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House is built
the house was named "Retreat" by its second owner, Gov. Benjamin Williams. Known as the Alston House, its walls still bear numerous scars and bullet holes from a Revolutionary War battle. -
first battle
Alston and his band of revolutionaries were camped at the home, they were attacked by a larger unit of Tories, whose leader was the notorious David Fanning. During the ensuing skirmish, Fanning's forces attempted to light the house on fire by rolling against it a cart filled with burning straw. After several casualties on both sides, Alston surrendered. The house was left riddled with bullet holes, many of which can still be seen today. -
Period: to
First battle
Alston and his band of revolutionaries were camped at the home, they were attacked by a larger unit of Tories, whose leader was the notorious David Fanning. During the ensuing skirmish, Fanning's forces attempted to light the house on fire by rolling against it a cart filled with burning straw. After several casualties on both sides, Alston surrendered. The house was left riddled with bullet holes, many of which can still be seen today. -
Alston sells the house
Though Alston was distinguished as a lieutenant colonel in the state militia, a justice of the peace, and a state senator, his later career was seen as disreputable. Twice indicted for murder, he was removed as justice of the peace, and suspended from the state legislature for various reasons. In 1790, Philip Alston sold the house and plantation and left the state. -
Governor Benjamin Williams buys home
In 1798 Gov. Benjamin Williams bought the 2,500-acre plantation. Besides serving four one-year terms as the state's governor and a colonel under George Washington, he was a member of the first board of trustees of the University of North Carolina and served in the national Congress at Philadelphia -
Williams passes and home becomes a landmark
Williams died on the plantation in 1814. Though he was first buried some distance away, his grave was subsequently moved to the grounds of his former home. His family lived in the house until 1853. The dwelling changed ownership several times until 1954, when it was bought and restored by the Moore County Historical Association. In 1955 the state acquired the property