USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 23
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Chronolog- ical account of letters.
382
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
were all severally accompanyd wth. my Journal full up to those Dates. - Now S'. to say some- thing in return to your several letters afore- said.
1. Your letter of the 28 Sept'; wch I recª. the 7 Apr from the Generals own hand, containing an account of a Box sent me @ Capt. Wright, wherein were a great Number of papers to be publishd by me; I have in my several Journals said so much of already, yt. I need add no more here.
An account of son.
2. Your next of the 22 Oct. was a short (but kind) acct of my Son, & the exceeding favour- able Reception he met with from the honble. Trustees (more distinguishably from some) : · happy had it been if his subsequent Behaviour had not forfeited that good Opinion of him wch. they shewd at his first coming - Poor Misled young Man!
Stationary sent to the Colony.
3. With yours of the 5 Dec I was advised of a Box of Stationary ware sent me; which came safe to hand, & was very acceptable : in the same letter I found Coppys of M. Rob. Williams's farther accts. and Claims, additional to his for- mer, to be examined.
4. In your letter of the 10 Decr., was Coppy of a Bill of Loading of 3 Cases for Mr. Bolzius from ME. Zeigenhagen, & a Box for Peter Jou- bart, wth. a letter; wch. have been all deliverd to the Owners, except one large Chest of several hundred weight, for M'. Bolzius; which being too heavy for any of our small Canoes yt. have
CORRESPONDENCE
383
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
gone for Carolina lately, is got no nearer us yet than Port Royall, from whence we expect it by the next Boat of Burthen going that way.
5. Your letter of the 12 Ditto, contains the Result of the honble Trustees Sentiments upon their taking into consideration the Complaints, made by some of our people, of the Badness of their land &c for remedy whereof, they are pleased to give sundry Directitions; which re- quiring some time to reduce into practice, by the help of a proper Surveyor to be appointed, &c, in the manner proposed; I can only say at present, that all due Regard will be paid to it : as also such other observations as they then made, touching the manner of fencing & im- provement of their land, will be signifyd and properly recommended to' 'em: whereof I shall be glad to give a good account hereafter. N. B. This letter I recd. in May, as I did most of the rest.
6. Your next is of the 28 Ditto, with Mr. Robt. Ellis's acct. to be examined; which was done, & sent hence long before : & I shall be glad if twas to satisfaction. Upon the uncertainty of my Sons Return hither; you was pleased to ac- quaint me in the same letter, yet in such case, the honble. Trustees were so good to consider my want of help, & to order me £25 { an for an Assistant : weh. I desire to return my hearty thanks for.
7. With your letter of the 25 Feb I recª. the Box cont' £1000 in the Trustees sola Bills, which
The Trus. tees' senti- ments upon complaints . made by people of bad land.
Account of Mr. Robt. Ellis.
A box of sola bills received.
384
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Malicious contrivances to excite dis. turbances.
must be duly accounted for in Season. What follows in that letter, is of so great Importance; y whilst I read wth. the utmost Honour and Indignation, what there is alledged against the proceedings of the honble. Trust, thro' the mali- cious contrivances of some among us, whom I have often spoke of in my letters and Journals, as men who make it their Business to excite Dis- turbances; & whose Aim undoubtedly has been to subvert (if they can) the very Fundamentals on which this Colony first sate down : most cer- tainly my own natural Inclination, even were it not my duty, would be a sufficient Motive for me to appear in Defence of Truth: wch. alone, I am fully perswaded, must perfectly vindicate the Honour of the Trust, from all attempts to im- pair it, by any false Suggestions, or vile In- sinuations to the contrary: and the Method which their Honours prescribe, for bringing this to pass, by a Just Return made in the most solemn manner, to those several Particulars sent me; cannot fail surely when confronted to Prejudice and Spite ; but must evince every one, howsoever prepossessed; that ye Clamour has arisen from By Ends of a few self interested men, without Respect to ye Community; wch. the Trust has always regarded as such, but never declined giving Ear to the poorest among us, who really wanted help; which they have given Instances of in abundance of cases. Please to let them know therefore, that This is what I now look upon as my Task, preferable to all other Business at present : but the nature of it is such, yt I cannot make such quick progress in it, as I
Attempts to impair the honor of the Trust by false sug- gestions.
