America and West Indies: March 1716, 15-31

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 29, 1716-1717. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1930.

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'America and West Indies: March 1716, 15-31', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 29, 1716-1717, (London, 1930) pp. 49-55. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol29/pp49-55 [accessed 24 April 2024]

March 1716, 15-31

March 15.
St. James's.
94. H.M. Warrant appointing William Broderick to the Council of Jamaica, in the room of Francis Oldfield, resigned. Countersigned, James Stanhope. Copy. [C.O. 5, 190. p. 332.]
March 15.
Whitehall.
95. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary Stanhope. Abstract. Upon consideration of letters from Brigadier Hunter and others, submit following particulars to be laid before H.M. The trade of H.M. subjects is very much interrupted by French ships under Spanish Commissions upon pretence of guarding the Spanish coast. Propose that representations be made to Madrid. Quote Hunter on need for preventing the total decay of the trade of New York and adjacent Colonies by encouraging the production of naval stores, and enclose proposal from proprietors of land on frontier of New York, to supply the Navy with masts, and yards. Propose that Hunter be authorised to contract therefor. Quote Hunter's complaint of the clothing for the Four Companies received from Col. Nicholson. "As we have formerly had occasion to examine into that cloathing and seen a sample of them, we must agree that they are no ways fit for that cold climate or indeed for any of H.M. troops. But as the Crown has paid for them, we offer that the Govr. have directions to dispose of them as may be most for H.M. service." Autograph signatures. 4 pp. Printed, N.Y. Col. Doc. V. 469. Enclosed,
95. i. Copy of C.S.P. 1715, No. 673 vi. [C.O. 5, 1085. Nos. 25, 25 i.; and (without enclosure) 5, 1123. pp. 426–429.]
March 15.
Whitehall.
96. Same to Governor Hunter. Abstract. Request him to keep despatches on the two provinces separate. Describe proceedings upon Acts for payment of public debts and for naturalisation. "So desirous are we to do anything that may tend to the quieting and settling the minds of the people there." Are leaving Act relating to sales by vendue as probationary. Will recommend the Act for punishing negroes for disallowance, unless the Assembly passes an amended Act. Refer to representation of Nov. 18 on presents for Indians, a new fort and increase of soldiers. Presume that the rebellion and disorders that have been here of late have taken up so much of H.M. time, that his pleasure has not yet been declared thereupon. Enquire as to the site of the proposed Fort and whether it would be of use to obstruct communication between Canada and Mississippi in case of a rupture with France. Enquire whether David Jamisson, recommended by him for the Councils of New York and New Jersey, is the man complained of by Lord Bellamont, and, if so, how he has behaved since. Do not approve of proposal to appoint a supernumerary Councillor. The rule that there should not be more than twelve Councillors was only broken in the case of Col. Quary, Surveyor General of the Customs. In view of the Act for preventing extravagant grants, confirmed in 1708, are surprized at his report of the scarcity of lands, and think there is land enough, if the people were willing to extend their settlements. As there are other extravagant grants not resumed to the Crown by that Act, suggest that the Assembly might be induced to vacate them. Acquaint him with their representations etc., on several matters. Commend his care in putting Acts of Trade and Navigation into execution. Enquire as to the cause of the failure he announces of the trees prepared for pitch and tar in New York. Printed, N.Y. Col. Doc. V., 470. [C.O. 5, 1123. pp. 429–436; and 5, 1079. No. 93.]
March 15.
Charles Town.
