Whereas by reason of the late Public Disorders and disturbances in the Counties of Anson Rowan, Orange and Mecklenberg it hath been impracticable for Griffeth Rutherford, Francis Lock Andrew Aleson William Temple Coles Charles Medlock Marshall Degge, James Picket, William Picket, John Lea, Tyrree Harris John Butler and James Willie to compleat their collection of Publick Taxes so as to make a settlement with the Justices of the Inferior Court of the said respective Counties at the time Appointed for that Purpose in An Act of Assembly passed at New Bern the fifth day of December in the Eighth year of His Majesty’s Reign intituled An Act to enlarge the time for Sheriffs to settle their Accounts with the Justices of the Inferior Courts of Pleas and Quarter sessions in the Counties therein mentioned Whereby the said Sheriffs and their Respective Securities are become liable to the payment of large sums they were unable to collect within the time by Law Limitted for collecting and accounting for the same

Be it Enacted by the Governor Council and Assembly and by the Authority of the same That the Justices of the said County of Anson Rowan, Orange and Mecklenberg respectively shall and may have full power and Authority in any Inferior Court to be held in their respective Counties within one year from and after the passing of this Act to settle and Account with the said Griffeth Rutherford Francis Lock, Andrew Aleson, William Temple Coles, Charles Medlock, Marshal Degge, James Picket, William Picket, John Lea Tyrree Harris John Butler and James Willie for the collection of the County Tax in the same manner and form as they are impowered by Law to settle for the same and the said Griffeth Rutherfurd, Francis Lock Andrew Aleson, William Temple Coles, Charles Medlock Marshall Degge, James Picket William Picket John Lea, Tyrree Harris, John Butler and James Willie shall be intituled to the same allowance Benefits and Advantages as if the Settlement had been made by them respectively at the time by the said Act allowed and Established and shall have use and exercise the same power and Authority to make distress for levies and be intituled to the same commissions and allowance as by Law Sheriffs are intituled to.

CO 5/340, fs. 207-208