USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 19
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List of names sub- scribed to a sawcy rep- resentation.
308
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to the Trustees.
swaded at this very time to believe that he peti- tioned for their Importation; saying yt. tho' Negros are mentiond; yet 'twas far from his apprehending they were necessary, or pre- scribed so to be; wch. would have been the great- est impudence ; but he meant no more y" humbly to submit it to the Trustees, in what manner soever they pleased, to consider of any expedi- ent, if possible, for cultivating land at an easier rate y" they yet had done. This is what he had to say for himself, when I charged him wth being guilty of such a Fact; which with all allowances yt can be given, must at least argue great Indis- cretion, to joyn in promoting the work of those, whose company lie had always shunnd ; & whose Proceedings in giving so much disturbance among us, he had still warmly opposed; as is well known by every body; & particularly M. Jones has been a long while so sensible of his honest Intentions in joyning with him boldly to check the designs of that insolent Club; yt. with- out it, Tailfer & his Adherents, had 'ere this time been Chief Rulers here; weh. some others in Authority would easily submit to, as their late Behaviour plainly discovers too plainly. Let it not from hence be inferrd, I humbly beg, yt. I am labouring to prevail with Your honours, for his continuance on the Bench whatever your pleasure therein is. I assure you will be so to me: the Man is poor, & has no small Family; and to add to his misfortune, tho' as great a Planter as any Freeholder in Town, & more; wch. has turnd out this year not so well as could have been wishd; he has moreover suffer'd the
Misfortunes of Mr. Parker.
CORRESPONDENCE
309
Wm. Stephens to the Trustees.
Loss of several of his Cattle being spitefully killed by persons unknown: wherefore possibly it might be more to his advantage to be freed from any attendance on Publick Affairs, & retire wholly to his other Plantation some miles off; where wth. the Live Stock he has, he might hope to maintain his Family: I truly mean no more y" to wish him reinstated in your Honours good Opinion, under the Character of a diligent Plan- ter; & behind very few in Zeal for promoting the Welfare of the Colony; wherein his capacity also in many cases, is equal to his Zeal : and that Character I am verily perswaded in my self he deserves ; wherein I know Mr. Jones now agrees with me (after a sufficient Tryal of wt. I war- ranted to him before from my own experience) tho' upon a Pett at one time taken against him, I have reason to believe he might write you something severe; which he would not, upon knowing him better, readily do again for he is very sensible that upon Christies sitting the First on the Bench, such a Conjunction would ensue betwixt Two (right or wrong) y. there would be no occasion of him for a Third. Here- with I have sent a Packett yt Mr. Christie put into my hands some little time since which he called Copy of the Court Proceedings; but no body yt. I know of, ever lookd into it besides himself; wherefore I can say nothing of it : And only think it my Duty to lay before Your Hon- ours what is given me for that Intent.
Triffles (Gentlemen) are not fit to entertain you with; & things of moment are not proper
-
310
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Christie to the Trustees.
to be cursorily run over: wherefore I would choose to make a short Stop here ; & rely on your pardon for so doing; rather than risque the Censure of laying any thing before you without due Caution, and not well digested which shall be my care in the next I offer, & that will be soon @ Capt. Thomson.
I am
Honourable Gentlemen Your most Obedient humble Servant Will : Stephens. To the honourable the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER WITHOUT DATE FROM MR. CHRISTIE TO THE TRUSTEES-RECD 28 APRIL 1740
Jan™. 1739
Gentlemen
Mr. Christie appointed Ist bayliff in place of Henry Parker.
Mr. William- sơn made recorder.
I Reced a Letter signed Harman Verelst dated July 14th. 1739 wherein he says the Trustees have been pleasd. to promote me to the office of first Bayliff in the room of Henry Parker dis- placed - And further says you are therefore desired to send Copies of the Proceedings of the Town Court weh. have not already been sent to ye. Trustees to the time Mr. Williamson shall be sworn in Recorder to succeed you - Gent™
311
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Christie to the Trustees.
