Journal, June 1743: Volume 51

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 8, January 1742 - December 1749. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1931.

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'Journal, June 1743: Volume 51', in Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 8, January 1742 - December 1749, (London, 1931) pp. 68-74. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol8/pp68-74 [accessed 24 March 2024]

Journal, June 1743

Wednesday, June 1. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusets Bay.

The Board had under consideration the draught of a report upon thirteen Acts, passed in Boston, mentioned in the minutes of the 18th May, and made some progress therein.

Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Major Mascarene, President of the Council and Commander in Chief of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated at Annapolis Royal, January the 4th, 1742–3, containing an account of the death of Lieutenant Colonel Cosby, by which the civil and military power becomes united in him, and transmitting his case, which he hopes the Board will recommend to the king.

Ordered that a copy of the said letter and case, and the draught of a letter, for transmitting them to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, be prepared.

Thursday, June 2. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene, Colonel Bladen.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, ordered by the preceding minute, having been prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Tuesday, June 7. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer.

South Carolina.

Read two letters from Colonel Bull, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, to the Board; one dated March 4th, 1742–3, enclosing several copies of papers and informations, which he had received concerning the designs of the French and Spaniards against that province, and desiring his Majesty's further protection.

The other, dated the 16th of the same month, transmitting the following papers, viz.:—
Letter to Colonel Bull, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, from Mr. Horton, by Order of General Oglethorpe, dated at Frederica, the 21st January, 1742–3, with the copy of one from Mr. Clarke, Lieutenant Governor of New York, to General Oglethorpe, dated the 13th December, 1742, with an account that some of the French and Indians are marched to the southward; and that the French and Spaniards are preparing to attack those Colonies.
Letter to Colonel Bull, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, from Mr. Tinker, Governor of the Bahama Islands, dated at New Providence, the 14th February, 1742–3, relating to some designs of the Spaniards against that place.
Deposition of Captain Edward Morris, taken before Lieutenant Governor Bull, and the Council of South Carolina, the 16th February, 1742–3.
Deposition of Captain Alexander Parris, taken before Lieutenant Governor Bull, and the Council of South Carolina, the 16th of February, 1742–3.
Deposition of Captain Edmond Gale, taken before Lieutenant Governor Bull, and the Council of South Carolina, the 16th February, 1742–3.
Deposition of Captain Charles Dyer, taken before Lieutenant Governor Bull, and the Council of South Carolina, the 23rd of February, 1742–3; as also of John Raven Bedon, taken before them, the 1st March, 1742–3.
Deposition of Mr. Charles Hicks, merchant, taken before Lieutenant Governor Bull, and the Council of South Carolina, the 17th of February, and 4th of March, 1742–3.
Extract of affairs relating to William Shirley, Esquire, military officer in the service of the Government of South Carolina, of his being detained and imprisoned by General Oglethorpe in Georgia, between the 8th of August, 1742, and the 12th of February, 1742–3.
Extracts of the minutes of Council, relating to Captain Charles Hardy, commander of his Majesty's Ship Rye, from the 15th day of March, 1741–2, to the 7th day of February, 1742.

Ordered that a copy of the first of these letters, as likewise extracts of the several papers therein contained, as far as relates to the aforesaid designs, be prepared, as also the draught of a letter, for transmitting the same to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

Pennsylvania.

Read an Order of the Lords Justices in Council, dated June 2nd, 1743, directing this Board to prepare the draught of an instruction (fn. 1) to be sent to George Thomas, Esquire, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, to lay before his Majesty what he apprehends may be necessary for the security of that Colony.

Ordered that the draught of an instruction be accordingly prepared, as also of a representation to the Lords Justices for inclosing the same.

Wednesday, June 8. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

South Carolina.

Mr. Hill attending, as appointed by the minutes of the 31st of last month, the Board had some discourse with him on the state of the province of South Carolina.

The draught of a letter to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, for transmitting a copy of Lieutenant Governor Bull's letter, as likewise extracts of the several papers contained therein, ordered by yesterday's minutes, having been laid before the Board, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Massachusets Bay.

The draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council upon thirteen Acts, passed at Boston, in June and July, 1739, mentioned in the minutes of the 18th of last month, having been prepared and laid before the Board, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Pennsylvania.

The draught of an additional instruction to George Thomas, Esquire, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, as likewise a representation to the Lords Justices, for inclosing the same, ordered by yesterday's minutes, were laid before the Board, agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Thursday, June 9. Present:—Lord Monson, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusets Bay.

Read an Order of Council, dated the 2nd of June, 1743, directing this Board to prepare the draught of an instruction for Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, empowering him to give his assent to the emission of seven or eight thousand pounds in Bills of Credit, to enable the province to finish the new works and fortifications, and to apply the same to these purposes, and to take care the said Bills be drawn in again in the years 1744 and 1745.

Ordered that the said draught of an instruction be prepared.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated at Antigua, March 15th, 1742–3, transmitting (besides some duplicates), the following original papers, viz.:—
St Christopher's.
Minutes of Council, from the 10th September, 1742, to the 28th of January, 1742–3.
Montserrat
Minutes of Council, from the 29th September, 1742, to the 25th December following.
Minutes of the Assembly for the same time.
Two Acts, passed at (fn. 2) Antigua, in September, 1742, and February, 1742–3.

Ordered that the Acts, transmitted therewith (not duplicates), be sent to Mr. Fane, for his opinion thereon, in point of law.

New England.

Nova Scotia.

Plantations General.

Read an Order of the Lords of Committee of Council, dated the 31st of May, 1743, vide infra folio 72–75, referring to this Board a proposal for settling the lands, now waste, between New England and Nova Scotia.

Massachusetts Bay.

Ordered that the draught of a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council, be prepared, on two Acts, passed in the Massachusets Bay, the 18th January, 1741, viz.: an Act for the emission of £30,000 in Bills of Credit for the supply of the Treasury of that Province; and an Act to ascertain the Value of Money and of the Bills of Public Credit of this Province, granted this year for the Supply of the Treasury, for securing the Credit of said Bills.

Tuesday, June 14. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusets Bay.

The draught of a representation to the Lords of the Committee of Council, upon two Acts, passed in the Massachusets Bay, mentioned in the minutes of the 9th instant, having been prepared, was agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

The draught of an instruction for William Shirley, Esquire, Governor of the Massachusets, as also of a representation to the Lords Justices, for inclosing the same, mentioned in the minutes of the 9th instant, was agreed to, transcribed and signed.

Bermuda.

Read a letter from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, dated the 8th of April, 1743, relating to the difficulties he meets with in observing his 73rd instruction and to the disputes between the Council and Assembly thereupon; and transmitting the following public papers, viz.:—
Minutes of Council, from the 1st of February, 1742–3, to the 7th April, 1743.
Council in Assembly, from the 8th of March, 1742–3, to the 7th April, 1743, and
Minutes of Assembly, for the same time.

Wednesday, June 15. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusets Bay.

The draught of a representation to the Lords of the Committee of Council, mentioned in the minutes of yesterday, having been transcribed, was this day signed.

Barbados.

Read a letter from Sir Thomas Robinson, Governor of Barbados, dated the 22nd April, 1743, relating to an Act, lately passed there, for granting him an additional salary of £400 per annum, Barbados currency.

Thursday, June 16. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer.

New England.

Nova Scotia.

Plantations General.

Mr. Coram attending, in behalf of the petitioners for settling the lands now waste, between New England and Nova Scotia, mentioned in the minutes of the 9th instant; and after some progress therein, agreed to take the same into further consideration at another opportunity.

Ordered in the meantime, that the draught of a letter to Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, be prepared, relating to this matter.

Tuesday, June 21. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer.

North Carolina.

South Carolina.

Read a letter from Mr. McCulloch, his Majesty's Commissioner of the Quit Rents in Carolina, to the Board, dated at Cape Fear, August 19th, 1742, inclosing a copy of the public notice (dated at Wilmington, March 20th, 1741–2), addressed to all gentlemen, freeholders and others, whom it may concern, relating to his Majesty's instructions to the said Commissioner.

South Carolina.

Read another letter to the Board from Mr. McCulloch, dated at Charles Town in South Carolina, March 19th, 1742–3, transmitting several papers, relating to the execution of his commission, viz.:—
Representation of the inhabitants of Williamsburgh, complaining of his Majesty's 43rd instruction being broke through by the Governor and Council.
The humble petition of the inhabitants of Williamsburgh, to the Lieutenant Governor in Council, complaining of his Majesty's 43rd instruction being broke through by the Governor and Council.
State of the Paper Bills of Currency in South Carolina, with representation of George Saxby, Esquire, setting forth the difficulties he is under, in relation to the collection of the quit rents.
Representation humbly presented to the Governor in Council of South Carolina, setting forth the several restraints that the Commissioner of the Quit Rents is laid under in the execution of his office, dated the 16th February, 1742–3.
Representation to the Governor and Council of Mr. McCulloch, desiring a law may be passed for the better discovery of the quit rents.

