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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Isaac Gregory to Thomas Burke
Gregory, Isaac, ca. 1737-1800
March 31, 1782
Volume 16, Pages 260-261

TO GOV. BURKE FROM GEN. ISAAC GREGORY.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Camden County, 31st March, 1782.

Sir:

Agreeable to your request I have examined the petition of Leonard Dessaux respecting the galley Fortune, taken by sundry persons belonging to New Currituck.

Some time in April, 1781, Captain Weeks and Killam were at Morse’s Point in Currituck County in this State near the Line of Virginia in Princess Anne Coutny. They saw a Galley come too near the land. They went down and the Commander of the Galley, to-wit: Robinson came on shore and enquired how he should find

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the first British post. Weeks & Killam informed him that they were British officers and that they would conduct him to Camp. Accordingly they employed one Munden to pilot them up to my Camp at North West, telling him that it was a British Post. The Pilot proceeded with the Galley as fast as possible. Weeks and Killam prevailed on Robinson to cross at a place called the Launch and go with them by land to my Camp, though he believed that it was a British Camp.

As the Galley was on her way, she unfortunately met an Oyster boat which she hailed and asked who commanded at the North West. Being informed that I did, she immediately seized the Pilot, put him in Irons, along with several of Captain Bostar’s crew, having discovered the deception they were under, rowed back with all possible expedition and went to some place in Mattamuskeet where they left her.

As soon as Weeks and Killam came to Camp with Captain Robinson they informed me how they had managed the matter. I endeavoured to intercept the boat’s retreat, but it was too late.

Robinson, the old Captain, seemed to be in high spirits to think he had so perfectly his purpose, not doubting but he was really in a British Camp until the evening. He gave all the information respecting the Rebels he could, and told me that they took the Galley by surprise in the night, and he being appointed Captain, wanted a Commission and hoped he had not done amiss in taking her before he had obtained one.

You may depend that Robinson and all his crew were not only disaffected, but were as grand a set of Tories as men can be.

As to the Galley’s being libelled I know very little about it, but was informed that she was found adrift, carried to Edenton, condemned and sold. The list returned you, I believe is true. This is as true a state of the matter as I can give you at present.

I am, Sir,
With Respect and Esteem,
Your Most Obedient Servt.,
ISAAC GREGORY.