Journal, November 1755: Volume 62

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 10, January 1754 - December 1758. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1933.

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'Journal, November 1755: Volume 62', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 10, January 1754 - December 1758, (London, 1933) pp. 182-191. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol10/pp182-191 [accessed 24 March 2024]

Journal, November 1755

Tuesday, November 4. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Trade.

Africa.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers received from the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa, viz.:—
The account of the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa for the year 1754.
Copies of letters from Thomas Melvil, Esquire, Robert Lawrie, Esquire, etc. to the Committee of the Company of Merchants trading to Africa. Dated in March, June and July, 1755.

Jamaica.

Read a letter from Mr. Sharpe, agent for Jamaica, to Mr. Pownall, dated the 6th of September, 1755, inclosing the two following letters from Edmund Hyde, Esquire, and Governor Knowles, viz.:—
Letter from Edmund Hyde, Esquire, one of the Council of Jamaica (suspended by Governor Knowles), to this Board, dated the 31st of May, 1755, praying to be restored to his place in the Council of that Island.
Letter from Charles Knowles, Esquire, Governor of Jamaica, to Mr. Sharpe, agent for that Island, dated the 31st of May, 1755, relating to Mr. Hyde, the Councillor suspended by Mr. Knowles.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared, proposing that Mr. Hyde be restored to his rank and seat in the Council of Jamaica.

St. Christopher's.

Read a copy of an Order of the Lords Justices in Council, dated the 26th of August, 1755, approving a warrant prepared by this Board directing George Thomas, Esquire, Governor of the Leeward Islands to swear and admit Henry Sharpe, Esquire, to be of the Council of St. Christopher's.

North Carolina.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated the 2nd of September, 1755, referring to the consideration of this Board an extract of a letter from Arthur Dobbs, Esquire, Governor of North Carolina, wherein he gives a particular account of a fine harbour which he has lately surveyed at Cape Lookout within the said province, and proposes the building a strong fort there as a matter of the greatest consequence to the trade and navigation of Great Britain as well as of the southern colonies on that continent.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the extract of Mr. Dobb's letter referred to the Board by the abovementioned Order to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to be laid before them for their sentiments and opinion thereupon.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Dobbs to desire he would direct some skilfull engineer to take a view and survey of the ground at Cape Lookout, and prepare a plan and estimate of such a fort as shall be necessary for the defence of the harbour, and to transmit it to their lordships, as soon as possible.

South Carolina.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty with draughts of general instructions and of those relating to the Acts of Trade and Navigation for Mr. Lyttelton, Governor of South Carolina, having been transcribed pursuant to their lordships' order, was laid before the Board and signed.

Virginia.

The draught of a letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, with the copy of one from Mr. Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, having been transcribed pursuant to their lordships' order, was laid before the Board and signed.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty with the extract of a letter from Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, having been transcribed pursuant to their lordships' order, was laid before the Board and signed.

Thursday, November 6. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Pelham.

North Carolina.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty with the extract of a letter from Mr. Dobbs, Governor of North Carolina, relating to the expediency of altering his instructions with respect to grants of land, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 31st of October, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing that Mr. Hyde may be restored to his rank and seat in the Council of Jamaica, having been prepared pursuant to their lordships' orders of the 4th instant, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Knowles, Governor of Jamaica, in answer to several received from him having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 29th of October, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Virginia.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, in answer to one received from him having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 29th of October, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Georgia.

Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated the 10th of September, 1755, referring to the consideration of this Board the memorial and representation of Coosaponakeesa, rightfull and natural born Princess of the Upper and Lower Creek Nations, in behalf of herself, etc. setting forth her good services to the Crown of Great Britain, and praying a reimbursement of what she has expended for the British interest, and such recompence for twenty years personal services as his Majesty shall think fit.

Their lordships agreed to take the abovementioned reference into consideration on Wednesday next, and ordered the Secretary to give notice thereof to Mr. Partridge, agent to the memorialist.

