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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Pollock to [Alexander Spotswood]
Pollock, Thomas, 1654-1722
1712
Volume 01, Pages 883-884

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[From Pollock's Letter Book.]

Hond Sir

Yours of the 11th instant now before me, and as for the Tuscaroras? should be very unwilling that the innocent should suffer with the guilty, if possible to distinguish them, and am altogether of your Honor's opinion, that there is no dependence on their promises, they being bound by no ties of religion, honor, nor honesty, But I am forced at present to bear with, and prolong the time with Tom Blount, by reason the forces from Ashley River [are not] yet arrived, and we being open to him. Tom Blount and about sixteen of his men came in here on Monday last, being four days later than the time promised. He said he came out time enough to be here at the time agreed upon, but hearing that some of the Catechne Indians were got on this side Pamplico River, he followed them two or three days, which hindered him that he could not come in at the time appointed. He seemed willing to go to your Honor with our interpreter, but after some questions and answers, and that I had told him he could expect nothing here, nor I believed from your Honor, until he brought in Hancock, and had some assurance of his performance what he had promised, he presently answered that he would go and bring him in if possible, and would return [in] eight days. He seems not to doubt finding of him, only doubts he may have more men joined with him; which if he has, he says he will pretend friendship with him, and keep hunting with him untill he get more men from his Town to assist him. He is to bring him in alive; so that his own word make it clear there is no dependance on his promises, who will act so treacherously to those of his own nation and his near relations.

If he brings him in (which I much doubt) I will immediately give your Honor and account, and what proposal he agrees to as to the bringing the hostages and whither he and his men will engage to cut off all the Enemie Indians by themselves or in conjunction with our forces.

If he bring not now in, I believe we must expect his joining with the other Tuscaroras against us, which may prove very fatal to this government, unless assisted by you. and I hope not only charity will move your assembly to assist us, as being neighbours, fellow-Christians, under the same Queen, but also interest; for having conquered us it will undoubtedly encourage more nations of Indians to join them, which may likewise endanger your government.

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Hond Sir I doubt not, on the arrival of the South Carolina forces, a great many of the Tuscaroras will fly northerly on the hither side Pamplico and Moratoce, expecting the South Carolina Indians will not follow them over these rivers; so that if your Honor could move your assembly to be at the charge of raising of 300 men, with the Sappona and other Indians (as for the Meherrins and Natnas, there is no trust to be put in them) to be ready at a day's warning with five or six weeks provisions, to march, to stop the Tuscarora's flying northerly, and could move them likewise to entrust our assembly for eight or nine hundred yards of duffels, to clothes our people to march out likewise, they being so poor generally here that they neither are all clothed to endure a winter campaign, niether have they wherewith to buy it, neither is it to be bought here, having now little or no trade.

It might be a means of distroyed our Enemie Indians, and bring the rest to submit on reasonable terms, and would your Honors' favore in having a great [share] in delivering this poor—

I hope your Honor will pardon my tediousness and impurtunity; the real necessity of this poor people in general urging me to use my uttermost endeavor in their favor.

I understand by Mr Foster, our agent, whose letter have inclosed? that Col Barnwell, by his foolish reflections on your Honor and Governor Hyde, hath lost the favour of that government. I am in all sincerity, Hond Sir your most obedient

Humble Servant