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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Governor's Council
North Carolina. Council
August 12, 1774 - August 13, 1774
Volume 09, Pages 1027-1030

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


At a Council held at New Bern 12th August 1774.
Present
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble James Hasell Esquire
The Honble Lewis DeRosset Esquire
The Honble John Sampson Esquire
The Honble William Dry Esquire
and
The Honble Samuel Cornell Esquire

Ordered that a new Commission of the Peace issue for the County of Chatham that Mathew Jones, James McCarrol, Mial Scurlock, Alexander Clark, John Pile Senr, Samuel Stewert, John Birdsong, James Kendrick and John Thompson be added to the three Magistrates who qualified to the late Commission.

Ordered that the name of Isaac Marion which had been erroneously spelt in the last Commission of the Peace for Brunswick County be inserted properly in order that he may be Qualified.

Ordered a new Commission of the Peace issue for Dobbs County and that Thomas Edwards, Stephen Blackman, Benjamin Caswell

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and William Hooker be omitted, and Benjamin Shepard and Joseph Pipkin be added to the Commission.

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At a Privy Council held at New Bern 12th August 1774

Present
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble James Hasell Esquire
The Honble Lewis DeRosset Esquire
The Honble John Sampson Esquire
The Honble William Dry Esquire
and
The Honble Samuel Cornell Esquire

His Excellency the Governor addressed the Honorable members of this Board as follows.

Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council,

I have heard with the greatest concern, and I have read in public Newspapers, and hand Bills of invitation to the People, in the Several Counties and Towns of this Province, to meet together, to express their sentiments, on Acts lately passed by the Parliament of Great Britain: and to appoint Deputies, to attend on their behalf, (with Powers obligatory on the future conduct of the Inhabitants of this Province) at a meeting that I understand is to be held here on the 25th Instant. I also find that meetings of the Freeholders, and Inhabitants, have accordingly been already held in some places, at which Resolves have been entered into derogatory to the dignity of His Majesty, and His Parliament, and tending to excite Clamour, and discontent among the Kings Subjects in this Province. Under these Circumstances, Gentlemen, I consider it my indispensible duty to His Majesty, and this Country, to advise with you the measures most proper to be taken, to discourage or prevent these Assemblies of the People, which are so inconsistent with the Peace, and good order of this Government, whose professed purposes will appear at least highly indecent and have an evident tendency to draw His Majestys displeasure on this Province, already labouring under the most grievous and disgraceful circumstances for want of a just and effectual civil Polity.

The Council desired to take time maturely to consider the Subject of the above address till tomorrow morning.

The Governor finding that during the absence of Mr Howard the circumstances of things rendered the temporary appointment of a Chief Justice necessary, recommended the Hon Mr. Hasell for such appointment who was unanimously approved.

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At a Privy Council held at New Bern 13th August 1774.

Present
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble James Hasell Esquire
The Honble Lewis DeRosset Esquire
The Honble John Sampson Esquire
The Honble William Dry Esquire
and
The Honble Samuel Cornell Esquire.

The Members of the Council having maturely considered the matters laid before them yesterday by the Governor unanimously concurred to His Excellency to issue a proclamation forthwith to discourage and prevent the meetings and Assemblies of the People of this Province mentioned in the Governor's address of yesterday and that they do not discern that any other measures can be properly taken on the occasion at present.


North Carolina—Ss.

By his Excellency Josiah Martin Esquire, Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the said Province

A Proclamation.

Whereas it appears to me that meetings and Assemblies of the Inhabitants of this Province have been in some of the Counties and Towns thereof already held, and are in others appointed to be held without any legal authority: and that resolves have been entered into and plans concerted (in such meetings as are passed), derogatory to his Majesty and the Parliament of Great Britain; and that there is reason to apprehend the same inflamatory, disloyal and indecent answers, may be adopted in such future assemblies, inconsistent with the peace and good order of this Government and tending to excite clamour and discontent among his Majesty's Subjects in this Province; I have thought fit with the advice and consent of His Majesty's Council, to issue this Proclamation, to discourage as much as possible proceedings so illegal and unwarrantable in their nature, and in their effect so obviously injurious to the welfare of this Country; And to this end I do hereby strictly require and enjoin, on their allegiance all and every His Majesty's Subjects, to forbear to attend at any such illegal meetings and that they do discourage and prevent the same by all and every means in their power, and more particularly that they do forbear to attend, and do prevent as far as in them lies, the meeting of certain Deputies, said to be appointed to be held at New Bern on the 25th Instant. And I do more especially charge, require and command,

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all and every his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs and other officers, to be aiding and assisting herein to the utmost of their power.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province at New Bern the 13th day of August 1774 and in the fourteenth Year of His Majestys Reign.

JO. MARTIN.

God save the King.