USA > North Carolina > The state records of North Carolina, Vol XV > Part 51
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 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
Your most obedient & very humble Servt., RAINQUENOIRE.
JOHN HAWKINS TO GENERAL SUMNER.
DEAR GENERAL :
By a determination of a Court-Martial held at Halifax by order of General Jones (which you are not a stranger to) a number of men were turned over into the continental service deservedly, but Sir I have to say something in behalf of John and Ratio Caps & George Bell who I am told comes under their sentence. These men
663
STATE RECORDS.
after returning applied to G. Eaton for orders. He ordered them as I am Informed to join the troops then going into service which happened to be the light horse which I had the honor to command. Agreeable to his orders they joined and behaved well. This alters the situation of these men. They have all my discharges in conse- quence of the aforementioned orders. I think these men deserve your notice tho' I submit it to your better Judgment, and have the Honor to be with perfect respect,
Your most Obedient Servant, J. HAWKINS. 14th Nov. 1781.
GEN. ALLEN JONES TO HON. ABNER NASH.
WHEELER's, Novr. 19th, 1781.
DEAR SIR :
Nothing important has occurred since my last by Genl. Caswell. A few days past General St. Clair wrote me that he should march the 15th inst. from Richmond to Williamsboro, and I am taking . every step in my power to prevail to rid this State of the Enemy at Cape Fear, and have hopes of succeeding. I have sent an Express to Genl. Rutherford for particular intelligence & should he return & bring information that the Enemy can be taken without the help of shipping (which some persons here affirm with assurance) I have no doubt but the Genl. will take them on his route Southerly.
All Wheeler's family join me in wishing health & happiness to Mrs. Nash, yourself & Family. I am with regard & Esteem Dr. Sir Yr. most ob. Servt., ALLEN JONES.
P. S. When I get the Articles of the late Capitulation 1 shall send you a copy.
664
STATE RECORDS.
COL. N. LONG TO GENERAL SUMNER.
HALIFAX, November 19th, 1781.
DEAR SIR :
Yours of ye 18th Instant by Glover, came to hand. By a letter from General Jones I am informed that on the 15th Instant the Troops from Virginia commanded by General Sinclair departed Richmond and intended to cross Roanoke above this, & pass thro Granville by Williamsborough, &c. .
Concerning Supplies sent your Brigade, I inform you that since you saw Rose with five Waggons on the way, Four more have been sent from this Place, loaded chiefly with Stores, for the above ser- vice which, together with what has been issued here, amounts to the whole procured for that purpose, except about one hundred gallons Rum & fifty Ihs Coffee, kept here for necessary purposes, supplying Officers, Artificers, &c. Lem Thomas comes with the Waggon intended for your use, which brings you also Two Barrels Rum amounting to Sixty three & Half Gallons, One Hundred & forty Ihs. Nett Sugar, & fifty lbs. coffee. have also sent one Quire Writing Paper.
With respect to Clothing, I shall shortly send on what Cloth & shoes are on Hand, with a few other Things, Canteens, &c.
I am Dear Sir, Your Hum. Servt., N. LONG, D. Q. M. Gl.
JOHN DICKERSON TO GENERAL SUMNER.
November 20th, 1781. DEAR GENERAL :
You'll receive Jesse Manly who has been deserted ever since Gen- eral Greene was at Dan River; he enlisted with me and took the oath and I delivered him to Captain Lytle for a Twelve Month. I should be glad you'd have him well taken care of for fear he should desert and be doing the same 'mischief again. Please to give Mr. John Dickerson a Receipt for him and believe me to be your Friend, &c.
· JOHN DICKERSON.
665
STATE RECORDS.
MAJOR JNO. ARMSTRONG TO GENERAL SUMNER.
CAMP COLO. THOMPSONS, Nov. 25th, 1781.
DEAR GENERAL :
I herewith send you the Monthly return of the Brigade. I re- ceived your letter giving an account of the fall of Lord Cornwallis. It was the first exact account of particulars that came to Camp.
We came to this place the 25th Instant and now we are waiting every hour to hear the General beat, we approach in the same man- ner we did before the Battle of the Eutaw. The enemy are bearing down, some are of the opinion they will not fight; I would not wish for such an expensive meeting as we had before.
Col. Morgan (?) & Col. Shelby surprised a post of Enemy's near Monks Corner. Killed some, took a Subaltern, 3 Doctors & 82 privates & a large quantity of Hospital Stores which they were obliged to Destroy.
