A patriot woman’s impact on history

March is Women’s History Month, so Kings Mountain National Military Park recently shared a post about a patriot woman of the southern campaign, Rebecca Brewton Motte (1737-1815) of Charleston, South Carolina.

The daughter of a goldsmith, Rebecca inherited extensive properties and was one of the wealthiest individuals in South Carolina. An ardent patriot, she helped supply the Continental army for five years.

In early 1781, British soldiers occupied the plantation and fortified the big house. Rebecca, her children, and domestic slaves, were moved into the overseer’s house. The British soldiers called their new fort, Fort Motte after Rebecca.

By Loretta Cozart

Kings Mountain Drug was in business since the 1920’s, founded by Fred Finger. When Fred Finger died the business was purchased by Frank R. Summers. who operated it until 1937 when he sold his interests to Don Blanton and John L. McGill. They changed the name from Summers Drug to Kings Mountain Drug and operated the partnership for 25 years.

C. D. Blanton Jr. assumed his father’s interest following Blanton’s death.

When John McGill retired in 1970, Howard Lutz bought his interest, and the pharmacy continued under that partnership.

Associated with the pharmacy for 35 years, manager for 25 years, was

S. Humes Houston. Staff in 1975 included Mrs. Charles Bagwell. Mrs. Buell Carrigan, Mrs. Giles Strickland. Mrs. Newell Thornburg. Mrs. Merle Valentine,

Ralph Ware, Paul Owens, and Taft Clark.

A partial list of former long term employes includes Mrs. Joyce Phifer, Mrs. Jessie Watterson, Mrs. Helen VanDyke, Miss Peggy Ross, Mrs. Howard McKee, Mrs. Roy Pearson, Mrs. H. D. McDaniel, Mrs. Helen Tate, George Hord, Happy McDaniel, and R. Ragan Harper. Kings Mountain Drug Co. was located at 209 S. Battleground Avenue and by July 10, 1975, had dispensed well over 2,000,000 prescriptions according to a story that ran in the Kings Mountain Herald.

When the British occupied Charleston in June of 1780, she left the city for the safety of her late brother’s Mt. Joseph plantation on the Congaree River, some 95 miles away. It was around this time that her husband, Jacob Motte, who had fought in the Battle of Fort Moultrie in 1776, died of an illness.

In May of 1781, Brig. General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion, and Lt. Col. “Light Horse”

Henry Lee arrived to lay siege to the fort.

After five days of laying siege to the fort without making an impact in the defenses, Marion and Lee asked Rebecca for permission to burn the home down. Not only did Rebecca agree, but she also provided the bow and arrows through which it was accomplished, forcing the British to surrender.

According to her grandchildren, Rebecca kept the quiver which she hung on the back of her chair to hold her knitting needles.

(Editor’s. Note: The recipes in today’s Cooking Corner are from “100 Years in the Kitchen” by Women of KINGS Mountain’s First Presbyterian Church.)

1 t. vanilla

CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Arlene Barrett

4 chicken breasts, stewed, save broth

Cut in bite-size pieces. Place in 8x12x2 baking dish Mix:

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

¼ cup milk Pour over chicken and add 2 tablespoons margarine. Mix 2 cups chicken broth with 1 pkg. stuffing mix. Spoon over chicken mixture. Brown in oven 400 to 4 25 degrees for 30 minutes.

POTATO CASSEROLE

Marion Thomasson

Two lb. pkg. hash brown potatoes, thaw partially- uncooked 8 oz. sour cream

8 oz. grated Cheddar cheese (½ lb.)

2 cans cream of potato soup, undiluted

Salt and pepper Spray 9x13 pan with pam. Put mixture in casserole.

Sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Bake ½ hour at 300 degrees.

VEGETABLE CASSEROLE

Clara Rhea

2 cans Veg All drain

1 can cream of chicken soup

½ cup mayonnaise

Reserve ½ cup liquid from Veg All. Mix all together in casserole. Add ½ cup cheese nip crackers, crushed to top of casserole. Melt 1 stick butter and pour on top. Bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

CHOCOLATE SYRUP CAKE

Debbie Patterson

1 stick margarine

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

2 cups plain flour

2 t. baking powder

¼ t. salt

1 can chocolate syrup

Cream together margarine and sugar. Add other ingredients Mix well. Bake in tube pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

HEAVENLY CAKE

Jane King

1 box Deluxe II yellow cake mix

Mix and bake cake in long pan

1 large can crush pineapple

1 cup sugar

1 large box vanilla instant pudding

Mix sugar and pineapple together and bring to a boil. Pour over cake while hot. Mix pudding and put on top of the pineapple. Put cake in refrigerator and cool. Spread large container of Cool Whip over cooled cake. Spread coconut on top along with crushed pecans.