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Carolina letter

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Carolina letter

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Wakefield October 30 1762

May it please your Grace To read first the inclosed Letter directed to me, and then Your Lordship will see the reason of my writing to You at this time, and also of the Request to Your Grace.

This Mr Thomas Charnock, a Native of this Town, having lived many Years in North- or South-Carolina, came back to his Mother two or three years ago, bringing a Black Boy along with him. He told me, some time after he had been here, that as soon as the Boy could read and understand, he intended that he should be baptised. I let him know, both then and since, that Notice must be first given to the Archbishop. The Boy seems to be sixteen years of Age. Mr Charnock is in no kind of Business, has an opportunity of speaking to me every day: but has not exchanged a word with me for above six Months. Now, the last Thursday in the Afternoon, when the Bells were ringing for Prayers, the Parish Clerk came to tell me, that Mr Brocklebank, Mr Scott's curate for Horbury, who was going to read Prayers, would baptise Mr Charnock's Black, if I would give leave. I replied, by no means till notice was given to the Archbishop and another Person coming to me with the Boy, and I not complying, but referring to the Rubrick, received this inclosed Letter from Mr Charnock in the Evening. [ this letter no longer survives ] I desire therefore the Favour of Your Grace, that your Lordship would be pleased to appoint my Curate Mr Armitage or Mr Scott the Lecturer or any other Clergyman, to examin this Boy, and you will greatly oblige, my Lord, Your Lordship's most Obedient Servant.

Benjamin Wilson