America and West Indies: January 1666

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 1666', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668, (London, 1880) pp. 351-356. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol5/pp351-356 [accessed 18 March 2024]

January 1666

1666, [Jan. 11.] 1115. The King to the Duke of York. Finding it necessary that more than ordinary provision be made for the safety of the Caribbee Islands, &c., it is his Majesty's pleasure that he forthwith give order that two convenient frigates, well furnished, be sent to Barbadoes for their security. Draft in Williamson's handwriting. [Col. Papers, Vol. XX., No. 1.]
Jan. 11. 1116. Copy of preceding. [Dom. Entry Bk., Chas. II., Vol. XVII., p. 165.]
Jan. 11. 1117. Duke of Albemarle to Sec. Lord Arlington. The ships for the Barbadoes are pitched upon ; his Royal Highness (the Duke of York) is to give them instructions what to do. Doubts, if Lord Willoughby be come away, the young man that is his Deputy will not go through with the business ; and wonders that at such a time as this Arlington should give Lord Willoughby leave to come away. [Dom., Chas. II., Vol. CXLIV., No. 96, Cal., p. 199.]
Jan. 12.
Excise Office, London.
1118. Jo. Champante to Joseph Williamson at Oxford. Sends letters from Surinam, also letter from the Governor of St. Christopher's, by which he may perceive now there is like to be war with France, how necessary it is to supply those islands with arms. Begs he will be instrumental, with Lord Arlington, in getting an order for the 3,000 firelocks his Majesty promised, and Mr. Willoughby and himself have so long pressed for. Is informed that his Majesty has appointed new Governors for Nevis and St. Christopher's, but hopes the contrary, his Majesty having already given that power to Lord Willoughby. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XX., No. 2.]
Jan. 20.
Oxford.
1119. Warrant to Edward Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor, to cause Letters Patents to be passed under the Great Seal to the effect following :His Majesty grants to Edmund Scarburgh the office and place of his Majesty's Surveyor-General of the Plantation of Virginia, with all the fees, profits, and advantages thereunto belonging, and therewith heretofore usually received and enjoyed. "Recepi 19 March, 1666." [Privy Seals, 19 Chas. II., No. 366.]
Jan. 1120. Mem. of a grant to Edm. Scarborough of the office of Surveyor of Virginia for life, as Thomas Loving had it. [Dom., Chas. II., Vol. CXLVI., No. 81, Cal., p. 226.]
Jan. 23 to March 15. 1121. Journal of the Assembly of Barbadoes. Names of the Representatives, viz. : Col. Richard Hawkins and Thos. Pargiter for St. Michael's ; Constant Sylvester and Edward Pye, St. George's ; Henry Sweete and Henry Wallrond, St. John's ; Capt. John Turner and John Jennings, St. Philip's ; Maj. Nath. Kingsland and Lt.-Col. Rich. Buckworth, Christ Church ; Humphrey Hooke and Thos. Peade, St. Thomas's ; James Wallwyn and Lt.-Col. Jno. Reade, St. James's ; Ralph Fretwell and John Bawdon, St. Andrew's ; Humphry Waterman and John Holder, St. Joseph's ; Symon Lambart and Maj. Sam. Tidcomb, St. Lucy's ; and Col. Richard Baily and Lt.-Col. Wm. Yeamans, St. Peter's ; John Jennings, Speaker ; and Capt. Robert Arundell, Clerk. On the indisposition of Governor Lord Willoughby, the Assembly adjourned to 1st of Feb. The oath then administered to the Clerk of the Assembly. Feb. 2. Reasons for the Governor calling this Assembly, viz., to consider the putting the island into a posture of defence ; reducing the laws to a certainty ; and the sending addresses to his Majesty. Request of the Assembly for freedom of debate without prejudice to their persons or estates, granted. Col. Edm. Reade and Mr. Wardall, of the Council, appointed to view, with the Assembly, the condition of the forts. They also viewed the magazine and ammunition, and desired the Governor to lay before them what he required from them to effect the requisite defence of the island. Feb. 8. His Excellency desires that the four seaports be forthwith fortified, and that the laws concerning the militia be amended and reinforced. In answer to which, the Assembly conceive that the charges of fortifications should be defrayed out of the custom of 4 per cent. given to his Majesty by the Act of 12th Sept. 1663, but being sensible of the decay of the forts and of the mean store of ammunition, conclude that the four ports be speedily fortified, and consent to lend on the security of the customs, such a sum of sugar as may answer present necessities. And that traders and artificers may be induced to come to the seaports, it is moved that the Courts of the several Precincts