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1663--1776. 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWIN WEXLER KENNEDY. 
 
 A Dissertation Presented to the Board of University 
 
 Studies of the Johns Hopkins University in 
 
 Conformity with the Requirements for the 
 
 Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. 
 
 1897. 
 
 THE J. W. BOND CO. 
 BALTIMORE MO. 
 
 1903. 
 
 
1663-1776. 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWIN WEXLER KENNEDY. 
 
 A Dissertation Presented to the Board of University 
 
 Studies of the Johns Hopkins University in 
 
 Conformity with the Requirements for the 
 
 Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. 
 
 1897. 
 
 THE J. W. BOND CO. 
 BALTIMORE MD. 
 
 1902. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 at 
 
 The aim of this monograph is to present a study in the 
 colonial history of North Carolina, along two lines of thought : 
 (i). The History of Quit-rents, (2). The History of Currency. 
 
 Although these topics are economic in their character, they 
 had no small influence on the political development of the 
 State. They were elements in the estrangement which grad- 
 ually grew between the mother country and the colony, and 
 their history forms a part of the general history of the period. 
 
 In offering this work to the public I desire to acknowledge 
 my indebtedness to Judge Robert W. Winston, of Durham, N. 
 C., to Doctor John C. Kilgo, President of Trinity College, N. 
 C., and to Hon. S. G. Gilbreath, ex-State Supt. of Public Instruc- 
 tion of Tenn. E. W. K. 
 
IN NORTH 
 
 1663-1776, 
 
 CHAPTER I. QUIT-RENTS. 
 
 In 1663 Charles II, as feudal lord of the land which he held in 
 America by the right of discovery, granted to eight persons as 
 tenants-in-chief that portion of land in America lying between 
 thirty-one degrees and thirty-six degrees, north latitude, and 
 the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, (i) In 1665 the grant was ex- 
 tended on the north to thirty-six degrees, thirty minutes 
 and on the south to twenty-nine degrees, north latitude. 
 (2.) By the terms of the grant these persons were created 
 Lords Proprietors with absolute sovereignty "saving always 
 the faith, allegiance, and sovereign dominion, due us, our 
 heirs and successors." (3) They were "to have, hold, use f 
 exercise, and enjoy the same (their privileges) as amply, 
 fully and in as ample manner, as any Bishop of Durham, 
 in our Kingdom of England ever heretofore had, held, 
 used, or enjoyed, or of right ought, or could, have, use or enjoy." 
 (4) It was provided that the Lords Proprietors should hold the 
 lands "in free and common socage and not in capite or by 
 knight service," subject to the payment annually of one-fourth of 
 the gold and silver which should be found therein, and an annual 
 quit-rent of twenty marks. (5) They were authorized to grant 
 land in fee-simple, fee-tail, term of life or years, at such rents, 
 services or customs as they desired, the statute of quia 
 emptores to the contrary notwithstanding. (6). It was the 
 desire of the Lords Proprietors to transport subjects of the 
 British crown from the Kingdom of England and from other 
 countries subject to England, to Carolina, for the purpose of 
 forming a colony for the "propagation of the Christian faith and 
 the enlargement of our empire and dominions." (7). 
 
 (1) Colonial Records of North Carolina I, p. 21. Hereafter cited as C. R. (2) C. R. 
 I, p. 104. (3) C. R. I, p. 103. (4) Bassett's "The Con. Beginnings of N. C.," p. 20, C. 
 R. I, p. 103, (5) C. R. I, p. 104. (G) C. R. I, p. 110. (7) C. R. I. p. 21. 
 
In pursuance of this purpose, in the same year in which the 
 colony came into their possession, the Lords Proprietors made 
 an announcement to the public entitled "A Declaration and 
 Proposals to All That will Plant in Carolina," in which they 
 stated, "We will grant to every present undertaker for his own 
 head one hundred acres of land, to him and his heirs forever, 
 to be held in free and common socage ; and for every man 
 servant that he shall bring or send thither, that is fit to bear arms, 
 armed with a good firelock musket, performed bore, twelve 
 bullets to the pound, and with twenty pounds of powder, and 
 twenty pounds of bullets, fifty acres of land ; and for every 
 woman servant thirty acres ; and to every man servant that 
 shall come within that time, ten acres after the expiration of his 
 time, and to every woman servant six acres after the expiration 
 of her time." (8). These propositions were limited to five 
 years, commencing at the time of the first settlement. (9). The 
 lands so granted were to be held subject to the payment of an 
 annual quit-rent of one half-penny per acre, four shillings, two 
 pence per hundred acres. (10). In 1667 the Lords Proprietors 
 made a proposition to grant sixty acres of land to every head of a 
 family, male or female, sixty acres for every male servant able 
 to bear arms and equipped in a specified manner, and fifty 
 acres each' for other servants composing his or her family, the 
 quit-rent thereon being one half-penny per acre. (n). In the 
 northeastern part of the colony settlements were made by 
 people who held their lands under titles granted by the gov- 
 ernor of the Colony of Virginia at one farthing per acre. In 
 1679 the Lords Proprietors instructed President Harvey and 
 Council to confirm these grants. (12.) Others of the original 
 settlers purchased their lands from the Indians. This part of 
 the colony became Albemarle county, from which grew the 
 State of North Carolina. The assembly of this county peti- 
 tioned the Lords Proprietors concerning the payment of quit- 
 rents. In 1668, in answer to that petition, they made what is 
 generally known as the "Great Deed of Grant." This instru- 
 ment secured to them, their heirs and assigns forever, their 
 lands "upon the same terms and conditions that land is at 
 present usually granted in Virginia." (13). The law of Vir- 
 ginia at this time permitted the tenant to hold his or her land 
 subject to the payment of a quit-rent of two shillings a hun- 
 dred acres, payable at the home of the tenant in tobacco at a 
 penny a pound. (14). In 1669, the Lords Proprietors, accord- 
 
 (8). C. R. I, p. 45. (9). Ibid, p. 45. (10). Ibid, p. 46. (11). C. R. I, p. 156. C. R. V, 
 p. 93. (12) C.R.I, p. 338. (13) C- R. Ill, p. 480, 481. (14) C. R. IV, p. 109. 
 
ing to the one hundred and thirteenth article of the Funda- 
 mental Constitutions, stated that, "Whosoever shall possess any 
 free-hold in Carolina, upon what title or grant soever, shall at 
 the farthest, from and after the year one thousand six hundred 
 and eighty-nine, pay yearly unto the Lords Proprietors, for 
 each acre of land, English measure, as much fine silver as is at 
 this present time in one English penny, or the value thereof, to 
 be as a chief rent and acknowledgement to the Lords Proprie- 
 tors, their heirs and successors forever/' (15). In 1694 the 
 Lords Proprietors instructed Governor Archdale to sell land in 
 the colony, reserving an annual quit-rent of one shilling per 
 hundred acres for some, and four shillings and two pence for 
 other lands. (i6). In regard to the lands lying north of the 
 Cape Fear he was authorized to use his own discretion as to 
 the rate of quit-rent, provided it should not be less than a half- 
 penny per acre. (17). In 1708 the governor was instructed to 
 grant land at a quit-rent of a half-penny per acre, with the pro- 
 viso that no person should have more than six hundred and forty 
 acres. (18). In 1663 an island, about five miles long and two 
 miles in width, lying near the mouth of the Albemarle river, 
 was granted to Sir John Colleton at a quit-rent of a half-penny 
 per acre for all tillable lands, provided that "all others that 
 shall plant in North Carolina pay as much." (19). The gov- 
 ernors were not always obedient to the instructions of the 
 Lords Proprietors. They so abused the power entrusted to 
 them that the Lords Proprietors in 1715 ordered that the land 
 office should be closed, and that the land should be sold only 
 by themselves in London. (20). In violation of this order the 
 governor and council in 1724 allowed people to take lands in 
 Bath County at three shillings per hundred acres. When the 
 Royal period began, the King instructed the governor of the 
 colony that thereafter the rate of quit-rents should be four 
 shillings per hundred acres. (21). 
 
 THE QUIT RENT ROLL. 
 
 The quit-rent roll was a list of names of persons holding land 
 in the colony subject to the payment of quit- rents, showing the 
 location of the land, the number of acres, the rate, and amount 
 of quit-rents to be paid by each person. The method of secur- 
 ing land in the colony was very simple. The colonist petition- 
 ing for a grant of land was required to prove his right before 
 the Governor and as many as four members of the council not 
 
 (IB) C. R. I, p. 204. (16) C. R. I, p. 390, C. R. V, p. 94. (17) C. R. I, p. 391. (18) C. R. 
 V, p. 94. (10) C. R. I, p. 55. (5JO) C. R. V, p. 95. (rilj C. R. V, p. 96. 
 
having any interest in the land. If the land was granted, the 
 warrant was issued by the Governor in council, and recorded in 
 the auditor's office. The warrant was returnable by the surveyor 
 within a year. When the warrant was returned the grant was 
 made and was required to be registered in the secretary's office 
 within six months. (22.) 
 
 In 1713, Governor Pollock and his council met at the resi- 
 dence of the Governor in Chowan precinct, and in compliance 
 with the requirements of the Lords Proprietors concerning the 
 formation of a quit-rent roll, appointed five persons from Cho- 
 wan, two from Perquimans, four from Pasquotank, two from 
 Currituck precincts, and four from Bath county, to take a list of 
 all lands held in their respective precincts, showing how the land 
 was held, how long held and what rent was due. All 
 persons were required to appear before these listers and 
 give on oath the required information by the last day 
 of October of that year. The lands of all persons who 
 failed to comply with this requirement were to be con- 
 sidered forfeited and subject to be entered as though no one 
 had ever held them. (23.) In 1726, Edward Moseley, the Sur- 
 veyor General, reported to the Governor and council a list of 
 all the grants of land recorded in the office of the secretary of 
 Albemarle county, for the purpose of forming a rent roll. The 
 secretary was ordered to have copies made with the addition of 
 the more recent grants for the use of the collectors. (24.) 
 
