and confidence till the day of his death. He was a surveyor by profession and was an extensive land owner. His deeds covered 70,000 acres. He gave largely to the university, and a hall called by his name bears testimony to his ability. He gave his friend, who had stood by him in his troubles, Parson Micklejohn, his "Goshen place" in Granville, where be lived, which is called to this day "the Glebe."
General Person was never married. He left two sisters, one of whom, Martha, married Major Thomas Taylor, in Franklin, at whose house he died; and Mary, who married George Little; and one brother, William. He adopted William P. Little, his sister's child, when only two years old, and educated him at Sprig's college near Williamsboro, in Granville County, where John Haywood, Sherwood Haywood and Robert Goodloe Harper,*
* Mr. Harper acquired great
distinction in after life. There is a tradition that he was born in this state,
and many have so stated. Dr. Hawks and Mr. Drake think
differently.
were educated.
He died in 1799, and was buried at Personton. in Warren County, five miles from Littleton.
Judge Henderson, of our supreme court, always spoke of General Person with the fondest affection, (and acted as his counsel, wrote his will, which was, however, not found after his death,) and often declared that "he was one of nature's noblemen." His services and his sufferings demand our respect, and his patriotism our gratitude. His memory is very appropriately preserved by calling one of the best counties of the state after his name.*
* The sketch, meagre as it
is, is collated from the journals of the colonial assembly in London, our own
legislative journals, and from a recent article in the Raleigh
Observer.
CHAPTER XX.
GASTON COUNTY.
The character and services of Rev. Humphrey Hunter, born 1755, deserves a place in our record and remembrances, as a true christian and a patriotic citizen. "He was a native of Ireland and a man of letters," born near Londonderry; he combined in his character all the elements of that Scotch-Irish character, so conspicuous a type in our struggles for liberty. With a widowed mother he came to America and settled near Poplar Tent, then Mecklenburg County, and here he was raised. When the orders were offered for a convention, at Charlotte, which met on May 19 and 20, 1775, he attended, and his testimony is clear on the subject of the celebrated declaration of independence at that time and place. He soon after enlisted as a private in a corps of cavalry, commanded by Charles Polk, and served with credit and honor. He also served in a campaign against the Indians, under Colonel Robert Mebane. He also served as lieutenant in Captain Given's company, under General Rutherford, and was in the battle of Camden, (August, 1780,) where he was taken prisoner. After some time spent in confinement, he escaped and returned home. After remaining at his mother's residence a few days he again joined the army, under General Greene, as a lieutenant under Colonel Henry Lee, and was wounded in the severe battle of Eutaw
| Index - Contents |
 |
|
| ||
|
||