USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 2
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M. Causton has by his mean Arts been Suc- Mr. Causton cessfull in corrupting the minds of people of all corrupting the minds of people. degrees, And has reconciled Some of the great- est Enemies to one Another, Such as Parker & Fallowfield-Bradley & himself, he dined at Bradley's lately & has in Bradley's Case fol- lowed the Example of the Unjust Steward in the Gospell,-wch shall explain fully to your Excellency, when you give me the pleasure of waiting on you, In the mean time shall en- deavour to rubb on, in the midst of Insults; & endeavour to guard against the Snares which are daily laid for me-
Mr. Parker came to ye Store last Saturday, & would have me issue an hundred Bushells of Corn to Mr. Causton, And also Some of the damaged Corn for his hogs at a Certain Value, fused to Mr. which he would return in kind the next year. I. Corn re- Causton. told him that the other Provisions being near exhausted in ye Store, the only relief yt could be given to ye Poor people must be Corn, untill a fresh Supply came; he said he would go to
19
CORRESPONDENCE
Thos. Jones to General Oglethorpe.
Col" .. Stephens and talk wth him; I had been before wth Col". Stephens (being apprized of the design) and told him that if they gave me Such unreasonable Directions about Issues out of ye Store, I should not comply therewith but would Shutt up ye Store and go to [sic] to yo" Excellency at Frederica to receive your Orders whether I shall be urged again to morrow, I cannot tell, but am persuaded Col". Stephens will not agree thereto.
It is reported That Mr. Causton is to go wth Stewart for Sr. Cristophers, who is near laden, & falls down the River to morrow to take in ye Remainder of his Loading at Cockspur I am persuaded Mr. Causton has Some Such views, & what induces me to think that this Report of his going away wth. Stewart may be true, is the great Intimacy that there is between them noth- ing but your Excellency's coming Soon into these parts can prevent it. Not knowing of this opportunity of writing to your Excellency untill within these two hours, I cannot add but that I am wth all Sincerity
Yo' Excellency's
most devoted humble Serv. Tho Jones
Mr. Causton suspected of an effort to abscond.
..
20
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
MR. T. CAUSTON TO THE HONOBLE THE TRUSTEES FOR ESTABLISHING GEORGIA IN AMERICA, IN WHICH HE ANSWERS CERTAIN GRAVE CHARGES. DATED 4 JANUARY 1738. RECP 5 APRIL 1739. Gentlemen
I make no doubt but Mr. Thomas Jones has inform'd you that I gave him a Reciept for Your Honour Orders under Seal of Your Comon Councill dated the 19th of May last .-
As it has ever been my endeavours to execute your Comands, I return you thanks, that you have now put it in my power to make those endeavours more effectuall, having long labour'd under the utmost uneasiness to see myself so embarrest without any prospect of Ease .-
Finding you did not approve of the Creditt given, for the Servants brought by Captain Thompson from Scotland to M'. Thomas Upton, M. John Broadie and others I acquainted them that they must forthwith pay for them, where- upon Mr. Broadie, and Mr. Upton apply'd to Generall Oglethorpe, and he having regard to their Circumstances has ordered those Creditts to be continued. As for those taken to my own Service, I have return'd them, for Your further Comands, and they are by the Generalls Order joyn'd with those at the Darien.
The motive for my giving the above Creditt was, because I apprehended, It was now become
Mr. T. Caus- ton's ex. planation.
CORRESPONDENCE
21
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
necessary to give all possible civillitys, and reasonable Succours to Strangers at their first arrivall, as the Surest means to guard them against the bad Impressions they were lyable to receive, both with respect to the Country and the Regulations for its Settlement. How farr, I may have erred in such an Apprehension I submitt to Your Honours Judgment-
As to the 912 heads of German Servants brought by Captain Hewitt and by me taken to my own Account, I am certain, I advis'd your Honours, that they having intended to pay their Own Passage, and go to Pensilvania, had made their Choice to Indent themselves to me, On the same Conditions with those Indented at Cowes for Your Service, having conciev'd an Opinion that it would be for the Service of the Colony to add to its Numbers, That the Cultivation of Land was an essentiall point towards its Sup- port, and well knowing, that Your repeated Orders have been for giving proper Encourage- ment to those who were Industrious on that Account, I imagin'd that my Industry being sufficiently known might be equally deserving with other People, And the rather, because I can take upon me to say, that neither I, nor my Servants have spent our time (tho' with little Success) for any other advantage, than Your Service, or the Cultivation of that Farm, which I advis'd You, I had lately began.
