America and West Indies: August 1680

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 10, 1677-1680. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1896.

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'America and West Indies: August 1680', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 10, 1677-1680, ed. W Noel Sainsbury, J W Fortescue( London, 1896), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol10/pp585-591 [accessed 4 October 2024].

'America and West Indies: August 1680', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 10, 1677-1680. Edited by W Noel Sainsbury, J W Fortescue( London, 1896), British History Online, accessed October 4, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol10/pp585-591.

"America and West Indies: August 1680". Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 10, 1677-1680. Ed. W Noel Sainsbury, J W Fortescue(London, 1896), , British History Online. Web. 4 October 2024. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol10/pp585-591.

August 1680

Aug. 2.
Green Spring (Virginia).
1473. Proclamation by Governor Lord Culpeper, commanding all Sheriffs to collect His Majesty's quit-rents in all and every county and counties of this Colony. Copy. 2 pp. On same page.
Aug. 3.
Virginia.
1474. Instructions for the collection of the 2s. per hogshead fort duties, and head money, to be strictly followed and duly observed pursuant to an Order of Council to the same effect. Instructions for Mr. Auditor Bacon, to be by him duly observed. Copy. 2 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 70.]
Aug. 3. 1475. Journal of Assembly of Barbadoes. But seven members attended, who stayed till 3 p.m., and adjourned to 31st August. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XIII., p. 392.]
Aug. 4.
Whitehall.
1476. Warrant from the King to the Trustees of Sutton's Hospital, in the Charterhouse. Whereas Lord George Abernethy has represented his long and hazardous services to His Majesty, and his father having been a commission officer from the beginning of the Civil War, and in several actions at home and abroad received many wounds, having also been sent by the usurping powers a slave to Barbadoes, where he continued eight years; by all which he is reduced to great want, and rendered incapable of any employment, His Majesty has thought fit that they admit him into a pensioner's place in the said hospital if any be void, or to the first void after the places of such as have already obtained His Majesty's letters. 1 p. [Dom. Entry Bk., Chas. II., Vol. LIII. p. 19, from the end.]
Aug. 6. 1477. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. The Commission and Instructions of Sir Richard Dutton, who is appointed to succeed Sir Jonathan Atkins as Governor of Barbadoes, considered. Names of the Councillors to be laid before the Lords next meeting. The quorum of Councillors to remain at five. The system of biennial laws to be altered, and all laws to continue in force until disallowed by the King. Authenticated copies of all laws to be forwarded to England by first conveyance under penalty of forfeiture of a year's salary. This penalty to be named in the instructions, and the Governor to take an oath to observe his commissions and instructions. The Secretary to forfeit his place if he fail to send the public documents required of him. No bill for raising money to be passed by the Governor unless the King's name be mentioned, and the style made agreeable to the laws of England, nor any Revenue Bill whereby the revenues shall not become accountable to the Treasury in England or the Exchequer, though the Assembly may be permitted to examine the accounts. No impost on liquors to be for less than one year, and laws generally, unless for a temporary purpose, to be indefinite. The Governor not to erect a new Court or dissolve an old one without the King's special order, nor to remit fines or forfeitures without reporting to the King and receiving his directions. An AttorneyGeneral to be constantly employed in Barbadoes, the Governor to propose a fit person and the means of encouraging him to undertake the office.
His Majesty's letter to the Governor of Boston, dated 24th July, read, with a letter from Mr. Randolph, complaining of the difficulties he has met with in the execution of his office. Their Lordships, taking notice that in the grant of Maine to Sir Ferdinando Gorges there is a clause subjecting all the civil and ecclesiastical government to the Commissioners of Foreign Plantations, and that the Massachusetts, who have purchased the grant, have not given any account of their settlement of the province, order a letter to be sent to them requiring the performance of their duty according to the grant. Address from the President and Council of New Hampshire read, and their Lordships observing that they have neglected to return an account of their proceedings, as their Commission directs, agree to propose that some able person be sent thither to officiate as Clerk of the Council. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. CVI., pp. 183, 189.]
