square miles (1,690.1 km ) is land and 5.92 square miles (15.3 km ) (0.90%)
945-484: The USA South Athletic Conference ), and Fayetteville Technical Community College. The Cumberland County Schools district serves most areas for grades PK-12. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) operates public schools on Fort Liberty for PK-8, but for high school Fort Liberty students attend local public schools in their respective counties. The Cumberland Schools system
1008-596: The "rebellion" was crushed at the Battle of Alamance, Husband fled to Maryland under the name "Tuscape Death" and later called himself "Old Quaker". He only openly reclaimed his own name after the American Revolution . Husband continued his journeys both physical and metaphysical eventually settling in an area known as "The Glades" in what was then Bedford County and later became part of Somerset County in Western Pennsylvania and becoming
1071-404: The 107,358 households, 39.4% had children under 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were not families. About 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65, and the average family size was 3.11. In the county,
1134-919: The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. Director Risacher was initially hired as the deputy director for the Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center in the late 1990s and became the library's director in 2008. Director Risacher was named the Library Director of the Year by the North Carolina Public Library Association in 2013. Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center has eight branches: Bordeaux Branch, Cliffdale Regional Branch, East Regional Branch, Headquarters Branch, Hope Mills Branch, North Regional Branch, Spring Lake Branch, and West Regional Branch. The newest branch
1197-734: The Cumberland County Storytelling Festival and Artrepreneur program. The Cumberland County Court Library, which was previously located in the Judge E. Maurice Braswell Courthouse, moved to the Headquarters Library in February 2018. The Court Library is now situated in the Local and State History Room and collection materials are now available to the general public via local libraries. Library staff
1260-609: The Fayetteville Library Society after being incorporated by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1794. The Fayetteville Library Society was the first library organization or group to become incorporated in the state of North Carolina. The current library director is Ms. Jody Risacher and she is also a member of the 2018 Library Board of Trustees for Cumberland County. Board of trustee members are appointed every three years by
1323-750: The Quaker Meeting and he did so but continued to follow many of their tenets including strict pacifism. Philosophically he was drawn to the wisdom of Ben Franklin . Husband and Franklin kept up a correspondence through John Willcox, a merchant of Cross Creek, now Fayetteville, North Carolina , who went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , twice annually to purchase goods. John Willcox was the son of Thomas Willcox whose paper mill in Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania , manufactured paper used by Benjamin Franklin for his publications. Husband
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#17327724298611386-636: The Regulator Movement. The terms Regulation and Regulator were introduced in the Regulator Advertisement in 1768. While small acts of violence had been taking place for some time, mainly out of resentment, the first organized conflict was in Mecklenburg County in 1765. Settlers in the region, who were there illegally, forced away surveyors of the region assigned with designating land. Minor clashes followed for
1449-484: The Regulator side. Afterwards Tryon conducted a campaign of terror against the population and hanged outlaw Regulators, burned people's homes, and forced oaths out of the population. Six Regulators were rapidly tried and hanged for their part in the uprising. Following the battle, Tryon's militia army traveled through Regulator territory, where he had Regulators and Regulator sympathizers sign loyalty oaths and destroyed
1512-494: The Regulators did not wish to change the form or principle of their government, but simply wanted to make the colony's political process more equal. They wanted better economic conditions for everyone, instead of a system that heavily benefited the colonial officials and their network of plantation owners mainly near the coast. Bassett interprets the events of the late 1760s in Orange and surrounding counties as "...a peasants' rising,
1575-440: The Regulators entered Hillsborough, broke up the court, and dragged those they saw as corrupt officials through the streets. The mob attempted to have the judge try the cases that were pending against several Regulator leaders, including Husband. The presiding Judge Richard Henderson quickly adjourned the court until the next morning to avoid being forced to make a ruling in the presence of an angry mob of Regulators, and escaped in
1638-583: The Salisbury-Hillsborough Road Tryon met the Regulators with 1,000 men and 8 cannons. After ordering them to disperse and waiting for an hour they opened fire with cannons and muskets on to the crowd. The battle lasted 2 hours and involved 1% of the North Carolinian population at the time and most of its prominent people. The battle was over with nine deaths for the governor's forces and about 100 killed and 200 wounded on
