NC, Craven, Letters, Rev. Stewart to the Secretary Dec 1769

=========================================================

USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information 
on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as 
this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may 
NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other 
persons or organizations.

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other 
than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, 
and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The 
submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file 
permanently for free access.
This file was contributed byFlorence Fulford Moore, June 2001.
=========================================================

This letter was extracted from the Elizabeth Moore Collection (322.44) at 
East Carolina University, Joyner Library, with permission, June 1, 2001: 


A Letter from Mr. Stewart to the Secretary.

New Bern, North Carolina

December the 6th 1769

Reverend Sir: 


My last to you was forwarded by Mr. Blinn, a gentleman that went home in July 
last with letters recommendatory from Governor Tryon to the Bishop of London 
for orders since which time very little could be done in our way in the eastern 
parts of this Province, for on the 7th of September, at night, we had the most 
violent gale of wind and the highest tide that has ever been known since this 
country has been inhabited. 

The tide rose in a few hours at my house 12 feet higher than I ever before knew 
it, and the wind blew so violent that nothing could stand before it. Every vessel, 
boat or craft were drove up in the woods and all the large oaks, pines, etc broke 
either off or torn up by the roots. Our Indian corn, which was not quite ripe and 
which is the common bread of the country, was mostly destroyed, and in many places 
together with the cattle, sheep, hogs, & washed quite away. But no place has 
suffered so much as this town of New Bern, one entire street, houses, stores, 
Houses, wharves, etc. to the amount of near 20,000 pounds were destroyed and swept 
off together with several of the inhabitants in a few hours time. The roads were 
impassable for several weeks by reason of the trees fallen and the bridges carried 
away and so great is the scarcity of small boats at the ferries that the people cannot 
travel nor attend the places of public worship as usual. The damages have been great 
in many other Provinces. But no parts that we have heard of have suffered any thing 
equal to the country on Pamlico and Neuse Rivers being in Mr. Reedıs Parish and mine.  

I had the misfortune to have one of my legs much hurt the night of the storm and 
endeavoring to save some of my houses. By neglect and by the rheumatic humour in that 
leg, I am once more here under the doctors hands, but hope it will be of no long 
continuance as I have been obliged to have had my foot laid open which has relieved 
me in some measure and put me in a good way of recovery. My private losses in the 
hurricane in houses and stores in the town, and at my plantation is upwards of 
600 pounds, this currency, and I question whether these lower inhabitants will ever 
get over it these seven years.  

I am Reverend Sir, Yours &,

/s/Alexander Stewart 


(Note: Evidently Elizabeth Moore typed from the original letter and ³cleaned it up² 
a bit, since its English, spelling, and punctuation are more up to date than what 
the time (1769) would indicate. Also note that Rev. Stewart was one of the last 
ministers at the Anglican Church in Bath, NC.)