Johnston will celebrate a 250-year-old document

SMITHFIELD — The Johnston County Museum will host a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Johnston Resolves.

The event on Monday, Aug. 12, will feature the N.C. Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps from Camp Flintlock, historical characters in monologues and refreshments. A fife and drum parade will begin at 1 p.m. on the Smithfield Town Commons and will end at the Johnston County Museum, where the program will begin at 1:30.

On Aug. 12, 1774, Johnston County leaders met at the old courthouse by the river to adopt resolutions asserting their rights as British subjects. They also chose delegates to represent Johnston at North Carolina’s first Provincial Congress later in the same month. The Provincial Congress was supposed to take place at Johnston Courthouse but was moved to New Bern a few days before.

Johnston County names affixed to the resolutions were two Samuel Smiths (Jr. and Sr.), two Needham Bryans (Jr. and Sr.), Benjamin Williams, Col. William Bryan, John Smith, Henry Rains and William Ward.

Historical “ghosts” making an appearance at Monday’s event will include John Smith, founder of Smithfield; Benjamin Williams, a future governor of North Carolina; Mary Powell Artis, a free person of color whose husband and brother both died during the Revolutionary War; and Mattie Pou, a descendant of the Bryans and Smiths who will recount family stories about visits by British soldiers).

The event is open to the public. Those who would like to follow the parade on foot are asked to rally 12:45 p.m. at 200 N. Front St. The Johnston County Museum is at 329 E. Market St.

This event is a collaborative effort of the Johnston County Committee for America250NC, the Johnston County Heritage Commission and the Smith-Bryan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The post Johnston will celebrate a 250-year-old document first appeared on Restoration NewsMedia .