REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION

Hardy Robinson

  

          Hardy Robinson of Pitt County, NC applied for a Revolutionary War pension on November 3, 1818. In his application, he gave an account of his service.

            Robinson enlisted in Bertie County and joined a company commanded by Capt. Redding Blount of the 10^th Regiment of NC on July 20, 1778. He served until July 5, 1779 when he was discharged at Halifax, NC.

            Hardy Robinson was not in battle during the war. Instead, he spent much of the time working on a Fort at West Point.

            At the time of his application Hardy Robinson was in reduced circumstances and the following is a schedule of his property.

     one Horse bridle & saddle $70
     One pair of scissors $0.10
     One Cow & calf $15
     two chunk Bottles $0.20
     One Sow and Eight Shotes Seven or eight months old $8
     A ½ doz. Knives & forks $0.40
     one wheel and cards $1
     Two Benches one Small pot $0.50
     Fifteen Dollars owing $15.00
     one dutch oven $1.25
     one Axe $1
     one skillet $.50
     Two weeding hoes $1
     Two Cutter plows $2
     Two Baskets $0.50
     one scouter plow $0.75
     Corn standing in the field say about 20 barrels out of which $40 Rent is to be paid $5
     one shovel plow $0.75
     ½ Barrel flour $1.50
     one gimblet

   

Gimblet - Hand Drill
Taken from Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/sg-en/listing/692978515/antique-hand-drill-primitive-tool-old

     15 or 20 lbs of salted Beef $0.50   

      half Dozen spoons $0.25

     half dozen earthen plates $0.25
     1 Pail 1 Piggin $0.50

Piggin - a small wooden pail with one stave extended upward as a handle
From Merriam-Webster Dictionary
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piggin

      I certify that the above Schedule contains a true account of the whole of my property of every description.

S/ Hardy Robinson, X his mark

[Taken from Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements at http://revwarapps.org/s41992.pdf]

BERTIE BEAMS.

_______

Ancient—Cashie River—Natural Beauty—An Appropriation Needed—Bertie Railroad—Harding Manufacturing Co.—What the South Needs

[By Our Special Reporter.]

Windsor, Bertie Co., N. C.

Nov. 1^st, 1879.

            Your reporter reached this ancient town on Sunday last, 26^th ultimo.

            Steamers run on the Cashie (River) between here and Plymouth (Washington Co.) daily. The Cashie is a very deep, narrow river, being about 20 feet deep at the wharf here. It is impossible for the pen, or the brush of the painter, to do justice to the autumnal gilded foliage of the trees, which consists of every variety known to this climate, which so densely grow in their primeval wildness on the banks of this deep, dark and currentless little river. The river is very narrow from here for some eight miles below, and being very crooked, the overhanging limbs and fallen trees render navigation tedious and difficult in the extreme. An appropriation of $3,000 would be sufficient to cut away the limbs and trees and make navigation safe. The member of Congress from this district should attend to this matter as soon as possible and secure the above appropriate from congress. The people of Bertie pay their proportionate part of the governmental taxes, and their wants are entitled to substantial consideration. If Mr. Martin will not or cannot effect anything, perhaps some of his more energetic democratic colleagues may.

 

Cashie River: http://www.wandringagain.com/index.php/2016/12/03/dismal-swamp-state-park-part-two/

            Bertie has a Narrow Gauge Railroad below here, which runs from the Cashie for five miles back to the highlands. This little road is owned and was built by Greenleaf Johnson & Son, of Baltimore, for hauling logs to the river, where they are made into rafts and tow boated to Norfolk and Baltimore.

            The Harding Manufacturing company are putting more machinery in their factory, preparatory for making “ply twist.” “Ply twist” is worth 20 cents per lb. in New York. It would take half dozen more such mills as this to fill the present orders. This factory has two Clement Attachments*, 612 spindles, uses about a bale of cotton per day turning out 300 lbs. of spun cotton from 1,000 pounds of seed cotton. All the waste cotton and cotton seed find a ready sale. The seed cotton is first put through a patent cleaner which thoroughly frees it from all dirt, is then placed on rolling tables which carries it to the “Attachments” from whence it comes out ready for the spindles. This factory cost, complete, $12,000. Mr. Hardin, the President of the company, says the enterprise is now paying 20 per cent. Less politics but more cotton factories is what the South needs.

