that might be offered to them by a base soldiery.  When the soldiers came up a self-authorized officer drew a paper from his pocket, and after looking at it for a moment said, “these houses must be burned.”  They were accordingly set on fire.  Mrs. Brevard attempted to save some articles of furniture from the flames, but the soldiers would throw them back as fast as she could take them out Everything in the house was consumed.  The reason assigned by the soldiery for this incendiary act was she then had “eight sons in the rebel army.”

Mary, the eldest daughter of John Brevard, married Gen. Davidson who was killed at Cowan’s Ford on the Catawba river.

Nancy married John Davidson.  They were both killed by the Indians at the head of the Catawba river.  Jane married Ephraim, a brother of John Davidson.  Though very young, he was sent by Gen. Davidson, on the night before the skirmish at Cowan’s Ford, with an express to Col, Morgan, warning him of the approach of the British forces.

Rebecca married a Jones and moved to Tennessee.

Ephraim Brevard, the eldest son, married a daughter of Col.  Thomas Polk.  After a course of preparatory studies he went to Princeton College.  Having graduated, he pursued a course of medical studies and settled as a physician in Charlotte.  Being highly educated, and possessed of a superior mind, and agreeable manner, he exerted a commanding influence over the youthful patriots of that day.  In the language of Dr. Foote, “he thought clearly; felt deeply; wrote well; resisted bravely, and died a martyr to that liberty none loved better, and few understood so well.” (For further particulars respecting Dr. Brevard, see Sketches of the Signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration.)

John Brevard, Jr., served in the Continental Army with the commission of Lieutenant, displaying, on all occasions, unflinching bravery and a warm devotion to the cause of American freedom.

Hugh Brevard, with several brothers, was at the battle of Ramsour’s Mill.  Early in the war he was appointed a Colonel of the militia, and was present at the defeat of General Ashe at Brier Creek.  He settled in Burke county, and was elected a member of the Legislature in 1780 and 1781, was held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, and died about the close of the war.

Adam Brevard first served one year in the Northern Army under General Washington.  He then came South, and was present at the battle of Ramsour’s Mill.  He there had a button shot from his pantaloons, but escaped unharmed.  He was a blacksmith by trade, and, after the war followed this occupation for a considerable length of time.  Being fond of reading he studied law in his shop, when not much pressed with business, and found a greater delight in the law-telling strokes of a Blackstone than in the hard-ringing strokes of a blacksmith’s hammer.  He finally abandoned his trade and engaged in the practice of the law, in which he was successful.  He was a man of strong intellect, sound judgment, and keen observation.  He wrote a piece called the “Mecklenburg Censor,” abounding with sarcastic wit and well-timed humor, making him truly the “learned blacksmith” of Mecklenburg county.