USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 26
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Aug. 15th. A Court of Claims was called when 66 freeholders made Claims as abov At the same time Henry Parker was Constituted first Baylif-John Pye Constituted Re- corder.
Augt. 22ª. A Court of Claims was call'd when 19 Freeholders made Claims- See: Accot. Sent ? Collonell Stephens, to your Hon- ours-
October 7th. Joseph Anthony Manzique, and William Shennon, were Indicted Arraignd Tryed & found Guilty of the Murther of John Smyth and Hellen Bere Smyth (Serv- ants, to the Trustees at Fort Argyle-
Nicholas Chínery tried for debt due Robt. Vaughan.
Andrew Duchee and Peter Jou- bert fned for non- appearance in court.
Henry Parker made Ist Baylif. John Pye made Re- corder.
Joseph An- thony Man- zique & William Shennon found guilty of murder.
434
COLONIAL RECORDS
John Pye to the Trustees.
Robert Cor- son indicted for misde- meanor.
Samuell Brown & John Hor. rocks indict- ed for mis- demeanor.
Knowles, Mathews, Smyth and Elsey indict- ed for beat- ing & im. prisoning Wm. Atchi- son Finley & Thos. Wiggins.
.
John Gard- ner. Indian trader. in- dicted for slandering the wife of Thomas Wattle.
Peter Snow and George Johnson sued Patrick Tailleer for wages.
Robert Corson, Indicted for Misdemean' (firing a Gun in Town) pleaded Guilty ; fin- ed 6$ .. 8ª ..-
Samuell Brown and John Horrocks, for Misdemeanor
8th. Andrew Duchee fined 20/ for not At- tending the Court.
Knowles, Mathews, Smyth and Elsey, In- dicted for Riotuously Assembling at the Cowetas Town in the Creek Nation; And beating & Imprisoning Wm. Atchison Fin- ley, & Thomas Wiggins, in the Execution of their Office as Constables: All of them were Absent Except Knowles. Knowles was Arraign'd Try'd and found Guilty; fined the Summ of 61 .. 13$ .. 4ª, And Obliged to find Suretys for his Good behaviour, for One Year; A Bench Warrant was Issued to Apprehend Smyth Mathews and Elsey .-
Samuell Brown and John Horrocks peti- tioned the Court to respit their Recogni- zances till next Court; which was granted- 10th. John Gardner Indian Trader was In- dicted for Endeavouring to Defame the the Character of Frances the Wife of Thomas Wattle, by saying she had given him the Foul Disease. Pleaded Guilty- find 6$ .. 3d. A Cause was Tryed between Peter Snow Pltf and Patrick Tailfeer- Defend. Accot. Wages, Verdict for the Pltf 51 .. 128 .. 9ª .- A Cause was Tryd, between George Johnson Pltf And Patrick Tailfeer
435
CORRESPONDENCE
John Pye to the Trustees.
Defend. Accot. Wages, Verdict for the Pltf £14 .. 19 .. 6-
11th. Judgment was Passd on Joseph Antho, Manzique & Shennon
November 10th. A Court was call'd in Order to Read to the Severall Claim's. the Entry of their Claims, before sent to the Honour- able Trustees; That if any false Entry should be made, it might be Alterd-
At the same time Colonell Stephens, read in open Court your Honours Letter to him and which he said he Receiv'd in June Last And at the same time Read his Answer to your Hon- ours Questions which was Signed by about 1/3 of the Inhabitants in Court.
The Death Warrt. was Issued for the Execu- tion of the two Fellows, Manzique and Shennon
A Warrt. to Wm. Meers Tythingman; to Con- vey the Body of Shennon to the Mouth of Ogeechee River, at the Entrance of Hosabaw Sound, And there hang him in Chains-
On the 29th. of September; I waited on M. Jones, with the other Magistrates and Officers of this Town; (it being the day when he paid them their Quarterly Allowances) And pray'd him to pay me what was due to me from your Honours, He tolld me Your Honours had not sent your Orders, concerning the Allowance I was to have, the Commencement of the time, or the payment of it; And therefore he Could not pay me till you send him such Orders; this is of great Disadvantage to me by reason I must be
Judgment passed on Joseph An. tho, Man- zique & Shennon.
Death war- rant issued for execu- tion of Manzique and Shennon.
436
COLONIAL RECORDS
John Pye to the Trustees.
Oblig'd, to borrow Money to pay my Debts Con- tracted in my late Illness ; And purchase many Necessarys I am now in need of-
Conten- tions on part of Mr. Jones & Col. Stephens in regard to Mr. Pye.
