The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, North Carolina, 26 Apr 1905, Wed, Page 6 Contact: Myrtle Bridges GEN JOSEPH HAWLEY'S BIRTHPLCE A Correspondent Asserts That General Hawley Was Born in Richmond, Now Scotland County-He Visited the Place a Few Years ago. Red Springs, N.C., April 19, 1905 Editor Messenger: I see in your issue of the 15th inst., a communication from Mr. F.D. Suggs in regard to the birth of General Hawley, also something about *Rev. Colin Lindsay. General Hawley was born in Richmond, now Scotland county, NC. The farm on which he was born is now the property of Mrs. Martha Murray and is about six miles northeast of Laurinburg, and one-fourth mile from the residence of Mr. George McIntosh. General Hawley came to visit the place 12 or 15 years ago. He spent the previous night at Mr. F.B. Russell's, then went the next day and looked over the place and took the train at Laurinburg. I suppose the "Hawley place," being near Mr. Russell's, on the opposite side of Lumber River gave rise to the report that he was born on a plantation of the late Daniel L. Russell's Sr. I have seen a great many people who knew both the late Gen. Hawley and his fater, as well as his mother, and among them my own mother. He was referred to as "Little Joe Hawley" and had the reputation of being a very bright boy: I think, too, that he was a general favorite. Mrs. Effie Gilchrist, nee Fairly, the mother of Mr. William Gilchrist, of your city, was a school- mate of General Hawley, probably a classmate. General Hawley called at the old Gilchrist homestead when on his last visit and asked "what had become of Effie Fairly, who married John Gilchrist." Mr. Suggs is correct in saying that General Hawley and Rev. Colin Lindsay were not contemporaries. I think General Hawley must have left this section about 1842-45. The "Hewartsville" plantation refered to by Mr. Suggs, is Stewartsville. This is also in Richmond, now Scotland county. I suppose about equally distant from Maxton and Laurinburg, and west of the Carolina Central railroad. It is the old home of the late Dr. John Malloy. Dr. Dickson, late of Laurinburg, lived there for some years after he commenced to practice medicine. I do not know what connection Rev. Colin Lindsay had with Stewartsville, but he lived, or visited there, as I have heard his name connected with Stewartsville. Mr. Lindsay owned 1,210 acres of land at and around Bethel Presbyterian church and had a home and plantation there. There is an old well there that is now called "Lindsay's Well." The heirs of the late Rev. Arch McQueen own this land now. The records say that the 1,210 acres of land was sold by Alex. Rowland, sheriff of Robeson county, to satisfy an execution in favor of John McIver for 54 pounds, 15 shillings, 8 pence. It brought at public auction 2 pounds, 10 shillings, but, I presume that it was redeemed. This land now, after the heavy growth of long leaf pine has been cut, will bring from $30 to $40 per acre for farming purposes. It is about two miles from Raeford. Mr. Lindsay bought 425 acres of this land from Arch McLachlan, Esq. (This must be intended for McLauchlin). I do not know anything of the McLauchlin family, but mention them here, because I have been told that they took care of Mrs. Lindsay, who was of the well know Douglas family, in Scotland, and no doubt kept her from suffering for the actual necessities of life, as her husband was ver dissipated in late life, and did not look after her physical wants. I have never heard before that Colin Lindsay was connected with the Greensboro family, but I heard when a boy that Mrs. Lindsay was buried at Stewartsville when the robbers or ghouls opened the grave, and that she had two children born afterwards. Capt. W.H. McLaurin, of Laurinburg, can tell all about this, as I think that he told me some years ago of this circumstance. J.E. PURCELL
*The Robesonian (Lumberton, North Carolina 09 Jun 1913, Mon Page 2 "Rev. Colin Lindsay, who died in 1817, was a Scotch preacher who believed in "toddy. " He countenanced the old custom of liquor for mourners at funerals. Rev. John MacInTyre, great grandfather of Col McLean, fought the custom. After a long and bitter fight, Lindsay seceded and set up a church of his own, carrying most of the crowd with him. The fight was carried to Presbytery and one of the betterest controversies in the history of the church resulted." Col. McLean further related that Colin Lindsay's mother, supposed to have died, was buried in trance. Robbers, after jewelry on her body, dug it up. She revived and finally recovered, and later gave birth to Colin. This is said to be authenticated history."
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