a Bill of Exchange I have purchased Pitch to buy food with, gave more than it would sell for in London, some proved nought some not full casks and more not yet paid, and thus I have been puzzled to keep soul and body together. Since the 21st of December last I have drawn for £85 and am still in want, tis not twice £80 will maintain me at the rate I am forced to manage £20 yearly paid before hand in Goods vendible here, would have done me more service than my salary. I never bought so much goods for £80, my necessity still obligeing me to anticipate, and often draw before money become due. These accounts are tedious I doubt & scarce believed, seeing the Society requires it under the Parishoners own hand, which I think not to be expected. It was agreed that we should hold a Vestry every first Sunday in the month, but we have none since the first, nor I believe ever shall; the first Sunday in the month we had one church warden and three Vestrymen. I delivered the Societies Letter dated June 11th 1716 directed to the Church wardens and Vestrymen of Chowan; they read it and gave it to me again, saying they knew not what answer to return; so little regard is had to so great authority and less gratitude to so generous benefactors, it is all one to them whether they have a minister & church to go or not. My quondam fellow Labourer the Revd Mr. Rainsford meeting with some of my Parishioners in Virginia told one I was to be turned out, to another recalled, they would be glad of either for then the debt due to me would be paid. I have more than once desired the Letter and if not provided with two nego young men and a negro girl all born among the English and used to work & a Bill or Letter of Credit to Barbadoes for the £40 yearly as I have formerly requested it will be utterly impossible for me to stay here much longer. [FROM POLLOCK'S LETTER BOOK.] July 8th 1717 Hond Sir This day King Blounts son came in here, sent in by his father to me that I might acquaint you that two of his men lately discovrd beyond Catchne Creek about twenty strange Indians, and judges they are coming either upon him or the English; and would disire your Honor to take some care of the people at pamplico and Neuse. And likewise King Blount desires to acquaint you that he is daily expectation of the Saras and other Indians falling upon him, they having lately taken one of his men. Albeit there is no great certainty in the Indian News, yet I thought it proper to acquaint you now therewith, that you may take such order for the security of the people at Pamplico and Neuse as you shall think necessary, by giving the people notice to be in readiness, and to have a care of themselves, until further news may be heard, or by what other methods you think most convenient: and also that you send in here what orders you think necessary in case the Indians fall upon Blount, unless you think it time enough when you come into the General Court or the next Council. Blounts son likewise inquired of me if I had not heard that the Sarah Indians had killed nine or ten of the Verginia traders, and taken their goods, which he says was reported by one of them that escaped. I am in great hope if there be a general Court, to have the happiness to see your Honor, and should be glad if Mr Henman could, be in two or three days at least before the court. I have no more to add but that I am most sincerely Your Honor's [COUNCIL JOURNAL.] NORTH CAROLINA SS Att a Council holden at the house of the Honble Col Thomas Pollock in Chowan on Thursday the First day of August 1717 Present the Honble Charles Eden Governo Capt" Gen" and Adm" Upon Petition of John Seshons setting forth that Whereas one Edward Bery Deceased left a Widdow and four Children with a small Estate the Widdow administerd and it was appraised and she paid the Debts as farr forth as there was anything to pay afterwards by Accident she and Two Children were drowned and there was Two Children left a Boy and a Girle which by order of Co the Children was committed to his Care to bring them up and what little their Mother left. was Committed into his hands he being their Uncle their Mothers own Bro' the two Children being both dead all that belonged to them is now taken out of his hands by Henry Miller and the Land is Threatened to be taken away also wch the petitioner has paid for part of it to the Childrens Father but he being killed by the Indyans it was never acknowledged to him and therefore prayes that it may be taken into Consideracon that he may be Relieved therein &c Ordered that the Evidence on both side be Examined before Mr John Hardy and the Depositions returned to the next Council and that in the mean time Mr Spellar do prepare & bring in his Ace of the said Administracon. Upon Petition of William West setting forth that he being a Tradesman and willing to settle in this Goverm* and Endeavoured at his first Comeing in to Get some Convenient Settlement but found all the lands near to the Water were taken up upon which he Intended to leave this Goverm but was advised of a Small Tract of Land on the head of Cashock Creek Survey'd and Patented Several years agoe which he according to the Usual Costume petitioned for as