Difference between revisions of "Kemp Plummer"

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|residence= Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina
 
|residence= Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina
|education= Hampden-Sydney College, the College of William and Mary
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|education= Hampden-Sydney College, The College of William & Mary
|almamater= the College of William and Mary  
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|almamater= The College of William and Mary  
 
|profession=  lawyer, politician
 
|profession=  lawyer, politician
|spouse= Susanna Martin (1776-1838) - daughter if William Martin and granddaughter of  
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|spouse= Susanna Martin (1776-1838), daughter of William Martin and granddaughter of Nicholas Long, "commissary general of North Carolina during the Revolution."<ref>Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in ''Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography'', ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104.</ref>
 
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|relatives= Children: Anne, Mary, Henry, William, Austin, Bettie, Lucy, Kemp, Alfred, Susanna, and Thomas. Ancestors: William Plummer I, Richard Kemp. Grandson: Kemp P. Battle.
Nicholas Long, "commissary general of North Carolina during the Revolution."  
 
<ref> Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography,  
 
 
 
ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104. </ref>
 
|relatives= Children: Anne, Mary, Henry, William, Austin, Bettie, Lucy, Kemp, Alfred,  
 
 
 
Susanna, and Thomas. Ancestors: William Plummer I, Richard Kemp. Grandson: Kemp P.  
 
 
 
Battle.
 
 
|knownfor=  
 
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}}Kemp Plummer was born in Gloucester County, Virginia, in 1768 to William Plummer II and Mary Hayes. He grew up in Virginia with his five siblings until his father's death in 1774. Afterwards, Plummer's mother moved the family to North Carolina to take advantage of "the cheaper lands and the superior healthiness of the hill country of North Carolina."<ref>McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104; Kemp Plummer Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," ''North Carolina Law Journal'', Vol. 2, No. 9 (1901-1902), pp. 255-260, accessed September 2, 2015.</ref>
Kemp Plummer was born in Gloucester County, Virginia to William Plummer II and Mary Hayes. He grew up in Virginia with his five siblings until his father's death in 1774. Afterwards, Plummer's mother moved the family to North Carolina to take advantage of "the cheaper lands and the superior healthiness of the hill country of North Carolina." <ref> Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104; Kemp Plummer Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," North Carolina Law Journal, Vol. 2, No. 9 (1901-1902), pp. 255-260, accessed online September 2, 2015, http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/nclj2&div=64&g_sent=1&collection=journals#. </ref>
 
  
Plummer attended Hampden-Sydney College and graduated in 1786 as part of the first class to receive diplomas from the new school. Plummer then attended the College of William and Mary, and studied law with [[George Wythe]]. <ref> Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104. </ref> Significantly, Plummer appears to be the only person to have studied law with George Wythe out of the 3,551 persons included in the Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography. <ref> Steve Sheppard, The History of Legal Education in the United States: Commentaries and Primary Sources, Volume 1 (The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2006). </ref> Rather than staying to practice law in Virginia, Plummer moved back to Warrenton, North Carolina and became licensed to join the bar in there. <ref> Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, ed. William S..OL/Page?handle=hein.journals/nclj2&div=64&g_sent=1&collection=journals#. </ref> Plummer opened a law office there in Warrenton, which was the county seat and where Plummer's mother bought a plantation ca. 1790. <ref> Kemp Plummer Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," North Carolina Law Journal, Vol. 2, No. 9 (1901-1902), pp. 255-260, accessed online September 2, 2015, http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/nclj2&div=64&g_sent=1&collection=journals#. </ref> However, Plummer also practiced law in all the counties surrounding Warren County and was extremely popular with both clients and associates. He even become known as "the honest lawyer," and was praised for his "singing and story-telling abilities, his generosity, and his convivial disposition [which] attracted all classes." In 1794, Plummer married Susanna Martin and together their hospitality became legendary in the upper Roanoke area and they dominated North Carolina's political life. Among their circle were such politicians as Nathaniel Macon, James Turner, Weldon Edwards, William Hawkins, and William Miller. <ref> Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104. </ref>
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Plummer attended Hampden-Sydney College and graduated in 1786 as part of the first class to receive diplomas from the new school. He then attended the College of William & Mary, studying law with [[George Wythe]].<ref>McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104.</ref> Significantly, out of the 3,551 persons included in the ''Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography'', Plummer appears to be the only person to have studied law with Wythe.<ref>Steve Sheppard, ''The History of Legal Education in the United States: Commentaries and Primary Sources'', Volume 1 (The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2006).</ref> Rather than staying in Virginia, Plummer moved to Warrenton, North Carolina and became licensed to join the bar there.<ref>McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104.</ref> He opened a law office in Warrenton and practiced law in all the counties surrounding Warren County.<ref>Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," 257; McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104.</ref> Plummer become known as "the honest lawyer," and was praised for his "singing and story-telling abilities, his generosity, and his convivial disposition [which] attracted all classes."<ref>McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104.</ref>
  
In that same year of 1794, Plummer represented Warren County in the House of Commons. But by the 1810's, Plummer had attained even higher recognition. In 1815 and 1816, Plummer represented Warren County in the state Senate. He chaired James Monroe's campaign organization in Raleigh, and became "dispenser of Republican patronage in the state." <ref> Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104. </ref> And, from 1817 until his death, Plummer served as a trustee of the University of North Carolina. In 1820, Plummer was even offered the governorship, but he turned it down due to the expenses attached with the title. Throughout all of this, however, Plummer and his large family continued to live off of Plummer's legal practice. <ref> Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104. </ref>
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In 1794, Plummer married Susanna Martin. Their hospitality became legendary in the upper Roanoke area, and among their circle were such politicians as [[wikipedia:Nathaniel Macon|Nathaniel Macon]], [[wikipedia:James Turner|James Turner]], [[wikipedia:Weldon Nathaniel Edwards|Weldon Edwards]], [[wikipedia:William Hawkins (governor)|William Hawkins]], and [[wikipedia:William Miller (North Carolina)|William Miller]].<ref>Ibid.</ref>
  