Read also, at the same time, his letter to the Secretary, of the same date, with the former, complaining of insults from officers of the Crown, and mentioning his resolution of bringing the whole of their proceedings before his Majesty.

Read a third letter from Mr. McCulloch, to the Board, dated at Charles Town in South Carolina, March 25th, 1743, transmitting for the Board's consideration several papers, relating to the hardships and obstructions he meets with in the execution of his commission in that province, viz.:—
Representation of Benjamin Whitaker, Esquire, his Majesty's Chief Justice in South Carolina, setting forth what provincial Acts principally restrain the jurisdiction of the Courts of Law, dated the 3rd February, 1742–3.

New England.

Nova Scotia.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, upon the proposal for settling some waste lands betwen New England and Nova Scotia, ordered on Thursday last to be prepared, was laid before the Board, agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

Wednesday, June 22. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Massachusets Bay.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, mentioned in the preceding minute, having been transcribed, was signed.

Read a letter from Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusets Bay, to the Board, dated Boston March 19th, 1742–3, relating to his putting in execution an Act, entituled, an Act to ascertain the Value of Money etc., together with his observations on the Bills of Credit of Connecticut and Rhode Island, enclosing likewise his reasons against an immediate total suppression of Paper Bills of Public Credit in New England.

Bahamas.

Read a letter from Mr. Tinker, Governor of the Bahamas, to the Board, dated at New Providence, the 21st of March, 1741 (by mistake, for 1742–3), giving an account that 90,000, Pieces of Eight, the Ransom Money for the Register ship that had been taken, and of which mention is made in his letter of the 7th of December last, had been paid, and enclosing a List of the Names and Qualities of the English Prisoners (in number 88) exchanged, and sent to New Providence from the Havannah, March 4th, 1742–3.

Ordered that a copy of the said list be sent to the Duke of Newcastle.

Thursday, June 23. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Leeward Islands.

Read a letter from General Mathew, Governor of the Leeward Islands, to the Board, dated Antigua, April 15th, 1743, inclosing extracts of the minutes of Council of that Island, March 25th, 1742, and April 11th, 1743, and transmitting (besides duplicate papers) the two following Acts, viz.:—
An Act for the further continuance of an Act, entitled, an Act for carrying on the Building of the Barracks etc., passed at Antigua, the 11th of April, 1743.
An Act to raise a Levy or Poll Tax on Whites and Slaves, etc. Passed at Montserrat, 7th April, 1743.

Tuesday, June 28. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

Bermuda.

The draught of an answer to a letter, dated the 8th of April last, to the Board, from Mr. Popple, Governor of Bermuda, having been laid before the Board, was agreed to, and ordered to be transcribed.

Wednesday, June 29. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Brudenell, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

South Carolina.

Read two letters from Colonel Bull, Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, dated May 6th, 1743, acquainting the Board that he has, in pursuance of his Majesty's instructions, appointed Alexander Cramahe, Esquire, to be Deputy Surveyor and Auditor of his Majesty's Revenues in South Carolina, in the room of James St. John, Esquire, deceased; as also that he has appointed George Hunter, Esquire, to execute the offices of Surveyor General of the Lands and Inspector and Comptroller of his Majesty's Quit Rents in the said province, vacant also by the death of the said James St. John, and recommending those gentlemen to the favour of this Board.

Bermuda.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Popple, mentioned in yesterday's minutes, having been transcribed, was signed.

New Jersey.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Morris, Governor of New Jersey, in answer to those received from him since the Board's last letter to him, was laid before the Board, agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Thursday, June 30. Present:—Lord Monson, Colonel Bladen, Mr. Plumer, Mr. Keene.

New Jersey.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Morris, Governor of New Jersey, having been transcribed, as ordered by the preceding minute, was signed.

Massachusets.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Shirley, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, in answer to several received from him, was laid before the Board and considered; and the Board, after some progress made therein, referred the further consideration of the same to Tuesday next.

Footnotes

  • 1. to be sent interlineated.
  • 2. Antigua interlineated.