USA > North Carolina > The history of North Carolina from the earliest period, Volume I > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
APPENDIX
the sugar mentioned in the said evidence, before the said Knight first mentioned it to him, neither was the said sugar ever denied by the said Tobias Knight to be in his custody, for the truth of which he humbly refers to the honorable the governor ; but further saith that, when the said Tobias Knight was apprised, that the said Brand had been informed, that the said sugar had been connivingly put on shore for the said Knight's use, and that there might be found in his custody several things of value, belonging to the said Teache, and that the said Brand did intend to send his people to search his, the said Knight's house, he did then speak himself to the said Brand, and did acquaint him truly how, and for what reason, the said sugar was there lodged, viz: at the request of the said Teache, only, till a more convenient store could be procured, by the governor, for the whole, with assurance that the said Tobias Knight never did present any claim or right to any part thereof, and did, also, at the same time desire the said Brand, if he had any other information against him, he would be so civil as either to come himself, or send his secre- tary, to his house, and every lock in his said house should be opened to him, to which he only replied, that, though he had some spiteful things insinuated to him by evil minded persons, whose names he need not mention, intimating Mr. Maurice Moore, Jere- miah Vail, and others of that family, yet he had more honor than to do any such thing; for, that, ever since his coming into this government, he had found nothing in the said Tobias Knight, but a great deal of readi- nesss to assist him in the service of the crown, very much becoming a gentleman, and one in his post,
-
APPENDIX.
which character he should give of him in Virginia, in opposition to all the false and malicious stories there suggested against him, or words to the same effect. Fifthly, as to the letter, that was said to be found, of the said Tobias Knight's writing, on board the said Teache's sloop, the said Knight doth believe to be true, for that he did write such a letter, by the go- vernor's orders; he having advised him by letter that he had some earnest business with the said Teache; but he doth utterly deny that there was any evil intent in writing the said letter, but that he did verily believe, at the same time, that the said Teache was as free a subject of our lord the king, as any person in the go- vernment; and the said Tobias Knight doth further say, in his own justification, that when the said Teache and his crew first came into this government and surrendered themselves, pursuant to his majesty's proclamation of indemnity, the said Tobias Knight then was, and for a long time had been, confined to his bed by sickness, and that during his whole stay in this government he never was able to go from his plantation, nor did either the said Teache, or any of his crew, frequent the said Knight's house, unless when they had business at his office, as secretary or collector of the king's customs; neither did the said Tobias Knight, nor any of his family, contract any acquaintance with the said Teache, or any of his crew, nor did deal, buy or sell any with, or of, any of them, during their whole stay, save only two negro slayes, which the said Knight purchased from two men, who had received their pardons, and since are gone lawfully out of this government, and still continue in their good allegiance. and the said Tobias Knight
XIT
APPENDIX.
doth aver for a truth, that from the time the said Teache took his departure from this government. bound to St. Thomas's, he did never see the said Teache, or any of his people, until on or about the 24th of September last past; when he came and re- ported to the governor, that he had brought a wreck into this government, and particularly, that the said Teache was not, to the said Knight's knowledge, nor to the knowledge of any of his family, at or near his house, on or about the 14th day of September last past, as is most falsely suggested in the aforesaid evi- dence, given against him in Virginia; for the truth whereof, he refers himself to the examination and deposition of Mr. Edmund Chamberlain, aforesaid.
All of which is most humbly submitted by your honors most dutiful and most obedient servant.
T. KNIGHT.
Then, Mr. Edmund Chamberlain was examined. and his deposition was read and sworn to before this board, in the following words:
NORTH CAROLINA, SS.
