07/17/2026
A local history event!
Colonial Militias of Eastern North Carolina
Please join us on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 3:00 pm in the Historic 1899 Winterville Depot for a special presentation on the Colonial Militias of Eastern North Carolina. This presentation is free and open to the community.
Special guest, Cliff Darden, from Wilson, NC will make a presentation on colonial militias from eastern North Carolina, particularly militias from Dobbs, Edgecombe, Johnston, Nash, and Wayne Counties. The presentation will include information about the likely members of each unit, the "battles" in which they participated with emphasis on Moore's Creek (NC), Charleston (SC), Camden (SC), Cowpens (SC), Guilford Courthouse (NC), and mentions of more local “incidents”, Peacock's Bridge and Stony Creek. Cliff will share information about Cornwallis coming through the area and other interesting anecdotes about Revolutionary War times in eastern NC.
Cliff grew up in Wilson, NC, graduated from Duke in 1971, and wrote his first historical/genealogical paper in 1974. He spent 45+ years in the electrical wholesale business, 27 years as a boy scout leader, and officiated high school football for 25 years (including games in Ficklen Stadium). Cliff can trace his roots to what is now Greene County back to the middle 1700's, and his Methodist heritage to the 1780's.
Cliff is proud to say that he did in fact have ancestors in the Dobbs militia.
Also at the meeting, we will share names and brief information for Patriots of Pitt County. Please come check our roster and add patriots who may not be listed.
