Rowan County, NC - William Owen & Others, 1756

Newbern, in North Carolina, February 13

We hear from Salisbury in Rowan County that a gang of robbers under
the command of one William Owen, whom they call their Captain, being
six in number, have lately infested our frontier settlements where
they have committed several robberies and barbarously murdered one
man; that having fortified themselves in a strong place in the
mountains, they carried off two Negroes from Virginia, broke open
a store there, and stole a considerable quantity of goods.

About a fortnight ago one of their gang named Cumberland surrendered
himself and turned King's evidence who declares their design was to
plunder and rob till they got a good booty with which they were to
go off to the French and pilot them into our back settlements but 
by the care and vigilance of our frontier inhabitants, their fort
has been reduced to ashes, their wifes taken, and are now in Rowan
Goal and themselves narrowly escaped.

There are forty horsemen now after them and 'tis hoped they will be 
suppressed and punished as such enemies to their country deserve.

Source: Newbern Herald - Feburary 13, 1756

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