V[ir]ginia

By the Honorable William Gooch Esquire his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia.

A Proclamation

Whereas his Majesty has been pleased to give Directions to me forthwith to make the necessary Dispositions for raising as many Men as the Shortness of Time will enable me to procure within this Government to be employed under my Command to second an important Expedition; I have thought fit by this Proclamation in his Majesty's Name to order and require all Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels or other Commanding Officers in every County of this Dominion immediately to call together the Militia of their respective Counties and that they and all other Officers and Magistrates be aiding and assisting to the utmost of their Power in enlisting Men for this Service and as an Encouragement to induce People the more readily to enlist that the said Officers do assure them they are to be commanded by, and continue the whole Time with me: that they are to receive a Piece of Eight Bounty Money upon enlisting and a further Bounty of two Pistoles upon their Departure hence, and are to enter into his Majesty's Pay from the Day of their enlisting; also that they will come in for a Share of any Booty to be taken from the Enemy; and are to be sent back to their Habitations when the Service shall be over. I do hereby further require [all] [s]uch Officers or others who shall enlist Men to transmit to me the Names of such as they shall engage, who must take Care to be ready to come down to Williamsburgh on the first Notice from me.

Given under my Hand this tenth day of June 1746. In the xixth Year of his Majesty's Reign

William Gooch

God Save the King.

Source: Executive Journals, Council of Colonial Virginia, p485-486.