Our current inn, cooking school, & museum

 This painting was researched by the artist  Thomas Kelly Pauley with the Hambright, Patrick, Neal, Bridges, and Hamrick families. Dozens of family members contributed tinplates, profile photos, daguerreotypes, and photographs, including many modern-day men who helped. To then see dozens of modern-day male descendants come to the famous Hambright Mansion and ARWLHC Museum and have their photograph taken next to the painting, showcasing the fact that they are still the spitting image of Frederick, is a lasting testament to our DNA and family history. We have been very proud.

Colonel Frederick Hambright of Prussia, Lancaster, PA, Virginia, Philadelphia, PA (he settled near the King family settlement close to King's Creek, King's Mountain, and Hambright Gap). A special thanks to Larry Patrick for the dozens of family photos, tinplates, stereo plates, and daguerreotypes studied. Additional male family members participated in the region and accepted being studied by the artist for almost one year.

The male family members noted specific attributes of a sunken chin and Roman nose.  

Since the Colonel was a warrior in the woods and countryside, he is featured weather-beaten and, of such conditions, would arrive upon a person of his repute keeping note of two streets named Hambright in the Charlotte metrolina region and Hambright's Gap between the mountains on the King's Mountain range and King's Settlement by King's Creek. Any military veteran, and especially a long-term retired veteran who has served in jungles, deserts, and forests, knows that despite the uniform you may have worn at the time - such standards and regulations change under law. Thus, true warriors and war veterans know what it is like to be forced to purchase and wear expensive, newer uniforms at balls, events, conventions, and ceremonies. In the case of our family member, Lt. Colonel Hambright, uneducated and self-appointed historians who are unfamiliar with the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and Uniform Regulations often have inaccurately commented as to his depiction of wearing a later 1700s or early 1800s Army uniform when he would be invited to speak at and attend events later in life. He certainly would not wear his mountain man coat 25 years later to a United States Army Ball! The idiocy of any non-serving veteran becomes evident when we notice or hear about comments like this - and the insult to true serving warriors (who know better) to be told by civilians who have never served a day in the war zones is insulting. Any military person can tell you what it is like to research proper uniform standards, have to be fitted for such after purchasing all new items, and come to realize that uniforms are updated all the time.

The artist, Mr. Pauley, completed another painting using this face for Mr. Larry Patrick but changed up the US Army required uniform to meet changing uniform standards and to conform to military regulations. This is correct conduct of research.

The City of King's Mountain (after 1905, spelled Kings Mountain on most maps and by the USPS, who had complained about the apostrophe). The city is actually named after the King family - inadvertently, after being renamed from White Plains when incorporated in 1874.  

The NC city is often confused by visitors for the actual KINGS MOUNTAIN National Park.

This first painting was shot and covered extensively by the Kings Mountain Herald. The project for this painting and the entire 30-set series was originally submitted by Martin CJ Mongiello to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, PA, and can be reviewed as a slide presentation.

The artist followed suit in his selection of desired Military Uniform Standards required by law for any veteran who has ever served in America. This is the first professional painting completed in American history of him.

You can also listen to Colonel Hambright in the television series featured below called God, Guns, and American Freedom, as portrayed by his family member (through marriage records becoming a cousin only), Martin CJ Mongiello. His wife, Stormy LeAnn Neal, and daughter, Rania Isabella Mongiello, are DNA-verified descendants of Colonel Hambright

 Black hero of many battles, including Camden, King's Mountain, and more, Ishmael Titus recently had his record overturned and corrected by a historic titan and author Michael Scoggins of the York County Museum and The Southern Revolutionary War Institute. A portion of this institute also works with the living interpretation of slave life at the Historic Brattonsville farm.

Private Titus became the third painting completed in late 2012 and unveiled at the Daughters of the American Revolution 2012 Constitution Day ceremonies, held on the Cleveland County Courthouse steps. Guest speakers included Martin CJ Mongiello, as Colonel Hambright, Dan Woodruff, as Colonel Cleveland, Pastor Williams of Grover, NC, Mic Scoggins, author of two books on black heroes, and Marjorie Senn, from the Colonel Benjamin Cleveland Chapter of the DAR in Shelby, NC. Marjorie is remembered with the Pencil Skyscrapers planted in the back garden of The Inn of the Patriots for her help in publicizing this event and bringing it together. Shirley Brutko also attended from the Colonel Frederick Hambright chapter of the DAR with Mark Anthony from the SC Sons of the American Revolution.

