Nash, Abner, 1740-1786

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Abner Nash (August 8, 1740 – December 2, 1786) was an American lawyer and statesman. He notably served as the second Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina between 1781 and 1782 before representing North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1782 until his death.

Born at Templeton Manor, his family's plantation in Prince Edward County in the Colony of Virginia, Nash attended rural schools and read law before being admitted to the bar in Virginia. He began his political career there, serving in the House of Burgesses from 1761 to 1762. Nash moved to North Carolina in 1762 or 1763, settling in Halifax County. Nash served in the North Carolina House of Commons in 1764 and 1765 and from 1770 to 1771. After moving to New Bern in 1771 and establishing a plantation, Pembroke, nearby, Nash represented New Bern in the rebel "provincial congress" assembled from 1774, and in 1776 was a member of the committee that drafted the state's new constitution. He became a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1777 (serving as the first Speaker of that house) and the North Carolina State Senate in 1779.

He was elected governor by the legislature in 1780. During his brief tenure as governor, North Carolina saw some of its worst conflicts as a battleground in the American Revolutionary War. While Governor, the state assembly appointed Richard Caswell as commander-in-chief (Major General) of the North Carolina militia and state troops, even though the constitution assigned this responsibility to the governor. Then in December 1780 they named a Council Extraordinary that further encroached on his office. Consequently, Nash resigned and went home in spring 1781. Later in 1781, North Carolina eased political tensions by sending Nash as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He would serve there the rest of his life, as he died at a session in New York City. Abner was originally buried in St. Paul's Churchyard in Manhattan, but his body was later returned for burial in a private, family plot at Pembroke.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Read, Keith Morton, 1880-1940. Keith M. Read collection, 1770-1917 Georgia Historical Society
creatorOf La Rouërie, Charles Armand Tuffin, Marquis de, 1750-1793. Autograph letter signed "Armand" : Cross Creek [North Carolina], to the governor of North Carolina [Abner Nash], 1780 June 22. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Nathanael Greene Papers, 1775-1785 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Davie, Preston, b. 1881. Preston Davie collection, 1560-1903. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Nash, Abner, ca. 1740-1786. Abner Nash letters, 1777-1783 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Arnoldus Vanderhorst papers, 1763-1817. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Nash, Abner, ca. 1740-1786. Autograph letter signed : (probably) to Gen. Greene, 1781 Apr. 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786. Papers of Nathanael Greene, 1781-1782. Library of Congress
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Papers of Thomas Jefferson and other noted Revolutionary figures [manuscript], 1770-1822. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
referencedIn Ernest Haywood Collection of Haywood Family Papers, 1752-1967 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf Nash, Abner, ca. 1740-1786. Letters of Abner Nash, 1778-1781. Library of Congress
creatorOf Abner Nash Letters, ., 1777-1783 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Williams, John. Papers, 1775-1824. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Battle, Jane Hyde Hall Liddell, 1866-1952,. Jane Hyde Hall Liddell Battle papers, 1693-1930. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Engstrom, Mary Claire, 1906-1997. Mary Claire Engstrom photographic collection, 1930s-1979 (bulk 1950s-1976). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Purviance, Samuel Dinsmore, 1774-1806. Correspondence [manuscript] 1775-1787. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 1770-1822. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Halifax (N.C.) NC US
Prince Edward County VA US
New Bern NC US
Craven County NC US
New York City NY US
Jones County NC US
Hillsborough NC US
Subject
Occupation
Army officers
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Governors
Lawyers
Public officials
State Representative
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1740-08-08

Death 1786-12-02

Male

Americans,

Britons

English

Information

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