Maj. Matthew McCauley

Notes:

View Historical Notes for Matthew McCauley The will reference in these notes names slaves.

• Having emigrated from Ireland to North Carolina in the 1770s before the Revolutionary War, Matthew became well known. According to William V. Burlingame in his historical summary of The McCauley Family Cemetery (March 2017), subsection The McCauleys in North Carolina,
  
  "There is one source which refers to them as half-brothers, but as far as is known they were brothers, born in 1747 and 1750, whose father was Erin McCauley in the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim...
  
  "...Within months of their arrival in North Carolina, matters continued to deteriorate between England and the colonies. Matthew served in the Continental Army, and wintered in 1777-78 at Valley Forge with General Washington. He mustered out and then re-enlisted and served at the Battle at Whitesell’s Mill and the Battle of Guilford Courthouse as well as in battles or skirmishes in South Carolina and Georgia. In 1781, he was guarding Governor Burke in Hillsborough when Tory Loyalist Edmund Fanning swept through town and captured him and the governor. For months he was imprisoned at sea on the British prison ship, the “Eske,” before returning to Orange County in a prisoner exchange but in a deteriorated condition due to maltreatment aboard. His wife Martha attested to this when she later applied for a widow’s pension in 1837. Matthew left the Continental Army as a captain, but for some reason he was mistakenly referred to as “major” or “colonel” from time to time.
  
  "The Revolutionary War ended with the American victory at Yorktown late in 1781. Matthew had married Martha Johnston in 1780 and had acquired his first and possibly only land grant in 1782—although that 100 acres was said to border on another property also deeded to him. Although the legal documents we have involving Matthew are rendered in the flowery cursive of that time by hired scribes, Martha also demonstrated in her affidavit that he was literate by showing the family bible in which Matthew had himself inscribed six of their ten children’s names. For many reasons, Matthew held enormous antipathy for the British and the local Tories. Kemp Battle, UNC’s historian, describes him as a man of only modest size, who nonetheless, when encountering such a man of Loyalist sentiment, would challenge the erstwhile Tory to fisticuffs on the spot."
  
  Matthew McCauley - Summary of the Military History during the Revolutionary War
  
  In 1811, at age 60 (some 10 years before his death in 1821), Matthew drafted a rather comprehensive will. Indisputably, he was a very wealthy man, residing with his wife and several minor children who were still at home at his mill site, plantation, and the blacksmithing enterprise, presumably all on Morgan Creek. To his wife he left “the home Plantation whereupon we now live with the mill,” together with furnishings, horses, and her choice of livestock, and “also two negroes by the name of Isaac and Nell.” He and Martha had nine surviving children and to the four males he divided up 12 or more tracts of land (certainly totaling more than a thousand acres comprised mostly of homesteads and plantations plus one tract in Chapel Hill). He assigned one slave each by name to nine of the children. Whatever was left over of his estate would then be divided equally among all nine. A census which listed the numbers of slaves in each household in 1790 reported his 10 slaves--a number of slaves in excess of that owned by most Orange County citizens. Also of note is that in 1797, Matthew joined with two other prominent personages in the county and they, together with a former Methodist minister, founded the Damascus Congregational Christian Church. Over two hundred years later this church continues in its Congregational Christian denomination and meets at its long standing rural location.
  
  In the years following Matthew’s death, and until her death, Martha claimed a pension, the entitlement due to his extensive service in the Continental Army. She was, however, too ill to travel to the courthouse in Hillsborough and she was interviewed at home by a justice of the peace. In the subsequent account Martha seems to contradict a few aspects of the history as it has come down. She stated, for example, that Matthew’s brother William had actually preceded him in coming to North Carolina. Martha died in 1848 at age 88 and was buried alongside Matthew at the family cemetery on the ridge above Morgan Creek. (end of Burlingame reference information)


• Bruce and Mattie Atwater's daughter, Billie Atwater Strowd, married James Bryant "J.B." Johns of Durham and Chapel Hill. Billie was a direct descendent of Orange County residents state Legislator Matthew Atwater and his grand-father Capt. Matthew McCauley. During the Revolutionary War McCauley survived the harsh Pennsylvania weather at Valley Forge to return to Orange County where he donated 250 acres of land to assist in the founding of the University of North Carolina. from www.ncgenweb.us/ncwarren/fam-hist/alston-wm.htm


• McCauley Mill
  
  This mill was where University Lake Dam was built in the 1920's on Morgan Creek in Carrboro. Battle's History of UNC (1907) says: "Thomas Connelly was once owner of the Matthew Mccauley mill tract." But there is no evidence that Connelly ever built a mill there. The first mill on this site was probably built shortly after Matthew Mccauley petitioned the Orange Court for a mill in 1793 (Archives).
  
