If an explanation were necessary in writing of this great and good man, it might be found in the fact that his grandson, 
Robert McGregor Campbell, one of the most gifted and successful lawyers in Alabama, had determined on a correction of what is becoming 
current history, in the vindication of his honored ancestor. He writes: "As my kinsman, and having a right to be interested in the matter, 
I desire to confer with you as to the propriety of now vindicating the name of Farquhard Campbell from aspersions that have too long 
rested upon it. If you decidedly think that Pres. Battle, rather than yourself, should make the move, I am sure he will do it well, if 
he consents. He has been very kind in writing to me. In the meanwhile let not Mr. Wheeler's muse take a snap-judgment on us. No one in 
the "rank and file" on "field and staff," of the whole army of one genealogy so much excites my clan zeal and ardor: probably because 
his good name was the victim of a wicked plot for selfish purposes, planned and executed in a most cowardly manner."
	Soon after this writing, Mr. C. passed away, without enlisting President Battle in a cause that so warmly engaged his heart. In 
correspondence with him, however, he writes to Mr. C.:  "Your reasons for Wheeler's inaccuracies are convincing. Wheeler has no malice, 
and if you will write to him the points, he will do the amende honorable, I think, if his work goes into a second edition."
	Mrs. Spencer to Pres. Battle writes:
	"I shall be glad if this fine old gentleman, Farquhard Campbell can be cleared from the charges."
	To carry out the cherished purpose of my sleeping friend and relative, do justice to the memory of the dead, contribute to the 
truthfulness of history, and make glad my esteemed feminine friend, the following is submitted:
	When about 19 years of age Farquhard Campbell left the Highlands of Scotland for Americe; settled on the Cape Fear in Cumberland 
county, in 1746. Flying from the oppression of the British Government he found himself in his new home without means, and in debt 
for his passage to the country. Without hesitation he gave his personal indentures to Col. Alex. McAlister until all liabilities 
were canceled. So manfully and faithfully did he meet his engagements that he won, not only the confidence and esteem of the Colonel, 
but the affections of his sister, whom he married.
	Born about the same period, he lived like Washington with chain and compass in the forest, and laid the foundation of his fortune 
as a practical surveyor. His house was ever open to the newly arriving colonists, and the abode of many until they fixed upon locations. 
It was the home of the minister, and "Headquarters" for all friends. Probably no man in the State dispensed a wider hospitality. He was 
one of the earliest and monst prominent Ruling Elders of the Bluff church. -the first Presbyterian church organized on the Cape Fear, in 
Middle Carolina. The late James Banks, Esq., in his "Centenial Historical Address," delivered at said church in 1838, ranks him among 
the "men who feared God and endeavored to discharge their duty both in church and State."
	He married about the close of the war a second time, a sister of Gen. Bryan Whitfield, father of Gen. N.B. Whitfield, one of the 
foremost families on the Neuse. The high esteem in which he was held by the family is shown by the fact that he found a third wife in 
the same. He was a member of the first Provincial Congress at Newbern in 1764, and of the second at the same place on the 3rd of 
April 1775, at the meeting of the same at Hillsboro 21st of Aug.'75, with Thos. Rutherford. Alexander McAlister, David Smith and 
Alex McKay, and with same at the meeting at Halifax, 4th of April 1776. The following were then appointed by the House; Field officers 
for Cumberland county, viz:--Alexander McAlister, colonel; Ebenezer Folsome, Lieut., David Smith and Philip Alston, 1st and 2nd majors. 
He was Senator from Cumberland in 1791, '92 and '93. From the end of the war to the end of the century, there were only four years when 
the seat in the Senate was not occupied by himself of his near kith and kin, and during the first nine years by a brother-in-law, a 
son-in-law, and himself. His two sons successively represented the county in the House of Commons. Mr. Hugh McLean, of Harnett, a 
gentleman of highest character, and well posted in reference to the history of the Scotch settlers on the Cape Fear, said to the 
writer a whot time since, that until recently there had been no time since the formation of the Government when the decendants of 
Farquhard Campbell had not filled the highest places of trust and honor in their counties. That is as long as country gentlemen 
esteemed it an honor to server the people.
	In the face of all this, and much more that might be written commendatory of C.C., it has been published and republished that he 
was not true to his "colors." There are two facts upon which this grave and disreputable charge is based. 1st, A letter of Biggliston. 
Gov. Martin's Secretary, requesting the favor of the State Congress, sitting at Hillsboro, Aug. 21st, 1775, "to give safe conduct to 
His Excellency's coach and horses to the house of Farquhard Campbell, in Cumberland." This was directly in the Governments proposed 
route, and if he could secure the protection of Congress, he would not only be safe from all harm, but most comfortably quartered for 
the time. A proud, bold and impetuous man, with the best blood of Scotland in his veins, born to lead and command, with what scorn 
would he have read the printed comments upon his prompt and indignant disclaimer from his seal.-That such a request was without his 
knowledge or consent, and implored the House to grant no such request."  If he had been a secret friend, and a favorite of the Governor 
could he have devised a more effectual way to divest him of all power of assistance in the future. Moreover, if his request for safe 
conduct to the house of Campbell, casts odium upon him, what is the inference against the Congress to which the application was made?  
