Exhibit pays homage to the South Fork Boys

Major William Chronicle and the South Fork Boys, heroes in the 1780 Revolutionary War Battle of Kings Mountain, are being recognized in a Belmont Historical Society exhibit that opened earlier this month.

Four area chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) are participating in the exhibit, which is being hosted by the William Gaston Chapter along with the William Chronicle Chapter, the Peter Smith Chapter and the Tryon Resolves Chapter.

The South Fork Boys lived in the South Fork River basin, an area that at the time was entirely in Lincoln County. On Oct. 7, 1780, they distinguished themselves in the Battle of Kings Mountain under Major William Chronicle, who died in the battle. Major Chronicle was born in Belmont near where the Chronicle Mill was built in 1901 and named in his honor. The site and a renovated portion of the mill are now home to the Chronicle Mill Apartments.

The Kings Mountain defeat of the Loyalist forces under Major Patrick Ferguson by about 900 Patriots was the first major setback for Britain's southern strategy and started a chain of events that culminated in the surrender of British General Charles Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.

"It's fitting that the Belmont Historical Society hosts this exhibit honoring the South Fork Boys so close to the birthplace of Major Chronicle," said DAR Regent Laura Duncan, who is coordinating the exhibit.

The exhibits will be on display until early next year at the Belmont Historical Society at 40 E. Catawba St. Admission is free, and hours of operation are Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30 until 4 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Exhibit pays homage to the South Fork Boys