To Erin The Complainer, Shew Yourselves to be a Free Woman

To the INHABITANTS of the Province of North-Carolina.

Dear Brethren,

Nothing is more common than for Persons who look upon themselves to be injured than to resent and complain. These are sounded aloud, and plain in Proportion to the Apprehension of it. Our Fearfulness too, frequently augment our real as well as apparent Dangers. Let us adjust our Complaints or Resentments to the Reality as well as the Nature of the Injury received.

Excess in any Matter breeds Contempt; whereas strict Propriety obtains the Suffrage of every Class. The Oppression of inferior Individuals must only demand Tutelage of Superiors; and in civil Matters our Cries should reach the authorative Ear, when the Weight that crusheth from the higher Powers. ————But when imposed by the Populace, to the Populace our Complaints must extend.———— When therefore the Cry of any City, Province or Nation is general, it must be generally directed to the Source from whence the Cry is caused.

The late Commotions and crying Dissatisfactions among the common People of this Province, is not unknown nor unfelt by any thinking Person.————No Person among you could be at a Loss to find out the true Cause.————I dare venture to assert you all advised to the Application of the Public Money;————these you saw misapplied to the enriching of Individuals, or at least embezzled in some way without defraying the publick Expenses. Have not your Purses been pillaged by the exorbitant and unlawful Fees taken by Officers, Clerks, &c.————I need not mention the intolerable expensive Method of Recovery by Law, occasioned by the narrow Limits of the inferior Court’s Jurisdiction.———Have you not been grieved to find the Power of our County Courts so curtailed, that scarce the Shadow u/ Power is left./ This Body, however respectable, is intrusted with little more than might pertain to the Jurisdiction of a single Magistrate, or at least two or three Justices of the Peace in Conjunction.——In Consequence of this, very small Sums drags us to Superior Courts.———These must be attended with all our Evidences, altho many- at the Distance of 150 Miles. Add to this a double Fee to all Officers; hence we are made feelingly sensible, that our necessary Expenses, with the additional Costs, are equal, if not surpass the original Sum.

For what End was the. Jurisdiction of the Courts reduced to such narrow Limits'? Is it not to fill the Superior Houses with Business? Why has the Authority fallen upon this wonderful Expedient? Is it not evident, that this was calculated for the Emolument of Lawyers, Clerks, &c. What other Reason can be assigned for this amazing Scheme?————none Brethren, none!

Has not the Charges of Government been unnecessarily raised, to the great Encrease of the Publick Tax? Has not the Publick Money been intrusted in Hands of insufficient Persons, without sufficient Securities, or due Care taken in accounting for, and recovering the same? Has not this often reduced us to the disagreeable Necessity of contributing or paying by Tax the Sum once raised— but through Carelessness or Neglect, or something worse, uselessly consumed? To what doth this tend? is not the Issue manifestly the Impoverishment of the Country?—fatal Consequences.

The Exorbitant, not to say unlawful Fees, required and assumed by Officers,————the unnecessary, not to say destructive Abridgement of a Court’s Jurisdiction,—the enormous Encrease of the provincial Tax unnecessary; these are Evils of which no Person can be insensible, and which T doubt not has been lamented by each of you. It must have obliged you to examine from what Quarter Relief might be found against these sad Calamities————In vain will you search for a Remedy until you find out the Disease.

Many are accusing the Legislative Body as the Source of all those woeful Calamities.——— These, it must be confessed, are the instrumental Cause; they can, yea do impose some of these heavy Burdens. ————But whence received they- this Power? Is not their Power delegated from the Populace? The original principal Cause is our own blind stupid Conduct.

If it be queried, How doth our Conduct contribute to this? Answer presents itself——'We have chosen Persons to represent us to make Laws, &c. whose former Conduct and Circumstance might have given us the highest Reason to expect they would sacrifice the true Interest of their Country to Avarice, or Ambition, or both.

I need not inform you, that a Majority of our Assembly is composed of Lawyers, Clerks, and others in Connection with them, while by our own Voice we have excluded the Planter.————Is it not evident their own private Interest is, designed in the whole Train of our Laws?————We have not the least Reason to expect the Good of the Farmer, and consequently of the Community, will be consulted, by those who hang on Favour, or depend on the Intricacies of the Laws. —What can be expected from those who have ever discovered a Want of good Principles, and whose highest Study is the Promotion of their Wealth; and with whom the Interest of the Publick, when it comes in Competition with their private Advantages, is suffered to sink?—nothing less than the Ruin of the Publick.————Have we not hitherto, in a great Degree, chosen such Men as have been described? Nay, have they not been such as are dependant in their Fortunes, with great Expectations from others, or enjoy Places of Benefit and Trust in the Government? Doth not Reason declare we might expect such cringing Vassals would readily sacrifice the Interest of the Community to the Idol Self? ————Are not such Persons utterly disqualified for supporting our Rights and Properties?——— Is it not high Time to seek an Antidote against such deadly Poison, before it utterly destroys us?

