Watauga Petition

Petition from inhabitants of Western North Carolina concerning a separate government

Cosson, John; Et Al. December 1787 North Carolina State Records. Volume 22, Pages 705-714

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page 705

The Honourable the General Assembly of North Carolina now sitting— The Inhabitants of the Western Country Humbly Sheweth—That it is with sincere concern we lament the unhappy dispute that have have long subsisted between us, and our Brethren on the Eastern side of the Mountains, respecting the Erecting a new Government. We beg leave to represent to your Honourable body, that from Acts passed in June, 1784, ceding to Congress your Western territory with the reservations and Conditions therein contained. Also from a clause in your Wise and Mild Constitution, setting forth that there might be a State, or States, erected in the West whenever your Legislature should give consent for the same, and from our local situation numberless advantages, bountifully given to us by nature, to propagate & promote a Government with us. Being influenced by your Acts and Constitution, and at the same time considering that it is our undeniable right to obtain for ourselves and posterity a proportionable and adequate share of the blessings, rights, privileges and Immunities allotted with the rest of mankind, have thought that the Erecting a new Government would greatly contribute to our welfare and convenience and that the same could not militate against your interest and future welfare as a Government. Hoping that mutual & reciprocal advantages would attend each party & that cordiality

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page 706

and unanimity would permanently subsist between us ever after. We earnestly request that an impartial view of our remoteness might be taken into consideration. The great inconveniency attending your seat of Government, and also the great difficulty in ruling well & giving protection to so remote a people. To say nothing of the almost impassable mountains, Nature has placed between us, which renders it impracticable for us to furnish ourselves with a bare load of the necessaries of life, except we in the first instance travel from one to two hundred & more miles through some other State ’ere we can reach your government. Every tax paid you from this county would render us that sum the poorer, as it is impossible, from the nature of our situation, that any part could return into circulation having nothing that could bear the carriage, or encourage purchasers to come so great a distance for which reasons were we to continue under your Government a few years, the people here must pay a grater sum than the whole of the medium now in circulation for the Exigencies and support of your Government, which would be a sum impossible for us to procure, would we be willing to give you our all, & of course, must be heholden to other States for any part we could raise; and by these means our property would gradually diminish and we at last reduced to mere poverty and want by not being able equally, to participate with the benefits and advantages of your government. We hope that having settled west of the Apalachian Mountains ought not to deprive us of the natural advantages designed by the bountiful hand of Providence for the conveniency & comfort of all those who have Spirit and sagacity enough to seek after them. When we reflect on our past & indefatigable Struggles, both with savages and our other Enemies during our late war, and the great difficulty we had to obtain and withhold this Country from those Enemies at the expence of the lives and fortunes of many of our dearest friends and relations, and the happy conclusion of peace have arrived, North Carolina has derived great advantages from our alertness in taking & securing a Country from which she has been able to draw into her Treasury immense sums of money, and thereby become enabled to pay off, if not wholly, yet a great part and sink her national debt. We therefore humbly conceive you will liberally think that it will be nothing more than paying a debt in full to us for only to grant what God, Nature & our Locality entitles us to receive. Trusting that your magnanimity and justice will not

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page 707

consider it a crime in any people to pray their just rites and privileges, we call the world to testify our conduct and exertion in behalf of American Independency, and the same to judge whither we ask more than free people ought to claim agreeable to Republican principles, the grand foundation whereon our American fabric now stands. Impressed with the hope of your great goodness & benevo lent disposition that you will utterly abhor and disclaim all Ideas of Involving into innumerable, disagreeable and irksome Contentions a people who have so faithfully aided & supported you in the time of imminent & perilous Dangers; that you will be graciously pleased to consent to a Separation, that from your paternal tenderness and greatness of mind you will let your stipulations & conditions be consistent with honour, equity & Reason, all which will be cheerfully submitted to, and we, your Petitioners, shall always feel an interest in whatsoever may concern your honour and prosperity. Lastly, we hope to be enabled by the concurrence of your State to participate of the fruits of the Revolution; and enjoy the essential benefits of Civil Society under a form of Government which ourselves alone, can only calculate for such a purpose. It will be a subject of regret that so much blood and treasure have been lavished away for no purpose to us, that so many sufferings have been encountered without Compensation, and that so many sacrifices have been made in vain. Many other considerations might be here adduced but we hope what hath been mentioned will be sufficient for our purpose, adding only that Congress hath from time to time explained their ideas so fully and with so much dignity & Energy that if their Arguments and Requisitions will not Produce conviction, we know of nothing that will have a greater influence, especially when we recollect that the System referred to is the result of the Collected wisdom of the United States and should it not be considered as perfect must be esteemed the least Objectionable.

