Virginia

By the Hon. William Gooch, Esq; His Majesty’s Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in Chief, of the colony and Dominion of Virginia,

A Proclamation

Whereas His Majesty having thought fit to give Directions for raising Three Independent Companies, for the Service and defence of South-Carolina, by Beat of Drum or otherwise, in any of His Majesty's Provinces in North-America; And Robert Hodgson, Esq;

Captain of one of the said Independent Companies, having produced to me His Majesty's Royal Sign Manual, for that Purpose.

I have therefore thought fit, to require and command all Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, and other Officers of the Militia, within the several Counties of this Colony, as also all Magistrates and others, to be aiding and assisting to the said Captain Hodgson, in inlisting able- bodied Men, for the Service aforesaid, who are not to be marched out of the said Province, nor to continue longer in His Majesty's Service than Six Years, unless they are willing. And as no Person is to be impressed on this Occasion, and Volunteers who are of the Standard, to receive at their enlisting a Pistole Reward, and enter into immediate Pay, I hope all Persons willing to serve His Majesty, will think they have sufficient Encouragement.

Given under my Hand, at Williamsburg, this 14th Day of April, in the Nineteenth Year of His Majesty's Reign, Annoq; Dom. 1746.

William Gooch.

God Save the King.

Source: Executive Journals, Council of Colonial Virginia, p483-484.