America and West Indies: December 1688

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 12 1685-1688 and Addenda 1653-1687. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1899.

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'America and West Indies: December 1688', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 12 1685-1688 and Addenda 1653-1687, (London, 1899) pp. 620-623. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol12/pp620-623 [accessed 19 April 2024]

December 1688

Dec. 1. 1,942. Minutes of Council of Maryland. The pretended King or heir of the late King of the Choptico Indians desired admittance, and being come presented eleven dressed deer-skins as tribute to Lord Baltimore. He then complained of extortion on the part of two Englishmen, and that the English brought drink to his village, which he desired might be stopped. The complaints referred to Clement Hill, Esq. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LIV., p. 195.]
Dec. 1.
Whitehall.
1,943. The King to the President and Council of Jamaica. You will remove Roger Elletson, Sir Richard Dereham and Thomas Waite from all places of trust within the Island, and restore Samuel Bernard to the place of Chief Justice, Simon Musgrave to the place of Attorney General, and Smith Kelly to the place of Provost Marshal. You will also restore John White and John Bourden to the Council. Countersigned, Middleton. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXII., p. 145.]
Dec. 4. 1,944. The Clerk of Council of Nevis to Lords of Trade and Plantations. Forwarding copies of orders of Council. Signed, Tho. Fenton. 1 p. Endorsed. Recd. 6 Feb., 1688–9. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII., No. 88.]
Dec. 4. 1,945. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. The Assembly attended, and being ordered to choose a speaker, choose John Peeke, who was approved. Naval business. Order for payment for medical attendance to sick and wounded seamen. A petition of £50 granted to Anthony Bowes, a clerk of Council. Report of the Commissioners appointed to choose a site for a Naval storehouse.
Dec. 5. Message of the Assembly asking for three new writs, three of their members having been called to Council, and also for leave to adjourn. Naval business.
Dec. 6. Letter from the Duchess of Albemarle, thanking the Council for the bill passed in her favour. The Lieutenant-Governor communicated it to the Assembly, and prorogued them to 15 January. Naval business. Letter from Mr. Lynch to the Lieutenant-Governor asking for the assistance of the Provost Marshal in arresting pirates who have not surrendered. Consideration thereof postponed. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXVI., pp. 249–252A.]
Dec. 6.
St. Jago
de la Vega.
1,946. Memorial of Stephen Lynch to Deputy-Governor Sir Francis Watson. Calling upon him in no very respectful terms to give him the assistance of the civil power in arresting pirates. Copy, in the handwriting of George Reid. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII. No. 89.]
Dec. 7.
Jamaica.
1,947. George Reid to [Lord?]. Recapitulates a letter of November 7 to same effect as No 1927 and proceeds. The Government has been much maligned by a discontented party since the Duke of Albemarle's first arrival, which has opened false and malicious reports. We have just received news of the King's declaration that no Catholic shall be a member of the House of Commons. This will silence the fanatics. There is much talk here of an invasion from Holland, but the present loyal Governor neither dreads nor credits such an improbability, though he takes every precaution. In my last to Father Churchill I sent a petition for the place of factor to the Royal African Company. Signed, George Reid. 2½ pp. Endorsed. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII., No. 90.]
Dec. 10. 1,948. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. The Royal proclamation of 28 September as to the invasion of England was read. Ordered that no more provisions be allowed to pass to the Dutch ships in the harbour. Order for the Provost Marshal to help Mr. Lynch in arresting pirates. Captain Spragge was called in, and in answer to complaints against him of cruel treatment, said that the complainants were pirates or friends of pirates.
Dec. 11. Mr. Margragh moved that the Dutch ships outside the harbour should be brought in and anchored within range of the forts. Evidence having been given as to one such ship that she had traded illegally, orders were given to seize her. Order for publication of the King's proclamation.
Dec. 12. The Governor announced that he had heard from Mr. Lynch asking for a general order for discharge of all persons imprisoned as pirates, who should be thought worthy of the King's pardon. Resolved that Mr. Lynch say at any time what persons he will have discharged, when the Governor will give effect to it. Order for every colonel to put his regiment in order, and execise at least once a month. Order that, the Dutch ships having been brought into harbour, the vessel suspected of illegal trading be at once secured.
