No. 3
SEPTEMBER 9, 1665; SEPTEMBER 26, 1665. TWO LETTERS FROM SIR JOHN COLLETON TO PETER CARTERET AT COLLETON ISLAND, ALBEMARLE, CAROLINA.
The first letter is a contemporary copy, unsigned. The second is in the same hand and signed by Colleton. Fragment of a small [6] wax seal with arms remains. One large sheet of watermarked paper, folded to four pages, 8¼ x 12¾ inches.
Exon this 9th of 7ber 1665/1
Mr: Carterett
I have yors: of ye 6th: of May last to my selfe & Yor: othr: to my Lord Berkeley & Compy: by wch: I pceave you finde or: business in a very bad Condicon, for wch I am in a greate measure to bla[me] Capt: Whittie,2 whoe made us pay for 100 breeding sowes, wth piggs 10 boares 10 Cowes wth calfe & a bull a horse & a mare, put on Colleton Island,3 Wch it seems never came there, besides wch: wee pd: to ye overseers frind heare, whoe hath played ye Knave, & suffered all or: business to gee to wrack, ye accot: will show you all this, of wch I hope you will call for an acco: of ye ovrseer, left by Capt: Whittie, & pay nor ye oths: imployees any thing, untill you have a good acco: as for ye Island I saw onely wth Capt: Whitties eyes, heard with his eares, whoe prtendes he hah beene over it, & rendres it to me, & I suppose to you to bee a most brave & ffertill Island, & I am Confident hee beleived it, for he prest for a vessell wth Salt to fetch thence 30 tones of [7] hoggs flesh, wth I put of desiring firs—to heare from you, & now there is noe more, to bee thought of yt: yet a whyle, In ye meane time I hope you. will inquire after ye Stocke wee have paid for, & place on ye Island if you see reason for it, & more whereby wee may have a quantity of Hoggs flesh, wch will soonest come to bare to send to Barbados wch will pduce us Neagroes & Sarvts: to rayse a plantacon, wee ye ptners are now devided into Sevrll: Cuntryes, by reason of ye Sickness, since yor depture, I thincke ye Earle of Craven is added to us, see yt wee cannot give you a joynt ordr: in our affaire, but I shall give you my oppinion, wch is yt you doe yt. wch you conceave may bee most for or: advantage, in placeing the hoggs & Catle where you thincke best, & makeing such Inclosyers as you conceave fitt, unless ye tobacco of these pts bee much better then yt of Virginia, I conceave Little good will be done thereby, however you may plant some amongst yor Corne, wch is done undr: ye same Clearing of grounds but yt for a tryall, ye hoggs flesh will bringe us prsent pfitt, if easye to be raysed, yr vinnyard ye next & mere advantagious, if you have not to much raynes when ye Grapes ripen, if yt bee Natturall you will make no good wine I feare, you knew how Capt: Whittie magnified ye Cuntry for all intent & purposes; I am troubled to finde/yt you, doe not enlarge upon ye Comendacon thereof. If powells point4 bee soe good land as you seeme to beleive it to bee, you shall doe well to take it up, wee shall gett agrant from ye Lorde, speake to ye Govnor: from me yt it be reserved for our: Compa: wee are now 4 ingaged vizt: my Lord Craven my Lord Berkeley yor: unckle & my selfe, if it bee soe good & soe Convenient, sett a stop upon it, untill wee cann gett a grant from ye Lord, wch we shall doe assoone as wee cann meete, ye greate plague in & about London keeps us a Sundr: as to ye peoples complaynt of finding it hard, yt they shalbe obliged to keep there pporcon of people on their land, I would fayne know wt there land signifies wth out people, unlesse bee to lett to othrs: & is it reasonable yt a few should take up all ye Land, & become Lord & ye Cuntry unstrenkthened & unpeopled, they wilbe poore Lord & wth a greate deale of land [worth] nothing whereas if they will people as they goe, there Collony wilbe safe, it will bringe trade & shiping, & make Labor & land of vallew otherwayse come to nothing, beleive it Sr: ye way of ye Virginia Setlemt: is pnissious to ye planters of little good or advantage to ye [8] kinge or his people, pray therefore thincke of ye Barbadoe Industry there way and manner of liveing, workeing & Contriveing, they worke ye yeare throughout, ye Virginians as I am informed but halfe ye yeare, when wee cann meete wee shall Indeavor: to give ye Govnor: Councell & assembly such Sattisfaccon to there demande as wee hope will pleas them, I am sorry to heare yt Sickness takes of there Sarvte: I hope they meane in Virginia & not in Carolina, for att Cape fare wee finde it a most healthfull Cuntry, & Whittie pclames ye Cuntry you are in to bee ye most healthfulls in ye world, I shalbe glad to heare yor oppinien of it, & to know wt weathr: you had this past season for yor grapes, ye dryest weathr: when they are rype, makes ye best wine, if you finde yt by experience & Informacon, you may goe boldly on wth yor: Viniardes, I am Confident you had of ye seede of grapes from me wch are from ye ryne, & will pduce rare Cannary, I am from my bookes & papers & cannot tell wt you had, but if you had not I shall pcure some, Powder & shott to bey pvisions shall send you assoone as possible wch a Carpenter, if my ptners will stick to me you- shall want nothing, but pray give an ample acco: of ye Cuntrye; remember me kindly to Mr: Woodward5 to whome shall write p next not haveing time to write now; I am
Yor: Very Loveing frind—
Bristoll ye 26th of 7ber 1665/.
Mr: Cartrett
Thebefore goeing is Coppy of my Last sent you by way of Plymo: in wch if there bee any error in transcribing, I pray exscuse ye same, for I have not time to p use it, I have onely to add, yt I have desired Mr: Sershio: Cary,6 to send from hence to [9] Virginia, a barrell of powdr: & 400 of shott, & to consigne ye same to Govnor: Drummond7 in Virginia whence I have desired to Convey it to you, I pray looke after it, & lett it bee imployed for ye buying pvisions as you in yor last Lettr: pposed Where you sow ye seeds of Grapes, observe, wt sort thrives best—in ye Land you sow it in, & continew yt sort upon yt ground, & plant ye othr sorte in othr ground & where ever you finde, they thrive best there continew them, wch will pduce ye best wine, this I have had from an experianced pson yt lived long in ye Cannaryes, I rest
Yor: Very Loveing frind
Jno Colleton
[Address]
To Mr: Peter Cartrett
att Colleton Island in ye
Countie of Albemarle
There
in
Carolina
In a contemporary hand, perhaps that of a secretary, signed by Colleton. One large sheet of watermarked paper, folded to four pages, 7 5/8 x 11 7/8 inches.
The year in the date of this letter is written 1665/6 because the new year in England began on March 25 at this time. Most European countries changed to begin the new year on January 1 during the sixteenth century and Scotland conformed to this practice in 1600. England, however, did not change until 1752. Many letters and other documents dated during the period January 1 through March 24 show both years. The letter of “ye 26th of 7ber” would be September 26, 1665, and it is the one in document no. 3.
To Peter Carterett Esq.r
in ye County of Albemarle in
Carolina
No. 7
OCTOBER 8, 1667. LORDS PROPRIETORS’ INSTRUCTIONS TO GOVERNOR SAMUEL STEPHENS.
Original document consisting of six large pages of watermarked paper, 11¾ x 14¾ inches. For further details see the description of document no. 6.
