America and West Indies: September 1655

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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'America and West Indies: September 1655', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, (London, 1860) pp. 428-431. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp428-431 [accessed 25 March 2024]

September 1655

Sept. 3. Orders of the Council of State. Concerning the ships and forces arrived from the West Indies, and letter to General Penn to attend the Council. The Commissioners of the Admiralty to give orders for those English, Scotch, Irish and Dutch mariners, prisoners in the castle of Plymouth, not thought fit to be tried for their lives, to be sent to Barbadoes. The Dutch Ambassador's desire about several ships taken at Barbadoes by General Penn's fleet. [Ibid., pp. 263–64.]
Sept. 5. Orders of the Council of State. Concerning petitions of Nat. Hawes and Geo. Payne, relative to the Elizabeth, taken by the Spanish fleet on her way to Virginia in 1637; and of Armiger Warner for compensation for his ship bound to Virginia but lost in the service of the State. [Ibid., pp. 269–72.]
Sept. 6. 50. Petition of Martin Noell to the Lord Protector and Council. Has several plantations in the island of Barbadoes where there is much necessity for horses, by reason of the many taken off for service under General Venables. Prays for licence to transport 200 horses thither.
Sept. 6. Order of the Council of State. For a warrant to Martin Noell, merchant, to transport 50 horses to Barbadoes. [INTERREGNUM, Entry Bk., Vol. CIV., p. 276.]
Sept. 6.
Whitehall.
The warrant above-mentioned. [Ibid., Vol. CXXXIII., p. 216.]
Sept. 12. Order of the Council of State. General Penn having given a narrative of proceedings of the fleet sent to the West Indies, under his command, and of the state of that part left at Jamaica, Lords Fienes, Lambert, and Lisle, Colonels Jones, Sydenham, and Gen. Disbrowe, are directed to consider the whole business of Jamaica, and report thereon. [Ibid., Vol. CIV., p. 283.]
Sept. 13. Similar Orders. Petition of the wives and assigns of those officers and soldiers, who went to the West Indies under General Venables, to be referred to the persons above-named, "the Committee for the business of Jamaica," for their report. [Numerous entries of proceedings on similar petitions will be found in this volume; see list of names at end of the years 1656, 1657, and 1658.] Petition of Rich. Bennett and Col. Sam. Mathews, agents for Virginia; also representation of the Governor, Council and Burgesses, thereunto annexed, to be referred to the Committee for Foreign affairs. [INTERREGNUM, Entry Bk., Vol. CIV., pp. 284–85.]
Sept. 19. Order of the Council of State. Upon report of Committee for Jamaica; directing an appended list of tools, clothing, medicaments, and other necessaries, for the use of the people there, to be sent over in the two ships lately ordered to be provided. [Ibid., p. 294.]
Sept. 20.
Whitehall.
Warrant for the apprehension and committal to the Tower of General Robert Venables, General of the English forces sent to America, for having "deserted the army committed to his charge, contrary to his trust." [Ibid., Vol. CXXXIII., p. 223.]
Sept. 20. Similar warrant for the apprehension and committal of General William Penn, General of the English Fleet sent to America, for having "without licence returned from thence contrary to his trust." [Ibid.] [General Penn, "in consideration of his acknowledgment of his fault and of his submission," was released on 25th Oct. following, upon delivering up his commissions. General Venables was released on the 31st Oct. Ibid., Vol. CIV., pp. 345, 352.]
Sept. 21. Orders of the Council of State. Concerning draught of instructions for those appointed to be sent to New England. 300l. to be advanced to Daniel Gookin, to defray the charges of that service, and the Committee to confer with him thereon. Copies of two papers delivered by General Venables, the one containing votes at the Council of War, held at St. Jago de la Vega, on 7th June last, the other, considerations to be presented to his Highness and Council on behalf of the army in America, to be delivered to General Venables. Sic. [INTERREGNUM, Entry Bk., Vol. CIV., pp. 297–299.]
Sept. 26. Similar Orders. Approving instructions for Daniel Gookin, bound to New England, and concerning the removal of people from Nevis to Jamaica. [Ibid., p. 304.]
Sept. 26. The above instructions. To acquaint the Governors and inhabitants in New England that the English army took possession of Jamaica on 10th May last, the people found upon the place, to the number of 1,400, having fled to the hills, except some negroes and Portuguese, who have submitted to the English. To describe the situation and goodness of the island, the plenty of horses and cattle, and the convenience of the harbours, which are now being fortified by the English. That there are about 7,000 well-armed men there, besides 800 more, well provisioned, lately sent over with Major Robt. Sedgwick, a Commissioner in the Civil Affairs of the island, and that it is intended to defend the place against all attempts, and to have a good fleet always in those seas. To offer to the people of New England to remove to Jamaica in convenient numbers, for certain specified reasons, viz., to enlighten those parts, "a chief end of our undertaking the design," by people who know and fear the Lord; that those of New England, driven from the land of their nativity into that desert and barren wilderness, for conscience' sake may remove to a land of plenty. To make these propositions to the people of New Haven, who have thoughts of removing to Delaware Bay, that a part of the island next to some good harbour will be granted to them and their heirs for ever, without payment of rent for seven years, and then one penny an acre; their goods, of the growth and manufacture of the island, shall be three years free from customs; one of their number to be from time to time appointed a Governor and Commander-in-Chief, with persons to assist in the management of affairs; six ships will be lent for their transportation; 20 acres granted to every male above 12 years old, and 10 to every other male or female, six weeks after the agreement is concluded; the whole number of males to be transported within two years. [INTERREGNUM, Entry Bk., Vol. CIV., pp. 304–306.]
Sept. 26. Names of the Committee for the business of Jamaica, to consider the debate concerning the removal thence of people from Nevis, and to speak with Com. Butler and Capt. Blagg. 3 Oct. Lord Com. Fienes, Lord Lambert, Lord Vist. Lisle, Col. Jones, and Col. Sydenham, to consider of the allowance for 1,000 Irish girls and youths, to be sent to Jamaica. [Ibid., Vol. CXLV., p. 1.]
Sept. 27. Order of the Council of State. For provisions, tools, and other necessaries, according to an appended list, to be sent to Jamaica, in lieu of those ordered on the 19th; also, for a similar list to be provided for the service of the Commonwealth in America. [Ibid., Vol. CIV., pp. 310–11.]
[Sept 51. Petition of John Jeffreys, of London, merchant, in behalf of Col. Richard Lee, of Virginia, to the Lord Protector and Council. Certain plate brought from Virginia to London by Col. Lee, about a year and a half ago, to change the fashion, has been seized, on his return to Virginia, by the searchers at Gravesend; every piece having the Colonel's coat of arms, and being for his own private use, who did not know but that plate manufactured might be transported to the English plantations. Col. Lee being faithful and useful to the interest of the Commonwealth, the petitioner prays, in his absence, for an order to discharge the plate. Annexed,
51. I. Affidavit of Colonel Richard Lee, of Virginia, that his trunk, containing about 200 ounces of plate, all marked with his coat of arms and intended for his own use, was seized at Gravesend aboard the Anthony of London, and that he had the most part many years together in Virginia. 1655, Sept. 11.
51. II. Report of Commissioners of the Customs upon the above. Find the petition in substance true, and although by law, all plate, bullion, and coin, is prohibited to be exported out of the kingdom, yet if directions are given for discharge of the seizure, it will be no more than has been formerly granted to persons of like quality and employment. Endorsed, "Rd 11 Oct. 1655. 'Col. Harvey affirms the plate to be of no great value.' Ord. 16 Nov. 1655."