John HINTON

                   Colonel John Hinton

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The North CarolinaBooklet,
Vol. XIV, No. 4, pp 225-236, April 1915
The North Carolina Society Daughters of the Revolution, Publisher,
Commercial Printing Company, Raleigh

Colonel John Hinton, of the parish of St. Margaret, County of Wake, province of North Carolina, was a Revolutionary soldier and states man, whose military career began in the internal troubles of North Carolina, 1768-1771. Many years of his life were devoted to the service of his country and State. Frequently his name appears in the public archives and high praise is there accorded him. He was the son of John Hinton, of Chowan precinct, who died about the year 1732.  The part of Chowan in which he lived is now Gates County. Tradition claims that John Hinton, the younger, was born in London, though it is now believed that he was a native of Chowan precinct, born at the Hinton homestead.

Much light has been thrown on the Hinton genealogy in the last decade and a half. Mr. Wharton Dickinson, of New York, one of the finest authorities on English genealogy in this county, has authentically traced the line back to the Norman Conquest. "Earlscott" and "Chilton Foliot" were seats of this family in the County Wilts, England. One of the first of this name to appear in American records was that of Sir Thomas Hinton, knight; it is claimed that he visited the colony of Virginia, which is quite probable, as he was a member of the London Company. He was the first Gentleman of the Bedchamber to James I. of England and Privy Councilor to Charles I.  The father of Sir Thomas was Anthony Hinton, Gentleman, born 1532, died 7 May, 1598, who married Martha, daughter of Sir Giles and Lady Estcort.2  His monument, erected by his grandson, Sir Anthony Hinton, son of Sir Thomas Hinton, is in the south aisle of St. John's Church, Wanborough, County Wilts, and bears this inscription:

"Anthony Hinton Esqr
OB May 7, 1598, aged 66,
grandfather to Mr. Hinton
Privy Councillor to Charles I"

Sir Thomas Hinton was born 1574, died 1 February, 1635. By his first wife, Catherine Palmer, he had five sons and two daughters, four of whom married and left issue, viz/: Sir Anthony married Mary Gresham; Sir William married Mary Popham; Sir John (born July 10, 1603, died October 10, 1682) married Catrina Vander Ruckle; Mary married Captain Samuel Mathews3 afterwards governor of Virginia, and is the ancestress of the Witherspoons of Kentucky. Sir John Hinton came to Virginia with his brother-in-law, Captain Mathews, in 1622, remaining two years; his brothers, Thomas and Sir William Hinton, came to the colony in 1634, but returned to England in 1637.

In 1666 there came to Maryland the first, fifth and sixth sons of Sir John Hinton (son of Sir Thomas Hinton, of "Earlscott" and "Chilton Foliot")--Thomas, Clementand Richard Hinton. From Thomas descends the Hintons of New York and Philadelphia; Clement died unmarried and Richard, it is claimed, was the progenitor of the Hintons of Virginia and North Carolina.

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   He settled near Neuse River on the eastern side about five miles from Raleigh. He took up several thousand acres of land in Earl Granville's office. He died in the Spring  of 1784 in Wake County. His wife was Grizzell Kimbrough (daughter of Nathaniel). His will mentions the following children:
(1) John of Clay Hill on the Neuse (married Pheribee Smith of Smithfield, N.C.,
(2 ) James (married Delilah daughter of Theophilus Hunter),
(3 ) Sarah (married Needham son of Col. Needham Bryan),
(4) Mary (was the 2nd wife of Col. Joel Lane of Broombury),
(5) Alice married John James,
(6) Elizabeth married Thomas James ,
(7) Kimbrough,
(8) David married Jane (daughter of Howell Lewis and wife Isabella Willis of Elmwood, Granville Co., N. C.), the last two were minors at the time of the death of their father, (9) Martha, 1st wife of Col. Joel Lane, is not mentioned in the will as she died prior to her father.

Name Suffix: Colonel

Became Colonel of the Colonial forces in the New Wake County. Participated in the Battle of Alemance 16 May 1771 against the regulators and his bravery was recognized by Governor Caswell in a message to the Legislature.

