Newspapers / Forest City Courier (Forest … / June 18, 1931, edition 1 / Page 2
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THOMAS HUTCHINS, SR., PIONEER AND PATRIOT Yeltons, Beatys, Waters, Johnsons, Guffeys Few of Numerous Rutherford County Descen dants of Revolutionary Patriot. | ~ By CLARENCE GRIFFIN * Among the early North Carolina settlers who risked their all for the cause of liberty during the uncer tain days of the American Revolu tion, was numbered Thomas Hut chins, Sr., whose descendants today in Rutherford county alone number several hundred. Descendants of this intrepid soldier are also found in Wake, Mitchell, Cleveland, Buncombe and other counties in North Caro lina, as well as a few in other states. Born in Augusta county, Virginia, Thomas Hutchins removed at an early age to Wake county, North •Carolina, and was residing in that county at the time of the Revolu tion. After the war he removed to Rutherford county, where he died, j He came of staunch, pioneer stock, and there was nothing in particu lar to identify him from the hun dreds of other pioneers whose strong arms pushed back a wilderness, and whose unerring aim with the rifle protected the home from prowling i beasts, and provided sustenance for the family. This sketch is written not so much for the edification of those interested in North Carolina history as for the information of those scat tered dreds of descendants of I this Revolutionary patriot, who are interested in the preservation of family history. Thomas Hutchins, Sr., was bom in Augusta county, Virginia, Jan uary 22, 1753. His educational ad-j "vantages were limited, his entire j schooling being confined to that giv- , en him under the tutelage of his parents. He removed from Virginia to Wake county, North Carolina, a bout 1770, where he followed agri cultural pursuits. A few years lat er the first clouds that presaged the storm of the Revolution broke. Life on a farm, remote from neighbors, had wrought a spirit of independence within him, and he, in common with hundreds of others of his adopted county, resented any attempt of any government to place upon them laws that would restrict them in their simple pioneer life, regardless of how remotely those laws would touch them. The hot blood of ad venture, too, stirred in the veins of young Tom Hutchins, and beckoned! him to cast his lot with the Ameri- j can colonists. In the first excitement j of war he immediately left the j peaceful pursuits of farming, and j volunteered as a private in the mili- j tia. His first actual experience, per haps, came when his company went into action at Moore's Creek Bridge, near Wilmington, on February 27, 1776, when 1,600 Scotch-Loyalists were defeated by 1,100 Minute Men under Colonels Caswell and Lilling ton. His war experience thereafter was varied. He served throughout as a private. We can imagine him go ing into service, o n call, for a tour of two or three or four months, and CRY FOR IT— hate to take medicine as a rule, but every child loves the taste of Castoria. This pure vegetable preparation is just as good as it tastes; Just as bland and just as harmless as the tecipe reads. When Baby's cry warns oi colic, a few drops erf Castoria have him soothed, asleep again in a jiffy. Nothing is more | valuable in diarrhea. When coated tongue or bad breath tell of constipation, invoke its gentle aid to cleanse and regulate a child s bowels. In colds or children's diseases, you should use it to keep the system from clogging. Castoria is sold in every drug store; the genuine always bears Chas. H. Fletcher's signature. upon completion of the tour return , ing to his farm where he spent his jtime until the next call. He served i one and one-half months under ! Captain James Hinton and Col. John j Hinton; five months in 1778 under ICapt. Woodson Daniel; two months { under Captain Matthew McCulloch t and Col. James Hinton; three months under Captain Dread Jones and three i months under Captain Martin Lain 'and Col. John Humphreys. He also participated in the battle of Eutaw j Springs, in the present county of , Orangeburg, South Carolina, on Sep tember 8, 1781, when Nathaniel Green with 2,000 men defeated a like force of British under Lieutenant- Colonel Stuart. After the war he returned to his Wake county farm and resumed his much interrupted agricultural work. In May, 1786, he was married to Sarah Proctor, of Wake county, a daughter of Thomas Proctor, Sr. The Proctors had also been active in the Revolution, several members of her immediate family having tak en an active part in the behalf of the colonists. Her father died in 1797 in Wake county, and his will men tions John, Thomas, Jr., Susannah, Sarah, Rebecca Moody and Hannah as children. Thomas Hutchins came to Ruth erford county sometime after 1790. The census of that year shows him as a resident of Wake county. The deed books of Rutherford county does not show that he ever purchased land in Rutherford, however, on July 8, 1801, he sold to Thomas Nunnal ly a large tract of land, and deeds for two other sales are recorded. A tract of land on Camp Creek, Ruth erford county, is mentioned in his will. It is probable that the land he owned was purchased or granted to him, and he failed to have the trans ! actions recorded. v ' ' After removing to Rutherford jcounty he resumed his farming op j erations, and occupation he followed until his death. He settled on Camp Creek, where he died. In 1832 the United States