Western North Carolinians’ frustrations with dishonest government officials bubbled over with the formation of the Regulator movement in 1768. Regulators protested officials’ excessive taxes, illegal fees, and other mistreatments of the public. The Regulator’s also resented their lack of representation in the colonial government. The movement’s name captures member's desire to regulate their own lives without representation in the government.
One of the Regulators’ main concerns was their taxation at the same rate as the more productive land in the Coastal Plain. The construction of the governor’s home and state capitol called “Tryon’s Palace” in New Bern at public expense did not help convince Regulators that the Royal Governor was looking out for their best interests.
When attempts at peaceful negotiations were unsuccessful, Regulators took a more disruptive approach. In late 1770, the Regulators interrupted Hillsborough District Court procedures by occupying the courthouse and targeting county officials.
In 1771, Royal Governor William Tryon called up the militia and ordered General Hugh Waddell to march towards the Regulators in Hillsborough as a show of force. On May 16, 1771, the Battle of Alamance broke out after the Regulators refused to disband. The Regulators were handily defeated and subsequently disbanded. Governor Tryon offered pardons for those who pledged an oath of allegiance to the royal government.
During the North Carolina Regulation Movement, petitions brought awareness to issues that people wanted those in power to understand.
Here is the Hillsborough Court Docket petition of widow Faithy Smith who is seeking support after the death of her husband John at the Battle of Alamance.
On November 20, 1771, Smith elevated her complaint and petitioned the General Assembly seeking support for her family. The Assembly granted Faithy £100, but that money would not go to her. Instead, the £100 was paid directly to a trustee —Speaker of the House Richard Caswell. He was required to use the money only on the purchase of enslaved persons to provide Faithy with physical labor and support at her home. For Faithy, her child, and the enslaved persons who were bought because of the Assembly’s decision, the Battle of Alamance had lasting effects on the course of their lives. Here is a transcription of the petition,
North Carolina—
To the Honble the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly now siting.
The humble petition of Faithy Smith Widow Sheweth
That your petitioners late Husband John Smith on or about the first Day of April last Inlisted in the Dobbs Detachment And Marched with the Army in the late expedition against the Insurgents and in the Battel at the Alamance received a Mortal wound of which he on the next day after the said Battel died leaving your petitioner a very poor and distressed Widow with an Infant at her Breast and no kind of support except the pay of her Deceased husband allowed by his Commanding Officer to the Time of his Death only which is now exhausted, your petitioner in a low weakly Condition is likely to become Chargeable to the Parish
Threfore humbly pray such Assistance and relief in the premises as this Honble House shall think meet
And your petr will ever pray &c
FAITHY her X mark SMITH
November 20th 1771
If you are interested in researching the Regulator Movement, the State Archives of North Carolina contains a wealth of original records and documentary material concerning the events leading up to, during, and after the events at Alamance Battlefield in 1771. The Regulator Movement Digital Collection in the North Carolina Digital Collections contains a sampling of many of these records.