The North Carolina General Assembly of 1778 met in three sessions in three locations in the years 1778 and 1779. The first session was held in New Bern from April 14 to May 2, 1778; the second session in Hillsborough, from August 8 to August 19, 1778; the third and final session in Halifax, from January 19 to February 13, 1779.
Each of the 39 North Carolina counties and Washington District/County were authorized by the North Carolina Constitution of 1776 to elect one Senator to the Senate and two representatives to the House of Commons. In addition, six districts (also called boroughs) were authorized to elect one House representative each. Richard Caswell was elected governor by the legislature.Holloman, Charles R. 1979.Caswell, Richard. NCpedia.
Legislation This general assembly established Wilkes County in 1778North Carolina Laws, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 22, page 178 This general assembly established the following counties in their last session in 1779: Franklin,North Carolina Laws, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 19, pages 227230 Gates,North Carolina Law, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 20, pages 230-232 Jones,North Carolina Law, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 18, pages 225-227 Lincoln, Montgomery,North Carolina Laws, General Assembly of 1778-1779, Chapter 21, pages 232-234 Randolph, Richmond, Rutherford, Warren, and Wayne Counties. For additional laws and minutes of the 1778 General Assembly, see Legislative Documents.
Councilors of State The General Assembly elected the following Councilors of State on April 18, 1778: Joseph Leech, from Craven County Thomas Bonner from Beaufort County William Cray from Onslow CountyWilliam Cray Died in office. Edward Starkey from Onslow County Robert Bignall from Edgecombe County Richard Henderson from Granville CountyRichard Henderson declined to serve. William Haywood from Edgecombe CountyWilliam Haywood declined to serve. William Bryan from Craven County John Simpson from Pitt County Frederick Jones from New Hanover County (elected on February 3, 1779)
House of Commons House leadership Speaker: John Williams (Granville County), until April 28, 1778; Thomas Benbury (Chowan County) elected to replace Williams. Clerk: John Hunt (Franklin County) Assistant Clerk: Joseph Blithe
House members
The members of the House and the counties and districts they represented are listed below. CountyHouse of Commons MemberAnson CountyGeorge DavidsonAnson CountyStephen MillerBeaufort CountyAlderson AllersonAlderson Allerson was elected county entry taker. His seat was declared vacant on 19 January 1779. Beaufort CountyThomas Respress, Jr.Thomas Respress was elected to replace Alderson Allerson. He took office on February 2, 1779.Beaufort CountyWilliam BrownBertie CountyWilliam Jordan, Jr.Bertie CountySimon TurnerBladen CountyThomas AmisThomas Amis was elected to another office. His seat was declared vacant on May 2, 1778.Bladen CountyBenjamin ClarkBenjamin Clark was elected to replace Thomas Amis. He took office on August 8, 1778.Bladen CountySamuel CainBrunswick CountyLewis DupreeLewis Dupree took office on August 8, 1778 after a special election.Brunswick CountyWilliam GauseBurke CountyEphraim McLaineEphraim McLaine was elected, but there is no evidence of service. Burke CountyCharles McLeanCharles McLean took office on August 13, 1778.Burke CountyThomas Whitson Bute CountyBenjamin HawkinsBute CountyAdkin McLemoreCamden CountyCaleb GrandyCaleb Grady's seat vacated because he held another public office.Camden CountyWillis BrightWillis Bright was elected to replace Caleb Grandy. He took office on January 21, 1779.Camden CountyJohn GrayJohn Gray's seat was vacated because he held another public office.Camden CountyWilliam BurgessWilliam Burgess was elected to replace John Gray. There is no evidence of service.Carteret CountyJohn EastonCarteret CountySolomon ShepperdCaswell CountyPeter FarrarCaswell CountyJohn WilliamsChatham CountyAlexander ClarkChatham CountyJames WilliamsChowan CountyThomas BenburyChowan CountyJacob HunterCraven CountyNathan BryanCraven CountyJohn TillmanJohn Tillman resigned on April 30, 1778.Craven CountyAbner NashAbner Nash was elected to replace John Tillman. He took office on August 14, 1778.Cumberland CountyPeter MallettCumberland CountyRobert RowanCurrituck CountyWilliam FerebbeCurrituck CountyHolowell WilliamsHolowell Williams was elected, but there is no evidence that he took office.Dobbs CountyJesse CobbDobbs CountyWilliam FellowsDuplin CountyRichard ClintonDuplin CountyThomas HicksEdgecombe CountyJonas JohnstonJonas Johnston was named county entry taker. His seat was declared vacant on April 27, 1778. A new election was held. Johnston was re-elected and he took office on August 8, 1778Edgecombe CountyIsaac SessumsGranville CountyJohn WilliamsJohn Williams resigned on April 28, 1778 when elected to Continental Congress.Granville CountyThomas PersonThomas Person was elected to replace John Williams. He took office on August 8, 1778.Granville CountyThorton YanceyGuilford CountyJames HunterGuilford CountyRobert LindsayHalifax CountyHaywoodHalifax