Journal, December 1712: Journal Book P

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 2, February 1709 - March 1715. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1925.

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'Journal, December 1712: Journal Book P', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 2, February 1709 - March 1715, (London, 1925) pp. 396-400. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol2/pp396-400 [accessed 19 March 2024]

Journal, December 1712

December 3. Present:—Mr.Moore, Mr.Foley, Mr.Cotton.

St. Christopher's.

Mr. Du Roy sworn.

Re-settlement of inhabitants.

Mr. Duroy attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of the two following persons, inhabitants at St. Christopher's, vizt., Katherine Perone and Mathew Smith.

December 9. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Mr. Hind Cotton.

Trade.

Letter from Lord Bolingbroke with extract of one from Mr. Pulteney about a convention between Denmark and Gottorp.

Letter from the Lord Bolingbroke, with the extract of one from Mr. Pulteney, her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Denmark, relating to a convention lately made between the said Court and that of Gottorp, which forbids the selling any salt in the Dutchy of Holstein, except Lunenburgh salt, was read. Whereupon ordered that a Treaty of Commerce with Denmark therein mention'd be look'd out and laid before the Board.

St. Christopher's.

Mr. Whicker sworn.

Re-settlement of an inhabitant.

Mr. Jonathan Whicker attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of Charles Gregory, an inhabitant of St. Christopher's.

Nevis.

Letter to Mr. Attorney General with a query whether a church re-built ought to be deem'd a re-settlement.

Order'd that a letter be writ to Mr. Attorney General, for his opinion whether the parish church of St. Thomas in Nevis, burnt by the French when they invaded that island, and now about re-building, valued by the churchwardens and return'd as a loss of 838l. ought to be deem'd a re-settlement, that they may have the share of the bounty given by Parliament, the better to enable them to go on with the said work.

Trade.

Treaty of Commerce with Venice sent to merchants for their observations.

The project of a Treaty of Commerce with Venice being laid before their lordships [fo. 214, 258], order'd that the same be sent to Mr. Thomas Williams and Mr. Claude Jamineau, Venetian observations thereupon on Friday morning next.

New York.

Mr. Strahan's memorial about augmentation of forces there deferr'd.

Mr. Strahan, agent for the four independent companies at New York, attending [fo. 250], the Earl of Dartmouth's letter upon his memorial, relating to an augmentation of forces for the said province, was read; and he was acquainted that it was now near upon a year since the writing of Colonel Hunter's letter, mention'd in his said memorial, and that the affairs of peace being now upon another foot than when the said letter was writ, their lordships thought it proper to defer giving their opinion upon that matter for some time longer.

Tradeto Sicily.

Memorial.

A memorial from the Sicily merchants [fo. 247, 258; Q. fo. 33], relating to our trade to that island, was read.

December 10. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Mr. H. Cotton.

St. Christopher's.

Capt. Matthews sworn.

Re-settlement of an inhabitant.

Captain William Matthews attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of Richard Reams, an inhabitant of St. Christopher's.

Nevis.

Mr. Smargin sworn to re-settlements of an inhabitant and planter.

William Smargin likewise attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of Richard Reams, an inhabitant of also to the re-settlement of James Emra, and William Woodley, planters there.

Nova Scotia.

Letter from Mr. Tilson from Mr.Tilson about Cape Breton's being reckon'd part of Nova Scotia.

Answer.

A letter from Mr. George Tilson to the secretary, desiring to know upon what grounds this Board, in their report of 5th April last, founded the position that the island of Cape Breton has always been esteem'd as part of Nova Scotia, and included in that government, was read; whereupon their lordships gave directions for sending him a copy of the minutes of the 4th April last, relating to that matter; and an answer to the foregoing letter was agreed and order'd to be sent.

December 11. Present:mdash;Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Mr. H. Cotton.

Jamaica.

Memorial from merchants. Act for quieting possessions sent to Mr. Attorny General.

A memorial from several Jamaica merchants, praying that An Act, pass'd in that island the 31st July, 1711, for quieting possessions and preventing vexatious suits at law, may be confirm'd, was read; and directions given [fo. 410] for sending the same to Mr. Attorney General for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

Virginia.

Letter from the Governor.

A letter from Colonel Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 5th September, 1711, was read, as was also the Act pass'd in Carolina, the 8th July, 1711, therein referr'd to, vizt.:
Act referr'd to therein.
An Act to oblige those traders that comes from Virginia and other neighbouring Colonies to trade with the Indians or white persons living within this province and government, to come first to Charles Town, and take out licences to trade, and to be subject to the like regulations, and to pay the same duties of import and export with the inhabitants of this province and government, who trade with the Indians living within the bounds of the same.