 The difficulty of forming a rent roll was not only due to the 
 settlers but to the officers of the colony. Governor Everard in 
 1729 sold four hundred thousand acres of land at twenty 
 pounds a thousand, to pay the expenses of the commissioners 
 for running the boundary line between the colony and Virginia. 
 The grants were duly signed and sealed, but the names of the 
 grantees, the number of acres,. and the amounts paid, were not 
 specified. The lands were not described, nor had they even 
 been surveyed. (25). Governor Burrington, the first royal 
 governor, was instructed by the King to give his consent to an 
 act of the assembly to remit all arrears of quit-rents, payable 
 to the Lords Proprietors, which were included in the King's 
 purchase, provided that all land-owners in the colony should 
 register their grants in the auditor's office, and should in the 
 future pay the rate of quit-rents specified in the original 
 grant. The requirements of the King were not satisfactory to 
 the colonists. They refused to re-register their lands, and the 
 
 (22) C. R. V, p. 100. (23) C. R. II, p. 35. (24) C. R. II, p. 603. (25) C. R. IV, p. 266. 
 C.R. V,p. 95. 
 
 8 
 
quit-rent roll remained incomplete. Other efforts were made 
 from time to time to secure a satisfactory law for the formation 
 of a quit-rent roll, but a lack of harmony between the depart- 
 ments of 'the assembly prevented. In 1738 the assembly 
 passed an act for forming a quit-rent roll. The Governor signed 
 it, but it was annulled by the King in council. (26). In 1748 
 an act was passed by the assembly providing for the formation 
 of a quit-rent roll. The act required that all persons except 
 orphans, minors, and persons beyond the sea, who held land in 
 the colony and grants from the Lords Proprietors not 
 registered, should register them within a period of twelve 
 months. The lands in the territory belonging to the 
 King were to be registered in the office of the 
 Auditor General, or in the office of the clerk of the 
 county court where the lands were situated. Those who 
 held land in the territory of Earl Granville were to register such 
 lands as were not entered, in his office or in the office of the 
 clerk of the county court where the lands were situated. All 
 patents which were not registered within the specified time were 
 to be considered void. All registers were required to report 
 annually to the Auditor General or Earl Granville's agents re- 
 spectively, a list of the transfers of land in their respective coun- 
 ties, specifying the names of persons, the number of acres, the 
 situation of the land, and the date of the transfer. It was re- 
 quired that the secretary make a similar report of the wills. (27). 
 In a report of the condition of the colony made to the Lords 
 Commissioners for Trade and Plantations in 1761, it appears 
 that the quit-rent roll was then incomplete. (28). The auditor 
 up to this time had not kept a register of the grants of land. 
 He had only a partial list which was taken from the record of 
 the secretary. One thing that augmented the difficulty in mak- 
 ing a quit-rent roll was the variety in the size of the grants of 
 land. The amount of land the early settlers received depended 
 upon the number of servants they imported. The number of 
 acres allowed for each person varied from time to time. In 
 1708 the Lords Proprietors instructed the Governor to limit 
 the grants to six hundred and forty acres (29.) In 1715, the 
 assembly passed an act prohibiting a surveyor from surveying 
 more than that number of acres in one tract. In 1736, the King 
 directed that one million two hundred thousand acres of land be 
 granted to Henry McCulloh and others. In accordance with 
 which, this number of acres was taken in ninety-six grants of 
 
 (26) C. R. V, p. 100. Iredell, 57. (27) Iredelt, 121, 134. (28) C R. VI, p. 618. (29) C. 
 R. V, p. 94. 
 
twelve thousand five hundred acres. (30.) Henry McCulloh re- 
 ceived eight tracts of twelve thousand five hundred each, situated 
 on the "branches of the Nues and Tarr rivers." (31.) These 
 grants were made with the idea of settling French protestants, 
 two hundred acres of land being allowed to each person. (32.) 
 It is not surprising that it was so difficult to keep records of the 
 grants of land when we remember that the colony was for many 
 years without a capitol. The assembly met from place to place, 
 at Bath, Edenton, Newberne, and Wilmington. The meetings 
 were held in private houses. There was no place where the 
 records could be kept with safety. The officers often lived far 
 from each other. Governor Gabriel Johnston in a letter to the 
 Board of Trade, dated December 28th, 1748, said: "The public 
 records lie in a miserable condition, one part of them at Eden- 
 ton near the Virginia Line, in a place without Lock or Key; a 
 great part of them in the Secretary's House at Cape Fear, 
 above Two Hundred Miles Distance from the other, Some few 
 of 'em at the Clerk of the Council's House at Newbern, so that 
 in whatever part of the Colony a man happens to be, if he 
 wants to consult any paper or record he must Send Some Hun- 
 dred of Miles before he can come at it." (33.) The colonists were 
 careless in keeping and auditing the accounts of public busi- 
 ness, but they were not much more so than, the Mother Country 
 seems to have been, for from 1714 to 1802 England made no reg- 
 ular statement of her financial condition. It was not until after 
 1822 that a regular annual financial statement of income and 
 expenditure was made to Parliament. (34.) This example may 
 have had some influence on the colonists. 
 
 THE COLLECTION OF QUIT-RENTS. 
 
 The early settlers of North Carolina were probably required 
 to pay their quit-rents in money, while the colonists of Virginia 
 were permitted to pay theirs in tobacco. (35.) In 1668 the Lords 
 Proprietors, in answer to a petition made by the Assembly of 
 Albemarle county concerning the payment of quit-rents, granted 
 the inhabitants of that county permission to pay their quit-rents 
 in tobacco. The colonists offered other commodities as 
 well, which were accepted by the receivers and disposed of 
 according to the direction of the Lords Proprietors. This 
 method of payment was not so unfavorable to the Lords Pro- 
 prietors when the settlements were made along the Albemarle 
 
 (30) C. R. V, p. 104. $1) Deed owned by Mrs. Maggie I,. H. Hicks, Nashville, 
 Tenn. (32) C. R. V, p. 104. (33) C. R. IV, p. 1165. (34) C. R. Ill, pp. 480, 481. (35) C. 
 R. IV, p. 109. 
 
 10 
 
and Pamlico Sounds and the rivers running into them. The 
 commodities could be easily and quickly transported. But when 
 the interior of the colony was settled this method became im- 
 practicable. One defect of this system, which is not to be 
 wondered at, considering the times, became evident: the first 
 fruits, the best of the commodities, were not scrupulously 
 reserved for the rent collectors. (36.) In 1715, an act was 
 passed by the Assembly requiring all goods in distress for quit- 
 rents, to be valued by four free-holders under oath, and in the 
 event the goods were not redeemed within ten days, they should 
 be received at that value by the person in whose interest the 
 distress was made. (37.) The data at hand is not sufficient to 
 make an accurate exhibit of the collections of the quit-rents during 
 the proprietary period. The first regular statements of the Re- 
 ceiver Generals we find, were made after the Lords Proprietors 
 sold their interests in the colony to the King. The amount of 
 arrears of quit-rents was not large at that time. The payment of 
 quit-rents during this period was made largely in commodities. 
 The Lords. Proprietors had houses indifferent parts of the colony 
 for storing the produce which they received in payment of lands 
 and quit-rents. (38.) Williamson says: "The rent of land on 
 Salmon Creek was assigned by law to Governor Ludwell for the 
 payment of his salary." (39.) In 1733 the King in order to 
 encourage his officers in the collection of quit-rents established 
 a list of salaries which was to be paid out of the quit-rents, (40.) 
 but the officers were so careless in the matter that 
 the amount collected was not sufficient to satisfy these 
 claims. The Receiver General collected ,4,200 of back rents 
 from 1729 to 1736. According to the report of the Receiver 
 General from 1735 to 1748, including both years, there was 
 collected the sum of ,13,356, 173. 9d. sterling, which was an 
 average of about ,954 a year. (41). The collections from 1741 
 to 1745, inclusive were ,4,003, is. 2d., an average of about 
 .800, 35. 19 3~5d. a year. (42). Governor Gabriel Johnston 
 granted during his administration up to July i2th, 1743, 
 1,047,000 acres of land which should have produced a quit- 
 rent of ,2,094 m addition to the amount of quit-rents from 
 grants made during the proprietary period. (43). The receipts 
 from 1745 to 1748, inclusive, were ,1,261, 75. id., an average 
 
 (36) C. R. IV. p. 931. (37) C. R. IV, p. 678. (38) Williamson's Hist, of N. C., Vol. I, 
 p. 163, (39) Ibid. p. 164. (40) C. R. V, pp. 97, 20, 77. (41). C. R. V, p. 20. (42). C. R. V, 
 p. 101. (43). C. R. IV, p. 1136. 
 
 Governor, ^"1,000; Auditor, ,"100; Chief Justice, /"70; Baron, /"40; Surveyor 
 General, ^40; Secretary, /'TO; Attorney-General, ^80; Clerk of Crown, ^25; 
 Charges for the Exchequer, ^"30; Total, ^"1,455. 
 
 11 
 
of .323, 6s. 9^(d. a year. (44). The amount collected be- 
 tween May 1 4th, 1751 and October 5th, 1751, was ,161, 8s. 
 (45). It is evident from these figures that the amount of col- 
 lections decreased after the salaries of officers were made pay- 
 able from the quit-rents. It appears from a report made to 
 the Lords of the Treasury in 1753 that the colony owed the 
 widow of Governor Johnston more than ,13,000 sterling, pay- 
 able from the quit-rents. (46.) In 1754 Governor Dobbs re- 
 quested the Board of Trade to represent to the King the 
 necessity of making other provision for the support of the 
 government until the collections should be adequate to pay the 
 debts and meet the expenses of the government. (47). The 
 great decrease in the collection of quit-rents was largely due to 
 the grant made by the King to Earl Granville in 1744 of that 
 part of the colony of North Carolina lying between thirty-five 
 degrees, thirty-four minutes and thirty-six degrees, thirty min- 
 utes, north latitude. (48). This transfer of territory placed 
 more than one-half of the colony in the possession of Earl 
 Granville. Another cause that militated against the collection of 
 the quit-rents was the lack of a quit-rent roll. About the middle of 
 the eighteenth century there was a great influx of immigrants 
 from Scotland, Ireland and Moravia, which added greatly to the 
 development of the colony. The increase in the collection of quit- 
 rents is noticeable, notwithstanding the demoralization of the 
 French and Indian war. The report of the Receiver General for 
 two years, from March 25th, 1770, to March 25th, 1772, shows 
 a collection of ,2,242, 73. 9^2 d., an average of ,1,121, 53. 
 lod. a year. (49). This shows a decided increase in the 
 collection of quit-rents. The officers of the Crown, who were 
 land-owners, were negligent in the payment of their quit-rents, 
 and yet they demanded the payment of their salaries out of the 
 quit-rents, as though they owed nothing. (50). The report of 
 the Receiver General for the year ending March 25th, 1773, 
 shows a quit-rent collection of ,996, 6d. (51). At this time 
 there was due to the officers of the colony the sum of ,11,388, 
 6s., 3d., which was to be paid from the quit-rents. (52). 
 