1701-459: The age distribution was 27.9% under 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.30 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 101.90 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 37,466, and for a family was $ 41,459. Males had a median income of $ 28,308 versus $ 22,379 for females. The per capita income for
1764-410: The age of 70, Herman Husband died about June 19, 1795, in a tavern outside Philadelphia, on his journey home. His health had deteriorated during his time in jail. His burial location is unknown. His descendant was US Navy Admiral Husband E. Kimmel Cumberland County, North Carolina Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina . As of the 2020 census ,
1827-404: The arrival of Royal Governor William Tryon in 1765, volatile conditions in North Carolina increasingly worsened. Many of the officers were greedy and often would band together with other local officials for their own personal gain. The entire system depended on the integrity of local officials, many of whom engaged in extortion; taxes collected often enriched the tax collectors directly. The system
1890-452: The backcountry. At the same time, the local inland agricultural community suffered from a deep economic depression because of severe droughts throughout the previous decade. The loss of crops cost farmers their food source as well as their primary means of income, which led many to rely on the goods being brought by newly arrived merchants. Due to income loss, the local planters often fell into debt. The merchants, in turn, relied on lawyers and
1953-400: The body of a long deceased slave was placed upon the lawyers' bar. The mob continued to destroy shops and property in the town, and ultimately brought their destruction to Fanning's personal residence. After destroying all of the furniture and drinking all of his alcohol, they picked apart his entire house. Henderson's barn, along with his stables and home, were burned to the ground. They cracked
Regulator Movement in North Carolina - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-596: The burden on former Regulators and allowed them to be assimilated back into society. Edmund Fanning was the main opposition to the Regulators. A graduate of Yale College , he was generally regarded by his friends as well-disciplined and firm. He held many political offices in Orange County. He was once found guilty of embezzling money (along with Francis Nash) but was fined only one penny per charge. North Carolina's colonial court met in Hillsborough . In 1768,
2079-621: The church bell of the Church of England but stopped short of looting the church. There were several different publications and petitions circulated to promote the end of taxation and other issues. A number of influential members of the area communities signed the Regulator Advertisement and the Regulator Petition , of which there were several versions of each. Each document identified concerns and issues relevant to
2142-407: The colony's courthouses, and the new and well-educated lawyers used their superior knowledge of the law to their sometimes unjust advantage. A small clique of wealthy officials formed an exclusive inner circle in charge of the legal affairs of the area. The group was seen as a " courthouse ring " made up of officials who grabbed most of the political power for themselves. The abuse of the justice system
2205-464: The county was $ 17,376. About 10.4% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those 65 or over. Cumberland County is a member of the regional Mid-Carolina Council of Governments . Cumberland County is home to Fayetteville State University (an HBCU in the CIAA Conference), Methodist University (a member of
2268-418: The county was 55.15% White, 34.90% African American, 1.55% Native American, 1.88% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 3.13% from other races, and 3.09% from two or more races. About 6.90% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. By 2005, Cumberland County's population was 51.5% non-Hispanic Whites, 36.7% African American, 6.4% Latino, 3.1% more than one race, 2.1% Asian, and 1.7% Native American. Of
2331-424: The court to settle disputes. Debts were common at the time, and from 1755 to 1765, the cases brought to the docket increased nearly sixteen-fold, from seven annually to 111 in Orange County, North Carolina, alone. Such court cases could often lead to planters losing their homes and property, so they grew to resent the presence of the newcomers. The shift in population and politics eventually led to an imbalance within
2394-404: The eastern regions of North Carolina, mostly unaffected by the issues with local sheriffs. Husband retained very little control over the Regulators, who generally went against his policies of winning over public sentiment and committed acts of minor violence at regular intervals. Another Regulator leader was James Hunter. He refused to take command of the Regulators after Husband's departure before
2457-471: The excise tax on whiskey championed by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton . He is also associated with the raising of a liberty pole at Brunerstown (present-day Somerset, Pennsylvania ) in the town square , adorned with an ensign proclaiming, "Liberty and No Excise". When federal troops marched over the Allegheny Mountains , ostensibly to put down the revolt, they found no rioters but
