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Jan. 2.
Whitehall. |
435. Mr. Popple to John Oxenford. My Lords Commissioners etc desire as soon as may be an account of the quantities of pitch, tar and turpentine, which have been imported into this Kingdom from the Plantations since the passing the Act for the better preservation of H.M. Woods in America and for the encouragement of the importation of Naval Stores from thence etc., in the 2nd year of His present Majesty's reign distinguishing each year, and the Province from whence imported. [C.O. 329, 12. p. 78.] |
Jan. 2.
Whitehall. |
436. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Recommend Josiah Martin for the Council of Antigua, in the room of John Morris decd. [C.O. 153, 15. p. 277.] |
Jan. 4.
Jamaica. |
437. President Ayscough to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Describes preparations for Expedition against the rebellious negroes, under Martial Law, as in his letter to the Duke of Newcastle, Dec. 6, 1734. Continues:—To give a better countenance to this expedition and to encourage the men to go on cheerfully, I went with five Gentlemen of the Council to the barracks in the parish of St. Thomas in the East within ten miles of the Rebells' Town, in order to see the men well fitted out with all manner of necessaries, in their march, and stayed in those parts above a month and did not quitt the parish, untill I had advice that the Negro Town was taken: I have inclosed to your Lordships a copy of a letter from Colo. Brooks himself, for your Lordships' more particular information. The excessive rains, which has fallen there has occasioned a sickness among our men, and has hindred us from makeing any farther progress, as yett, untill the weather does change in our favour. Being now in possession of the town, we are going to build a defensible barrack there, and have ordered Capt. Harris of one of the Independent Companies to march to the Negro Town and encamp there, and as soon as ever the weather will permitt shall send two hundred of the best woodsmen or more to range the woods and pursue them, in order to prevent them from settling again in any great body in any other part, which scheme I hope will be approved of; nothing shall be wanting on my part my Lords for the service of H.M. and the good of this Island. I have received this day another express from Colo. Brooks of the 29th of December last, which I likewise here inclose to your Lordships, wherein he gives an account, that as soon as he had one day of fair weather, he sent out three detachments, to make what discovery they could of the rebells, and of their tracks, and that they saw twenty huts behind a hill, near the Negro Town, where they found several negroes dead, from which account, I conclude that they fled in such precipitation that they left some of their arms and their dead behind them. I expect every day to hear of greater consequences of this success of which I shall not fail of taking the first opportunity to communicate to your Lordships. Signed, J. Ayscough. Endorsed, Recd. 3rd March, Read 11th July, 1735. Addressed. Sealed. 2 large pp. Enclosed, |
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437. i. Col. Brooks to President Ayscough. From the Negro Town, Dec. 19, 1734. On Munday the 16, 1734, we marched from the Blew Mountain Ridge, from whence I wrote to your Honour last and at night gott within a mile of the Negro Town; after being the whole day in the rain was forced to sitt up all night in our wett cloaths without either fire or candle, for fear of being discovered by the rebells, the rains continued all night, that it was so dark, we could not attempt them till ten a clock the next day, at which time I ordered Captn. Burbery, Capt. Stodderd, Capt. Wynder and Mr. Dunston, who I appointed to command Major Swarton's company, to march into the Negro Town; with their proper officers and their companies they gott in sight of the town before they were discovered; and as soon as the negroes discovered them, they sett most of their houses on fire and then fired a volley at our people, which ours returned, and entered the town, and took one of their ambuscades, but they kept the principall one, and fired at our men all the day: I stayed on the hill on which I lay all night and guarded the ammunition and provisions with the rest of the men, it being our whole dependance, did not think proper to trust it to anybody else. I hearing them pritty smartly engaged sent a detachment of fifty men, under the command of Lieut. Garland, Lieut. Witter, and Ensign Allen, to their assistance, who immediately joyned them; next morning Capt. Stodderd sent to me to come to their assistance and bring the suivle guns, to drive them out of their ambush, and I immediately went, but before I gott in, eight or ten of our men run in with their guns and pistols, and came muzzle to muzzle and beat them out, with only the damage of one man wounded; I gott in soon after, we had two men wounded, in takeing the town and one by taking the ambuscade, they continued firing at us all day, from the top of the hills and do so still; we have killed several, but have gott none, for they carry all off, I have not heard of Major Munsby yett, nor cannott spare men to send for him yett, our men being many of them sick, and many deserted and the negroes continuing, showing themselves on the hills round us, and often firing on us, in the night, as well as day, and endeavouring to suppress us but our men are all on constant duty; so that we have no