Cape Fear. With these came others who were distinguished for their virtues and their valor, and were the germs of a noble colony. "They were," says Mr. Davis, "No needy adventurers, driven by necessity to seek a precarious living in a wild and savage country, but gentlemen of birth and education, bred to the refinement of society, and bringing with them ample fortunes, polished manners, and cultivated minds.
Colonel Maurice Moore, the founder of the family, was the son of Governor James Moore and Miss Yeamans, and left a family of several children. Among these were his eldest son, Judge Maurice Moore, judge under the Colonial Government, a devoted advocate for popular rights, and decided opponent of wrong and oppression.
He was a lawyer, and was so much esteemed that he, with Richard Henderson and Martin Howard, constituted the judiciary of the Province. He was appointed 1st of March, 1768, associate justice.
This was no empty compliment or idle service. There were five circuits at remote and almost inaccessible points; through bad roads and worse accommodations, the judge had to travel eleven hundred miles to make the circuit of these courts.
But, although he was appointed and discharged judicial duties under the Crown, he was by no means the advocate of oppression. He sympathized with the Regulators in their sufferings, but did not sanction their violence.
He denounced the high-handed measures of Governor Tryon, in a series of letters signed "Atticus," and showed the character of the Governor in despicable colors. This so incensed the Governor, that in a dispatch, dated 1766, he recommends "the removal of Judge Moore, and the appointment of Edmund Fanning." But he continued on the bench until the Revolution closed the courts.
He was a favorite with the people. During the great riots at Hillsboro, in 1770, when Judge Henderson fled, Judge Howard was driven from the bench, the house of Colonel Fanning burned, and his person severely chastised. Judge Moore was unmolested.
He was chosen a member of the Provincial Congress, at Hillsboro, in 1778, and of the same at Halifax, in 1776, and materially aided in forming the State Constitution.
He married Anne Grange, by whom he had two children, Alfred, born in 1755, of whom we shall write directly, and Sally, who married General Francis Nash, who fell at Germantown, 1777.
He died the next year, on the 15th of January, 1777, at home, and by a wonderful coincidence, at the same time, same hour nearly, and at the same place in an adjoining room, died his distinguished brother, General James Moore. He was the son of Colonel Maurice Moore and Miss Porter. A soldier by his taste, by education and profession. He was devoted to the cause of his country, and considered the first military genius of his day.
He was early trained to arms, and when Tryon met the Regulators at Alamance, in 1771, Moore was one of his officers.
On the organization of the military forces of the State, he was appointed colonel of the First Regiment of North Carolina on the Continental establishment, by the State Congress that met at Hillsboro on August 21, 1775.
This was a high honor--to be preferred to Colonel John Ashe and others to the command of the first regiment raised by the State.
He was employed in watching the enemy on the Cape Fear, to prevent any junction of the forces of Clinton and Martin. When Clinton appeared in the river, the clans of Scotland gathered together to connect and co-operate with the forces of Clinton. Moore marched his regiment to Cumberland County to prevent this, and give them battle; but they avoided the offer, only to meet another force,
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