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Richard Caswell - North Carolina's forgotten governor By Jan Barwick Dallam Caswell, the last surviving son of North Carolina's first Constitutional governor made a written appeal in 1804 to the young state's General Assembly for forgiveness of tax debts against the estate of his deceased father Richard Caswell. Judgments against the Caswell estate resulting from debts that piled up during the war for American independence had already left very little of the once large holdings of Richard Caswell. If the State collected on its demands, the family's only remaining tract of property would be seized. Mystery surrounds Richard Caswell. Where he lived, even what he looked like are subjects of controversy among historians. Before the war when Royal Colonial government official Richard Caswell was helping establish a city on the Neuse River called "Kingston," he could not have known that he would be in New Bern a few years later participating in events that would contribute directly to America's Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Caswell had been appointed to command the right wing of Governor William Tryon's army to squelch rebellion by a group called "Regulators." The battle, during which the Regulators were defeated, brought an end to the revolt - or so it was thought. The fever of rebellion in the colonies was running hot when the First Provincial Congress of North Carolina met in New Bern in August of 1774. This Rebel Congress was comprised of men who had been appointed by British authority to the Royal General Assembly. They met after each regular General Assembly session to plan participation in an anti-British convention, which was to take place in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774. Richard Caswell, William Hooper, and Joseph Hewes were elected to represent the North Carolina Province in the first Continental Congress. Apparently Caswell's pro-independence activism had made quite a favorable impression in Philadelphia. John Adams was quoted in a statement to Judge William Gaston: "We always looked to Richard Caswell for North Carolina, he was a model man and a true patriot." In April of 1775 the rebel Congress met in New Bern to hear a report from the meeting in Philadelphia, at the Continental Congress. It was during this session of the "unofficial" Congress that the state actually planned to begin their battle against British tyranny. They agreed to boycott the receiving of British goods in hopes of persuading the British to listen to their demands. It was ironic that the rebel Congress was comprised of men appointed by North Carolina's Royal Governor at the time, Josiah Martin. Martin had replaced Governor William Tryon when he was appointed by the Crown to become the Governor of New York. It was Martin's own appointees who would be the first to spark open resistance in North Carolina. Richard Caswell, as one of the delegates, was obviously very involved in the rebellion. When he found out about what was going on, Governor Martin immediately dissolved the General Assembly. The Rebel Congress simply moved its meeting to another place, possibly a nearby tavern, and continued their plans for rebellion. Once again, they elected Hooper, Hewes, and Caswell to represent them at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Caswell had seen other cities and communities preparing for battle against the British. Caswell told of battles in which others had already lost lives such as in the Battle of Lexington, where 37 Bostonians had died. He wrote that "Some will object that it will be acting against the government. Answer them that we are preparing ourselves to defend our country and to support our liberties." In these writings, Caswell said that he would serve as a Minuteman or even as a base private when he returned. Upon arrival in Philadelphia Caswell wrote home to his son advising him to communicate to other leaders in Kinston the need for them to prepare for and drill daily, for they would need to help their neighbors. Although originally appointed by the King to the Royal General Assembly, Caswell had obviously become a leader in the rebellion against the British. It is not clear at what point Caswell's feelings toward Britain changed. For several years between 1754 and 1775, Caswell's political views had remained a well kept secret. He seemed to be ambivalent in public actions. It is clear that he was determined to do whatever necessary to gain independence for the nation. It was after Caswell's return from the Second Continental Congress that Governor Martin saw a definite change and grew concerned. The governor remarked that Caswell had become " the most active tool of sedition." At one point, Caswell conceived a plan to have Secretary Samuel Studwick to defect with public records and hold them at the disposal of the Provincial Congress, thus removing the records from the hands of the British. Martin grew more and more fearful of the strength of the Caswell's forces and planned to escape from the palace in New Bern. He was convinced that he and his council would be taken prisoner. First, Martin buried the ammunition in the palace under the plants in the vegetable garden and spiked the remaining cannon on palace property. He then made a public statement that he was going to "travel" and spend the weekend with Chief Justice Hand. He rode quietly down the streets and out of New Bern to join his council on a British ship