Additional studies, possible exhumation of the body, DNA testing, and family court cases require assistance.  You can assist the family and the ARWLHC by reading more research completed here (links to Facebook) in a long and concise thread of accomplishments spanning several years. At the top is the certification from research to overturn is VA record and receive his pension.

This is the first-ever professional painting completed in African and American history of him. The Titus family visit in early July of 2013 seeks to further reverse court orders and denial of VA pension claims with the help of the ARWLHC and their family foundation. In August of 2013, it was stated the intention of the ARWLHC was also to attain an official VA marker for his grave. Here is a link to the historic event covered on ABC news for 2012. Here is a link to the 2015 Charlotte Walk of Fame Plaque dedication ceremony of Spring 2015 in bronze.

In the year of 2012, planning began by Osprey Men at Arms books of Cambridge, England, to add to their famed line of internationally recognized books - and in 2013, such was laid down as Patriot Militiaman in the American Revolution 1775-82 (Warrior) Paperback – issued June 23, 2015 by Ed Gilbert (Author), Catherine Gilbert (Author), Steve Noon (Illustrator) became the result with meetings at The Inn of the Patriots and ARWLHC in Grover, NC of October, 2013.  You will note the full-size photo of Ishmael in the book and the recognition of his war service being truthful and undeniable. Numerous battlefield rosters will legally re-add him to the roll.

In December of 2015, the DAR of Kings Mountain wrongfully ordered and paid for a metal plaque of black heroes at the local battle NOT featuring Private Ishmael Titus, and the proof showcased in research, pensions of white officers, and evidence from the Southern Revolutionary War Institute, based at the McCelvey Center, Culture & Heritage Museums. We have continued to donate to this chapter in Kings Mountain, though. This violation is viewed as a continued effort of inaccurate historical fact-finding and incorrect plaques on monuments at the Kings Mountain National Military Park, as previously featured in his book, A Passell of Hate, by Joseph (Joe) Epley (Tryon, NC, Retired, USA). There are soldiers that Colonel Epley proved, on plaques, who were not at the battle - and soldiers NOT on the plaques, that really were there. Additionally, the DAR chapter involved a US Army Brigadier General and the National Park Service in this behavior. 

Despite the most recent visit of a four-star Army General in the Army here and corrective assistance offered, the family and living descendants of the family organization decided not to pursue correcting this injustice. 

In 2019, Martin CJ Mongiello published his eighth book about Mary Patton in print, ebook, and a SAG/AFTRA audiobook, and for the first time ever, an author made Ishmael speak out loud and featured him in full color. Updated family reunions have been hosted at The Inn of the Patriots and showcased as movies with Solomon Titus Taylor (links to YouTube) and Martin Mongiello (links to YouTube) telling the history of this family in 2020. In 2022, for Mother's Day, a new world gathering occurred of the entire Titus descendants for Mother's Day. See the 90-minute long show here.

 "The painting (above) is the spitting image of a younger Mary Amney Patton (below), right out of the family history book," Orlando Herrera, American History Expert. 

Our next project hero, Mary Patton, was researched from 2008 to 2018. A ten-year investigation, she was delivered in 2018 as Mary Patton, Blackpowder Expert, by the highly-noted master artist, Jeff Trexler. Theresa McKeehan Phelps of Tennessee (where Mary lived and moved to from Pennsylvania) was highly instrumental in providing dozens of family photographs for forensic examination.

"The Watauga settlers, where Mary lived, were the first men and women of primarily Scot-Irish (you may also legally say Scotch or Scots, none are distinctly correct by encyclopedic standards despite appointed "know-it-alls) ancestry and genuine American birth to establish a free and independent community in American history," Martin CJ Mongiello, Executive Director Emeritus of the American Revolutionary War Living History Center.

#1: https://washingtoncountyregiment.wordpress.com/2010/02/24/mary-patton-the-art-of-black-powder/

 #2: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/McKeehan-25

#3 this official House of Representatives Congressional Record on Mary Patton.

