BHO

America and West Indies: October 1713

Pages 243-249

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 27, 1712-1714. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1926.

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Citation:

October 1713

Oct. 1.
Windsor.
481. Order of Queen in Council. Referring enclosed to the Council of Trade and Plantations for their report. Signed, John Povey. Endorsed, Recd. 22nd Oct., Read 4th Nov. 1713. 1 p. Enclosed,
481. i. Petition of Godart and Johanna Kupius, widow, and others to the Queen. Petitioners are the surviving brother and sister of William Kupius, decd. On behalf of themselves and the children and widow of other brothers decd., they petition for the estate left by William Kupius in Jamaica, of which several persons have taken possession on pretence that it is escheated to H.M., William's two children having died intestate and without issue.
Kupius was induced to go to Jamaica by the Act for encouraging the settling Jamaica and was naturalized there. By the strict laws of your Majesty's Kingdom petitioners, who are all Protestants and subjects of the States General, may not have any method to recover the aforesaid estate, but pray for H.M. relief, the rather since by the laws of the Island great numbers of aliens born, and most of them Jews, are possessed of plantations and other freeholds there, etc. Copy. 3¼ pp. [C.O. 137, 10. Nos. 28, 28 i.; and 138, 14. pp. 43–48.]
Oct. 6. 482. Mr. Heysham to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I am directed from Barbadoes to lay before your Lordships, that of late rumm, suger, and mollasses hath been imported to New England and other northern Collonies from Surranam, which if not timely prevented may prove fatall to H.M. suger Plantations in America and greatly discourage the trade and navigation of Great Brittain, Surranam being a large Collony and the land new and fertile, they can make and vend sugers much cheaper then any of H.M. Plantations. This humbly craves your Lordships' speediest assistance to prevent the growing evill. Signed, Wm. Heysham. Endorsed, Recd. Read Oct. 6, 1713. ¾ p. [C.O. 28, 14. No. 7; and 29, 13. pp. 76, 77.]
Oct. 10.
St. Johns.
483. Archibald Cumings to the Council of Trade and Plantations. The fishery this year has proved very indifferent, not above 150 quintals per boat, etc. Fish proved dear being sold at 17s. per quintal. It lays under many disadvantages for want of a Comodore earlier to distribute justice, several rocks were pillaged in July when the fishery not above half over to the intire ruine of such planter, the fishery and discouragement to trade in generall being practised by the Comders. of ships and most of the Admirals of the harbours. Trade in generall has lyen under severall difficulties this year and in all likelihood to grow worse if not speedily prevented by having this country colonized and made a Plantation as the others are with a regular Government. The Acts of Trade are very much broke here and a great deall of illegall trade carried on from Europe hither and from hence to the other Plantations, etc. Signed, Archd. Cumings. Endorsed, Recd. 6th, Read 17th March, 1713/14. Addressed. ¾ p. [C.O. 194, 5. No. 34; and 195, 5. pp. 335, 336.]
Oct. 13. 484. Jeremy Dummer to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Elaborates memorial of Sept. 24th relating to Tertudas. Near 100 English sail go there yearly. The Spaniards have no occupancy there at all, and even if they have a title to the Island, we have a right to go there for trade by the Treaties of 1667, and 1670, etc. Signed, Jer. Dummer. Endorsed, Recd. Read Oct. 13, 1713. 3 pp. Enclosed,
484. i. Declaration of James Atchison, Oct. 1713. I was at Tartudas 24 years ago. There was no inhabitants, fort or warehouse there. Signed, James Atchison. 1 p.
484. ii. Declaration of Daniel Updicke, London, Oct. 7, 1713. I was at the Island of Tortugas commonly called by the English Saltertudos about 37 years agoe to load salt, and saw no fort, warehouse or inhabitants there, nor do I think there ever was. Signed, Danl. Updicke. 1 p.
484 iii. Declaration of Henry Sherburne, London, Oct. 6, 1713. Confirms preceding on voyages 17 and 10 years ago. Signed, Henry Sherburne. ½ p.
