USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 28
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Savannah 31st. December 1740.
S'.
On the 20th. Ultmo: I wrote a Letter, inscribed to the honble: Trustees, which went hence in a small Box, together with the state of this Pro- vince (which had lain so long on my hands) and in the same Box I also sent many other papers thereto appertaining, together with a Schedule of the whole, and a Letter to you of the same date, to which I likewise added my Journal Coppy'd from the 5th of October: to the 17th : of Novbr: (both inclusive.) On the 27th. of Novbr. I wrote again to the board to which I add- ed a very short one of the 2Sth. to you, with Coppy of my Journal again from the 18th. Novbr. to the 27th. both inclusive. all these I sent at two different times, to M'. Hopton, to forward first Occasion, who wrote again that there was no Ship then likely to sail for London till after Xmas; but Mr. Peter Colliton intending to take passage for England in a Ship bound to Bristol, on Business that required hast for his being in London; he intended to commit the charge of both those Packets, received from me, to him; who had promised to take particular care, & deliver them to the Trust himself; & being a Gentleman of good Character; I hope
468
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
-
they'll get a safe conveyance by him; presum- ing the Ship is now far gone in her way. I acquainted you in mine of the 20th. Novbr. that I beleived I had received all Letters &c sent from the Trust, that could then be expected, the last of which was yours of the 29th. July, and P: S: of the 6th: of Aug: Upon looking back into several of your Letters, I am to confess that I find divers Articles passed over, which require to be answered by me; such as I could not well digest of late, when my thoughts were indis- pensably taken up, with Matters of the greatest importance, that crowded so fast on me. I shall therefore now touch upon some of them, and hope by degrees to discharge my Duty in going thro' all.
It has given me great disquiet of mind that the Orders sent, & repeated, about the Repara- tion of those publick Works named, viz': the Light House at Tybee, the great House built by Mr. Bradley, & the Saw Mill, have not punctual- ly been fulfilled; the former of which more especially demanded immediate help to pre- serve it, being of so great Value & Use. But I am forced to say, what I once before did, that my urgent Importunity to set forward that Work, did not meet with that ready concurrence I wish'd; which proceeded from an Opinion in others, that 'twas not in so Weak & decaying a Condition as I apprehended; & that as there were other publick Works then also to be taken in hand, it might very well give place for a while to such : at length Mr. Jones went with me
Reparation of the Light House at Tybee, the great House built by Mr. Bradley & the saw mill.
FA
469
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
thither, taking some Workmen with us to Sur- vey it, when we found it so far gone, that 'twas judg'd by all impracticable to save. it in the State it stood, being so dangerous, that nobody dared to Venture upon it; as I wrote in my Journal of the 23d. of June last : so that it must inevitably fall (from all that I can be informed in) tho' it yet stands, & possibly may this Win- ter; and then (tis affirmed) is the only proper time to set it up again; which we are told may be done at as little expence as it could have been repaired, for that must have been, by making all the Ground Timbers new, and most part also of the Upper Work, & when they have it under- hand, a great deal of the Scantling will serve again as well as ever, by new framing; for 'tis the Joynts throughout that are decayed, & rotten; which might have been prevented, if the whole had been weather boarded at first ; where- as it ought not to be admired at that a naked piece of Work framed out of Pine, and stand- ing exposed without any covering, must decay in few Years. I have never thought of this without Vexation, but that avails nothing: if I am blameable for it, 'tis due, because instead of recommending it to be done, I did not positively Order it; which Power indeed I have rarely (if ever) assumed; always thinking that upon Signifying the Orders I receive from the Trust, to such as the Workmen have still taken their Direction from, it remained no longer with me to carry it into Execution: but now indeed I have no Room to plead that in excuse; the
470
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
The Great House.
honble. Trustees having in their Letter of the 11ª: June (which I lately received) sufficiently explained to what length my Duty in such cases extends, & I hope I shall henceforward prevent all Occasions of their Order being often repeat- ed. The Great House which is commonly called the Town House, has had their Orders in part fulfilled on it; the Ground Timbers being taken out, which we found in so short a time greatly decayed; and the whole Fabrick is pinn'd up by a Sufficient Stone Wall of more than 7 foot height from the Bottom of the Cellars : but the Roof is not meddled with, the General purposing to have a flat covering yet made effectual, which has hitherto baffled the undertakers: and I wish it may not continue so to do. At present they are underpinning the Court House (& Church) which being built on Loggs after the manner of our common built Houses; those Loggs begin- ning to decay, the whole began to sink, as we find all other Houses so built to do sooner or later. As for the Saw Mill I can say little to it, more than that I acquainted the General wth. the Trustees Orders about it, when I waited on him in Sepbr: last, & conferred with him thereon; who seemed to be under some doubt whether or not 'twas practicable in the same place; the Ground thereabout being so torn up & wash'd away when the last was blown up, that it could not be done without an immense expence but he said he would Consider of it, and see if a more proper place could be found for it.
