|
| Feb. 26. |
153. Order of the House of Commons that the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations do lay before this House an account of their proceedings with relation to the complaints made to them of the Courts of Justice in the Plantations in the West Indies. Signed, Paul Jodrell, Cl. Dom. Com. Endorsed, Recd. Read March 3, 170½. ½ p. [C.O. 323, 3. No. 116; and 324, 8. p. 69.] |
| [? Feb. 26.] |
154. John Usher to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Recapitulates events in New Hampshire since 1692, and recommends the state of the Province to the consideration of the Board. Signed, Jno. Usher. Endorsed, Recd. Read Feb. 26, 170½. 9 pp. [C.O. 5, 862. No. 96.] |
| Feb. 26. |
155. Order of a Committee of the House of Commons, upon the petition of Mr. Hodges, that the Council of Trade and Plantations lay before them on Saturday next papers relating to the administration of Justice in Barbados (enumerated). Signed, R. Gwynne. Annexed, |
|
155. i. Order of the House of Commons, Feb. 25. referring the petition of Mr. Hodges to a Committee, named. 2 pp. |
|
155. ii. Copy of petition of Thomas Hodges to the House of Commons. Petitioner hath attended the Council of Trade and Plantations for about 12 months past, and hath not only proved the truth of his complaints [See Cal. A and W.I., 1701], but has likewise shewn the administration of justice in that Island to have been much worse than his petition to H.M. (Dec., 1700) did import. Whereupon the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations have lately made such a report as covers the truth from H.M., and has effectually hindered the petitioner from any relief. Signed, Tho. Hodges. Annexed, |
|
155. iii. Particulars of Thomas Hodges' complaints referred to in preceding. 3 pp. The whole endorsed, Recd. Read Feb. 26, 170½. [C.O. 28, 6. Nos. 40, 40.i.–iii.] |
Feb. 26.
London. |
156. Governor Crowe to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Praying them to move H.M. to order the Lord High
Admiral to provide transport for himself, family, household goods and equipage, as was formerly granted to Lord Grey. Signed, M. Crowe. Endorsed, Recd. Read Feb. 27, 170½. 1 p. [C.O. 28, 6. No. 41.] |
| [? Feb. 26.] |
157. Mr. Usher's observations on the present Councillors of New Hampshire. William Parteridge, charged as being uncapable; Jno. Usher; John Hincks, suspended; Nath. Fryer, laid downe; Tho. Crawfford, dead; Peter Coffin; — Green, dead; Robt. Elliott; John Gearish; John Wear, laid down; Jo. Love, never excepted, and lives in England. |
|
List of Councillors proposed : Jo. Usher, Peter Coffin, Ro. Elliott, Jo. Gearish, Jos. Smith, Kingsley Hall, Tho. Parker, Geo. Jeffrey, Peter Weare, Dudley Hilton, Tho. Allen. [C.O. 5, 862. No: 97; and 5, 910. pp. 180, 181.] |
| [? Feb. 26.] |
158. John Usher to the Council of Trade and Plantations. It may be for H.M. service that ye Governor upon his arrival in New Hampshire take notice what condition H.M. Fort is in, together [with] an account of what store of ammunition; that he visit the Frontier towns, and that care be taken they secure themselves by making of garrisons, and make report thereof. That care be taken for a fit storehouse for arms etc.; that a house be built in the Fort for lodging soldiers etc., there being noe place provided. There being this year a tax of 550l. for a person to lay before H.M. the grievances of the province, which is a pretence that they may thereby apply the same to private ends and uses, when the Governor arrives it may be for H.M. service to have it applied to building a house in the Fort for the soldiers. That all ships coming in and going out doe come to an anchor at New Castle and there clear with the Collector's Office, and the Acts of Trade may be violated, and the officer can't prevent the same. As to the Laws made, they never would raise any money for to have them allowed of in England, judging, haveing no account they are not allowed, that they are in good force and power. That every half year an account be sent of what money raised and how disposed of, likewise of all goods imported and exported. Endorsed, Recd. Read Feb. 26, 170½. ¾ p. [C.O. 5, 862. No. 98; and 5, 910. pp. 181–183.] |
Feb. 26.
