Big Celebration Planned for Captain Jack Unveiling (Charlotte, Salisbury: appointed, how much)

[Dave76]

Originally Posted by CLTKing

Can you provide a link to the story? Thanks.

If you mean a link to the story about the big event being planned next May, I found that information in an overview of the September meeting of the Mecklenburg Historical Association. I've included the link below. If you read through the whole thing you'll see the various tidbits of information mentioned above. The part about possibly closing down some streets for the event came from Gwen Cook, Greenway Planner for Park & Rec.

http://www.meckdec.org/images/sept2009news.pdf

[Dave76]

Below is a copy of Captain Jack's personal testimony given late in his life concerning his role in the events of May 20th, 1775.



CAPTAIN JACK S CERTIFICATE.

" 'Having seen in the newspapers some pieces
respecting the Declaration of Independence by the
people of Mecklenburg County, in the State of
North Carolina, in May, 1775, and being solicited to
state what I know of that transaction; I would
observe, that for some time previous to, and at the
time those resolutions were agreed upon, I resided
in the town of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County; was
privy to a number of meetings of some of the most
influential and leading characters of that county on
the subject, before the final adoption of the resolu-
tions — and at the time they were adopted; among
those who appeared to take the lead, may be men-
tioned Hezekiah Alexander, who generally acted as
Chairman, John McKnitt Alexander, as Secretary,
Abraham Alexander, Adam Alexander, Maj. John
Davidson, Maj. (afterwards Gen.) Wm. Davidson,
Col. Thomas Polk, Ezekiel Polk, Dr. Ephraim Bre-
vard, Samuel Martin, Duncan Ochletree, William
Willson, Robert Irvin.

" 'When the resolutions were finally agreed on,
they were publicly proclaimed from the court-house
door in the town of Charlotte, and received with
every demonstration of joy by the inhabitants.

" 'I was then solicited to be the bearer of the pro-
ceedings to Congress. I set out the following month,
say June, and in passing through Salisbury, the
General Court was sitting — at the request of the
court I handed a copy of the resolutions to Col. Ken-
non, an Attorney, and they were read aloud in open
court. Major William Davidson, and Mr. Avery,
an attorney, called on me at my lodgings the even-
ing after, and observed, they had heard of but one
person, (a Mr. Beard) but approved of them.

" 'I then proceeded on to Philadelphia, and deliv-
ered the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence
of May, 1775, to Richard Caswell and William
Hooper, the Delegates to Congress from the State
of North Carolina.

" 'I am now in the eighty-eighth year of my age,
residing in the county of Elbert, in the State of
Georgia. I was in the Revolutionary War, from the
commencement to the close. I would further
observe, that the Rev. Francis Cummins, a Presby-
terian Clergyman, of Greene County, in this State,
was a student in the town of Charlotte at the time of
the adoption of the resolutions, and is as well, or per-
haps better acquainted with the proceedings at that
time, than any man now living.

" 'Col. William Polk, of Raleigh, in North Caro-
lina, was living with his father, Thomas, in Char-
lotte, at the time I have been speaking of, and
although then too young to be forward in the busi-
ness, yet the leading circumstances I have related
cannot have escaped his recollection.

" 'James Jack.

" 'Signed this 7th Dec, 1819, in presence of

" 'Job Weston, C. C. O.
James Oliver, Atto. at Law.'

[lumbollo]

If you had not made the connection, this event is the reason that we have Freedom Drive, Independence Blvd, Revolution Park, Freedom Park and others.

It was also the reason that NC used to have "First in Freedom" on the license plates. (last series circa 1975 - 1987)

[southbound_295]

I love finding out about this type of local history. In the summer of '75, things were starting to heat up in the MidAtlantic. Obviously no one can ever recreate Capt. Jack's trip exactly, but have they attempted to do so, to a degree?

[Dave76]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I love finding out about this type of local history. In the summer of '75, things were starting to heat up in the MidAtlantic. Obviously no one can ever recreate Capt. Jack's trip exactly, but have they attempted to do so, to a degree?

Not that I know of, but they have been having something called the Capt. Jack Bike Ride, a 1, 20 and 50 mile bike ride honoring his ride from Charlottetowne to Philadelphia.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Dave76

Not that I know of, but they have been having something called the Capt. Jack Bike Ride, a 1, 20 and 50 mile bike ride honoring his ride from Charlottetowne to Philadelphia.

I like that sort of thing. That's like the Jonas Cattell run in South Jersey to honor a young appentice who made a cross country run to warn an outpost of the continental army of the approach of Hessians.

Since the schools don't teach much history anymore, I like when locations weave their history into everyday life.

[Dave76]

This is a link to a real good timeline of Mec Dec related events.

The May 20th Society - Celebrating the Spirit of Mecklenburg | MecDec Timeline

[Stripes17]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone contributing to this thread. I've learned alot about something I had absolutely no idea about.

[Dave76]

I forgot to mention one thing about the Captain Jack monument for those that don't already know this: This is just the first of many to come. They're planning something called the Trail of History that will feature at least 20 bronze statues of historical figures from Charlotte's past to be placed along the Sugar Creek Greenway in the CPCC-Midtown area. It will include figures from both the early history and the more recent past. Candidates from the modern era include people such as Hugh Mccall, Billy Graham, Romare Bearden, Randolph Scott and many others. The colonial period, though, is by far the most interesting period in Charlotte's history and there is a long list of impressive candidates. My personal favorite is General Joseph Graham , perhaps the only one who could rival Captain Jack for dramatic and symbollic effect, but I don't know if any decisions have been made about who the next subject will be. The money will be raised by private donations.

[CMPX2]

Great post...I'm kinda new to the area, but walk past the plaque everyday.