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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Memoranda by Nathaniel Rice and John Baptista Ashe to George Burrington concerning land sales
Ashe, John Baptista, d. 1734; Rice, Nathaniel, d. 1753
April 20, 1733
Volume 03, Page 459

-------------------- page 459 --------------------

Mr Rice and Mr Ashe's Remonstrance to Govr Burrington. April 20th 1733.

To His Excellency the Governour in Council.

Nath: Rice and John Baptista Ashe, two of the Members of his Majesty's Council, humbly shew, that his Excellency the Governour hath issued One and given a very great Number of Warrants for Lands to sundry Persons in undue and large quantities, not observing the Rule of Proportion prescribed by His Majesty of granting Lands by and with the Advice and Consent of the Council; vizt of fifty Acres only for every Person in the Grantee's Family; For all which Lands mentioned in those Warrants the Governour hath taken for every fifty Acres the sum of two shill: And six pence Virginia Currency in Silver or Gold. Wherefore we think ourselves obliged out of a due sense of our Duty to his most Sacred Majesty, to object against the same; & we do hereby humbly pray His Excelly that he would be pleased strictly to pursue His Majesty's Instructions to him in that behalf given; & that no Warrants may issue but to such Persons, & in such Proportions, as shall be agreable to His Majesty's said Instructions. We conceive ourselves the more under a Necessity of remonstrating this Matter to your Excellency, for that, if this Method should be disallow'd by the King, it may hereafter very much injure such People as have paid their Monies for such Lands, but more especially for that it is not agreable, but contrary to His Majesty's Instructions to your Excellency on that behalf, which to His Majesty's Council has by your Excellency been exhibited and shewn.

NATH: RICE.
Jno BAPTa ASHE.

On Argument in the last Council, His Excellency the Governour seeming to have taken a Resolution to pass Warrants as before he had done, which Method we humbly objected against in Council, and prepared the foregoing Paper, designing to have preferred it in Council, but the Council breaking up unexpectedly we were prevented putting it in: But now finding that his Excellency still continues to issue Warrants for Land in undue Proportions, and contrary, (as we conceive) to the King's Instructions. We think it our Duty to file this by way of Caution in the Secretary's Office, requiring and desiring the Deputy Secretary to prefer the same to His Excellency before he (the Deputy Secretary) subsign or make out any more Warrants; humbly praying His Excellency that if he shall think what we object reasonable, he would be pleased to have Respect thereunto.

NATH: RICE.
JOHN BAPTa ASHE.

11th November 1733.