The deposition of Edmund Chamberlain. gent taken upon his examination before the honorable the governor and council, at a council board, holden at Chowan, the 27th day of May, 1719, who being sworn on the the Holy Evangelist, saith : that he, this depo- nent, hath been for some considerable time past, viz: ever since the latter end of August last past, to this time, a resident at the house of Tobias Knight, esq. in Bath county, and that particularly on or about the 1 1th of September last past, and for several days before
XIII
APPENDIX.
and since, he never was absent from the said Tobias Knight's house, either by night or by day, nor was there any passages or occurrences, as this deponent verily believes, kept a secret or unknown to him, and further, saith that this deponent did never see captain Edward Teache. nor any of his crow ; neither was any of them to his knowledge at the said Tobias Knight's house, either by night or by day, until on or about the . 21th day of the said last September, when, as this de- ponent is informed, he came up to the governor, and reported to him, that he had brought a wreck into this government; and this deponent doth verily believe that if the said Trache, or any of his crew, bad come to the said Tobias Knight's, at any time, either by night or by day, before that time, and especially on or about the 14th of September, the said deponent must and should have seen them; because, at that time, there was an alarm of the heathens falling upon us, and this deponent was, at that time, and upon that account, very watchful, and apprehensive of every thing that stirred about the house, and the said Tobias Knight was also, at that time, in so ill a state of health, that this deponent verily believes he could not possibly have gone out of his house, to have had such commu- nication with any person. as in the said pretended evidence is suggested, without manifest danger and hazard of his life ; neither doth the deponent believe it was possible for the said "Tobias Knight to have had such communication with any person, either within or without his said house, without his knowledge, for that his lodging room was so near to this deponent's, that he must have known thereof; and this deponent further saith, that he was at the said Tobias Knight's
XIV
APPENDIX.
house, on the 14th of September, when William Bell came and complained that he was robbed, and desired a hue and cry from the said fobias Knight, and heard the said Tobias Knight examine the said Bell, whether he could describe the persons to him that robbed him ; to which the said Bell said he could not, but said he did violently suspect one Thomas Undy and one Ri- chard Snelling, commonly called Tettery Dick, to be two of them, and the others to be negroes, or white men disguised as such. Some time afterwards, he came again to the said Tobias Knight's, and had in suspicion one William Smith, and others: and this deponent further saith, that he never did see. or know of any presents, of any kind, to the said Tobias Knight, nor any of his family, from the said Teache, nor any of his crew, since his being at the said Tobias Knight's house, save only one gun, of about forty shillings value : and this deponent further saith, that some time, on or about the 25th of April last, he, the deponent had dis- course with William Bell, of Currituck, merchant, concerning his being robbed of some money and goods, in Pamlico river, on or about the 14th day of September last, by captain Edward Teache, and among other things, he, the deponent, did ask the said Bell whether he thought the said Teache was at the said Tobias Knight's house the night he was robbed, or whether he thought he knew any thing of it, to which the said Bell replied, that the said Tobias Knight was a very civil gentleman, and his wife a very civil gentlewoman, and he did not think, or believe, that the said 'Teache was there, or that he knew any thing of the matter, or words to that effect.
EDMUND CHAMBERLAIN.
XV
APPENDIX.
And this board having taken the whole into consi- deration, and it appearing to them, that the four evidences, called by the names of James Blake. Ři- chard Stiles, James White and Thomas Gates, were actually no other than, four negro slaves, and since executed, as in the remonstrance is set forth, and that the other evidences, so far as they relate to the said Tobias Knight, are false and malicious, and that he hath behaved himself in that, and all other affairs wherein he hath been intrusted, as became a good and faithful officer; and, thereupon, it is the opinion of this board, that he is not guilty, and ought to be acquitted of the said crimes, and every of them, laid to his charge as aforesaid.
XVI
A journal of the proceedings of the commissioners for running the boundary line between Carolina and Virginia.
THE boundary betwixt the two governments ha- ving been long contested, it being uncertain what was meant by Currituck river, or gullet, in the king's charter, and many disputing which was Wyanoke creek, the line being to begin at the north end of Cur- ratuck river or gullet, but there was no river known by that name; Curratuck being a large bay, extending northwardly and southwardly of the inlet, and the north end of it, above a dozen miles to the northward of the inlet, where the line ought to have begun, if by the river. or gullet, was meant the bay; but that not having been duly insisted on, the inlet in time began to be reputed the boundary, and the north-west river, and channel up to it, were acquiesced in as the natural bounds, which left all Nott's island in Virginia, to the southward of the inlet; but the governor of Virginia afterwards granted patents to the southward of the said river, when they thought it was to the northward of a west line from the inlet, viz: towards the head of the river, up to the dismal or great Pocoson, on the west of which Pocoson the bounds remaining unfixed, and great debates being about Wyanoke creek. to which the line was to run, the government of Virginia pre- tending it was a creek, since called Wiccons, and Carolina claiming it to be a place called Nottaway.
