RESISTANCE TO THE STAMP
ACT IN NORTH CAROLINA
Lawrence Lee
Professor
Department of History
The Citadel
Cape Fear patriots resist the
landing of stamps at Brunswick.
In 1763, as a result of victory in the
Seven Years’ War, England gained extensive
additions to the colonies she already held in
North America. More territory, however,
meant increased government expenses, and
efforts to force the colonics to pay a share
of these costs stirred up bitter controversy.
In March, 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp
Act, to become effective the following No¬
vember, as a simple method of collecting
taxes from the colonists through the use of
stamps. Traditionally, however, the colonists
were taxed only by their elected assemblies.
Parliament had never before levied such a
tax on them, and the colonists now denied
the right of that body to do so. Resistance
to the tax occurred throughout the colonies
and ranged from verbal to violent opposition.
In North Carolina opposition was wide¬
spread but was most forceful in the Lower
Cape Fear section where Port Brunswick,
the principal seaport of the province, was lo¬
cated. In the fall of 1765, before and after
the law went into effect, public demonstra¬
tions of protest were staged on the streets
of Wilmington, but the climax came in Feb¬
ruary, 1766. Several ships entering the Cape
Fear River without properly stamped papers
had been seized by Captain Jacob Lobb,
commander of li.VI.S. Piper. They were being
held at Brunswick Town, the official place of
entry, located several miles downriver from
Wilmington. These seizures meant the con¬
tinued paralysis of trade. The resulting
anger among the inhabitants was increased
by the kn owlcdge that Brunswick was the
only port to remain closed. Elsewhere, even
though the people continued to reject the
Stamp Act. yielding officials permitted ships
to enter and leave by certifying that stamps
wore not available.
On February 18 about 1,000 men from
throughout the area gathered in Wilmington
and agreed to take whatever steps were nec¬
essary to dissuade Captain Lobb and other
officials from enforcing the Stamp Act. The
following day, determined and well armed,
they marched to Brunswick Town. En route
they slopped at the home of William Tryon
(the royal governor), near Brunswick, to in¬
form him of their intent. Too, they suspected
that Captain Lobb might he there. When
Tryon refused to confirm or deny Lobb’s
presence, an armed guard was placed around
the residence, virtually placing the governor
under house arrest. The main body of citi¬
zens then continued into Brunswick in search
of Lobb. Later it was learned he was aboard
the Piper, at anchor in the river, and a com¬
mittee was sent out to demand that lie release
the seized vessels. After some delay Lobb
not only yielded to this demand but also
agreed that the port would remain open. His
consent, no doubt, was influenced by the con¬
tinued arrival of armed citizens in the town.
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