North Carolina
Mecklenburg County.
To His Excellency Josiah Martin his Majestys Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and Over the Province of North Carolina and to the Honourable [Gentlemen of] his Majestys Council of Said Province
The Petition of Sundry the inhabitants & Settlers of the Late Governor Dobbs' Land Humbly Sheweth
Whereas we your Humble petitioners Leabours Under a real Grievance in Regard of Rents Due on said land for when we purchased and Obtained our Titles of Governor Dobbs we Setled with him for the Rents Due on the Quantity of Land we Seperately bought of him to the Date of our Deeds So far back as to the Year 1760 and he informed us that he was to have an Requittance of all his Rents by the Crown so far back as to the Year 1756—We therefore hope You will take it into Your Wise Consideration and admit us to pay no Further back than to the Date of Our Deeds which we Confess we Justly owe and are willing to pay—we Once before petitioned to that Honourable Board in Governor Tryon's Time and there was an Order of Council Made that we Should be
admitted as Tennants and Pay so far back as to the Year 1756 which would be with what we have paid Twelve years More Rent than what we Can think we Justly Owe and upon that Order the Receiver General gave orders to Destrain for the Rents which keeps Us in Dayly fears and we Your Petitioners submit ourselves to your serious Consideration and as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray