The following transcriptions and commentary by John Norwood. Thank you John!
At the outbreak of the Revolution in 1776, John Colson was a prominent
citizen of Anson County, North Carolina. He fell under the influence of
the Tory David Fanning and supported the British. As a consequence, his
property and property he had given to family members was seized by the
state of North Carolina. The following is copied from North Carolina
records.
Laws of North Carolina - 1786
Chapter LXXXII.
An Act Vesting Certain Lands therein mentioned in John Colson, son of
William Colson, in fee simple.
Whereas it is represented to this General Assembly that about
fourteen years ago, a certain John Colson made a gift to his son William
Colson, of a piece or parcel of land lying near the mouth of Rocky River
in Montgomery County, containing by estimation three hundred and
fifty-one acres, and actually put his said son in possession of the
same; And whereas the said John Colson during the last war attached
himself to the common enemy, and withdrew himself from the state without
having made unto his son William any deed of conveyance for the said
lands: And whereas William Colson died some years after, left behind a
son named by the name of John Colson and by his last will and testament
devised to his said son John the aforesaid piece or parcel of land,
which in the opinion of some of the citizens of this State is
confiscated, as being the property of John, father of the said William,
and the Commissioner of confiscated property for the district of
Salisbury hath seized the said lands as the property of John Colson,
father of the said William Colson, in order to sell and dispose of the
same for the use of the state: For the prevention of which,
I. Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North
Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That
the title of a piece or parcel of lands in Montgomery county, near the
mouth of Rocky River, containing by estimation three hundred and
fifty-one acres, which the said John Colson gave to his son, William
Colson, be and is hereby vested in the said John Colson, son of William
Colson aforesaid, his heirs and assigns forever; any law to the contrary
notwithstanding. (Passed Jan. 6, 1787.)
Laws of North Carolina - 1788
Chapter LI
An Act to Authorize and Enable John Colson to return into this State,
and Exercise the Privileges therein mentioned.
Whereas it hath been made appear to the General Assembly, that John
Colson, late of Anson county, in this state, did convey and transfer
unto his grand children a considerable part of his estate, both real and
personal, whereof he stood seized and possessed, and did remove himself
out of the limits and jurisdiction of this state, having left
considerable debts unpaid due by him to sundry of the inhabitants of
this state:
And whereas suits have been commenced against the said John Colson for
the recovery of the said debts, by attachment and otherwise, which will
tend greatly to oppress and injure the grand children of the said John
Colson, by depriving them of their respective donations, unless he
should be permitted to return and settle his affairs: For remedy
whereof,
I. Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North
Carolina, and it is hereby Enacted by the authority of the same, That
from and after the passing of this act, it shall and may be lawful for
the said John Colson, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns,
to sue and be sued, implead or be impleaded, answer or be answered in
any court of record in this state, for all and singular sums of money
due to him or owing by him the said John Colson, in any manner
whatsoever; any law to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided
nevertheless, That nothing in this act contained, shall be construed to
authorize or enable the said John Colson to commence or prosecute any
suit, either in law or equity in this State until he shall have
previously before some Justice of the Peace, or before one of the Judges
of the Superior Court, taken and subscribed an oath of allegiance and
fidelity to this state.
Read three times and ratified in General Assembly, at Fayetteville,
the 6th day of December, 1788, except chapters 41 and 43, which were
ratified the 15th of November, chapter 21, the 29th of November, and
chapter 26, the 4th of December, 1788.
ALEXANDER MARTIN, S. S.
John SITGREAVES, S. H. C.
The forgoing is a true copy:
James GLASGOW, Secretary.
Laws of North Carolina - 1790
Chapter XL.
An Act it Amend an Act Passes at Fayetteville, in the Year One Thousand
Seven Hundred and Eighty-Eight Entitled "An Act to Authorize and Enable
John Colson to return into this State, and Exercise the Privileges
Therein mentioned
Whereas, it has been made to this General Assembly that the said John
Colson has, in obedience to the above recited Act, taken the oath of
allegiance and fidelity to this State as by law prescribed, of which
there is a record in the Clerk's office of the county of Anson.
I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North
Carolina, and it is hereby Enacted by the authority of the same, That
from and after the passing of this Act, it shall and may be lawful for
the said John Colson to sue and be sued, implead or be impleaded, answer
or be answered, in any court of record either in law or equity in this
State, for all and singular estate, either real or personal, in any
manner whatsoever, in as full, fair plain and ample a manner, to all
intents and purposes, as if the said John Colson had not withdrawn
himself from the protection of this State, any law, custom, or usage to
the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, That nothing herein contained
shall be construed to invalidate the sales of any lands or other
property, that have been or hereafter may be sold under any of the
confiscation laws of this State, late the property of the said John
Colson.
John Colson made his will 20 September 1789 in Marlboro County, South
Carolina. It was probated in the July Court 1791.