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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Pollock to Alexander Spotswood
Pollock, Thomas, 1654-1722
January 15, 1713
Volume 02, Pages 4-5

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[From Calendar of Virginia State Papers. Vol. 1. P. 161.]
THO: POLLOCK TO GOV. SPOTSWOOD.

Janry 15th 1712/13.

Hond Sr

Since mine by Charleton, I have reced four of yrs: on by the indians that came wth Tom Blunts brother, another by the Guard of the indian Prissoners—The 3d by Charleton, and the last came wth goods in the cannoe: one teusday the 13th instant. And concerning our not sending in to you the indians Coheree and Hancock, I believe it never entered into Governor Hyds thoughts, nor mine, nor any of the Counsels that ye would have desired it. And their crimes likewise being chiefly against this Government wee did not imagine it could give any offence to have them suffer here: And non here ever questioned but if they had been brought in to you, you would have sent them in here to have Recd their deserved punishmt—upon receat of yr honors' last letter, sent away a runner to Tome Blunt, to desire him to be in at Mr Cottens on the 20th instant; And likewise have appointed the bearer Major Christopher Gale, our Agent, to concert what meassures your honor thinks most advantagious, for carrying on the war wth what ye Assembly hath raised for us. Coll: Moore would lykewise willingly have come in, but the destructione his indians make here of our Catle & Corne is intollerable, having already eat up a great deall of the corne that was raysed by the Assembly to maintain the ware, and also destroyed all the Catle wherever they have come, so that some of the people here have been seemingly more ready to ryse upe against them, then march out against the enemy. So that he is forced to march out wth them, intending, to depart from hence on saturday next, and to attact the Fort, he was at in coming in.

I am doubtfull wee shall be put to a strait for provisione for the army; all the publick corne that is left, I fear will scarcely be sufficient for the Forces twoe months, And such a scarcity in the Countrey that no more, I believe can be raised, severall people not being able to pay this last tax. So that I beleive itt will be necessary, if you thinke to send yr forces speedily to our assistance, that provisions be purchased for them out of the 1000th. But if you doe not send them untill our Provisione is caryd round, then wee shall be more capable to judge what we may want—As for the 180lb to be laid out in duffels (For fear of the miscariadge of the

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supply that is expected from Sth Carolina) I believe it may be convenient to reserve so much of it as may purchass three or four bariels powder & ball answerable—If your honor thinke fitting to send out ye forces speedily, I leave it to your mature consideration, whether it may not be best, whill Collo Moore is attacking the further forts, that your forces should march to Tome Blunts, and either Force him to joine his forces wth yours against the others or attack him as ane enemy. Butt if you thinke it more fitting when some Collo Moore's indians (having got some slaves by taking a fort, or some other blow) have left him, then to send out yre Forces to joine him to prossecute the warr wth vigoure and reduce them to a necessity of making Peace—For I am Really persuaded that untill the Tuscaroroes have had a smart blow given them ther can be no Expectatione of a firme peace wth them. All wch I leave to yr honors more serious consideratione, not doubting of yr utmost indeavor for the good and Peace of this poore distressed Country—I was much troubled to understand that the Address from our Assembly was not caryed in and delivered to you as I had writt, and as I certainly expected—But I hope when yr honor hath perused the inclosed (wch is a true account of the proceedings in that affaire so far as I know, you will imput it only to my weakness and inadvertency in trusting too much to others: and can assure you to the best of my knowledge ther shall no falshood to your honor nor no other slipe from his pen who sincerely is

Your honors'
most obedient humble Servant
THO: POLLOCK