Extract about hardships on the Virginia traders to be represented to the Queen.

Whereupon order'd that the papers mention'd in paragraph D. of the said letter, relating to grants of lands, be lookt out and laid before their lordships, and they agreed [fo. 261] to represent to her Majesty the substance of paragraph E. of the same letter, relating to the hardships the Virginia traders lye under, who are not permitted by the government of South Carolina to pass freely through that province, to trade with the Western Indians, notwithstanding her Majesty's positive order to the contrary.

Second letter from Col. Spotswood.

Second letter from Colonel Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 17th November, 1711, was read, as also Colonel Spotswood's speech to the Assembly therein referr'd to.

Third letter from Col. Spotswood.

A third letter from Colonel Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, dated the 8th of February, 17 11/12, was read, and the papers therein referr'd to were laid before the Board, and are as follows, vizt.:
Papers referr'd to therein.
Minutes of Council in Assembly, from the 7th November, 1711, to the 30th January, 1712.
Minutes of the Assembly of Virginia, from the 7th November, 1711, to the 30th January, 1712.

Whereupon their lordships agreed to reconsider paragraph K. of the foregoing letter, relating to the overtures made by the Baron de Graffenried for removing with his Palatines to Virginia; and further ordered that the papers in this office relating to a quota of the several provinces for assisting each other in case of need, be look'd out and laid before their lordships.

December 12. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Foley, Mr. H. Cotton.

New foundland.

Letter from Mr. Cummings about the present state of that trade.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

Representation in behalf of the sufferers there.

Colonel Jory and Mr. Campbell attending, Mr. Campbell presented to their lordships a letter from Mr. Archibald Cummings, dated at St. John's, October the 21st, 1712, giving an account of the present state of the Newfoundland trade; they also presented to their lordships a representation in behalf of the sufferers in the islands of Nevis and St. Christopher's, praying a speedy issuing out of debentures, which was read.

Ordered that the secretary take care that all the books, mapps or papers which have been lent out of this office, be immediately got back again.

Trade.

Letter to Sir Edward Gould for his memorial.

Sicily.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Sir Edward Gould [fo. 253, vide infra], to desire he will let their lordships have his memorial relating to our trade to Sicily on Tuesday morning next.

Nevis.

Mr. Barrow sworn.

Re-settlement of a planter.

Mr. Charles Barrows attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of James Buttler, planter, of Nevis.

Trade.

Letter to merchants for their observations on the Treaty of Comerce with Venice.

Ordered that a letter be writ to Mr. Thomas Williams and Mr. Claude Jamineau, Venetian merchants [fo. 252, 259], to desire they will let their lordships have their observations on the Treaty of Comerce with Venice (sent them the 9th instant) on Tuesday morning next.

December 16. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley, Mr. H. Cotton.

Trade.to Sicily.

Memorial from Sir Edward Gould relating to our trade to Sicily [vide supra, fo. 260], was now received and read.

Merchants’ observations on the Treaty of Commerce with Venice.

Mr. Williams and Mr. Jamineau attending [fo. 258, 260], presented to the Board their observations on the draught of a Treaty of Comerce with Venice (comunicated to them the 9th instant), which was read; and their lordships agreed to consider the same to-morrow morning.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

General Hamilton sworn.

Re-settlement of planters.

General Hamilton attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of Colonel Charles Matthew and Mrs. Bridget Venton, planters at St. Christopher's, as did likewise John Smith for Lady Francis Stapleton and William Smergin, planters at Nevis.

Representation about speedy issuing debentures.

Several Leeward Island gentlemen attending, their representation praying a speedy issuing out of debentures (mention'd in the minutes of the 12th instant), was again read; whereupon their lordships agreed to consider that matter at their first sitting after the holydays.

December 18. Present:—Lord Guilford, Mr. Monckton, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley, Mr. H. Cotton.

Trade.

Letter to the Earl of Dartmouth.

Treaty of Comerce.

Sicily.

A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth, in answer to his of the 20th of November last [fo. 258], relating to a Treaty of Commerce for Sicily, was agreed and signed.

Treaty of Comerce with Venice.

The draught of the project of a Treaty of Commerce with Venice [fo. 259, 261], was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

Memorial about person's losses in one plantation and their re-settling in another.

sent to the Attorny General.

Mr. Campbell and Mr. Duport attending, presented to the Board a memorial, signifying that some persons, mention'd in the return to be sufferers in the island of Nevis at the time of the French invasion, did afterwards repair to St. Christopher's, where they resettled before the 25th day of December, 1711, and never returned to their former habitations at Nevis; and that others of St. Christopher's are in the like case; and that therefore, such not being within the letter of the Act, more proofs could not be made till their lordships’ pleasure be known, was read; whereupon ordered that a copy thereof be sent to Mr. Attorney General for his opinion thereupon.

