William Nixon

(Perquimans County)

Featured Character – A Soldier's Life


William Nixon

Courtesy of Beth Taylor


William Nixon was born in 1821 to a prominent family of Perquimans County planters. He built what is now the William Nixon House in 1840, and it was later used for drills during the war. Perquimans County alone raised two companies for the Confederate Army, while still more men of the county served in others. The bands were called the Perquimans Beauregards and the John Harvey Guards. Nixon was responsible for the organization of the Beauregards (Company F, 27th Regiment NC Troops) and his men trained at his plantation before embarking for New Bern on July 19, 1861 onboard the Curlew.  During the Battle of New Bern in March 1862, Nixon’s company fled the field of battle after Union troops broke through the Confederate defenses.  After reassembling in Kinston, the regimental commander held new elections for all officers.  Nixon was not reelected and returned home where he later served as Justice of the Peace until he died in 1897.