-
APPENDIX.
Commissioners were appointe I by both governments to settle the matter; and depositions were taken, on both sides, concerning the Wyonoke Indians, who. at different times, lived in both places, but no satisfaction being that way obtained, and the observations made to find the latitude differing as widely, the Virginia commissioners making the latitude of Wiccons to be in 36 deg. 40 min. and Nottaway to be in 32 deg. or 37 deg. 16 min .; this egregious error, (as it is since demonstrated to be) broke off the conference not without some warmth, and undue reflections made on it by Virginia; and some time after the two go- vernors, viz: colonel Spotswood, lieutenant governor of Virginia, and colonel Eden, governor of Carolina, had an interview upon it, meeting at Nansemond, and agreed on certain proposals about the boundaries which were interchangeably signed.
That from the mouth of Currituck river, or inlet, and setting the compass on the north shore thereof, a due west line be run, and fairly marked, and if it hap- pen to cut Chowan river, between the mouth of Not- toway river and Wiccon's creek, then shall the same direct course be continued towards the mountains, and be ever deemed the dividing line between Vir- ginia and Carolina. That if the said west line cuts Chowan river to the southward of Wiccon's creek. then, from that point of intersection, the bounds shall be allowed to continue up the middle of said Chowan river to the middle of the entrance into the said Wiecon's creek, and from thence a due west line shall divide the two governments. That, if the said west line cuts Black water river to the northward of'
3
XVIII
APPENDIX.
Nattoway river, then, from that point of intersection, the bounds shall be allowed to continue down the middle of said Black water river, to the middle of the entrance into the said Noitaway river, and from thence a due west line shall divide the said two go- vernments.
That if a due west line shall be found to pass through islands, or to cut out slips of land, which might much more conveniently be included in the one province than the other, by natural water bounds, - in such cases, the persons appointed for running the Jines shall have power to settle natural bounds: Pro- vided, the commissioners on both sides agree thereto. and that all variations from the west line be punctually noted in the maps or plats which they shall return, to be put upon the records of both governments.
On the last of February, 1729, the commissioners set off, and met the Virginia commissioners at Cur- rituck, the fifth day of March, at the inlet, but some of them being delayed by the weather, nothing was done that day. At night the variation was taken by the north star, viz: when the north star and the fourth in the great bear came on the meridian together, or on a perpendicular, which was done by a line hanging perpendicular from the end of a pole, and a moveable light, at some distance on the ground, to range at the same time in the line; and afterwards that light re- maining fixed, and the perpendicular line set by the compass and the variance of that from the needle, is the variation which was found, about 3 degrees, and the sun's altitude the next morning made it much the same; and so again, when the north star was observed
---
?
XIX
APPENDIX.
the second night, so that it was agreed on to be the variation of the compass. The latitude, too, was observed, and found to be about 36 degrees and 31 minutes.
There was also a debate, at this conference, about the first station to set out from. The place being a little altered since the proposals were made, deposi- tions were taken of the neighboring people. Thursday, March 7, a cedar post was fixed in the sand, on the north side of the inlet, for the first station, and a due west line set out with, viz: by the compass No. 87, west, and that day the line was run as far as Nott's island, about twenty rods to the northward of Wicker's house, and so across the island to the marsh, leaving about three hundred and fifty acres of upland of the island in Virginin, and two families; the rest of the island taken into Carolina, which is about five miles long, and also Jones, joining to it, which contains about two thousand acres and about half a score of families, thereby taken into Carolina, that before were in Virginia.
On the Sth of March, the line was run from Nott's island through the marsh and a part of Back bay, to the main, leaving a little of the marsh to the north- ward; but the greatest part taken into Carolina, of which, though some thousands acres partially surveyed, as could be learned only some by captain White, and about five hundred and forty acres by Mr. Morse. The main end is a point of land, made by Back bay and North river, about a mile and a half over, and was cut by the line near two miles from the end of the point, leaving about five or six families to the south- ward that had been reputed Virginians.
