A late author has truly said, “Men will not be fully able to understand North Carolina until they have opened the treasures of history, and become familiar with the doings of her sons, previous to the revolution; during that painful struggle; and the succeeding years of prosperity.  Then will North Carolina be respected as she is known."[F]

SKETCHES OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

CHAPTER I.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY.

Mecklenburg county was formed in 1762 from Anson county, and named in honor of the native place of the new Queen, Princess Charlotte, of Mecklenburg, one of the smaller German States.

This county has a peculiar historical interest.  It is the birth-place of liberty on American soil.  No portion of the State presents a more glowing page of unflinching patriotic valor than Mecklenburg, always taking an active part in every political movement, at home or abroad, leading to independence.

The temper and character of the people were early shown.  In 1766, George A. Selwyn, having obtained, by some means, large grants of lands from the British Crown, proceeded to have them surveyed, through his agent, Henry E. McCullock, and located.  On some of these grants, the first settlers had made considerable improvements by their own stalwart arms, and persevering industry.  For this reason, and not putting much faith in the validity of Selwyn’s claims, they seized John Frohock, the surveyor, and compelled him to desist from his work, or fare worse.  Here was manifested the early buzzing of the “Hornets’ Nest.” which, in less than ten years, was destined to sting royalty itself in these American colonies.  The little village of Charlotte, the seat of justice for Mecklenburg county, was in 1775, the theater of one of the most memorable events in the political annals of the United States.  Situated on the beautiful and fertile champaign, between the Yadkin and Catawba Rivers, and on the general route of the Southern travel, and among the earliest settlements in the Carolinas and Georgia, it soon became the centre of an enterprising and prosperous population.  The fertility of the soil, the healthfulness of the climate, and abundance of cheap and unappropriated lands, were powerful inducements in drawing a large influx of emigrants from the Northern colonies, and from the Old World.  These natural features of middle and western Carolina; in particular, were strongly attractive, and pointed out, under well-directed energy, the sure road to prospective wealth and prosperity.

The face of the country was then overspread with wild “pea vines,” and luxuriant herbage; the water courses bristled with cane brakes; and the forest abounded with a rich variety and abundance of food-producing game.  The original conveyance for the tract of land, upon which the city of Charlotte now stands, contained 360 acres, and was made on the 15th day of January. 1767, by Henry E. McCullock, agent for George A. Selwyn, to “Abraham Alexander, Thomas Polk, and John Frohock as Trustees and Directors, of the town of Charlotte, and their successors.”  The consideration was “ninety pounds, lawful money.”  The conveyance was witnessed by Matthew McLure and Joseph Sample.