[The Tarborough Southerner (Tarboro, NC) 6 Nov 1879, p. 3]

__________________________

            Mr. Hardin, President of Harding Manufacturing wrote to Mr. J. R. Adams of Montgomery, Alabama in June 1880 describing his experience with the Clement Attachment:

            “We started last June, and have been running smoothly ever since. We are pleased with our mill and have already enlarged it, and are going to enlarge it to double the size it is in the fall. We are now running two attachments, 612 spindles. Our mill cost $11,000 as it now stands. We are averaging three hundred pounds of first class yarn per day. Our mill is paying 35 per cent on the investment, and we expect to make it pay 45 per cent as soon as our hands become expert. We have not got a hand that ever saw a mill before. We have met with no reverse, and had no mishap to stop the mill a day since starting. There is an unlimited demand for our yarns. We get the highest market price for our goods.”

[The Weekly Star (Wilmington, NC) 4 Jun 1880, p. 1]

Gin with Clement Attachment: Chicago Tribune(Chicago, Illinois)10 Jan 1880, Page 16

          *The Clement Attachment was invented about 1874 in by a Tennessean named Clement. He lived in Memphis where he had a small shop. He proposed to manufacture his attachment, but died shortly after making his invention, passing it to his heirs. Mr. F. E. Whitfield of Corinth, MS bought ½ interest from the heirs and built , patented and put it into operation. 

          Cotton bolls contain seeds that must be separated from the fiber before it can be used. Before Eli Whitley invented the cotton gin in 1794, this was done by hand. An average worker could only remove seeds from about a pound of cotton per day.

           The cotton gin—the word “gin” was derived from “engine”—had hooks that caught the cotton fiber and pulled it through a mesh too fine for the seeds to go through. Small gins were cranked by hand and larger ones were powered by steam engines. The hand-cranked machine could process 50 pounds of cotton per day.

            The Clement Attachment was explained by its owner F. E. Whitfield:

            “To convert an old into a new process cotton mill, little else is necessary than to get a cleanser of seed cotton…cost from $75 to $100, and to substitute an attachment, costing about $175, for the lickerin and feed rollers on each card.” As the cotton passes through the cleanser, dirt, dust and most motes, trash, etc. are removed. It is then carried by a revolving apron into the attachment where the lint is removed from the seed. As the filaments pass through the attachments, any remaining trash is removed and is combed out so that the filaments are delivered to the card and converted into yarns.[1]

---

[1] Our country’s wealth and influence, by Linus Pierpont Brockett and Henry Barnard: 1882; page 169.

POLITICS AS USUAL?

            ANY Democrat in Bertie couny, two years ago, if asked what was the paramount issue in Bertie county and in North Carolina, would have, without any hesitation, answered; “The maintenance of the present system of county government.” Now these same men, Democrats then, Third party people now, speak lightly of the present system of county government and are running candidates against Democrats pledged to its maintenance, …

            The Thirdites say that public lands, transportation and money are the only questions to be talked in the campaign. There is not a foot of government land in Bertie county. There is only a small portion of the county crossed by railroads. Nobody in the county has any money. If we confine ourselves to the text of the Thirdities we will talk about things we haven’t got and if we follow their advice, which we will never have.

[Windsor ledger Windsor, NC) 5 Oct 1892]

LAYING THE CORNER-STONE.

____________

REPORTED BY OUR BUSINESS MANAGER

____________

            Saturday, October the 1^st (1887), was a big day in Windsor. The people of old Bertie turned out in full force to witness the laying of the Corner-Stone of the new Court House, a building (judging from the drawn plan we saw displayed) of pleasing proportions and excellent architectural beauty.

