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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Proclamation by the Lords Proprietors of Carolina concerning a seaport at Bath
Carolina. Lords Proprietors.
August 01, 1716
Volume 02, Pages 236-238

[B. P. R. O. B. T. No. Carolina. Vol. 6. P. 39.]

1716 August 1st

John Lord Carteret Palatin, Henry Duke of Beaufort, William Lord Craven, Maurice Ashley Esqre Sr John Colleton Bart John Danson Esqre and the rest of the true and absolute Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina, To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting.

Whereas by a Royal Charter bearing Date the 30th Day of June in the 17th year of the reign of King Charles the 2d there is granted to us,

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Our Heirs and Assignes, full and absolute Power and Authority to make, erect and constitute within the said Province and Territory, such and so many Seaports, Harbours, Creeks and other places for Discharge and unlading of Goods and Merchandizes out of ships, Boats and other Vessels, and for lading of them in such and so many Places and with such Jurisdictions, Privileges and Franchises, as to Us shall seem most expedient, and that all and singular the ships, Boats and other Vessells which shall come with Merchandizes and Trade into the said Province or Territory, or shall depart out of the same shall be laden and unlade at such Ports only as shall be constituted by Us the Lords Proprietors of the Province aforesaid, Our Heires and Assignes and not elsewhere, any Use, Custom or anything to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And whereas several of the Inhabitants of the Province of North Carolina have represented to us the several and great conveniences and advantages that may accrue to his Majesty's subjects in General by constituting and erecting a Port at Bath Town in the County of Bath, being, as the alledge the most proper place within the said Province for ships to take in Masts, Pitch, Tar Turpentine and other Naval Stores for the use of his Majesty's Fleet, and which may be purchased by such Merchandizes and Comodities, as are of the Growth, Production and Manufactory of his Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain. We therefore (being desirous to render the Province of Carolina as usefull as may be to this his Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain, and also considering what great Tracts of Land lye contiguous to the said Bath Town which may afford great quantities of Naval Stores Pursuant to the said Power granted to us by the said Charter & Patent have erected, constituted and appointed the said Bath Town, within the Province of North Carolina aforesaid to be a Seaport for the Discharge and unlading of any Goods, Merchandizes or Wares out of any ships, Boats or Vessels whatsoever, and for lading the same again, but with such Jurisdictions, Privileges and Franchises as to any other Sea Port within the said Province of Carolina shall in any wise belong or appertain. Provided always that all ships and vessels whatsoever coming into or going out of the said Port of Bath Town in the County of Bath aforesaid, and lading or unlading any Goods or Comodities there, and the Masters and Commanders thereof and their ladings shall be subject and liable to the same Duties and Visitations, Searches, Penalties and Forfeitures, as any Ships and their Ladings and any Commanders and Masters of Ships are subject and liable to, by virtue of any Act or Acts of Parliament relating to Trade and Navigation in any other Sea Port whatsoever in any of his Majesty's Provinces Colonies or Plantations
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in America. Given at St James' under our Hands & Seals this 1st Day of August A. D. 1716.

CARTERET Palatin.
J. COLLETON
FULWAR SKIPWITH for CRAVEN.
JA: BERTIE for BEAUFORT,
M. ASHLEY.
J. DANSON.