The Rowan County Committee of Safety was one of the 18 Committees of Safety in North Carolina authorized by the Continental Congress and endorsed by the Second North Carolina Provincial Congress. It was established in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1774. Meeting minutes from 1774 to 1776 have survived and are available through a digital collection. The Rowan County Committee of Safety was instrumental in banning trade with Britain and preparing for the American Revolution. One of its major achievements was the Rowan Resolves., original publications from 1775 to 1776, The University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sponsors Documenting the American South, and the texts and materials come primarily from its southern holdings. The UNC University Library is committed to the long-term availability of these collections and their online records. An editorial board guides development of this digital library.
Formation of Committees of Safety The demand for independence came from local grassroots organizations called "Committees of Safety". The First Continental Congress had urged their creation in 1774. By 1775, they had become counter-governments that gradually replaced royal authority and took control of local governments. They regulated the economy, politics, morality, and militia of their individual communities. After December 1776 they came under the control of a more powerful central authority, the North Carolina Council of Safety.Watson, Alan D; "The Committees of Safety and the Coming of the American Revolution in North Carolina, 1774-1776," North Carolina Historical Review, April 1996, Vol. 73 Issue 2, pp. 131–155
Members and records The following persons constituted the original Committee: James McCay, Andrew Neal, George Cathy, Alexander Dobbin, Francis McKon, Matthew Locke, Maxwell Chambers, Henry Harmon, Abraham Denton, William Lee Davidson, Samuel Young, John Brevard, William Kennon, George Henry Barger, Robert Bell, John Bickerstaff, John Couden, John Lewis Beard, John Nisbet, Charles McDowell, Robert Blackburn, Christopher Beckman, William Sharp, John Johnson, Morgan Bryan.
Additional members included: Colonel Hugh Montgomery.
The surviving records show that the committee met on the following dates: September 23, 1774 November 2, 1774 - November 3, 1774 June 1, 1775 July 8, 1775 July 15, 1775 August 1, 1775 September 20, 1775 - September 25, 1775 October 17, 1775 - October 18, 1775 November 7, 1775 - November 9, 1775 November 10, 1775 - November 11, 1775 February 6, 1776 - February 8, 1776 May 7, 1776 - May 8, 1776 August 7, 1776 August 22, 1776
Other surviving records include: Instructions to the Salisbury Jail keeper concerning the imprisonment of John Auston (July 13, 1776) Address from the Rowan County Committee of Safety to the county militias (June 1775)
The instructions to the Salisbury jail keeper were from Griffith Rutherford and instructed the jailer: "John Auston, late of Tryon County, is charged of being an Enemy To Ammerican Liberty, & also Refuses to take the oath Proscribed by the Counsel of Safety of this Provance. These are therefore to Command You to Take the said Auston Into youre Possession, & him safely keep in youre Gole Till Furder Orders (sic)." Griffith Rutherford was commander of the Rowan County Regiment and Salisbury District Brigade of the North Carolina Militia.
Officers of the committee included: Chairman, William Kennon Chairman, Samuel Young Chairman, Moses Winslow Secretary, William Sharpe Clerk, Adlai Osborne Clerk, James Macay Clerk, James Brandon
The Committees of Safety were authorized by the North Carolina Provincial Congress to appoint officers of the militia and minutemen when officers needed replacing.
First census In 1775, the Continental Congress ordered that a census of North Carolina be taken. However, the only surviving complete records are those from Pitt County. The Rowan County Committee of Safety reported a summary of the census of Rowan County that was presented in their October 1775 minutes. The Companies referred to in this census were most likely captains in the Rowan County Regiment of the North Carolina militia, which had just been established in August 1775.
Pursuant to Resolve of last Congress the Number of Souls in Rowan County appears as followeth—(sic, directly from minutes) Companies—NamesMales, 16 to 50Above 50, Under 16Women, WhiteFemales, ChildrenMale Slaves TaxableFemale Slaves TaxableSlaves Not Taxable Capt. Knox 165 209 169 142 33 32 66 Capt. Dickson 76 105 77 91 15 16 29 Capt. Davidson (up River) 71 129 74 104 12 9 5 Capt. McConrys 5 123 77 99 10 10 9 Snow & Rocky Creeks 27 47 34 33 1 1 2 Total (2107) 344 613 431 469 71 68 111
Committees in other counties There were 32 counties in North Carolina by 1774. Eighteen of the counties had Committees of Safety, according to NCPedia. There are records of Committees of Safety in the following counties: Anson County Bladen County Brunswick County Chowan County, Edenton District Craven County (New Bern District) Duplin County Granville County Halifax County Johnston County Mecklenburg County Northampton Orange County Pitt County (Martinboro) Rowan County (Salisbury District)see all references in this article Surry County Tryon County Wilimington District, Wilmington, Wilmington-New Hannover County
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