USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 25
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We are not Surprized to find that we have in Vain apply'd To your Honours in Several Af- fairs, when we See you have been hitherto pre- possess'd by a gentleman of Supperiour Inter-
A Colony of vassals.
416
COLONIAL RECORDS
Grant, Douglass, Stirling and Baillie to the Trustees.
Information and asser- tions full of re- sentment.
1
est, with Informations and Assertions full of Resentment: and which we well know Cannot Stand the Test of an Impartial Examination; But we are Amazed and Sorry to find, that he has had for so many years Together the Interest of Nominateing those who have been Appoint- ed from time to time, for the administration of Justice and making an Impartial Enquiry into and Informeing your Honours of the Real Sit- uation of the Colony of Georgia; We Say Such, who have been Implicitly Obedient in Carrying on his Arbitrary Schemes of government and Oppressing the Inhabitants, as well as Connive- ing at the Deceiveing Your Honours and the Nation !
Gentlemen, as we have no favours to ask or Resentments to fear, we may with the greater freedome Observe, that we are in full hopes, that all we Can Justly Ask will be granted us by a British Parliament who we Doubt not will Soon make an Enquiry into the grieveances of Oppress'd Subjects, which have formerly In- habited or Do now Inhabit the Colony of Geor- gia. That Colony which has Cost so great an Expence to the Nation, and from which so great Benefits were promis'd and Expected !
Misrepre- sentations sent the Trustees.
We are Sensible of the freedomes which have been used with our Respective Characters, in the Misrepresentations Sent your Honours by Partial men : Nor are we less Sensible that the Majority of the Trustees have been kept in the Dark, with Regard to our Just Complaints and Representations or That such Complaints have
417
CORRESPONDENCE
Grant, Douglass, Stirling and Baillie to the Trustees.
been Communicate to them in Lights Distant from truth, Insomuch, that we have Reason to Believe, Two thirds of the Honourable Board are either misinform'd of or are Entyre Stran- gers To the Barbarous and Destructive Schemes carry'd on in this miserable Colony
We hope it will 'ere long Appear to your Honours and the world (whatever has been Advanc'd To the Contrary) that we are honest men, free from any Base Design, free from any Mutinous Spirit, who have only stood firm for the Recovery of our Lost privileges, which have been secretly and under the most Specious pre- tences withdrawn from us by Some Designing and Self Interested men.
We shoud be Sorry to write Disrespectfully of any one of the Trustees ; But when Distress'd and Oppress'd people arrive at the Last Ex- tremeitie, It must be Supposed they will Neither be Ashamed to publish their misfortunes or affraid of Imputeing their Calamities to the fountain from whence they Spring.
Far be it from us in any shape to Reflect in general on the Honble. Board, who we Still Be- lieve are gentlemen of Honour and Reputation who would not be Accessary to any Sinister or Base Designs; But we Can't help thinking that they are Deluded and Brought to pursue meas- ures Inconsistent with the wel-fare and pros- perity of this Colony. By some who of the whole Corporation are only Acquainted with the Particular Situation of it, And who must
Honest and free from any base design.
Trustees de- luded and inconsistent in regard to the wel- fare and prosperity of Colony.
418
COLONIAL RECORDS
Grant, Douglass, Stirling and Baillie to the Trustees.
therefore Willfully and from Design form and prepare Destructive Schemes for the perishing Inhabitants of Georgia, and by Unfair Repre- sentations of Persons and things Draw the Ap- probation of the greater part of the Honble Board to Such Measures for the Oppression of His Majesty's Subjects, which they would, If they were Impartially Inform'd Scorn to think of far less agree to.
Genl. Ogle- thorpe ob- liged to raise seige of St. Au- gustine.
The condi. tions in the Colony.
Utterly in- cappable of staying longer in the Colony.
