Dobbs County, NC - 1779 Dobbs County Election Petition

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H.C.
[May 8, 1779]

To the Honourable the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Commons 
The Petition of Etheldred Ruffin humbly sheweth

That at the annual election on March last held for the County of Dobbs,
he your said Petitioner offer'd himself as candidate for a seat in the
House of Commons; that he conceives the said election to have been
conducted contrary to the sperit and intention of the Constitution, and
in violation of the Laws on Sundry Instances; That dureing the time of
the election a large Number of arm'd soldiers were, by their officers,
march'd to the Court-House, and by them conducted in man by man to
ballet; that many of the soldiers who so voted were not then, nor ever
had been Inhabitants of the said County, but were at that time Station'd
at Kingston their place of Rendezvous; That the Sheriff of said County,
on having repeatedly desired to Administer on Oath to said Soldiers
relative to their being duly quallified to vote in the said election;
declined, or however fail'd to do it, but nevertheless received their
votes; that many of those who did so vote, were by their own confession
under age, and consequently not qualified to vote. That in consideration
of the above Allegations your said Petitioner is induced to hope and
believe that your Honourable body will order a non election for the said
County
May 8th 1779                              Eth'd Ruffin

referred to the Comm. of Priviledges & Elections

Source: 
Source: North Carolina Archives & History
General Assembly Session Records
May 3-5, 1779. Box 1. 
Folder: House Committee Reports, Committee of Privileges & Elections

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Guy Potts - gpotts1@nc.rr.com
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