Harvey, Miles

17 Dec. 1728–12 Dec. 1776

Miles Harvey, colonial official, was born on Albemarle Sound, Perquimans Precinct, the son of John and Elizabeth Cole Harvey. He began his public service in Perquimans County as an officer and clerk of the Inferior Court. Active in politics, he became a member of the Committee of Safety for Edenton, and in time was elected to the Provincial Congress that met at Hillsborough on 20 Aug. 1775. There he signed the customary test oath professing allegiance to the Crown but denying the right of Parliament to tax the colonies. This Congress named him colonel of the Perquimans militia. The next year he was a delegate to the Provincial Congress at Halifax, on 4 Apr. 1776, which drew up the Halifax Resolves. In addition, Harvey served on committees inquiring into the conduct of insurgents and other persons suspected of aiding the loyalists at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. He was also a member of the committee that drafted instructions and orders for recruiting officers and considered requisitions of the militia.

At the final Congress, which met at Halifax on 20 Nov. 1776, Harvey again represented his county. He served on the Committee of Privileges and Elections, and continued to investigate loyalist activities by drafting instructions for a party of light horse to pursue disloyal persons in North Carolina. According to the journal of the Congress, Harvey was present and active a few days before his death, so it must have been unexpected.

He was survived by children of two wives, the first of whom was Elizabeth Baker, daughter of Colonel William Baker, who represented Nansemond County, Va., in the House of Burgesses, 1742–47. Their children were Mary, Mildred, and Augustus. Harvey's second wife was Elizabeth Jones, and they were the parents of Albridgton, Elizabeth, Agatha, Lucy, Robert, and Miles.