Instructions for our Governor of the County of Albemarle in the Province of Carolina;
Impa: You: are to take to you Six Councellors at least, twelve at most, or any eaven number betweene Six & twelve with: whose advice [17] and consent, or with at least three of ye Six or fouer of a greater number all being Summoned you are to governe according to ye Limitations and Instructions following during our Pleasure; The Cheife register or Secrytary, which we have Choosen or shall choose, wee fayleing yt you shall choose, shall keep exact Enteryes in faire bookes of all publicke affaires of sd: County, and to accoyde deceates and Law Suites shall record and Enter all grants of land from ye Lords to ye Planter, and all conveyances of Land, howse or howses, from man to man, as alsoe all Leases for Land, howse or howses, made or to be made by the Landlord, to any Tennant for more then one yeare, which conveyance or lease shalbe first acknowledged, by ye Grantor or Leasor, or Proved by the Oath of two Witnesses, to ye Conveyance or Lease, before the Governor or some cheife Judge of a Court for the time being, whoe shall undr: his hand, upon the backe side of the said Deede or Lease, attest the acknowledgmt or proofe as aforesaid, which shalbe a warrant for the Register to record the same, which Conveyance or Lease soe recorded shalbe good and effectuall in Law, notwithstanding any other Conveyance, Deede or Lease, for said Land howse or howses, or for any part thereof, although dated before ye Conveyance, Deede or Lease, recorded as aforesaid, and the said Register, shall doe all other thing or things, that wee by our Instructions shall direct, and the Governor Councell and Assembly shall ordayne, for the good and welfaire of the said County;
Item The Surveyor Generall that wee have Choosen or shall choose, wee fayleing that you shall choose, shall have power by himselfe or Deputy, to Survey, lay out and bound all such Lands, as shalbe granted from the Lords to the Plantors and all other Lands within the said County &c which may concerne particculer men, as he shalbe desired to doe and a particculer thereof certify to the Register, to be recorded as aforesaid: Provided that if the said Register and Surveyor or either of them shall soe misbehave themselves, as that the Governor and Councell or Deputy Governor and Councell or the Major parte of them shall finde it Reasonable to Suspend their actings in their respective Imploymente; it shalbe Lawfull for them soe to doe, untill further order from us;
Item, All Choyce of Officers made by you: shalbe for noe Longer time then during our Pleasure;
Item: Yourselfe Councellors, Assembly men, Secrytaryes Surveyors, [18] and all other Officers of trust shall Sware or Subscribe in a booke to be provided for that purpose, that they will bare trow alleagance to the Kinge of England his heires and Successors, and that they wilbe faithfull to the Interest of ye Lords Proprietors of the Province, and their heires Executors and assignes, and indeavor the peace and welfare of the said province: and that they will trewly and faithfully discharge their respective truste, in their respective offices, and doe equall Justice to all men, according to their skill and Judgment, without Corruption favor or affection; and the names of all that have sworne or subscribed, to be entered in a booke, and whosoever shall subscribe, and not sware, and shall vyolate his promise in yt Subscription shalbe Lyable to ye same punishmt: that the persons are or may bee, that hath sworne, and bee on his Oath;
Item That all persons that are or shal become Subiecte to the Kinge of England, and sware or subscribe alleagiance to the Kinge, and faithfulness to the Lords as a bove, shalbe admitted to plant, and become freemen of ye province, and Inioy the freedomes, and Immunityes hereafter Exprest, untill some stop or Contradiction be made by us the Lords or elce by the Governor Councill and Assembly, which shalbe in force untill ye Lords see cause to the contrary, Provided that such stop shall not any wayse preiudice the right or Continewance of any person, that hath beene receaved before such stop or order come from ye Lords or Generall Assembly;
Item. That noe person or persons quallified as aforesaid within the province, or all or any of ye Countyes before Exprest at any time, shalbe any wayse molested, [punished, or disqui]ted, or Called in question, for any differances in oppinion or practice in matter of religious [concernement whoe] doe not actually disturbe the civill peace of the said province Or County, but that all and every such person and persons, may from time to time and at all times, freely and fully have and Inioy his and their Judgemente, and Consiences in matter of religion, throughout all the said province, they behaveing themselves peaceably and quietly and not useing this Liberty to Lycentiousness to the Civill Iniury or out ward disturbance of Others, any Law Statute or Clause contained or to be contained, usuage or Customs of this realme of England to the contrary hereof in any wayse notwithstanding;
