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Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress

{{Infobox legislative term

| name = Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress (1776)

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| body = North Carolina Provincial Congress

| country = United States

| state = North Carolina

| meeting_place = Halifax, North Carolina

| term = 1776

| before = Fourth Provincial Congress

| after = NC General Assembly of 1777

| website =

| chamber1 =

| membership1 = 187 Delegates (35 counties, 10 Districts)

| control1 =

| chamber1_leader1_type = President

| chamber1_leader1 = Richard Caswell

| chamber1_leader2_type = Vice-President

| chamber1_leader2 = Cornelius Harnett

| chamber1_leader3_type = Secretary

| chamber1_leader3 = James Green Jr.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/green-james-jr|title=James Green, Jr.|website=NCPEDIA|author=Reidinger, Martin|year=1986|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}

| chamber1_leader4_type = Assistant Secretary

| chamber1_leader4 = James Glasgow

| chamber2 =

| membership2 =

| control2 =

| chamber2_leader1_type =

| chamber2_leader1 =

| chamber2_leader2_type =

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| chamber2_leader3_type =

| chamber2_leader3 =

| session1_start = November 12, 1776

| session1_end = December 23, 1776

| session2_start =

| session2_end =

}}

File:Richard Caswell (governor).jpg

The Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress was the last of five extra-legal unicameral bodies that met beginning in the summer of 1774. They were modeled after the colonial lower house (House of Commons). These congresses created a government structure, issued bills of credit to pay for the movement, organized an army for defense, wrote a constitution and bill of rights that established the state of North Carolina, and elected their first acting governor in the fifth congress that met in 1776. These congresses paved the way for the first meeting of the North Carolina General Assembly on April 7, 1777 in New Bern, North Carolina.{{cite book| editor=Powell, William Stevens|year=2006|title=Encyclopedia of North Carolina, Provincial Congresses|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|pages=917–918|author=Butler, Lindley|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/provincial-congresses|isbn=0807830712}} The Fifth Congress met in Halifax from November 12 to December 23, 1776. Richard Caswell served as president, with Cornelius Harnett as vice-president.{{cite web| url=http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/ncsites/tryon.htm|title=State Library of North Carolina. Information page for Tryon Palace|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503073914/http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/nc/ncsites/tryon.htm|archive-date=2008-05-03}}{{cite web|url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/nc_revolution_5th_provincial_congress_members.html|title=5th Provincial Congress|author=Lewis, J.D.|accessdate=August 13, 2019|website=The American Revolution in North Carolina}}{{cite book|url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/manual/manual.html#p387|title=A Manual of North Carolina Issued by the North Carolina Historical Commission for the Use of Members of the General Assembly Session 1913|year=1913|editor=Connor, Robert Diggs Wimberly|accessdate=August 13, 2019}}

Legislation

This congress approved the first Constitution of North Carolina, along with a "Declaration of Rights" on December 18, 1776. It elected Richard Caswell to serve as acting governor until the province's first General Assembly in 1777 could meet to elect a governor. The congress dealt extensively with raising a militia of 5, 000 men. They also discussed the Cherokee War in the western region of the state.{{cite book|url=https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr10-0442|title=Minutes of the Provincial Congress of North Carolina, North Carolina. Provincial Congress, November 12, 1776 - December 23|year=1776|volume=10|pages=913–1003|author=Congress}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/declaration-rights|title=Declaration of Rights|author=Orth, John V.|year=2006|website=NCPEDIA|accessdate=October 21, 2019}}

Delegates

File:James Kenan.jpg

File:Allen Jones.jpg

File:William Hooper.jpg

File:John Sevier.jpg

File:Joseph Hewes.jpg

File:AbnerNash.jpg

File:WillieJonesNC.jpg

File:Thomas Amis.jpg

Each county was authorized five delegates to this congress. Some counties only had four delegates. In addition, nine districts or borough towns were also authorized a single delegate. These districts were the larger towns and population centers of the state. The concept of district representation was a hold over from the Province of North Carolina in colonial times. Washington District, in the western end of the state and later became a county, elected four delegates to the congress. The following list shows the names of the delegates and the counties or districts that they represented:{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/borough-towns|title=Borough Towns|author=Norris, David A.|year=2006|website=NCPEDIA|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}