 Part of the genealogy and family history line for Theresa McKeehan Phelps of Tennessee (where Mary lived and moved to from Pennsylvania) was highly instrumental in providing proofs and dozens of photographs for forensic examination. Her powder was known from Virginia to Florida as the best and was used in hundreds of the most famous battles like Cowpens, Huck's Defeat, King's Mountain, Camden, Charleston, Savannah, Guilford Courthouse,  and many more. She later held Federal contracts for the War of 1812 and was famed for thousands of miles.

Although accused of creating terror as a psycho - across America by making gunpowder for bombs, grenades, cannons, rifles, and muskets, we know today she was actually a SHERO. From CFO Martin Mongiello: As part of my practicum at Lenoir Rhyne University, I submitted a book I published of 78 pages on Mary Patton, the local Colonial Shero http://www.lulu.com/shop/martin-mongiello/terrorist-psychotic-mary-patton/paperback/product-24053768.html?fbclid=IwAR2UqFEFz6lSZMsY-5_mF4vIvIhZbJp51WJeC5WFf-fShj-t-JBV2ZRVp90 – this was completed and is 80 pages long with six pages of references.  This accompanying video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9uENTIFAVo also joins a new tour and open program available to museums called "Women in War." It is shared with several museums and venues in the 150-mile region surrounding Charlotte, NC after this video was made of the announcement. These have included speeches, demonstrations, and talks for the DAR, SAR, USNA, Sycamore Shoals State Park, TN, Mountain Harvest Kitchen in Unicoi, TN, the Kings Mountain Museum, Civitans, Rotary, Lions Club, and school systems across the USA. This work was included in the London award of Gentlemen of Heart from England in 2021.  The Public Advertiser in London of 1772
Mentions of Pattons and Mary in the newspapers across time are here. Optical character scanning of newspapers going back to the 1500s has been slow, expensive, and tedious to debunk, review and interpret from other languages.

• John Patton arrives in London, The Public Advertiser, 1772
• The Asheville Citizen-Times, 2008
• The Asheville Citizen-Times, 2013
• The Asheville Citizen-Times, 1924
• The Bridgeport Telegram, 1924
• Lenoir News-Topic, 1924
• Statesville Record and Landmark, 1924
• The Lincoln County News, 1924
• The Tennessean, 1996

Additional Scottish content is here, two interviews about the book as podcasts,  Outlander items, history, and recipes.

 Mammy Kate performed a heroic deed by rescuing Captain Stephen Heard (later Governor of Georgia from 1780-1781) from a certain death by hanging in Augusta (Fort Cornwallis) during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Stephen was a patriot, soldier, planter, and farmer who now has Heard County named after him in Georgia. Securing his Irish family's future (John Heard, Sr. moved to America around 1720) with magnificent and bold attack service during the French and Indian War under Colonel George Washington in service to his majesty's armies, he was awarded 150 acres in 1766. His close colleague, Washington, had given up on obtaining a commission in the full British Army, and both decided to move into farming. His Captain and land award promotion brought him to settle 14 miles south of the Little River in St. Paul's Parish (later called Wilkes County). His family and brother, Barnard, built a fresh wooden and stone fort there in 1774. They then built another fort, Heard's Fort, north of their location near Fishing Creek.

This remarkable tale of Mammy and her husband is corroborated by newspaper articles and a will dated 1820. As a slave serving Stephen Heard, Mammy Kate (married to her loving husband, Daddy Jack) undertook a daring mission riding two of the estate's horses, Lightfoot and Silverheels, 50 miles to Augusta to try and rescue the Captain. They were faced with casually turning their heads to allow their owner to die or to leave their many children (Mammy had nine kids with Daddy) and attempt a rescue mission. They loved Stephen and knew it was the best thing to do, and they felt they would be successful in tricking the British Empire.

Disguised as a washerwoman, she cunningly maneuvered past guards multiple times under the pretext of washing Stephen's clothes and gaining British trust over several days of serving them (washing their clothes). On one occasion, she ingeniously concealed Stephen Heard within a large clothes basket after finally being allowed to visit with him, successfully navigating through the Tory Guards undetected. She boldly walked out of the prison with her precious cargo to save his life from ordered execution. This was an embarrassing incident that enraged the English forces and British Commanders - who previously had killed Captain Heard's wife, Ms. Jane Germany, and daughter by forcing them out into the harsh winter snows during routine rape, plunder, and killing attacks across the countryside in a rein of open terror. This type of behavior greatly affected Mammy, Daddy, and their family.

