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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Instructions to William Berkeley concerning the settlement of Carolina
Carolina. Lords Proprietors.
1663
Volume 01, Pages 50-52

[B. P. R. O. Col: Ent: Book. No. 20. P. 5.]
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIR WILLIAM BERKELEY GOVERNOR AND CAPTAIN GENERALL OF VIRGINIA IN RELATION TO THE SETLING AND PLANTING SOME PARTE OF THE PROVINCE OF CAROLINA.

1. In regard that we conceave all men will desire to setle there habitations upon the river in respect of the ease of there Carrage to the sea there transportation from place to place and the bennefit of the water and

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fishing in the river, therefore that they may keepe neare togeather for there common defence, wee propose that whoeaver hath planted or comes to plant, have for himself and every man sarvant armed as in our proposalls, one Chayne of land consisting of 66 foote in bredth and 100 chayne from the river into the Country in lenkth and the remainder of his proportion of land to be noe nearer then at the end of 200 chayne, from the river, whereby there may be roome for a second roe of planters next to the first, by meanes whereof there wilbe two hundred men armed and lodged within each myle and quarter square or thereabouts, which is conceaved to be better then in townes, for such whoos business it is to plant, for then each man wilbe where his business or the greater parte of it lyes, and 10 acres which is the proportions above, wilbe as much as one man can well plant and keepe cleane in that growing Country; reserveing convenient home pasturage, for the passage of those above; the remaynder of mens proportions may be leyed out, where the Governor and Councill shall conceave it most regular and advantagious to keepe the people neare each other soe as it be at the end of 200 Chayne as is before exprest.

2. You are desired to cause 20000 Acres of land to be set out and bounded for the propryators in severall places, parte of which may be where a towne is like to be built, other parte some myles up the river and other some up into the Country where the land is good, and some on sides of hilles that looke to the southward which wilbe best for Vinniards and if it be possible where there is an advantage of a springe river or rivelet from whence the land may be with any art watered, which wilbe of mighty advantage in planting some commodyties especially vynes: which is conceaved wilbe most profitable, an aker in the Cannaryes produceing £60. per ann: besides the duty thereof is greate heare, of which we are free.

3. If the people that plant are not or shall not be willing to pay the Quit rent of ½ penny per acre presently you may give them two 3: 4: or 5: yeares for the convenience of there payments.

4. If those men which have purchased shall for the better moddelling and secureing the plantations parte with there Interest bought of the Indians which they must doe the next possessor ought to pay him what he leyed out with some small advantage for his disburse, and if the party in possession have cleaned and planted (or either) more than his proportion of Grownd in bredth he ought to be compounded with for his charge of which the Governor and Councill to be Judge.

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5. The Governor or Governors and Councill to give warrants, which are before delivery to be entred for the proportions of lande to be leyed out according to the proposealls and in manner as above (if you are pleased with the way) to the Surveyor, the Surveyor haveing run out the land to certifye to the Secretary the quantity leyed out to and for each person with the bounds thereof and on what poynt it lyes with a small plot of the same, this Certifficate to bee recorded by the Secrytary in a booke to be kept for the purpose, and then the Secrytary to certifie what the Surveyor hath done to the Governor or Governors and Councill and that being done the Governor to make a Graunte to be drawne by the Secrytary and to be past under a seale that we shall send with his hand to it, to the partye and his heires for eaver for whome the land is leyed out under the quit rent of one ½ penny per acre to commence when you shall direct not exceeding 5. yeares from the feast of all Saints next.

6. We propose that if you cannot find some other way to support the Governor out of the thing itselfe, that he have the sole trade of fures for 3. yeares, and if he conceave 3 yeares to little time for his continewance in the Government in regard the first setlement wilbe the brunt and difficulty of the business, you may assure him that we shall choose him againe unless his misbehaviowr obstruct it.

Wee doe likewayse propose that the Secrytary draw all the Grants of land, and that some fee be established for that and for recording, certifieing and searching of records and coppyes of them for his maynetenance.

Likewayse that some Fee be established for the surveyor by the acre or day when hee surveyes for his support.