America and West Indies: April 1700, 6-10

Pages 148-156

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 18, 1700. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1910.

Citation:

April 1700



April 6. Whitehall.	289. William Popple to John Graves, Collector of Customs in the Bahama Islands. My Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations have received your letter of Nov. 4 last with copies of trials of pirates. They are well pleased with your account, and desire you to continue the like accounts upon all occasions that you judge of importance for their information. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 26. p. 183.]
April 6.	290. Minutes of Council of Virginia. Ordered that the Sheriffs deliver the lists of the people, and Commanders in Chief of the Militia their muster-rolls to the Clerks of the Counties, who are to write two copies of them and send them to the Council Office.
	Sheriffs appointed:—
	Henrico County,	Francis Epes.
	Charles City,	Littlebury Epes.
	Surrey,	William Brown.
	Isle of Wight,	Arthur Smith.
	Nansemund,	George Nasworthy.
	Princess Ann,	William Cornex.
	Norfolk,	Richard Church.
	Elizabeth City,	Walter Bayly.
	Warwick,	Thomas Merry.
	Yorke,	Henry Tyler.
	James City,	Thomas Cowles.
	New Kent,	Nicholas Meriweather.
	King and Queen,	John Walker.
	Gloucester,	James Ransone.
	Middlesex,	Robert Dudley.
	Essex,	James Baughan.
	Richmond,	Samuel Peachy.
	Lancaster,	William Ball.
	Northumberland,	Hancock Lee.
	Westmoreland,	Willowby Allerton.
	Stafford,	Richard Fossaker.
	Accomack,	George Nicholas Hack.
	Northampton,	John Robins.
	A Proclamation was signed for a solemn fast and day of humiliation and prayer for the delivering this colony from the great plague of caterpillars.
	A Proclamation, proroguing the Assembly until Wednesday, July 31, signed. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 53. pp. 394–396.]
April 8. Whitehall.	291. Council of Trade and Plantations to the King. We humbly crave leave to lay before your Majesty the substance of what the Earl of Bellomont has informed us upon the irregularities and misdemeanours of the Government of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation. Summarises Bellomont's Report, Cal. 1699. No. 1002. Concludes, We cannot but offer our humble opinion that your Attorney and Solicitor General be directed to consider what method may be most proper for bringing the said Colony under a better form of Government. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, Wm. Blathwayt, John Pollexfen, Abr. Hill, George Stepney. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 26. pp. 184–186.]
April 8. Whitehall.	292. William Popple to Josias Burchet. The Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations have lately received a letter from the Governor and Council of Barbados, setting forth the want of an established credit there for supplying His Majesty's ships. Their Lordships having been frequently informed of the like inconveniencies in other Plantations, have demanded me to desire you to offer this matter to the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 45. pp. 46, 47.]
April 8. Whitehall.	293. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Governor and Council of Barbados. We enclose you a copy of H.M. Order in Council, Jan. 11, and of the petition of Mrs. Bishop that you may return us a true state of that matter. Signed, Stamford, Lexington, Ph. Meadows, Geo. Stepney, Wm. Blathwayt, Jno. Pollexfen, Abr. Hill. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 45. pp. 47, 48.]
April 8.	294. Minutes of Council of New York. Petition of Engelbert Lott, late High Sheriff of King's County, read, and referred to Col. Stephen Cortlandt and Ducie Hungerford.
	Petition of Paull Richard read. Proclamation ordered for the discovery of the murderer of his daughter, Hester Lefort, wife of Marcus Lefort, and also a negro woman belonging to Richard.
	Petition of Martinus Lamberse, read and referred to Lord Bellomont. Petition of Thomas Lawrence and Mr. Emott's motion relating to the case James Fullerton v. William Creed, referred till Friday. [Board of Trade. New York, 72. pp. 306, 307.]
April 8. Boston.	295. Minutes of Council of Massachusetts Bay. Instructions for Mr. George Turfrey, appointed to command Fort Mary at Saco in the room of Capt. Hill, with reference to trade with the Indians, agreed to. Secretary ordered to write to Capt. Hill to give Mr. Turfrey directions as to the prices whereat goods are to be sold to the Indians and the rates to be given them for their peltry.
	Committee appointed to enquire into the public stores of arms, etc., and to discourse Timothy Wadsworth, armourer, upon what terms he will keep the small arms fit for service. Treasurer ordered to send provisions for the company of soldiers newly posted at Wells, or to contract for their subsistence at 3s. per head per week. Also to dispose of the 50 barrels of powder lately purchased.
	Payment for 180l. for 40 barrels of powder ordered to Capt. Andrew Belcher, and of 43l. 10s. for 10 barrels to Peter Chardon.
	Payment of 3l. 8s. for entertainment of several captives returned from the Indians, 1698, ordered to Edward Bedford of Boston, alehouse-keeper.
	Various payments to officers granted by the Assembly, March 13, allowed.
	100l. lent to Mr. Thomas Adkins, sen., of Boston.
	Licence granted to Thaddeus Mackarty to erect a timber building, to be covered with rough-cast and roofed with slate, in Brattles Close in Boston, and to Robert Hannah to erect a similar building on the south side of King's Lane in Boston. Licence granted to Obadiah Read to make an additional building of timber unto his house at the north end of Boston, next to Francis Hudson's.
	License granted to James Barnes to erect a timber building with slate or tyle roof and rough-cast sides on a piece of land butting on Prison Lane.
	His Excellency communicated to the Board a letter lately received from the Commissioners of Customs, June, 1699, enclosing an Act of Parliament passed on the 10th and 11th of the present reign. The Board desired His Excellency to cause the Act to be published and duly observed within his Government so far forth as it relates to tobacco in bulk. [Board of Trade. New England, 49. pp. 284–288.]
April 8. Whitehall.	296. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Letter to Mr. Burchett approved. Representation about Rhoad Island signed.
	Letter from Sir W. Beeston, Jan. 5, read. Papers enclosed laid before the Board. Abstract of what Sir W. Beeston says about the conduct of the captains of H.M. ships in those parts to be made and communicated to the Lords of the Admiralty.
	Letter to the Governor and Council of Barbados about Mr. Bishop signed.
	Secretary ordered to write to the Agents of Barbados for an answer about the French Ambassador's memorial (Jan. 19) and to Mr. Hall, sub-Governor of the Royal African Company (Feb. 1).
April 9.	Letter to Mr. Burchett approved.
	Minutes of Council of Virginia, Dec. 9, 10, 12, 1698, being the time of Col. Nicholson's entering upon that Government, read.
	Letter from Mr. Yard, Oct. 2, 1699, and Order of Council, Oct. 23, about stores of war in the Plantations read. The matter was considered. [Board of Trade. Journal, 12. pp. 424–426; and 97. Nos. 63, 64.]
April 8.	297. Minutes of Council of Maryland. Col. James, on behalf of his Nation of Indians said that the Queen of Pamunkey had a good heart, presented her duty to His Excellency and desired to live in love and friendship with the English. He presented his hand to His Excellency in her behalf, which he received and returned. Col. James presented him with six beaver skins, and said the young men would be all of one heart with the English, provided they were not disturbed in their hunting. His Excellency replied that, upon their good behaviour, he would take care to have such persons as abused them punished as for abusing any of H.M. subjects. Col. James presented six other beaver skins from the Queen for his Excellency's servants. His Excellency bade the interpreter tell the Emperor of Piscattaway that he should have been glad to see him before now; however, he was glad to see him. He asked whether the Emperor or his Indians were under any fear or if anyone gave them ill impressions of any ill usage they might expect from him? The Emperor replied, nobody. He would have come before now, but the Indians His Excellency told to bid him come in deceived him and went to Nanjotticott. His Excellency said that we had not any design of advantage from them, but that the King desired they might be kindly used, and that it is most for their advantage to live quietly and easy among us. He said that several murthers had been committed of late and divers persons injured. They absolutely denied that they were guilty. His Excellency observed how they had shuffled, and broken their articles, so that it was but reasonable to suspect them. He expected they should be very punctual to what is now said and promised, or otherwise he will not further treat with them, but leave them to take their own measures. They said they would not do any prejudice to anybody that did not hurt them. His Excellency assured them that he would always have two ears, one for the English and one for the Indians. He told the