I imagine Your Honours, will think it impos- sible, for me to give particular reasons by way of Letter for the severall Creditts, to the In-
German servants brought over and kept by Mr. Causton.
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COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
habitants of the Colony. Therefore, with great Submission, must in generall referr myself, to those Accounts, when they shall be respectively transmitted; And since you have been pleasd to put a Period to my Acting in Affairs of the Colony, I shall call upon all the Debtors to bal- lance their Accounts, whereby I may be enabled to lay before you the Reasons demanded agre- able to the Duty I have profest and endeavour'd at.
I hope, I shall not be lyable to Your Censure because Your endeavours have been hitherto ineffectuall for obtaining a Regular and known expence of the Colony, and providing a proper means of defraying it, because Variety of busi- ness arising from the urgent affairs of the Colony, prevented myself, and the want of proper hands, put it out of my Power to make those regular dispatches, And since it will appear evident, that the due examination of the various accounts of the Colony necessary for such your regular knowledge is a full employ for any one Person, I am at a Loss to think why the want of it should be imputed to me; and further hope, You will consider that any Calcu- lation of Charges would be very uncertain, Where those charges are to arise from the ex- ecution of things, in Remote parts necessarily left to the discretion of each particular person concern'd and must be more or less as the Variety of Accidents or Circumstances of Affairs should require, And could not be known by me, till I had reced the Accounts from those entrusted .-
Regrets in- effectual en- deavors to systema. tize ex- penses.
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CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
If the above mention'd or any other necessary expences of the Colony have exceeded the Cal- culations made in England, I hope such exceed- ings will not be imputed as my fault, being ever Vigilant to avoid every unecessary Charge, as well as Industrious to provide against every thing, that seem'd to threaten its Welfare. -
Your censure, for my taking Surprizing Lib- ertys, attended with your present Comands, gives me sufficient reason to Lament, that I was not more capable of serving you to Satisfaccon, Or that you did not make a more proper Choice. As I had not your Orders to advise with any one, till the Arrivall of Collonel Stephens, I am sorry to find myself accus'd with this conduct, when I was acting to the best of my Judgment, and when it was impossible for me to receive particular Instructions from you concerning such Cases as daily occurred.
But that I may lay before you imediate Reasons (till particular Accounts are made up) : for my Conduct, It is necessary to acquaint you, that I find by the Accounts now properly bal- lanced to the 22ª. day of November 1736. The sume of £4593 . 5. 111% Sterling was then owing to Sundry Persons; towards the payment of which, (at that time not particularly known) Generall Oglethorpe, left with me, (in Cash,) about £350 including a Sume to be reced of Mrs. Bovey for the ballance of her Account, at which time, provissions were greatly wanted, there not being 20 Barrills of Meat in all Your Hon- ours Stores in the Province.
Censured by the Trus- tees, he la- ments in- ability to serve them with satis- faction.
Little money with which to meet obli. gations.
24
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
I had then no other Prospect of answering the Sumes of money due; for supporting the People, either for Account of establishments or Encouragement for Industry, than the expecta- tion of the Sume of £3000 which Mr. Oglethorpe acquainted me, you intended to send to make good the calculated charges to the 25th. March 1737.
As the Stores stood thus exhausted, I had no way to answer the most pressing demands of those who had money due to them, but by part- ing with what Cash I had in such small pay- ments as might give the best Content; whereby I was in a Short time, out of Cash also. To supply this Defect, which M'. Oglethorpe, well knew would happen; he endeavoured to engage Messs. Montaigut & Co. and Messs. Jenys & Co. to supply me with Cash, on the Creditt of the expected Bills, To negotiate them (when ar- rived) or other bills to their Value; The former I may Venture to say promis'd to comply with his request, But the latter answerd me, with a Deniall, and gave for Reason, that those Bills could not have the Protection of the Law, equall to Bills of Exchange; In the Month of Decem- ber 1736. I apply'd to Messs. Montaigut & Comp, pursuant to their Promise, having then an Op- pertunity of buying upwards of 100 Hogs but could not obtain one farthing, till I drew a Bill of exchange on M'. Oglethorpe for £50 (having his leave for so doing) on my own Account, which I thus expended to Supply the Stores with provissions then much wanted at the
Money bor- rowed to supply wants.