Your orders are so well obeyed that my sitting as first Bayliff and my Commission is not only refused me but M'. Parker is not displaced nor is Mr. Williamson sworn in Recorder Altho he has personally applyed for it so that I am Affraid If I shod. delay sending over the Pro- ceedings of the Town Court till Mr. Williamson is sworn in Recorder it would tire your patience.
You will be well informed by me of the rea- sons for these proceedings so that I shall not mention any thing farther here.
I have been continually visited by Sickness for this five Months past.
As M. Verelsts Letter to M'. Stephens differs from mine and seems to point out him as the Person directª. to see those Court Proceedings transmitted to the Trustees I have for his satis- faction taken with. me two friends and inclosed the same in his presence directª. to your Hon™s. having at the same time also demanded my Com- mission and the Execution of your orders but to no purpose.
I remain wth. the greatest regard Imaginable Yor. Hon". most Faithfull Humble Servant
Tho: Christie
Commission refused Mr. Christie.
,
312
COLONIAL RECORDS
Genl. Oglethorpe to Col. Stephens.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
GENL. OGLETHORPE TO COL. STEPHENS BROUGHT BY CAPT. THOMPSON WHO DELIVERED IT AT THE TRUSTEES OFFICE 2 MAY 1740.
Frederica 1st. Febry 1739 . 40.
Sir
Since the Spaniards began Hostilities by at- tacking Amelia & murdering the Men there, I pursued them into Florida, swept the River St. Matthaeo, by the Indians called Olata, and which the Spaniards would fain now call St. John's. I landed on the Spanish Main, drove in their Out Guards, and the Indians burnt 3 Guard houses, I proceeded one days March towds. Au- gustine, stayed 3 Days hunting their Cattle and ravaging the Countrey, but could not provoke them to action. Their Horse and a Party of Negroes and Indians once appeared, but went off upon a gallop, and took shelter in their Forts. The Spaniards had in Florida besides the Fort- ress of Augustine, the Fort of St. Marks, with a Garrison of 80 regular Troops, 100 Spanish Transports, besides Negroes, Indians &cª. This Fort lies on the Bay of Apellachee which makes the most Eastern Part of ye Gulf of Mexico, and by it Augustine has a Communication with Mexico. It also influences ye. Creek Indians, being not far from their Towns. They had also built a new Fort called St. Francis de Pupa, on the British side of St. Matthaeo, or Alata before
Spanish Forts.
Genl. Ogle- thorpe's at- tack upon the Span- iards.
CORRESPONDENCE
313
Genl. Oglethorpe to Col. Stephens.
mentioned. This Fort was an Encroachment, and built not long since to protect a Ferry over the River Alata, to defend their Communication with St. Marks, and to give them an Entry into that part of Georgia inhabited by the Creek Indians, and also all ye Northern parts of Geor- gia and Carolina by land, it being but 5 days Journey from this Fort to Mr. Matthews's new Settlement, and that but two days Journey from Savannah. Over against this, on the South side, the Alata, which is there so wide as to be no longer a River but a Lake, they had a Fort called Picolata, in the shape of a Star, and a Ferry boat going from the one ffort to the other. They had also the Fort of St. Diogo 7 leagues from the Alata, 6 from Augustine & 3 from the Sea. They had another called Rossa with a Garrison mostly Indians, another called Chicketo with 4 Bastions, the Garrison partly Indians, and part- ly regular Troops, & lies about a league from Augustine. Another called Pinnion, And they were building a new one of Stone called Moosa to protect the Plantations they had granted to Runaway Negroes who were armed and Officered in order to garrison ye Same. A particular ac- count of St. Augustine is inclosed.
