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June 12.
Charles Town,
South
Carolina. |
518. Affidavit of Attorney General and Naval Officer of Carolina. Having visited Bermuda on business, and wishing to leave, Feb. 20, 1699, the Governor refused to sign his ticket till he had paid £50 to Thomas Sheppard for the use of the Governor. Signed, Nicholas Trott. ½ p. Endorsed, Recd. Read Nov. 28, 1699. [Board of Trade. Bermuda, 3. No. 42; and (memorandum only), 29. p. 242.] |
| June 12. |
519. Minutes of Council of Nevis. Letter from the King appointing John Corbet a member of the Council of Antigua. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 64. pp. 499, 500.] |
| June 12. |
520. Minutes of General Assembly of Massachusetts Bay. H.E. visited the fortifications on Castle Island. |
| June 13. |
A clause was added to the Bill for reviving Actions, etc. |
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The Bills for establishing Courts were returned up with alterations which were agreed to by the Board. The Bills ordered to be engrossed. Bill reviving Actions was passed and sent down. |
| June 14. |
Bill for General Sessions and Inferior Courts passed and sent down to be signed by the Speaker. Bills for keeping watches in towns, and regulating townships sent up and read a first time. James Taylor re-elected Treasurer of the Province. |
| June 15. |
Bill reviving Actions passed and sent down. Address to H.M. ordered to be engrossed and sent to Sir Hen. Ashurst, and a letter to be written to the Lord Chancellor praying him to introduce him to His Majesty with the address. Bill for punishing privateers debated in Committee. |
| June 16. |
Joint Committees appointed to consider the proposed Indian Trade, and the settlement of the College. Committee appointed to discourse Col. Romar about the fortifications. New draught of the Bill for regulating proceedings in Courts ordered. Bill about privateers agreed to with amendments, except a clause concerning the Judge of the Admiralty. |
| June 17. |
Bills about watches; townships; punishing vagabonds; and regulating the militia passed the second reading and were committed. Merchants of Boston granted leave to bring in a Bankruptcy Bill. Joint Committee appointed to consider demands for public service done in Sir E. Andros' time. Widow of soldier killed in public service granted allowance. [Board of Trade. New England, 48. pp. 295–301.] |
| June 13. |
521. Minutes of Council of Massachusetts Bay. Petition of Thomas Hinckley for the laying out of 200 acres of land granted him by the General Court of the late Colony of Plymouth, opposed by Nathaniel Thomas, referred to a Commission. £5 paid to Samuel Proctor, wounded on Castle Island. [Board of Trade. New England, 49. pp. 212–213.] |
June 13.
Whitehall. |
522. Copy of Gov. Collingwood's Commission. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 45. pp. 488–490.] |
| June 14. |
523. Minutes of Council of New York. Otto van Toyle, one of Hoar the Pirate's men, committed. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. p. 250.] |
| June 14. |
524. Minutes of Council of Montserrat. A negro named Cuffee, belonging to Mr. Wm. Bedingfield, convicted of theft to the value of 12 pence, condemned to be hanged and his quarters set up on poles in the public places. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 64. p. 543.] |
| June 14. |
525. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Mr. Robert Clowes attended and declared that the right of his Patent for the place of Clerk of the Supreme Court in Jamaica is at present in Sir Robert Cotton, who promised to send a copy of it. |
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Letter from Mr. Sansom of June 6 read. |
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Letter from Mr. Heathcote, June 10, with affidavits concerning the loss of the ship Adventure read. A clause upon that subject ordered to be added to the Circular Letter that is to be writ to the Plantations. Papers enclosed in Mr. Bradshaw's Memorial confirming the complaint of the Dutch Ambassador against Mr. Trott read. Memorial relating to the Fish Trade read. |
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Mr. Burchett's letter, advising that the Deale Castle was about to sail for Newfoundland, read. [Board of Trade. Journal, 12. pp. 65, 66; and 96. No. 92.] |
| June 15. |
526. Solicitor-General to Council of Trade and Plantations. 1 enclose report on an Act made in Jamaica in favour of Capt. Tyrrell, and cannot report on the other Acts sent to me therewith till I have spoken with certain persons and as to the truth of several matters suggested thereby. Signed, Jo. Hawles. Enclosed, |
