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America and West Indies: Miscellaneous, 1680

Pages 641-644

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 10, 1677-1680. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1896.

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Miscellaneous, 1680

1680 ? 1627. Petition of John Style to the King. Petitioner was a prisoner in Jamaica for a fine of 500l. to the King inflicted by the Government and Justices of that Island, as per enclosed proceedings sent to the King's Secretary, Sir William Morris. Petitioner is utterly ruined and undone, and begs His Majesty's mercy and remission of the fine. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLVI., No. 74.]
1680. 1628. Acts of Antigua. Act for cleansing and enlarging common paths and highways. Act for repairing and cleansing of common ponds. Act for bringing in runaway negroes and encouragement of such as shall bring them in. Penalty of death to any slave to runaway for three months. Owner compensated from public funds. Act for settling the Militia, the Guards, and the observation of the exercise of martial discipline. Drill once a month. Those who fail to appear, fined 50 lbs. of sugar or tobacco. Members of Assembly, not in command, exempted. False alarms through needless firing of guns punishable by fine of 500 lbs. of sugar. Captains failing to exercise their companies fined 1,000 lbs. of sugar, lieutenants 500 lbs., ensigns 300 lbs. Every man to have a well fixed fire-lock gun, 1 lb. of powder, and 20 bullets under pain of fine of 500 lbs. of sugar. The days appointed for the exercise of every individual company. Very careful and exact orders for the movements of troops according to the quarter when the alarm is first given. Approved by the King in Council, 8th February 1681. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LI., pp. 1–19]
1629. Acts of Montserrat. An Act imposing a Duty of Powder on all the growth or manufacture of Sugar, Tobacco, or Indigo transported from this Island. Act for the making a Restitution for Cattle stolen by Negroes, and Licenses for Tap-houses in town and country. Approved by the King in Council, 8th February 1681. [Col. Entry Bks., Vol. LVI., pp. 1, 2, and Vol. LI., p. 21.]
1630. Acts of Nevis. Act for ascertaining Lands, as also for affixing slaves, coppers, &c, to the freehold, 8th May. Act for Repeal of an Act touching payment of Sugar for money contracts out of this Island, at fifteen shillings per cent. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LVIII., pp. 1, 4, and Vol. LI., pp. 29–46.]
Act for encouraging buyers of servants. Act for preventing fraudulent accounts of handicraftsmen. Act for preventing making dangerous fires in Charlestown, i.e., "boiling pots and dressing victuals in the streets." Act for preventing the landing of infected persons. Act to repeal a clause in the Act for preventing the barbarism of negroes. Act for Ministers' duties. Approved by the King and Council, 8th February 1681. [Col. Entry Bk, Vol. LI., pp. 29–46.]
1631. Summary of recent history of Leeward Islands. The French after taking St. Christophers in the late Dutch war soon took Montserrat and Antigua; nor had Nevis stood had it not been succoured. They then disarmed the inhabitants, carried away all their negoes, horses, &c., destroyed their sugar works, and left them naked to the cruelties of the Indians that accompanied them. Nevis escaped through the happy arrival of Sir J. Berry with ships, which also recovered Antigua and Montserrat. These last two are now in a thriving state, but still weak as to defence, Antigua having many harbours and landing-places easy of attack, and Montserrat and Nevis being exposed to the like danger unless guarded by a naval force, which can not only defend the four Islands by keeping about Montserrat, but also attack the French. Those that are masters at sea may on accasion collect a good body of men from the Islands for such service. He that first attacks in St. Christophers may easily take the whole of it, and though the English are inferior in number yet they can be reinforced from other Islands if there be no French fleet, or a squadron of English ships. Sugar the most considerable [produce]. The Islands load 200 ships yearly, worth 1,000,000l. annually to the nation. The loss may endanger Barbadoes. English, 4,930; French, 6,330.
Indians.—During the late war with France the Indians of St. Vincent and Dominica came to windward of Montserrat and Antigua in their periagos, surprised the inhabitants that were keeping guard among the French, burnt their houses, tormented and killed the men, and carried off the women and children, ravishing and making slaves of them. They have great opportunity to annoy the Leeward Islands, winds and currents making access easy, so that the English are forced to be always on their guard, and keep several files of men upon the watch; and three nights before and after the full moon (which gives the Indians light for their exploits) they are forced to double the guards, and make constant patrols of horse, to the great discouragement of the inhabitants and neglect of the plantations. Any ships sent by the King will be of service, not only to the Leeward Islands, but also to Barbadoes and Jamaica. (What follows is run through with the pen). Plantations settled upon the Continent are injurious to the nation, swallowing up great numbers of people, and are able to produce food and raiment for their livelihood (sic), but the sugar plantations are managed by a few English, and great number of negroes, and are supplied with all sorts of provisions from England. They employ great number of ships, which bring home native commodities to England, great part whereof is re-exported. On these plantations depend the Guinea trade. Leeward Islands and Barbadoes may succour each other, Jamaica not. Draft in Blathwayt's handwriting, designed apparently to second Stapleton's request for ships. 3½ pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLVI., No. 75.]