[19] Item And that noe pretence may be taken by us our heires or assignes, for or by reason of our Right of patronage, and powr :of advouson, Granted unto us by his maiestyes Letters pattente aforesaid to Infringe thereby the Generall clause of Liberty of Contience, aforementioned; Wee doe hereby Grant unto the Generall Assembly of the said Countyes power by act to constitute and appoint, such and soe many Ministers or Preachers, as they shall thincke fitt, and to Establish their maintenance, giving Liberty besides to any person or persons, to keepe and maintane what preachers or Ministrs: they Please;
Item That the Inhabitants being freemen or Cheefe agent to others of the County aforesaid doe assoone as this our Comission shall arrive; by virtue of a writt in our names, Sealed with our Seale of ye County and by you Signed, make Choyce of twelve Deputyes or representatives from amongst themselves, whoe being Choosen are to Joyne with you Our Governor and Councell for ye makeing such Lawes, Ordinances and Constitutions, as shalbe necessary for ye present good and welfaire of ye County aforesd: but assoone as parishes devizions tribes or districtions of the said County are made, That then ye Inhabitants or freeholders of the severall and respective parishes, tribes devizions or districtions of ye County aforesaid doe (by our weill & under our seale which wee Ingage shalbe in due time Issewed) annually meete on the first day of January and Choose two freeholders for each respective devizion tribe or parish, to be the deputyes or representatives of the same, which body of representatives or ye Maior: part of them shall with the Governor and Councill aforesaid be the Generall Assembly of the said County the Governor: or his deputy being present; unless they shall wilfully refuse, in which case they may appoint themselves a president during the absence of the Governor or his Deputy Governor;
Which Assembly are to have Power
To appoint their owne times of meeting, and to adiorne their sessions from time to time to such times and places as they shall thincke convenient, as also to assertaine ye number of their Quorum, provided that such numbers be not less then one third part of the whole, in whome or more shalbe the full power of the Generall assembly, vizt:
Item To Enact and make all such Lawes Acts and Constitutions as shalbe necessary for the well Government of the said Collony and them to repeale; Provided that the same be Consonant [20] to reason, and as neare as may be Conveniently agreeable to the Lawes and Customes of his Maiestyes Kingdome of England, Provided alsoe that they be not against the Interest of us the Lords Proprietors our heires or assignes, not any of these our present Concessions, Espetially that they be not against the Article for Liberty of Contience above mentioned wch Lawes &c soe made, shall receave Publication from the Governor and Councell (but as the Lawes of us and our Genrll: Assembly) and be in force for the space of one yeare and halfe and noe more, (unless confirmed by us) within which time they are to be presented to us our heires &c for our Rattification, & being Confirmed by us, they shalbe in contiewall force till Expired by their owne Limitacõn or by act of repeale in like maner as aforesd: to be passed and Confirmed;
Item By act as aforesaid to Constitute all Courte togeather, with the Lymite powers and Jurisdiccõns of ye Sd: Courte as alsoe ye severall Offices, number of Officers belonging to each of ye sd: respective Courte togeather with their Severall & respective Salleryes, fees and perquisites there appellations and dignityes, with the penaltyes that shalbe dew to them for breach of their Severall and respective dutyes and trusts;
Item By act as aforesaid to ley equall taxes and assesments equallily to rayse monyes or goods upon the Lands (excepting the Lands of us ye Lords Propryators before setling) or persons within the severall precinte, hundreds parishes, Manors, or whatsoever Other devizions shall hereafter be made and Established in the said County, as oft as necessity shall require, and in such manor as to them shall seeme most equall and easye for the said Inhabitants in ordr: to the better supporting of ye publicke Charge of the said Government, and for the mutuall safety defence and security of the said County;