CORRESPONDENCE
385
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Vereist.
would be glad to do those few Confidents y' I rely on principally, indeed are not backward in helping me on any occasion of conference; but tis greatly in my Wishes, yt an abler hand than mine had the Forming of it- not to say more: what I do, will be with heart and good Will; how far short soever the performance may be, of what is expected. I observe wt you write of £20 paid my Son on my acct; wch. accordingly I shall make my self Debr. for the Trust : and the £25. { an appointed me, (wch you mention in this letter as you did in your former) intended for an Assistant to coppy. &c, I accept wth. due ack- nowledgment of their Favour: but above all, give me leave to say, their Honours continu- ance to preserve so kind an Opinion of me, as you write, notwithstanding my Sons late weak Behaviour (which my Eyes are brim full of tears at mentioning) will I hope enable me to hold up; and make it evident how much I have the performance at my heart of what my Duty to the Trustees requires.
8. I now come to your last of the 29 Mar, which enters again into that mischievous Affair, yt had given the honble. Trust so much distur- bance in Parliament, as your former acquainted me: and now I see my Son in this place of Ac- tion, as busy as others in promoting (like a Tool, as he is) the good Work that some of his ac- quaintance were engaged in; & delivering Ob- servations of his own, to M'. Bramston a Mem- ber of Parliament : Coppy of which you were pleased to send me enclosed: and it is but rea-
1
An assistant for copying.
A disturb. ance in Par- liament-son spoken of.
Mr. Bram. ston, a mem- ber of Par. liament.
386
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Another box of sola bills received.
A grant of land to Mr. McLeod and successor missionarys at Darien.
Lieut. Kent of Fort Augusta no friend to Georgia.
New Consti- tutions, revo- cations, etc.
sonable, that those Observations should find an Observator to judge a little how well they'll stand the Test of being closely looked into. Oh (Dear Sr.) can you write these things, & bid me not grieve? With this Letter came another Box cont £1000 more in the Trusts Sola Bills; which care must be taken to see properly apply'd to the uses intended : at the same time came to my hand the Trustees Grant to M'. McLeod of 300 acres of land for him and his Successors Mis- sionarys at Darien ; the Counterpart whereof tis incumbent on me to get executed and returnd: on this occasion I am to take notice, yt. twas very lately Lieu Kent at Fort Augusta, got the Counterpart of that Grant to Mr. Obrien execu- ted for 500 acres of land in those Parts; which I sent up many months since ; Mr. Kent acquaint- ing me wth. the many Delays and great Indif- ference the Granter shewd on that occasion; notwithstanding the great Improvements he has made on it: but I fear he is no Friend to Geor- gia; being one among those who magnify the superior Priviledges of Carolina: I herewith send you that Counterpart, and debt my self (as you directed) with the £1 : 11 : 6. which I recd. from him, to reimburse, the charge of pass- ing it. Nothing could be more seasonable than the several New Constitutions, Revocations, &c, which came also with this letter, relating to the magistrates : but having taken particular notice of this in my Journal of the 6 June, among other things; I would avoid Tautology. I must not pass over unobserved, the farther kind Inten- tion of the Trustees to give me a little more
CORRESPONDENCE
387
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
help on my 500 acre Lot, by the addition of a few of the Trusts Servants, not provided for by the Estimate; if such can be found; whereon they have been pleased to write to the Gen". whose presence where he is, forbids our talking of all such matters till a proper Season. Upon read- ing that part of yours relating to the repairing of the Sea mark at Tybee; it gave me a Damp, to think what I have been forced to say of it, in my Journal of the 23 June: That, and also the Saw Mill, must unavoidably now be deferd, till we have another favourable Opportunity of seeing his Excellence: neither can I hope, till then, for any conference with, or help from him, touching the State of the Colony, which I am to return an account of; nor even from Mr. Hawk- ins (my appointed Correspondent) yet a while; who as Surgeon to the Regiment is kept to close Duty. The Box for the General, together with the letter for him that came at the same time with yours of the 29 Mar. I sent forward (as noted also on the 6th. & 7th. of June) + Capt. Davis's Sloop; & I make no doubt of its going safe, having since heard of Davis's arrival there but have had no letter from his Excellence a long while.
