Massacre at the Rouse House, 1781  

Contributed by Kim Rouse - Rousej@ev1.net

Another man concealed himself in the garret of the house, but was discovered.

He was promised his life if he would inform his captors of the position and plans of the patriot forces who were known to be not far away. In his fright he did this, but he was, nevertheless, promptly put to death. It was a dastardly deed, but it showed the spirit of the British soldiers who were trying to subdue the American Rebels.

It happened that a small body of American troops under Colonel BLOODWORTH were not far away; and, when the member of the party who had hidden in the chimney was running toward them, they heard the rifle fire. They hurried to the scene, but the Britishers had gone. Their diabolical work was over, and they could have the pleasure of reporting it to their commanding officer in Wilmington. It was another victory for the royal cause.

Under the mulberry tree in the yard beside which James LOVE had fallen the patriot victims were buried in one grave. For a century the trees watched over their resting place. IT has long since disappeared and the mound which marked the grave.

Is also gone; but the ground will ever be consecrated to the sacrifice which was there made for the Independence of the American colonies.

Note: Accounts which have been made of the massacre at the ROUSE house have generally stated that James LOVE was from Duplin County; but his county was Bladen. Near his home Lord CORNWALLIS encamped on his way to Wilmington, while LOVE'S widow and children were still residing there.

The description of the massacre given above is drawn from an article written by a son of a friend of LOVE, and published in 1845.

Source: The Latimer House in Wilmington, N.C.

The Latimer House in Wilmington is a Museum, it is managed by the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society.

The Archives Library

The archives are founded on the research of Ida Brooks Kellam and Elizabeth F. McKoy in family records and deeds of property. Today they include a comprehensive and growing collection of local documents and source material, much of it unique (including a significant collection of original documents).

Surname Projects M-Z

Home