Item By act as aforesaid to Erect within the said County such and soe many Barronyes and Mañors with there necessary Courts Jurisdictions, freedomes and priviledges as to them shall seeme Convenient, as alsoe to devide the said County into hundreds, parishes tribes or such other deviziouns and districtions as they shall thincke fitt, and the said devizions to distinguish by what names wee shall ordr: or direct, and in default thereof by such names as they please, as alsoe within any part of ye said County to Create and appoint, such as soe many ports harbours, Creekes and other places for ye Convenient Lading and unladeing [21] of goods and merchandize, out of shipes boates and other vessells, as they shall see Expedient, with such Jurisdictions priviledges and franchises to such ports &c belonging as they shall Judge most Conduceing to ye Genrll: good of ye said plantation or County;
Item By there Enacting to be Confirmed as aforesd: to erect Rayse and build within the said County or any part thereof, such and soe many forts, fortresses Castles Cittyes, Corporations, Burroughes, townes, villages, and other places of strength and defence, and them or any of them to Incorporate, wth: such Charters and Priviledges as to them shall seeme good; and our Charter will permitt and the same or any of them to fortifie and furnish, wth such proportion of Ordinance, powder, shott, armour, and all other weapons, Amunition and habilliments of Warr both offensive and defensive as shalbe thought Necessary and Convenient for ye Safety and welfaire of ye said County, but they may not at any time, demolish, dismantle or disfurnish the same without the consent of the Governor and the Maior parte of the Councell;
Item By act as aforesd: to Constitute trayne bands and Companyes with the number of Soldiers for the Safety strength and defence of the said County and province, and of the forts Castles, Cittyes &c, to Suppress all Mutinyes and Rebellions, to make warr offensive and defensive, with all Indyans Strangers and foreignors: as they see cause; and to pursue an Enemy by Sea as well as by land if neede bee out of the Limitts and Jurisdictions of said County wth the pticcular consent of ye Governor and under the conduct of Our Governor or whome hee shall appoint:
Item By Act as aforesaid to give unto all Strangers as to them shall seeme meete, a Natturallysation and all such freedomes and priviledges within the said County as to his Maiestyes Subiects doe of right belonge they Sweareing or Subscribing as aforesaid which said Strangers soe Natturallysed and priviledged shall alsoe have the same Imunityes from Customes as is granted by the Kinge to us, and by us to the said County, and shall not bee Lyable to any other Customes, then the rest of his Maiestyes Subiects in said Countye are, but be in all respects accompted in that County aforesaid, as the King’s Natural Subiects;
Item By Act as aforesaid to prescribed the quantityes of Land, which shalbe from time to time alloted to every head free or [22] Saervt. Male or female, and to make and ordayne rules for the casting of Lotts for Land and leying out of the same, Provided that they doe not in there said prscriptions exceed the Severall proportions, which are hereby granted by us to all persons arriveing in the said Countyes or adventuring theithr: that is to say Sixty acres to every freeman, and as much to his wife, the like to each freewoman that arrives in said County and brings Servants to Setle; and Sixty acres to every Master or Mistris for every Man Sarvant hee or they shall bringe or send, Armed wth a good fierlocke or matchlocke bore twelve bullets to the pound tenn pound of powdr: and twenty pound of bullets wth: match proportionable, fifty acres for every other sort of Sarvant, and fifty acres for every Sarvant for his or her proper use and behoofe when their time of Servitude is Expired; Provided yt all Lands whatsoever soe Setled and planted shall afterwards from time to time for ye Space of thirteene yeares from the date hereof beholds upon the Condition aforesaid of Continewing one able man Sarvant or two such weaker Sarvants as aforesd: on every one hundred acres, a Mastr: or Mistrs: shall posses, besides wt was granted for his or her owne person, Infailer of wch: upon notification to the present Occupant or his assignes there shalbe three yeares time given to such for their compleating the said Number of persons, or for their Sayle or other disposure of such parte of there, lands as are not soe peopled, wch in wch: time of three yeares, if any person holding any Land shall fayle by himself, his agents Executors: or assignes or some other way; to provide such number of persons, unless ye Genrll: assembly shall without respect to poverty, Judge yt it was impossible for ye party soe fayleing to keep or procure his or her number of Sarvants to be provided as aforesaid; in such case wee the Lords to have power of disposeing of soe much of such land as shall not be planted with its dew number of persons as aforesd: to some other yt will plant ye same;./.