• Study in the Athens Banner-Herald from 2011,  more about this American shero here
• New Georgia Encyclopedia

The current images for this painting only in 2024; we are using new Ai technology and images created through research with The American Revolutionary War Living HIstory Center, The Scotch-Irish Victory Center, The Inn of the Patriots, LLC, The American Sheroes Foundation of 1776 and with Canva of Australia -  Sydney, 110 Kippax Street, Australia.

Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland (later Cleveland but actually spelled his name five different ways on five different occasions in the NC records) is featured in his first-ever painting. 

Numerous living family members were studied by the artist, and photographs of descendants and help were received from Robert Rose and Jennifer Cleveland. 

Of particular note was that most living family members of the male side still hold Benjamin as a middle name and, of course, Cleveland as a last name.

A great controversy began about the artist painting the Colonel heavy (as he was a heavy man) and in a blue coat with a buff-colored vest. Additionally, the ARWLHC received a little smashing over the artist's request in all kindness, asking for additional input and help from many experts - no reply was ever provided, just negativity and anger expressed over the ARWLHC completing the first ever painting. Any military veteran, and especially a long-term retired veteran who has served in jungles, deserts, and forests, knows that despite the uniform you may have worn at the time - such standards and regulations change under law. Thus, true warriors and war veterans know what it is like to be forced to purchase and wear expensive, newer uniforms at balls, events, conventions, and ceremonies. In the case of our family member, Lt. Colonel Hambright, uneducated and self-appointed historians who are unfamiliar with the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and Uniform Regulations often have inaccurately commented as to his depiction of wearing a later 1700s or early 1800s Army uniform when he would be invited to speak at and attend events later in life. He certainly would not wear his mountain man coat 25 years later to a United States Army Ball! The idiocy of any non-serving veteran becomes evident when we notice or hear about comments like this - and the insult to true serving warriors (who know better) to be told by civilians who have never served a day in the war zones is insulting. Any military person can tell you what it is like to research proper uniform standards, have to be fitted for such after purchasing all new items, and come to realize that uniforms are updated all the time.

When Don Troiani followed suit and released his great and epic painting of the Colonel in full scale showing a dark blue "Sunday Best" jacket - the former critics were embarrassed and silenced. The artist followed suit in his selection of desired Military Uniform Standards required by law for any veteran that has ever served in America.

This was the first professional painting and research ever completed in history of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland. Our county has had many names in time; the next to last name was after Governor Tryon, who beheaded family members from around here and put their heads on stakes for children to look at and hear of in our county. In 1779, we renamed the county and stripped his name off. 

Later, in 1841, as the county of today was drawn and measured - it was named after Colonel Cleaveland until a referendum was held in 1887 and a voting battle conducted in Shelby to use the new, more popular spelling.

Popular Scotch-Irish, and English dishes that the Cleaveland's enjoyed are here.

Our painting and research launch started in late 2012 and early 2013. ARWLHC members were asked to vote and provide input at our official Facebook site.

At the Kings Mountain Official Chamber of Commerce Advisory Committee meeting in December 2013 held at The Inn of the Patriots, it was announced that Captain Redhead of the Catawba Nation would be painted soon.  In late 2014, the noted painter Jeff Trexler was commissioned via contract to paint Captain Redhead.

In December of 2013, Martin CJ Mongiello - of the ARWLHC, had traveled to meet with the caring chiefs of the Catawba Nation around their Executive Board Table and was allowed to hold the Indian Talking Stick - an honorable moment in history and time inside the Catawba Longhouse with Chief Bill Harris and then Assistant Chief Jason Harris.

In February of 2014, assistance was offered by the people of the Catawba Nation to research Captain Redhead - to the ARWLHC.

In March of 2015, research work continued based on Catawba holdings, the book "Allies in the Revolution," "The Catawba Project," conducted by the
Research Laboratories of Archaeology University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a 1772 drawing of Captain Redhead featured in such.

Jeff Trexler delivered his painting for framing in late 2015, unveiling it at the Schafer Gallery of Southern Revolutionary War Heroes. 

We were joined by the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce for a "Business After Hours" event featuring wine and heavy canapes for the unveiling to almost 100 people.