            The large procession, formed at the Masonic hall and led by the Edenton (Chowan County) Cornet Band, marched through several of the principal streets and then to the Grand Stand in the Court yard, where the exercises appointed for the occasion were had. The Grand Marshal opened the ceremony, making a few appropriate and well-timed remarks, which were followed with prayer by the Worthy Chaplain; after which the stone was slowly lowered to its destined place in the structure while the band played a soft and beautiful air. The stone dropped in its bed at 12 M. The Masonic fraternity then went through with the form usual on such occasions, that of depositing a box containing tokens, etc., of the present. The following are some of the articles deposited:

The oration delivered on the occasion by F. D. Winston. A copy of the Windsor Public Ledger containing resolutions of respect in memory of W. P. Gurley, late W. M., of Charity Lodge No. 5, A. F. and A. M. A copy of the Act of Legislature authorizing the rebuilding of the Bertie Court House. A photograph of L. S. Webb Esq., the oldest citizen of the town of Windsor. A photograph of the former Court House. The names of the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States, the names of the officers of the State of North Carolina, the names of the officers of Bertie county, the names of the officers of the town of Windsor.

            Mr. Frank D. Winston, the orator of the day, was introduced and for some time held his audience wrapped in admiration of his eloquence as he spoke of the past, hailed the present and painted the future. The following facts from the address we noted with interest.

            The County of Bertie was established in 1722 by the General assembly in session at Queen Anne’s creek, near Edenton. It was carved out of Albemarle county and embraced all that part of Albemarle county lying on the west side of Chowan river, bounded to the Northward by the line dividing the government from Virginia and to the southward by the Albemarle sound and Morattuck (now Roanoke) river as far u as Welches’ creek and then including both sides of the said river and the branches thereof as far as the limit of the government.

            In 1741 a part of the upper boundary of Bertie was formed into the county of North Hampton. In 1754 the Northern end was made the county of Hertford, and all of that part on the west side of Roanoke river was added to the County of Edgecomb(e). 

            The County Seat of Bertie precinct in 1722 was established near St. Johns—now in Hertford county. In 1742 the seat of government for the county was located at Walfington, two miles north of Windsor on the Cashie river, at Wills’ Quarter Bridge. In 1774 Windsor was made the county seat—it having become an incorporated town in 1767. The old Court House was commenced in 1775 and work was suspended on it by reason of the R4evolutionary war. It was completed in 1788. The two wings were added in 1822. The contract for building the new Court House was let out in June 1887.

            After the speech of Mr. Winston concluded, dinner was announced. There were two tables, one at the hotel for the ladies and one on the grounds in the rear of hotel for gentlemen. The Masons were marched to their hall by the band. After dinner the Lewiston (Bertie County) Band and Edenton Band occupied the upper porch of the American hotel and entertained the crowd for the evening. The whole affair was conducted in a most admirable way reflecting untold credit upon its managers and betokening a noble public spirit on the part of the entire people.

From Courthouse History.com
http://courthousehistory.com/gallery/states/north-carolina/counties/bertie

____________

[Fisherman and Farmer (Edenton, NC) 7 Oct 1887]

Among the Country High Schools

(Excerpts From Principals' Preliminary Reports for the Fall Term, 1913.)

BEAUFORT COUNTY

Principal A. W. Davenport, Pantego High School.

     Library and office room added. Betterment Association has made about $20.00 and bought six new stools, cost $50.00. Prospects are very bright for good year.

BERTIE COUNTY 

Principal J. B. Thorn, Jr., Aulander High School.

     $12,500 worth of bonds voted for a new building to be erected next year.

     Prizes offered for best piece of needle work and also handicraft. Two literary societies. School in a flourishing, prosperous condition

CRAVEN COUNTY

Principal, W. G. Gaston, Dover High School

     We need a dormitory very badly and we expect to have on in the near future. This is a find location for a High School. We have a large field to draw from. With little effort the attendance could be increased 50 per cent., I believe. We have had to turn down numbers, because we have no place for them. Our present capacity is reached. Our school has never been in better shape. There is no finer school community in North Carolina than Dover.

Dover High School, Craven County
Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rural_public_high_school,_Dover,_
Craven_County,_NC_(6797187875).jpg

EDGECOMBE

Principal L. L. Hargrave, Battleboro High School.

     Spelling, writing, drawing, nature work, and sight-singing are taught throughout school course. Twelve pupils take typewriting. Physical culture is given free to school.

     Three more recitation rooms have been added this fall, one of which is fitted up for science. Sixty-five dollars has been contributed for apparatus for science classes.

