REGULATORS, THE. The name given to those who actively opposed excessive taxes, dis honest sheriffs, and extortionate fees, in North Carolina, in 1765-71. Practically all authority was at this time centred in the royal Governor; the taxes were levied exclusively upon the poll; there was little money in the counties and no market for the products of these coun ties. The court officials, wore ac cused of exacting illegal fees. Disturbances in _Mecklenburg and Granville Counties in 1765, and in Orange County in 1766, were easily put down. The Regulation proper began in Orange County in the spring of 1768, the 'Regulators' agreeing to pay no more taxes until they were satisfied that such taxes were according to law, and to pay no more than the legal fees. The news that the Assembly had appropriated £15,000 to build a house for the Governor increased the dissatisfaction. Minor disturbances occurred in the county, and the county militia was ordered out. William Butler and two other Regulators were fined and imprisoned. Edward fanning, register of the county, was found guilty of ex tortion in office on five counts and was fined a penny and costs on each. The Assembly in 1769 was in sympathy with the Regulators. Petitions from Anson, Rowan. and Orange Counties de manded among other things salaries for officers instead of fees, a property tax, and that minis ters of any denomination should be allowed to perform the marriage ceremony. This Assembly
was dissolved by the Governor November 6th, af ter a session of two weeks. In September, 1770, renewed disturbances occurred in Orange County. The Assembly thereupon expelled Her man Husband, One of the leaders of the Regu lators, passed a Riot Act, voted £500 for the defense of the town, but proceeded to pass much legislation demanded by Regulators. In Slay, 1771, Governor Tryon (q.y.), at the head of a large force, proceeded to Hillsboro. On Slay 1 lith he met about 2,000 Regulators, of whom hardly half were armed. at Alamanee Creek. A sharp contest ensued for two hours. Of the Loyalists 70 were killed and wounded, while 9 of the Regulators were killed, a "great number" wounded, and 15 taken prisoners, one of .whmn was hanged on the spot. Six of the prisoners were tried and executed. By July -Ith more than 6.000 men had taken the oath of allegiance, and the Regulator leaders were par doned by the King before .the Revolution. In 1772 it was estimated that 1,500 had emigrated to the \Vest, and the excitement was over. Dur ing the Revolution most of the Regulators ad hered to the King. Consult Bassett, "The Reg ulators of North Carolina," in the Report of the American Historical Association for 1894 (Wash ington, 1S95).