 THE ADMINISTRATION OF QUIT-RENTS. 
 
 The rate of quit-rents each person was required to pay was 
 determined from the grants. (53). The only fiscal importance 
 of the quit-rents lay in the fact that the Crown officers of the 
 colony were paid from them. They were to be collected and 
 
 (44). C. R. V, pp. 78, 101. (45) C. R. V, p. 21. (46) C. R. V, p. 22. (47) C. R.V, p. 78. 
 (48) C. R. V, p. 101. <4'J) C. R. IX, p. 650. (50) C. R. IX, p. 646. (51) C. R. IX, p. 60!). 
 (52) C. R. IX, p. 655. (53). C. R. VII, p. 484. 
 
 12 
 
accounted for under the supervision of the Receiver General, 
 who was appointed by the Lords Proprietors during the the 
 proprietary period and by the Crown thereafter. He received 
 no salary, but was allowed a commission of ten per cent, on all 
 receipts, and in some cases a certain fee for distraining. (54). 
 It was his duty to disburse the receipts according to the instruc- 
 tions of the Lords Proprietors during the proptietary period, 
 or of the King during the royal period. (55). He was required 
 to account to the governor and council for all such sums. (56). 
 His deputies were appointed by and were responsible to him 
 for all collections. (57). They were allowed a commission of 
 five per cent. Each deputy was required to give bond of 
 ;i,ooo for the faithful performance of the duty of his office. 
 (58). Their reports were to be made to the Receiver General 
 annually. In addition to the collections, they were to report to 
 him all grants not on the quit-rent roll. (59). Later the sheriffs 
 became the collectors of the quit-rents, and were allowed a 
 commission of five per cent. (60). The chief duties of the 
 office of auditor were to certify and enter the warrants for 
 lands, (61) to audit the patents of land, (62) to audit the 
 accounts of the Receiver General, to issue "debentures" to the 
 officers whose salaries were to be paid from the quit-rents, (63) 
 and to prepare a quit-rent roll for the Receiver General. (64) 
 The auditor did not receive a salary, but was to be paid certain 
 fees which were established by the Assembly. (65). The duties 
 of the office in the colony were performed by a deputy auditor. 
 (66). There was in addition to these officers a commissioner 
 appointed by the Crown, whose duty it was to supervise, in- 
 spect, and control, the revenues and grants of land in North 
 and South Carolina. (67). 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In concluding the study of quit-rents, it is proper to state that 
 the colonists, so far as we have evidence, never denied their ob- 
 ligations to pay the quit-rents, but questions of rate, of how and 
 where the rents should be paid, were the causes of no small 
 amount of trouble. The Governor claimed the right to deter- 
 mine what should be offered in payments and where the pay- 
 ments should be made. (68.) It had been customary in the 
 early days of the colony, when money was scarce, for the 
 
 (54) C. R. VI, p. 756. (Y5) C. R. VIT, p. 484. "The State Records of N. C." Vol. XI, 
 p. 5. (56) C. R. VIII, p. 150. (57) C. R. V, p. 422. (58) C. R. V. p. 422. (5J>) C. R. V, 
 p. 423. (60) C. R.VI. p. 621. (61) C. R.VII, p. 484. (82) C. R. VII, p. 485. (63) C. R. VII, 
 p. 484. (64) C. R. V,p. 588. (65) C. R. VII, p. 485 : C. R. IV, 1128. <,f*6) C. R. VII, p. 484. 
 <67) "The State Records of N. C .," XI, p. 31. (68) C. R. Ill, vi.. C. R. IV, xiv. 
 
colonists to pay their quit-rents in commodities and on the plan- 
 tations where they were produced. In Governor Johnston's 
 administration a bill was pending in the Assembly determining 
 four places for the payment of these dues. The House of Bur- 
 gesses refused to agree to it. Thereupon the Governor issued a 
 proclamation determining where the quit-rents were to be paid 
 and also the rates at which the commodities were to be received. 
 (69.) The House of Burgesses protested, but their protest was 
 ineffectual. The collectors were obedient to his proclamation. 
 (70.) The following year the House of Burgesses petitioned for 
 permission to present their grievances. (71.) The Governor 
 ignored the petition. The collectors continued "to destrain for 
 the rents." Whereupon the Assembly ordered the collectors to 
 be placed in custody. Then, according to the record, "His Ex- 
 cellency being now come to the Upper House, and having sent a 
 message to command the immediate attendance of the House of 
 Burgesses, they not paying obedience thereto, His Excellency 
 was pleased to send another message to them; but they still 
 neglecting to give their attendance, His Excellency then by and 
 with the advice and consent of His Majesty's Council, prorogued 
 the General Assembly to the first day of March next, then to 
 meet at New Bern." (72.) This event occurred in 1736. This 
 vigorous act of the Governor did not settle the question at issue. 
 The people were determined in their demands. In 1739 the 
 Governor realized that it would be impossible to collect the quit- 
 rents unless it should be done in a manner acceptable to the 
 people. Accordingly, an act was passed by the Assembly (73) 
 in which there were two notable concessions. (74.) The first 
 was the agreement to refer the matter of determining the value 
 of paper currency to a committee consisting of the Governor, 
 members of the Council, the Attorney General and the Receiver 
 General, and a like number of members of the House of Bur- 
 gesses. The other concession was concerning the number of 
 places at which the payments should be made, of which the Gov- 
 ernor said "it could have been wished were fewer in number, 
 but there was no possibility of avoiding it." (75.) But, finally 
 in 1740, the King refused to sanction the act. 
 
 In 1741, an unsuccessful effort was made to pass a Quit-rent 
 Act. (76.) In 1744, at a meeting of the Assembly a "Committee 
 on Propositions and Grievances" presented the following resolu- 
 tions, which the House endorsed: "Resolved by this Com- 
 mittee that no produce of this province being accepted in pay- 
 
 (69) C. R. IV, xiv. (70) Ibid. (71) C. R. IV, xv. (72) C. R. IV, xvi. (73) C. R. IV, 
 xvii. (74) C. R. IV, xvii. (75) C. R. IV, xvii. (76) C. R. IV, xvii. 
 
 14 
 
ment of quit-rents of late years, nor the current bills at less than 
 10 for i, which is equal to sterling money, as this from the great 
 scarcity of silver and gold puts it entirely out of the power of 
 the greatest part of the inhabitants of this province to pay their 
 quit-rents being contrary to the Grand Deed and also of law of 
 this province is a Very great grievance." (77.) 
 
 In 1755 the quit-rent question came up again in the Assembly 
 and an act was passed which authorized the land owners to pay 
 their quit-rents in inspector's notes for tobacco and indigo. (78.) 
 It seems from a letter written by the Earl of Dartmouth to 
 Governor Martin, that the King had under consideration an act 
 passed by the Assembly concerning the quit-rent question as late 
 as 1774, the year before that assigned to the Mecklenburg De- 
 claration of Indendence. (79.) After the outbreak of hostilities 
 the whole question passed beyond the influence of the King for- 
 ever. 
 
 (77) C. R. IV, xvii. (78) C. R. V, 458. (79) C. R. IX, 834. 
 
 15 
 
CHAPTER II. CURRENCY. 
 
 The history of the currency of North Carolina during the 
 colonial period is not the least important phase of her growth. 
 It furnishes a fertile field of instruction to the historian as well to 
 the economist, although, in general, the financial history of 
 that colony is similar to others. They all experienced one thing 
 very early in their development : they felt the need of some 
 means of facilitating the exchange of the products of their 
 industry. The great variety of means to which they were 
 obliged to resort is interesting to observe. How they accom- 
 plished so much with their little money and limited resources is 
 indeed wonderful. In North Carolina as in the other colonies 
 the early settlers were primitive people and their surroundings 
 were of like nature. Their wants were few and simple. They 
 came principally from Virginia. Their motives were economic 
 as well as political. They were soon able to supply in a great 
 measure their own wants from their new and fertile fields. But 
 as the colony grew in numbers and in wealth and as the division 
 of labor took place, they naturally became more dependent on 
 money and felt more sensibly the need of an increase in the volume 
 in circulation. As the colonists ceased producing all they con- 
 sumed, they became more and more dependent on the products 
 of the labor of others to supply their wants. This division of 
 labor, in the scarcity of money, necessitated the exchange of one 
 commodity for another. Trade sprang up and something more 
 than barter was necessary to meet its demands. The double 
 coincidence of barter became a burdensome barrier to the pro- 
 gress of the colony. It is instructive to study the variety of 
 plans the colonists adopted in their attempts to evolve a circu- 
 lating medium adequate to the increasing demand of trade. In 
 doing this, we shall include in the term, currency, anything that 
 performs the functions of money, from cheese to gold, (i.) 
 
 GOLD AND SILVER. 
 
 North Carolina coined no money during her colonial period. 
 The sovereign claimed the prerogative of coining all the gold 
 and silver, and his claim was sanctioned by constitutional and 
 
 (1) Gibbon in "Walker's Political Economy." p. 124. 
 
