John Flowers

Notes:

John Flowers, Jesse Flowers, and their younger brother, William Flowers, served in the militia during the Revolution. In April, 1781 Lord Cornwallis and his huge army came out of their winter quarters in Wilmington and marched north toward Virginia. they traveled along old roadways through New Hanover and Duplin counties. On May 3, 1781, they crossed the Goshen Swamp at Holley's Mill (later Flowery Dale Plantation) and entered Wayne County. The local militia, including John and William Flowers, fought a rear-guard action. Lord Cornwallis, commanded 1,600 troops, four cannon, two boats on carriages and the British Legion under Colonel Banastre Tarleton. As the army approached the Bridge over Thunder Swamp, Clarissa Harrel Flowers was left with her two children. She was at the home of her parents, Samuel and Ann Harrell at Thunder Swamp Bridge. The young men were away fighting. The slaves taken along to keep them from running away or being abducted the the British.