America and West Indies: December 1694

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 14, 1693-1696. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1903.

'America and West Indies: December 1694', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 14, 1693-1696, (London, 1903) pp. 413-421. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol14/pp413-421 [accessed 26 April 2024]

December 1694



Dec.	1,571. Minute of Lords of Trade and Plantations. That a state of the preparations for the Jamaica expedition be laid before the King in Council, and that protections be ordered for the crews of the transports. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 356.]
Dec. 2.	1,572. Memorandum of the state of the preparations for Jamaica, laid before the King in Council on 2 December, 1694. The Admiralty here appointed five frigates and two fireships for the service, which are lying at Spithead. The Office of Ordnance has shipped 44 pieces of Ordnance, with all appurtenances, small arm ammunition for 5,000 men and spare arms for 1,000 men. The Victualling Board has shipped four months' provisions at full allowance and two months' additional bread for 1,841 men. The Commissioners for Transportation have taken up freight for these men, their provisions and necessaries, and for 250 tons of ordnance-stores, and have also provided a hospital-ship. A Commissary and medical officers have been appointed. Orders are wanted for getting ready the appointed number of men to embark. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 326, 327.]
Dec. 3.	1,573. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Mr. Blathwayt was sent to the Treasury to desire immediate dispatch of the business relating to the clothing and necessaries for the regiments for Jamaica. He returned with the reply that the said clothing could not be ready before the transports arrived at Portsmouth. Order thereupon that the transports proceed to Spithead, and the Admiralty directed to provide convoy. Sundry minor orders given. Agreed to lay a state of the preparations before the King. Order for victuals for sixty men to be put on board the hospitalship. [Board of Trade. Journal, 7. pp. 387–389.]
Dec. 3.	1,574. Memorial of the Commissioners for Transportation to Lords of Trade and Plantations. You ordered us to provide ships to carry soldiers to Jamaica, after the same thing had been attempted by the Commissioners of the Navy. We found it very difficult to provide ships as there are no traders to Jamaica left here, and the accounts from thence gave much discouragement to other men, the Virginia traders generally refusing to carry any troops. However with much ado we did find very good ships and masters to transport troops to Jamaica, with the intention of going on to Virginia for cargo, as none was to be expected at Jamaica. Among the conditions on which they insisted was that their seamen should be protected out and home, as otherwise they would simply lose their ships for want of men to bring them home. This was approved by you, and an article to that effect was inserted in the charter-parties. The masters finding our protection insufficient have applied to the Admiralty, and the application was backed by ourselves, for further protection. The Admiralty answered that they could do nothing without further orders from you, but they seemed disinclined to give any such protection at all. Since the article in our agreement with the masters was approved by you, and since it forms the most material point in the contract, we beg you to take measures that it shall be respected. We would add that we have made, as ordered, full provisions for transporting and victualling 1,841 men, and that we have paid the masters half freight for that number. We now hear that but 1,400 are to be sent. We beg for information, that we may save what we can from this reduction; though, as to freight, the masters will insist on their charter-parties and we know not how to force them from their agreement. We beg also your directions for the disposal of the supernumerary beds if the reduction be made. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 327–330.]
Dec. 3.	1,575. William Blathwayt to the Commissioners for Transportation. Directing them to order the transports for Jamaica to sail to Spithead and await orders; also to provide passage for the Physician, Apothecary and Apothecary's mate. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 331.]
Dec. 3.	1,576. William Blathwayt to William Bridgeman. Desiring the Admiralty to direct the Victualling Board to consign all the provisions for the Jamaica expedition to Commissary Murrey. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 332.]
Dec. 3.	1,577. William Blathwayt to William Bridgeman. Directing that the Admiralty give protection against impressment to the seamen on the transport-ships, and provide convoy for the ships to Spithead. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 332, 333.]
Dec. 4. Admiralty.	1,578. William Bridgeman to William Blathwayt. Orders have been issued for consigning the provisions shipped for Jamaica to Commissary Murrey. My Lords will issue protections to the transport ships if you will send a list of them and of the numbers of their crews. The Commander-in-Chief at the Nore has orders to appoint a convoy for the transports to Spithead. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 335.]