 The Catawba has been certified by the federal government as a recognized nation, and their real lands are in NC and SC. 

This was forecast earlier here at the ARWLHC History page.  The partial Facebook, histogram for that event is here https://www.facebook.com/events/1124486657583295/

Captain Redhead is featured in the book as a friend of Mary Patton as he travels with Sally New River.

From CFO Martin Mongiello: As part of my practicum at Lenoir Rhyne University, I submitted a book I published of 78 pages on Mary Patton, the local Colonial Shero http://www.lulu.com/shop/martin-mongiello/terrorist-psychotic-mary-patton/paperback/product-24053768.html?fbclid=IwAR2UqFEFz6lSZMsY-5_mF4vIvIhZbJp51WJeC5WFf-fShj-t-JBV2ZRVp90 – this was completed and is 80 pages long with six pages of references. 

 Colonel Andrew Hamptons Painting Release Celebration in Rutherford County was on June 19, 2013, at 5:30 pm in front of the Town Commissioners and public gathering/meeting.

This became the first professional painting completed in world history of him. The Original Draft News Release on the history-making unveiling stated: 

Portrait of Revolutionary War Leader To Be Unveiled in Rutherfordton

"A portrait of Colonel Andrew Hampton, commander of the Rutherford County Liberty Men during the defense of Charleston and in the battle of Kings Mountain, will be unveiled at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, during the Rutherfordton Town Council meeting. A special invitation is extended to all living descendants of the Revolutionary War hero to attend and participate in the unveiling ceremony."

Chivous Bradley, a Rutherford County historian, coordinated the presentation by The American Revolutionary War Living History Center (ARWLHC). The portrait will remain on display at the town hall for several weeks. “This is a long past-due honor for one of the great pioneers and heroes of our community,” Bradley said. The ceremony will include Martin and Stormy Mongiello of Grover, N.C., and one of the ARWLHC founders, who commissioned a series of portraits of the heroes of Kings Mountain and the region. Martin selected Rutherfordton as the site for the public unveiling because of Joe Epley's idea, and Hampton lived only a few miles west of the town. His family played a major role in the county's early development, and many of Hampton’s descendants still live in the area.

Other portraits from Kings Mountain on display at Mongiello’s Inn of the Patriots in Grover, N.C., include Colonels Fredrick Hambright and Benjamin Cleveland and Ishmael Titus, a free African-American who fought with the patriots.

Many of the heroes of the backcountry militia leaders were simple men who never sat for an artist and of whom no graphic likeness exists today. Andrew Hampton was one of those heroes that history has almost forgotten, but by analyzing dozens of photographs of one’s descendants and comparing common facial features, a reasonable facsimile of what he must have looked like can occur.

Hampton’s descendants from Rutherford and Polk counties and as far away as Texas and Arkansas contributed old photographs, some dating back to the mid-1800s, for use.

Andrew Hampton settled on Mountain Creek in what was then called Tryon County in 1770 and was a captain in the frontier militia. The father of 15 children, he was a prosperous farmer and miller. In 1775, he was one of the signers of the Tryon Resolves, which declared the area’s support against British tyranny, and resigned his Royal commission. Hampton was a Major in the Griffith Rutherford 1776 expedition against the Cherokee. When Rutherford County was created in 1779, was promoted to Colonel and given command of the new county’s militia."

At the battle of Kings Mountain, he was 67 years old. Two months later, at the Battle of Blackstock's plantation near Spartanburg, he led the Rutherford riflemen as they inflicted heavy causalities upon Banastre’s Tarleton’s legion. Hampton resigned his military commission in 1781 and served three years as sheriff of Rutherford County. He died in 1803.

Photos from the event can be viewed here at shutterfly taken by Joe Epley.  News coverage on the front page of the Daily Courier was robust. You can read more in the book covering his life, A Passel of Hate by Joe Epley.

 Since 1976, the study of the Revolutionary War has included mostly Northern women like Molly Pitcher. Beginning in 2008, the American Sheroes Foundation of 1776 started working with the American Revolutionary War Living History Center (ARWLHC), The United States Presidential Service Center (USPSC), and The Scotch-Irish Victory Center. Since then, numerous paintings have been commissioned of famed local women who worked in the Revolutionary War from Charlestowne to Charlottetown and from Savannah to Elizabethton, TN (then North Carolina at Sycamore Shoals.

