The North Carolina General Assembly of 1777 met in two sessions in New Bern, North Carolina, from April 7 to May 9, 1777, and from November 15 to December 24, 1777. This was the first North Carolina legislature elected after the last provincial congress wrote the first North Carolina Constitution. This assembly elected Richard Caswell as the state's first constitutional governor (he had been serving as acting governor by action of the provincial congress).
Each of the 38 counties of North Carolina were authorized to elect one senator and two representatives to the House of Commons. In addition, six boroughs (also called districts) elected one House member each. An additional district, Washington District, had one senator and no representative in the House of Commons. Washington District comprised the lands that later became part of Tennessee in 1789. It was referred to as a District in 1776 and 1777 and Washington County after 1777.
History The North Carolina Constitution of 1776 created a strong legislature and a weak executive. The constitution created a bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate made up of one representative from each county and a House of Commons with two members from each county and one member from each of seven designated districts, including Washington District. House members had to own at least 100 acres of land and Senate members had to own at least 300 acres of land. Members were not paid for their services. The governor was chosen annually. Thus, Richard Caswell was chosen the first governor of the State of North Carolina. The governor had no veto power and little control over patronage, He could not convene, prorogue, or dissolve the legislature.
Members of the legislature were elected by popular vote annually. As such, they were the only state officials elected by popular vote. The constitution allowed that "all freemen of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within this State twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election, and shall have paid public taxes shall be entitled to vote for members of the House of Commons for the county in which he resides". It also allowed "that all freemen, of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within the State twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election and possessed of a freehold within the same county of fifty acres of land for six months next before, and at the day of election, shall be entitled to vote for a member of the Senate." Restrictions were placed on voting for town or district members, i.e. "That all persons possessed of a freehold in any town in this State, having a right of representation and also all freemen who have been inhabitants of any such town twelve mouths next before and at the day of election, and shall have paid public taxes, shall be entitled to vote for a member to represent such town in the House of Commons: -- Provided always, That this section shall not entitle any inhabitant of such town to vote for members of the House of Commons, for the county in which he may reside, nor any freeholder in such county, who resides without or beyond the limits of such town, to vote for a member for said town.
The Constitution of 1776 required the General Assembly to "appoint judges of the Supreme Courts of Law and Equity, Judges of Admiralty, and Attorney-General," who were commissioned by the Governor and held office during good behavior. Acting under this authority, the General Assembly in 1776 divided the State into six judicial districts. Under the act of 1777 three judges, Samuel Ashe, Samuel Spencer, and James Iredell, were chosen.
The General Assembly of 1777 was also responsible for electing Councilors of State. They elected the following councilors on April 18, 1777: William Cray from Onslow County William Haywood from Edgecombe County Joseph Leech from Craven County Edward Starkey from Onslow County Thomas Eaton from Bute County Cornelius Harnett from New Hanover CountyVacated upon election to the Continental Congress, 17771780 William Taylor from Duplin County
The General Assembly of 1777 elected James Glasgow from Dobbs County as North Carolina Secretary of State.
From 1777 to 1779, the State was divided into two districts, Northern and Southern, each with a treasurer. John Ashe from New Hannover County was elected treasurer of the Southern District. Samuel Johnston from Chowan County was elected treasurer of the Northern District but declined to serve, so William Skinner was elected.
Waightstill Avery from Burke County was elected Attorney-General by the 1777 legislature.
The General Assembly of 1777 elected the following Judges of the Superior Court: James Iredell (17771778, Samuel Ashe (17771795), and Samuel Spencer (17771794).
The constitution gave the Senate and House of Commons the power to appoint the generals and field-officers of the militia, and all officers of the regular army of this State.
The following counties were created in 1777 by the legislature: Burke, Camden, Caswell, Nash, and Wilkes counties.