Whitehall. |
159. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Three papers from Mr. Usher were laid before the Board. |
|
Draught of Instructions for Col. Dudley in the Government of New Hampshire was agreed upon, and the names of the Councillors now inserted therein ordered to be communicated to him for his observations upon them. |
|
Order of the Committee of the House of Commons of this date, relating to a petition presented to that House by Mr. Hodges, was brought to the Board and read, and directions given for preparing the papers necessary thereunto. |
| Feb. 27. |
Mr. Cole [Feb. 17] delivered two affidavits relating to the duties laid in Carolina upon English ships. |
|
Draught of Instructions for Mr. Crowe in the Government of Barbadoes agreed upon and communicated to him. Memorial from himself relating to shipping for his transportation read, and directions given for preparing a report thereupon. |
|
Letter to Sir Rowland Gwynne, Chairman of the Committee of the House of Commons mentioned yesterday, signed. The Secretary was ordered to attend the Committee with the Books and Papers necessary to open the whole proceedings of this Board in that matter. [C.O. 391, 14. pp. 342–345; and 391, 96. Nos. 37, 38.] |
| Feb. 26. |
160. Minutes of Council in Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay. Petition of Samuel Sewall, Ephraim Hunt, Benjamin Walker, John Hunt and Jonathan Belcher, Proprietors of part of the tract of land called Dracut, beyond Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex, N. of Merrimack River, and of Samuel Varnum and others, Inhabitants and Proprietors of the said tract of land, praying that the said tract of land which adjoins to Dunstable W. and N.W., and runs seven miles Eastward upon the River from Dunstable line, and six miles Northward from the River may be made a Township, sent up with the consent of the House upon condition that the bounds specified intrench not upon any former grant of townships; that the inhabitants of the land assist in the maintenance of the ministry at Chelmsford as at present, until they are provided with a Minister as the Law directs; that a general platt of the land, taken by a sworn Surveyor, be laid before this Court at their session beginning next May; that if any land shall happen to fall within the bounds abovesaid that hath not been heretofore granted, it shall be reserved to be disposed of by this Government. This resolve was concurred with. |
|
20l. each paid to the Committee of Claims for debts contracted in the time of Sir E. Andros. |
|
4l. 7s. 0d. paid to Ebenezer Brenton for expenses in obtaining land to accommodate an Indian settlement from Thomas Hinckley and Daniel Wilcox. |
|
30l. paid to Capt. Anthony Checkley, Attorney General, for his services. |
|
7l. granted to John Wilson of Bilrica in further allowance for his expenses in the country's service, 1691, as Lieut. of a foot company sent into the Eastern parts. |
|
Resolved, in accordance with the petition of the Indians residing in the southern parts of the County of Bristol (divers of whom have been very serviceable to H.M. in the late wars with the Indians, and some of them brought up in English Families), praying that a convenient tract of land may be assigned to them for a Plantation where they may settle together in an orderly way, and have the benefit of enjoying the Ministry and setling a school for the instruction of their children, that they may be accommodated with a tract of land within the township of Tiverton lately granted to the Government by Daniel Wilcox, to be holden by them of H.M. Government in this