XX
APPENDIX.
On the 9th of March, the line was continued across the point of Princess Anne county, striking North river to the northward of Richard Eisland's house, crossed the river and a great body of marsh, to the upland, near three miles to the northward of the mouth of Northwest river, which had been the reputed boundary.
On Sunday, March 10th, we rested at our camp at Marchand's plantation.
On the 11th, the line was continued to Northwest river, at the mouth of a small creek, running east- wardly towards Notham's house, being about a mile to the northward of Moyok creek, taking into Caro- lina, between North river and where it cuts Northwest river, about five or six thousand acres of land taken up? besides quantities of marsh and other land, including three thousand one hundred aeres formerly belonging to governor Gibbs, now said to belong to the honora- ble Mr. Bladen, one of the lords of trade, there being five or six families in that space taken from Virginia. 1
On the 19th, the line was run from Northwest river, two hundred and thirteen chains, to a stooping red oak, by a path side that leads from John Monk's to Henry Bright's, being about twenty miles from the inlet, the line running about three quarters of a mile to the southward of a bridge of Northwest river, leav- ing about four or five poor families and small tracts of land in Virginia that before were reputed in Caro- lina, this being the first land that Virginia gained.
On the 13th, the line was continued to the edge of the Great or Dismal swamp, two hundred and seventy- eight chains, being about twenty-three miles and a
APPENDIX. XXI
half from sea; the line this day running a few rods to southward of Richard Bellamy, sen.'s, leaving Henry Everidge to the southward of William Bellamy to the northward and Richard Lenton to- the southward; and only three Carolina families were this day left into Virginia, though they all had but one tract of six hundred and forty acres of land among them; a few families, to the southward of Northwest river, were left in Virginia, who had Virginia patents before, and belonged thereto.
On the 1 4th, the line entered the Dismal, and it was the 28th before it was finished, though being found to be only about fifteen miles through in a direct course, and came out to the northward of Coreapeck swamp, greatly to the disappointment of the Virginians and to the great satisfaction of Carolina.
On the 29th, the line was run near the main road that leads from Perquimans to the White marsh, in Virginia, cutting the said road about seven or eight miles to the northward of captain Speight's, and a marked post was put up by the road.
On the 30th, the line was run five hundred and fifteen chains, near to Richard Parker's, whose house was left about one hundred rods to the southward.
On the Ist of April, the line was run nine hundred and thirteen chains, to Sommerton creek, cutting Sommerton road about a mile and a half to the south- ward of the Capple and Meherring ferry road, near William Speight's, whose plantation was split by the line, marked posts being put up on the main roads where the line crosses them.
On the 2d, the line was run seventy-two chains and a half, to Blackwater river, cutting the said river above
APPENDIX.
the mouth of Nottaway, going south on a straight line forty-four chains: and the line was continued this day to the upland from Noutaway river to an Indian old field. It now appeared how the government of Vir. ginia had been mistaken, and how exceedingly their former commissioners and surveyors had erred in their reports and observations from the Great or Dis- mal swamp to Blackwater river, being twenty-one miles and a half that were taken by the line into Caro- lina, a very great quantity of land, and a number of families that before had been under Virginia, of which the time would not admit to take an exact account, but computed to above one hundred thousand acres, and above three hundred titheables.
On the 3d, the variation was observed in the night, and found to be here 2 1-2, so the line was run by the compass north 87 degrees 30 minutes west, and continued one thousand and twenty-two chains this day, to the side of Meherring river. being above a quarter of a mile to the northward of the line run formerly by colonel Allen, by order of the govern- ment of Virginia, which was done without allowing for the variation of the compass, by which means some lands and two or three families were this day taken into Carolina from Virginia,
On the 4th, a conference of the commissioners was held, and it was proposed by those of Virginia, that; as the hot weather and the season for snakes and ver- min, were about commencing, a continuation of the service might be dangerous; desiring the opinion of the commissioners, whether it would not be better to defer the finishing of the line till the fall. It was answered by the commissioners of Carolina, that they
XXIII
APPENDIX.
would be governed in it by the gentlemen commis- sioners of Virginia, being willing to proceed if they would; but if they thought fit to defer it to the fall, it was submitted to. After some debate, it was agreed on to defer the matter until the fall for finishing the line, and the commissioners on both sides agreed to meet again on the 10th of September following, only this day to run the line to some better place to leave off at; and accordingly the line was continued, cross- ing the river Meherring three times, to a red oak on the west side thereof, about a mile above Mrs. Kin- rhen's, at whose house the commissioners broke up.
