Selections relating to the period of the Tuscarora War (1711-1713). Tuscaroras, Senecas, Meherrins, Mattamuskeets and Englishmen refusing to serve in the war against the Tuscaroras and their allies are mentioned.
EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF NORTH CAROLINA.
[From the originals in the office of the Secretary of State.]
July 31, 1712.–The Honorable the Governor having represented to this board that there is a necessity to send an express to one Martin, an Indian trader on the head of Potomack, to get intelligence from him of the motion of the Seneca Indians: Ordered, that the governor do send such person as he shall think fit to the said Martin, with such letters and instructions as he shall think proper.
July 31, 1712.–It is ordered by this board, that a messenger be forthwith sent with instructions from the governor to the nation of Indians called the Saponees, to endeavor to get them to engage with us in this present war against the heathen, upon such conditions as they shall think fit; and to promise them on behalf of this government, that if their wives and children will come into this country, they shall be protected and provided for in the mean while.
September 12, 1712.–Upon complaint to this board by Colonel Mitchell and Colonel Alexander Mackey, that they have received divers concurring informations against Thomas Cox, senior, and William Stafford, senior, of Currituck, for that they did in a mutinous manner seduce and draw aside divers men who had enlisted in the service of this government, to the great detriment of the present expedition against the Indian enemy:
Whereupon it is ordered by this board, that the Hon. Major William Reed do issue out his orders to such persons as he shall think fit, to apprehend and take the said Thomas Cox and William Stafford, and carry them before the said Colonel Mitchell and Colonel Mackey, to be punished as the laws in that case require. Only in case they should be adjudged to death, it is hereby ordered that the execution be suspended until further orders from this board; of which advice is given to Colonel Mitchell and Colonel Mackey.
October 22, 1712.–Whereas it does appear to this board that there is likely to be very great want of provisions to supply the wants of the army that is daily expected from South Carolina, as well as for our own forces now in arms against the Indians:
It is ordered by this board, that no grain be exported out of this government, either by land or water, until further order from this board; and that all officers concerned in the clearing of any vessels do have due regard to this order.
November 5, 1712.– Whereas we are now credibly informed that Colonel James Moore may be daily expected in with the South Carolina forces:
It is hereby ordered that the Honorable the President, Thomas Pollock, do give such instructions and make such agreements or treaties with the said Colonel Moore or the Indians, in relation to carrying on this war, as he shall think convenient, and enter into such other articles or agreements with Tom Blount, or any other of the neighboring Indians, as he shall think proper.
January 9, 1712-13.–Upon examination of a Seneca Indian, taken by one of the South Carolina Indians in their march hither, it does appear that the said Indian was sent by the Senecas, pursuant to an order from the government of New York, to caution the Tuscaroras against going to war with the English here; for which reason it is thought fit that the said Indian be purchased from the South Carolina Indian by the public, and sent back to his own nation’: and therefore, It is ordered and agreed, that the Honorable the President do purchase the said Indian on behalf of the public, and take care that he be sent as aforesaid; and that in consideration of the said president paying for the said Indian, and for the trouble he has had with the rest of the Indians, he do have and take, to his own use, three Tuscarora men and one Mattamuskeet, now in his custody.
January 9, 1712-13.–It appearing to this board that two Core Indians taken and sent in hither from Virginia, are slaves belonging to one Mr. Drayton and one Mr. Wright, inhabitants of South Carolina:
It is ordered, that the said Indians be delivered to Colonel James Moore, for the use and on the behalf of the owners aforesaid.
January 12, 1712-13.–Whereas Colonel Edward Mosely was instructed by the Assembly of this province to send an address from the said Assembly to the Governor of Virginia, which said address has been carelessly lost or otherwise embezzled by the said Mosely: whereupon it is ordered by this board, that the provost marshal or his deputy do take the said Mosely into custody until he shall give good security to appear before the next Assembly, to answer the aforesaid neglect, and that in the mean while he be of his good behavior.
January 12, 1712-13.–It is ordered by this board, that the Honorable the President do give such instructions as he shall think fit to Major Gale, who is hereby appointed to wait on the Governor of Virginia, in order to concert such measures as may be thought proper in the disposal of what moneys or other things the government of Virginia has contributed toward carrying on the war against the Indian enemy.