Plummer died from gout in his mid-fifties, and his wife died twelve years later. He was survived by his children Anne, Mary, Henry, William, Austin, Bettie, Lucy, Kemp, Alfred, Susanna, and Thomas. His grandson, Kemp Plummer Battle, achieved fame as the president of the University of North Carolina. After Plummer and Susanna's deaths, the citizens of Warrenton bought their home and converted it into the Warrenton Female College.  
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In 1794 Plummer represented Warren County in the North Carolina House of Commons, and by the 1810's he had attained even higher recognition. In 1815 and 1816, Plummer represented Warren County in the state Senate. He chaired James Monroe's campaign organization in Raleigh, and became "dispenser of Republican patronage in the state."<ref>Ibid.</ref> From 1817 until his death in 1826, Plummer served as a trustee of the University of North Carolina.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
<ref> Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104. </ref>
 
  
==Further Reading==
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Plummer died from gout in his mid-fifties. After his wife's death in 1838, the citizens of Warrenton bought the Plummer home and converted it into the Warrenton Female College.  
(1) Kemp Plummer Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," North Carolina Law Journal, Vol. 2, No. 9 (1901-1902), pp. 255-260, accessed online September 2, 2015, http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/nclj2&div=64&g_sent=1&collection=journals#.
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<ref>Ibid.</ref>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
[[Wythe the teacher]]
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*[[Wythe the Teacher]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
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 +
==Further Reading==
 +
*Kemp Plummer Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," ''North Carolina Law Journal'', Vol. 2, No. 9 (1901-1902), pp. 255-260, accessed online September 2, 2015.
  
 
[[Category: Wythe's Students]]
 
[[Category: Wythe's Students]]

Latest revision as of 11:55, 13 January 2020

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Plummer, Kemp - image.jpg
Representative to the State House of Commons
In office
1794
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State Senator
In office
1815 & 1816
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Trustee of The University of North Carolina
In office
1817-1826
Preceded by
Succeeded by
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Personal details
Born 1769 (some sources list 1767)
  Near Mobjack Bay, Gloucester County, Virginia
Died January 19, 1826
 
Resting place
Residence(s) Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina
Education Hampden-Sydney College, The College of William & Mary
Alma mater The College of William and Mary
Profession lawyer, politician
Spouse(s) Susanna Martin (1776-1838), daughter of William Martin and granddaughter of Nicholas Long, "commissary general of North Carolina during the Revolution."[1]
Relatives Children: Anne, Mary, Henry, William, Austin, Bettie, Lucy, Kemp, Alfred, Susanna, and Thomas. Ancestors: William Plummer I, Richard Kemp. Grandson: Kemp P. Battle.
Known for
Signature [[File:|left|200px]]

Kemp Plummer was born in Gloucester County, Virginia, in 1768 to William Plummer II and Mary Hayes. He grew up in Virginia with his five siblings until his father's death in 1774. Afterwards, Plummer's mother moved the family to North Carolina to take advantage of "the cheaper lands and the superior healthiness of the hill country of North Carolina."[2]

Plummer attended Hampden-Sydney College and graduated in 1786 as part of the first class to receive diplomas from the new school. He then attended the College of William & Mary, studying law with George Wythe.[3] Significantly, out of the 3,551 persons included in the Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, Plummer appears to be the only person to have studied law with Wythe.[4] Rather than staying in Virginia, Plummer moved to Warrenton, North Carolina and became licensed to join the bar there.[5] He opened a law office in Warrenton and practiced law in all the counties surrounding Warren County.[6] Plummer become known as "the honest lawyer," and was praised for his "singing and story-telling abilities, his generosity, and his convivial disposition [which] attracted all classes."[7]

In 1794, Plummer married Susanna Martin. Their hospitality became legendary in the upper Roanoke area, and among their circle were such politicians as Nathaniel Macon, James Turner, Weldon Edwards, William Hawkins, and William Miller.[8]

In 1794 Plummer represented Warren County in the North Carolina House of Commons, and by the 1810's he had attained even higher recognition. In 1815 and 1816, Plummer represented Warren County in the state Senate. He chaired James Monroe's campaign organization in Raleigh, and became "dispenser of Republican patronage in the state."[9] From 1817 until his death in 1826, Plummer served as a trustee of the University of North Carolina.[10]

Plummer died from gout in his mid-fifties. After his wife's death in 1838, the citizens of Warrenton bought the Plummer home and converted it into the Warrenton Female College. [11]

See also

References

  1. Daniel M. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," in Dictionary of North Carolinian Biography, ed. William S. Powell (University of North Carolina Press, 2000), Vol. 5, 104.
  2. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104; Kemp Plummer Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," North Carolina Law Journal, Vol. 2, No. 9 (1901-1902), pp. 255-260, accessed September 2, 2015.
  3. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104.
  4. Steve Sheppard, The History of Legal Education in the United States: Commentaries and Primary Sources, Volume 1 (The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2006).
  5. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104.
  6. Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," 257; McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104.
  7. McFarland, "Kemp Plummer," 104.
  8. Ibid.
  9. Ibid.
  10. Ibid.
  11. Ibid.

Further Reading

  • Kemp Plummer Battle, "An Old Time Lawyer," North Carolina Law Journal, Vol. 2, No. 9 (1901-1902), pp. 255-260, accessed online September 2, 2015.