CORRESPONDENCE
25
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Southward, and accordingly at that time ad- vis'd Mr. Oglethorpe.
As Your Honours did not think proper to transmitt more than one-half of the sume ex- pected, it consequently occasion'd larger Ar- rears at the 25th. of March 1737. than would otherwise have been left, But what added yet more to the Distresses of the Colony, was advices from Comodore Dent at Jamaica ; That the Spaniards had prepared for an Imediate Descent upon us; I am certain you will easily believe, that in these Circumstances, every Soul in the Colony must be in extream Surprize, when the Stores were exhausted, no imediate Prospect of supply, and an Enemy hourly ex- pected for my own Part the Lives of self & Family must be as dear to me as others, It was the least of my concern, being much more Anx- ious, how to ease the People in their Distress by executing the Trust repos'd in me to their Comfort.
In this Condition it was impossible to Con- troul the attempt of making a Fort, then unan- imously requir'd as necessary for the safety of their Lives, But tho' this Alarm ended, without those consequences that were (at first) appre- hended, it not only Added very much to the Imediate expences of the Colony, but also pre- vented (in a great measure, the use that would have been made of the then planting Season and added to the Distresses of the people in the following Year.
Received only half of money expected. Supplies ex- hausted, Spaniards threaten an invasion.
26
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Had your Honours resolutions concerning the intended expence for the Year 1737, come to my hands in any due time, It would have been in my power, to have avoided a very great part of the expence of that Year, But as those Orders did not arrive, till the first of November, It was impossible for me to make any considerable savings.
The arrival of Collonel Stephens, Secretary of the Trustees, brought no relief.
The Arrivall of Collonel Stephens at this time as Your Honours Secretary gave me hopes, That I might in some measure be re- leivd especially, as to such matters, wherein my own Judgment, had hitherto, been my only Guide; I therefore, from this time comuni- cated the generality of my Actions to him, and Seldom executed any thing, without his Con- currence ; And I cannot help saying, the Calcu- lation of expences was so greatly short, of the charge wch. necessarily attended them That therefore I rather hope not to proceed (without such Concurrence) in the execution of some of them than to have hazarded your Approbation of what must (in such case) been the Act of my own judgment. -
Estimated expenses wholly in. sufficient in Northern Division.
In the Northern Division, the Charge for the Settlement at Augusta in your establishment computes only the Pay for a Captain, Lieuten- ant and 15 private men, without any Allowance, for a Serjeant and a Constable, Provisions, Boats, Arms, Amunition, and Incident charges, that must naturally attend a Settlement so re- mote In building a Fort, raising of food, and Cultivating a friendship with neighbouring
27
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Indians; To effect which, Captain Lacey being sensible he should be expos'd to all the Ob- structions, that his neighbours of Carolina could throw in his way, thought it necessary to hire several Labourers that he might loose no time in raising food, wch would not only be a more imediate Support to the Garrison, but also be an Inducemt. to other Industrious peo- ple to joyn them. He also thought it necessary to take a journey into the Cherokee Nation, and thereby preserve, as much as possible the friendship already cultivated, by his former journey, and therein to acqquaint them of such matters as were contain'd in Mr. Oglethorpe's Instructions to him, And Your Honours mes- sage to that Nation transmitted to me, And not- withstanding, all his endeavours (to avoid it) Six principall Indians of that Nation, would come with him to Savannah; To whom, it was necessary to make presents as usuall.
That these unavoidable Occurrences were attended with a large encrease of expence, can be no doubt, But as a further justification of my defraying so considerable a Charge, I have enclos'd a Coppy of Captain Laceys written Orders.
I apprehend I do not flatter myself, if I think those Orders were sufficient, It being very Evi- dent, that every thing done on that Account, has had it's desir'd effect; The Indians on that quarter, being in purfect friendship. The Fort completed, and the charge of provisions much Lessen'd; In opposition to which, the greatest
Fort Augusta.
Indian af- fairs dis- cussed. Ex. pensive presents.
28
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
part of the Provisions thought to have been secured for them on the Carolina side of the water was artfully diverted another way, and many contrivances and false reports set on foot, to Irritate the Indians against the Garri- son it being too advantageously scituated for the Enemys of the Colony to see with Pleasure. -
Support of the Saltz- burghers.