Mr. Jones & Collonell Stephens have Report- ed that your Honours only Appointed me to Act as Clerk to them (tho I do my Duty; as Recorder According to my best Ability) If so it will be of great Hindrance to me, by Reason I cant Expect above the common Sallerys to other Clerks which will not maintain my Familly. I Refus'd Severall Offers in Chas. Town (one of 500£ Curry. Annum) when I Accepted this :
If God shall continue my health and your Hon's. shall Establish me in the Office of Record- er. I will take up Land And build a Stone House in Savannah 16 foot by 24 which by the best Computation : when finished will Cost 601 Sters.'
If not; I humbly pray Your Honours will Ap- point some other Person in my Room, And I will seek my Bread in other parts of America.
Pardon the freedom I have taken by Repre- senting my Wants And declaring my mind so freely, And permit me to Subscribe my Self- Your Honours Most Dutifull & Obliged Humble Servant John Pye
P. S. I humbly pray your Honours, to send me, in Writing the Duty, and Bus- iness of the Recorder-
437
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
COPY OF LETTER FROM MR. STEPHENS ESQR. TO THE TRUSTEES RECD 8 APRIL 1741
Savannah 20th. Novber. 1740.
Honble Gent.
In Obedience to your Commands signify'd to me some Months since, I now at length send you herewith, what I have entitled, The present State of the Province of Georgia; which I fear has been too long expected from me; but I shall hope for Pardon therein, when you'll please to consider that your Orders to me were, to return the same upon the Oaths of myself, and others willing to declare the Truth, in open Court, & under the Seal of the Town Court, in relation to the several particulars which you required to be informed of : in which tho' I have not un- dertaken to give a specifick answer to each sep- arately, & Distinctly from the others, yet I hope 'twill be found in the Narration, that Nothing has escaped due Notice, either by express affir- mation, or such a plain implication, as must nat- urally be deduced from the whole : for Instance, the affair of Negroes, I observed was a doubt- full Point with some, who having had their hands in a former Representation setting forth the use of them, &c, seemed averse to contradict what they had then said: but I found that the reasonable men among such were not so fond of that Opinion as they were earnest in asserting,
The present state of the Province of Georgia.
Affair of Negroes.
438
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to the Trustees.
that unless some expedient could be found, to get Servants among us who were capable of Labour, it could not be expected that Plantation work would encrease, and that is so plain a Truth, as no one can deny : for even in this very Narative, I should have been undoubtedly cul- pable not to have taken Notice, that we are grown Weaker in hands than we were, and the apparent causes are likewise laid open : where- fore the next thing to be considered, was, in what manner the Colony could be supply'd with people inured to Labour & for that purpose, it is humbly proposed by what means we appre- hend it may be brought to effect; which can truly be understood in no other sense, than in Lieu of Negroes (and surely They can hardly be thought men in their senses, who at this time, especially, would adventure to furnish them- selves with Slaves, that they could be no ways ensured from the Hazard of losing, by running to the Spaniards; and probably the Danger moreover of their own Lives; which must al- ways be the case, so long as Georgia is a Fron- tier)
Your Honours, I promise myself, will so far Indulge me, as to remember that some of those Commands sent me, were so extensive also, as to require an Inspection personally, either by myself or some other, whose Veracity I could depend on; from one extremity of the Province to the other; Wherein I have used what dili- gence I was capable of; and in many cases where I thought particular stress might be laid,
439
CORRESPONDENCE
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Verelst.
I have taken care that Voluntary affidavits to the Truth of such, should not be wanting, as well for your Honours satisfaction, as for the satis- faction of such as would joyn with me: and this I humbly offer as another cause why this affair has not found quicker Dispatch to which I desire only to add; that I wish a more able compiler had been appointed to take it in hand, who perhaps would have fitted it better for pub- lick use, than I have done; tho' I will not allow that any one could with a better Will have sought for Truth, where it could be found; nor given it into your Honours hands with less Par- tiality: which is testify'd by all those who joyned with me in so Solemnly setting their Hands to it : & as for others, who acted probably upon different Motives, & declined signing it; if they offer any allegations inconsistent with what we have unanimously concurred in; it ought to be observed they are under no other Tye than their own Will & Passion to say what they please. I am &c
Coppy to the Honble. the Trustees from
W. S.
Copy of M. Stephens's Letter to M'. Harman Verelst dated 20th. November 1740.
S.