The women studied with Lenoir Rhyne University and the Charlotte Museum of History, which led to a Women at War Trail proposal of colonial Rosie the Riveters. We expect our work to accelerate as more books are published and more paintings are released, like those oil paintings of Mary Patton (the first in American history), Susannah Twitty (oil) (first-ever), Sally New River, and other American Indian women (ai) and Mammy Kate (who saved Governor Stephen Heard's life during the war after the local battle of Kettle Creek).

Our philosophies have always been that we:

1. Don't know everything.

2. Can rewrite history.

3. Don't want ever to be the smartest people in the room.

4. Realize that the world and history can change to become better.

Our medals programs and awards continue to grow strongly with keynote speeches, presentations, and educational gatherings. 

http://www.asf1776.org

(this URL leads here)

Financial, library, and research support is through the generous input of the Board and Trustees with The American Revolutionary War Living History Center, The Scotch-Irish Victory Center, The Inn of the Patriots, LLC, The US Presidential Culinary Museum, and the United States Presidential Service Center.

 Susannah “Susan” Twitty Miller

While all eyes remain on Wonder Woman, the movie, we've known that we had our heroine right here in Grover, NC, for a long time! 

Although no one has ever seen her... Moving into 2021-22, we worked to rebuild Susannah forensically. "Susan" is the daughter of William and Susannah Twitty (Susannah “Susan” Beller Twitty Graham) and was born on July 3, 1763, as a famous Scotch-Irish American child to be. Her father died working with Daniel Boone near the Kentucky River in March of 1775 when Susan was just 12. Her brothers and sisters were William, Allen, Russell, Mary, Arabella, Bellariah, and Charlotte. It would be William that she ordered to teach her to ride bareback on any swift horse as fast as it could unleash. And how she would learn to fire his Deckard-style rifle (McCorkle, 1921), reload, and repair the often tricky flints during battle. Today, more people know the name of Twitty worldwide for the American-born Twitty, Conway Twitty, https://conwaytwitty.com with 55 number one songs, 100 significant awards, and 50+ million albums sold. You may think you have never heard of this family name in your entire life, but you know more about it than you were willing to admit ten seconds ago. The name is quite catchy to have picked it up in American history as Conway was born as Harold Lloyd Jenkins.

Later, Susan's mom married Colonel William Graham, the son of Archibald Graham of Scotland (Hunter, 2009), who was a delegate to the Provincial Congress. Cohn (2012) states that Colonel Graham fought at Moore's Creek Bridge, in 1776, for our Outlander television series fans on the Eastern side of our state, near Wilmington. He also competed in the Snow Campaign and went to Charleston to attack General Sir Henry Clinton, KB, MP, and  General Sir Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG, PC, The Earl, and later Governor-General of India. Colonel Graham adopted Susannah Twitty's children, and the legal papers were signed by Colonel Frederick Hambright.


Her step-father and brother William would ride off to battle at King's Mountain on October 6th once they received the call. After all, Carolina men would outnumber over-the-mountain men two-to-one the day of the fight. Susan's mom almost died giving birth to the only child of her and her new husband, Colonel Graham, so he was forced to attend to her in an emergency action just before the battle. At this time, as the leader of the South Fork Boys, he discussed Colonel Hambright (#2 in charge) being the eyes of the entire militia gathered from several colonies (states), and whether or not he would feel denigrated if Major Chronicle (#3 in charge) helped him. Colonel Frederick Hambright led the entire patriot army through Hambright Gap, including Colonel Campbell and all of the militia units, to the place where the British forces were at King's Mountain. He agreed with Colonel Graham that Major Chronicle should take over and lead the South Fork Boys as the actual spot was his private hunting grounds well known to him. When Chronicle was killed early on, Colonel Hambright immediately took control, and the Graham unit (The Southfork Boys) took the most casualties on the day of the battle on the steepest and toughest slope. 

In some writings and oral reports, Colonel Graham left his wife after the baby was born (Sarah) safely in the care of his step-daughter Susan Twitty and he was able to take part at the end of the battle. Her brother William Twitty fought in the entire fight. Step-daughter Susan later married John Miller, whose parents were David Miller and Mary Kerr. The Kerr family name is quite famous worldwide for the glass jars that we use for canning. The name of Miller was typically from one who ran a mill. Cohn (2012) states that the family came from Ireland in 1764 and that John Miller and Susan had worked on a farm home together when they were younger in building it. A question in the DAR Magazine, issue number 25 (Queries, 1904), can now finally be answered.

