|
May 7.
N. York. |
833. Governor Hunter to Lord Dartmouth. Acknowledges
letters of Sept. 8 and Oct. 28th etc. I have also recd. your
Lordp's. by Mr. Dungan, who shall want no instance in my power
toward the putting of his and the Lord Limerick's affaires upon
a better foot; they are in great disorder at present. Refers to
enclosure. In a word, the affaires of N. York are past all remedy
on this side. These in the Jerseys admitt of ane easy one. It is
but the removeing a few of the Council who's conduct has deserv'd
it, and H.M. may depend upon a quiet government there, etc.
Refers to Palatines and unpaid bills as in preceding letter, and
encloses addresses from the Assembly of New Jersey. Signed,
Ro. Hunter. 3 pp. Enclosed, |
|
833. i. Copy of No. 832. [C.O. 5, 1091. Nos. 69; and (duplicate) 72; and 73.] |
May 7.
New York. |
834. Governor Hunter to the Council of Trade and Plantations. After having finished my letter, last night arrived our
third packett boat, which brought me ye honour of your Lordpps.
of Jan. 29. I know not by what mistake that paper which relates
to my Conference with ye Five Indian Nations was left out, etc.,
but you will receive it with this. As to what relates to ye ordinance for establishing fees, it is impossible I can give yr. Lordpps.
that satisfaction I wou'd by this packett, it being to sail in a few
hourse, only I think it is necessary to acquaint yr. Lordpps. that
the table of fees in 1693 was never established by an ordinance,
only a scheme sent from ye Assembly to ye Governor and Councill
and never by them approved, altho' printed, soe that the Committee of Councill appointed to forme this ordinance, took little
or noe notice of that scheme, it being very defective. All that I
find concerneing it, is an order of the House of Representatives
of Sept. 20, 1693 and an Order in Councill of the same day (quoted).
I shall be able to give your Lordpps. by ye other packett (which
goes in a fortnight) a more perfect account of that matter, etc.
As to what your Lordpps. write concerneing ye Act for allowance
to Representatives, I am sorry to find that it was confirmed,
which I did not know before, and now can propose noe remedy. I
waite with great impatience for H.M. resolutions in relation to
this Government, for after what yr. Lordpps. have heard you
will easily be convinc't there is nothing to be expected from an
Assembly, etc. Signed, Ro. Hunter. Endorsed, Recd. Read
June 15, 1711. 2pp. Enclosed, |
|
834. i. An Account of Governor Hunter's Conference with the
Indians at Albany, Aug. 7, 1710. Present: Col. Pr.
Schuyler, Col. K. van Renselaer, Capt. Myndt. Schuyler,
Robt. Livingston, Secry. for ye Indian affairs. Interpreted by Capt. Johs. Bleeker. Some of ye Sachims of ye
Five Nations and River Indians, particularly those lately
come from Great Brittain, waited upon H.E. as soon as
he came ashore, and told H.E. that they heartily congratulated his safe arrivall, etc., bidding him heartily
wellcome, and that all ye Sachims were not yet come, yet
they could not be wanting in their duty to waite upon
H.E. etc., and presented him with a blak otter. They
humbly request in regard many Indians are suddenly
expected, that he would be pleased to prohibit the
selling or giveing of any rum, strong drink, wine or beer
upon very severe penaltyes, because many mischieffs doth
ensue upon the selling of strong drink to the Indians.
H.E. told them he was glad to see them, and they might
be assur'd of H.M. countenance and protection and would
give ye necessary directions for ye prohibiting ye selling
of strong drink, and that he would do anything that
might tend for their future wellfare and incouragement.
The Sachims thanked H.E. for his condeschension, and
are emboldned to ask that the old Sachims, when they
come to Schinnectady may have waggons to bring them
to Albany, wch. H.E. was pleased to grant, etc. The
Indians pray'd that dureing their stay provisions might
be orderd more largely, for the allowance they had had
hitherto before H.E.'s arrivall was very scrimp. H.E.
told them, he would give directions that they should be
taken care of and victualled as well as ever they had
been formerly. |
|
Schinnectady, Aug. 9, 1710. Present: Col. Pr.
Schuyler, Col. Killian van Renselaer, Evert Banker,
Myndt. Schuyler, Dr. van Brugh, Col. Jn. Schuyler,
Robt. Livingston, Secy. The Interpreter, Lawrence
Clace being come from ye Sinnekes country and ye
rest of ye Five Nations westward, doth relate to H.E.
what hath occurr'd to him among sd. Indians in ye
3 months that he has been from Albany. That being
sent to ye Five Nations to watch ye motions of ye
French, and to perswade those Indians to give a free
passage to ye farr Indians thorough their country to
come here to Albany to trade, he was at Onnondage
July 17th last, when Mons. de Longuillée and Monsr.
Jeunker ye Interpreter and 10 other French wth. two
Indians came thither from Canada, and made ye following
propositions to ye Sachims of Onnondage, 4 Sachims of
Oneyde, and ye said Interpreter Lawrence being present:
—Children of the Five Nations, Some of our
Indians lately come from your country to Montroyall
inform'd us yt. ye English were design'd to renew the
expedition agst. Canada, and come to distroy Quebeck,
Mont Royall Troy River and all Canada, we are therefore sent by Onnondio, our Governor, to forbid you of
the Five Nations to joyn with them upon any account
whatsoever, and if you do, we will not only come ourselfes but sett the farr Nations upon you to distroy you
your wifes and children root and branch, as for ye
English we regard them not in ye least, we have had warr
with them long enough and always prevail'd, therefore
we warn you not to engage in their quarrell, if you have
any compassion to your children's children, then you
must not assist ye English upon any account, if you do,
we tell you plainly we must distroy you, being now
ready and fitted for that purpose, therefore be quiet and
sett still, for ye English must not think to skare us by a
faint or pretended expedition by comeing to ye Wood
Creek to eat bisketts there soaked in stinking water,
sure ye biskett would eat as well at Albany as there, the
English have gott nothing by it but lost ground. |
|
The Sachims seem'd to be divided in their opinions,
and those Sachims of ye French faction prevailing made
their answer to ye French agents without calling Laurence Claes the Interpreter to be present, neither did he
hear what answer they made, only the Sachims told him
they would comunicat their answer to the Governor of
New York when they come to Albany. The Sachims
told the Interpreter plainly, that except the selling of
strong drink be wholly and solly forbid its impossible
they can live in peace in their castles, they will be
necessitate to seperate themselves and break up and be
no more a nation, and all the 5 Nations are of ye same
opinion, and some of the 5 Nations are resolved to go to
New York to request the Assembly to make a strickt law
against it. The said Sachims of Onnondage told him
farther, that they hoped the English would build a fort
and garrison it well in their Castle, or where they
thought fitt in their country, wh. would prevent all the
French intragues, and desir'd they might have a smith to
mend their arms at Onnondage and another at Oneyde. |
|
Propositions made by ye River Indians and Skachkook Indians to Governor Hunter, Albany, Aug. 11,
1710:—(1) Father Corlaer and Quieder, we are glad to
see you here, ye heavens were troubled before your
arrivall, and ever since they have been claer and serene,
we hope it will be ever so, etc., did give a beaver skin.
Father, I speak for our whole Nation, we have always
been faithfull and obedient to this Government, and
desire yt. ye Covenant Chain may henceforth be kept
brighter and clearer than ever, gave a belt of wampum.
(3) We take ye freedom to acquaint our father, that we
we are affraid that ye enemy may annoy us, being bare
and uncovered in ye place of our habitation at Skachkook, do therefore pray that you would graunt us your
fatherly protection, and build a stockado fort there,
gave a bever skin and 4 martins. |
|
Propositions made by ye Sachims of the Five Nations
to Governor Hunter, in ye City Hall of Albany, Aug. 13,
1710:—Brother Corlaer, we were sent for by ye Commisrs. of ye Indian Affairs to be here to attend your
Excellency in 45 days, and are accordingly come and are
very glad to see your Excellency, etc., We had not ye
happiness to see our Brother wh. the Great Queen sent
last year, meaning the late Lord Lovelace, he was
snatched away before he could have time to send for us,
etc. We wish you all imaginable joy and happyness in
your Government. H.E. thanked them, and assured
them of H.M. protection, so long as they shall continue
faithfull and steddy to her Government and keep true to
their Covenants. |
|
Propositions made by the Sachims of the Five Nations
to Governor Hunter, Albany, Aug. 14, 1710. Brother
Corlaer, wee are glad yt. God has spared you from ye
dangers of the sea, etc., and yt. we see one another's face
in peace, we are necessitat to make known to your
Excellency our poor and mean condition, occasion'd by
our people's being kept all last year and last winter from
hunting to be ready on all occasions to assist our brethren
as well in ye intended expedition against Canada as to
oppose ye French, if they should have offer'd to make any
attempt upon this Government, and so have caught no
bever or peltry to supply our necessitys, do therefore
pray your Excellency to order that our hatchets, kitles
and gunns may be mended upon ye publick charge,
especially since this our poverty has been occasion'd
meerly by our obedience to this H.M. Government, this
supplication is made with a sorrowfull heart and with
tears in our eyes by all ye 5 Nations, did give 5 bever
skins. H.E. thank'd them for their complement and
commends them for their obedience and fidelity to ye
Government, and expects that they will continue so,
and then they need not fear of H.M. assistance and protection, and is willing to cause their hatchetts, kitles and
fuzees to be mended, and doth therefore order that they
bring such hatchets, kitles and guns as want mending
to-morrow morning to the house of Robert Livingston,
that ye trades men may be sent for to do ye work out of
hand, and it will be requisit that one of each Nation
attend there to see an exact account taken of them, that
every body may have their own things back again. |
|
Propositions made by Governor Hunter to the Sachims
of the Five Nations, Albany, Aug. 16, 1710. I am glad
to see so many of your Sachims come, with whom I shall be
glad to treat off affairs for yr. wellfare and to renew the
Covenant Chaine. Brethren, I was willing to take ye first
uppertunity possible to meet you to renew ye Covenant
Chain on behalf of all H.M. subjects on ye north
Content. of America, which I do now in a most solemn
manner, and doe assure of H.M. protection and assistance so long as you keep the same inviolable, and as a
toaken of H.M. kindness to you for your former services
to this Government, has sent by me a present to be given
to you wh. you will now receive. I am inform'd that
ye French of Canada have made it their continuall
practice by their deluding Jesuits and other missionaries to draw you off from your fidelity to H.M. and to
raise divisions among you, but I suppose ye long experience you have had in their malltreating, and ye
many ill actions they have been guilty off, will be
sufficient inducements to keep you firm to those that
have always been your frinds, and to secure you from
hearkning to any of their false insinuations, they have
had some messengers lately in your country, I would fain
know what propositions have been made to you, and what
answer ye French receiv'd to their message, and why ye
messenger of this Government who was then at Onnondage was not made acquainted with your answer to them.