But you will say, what is the Remedy against this malignant Disease?

I will venture to prescribe a sovereign one if duly applied; that is, as you have now a fit Opportunity, choose for your Representatives or Burgesses such Men as have given you the strongest Reason to believe they are truly honest: Such as are disinterested, publick spirited, who will not allow their private Advantage once to stand in Competition with the public Good.

You grant the Prescription is sovereign: But how shall you obtain such? I answer: Let your Judgment be formed on their past Conduct; let them be such as have been unblamable in Life, independent in their Fortunes, without Expectations from others; let them be such as enjoy no Places of Benefit under the Government; such as do not depend upon Favour for their Living, nor do derive Profit or Advantage from the intricate Perplexity of the Law. In short, let them be Men whose private Interest neither doth nor can clash with the Interest or special Good of their Country.

Are you not sensible, Brethren that we have too long groaned in Secret under the Weight of these crushing Mischiefs? How long will ye in this servile Manner subject yourselves to Slavery? Now shew yourselves to be Freemen, and for once assert your Liberty and maintain your Rights————This, this Election let us exert our-selves, and show, that we will not through Fear, Favour or Affection, bow and subject ourselves to those who, under the Mask of Friendship, have long drawn Calamities upon us.

Should we now through Fear or Favour act as we have done, contrary to Duty and Interest; so far as we do this, we contribute to all the Mischief consequent upon it.———Where then is that moving Principle Self-preservation? Will you, can you, voluntarily submit yourselves to Ignominy and Want? These will agrandize themselves and swim in Opulence.

Have they not monopolized your Properties; and what is wanting but Time to draw from you the last Farthing? Who that has the Spirit of a Man could endure this"? Who that has the least Spark of Love to his Country or to himself would bear the Delusion?

In a special Manner then, let us, at this Election, rouse all our Powers to act like free publick spirited Men, knowing that he that betrays the Cause now betrays his Country, and must sink in the general Ruin.

And as the Inhabitants of Rowan could get no Indictments preferred against their Officers in Salisbury District, they had sent to us, and J— H—r went to their assistance; and by the Letter following you my form some Idea how Matters were carried on, viz.

Salisbury, September, 14, 1769.

Source: Herman Husband, An Impartial Relation of the First and Causes of the Recent Differences in Public Affairs Etc ([Newbern? N.C., 1770), 64–68.

Wanta Bes, Relatively Speaking

My hobby is finding dead relatives. I often get requests to help others find dead relatives. Often times, I am asked to find a fictional character in their family. They want to be related to some famous or infamous person from the past or want to prove their relative was a Cherokee Indian. Why is it always a Cherokee? Why does no one wanta be a Navaho or Apache or Iroquois? Often times, if I find a real ancestor for them, they want to shape the real ancestor to fit their fictional ideal relative. I can never understand why someone would want to hang on to a fictional relative so desperately that they would deny their real relatives.

I have found some almost relatives in Mama’s family that are almost famous, or famous for almost reasons. Mama’s grandmother was Phebe Ann Cox, and the Cox family were Quakers. The Quaker religion mandated that its members married only other Quakers, could not participate in violence, and could not participate in government. And, they kept better records, relatively speaking, than other Early American religions. This has made it possible to trace this branch of Mama’s family back to the 1600’s, father back than any of our other ancestral lines.

The first almost relative is Herman Husband, brother-in-law and step son-in-law of Isaac Cox. Isaac was Phebe Ann’s great-great-grandfather. Herman Husband married first Mary Cox, Isaac’s half sister, second Amy Allen, Isaac’s step daughter, and third Mary Pugh. You see, when a religion mandates you marry only within your religion, in early times, the pool of possible partners was very small. You can google Herman Husband and find out more about his life, because he was a major figure in early American history. His is a very interesting story. He was a leader and spokesman for the North Carolina Regulators prior to the American Revolution. He was a Quaker, but his alliance with the Regulators and other activities brought about his exile from their Church.