{{mw-datatable}}

class="wikitable sortable mw-datatable"
County/DistrictDelegate
Anson Countydata-sort-value="Davidson, George"|George Davidson
Anson Countydata-sort-value="Love, David."|David Love
Anson Countydata-sort-value="Pickett, William R."|William R. Pickett
Anson Countydata-sort-value="Robertson, Charles"|Charles Robertson
Anson Countydata-sort-value="Wade, Thomas"|Thomas Wade
Beaufort Countydata-sort-value="Barrow, John"|John Barrow
Beaufort Countydata-sort-value="Jones, Francis"|Francis Jones
Beaufort Countydata-sort-value="Respess, Thomas"|Thomas Respess
Beaufort Countydata-sort-value="Respess, Thomas, Jr."|Thomas Respess Jr.
Beaufort Countydata-sort-value="Tripp, Robert"|Robert Tripp
Bertie Countydata-sort-value="Gray, William"|William Gray
Bertie Countydata-sort-value="Hinton, Noah"|Noah Hinton
Bertie Countydata-sort-value="Johnston, John"|John Johnston
Bertie Countydata-sort-value="Pugh, Thomas"|Thomas Pugh
Bertie Countydata-sort-value="Stone, Zedekiah"|Zedekiah Stone
Bladen Countydata-sort-value="Amis, Thomas"|Thomas Amis{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/amis-thomas|title=Thomas Amis|website=NCPEDIA|accessdate=November 1, 2019|author=Starnes, Sam|year=2013}}
Bladen Countydata-sort-value="Council, James"|James Council
Bladen Countydata-sort-value="Owen, Thomas"|Thomas Owen{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/owen-thomas|title=Thomas Owen|author=Powell, William S.|year=1991|accessdate=November 4, 2019}}
Bladen Countydata-sort-value="Robeson, Thomas, Jr."|Thomas Robeson Jr.
Brunswick Countydata-sort-value="Dupree, Lewis"|Lewis Dupree
Brunswick Countydata-sort-value="Harnett, Cornelius"|Cornelius Harnett
Brunswick Countydata-sort-value="Lord, William"|William Lord
Brunswick Countydata-sort-value="MacLaine, Archibald"|Archibald MacLaine
Brunswick Countydata-sort-value="Moore, Maurice"|Maurice Moore
Bute Countydata-sort-value="Denton, James"|James Denton
Bute Countydata-sort-value="Eaton, Thomas"|Thomas Eaton
Bute Countydata-sort-value="Hawkins, Philemon"|Philemon Hawkins
Bute Countydata-sort-value="Seawell, Benjamin"|Benjamin Seawell
Bute Countydata-sort-value="Ward, Benjamin"|Benjamin Ward
Carteret Countydata-sort-value="Borden, William"|William Borden
Carteret Countydata-sort-value="Williams, Brice"|Brice Williams
Carteret Countydata-sort-value="Chadwick, Thomas"|Thomas Chadwick
Carteret Countydata-sort-value="Easton, John"|John Easton
Carteret Countydata-sort-value="Shepard, Soloman"|Soloman Shepard
Chatham Countydata-sort-value="Bridsong, John"|John Birdsong
Chatham Countydata-sort-value="Scurlock, Mial"|Mial Scurlock
Chatham Countydata-sort-value="Harper, Jeduthan"|Jeduthan Harper
Chatham Countydata-sort-value="Hogan, Isaiah"|Isaiah Hogan
Chatham Countydata-sort-value="Ramsey, Ambrose"|Ambrose Ramsey
Chowan Countydata-sort-value="Benbury, Thomas"|Thomas Benbury
Chowan Countydata-sort-value="Hunter, Jacob"|Jacob Hunter
Chowan Countydata-sort-value="Blount, James"|James Blount
Chowan Countydata-sort-value="Jones, Thomas"|Thomas Jones{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/jones-thomas|title=Thomas Jones|author=Powell, William S.|year=1988|website=NCPEDIA|accessdate=November 1, 2019}}
Chowan Countydata-sort-value="Sumner, Luke"|Luke Sumner
Craven Countydata-sort-value="Bryan, John"|Nathan Bryan
Craven Countydata-sort-value="Tillman, John"|John Tillman
Craven Countydata-sort-value="Bryan, Willilam"|William Bryan
Craven Countydata-sort-value="Coor, James"|James Coor
Craven Countydata-sort-value="Neale, Christopher"|Christopher Neale
Cumberland Countydata-sort-value="Rand, William"|William Rand
Cumberland Countydata-sort-value="Alston, Philip"|Philip Alston
Cumberland Countydata-sort-value="Cobb, Robet"|Robert Cobb
Cumberland Countydata-sort-value="Rowan, Robert"|Robert Rowan