  Apparently some time about 1860, Matthew J W Mccauley struck up a deal with millwright Berry Davidson to rebuild or improve the family millsite. Davidson thereby gained an interest in the mill for sometime. Davidson apparently raised the height of the dam to 13 feet and thereby flooded some of James Tilly's land (Orange DB 38, pg 218). Davidson relinquished his interest to Mccauley in 1866 (Orange DB 38, pg 219) for $1,500.
  
  Above from www.hawrivermills.pbworks.co/Mccauley-Mill
  
  Related: Berry Davidson was a millwright who built several mills in Orange and Alamance Counties. He was definitely involved in the Mccauley Mill and was the owner of the Altamahaw Mill.


• A HISTORY OF THE 1793 CORNERSTONE LAYING
  
  Our tale is complex. It comes in part from well-established historical sources and in part from the oral history of the McCauley family to which one of us (KBN) belongs. The first question is, "Why was the University placed at New Hope Chapel Hll?
  
  One version is related to General William R. Davie's drinking habits. It has been said that, while having lunch in the vicinity of the Davie Poplar, he was overcome and made the decision to locate the University there when he aroused. The truth is more prosaic: it was the outcome of a complicated political process. The General Assembly decided in January 1792 that the University should be located near the center of the state. The trustees then decided that it should be located within 15 miles of either Raleigh, Hillsborough, Pittsboro, Smithfield, two sites in Granville County, or Cyprett's Bridge across New Hope Creek. The latter was chosen when all the courthouse towns were eliminated and the Granville County sites found unsuitable. A committee visited several potential sites in the target area, and Chapel Hill was selected because its bid was the largest: 1290 acres of land and about $1500 in cash! Professor Archibald Henderson attributes the winning Orange County bid to the covert activities of James Hogg, a friend of Davie's and a member of the selection committee. Now, who were the McCauleys and what role did they play?
  
  Matthew McCauley and his brother William emigrated from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, to the Carolinas before the Revolutionary War. They bought land in Orange County so named to honor the Protestants of Northern Ireland and prospered. Matthew, the younger, had been involved in a scrape in Ireland and had to be smuggled out of the country in a molasses cask. He acquired the nickname "Bung" because William had fed him through the bung-hole of the cask until they were well out to sea.
  
  Both McCauleys donated land for the University, Matthew 150 and William 100 acres. Matthew ("Bung") operated a grist mill on Morgan's Creek at the site of the present University Lake dam and was reputed to make the best Irish whiskey in the state. Both were present at the laying of the cornerstone of Old East on October 12, 1792 (known since 1877 as University Day). Several things happened that day which are not recorded in the history books, and Matthew was a major player behind the scenes.
  
  Cornerstone laying was serious business in an earlier age when buildings were constructed for permanence but is ignored today in our rapidly constructed, disposable buildings. Because of the absence of a royal family in republican America, the ceremony of laying cornerstones became the responsibility of Freemasons.
  
  Freemasonry is a secret order which grew out of the guilds of stone masons which built the cathedrals of Europe in the Middle Ages. It has been most prominent in the United Kingdom and the countries derived therefrom: Australia, and four million of the estimated five million living members are in the U.S. Masonry is characterized by secrecy, a tradition of high morality, and catholicity. It is not a religion and, although predominantly Protestant in Anglo-Saxon countries, does not exclude Catholics and Jews. It is not a patriotic or political organization, but American politicians have found identification with it to be advantageous. There is a parallel and independent black Masonic society, the Order of Prince William, which originated in London during the slavery era and still flourishes.
  
  The McCauleys were Master Masons and belonged to the Eagle Lodge of Hillsborough which had been asked to provide support at the laying of Old East's cornerstone. Since General William R. Davie, regarded by many as the founder of the University, was also the Grand Master of Masons for North Carolina it was fitting that he officiate. A mural on the west wall of the lobby of the downtown Chapel Hill Post office records what is believed to have occurred. History suggests that something slightly different seems to have taken place.
  
  General Davie came up to Hillsborough from New Bern for the occasion and "opened" the Eagle Lodge to legitimize the laying of the cornerstone. Details of the occasion can he found in the University histories of President Battle and Professor Archibald Henderson, Battle even recording the names of the prominent men in attendance and the accomplishments of their descendants. At this point oral history takes over.
  
