The document, known as the Halifax Resolves, taken to Philadelphia by Joseph Hewes, William Hooper and John Penn would inspire the better known Declaration of Independence.
Today, Historic Halifax celebrated the 238th anniversary of the document with re-enactors and a program dedicated to the legacy of William R. Davie.
“The town of Halifax was very loyal to the cause,” Wilson said, “Second only to the county Mecklenburg.”
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There are stories of the few who remained loyal to the British Crown going into the hiding as well as one Tory store owner's shop being looted.
A militia member shows a youngster a period training manual.
“Our regiment was in Boston,” when the resolves was signed, said David Snyder, a re-enactor with the British 64th Regiment Afoot.
He said word would have began spreading about the resolves soon after its signing. “It was a very strong part of the Revolutionary War.”
Snyder has been doing re-enactments as a British soldier since the American Bicentennial. “I wanted to see the alternative viewpoint.”
Meanwhile, in the Historic Courthouse, the Historical Halifax Restoration Association, presented Halifax Resolves awards to Edgecombe Community College and Roanoke River Partners for recent achievements.
McCain discusses Davie.
Wrenn Phillips, chair of the association, said the Tarboro college was honored because of its historical preservation degree program, while Roanoke River Partners was honored for its preservation of a Rosenwald school in Hamilton, which has been reopened as a community center.
Betty Ray McCain, former state cultural resources director, gave an overview of the life of Davie, the founder of the University of North Carolina, who lived in Halifax for 20 years.
“Davie and John Adams believed in a strong federal government,” she said.
He also bought the famous thoroughbred Sir Archie, the sire of many famous horses such as Secretariat and Man of War. “He won lots of money and gave the horse to his son who traded it to settle all his debts.”
As an emissary he became close to Napoleon and was dispatched by Thomas Jefferson to deal with the Tuscarora people. “He ran for Congress and practiced law for as long as he could. He did so much for North Carolina,” McCain said.
