Letter from Arthur Dobbs to the Inhabitants of Rocky River, 18 July 1755

  • Transcription

Gentlemen

Govr. Dobbs so understands from the meetings of the Inhabitants of Rockey River that they have entered into a Combination to Offer him a Trifling Sum for the Land they have taken up and proposes to sell and Warrant the said Land to them Notwithstanding they had taken out Patents from No. Carolina to defeat his Claims.

And is Willing to give them their choice of the Land they live upon, or propose to take Up on payment of the Quit rent Survey and £20 Slg ⅌ hundred Acres &ca.

How Govr. Dobbs will proceed against the Persons that will not comply with his demands or Quit their Lands.

And the Terms he will make with those that do comply.

 I understand from the meetings that you have entered into a Combination to offer me a trifling sum for the Land you have taken up and entered upon belonging to me in the tracts No. 5 and No. 2 without any title or Pretence for the same. As I am willing to give you the preference, in regard to your having made some improvements, or residing on your several plantations without prejudiceing my family and to sell them unto you under a title which shall be warranted to you (notwithstanding I hear that several of you have taken out patents from South Carolina in hopes of defeating my Claims) yet as I shall pass over and not take notice of such an attempt against my Legal Right. As you have chosen the richest and most convenient of my Lands for plantations, leaving all you think of little value in my hands, If you expect to keep your possessions I do make you an offer of the choice of the Lands by a reasonable and Convenient [H]earing, what quantity of Land you have settled upon or propose to take up to grant to you and your heirs for ever (paying the quitrent) with as full and Legal a title as is granted by the Crown in North Carolina, at the rate of twenty £ sterling per hundred acres (Exclusive of the Survey and Fee for drawing the deed) and if any of the Farms are of Less value than the choicest farms or have less conveniences, then I shall make a proportionable abatement of £15 sterling per hundred acres, this sum 3 or 4 horses or two or three acres of good Indigo will pay the purchase, If you can think better elsewhere you have free Liberty to remove without my Claiming any thing for the time past or entering illegally upon my Lands without any titles; but if you think it not proper to comply with and wont willingly remove from off the Lands, You must not expect after my Leaving this place I shall again accept of the Terms I now offer you; or give you any preference to Others and that you may expect as soon as I return to New Bern that I shall send Ejectments and put the laws in Execution against all who shall continue on the lands, and at the same time to let you know that such of you as combine to endeavour to make me to part with or sell my Lands at an undervalue to defraud my Children of their right to the Lands, which I have purchas'd at a very considerable sum that I shall equally resolve that None of you shall remain on the Lands. But if any comply with my terms and are not at Present in Circumstances to pay the money, I shall take at the rate of £3 Sterling per Acre as a rent and Interest untill such time as they can pay off the principal money of the purchase agreed upon; this I give under my hand as my ultimate Resolution this 18th of July 1755.

Arthur Dobbs