Herman Husband was an extremely wealthy land owner who was elected to the North Carolina legislature, and yet he was a radical sympathizer with poor farmers that made up the ranks of the Regulators. The Regulators were protesting against corrupt officials in their local government by refusing to pay taxes long before the famous Boston Indian tax incident. He wrote extensively on the subject of self government. If you read his “Shew Yourselves to be Freemen", except for the old world grammar, you could be reading about our own times. He says “In vain will you search for a Remedy until you find out the Disease.” After being elected to represent his neighbors, he famously arrived at the first legislative session, threw down a bag of hard money and said here are your taxes. We refuse to pay corrupt government officials. Herman’s story is overflowing with many wonderful patriotic quotes.
When the Regulators got into a gun battle with Governor Tyron, Herman Husband fled instead staying and getting killed or captured as did many of his neighbors. Herman Husband fled back to Somerset County, Pennsylvania from whence he came, hiding out on land owned by his friend and relative, Isaac Cox. Being a famous fugitive necessitated a change of name for Mr. Husband. He choose the name Tuescape Death, to escape death. Isaac Cox later sold this parcel of land to Herman Husband.

In spite of being in fear for his life, as evidenced by his name, Tuscape Death did not avoid the limelight in Pennsylvania. He remained an active participate in local government, still raging against unjust taxes. His vocal participation in the Whisky Rebellion resulted in his being arrested and marched to Philadelphia in chains in 1794. Although he was released from prison in 1795, at the advanced age of 70 plus years, he did not withstand the imprisonment well and died soon after his release. He received a pardon signed by George Washington in July, 1795, a few months after his death.

Herman was almost a relative, and he was and is a famous participant in early American history, but now for the wanta be part. When I first started searching the net for Herman Husband, I found stories about a declaration of independence that pre-dates THE Declaration of Independence. You can google the Mecklenburg Declaration and find what may or may not have been the first declaration of independence that is noted on the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina. Weather this document is fact or mostly fiction, Herman Husband is still an almost relative to be proud of.
And, this is not the only wanta be in this particular family tree. Mary Pugh, no relative of ours as far as I know and the third wife of Herman Husband, had a brother name James Pugh. James Pugh famously took part in the North Carolina Regulators Battle of Alamance with his brother-in-law, Herman Husband killing many government troops with his excellent marksmanship. Unlike Herman, James Pugh, did not slip away and avoid punishment. He was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging. On June 19, 1771, James was escorted to the gallows where he was asked if he had any last words. The story goes that James Pugh had so much to say that, after 30 minutes of railing against injustice, he was silenced. His famously said: "The blood that we have shed will be as good seed sown in good ground, which soon will reap a hundred fold." Or did he?

Although this is the story that is repeated again and again by many of his descendants, other researchers have found that James was mentioned in his father’s will of 1794 as if he were still living and had a will of his own dated 1810 naming his wife Jane and his two known children. Odd that a man that went to the gallows in 1771 would have a will dated 1810. Either these two stories are of two different James Pugh’s, or, one of the stories is in error. The gallows quote feels like a wanta be ancestor story, but James is only an almost relative, so I am going to let him lay wherever his descendants wish him to lie.

Recipe

For disaster would be to send George to sit outside a store all night for any reason. If I really want him to do something, usually I can get him to, but I know he would not do this. He is going to town now and he is supposed to get me a paper. I may or may not have a paper when he gets back, but I have a better chance than he does when he sends me for stuff. And, I would not sit outside a store all night for him either.

I was not going shopping today, but it was 6:30 and I had been up over an hour and George was asleep, so I decided to go to Walmarts at Berryville. They are never all that busy. I spent more than I meant to. I wanted to get Hannah one of those doll things with the stroller, and all the other pieces for her birthday that was on special. I did not like the looks of it when I saw it. It was $19 and they had a nicer one that was only $30 regular price. When I take her shopping Monday we will see if this is what she wants. I did get her a doll for her birthday that Mommie and Daddy will love. You put its bottle in its mouth and it makes drinking sounds; take the bottle out and it cries a realistic baby cry. Hannah, the hard hearted, will love hearing it cry; Mommie and Daddy not so much.