     Within two years the school has about doubled in pupils, has doubled in teachers, and has more than doubled in classrooms. We now have two flourishing literary societies. 

GRANVILLE COUNTY

Principal R. P. Crumpler, Knap of Reeds High School.

     We have a piano and a music department this year.

HALIFAX COUNTY

Principal John T. Cobb, Enfield High School.

     There exists the heartiest co-operation between the school and the community. The Betterment Association is an active factor here and does great good. The trustees have ordered the fourth year to be added to the high school course, making the school run as a four-year high school.

Consolidated School, Halifax County
Taken from Eastern North Carolina Where Prosperity is Perennial INVITES YOU! http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/ncencyc/ncencyc.html

JOHNSTON COUNTY

Principal S. E. Leonard, Kenly High School.

     School has use of dormitory free. Superintendent rents out rooms, employs a matron and runs a regular boarding house. He either makes or loses as the funds are his and not the school's. Five of the teachers and a number of pupils live in dormitory.

MARTIN COUNTY

Principal W. H. Mizelle, Robersonville High School.

     Since the close of school the latter part of April of this year, our trustees have added to the school building one new room, enlarged two others, tinned the roof of the entire building, painted the walls and ceilings of two rooms, put in seven coal stoves, furnished nicely the one new room, and done considerable general repair work. They have also improved the school ground.

NASH COUNTY

Principal Arnold W. Byrd, Mt. Pleasant High School.

     The dormitory is managed by a matron assisted by the principal and the assistant teachers.

     A Betterment Association has been organized and is doing valuable service for the school. Through its efforts we have secured a school farm.

Principal H. A. Nanney, Red Oak High School.

     The dormitory and mess hall are managed by a matron. Board is given at club rates, or at actual cost. A room rent fee of 50 cents a month is charged each student.

     We will vote on $10,000 worth of bonds Dec. 5 for the erection of a new school building. We hope to establish a Farm Life School next year in connection with the school. (Bond issue carried Dec. 5.

Principal J. I. White, Whitakers High School.

     Organized two literary societies, one for each sex. Have an excellent reading room. Increased our library. A very live Betterment Association, which employs and pays a music teacher. Attendance good. The first month we did not have any tardies and only seven absentees. Only eleven tardies last month.

Consolidated School, Nash County
 Taken from Eastern North Carolina Where Prosperity is Perennial INVITES YOU!
 http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/ncencyc/ncencyc.html

PERSON COUNTY

Mrs. J. A. Beam, Principal, Bethel Hill High School.

       We have had some work done on our building and have put in  some equipment, but we greatly need a dormitory. We could easily double our attendance if we had it.Several boarders are scattered through the neighborhood now.

Miss Allene Patton, Principal, Bushy Fork High School.

       The school building was painted during the summer.

WAKE COUNTY

Principal T. E. Story, Bay Leaf High School.

     The dormitory is run by Mr. H. P. Thompson, one of the trustees. The dormitory alone just cost $1,750, but the lot (4 1-2 Acres) and a storehouse that is on it all cost $2,750.

Principal M. B. Dry, Cary High School.

     Boys pay matron of boys dormitory $9.00 a month for table board, and they pay the school $1.50 for room rent. Girls pay $8.25 for table board and $1.75 a month for room rent in the girls’ dormitory.      We are putting up a new school building, which, together with the dormitories, will cost $33,000. The old school building will be converted into 40 rooms for dormitories for boys. We are now paying rent on the girls’ dormitory, but we are going to buy it and enlarge it so as to accommodate 60 or more girls.

     We have bored a 200-foot well on the campus which will furnish 20 or more gallons of water per minute.

WARREN COUNTY

Principal E. P. Dixon, Wise High School.

     We have a hotel here for dormitory, but we are not using it. We started to open it, but the county took the appropriation from us so we could not secure another high school teacher. We let it stop. The County Board promises to give us the appropriation this year. What will be done I do not know.

WILSON COUNTY

Principal C. O. Armstrong, Bock Ridge High School.

     We are now converting old school building into dormitory. A part of fund raised by private subscription, and for remainder an application was filed for a loan.