Observing in one of your Letters received a
CORRESPONDENCE
471
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
while since, that some papers sent in a Box by Cap. Wright, to which the corporation Seal was affixed, were ordered to be registered in the common Register; and in Vain expecting that Box, which is never yet come to my hands dur- ing a whole Year past (as I have more than once taken notice of in some of my former) and thereby having no immediate Occasion of the Register being apply'd to for that purpose, was the cause of my failing to acquaint the Trust that we are utterly now without any person to take that Office; Mr. Brownfield, who readily Accepted it (as I wrote) sometime after telling me, that he desired to quit it, for several rea- sons, which I thought of little weight, and not thinking it suitable to the dignity of the Dis- posers of that Office, to entreat any ones accep- tance of it. with a pretty Salary annexed, wch: would take up no part of his time worth Valu- ing; I desired he himself would acquaint the Trustees with it; which he promised me he would, & I did not doubt he had done : which has been another cause of my letting it pass so long unobserved. In like manner we are at present at a loss also for want of a Surveyor; which indeed is of the highest use in this Colony: Noble Jones was certainly an able one, & cap- able also of making a proper plan of his Work after 'twas done: but he was grown so indolent, humoursome, & indifferent about it: which oc- casioned abundance of uneasiness among peo- ple, for not having their Lands ascertained &c; That the Trustees could not well avoid discharg- ing him; tho' frequently since in cases of Exi-
A box of papers sent to Capt. Wright.
Mr. Brown- field re- signed as registrar.
Colony in need of sur- veyor.
Noble Jones a capable surveyor. but iindo. lent.
472
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
gence, the General found it needfull for him to do several pieces of Jobb Work; finding none near at hand to be relyed on, and upon other Occasions we have got one out of Carolina to do some things occasionally ; which puts us often to a Nonplus, for we can't perswade any one, who is master of that Occupation, to think it worth his while to live here, and be ready at all times, without greater encouragement than is offered.
Oakes and his Master Young.
What was lately wrote me about young Oakes, & his Master Young; I hoped there would have been no occasion for; after what I had formerly done with my best care, relating to that Affair, & examined it thoroughly I hope his Grace the Duke of Richmond, & the Lads Father will both be satisfied in wt: is now done; the Substance whereof I send herewith, & what to do more I know not. There is a certain per- son here living, who owes no good will to Young: and having some knowledge of the Boys Father, 'tis suspected that he may have wrote some Calumny against his Master undeservedly : but whenever the Boy returns to Eng. I fear he will be little comfort to his Father; but without good looking after, be in great danger of coming to shame, being prone to all Idleness.
Several articles relating to Mr. White- field.
The several articles relating to Mr. Whitefield, which ought to be taken Notice of by me, you'll find in my Journal; where also I acknowledge the Rect: of £150 in Sola Bills for the Church; and the Daily Advertisers web: you was so kind to send therewith, I now return thanks for; &
473
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
you'll beleive We at this Distance are fond of hearing a little of what is doing in our own Native Country.
I find my Letter swell so fast, that I must ask leave to postpone some other matters wch : have lain a little in arrear unanswered, till my next; wch. I intend shall not be long after this.
The day on which Mr. Whitfeild left us, he brought a Girl before the Magistrates (Ann Clark the Daughter of Henry Clark deceased) who in their presence made choice of Mr. Whit- feild for her Guardian; being of Age, as 'twas said, sufficient to make such choice; and the intent was, that Mr. Whitfield would take her with him for England, as a companion & assis- tant to a younger Girl that he had brought thence last Year, by her Parents Consent, to be educated under him; but they had now sent for her home again, & Mr. Whitfield promises to see this Ann Clark returned again hither forth with but as we are not well Satisfied, whether 'twas right or not, to permit her being taken out of the Colony on this Occasion; I thought proper to acquaint you with it, that the Trus- tees Opinion thereon might be known, & more especially as the Girl has Friends in England, as I am informed.
