Whitmell Hill
Encyclopedia
Whitmell Hill was an American
planter from Martin County, North Carolina
. He was a delegate for North Carolina
to the Continental Congress
from 1778 to 1780.
Whitmell was the son of a John and Martha Hill, and was born in Bertie County, North Carolina
. In 1760 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
and returned to North Carolina to begin developing his own plantation, Hill’s Ferry, in what was to become Martin County when it was established in 1774.
Hill supported the rising revolutionary sentiment, and when the Martin County militia was organized he was named its Lieutenant Colonel, and was later its Colonel in 1778. When the revolutionary North Carolina Provincial Congress
met in 1775-1776 he represented Martin County. Then in 1776 he was advanced to the Provincial Council to represent the Edenton
district. During this time he was also a member of the local Committee of Safety
.
Once North Carolina wrote its new Constitution, Hill was elected to the state Senate
, and served as speaker
in 1778. Later that year the Assembly named him as one of the state’s delegates to the Continental Congress. He was returned to the Congress until 1781, when the term limit
imposed by the state constitution prevented his reappointment. He was re-elected to the state Senate in 1783, 1784, and 1788. In 1788 he was also a delegate to North Carolina’s Convention to consider ratification of the U.S. Constitution
. His outspoken support helped strengthen the forces that ultimately completed ratification the following year.
Hill died and was buried at his home, Hill’s Ferry, in northwestern Martin County. In 1887 his grave was moved to the Trinity Cemetery, near Scotland Neck
in Halifax County, North Carolina
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
planter from Martin County, North Carolina
Martin County, North Carolina
-Politics:Martin County has tended to vote in line with the rest of the country in presidential elections. In 2008, Barack Obama won the county with 52.2% of the vote. This was very similar to his national figure of 52.91%.-Demographics:...
. He was a delegate for 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...
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....
from 1778 to 1780.
Whitmell was the son of a John and Martha Hill, and was born in Bertie County, North Carolina
Bertie County, North Carolina
-External links:**...
. In 1760 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and returned to North Carolina to begin developing his own plantation, Hill’s Ferry, in what was to become Martin County when it was established in 1774.
Hill supported the rising revolutionary sentiment, and when the Martin County militia was organized he was named its Lieutenant Colonel, and was later its Colonel in 1778. When the revolutionary North Carolina 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:...
met in 1775-1776 he represented Martin County. Then in 1776 he was advanced to the Provincial Council to represent the Edenton
Edenton, North Carolina
Edenton is a town in Chowan County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Chowan County. Edenton is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region. In recent years Edenton has become a popular retirement location and a destination for...
district. During this time he was also a member of the local Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety (American Revolution)
Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
.
Once North Carolina wrote its new Constitution, Hill was elected to the state Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
, and served as speaker
President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate
The President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the President Pro-Tem actually holds most of the power and presides in the...
in 1778. Later that year the Assembly named him as one of the state’s delegates to the Continental Congress. He was returned to the Congress until 1781, when the term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
imposed by the state constitution prevented his reappointment. He was re-elected to the state Senate in 1783, 1784, and 1788. In 1788 he was also a delegate to North Carolina’s Convention to consider ratification of the U.S. Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. His outspoken support helped strengthen the forces that ultimately completed ratification the following year.
Hill died and was buried at his home, Hill’s Ferry, in northwestern Martin County. In 1887 his grave was moved to the Trinity Cemetery, near Scotland Neck
Scotland Neck, North Carolina
Scotland Neck is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,362. It is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in Halifax County, North Carolina
Halifax County, North Carolina
-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:-Demographics:[[Image:HalifaxCountyCotton.wmg.jpg|left|thumb|A cotton field blooms in Halifax County....
.