Edenton Decembr. the 7th Day 1754.

Sir

I Received your Excellency's Command Dated the 4th of last Month Relating to the Militia of Chowan County In Obedience to which I have herewith Transmited to you, Every thing therein Mention'd in the best Manner it was in my Power.

1st. I have Enclos'd to your Excellency the Most Exact Muster Roll of the Regiment under my Command I could Possibly Obtain.

2d. I have Also Enclos'd to you A list of the Several field Officers and Captains in My Regiment According to their Seniority And the best Description of the Several Districts of Each Comp[any] I could get from the Captains.

3d. I [have] [illegible][illegible] what Captains are Dead or removd which is only Capt. James Farlee that is dead, therefore I could Not come properly at the Description of his District nor the Date of his Commission. But there is None remov'd out of their Destricts That I can be Inform'd of under My Command. I Can't properly Recommend Any Person in the Room of Capt. Farlee Deceas'd if my Observations on the 4th Article Should take place. But if they [illegible] I recommend Wm. Walton to Supply his Po[st].

4th. The Regiment I now Command wants Some Regulations in as your Excellency will Observe from the Several lists now Return'd for Some Companys are About 57 Men Others 125 and one 189 wch Are no ways in Proportion. What I would Observe on this Article is That after your Excellency hath Appointed Such Captains As you Shall think proper I would Advise to leave a Blank In Each Commission only to Describe the District & bounds of Each Company & to make them Consist as near as possible of about 80 Men Each Including Officers, which then will Allow of one Captain More to be Added & it would be Much More Commodious & Agreeable [illegible, possibly “please turn”] To the People in General, and the Several Companys would be very full.

V. There are no Arms in his Majesty's Stores Belonging to My Regiment, But as to Ammunition there is 400 lb. weight of Bullets And Swan Shot, and there is an Order of the last Chowan County Court to Purchase 100 weight of Gun powder at the Expence of the County and that is all.

6th. There has no Defects Occur'd to me on the Militia Law, B[eside] the Small Allowance to the Officers & the Extravagant ones allow'd to Common Soldiers.

7th. There is but one Indian Nation in Chowan County Which are Called the Chowan Indians, But their Strength is Nothing, and their Condition very Deplorable By the Artifice & Cunning of Some of their Neighbours. I am Informed they Consist of Two men and five women & Child[ren] Which Two w[illegible] [illegible] at any time [illegible] [illegible] I shall leave the foregoing Remarks to yr. More wise & prudent Consideration.

I am Sir with the Greatest Regard & Esteem

your Excellency's Most Obedient

and very Humble Servt.

Jas. Craven