America and West Indies: October 1697, 26-27

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 15, 1696-1697. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'America and West Indies: October 1697, 26-27', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 15, 1696-1697, (London, 1904) pp. 672-676. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol15/pp672-676 [accessed 25 April 2024]

October 1697

Oct. 26. Draft Circular for the proclamation of peace approved, and one copy for the Earl of Bellomont signed and sent to Portsmouth.
Oct. 27. The draft Circulars for the proclamation of peace were signed.
Order for the Secretary to remind Mr. Lowndes about the payment of the salaries of the officers of this Board.
Representations as to transporting of convicts and as to ports in New Jersey signed.
The copy of a letter of 4 May last, signed J. Johnssoun, containing several complaints against Governor Codrington was brought in by Lord Bridgewater and read.
Representations as to Virginia further considered.
Oct. 28. Mr. Stepney brought forward the question of the appointment of certain gentlemen to the Council of Barbados. A representation upon the subject was agreed to.
Oct. 29. Representations as to Virginia further considered.
Oct. 30. Mr. Burchett's two letters of yesterday read; and orders given to the Secretary for his reply thereto.
Mr. Merret's letter of yesterday read.
Order given for one of the two letters returned by him to be sent to the Admiralty. [Board of Trade. Journal, 10. pp. 325–332.]
Oct. 25. 1,414. Journal of House of Burgesses of Virginia. Order for several absent members to be sent for in custody of the messenger. The Governor's speech was then considered, and referred to the Committee of grievances and propositions, which Committee was added to, and, with the Committee of claims, directed to proceed to business.
Oct. 26. The Committee of grievances presented its report on the Governor's speech, whereupon the House desired a conference with the Council upon a part of it, but upon the questions of militia and juries resolved that the present jury-laws were sufficient, and that the matter of juries must stand over for next Assembly. Several further propositions considered and some of them deferred to next Assembly. Order for preparation of an address of thanks to the Governor. Several petitions referred to the Committee of Claims.
Oct. 27. Message from the Council agreeing to the proposed Conference. Address to the Governor agreed to, thanking him for his speech, and asking him for additional papers as to the outrages of Indians, and reporting that the question of defence would be considered in conference with the Council, that the existing laws as to the militia were considered to be sufficient, and that the question of juries would be better deferred to a fuller Assembly. A proposition as to discovery of concealed titheables was also deferred to next Assembly. The accounts of the impost on liquors were received, on which the House observed that one Collector's accounts were not sworn to and another's imperfect, and desired the Auditor to make good their omissions.
Oct. 28. Philip Ludwell was sworn, being elected a burgess. Message from the Council desiring a conference on the subject of Indians and of the Militia. The managers appointed for the last conference were accordingly bidden to meet the managers for the Council. The Committee appointed to see to Colonel Scarburgh's accounts reported that he had promised to make good his omissions immediately. Ordered that the Auditor be acquainted that the House expects him to make all the Collectors bring in their accounts of the liquor-duty. Sundry petitions for payment were referred to the Committee of Claims.
Oct. 29. On the report of the conferrers with the Council as to Indians and Militia, it was resolved that the methods used by Government to induce the Piscattaway Indians to return to Maryland were very prudent, and that forcible methods therein were to be deprecated; that the four Indian prisoners now detained should be released; and that the House adheres to its former message respecting the Militia. The book of claims being presented was then considered in committee of the whole House. Resolved that the thanks of the House be given to the Speaker for his discharge of his duties, and that it be a standing rule from henceforward that the House give no allowance to their Speaker. The book of claims was sent up to Council.
Oct. 30. Message to the Council, embodying the resolutions passed yesterday concerning the Indians and the Militia. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 52. pp. 294–312.]
Oct. 25. 1,415. Journal of General Assembly of Virginia. No business came up from the Burgesses.
Oct. 26. In accordance with a message from the Burgesses three members were appointed to meet them in conference concerning Indians, and a message was sent accordingly.
Oct. 27. The address of the Burgesses on the Governor's speech was received.
Oct. 28. The managers of the Conference reported that the Burgesses were not so much for a Conference as to advise what might be best for the country, and that they desired the Council to suggest any other means, besides those already provided by law, which might meet the requirements of the situation; which the Council was not authorised to do. Thereupon the same managers were appointed to meet the Burgesses in Conference anew.