Signers

Page	Num	First	Last
707	1	JOHN	COSSON
707	2	JOSEPH	BLAIR
707	3	JAMES	ENGLISH
707	4	THOMAS	WILLIAM
707	5	WILLIAM	HANNAH
707	6	HENRY	STYERS
707	7	PETER	McNAMEE
707	8	JAMES	SHANKS
707	9	THOMAS	TADLOCK
707	10	DAVID	ROBINSON
707	11	ROBERT	CALLISON
707	12	WILLIAM	McPICK
707	13	ISAAC	DAVIS
707	14	BOTHOLOMU	ODENEAL
708	1	JAMES	MITCHELL
708	2	DAVID	GEMEL
708	3	SHADRICK	HALE, JR.
708	4	THOMAS	BELL
708	5	THOMAS	RODGERS
708	6	DANIEL	DUNNY JR
708	7	ANTHONY	KELLY
708	8	JOHN	WEAR
708	9	THOMAS	McMACKIN
708	10	ASAHEL	RAWLINGS
708	11	GEORGE	DAVIES
708	12	HENRY	EARNEST
708	13	NATHANIEL	DAVIES
708	14	JAMES	PATTERSON
708	15	SAMUEL	DAVIES
708	16	FRANCIS	HUGHES
708	17	JOHN	LOWE
708	18	ROBERT	HOOD
708	19	JOSEPH	WILLSON
708	20	DAVID	BROWN
708	21	WILLIAM	FRANCIS
708	22	WILLIAM	BROWN
708	23	JAMES	HENNEY
708	24	ALEXANDER	PETTER
708	25	PATRICK	KIRKPATRICK
708	26	WILLIAM	REYNOLDS
708	27	DAVID	REYNOLDS
708	28	JOHN	TADLOCK
708	29	AARON	BEEN
708	30	JAMES	DAVIS
708	31	WILLIAM	WILSON
708	32	BENN	BRUMBLY
708	33	THOMAS	THOMPSON
708	34	MARY	WEBSTER (?)
708	35	DAVID	RANKIN
708	36	GEORGE	KIRKPATRICK
708	37	JOHN	LEE
708	38	THOMAS	JONES
708	39	SAMUEL	VANCE
708	40	WILLIAM	JONES
708	41	RD.	KERR
708	42	REUBEN	SIMMON
708	43	ARCHIBEL	ALEXANDER
708	44	MOSES	KELSAY
708	45	SAMUEL	McPHERSON
708	46	ROBERT	McCALL
708	47	MATTHEW	RUE
708	48	JOSEPH	ALEXANDER
708	49	JOSEPH	LUSK
708	50	WILLIAM	COCKE
708	51	ANDREW	JACKSON
708	52	ARCHIBALD	ROAN
708	53	JOSEPH	GEST
708	54	ELIAS	WITT
708	55	JOSEPH	NEWBERRY
708	56	THOMAS	WITT
708	57	ALEXANDER	LOWRY
708	58	NATHANIEL	WITT
708	59	JOHN	McCLELLAND
708	60	RICHARD	DUNN
708	61	SOLOMON	REED
708	62	WILLIAM	DUNN
708	63	URIAH	McCLELLENNON
708	64	THOMAS	CALL
708	65	JAMES	STINSON
708	66	H.	CALL
708	67	ALEXANDER	STREET
708	68	JOSEPH N.	NEWPORT
708	69	JAMES	McPHERSON
708	70	WILLIAM. W.	NEWPORT
708	71	JOHN	PRIM
708	72	JOHN	GREER
708	73	JACOB	SMELSER
708	74	ABSOLOM	GREER
709	1	JOSHUA	KIDWELL
709	2	THOMAS	SPRINGER
709	3	SAMUEL	JAMESON
709	4	LEVY	SPRINGER