The Commandant in Town discharged upward of 400 Tories that would not list with him. On their way home as usual they began to plunder at a place called Cyprus Swamp, a Complaint came to the Comd. near Nellson Ferry, who detached a party of Horse after them, or rather to Head them, & as (fod would have it they met. They killed ten and wounded a good many more, dispersed the whole, after taking from them what they thought proper, a few days before the Tories being paid off in goods.
Col. Twiggs has defeated Brown and his party in Georgia.
Col. Lee has arrived from Virginia & is appointed to command all the Cavalry in the Southern Department. I have nothing more particular to mention. We are out of Rum and Sugar. Very anxious to hear of Doherty's success with the Hon. Assembly. Please present my compliments to the Governor, my old Colonel who I much Esteem. I am with much Esteem, Yours, &c.
JNO. ARMSTRONG.
666
STATE RECORDS.
CAPT. WILLIAM GREENE TO GENERAL SUMNER.
FRANKLIN, 26th Nov., 1781.
SIR :
I am happy Sir to have it in my power to give you a particular account of the Expenditures of those Articles put into my care as Quarter Master of your Brigade.
Your inquiry was after Iron, Steel and Paper purchased from Ocheltree and Company at the Yadkin, therefore have not sent you a particular list of anything else. You'l observe the Articles recd: of Mr. Gilmore & those by me issued & turned over in Genl. Butler's Brigade, &c. I cannot conceive who hath troubled you to know the use that those articles were appd. to. Shurely I gave those Gent. a Receipt for the Articles recd. from them, and presume you are no pay master or Settler of Accts. tho' probable that Gent. or some other may be in hopes to find those Articles or their value in my hands, for surely they were not to be settled with you. May be Mr. Ocheltree (wants ?) the words but inserted in his receipt as he endeavoured to have done when I gave him my Rect. for those Articles.
However I have receipts for those articles on the inclosed with sundry other Receipts for paper mentd. for ( ).
You'l please peruse them and if you are not satisfied when time and opportunity permits I will wait on you that you may be fully satisfied.
I am Sir with Respect,
Your very hum. Servant, WM. GREENE.
LT. COL. H. MURFREE TO GENERAL SUMNER
MURFREE LANDING, 5 Dec., 1781. DEAR GENL. :
I received your favour of the 20th Novr. by Captn. Fawn, and observed the contents. I have agreed to Ship your tobacco in the Brigantine (Joseph) Commanded by Captn. Cooper & belongs to Mr.
667
STATE RECORDS.
Josiah Granberry. She will sail from this place abt. 25th of Inst. for St. Thomas's. I have also agreed to ship 2 Hoghds. of my own in the same vessel. Mr. Granberry told me he would take in on freight 6 Hogheads more in that vessel or one that was Built at Winton which will sail about the same time. If you are Inclined to ship any more, and can send it down soon I can ship it on either of them vessels. I have wrote to Captn. Feribee agreeable to your Instructions and shall be at your house on my way to Camp in a short time, and shall be very happy to go to Camp with you. I heard a few days ago Colo. Lamb is Dead. I should have been on my way at this time but had a little business in trying to Borrow Tobacco for the State, from those that had tobacco Impressed.some time ago agreeable to Govn. Martin's orders, and am to have an Answer in 2 or 3 days.
I have no news. Mrs. Murfree desires her Compliments to you & Lady in which she is joined by your Mo. Huml. servt.,
H. MURFREE.
N. B. Please to make my Compliments to Captn. Fawn. I have had your tobacco Inspected which is very good, tho' damaged a little in rolling, 1273
1078
2351 Nt. Tobacco. H. M.
GOV. THOMAS BURKE TO L. H. DEROSSETTE, ESQ.
JAMES ISLAND, Novr. 27th, 1781.
SIR :
Mr. Hepburn has informed me of the kind concern you have taken in my misfortune for which I sincerely thank you, but I must beg leave to trouble you a little further, and request your Interposi- tion, either with General Lesly or the Col. Commandant, to whom- ever the application may be proper, in order to obtain my parole to return home, if there be no prospect of an exchange, in which I might be inserted.
I persuade myself that I have no personal Enemies because I am
668
STATE RECORDS.
not Conscious of having been influenced in my public character by private passion or resentment, nor or ever having injured an Indi- vidual and tho' I have pursued steadily and Strenuously, an object which you may remember, appeared to me, very early, to be of the utmost importance to the Happiness of mankind in general, and of this Country in particular. Yet I hope my Conduct, when exam- ined either by my friends or my Enemies, will not be found to be al- together uuworthy of Esteem and as it has always been public and Conspicuous it can not be difficult to obtain Just Ideas of it. This Consideration makes hope that the British Officers have not received any unfavorable Impression Concerning me, and without Such, I persuade myself that they have no wish to add to my Calamity by keeping me from a family, which has much occasion for my assis- tance, when my detention can be of no advantage to their part of the War. Of this last Truth I persuade myself they must be by this time fully convinced. They must have found that neither I nor any Individual was Essential and I think they cannot doubt that my being at home as an inoffensive private man can do them no Injury and therefore I am induced to hope that your Interces- sion may prove Successful.
