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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Henry Irwin to Richard Caswell
Irwin, Henry, ca. 1725-1777
May 19, 1777
Volume 11, Page 474

LT. COL. HENRY IRWIN TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Tarborough, 19th May, 1777.

Sir:—

I am told a young lad of the name of John Worsley, which was a drummer in the 5th Regiment, and had leave of absence from me, on the march from So. Carolina to the Northward, for a few days to call and see his mother in Newbern, and was to have joined the Regiment, either at Tarborough, or at Halifax, in the time allowed him.—that he has got his discharge by application to the Council. I do on my honor declare, (and will at any time on my oath) that last of December when I was at Newbern, his mother begged of me not to suffer him to list during the war, as he, with her consent had already listed for two years and a half,—as then he wanted to take the additional bounty and list for the time the war continued-I admitted of her request and forbid the officers listing him again for a longer time; if he has been discharged on account of any thing that related to his inlistment, there must have been fraud used, and it is a dangerous precedent to discharge soldiers when their officers are not present, as it must hurt the army much.

You'l be so obliging as to excuse what I have said on this subject.

I am, may it please your Excellency,
Your Excel'y most obed. serv.,
HENRY IRWIN.