Mr. Jones (I know) writes what is needfull, relating to publick Accts; which I must look on as his particular Province; always acknowledg- ing my self but a poor coadjutor; especially in what relates to those two Eminent Accomptants, Mess™. Causton and Bradley; whose whole Pro- gress has been so intricate and dark, yt. I can't
A few of the Trust's ser- vants not provided for by estimate.
The sea mark at Tybee and saw mill, repairing of delayed.
Mr. Hawk- ins, surgeon of the regi. ment, kept to close duty.
Mr. Causton and Mr. Bradley re- ferred to as eminent ac. comptants.
388
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
pretend to sagacity enough to trace either of 'em, without better footsteps for my Guidance : but I believe what will be now sent, thereunto relating, from Mr. Jones, may open to you a pretty deal of that Mystical Affair. Such other Accounts as come within ye reach of my under- standing, I have not been backward to look into, nor to sign with him.
Having thus run over the several matters which I apprehend to be of the greatest moment in your late letters; I shall in my next take a narrower Review, and say something to what else has not yet had a full answer: at present I must drop my pen, & suppose you'll think with me, tis enough for once. But how long I may wait for an opportunity of sending it to my Friend Hopton, I cannot tell : if any thing extra- ordinary happens in the mean while, I shall add it in a Postscript; who am
ST. Your very humble Servant Will : Stephens.
To M' Harman Verelst.
.
CORRESPONDENCE
389
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER FROM MR. THO. JONES TO MR. HARMAN VERELST ACCOMPT TO THE HONBLE THE TRUS- TEES ECT. RECD 26 Nov. 1740.
Savannah July ye 15th. 1740
S'.
You have enclosed Mr. Wm. Bradleys' Accot. with ye Trustees which (tho the Whole of ye Debit of ye Accors. Nº. 1 & 2, is in the Trustees Books placed to his proper Accot. yet) to remove the Objections made by Mr. Bradley, & hopeing thereby to induce him to enter into the Stateing of an Accot. in Some way or Other, I have (after he had perused the Whole Accot), drawn out the Acco's. Separate -. The Several Articles wch he stands charg'd wth. in Accot. (Nº. 1) he acknowledges (if recd by him) ought to be placed to his Accot : but denies his having reced. Sundry Provisions which are chargd to his Accot. the Same not appearing in a Book which he kept, and which he usually sent to ye Store, (when he sent for Provisions or other Necessaries) ; he owns that Sometimes he forgot to Send his Book but that afterwards he had Set down. what was receivd at Such times - I shewd him the Entrys in the Day Books All which, Will: Ewen who delivered those Issues, and had writ those Entries in ye Day Books, was ready to Attest
You have a Copy of M. Bradley's Objections (Nº. A) The other Accot. (Nº. 2) he allows; but
Mr. Caug- ton's ae. counts.
390
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Says, he is not concern'd therein, nor can it Af- fect him, being by the Direction and Consent of Mr. Causton; but it appears that Several Ar- ticles therein, were taken up by Mr. Bradley, without the Consent or privity of Mr. Causton- Having quietly proceeded thus far- Mr. Brad- ley produced an Accot, which he called Demands on the Trustees, he refused to deliver it to me, saying, that it was imperfect, having other de- mands to make, wch. he could not do, untill he went to Carolina; he allow'd me to take a Copy thereof, weh you Receive (Nº. B.)