I desire also to be inform'd what you know of the French
transactions with their Indians, and what expedient you
can propose to bring them off. I am glad you are now
sinceible that it is for your advantage and security that
ye Farr Nations have a free passage throu your country
to come and trade here, you could not see throu it at
first, but ye only way to strenthen you and us, and
weaken ye enemy is to have as many brought into ye
Covenant Chain as possible, and therefore I must
exhort you to persist in that resolution, and give ye
farr Indians all suitable incouragement imaginable, as
you see the Great Queen to strenthen this Government
has been pleased to send a great number of people with
me to setle here. Those of your Nation who have been
lately in England, have made it their application to ye
Great Queen to send missionaries amongst them to
instruct them in ye religion and worship of ye son of god,
the Savior of ye world, I desire to know whether you
approve of it, and if you will be satisfyed to have a
garrison planted in one or more of your castles, and a
chapel or chapels built there, and ye place fortify'd for
your defence and protection. That to convince ye
great Queen and her Govt. under her of ye sincerity of
your intentions in your allegiance and fidelity, you will
for the future receive no french priests or emmisaries
amongst you, else we must not look upon you sincere in
yr. promise of keeping ye Covenant Chain bright. I am
concern'd to hear ye complaints of severall of the inhabitants that live above Schinnectady, who suffer'd
much by your young men's killing their creatures last
year, and plundring their houses, this is not acting like
brethren and frinds. I hope you will take care that no
such abuses be committed for ye future. I understand
that divers of your people design to go out a—fighting
against the flattheads, who have not injured you, and
are a peaceable people. It is better for you to hunt
neer home, since you know not what designs the French
may have against you. By the last Fleet that came from
great Brittain to Boston H.M. sent some troops to act
offensively against ye common enemy, and some more
ships are speedily expected, by wh. we may have some
news, therefore it wil not be adviceable for ye brethren
to go farr from home, not knowing what occasion there
may be to joyn our forces together. Your brethren
who have been in England and have seen the great
Queen and her Court have no doubt inform'd you how
vain and groundless the French boasting has been all a
long, how our great Queen's armeys have year after
year routed all his forces, taken his townes, and is at
this time near his principall town and seat of Government, H.M. has sent them as a pledge of her protection,
and as a memoriall to them of their fidelity a medall for
each Nation with her royall effigie on one side, and ye
last gain'd batle on ye other, wh. as such she desires may
be kept in your respective Castles for ever, she has also
sent her picture on silver twenty to each Nation to be
given to ye chiefe warriors, to be worn about their necks
as a token, that they shall always be in a readynesse to
fight under her banner against the common enemy.
The Sachims of ye Five Nations were told that H.E. had
order'd them a live bullok for each Nation besides
bread and other provisions, wh. they might dispose of as
they thought fitt. The presents that were given to ye
Five Nations were, 100 fuzees, 1000lb powder, 2500
flints, 5 pr. strouds, 2½ pr. blankets, 2 pr. duffels, 20 doz.
knifes, 50 looking glases, 75 shirts, 25 kitles, 70 hatchatts, 25 lb. paint, 500 barrs of lead, 5 gros of tobaco
pipes, 150 lb. tobacco. |
|
Propositions made by Governor Hunter to ye River
Indians and Skaahkook Indians in Albany, Aug. 17,
1710. Children, I thank you for your kind congratulatory proposition. It shall not be wanting in
me to give you all incouragement imaginable, and
I am directed by ye Great Queen to assure you of
her assistance and protection, so long as you shall
behave yourselvs obedient and faithfull subjects, and
be ready at all times to fight under her banner against
ye common enemy, and as a token of H.M. kindness to
you for yr. past services to this goverment and future
encouragement, she has sent a present with me wh. you
will now receive. I came up to Albany as soon as I
could conveniently to renew the Covenant Chain, wh.
I do now with you, my children, in ye behalf of all H.M.
subjects on ye North Continent of America, in the most
solemn manner, not doubting the continuation of your
fidelity and obedience, wh. will ever be attended with a
suitable reward from me, and to remove your fear of ye
enemy's annoying you, by being bare and uncover'd in
ye place of your habitation at Skaahkook, I will cause to
build you a stockado fort for yr. security, and must
exhort you to keep together, and not to suffer your
people to stragle, but use all endeavors to encrease your
number by perswading those that have left you to return
to their ancient habitations. You see the care H.M. has
of this Province by sending so many people with me to
setle here, and ye more numerous her subjects are, ye
lesse you need to fear ye incorsions of ye enemy, however
be watchfull, and let not ye french or their emissaries
lull you asleep, but be upon your guard, for ye security
of yr. wifes and children, and not to go too farr a hunting,
but be neer upon occasion, there being already severall
troops come from great Brittain to Boston by ye last
fleet, and more ships being expected, we know not how
soon there may be occasion of joyning our forces together.
I hear you have for ye present no more Sachims at
Shaahkook but one, the others being dead. I must
recommand to you to nominat two other fitt persons for
that station, and I will confirm and ratify your choise
provided they be fitt and qualifyed for that office. The
present given to the River Indians was:—15 fuzees,
1 pr. strouds, 6 blankets, ½ pr. duffels, 3 doz. knifes, 8
kitles, 1 barl. pouder, 100 bars of lead, 100 flints, 20
hatchats, 2½ lb. of paint, 30 lb. tobacco, 1 gros of pipes. |
|
Answer of ye Sachims of ye Five Nations to Governor
Hunter in Albany, Aug. 19, 1710. Brother Corlaer,
wee are very glad that ye great Queen has been pleas'd
to appoint a person whose charecter is not only to be a
good man and a good souldier to be Governor over ye
Christians and Indians in this country, and doubt not
but shall live all happy under your administration, etc.
Some of our Brethren have been lately in England, and
altho' they were natives of ye Mohogs' Nation, yet we
are as well satisfy'd as if there had been one from each
of ye 5 Nations, being all united; they have seen ye Great
Queen and her Court, and been very well treated, for wh.
we are very thankfull. You thought it requisit as soon as
possible to call us the 5 Nations together to renew ye
Covenant Chain, wh. was very gratefull news to us all,
being glad of ye uppertunity, wh. ancient Covenant
Chain we renew most solemnly with all H.M. subjects on
ye north Continent of America, assureing you it shall be
kept inviolable by all our 5 nations as long as the sun
and moon endures. As to the supplication made to ye
great Queen by those of our nation that have been lately
in England concerning missionaries to be sent amongst us
to instruct us in ye Christian religion, we approve of it
very well and are very thankfull for ye offer, and not
only be glad to see a garrison of souldiers planted in
each of our Castles, wh. lye very much exposed to ye
insults of ye enemy (by whom they are surrounded on
all sides) but should be glad to have some of ye people go
along with us now to begin to work, wh. would be a
great security for our wifes and children, and should
rejoyce also to have missonaries there to instruct us in
ye religion and worship of Jesus ye son of god and
Savior of ye world, but we know yt. cannot be had so
suddenly, since they must come from Great Brittain, but
as soon as they can be gott, we hope you will make
chapels for them in each of our Castles where we will
receive and treat them as well as we are able, and we
think it would be highly requisit to have a Christian
Sachim in each of our Castles to take notice what is
transacted there and defeat ye French intreagues. Wee
hope we have given H.M. and her Governors sufficient
testimonyes of ye sincerity of our intentions, and of our
allegiance and fidelity, and shall be willing to demonstrate it further in ye not receiveing or harbouring any
of those dangerous people ye Jesuits in our castles, and
shall discharge all our people from receiving them, but
ye most effectuall way to be rid ym. is by planting
garrisons in our castles, by building of chapels and supplying them with missionaries, and therefore ye sooner
that be put in execution the better, especially the
fortifying of our castles. You are pleasd to forwarn us
not to fight against ye flatt heads, but to hunt neer at
home and secure our wifes and children, and to be
ready on all occasions to go agt. ye common enemy, in
regard H.M. has sent severall troops by ye last fleet to
Boston to act offensively agst. ye french, and more
ships expected by wh. we may have some news, we
promise to obey your commands, and to be near at home,
not knowing how soon there may be orders from ye
great Queen to joyn our forces together. You are
desireous to be inform'd how ye French Indians are
dispos'd, and what expedient we can propose to bring
them off, the brethren have often tryd that, we have
tryd it likewise, but found all means hitherto unfectuall,
nevertheless we must not dispare, but try again and we
hope you will do ye same, if peradventure we may prevail with them at last to come and live in the land of
their nativity. You are pleas'd to commend us for
opening a path for ye Dawaganhas and other farr
Indians, to come through our country as far as Albany,
where Corlaer and Quieder dwells to trade, wh. we will
be always willing to incourage, but ye Brethren here
can do more then we to promote yt. trade, and that is
by giving good pennyworths, yea cheaper then we ourselvs, and yt. will be an infallible way to draw them, for
we are used to buy dear, ye traders always alledging
that bever is a drugg. The great Queen of England has
been pleasd as a pledge of her protection to send each of
our Nations a medall, wh. we have received with all ye
satisfaction imaginable, and will keep ym. ever in our
Castles, and bring ye same down when any publick and
solemn conferences are to be held to show ye same, we
are also very thankfull for ye 20 peeces of silver, wh.
our chief Capts. shall wear about their necks, and shall
always be ready to fight under her banner agst. ye common enemy. We are sorry to hear such complaints of
our young people doing mischief to ye people's catle
that live above Schinnechtady, we shall endeavor to
prevent all such irregularityes for ye future as much as
possible. We have done with answering your proposition, except that part wh. relates to ye french agents
yt. have been lately in our country, which we will
impart to your Excellency anon in ye house, and so
shall conclude by praying your Excellency to interceed
with H.M. that goods may be cheaper, and bever dearer
for ye traders give so litle that it is not worth ye while
to go a hunting for them, and gave a few bever and
drest deer skins. They gave four beavers skins to condole
ye death of Mr. Lydius, late minister of Albany, who
dyed last winter. A Sinneke Sachim stood up and said,
There was an intended expedition last year against
Canada, in which Lt. Gerrit Luykasse happen'd to be
kild in ye Lake, whose death they condole by giving a
scalp and 4 bear skins. When ye Sachims were come
into ye house Kaquendero ye Speaker proceeded makeing a long harrangue after ye Indian manner when any
repetition is made, and said that Monsr. Longuille and
Jeunkeur and some French which then had been in
Onnondage lately, and proposed that they had been
inform'd by 2 Indians that were come from Albany yt.
