America and West Indies: December 1700, 21-25

Pages 759-766

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

Citation:

December 1700



Dec. 21.	The House was called over. Resolved that an Address be prepared to signify to His Excellency the several resolutions of the House upon consideration of his Speech at the opening of this Session, and that a clause of acknowledgement to His Excellency be inserted, for his eminent service done this country in taking the pyrates. The Committee for Publick Claims sent in an additional report on the charges relating to pirates.
	Allowances granted (in detail, according to attendance), to members of the Committee for Revisal of the Laws. Ordered that the services of the Assistants to the Revisors be further considered. In response to the desire of the Council, a Conference of the two Houses upon the Bill for making the French Refugees at Mannikin Town a separate Parish, etc., was held. The House refused to give any relief to the Refugees.
	The Bill for continuing the Act prohibiting the Exportation of Indian corn was sent down, assented to by the Council, together with a letter from Capt. Passenger, which was referred till Monday. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 54. pp. 84–94.]
Dec. 21.	1040. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Virginia. The Council desired the Burgesses to hold a free Conference with them upon the Bill concerning the French Refugees. Committee appointed to manage the Conference upon the subject, that the Refugees have hitherto subsisted upon the charity of the people in those parts, and without some continuation of such charitable act, are not likely to subsist, and without that, ye Bill now prepared can be of small advantage.
	Bill prohibiting the exportation of Indian Corn was read three times and passed.
	And see preceding abstracts. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 55. pp. 320–322.]
Dec. 22. Admiralty Office, Sunday Afternoon.	1041. J. Burchett to Mr. Popple. There being on board H.M.S. Dolphin one Bolton, who is sent from Jamaica upon account of some transactions between him and Capt. Kidd, now in Newgate for piracy, and my Lords of the Admiralty being informed that His Majesty was moved by the Lords of the Council of Trade to send for the said Bolton, they desire to know upon what grounds or information the Lords of the Council of Trade prepared the draught of the letter laid before His Majesty for sending him home, and if I can have your answer to-morrow morning, I shall then have opportunity of communicating it to the Board. Signed, J. Burchett. Endorsed, Recd. Dec. 23, 1700. 1 p. [Board of Trade. New England, 11. No. 33; and 38. p. 337.]
Dec. 22.	1042. Memorandum of preceding. ¼ p. [Board of Trade. Leeward Islands, 7. No. 10.]
Dec. 23. Whitehall.	1043. William Popple to Josia Burchett. In answer to preceding refers to correspondence abstracted in this and previous volumes. "I do not find that any letter or instruction was ever prepared by this Board for the sending home of Bolton by name, or in any manner more particularly than any other pirates, nor have their Lordships any account of Sir William Beeston's sending him." [Board of Trade. New England, 38. pp. 338–340.]
Dec. 23.	1044. Major Richard Ingoldesby to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Captain of one of the four Companies in New York, the petitioner is anxious to obtain a settlement of the arrears due to him from Col. Fletcher, and as pay, before returning to his command. But the Earl of Ranalagh, P.M.G., not having laid any accounts relating to the Four Companies before the Commissioners appointed to examine the debts due to the Army, he has been hitherto altogether remediless. He, and the rest of the officers and soldiers of the Four Companies, are in arrear of their very subsistance from Dec., 1696 to March 25, 1699, and since that time he has received subsistence only from ye 26 of April last. Also the Agent pretends to retain £30 per cent. here to answer to £30 per cent exchange detained by the Government there. No ships will be going hence to New York for two months, and petitioner therefore hopes their Lordships will press the Earl of Ranalagh to lay before the said Commissioners the Accounts of the Four Companies, and will represent to His Majesty the hardship the Four Companies lie under by the deduction of the 30 per cent, amounting with what is deducted for Agency, Poundage and Hospital, to near 40 per cent, and that their Lordships will take care that the new arrear of their whole pay from Dec. 25 to April 26 last may be provided for, etc. Signed, Richard Ingoldesby. Endorsed, Recd. Read Dec. 23, 1700. 2 pp. [Board of Trade. New York, 11. No. 4; and 55. pp. 69–71.]
