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Aug. 2. Custom house, Bristoll. |
27. J. Reynardson and John Elbridge, Collectors of Customs
at Bristol, to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Enclose
following. Signed, J. Reynardson, Jno. Elbridge. Endorsed,
Recd. Read Aug. 5th, 1712. Addressed. Postmark. ¾ p.
Enclosed, |
27. i. List of ships (10) cleared from Bristol to the Fishery at
Newfoundland, June 24, 1711–1712. 1 p. [C.O.
194, 5. Nos. 14, 14 i.] |
Aug. 4. London. |
28. William Sharpe to the Earl of Dartmouth. Your
Lordship, my Lords Archbishop of York and Bishop of London
haveing done me the great honour of presenting me to H.M.
I think myself highly concern'd to vindicate my character from
aspersions etc. I now stand reproach't in those very things for
which I have receiv'd the universal thanks of my country, and
the approbation of the best of Princes; etc. I pray your Lordship
to sett my innocence in a true light before H.M. I have petitioned
the Committee of the Privy Council for hearing appeals from the
Plantations either to dismiss that fals and scandalous libell
against me, or command the persons who lodg'd the same forthwith to serve me with copys of their proceedings, etc. Compliments. Signed, Wm. Sharpe. 4 pp. [C.O. 28, 43. No. 78.] |
[Aug. 5.] |
29. Micajah and Richard Perry, merchants of London, to
the Council of Trade and Plantations. Petitioners having
advanced several considerable summs of money for Governor
Parke, he made over to them his land and negroes in Virginia
as security, and owing also several sums by bond to others. As
executors with his daughter, they have joined in an Act of Assembly there (to enable John Custis etc. v. Aug. 26) for selling part of
his estate towards paying his debts, etc. Pray H.M. approbation
of the same. Endorsed, Recd. 5th, Read 26th Aug, 1712. 1 p.
[C.O. 5, 1316. No. 82.] |
Aug. 6. Whitehal. |
30. Council of Trade and Plantations to Lt. Governor Bennett.
Having had under consideration an Act past in Bermuda, Jan.
19, 17 09/10, impowering Richard Jennings to sell one share of land
in Smith's Tribe, transmitted to us in your letter of Aug. 30, 1710,
we find that the land mentioned in the said Act is vested in
Richard Jennings in Fee, whereas it ought to have been vested
in Trustees to be by them sold, and the money arising thereby
apply'd to the just payment of the debts of the said Richard
Jenings, according to the true intend and meaning of that Act.
And that the surplus if any there be ought to be laid out upon a
purchase of lands to be settled to the same uses, as the land
directed to be sold were limited and settled. Besides there is
no saving in the said Act of the right of the Crown or Bodies
Politic. For which reasons we have not thought proper to lay
the said Act before H.M. And therefore you will do well to
move the Assembly to pass a new law not liable to these objections. And when we receive the same from you, we shall lay it
before the Queen for Her Royal confirmation. [C.O. 38, 7.
pp. 35, 36.] |
Aug. 8. Annapolis Royall. |
31. Lt. Governor Vetch to the Earl of Dartmouth. I
have wrote your Lordship so often relating to the state of this
garison and the payment of the bills for its support without
being honoured with the least return or direction with relation
to the same, that I now allmost write in dispair, and as the Agent
who hath launched out all the money he was capable to raise for
H.M. service and the support of this garison, having received as
yett no reimbursement is necessitate to abandon us, so that I
cannott gett any person whatsomever who will upon the publick
account advance either money or provisions for the support of
the garison, nor have wee provisions for no more then a month's
time longer, which is to the 10th of September, so that wee are
like to be reduced to a necessity to abandon the place, for the
inhabitants have not provisions to maintain themselves; soe
that we are reduced to the last extremity especially considering
that the garison is composed of all the mutineers and refuse of
the seven regiments from which they were detached as their own
officers affirm: so that if any misfortune should happen, I cannott
be justly blamed for the same. Seven or eight of them deserted
to the French and Indians: but upon paying a reward of £5
pr. man, they were all brought back by the French save two,
and being tryd by a Court Martiall five of them being condemned
to die, of whom I reprived four by verture of H.M. Commission
to me for that effect: and one was shott conform to sentence.
