Francis Nash Memorial, Nashville
The memorial to Francis Nash is a globe type sundial with a bronze base atop a Doric style Greek column about two feet tall. The marble column rests on a square marble base. Inclined rectangular marble blocks with inscriptions are present on each side. The memorial is surrounded by a small courtyard of red brick pavers. Also present are four memorial benches.
Block, south facing: FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE REVOLUTION / I HAVE EVER BEEN ON THE SIDE OF / LIBERTY AND MY COUNTRY. / FRANCIS NASH
Block, east facing: FRANCIS NASH / FATALLY WOUNDED OCT. 4, 1777 AT BATTLE / GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA / WHILE IN COMMAND OF NORTH CAROLINA / TROOPS OF THE CONTINENTAL LINE
Block, west facing: 1776 [bicentennial star logo] 1976 / GIVEN IN HONOR OF / FRANCIS NASH / FOR WHOM COUNTY WAS NAMED / NASH COUNTY BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION / APRIL 24, 1976
Block, north facing: FRANCIS NASH / MEMBER OF N.C. PROVINCIAL CONGRESS / 1775 / LIEUT. COLONEL SEPT. 1, 1775 / COLONEL APRIL 10, 1776 / BRIG. GENERAL FEB. 5, 1777
Nash County
April 24, 1976
35.975480 , -77.968320
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"Nash County Courthouse in Nashville, North Carolina," Aug 24, 2016, bobbystuff.com, (accessed September 4, 2023) Link
Lupton Webster. “General Nash Day Set Saturday,” The Nashville Graphic (Nashville, NC), April 22, 1976
Reed, John F., 1991. “Nash, Francis,” NCpedia.org, (accessed November 11, 2019) Link
Stancil, Bill. “Unveiling of Memorial, Parade Highlight Event,” Rocky Mount Telegram (Rocky Mount, NC), April 25, 1976
Yes
Bronze, marble
Nash County Bicentennial Commission
The memorial dedication was among a day full of activities on “General Francis Nash Day” in Nashville for the towns’ national Bicentennial event. Despite temperatures in the 90s a crowd of 2000 gathered for the dedication. Dr. Francis Nash Collier, a professor at the University of North Carolina, a direct descendant of Nash, unveiled the memorial.
Francis Nash for whom Nash County was named was a Patriot General during the American Revolution. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Germantown, near Philadelphia, in October 1777. Prior to the Revolution he served in the colonial Assembly and in the Provincial Congress. In 1775 the Provincial Congress had directed that two regiments be raised. Nash was appointed lieutenant colonel of the first regiment. Promotions came quickly and he was commissioned a brigadier general in the Continental Army by Congress in February 1777.
The Nash memorial stands to the right, east side, of the older section of the Nash County Courthouse near the sidewalk. The Spirit of the American Doughboy statue stands on the west lawn several feet to the left side of the courthouse entrance. A Local Peace Officer Memorial is located on the lawn further to the west next to a red brick sidewalk. Memorial plaques at the courthouse include World War One, World War Two, Korean War, and Vietnam, all on the front exterior wall. The courthouse address is 234 W. Washington St. Nashville, NC.
The entrance to the courthouse is surrounded by manicured lawn and plantings.
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