Dec. 23. London.	1045. Micajah Perrys to Wm. Popple. I have this day sent away the last; sent the No. 1 per Nassau Capt. Ingram, these 2nd. per Capt. Hoare; and if you have any further service, I have a ship that will go about this day seaven-night and shall readyly serve you to either Virginia or Maryland or Pensilvania. Signed, Micajah Perrys. Endorsed, Dec. 23, 1700. ⅓ p. Addressed, To the Honbl. Wm. Popple, Esq., at ye Cock Pitt att Whitte Halle. Bears circular post mark (illegible) and triangular stamp of the Penny Post. [Colonial Papers, lxvii. No. i.
[? Dec. 23.]	1046. John Eldridge to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Passenger on the Nassau from Madagascar, seized at Newcastle with all his effects, May 29, 1699, on suspicion of piracy, though guiltless, and though often demanding an inventory of his effects, petitioner could only obtain the answer from Col. Quarrey that he had sent an account thereof to England. On May 30 he was sent to the Jerseys a prisoner to Governor Bass, and there remained till April, 1700, whence he was sent to New York, Boston and thence to London. He was committed to the Marshalsea in July, all which time he was only upon suspicion confined and ironed as a criminal. Nothing was ever sworn against him and he was discharged. In order to obtain possession of his effects, prays for copies of Col. Quarry's letters relating to petitioner. Endorsed, Recd. Dec. 23, 1700. 2 pp. [Board of Trade. Proprieties, 5, No. 83.]
Dec. 23.	1047. Journal of Council of Trade and Plantations. Letter from Mr. Burchet, Dec. 22, read. Secretary's reply approved. Upon further consideration of the papers in this Office relating to Bolton, copies ordered to be sent to Mr. Burchet.
	Major Ingoldsby's Memorial read. Copy ordered to be sent to Lord Bellomont.
	Ordered that copies of Lord Bellomont's letter, and enclosures, Oct. 17, relating to the ill-condition of the stores sent last June, be sent to the Ordnance Office.
	Letter from the Secretary to Mr. Burchet (Dec. 24) agreed upon.
	Petition of John Eldridge read (Dec. 23). Ordered that if any account of his goods, transmitted by Col. Quarry, be found, a copy be given him. Ordered that Capt. Bennet be desired to attend on Monday in order to some enquiries into the state of the Fortifications of Bermudas.
	Ordered that Rear-Admiral Bembow be also desired to attend then in order to some enquiries relating to the fortifying of Jamaica. [Board of Trade. Journal, 13. pp. 296–298; and 97. No. 225.]
Dec. 23.	1048. Minutes of Council of Virginia. A Brief for the relief and support of the French Refugees at Manikin Town was signed and sealed.
	Orders given for the payment of the expenses for sickness and other necessaries for the Shoreham.
	Corbin Griffen was appointed Naval Officer and Receiver of the Virginia Duties for Rapahannock River, in place of Robert Carter, now member of Council, who took the oaths appointed. Mr. Carter was directed to deliver to him all papers relating to that office. His Excellency and Council taking into consideration the low condition of the French Refugees and that unless they are in some measure relieved by the pious bounty and charity of the inhabitants of this Colony until they can reap the fruits of their own labour by this next crop, they must inevitably perish, ordered that new briefs be drawn and sent to each county to incite and stirr up the people to extend their charity for their relief. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 55. pp. 57–59.]
Dec. 23.	1049. Journal of House of Burgesses of Virginia. Capt. Passinger's letter, wherein he desires liberty to import rum for the use of the seamen on board H.M.S. Shoreham without paying the imposition of 4d per gallon, was considered. Request refused.
	His Excellency summoned the House to attend him, and said that he was informed that the French Refugees had mostly since their arrival been maintained by the charity of the inhabitants in the upper parts of James River and that their necessitys were such that they could not subsist without relief. In order for their relief he had with the advice of His Majesty's Council, issued a Breif, for the releif of the French Protestant Refugees recommended to the General Assembly, in which Breif he had impowered two of the Council to receive the donations, and left a blank for incerting such other persons as the House should think fit; And when the Council should understand the contributions given thereupon they would proceed to the further consideration of the Bill relating to the French Refugees sent by the House. Then the Breif was read at the Table and several Members having made subscriptions thereunto, a message was sent to His Excellency and Council that the House was well satisfied of the present necessity of the Refugees, that several members had subscribed to the Breif, and that they did not think it necessary to add more persons to receive the donations. They hoped that for the future benefit of the Refugees the Council would assent to their Bill.