97. Assembly of S. Carolina to [? Messrs. Boon and Beresford]. Abstract. Have seen letter from Beresford to Committee appointed by last Assembly to correspond with them, and are glad there is hope something will be done at Court upon their address to H.M. to take the immediate Government of the Province into their hands. Enclose another to same effect. Unless H.M. does this and sends men and money to defend it, the Colony will become a pray to their barbarous enemies. The war has already cost this Government £140,000, a greater burden than this poor Province can possibly bear. The Charikees, after agreeing to combine with them to attack the Upper and Lower Creeks, changed their minds. Head men of the Creek and Yamussee nations endeavoured to persuade them to massacre 300 of their men who, under Col. Maurice Moore, had marched up to the Charikees in order to persuade them to keep their promise. They had 500 men within 10 miles of the place to assist them. The Charikees, after nearly consenting, changed their minds and fell upon the Creeks and Yamussees who were in their towns and slaughtered every man of them. They are now to co-operate with the Charikees etc., who are the most potent nation of any that were their enemies, but they are still at war with fifteen other nations and without immediate assistance their case will be deplorable. Mr. John Smith who escaped from the Creeks at Pensicola, reports that the Creeks were supplied with arms by the French at Mobile, who made presents to the head men of those nations who are now our enemies, and had sent up a perriaugur, with 16 field pieces and a company of men to settle a fort among the Albamas. Mr. Hughs was killed in going from Pensecola to the Talapoochies by some French Indians, it is thought by order of the Governor of Mobile. Their forces have lately obtained a success over the Yamussees near St. Augustin and taken 30 prisoners. They are now endeavouring to satisfy the Government of Virginia, whose troops are returning home. Confess that if the late Assembly had fully complied with the agreement made between that Government and their agent, it would have cost them less than the measures they will now be obliged to take. Order their correspondents to lay this state of the Province before the King. Signed, Tho. Broughton, Speaker. Endorsed, Recd. Read 12th June, 1715. 3 closely written pp. Printed, N.C. Col. Rec. II. 224. Enclosed,
97. i. Address of the Representatives of South Carolina to the King. As soon as the most acceptable advice of your happy accession to the Imperiall Crown of Great Brittain, France and Ireland reached us your loyall subjects in these remote parts of your Dominions we by publick Address presum'd to congratulate yor. most sacred Majesty on that blessed occasion, as also to signify to your Royal Person the great distress we lay under by a barbarous and inhumane Indian Warr, form'd and carried on by an universall consent of all the Indian Nations who being (by reason of their great numbers) too potent for us, constrain'd us to supplicate you Great Sir (who under God alone can support us) to relieve and succour us with such forces as your great wisdom judg'd convenient. Tis with no less joy that we again take this opportunity of congratulateing your Majesty on the glorious success of your arms against the rebells in Great Brittain, and we earnestly pray yt. God will give such success to yor. Royal endeavours as will enable your Majesty to put an end to this unnaturall rebellion, to confound and extinguish for ever all hopes of the Pretender his open and secret abetors and secure the peace and quiet of your Kingdom. We are once more oblig'd with the greatest concern and submission to lay before your Majesty the deploreable circumstances of this your Majesties distress'd Colony almost ruined by a warr with the numerous nations of Indians round about us, who have reduced us to a narrow compass, and destroy'd great part of our countrey with fire and sword, which with the great expence we are at to deffend ourselves against those our cruel enemies, has almost brought us to an incapacity of any longer being able to support and deffend ourselves, the particulars of all which misfortunes we have order'd to be lay'd before yor. Majesty by the Agents of this Province, etc. Under these our sad circumstances Great Sir give us the Representatives of this Province leave unanimously to throw ourselves under your Majesties immediate protection, under whose care alone (under God) we can be protected and redress'd, and therefore humbly begg your most Sacred Majesty to grant our humble request that this once flourishing Province may be added to those already under your happy protection, and which we are assur'd will be of great consequence for the preservation of the adjoyning Colonies and the increase of your Majesties Revenues. Signed, by order of the House, Tho. Broughton, Speaker. Endorsed, Recd. (from Mr. Boon and Mr. Beresford). Read 12th June, 1716. 1 large p. [C.O. 5, 1265. Nos. 25, 23, and (duplicate of Address) 24.]
March 16.
Whitehall.
98. Mr. Secretary Stanhope to the Governor of the Leeward Islands. Major Peter Buor is to remain in the quiet enjoyment of his plantation till H.M. shall think fit how to dispose of that part of St. Christopher's which was the French Settlement, etc. Signed, James Stanhope. [C.O. 5, 190. p. 332.]