  A legend in the McCauley family is that the Post Office mural is incorrect in two respects. First, General Davie should have been wearing a hat. (Masons will understand why.) Second, the stone was not lowered into place by a hoist and windlass. The family says that the stone was heavier than anticipated, and the hoist rope broke. When this occurred, "Bung" McCauley, a small man, turned to Big Dave, his body servant, a 6'5" slave who weighed 300 lbs., and said, "Dave, pick it up and put it in place." The story is that Dave put his arms around the stone and lifted it onto the spot designated by General Davie. Then, after a suitable oration by the Rev. Dr. Samuel E. McCorkle and the sealing of documents and Masonic "jewels" in the cavity of the cornerstone, the party repaired to a nearby spring for refreshments.
  
  Another McCauley legend is that "Bung" furnished the chief "refreshment." It is said that earlier in the day Dave had placed a 25-gallon keg of their best whiskey in their cart, and this became the centerpiece of the post-ceremony conviviality. General Davie was a heavy drinker, and the cup made many rounds. As nightfall approached, the well-oiled General said his goodbyes, and departed for New Bern. Unfortunately, the Masonic Grand Master had forgotten before departing to "close" the Eagle Lodge. It remained "open" until the Grand Master's next visit, more than a year later. It is said that by lying open for more than a year, the Eagle Lodge of Hillsborough achieved a distinction unique in Masonic history.
  
  We decided to investigate the present state of the cornerstone in view of the upcoming Bicentennial celebrations. To our astonishment, we were unable to find it. We then discovered that Old East's cornerstone had been vandalized and its brass plate stolen. This must have occurred sometime between the end of the Civil War and the re-opening by new trustees after the post Civil War closure (1871-75). It is known that cornerstones were also laid for Old West and South (and probably for Person), but our search uncovered none of these.
  
  Our hypothesis about the mysterious cornerstone caper is that a band of vandals attacked the empty and unprotected buildings in search of the Masonic "jewels" known to have been placed in the cornerstone. We can infer that they were not themselves Masons for two reasons: (l) a Mason would never do such a thing, and (2) a Mason would know that the so-called "jewels" were in reality only the simple tools of stone masons.
  
  "The brass plate from the Old East cornerstone turned up in 1916 at a foundry in Tennessee run by a UNC alumnus, William Foust '03. He returned the plate just before it was to be tossed into the furnace, and presented it to the University on October 12, 1916. Today the brass plate, with the maker's name and Masonic writing and symbols on the back, is on display in the gallery of Wilson Library.- Alumni Review""
  
  Written by John Graham, Distinguished Professor-Emeritus of Pathology; and Kemp Nye, Franklin Street fixture and former proprietor of Kemp's Records for the Carolina Alumni Review, published by the General Alumni Association of UNC/CH, April, 1990. Reprinted by permission (on www.grandlodge-nc.org).

Birth:
There is a newspaper notice in the Belfast News Letter, November 26, 1771, in which an unnamed ship's voyage from Belfast to destinations in America gives a passenger list which includes a Matthew McCauley, reporting their safe arrival in (places listed as) Philadelphia, America, and Delaware Bay (incl. DE & NJ). This date agrees with traditional information about the emigration of Matthew McCauley from Ireland; however: It is not possible to be certain this notice refers to our subject, brother of William McCauley, both eventually of North Carolina.

Buried:

A gravestone "said" to be his, has a death year of 1832; which is incorrect for him.
View Gravestone & Plaque (these open in a new tab)
View Site Owner's Comment (toggles open page section)

• The gravestone bears the death year as 1832.
• The gravestone matches the style exactly of Matthew's wife, Martha, making it "seem" likely that this stone was for our Matthew of Ireland.
• It is clear these are not original gravestones.
• Some have opined that those who created these gravestones confusedly used a death year from a son, John, who did die in 1832 at age 49.
• Records document Matthew's death year as 1821.

• ---

  View of Doug Couch, adkinshorton.net (Dec 2020):
  
  The original stones were "probably" illegible and/or destroyed, leaving fragments. These fragments were gathered with and without documentation supporting proper identification...and assembled as best as they could, both with and without such documentation.
  
  Since these apparently well-meaning people did not know for sure, one wonders why they would erect stones at all? I think they did know for sure...about a certain Matthew McCauley, who did die in 1832...and this stone is for him, not for Matthew McCauley allegedly born around 1750 in Ireland. The fact that Martha's stone is of the same style is irrelevant...as it was undoubtedly the style they were using for any stones created by them at that time.
  
  I find it very difficult to believe that they ignorantly and erroneously cobbled together a name and someone else's death year and age and just went ahead anyway and created a stone...EXTREMELY UNLIKELY.
  
