|
Nov. 1.
Barbadoes.
Shaftesbury
Papers. |
124. Joseph West to Lord Ashley Cooper, at Little Exeter House in the Strand. They have arrived at Barbadoes, where they will stay until 23rd inst. The people here show a great inclination for Port Royal; Sir John Yeamans being resolved to go down, gives good encouragement, and they hope to make up 200 persons. The Albemarle arrived three days after the other ships, and has since broken her cables and been lost on the rocks. Sir John Yeamans and Squire Colleton about hiring another sloop to carry down 60 or 70 people. Very bad weather at Barbadoes; the ships have been in great danger. Hopes the Proprietors will not let them fade in their infancy, but send a supply in the spring, for with all his care, their stores are eaten very deep into, and at their landing they will not have above three months' provisions. Servants have been taken into Sir Peter Colleton's plantation, and by Major Kingsland, and those belonging to Major Hambleton, whose steward ran away in Ireland, West will keep until further orders. [Shaftesbury Papers, Section IX., No. 18.] |
Nov. 11.
Shaftesbury
Papers. |
125. Note of "particulars," being cables, &c. which Henry Brayne desires may be furnished by Messrs. Hooker and Shaw for the ships Carolina and Port Royal. Endorsed by John Locke. 1/2 p. [Shaftesbury Papers, Section IX., No. 19.] |
Nov. 12.
Barbadoes. |
126. Nicholas Blake to (Joseph Williamson). Thanks him for giving Thomas Cheveley opportunity to present a paper to his Majesty, which was well accepted. Begs he will cast in a good word for having more parishes and ministers, and that a course be taken for the relief of oppression, which is here so intollerable that he fears God will have a controversy with this place ere long. Complains of Rich. Lewes, Rich. Jones, Rich. Rice, and others who have by subtlety got the whole means of the poor labourers engaged to them, and yearly heap interest upon interest and gnaw them to the bone, and that such exactors take 30 per 100 per annum and more. Some in England live rich upon it, and certainly Nehemiah is needed to force them to deliver these poor men out of their bondage. Concerning Mr. Santabin who was murdered at Madrid. His desire for the Commissioners to view the books of the deceased. About three months past was the most violent hurricane known by any alive: at Nevis the sea came 150 yards up into the land; in another Island 180 persons were blown away, houses and all, and have not been seen since, divers ships were wrecked in New England, and a ship was carried off the stocks; and at Bermuda a ship was cast away in harbour, though those harbours are almost land locked. On 1st inst. began incessant rains for four days; many houses deluged; in a piece of ground of his own a ship of 500 tons might have floated, and gullies usually dry became great Rivers; stone buildings fell to the ground; and from a churchyard, 150 coffins were carried into the sea; but now the waters are assuaged. The Commissioner's not yet gone to treat for delivering of St. Christopher's; some doubt the French will make the scale weigh heavy, for they have been too hard for us in Treaties. Arrival of three vessels to carry 'tis said Sir John Yeamans to Surinam to transplant the English for Port Royal: he will have few people hence, and if they be not vigorously recruited they will endure much hardship: they must be exempted from all taxes, for new settlements are like young scions and must have time to root and grow and in seven years will bring fruit. There is a place much cried up of late, taken from the Dutch now called New York, and one of it's Governments called New Jersey, of which Mr. Carteret of Jersey is Governor, yields store of beef, pork, peas, flour, butter, and horses; and they had begun a pretty trade there with strong liquors, sugar, cotton, molasses, and ginger, but advice has come to send no more, for the Governors have put some import on their goods; and by this means a hopeful trade is like to be spoiled, and many supernumeraries here who intended to transplant themselves thither have let fall their resolutions. Not a month ago he had a negro woman who was delivered of a child with five fingers and a thumb on each hand. |
| Nov. 15. |
Has ridden over to see that churchyard, and the Minister told him that the coffins, corpses, and bones of nearer 1,500 than 150 persons were carried into the sea, for the breach made was 40 or 50 feet wide and 140 to 150 long, and all the corpses buried there in 30 years were carried away. It was a dismal spectacle to see the coffins sticking out on each side of the banks of the beach and "enough to make one think of the Resurrection, for it seemed as if the coffins did wait an opportnnity to rise out of the graves." Indorsed, Received July 1670. 3 1/2 pp). [Col. Papers, Vol. XXIV., No. 94.] |
| Nov. 20. |
128. Commission to Wm. Lord Willoughby of Parham to be Governor-in-Chief of the Caribbee Islands. Refers to his Commission of Jan. 13, 1667 for three years [see previous Vol.] which being almost expired and the late Francis Lord Willoughby, certainly deceased, his Majesty reposing especial trust and confidence in the prudence, industry, fortitude, and circumspection of said Wm. Lord Willoughby hereby constitutes him Governor-in-Chief and Vice-admiral over said Islands during his Majesty's pleasure. The remaining part agrees with his former Commission. Mem. The signet was dated 20 Nov. 1669. The Patent 6 Dec. 1669, see No. 130. 2 pp. [Col. Entry Bk. No. 11, pp. 139–140.] |
Nov. 30.
Jamaica. |
129. Governor Sir Thos. Modyford to the Duke of Albemarle. The happy news of his Grace's restoration to health, has been celebrated with the most general joy that can be imagined. Lately received his Grace's in favour of Sam. Batch and Tho. Hudson, who are really very civil honest gents; has made the former Judge of the Court of Port Royal. Most of their privateers have turned merchants, trading with the Indians for hides, tallow, turtle-shell, and logwood; others hunt on Cuba for hog and beef; some of the best monied are turned planters; and some knaves endeavour to take the Spaniard, and by stealth land what they get in harbours out of command, which he will endeavour to prevent. None are yet gone to Tortuga, nor will he hopes, by reason they also are forbidden to grant Commissions, which in this juncture fell out very happy for us. If he is left to those moderate remedies which he has begun, is confident to reduce the most part of them, for their ships will wear out, and then they must stay on shore and plant or starve. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXIV., No. 95.] |