ye expedition agst. Canada would be reviv'd, and that
ye governr. of New York had given ye hatchet into ye
hands of ye Five Nations, the sd. messengers said they
could not beleive it, but ye Governor of Canada could do
no less then send them to enquire about ye truth of this
matter, and tho' we find that it is nothing but a story,
yet we must tell you that if such a thing should happen,
you reject any such proposall, for that would be ye ruin
of your children's children. Lett the French and
English that have had warr so long together, let them
fight. Butt ye Indians must sitt still and be quiet, and
if you take up ye hatchett agst. us, ye Govr. of Canada
doth acquaint you by us, that he is ready to come and
rout ye 5 Nations, and will come like a whirlwind among
them, and distroy them and all their accomplices, root
and branch, may he will leave off pursueing any other
enemy, and wholly send his force against ye 5 Nations,
therefore we exhort you to sett still, and not medle with
ye war in ye least. He the said Sachim gave ye French
messengers no other answer but this, that they exhorted
him to sitt still and be quiet, as he exhorted them,
neither would they give any answer to that article
relating the hatchet, and so dismissed them. |
|
At a Conference of the Commissioners of the Indian
affairs, and ye Sachims of ye 5 Nations in Albany, ye
19th Aug., 1710. The Governour has desired us to
acquaint you that he has received an account yesterday
from New England that ye french Indians continue to
comitt great barbarityes upon ye poor innocent people,
your Brethren in N. England, who are in ye Covenant
Chain, we are therefore desirous to know what expedient
you can propose to prevent such cruelties. The Indians
answer, Brother Corlaer and Quieder, We were told after
ye propositions were over to-day that ye Sachims of
each Nation should meet ye Gentn. this evening to
consult about this importune affair, upon which we
answer that ye Governour of Canada doth not only
committ ye same upon our people year after year, but
setts ye farr Nations upon us, who distroy many of our
people, we have apply'd to him with belts of wampum
frequently, but could never have any redress, and about
3 or 4 years ago we sent severall Sachims to Canada to
procure a cessation with the farr Indians, and he told
us that it was not in his power to grant, but he would
write to ye French King his Master and give us an
answer when ye strawberries were ripe next spring, but
the strawberries have been ripe over and over, and we
could never gett an answer to this day, therefore we
must desire to be excused in this matter, and referr ye
whole bussiness to Corlaer, meaning H.E. the Governor,
to do therein what he shall think convenient, as for our
parts we can do no more but we have done, and shall be
glad to hear what conclusion ye Brethren do take in
this affair before we return to our Castles. The Gentn.
told ye Sachims they would acquaint H.E. with what
they said, and they should have an answer before their
departure. |
|
Propositions made by the Sachims of Oneyde to H.E.
in Albany, Aug. 20, 1710. Brother Corlaer and Quieder,
Wee are come to your Excellency to request that we may
have a smith in our country, being resolved to build a
castle to perserve our wifes and children from ye insults
of ye enemy, being scituate in a dangerous place, where
we are surrounded by the enemy on all hands, and when
we are a building ye Castle with stockados, if our hatchets
break, it will be hard to gett them mended, we therefore
desire yt. yr. Excellency may lay it before ye Assembly
and that we may have an answer when the Assembly
breakes up, we proposes to pay ye smith for his labour as
much as is pd. by ye Christians here to their smiths, for
what ever he does, we hope yr. Excellency will take our
case into consideration, since we have allwayes showen
ourselfs obedient to ye commands of the Govrs. of this
Province, and shall allways be ready to obey what
orders your Excellency shall be pleas'd to injoyn, did
give 18 drest deer skins and one bear skin. |
|
H.E. told them that he had a perticular regard to ye
Nation of Oneyde, whom he was inform'd by everybody
had alwayes been ready and willing to obey what was
commanded them by this Province, that all endeavours
should be used to comply with their request, etc. |
|
Propositions made by ye Maquase to H.E. in Albany,
Aug. 20, 1710. Brother Corlaer, There is something
forgott in ye publick propositions yesterday, wch. is
this, when we were in England we proposed to ye great
Queen to have a Minister for us Maquase in our Castle,
and ye Queen was so gracious to propose yt. we might
have two, whereupon we were very thankfull and told
H.M. if she was pleas'd to graunt two, there was one Mr.
Freeman who had been Minister of Schinnechtady was
well vers'd in their language, and a proper person to
instruct them in the Christian religion, and ye Queen
was pleas'd to approve of it, we doe therefore pray that
we may have him in ye first place till ye other come from
England, and that he may live in our Castle, and not at
Schinnectady or Albany. H.E. answered that he is
very willing, if Mr. Freeman can be prevail'd withall,
that he should go and instruct them in ye Christian
religion in their own Castle in ye Maquase country, and
will promote his being confirm'd at home in that station,
so that nothing shall be wanting in him to incourage so
good a work, that H.E. had not received the necessary
orders relateing to missionaries as yet from England, wch.
he expected dayly, and as soon as he receives ye same
will acquaint them therewith. |
|
Albany, Aug. 20, 1710, the two Sachims of Shaachkook waited upon H.E. and said, that they thanked
H.E. for his care of their wellfare, that they had 3 old
men that were Sachims call'd Walighlawit and Nawekatekum, but yt. they wanted two Capts. to be added
to aspenot, wh. they propose may be Quinepau in ye
room of Wannesckakis that is dead, and Patekoquasck
in ye room of his brother Minichque, wh. two Capts.
H.E. approved off, etc. The Sachims did thank H.E.
for his care in appointing a stockado fort to be made at
Skaahkook, which they hope will be a means to draw
back their Indians to come and setle among them, they
gave a string of wampum. Signed, Robt. Livingston,
Sec. for ye Indian affares. Endorsed, Recd. June 15,
1711. 16½ pp. [C.O. 5, 1050. Nos. 20, 20 i; and
(without enclosure) 5, 1122. pp. 385–388.] |
May 7.
New York. |
835. Governor Hunter to Mr. Secretary St. Johns (sic).
Having acquainted my Lord Dartmouth with the unhappy state of
H.M. Governmt. here, I will only beg your concurrence towards a
remedy. If I am a sufferer, I have that to comfort me that I
suffer in and for the service of the best of Princes etc. I gave you
the trouble of a line by John Kiel. I recommended him to you
for an imployment which is indeed an handsom one, but of
fatigue and labour, that was the Secretary's office of the Jerseys.
I understood afterwards from himself that he had a mind to ask
for another, that of Surveyor Genll. of this Province. Had I
known when he went over what I now know, I would have made
it my earnest request to put him into that office, for Mr. Birchfield
the gentleman who was put into that office when I had the honour
of the Government, has taken it into his head which I'm afraid is
not very sound, to make every body and every thing uneasy here,
etc., etc. Signed, Ro. Hunter. 1½ pp. Enclosed, |
|
835. i. [? Address of Assembly of New Jersey to Governor
Hunter] laying following charge against Judge Pinhorne.
Endorsed, Recd. 15th, Read 26th June, 1711. ¾ p. |
|
835. ii. Affidavit of Thomas Farmer, confirming following
charge against Judge Pinhorne. Signed, Tho. Farmer.
Feb. 10, 1710. ¾ p. |
|
835. iii. The case of Thomas Gordon. (cf. C.S.P. 1707. 963 ii.)
In 1703 Thomas Gordon was by the Proprietors of ye
Eastern Division of New Jersey commissionated their
Register. On Aug. 25, 1705, my Lord Cornbury and
his Council made an order that he should deliver all ye
publick records in his hands to Jeremiah Bass, Secretary
of the Province, with wch. order Mr. Bass served him at
Shrewsberie. Mr. Gordon answered ye records were at
Amboy, so could give no positive answer till he came
there, on which Mr. Gordon was by Capt. Andrew Bown,
then one of H.M. Councill, committed to ye Sherriff's
custody, where he remained till he gave £2000 baile to
answer the Governor and Councill at Amboy Oct. 4
following, the Assembly being then to meet there, at
wch. time Mr. Gordon was very much threatned and
abused by my Lord Cornbury for refuseing to deliver
said Records, to wch. he answered he could not deliver
them till ye Proprietors had notice, and after ye Proprietors had been severall times heard before ye Govr.
and Councill, they were at last delivered by order of ye
Councill to Mr. Bass. Att the Supreame Court at
Burlington in May 1707, Mr. Gordon was suspended
from practising as an Attorney at Law without any
cause assigned. In Feb. 1706 Mr. Gordon being informed
that warrants were issued out for apprehending
of him, he writt to Mr. Shipheard who was then a J.P.,
that if he would admitt him to baile he would give baile
for what summe he pleased to answere everything that
should be objected against him, to wch. Mr. Shiphearde sent to answere till Feb. 1707, and then he sent
him notice that he had procured liberty to admitt him
to baile, and accordingly he have baile immedately, and
at May Court 1708 at Burlington he appeared and was
discharged by proclamation, nothing appearing against
him, and within 3 days after ye Court, the Assembly satt
at Burlington and Mr. Gordon was chosen Speaker, and
within 3 days after that ye Assembly was adjourned
and about halfe an houre after ye adjournment Mr.
Gordon was againe committed by my Lord's own
warrant upon ye same pretence for wch. he had been
discharged, and was kept by ye Sheriff 15 houres in
custody, and when he applied by his friends Thomas
Farmer Esq. to Judge Pinhorne for a Habeas Corpus,
he was denyed till he should apply by his Councill at
Law, on wch. Mr. Gordon was forced to imploy Capt.
Pinhorne ye Judge's son (there being no other Attournies
then in towne) to procure him his Habeas Corpus, for
which he paid 30s., notwithstanding he drawed ye
writt himselfe, and was admitted to baile, and appeared
at ye next Supreame Court at Amboy in Nov. 1708,
where he was againe discharged by Proclamation,
nothing appearing against him. Continued still suspended to ye great loss and ruin of himselfe and numerous family (having a wife and 7 small children and no
other way to maintain them) untill ye happy arrivall of
My Lord Lovelace in Dec. 1708, who admitted him
againe to practise ye Law as formerly. Signed, Thomas
Gordon. 1¼ pp. |
|
835. iv. Address of the General Assembly of New Jersey to
Governor Hunter, charging William Hall, one of H.M.
Councill and Judge of the Inferior Court of Common
Pleas for the County of Salem with high crimes and
misdemeanours, and praying for his removal. Copy.
1 p. |
|
835. v. Charges against William Hall, referred to in preceding.
(a) He has extorted unwarrantable fees at several times.
