Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Governor's Council
North Carolina. Council
November 19, 1770
Volume 08, Pages 258-260

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

At a Council held at the Council Chamber at Newbern 19th November 1770.
Present
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble Robert Palmer Esquire
The Honble Samuel Cornell Esquire

Martin Howard Esquire appeared and produced His Majestys Mandamus, bearing date at St James' the 9th day of May last appointing him a member of Council for this Province, pursuant to which the said Martin Howard took the Oaths for the Qualification of Publick Officers and repeating and subscribed the Test, He then took the Oath for the due execution of the above Office, and his seat at the Board accordingly.

His Excellency informed the Board that Richard Henderson Esquire had waited on him last night and acquainted His Excellency that he had received an Express from Granville County of his stables, corn crib, and late dwelling house being set on fire and destroyed by persons yet unknown and was now attending with his brother who came express, to give information of the same, Ordered that Mr Henderson and his brother be called in—

Thomas Henderson being first sworn gave information as follows, Vizt That on the night of Monday the 12th Instant the barn and stables belonging to his brother Richard Henderson Esquire in Granville County were set fire to and consumed together with several

-------------------- page 259 --------------------
horses and a quantity of corn. And also that on the night of the Wednesday following being the 14th Instant a house which was lately the dwelling house of said Richard Henderson, was set on fire to and consumed.

And the said Richard Henderson and Thomas Henderson both further acquainted the Board that they had reason to suspect, that the said deeds were committed maliciously and clandestinely by some evil minded persons unknown. The Board taking the same into consideration are of opinion—That a proclamation be issued for the discovering and apprehending the persons guilty of or concerned in committing the said offences.

Ordered that a proclamation issue in the following words, Vizt


North Carolina—Ss.
By His Excellency William Tryon Esq., &c. &c. A Proclamation.

Whereas, information having been received that some evil minded and ill disposed persons did in the night of Monday 12th Instant in the County of Granville, maliciously and clandestinely set fire to and consumed the barn and stables of Richard Henderson Esquire one of His Majestys Associate Justices of the said Province, together with several horses and a large quantity of corn therein, and also in the night of Wednesday the 14th Instant did maliciously and clandestinely set fire to and consume the late dwelling house of the said Richard Henderson in the County aforesaid, In order therefore to bring the offenders to Justice, I have thought fit, by and with the advice and consent of his Majestys Council to issue this my Proclamation, hereby requiring all Civil Officers within this Government to be aiding and assisting in discovering and apprehending the said offenders. And I hereby also promise the sum of one hundred pounds proclamation money to any one who shall apprehend the said offender or offenders—And also his Majestys most Gracious Pardon to any one of the said offenders who shall make a discovery of his accomplice or accomplices, so that he or they may be prosecuted to conviction.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal &c. at Newbern 19th November 1770.

Wm. TRYON.
By His Excellencys command
William Palmer, D. Sec'y.
-------------------- page 260 --------------------

The above mentioned Richard Henderson Esquire and Thomas Henderson further informed this Board that it was generally believed in the County of Granville that a large body of those who call themselves Regulators would come down to Newbern at the ensuing Sessions of Assembly in order to intimidate and over-awe the assembly in their proceedings, Whereupon His Excellency asked the opinion of the Board whether any and what measures were necessary to be taken in this conjuncture.

It is the unanimous opinion and advice of this Board that His Excellency write to the Colonels of the Militia of those Counties through which the said Regulators may pass in their way to New Bern, to hold themselves and their respective Regiments in readiness and to march and obstruct any of the said People in case they should attempt to come down, And that His Excellency be requested to take such other defensive measures as he shall think proper to preserve order and Peace during the ensuing session of Assembly.