709	5	JOHN	BRUMLEY
709	6	THOMAS	WOLF
709	7	WILLIAM	DAVIDSON
709	8	CONROD	WOLF
709	9	WILLIAM	BOYD
709	10	PHILLIP	GNIBB
709	11	BENJAMIN	GIST
709	12	HENRY	EASTER
709	13	THOMAS	BROMLEY
709	14	WILLIAM	EATS
709	15	HUGH	BEARD
709	16	SIMEON	CRAINS
709	17	SAMUEL	BEARD
709	18	HARMAN	NOWEL
709	19	JAMES	MILLIKIN
709	20	JAMES	PATTON
709	21	ROBERT	ORR
709	22	ROBERT	PATTON
709	23	SEARLING B	OWMAN
709	24	JOHN	FOUT
709	25	RICHARD	WOODS
709	26	PETER	FOUT
709	27	ROBERT	McCALL
709	28	HARMAN	KENEDY
709	29	JOHN	GALBREATH
709	30	MOSES	LONG
709	31	CONNAS	MILLER
709	32	JAMES	WATSON
709	33	THOMAS	McKEE
709	34	WILLIAM	GOINGS
709	35	JAMES	HAYS
709	36	HENRY	BRUMLY
709	37	DAVID	CARR
709	38	ANDREW	WRAY
709	39	JOSEPH	GARRISON
709	40	WILLIAM	WOOD
709	41	WILLIAM	GILLEHAN
709	42	GORDON	POTTER
709	43	STEPHEN	STRORGE
709	44	WILLIAM	PECK
709	45	MICHAEL	RAWLINGS
709	46	THOMAS	MOSELY
709	47	DONNELL	CREMOR
709	48	HENRY	MOSELY
709	49	NATH.	McMENO
709	50	PHILLIP	RUDOLF
709	51	WILLIAM	LA(?)
709	52	WILLIAM	STUBLEFIELD
709	53	THOMAS	BAITS
709	54	WILLIAM	MOROW
709	55	JOHN	KELLER
709	56	CHARLES	RAMSEY
709	57	MOSES	KELLER
709	58	WILLIAM	FERGOSON
709	59	JOHN	R(?)
709	60	ADAM	FERGOSON
709	61	PETER	NOWELS
709	62	RALPH	HOGAN
709	63	JAMES	MILLIKAN
709	64	WILLIAM	HOGAN
709	65	THOMAS	MILLIKAN
709	66	RICHARD	WABB
709	67	THOMAS	DICSON
709	68	JOSIAH	EPPERSON
709	69	REDMAN	McDANEL
709	70	HUMPHRY	MONTGOMERY
709	71	SAMUEL	MacDANEL
709	72	CARMACH	GEORGE
709	73	SAMUEL	GILBERTS
709	74	CHARLES	WILLSON
710	1	JOSEPH	McMINTY
710	2	JOHN	JOHNSTON
710	3	AUBORN	MON(?)
710	4	WILLIAM	MAGILL
710	5	ANSON	RIT
710	6	OTON	CLACK
710	7	NUNESS	POTTOR
710	8	JOHN	GIBSON
710	9	JOHN	NOMAN
710	10	REUBEN	GIBSON
710	11	PETER	NULESS
710	12	WILLIAM	ADKINS
710	13	JAMES W.	BEGSES(?)
710	14	THOMAS	FRYAR
710	15	DALTON	RIDGS
710	16	JOHN	LYON
710	17	JAMES	JACK
710	18	WILLIAM	BROWNIN
710	19	JOHN	ADKINS
710	20	RICHARD	WOOD
710	22	JAMES	PICKENS
710	23	ROBERT	BETTEY
710	24	REUBEN	RIGGS
710	25	GEORGE	BLACK
710	26	GEORGE	HAYES
710	27	SIMON	RIDGS