(b) One Thomas Barlett, brought before Hall for theft,
was discharged by Hall when, induced by the threats of
him and others, he had bound himself by indenture to
serve Simon Morgan for 3 years. (c) One Francis
Godbolt and Ann, his wife, were brought before Hall and
William Dare, and Godbolt threatened with a charge of
burglary, and through feare thereof consented to bind
himselfe by indenture (but not his wife), with which sd.
Justices not being satisfyed, Godbolt and his wife were,
upon confession of their theft, committed to gaol, until
they were admitted to baile by Mr. Hall, and ye prosecutor Morgan (Dare's son in law) became their surety,
who some time after delivered them up to Hall, for that
he would be no longer bound for them, who thereupon
discharged them without any further prosecution.
Sometime afterward Godbolt was by Hall sold aboard
of a New England sloop and transported out of ye
Province, the woman at ye same time continouing servant to Hall. (d) One John Reeve having lost 4 barrels
of flower, Hall took them up adrift in Delaware River,
near Glocester, and sold ye same in Moris River, and
denied knowing of it, but at last ye man comeing to ye
knowledge of his flower, Hall paid him for it. 1¼ pp. |
|
835. vi. William Hall to Governor Hunter. Reply to preceding.
(a) I may have made a mistake of 5s., but restored it as
soon as I was made sensible of my error. (b) The 2nd.
article appears a confused dream, and is wholly false.
The truth is Bartlett was indebted to Morgan for money
lent him to release him out of gaol, and this was the
ground of his becoming bound to Morgan, etc. (c) So
with Godbolt, who still continues bound over upon his
own recognizance. I accepted their service in payment
of a debt of £6. (d) The flour was taken up by the master
of my sloop. I was fast asleep in the cabin when
Reevs called, etc. Signed, Wm. Hall. 5 pp. |
|
835. vii. Copy of Mittimus, for the commitment of Francis and
Ann Godbolt, Feb. 10, 170 9/10. Signed, Wm. Hall, Wm.
Dare, Justices. ¾ p. |
|
835. viii. Copy of recognizance entered into on behalf of
Francis Godbolt by Godbolt and Simon Morgan Feb. 20,
170 9/10, and terminated by Morgan March 13. ¾ p. |
|
835. ix. Copy of recognizances entered into by Francis and
Anne Godbolt and Simon Morgan on behalf of Anne
Godbolt. Feb. 20, 170 9/10. ¾ p. |
|
835. x. Copy of deposition of Benjamin Wright concerning the
case of Thomas Bartlett and Francis and Anne Godbolt.
Signed, Benj. Wright, Burlington, Jan. 23, 1710. 1½ pp. |
|
835. xi. Copy of deposition of Francis Godbolt confirming No.
v. (b) (c) supra. Signed, Francis Godbolt, his mark.
1¾ pp. |
|
835. xii. Copy of deposition of John Reeve, Jan. 9, 1710, confirming No. v. (d) supra. Signed, John Reeve, his mark.
1 p. |
|
835. xiii. Copy of bills of costs in the case of Alex. Grant v. Wm.
Gregory, and Queen v. Robert Rumse, drawn by Wm.
Hall. 1½ pp. Nos. iv-xiii. endorsed, Recd. 15th,
Read 26th June, 1711. 1½ pp. |
|
835. xiv. Memorial of the House of Representatives of New
Jersey to Governor Hunter, setting forth some instances
how justice has been perverted in the Court of Law and
divers guilty persons escaped with impunity:—Att the
Supreame Court, Nov. terme 1708, Peter Sonmans, one
of H.M. Councill and a Judge of ye sd. Court, and Judge
of ye Inferior Court of Pleas in ye County of Midx. was
indicted by Grand Jury of Midlx. for perjury and adultrie.
Jeremiah Bass, Secretary, was indicted for perjury and
forgery. May Bickley, gent., was indicted for barratrie.
Jacob Arents was indicted for taking Mr. John Barclay
on Whit-sunday as he was a coming out of ye Church
from ye Holy Communion. Elizabeth Arnald, late
servant to Samuell Jennens was then alsoe indicted for
adultry with said Sonmans, who still continous with
their bastard at his house in Perth Amboy. The next
Supream Court being May terme was held at Burlington.
Before August terme 1709, the Sheriff of Midlx. received
from ye Attorney Generall veniries for summoning of
juries and subpænas for evidences to try ye abovementioned persons upon ye sd. indictments, all wch.
writts were made returnable at ye sd. Supreame Court
to be held at Perth Amboy ye 1st Tuesday of August, but
ye 1st. day of ye sd. terme was not till ye second Tuesday
of the said month. The then Sheriffe, Mr. Adam Hudd,
returned all ye sd. writts to ye Attorney Genll. at Burlington and desired they might be amended, which was
done, but at that August Court it was objected that
non(e) of ye sd. writs had been touched with ye seale by
Mr. Bass after they had been altered, so all the tryals
were put of, wch. may be presumed to be done with
designe, as will appeare by what followes, that they did
not like to have juries empanalled by Mr. Hudd, then
Sherriffe. New veniries and subpoœligenas were sent to Mr.
Hudd by ye Attorney Genll. before November terme, 1709,
and ye juries and evidences were summoned and ready
at ye Court to try ye sd. indictments, but then at that
Court Mr. Barefoot Brumson produced a Commission
for Sheriff tho' ye former Sherriff's time was not expired
by allmost 3 months and no objection had been
made against him in ye execution of his office. The
Court would not take upon them to determine wch. of
the Sherriffs ought to act and drilled ye matter along
without determining wch. Sheriffe should till the last
day of the terme when all ye juries were discharged by
ye Court, and then ye Court did accept ye returnes of
writts made by Adam Hudd, by wch. proceedings none
of ye aforementioned indictments could be then tryed.
Before May terme 1710, a bundle of veniries for summoning of juries and subpoœnas for evidences to try ye sd.
indictments were sent open to ye Post Office at Amboy
directed to Sonmans and by said Barefoot Brumson
then Sheriff of Middx. a Jury was prepared who tryed
ye sd. actions at Burlington, wch. jury may be reasonably
presumed to be pick and packt on purpose. Capt.
Bond ye storekeeper in New York Fort was brought
down and made one of them, a person who has been
known to be made use of as a surveyor by a pretended
power from Sonmans, at whose house ye last summer ye
sd. Elizabeth Arnald was brought to bed of another
bastard, and who also claimes ye being a freeholder in
ye sd. county of Middlx. by a title derived from Sonmans.
The evidences whose names were indorsed upon all ye
indictments were not subpœnad, so that all ye criminalls
escaped without punishment for their faults and destestable wickedness and reasonably may be supposed by a
combination of those whose duety it was to have punished them. 1½ pp. |
|
835. xv. Petition of Elizabeth Parks, widow, to Governor
Hunter. Petitioner's husband, Saml. Parks, did in Nov.
1706 agree with Sarah Leonard, widow, and Saml.
Leonard, her son, for a small tract of land on ye West
side of South River Bridge, on wch. he built a house in
wch. petitioner kept an house of entertainment. In
Aug. 1709 Peter Sonmans pretended he had a better title
to ye sd. land then Mrs. Leonard and her son, did perswaid petitioner's husband much against petitioner's
inclination to break his agreemt. with ye Leonards and
take a lease of Sonmans for 3 years. In March 1709 he
died, leaving petitioner in debt, and without any way
of livelyhood but by retailing a little drink in said small
house. In May, 1710, at night, Peter Sonmans together
with Stephen Philips, Anne Prigmore, Henry Penry, and
Jonathan Drake came to petitioner's house, and after
much talk and threatnings, Sonmans took petitioner,
an old poor woman and then very lame, by ye shoulders
and forced her out of ye house together with Joseph
Collins, who then lived with petitioner. Petitioner is informed that there is not a Justice of the Peace in ye
Countys of Middlesex and Sumersett that will take upon
him to put yr. petitioner in possession again as by ye
law she is advis'd she ought to be, for fear of disoblidging
Mr. Sonmans. Prays H.E. for relief, etc. Signed,
Elizabeth Parks. 1½ pp. |
|
835. xvi. Peter Sonmans to Governor Hunter. Reply to
preceding. Petitioner's husband prayed me to grant him
a lease, sadly complaining he had been trick'd by the
Leonards. By virtue of a clause in the sd. lease, to
prevent a treacherous trick by ye petitioner and Leonard
concerted against me, being then at Burlington, I sent
a warrant of Attorney to Penry to reenter upon ye sd.
land and keep ye possession thereof for me untill further
order, wch. he also did peaceably and quietly, but
Leonard with other accomplices afterwards endeavour'd
by force to dispossess Penry, or some other yt. he had
left in possession, and very evilly entreated them. The
matter of fact is so well known, that petitioner's only
hope was that your Excellency would restore her to
possession without further enquiry, etc. Signed, Peter
Sonmans, Burlington, Jan. 29, 1710. 2½ pp. |
|
835. xvii. Petition of Elisha Parker to Governor Hunter.
One John Allen, a servt. of petitioner, being summoned
to appear last night before Peter Sonmans at ye suit of
one Henry Ralph for impounding a mare pretended to
be Ralph's, petitioner desired on behalf of his servant
that plaintiff might prove ye beast to be his and yt.
defendant had impounded it, wch. was denied; as also
yt. defendant's oath might be taken or yt. he might
have time to bring his witnesses, wch. was denied; and
ye sum being laid so low (wch. petitioner beleives was
purposely done) that petitioner could not appeal, your
petitioner then desired he might be tried by a jury of
his peers, wch. is ye happy priviledge and birthright of
every English subject and allowed by ye Common law
and Magna Charta, wch. was allso denyed. On wch.
proceedure petitioner could not forbear saying, he was
afraid he had not justice done him, for wch. Sonmans
caused him immediately to enter into recognizance with
sureties for ye good behaviour, wch. he esteems a great
oppression and injury to a trading man, etc. Many
other of H.M. loyall subjects, who are not Mr. Sonman's
particular friends, nor cannot follow his dicates are
thus hardly treated by him, etc. Prays for relief.
Signed, Elisha Parker. 1½ pp. |
|
835. xviii. Peter Sonmans to Governor Hunter. Reply to
preceding. Parker's statements are untrue. Henry
Rolph produced the poundkeeper's receipt, showing the
beast was his, and Allen knew very well what he was
summoned for. I bound Parker over for abusing the
Queen's authority etc. Signed, Peter Sonmans. Burlington, Jan. 29, 1710. 5 pp. |
|
835. xix. Petition of Freeholders of Middlesex, New Jersey, to
Governor Hunter. Praise the Union with Scotland,
etc. In a late election at Woodbridge, Sonmans, an
alien born and a bankrupt in England, tho' unworthily
dignified with honable. officers in ye Govermt., endeavoured to disunite the affections of the people, by
publickly declaring we will not goe to North Brittain for
justice, no Turkish Governmt. no French Govermt., no
arbitrary Govermt., Liberty and Property. For ye
more effectuall accomplishing of his sinister designs, he
indeavoured to overaw the Electors, he dared ye Sherriffe
to sett up Capt. Farmer as a candidate, and ordered him
to take Mathew Moore into custody, and told Mr.
