Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Petition from inhabitants of western North Carolina concerning a separate government
Cosson, John; Et Al.
December 1787
Volume 22, Pages 705-714

PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE WESTERN
COUNTRY.

The Honourable the General Assembly of North Carolina now sitting

The Inhabitants of the Western Country Humbly Sheweth—That it is with sincere concern we lament the unhappy dispute that have have long subsisted between us, and our Brethren on the Eastern side of the Mountains, respecting the Erecting a new Government. We beg leave to represent to your Honourable body, that from Acts passed in June, 1784, ceding to Congress your Western territory with the reservations and Conditions therein contained. Also from a clause in your Wise and Mild Constitution, setting forth that there might be a State, or States, erected in the West whenever your Legislature should give consent for the same, and from our local situation numberless advantages, bountifully given to us by nature, to propagate & promote a Government with us. Being influenced by your Acts and Constitution, and at the same time considering that it is our undeniable right to obtain for ourselves and posterity a proportionable and adequate share of the blessings, rights, privileges and Immunities allotted with the rest of mankind, have thought that the Erecting a new Government would greatly contribute to our welfare and convenience and that the same could not militate against your interest and future welfare as a Government. Hoping that mutual & reciprocal advantages would attend each party & that cordiality

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and unanimity would permanently subsist between us ever after. We earnestly request that an impartial view of our remoteness might be taken into consideration. The great inconveniency attending your seat of Government, and also the great difficulty in ruling well & giving protection to so remote a people. To say nothing of the almost impassable mountains, Nature has placed between us, which renders it impracticable for us to furnish ourselves with a bare load of the necessaries of life, except we in the first instance travel from one to two hundred & more miles through some other State ’ere we can reach your government. Every tax paid you from this county would render us that sum the poorer, as it is impossible, from the nature of our situation, that any part could return into circulation having nothing that could bear the carriage, or encourage purchasers to come so great a distance for which reasons were we to continue under your Government a few years, the people here must pay a grater sum than the whole of the medium now in circulation for the Exigencies and support of your Government, which would be a sum impossible for us to procure, would we be willing to give you our all, & of course, must be heholden to other States for any part we could raise; and by these means our property would gradually diminish and we at last reduced to mere poverty and want by not being able equally, to participate with the benefits and advantages of your government. We hope that having settled west of the Apalachian Mountains ought not to deprive us of the natural advantages designed by the bountiful hand of Providence for the conveniency & comfort of all those who have Spirit and sagacity enough to seek after them. When we reflect on our past & indefatigable Struggles, both with savages and our other Enemies during our late war, and the great difficulty we had to obtain and withhold this Country from those Enemies at the expence of the lives and fortunes of many of our dearest friends and relations, and the happy conclusion of peace have arrived, North Carolina has derived great advantages from our alertness in taking & securing a Country from which she has been able to draw into her Treasury immense sums of money, and thereby become enabled to pay off, if not wholly, yet a great part and sink her national debt. We therefore humbly conceive you will liberally think that it will be nothing more than paying a debt in full to us for only to grant what God, Nature & our Locality entitles us to receive. Trusting that your magnanimity and justice will not
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consider it a crime in any people to pray their just rites and privileges, we call the world to testify our conduct and exertion in behalf of American Independency, and the same to judge whither we ask more than free people ought to claim agreeable to Republican principles, the grand foundation whereon our American fabric now stands. Impressed with the hope of your great goodness & benevo lent disposition that you will utterly abhor and disclaim all Ideas of Involving into innumerable, disagreeable and irksome Contentions a people who have so faithfully aided & supported you in the time of imminent & perilous Dangers; that you will be graciously pleased to consent to a Separation, that from your paternal tenderness and greatness of mind you will let your stipulations & conditions be consistent with honour, equity & Reason, all which will be cheerfully submitted to, and we, your Petitioners, shall always feel an interest in whatsoever may concern your honour and prosperity. Lastly, we hope to be enabled by the concurrence of your State to participate of the fruits of the Revolution; and enjoy the essential benefits of Civil Society under a form of Government which ourselves alone, can only calculate for such a purpose. It will be a subject of regret that so much blood and treasure have been lavished away for no purpose to us, that so many sufferings have been encountered without Compensation, and that so many sacrifices have been made in vain. Many other considerations might be here adduced but we hope what hath been mentioned will be sufficient for our purpose, adding only that Congress hath from time to time explained their ideas so fully and with so much dignity & Energy that if their Arguments and Requisitions will not Produce conviction, we know of nothing that will have a greater influence, especially when we recollect that the System referred to is the result of the Collected wisdom of the United States and should it not be considered as perfect must be esteemed the least Objectionable.