Dec. 4.	1,579. The Masters of the transport ships to Lords of Trade and Plantations. We have your orders to sail, and are ready to do so as soon as we receive from the Admiralty protections for the men against impressment. Seven signatures. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 343.]
Dec. 4.	1,580. Minutes of Council of Massachusetts. The Lieutenant-Governor sworn to observe the Acts of Trade and Navigation. Commission made out for Captain John Wincoll as Clerk of the Peace, etc., for York County. Letter to the Government of Rhode Island as to the ships fitting out there, whereby many had been enticed thither without consent of parents or masters, and from the King's ships. Order for survey of the stores of war in the Province.
Dec. 5.	The King's letter of 26 March as to the accounts of Sir Edmund Andros and Mr. John Usher read. Order for payment of sums voted by the General Court. Order for payment of £6 to Captain Edward Wyllys for entertainment of a captured French officer, and for sundry other small payments. Thomas Swift commissioned to take charge of the Indians at Puncapoag plantations and the neighbourhood.
Dec. 6.	Order for completing the grant voted to Salem for encouragement of the fortification thereof. Advised that 50 men be sent to Pemaquid to take advantage of a chance of defeating the Eastern Indians, and that Major James Convers do take command.
Dec. 7.	Committees appointed to examine the accounts of Sir E. Andros and John Usher, and to inspect the fortifications of Boston, Charlestown, Salem and Marblehead. Order for payment of £5 to Duncan Campbell, postmaster of Boston, for extraordinary expenses in the public service. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXIV., pp. 490–496.]
Dec. 5.	1,581. Additional instructions to Governor Codrington. To assert the King's right to all the Virgin Islands and hinder the settlement of foreigners on all of them except St. Thomas; of which the people must be warned, in case they act in prejudice of the King's right sovereignty in these Islands, that the King of Denmark has no good title to St. Thomas. Any encroachments are to be reported forthwith. Countersigned. J. Trenchard. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 44. pp. 205, 206.]
Dec. 5. Transport Office.	1,582. Commissioners for Transportation to William Blathwayt. We have ordered the transports to sail from Gravesend, and they are about to do so, but the masters wish to know what convoy they are to have to the Downs and where they may apply to the Commander. We beg for directions herein, also that you will desire the Admiralty to hasten their protections for the seamen, for the transports will not sail without them, and if they refuse we have no remedy, wherefore their demurrage runs on. Signed. Robt. Henley, Saml. Atkinson, John Ellis. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 334.]
Dec. 6.	1,583. Minutes of Council of New York. Patent for land granted to Rimasack, an Indian. Warrant for the erection of Lewis Morris's estate at Harlem into a manor. Order for certain payments. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., p. 583.]
Dec. 8.	1,584. Commissioners for Transportation to William Blathwayt. We hear that the King doubts whether the transports are ready to sail from the Thames. They are quite ready, but they absolutely refuse to sail without protection from the Admiralty for their crews. These we hope to receive to-day, though we have called for them already in vain. Signed. Robt. Henley, John Nicholl, John Ellis, Sam. Atkinson. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 344.]
Dec. 10.	1,585. Minutes of Council of Massachusetts. Major James Convers's commission approved. License granted to Nathaniel Byfield to export twenty barrels of tar to Jamaica. Order for £2 each to be paid to two prisoners returned from Canada, for their present relief. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXIV., p. 496.]
Dec. 10.	1,586. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Agreed to recommend the appointment of John Corsley to the Council of Jamaica. Memorial of merchants and planters of the Island considered, and decision taken for their relief. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 7. pp. 390–392.]
Dec. 10.	1,587. Minute of Lords of Trade and Plantations. On consideration of Sir William Beeston's appeal for money for ruined planters in Jamaica, and of the petition of these planters for compensation for damage done by the French invasion, agreed to recommend that £4,000, profit arising out of the exchange on money sent to Jamaica for the forces, be made over to the Governor and Council for the relief of sufferers by the invasion. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 54. p. 4.]
Dec. 10. Treasury Chambers.	1,588. William Lowndes to William Blathwayt. Desiring the preparation of an establishment for the King's signature for paying eight shillings a day to John Silvester as Assistant-Commissary to the West Indian expedition. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 336.]
