Documenting the American South

Monument Name

Andrew Hunter Memorial Bridge, Franklinville

Type

Marker

Bridge

Subjects

Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

City

Franklinville

County

Randolph

Description

The marker commemorates Andrew Hunter's Revolutionary War-era ride down Faith Rock in Franklinville to escape famed Tory, David Fanning. It consists of a 21 inch by 21 inch bronze tablet attached to a large native stone near a footbridge across Deep River. The tablet was originally installed on a since removed bridge making the inscription somewhat inaccurate. The tablet’s only adornment is the Spinning Wheel logo of the Daughters of the American Revolution in the lower left corner.

Images: Plaque | Bridge

Inscription

ANDREW HUNTER BRIDGE / IN MEMORIAM / RANDOLPH COUNTY / REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS / “FAITH ROCK” 200 YARDS / DOWN THE RIVER IS WHERE ANDREW / HUNTER IN 1781 ESCAPED FROM DAVID / FANNING, TORY. RODE FANNING’S HORSE, / RED DOE, DOWN THE ROCK INTO THE / RIVER AND TO SAFETY.

THIS TABLET ERECTED BY GUILFORD / BATTLE CHAPTER, DAUGHTERS OF THE / AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1928

Custodian

Town of Franklinville

Dedication Date

November 14, 1928

Decade

1920s

Geographic Coordinates

35.743310 , -79.696700 View in Geobrowse

Supporting Sources

Whatley, L. McKay. “Monuments and Memorials in Randolph County,” Wordpress.com, (accessed April 14, 2023) Link

“Andrew Hunter Bridge,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed April 15, 2023) Link

“Bronze Tablet Is Unveiled on Bridge Over Deep River,” Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, NC), November 16, 1928

“David Fanning and the Tory War of 1781,” NCPedia.org, (accessed April 15, 2023) Link

“Faith Rock,” Town of Franklinville, October 7, 2018, franklinvillenc.org, (accessed April 14, 2023) Link

“Fannning Loses the Bay Doe,” NCPedia.org, (accessed April 15, 2023) Link

“Memorial to Andrew Hunter,” Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, NC), November 11, 1928

“North Carolina Patriot Duplicates Putnam’s Feat,” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), December 19, 1926

Public Site

Yes

Materials & Techniques

Bronze, stone, metal, cement

Sponsors

Guilford Battle Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution

Location

The memorial is in Riverside Park on Andrew Hunter Road, just west of West Main Street (State Hwy. 22) in Franklinville. It is near a footbridge across the Deep River.

Landscape

The park area leading up to the footbridge is a combination of open grass and woods. The area across the footbridge is heavily wooded with several layers of walking and hiking trails and access to Faith Rock.