[Taken from The North Carolina High School Bulletin, Volume 5: edited by Nathan Wilson Walker. January 1, 1914: University of North Carolina]

Plea for Aid
Local Militia in Dire Straits

War of 1812

The following counties of the Detached Militia were called into service at Norfolk, Virginia by orders in September of 1814 - Bertie, Chatham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Orange, Person, Wake, and Warren. Those from Chatham, Orange, and Person were ordered to return to their respective homes before they arrived at Gates Court House, the place of rendezvous.

ADDRESS

To the citizens of the counties of Hertford, Bertie, Martin, Northampton, Halifax, Nash, Edgecombe, Johnston, Warren, Franklin, Granville and Wake, and to the patriotic citizens of North Carolina generally.

The undersigned take the liberty of addressing you in behalf of the volunteers and drafted militia, detached from the several counties above named for the service of the United States, and now stationed under your command at Norfolk. — It is known to you that these men were suddenly called from their homes, without being afforded an opportunity, and many of them not possessing the ability, to make the necessary preparations for a six months tour of duty at an unknown season. The United States do not furnish clothing to the militia in their service—most of your friends and neighbors, therefore, who have repaired hither, to the post of danger, are entirely destitute of the clothing necessary to protect them from the inclemencies of the approaching season. Already they have suffered much from the want of these conveniences which their situation required, and we take pride in saying they have born those sufferings with a cheerfulness, patience and constancy, highly honorable. It will be impossible for them, however, to withstand the rigor of the approaching season unless they are provided with blankets and comfortable woolen clothing.

The only means by which we believe the wants of these troops can be speedily and effectively supplied, is by the appeal which we now make to your benevolence, patriotism and humanity—an appeal which we are sure will not be made in vain. We cannot believe that your patriotism will suffer the brave men, who have marched with such alacrity to the post of danger, and who are willing to risk their lives in their country’s defense, to perish by the severities of the season for want of the common conveniences of life… when it can be so easily afforded—We seek voluntary contributions from you, therefore, either in woollen clothing and blankets, or in money, at your discretion. Let receivers be appointed in each county, and let them transmit, without delay, the amount received, together with the names of the generous donors, to one of the field officers, who will be responsible for its faithful distribution. You will thus enjoy the sweet reflection of having snatched from the grave many a suffering soldier, and of having performed your duty to your country, to your friends and neighbors, whose gratitude will follow you through life.

We are, with sentiments of the highest respect, Your obedient servants,

D. McDonald, Col. 1^st Reg. NCDM

A. Joyner, Lieu. Col.

Jos. F. Dickinson, Major

John C. Green, do. (?)

James Iredell, Captain

John J. Inge, Captain

John Bell, Captain

Harry Bryan, Captain

John Green, Captain

Isaac Watkins, Captain

John L. (?) Laughter, captain

John F. (?) Walker, Captain

H. G. Williams, Captain\

Cantonned near Norfolk, 20 Oct 1814

[Political Synopsis, 17 Nov 1814, Tarborough and North Carolina – The War of 1812 website: http://www.carolana.com/NC/1800s/antebellum/war_of_1812_military_units.html]

The Bleeding Woman
(A Ghost Story)

             "In September of 1916 at what was known as the old Riddick place, in the Woodard area of Bertie County, a young wife and mother, Sally Sallie  Mountain White, was going about her afternoon chores. She was preparing supper for herself, her husband L. T. White, and their young son who was just starting to walk. As she took a pan of biscuits out of the oven, she could hear her husband chopping wood by the wood shed behind the house. She left the kitchen and went outside to let him know that supper was almost ready.

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Man_chopping_wood_-_monochrome.svgaption

            "No one knows what made L. T. angry enough to strike his wife with axe but that is exactly what he did. He struck her hard enough to inflict serious injury. Somehow, Sallie managed to get away from him. She grabbed their young son and ran in an attempt to save herself and the child. L. T. ran in a different direction to try and cut her off before she could reach her brother-in-law, John Thomas Smithwick who lived a short distance away. John Thomas, also known as Captain Jack, had married Sallie's oldest sister one year before their mother had passed away. He had assumed the position as head of the family following the death of the four Mountain sisters' mother. Their father had died when they were all children. Captain Jack had been more of a father than brother-in-law to Sally and her sisters. Sally knew if she could make it to Capt. Jack he would protect her.