Except those Lands wch are descended to Orphants by Inheritance, whome wee hereby allow three yeares time after their comeing to ye age of twenty one yeares for the peopleing of their land as aforesd: and then in case of failer wee ye Lords to have powr: of disposure of their Lands as of ye Lands of other persons; Provided alwayse that any person, whoe hath a stock of Catle, sheepe or such like on his hands, shall for every greater sort of Catle, which he hath at the time of such forfeiture, horses, kine, &c retane two acres, & for every Lessor sort as sheepe, hoggs [23] &c one acre; Provided alsoe that noe persons arriveing into the said Collony wth purpose to Setle (they being Subiect or Naturallysed as aforesd:) be denyed a grant of such proportions of Land as at ye time of their arrivall and due to themselves or Sarvants by Concession from us as aforesd: but have full Lycence to take up and Setle the same in such order and manor: as is granted or prescribed, All lands notwithstanding (the power in the Assembly aforesaid) shalbe taken up by warrant from the Governor: and Confirmed by the Governor: and Councell, under our Seale of ye County for that purpose provided in such order and meth-hood as shalbe sett downe in this declaracion, & more at large in ye Instructions, to ye Governor & Councill,/
Lastly To Enact Constitute and Ordaine all such other Lawes Acts and Constitucons as shall or may be necessary for ye good prosperity and Setlement of ye said County, excepting what by these prsents are Excepted and Conformeing to ye Limitations herein Expressed.,/.
To see yt all Courts Established by the Lawes of the Generall Assembly and all Ministers and Officers Civill or Millitary doe and Execute there Severall dutyes and Offices, respectively according to the Lawes in force, and to punish them for Swarveing from the Lawes or acting contrary to their trust as the Nature of there offence shall require;
Item According to the Constitutions of the Generall assembly to Nominate and Comissionate the Severall Judges Members and Officers of Courte whether Magistraticall or Ministeriall, and all other Civill Officers, as Justises, Coroners &c, and there Comissions & powers and Authorityes to revoake at pleasure, Provided yt they appoint none but such as are freeholdrs: in the County aforesd: unless ye Generall Assembly Consent;./.
Item According to the Constitutions of the General Assembly to appoint Courts and Officers in cases Criminall and to Impower them to Inflict penaltyes upon Offenders against any of the Lawes inforce in the said County, as the said Lawes shall ordayne wheithr: by fine, Imprisonment Banishment Corporall punishment; or to the takeing away of Member, or of life it selfe;./.
Item To place Officers and Soldiers for the Safety, Strength and defence, of the forts, Castles, Cittyes &c according to the numbr: appointed by the Genrll: Assembly, to nominate, place and Comissionate all Millitary Officers under the Governor whoe as Comander in Cheife is Comissionated by us) over the Severall [24] trayne bands and Companyes Constituted by the Genrll: Assembly, as Collonels Captaines &c and there Comissions to revoake at pleasure, ye Governor: Singley, or with the advice of his Councill, which wee advize him to take, to muster and trayne all the Soldiers, within the said County; to prosecute Warr, pursue an Enemy, Suppres rebellions and mutines, as well by Sea as Land; and to Exercise the whole Militia as fully as by Our Letters Pattents from ye Kinge, we cann Impowr. him or them to doe, Provided yt they appoint not Millitary Officrs: but wt are freeholdrs: in ye sd: County, unless ye Genrll: Assembly shall Consent;./.
Item Where they see cause after Condemnation to repreive, till ye Case may be presented with a Coppy of the whole tryall proceedings and proofes to the Lords, whoe will accordingly Either pardon or Comand Execution of ye Sentence on the Offender, whoe is in the meane time to be keept in Safe Custody, till the pleasure of the Lords be knowne ;./.
Item In case of death or other removeall of any of the Representatives within the yeare to Issew Sumons by writt to ye respective devizion or devizions for which he or they were Chosen, Comanding ye freeholdrs: of the same to Choose others in their Steade ;./.
Item To make warrants and Seale grants for Lands according to our Consessions and ye prescriptions, by the advice of the Genrll: Assembly in such forme as shalbe at large sett downe in our Instruccons to ye Governor: in his Comission, and which are hereaftr: expressed;./.