Legislative accomplishments The following acts were passed by the General Assembly of 1777 during the first session:Original spelling is used. An Act to establish a militia An Act for levying a tax by general assement, and other purposes An Act establishing what crimes and practices against the state shall be considered treason. An Act concerning oaths. An Act for punishment of such persons who shall procure or commit wilful perjury An Act to prevent domestic insurrections and other such purposes An Act for encouragement of the militia and volunteers employed in prosecuting the present Indian War An Act for the appointment of registers in the several counties in this State An Act to empower the Justice of Bladen County to take into the possession the Records of said County, now in possession of Maturin Colvill, Bladen County Regiment, 1775-1776, a Captain under Col. Thomas Robeson, Jr. Soon after the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, he was discharged, suspected of being a Loyalist. He was, and soon became a Colonel for the Loyalists. Later captured and killed. An Act for the relief of such person who have or may suffer by their deeds mean conveyances not being proved and registered with the time heretofore appointed by law An Act for establishing fairs in the town of Halifax, Halifax County An Act for enlarging the time of saving lots in the town of Windsor, in Bertie County An Act for appointing commissioners for building a court-house, prison, and stocks for the county of Tryon An Act for appointing commissioners to finish the building of court-house, prison and stocks in the County of Guilford An Act for establishing a town on the lands of John Smith in Johnston County, and other purposes An Act for the regulation of the town of Hillsborough An Act for establishing a new county between Hillsborough and the Virginia Line, by erecting the Northern Part of Orange County into a distinct county, by the name of Caswell An Act for dividing the county of Pasquotank, and establishing that part thereof on the North East side of Pasquotank River a county, by the name of Camden An Act for dividing Rowan County, and other purposes therein mentioned An Act for incorporating the President and Trustees of Liberty Hall (Academy), in the County of Mecklenburg An Act to prevent hunting with a gun, by fire light in the night An Act to prevent forging or counterfeiting, and punish such persons as shall forge or counterfeit, or pass or vend, knowing the same to be forge or counterfeit, any of the lottery tickets of the United States, and other purposes An Act for confirming an Act, entitled an Act to amend an Act, instituted an Act what fences are sufficient, and to amend and continue an Act relating to taking up stray horses An Act for ascertaining the salary of the Governor, and other purposes therein mentioned An Act for enforcing the Statute Laws and such parts of the Common Law and Acts of Assembly heretofore in use here, and also for enforcing the resolves of Conventions and Congresses of this State, which have not had their effect, and for other purposes therein mentioned. An Act to establish courts for the trial of criminals in each District within the State, and for vesting in the several County Courts and Sessions of the Peace, the Power of appointing Jurymen for the said District Cours and Constituting Judges to preside therein. An Act to establish courts for the trial of Criminals in each District within this State, and for vesting in the several County Courts and Sessions of the Peace, the Power of appointing jurymen for the said district courts and constituting judges to preside therein. An Act for erecting county courts and sessions of the peace and also or appointing and commissioning justices of the peace and sheriffs in and for the several counties and District of Washington within this State and for other purposes therein mentioned.
During the second session, the following acts were approved: An Act for establishing offices, for receiving entries of claims for lands in the several counties within this State, for ascertaining the method of obtaining titles to the same, and for other purposes wherein mentioned. An Act establishing courts of law, and for regulating the proceedings therein. An Act to regulate and ascertain the fees of clerks in the Superior and County Courts, Justices of the Peace, and Attornies, in this State, and directing the method of paying the same. An Act directing the method of electing members of the General Assembly, and other Purpose. An Act for directing the method of appointing jurors in all causes, civil and criminal. An Act to amend an Act for declaring what crimes and practices against the State shall be Treason, and what shall be Misprison of Treason, and providing punishments adequate to crimes of both classes, and for preventing the dangers which may arise from persons disaffected to the State. An Act for making provision for the poor, and for other purposes. An Act for appointing Sheriffs, and directing their duty in office, and for obliging the late Sheriffs and Collectors of Public Monies who are in arrear, to account for and pay the same, and other purposes. An Act to prevent abuses in taking up stray horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, and other things therein mentioned. An Act for ascertaining the Oath of Allegiance and Abjuration. An Act for appointing Naval Officers in the different ports of this State, and directing their duty in office. An Act to amend the staple of tobacco, and prevent frauds. An Act for amending an Act, instituted, an Act for levying a tax by assessment and other purposes passed the last session of this assembly. An Act to enforce such parts of the statute of Common Laws as have been heretofore in force and use here, and the Acts of Assembly made and passed when this Territory was under the Government of the Late Proprietors, and the Crown of Great Britain; and for reviving the several Acts therein mentioned. An Act to amend an Act, instituted, an Act to establish a militia in this State. An Act to impower the Court of Admiralty of this State to have Jurisdiction in all cases of capture of the ships and other vessels of the inhabitants and subjects of Great Britain, to establish the Trial by Jury in the said court in cases of capture. An Act, for confiscating the property of all such person as are inimical to the United States, and of such persons as shall not, within a certain time therein mentioned appear and submit to the State whether they shall be received as citizens thereof, and of such persons as shall so appear and shall not be admitted as citizens, and for other purposes therein mentioned.