USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 29
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CORRESPONDENCE
483
Mr. Fallowfield to the Trustees.
to this province for Change it is not Cerculate here, Mr. Jones Disposes of it to the York Mer- chants who Gives one Shilling Sterling Value of any kind of goods for Tenpence in Copper by wch. Means there is no small Change here So that Most people are Loosers while he alone is Gainer. The disposal of the divers Sallerys wch your Hon's. thought fit to Intrust the Majes- trates wth. are Intirely disposed of by him & in such a Manner That several of his Tools Wal- low in plenty while many poor people Starve, The s'. Jones Tooke upon him to Grant a Lycence of himself without ever Consulting another Majestrate, to One Ellis wch. was then Goaler wch. was very Unfit for the Trust ether as Goaler or to keep a public house wch. has plainly appeared since by keeping of Late hours & having Company in his house. Two prisoners broke out of Goal One a Spaniard detained for Suspission of Being a Spye, ye other of being an Irish Roman Catholick These Fellows Sculk- ing about the woods Could not be found Though great Search was made, and Every person thought They had got to Augustine-
(From M'. Fallowfield to the Trustees)
Mr. Jones disposes of copper sent over for change to the York merchants.
Mr. Jones' tools wallow in plenty while poor people starve.
A Lycence granted to Ellis the Goaler to keep a pub- lic house.
Two pris- oners broke out of goal.
484
COLONIAL, RECORDS
Lawrence Rice's Affidavit Received with Mr. Fallowfield's Letter.
Mr. Jones unable to pay debt.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
COPY OF LAWRENCE RICE'S AFFIDAVIT RECEIVED 5 JUNE 1741 WITH MR. FALLOWFIELD'S LETTER DATED 1 JANUARY 1740 2 AUGUST 1739
Georgia Savannah: SS :
Laurence Rice, maketh Oath; that having lately Served the Honble : Trustees for Establish- ing the Said Province; in their Garrison at the Town of Augusta; under the command of Lieut. Richard Kent, he Obtained a Certificate of Such Service from the S': commander: that the Sd: certificate was directed to Mr. Thomas Jones Store keeper for the Sª: Trustees: and intitled him this deponent to receive of the S'. Thomas Jones: the clear and neat Sum of four pounds fiveteen Shillings Sterling, that on or about the 20th : of July last; he this deponent Applyed to the Sª: Thomas Jones for payment ; who making some scruples about it and not giving a direct answer he this deponent urged that he was in great Necessity and was Obliged to return to his Wife and Children in Philadelphia; to effect which : he Apperhended he Should be Obliged to go by the way of New York for want of oather passage: which would be a double voige: and consequently more expences. but not withstand- ing all the Arguments which this deponent could use; altho drawn from justice and necessity : the Sd: Jones answered: he had no money and could not pay it : that this deponent Some time after meeting with the S': Jones at M. Uptons
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485
CORRESPONDENCE
Lawrence Rice's Affidavit Received with Mr. Fallowfield's Letter.
house at Savannah; he this deponent acquainted the Sª: Jones that he had offer'd the Sª: certifi- cate to Several people for Sale at a discount : and that they had refused to have any thing to do with it : and in further discourse Acquainted him : that he this deponent was willing [sic] lose the odd money; and would assigne over the Sd: certificate to any one on the receipt of four pounds Sters: and this deponent further saith; that the S': Thomas Jones; did at that time answer: that he would have nothing to do with it, (but added) that if he this deponent, wou'd call upon him in the Afternoone he wou'd en- quire if any one of his Acquantance had any ready money by them; (or words to that effect) and this deponent further Saith; that he did not go to the S': Jones according to his appoint- ment; but whent to him the next morning : when the S'. Jones proposed one M. Harris at the publick Store as a proper person to treat with concerning the Sd: certificate ading he did not know but he might have some money by him; and further saith he had Acquanted the Sd: Harris of what he this deponent had before de- clar'd; he was willing to allow for promt pay- ment and this deponent further Saith, that he Accordingly whent to the S': Harris; who as this deponent is creditabley informed: is a covenant Servant to the S': Thomas Jones and this deponent ask'd him the S': Harris if M. Jones had Spoke to him about his affairs that the Said Harris answer'd yes; and Seemed de- sircous, to be in private in what he Said or did with this deponent: that this deponent then de-
486
COLONIAL RECORDS
Lawrence Rice's Affidavit Received with Mr. Fallowfield's Letter.