Item To Act and doe all other thing or things that may Conduce to the Safety peace and well Government of the said County, as they shall se fitt, soe as they be not Contrary to the Lawes of ye County aforesaid./.
ffor the better Securing of the Propryetes of all the Inhabitants
You are not to Impose nor Suffer to be Imposed any taxe Custome, Subsidy tallage assesment or any other duty whatsoever upon any Culler or pretence upon ye said County, and the Inhabitants thereof other then what shalbe imposed by the Authority and consent of the Generall Assembly, and then only in maner as aforesaid;./.
Item You are to take care that land quietly held, planted and possessed Seaven years, after its being first duely Surveyed by the Surveyor Generall; or his order shall not be Subiect to any [25] review resurvey or alteration of bounds on what pretence soever by any of us, or any Officers or Ministers under us;
Item You are to take care that noe man if his Catle stray range or graze on any ground within the said County not actually appropriated or set out to perticculer persons, shalbe Lyable to pay any trespass for the same to us our heires &c; Provided that Custome of Comons be not thereby pretended to, nor any person hindred from takeing up and appropryateing any Lands soe grazed upon, and that noe person purposely doe Suffer his Catle to graze on such Lands;./.
Item It is Our will and desire that the Inhabitants of said County and Adventurers theither shall Inioy all the same Imunityes from Customes, for Exporting Certine goods from these Realmes of England &c theither, as the Kinge hath beene gratiously pleased to grant to us, as alsoe for ye Incorragement of the Manufactors of Wine Silke, Oyle, Ollives, fruits, almonds &c menconed in the Pattent have priveledge for bringing them Custome free into any of his Maiestyes Dominions for the same time, and upon the same tearmes, as wee Ourselves may by Our Pattent doe;./.
And that the Planting of the County aforesaid may be the more spedily Promoted;
You are to take notice that wee doe hereby graunt unto all persons whoe have already adventured theither or shall transeport themselves or Sarvants theither, before the five and Twentith day of December wch: shalbe in the yeare of Our Lord One thousand Six hundred Sixty and Nine, these following proportions of Land, vizt. Sixty acres English measure, to every freeman and as much to his wife if hee have one; and to every free-woman that already is or shall arrive into the said County with a Sarvant or Sarvants to plant, within the time aforesaid Sixty acres like measure; to a Master or Mistris for every able man Sarvant he or shee shall bringe or send as aforesaid being each of them armed wth a good fierlocke or matchlocke bore, twelve bullets to the pound, tenn pound of powder and twenty pound of bullets with match proportionable, sixty acres; And fifty acres like measure for every other sort of Sarvant, he or shee shall bringe within the time aforesaid; and to every of these Sarvants soe transported within the time aforesaid fifty acres like measure to their proper use and behoofe, when their time of Servitude is Expired; all which Lands and all other that shalbe possessed there, are to be held on the same tearmes and Conditions as is [26] before mentioned, and as is hereafter in the following Paragraphes more at Large Exprest;
And that the Lands may be the more Regulerly laid out and all persons the better
asertained of there tytles and possessions./.
You are to take care and direct that all lands be devided by Generall Lotts none Less then two thousand two hundred acres nor more then twenty two thousand acres in each lott, except in Cittyes townes &c, and the neare Lotts of towneships, and that the same be undecimally devided one Eleaventh part by lott to us, our heires and assignes, the remaynor to persons as they come to plant ye same in such proportions as is allowed;./.
Item That you or whome you shall depute in Case of death or absence; if some one be not before Comissionated by us as aforesaid, doe give to every person to whome Land is due, a Warrant Signed and Sealed by yor: selfe, and the Maior parte of yor: Councill, and directed to the Surveyor Generall or his deputy, Comanding him to ley out Lymitt and bound [blank] acres of Land (as his due proportion is, for such a person in such alottment, according to which warrant the Register have first recorded ye same, and attested the record upon the warrant; the Surveyor Generall or his Deputy shall proceed; and Certifie to the Cheefe Secrytary or register ye name of the person for whome he hath Leyed out land; by virtur of what authority ye date of the Authority or Warrant, the number of acres, the bounds and on what point of the Compas the Severall Lymitts there of lye, which Certificate ye Register is Likewaye to Enter in a booke to be prepared for that purpose, with an Alphabeticall table, referring to the booke, yt see the Certificate may be the easyer found; and then to fyle the Certificate, and the same to keepe Safely;./.
