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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Thomas Pollock to Hart, including instructions to Edward Bellenger
Pollock, Thomas, 1654-1722
September 01, 1713
Volume 02, Pages 61-63

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[From Pollock's Letters Book.]

Copy to Mr. Hart.


Chowan Sept 1st

Hond Sir

Yours of the 1st of August received, and can never sufficiently acknowledge the great obligations this poor country has to you; your industrious care and application, next to Governor Craven's having been the chief cause of bringing us in such a sure way of conquering our enemies, and of having peace and quietness.

I am much troubled that Governor Craven seems to charge me with trifling, breach of promise, and uncertainty and unsteadiness in councils without any cause or occasion that I know of, and I believe none that knows can accuse me of any such matters. The chief reason that I can gather by his letters is that by letters by Capt Moore he was requested to hasten in more forces to our assistance, and when he had sent them we ordered them back: which is a mistake for I wrote no letters by Capt Moore, neither knew I of his going until after his departure. What letters I then sent were by Mr Paule, Master of the pacquet-boat, dated Feb. the 20th, not requesting any more forces for being a month before the takeing of the Fort, we had then no occasion of more forces, and it was a surprise to me to hear of more forces coming. Howsoever, as soon as I heard of it I sent to Virginia, I sent all over our country to see to raise for them what I could, but I found it could not be done. And then, there being no enemy to go against but a few Mattamuskeets, against whom we had sufficient forces before, concluded it was better to send them back, than to have them lie here and destroy and eat up the people's stocks without any expectation of advantage to themselves in getting slaves: and which I believe would have raised most of the people here against me, at least have given the opposite party (which seems now to be more strong since Col. Cary came in) a handle to stir them up against me.

Hond Sir If it had been with me as it hath been not many years since, I would have supplyed them myself. But since the beginning of our troubles I have not been less out than £2500, besides £612 sterling in bills of Baron Graffenried came in protested so that I am not able to do as I would. I doubt not Col. Moore can testify that there hath been no want of my true Endeavors of supplying your army.

Hond Sir King Blount having suffered much this war gives us hopes that he will now be glad to be quiet, and may be a good guard to defend

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our frontier, and cut off what stragglers may be left of the Cores or Cotechnees, and be a great help to us in destroying the Matamuskeets, that are left; wherefore would earnestly entreat your interest with the Governor to put a stop on any more of your Indians coming in against him, until we see how he behaves himself. But if he should break out against us (there being but little trust to be put in Indians) I hope you will continue your goodness towards this poor people, and procure us what help would be necessary.

Our assembly being to meet in November next, shall not fail in using my true endeavor to procure of them the raising of the Governor's Money for the arms and ammunition he sent and for the hire of the pacquet boat in such commodities as may answer. I am incapable of expressing our obligations to Col Moore, who ever since his first arrival hath behaved himself as a valiant, wise, and prudent commander ought to do.

As the delivering of innocent captives, of widows and fatherless, of aged and impotent from their cruel and barbarous enemies, and the revenging innocent Christian blood shed by them must needs be meritorious actions (if any are) so albeit these poor people are not able in the least to retaliate Governor Craven, you, and the rest of your Government, who have been instrumental in our deliverance; yet I doubt not, Heaven will pour down its chiefest blessings upon you for such virtuous noble deeds, which shall be earnestly wished for by him who most sincerely is,

Hond Sir
Yr M. O. H. St

Sir—Albiet the ceasing of the war and discharging of the packquett boat may take of much of the occasion and oppertunity of writing to you, yet shall be very ambitious of the honor of the correspondnce of so worthy a person as you are, and shall not fail of presenting my humble respects to you by all oppertunities.

T. P.

sent by Col Moore.


North Carolina

To Capt Edward Bellenger, Master of the Yamassee Gally.

You are, after having taken on board what Col. Moore pleases to send by you and having cleared according to law, to make the best of your way with the Yamassee Gally to Charlestown in South Carolina and there having entered your vessell as the law requires make delivery of what you have according to Col Moore's orders, and then the vessell to be

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cleared and discharged of this country service,—unless Governor Craven have occasion to send here in again here, which if he have then obey such orders and instructions as you shall receive from him. Your safe and prosperous voyage is hartily wished for by Sir

Your H Servt
T. P.



Additional Notes for Electronic Version: "Mr. Hart" could be Charles Hart. See "Colonial South Carolina: A Political History, 1663-1763" pp. 126n, 138n.