The Memorial and Remonstrance of William Skinner, In Behalf of The people Calld. Quakers,

Most Humbly Sheweth,

That by an Act of The General Assemb^l^y of North Carolina, It is Enacted, That all and every of The aforesaid People, That shall neglect or Refuse taking the Affirmation of Allegiance to this State, shall be Disabled from having any Lands, by Deed of Gift, Descent or Purchase, and Shall be further Disabled from prosecuting any Suit at Law or Equity &c &c

Your Memoralist Most Humbly represent to your Honours, That in Consequence of this before Recited Act, They are Totally Disabled to Enter a Caveat or Set up any Claim to any Lands which they hold by Pattent, Deed or Descent, Should the Same be Entred in the Land Office by Such as have Complyd. with the Law. And your Memoralist represent it is an undeniable fact, That the Greatest part (if not all) the Lands in Possession of the People Called Quakers in the County of Perquimans, and Pasquotank, is at this time under Entries Lately made, and unless The General Assembly interpose, The time will very shortly be so far Elapsed, That Warrants will Issue, in order to Make Surveys, and Obtain Grants for the Same, by reason That the Present Proprieters are Totally without any Protection or Benefit of the Law. Which with all Due Submission, I think Extreamly hard, That any Society of Quiet orderly People should be so Distressed as it appears (without you interpose) they Certainly will. And Altho they may not be Such as our Law Deem Citizens, They are Such as render the State Esential Services, They pay a Very Large proportion of Taxes, and by Cultivating and Improving their Lands, Afford Ample Supplys for Market, and Should Should the General Assembly Suffer them to be Deprived of their Possessions, The Publick will Loose: an Annual income of Thousands of Pounds.

The Society in General Retain a Very Greatfull Sence of the Many Indulgensies Extended to them by the General Assembly of North Carolina from time to time, And at This time they Look up to Your Honours for Some Protection.

Your Memoralist, Therefore most Earnestly Solicite in their Behalf. That a further Indulgence may be Granted them, That an Act Imediately pass; to Enable them to Enter Caveats, and Set up Claims to any Lands, which is (at present) or May be Entred, that they may have held by Pattent, Deed, or Descent, and that they may be Enabled to Prosecute Suits at Law, so far as Relates to their Lands.

The Legislature will undoubtedly interpose, and Not Suffer so usefull a Society of people to be Deprived of their Possessions and Become Tenn[ants] or perhaps what is much worse, to be Turned out of Doors, Which I flatter my self was not thought would be the Consequence, at the time of Passing that Law