The Certificate being Entered a Warrant Comprehending all the perticculers of Land mentioned in the Certificate aforesaid is to be prepared by the Secrytary, and Signed and Sealed by you and yor: Councill or the Maior: part of them as aforesd: (they haveing seene the Entery) and directed to the Register or Cheefe Secrytary for his prepareing a Grant of the Land to the party, for whom it is leyed out, which Graunt shalbe in the forme following vizt
The Lords Propryators of the Province of Carolina doe hereby graunt unto A: B: of the County of Albemarle1 in the province [27] aforesaid, a plantation in the said County Contayning [blank] acres English measure, bounding (as in the said Certificate) to hold to him (or her) his (or her) heires or assignes for eaver, Yeilding and paying yearely to the said Lords Propryators their heires or assignes every five and twentith day of March according to the English acco: one halfe penny of Lawfull English mony for every of the said acres, to be holden of the Manor of [blank] in free and Comon Soccage, the first paymt: of which rent to begin on ye five and twentith day of March, which shalbe in the yeare of Our Lord One thousand Six hundred and Seaventy according to the English acco: Given under the Seale of the County of Albemarle the [blank] day of [blank] in ye year of Our Lord [blank]
To which Instrument the Governor: or his deputy hath hereby full Authority to put the seale of the said County and to Subscribe his name, and alsoe the Councell or Maior: parte of them, and to Subscribe there names, and then the Instrewment or Graunt is to be by the Register, recorded in a booke of records for that purpose, all which being done according to these Instructions, wee hereby declare; that the same shalbe effectuall in Law, for the Inioyment of the said plantation, and all the bennifitts and profitts of and in the same, Except one halfe parte of Mynes of Gold and Silver, paying the rent as aforesaid; Provided that if any plantation soe graunted, shall by the space of three yeares, be neglected to be planted wth a Suffitient Number of Servants, as is before mentioned that then it shalbe Lawfull for us otherwayse to dispose thereof, in whole or in parte, this graunt notwthstanding;./.
Wee doe also graunt Convenient proportions of Land for highwayes and for Streetes, not Exceeding one hundred foote in breadth in Cittyes townes villages &e for Churches, forts, wharfes, keyes harbours, and for publicke howses, and to each parish for the use of their Ministers one hundred acres, in such places as the Generall Assembly shall appoint;./.
Item you are to take notice that all such lands leyed out for the uses and purposes in the next preceeding artickle shalbe free and Exempt from all rents taxes, and other Charges or dutyes whatsoever payable to us our heires or assignes ;./.
Item That in leying out lands for Cittyes, townes villages, Burroughs or other hamlets the said Lands be undecimally devided, one Eleaventh part to be by lott laid out for us, and the rest devided to such as shalbe willing to build thereon; they [28] paying after the rate of one halfe penny p acre yearely to us, as for there other lands as aforesd: which said lands in Cittyes townes &c is to bee assured to each possessor: by the same way and Instrewment, as is before Mentioned;./.
Item, That all rules relateing to building of each streete, and quantity of ground to be alloted to each howse, within the said respective Cittyes, Burroughs and townes, be wholy left by act as aforesd: to the wisdome and discretion of ye Genrll Assembly;./.
Item, The Inhabitants of said County have free passage, through or by any Seas, Sounds, Creekes, Rivers, Rivelets &c in the said province of Carolina, through or by which they must necessaryly pass, to come from the Mayne Ocean to the County aforesaid or any parte of the Province aforesaid./.
Albemarle Craven Ashley Jo Berkelay G: Carteret P Colleton
