Journal, January 1723: Journal Book Z

Journal of the proceedings of Her Majesty's Commissioners for promoting the trade of this Kingdom, and for inspecting and improving her plantations in America and elsewhere, from the eighth of January, 1722-23, to the twentieth of December, 1723.

Z.

Journal, January 1723

At a meeting of His Majesty's Commissioners for Trade and Plantations.

January 8th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham.

Plantations General.

Petition of pirates.

Their Lordships taking again into consideration the Order in Council of the 9th November last, referring to the Board the petition of several pirates, praying to be pardoned;

Memorial from merchants and letter from Mr. Harris about their pardon.

A memorial from several merchants in relation to the pardoning those pirates, who have desired to surrender, as also

Draft of Representation.

A letter from Mr. Harris upon the same subject, were read. And ordered that the draft of a representation be prepared thereupon.

January 9th. Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Plantations General.

Petition of pirates.

Draught of Representation agreed.

The draught of a representation (ordered yesterday to be prepared) upon an order of the Committee of Council of the 9th of November last, referring to the Board the petition of several pirates, praying to be pardoned, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

January 10th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Miscellanies.

Mr. Gray, (messenger), dead.

Mr. John Wilson succeeds him.

The Secretary acquainting the Board, that Mr. John Gray, messenger and assistant doorkeeper in the service of this office, was dead, Mr. Pelham was pleased to recommend Mr. John Wilson to succeed the said Mr. Gray in his employment, which their Lordships agreed to accordingly.

Plantations General.

Pirates.

Representation on their petition, signed.

A representation upon an order of the Committee of Council of the 9th of November last, referring to the Board the petition of several pirates praying to be pardoned, agreed yesterday, was signed.

Nova Scotia.

Letter from Colonel Philipps.

A letter from Colonel Philipps, Governor of Nova Scotia, dated the 19th of September, 1722, was read.

New York.

Letter from Mr. Burnett.

A letter from Mr. Burnett, Governor of New York and New Jersey, dated the 21st of November, 1722, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Papers therein referred to.
Mr. Burnett's propositions to the Five Nations of Indians, the 27th of August, 1722.
The Indians' answer to Mr. Burnett.
Mr. Burnett's proposition to the River Indians, the 30th of August, 1722, and their answer.
Mr. Burnett's proposition to the 5 Nations of Indians, the 13th of September, 1722.
The Indians' answer to Mr. Burnett.
The Governor of Virginia's propositions to the Five Nations of Indians, and their answer.
The Governor of Virginia's 2nd and 3rd propositions to the said Indians.
The Indians' answer.
The Governor of Pennsylvania's propositions to the said Indians and their answer.
An Act to enable trustees therein named to take, sell and dispose of certain lots of land, the estate of Gilbert Livingston in the city of New York, for the payment of a certain bond given and debt due to His Majesty on the said Gilbert Livingston his contract for farming the excise of this province.
Passed at New York, 1st November, 1722.

Letter to Mr. West.

Ordered that the said Act be sent to Mr. West, for his opinion thereupon in point of law.

January 16th. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Newfoundland.

Petition of Simon Fabian.

Plantation in Bay de Verde.

A petition of Simon Fabian, relating to a plantation in Bay de Verdes in Newfoundland, was read.

Nova Scotia.

Copy of Sir William Alexander's grant.

A copy of Sir William Alexander's grant of Nova Scotia, dated the 10th of September, 1621, was read.

Carolina.

Memorial from Mr. Shelton against an Act.

A memorial from Mr. Shelton, desiring to be heard by Council against an Act, passed in Carolina in 1722, entituled, An Act for the better government of Charles Town, was read; whereupon ordered that Mr. Shelton have notice when their Lordships shall take into further consideration the aforesaid Act.

January 18th. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

St. Christophers.

Acts considered.

The Board taking into consideration the following Acts, passed at St. Christophers in 1718–19, and Mr. West's report thereupon being read, their Lordships agreed thereon, as is expressed under each respective title, viz:—
An Act for holding the courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas of the Island of St. Christophers at Sandy Point and Basseterre.
Has had its effect.
Act.
An Act for the general quiet of the inhabitants of St. Christophers in their estates and possessions, and for avoiding of vexatious law suits.

Their Lordships resolved to consider further thereof at another opportunity.

January 22nd. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

St. Christophers.

Act.

Their Lordships took into consideration an Act, passed at St. Christophers in 1719, entituled, An Act for laying a tax on vintners, victuallers and retailers of wine, rum and rum punch and other strong liquors, and for lessening the number of distillers, and to enable the treasurer to demand and receive all arrearages and debts, which remain due from victuallers etc. by virtue of a former Act.

No objection, to be confirmed.

January 23rd. Present:—Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Plummer.

Antigua.

Act about Anthony Brown and John Elliot, Mr. Marsh's memorial.

Board ready to hear Mr. Marsh.

Their Lordships taking into consideration Mr. Marsh's memorial (mentioned in the Minutes of the 13th of November last) desiring to be heard in relation to an Act passed at Antegoa in 1715, entituled, An Act to indemnify Anthony Brown and John Elliot of the aforesaid island, gentlemen, from a certain bond and articles of agreement by them entered into with George Pullen, carpenter, for the building a church in the parish of St. Philips in the said island, and to charge the said parish with the same; ordered that Mr. Marsh be acquainted that the Board is ready to hear what he has to offer against the abovesaid Act.

January 25th. Present:—Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Newfoundland.

Mr. West reminded about Bonds from masters of New England ships.

New England.

Ordered that Mr. West be reminded of the Secretary's letter of the 15th of August, 1722, desiring his opinion how the instruction given to the Commodore of the Newfoundland convoy directing him to require all the masters of New England vessels, who depart from Newfoundland before the said convoy, to enter into bonds not to carry away any of the seamen, handy-crafts men, etc., from thence to New England, is warranted by law, and how much of the said bonds as become forfeited are recoverable.

St. Christophers.

Mr. Nivine summoned about an Act.

Ordered that Mr. Nivine be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him on Tuesday morning next, in relation to the Act, passed at St. Christophers in 1719, entituled, An Act for the general quiet of the inhabitants of St. Christophers in their estates and possessions and for avoiding vexations law suits.

January 29th. Present:—Earl of Westmoreland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Ashe. Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Mr. Nivine resummoned thereupon.

Mr. Nivine not attending, as he had been desired, ordered that he be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him on Tuesday morning next.

Ireland.

Trade.

Letter from Mr. Horace Walpole about Thompson and Barnes.

A letter from Mr. Horace Walpole of the 23rd inst. inclosing the copy of a report of the Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland, in relation to the behaviour of Mr. Thompson and Mr. Barnes, was read.

January 31st. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Sir John Hobart.

Antigua.

Mr. Marsh. Act about Brown and Elliot.

Mr. Marsh attending, in relation to an Act passed in Antigua in 1715, entituled, An Act to indemnify Anthony Brown and John Elliot from a certain bond and articles of agreement by them entered into with George Pullen, carpenter, for the building a church.

Hearing appointed.

Their Lordships acquainted him that they were ready to hear what he may have to offer against confirming the said Act on Tuesday morning next.

Mr. Nivine summoned.

Ordered that Mr. Nivine be acquainted that the Board desire to speak with him at the same time.