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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from John Urmston to William Taylor
Urmston, John
June 12, 1715
Volume 02, Pages 185-186

[From N. C. Letter Book of S. P. G.]
Mr URMSTONE TO THE SECRETARY

North Carolina June 12th 1715.

Sir

I was favoured with yours of Decr 17th per Capt Godfrey whom I have not yet seen, I believe he'll not be able to come so far up in the Country; he was but 7 weeks on the passage, I fear he is come in a wrong time, for, we are in great confusion the cause I have already given you in two letters pr via Boston & Virginia, this comes by South Carolina and if the others failed, comes to advise that by an express, sent from thence for our aid, we are informed that the neighboring Indians fell on Good Friday last upon the Inhabitants, In the South parts of that Government

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and cut most of them off. After the most barbarous and inhuman Murther of some of the principal (vizt) Agents & Traders; who they pretend had wrong'd 'em. I wonder they should send to us, who refused to defend ourselves and had it not been for them, must have been a sacrifice to the Enemy and stand still indebted to them for their kind assistance in large Sums but equally unwilling to pay or return kindness. If all those nations be joyn'd I fear 'twill go hard with us and them too, those are numerous and a warlike people the English have taught them to beat their Masters. There have been here a Body of Strange Indians on our borders some say 40 or 50 but now we hear upwards of 200 They have pitched their Camp in that part of the Tuskaruroes Country vacated by the late Warr, seized on a Fort & Trenches which cost as much blood and not demolish (like Wise Soldiers that we are) they may annoy us but not to be subdued, we have a small body to go out 200 pt Tributary Indians 150 are bound for South Carolina and the rest to speak with these Indians, and I fear shall catch a Tartar they have committed some hostilities against our tributary Indians, and if we attack them let the success be what it will, Tis more than probable we shall bring 'em upon ourselves and when joyn'd by their followers will finish the ruin of this wretched place, but I must not complain either here or in England, I've had reason too much God Knows for't and you made the same answer in effect that I have often received from this Gentry: if you compare former letters you'l easily guess at my Circumstances. My complaints have been communicated to the proprietors who are highly incensed against me, and have represented me as a Spy to the country I live in, and now I am treated little better unthankful Lords, but far more ungrateful vassals our Quaking Lords Danson & Ray were mightily offended with a letter of mine to them, which they say I had better let alone except I had written more like a Missionary: they may and ought to be ashamed of their famous Country, they would have all men do as Lawson did write whole Volumes in praise of such a worthless place: he has had his reward: all I can say to it is; there is not the like to it under the sun. Siberia in Muscovy are outed one by this: but if I know the Circumstances or the people I am of opinion this Heptarchy cannot stand long. For Gods sake use your endeavors with the Society to advance one 20 and send me credit for the same at Barbadoes or Boston. Your best way of sending to me is by way of New England order yours to be left with or under care to Jno Jekyl Esq Collector of the Customs at Boston—these are from Sir

Your most humble servant
JOHN URMSTONE