near Fort Johnson. There, he issued a proclamation that anyone who attacked him would be killed. The Third Provencial Congress met at Hillsborough, August 21, 1775. There, funds and troops were provided for the Continental Army. The patriots had been able to muster six battalions of Minutemen (500 men each). Richard Caswell was appointed Commander of the Minutemen of the New Bern District. On February 27, 1776, only ten days after the birth of his youngest daughter, Richard Caswell once again Richard Caswell had to leave his family and fight in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge (15 miles off today's Interstate Highway 40 on the way to Wilmington). In this battle, the Minutemen were successful in intercepting a troop of Scotch Highlanders who were heading toward Wilmington to join British regulars there, which would have tremendously strengthened their forces. As a result of his popularity at Moore's Creek, Caswell was elected President of the Halifax Convention planned for November, 1776. Here, the state's first constitution was drawn. Because the people of North Carolina were leery of giving too much power to the governor, the first constitution had strict limitations of the governors authority. The people were in such fear of tyranny that they had gone to the other extreme to make the authority weak. Richard Caswell became Governor of North Carolina on January 16, 1777. Although the constitution was very limiting, Caswell was able to accomplish much in his term. He had the needed support of his executive council because they had grown to respect him. He was said to have been a very persuasive man. It was during this time that Kinston was our state's capital. Some historians say Caswell resided in Kinston. No one knows the exact location. Some believe he lived in "Harmony Hall," a historic site on King Street in downtown Kinston. Some believe he lived in a house on Bright Street, which was located closer to the center of activity in colonial Kingston. However, it is known for sure that official State meetings were held in Kinston and that Kinston was known as the capital of North Carolina across the state and nationally. Caswell's health was failing and he was not able to return to Philadelphia in 1787 to sign the Constitution nor had he been well enough to travel to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This must have been a great disappointment for a man who had given so much to see these documents come to fruition. Caswell's family had come to face great tragedy. Many members of the family died of Yellow fever, leaving children and wives for Richard and the Caswells to take into their care. His daughters husband died just months after they were married. Richard,Jr. his son was declared dead since he had been missing for a year, leaving a wife and daughter in his father's care. Caswell's business had been neglected while he was involved in the revolution. When he wasn't traveling to meetings in Philadelphia and other places, he had been off fighting. This left him financially burdened. On November 8, 1789 while presiding over the state senate in Fayetteville , Richard Caswell suffered a severe stroke, which paralyzed him and proved to be fatal. After Caswell's death his son Dallam was declared the sole surviving executor of his will. It was at this time after paying Caswell's debts to his creditors that Dallam was forced to ask the state to cancel a state tax claim and allow the family to keep their last remaining tract of land. Dallam Caswell's attempt was in vain, and the state was not sympathetic. The tax debt was not forgiven. Perhaps if the General Assembly had stopped enough to recognize the unselfish sacrifices this great American Revolutionary War hero made time and time again not only for North Carolina, but for the young nations that had later become known as the United States, the lawmakers would have been more sympathetic. Richard Caswell had served North Carolina without asking for anything in return. He had represented this state in a manner in which all North Carolinians can be proud. Even today the state of North Carolina fails to recognize the great man that was our state's first Constitutional governor. Very few people in North Carolina even know of Richard Caswell, much less his great sacrifice. And someday soon, when tourists visit the Richard Caswell Memorial, they will first have to drive past a big shelter holding a Civil War relic. Some Kinston residents have tried in vain to convince the State to move the ironclad Confederates States Ship (CSS) Neuse to a separate location downtown, but State officials insist on crowding it onto the memorial to Governor Caswell. The small park on Hwy 70 business in Kinston is the only memorial to Richard Caswell. It was made possible by the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution and other Kinstonians. However it would be appropriate for the state to make this memorial much larger and make Richard Caswell's history much more well known throughout our state and country. More archaeological exploration needs to be done to find the exact location of the cemetery in which he is really buried and the actual location of the Caswell homes. North Carolina should be very proud of this great patriot. It would be appropriate today to finally demand that Governor Caswell, a great leader in America's fight for freedom, be given his rightful place in our history. 
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