War of the Regulation

Profile managers: SJ Baty [send private message] and Juliet Wills [send private message]

Introduction

The War of the Regulation was an uprising in the British North America's Carolina colonies, lasting from about 1765 to 1771, in which citizens took up arms against colonial officials. Though the rebellion did not change the power structure, some historians consider it a catalyst to the American Revolutionary War.^[1]

British Royal Governor William Tryon confronts the North Carolina Regulators in 1771.

The war marched into high gear with the signing of a petition presented to Royal Governor Tryon protesting taxes. The petition dated May 1768 lists over 1,400 signers that should be awarded the War of Regulation category.

The War terminated with the Battle of Alamance. The government won. Regulators were shot and hung. Many fled to South Carolina or Indian Territory in western North Carolina. Those who fled are known as the Refugees from Alamance.

The Battle of Alamance depicted in a postcard by artist J. Steeple Davis.

To search the list of hundreds of petitioners below click Ctrl + f. Enter the last name of your patriot in the search box. Do not use the search box provided on the site. Be sure to take into account colonial spelling and name variations. Both Barnes and Barns are examples that appear on the list from UNC.

A more detailed description of the War may be found on Wikipedia.

Religious implications and atrocities are discussed at TAMU and UNC Press

The list is just a starting point there were many other involved in the Regulator Movement.

Resources

• North Carolina Colony Resource Page
• British Carolina Resource Page

Research Notes

New sources to be fleshed out:

• Revolutionary North Carolina
• Carolana North Carolina War of the Regulation Carolana.com
• North Carolina History Project, North Carolina History.org, Herman Husband
• North Carolina History Project, North Carolina History.org, James Emerson
• Battle of Alamance at NCpedia.org
• http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org//mckstmerreg4.htm Captain Benjamin Merrell & The Regulators of Colonial North Carolina: The Battle of Alamance]

Project Members

Post your name here and what you're working on:

• SJ Baty - Developing project page, attracting new members, labeling and templating veterans, etc.
• Juliet Wills Developing project page via sourcing.
• Scott McClain Building out profile of Robert Thompson.

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. "War of the Regulation." Wikipedia. Accessed 24 August 2019 by SJ Baty.