Having examined his Demands of Credit, And his Agreemt. with the Trustees, As also the fur- ther Allowance made by General Oglethorpe, Of Provisions & Wages for his Servants (employ'd in the Trusts' Service) for One Year, from his Arrival I stated his Accot. which youll receive (Nº. 3), tho incorrect, being only an Attempt towards forming an Accompt, having no Cer- tainty of the time, when or how long, each Ser- vant was employed; Yet I hoped, thereby to bring it to Some Issue, had I prevail'd with him to reason about it: I urged the Reasonableness of his Acco's. being debited for the Labour of the Trust's Servants, who had been employd by him (for the most part) on his Son's Lot, or in other Business for his private Advantage - When he had Credit to ye Amt. of near £300- for the Labor of his own Servants, while clear- ing and planting fourteen Acres of Land, only, for the Service of the Trust; And that he had never accounted for Any produce of that Land,
1
CORRESPONDENCE
.391
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
but disposed thereof, or converted it to his own use. You'll Receive a List of the Servants here- with (Nº. C.) I will not trouble you wth. other Matters relating to M'. Bradley's Conduct, wch. I suppose you are made acquainted wth. 29 Col". Stephens. The General's Uncomon Generosity & Compassion towards Bradley (and towards Some Others) as a distressed Unhappy Man, have not answered his Excellency's kind Inten- tions; But he (Bradley) has thereby delayed, if not defeated, proper Enquirys to be made into his Conduct, And encouraged him, to treat me, in the General's presence, (but would not at- tempt to do So at other times or places) wth. Scurrilous & threatning Language. When his Excellency was last at Savannah: Bradley, in his presence, gave me much abusive Language, And among other Oprobrious words, said, I was a Thief, and threatned to have me hangd, when- ever he found me out of this Colony: I desired Leave to withdraw, but the General thereupon ordered Bradley to be quiet. I need not inform you, who are so well acquainted wth. his Excel- lency Gen". Oglethorpe's tender Sentiments, and Compassionate Regard towards the distres- sed: As also his uncommon generous Liberality towards Such, (very much to his own detrimt.) Nor yet of his unwearied Application, & great Regard for the Interest & Welfare of this Col- ony without the least Appearance of Advantage to himself thereby. But must bewail That so much Ingratitude, (as well as other Vices) pre- vails in Georgia, whether besides the comon De- pravedness of humane Nature; The Latitude 32,
A list of the servants sent the Trustees.
Mr. Brad- ley's con. duct.
Threats made and abusive language used by Mr. Bradley.
Genll. Ogle- thorpe's lib- erality.
Ingratitude, etc., in Georgia.
392
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
or the Evil Example of our Carolina Neighbors. may be infectious. I will not determine- I hope in God, that I shall be preservd from that Taint; And at all times maintain the Peace & Tranquillity of my own Mind, by aiming at ye faithfull discharge of my Duty to their Hon™s. The Trustees.
I am ST.
Your very humble Servant Tho Jones.
P. S.
Having mention'd above M. Bradley's threats, I think it necessary to acqt. you wth. ye Occasion- Before Mr. Bradley would quit the Trustees Farm he Sold what Cattle remain'd of ye Trustees under his Care. Thos. Baily (ye. Smith) bought the two last Cows (yt. remain'd unsold) notwithstanding I had caution'd him, and told him ye Cows were the property of the Trustes and if bo't would be taken from him sometime after. Tho pindar brought One of those Cows (among other of ye Town Cattle,) in- to the penn weh by the Advice & Consent of Col1. Stephens & M. Parker I causd to be delivered unto One of ye Freeholders of Highgate to whom a Cow was due # Order of ye Trustees Thos. Baily. Smith, then petitioned the General, That the other Cow, wch. he had of Bradley, might be given unto him, being promised a Cow when he first Settled at Tibee, but never had One- wch.