Currituck Countydata-sort-value="White, James"|James White{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/white-james|title=James White|author=Powell, William S.|year=1996|website=NCPEDIA|accessdate=November 1, 2019}}
Currituck Countydata-sort-value="Jarvis, Samuel"|Samuel Jarvis
Currituck Countydata-sort-value="Merchant, Kedar"|Kedar Merchant
Currituck Countydata-sort-value="Williams, Hollowell"|Hollowell Williams
Currituck Countydata-sort-value="Williams, Thomas"|Thomas Williams
Dobbs Countydata-sort-value="Bass, Andrew"|Andrew Bass
Dobbs Countydata-sort-value="Exum, Benjamin"|Benjamin Exum
Dobbs Countydata-sort-value="Bright, Simon"|Simon Bright
Dobbs Countydata-sort-value="Caswell, Richard"|Richard Caswell
Dobbs Countydata-sort-value="Sheppard, Abraham"|Abraham Sheppard
Duplin Countydata-sort-value="Gillespie, James"|James Gillespie
Duplin Countydata-sort-value="Dixson, William"|William Dickson{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/dickson-william|title=William Dickson|website=NCPEDIA|author=Ingram, Charles M.|year=1986|accessdate=November 1, 2019}}
Duplin Countydata-sort-value="Gray, Thomas"|Thomas Gray
Duplin Countydata-sort-value="Kenan, James"|James Kenan
Duplin Countydata-sort-value="Taylor, William"|William Taylor{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/taylor-william|title=William Taylor|author=Powell, William S.|year=1996|website=NCPEDIA|accessdate=November 4, 2019}}
Edgecombe Countydata-sort-value="Battle, Elisha"|Elisha Battle{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/battle-elisha|title=Elisha Battle|website=NCPEDIA|author=Taylor, R. Hargus|year=1979|accessdate=November 1, 2019}}
Edgecombe Countydata-sort-value="Haywood, William"|William Haywood
Edgecombe Countydata-sort-value="Horn, William"|William Horn
Edgecombe Countydata-sort-value="Johnston, Jonas"|Jonas Johnston{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/johnston-jonas|author=Johnston, Hugh Buckner|title=Johnston, Jonas | NCpedia |year=1988|accessdate=November 4, 2019}}
Edgecombe Countydata-sort-value="Sessums, Isaac"|Isaac Sessums
Granville Countydata-sort-value="Hunt, Memucan"|Memucan Hunt
Granville Countydata-sort-value="Lewis, Robert"|Robert Lewis
Granville Countydata-sort-value="Oliver, John"|John Oliver
Granville Countydata-sort-value="Yancey, Thornton"|Thornton Yancey
Granville Countydata-sort-value="Person, Thomas"|Thomas Person
Guilford Countydata-sort-value="Browder, Isham"|Isham Browder
Guilford Countydata-sort-value="Bruce, Charles"|Charles Bruce
Guilford Countydata-sort-value="Caldwell, David"|David Caldwell
Guilford Countydata-sort-value="Gorrell, Ralph"|Ralph Gorrell{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/gorrell-ralph|title=Ralph Gorrell|author=Bell, John L. Jr.|year=1986|website=NCPEDIA|accessdate=November 2, 2019|quote=His grandfather was Ralph Gorrell, Jr. (1735–1816), … Ralph, Jr., was a member of the Halifax Provincial Congresses of April and December 1776,}}
Guilford Countydata-sort-value="Hinds, Joseph"|Joseph Hinds
Halifax Countydata-sort-value="Alston, Willis"|Willis Alston
Halifax Countydata-sort-value="Bradford, John"|John Bradford
Halifax Countydata-sort-value="Hogun, James"|James HogunJames Hogun resigned his position after being commissioned in the North Carolina Line, replaced by Egbert Haywood
Halifax Countydata-sort-value="Haywoood, Egbert"|Egbert Haywood
Halifax Countydata-sort-value="McCullough, Benjamin"|Benjamin McCullough
Halifax Countydata-sort-value="Weldon, Samuel"|Samuel Weldon
Hertford Countydata-sort-value="Baker, Lawrence"|Lawrence Baker
Hertford Countydata-sort-value="Murfree, William"|William MurfreePossibly the father of William Murfree
Hertford Countydata-sort-value="Ridley, Day"|Day Ridley
Hertford Countydata-sort-value="Sumner, Robert"|Robert Sumner
Hertford Countydata-sort-value="Wright, James"|James Wright
Hyde Countydata-sort-value="Jordan, John"|John Jordan