March 17. 99. George Carpenter to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Lt. Genl. Mathew's petition for leave to visit his estate in Maryland, on condition that Genl. Hamilton is present in the Leeward Islands, is referred to you by Mr. Secretary Hamilton, etc. Signed, Geo. Carpenter. Endorsed, Recd. Read 20th March, 1715/16. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 11. No. 2; and 153, 12. pp. 382, 383.]
March 19.
Whitehall.
100. Mr. Secretary Stanhope to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses following for their report. Concludes:—If any difficulties shall occur to you which want explanation, by sending to the Ordnance office, some of their Board will attend you, etc. Signed, James Stanhope. Endorsed, Recd. 20th, Read 21st March, 1715/16. 1 p. Enclosed,
100. i. Board of Ordnance to Mr. Secretary Stanhope. Enclose following, "which are according to the last proposals of Capt. Horneck, Engineer, for securing Placentia, which scheme will not amount to near a sixth part of the former." Continue:— As the greatest part of the material must be sent from the West of England, or River of Thames, it is humbly propos'd that the Council of Trade should recommend the same to the Chamber of Exeter, and the merchants using the said fishing trade, and that what cannot be sent this year, may be early the next with the Engineer and Artificers. Signed, Edw. Ashe, Tho. Frankland, John Armstrong, Tho. Erle, M. Richards, D. Windsor. Endorsed as preceding. Copy. 1 p.
100. ii. Estimate of new proposal for fortifying and securing Placentia. Reduction of the garrison to a cost of £1557 6s. 8d., a saving of £9729 3s. 4d. A new fort, £2242 16s. 6¼d., instead of repairing the old forts, £20,000. Same endorsement. Copy. 2 pp.
100. iii. Estimate of materials to be sent to New England (? Newfoundland)= £116 5s. Same endorsement. Copy. 2 pp. [C.O. 194, 6. Nos. 13, 13 i.–iii.; and (without enclosures) 195, 6. pp. 261, 262.]
March 21.
Whitehall.
101. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary Stanhope. We have no objection to the granting of leave to Lt. Governor Mathew in the manner desir'd (March 17). [C.O. 153, 12. pp. 383, 384.]
March 22.
Whitehall.
102. Same to Same. Reply to March19. Refer to representation on similar proposals for securing Placentia, March 10, 1714/15. Continue:— It was then thought too late to send the necessary materials that season, and we are afraid the same inconvenience will be found now. As to the materials which are proposed to be sent, the manner of their being sent, the freight and the prices at which they are to be bought, we humbly conceive the Board of Ordnance to be properest judges. Shou'd H.M. be pleased to reduce the present establishment at Placentia to 57 men, as is proposed, consisting of the garrison and the Ordnance officers, we conceive the remainder may be usefully imploy'd on the frontiers at New York, according to what we offer'd Nov. 18th last, if H.M. shall be pleased to approve of what we then represented. [C.O. 195, 6. pp. 263–265.]
March 22.
Whitehall.
103. Same to Governor Hunter. Abstract. As there is now only one vacancy in the Council of New Jersey, (v. 13th Aug.) intend to propose Robert Wheeler or John Bambridge. The Act for holding the Assembly at Burlington, having been confirmed by her late Majesty, can only be set aside by another Act, the preamble whereof is to set forth the inconveniencies of the present Act and to pray H.M. that it be repealed (v. Nov. 12th, 1715). Have not heard anything of Mr. Sonmans since his arrival in England, but will not fail to do justice. The Act to enable Thomas Gordon, etc., having been long since confirmed, they have nothing to answer in his letter of 21st May last. The other Acts they will allow to lie as probationary. Call attention to the need of an Agent for the Province, and that the persons concerned in the private Acts transmitted have not directed anybody to solicite the dispatch of them. Such acts are referred to the Solicitor or Attorney General who will not report upon them, if there is nobody here to follow them. On their removal, such Acts are liable to be lost. Have spoken of the matter of Mr. Vesey and Mr. Talbot and hope he will be made easy in that matter. Printed, N.J. Archives, 1st Ser. IV. 227. [C.O. 5, 995. pp. 326–329.]
March 23.
Whitehal.
104. Mr. Popple to Nicholas Lechmere. Presses for return of Act of Bermuda. v. May 16, 1715, and Feb. 18, 1716. [C.O. 37, 9. p. 326.]
