My wife is descended from Semore's father Jeremiah. My daughter provided me with the following that was taken from one of my wife's aunt's handwritten notes. I do not know the aunt's source (she is now deceased) or the validity of the information. **************************************************************************** ***************** Semore appears to be one of those loyal to the British Crown. The king's representatives gave instructions to the royal governor who carried them out through a body known as the Colonial Assembly. Semore was a member of the Assembly, elected in 1768 by the male taxpayers of Orange Co. At times he appeared to "take the middle ground" Although he was a community leader, he assisted some Regulators who ran into trouble with Governor TRYON. In 1771 Semore YORK along with Jeremiah YORK, Preacher Shubel STEARNS, Assemblyman John McGEE and (Others) signed a petition asking for a pardon from Governor TRYON for the regulator activities of John PUGH and Thomas WELBORN. These men were neighbors of Semore. It would appears that while Semore was very strongly aligned with the British throne he respected and had compassion for those with opposing political views. On Jan 10, 1776 Semore (who was 50) was appointed Captain by Governor Josiah MARTIN, the last british Governor of NC. As such he was granted the power for form armed forces faithful to the British throne. He and others were then ordered to lead the Tory forces and take part in the Battle at Widow Moore's Creek near Wilmington, NC. The Tories were overtaken by the Whigs and Semore was one of the hundreds captured. On Oct 12 1776, Semore's wife Sylvanius (ALDRIDGE) signed a petition along with the wives of eight other prisoners to free their husbands from prison. That petition is quoted from the Colonial Records of NC as follows: "That where our husbands Semor York (Others) of Guilford County and profince of North Carolina was made prisoners in and about the tenth day of Feabury last, we your humble petiticioners beg that you would with an eye of pity and compashon take their and our deplorable condintion into your wise consideration and that you will restore them back again to us upon some resonable terms that they can comply with as we hope that it is out of their power to doe and damage to the common cause and where they are not allowed the necesitys of life as prisoners of war nor the liberty the prisoners of war have; therefore we hope that your honours will out of pitty and compashion to us and our familys releas our husbands from their bonds. We made our aplication to the county commitee and their advise was to petticion you honours. Your petticioners ever pray" 12 Oct 1776 Signed Silveney YORK (Others) Beginning in May of 1778 after the end of the Revolutionary War citizens had to sign an allegiance to the new government. Semore refused to take the oath. It is not clear whether he was still in prison, how long he remained or if he relented and took the oath. He was eventually released, retaining his property. It is presumed he received citizenship. **************************************************************************** **************** Larry Noah - larmil-1@worldnet.att.net Listowner - NCORANGE mailing list See my Ancestors at - http://www.trailerpark.com/tango/lrnoah Gedcoms & other data are at - http://members.tripod.com/~lrnoah Florence Co,SC GenWeb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~scfloren Orange Co, NC GenWeb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncorange ==== NCORANGE Mailing List ==== Larry Noah - lrnoah@bigfoot.com - Listowner - NCORANGE mailing list Orange Co, NC USGenWeb site is at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncorange