America and West Indies: January 1663

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1880.

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'America and West Indies: January 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668, (London, 1880) pp. 119-122. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol5/pp119-122 [accessed 24 March 2024]

January 1663

Jan. 7. 405. Information of Anthony Langston, formerly ensign in Prince Maurice's regiment, and afterwards 14 years in Virginia, taken by Secretary Bennet. Was drinking last night at the Dog Tavern, when a person came who invited him to engage in some design. [Dom., Chas. II., Vol. LXVII., No. 14, Cal., p. 5.]
Jan. 8. 406. Petition of merchants, traders, planters, owners, and masters of ships, and others trading to Virginia and Maryland, to the King. Setting forth their reasons for praying that his Majesty will for the future command that no ships be suffered to depart from Virginia or Maryland with any tobacco except in the months of May, June, July, and August yearly. Signed by John Jeffreys, Wm. Allen, and 39 others. Indorsed, "Recd Jany 8th." 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 1.]
Jan.? 407. Proposals for re-settlement of the Royal [African] Company. Present stock, 122,000l., to be valued at 10 per cent., and so reduced to 12,200l. Creditors to receive two-thirds of their debts in old stock and the remainder in ready money ; 84,000l. new stock to be raised, in subscribing which present adventurers and creditors who shall subscribe two-thirds of their debts into the old stock shall have the preference ; every 100l. adventurer to have a vote in the management. Government in England to be by committee of five, or at most seven persons, to be chosen by plurality of votes in general court ; two of the five, or three of the seven, to retire annually, and others substituted ; the committee to meet three days a week and stay three hours at each meeting, and to receive 20s. apiece for each meeting ; no member to be absent except he have first petitioned the general court to lay down his place ; the committee to have power to suspend any of the Company's officers hereafter mentioned, unless upon their appeal the general court restore them ; the said officers to give security for faithful discharge of duties, viz., a treasurer and chief accountant at 150l. each per ann. salary, second accountant at 100l., warehousekeeper at 60l., surveyor of ships at 30l., and messenger at 20l. Resolutions of the committee to be by majority of votes, and binding on the Company unless contradictory to some order of the general court. Any member of committee defrauding the Company or receiving any gift or bribe to forfeit his whole stock, and any officer so guilty to be forthwith discharged and made incapable of being ever restored. Posts in Africa to be Cape Corso, Anashan, Commenda, Aga, and Acra ; castle of Cape Corso to be head factory and residence of the agent for the whole of Africa ; also of two merchants, a gold-taker, a warehouse-keeper, a chief accountant and second accountant, and three younger factors ; garrison to be 50 English soldiers and 30 negro slaves, a captain, and four sergeants or corporals. Anashan to have chief and second factor, a sergeant, 10 English soldiers, and eight negroes. Commenda, Aga, and Acra to have each a house, two factors, two soldiers, and two negroes. For the Caribbee islands the Company to allow the factors 2 per cent. for sales and returns in goods, and 1 per cent. for returns in bills of exchange ; the factors to make good to the Company all their debts, and the Company to be at no further charge. For the supply of the plantations with negro servants ; the Company to grant license to all his Majesty's subjects to fetch negroes on payment of 3l. per ton on the tonnage of their ships, but binding them not to touch at certain points ; also to make offer to governors to furnish them annually with as many negroes as they will contract for at 17l. per head at Barbadoes, 18l. at Antigua, and 19l. in Jamaica, with a reduction of 1l. per head at each place to any one contracting for a whole ship-load and paying one-fourth of the price in advance with security for the remainder ; the Company not to be bound to supply negroes to any planter indebted to them for a former supply. If the Company's creditors will not accept of one-third in money and two-thirds in old stock, the whole effects to be made over to them and a new patent taken out. Endeavours to be used to obtain an Act of Parliament for confirmation of the Company's charter. [Dom., Chas. II., Vol. LXVII., No. 162, Cal., p. 36.]
[Jan. 10.] 408. Warrant to prepare a bill for the King's signature, containing a grant to the Royal African Company. Whereas all the regions know by the names of Guinny, Binny, Angola, and South Barbary, and all the parts of Africa to them belonging, and the sole trade thereof, are the undoubted right of us, our heirs and successors ; and whereas his Majesty has by Letters Patent, bearing date 18th December 1660, granted all said regions, that is to say, from Cape Blanco to Cape de Bona Esperanza, to James Duke of York and Albany and others for the term of (1,000) years, for the sole use of the Company of Royal Adventurers in Africa, by said Letters Patent incorporated ; his Majesty, in consideration of the surrender of said Letters Patent, and tendering the advancement of said Royal Company, by these presents grants to (our Royal Consort Queen Katherine, Mary the Queen our mother, our dearest brother James Duke of York, our dearest sister Henrietta Maria, Duchess