On my first Inroad the Spaniards quitted Moosa and drew off the Negroes. I sent Lieut. Dunbar up the River with two Scout boats to destroy what Boats the Spaniards had, & to view their Forts and attack them if weak. Ac- cordingly after 12 hours rowing up ye. Alata he Came to where it forms a Lake, being in many
A stone fort built to pro- tect planta- tions of runaway Negroes.
Lieut. Dun- bar sent to destroy Spanish boats.
314
COLONIAL RECORDS
Genl. Oglethorpe to Col. Stephens.
Party of regiment sent out on New Year's day.
Fort Pico- lata burned by Indians.
Places above 2 leagues wide, but straitened in one by 2 Points, so that it was not above 2 miles wide. On the Northern Point was Fort St. Francis, and on the Southern point, that of Pico- lata. He landed in the night & thought to have surprized the Latter, but after several hours firing and 3 men being wounded he found he could not carry it without Cannon, so returned. On New years day I set out with a party of ye. Regiment, accompanied by Captain Mackay, Captain Desbrisay, Lieutenant Dunbar, and Ensigns Mackay, Mace. Sutherland and Max- well, and Adjutant Hugh Mackay. The Ran- gers, Faunee Mico with the Chickesaws and Captain Gray the Uchee King with the Uchees and Hewitt. Hillyspilli and Santouchy with the Creeks, Mr. Matthews and Mr. Jones, one Peria- gua, 13 Boats, and a small Privateer Sloop, who went in at the River Alata. On the 7th. after having got over many difficulties, by daybreak the Indians surprized and burnt the Fort of Picolata, the Spaniards having abandoned it. At 10 the same day I landed and invested Saint Francis de Pupa with the Indians & Rangers, and formed the regular Troops, and landed four Pieces of Cannon, posted them & marched out a Battery in such manner that they were sheltered from the Sight of the Garrison by the Woods. In the mean time the Indians advanced as near as they could under the shelter of Trees, some of which stood within 100 yards of the Fort, but in most places the ground was cleared 300 yards round. The Indians fired very briskly upon the Fort and the Spaniards returned the Same very
CORRESPONDENCE
315
Genl. Oglethorpe to Col. Stephens.
hotly till towards 3 of Clock, when their Fire lessened considerably. This kept the Spaniards so amused that they did not discover our men at the Batteries so that they worked undiscovered till 5 of Clock when the Spaniards began to fire upon them, but the Breast work being then fin- ished they did no mischief. Before Sun set the Battery fired on the Fort when I offered them terms, but they refusing the Cannons fired a second time which had so good an effect that they cried out for Quarter, became Prisoners of War, and surrendered the Fort with two pieces of Cannon, one Mortar, three Swivel Guns, 150 Shells, a number of glass bottles filled with Powder, and artificial Fire works, a sufficient Quantity of Ammunition, Provisions &cª. for a long Defence. The Fort consisted of a strong new built Tower, about 30 foot high, 16 foot square within, with a Manchicolis, above, which flanked the foot of the Tower, without that, a Rampart faced with Timber a foot thick and 12 foot high, filled up within side with 6 foot Earth, but the Garrison was very weak, consisting only of a Serjeant, a Corporal 9 Soldiers and one Indian. The Governour having since the first Inroad withdrawn the Garrison from Picolata, and part of that from Pupa. They formerly consisting of a Comissioned Officer and 30 men. I left a Garrison in this Place and have added to the Fortification, it being of great Conse- quence, since thereby the Communication with the Creek Indians is secured, and their means of invading by Land, the Northern parts of the Colony is taken away, and if any Party of Horse
Fort Saint Francis de Pupa sur. rendered and Span- iards taken prisoners of war.
316
COLONIAL RECORDS
Genl. Oglethorpe to Col. Stephens.
An abund- ance of cattle and horses.
comes from Carolina, they may be here shel- tered till they be ferried over, and Picolata, at which they land, is within 21 miles of Augustine, and the Countrey between is full & Stocked with Cattle and Horses.