Province during the pleasure of the Government. A Committee was appointed to supervise the settlement. |
|
Payment ordered towards the fortifications and provisioning the Castle, and that the remainder of the 3,000l. voted be improved for the payment of Province debts, and that the impost and excise in arrears be a Fund for the payment of the same, and what may fall short thereof to be made up out of the next tax raised for this Province. |
|
Petition read of Elisha Cooke, John Wiswall, Sarah Floyd, and Hugh Floyd, administers of the estate of John Floyd, decd., was presented and read, praying to be enabled by an Act of this Court to renew two Judgments granted against them at a Court of Appeals, Boston, Nov., 1696, at the suit of Col. Nicholas Paige and Anna, his wife, whereby they were put out of possession of a certain Farm lying in Rumney Marsh and one acre of pasture land in Boston. |
| Feb. 27. |
Col. Paige was ordered to appear. |
|
Upon the Memorial of Col. Hutchinson (Feb. 25), the Representatives left it with the Council to order the inforcement of the garrison as they should apprehend it necessary for the safety of the Province upon the arrival of intelligence from time to time. |
|
Several salaries ordered to be paid. Also, 30s. to Edward Norline of Ipswich for five weeks service which John Graves of Ipswich served H.M. in 1696. |
|
Accounts of the Committee for fortifying Castle Island, amounting to 2,515l. 17s. 11d., passed. |
|
Committee for granting claims for service done by soldiers in the time of Sir Edmund Andros was desired to consider certain claims since sent in. |
|
Petition of Thomas Drury on behalf of the town of Framingham, that if liberty be granted to purchase or hire a certain tract of Indian land bordering upon Framingham, such liberty may then be granted to the said town, sent up with the assent of the Representatives, was negatived by the Council. |
| Feb. 28. |
Col. Paige attending, and offering nothing against the petition of Elisha Cooke (Feb. 26), only that something had been sent from England relating to the passing of Acts, a Bill was brought in to enable Elisha Cooke etc. to review two judgements given in 1686, at the Superior Court of Judicature to be holden in Boston. The Bill was read and referred to the next sitting of the General Court. |
|
Resolved and ordered that the stock of small arms, ball and flints lately come from England, procured at the charge of the Province, be distributed to the regiments of Militia in proportion to what the Towns paid unto the last Province tax. |
|
Resolved that a day of Publick Prayer and Fasting be appointed throughout the several Towns. |
|
The Representatives announced that they had agreed to desire Mr. Increase Mather to preach a Sermon to the General Assembly at their convening in May. |
|
The Assembly was prorogued till April 15. [C.O. 5, 788. pp. 205–213.] |
Feb. 26.
Portsmouth. |
161. Minutes of Council of New Hampshire. Ordered that Major Wm. Vaughan, issue forth his orders to Capt. Peter Coffin of Exeter, Capt. John Woodman of Oyster River and Capt. John Tuttle of Dover, that they keep scouts of two men daily from King's Town to Salmon Falls River till further orders from him. [C.O. 5, 789. p. 78.] |
| Feb. 27. |
162. Minutes of Council of the Massachusetts Bay. Payment made to James Allen for rent etc. for a house for securing the powder and arms of the Province. |
|
280l. 17s. 2d. paid for the wages of the garrison of July 18, 1701–Jan. 18, 1702. |
|
Licence granted to James Barnes of Boston to erect upon his land in Prison Lane a building of timber and brick. [C.O. 5, 788. pp. 122, 123.] |
Feb. 28.
[? 1702.]