-
XXIV
1
1
Succinct history of the settlement of the Unitas Fratrum, or the United Brethren, in North Carolina.
The Unitas Fratrum, or the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United Brethren, commonly called Moravians, made the beginning of its settlement in North Carolina in the year 1253.
In the year 1735, some members of this church came from Europe, to settle in Georgia, on a piece of land, which was granted unto count Zinzendorf by the trustees of this province, for a settlement of the United Brethren. One of the principal motives for accepting this offer, was the hope, that thereby a way might be opened for the preaching of the gospel to the Indians, especially to the Creeks and Cherokees.
,
The first colony of brethren arrived in Georgia, in the spring of the year 1735, and received in the sum- mer of the same year a considerable increase. They built a large house in the town of Savannah, and made a settlement in the country. God so blessed their industry, that in three years they were able to pay off' all the money advanced to them. They likewise erect- ed a school house for the children of the Creek In- dians, on the river Savannah, four miles above the town. Many Indians, and with them their king, Tomo Tschatchi, came to see the brethren, and to hear the gospel, or, as they expressed it, the great word.
XXV
APPENDIX.
There was a fine prospect, that this settlement of the brethren would prosper, and they would find cu- trance with the gospel among the Indians, and be blessed with success in the instruction of their chil- dren, as some of them had already learned to read English pretty well, and began to write; but, as a war broke out between the British and the Spaniards, in 1737, and was renewed in 1739, the brethren, who were conscientiously scrupulous to take arms, were forced to do it, contrary to the promise made unto them, of being exempted from personal military service, they saw themselves necessitated to abandon their well cultivated land and houses, and remove, after having defrayed all the expenses incurred on their account, in 1238 and 1740, to Pennsylvania; where they began the settlements at Bethlehem and Nazareth, and likewise missions among the Indians in different parts of Pennsylvania and New-York. God blessed their libor among these savages, in so emi- nent a manner, that by his grace many of them turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, and received forgiveness of sin and inherit- ance among those that are sanctified by faith in Jesus.
The various oppressions which the brethren and their missionaries among the heathen, had to endure, by ill disposed persons and other circumstances, gave occasion to the negotiations of the Unitas Fratrum with the British parliament. The result of them was. that after a strict examination into the origin and the present state of the brethren's church. the Unitas Fratrum or United Brethren, were declared by a public act of the parliament of Great Britain, to which
XXVI
APPENDIX.
the royal assent was given the 12th May, 1749, and which is entitled " an act for encouraging the people known by the name of Unitas Fratrum or United Brethren, to settle his majesty's colonies in America," to be an ancient Protestant Episcopal church; that those who were settled in his majesty's colonies in America, had demeaned themselves there as a sober, quiet and industrious people, and that they shall be indulged with full liberty of conscience, and be ex- empted from personal military service for a reasona- ble compensation, and be permitted. instead of taking an oath, in cases where the laws require it, to ntake a solemn affirmation or declaration.
While these negotiations with the British parlia- ment were pending, several lords and gentlemen be- came more intimately acquainted with the brethren. and made offers unto them of settlements on the con- tinent of America and on the islands. Among all these offers, none came to effect but the purchase of" a hundred thousand acres of land in North Carolina. in the territory of the carl of Granville, the president of the privy council. The view of this colony was, to give to such of the brethren's church and others. as should desire it, an opportunity of settling at a cheap rate, in a country as yet but little cultivated, to serve both in a temporal and spiritual sense the inha- bitants, who were already settled there, and who should settle in their neighborhood, and to preach the gospel to them as well as to the Cherokees, Creeks and other Indians. The purchase of the land was made in the year 1751. August Gottlieb Spangen- berg, one of the bishops of the Unitas Fratrum, who
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.