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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from William Tryon to William Petty, Marquis of Lansdowne
Tryon, William, 1729-1788
March 14, 1768
Volume 07, Pages 697-698

[From Tryon's Letter Book.]
Letter from Governor Tryon to the Earl of Shelburne,

Brunswick 14th March 1768

Your Lordship may observe the gentlemen I have appointed Associate Judges agreeable to the last Superior Court law, are Mr Maurice Moore and Mr Richard Henderson. The former gentleman I suspended during the late distractions in the colonies; His proper conduct and behavior since that period, and the British Act of grace subsequent to those troubles, induced me with the approbation of the Council to reinstate Mr Moore in his office. Mr Henderson is a gentleman of candor and ability, born in Virginia and about thirty three years of age. He lives near Hillsborough in the back country, among a people whom I am persuaded will be happy at having such

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a distinction paid to one, who resides among them, and for whom they entertain an esteem. I wished to have appointed Mr Edmund Fanning as one of the Associates, as his conduct while assistant judge, in very critical times gave me the most favorable opinion of the integrity of his principles; however he declined giving me an opportunity to mention him in Council for that office, as did also Mr Marmaduke Jones a gentleman not inferior in abilities to any of his profession in this Country.

Mr Dewey, judge of the court of Admiralty was born in England, he is far advanced in years. He practised in the courts of Law in Virginia for many years before he came into this province. In both which colonies he has followed I am informed his profession with success and approbation. He held the office of Associate Justice here under the court law, that was repealed at home, I believe in 1760.

The case of Mr Crawford's resignation as a member of the House of Assembly I have stated at large, and requested his Majesty's commands thereon, in my letter which accompanies the Journals of the House of Assembly.

Mr Holt whom I superceded in the office of Sheriff in New Hanover county by proclamation, as inserted in the Minutes of the Council, has since secretly left the province.

I am &c.