2520-529: The influence of voters. For the first federal elections in 1788 Husband argued in favor of electing congressmen in districts instead of by the statewide method that was used. His outspoken nature and reputation for radicalism drew him into the Whiskey Rebellion (1794), where he served as a delegate to the Parkinson’s Ferry and Redstone meetings attempting to moderate the violent resistance to
2583-446: The leadership of Captain Benjamin Merrill . Realizing his force was outnumbered, he fell back to Salisbury . Two days later, on May 11, 1771, having received word of the retreat from a messenger, Tryon sent the force to support General Waddell. He intentionally chose a path which would lead his forces through Regulator territory. By May 14, 1771, his militia troops had reached Alamance and set up camp. Leaving about 70 men behind to guard
Regulator Movement in North Carolina - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-525: The main leaders remained in hiding until 1772, when they were no longer considered outlaws. Many Regulators moved further west into places such as Tennessee , notably establishing both the Watauga Association in 1772 and the State of Franklin in 1784. After 1775, many of the ex-Regulators who remained in North Carolina became Loyalists and opposed the American Revolution . In the late 1760s
2709-419: The majority of the backcountry population of North and South Carolina, and the wealthy planter elite, who comprised about 5% of the population but maintained almost total control of the government. The stated primary aim of the Regulators was to form an honest government and reduce taxation. The wealthy businessmen/politicians who ruled North Carolina saw it as a threat to their power. Ultimately, they brought in
2772-402: The methods Tryon had used to win the battle. The use of a riot act and the execution of rebellion leaders after the battle was frowned upon. Reports also indicated that battlefield misconduct had taken place on the governor's side, including giving the farmers a one-hour warning period before the battle began, and subsequently breaking that agreement to bombard them with artillery fire. Many of
2835-462: The militia to crush the rebellion and hanged its leaders. It is estimated that out of the 8,000 people living in Orange County at the time, some 6,000 to 7,000 supported the Regulators. Herman Husband became one of the unofficial leaders of the Regulators. Husband was from Maryland , born into a Quaker family. One of the major flaws in Husband's campaign was he tried to invite good relations with
2898-472: The neighboring South Carolina colony also had regulators, albeit with very different goals. They were wealthy land owners who had grievances. However their main problems stemmed not from corruption, but from widespread crime and weak law enforcement, as well as a lack of representation and of government-provided services such as courts and churches. These regulators were highly successful. Herman Husband Herman Husband (December 3, 1724 – June 19, 1795)
2961-435: The next several years in almost every western county, but the only true battle of the movement was the Battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771. Governor Tryon and his forces, which numbered just over 1,000, with roughly 150 officers, arrived at Hillsborough on May 9, 1771. At the same time, General Hugh Waddell , supporting the governor, en route with a contingent of 236 militia, was met by a large contingent of Regulators under
3024-400: The night. The Regulators rioted, destroying public and private property alike. Fanning was among the lawyers beaten, found after taking refuge in a shop neighboring the courthouse. According to Judge Henderson, Fanning's beating was so severe that "one of his eyes was almost beaten out." The courthouse was systematically and symbolically vandalized. Human waste was placed on the judge's seat, and
3087-521: The population was 334,728, making it the fifth-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Fayetteville . Cumberland County is part of the Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area . The county was formed in 1754 from Bladen County . It was named for Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), captain-general of the British army and victorious commander at
3150-459: The position, he moved the remainder of his force, slightly under 1,000 men and 8 cannons, to find the Regulators. About 10 miles (16 km) away, a force of approximately 2,000 Regulators (by some accounts, 6,000), was gathered mainly as a display of force and not a standing army. The general Regulator strategy was to scare the governor with a show of superior numbers in order to force the governor to give in to their demands. On May 16, 1771, along
3213-399: The properties of the most active Regulators. He also raised taxes to pay for his militia's defeat of the Regulators. At the time of their defeat at Alamance, public opinion was decidedly against the Regulators. They were seen as "lawless desperadoes," and Governor Tryon was praised for his actions in stamping out the rebellion. As news articles spread the word of his victory, Tryon was branded
