CHARLOTTE LIBERTY WALK The CLW interactive Uptown tour is an educational opportunity for both visitors and our local community alike to learn about the origins and development of the city of Charlotte, and how it’s early citizens influenced and participated in the American Revolution. Settler’s Cemetery
Nathanael Greene Marker
Line of Patriot’s Retreat
In this cemetery lie the mortal remains of many of the founders and leading citizens of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. It is a municipal cemetery and is not affiliated with the nearby First Presbyterian Church. Use the bronze map at the entrance to find: • The graves of Thomas Polk and his wife Susanna Spratt Polk • The oldest grave in the Cemetery, Joel Baldwin, 1776 • Memorial to NC Governor Nathaniel Alexander • Memorial to Major General George Graham On the Fifth Street side of the Cemetery is a series of bronze markers giving a brief history of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. They are mounted on top of the retaining wall and are easy to read. Reading some or all of these will give you a good overview of the history of this part of North Carolina.
After the American defeat at the battle of Camden, Congress relieved Major General Horatio Gates of command. General George Washington chose Major General Nathanael Greene to replace Gates as the commander in the south. Greene reorganized the American Army and, although never winning an important battle, caused General Cornwallis to lead the British Army out of North Carolina to Virginia where they were eventually defeated at the Siege of Yorktown. Meanwhile, Greene led the southern army on a campaign against the remaining British posts in South Carolina until only Charles Town, SC remained. On December 14, 1782 the British abandoned Charles Town and sailed away to the West Indies and to Britain.
In the Battle of Charlotte, Davie, along with Captain Joseph Graham and the Mecklenburg County mounted militia, defended the courthouse (which stood in the middle of Trade and Tryon streets). After firing repeated volleys and causing the British Cavalry to draw back and take time to regroup, the Americans retreated up the Salisbury Road (today North Tryon Street) past this spot. Farther up the road, they stopped twice to form a defensive line, delaying the British each time. By the time the British reached the main American force eight miles north of town, it was late in the day and they withdrew to Charlotte. The Southern British Army occupied Charlotte for 16 days and then, after hearing of the American victory at King’s Mountain, retreated to South Carolina.
Queen Charlotte Statue
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First Presbyterian Church
In 1815 the Charlotte town commissioners set aside this plot of land for a town church. The first building was started in 1818 and completed in 1823. It was a non-denominational meeting house, known as the Town Church. Itinerate preachers of many Christian denominations preached here from time to time, but most of them were Presbyterians and the Charlotte Presbyterian congregation dates from 1821. In 1835 John Irwin paid off the mortgage and held the property in trust for the Presbyterian Church. Finally in 1841 the congregation paid off a part of the remaining mortgage and received clear title to the property. The burying ground behind the church, now known as Settler’s Cemetery, was also set aside by the city. It has always been a municipal cemetery and never a part of First Presbyterian Church.
This delightful statue of Queen Charlotte in her garden with her dogs was privately funded. Mecklenburg County was named in honor of Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz who was married to King George III shortly before the county was formed in 1763. The city of Charlotte was named in her honor when it was established in 1768.
Thomas Polk Homesite
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Here stood the house of Colonel Thomas Polk – early settler, surveyor, state legislator, Justice of the Peace, founder of Mecklenburg County and of Charlotte, and a Colonel in the American Continental Army under General Washington during the Revolution. When the British Army occupied Charlotte in the fall of 1780, Lieutenant General Charles, Lord Cornwallis used Polk’s house as his headquarters. President George Washington visited Charlotte on May 28, 1791 and was entertained here.
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Dr. Brevard Homesite
He was blind in one eye, but he still went to Princeton, trained as a doctor, and taught at Queen’s College. He married Martha, the daughter of Thomas and Susanna Polk and helped write both the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the Mecklenburg Resolves. He served as an officer and later as a surgeon during the Revolution and was captured at the fall of Charleston in 1780.
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A bronze statue of Captain James Jack, riding off to Philadelphia is located in the Trail of History in Little Sugar Creek Greenway, East of here.
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James Jack was a Captain in the Mecklenburg Militia. He lived here and ran the tavern owned by his father Patrick Jack. When the Mecklenburg Declaration and the Mecklenburg Resolves were signed on May 20 and May 31, 1775, Captain Jack volunteered to ride to Philadelphia and present them to the Continental Congress then meeting there. This was a long and difficult trip and was especially dangerous since the documents he was carrying would be considered treasonous by any British Government Official who found them in his possession.
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Captain Jack Homesite
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Independence Square
On May 20th, 1775, the citizens of Mecklenburg County, NC became the first political entity in the American colonies to declare themselves free and independent from the King and Parliament of Great Britain. The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed by elected representatives in the county courthouse, a log building on brick pillars which stood in the middle of the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets. This declaration preceded the US Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776 by more than a year. The complete text of the Mecklenburg Declaration is on a plaque at this site.
Cook’s Inn
While on a tour of the southern states in 1791, President George Washington spent the night of May 28th in Charlotte. He was entertained by Col. Thomas Polk at his house at the square and it is likely that he stayed at Cook’s Inn which was across the street from this location. The story is told that when the President departed the next morning he left behind a box of white wig powder. For many years afterwards Mrs. Cook would put some of this powder on children’s hair telling them to always remember that they had President Washington’s powder on their hair.
Battle of Charlotte
Cornwallis's army captured Charlotte after a fight here with Davie's troops, Sept. 26, 1780.
Liberty Hall DAR Monument
In 1780 Liberty Hall on Queen’s College was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers from the battles of Bufords Defeat and Camden. One of the surgeons in the hospital was Dr. James Alexander, son of Hezekiah Alexander. It was also used as a hospital by the British Army under General Cornwallis during their short stay in Charlotte.
Thomas Polk Park
This park commemorates Colonel Thomas Polk – early settler, surveyor, state legislator, Justice of the Peace, founder of Mecklenburg County and of Charlotte, and a Colonel in the American Continental Army, serving under General Washington, during the Revolution. His house stood diagonally across the street from this park. Two stones in this park give more details of Polk’s life and accomplishments. Other stones tell the early history of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and are well worth reading.
Site of Queen’s College, established 1771
“Whereas the proper education of Youth has always been considered as the most certain source of tranquility, happiness and improvement both of private families and of States and Empires…the rising generation may repair, after having acquired at a Grammar School a competent knowledge of the Greek, Hebrew and Latin Languages…to obtain…a regular and finished education…and whereas several Grammar schools have been long taught in the western parts of this Government…. Be it enacted…founding establishing and endowing Queen’s College in Charlotte Town….”
British Encampment, 1780
From September 26 to October 12, 1780 the British Army was encamped in Charlotte. It totaled about 4,000 people including officers, soldiers, loyalists, laborers, sutlers and camp followers. This included a number of negroes who had been promised freedom if they would run away from their masters and come to the British side; the British army used them for only the most menial of tasks. Sutlers were merchants who sold equipment, clothing and supplies (especially rum) to the soldiers. The encampment made a square centered on the courthouse, at the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets, about 300 yards across. This marker is in the southern part of that encampment, where Lt. Col. Tarleton’s infantry and cavalry, the Loyalists militia and camp followers were located. The four cannons of the artillery were placed in the crossroads near the courthouse.
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