JOHN COSSON,
JOSEPH BLAIR,
JAMES ENGLISH,
THOMAS WILLIAMS,
WILLIAM HANNAH,
HENRY STYERS,
PETER McNAMEE,
JAMES SHANKS,
THOMAS
his
X
mark
TADLOCK,
DAVID ROBINSON,
ROBERT CALLISON,
WILLIAM McPICK,
ISAAC DAVIS,
BOTHOLOMU ODENEAL,
-------------------- page 708 --------------------
JAMES MITCHELL,
DAVID GEMEL,
SHADRICK
his
X
mark
HALE, JR.,
THOMAS BELL,
THOMAS RODGERS,
DANIEL DUNNY, JR.,
ANTHONY KELLY,
JOHN WEAR,
THOS. McMACKIN,
ASAHEL RAWLINGS,
GEORGE DAVIES,
HENRY EARNEST,
NATHANIEL DAVIES,
JAMES PATTERSON,
SAMUEL DAVIES,
FRANCIS HUGHES,
JOHN LOWE,
ROBERT HOOD,
JOSEPH WILLSON,
DAVID BROWN,
WM.
his
X
mark
FRANCIS,
WILLIAM BROWN,
JAS. HENNEY,
ALEXR. PETTER,
PATRICK
his
X
mark
KIRKPATRICK,
WILLIAM REYNOLDS,
DAVID REYNOLDS,
JOHN TADLOCK,
AARON BEEN,
JAMES DAVIS,
WILLIAM WILSON,
BENN BRUMBLY,
THOS. THOMPSON,
MARY WEBSTER (?)
DAVID RANKIN,
GEORGE KIRKPATRICK,
JOHN LEE,
THOMAS JONES,
SAM’L VANCE,
WILLIAM JONES,
RD. KERR,
REUBEN SIMMON,
ARCHIBEL ALEXANDER,
MOSES KELSAY,
SAMUEL McPHERSON,
ROBERT McCALL,
MATTHEW RUE,
JOSEPH ALEXANDER,
JOSEPH LUSK,
WM. COCKE,
ANDREW JACKSON,
ARCHIBALD ROAN,
JOS. GEST,
ELIAS WITT,
JOS. NEWBERRY,
THOMAS WITT,
ALEX. LOWRY,
NATHANIEL WITT,
JNO. McCLELLAND,
RICH’D DUNN,
SOLOMON REED,
WM. DUNN,
URIAH McCLELLENNON,
THOMAS CALL,
JAMES STINSON,
H. CALL,
ALEXANDER STREET,
JOSEPH N. NEWPORT,
JAMES McPHERSON,
WM. W. NEWPORT,
JOHN PRIM,
JOHN GREER,
JACOB SMELSER,
ABSOLOM GREER,
-------------------- page 709 --------------------
JOSHUA KIDWELL,
THOMAS SPRINGER,
SAMUEL JAMESON,
LEVY SPRINGER,
JOHN BRUMLEY,
THOMAS WOLF,
WILLIAM DAVIDSON,
CONROD WOLF,
WM. BOYD,
PHILLIP GNIBB,
BENJA. GIST,
HENRY EASTER,
THOS. BROMLEY,
WILLIAM EATS,
HUGH BEARD,
SIMEON CRAINS,
SAMUEL BEARD,
HARMAN NOWEL,
JAMES MILLIKIN,
JAMES PATTON,
ROBERT ORR,
ROBERT PATTON,
SEARLING BOWMAN,
JOHN FOUT,
RICH’D WOODS,
PETER FOUT,
ROBERT McCALL,
HARMAN KENEDY,
JOHN GALBREATH,
MOSES LONG,
(Illegible) (?)
COONNAS MILLER,
JAMES WATSON,
THOMAS McKEE,
(Illegible) (?)
WM. GOINGS
JAMES HAYS,
HENRY BRUMLY,
DAVID CARR,
AND. WRAY,
JOSEPH GARRISON,
WM. WOOD,
WILLIAM GILLEHAN,