I have received some Letters from the Trus- tees relating to the Title of Lands, which I wish may not give room to the troublesome peoples making new Cavils. I have not yet had time to Consider well of it, but think it would be right to take them into mature Consideration that at the same time they are published they may be thoroughly explained to the people, and thereby Dissentions at this critical Juncture be preven- ted. I am
Sir Yor. very humble servant
James Oglethorpe.
Assistance solicited for the siege of Augustine.
I desire you would show ys letter to Mr. Jones. I have sent Mr. Hor- ton to England and Capt". Heron to Charles Town to solicit Assis- tance for the Siege of Augustine & other matters for the Safety of the Province.
Colonel Stephens
Informa. tion in re- gard to stronghold of Castle of Augustine gotten from prisoners.
By the Examination of the Prisoners, which Confirms former Informations, the Castle of Augustine is a fort built of soft Stone, with four Bastions the Curtain Sixty yards in length the Parapet nine foot thick, the Rampert Twenty
317
CORRESPONDENCE
Genl. Oglethorpe to Col. Stephens.
3.
foot high, Casemated underneath for Lodgings and Arched over and newly made Bomb proof. There are fifty pieces of Cannon mounted in the Castle, they have been for some time working on a Covered way which is not yet finished. Sixteen of ye. Cannon are Brass & some Twenty four Pounders. The Town is Entrenched with Ten Saliant Angles in each of which are some small Cannon. The Forces in Florida Consist of by Establishment
Officers and Men in each.
One Troop of Horse
100
One Company of Artillery
100
Three Independant Companys of old Troops ea
100
Two Compa. of the Regiment of Esturias
53
One Compa. of Valencia
53
One Compa. of Catalonia
53
Two Companys of Cantabria
53
Two Companys of Merica
53
Armed Negroes
200
White Transports for Labour
200
Militia of Inhabitants, One Com- pany.
Indians the Number uncertain
.
318
COLONIAL RECORDS
John Brownfield to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER FROM JOHN BROMFIELD TO THE TRUSTEES RECD 28 APRIL 1740
Savannah Feb: 9th: 1739/40. May it please Y : Hon's :
Prevented from exe- cuting duties as register & by illness.
Having done my self the pleasure of writing to You last Octor. when I mentioned my readi- ness to obey Your Orders in the Registership of this Province & that I was preparing to put the same in eecution I cannot now delay the acquaint® : y. Hon's: with my ill state of health wch: has in great Measure kept me from per- form® : my Duty in the Registers": - Soon after the Letter above mentioned was sent away I entered upon a rough Acco : of the Lands & Im- provemts. of this Town & the Out-Settlemts: near it. Having done a good part thereof, it pleased God to afflict me with Illness; under wch. I have, with little Intermissions laboured till now. - My Body is still weak & prevents me from writing so as to finish the Account that is began. I patiently wait till the Divine Will shall be done upon me & when my strength is suffi- cient I hope to go on with the RegistersP :- In- deed it would glad my Heart, could my Labours give any Proof that I am
Yr. Hon's :
Faithful obliged & dutiful
tho' infirm Servant.
J. Brownfield.
319
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER FROM WM. STEPHENS ESQ. TO THE TRUS- TEES RECD 2 MAY 1740 1 .
Savannah 14 Mar: 1739/40.
Honourable Gentlemen
I had the honour to write you my last of the 28 Jan. P Capt. Cabot in the Free Briton; wherewith I also enclosed Coppy of my Journal to that time, as I now do to this. The liberty I have taken to expatiate so much in some of those papers, will (I hope) be allowd as a Rea- son for my being more concise, when I touch upon any of those Points now; thinking it be- hoves me principally to take notice of divers Orders & Directions recd. from you; to acquaint you how far they have been complyd with; and wherein they yet have not fully, to offer such reasons why not as the case will admit of, plain- ly, & without Art.
