A Few stops along the way - Part 2

This morning we headed over to Duke University to check it out. Especially since a Few was one of the founding fathers of the campus. I knew that William Preston Few was interned in the Duke University Chapel, I just didn't know where. So off we went! The chapel was built in the 1930's which meant Few would have overseen its construction. He was president until his death in 1940. The building itself is reminiscent of old cathedrals. I believe they call it Gothic styling. There are actually many people in the crypt in the chapel, including many of the Duke family. Few, however, has the designation of being the fist person placed there.

The spires stretch over 200 feet high.

The chapel was very interesting to look at.

So was the inside.

The pipes for the organ.

William Preston Few's resting place.

After leaving Duke University, we headed for the old Few homestead at Eno State park. This is where the Few's would have had their land in North Carolina according to my research. Hints in the area pointed toward this as well. I mean, there is not a lot of places out there named for the Few family, but there are a lot more than I had ever known!

The Fews settled in the Eno River area in the mid-1700's looking for more fertile lands for growing. North Carolina was much better than the Baltimore area. This area is where they were during the Regulator movement, in which James Few, William Few Jr's brother was heavily involved. More on that in a bit.

The Fews had a mill in the area, as well as a crossing called Few's Ford to get to the other areas of their property. The original trails and roads are still in use today. Eventually they moved on to Georgia, and the lands in the area changed several hands before becoming a state park. It was one of the few places on our trip that didn't require us to pay anything, not even for parking. I like free things. Especially when I get to actually walk a bit of the land my descendants did.

When you find a Few street sign, you need to take a picture.

Trail sign leading to Few's Ford, among others.

The original road they would have used to cross to get to the Mill on the other bank.

Not many can say they have a placard in a state park overviewing their family history!

Few Mill oad through the woods.

This is a depiction of what it might have looked like prior to the 1890's

Another owners house, but it might have been the site of the Few homestead.

If you look closely you can see musket ball holes in the chimney bricks. Wonder what happened here during the Revolution after the Fews had left the area.

After running away from large mosquitos, something I don't usually do in November in South Dakota, we headed for Alamance Battleground. The Few family were heavily involved in this conflict, which stemmed from British corruption and the illegal Stamp Act that was imposed on the colonists and back woodsmen of the area. Eventually things came to a head and a battle was had. Many men died in what is often called a pre-cursor to the Revolutionary War. At least, that is what the "Sons of Liberty called it once word got out that the battle occurred.

We stepped into the visitor center and Crista mentioned that we were Fews. Well, that started a conversion, because James "The Regulator" Few was captured and hung for treason on the battlefield with no trial. So we were able to exchange a bit of information. I had found out things in my research which they didn't know. For example, common teaching is that James Few was a "crazy person" who they just wanted to be rid of. However, many references point to the idea that James Few was pretty smart, if he was anything like his brothers. James was the 2nd oldest in the Few family, and as he died when he was 25ish, not much is known, other than that he fathered twins, and his great-great grandson went on to start Duke University.

If you would like to learn more about the Battle of Alamance, I would recommend watching the documentary which can be found on Amazon. James Few is even briefly mentioned. I also hear that the battle is mentioned in the Outlander books as well as a season of the TV series holding the same title. At the end of that stop I was able to purchase a "Alamance Battle Descendent" t-shirt. Yes they had those. They get many of those apparently, though the employees there had not met a Few that they were aware of during their tenures there.

An enactment of the attire and tools that were used in the period.

Up on the ridge is where the Regulators would have been posted 

Looking down from the ridge.

It is said that a few soldiers took cover behind this literal one rock in the area. Including a sharp shooter which took out 15 of the enemy by having his friends preload several rifles.

All about the battle.

Map of the battle.

Unfortunately, I don't think I took enough time to explore the battlefield more. We had places to be and people to meet. One of my superiors who I work with at Applause lives in the area and we met at a park so William could play a bit. He hasn't done much besides put up with being in his carseat or stroller for hours. So it was nice to be able to let him play a bit and to do one of his favorite things, sliding down the slide. It was also good to finally meet Lucas after all these years. I have worked at Applause. The guy will quite literally give you the shirt off of his back! Unfortunately, I keep forgetting to take pictures with all of these people I meet along the way...

We are safely in Charlotte, NC. Our next resting stop is in Augusta, GA tomorrow, but not before making a Few stops along the way!