	Bill relating to the French Refugees sent down with amendments was amended, and agreed to, and sent up.
	Ordered that a message be inserted in the Address to His Excellency empowering him, with the advice of the Council, to continue the Rangers in Stafford County as occasion shall require, and upon any emergency to raise a suitable force for security of the country, to be paid by the publick.
	The Book of Reports of the Committee for Publick Claims was read and agreed to, with some additions and amendments, and sent up. Ordered that it be referred to the next Session of Assembly to consider of some method to prevent the inhabitants of Maryland from committing runaway servants out of this Government to prison and there keeping them until the charge amounts to more than the value of the servants.
	Samuel Selden, attending to answer his breach of privilege, confessed that on the 2nd or 3rd inst. a declaration in ejectment was delivered at the house of Mr. Robert Beverley, a Member of this House, and was ordered to withdraw.
Dec. 24.	The Committee of accounts reported that they found due upon balance of Mr. Treasurer's accounts 1,093l. 3s. 9¾d. Ordered that Mr. Treasurer be desired to take care that Ralph Wormley and Rich. Lee make oath to their respective accounts, and that he make oath to his Treasurer's account. The Committee having reported that Col. William Wilson in his last account of the imposition upon liquors mentioned 13½ pipes of wine, which was imported and carried out again without payment of duty, the House resolved that the importers of the said wine ought to be prosecuted, and that it is the duty of the Attorney General to take care thereof. Ordered that the Committee's Representation concerning the non-payment of some Fort duties be laid before His Excellency and Council. Ordered that Mr. Treasurer deliver into the House the several Collectors' Accounts given to him, and also the warrants on which he hath paid any money.
	The following Address was agreed to and ordered to be presented to His Excellency; —As to the paragraph in your Excellency's Speech made at the opening of this Session relating to the French Refugees, we have resolved that it doth not appear that they are under such pressing necessity as to be accounted objects of present charity, but this House being willing to give all suitable encouragement to their settlement have passed a Bill to make the inhabitants of Mannikin Town and the parts adjacent a distinct parish by themselves, and have also exempted the settled inhabitants of that parish from the payment of publick and county levys for seven years. As to building a Governor's House, we have resolved that this country is not at this time in a capacity to sustain so great a charge, there being many publick debts and other contingent charges to defray and the Capitol stil to be built. As to settling and regulating the claims and publick debts, we have considered them as usual, but as to the pyrates, we have resolved that the charge relating to them is not a country charge, but forasmuch as in the taking of them your Excellency was pleased to expose your person to so much danger and that it pleased God to prosper your Excellency's valour and conduct with that success as to make them a means not only of redeeming several shipps and men captives to those pyrates, but in all likelihood of extraordinary service and security to the inhabitants of and the ships trading to this His Majesty's Colony and Dominion, we esteem it a duty incumbent on us to remember those services with a grateful acknowledgment.
	As to the last paragraph in your Excellency's Speech we have appointed a Committee to make up and settle the Publick Accounts with Mr. Treasurer. As to the Rangers of Stafford County, we have resolved that they shall be paid. And as it is uncertain what future occasion there may be of continuing them or of raising more for the security of this Dominion, we humbly leave it to your Excellency with the advice of the Honourable Council to continue or raise such soldiers as the emergency shall require till the meeting of the next Session of Assembly, to be then paid by the publick, trusting your Excellency will be pleased to disband them as the prospect of the danger ceases. We heartily congratulate your Excellency's recovery at the conclusion of this Session.
	Ordered that Bartholomew Fowler be allowed 2,000 lbs. of tobacco for his attendance at the last meeting of Assembly, with the assent of the Council.
	Samuel Selden, having been heard, was discharged from custody of the Messenger, paying his fees.
	The House returned thanks to Mr. Speaker for his services.