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526. I. Solicitor-General's report approving the Act of favour to Capt. Usher Tyrrell in consideration of his sufferings by the French. Signed, Jo. Hawles. Endorsed, Recd. June 22. Read Feb. 8, 1699. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 8. Nos. 120, 120 I.; and 56. pp. 336, 337.] |
| June 15. |
527. Memorial of Mr. Weaver to the Council of Trade and Plantations on behalf of Col. Sam. Gardner. |
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The petitioner, a man of great estate and extraordinary probity, served as President of the Council and Lieut. Governor of Nevis many years with impartial justice. At length one John Perry, a most scandalous person, was by the interest of Governor Codrington, made Provost Marshal of the Leeward Islands, and managed Codrington's illegal trade, and one John Palmer was made Attorney General by Codrington, a person since discharged from serving His Majesty by reason of his speaking most scandalous words of His Majesty and of her late Majesty of sacred memory; these two infamous persons had then such an influence on the late Governor Codrington that they prevailed on him to take away several of the ancient customs of the island, and to grant a commission to one Charles Pym, a most scandalous person, constituting him Chief Justice of Nevis and giving him many of the powers and authorities belonging of right to the Lieutenant Governor, on which the Assembly and greater number of the inhabitants presented an Address to the General, wherein they give the said Pym his true character and likewise express their just value for their Lieutenant Governor. But the said Perry and Palmer, being enemies to Col. Gardner and the quiet of the island, prevented a favourable answer to the said address and procured a paper of instructions to be signed by Governor Codrington to Col. Gardner abridging him of most of the powers and authorities given him by the King's Commission, and was in effect a total suspension of him without pretending to assign any cause. The Assembly met three times and made a large address setting forth their grievances, but were dissolved without any redress and were not allowed to sit for 18 months. Gen. Codrington committed to prison several of their members without any cause assigned in the warrant, and threatened the rest. Pym, Perry and Palmer were continued in their employments. The pretence of removing Col. Gardner from his government for not taking the oath appointed by the Act of Parliament of the 7th and 8th of King William will, I don't question, appear to your lordships to be most malicious for that Gov. Codrington did himself and most notoriously break the Acts of Trade and traded with the Dutch at Curaçoa during the whole war, and likewise this Perry, besides his other infamies, was
the particular instrument he made use of in that trade. Col. Gardner actually took and justly discharged the oath to the Acts of Trade at his entrance on his Government according to the Act of Parliament of the 12th of Charles II., and never was made acquainted with the latter oath, which he was obliged to take by the Act of the 7th and 8th of King William, nor did ever Gov. Codrington desire him to take it before the 25th of March mentioned in the Act. Col. Codrington himself and all the L.G.'s. under him never took the oath to the Acts of Trade till he had been in office two years, till Mr. Main, Surveyor-General of his Majesty's Customs of America, arrived and administered the oath. It was not imputed to them as a crime, because it had not been offered before. Col. Gardner voluntarily took the oath, as soon as he was acquainted with it, about four months after March 25. Moreover there was nobody in those parts commissioned to administer it, and the Act only obliges Governors, not Lieut. Governors to take it. Signed, T. Weaver. Endorsed, Recd. June 19. Read June 29, 1699. 3 large pp. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 6. No. 29; and 45. p. 376.] |
June 17.
June 19. |
528. Minutes of Council of Massachusetts Bay. Committee of Accounts relating to soldiers appointed. The Governor gave an account of Emott's and Campbell's informations about Kidd, and of a letter from the Governor of Rhode Island, relating to the same affair. He wrote a letter, approved by the Board, to Capt. Kidd. [Board of Trade. New England, 49. pp. 213–215.] |
June 18.
