Robert Carter writes to Captain Charles Lee and Thomas Berry, Churchwardens of Wiccomco Parish, Northumberland County, July 28, 1727, to clear up any misgiving that they may have had concerning the application of Reverend Thomas Bailey to be their minister. Carter lays out the circumstances of Bailey's departure from his last Virginia parish, his low wages in North Carolina, his qualifications as deacon and priest, and notes that Bailey asks only to be on probation until the arrival of the governor.

     I beleive what I Said to Capt: Chas: Lee relateing
to Mr. Thos: Bailey Clerk might have some Influence upon Sevl. of the
best ^better Gentlemen of your parish in Introduceing an Indifferent Opinion of the Gd.
Mr. Bailey he is now returnd with a Copy of the proceedings against him
before the Govr: and Council, there does not appear in it upon a Com
plaint of the Vestry of the Parsh he then Officiated in there does not
appear any thing made out against him It came to this Issue
he agreed to leave them and they paid him his Salary for that Curt. year
he was then as he Says invited to a Parsh in North Carolina and in a
Short time after left the Governmt. as he had promised the Govr: to do
where his Income was so very Small he could not maintain him
self and family upon it, he hath now produced both his Deacons &
Priests Orders to me whereby he is full Qualifyed ^{upon that Accot.} & to E[xercise]