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#17327724298613276-687: The use of the patron's library card number and pin. The library branches also offer computer training courses/classes, as well as story times, and opportunities for people or groups in the community to reserve spaces for meetings and programs. An October 2023 study released by Americans for the Arts , (AFTA) found that nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Fayetteville and Cumberland County created $ 72.2 million in total economic activity in 2022, supported over 1100 jobs, provided $ 44.1 million in personal income to residents and generated $ 9.5 million in local, state and federal tax revenue. At an April 2024 event
3339-480: Was expelled from the state legislature, ostensibly for libel but most likely due to his affiliation with the Regulators. When the officers of Rowan County, North Carolina , agreed to decide the dispute between themselves and the Regulators through a committee of arbitration, Husband was selected to serve on the committee. Husband accompanied the Regulators on the morning of the Battle of Alamance (May 16, 1771) and sought to bring about an adjustment. Seeing this
3402-609: Was a Regulator, and indeed, as a pacifist, he wouldn't take part in violence or threats of violence. But he was a spokesman and a symbol for the resistance. He had several tracts printed the best-known being "Shew Yourselves to be Freemen" (1769), "An Impartial Relation of the First and Causes of the Recent Differences in Public Affairs" (1770), and "A Fan For Fanning And A Touchstone For Tryon" (1771). In 1770, Husband
3465-485: Was a critic of slavery. One of the many to be inspired to the Great Awakening after hearing George Whitefield preach, he became a "New Light" Presbyterian and then a Quaker . Moving to Loves Creek in what is now Siler City , North Carolina and later to Sandy Creek in what is now Randolph County in the 1750s, Husband established himself as a farmer and religious leader. He was later asked to leave
3528-768: Was an American farmer, pamphleteer, author, and preacher best known as a leader of the Regulator Movement , a populist rebellion in the Province of North Carolina in the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War . Husband was twice elected to the North Carolina assembly but was expelled during his second term. Husband was born on December 3, 1724, in Cecil County, Maryland , to William Husband and Mary Kinkey/Kankey. He
3591-557: Was endorsed by Governor Tryon, who feared losing the support of the various county officials. The effort to eliminate the system of government became known as the Regulator Uprising, War of the Regulation, or the Regulator War. The most heavily affected areas were said to be those of Rowan , Anson, Orange, Granville, Cumberland , and Dobbs counties. It was a struggle between mostly lower-class citizens, who made up
3654-512: Was exacerbated by the tax-collecting local sheriffs supported by the courts. In many cases, the sheriffs and the courts held sole control over their local regions. Historian William S. Powell writes that these local officials were perceived to be "unjust and dishonest", having engaged in extortion, embezzlement, and other schemes to benefit themselves. One early protest was the Nutbush Address, given by George Sims on June 6, 1765. George
3717-502: Was from Nutbush (later Williamsboro, North Carolina ). This address was a protest about provincial and county officials and the fees they charged residents of Granville County . This later led to the "Regulator Movement" in North Carolina. In 1764, several thousand people from North Carolina, mainly from Orange, Granville, and Anson counties in the western region, were dissatisfied with the wealthy North Carolina officials, whom they considered cruel, arbitrary, tyrannical and corrupt. With
3780-529: Was impossible, he mounted his horse and rode away, his Quaker principles dictating that he avoid participation in a fight. A small powderhorn used by Husband's cousin, Harmon Cox, at the Battle of Alamance and later carried by Husband when he fled to Somerset County, Pennsylvania, was donated to the Alamance Battlefield North Carolina State Historical Site by a descendant, Nick Sheedy, in 2008. After
3843-490: Was jailed for speaking out and then set loose when an angry mob of armed backwoods farmers was coming to free him. The resisters organized and began calling themselves "Regulators" because they wanted to regulate the government, that is- to force it to obey the laws. Thus the movement is known as the Regulator Rebellion . Mob action was taken to prevent the worst abuses of the courts. Husband always denied he
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#17327724298613906-471: Was likely named after his maternal grandfather, Herman Kankey. Herman was raised as an Anglican . His paternal grandfather William Husband's family came from England, and were originally indentured servants, who later turned to being land owners and slave owners. His mother's side of the family (Kankeys) came from Hamburg in Germany, and his maternal grandfather Herman Kankey was a religious tavern who also
3969-404: Was thus in receipt of political pamphlets of a patriotic nature which he reprinted and circulated among his fellow citizens. In the 1760s, he was involved in the resistance to the corrupt practices of predatory government officials- mainly the lawyers and judges. He was elected to the colony's assembly and spoke out against governmental abuses. His story is reminiscent of that of John Wilkes . He
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