May 8, 1713.–It is ordered by this board, that the Honorable the President be empowered of himself to negotiate any affair relating to the war, either with Colonel Moore or any others, and to send into Virginia and order so much of the money given to this government, by them to be laid out in provisions or other necessaries, as he shall think fit.
At a council holden at the house of the Hon. Thomas Pollock, Esq., in Chowan, on the 25th day of June, Anno Domini 1713: present, the Hon. Thomas Pollock, Esq., president, and
The Hon. Thomas Boyd, Esq., Lords Proprietors’ Deputies.
” ” Nath. Chevin, Esq.,
” ” Christopher Gale, Esq.,
” ” T. Knight, Esq.,
The Honorable the President having reported to this board that King Blount hath brought in and delivered up to him eight of our enemy Indian men, and further signifying his intention of sending a vessel to the West Indies, and that he is willing to buy said Indians, in order to send them off in his said vessel, and be accountable to the public for the same:
Whereupon it is ordered and agreed by this board, that the Honorable the President have and take the said eight Indian men to his own use, he paying and allowing to the public the sum of ten pounds per Indian, with which he saith he is content.
August 7, 1713.–Whereas complaint has been made to this board by Major James Coles, that Thomas Bayley, Arthur Winchester, John Winslow, Joseph Fitch, John Newby, Benjamin Munday, William Ellot, and Jonathan Sherwood, in a mutinous manner did contemn and resist the lawful authority of this government, being impressed on an expedition against the Indian enemy:
Wherefore it is ordered by this board, that the provost marshal or his deputy do take the several persons above named into his custody, and them hold until they give good security to appear at the next general court, to answer the said complaint, and in the mean while to be of their good behavior.
August 7, 1713.–It is ordered by this board, that the Honorable the President be fully empowered to treat with the Meherrin Indians, and to enter into such articles or agreements with them, on behalf of this government, as he shall think fit.
August 19, 1713.–Upon complaint made to this board by Daniel Gutheree, deputy-marshal for the precinct of Pasquotank, that Robert Morgan, John Sawyer, senior, John Sawyer, junior, Edward Williams, Richard Hastins, and Robert Sawyer, did utterly refuse to pay the fine of five pounds due from them by act of Assembly, for not going out in the Indian war; and, in contempt of the said act, did, by force and arms, rescue and take from him, the said marshal, divers goods, on which he had made distress for the same, pursuant to the said act:
Whereupon it is ordered by this board, that the provost marshal or his deputy do forthwith take the several persons above named into his custody, and them hold until they give good security for their appearance at the next general court, to answer the said complaint, and that in the mean while they be of their good behavior.
At a council, holden at the house of the Hon. Thomas Pollock, in Chowan, on Saturday, the 23d of January, 1713-14: present, the Hon. Thomas Pollock, Esq., president, and
The Hon. Nath. Chevin, Esq., Lords Proprietors’ Deputies.
” ” William Reed, Esq.,
” ” J. Knight, Esq.,
Complaint being made to this board by King Blount and divers of his great men, that the Meherrin Indians have taken two Indian children belonging to the said Blount, and whose parents are at amity with us, and do detain the same as slaves:
Wherefore it is resolved by this board, that the president do write to the said Meherrin Indians, commanding them to deliver the said Indians, as they will answer the contrary at their peril, and, upon refusal, that the president do take such further measures as he shall think fit to compel them thereto.
April 7, 1714.–CaptainWilliam Hancock, having complained to this board that he, having impressed and commanded John Tanyhill, William Hutson, Francis Hill, Edmund Pearce, Thomas Jones, George Moy, John Human, John Slocumb, Thomas Masters, John Shearrel, Christopher Miller, to march out with him against the Indian enemy, they utterly refused to obey his command, in contempt of the authority of this government:
Therefore it is ordered by this board, that the provost marshal of the county of Bath do take the several persons above named into his custody, until they give good security for their appearance at the next general court, to answer the said complaint.
April 14, 1713.–It is ordered by this board, that if, for the future, any Indians shall be sent in to the Honorable the President, for any crimes of misdemeanors, the said president is hereby fully empowered to inflict such immediate punishment on them as he shall think the crime requires, or as might or could be done if the council were there present.
Entry above from History of North Carolina: With Maps and Illustrations. Volume: 2. Contributors: Francis L. Hawks – author. Publisher: E.J. Hale & Son. Place of Publication: Fayetteville, NC. Publication Year: 1858. (pp 396-401)