Emperor if his Indians were refractory and he could not keep them within bounds, to send them to him, who has 20,000 men under his command, and he would punish them. The Emperor asked if he should come to live at Aecokick or Pamunkey. He was told, at whichever he liked best, and he would be well used, for His Excellency would take care the next Assembly to have an ordinance made for their ease, so that nobody should come to disturb them. For building his house, the Emperor was directed to apply to the Assembly. The Indians complained that the English cut their traps in pieces and hinder their hunting. His Excellency promised to prevent that. The Indians were told of their breach of Articles, and asked if they desired to enter into new ones. They said they did. It was agreed that the Emperor should, with his wife and children, within two months come in and live at Pamunkey, and do his utmost to persuade the rest of his Indians to do likewise. Articles of Peace, with this agreement inserted and in all other points as they were before, ordered to be prepared. Articles of Peace ordered to be prepared also for the Pamunkey Indians. His Excellency gave each of the Indians presents, and presents of greater value to Col. James for the Queen of Pamunkey, to the Emperor Ondanxon, King Peter, and others of greater note.
April 9.	The Indians again met His Excellency, and the following Articles of Peace were agreed to and signed:—
	297. i. Between the Governor of Maryland and Oquotomaquah, Emperor of Piscataway. (a) If any Indian subject to the Emperor chance to kill an Englishman, the Emperor shall be obliged to deliver the Indian up prisoner to the Governor of Maryland. (b) Since the English cannot easily distinguish one Indian from another, no Indian shall come into any English Plantation painted, and that all Indians shall be bound to call aloud before they come within 300 paces of any Englishman's clear ground, and lay down their arms for any Englishman that shall appear upon their call to take up. In case that no one appear, he shall there leave his arms, if he come nearer, and calling aloud endeavour to give notice of his approach. If any Englishman kill any Indian so approaching, he shall die for it. In case the Indians and English meet accidentally in the woods, every Indian shall be bound immediately to throw down his arms upon call, or be deemed an enemy. (c) The privilege of crabbing, fowling, hunting and fishing shall be preserved to the Indians inviolably. (d) Every Indian that kills or steals any hog, calf or other beast or goods shall undergo the same punishment as an Englishman doth for the same offence. (d) In case any servants or slaves run away from their masters to any Indian town in Oquotomaquah's territory, the Indians shall be bound to apprehend them and bring them to the next English Plantation; any Indian who assists fugitives shall make their masters such compensation as an Englishman ought to do in the like case. (e) Oquotomaquah shall not make any new peace with our enemies nor any war without the Governor's consent. (f) If he or any of his subjects kill any Indian in peace and amity with His Majesty, it shall be esteemed as great an offence as killing an Englishman. (g) Neither he nor his subjects shall harbour any strange Indians, or discover any such to come within this Province without giving all possible and speedy notice to the Governor. (h) The Emperor shall pay tribute of an Indian bow and two arrows the first Tuesday in April every year.(i) As proof of his fidelity, the Emperor engages himself with his wife and children to come and live at Pamunkey within two months' time and will do his utmost endeavour to persuade all his Indians to come and live there likewise. Signed, N. Blakiston. Oquotomaquah, Emperor of Piscattaway. (His mark.)
	Similar Articles of Peace concluded with Izmgoughsiowaugh, Queen of Pamunkey. Signed, N. Blakiston, Chixenehat, Col. James, (Their marks.) Plenipotentiaries of the Queen.
	Ordered that upon the Indians coming in, Lt. Col. Smallwood supply them with ten barrels of corn, till the Assembly meets and others measures are taken. [Board of Trade. Maryland, 13. pp. 688–706.;
April 9. Whitehall.	298. Earl of Jersey to the Council of Trade and Plantations. His Majesty approves of what you propose (April 3) about the meeting of the Earl of Bellomont and the Governors of Virginia and Maryland, and would have you send them directions accordingly. He is pleased to allow Lord Bellomont to pardon Lt. Col. Pierson for having had in his custody some of the pirates' goods, provided he has delivered them all up. Signed, Jersey. Endorsed., Recd. Read April 10, 1700. 1 p. [Board of Trade. New York, 9. No. 23; and 54. pp. 139, 140.]