General Oglethorpe with all his Forces has been Obliged to Raise the Siege of St. Augus- tine, and we have Reason to Believe, the Im- pending Ruin of this Colony will be thereby De- termin'd: For the Spaniards are Reinforc'd, the general's Army Harass'd and weaken'd and the Indians provock'd and Discontented; so that Every thing looks with the most Dismal Aspect : But as his Conduct in And the Conse- quences of these Affairs will be soon published to the world, And as we Doubt not we have Al- ready Incurr'd your Honours Displeasure, by Reciteing thus freely the many hardships which we have here and formerly Asserted to have been the Causes of our Ruin; We shall now for- bear and Conclude by Adding that the Extrem- itie of our Misfortunes has at Last Rendered us Utterly Incapable of staying here any longer ; and tho' all the money we have Expended on Improvements in the Colony is now of no Ad- vantage to us here nor Can be Else where; yet poor as we are, we shall think our Selves happy when we are gone from a place where Nothing but poverty and Oppression Subsists; therefore
419
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Bolzius to Mr. Harman Verelst.
we hope, if Even this or any other Paper or Letter of ours shall Appear in Publick, Your Honours will Impute Such Publication to have proceeded from no other motives; Besides a thorough knowledge of our Duty to our Selves, our fellow Subjects & sufferers, and to prevent others for the future from being Deluded in the Same manner as we have been, who are with the greatest Respect
Honourable Gentlemen Your most humble Servants
Andz Grand Wm. Stirling, Da: Douglass Tho: Baillie.
Georgia Savannah. 10th. August 1740.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER FROM MR. BOLZIUS TO MR. HARMAN VERELST. RECD. 26 Nov. 1740.
Ebenezer in Georgia Sept. 6th. 1740.
Dear Sir,
I received the favour of your Letter, dated the 234. of Apr. last with the inclosed Copy of the 29th. of March, & am in Hopes, that our joyned Letter of the 26th. of June last is come safe to your hand long before this, in which
420
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Bolzius to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Condition of Saltzburg- gers & prog- ress of plan- tations.
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we have given you a short Account of the pres- ent Condition of the Saltzburgers & their Prog- ress in their Plantations. Likewise I humbly acquainted you, that Bailiff Jones has assured me to have mentioned in his Letter to the Honble Trustees the Swish Linnen, which Mr. Causton, being at that time imploy'd by them as Store- Keeper, has issued out with great Profit. I doubt not, but their Honours do the Merchant justice either to pay the prime Cost, or to force Mr. Causton by Law to satisfy the Merchant for the received cheap & very good conditioned Linnen.
Expendi. tures for the building of a church.
A strong corn mill and stamp- ing mill built.
You please to mention in your kind Letter, that the Revd. Mr. Whitefield has acquainted their Honours with a Collection for the Saltz- burgers, amounting, as you write, to 76€ Ster- ling. He has pay'd me in ready money £52 : 19 : 9 sterl. to be expended only for the Building of a Church. He had bought likewise in Eng- Iand from the same collection a large Barrilful of Iron Work. viz. several sorts of Nails, Hinges, & some big Locks, which he has deliv- ered me at the same time. Besides this he has presented my Congregation with a Bell of the bigness like that at Savannah, & our Orphan- House & some other poor people with some Cloathes. Our Saltzburgers are now busy in building a Strong Corn Mill, & a Stamping-Mill for making their Rice merchantable in a pretty easy manner, for which necessary & useful Work I humbly beg their Honours generous En- couragement. Afterwards when their Crop is
421
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Bolzius to Mr. Harman Verelst.
brought in, & several private Buildings are finished, they design to build a House for pub- lick Worship, and I trust in God, he will graciously increase the Revd. M. Whitefields Collection by other Benefactions for building a convenient Church for us & other Settlers, whom we expect here in time to come. We meet in the mean while, after our Meeting Hutt is decay'd, in my House for using on Sun & Week- Days the Means of Grace.