To begin with the Trusts "Servants-(un- doubtedly a most important Article)- you were pleased to require an account of them, with their names, Ages & Sex's; and how employd under Mr. Jones: this has been attended with some difficulty to collect, & reduce into such a form, as is proper to be laid intelligibly before your Honours; occasiond by the various & frequent changes of the persons, from the Work, and place, appointed them, to another very different, in time past, as the Master of the Stores
The Trust's servants.
320
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to the Trustees.
thought fit to appoint, for the carrying on this or that work: but from henceforward, 'tis to be hoped, a more uniform Regulation will be ob- served; tho' I cannot answer for it, but urgent necessity, may be a means of swerving a little from it, or an extraordinary occasion, where the publick Service evidently calls for immediate help. I shall be glad if the Lists which I here- with send are agreeable to what is expected if it falls short, we'll do the best we can to mend whats amiss. Youll please to observe what the number is of them on the two Publick Lots; one known by the name of Desbouvries Farm, 4 miles off; & the other, being 90 acres of land run out by the Generals order, when he was here in Oct. last; near adjoyning to what was called the Glebe, about 1/2 a mile out of Town, wch. happend to be very poor land, and this is much better; but what particular purpose his Excel- lence intends it for, I know not; only tis gener- ally understood to be for a Mulberry Garden. Each of these Partys have an Overseer appoin- ted over 'em; who do (or should) give an acct to M'. Jones, what they are about, & how they go on: wch. is an Office he says he can by no means take on himself; having so much to do about Accompts : wherein truly I cant but agree wth. him; & thereby I partly glance at my self too; who for some months past have employd great part of my time in attending on that Enquiry; to contribute what I could towards it; but must not boast of great performances ; want- ing the Skill and Sagacity (tho' not a hearty good Will) to discover latent Frauds, equally
Desbouvries farm.
The Glebe.
Mulberry Garden.
321
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to the Trustees.
with Mr. Jones; whose Dexterity that way is so well known: one thing nevertheless I must not pass over unobserved; viz yt. upon my notify- ing to him yt. twas your Honours pleasure he should take an Oath of Fidelity, the better to qualify himself for executing the Office you thought fit to entrust him with, relating to the Servants; he made great Scruples about it, say- ing he was not fond of taking any Oath, but where it was not to be avoided: and therefore he has declined it. 1
What relates to Mr. Whitfield, the Church, and Orphan House; I have so fully taken notice of in my Journal, from the time of his coming last hither; yt. I ask leave to refer to it; and for the future I shall continue to observe, how the Or- phan house, and Church go forward &c, as twill be found in those papers.
I shall, in obedience to your Orders, take par- ticular care to give the best and truest Intelli- gence I can get, how the Improvement of the Silk, and Wine, gets forward, as the year comes on; which I hope may prove more propitious than the last: when I would have been glad to have enlarged more than I did, at such times as I touchd on that Subject; but it would not bear it with Truth yet; however, I flatter my self it soon will; for the encrease of Wines and Mul- berrys is very considerable of late.
What you are pleased to write, concerning the Light house at Tybee being repaired; a Pilot establishd there in the manner you direct; &
Mr. Jones declines to take oath of office.
Mr. Whit- field, the Church and Orphan House.
The silk and wine in- dustry.
The Light House at Tybee.
322
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to the Trustees.
Peter Emery unqualified as pilot.
securing the House Mr. Bradley lived in, from taking future damage; have all been under the : Generals consideration; and will (I hope) in time be put in execution ; as I am sure tis highly needfull : but where much is to de done, & many other things intervene, sometimes indispensable for the publick Service; it cannot be otherwise, but some yt. are also equally to be regarded, must give place to such as are appointed to be taken in hand first; & I find the placing Peter Emery for Pilot, admits of some doubts; for as much as, notwithstanding he is allowd to know all the Shoals here about yet having not been bred a Sailor, & only used to small Boats, he does not understand how to work a Ship; which is reckond to be a requisite qualification in that Station tis expected the General will decide this, when he is pleased to see us again.
