Guilford County NcArchives Military Records.....Paisley [and Others], Col. John November 15, 1776
Revwar 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com January 28, 2009, 5:05 pm

From The Colonial Records Of North Carolina, Vol. X, Page 919
	“The Congress adjourned till To-morrow Morning 10 o’clock.

		Friday, November 15th, 1776
	“Met according to adjournment…”

Page 921: “…The Chairman of the Committee of Privileges and Elections reported 
as follows, to wit: The Petition of Part of the Inhabitants of Guilford County 
being read, your Committee proceeded to examine into Facts relative to the 
Election for the said County, held the 15th of October last.”

	“It appears to your Committee, by the oath of William Bethell, that 
Joseph Tate and Col. Peasley’s father [WILLIAM PAISLEY] were Inspectors or 
Managers of said Election, and that Col. Peasley, who was a Candidate, declared 
that he came there to oppose Capt. Williams, who supports the Petition to us 
referred by the House; that Col. Peasley used Threats, with a whip clubbed in 
his hand, and by getting on the Clerk’s Table, did, as the said Bethell 
believes, drive back or prevent some Votes in Favour of Capt. Williams, but 
that he did not know but that they might vote after, and that the said Evidence 
conceives the Election for the County of Guilford to be very unfair.”

	“It appears also to your Committee, by the Testimony of Landren Harris, 
that on the Day of the Election there appeared two Parties, the one in Favour 
of the sitting Members, the other in Favour of Capt. Williams. That the Party 
against Capt. Williams signed a List, which was delivered to a Cryer, who 
received their votes according to the List (except some few, who pressed in, 
and by curses forced their way to vote for Capt. Williams). That Capt. Williams 
produced also late in the afternoon a List of his Friends, and desired the 
Cryer to call them and let them vote, but was refused; and it was then agreed 
by the Managers that the People should vote promiscuously as they came in, 
without being called, which agreement was made against Capt. William’s consent.”

	“It further appears to your Committee, that the Petition to use 
referred, and supported by Capt. Williams, was subscribed in part by Capt. 
Williams, with the assent of said Petitioners; and that upon the said Capt. 
Williams being told that such Proceedings would have a bad face of appearance, 
he, Williams replied to the Evidence sworn before your Committee, that he wrote 
very like the Persons themselves, and that in many other Parts of the 
Subscription to the said Petition it appears that a Number of Names were 
subscribed by one and the same handwriting. That Capt. Williams had endeavored 
to have an undue Influence before the Election on the Electors, by attending at 
different meetings of the People, and giving Treats to the amount of 20 or 30 s 
[shillings].”

	“It also appears to your Committee that no undue Influence was before 
or at the Day of Election, made use of by the members returned, but that in 
every respect they conducted themselves orderly, and that during the Election 
there was no Riot or disorderly Behavior in the Electors, and the Poll was kept 
open till late at night.”

	“Your Committee further report, by the Testimony of Mr. Bethell, that a 
certain Charles Gilly (who was a householder, but had removed his Family to his 
Father’s, when he went on the Expedition against the Indians under General 
Rutherford) was refused his vote by the managers, because he had not removed 
his Family Home again; and also that several others were refused their votes 
because they had not been householders six months.”

	“Therefore your committee are of opinion that the members returned are 
duly elected, and that the Petition should be rejected, all of which is humbly 
submitted to the consideration of Congress.”
				Wm. Haywood, Chair.

	“The House taking the said Report into consideration, concurred 
therewith.
	The Congress adjourned till tomorrow morning, 10 o’clock.”

To clarify, Col. Paisley and the other members of the election committee were 
cleared of any wrongdoing, in light of the additional evidence presented after 
the initial accusation, that Captain Williams used bribes and that Williams 
forged the signatures of the list of people whom he claimed wished to vote for 
him.

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