be held according to former constitutions ; and the Assembly will forthwith take the laws military into consideration. Feb. 9. Answer of the Assembly to the Governor's discourse upon the consideration of the 4 per cent. Orders for regulating debates, the penalties being from 12d. to 2s. sterling. Anyone absent from a sitting above a quarter of an hour without license to pay 2s. ; the Speaker to keep the chair for three sittings, and then the House to proceed to a new election. Sixteen members and the Speaker to make a House for the passing of any law. Feb. 10. Debate on the Governor's proposal to raise 500,000 lbs. sugar for public use. The Assembly desire intelligence on the condition and dangers of this island, and that his Excellency's patent, the mandamus of June 1660, and his commission to his President and Council be recorded. Feb. 15. John Jennings again chosen Speaker. Thos. Kendall to be satisfied for 82l. disbursed for the public. The Speaker to draw up a letter of thanks to Sir John Colleton for the guns, &c. by him procured from his Majesty for the public. Feb. 16. The Assembly desire that his Excellency's commission to the late President, now in the custody of Lt.-Col. Walrond, be recorded in the Secretary's office. Feb. 17. A paper sent from his Excellency, in which he complains of the Assembly insisting upon having all things pass by papers. Has taken time to consider whether he should return any answer to their interrogation. The King is not only their King but their Proprietor, having purchased them by paying a great sum for this island, on which account his Governor might have prayed an aid from them in this great war against the Dutch. Is but a servant and accountable to his Majesty, and dare not say what the King may think himself obliged to do, but what the King is obliged to do by the Act of the 4 per cent. he will as far as in him lies see performed. Answer of the Assembly : They declare that they desired the country might know what was needful for them to do in case his Excellency should not apprehend the whole public charge was to be defrayed out of the 4, which they conceive to exceed "all could be ever meant to be given or asked in any time by way of aid or otherwise." They conceive they cannot concede to the demand of 500,000 [lbs. of] sugar, but for ammunition and repairing the forts, offer to lend on security of the Customs 500,000 lbs. of sugar, or immediately to raise 300,000 lbs. to be sent off, and the produce returned in powder and arms to be distributed to the several parishes. March 15th. The Assembly desire that his Excellency's Commission, "being the principal of all Records, Acts, Statutes, and proceeds in this island, and of all matters tending to the security of their estates transacted since his last arrival," be recorded in the Secretary's office ; because they do not consider his answer of the entry of it in the office of Custos Rotulorum to be sufficient ; and because they do not understand his Excellency's expression "concerning the reducing the Courts ;" they desire to know "whether they are returned according to the laws of this island as formerly constituted," or otherwise appointed now by his Excellency and Council ; it being the earnest desire of the Assembly that the Courts may be settled as formerly they were by law, and that neither that law nor any other may be destroyed by any Ordinance of his Excellency and Council. Indorsed, Assembly of Barbadoes, sent to Mr. Farmer. 12 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XX., No. 3.]
1666? Jan. 24. 1122. Thomas Kendall to Sec. Lord Arlington. Encloses a letter from Sir Thos. Modyford : is certain Arlington knows that there are two men-of-war bound for Barbadoes ; the General tells him they will depart suddenly ; hopes therefore Arlington will write to Sir Thos. Modyford by them, for there is often consignment from thence for Jamaica. By reason of the embargo there are like to go no ships for that place for a long time. [Dom., Chas. II., Vol. CXLVI., No. 21, Cal., p. 218.]
1666. [Jan. 29.] 1123. Petition of Sir William Berkeley on behalf of the colony of Virginia to the King. Sets forth reasons against a petition presented to his Majesty for altering the usual way of trade and commerce with Virginia, which can be no ways advantageous, but will be most destructive to the future growth of the colony, and points out the frauds in the customs of tobacco, which at 50s. a hogshead should amount to 100,000l. sterling. Prays greater burdens may not be laid upon them than upon other Plantations to whom ships come at all times of the year. Indorsed, Delivered Jany 29, 1665(-6). 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XX., No. 4.]
