|
| May 1. |
The justices and officers of Westchester came and promised likewise. |
| May 2. |
The justices and officers of Bergen County and of East Jersey promised likewise. |
| May 3. |
The justices and officers of Richmond County promised likewise, and were charged to watch for and report as to ships coming within Sandy Hook. Copy of a special summons to the officers of militia, dated 27 April, and of two letters dated 30 April to the authorities at
Albany and Chester to be watchful and to keep the people quiet. Letter of May 1 to Sir E. Andros, condoling with his misfortunes and asking for return of the records of New York from Boston. Letter to the revolutionary Government of Boston, May 1, expressing surprise at the arrest of Sir E. Andros and hoping that he and the other officers may be liberated shortly. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 62–74.] |
| May 4. |
2,736. Minutes of Council of New York. Disturbances being reported in Suffolk County and Long Island, a letter was written to Major Howell at Southampton, hoping that he had put an end to them, and desiring information as to his position, and as to the men and guns that he can spare for defence of New York. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 72–76.] |
| May 6. |
2,737. Proclamation of the Council of New York. For payment of the arrears due to the soldiers who took part in the late expedition. Original. 1 p. Endorsed. Read 29 Aug., 1689. 1 p. Endorsed. Recd. 29 Aug. 1689. [America and West Indies. 578. No. 3A.] |
| May 6. |
2,738. Proclamation of the Council of New York. For applying all the revenue of Customs, Excise and Weigh-house to the fortifications of the city. Original. 1 p. Endorsed. Recd. 29 Aug., 1689. [America and West Indies. 578. No. 3B.] |
| May 8. |
2,739. Minutes of Council of New York. Letters to Major Howell, informing him that there had been an alarm of invasion from that side of Canada, and that Boston had been thrown into confusion by the revolution, and ordering him to send down all the forces that can possibly be spared for defence of New York. |
| May 9. |
Intelligence that all the men who had been with Colonel Dongan were in arms and the whole of Queen's County in uproar. Order for payment of the arrears due to the soldiers, partly from the revenue in the Collector's hands, partly from sums due by the Collectors of Queen's County. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 74–82.] |
| May 10. |
2,740. Proclamation of the Council of New York, calling upon all good citizens to act against mutiny and sedition. Original. 1 p. Endorsed. Recd. 29 Aug., 1689. [America and West Indies. 578. No. 3c.] |
| May 12. |
2,741. Minutes of Council of New York. Letter from the Mayor of Albany, reporting that the Indians were getting suspicious. Letter to the authorities at Albany, to the following effect:—We believe that the Indians' suspicions that Sir E. Andros designed to destroy the Five Nations is due to evil persons from New England. You have done well to have sent messengers to endeavour to dispel such suspicions in the minds of the Maquas, and desire that you will act likewise towards the other nations, telling them (1) that the Dutch and English are leagued chiefly to check the pride of France and that we expect daily a declaration of war; (2) that we too heard from Boston that Sir E. Andros was in league with the
French, but that this was contradicted and not believed; (3) that the Indians may be sure of our friendship, that we do not fear the French and hope to fight them soon; (4) that the persons who stopped their late victories in Canada are laid aside and that they need suffer no more abuses from Canada; (5) that if they go to war they should leave their wives and children at Albany; (6) that the French statements are not to be trusted. You may give them also a barrel of powder; but you will best judge how to conduct the negotiations. Meanwhile it is not safe for any persons to go trading, and you will stand on the defensive, trying to keep people quiet and confident and checking internal quarrels. |
| May 13. |
Order for the attendance of Matthew Plowman, and for his books to be detained till he gives an exact account of the revenue. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 82–90.] |
| May 15. |
2,742. Minutes of Council of New York. Letter to the Secretary of State, reporting the condition of affairs. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV, pp. 90–98.] |
| May 18. |
2,743. Minutes of Council of New York. Circular to the justices and militia officers warning them of increasing rumours of war with France and bidding them hold their men ready to defend New York. Mr. George Wedderburn from Boston delivered the following instructions given him verbally by Sir E. Andros, viz., to report to the Council of New York his arrest, and to bid them send two officers to demand his release; also to take special care to keep Albany quiet and to send a sloop to Pemaquid with provisions for the garrison. Mr. Wedderburn swore to the truth of these instructions. Letters were written to Colonel Hamilton and Colonel Smith, the officers named by Sir Edmund, bidding them come to New York at once. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 98–103.] |
| May 22. |
2,744. Minutes of Council of New York. Colonels Hamilton and Smith attended. Colonel Hamilton said that though always ready to serve Sir E. Andros he held his commission as judge in New Jersey, and feared that his absence from the sessions just approaching would set the people in uproar, as they had already been troubled by rumours from Boston.—Colonel Smith also said that he would be ready but that the people of Long Ireland, where he lived, were already shaken and ill-affected to him, so he feared that if he went to Boston his house might be attacked. Both he and Colonel Hamilton agreed that further action would be dangerous. The Council taking into consideration that the Boston people refuse to release Sir Edmund and had arrested the officers at Pemaquid decided to take no action for the present. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 103–106.] |
| May 24. |
2,745. Minutes of Council of New York. Reassuring letters from Albany, on which the Council wrote a letter forbidding any aggressive measures for the present, and ordering all letters and messengers from New England to be stopped and sent to New York to prevent the stirring up of faction. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 106–108.] |
| May 27. |
2,746. Minutes of Council of New York. Major Jervis Baxter arrived from Albany and asked leave to retire towards Maryland, which was granted. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXV., pp. 108–109.] |
