America and West Indies: March 1729, 1-15

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 36, 1728-1729. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1937.

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'America and West Indies: March 1729, 1-15', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 36, 1728-1729, (London, 1937) pp. 322-327. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol36/pp322-327 [accessed 12 April 2024]

March 1729, 1-15

March 2. 613. Mr. Fane to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Has no objection to 12 Acts of New Jersey submitted to him 13th Nov., 1728. Signed, Fran. Fane. Endorsed, Recd. 3rd March, 1728, Read 29th March, 1729. 1¾ pp. [C. O. 5, 972. ff. 177, 177v., 182v.]
March 3. 614. Mr. Fane to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Has no objection to the Act of Virginia, 1705, for limitation of actions etc., but is of opinion that the Act, 1705, declaring how long judgments, bonds etc. shall be in force etc. is unnecessary and ought to be repealed, it being in many particulars repugnant to the Statute of 21° Jac. I, which the other enforces and pursues in every particular. Of the many material differences between the second act and that of James I one is of itself sufficient to cause its repeal. By the statute of King James neither bonds nor judgment are limited, in this both are. Continues : This is manifestly a very great prejudice to trade by weakening the securities of creditors which in all trading countries ought as much as possible to be avoided ; for a good security of money has been ever lookt upon as the life of credit, etc. Signed, Fran. Fane. Endorsed, Recd. 3rd, Read 21st March, 1728/9. 1¾ pp. [C. O. 5, 1321. ff. 104, 104v., 105v.]
[March 4.] 615. Richard Partridge, Agent for New Jersey, to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Requests report upon six Acts of New Jersey passed 1727–1728. Signed, Richd. Part-ridge. Endorsed, Recd. 4th, Read 13th March, 1728/9. Addressed. 1¼ pp. [C. O. 5, 972. ff 176, 176v., 183v.]
March 4.
Whitehall.
616. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. Recommend confirmation of Act of Antigua, 1728, for making a settlement on H.E. etc. [C. O. 153, 14. pp. 409, 410.]
March 5. 617. Memorandum of Order of House of Commons that the Council of Trade and Plantations lay before the House their reports to His present or late Majesty touching the right of the subjects of Great Britain to cut logwood in the Bay of Campeachy. Endorsed, Recd., Read 12th March, 1728/9. 1 p. [C. O. 388, 28. t. 65.]
March 8.
London.
618. Petition of Tobias Wall to the Council of Trade and Plantations. The sloop of his correspondent, John Gallway of St. Christophers, was taken by a Spanish privateer near the island of St. Cruz etc. She was then under sail, and had not been trading at any place belonging to the Spaniards, nor was intended to do soe, but nevertheless was carried to Porto Rico and there condemned etc. Prays that H.M. may be moved to obtain satisfaction from the Court of Spain etc. Signed, T. Wall. Endorsed, Recd. 10th, Read 12th March, 1728/9. 1 p. [C. O. 152, 17. ff. 1, 2v.]
March 8.
Jamaica.
619. Governor Hunter to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Sends by H.M.S. Larke Minutes of Council, Journals of Assembly and six Acts passed the last Sessions " under the seal of the Island, which at this time could not afford parchment so I was constrain'd to make use of Royal paper." Continues :—The first five of these Acts are annual and such as your Ldsps. have frequently had from hence and so can require no explanation. The last is an eventual one in case of warr and I believe yr. Ldsps. will think as I do that it is a good and necessary one. It is intitled an Act for strengthg. and secureing the Island agt. any attempts by foreign enemys, etc. The clause for armg. the Militia uniformly is obligatory in a definite time. I have done what lay in my power to put the Militia on a better footing, repaire and garnish the forts and places of strength and rouse the inhabitants for their own security wth. some successe and hope wth. a little time and some patience I shall bring everything to bear for H.M. service here and security and credit of this his important Island. I have mention'd to Mr. Delafay the Agent the difficulty's wch. grow upon me with relation to a Quorum in Council. Two are already in England, two more, vizt. Mr. Ayscough and Mr. Laws imediatly bound thither and three more living in the extreme parts of the Island that I can but seldom expect their Compa., these are Swymer, Stout and Campbell, that it may fall out that the publick businesse must stand still or I under a necessity of subjecting myself to censure for acting without them, where I am requir'd by my Instructions to take their advice. I formerly recommended to yor. Ldsps. three persons in case of vacancy's etc. I cannot as yet think of more who are fitt and will accept of the place, etc. Signed, Ro. Hunter. Endorsed, Recd. 13th, Read 14th May, 1729. 2 pp. [C. O. 137, 17. ff. 143, 143v., 144v.]
