Charlotte, Fayetteville,Guilford, Halifax, Hillsborough, Salisbury, Wilmington:
George Washington danced here
The story goes that “George Washington slept here,” meaning virtually everywhere. In fact Brother Washington danced at balls in two North Carolina cities during his spring and summer 1791 tour. His diary entry for New Bern puts it this way:

“Thursday 21st. Dined with the Citizens at a public dinner given by them; & went to a dancing assembly in the evening—both of which at what they call the Pallace…The company at both was numerous—at the latter there were abt. 70 ladies.”

And he wrote this in Wilmington:

“Monday 25th. Dined with the Citizens of the place at a public dinner given by them. Went to a Ball in the evening, at which there were 62 ladies—illuminations, Bonfires & ca.” Interesting how he counted ladies while talking, dining and dancing.

The first president’s extensive diary survives to this day. It is not without patrician criticism (“uncomfortableness,” “in a decline,” “as good as a salute as could be given with one piece of artillery,” “trifling place,” “obliged to stand without a cover,” “the falls which are neither great nor of much extent.”)

“Ride with George Washington…” which follows this chapter, tells you much about him as he visited Charlotte. Here are direct quotes on his travels in other NC places:

“Hallifax is the first town I came to after passing the line between the two states, and is about 20 Miles from it. To this place Vessels by the aid of Oars & setting poles are brought for the produce which comes to this place and others along the River; and may be carried 8 or 10 Miles higher to the falls which are neither great nor of much extent; above these (which are called the great falls) there are others; but none but what may with a little improvement be passed. This town stands upon high ground; and it is the reason given for not placing it at the head of the navigation there being none but low grounds between it and the falls. It seems to be in a decline, & does not it is said contain a thousand souls.

“Sunday 17th. Colo. Ashe Representative of the district in which this town stands, and several other Gentlemen called upon, and invited me to partake of a dinner which the Inhabitants were desirous of seeing me at & excepting it dined with them accordingly.

“Monday 18th. Set out by Six oclock—dined at a small house kept by one Slaughter 22 Miles from Hallifax and lodged at Tarborough 14 miles further. This place is less than Hallifax, but more lively and thriving; it is situated on Tar River which goes into Pamplico Sound and is crossed at the Town by means of a bridge a great height from the Water and notwithstanding the freshes rise sometimes nearly to the arch. Corn, Porke and some Tar are the exports from it. We were recd. At this place by as good a salute as could be given with one piece of artillery.

“Tuesday 19th. At 6 Oclock I left Tarborough accompanied by some of the most respectable people of the place for a few Miles. Dined at a trifling place called Greenville 25 Miles distant and lodged at one Allans 14 Miles further a very indifferent house without stabling which for the first time since I commenced my Journey were obliged to stand with a cover. Greenville is on Tar River and the exports the same as from Tarborough with a greater proportion of Tar—for the lower down the greater number of Tar markers (makers) are there. This article is, contrary to all ideas one would entertain on the subject, rolled as Tobacco by an axis which goes through both heads. One horse draws two barrels in this manner.

“Wednesday 20th. Left Allans before breakfast, & under a misapprehension went to a Colo. Allans, supposing it to be a public house; where we were very kindly & well entertained without knowing it was at his expence until it was too late to rectify the mistake. After breakfasting, & feeding our horses here, we proceeded on & crossing the River Nuse 11 miles further, arrived in Newbern to dinner.

“At this ferry which is 10 miles from Newbern, we were met by a small party of Horse; the district Judge (Mr. Sitgreave) and many of the principal Inhabitts. of Newbern, who conducted us into town to exceeding good lodgings. It ought to have been mentioned that another small party of horse under one Simpson, met us at Greensville, and in spite of every endeavor which could comfort with decent civility, to excuse myself from it, they would attend me to Newburn. Colo. Allan did the same.

“This town is situated at the confluence of the rivers Nuse & Trent, and though low is pleasant. Vessels drawing more than 9 feet Water cannot get up loaded. It stands on a good deal of ground, but the buildings are sparce and altogether of Wood; some of which are large & look well. The number of Souls are about 2000. Its exports consist of Corn, Tobacco, Pork—but principally of Naval stores & lumber.

“Thursday 21st. Dined with the Citizens at a public dinner given by them; & went to a dancing assembly in the evening—both of which was at what they call the Pallace—formerly the government House & a good brick building but now hastening to ruins. The company at both was numerous—at the latter were abt. 70 ladies.

“This town by Water is about 70 miles from the Sea but in a direct line to the entrance of the river over 35 and to the nearest Seaboard not more than 20, or 25. Upon the River Nuse, & 80 miles above Newbern, the Convention of the State that adopted the federal Constitution made choice of a spot, or rather district within which to fix their Seat of Government; but it is being lower than the back Members (of the Assembly) who hitherto have been most numerous inclined to have it they have found means to obstruct the measure but since the Cession of their Western territory it is supposed that the matter will be revived to good effect…

“The whole road from Newbern to Wilmington (except in a few places of small extent) passes through the most barren country I ever beheld; especially in the parts nearest the latter; which is no other than a bed of white Sand. In places, however, before we came to these, if the ideas of poverty could be separated from the Land, the appearances of it are agreeable, resembling a lawn well covered with evergreens and a good verdure below from a boom of coarse grass which, having sprung since the burning of the woods, had a neat & handsome look especially as there were parts entirely open and others with ponds of water which contributed not a little to the beauty of the scene.

“Wilmington is situated on the Cape Fear River, about 30 Miles by water from its mouth, but much less by land. It has some good houses pretty compactly built—The whole under a hill; which is formed entirely of Sand. The number of Souls in it amount by the enumeration to about 1000, but it agreed on all hands that the Census in this state has been very inaccurately & shamefully taken by the Marshall’s deputies…”

This was Brother George Washington writing in 1791, when the population of his new nation was 3,929,214.



Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com