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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Council of State
North Carolina. Council of State
June 11, 1777
Volume 22, Pages 917-922


North Carolina.

The General Assembly of this State having by joint ballot elected his Excellency Richard Caswell, Esq., Governor, the Honorables William Haywood, Joseph Leech, Edward Starkey, Thomas Eaton, William Cray, William Taylor and Thomas Bonner, Esquires, a Council of State, and appointed James Glasgow, Esq., Secretary of the State; pursuant to which his Excellency the Governor, the Honorables Joseph Leech, William Cray, William Taylor and Thomas Bonner and James Glasgow, Esquires, met at the State House on the 11th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, and were qualified by taking the oaths directed to be taken for the qualification of public officers. Thereupon the members of Council took their seats at the Board and made choice of William Cray, Esq., for President.

His Excellency the Governor laid before the Board a letter from the Governor of Virginia informing that a treaty with the Cherokee Indians was to be held at Long Island, on the 26th day of June, instant, requesting that Commissioners on the part of this State might attend at the said treaty.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor

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to appoint Waightstill Avery, William Sharpe, Robert Lanier and Joseph Winston, Esquires, Commissioners on the part and behalf of this State; and that such Commissioners, or any two or more of them so appointed, shall be vested with competent powers to act on the part and behalf of this State in conjunction with the Commissioners appointed by the States of Virginia and South Carolina, or either of them, in establishing a peace and fixing a boundary line between the Cherokees and white people, and that such negotiation and treaty shall be binding on this State.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to appoint William Skinner, Esq., Treasurer of the Northern District in this State until the end of the next General Assembly, in the room of Samuel Johnston, Esq., who declines to accept of that appointment.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to issue a proclamation requiring all deserters to repair to Halifax on or before the 10th day of July next, assuring them on their so doing and joining their respective corps of forgiveness.

His Excellency the Governor informed the Board that a dispute had arisen with respect to whom the Commission of the Peace should issue for the county of Onslow, by means whereof no commission had as yet issued, it apearing from the journals that the Senate and House of Commons had not agreed therein.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to issue a commission of the peace and dedimus for said county to the following gentlemen, to-wit, William Cray, James Howard, Henry Rhodes, Thomas Johnston, Lewis Williams, Seth Ward, Benajah Doty, John Spicer, Robert Snead, John Starkey, John Brinson, Stephen Grant, Edward Starkey, Robert Nixon, Archibald Gillespie, Stephen Williams, Richard Jarrett, Jacob Chalcraft, Shadrick Hall, Reuben Grant, Jeremiah Fonville, Arthur Averitt, John Norman, Moses Fox and Hugh Thompson, Esquires; it appearing also to have been the sense of two of the Representatives for that county that those persons should be appointed to that office.

Whereas, it appears that James Bonner, Esq., was by the Congress at Hillsboro appointed Colonel of the militia in the county of Beaufort, and also appointed de novo by the Congress at Halifax in May, 1776, in which rank he has served with integrity until the last General Assembly, at which time Mr. Thomas Bonner was appointed Colonel, who, considering his appointment an injury offered Colonel

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James Bonner’s honor, declined accepting the commission, which the Governor laid before the Board; and, it appearing that the said Thomas Bonner had declined accepting the commission, not from any aversion to the appointment, but from delicacy to Colonel James Bonner, whom he considered as ill-treated;

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to appoint the said Thomas Bonner Colonel of the regiment of militia in the county of Beaufort until the end of the next session of the General Assembly.

This Board having received information that certain evil-minded persons, in order to prevent the regiment directed to be raised by the General Assembly under the command of Colonel Sheppard, had not only propagated a report that such soldiers who were or should enlist in said regiment should be turned over and compelled to serve under officers with whom they have no acquaintance, but had actually dissuaded them from enlisting in that or any other regiment;

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to issue a proclamation setting forth the terms on which the said regiment is raised, and also strictly forbidding all persons from either directly or indirectly dissuading or preventing any person from entering into the service, under the penalty by law inflicted therefor.

His Excellency informed the Board that by the death of Brigadier-General Vail the office of Brigadier-General of the Edenton District of militia was vacant;

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to appoint William Skinner, Esq., Brigadier-General of the Edenton District of militia until the end of the next session of the General Assembly.

His Excellency laid before the Board a petition from sundry inhabitants on the seacoast in Onslow county, shewing that a pilot from Bogue to Deep Inlet was necessary, and recommending Mr. Henry Ruark as a person capable, and praying he might be appointed.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to grant the said Mr. Henry Ruark a branch, agreeable to the prayer of the said petition.

Resolved, That the Commissary of Stores be directed to remove the military stores from Wilmington to Point Pleasant, there to be safely kept.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor

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to direct the commanding officer at Cape Fear to furnish from the invalids of the Continental troops a sergeant’s guard for the purpose of constantly guarding the said stores.