His Excellency Gen1. Oglethorpe having been acquainted with the miserable Condition of my Hutt, where I was forced to live above 3 years to a detriment of my Health & Ministerial Of- fice, has lend me 20€ Sterl. towards the Charges of raising a House for my Ministry, & Mr. Jones has given me Credit to the same purpose out of the publick Store for £28 : 5 : 10 : Sterl. in Provisions & other Necessaries, by which I have been inabled to pay the Carpenters & other Workmen for the most part. I humbly beseech their Honours to inable me by a bountiful Ben- efaction to repay this advanced Sum, for which Benevolence myself as well as my Successors will be very much obliged to them.
Our Orphan-House having been from its Be- ginning in some Distress is indebted to the [sic] Store at Savannah for £37 : 6 : 6 in Pro- visions, Clothing & Nails. I knew very well, the Honble. Trustees have allways a particular Care for poor distressed people, therefore I am in Confidence, they will be so generous as to allow this Sum to the Orphan-House gratis, or
House being built for ministerial purposes.
422
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
to give me for it so long Credit, till God is pleas- ed to inable me to pay this Debt with Thank- fulness. I make bold to assure their Honours, their Benefactions for the Use of the Orphan- House are so well bestowd, that God's Glory & many Souls Happiness is truly hereby many ways promoted. Heartily commending you to the divine Conduct & Blessing, & me & my Fel- lowlabourer Mr. Gronau (who gives his humble service to you) to your & the Honble. Trustees Favour I subscribe myself
Worthy Sir Your most obedient very humble Servant John Martin Bolzius.
To Harman Verelst Esq'.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.) MR. WM. STEPHENS TO MR. HARMAN VERELST ACCOMPTANT TO THE HONORABLE TRUSTEES FOR ESTABLISHING THE COLONY OF GEORGIA AT THEIR OFFICE NEAR THE HOUSE OF LORDS WESTMINSTER
Black Wax Seal
Recd 13 Dec 1740
Savannah 6 Oct 1740.
ST
In mine of the 5 July, which was accompanyd by another from me of the 4th. of Aug, both by
423
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Cap' Ragles in the Betty, I took particular care to recollect the dates of the several letters recd. from you since the beginning of Dec down to the 29 Mar inclusive; together with the dates of those I had wrote from hence, beginning at the 28 Jan & ending the 14 Mar: all which I did, doubting least in these times of War, the Chain of our Correspondence might happen to be broken : & my desire is, to keep a due Reck- oning. I am now to acquaint you that on the 25 Auge I recd. your Packetts for the General; & among other letters, 2 short ones from you of the 24 Apr' & 5 May; in the last of which you own the rect. of mine of the 14 Mar @ Capt Thomson, together with the several Accounts and Papers, &c; but I have not in any letter yet rec'. been told that mine of the 28 of Jan ever came to hand; which with my Journal to that time, as usual, went + Capt. Cabot in the Free Briton; and I shall wish to hear it had a safe passage.
I little thought of sending another Packett, without having the principal matter contained in it, relating to the present true State of the Colony, which I fear has been too long looked for: but seeing now 2 months past, since my last, I had not patience to wait the fulfilling of that tedious Work, & letting nothing go from me till then: wherefore I take this opportunity of a Boat going for Charles Town (weh. is very seldome we can catch) by which I send Coppy of my Journal only ; whilst my whole time other- wise is employed, in accomplishing what I am
Relating to the present true state of the Colony.
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424
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Vereist.