The Bill on M. Saxby, which you returned to me for £200- upon assurance that it would be now paid; I take the Opportunity by the same conveyance which cary's this, of sending it to Mr. Hopton to get it accepted.
Ann Clark chose Mr. Whitfield as guardian.
Bill on Mr. Saxby.
474
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Herewith you'll receive Coppy of my Journal from the 28th: Novbr. to this day both inclusive; and also Coppys of my last Letters of he 20th :, 27th:, & 28th: of Nov. together with that of the present State of this Province.
Be so good to pardon the Liberty I take of making use of any hand but my own in writing this to you; not intending to make it my prac- tice; but it gives me a little ease at present, being pretty well tired in scribling out the Origi- nal; & many other matters demand my attend- ance immediately. Please to accept of the usual Complement of the season from me; wishing you a happy New Year; & that it may prove more prosperous than the past; which indeed has put an Old Fellow to his Trumps.
ST. Y. Very Humble Servant
Will: Stephens.
To Mr. Harman Verelst
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER FROM WM. STEPHENS ESQR TO MR. HAR- MAN VERELST RECD 8 APRIL 1741
.
Savannah 31 Dec. 1740.
ST.
Please to allow me a few Words in a separate letter from my other of this same date: begging
CORRESPONDENCE
475
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
:
the favour of you to present my best Respects to my Good Lord Egmont, with my most grate- full acknowledgment of his unmerited Present to me, of three Casks of fine English Beer, wch. I lately receiv'd with little Damage; only one of 'em sustaining a little Leakidge, occasiond (as the Sailors term it) by a small Worm hole, which gave room for tasting it; but more sparingly y^ I have often known; and there is Plenty sufficient of it, come safe & well, to put me frequently in mind of the Generous & honour- able Donor. The letter wch. I had also the honour to receive from his Lordship, I shall take a proper occasion soon to return my due thanks for; and shall not forget to procure those few triffles as soon as may be, which his Lord- ship apprehended might be of some use to him.
I have at this time adventured to give M. Vernon the trouble of a few lines, which per- haps I may be judged faulty for never doing before, after his giving me so much Encourage- ment to write to him as he was pleased to do [torn] my entering on the Service of the Honourable Trust: and what I d[torn] of you is, that you'll be so kind to deliver it with all due Respect & Deference.
You may remember, yt. in a former letter I beggd your assistance in sending me over some young fellow to be a writing Clerk under me; but in my letter since to you, I said I had gotten one recommended to me weh. I hoped would answer my purpose and save you the trouble. The man I have, does not want capacity or
Acknowl- edgement of present from Lord Egmont.
A few lines to Mr. Vernon.
476
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Fallowfield to the Trustees.
In search of another clerk.
qualification sufficient, but has other Qualitys yt I cannot bear ; being no longer easy, when out of my Doors, than till he gets into some Company ; which he has been so long addicted to, in the Nations of Indians where he has had some abode, that I doubt he'll not easily wear off the strong appertite he has to Drink. I must ask your leave therefore to return to my former Request of you; that in case you can find a modest youth, who has a pretty good use of his pen; I should hope to see him more tractable, and attentive to good advice, than a person habituated to a loose way of Life: and as I be- fore wrote, under those terms, I am apt to think he may live prettily here; where he may prob- ably not be the worse, for an Old Mans admoni- tion against idle courses.
I am St. Your oblidged & very humble Serrt.
Will : Stephens.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
COPY OF LETTER (WITHOUT NAME) BUT WROTE BY MR. FALLOWFIELD TO THE TRUSTEES RECD 6 JUNE 1741
Savannah Janu': ye 1th. 1740.
May it please your Hon's.
Your favour Received dated March ye. 25th. 1740 wherein you desire me to Discourage that Mutinous spirit weh. has Lately appeared against
CORRESPONDENCE
477
Mr. Fallowfield to the Trustees.
