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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Robert Rowan to Richard Caswell
Rowan, Robert
July 28, 1777
Volume 11, Page 544

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ROBT. ROWAN TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Cross Creek, July 28th, 1777.

May it please your Excellency: and Honours;

The iron works in Chatham County having already been attended with considerable expense to the public, without the least prospect of future advantage, from the difficulty of getting hearth-stones that will stand the extreme heat of the Furnace, and also from the great scarcity of water in the summer months, has induced Mr. Allston, the other Commissioner, and myself, to permit Mr. Wilcox to take possession of the works and negroes till the next session of the Assembly, upon his agreeing to pay whatever price the public may think proper to charge him for the hire of the hands and for the pig metal that has been cast. And as I believe it will be the intention of the Legislature to let Mr. Wilcox again have the works, I thought it most prudent not to run the public to any further expense, as there was so little probability of reaping any benefit by it. I hope this will be agreeable and can assure your Excellency and honours that the other commissioner and myself spared no pains to make the works turn out to advantage: am sorry to say without success. I have discharged and paid off the workmen who came from the No'ward.

I have the honor to be with great respect,
Your Excellency' and Honour's most obedient humble servant,
ROBT. ROWAN.
His Excellency the Governor, and
the Hon'ble Gentlemen of the Council.