The Support of the Saltzburghers at Ebe- nezer is wholly left out of the Account of ex- pences; or if I may suppose it to be included in any of those Articles which are left blank, it naturally follows, that 60 familys of Indus- trious People, could not be supported without considerable expences, In defraying of which I strictly adhered to former Establishments, and made no extraordinary allowances, but what the Revd. Mr. Bolstius [sic] seem'd with good reason to desire. -
Fort Argyle.
I humbly imagine, that you will easily believe, that Fort Argyle, every Garrison and Scout Boat, must be also attended with a Variety of expence; the particulars of which, generally arising from Repairs and unforeseen causes, could only be known, when they happen'd.
There is also a great Increase of expence, that has necessarily attended the Saw Mill and Cow Penn at Ebenezer in Provisions, Boats, Labour &c.
Expenses for the Western Road.
The expences calculated for making the West- ern Road, provides only for the pay of ten Men, and makes no Allowance for Provisions wrh. is
29
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
also their due; But as the execution of that Order was comitted by Mr. Oglethorpe to M'. Robert Williams, I humbly hope, that the ex- traordinary expences thereon, will not be im- puted as my Act, I having frequently given notice, how farr Your Honours Orders permit- ted me to go, and would have Stopt the work had not Collonel Stephens joyn'd him in Opin- ion, that the expence was necessary, ought to be continu'd, and would be certainly approv'd of; That I might safely continue the work, till the arrivall of the Generall, and need not doubt, but as he had given the Orders to M'. Williams he would support them with Your Approbation. However, I prevail'd so farr as to reduce the Number of Laborers from 17 to ten Men; And as that Account remains open, I have delivered a Coppy to Mr. Jones to adjust the same with Mr. Williams.
I must farther observe, that notwithstanding the Calculation of the generall expences, Your Honours orders of the same date repeated your Comands for Support of the out Settlements, those who Industriously applyed themselves to Cultivation of Land, and those who were any ways distrest throughout the Province.
As the extent of expences of this kind then naturally depended on my own discretion as occasions required, hard woald be my Lott, if under such generall Commands the ill Success, attending my endeavours to obtain those ends which you thereby seem to be so Anxious for, should be imputed to my Misconduct .--
Support of the out set- tlements.
30
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Addition of servants to the Colony.
The Addition of Servants to the Colony by Captain Thompson and Captain Hewitt in De- cember 1737 was a new Charge on the Store Subsequent to Your Honours calculation of ex- pences every one of which Servants (at a Medium) cost £7 Sterling @ annum
As to the Generall Support of the Colony, and providing of Stores in so large a manner, I must farther Add, That in the Month of Aprill 1738, I reced fresh advices, Supported by Affidavits That a great Force of Men and Vessels from the Havannah, were arrived at St. Augustine and might be daily expected to attack us. In these Circumstances, the Indus- trious People having been from time to time disapointed of the fruits of their Labours in planting and wearied with their endeavos I could not help joyning in Opinion (which every understanding man, here will allow to be right, that it was necessary to keep the Stores well supplyed as the means to prevent those deser- tions (as otherwise) thro' repeated Disap- pointmts. would have then been unavoidable at a time when every mans hand was necessary to protect the publick safety. And if there should be no occasion for extraordinary Issues, they were ready in the Stores to supply any necessary demand on the arrivall of additionall Numbers then daily expected; And certainly so it was, and will be acknowledged, that had I not made such provision, His Majesty's Forces, would have suffered very much, And the want would have been attended with ill Con- sequences.
Spaniards reported about to make attack.
CORRESPONDENCE
31
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
As to the expence for support of the Southern Division I must beg leave to say; That Generall Oglethorpe subsequent to Your Orders for Cer- tain expences there, strictly enjoyn'd me, not to suffer those Settlements in any Degree to want Supplys. The Application of which, being under the direction of proper Officers I may reasonably hope, that his Orders, and their Accounts will sufficiently justifye me.
Give me leave then upon the whole to collect the generall Necessity of such a Conduct. Gen- erall Oglethorpe return'd to England in Novem- ber 1736 leaving the Colony in the Circum- stances as before related, with a full resolution to return to its Succour in May or June fol- lowing. That he mett with many delays, which prevented the execution of his Designs, till Sep- tember 173S cannot be unknown to Your Hon™s. That during his absence and till the expected Forces arriv'd continuall Alarms from the Spaniards, The well known attempts of raising Jealousys among the Indians and the necessi- tous circumstances of the Colony made it re- quisite to use all reasonable methods to prevent any Desertions, for as such a Desertion might be generall, I should have expos'd myself to Censures of a much higher nature, And Your endeavours for obtaining a Military Force of the Crown might probably have been rendred ineffectuall.