body to spare. Our provisions are all out, and spoiled, and having nothing for the men to eat but the cocoa's and as we have no men to spare, to send, desire your Honour will send a detachment, with some rum, sugar, butter, rice, oatmeal and flower and other provisions for our people, and some ammunition, for ours groes scarce, and if we are not speedily releived, with these things our men will all come away. If I can, possibly, will send some men to meet the provisions and favour the ambuscades, but begg your Honour will send a sufficient guard with what you send us or they may be intercepted; for the path is very bad, and cannot be made any other than a foot path above four miles this side Mr. Burnett's; I hope your Honour will send the soldiers to take possession of the town, as soon as possible, for most of our men are very uneasy, as well as myself, to be at home to take care of their own private affairs and gett assistance for our families, whom we have left by this short notice, we had of comeing here, but very bad provided, tho' we are all determined to keep the place as long as we can gett any think to support ourselves on, and hope your Honour and the Honble. Gentlemen of the Council will releive us as soon as possible: The men are much in want of shoes, stockings and warm cloathing such as baze and ozenbriggs for to make them frocks, also hatts for we have rains continually here, I think proper to acquaint you, that our men are deserted so from us, that we have not above three hundred shott white and black left now, the pioneers have lost their bills and axes most of them, and send them back as soon as I can afford a guard to return them with safety, and this is from etc. Signed, George Brooks. I am much indisposed with a violent cold and gott it by being continually wett, night and day almost ever since I came out and begg your Honour will lett me be releived before I am to weak to travel home, for if I am it will be impossible for me to gett home any other way; this road is such as will not admit of any other. Endorsed as preceding. 2 large pp. |
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437. ii. Same to Same. Negro Town, Dec. 29, 1734. Thanks for promise of relief, and for supply of provisions, though the negroes made away with the greater part on the road. They have had only one dry day since they left Burnett's. On that day he sent out parties to search for the rebels and provisions. They saw no sign of the rebels etc. When this place is fortified, 100 men will suffice to defend it, and 150 more to be sent out in flying parties will be sufficient to drive out all the negroes from these parts. Several dead negroes have been found and some fire arms that were burnt in their houses etc. Signed, George Brooks. Same endorsement. Copy. 1 large p. [C.O. 137, 21. ff. 196, 197–199, 200 v., 201 v.] |
Jan. 4.
Jamaica,
Spanish Town. |
438. President Ayscough to the Duke of Newcastle. Repeats gist of preceding covering letter. Signed, J. Ayscough. Endorsed, R. 3rd March. Addressed. 1½ pp. Enclosed, |
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438. i., ii. Duplicates of preceding encl. i., ii. |
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438. iii. Minutes of Council of Jamaica, 24th and 25th Oct., 1734. Copy. 6½ pp. [C.O. 137, 55. ff. 140, 141, 141 v.–142v., 144, 146–148.] |
| [Jan. 7.] |
439. Mr. Yeamans, Agent for Antigua, to the Council of Trade and Plantations. The powder act which lays a duty of three pound of pistoil powder a ton on every vessell that enters there will expire in February. The Island in the precarious circumstances the Nation is now in with regard to peace or war, is preparing another act to the same purpose, but they have reason to apprehend that the Commander in Cheif, from the restraint he is under by his 23rd Instruction, will refuse his assent thereto. All the stores of warr wch. H.M. is pleased to send the sd. Island, and all the expences of ye Crown or ye sd. Island for their own defence will be rendered fruitless without a sufficient supply of powder, of wch. their magazines are now entirely empty, partly occasion'd by ye sd. Island's constantly furnishing H.M. Regiment there with powder, the only requisat in H.M. service that is not provided from hence etc. Prays that the rigour of H.M. 23rd Instruction may be waived etc. Endorsed, Recd., Read 7th Jan., 1734/5 2 pp. [C.O. 152, 20. ff. 178, 178 v., 179 v.] |
| [Jan. 7.] |
440. Lewis Morris to the Duke of Newcastle. My lamenesse which confines me to my chamber and my chair has hitherto prevented me from waiting on your Grace etc. My businesse was to solicite my being restored to my office of Chief Justice of New York etc. I hope to shew that his Excellency's informers have deceived him etc. He never intended to shew H.E. any personal disrespect, but had the highest veneration for the noble family into which he is married and was heartily disposed to be serviceable to him etc. Continues:—He governs a quiett, easie and good natur'd people; but withall a people that will not bear what they think ill usages without complaining; and I have reason to believe many such and some of them of a flagrant nature wil ere long reach your grace's ears from New York, or New Jersie, or both etc. Signed, Lewis Morris. Endorsed, R. Jan. 7th, 1734/5 2 pp. [C.O. 5, 1093. ff. 336, 336 v., 337 v.] |
Jan. 8.
Custom House. |
441. Mr. Oxenford to Mr. Popple. In reply to 2nd Jan., encloses following. Signed, John Oxenford. Endorsed, Recd. 8th, Read 16th Jan., 1734/5 ¾ p Enclosed, |
