Abner Nash
Encyclopedia
Abner Nash was the second Governor
of the U.S. state
of North Carolina
between 1781 and 1782, and represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress
from 1782 to 1786.
Nash was born in Prince Edward County
, Virginia
. He read law and was admitted to the bar in Virginia. He also began his political career there, serving in the House of Burgesses from 1761 to 1765, before moving to New Bern, North Carolina
. He married the widow of former colonial governor Arthur Dobbs
.
Nash was an active supporter of the revolutionary cause. He represented New Bern in the rebel "provincial congress
" assembled from 1774, and in 1776 was a member of the committee that drafted the state's new constitution
. He became a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1777 (serving as the first Speaker
of that house) and the State Senate in 1779.
He was elected Governor by the legislature in 1781. During his brief tenure as governor, North Carolina saw some of its worst conflicts as a battleground in the American Revolutionary War
. Unlike his brother Francis
, his temper and poor health were poorly suited to the needs of war. This brought him into difficulty with the legislature. The assembly appointed Richard Caswell
as commander-in-chief of the militia, even though the constitution assigned this responsibility to the governor. Then in December of 1781 they named a Council Extraordinary that further encroached on his office. Consequently, Nash resigned and went home in the spring of 1782. Thomas Burke
was named to replace him.
Later in 1782, North Carolina eased political tensions by sending Nash as a delegate to the Continental Congress
. He would serve there the rest of his life, as he died at a session in New York City
. Abner was originally buried in St. Paul's Churchyard in Manhattan, but his body was later returned for burial in a private, family plot in Craven County, North Carolina
.
His son, Frederick Nash
, was also a lawyer and political leader. He would serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
.
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1781 and 1782, and represented North Carolina in the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
from 1782 to 1786.
Nash was born in Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He read law and was admitted to the bar in Virginia. He also began his political career there, serving in the House of Burgesses from 1761 to 1765, before moving to New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
. He married the widow of former colonial governor Arthur Dobbs
Arthur Dobbs
Arthur Dobbs was a wealthy landowner in North Carolina and served as colonial governor from 1754 to 1765.-Early life and career:...
.
Nash was an active supporter of the revolutionary cause. He represented New Bern in the rebel "provincial congress
North Carolina Provincial Congress
The North Carolina Provincial Congresses were extra-legal unicameral legislative bodies formed in 1774 through 1776 by the people of the Province of North Carolina, independent of the British colonial government.-First Provincial Congress:...
" assembled from 1774, and in 1776 was a member of the committee that drafted the state's new constitution
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law...
. He became a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1777 (serving as the first Speaker
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
of that house) and the State Senate in 1779.
He was elected Governor by the legislature in 1781. During his brief tenure as governor, North Carolina saw some of its worst conflicts as a battleground in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Unlike his brother Francis
Francis Nash
Francis Nash was a brigadier general killed in the American Revolutionary War.Nash was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia. At an early age he became prominent as a North Carolina merchant, attorney, and justice of the peace; experiences which eventually led to a seat in the North Carolina...
, his temper and poor health were poorly suited to the needs of war. This brought him into difficulty with the legislature. The assembly appointed Richard Caswell
Richard Caswell
Richard Caswell was the first and fifth governor of the U.S. State of North Carolina, serving from 1776 to 1780 and from 1784 to 1787....
as commander-in-chief of the militia, even though the constitution assigned this responsibility to the governor. Then in December of 1781 they named a Council Extraordinary that further encroached on his office. Consequently, Nash resigned and went home in the spring of 1782. Thomas Burke
Thomas Burke (governor)
Thomas Burke was an American physician, lawyer, and statesman from Hillsborough, North Carolina. He represented North Carolina as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was the third Governor of the state....
was named to replace him.
Later in 1782, North Carolina eased political tensions by sending Nash as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. He would serve there the rest of his life, as he died at a session in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Abner was originally buried in St. Paul's Churchyard in Manhattan, but his body was later returned for burial in a private, family plot in Craven County, North Carolina
Craven County, North Carolina
Craven County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The estimated population in 2006 was 94,875. Its county seat is New Bern.Craven County is part of the New Bern, North Carolina, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
His son, Frederick Nash
Frederick Nash
Frederick Nash was an American lawyer and jurist from Hillsborough, North Carolina. He served on the North Carolina Supreme Court and was its chief justice from 1852 until his death....
, was also a lawyer and political leader. He would serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
.