by Michael Laches
In North Carolina in 1775, the winds of rebellion against Great Britain were blowing with growing intensity. Tensions between citizens who championed liberty from the Crown and those who remained loyal to the King, ran high. News of the fighting at Lexington and Concord had reached the colony, sharpening the divide. As conflict escalated between the two factions, Royal Governor Josiah Martin fled North Carolina’s colonial capital of New Bern.
In his absence, Patriot leaders organized Provincial Congresses to govern the colony, raise local militia, and prepare for the possibility of war. Their efforts culminated in April 1776, when North Carolina issued the Halifax Resolves, becoming the first colony to officially call for independence and firmly committing North Carolina to the American Revolution.
Today, patriots of the American Revolution are recognized in four categories, which include serving in the military, holding a civil office, providing patriotic service (e.g., food/supplies), or signing the Declaration of Independence.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) recognizes five such patriots from the Apex area as qualifying ancestors, enabling their descendants to join the organization. These men not only served their emerging nation — they also founded large families whose descendants continue to call Apex home.
As we close in on our nation’s 250th anniversary and pay tribute to these local patriots, there is no one more qualified or passionate to share this history than Frances Goodwin Holt. Holt is a valued and frequent contributor to this magazine and an Apex resident with deep roots in the community.
She recounted her own ancestral connection (William Goodin, above) and shared the stories of the other Apex patriots gleaned from the applications of their women descendants, all of whom became members of the NSDAR.
Military Service
Goodwin, William
Ancestor #: A045910
Service: North Carolina Rank(s): Private
Birth: 1739 North Carolina
Death: 1837 Chatham Co North Carolina
Service Source: Saunders, Col Recs of NC, Vol 16, P 1066
Service Description: 1) Capt Walker, Col James Hogun, 7th NC Regt
Holt’s patriot ancestor, William Goodwin, enlisted in the American Revolutionary War in March 1777. He served as a private in the Walker Company of the 7th North Carolina Regiment. Almost immediately, North Carolina ordered the 7th regiment north to reinforce General George Washington’s struggling Continental Army in Pennsylvania. They fought fiercely in several battles and stood with General Washington’s forces outside Philadelphia as the British advanced and ultimately occupied the city.
By late 1777, General Washington marched his debilitated army to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The 7th North Carolina Regiment was depleted from disease, exposure, and desertion. With so few men remaining, North Carolina dissolved the regiment and reassigned its survivors. Goodwin moved to the 1st North Carolina Regiment.
General Washington soon ordered them south to reinforce the campaign against the British. In May of 1780, British forces led by Sir Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis captured more than 5,400 Continental soldiers — including Goodwin — during the Siege of Charleston, South Carolina. After his release from British captivity, Goodwin rejoined the 1st North Carolina Regiment. He was discharged in 1781, having served nearly the entire duration of the American Revolution.
Military Service
Upchurch, Moses
Ancestor #: A117989
Service: North Carolina Rank(s): Private
Birth: 2-13-1755 Brunswick Co Virginia Death: 1855 Wake Co North Carolina
Service Description: 1) Capts Jones, Hunter
Moses Upchurch volunteered in the cavalry under Captain Hunter Jones. He marched to Charleston, SC, and was there when the Battle of Sullivan’s Island was fought but was not part of that engagement. He remained stationed there for some time until Jones departed and command fell to Lieutenant Cosimo Medici. Upchurch marched with Medici’s company to Savannah, Georgia, and fought there. He eventually headed back to Charleston. Upchurch was furloughed a few times but in 1781, he again volunteered under Captain Hunter’s company in Wake County and served for two months before being discharged.
Military Service
Upchurch, Nathan
Ancestor #: A117992
Service: North Carolina Rank(s): Private
Birth: 1759 North Carolina Death: 1835 Wake Co North Carolina
Service Description: 1) Capts Bletcher, High; Cols Moore, Wooten
At about the age of 20, Nathan Upchurch (younger brother of Moses) was drafted and served for three months. He marched [with his company] from the Wake courthouse through the adjoining countryside, crossed the Cape Fear River, through the intervening countryside to the Yadkin River and crossed there to join forces with another company placed under the command of Colonel Moore. Now in South Carolina, they eventually crossed the Pedee (i.e., Pee Dee) River, and after another eight days of marching, they united with the other forces under the command of General Horatio Gates. This was about 20 miles from Camden, SC. Within about 3-4 miles of Camden, they met British forces but were ordered to march at night to gain a certain position for the battle looming the next morning. They marched a bit too far and were involved in a slight skirmish where one of their horsemen was killed. At this point, the British fell back and Upchurch’s regiment remained in line until the next morning. According to Upchurch, there was considerable fighting and shooting and the British forces continued to press forward as Upchurch’s line began to give ground and finally retreated. Thrown into confusion, every man took care of himself. This was the famed Battle of Camden which took place in August of 1780.
This phase of Upchurch’s term of service lasted for five months. He was drafted again toward the end of the war and spent about three months under the command of Colonel Thomas Wooten. They marched to within four miles of Wilmington where the British were encamped and fully expected an engagement, but while preparing for the battle, they heard of the capture of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. It was October 19, 1781. They were ordered to fire a salute — an expression of joy — for this grand victory and before day broke the next morning the British evacuated and deserted the area.
Patriotic Services
Olive, James
Ancestor #: A086120
Service: North Carolina Rank(s): Patriotic Service
Birth: Baptised 10-14-1713 Abingdon Par Gloucester Co Virginia
Death: 1-22-18 a05 Wake Co North Carolina
Service Source: NC Rev Army Accts, Vol IX, P 34, Folio 5, Roll #s.115.60
Service Description: 1) Paid For Services Rendered
Residence: Wake Co – District: Hillsborough Dist – State: North Carolina
Olive, Jesse
Ancestor #: A086121
Service: North Carolina Rank(s): Patriotic Service
Birth: Circa 1755 North Carolina
Death: 4-14-1829 Wake Co North Carolina
Service Source: NC Rev War Pay Vouchers, #1928, Roll #s.115.114
Service Description: 1) Paid For Services Rendered
Residence: Wake Co – District: Hillsborough Dist – State: North Carolina
James and Jesse Olive (father and son, respectively) did not fight in the Revolutionary War but as noted earlier, the criteria for being called a patriot requires that the individual provided patriotic services such as the provision of food supplies, equipment, etc. Holt noted that since the Olives were farmers, it’s likely that they provided food to the troops.
As Holt shared these stories of our local patriots and reflected on her own ancestor William Goodwin’s connection to the war, she was reminded of the significant role North Carolina played in the American Revolution.
“So many from here fought in some of the most consequential battles of both the northern and southern campaigns. Their efforts were essential to securing our freedom from Great Britain. I am also reminded of the remarkable intersections between my own life and the life of my patriot ancestor,” she said.
Of the many intersections shared by Holt, one that stood out to this writer was the fact that in 2014, after 48 years of service, she retired from the Navy.
Holt’s lengthy Navy career was devoted to preserving American freedoms. For her service, she received the Navy’s highest civilian honor, the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal and was named a “Today’s Daughter” by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
“Perhaps my zeal to serve and protect the liberties won during the American Revolution is part of my inheritance — a legacy from William. Perhaps I carry his genes for service to our nation,” Holt noted.
As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we celebrate our Apex neighbors who came before us and left behind a local legacy of independence. Apex, like America, is the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Images courtesy of Frances Goodwin Holt.
