Benjamin Cleveland
| Benjamin Cleveland | |
|---|---|
| Born |
May 28, 1738 Orange County, Virginia |
| Died | October 1806 (aged 68) Oconee County, South Carolina |
| Occupation | Colonial militia and surveyor |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Graves |
| Parent(s) | John and Elizabeth Cleveland |
Benjamin Cleveland (May 28, 1738 – October 1806) was an American pioneer and soldier in North Carolina. He is best remembered for his service as a colonel in the North Carolina militia during the War of Independence, and in particular for his role in the American victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain .
Benjamin Cleveland was born in Orange County, Virginia, the fourth child of John and Elizabeth [nee Coffee] Cleveland, and was of English descent. He moved to the area which would become Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1769. There, Cleveland built his estate, "Roundabout," near what is today Ronda, North Carolina. He was noted in the early history of Wilkes County, and is known to have worked as a hunter, trapper, farmer, carpenter, and surveyor. By the time of the American Revolution, Cleveland was the wealthiest and most prominent citizen in the county. A large, heavy set man – around six feet tall and weighing over 300 lbs in his prime – he was called "Old Roundabout."
Cleveland married Mary Graves, a sister of Susannah Graves, the wife of Revolutionary War patriot and frontiersman, General Joseph Martin (for whom Martinsville, Virginia, is named.)
Cleveland was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons in 1778 and to the North Carolina Senate in 1779.
At the beginning of the American Revolution, Cleveland was commissioned a colonel in the North Carolina militia. Until Lord Cornwallis invaded in 1780, the fighting in North Carolina consisted of guerrilla warfare between patriots ("Whigs") and "Tories". Cleveland became known as the "Terror of the Tories" for his treatment of Loyalists. In 1779, two Tories looted the home of George Wilfong, a patriot and friend of Cleveland. The Tories used Wilfong's clothes line to chase away his horses. The marauders were captured by Cleveland's men, who had them hanged using the clothes line they had stolen. In revenge, a group of Tories led by Captain William Riddle kidnapped Cleveland. Cleveland's men rescued him and captured Riddle and two others. All three were hanged from the same tree, which became known as the "Tory Oak," and was for years an historic landmark behind the old Wilkes County courthouse (now the Wilkes Historical Museum).
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