Hyde Countydata-sort-value="Jones, Abraham"|Abraham Jones
Hyde Countydata-sort-value="Hancock, Joseph"|Joseph Hancock
Hyde Countydata-sort-value="Parmele, Benjamin"|Benjamin Parmele
Hyde Countydata-sort-value="Russell, William"|William Russell
Johnston Countydata-sort-value="Avery, Alexander"|Alexander Avery
Johnston Countydata-sort-value="Bryan, Needham"|Needham Bryan Jr.
Johnston Countydata-sort-value="Rains, Henry"|Henry Rains
Johnston Countydata-sort-value="Smith, Samuel"|Samuel Smith
Johnston Countydata-sort-value="Stevens, John"|John Stevens
Martin Countydata-sort-value="Hill, Whitmell"|Whitmell Hill
Martin Countydata-sort-value="Hardison, John"|John Hardison
Martin Countydata-sort-value="Hunter, Thomas"|Thomas Hunter
Martin Countydata-sort-value="Smithwick, Samuel"|Samuel Smithwick
Martin Countydata-sort-value="Williams, William"|William Williams
Mecklenburg Countydata-sort-value="Alexander, Hezekiah"|Hezekiah Alexander
Mecklenburg Countydata-sort-value="Avery, Waightstill"|Waightstill Avery
Mecklenburg Countydata-sort-value="Irwin, Robert"|Robert Irwin
Mecklenburg Countydata-sort-value="Phifer, John"|John Phifer
Mecklenburg Countydata-sort-value="Wilson, Zaccheus"|Zaccheus Wilson
New Hanover Countydata-sort-value="Ashe, John"|John Ashe
New Hanover Countydata-sort-value="Ashe, Samuel"|Samuel Ashe
New Hanover Countydata-sort-value="Devane, John"|John Devane
New Hanover Countydata-sort-value="Hollingsworth, John"|John Hollingsworth
New Hanover Countydata-sort-value="Mosely, Sampson"|Sampson Mosely
Northampton Countydata-sort-value="Atherton, Jeptha"|Jeptha Atherton
Northampton Countydata-sort-value="Peoples, Robert"|Robert Peoples (Peebles)
Northampton Countydata-sort-value="Edmunds, Howard"|Howard Edmunds (Howell Edmunds)
Northampton Countydata-sort-value="Ingram, James"|James IngramJames Ingram was commissioned in the North Carolina Line and replaced by Thomas Parker, who was elected to replace him.
Northampton Countydata-sort-value="Parker, Thomas"|Thomas Parker
Northampton Countydata-sort-value="Jones, Allen"|Allen Jones
Onslow Countydata-sort-value="Doty, Benajah"|Benajah Doty
Onslow Countydata-sort-value="Johnston, Thomas"|Thomas Johnston
Onslow Countydata-sort-value="Rhodes, Henry"|Henry Rhodes
Onslow Countydata-sort-value="Spicer, John"|John Spicer
Onslow Countydata-sort-value="Starkey, Edward"|Edward Starkey
Orange Countydata-sort-value="Burke, Thomas"|Thomas Burke (replaced John Atkinson)Seated on December 16, due to voting irregularities in a first pole
Orange Countydata-sort-value="Butler, John"|John Butler (replaced John McCabe)
Orange Countydata-sort-value="McCabe, John"|John McCabe (replaced William Moore)
Orange Countydata-sort-value="Mebane, Alexander"|Alexander Mebane (replaced John Paine)
Orange Countydata-sort-value="Rochester, Nathaniel"|Nathaniel Rochester (replaced James Saunders)
Pasquotank Countydata-sort-value="Abbot, Henry"|Henry Abbot{{cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/abbott-henry|title=Henry Abbot|author=Cotton, Jerry W.|year=1979|website=NCPEDIA|accessdate=November 1, 2019}}
Pasquotank Countydata-sort-value="Burgess, Dempsey"|Dempsey Burgess
Pasquotank Countydata-sort-value="Davis, Devotion"|Devotion Davis
Pasquotank Countydata-sort-value="Gregory, Isaac"|Isaac Gregory
Pasquotank Countydata-sort-value="Sawyer, Lemuel"|Lemuel Sawyer
Perquimans Countydata-sort-value="Harvey, Benjamin"|Benjamin Harvey
Perquimans Countydata-sort-value="Harvey, Miles"|Miles Harvey
Perquimans Countydata-sort-value="Harvey, Thomas"|Thomas Harvey
Perquimans Countydata-sort-value="Hooper, William"|William Hooper
Perquimans Countydata-sort-value="Skinner, William"|William Skinner
Pitt Countydata-sort-value="Evans, George"|George Evans
Pitt Countydata-sort-value="Gorham, James"|James Gorham
Pitt Countydata-sort-value="May, Benjamin"|Benjamin May
Pitt Countydata-sort-value="Robson, William"|William Robson
