Col James James (The Silent Retreat) Hinton

https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/hinton-james

James Hinton, planter, legislator, Revolutionary soldier, and county official, was born in Johnston (now Wake) County, the second son of Colonel John and Grizelle Kimbrough Hinton. Little is known of his early life, but he could have been a private in his father's militia regiment in Johnston County. He is listed as a captain in that regiment (by that time in Wake County) at the general muster on 6 Oct. 1773 when his father was colonel, his father-in-law Theophilus Hunter lieutenant-colonel, and his brother John major. Hinton was still a captain when he served with the regiment in the Moore's Creek expedition in 1776; he was paid for his services and the use of his horse for twenty-seven days. By June 1780 he was colonel of the regiment, a commission his brother, Major John Hinton, had declined in 1777.

Management of his 7,000-acre plantation and the 36 slaves listed in the 1790 census, as well as his activities with the militia, by no means occupied all of Hinton's time. For more than ten years he represented Wake County in the General Assembly; he was first elected to the state Senate in 1780 and then to the House of Commons for the next seven sessions (1781–88). After attending the state constitutional convention at Hillsborough in 1788 as a delegate from Wake County, he was returned to the Senate in 1793, defeating his brother-in-law, Joel Lane, who had served for the six preceding sessions. Hinton's election may have indicated the dissatisfaction of a majority of the voters with the selection of Lane's land as the site of the permanent state capital in preference to the Hinton land, which had been considered.

During all of this time, Hinton served as register for Wake County, a position he held from June 1777 until his death, when he was succeeded by his nephew Willis Hinton. He was also justice of the peace for Wake County from December 1782 presumably until his death.

By his marriage in 1773 to Delilah Hunter, Hinton had four sons and two daughters—all of whom are named in the will of their grandfather, Theophilus Hunter, who outlived his son-in-law. Their son Theophilus died young, but the other five children—including sons Henry, Ransom, and James, Jr.—married and had descendants.

Hinton was buried in an unmarked grave in the burying ground at Silent Retreat, his home in Wake County. This plot is enclosed by a wall of hewn granite blocks and is located quite near his house, which still stands about two miles from Shotwell near Bethlehem Church on Poole Road, about one mile southeast of The Oaks, his brother David's plantation home.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Patriot of the American Revolution for NORTH CAROLINA with the rank of COLONEL. DAR Ancestor # A055434

Captain in the Wake County Regiment of Militia - 1775-1776 Major in the Wake County Regiment of Militia - 1776-1780 Lt. Colonel in the Wake County Regiment of Militia - 1780 Colonel in the Wake County Regiment of Militia - 1780

James Hinton was elected to the NC House of Commons from Wake County in 1781, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, and 1788. He was elected to the NC State Senate from Wake County in 1793. James Hinton was born c. 1750 in Johnston County, the son of John Hinton, Sr. and Grizelle Kimbrough. James Hinton married Delilah Hunter in 1773, daughter of Theophilus Hunter of Wake County, and they had four sons and two daughters. He died on 6/12/1794 at his home - Silent Retreat - in Wake County, NC. more at link: http://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/patriot_leaders_nc_james_hint...

"The largest landowner in the early days of Wake County (then Johnston County) was the Hinton family... The Silent Retreat, home of Col James Hinton & Delilah Hunter. The Silent Retreat plantation (cir 1775) was located south of town on what is now Poole Rd, exact location not found. This plantation may have had up to 7000 acres and support of 36 slaves." Information about additional Hinton plantations at link: http://www.knightdalehistoric.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/planta...

References

• The South Atlantic Quarterly, Volume 1. edited by John Spencer Bassett, Edwin Mims, William Henry Glasson, William Preston Few, William Kenneth Boyd, William Hane Wannamaker. Page 182-187 < GoogleBooks >