April 9. Whitehall.	299. William Popple to Josiah Burchett, enclosing abstract of Governor Sir William Beeston's complaints, relating to Rear-Admiral Bembow's claim to power in the letter of Jan. 5, (q.v.), to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. [Board of Trade. Jamaica, 57. pp. 39–41.]
April 10. Penselvania.	300. Col. Quary to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Since my letter of March 10th, I have received intelligence of a sloop that came directly from Curesawe into this bay and brought a great quantity of European manufactory. I ordered her to be seized, and she is condemned. The goods were all landed and secured before I had intelligence, which is the misery of this place, and all for want of a small vessel. There are a parcel of ould pirates settled at a place called Hore Kills, just by the Capes, so that when any pirates come near this Bay, they send their boats ashore there, and get intelligence and supplies from these men. When Capt. Kidd was in this Bay, he sent his boat ashore every day and was supplied, and these men went constantly on board him, and brought ashore with them great quantities of East India goods. The whole intreague of this roguery hath all been lately discovered. Governor Penn hath been very active, not only in the discovery of this matter, but in committing them all to gaol, where they now are. He was pleased to advise with me about the trial of them. I am at a great loss how to proceed against them. The former Act was very full on this subject of confederating and dealing with pirates, but is repealed by the last Act I sent you, which bears date since these men committed the fact. I am in great hopes that before this the Parliament of England have past an Act that will answer our end. In the meantime the Governor resolves to keep them close prisoners, which will be of great consequence, for this being the time that we expect the pirates from Madagazer, espeatially two ships that belong to New York, there are now sloops waiting on purpose to unload their goods and convey away the pirates and their effects. I wish there were a small vessel here; I would not then doubt but to give your Lordships a good account of them. These ould pirates must be removed from the Hore-Kills. Governor Penn promises positively that he will root them out of their old habitation. Signed, Robt. Quary. Holograph. 3 pp. Endorsed, Recd. July 26, Read July 30, 1700. Annexed,
	300. i. Abstract of preceding. 1¼ pp. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 5. Nos. 36, 36.i.; and 26. pp. 288–290.]
April 10. Penselvania.	301. Col. Quary to [? Mr. Secretary Vernon]. My last was by way of Boston, since which I have paid the balance of the pirates' effects that was in my hands to the Lieut. Gov. of New Yorke by Lord Bellomont's order, and have now sent your Honour the account stated with my deposition sworn before Gov. Penn and one of the Justices. I am sure that I have not omitted one single ryall, nor charged one article but what is just. It is impossible for me to tell you the pains and hazard I have undergone to serve His Majesty. Had Governor Penn been here to assist me, I might with much ease have taken all the pirates and their effects with the ship that brought them from Madegazer, and then I am sure you would not have thought much of the charge; however, my zeal, labour and hazard was the same. Repeats part of substance of preceding. Signed, Robt. Quary. Endorsed., R. 9 Aug., 1700. Holograph. 3 pp. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 5. No. 37.]
April 10.	302. Col. Codrington to William Popple. I have put in a memorial to my Lord Jersey, praying that since my accounts are at last adjusted, I may now have my final answer and necessary dispatches. I have signified to his Lordship that if a man-of-war is to be appointed for me, I shall be ready to go when it is, if it be thought more for the King's service to order the money for a ship, I can now provide myself with a good one, and whereas Governors of the Leeward Islands have been always allowed 500l. for that service, I desire to put no part of that money into my pocket. I request only 300l., which upon enquiry will just pay the charges I shall be at in transportation. Signed, Chr. codrington. Endorsed., Recd. Read April 11, 1700. 1½ pp. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 6. No. 59; and 46. pp. 38, 39.]
