Pressure on the Quakers continued, and by the fall of 1767 most of them had decided to leave after they harvested their crops. Those who were still financially solvent settled their accounts with local merchants and sold their homes, land, and other goods at prices well below the normal market value. Ethan attended the forced sale of a farm that adjoined his, but decided not to bid on any of the property, most of which seemed to change hands in a quiet and prearranged way among the public officials, lawyers, and large landowners.

Soon after this, Ethan rode by Maddock’s mill and found that the miller had removed the pulleys, belts, and gears but had left the large millstones behind. A few days later, the Quakers going to Georgia loaded their belongings on packhorses and sleds and headed down the Cape Fear River toward the coast in a long caravan. Three families stayed in the Hillsborough area, and the others returned to their former homes in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The following year, most of the Quakers’ farmland lay fallow, and Ethan rarely saw anyone on the formerly well-kept premises except a few hired caretakers who lived in the houses and prevented damage or theft of the property by Indians or passersby. The growing season was spent in a flurry of land speculation, with most farms ultimately being acquired by large planters who seemed to be closely associated with the governor. They, in turn, bought new slaves and hired overseers to manage the work on property that was spread throughout the county.

The Pratts soon found themselves to be one of the few families who owned just one relatively small farm and did all their own work without hired labor or slaves. They had a good season and a bountiful harvest, and seemed to be forgotten by those who had concentrated their efforts on driving the Quakers out of the territory. Henry came to visit them regularly and reported that the Regulators had increased greatly in strength and influence in the Piedmont area. He estimated that about six thousand westerners were supporting their efforts out of a total of eight thousand families who were on the tax rolls in the area. Herman Husband was elected to the assembly and was aggressive in raising the issues that had been covered in their earlier petitions and during the meeting at Maddock’s mill. Henry and Ethan agreed that prospects were good for some reforms in the colony, and Ethan decided to clear more land for crops, buy more brood cows and sows, and to expand his woodland pasture areas.