484. iv. Declaration of John Sunderland, London, Oct. 6, 1713. Confirms preceding on 6 voyages from 22 years to 12 months ago. Signed, John Sunderland. ½ p.
484. v. Declaration of Saml. Payn, London, Oct. 6, 1713. Confirms preceding on 6 voyages from 18 years ago. Signed, Saml. Payn. ¾ p.
484. vi. Declaration of Thomas Temple, London, Oct. 7, 1713. Confirms preceding on a voyage 26 years ago. Signed, Tho. Temple. ½ p.
484. vii. Declaration of William Keech, Oct. 1713. Confirms preceding on voyage about 50 years ago. Signed, Wm. Keech. ½ p. [C.O. 5, 866. Nos. 7, 7 i.–vii.]
Oct. 16.
Whitehal.
485. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. Recommend for H.M. confirmation Act of Barbados enabling the executor of Mrs. Parris etc. (v. Aug. 19). [C.O. 29, 13. pp. 79, 80.]
Oct. 16.
Whitehal.
486. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Queen. It having been found very prejudicial to the Government in your Majesty's Plantations, that Councillors shou'd absent themselves from the Councils, thereby frequently hindering the dispatch of public business for want of a quorum; quote H.M. Instruction thereupon, and recommend Thomas Bernard for the Council of Jamaica in the room of Charles Long (v. Sept. 24). [C.O. 138, 14. pp. 41, 42.]
Oct. 19.
Whitehall.
487. Mr. Secretary, Lord Bolingbroke to Governor Lowther. Since the promotion of the Earl of Dartmouth to the office of Lord Privy Seal, I have been directed by H.M. to take care of the affairs of the Southern Province, and am therefore to desire you will please to correspond with me in whatever relates to the Island under your Government. I am sorry upon my entrance into the business of this Department to find complaints from some of the patent officers concerning hardships put upon them, whereas I observe by the 50th article of your Instructions that you are directed by the Queen to countenance them and to give them all due encouragement. But I am more particularly surprized to understand that an Act has been offered you by the Assembly, which is highly prejudicial to several of the patent officers in their legal and accustomed fees, priviledges and emoluments and tends to subject their places to the disposal of the Governor in case of any misbehaviour. This is a proceeding so plainly contrary to the true meaning of your Instruction which I mentioned before, that I perswade myself you will not give the least countenance to it. You will easily imagine that the Queen cannot but disapprove with resentment any act of her subjects which shall pretend to displace officers appointed under her Great Seal without H.M. knowledge or consent, and I therefore hope to hear soon from you, that you have taken due care to discourage any such attempts upon the Queen's honour and authority. Upon this head of patent officers, I must recommend to you in a particular manner Mr. Lewis who has the Queen's commission to be Provost Marshal General of Barbados; I need not mention to you H.M. letters of leave dispensing with his residence in the Island etc., since I understand that they are registed there. Wherefore I do not doubt but that you will both in obedience to H.M. commands and in justice to a gentleman who is employed in a post of trust here, take effectual care that he receive no prejudice in his office under your Government. Signed, Bolingbroke. Copy. 1½ pp. [C.O. 28, 43. No. 88; and 324, 33. pp. 15, 17.]
Oct. 19.
Windsor.
488. H.M. Warrant to Governor Lowther for granting Alexander Skeene, Secretary of Barbados, leave of absence for six months. Countersigned, Bolingbroke. [C.O. 324, 33. pp. 13, 14.]
Oct. 19.
Windsor Castle.
489. Lord Bolingbroke to Governor Lord A. Hamilton. Upon the promotion of the Earl of Dartmouth to the office of Privy Seal, and of Mr. Bromley to that of Secry. of State, H.M. has thought fit that I should take upon me the care of the Southern Province with the West Indies, you will therefore please for the future to transmit to me accounts of what may occurr in your parts relating to H.M. service, and the benefit of the Governmt. under your care, that I may lay the same before the Queen in order to receive her directions thereupon. Signed, Bolingbroke. The like letter to the other Governors of Plantations. [C.O. 324, 33. pp. 17, 18.]
Oct. 25.
Windsor.
