Liberty Point Resolves

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The Liberty Point Resolves, also known as "The Cumberland Association", was a resolution signed by fifty-five residents of Cumberland County, North Carolina, early in the American Revolution.

On June 20, 1775, these Patriots, who had formed themselves into a group known simply as "The Association", signed a document protesting the actions of Great Britain following the battles of Lexington and Concord. According to local tradition, the signers met at Lewis Barge's tavern in Cross Creek (now part of Fayetteville)[1] and later pinned the document to Liberty Point Tree.[2] The signers expressed the hope that Great Britain and the colonies would be reconciled, but vowed that, if necessary, they would "go forth and be ready to sacrifice our lives and fortunes to secure her freedom and safety". The resolves were thus not a declaration of independence—public advocation for separation from Great Britain would not become common until 1776.

The period of the American Revolution was a time of divided loyalties in Cumberland County, and a considerable portion of the population, especially the Highland Scots who had immigrated in 1739, were staunchly loyal to the British Crown.[3] Among them was the famous Scottish heroine Flora MacDonald. The Liberty Point document followed the similar Mecklenburg Resolutions by just a month and preceded the United States Declaration of Independence by a little more than a year.

Two centuries following the events of Liberty Point Resolves, it was discovered that sixteen of the signers were forgotten. These names were later added to the back of the Liberty Point Resolves monument on February 17, 1976 to commemorate them.[4]

Text

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The brief document read:

At a general meeting of the several Committees of the District of Wilmington, held at the court-house in Wilmington, Tuesday, the 20th June, 1775;

Resolved, That the following Association stand as the Association of this Committee, and that it be recommended to the inhabitants of this District to sign the same as speedily as possible.

The Association.

The actual commencement of hostilities against this continent by the British troops, in the bloody scene on the 19th of April last near Boston– The increase of arbitrary impositions, from a wicked and despotic ministry, and the dread of instigated insurrections in the colonies, are causes sufficient to drive an oppressed people to the use of arms: We, therefore, the subscribers of Cumberland County, holding ourselves bound by that most sacred of all obligations, the duty of good citizens towards an injured country, and thoroughly convinced that under our distressed circumstances we shall be justified before God and man in resisting force by force; Do unite ourselves under every tie of religion, honour, and associate as a band in her defence against every foe, hereby solemnly engaging that whenever our continental or Provincial Councils shall decree it necessary, we will go forth and be ready to sacrifice our lives and fortunes to secure her freedom and safety: This obligation to continue in full force until a reconciliation shall take place between Great–Britain and America, upon constitutional principles: an event we most ardently desire; And we will hold all those persons inimical to the liberty of the colonies, who shall refuse to subscribe to this Association; and we will in all things follow the advice of our General Committee, respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of peace and good order, and the safety of individuals and private property.

— https://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/02ddd/id/446851/rec/8

Robert Rowan, who apparently organized the group, signed first. The names of other signers include those of families who made a deep imprint on the Cape Fear region, from colonial times onward: Barge, Bowell, Evans, Elwell, Greer, Carver, Council, Gee, Blocker, Hollingsworth. The event is commemorated today by a memorial and plaque in downtown Fayetteville, near the corner of Bow and Person Streets.

Liberty Point Resolves Monument

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In 1933, the Liberty Point Monument Association, headed by President Sewberry, planned for another celebration to mark the creation of a “boulder” memorial with thirty-nine of the signers’ names.[4] To prepare for the funding of the granite memorial, the ladies of the association held several programs. In one event, each household decorated their house as a representation of a country and allowed visitors inside as part of a “Trip Around the World.” They also sold photographs of Liberty Point and donated their own money for funding.[5] On a Monday afternoon during the first week of July, the monument was unveiled at the corner of Bow and Person streets. The monument itself was helped in its creation by “several small boys and girls, all lineal descendants of the Cumberland county” signers.[6] Judge N. A. Sinclair introduced Judge George W. Connor, who spoke the address of dedication for the commemoration.[7]

The image shows the Liberty Point Resolves Monument in Cross Creek, Fayetteville, North Carolina. The monument is a granite stone with a rounded top and jagged edges, standing on a grassy area. Centered on the smooth front face of the monument are the names of thirty-nine signers of the Liberty Point Resolves. At the top, the text reads “Declaration of Independence June 20, 1775,” The stone is dark gray and irregularly shaped on the sides and top. In the background, a metal fence lines a sidewalk and a road beyond it.
An image of the front of the Liberty Point Resolves Monument, listing thirty-nine of the signers.
The image shows the Liberty Point Resolves Monument in Cross Creek, Fayetteville, North Carolina. The monument is a granite stone with a rounded top and jagged edges, standing on a grassy area. Centered on the smooth posterior face of the monument are the names of sixteen signers of the Liberty Point Resolves. The stone is dark gray and irregularly shaped on the sides and top. In the background, a metal fence lines a sidewalk and a road beyond it.
A photograph of the back of the Liberty Point Resolves monument, listing sixteen signers who were later added in 1976.

Signers

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References

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  1. ^ Worthington, Don (July 23, 2008). "'Liberty' document comes home". Fayetteville Observer.
  2. ^ Jr, Bill Kirby (2025-08-13). "Historical marker to be unveiled by Liberty Tree in downtown Fayetteville". CityView NC. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  3. ^ Westendorf, Joseph (2025-06-10). "The Cumberland Association & the Liberty Point Resolves | america250". www.america250.nc.gov. Retrieved 2025-11-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Johnson, Lucille (February 17, 1976). "Sixteen Names Added to Liberty Point Boulder". Fayetteville Observer. pp. 10A.
  • "Association adopted and signed by the Committees of the District of Wilmington, in North-Carolina".[permanent dead link] American Archives Series 4, Volume 2, p. 1030, published online by the Northern Illinois University Libraries.
  • "Liberty Point Resolves return to Fayetteville". The Fayetteville Observer, July 22, 2008. Accessed on August 3, 2008.
  • [4] “Unveil Liberty Point Boulder About July 1,” The Fayetteville Observer, June 20, 1933; The Independent (Elizabeth City, NC), June 30, 1933, p. 2.
  • [5] “Unveil Liberty Point Boulder,” June 20, 1933. Originally, the Liberty Point Monument Association was a “society formed by a few patriotic men of our city,” with the women’s group as part of the association’s auxiliary. The men were also responsible for raising funds for the Liberty Point monument, but the men’s group gave up their association to the women’s group later. The Liberty Point Monument Association then joined the Civic Association of Fayetteville
  • [6] The Independent, September 1, 1933, p. 3.
  • [7] “Marker Honors Patriots,” The Robesonian (Lumberton), August 31, 1933, p. 8. "