GORDON POTTER,
STEPHEN STRORGE,
WM. PECK,
MICHAEL RAWLINGS,
THOMAS MOSELY,
DONNELL CREMOR,
HENRY MOSELY,
NATH. McMENO,
PHILLIP RUDOLF,
WILLIAM LA ∗ ∗ ∗ (?)
WM. STUBLEFIELD,
(Illegible) (?)
THOMAS BAITS,
WM. MOROW,
JOHN KELLER,
CHARLES RAMSEY,
MOSES KELLER,
(Illegible) (?)
WILLIAM FERGOSON,
JOHN R. ∗ ∗ ∗ (?)
ADAM FERGOSON,
PETER NOWELS,
RALPH HOGAN,
JAMES MILLIKAN,
WILLIAM HOGAN,
THOMAS MILLIKAN,
RICH’D WABB,
THOMAS DICSON,
JOSIAH EPPERSON,
REDMAN McDANEL,
HUMPH’Y MONTGOMERY
SAMUL MacDANEL,
CARMACH GEORGE,
SAMUL GILBERTS,
CHARLES WILLSON,
-------------------- page 710 --------------------
JOSEPH McMINTY,
JOHN JOHNSTON,
AUBORN MON ∗ ∗ ∗ (?)
WM. MAGILL,
ANSON RIT,
OTON CLACK,
NUNESS POTTOR,
JOHN GIBSON,
JOHN NOMAN (?)
REUBEN GIBSON,
PETER NULESS,
WILLIAM ADKINS,
JAMES W. BEGSES, (?)
THOS. FRYAR,
DALTON RIDGS,
JOHN LYON,
JAMES JACK,
WILLIAM BROWNIN,
JOHN ADKINS,
RICH’D WOOD,
ADWORD ADWORD,
JAMES PICKENS,
ROBERT BETTEY,
REUBEN RIGGS,
GEO. BLACK,
GEORGE HAYES,
SIMON RIDGS,
WILLIAM HILL,
JOSEPH DONN,
HENRY RICHARDSON,
ALLEN BELLEW,
SHIFFELL GOODLOP,
ROWS POTTER,
JOHN SHAM,
JOHN NORTON,
MILLER DOGET,
AARON NORTON,
CHRISTY MIERS,
AARON RIDER,
JOHN MEARS,
JOHN JAMESON,
WILLIAM OWINS,
DAN’L RAWLINGS,
THOMAS OWINS,
WILLIAM JINKINS,
JOHN JARROTT,
ROBERT SMITH,
THOMAS PINCKNY,
WM. HOWARD,
JAMES STUMP,
JOSHUA TADLOCK,
LEONARD HOPKINS,
ROBERT HAYES,
MARTHA GAHEE,
THOMAS JOHNSON,
PATRICK GAHEE,
FRANCIS JONSON,
JEREMIAH SMITH,
ROBERT SAMPLE,
JS
his
X
mark
HUST,
ANTHONY MOORE,
JAMES McCAMMIS,
THOMAS McCAMMIS,
JOHN
his
X
mark
HUSON,
WILLIM McCAMMIS,
ADAM McCAMMIS,
LANTY ARMSTRONG,
HENRY HOHAMMER,
WILLIAM HENNIDGE,
FRANSES CASTEL,
JOHN ARMSTRONG,
JACOB MEEK,
ANDREW ENGLISH,
THOMAS MILLER,
-------------------- page 711 --------------------
NATHANIEL HAYS,
ROBERT PAIN,
DANIEL LEMING,
JOSEPH HAMILTON,
JOHN WILLIAMS,
ROBERT KERR,
JOHN SELLARS,
ROBERT
his
X
mark
MILLOR,
BENJ. WRAY,
(Illegible) (?)
MOSES MOORE,
WILLIAM
his
X
mark
HUST,
WM. MOORE,
JOSEPH RAY,
JOSEPH LACHLEN, SEN.,
THOMAS
his
X
mark
BAILEY,
JOSEPH LACHLEN, JUR.,
EDWARD CRUNT (?)
JAMES CRUNT.

