Your Claimant the Revd. Francis Johnston humbly begs leave to inform you that at the Commencement of the American Rebellion He was Rector of the parish of Society in the County of Bertie in North Carolina; & that in August 1777 He was banished from thence for refusing to take the Oaths which were then tendered to all persons disaffected to the State as will appear to you by the annexed Certificate of the Clerk of the Court in order to obtain a passport from the Governor to leave the State. Whereby your Claimant was deprived of his Living, & also suffered a loss of £716.12.9 North Carolina Currency as will appear to you by the annexed Acct. The truth of what your Claimant here sets forth can be proved by Colonel Hamilton, Mr John Thompson, Mr Alexander Telfair, Mr Colin Clark, Mr Robert Nelson, & many other Gentlemen from North Carolina; & He therefor humbly prays that ye will take his losses into Consideration—

(Copy)

The Certificate—

To His Excellency

Richard Caswell Esqr Governor &c.

These are to certify that the Revd. Francis Johnston being cited to appear before the County Court of Bertie County to take an Oath specified in a late Act of Assembly entitled an Act declaring what Crimes & practices against the State shall be Treason & what shall be Misprision of Treason, & providing Punishments adequate to Crimes of both Classes, & for preventing the dangers which may arise from persons disaffected to the State, & the said Francis Johnston on the 14th day of August appeared agreeable to the said Citation & refused to take the said Oath the Court therefor ordered that the said Francis Johnston agreeable to the directions of the Act of Assembly should depart the State within sixty days & the said Francis Johnston thereupon by the order of the Court gave Bond for so doing in the sum of six hundred Pounds. Zedekiah Stone & William Bryan being his Securities—

Given under my hand this 14th day of August 1777—

John Johnston C. C.