Read the two following Orders of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, viz.:—
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated the 2nd of September, 1755, referring to the consideration of this Board the humble remonstrance and address of the Assembly of Georgia to his Majesty, setting forth, that the fixing and settling the fees of the publick officers of that colony, being solely in the power of the Governor and Council without the concurrence and consent of the Assembly seems to them a great hardship, and may be attended with consequences hurtfull to their constituents, etc.
Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs, dated the 2nd of September, 1755, referring to the consideration of this Board a remonstrance of the House of Representatives for the colony of Georgia to his Majesty, setting forth that the qualifications of electors for representatives and of representatives in Assembly as settled by his Majesty's instructions to the Governor of that province may be detrimental to the welfare of his Majesty's said province.

Ordered, that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council be prepared proposing that an additional instruction should be given to the Governor of Georgia impowering him to assent to any Bill or Bills to be passed by the Council and Assembly of that colony for ascertaining the qualification of the electors and elected in the Assembly and for settling and regulating fees, provided a draught or draughts of such Bill or Bills be first transmitted to his Majesty for his approbation, or that a clause or clauses, suspending the execution thereof untill his Majesty's pleasure be known, be inserted therein.

Friday, November 7. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fane, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing that Mr. Hyde may be restored to his rank and seat in the Council of Jamaica, having been transcribed pursuant to yesterday's minute, was signed.

New York.

Read a letter from Sir Charles Hardy, Governor of New York, dated at Fort George, the 6th of September, 1755, acquainting the Board that he arrived there the 2nd of September and the next day published his Majesty's Commission, and transmitting the following papers, viz.:—
Minutes of the Council of war held by Major General Johnson at the camp at the Great Carrying Place, the 22nd of August, 1755.
Message to the Assembly of New York from Lieutenant Governor Delancy, the 1st of September, 1755.
Message from Sir Charles Hardy to the Assembly of New York on the 4th of September, 1755.
Copy of the resolution of the Assembly of New York on the 5th of September, 1755.

The draught of a letter to Sir Charles Hardy in answer to his having been prepared, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Massachusets.

Read a letter from Spencer Phips, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Massachusets Bay, to the Board, dated the 12th of August, 1755, inclosing the two following papers, viz.:—
Copy of a letter from Captain Orme, aide de camp to the late General Braddock, to Governor Morris, dated the 18th July, 1755, giving an account of the late action on the Monongahela.
A list of the officers who were present; and of those killed and wounded in the action on the banks of the Monongahela, the 9th of July, 1755.

North Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration an Act passed in North Carolina in January last intitled, An Act for ascertaining and securing the payment of quit rents due to his Majesty and Earl Granville, for quieting the freeholders in the possession of their lands and for other purposes, and made some progress therein.

Tuesday, November 11. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fane, Mr. Pelham.

Georgia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council proposing that an additional instruction should be given to the Governor of Georgia impowering him to assent to any Bill or Bills to be passed by the Council and Assembly of that colony for ascertaining the qualification of electors and elected in the Assembly, and for ascertaining fees, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 6th instant, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Plantations General.

Read a letter from the Postmaster General, dated the 7th of November, 1755, desiring that directions may be given to the Governors and other Chief Officers in the plantations to Countenance and assist the Captains of the packet boats established between this kingdom and the plantations, and to all other persons imployed under the Postmaster General in this branch of correspondence.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to the Governors of the colonies and plantations in America, desiring them to give all possible countenance and assistance to the Captains of the packet boats and to all other officers imployed by the Postmaster General in carrying on this branch of national correspondence.

North Carolina.

Their lordships took into consideration the Quit Rent Law of North Carolina mentioned in the minutes of the 7th instant and made a further progress therein.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from Francis Jones, Esquire, President of the Council of Bermuda, dated 8th of August. 1755, acquainting the Board with the death of William Riddell, one of the Council there.

Wednesday, November 12. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fane, Mr. Pelham.

