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Ralph Barlow was probably the oldest son of the first William Barlow reported in Robeson County, North Carolina. He is listed first in the 1790 census of Robeson County and in every census thereafter until his death in 1839. He owned extensive lands in the Rockfish Creek area of Robeson County, and he and his Scottish wife raised a family of six children.
Since Robeson County was heavily populated with Highland Scots who had sworn loyalty to the king of England in return for being allowed to emigrate to America, Robeson County citizens were bitterly divided between loyalists and patriots during the Revolutionary War. Ralph Barlow was undoubtedly influenced by his Scottish neighbors and remained loyal to the crown. A story related in the book Interesting Revolutionary Incidents by Rev. E. W. Caruthers tells of a raid by the patriots during which Ralph and other Tories were taken prisoner. Elija Wilkins gave the following account: " We killed two of Stuart's cattle for meat; and while some were preparing portions of it for travelling with, Barlow and the other prisoner were taken on the west side of the creek to be shot. Barlow requested time to offer his last prayer, which was granted with the proviso that it should be a short one. This ceremony being ended, the order had been given to 'fire,' when I simultaneously discovered at the top of the hill, two or three 'red caps,' and I shouted, 'Tories.' One man had actually snapped his piece at the prisoners, when they sprang forward, and made their escape in the confusion that ensued. Barlow in his prodigious leap; broke the cords that bound his hands. He then escaped by swimming through the mill pond, and died a few years ago at an advanced age, and regarded as a very worthy and highly respectable citizen."
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