In 2014, my novel For Love or Loyalty was published, but it wasn’t until 2023 when I finally got a chance to visit the Burgwin-Wright House after I had researched it online and used it in my novel. This house is intriguing because it was constructed in 1770 on top of the old city jail dating back to 1744. Currently, it is the only colonial era built home that is open to the public in Wilmington, NC. This home was a perfect setting in my novel to blend in with my story which took place in 1781 during the Revolutionary War when the city was being occupied by the British Army, as well as occupying this house.
At the time of my story, it was known as the Burgwin House, as it was not sold to the Wright family until 1799, even though they rented the home much earlier. For this reason, I referred to it in my novel as the Burgwin House. The British officer who took possession of the house was Major James H. Craig a real person who became a significant character in my novel and a formidable opponent to my heroine, Tyra MacGregor, a colonial spy. The major was the direct report for my hero, Captain Hugh Morgan, a British captain who ended up putting Tyra under house arrest and assigned to live at her family home to keep an eye on them.
In my story, Tyra was invited to dine here at the Burgwin House the act of saving Captain Morgan from the Tuscorara Indians. Below are photos I took of the rooms she would have seen inside the home. Unlike most homes, the dining room is on the second floor to the right of the stairs and where large groups of entertaining would have happened, including balls and dancing. During my tour of the house, I learned that this was due to the lack of sanitation in those days. Being higher up helped to avoid the smell out on the street where chamber pots would have been dumped and possible horse droppings as well.
The parlor is on the right and the study is on the left on the first floor from the front foyer area. The parlor is where they would have entertained a small number of guests from callers, to take tea and play card games. In my novel, Tyra is instructed to wait in the parlor while, Hugh goes into the study to report to his superior Major Craig. Also in the parlor is a pianoforte where ladies would provide musical entertainment. There is also a tall grandfather clock in this room with tall wood stands for candelabras for light in the evenings and at night. Below are more images of the first floor where my characters would have been.
While my characters had no need to visit the family room or the bed chambers, I’ve included images of these rooms as well. These rooms are on the left side of the house where there is less sunlight, intended for more internal family use and less entertainment. The exception would have been overnight guests.
Outside the home on the property are the gardens, the well, the kitchen house as well as the jail cells under the house dating back to before the house was built. These cells are exposed above ground and look out over the gardens today for the lesser criminals who would eventually be able to return home. In history, the jail cells faced the hanging posts as a deterrent to the lesser criminals not to progress into worse offenses once released. The worst criminals were kept under the house in a dungeon with no sunlight exposure until they were sentenced to hang by a judge. Many would often be left here for as long as a month before the judge arrived to provide their sentence. During this time, they were exposed to floods, cold drafts, and given just enough food and water to keep them alive for a public hanging.
In my novel, For Love or Country, I wrote about a true life person as a character in my book, Cornelius Harnett. He was a politician and an American Revolutionary War hero who was betrayed to the British. They captured and bound him and paraded him on the back of a horse like a sack of potatoes in front of the public. They locked him in a block house that was exposed to the cold elements. He grew ill and eventually was released, but didn’t live long and passed away in April 1781. In my novel, my heroine sees this incident happening to him and becomes even more determined to do what she can to further the cause in favor of independence from the crown.
While Major Craig spent most of his time occupying the house, after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (my hometown in Greensboro, NC), General Lord Cornwallis brought his troops to Wilmington to rest and recuperate. He took over the house for three weeks and the major had to temporarily move out. Afterwards, it became known as The Cornwallis House. This incident is also covered in my novel. General Cornwallis hosted a significant dinner party while here.