Oct. 29. The managers of the Conference reported that the Burgesses desired the advice of the Council whether the Piscattaway Indians ought to be removed and the prisoners released. As to the militia the Governor had quoted the opinion of the Council and Commanders-in-Chief of the militia that the laws were wanting and uncertain, being variously and dubiously expounded and executed, and had therefore referred the matter to the Burgesses for consideration; and this the Conferrers had brought to the Burgesses' notice.
Oct. 30. A message from the Burgesses embodying their resolutions of the 29th as to the Indians and the Militia was received. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 52. pp. 44–52.]
Oct. 25. 1,416. Journal of General Assembly of Massachusetts. Bill for a tax debated. Bill of Limitations and bill for registering deeds received from the Assembly and debated.
Oct. 26. Bill as to Precedents received from the Representatives and voted to be engrossed. Order for a Committee to delimit the boundaries between Freetown and Tiverton. Votes of the Representatives for sundry small payments agreed to, also a vote for a stay of execution on a judgment. Bills for registering deeds, as to French prisoners, and for Limitations debated.
Oct. 27. Bill for registering of deeds voted to be engrossed. Bill as to Precedents passed into an Act. Tax bill and French prisoners bill debated.
Oct. 28. Tax bill and French prisoners bill ordered to be engrossed. Letter from Colonel Gibsone read, stating the provisions which he required, and ordered to be sent to the Representatives. Vote of £20 for the Minister of Dunstable garrison agreed to.
Oct. 29. Bill of Limitations read and ordered to be engrossed. Bills for a tax and for French prisoners passed into Acts. The jailer's accounts for prisoners of war passed.
Oct. 30. Votes of the Representatives for salaries and for sundry small payments, agreed to. Bills of Limitations, for registering deeds, and against blasphemy passed into Acts. Orders of the Representatives agreed to for altering a room in the town-house, and for a Committee to report as to cutting a passage for vessels from Barnstable Bay into Monument Bay. A private bill was passed. Assembly prorogued to 15 December. [Board of Trade. New England, 48. pp. 194–202.]
Oct. 26. 1,417. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Several accounts were passed. The Assembly came in, when the Speaker said that he understood some things were resented ill, and desired to know what they were. The President answered that in the Habeas Corpus bill they had reserved to themselves a power which destroyed the very foundations of the bill, and which the Council could not grant. The Assembly desired it to be returned to them, but the Council said they would first amend it in some other points that required alteration. The President then desired the Assembly to find out some easier method of subsisting the white-coats, to make provision for the reception of Governor Grey, and to consider of the solemnity of Governor Russell's corpse, and informed them that they would a little further consider the Militia bill. The Assembly then brought up an address asking for despatch of the bills before Council, when the Habeas Corpus bill was read a second time and returned to them with amendments. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 65. pp. 250–251.]
Oct. 26. 1,418. Minutes of Council and Assembly of Antigua. The Governor reported to the Council that Captain Symons of H.M.S. Norwich had wounded Captain Rumbold in a duel, and that Rumbold had since died. Agreed that Symons be tried as speedily as possible in St. Christophers and that, for fairer proceeding, he name the day for the trial. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 64. p. 215.]
Oct. 26.
Whitehall.
1,419. William Popple to the Agents for Barbados. Your letter of yesterday with its enclosure has been laid before the Council of Trade. I am to ask if you have the Act whereby the planters of Barbados are required to keep one white servant for every ten negroes, and can furnish a copy of it; and whether you will say, to the best of your knowledge, what number of whites is now wanting in Barbados to make up that proportion. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 44. p. 102.]
Oct. 27.
Whitehall.
1,420. William Popple to the President and Council of Barbados, Desiring them to forward a packet, enclosed, to Bermuda. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 44. p. 103.]
Oct. 27. 1,421. William Popple to Lieutenant-Governor Stoughton. Forwarding letters to be transmitted to New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island, ordering the proclamation of peace. [Board of Trade. New England, 36. p. 309.]
Oct. 27.
Whitehall.
1,422. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Governors of all the Colonies. Forwarding the proclamation of the peace concluded at Ryswick between the English and French, and ordering hostilities to cease. Signed, J. Bridgewater, Ph. Meadows, John Pollexfen, Jo. Locke, Abr. Hill, Geo. Stepney. [Board of Trade. Plantations General, 34. pp. 190–191.]