America and West Indies: March 1737, 26-31

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 43, 1737. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1963.

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Citation:

'America and West Indies: March 1737, 26-31', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 43, 1737, ed. K G Davies( London, 1963), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol43/pp93-99 [accessed 29 November 2024].

March 1737, 26-31



March 26. Iverness.	178 [? Archibald MacBean] to Harman Verelst. I have begun to recruit servants for the Trustees. It is necessary you should make remittances to Provost Hossack for the money requisite for that purpose. Unsigned. ½ p. [C.O. 5, 639, fos. 127–128d.]
March 26. Inverness.	179 Archibald MacBean to James Oglethorpe. I have written to Mr. Farrell and Mr. Thomson of my success in the Trustees' affairs: I meet with all imaginable encouragement from Provost Hossack in levying servants. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 639, fos. 130–131d.]
March 26. Bristol.	180 William Jefferis to Messrs. Samuel and William Baker. On 14 February an express from South Carolina reached Cape Fear to the effect that 14 sail of men-of-war were designed from Havana against Georgia. An embargo was laid on shipping at North and South Carolina. Requests were sent to Virginia etc. for men-of-war to join those at Carolina. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 639, fo. 122; another copy in C.O. 5, 654, fos. 99–100d, endorsed, Recd, from Trustees for Georgia, 4 April.]
March 26. Whitehall.	181 Alured Popple to Sir William Yonge, Secretary at War, enclosing for information an extract of a letter from President Gregory of Jamaica dated 10 December 1736 relating to the state of the independent companies there. Entry. 1 p. [C.O. 138, 18, p. 101.]
March 28.	182 Declaration by John, Thomas (by power of attorney to John and Richard) and Richard Perm that the royal approbation of George Thomas as deputy governor of Pennsylvania and the three Lower Counties shall not in any way diminish the right claimed by the Crown to those counties. Signed, John Penn, Richard Penn. Seals. Witnessed, Ferdinand John Paris, John Drake. ½ p. Endorsed, Recd., Read 5 April 1737. [C.O. 5, 1268, fos. 274, 274d, 277, 277d.]
March 29. Cape Fear River.	183 Eleazar Allen to Council of Trade and Plantations. As receiver-general of H.M.'s quitrents for this province, I think it my duty to lay before you an account many difficulties and obstructions I have met with in my collection, from which I am but lately returned, more especially from the inhabitants of Albemarle County, the most numerous in the province and from whom the largest sums are due. You are no doubt perfectly acquainted with the tenures under which the people of that county hold their lands and the indulgence given them by the governor in council by rating their paper currency at no more than at seven for one sterling (for want of gold and silver), and allowing their arrears of quitrents to be paid at that rate although it was notorious that a much larger proportion of paper would not purchase the sterling either in specie or in any of the saleable commodities of the country. And indeed the people seemed so sensible of this favour that in my last year's collections, which were for the whole arrears due since H.M.'s purchase, I found very little opposition but from some few who had been too deeply concerned in former irregularities not to hope that they would be overlooked among other confusions of their own raising. It was then my good fortune to procure a considerable rent roll and receive as large a sum of money as could be expected considering the situation of affairs at that time.
	From whence I thought I might reasonably conclude a proportionable success in the annual receipt. Instead of which I have met with the greatest opposition under various pretences: first, that the quitrents are sought to be payable at their several and respective dwellings in the commodities of the country; secondly, that the taking seven for one sterling is illegal and expressly contrary to a law passed 27 November 1729, entitled an Act for making and emitting the sum of 40,000l., in which law the assembly pretend to settle the value of the paper currency by adjusting it every 20s. paper to be equal to 15 dwt. of silver as current in Virginia, which is in proportion as four to one, and from thence deduce the exchange of five for one sterling at which rate they insist the quitrents ought to be paid, although it is known throughout the province that 20s. sterling is worth 10l. in the paper currency, and so I have seen it sold at the place of the receipt of the quitrents in Bertie Precinct in Albemarle County; thirdly, that the quitrents throughout the province are payable in proclamation money by an instruction to the governor relating to the remission of the arrears of quitrents, to which I beg leave to refer you. From whence they would conclude that the quitrents of Albemarle County, which by their grand deed in 1668 are payable at 2s. sterling per 100 acres, should now be reduced to 2s. proclamation, and that too payable in paper money at such rates as they shall please to affix-an absurdity too glaring to require any answer.
