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MARKER TO PERPETUATE MANY HISTORIC EVENTS
By Beatrice M. Bullock

Red Springs, April 27.-On Sunday, April 30, there will be unveiled on the Raeford-Red Springs highway hear here a marker to perpetuate 
the memory of the many historical events occurring at McPhaul's Mill.

Over a century and a half ago, a venturesome Scotch pioneer, with his son, leaving Cross Creek settlements of the upper Cape Fear, took 
the trail south till, coming to the ford of little Raft swamp, a short distance below what is now Antioch, in Hoke county, there wanderings 
ended.

Finding there a tiny settlement around a tavern kept by a widow and her comely [pleasing in appearance; attractive; fair] daughter, they 
also found contentment. In time the widow became the wife of the elder and her daughter returned the affections of the son. Thus was founded 
in North Carolina the McPhaul family, which today is part of the backbone and sinew of lower Hoke county.

The first McPhaul was a miller in the old country and brought his mill stones with him. He and his son, finding the run of the Little 
Raft admirably suited to their purpose, soon built a grist mill that drew customers from far and near among the many Scotch emigrants 
who eventually settled thickly there between the waters of the Cape Fear and the Pee Dee.

With the passing years, the mill became a gathering place for the community. During troublous war days, Caruthers' History says it was 
a big rallying ground for each army, according to the fortunes of war.  It was, however, largely a Tory stronghold, as the settlers 
were almost entirely Scotch and therefore under a solemn oath of allegiance to the crown, taken before being allowed to leave their 
native land. Here Fanning had headquarters, though the settlers disapproved of his methods most heartily, and here the captured Governor 
Burke was held for a time on his enforced march from the capital at Hillsboro to the prison ship at Wilmington. Many skirmishes and battles 
which took place throughout the State were planned here.

After the war, the mill remained a community center, the tavern being a convenient stage stop on the old road between Fayetteville and 
Cheraw, [SC]. (Here Lafayette rested on his tour through the South. The mill becoming the voting precinct for the whole section. A sawmill 
was added to the grist mill and almost up until the War Between the States, McPhaul's Mill was a center of activity within a radius of 25 
or 30 miles, and in direct touch with all important towns in the State and upper South Carolina.

But the march of progress of later years passed it by, and nothing now remains to remind one of those eventful days. All signs of the 
tavern have long since disappeared and dark waters ... slowly between what is left of the foundations of the old mill. Recently, 
however, mainly through the efforts of the state historian of the Daughters of American Colonists, Miss Ettie Brown, a marker has been 
erected near the site to perpetuate the memory of the many historical events which took place there. This marker is of native brown 
sandstone and on either side stand the more recent millstones, quarried near Carthage over a century ago and brought down to replace 
the old Scottish stones, a fragment of which was discovered in the mire of the swamp and was incorporated in the marker. A table bears 
this inscription:

"Site of McPhaul's Mill and Tavern, rallying ground during the Revolution. Near here took place the skirmish of McPhaul's Mill and Little 
Raft swamp. This memorial is erected to those valiant pioneers who laid the foundations for the culture and progress of our Cape Fear section."

On Sunday, April 30, at 3:30 o'clock, there will be a memorial service at Antioch Presbyterian church, on the Raeford-Red Springs highway, 
at which time Dr. J.E. Purcell, of Richmond, VA, a descendant of leading pioneers to both the upper and lower Cape Fear settlements, will 
make a brief talk. After this, the unveiling ceremony will take place at the marker and a few words of greeting will be made by local heads 
of the DAR, DR, Colonial Dames and UDC. Several prominent guests from patriotic organizations in other sections of the state are also 
expected to be present.

Greetings from the Colonial Dames will be brought by Mrs. N.A. McLean of Lumberton, chairman of the chapter in Robeson and Richmond counties.

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This page created January 5, 2015