Nova Scotia.

The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial prepared by Mr. Kilby, agent for Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations praying that £4992 2s. 2d. may be issued to him to discharge his Majesty's warrants directed to him for payment of certain sums due to the contractors for supplying the troops with provisions, and also to discharge bills drawn upon him by the Lieutenant Governor for services incurred.

Georgia.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council proposing that an additional instruction should be given to the Governor of Georgia, impowering him to assent to any Bill or Bills to be passed by the Council and Assembly of that colony for ascertaining the qualification of electors and elected in the Assembly and for ascertaining fees, having been transcribed pursuant to the preceding minutes, was signed.

North Carolina.

Their lordships took into further consideration the Quit Rent Act of North Carolina, mentioned in the preceding minutes, and the two following papers were read, viz.:—
Reasons in support of the Quit Rent Bill of North Carolina by Mr. Abercromby, agent for the province.
Objections to the late North Carolina Quit Rent Bill passed in January, 1755, by Mr. Child, Secretary to the Earl Granville.

Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the Act and also copies of the foregoing papers and of Sir Mathew Lamb's report upon it to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and desire him to lay them before that Board for their sentiments thereon.

Thursday, November 13. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Fane, Mr. Stone.

Jamaica.

A letter to Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, desiring that he would move his Majesty that John Pownall, Esquire, may be appointed naval officer of Jamaica in the room of Richard Shelly, deceased, and inclosing a warrant to the Attorney or Sollicitor General to prepare a Bill to pass the Great Seal for that purpose was signed.

Tuesday, November 25. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt Mr. Fane, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Edgcumbe.

Nova Scotia.

Ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty be prepared proposing that Charles Lawrence, Esquire, may be appointed Captain General and Governor in Chief of his Majesty's province of Nova Scotia and that the Honourable Robert Monckton, Esquire, may be appointed Lieutenant Governor of the said province.

New York.

Read a letter from Thomas Pownall, Esquire, to the Board, dated New York, September 20th, 1755, giving an account of the action of the party from Fort Lyman, and transmitting:—
Letter from Sir Charles Hardy, Governor of New York, to the Board, dated 14th of September, 1755, acquainting their lordships with the success of the troops under the command of General Johnson, and inclosing:—
Letter from Peter Wraxall, Esquire, aide de camp to General Johnson, to Lieutenant Governor Delancy, dated at Lake George, the 10th of September, 1755.
Letter from a gunner who acted under Captain Eyre in the action under the command of General Johnson.
New York printed Gazette of the 19th September, 1755.
Pennsylvania printed Gazette of the 21st August, 1755.
Boston newspaper of the 22nd September, 1755.
Connecticut printed newspaper.
Two New York printed Gazettes of the 25th August and 15th September, 1755, with a supplement to the latter.
Read a letter from Thomas Pownall, Esquire, to the Board, dated New York, September 21st, 1755, inclosing:—
Return of the killed and wounded in the troops commanded by Major General Johnson.
New York.
Letter from General Johnson to the Board, dated at Lake George, the 3rd September, 1755, complaining of Governor Shirley's conduct towards him and inclosing:—
Copy of a speech made by Hendrick, Sachem of the Mowhacks, September 4th, 1755.

Ordered, that copys be made of General Johnson's letter and the paper transmitted with it to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretarys of State, inclosing the same, be prepared.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter to Mr. Johnson in answer to his be prepared.

New Jersey.

Read a letter from Thomas Pownall, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, dated New York, September 7th, 1755, with his particular acknowledgments to their lordships for recommending him to his Majesty for that post, having received his Commission by the hands of Sir Charles Hardy.

Massachusets.

