Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Pollock to Charles Eden
Pollock, Thomas, 1654-1722
May 03, 1718
Volume 02, Pages 304-306

[From Pollock's Letter Book.]

May 3d 1718

Hond Sir

I had the favor of your kind letter of April the 9th with the writing enclosed. and to make what discovery I could if their was any evil design of the Tuscaroras or Senecas against us, I sent out Mr Charlton to Blount's town, on another pretense, to make what discovery he could, who returned last week, and says he could not find nor perceive that

-------------------- page 305 --------------------
these Indian had any evil design against the government: and that Blount was very kind, and earnest to send out twelve or thirteen of his men against the Enemy Indians at Neuse. And when Charlton told him that he had not heard any thing yet that the corn was carried to Neuse, or landed there, but Blount told him it was no matter, he would send out his men to Pemptico, and that they might stay hunting about Pamptico, until your Honor had account that the corn was landed at Neuse. Only Blount desired one favor of your Honor: that if his people should have the good fortune to catch or kill these enemy Indians, yet there could not be a slave a head to each of them, but that several of his men who might be there, and as forward and as ready as the other to catch or kill them, yet might not catch any of them, might yet be allowed some gratuity for their trouble, as a blanket or some such matter. This is what account I have had from Charlton.

And as for the Senecas' rudeness at Wekocanaan: it is either natural to them to be so, or else they have a mind to drive away the people from their settlements their it lying in their way to Blounts town; and I can not understand that Blount is so desirous of so many of the Senequas coming among them and spending up their provision, only can not help it, and is obliged to keep in with them I doubt not but that your Honor remember that about two years since I had a writ of escheat directed to John Palin Esqr escheator General, to enquire by a jury of twelve good and lawful men whether the plantation at Sandy Point were ascheatable or not, which I deferred to use on the following reasons: First, because I was willing (if it could have been done) to have had it first determined concerning the validity of the will secondly, there being other two tracts of land escheatable as well as the plantation at Sandy Point, I was willing to have it all done at once; Lastly and chiefly, was because the Escheator was command to inquire whether the said land was escheatable or not, which in my humble opinion, and so far as I can find, is not right as it ought to be. For all that the escheator is to find (so far as I can understand it) [is] whether the person that died seized had any heirs in the Government or not; for whether a will or no will, is no part of the escheator's duty to inquire into: and this would give only a handle or pretence to some to amuse the Jury, and may be the judge too, by pretending albeit there was no heirs in the government, yet there being a will the land was not escheatable, and so over rule the Jury to bring in their verdict that the land is not escheatable. To prevent which I have enclosed a form of a write of escheat which I believe may be more proper. For the finding of the Jury, that such persons

-------------------- page 306 --------------------
hath no heirs in the Government, can be no detriment or hindrance to any person that is donee, or devisee of any land by will, nor unto any heir, if he come in and make claim in the time the Law allows.

Also I have included in the form of the writ, to inquire wither Col Wilkison hath any heirs in this Government, which being for the same land, I believe may be included in the same writ, and can be no prejudice to any person, but may obviate some pretensions that may afterwards arise. All which I leave to your Honor's more mature consideration to do therein as you shall see most convenient; only entreat the favor of your answer by the first opportunity. For I would willingly have this matter brought to an end; and I doubt not by the first letter to some of them from Col Gale there will be some other amusements of new Law books, gudges, or Attorney General's opinions et cet.

My son Thomas recieves with his utmost and real acknowledgement your Honor's favor to him, but pretends himself as yet uncapable of acting in these posts; wherefore he humbly begs your excuse at present. But I am in great hopes he will endeavor to improve himself, and make himself capable of being serviceable to your Honor and the country in some short time.

Having no news here of any moment; only there is a report that some of the pirates have come in and submitted themselves to the government in Verginia, and brought in considerable quantities of money with them. Your news-books, which I recieved by Captn Lovick, after perusal shall return them. Your Honor's excuse for this long scrawl is humbly begged by him who most sincerely is

Hond sir
Your most obedient
Humble Servant
THOMAS POLLOCK