Death of Wife.
very uneasy till I see an end of : and having for that purpose waited on the General at Fred- erica, which took me up 3 weeks unvoidably, as my Journal shews; upon my return hither, I met with the Fatal News of my Wives Death; with whom I had been joynd in Wedlock near 44 years: in all which time a mutual tender affection remaind between us, as at the begin- ning; tho' so widely distant from each other, the latter part of it. Nature would not allow me to pass this over, without Sorrow unaffect- ed, which inevitably must somewhat damp my Spirits, but they have not been so utterly sunk as to render me quite regardless of my Duty : and I hope no Infirmitys of mine will need to be offered as a future Plea, why that Work is not done, wch. is so absolutely demanded; but y I shall have the satisfaction very soon of putting it out of my hands as I would. Tis a sad Re- flection with me, when I think how instrumental my own Son has been, among others, in creating so much mischief; who by what I have at divers times wrote him, must know how exceedingly I disapprove of such his Proceedings; which I had no apprehensions of when we parted, & how far he'll have regard to my advice now, God knows. I ever lookd on him formerly, as an Obedient Son; & these Sallys of youth which he has lately made, I cannot help thinking, took their Rise from the crafty Council he met with, among some of our Male-contents, whom he unwarily consorted with, where he is; which blowd him up into an Imagination that he
!
Mischief created by son.
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CORRESPONDENCE
425
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
should be esteemed a Person of more signifi- cance (Poor Man!) than such a rash and ill ad- vised Step can ever make him. I cannot but say I have felt the want of his help here, very much; and at present, I presume, neither of us pro- mise our selves a meeting wth. each other, with any appearance when, if ever. The Trustees have been so very good to take care for me, as to allow a competent Salary for a Clerk: but the difficulty now remains with me, whom to take: very little choice is to be had, & down- right Honesty not every where found; which is the main thing to be first well assured of : for should such an one employd by me, prove unfaithfull; the consequence of it must be very grievous; and betraying many things wch. with me are secret, would destroy the intention (in a great measure, as I apprehend) of my Service. I have for a while past made choice of some- times one, & sometimes another, as I judged most proper ; & paid 'em for such Jobbwork. If it should happen in your way to pick me out one with a fair Character, who is willing to come abroad as a Writer, & try his Fortune, as I conceive there are many such, who are in want of Business; I think it would be good Bread to him; & for his farther encouragement, he should eat as I do, but having no convenience of Lodging for him in my House, wch. is of a small size, the odd five pounds would over pay the Rent of that; & he would have clear £20 coming to himself for Cloaths, Washing & all incidents: wherein I should be obligd to you
An allow- ance for a clerk.
Impossible to find an honest clerk.
426
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
for your recommendation and help: the sooner the better.
If my Journal added hereto falls short of such Intelligence as I would always wish it imported: I believe I might refer you to what Mr. Jones writes; who I know has been employd for a good while past, in filling some Sheets of paper, with a copious Narrative of Affairs here: nor ought I to imagine that any part of it is an anticipation of what the honourable Trust called upon me for & is getting ready with all possible application.
I remain
Sr.
Your very humble Servant. Will : Stephens.
The Packett wch you sent of Mr. Campbel, wch. I took notice of in my Journal Saturday last, is not yet come to hand : but the 2 Murder- ers we now have in safe Custody here, & as our Court is near upon setting, tis hoped they will meet with their Demerits.
.
427
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER FROM MR. JONES TO MR. HARMAN VERELST 6 OCTOR. 1740 THESE
Red Wax Seal -
I have taken the Liberty to address this to you being a Cover to ye Enclosed Letter, which have sent Open for your perusal, and desire you'll please to seal ye Same & send it ~ some safe hand to my Friend as directed- The reason of my thus writing, has been from Let- ters wch have received from him & others, My Friends in London.
Col". Stephens went to Frederica 30th. Augt and returnd to Savannah 20th. Sept. While he was absent we had many Remarkable Occur- encies here, Which the Col" may more fully (than time will mit me now to mencon) rep- resent to their Honors., The Trustees; Yet allow me to hint at Some of them-On ye 6th. Septem". Lachlan McIntosh (who is employd by ye Gen- eral to remain at & take care of Fort Argyle) same to Savannah and declared (as reported by his Friends at Jenkins's) That two Creek In- dians came by the Fort, wth. Horses laden wth. Strouds, Trunks &c and told him That they had
Col. Steph- en's return from Frederica.
