North Carolina—Ss.
By his Excellency Josiah Martin, Esq. His Majesty's Captain General, and Governor in Chief, in and over the said Province.
To William Palmer Esquire
I, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, do, by these Presents, constitute and appoint you the said William Palmer during my Pleasure, to be Colonel of the Beaufort Regiment of Militia. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of Colonel by exercising and well disciplining both the inferior Officers and Soldiers of that Regiment. And I do hereby command them to obey you as their Colonel and you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions, from Time to Time, as you shall receive from me, as Captain
General, or any other your superior Officer, according to the Rules and Directions of military Discipline, and the Laws of this Province.Given under my Hand, and the Seal of the said Province, at New Bern the Tenth Day of October Anno Dom. 1772 and the Twelfth Year of his Majestys Reign.