Resolved, That Thomas Craike, Esq., be empowered to employ Thomas Smith to repair the arms belonging to the Continental troops raised in this State, at the following prices: For stocking a gun with seasoned wood, he finding the stock, 12s; for half-stocking, 2s 6d; iron mounting and set, 8s; lock-screw and piece, 6s; ramrods of seasoned hickory, 1s 2d.

Resolved, That the Commissary of Stores be empowered to purchase such quantity of clothing and other materials as may be necessary for the army, and one hundred thousand gun-flints, on the most reasonable terms.

Resolved, That the Commissary of Stores collect from the Commissioners in the several counties who purchased arms for the Continental troops and others who have arms belonging to the United States in their possession, all such arms and cause them to be stamped or marked with the words United States, and make return of such arms to the Governor.

Resolved, That all arms and accoutrements made or to be hereafter made for the United States within this State be marked or stamped with the words United States.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to furnish Nicholas Long, Esq., Deputy Quartermaster-General, with a warrant on the Treasury for five thousand dollars, toward defraying the expenses attending marching the Continental troops from this State to the assistance of General Washington, and that he herefater account with the public for the same.

Resolved, That the Commissioners for the ship of war Pennsylvania Farmer deliver to the Commissary of Stores or his deputy the arms, ammunition, stores and clothing imported by them in the said vessel on the public aid.

His Excellency the Governor laid before the Board the petition of Thomas Hasten, setting forth that he had been cited to appear before the Court of Craven county to take an oath of allegiance to the State; that he declined so doing, not from any disrespect to the cause, but from a consciousness that he did not come within the meaning of the act of Assembly. Whereupon he was ordered by the Court to give security to leave the State, with which he promised to comply, but, being a friend to American freedom, prayed leave to manifest

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the same by taking the oath directed. The Board, taking the same into consideration agreed therewith, and the said Thomas Hasten, agreeable to the prayer of the said petition, appeared, took the oath directed to be taken by suspected persons and subscribed the same; wherefore,

Resolved, That the said Thomas Hasten be discharged from giving bond for departing the State, agreeable to the order of said Court.

Agreeable to resolve of the General Assembly, the Board, having inspected the accounts of William Kennon, Esq., Commissary to the First Regiment of Continental troops, and on examination of the vouchers produced and lodged with this Board, it appears that he has furnished the troops in the Continental service with 216,805 rations, which at ten pence per ration, amounts to £9033.10.10, and also 88,206 rations for the different detachments of militia in the service of this State, amounting to £3,675.5.0, which, together with the last before mentioned sum, amounts to £12,708.15.10. That he hath received from Richard Caswell, Esq., at different times the sum of £5,300 in bills, public provisions to the amount of $866.13.4; from Samuel Johnston, Esq., £2,000; from Francis Brice, one of the Commissioners, for purchasing provisions for the public, provisions to the amount of £1,741.15.10; which in the whole amounts to £9,988.9.0, which sum deducted from the above sum of £12,708.15.10 leaves a balance of £2,800.6.10 in favor of said William Kennon.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to appoint William Lord Colonel of the Brunswick militia, in the room of Parker Quince, resigned; Lewis Dupree, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Edward Wingate, First Major, until the end of the next session of the General Assembly.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to reinstate Captain John Vance in the command of the artillery company, and to appoint John Kingsbury, Captain; Lieutenant John Allen, Second Lieutenant, and Benjamin Higgins, Third Lieutenant in the said company.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to grant to William Blount, Paymaster to the artillery company, a warrant on the Treasury for two thousand dollars, to be applied to the pay of the said company.

His Excellency the Governor laid before the Board the petition of John Edgar Tomlinson, who had given bond and security to depart

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the State in sixty days, praying to be admitted to take the oath by law required. Granted. Whereupon the said Tomlinson appeared before the Board and took the oath, agreeable to act of Assembly. Thereupon, Resolved, That the said bond be cancelled.

His Excellency the Governor informed the Board that Captain De la Porte, in the service of the Commonwealth of Virginia, had applied for leave to recruit in this State.

Resolved, That his Excellency be advised to grant him permission accordingly.

His Excellency the Governor informed the Board that Rigdon Brice had informed him that he was cited to appear before the Court of Craven county as a person suspected of holding principles inimical to the liberties of America, and take an oath of allegiance to the State, who, refusing so to do, was committed to jail, and afterwards gave bond and security to depart the State agreeable to law; had applied to the Clerk of the Court for a copy of the proceedings of said Court respecting himself, which the Clerk informed him he had orders from the Court not to furnish him with such copy; wherefore,

Resolved, That the Governor be advised to direct the Clerk of said Court to furnish him with a copy of the said proceedings.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to grant Captain Willis permission to depart this State.

Resolved, That it be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to parole Mann Philips to the counties of Craven and Dobbs.

WILLIAM CRAY, President,
JOSEPH LEECH,
THOMAS BONNER,
WILLIAM TAYLOR,