While I am making this request for myself I cannot forget my unfortunate fellow prisoners nor do I think your humanity will deem the trouble too great to Solicit for them also. One of them is Lt. Col. Lytle who was on parole when taken wounded and plun- dered and yet is still detained, tho' his treatment has been often represented, and is still disregarded. The next in rank is Captain Read a very deserving officer, and a good man, who was my aid de Camp and ought to be attached to me as well in any favorable Cir- cumstance of my Captivity as he has been in this more inauspicious. Another is my Secretary, Mr. John Huske. Abstracted from the merit of this worthy young Gentleman, I think myself bound in honor to pay every attention to his Circumstances. Two other Gen- tlemen are Continental Officers who had the Misfortune to be acci- dentally at Hillsborough; and one Gentleman, Mr. Thomas, was in- offensively in his own lodgings, and in no Military posture or Char- acter; the rest are Continental Soldiers or peaceable Inhabitants. The former I meddle not with, the latter as they are mere harmless Citizens on whose labor the Subsistence of their families depends., I venture to hope that humanity will plead Successfully for their
669
STATE RECORDS.
enlargement to their homes especially as many of them are in the predicament which excludes exchange ; Vizt .: not having been in arms when Captured.
I am, &c., THOS. BURKE.
BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED,
December 10th, 1781.
Resolved,
That the Legislature of each State raise, at the Expense thereof in the first Instance, to be reimbursed by the United States, so many men as may be necessary to compleat the Quota assigned to such State, out of the Number of Land Forces agreed upon in the Reso- lution of the third and twenty-first Day of October, 1780, calculat- ing the Deficiency upon the Number of Men whose Time of service will expire on or before the first Day of March, 1782.
Resolved,
That the Legislature of each State be called upon in the most pressing Manner to cause the Quota thereof, of Land forces to be compleated, and in the Field by the first Day of March next, and provide for replacing those. Men whose Time of Service shall ex- pire between the first Day of March, 1782, and the last Day of No- vember in the said Year.
Resolved,
That it be recommended to the Legislature of each State to fill up the Quota of Land Forces by Inlistments for Three Years or during the War.
Resolved,
That such States as now have any Non-Commissioned Officers or Privates in any of the Regiments of Cavalry, legionary Corps, Ar- tillery or Hazen's Regiment, be credited in their Quotas for such men according to the Numbers from Time to Time, for which pur- pose the Commander in Chief is hereby directed to specify such Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates to the States to which they formerly belonged in the Returns which he shall make to the States and in his Annual Return to Congress.
Resolved,
That the Commander in ('hief cause Returns to be made as speed- ily as possible, to the Legislature of each State, as well of the Nun- ber whose Time of Service expire before the first Day of March,
670
STATE RECORDS.
1782, as of those whose Time of Service will expire on or before the last Day of November in the Year aforesaid.
(Extract from the Minutes.)
CHAS. THOMPSON, Secry.
North Carolina,
Dec., 'S1.
TO GOVERNOR MARTIN.
WARREN Co., Dec. 14th, '81. DEAR SIR :
I recd. your very obliging letter by favor of Tilman Dixon. You have my hearty concurrence for such of the Officers of the Conti- nental Line of this State, for (. ) Capt. Dixon, a ( .... . . .. ) in Camp, Lt. Marshall being of the first Regiment, also takes command. There is some few who acts in the Staff, Commy. of Stores, to the Brig., &c., and such as are assigned to districts, for the purpose of receiving drafts, delinquents & apprehending of de- serters, cannot be allowed to leave their several appointments & sta- tions ordered.
I am, Sir, very desirous to see you on my Way to meet ye Coun- cil. Should it not be convenient to call on me, I will ( ... . .. ) my best.
ATTY. GEN. JAS. IREDELL TO JUDGE JOHN WILLIAMS.
EDENTON, Dec. 14th, 1781.
DEAR SIR :
I should have wrote to you long since, but for a considerable time after my coming down here my health was very bad, so much so that I could not go to Newbern, and it is but lately that I have been quite well. I now inclose the certificate of your atten- dance at Halifax and hope you will excuse my not doing it sooner.