Stilwell in a threatening manner at ye time of ye poll
that he had his name down, etc. We shall pass in
silence sevll. enormous crimes wch. he escaped with
impunity by ye death of ye Lord Lovelace, etc. Signed,
Allen Callwell, Tho. Redford, Jno. Molleson, Jeremiah
Feild, Robt. Webster, Robt. Grachrist, Will. Layng,
John Campbell, Daniel Blackford, Wm. Sharp, Elisha
Parker, Danl. Stillwell, Robt. Wright, George Cumin,
George Brown, Tho. Leonard, John Campbell, Mathew
Morris, Henry Poten, Wm. Harrison, Edwd. Harrison,
Tho. Grub, Michaell Eighten, John Feild, John Harrison,
John Scott, John Foreman, Henry Knapp, Adam Hude,
Saml. Leonard, Geo. Willocks, John Barclay, Jno.
Rudyard, Tho. Farmar, Judiah Higgnies, Tho. Wetheril,
John Brown, Will. Oulden (his mark), David Herriott,
Alex. Walker, Will. Thomson, John Mathie, Wm. Frost,
John Picke, John Bishop, Tho. Pike, John Adie, Richd.
Cutter, Benj. Cromie, John Foord. 2 pp. |
|
835. xx. Petition of Freeholders of Middlesex and Somerset, to
Governor Hunter. Charge Peter Sonmans with perversion of justice, threatening at elections as preceding,
keeping infamous women in his house etc.; he binds
persons over from Court to Court; names and alters
Grand Juries so that although the number of 12 doth not
present, it is sustained, and ye prosecution goes on, and
when cleared by a petty jury, ye charges are to pay, as
in Stillwell's and Parker's cases; he seeks after complaints and indeavours to procure presentmts. without
any, as in the case of John Rudyard, Margarett Parum,
Wm. Frost, Wm. Thomson, etc.; he takes upon him to
be judge in his own case, as in the case of widow Parks
(supra), Ogdon, Pike, etc.; he refuses in small causes to
take oaths or allow time to produce evidences; gives
sentence and refuses writs of error, as in Capt. Parker's
case (supra), so yt. by many unjust actions it's easie to
ruin any person he bears a prejudice to by 40s. at a time;
he endeavours to postpone justice, as in ye case of Capt.
Parker and Richd. Soaper, by sending away Justice Tuneson, and then pretended want of a sufficient number of
Justices, when at ye same time he made rules and did
other acts of justice in ye Court of Common Pleas.
When some friends of his are concerned and complaints
are made to him, he will refuse to act in his office and
desire upon such complaints to go to another, as ye case
of Wm. Moor and Paulus Ricant, when Ricant was like
to have killed Moore, Ricant being a person that then
served him. His justice and partiality in genll. is so
evident that when by his indirect meanes he cannot
draw persons to his side, they are sure either under ye
pretence of being a genll. agent for ye Proprietors (wch.
has sufficiently appeared yt. he is not) or by virtue of
those powers he is with submission unworthyly dignifyed,
he warpes ye laws to oppress and impoverish ye inhabitants, imposeing upon some ignorant tho' well meaning
persons that are joyn'd in commission with him and
upon others who have not a competent knowledge of the
English tongue to understand ye law or custom of an
English Government. Pray for relief. Signed, John
Harrison, John Molleson, Saml. Leonard, Tho. Wetheril,
Wm. Harrison, John Willson, John Runian, Wm.
Frost, John Mathie, Tho. Gruf, John Feild, Wm.
Oolden's mark, Daniel Blackford, Robt. Webster,
David Herriott, John Brown, Wm. Thomson, John
Rudyard, Alex. Walker, David Walker. Confirmed by
the following Committee of Freeholders of Woodbridge,
chosen at a publick towne meetting to represent their
grievances, Signed, John Pike, John Bishop, John Ford,
Elisha Parker. 3¼ pp. |
|
835. xxi. (a) Case of John Barclay. In 1704 he was commissionated by the Proprietors of the Eastern Division
Receiver General of their quit-rents. On Aug. 24, 1705
Peter Sonmans produced before the Governor and
Council a Commission from several of the Proprietors
residing in and about London appointing him their Agent
and Receiver Generall of their Quit-rents. etc., on which
proclamation was issued out on his behalf, in wch.
commission it was expresely provided that any person
producing another commission under ye hands and seals
of 5 Proprietors of part of ye Eastern Division, and who
shall reside in or near London, before ye Governor and
Council, then said commission of Sonmans should thereafter be utterly void. On Nov. 7, 1707, Barclay produced before my Lord Cornbury and Council a commission for Receiver General of said Proprietors' quit
rents, signed in London, May 10, 1706, under the hands
and seals of 10 of ye Proprietors of part of said Division
of said Province residing in or near London, which
vacated Mr. Sonmans' commission, but Mr. Barclay's
was most unjustly and maliciously kept and detained
from him by my Lord Cornbury and Council, v. following.
Signed, John Barclay. ¾ p. |
|
835. xxi. (b) Order of Council of New Jersey, Nov. 7, 1707.
Ordered that Mr. Barclay's Instrument (above) be
transmitted home and laid before H.M. Signed, J.
Bass. Copy. ½ p. |
|
835. xxii. Gawine Lookhart to Governor Hunter. Perth Amboy,
Oct. 21, 1710. Returns thanks for appointment as
Sheriff of Middlesex and Somerset Countys. I was
invested with ye office of Sherriffe ye 19th inst., and Peter
Sonmans had received H.M. writts for sd. countys to
elect representatives to meet your Excellency in Genll.
Assembly, upon wch. day Mr. Sonmans had appointed
a meeting of ye Justices and late Sherriffe at Piscataway,
hearing thereof I went there to execute indentures with
ye late Sherriff, but finding neither Mr. Sonmans nor him
there, and hearing they were at the house of Mr. Langfield, I sent and by a letter demanded ye writts, etc., but
before my letter could reach Mr. Sonmans, he received
indelligence of my being at Piscataqua, went immediately to ye house of one John Horner, ye Father in law of
ye late Sherriffe, to whose house next day I went, and
was informed by his wife that he was gon out of ye
Easterne Division, by wch. and divers other reasons
I'm induced to believe he is absconded with intencon to
carry on som sinester designes and undue elections. I
have therefore given notice by divers advertisements in
said countys to prevent ye unhappy consequences of
such proceedings, and humbly begg your Excellency's
directions. Signed, Gawine Lookhart. 1 p. |
|
835. xxiii. Deposition of Adam Hude, Feb. 6, 1710. Some
time before ye Supream Court in Nov. 1708 he was much
importuned by Peter Sonmans to go to Burlington
immediately with ye freeholders' book in order to strike
a jury before ye prothonotary Jeremiah Bass, on wch. he
desired Sonmans to shew him H.E.'s lysence yt. ye
deponent might be safe in leaving his county, who told
him he had none. Then Sonmans shew'd him a copy of
a rule of Court for ye Sherriff to appear before ye
Prothonotary with his freeholders' book in order to
strike ye sd. jury at ye suits of Abra. Gouverneur on ye
demise of Sonmans agst. Harrison, Willcocks and
Higgens. Deponent thinking himself not safe in leaving
his county, seeing Sonmans had obtain'd no lyscence
for him, did send ye freeholders' book by John Norton
with a charge to represent him before ye prothonotary.
When deponent received ye freeholders' book back, he
found it had been unstitched and strangely transpos'd,
wch. he knew perfectly by keeping a true copy thereof
in his own hand, being afraid of a trick and finding ye
names brought together yt. he had designedly wrote
in several parts of said book. Deponent challenged
Norton, how sd. book came to be so transposed. He
answered, that it was done after he had delivered the
same to Mr. Bass, and before he received it again, and
did not believe Mr. Bass did it, but that it was done
while in Bass's custody. Sometime before the May
Court in which Mr. Harrison was prosecuted at ye suit
of ye Queen for words alledged to be spoke by him agt.
Roger Mompesson, ye then Cheife Justice, after several
discourses with Sonmans, who told deponent yt. no
persons living on Middlesex side of ye bound brook were
fitt to try that accon, and so named severall Dutchmen
in Sumerset County as ye only persons fit to try ye sd.
accon. Deponent told him he could not remember
their names Sonmans replyed, he would give ye deponent
a list of them, wch. some time after he did, and then
deponent told him, if ye persons were all present he
could not know them. He answered, he could find a
way to lay them all at once in deponent's way. And
some time after sd. tryall Sonmans was angry with
deponent and told him, that if he had but put Capt.
Vulker upon sd. jury, ye case would not have gone as it
did, he being one of said list given him by Sonmans.
The names of those wch. deponent had so industriously
spread through his freeholders' book by ye unstitching
and transposeing of it as aforesd., many of them were
brought together and nam'd by Mr. Bass as Jurors
to try ye causes aforesd., and were some of those persons
who were named and recommended by Mr. Sonmans to
Deponent to try ye case of Harrison. Signed, Adam
Hude. Copy. 2 pp. |
|
835. xxiv. (a) Deposition of Allen Caldwell (or Coldwall). Dec.
26, 1710. At the beginning of this month Sonmans
perswaded deponent to sign a paper which he read to
him and which contained nothing concerning Dr.
Johnson and Mr. Reid. Had he understood that it
contained any complaint against their election for
Amboy, deponent would not have signed it, etc. Signed,
Allen Coldwall, his mark. ½ p. |
|
(b) Deposition of Thomas Collins. Dec. 26, 1710.
At the begining of this month Sonmans read a paper to
him, to wch. he, understanding it to be a petition for a
free election and for ye Assemblies sitting again at
Amboy, did sett his hand. It contained no complaint
against the election of Dr. Johnston and John Reid.
Deponent was not present at that election, etc. Signed
Thomas Collins, his mark. ½ p. |
|
(c) Deposition of Peter Buckalieu. Dec. 27, 1710.
To same effect as preceding. Deponent would have
voted for Dr. Johnson, had he been present at the
election, etc. Signed, Peter Buckalieu, his mark.
½ p. |
|
835. xxv. Deposition of Mathew Collins. To same effect as
preceding, except that Dr. Johnstone's name was
mentioned. Signed, Mathew Collins. ½ p. |
|
835. xxvi. Peter Sonmans to Governor Hunter. Reply to
preceding. Burlington, Jan. 29, 1710. Suggests that
his opponents are non-jurors and Jacobites who wish to
subvert the Government, of whom Mr. Willcocks, one of
the cheif authors of all the divisions and distractions of the
Province, is the ring leader. Continues:—I am prepared
to justify my behaviour at the election at Woodbridge.