490. Order of Queen in Council. Approving representation of 16th inst. and appointing Thomas Bernard to the Council of Jamaica in the room of Charles Long who has been many years in this Kingdome without H.M. licence for his absence. Signed, Ja. Vernon. Endorsed, Recd. Read June 24, 1715. 1¼pp. [C.O. 137, 10. No. 76; and 138, 14. pp. 334, 335.]
Oct. 26.
Windsor Castle.
491. H.M. Warrant appointing Thomas Bernard to the Council of Jamaica. Signed, W. Bromley. [C.O. 324, 33. pp. 18, 19.]
Oct. 27.
Jamaica.
492. Governor Lord A. Hamilton to the Council of Trade and Plantations. I have not received any commands from your Lopps. since yours of May 8th, etc. What I have now most material to trouble your Lopps. with, is to give some account of our last short but very unsuccessfull session of Assembly. The Assembly stood prorogued to Sept. 24th when it was intended they should meet the supplys for ye support of the Government expireing ye last day of October. But an unforseen accident falling in ye way by a remonstrance of one David Pughs, lately a member of Assembly and expell'd not being duly qualify'd, being presented to myself and ye Council importing a charge against Mr. Brodrick H.M. Attorney General and Speaker of ye Assembly, I did thereupon with ye unanimous advice of the Council prorogue ye Assembly to Oct. 1st, in order to Mr. Pughes having time to make good his said charge, in each article of which he having intirely fail'd (v. Minutes of Council) the Assembly mett accordingly Oct. 1st. Your Lopps. will observe in ye Minutts of the Assembly ye Speech I made to them at ye opening of ye Session. Their first proceedings began with divisions, ye factious party in ye House, with ye gentlemen at their head of whom I have given your Lopps. formerly a character indeavouring to postpone the consideration of the Speech and indeed to obstruct all bussiness. The popular arguments and clamour was made against a standing army in time of peace being imposed on them (as some of them were pleased to term H.M. Regiment as it now stands reduced to 300 men) when in fact nothing more was proposed then the usual quartering and subsistance from the country they have allways had, till H.M. pleasure concerning them should be known, which they were given to understand I dayly expected. However on these unreasonable pretences, on reading ye Bill for that purpose ye first time they fell into ye greatest heats, when in truth ye real ground of difference was personall picques and animositys, and the partys present in ye House being so equall, that several questions were carried by the Speaker's vote only, after which so many members absenting themselves from the service of the House there could not be a quorum of well disposed members to make a House, and it having been represented to me by the Speaker and several members, that they apprehended violence and the greatest disorders, should the absent members again return to ye House, or if they did not, not having a quorum without them to adjourn, without a prorogation the House fell; under this delemma I immediatly call'd a Council, and upon mature deliberation of the present temper of the House, and of the little probability of their comming to a better, by the unanimous advice of ye Council I thought it best to dissolve them immediatly by Proclamation; and it was likewise resolved that writts should forthwith issue for calling a new Assembly the 26th of November nixt which was accordingly ordered. I have no reason to belive that these violent proceedings are agreeable to ye general sence of the country, and I am very hopefull a new Assembly will show more duty and gratitude to H.M. for ye protection their country has had, and particularly by this Regiment obtain'd at their own request. In ye mean time I waite with ye most longing expectations imaginable the honour of receiving by your Lopps. before the time of ye meeting of ye new Assembly H.M. pleasure relateing to ye Regiment; for I'm perswaded when that is known all due obedience and submission will be pay'd thereto. I took ye liberty in my letter, Oct. 10, 1712, humbly to offer my thoughts and apprehentions of the dangers and inconveniencys of leaving this Island, even in time of peace, altogether unprovided of a regular standing force, to garison the fortifications, etc. If any thing like what I had ye honour to hint should be resolved on, I'm perswaded the country will cheerfully go into it, notwithstanding ye factious indeavours of a few, who have never been satisfy'd with any Government; a seed brought here with ye first settlers that has never been intirely rooted out. I must pray your Lopps.' indulgence writt in some hurry, etc. I shall conclude only mentioning two particulars which were industriously made use of to foment and increase the heats in ye Assembly, one was their not having any accots. of the bills past here and remitted home for H.M. confirmation, and particularly the bill for quieting possessions, which they have so much at heart. The other handle that was made use of on this occasion, was ye calamity that at that time was fallen on the country by a strong south wind which indamaged their caines and corn, and allmost intirely reuined ye planting walkes, especially on ye north side and leward parts of ye Island which had sufferd least by ye last years hurrican. These things were aggravated and indeed contributed something to ye disorders that have happened. P.S.—Just as I had ended my letter, by a London ship arrived, I receiv'd your Lopps.' of July 15th etc. Nothing can be a greater satisfaction and incouragement to me in ye discharge of my duty then to find your Lopps. are pleased to honour me with your approbation, etc. I hope you will excuse me in not answering it now as I ought the ship by which this comes being just upon sailling, I was not willing to stop her. I shall punctually comply with what your Lopps. require in relation to ye Act for quieting possessions as soon as ye Assembly meets. Signed, A. Hamilton. Endorsed, Recd. 28th Dec. 1713, Read 19th Jan. 1713/14. 7 pp. [C.O. 137, 10. No. 35; and 138, 14. pp. 56–62.]