April 10. Bermuda.	303. Mr. Spofferth to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Pursuant to Mr. Randolph's directions, I have sent the maps of Corresco (Curaçao) and this island. Mr. Randolph's report relating to Mr. Day is infallibly true, and his judgment of the importance of these islands sound, and touches the very soul of H.M. American interest. But as to his report of Mr. Thomas Burton, he falls much short of his true character, that fellow being chiefly the pest and catterpiller of these islands; he is the very tool and machine by which Mr. Day and others have acted their barbarous villainies, neither can anything be done here that makes a figure of mischief but he will be sure to have a hand in't; insomuch that he hath justly acquired the epithet of Bussey Burton, by which title he is now distinguished amongst us. Signed, Sam. Spofferth. Endorsed., Recd. June 7, Read June 11, 1700. Addressed and sealed. 1¼ pp. [Board of Trade. Bermuda, 4. No. 19; and 30. pp. 11, 12.]
April 10.	304. Agents of Barbados to the Council of Trade and Plantations. We have received your letter of Jan. 19. We cannot give a full account of the matter referred to by the French Ambassador till we have it from Barbados, but according to our best information at present, if Frere be gone to Dominico, it is not with any design to settle there at present (whatsoever right the English have so to do), but only to fetch timber, as he hath done several times, and as hath been practised for many years, there being always a trade and correspondence between the people of Barbados and the Indians of Dominico. It is very probable the men to be employed did carry arms with them to defend them against the insults of pirates and the treacherys of the inhabitants. But whereas it is said in the memorial of the French Ambassador that, by the antient treaties between France and England, Dominico and Sta. Lucia were to be left to the savages without any other establishments, we know of no such treaties, nor do we know or believe that any English attempted to settle upon Sta. Lucia about 20 years since and were obliged to quit it upon that principle, nor that after the war of 1666, the Indians put themselves under the protection of France. But we know that some French were upon Sta. Lucia about 13 years since, and were obliged by Col. Stede to quit it as belonging to the King of England. We also know that soon after the war of 1666, Lord William Willoughby, Governor of all the Caribes, went to Dominico with an armed force to punish the Indian inhabitants for some injuries they had done the English, and that by a composition made with them all their chiefs did by a general consent submit, surrender and convey the said island to the King of England, which they did by an instrument in writing, sealed and delivered in the most solemn and authentic manner that those people are capable of, many of the principal persons within his Lordship's government being there present. One of the present Agents of Barbados was then Secretary to that noble lord and King's Attorney, and he can give some account of this affair. He was not with his lord in this voyage, being detained in the Barbados by the King's business, but can testify that upon his Lordship's return to Barbados he did hear him and those that had been with him speak often of the proceedings at Dominico, and did often see the said instrument, and had it some time in his custody. It was a large writing with abundance of seals to it, and as he remembers as many marks and Indians' names, and he believes his Lordship carried that writing with him when he went to England, which was soon after. He can also testify that by his Lord's order he wrote a narrative of this whole expedition to Dominico, partly from the journals that had been kept, and partly from his Lordship's informations and directions, which narrative was sent to the King and Council, Signed, Edw. Littleton, Wm. Bridges, Mel. Holder. Endorsed., Recd. Ap. 11, Read April 12, 1700. 2¼ pp. [Board of Trade. Barbados, 8, No. 44; and 45. pp. 48–50.]
April 10. Whitehall.	305. William Popple to Wm. Bird, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn. The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations desire you would please to assist the French Protestant Refugeiz, about to embark for Virginia, with your advice and a letter of recommendation to your father, in order to their settlement there. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 37. pp. 396, 397.]
April 10. Whitehall.	306. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Secretary ordered to write to Mr. Burchett to know the number of the pirates arrived with Kid, and their names.
	Letter from Lord Jersey, April 9, read. Draught of a letter to Lord Bellomont thereupon finished. Draught of another letter to him relating to New England considered.
	The Marquis de la Muce and M. Desailly announcing their departure for Virginia with a number of Protestant Refugies, ordered that the Secretary write to Mr. Bird, of Lincoln's Inn, to desire him to assist them with advice and a letter of recommendation to his father in order to their settlement there.
	Letter from Mr. Haynes, March 27, with proposals, read.