Lachlan Mc- Intosh, keep. er of Ft. Argyle.
A false report that Jacob Mat- thews and family had been killed by two Creek Indians.
%ں
428
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Jacob Math- ew's wife a Creek.
killed Jacob Matthews & Family, had plunder- ed his Store & threatened the English- He (Lachlan) avoided Seeing me, & went out of Town, I sent to ye Indian Town, for Tuanoy, (who was lately come from M. Matthews, then at ye Forks abot. 150 miles from Savannah). He (Tuanoy) declared that Matthews was very well, and promisd. to come to Savannah next Moon, that he was well assured their people, (the Creeks) would not hurt their Friends, the English, especially Jacob Mathews his Wife, being a Creek, by her Mother.
Patrick Tell- fair's assur- ances that the Indians were plan. ning to de- stroy Sa- vannah.
Mr. Andrew Duche and Mr. Fallow- field pursu- ing scheme to keep the Colony in distress.
Patrick Tellfair, with part of his Retinue, was then gone for Charles Town, And had assured ye people (from his private Intelligence; (wch. he often boasted of,) That the Indians would by the 8th. September be at Savannah and de- stroy the Town with its Inhabitants; He had left the managem. of his Affairs here to M'. Andrew Duche, constituting him his Attorney; who together wth. his Friend M. Fallowfield, have wth. unwearied Application pursued, & im- proved their patron's Schemes for distressing this Colony- They had persuaded several of the Inhabitants to take ye Oportunity of a pas- sage to New York in a Vessell then at Savan- nah & bound thither, to avoid the impending Danger. When They, (wth. the Few Associates at Jenkins's left behind,) found the Story about Matthews had not made the Impression on the Minds of the People, which was by them ex- pected Another Report was Spread (of which, they pretended to have had certain Advise)
429
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
That the Cherokee Indians had killd five Eng- lish Traders in their Nation, (Tho Holmes Isaac Motte &c) And were preparing to come & cutt off all the English in these parts- M. Fal- lowfield told some of the Inhabitants, (as they informed me) That M. Kent from Augusta had by Letter acquainted me therewith, As had also The General, of Matthews's being destroy- ed-but that I kept those things secret & had not communicated them to any but M. Parker -- I shewed unto some of them, the last Letters I had receivd both from his Excellency the Gen- eral, and from M. Kent vet could hardly pre- vail with them to be Satisfied- I have not time to add (The Boat going off) But must mention the present difficulty we are under in Securing any part of those Debts due to ye Trustees from persons Leaving the Colony- M. Christie having begun, M. Fallowfield & Duche continue to assert That Col". Stephens nor self have no Authority from the Trustees to demand or recover any Debts due to their Hon- ours from any person whatever-I have indeed notwithstanding obliged some (who are gone) to give such security as they were able to get for such Debts, Please to excuse this hasty scribble. I am
Mr. Fallow. field spreads false reports.
Difficult to secure debts due the Trustees from per- sons leaving the Colony.
S.
Yo'. very humble Serv.
Tho. Jones.
Savannah Octobr. 6. 1740.
430
COLONIAL RECORDS
John Pye tc the Trustees.
P. S. You have another Letter directed to Mr. Lyde, web. I had sealed before I tho't of writing this, weh. please to send likewise To M'. Harman Verelst
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.) LETTER FROM JOHN PYE TO THE TRUSTEES RECD. MAY 22, 1741.
Savannah November 13th. 1740.
Gentlemen
With Humble Submission I beg leave to trouble your Honours with these few lines : And heartily pray the Requests mentioned therein may not Escape your Consideration.
Appointed Recorder of Town.
On my Return from the Siege of St. Augus- tine (where I had been; at the Request of the Honoble. Generall Oglethorpe, to Assist his Com- missary in his Acco's.) I had the Good fortune to Receive Your Honours kind Undeserved favour : A Commission Appointing me Recorder of this Town.