You may have seen our silver NC state marker erected in 1967 after a play was put on by The Susan Twitty Society chapter of the Children of the American Revolution. The name of the script and play is Susan Twitty, Defender of Graham's Fort. We are looking for a copy of it or any originals if you come across one. Shelby Star newspaper articles on the monument and play commemoration from 1967 have been printed from microfiche after searching and searching. Their records show the chapter was established in 1939 and disbanded in 1983 and that they were instrumental in attaining the sign to be designed and erected at http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?MarkerId=O-59 which has an NC State Associated Information Block of: 

"During the Revolutionary War, Colonel William Graham lived in a large log-hewn home that was fortified at least to the extent that it was among the safest places to which local people could retreat from enemies. His home was of the type of fort that was scattered about the frontier, offering protection to the pioneers. Graham’s Fort, as it has come to be known, provided shelter from Tory marauders in September 1780. Graham, David Dickey, and Graham’s stepson William Twitty were the only men therein prepared to fight off the attackers. Surviving accounts of the incident vary in details, but there were about two dozen Tories firing shots and demanding the surrender of the fort. At one point, according to the stories, a Tory named John Burke approached the structure, placed the muzzle of his gun into a crack and discharged the weapon. Seeing this, William Twitty’s seventeen-year-old sister Susan is said to have pushed her brother down to save him from the bullet. Susan then encouraged William to immediately return the volley out of the aperture as Burke reloaded. Burke was shot through the head. Next, according to legend, Susan Twitty unbolted the door and ran out to retrieve Burke’s gun and ammunition for the use of the men in the fort. With Burke dead and others wounded, the Tories withdrew. Colonel William Graham was born in Virginia in 1742, the son of a Scottish immigrant. He moved to North Carolina prior to the Revolution, settling in Tryon County."

Tucker (2015) mentions that refusing to give up a fort is a long-standing source of pride to boast about from the 1688-89 siege at Derry.

State Historical Marker originally was not in Grover, NC: Childers mentions (2006) "In 1967, the N. C. Department of Archives and History and state highway commission erected a historical marker at what was then thought to be the site of Graham's Fort-off Highway 150 near Sharon Methodist Church, west of Shelby. In 1972, an article appeared in The Shelby Daily Star by Miss Elizabeth Simpson (now Mrs. Ed Smith), which presented evidence the marker was in the wrong spot. John Phifer of Shelby has done extensive research on the Graham family. His mother, the late Florence Graham Phifer, was the great-great-granddaughter of Arthur Graham, the colonel's brother. Phifer, at that time, began his investigation into the matter. The state subsequently moved the Graham's Fort marker to its present location-off of Highway 226 to  Grover, NC. Draper (1881) placed the site of the fort on Buffalo Creek, as did a map in the McCorkle (1921) book. At the State Department of Archives and History, Phifer located land grants to Archibald Graham and Arthur Graham which established the fact that Colonel William Graham owned land adjoining theirs in Lincoln (now Cleveland) County. Another document revealed that the colonel had lands on the First Broad River. Confusion over the fort's location resulted from the fact that the colonel and his wife are buried in a private cemetery near the First Broad River in the vicinity of Sharon Methodist Church. His father Archibald and brother Arthur, among others, are buried near Buffalo Creek. The colonel and his wife settled on the plantation land around the First Broad after he retired. Their tombstones read: "Col. William Graham: a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Died March 1835 Aged 90 Years," and "Susan Graham, wife of Col. W. Graham, Died in 1825. Aged 74 Years." Griffin states that Rutherford County court of pleas and quarter session minutes show the colonel died May 3, 1834. The tombstone, he wrote, was erected many years after Graham's death by a relative. The death had been reported to the court at the September 1835 term, and the May 3 date was "probably more correct than either of the references quoted or on the headstone."