Tho' the affair of Lord Cornwallis is of an old standing, you will permit me to rejoice with you upon it. We shall long, I am sure, feel most happy effects from it.
671
STATE RECORDS:
I have had great uneasiness about the affair of Willison ever since the Court. The trial now stands perfectly unguarded. A subpena will signify nothing, from the lowness of the forfeit, and is in all respects a very inadequate process in criminal cases, and in this perhaps nugatory wherein the party is a Minor. I submit to you, therefore, a method I have digested upon great consideration. It is that you should issue a Precept stating the circumstances of the case, and ordering her to be carried before some justice of the peace for the purpose of her giving security. This I imagine per- fectly competent for a Justice of the peace where a Witness is ex- amined before him may commit him till he provides Security or enters into, Recognizance as the case may require. If such a power did not exist whether a Man should be ever tried or no would be in the option of the State Witnesses. The power cannot be less com- petent in a judge when it appears on the very face of the proceed- ings that a particular Witness is an indispensable one, and that up- on her evidence a Bill for a capital crime is found. I take the liberty to inclose a form I have prepared. You will observe, I have waived, in conformity to your opinion, any mention of contempt and have stated her age to be under the usual age of discretion, which may account for the omission of it, for as to the extraordinary denial of any contempt being incurred by such Witnesses absconding (pro- vided they are of age) I have found among my books since I came home Cases where attachments issued for not attending on a Subpena in a civil action. They are to be found, 1 Strange 510, 2 Stra. 810, 1054, 1150. And in these cases, they had also forfeited a Penalty (which is constantly mentioned in a Subpena.) In one it is ex- pressly said £100. After this, I suppose, there could be no doubt whether State Witnesses may incur a contenipt even if there was no express authority for it.
You will, I am sure, excuse my troubling you on this occasion, for I see no other possible method by which the trial of Willison can ever be secured.
I have heard of no news lately. I should be happy in receiving a letter from you sometimes, and shall have great pleasure in writ- ing to you when I have anything worth communicating. I have lately suffered so much, both in pocket and health by my office, that I have wrote to the Governor desiring him to lay before the Assembly my desire of resignation. It is undoubtedly now much
672
STATE RECORDS.
more valuable than formerly, but I have yet reaped little of the fruit of it, and the fatigue and incessant application it requires is too much for me. I wish you could think of a successor to whom the office might be agreeable, and if you had an opportunity sug- gest it. I know it is of importance to the judges to have somebody in the office they are not averse to, and hope you will have reason to be pleased with the appointment. The Salary is £20 specie a Court, and each bill found 20 s. Specie, not found 13-Pecuniary inducements not despicable. If the Assembly do not meet before the Spring, and the Governor could find an agreeable choice, I wish him to nominate before the new circuit begins.
You will be so good as to mention me to Mrs. Williams with all possible respect, and assure I ever bear in most grateful remem- brance her extreme kindness to me. I beg you also to believe I am most sensible of yours. And pray do me the favour to present my particular respects to my obliging friends, Mr. & Mrs. Burton, Mr. & Mrs. & Miss Henderson and your other agreeable connexions, believing me to be,
With great trust and respect, Dear Sir, Your obliged and obedient servant, JAS. IREDELL.
-
LIEUT. ABNER LAMB TO GENERAL SUMNER.
DEAR GENERAL :
As my Father * is just dead its with the greatest regret immagin- able I have to inform your Honor (if my wound would permit, which I am afraid will not for some time,) 'twill not be in my pow- er to join you perhaps for eight or ten months. Having been ap- pointed by my Father's Will an Executor to his Estate, which is in some confusion that may detain me longer than I expect. As he was confined to his room, Five Months, by a billious fever which carried him off this unhappy stage of life the Eighth Nov. last, to (I hope) some of these Celestial and Blest Abodes, filled with all these pleasing and delightful scenes, that tend to immortal hap- piness, prepared for the reception of true Patriots.
The little time I was with you I assure you, (Dr. Sir,) gave me
* Col. Gideon Lamb .- ED.
673
STATE RECORDS.
very great satisfaction & should take much more at this time, the place and Country appearing loathsome, desire nothing more than the pleasure of being under your command.
I should be extremely happy if it were possible, to be stationed for sometime in this District, to apprehend Deserters, &c., & receive from the different Colonels of their respective Counties such men as have not already been received.
For I flatter myself I should collect such a number as would give you, Dr. General, satisfaction, as a number of young Gentle- men offer their assistance, & many if a post could be established down where I live, would return to their duty.