New London. |
529. Governor Winthrop to Council of Trade and Plantations. On receipt of your letter of Jan. 2, I immediately issued a proclamation forbidding all assistance to the Scotch expedition. In my letter of the 8th inst. I gave you an account how that several pirates did some time in the month of Sept., 1698, run away the ship Adventure of London, from Polonis in the East Indies, and brought her into this Sound, where they sank her, and most of her loading, and that ten of the said pirates are seized here, and money and goods to the value of about two thousand pounds, which I have secured, and wait for His Majesty's pleasure therein. I have received the Lords Justices' instructions of Nov. 10, 1698, that the naval officers in this colony are to give security for the due discharge of their trust according to the directions in the Act of Parliament. At the same time I received yours of Nov. 23, for the apprehending of Capt. Kid and his accomplices; and though it has not fallen to my share to seize him and his treasure, yet he is happily fallen within the power of his Excellency the Lord Bellomont's government, where he is secured to give account of his voyage. The affairs of the colony are all well, and a general contentment under the influence of his Majesty's continued grace and favour. Signed, J. Winthrop. Endorsed, Recd. July 18, Read Sept. 20, 1699. [America and West Indies. Connecticut, 531. Nos. 10 and 11.] |
June 18.
Maryland. |
530. Governor Blakiston to Council of Trade and Plantations. In my last, May 20, I acquainted you with what steps I had made in detecting illegal traders. To omit being too tedious I here
enclose a copy of my letter to Mr. Secretary Vernon. Repeats substance of enclosed letter. Several pieces of muslin and calicoes, 91 pounds of Dragon's blood with some small quantity of coral were found on board Gravenrod's sloop with no cocketts. She was seized, tried and condemned. The gold which the Buckanier brought in with him was reckoned as part of the cargo, as the law directs, and the King's Receiver has demanded of me the third part due to His Majesty, as also the officer which seized the sloop for the other third part. I have told them I am ready to pay the money to them as the law prescribes, but that they shall be obliged to give me a Bond they will return it again if it shall be otherwise directed by your Lordships or H.M. Secretary of State. I have found the Attorney General appointed by Col. Nicholson not only very zealous for His Majesty's person but vigorous in the prosecution of his interest and he has been extremely diligent in assisting me in this matter. I humbly beg leave to recommend him to your Lordships' favour that some salary may be assigned to him. I hope he will be found modest in his expectations and if a small salary of £40 or £50 as in the neighbouring governments might be allowed him, it might easily be raised without any further burthen to His Majesty, for it many times happens in the discharge of his office he recovers many sums of money and tobacco as fines and forfeitures to H.M. use. It is really a prejudice to him in point of gain being Attorney General. Signed, N. Blakiston. Endorsed, Recd. Read Sep. 1, 1699. Enclosed, |
| June 8. |
530. I. Governor Blakiston to Mr. Secretary Vernon. In my last to your Honour, May 22, I gave an account of what I had done in obedience to your commands about the Scotch men-of-war. An express came to me on Sunday last from Col. Robert Quarry of Pennsylvania that there was a pirate off of Delaware Bay. He meeting with several disencouragements from that Government in the apprehending them, immediately upon the receipt of his letter I sent down a messenger to my friend Col. Nicholson at Virginia who has a man-of-war under his command, that they might, if possible, be detected. Col. Quarry likewise informed me that ten of the pirates was put on board a sloop from New York bound to Virginia or this province, one Gravenrod, Commander, and that night I sent to all the places I suspected to endeavour to secure them, and on Tuesday morning they came into Severen River. I had them all before me and examined them severally and found them triffle so various in their informations that I seized their sloop and put them in prison. There was but six men in all in the sloop, so I concluded they had disposed of the rest. Five of them was known here to belong to New York, but one I did greatly suspect to be a buckaneer, which proved so. His name is Theophilus Turner, and upon examination, with some scrutiny, he told me, if I would save his life, he would make an ingenious and genuine confession. I told him I would not assent to any terms till I see
