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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the Board of Trade of Great Britain
Great Britain. Board of Trade
January 07, 1755 - November 12, 1755
Volume 05, Pages 480-488

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[B. P. R. O. B. T. Journals. Vol. 63.]
BOARD OF TRADE JOURNALS.


Tuesday. January 7th 1755.
present
Earl of Halifax
Mr Pitt
Mr Fane.
Mr Oswald
Mr Edgcumbe

The following copies of Orders in Council were laid before the Board by the Secretary and read, Viz:—

Order of Council dated 21st June 1754 approving a Warrant prepared by this Board to require the Governor of North Carolina to cause Letters Patent to be prepared under the seal of the said Province constituting and appointing Henry McCulloh Esq. Secretary and Clerk of the Crown in that Province.


Wednesday January 22d 1754

Read the following letter and papers received from Mr Rowan President and Commander in chief of North Carolina, Viz:—

Letter from Mr Rowan to the Board dated 22d Oct. 1754 giving an account of the present state of that Province and inclosing

Copy of a letter from Col. John Clarke of Anson County dated at Pacalet 25th Sept. 1754 to President Rowan informing him of the murder of sixteen white persons and ten carried away.

Journal of the House of Burgesses from 28th March to 12th April 1753.


Tuesday April 8th 1755.

Read the following letters & papers received from Mr Dobbs Governor of North Carolina, Viz:—

Letter from Mr Dobbs to the Board dated 9th Nov. 1754 acquainting the Board with his arrival there 31st Octr.

Letter from Mr Dobbs to the Board dated 19th Dec. 1754 transmitting the following public papers, Viz:—

Mr Dobbs' Speech to the Council & Assembly of North Carolina at his first Meeting them.

Mr Dobbs second Speech to the Council & Assembly of North Carolina

Address of the Council of North Carolina to Gov. Dobbs.

Address of the General Assembly of North Carolina to Govr Dobbs.

Letter from Mr Dobbs to the Board dated 11th Janry 1755 inclosing

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Address from the House of Assembly to Gov. Dobbs of 9th Janry 1755.

Journal of the House of Burgesses of Febry & March 1754

Journal of the House of Burgesses of Decr 1754 and Janry 1755.

Letter from Mr Dobbs to the Board dated 8th February 1755 transmitting

An Abstract of the shipping & tonnage and number of Negroes entered in North Carolina at a medium of 7 years ending 1st Janry 1755.

Letter from Mr Dobbs to the Board without date transmitting

Copy of a Memorial of the Merchants Traders and Planters of North Carolina to the Board

Copy or Duplicate of a Proposal made for altering and fixing a Boundary Line betwixt North and South Carolina with reasons to support the same.

Copy of the Resolution of the Assembly upon the Deputy Auditor's letter.

Copy of the Governor's Speech at the end of the Sessions.

Reasons given by the Governor for not passing a Bill

A return of the number of Indian Nations within and adjoining to North Carolina

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit to the Earl Granville an extract of so much of Mr Dobb's letter of the 9th Nov. as relates to the expediency of a survey of the several Counties in North Carolina and contains a proposal that his Lordship should join in the expense of surveying such of them as are divided betwixt his Lordship and the Crown.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit to the Secretary to the Lords Commissrs of the Treasury an extract of so much of the said letter as relates to the surveying the Counties and to the expediency of the Governor having the power to suspend the Receiver Genl of the Quit rents for neglect of duty.

Ordered that an Extract be made of so much of Mr Dobbs' letter of the 9th Nov. as relates to the expediency of sending from hence a quantity of powder and ball for the use of the Province and of having an independant Company stationed there to be laid before his Maj. in Council and that the Draught of a Representation to His Majesty thereupon be prepared.


Wednesday April 9th 1755.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received with Mr Dobbs' letters mentioned in yesterday's minutes Viz:

Minutes of Council of North Carolina from 1st Feby 1753 to 28th Sept. 1754.

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Journal of the Upper House of Assembly beginning 14 Dec. 1754 and ending 15th Janry 1755.