            "It is not clear how long Sally was able to elude her husband. However, he did find her. He could have easily been led to them and by the crying of his child for he had not had supper and it was getting well past his bedtime. What happened next was known only by Sallie and the old L. T. Sallie did not survive the nightmare to tell anyone. Hyone. He placed her and their uninjured son inside the house where he left them. He then departed the area never again to be seen. Before leaving he placed a plate of biscuits on the floor so his child would not go hungry.

            "The next day Capt. Jack noticed no activity at Sallie's house. There was no smoke coming from the chimney created by the wood stove on which she would have cooked breakfast for her young family. Maybe he suspected that things were not going well  between Sally and L. T. He decided to go to their house to see if everything was as it should be. He opened the door to something so horrible he became physically ill. His young sister-in-law lay on the floor, his nephew sat at her side in a large pool of blood. The child had blood all over himself, his bloody little handprints were all over the floor in the area where his mother lay.

            "Sallie's family took the child and raised him. As a young man he was killed in a car crash. At his funeral, an old man wearing a trench coat, with the collar turned up, and a hat pulled down over his eyes appeared. He looked at the young man laying in the casket, he then made a quick getaway before anyone could find out who he was.

            "L. T. White was never caught and punished for his dreadful crime.

            "As the years passed, Sallie's murder faded into a distant memory, and was eventually forgotten. In the fall of 2004 a young deer hunter had been hunting in the Woodward area. It was not yet dark nor was it daylight. As he exited his deer stand, h heard a woman screaming for help. The screams were coming from a field near him; however, his view was blocked by a thin strip of woods. He could tell that something was terribly wrong as the screams continued. The young man got on his four wheeler and made his way to an opening where he could see a young woman running about midway a cut corn field. As he approached her he could see that she was about 5 foot 7, with blond hair, carrying a young child in her arms. She had a very bad cut near her neck, and her clothes were soaked with blood. He asked if he could help her. She screamed at him to get away from her. The young man became very frightened. He got on his four wheeler and headed home to tell his mother what he had witnessed. His mother called the Sheriff's Department immediately.

             "The Sheriff's Department, along with a K-9 unit, the N. C. Highway Patrol helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging unit, and the Bertie County Search Team did a thorough search of the area. No trace of the woman was to be found. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. The young man was questioned numerous times. His story never wavered.

            "Did the young man see the ghost of Sallie? … "

Source: "The Bleeding Woman (A Ghost Story)" by Linda Bynum Smithwick:" Bertie County: North Carolina Heritage; 1722-2010: Pages 37-38

Aulander [Bertie Co., NC]

High School Football Team

c 1927

Undefeated and Untied

Squad Includes Players from Hertford County as well as Bertie County

Front Row: Crawford Lawrence - Bruce White - Lloyd Britton - William "Zeke" Mitchell

Second Row: Pete Corey - P. C. Bradley - Harry Parker - Rudolph Mitchell - Burleigh Jenkins - Phil Burden

Third Row: Stanley "Monk" Joyne - Coach George Underwood - Harry Holloman - J. T. Early - Whitney Saunders - Vernon "Fats" Cowan - Heber "Dick" Newsome - Chet Rogerson -Clayton Rogerson

[In the 1920s few restrictions existed on high school sports.]

[This photo was taken from the Aulander website: Aulander, NC: Past, Present and Future.]

A Skillful Opponent

MR. P. H. WINSTON and Hon. H. A. Gilliam were for years leaders at the Bertie County (N. C.) Bar, and had each a full appreciation, from experience, of the skill of the other. At one term Mr. Winston was suddenly called away, and placed his business in the hands of his nephew Duncan Winston, a recent acquisition to the bar. "Now," said he, "Duncan, if Gilliam makes you any offer of a compromise, decline it. If you make him one, and you find he is about to accept it, withdraw it immediately.''