 16 
 
by civil law. (2.) The early settlers doubtless brought some 
 gold and silver with them. The foreign trade of the colony, 
 which owing to the inaccessibility of her harbors was not so 
 great as that of some of the other colonies, and her trade with 
 New England, the West Indies, Virginia and South Carolina, 
 enabled her to accumulate the coinage of other countries. (3.) 
 There was an appreciable amount of coin in circulation in the 
 colony in the early part of the eighteenth century. President 
 Rowan, who had been a merchant, said in 1733 that 
 he had taken more than one hundred pounds weight 
 of silver at one time to England. (4). Of the amount of coin 
 then in circulation, a part was due to the illicit trade existing 
 between the colony and the West Indies. (5). The colonists 
 added much to their circulation through the trade which was 
 carried on with the pirates who infested the coasts of the 
 colony and West Indian waters. It is not surprising that it was 
 difficult for the colonists at that early time to discriminate be- 
 tween privateering and pirating, since some of these pirates 
 held commissions from the English government to prey upon 
 the commerce of their enemies, the Spanish. These bold sea 
 rovers would seize the vessels they met and take them into 
 their hiding places. Often their spoils consisted of money and 
 other precious freight. Hughson says, "For many years after 
 the founding of Carolina, most of the currency in circulation was 
 the gold and silver pieces brought in by the pirates and priva- 
 teers from their cruises in the West Indian waters." (6). It is 
 not unreasonable to suppose, judging from the extensiveness 
 of her foreign, domestic and colonial trade that North Carolina 
 had in circulation about the same kind of gold, silver, and 
 other coins as was in circulation in the other colonies. The 
 principal part of her supply came from England, Spain and 
 Portugal. There was, therefore, a variety of coins in the 
 colony. The foreign coins had no standard value. This was 
 determined by the contracting parties. In 1704 Queen Anne 
 issued a proclamation for the purpose of regulating the value 
 of the different coins then in circulation throughout the Eng- 
 lish colonies. The following table (8) shows the kind of coins, 
 their weight, and the value in English money at which she 
 wished each to pass : 
 
 (2) Jevons' "Money and the Mechanism of Exchange," p. 65. (3) C. R III, p. 50. 
 (4) Spencer's "First Steps N. C. History," p. 72. (5) "Whitney's "Government 
 of the Colony of S. C.," p. 110 (6) Hughson's "The Carolina Pirates and Colonial 
 Commerce," p. 14. Hawk's History of N. C., Vol. II, p. 271. (7) Evon's History 
 of U. S. Mint and Coinage," p. 59. (8) Postlethwayt's "Dictionary of Commerce," 
 Art. "Plantations." 
 
 17 
 

 dwt. 
 
 gr. 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 f. 
 
 Seville pieces of eight, old plate, weight 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 " new " 
 
 14 
 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 Mexico " " " .... 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 Pillar " " " 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 Peru " " old plate, " 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 
 Cross dollars, " 
 
 18 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 Ducatoonsof Flanders, " 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 
 Ecus of France or Silver Lewis, " .... 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 Crusadoes of Portugal, ' * 
 
 11 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 Three Guilder Pieces of Holland, " 
 
 20 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 Old Rix dollars of the Empire, " .... 
 
 18 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 The fractional parts were to be proportional in value to their 
 denominations, and light weight pieces to their weight. It was 
 doubtless far from her intention to make these coins legal tender. 
 Such a course would not have been advantageous to her own 
 currency. She knew that the best money would render the 
 best service in controlling the markets of the world. Conse- 
 quently she placed the value of the foreign coins at least twen- 
 ty-five per cent, less than Sterling. (9). In 1707 Parliament 
 passed an act for the purpose of ascertaining the foreign coin in 
 circulation in the colonies. In order to make the queen's proc- 
 lamation effective, a measure was enacted that no person should, 
 after the first day of May, 1709, pay or receive any other coins 
 mentioned in the proclamation at a higher rate than that specified 
 therein, on a penalty of six months imprisonment without bail 
 or mainprize and a forfeiture of ten pounds for every such 
 offence. While this act was probably disobeyed in many in- 
 stances and while its tendency was to depreciate the foreign 
 coins, it gave to them a nominal value throughout the colonies 
 which doubtless had some slight influence on trade. In 1783 
 the general assembly of North Carolina passed an act rating 
 the foreign gold and silver coin in use in the colony. The 
 following table shows the kind, weight, and value of each coin: 
 
 Gold Coins. dwt. grs. N. Car. Cur. 
 
 A Guinea 5 6 1 17 4 
 
 Half Guinea 2 15 18 8 
 
 French Guinea 5 5 1 16 
 
 Moidore 6 18 2 8 
 
 Four Pistole Piece 17 6 
 
 A Pistole 4 4 1 10 
 
 Double Johannes 18 06 8 
 
 Single " 9- 0340 
 
 Half " 4 12 1 * 12 
 
 Quarter " 2 16 . 16 
 
 (9) Whitney's "Government of the Colony of S. C.," p. 111. 
 
 18 
 
Silver Coins. dwt. grs. N. Car. Cur. 
 
 French Crown 9 
 
 English " 9 
 
 Half Crown- - 046 
 
 Quarter Crown 023 
 
 ADollar 17 6080 
 
 Half Dollar 040 
 
 Quarter Dollar 020 
 
 A Pistareen 018 
 
 English Shilling 018 
 
 It was enacted that this rating should thereafter be read in 
 evidence in the courts, "to liquidate all Debts and Demands 
 and in entering up judgments thereon." (10.) This applied to 
 future debts only. These were the only values at which 
 these coins were allowed to circulate. 
 
 While North Carolina coined no money, it is probable that 
 some was issued especially for her. In 1660 Lord Baltimore 
 sent to Maryland the "Baltimore Shilling," which had been 
 coined in London. Evans says, "The Carolinas, Virginia and 
 New Hampshire, all followed Maryland in the introduction of a 
 colonial coinage." (n.) Governor Dobbs in 1754 mentioned 
 in a letter to the Board of Trade that he had applied to the 
 treasury for the issuance of copper coinage for the colony. 
 (12.) It is quite probable that the only coin ever authorized to 
 be issued from the English mint for general circulation in the 
 colonies, was a half-penny piece of mixed metal which is called 
 the "Rosa Americana" It was issued in the reign of George I. 
 The obverse side contains the head of the Monarch and 
 the inscription "Georgius Rex." The reverse side con- 
 tains a crown over a double rose, and the legend "Rosa Ameri- 
 cana" and a scroll on which are the words " Utile Dulci." 
 (13) For some time the copper coinage of England consisted 
 principally of tokens which were issued by private tradesmen 
 as is, to a large extent, the custom of China with regard to the 
 coinage of small money. (14.) In Mr. Smiles' "Lives of Bolton 
 and Watt," Bolton says, "The lower class of Manufacturers 
 purchased copper coin to the nominal value of thirty-six shill- 
 ings for twenty shillings in silver, and distributed it to their 
 work-people in wages so as to make a considerable profit." 
 (15.) Private individuals were not prohibited from issuing cop- 
 per coinage until the reign of George III. (16.) Boyne in his 
 
 (10) Iredell. "I^aws of N. C., p. 452. (11) Evan's "History of the U. S. Mint and 
 Coinage," p. 60. (12) C. R. Vol. 5, p. 149. (13) Evan's Aistory of the U. S. Mint 
 and Coinage," p. 60. (14) Jevons' "Money and the Mechanism of Exchange," p. 65. 
 (15) Jevon's "Money and the Mechanism of Exchange," p. 65 . (16) Walker's 
 "Money," p. 168. 
 
 19 
 
"Tokens of the Seventeenth Century" gives a list of nine 
 thousand four hundred and sixty-six kinds of copper coin 
 issued by different people. (17.) There was in circulation in 
 Carolina a token called the "Carolina Elephant." On the 
 obverse side is the picture of the London Elephant. It con- 
 tained no legend. On the reverse side are stamped these words, 
 "God Preserve Carolinaand the Lords Proprietors, 1694." In 1768 
 the Assembly of North Carolina passed an act encouraging the 
 importation of the English copper half pence and made it legal 
 tender for the payment of small debts for a term of five 
 years. (18.) 
 
 BARTER COMMODITIES. 
 
 In the early days of the colony, gold and silver were so 
 scarce that it was necessary for the colonists to resort to the use 
 of commodities in order to facilitate the exchange of their pro- 
 ducts in satisfying their few and simple wants. (19.) This cus- 
 tom at that time was not peculiar to North Carolina, it was 
 general throughout the English colonies. 
 
 The early inhabitants of North Carolina were mainly farmers. 
 They settled along the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds and the 
 rivers running into them. These waters soon became thorough- 
 fares over which they transported the products of their farms to 
 their neighbors and to markets. (20.) At first, in the 
 scarcity of money, they exchanged commodity for commodity 
 in simple barter. They not only exchanged one article 
 for another, but they also used commodities in the payment 
 of their debts. (21.) When a judgment for damage 
 "to a cerain amount" was rendered by a court, it was usually 
 recorded as "payable in deer skins, hides, tallow, or small furs, 
 at country price." (22.) Store houses were established in the 
 several precincts for the storage of commodities which were 
 paid to the Lords Proprietors for quit-rents and for lands. (23.) 
 The price of these several commodities was fixed by the As- 
 sembly. They were made legal tender at those prices in the 
 payment of all foreign and domestic debts except in cases 
 where an agreement had been made to the contrary. (24.) The 
 following is the first list of barter commodities which were so 
 rated : (25.) 
 
 (17) Ibid, p. 168. (18) Iredell, p. 243. (19) C. R. I, p. 715. (20) Hawks' vol. II, 269, 
 270, (21) Jevons' "Money and the Mechanism of Exchange," p. 26. (22) "William- 
 son's "Hist of N. C.," vol. I, p. 163. (28) Williamson's 'Hist, of N. C.." vol. I, p. 163. 
 (24) C. R. IV, 920; Williamson's "Hist, of N. C.," vol. I, p. 163. (25) C. R. IV, 920, C. R~ 
 IV, 292. 
 
 20 
 
s. d. 
 