Twelve Acts passed in North Carolina in January 1755.

Ordered that the said Acts be sent to Sir Matthew Lambe for his opinion thereupon in point of law as soon as conveniently may be.

The Secretary having acquainted the Board that he was desired by Mr Abercromby Agent of the Province of North Carolina to move their Lordships that he may have a copy of the Quit rent law passed in that Province it was ordered that a copy of it should be made and delivered to him.


Thursday. April 10th 1755.

The draught of a Representation to His Majesty with an extract of Mr Dobbs' letter of the 9th Novr relating to the Defenceless state of the Province and the want of an Independant Company being stationed there having been prepared pursuant to the Minutes of the 8th inst. was agreed to transcribed & signed.


Friday April 11th 1755.

Their Lordships took into consideration the letters from Mr Dobbs Governor of North Carolina mentioned in the Minutes of the 8th inst.

Ordered that the draught of a Representation to His Majesty be prepared proposing that an additional Instruction may be given to Mr Dobbs empowering him to grant any quantity of land to new Settlers in the frontiers near the Mountains not exceeding six hundred and forty acres to any one person provided that they be obliged to cultivate three acres per year for every hundred acres contained in the Grant.

Ordered that the draught of a Representation to His Majesty be prepared proposing that an additional Instruction be given to Mr Dobbs impowering him to give his assent to any Laws which shall be passed by the Council & Assembly of North Carolina for erecting or dividing Counties or Townships within the said Province provided that such Counties and Townships be not impowered by such Laws to send Representatives to the Assembly & directing him when any new Township shall be so erected to incorporate the same by charter in case he shall think it for His Majesty's service to do so.

Ordered that the Draught of a Representation to His Majesty be prepared proposing the repeal of an Act passed in North Carolina in 1749 entitled An Act to confirm the several Acts of Assembly of this Province therein mentioned as revised by the Commrs appointed by an Act of the General Assembly of this Province intituled An Act for appointing Commissrs to revise and print the Laws of this Province & for granting to His Maj. for defraying the charges thereof a duty on rum wines and

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distilled liquors and rices imported into this Province and such other laws of this Province as have been passed since the said Revisal and to direct the printing of the said Laws.


Tuesday. April 15th 1755

Their Lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the letters from Mr Dobbs Governor of North Carolina mentioned in the Minutes of the 8th inst.

The draught of a Representation to His Majesty proposing that an additional instruction may be given to the Governor of North Carolina impowering him to assent to new Laws for erecting Counties and Townships in that Province under certain limitations having been prepared pursuant to the Minutes of the 11th inst. was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

The draught of a Representation to His Majesty proposing that an additional Instruction may be given to the Governor of North Carolina impowering him to grant lands on the frontiers of that Colony near the Mountains under certain limitations and restrictions having been prepared pursuant to the Minutes of the 11th inst. was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

The above Draughts were signed on the 16th April.

Read a letter from Chas. Pinckney Esq one of the Council of South Carolina to the Board (Mr Pownall) dated 5 July 1754 inclosing a Memorial to the Board relating to the Boundary Line between South and North Carolina and quieting the Cataba Indians in their settlements dated June 29. 1754


Tuesday April 22d 1755

Representation proposing that Peter Henley Esq. may be appointed Chief Justice of North Carolina was agreed to and signed.


Wednesday. April 23d 1755

Read a letter from Mr Dobbs Govr of North Carolina to Lord Halifax dated Novr 26th 1754 with an account of the state of the Fort built at Cape Fear and inclosing

Address of the Grand Inquest for several Counties to Govr Dobbs upon his arrival in North Carolina.

Plan of Fort Johnston with some alterations.

Their Lordships took into consideration an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council dated 3rd April 1753 referring a Memorial of Mr Dobbs praying for Ordnance Stores for the Fort built at Cape Fear mentioned in the Minutes of 27th Feb. 1754 and ordered the draught of a Report to the Lords of the Committee of Council to be prepared, which was agreed to transcribed and signed on 24th April.

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Tuesday. May 13th 1755.