livered his Sd: certificate to the Sd: Harris; and the S': Harris having given him this deponent : a Sola Bill for five pounds Sterling : he this de- ponent retern'd him the S': Harris: Twenty Shillings as change; whereby he received the neat sum of four pounds Sterling; and no more in full Satisfaction for the value of the Sd: certi- ficate and this deponent further Saith; that hay- ing received the Sª: four pounds: he this de- ponent Offered to Assigne the Sd: certificate by endrsing his name thereon, but the Sª: Harris answer'd that he wou'd take the certificate then as it was and tell him another time in what manner it Should be Assigned. And this de- ponent Saith; that the next day he whent again to the Sª: Harris to transfer the S': certificate ; at which time the Sd: Harris produced a paper writeing which contained a forme for Such As- signment : and told him this deponent; that he must write a copy thereof on the back of the Sª: certificate which he this deponent accord- ingly did : and Signed his name thereto and this deponent further Saith; that he hath often seen the S': Thomas Jones write: and he verily be- lives that the Sd. paper writeing containing a forme for the Sd: Assignement; was the hand writeing of the Sd. Thomas Jones and lastly; this deponent Saith; that from the manner wherein the Sd: Thomas Jones exprest himself : in recommending the Sª: Harris; as a proper person for this deponent to treat with : and the caution the Sª. Harris used, in paying the money as aforesaid, and receiving the Assignement, he this deponent verily belives : that the value paid
487
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
by the S': Harris for the Sd: certificate to him this deponent as aforesaid was the proper money; of the Sª: Thomas Jones: and con- trived on purpose to Oppress him this deponent : and draw from him an abatement for his just due for prompt payment.
Laurence Rice.
Sworn this twenty Second day of August 1739. Before me
Henry Parker.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER [FROM WM. STEPHENS ESQR. TO THE] TRUSTEES ACCOTANT RECD S APRIL 1741
Savannah 15 Jan: 1740/1.
Sr
Hoping my letters & of the 20 & 27 Nov met with no Remora on their Passage; I made up another Packett with letters of the 31 Dec"; to follow the former & endeavour to make good my promise of writing frequently, more than I was thought to have done for a while before past: but one thing or other still embarrasses my de- signs : that Packett prepared last, having now lain on my hands, to my vexation, more than a fortnight, for want of a conveyance hence to Cha Town; & how much longer it might, being not able to foresee; I determined with my self
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488
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
to lose no more time; but rather put the Trust to the Expence of hiring a Boat Express thither, than risque my being charged with tardiness in my Duty Wherefore I now make use of the op- portunity, to send this, as an Appendix to my former, under the same Cover; wherein my Journal is continued to this day: to which time twill be seen what's doing among us in these Parts.
Uneasiness felt in re. gard to Mr. Jones con- tinuance at Frederica.
Mr. Jones's continuance at Frederica so long since as the middle of Novbr, gives me no small uneasiness; not knowing what may be the Cause; for he writes me nothing more of it, than that he had then (30 Dec' was his last) done very little with the General of what he went thither about ; & could not make any guess when I shall see him here again : in the mean while you may imagine I have my hands full of a multitude of mixed matters; many of which I very seldome intermedled with, unless I saw it needfull. Thank God however that we live in peace among ourselves again; the late Fury having pretty well spent it self; tho' the lashes I have receivd from slanderous tongues, I yet feel the smart of : but no Violence being offerd; Patience must be had Recourse to, till the result of the honour- able Trustees Deliberations shall be known, & the Standard of Right or Wrong determined.
Peace again reigning in the Colony.
I have always been sollicitous, & still am; least the Cause weh I most heartily espoused. should suffer thro' any Imbecility of so weak an Advocate; which upon often revising, I can nevertheless find no reason to vary from: but
!
