New Hanover, 1754.
Proper Answers to every Paragraph of His Excellency’s letter to me Bearing date at New Bern the 4th Day of Novem’r, 1754. The Muster Role of the five Company of Foot in New Hanover County, of which I am at present Commanding Officer, Vizt.:
1st Company, and Eldest is Capt. Schenking Moore, Consisting of 120 Men Subject to bear Arms and 30 not lyable but on Allarms, in all |
150 |
Men |
2d Company, and next Eldest, is Capt. George Merrick, Consisting of 79 Men Subject to bear Arms and 20 not lyable but on Allarms, in all |
99 |
|
3d Company, and next Eldest, is Capt. George Hyme, Consisting of 61 Men Subject to bear Arms and 22 not lyable but on Allarms, in all |
83 |
|
4th Company, and next Eldest, is Capt. John Ashe, Consisting of 88 men Subject to bear Arms and 4 not lyable but on Allarms, in all |
92 |
|
5th Company, and Youngest, is Capt. George Gibbes, Consisting of 82 Men Subject to bear Arms and 2 not lyable but on Allarms, in all |
84 |
|
508 |
Men |
The Captains of Each Company Bears Rank thus:
The Field Officers of the Regiment Bears Rank thus:
Thomas Jones, Formerly Major, but now has given up his Commission, and John Ashe, being Eldest Captain, now acts as Major to the Regiment, and has the best Right to have a Commission as Major, and his Lieutenant now Ought to have a Commission to be Captain of the Sound Company, whereof John Ashe was formerly Captain.
The Lieutenants and Ensigns were always made by the Field Officers and Commissions given them from the Commanding Field Officer to act as Lieutenants & Ensigns.
The Clerks, Corporalls & Serjeants are always made by the Captain of Each Company.
We have no Arms nor Amunition from any of His Majesty’s Stores belong to this Regiment, but are very much in want of a parcell to be Lodged near the Sea Shore for the Safety of the Lower parts of the River.
We have no Indians whatever in our Neighborhood Excepting now and then a few Tuskeroras that come and Hunt amongst us and go away again, never above Six or Eight at a time, and they but in a pore Condition of defence.
My observations on the Melitia Law now depending are as thus: Every Company to be obliged to meet and Exercise at least four times in a year as Common Musters, and One a Year as General Muster. For Each Captain not attending at Common Musters, 30s. Fines at Common Musters to be Raised, Vizt.: For Each Private man, 6s. 8d; For Each Lieutenant not attending at Common Musters to be find 20s.; For Each Ensign not attending at Common Musters to be find 15s.; For Each Serjeant taking on himself that office & not attending at Common Musters, 6s. 8d.
Captains to Grant Warrants to Serjeants to Levy the feese as above and the Serjeants to be Obliged to Serve Such Warrants and to Receive for Each Warrant that he Serves 4s. out of the goods so taken, or forfeit 20s. for every warrant that he Refuse to Serve, to be Recovered by warrant of the Captain directed to another Serjeant.
And for those that do not Attend at General Musters in their Several Offices to forfeit Double the Sum as for Private Musters.
Proper Excuses to be made on Oath before Each Captain; and for Each Captain to be made before a Field Officer.
Persons belonging to any of the Company in the Regiment Inlisting themselves in the Troop to bring a Certificate from the Capt. of Said Troop to the Capt. of the Company he formerly belong’d to before he Shall be Scratched of the list or be liable to pay the Same fines as other Soldiers till the Same is done.
No Captain of a Troop to have power to list men out of their Several Counties or Districts, but be obliged to keep to their own, under Penalty of Five Pounds for every Such Trooper that he So Inlists out of his County or Districts.