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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from John Barnett to Daniel Burton
Barnett, John
September 15, 1770
Volume 08, Pages 228-229

[N. C. Letter Book. S. P. G.]
Letter from Mr. Barnett to the Secretary.

Northampton North Carolina.

15th September 1770.

Reverend Sir,

It is with difficulty I at this time address myself to the Venerable Society; as I have largely partaken in the general calamity of a peripneumony Fever attended with an almost constant billious vomiting and trembling which two last complaints yet continue, however I thank God I am able to attend all my four chapels though with difficulty and to resume my customary preaching on week days in the out parts of the parish and which I never fail one or two days in a week for two months Spring and Autumn when health permits.

The parish is very extensive about sixty miles in Length, but of a very unequal breadth being bounded by the Virginia Line and the two great Rivers Roanoke and Meherrin.

Last Saturday Monday and Wednesday, two, three and four New Light Baptist teachers attended our service with many of their people: the teachers, I am informed have since delivered themselves in more respectful terms of the Church of England than they were before accustomed.

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That Sect has very much encreased in the country around us: however I am in great hopes that frequent weekly Lectures will fix the wavering, and draw back many of those who have strayed from us.

You was pleased, Sir, in your last favor I received to promise some Bibles, Testaments and Prayer Books &c. I am ignorant whether they arrived but in this part of the Province we have hardly any communication with Cape Fear. If you will be pleased to send some they will be of great service at this time as few people have any of the latter especially.

The Bearer, Mr. Rogers comes to England to offer himself a candidate for Holy Orders. I have known him upwards of two years, & do think he merits the general esteem he meets with, as a steady, religious good man.—I am Reverend Sir—

Yours &c.
JOHN BARNETT.