489
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
this addition I conceive twill bear; that several of the Lots which are fallen to some peoples share, are such, as either thro' Barrenness of the Soil, or being overflowd with water, renders it not worth the labour of the Occupiers to culti- vate One, or beyond the Ability of others to attempt draining the latter: these however are few in comparison of others, which unquestion- ably deserve more regard than too many have shewn towards 'em of which more may be said in a proper season. Tis observable of late, that divers of the meanest Subscribers to the oppo- site Representation, in their wrangling, often reproach one another wth. being ashamed of what they have done; & appearing desirous to be esteemed by us as Neuters ; which I regard very little but certainly, could we come to a thorough knowledge of what they had set forth in that Petition, and obtain withall an authentick coppy of the same, together with a true List of the Names at the End of it 'twould give us great light into many of their artifices: and if their Honours of the Trust will please to order such a Coppy to be sent me, I'll send you a true and impartial Character, annexed to the name of each individual Subscriber to each Paper : which possibly may open a fuller discovery of what sort of people this part of the Colony consists, than any hitherto.
The Orders I recª to examine what Religious Books remain here, that were sent over for the Ministers use for the time being, &c; I have punctually observed, & taken a proper Cata-
Ordered to examine religious books.
490
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
logue, whereof I shall send Coppy @ next Oc- casion. .
Georgia's splendid future pre- dicted.
I can ill afford much time for long letters at present, but short, & more frequent, may prob- ably be better accepted. I shall close this now, with wt. gives me much delight; that I find a stronger tendency, every day than other, among many, to prepare Ground for making Vine Yards; & so eager they are to outvie one another that had we thousands of Cuttings more y" we have, I am confident they would be made good use of. I do all I possibly can, to drive the Nail that will go; & am firmly perswaded in my self yt. Georgia will yet, sooner or later, turn out such productions of its own, as will put all its Adversarys to shame, which yet is due to its own Inhabitants in a great measure. Mulberry Plants I prepared a good Quantity of in the Publick Garden; which I see deliverd out to all' that call for 'em, in such proportion as I think they deserve.
I am ST.
Your very humble Servant
Will : Stephens.
To M'. Harman Verelst
491
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
LETTER FROM MR. STEPHENS TO THE TRUSTEES ACCOTANT. RECD MAY 19, 1741.
Savannah 234. February 1740/1.
St.
My last was of the 15th : Jan"y : weh : I added as an Appendix to a former of the 31st : Decemb" :, that had lain by me more than a fortnight, for want of an Opportunity of sending it to Charles Town; wherefore they both went in one Packet Capt: McCrae in the Dorobernia: Copys of each, you have here enclosed : & by that same Packet you would find my Journal carried on from Friday 28th: Novbr. Inclusive to the 15th: Jan'y : Ditto; as now you'll have herewith, the same continued from Friday the 16th: Jan"y: to this 234. of February, both inclusive: and a Catalogue of what Books I can find belonging to the Trust Library; which I have placed in due Order together with a poor Inventory of what the next Parson is to expect he'll find here, whenever he comes. I am very sorry that in this Reckoning I can find none from you since (what I before acquainted you with) of the 29th : July last, with a Postscript of the 6th: of August weh: came to hand not till the 16th: Novbr: Great allowances ought certainly to be made for the uncertainty of time in letters pass- ing during this War; as well as hazard of more kinds than one, of their Safety. It gives us all
The Trust Library.
492
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Capt. Thomson's ship thought to be wrecked.
here very great concern, to think whats become of Capt. Thomson; whose loss is so variously told, that we know not what to beleive; but in the main however, we find too much cause of Fear, that his Ship was wreck'd on the Coast near home: wch: if true, we may with great reason lament it; having experienced that he never was bound hither, without importing some benefit from the honble: Trust to this Colony.
Mr. Ham- merton's bill on Mr. Saxby.
I wrote you in one of my former, that I had received Mr. Hammerton's Bill on Mr. Saxby for £200, which he had formerly refused to accept, return'd to me again; upon the said Mr. Ham- mertons assurance 'twould now find ready ac- ceptance; and that I had sent it to Mr. Hopton for that purpose, who wrote me, that M. Saxby being then in the Country gathering Quit Rents, he waited his return: & a little while after, he wrote me, that he had tendered the said Bill again; but with the like success as before: Coppy of weh. letter from Mr. Hopton I herewith also send you.
I am daily expecting M. Habershams pay- ment to me of the £150 .. advanced by the Gen- eral to Mr. Whitfeild, towds: building a Church; as M. Whitfeild promised me, after deducting what he had expended of it for that use; but yet I see nothing of it.
The Trusts orders re- lating to Mrs. Camuse.
