Regulators Petition |
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Petition dated 9 October 1769.
"Mr. Speaker and Gen't of the Assembly.
Humbly Showeth:
That the Province in General labour under general grievances, and
the western part thereof under particular ones; which we not only
see, but very sensibly feel, being crouch'd beneath our sufferings
and not withstanding our sacred privileges, have too long yielded
ourselves slaves to remorseless oppression. - Permit us to conceive
it to be our inviolable right to make known our grievances, and to
petition for redress as appears in the Bill of Rights pass'd in the
reign of King Charles the first, as well as the Act of Settlement of
the Crown of the Revolution. We therefore beg leave at the Act of
the Settlement of the Crown of the Revolution. We therefore beg
leave to lay before you a specimen thereof that your compassionate
endeavors may tend to the relief of your injured Constituents, whose
distressed condition call aloud for aid. The alarming cries of the
oppressed possibly may reach your ears; but without your zeal how
they shall ascend the throne - how relentless is the breast without
sympathy, the heart that cannot bleed on a view of our calamity; to
see tenderness removed, cruelty stepping in; and all our liberties
and privileges invaded and abridg'd (by as it were) domestickes; who
are conscious of their guilt and void of remorse. - O how darling! how
relentless whilst impending Judgements loudly threaten and gaze
upon them, with every emblem of merited destruction.
A few of the many grievances are as follows, (viz't)
1. That the poor inhabitants in general are much oppress'd by reason of the disproportionate Taxes, and those of the western Counties in particular; as they are geneally in mean circumstances.
2. That no method is prescribed by law for the payment of the taxes of the Western Counties in produce (in lieu of a currency) as in other Counties within this Province to the Peoples great oppression.
3. That Lawyers, Clerks, and other petitioners; in place of being obsequious Servants for the Country's use, are become a nuisance, as the business of the people is often transacted without the least degree of fairness, the intention of the law evaded, exorbitant fees extorted, and the sufferers left to mourn under their oppressions.
4. That an Attorney should have it in his power, either for the sake of ease or interest, or to gratify their malevolence and spite, or commence suits to what courts he pleases, however inconvenient it may be to the Defendants; is a very great oppression.
5. That all unlawful fees taken in Indictment, where the Defendant is acquited by his Country (however customary it may be) is an oppression.
6. That Lawyers, Clerks, and others, extorting more fees than is intended by law; is also an oppression.
7. That the violation of the King's Instructions to his Delegates, their artfulness in concealing the same from him; and the great injury the People thereby sustains: is a manifest oppression.
And for remedy whereof, we take the freedom to recommend the following mode of redress, not doubting audience and acceptance which will not only tend to our relief, but command prayers at a duty from your humble Petitioners.
1. That at all elections each suffrage be given by Ticket &
Ballot.
2. That the mode of Taxation be altered, and each person
pay in proportion to the proffits arising from his Estate.
3. That no future tax be laid in Money, until a currency is
made.
4. That there may be established a Western as well as a
Northern and Southern District, and a Treasurer for the same.
5. That when a currency is made it may be let out by a loan
office (on land security) and a Treasurer for the same
6. That all debts above 60s (shillings) and under 10 pounds
be tried and determined without lawyers, by a jury of six
freeholders, impaneled by a Justice, and that their verdict be
enter'd by the said Justice, and be a final judgement.
7. That the Chief Justice have no perquisites, but a Salary
only.
8. That Clerks be restricted in respect to fees, costs, and
other things within the course of their office.
9. That Lawyers be effectively Barr'd from exacting and
extorting fees.
10. That all doubts may be removed in respect to the
payment of fees and costs on Indictments whereas the
Defendant is not found guilty by the jury, and therefore
acquited.
11. That the Assembly make known the Remonstrance to
the King, the conduct of the cruel and oppressive Receiver
of the Quit Rents, for omitting the customary easie and
effectual method of collecting by distress, and pursuing the
expensive mode of commencing suits in the most distant
Courts.