Since which twelve of them who were stragling abroad contrary
to positive orders that same morning given out, were taken
prisoners and two more killed, by a party of 150 or 200 Indians
who came privately by order of the Governour of Canada to
catch some prisoners to give them information whither any expedition was designed against that place: had they not been above
the double number of Coll. Livingston's company of Indians,
and that even the half of them was gone along with the Saphyre
man of warr whom I sent att the desire of the Governours of
New England and New York with two small tenders to the wreck
of the Fevershame and transeports lost att Cape Britton, I doubt
not but they would have recovered the prisoners from them,
but they carried them all away to Canada, and wee have two more
deserted since, many of them being Irish desert upon the account
of Religion, so that if your Lordship and the Ministry would but
please to consider my circumstances, you will find I have the
hardest task imaginable to manage such a garison in such circumstances. As to the victualling of the garison it hath bein
upon the most frugall footing possibly could be: for the Agent
hath bein only allowed 7½d. per day for the provisions delivered
att the Fort, the freight of which cost att least a fifth part:
besides the sea hazard: while att the same time, the victualling
of each seaman in the station ships att Boston, who receive their
provisions there and save all the freight, stands the Queen in
9d., etc. As I have by every possible oportunity pray'd H.M.
orders, for near these two years past, so I hope I cannot be blamed
in continuing them upon the same footing the Counsell of Warr
who was impowered by H.M. left them in with me, etc. As soon
as your Lordship will obtain me H.M. leave to waite upon her
in Brittan, I doubt not to convince your Lordship and the
Ministry that I have laboured under the greatest difficultys and
hardships that perhaps ever any person in such a post ever did,
etc., and have acted with the utmost zeall, justice, frugality and
regard to H.M. honour and intrest, and hope to find a reward
accordingly. Refers to accounts transmitted, etc. Signed, Sam.
Vetch. 1¾ pp. [C.O. 5, 9. No. 109.] |
Aug. 8. |
32. Mr. Attorney General to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. Submits form of oath for proof of resettlement by
the sufferers at Nevis and St. Kitts (v. July 21). Signed, Edw.
Northey. Endorsed, Recd. 11th, Read 12th Aug. 1712. 1¼ pp.
[C.O. 152, 9. No. 126; and 153, 12. pp. 1, 2.] |
Aug. 9. St. Christophers. |
33. Lt. Governor Lambert to the Council of Trade and
Plantations. The enclosed I had presumed to have sent by
some vessells bound hence for Leverpool, which parted in
such confusion and fear of the enemy that the Masters omitted
calling for it at the Custome house, etc. Signed, Mich. Lambert.
Endorsed, Recd. 3rd, Read 31st Oct., 1712. 1 p. Enclosed, |
33. i. Lt. Governor Smith of Nevis to Lt. Governor Lambert of St. Kitts. Nevis, Aug. 6, 1712. These serves
to advise you of what news we had by a briganteen
on Munday, which came from Antegoa Sunday last.
The master reports that the Virgin Queen that day
came in being sent out as a spye, saith that he saw
at Guard a loupa 16 saile of ships and 32 saile of sloops
by which number presume they are all joyned, and may
be upon some attackt in a few days. It's also reported
by what they have learnt they are designed for Antegoa,
the men of warr are all halled in, and their men on shoare,
as it's reported and all incampt; which now I presume
you will have from Capt. Liddle that went from hence
on Munday. I am now sending out Capt. Canarragan's
sloop to make some discovery, etc. Signed, Dan Smith.
1 p. |
33. ii. Deposition of William Bevell and James Brookes,
mariners. St. Kitts, Aug. 9, 1712. Deponents were
taken at the Isle of May on April 24 by a ship belonging
to a French squadron consisting of 7 men of war, which
came from Touloon under M. Cousier, who took the
Island of St. Jaugo, belonging to the King of Portugall,
where they plundered for eight days, and burnt part of
the town. Thence proceeded to Surrinam (except one
merchant ship which was reported went for Guinnia)
they attempted landing there with 25 boats manned,
but was put off, and then went for Martiniqco. The
inhabitants of that Island and Guardaloupa joyned
them with two briganteens and 16 sloops, and went
first to Antegoa, where they attempted landing about
midnight near Falmouth harbour, but was discovered,
the Island allarmed, and they put away for Montserratt
where they landed about 3000 men, ravaged and
plundered that Island (in part) for 12 days and carryed
off about 12 or 1400 negroes—but General Douglas with
four small men off warr and five sloops appeareing off
the Road where the French Fleet was at anchor, they
burnt the towne, imbarqued their forces and sailed the
same day for Guardaloupa. The French Commodore
had 56 guns, one ship 50, one 48, one 40, one 30, one
20 guns; the other ship had 30 gunns but left behinde
at Martinique haveing lost her mast. Signed, William
W. Bevell, James Brookes. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 9. Nos.
132, 132 i., ii.; and 153, 12. pp. 26–29.] |