  This stone is, I believe, simply for someone other than who most now believe it is for. Those who opine it was just a birth year error make their assumption based on known records versus lack of records, etc.
  
  I take the following into consideration: In 1810 in Hillsborough, there were at least three Matthew McCauleys, two of which were 45 or older.
  ~ [View 1810 Censuses] ~
  
  Regarding the gravestone in question: A Matthew McCauley who died in 1832 at age 70 would have been born in about 1762...which means he would have been around 48 years old in 1810. The point here is that this stone does not have to be for our Matthew McCauley...even if he is indeed buried here also. Our Matthew was not the only older Matthew around, and likely any other Matthew in the vicinity was related to our Matthew, and could have also been buried in the same cemetery.
  
  Apparently, the people creating these stones "did" have adequate documentation for this stone with death year 1832 at 70 years old...and "did not" have adequate documentation on hand for a stone for our Matthew of Ireland...and so made one for this other Matthew, but not one for our Matthew.
  
  Furthermore, why would others come along later and place a plaque about the erroneous death year by this stone? If they were absolutely sure this was his grave and stone, and that the stone there was not the original and was incorrect, why leave it there at all? Why? Because they really were not that sure, but were assuming this stone was for our Matthew...and they knew that "he" died in 1821. If this was for our Matthew, the erroneous stone should be removed altogether and a correct stone put in place with the known and documented death year. However, since this stone is likely for another Matthew, such an act would be a distinct disservice to that Matthew, again based on lack of information and belief there was an error. Well, clearly there "was" an error, and it seems to be an error made by those who for lack of adequate information, decided this stone was for our Matthew and placed an inappropriate brass plaque by it. One would not walk through any other cemetery and make such decisions for stones already there without full and complete information pertaining specifically to that grave and person and stone. They would not make changes, erect stones or plaques just because someone had a similar name as the person they "knew" was buried there. Chances are, this gravestone is correct for the person for which it was actually created. The plaque however, was created based on the beliefs and assumptions of others who lived much later, along with some partial documentation.
  
  Solution:
  
  • Remove this brass plaque, as it serves no purpose other than to assert some people's assumption (and we DO know its origin).
  • Leave this gravestone as is, for it does denote someone whose information was known at the time it was placed, even if that information is not understood well today.
  • If a stone for our Matthew is desired, create one with the proper information.

Matthew married Martha Ann Johnstone on 3 Feb 1783 in Orange Co, NC. Martha (daughter of Charles Wilson Johnstone and Martha Arbella Blackwood) was born on 1 Feb 1760 in New Hope, Orange Co, NC; died on 28 Sep 1848; was buried in McCauley Cemetery, Carrboro, Orange Co, NC. [Group Sheet]

1. John McCauley was born in 1783; died in 1832.
2. Charles J. McCauley was born in 1789; died in 1836.
3. William McCauley was born in 1791; died in 1826.
4. Synthia McCauley was born in 1792; died in 1843.
5. Elizabeth McCauley was born on 15 Jan 1793; died in 1881 in Orange Co, NC.
6. George Johnston McCauley was born in 1798; died in 1867.
7. Eleanor McCauley was born in 1801; died in 1872.
8. James M. McCauley was born in 1807; died in 1870.

Notes:

Name:
Erin is a word which refers to the country, Ireland, apparently anglicized from Éirann. During the period when William & Matthew were born, Erin was not commonly used as a given name (although it became popular much later on, especially in the United States where so many Irish and Scottish immigrants came to live).

Mary Ann Gattis has been shown by many, including on this site, as married in Ireland to William Erin McCauley. However, there is no record of such a relationship, but there is a marriage record between Mary Ann Gattis and William O. McCauley in Orange County, North Carolina on 5 Jan 1847 (70 years or so after these brothers emigrated). Therefore, Mary's record has been detached from the family of Erin McCauley. Also not found was documentation that Erin McCauley of County Antrim, Ireland was William Erin McCauley. For lack of documentation, his birth and death years have also been removed. He would need to have been old enough to have adult sons emigrate great distances in the 1770s. Further and perhaps most important is that no documentation has been found that William McCauley's father's name was Erin McCauley. It is unclear where this traditional information came from.

Birth:
Some have presented a birth year of 1712, and Carrickfergus as Erin's birth place. This place makes sense, as he allegedly lived there, but documentation is lacking. The year estimate fits as well, although making him 35 years old when Matthew was born. It may well be (and is likely) however, that Matthew and William had siblings unknown to us; who did not emigrate.

Died:
Some have presented Erin as having died in 1780 in Ireland. Lacking documentation about his death, this year has been removed. A death place of Ireland is probable, but unproven.