Feb 13 Flora MacDonald Lived in the Uwharrie Forest

 

It was brief but Flora MacDonald lived in what is now the Uwharrie National Forest. Scottish Highlanders first came to the area in 1739 as part of the Argyll Colony. Tens of thousands of Scots followed them to this area. So many came that is was known as the Valley of the Scots. 

Flora and Allan MacDonald chose this site on Cheek Creek as it was near her step father Hugh MacDonald's land. After arriving in Brunswick in 1774, they settled here in 1775. Within a year the British governor of North Carolina had his hands full with locals who opposed British rule and sought independence. He asked Allan to form a militia in the area and march to join British troops to the east. Allan and his sons left home with most of the other men in the area, marching to Bennett Creek. They walked into a trap and were soundly defeated with many killed and more taken prisoner. Allan and one son were marched as prisoners to Philadelphia. Flora and many of the women left in their homes became easy prey for looters and plunderers. Flora was taken to court and asked to sign a pledge of allegiance to the American independence cause. When she refused, her home and lands were confiscated. She was likely taken in by neighbors and family in the area until 1778 when Allen was released in a prisoner trade. She traveled to New York to join him. Allan was immediately sent to Nova Scotia where he joined the British Army. After a brief stay, she and Allen headed back to the Isle of Skye. 

During this brief 5 year stay in North America, Flora had broken her arm in a horse fall, then broke the other arm and snapped the tendons. On the way back to Scotland, the British vessel she was on, was a privateer vessel. Enroute they spotted another ship and attacked it. As Flora was gathering the women to get below deck, she fell and broke an arm in two. She must have been in pain for the rest of her life. She died at age 68 in 1790.

This pile of rocks could have been the homesite. From letters, it was known that they owned 525 acres and grew apples and peaches. They also had a gristmill. My goal on this outing was the find the mill site.

If there was a mill there, it would be on Cheek Creek. Having already on a previous outing, walked downstream and saw nothing, I went the other way. Starting right behind the MacDonald spring box, I headed upcreek. After about a quarter mile the creek became smaller and access to the creek would have been quite difficult. So, I turned back and headed back to the spring box. Upon closer examination there, I saw that a channel had diverted water from the creek and then back to the creek. Right at the spot the water re-entered the creek were some bumps in the ground which I felt were foundations covered in floodplain debris. Right next to this spot, was a metal pipe stuck in the ground surrounded by a circle of quartz. Someone was marking this spot. I learned that in 1952 an effort to locate the mill location was made. They found it and marked but did not reveal its location.

Mill foundation

Spring box