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Biography of John HintonBiographical History of North Carolina, Vol. 3 (1906)Of all the patriots who lived in Wake County during the Revolution, probably the most distinguished, both as a soldier and statesman, was Colonel John Hinton, who was native of the precinct of Chowan, where his father, also named John Hinton, resided, his home being in that part of Cowan which is now Gates County.It was about the year 1750 that John Hinton, then in the prime vigor of manhood, first came to Johnston County. The part of Johnston in which he settled was severed in 1771, and (with parts of the counties of Orange and Cumberland) erected into the county of Wake. In 1768, when the trouble with the Regulators was in its early stages, John Hinton, then a major of Johnston County troops, went to Hillsboro to confer with Governor Tryon as to the best means of quieting the disturbances. The efforts to quell the insurrection by peaceable means having failed, Tryon raised an army in the spring of 1771, and after scattering the Regulators at the battle of Alamance on May16th, put an end to the revolt. In Tryon's army Hinton was one of the most trusted officers, being colonel of the Wake County detachment, and he behaved with distinguished bravery in the battle.In the war of the Revolution Colonel Hinton's efforts in the cause of colonies began early. He represented Wake County in the second independent Provincial Congress of North Carolina, which met at New-Bern on the 3rd of April, 1775. At Hillsboro, in the following August, he sat in another congress of the like character. On September 9th the Hillsboro Congress elected him colonel of the troops of Wake County and member of the Committee of Safety for the Hillsboro District, of which district Wake formed a part. In the Provincial Congress at Halifax, in April, 1776, he was once more a delegate. He was also a justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for Wake County.At the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, on February 27th, 1776, Colonel Hinton was present, and there the same courageous spirit marked his conduct as at Alamance.The death of Colonel Hinton occurred in the spring of 1784. His wife was Grizelle Kimbrough, and by her he left many descendants. In the South Atlantic Quarterly Durham, North Carolina) for April, 1902, there is an account of the life of Colonel Hinton written by Miss Mary Hilliard Hinton, one of his descendants. In that sketch will be found many interesting incidences in his life and career, an account of his family and also a list of his children. Two of his sons were Revolutionary officers.

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The following is gleaned from David H. Brown which comes from the Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. 3 (1906)
   "Of all the patriots who lived in Wake County during the Revolution, probably the most distinguished, both as a soldier and statesman, was Colonel John Hinton, who was native of the precinct of Chowan, where his father, also named John Hinton, resided, his home being in that part of Cowan which is now Gates County.
   It was about the year 1750 that John Hinton, then in the prime vigor of manhood, first came to Johnston County. The part of Johnston in which he settled was severed in 1771, and (with parts of the counties of Orange and Cumberland) erected into the county of Wake. In 1768, when the trouble with the Regulators was in its early stages, John Hinton, then a major of Johnston County troops, went to Hillsboro to confer with Governor Tryon as to the best means of quieting the disturbances. The efforts to quell the insurrection by peaceable means having failed, Tryon raised an army in the spring of 1771, and after scattering the Regulators at the battle of Alamance on May 16th, put an end to the revolt. In Tryon's army Hinton was one of the most trusted officers, being colonel of the Wake County detachment, and he behaved with distinguished bravery in the battle.
   In the war of the Revolution Colonel Hinton's efforts in the cause of colonies began early. He represented Wake County in the second independent Provincial Congress of North Carolina, which met at New-Bern on the 3rd of April, 1775. At Hillsboro, in the following August, he sat in another congress of the like character. On September 9th the Hillsboro Congress elected him colonel of the troops of Wake County and member of the Committee of Safety for the Hillsboro District, of which district Wake formed a part. In the Provincial Congress at Halifax, in April, 1776, he was once more a delegate. He was also a justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for Wake County.
   At the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, on February 27th, 1776, Colonel Hinton was present, and there the same courageous spirit marked his conduct as at Alamance.
   The death of Colonel Hinton occurred in the spring of 1784. His wife was Grizelle Kimbrough, and by her he left many descendants. In the South Atlantic Quarterly Durham, North Carolina) for April, 1902, there is an account of the life of Colonel Hinton written by Miss Mary Hilliard Hinton, one of his descendants. In that sketch will be found many interesting incidences in his life and career, an account of his family
and also a list of his children. Two of his sons were Revolutionary officers.
   In the Colonial Records of North Carolina, by Saunders, in volume IX, page 344, is to be found this entry: "Field return of the Regiment of the Wake County Militia, at a general muster, October 6, 1772, John Hinton, Colonel; Company 10, William Anderson Fowler, Captain; Godfrey Fowler, Ensign" (answering to the rank of second lieutenant). Also, on page 689 in the same volume, is found the same field return of general muster of 1773."--Annals of the Fowler Family, Author: Glenn D.F. Arthur, Call Number: CS71.F681x"

