Thomas Burke (1747 - 1783)

Born 1747 in Galway, Ireland

Husband of Mary Wilson (Freeman) Burke — married 28 Mar 1770 in Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 2 Dec 1783 at about age 36 in Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina, USA

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Preceded by 2nd Governor Abner Nash

Thomas Burke 3rd Governor of North Carolina 1781—1782

Succeeded by 4th Governor Alexander Martin

Thomas Burke was a Prisoner of War during American Revolution.

Thomas Burke is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-125269
Rank: Governor

Biography

Thomas Burke is Notable.

Thomas Burke (b: c1747; d: 02 Dec 1783) was an Irish physician, lawyer, and statesman who lived in Hillsborough, North Carolina. He represented North Carolina as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was the third Governor of the state.

Burke was born in Galway, Ireland around 1747, the son of Ulick Burke and Letitia Ould, sister of Sir Fielding Ould.

By 1764 he had emigrated. Thomas went to Virginia and practiced medicine for a number of years. He studied law, and began its practice in Norfolk, Virginia. He became an early supporter of the American Revolution, writing tracts in opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765. In 1774 he moved to Hillsborough, North Carolina. ^[1]

Marriage

Thomas Burke married on March 28, 1770 in Norfolk, Virginia to Mary "Polly" Wilson Freeman, daughter of Tabitha (Wilson) and the eccentric Englishman, William Freeman.

In 1772 they moved to Hillsborough, North Carolina where, he practiced law and operated his Tyaquin plantation.

They had one known daughter, Mary "Polly" (Wilson or Williams ?) Burke (b: 01 Feb 1782; d: 31 Jan 1869). ^[2]

Political Career

1775/1776: He served as a delegate to the 1775 and 1776 state conventions. ^[1]

1777: Member of the State House of Commons.

1777-1781: Member of the Continental Congress. ^[3]

1781: Burke next won election to the governorship in 1781.

Prisoner of War

In a daring and completely unexpected raid, Loyalist Col. David Fanning surprised everyone on September 12, 1781 when he captured Gov. Thomas Burke and over 200 men in Hillsborough. Col. Fanning paroled most of the prisoners, but he took Gov. Burke and several others to Wilmington and turned them over to British Maj. James H. Craig who led the occupation force there. ^[1]

Soon thereafter, Gov. Thomas Burke was transferred to the British occupying force in Charlestown, South Carolina and he was placed in rather austere accommodations on James Island. Gov. Burke was afraid he would be assassinated, so he wrote the British commandant in Charlestown, Maj. Gen. Alexander Leslie, to either be paroled somewhere else, or to be exchanged. Maj. Gen. Leslie never responded to his many letters. On January 16, 1782, Gov. Thomas Burke managed to escape his imprisonment and made his way back home.

Later years

His health never recovered from his term of imprisonment and he retired to his home, known as Tyaquin. He died there on December 2, 1783, and was buried on his plantation near Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina, USA. The grave site is approximately 350 feet north of what is now Governor Burke Road. ^[4]

Legacy

• The County of Burke in North Carolina was named after him.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} North Carolina Governors:Thomas Burke
2. ↑ https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/burke-mary for daughter
3. ↑ Wikipedia: Thomas Burke
4. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #30950949 for Gov. Thomas Burke]

• NC History Project

• North Carolina Governors:Thomas Burke