	I shall not presume to make any further animadversions on these points but leave them to your consideration. Only thus much I would observe: that the bulk of the people are well inclined, but their understandings are imposed upon by a few designing men of which Mr. Moseley, a member of the council (and who for these two years has refused to pay his quitrents) is I apprehend the chief. This gentleman has been deeply concerned in the disposal of the blank patents so detrimental to the revenue of the Crown which are now under your consideration; and I hope I shall not be accused of doing any injustice to his character if I say that all the difficulties and obstructions which have attended the several collections of the quitrents, especially the last, are entirely owing to that gentleman and his friends who leave no stone unturned to perplex the government and render the quitrents of as little service to the Crown as possible. You will pardon me if I enlarge and mention one instance of this gentleman's conduct (among others of the late Lords Proprietors' officers) while he was their surveyor-general and one of their council. It was usual with them, when the blank patents began to grow too numerous to be disposed of in Bath County at the exorbitant rates they were originally sold at, to endeavour to find out a new market and lower the prices. To this intent they offered them to several persons in Albemarle County, who already held lands from the Lords Proprietors by grants at 2s. sterling per 100 acres, for a smaller consideration (though sufficient to render them considerable gainers thereby). Some were so weak as to purchase them for the sake of an easier quitrent, and who have refused to pay at any other rate than by their last patents. Many of these I have met with in the course of my collection, and some of Mr. Moseley's disposal. These were among those called purchased patents purchased by connivance of the officers then in trust from the Lords Proprietors by them and them only at 20l. per 1000 acres paper currency, and received in payment of their several and respective salaries as they became due. So that by this management, their lordships (and consequently the Crown) have made an exchange of an annual revenue of 15s. sterling for ever out of every 1000 acres so disposed of for the trifling consideration of about 3l. 10s. sterling paid to their officers and accounted for as they thought proper.
	The enclosed paper is what I took from the public place of receipt in Bertie Precinct, signed by three of the then members of the assembly, which I conceive will sufficiently demonstrate the terms they would pay their quitrents at. The contagion is too far spread for me to remedy it by exerting myself in my office. I therefore submit to your judgment whether H.M.'s quitrents should not be paid at certain places throughout the province and (for want of silver or gold) in the paper currency at such a rate as will equal the sterling value. Signed. 4 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 10 August, Read 7 September 1737. Enclosed,
	183. i. Declaration of Benjamin Hill, John Dawson and James Pastellaw, representatives of Bertie Precinct; 11 February 1736/7. Being summoned this day at the court-house to pay H.M.'s rents due by us fo: lands held in this precinct, and lest any unadvised people should misconstrue our words or actions as though we were unwilling to pay what rents we justly owe H.M., to remove such an objection if any should be made, we in a public manner declare that we always were and are ready to pay what rents we justly owe according to the covenant and agreement made between the late Lords Proprietors and the inhabitants of the County of Albemarle according to the tenour of our patents, the laws of this colony, and the constant practice of near 70 years standing, which always was, and as we conceive ought to be, paid and received in the commodities of the country at our respective houses. We are also well satisfied that the opinion of the late assembly was that all other demands whatsoever were illegal. Signed. 1 small p. [C.O. 5, 295, fos. 92–95d.]
March 29. Rose, S. Carolina.	184 Captain Charles Windham to [Benjamin Martyn (fn. n1) ]. I greatly esteem the Trustees for Georgia taking notice of any small service I may be of to that colony and assure them as I take it to be my duty to protect any of the King's subjects when I have opportunity I shall be particularly mindful to assist Georgia; and as reports confirming one another come of the Spaniards' designs I have sent to desire Capt. Norris to come to this port and also orders to Capt. Compton at Virginia to make all the dispatch possible to join me. I sail in 48 hours and intend to go with Capt. Symonds who is now with me either into where Capt. Gascoigne lies or as near as we can safely lie to it. I believe Capt. Compton will be here in a week where orders will be left to direct him to join me off Georgia. Signed. 2 small pp. [C.O. 5, 639, fo. 235, 235d.]
