Lexington in Davidson County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Captain Benjamin Merrill

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2010

1. Captain Benjamin Merrill Marker

Inscription.
Sacrificed his life for the cause of the Regulators. Was executed by officials of the Crown, June 19, 1771. Home was 8 miles south.

Erected 1981 by Capt. Benj. Merrill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Law Enforcement • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 19, 1771.

Location. 35° 49.462′ N, 80° 15.2′ W. Marker is in Lexington, North Carolina, in Davidson County. It can be reached from the intersection of North Main Street and West Center Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 N Main St, Lexington NC 27292, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont

and specifically in Piedmont Triad.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

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and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Daniel Boone and Gen. Nathanael Greene (here, next to this marker); City of Lexington (here, next to this marker); Lexington in the Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); Davidson County Vietnam War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Davidson County World War I Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Davidson County World War II and Korean War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert F. Sink (within shouting distance of this marker); Davidson County (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.

Also see . . . Battle of Alamance. Description of the battle from the Alamance County, NC website. (Submitted on August 14, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2010

2. Captain Benjamin Merrill Marker

In 1771, a group of backcountry farmers referred to as “Regulators”, fed up with high taxes, dishonest sheriffs and illegal fees imposed by the British Crown, rebelled against royal governor William Tryon. Tyron’s militia defeated the Regulators in what was called the Battle of Alamance and sentenced six of them, including Capt. Merrill, to death.

Lexington Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2010

3. Lexington Markers

The Captain Benjamin Merrill marker (center) is one of several located across from the Old Davidson County Courthouse.

Regulators Plaque from Alamance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 31, 2010

4. Regulators Plaque from Alamance

This relief plaque, from a monument on the Alamance Battleground, depicts one of the Regulators (possibly Merrill) about to be executed.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3,477 times since then and 95 times this year. Last updated on May 8, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 14, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.