Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Pollock to [William Hancock]
Pollock, Thomas, 1654-1722
July 15, 1720
Volume 02, Pages 386-388

[From Pollock's Letter Book.]


Chowan July 15th 1720

Sir

Yours of June 22d is now before me: and I believe it will be very convenient to have the cows branded as you advise lest there should be some controversy about them: as for the sale of Lots in town; I had a draught of the town of Mr Lawson's drawing, with most of the river lots laid out, with the account which of them were taken up and since you went from here have been at some pains in looking for it, but can not yet find it. Wherefore have enclosed a power of attorney to sell and dispose of lots, each of half an acre of land, at 20 shillings per lot; to run the same length back from the river as those already laid out, that there may be no encroachment on the streets, and straight with the river lines of the other lots; and none to be taken up between the lots already taken up and the dwelling house where the Doctor dwells, but on the other side of the lots taken up: and provided that if any person, having a lot, decease without any heirs, or disposing of it in his life time by will, sale, gift or any other ways that then it shall fall come and revert to me, my heirs, or assign: and also provided, that if they do not build or erect or cause to be builded or erected on each lot of half an acre aforesaid one habitable dwelling house not less than fifteen foot square, within eighteen months of the date of the conveyance; that they shall forfeit their lot, and that it may be free for me, my heirs and assigns to let any other person have it.

-------------------- page 387 --------------------

Also I am willing that each person that hath a lot may have sufficient estovers for building and fire wood upon any part of the land, until I lay out one hundred acres for a common, which I intend to do as soon as there is twenty lots settled.

Also I am very willing to allow one acre of ground to be laid out for a church or Chapel, and court house in such convenient place as you an the people shall think most convenient, not encroaching upon no street.

Also I shall be willing that any person, that settles a lot within eighteen months from the date hereof, shall have liberty to clear plant and tend three acres of woodland ground for five years next ensuing with this condition, that they shall not clear within a quarter of a mile of the dwelling where the Doctor now lives; and each person that clears to clear in one place adjoining one upon another, and that each shall leave it at the end of five years under good sufficient fence. As for Doctor Thomas; to the best of my memory Col Brice informed me he was to take care of what orchard was there, and other things, and to leave it under good fence, and the house under good repair, and if he had taken any care to keep it in repair it could not have been in the condition you writ. Howsoever please to give me an account by your next, of the length breadth, and height, of the house, whether one story only or two stories high, and what you think will repair it and make it a good house; and I shall expect something of the Doctor towards the reparation, but he shall find I shall not be out of reason with him; otherwise, he must expect to be subpœnaid to chancery to answer it, and seeing he is intended to remove, I believe it would do well, if you could let it to some honest man. Mr Metcalf hath writ to me thereanent; he is willing to take it but being altogether a stranger to me, I leave it to you. I would let them that take it have a third part of the increase of cattle, to be shared at the end of the lease, being five years, and one half of the increase of hogs to be shared when fitting to kill once in two years. And if you do let it, I would willingly put 10 sows and pigs and a boar, which if there come so much into your hands of mine, please to purchase; if not please to charge a not on me, and I will satisfy it. And if you meet with any honest man to let let the town to you may take the six pound that Mr Graves owes in stock for them, either in Cows and Calves, or sows and pigs, as also 57 shillings which your father owes me for nineteen quarts of rum your father had of mine from Henry Tyfles in the war times.

As for the table and cupboards, you may make use of them. I believe I shall not differ in the price.

-------------------- page 388 --------------------

Also; having, before this, given orders to adam Moore to sell all the brock truck? horses only leaving one of the best; what is made of them, (if you get a tenant for the town) may be laid out in stock of hogs and cattle forthe town as aforesaid, as four pound three or four shillings, which he is to have of Mr Jacob Miller; only reserving to himself for his own trouble. Also if you have any correspondence at Core Sound, I would entreat the favor of you to receive three pound of widow Stone which is due to me for the rent of Crany Island, Captn Stone haven taken it of me last fall at that rent, having allowed me for what time he had it before 100 weight of cocoa. And if she do not keep it any longer, I understand that one Simpson that lives at coor Sound is willing to take it. If you understand that he is honest and industrious, please to let it to him on the same lay for hogs and cattle as at the town of New Berne: and that if he can purchase ten cows and calves there at the common price, and charge a not upon me, I will pay it either in bills or pitch; and if he can contrive any shelter, as soon as I hear that he is settled I will send round nails, and satisfy any carpenter for building him a dwelling house.

You did very well not to dislodge the palatines, and I should not desire the plank to be taken from them until they remove.

I understand that Col. Brice had some of the plank. Please enquire about [it]

I have only to request one favor more of you, which is if possible you can have a conveniency, not to neglect to send round to me the biggest pair of the mill-stones of mine that lay at the town; or; if not them the smallest pair, which will very much oblige

Your—

Sir

As for the lots: if the divissions are not known, each person must pay for the laying out of his own lot: and the best way is to distinguish the lots beginning at those next to the dwelling-house, No 1; 2; 3; and so forth, or No a: b: c; et cet.

T. P.



Additional Notes for Electronic Version: Alonzo Thomas Dill, Jr., claims that the addressee is Pollock's agent, William Hancock, in "Eighteenth Century New Bern" Part IV in The North Carolina Historical Review, Vol. XXII, No. 4 (October 1945).