Aug. 6. 1478. William Blathwayt to the Attorney-General. The Lords of Trade and Plantations request you to recommend some industrious and fit person, well versed in the law, to be Secretary of the Colony of New Hampshire. ½ p. The Attorney-General's answer appointing Mr. Richard Chamberlain is written below. Signed, Creswell Levins, see post No. 1495, 3rd September 1680. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 71, and Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XLI., p. 80.]
Aug. 6. 1479. Memorandum that Mr. Billing and others having long insisted on their right, derived from the Duke of York's grant to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret of West New Jersey to be exempt from the jurisdiction of New York, the case was referred to Sir William Jones, who on the 28th July gave his opinion in writing. (Here follows the opinion, very brief, but adverse to the Duke). In compliance therewith the Duke on 6th August ordered Sir John Werden to bring a deed of release tendered by Mr. Billing the more firmly to convey West New Jersey to him and to the rest of the proprietors, and though both his counsel were absent was pleased to execute the same. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXX., pp. 32, 33.]
[Aug. 6.] 1480. Petition of Robert Mason to Lords of Trade and Plantations. Enumeration of his previous petitions. Prays that the decision of the Lords which was delayed by the Massachusetts, on the understanding that they were to send over agents, may be enforced, the Massachusetts having plainly disobeyed the order to send over new agents. Endorsed, Recd, and read 6 Aug. 1680. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 72.]
Aug. 9.
Tonbridge Wells.
1481. Sir Peter Colleton to William Blathwayt. Is at Tonbridge for his health. Desires the Lords of Trade to grant him fourteen days more to answer the complaints of Thomas Miller. All the papers not in his own hands are with Lord Shaftesbury, so that the Lords Proprietors of Carolina cannot deal with the petitions till the writer is in town. 1/12 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 73.]
Aug. 10.
Nevis.
1482. Governor Sir William Stapleton to Lords of Trade and Plantations. I enclose duplicate of a former letter. Pray represent our condition to the King and inform me whether our laws are confirmed or not. ½ p. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XLVI., p. 434.]
Aug. 12. 1483. Heads of requests to the King, drawn up by Lord Culpeper. (1) That Lord Baltimore be ordered to concur with Virginia in such reduction of tobacco planting as may seem good to the Council and Assembly there. (2) That a commission as Deputy Governor be given to Colonel Nathaniel Bacon. (3) For instructions how to proceed in the punishment of the late insurrection in case Sir H. Chicheley has issued a pardon in the King's name. Mem.—To represent the likelihood of fresh mutiny, if the Government cannot punish rebels by law. (4) For instruction as to the suing of plant-cutters (rioters), the inconvenience if they be not sued. (5) Mem.—About Mr. Sandys' 580 hogshead. (6) To represent that the King has no one in pay here by sea or land, though here if anywhere it is necessary. Holograph. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 74.]
Aug. 17. 1484. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Petition of Mr. Mason read, praying that, as the Massachusetts had disobeyed His Majesty's commands to send over agents within six months, their Lordships will proceed to offer their report for adjusting the difference between him and the Massachusetts, which had only been delayed at the request of himself and the late agents till other agents should have arrived. Their Lordships taking notice that besides this omission, the Massachusetts had neglected to pursue several material directions of the letter of 24th July last (sic), and had only given account by their letter to the Earl of Sunderland of 22nd May of some few particulars complied with, it is agreed His Majesty be moved to write once more, directing them peremptorily to send over within three months of the receipt of the letter agents fully instructed to answer Mr. Mason's claim; ordering further that publication be given to the terre-tenants of the land claimed by Mr. Mason, that they may possess the agents with their titles, and that the directions of His Majesty be executed, and the agents instructed to answer objections against the proceedings of the government during the attendance of the late agents. Otherwise His Majesty will give speedy order for the settling of the government in such manner as he shall think fit. Referred to the Attorney-General to find some person fit for the employment of Clerk of the Council for New Hampshire.