My last was of the 6th. of Octbr. 3 Capt. Greg- ory in the Susannah when I took the Liberty
440
COLONIAL RECORDS
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Verelst.
to refer you to mine of 5th. July & 4th. of August, both by Capt. Ragles in the Betty ; whereby you would find an exact concatenation of the several Letters I had received from you for a long time then past; the last of which was of the 29th. of March : since which I acquainted you in my said Letter of 6th. Octobr. that I had received your 2 Letters of the 24" of April, & 5th. of May; but I never had any Accot. from you (nor yet have) of your receiving mine of the 28th of Jan"y. Cap'. Cabot in the Free Briton; which I much wish'd for, to perfect the whole so far : to which I am next to add two more since sent to me by M. Campbel from the Trustees & you; one of the 11th. & the other of the 16th. of June, which came both together to my hands here, not till the 8th of Octbr .; & the former was Coppy of the Original sent me sometime before ? Capt. Shu- brick in the Minerva, who was not then arrived : but I am now to acquaint you, that on Sunday last the several Packets and Letters sent Capt. Shubrick in the Minerva & Capt. Crosth- waite in-(sic) came safe to hand, for the farther particulars whereof, please to be re- ferred to my Journal of that day (the 16th.) when among many various Letters (which due care is taken of) I found the Original of the 11th. of June, whereof had before received Copy as above, one other from you of the same date; one of the 13th. Do. and of the 29th. July with the several enclosed Papers; to all which due regard shall be had, as occasion offers.
"I am very sorry to find in you Letter of the
441
CORRESPONDENCE
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Verelst.
29th. of July that the honble. Trustees seemed dis- pleased at their not having received at that time any Letter from me since what I sent in March last Capt. Thompson: in your Postscript to · which of the 6th. of August you acquaint me that mine of the 14th. May together with my Journal was newly come to hand: and I hope my Let- ters of the 5th. of July, 4th of August and 6th. of Octbr. will also sooner or later get a safe pas- sage: and I make no doubt but due allowance will be made, for the irregular and uncertain conveyance of Packets during these times; which is equally evident in those I receive, as those I send; as you'll see by the Times Spec- ify'd in my Journal & Letters, when & how I receive them; often 3 or 4 months after date or more : & tho' I am fully satisfy'd with M. Hop- tons punctuality, in despatching what I send him ? first Opportunity; Yet it often happens, that my Packett, unavoidably lays in his hands awhile, before he he can find a conveyance : which I can know nothing of. Nevertheless, to answer the honourable Trustees expectations from me as far as I am able; I shall think it my Duty in time coming to write oftner; but at the same time will assure myself, that they'll not expect matter of moment alike in all; nor a Repitition of what is most remarkable, already Noted in my Journal. Henceforward I shall aslo when I write, send Copy of my last, & thereby Guard against any inconvenience thro' miscarriage. I told you in my last w. difficulty I laid under for want of an Assistant that I
442
COLONIAL RECORDS
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Verelst.
A clerk found who will answer purpose.
could depend on; which put me to my shifts, in getting sometimes one, & sometimes another, as I could, for a few days perhaps at a time: wherefore I had recourse to you for help, & begg'd your favour in sending over a young Clerk, for the purpose in case you found one you approved of: but luckily since I have met with one, recommended to me by a Friend at Augusta, who I hope will answer my expecta- tions, & save you the trouble.
Herewith I send (what I have too much cause to apprehend had been long look'd for) the present State of the Colony, under the Seal of the Town Court, attested on the Oaths of those who put their Names to it: which is accom- pany'd with a Letter from me to the honbr. Trus- tees, briefly laying before their Honours a few things which accurred to my, thoughts, as nec- essary to be premised : & possibly on a future Occasion I may be able to recollect some farther matters relating to the same affair, either now omitted, or newly arising, which may be worth their consideration: tho' at present I think I have little Room to add any thing to those Notes I have taken in my Journal, relating to the Progress of this affair from the Time I offered it to the Publick: and thereby I conceive my- self well Justifyed in not exposing it openly by Peicemeal, whilst I was forming it; (which some few have laid to my Charge I hear as a Crime) for had I done that, & debated with the Populace on every part of it; I think I might defy any man living being endued with a capac-
State of Colony under seal of the Town Court.