12. That the Assembly in like manner make known that
the Governor and Council fo frequently grant lands to as
many as they think proper without regard to Head Rights,
notwithstanding the contrariety of his Majesties instructions,
by which means immence sums has been collected, and
numerous Patents granted, for much of the most fertile lands
in this Province, that is yet uninhabited and cultivated,
environed by great numbers of poor people who are
necessitated to toil in the cultivation of bad Lands whereon
they hardly can subsist, who are thereby deprived of His
Majesties liberality and Bounty nor is there the least regard
paid to the cultivation clause in said Patent mentioned, as
many of the said Council as well as their friends and favorites
enjoy large quanitities of Lands under the above-mentioned
circumstances.
13. That the Assembly communicates in like manner the
Violation of His Majesties Instructions respecting the Land
Office by the Governor and Council, and of their own rules,
customs and orders. If it be sufficiently proved, that after
they had granted Warrants for some Tracts of Land, and
that the same was in due time suvey'd and returned and the
Patent fees timely paid into the said office; and that if a
private Council was called to avoid spectators, and
peremptory orders made that Patents should not be granted;
and Warrants by their orders arbitrarily to have been issued
in the names of other Persons for the same Lands, and if
when intreated by a solicitor they refus'd to render so much
as a reason for their so doing, or to refund any part of the
money paid by them extorted.
14. That some method may be pointed out that every
Improvement on Lands in any of the Proprietors part be
proved when begun, by whom, and every sale made, that the
eldest may have the preference of at least 300 acres.
15. That all taxes in the following Counties be paid as in
other Counties in the Province (i.e.) in the produce of the
County and that warehouses be erected as follows (viz),
In Anson County at Isom Haleys Ferry Landing on PeeDee
River, Rowan and Orange at Cambleton in Cumberland County,
Mecklenburg at __?___ on the Catawba River, and in Tryon
County at __?__ on __?__ River.
16. That every denomination of People may marry according
to their respective mode Ceremony and customs after due
publication or License.
17. That Doc't Benjamin Franklin or some other known
patriot be appointed agent, to represent the unhappy state
of this Province to his Majesty, and to solicit the several
Boards in England.
John Snor-------------------Jonathan Gowers----------------Jason Meadow
Isaac Armstrong-----------Stokey Yeamons-----------------Robert Broadaway
William Thomson---------Thomas Harper------------------Samuel Tonehberg
Auth'd Hutchins----------- John Johnson------------------- Samuel Flake
Seamor Almond ----------- James Upton------------------- Thomas Balice
Isaac Falconberg -------- Jacob Watson------------------- John Preslie
Francis Smith--------------- Isham Belvin------------------- John Cartright
John Jeffrey------------------- Owen Slaughter------------------- Thomas Lacy
Neal French------------------- Thomas Wright------------------- John Jackson
Jero Miller------------------- Patrick Sanders------------------- Joseph French
Tiery Robinson------------------- John Ryle------------------- William Newberry
Gabrill Davis------------------- John Culpepper------------------- Leonard Webb
Aquila Jones------------------- John Jones, Sr.------------------- Julius Holley
Thomas Tallant------------------- Wm. Grifen Hogon-------------- John James Junr.
James Denson------------------- Robert Maner------------------- John James Senr
William Raiford------------------- John Watts------------------- Jimmey James
John I. Merree ------------------- John Davis ------------------- Jonathan Helms
George Wilson------------------- Richard Leak------------------- Tilmon Helms
Robert Webb------------------- Charles Hines------------------- James Sanders
Thomas Taylor------------------- James McIlvanilly---------------- John Bailey
David Smith------------------- Van Swearingen------------------- Samuel Gaylord
James Barker------------------- William Hore------------------- Richard Sands
John Mims----------------------- Joseph Martin------------------- Jason Irol Hinsinbru
John Brooks Junr---------------- Thomas Nelson---------------- Thomas Preslar
William C.B.Bond---------------- William Burns------------------- Thomas Culpepper
John Bond---------------------- John Leveritt---------------------- Daniel Culpepper
Moses M. Tallant---------------- Theofilis Williams------------------- John Snider
Benjamin Dumas ---------------- William Leveritt------------------- William Mims
Joseph White------------------ James Williams---------------------- Robert Smith
