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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Petition from inhabitants of Mecklenburg County concerning the pardon of Regulators
Shelby, Moses; Et Al.
Volume 09, Pages 98-99

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]

To his Excellency Josiah Martin Esqre Captn General Governor and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesties Province of North Carolina—

The Petition of a Number of the Distressed Inhabitants of Rockey River & Coddle Creek Settlement in Mecklenburgh County North Carolina Humbly Sheweth

That whereas a Certain No of young men, Ignorant of their Duty to our Sovereign Lord the King, riotously Assembled in a wicked manner, Combined against Government, without the least Knowledge, Advice, or Consent, of any Parent, friend, & some of them even Demented by Spiritous Liquors, did, about the first of May last, rashly & inconsiderately Destroy the ammunition of General Waddle & Sundrys, the Property of Colo. Moses Alexander; for which wicked deed, Their Parents and Friends are Drowned in Sorrows & the Unhappy Perpetrators truely & Deeply Afflicted. Permit us, yr Excellencys most humble petitioners, to assure your Excellency, that these Miserable persons were, prior to this Fact, esteemed faithfull & loyal Subjects. We Cannot but most tenderly Compasionate the Desolate & Distressed, & Even take part in their affliction and Having learned your exceeding Humanity and that benign Temper of mind with which you are so Eminently Possesed of; We therefore big with expectation, Cannot but Sollicit & most earnestly & importunately pray, that your Excellency would be Graciously pleased to extend to these unhappy, though unworthy Subjects, his Majesties most free & gracious Pardon. That your Excellency may see Loyalty to the best of Sovereigns, & Fidelity to our noble Constitution,

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flourishing among us; & the Reigns of Government easy and Delightfull to yourself, Shall be the Sincere Prayer of your Excellencys most humble & Dutifull Petitioners.

Moses Shelby
Samuel Loftain
Mathew Stewart
John Morison
David Slough
Saml Harris
James Morison
Robert McMurrey
William White
John Davis
John Russel
Rob Russel
James Russel
Wm Scott
Robert Campbell
William Blair
Thomas Hall
Thomas Smith
William Addem
George Davys
Robert McCallan
James Callwall
James Harriss
William Sper
John Callwall
Oliver Wiley
James Harris
David Caldwell