By other letters, Your Honours caused me to be informed, yt the Act relating to the Tenure of Lands was passd, and printing; whereof I should have Coppys sent me in Print as well as the original : which would have been most accep- table; & given me a particular pleasure in pub- lishing the same: but how, and by what means, the Box (wherein I suppose they were) came to be stoppd at Frederica, ever since the begin- ning of Jan. last, I cannot learn : so long since was it yt. Capt. Wright arrived, who brought it, &c, as I have noted it in my Journal, of 20 Feb. & 4th. inst. If your Honours there-fore shall at any time here after think proper to signify such Commands to me, as require my immediate put-
Act relating to tenure of lands passed.
CORRESPONDENCE
323
Wm. Stephens to the Trustees.
ting in Execution; Frederica is found to be the farthest way about; & whatever is sent by any Ship bound to Charles Town, & directed to the care of M. Hopton there; I dare engage will find speedy and punctual Dispatch from that place, by him, who never yet lost the first Op- portunity could be got, of forwarding we came for me to his hands.
Tis high time indeed for your Honours to ex- pect some Return to be made to your Comission for examining the publick Debts : what progress has been made in that Work, will appear by the Accompts now sent: tis no small uneasiness I have sufferd for a while past, yt none of them were sent sooner; weh. might have been done, with such as were gone thro'; but Mr. Jones shewd an unwillingness to do it by piece meal; & after all our pains, tis not in our power yet so to put an end to it, but some Remains are still left to follow. The continual application to hasten on that Affair, which in many instances was very abstruse, and puzling; so employd great part of my time, yt. with all the diligence I could use, I have not yet been able to perfect wt. I most earnestly wishd to do in sending a full State of the Province, with respect to its Inhabi- tants in every place, & its defence: I think I have at last, very near got the whole together, as I could get it collected from all parts ; so yt. little remains for me to do in it now, more than to digest, and methodize it, in a proper Form; & not let it go out of my hands in loose papers : but Capt. Thomson being ready for sailing; I
Delay in sending accounts.
324
COLONIAL RECORDS
John Pye to the Trustees.
must send it after, by way of Charles Town; and possibly it may be but very little behind him. I shall then also give a distinct answer to a few more Points, I find there has none yet been given to: and in all things whatsoever, do my utmost to fulfill your Orders; who am / Honourable Gentlemen
Your most Obedient humble Servant. Will : Stephens.
P. S. I am just now advised from Mr. Hous- ton at Frederica, yt upon his asking Mr. Hawk- ins again after that Box; he told him twas con- signd to the General, who would not let it go: wch. I wish he had told me, when he sent me such a triffling answer as may be found in my Journal of Mar. 4. Had he then been so ingenuous, I had not been farther importunate; whereby I wish I have not incurrd the Generals Dis- pleasure unwittingly : wch. I would at no rate risque if I can avoid it
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.) LETTER FROM JOHN PYE TO THE TRUSTEES.
Savannah Mar: 15th. 1739.
Gentlemen
The Regard your Hon"s. exprest for my Wel- fare by Listening to my Application of Mar. 9.
CORRESPONDENCE
325
John Pye to the Trustees.
1736. Assures me You'l redily Excuse this Liberty -
The Agreement I then made with Your Hon. (which was to serve as Clerk to your Store Keeper at Savannah for the Space of 3 Years) becomes Void the 3d. of June Next. And as I have a Wife & Child (Mr. Brownfields Sister) & no depende. (Exclusive of my Writing) whereby to procure a Maintence. (& being desirors to Continue in the Colly.) I humbly hope your Hon's. will be pleas'd according to yo' wonted Goodness to take my Case into your Considera- tion. His excellency Gen1. Oglethorpe was pleas'd upon his Arival from Europe to Ad- vance my Sallery (allowd by Yo' Honours) of 181 @ ann to 28t. which Addition have been very servicable to me -
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