State

Volume XVI Number 5 July 3 1948 THE STATE A Weekly Survey of North Carolina Entered »■ »ccond-cl«M m«»er. June 1. 1933. at the Postomce at Raleigh. North Carolina, under the Act of March 3. Chief Justice Moore Only two Nor lli Curoliiiian.s over have* b<‘«*ii members of iho Iniiod Slates Supreme Court. Janies Ireilell was Hie first; Alfred Moore, flie sulijeet of lliis sketeli. was the second. ONLY two North Carolinians have ever sat upon the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, both having been appointed prior to 1800. The life, character, and services of Jus¬ tice James Iredell are well known; but the general public is not so well acquainted with the career of his successor upon that bench — Alfred Moore, of Brunswick. The family of Moore was a dis¬ tinguished one on the lower Cape Fear, where one of his forbears. “King Roger" Moore, established Orton plantation, was the largest slaveowner in the Colony, and "the finest gentleman throughout Cape Fear.” Justice Moore's father was also a distinguished man. a Colonial Judge under the crown as early as 1765, but who was removed from his office by the Governor because of his patriotic attitude in connec¬ tion with the Stamp Act. which was so hated by the people of the Cape Fear. Later, however, under in¬ structions from the British minis¬ try, he was restored to his judi¬ cial position, and he continued to serve until the expiration of the Court Law in 1773. He was a sym¬ pathizer with many of the griev¬ ances complained of by the Regula¬ tors, but when they committed a series of outrages in the vicinity of Hillsboro. Judge Moore in his ca¬ pacity as Colonel of the Brunswick militia, formed a part of the force under Governor Tryon which rout¬ ed the Regulators at the battle fought on Great Alamance Creek. A Learned Jurist Contemporary and competent legal authority pronounced him a "learned jurist, an astute advocate THE STATE. July 3. 1948 «»/ it. c. Lawrence and a keen-sighted statesman." He was also a forceful and accom¬ plished writer, and the celebrated letter signed "Atticus," denouncing Governor Tryon for his tyranny, is said to have been the product of his powerful pen. Judge Maurice Moore had two children, his son Alfred and a daughter Sarah; the latter became the wife of General Francis Nash. As his father was a widower, young Alfred was sent to Boston to re¬ ceive his education and while there he became a friend of a Captain in the British army, who instructed hint in the elements of military- science. He was therefore one of the few men in the Colony who knew anything whatever about military tactics at the outbreak of the Revolution. When the Provincial Congress authorized the organization of the first two regiments of the Continen¬ tal Line. James Moore, an uncle of young Alfred, was commissioned as its colonel, and Alfred himself, although only nineteen years old, was chosen as a captain in this regiment. In this capacity he took an active part in the first campaign of the Revolution, and participated in the battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, where the Scotch High¬ landers under General Donald MacDonald were so decisively de¬ feated. Deaths in the Family Soon thereafter the British took possession of the lower Cape Fear. by means of a large fleet which they assembled at Wilmington un¬ der Sir Peter Parker in an effort to overawe the Colony. In a skirmish with a detachment of British sol¬ diers. carried by this fleet. Alfred Moore's younger brother. Maurice, was killed. But so soon as the Brit¬ ish left Wilmington for Charleston, the North Carolina Continentals were hurried to that city, and there they behaved so gallantly as to earn high praise from the Ameri¬ can commander. General Charles Lee. In January 1777, young Alfred had the misfortune to have his father. Judge Maurice, and his un¬ cle. Colonel James, die on the same day and in the same house. There¬ after Moore’s former regiment was commanded by General Francis Nash, and it was soon ordered North to support the armv under General Washington. As‘ Alfred was then only twenty-one vears old. as his brother had just been killed, and as his father and uncle had both just died, this threw upon him the unexpected care of a large family, and he felt compelled to resign his commission in the army. In 1871. when the British cap¬ tured Wilmington, its commander. Major Craig, sent a detachment of his troops across the Cape Fear for the purpose of burning Captain Moore’s house, driving oil his live¬ stock. carrying away his Negroes, and destroying all his property. This purpose they accomplished with complete thoroughness. The British also made every effort to capture or kill him. but he success¬ fully eluded them, and finally • Con'inued on page 17) з