Con | gress passed an act providing for pensions for soldiers of the Revo lution, who furnished satisfactory evidence of their service. At the September, 1832 term of probate of the Rutherford county court of pleas and quarter sessions Thomas Hutchins appeared before the court and made declaration of his services. At the same time more than thirty other Revolutionary soldiers appear ed for the same purpose. The pro ceedings of the court in reference to Thomas Hutchins are as follows, and are copied from the minutes of the court of Pleas and Quarter ses sions of Rutherford county for Sep tember, 1832, page 125: "September Ct. 1832 "State of North Carolina, S. S. "At a Court of Probate which was begun and held for the county of Rutherford at the Court House at Rutherfordton on the 2nd Monday (10th day) of September, A. D., 1832, the following proceedings were had to wit "The declaration of Thomas Hut chins, Senr, Setting forth his age (79 years) and his Services as a Revolutionary Soldier in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the Act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832 was exhibited by him and sworn to in open Court. The Cer tificate of William Carson and James W. Carson of their opinion as to the report and belief in his neighborhood of his having been a soldier of the Revolution, of his age, and of their concurrence in that opinion was also sworn to by them in open Court:— "And the Court do hereby declare their opinion to be after investigat i ing the matter and after putting the Interogations prescribed by the War Department, that the Applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states; and the Court further Certify that is appears to them that the persons who have signed the preceeding Certificate are residents! |in the county of Rutherford and' j State of North Carolina are both | credible persons and that their state- Jment is entitled to credit." In due time the War Department i allowed the claim of Thomas Hut i chins and he drew the pension un ! til his death on December 7, J. 843.' • The following letter from the Bu reau of Pensions, Washington, D. THE FOREST CITY (N. C.) COURIER j C., gives additional information in j regard to his services: j "You are advised that it appears •from the papers in the Revolution ary War pension Claim, W. 7836, I that Thomas Hutchins was born January 22, 1753, in Augusta coun ty, Virginia. "While residing in Wake county, North Carolina, he enlisted and serv ed as private with the North Caro lina Troops as follows: "In 1775, one and one half months under Captain James Hinton and Colonel John Hinton; in 1778, five j months under Captain Woodson Dan iel; afterwards, two months under Captain Matthew McCulloch and Colonel James Hinton; three months I under Captain Martin Lain and •Colonel John Humphries. He was in | the battles of Moores Bridge and lEutaw Springs. » --***> "He was allowed pension on his 'application executed September 10, ! 1832, while a resident of Rutherford ' County, North Caroilna. j "He died in Rutherford County, December 7, 1843. i i "Soldier married in May, 1786, lin Wake county, North Carolina, j Sarth Proctor. "Pension was allowed on her ap plication executed April 27, 1844, while a resident of Rutherford coun ty, North Carolina, aged seventy -1 six years. v i "She died in Rutherford county, January 10, 1845, leaving the fol lowing children: Young Hutchins, Elizabeth (Hutchins) Watters; Mar tha (Hutchins) Beaty; William Hut chins, who was born June 15, 1794, and was in the War of 1812; Sarah 1 (Hutchins) Early; Thomas Hutchins; Polly Weaver, who was born Janu ary 16, 1801; John Hutchins; Isaac Hutchins, who was born April 14, 1806; Moses Hutchins." | Of the above children, a large number of descendants reside in Rutherford and adjoining counties. The Beatys, Earleys, Watters and their kin are found in several local ities of Cleveland and Rutherford counties, and in the state of Ken tucky. No attempt will be made to follow up any of the descendants of these children other than those of .William Hutchins, mentioned as a soldier in the War of 1812. Both Thomas Hutchins and his j wife sleep in unmarked graves in the Camp Creek Baptist cemetery. His will was made December 9, 1836 ' and was filed for probate at the Feb ruary, 1844, term of court. His son, Isaac Hutchins, was named by the 'court as administrator. In compliance with the law, he filed an inventory of the chattels and goods of his fath er on April 30, 1844. The list, ?s filed, is too long to repeat here, but shows that the family were in fairly good financial circumstances, as es tates went in those days. William Hutchins. ! William Hutchins, bora June 15, 1794, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served as a private in the First Regiment of Detached Militia, of Rutherford county. He was fam j iliarly known among his numerous friends and kindred as "Uncle Billy." |He resided near his father's farm on I Camp Creek, Rutherford county, North Carolina, where he died. He , drew a pension for his services in the j War of 1812. He married in 1815 jMary Weaver. She was called "Aunt Polly" by all who were fortunate , enough to know her. i To William and Mary Hutchins | were born eleven children. The eld est of these was John, born Febru ary 8, 1816. He married Mary Jane Price, and he died in 1868. A num ber of their descendants yet reside in the Duncans' Creek and Golden Valley Townships of Rutherford i county. William