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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Governor's Council
North Carolina. Council
November 29, 1768
Volume 07, Pages 872-874

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
COUNCIL JOURNALS.

At a Council held at Newbern 29th November 1768.
Present
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble James Hasell Esquire
The Honble John Rutherford Esquire
The Honble Lewis De Rosset Esquire
The Honble John Sampson Esquire
The Honble William Dry Esquire
The Honble Robert Palmer Esquire
The Honble Benjamin Heron Esquire
The Honble Samuel Strudwick Esquire

His Excellency laid before this Board a Circular letter from the Earl of Hillsborough bearing date at Whitehall the 30th April 1768 with the several papers and letters mentioned therein relative to the murder of William Odgers one of the Officers of His Majesty's Customs, and desired the Opinion of this Board what measures they would advise for the apprehending Melchisidick Kinsman who murdered the said Odgers.

This Board are of Opinion that a proclamation issue offering a reward of one hundred pounds proc. to any person who shall apprehend and deliver the said Melchisidick Kinsman to the Keeper of the publick jail at Wilmington or Newbern.

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North Carolina.

By His Excellency William Tryon Esqr &c. &c.

A Proclamation

Whereas I have received a letter from the Earl of Hillsborough dated at Whitehall the thirteenth day of April last inclosing me, His Majesty's Commands for the apprehending one Melchisedeck Kinsman, if he may be found within this Province for the murder of William Odgers, one of the Officers of His Majesty's Customs for the port of Penzance in the County of Cornwall; The said Melchisideck standing charged with violently assaulting and beating the said William Odgers on the seventh day of March last; by means whereof he the said William, Died on the eleventh day of the same month, whereupon the said Melchisideck fled, and soon after took passage for America in one of the Packetts which then sailed for New York, carrying over with him as is supposed upwards of £800 sterling.

I therefore in obedience to his Majesty's Commands, and by and with the advice of His Majesty's Council, do issue this my Proclamation requiring all His Majesty's Justices of the peace and Sheriffs and other Officers within this Province to do their utmost to apprehend the said Melchizedeck Kinsman who is a well set man, about —— feet eight inches high, about thirty years of age, florid complexion, his hair light brown, but wore a wig when he left England, And I do hereby promise a reward of one hundred pounds lawful money of the Province aforesaid to be paid to any person or persons who shall apprehend the said Melchizedeck Kinsman within this Province and him convey and deliver to the keeper of the publick jail at Wilmington or New Bern, to the end that he may be brought to Justice.

Given under my hand &c.
(Signed)
Wm. TRYON.

His Excellency laid before this Board an Order from His Majesty in Council dated at the Court at St James the 26th day of February 1768, declaring His Majesty's disallowance of an Act Intitled “An Act to lay a Tax on Pedlars and Itinerant Traders coming into this province.”

It is the unanimous opinion of this Board that His Excellency will please to order a proclamation to issue notifying the same.—Ordered that a proclamation issue in the following words, Vizt.

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North Carolina.

By His Excellency William Tryon Esq, &c. &c.

A Proclamation.

Whereas I have had transmitted to me by the Earl of Hillsborough an Order from His Majesty in Council dated at the Court at St James the twenty sixth day of February last, repealing an Act of Assembly passed in the year 1767 entitled “An Act to lay a tax on pedlars and other itinerant traders coming into this Province.”

I have therefore thought proper by and with the advice of His Majestys Council to issue this Proclamation to notify the repeal of the same, and the same Act from henceforth is hereby repealed, declared void and of none effect.

Given under my hand &c.
(Signed)
Wm. TRYON.