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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Council of State
North Carolina. Council of State
July 30, 1779
Volume 14, Pages 332-334

COUNCIL JOURNALS.

At a Council held at Kingston the 30th day of July, 1779.

Present,

The Hon'ble Joseph Leech, Esqr., President,
The Hon'ble John Simpson,
The Hon'ble Isaac Guion,
The Hon'ble William Whitfield.

Resolved, That the Governor be advised to appoint Josiah Collins, Esqr., Judge of the Court of Admiralty for the Port of Edenton, in the room of Joseph Blount, Esqr., deceased, and James Luton Marshal of said Court, in the room of_____, deceased.

The Governor laid before the Board a Letter from General Rutherford, representing that the great scarcity of Grain in the Western part of the Country is such as makes it very difficult to March the Militia ordered to be raised there for the Southern Service. At the same time, the Governor informed the Board that, from the accounts he had received from almost every part of the Country, a very great scarcity of Grain prevails; that it will

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be almost impossible, from that circumstance, to procure and carry on Teams sufficient for the necessary Numbers of Waggons; and, it appearing to the Board that the Militia ordered to be embodied are not now really necessary in the Southern States, a Body of Men having Marched to their Assistance from Virginia,

Resolved, that the Governor be advised to Order such of the Militia as are embodied to be disbanded for the present, but to hold themselves in readiness to assemble on the shortest Notice.

Resolved, that the Governor be advised to appoint Samuel Jarvis Colonel of the Currituck Regimemt of Militia, in the Room of Colonel Perkins, deceased, Thomas Jarvis Lieut. Col., Areal Simmons first Major, and Josiah Nicholson second Major of said Regt.

Resolved, that the Governor be advised to appoint Dempsey Burgis Colonel of the Camden Regt. of Militia, in the Room of Isaac Gregory, promoted, Joshua Campbell Lieut. Colonel, John Gray first Major, Charles Grandy second Major of said Regt.

Resolved, that the Governor be advised to appoint Charles Blount Lieut. Colonel of the Perquimans Regt.

Resolved, the Governor be advised to appoint Edward Salter Lieut. Colonel in the room of George Evans, who refused to act; Benj. May first Major and John Enloe 2nd Major in the Pitt Regt.

The Governor laid before the Board the Petition of John Kennedy, Keeper of the Public Gaol for the District of New Bern, setting forth that from the high price of provisions it was impossible for him to supply the prisoners of war at the price allowed.

Resolved, therefore, that the Governor be advised to grant the said John Kennedy a warrant on the Treasury for the sum of one thousand Dollars, he Accounting therefor at the next General Assembly.

The Governor laid before the Board a Letter from Lieut. Col. Henry Goodman of the Dobbs Regt. of Militia, who, with the troops now ordered into service in that State, was to march to South Carolina, setting forth that the ill State of his Health rendered him unable of discharging his duty in that department, and therefore resigned his Commission, recommending Major John Shepard for Lieut. Colonel.

Resolved, that the Governor be advised to appoint John Shepard, Esqr., Lieut. Col. of the said Regt. in his room, Thomas

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Williams first Major and Richard Caswell, Jun., second Major of said Regt.

The Governor laid before the Board the Petition of Adam Gaskel, Capt. of the Comp. of Militia at Ocracock, setting forth the necessity of his Company remaining on the Banks to be in Readiness on any alarm to prevent the Privateers from cutting out Vessels and committing other depredations, praying to be exempt from the military duty.

The Board, taking the same into Consideration, Resolved, that his Excellency be advised to order such of said company as may be drafted to go to the Southward to remain on duty in said Comp'y on the Banks, & for the Protection of Ocracock Inlet; they having Lately behaved with singular Bravery in attacking and taking a number of armed boats with their Crews, Persons that were attempting to cut out some Vessels then laying in the River, And that His Excellency give Capt. Gaskel an Order to receive these pieces of Cannon now laying at Edenton, part of those brought into the State by___, and ammunition to the same to be kept at such part of Ocracock as Gaskel shall judge proper for the defence of the said Inlet until further orders.

JOSEPH LEECH, Presd't.
R BIGNALL.
JOHN SIMPSON.
ISAAC GUION.
WILLIAM WHITFIELD.