all Order and Government and the Laws of the Country No Mutiny has Ever been here to my knowledge, and Ive been here near Seven years. But if ever any Do whilst I am in Comission your hon's. may depend None will be Readier to Supres it y". my Self, but I must say it is so farr diffrent from anything of yt. kind that the peo- ple are here as Humble & as Meek as Lambs, I am Sorry to tell your Hon": here are But verry few people Left, The Town is full of Buildings, but Thin of Inhabitants, Three houses are Emty Through the Town for one yt. has a Familly in it. Things many [may] be represented to your Hon". in a flattering light But I am Determind to write the truth & not deceive Your Hon™s. The Welfare of the Colony, I ought to have as Much at heart as any Man Living for my Im- provements is verry Considerable, wch: none here will or Can Deny, Therefore on ye. failure of it after seven years time in the prime of my Dayes & some hundreds of pounds Sterling Ex- pence Must leave yt to your Hon": if the Dis- apointment it must be to leave The place & at last to have to begin again some whare Ells, wch. am affraid will be my Case with those that are left here in Savannah if wee have not the priveledg as they have in Carrolina. It is quite contrary to my Inclination to be Troblesome to ye Honble. Board with Complaints, Ether pub- lic or private Yet as your Hon's. thought proper To appoint me second Bailiff for this Town & County and having been Duely Sworn upon the Evangleest to do Justice, & act uprightly in y' Office, I can not in Consience Set silent while the
Existence of mutiny denied.
Town full of buildings but thin of inhabitants.
478
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Fallowfield to the Trustees.
Tyranny in the Colony.
Natural rights denied.
Mr. Thos. Jones the chief actor.
province Groans under the insupportable Tyranny of some people here who act under The Cloake of your Hon's. Name & Authority, The Grievance of the few Remaining people, are not only what they sett forth in there Late Repre- sentation. But there Natural rights are Deny'd them the Priveledgs of British Subjects are with held from them The Protection of the Laws of the Nation, whereof they are Members is Refus- ed Them Mr. Thos. Jones who your Hon's. ap- pointed Third Bailiff is The Chief Actor here in all those Dispotick Measures, I call him the prin- ciple in the place. Because he has the posses- sion & paying away your Hon's. Money the Direction of your public works & the Govern- ment of all your Servants he Rules all Guides all & directs all and that in a Haughty & Imperious Manner As my Oath obliges Me to see Strict and Impartiall, Justice done to every one So I En- deavoured as farr as in me Lay to put a Stop to such proceedings But I found it out of my power, I objected against such Measures in private with ye other Majestrates & before your Secretary But to no purpose-
Mr. Henry Parker, Mr. Pye and Mr. Wm. Steph- ens in Mr. Jones' power.
I then Objected in Public Court wch. had no Better Effect. For M'. Henry Parker who your Hon's. replaced as first Bailiff is Intirely at Jones Disposal, Otherwise his Familly wod Starve. M. Pye The Recorder having Been Lately a Clerk, in your Hon". Store where Mr. Jones was his Master; The Terror of whom is not more of yet and your Secretary William Stephens is quite affraid of him So that none is
CORRESPONDENCE
479
Mr. Fallowfield to the Trustees.
Left to withstand The Tyrannical doing of M. Jones, but my Self, I must here humbly Beg pardon of your Hon's. for writing so Truly, but- as I write Nothing but the Truth and yt. To Dis- charge my Consience, I cannot think your Hon™s. will lay any Blame to my Door, what I write I am Ready to prove By the Testimony of Several Wittnesses some yt. Remain here in the Colony, and Numbers that are Gone away. Upon Acct. of the Arbitary Government in it, I could give your Hon's. many Instances of there Cruel, Illegal and Unjust Doings, but shall only Troble you with a few, Tho from the whole I wash hands having a Time Declared against them, The first Illegal & Unjust Act Mr. Jones Com- mitted after being in a Bailiff was Joining with your Secretary in keeping up and Detaining your Honrs. appointment for Thos. Christie to be first Bailiff & William Williamson to be Re- corder Though often demanded & as often Re- fused, Yet in the Mean time he the s'. Jones did Support & Encourage Henry Parker to Con- tinue to set and Act as first Bailiff, altho he was by your Hon's. turned out of all his places at that verry time and afforesaid Thos. Christie having sometime after Received a Letter from your Hon's: wherein you Directed him as first Bailiff and one of the Comis". for Settling your Accounts, with all speed to forward the s'. Ac- counts that the same might be Laid Before the Parliament, Upon Receipt of wch. Letter M. Christie Went to Mr. Stephens & the sd. Jones & Shewd them the Letter and Desired them to read the Trustees Instructions But they would
The arbi- trary gov. ernment of the Colony.