The reasoning in the premises proves too --- if anything at all.
	The second fact upon which the charge is made is: That in the fall of 1776 he was arrested by lieut-Col. Folsome and carried to 
Halifax for trial for entertaining a party of Highland Loyalists at his house, who were there, doubtless at their own biding, and gave 
the pretext for Folsome's rash and wicked act. His grandson, Robert M. Campbell already referred to wirtes under date 30th May, 1879: 
"During my school days in N.C. from 1837 to 1842, I inquired into the accusation of Jones, to my own satisfaction, among people of 
Cumberland county. The statements of different parties referred to, were made to me, or in my presnece, and so far as stated strictly true.
	Mr. John Smith, of Cumberland, a contemporty of F.C. who knew him well, was asked in reference to this charge and denied it in 
total, saying he "never knew anything of the kind, and never believed it." This bitter whig, so well known in the county as such, 
from early young liked F.C. well enough to marry his daughter soon after the troublous times, and named his first son in honor of 
him. There was no man in the county of higher character, a patriarch in the midst of his family of 45 descendants when he said this, 
in 1840.  (To Be Continued)

The Semi-weekly messenger. Volum (Wilmington, N.C., 13 June 1905)
	I was sittimg at the writing table in the Hotel LaFayette the other day, pushing the busy pencil of the newspaper correspondent, when 
a well-dressed good-looking stranger sitting next to me, after apparent hesitation as to imterrupting me, ventured to aske me some questions 
about the outlying surburbs of the city-Haymount, Harrington Hill, Holt-Morgan village, and Campbellton. I gave the stranger what information 
I could, of course, and that regarding Campbellton, as it is now fresh in my memory, will not come amiss to the readers of the Sunday Messenger, 
especially its many readers along the Cape Fear river.
	The county of which Fayetteville is the seat or capital waas taken in 1732 from that extensive territory lying on both sides of the Cape 
Fear river known as Bladen, and was named in honor of the Duke of Cumberland, commander of the British forces who put Prince Charles Edward 
to such sore straits at Culloden. Two years after erection of Cumberland into county, a ship-load of emigrants came over from the Highlands 
of Scotland, who added so greatly to the numbers and industrial force of the settlers of this section that quite a busy village grew upon the 
banks of the river. Further accessions were received in 1746, after the wreck of the fortunes of the Stuart Pretender; so that in 1760 the 
hamlet was duly surveyed, laid off in streets and squares, and christened Campbellton, in honor of Farquhard Campbell, the most influential 
citizen of the place. Two years later the colonial assembly invested it with additional dignity by a charter which conferred on it municipal 
powers, rights and privileges with authority to build a court house, jail, stocks, whipping post, and as some cynical old bachelors declare, 
a ducking stool for termagrant [brawling] wives.
	Campbellton saw no cause to fear a rival until 1765, when Robert Cochran, a hustling, industrious Pennsylvanian, came here, and fixed on 
Cross Creek as a good point for the investment of his means and the expenditure of his engergies. He built a mill where are now the merchant 
mills of Captain J.D. McNeill, now two hundred yards from the heart of the city, and conducted a general mercantile business along with it. 
He prospered, the people around him widened out and prospered with him, and Cross Creek grew at the expense of its neighbor. But Campbellton 
to the last maintained its supremacy as a market for leaf and manufactured tobacco, having immense storage warehouses, and a factory conducted 
by Messrs. Bracken and Shepherd, the latter the father of the late Judge Jesse G. Shepherd, and grandfather of Dr. Henry E. Shephed, the 
distinguished scholar and author, now of Baltimore, Md. The tobacco was brought here across the red hills of western North Carolina in 
hogsheads slung between 2 wheels, and drawn by one or two horses.
	But Cross Creek continued to grow and extend, until its expansion into Fayetteville, which finally inexorably absorbed Campbellton. The 
latter is now within the corporate limits forming the first and part of the second wards of the city; but to this day it cherishes the memory 
of its ancient prestige, and is jealously sensitive of any inroads on its dignity, which dignity is treated with all respect. For instance, 
in big political campaigns all the rest of Fayetteville must assemble at the same place to hear the great guns of the canvass, but Campbellton 
enjoys the distinction of its own assemblage; in torchlight processions and other jolifications Campbellton has its own booming cannon and 
skyseeking fireworks. The historic old borough deserves all its honors, and there be not one who would strip from its brown a single laurel.
	The press writer and even the historian have refrained from severe strictures on Farquhard Campbell. No one has ever questioned his 
ability, and I do not know that anyone ever inpuned his personal integrity; but in both his public and private life it was charged that there 
was good cause for doubting his loyalty to the patriot cause during the Revolution and to the government afterward. A few months ago, in the 
waiting room of the passenger station of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad in Fayetteville, I had a very peasant conversation with Judge Thomas 
A. McNeill, of Lumberton, who was to take an incoming train. If I am not mistaken, some of his folks by marriage are descendants of Farquhard 
Campbell, and Judge McNeill told me that he hoped to get across old records and family papers which would throw light on the true inwardness 
of the old Scotchman's career, and together we might rehabilitate him in the esteem of his posterity. (Correspondent)

©Copyright February 11, 2017
Last up-dated August 31, 2022