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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Governor's Council
North Carolina. Council
October 01, 1768
Volume 07, Pages 850-851

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[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
COUNCIL JOURNALS.

At a Council held at Hillsborough 1st October 1768.
Present
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble John Rutherford Esquire.
The Honble John Palmer Esquire.
The Honble Lewis DeRosset Esquire.
The Honble Benjamin Heron Esquire.
The Honble John Sampson Esquire.
The Honble Samuel Strudwick Esquire.

His Excellency having acquainted this Board that many of the Insurgents having submitted themselves by laying down their arms and emploring His Majestys Pardon, others having been convicted by a due Course of Law, and the remainder absconding through Fear of Punishment to the great injury of their Families proposed to this Board his intent of issuing a proclamation of general pardon with some exceptions.

Ordered that a Proclamation issue in the following words Vizt


North Carolina—Ss

By His Excellency William Tryon Esquire &c.

A Proclamation—

Whereas, Divers dissolute outrageous and disorderly persons have of late frequently Assembled themselves together in several parts of this province particularly in the County of Orange, Anson, Rowan and Johnston in a most riotous and unlawful manner to the disturbance of the publick peace, audaciously attempting to intimidate and deter the Civil Magistrates from doing their duty and committing many Acts of violence contrary to Law being led on by some evil, wicked and designing men.

And Whereas the greater number of these Insurgents having testified a sense of the heinousness of their crimes and the violence they have offered to Government, many having submitted themselves by laying down their Arms, and imploring his Majestys gracious Clemency, others convicted by due course of Law still a great number through Fear of the Punishment due to their Crimes have absconded to the great hurt and prejudice of their Families

I do therefore out of compassion to the misguided multitude, being much more inclined to prevent than punish crimes of so high

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a nature by and with the unanimous advice and consent of His Majestys Council issue this my proclamation granting unto them His Majestys most gracious pardon for the several outrageous Acts by them committed at any time before the day of the date hereof, except James Hunter, Ninion Hamilton, Peter Craven, Isaac Jackson Harmon Husbands Matthew Hamilton William Payne Ninian Bell Hamilton, Malachi Fyke, William Moffitt, Christopher Nation Solomon Gross and John Oneal of which all officers of Justice and others concerned therein are to take due notice

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the Said Province at Hillsborough the 3rd of October 1768 &c

Wm. TRYON
Benj. Heron Secretary