Their allegations are false and I beg that their petition
and affidavits may be filed in ye Secretary's office, in
order that I may take legal action. I utterly deny
that I endeavour to disunite the affections of the people,
etc. Your Excellency will never condemn me for supporting the liberties and properties of Englishmen. That
I forbid the Sherriff at his perill to sett up Capt. Farmer
as a candidate, I deny not, and will justify by divers
laws wch. render him incapable of being elected, wch.
I also then and there produced praying that they might
be read, but ye Sherriff uterly refused, saying, We will
have no law here. After many objections made
against ye laws I there produced, Mr. Willocks very
tauntingly told me I did not bring those laws from
Holland, to wch. I answered no, nor from N. Brittain
neither, to wch. Mr. Willocks sd. again, We will not be
ruild by Dutch laws, to wch. I answered, nor by North
Brittish neither. Mr. Rudyard upon that gave me very
unbecoming rude language, wch. made me tell him, we
were under a regular Government not to be huft, or
threated as he used to do on board a man of warr, that
we were not under martiall, but ye law of ye land, he
continueing to behave himselfe very disorderly, I said as
in ye petition, No Turkish, etc. Mathew Moore threatened me with his bent fist and advanced it to my very face,
whereupon I told ye Sherriff he ought to keep better
order, wch. not being minded, I bid the Sherriffe take
Moore in his custody, wch. I might well doe, for an
election (with humble submission) is not to be turned
into a ryott nor protect ye rabble in affronting ye
officers of ye Governmt., but however ye Sherriff rid
between ye two divisions and ye matter ended. I
annex the petition of most of ye Freeholders of Middlesex, that your Excellency may see who perverted ye
election, wt. illegal proceedings were used, and how
necessary it was to stand up for English laws and freedoms when both were so openly perverted and violated:
ye alligacons of wch. petition are proved by divers
affidavits, and if your Excellency think it worth your
examinacon shall be made out by those yt. signed it.
I wish ye Sherriff be not made sensible yt. he did at
his perill break thro' so many laws relateing to elections
as he did. What crimes I escaped by ye death of my
Lord Lovelace, since they cannot instance any, it must
remain as great a secret to your Excellency and ye whole
province as to me, especially since it's very well known
yt. severall of these petitioners together with some
others, my profest enymies (because of my just demands
upon them then depending in ye Supream Court, or else
for doeing my duty as a magistrate) being packt together
in a Grand Jury fraim'd two malitious indictmts. against
me, and that afterwards one of these petitioners being
gott into ye Assembly, prevail'd upon ye House to
present an Address agt. me to my Lord Lovelace, in
wch. nothing yt. might but look, or be strain'd to look,
like a fault, mistake(n) or slip, in anything I had done
either as a private gent. or magistrate, escap'd: but his
Lordship being pleased to grant me the same favour and
justice your Excellency has now thought fitt to do, viz:
letting me have a copy of ye sd. Address, and giveing
me leave to answer, which ye managers of that Address
neither intended nor expected, ye malice of ye promoters
of yt. Address plainly appeared both here and in England, and did me as little prejudice as their scurrilous
indictmts. wch. I did not shun; nor shelter myself under
a noli prosequi, tho' offered me both by my Lord Cornbury
and Ld. Lovelace, nor cessat processus: but stood
my tryalls, at neither of wch. anyone of ye pretended
prosecutors, or evidences had ye confydence to show
their faces, from whence it will be evident that I escaped
not by ye death of my Lord Lovelace, but was acquited
by due course of law. One half of the petitioners are
my profest adversarys for ye reasons already given,
divers others were not at ye election, and sevll. deny yt.
they ever signed the petition, as shall be proved when
yr. Excellency pleases, etc. etc. Argues that his saying
that "we will not goe to North Brittain for justice can
be noe manner of crime, much less a reflection upon ye
Queen's prudence, or ye Kingdom where your Excellency
was born, but only a necessary and naturall answer of
mine, (as a supposed Dutchman) to Mr. Willocks, his
saying we will not be ruil'd by Dutch laws, who is a
Scotchman." etc. One of them has all along refused to
take ye oath, and is therefore now under all ye forfeitures
and disabilities of a Romish recusant. The last charge
of ye deponents is yt. I clapt my hand upon my breach
and made a great noise, wch. I utterly deny, nor can
conceive what is meant by making a great noise. I
have not and shall never give my enemys ye advantage
of being able to censure me for want of good manners,
much less such rude and unebecoming actions, of wch. I
never knew any that pretended to gent. always so full
as Mr. Willocks: particularly at ye last Amboy election,
where he took much pains to take up ye skirts of his coat
and wescoate and stooping very low rais'd his breach as
high as he could, and in defyance to me, and all those yt.
appear'd with me, there severall times clapped upon it
as hard as he could, saving this, this for you, etc. Signed,
Peter Sonmans. 10½ pp. |
|
835. xxvii. Address of the House of Representatives of New
Jersey to Governor Hunter. Burlington, Feb. 6, 1710.
Complaint against Mr. Bass, Secretary of the Province.
He has from his first coming in all his sevll. stacons
behaved himself so very ill yt. his evidence with sevll.
jurys has gained as little creditt as his common conversation doth with ye generality of mankind so yt. his
name Bass and a lye are synonimous terms. Indictmts.
agt. him by a Grand Jury for some of ye foulest crimes
puts no stop to ye carrier of his unjust and indirect
practices, being supported by those Gent. whose representacons in favour of him we hope will gain no more
credict with your Excy. than we believe their foul
address agt. ye Representative body of this Province has
done with our most good and gracious Soveraign. We
enclose proofs of severall of his wicked and unjust
practices, some of wch. were in execution of his office,
and appear very evidently to this House. One of ye
affidavits plainly shew his intentions were to oppose
H.M. service and prevent as much as in him lay ye
raising a support for her Governmt. here by reflecting
on and endeavouring to prevent ye choice of those who
were obedient to her wise and just commands relating to
Canada expedicon, and have served the true interest of
the country, etc. It was a great injustice and malversation in his office by base and wicked practices to turn
so many people out of their possessions or oblige them
to comply with ye heaviest terms their antagonist would
impose, as by ye case of sevll. persons in Maidenhead
etc. doth plainly appear. We cannot think ye Province
safe so long as he continues to execute ye sevll. offices he
now enjoys. or that he ought to be trusted with ye
publick Records and other instruments, etc. We
earnestly do pray yr. Excy. not only to deprive him of
his authority till H.M. pleasure shall be signify'd, but
that you also will lay an accot. of ye crimes of yt. person
before H.M., etc. Endorsed, Recd. 15th June. 2 pp. |
|
835. xxviii. Petition of George Willocks to Governor Hunter.
In 1705 there was an accon of ejectment commenced
in ye Supream Court in ye name of Abraham Gouverneur
upon ye demise of James Earle of Perth, John Earle of
Melford, Peter Sonmans, Robt. Burnett, and John
Hadden, agt. petitioner for lands and tenements in
Perth Amboy then possessed by him, and in November
terme 1706 petitioner obtain'd a verdict of a jury and
judgemt. with costs. But when ye petitioner's Attorney
carryed ye bill of costs to be taxed by Jeremiah Bass,
Clark or Prothonotary of ye sd. Court, Mr. Bass cutt of
divers things yt. he usually allowed of others in ye like
cases. In Dec. following Robt. Burnett, who neither
knew nor had given direction for to use his name in ye
sd. action, released his right to petitioner. Jno Hadden,
(who was also as ignorant ye suite as ye sd. Robt.
Burnett) by his attorney did also release his right to
petitioner, and did also sell a propriety to Jno. Johnston,
ye petitioner and others, wch. has cost them upwards of
£1500. In ye end of 1706 or beginning of 1707 another
such action was commenced in all ye names aforesaid
for ye sd. premisses agt. petitioner, sometime before
Novr. terme 1707, ye petitioner had notice of tryall, and
yt. instead of ye Sherriff's impanelling a jury as always
had been customary, Mr. Bass by a pretended rule or
order of Court had named a jury out of ye Sherriff's
Freeholders' book, not taking them in ye order they
were named in ye book, but picking them, some of ye
most ignorant, others yt. understood not English, and
ye rest of such as were known to be under ye direction
and freinds to Peter Sonmans, ye only person that had
commenced, and carryed on ye sd. accons. Ye partiality
appeared so evident yt. ye tryal was delay'd, and a new
rule made yt. terme concerning a special jury. John
Haddon's Attorneys being gon for England, and haveing
carryed ye sd. power allong, petitioner haveing seen by
ye indorsemt. upon ye sd. letter of attorney that it was
proved before Judge Pinhorn and recorded by Bass,
sent to him by a freind to gett a copie thereof from the
Records, but Bass absolutely denyed yt. it was recorded,
with an intention to defeast petitioner and all others of
what they had purchased by virtue of yt. power.
Petitioner at ye same time sent Haddon's release to be
recorded, it being prov'd before one of H.M. Council,
wch. he refused to do till ye Supream Court was over,
wch. was not till about 6 weeks after, but was at last
prevealed with to record it. Repeats account of unstitching Freeholders' book and picking the jury given
above, xxiii. For this Bass was afterwards indicted by
a Grand Jury, tho' for that and divers other crimes he
was then also indicted for by undue proceadures he
escaped with impunity. On Nov. 1st 1708, being ye day
before yt. Court, petitioner went to Mr. Basse's office
then at Amboy and desired to see some book of records
and named a page, wch. when Mr. Bass saw as with a
seeming admiration say'd, Ah, John Haddon's power of
authority. Petitioner reflected on his injustice for
concealing ye same, and giving out false coppies of ye
rules of Court agt. ye petitioner, as then appeared, and
said he would not always have such a protector as Lord
Cornbury, then Governor. Mr. Bass seemed at first to
resent what petitioner said, but in a little time he began
to intreat petitioner to pass all by, and promised he
would be just in time coming. The second day of the
Novr. terme, petitioner obtained a verdict and judgement with costs. Petitioner had his bill of costs drawen
by his Attorney, and carried it to Bass to be taxed, who
pretended at first that there was a rule of Court against
it, then a minute of Court, but upon search of ye rules
and minute bookes, no such were to be found. Then
Bass pretended he could not do it unless Mr.Sonmans
and his attorney were present. Petitioner replyed it
had never been ye custome, but on ye contrary he had
tax'd an excessive bill at ye suite of Mr. Sonmans agt.
