This is a message posted at the Tuscaroras.com discussion forum by Teresa Morris on February 26, 1998.

3rd Tuesday, June 1739 James Blunt became successor to Tom Blunt.

1732 Thomas Pollock Esquire got his papers in order to protects his rights regarding land on the Roanoke River whenever the Indians shall remove or quit their pretended Claims. In 1752, Bishop August Gottlieb Spargenberg remarked the Indians were unpredictable and seemed to be tired of living on the reservation. He suggested that it would be smart to secure from Lord Granville a grant of Tuscarora land with clear understanding when they leave of their own accord or sell their improvements or give their consent in consideration of a present, the Moravian Brethren (his followers) shall take possession. People kept waiting for them to leave. In 1803 86 years about it had been set apart people were still waiting.

James Blunt was elected at a village called Rehorsesky or Rasewtokee. Gov. Gabriel Johnson approved the choice. It is passed on that although James shared the Blunt name it is not know if he was a son of the former king. At this time the Tuscarora matrilineal custom favored selection of a sister's son and keeping the office in the BEAR clan even though the Indians may have "adopted" English rule of patrilineal descent. This new head man received to real hats off by the white governments. It was recorded that in 1752 Spargenberg remarked this nation had a captain not a king. In the English records little mention is of James. After 1766 his name drops from the tribe's great men. Whitmel Tufdick is the head man recognized of the Tuscarora nation. Recorded notes state he is a weak leader. He joined his aging buddies in signing away large areas of the reservation for English trifles. Sources say Tufdick was not a direct descendant of Tom Blunt. It is believed he took his English name from Thomas Whitmell, an Indian trader and interpreter. His territory was the west bank of the Cashie River...1724. Tufdick could also be the son of the interpreter and an Indian mother. He was the only one of the reservations men who signed his name to public documents. Others used marks and designs. History lists Samuel Smith as helping the northern emissaries make plans for those wishing to go on the migration to New York in 1803. He however did not go but died the year before.

Bishop Spargenberg in 1752 recorded the Tuscaroras in Bertie County are in great poverty and oppressed by the whites. Whitmell the interpreter took him to visit the reservation. His host had been a trader among them and known as a very rich man, one of the richest in the neighborhood. He was greatly respected and knew an acceptable bit of the Tuscarora language.

By 1759 the land was being grabbed from land hungry whites. Unfortunately for the Tuscaroras they had lost part of it due to their kind had secretly leased it in a "CLANDESTINE" manner to John McGaskey. The NC General Assembly commissioned William Taylor and John Hill to look into it. When the report was in the assembly ordered McGaskey to quit his claim. Humphrey Bates fought like h_ _ _ to retain 300 acres which was a part of the 600 acre tract given to William Charlton by King Tom Blunt in 1723. This had been sold to him by Charlton's heirs. November 29, 1758 the attorney general ordered Bates be prosecuted if he did not quit the land. Bates kept hold on but a year later action for expulsion was entered.

When 1764 rolled around a lot of the Tuscaroras had grown tired of the whites scheming. The Tuscarora Council approved the sale of part of the reservation to Thomas Whitmell, longtime friend and interpreter, Thomas Pugh, William Williams, John Watson. Bill of authorization was received with sympathy by the General Assembly and finally was rejected by the House.

Communication between NC and NY Tuscaroras were kept open. May 17, 1766, one Diagawekee, sachem of NY Tuscaroras and 8 Indians of the 6 Nations arrived in NC. Diagawekee left his buddies at the Tuscarora Reservation and traveled on to the home of Governor Tryon at the Cape Fear River (Brunswick). He presented his papers from Sir William Johnson, superintendent of Indian affairs in the Northern colonies and said he had come to lead all the Tuscaroras "AS WERE W I L L I N G TO QUIT THIS PROVINCE, and march to joing the SIX Nations." At this time he was very sick with mumps. Tryon ordered a doctor to look after him. In about a week he was better and said to be more civilized. He even was invited to eat at Tryon's table. Diagawekee was so pleased by Tryon's hospitality that he honored him with his name. It was promised that from hereafter, among the Tuscaroras the title Diagawekee would remain to all future Governors of NC)

Later a letter was received by Tryon from Mr. Stuart, superintendent of Indian affairs for the Southern district telling that the Tuscarora removal was in process and met Johnson's approval.

The Gov. promised that on October 30 when the General Assembly convened that as much of the land as necessary to pay for traveling expenses would be permitted to be sold. This would be too late because Diagawekee promised to return up north by seven months from the date he left. Tryon gave permission for removal and for Robert Johnes, William Williams and Thomas Pugh to advance 1500 lbs for purchasing wagons, provisions on credit on some of their lands till the General Assembly can cover the costs. During the 1st week in August, Diagawekee led 155 Indians northward leaving 104 behind in this area. This band of Indians arrived in NY December being granted safe passage through VA under protection of Gov Fauquir. But they were robbed of horses, equipment valued at 55 lbs in Paxton, Pennsylvania.

NC Assembly was sympathetic with the Tuscarora removal. A bill was introduced on November 10, 1766 to confirm a lease made by the Tuscarora Indians to Jones, Williams, Pugh for about 8,000 acres. The 104 Tuscaroras remaining in this part of NC were left about half the tract of land allotted to them by Act of Assembly 1748.

On November 11, 1766, eleven of the Tuscarora men that were elderly men appeared before Gov. Tryon with a present of deerskins and requested confirmation of the lease and redress of their grievances. "Poverty must excuse the smallness of our present, for we are mostly old men, unable to hunt, OUR YOUNG MEN having gone to the Northward with the Northern Chief, Tragaweha. We are by education and custom, unable to acquire a livelihood otherwise than by hunting and as ill natured persons frequently take away and break our guns and even ship us for pursuing game on their Land, we beg your Excellency to appoint C O M M I S S I O N E R S TO HEAR OUR COMPLAINTS AND REDRESS OUR GRIEVANCES. We entreat your Excellency to dispatch our business with all convenient speed for those Indians who we have left at home are old men and C H I L D R E N , INCAPABLE OF PROVIDING FOR THEMSELVES IF COLD WEATHER SHOULD COME ON. After the Revolutionary War more Tuscarora land was being sought. The protective act of 1748 was ignored. On February 20, 1777 Zedekiah Stone, father of Governor David Stone acquired a certain quantity of land with the token provision it be cleared and returned to the Indian nation in an improved conditon at 99 years. On March 28, 1777, Thomas Pugh, Sr. got a 99 year lease on 100 acres for 8 lbs proclamation money yearly. On April 7, 1777 William King acquired a 99 year lease on Caesar's Neck Plot for the labor of of clearing the land. On July 7, Titus Edwards entered into a 99 year lease for 60 acres on Toruth Branch.

On March 18, John Johnson acquired an estimated 200 acres adjoining Head Chief Whitmeal Tufdick's field under a 99 year lease for annnual payments of 10 lbs proclamation and the Indians be allowed to have their grain ground as his meal under the same terms as any other person.

On February 26, John McKasky agreed to pay 8 lbs proclamation yearly rent on a tract on the Roanoke River at Chocaweneh Gut.