710	28	WILLIAM	HILL
710	29	JOSEPH	DONN
710	30	HENRY	RICHARDSON
710	31	ALLEN	BELLEW
710	32	SHIFFELL	GOODLOP
710	33	ROWS	POTTER
710	34	JOHN	SHAM
710	35	JOHN	NORTON
710	36	MILLER	DOGET
710	37	AARON	NORTON
710	38	CHRISTY	MIERS
710	39	AARON	RIDER
710	40	JOHN	MEARS
710	41	JOHN	JAMESON
710	42	WILLIAM	OWINS
710	43	DANIEL	RAWLINGS
710	44	THOMAS	OWINS
710	45	WILLIAM	JINKINS
710	46	JOHN	JARROTT
710	47	ROBERT	SMITH
710	48	THOMAS	PINCKNY
710	49	WILLIAM	HOWARD
710	50	JAMES	STUMP
710	51	JOSHUA	TADLOCK
710	52	LEONARD	HOPKINS
710	53	ROBERT	HAYES
710	54	MARTHA	GAHEE
710	55	THOMAS	JOHNSON
710	56	PATRICK	GAHEE
710	57	FRANCIS	JONSON
710	58	JEREMIAH	SMITH
710	59	ROBERT	SAMPLE
710	60	J.S.	HUST
710	61	ANTHONY	MOORE
710	62	JAMES	McCAMMIS
710	63	THOMAS	McCAMMIS
710	64	JOHN	HUSON
710	65	WILLIM	McCAMMIS
710	66	ADAM	McCAMMIS
710	67	LANTY	ARMSTRONG
710	68	HENRY	HOHAMMER
710	69	WILLIAM	HENNIDGE
710	70	FRANSES	CASTEL
710	71	JOHN	ARMSTRONG
710	72	JACOB	MEEK
710	73	ANDREW	ENGLISH
710	74	THOMAS	MILLER
711	1	NATHANIEL	HAYS
711	2	ROBERT	PAIN
711	3	DANIEL	LEMING
711	4	JOSEPH	HAMILTON
711	5	JOHN	WILLIAMS
711	6	ROBERT	KERR
711	7	JOHN	SELLARS
711	8	ROBERT	MILLOR
711	9	BENJAMIN	WRAY
711	10	MOSES	MOORE
711	11	WILLIAM	HUST
711	12	WILLIAM	MOORE
711	13	JOSEPH	RAY
711	14	JOSEPH	LACHLEN SR.
711	15	THOMAS	BAILEY
711	16	JOSEPH	LACHLEN JR.
711	17	EDWARD	CRUNT
711	18	JAMES	CRUNT
711	19	NICHOLAS	HAYES
711	20	WILLIAM	WILSON
711	21	SAMUEL	HAYES
711	22	MOSES	KENNEDY
711	23	JOHN	MITCHEL
711	24	HERMON	KING
711	25	JAMES	RANNER
711	26	JOSEPH	SCREAT
711	27	HENRY	HOKIMER
711	28	LEWIS	TADLOCK
711	29	GEORGE	MARTIN
711	30	THOMAS	TADLOCK
711	31	DAVID	MOORE
711	32	JOSHUA WAY	TADLOCK
711	33	HENRY	WINTERBERGER
711	34	WILLIAM	PADFIELD
711	35	JOSEPH	WINTERBERGER
711	36	SAMUEL	WINTERBERGER
711	37	THOMAS	BENET
711	38	JOSEPH	LUSK
711	39	THOMAS	WOOD
711	40	MOSES	KELSAY
711	41	JOSEPH	GEEST
711	42	JOHN	ANDERSON
711	43	WILLIAM	GEST
711	44	JAMES	RICHARDSON
711	45	JOSHUA	KIDWELL
711	46	DAVID	TAYLOR
711	47	THOMAS	DAVIE
