Journal, January 1736: Volume 45

Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Commissioners for Trade and Plantations for the year 1736.

Journal, January 1736

Thursday, January 8. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Mr. Brudenell, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Miscellanies.

Incidents signed.

Barbadoes.

Letter from Mr. Dottin, President of the Council, with an answer to the Parliament enquiry, and recommending Abel Dottin in the room of Colonel Terrill, one of the Council, was read.

Ordered representation recommending Dottin accordingly.

Plantations General.

The Board make a review of the papers copied for Parliament.

Friday, January 9. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Barbadoes.

Representation, recommending Abel Dottin to be of the Council, ordered yesterday to be prepared, was agreed to and signed.

Nova Scotia.

Bahamas.

Captain Coram desires the Board will consider his petition for settling Nova Scotia and Cat Island, read the—day of —last.

He is directed to come again, in about ten days.

New England.

Rhode Island.

Mr. John Sharpe presents Mr. Wilks' answer about the boundaries; read.

Barbadoes.

Mr. John Sharpe desires from Lady Howe that Dottin may be recommended in Terrill's room.

New England.

Rhode Island.

Mr. Paris, in behalf of Rhode Island, desires a copy of Mr. Wilks' answer, which was read just now; agreed to.

Plantations General.

The Board reviewed the papers and lists of Acts required by Parliament.

Tuesday, January 13. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Ashe, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Sir A. Croft.

Plantations General.

The Board reviewed again the papers and lists of Acts, etc., required by Parliament.

Wednesday, January 14. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Ashe.

Barbados.

Mr. Lascelles late Surveyor of the Customs.

The Board enquired of him the explanation of Mr. Dottin's account of duties, read the 8th inst., and he informed the Board that the article of payment into the Custom House upon rum, molasses, limejuice, sugar and ginger, was that proportion of the 4½ per cent. upon goods not enumerated, which were formerly sold for payment of incidental charges of the Custom House Officers: That he apprehends sugar and ginger should not have been inserted in the said account, being enumerated commodities; unless in those years the amount of rum, molasses and limejuice could not be sold for enough to defray the said charge, in which case the Custom House Officers were allowed to sell sugar and ginger: That lately the Commissioners of the Custom House here, had directed their officers in Barbados to receive the 4½ per cent. on rum, molasses and limejuice, in money, according to the market price, at which such commodities are sold.

Plantations General.

The Board reviewed again the papers and lists of Acts etc., copied for Parliament.

Thursday, January 15. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plummer, Colonel Bladen.

Pennsylvania.

Order of Committee, read the 18th ult., again read, as also the Act settling McCall's estate, referred thereby to the Board, Mr. Fane's report in favour thereof, was read; and the Board, having no objection thereto, ordered the draught of a representation for the confirmation of it.

Barbadoes.

Mr. Fane's report in favour of the Act giving a sum of money to Lady Howe, was read; ordered the draught of a representation for confirmation of it.

Massachusets.

Rhode Island.

Mr. Wilks acquaints the Board, that by referring to some affidavits mentioned in his memorial, read the 9th inst., to be expected from New England, in relation to the boundaries, he did not propose any delay, but only desires that he may be allowed a reasonable time for his answer, if, in behalf of Rhode Island, any of his facts should be disputed.

New York.

Mr. Cooper, agent for Mr. Stork.

Order of Committee with the petition of Stork and Livingston for land in New York, was read; to attend Tuesday the 27th inst.

New England.

Plantations General.

Letter from the Navy Board about masts, read 16 ult., again considered; ordered that the Attorney General be reminded of the papers referred to him the 18th of September last.

Friday, January 16. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Colonel Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer.

Plantations General.

The Board reviewed again the papers and lists of Acts etc. copied for Parliament.

Wednesday, January 21. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Brudenell, Colonel Bladen, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Pelham.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from General Mathews, with several papers, containing a return to the letter wrote to him the 17th of June last, in relation to the Parliament's enquiry, read; ordered that the papers relating thereto be copied.

Ordered that the draught of a letter be prepared to the Duke of Newcastle, to acquaint him that the papers required by Parliament are now ready, and only wait the king's further commands. The above letter was agreed to and signed.

New England.

Attorney and Solicitor's report was read, in relation to the king's right to the woods.

Ordered that Sir Charles Wager and the Commissioners of the Navy be desired to attend the Board, on Friday morning next.

Barbadoes.

Representation in favour of Lady Howe's Act, ordered to be prepared the 15th inst., was agreed to.

Thursday, January 22. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Mr. Pelham, Sir O. Bridgeman, Sir A. Croft, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Plummer, Colonel Bladen.

North Carolina.

Captain Burrington.

Mr.Jenner, agent from the Swiss.

A proposal from Captain Burrington, for settling several Swiss families in North Carolina was read.

