North Carolina General Assembly of 1779
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1779 met in three sessions in three locations in the years 1779 and 1780. The first session was held in Smithfield from May 3 to May 15, 1779; the second session in Halifax, from October 18 to November 10, 1779; the third and final session in New Bern, from January to February, 1780.
Each of the 50 North Carolina counties was authorized by the North Carolina Constitution of 1776 to elect one Senator and two members of the House of Commons. In addition, six districts were authorized to elect one House member each. Richard Caswell was elected governor by the legislature.
Legislation
For additional laws and minutes of the 1779 General Assembly, see .Councilors of State
This General Assembly selected the following Councilors of State on May 3, 1779:- Joseph Leech from Craven County
- Robert Bignall from Edgecombe County
- John Sampson
- John Simpson from Pitt County
- Thomas Respass, Senior from Beaufort County
- Isaac Guion from Craven County
- William Whitfield from Dobbs County
- Waightstill Avery from Burke Count
- Edward Starkey from Onslow County
House of Commons
Leadership of the House of Commons
- Speaker: Thomas Benbury
- Clerk: John Hunt
Members of the House of Commons
In 1779, the General Assembly abolished Bute County and Tryon County. They also created eleven new counties: Franklin, Gates, Jones, Lincoln, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rutherford, Sullivan, Warren, and Wayne Counties. Members of the House of Commons are listed below, along with the county they represented:Senate
Senate leadership
- Speaker: Allen Jones, resigned October 25, 1779; Abner Nash, elected to replace Jones October 26, 1779
- Clerk: John Sitgreaves