Francis Bradley was killed on November 14, 1780, at about 37 years old. He was ambushed and “privately slain by the enemies of his country” while defending what is referred to as McAuley’s lot or farm judiciaryni.uk+4bmgen.com+4allthingsliberty.com+4.
🏠 Whose farm was it?
The land where Bradley died belonged to a McAuley (sometimes spelled McAulay or McCauley). Though the full first name isn’t specified in most accounts, tradition refers to the location as “his lot,” indicating Francis Bradley was at a property owned by someone in the McAuley family .
Summary
| Person | Date of Death | Age | Location & Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Bradley | November 14, 1780 | ~37 yrs | Killed on McAuley’s lot/farm, owned by the McAuley family |
Francis Bradley was not at his own home when he was killed on November 14, 1780. According to local Revolutionary War accounts and traditions, he was helping a neighbor—a member of the McAuley family—with farm work or possibly guarding the property, which had likely been threatened by Loyalists or British troops.
Here’s what likely happened:
- Francis Bradley was a Patriot militia captain.
- The area was under constant threat from Loyalist (Tory) raiders after the British invaded the Carolinas.
- McAuley’s farm was probably a target for theft or retribution because of their Patriot sympathies.
- Bradley was reportedly ambushed and killed while alone, which suggests he was either:
- Defending the property, possibly taking a watch duty,
- Helping with farm work during a volatile time, or
- Targeted deliberately by Loyalist scouts who recognized him as a Patriot leader.
Supporting Clue:
His grave marker reads:
“In memory of Francis Bradley, who was slain by the enemies of his country, Nov. 14, 1780. Aged 37 years.”
This strongly implies he was killed due to political or military allegiance, not random violence—suggesting a targeted killing during wartime conditions while he was away from his own home.
Let me know if you’d like the location of the grave or details about the McAuley property today.
You said:
how long were the britisjin charlotte date and years
ChatGPT said:
The British were officially in Charlotte, North Carolina, for only about two weeks in the fall of 1780—from September 26 to October 12, 1780—during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War.
Timeline Summary:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 26, 1780 | British troops under General Charles Cornwallis entered Charlotte after the Battle of Charlotte against local militia commanded by Colonel William R. Davie. |
| October 12, 1780 | Cornwallis withdrew from Charlotte, frustrated by constant harassment and guerrilla attacks by Patriot militia and the hostile civilian population. |
Why did they leave so quickly?
Cornwallis had expected Charlotte to be a Loyalist stronghold, but he found the opposite:
- Locals were fiercely pro-Patriot.
- Militia like those led by Davie, Francis Bradley, and Joseph Graham kept attacking supply lines and troops.
- The terrain and logistics were difficult, and supplies were scarce.
- The stunning British defeat at Kings Mountain (Oct 7, 1780) made the region even more dangerous.
Cornwallis famously referred to Charlotte as a “hornets’ nest of rebellion”, a nickname the city still uses today.