711	48	BENJAMIN	GIST
711	49	JOHN	KIDWELL
711	50	JOSEPH	HUSON
711	51	CHARLES	KIDWELL
711	52	MIKILL	BORDERS
711	53	WHALEY	NEWBY
711	54	ALEXANDER	PETHROW
711	55	HENRY W.	NEWBY
711	56	OYSTAN	HEWTOWER
711	58	WILLIAM	DAVES
711	59	ALEXANDER	LOWREY
711	60	JOHN	NORIS
711	61	JAMES	STITSON
711	62	ROBERT	HAYS
711	63	ADAM	GUTHERY
711	64	JAMES	HAYS
712	1	WILLIAM	CRAIGE
712	2	WILLIAM	SIPPARD
712	3	BENJAMEN	HENSLEE
712	4	ALLEXANDER	CAVITT
712	5	ABEL	MORGAN
712	6	MOSES	CAVITT
712	7	THOMAS	VINCENT
712	8	JACOB	JOBE
712	9	JOHN	CHESTER
712	10	NATHAN	JOBE
712	11	PATRICK	MORRISON
712	12	JOSEPH	BIRDWELL
712	13	STEPHEN	EASLEY
712	14	GEORGE	BIRDWELL
712	15	JACKEL	LIGHT
712	16	JAMES	SMITH
712	17	ROBERT	EASLEY
712	18	MOSES	RUSSEL
712	19	HENRY	SULLAVAN
712	20	CONRAD	SHEPLY
712	21	JOHN	LIGHT
712	22	JOHN	COMIN
712	23	MOSES	ROBINSON
712	24	WALKER	BARREN
712	25	WILLIAM	LIGHT JR
712	26	JOHN	BELL
712	27	WILLIAM	LIGHT SR.
712	28	WILLIAM	CARSON
712	29	THOMAS	EASLEY
712	30	ROBERT	CHRISTIAN
712	31	WILLIAM	GOAD
712	32	ABRAHAM	TITSWORTH
712	33	JESEY	HOLLAND
712	34	BENJAMIN	WALB(?)
712	35	JAMES	WALB(?)
712	36	GREEN	CHOTE
712	37	JOHN	GOAD JR.
712	38	SHADRACH	HAILE
712	39	GEORGE	VINCENT
712	40	FORRESTER	MERCER
712	41	HENRY	HECKEY
712	42	BRYCE	RUSSELL SR.
712	43	OWEN	ATKIN
712	44	BRYCE	RUSSELL JR.
712	45	NICHOLAS	MERCER
712	46	JAMES	PICKENS
712	47	RICHARD	MERCER SR.
712	48	PHL. GRAFFORD	PEARCE
712	49	ARCH’D	McHAUGHAN
712	50	WILLIAM	GEWIL
712	51	EDWARD	MERCER
712	52	CHARLES	PARKER
712	53	JOHN	BLACK
712	54	ANTONY	AGEE
712	55	JOHN	HUNT JR.
712	56	JOHN	SAWYER
712	57	BASETT	HUNT
712	58	JOSEPH	MOOR
712	60	JOHN	YANCEY
712	61	THOMAS	TINTON
712	62	RICHARD	SHIPLEY
712	63	JONATHAN	HUNT
712	64	W.	CAGE
712	65	JAMES	COOPER
712	66	TIMOTHY	HEUFF
712	67	ISAIAH	WALDREW
712	68	GEORGE	CHRISTIAN
712	69	LEWIS	HUNT
712	70	DENESS	MURFEE
712	71	JAMES	SMART
712	72	ISAAC	THOMAS
712	73	JAMES	SMITH
712	74	WILLIAM	NASENGILL
712	75	GABRIEL	GODE
712	76	JOHN	TULLEY
712	77	JOSEPH	SMITH
712	78	THOS.	EASTERLIN
