John Bishop Harry

Birth: Mar. 7, 1774
Death: Feb. 10, 1868

John Bishop Harry and his wife Sarah Ann traveled to Lincoln County , NC on their honeymoon in a covered wagon. They settled in Lincolntown where he kept the old tavern and inn. By trade he was also a silversmith, clock maker and gunsmith.

In 1835 John Bishop, whose nickname was "John Bull", was a State Senator representing Lincoln County . He took an active part in the organization of Cleveland County in 1840-41. He help survey the new county and lay out the county seat, Shelby .

He surveyed the bounds of the new county (Cleveland NC) and laid out the court house square and the streets of Shelby, the county seat of the new county. Shortly after the new county was formed, he purchased a large tract of land in the southern end of the new county which on its south side joined the South Carolina state line. Here, he established his home on Buffalo Creek. Later he built a home and moved to a new location about 2 miles south of his first home. Here he lived the rest of his life. He established a great slave plantation on this farm which included about 8 square miles.

Buried ( Near Gaston, York Co. NC.?) in Old Shiloh Pres. Church cemetery about a half mile inside the South Carolina line from his big plantation and about 3 miles from his old home place.


An unfortunate accident befell John Bishop while returning from Raleigh on horseback. He was caught in a heavy thunderstorm and thoroughly drenched for hours. The dye from the red lining of his hat mixed with the rain and ran in his eyes. It injured his eyesight and he was almost blind during the last years of his life.

John Bishop owned many slaves and over a thousand acres between Buffalo Creek and the South Carolina line. The land lay along a stream called Jacob's Branch. There he built a large home for his wife and family. After the death of Sarah Ann, he sold his home to Major Borders. He moved two miles up the road and built a smaller, rectangular home with one large room, a fireplace in the south and two pot racks at the north end. He had a dozen slaves that lived nearby and assisted him. Here he lived out his last years in luxury and comfort. A beautifully executed will in his own handwriting shows that he was well educated. It is also interesting to note that a map of his property made by him showed the location of a money swamp where gold, silver and Confederate money was hidden during the War Between the States. The money swamp was never found.

s/o David & Anna Bishop Harry