Battalion, was also badly wounded, but their victory was complete.*
* See Wayne's Assault on
Stony Point, by Dawson, Morrisiana, 1863; Wayne's Dispatch, 11th July, 1779,
Marshal iv. 123; Campbell's Memoirs of Hull, 163; Armstrong's Life of Wayne,
Sparks' Am. Bio., iv. 46.
This brilliant affair had a most exhilarating effect upon the spirits of the patriots, and cheered them to renewed exertion in the cause of liberty. Major Murfree continued in the service until the close of the war, when he returned to his home.
He married Sallie, the daughter of Col. Matthias Brickell, who was a pattern of modesty, as of beauty, and by whom he was blessed with a large family of children. He removed to Tennessee, where he ended his days.
His son, William Hardy Murfree, (born 1781, died 1827), was born and lived for a long period, in Murfreesboro. He was educated at the University, where he graduated in 1801, in same class with Ams, John Branch, Francis L. Dancy, and others.
He studied hard, and stood high in his profession.
He entered public life in 1805, as a member of the Legislature. In 1813 he was elected a member of the XIII Congress, and re-elected at the XIV, 1815-17; afterward, he declined a reelection. He was able and eloquent, and sustained the war measures of Mr. Madison's administration. In 1825 he removed to Tennessee, and died in Nashville, January 18, 1827, leaving one son, William Law Murfree.
Thomas Wynns, from whose family name the county town of Hertford is derived, (Winton), was a distinguished citizen of this county. Here he was born, lived and died. He was possessed of great enterprise, of unspotted integrity, and of great personal worth. He lived near Winton, at Barfields.
He was the youngest of four brothers--Benjamin, William, George and Thomas--soldiers of the Revolution, except Thomas, who was too young to take an active part. While still a youth, in 1780, he was captured at sea in a vessel called the "Fair American," with others, and carried to England. His good sense and accomplished manners, made his stay in London a pleasant one.
The rigorous blockade did not entirely deter our people from their long established maritime habits. Our vessels traded with the West Indies and elsewhere.
On July 24, 1782, Captain Lewis Meredith arrived at Edenton, from Bordeaux, with Lady Anne Stewart, the daughter of the Earle of Bute, and her husband, Baron de Polnitz.
Wynns early embarked in political life, and was elected in 1788, a member of the Convention at Hillsboro, to consider the Constitution. In 1790 he was elected to the State Senate, until 1817, with the exception of the period (from 1802 to 1807) when he was a member of Congress, from this (the Edenton) district.
This was the first time in her history that Hertford County saw one of her citizens in Congress. He was elected, to succeed Charles Johnson (who died about 1801), over Colonel Dempsey Burgess, of Camden County, who had been an officer in the Revolutionary war. After his service in Congress, he declined a re-election, and returned to the service of his native county, and was elected continuously from 1808 to 1817, a member of the State Senate. Unspotted in public life, he was a most useful and beloved citizen.
He married Susan, daughter of James Manning, but no issue, and died June 8, 1825. His nephews, William B. Wynns and James D. Wynns, were highly respected and useful citizens.
Henry W. Long was an eccentric and able lawyer, a native of Hertford County, but never in political life. He often aspired to popular favor, but failing to receive it, devoted himself to his profession. His innocent absence of mind was the cause of much amusement to his brethren of the bar, with whom he was very popular. He married the only daughter of the popular and polished Harry Hill, who often represented the county from 1790 to 1795.
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