Dec. 13. Doctor Longworth, rector of Port Royal, complained of his clerk for refractory conduct. Ordered that he send in depositions in proof of his complaint. Evidence against the Dutch ship being forthcoming, it was ordered that she be searched and an inventory made of her cargo. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXVI., pp. 252A–256A.]
Dec. 11. 1,949. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Order for payment of compensation to Richard Salter for a negro executed, and for the purchase money of two brass guns to Mr. Richard Ashforth. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XII., pp. 104, 105.]
Dec. 13. 1,950. Minutes of Council of Virginia. Order for a public thanksgiving on the birth of the Prince of Wales. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXXIV., p. 307.]
Dec. 14.
Jamaica.
1,951. George Reid to Father Churchill. We hear that Colonel Molesworth has got the African Company to petition against raising the value of pieces-of-eight, but it is notorious that the Company loses nothing by it; and if their value is lowered, planting here is ruined. Here follow long details as to the Assiento and its factors. Sir Robert Holme's deputy makes things mighty uneasy, for being the King's privy seal he is quite independent of authority. Colonel Walker was lately suspended for an affront to the King in the person of his Chief Justice. The Governor has taken me into the Council and given me command of the regiment that Sir Henry Morgan had. Please do your best to forward my petition to the King. The warlike preparations make the Duchess irresolute about returning. Signed, George Reid. Four closely written pages. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII., No. 91.]
Dec. 18. 1,952. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. The Dutch ship being secured, the draft of a special commission for trying her was approved. Captain Peter Daniel apologised before the Council for scandalous words used of Colonel Ryves, a councillor. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXVI., p. 257.]
Dec. 18. 1,953. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Order for payment of the gunner of Denmark fort. The Assembly brought up bills to encourage the inhabitants to become owners of trading vessels, and for an impost on liquors. The former was reserved for consideration, the latter was sent back to the Assembly, being passed by it only for six months' time. The Lieutenant-Governor called the attention of the Assembly to the expiration of the Act to encourage bringing Christian servants, and delivered them three Bills, for securing possession of negroes, to regulate outcries, and to prevent depopulation of the island.
Dec. 19. The Bills brought up by the Assembly yesterday were passed. Order forbidding the boarding of vessels, except to duly qualified persons. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XII., pp. 105–109.]
Dec. 22. 1,954. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. The Governor acquainted William Chapman, a Clerk of Council, that the Duke of Albermarle had for his great dignity three clerks of Council sworn, but that as but one was necessary, he was now discharged. Order for disposal of the Dutch ship and cargo, which had been condemned. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXVI., pp. 257–258.]
Dec. 31.
Rosegill.
1,955. Instructions of Lord Howard of Effingham to Captain Thomas Perry, H.M.S. Deptford. For the enforcement of the Acts of Trade and Navigation, and the prevention of smuggling and illicit traffic, especially with Newfoundland. Copy, 3 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII., No. 92.]
Dec. 31. 1,956. Minutes of Council of Maryland. A request of Dudley and Edward Carleton, merchants of London, for a special court for the trial of their difference with the executors of Basil Waring granted. The members of the Court nominated. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LIV., pp. 195, 196.]
1,957. Abstract of the letters and depositions transmitted by the Duke of Albermarle, touching the Biscayers in the West Indies (see Nos. 1,705, 1,733), and of petitions from English prisoners at Los Angelos and Carthagena. 6 pp. Endorsed. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII., No. 93.]
1,958. A shorter abstract of the same subject. 2 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII., No. 94.]
1,959. The King to the Duke of Albermarle. Warrant authorising him to suppress the Biscayans, who prey upon British trade, with the King's ships. Undated. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXII., p. 127.]
1,960. The case of Smith Kelly, deputy Provost Marshal of Jamaica. A long statement of his dismissal from his office, and the misdeeds of Chief Justice Elletson. Two large sheets. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII., No. 95.]
1,961. List of injuries received by English from Spaniards. A short table of grievances of different kinds, from 1680 to 1687. 1½ pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. LXIII., No. 96.]