March 23.
St. James's.
105. H.M. Warrant granting six months leave of absence to Lt. Gen. Mathew. Countersigned, James Stanhope. Endorsed, Recd. 17th, Read 18th June, 1718. Copy. 1p. [C.O. 152, 12. No. 92; and 5, 190. p. 333.]
March 23.
Whitehall.
106. Mr. Popple to Sir E. Northey, H.M. Attorney General. Encloses, for his opinion in point of law as soon as conveniently may be, Acts of New York, Sept. 4, 1714, for shortning of law suits, etc., and preventing the multiplicity of lawsuits. [C.O. 5, 1123, p. 437.]
[March 24.] 107. Roger Mostyn to be Govr. of ye Bahamas. Note without date or signature. v. following. [C.O. 23, 12. No. 71.]
March 24.
Whitehall.
108. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary Stanhope. H.M. having been pleas'd by his Order in Council of the 10th instant, on a Report of the Committee of Council to whom our Representation of Dec. 14th last, was referr'd, to direct us to prepare a Commission and Instructions for Roger Mostyn Esq. to be Gov. of the Bahama Islands, we take leave to explain that matter to you as follows. We represented the great consequence those Islands are of to this Kingdom by their situation, that they had been neglected and deserted by the Proprietors, that they had been plunder'd four several times during the late war by the enemy, the houses burnt down, the Fort demolish'd, ye guns carry'd off, and that there remain'd not above 12 familys upon all the Islands and those dispersed, that the Govt. of the said Islands might be resumed to the Crown by quo warranto or scire facias; and that H.M. might appoint a Governor, and provide both for the civil and military Government, before any suit were commenced. But then we referr'd to former Representations to her late Majesty, wherein a scheme and method for peopling, setling and fortifying the Island of Providence was propos'd; For unless these Islands be secur'd by a fortification, and some regular troops, it is not to be expected a quiet settlement can be made there; on the other hand, were that done, there is no doubt from the conveniency of these Islands for trade, and the commodiousness of the harbour of Providence, but they wou'd soon be settled and improv'd to the advantage of this Kingdom. We desire therefore you will please to receive H.M. pleasure, whether the said Islands are to be secur'd as aforesaid. In case they are, we shall be ready to lay a scheme for that purpose before H.M., when demanded; but if this is not to be done, we do not see how a Commission and Instructions can be properly prepar'd for a Governor of a place, where there are but twelve dispers'd familys. Autograph signatures. 2 pp. Enclosed,
108. i. Duplicate of preceding.
108. ii. Duplicate of C.S.P. 1715. No. 710. [C.O. 23, 12. Nos. 70, 70 i., ii.; and (without enclosures) 5, 1292. pp. 505–507.]
March 25. 109. Petty Expenses of the Board of Trade, postage, stationery, etc. Christmas, 1715, to Lady Day, 1716. 4 pp. [C.O. 388, 77. Nos. 13–15.]
March 26.
Whitehall.
110. Mr. Secretary Stanhope to the Council of Trade and Plantations. It is H.M. pleasure that some of your Board do forthwith lay before the House of Commons all papers relating to the Palatines who were sent to the West Indies, pursuant to their Address to H.M. Signed, James Stanhope. Endorsed, Recd. 26th, Read 27th March, 1716. 1 p. [C.O. 5, 1051. No. 22; and 5, 1123. p. 438.]
March 28.
Whitehall.
111. Council of Trade and Plantations to Mr. Secretary Stanhope. In reply to 26th Jan., refer to March 5th, etc. We are glad to finde that ye present Agent [of the garrison at Annapolis Royal] hath paid the Bills that came to his hands which tends so much to the re-establishing the credit, to wch. end it were to be wished the bills formerly drawn from New England for provisions and other necessaries, were put in a method of being clear'd. We have reconsidered our letters to you of 18th May, 30th of June, 7th of July and 2nd Sept., which appear to be so full in relation to the pay, provisions and cloathing, that we shall add nothing further thereupon. [C.O. 218, 1. pp. 308, 309.]