Dec. 10. Whitehall.	1,589. William Blathwayt to Commissary Murrey. Ordering him to direct provisions for sixty men and ten tons of water to be placed in the hospital ship. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 336.]
Dec. 11.	1,590. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Orders for sundry payments.
Dec. 12.	The Assembly brought up four bills, one of them declaring the right of the Assembly to settle all questions of disputed elections. The Governor announced that he had found a better sailing sloop than that which he had formerly hired, and asked them to make provision for reward to Captain Sherman, who had voluntarily taken command of her, and for the funeral expenses of Captain Coates who had been killed in action with a privateer. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. 12, pp. 493–497; and Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. pp. 26–29.]
Dec. 11.	1,592. Journal of Assembly of Barbados. Act for repealing the act for constructing the mole, which was destroyed in the last storm. Bills passed for the payment of the Agents, and to prohibit negroes from rowing in wherries.
Dec. 12.	Bill to preserve freedom of elections, and to assert the decision of contraverted elections to be in the Assembly, passed. Three absent members fined. Resolved that a fast sailing sloop be sought out and fitted out at the public expense, and that, if possible, she be manned out of the King's ships and stores. The Governor replied that he could not answer as to this till he had consulted the King's Captains. The House appointed two members to treat with the Captains in the matter. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XIV., pp. 398–402.]
Dec. 12.	1,593. Petition of Alexander Culpeper to the King. For restoration to the office of Surveyor General of Virginia, of which he has been dispossessed by Francis Nicholson and William Cole. Over the page, Order of the King referring the petition to Lords of Trade and Plantations for report. 12 December, 1694. Signed, Shrewsbury. The whole, 1¼ pp. Endorsed, Recd. 14 Dec., '94. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 5. No. 62.]
Dec. 12. Whitehall.	1,594. Order of the King in Council. That the profit accruing by exchange out of the money sent to Jamaica for the forces, be given to the Governor and Council of the Island for relief of sufferers by the French invasion. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 54. p. 6.]
Dec. 12.	1,595. Memorandum of Lords of Trade and Plantations. The King this day appointed Mr. Corsley to the Council of Jamaica. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 54. p. 7.]
Dec. 13. Whitehall.	1,596. Order of the King in Council. Referring the petition of Robert Lee to Lords of Trade and Plantations for report. Signed, Wm. Bridgeman. ½ p. Annexed,
	1,596. I. Petition of Robert Lee, brother and executor of the late Earl of Stirling, to the King. For the grant, in lieu of a former grant of Long Island, of a tract of waste land bounded on the South by Carolina, on the East by the English provinces, and to North and West by Canada and the South Seas; and for the incorporation of petitioner and his fellow undertakers. Copy. 1 p.
	1,596. II. Case of Robert Lee, setting forth the history of the grants to the Earl of Stirling. 1½ pp.
	1,596. III. Copy of an Order in Council of 2 September, 1689, for the payment of the arrears due to the Earl of Stirling from New York. 2 pp. The whole endorsed, Recd. 27 March, 1695, Read 22 May, 1695. [Board of Trade New England, 7. Nos. 96, 96 I.–III.]
Dec. 13.	1,597. Minutes of Council of New York. Patent for land granted to James Emotts. Committee appointed to examine Daniel Honan's accounts for firewood for the garrison. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 583, 584.]
Dec. 14.	1,598. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Order for all the provisions for the Jamaica expedition to be despatched with the 1,200 men. Draft instructions to the Naval Commander of the expedition and to Colonel Lillingston considered. Advice to be sent to Sir W. Beeston of the present preparations. The Jamaica Act concerning Thomas Ballard referred to the Attorney-General.
	Memorial of the Agents for the Leeward Islands read (see No. 1564 I.), and decision taken. [Board of Trade. Journal, 7. pp. 392–394.]
Dec. 14.	1,599. Minute of Lords of Trade and Plantations. On the petition of the Agents for the Leeward Islands (see No. 1564 I.), agreed to move the King in Council that two ships, or one at least, be sent to the Leeward Islands, to remain as a guard to them. Also, after hearing Colonel Holt as to the recruits for his regiment, agreed to move that £1,400 be forthwith paid to the officers out of the pay and subsistence of the regiment to enable them to raise and clothe 200 recruits. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 44. pp. 192, 193.]