Sir Richard Dutton's Commission and Instructions again considered. Ordered, that the Bishop of London be spoken to concerning the christening slaves with some kind of liberty like unto that of villeins formerly in England; also that the orders given to Sir Jonathan Atkins by letter be inserted in Sir Richard Dutton's instructions. Sir Jonathan Atkins' letter of 21st May (No. 1362) read, and upon his complaint of the grant of offices by patent, Agreed that the King be moved to pass no more such grants without notice first given to the Committee. Letters from the officers acknowledging the circulars of 14th January respecting quarterly returns read. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. CVI., pp. 189–192.]
Aug. 17. 1485. A list of the names of the present Council of Barbadoes, viz., Sir Peter Colleton, Henry Drax, Samuel Newton, Thomas Wardall, John Witham, John Pearse [Peers], John Standfast, Richard Howell, Edwyn Stede, Benjamin Knight, Thomas Waldron. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 75.]
Aug. 20.
Virginia.
1486. Colonel Nicholas Spencer to Mr. Secretary Coventry. Lord Culpeper lately sailed from hence towards New England, and from thence intends for England. He has done very well. Our Indians are yet peaceable; I hope they may so continue, knowing the guards at the heads of the rivers. No fears or disquiets, unless we may suspect the mutinous humours of Sir Henry Chicheley's Company; the discontents between the Lieutenant and the Ensign may be the cause. The Governor has dispersed 32 of the most mutinous amongst the garrisons. The despicable and low price of tobacco inclines the inhabitants to think of cohabitation as a means to reduce production; but I much doubt the efficiency of the late Act because of the multiplicity of places named for landing and shipping. One place in each great river would be better (see ante, No. 1434). "Received 9 Dec. 1680." [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXX., pp. 396–398.]
Aug. 20.
Warwick, Rhode Island.
1487. Randall Holden and John Greene to William Blathwayt. Have received his letter of 8th April last. Governor Cranston died in March last, and Major Peleg Sanford is now Governor in his stead. Refer to a letter received from the three united Colonies in answer to the King's letter of 12th February 1678–79, and to a petition presented to the King by the inhabitants of the Narragansett country. In the petition, if they are rightly informed, Richard Smith declared that his father was the first that settled that place, and expended a great sum of money for the effecting thereof, which assertion they of their own knowledge must declare against as being untrue. They themselves were inhabitants of the Narragansett country some years before Richard Smith, senior, was heard of there. In process of time Roger Williams and one Wilcockes set up trading houses, and Richard Smith, senior, afterwards came thither, having joined in partnership with Wilcockes, and had no occasion to expend anything, for the Indians would not let them have any land to improve, nor suffer them to keep a beast there. Richard Smith since combined with Major Atherton and others to deprive His Majesty and the Indians of their country, and went about to dispose of it, as is evident by the printed advertisement produced before His Majesty and Council. Marvel at their boldness. As what will be determined concerning the Narragansett country is yet uncertain, and the situation of it within the bounds of the Connecticut Charter, granted in 1662 before that of Rhode Island, seems to carry some weight, they answer:— that the King has already determined that matter under the broad seal in their charter taking notice of the agreement of both the agents; that the Connecticut Charter was under restraint in the Lord Chancellor's hand until that agreement; and that furthermore they had a former charter granted in 1643, the bounds whereof extend westward about seven miles farther than the bounds of their present charter, viz., to the Pequik River and county. Would gladly have pleaded that matter when at Whitehall, but no agent for Connecticut would appear, notwithstanding the petition of Richard Smith and others against their colony. Hope Blathwayt has received their letter concerning their difference with William Harris who took ship for England last Christmas, as it were by stealth, thinking with the assistance of the New Plymouth magistrates to surprise them, but was taken by a Turkish man-of-war to Algiers. Having sent Nathaniel Colson to appear in their behalf, hope no advantage will be given Harris if he be released and appear. Rest assured of Blathwayt's future favour to their colony and poor distressed town of Warwick since the late unhappy Indian wars. 2 pp. With seal. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 76.]
