Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Proclamation by John Murray, Earl of Dunmore concerning the Transylvania Company's settlement in western Virginia
Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809
March 21, 1775
Volume 09, Pages 1169-1170

[B. P. R. O. Am. & W. Ind.: No. Carolina. No. 222.]
A Proclamation by Governor Dunmore, of Virginia.

Whereas, His Majesty did at the request of the Assembly of this Colony permit the Western Boundary whereof to be extended as the same has been run and ascertained by Colonel Donelson and other Surveyors, deputed for that purpose,

And whereas, His Majesty hath for the greater conveniency of, and the preventing of litigation and disputes among such persons as shall be inclined to settle upon any of his Vacant Lands,

Ordered that all that Tract of Land included within the aforesaid Boundary, and all other Vacant Lands within this Colony be surveyed in Districts, and laid out in Lots from one hundred to one Thousand Acres, and as fast as the said Surveys shall be compleated by the Surveyors duly authorized, and the Surveys thereof returned that the lands so surveyed and allotted be put up to public sale at such time and place as shall be appointed by public notice, and that the highest bidder for such Lots and parcels of Land, at such Sales be the purchaser thereof, and be entitled to a Grant in fee simple of the Land so purchased as aforesaid by Letters patent under the Great Seal of the Colony, subject to no condition or reservations whatever, other than the payment of the Annual Quit Rent of one half penny

-------------------- page 1170 --------------------
sterling per acre, and also of all mines of silver and gold and precious stones.

And whereas, advice has been received that one Richard Henderson and other disorderly persons, his associates, under pretence of a purchase made from the Indians, contrary to the aforesaid orders and regulations of His Majesty, do set up a Claim to the Lands of the Crown within the limits of this Colony, I have thought fit therefore to issue this my Proclamation, strictly charging all Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs and other officers, civil and military, to use their utmost endeavours to prevent the unwarrantable and illegal designs of the said Henderson and his abettors, and if the said Henderson or others concerned with him shall take possession of or occupy any Lands within the Limits of His Majesty's Government of Virginia, merely under any purchase or pretended purchase made from Indians, without any other Title, that he or they be required in His Majesty's name forthwith to depart and relinquish the possession so unjustly obtained, and in case of refusal and of violent detaining such possession, that he or they be immediately fined and imprisoned in the manner the Laws in such cases direct.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the Colony this 21st day of March, in the 15th year of His Majesty's Reign.

DUNMORE.