(Research):Colonel John Hinton II (1715-1784) of The Square Brick House.
Colonel John Hinton, son of John Hinton and Mary Hardy, and wife Grizelle Kimbrough, along with brothers James and David Hinton, came to the present county line area between Johnston and Wake Counties. They were great, great grandchildren of Sir Thomas Hinton, the largest investor to establish the Jamestown (VA) settlement. John Hintons first land record (1743) is the oldest known for what is now Wake County, for 138 acres on the west side of the Neuse River. He built a cabin there. He later accumulated several thousand acres on both sides of the Neuse, and his late built his plantation house, The Square Brick House, on the east side of the Neuse. In 1759 the area of eastern Wake County where The Square Brick House was located in Johnston County. John Hinton was a Justice of the Peace in Johnston County and one of the justices who decided where to locate the county seat, then called Hintons Quarter (now Smithfield) on his brother Williams farm. He was a representative to the Provincial Assembly from 1760-1762 and was a Captain in the Johnston County militia. By 1769 he held a commission as Colonel of the county militia, participating in deliberations to control insurgents, the Regulators, with Governor William Tryon. In 1771 Colonel Hinton led the Wake County militia to the Battle of Alamance in the War of Regulation. They arrived after the battle, but John was one of the Justices who tried the Regulators in a court held at Hillsboro.
When the Revolutionary War broke out, John changed allegiance and sided with the Patriots as a member of the Provincial Congress (1775-1776) and Colonel of the Wake County Minutemen. He fought at the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge on the Cape Fear River.
John and Grizelle Hinton had a large family were one of the four largest handowners in Wake County. Part of the plantation was divided among the sons, and the daughters married into other wealthy planter families. Their eldest son, Major John Hinton built Clay Hill-on-the Neuse. Son Colonel James Hinton built Silent Retreat, David Hinton built The Oaks, and Kimbro Hinton built The Red House. Daughter Martha Hinton married Lieutenant Colonel Joel Lane, the "Father of Raleigh", whose home at his plantation, Bloomsbury, still stands on Hargett Avenue in Raleigh. When Martha died as a young woman, Joel Lane married her sister, Mary Hinton. Another sister, Sarah Hinton married Captain Needham Bryan III, Alice Olive Hinton married John James, Ann Hinton married Lewis Bryan, and Elizabeth Hinton married John James.
John and Grizelle Hinton were buried at The Square Brick House plantation, which burned in 1786. One of the unusual bricks used in its construction is preserved in Raleigh at the Mordecai House, built in 1785 by Henry and Polly Hinton Lane, grandchildren of John and Grizelle Hinton.
Major John Hinton III (1748-1818) of Clay Hill-on-the-Neuse Major John Hinton, son of Colonel John and Grizelle Kimbrough Hinton, married Ferebee Smith, daughter of John and Elizabeth Whitfield Smith, namesake of Smithfield, NC. John Hinton built his plantation manor, Clay Hill-on-the-Neuse, prior to the Revolutionary War, one of the earliest plantation manors in Wake County. The plantation contained 5,434 acres in 1788 and 19 slaves.
Clay Hill-on-the-Neuse was located on a hill on the east bank of the Neuse in Milburnie, just south of US-64. In 1903, Mary Hilliard Hinton described Clay Hill-on-the-Neuse in detail, which then was in a state of a disrepair and had been abandoned. Today, only the graveyard remains, and it is just inside the fence of Oak Ridge Driving Range on US-64, surrounded by a low stone fence.
The two-story house was made of timber and iron nails, painted white with green shutters. It contained a porch the full length of the front. Inside were four bedrooms, a dining room, a butler's pantry, wine cellar, and a lower and upper hallway. It faced east, in front of the family gardens and graveyard. All rooms had high ceilings, hard plaster walls, and ornamented wood-work.
The manor house had many outbuildings, including the kitchen. The flower and herb garden was well laid out with stone walkways. None remain today.
Mary Hilliard Hinton also described some of the slaves of Clay Hill-on-the-Neuse as having been brought directly out of Africa, but once they were "enlightened" in the ways of plantation life, they were forever loyal to John Hinton. Such rationalizations are repugnant today- slavery was rooted in bondage, beatings, forced labor, deprivation and death. Some of the family slaves were "Blind Jim", a groomsman, Buck, the carriage driver, and his brother, Uncle Briscoe. Old Mingo and Mammy Kizzy were captured in Africa and eventually sold to Major John Hinton. Mammy Kizzy was said to be an African princess, but worked as a dairymaid. Jeffry was said to have introduced a sweet pea to the plantation.
John Hinton served in the Johnston and Wake County militias under his father, and alongside his brother, James, and brother-in-law, Joel Lane. During the Revolution, John and his personal slave Uncle Briscoe fought at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in 1776 and served on the Patriot side through 1779.
Clay Hill-on-the-Neuse was visited by a small band of Tories out to capture John Hinton and to rob his home. John was shot, bound and beaten during the melee while defending his family. John escaped and sent for help to his brother, Colonel James Hinton, of Silent Retreat. The Tories stole John's slaves and some clothing, but all recovered shortly thereafter by the pursuing mounted troops under James Hinton. James summarily hung the Tories near Hillsboro.
Major John Hinton served Wake County in the House of Commons in 1779, State Councilors (1799 - 1801), as a Judge (1780 - 1818) and Sheriff (1788 - 1789).
Major John Hinton, along with brother-in-law Joel Lane, and his brother Joseph Lane, were among those who bid on their lands to be the new State Capitol in 1790. The Hinton plantations were considered for the honor, and commission members visited Clay Hill-on-the-Neuse and The Oaks, but instead chose Joel Lane's plantation, Bloomsbury, now the center of the City of Raleigh. The