The North Carolina General Assembly of 1781 met in Wake Court House (also known as Bloomsbury) from June 23 to July 14, 1781. Each of the 50 North Carolina counties were allowed one Senator and two members of the House of Commons; 6 districts/boroughs towns also elected one House member each.
Leadership Speaker of the House: Thomas Benbury (Chowan County) Clerk of the House: John Hunt (unknown county) Speaker of the North Carolina Senate: Alexander Martin Guilford County Cleark of the Senate: John Haywood (Edgecombe County)
The governor of North Carolina during the time of this session of the legislature was Thomas Burke, who was elected by the General Assembly in June of 1781. James Glasgow served as Secretary of State and James Iredell served as Attorney General.
Councilors of State
The North Carolina Constitution of 1776 required "that the Senate and House of Commons, jointly, at their first meeting after each annual election, shall by ballot elect seven persons to be a Council of State for one year, who shall advise the Governor in the execution of his office."
The known North Carolina Council of State members elected by the General Assembly in 1781 included: June 26, 1781 John Penn, Granville County June 26, 1781 Spruce Macay, Rowan County June 26, 1781 Willie Jones, Halifax County June 26, 1781 Benjamin Seawell, Franklin County June 26, 1781 Philemon Hawkins, Jr., Granville County (declined to serve) June 26, 1781 John Butler, Orange County June 26, 1781 Edward Jones, Warren County July 11, 1781 Whitmel Hill, Martin County
Members
County or District/CityHouse of Commons MemberSenate MemberAnson CountyVacant (no election held)Vacant (no election held)Beaufort CountyThomas AldersonWilliam BrownBeaufort CountyCharles CrawfordBeaufort CountyThomas A. GristBertie CountyWilliam HorneJonathan JaycocksBertie CountyDavid TurnerBladen CountySamuel Cainunknown or vacant Bladen CountyUnknown or Vacant Brunswick CountyVacant (no election held)vacant (no election held)Brunswick CountyVacant (no election held)Burke CountyHugh Brevard (died)Andrew WoodBurke CountyJoseph McDowell, Jr. Camden CountyVacant (no election held)Vacant (no election held) Camden CountyVacant (no election held) Carteret CountyJohn EastonUnknown or vacantCarteret CountyUnknown or VacantCaswell CountyJosiah ColeUnknown or vacantCaswell CountyUnknown or Vacant Chatham CountyJames WilliamsAmbrose RamseyChatham CountyJohn LuttrellJohn Luttrell was killed while in office leading the Chatham County Regiment at the Battle of Lindley's Mill on September 13, 1781.Chowan CountyThomas BenburyCharles JohnsonChowan CountyMichael PayneChowan CountyEdmund BlountCraven CountyWilliam BryanJames CoorCraven CountyJohn Tilghman (Tilman)Cumberland CountyDavid SmithEbenezer FolsomeCumberland CountyThomas ArmstrongCurrituck CountyJames PhillipsSamuel JarvisCurrituck CountyJohn HumphreysDobbs CountyBenjamin SheppardUnknown or vacantDobbs CountyWilliam CaswellDuplin CountyThomas HicksJames KenanDuplin CountyJohn MoltonEdgecombe CountyHenry Irwin TooleElisha BattleEdgecombe CountyJames Wilson Edgecombe CountyRobert DiggsFranklin CountyWilliam BrickellHenry HillFranklin CountyWilliam GreenGates CountyJethro SumnerJames GregoryGates CountyJoseph RiddickGranville CountyThomas PersonJoseph TaylorGranville CountyRichard HendersonGuilford CountyJames HunterAlexander MartinGuilford CountyWilliam GowdyHalifax CountyJohn Branch, Sr.Oroondates DavisHalifax CountyBenjamin McCullochBenjamin McCulloch, Edward Nicholson, Jeduthan Harper, and Burwell Mooring were disqualified from taking their seats in the House of Commons since they were considered to be Prisoners on Parole. New elections were ordered for August.Hertford CountyLewis BrownPleasant JordanHertford CountyThomas BrickellHyde CountyRobert LathamWilliam RussellHyde CountyRobert JennettJohnston CountyJoseph BooneBenjamin WilliamsJohnston CountyHardy BryanJones CountyFrederick HargettNathan BryanJones CountyEdward WhittyLincoln CountyRobert AlexanderJames JohnstonLincoln CountyJohn SloanMartin CountySamuel SmithwickKenneth McKenzieMartin CountySamuel WilliamsMecklenburg CountyCaleb PhiferRobert IrwinMecklenburg CountyDavid WilsonMontgomery CountyRobert MossThomas ChildsMontgomery CountyPeter RandleNash CountyJoseph ArringtonHard GriffinNash CountyEdward Nicholson*New Hanover CountyThomas BloodworthJohn DeVaneNew Hanover CountyCaleb Grainger Northampton CountyJohn DawsonJames VaughanNorthampton CountyJames SikesOnslow CountyEdward StarkeyJohn SpicerOnslow CountyLewis WilliamsOrange CountyJesse BentonJohn ButlerOrange CountyRobert CampbellPasquotank CountyUnknown or vacantEdward EveragainPasquotank CountyUnknown or vacantPerquimans CountyJohn WhedbeeJesse EatonPerquimans CountyJonathan SkinnerPitt CountyJames GorhamEdward SalterPitt CountyGeorge EvansRandolph CountyAndrew BalfourRandolph CountyAbsalom TatumJohn CollierRandolph CountyJeduthan HarperRichmond CountyEdward WilliamsCharles MedlockRichmond CountyCharles MedlockRowan CountyWilliam SharpeMatthew LockeRowan CountySamuel YoungRutherford CountyJames WithrowWilliam PorterRutherford CountyGeorge MooreRutherford CountyDavid MillerSullivan County (became part of Tennessee)Unknown or vacantUnknown or vacantSullivan County (became part of Tennessee)Unknown or vacantSurry CountySamuel CummingsWilliam Shepherd Surry CountyWilson T. LewisTyrrell CountyIsham WebbTyrrell CountyJohn HarringtonJeremiah FrazierTyrrell CountyNehemiah NormanWake CountyBurwell PopeMichael RogersWake CountyJames HintonWarren CountyJoseph HawkinsNathaniel MaconWarren CountyJohn MaconWashington County (became part of Tennessee)Unknown or vacantUnknown or vacantWashington County (became part of Tennessee)Unknown or vacantWayne County (newly established in 1779)Joseph Green Unknown or vacant Wayne County (newly established in 1779)Burwell Mooring*Wilkes CountyJoseph HerndonCharles GordonWilkes CountyWilliam LenoirEdenton DistrictRobert SmithHalifax DistrictHenry MontfortHillsborough DistrictThomas TullockNew Bern DistrictRichard Dobbs SpaightSalisbury DistrictAnthony Newman (Nunan)Wilmington DistrictWilliam Hooper
Notes:
See also List of North Carolina state legislatures
References