America and West Indies: May 1663

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1880.

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

'America and West Indies: May 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668, (London, 1880) pp. 131-134. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol5/pp131-134 [accessed 25 March 2024]

May 1663

May 6. 451. King's Bill containing a grant to Francis Lord Willoughby of Parham and Lawrence Hyde, of Surinam in Guiana, by the name of Willoughby Land. Whereas Lord Willoughby in 1650 furnished out a vessel, and by treaty with the natives of that part of Guiana called Surinam, between the rivers Marawyn and Seramica, began to settle an English colony upon the same, and at his own cost equipped a ship of 20 guns and two smaller vessels with things necessary for the support of said Plantation ; and afterwards in 1652, for the better settling of said colony, went in person, and fortified and furnished the same with things requisite for defence and trade, and since his return to England has at his own cost supplied and supported said colony from time to time ; his Majesty taking into consideration the faithfull services of said Lord Willoughby, and his desires that Lawrence Hyde, second son of Edward Earl of Clarendon, may be joined with him, grants to said Francis Lord Willoughby and Lawrence Hyde, their heirs and assigns, all that part of the mainland of Guiana in America called Surinam, lying westerly one mile beyond the river Copenam, and easterly one mile beyond the river Marawyn, containing from east to west forty leagues or thereabouts, and extending from the sea southwards to the heads of said rivers and thence by direct lines to the South Sea, by the name of Willoughby Land ; with the said rivers Seramica, Surinam, Copenam, and Marawyn, and all other rivers, islands, ports, mines, privileges, profits, &c., &c., in as ample manner as has been granted to any proprietor of any other colony ; except 30,000 acres reserved to his Majesty for demesne, and one fifth of all ore of gold and silver, to be held in free and common soccage, yielding 2,000 lbs. of tobacco of the growth of said country, to be paid into the Custom House at London every year at the feast of St. Michael, and also the fifth part of all ore of gold and silver gotten there. With power to transport persons, arms, ammunition, goods, and merchandise on paying the usual customs ; such persons to have free trade and not to be compelled to answer any suit out of said colony, and liberty to such as inhabit said province and cannot conform to the Church of England to grant such dispensations as they think fit, provided said persons continue in loyalty and obedience to his Majesty ; also power to plant settlements, erect cities, towns, manors, markets, schools, convey lands and tenements, appoint governors and other officers, frame a government, and establish laws with the consent of the greater part of the freeholders, or their representatives, punish delinquents extending to imprisonment or loss of life, if need be, constitute courts of justice, and further to appoint a standing Council, and with their consent make laws as near as may be agreeable to the laws of the realm, so as the same do not extend to altering the right of any person in his estate, goods, or chattels, also to build and fortify citadels, harbours, &c., appoint a captain general, and in case of invasion by the natives or any other enemies train and muster the inhabitants and fight with any persons not in amity with his Majesty, to proclaim martial law, and subdue all tumults, rebellions, and mutinies. All the posterity of free denizens of England, born within said province, to enjoy the privileges of free denizens of England. Forbidding the subjects of any foreign prince to traffic unto or haunt said province without license of said grantees, on pain of forfeiting ships and goods, said grantees to dispose of such forfeited ships and goods without any account to his Majesty. In case either of said grantees or their heirs or assigns shall be in said province, or in any part of America, the party so present shall exercise and enjoy all the grants, authorities, and privileges herein-before granted, reserving the due share of profit to the party absent. Indorsed, Ld Willoughby. Charles R. Our pleasure is that this pass by immediate warrant. Entred at the Signett, 2do Junii 1663. John Nicholas. Entred at the Privy Seal, 2do Junii 1663. The Patent is dated 2 June 1663, see Patent Roll, 15 Chas. II., Part 10, No. 4. [Privy Seals, 15 Chas. II., No. 360.]
May 9.
Whitehall.
452. The King to all Captains and Commanders of ships, and all his subjects in Newfoundland. Whereas by his Majesty's letters of 20th March 1661, he commanded Sir Lewis Kirke, John Kirke, and the heirs of Sir David Kirke forthwith to deliver any houses and lands within the province of Avalon, belonging to Cecil Lord Baltimore, to such as should be appointed by him, and whereas Lord Baltimore has appointed Capt. Robert Swanley to be his lieutenant there. His Majesty's officers and subjects are hereby required to be assisting to Capt. Swanley or his deputy in the Government of said province. Signed by the King, but not countersigned, a correction having been made. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 28.]
May 9. 453. Copy of the preceding. 1pp. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XCIII., pp. 14, 15.]
May 12. 454. Articles of agreement at a conference held at Mr. Allerton's in Winocomoco, in Virginia, by the Commissioners of Virginia and Maryland, not to plant any tobacco in either Colony after 20th June 1664 for one year. Signed by Thos. Ludwell, Richard Lee, John Carter, Robt. Smith, and Henry Corbin. And by Philip Calvert, Henry Sewell, Edward Lloyd, and Henry Courcy. Certified copy by Thos. Ludwell, Sec. Indorsed, "The first treaty about lessening the quantities of tobacco." 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 29.]
May 20.
Point Cagua.