480
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Fallowfield to the Trustees.
not, M. Christie then to Discharge his duty to the Trustees and Free him self from Blame resolved to read the same in Public Court But that he was not allowed to do for he no Sooner Begun to Read Than Mr. Stephens M. Parker Mr. Jones Stopt him & said he must read no such letter there for it was not fit that the people Should know all the Trustees Orders. One thing more of a Public Nature yt. Concerns the sd. Christie, I must Inform Your Hon's. of William Woodroof of this Town Freeholder having Recovered by Judgment of Court a Certain sum of Money due to him by one Dedicot and having Forbore the sª. Dedicot along time, at length apply'd to M'. Thos. Christie as Recorder to Isue a Warrant to stop the sd. Dedicot from Going out of the province until he was Satisfyed wch Mr. Christie Accordingly did and Dedicot was Stopt. But Thos. Jones having a desire that the sd. Dedicot Should Go Sent for the Officer or Tythingman who had Dedicot in Custody and in a Violent Manner where is the Warrant you pretend to stop this Man By. The officer y". delivered it to him Upon weh. the said Jones said I discharge this warrant, Let him go whare .he has a mind. I order it, I'le keep you Free from harm. And the sª. Dedicot was discharged with- out Giving any Security or Satisfaction given to the said Woodroof & still Continuing in the same passhon he abused the sª. Christie in a Violent Manner, & said he was No Majestrate & that he would take care that he should be none in a little time I was present at the same time & blamed the sª. Jones for his proceedings abt :
Mr. Dedicot imprisoned for debt, set free by Mr. Jones' orders.
CORRESPONDENCE
481
Mr. Fallowfield to the Trustees.
Mr. Christie and toold him at the same time the Recorder had Granted Warrants in Mr. Caus- tons Time and the Trustees had always Looked on the Recorder as a Majestrate Before ever he came here & he the sd. Jones at a Court held for This Town & County did most Arrogantly give a Charge to the Grand Jury, without consulting or advising with Ether of us Mr. Parker or my Self Thereupon & most Impudently when he himself was Ended desired Mr. Whitfield to Con- finn what he had said and Give a Charge to the Grand Jury likewise wch. he the sd. Whitefield did and at the same Court, Lewis Bynon Indian Trader having Charged Henneth Mackenzie wth. felony and applying to the Grand Jury to Indict for the Same The sd. Jones Setting on ye Bench did say the Jury will not Indict him of felony, but they shall present him for Misdemeanors and if you Indict him upon felony the bill will be brought in Ignorant and Isaac Mott one of By- nams Witnesses rising up said, I have Sworn he Carryed away Mr. Bynams Goods with a felon- ious Intent Mr. Jones in a passion Replyed Sirrah hold your Tongue Otherwise Ile send you to Jayle directly wth. Sundry other Appro- brious Names and he the said Jones has at Sun- dry Times Thrown people into Jayle on frivol- ous affairs and has required Excessive and Ex- orbitant bail before they would Be released & the sd. Jones has passed over many Vile Actions whare great Bail ought Justly to have been Re- quired VIZ the above Mentioned Mckenzie be- ing Apprehended & felony sworn against him the sd. Jones did take for bail a person no Free
Mr. Jones and Mr. Whitefield rulling the Court.
1
482
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Fallowfield to the Trustees.
How the public works go on.
Saw mill gone to ruin.
Corn mills also in ruin.
Founda- tion not yet laid for church.
House built to receive Indians con- verted into a slaughter house.
holder here and Bound Mckenzie and him only in Thirty pound Sterling when at the same time he Obliged Another person to Give Bail to the same Amount & likewise to have a Free holder Bound wth. him only for Threatning to Break Anothers Head, Having discharged my duty so farr in Relation to ye Majestrates and Public next proceed to give your Hon's. an Acct. of how your Public Works Goes on, for I am Doubtfull they are Reported to your Hon's. diffrent from They Realy are, Your Farms as they are Called. Never have produced so much Grain as Main- tains the Servants who plants it, The Saw Mill at Ebenezer that Cost your Hon's. so much mony, is now gone To Ruin without ever having Saw'd Five pounds worth Boards Your Corn Mills are Likewise Gone to Destruction. The Church in Savannah has not yet got its Founda- tion Laid, The five hundred pounds Your Honrs. sent over to be Distributed amongst In- dustrious people has Never been Applyed for that purpose your Hon's. Large Magizine wch. you Orderd to be Lett as you was to keep no more Store, is possesed by Mr. Jones who Car- ries on a Considerable Trade There & still under the protection of your Honrs. Name, a Large House lately Built here for the Reception of re Indians at your Hon's. Expence is now Convert- ed in to a Slaughter house. For the Use of Two of Mr. Jones Creatures. Coll. Stephens & he having furnished them with Money to Buy Cat- tle in Carrolina, & drive them to this Town to kill & salt Them here for the Use of the General Regiment. The Copper Your Hon's. send over
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