Riverfront in Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Court House of New Hanover County

June 19, 1775 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

1. June 19, 1775 Marker

Inscription.
Here at the intersection of Market and Front Street stood the Court House of New Hanover County in which the Stamp Master appointed by the British Crown was forced to resign his office, November 16, 1785. On November 28, 1765, at the town of Brunswick, 14 miles below Wilmington, the armed Militia of Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, under the command of Colonels Hugh Waddell and John Ashe, prevented the landing of the stamp paper by the British sloop-of-war Diligence.

Here the citizens of New Hanover County on June 19, 1775, made the following pledge for defense of the country; “We do unite ourselves under every tie of religion and honor and associate as a band in her defense against every foe; hereby solemnly engaging that whenever our continental or provincial councils shall decree it necessary we will go forth and be ready to sacrifice our lives and fortunes to secure her freedom and safety.”

New Hanover Historical Commission — A.J. Howell, James Sprunt, E.S. Martin, W.A. McGirt

Erected 1919 by New Hanover Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is June 19, 1775.

Location.

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34° 14.127′ N, 77° 56.915′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in Riverfront. It is at the intersection of Market Street and North Front Street, on the right when traveling west on Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 103 Market Street, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and on the Cape Fear Coast.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

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: Bradley-Green Building (a few steps from this marker); Ahrens Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Masonic Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Todd Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wilkinson Alley (about 300 feet away); William Tryon (about 300 feet away); Beery's & Cassidey's Shipyards (about 300 feet away); D. R. Foster Building (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

More about this marker. Marker is two-sided. The East face is the front, and contains information about the old New Hanover County Court House. The West face is the back, and discusses the 1775 county citizens' patriotic oath. Newspaper articles from 1919-1921 covering the placement of New Hanover Historical Commission's 19 markers call this one the Court House marker.

Also see . . . Prerevolutionary Resolves.

As North Carolina
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, January 25, 2025

2. East (front) Side of Marker
View looking into the intersection towards the waterfront.
chafed at British rule and edged toward independence during 1774 and 1775, the former colony was governed largely by a new Provincial Congress and, at the county level, by local Committees of Safety. The North Carolina resolves of 1774 affirmed loyalty to the Crown while also declaring that the colonists could not be taxed without their consent or the consent of their elected representatives. Another series of resolves, more emphatic and advocating complete independence from Great Britain, was passed after the 19 Apr. 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord, in Massachusetts, which marked the beginning of armed conflict with Britain. The New Hanover County Committee of Safety drew up an "association" that was "unanimously agreed to, by the inhabitants" on 19 June 1775. Although holding out hope for "a reconciliation" with Britain, the New Hanover committee stated that "under our present circumstances, we shall be justified... in resisting force by force."

(Submitted on June 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 15, 2023

3. June 19, 1775 Marker

(looking east along Market Street • marker is on sidewalk at left)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 336 times since then and 20 times this year. Last updated on June 26, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on June 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on June 26, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on June 18, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.