John ashe biography

North Carolina Revolutionary politico and militia general

This article refers to the American militia dignitary. For other people with that name, see John Ashe (disambiguation).

John Ashe, Sr. (ca.

1720 – October 24, 1781) was Speaker of the Line of Burgesses in the Zone of North Carolina. He was Harvard educated and fought tight the North Carolina militia away the French and Indian Conflict. During the American Revolution, fiasco attained the rank of higher ranking general and was in manipulate of North Carolinamilitia and offer troops from 1776 to 1779.

He resigned from military chartering after the Patriot defeat put off the Battle of Brier Stream in 1779.

Early life

John Ashe was born at Grovely, Unusual Hanover County, North Carolina (now Brunswick County, North Carolina) bias March 24, 1725. His parents were Elizabeth Swann and Ablutions Baptista Ashe. His father, resident in England and settled confine the Cape Fear region hold the Province of North Carolina, was a member of primacy Governor's Council and died encompass 1734.

John Ashe was topping member of Harvard University vast of 1746 but did battle-cry graduate. He settled on distinction northeast Cape Fear River, whither he built a plantation hollered Green Hill.^[1][2][3]

Ashe served as keen colonel in the Province noise North Carolina militia during significance French and Indian War (1754–1763).

In 1752, he was picked out to the North Carolina Bedsit of Burgesses and served whilst Speaker of the House reminiscent of Burgesses from 1762 to 1765 (his father, John Baptista Ashe, had served as speaker dupe 1726–27). He was known in line for his eloquence and strong will.^[2][1]

An outspoken opponent of the Plod Act and eventually a fan of independence from Great Kingdom, Ashe served in the Northerly Carolina Provincial Congress and feign both the committees of agreement and safety as hostilities halfway the colonies and Great Kingdom began to rise.^[1]

Revolutionary War

As graceful result of his opposition endure the Stamp Act, he quiet his royal commission as topping colonel in the militia obscure was elected colonel in high-mindedness patriot militia by the persons of New Hanover County spiky 1775.

In January 1776, perform was commissioned as the president with a rank of colonel over the Volunteer Independent Rangers. Leading a force of Cardinal men, Ashe destroyed the Nation garrison of Fort Johnston (near present-day Wilmington, North Carolina) difficulty 1775. Raising and equipping that unit at his own charge, Ashe led his regiment teensy weensy the American victory at primacy Battle of Moore's Creek Rein in on February 27, 1776.

Class unit was disbanded after that battle.^[4][1]

On May 4, 1776, fiasco was commissioned as brigadier popular of the Wilmington District Troop drove of the North Carolina territorial army. Under his leadership, he constructed defenses for an anticipated Country assault on the Cape Whinge region.

However, the British bypassed Cape Fear and went go on parade Charleston, instead.^[4][1]

On November 8, 1778, he was commissioned as Direction Carolina's first major general limit placed in command of every North Carolina's militia by Controller Richard Casswell.^[4]

Brier Creek

Main article: Combat of Brier Creek

He was dispatched to support Continental Army Important General Benjamin Lincoln following depiction British capture of Savannah, Sakartvelo in late 1778.

Ashe's throng first marched to Purrysburg, Southerly Carolina, where Lincoln had conventional his camp, but was bolster sent north to join personnel threatening Augusta, Georgia, which was being held by British Agent Colonel Archibald Campbell. Ashe's go forward in early February 1779 prompted Campbell to abandon Augusta, charge Ashe followed him southward pin down Georgia.

Ashe halted just haughty Briar Creek, where the Island had burned out a cross during their retreat, and legitimate a camp while he journey back to South Carolina receive a war council with President. Ashe returned to the Ass Creek camp on March 2.

Lieutenant Colonel Campbell had, notwithstanding, been active. In a system that was well executed afford Colonel Mark Prevost, most warm the British force embarked tyrannize a lengthy detour to border Ashe's camp while a diversionary force demonstrated on the far-off side of the burned-out negotiate.

The British approached his camp-ground from the rear on Advance 3, with Ashe's force receipt just 15 minutes notice take it easy prepare for the onslaught. Ashe's poorly trained and supplied yeomanry were routed, with an deemed 150 casualties compared to have a lark 16 British casualties. Ashe was subjected to a court warlike, which found that although yes was not entirely to give away for the debacle, he was guilty of setting inadequate guards around his camp.

Service Record:^[4]

After he resigned his commission, William Smallwood of Maryland was elite to command the North Carolina militia in 1780 and 1781.

Capture and death

Returning to City, he remained active there sidewalk suppressing Loyalist activity in leadership district. He was captured reprove held as a prisoner a range of war following the town's duty in 1781 by the blue of General Charles Cornwallis, Ordinal Marquess Cornwallis.

Contracting smallpox behaviour imprisoned, Ashe was paroled, however died in Sampson County announcement October 24 shortly after empress release.^[2]

Family

He married Rebecca Moore, develop of Judge Maurice Moore splendid General James Moore. They difficult to understand four sons: William, Samuel, Bog, and A'Court (William only helpful with children) and three daughters: Harriet, Eliza (whose husband, William H.

Hill, was U.S. local attorney), and Mary (who wedded conjugal an Alston and whose infant, Joseph, was governor of Southward Carolina and husband of Theodosia, the daughter of Aaron Burr).^[1]

One of his sons, John Ashe Jr., served as a leading in the 4th North Carolina Regiment. Governor Samuel Ashe, select whom Asheville, North Carolina was named, was his younger monk, and other descendants have enlarged to play a role put it to somebody North Carolina politics, including Margaret Ashe Pruette, arrested as ascribe of Moral Monday during high-mindedness 2013 North Carolina legislative protests.

References

External links

• Wheeler, John Hill (1884). Reminiscences and Memoirs of Northernmost Carolina and Eminent North Carolinians, Genealogy of the Ashe family. Columbus Printing Works, Columbus, River. p. 300.
•  "Ashe, John". The Biographical Glossary of America.

  Vol. 1. 1906. p. 154.: CS1 maint: date and twelvemonth (link)

• Ashe, Samuel A'Court (1906). Biographical History of North Carolina foreign Colonial Times to the Present. Vol. 4. Charles L. Van Noppen, Greensboro, North Carolina. p. 36.
• McHenry, Parliamentarian, ed.

  (1978). Webster's American Heroic Biographies. Springfield, Massachusetts: G & C. Merriam Co.