of Orleans, Prince Rupert, George Duke of Buckingham, Mary Duchess of Richmond, Edward Earl of Manchester, Phillip Earl of Pembroke, Henry Earl of St. Albans, John Earl of Bath, Edward Earl of Sandwich, Charles Earl of Carlisle, Earl of Lauderdale, George Lord Berkley, William Lord Craven, Lord Lucas, Charles Lord Gerrard, William Lord Croft, John Lord Berkeley, Thomas Grey, Esq., Sir George Carteret, Kt., Sir Charles Sidley, Kt., Sir Ellis Leighton, Kt., Edward Gregory, Gent., Sir Edward Turner, Kt., Sir Anthony de Merces, William Legg, Esq., Richard Nicholl, Esq., Sir William Davison, Kt., William Cutler, Sir James Modyford, Kt., Thomas Cullen, Gent., George Cock, Gent., Charles Porter, Gent., Sir John Colleton, Kt., John Duckworth, Gent., Sir John Robinson, Kt., Sir Nicholas Crispe, Kt., Sir Richard Ford, Kt., Sir William Ryder, Kt., John Bence, Sir George Smith, Kt., Sir John Shaw, Kt., Sir Martin Noell, Kt., Abraham Bigg, Gent., Thomas Povey, Esq., Edward Backwell, Esq., Matthew Wren, Gent., Tobias Ruscat, Gent., Martin Noell, Jun., Gent., Henry Johnson, Gent., James Congett, Gent., John Ashburnham, Gent., Edward Noell, Esq., James Noell Gent., Francis Meynell, Gent., John Cooper, Gent., Sir Andrew Riccard, William Herbert, Esq., Sir John Jacob, Sir John Harrison, Sir John Wolstenholme, Sir William Wake, Silas, Titus, and Peter Proby) (these names, as well as the date and term of years are omitted in this draft, but are in the Patent), and their successors, all the regions and dominions, extending from the Port of Sallee in South Barbary, and extending to Cape de Bona Esperanza, during the term of (1,000) years ; rendering to his Majesty and his successors two elephants, whensoever he or any of them shall land in said regions. Nevertheless this grant is for the sole benefit of the Company of Royal Adventurers into Africa by these presents incorporated. For the furtherance of the trade, and encouragement in the discovery of the golden mines, and settling of plantations, the society shall be one body corporate, and use a common seal, engraven with, on the one side an elephant supported by two blackamores, and on the other the image of our Royal person. With power to the Company to meet on or before 25th March next, and to choose a governor, sub-governor, deputy governor, and 24 or 36 assistants, who shall have the management of all the affairs of said Company, and continue in office for the space of one year, but shall be removable for any misdemeanor by the major part of the generality. Every governor, sub-governor, deputy governor, and assistant to take his oath for the faithful discharge of his trust, unless the governor be of the Royal family. With power to hold courts, make laws not repugnant to the laws of this realm, and inflict punishment by imprisonment or fine ; to set to sea ships with ordnance and ammunition, and to have all mines of gold and silver, and the sole privilege of trade into and from said parts of Africa, on payment of customs and other duties on goods. All his Majesty's subjects of what degree soever are hereby forbidden to visit or traffic in the places aforesaid, or to import any red-wood, elephants' teeth, negro slaves, hides, wax, gums, grains, or other commodities of that country, unless with license of said Company, under pain of imprisonment and loss of ships and goods. Also, all factors, masters, and mariners of the Company are forbidden to trade, and power is given to the Company to seize ships, slaves, goods, and merchandize so trading contrary to these presents ; the moiety to be to the use of the Company, and the other moiety to the use of his Majesty, his heirs and successors. With power to the Company to have the government of all plantations by them settled in those parts of Africa, and authority to appoint governors, raise forces, and execute martial law ; the sovereign right to his Majesty and successors being always reserved. His Majesty, his heirs and successors to have two-thirds of all gold mines found in places aforesaid, paying two-thirds of all charges incident to working and transportation of same, the Company to have the other third and to pay the other third of charges. Draft with corrections and omissions which have been supplied from the Patent Roll, 14 Chas. II., part 27, which is dated 10 Jan. 1663. 16 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 2.]
Jan. 10. 409. Extract from preceding Warrant to the Royal African Company of England, concerning the appointment of a governor, sub-governor, deputy governor, and 24 assistants of the Company ; any seven or the major part of whom, the governor, sub-governor, or deputy governor to be one, shall be called the Court of Assistants of the Royal African Company of England, who are hereby empowered, according to the rules and directions given them by the general court, to have the management of all the affairs of the Company. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 3.]
Jan. 20.
Whitehall.
410. Warrant to the Commissioners of the Navy to pay William Overton, surgeon, the sum of 350l. for his services in the cure of several wounded and diseased soldiers in Jamaica. 1 p. [Dom. Entry Bk., Chas. II., Vol. IX., p. 241.]
Jan. 23.
St. Jago de-la-Vega.
411. Minutes of the Council of Jamaica. Heads of the declaration for the liberty of the negroes, to be drawn into a form to serve as a charter to them and their heirs for ever. For carrying on the work at Fort Charles, ordered that Sec. Rich. Povey abate one-third of all debts due to the King for goods sold, provided remainder is paid in ready money. [Col. Entry Bk., No. 37, p. 21.]