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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Proclamation by William Tryon concerning sailors deserting their ships
Tryon, William, 1729-1788
June 24, 1768
Volume 07, Page 795

-------------------- page 795 --------------------
[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
A Proclamation.

Whereas Information hath been made to me by Thomas Hayward Esq. Commander of His Majesty's Sloop the Martin that daily desertions are made by the Sailors of the said Sloop to the great Prejudice of His Majestys Service, & that if an immediate stop be not put to such evils, He will be under the disagreeable necessity of impressing other Seamen from Merchants ships, which will consequently impede the Trade, & Commercial Interest of this Province, I have therefore thought proper for the Benefit of His Majesty's Service and the advancement of Commerce, to issue this my Proclamation hereby strictly directing & requiring His Majestys Justices of the Peace, and other the Kings Officers, to take up & detain all such Seamen as they shall suspect to have deserted from any of His Majestys Ships of War, until notice can be given to Captain Hayward Commander of the said Sloop the Martin laying off Brunswick, And I do hereby give Notice to all Tavern Keepers, and others who shall be detected in harbouring or concealing any Sailors Deserters from His Majestys Ships of War that they will subject themselves to the utmost rigour of the Law.


Given under my hand and the Great Seal &c. at Brunswick 24th June 1768.
Wm. TRYON.