• Lutie Andrews McCorkle, Was Alamance the first battle of the Revolution? Raleigh, E.M. Uzzell & Co., printers, 1903, p. 6; HathiTrust.org, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t8hd84357&view=1up&seq=1. (Statement by author that the major historians BANCROFT, LOSSING, HAWKS, WHEELER, SWAIN, AND GRAHAM all supported the ideal that the Battle of Alamance was the first Battle of the Revolution...) Accessed 12 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Preface to Volume 7 of the Colonial Records of North Carolina: The Governor's Palace, The War of the Regulation," 1886, Volume 7, Preface iii - xxxiv, The Governor's Palace, Preface xii (Extreme taxation on the poorer frontier counties for costs), The War of the Regulation, Preface xiv-xxxiv( Extortion by county officials, Unlawful taxation by the provincial government, and Unequal distribution of benefits and burdens of the provincial government); Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina; Volume 7, Preface iii-xxxiv; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-es01. Accessed 4 Nov 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• Jameson, J. Franklin , ed. “The Origins of the Regulation in North Carolina,” by Professor Archibald Henderson. The American Historical Review, Vol. XXI, No. 2, Jan 1916, pp. 320–32. London: The Macmillan Company, 1916. ( Granville County and The Nutbush Paper) archive.org, https://archive.org/details/americanhistoricv21jame/page/320. Accessed 3 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• McConville, Brandon. "Bad Guys and Good Guys." Review of Breaking Loose Together: the Regulator Rebellion in Pre-Revolutionary North Carolina, by Marjoleine Kars. Common-place, v.3, n. 1, October 2002. Sponsored by the American Antiquarian Society and the University of Connecticut. http://commonplace.online/article/bad-guys-good-guys/. Accessed 12 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 1 - Public notice concerning the actions of public officials, Aug 1766," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 249-250, 1766; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr07-0129. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 2 - Minutes of a meeting of inhabitants of Deep River, 20 Aug 1766;" Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Page 251, 1766; http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr07-0132. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 3 - Minutes of a meeting of inhabitants of Orange County, October 1766;" Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 251-252, 1766; http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr07-0386. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 4 - Association concerning meetings to investigate the actions of public officials, Jan 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 671-672, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr07-0244. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 5 - Address from inhabitants near Haw River to the Orange County Vestry and General Assembly representatives, 22 March 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 699-700, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr07-0264. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 6 - Minutes of a meeting of the Regulators, 4 April 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 702-703, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0385. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 7 - Minutes of a meeting of the Regulators, 25 April 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Page 716, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0277. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 8 - Minutes of a meeting of the Regulators, 30 April 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 731-732, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0288. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulator Advertisement No. 9 - Petition from the Regulators concerning public fees, May 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 733-737, 1768 ( 478 names of Regulators, Germans counted but not listed) https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0289. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 10 - Minutes of a meeting of the Regulators, 21 May 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 758-759, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0306. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulators' Advertisement No. 11 - Petition from the Regulators concerning taxes and fees for public officials, 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 759-766, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0307. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Association by some inhabitants of Anson County concerning the payment of taxes (Oath of the Regulators) April 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina; Volume 07, Page 726, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0284. Accessed 4 Nov 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Minutes of the Committee of the Regulators, 30 May 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 766-767, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0308. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Letter from the Regulators to William Tryon, 19 Aug 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 810-811, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0334. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Letter from the Regulators to William Tryon, 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 811-812, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0335. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Advertisement by the Regulators concerning theft of money from Edmund Fanning, 20 Nov 1770," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 08, Page 260, 1770; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr08-0152. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Proclamation by William Tryon concerning public fees, 21 July 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 795-796; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0326. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Governor William Tryon: Expense for Governor's Mansion, 1767;" North Carolina Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, State Library of North Carolina, North Carolina Digital Collections, 1767; http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p16062coll24/id/13456/rec/6. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• Daniel W. Barefoot, “Tryon Palace.” NCpedia. 2006. https://www.ncpedia.org/tryon-palace. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Article from the Boston Chronicle concerning recent events in North Carolina, Nov 1768," (Taxes for building a house for the Governor); Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 864-866, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0359. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Regulator Papers, 1766-1781," Collection No. 00626-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library Digital Collections, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/00626/#folder_1#1 (Collection Title: Regulator Papers, 1766-1781, 83 digital scans, chiefly from William Butler, 1768-1773, Regulator Leader, Battle of Alamance. (Of particular interest: Folder 1: Papers: Scan 14, discussion of Wm Butler, Harmon Husbands, Rednap Howell as outlawed men; Folder 1: Papers: Scan 16 & Scan 17, List of #1-#19 Letters outlined in collection; Folder 1: Papers: Scan 19, Letter Gov. Tryon to Wm Butler, Aug. 1, 1768, taxes; Folder 1: Papers: Scan 47-49, Letter James Hunter to Wm Butler, Nov. 6, 1772; Folder 1: Papers: Scan 61, Letter Herman Husband to Wm Butler, 7 Feb 1769; Folder 1: Papers: Scan 62-64, Letter James Hunter to Maurice Moore, Esq. New Bern, 23 Nov 1770, ending in questions to Moore about government officials' extortion of fees and unequal justice of Regulator court trails.) Accessed 1 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Petition by the Regulators concerning legal redress for grievances, 1768," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 812-813, 1768; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0336. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Petition from inhabitants of Orange County concerning fees for lawsuits against debtors, 1768;" Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 874-875; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0368. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Petition from inhabitants of Halifax County concerning the scarcity of currency in North Carolina, 1768;" (67 names); Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 07, Pages 866-867; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr07-0361. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Governor William Tryon: Petition of Orange County, 1768," North Carolina Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, State Library of North Carolina, North Carolina Digital Collections, (Signature pages) http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p16062coll24/id/13675. Accessed 1 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Petition from inhabitants of Anson County concerning taxes and fees for public officials, October 09, 1769;" Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 08, Pages 75-80, 1769; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr08-0060. Accessed 1 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Deposition of Ralph McNair concerning the regulators at the Hillsborough District Superior Court, October 09, 1770," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 08, Page 245, 1770; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr08-0142. Accessed 3 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, December 05, 1770 - January 26, 1771," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 25, Pages 519a-519d, An Act for preventing Tumultuous and riotous Assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectually punishing the Rioters, and for restoring and preserving the public peace of this Province (Riot Act), Ratified 15 January, 1771; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr25-0053. Accessed 3 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• Troy L. Kickler. "Johnston's Riot Act," North Carolina History Project, northcarolinahistory.org, https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/johnston-riot-act/. Accessed 3 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Journal of the military campaign against the Regulators, April 21, 1771 - June 21, 1771;" Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 19, Pages 837-854, 1771; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr19-0008. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Article from the Boston Gazette concerning the Battle of Alamance, July 1771;" Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 08, Pages 615-616, 1771; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr08-0234. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Proclamation by William Tryon concerning a reward for the capture of Regulator leaders, June 09, 1771," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 08, Page 617, 1771; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr08-0236. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Proclamation by William Tryon concerning a pardon for rioters, June 11, 1771;" (except the Outlaws, Prisioners, and named Mecklenburg County rioters); Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 08, Pages 617-618, 1771; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr08-0237. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• Tryon, William."Letter from William Tryon to Wills Hill, Marquis of Downshire, December 14, 1771;" (Six Regulator executions suspended), Tryon's Letter Book. Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 08, Page 635, 1771; https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr08-0252. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• "Letter from "Atticus" to William Tryon [as printed in the Virginia Gazette] 1771," Documenting the American South, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Volume 08, Pages 718-727, 1771, https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr08-0370. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.
• Fitch, William Edward. Some Neglected History of North Carolina: being and Account of the Revolution of the Regulators and of the Battle of Alamance, the First Battle of the American Revolution. NY: Fitch, 1914, Call No. 2225563, Library of Congress Collection, archive.org (Chapter II, pp. 53-54, Causes leading to the Confederation of the Regulators, Image 68 of 346 & 54 of 307: 1-Law prohibiting emitting a currancy, 2-Extravagant taxation by the Governor, 3- Religious intolerance, 4- Extortion of funds by governmental officials); https://archive.org/details/someneglectedhis00fitc/page/n67. Accessed 2 Oct 2019 by Juliet Wills.