John Sampson (North Carolina politician)

John Sampson (1719–1784) was an Irish/Scottish born, American Colonial era Politician, Government Official, Revolutionary War Military Officer, and farmer who was a prominent citizen and Patriot in eastern North Carolina.

Early life

The details of Sampson's life as a young man are not known, however Sampson immigrated from Ireland / Scotland sometime in the 1730s to 1740's and settled in the Wilmington, North Carolina area, as he seemed to be a prominent citizen well before the Spanish Alarm of 1747.[1]

Military career

The War of the Austrian Succession brought military battle close to Sampson in 1747, and he was called upon to raise up a company of men in New Hanover County to protect against any Spanish Invasion. Sampson next saw military action as a Lieutenant General in the Colonial Militia of the Royal Governor William Tryon in 1771 fighting against the members of the Regulator Rebellion in Halifax, North Carolina. Governor Tryon ordered Sampson to raise several hundred men from Duplin County in order to help. The fighting and civil disobedience that become so bad that county Justices of the Peace such as future North Carolina Governor Alexander Martin was beaten and flogged on the street by the members of the Regulator Rebellion. With the Regulator Rebellion forces outnumbering the Colonial Militia forces of Governor Tryon by a two to one ratio, and the situation escalating quickly, the Governor was left with no choice but to fight back. The resulting battle became known as the Battle of Alamance, and resulted in between 8-12 killed and as many as 100 wounded. Several of the Captains of the Regulator's Militia were taken prisoner and later executed by Tryon. There is also evidence supporting John Sampson's role in supporting the Continental Militia, during the Revolutionary War.[2]

Political career

Sampson's first true political position was his becoming the first Register of Deeds for Duplin County for the first two years after the counties creation from New Hanover County, North Carolina in 1750. Sampson became of the first mayor of the strategic Port town of Wilmington, North Carolina in 1760.[3] During the tenure of the Colonial North Carolina Governor William Tryon, Sampson was a member of the Special Counsel to the Governor; a position that it is assumed he held until after the Halifax Constitution of 1776 was signed and Richard Caswell became Governor of the state. After the signing of the Halifax Constitution of 1776 Sampson became a member of the House of Commons for Duplin County.

Legacy

Both Richard Clinton, Sampson's step-son and his biological son James Sampson where important political and military figures during the American Revolution and the early years of the 19th century. Sampson County, North Carolina was named in honor of General John Sampson.[4]

References

  1. ↑ County Government "Historical Registers of Deeds of Duplin County". Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ County Government "Historical Registers of Deeds of Duplin County". Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ Locke Foundation "North Carolina History Project". Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  4. ↑ County Government "Sampson County History". Retrieved July 12, 2014.
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