 Indian Corn, per bushel 1 8 
 
 Tallow, per pound - 5 
 
 Beaver and Otter skins, per pound 2 6 
 
 Butter, per pound 6 
 
 Raw buck and doe skins, per pound 9 
 
 Feathers, per pound 1 4 
 
 Pitch, per barrel (full gauged) 1 
 
 Pork, per barrel ' < 250 
 
 Tobacco, per cwt 10 
 
 Wheat, per bushel 3 6 
 
 Leather, tanned, uncurried, per pound 8 
 
 Wildcat skins, per piece 1 
 
 Cheese, per pound 004 
 
 Buck and doe skins, dressed, per pound 2 6 
 
 Tar, per Barrel (full gauged) 10 
 
 Whale oil, per barrel 1 10 
 
 Beef , per barrel 1 10 
 
 These commodities were rated in 1715, the year the laws of 
 the colony were revised. This list as a whole or in part may 
 have been so used prior to this time. In 1723 the General 
 Assembly, in order to encourage the hemp, rice and turpentine 
 industries, added to the list, hemp at 8d. per lb., rice at i and 
 53. per cwt., and turpentine at i and 53. per bbl. The price 
 of corn and wheat was raised to two and four shillings respec- 
 tively per bushel. These commodities were made legal tender 
 in the payment of all debts domestic or foreign, when delivered 
 according to the requirements of the Act, except where sterling 
 had been previously agreed upon.' (26.) In i6i8in Virginia it was 
 made a penalty of three years hard labor for a refusal to accept 
 tobacco at three shillings per lb. (27.) This system seems to 
 have worked well in the early days of the colony when the 
 settlements were made along the coasts, around the Albemarle 
 and Pamlico Sounds, and along the rivers. The commodities 
 were easily and quickly carried by small boats to market. But 
 as commerce grew, the use of barter commodities became bur- 
 densome. Sometimes goods of inferior quality were put on the 
 market, especially those received in payment of debts. In order 
 to remedy this, in 1764, the Assembly enacted that all flax, flax- 
 seed, hemp, beef, pork, butter, flour, rice, tar, pitch, turpentine, 
 lumber, heading, shingles, staves, leather, deer skins, and indigo 
 should be inspected before being exported. (28.) The chief 
 difficulty, however, in the use of commodities as money, was 
 what is called the coincidence of barter. It is not easy "to find 
 two persons whose disposable possessions mutually suit each 
 
 (26) C. R. IV, 203. (27.) Jevons' "Money and the Mechanism of Exchange, p. 26. 
 (28) C. R. VII, 489. 
 
 21 
 
others wants. There may be many people wanting, and many 
 possessing those things wanted, but to allow of an act of barter 
 there must be a double coincidence, which will rarely happen." 
 (29.) But the conditions of the country were such that barter 
 commodities were necessary down to the end of the colonial 
 period. 
 
 BILLS OF CREDIT IN THE PROPRIETARY PERIOD. 
 
 In 1711 the Tuscarora Indians made war on the colonists, 
 and probably would have destroyed them but for the timely 
 aid rendered by South Carolina. The Indians massacred 
 the women and children, burned the houses, killed and drove 
 away the cattle, hogs, and horses, and devastated the fields. 
 (30). The colonists were almost impoverished (31); few even 
 could supply their families with the necessaries of life. (32). 
 Their trade had been almost ruined, the few vessels that came 
 and went carried little else than pitch and tar. (33.) The people 
 were burdened with debt ; they were in immediate need of 
 money to pay their soldiers and to meet the expenses of the 
 government. (34). Under these circumstances, in 1712 the 
 Assembly decided unanimously to issue ,4,000 in paper cur- 
 rency called bills of credit. These bills were interest-bearing, 
 and were to be redeemed at a time specified on the bills, by 
 means of a duty levied "on all goods exported or imported by 
 land or water." Treasurers were appointed, whose business it 
 was to collect the duties and pay the bills at maturity. (35). 
 These were the first bills of credit issued by North Carolina. 
 (36). These bills were expected to circulate at the same value 
 as proclamation money, which they did for a short time, (39) 
 but, owing to the small amount of revenue collected, and to an 
 increase in the military and administrative expenses, they 
 depreciated. In 1712, other bills were issued to the amount of 
 ,8, ooo, increasing the amount in circulation to ,12,000. (38). 
 Doctor Hawks thinks that the ,8,000 issued in 1712 were the 
 first bills of credit ever issued by North Carolina. In discuss- 
 ing these bills he says : "Forgetful of the fact that credit was 
 but a temporary substitute for cash ; that the day must come at 
 last when the promise must be redeemed by payment, and that 
 a violated promise must inevitably destroy the value of the 
 substitute on which they relied, the Assembly of Albemarle yet 
 seemed, at first, as far at least as we can discover, to have 
 
 (29) Jevon's "Money and the Mechanism of Exchange," p. 3. (30) C. R. I, 827. 
 (31) C. R.I, 873. (33) C. R. I, 874. (33) C. R. I, 873, 874. (34) C. R. I, 874. (35) C. R. I, 
 838, 83&. C. R. II, iv. C. R. Ill, 484. (36) C. R. III. 484. (37) C. R. Ill, 485. (38) C. 
 R. IV, 576. 
 
 22 
 
ordered emissions of the bills without providing any special 
 sinking fund for their ultimate redemption." (39). 
 
 In both opinions Doctor Hawks is in error. (40.) As to the 
 bills first issued he seems to have overlooked the ,4,000 issue 
 which took place before the ,8,000 which he claimed were the 
 first issued. (41.) The act of the Assembly which authorized 
 the third issue of bills provides for the payment of "the remain- 
 ing part of the sum of twelve thousand pounds publick Bills of 
 Credit." (42.) In regard to there being no sinking fund he was 
 doubtless misled by the supposition that the bills of credit issued 
 by North Carolina were similar to those issued by Pennsylvania. 
 (43.) In fact the Assembly provided for the redemption of 
 these bills by levying a tax on polls and real estate. (44.) This 
 was the first time real estate was taxed in North Carolina. (45.) 
 A treasurer was appointed in each precinct whose duty it 
 was to receive these taxes for the purpose of paying the bills. 
 It is quite probable that the bills of .8,000 issued were similar 
 to the bills of the previous issue. (46.) In 1732 Governor Bur- 
 rington, in a letter to the Lords of Trade and Plantation, after 
 mentioning the sum of ,4,000 in bills of credit which was issued 
 in 1712, says: "Afterwards more bills were made much in the 
 same manner, a Land Tax and a Pole Tax were lay'd to call in 
 and sink the Bills." (47.) It is evident that he had reference to 
 the ;8,ooo issue, since the redemption of the next issue was not 
 dependent on either a land or poll tax. The increase in the 
 volume of currency by the issuance of the ;8,ooo bills of credit 
 caused a depreciation of about forty per cent, in the value of all 
 the bills in circulation. (48.) In 1714 the Assembly authorized 
 the emission of ,24,000 in bills of credit for the purpose of pay- 
 ing the Government's indebtedness and of redeeming the out- 
 standing bills of the .12,000 previously issued. (49.) The Act 
 directed that the bills should be issued in the following denomina- 
 tions: 
 
 300 of 20 3,000 of 20s. 
 
 300 of 15 3,300 of 10s. 
 480 of 10 150 of 8s. 
 
 450 of 5 3,000 of 5s. 
 300 of 3 720 of 2s. 6d. 
 
 There was no interest allowed on these bills and no time was 
 specified for their redemption. (50.) These were, when issued, 
 
 (39) C. R. II, pp. 4-5. C. R. Ill, p. 485. (40) Hawks' "'History of N. C." Vol. II, 280. 
 (41) C. R. Ill, 485. (42.) C. R. 111,177. (43) Hawks' "Hist. N. C.," vol. 2, 280. (44.) 
 C. R. II, pp. 4-5, C. R. Ill, 485, C. R. IV, 576. (45.) C. R. II, pp. 4-5. (46.) C R. Ill, 
 485. (47) C. R. III. 485. (48) C. R. IV. 57. (49) C. R. Ill, 179, 485; C. R. IV, 576: C. R. 
 II, 5. (50) C. R. Ill, 177, 178, 485. 
 
 23 
 
to be placed in the hands of the treasurer on or before the 
 twenty-fifth day of the following March, and he was required to 
 pay to the treasurer of each precinct the amounts due to the 
 persons in their respective precincts. All out-standing bills 
 were required to be presented to be exchanged for new bills 
 within six months after the date above mentioned. (51.) Two 
 years' interest was allowed on the old bills exchanged. Those 
 who neglected or refused to offer their old bills for exchange 
 before the twenty-fifth day of the following August, were not 
 allowed interest thereon, and those who failed to offer them be- 
 fore the twenty-fifth day of March 1716, would thereby render 
 them valueless. 
 
 The bills of the new issue were legal tender in payment "for 
 any of the rated commodities of the country, or other money, 
 except sterling." (52.) The rate of exchange between them and 
 sterling was fifty per cent. (53.) Any person who refused to 
 receive them at this value was liable to a forfeiture of double the 
 value of the bills refused. One-half of this forfeiture was to be used 
 for the purpose of paying the contingent expenses of the govern- 
 ment, and the other half became the property of the person who 
 brought suit against the person so offending. (54.) All persons 
 convicted of counterfeiting these bills were to be punished as 
 guilty of felony, without the benefit of clergy. Any member of 
 the Council who should be guilty of making a motion prejudicial 
 to the credit of these bills would be subject to a fine of ,20 and sus- 
 pension from that body at the option of the Lords Proprietors. (55.) 
 A member of the lower house thus offending would be subject to a 
 similar fine and expulsion. While the Assembly set no time for 
 the redemption of this issue of bills, nevertheless several sums 
 were redeemed between the years 1715 and 1722. (56.) In 
 1717 the amount of out-standing bills was about sixteen thou- 
 sand pounds. (57.) In 1722 the Assembly passed a bill author- 
 izing the issuance of ; 12,000 in bills of credit. The purpose of 
 this issue was to redeem all the out-standing obligations. It was 
 thought that this sum would be adequate, although it was only 
 half as large, inasmuch as many bills would likely be lost or de- 
 faced. (58.) The act authorizing these bills provided that three 
 commissioners should be appointed to issue and place them in 
 the hands of the public treasurer whose duty it was to exchange 
 them for the old bills in circulation. It was required that all old 
 bills should be presented for redemption in the new bills, by the 
 last of August, 1723. A failure to comply with this requirement 
 
 (51) C. R. Ill, 178. (52) C. R. Ill, 178. (53) C. R. Ill, 178. (54) C. R. Ill, 178. (55) C. 
 R. 111,179; (56) C. R. IV, 676. (57) C. R. II, 296. (58) C. R. IV, 178, 419, 576, C. R. II, p. 5. 
 
