Sir Richard Everard, colonial governor of North Carolina, died in London, England on 17 February 1733. He was the last of the proprietary governors, and his administration was disturbed by frequent altercations with the Executive Council.

When he had been governor for four years the Lords Proprietors, in 1729, surrendered the provinces to the Crown, each receiving in consideration of the surrender the sum of $12,500.

The population of North and South Carolina, after the charter had been in existence sixty-six years, was not at that time more than 25,000 persons, including slaves. On the transfer, Everard was recalled, and the first Royal Governor, George Burrington, succeeded him in February of 1731.

Sir Richard Everard, baronet, governor, captain general, admiral, and commander in chief of the said province: To Christopher Gale, Esq. chief justice, John Lovick, Esq., secretary, Edward Moseley, Esq., surveyor general and William Little, Esq., attorney general, greeting: Whereas many disputes and differences have formerly been between the inhabitants of this province and those of his majesty's colony of Virginia, concerning the boundaries and limits between the said two governments, which having been duly considered by Charles Eden, Esq., late governor of this province, and Alexander Spotswood, Esq., late governor of Virginia, they agreed to certain proposals for determining the said controversy, and humbly offered the same for his majesty's royal approbation, and the consent of the true and absolute lords proprietors of Carolina. And his majesty having been pleased to signify his royal approbation of those proposals (consented unto by the true and absolute lords proprietors of Carolina) and given directions for adjusting and settling the boundaries as near as may be to the said proposals:

I, therefore, reposing especial trust and confidence in you, the said Christopher Gale, John Lovick, Edward Moseley and William Little, to be commissioners, on the part of the true and absolute lords proprietors, and that you in conjunction with such commissioners as shall be nominated for Virginia, use your utmost endeavours, and take all necessary care in adjusting and settling the said boundaries, by drawing such a distinct line or lines of division between the said two provinces, as near as reasonable you can to the proposals made by the two former governors, and the instructions herewith given you. Given at the council chamber in Edenton, under my hand, and the seal of the colony, the 21st day of February, anno Domini 1727, and in the first year of the reign of our sovereign lord, king George the Second.

Richard Everard

He was for a few years proprietary governor of North Carolina, which position he resigned about the year 1730, soon after all the Lords Proprietors, except Lord Granville, sold out to the Crown, not being in any credit at court; for although he had served Queen Anne as captain in her army, he was probably no friend to Hanoverian succession.

I have heard my mother say the he, as well as several others of the Essex Baronets, found it convenient to make himself as little conspicuous as possible during the rebellion of 1715, at the beginning of George the First's reign.

The Lords Proprietors were all particular friends of Sir Richard, and it has been understood in the family that this patrimony had been much reduced by adventuring in the South Sea bubble, and he accepted from the proprietors the government of North Carolina to repair his estate.

At his death, he left his dame all the estate of every kind which he possessed in even of her surviving their eldest son, as is recorded in her will to be found among my papers.

From "Nansemond County, VA - Biographies" - Autobiography of David Meade, II [minor edits]

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