America and West Indies: July 1639

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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'America and West Indies: July 1639', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, (London, 1860) pp. 299-301. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp299-301 [accessed 20 April 2024]

July 1639

July 1.
Warwick House.
Minutes as above. Agreement for payment of 100l. on account of Capt. Wil. Rous, prisoner at St. Lucar. In a letter to the Company he beseeches them to take notice of his long imprisonment in the Indies, St. Lucar, and the common gaol; of his having endured many wants and miseries, and become indebted 100l. for necessary expenses, for which he desires payment; these miseries having come upon him in their service. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 365–66.]
July 5.
Warwick House.
Minutes as above. Capt. Bell's demands concerning cattle, which he alleged were sold by him to the Company. The Earl of Warwick promises to discharge all his debts next term. Money disbursed for Capt. Newman's imprisonment at Dunkirk. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 364.]
July 9. 26. Report of the Sub-committee for Foreign Plantations to the Privy Council, upon petition of Thos Hill against Capt. Mathews. That Sir Fran. Wyatt, the present Governor of Virginia, upon his arrival in the colony, and also the Council, be directed to put Mathews in possession of any part of his estate remaining unrestored and taken from him upon Hill's complaint, a considerable portion, to a good value, being still detained notwithstanding their Lordships' letter of 25 July 1638.
July 11. 27. Serj. Major Henry Huncks to the Earl of Carlisle. Was 12 weeks on his passage to Barbadoes. Capt. Hawley got there before him, who called in all commissions, proclaimed all offices void, made the gaol delivery a day of mercy, chose Burgesses, and settled a Parliament. Was not allowed to read his commission, but ordered to give it up, or his person would be seized. The King's letter was slighted, Capt. Hawley disputing Lord Carlisle's proprietary of the island. The Parliament came to a resolution to choose Hawley Governor, and he was proclaimed "with the greatest scorn towards you [Carlisle]." Was threatened to be pistolled, if he demanded the government. Cannot write one quarter of their designs. Hawley is about to go to Florida, and pretends he has the King's commission for what he does. Was forced to leave the island; is now at Antigua awaiting further orders. Doubts not Carlisle's care will be great to get the King to command Hawley to return.
[1639.] 28. Petition of James Earl of Carlisle and Sir James and Archibald Hay to the King. On 16 March last the King, by letter to the Council and inhabitants of Barbadoes, confirmed the petitioners' appointment of Serjeant-Major Huncks to be Governor of that island [see ante p. 291, No. 12]; but Capt. Hawley then in England, obtained a commission for treating with foreign plantations for regulating tobacco, and assumed the title of Lieut. Gen. and Governor of Barbadoes. Hawley escaped to the island, set up a popular faction, and proclaimed himself Governor in opposition to Huncks, who was compelled to "relinquish the island." He has defeated the petitioners from very great debts, withdrawn the fealty, duties, and revenues due to them, permitted a great number of the inhabitants to be taken away, contrary to the King's commands, and by rigorous and revengeful courses caused many to forsake the plantation. Pray for a speedy hearing of the particulars and for orders to re-establish Serj.-Major Huncks, or such other person as they shall nominate, in the Government, and for repressing the disorders of the people. Annexed,
28. I. Thirteen articles against Captain Henry Hawley. He incited the people against Lord Carlisle, and the usual prayers for him in church were left out by his directions. He prevented Serj.-Major Huncks from publishing the King's commission appointing him Governor, and in conjunction with 30 persons would not permit the country to receive him. He allowed one of his Council and a Burgess to speak rebellious words, and acted himself in a most irreverent and saucy manner. These and all the new officers were, through his means, factiously elected. He commanded the common officer to seize Serj.-Major Huncks and sharply reproved the master of the ship to which Huncks escaped for entertaining him one night, &c.
July 18. Commission from the Company of Providence Island to Capt. John Dell, to command the Advantage, to be employed in the West Indies for Spanish prizes. [Minute. Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. IV., p. 152.]
July 18. Instructions for Capt. John Dell, commander of the Advantage, Concerning the taking of Spanish prizes. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. IV., pp. 152–53.]
July 23. 29. Report of the Sub-committee for Foreign Plantations. The Privy Council, upon petition of Lawrence Evans against Fran Poythres, recommend, because of a notorious deficiency in the prosecution by those entrusted by Evans with his cause, that letters be addressed to the new Governor of Virginia, now going thence, for a new hearing of the differences between them.
July. Minutes of several Meetings of the Company of Providence Island. Articles agreed upon with Capt. Dell and others, for setting forth the Advantage to be employed as a man-of-war in the West Indies. On 11th July a letter was directed to Capt. Butler, Governor of Providence [not found], and on the 18th commission and instructions for Capt. Dell were signed. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 366.]
[July 28.] 30. Petition of the Governor and Company of London for plantation of the Somers Islands to the Commissioners for Foreign Plantations. Have been a Company about 28 years, during which time the planters in those islands are become so numerous that of late, several have inconsiderately dispersed themselves. About 130 "transplanted" themselves to the island of St. Lucia last year, without provisions or ammunition befitting a plantation, where they have been assaulted by the savages, and suffered very much sickness, so that not one was in health. Understanding that four or five hundred more are ready to leave the island, and that many more might depart, because of the increase of people and strangers of the place, pray, by reason of an agreement formerly made with the Virginia Company, for a grant of land between the rivers Rapahannock and Patowmac. Underwritten, is a reference to the Sub-committee for Foreign Plantations for their report, 1639, July 28.
On the same sheet is the annexed,
30. I. Report of the Sub-committee to the Commissioners for Foreign Plantations. Conceive that a grant of the land prayed for by the petitioners, which is uninhabited and not passed to any others, may be very fit and convenient. The Company desire that the grant may be exempted from the jurisdiction of Virginia as in other similar grants, but if hereafter adjudged to be again restored to Virginia, they will also submit their grant. 1639, Aug. 10.
July 30. 31. Report of the Sub-committee for Foreign Plantations to the Privy Council. Upon petition of Edmund Dawber, administrator of the estate of Sir Thomas Gates, deceased. That a similar letter to that written to the Earls of Dorset and Danby, and bearing date 30 Nov. 1632, be addressed to the Governor and Council of Virginia, on behalf of the petitioner, for the full recovery of the estate in that colony, belonging to Sir Thos. Gates, deceased.