Our Ancestors

John Frank	Parents: John Frank and India Marie (Poiner) Tuttle Children: Standing: Pattie - Richard Frank Sitting: Thomas - Bettie Circa 1884 -1885	India Marie

The Wozelka's & Tuttles Circa 1907

Sitting in Center of Picture:
John M. Wozelka & Mary Josephine Provotski Wozelka
Standing Back Row, left to right:
Elizabeth M. (Hibba) Wozelka
Henry Cutler Wozelka
Annie Marie Wozelka Tuttle & Richard Frank Tuttle
and their children, John Frank Tuttle & Annie Marie Tuttle
sitting on the laps of their grandparents

WILLIAM CRAWFORD DAWSON

Photographer. Born at Elizabeth City, NC Aug. 31, 1831.
Parents: Francis Lothrop and Kizziah (Crawford) Dawson.
Married Nannie, Daughter of Joshua and Mary (Liverman) White, Jan. 4, 1865
Children: William Crawford, Jr.
Rena (Mrs. J. Reding Banks)
Joshua White and Fannie (Mrs. L.W. Caulk)
He attended local schools and was the first photographer in Elizabeth City.
Served with the local regiment Confederate States Army; rescued the colors at Battle of Roanoke Island when the flag bearer was killed.
(Flag now in Hall of History at Raleigh) He was cited for gallantry.
Member: Baptist Church; Mason (charter member of Eureka 317 established 1879; junior deacon and deputy grand marshal at installation officers).
Died March 28, 1879; buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Elizabeth City, NC.

      
Joshua White Dawson  and Clara Bray Dawson Circa 1897

THE STORY OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG
(8th Regimental Flag)
By Margaret Dawson Owens

As is the case with most children we were fascinated by stories told to us by our grandmother.  Especially the tales of the "War Between the States."

To me, at that time, the battle of Roanoke Island was the only battle of the war and Col. Shaw the greatest hero!  Because, I suppose, my grandfather was under his command and respected him so highly.

Col. Shaw, son of a Baptist Minister came from Rhode Island to practice medicine at the age of 19 years and settled in the area in Currituck County which now bears his name, Shawboro, N.C.

On the turn of the main highway, which runs through Shawboro, may be seen his home, the twin house, which has been a curiosity to all from an architectural point of view.  The houses are identical units and it is said, are connected by a great hall.  Many tales have been told as to why this style of house.

Col. Shaw won the hearts of all who knew him, not only as their physician but their friend and counselor.  They elected him to represent Camden and Currituck Counties in the Senate of the General Assembly in the year 1852.  He was however, defeated by a candidate from Chowan County two years later, who only stayed one term.  Col. Shaw was not to be outdone for in the year 1857, he was back in office.

Four years later he had to make a grave decision; whether to go back and fight with friends of his youth or stick by his neighbors.  The decision was made and in September 1861, he entered the Confederate Military Service at Camp Macon, near Warrenton and was put in command of the 8th Regiment of Volunteers, one company consisting mainly of men from Currituck, Camden, Pasquotank and Perquimans Counties.

In the next month, the regiment was ordered to Roanoke Island (now the site of the famous drama "The Lost Colony").  The defenses of the island were inadequate and very badly planned.  Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise had been given the command only a month before.  He was a raw soldier himself yet he knew there were not enough men or means of defense.  He tried in vain to get the District Commander at Norfolk, Gen. Huger, to give him the necessary men and arms.  He finally took it over his head to the Confederate Secretary of War, Judah P. Benjamin, but to no avail.  It has been said that the old General, worn and exhausted from worry, was lying ill in the Nags Head Hotel.

The command was then given to Col. Shaw.  A big change from civilian, doctor of medicine and politician in less than five months, to the weight of a Major Military Operation which had descended upon his shoulders.

The battle was joined on the morning of February 7, 1862 and by night Federal Troops had been landed on the southern part of the island.  General Burnside's men greatly outnumbered the Confederates.

Even though Col. Shaw had received news that the Confederate Naval Force's ammunition was exhausted, he still did not give up hope, for he was a thinking man and the Confederate Engineers had already said the Marshes were impassable.  As he saw the enemy floundering up to their waists, he just knew they wouldn't make it.  But to his consternation they did.  The odds were against him.  There were too many of them; mostly professional soldiers - by fateful circumstance soldiers from his own state, but pushing - pushing ahead.

It was only a question of time that they advanced to the attack.  The defenses were out-flanked in short order and the day was all but lost.  Surrender was the only alternative to a hopeless last stand.

This story I shall always remember.  During the thick of the fight the color bearer became frightened and dropped the flag.  My grandfather, William Crawford Dawson, left his position as gunner, rushed forward, lifted the flag out of the dust and raised it high over all.  As he did this Col. Shaw cried out, "Bravo for Dawson!"

When the battle was over my grandfather concealed himself from the enemy, took the flag that was so dear to him and put it inside the lining of his overcoat.

He was taken prisoner by the Federals and held for two weeks.  During this time he guarded the overcoat and its precious treasure as closely as he was guarded.  During his imprisonment he was expecting to be shot at any moment, for he knew if the flag was discovered it would mean death to him.

Through the instrumentality of a friend he managed to escape.  When he reached home and revealed the beautiful flag to the family, they were afraid to keep it in the house, for fear if it were found there, the enemy, who were everywhere, would burn the house and destroy all the property.

My grandmother, Nannie White Dawson, took the flag and sewed it inside a feather bed.

At the end of the war the flag was brought from it's hiding place with great rejoicing.  Though tattered and torn from use in battle and its long concealment, it was handled with care and much love by the older members of the family and is still honored by the grandchildren and great-grand children of the rescuer.

In the State Museum in the Hall of History at Raleigh, N.C. you will find the central part of this flag framed and also one of the gold stars, which were sent as a loan by my father the late W. C. Dawson II.

The flag bears the seal of North Carolina painted on national blue silk, over the seal is painted in gold letters, "State Guards" and just below the seal is "Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat" or "Let Him Who Has Won It, Bear The Palm" (Lord Nelson's motto).

This part of the flag was given to my father, W. C. Dawson II, and each of the other children were given one of the gold stars, which they have carefully framed.  We all cherish the memory of this dear old Confederate Flag which was presented to the N. C. State Guards by Miss Sophia Martin, who was one of the Elizabeth City Belles of 1862, a sister of Col. William Martin who was in Command at the Battle of Hatteras.

If Col. Shaw, who was killed at the battle of New Bern, N. C. and now lies resting in a corner of the yard at the old home place, could but know how we always associate him with this lovely old flag!

Even tho' we cherish the memory of the valiancy of our ancestors, how different things might be if we only took time out of this harassed world of today's wars for a prayer to God to deliver us from the cruelties of war and make us one community of peoples.