[Taken from The Green Bag, An Entertaining Magazine for Lawyers, Vol. 5; By Horace Williams Fuller, Sydney Russell Wrightington, Arthur Weightman Spencer, Thomas Tileston Baldwin, 1893. This is a Google publication.]

ELDER JOHN TANNER SHOT FOR BAPTIZING

Kehukee Association

One of the earliest Baptist Associations in America was formed in northeastern North Carolina. The Kehukee Baptist Association was founded in 1765 at the Kehukee meeting-house near Kehukee Creek in Halifax County, North Carolina. It included the following churches:

1. Toisnot, in Edgecombe County;
2. Kehukee, in Halifax County;
3. Falls of Tar River, in Edgecombe County;
4. Fishing Creek, in Halifax County;
5. Sandy Creek, in Warren County;
6. Sandy Run, in Bertie County;
7. A church in Camden County.

The Kehukee Association was the fourth Association of Baptist Churches in America. Philadelphia, formed in 1707, Charleston, formed in 1751, and Sandy Creek, formed in 1758, preceded the Kehukee Association. The first history of the Association was written by Elders Lemuel Burkitt and Jesse Read, and published in 1803.

Not everyone accepted the doctrine of the early Baptist Church and the pastors often endured persecution for their beliefs. One example involved Elder John Tanner, an Edgecombe County pastor, who was seriously injured and almost lost his life.

A woman named Dawson from Windsor in Bertie County, NC was converted. She wished to be baptiaed and to join the church of a certain Elder Dargan. Her husband was greatly opposed to it, and threatened that if anyone baptized his wife he would shoot him. For a considerable time, the baptism did not take place.

Eventually, Elder Tanner visited Elder Dargan's church at Cashie and Mrs. Dawson applied to the church for baptism. She related her experience and was received. It so happened that Elder Daran was old and feeble, and he asked Elder Tanner to carry out the baptism. It is not known whether Elder Tanner knew of Mr. Dawson's threat to shoot whoever baptized his wife, but, at any rate, Elder Tanner baptized Mrs. Dawson.

The following June, in 1777, Elder Tanner was coming to preach at Sandy Run Meeting House. Mr. Dawson had not forgotten his threat of revenge. He heard of the expected arrival of Elder Tanner and travelled from Windsor to Norfleet's Ferry on the Roanoke River. With a large horseman's pistol, he lay in wait near the bank of the river. As Elder Tanner and Elder Dargan came up from the ferry landing, Dawson shot Tanner at close range.

Elder Tanner was carried to the house of Elisha Williams, near Scotland Neck in Halifax County. Elder Lemuel Burkitt, who was co-author of an early history of the Kehukee Association, was present when the surgeon dressed Mr. Tanner's wound. He revealed that rhe result of the shooting was that seventeen shot went into Tanner's thigh. One of the shot was so large that it went through his thigh and into his clothing.

Mr. Dawson, frightened and fearing Elder Tanner's death and a charge of murder, sent a doctor to attend him, not just once, but on a daily basis. Tanner was ill and near death for several weeks before finally recovering. He never attempted to sue for any damage for the injury, regarding the matter as a persecution for Christ's sake.

In Virginia, Elder Tanner suffered further persecution for his beliefs. He was and six other preachers— William Webber, Joseph Anthony, Augustine Eastin, John Weatherford, Jeremiah Walker and David Tinsley— were jailed in Chesterfield for their preaching.

In describing the event, Burkitt and Read said, "The people were so desirous to hear preaching that they would attend at the prison, and the ministers would preach to them through the grates. In order to prevent their hearing, Colonel Cary had a brick wall erected ten or twelve feet high before the prison, and the top thereof fixed with glass, set in mortar to prevent the people from sitting on the top of the wall to hear the word."

Elder Tanner later moved to Kentucky and then to Missouri.

This story appears in several different places. Among them are:
1. Colonial Records. Vol. VIII.
2. History of Edgecombe county, North Carolina by Joseph Kelly Turner and John Luther Bridgers: 1920.
3. A history of Kentucky Baptists: From 1769 to 1885, including more ..., Volume 1 by John H. Spencer: 1886
4. A history of the Baptists in Missouri: embracing an account of the ... by Robert Samuel Duncan: 1882

A search of the internet will find a number of other references to the incident.