On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Continental Congress Delegate William Hooper wrote Samuel Johnston, President of the Third Provincial Congress and head of the North Carolina Provincial Council (in effect the Governor of North Carolina in everything but name) that British

General Clinton is at New York in the Mercury of 26 Guns bound to Hampton in Virginia with 3 transports of 200 light troops, there to join 7 Regiments from England & from thence proceed to North Carolina, & in all probability to Cape Fear….

Must not every man a friend to the Cause, and capable of duty turn out with his musket.  Do we not now play a Game, where Slavery or Liberty are the Stakes-but why do I tease you who are much better capacitated to judge of the proper measures to be pursued than I am-but suffer me….Were I to advise, the whole force of the Colony should be collected ready for immediate exertion when called upon, & bid adieu to plough shares & pruning hooks till the Sword can find its scabbard with safety & honor to its owner. My first wish is to be free.  My second to be reconciled to GB. God grant that both may soon take place.  Measures must be taken immediately-‘er this the Troops of the Enemy are in your Country. May you Stand forth like Men & fight the Cause of Liberty the Cause of the living God.

Johnston, an immigrant from Scotland, would remain an elected official leading North Carolina for the remainder of the War and in the early Republic. Hooper’s father immigrated from Scotland also. Hooper would soon sign the Declaration of Independence and also represented North Carolina throughout the War in various offices. In retaliation for his Patriotism, the British would burn Hooper’s plantations and force him into hiding when they invaded North Carolina in 1781.

Sources: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-february-6-1776/; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNFmhUXt9-I; https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/johnston-samuel; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hooper#cite_note-9