The provision hithierto for supporting the Army at North West River has been somewhat scarce. Fortune smiles on us with a plentiful harvest, & there's not the least to be doubted, with re- spect to a want of necessaries to support 500 men Twelve Months in this County. If convenient I should thank Your Honor to inclose an Order (if I obtain leave to aet in the manner above mentioned) on the Commissioners and Commissaries, to Draw provisions as well here, as on the march to join you as I intend after collecting a Number sufficient to proceed on with them if you please.
As I have fully informed you of the situation of affairs in our family 'twould lay a lasting obligation on me if (agreeable to my Father's Will) you'd have my Waggon discharged, & sent Home on to Halifax by some safe Hand, & I'll greatly acknowledge the fa- vor & refund all Trouble and Expence.
I shall wait your further orders, & be in suspence till I receive a line from Your Honor which would give infinite satisfaction, & I should know in what manner to proceed.
I am Hond. General,
With all humility & Expressions of Respect and regard, A. L.
Edenton District, Mount Pleasant,
15th Dec. 1781.
P. S. As I have no News, & live in a corner of the World to it- self be so kind as to insert the news.
15-43
ABNER LAMB.
674
STATE RECORDS.
COMMISSARY WILLIAM CHRISTMAS TO GENERAL SUMNER.
- CAMP AT COURT HOUSE, 23rd, 1781. (No month given.)
SIR :
I recd. your Returns by Thos. I have not had any returns for the pork already issued. What pork you have had I dont know. You wrote me you would give an account of the weight, which please send up by Thomas in the morning when I can credit your orders, & send you the balance in pork, by the Bearer. As to the flour I can give you a certificate for the quantity it would take, which Certificate will be allowed in your coming Tax.
I am, Sir, you humble Servt, WM. CHRISTMAS, Com.
Sir, let Lemuel Thomas have corn for his horses till you hear from me & you shall be allowed.
GENERAL PINCKNEY TO GENERAL HARRINGTON.
COLUMBIA, Dec. 18, 1781.
DEAR GENERAL :
Mr. Haig will send you a Bill in Equity filed against Wise' Es- tate; there are one or two suits more instituted against it. Your pres- ence will be necessary in Charleston about the end of January or be- ginning of February to give in your answer. You should also bring all the papers & vouchers you have relative to that Estate. I re- main, with sincere regard,
Yours truly, CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY.
N. B. Be in Charleston the Tenth of February.
Yours, &c., J. I. HAIG.
SUPPLEMENT. 1769 TO 1779.
676
STATE RECORDS.
EDANUS BURKE TO DR. BURKE.
MARLBROUGH STAFFORD, Decemr. 2, 1769.
I return you my dear Mr. Burke the sincerest thanks for the favour of your very friendly letter, and assure you I cannot express the joy and satisfaction I felt on reading it, and finding that Not- withstanding your attention to the cares of business, the noise and Hurry of a Town, and the engagements of friends and acquaint- ances, I am happy enough to have so high a place in your esteem as not to be forgotten. It has remov'd no small share of uneasiness that visits me many times, when I consider myself thrown at a distance from every friendly connection with you, and deprived of the many advantages I deriv'd from your most agreeable Improv- ing conversation and Judicious counsel, who with all the freedom and kindness of a good friend us'd to advise and instruct me and Engag'd the influence of that distinction and character your merit both deserv'd and Acquired, to procure me Notice and Esteem among your friends. These were Advantages the Loss of which cant but affect me with a good deal of sorrow, which in some measure Vanish by reading your letter, and a packet sent me by Mrs. James Taylor, Arbuckle and Thorowgood Smith who continue to favour me with their correspondence.
The inclosed piece of my drawing is your coat of Arms, which I thought you might be fond of having painted on your chair at the foot of your picture, or engrav'd on a seal for your use, on your Plate, furniture &c. As I have of late Studied a little Heraldry you may depend on their being taken of According to wit, and in a manner that an Esquire or private gentleman ought, by law, to wear 'em. You may also be assur'd that they are your Arms, (of which in the sequial I will convince you) and that I would not rashly give you another's armour, which to wear would not only be ungenerous, or some thing worse, but Subject you to Action of tresspass, by any of the family whose Arms you wore, so that if you think you could depend on my knowledge in Pointing out the difference between an EJECTMENT and ASSAULT and BAT- TERY, take these as your Arms. I forgot til this moment that you understand Heraldry ; for methinks I recollect your telling me you studied this branch of science at the Uiversity. Whether you
677
STATE RECORDS.
forgot your father's Arms or not, when you compare this draught, with the image you retain of those you No doubt, have observ'd on your father's coach or Chaise, it will be a matter of certainty with you whether these are like them.
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.