1632. Proposals of Abraham Langford and Francis Terwith. 1. To use their endeavours to find out the several prizes hereafter mentioned that are not yet accounted for to the King. 2. Also to find out several goods that were the King's, as provisions, sails, rigging, and brandy, to the value of 1,000l., unaccounted for. 3. The like for fines, forfeitures, and escheats to value of 1,000l. more. 4. On condition of receiving one-third part for their pains.
£
The prize Golden Lion, worth 1,200
Prizes seized by Colonel Codrington, worth 1,200
Escheated estates 1,000
Goods and brandies above mentioned 1,000
Total 4,400
Scrap. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLVI., No. 76.]
1680 ? 1633. "Several reasons offered for not removing the Planters from the Newfoundland by several merchants and masters of ships which many years have used the trade of fishing there." Nine reasons in all, setting forth the ruin that would accrue alike to English traders and Newfoundlanders. Signed by the Mayor of Poole and twenty-four others of the town. Endorsed, Not allowed at the Committee. [Col. Papers. Vol. XLVI., No. 77.]
1634. A list of all the Planters and Inhabitants in the English ports in Newfoundland, anno 1680. 212 planters, of whom 99 married, 139 sons, 112 daughters, 23 women servants, 1,695 men servants in summer, 1,107 in winter, 2,181 inhabitants in summer, 1,593 in winter. 454 kine, 25 horses, 361 boats.
An account of the ships which fished in the English ports in Newfoundland 1680. 97 ships of 9,305 tons and 3,922 men.
A list of ships which goes for sack out of the English ports in Newfoundland, 1680, 99 ships of 8,123 tons, 1,157 men, 415 guns. Large sheet.
Duplicate of above. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLVI., Nos. 78, 79.]
1635. Copy of an Act of Free and General Pardon, Indemnity, and Oblivion. Inscribed, "This Act was past in Virginia in 1680, upon occasion of Bacon's Rebellion," 9 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XLVI., No. 80.]
1636. The Council of Virginia to the Lords of Trade and Plantations. We have received your letter of 14th January 1680 (see ante, No. 1261) and have duly observed the directions therein contained by an annual transmitting of all laws and orders, &c., while Lord Culpeper was actually present, who carried exact copies of all transactions with him. Our trade is in a more declining condition than ever has been known by the low value, or rather no value, of our only commodity tobacco, and the indigency of the inhabitants, so that if some means be not timely taken to raise our now totally sunk commodity, the inhabitants will be in a most deplorable condition and the peace and quiet of the government will be hazarded.[Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXX., p. 410.]
1637. A List of the Civil and Military Officers in Virginia arranged under the heads of the several Counties, with the Civil Officers first and the Military below them. Also a List of the Attorneys. The following is a brief abstract:—
County. Civil Head. Military Head.
Henrico Colonel William Byrd Colonel William Byrd.
Charles City Colonel Edward Hill Colonel Edward Hill.
James City Colonel Thomas Ballard Colonel Thomas Ballard.
Isle of Wight Mr. Nicholas Smith Colonel Joseph Bridger.
Surrey Captain Lawrence Baker Colonel Thomas Swann.
Nanzemond Colonel John Lear Colonel John Lear.
Warwick Mr. Humphrey Harwood Colonel William Colehorste.
Lower Norfolk Colonel Lemuel Mason Colonel Lemuel Mason.
Elizabeth City Colonel Charles Morison Colonel Charles Morison.
New Kent Colonel John West Colonel John West.
York Colonel John Page Colonel John Page.
Gloster Colonel Math. Kemp Colonel Aug. Warner.
Rappahannock Colonel John Stone Colonel John Stone.
Middlesex Mr. Richard Perrot Colonel Chris. Wormeley.
Lancaster Colonel William Ball Colonel William Ball.
Westmoreland Colonel William Pierce Colonel William Pierce.
Northumberland Colonel Thomas Brereton Colonel Thomas Brereton.
Stafford Colonel George Mason Colonel George Mason.
Northampton Colonel John Stringer Colonel John Custis.
Accomack Major Charles Scarborough Colonel William Kendall.
109 Military and 209 Civil Officers in all. [Col Papers, Vol. XLVI., No. 81.]
1638. Abstract of the records of all grants of land that have been made in South Carolina in 1680 in continuation of those abstracted in 1679 (see ante, No. 1249).
Persons Names to whom granted. Number of Acres. In what County, Parish, or Township, or in what River or Creek situated. Date of Grant.
William Davis and William Brochus 500 On Stono River 5 August 1680.
Seleo Withrington 400 On Stono River 14 November 1680.
Edward Middleton 1,000 On Goose Creek " "
James Colleton, Esq. Town lot 5 March 1680.
John Cummings Town lot " "
Sir Peter Colleton, Thomas Colleton, and James Colleton, Esq. Town lot " "
Do., do. Town lot " "
Do., do. 3,000 On Cooper River " "
Sir Peter Colleton 4,420 On Cooper River " "
Maurice Mathews Town lot " "
Josiah Willis Town lot 15 March 1680.
Elizabeth Willis Town lot " "
Joseph West 1,500 On Cooper River 15 November 1680.
John Cottingham Town lot 14 November 1680.
Thomas Williams 170 On Ittawa Island 18 February 1680.
Stephen Bull, gent. Town lot 10 November 1680.
Richard Codner 76 On Ittchecaw Creek 18 February 1680.
Florentia O'Sullivan 2,400 On Ashley River 6 July 1680.
Thomas Rose Town lot " "
Abraham Smyth 100 On Ashley River 2 November 1680.
[Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXIII., pp. 1–4.]