A few words of explanation, as to one of the Trustees, may be here appropriate.  The Frohock family resided in Rowan county, and, before the revolution, exerted a considerable influence, holding places of profit and trust.  William Frohock was Captain of a military company, and at one time, (1771) Deputy Sheriff under General Rutherford.  Thomas Frohock was Clerk of the Superior Court, in Rowan, and Senator to the State Legislature from the town of Salisbury, in 1785 and 1786.  John Frohock, named in the conveyance, was, for several years, Clerk of the County Court, an active Surveyor, and resided, during much of his time in Mecklenburg, employed in the duties of his profession.

Soon after the town of Charlotte was laid out, a log building was erected at the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets, and in the centre of the space now known as “Independence Square.”  This building was placed upon substantial brick pillars, ten or twelve feet high, with a stairway on the outside, leading to the court room.  The lower part, in conformity with primitive economy and convenience, was used as a Market House; and the upper part as a Court House, and frequently for church, and other public meetings.  Although the original building has long since passed away, yet it has historic associations connected with its colonial and revolutionary existence, which can never cease to command the admiration of every true patriot.

In May, 1775, its walls resounded with the tones of earnest debate and independence, proclaimed from the court house steps.  In September, 1780, its walls resounded with the tones of the musket, by the same people, who “knew their rights, and knowing, dared maintain.”

At this period, there was no printing press in the upper country of Carolina, and as no regular post traversed this region, a newspaper was seldom seen among the people.  Important information was transmitted from one colony to another by express messengers on horse-back, as was done by Captain Jack in bearing the Mecklenburg Declaration to Philadelphia.  The people were accustomed to assemble at stated places to listen to the reading of printed hand-bills from abroad, or to obtain verbal intelligence of passing events.

Charlotte early became the central point in Mecklenburg county for these assemblages, and there the leading men often met at Queen’s Museum or College, to discuss the exciting topics of the day.  These meetings were at first irregular, and without system.  It was finally agreed that Thomas Polk, Colonel of the militia, long a surveyor in the province, frequently a member of the Colonial Assembly, and a man of great excellence of character should be authorized to call a convention of the Representatives of the people whenever circumstances seemed to require it.  It was also agreed that such Representatives should consist of two delegates from each Captain’s Company, chosen by the people of the several militia districts, and that their decisions, when thus legally convened, should be binding upon the whole county.