Philip Alston led a colorful and controversial life. During the American Revolution, in addition to the skirmish which took place at his home, he was also captured at Briar Creek, Georgia. After being released he kept his militia activities local.
Alston was the son of Joseph John Alston and Elizabeth Chancy Alston of Halifax County. His father was an extremely wealthy man who left an estate consisting of more than one hundred and fifty slaves and over one thousand acres of land at his death. From all this Alston was given by his father only those slaves already in his possession. This fact is often described as being "curious" or "significant" by many writers. However, Alston married well. His wife, Temperance Smith also from Halifax, received a large tract of land on the Roanoke River which increased Philip's holdings.
By the time he came to the Cumberland-Moore County area Philip Alston was clearly a man of means and influence. In 1772 he purchased four thousand acres north and south of the bend in Deep River. Soon afterward he built the magnificent house which still stands on its original site. Alston's house was one of the finest in this part of the state. It is believed that a Scotsman named McFadden built the house under the employ of Alston. At this time Alston also owned several slaves. By 1777 his land holdings incorporated 6,936 acres. Philip Alston quickly established himself as a political leader for this area.
Much has been written to describe Alston's character. These were reckless times in the North Carolina backcountry and Philip Alston certainly handled himself well. Suffice it to say that Alston was a very bold and aggressive man. For example, he got himself promoted from lieutenant colonel in the Cumberland Militia to full colonel by petitioning the General Assembly. After the war, Alston was one of the first justices at the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and also became clerk of court for Moore County. Later he would become a member of the State Senate. Alston's political success is evidence that he had some support from leaders in this area.
It was during his tenure in the Senate that Alston's problems began. Evidence was presented that he had murdered Thomas Taylor during the war while commanding a corps of militia to suppress the tories. It was eventually found that Taylor's death was a legitimate act of war and Alston was pardoned by Governor Caswell. However, considerable debate and controversy swirled around this decision.
A bitter feud with George Glascock came next. Glascock had replaced Alston as clerk of court when Alston was elected to the Senate. Following his reelection to the General Assembly Alston's seat was contested by George Glascock; Henry Lightfoot, the county solicitor; and John Cox, a member of the House of Commons from Moore County. They reminded the Senate that Alston had been indicted for murder and George Glascock presented a statement that Alston had threatened to raise a riot if Henry Lightfoot got elected instead of him. It was also pointed out that Alston did not believe in God. The plot was successful, Alston was removed from the Senate and Moore County was told to elect a new senator.
Philip Alston became a justice of the peace, but in May 1787, Glascock succeeded in getting him removed from this seat as well. George Glascock's personal victories over his rival Philip Alston would cost him his life. He was murdered three months later by "Dave," one of Alston's slaves. It was stated that Alston gave a party at his home the night of the murder and was careful to establish his presence at all times. Dave was bailed from jail by Alston but fled the state before trial costing Alston two hundred and fifty pounds. In May of the next year Alston was fined twenty five pounds for contempt of court in Moore County. He was released on bond from the Wilmington Jail but soon returned. In December 1790 he escaped from the Wilmington Jail and left North Carolina a fugitive from justice. Alston went to Georgia where he was murdered in 1791. Someone shot him through a window as he lay in bed. Legend has it that it was Dave who murdered him. Soon after, the Alston family sold the house and property and left North Carolina.
I do hereby acknowledge myself a prisoner of War, upon my Parole to his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, and that I am hereby engaged till I shall be exchanged or otherwise Released therefrom to Proceed Emediately to my plantation on Dunnams Creek Cumberland County or elsewhere North Carolina there to Remain or within five miles thereof and that I shall not in the mean time do or Cause any thing to be done prejuditial to the success of his Majesties arms or have Intercourse or hold Correspondence with the enemies of his Majesty, and that upon a Summons from his Excellency or other Persons having authority thereto that I will surrender myself up to him or them at such time & place as shall hereafter be required---
Cumberland County Deep River July 29th 1781 Philip Alston Col'n
In the summer and spring, bright flowers surround this white plantation house whose name comes from its location on a horseshoe bend in the Deep River. The house (ca. 1770) was owned by Philip Alston, whose band of whigs was attacked in 1781 by tories led by David Fanning. Later, four-term governor Benjamin Williams lived in the house, which now contains antiques of the colonial and Revolutionary War eras.
Still Bearing the Scars of the American Revolution As the Deep River wanders through North Carolina's Piedmont plateau and curves in a horseshoe bend, there stands on a hilltop above it one of the first big houses of upland North Carolina frontier country, the House in the Horseshoe. The house, built around 1772, was named "Retreat" by its second owner, Gov. Benjamin Williams. Still known as the Alston House, its walls bear numerous scars and bullet holes incurred during a Revolutionary War skirmish.
Revolution
During the American Revolution, irregular warfare was being waged in the backcountry of North Carolina by groups of citizen-soldiers: the whigs--or revolutionists, and the tories--who were still loyal to the king of England.
The House in the Horseshoe was then the home of whig colonel Philip Alston. On the morning of August 5, 1781, while Alston and his band of revolutionaries were camped at the dwelling, they were attacked by a larger unit of tories, whose leader was the notorious David Fanning. During the ensuing skirmish, the tories attempted to set the house on fire by rolling against it a cart filled with burning straw. After several casualties on both sides, Alston surrendered. The house stood riddled with bullet holes, many of which remain.
Although Alston was distinguished as a lieutenant colonel in the state militia, a justice of the peace, and a state senator, his career was marked by corrupt activities. He was twice indicted for murder, removed as justice of the peace, and suspended from the state legislature for a variety of reasons. In 1790 Philip Alston sold the house and plantation and left the state.
Philip Alston (d. 1791)
Notes for Philip Alston: