at the bar; but his fame rests chiefly on his reputation as a skilful financier. He is the grandson of the distinguished statesman and orator, Bartlet Yancy, and inherits much of the ability of his distinguished ancestor.
Thomas Michael Holt was born in Orange County, now Alamance County, on 17th October, 1855; is by occupation a farmer and a manufacturer.
He is the President of the State Agricultural Society since 1872. He is the principal owner of the "Haw River Mills," which has done much to encourage the cotton manufactories in the South. They are an ornament to the State. He was elected President of the North Carolina Railroad in 1874; and senator from Alamance and Orange in November, 1876. He is by all acknowledged to be a farmer of unequalled success; a manufacturer of great skill, and a friend and patron of internal improvement, believing with the poet that--
Art, commerce and fair science, three,
And sisters linked in love,
They traverse sky, land and sea,
Protected from above.
CHAPTER II.
ANSON COUNTY.
ANSON at one time [1749] comprehended the whole western part of the State. Its early history is full of incident, of the sturdy opposition of her sons to oppression, and sympathy with the Regulators of Orange County against the unrighteous exactions of the administration of the Government officers, which rose to such a height that the people in 1768 entered the court house and by force violently expelled the officers of the court, and each took an oath of self-defence and mutual protection.
I copied from the Rolls Office in England the oath prescribed, transmitted to the Earl of Hillsboro by Gov. Tryon, in a dispatch dated
"BRUNSWICK, 24th Dec., 1768.
"I do solemnly swear that if any officer or any other person do make distress of any goods or any other estate of any person sworne herein, being a subscriber, for non-payment of taxes, that I will, with sufficient assistance, go and take, if in my power, the goods or other property thus distressed, and restore the same to the party from whom the same was taken. And in case anyone concerned herein should be imprisoned, or under arrest, I will immediately do my best endeavours to raise as many of the said subscribers as will be a force sufficient to set said person and his estate at liberty. If any of our company for such acts be put to any expense or confinement, I will bear an equal share to make up the losses to the sufferer.
"All these I do promise, and subscribe my name."
This paper has never before been published.
In a memorial of the people of Anson County to Gov. Tryon, they complain of the conduct of "Col." Samuel Spencer, the clerk and member of the county, who purchased his office of Col. Frohawk, and gave £150 for it, and they allege that the people should not be taxed but by consent of themselves or their delegates,
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