how far he might deserve it. He has made his whole information in three distinct depositions. His first is of his manner of coming out of England and how he came to be joined with those knot of villains, as also what buckaneers one Capt. Shelly brought over from Malagaskar and how they were distributed here and what vessels the rest of the ten men were gone away in from this sloop, four whereof went up Delaware Bay, the rest for England. Upon a general confession I gave him a promise as far as was fit for me that he should have His Majesty's grace, but that I would not assent to anything further than to make my application to your Honour to have your commands therein. By what blind intelligence I have at present, this Capt. Shelly that brought those buckaneers, which was to the number of eighty or ninety passengers from Malagaskar, was cleared from New York about ten months ago. The other deposition is, what gold this buckaneer, Theo. Turner, brought with him, which I did conceive was the best way to avoid any suggestions that I had received the least benefit by it. He would gladly have made a tender to me of the money for his pardon. I hope my integrity in this will be no bar to any advantage may be allowed me in this genuine declaration of mine. If I may have the honour of having any credit with you, which it is so very well known by dear bought experience upon the Exchange of London amongst the merchants this Government is not half the emoluments and advantage it was, for the crops of tobacco are very slender and scarce, and like to be so. I hope this may reach your hands before the ships arrive in which above five or six of the buckaneers are embarked for England. From the Bottom of this Bay it is not above three days since they sailed. I did not know of this ship's sailing till just now, so I sent a messenger to Col. Quarry to give notice to England what ships they are gone home in. Turner has likewise given an account what buckaneers was at Malagaskar and their numbers. Signed, N. Blakiston. P.S. June 13. The above is duplicate of what I acquainted your Honour five days ago; since I cannot find any more of the Pirates are come into this Government. I am credibly informed they had appointed when they came to England to rendezvous or meet at the Flushing Pinck, which I take to be a little below St. Katherine's not far from the Tower. Signed, N. Blakiston. Enclosed, |
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530. II. Copy of the first deposition of Theophilus Turner referred to in preceding. |
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530. III. Duplicate. |
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530. IV. Copy of deposition of Theophilus Turner concerning the movements of several pirates brought from Madagascar to the West Indies by Capt. Giles Shelley of the
Nassau, from New York. Amongst those referred to is Robert Bradingham, "Kidd's doctor, who commanded the Adventure galley." |
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530. V. Duplicate. |
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530. VI. Copy of deposition of Theophilus Turner. About Christmas last he sailed into the Port of St. Mary, a small island belonging to Madagascar, inhabited by negroes under the command of Edward Welch, who came from New England thither when he was a boy. In company with the Moco, in which ship deponent sailed, a ship of 400 tons mounted with 40 guns, was one Capt. Sivers [also, Chivers], with a ship which he had taken from the Turks, having 22 guns and being a bigger ship than the Moco, which now goes by the name of the Resolution. At Port St. Mary's was likewise a ship on ground said to be brought in there by Capt. Kidd and reputed to be taken from the Moors or Turks and at the time of the capture was commanded by a Dutchman. There was likewise the Britan [?bottom] of the Adventure galley, in which Capt. Kidd sailed from New York and the ribs of one other Turkish ship taken either by Capt. Hoare or Capt. Glover. There are no fortifications at St. Mary's but Edward Welch has 6 guns at his house, which have no command of the place where the shipping lie. At this place of St. Mary's fort live Capt. Culliford and Capt. Sivers, who pretends to be a Dutchman. There is one John Swann, a great consort of Culliford's, who lives with him; also there are near an hundred English, French and Dutch which use that island. There is a place or fort called Marisan, where about twenty or thirty white men live. Deponent has heard there are no fortifications there. There is another place called Fort Dolphin, where there are about 30 white men but no fortifications; has heard that formerly there was a regular port built by the French, and there one Samuel, a mulatto, who came from the West Indies, governs, but now the French being cut off there are no fortifications. There lies the ribs of Capt. Hoar's ship, who sailed out of New England. Marisan and Port Dolphin are places upon the main island of Madagascar, which is inhabited by a great many negroes. There is a pirate ship out of the coast of India, who came from Rhode Island or Long Island in America, which is a leaky ship under the command of a certain person who was cooper of her. She is a very bad sailer, has 70 or 80 men, about 14 or 16 guns and called the Pelican. 3 pp. |
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530. VII. Duplicate. [Board of Trade. Maryland, 3. Nos. 70, 70 I.–70 VII.; and (without enclosures), 9. pp. 391–397.] |
| June 19. |
530A. Thomas Cutler to Council of Trade and Plantations. I arrived with Mr. Good, Dec. 4, at Charlestown in Carolina. We applied ourselves to our friends there who had suffered great loss by the late fire, and were busied in rebuilding their houses. I
made the acquaintance of one Capt. Moore, whose account of the silver mines I now offer to your Lordships. (See No. 202 I.) He is the person best able to make such discovery and successfully carry it on, and I humbly hope he may have encouragement. Signed, Tho. Cutler. Endorsed, Recd. Read June 19, 1699. Enclosed, |
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530A. I. James Moore to Tho. Cutler. In substance the same as No. 202. I. 2 pp. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 3. Nos. 20, 20 I.; and (without enclosure) 25. pp. 443–445.] |
June 19.