Oct. 28.
Treary. Chambers.
493. Mr. Lowndes to the Council of Trade and Plantations. The persons who have obtained debentures from you towards repairing their losses in Nevis and St. Christophers having petitioned my Lord Treasurer that their said debentures, which amount to 97,936l. 17s. 2d. may be admitted to be subscribed into the South Sea Stock according to the direccons of the Acts of Parliament in that behalfe, his Lordship desires that the several requisites to be performed by those Acts before the peticoners could entitle themselves to debentures may be layd before him, and that you will let him know by what sort of evidence it appeared to you that all the said requisites were well and truely performed and comply'd with. Signed, Wm. Lowndes. Endorsed, Recd. Read 29th Oct. 1713. Addressed. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 10. No. 7; and 153, 12. p. 107.]
Oct. 28.
Treary. Chambers.
494. Mr. Lowndes to Mr. Popple. Encloses following. My Lord Treasurer desires that the Council of Trade and Plantations will give such direccons therein as may prevent any the like complaints for the future. Signed, Wm. Lowndes. Endorsed, Recd. 29th, Read 30th Oct. 1713. Addressed. ¾ p. Enclosed,
494. i. Commissioners of Customs to the Lord High Treasurer. Customehouse, London, Oct. 21, 1713. Enclose following. Pray that directions may be given to Dep. Governor Marshal not to obstruct the officers of the Customs, etc. Signed, Rob. Wm.son, J. Bridges, Jo. Werden, J. Gibbon. 1 p.
494. ii. Extract of letter from William Gerrish (Collector of Customs at Montserrat) to Edward Perrie (Surveyor Generall of Barbados and the Leeward Islands). Montserrat, July 25, 1713. Since your departure nothing of moment hath offer'd in our Island save the appointing Capt. Marshall our Governor, who with his company doth govern as absolute as the Grand Senr., about 10 days past a vessell in her way to Jamaica touched here with slaves. Govr. Marshal agreed for some, the master would not take anything but bills, and such as I would indorze, the Governor asked if I would endorse his bills, I told him modestly I would not, immediately he call'd me all the ill names he could and said he would cane me very well, in a day or two after I was obliged to goe to his Honour to prove my quarter's accts. of Customs, he swore he would not do it, so am obliged to send it to the Commrs. without proving or swearing to it, besides he clears vessells without having ever been near the Custom House, and if I give a permit he'll not signe it, this may be very prejudicial to H.M. interest, etc. Signed, Wm. Gerrish. Copy. 1 p. [C.O. 152, 10. Nos. 8, 8 i., ii.; and (without enclosure ii.) 153, 12. pp. 110–113.]
Oct. 30.
Whitehall.
495. Council of Trade and Plantations to the Lord High Treasurer. Reply to Oct. 28. State requisites appointed by the Act, and enclose copies of oaths and debentures, "wherein we consulted H.M. Attorney General," etc. [C.O. 153, 12. pp. 108–110.]