Moses Winslow

DAR Ancestor # A128842

Red Flagged: "TREAT AS NEW ANCESTOR".

A History of Rowan County, NC, Rev. Jethro Rumple, Salisbury, NC, J.J. Bruner, 1881. Page 123. (transcript) http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=charcarpj...

MOSES WINSLOW

Benjamin Winslow or Winsley, as it was first written, obtained a grant of eight hundred and twenty-five acres of land, "on both sides of the South Fork of Davises Creek -- waters of Catawba River," under date of May 11, 1757. A still earlier grant to Benjamin Winslow, under date of March 25, 1752, is for five hundred and eighty-seven acres, in the same neighborhood, adjoining the lands of John McConnell. This is described as lying in Anson County, Parish of

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. This was before Rowan erected into a county. In 1758, Benjamin Winslow, Sr., made a deed of gift to his son, Benjamin Winslow, Jr., of five hundred and thirty-five acres, adjoining the lands of Hugh Lawson, Patrick Hamilton, Mrs. Baker, and Moses White. From these records we get a glimpse of families residing in the neighborhood. The first Moses White emigrated from Ireland about 1742, and married the daughter of Hugh Lawson, named above James White, son of the above couple, and the eldest of six brothers, was a soldier of the Revolution, but moved to East TN, USA in 1786, and was one of the original founders of the now flourishing city of Knoxville. He was distinguished for his bravery, energy, and talents, and was a brigadier-general in the Creek War. His illustrious son, Hugh Lawson White, was a Judge of the Supreme Court of TN, USA, a Senator of the United States, president of the Senate, and in 1836 a candidate for President of the United States. His remains sleep peacefully under the vines and grass of the churchyard of the First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville.

From these deeds, and other sources, we learn that Benjamin Winslow had {at least} three children -- Benjamin, Moses, and Mary. Of these we propose to record a few facts. Alexander Osborne and Benjamin Winslow were near neighbors, living only two or three miles apart. As a matter of course their boys, Moses and Adlai, were early companions and associates. Adlai Osborne had a fair young sister -- pretty Jean Osborne, the rose of Belmont. It was the same old story, told under the leafy oaks of Rowan, and pretty Jean Osborne became the bride of young Moses Winslow. This was in 1760. They settled upon some of the Winslow lands, according to the custom of the day; for the original settlers, tinctured with European notions, rarely gave land to their daughters, but divided the inheritance among the sons. The home of this couple was not far from Center Church -- the property owned by the late Sidney Houston, Esq. For sixteen years their home was without children.

But in the eventful year of 1776 came the first child, a daughter whom they named Dovey. She grew up to be a famous beauty and belle of that region. Her heart was at length won by Dr. Joseph McKnitt Alexander, son of John McKnitt Alexander. Her life was not a long one, but she left one son, Moses Winslow Alexander, who lived about ten miles north of Charlotte on the Statesville Road. Some of his children are still living.

On the first day of February, 1771<sic>, Cornwallis' troops crossed the Catawba River and marched towards Salisbury. In their march several houses were burned down. When they reached the house of Moses Winslow, knowing that he was prominent man, a member of the Provincial Congress, and on the Rowan Committee of Safety, the soldiers applied the torch to his residence. At the same time some ruffian soldiers were endeavoring to cut from Mrs.Winslow the capacious outside pockets, so fashionable in that day, in which she had deposited some of her household valuables. While she was helplessly submitting to the indignity Lord Cornwallis himself rode up, and in obedience to the instincts of an English gentleman ordered them to desist, and to extinguish the fire kindled against the house. Moses Winslow lived to be eighty-three years of age. He and his wife sleep in the graveyard of Center Church, where her father and mother are resting side by side.

Besides their beautiful daughter, Dovey, they had two other daughters, named Cynthia and Roscinda. The reader may have remarked that while these venerable pioneers were apt to name their sons after one of the patriarchs, prophets, or twelve apostles, with now and then a selection from the kings of England, they gave poetical or fanciful names to their daughters -- Cynthia, Roscinda, Lillis, or Juliette. Cynthia Winslow was married to Samuel King, and was the mother of the well-known and talented Junius and Albert King. Roscinda Winslow married her cousin, William J. Wilson, and their daughter, Mary Wilson, became the wife of Ezekiel Polk -- the grandfather of the President, James Knox Polk. Our illustrious NC statesman, the late Hon. William A. Graham, was also a descendant of Mary, the sister of Moses Winslow. So likewise was Col. Isaac Hayne, of Charleston, with numerous other prominent and influential citizens. The old homesteads have fallen to ruins, and the plowshare of strangers, who never heard the names of these noble old families, runs smoothly over the ground where their altar fires once burned brightly. Emigration has borne them away, and in the new States the old names are found. But NC should treasure up their history as an incentive to noble deeds in the days of trial yet to come.

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 1 2017, 17:47:07 UTC

Inscription: Sacred to the memory of Moses Winslow who departed this life October 1st 1816 in the 83d year of his age.

Note: Information copied exactly from on-line Centre Presbyterian Church Historic Cemetery Directory, with update after photo added.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10886391