June 20.
June 21.
June 22. |
531. Minutes of General Assembly of Massachusetts Bay. Bill regulating proceedings in the Courts, with amendments, passed and sent down. Bill directing the choice of a town Treasurer etc., read twice and committed. It was passed with amendments and sent down together with the Bill for keeping watches. Militia Bill rejected. A new one read, passed and sent down. The town of Taunton ordered to be notified of the petition of the town of Freetown praying their assistance in maintaining their minister. An Excise Bill sent up read a first time. Private Bill docking an entail (Samuel Searle and Jonathan Tyng) read twice and committed. |
| June 23. |
Bills about townships and watches engrossed, passed and sent down. Excise Bill read the second time and committed. Bill about Privateers debated. |
| June 24. |
The Board adjourned till the 26th owing to H.E.'s indisposition. [Board of Trade. New England, 48. pp. 302–306.] |
| June 19. |
532. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. His Majesty's Commission for the promoting of the Trade of this Kingdom and for inspecting and improving his Plantations in America and elsewhere. June 9, 1699. A new Commission for the Board to the same effect as the former, except that the names of the Earl of Bridgewater and the Earl of Tankerville are omitted and the names of the Earl of Stamford and Lord Lexington are inserted in their stead. Read. |
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Letter from Mr. Randolph to the Earl of Bridgewater, March 22, about mines in Carolina, read. |
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Memorial from Mr. Thomas Cutler, who has lately returned from Carolina where he has been in order to the discovery of silver mines in pursuance of propositions laid before this Board, read. Determination of the matter suspended till the arrival of Mr. Good. |
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Ordered that the Secretary write to the Agents of Barbados to solicit the Attorney General for the dispatch of his opinion upon the Laws of that Island, and to Mr. Penn to move the Attorney-General likewise for his opinion upon the Laws of Pennsylvania. |
| June 20. |
Draught of a Circular Letter to the Governors of Plantations upon several heads read and ordered to be transcribed for signing. |
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Order of Council of May 18, relating to the settlement of Tobago, read. Notice of it ordered to be given to the Governor of Barbados. |
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Order of Council of May 31 upon the case of Mr. Sharp of Barbados read. |
| June 20. |
Ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Sansom to know what the Commissioners of Customs desire to have done. |
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Order of Council of May 31 directing the preparation of a Commission for Col. Francis Collingwood read. Ordered that a copy thereof be desired at the Secretary's office. |
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Order of Council of May 31 upon the petition of the Proprietors of West New Jersey read. Ordered that they or such of them as think fit attend the Board on Friday next. [Board of Trade. Journal, 12. pp. 67–82; and (without the Commission), 96. Nos. 93, 94.] |
June 20.
Boston. |
533. Col. Romer to Lord Bellomont. As ordered I present you with a small map of Castle Island and the fortifications thereon. And your Lordship having commanded a projection of a stronger work, I have drawn it on the map. But my opinion is that, although the whole Castle Island were made one entire fortification and in condition to defend itself against a year's siege, as according to the new design it might, yet this could only serve the inhabitants of Boston and neighbourhood to secure their riches, but could not hinder but that an enemy might blockade and commit all manner of outrages even to bombarding, except the coming in at the passages from the sea be secured, and by that means an enemy be forced to stand off to sea. For if an enemy be suffered to lie in Nantaskett Road, then he is master of you ashore, as also the vessels that would come to your assistance. It is therefore necessary that the passages and channels be secured against an enemy's entering in, by two well-placed and defensive batteries, each of fifty cannons, well regulated so that they may make good defence in front, flank and rear. If Nantaskett Harbour be left open to the disposition of an enemy, he is able without trouble to make himself master of all the adjacent islands and instate himself to insult over you at his pleasure. I do not say the fort on Castle Island is of no use; I am assured it may do much service, and therefore am of opinion that the batteries as well as the fort be made as is set forth in the map. Signed, Wolfgang Willm. Romer. 1¾ pp. [Board of Trade. New England, 9. No. 60 A.] |