Read a letter from Spencer Phips, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Massachusets Bay, to the Board, dated Boston, September 22nd, 1755, inclosing copy of a letter from General Johnson to the Governors of the several colonies who raised troops on the present expedition. Dated Lake George, September 9th, 1755.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Mr. Weekes, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Barbados, to the Board, dated the 24th September, 1755, inclosing the three following papers, viz.:—
Copy of a letter from Monsieur Bompar, General of Martinique, to Mr. Weekes, dated 15th September, 1755.
Copy of Mr. Weekes's answer to Monsieur Bompar's letter, dated 15th September, 1755.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Weekes to Commodore Pye, dated September 24th, 1755.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that the said letter and papers having been received during the late adjournment of the Board he had thought it his duty to transmit copys of them to his Majesty's Secretary of State to be laid before his Majesty, and also to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to be laid before that Board.

Read a letter from Mr. Weekes, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Barbados, to the Board, dated the 16th September, 1755, inclosing some extracts of the minutes of Council in relation to filling up the vacancy in the Court of Exchequer till the return of Governor Grenville:—
Extract of a minute of Council of Barbados of the 6th of August, 1755.
Extract of a minute of Council of Barbados of the 3rd of September, 1755.
Extract of a minute of Council of Barbados of the 14th of May, 1755.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Grenville, late Governor of Barbados, to acquaint him that the Board would be glad to have some conversation with him upon the subject matter of the abovementioned letter and papers whenever it shall be convenient to him to attend.

Nova Scotia.

Read the following letters and papers received from Mr. Lawrence, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, viz.:—
Letter from Charles Lawrence, Esquire, to the Board, dated the 18th of October, 1755, relating to the present state of affairs in that province, and transmitting several publick papers, accounts, etc., viz.:—
Copy of a circular letter from Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, to the several governors upon the continent of America, relating to the removal of the French inhabitants from that province.
List of bills drawn by Lieutenant Governor Lawrence on Christopher Kilby, Esquire.
Nova Scotia vouchers from the 1st January to the 30th of June, 1755.
Estimates for additional works, etc. for the year 1756.
Estimate of the expence of civil officers, etc. at Nova Scotia for the year 1756.
Record of the trial and conviction of Jane Humphries of Halifax in Nova Scotia in Easter Term, 1755.
Minutes of Council of Nova Scotia beginning the 3rd of July and ending the 28th of the same month.
Minutes of Council of Nova Scotia between the 28th of July and 8th of October following.
List of persons victualled at Halifax in Nova Scotia between the 24th February and 15th of June, 1755.
List of settlers victualled at Halifax and Lunenberg in the province of Nova Scotia between the 16th and 29th June, 1755.
List of persons victualled in Colonel Hopson's regiment in Nova Scotia between the 21st of April and 10th of August, 1755, from No. 47 to No. 50 inclusive.
A list of ships entered at the port of Halifax between the 1st January and 30th of June, 1755.
A list of ships cleared at Halifax between the 1st of January and 30th of June, 1755.
Letter from Charles Lawrence, Esquire, to the Board, dated the — of October, 1755, relating to the calling an Assembly in that province.

Ordered, that an extract be made of those parts of Mr. Lawrence's letter of the 18th of October, and of the minutes of Council therewith transmitted which relate to the measures he has taken for removing the French inhabitants, and to the necessity of fortifying Chignecto and the river of St. John's, to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, inclosing the same, be prepared.

Ordered, that Mr. Lawrence's estimates of what will be necessary for the support of the settlement of Nova Scotia for the insuing year be taken into consideration to-morrow morning, and that notice be given to Mr. Kilby, agent for the said settlement, to attend.

Jamaica.

Read an Order of Council, dated the 11th instant, approving a representation of this Board to his Majesty proposing that Edmund Hyde, Esquire, may be restored to his rank and seat in his Majesty's Council of Jamaica, from which he had been suspended by Governor Knowles; and directing this Board to cause a warrant to be prepared for that purpose.

A representation to his Majesty inclosing a warrant in the usual form having been prepared was signed.

Pennsylvania.