Mr. Jenner's deputation from the Switzers, read.

Proposes about 6000 to settle there and to carry them over at their own expence.

They are to attend again next Thursday.

Barbadoes.

Representation for confirming the Act granting a certain sum to Lady Howe, which was agreed to yesterday, was signed.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of a report for confirming the private Act for settling McCall's estate, referred to the Board by an order of a committee, read the 18th of the last month, agreed to and signed.

New York.

Plantations General.

Attorney and Solicitor General's opinion, with regard to Governors not voting as Councillors, was read.

Ordered that the draught of a circular letter be prepared, for inclosing a copy thereof to all the Governors in America.

New York.

The draught of a letter to Colonel Cosby, Governor of New York, mentioned in the minutes of the 11th ult., was reconsidered, and agreed to be sent.

Friday, January 23. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Ashe, Sir C. Wager, Mr. Pelham, Sir O. Bridgeman.

New England.

Commissioners of the Navy.

Mr. Gulston.

Letter from the Navy Board, read 16th ult., about destruction of the king's woods, again read, as also Mr. Attorney and Solicitor General's opinion thereon, read 21st instant.

Sir Ferdinand Gorge's private property, there must be a clause to explain.

Townships. Trees grown to 24 inches diameter, since the Charter. King must have a liberty of carrying off masts when cut; and when any damage is complained of, the tryal to be in the Admty. Court, and an appeal to be allowed to the king for any sum, in any action concerning the woods.

Ordered that Mr. Fane be desired to attend upon this subject next Friday morning.

Tuesday, January 27. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Mr. Ashe, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer, Sir A. Croft, Sir. O. Bridgeman.

Plantations General.

The letter to the Duke of Newcastle, signed the 21st instant, acquainting him that the Parliament papers were ready, being kept back by order of the Board, was this day ordered to be sent, dated this day.

New England.

Plantations General.

Mr. Fane.

The letter from the Navy Board, read at last meeting, about the destruction of the king's woods, and the Attorney and Solicitor General's report upon the king's right to the woods, read the 21st instant, were again read, and Mr. Fane was directed to prepare the draught of an Act of Parliament, according to the heads mentioned in the last minutes, in order to prevent the said destruction of the woods.

New York.

Order of Committee with petition from Stork and Livingston for a tract of land in the county of Albany, read the 15th instant, was again read.

Mr. Stork.

Mr. Cooper.

Mr. Laprière.

Mr. J. Sharpe.

Mr. Stork hopes the quit rent will not be expected for bad land; all the tract now desired, must be purchased from the Indians; he is willing to take it at the usual quit rent of 2/6 per hundred acres, and upon the foot of other grants.

Mr. Stork to attend again this day sennight with a particular description of the tract, and his proposals for the settlement.

Ordered that a letter be prepared, to inclose to the Governor the said description and proposals, when received, for his opinion thereon, concerning the usefulness of the said grant, or any objections that may occur thereto.

South Carolina.

Letter from Mr. Fury, agent for the province, inclosing minutes and eight Acts, was read.

Ordered that the Acts be sent to Mr. Fane for his opinion in point of law.

Virginia.

Mr. Fane's report upon 26 Acts was read.

Mr. Leheup ordered to attend the Board to-morrow.

Wednesday, January 28. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plummer, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Brudenell.

New England.

Plantations General.

Mr. Fane.

Some further discourse with Mr. Fane about the draught of an Act of parliament to prevent the destruction in the King's woods upon the following points, vizt.;—Private property; Trees growing; Roads to the water side; Admiralty and appeals.

Virginia.

Mr. Leheup.

Mr. Leheup desires the Board will report in favour of the Virginia Acts for settling the titles of lands etc. and for the better support of the college. Tuesday next appointed, and Leheup to attend again.

Plantations General.

The Board, taking into consideration the draught of a circular letter, ordered to be prepared the 22nd instant, to all the Governors, with a copy of Attorney and Solicitor Generals' opinion about the Governors pretending to vote as councillors, as also the minute of that day, the Board thought proper to report the state of the case to his Majesty for his directions, prior to the sending the said circular letter.

Ordered that a representation be prepared accordingly.

Thursday, January 29. Present:—Earl Fitz-Walter, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Plummer, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Ashe, Colonel Bladen.

North Carolina.

Captain Burrington.

Mr. Jenner.

Proposals of Mr. Jenner, read the 22nd instant, to settle 6000 Swiss in North Carolina again considered.

Mr. Jenner says that after the first ten years, they are willing to pay the usual quit rent of 4 shillings per 100 acres.

Captain Burrington gives in a description of the tract desired by the Swiss, and an account of the charge of laying out land in North Carolina, which was read.

To be further considered this day fortnight.