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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Tryon to John Stuart
Tryon, William, 1729-1788
July 30, 1766
Volume 07, Pages 244-245

[From Tryon's Letter Book.]
Letter from Governor Tryon to John Stuart, Esq, Superintendant &c

Brunswick 30th July 1766.

Since my letter to you of the 17th last month I have laid before his Majesty's Council of this province our correspondence on the subject of Indian affairs and the following is a copy of the Resolution of the Council on that business Vidt,

“His Excellency communicated to this Board letters of correspondence on Indian affairs from Mr Stuart, Superintendant of the Southern District with respect to a boundary line between this province and the hunting grounds claimed by the Cherokee Indians, and it is the opinion of this Board that his Excellency direct the Surveyor General by himself or his deputies to run such lines as the Governor shall think proper to quiet the Indians, and secure the western inhabitants in their legal possessions. And as there is no fund appropriated for this contingency, and that the service may be impeded it is also the opinion of this board, that the Governor may issue his warrants to the Receiver General of his Majesty's quit rents for such sums of money as may be found necessary to carry the

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above service into execution, and that upon the meeting of the Assembly application be made to reimburse the sums so drawn for.”

I am sorry to find by the favor of your letter of the 24th of July delivered me by Mr Barnett that you are obliged to postpone your intended visit to me, as I am now anxious to see you and ready to consult with you on the proper measures to be taken relative to the demands of the Cherokees. I shall acquaint the inhabitants of the back country of this province of the hostile disposition of some of the Indian tribes, and the probability of a rupture, at the same time strongly recommend to them to avoid all opportunities of giving them a pretence to commit hostilities and to caution them to be on their guard in case the Indians should make any inroads on them. If the Cherokees permit agreeable to their first talk, the line to be run from Dewis's corner a north course to the mountains, and from thence a strait course to Chiswell's mines, I believe the inhabitants of Mecklenburg and Rowan Counties will be extremely well satisfied, and upon the execution of this agreement I am willing to advance £100 sterlg for the cost and charges of such presents, as you may think most acceptable to the Cherokee Indians. If the above line could be run by the end of September and you could accompany me, I should not dislike to be present as it might not only prevent any little jealousies that might arise between the settlers, and the Indians, but give me an opportunity to take a view of the back country.

I this day received information that one William Linville, his son, and another young man who were gone over the mountains at the head of the Yadkin to hunt, that in the first week of this month they were surprised by the Indians, that Linville and his son were killed that the young man made his escape wounded to his settlement, where I am informed he is since dead of his wounds. I cannot as yet learn of what tribe or nation these Indians were.

I am, &c.