Capt. Harrison of about £70, at last he replyed it was
discretionary in him, and he would not do it. Tho'
petitioner hath since applyed to him by his attorney
Mr. Regnier, could never yet obtaine justice nor one
penny of his costs, etc. Prays for relief. Signed, Geo.
Willocks. 4½ pp. |
|
835. xxix. Address of the Representatives of New Jersey to
Governor Hunter. Burlington, Jan. 1710. Some time
since we ordered some of our Members to inspect ye
journals of ye Council to inform us how far ye gent. of
ye Council had proceeded in relation to ye passing of
some bills sent up. Upon applicacon to Mr. Bass ye
Clerk of ye Council such an inspeccon was denyed us,
pretending he had orders from ye Council to warrt. his
refusal than which nothing was more false. We have
now ordered him to lay before this House all ye accots.
and papers relating to ye accots. concerning ye Expedicon agt. Canada, which he has also refused to do,
saying ye Councill has ordered him not to delivere them
to ye House; we beleive this pretence is most false, and
yt. he had no such order, and if he had, we desire to
know why ye Gent. of ye Councill assume to themselves
such a power, for ye papers we required were our papers.
and should have been long since delivered to us. We
think ourselves highly affronted by this procedure and
pray if Mr. Bass has asserted a falsehood, he may meet
with an exemplary punishmt., for it's not to be born
that ye Representatives body should be publickly nosed
by a person whose sevll. crimes and misdemeanours
deserve a publick censure, and agt. whom we fear we
shall be under necessity to proceed by way of impeachment. 1⅓ pp. |
|
835. xxx. Deposition of George Willocks, Tho. Farmar, John
Rudyard, John Johnston jr., John Barclay, Judiah
Higgines, John Pike. Nov. 1, 1710. Depose as to
Peter Sonmans behaviour at the Woodbridge election
as supra xix. and xxvi. Signed, Geo. Willocks, etc. as
above. 1 p. |
|
835. xxxi. Deposition of Jacob Tappen of Cohansie, county of
Salem, Dec. 25, 1710. On Oct. 22 last, Jeremiah Bass
discoursing with him about what men was fit to serve on
ye Assembly for ye County of Salem, said that Sharp
and Middleton was hasty chollerick men and that they
was not fit men to serve, for they was ye cause of giving
ye countries money away and of ye £3000 tax. ¾ p. |
|
835. xxxii. Deposition of Isaac Sharp of Salem County. Deponent being cast in a suit, and there being executions
agt. him for fines, in 1704 he paid Bass said fines, he
being Clerk of the Court for the County of Gloucester.
Afterwards Bass asked to see the executions again, and
when deponent delivered them up, immediately burnt
them, so that deponent is left without any receipt for
his payment, etc. Signed, Isaac Sharpp. 1 p. |
|
835. xxxiii. Deposition of John Barclay. Burlington, Feb.
1710. Confirms part of xxviii. supra. Signed, John
Barclay. 1 p. |
|
835. xxxiv. Deposition of Thomas Gordon. Feb. 2, 1710.
Confirms some of above charges against Bass, and
following. Signed, Thomas Gordon. 3½ pp. |
|
835. xxxv. Deposition of George Willocks. Burlington, Feb.
6, 1710. Elaborates xxviii. supra. Concludes: At the
desire of Lewis Morris, Agent to ye West Jersey Society,
or his attourney Mr. Emott, deponent went to Mr.
Basses office at Amboy some time after ye Supream
Court in Nov. 1706, takeing Thomas Gordon to be a
witness to what past, and then desir'd in the name of
Mr. Morris ye names of ye plaintiffs casuall ejectors and
tennants in possession of all such ejectmts. as had been
served in Hopewell and Maidenhead upon ye demise of
Col. Cox, and what rule was made upon them; he told
deponent he could not lett him have them, his books
and papers being put up, before he was at Burlington.
After much pressing and many words, Mr. Bass open'd
a chest and tooke out such bookes and papers as he
thought fitt and sett his Clark, Charles Huddy, to write,
who as Mr. Bass said wrote wrong, and Mr. Bass wrote
himself, "at ye demise of Daniel Cox Esq. John Bourcher, pltf., and Richd. Heath, deft., in 6 accons, the
tennants in possession were Samuel Davis, Zebulon
Heston, Johan. Larrenson, Natha. Petitt, Josiah Andress, Richard Lanning, Rule to plead Jan. 1st., signed
Jeremiah Bass." Signed, Geo. Willocks. 5½ pp. |
|
835. xxxvi. An abstract of the Representation of the
Assembly of New Jersey on an Address communicated
to them by the Lord Lovelace from the Lt. Governor
and Council to H.M. Endorsed, Recd. June 15, 1711.
7⅓ pp. |
|
835. xxxvii. Jeremiah Bass, Secretary of New Jersey, to
Governor Hunter. Reply to Mr. Willocks' charges Nos.
xxviii. and xxxv. supra. The wicked like the troubled
sea always cast up mire and dirt, etc. Complainant is
made up of rancor, splean and falshood; a non-juror,
and one of the chief contrivers of discord of the Province,
etc. (i) Mr. Willocks' charges about my taxing bills
of costs (xxviii.) are untrue. My own fees are unpaid,
but the whole costs have been paid to Willocks or his
Attorney. (iii) Quotes order of Court to prove that it
was by no pretended but real rule and order of the Court
that a special jury ought to have been struck in the
cause mentioned. It was not any partiality and injustice in me that delayed the tryall, but the disobedience
of Mr. Willocks' Attorney to the first rule of the Court.
As to the letter of attorney of Hadden, I doe not
remember or believe that anybody demanded the copy,
but if Mr. Willocks had mentioned the person, place
and time, it would have refreshed my memory. If I
refused the recording Haddon's release, as I know not
wheither I did or not, it must only proceed from my
difidence of being paid by the person that owned it,
nor could it have been done with intention to defeat him,
because being recorded adds no strength to the release.
As to the Freeholders' Book, the Sherriffe sent me by
Mr. Norton a parcell of loose papers carelessly tyed
together, and I told Norton I could not accept of that
as a Freeholders' Book, for it was altogether irregular
and contained a confused jumble of names of the
inhabitants some out of Somersett and the next perhaps
out of Amboy or Woodbridge. He reply'd that the
Sheriffe told him he had jumbled an honest man and
a knave together. But this was made the subject
matter of an indictment to which I have taken my
tryall and was acquitted not sheltering myself by a
noli prosequi or cesat processus though the one was
actually sent me from my Lord Cornbury and
another offered me by my Lord Lovelace (quoted).
Copy of trial for altering the Freeholders' book. (v)
Denies Mr. Willocks' account of what he said and points
out that there were no witnesses. (vi) Motion was made
in Court by the Attorney for Mr. Sonmans that there
might be a rule not to taxe the bill of cost without notice
to the other side, but it was not thought necessary to
enter any rule because it's well known to be the constant
practice in England for the Prothonotary not to tax
costs without notice when either the plaintiffe or deffendant desired it. In the case he mentions neither Harrison
nor his Attorney had desired to have notice, etc. etc.
(vii) The seventh article being altogether general(s) is
impossible to be answered etc. (viii) This having been
the subject matter of an indictment against me to which
I pleaded and was found not guilty requires no other
answer, etc. (ix) To the 9th Article relateing to the
Records, I must informe your Excellency that in a
petition of the Representatives of the Eastern Division
(annexed), there was an order of the Governour in Councill
made Nov. 7th, 1705, for the delivering of all records etc.
into my hands to be keept in the Eastern Division, that
some persons who then had them in custody did only
deliver some records and other publick papers, and Mr.
Willocks and another Gentleman to this day detaine very
near as considerable a part of the publick records etc. in
their hands as are delivered, and though repeated orders
have been since made are soe farr from delivering of
them that it is not known were they are, nor any possibility of having a sight of them, and nobody but Mr.
Willocks (who by a letter from Mr. Gordon and a copy of
a receipt signed by him and Dr. Johnson confess to keep
the said records in their custody) would have the assurance to complain of what himselfe only is guilty of. This
is indeed a grievance, that publick books and records
should be kept in perticular hands soe privately that no
recourse can be had to them, and of which many have
complained. I am very well assured neither Mr.
Willocks nor anybody else was ever deny'd access to the
records nor copys from them, or to have the records
themselves in Court whenever he or they had occasion
for them, and frequently without any fees paid for the
same. That I have not any Deputy resideing at Amboy,
I acknowledge, and shall not easily be prevailed with to
appoint one, (and if I would, know not where to have one
in that towne) since I was so ill served by the two
former, John Royce and Benjamin Griffith, the first
having so mismanaged that trust that I was oblidged
to dismise him or be lyable to answer for more real than
this representation contains imaginary faults; and
the other though an honest man was surprized into
a mistake by John Barclay, who raised and altered
the Records while the other's back was turned. As to
the affidavit of Jacob Tappen I cannot devise to what
purpose this affidavit was brought into the House,
except it was to expose Mr. Sharp, who was condemned
for assaulting Sarah and Ann Harrison, as the records
(quoted) show. The latter part relating to the £3000,
the deponant hath mistaken ye sence, which was the
necessity of saveing what was possible of that sum, etc.
Signed, J. Bass. Endorsed, Recd. June 15, 1711.
14¼ pp. Torn. |
|
835. xxxviii. Petition of some members of Assembly for the
Eastern Division to Governor Cornbury, that the records
may be lodged in the hands of the Secretary, etc. Copy.
1 p. |
|
835. xxxix. Memorandum. On May 25, 1709, George Willocks
was brought before us, on our order as Justices of the
Peace of Middlesex and Somersett, and refused to take
the oath required by the Act 1st Wm. and Mary, and
said that he was not sattisfyed in the authority of us.
Signed, Peter Sonmans, John Drake. Copy. ¾ p. |
|
835. xl. Memorandum. Mr. Willocks, as in preceding, refused
to take the oath appointed by the Act 6th Anne, etc.
Signed, Peter Sonmans, John Drake. Copy. ¾ p. |
|
835. xli. Copies of 14 Bills passed by the Assembly of New
Jersey, but not assented unto by the Council. 24pp. |
|
835. xlii. Copy of the Council's amendments to bills for regulating the practise of the laws, and declaring printed copies of
Acts passed in Lord Lovelace's time to be effectual etc.
2½ pp. [Covering letter only: C.O. 5, 1091. No. 34;
and (enclosures only) 5, 970. Nos. 102–144.] |
May 7.
