It was the home of Samuel Atkins, a grandson of John and Elizabeth Atkins, I think through their son Hutchins. That needs more research, but Hutchins was too young to be in the Revolution. He is found in the Census near Samuel later in life. I don't know too much about him. Perhaps he came of age in the time of disarray and did not file documents like his brothers. Or, our family stayed in Wake county and the other children spread out West and South. LOTS of folks are researching the genealogy of Atkins and we just haven't been as curious.
My sister has a pottery pitcher that my Dad's cousin gave her from Samuel's estate for her wedding present. Samuel's family was pretty much decimated in the Civil War. There is intrigue there when you review the Census and the records in Raleigh at the Archives. That is another story.... That may also be a reason we do not have too much information on Hutchins. Not too many lived to tell the story.
The plantation was on Tyron road and the house sat pretty much across from the hospital at the intersection of Kildaire Farm Road. David Fanning's scouts would have been spread out looking for food when he was in Pittsboro and before he kidnapped Governor Burke. Or better than that, do you suppose he left his army there on the way to deliver the Governor to the coast?
I would like to know more about the history of Tryon Road. Maybe I can find out about this at the Historic Roads Conference in Charlotte. That is becoming a more likely story, at least it would fit a movie plot, right? Then, "Jesse, young and bold and a tragic hero of the Revolution, was shot off the porch"
The Archives are a great resource for researchers. Also there is an office publishing books about everything historic. There are several great ones about the Revolution. I recommend
all of these concerning the Revolution. I have them all and also "The Black Experience in Revolutionary North Carolina by Jeffrey J. Crow. Who knew all this information was so close at hand?
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