Biography of John Hinton

Biography of John Hinton


Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. 3 (1906)

Of all the patriots who lived in Wake County during the Revolution, probably the most distinguished, both as a soldier and statesman, was Colonel John Hinton, who was native of the precinct of Chowan, where his father, also named John Hinton, resided, his home being in that part of Cowan which is now Gates County.

It was about the year 1750 that John Hinton, then in the prime vigor of manhood, first came to Johnston County. The part of Johnston in which he settled was severed in 1771, and (with parts of the counties of Orange and Cumberland) erected into the county of Wake. In 1768, when the trouble with the Regulators was in its early stages, John Hinton, then a major of Johnston County troops, went to Hillsboro to confer with Governor Tryon as to the best means of quieting the disturbances. The efforts to quell the insurrection by peaceable means having failed, Tryon raised an army in the spring of 1771, and after scattering the Regulators at the battle of Alamance on may16th, put an end to the revolt. In Tryon's army Hinton was one of the most trusted officers, being colonel of the Wake County detachment, and he behaved with distinguished bravery in the battle.

In the war of the Revolution Colonel Hinton's efforts in the cause of colonies began early. He represented Wake County in the second independent Provincial Congress of North Carolina, which met at New-Bern on the 3rd of April, 1775. At Hillsboro, in the following August, he sat in another congress of the like character. On September 9th the Hillsboro Congress elected him colonel of the troops of Wake County and member of the Committee of Safety for the Hillsboro District, of which district Wake formed a part. In the Provincial Congress at Halifax, in April, 1776, he was once more a delegate. He was also a justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for Wake County.

At the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, on February 27th, 1776, Colonel Hinton was present, and there the same courageous spirit marked his conduct as at Alamance.

The death of Colonel Hinton occurred in the spring of 1784. His wife was Grizelle Kimbrough, and by her he left many descendants. In the South Atlantic Quarterly Durham, North Carolina) for April, 1902, there is an account of the life of Colonel Hinton written by Miss Mary Hilliard Hinton, one of his descendants. In that sketch will be found many interesting incidences in his life and career, an account of his family and also a list of his children. Two of his sons were Revolutionary officers.

Marshall De Lancey Haywood.


The above was transcribed by Amanda Smith and submitted by Susan T. Meier

Editors Notes-
John Hinton was the father in law to Joel LANE, who had married two of John Hintons daughters Martha and Mary HINTON.

Biography Of Joel LANE

Joel Lane's Will

Descendants of Joel Lane Sarah Sharpless

Kimbrough's by Sarah Sharpless

Return to Lane Descendants Home Page

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