James Few
Encyclopedia
James Few was born in 1746 in Hartford (present-day Baltimore
) County, Maryland
. His parents were William Few, Sr., and Mary Wheeler (James was their second-oldest son). James migrated with his parents and siblings to Orange County, North Carolina
circa 1758.
Circa 1770, James married Sarah Wood in Orange County, North Carolina. They had twins, William and Sarah, who were born February 9, 1771.
James may have been a carpenter, but so far no primary source documents have come to light to prove that he was or that mentions his occupation.
James was executed west of Hillsborough, North Carolina
on May 17, 1771, after taking part in the Battle of Alamance
. He was executed by North Carolina militia troops while they were serving under North Carolina's royal Governor, William Tryon
. James was hanged at the militia's camp approximately five miles northeast of the Alamance battlefield (as described by William Tryon in his orders book).
His children moved to Georgia
with their grandparents after his death; his wife Sarah later remarried (a Loyalist
officer) and moved to Greenwood County, South Carolina. It is unknown what happened to his body after he was executed; either his family members retrieved it (it took about one day to get to the campsite from their home east of Hillsborough at that time; the campsite was directly on the public road from Hillsborough to Salisbury, North Carolina
, just after the ford over Great Alamance Creek) or he was unceremoniously buried at the campsite in an unmarked grave nearby by the militia troops that hanged him.
According to historical rumors, James's "fiancée" was seduced by Edmund Fanning
, and James was the "sole support of his widowed mother." However, James was already married (to Sarah Wood) and had twins by her (William and Sarah), and his then 60 or 61 year-old mother lived with his father, William (who didn't pass away until 1794) on their farm near Hillsborough.
His brother, William Few, Jr., later became known for his service as an officer during the Revolutionary War and as a politician in Georgia and New York
.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
) County, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. His parents were William Few, Sr., and Mary Wheeler (James was their second-oldest son). James migrated with his parents and siblings to Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,801. Its county seat is Hillsborough...
circa 1758.
Circa 1770, James married Sarah Wood in Orange County, North Carolina. They had twins, William and Sarah, who were born February 9, 1771.
James may have been a carpenter, but so far no primary source documents have come to light to prove that he was or that mentions his occupation.
James was executed west of Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
on May 17, 1771, after taking part in the Battle of Alamance
Battle of Alamance
The Battle of Alamance was the final battle of the War of the Regulation, a rebellion in colonial North Carolina over issues of taxation and local control. In the past, historians considered the battle to be the opening salvo of the American Revolution and locals agreed with this assessment...
. He was executed by North Carolina militia troops while they were serving under North Carolina's royal Governor, William Tryon
William Tryon
William Tryon was a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as governor of the Province of North Carolina and the Province of New York .-Early life and career:...
. James was hanged at the militia's camp approximately five miles northeast of the Alamance battlefield (as described by William Tryon in his orders book).
His children moved to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
with their grandparents after his death; his wife Sarah later remarried (a Loyalist
Loyalist
In general, a loyalist is someone who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. In modern English usage, the most common application is to loyalty to the British Crown....
officer) and moved to Greenwood County, South Carolina. It is unknown what happened to his body after he was executed; either his family members retrieved it (it took about one day to get to the campsite from their home east of Hillsborough at that time; the campsite was directly on the public road from Hillsborough to Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
, just after the ford over Great Alamance Creek) or he was unceremoniously buried at the campsite in an unmarked grave nearby by the militia troops that hanged him.
According to historical rumors, James's "fiancée" was seduced by Edmund Fanning
Edmund Fanning
Edmund Fanning was an American explorer and sea captain, known as the "Pathfinder of the Pacific."-Life:...
, and James was the "sole support of his widowed mother." However, James was already married (to Sarah Wood) and had twins by her (William and Sarah), and his then 60 or 61 year-old mother lived with his father, William (who didn't pass away until 1794) on their farm near Hillsborough.
His brother, William Few, Jr., later became known for his service as an officer during the Revolutionary War and as a politician in Georgia and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.