Laps'd land and had it Granted but afterwards one Henry Lysle made Application and pretended a right to the said Land and that he had sold it to his Father in Law and obliged himselfe in the penal sum of Fifty pounds sterl. to make him a Title to it upon which he had an Order Granted him for the Said Land and the said West believing his petition to be matter of Fact and not desiring the ruin of any person neglected to appear in his Own right But since finding that the said Henry Lysles Informacon was notoriously false and that there was no such sale as he said there was and indeed no right to the Land he therefore requests to have his land Granted him again And saith he being a stranger in the Country the said Lysle thought to have made a prey of him and now laughs at him and Employs people to sell him the Land he prayes the same be taken into Consideracon and. that he may have reliefe therein yt Ordered that Henry Lysle be served with a coppy of the petition and to appear at the next council. Upon Petition of Wm Charlton Exec of the last will and Testament of Edward Smythwick Deceast praying proper persons may be appointed to appraise and divide the Estate of the said Deceas'd Ordered that Henry Speller, John Bentley Philip Ward and Luke Metle or any three of them being first sworn before some Magistrate do Appraise the said Estate and make Division thereof according to the said Last will and Testam* of the said Dece'd Upon Petition of Robt Fewox shewing that a Tract of land called the Second Creek was formerly Granted to his Father James Fewox and is lapsd for want of seating prayes the same may be Granted to him Ordered the same be Granted as pray'd for Upon Petition of Jonathan Bateman and Elizabeth his wife shewing that John Anisly late Husband of the sa Elizabeth being a Forreigner dyed seized of sundry Lands in this Goverment and left no Issue therefore prayes that they may have Liberty to Estcheat the said Lands and that a Warr may be directed to the Escheator accordingly. Ordered that the same be granted as Prayd for. Ordered that the Matter of Privetts be continued and that Coppy of the Case and Subpheana be sent a new Upon Petition of Martin Frederick Rasor shewing that a Tract of Land Containing One hundred and Eight five Acres in Chowan was formerly Granted by patent to Francis Parrot and is Lapsd for want of being seated in due time and prayes the same may be Granted to him. Ordered that the same be granted as pray'd for Tobias Knight, Esq' was by the Governo' with the advice and Consent of the Council Constituted Chief Justice of this Province Co" Gale haveing departed this Goverm' whereby the said Commission was become Vacant and thereupon the said Knight took and subscribed the Severrall Oaths by Law appointed to be taken for his qualificacon. [FROM NORTH CAROLINA LETTER BOOK of S. P. G.] THE CHURCH WARDENS AND VESTRY OF PASQUOTANK PRECINCT NORTH CAROLINA TO THE SECRETARY. May it Please the Honble Society PASQUOTANK PRECINCT We received the favor of yours of June the 11th past signed by your Secretary Mr Humphreys and in answer thereto take leave to inform you that by an act of the last Assembly made Jan' 1715 the Precinct of Pasquotank was divided into two parishes, each Parish has power to raise £50 per annum by the Poll, which with the allowance made by you Honr to Missionarys would be a very handsome maintenance, could we be so happy as thro' your charitable disposition and appointment to enjoy one. Since the death of poor Mr. Adams we have been altogether deprived of that happiness the present Missionary living in Chowan precinct about 30 miles distant from hence and seldome comeing down above once a year, so that he has very little allowance from hence save what presents he has made him upon particular occasions which are sometimes very considerable, as to the manner of pay in this Country, we must beg leave to inform your Honors, that there is no running cash, but that to supply that defect all our commodities are rated and answer the same end. And now since your Honorable Society has given us this occasion of addressing ourselves to you we beg leave to further represent to you that some years ago his Excellency Francis Nicholson gave to this precinct (as well as Chowan prequimons) the sum of 10£ sterling to be employed towards the building of a church, but that money being not made use of till the year 1708 after much solicitation and management by Mr. Glover and Mr. Knights, the same was lent to Mr. Glover by order of the Vestry, a copy whereof is here enclosed, since which Glover is dead and his widow married to said Knight who by one artifice or other will in all probability deprive the Parish of that money as may appear by his protest to the Vestry here also enclosed unless some ways relieved by your Honorable Society either by representing the case to our Lords Proprietors whose officer he is or otherwise as you in your wisdom shall think fit to direct or advise. We are in all humility your The Lds prop of Carolina having thought fit to Hon' me with ye Governm of the North part of their Ldps. Province I take leave as I think it is my duty to remonstrate to you the deplorable state of Reli |