CountyJohn WhitakerHertford CountyWilliam BakerHertford CountyArthur CottonHyde CountyAbraham JonesHyde CountyJoseph HancockJohnston CountyWilliam BryanJohnston CountyJohn Bryan, Jr.Martin CountyNathan MayoMartin CountyE. Edward SmithwickMecklenburg CountyCaleb PhiferMecklenburg CountyDavid WilsonNash CountyThomas HunterNash CountyHardy GriffinNew Hanover CountyTimothy BloodworthNew Hanover CountyJohn DevaneNorthampton CountyJoseph BryanNorthampton CountyRobert PeeblesNorthampton CountyRobert NashOnslow CountyBenijah DotyOnslow CountyGeorge MitchellOrange CountyJohn ButlerJohn Butler was named county record taker. His seat was declared vacant on April 27, 1778.Orange CountyThomas BurkeThomas Burke was elected to replace John Butler. He took office on August 8 and resigned on August 18 when elected to the Continental Congress.Orange CountyMark PattersonMark Patterson was elected to replace Thomas Burke. He took office on January 20, 1779.Orange CountyWilliam McCauleyPasquotank CountyThomas HarveyPasquotank CountyThomas RelfePerquimans CountyCharles BlountPerquimans CountyJohn HarveyThere is some question about sources that say it died earlier than this date.Pitt CountyWilliam RobesonWilliam Robeson was named county entry taker. His seat was declared vacant on April 27, 1778. Pitt CountyJohn SimpsonJohn Simposon was elected to replace William Robeson. He took office on August 8 and was then elected to Council of State, so he resigned on August 18.Pitt CountyJames GorhamJames Gorham was elected to replace John Simpson. He took office on January 21, 1779.Pitt CountyJohn WilliamsRowan CountyMatthew LockeRowan CountyMoses WinslowSurry CountyMatthew BrooksSurry CountyFrederick MillerTryon CountyWilliam GilbertWilliam Gilbert was expelled from office on February 8, 1779 for fraud.Tryon CountyJoseph Hardin Sr.Tyrrell CountyJoshua SwannTyrrell CountyIsham WebbIsham Webb died in April 1778. Tyrrell CountyBenjamin SpruillBenjamin Spruill was elected to replace Isham Webb. He took office on August 8, 1778.Wake CountyLodwick AlfordWake CountyHardy SandersWashington District/CountyLuke BoyerWashington District/CountyWilliam CookeWilliam Cooke was named county clerk of court and his seat was declared vacant on April 27, 1778.Washington District/CountyJesse WaltonJesse Walton was elected to replace William Cooke. He took office on January 19, 1779.Wilkes CountyBenjamin ClevelandWilkes CountyElijah IsaacsEdenton DistrictJoseph HewesHalifax DistrictWillie JonesHillsborough DistrictWilliam CourtneyNew Bern DistrictRichard CogdellSalisbury DistrictMatthew TroyWilmington DistrictWilliam Hooper
Senate
Senate leadership President pro tempore: Whitmell Hill, until his election to the Continental Congress; Allen Jones elected to replace Hill Clerk: John Sitgreaves
Senate members
The following senators and the counties they represented are listed. CountySenate MemberAnson CountyJohn ChildsBeaufort CountyThomas RespessBertie CountyZedekiah StoneBladen CountyThomas OwenBrunswick CountyAlexius M. FosterBurke CountyCharles McDowellCharles McDowell held another public office, so his seat was declared vacant on April 22, 1778.Bute CountyEdward JonesCamden CountyJoseph JonesCarteret CountyWilliam ThompsonCaswell CountyJames SaudersChatham CountyAmbrose RamseyAmbrose Ramsey held another public office, so his seat was declared vacant on April 22, 1778. Chatham CountyJohn BirdsongJohn Birdsong was elected to replace Ambrose Ramsey. He took office on August 8, 1778.Chowan CountyLuke SumnerCraven CountyJames CoorCumberland CountyEbenezer FolsomeCurrituck CountySolomon PerkinsDobbs CountyBenjamin ExumDuplin CountyJames KenanEdgecombe CountyElisha BattleGranville CountyRobert HarrisGuilford CountyRalph GorrellRalph Gorrell held the office of county entry taker, so his seat was declared vacant on April 22, 1778. Guilford CountyAlexander MartinAlexander Martin was elected to replace Ralph Gorrell. He took office on August 12, 1778.Halifax CountyOroondates DavisHertford CountyRobert SumnerHyde CountyWilliam RussellJohnston CountyNeedham BryanNeedham Bryan held another public office, so his seat was declared vacant on April 22, 1778.Martin CountyWhitmell HillWhitmell Hill was appointed to the Continental Congress, so he resigned on August 12, 1778. Martin CountyKenneth McKenzieKenneth McKenzie was elected to replace Whitmell Hill. He took office on January 19, 1779.Mecklenburg CountyRobert IrwinNash CountyNathan BoddieNew Hanover CountyJohn Ashe, Jr.Northampton CountyAllen JonesOnslow CountyHenry RhodesOrange CountyJohn KinchenPasquotank CountyJohn LowriePerquimans CountyJohn EasonJohn Eason held the office of county entry taker, so his seat was declared vacant on April 15, 1778. Perquimans CountyThomas HarveyThomas Harvey was elected to replace John Eason. He took office on January 20, 1779.Pitt CountyRobert SalterRowan CountyGriffith RutherfordSurry CountyWilliam SheppardTryon CountyWilliam GrahamTyrrell CountyJeremiah FrazierWake CountyMichael RogersWashington DistrictCharles RobertsonWilkes CountyJohn Brown
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See also List of North Carolina state legislatures
References