Read a letter from Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, dated the 18th of November, 1755, referring to the Board for their consideration and report:—
A copy of a letter from Mr. Penn to Mr. Fox, dated the 17th of November, 1755, and
Copy of a message from the Governor to the Assembly of Pennsylvania relative to a proposal for granting lands in that province to officers and soldiers who shall engage in the publick service.

Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Mr. Penn to desire his attendance at the Board upon the subject matter of the abovementioned letter and papers on Thursday the 27th instant.

Trade.

Custom House.

Read a letter from Mr. Wood, Secretary of the Customs, dated the 20th of November, 1755, with a copy of the Inspector General's leidger for the year 1752.

Wednesday, November 26. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty proposing that Charles Lawrence, Esquire, may be appointed Captain General and Governor in Chief of Nova Scotia, and that the Honourable Robert Monckton, Esquire, may be appointed Lieutenant Governor of the said province having been prepared pursuant to yesterday's minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

New York.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, with a copy of General Johnson's letter and of a paper transmitted with it, relating to the conduct of Governor Shirley in obstructing his measures to engage the Five Nations of Indians in his Majesty's interest, having been prepared pursuant to yesterday's minutes, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, with extracts of those parts of Colonel Lawrence's letter of the 18th of October last, and of the minutes of the Council of that province therewith transmitted, which relate to the removal of the French inhabitants, and to the necessity of fortifying Chignecto and the River St. John's, having been prepared pursuant to yesterday's minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Jamaica.

Read Sir Mathew Lamb's report upon an Act passed in the Island of Jamaica in October, 1751, entitled:—
An Act to intitle Thomas Majeau and Elizabeth Majeau, the reputed son and daughter of Peter Majeau of the parish of St. Mary in the said island, planter, by Mary Ganton, a free Indian woman, to the same rights and priviledges with English subjects born of white parents.

Jamaica.

Their lordships took the said Act and report into consideration and ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty to be prepared proposing the confirmation of it.

Virginia.

Read Sir Mathew Lamb's report upon an Act passed in Virginia in November, 1754, entitled:—
An Act for docking the intail of certain lands in the county of Nancemond and vesting the same in Thompson Swann in fee simple, and for settling other lands and slaves of greater value to the same uses.

Their lordships took the said Act and report into consideration and ordered the draught of a representation to his Majesty to be prepared proposing the confirmation of the said Act.

Nova Scotia.

Their lordships took into consideration the estimate of what will be necessary for the support of the settlement of Nova Scotia for the ensuing year, and Mr. Kilby attending as desired was called in, and their lordships made some progress in this affair.

Thursday, November 27. Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham.

Pennsylvania.

Their lordships took into consideration the letter from Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, referring to the Board a copy of a letter to him from Mr. Penn, and of a message from the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania to the Assembly relating to a proposal for granting lands to the westward of the Allegany Mountains to such officers and soldiers as shall engage in his Majesty's service, mentioned in the minutes of the 25th instant, and Mr. Penn attending as desired was called in, and their lordships had some discourse with him thereupon, and having laid before the Board the following paper, he withdrew, viz.:—
Indian treaty at Albany between the Proprietors of Pennsylvania and the Six Nations of Indians for the sale of land.

Jamaica.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon an Act passed in Jamaica in October, 1731, entitled An Act to intitle Thomas Majeau and Elizabeth Majeau, the reputed son and daughter of Peter Majeau of the parish of St. Mary in the said island, planter, by Mary Ganton, a free Indian woman, to the same rights and priviledges with English subjects born of white parents, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Virginia.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty upon an Act passed in Virginia in November, 1754, entitled, An Act for docking the intail of certain lands in the county of Nancemond and vesting the same in Thompson Swann in fee simple, and for settling other lands and slaves of greater value to the same uses, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

New York.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, with a copy of Col. Johnson's letter of the 3rd of September last, and of a paper transmitted with it, relating to the obstructions he has met with from Mr. Shirley in his endeavours to engage the Indians in his Majesty's interest, having been transcribed pursuant to yesterday's minutes, was signed.