David Fanning’s raid on Hillsborough, September 1781

In the chronology

Episodes in this history, earliest first. Each has its own page.

Other dated events here, earliest first. See these 12 dated events in the chronology →

1. 1781 Thomas Freeland is killed when Hillsborough is taken In a story John Strayhorn told John A. Freeland, Whig militia were gathering at the public spring when Hillsborough was taken and the governor captured, and Thomas Freeland was shot through the head by a Tory. He was buried on the hill south of the Eno near Kirkland's old tan yard, where Strayhorn had been posted.NC Digital Collections: D. I. Craig, Historical Sketch of New Hope Church in Orange County, N.C. (1891), p. 42
2. 1781, by tradition Tradition says parts of the town clock were hidden in the Eno during Fanning's raid According to local tradition, parts of the clock were thrown into the river so that the Loyalist raiders under David Fanning and Hector McNeill could not turn them into war material. People: David FanningLefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 22
3. September 12, 1781 David Fanning raids Hillsborough and captures Governor Burke Fanning’s Loyalists captured Governor Thomas Burke during a surprise raid on Hillsborough. People: David Fanning, Thomas BurkeNCpedia — David Fanning
4. September 13, 1781 Butler's militia ambushes Fanning's Loyalists at Lindley's Mill The day after David Fanning's raid carried Governor Thomas Burke out of Hillsborough, John Butler rode with about four hundred militia to the ford where the Wilmington road crossed Cane Creek at Lindley's Mill and laid an ambush with Colonel Robert Mebane. The opening volley killed Colonel Hector McNeil, but Fanning organized a flanking attack that drove the militia from the field, and the prisoners went on to Wilmington. People: David Fanning, Thomas BurkeSearch the index · NCpedia: Lindley's Mill, Battle of
5. September 1781 Governor Burke returns to Hillsborough and raises a company against the Loyalists Hearing that Loyalists were plundering in southern Orange and that David Fanning was active again, Burke came to Hillsborough and formed a mixed infantry and cavalry company under a Captain Allen of New Hope to guard the area's Whigs. People: Thomas Burke, David FanningLefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 58-59
6. October 5, 1781 Alexander Martin takes the oath as acting governor while Burke is in enemy hands Three weeks after Fanning carried Governor Burke out of Hillsborough, Alexander Martin, Speaker of the Senate, qualified before the Council of State at Colonel Williams's in Granville County and took up the administration. He told the council that the government must be supported and the most vigorous and decisive measures taken against so daring an enemy. People: Alexander Martin, Thomas BurkeDocumenting the American South: Minutes of the North Carolina Council of State (Jul 23, 1781 - Dec 20, 1781)
7. November 6, 1781 Burke is admitted to parole as a prisoner of war on James Island Held first as a prisoner of state after Fanning's men delivered him to Major Craig at Wilmington, Burke was admitted to parole on James Island outside Charleston. Loyalist refugees on the island, outlaws from the state he had governed, left him in what he called hourly danger of assassination. People: Thomas Burke, James Henry CraigDocumenting the American South: Letter from Thomas Burke to Nathanael Greene (Jan 19, 1782)
8. January 16, 1782 Burke escapes from his parole on James Island Having written General Leslie on December 30 asking for a parole within American lines, Burke slipped off James Island on the night of January 16. Two days later he offered Leslie to return within British lines if guaranteed the treatment of a Continental officer, and on January 19 he asked Greene that men of honor judge the act. People: Thomas Burke, Nathanael GreeneDocumenting the American South: Letter from Thomas Burke to Nathanael Greene (Jan 19, 1782)
9. late January 1782 Thomas Burke returns to Hillsborough and takes up the governorship again After leaving his parole on James Island, Burke resumed his duties at Hillsborough. His breach of parole drew criticism from many constituents and a dispute between Greene and the British. People: Thomas Burke, Nathanael GreeneLefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 61
10. February 1, 1782 Three of David Fanning's men are hanged at Hillsborough Seven captured raiders were tried before Judge John Williams, with Alfred Moore prosecuting and William R. Davie defending in his first case. Three were hanged despite Fanning's threats, and Burke commuted the other four sentences to a year in the Continental army. People: Thomas Burke, David Fanning, William Richardson DavieLefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 61
11. April 15–May 18, 1782 General Assembly at Hillsborough elects Alexander Martin governor and grants western land to Continental soldiers The Assembly met at Hillsborough, heard Governor Thomas Burke's message about his capture, and elected Alexander Martin governor on April 22. Its laws granted land in a western military reservation to officers and soldiers of the Continental line and directed the sale of confiscated Loyalist estates. People: Alexander Martin, Thomas Benbury, Hugh Williamson, Thomas BurkeColonial and State Records of North Carolina: Minutes of the North Carolina Senate, Apr 15 to May 18, 1782 (vol. 19, pp. 1–128)
12. April 23, 1782 The General Assembly at Hillsborough votes its thanks to Thomas Burke A day after choosing his successor, both houses resolved that the thanks of the General Assembly be given to Burke for his steady and constant attention to the duties of his office and his vigorous dispatch of the public business while he was governor. The resolution passes over his capture and parole in silence. People: Thomas BurkeDocumenting the American South: Resolution of thanks from the North Carolina General Assembly to Thomas Burke (Apr 23, 1782)