 24 
 
rendered the bills valueless. (59.) The act further required 
 that a tax of five shillings per poll should be levied for the pur- 
 pose of redeeming the old bills. The sheriffs were permitted in 
 the settlement of their accounts with the treasurer to pay bills of 
 credit or rated commodities. Where commodities were offered 
 they were to be delivered at certain specified places on the nav- 
 igable streams in their respective precincts. These bills were 
 made legal tender at their face value in the payment of all 
 debts except in cases where the contract was otherwise. Though 
 rated at fifty per cent, less than sterling they circulated generally 
 at the rate of five for one sterling until 1729. (60.) These bills 
 instead of being printed, were written, and were therefore, easily 
 defaced and obliterated. So much was this the case that the 
 amount of currency in circulation was considered- insufficient to 
 meet the demands of trade. (61.) 
 
 THE LAND BANK. 
 
 In 1729 the Assembly made a new departure in its financial 
 legislation. The act which authorized it was, in comparison 
 with all previous acts authorizing the issuance of paper currency, 
 a decided improvement. If all requirements had been complied 
 with, the currency, would under the circumstances, have proved 
 reasonably satisfactory. The departure consisted in the estab- 
 lishment of a land bank. (62.) It was not a bank in the modern 
 acceptation of the term, but an emission of a sum of bills, not 
 for supplying the wants of the government, but to be lent at in- 
 terest, to the people on land security for a certain number of 
 years. Franklin says of such bills, "For as bills issued upon 
 money are money, so bills issued upon land are in effect coined 
 land." (Walker, Money, page 323.) The act appointed a 
 board of commissioners to issue forty thousand pounds in bills 
 of credit, ten thousand pounds of which were to be used for the 
 purpose of redeeming the outstanding bills. The amount of the 
 last issue was ,12,000, but the Assembly calculated on ^2,000 
 being lost, torn or defaced. (63.) The remaining thirty thousand 
 were to be placed in the hands of the precinct treasurers to be 
 lent to the people for a term of fifteen years at six per cent, 
 interest on land secured by mortgage. (64.) The interest and 
 one-fifteenth of the principal were to be paid annually. The 
 amount placed in each precinct was in proportion to the numberof 
 tithables determined by a census, which was to be certified to on 
 oath. (65.) Each person who wished to borrow money was re- 
 
 (.-,9) Hawks, II, 282. (60) C. R. IV. 576. (61) C. R. IV. 178. (62) C. R. IV, 419, 576. 
 Iredell, 49. C. R. Ill, 486. (63.) C. R. IV, 576. (84.) C. R. IV. 576. 418. C. R. II, p. 5. 
 (65) Hawk's 'Hist. N. C.," Vol. II, 283, etc. 
 
 35 
 
quired to execute a mortgage on unencumbered land worth 
 twice the amount of the loan. On a failure to meet 
 these obligations the precinct treasurers were empowered to ap- 
 point an officer whose duty it was to "make distress and sale" of 
 the personal property of the borrower to the amount necessary to 
 satisfy the claim. 
 
 A mortgage could not be foreclosed until the mortgagor had 
 failed in three payments. The calculation was that the thirty 
 thousand pounds placed on interest as described by the act, 
 would amount to forty-five thousand pounds. This would give 
 a profit to the bank of fifteen thousand pounds. When fifteen 
 thousand pounds were paid in, ten thousand pounds were to be 
 retired and five thousand pounds to be put in circulation by 
 applying that sum to the payment of the commissioners, the 
 precinct treasurers, and the expenses of the government. (66). 
 The borrower of the bills had the option of paying his loan 
 before the expiration of the specified time, on condition that 
 he pay three per cent, interest, for the unexpired term, on the 
 amount borrowed. The new bills were made legal-tender in 
 all transactions, except in the payment of debts where gold or 
 silver had been promised. The Assembly claimed the right to 
 determine each year the rate at which these bills should pass. 
 (69). These bills were issued the year after the seven Lords 
 Proprietors sold their interest in North Carolina to the King, 
 but before the first royal governor came to the colony. Gov- 
 ernor Burrington came in February, 1730. Soon after his 
 arrival he declared the Act of 1729, authorizing the issuance of 
 the forty thousand pounds bills of credit, invalid. (68). His 
 reason for doing so was that it was passed after the Parliament 
 had passed the act vesting the rights of the Seven Lords Pro- 
 prietors in the Crown. (69). He ordered the precinct treas- 
 urers to refuse to receive the annual installments from the 
 borrowers as required by the act. (70). They acted in accord- 
 ance with his wishes, and the amount of currency then in circu- 
 lation remained about the same during his administration. (71). 
 This condition of affairs witnessed a great depreciation in the cur- 
 rency. (72). This action of the governor destroyed the first 
 land bank in North Carolina. In Pennsylvania the land bank 
 seems to have been more successful. Governor Pownal, who 
 had been governor of Massachusetts, South Carolina, and New 
 Jersey, says of this system: "I will venture to say that there 
 never was a wiser or a better measure; never one better calcu- 
 
 (66) Hawks, II, 286, etc. (67) C. R. IV, 419. (68) C. R. IV, 179. (69) C. R. IV, 179. 
 (70) C. R. IV, p. 179. (71) C. R. IV, p. 197. (72) C. R. IV, p. 179. 
 
 26 
 
lated to serve the uses of an increasing country ; that there 
 never was a measure more steadily or more faithfully pursued 
 for forty years together than the loan office in Pennsylvania." 
 (73). 
 
 BILLS OF CREDIT IN THE ROYAL PERIOD. 
 
 When Governor Johnston, who succeeded Governor Burring - 
 ton, came to the colony he issued a proclamation requiring all 
 precinct treasurers to make a report of their accounts to the 
 assembly called to meet at Edenton in January, 1734. They 
 were asked to account for all the money they had received in 
 accordance with the requirements of the Act of 1729. (74). 
 They generally responded, but not more than one-tenth of the 
 money due had been paid. (75). There was at this time a 
 large sum of quit-rents due the Crown, and also the taxes 
 levied to meet the expenses of the government since 1729. In 
 view of these circumstances and the scarcity of gold and silver 
 in the colony, it was considered by the Assembly unwise to 
 continue retiring the currency as was required by the Act of 
 1729. In this crisis they thought that such a contraction 
 would not leave money enough in circulation to meet 
 the expenses of the government and pay the quit-rents 
 due which were at this time demanded to be paid in silver. 
 (76.) To relieve the situation the Assembly in 1734 passed an 
 act providing for the emission of forty thousand pounds in 
 bills of credit. (77.) The bills were to be exchanged for the 
 bills issued in accordance with the Act of 1729. This issue modi- 
 fied to some extent the old contract. The principal and the 
 interest were not to be paid for ten years. This plan furnished 
 the colonists for that period a volume of currency to the amount 
 of forty thousand pounds. (78.) In this same year the commis- 
 sioners were authorized by the Assembly to issue twenty-five 
 hundred pounds in bills additional to defray the expenses of the 
 issue. Also, in 1734, another act was passed by the Assembly 
 granting to the King the sum of fourteen thousand one hundred 
 and fifty pounds 33. 2d. to be raised by a tax of five shillings 
 per poll for five years. But in order to meet the immediate de- 
 mands of the public debts a clause was inserted in the act by 
 the consent of the Governor authorizing the issuance of ten 
 thousand pounds in bills of credit as a part of that sum. (79.) 
 These bills were to be redeemed by this tax and a duty on im- 
 ported liquors. The amount of outstanding bills of credit at 
 
 (73) Walker's "Money," p. 324. (74) C. R. IV, p. 179. (75) Ibid, p. 179. (76) C. R. II, 
 p. 5. (77) C. R. IV. 179, 419, 577; (78) C. R. IV, 179, (79) C. R. IV, 180, 419. Iredell, 56- 
 
 27 
 
this time was fifty-two thousand five hundred pounds. (80.) 
 The last issue of bills was not made legal tender and was not 
 rated when issued. In 1738 the Assembly passed an act appoint- 
 ing a committee consisting of the Governor, the Council, the 
 Attorney General, the Speaker, and an equal number of the 
 lower house to determine annually the value of the bills of 
 credit in circulation. (81.) 
 
 From 1726 to 1740 the exchange between these bills and 
 sterling was ten to one. (82.) This would make one ounce 
 of silver worth fifty s. 4d. in paper currency. In 1740 the 
 Assembly rated the paper currency at 7^2 to i. (83.) In 1739 
 the Assembly made an effort to pass the paper currency in pay- 
 ment of quit-rents. The officers declined to accept it and pro- 
 ceeded to collect them. The Assembly ordered that the officers 
 should be imprisoned. (84.) Walker says, "The issues of North 
 Carolina were so much out of proportion to the requirements of 
 the colony's trade, that exchange on London rose in 1740 to 
 1400:100." (85.) The outstanding bills which were issued in 1734 
 were to be redeemed in 1744, but the financial condition of the 
 country at that time was critical. (86.) This was due in no 
 srilall degree to the amounts issued by the different colonies in 
 aid of the expedition against Louisburg. In 1740 one ounce of 
 silver was equal in value to twenty-eight shillings in Connecticut 
 paper money. In 1749 the exchange of Massachusetts paper 
 money on London was 1100:100. (87.) In 1744 the currency 
 had greatly depreciated and there was a large amount of quit- 
 rents due the crown and Earl of Granville. The debt of the 
 colony was large and business was greatly depressed. (88.) 
 The condition of affairs was so bad that Governor Johnston 
 said, "not a Man would go twenty miles as an Express on the 
 Public Faith." (89.) In this crisis, the people demanded 
 issuance of bills of credit. They were so urgent that Governor 
 Johnston felt it necessary to favor their demands, although he 
 had been instructed by the King not to do so. (90). In 1747 
 an event occurred which determined the action of the governor 
 in reference to this matter. Several small vessels laden with 
 armed men came from St. Augustine into North Carolina 
 waters. Where they landed they did great damage. They 
 killed many people, burned vessels, stole negroes, and slaugh- 
 tered cattle and hogs. This aroused the people to the neces- 
 
 (80) C. R. IV, 180, 577. (81) C. R. IV, 419. (82) C. R. IV, 419. 5T7. (83) Williamson's 
 "Hist, of N-C." Vol.11, 56. (84) Williamson's "Hist, of N. C." Vol. II. 42. (85) Walker's 
 "Money," 325. (86.) C. R. IV, 921, (87) Walkers' "Money," p. 321. (88) C. R. IV. 928. 
 (89) C. R. IV, 921. (90) C. R. IV, 922. 
 
