State

Old Spurgeon Home Fnmilv .seat of one of the oiliest families living in tlie Piedmont sec¬ tion of the state, this old ten-room mansion is still in a fine state of preservat ion. By HARRY COLONEL William Spurgeon, the first in line of the name to settle near High Point, was a prosperous planter before the Revolutionary War. He was a Tory of pronounced activity and was quick to fall in line with the British army when it first moved into North Carolina. But not so with his wife, Mary Spurgeon, who was an ardent lover of liberty and stubbornly supported the patriot cause throughout the dark days of the Revolution, al¬ ways encouraging her sons to do likewise. Her love of freedom took root in the hearts of her sons and bore fruit. One of these sons, Joseph Spur¬ geon, was thirteen years old when in February, 1781, the British and American armies were maneuver¬ ing back and forth across the Caro- linas and Virginia. Years later he told the story of the time when General Nathaniel Greene's patriot army encamped about his mother's home in an effort to check up on the whereabouts of Lord Corn¬ wallis and his splendidly trained soldiers. Although Cornwallis doubtlessly thought that Greene was afraid of him, the truth of the matter was e /,. TUCK ICR that the patriots were wearing out the British regulars and their titled commander. Greene was waiting until such time as he thought it safe to meet the Red Coats in pitched battle. But it was due to the information furnished by scouts that Greene was able to avoid the plodding Cornwallis. One of these invalua¬ ble men was John Spurgeon, brother to Joseph. "Mrs. Spurgeon," said General Greene, "are you sure that I can put confidence in John?" "Yes, General." was her prompt reply. "You can trust John, if he will consent to do your mission, and I think he will." General Greene called the boy and told him that he wished him to take his horse and ride to Trad¬ ing Ford to see if he could learn of the movements of Cornwallis. John was a prudent young man, fully awake to the perils that be¬ set him, and he set off at once. He knew the way well. and. with proper vigilance, had not much dread. On reaching the Yadkin River, he could learn nothing con¬ cerning the British. He then re¬ turned home, but Greene told him he must try again, that the infor¬ mation was of vital concern to America; and if he still saw nothing of them, to continue up the river to Shallow Ford, near Salem. Young John Spurgeon set out again, and on reaching Shallow Ford, probably thirty miles away, found Cornwallis making a pre¬ carious crossing of the Yadkin and about ready to take up pursuit of General Greene. On receipt of this information, General Greene imme¬ diately broke comp and started for the Dan River, putting that stream between him and the dogged Cornwallis. Guilford Courthouse Battle By that time the British army, which had followed close behind, was about exhausted: but Greene was to give them another strategic race across the river to Guilford Courthouse, where Cornwallis won a mighty costly victory. After hanging around some little time. Cornwallis set out post haste for Yorktown, Virginia, where the patriot army and the French fleet brought the war to a successful close. While Mary Spurgeon feted Gen¬ eral Greene and a portion of his army, awaiting the day when the St leader could unite his forces, nel William Spurgeon re¬ mained a confirmed Loyalist, true to the Crown; and when the Col¬ onies gained their independence, in 1781, he never returned to his pioneer home in the Piedmont. The opprobious epithet. Tory, was too much. He removed to Canada and married a new wife. When he died, it was found that he be- ?ueathed all his property in North arolina to his first wife; all that in Canada to his second. Young Joseph Spurgeon grew to man's estate, married, and reared a family at the old homestead. He named one of his sons John, after the hardy and intrepid scout who so faithfully served General Greene. It was he. John Spurgeon. II, who built the cherished family mansion, still the seat of one of the best farms in all Piedmont. The house was built by Elijah Welch, one of the architects of that day, and only cost $600. The Spurgeon family has been one of prominence in the neighbor¬ hood all down the years. They have been among the foremost farmers in the Spurgeon Creek community. Joseph Spurgeon, in addition to his other varied ac¬ complishments. served in both Houses of the Legislature. It was ( Continued on page 19) THE STATE. July 12. 1947