Gov./Col. Benjamin Williams (Continental Army)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Williams

Benjamin Williams (1 January 1751 – 20 July 1814) was the 11th and 14th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 1799 to 1802 and from 1807 to 1808. He was the first of two North Carolina Governors since the American Revolution to serve nonconsecutive terms.

Williams was born in Johnston County, North Carolina in 1751 and became a farmer. He married Elizabeth Jones on 10 August 1781; they had one son, also named Benjamin.

Williams served as a member of the revolutionary convention in Johnston County in 1774; he then served in the North Carolina Provincial Congress and two terms in the Provincial Council. In 1775, Williams was appointed to the Second North Carolina Regiment; he served until 1781, was promoted to the rank of colonel, and fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

Williams served in the North Carolina General Assembly during the 1780s, served one term in the United States House of Representatives from 1793 to 1795, and was elected governor in 1799 to fill the unexpired term of William R. Davie, who had resigned. Williams served for three years; during his last year in office, he pardoned Congressional Representative John Stanly, who had killed former Gov. Richard Dobbs Spaight in a duel.

The North Carolina Constitution of 1789 limited the post of governor to three one-year terms within a span of six years; Williams sought re-election to the post in 1805, but was defeated by Nathaniel Alexander. In 1807, the General Assembly elected him governor once again, but this time he served only a single term of one year. Williams then retired from politics, except for a single term in the North Carolina Senate in 1809.

Williams died in 1814 and is buried in Moore County. His home, called the House in the Horseshoe, is a tourist attraction.

Revolutionary War Continental Army Officer, US Congressman, North Carolina Governor. Served during the Revolutionary War in the 2nd North Carolina Infantry regiment, rising 2nd Lieutenant to Colonel of the unit. He was elected to represent North Carolina as an At-Large Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1793 to 1795. He was then elected as Governor of North Carolina, serving first from 1799 to 1802, then from 1807 to 1808. When he died in Moore County, North Carolina in 1814 he was interred in his family cemetery. In 1970 his remains were removed from that plot and re-buried on grounds of his estate, which is known as the "House in the Horseshoe" near Carbonton, North Carolina. (bio by: Russ Dodge)

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7688373