March 29. Whitehall.	185 Council of Trade and Plantations to Duke of Newcastle, enclosing the following. Signed, Fitzwalter, T. Pelham, Arthur Croft, M. Bladen, R. Plumer. 2 pp. Enclosed,
	185. i. Address of Assembly of Antigua to Governor Mathew, 1 February 1736/7, approving his conduct in passing an Act to prevent trade between British and French in Montserrat. Can a British spirit see the flagrant and repeated depredations that are committed by the French on the subjects of our gracious Sovereign, and not be fired with the same just resentment that inspired your breast and induced you to act as you have done in order to support the honour of your master and to get justice done to his subjects? Can the same spirit endure to see the French violating treaties and setting up edicts of their King in opposition to what was before sacredly stipulated with the crown of Great Britain? Can anyone who wishes well to our King and country endure to see the French supplied by those of our own nation with materials that must aggrandize them and ruin the British sugar-colonies? No, sir; these are indignities and mischiefs that require resentment and redress. Copy. Signatory, Thomas Kerby, Speaker. 2½ pp.
	185. ii. Address of Council of Antigua to the same, 5 February 1736/7. [To same effect as preceding.] Copy. Signatories, Edward Byam, Vallentine Morris, Nathaniel Crump, John Vernon, Josiah Martin, Charles Dunbar. 3 pp.
	185. iii. Extract of letter from President Gregory of Jamaica to Council of Trade and Plantations; Jamaica, 28 December 1736. Governor Mathew has lately seized some French vessels on pretence of their being within a certain distance of his coasts, prohibited by some treaty. The French have made reprisals, particularly on a Guinea-man bound for Jamaica, consigned to Messrs. Hume and Hamilton; and very lately a French man-of-war attacked two ships homeward bound from this island as they were watering in Donna Maria Bay. These two ships were saved by Capt Bridge of H.M.S. Antelope. I am informed Commodore Dent intends to sail in a few days to demand satisfaction for this insult: I shall write by him to the French governor. I hope some speedy stop may be put to this affair, which otherwise may not only prove fatal to the trade in these parts but likewise may in its consequences affect all Europe. Copy. 1½ pp.
	185. iv. Extract of Governor Mathew's letter to Council of Trade and Plantations, 5 February 1736/7, reporting increases in the number of French on St. Lucia, Dominica and St. Vincent. Copy, of part of No. 55. ½ p. [C.O. 152, 40, fos. 289–299d; entry of covering letter in C.O. 153, 16, fos. 49d, 50.]
March 30. Whitehall.	186 Council of Trade and Plantations to Duke of Newcastle, enclosing copies of a letter and papers relating to Spanish designs against H.M.'s colonies received from Lieut.-Governor Broughton. Signed, Fitzwalter, Orlando Bridgeman, Arthur Croft, R. Plumer. ½ p. Enclosed,
	186. i. Copy of No. 57 i, above.
	186. ii. Copy of No. 57 ii, above. [C.O. 5, 384, fos. 2–8d; entry of covering letter in C.O. 5, 401, p. 208.]
March 30. Place Court.	187 Minutes of Common Council of Georgia. Referred to committee of accounts the following: account of guns and duffels bought by Samuel Eveleigh the balance whereof is 56l. 9s. 8d.; account of provisions and necessaries bought by the same the balance whereof is 941l. 11s. 3d. Ordered, that the skins be sold at 2s. 9d. per lb. weight. Resolved, that the person who recovered and brought to the Trustees a survey of the coast of Georgia taken at their expense but had been secreted from them have 5 guineas for his trouble. Read, a letter from Daniel M'Lachlan containing a plan for carrying over a considerable number of Highlanders to Georgia. Resolved, that the same be postponed for further consideration. Read, a proposal from Mr. Zouberbuhler for carrying over 50 families not exceeding 150 persons from Switzerland to Georgia; referred the same to committee of correspondence. Resolved, that 25l. be paid to Rev. Charles Wesley for officiating as missionary in Georgia. Resolved, that the Attorney-General be retained on Mrs. Watson's petition. Resolved, that upon all occasions where the Trust may be engaged in law affairs the Attorney-and Solicitor-General be retained. Resolved, that S. Hurst be employed as a clerk to the storekeeper in Georgia upon the same terms as John Pye. 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 690, pp. 60–61.]
March 30. Place Court.	188 Minutes of meeting of Trustees for Georgia. Received, receipt from the bank for 300l. paid in by the accountant being so much received by him for rice sold for the Trust, which with a note for 200l. payable by William Sands 29 April next and 333l. 14s. received by the accountant before and 24l. 12s. 6d. received more, makes 858l. 6s. 6d. for 1127 cwt. 10 lbs. of rice at 15s. per cwt. in 257 barrels sold to John Duffield and 16 cwt. 1 qr. 3 lbs. of rice at 16s. per cwt. in four barrels to John Woodbridge, the remaining five barrels of rice imported from the Two Brothers being emptied by dirt in garbling and by damage. Received, receipt from the bank for 50l. the benefaction of a gentlewoman by the hands of Mr. Whitefield for the religious uses of Georgia. Received, the same for 10l. the benefaction of the Bishop of Gloucester by the hands of Mr. Whitefield for the same uses.