Dec. 14.	1,600. William Blathwayt to the Attorney General. Forwarding an Act of Jamaica, to enable lands to be sold for payment of the debts of Thomas Ballard, jun., deceased, for his opinion. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 54. p. 48.]
Dec. 14.	1,601. Philip Ford to William Blathwayt. I have received a letter from Mr. Penn asking me to beg you as a friend "to get the Lords to understand and allow that his cousin, William Markham, who is Colonel Fletcher's Deputy-Governor, having the military power, answers their intentions and the substance of his engagement," so that the civil affairs may be in more suitable hands. "If Secretary Blathwayt give W. P. respects to the Duck of Leeds and ask it as a kindness, if cannot otherwise do it, to be sure you two can." ¼ p. [America and West Indies. 599. No. 23.]
Dec. 16.	1,602. Minutes of Lords of Trade and Plantations. That the King be moved, to decide whether the Military or Naval Commander shall be Commander-in-Chief in the Jamaica Expedition; to give orders for the transports to proceed to Plymouth after shipping arms and clothing at Portsmouth; to say how long the squadron for Jamaica shall remain in those parts and what ships shall be left behind if the squadron return. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 345; and p. 347.]
Dec. 16.	1,603. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. In view of the rebellion of negroes, ordered that parties go out against them, that a list of free negroes be made, and that all negroes now out shall be reputed rebels unless they come home in a month. Sundry accounts passed and payments ordered. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 77. pp. 298, 299.]
Dec. 18.	1,604. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. Order for forty shillings to be paid to the parties out against the rebel negroes for every head of a dead rebel sent in. Orders for payment, and for an Assembly to meet on 1st March. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 77. pp. 299, 300.]
Dec. 19.	1,605. William Blathwayt to the Victuallers of the Navy. Ordering a list of the first cost of the provisions shipped to Jamaica with the expedition to be furnished to the Lords of Trade and Plantations. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 337.]
Dec. 19. Victualling Office.	1,606. Thomas Papillon to William Blathwayt. Forwarding list of the first cost of the provisions shipped to Jamaica. Total cost, £8,704. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 338, 339.]
Dec. 19.	1,607. William Blathwayt to Commissioners of Transportation. Asking for account of the first cost of provisions, bedding and necessaries shipped to Jamaica. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 340.]
Dec. 20.	1,608. Commissioners of Transportation to William Blathwayt. Forwarding account of cost of provisions and necessaries, shipped by them for the Jamaica expedition. Total, £2,157. Signed. John Ellis, Sam. Atkinson, John Nicholl. [Board of Trade. Jamaica 53. pp. 340, 341.]
Dec.	1,609. Account of clothing provided for Colonel Lillingston's regiment. Total, £2,225. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 342.]
Dec. 20.	1,610. Establishment of a regiment of foot, of six companies of 200 men each, and of general staff belonging thereto. Annual cost, £20,725. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 363, 364.]
Dec. 20.	1,611. Minutes of Council of Massachusetts. Order for Benjamin Garfield and two or three more inhabitants of Watertown to attend next Council concerning the dispute as to the erection of a meeting-house. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXIV., p. 497.]
Dec. 20. Whitehall.	1,612. Order of the King in Council. For £1,400 to be paid forthwith to the officers of the regiment in the Leeward Islands out of the regiment's pay and subsistence, to enable them to raise and clothe 200 recruits. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 44. p. 193.]
Dec. 21. Whitehall.	1,613. William Blathwayt to William Bridgeman. Directing the Admiralty to supply convoy for the transport ships from the Downs to Spithead and thence to Plymouth. If the clothing and arms do not arrive at Portsmouth in time to be put on board the transports they are to be put on board such of the men-of-war as shall be afterwards remaining there, and transferred on joining the transports. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. p. 346.]
Dec. 21.	1,614. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Orders given to the Admiralty as to transport of clothing for the troops of the Jamaica expedition. Captain Wilmot, commander-in-chief of the squadron for Jamaica, called in, and his draft instructions approved, as also those for the other officers in the expedition. [Board of Trade. Journal, 7. pp. 396, 397.]