713	1	JOHN	DUNCAN
713	2	WILLIAM	COPELAND
713	3	WILLIAM	BERRY
713	4	RICHARD	GARNON
713	5	ISAAC	WHITE
713	6	JOHN	SPURGIN
713	7	SAMUEL	COX
713	8	THOMAS	KING
713	9	JAMES	WHEELER
713	10	ROGER	GIBSON
713	11	JOHN	COTTRELL
713	12	JAMES	ADAM
713	13	HUGH	GENTRY
713	14	GEORGE	GABRIEL
713	15	VALLENTINE	ROSE
713	16	JOHN	YOKLEY
713	17	ELI	SHIPLY
713	18	JOHN	WOOLSEY
713	19	THOMIS	SHIPLEY
713	20	JAMES	ARBUTTON(?)
713	21	WILLIAM	CHILDRESS
713	22	MARTIN	ROLLER JR.
713	23	JOSHWAY	HAMETON
713	24	JOSEPH	BLAIR
713	25	CHRISTURPHER	CROFF
713	26	DAVID	ARWIN
713	27	BENJAMEN	AZE
713	28	WILLIAM	(?)
713	29	REUBEN	HUNT
713	30	THOMAS	TAYLOR
713	31	ELLECANDER	MORE
713	32	ADAM	STOAKS
713	33	MARTIN	ROLLER
713	34	JOSEPH	WALDRAP
713	35	JOHN A.	CAFT
713	36	MATTHEW	CARITHERS
713	37	D.	WRIGHT
713	38	GILBERT	CHRISTIAN
713	39	ADAM	STAKE
713	40	JOHN	PRIOR
713	41	WILLIAM	SHEWMAKER
713	42	MOSES	LOONEY
713	43	GABRIEL	GOAD
713	44	MACAJAH	ADAMS
713	45	PETER	EASLEY
713	46	JAMES	McLERN
713	47	JACOB	COX
713	48	ALEXANDER	CARITH
713	49	WILLIAM	BUCKNELL
713	50	BENJAMEN	BURDWELL
713	51	HALEY	BUCKNELL
713	52	JOHN	DEAN
713	53	PRELEY	BUCKNELL
713	54	CHARLES	BACON
713	55	WILLIAM	HOLLAND
713	56	JOHN	FRENCH
713	57	WILLIAM	MORROSON
713	58	JOHN	BILENSY
713	59	JOHN	MORROSON
713	60	WILLIAM	COMBS
713	61	JAMES	MORROSON
713	62	WILLIAM	COMBS JR.
713	63	SAMUEL	BOFMAN
713	64	HENERY	COMBS
713	65	DAVID	MERRYON
713	66	WILLIAM	STACEY
713	67	RICHARD	MORELL
713	68	ADDAM	COUMB
713	69	DUDLY	BETHERFORD
713	70	DANIEL	AGEE
713	71	JOHN	BRAFORD
713	72	JOHN	COMAY
713	73	PETER	FIN
713	74	JAMES	PETERSON
713	75	JOHN	HUNT
713	76	JEREMIA H	TAYLOR
713	77	WILLIAM	BAILY
713	78	JOSEPH	TAYLOR
714	1	GEORGE	SMITH
714	2	STEPHEN	TAYLOR
714	3	JACOB	JOAB
714	4	ISAAC	TAYLOR
714	5	WILLIAM	COOPER
714	6	JOHN	CHISOLM
714	7	WILLIAM	JACTION
714	8	EDWARD	TULE
714	9	EPHRAIM	JOAB
714	10	NATHANIEL	TULE
714	11	WILLIAM	MEHALLM

Former links will be added very soon.

Sources

• Watauga Association
• TNGEN Pre-Statehood page for the petition, with all signers