The following names are taken from the back of the petitions:

NICHOLAS HAYES,
WILLIAM WILSON,
SAM’L HAYES,
MOSES KENNEDY,
JNO. MITCHEL,
HERMON KING,
JAMES RANNER,
JOSEPH SCREAT,
HENRY HOKIMER,
LEWIS TADLOCK,
GEO. MARTIN,
THOMAS TADLOCK,
DAVID MOORE,
JOSHUAWAY TADLOCK,
HENRY WINTERBERGER,
WILLIAM PADFIELD,
JOS. WINTERBERGER,
SAM’L WINTERBERGER,
THOMAS
his
X
mark
BENET,
JOSEPH LUSK,
THOS. WOOD,
MOSES KELSAY,
JOSEPH GEEST,
JOHN ANDERSON,
WILLIAM GEST,
JAMES RICHARDSON,
JOSHUA KIDWELL,
DAVID TAYLOR,
THOMAS DAVIE,
BENJA. GIST,
JOHN KIDWELL,
JOSEPH HUSON,
CHARLES KIDWELL,
MIKILL BORDERS,
WHALEY NEWBY,
ALX. PETHROW,
HENRY W. NEWBY,
OYSTAN HEWTOWER,
CRAVEN DUNEAR,
WM. DAVES,
ALEXR. LOWREY,
JOHN NORIS.
JAMES STITSON,
ROBERT HAYS,
ADAM GUTHERY,
JAMES HAYS,
-------------------- page 712 --------------------
WM. CRAIGE,
WM. SIPPARD,
BENJAMEN HENSLEE,
ALLEXANDER CAVITT,
ABEL MORGAN,
MOSES CAVITT,
THOMAS VINCENT,
JACOB JOBE,
JNO. CHESTER,
NATHAN JOBE,
PATRICK MORRISON,
JOSEPH BIRDWELL,
STEPHEN EASLEY,
GEO. BIRDWELL,
JACKEL LIGHT,
JAS. SMITH,
ROBERT EASLEY,
MOSES RUSSEL,
HENRY SULLAVAN,
CONRAD SHEPLY,
JOHN LIGHT,
JOHN COMIN,
MOSES ROBINSON,
WALKER BARREN,
WILLIAM LIGHT,
JOHN BELL,
WILLIAM LIGHT, SR.,
WILLIAM CARSON,
THOMAS EASLEY,
ROBERT CHRISTIAN,
WILLIAM GOAD,
ABRAHAM TITSWORTH,
JESEY HOLLAND,
BENJAMIN WALB ∗ ∗ ∗ (?)
JAMES WALB ∗ ∗ ∗ (?)
GREEN CHOTE,
JOHN GOAD, JR.,
SHADRACH HAILE,
GEORGE VINCENT,
FORRESTER MERCER,
HENRY HECKEY,
BRYCE RUSSELL, SR.,
OWEN ATKIN,
BRYCE RUSSELL, JR.,
NICHOLAS MERCER,
JAMES PICKENS,
RICHARD MERCER, SR.,
PHL. GRAFFORD PEARCE
ARCH’D McHAUGHAN,
WILLIAM GEWIL,
EDWARD MERCER,
CHARLES PARKER,
JOHN BLACK,
ANTONY AGEE,
JOHN HUNT, JR.,
JOHN SAWYER,
BASETT HUNT,
JOSEPH MOOR,
REUBEN HUNT,
JOHN YANCEY,
THOMAS TINTON,
RICHARD SHIPLEY,
JONATHAN HUNT,
W. CAGE,
