The North Carolina General Assembly of 1783 was the state legislature that convened in Hillsboro, North Carolina from April 18, 1783, to May 17, 1783. Members of the North Carolina Senate and the North Carolina House of Commons were elected by eligible North Carolina voters. This was the last assembly to meet during the American Revolution. Much of their time was devoted to taking care of the North Carolina soldiers that fought in the war.
The General Assembly elected Alexander Martin of Guilford County as governor on April 26, 1782. James Glasgow was Secretary of State. James Iredell was Attorney General. There was no Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina until 1868.
Councilors of State
The General Assembly elected the following Councilors of State on May 9, 1783: James Saunders from Caswell County Nathaniel Macon from Warren County Warren Spruce Macay from Rowan County Philemon Hawkins II from Warren County Thomas Polk from Mecklenburg County Robert Burton from Granville County Marquis de Bretigny from Craven County
Members
There was one senator and two members of the House of Commons for each of the 50 counties. In addition, each of the six districts had one representative each. The House of Commons leadership and staff included: Edward Starkey, Speaker; John Hunt, Clerk; and John Haywood, Assistant Clerk. The Senate leadership and staff included: Richard Caswell, speaker; John Haywood, clerk; and Sherwood Haywood, assistant clerk. Members of the House of Commons and Senate are listed below for each county and district.
County/DistrictSenate MemberHouse MemberHouse MemberAnson CountyThomas WadeJohn JacksonJohn JacksonBeaufort CountyWilliam BrownThomas AldersonJohn Gray BlountBertie CountyJames CampbellWilliam HornDavid TurnerBladen CountyThomas BrownSamuel CainFrancis LucasBrunswick CountyBenjamin SmithWilliam WatersDennis HawkinsBurke CountyCharles McDowellWaightstill AveryJoseph McDowellCamden CountyIsaac GregoryDempsey SawyerBenjamin JonesCarteret CountyJohn EastonEnoch WardEli WestCaswell CountyWilliam MooreDavid SheltonUnknownChatham CountyAmbrose RamseyMatthew JonesRichard KennonNew Bern District Richard Dobbs Spaight, Sr.Richard Dobbs Spaight was elected Delegate to the Continental Congress on April 25, 1783Chowan CountyCharles JohnsonStephen ChambersRichard BenburyCraven CountyJames CoorWilliam BryanWilliam BlountCumberland CountyIca AtkinsEdward WinslowPatrick TravisCurrituck CountyWilliam Ferebee Thomas JarvisJoseph FerebeeDobbs CountyRichard Caswell, Sr. (Speaker) Richard Caswell, Jr.John HerritageDuplin CountyJames KenanRichard ClintonJames GillespieEdgecombe CountyElisha BattleRobert DiggsJames WilsonFranklin CountyAlexius M. FosterSimon JeffreysHarrison MaconGates CountyJacob HunterJoseph RiddickDavid RiceGranville CountyRobert HarrisThomas PersonPhilemon Hawkins, Jr.Guilford CountyCharles BruceJames GallowayJohn LeakHalifax CountyBenjamin McCullochJohn WhitakerJohn GeddyHalifax District Henry MontfortHertford CountyJohn BrickellLewis BrownThomas BrickellHyde CountyWilliam RussellBenjamin ParmeleJohn EborneJohnston CountyHardy BryanArthur BryanNathan WilliamsJones CountyNathan BryanFrederick HargettWilliam RandallLincoln CountyRobet AlexanderDaniel McKissickJohn SloanMartin CountyWhitmell HillSamuel SmithwickSamuel WilliamsMecklenburg CountyRobert IrwinCaleb PhiferDavid WilsonMontgomery CountyEdward MooreJames McDonaldMark AllenNash CountyHardy GriffinMicajah ThomasJohn BondsWilmington District Archibald MacLaineNew Hannover CountyJohn A. CampbellTimothy BloodworthTimothy Bloodworth was ineligible for seat since he was already Treasurer for the Wilmington District.Thomas BloodworthThomas Bloodworth was ineligible since he was Marshal of the Court of Admiralty for the Port of Brunswick.Northampton CountyAllen JonesJames VaughanDrury GeeHillsboro/Hillsborough District Thomas FarmerOnslow CountyJohn SpicerEdward Starkey (Speaker)James HowardOrange CountyWilliam McCauleyAlexander MebaneThomas BurkePasquotank CountyEdward EveraginWilliam LaneThomas ReadingPerquimans CountyJesse EatonJonathan SkinnerJohn ReedPitt CountyJohn WilliamsJohn JordanRichard MoyeRandolph CountyThomas DouganJeduthan HarperRobet McLeanRichmond CountyHenry William HarringtonRobert WebbJohn ChildsSalisbury District Dr. Anthony NewmanRowan CountyGriffith RutherfordMatthew LockeGeorge Henry BarrierRutherford CountyJames HollandWilliam GilbertWilliam Gilbert and Richard Singleton's seats were vacated on May 10, 1783. A new election was scheduled for September 15–16.Richard SingletonSullivan County (became part of Tennessee)Joseph MartinAbraham BledsoeWilliam CageSurry CountyMartin ArmstrongWilliam T. LewisJames MartinTyrrell CountyJeremiah FrazierNehemiah NormanNathan HookerWake CountyJoel LaneTheophilus HunterHardy SandersWarren CountyHerbert HaynesJoseph HawkinsJohn MaconWashington County (became part of Tennessee)UnknownJoseph HardinThomas HaughtonWayne CountyBurwell Mooring Needham WhitfieldRichard McKinnieWilkes CountyElijah IsaacsJoseph HerndonWilliam LenoirEdenton District William Cumming
Legislation
The American Revolution was ending, so much of the session was devoted to enacting legislation to compensate soldiers. There were also acts to name an agent for dealing with the Cherokees, dealing with slaves, monetary policy, and an act dealing with pardoning some loyalists (not David Fanning). The town of Fayetteville was authorized by the assembly. Martin Academy (later changed to Washington College) in Washington County was chartered by the assembly.
The territory of North Carolina extended to the Mississippi River in 1783. The General Assembly established Greene and Davidson Counties in the western region of North Carolina that eventually would become Tennessee in 1796.
See also List of North Carolina state legislatures
Notes
References