[March 8]. 620. Extract from above letter, ½ p.[C. O. 137, 47. No. 6.]
March 8.
Jamaica.
621. Governor Hunter to the Duke of Newcastle. Encloses copy of preceding letter and refers to his letter to Mr. Delafaye, adding :—The Spaniards on this side continue to talk of warr and act as if it were begun, they are repairing their old forts and raising new ones, and continue their depredations etc. Signed, Ro. Hunter. Endorsed, R. May 10. 1 p. Enclosed,
621. i. Copy of No. 621. [C. O. 137, 53. ff. 128, 129v.]
March 10.
N.
Providence.
622. Governor Phenney to the Duke of Newcastle. Encloses annual papers. Hopes that the great want of stores of war indicated will be soon supplied. Signed, G. Phenney. Endorsed, Rd. June, 13. 1 p. Enclosed,
622. i. Minutes of Council of the Bahama Islands, 9th Jan., 1728,—2nd Jan., 1729. 33 pp. [C. O. 23, 14. ff. 74, 75v.—92.]
March 10.
N.
Providence.
623. Governor Phenney to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Encloses, by way of So. Carolina, following public papers, including account of gunner's stores, " by which your Lordps. will perceive the great want we are in at this place, which I hope will be supplied." Signed, G. Phenney. Endorsed, Recd. 14th June, Read 15th July, 1729. 1 p. Enclosed,
623. i. Answers to Queries from the Board of Trade for the year 1728. Shows only slight variations from return of 16th March, 1728 q.v. The Revenue amounted to 367 pieces of 8/8. 6 negroes imported from S. Caro- lina. Same endorsement. 8¾ pp.
623. ii. Treasurer's account of public funds, Receipts:—Balance brought forward, £31 2s. 3d. Public duties, £65 4s. 6d. Recd, for the Church, £8 3s. 6d. Total, £104 10s 3d Carried forward, £45 5s. 0d. Signed and sworn to by Pr. Goudet, Treas. N. Providence, 2nd Jan. 1728/9. Endorsed, Recd. 14th June, 1729. 1 p.
623. iii. Account of Ordnance stores, 12th Nov., 1721—1st Jan., 1729. Signed, Wm. Shott, Gunr. Endorsed as preceding. 2 ¾ pp.
623. iv. List of Baptisms (3) ; marriages (12); burials (7), in 1728. Same endorsement. 1 p. [C. O. 23, 2. ff. 194, 195v.—200, 201v.—205v.]
March 13.
Whitehall.
624. Mr. Popple to Mr. Fane. Encloses for his opinion in point of law Act of New Jersey, 1714, for confirming of conveyances of lands made by wills and powers of Attorney etc. [C. O. 5, 996. p. 256.]
March 14.
London.
625. Memorial of loss and damage (£556 10s. New England money) sustained by the capture of the Princess Snow by the Spaniards, Dec. 1718, laden with fish from New England for Bilboa, and shipped by Messrs. Gilbert and Cradock for account of Messrs. Raphe and Denn of London. Signed, Raphe and Denn. Endorsed, Recd. 14th March, 1728/9. 1 p. [C. O. 388, 28. t. 66.]
