Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from James Reed to Daniel Burton
Reed, James, d. 1777
March 20, 1772
Volume 09, Pages 271-273

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

North Carolina Newbern March 20th 1772.

Revd Sir,

When I wrote to you the 15th of last February the Collector of this Port was abroad, & I could not come at his books to ascertain

-------------------- page 272 --------------------
the exact annual amount of the Duty upon spirituous Liquors for the Benefit of the School. But before I could meet with a Conveyance for the Duplicate, the Collector returned & showed me his Books, which enabled me to send you the following account of the Income of the School for three years past

School
Cr.
By neat proceeds of duty upon spirituous Liquors from November 14th 1760 to Novr 15th 1771
£247
11
4
By vote of Assembly for use of the School house Chamber of 1769
20
0
0
By Do 1770
40
0
0
By Do 1771
40
0
0
By Ground Rent first payment June 16 1771
19
10
0
Total
£367
1
4
Annual Income per average for 3 years past
£122
7
1
School
Dr
To enable the Master to keep an assistant per ann
£20
0
0
To poor Scholars supposing 10 at 4£Tuition per ann—each
40
0
0
To Books, Paper, Fire wood &c. for each per ann say 1£
10
0
0
Annual Expence
£70
0
0
Deducted from annual income leaves for Repairs & Incidental Charges
£52
7
1

From the preceeding account let the impartial judge, whether by dismissing the five poor Scholars the trustees have not abused their Trust.

The Ground rent arises from a Piece of Ground taken off the Church yard, & leased out in small lots the 16th of June 1770 for 21 years. And as it lies in a very convenient part of the Town, the Lessees are building upon it & improving it very fast. It is generally believed at the expiration of the Leases, the Ground with the Improvements will be worth at least one hundred pounds per annum, which will be a permanent endowment for the School. And if the present Act for establishing the School was repealed, this piece of Ground would I believe, revert to the church yard & become my property, which would be a strong inducement to the Trustees to get

-------------------- page 273 --------------------
another Act passed the next session of the Assembly. You will see by the Act, that the Duty upon spirituous Liquors will shortly expire, and as Newbern is at present a thriving place, & the Quantity of spirituous Liquors imported into Neuse River likely to increase every year, Should the Act be repealed, I will endeavor by claiming the above mentioned piece of ground to get one half penny per gallon Duty continued upon spirituous Liquors till the Expiration of the Leases, and I verily believe, the Governor will second the endeavors of Revd Sir.

Your most obliged &c
JAMES REED
Missry in Craven County.