Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
In the summer of 1777, a plot arose in the counties along the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound.
Questions to Answer
Why?
Why ?
Both of NCs last two Royal Governors, William Tryon and Josiah Martin, promoted the Anglican Church. Governor Martin in letters to the Earl of Dartmouth was urged to give greater encouragement to the establishment of the Church of England for both political and religious motivations. Furthermore, Martin stressed that it was his opinion that the problems grew out of the distinction and animosities prevailing between the established church (Anglicans) and the more denominate protestant churches (i. e. Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers, etc.).
Other Reasons
Acquisition of wealth (land, slaves, etc.) Local control Appointments from the Crown Military commissions
Who?
They were men of social prominence, some being large landholders and other holding offices of prominence within the colony.
The Conspirators
These men came from Bertie, Martin, Tyrrell, Edgecombe and Hyde Counties. The primary figure in the Tory cabal was John Llewelyn. Llewelyn was wealthy and influential planter from western Martin County.
The Conspirators
William Brimage: A wealthy resident of Bertie County, he had long served the Crown as a judge and prosecuting attorney. In 1769, he was appointed to preside in the Vice Admiralty Court. In 1776, he was appointed judge of the court of oyer and terminer in Edenton. His allegiances were revealed in early 1777 when he refused to act against loyalists. Others included: James Stewart, James Rawlins, Richard Taylor, David Taylor, Joseph Taylor, William May, Thomas Best, Peleg Belote, William Wallace, Daniel Leggett, Absalom Leggett, William Tyler, Peter Tyler, James Hays, John Garrett, John Everett, Daniel Bunting, William Savage, Sterling Savage, James Rogers, Malachi Manning, Willoughby Wells, John Everit, James Harrison, William Llewelyn and Francis Williamson.
What Happened?
Reports regarding the creation of the state constitution in 1776 led Llewelyn to believe that some those involved in its creation wanted introduce the Romish religion/Popery to the colony. Chief among these legislators were Whitmel Hill and Willie Jones.
Local Anglicans were further incensed when the new state constitution disestablished the Anglican Church. Revolutionaries decreed that all citizens should take an oath of allegiance to the new regime. The draft was instituted requiring all able-bodied men, 16 to 50 years old, to serve in the militia and take arms up against the Crown
Llewelyn wrote his own constitution and oaths for all friends of the King. Copies were made and distributed in Martin, Edgecombe, Halifax, Bertie and Tyrrell Counties as well as Southeastern Virginia. Plans were to organize secret societies throughout the south Before everything was said and done, it was purported that the movement stretched from the Albemarle Sound to Georgia.
Prospective members were recruited at local social functions such as wheat reapings and at religious services where sympathetic lay readers/preaches presided. Prospects would swear an oath of secrecy upon being recruited. Once the oath was taken, the recruits would be educated in regards to the plot of introducing Popery to the colony. Upon taking a second oath to keep their constitution secret, it was revealed to the prospects who found nothing offensive as it all of a religious nature.
Expectations
The articles were religious in nature with many conspirators arguing later that they were of little harm. One provision upheld the Holy Bible and the Anglican Church. Another required all swearing allegiance to pay 10 shillings a year to employ a Reader. Another insisted on loyalty and fidelity to King George, opposition to the Whig oath, opposition to the militia and defense of all draughted, distressed or them that are called Tories as oppressed persons, as far as in your power. In addition, all members were expected to keep a certain amount of powder and shot on hand.
Indictments of misprision of treason were brought against those conspirators that gave depositions against Llewelyn, while Llewelyn was standing trial for treason. Those despondents were Daniel Leggett, Absalom Leggett, William Tyler, Peter Tyler, James Hays, John Garrett, John Everett, Daniel Bunting, William Savage, Sterling Savage, James Rogers, Malachi Manning, Willoughby Wells, John Everit, James Harrison, William Llewelyn and Francis Williamson. The indictments charged that the loyalists did maliciously and advisedly endeavor to excite a great number of people to resist the Government . And did dispose sundrey people to favour the Enemy, protect deserters, oppose the draft and assist the Kings Forces. John Baptist Beasley agreed to try the group with James Iredell serving as prosecuting attorney. On September 16, 1777, John Llewelyn was convicted of the crime of high treason . The Jury also found a number of the other loyalists on trial guilty of misprision of treason. Because of the terrible condition of the Edenton jail, all those convicted were released on bond with the exception of John Llewelyn who remained in custody.
Mercy!
Surprisingly, efforts began to secure Llewelyns release. Governor Caswell was petitioned to respite the Execution of that unhappy, deluded man and permit an opportunity of applying to the mercy of the next Assembly for pardon, its being his first deviation from rectitude and virtue. Professions of a return to his former good character were promised from the most considerable men in Martin County. One of his principal targets, Nathan Mayo, accompanied Llewelyns wife, Mary, to Halifax to meet with the Govenor.
Reprieve Granted.....But
Caswell and the Council of State agreed to a reprieve. During the Legislatures November session, the reprieve was presented to both houses with the Governors insistence that it be made by joint ballot. Both house refused to intermeddle in the present caseunless something from the Judge who sat on the Tryal should be laid before the Governor and Council to induce them to think otherwise. Furthermore, the Legislature recommended that the sentence be carried into execution without delay. However, before the sentence could be carried out, John Baptist Beasley wrote the governor and asked for mercy for the Anglican Loyalist. With this letter, Caswell was free to grant the reprieve.
Conclusion
While the Tories had been stopped, loyalism remained a thorn in the side of the Revolution. In the summer of 1779, there were rumors that an attack was planned against the magazine at Kinston but it never came to be. The bottom line is that the line between Patriot and Loyalist is razor thin. Eastern North Carolina was split as was much of the state. This struggle is hard to grasp and can only be understood in terms of local issues which affected a persons life, property and religion.
Sources
Tory Plots and Anglican Loyalty: The Llewelyn Conspiracy of 1777 by Jeffery Crow, North Carolina Historical Review, Volume 55, Winter 1978, Pages 1-17. Affidavits Relating to Loyalists and Tories edited by J R B Hathaway, North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 2, Pages 208-217. The Gourdpatch Conspiracy, lecture by Harry Thompson.
Nathan Mayo
Thomas Grimes 1
Chloe Llewellyn
Nathan Mayo
Julia Williams