Herman HUSBAND "In 1766 backcountry residents, under the leadership of Herman Husband, decided to "regulate" their local government, beginning with the formation of the Sandy Creek Association.  The Regulators' attempts to make government officials comply strictly and continuously with the public will on the local and colonial level fell victim to the far-reaching political ties of the courthouse rings.  Finally, frustration gave in to anger, and the self-styled Regulators challenged the government to comply with their demands by withholding their taxes and committing sporadic acts of violence.(Source: Johanna Miller Lewis, "Artisans in the North Carolina Backcountry", Chapter 7, Artisans, the Regulator Crisis, and Politics in Rowan County, page 118) Herman HUSBAND   In 1768, Piedmont farmers reorganized as the “Regulators,” and Husband served as their spokesmen, political thinker, and negotiator. He did so because he understood the farmers’ plight and articulated their demands. Consequently, Royal Governor Tryon continuously attacked Husband publicly and privately, and in 1768 Tryon arrested Husband and Regulator leader William Butler. Husband was soon released, however, and resumed his former role in the rebellion. In 1769, Husband represented the Piedmont in the legislature. But on December 20, 1770, the Regulator was falsely charged with libel; however, Husband was still expelled from the legislature and on January 31, 1771, Tryon ordered Husbands’ arrest. Sitting in a New Bern jail, Husband eventually learned that the charges of libel were dropped. He was soon released. On May 16, 1771, approximately two thousand Regulators confronted Tryon and one thousand soldiers at what became known as the Battle of Alamance. The Regulators were defeated, losing twenty men and almost one hundred wounded. As a Quaker and pacifist, Husband did not participate in the battle. Following the Battle of Alamance, Husband fled to Maryland and eventually made his way to Pennsylvania, where he participated in the Whiskey Rebellion. He lived outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, until his death in June 1795. http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/55/entry Linda Monticelli ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com