Person:John Brevard (1)

Anson County, North Carolina Warrants, Surveys, and Related Documents 1-909 Secretary of State, Land Grant Office North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina

No. 449 - John Brevard, 200 Acres, Issued November 26, 1757, Book No. 2, Page No. 163. Location: On the waters of Davidson Creek.

No. 450 - John Brevard, 350 Acres, Issued November 26, 1757, Book No 2, Page No. 163. Location: On the headwaters of McDowell's Creek.

No. 451 - John Brevard, 450 Acres, Issued November 26, 1757, Book No 2, Page No. 163. Location: ON Reedy Creek on the waters of Rocky River.

http://ads.yourfreedvds.com/creatives/popunders/monsterspu_3_176.html

3. John2 Brevard II (Jean1) was born 1716 in Cecil County, Maryland, USA, and died 15 September 1790 in Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. He married Jane McWhorter Abt. 1743 in Cecil County, Maryland, USA, daughter of Hugh McWhorter and Jane Gillespie.

Children of John Brevard and Jane McWhorter are:

12 i. Sally3 Brevard. She married John Davidson.

13 ii. Polly Brevard. She married George Davidson.

14 iii. Ephraim Brevard, born 1745 in Head of Elk, Cecil Co. , MD; died 09 October 1781 in Mecklinburg Co. NC.

+15 iv. Hugh Brevard, born Bet. 1745 - 1746 in Hawfields, Orange Co. NC; died June 1781.

+16 v. Mary Brevard, born 16 June 1748 in Rowan Co., NC (on Rocky River); died January 1824 in Logan Co. KY (near Russelville).

17 vi. John Brevard III, born 18 February 1750/51 in Mount Mourne, Rowan Co., (now Iredell Co. ); died 09 November 1826. He married Hannah Thompson 22 December 1783.

+18 vii. Adam Brevard, born March 1753 in Rowan Co., NC (now Iredell, Co.); died 02 October 1829.

19 viii. Robert Brevard, born Abt. 1759 in Rowan Co., NC.

20 ix. Benjamin Brevard, born Abt. 1761 in Rowan Co., NC; died 29 November 1833 in Humphries Co. TN.

21 x. Rebecca Brevard, born Abt. 1763 in Rowan Co., NC; died Bef. 1830.

+22 xi. Joseph Brevard, born 19 July 1766 in Iredell Co S.C.; died 11 August 1821 in Camden S. C..

+23 xii. Alexander Brevard, born 17 April 1755 in Mount Mourne, Rowan Co., (now Iredell Co. ); died 01 November 1829 in Mount Tirzah Lincoln Co. NC.

24 xiii. Jane Brevard, born 22 July 1765 in Rowan Co., NC; died 28 September 1833 in Rowan Co., NC. She married (1) Ephraim Davidson. She married (2) Epharaim Davidson 04 November 1791.

+25 xiv. Nancy Brevard, born Abt. 1758 in Rowan Co., NC ( now Iredell Co. ); died 1761 in Catawba River Yancy Co N.C..

Notes for John Brevard: From North Carolina Historical Sketches, 1584-1851, Vol. 2, p. 237-8: John Brevard settled himself two or three miles from Centre Church, in Iredell County. At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, his family consisted of eight sons and four daughters. Mary, Ephraim, John, Hugh, Adam, Alexander, Robert, Benjamin, Nancy, Joseph, Jane, and Rebecca. It has been stated, that he died before the close of the war. This is a mistake -- but he was too old to be constantly employed onactive service -- and besides, his family required a portion of his attention. He was, however, always ready to render any assistance in his power to the Whigs. He had instilled his principles into his children, and they bore the proper fruit. As a penalty for it, his dwelling and every outhouse on the premises were burned to the ground. When this happened he was absent. The British army under Lord Cornwallis came to his house, and found no one there except his wife, an old lady. She had received notice of their approach, and had sent her daughters to a neighboring house across a swamp to preserve them from any indignities that might be offered them by an unfeeling soldiery. She determined to remain, trusting to her advanced age and sex, and attempt to save the property. When the army came up, an officer drew a paper from his pocket, and after looking at it said, that the houses must be burned. They were accordingly set on fire. Mrs. Brevard attempted to rescue some of the furniture from the flames -- but the soldiers would throw it back as fast as she could take it out. Everything was lost. The old lady was treated very rudely; and part of her clothes were torn from her body -- but she received no actual personal injury. They gave as a reason for their conduct, that her sons were all d___d rebels, and that she had eight sons then in (as they were pleased to call it) the rebel army.... The war of the Revolution with all its hardships and trials commenced -- the emergency of the times called for sound judgment and a bold and daring spirt -- in Dr. Brevard these requisites were found -- and sprung from an ancestry who had left their native land to escape fromthe restraint on conscience, his indignant sould was roused to energetic opposition, when civil oppression raised its head in the home of their adoption. The battle of Lexington had been fought. it was apparent that the mother country was lost to all sense of justice to her colonies, and that she was determined, if possible, to force her unconstitutional measures upon them. Colonel Thomas Polk took a very active part in getting up a meeting of the citizens of Mecklenburg, for thepurpose of consulting upon what course should be pursued. This meeting was composed of two persons sent from each Captain's beat. It was organized in Charlotte, by the appointment of Abram Alexander, as Chairman, and John McKnitt Alexander and Dr. Brevard as Secretaries, May 19, 1775.

This conduct received the strong disapprobation of Lord Cornwallis. See his orders, page 233. This day was taken up in discussion. Independence was proposed, and Dr. Brevard came forward as one of its advocates. At first it met with oppo¬sition; but all objections were at length removed, and a committee appointed to draft resolutions declaring their independence. These resolutions were drawn up by Dr. Brevard, who, with two others, was selected for the pur¬pose. They were read to the meeting on the morning of May 20th, 1775, and adopted. They were then taken to the door of the Court House, and again read by Colonel Thomas Polk, to a large assemblage of people. The question was asked, “Are you agreed?" It was answered in the affirmative, amidst loud huzzas, a.nd clapping of hnnds, throwing up hats, and every show of approbation, by people who had hitherto enjoyed liberty and were determined to preserve it, or sacrifice everything in the attempt. A notice of the proceedings of this meeting may be found in the "Sketches of North Carolina," by Dr. Foote, and also of another instrument, entitled, "Instruc¬tions for the delegates of Mecklenberg' In these, the principles of civil and religious liberty are clearly and comprehensively set forth. The rights of only one denomination (the Roman Catholic) were restrained. This was very natural in view of the persecutions it had formerly visited upon others - and the document, moreover, came from one whose ancestry had received little kindness at its hands.

Dr. Brevard entered the army as surgeon or surgeon's mate, as his com¬mission will show. In this capacity he continued to act until taken prisoner at the siege of Charleston. There being too much confined, and living upon unwholesome diet, he was taken sick. Having been set at liberty, he started for home, and proceeded on his journey to the residence of John McKnitt Alexander, his friend and a sterling patriot - there he breathed his last. He died, but his principles should live on! The place of his interment is un¬known, but his memory should be preserved, cherished and honored “while liberty has a friend on earth." In the words of Dr. Foote, "he thought clearly-felt deeply-wrote well-resisted bravely, and died a martyr to that liberty none loved better, and few understood so well."