Read Order of the Lords Justices in Council dated 13th inst. recommending Peter Henley Esq. to be Chief Justice of North Carolina and directing a proper warrant to be accordingly prepared.


Tuesday. May 27th 1755.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs dated 7th May 1755 approving a Representation of this Board proposing that an additional Instruction should be given to the Governor of North Carolina impowering him to give his assent under certain limitations to any laws for re-establishing the Towns & Counties heretofore erected by virtue of laws repealed by His Maj. and directing the Board to prepare the Draught of an additional instruction agreeable to the said Report

Ordered that the draught of an additional instruction be prepared conformable to the said Order.

This draught was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed May 30th and was signed June 3rd


Wednesday. May 28th 1755.

Read a letter from Mr Child by order of Lord Granville to Mr Pownall dated 29 April 1755 in answer to one from him to his Lordship inclosing by order of the Board an extract of a letter to their Lordships from Mr Dobbs Govr of North Carolina relating to the expediency of resurveying the several Counties in that Province.

Ordered that a copy of the said letter be transmitted to Mr Dobbs Govr of North Carolina


Tuesday. June 24th 1755.

Read Sir Matthew Lamb's Report upon an Act passed in North Carolina in January 1755 entitled

An Act for securing the payment of Quit Rents due to His Majesty & Earl Granville for quieting freeholders in the possession of their lands & for other purposes.

Resolved that the said Act be taken into consideration on Tuesday next and the Secretary was ordered to give notice thereof to Mr Abercromby Agent for the Province and to Mr Child Agent for Earl Granville.


Tuesday. July 1st 1755.

Ordered that the consideration of the Quit Rent Act passed in North Carolina in January 1755 be postponed till to-morrow and that the Secretary do give notice thereof to Mr Abercromby Agent for the Province and to Mr Child Agent for Earl Granville.

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Read a letter from Mr Dobbs Govr of North Carolina to the Board dated the 10th May 1755 relating to the place fixed upon by him for the seat of Government.


Wednesday. July 2nd 1755.

Their Lordships took into consideration the Quit rent Act passed in North Carolina in January 1755 and Mr Abercromby Agent for the Province and Mr Child Agent for Earl Granville attending as desired they were called in and Mr Abercromby moved their Lordships for a copy of Sir Matthew Lamb's Report upon the Act and that he might be at liberty to give in his Answer to the objections in writing which not being objected to by Mr Child who likewise moved for a copy of the Report they were ordered to withdraw and their Lordships agreed to give them a copy of Sir Matthew Lamb's Report and to suspend their determination upon the Act until the Agents had an opportunity of laying their thoughts upon it before the Board in writing.


Thursday. July 3rd 1755.

Read a letter from Mr Dobbs Governr of North Carolina to the Board dated at Newburn 4th Janry 1755 transmitting the following papers viz:—

Copy of a letter from Mr Dobbs to Jas. Glen Govnr of South Carolina

Letter from Jas Glen Esq. to Mr Dobbs dated 20th Febry 1755

Copy of the 36th Article of His Majesty's Instructions to Jas. Glen Esq. Govr of South Carolina Anno 1739.

Copy of a letter from Mr Dobbs to Mr Glen dated 12th March 1755

State of the former proceedings relative to the Boundary Line between the Northern and Southern Colonies together with the opinion of the Govr & Council of North Carolina what they think would be a proper Boundary with the reasons to support the limits & mearing they propose to determine the line

General List of Taxables as returned into the Secretary's office for the Year 1754.

A draught of an Act proposed to the Assembly of North Carolina for establishing a paper credit for 80,000 pounds currency upon a new plan.

Copy of an humble Address of the Assembly of North Carolina to His Maj. dated 12th Dec. 1754.

Copy of the Address of the Council of North Carolina to Govr Dobbs upon his Message to them.

Resolution of the Assembly of North Carolina the 2d Janry 1755.

Govr Dobbs Proposal of a copper coinage for the Province of North Carolina.

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Journal of the House of Burgesses from the 13th of December 1754 to the 23rd of the same month


Tuesday. July 15th 1755.