 28 
 
sity of building forts. To meet this emergency the governor 
 yielded, and in 1748 the Assembly passed an act authorizing 
 the issuance of ,21,350 in bills of credit. (91). At the rate of 
 exchange at that time this sum was equal to ,16,012-10 sterl- 
 ing. As specified in the act, the bills were to be used as 
 follows: ,2,000 to build a fort at Ocracoke inlet; ,1,50010 
 build a fort at Topsail inlet ; .500 to build a fort at Bear inlet ; 
 ,2,000 to build a fort at the mouth of the Cape Fear river ; 
 < I 5>35 to redeem the outstanding bills of credit and pay the 
 expenses of the government. (92). The denominations of these 
 bills varied from 4d. to ,3. In exchanging the new for the 
 old bills, one shilling in new bills was to be given for seven 
 shillings and six pence in old bills. They were made legal- 
 tender in all payments at the rate of four shillings in paper 
 currency for three shillings sterling. A tax of one shilling per 
 poll was authorized to be levied as a sinking fund until all the bills 
 were redeemed. (93). The penalty for counterfeiting these 
 bills was, for the first offence, whipping not exceeding forty 
 lashes, standing in the pillory two hours, and having both ears 
 nailed to the pillory and cut off. For a repetition of the offence 
 the criminal was to be regarded as a felon and punished accord- 
 ingly. (94.) 
 
 There were ,20,646, 145. of these bills in circulation in 1750, 
 having maintained the value at which they were issued. (95.) In 
 1749 the sum of ,189:13:3 had been redeemed, and in 1750 the 
 sum of ,5 1 3: 1 2:0. (96.) In 1754 a new occasion arose for the 
 expansion of the currency. A contest commenced which was 
 eventually to decide whether England or France should be the 
 mistress of the New World. This war brought the thirteen sep- 
 arate colonies into a sympathy and confederation which ripened 
 into a national union of states. Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia, 
 called on the several colonies for aid in the war. In order to do 
 her part and meet the expenses of the government, North Caro- 
 lina resorted again to the expediency of issuing bills of credit. 
 In 1754 the Assembly passed an act authorizing the issuance of 
 ,40,000. (97.) Commissioners were appointed for stamp- 
 ing and signing the bills. The bills were to be of the fol- 
 lowing denominations : 40 shillings, 30 shillings, 26 shillings and 
 8 pence, 20 shillings, 15 shillings, 10 shillings, 5 shillings, 4 shil- 
 lings, 2 shillings and 8 pence, i shilling, 8 pence, and 4 pence. 
 
 (91) C. R. IV, 922 C. R. VI, 22 1308. C. R. VIII, 213. C. R. IX, 741. Iredell, 115, 
 134. (92) C. R. VIII. 213. Iredell, 115. (93) C. R. VI, 1308. Iredelt, 117. (94) Iredell, 
 117. (95) C. R. IV, 1073. (96) C. R. IV, 1072. (97) C. R. V.208, C. R. VI.22, C. R. VIII.213, 
 Iredell, 157. 
 
 29 
 
(98.) They were to be used for the following purposes : ,12,- 
 ooo to aid Virginia against the French and the Indians, ,2,000 
 to improve and defend Fort Johnston, ,1,000 to equip the poorer 
 soldiers of Anson and Rowan counties with ammunition and arms, 
 ,4,200 to pay the public debts, 7,000 for the establishment of 
 a public school, ,7,200 to be divided among the twenty-four 
 parishes to be used for a parish church, glebe, and parsonage. 
 ,2,000 to finish the public buildings of the province, ,2,800 
 to pay contingent expenses of the government, ,800 to stamp, 
 sign and pay out the bills. (99.) These bills were to be legal 
 tender in all business transactions at the rate of ,4 in bills for 
 ;3 sterling. (100.) The penalty for counterfeiting these bills 
 was, for the first offence, that the convict should be whipped at 
 the discretion of the court, not exceeding forty lashes and stand 
 in the pillory for two hours, have his ears nailed to the pillory 
 and then cut off. For a second offence the offender should be 
 considered a felon and be punished accordingly without the ben- 
 efit of clergy. (101.) The act provided that a tax of one shil- 
 ling per poll and a duty of four pence a gallon on all wine, rum, 
 or other liquors, imported either by land or sea from any place 
 except Great Britain, should be levied and collected as a sinking 
 fund until the bills were redeemed. (102.) In 1755 the Assem- 
 bly found it necessary to order the ,7,200 which had been ap- 
 propriated for churches, glebes, and parsonages, and also the 
 ;2,ooo appropriated for the purpose of finishing the public 
 buildings of the colony, to be applied to the purpose of defray- 
 ing the expenses of repelling the French and Indians from that 
 territory claimed by both French and English. (103.) The 
 amount of out-standing bills in 1754 was ,61,350, four shillings 
 of which were to be equal to three shillings sterling. 
 
 These bills were to be redeemed by a tax of one shilling per 
 poll and a duty of four pence a gallon on all imported liquors. 
 This tax and duty were to be paid until all the bills were 
 redeemed. (104). There were no bills of credit issued from 
 1754 to 1760. The colonists tried another plan for supplying a 
 currency. They resorted to the expediency of issuing inter- 
 est-bearing treasury notes. In 1760, however, the Assembly 
 authorized the issuance of ^12,000 in bills of credit. (105). 
 They were issued in the following denominations: ^3, 2, 30 
 shillings, ^1,10 shillings, five shillings, two shillings and eight 
 pence, two shillings, one shilling, 8 pence, six pence, and four 
 
 (98) Iredell, 157. (99) Iredell, 159, 160. C. R. VIII, 213, C. R. V, 109. (100) C. R. VI, 
 1308. Iredell, 158. (101) IredeJl, 158. (102) C. R. VI., 1308. C. R. VIII, 213, Iredell, 160. 
 (103) C. R. V, 279, Iredell, 168-1G9. (104) C. R. VI, 1309. (105) C. R. VI, 1309. Iredell, 192. 
 
 30 
 
pence. (106). They were made legal-tender in all transactons 
 of business at the rate of four shillings in bills for three shil- 
 lings sterling. They were issued for the following purposes : 
 ,7,000 were to be used in pay ing the expenses of an expedition 
 against the Cherokee Indians ; ,3,000 were issued for the pay- 
 ment of the public debts ; ^2,000 were to be used in the pay- 
 ment of rewards for killing Indians. It was required of the 
 person who wished to claim such a reward that he present the 
 scalp of the Indian to the Assembly and take an oath that he 
 had killed the Indian or was present at the killing, and that he 
 had received no reward from the government. If the claimant 
 were on pay, he was entitled to a reward of five dollars. If 
 not, he was entitled to a reward of ten dollars. (107). These 
 bills were to be redeemed by a tax of one shilling per poll, to 
 be levied in January, 1763, and continued until all the bills of 
 this issue had been redeemed. (108). Counterfeiting these 
 bills was to be regarded as a felony, and was to be punished 
 accordingly. (109). 
 
 In 1761, the Assembly authorized the emission of ,20,000 
 bills of credit, for the purpose of raising and equipping forces to 
 assist Virginia and South Carolina. The bills were made legal 
 tender in all transactions as proclamation money. They were 
 issued in the following denominations; ^3, forty shillings, thirty 
 shillings, twenty shillings, fifteen shillings, ten shillings, five 
 shillings, four shillings, three shillings, two shillings and six pence, 
 two shillings, one shilling, eight pence, six pence, and four pence, 
 (no.) A provision was made in the act for the redemption of 
 these bills by levying a tax of two shillings per poll, commencing 
 in January, 1764, and continuing until all the bills of this issue had 
 been retired, (in.) Counterfeiting these bills was considered 
 a felony and was to be punished accordingly. This was the last 
 emission of bills of credit by North Carolina until she became 
 independent. In 1764 Parliament passed an act prohibiting the 
 colonies from issuing bills of credit with legal tender value. 
 (112.) 
 
 TREASURY NOTES. 
 
 In 1756 the assembly passed an act granting the King an aid 
 of ^3,400 for the purpose of defraying the expenses of con- 
 structing a fort and for equipping and paying two companies of 
 soldiers for the protection of the western frontier. (113.) This 
 
 (106) Iredell, 192. (107) Iredell. 193. (108) C. R. VIII, 214. Iredell. 183-194. (109). 
 Iredell, 194. (110) Iredell, 198, 199. C. R. VII, p. 214. (Ill) Iredell. 199. (112). Whit- 
 ney's "Government of the Col. of 3. C." p. 114. Walker's "Money, ",'p. 324. (113) C. 
 R. V, p. 678,687, 798. 
 
 31 
 
sum was issued in treasury notes at the rate of proclamation 
 money, bearing interest at six per cent, from the date of issuance 
 until November loth, 1757. These were simple interest bearing 
 promissory notes. They were to be redeemed by a tax of two 
 shillings per poll and a duty of two pence per gallon on all im- 
 ported liquors for a year. (114.) The surplus was to be applied 
 to the payment of the contingent expenses of the government. 
 (115.) In 1757 an additional sum of ^5,306 in treasury notes 
 was issued for the purpose of assisting South Carolina. These 
 notes were to bear interest at six per cent, until September 29, 
 1758. They were to be redeemed by levying a tax of four 
 shillings and six pence per poll for that year, and a tax on law 
 suits for two years. (116). There was issued the same year 
 the sum of ,9,500 in interest-bearing treasury notes, which 
 was to be paid by a tax of six shillings and six pence per poll 
 for a year, the rate of interest being 6 per cent. The surplus 
 interest was to be applied to the payment of the contingent 
 expenses of the government. (117). ,2,500 of this appropria- 
 tion were to be used in payment of the debts of the colony, 
 and the remaining ,7,000 were to be used for the payment of 
 the military expenses of the colony. (118). In 1758, the sum 
 of ,7,000 of treasury notes was issued. These notes were to 
 bear interest at six per cent, until December 12, 1759. They 
 were issued for the purpose of increasing and maintaining the 
 colonial forces under the command of Brigadier General Forbes 
 and for garrisoning the forts along the Atlantic coast. (119). The 
 denominations of the notes were as follows : ,2,000 of 10 shill- 
 ings ; ^4,000 of 20 shillings ; ,1,000 of 40 shillings. (120). 
 