Mr. Smith and Ottley sworn to re-settlements of inhabitants.

John Smith attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of Rowland Gideon, Timothy Hare and Thomas Elford, inhabitants at Nevis, as did likewise Thomas Ottley for Charles Pain, an inhabitant of St. Christopher's.

December 19. Present:—Mr. Monckton, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley, Mr. H. Cotton.

Nevis.

Mrs. Shepherd sworn.

Mrs. Ann Shepheard attending, she took the oath to prove her own re-settlement as a planter at Nevis.

Carolina.

Virginia.

Representation on the hardships on the Virginia traders and boundaries.

A representation relating to the hardships the Virginia traders lye under [fo. 255, 303], who are not permitted by the government of South Carolina to pass freely through that province, to trade with the Western Indians, was signed.

Trade.

Treaty of Commerce.

Venice.

A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth [fo. 260], inclosing the draught of a Treaty of Commerce with Venice, was signed.

Jamaica.

Complaints against the Governor.

A letter from Mr. Mackenzie, dated at Jamaica the 8th of October last, containing some complaints against the Lord Archibald Hamilton, Governor of that island, was read.

Barbadoes.

Letter and papers from Mr. Lowther with Earl of Dartmouth.

The secretary acquainted the Board that he found at ye Earl of Dartmouth's office, his lordship had received letters and papers from Mr. Lowther, Governor of Barbadoes, to the same purport as those ordered to be sent him from this office, the 27th of last month.

December 22. Present:—Lord Guilford, Sir Philip Meadows, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn.

Bermuda.

Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth.

Commission and instructions to be prepar'd for a new Governor.

A letter from the Earl of Dartmouth, of the 21st November, 1712 [fo. 268], requiring the Board to prepare the draught of a Commission and Instructions for Henry Pulleyn, esquire, to be Lieutenant Governor of Bermuda, in the room of Benjamen Bennet, esquire, was read; and directions were given for preparing the same accordingly.

St. Christopher's.

Mr. Attorny General's report on the return in the name of Mr. Ball and Company.

Their re-settlement sworn to.

Mr. Attorney General's report in relation to the return from St. Christopher's in the name of Mr. Ball and Company, was read; and the said Ball, with Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Jeffreys and Mr. Ottley attending, they took the oath to prove the re-settlement of the above-mentioned Ball and Company, as inhabitants of St. Christopher's.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

Mr. Attorney General's reports on cross re-settlements and churches.

Mr. Attorney General's report in relation to people's suffering losses in one island and resettling in another, was read.

Another report from Mr. Attorney General in relation to the re-settlement of churches in Nevis and St. Christopher's, was read.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

Mr. Lee sworn to his father's re-settlements.

Mr. Tudor Lee attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of his father, Samuel Lee, as a planter at St. Christopher's.

As also another for his said father as an inhabitant of Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

Mr. Micaine sworn.

Re-settlement of an inhabitant.

Mr. George Macaine attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of Richard Atkins, an inhabitant of St. Christopher's.

Barbadoes.

Letter to the Governor with two Orders repealing Acts.

Letter to Mr. Lowther, Governor of Barbadoes, inclosing two Orders of Council repealing two Acts past there [fo. 222] the 8th of August, 1706, and 21st of March, 1709; the first entituled An Act for the better enabling the executors of Christopher Estwick, esquire, to pay the debts of the said Christopher Estwick, and the other, An Act to render more effectual certain legacies given and bequeathed by Captain Williams, deceased, to the parish of Christ Church within this island, was sign'd.

December 23. Present:—Mr. Monckton, Mr. Moore, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley.

Nevis.

St. Christopher's.

Mr. Smith sworn.

Re-settlements by planters.

Mr. John Smith attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of William Fenton, Christopher Stoddart, and Jane Clayton, planters at St. Christopher's.

As also for Jenkin Rice, planter at Nevis.

December 24. Present:—Mr. Monckton, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley.

Nevis.

Mr. Smith sworn.

Re-settlements by inhabitants and planters.

Mr. John Smith attending, he took the oath to prove the re-settlement of William Edward and Eleanor Fenton, inhabitants at Nevis, as also for Thomas Beauchamp and William Kitt, planters there.

December 25. Present:—Mr. Monckton, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley.

Leeward Islands.

No more proof of re-settlements atNevisandSt. Christopher's.

Their lordships attended again this day, in order to administer the oaths to such persons as should appear to prove any re-settlements in the islands of Nevis and St. Christopher's; but, none appearing, their lordships adjourn'd to the 9th of the next month.