[Aug. 28.] 1488. Memorandum by the Bishop of London concerning the Church in Barbadoes. 1. That a Commissary be appointed under the Governor to exercise the ecclesiastical jurisdiction. 2. Inquiry to be made whether if, as ordered, every minister is constituted ex officio a member of his parish vestry. 3. The Governor to inquire whether the minister of each parish be in due orders according to the Church of England for administration of the Sacrament, &c. 4. The stipend of each parish to be ascertained. 5. Apprehensions of planters that the conversion of slaves may deprive the owners of their present power and disposal of them, to be dispelled as groundless. 6. Particular inquiry to be made respecting incestuous marriages, and a table of marriages, according to the institutions of the Church, to be hung up in every church, and printed copies thereof carried over by the Governor, as well as (7) the books of Homilies, of Canons, and books of articles which are prescribed by the Canons to be in every parish church. Unsigned. Endorsed, Recd. 28 Aug. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 77, and Col. Entry Bk., Vol. VII., p. 22.]
Aug. 31.
Nevis.
1489. Journal of the Assembly of Nevis. Eight members present. Proposed by the Governor "that some course be taken to prevent any levy to be imposed on the inhabitants as well for the next year as the future, which cannot otherwise be avoided by reason of their proportion of the public charges, occasion of the Articles of Neutrality, and by reason of the stonework to be erected at Pelican Point or Charles Fort, and the file of men added to the guard of the guns; and besides the yearly charges, the easiest way to the people is conceived to be to impose 100 lbs. sugar additional duty on the Madeira wine, and so on other liquors in proportion" (sic). Agreed to unanimously by the Council and Assembly. Also voted to the above proposal that no particular votes be given in pro and con, but in general by the mouth of the Speaker.
An Act for raising an additional duty upon strong liquors imported. Confirmed by the Council and Assembly. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 78.]
[August ?] 1490. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to Lords of Trade and Plantations. We have, pursuant to your Order of 19th July, examined the petitions of Thomas Miller and Timothy Biggs. Thomas Miller, without any legal authority, got possession of the county of Albemarle in 1677, and was for a time quietly obeyed; but after a time, owing to his arbitrary action and drunkenness, he was tumultuously and disorderly imprisoned by the people, and Biggs and Nixon, who had abetted him, with him. They revived an old accusation of treasonable language against Miller, for which he had once been imprisoned, but never tried, and set up John Culpeper in his place. Biggs escaped to England, and informed us of these things, and we then set up Mr. Seth Southell as Governor, a moderate man, under whom we doubted not that quiet would be restored; but he was captured by the Turks in his passage outward. We then appointed Mr. Harvey to be Governor, with whom were Mr. Robert Holden as Collector of the King's Customs. We hear that everything is quiet since they went there. Soon after their arrival they committed Miller again to prison on the charge of treasonable langnage, but he escaped to England. Soon after, Biggs, who had been appointed Surveyor of the King's dues in Albemarle, quarrelled with Mr. Holden, withdrew from the Council, and persuaded James Hill, the Duke of Albemarle's deputy, to do the same, hoping, as we suppose, to create a disturbance thereby. Mr. Harvey is since dead, and Mr. Jenkins administers the Government, though Biggs with some people who have got into trouble by aiding Miller to escape, has again endeavoured to create disturbance. We are now sending out Captain Wilkinson as Governor, who, being a stranger, will, we hope, settle the local factions with moderation. Meanwhile, looking to Miller's past history, we think the selection of a new Collector of Customs will be better for the King than his re-appointment. Signed, Craven, Shaftesbury, P. Colleton. Endorsed, Read, 20 Nov. 1680. 3 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 79.]
[Aug. ?] 1491. A list of amendments or necessary alterations to the laws of Barbadoes, ten in number, referring presumably to the parcel of laws sent by Sir Jonathan Atkins in his letter of 21st May. Rough Draft. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLV., No. 80.]
Aug. 31
and Sept. 1.
1492. Minutes of Council of Barbadoes. Bills for Replevins passed. Bill for explaining the Act touching Negros rejected. The Assembly reminded of two Bills of which they had given no account. Roger Cowley and Richard Trant explained why they could not furnish the returns of exports required of them (see ante, No. 1380). The Assembly brought up several orders for payment of gunners, mattrosses, and artificers employed in the fortifications. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XI., pp. 319, 320.]
Aug. 31. 1493. Journal of Assembly of Barbadoes. Colonel Guy chosen Speaker. Bill to prohibit the putting of Negroes to trade passed with its amendments.