Jan. 29.
Barbadoes.
1124. Governor Lord Willoughby to the King. Was endeavouring to do his Majesty service by making some attempt to take from the Hollanders the island of Tobago, which lies betwixt this island and Guiana, where Lawrence Hyde and himself have a joint interest ; for which he had fitted out six vessels with 350 men, but some privateers from Jamaica had taken the place some days before. Found them resolved to pillage, but came to an agreement with them for a plantation near the fort, where were four or five guns planted, and has left there 100 men till he shall receive his Majesty's further pleasure. If his Majesty will grant him a lease for 31 years of the island and all its profits, with privilege of free trade as in Jamaica, will undertake the settling of it, and hopes that in revenue it will not fall much short of Jamaica. If his Majesty resolve to dispose of the island some other way, desires to be reimbursed his charges for the shipping and garrison. 2 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XX., No. 5.]
Jan. 29.
Barbadoes.
1125. Governor Lord Willoughby to (Sec. Lord Arlington). Gave an account in his last of privateers of Jamaica taking Eustatia and Saba near St. Christopher's, since which some have rambled as far as Tobago, for they are all masters and reckon what they take to be their own, and themselves free princes to dispose of as they please. When Willoughby demanded the islands for the King's use, being within his commission, their answer was that they took them by Sir Thos. Modyford's commission, and would own no other ; and they keep them still. Again intreats his Majesty's order how to behave in the like case in future. Had set out six sail with 300 or 400 men to take it (it being inhabited by Dutch, and lying in the way to Guiana near Orinoco, where Sir Walter Raleigh was), but the Jamaicans had taken it a few days before. He demanded the island for the King, and at length they condescended to leave the fort standing with four or five guns and the Governor's house, on condition that he would give them liberty to sell their plunder at Barbadoes ; which he did, thinking the place should be preserved till he should know his Majesty's pleasure. Has desired his brother to wait on his Lordship ; who likewise has a letter for the King about it. The island was pretty well settled, and stocked with negroes, cattle, and horses ; but because his purse could not purchase them, the privateers untiled the houses and destroyed all they could not carry away, "which hath been their custom in all places." Desires to know his Majesty's pleasure with quick dispatch, for he is at great charge in maintaining the 100 men in the fort. "Our planters here are in great quandaries and begin to look very blue upon it, because few or no shipping comes at us, especially from England, which makes them very doubtful all is not well ;" besides they are a little frightened with news that the French are joined with the Dutch. If so, it will be absolutely necessary that some frigates be sent, for the French are daily strengthening themselves, and "if they begin first, they will carry all before them." Indorsed, "Received 9 May 1666," also with a summary of contents. 3 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XX., No. 6.]
Jan.
[Barbadoes.]
1126. John Reid to (Sec. Lord Arlington). Hopes his Lordship and relations are all in good health "after the general calamity of that city." Has given his masters the Royal Company a large relation of their affairs, but believes his Lordship will be at the Court of Assistants when it is read. No prizes have appeared in these parts. Two small frigates with the Governor of Jamaica's commission and only 80 men, took Tobago from the Dutch : they found 18 sugar works, but demolished all and brought away the copper and what else was good. Lord Willoughby set out 300 men to take it, but finding the work done, they took Boromeo "and Issikebb" (? Paramaribo and Essequibo) : believes both forces will join to take Barbicius (Berbice) and Curaao, and then they will have all the Dutch trade in the West Indies. Some Dutch men-of-war lie to leeward ; a couple of small frigates would secure these parts. Has desired Mr. Lye to receive his salary as sub-Commissioner : the Lords promised him 200l. a year ; beseeches his favour in its recovery : it is for his wife's maintenance and "to put her in an equipage to come hither." This island will now supplicate his Majesty for a custom house : if it be granted, begs for a place in it, which he could discharge without prejudice to the Company's business. Indorsed, Barbadoes, Jan. 1665(-6). 2 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XX., No. 7.]
Jan.? 1127. Memorial of [John] Reid. For his salary of 200l. per annum, as Sub-Commissioner for prizes of the Caribbee Islands, granted from the Supreme Commissioners. 28th January 1665, see ante, No. 919. p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XX., No. 8.]