On board the
Triton off
Porto Rico. |
163. Letter from a French Naval Officer to a Friend. I promised to write to you by the first opportunity. You will see by the long time I have taken to give you news that the posts from America to Europe are badly regulated. I should have taken longer still, but for the division of his ships Monsr. de Château-Renault is making. The Chevalier de Laille is in one of those which are returning, and I have given him my letter. The accident which has happened to M. de Coetlogon, is the reason why M. de Châuteaurenault has decided to go himself and seek the galleons which are at Vera Cruz; he only takes with him 18 men of war and nine frigates; he is sending back to Brest and Toulon the big ships and those that are out of repair. This prolongs our campaign for six months at the least, and we have only provisions for four. You may well believe that this campaign will be severe, since for 15 days we have been living on cassare, and wine upon only one of them, which is for the most part sour or thick. This refers to the crew, but we are no better. Happily for us we did not stay long at the Isle of Martinique, for we arrived on the 5th and left on the 22nd of Feb. It is a very unhealthy island, and several people died there. The poor Chevalier Duhan died there on Feb. 19, and several other young men. It is a disease of which one dies very quickly, and in dying the blood rushes out through the nostrils and eyes. The countries where we are going are at least as unhealthy, but that is in the months of July, August and September, and by all appearances we shall have left by then. If M. de Château-Renaud had not received the news that the galleons had not followed M. de Coetlogon, we should have begun the war in this country, for everything was ready to attack the English Islands and that Entigrenime, Montserrat [Mon Sara] and Barbados, but all his plans have been rendered abortive by the arrival of M. de Hautefort. We dressed ship [apareillé] on Feb. 22 in the road of Fort Royal in Martinique, to the number of 30 vessels, several
frigates, sloops and fireships, and M. de Château-renaud carries the flag of a Spanish Admiral, M. de Nemont the flag of Lieut.-General of France, M. de Rosmadée the cornette of a French commander of a squadron, M. de Larteloire also has the cornette, and he it is who is to command the ships which go to Brest, M. de Machaut to take back those which go to Toulon. The separation is only to take place after we have passed Jamaica, which is an English Island, where it is said there are 40 ships, and if that proves true we shall fight them, and continue our passage to Havannah and Vera Crux. Those who have never been in these countries believed that we should return laden with gold, since it is from here that it comes, but one proverb is as true of this country as of Rome, it is that whoso goes gueux au perou, gueux en revient. I shall be of that number, but 'tis God's will, and provided I return in perfect health I shall be consoled for everything. I began my letter the day after leaving Martinique, and I shall only finish it when the ships separate. I have all the difficulty in the world to write, the heat being excessive to-day. What a difference in climate! You blowing your fingers (soufflés dans vos doigts) at this moment, and we can hardly endure a shirt. I must tell you the cockroaches (punaises) have taken possession of my cabin, so that I have been obliged to give it up to them and sleep on the bridge. I shall be very glad if I do not get ill from it, for the night dew is dangerous in this country, but so far I am very well, though I do not often have the sign of health. Let us hope we shall recover our former vigour when we get out of the tropics. I conclude to-day, Feb. 25. |
|
We have not seen anything since the Island of Nieve Entique [? Nevis, Antigua] and Montserrat, where we did not find any English vessels. To-day, Feb. 27, we sight the Islands of Sta. Crux and Porto Rico. The latter belongs to the Spanish and Sta. Crux was ours, but the inhabitants were removed during the last war, and it is at present deserted. We are to pass between Porto Rico and Espagnola, and it is there that we are to divide. Since the 25th several of our sailors have died of the pourpre [fever], and several others appear to be attacked by it. This is a bad beginning; I don't know what the end will be. Since the 22nd we have seen a comet, which rises at 7 in the evening and disappears at 9. We are anxious to know whether you have seen it in Europe, none of us has an almanack, which would have relieved our anxiety. There have been great wagers as to the meaning of this Comet. Some will have it foretell a great war; others the death of several great ones. Le 28 Feuvrier devant L'Isle de Porterique. French. 12/3 large pp. [C.O. 137, 44. No. 54.] |
| Feb. 28. |
164. Minutes of Council of New York. Capt. Thomas Clark, in discharge of his recognizance, appeared and made oath that the inventory produced to him of the goods of the said Clarke formerly delivered to the Governor conteined the whole and all that ever came into his hands or power or of any other person in trust for him to his knowledge from on board the sloop that Capt. Willm. Kidd arrived in into the Sound, or from any other
vessel or place as goods and treasure, writings, books and papers to the said Kidd, his crew or passengers belonging or by them imported. Whereupon the said recognisance was cancelled. |
|
Ordered that Thomas Davis be a riding Messenger on Nassau Island, to dispatch the public letters etc. as H.M. service shall require, and be always attending the said service and provide a horse therefore, for which he is to have 30l. per annum. [C.O. 5, 1184. pp. 625, 626.] |
