St. Johns Parish Bute County 25th April 1771.
Reverend Sir,
In my last years letter I returned you and the Society my humble and sincere thanks for your ready acceptance of my Bill in the year 1768, and did not intend to present any more, but am obliged to send again, by the advice of some Gentlemen who have seen my name under the Annual Salaries, they well knowing that I shall not be able to support myself without your kind relief; and the reason is, the disturbances of our country has made it impossible for the collectors to get either public, parish, or County Taxes, to discharge the several creditors.
It begun betwixt two and three years ago, but they have carried it now to such a height that they have obstructed our Courts of Justice, threatened the Capital, destroyed several Gentlemens buildings, whip every Officer who calls upon them for taxes, or if they seize their goods without interruption, they can't sell them for want of Buyers which is the case of our county. The Legislature has made an Act against their proceedings, and to prevent such insurrections for the future. There are sixty one Bills of Indictment found against the Leaders; but the Insurgents will not deliver them up, our worthy Governor willing to restore peace and stability to the Province, is going according to the Act of Assembly to march against them with what forces he can raise, but whatever the lower counties adjacent to the capital may do, I know not, but the counties around us will not get any—The Col. of this county was by his instructions only to raise Fifty men exclusive of officers, yet he told me, when he called a general muster that though there were betwixt eight or nine hundred men under arms, there was not any would list, but broke their ranks without leave of their commanders, and proclaimed themselves for the Regulators as they are generally called. Now it is, Reverend Sir, on the account of these Disturbances and the scarcity of money that makes me apply to the Society in a humble manner praying for relief, otherwise I can not long be able to support my family. I ask it not as a debt but have drawn of the Treasurer for three years Salary, which, if it should ever be in my power which I hope it will, if our country were once settled I should restore again, but if my Bills are protested, there will be an end to my doing any good amongst these people, our Trade is demolished, merchants are unable to support their credit and yet while they had goods they have been afraid of refusing trust but are unwilling to send for any more not being capable of making proper remittances. I therefore humbly beg your interest with the Society to answer the Bill which I have directed to the Treasurer. The people of this county have a religious turn of mind attend duly on religious worship, but if in my discourses to them, I mention that a true christian ought to live in a due subordination and in supporting the Government they will return that they love the Government will stand up for it with all their lives and properties, but that the Sheriffs, Clerks of Courts, and Registers have been Exactors, and unless they make up to them the money which they say, they have unjustly taken they will pay
no more taxes for anything. I have baptized from January 1st 1770, 448 children, 65 of which were blacks. I administered the sacrament at each of the five places three times a year to about 70 communicants, the first Sunday after Easter we had 200. I preach at some corner of the parish where people being at such a distance from any of the appointed places, cannot conveniently attend; at one of these corners in the midst of the Anabaptists, I one day baptized 20 children, some of whose parents had been carried away with these people, but have returned under a thorough conviction of their Error. As it has been chiefly owing to you, Reverend Sir, that I am indebted for everything which has enabled me to appear in the character I am in; so, if ever I have been any way instrumental in gaining Souls to the Lord, they and I have abundant reason to be thankful to God; and pray earnestly for your long continuance in the church and that you and every member of the Society may be blessed with all spiritual and temporal blessings and that all your Endeavours for propagating religion may be made real blessings every where and especially to this poor distracted Colony & after each of you have been enabled long to serve God faithfully upon Earth May you then in heaven have many to be your crowns of rejoicing in our presence of the Lord. This, Reverend Sir, is the sincere and earnest prayer of him, who is with great humility and respect,