Revolutionary War Patriot. Gen. Lillington was only prudently active in local and provincial affairs. However, as the Revolution approached, he was elected to the New Hanover County Safety Committee in 1775 and as one of the county's delegates to the Third Provincial Congress, which met at Hillsborough in August 1775. He immediately joined the Patriots and began to organize a company of troops known as Minute Men of Wilmington and New Bern, of which Colonel Caswell and himself were joined by a large group of volunteers where they fought the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776 playing an eminent role in the Patriot victory when they prevented the advance of the Loyalists. This was a first and important victory by the Patriots in North Carolina, thus preventing a reunion of the Scotch Tories under Gen. Donald Macdonald along with Sir Henry Clinton, who had just arrived at the Cape Fear River. General Macdonald was taken prisoner along with several others. Colonel Lillington soon afterward received his commission as general and served through the war fending against the forays of the many Loyalists who appeared to support the king. On April 15, 1776 the Fourth Provincial Congress appointed Lillington colonel of the Sixth Regiment of North Carolina Continentals. He resigned on December 31, 1776 and in 1777 he represented New Hanover County in the Assembly. On February 4, 1779 he was named Brigadier General of the militia in the Wilmington District. As the British moved south to threaten Charles Town in 1780, North Carolina militiamen commanded by Lillington were sent to aid General Benjamin Lincoln. At the end of the war Lillington reclaimed most of his estate that had been under British control. Lillington Hall, his impressive home, had been saved from the British torch, but much of his assets had been lost. Fortunately, his valuable library was preserved. A monument has been erected to the memory of General Lillington on the Moore's Creek National Battlefield and the town of Lillington, North Carolina, is named for him.
Revolutionary War Patriot. Gen. Lillington was only prudently active in local and provincial affairs. However, as the Revolution approached, he was elected to the New Hanover County Safety Committee in 1775 and as one of the county's delegates to the Third Provincial Congress, which met at Hillsborough in August 1775. He immediately joined the Patriots and began to organize a company of troops known as Minute Men of Wilmington and New Bern, of which Colonel Caswell and himself were joined by a large group of volunteers where they fought the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776 playing an eminent role in the Patriot victory when they prevented the advance of the Loyalists. This was a first and important victory by the Patriots in North Carolina, thus preventing a reunion of the Scotch Tories under Gen. Donald Macdonald along with Sir Henry Clinton, who had just arrived at the Cape Fear River. General Macdonald was taken prisoner along with several others. Colonel Lillington soon afterward received his commission as general and served through the war fending against the forays of the many Loyalists who appeared to support the king. On April 15, 1776 the Fourth Provincial Congress appointed Lillington colonel of the Sixth Regiment of North Carolina Continentals. He resigned on December 31, 1776 and in 1777 he represented New Hanover County in the Assembly. On February 4, 1779 he was named Brigadier General of the militia in the Wilmington District. As the British moved south to threaten Charles Town in 1780, North Carolina militiamen commanded by Lillington were sent to aid General Benjamin Lincoln. At the end of the war Lillington reclaimed most of his estate that had been under British control. Lillington Hall, his impressive home, had been saved from the British torch, but much of his assets had been lost. Fortunately, his valuable library was preserved. A monument has been erected to the memory of General Lillington on the Moore's Creek National Battlefield and the town of Lillington, North Carolina, is named for him.
Bio by: Elizabeth Reed
Inscription
Beneath this stone
lie the mortal remains of
GENERAL
JOHN ALEXANDER LILLINGTON,
a soldier of the Revolution
who died in 1786.
He commanded the american Forces
at the Battle of Moores Creek
on the 27th February 1776;
and by his military skill
and cool courage in the field
at the head of his troops secured
a complete and decisive victory.
To intellectual powers of a high order
he united an incorruptible integrity
and a devoted and self sacrificing
patriotism. a genuine lover of liberty,
he perilled his all to secure the
independence of his country
and died in a good old age,
bequeathing to his posterity
the remembrance of
his virtues.
Family Members
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