443
CORRESPONDENCE
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Verelst.
ity of Collecting, & connecting, the sense of such a confused Assembly: Neither can I conceive, from the Words of direction to me from their Honours that 'twas their Intention for me to go that way to Work, knowing it impracticable. As I went on therefore from one Step to anoth- er; the only persons I consulted, when any part was brought into Shape, for their Judgment & Opinion, were Messrs. Jones, Parker, & Mercer; perhaps once in 10 days & more; whom I had very good confidence in, & were some of the Men of the best understanding in Town; as well as Authority ; tho' it must be owned, that Mr. Fal- lowfield as a Magistrate, & Duchee as a Con- stable, had a share with them in the Latter : but it must have been most unpardonable in me to have taken either of them for my Advisers, whom I knew to be continually scheming some new mischief on another, & were fixed in pur- suing the same course they had so well learnt under Tailfer & that Gang. Only this I would further Observe, that to shew how far I distinguished Mr. Fallowfield from the Rest, as a Magistrate, I desired him at my house, in the Morning before I opened it in Court, that he would read it, & consider if he had any Ob- jection : which he did, but said Nothing to it; and was afterwards the first who refused sign- ing it; which he did with Scorn. For the rest I desire to refer to my Journal.
I am very sensible there are many Articles which I find in sev". Letters lately reced from the Trust, that require a full answer: But this
Mr. Fallow. field & Mr. Duchee continually scheming some mis- chief on another.
-
.....
444
COLONIAL RECORDS
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Vereist.
very troublesome affair which I have had upon my hands so long, & hardly allowed me to have freedom of thought for other Matters, is now over; and I most heartily wish it may meet with Approbation. In my next therefore it shall be my most peculiar care to collect what other Orders have been lately sent me, that due Ob- servance may be paid to them, & proper Notice returned, how they are comply'd with.
Benj. Adams created dis- pleasures against Mr. Jones & Col. Stephens.
One thing I cannot pass over, without imme- diately applying myself to explain to their Hon- ours some Matters, which thro' the Accusation of Benja. Adams, and the false light that I hum- bly conceive he has represented them in, I fear he has created some displeasure against M. Jones, & me ( Both or one of us) as if a publick Store had been carried on here, notwithstanding the Trustees express order to the Contrary : which is so daring a Fault, that I should think unpardonable, if it appeared really so, as I take it he desired it should. Mr. Jones is at present gone to wait on the General at Frederica, in Order to adjust Accots. with his Excelley. & sep- arate those that belong to the Army, from such as relate properly to the Trust: in his AAbsence therefore I venture to unfold these things a lit- tle, as far as I can knowingly; & shall leave it to him to add what more he thinks needfull when he returns.
,
Mr. Jones gone to wait on Genl. Oglethorpe at Frederica
When we received the last Estimate, the Gen- eral was then at Savannah, & by his direction appointed three persons to be Chaundlers for retailing Provisions & other Necessarys to sup-
CORRESPONDENCE
445
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Verelst.
ply the wants of the Inhabitants; directing also that no Provisions &c should for the future be Issued by us to any other than to those Chaund- lers, unless to Ships or Vessels that put in here and required larger Quantitys than they could be supply'd with by them; & also for Boats & Pettyaguars employed in the Service of the Colony; and Indians; The 3 following were named by the General to be supplyed by us on Credit, with all Necessary Provisions &c; which they were to retail at a Moderate profit; vizt .; Harry LLoyd, Wido. Weddel, & John Pye, & to pay weekly according as they vended the same: they were supply'd with Butter at 64., the same to be by them sold at not exceeding 71/ 11., Cheese at 54. to be sold at 6ª; Moll at 17. Gall to be sold at 20d. Sugar at 4ª. to be sold at 6ª; and other Goods in like manner. Harry LLoyd was entrusted with about 10 or £12 worth of Goods; which he soon made Spoil of, and failed in Payment; Mr. Weddell soon after married, & left off keeping Shop, John Pye went to the Southward, & his Wife would follow that Trade no longer. These Chaundlers failing, M. Woodroof & MT. Penrose advanced the Prices of all such Goods to so high a Rate, that Butter & Candles wh. generally had been sold from 6d. to 8d. "., were sold by them at 12ª. each "?". it was then found Necessary, in Order to supply the German Servants, & other poor In- habitants, to buy a Cargo brought from New York; & ever since Butter has been sold for 6ª never exceeding 7ª .. & Candles the same, flour
Harry Lloyd, Wido. Weddel & John Pye appointed as Chaund- lers by Genl. Ogle- thorpe.