	His Excellency summoned the House to attend him in the General Court House, addressed them and laid several papers before them. He thanked them for their ready compliance in answering the purport of the Breif concerning the Refugees and for their liberal contributions in their relief. "I heartily wish for the reputation of the country you had as readily believed what I said to you concerning the matter of the pyrates. I think myself bound both in duty to His Majesty and also to the great esteem and respect I have unto Assemblies in general, and to all the inhabitants of Virginia, once more earnestly to recommend that affair to your consideration. I hope you have no just occasion to find fault with the management of that affair, and therefore in my opinion the charge ought to be paid or represented by you as an aggrievance. I have given your Speaker a copy of some of the Lords Justices' Instructions to me, together with an abstract of Mr. Auditor Byrd's account of the 2s. per hhd. etc. together with His Majesty's royal commands to me for the paying Sir Edmund Andross, by which you will find how little there is remaining for paying the contingent charges of the Government. There is also the balance of His Majesty's Revenue of the Quit Rents for the year past, and by one of the Instructions you will see that I cannot dispose thereof without His Majesty's particular directions. When I receive your answer to what I have formerly and now speake unto you concerning the pyrates. His Majesty's Council will return you the Book of Claims." The House presented their Address to which His Excellency replied. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 54. pp. 94–107.]
Dec. 23.	1050. Minutes of Council in Assembly of Virginia. Bill concerning the French Refugees read second time, amended, read a third time and passed. And see preceding abstracts.
Dec. 24.	Book of Public Claims etc. read and amended. And see preceding abstracts. [Board of Trade. Virginia, 55. pp. 322–330.]
Dec. 24. Whitehall.	1051. William Popple to the Principal Officers of His Majesty's Ordnance. The Council of Trade and Plantations having received from the Earl of Bellomont some complaints of the ill condition of the Stores sent for His Majesty's service to New York June last, have commanded me to send you the inclosed copies thereof for your information. [Board of Trade. New York, 55. p. 72.]
Dec. 24. Whitehall.	1052. William Popple to Josiah Burchet. Refers to letter of Dec. 19. The Council of Trade and Plantations being very sensible of the Earl of Bellomont's zeal and good intention for His Majesty's service in the matter of ship-timber there referred to, and being desirous that he may not be a sufferer upon that account, have now commanded me to send you the inclosed. extract of his letter, (Oct. 17,) to them about it etc., in order that you may lay the same before the Lords of the Admiralty, in order to his reimbursement. [Board of Trade. New York, 55. pp. 72, 73.]
Dec. 24. Whitehall.	1053. William Popple to Josia Burchett. The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations command me to send you the enclosed papers, which contain what has past or remains before them relating to Bolton. [Board of Trade. New England, 38. pp. 340–342.]
Dec. 25. Whitehall.	1054. Mr. Secretary Vernon to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I have layd before the King your Lordships' letter etc. of 19th inst., and at the same time I read to His Majesty your report to the Lords Justices, Oct. 4. His Majesty has at present taken into consideration that part of your report, which relates to the Fortifications; and, as to the Sod Fort in the Onondage Country, supposes that is sufficiently provided for by the £500 he has given towards it and by my Lord Bellomont's care to get the rest supplied by the Assembly of New Yorke. As to the Forts at Albany and Schenectady, his Lordship proposing that in order to begin to build the same, a credit might be allowed him for drawing small sums at a time, His Majesty has thought fit that you should acquaint him that the Treasury has directions to answer the Bills he shall draw upon them from time to time as those occasions require it, to the sum of 2,000l., and His Majesty has likewise directed his Master General of the Ordnance to furnish the Earl of Bellomont with spades, shovels and other utensils necessary for that work. If your Lordships therefore have any accounts from my Lord Bellomont of what sorts and what quantitys of the said utensils are requisite, it will be necessary you acquaint the Earl of Romney therewith, who has likewise directions from His Majesty to send 1,000 felling axes for cutting of timber according to my Lord Bellomont's desire. His Majesty taking notice of what is mentioned in your report of my Lord Bellomont's advice that letters should be writ to the Governors and Assemblys of the other Plantations to excite them to contribute in their several proportions to the charge of securing the frontiers of New Yorke, His Majesty would have you prepare circular letters for his Royal signature according to the scheme proposed by your Lordships for the quota of each Plantation. Signed, Ja. Vernon. Endorsed, Recd. 27, Read Dec. 30, 1700. 3 pp. [Board of Trade. New York, 11. No 6; and 55. pp. 74–76.]