Indeed I am at a Loss, how to Express the Satisfaction I Enjoy'd Reflecting on the Divine Providence that first conducted me to your Hon". for Assistance in a time of Need; the Rediness your Hon". show'd to Assist me, by taking my Case into Consideration; And send-
431
CORRESPONDENCE
John Pye to the Trustees.
ing me into America, the frindship I have from time to time Met with from Generall Oglethorpe Mr. Causton & others in power here, And more particuler this present mark of Friendship from your Honours, And at a greater Loss how to make due Acknowledgment thereof. I can do it no Otherwise than by my faithfull And Im- parciall Performance of the Office Repos'd in me, & praying to God to make good to your Honours my Wants. I was not Sworn into the Office Untill the 15th. of August Last, the Reason of which was this, while I was on Florida I had the Misfortune to get Sickness, by the Badness of the Water and the Excessive heat of the Weather; which continued on me from the 28 of June Untill the Beginning of August, Since which thank my God I have been blest with per- fect health and been Enabled to Transcribe the Proceedings of Court into a folio Book I Stitchd together (not having a proper Book) for that purpose, not only from the 15th. of August but from the 22ª. of May likewise. (which was the first Court after M. Christie left the Office) The Minutes from the 22d. of May to the 15th. of August was taken by Wm. Russell, Clerk to M'. Thomas Jones; of whom I got them and am to Satisfie him (said Russell) for his Trouble.
The Heads of the severall Causes &. If I may not Intrude to farr on your Honours Leisure, I beg leave to Insert-
If Your Honours shall think Proper to send for any or all the perticulers, they shall be sent
Proceedings of court transcribed in a follo book.
432
COLONIAL RECORDS
John Pye to the Trustees.
to you with the greatest care & Expedition- Viz™.
At a Court May 22ª. 1740
Isaac Gibbs tried for receiving stolen goods.
Isaac Gibbs, (who was under Recognizance for Receiving Stoln goods) Petitioned the Court to be discharged from his Recognizance, was or- dered to Appear at the Court July 7th.
Recognizance of Lewis Binon and Kenneth MeKenzie was Respited till 7th. July.
The Court Ordered that all persons Bound to Appear at this Court do Appear the 7th. of July.
Lewis Binon tried for debt due Kenneth Mckenzie.
July 7th. A Cause was Tryed between Kenneth MaKenzie Pltf and Lewis Binon Defendt. Action of Debt 66 Sterling-Verdict for for the Pltf 622te of Dear Skins & 28 .. 17 .. 6 Currency-
William Pope Enterd Recognizance to Appear at the Next Court to Answer the Complaint of Joseph Fitzwatter:
Administration to be granted to MeKen- zie & Frazier Upon the Estate and Effects of William Allen Indian Trader-
Mr. Mcken- zie tried for the unlawful seizure of goods.
A Cause was call'd Upon the present- ment of the Grand Jury in January last, Agt. Mckenzie for Unlawfully Sceizing the Goods of Lewis Binon and Thomas An- drews (Ind". Traders) in December last within the Township of Augusta : Value 70' Sterling- The Court Recommended to the Pltf and Defend. to leave the Cause to the
433
CORRESPONDENCE
John Pye to the Trustees.
Determination of Arbitrators, which they Agreed to and Chuse John Brownfield, James Burnside & Andrew Grant-
July 8th. A Cause was Tryed wherein Robt. Vaughan was Pltf And Nicholas Chinery Defendt. for a Debt of 1281. of Leather & 8621 .. 10$ Curry. Verdict was given in be- half of the Pltf for the whole Sum
Isaac Gibs (sic) Petitioned the Court to be Discharg'd from his Recognize :- Granted.
Aug. 1ºt. A Court of Claims was call'd, when 68 Freeholders deliverd into Court their Claims to their Lands. Andrew Duchee Constable, was find 20$/ for not Attending the Court-Peter Joubert Tything man the Summ of 5$/ for not Attending the Court-
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