Date Died: January 22, 1813

Place Buried: Rocky Point, Pender County

Occupation: Lawyer

Samuel Ashe was born in Bath in 1725 to John Baptista Ashe and Elizabeth Lillington Swann Ashe. They moved to Rocky Point and the Sloop Point Plantation, built by the Governor's father, in 1725. The Sloop Point home has been authenticated as the oldest surviving structure in North Carolina.

After attending school out of state, he became an active supporter of the colonial revolt. He served in the state legislature, where he was elected in April, 1777, Speaker of the first North Carolina Senate. Ashe also served on local council of safety groups, and as a judge of North Carolina's first Superior Court. While on the court he took part in the historical and landmark decision of Bayard vs. Singleton, which was the precedent used by the United State Supreme Court for Marbury vs. Madison (Marbury vs. Madison 5 U.S. 137 [1809]: The Constitution of these United States is the supreme law of the land. Any law that is repugnant to the Constitution is null and void of law).

After eighteen years on the bench, he was elected governor. During his term as governor, he worked to improve court practice. During Ashe's term, there was a plot to steal the trial records of a land fraud case from the comptroller's office in the state Capitol and to burn the State House. Governor Ashe learned of the plans and took steps to end the plot.

Later, the Secretary of State, James Glasgow, was convicted of the plot. Governor Ashe was instrumental in the founding of the University of North Carolina and became President of the University's Founding Board of Trustees. He is buried in the Ashe Family Cemetery in Rocky Point on the grounds of his plantation "The Neck."

Much of the information in this section has been provided by Samuel Ashe Flint, Governor Ashe's great-great-great grandson, who lives in Hampstead, North Carolina. We thank him for his assistance.

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