Mostly I got stuff for me, a $13 crock pot, a $4 electric mixer, a $4 electric chopper and a 4 GB USB drive for $8. I did get the babies some $3 pjs and sweatshirts for Hannah's birthday. Buying the $4 mixer made me think of Helen. I am sure she has one of those stand mixers. I always thought they were more trouble than they were worth, getting it out, setting it up, cleaning it up, putting it up. The little one I have is avocado green and maybe I got it when I got married 37 years ago. After taking the new red one out of the box, I think I may just keep my old one and give this one to Jackie. The one I have is heavy and the new one is very light. I equate light with flimsy. The chopper is like the mixer, I would like to have a big food chopper that does lots of things, but I know I would never use it because I would be thinking about putting it together, taking it apart, cleaning it and putting it up. This one may have the same problem, but I am only out $4 if I do not use it. It is small and I found a place by the toaster for it. I can always give it to one of the kids later if I do not use it.

And, now, do you want my roll recipe? Every time we have a dinner here, unless it is a BBQ, Mama has to make home made rolls. I have been making rolls for 35 years, and they are one of the easiest things to make in my book.

My recipe is to dissolve the yeast in warm water (baby bottle warm) with a teaspoon of sugar to make sure it is still good. Remember the 8 year old can of pumpkin. Heat the milk in the microwave until good and warm. Use at least 1/4 cup of fat of some sort (oil, lard, shorting, or my favorite melted margarine). Use at least 1/4 cup sugar, but I usually use 1/3 cup and probably about 2/3 cup if I am making Cinnamon rolls instead of just rolls. Do not use just water, but sometimes I use half water and half milk. Thanks to Helen, I use only the egg yolk and throw out the egg white. Add the sugar, melted margarine and about a teaspoon of salt to the warm to hot milk. Add a cup or so of flour to this moisture. Beat it until it is smooth and elastic and looks like a bread base. Do this a few hundred times and you will know what I mean. Add the egg yolk (2 yolks for a large batch, more than 2 pans is a large batch). Beat again. Add the yeast mixture (use 1 package yeast for a small batch, 2 for a large batch or to hurry the process along, 3 or 4 for a very large batch, but I recommend making 2 large batches instead of 1 very large batch). Add flour a cup or so at a time and knead it in until you have dough that is right for bread dough. Make it into a smooth ball, put in a greased bowl, turn to grease the top, put kitchen towel on top and let rise til doubled or until ready to make into rolls. Pinch off roll size pieces, make smooth ball and put in greased baking pan. Place towel on top and let rise till doubled. Bake in 375 oven until done. Take a stick of margarine and run over the tops of the rolls when you first take them out of the oven. I use about 1/4 stick per pan for this. Most of the time these rolls are very good. Sometimes they are not. Helen's egg yolk in place of the whole egg helps keep the left over rolls moist for the left overs that you eat the next day. If you are going to eat them all within an hour or so, you can use the whole egg.

The real secret to making good yeast rolls is to enjoy eating good yeast rolls and being the only member of your household that is going to cook anything. If you want good food to eat, and no one else in the house is going to cook good food, you will learn to cook.

Thanksgiving '09

All the kids were here today and I am very thankful. It was nice enough that they rode the go cart and 4 wheeler a few times. The big girl and the little girl really do well together. They think a lot of each other. Emmy still seems like a little girl to me. It amazes me to see her being a care taker for the little girl.



The boy is doing well. He loves ranch dressing. I had vegetables and ranch dressing dip. I think at home they may insist he eat other things, but when everyone was out riding the wheelers, MeMaw gave him a plate and a spoon and let him eat just dip. Then after he licked the plate, she gave him the whole bowl of dip and he ate most of it. They say they don't let him have ice cream for breakfast either.

We had a very good meal with one of Walmart's 40 cent turkeys, twice backed potatoes, green beans, dressing and home made rolls. I made a lemon pie with calf slobbers, a coconut cream pie, and I bought frozen pumpkin and apple pies. My family are not desert eaters. Only one piece of pie was eaten, but I sent two of them home with the kids.

We have marks on our wall that say Lane and Grandma November 24, 2007. Lane's mark was about 3 1/2 inches below Grandma's. We have a new mark for Lane 2009 that is about 2 1/2 inches above Grandma's mark. We did not make a new mark for Grandma, but I did stand by the marks and Lane said if we made a new mark for me it would be about an inch below the last mark. I think he was being a smart a--. He gets that from Grandpa.

We had good food and a good time and now I have 5 days off to do whatever I want.

Saturday we are driving down to Betty's and stealing a bed. Monday, I am taking the little girl out shopping for her birthday present. She will be 3 years old next Wednesday.