Ordered that the Secretary do write a Circular letter to the Governors of the Massachusetts Bay Virginia New York and North Carolina relating to the expediency of providing for the future defence of the frontiers of those Colonies and for the management of Indian affairs under some general direction & desiring them to consider and report their opinion thereupon.


Wednesday. July 16th 1755

Read a letter from Mr Dobbs Governor of North Carolina to the Board dated the 19th May 1755 relating to the expediency of building a fort on Cape Look Out in that Province.

Ordered that an extract of so much of Mr Dobbs letter as relates to the importance of building a strong fort on Cape Look Out be made to be laid before the Lords Justices and that the draught of a Representation to their Excellencies be prepared inclosing the same—which was agreed to transcribed & signed July 29th.

Read the following Copies of Orders in Council Viz:—

Order in Council dated 13 May 1755 approving a Warrant prepared by this Board to authorize the Govr of North Carolina to cause Letters Patent to be passed under the Great Seal of that Province constituting Peter Henley Esq Chief Justice of the said Province

Order in Council dated 24 June 1755 approving the draught of an Additional Instruction prepared by this Board for the Govr of North Carolina impowering him to give his Assent to any Act or Acts for re-establishing the several Counties heretofore erected by the laws which have been repealed by His Maj. Order in Council of 8th April 1754.


Wednesday. August 6th 1755.

The draughts of Letters to the Governors and Commanders in Chief of New Hampshire New Jersey Massachusetts Bay Virginia North Carolina Georgia and the Leeward Islands in answer to several received from them having been prepared were agreed to transcribed and signed.


Friday. October 31st 1755

Read a letter from Mr Dobbs Govr of North Carolina to the Board dated at Newburn the 24th Aug. 1755 containing a particular account of the nature of the soil and proposing an alteration in his Instructions relating to Grants of land.

Ordered that an extract be made of that part of Mr Dobbs letter which relates to the expediency of altering his Instructions concerning Grants

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of Land to be laid before His Majesty and that the draught of a Representation to His Maj. thereupon be prepared—which was agreed to, transcribed and signed November 6th


Tuesday. November 4th 1755.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs dated 2d Sept. 1755 referring to the consideration of this Board an extract of a letter to them from Arthur Dobbs Esq. Govr of North Carolina wherein he gives a particular account of a fine Harbour which he has lately surveyed at Cape Look Out within the said Province and proposes the building a strong fort there as a matter of the greatest consequence to the trade and navigation of Great Britain as well as of the Southern Colonies on that Continent.

Ordered that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the extract of Mr Dobbs letter referred to the Board by the above-mentioned Order to the Secretary of the Lords Commrs of the Admiralty to be laid before them for their sentiments and opinion thereupon.

Ordered that the Secretary do write to Mr Dobbs to desire he would direct some skilful Engineer to take a view and survey of the Ground at Cape Look Out and prepare a plan and estimate of such a fort as shall be necessary for the defence of the Harbour and to transmit it to their Lordships as soon as possible.


Friday. November 7th 1755

Their Lordships took into consideration an Act passed in North Carolina in January last entitled an Act for ascertaining and securing the payment of Quit rents due to His Majesty and Earl Granville for quieting the freeholders in the possession of their lands and for other purposes and made some progress therein


Tuesday. November 11th 1775.

Their Lordships took into consideration the Quit rent law of North Carolina mentioned in the Minutes of the 7th inst. and made a further progress therein.


Wednesday. November 12th 1755.

Their Lordships took into further consideration the Quit Rent Act of North Carolina mentioned in the preceding Minutes and the two following papers were read, Viz:—

Reasons in support of the Quit Rent Bill of North Carolina by Mr Abercromby Agent for the Province

Objections to the late North Carolina Quit Rent Bill passed in January 1755 by Mr Child Secretary to the Earl Granville

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Ordered that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the Act and also copies of the foregoing papers and of Sir Matthew Lamb's Report upon it to the Secretary to the Lords Commissrs of the Treasury and desire him to lay them before that Board for their sentiments thereon.