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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Samuel Jarvis to Richard Caswell
Jarvis, Samuel
July 13, 1779
Volume 14, Pages 152-153

COL. SAML. JARVES TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Liberty Plain, 13th July, 1779.

Sir:

Some short time past was in New Bern in order to wait on your Excellency with a petition from the Inhabitants of the sea coast of the County of Currituck, praying an exemption from a future draft, being prevented by the small-pox, took the liberty to enclose it in a letter, in which I made so free as to beg the favor of your Excellency (in behalf of the people) to advise me on the occasion. As I have rec'd none, beg the favor of a line by Capt. Russel, the bearer hereof; also, if your Excellency would be pleased to send blank commissions for nine Companies of Militia, as there has been so great a change lately by the people enlisting in the service, and by the death of several of the officers, viz.:

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The two Cols. that had Commissions and beg leave to signify that I do not think that there is scarcely a man in our County that has a Military Commission, and as such, for want of their being a proper qualification, cannot obtain their return, which hath been called for by their General. Indulge me, Sir, so far as to suggest that the Enemy is daily committing depredations on our coast, and that we are hourly in expectation of having our property taken from us, which we guard at our own expense. We hope that your Excellency will take our petition under your most serious consideration, and grant us such relief as you, in your great wisdom, thinks meet.

I have the honor to be,
Your Excellency's mo. ob. Serv't,
SAML. JARVES.