Her mom's grave is nearby here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90278712/susannah-twitty_graham

Susan Twitty's grave is here, and you can leave flowers on it electronically for free. Please do that and say something nice as you may also select from several kinds of flowers: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90326262/susannah-miller  According to Childers (2006) "She is buried in a family cemetery in the Cleghorn section of Rutherford County. Her son was William. J. T. Miller represented Rutherford County in the General Assembly 1836-1840 and later Cleveland County. Susan's son was a backer of legislation to create the new county of Cleaveland! In 2021, Martin Mongiello had a breakthrough with verified descendants of Susannah, after a family reunion, who provided exacting photographs for forensic study by the artist, Jeff Trexler to follow. The final rendering was approved by the family.

"We do know the truth of Susannah firing that day her famous Dickert rifle from inside the fort. Because of slanted history writing, the most written facts we have about her are that she loved shooting, she adored her special hand-made Jacob Dickert rifle (often mis-quoted as Deckhard), and riding horses bareback. Only an idiot-ass man or woman would think on the day of an attack on her home that she suddenly would not be firing her rifle that she owned. Today, as recent as December, 2021, we continue to see the voting down of inclusion of women in the draft in the National Defense Act (NDA). We still have women and men who are very against women talking out loud, women Ambassadors, lady business professionals, women in the military, and women being treated as equals. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are the newest buzzwords called DEI. 250 some years later, this brave woman is still speaking to the world as a teenager showing her bravery and saying - "I can do it, we can do it."

References: 

Alsop, J. (2009). Narratives of Class, Gender and Medicine in the American South: The Dr. Annie Alexander Story. Literature and Medicine I: Women in the Medical Profession, 8.

Childers, Mosby. (2006). William Graham. Miles, Shute & Kouns. Cox, Hobbs, Spencer, Shoemaker, and more. Retrieved from http://www.miles-shute-kouns-families.com/getperson.php?personID=I5587&tree=Mosby 

Clark, Walter, ed. (1907) State Records of North Carolina, XXII. Raleigh, North Carolina.

Cohn, S. (2012). More than petticoats: remarkable North Carolina women. Rowman & Littlefield.

Draper, L. C. (1881). King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain, October 7th, 1780, and the Events which Led to it. PG Thomson.

Gregory, B. R. H. (2016). Commemorating Queen Charlotte: Race, gender, and the politics of memory, 1750 to 2014(Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte).

Griffin, Clarence W. (1937) History of Old Tryon and Rutherford Counties, North Carolina, 1730-1936.

Hesseltine, W. B. (1955). King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain, October 7th, 1780, and the Events Which Led to it.

Hunter, C. L. (2009). Sketches of Western North Carolina. Heritage Books.

Lewis, W. T. (2016). Genealogy Of The Lewis Family In America, From The Middle of The Seventeenth Century Down To The Present Time. Read Books Ltd.

McCorkle, L. A. (1921). Old time stories of the old north state. DC Heath & Company.

McCormick, J. G. (1900). Personnel of the Convention of 1861(No. 1). University Press.

Queries. (1904). Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, 25.

Tucker, P. T. (2015). How the Irish Won the American Revolution: A New Look at the Forgotten Heroes of America s War of Independence. Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

Walther, M. E. (2011). Learning to ask: Philanthropic struggles and rewards of women forging the path toward transformation 1865–1920. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Forensically, correctly to be built and painted next. We are working on this project from 2022-2025.

Sally New River

by Louise Pettus

"Witty and shrewd, she had the ability to gain the admiration of an assortment of people including her fellow Indians, an eminent architect, a college professor, and the Scotch-Irish settlers of her neighborhood.

Known as Sally, or "Aunt Sally" in her old age, she was born near the Horseshoe Bend of Sugar Creek, a tributary of the Catawba River, sometime around the year 1745.

Her mother was most likely the daughter of the famed King Haigler, best known of all the Catawba chiefs. Her father was Matthew Toole, a white man of considerable skills who was a representative of the South Carolina Council, trader, soldier, and interpreter (or 'linguister'). Tools Fork, a York County stream, was named for him..."

Please read more at https://www.scgenweb.org/lancaster/bios/bio_newriver.htm

Forensically, correctly to be built and painted is one of the most well-known Generals in the region. As poachers have attempted to take our projects - the board decided to keep this one under wraps.

We've had an initial luncheon and meetings to try and work on putting together a project for launch in South Carolina. This would include a Cherokee and Catawba area with land, cabins, treehouses, and cottages.