William Tryon assumed the duties of governor March 28, 1765, and immediately after he took charge of affairs the assembly was called, but within two weeks he prorogued it; said to have been done in consequence of an interview with the speaker of the assembly, Mr. Ashe, who, in answer to a question by the governor on the Stamp Act, replied, "We will fight it to the death." The North Carolina records show it was fought even to "the death."
The prevalent excitement seized the Highlanders along the Cape Fear. A letter appeared in "The North Carolina Gazette," dated at Cross Creek, January 30, 1766, in which the writer urges the people by every consideration, in the name of "dear Liberty" to rise in their might and put a stop to the seizures then in progress. He asks the people if they have "lost their senses and their souls, and are they determined tamely to submit to slavery." Nor did the matter end here; for, the people of Cross Creek gave vent to their resentment by burning lord Bute in effigy.
Just how far statistics represent the wealth of a people may not be wholly determined. At this period of the history, referring to a return of the counties, in 1767, it is stated that Anson county, called also parish of St. George, had six hundred and ninety-six white taxables, that the people were in general poor and unable to, support a minister. Bladen county, or St. Martin's parish, had seven hundred and ninety-one taxable whites, and the inhabitants in middling circumstances. Cumberland, or St. David's parish, had eight hundred and ninety-nine taxable whites, "mostly Scotch—Support a Presbyterian Minister."
The Colonial Records of North Carolina do not exhibit a list of the emigrants, and seldom refer to the ship by name. Occasionally, however, a list has been preserved in the minutes of the official proceedings. Hence it may be read that on November 4, 1767, there landed at Brunswick, from the Isle of Jura, Argyleshire, Scotland, the following names of families and persons, to whom were allotted vacant lands, clear of all fees, to be taken up in Cumberland or Mecklenburgh counties, at their option:
| Names of Families | Children | Total | Acres to each Family | |
| Male | Female | |||
| Alexander McDougald and wife | 1 | 3 | 300 | |
| Malcolm McDougald " " | 1 | 3 | 300 | |
| Neill McLean " " | 1 | 3 | 300 | |
| Duncan McLean " " | 2 | 200 | ||
| Duncan Buea " " | 1 | 3 | 300 | |
| Angus McDougald " " | 2 | 200 | ||
| Dougald McDougald " " | 3 | 1 | 6 | 640 |
| Dougald McDougald " " | 2 | 4 | 400 | |
| John Campbell " " | 1 | 3 | 300 | |
| Archibald Buea " " | 1 | 3 | 300 | |
| Neill Buea | 1 | 100 | ||
| John McLean | 1 | 100 | ||
| Angus McDougald | 1 | 100 | ||
| John McDougald | 1 | 100 | ||
| Donald McDougald | 1 | 100 | ||
| Donald McDougald | 1 | 100 | ||
| Alexander McDougald | 1 | 100 | ||
| Neill Clark | 1 | 100 | ||
| John McLean | 1 | 100 | ||
| Peter McLean | 1 | 100 | ||
| Malcolm Buea | 1 | 100 | ||
| Duncan Buea | 1 | 100 | ||
| Mary Buea | 1 | 100 | ||
| Nancy McLean | 1 | 100 | ||
| Peggy Sinclair | 1 | 100 | ||
| Peggy McDougald | 1 | 100 | ||
| Jenny Darach | 1 | 100 | ||
| Donald McLean | 1 | 100 | ||
These names show they were from Argyleshire, and probably from the Isle of Mull, and the immediate vicinity of the present city of Oban.
The year 1771 witnessed civil strife in North Carolina. The War of the Regulators was caused by oppression in disproportionate taxation; no method for payment of taxes in produce, as in other counties; unfairness in transactions of business by officials; the privilege exercised by lawyers to commence suits in any court they pleased, and unlawful fees extorted. The assembly was petitioned in vain on these points, and on account of these wrongs the people of the western districts attempted to gain by force what was denied them by peaceable means.
One of the most surprising things about this war is that it was ruthlessly stamped out by the very people of the eastern part of the province who themselves had been foremost in rebellion against the Stamp Act. And, furthermore, to be leaders against Great Britain in less than five years from the battle of the Alamance. Nor did they appear in the least to be willing to concede justice to their western brethren, until the formation of the state constitution, in 1776, when thirteen, out of the forty-seven sections, of that instrument embodied the reforms sought for by the Regulators.
On March 10, 1771, Governor Tryon apportioned the number of troops for each county which were to march against the insurgents. In this allotment fifty each fell to Cumberland, Bladen, and Anson counties. Farquhar Campbell was given a captain's commission, and two commissions in blank for lieutenant and ensign, besides a draft for £150, to be used as bounty money to the enlisted men, and other expenses. As soon as his company was raised, he was ordered to join, as he thought expedient, either the westward or eastward detachment. The date of his orders is April 18, 1771. Captain Campbell had expressed himself as being able to raise the complement.[27] The records do not show whether or not Captain Campbell and his company took an active part.
It cannot be affirmed that the expedition against the Regulators was a popular one. When the militia was called out, there arose trouble in Craven, Dobbs, Johnston, Pitt and Edgecombe counties, with no troops from the Albemarle section. In Bute county where there was a regiment eight hundred strong, when called upon for fifty volunteers, all broke rank, without orders, declaring that they were in sympathy with the Regulators.