JAMES COOPER,
TIMOTHY HEUFF,
ISAIAH WALDREW,
GEORGE CHRISTIAN,
LEWIS HUNT,
DENESS MURFEE,
JAMES SMART,
ISAAC THOMAS,
JAMES SMITH,
WILLIAM NASENGILL,
GABRIEL GODE,
JOHN TULLEY,
JOSEPH SMITH,
THOS. EASTERLIN,
-------------------- page 713 --------------------
JOHN DUNCAN,
WILLIAM COPELAND,
WM. BERRY,
RICH’D GARNON,
ISAAC WHITE,
JOHN SPURGIN,
SAMUEL COX,
THOS. KING,
JAMES WHEELER,
ROGER GIBSON,
JOHN COTTRELL,
JAMES ADAM,
HUGH GENTRY,
GEO. GABRIEL (black),
VALLENTINE ROSE,
JOHN YOKLEY,
ELI SHIPLY,
JOHN WOOLSEY,
THOMIS SHIPLEY,
JAMES ARBUTTON (?) WILLIAM CHILDRESS,
MARTIN ROLLER, JR.,
JOSHWAY HAMETON,
JOSEPH BLAIR,
CHRISTURPHER CROFF,
DAVID ARWIN,
BENJAMEN AZE,
WILLIAM ∗∗∗ (?)
REUBEN HUNT,
THOS. TAYLOR,
ELLECANDER MORE,
ADAM STOAKS,
MARTIN ROLLER,
JOSEPH WALDRAP,
JOHN A. CAFT,
MATTW. CARITHERS,
D. WRIGHT,
GILBERT CHRISTIAN,
ADAM STAKE,
JOHN PRIOR,
WM. SHEWMAKER,
MOSES LOONEY,
GABRIEL GOAD,
MACAJAH ADAMS,
PETER EASLEY,
JAMES McLERN,
JACOB COX,
ALEXANDER CARITH,
WILLIAM BUCKNELL,
BENJ. BURDWELL,
HALEY BUCKNELL,
JOHN DEAN,
PRELEY BUCKNELL,
CHARLES BACON,
WILLIAM HOLLAND,
JOHN FRENCH,
WILLIAM MORROSON,
JOHN BILENSY,
JOHN MORROSON,
WILLIAM COMBS,
JAMES MORROSON,
WILLIAM COMBS, JR.,
SAMUEL BOFMAN,
HENERY COMBS,
DAVID MERRYON,
WILLIAM STACEY,
RICHARD MORELL,
ADDAM COUMB,
DUDLY BETHERFORD,
DANIEL AGEE,
JOHN BRAFORD,
JOHN COMAY,
PETER FIN,
JAMES PETERSON,
JOHN HUNT,
JEREMIAH TAYLOR,
WILLIAM BAILY,
JOSEPH TAYLOR,
-------------------- page 714 --------------------
GEORGE SMITH,
STEPHEN TAYLOR,
JACOB JOAB,
ISAAC TAYLOR,
WILLIAM COOPER,
JOHN CHISOLM,
WM. JACTION,
EDWARD TULE,
EPHRAIM JOAB,
NATHANIEL TULE.
WILLIAM MEHALLM,

Endorsement:

Petition of the inhabitants of the Western Country, December, 1787.

In Senate, December, 1787. Read and referred to Court on Public Bills.