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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Governor's Council
North Carolina. Council
February 23, 1771 - February 27, 1771
Volume 08, Pages 499-502

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


At a Council held at the Council Chamber at the Palace in New Bern 23d February 1771.
Present,
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble James Hasell Esquire
The Honble Robert Palmer Esquire
The Honble Martin Howard Esquire &
The Honble Samuel Cornell Esquire

His Excellency laid before the Board a petition from many of the Inhabitants of several Countys in the Port of Roanoke and Masters of Vessels, now trading for Corn in the said Port, Praying that the embargo prohibiting by Proclamation the exportation of Indian Corn may be taken off as to such Vessels as were in the said Port before the embargo took place and had made purchases of that article and was nearly loaded with the same.

It appearing by the said Petition that there is more than a sufficiency of that grain for the Inhabitants of the said Countys,

The Board gave it as their opinion and advice to his Excellency that the Embargo on Indian Corn be suspended for one month and no longer in the Port of Roanoke for such Vessels only as were in the said Port before the Embargo was laid.

Ordered a Proclamation issue in the following words, Vizt,


North Carolina—Ss.
By His Excellency William Tryon Esquire, &c.
A Proclamation.

Whereas a Petition has been presented to me by many of the Inhabitants of several Countys in the Port of Roanoke and Masters of Vessels now trading for Corn in the said Port Praying that the Embargo prohibiting the Exportation of Indian Corn may be taken off as to such Vessels as were in Port Roanoke before the Embargo took place (and had on board quantitys of Corn) and it appearing by the said Petition that there is more than a sufficiency of that

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grain for the Inhabitants of the said Counties;—I do by and with the advice and consent of His Majesty's Council issue this my proclamation—hereby suspending for one month and no longer in the Port of Roanoke the Embargo laid for non exportation of Indian Corn for such Vessels only as were Bona fide entered before the 26th day of January last.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal &c at New Bern 23rd February 1771.

Wm. TRYON.
By Command,
Wm. Palmer, D. Sec.
God save the King.

His Excellency communicated to the Board the following letter received from Colo Caswell Commander of the Dobbs Regiment of Militia, Vizt,


Kingston 20th February 1771.

May it Please Your Excellency,

Sir,

I received your Excellency's favors of yesterday this day about 11 o'clock, soon after Colonel Bryan of Johnston came into our camp and brought the following Account, Vizt,

That Husband on his way up called at Major Hunters where the Wake Regiment was assembled, He immediately wrote letters to the Regulators. William Butler was at Mimms' when he received Husbands letter and returned directly to the body of the Regulators. Then, or thereabout the time he returned to them, a person sent by Colo Hinton also arrived at their Camp, who informs that on the news of Husbands' releasement under his own hand being communicated to the Regulators they concluded to return; sayed their only view was to release him; and accordingly they did disperse on Saturday last, that 13 wagons had crossed Haw River and four others were then on the South West side of the River ready to pass it but returned; they sayed there were with those wagons 2,200 men, but Mr Hintons express inclined to think there were very few more than 300 and those he says well armed with small arms; heard nothing of wooden Guns.

Colo Hinton discharged his men on Saturday, Colo Bryan discharged his on Sunday night, and in obedience to your Excellencys orders I have this day discharged the Dobbs men.

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Colo Bryan intended to have waited on your Excellency but is much fatigued and his horse foundered. He presents his compliments to your Excellency.

I am, your Excellency's most dutiful and obedient, humble servant, (Signed)
Rd CASWELL.

His Excellency Governor Tryon—

P. S. I am requested by Colo Bryan to assure your Excellency that if any body of Regulators shall attempt to come down with any Persons who may be indicted under the late Law in order to protect them on their tryals that on the least intimation of their march will again Assemble his Regiment to oppose them, and will also give me notice thereof, in which case I shall most punctually observe your Excellencys Orders.

I am as before &c—
R.C.

The Governor informed the Board that as he thought the Insurgents might attempt to come down to Newbern to support such of their Ringleaders as might be prosecuted for the Riots Committed at Hillsborough—His Excellency desires the opinion of the Board whether it would be advisable to finish the line of entrenchment which he had begun round this Town for the protection of the Town and Courts of Justice, as many threats have been given out by the Regulators that they would lay the town in Ashes. It is the unanimous opinion of the Board that such a measure as carrying the entrenchment round the Town would be a most necessary step at this juncture.


At a Council held in the Council Chamber at the Palace in New Bern 27th February 1771—
Present
His Excellency the Governor
The Honble James Hasell
Robert Palmer
Martin Howard
Samuel Cornell Esquire

His Excellency acquainted the Board that he conceived that his Majestys service required and the dignity of the Government demanded that Mr Chief Justice his associates and Mr Attorney General should all attend in person at the next Hillsborough Superior Court on the 22d of March, And if Mr Chief Justice thought

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the Riot Law now in force would not be sufficient to secure the Court from insult

The Governor was willing to order any Body of Militia for its protection that may be thought necessary for that purpose by this Board, And desires their opinion as to the propriety of the measure, and the means to support the end thereof—The Board is of opinion that it is absolutely necessary the Judges and Attorney General should give their attendance at the next Hillsborough Court, But as to the protection of the Court It does not appear at present whether any are requisite until further information is received of the designs of the Insurgents.