William Sidden----------------- John Coleman---------------------- Zachariah Smith
Silvannus Waker---------------- Meeagar Edwards------------------- John Smith
John Smith (Sandhill)----------- Anthony Mathis------------------- John Thomas
David Dumas------------------- Fagan Gring ------------------------- William Burt
Benjamin Smith------------------- Samuel Ratcliff------------------- Edward Smith
William Benton------------------- John Long-------------------------- Elijah Clark
William Coleman------------------- Charles Smith------------------- John Clark
Alexander McPherson-------------- James Bound (Bond?)-------- James Adams
E. Pickett ---------------------------- Abraham Pelyou------------------- Thomas Mason Junr
Thomas Gowers------------------- Jason Meadow Junr------------- John Bennet
Jonathan Turner------------------- Daniel Laws ----------------------- Thadwick Hogins
Barnabee Skipper------------------- Abraham Bellow------------------- Thomas Barrotz
George Skipper------------------- Thomas Donnor ------------------- James E. Arnet
John Jenkins----------------------- Joseph Hindes------------------- Thomas Trull
David Phelps----------------------- William Haley ------------------- William Cukpepper
John McNish ----------------------- Francis Clark------------------- John Thomas Suggs
Jonathan Lewellyn ---------------- Jeremiah Terrell ------------------- John Hornbeck
Leonard Franklyn------------------- Darass Burns------------------- William Dinkins
Edward Almond ------------------- Thomas Baley------------------- Thomas Dinkins
Thomas Mims------------------- Stephen Bush--------------------- Marverick Layn
John Stinkberry ------------------- Jacob Cockerham----------------- Waterman Boatman
William Leaton------------------- John Flowel --------------------- John Simmons
Luke Robinson------------------- Stephen Jackson---------------- Augustine Prestwood
John Webb----------------------- John Jones --------------------- Richard Downs
Andrew Griffin ------------------- Archelam Moorman---------------- Samuel Ratcliff Junr
George Estress------------------- William Digge------------------- Elisha Ratcliff
James Griffin--------------------- Bennakia Moorman ------------------- John Poston
William Estress------------------- William Haley Junr ------------------- John Poston senr
Stephen Bush--------------------- John Mathews ------------------- Ned Mathes
Joseph Burcham ------------------ James Mathews ------------------- Benjamin Bunt
Stephen Piecock------------------- Joseph Webb----------------------- Jowl Jormal
Robert Jarman ------------------- Andrew Falconbery ---------------- Yomond Lloyd
William Thredgill ------------------- Isaac Falconbert Junr----------- Thomas Lucas
Robert Lowery ------------------- Henry Falconbery ------------------- Wlliam Lucas
Denes Norlen---------------------- David Cox ------------------------ Christopher Butler
Lewis Lowery ---------------------- John Horback------------------- John Sowel
Edward Chambers---------------- Beaty Web----------------------- Edward Morris
Thomas Pickett------------------- Isaac Inceste ------------------- William Treneen
William Ussery ------------------- William Web------------------- John Williams
William Jowers------------------- Walter Gibson------------------- John Burcham
Shadrach Denson ---------------- Silvester Gibson--------------- William Sowel
Joseph Harrison----------------- Burlingham Rudd-------------- John Carpenter
Joseph Howelt------------------- John Murphy---------------------- Francis Jourden
Thomas Ussery------------------- John Liles ---------------------- Henry Burcham
John Thomas------------------- James Liles---------------------- William Morris
Benjamin Covington------------- Thomas Arrington------------------- John Morgan
Isam Haley ----------------------- Thomas Mackneih------------------- James Burcham
Silas Haley----------------------- Thomas Fox ---------------------- James Sanders
George Belvin------------------- Henry Stokes ---------------------- Joseph Morris
William Blewet ------------------- John Brooks Junr ------------------- Samuel Sowel
Charles Sowell------------------- William Lucas Junr ------------------- Welcome Ussery
James Gibson------------------- Joseph Allen ---------------------- Matthew Raiford junr
William Gibson ------------------- William Morris Junr------------------- Elisha Thomson
John Hunt-------------------------- Lewis Sowell--------------------- John Thompson
Richard Braswell------------------- John Skinner------------------- Goin C. Morgan
George Braswell ------------------- Jesse Wallas
Ref. Source: "Colonial Records", Vol. VIII, 1769-1771, pp. 81-82 and
pp. 241-244, by Saunders; also: North Carolina History Told By
Contemporaries," pp.87-93, by Lefler; also: "The War of The Regulators
and The Battle of Alamance, May 16, 1771, by William S. Powell.