All the Trusts Orders relating to Mrs. Camuse are, & will be, punctually obey'd, as far as we can: but what they are pleased to direct con- cerning the putting out Orphans apprentices to
CORRESPONDENCE
493
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
her, I shall be better able to give an Accot: of, as soon as the Magistrates have visited & in- spected the Orphan House; wch. they tell me they intend very speedily. I hope, from what I can judge, that we shall find a much better ad- vance this Year, than any we yet could, of that Manufacture of Silk: and Vines are planted in great abundance by divers: I have not been wanting to give a good Example, as well in that, as Mulberrys; having added above 100 of each this Year, to what I had in former Years: from whence I have now 150 Vines that have taken Root, some of them 2 or 3 years past, and sev- eral have far outdone me; which I look on with more pleasure than envy. These are the prin- cipal things we have to say for ourselves, for here's no room yet for boasting of much plant- ing of Corn, or any Bread kind, for Sustenance; especially near home; for the ordinary people are not easy to be perswaded their time should be taken up in clearing Land, wch. they can em- ploy to so much more advantage in other Work ; Artificers especially ; & even common Laborours alledge the same: a few nevertheless I expect will think it worth their while to be doing some- thing on their Land wch. is already cleared; at least wise Sufficient to serve the uses of their own Familys; which they see their mistake in not doing last Year: there are divers however in the out Plantations of 500 Acres, who seem much in earnest; having live Stock by them to live on; but they are weak handed; which is a great Baulk to their doing what they would:
Better ad. vance of manufac- ture of silk and vines.
Hard to persuade people to clear land.
494
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Vereist.
as to myself I hope this Season to see 20 Acres well planted at Beulie; which is only the 2ª Year of my setting down there, and had I been so lucky to have had possession of that Lot a Year sooner, I think I might without vanity have vied with most of my Neighborus: but now I must be contented to see my Servants leave me be- fore the Summer is over, when their time is expired. But I shall say no more of that now, having (as I remember) touch'd upon it in some of my former; and imagining that the honour- able Trust have 'ere this Time, had the State of the Colony, weh. I sent in Novbr. last, under their Deliberation ; I must suppose they will de- termine on what they think expedient, concern- ing the importation of Servants ; without which, 'tis plainly impossible to make any wish'd for Progress in cultivation of Land. As for their own servants (the Germans) 'tis ashame to see how little is done by 'em, to answer the great expence they have stood them in; whether 'tis mostly owing to their not being so closely look'd after by their Overseers as they ought (which I fear may be one cause) or rather to their Stub- born slothfull dispositions under Servitude; is hard to determine : but this I repeat as a certain Truth, that what time they have to follow their own business; no people living employ them- selves more diligently: and they are withal so parsimonious, that many of them have saved Money to purchase several Head of Cattle. From whence I have been induced to be of Opinion (as yet I am) that if a certain Number
Concern- ing the im- portation of servants.
CORRESPONDENCE
495
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Vereist.
of such as had Familys, were made choice of to form a Village, & settle upon it; they would soon shew their Freedom to be not ill bestowed on them whereas in the way they now are, they are a certain dead weight on the Trust, with very little benefit accruing by their Labour, to Ballance it.
You'll remember a Boy you sent me more than 2 Years since (Thos. Roberts) weh I found, from what you wrote me, was a charitable in- tention of the Revd. Mr. Smith, who had a kind opinion of his Parents: whereupon I was also desirous to see the Boy come to some good here ; but very soon sorry to discover in him such a rooted habit of Vice; that I feared my endeav- ours would prove abortive; & after several Months Tryal what could be done, by all fair means to encourage him, in doing well, & by proper correction to deter him from Wicked- ness; I saw there were no hopes of reforming him under my instruction; for he grew more & more hardened every day in dangerous courses ; running away, & being lost, frequently for sev- eral days together, theiving &c; till discovered & pulled out of his lurking holes (and so far I think I wrote you of him) till at lenth being quite tired, I put him into the hands of a Master who I knew would have a strickt eye over him, to try what he might be brought to, remote from his Comrades, at some Miles distance out of Town; but there also he behaved so ill, that he was returned to me; after which, I try'd once again, & delivered him into the care of another,
Thos. Roberts rooted with habit of vice.
