This series of orders from the North Carolina Colonial Record (Second Series, Vol. VII) – 1711-1712, explains the colonies intentions against the Tuscarora and Bay River Indians in the wake of the September 22, 1711 Indian revolt against the colonists along the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers.
<1711, Novr.> It is by this board agreed and ordered that the Hon. the President have power and liberty to send for any of the country Indians, and demand tribute of them, when he shall think fit.
<1711, Novr.> Whereas the Hon. the President has been pleased to communicate his intentions to this board, of constituting the Hon. Major Gen. Pollock Surveyor general of this colony; which is wholly inherent in himself, yet desiring the Council’s concurrence, they heartily and willingly concur in the same.
<1712, Feby.> This board having taken into their consideration the necessity of disposing by sale of the Indian Captives now in custody, called the Bay River Indians, who not only have been privy and consenting to the late bloody massacre, but have actually assaulted by force and arms, several of the inhabitants of this government: as well to prevent unnecessary charge as to refund several considerable sums of money, which have been disbursed on emergent occasions by the Hon. Edwd. Hyde President and the Hon. Col. Pollock Edq. for the publick service: Ordered that the said Bay River Indians be brought to Capt. John Heckelfield’s, the third day of the next Genl. Court, and there be exposed to public sale by the Provost Marshal or his deputy, by way of Vendue, to the highest bidder, the purchaser giving security in the sum of one thousand pounds to export the said Indians out of the government, in one month after the said purchase; and likewise the purchaser to give bond with good security for the payment of the purchase money in November next to the Hon. Edward Hyde Esq. President and the Hon. Col. Thos. Pollock Esqr.
<1712, Feby.> Ordered that an address of thanks be returned to the government of South Carolina for the seasonable succours and releif sent unto us under the Command of the Hon. Col. John Barnewell Esq. against the Tuscarora Indians now in open hostility, procured by the solicitations of the Hon. Edwd. Hyde Esqr. President.
<1712, Feby.> Ordered that the Hon. Leiutenant Col. Thomas Boyd and Thomas Peterson Esq. do return the hearty thanks of this board to the Hon. Col. John Barnwell Esq. Genl. and Commander in chief of all the forces etc., for his great care, diligence and conduct; and to congratulate him on the success already obtained against the Enemy.
<1712, Feby> Ordered that five hundred bushels of corn be immediately raised and sent round to Bath County for the use and subsistence of the forces now come from South Carolina for our succour: and then shall be delivered at such place or places as the Genl. shall appoint.
Whereas a most horrid and bloody massacre has been committed upon several of the inhabitants of this government by the Tuscarora Indians, their adherents and abettors, and whereas upon the representation of the same by the Hon. <1712 Feby.> Edward Hyde Esqr. President etc. to the Government of South Carolina soliciting their relief and succor, has in tender compassion to the wretched state of this pour country, detached a considerable force under the command of the Hon. Col. John Barnwell Esqr. Commander in Chief to defend us from the imminent danger with which we are threatened and very much exposed to. It is therefore Resolved, by the honorable the President with the unanimous advice and consent of the Council of this Government that vigorous resolutions be pursued for carrying on the war, as follows,
First. That no treaty of peace, neutrality or commerce shall be agreed or concluded between this Government and the upper towns of the Tuscaroras until such time as they deliver up such indians of their own towns either alive or dead as were joined with Handcock and his crew being sufficiently manifest not only by the confession of the prisoners taken belonging to those towns, but also by the great quantity of English goods and clothes with the scalps of white people found there, as by the deposition of the Hon. Col. John Barnwell Esqr. Genl. of the forces aforesaid plainly appears. And it is further ordered that an address be presented from this board to the Governor of Virginia praying him that he will be pleased to acquaint those towns with reasons for it.
2ndly. That the Indians in those towns actually joining with Handcock in the massacre, it is resolved that no peace, or any terms whatsoever be agreed with them but entirely to extirpate them according to the laudable custom of South Carolina.
3rdly. For the carrying on so good a work for the future peace and tranquility of this and our neighbor Governments it is resolved that at least two hundred men be raised for four months to concert with the forces of South Carolina and that for the subsistence as well of those forcesa s of the forces of South Carolina it is resolved that Magazines be erected on the rivers of Neuse and Pamplico at such places as shall be ordered by the Commander in Chief of the said expedition.
And whereas it most unfortunately happened that Major Christopher Gale, who was sent by this Government to South Carolina to negotiate this affair is not yet arrived in this Government, though he set out from South Carolina for this place in a Sloop with stores and amunition etc., three months since, by reason whereof we are utterly ignorant of the treaty or measures concerted between him on our parts and the Government of South Carolina for carrying on this war;
4thly. It is resolved that together with the address of thanks we supplicate the Government of South Carolina that they would be so favorable to us either to send a copy of the said treaty or such instructions to the Commander of their forces to enter into such further treaty here as well with this Government as with the Government of Virginia to concert proper measures to give the finishing stroke to a work so well begun.
Ordered that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the Neighboring Governments.
Ordered that a sloop, shallop, boat or Cannoo, be immediately impressed with men and provisions suitable to be sent to South Carolina to acquaint that Government with our proceedings, relating to our present state of affairs.
This board adjourned till Tomorrow, Eight of the Clock.
*The Hawks document is a transcription made by the historian Francis Lister Hawks in the late 1850s from the original then in the office of the secretary of state of North Carolina, and in part published in Hawk’s History of North Carolina: with Maps and Illustrations (Fayetteville: E.J. Hale & Son, 2 volumes, 1857-1858), II, 392-396. It is headed “Extracts from ‘A Book of the orders, judgments & decrees of the Hon. Edward Hyde Esq. President, and his council,'” and is in the Francis L. Hawks and General Convention Collection of Early Episcopal Church Manuscripts, Archives of the Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas, by whose permission it is printed here. The original has not been located.
Entry above from The Colonial Records of North Carolina (Second Series) Volume VII: Records of the Executive Council 1664-1734. Edited by Robert J. Cain. ©1984 by The North Carolina State Division of Archives and History. (pp 8-10)