	Sir William Des Bouverie, Bart., deceased, having left 500l. for the redemption of captives taken by pirates of Barbary, and Sir Edward Des Bouverie, Bart., deceased, having left a further 500l. for the same purpose, and it appearing that there are no slaves in Barbary, Sir Jacob Des Bouverie, Bart, has given these several sums to the Trustees for providing foreign and other servants for the benefit of Georgia. The receipt for 1000l. was sealed, secretary to countersign it, and the thanks of the Trustees given to Sir Jacob Des Bouverie. 3 pp. [C.O. 5, 687, pp. 5–7.]
[March 30. (fn. n2) ]	189 Lachlan M'Lachlan and Donald Cameron to Trustees for Georgia. We, in the name and by the direction of several considerable families in the highlands of Scotland who by the good encouragement their countrymen meet with in Georgia are inclinable to be of the number, beg the board will consider and answer in writing what encouragement each particular rank of men may depend upon; for nothing less will satisfy them. They are not only considerable but pretty numerous that are entered into an association to go if they like the proposals. Signed, 1 small p. [C.O. 5, 639, fo. 133, 133d]
March 30.	190 Attorney-General to Council of Trade and Plantations. Mr. Popple's letter of 25th inst. sets forth that you found in the draft commission of review in the dispute between Connecticut and the Mohicans I had left a blank to be filled up (as in the old commission) with the name of that person without whom no quorum can be held, and that as you propose the governor and council of New York and governor and council of Rhode Island to be the present commissioners the making one person essential may retard the good effects of the commission. I am therefore directed to reconsider the matter. Mr. Popple also sets forth that as the governor and councillors of Rhode Island are annually elected my opinion is desired whether they should be named in the commission.
	I agree that it will be more convenient not to make the presence of any one person necessary to constitute a quorum. I am of opinion that it is not necessary for the governor and councillors to be named. But as the governor and councillors of New York are certain it is advisable they should be named: those of Rhode Island for the time being will be entitled to the same powers as if they were named. Signed, D. Ryder. 2 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 30 March, Read 31 March 1737. Enclosed,
	190. i. Commission to George Clarke, lieut.-governor of New York, and Francis Harrison, Cadwallader Colden, Abraham Vanhorn, Philip Livingston, Archibald Kennedy, James De Lancey, Philip Courtland, Henry Lane, Daniel Horsmanden, councillors of New York, and to the governor and council of the said province for the time being; and to the governor and assistants of Rhode Island for the time being; to examine, review, finally decide and determine the dispute between Connecticut and the Mohicans. Draff. 7½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1268, fos. 260–269d.]
March 31. Savannah.	191 John Wesley to Trustees for Georgia. Robert Hows, a freeholder of this place, has officiated here as parish-clerk not only ever since I came but, as I am informed, for above two years before. He constantly attends both the morning and evening service (a little before sunrise and after sunset) on other days as well as Sundays and is in the whole of his behaviour a sober industrious man. But sickness in his family had reduced him to straitness of circumstances even before 24th inst. on which while he was employed in the public work his house was burnt to the ground and all that was in it (except two saws) consumed. I take the liberty to recommend him to your favour and assistance, as to the manner of which (whether by way of salary or otherwise) you are the proper judges. I recommend you and all your labours to Him in whose steps you tread, the great helper of the friendless. Signed. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 639, fos. 241–242.]
March 31. St. James's.	192 Order of King in Council approving draft of commission prepared by H.M.'s Attorney-and Solicitor-General for settling the boundaries between Massachusetts and New Hampshire; Duke of Newcastle to prepare warrant to pass the same under the great seal. Copy, certified by James Vernon. 1 p. Endorsed, Recd. 16 May, Read 24 May 1737. [C.O. 5, 879, fos. 150, 150d/, 153, 153d; warrant in C.O. 324, 37, pp. 43–8; another entry in C.O. 324, 50, pp. 177–182.]
March 31. St. James's.	193 Order of King in Council, on report from Committee for Plantation Affairs, disallowing an Act passed in Barbados 6 February 1735/6 entitled an Act concerning the surveying of land. Copy, certified by James Vernon. 2 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 16 May, Read 24 May 1737. [C.O. 28, 24, fos. 211, 211dt 214, 214d.]