496
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
whose Wife liked to have such an Urchin, that would be usefull to her in little Domestick af- fairs; & knowing him to be a ready sensible Boy, desired to have him; not doubting but she could reform him: & on his first entrance, she now Cloathed him very neatly, beyond the ordinary way of indented Serv's., intending to qualify him for being a Waiting servant on any person of Distinction that had occasion for such: but before half a year was expired, notwithstanding he could not be in a place of more easy Service ; he fell back to his former courses, & was lost for near a fortnight; during all wch. time he was Thieving at Nights, & laying close in his hiding Holes in the Day time; till at length he was taken in entering a Jews House wch. he did (as he had done several others) by creeping under the House, and in the Dead of the Night lifting up a Board of the Floor; & so getting in, took what he found for his purpose, either eatables, or such Goods as he thought he could traffick with; so that the whole Town was waiting to catch him; and when he was taken, sev1. things of Value belonging to the Jew (De Lyon) were found upon him: whereupon 'twas unavoidable, sending him to Goal; where he has lain 2 or 3 Months; during which time no Court has sate, with any Grand Jury summoned: but had it otherwise happened; I don't see how he could have escaped being indicted for Burglary by one Jury, & found Guilty by another : and now, the Persecutor asquiescing, as well as the Mag- istrates conniving, upon beleiving he has smart-
Thos. Roberts sent to goal for stealing.
497
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
ed sufficiently to terrify him from the like again, and I yet desiring myself to make one more ex- periment, whether he'll reform or not, I purpose to send him to my Plantation at Bewlie; where I cant expect from his Stature that he can do any thing of weight; but may be of some use in driving Cattle, feeding Swine, Poultry &c, with other like employment, not fit for a person well grown to follow : and being at such a distance from this Town & look'd sharply after (as I shall direct his Overseer) to keep him to his Duty: I am in some hopes he may by that means escape the Gallows, and learn at length to get his living Honestly, to his Parents Com- fort- But too much of this.
I cannot so readily banish the thoughts, that sit heavy upon me at present concerning what we may expect will be the Result of those most important Deliberations which I conceive have taken up some part of the honourable Trustees time of late, for the Support of this Colony; that has undergone such Miserable convulsions during a Year or two past; thro' the poisonous influence of a sett of men who have made it their Business to create misunderstandings & Divisions among us, & to decoy all they could into other Colonys, whereby they have gone a great length in doing the work of the Span- iards; and contributed more to the Destruction of the place, than our Enemys have been able to do, or (I hope) ever will, with their Swords: but what Power their Pistoles may have, if such should come among us, who can tell? an unprej-
Men who have made it a point to create mis- understand. ings among the people of the Colony.
498
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Mr. Jones still de- talned at Frederica.
udiced man that should happen to come here, & see what we see, would be apt to make such con- junctures as I dare not Name. Add to this, the cloudy aspect of what detains Mr. Jones so long hence; which I can yet get no clear knowledge of from the south; and you'll easily imagine 'tis a Life of Jeopardy that I now lead: but I hope light will at length Spring out of dark- ness; for I thank God I have nothing to fear from any consciousness of Guilt arising to dis- turb my peace of mind, with regard to my Duty to the Trust; who are entitled to the utmost I can do, in fulfilling their honours Designs, by a due Obedience of their Commands, as far as it is in my power.
You'll be so good to pardon me, after so long a Letter, that I make use of another hand to transcribe, what I had not confidence to send full of Interliniations and Blots. who am
Sr.
Your most humble servant
Will : Stephens.
Capt. Joseph Avery.
P. S. Capt. Joseph Avery, at present residing here, delivering to me a paper of sundry Pro- posals (Coppy of which he has sent to the Gen- eral) which he has desired me to lay before the honorable Trustees, for their perusal; I have added it to the other papers contained in this Packett, as I promised him I would: but time will not permit me to write anything with due
CORRESPONDENCE
499- 500
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
consideration thereon just now; wherefore I presume I shall do him no Injury, in deferring that till my next.
To M'. Harman Verelst.
501
INDEX
A
Abbot, Mrs., an old widow, who came over with the first people 282. Abercorn, village of, mentioned. 251.
Abercorn, Creek of, farms laid out on. 118.
Abercromby, Mr., Attorney General at Charleston 129;
mentioned
134; 368;
letter to Mr. Harman Vereist. .151.
Accounts, of the Colony, mentioned 375; 334;
access to denied Mr. Causton. 270;
general idea of
285;
Mr. Causton refuses to assist with examination of. 333;
of the Regiment, imperfect .131.
Act relating to the tenure of lands 322.
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