[Dec. 21.]	1,615. Memorial of Major Thomas Delavall to Lords of Trade and Plantations. In April, 1690, I went out to the West Indies as captain of a company in the Duke of Bolton's regiment, serving in all the expeditions against the French in those parts, wherein I lost a brother and was myself wounded. I am now eldest captain and hold a brevet as major. I beg to be recommended as Lieutenant-Governor of Montserrat, the post being vacant through the absence and surrender of Colonel Blakiston. 1 p. Endorsed, Recd. 21 Dec., '94. Read, 22 May, '95. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 4. No. 46.]
Dec. 23. Whitehall.	1,616. Order of the King in Council. That a fifth-rate ship be forthwith despatched to the Leeward Islands to relieve H.M.S. Chester. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 44. p. 194.]
Dec. 23. Whitehall.	1,617. Order of the King in Council. Approving draft instructions to Sir William Beeston, Colonel Lillingston and Commissary Murrey. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 364, 365.]
Dec. 23.	1,618. Instructions to Sir William Beeston, relating to the Jamaica forces. To hold a council of war on the arrival of the squadron and regiment, to decide on operations at Petit Guavos and Hispaniola. If Petit Guavos be taken it is to be kept, but this intention must not be communicated to the Spaniards, for they have been invited to give aid against the French in Hispaniola. The council of war will consist of himself, the sea captains, and the field officers and captains of the regiment. All spoil, except ships, rigging and guns, shall be divided among the land and sea forces. The commanders both at sea and on land are under his direction, provided that he do not intermeddle with the discipline of the squadron, though the Commodore shall send no cruisers far away without advising him. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 365–370].
Dec. 23.	1,619. Instructions to Colonel Luke Lillingston. He is to be subject to the orders of the Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica as to the operations that he undertakes, provided that such orders be not contrary to the advice of the council of war. He is to cultivate a good understanding with the Commodore. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 371–374].
Dec. 23.	1,620. Instructions to Captain Robert Wilmot, commanding the squadron for Jamaica. He is to call on the Spanish Governor at Hispaniola for assistance. General instructions for attacking the French at Petit Guavos and cruising to cut off their supplies and destroy their shipping. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 375–381.]
Dec. 23.	1,621. Instructions to John Murrey, Commissary to the forces for the Jamaica Expedition. He is to stop 3 7/16d. from every man's pay daily for the provisions issued to him, and 4d. a day from the pay of sick men. Sundry detailed instructions as to pay, accounts, issue of stores, etc. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 53. pp. 389–401.]
Dec. 27.	1,622. Order of Lords Proprietors of Carolina, for grant of 3,000 acres of land to James Boyd at a rent of ten shillings an acre. Signed. Craven, Bath, Ashley, Wm. Thornburgh for Sir J. Colleton, Tho. Amy. [Board of Trade. Carolina, 4. p. 23.]
Dec. 27.	1,623. Address of the Mayor and Corporation of New York to the King. Thanks for Governor Fletcher's appointment and great praise of his administration. Signed, A. Depeyster, and by fifteen others. Large sheet. [America and West Indies. 579. No. 42.]
Dec. 31.	1,624. Minutes of Council of New York. A letter from Colonel Beeckman complaining that Captain Thomas Carton and Captain Hasbrooke refuse to fortify their part of the town of Kingston, as directed by the Governor. The Council advise that these companies be kept on constant duty in those parts of the town which are defective owing to their neglect. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. p. 1.]
	1,625. Brief summary of the proceedings as to the ship Joseph up to the time when Lord Inchiquin's certificate was produced to prove that she had not been paid for in Jamaica. ½ p. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 7. No. 85.]
	1,626. Index of Pennsylvania papers, 1690 to 1694. 1 p. [America and West Indies. 599. No. 24.]
	1,627. Index of New Hampshire Papers 1691–1694. 4 pp. [Board of Trade. New Hampshire, 1. No. 43.]
	1,628. Index of New England Papers 1691–1694, 13 pp. [Board of Trade. New England, 7. No. 45.]