The demand for independence came from local grassroots organizations called "Committees of Safety". The First Continental Congress had urged their creation in 1774. By 1775, they had become counter-governments that gradually replaced royal authority and took control of local governments. They regulated the economy, politics, morality, and militia of their individual communities. After December 1776 they came under the control of a more powerful central authority, the North Carolina Council of Safety.
Members and records
The following persons constituted the original Committee: James McCay, Andrew Neal, George Cathy, Alexander Dobbin, Francis McKon, Matthew Locke, Maxwell Chambers, Henry Harmon, Abraham Denton, William Lee Davidson, Samuel Young, John Brevard, William Kennon, George Henry Barger, Robert Bell, John Bickerstaff, John Couden, John Lewis Beard, John Nisbet, Charles McDowell, Robert Blackburn, Christopher Beckman, William Sharp, John Johnson, Morgan Bryan. Additional members included: Colonel Hugh Montgomery. The surviving records show that the committee met on the following dates:
Instructions to the Salisbury Jail keeper concerning the imprisonment of John Auston
Address from the Rowan County Committee of Safety to the county militias
The instruction to the Salisbury jail keeper were from Griffith Rutherford and instructed the jailer: "John Auston, late of Tryon County, is charged of being an Enemy To Ammerican Liberty, & also Refuses to take the oath Proscribed by the Counsel of Safety of this Provance. These are therefore to Command You to Take the said Auston Into youre Possession, & him safely keep in youre Gole Till Furder Orders." Griffith Rutherford was commander of the Rowan County Regiment and Salisbury District Brigade of the North Carolina Militia. Officers of the committee included:
The Committees of Safety were authorized by the North Carolina Provincial Congress to appoint officers of the militia and minutemen when officers needed replacing.
First census
In 1775, the Continental Congress ordered that a census of North Carolina be taken. However, the only surviving complete records are those from Pitt County. The Rowan County Committee of Safety reported a summary of the census of Rowan County that was presented in their October 1775 minutes. The Companies referred to in this census were most likely captains in the Rowan County Regiment of the North Carolina militia, which had just been established in August 1775. Pursuant to Resolve of last Congress the Number of Souls in Rowan County appears as followeth—
Companies—Names
Males, 16 to 50
Above 50, Under 16
Women, White
Females, Children
Male Slaves Taxable
Female Slaves Taxable
Slaves Not Taxable
Capt. Knox
165
209
169
142
33
32
66
Capt. Dickson
76
105
77
91
15
16
29
Capt. Davidson
71
129
74
104
12
9
5
Capt. McConrys
5
123
77
99
10
10
9
Snow & Rocky Creeks
27
47
34
33
1
1
2
Total
344
613
431
469
71
68
111
Committees in other counties
There were 32 counties in North Carolina by 1774. Eighteen of the counties had Committees of Safety, according to NCPedia. There are records of Committees of Safety in the following counties:
