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| Dec. 2. |
1187. p. 640. Four lines from bottom. Add, Journal of Council and Assembly of Virginia, 1693, 1695, referred to in No. 1041. vi. [C.O. 5, 1409. pp. 291–304.] |
| Dec. 3. |
1188. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Col. Tobias Frere and Michael Terrill took the oaths as Councillors. [C.O. 31, 6. p. 88.] |
| Dec. 8. |
1189. Minutes of Council of Barbados. 10 barrels of powder ordered for the use of Oistin's Fort. |
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There being found some inconveniences in the order of Nov. 26 concerning the delivery of Lord Grey's letters, ordered that they be forthwith sent to the President by the person that shall bring them, the same not to be opened till a Council be convened. Lord Grey's letters not for H.M. service to be delivered to one of his Attorneys. |
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William Rawlin was appointed Solicitor General and took the oaths. |
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James Colleton, Chief Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, for the precincts of St. Michael, was sworn in the Commission of the Peace, and took the oaths appointed as Chief Judge of the next Court of Oyer and Terminer. |
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Ordered that the Council sit every Tuesday till further orders. [C.O. 31, 6. pp. 88–91.] |
| Dec. 16. |
1190. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Ordered that Commissions be drawn out for the officers of the Militia. |
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John Sharp was sworn as a Searcher of the Customs in the Bridge Town. Book ordered to be kept for entering the names and offices of all persons sworn before this Board. |
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Proclamation ordered warning the inhabitants of the Town to remove their powder out of their houses, pursuant to an Act of the Island. |
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There being just suspicion that some negroes are conspiring and plotting mutiny and rebellion, ordered that a Commission issue forthwith to the Colonels and other Field Officers for examination and trial of all guilty and suspected persons according to Law in such cases. Proclamation ordered requiring all Masters, Mistresses and Overseers of houses and families and all constables
and others to prevent the assembling of negroes and to make search for strange negroes that shall come within plantations or houses, or wandering abroad, or that shall have arms, clubs or other unlawful weapons or instruments in their houses or contrary to an Act of this Island, Aug. 1688, and that the aforesaid persons be charged to do their respective duties appointed by the said Act under the penalties therein expressed, and that all persons do ride armed pursuant to the Act of Oct. 1692, and also that no person presume to sell rum or other strong liquors to negroes according to an Act of the same date. |
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Ordered that the Justices of the Peace in the Bridge Town do on Thursday next make a private session and call before them all the constables of the Town, and then give them in charge faithfully to do their respective duties. |
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Ordered that a Presentation for the Parish of St. Joseph be drawn for Samuel Fulwood. |
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The Assembly was summoned to meet on Tuesday next. |
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Writ for the election of a Member for the parish of Christchurch in the room of Capt. Richd. Ryecroft, decd., ordered to issue. [C.O. 31, 6. pp. 91–94.] |
| Dec. 28. |
1191. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Barbados. 69l. 15s. paid to Samuel Irish for disbursements for the fortifications of St. James and St. Thomas. Ordered that the Commissioners for the Fortifications do forthwith proceed upon putting Needham's Fort in very good repair and upon enlarging the southward line as was agreed to by them at their meeting the President and Council at the said Fort on Dec. 8. |
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The Assembly attending, the President and Council recommended to them that they prepare a Bill to empower the Constables to levy upon any person who shall omit sending to the watch as they ought to do, that the Town may be the better secured from any Insurrection; that some convenient places be prepared for securing powder in the country, it being dangerous that so great a quantity lie in the magazine so near the Town; that a small nimble vessel be kept in constant pay for the service of this Island; that a Bill be prepared to revive an Act to prevent trading with negroes, and for negroes working out and paying their masters so much a day; that some care be taken to provide for the poor people in the several parishes in this Island, who are reduced to great necessity by reason of the extreme dry weather. The Assembly withdrew. |
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This Board being informed that some houses in this Town have lately been set on fire, and that it's generally believed and appears by depositions already taken and by some of their own confessions that the same has been wilfully done by negroes, and other conspirators, ordered that if any fire should happen in this Town that a signal be made from James' Fort by firing two guns, which Col. Kirkby, H.M.S. Ruby, is desired to observe, and give orders to his own men and likewise to all the other ships in this road to send ashore as many men as they can spare, well armed, who are required to pay all due obedience to such orders
as Col. Kirkby shall give to them, in order to put out the fire and prevent any insurrection of negroes. |
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The Assembly attending presented a Bill to revive and continue an Act to prohibit the inhabitants of this Island from employing their negroes and other slaves in buying and selling, which was read three times and passed. |
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Ordered that Col. Leslie forthwith issue out orders to the several Captains in his Regiment to send out a patrol or patrols every night within their several divisions, as he shall see occasion, and to take particular care that one patrol be every night in the Bridge Town till further orders. Ordered that Lieut.-Col. George Peers likewise give orders to the several Captains under his command to send out six files of men every night as a constant guard to this Town till further orders. |
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It appearing that in the parishes of St. Phillip and St. Lucy there are several very poor people that are reduced to that extremity of want occasioned through the extraordinary drought, and not being able to subsist without some speedy relief, ordered that a brief be prepared for raising some money for their subsistance. [C.O. 31, 6. pp. 94–98.] |
| Dec. 30. |
1192. Minutes of Council of Barbados. This day was read a letter from M. De Guitande, Governor of Martinico, Dec. 29, 1701 :—"I address myself to you for justice for the wrong done by the English ship commanded by Capt. Karpy (Kirkby) to one of our merchant ships, the Hermine de Nantes. I was much surprised to learn on the arrival of the Master of the latter, Capt. Jean Dosset, that having met with Admiral Bembow, he had stopped him and put an English crew on board, who seized and robbed much of his cargo, having kept him till the 1st of this month. This violence done to this French Captain, his detention and the robbery committed on his ship can only be regarded as an act of hostility and a breach of the Treaty of Peace of Ryswick on the part of Admiral Benbow and Capt. Karpy, and it is the more surprising since I have no news from France of war in Europe between the French and English, which makes me beg you to repair the wrong done, both by the robbing of his ship, which amounts to 2,500l., and the delay which amounts to 100 pistoles. I await instructions from France, but if your ships of war continue these acts of violence, I shall not hesitate to make reprisals. Signed, Le Commandant de Guitande. |
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Mr. Horrey, who brought the above letter, was asked if he had anything further to say. He replied, only to desire an answer to the letter. The President and Board declared to him that they knew nothing to the contrary but that the Peace continued, and that therefore if any of H.M. subjects had done any damage or prejudice to His Most Christian Majesty, the Laws were open etc. (as in following letter); and that if it be desired, the depositions of any persons here should be taken on the part of the person pretending to be injured. He said he desired none. |
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The following answer was then written; President of the Council of Barbados to the Governor of Martinique. I am con-
cerned to find that the great care taken by my Lord Grey in the matter of the Hermin of Nantes is not satisfactory to you and the persons concerned, when his Lordship so readily dismissed the pinck the instant that the matter came before him. Repeats substance of Minute of Council, Nov. 19, above. I understand that the French Carpenter is now under confinement, for the theft, at Martinique. What reasons Admiral Benbow and Capt. Kirby had for stopping the pinck, I am not to account for. I know not but that the peace continues, and therefore if any of my Master's subjects here have done any injury to any of the subjects of His Most Christian Majesty the Laws here are open and free to be extended in favour of any of your Master's subjects injured, who shall have all the justice and despatch done them that can be reasonably expected. Signed, John Farmer. |
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Before the aforegoing letter was concluded on, H.M. Attorney General was asked what had been the Law, usage or practice in England in cases of this nature, and how and by whom satisfaction was made. He gave as his opinion that if the damage so done was in a general manner and such as that it could not be known certainly who did it, then the publique should repair it, but if it could certainly be knowne who did it, then that person was liable to make reparation, and was subject to be forced by Law to do the same. |
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Ordered that an account of the matter be sent to the Council of Trade and Plantations per the next ship. [See Cal. A. & W.I. Jan. 6, 1702.] |
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Lieut.-Col. George Peers acquainting this Board that it would be a great hardship upon the Town people to send to the Watch and do duty in his several companies, ordered that they be excused sending to the Watch so long as the Town Companies are continued as a Guard to the Town. Ordered that the Regiment under Col. Tobias Frere go next upon duty as a guard to the Town. |
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Twelve fuzees ordered for the use of Needham's Fort. [C.O. 31, 6. pp. 99–112.] |