P , second son, was born October 25, 1818. He married Pol ly Yelton, of Rutherford county, and shortly afterwards removed to Mitch ell county, N. C., where he died at an advanced age. Many of their des cendants reside in Mitchell and ad joining counties. Wright, the third son, was born October 10, 1820, and married Martha Smiley. He answered his country's call in 1861 and gave his; life for the Confederacy. He has a number of descendants residing in county. Thomas Hutchins married Betty Smart. They spent their lives in Rutherford county, where their des cendants reside today. He was also a soldier in the Confederate army. Elijah Hutchins was born November 11, 1829 and died February 28, 1910. He married Susannah Smart and Adaline Brackett. He was a private in Company F, 62nd Regi jinent, N. C. T., during the War Bo jtween the States. Among his many descendants should especially be men tioned Joseph Hutchins, a son, who, at a n advanced age, resides near the home place of his great grandfath er, and is regarded as one of the outstanding citizens of Logan Stors township, Rutherford county. His home, one of the oldest buildings in the county, is situated on a knoll overlooking many broad acres, whila several of his sons reside in clooe proximity to the old home. James Hutchins was never mar ried, he died young. Bert Hutchins married Polly Smi T ley, of Rutherford county and they had three children. Elizabeth Hutchins, the eldest daughter, married Hezekiah Johnson, a prosperous farmer, who gave his life for the cause of the Confeder acy May 30, 1862, while a member of Company G, 50th Regiment, North Carolina Troops. She was born in 1827 and died in August 1863. Only three children were born to this union, William Henderson Johnson, Julia Horton and Mary Dyer. All three are dead, and only the first two left descendants. The writer is one of the few grandsons of W. H". Johnson, while descendants of Julia Horton are found in Rutherford county and in South Carolina. Polly Hutchins married Rufus Guffey, of Rutherford county, and have a large number of descendants. Katy Hutchins married Henry Smiley and Patsy Hutchins the young est daughter, married John Yelton. UNTOUCHED • - I I BY Sll i JS -SSMUIf fat) ere ' s your Coca-Cola. The all \%\ 11 li SBbS il I# sufficient, all-day drink. Ice-cold, ill 1 @ II Purity personified. Always at its ; i lIMP I\\ delicious best. Never exposed to rmm. ' % Jff ' wffa Mi I ' luman con * act unt, l the bottle is /Jft it Mkly J opened for you. Nothing you eat IJmUjM Sml ° r r ' ' s so care fully protected. WMft S Twenty-two laboratory tests. Ster- ImS H ilized bottles, cleansed, filled and I sealed by automatic machinery. Served over nine million times a d°y . - ' s I ..... I I TUNE IN oiTciur radio program. 1 , 31 -piece, all-string orchestra Grantland I iA/*ffgU §7 I ■ Rice interviewing world celebrities. I DtjlL Mf\ 1 ■ - r _ • Every Wednesday Night • S 1 I . « ' 11 Delicious and Refreshing { • M H A D TO B E GOOD TO GE T VIT ER E IT I I A large number of their descendants reside in this and other counties. •Shortly after the marriage of William Hutchins and Mary Weaver | they joined the immigrants to Ken tucky. Upon her arrival at their J destination, "Aunt Polly" was so j homesick, or, as she termed it \ "thoroughly disgusted" with the then ;frontier state that she vowed she 1 would return to Rutherford county |at her first opportunity. She begun ! collecting herbs and roots, and with iin a few months their humble Ken j tucky cabin was completely filled j with the varied collection. Shortly ! afterwards fortune favored her and t she disposed of her herbs and secur ed sufficient money to finance thp itrip back to Rutherford county. Her i husband protested vigorously against the removal, but in the end she pre -1 vailed, and the entire family return ed to their old home county aftir spending a year in Kentucky. | Another interesting incident is ' preserved in the family of the strong ; force of character and the determi • nation of "Aunt Polly" Hutchin3. She was a member of the Methodist I church until after the death of her 1 husband. She then later decided to 'join the Baptist church, and was ac cordingly accepted into membership Thursday, June 18; 19^ at Camp Creek Baptist church, the age of 83 years. It was proposed to her that the baptising be p.- >t poned until spring or summer, then being in the dead of winter. Sh refused, and preparations were made for the baptising. The ice was broken on a nearby mill pond, and the min ister, shivering with cold, dipped her in the icy water. After coming out. of the water she scorned assistance, and walked two miles to her home, \ n the bitter cold winter wind, before changing into dry clothing. She, ap parently, suffered no ill effects from the experience. William Hutchins died in August 1853, and was buried at Camp Creak Baptist church, of which he was a member. His wife survived him many years, and long after passing her allotted three score and ten years went to her last rest, and was plac ed beside him in the Camp Creek cemetery. A mixture of oats and vetch on the farm of R. L. Batts, Rocky Point, Pender county, yielded 4083 pounds of cured hay an acre while a mixture of oats and Austrian win ter peas yielded 4,661 pounds of cured hay.
Forest City Courier (Forest City, N.C.)
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June 18, 1931, edition 1
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