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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from James Moir to Daniel Burton
Moir, James, d. 1767
October 13, 1766
Volume 07, Pages 265-266

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[From N. C. Letter Book S. P. G.]
Letter from Mr. Moir to the Secretary.

Suffolk in Virginia, Octr 13th 1766.

Reverend Sir.

Upon finding last November that my bad state of health would not permit me to discharge the Functions of my office in Northampton County I desired the Vestry to employ another—They would not bring suit against the Sheriff who collected the Taxes tho' the salaries for two years and a half were then due to me—After this I officiated in several places at the desire of the People but rejected the offers of Vestrys. In April last I was importuned to serve in Saint Marys Parish Edgecombe County (where I had been many years) the Vestry having paid the money they had sued the Sheriff for and promising to lay a new tax for the balance—I signified to some of them that I did not doubt of Clergymens Salaries being punctually paid from henceforth Governor Tryon having put it out of the power of Collectors and Vestry's to play tricks as formerly and that I would continue to officiate in the Parish as I had opportunity, but was not then in a condition to ride the Circuit of so large a Parish as I had done, and that for the recovery of my health was under the necessity of spending the hot season in Great Britain or the Northern Colonies and that I could come to no Resolution till I returned in May and set out for New York and towards the end of July arrived in Boston where I got rid in a few days of what afflicted me most towit a very sharp pain in the pit of my stomach—About the middle of August it was extremely hot in the City and I had some slight fits of intermitting fever which brought the bleeding of the nose upon me, and being told that Rode Island was healthy I went thither and in ten days was perfectly recovered, after I had been there five weeks and proposed to return by way of Philadelphia I unluckily sprained my back by trying to save myself from a fall out of a chair—As soon as I was able to walk I went aboard the Packet Boat for New York and stayed there a Fortnight hoping to be able to endure the Motion of a Horse or Chair but finding I could not even walk without great pain I took a passage for Suffolk in Virginia. I have been there three days and flatter myself I shall be able to mount a horse in a short time—It gave me great joy in the Northern Colonies to hear and see our

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Clergymen were so regular and diligent and therefore much esteemed by their people and shall always acknowledge myself much indebted for the kind Reception and usage I had from both—I do not draw for my salary being apprehensive I must leave North Carolina and sail for Great Britain in the Spring. My constitution is so crazy that I despair of being in a condition to officiate in such large parishes

I am Reverend Sir, Yours &c.
J. MOIR.