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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the Privy Council of England Committee for Trade and Foreign Plantations
England. Privy Council. Committee for Trade and Plantations
February 08, 1680
Volume 01, Pages 284-285

[B. P. R. O. Colonial Entry Bk. No. 106. P. 118.]
AT THE COMMITTEE OF TRADE & PLANTATIONS AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT WHITEHALL SATURDAY THE 8th OF FEBry 1679 (-80)
Present
Prince Rupert
Lord Privy Seale
Duke of Albemarle
Marq. of Worcester
Earle of Bridgewater
Earl of Bath
Earl of Sunderland
Earl of Essex
Mr Hyde
Mr Secry Coventry
Mr Seymour.

In pursuance of an Order of the 4th inst appointing the Committee to examine the business of the late Rebellion in Carolina and the seizure of his Majtys Customes by John Culpeper and others, the Lords Proprs of that Province are called in, viz: the Earl of Shaftesbury, Earl of Craven and Sr Peter Colleton, Whereupon the Earl of Shaftesbury assured the Committee that speedy care should be taken to furnish their Lops with a copie of their Patent and an Answer to their Lops Circular letter and Inquiries transmitted to them sometime past.

After which entering into the matter of the Rebellion his Lop informs the Committee that about the year 1677 the Proprietors sent over one Eastchurch to bee their Govr of Albemarle County who staying some time at Antego deputed Mr Miller (who was besides Collector of the King's Customes and his Lops Deputy) to goe and settle the Country after whose arrival the Rebellion broke out, That Miller is no Sectary but given to drink, and that the accusation of High Treason was brought against him spightfully and out of malice That upon his arrivall hee undertook to modell the Parliament there which gave the people occasion to oppose and imprison him Whereupon Mr Durant Capt Guillam and

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Culpeper agreed together to defraud the King of his Customes. The Proprietors doe further promise to send the Committee a particular Narrative of the Rebellion.

Sr Richard Temple one of ye Commrs of the Customs attends and declares that Culpeper had noe authority to seize the King's customs, Whereupon an account of the Customs seized by Culpeper is read which Mr Miller had delivered upon oath to the Commissrs of the Customs amounting to £1242 8s 1d and 817 Hogsheads to which Culpeper replies that there was a lawful Assembly set up by whose authority hee did act, and that the people of Carolina agreed upon him as their Collector after the imprisonment of Mr Miller as a Collector had been appointed by the Country in Virginia after the death of Mr. Bland.

The Lords Proprietors acquaint the Committee that the authority which constituted Culpeper Collector in the place of Miller was rebellion Whereupon Mr Miller produces a paper written with Culpeper's own hand forbidding all persons to meddle with the Customs besides himself which hee had posted up upon reading whereof Culpeper says it was his Proclamation and excepts against the testimony of Mr Miller as being Traitors against the King.

Mr Hudson, Mr Summers and Mr Tayler being sworn depose that Culpeper did abett the Rebellion and incite the people against the King and the Proprietors and that all the Proprietors Deputys were imprisoned by the Rebells except Foster who joyned with them.

After the examination of ye witnesses Culpeper desires hee may bee tryed in Carolina, and if that may not bee granted him hee acknowledges the fact and begs His Majtys pardon which hee hopes hee may the more deserve since at his first arrival in England, hee waited on the Commissioners of the Customs and gave them a true account of the King's customs in Carolina and promised to make payment of them.

The Lords Proprietors inform the Committee that the Country is now quieted and propose that the persons that were guilty of seizing and disturbing the King's Customs may bee obliged to reimburse the King and not the whole Country by a Tax to bee laid on them.

And the Commissioners recommend to the Committee that Culpeper may not bee pardoned till the King bee satisfyed for his Customs.

The Lords direct Capt. Gilham who is accused by Mr Miller and others to have had a hand in the Rebellion to attend on Munday next in order to his examination.