455. Order of the Dep. Govr. and Council of Jamaica to the Provost-Marshall. That Francis Willson, for his mutinous and seditious speeches at Point Cagua, stand near the gallows at St. Jago de la Vega for two hours on 21st inst. having a gag in his mouth for half an hour, and a drum beating for the remaining time, with his transgressions written on paper and pinned to his back, that he receive the same punishment the following day at Point Cagua, and be afterwards imprisoned, until he be banished for seven years. 1 p. [Col. Entry Bk., No. 34, pp. 81, 82.]
May 21. 456. Earl of Berkshire and two other Commissioners of the Savoy to Williamson. There is a serious charge against Francis Hodges for unjustly detaining several sums of money due to his Majesty : he was by the late pretended authorities and the then Council of State appointed Treasurer and Paymaster of the forces in Jamaica ; request that Richd. Pight may peruse the book of entries to find out what order was made for empowering Hodges to hold that office and what security he gave for discharge of the trust. [Dom. Chas. II., Vol. LXXIV., No. 15, Cal., p. 146.]
May 23. 457. Minutes of a meeting of the Lords Proprietor of Carolina : Present, the Duke of Albemarle, the Lords Craven, Berkeley, and Ashley, Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, and Sir Jno. Colleton. Ordered, 1. That, Lepreyrie be Engineer and Surveyor for Carolina. 2. That he be allowed 20s. weekly for the present. 3. That Sir Jno. Colleton be paid by each Proprietor 25l., to be disbursed according to the orders of the major part of the Proprietors. 4. That 20,000 acres be first reserved in every settlement for the Proprietors. 5. That the court-houses and houses for public meetings be settled upon such lands. 6. That maps be printed of the Province, and some declaration drawn to invite planters, and that both be published. p. [Col. Entry Bk., No. 20, p. 1.]
May 27.
Inner Court of Wards.
458. Minutes of the Council for Foreign Plantations. On consideration of a complaint against the Deputy Governor of Barbadoes for having, as is alleged, on the petition of three parishes only, and without the advice of Assembly, as is usual, made a general order prohibiting all prosecution at law against planters there, for any debts due by them for divers months, to the great damage of merchants and traders [see ante, No. 424]. Committee appointed to wait upon Lord Willoughby to know the grounds of this complaint and inform the Council thereof. p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XIV., No. 59, p. 50.]
May 30. 459. Minutes of the Council for Foreign Plantations. Report of Lord Willoughby that he knew nothing of an order of the Deputy Governor of Barbadoes obstructing all proceedings at law against any planters there for their debts, but by report only, but he was of opinion that the Deputy Governor and his Council would endeavour to make that order justifiable by some Act of Assembly, on hearing the great complaints of several merchants and traders and their reasons for the evil consequences that cannot but attend so bad a precedent. Committee appointed to draw up the whole state of the matter and what they think fit to be done therein. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XIV., No. 59, p. 50.]
[May 30.] 460. Petition of William Waddington to the King. That in the town of St. Michael's in Barbadoes, being drawn to an excess and over-measure of drinking in November 1662, petitioner by some provocation of discourse did utter treasonable words, as it is attested against him, viz., That the King is elective, and in case he did anything amiss he was triable by his people ; words he can neither remember nor is sensible of, and of so heinous concernment that (compos mentis) petitioner doth hate and abominate. For these words he was on 2nd December last arraigned, cast, and received the sad sentence of condemnation. Prays for his Majesty's pardon, and that his life may not be snatched from him for words either not spoken, or extorted from him in a senseless condition. With reference to Sec. Sir Henry Bennet to consider the same, and move his Majesty therein. Whitehall, 1663, May 30. Annexed,
460. I., II. Depositions of Jacob Lake, John Coachman, and Nathaniel Biscoe, that William Waddington had declared at the house of John Coder in the town of St. Michael's, that the King was elective, and in case he did anything amiss he was triable by the people or his Parliament. Barbadoes, 1662, November 13, 29. Certified by John Jennings, Clerk of the Crown. 1663, February 28.
460. III. Certificate of 32 inhabitants of London, that William Waddington, while resident in the parish of St. Mary Hill, near Billingsgate, was ever of civil conversation, and did not take up arms or act against his sovereign during the late unhappy differences.
460. IV. Declaration of 12 inhabitants of Barbadoes, that they had never observed in William Waddington any disaffection to his now Majesty, or to his Royal father of blessed memory, only in November last they were credibly informed that he did, when overtaken with drink, unwittingly utter certain treasonable words.
460. V. Deposition of Anne Waddington that William Waddington was very much in drink when he spoke certain words inserted in his petition deliverd by her to his Majesty on 24th May last. 1663, June 2. Together 6 papers. [Col. Papers, Vol. XVII., No. 30, 30 I., II., III., IV., V.]
[May 30.] 461. Petition of Col. Guy Molesworth to the King. That the ship Martin Van Rosen of Middleburgh, while trading at Jamaica with negroes for provisions by leave of the Governor and Council, was taken prize by Capt. Richard Whiting, commander of his Majesty frigate the Diamond. That Col. D'Oyley, then Governor, seized about 47 of said negroes and sold them, and is still accountable to the King for the money. Prays in consideration of his sufferings and his present great wants that the King will bestow said money upon him, out of which he is willing to pay 100l. into his Majesty's privy purse. With reference to the Commissioners for Foreign Plantations to report whether the moneys are in his Majesty's disposal. 1663, May 30. Memorandum that this petition was redelivered to the petitioner by an order of 1 June 1663. 1 p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XV., No. 31, p. 15.]