March 14.
Whitehall.
626. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Duke of Newcastle. Enclose copies of Mr. Wall's petition, 8th March, and an account of the loss sustained by Messrs. Raphe and Denn, on board the Princess snow bound from New England to Bilboa with a cargo of fish, Dec. 1718, carried into Port St. Antonio etc. [C. O. 389, 28. p. 392.]
March 14. 627. Col. Dunbar to Mr. Popple. Encloses following. Is about to sail for Boston, and asks for directions about the masts seized and timber sent to Spain from N.E. Thinks the export of large planks thither should be prohibited, which wd. disappoint the building ships of war. Makes suggestions for amending the act, wh. is urgently needed. Endorsed, Recd., Read 14th March, 1728/9. Addressed.pp. Signed, David Dunbar. Enclosed,
627. i. Thomas Haley to David Dunbar, Jan. 23, 1729. Boston. Refers to three former letters. Continues:—Friday the 10th currt. I had a letter from Mr. Slade dated at Portsmouth the 7th wherein he tells me that on ye 3rd he seized in the outskirts of the township of Exeter 200 fine masts, from 24 to 28 inches in diameter and of proper lengths for H.M. use, Mr. Dunbar got a letter to ye same purpose, upon wch. he forthwith repaired to Piscataqua, in order to secure if possible ye seizure and to proceed to Casco Bay etc. I heartily wish he may be able to secure the trees, for it is a common practice that so soon as the seizure is made, (for want of proper persons to watch) the country people throw them all into the rivers, and what becomes of them nobody knows etc. Mr. Auchmuty, the Advocate General, has given his opinion to Mr. Dunbar that he should prosecute offences of the kind within townships, at common law, though he says he's well assured you'll meet no success here, yet by the Charter you may appeal from such judgment etc. As for trees cut down without townships, he is also well assured, we shall meet with none, the great part of the country where these valuable trees grows, being already laid out into townships, merely to evade the Act of reservation. I send you a duplicate of the memorial Mr. Dunbar gave into H.E., who with all ye candor imaginable express'd his readiness to issue a Proclamation, and his intentions (so soon as ye Council meets) to procure such Acts, as will more effectually prevent ye daily practice of destroying H.M. woods. There are now at Casco, one very large and two small ships, loaden with plank for Spain, but as these planks were cut before we came, Mr. Dunbar does not judge he has a power to seize them. Cou'd the exportation of such vast quantitys of timber by any means be prevented, H.M. yards cou'd never want a supply of such timber of all sorts, as Mr. Slade says he has not seen anywhere. It is very moveing to hear complaints at home, for want of timber, when ye King's own subjects here dare with impunity supply his enemies abroad etc. Signed, Thos. Hardy. Subjoined,
627. ii. Memorial of Jeremiah Dunbar, Depty. Surveyor of H.M. woods, to Governor Burnett. Requests H.E., in accordance with his Instructions, to issue a proclamation for the observance of the Acts for the reservation of mast trees etc., and obtain from the Legislature the enacting of Acts proper for encouraging naval stores and the prevention of abuses therein, especially obliging makers to put their names and places upon their casks etc. Signed, Jer. Dunbar. Copy.pp.
627. iii. Mr. Haley to David Dunbar. Jan. 27, 1729, Boston. Congratulates him upon Jeremiah Dunbar's getting the 200 trees seized by him condemned in the Admiralty Court at Portsmouth etc. Fears that they will have a great deal of trouble and expense in guarding them from being cut into logs etc. Mr. Dunbar has already marked several fine trees, and is determined to go immediately to Casco Bay and in his way to visit the woods etc. Continues:—I find him determined to bring this people to honesty, either by dint of reason, or force of law etc. Signed, Thos. Haley. Copy.pp. [C. O. 5, 870. ff. 186–189v., 193v.; and (duplicates of enclosures only) 5, 898. Nos. 53, 54.]