Trust's cattle sold by Hr. Bradley.
1
1
393
CORRESPONDENCE
Hen. Garret to Lord Ducie.
Petition, his Excellency granted. The Said Baily is a very industrious Man Bradley had Six a Cow was due Order of ye Trustees Thos. The Increase he sold, or Slaughtered- He is chargd for the Value of Four Cows in this Accot.
Yrs
T. J.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
HEN. GARRET TO LD DUCIE GIVEN TO THE TRUS- TEES TO CONSIDER OF 11 FEBY. 1740-1.
Savannah in Georgia Augst. the 1st. 1740.
· To the Rt. Honble. Matthew Lord Ducie
My Lord
I take the Liberty to pay my respects to You. . Encouraged thereto by the Goodness of Your Lordships late Father, who was pleased to Hon'. me with the Subscription of Affectionate Kinsman, on Acc. of my Mother Theodosia Daughter to S. Robert Ducie, Sister to his Lordshps Mother, and has further favoured me to say in one of his to me, "It is my Duty to Serve my Mothers Relations in whatever I may to the utmost of my power; Wherefore I must acknowledge myself highly blameable not to pay my Dutifull regards to Your Lordship before now, especially as Years were encreasing & are
394
COLONIAL RECORDS
Hen. Garret to Lord Ducie.
Poverty & oppression in Georgia. -
Imployed by the Trus- tees to look into the Orphans accounts.
Earl of Eg. mont and Lord Car- penter igno- rant of the treatment given un- happy subjects.
now advanced to the Number of 50, Yet got into a very bad Corner of the World, where poverty, & Oppression, abound to a degree, that it's be- come proverbial (this way) to say (as poor as a Georgian) my hardships had I not been Single & without Children must have been insupport- able, but I will beg barely to mention what Obliges me to petition the Honble. board of Trus- tees, & Submit it to Your Lordships Judgment. Tho' my profession is physick, as no body can pay for services done in that way, we are Oblig- ed to do every thing we can to get a livelyhood, & for my having formerly born a Commission Civil, as well as Military, in the East India Compas. Service, I obtained a tollerable Ac- quaintance with Merchts. accts., & was imployed by the Magistrates here in behalf of the Honble. the Trustees to bring up their long Neglected Orphans Accts., about which they kept me, & an Assistant 16 Months imployed, tho' they were allowed to be done to purpose, (by other Judges) in half the time. Yet it is almost two Years Since,-and I have received no kind of reward, am only told it's referred to the Honble board of Trustees, Who when it Arrives them [sic] we are informª. usually referr it back to their Secretary here, to enquire as is said into the truth of the Case, He perhaps letts the peti- tion know nothing of it, or thinks it will please best to take little notice of it, & the poor Com- plainant remains unrelieved, but as I am like- wise informed the R. Honble. the Earl of Egmont, & the Rt. Honble. the Lord Carpenter,
CORRESPONDENCE
395
Hen. Garret to Lord Ducie.
are unacquainted with such treatment to their unhappy subjects, & being in a small measure personally known, have presumed to lay my Case before them, & beg their favour towards me, which with one kind word of Assistance from Your LordshP. will be very much forward- ed; to prevent any referrance back again to this place, the local Trustee of the Orphans sends home at this time all the Accts. Relateing in hopes of some reward also for his trouble & care therein. Several other Misusages I labour under, but beg favour only to mention one, I was formerly imployed by two Jews Merchts., & Copartners, in this Town, to draw their Let- ters of Correspondence, Copy their Acct3. &c, for the Space of about one Year, during which time I obeyed the Orders of each & Acted to the liking of both, Accordingly at the end of the time my Acct. was Settled, Approved, & Signed by one of them, & directed to the other (their Cashier) for payment, which is now above two Years since, & I Cannot Obtain any thing, but abusive Language from some of the Magistrates who are Constantly entertained by my Adversary, & will hear nothing from me against him, all men of Sense See, & Abhor this, but dare not speak, because the men in power take upon them to be absolute; Of this Affair also I have acquainted those Noble Lords, peti- tioned the Honble. board, & pray Your Lord- ships favour likewise in it.