The Clerks of the Store are preparing Coppys of books and Accounts, agreeable to Your Orders, and doubt not, but my good In-
Orders of Gen. Ogle- thorpe to furnish cer- tain sup- plies.
Prolonged absence of the founder of the Colony in England.
Means to prevent de sertions.
32
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Principal aim to keep the people together.
tentions for the Welfare and safety of the Colony, will be sufficiently manifest. And I shall ever esteem it my happiness that tho' my Actions should not meet with Suitable Appro- bation, my principall Aim was obtain'd in keep- ing the people together, without drooping under their disapointmts. or being any ways intimi- dated by the threats of their enemys; And as this was the Scope of my Actions, I might easily expect that mistakes of a lesser Consequence would have been treated with Lenity and indul- gence. -
Asks a sus- pension of judgment pending final reports.
I should be very farr from being uneasy at the different Measures you are pleas'd to take for the executing the business of the Colony, Did not I meet with farr different treatment, than what is exprest in Yor. Hon". Letter to me. But least I should be supposd to preferr Com- plaints concerning what may appear harsh to me before my own justification; I shall for the present, only pursue that defence necessary for the Character of every honest man, And upon the Comon Right of justice may expect a Sus- pention of your belief, concerning what is laid to my Charge, till Answers can be given .-
Yr. Honours Orders, and the Proceedings thereupon, give me just Apprehension, that some body has basely charg'd me. I therefore pray to be acquainted with the Particulars, (without wch.) as no Man can answer he ought not to suffer.
Basely slandered.
When I consider the Service, which without any View I have perform'd for near Six Years;
33
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Your own Approbation of my Conduct on sev- erall Occasions; and Mr. Oglethorp's assurance in full Terms That you would never condemn me on any Charge, till I had been heard; I am at a Loss to know, why I am (not only) divested of all Your Honours favours, But also pre- vented by an Arrest, from getting my bread elsewhere; The former, I confess, would have been less grievous, had it been done in such a manner, as to have acknowledged my Services ; But when contrarywise, accompanyed with the latter, can now appear to me in no Other light, than a Condemnation, without being heard, and consequently Unjust. ---
The Inventory of the Stores at Savannah, taken the 29th. of September last, Has with the Remains been delivered to Mr. Thomas Jones, together with severall extracts of expences which was judg'd necessary to be imediately . transmitted.
I have also delivered him Mr. Bradleys whole Accounts, the Prodigeous expence of wch will be sufficient Reason for all my Complaints on that head.
Having mov'd the Town Court of Savannah to name another Trustee to the Orphans, I obtain'd the Order enclos'd, wch I doubt not, will be put in Execution.
My Cash Accounts is now under the examina- tion of Mr. Jones and I humbly hope, that when you see how farr, I have devoted myself to the Service of the Colony, and neglected all ad-
Condemned without being heard.
Inventory of stores at Savannah.
Mr. Brad- ley's ac. counts.
Town Court of Savannah moved.
34
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Asks re- moval of clouds which eclipse his character.
vantages, which many men in my Station might and probably would (without Reflection) have made, Sacrificed every Minute of my Own, and family's time, And all my Goods, Eatables and Drinkables to Indians and Strangers for the sake of the Colony, and its Safety, expecting only such Rewards as might flow from Your Honour and Generosity, You will remove those Clouds, which eclipse my Character and reward my Services.
Handicapped by difficul- ties during the absence of Gen'l Oglethorpe in England.
I cannot conclude this my Address without mentioning the unequall Task I have labourd under, from my first Arrivall in the Colony, with what difficultys I have sustein'd the weight of publick business, what Solemn application I made to Generall Oglethorpe before his last return to England, and what Intreatys I after- wards made to The Rev. M. John Westly, his Brother, and Mr. Ingham, to intercede with him, that I might be releived from it, how Steadily, I have adhered, (against a Torrent of Opposi- tion) to Your Honours Plans, Regulations and the execution of Your Laws, regardless of Enemys) who perhaps, (on that Account) will never be reconciled;
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