Maryland, Annopolis. |
836. Edward Lloyd, President of the Council of Maryland,
to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Having the ready
oportunity of writing by some ships H.M. has ordered not to be
embargo'd, I presume to acquaint you that this day I have the
honour of yr. Lordps. of Oct. 26, 1710, with H.M. Instructions to
Col. Seymour, May 6, 1707, which never was communicated to
H.M. Councill here by Col. Seymour, if ever it came to his hand,
nor ever had I the least intimation thereof. I have also recd.
your Lordps.' of Nov. 8, 1710, with H.M. Order in Councill,
Nov. 2, (q.v.), and am sorry to find H.M. Councill and myself
should have been led into so unhappy an errour purely occasioned
by our being unapprized of that H.M. Additionall Instruction,
and by following the method that had been taken in the absence
of Coll. Blakiston by Thomas Tench, then President of H.M.
Councill here, which wee never understood was disapprov'd of
by your honourable Board, so that with a letter from myselfe and
H.M. Councill of Nov. 4th last under the same fatall mistake I
have transmitted your Lordps. the Acts of the last Session which
are under the same dilemma, and therefore justly apprehend
they will meete with the same dislike, yet knowing your Lordps.'
great candour, have reason to hope you will not impute to me or
the Councill any neglect of our dutys; for had wee known H.M.
good pleasure, I dare answer for those Gentlemen as well as
myselfe, wee had payd all due deference and ready obedience
thereto. My Lords, on due reflexion of your Lordps.' kind
intimation that if any of the Laws H.M. has been pleas'd to
disallow by her said Order in Councill do seeme to be of absolute
necessity for ye good Government and wellfare of the Province,
they may be re-enacted by the President (as Commander in
Chiefe), Councill and Assembly, I purpose to call the Councill
together and advise thereof. But severall of the Gentlemen
living in different countys on both sides the Bay at great distance
from the seate of Govermt., it is not easye to procure a meeting
without tymely notice, so that at present I cannot have their
assistance, however presume to offer to your Lordships my
apprehension that two of those laws, vizt. the Act continuing the
Act regulating the Militia, and an Act reviving an Act for lymmitation of officers' fees, are of very great moment to the Country, and
am affraid the Delegates will not be easily prevayl'd with to
reenact them as they now stand, especially that for officers' fees,
notwithstanding shall use my best endeavours to perswade them.
Signed, Edwd. Lloyd. Endorsed, Recd. 12th, Read 13th June,
1711. 2½ pp. [C.O. 5, 717. No. 41; and 5, 727. pp. 274–276.] |
May 7.
London. |
837. Mr. Dummer to [? Mr. Popple]. Gives sailings of the
Sophia packet-boat, out and home 123 days. The friends of Col.
Parke write nothing of particulars of his murther for fear they
shall be served so themselves. Lt. General Hamilton called an
Assembly of all the Islands to meet at Antego, and they met
from each Island, only the Nevis men contemn'd the general
summons. From Jamaica they say their is no trade within nor
without themselves, the Spaniards being supply'd by the River
of Plate, and the South Seas by the French sufficiently. There
hath been a long season of dry weather which has shrunk the
cropps of sugar, and almost destroy'd their indigo manufactures.
Signed, E. Dummer. Endorsed, Recd. 7th, Read 10th May,
1711. 1 p. [C.O. 323, 7. No. 12.] |
rec'd.
[May 8.]
prob. desp.
[Feb. ?] |
838. Lt. Governor Yeamans to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. The post I at present enjoy under her most gracious
Majesty in this Island, entitles me in a particular manner to give
your Lordships in some measure the most probable causes that
procured the fatal end of our late General Parke, which happened
on Dec. 7th last past, that the same may be fully laid before H.M.
I had thought to have mentioned all matters that had occur'd
between General Parke and the inhabitants of this Island from
his first entering upon his Government; but when I consider the
same would be too tedious and that your Lordships' time is
more precious to the publick, and employed in affairs of deeper
consequence, knowing withall that a great part is allready before
your Lordships in the Minutes of the Councill and Assembly, I
shall therefore only begin from the first cause of the Generall's
calling the last Assembly and what followed thereupon. We
had an information from some of the French themselves, who are
related to some French protestants here, that they onely waited
for Mor. Declare or their General's arrival, to make a descent
upon this Island, and when we thoroughly understood that
Declare's squadron was arrived, though he himself miscarried in
his attempt upon Brazele, yet his ships with the privateers
(which are here numerous) we were well satisfyed would be
sufficient to put in practice what they had deliberated and given
out, which occasioned myself and Council to address the Genl.,
that he would be pleased with all expedition to issue forth writts
for the choosing an Assembly, for our former was dissolved, in
order to have their assent for the payment of workmen, sending
negroes to our fortifications and for the prosecuting other matters
needfull in this our present time of danger, which he assented to,
and isued out writts accordingly, but upon our meeting, and after
the choosing a Speaker, he prorogued them some days, which
was by the Assembly lookt as a procrastination at that time, and
that he had other ends in view than the well-fare of this Colony,
but of this they seemed to be the more setled in their opinions,
when at the day of their next meeting, several arguments were
had and revived about a Clerk for the Assembly, which was
another cause of prorogation, and another additional distast, the
General telling them that he was willing to appoint such a person
for Clerk, as they should nominate or recomend, upon which they
sent a person to be sworn and qualifyed by the General to be
their Clerk, but H.E. took exception to some words in their
message, and therefore refused him, which myself and Council
observing would be a means to frustrate all the good designs that
were intended to be acted at this juncture of time, address'd the
General to accept the Clerk, being of opinion that the word
qualify, might be sufficient for the preserving the Queen's prorogative in all respects upon that debate, our present danger (as
we conceived) of the enemy and that there might be no remoras
to our proceedings for H.M. service, and the benefit of the publick,
led us to address the General as aforesaid, all which will be laid
before your Lordships for your better satisfaction, but the
General was in no ways moved with our address, or any arguments
we could use, which caused another prorogation, and that raised,
with the General's taring in a great passion a message sent him
from the Assembly, such a ferment, that they prayed in a written
message to be admitted in a whole body, to tell him their grievances, and thereupon the Speaker with the rest of the gentlemen
came into the Council Chamber, and offer'd to present to the
General in writing, what they had to alledge, which the General
refused to receive, upon which the Speaker moved to have liberty
to speak to the business they all came about, which he likewise
refused to hear, which occasioned hot and warm words between
ye General and the Gentlemen of the Assembly, and the more
when the General told the Speaker he had committed a riot, and
would put him in irons, but the cheifest of all was, the General's
calling to some person to be ready, having then three or four files
of soldiers at ye door, who only waited for the word of command
to fire on them, as some Gentlemen related they heard one or two
of the soldiers say. Nevertheless. the Assembly being withdrawn,
the General adjourned them for two days; at which time and
place of meeting, I found a great number of men in arms, who
came as they said, upon my demanding what they were in arms
for, to defend the gentlemen of the Assembly, and to prevent the
soldiers insulting them. I also found the General had called all
H.M. troops to his own house, and had planted four or five field
peeces about it, and sent for several persons of the country to
come into him. This tempest thus blown up, I endeavoured all
I could to mitigate, but found myself unable to withstand it, the
major part of them affirming there could be no calm till the
General departed this Island to some other part of his Government, and myself, Councill and Assembly to provide for the
defence of this place for that they were very confident his stay
would produce no other effects but the ruin and destruction of
the same, the gentlemen of the Council was then in town, whom
I met to consult what was proper to be done at this time, whose
opinions were, as the face of all things then stood and shewed
themselves, the adviseablest method to be taken, both for the
General's security, and allaying this storm, was to address H.E.
to retire to St. Christophers or Nevis for some time, the better to
compose if possible these differences, which when he had received,
his answer was in the negative, which put us to consider of another
message, which was sent to the General by one of the Council,
which mett with no other success than the former, this made the
people uneasy, however I prevailed with them that I might send
the Speaker with the same Gentlemen of the Council that went
before with the other message, who brought us an answer much
to the same purpose of the precedent ones, which incensed the
generality of the men then in arms, who cryed out March. upon
which I used all the arguments I then was master of to persuade
them to stay, offering to goe myself with the Council to the
General and endeavour to prevent the impending mischeif that
was likely to fall on us, adding the fatal consequences of these
proceedings, some of whom answer'd their only desire was that
the General would depart the Island peaceably, having no design
to hurt his person, my replication, as also the further arguments
of the Council with some of the Assembly, was of no force, nor
could hinder them from an immediate march towards the General's house, which was followed with some shot on both sides,
but from whence the first came I can't determine. which ended in
his death with several others on both sides, and several wounded,
to the great disabling and weak'ning our Island, and a general
concern and dissatisfaction of all. Thus my Lords I have to the
best of my judgement given your Lordships in as brief a maner as
I could my sentiments in a rural stile, which I hope your Lordships will pardon, and what else may be deficient in expression,
the last cause (the precedent ones as I have said being already
before your Lordships in ye Minuts of the Council and Assembly,
and the articles against him now before H.M.) why the generality
of the inhabitants conceived so ill an opinion of the General, and
what brought him to so dismal an end, all which I beseech your
Lordships to lay before H.M., with such advantages as to your
Lordships' wisdome will be thought most adviseable for the
procuring a unity amongst the inhabitants, and what else will
tend to the benefit of this H.M. Colony. And to let your Lordships be informed, I endeavoured to do my duty, in preventing
what mischeif I could, I have made bold in a paper here inclosed
to incert the substance of what I said to the inhabitants that were
in arms the day of the General's death, as also for causes given
me, have further trespass'd upon your Lordships, to incloase
another paper, of what I spoke to the Lt. General and Council
before I signed the Address of myself and the Council to H.M.,
relating to the General's death, etc. Signed, John Yeamans.
[C.O. 153, 11. pp. 294–300.] |
May 8.
Whitehall. |
839. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. Representation on Address of General Assembly of Maryland complaining of certain hardships in connection with the Tobacco trade.
After dealing with this point, the Council of Trade propose that
the General Assembly be recommended to appoint an Agent in
England to take care of the affairs of the Province. (Set out,
A.P.C. II. pp. 630–633 q.v.) [C.O. 5, 727. pp. 245–250.] |
May 8.
Whitehall. |
840. Same to same. Representation upon the Address of
the President, Council and Assembly of Maryland objecting to
the Governor having the custody of the Seal, because in an appeal
from the Chancery Court he acts as judge of his own decree.
This inconvenience is occasioned by the Acts for Appeals etc.,
1699 and 1704. Propose its repeal, when a power of bringing
appeals and writs of error from the inferior Courts to the Governor
and Council, and from thence to H.M. in Council here will subsist
by H.M. Instructions to the Governor, in like manner as is
practised in other Plantations in America, etc. (Set out, A.P.C.
II. p. 633.) [C.O. 5, 727. pp. 251–255.] |