If those two Worthy peers were to think of me for one of their Magistrates, which Office I
Unable to procure pay- ment for services.
396
COLONIAL RECORDS
Hen. Garret to Lord Ducie.
Seeking office as magis. trate.
have before discharged with Reputation, I know them able to Effect it, & they might depend on Justice, & Integrity, in the Administration. I Should be a Shamed to ask or expect Your Lord- ships Benevolence towards me, if I had done any thing discreditable, or infamous, to my Name, or Family, but shall be always carefull to preserve the Hon'. of those who favour me with Recommendations, I have hitherto Strove to behave myself unblameably in life, & Con- versation, am a Steady Lover of my Country, & the Constitution in Church, & State, and what I have presumed to trouble Your LordshP with the relation of, may be depended on for Truth; nor is there any one who can Object to it, but I have trespassed too much in point of time, & ought only to Assure You that I am in Sin- cerity, & truth, a hearty well wisher to the Health, & Happiness, of all Your LordshPs good Family, & in reall
Duty & Affection Your LordshPS Most Obedient & most
humble Serv. Henry Garret.
P. S. If Your LordshP. is pleased to Hon'. me with Your favour in return to this, Direct for me at M'. George Austin's Mercht. in Charles Town, South Carolina.
397
CORRESPONDENCE
Henry Garret to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
HENRY GARRET TO THE HONBLE. THE TRUSTEES
FOR ESTABLISHING THE COLONY OF GEORGIA IN AMERICA.
Savannah in Georgia Augst. the 1st. 1740.
Honble. Srs.
After many fruitless Attempts by oth- ers to bring up the Orphans Accts. of this place, the Magistrates were pleased to ask it of me, Accordingly they were undertaken. Applyed to, & dispatched with all diligence, a fair Copy thereof is delivered to M'. Edward Jenkins local Trustee, to be Transmitted to Your Honble which I believe sufficiently Shews, they are Just- ly Stated, regularly carried on, & exactly Bal- lanced, wherefore all that was required, & de- pended on me is finished, & has been so near two Years; Yet Honble Srs. I am unrewarded, & forced to wait Your Pleasure in it.
I also formerly did business for two Jew Merchts. (Minis & Solomons of this Town), & have a Settled, & Stated Acct., with an Ap- proval, Signed, & directed by one of the part- ners to the other for Payment of the Ballance, Yet above two Years time is elapsed, & no Sat- isfaction Obtained; The true reason is, M. Henry Parker, & Mr. Thomas Jones, Magisttes. will not Countenance any Complaints of mine against their friend Mr. Minis. Other unkind- nesses I might mention to Your Hon"., of long
Mr. Edward Jenkins, local Trustee.
Unable to procure payment for services.
. 398
COLONIAL RECORDS
Henry Garret to Lord Carpenter.
depending Causes, for phisical Administration &c, but am unwilling to be troublesome.
For Your Hon's. better acquaintance with truth, I have enclosed an Attested Copy of the said Stated Acct., & A Bill of my demands for the Orphans Accts., in both which Cases I am greatly injured by being so long kept from the Just rewards of my Labour :
Wherefore I most humbly pray Your Hon"s. will be pleased to Order me due payment of these Sums, and require Justice be done me in others, which will for ever engage the prayers of
Honble. Srs.
Your most Obedient & most Re- spectfull humble Serv.
Henry Garret.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.) HENRY GARRET TO THE RT. HONBLE. GEORGE LORD CARPENTER.
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