| Notes |
- NOTE: the original tintype picture is held by the Haw River Historical Museum and is provided here as a courtesy by the Association.
The rank of General was an honorific and not a genuine military rank.
U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters
Name: Benj Trollinger
Post Office Location: Trollingers Bridge, Orange, North Carolina
Appointment Date: 1 Mar 1842
Volume #: 16
Volume Year Range: 1844-1856
U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters
Name: Benjamin Trollinger
Post Office Location: Mount Ararat, Orange, North Carolina
Appointment Date: 7 Feb 1846
Volume #: 16
Volume Year Range: 1844-1856
1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Benjamin Trolinger
Age: 39
Birth Year: abt 1811
Birthplace: Alamance
Home in 1850: North District, Alamance, North Carolina
Gender: Male
Family Number: 728
1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Benjamin Trolinger
Age in 1860: 49
Birth Year: abt 1811
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1860: Williamson, Richmond, North Carolina
Gender: Male
Post Office: Springfield
Name: Genl B Trollinger Year: 1840 Volume: Number 11; 1839-1840 Record Set: Register of Cadet Applicants, 1819-1867 Location: West Point, Orange, New York
May 12, 1840
Sources: The History of Almance Co., NC, Miles S.W. Stockard, Raleigh, NC, Capitol Printing Company, 1900. Chapter XVI. pp 142-147.
Notes:
General Benjamin N., eldest son of John Trolinger, was born in 1810. Among the first cotton factories built in the country was the older part of the present Granite Mills at Haw River, which was built by him, 1844. He was always interest in internal improvements, and aided by his partner and brother-in-law, Dr. D. A. Montgomery, got up stock for the N.C. R. R., which was commenced in 1851. They were large contractors in Alamance, Orange, Wake and Johnston counties, and had brick made and bridges built over Haw River, Black creek, and over both crossings of the Eno at Hillsboro. they also ran a steam saw-mill at Asbury and Cary, Wake county, for the purpose of cutting ties for this railroad, and being anxious to have the railroad machine shops built in Alamance county (the people of Greensboro, Guilford county, were trying to get the shops located in their county), he started on a tour for subscriptions to this end, with $500 cash from his father and some more from his brother William for a beginning. The people of the surrounding country and of Graham subscribed liberally, after being assured that no lots would be sold nor business houses built where the shops were located, a paper to this effect being written and signed, but, unfortunately, never recorded, and later on was thought to have been destroyed. He was successful in his call on the people and bought 640 acres of land near the center of the road which he donated to the railroad company, the machine shops were built and named Company Shops, now call Burlington. After completing the railroad, General Trolinger built a large hotel at Haw River, the railroad directors promising him that all trains should stop there for meals for a term of thirty years; but another hotel was built at Company Shops by the railroad company. This discontinued his hotel a Haw River and caused to fail in 1858, and everything ha had was sold. But being a man of great energy, he did not stop, but went to Clayton, Johnston county, and commenced making spirits of turpentine. This enterprise proved profitable, and needing a larger area to work in, he moved to Richmond county, where he and his father bought 5,000 acres of pine land for the purpose of making turpentine there. Being near the railroad running between Wilmington and Charlotte, he became a contractor miles west of Wilmington, and named the place Old Hundred. He was successful in his work here, but when the Civil war began, in 1861, foreseeing the country would need salt, the went below Wilmington and started two separate salt works, in which he made at least thirty bushels a day. He made known to all his creditors his intention to pay off all his debts; he was paying off rapidly, and if he had lived a few years longer he would have paid everything, and been at a good starting point again. In 1861 the following paper was sent to him, signed by James D. Radcliffe, F. L. Childes and other officers of Fort Caswell: "This is to certify that Gen. Benj. N. Trollinger rendered very great service to the Garrison at Fort Caswell as well as to the State at large, by his unremitting labours (sic.) in collecting, at his own expense, negroes to aid in completing the work at this post. The purely disinterested patriotism of Gen. Trollinger should, in the opinion of the officers of the post, secure for him the gratitude and respect of every true North Carolinian." This paper was acknowledged before a Notary Public. In the summer 1862, while at his salt works near Wilmington, he was taken sick with yellow fever, but, not knowing he had this disease he went from there to visit his parents at Haw River, on arriving he was quite sick, and died on September 20th, 1862, and was buried with his kindred in the family cemetery. Thus ended a noble, valuable life. This paper was dictated by William Holt Trollinger, youngest son of John Trollinger, and brother of Gen. B. N. Trollinger. Written by W. H. Trollinger's daughter - Bessie Trollinger Stratford.
North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records
Name Benjamin Trolinger
Probate Date 1863
Probate Place Richmond, North Carolina, USA
Inferred Death Year Abt 1863
Inferred Death Place North Carolina, USA
Case Number 6
Item Description Wills, 1663-1978; Estate Papers, 1772-1933
State of North Carolina
To the Sheriff of Richmond County Greeting:
Whereas an action of Covenant was lately pending in our Superior Court of Law of the County of Wake, in the name of Haywood & Hogg sought to recover against the said Benjamin Trollinger & others, damages to the amount of Five Hundred dollars; and the said Benjamin Trollinger died, after commencement of said suit, and during its pendancy, having died intestate, after whose death administration upon his estate was duly granted to Archibald McNeill as we have been informed; and whereas at Fall Term, A.D. 1867 of said Court, the death of the said Benj. Trollinger was suggested on the record, and it was thereupon ordered that a scire facias should be issued against Archibald McNeill as aforesaid, accordong to the Act of Assembly.
These are therefor to command you, that you make known to the said Archibald McNeill as aforesaid, that he appear before us in our court, to be held for the County of Wake, at the Court House in Raleigh, on the first Monday after the fourth Monday of March A.D. 1868, then and there consider of him in this behalf.
And have you then and there, this writ, with your due return thereupon.
Witness John N. Bunting, Clerk of said Court, at office in Raleigh, on the first Monday after the fourth Monday of Sept. A.D. 1867
J.N. Bunting signature
Quite a long court case extending into 1866 and confirming the above mentioned Stockard History. What is of interest is the 2nd page of said probate where it states the complainant Elias J Stallings then and now married to the daughter of said Benjamin Trolinger (sic) and this defendant (Nancy E. Trolinger); that said property consisted in part of a steam saw mill and fixtures, a negro man named Tom, two wagons, one cart ... Gordon L. Drollinger
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1810 - 1862 (51 years)