446
COLONIAL RECORDS
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Verelst.
of the best at 9/ & not exceeding 9/6 7300. Bis- cuit from 9/6 to 10/ Meat from 11/2ª to 2ª. 11. The Indians & Carolina Troops often passing & repassing here this Year; & the Generals own Regiment in the South occasioning great de- mands of Provisions of all kinds, which they could not at all times be readily provided with, it was thought necessary by the Gen". that when any Vessels with Provisions from the North Colonys called here, we should by no means let them slip; if their Cargos could be purchased at a reasonable rate; as soon as ME. Jones returns from Frederica the Rects. & Is- sues of such provisions are intended to be laid before their Honours; whereby 'twill appear that Provisions of most kinds have been issued 20 ~ Ct. cheaper that we find it to have been ever before. The Rule has been, in Bread & Flour (wch. are the 2 Main Articles to advance 6ª Ct. weight to answer loss & Damage, & oth- er Goods in proportion : by these means of com- ing to a reasonable Market, & being defended from monopolizers many of the common People of this Town have found it their interest to live here; notwithstanding the Temptation they daily meet with from our false Brethren of the Club, to try their Fortune elsewhere; & had not this expedient been found out, I am verily per- swaded, that a much greater desertion would have ensued than yet has been.
Tempta- tions daily met with.
Complaints made by Adams.
As to what Adams complains of, that he would have purchased Cattle, & supply'd the Town with Provisions, he shews himself very
CORRESPONDENCE
447
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to Mr. Harman Verelst.
ungratefull; for Mr. Jones lent him £29-& promised to take what Beef he could not sell (he salting & curing the same) And to supply him with Salt, Barrils &c. But he grew Idle, keep- ing Company continually with Mr. Townsend the most Notorious of all Clamourers: So that had not a German Butcher from Purysburgh come sometime this last year & lived among us, who has supplyed the Town, with fresh pro- visions of Meat kind, at a cheaper Rate than we use to have the same; We should have been in some distress. Last Year when the General had proposed to Adams with Mo [torn] to buy Cattle, & to have them Slaughtered at Savan- nah, in the same manner he was pleased to con- tract this Year, Adams underhand broke the Contract; and with Penrose privately bought Cattle & had them killed & Salted; but would not sell the same under 42/ ~ Barr". Mr. Jones offered them 32/ ~ Barr". for the General, the Regim'. being then bare of provisions; but they refused to take it: And at length it was found that the Meat Stunk & was not fit for use, being not well cured: Indeed it has been found that . whenever he has undertaken to cure meat (un- less in the Cold Season) it has perished, when the same kind of Meat cured by other persons (tho' not professed Butchers) has been preserv- ed. So that whether we have injured Adams
Mrs. Town- send a no- torious clamourer.
Adams Penrose doing busi- ness in an underhand manner.
448
COLONIAL RECORDS
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to the Trustees.
most, or he us, it is humbly hoped will appear evident to their Honours. I am
ST.
&c. [Copy of letter from Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.]
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.) 1
COPPY OF MR. STEPHENS'S LETTER TO THE HON- OURABLE THE TRUSTEES DATED 27TH. NOVEM- BER 1740.
Hontle. Gent :
With my last Letter of the 20th Instant I had the Honour to send you what I had entituled the Present. State of Georgia as it was prepared in Obedience to your Honours Commands, & Pre- sented to the Court. How it was received there ; how M. Fallowfield was the first that disagreed to it; how Mr. Duchee laboured as far as he was able in his way of arguing to oppose it; & what ensued thence, for some days following; I have so fully & particularly noted in my Journal, (if I may presume to refer to it) that 'twould be wearisome Tautology, to offer the same here again; and the continuation of my Journal from that Time forward till now, will (I hope also) shew plainly what steps our Opposers have tak- en in many things relating thereto, & what pro- gress their Bundle of Greivances has made thro' this Town & neighborhood.
Paper en. titled the "Present State of Georgia."
449
CORRESPONDENCE
Copy of Mr. Stephens Letter to the Trustees.
Having found means (as noted on Saturday the 22ª) to gain a little knowledge of what was doing on that day, when they had so full an As- sembly; I beg leave to lay before you what In- formation I got relating thereto; which ought to be look'd on as very short, of what may be supposed to be contained in their Representa- tion; forasmuch as my Friend who informed me of what I shall here note, had only his Mem- ory to Trust to, when it was read; no one being admitted to take it into their hands, but such only as would sign it: & what I learnt was as follows (vizt.)
1st. They demand absolutely the use of Negroes, but with some Limitation.
2ª. The disposal of Lands, without any Lim- itation, & to have a free Title to buy & sell any Disposal of lands. Lands, when and to whom they think fit.
3als. Magistrates, Constables & Tythingmen to be at their own Election once a Year in what manner they please, & the Constable & Tything- men so chosen to be under no other Command than of the Trustees or the Magistrates.
4th. Any Person upon his Sale or disposal of any Lands to have power of taking up New wheresoever he pleases, being not already granted, without any Controul or Limitation of Quantity.
5th. Quit Rents are set forth as a great Burthen necessary to be taken off, or very much lowered; the Land-holders being unable to pay 'em.
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