 These notes were to be paid by levying a tax of four shil- 
 lings and six pence per poll for a year, and a duty of two pence 
 per gallon on all imported liquors for a period of four years. 
 The surplus was to be applied to the payment of the contingent 
 expenses of the government. (121). 
 
 In November of the same year, the sum of ,4,000 of 
 treasury notes was issued to be used in garrisoning Fort John- 
 ston and Fort Granville, and for other purposes. (122.) These 
 notes were to bear interest until June loth, 1761. Provision was 
 made for their redemption by levying a tax of three shillings and 
 a penny per poll for a year. The surplus of this tax was to be 
 used in payment of the contingent expenses of the government. 
 
 (114) C. R. VI, 1309. C. R. VIII, p. 213. (115) C. R. VIII. p. 213. (116) C. R. VI, 1398. 
 C. R. VIII, 213. ,(H7) C. R. VI 1309. Iredell, 214. (118) C. R. VIII, 214. (119) C. R. 
 V, 1003. C. R. VI, 1310. C. R. VIII, 214. Iredell, 182. (120) C. R. V, 1003. (121) C. R. 
 Y, 1003. C. R. VI, 1310. (122) C. R. VIII, 214. Iredell, 183. 
 
(123.) In 1759, the sum of .5,500 of interest bearing treasury 
 notes, which had been borrowed from different funds, was re- 
 issued as non-interest bearing notes. This issue, therefore, did 
 not increase the number of treasury notes in circulation, author- 
 ized. A tax of a shilling per poll was levied for three years for 
 the purpose of redeeming them. (124.) According to the 
 financial report made to the Governor in 1764 there had been 
 issued since 1747 ,93,350 in bills of credit and .30,776 of in- 
 terest-bearing notes including interest, making in both bills of 
 credit and interest bearing notes the sum of ,124,126. The sum 
 of .49093: 1 5:10 including principal and interest had been re- 
 deemed, leaving 75032:4:2 unredeemed. This sum was to be 
 redeemed by a tax of four shillings per poll and a duty of four- 
 pence per gallon on all imported liquors. Both of these sources 
 of revenue were authorized to be continued until all of this sum 
 should be retired. (125.) The following table will show the 
 amount of both bills and notes redeemed each year. (126.) 
 
 When Burned. Bi Interest Notes. 
 
 s. d. s. d. 
 
 1749 April 14 ........... 189 13 3 ........ 
 
 1750 April 6 ............ 513 12 ........ 
 
 1751 OctoberO .......... 527 14 4 ........ 
 
 1752 April 10 ........... 1,090 17 6 ........ 
 
 1753 April 11 .......... 739 6 8 ........ 
 
 1754_February .......... 337 17 3 ........ 
 
 1755 January 11 ........ 958 1 4 ....... 
 
 October 15 ........ 938 15 10 ......... 
 
 1756 October 21 ........ 1,809 5 ....... 
 
 1757 Nov. 29 ........... 1,986 13 5 2,540 
 
 1758 December 22 ...... 1,701 10 11 7,843 
 
 1760 January 9 ......... 1,143 5 4 ........ 
 
 May 27 ................... 1,260 19 3 
 
 December 1 ....... 1,479 2 5 3,113 3 
 
 1761 April 21 ........... 105 13 3 513 1 3 
 
 1762 April 27 ........... 2,057 19 111 5,124 14 9 
 
 December ......... 1,710 15 11 1,119 8 9 
 
 1764 March 7 ........... 1,140 9 8 1,673 12 6 
 
 November ........ 7,171 8 1,958 10 1 
 
 17C6 November ........ 3,786 7 8 1,711 11 22 
 
 1768 January ........... 7,774 9 7 ........ 
 
 37,162 7s. 4d. 26,857 18s, Od. 
 
 In 1767 England considered the advisability of furnishing a 
 currency for the use of the colonies. Three plans were con- 
 sidered : (a) for England to furnish an interest-bearing medium 
 
 (123) C. R. VI, 1310. C. R. VIII, 214. Iredell 1S3. (124) C. R. VI, 131U. (126) C. R. 
 VI, 1310. 1311. (iJiG) C. R. VIII, 215. 
 
 83 
 
to be put in circulation by paying the army and the navy, and 
 by means of a loan to the several colonies; (b) for the establish- 
 ment of a bank connected with the bank of England, to be 
 known as the Bank of America, with the authority to issue notes; 
 (c) for taking the financial affairs of the colonies from Parlia- 
 ment and placing them in the hands of the Crown and boards 
 as was originally the custom. (127.) This last plan, if it had 
 been adopted, would have repealed the restrictive acts of Par- 
 liament, and would have permitted the colonies to issue bills on 
 three conditions: (a) that the amount fixed by Parliament 
 should not be exceeded nor increased afterward without the 
 consent of the Crown ; (b) that when an issue of bills was made 
 all debts were to be secured and were not to suffer any loss by 
 such omissions ; (c) that all sterling debts should be paid in 
 sterling value, and all contracts should be kept. (128). In 1768 
 the Assembly authorized the issuance of the sum of ,20,000 
 in certified notes for the purpose of paying the soldiers to sup- 
 press an insurrection on the western frontier, and meeting other 
 demands. These notes were not made legal-tender. Such an 
 action would have been contrary to the spirit of the act of 
 Parliament passed in 1764. They were only promissory notes, 
 but money was so scarce at that time that they circulated as 
 freely as if they had been bills of credit. (129). 
 
 In 1771, the Assembly authorized the issuance of ,60,000 in 
 debenture notes for the purpose of paying the expenses of Gov- 
 ernor Tryon's war against the Regulators. These notes did not 
 bear interest. They were to be redeemed by a tax of two shill- 
 ings per poll for a period of ten years, unless sufficient funds for 
 that purpose were available sooner. (130.) Although the 
 colonists needed more money, this measure was unpopular. 
 Governor Martin had been instructed to call a new Assembly, 
 but he was advised that a new assembly would not favor such a 
 measure. He, therefore, referred the matter to the old Assembly 
 which had authorized the levy of soldiers for the expedition. 
 Some members of the Assembly had served in this war. (131.) 
 In 1771 a report was made to the Assembly by the Clerk of the 
 Committee of Accounts showing that the sum of ,4,340:7:6 
 more of special taxes had been collected than should have been. 
 (132.) In view of this fact the Assembly passed an act to dis- 
 continue the collection of these taxes. The Governor charac- 
 terized this act "as teeming with fraud," and refused his assent. 
 
 (127) C. R. VIII, 517. (ISM) C. R. VIII, 517. (128) C. R. VIII, 21*. Iredell. 213. (130) 
 C. R. IX, v., 72, 76, 221, 260. Iredell, 258. (131) C. R. IX, xii. (1132.) C. R. IX, xvi. 
 
 34 
 
(I33-) The Assembly, anticipating his intention, had prepared 
 resolutions to discontinue these taxes and indemnify the sheriffs 
 for not collecting them. These resolutions were intended to be 
 recorded in the journal, but the Governor, aware of this inten- 
 tion, dissolved the Assembly immediately after rejecting the act. 
 Colonel William L. Saunders says: "Mr. Speaker Caswell com- 
 municated the purport of the resolves to the treasurers as an 
 order from the Assembly and thereupon the taxes in question 
 were omitted from the tax lists sent down to the counties for 
 collection." (134.) The Governor issued a proclamation in- 
 structing the sheriffs to continue the collections. (135.) 
 
 The trouble between the Assembly and the Governor over the 
 tax question continued till the close of the colonial period. (136.) 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 The history of the currency of North Carolina during the 
 colonial period shows the use of a great variety of commodities 
 and many examples of inconvertible paper issues in addition 
 to the gold, silver and other coins. The early inhabitants with 
 the small amount of gold and silver they possessed were unable 
 to exchange the products of their industry without relying largely 
 on the use of barter commodities. We find the paper currency 
 of this period based on land, on taxes, and on the credit of the 
 colony. The Assembly issued paper currency to pay the ex- 
 penses of war, to meet the demands made on the treasury, and 
 to lend to the people for the purpose of encouraging industry. 
 The spirit North Carolinia has shown in her financial legislation, 
 limited as she was by England's commercial and financial policy, 
 is in the main commendable. Few bills or notes were issued for 
 which she did not at the time make provision for redemption. 
 We are not aware of any that the Assembly did not attempt to 
 redeem. In 1772 Governor Martin refused to endorse an act 
 authorizing the issuance of the sum of ,120,000 in debenture 
 notes for the purpose of redeeming the outstanding debenture 
 notes and bills of credit. He refused his assent because he re- 
 garded it inconsistent with the act of Parliament passed in 1764, 
 concerning the issuance of bills of credit. (137.) The debenture 
 notes issued in 1771 were the last paper currency North Caro- 
 lina issued before she became independent. In 1775, feeling 
 no longer the restrictive influence of Parliament, she returned to 
 the policy of issuing bills of credit. 
 
 (133.) C. R. IX, pp. xvi, xvii. (134) C. R. IX, xvii. (135) C. R. IX, xvii. (136) C, R. 
 IX, xix. (137) C. R. IX, 258. 
 
 85 
 
VITA. 
 
 Edwin Wexler Kennedy was born in Tennessee August 25th, 
 1857, received his preliminary education in the public and 
 private schools in Blount county, and the degree of A. B. from 
 the University of Tennessee in 1880 ; taught in the Knoxville 
 city schools, Tennessee, and in the Goldsboro city schools, 
 North Carolina ; was for twelve years superintendent of the 
 Durham city schools, North Carolina. From 1895 to l8 97 he 
 was instructor in history in the Woman's College of Baltimore, 
 and from 1894 to 1897 he was a graduate student in the Johns 
 Hopkins University. His studies were History, Jurisprudence 
 and Politics, and the subject of his thesis, "Quit-rents and Cur- 
 rency in North Carolina, 1663-1776." 
 
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