Pitt Countydata-sort-value="Salter, Edward"|Edward Salter
Rowan Countydata-sort-value="Brevard, John"|John Brevard
Rowan Countydata-sort-value="Locke, Matthew"|Matthew Locke
Rowan Countydata-sort-value="Rutherford, Griffith"|Griffith Rutherford
Rowan Countydata-sort-value="Sharpe, William"|William Sharpe
Rowan Countydata-sort-value="Smith, James"|James Smith
Surry Countydata-sort-value="Gordon, Charles"|Charles Gordon
Surry Countydata-sort-value="Hall, William"|William Hall
Surry Countydata-sort-value="Lanier, Robert"|Robert Lanier
Surry Countydata-sort-value="Williams, Joseph"|Joseph Williams
Tryon Countydata-sort-value="Barber, John"|John Barber
Tryon Countydata-sort-value="Abernathy, Robert"|Robert Abernathy
Tryon Countydata-sort-value="Alston, William"|William Alston
Tryon Countydata-sort-value="Graham, William"|William Graham
Tryon Countydata-sort-value="Hardin, Joseph"|Joseph Hardin Sr.
Tyrrell Countydata-sort-value="Blount, Benjamin"|Benjamin Blount
Tyrrell Countydata-sort-value="Frazier, Jeremiah"|Jeremiah Frazier
Tyrrell Countydata-sort-value="Lee, Stephen"|Stephen Lee
Tyrrell Countydata-sort-value="Webb, Isham"|Isham Webb
Tyrrell Countydata-sort-value="Wynn, Peter"|Peter Wynn
Wake Countydata-sort-value="Fuller, Britain"|Britain Fuller
Wake Countydata-sort-value="Jones, James"|James JonesJames Jones was deemed ineligible due to service in the Light Horse. He resigned his commission on October 25, 1776 and was re-elected to serve in the congress.
Wake Countydata-sort-value="Jones, Tignal"|Tignal Jones
Wake Countydata-sort-value="Rice, John"|John RiceThe Congress Journal shows that it was John Rice as delegate for Wake County. William Brown was the delegate for Bath. This appears to be an error in the Lewis delegate listing.{{cite web|url=https://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/patriot_leaders_nc_william_brown.html|title=William Brown|author=Lewis, J.D.|website=Carolana.com|accessdate=November 3, 2019}}
Wake Countydata-sort-value="Rogers, Michael"|Michael Rogers
Washington Districtdata-sort-value="Carter, John"|John Carter
Washington Districtdata-sort-value="Haile, John"|John Haile
Washington Districtdata-sort-value="Robertson, Charles"|Charles Robertson
Washington Districtdata-sort-value="Sevier, John"|John Sevier
Bath Districtdata-sort-value="Brown, William"|William Brown
Brunswick Districtdata-sort-value="Quince, Parker"|Parker Quince
Campbellton Districtdata-sort-value="Hadley, Thomas"|Thomas Hadley
Edenton Districtdata-sort-value="Hewes, Joseph"|Joseph Hewes
Halifax Districtdata-sort-value="Jones, Willie"|Willie Jones
Hillsborough Districtdata-sort-value="Johnston, William"|William Johnston
New Bern Districtdata-sort-value="Nash, Abner"|Abner Nash
Salisbury Districtdata-sort-value="Nesbitt, David"|David Nesbitt
Wilmington Districtdata-sort-value="Hooper, William"|William Hooper

Notes:

{{Reflist|group=note}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|40em}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book|editor=Powell, William Stevens|year=2006|title=Encyclopedia of North Carolina, First North Carolina Conflicts and the Establishment of a Provincial Government| publisher=University of North Carolina Press|pages=40–41|author=Lamm, Alan|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/american-revolution-part-2first-nor|isbn=0807830712}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.sog.unc.edu/resources/microsites/about/historic-murals-school-government|title=Murals at the UNC School of Government, including a depiction of the 4th Provincial Congress|author=Kughler, Frances Vandeveer|website=UNC School of Government|accessdate=August 13, 2019}}
  • {{cite book|author=Powell, William S.|year=1988|title=North Carolina: A History|publisher=University of North Carolina Press|pages=248|isbn=0807842192}}

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