USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 22 pt 2 > Part 4
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Discharges a servant for con- nivance.
Mr. Brad. ley's con- duct not examined.
Explanation for this.
Mistakes and omis- sions dis- covered.
52
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Overcharges for pro- visions.
Mr. Causton makes friends with a for- mer enemy in order to defraud.
-
Mr. Bradley claims fail- ure of Trustees to provide him with cer- tain ser- vants.
Allowance made by Oglethorpe.
prized, and desired to be informed when any provisions had been brought into the Store at those prices - The Clerk told me that they were valued by the prices Set to M'. Causton's, but desired I would give them leave to examine the Accot., again; And Some days after brought me that mark'd (Nº. 2)- I had some time be- fore told Mr. Causton that he had been very injurious to Mr. Bradley, Mr. West, and some others, by rateing some Goods issued to them at double the price he had charged the Same Goods to others, thereby enhancing their Debts. But now Mr. Causton, after three years de- clared Enmity, is entred into a professed Amity with Mr. Bradley, & has been entertaind at his house at Dinner- Before this Friendship comenced I attended him (Bradley) several times, but could not prevail with him to enter into any Accot. on ye footing of his agreement wth. the Trustees, (Of which I had a Copy) Nor would he Acco' for The provisions, Tools, and other Effects he had received out of the Store, Alledging that he was not Stinted as to pro- visions and other Necessaries for himself and his Family That the Trustees had not pro- vided him with the thirty Servants they had promised. And that General Oglethorpe would Satisfy me about ye whole Affair. When the General came here I acquainted him with what had passed. His Excellency (the General) al- lowed, that Mr. Bradley's Servants arriving in the Colony some time before he came himself. He (the General) had employed them in the Trustees Service for some time. And there-
CORRESPONDENCE
53
Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
fore would allow Provisions for all his Servants for One Year from their arrival. As soon as the General was gone for ye Camp at the South- ward, I applied again to Mr. Bradley, who now refuses to give any other Occot. than that you have enclosed (Nº. B) He hath ever Since taken all oportunities of insulting me; Saying That the Trustees had Sent me over hither to Starve the Inhabitants, and oblige them to leave the Colony- And that I had refused to give him Provisions which the General had ordered me to do, Several times in his hearing, and which, he Saith, I owned unto him .- Which is not true- What Improvements Mr. Bradley has made on the Trustees Farm. I am not a Judge of, neither have I had Leisure to go So farr to See it; But am told by Others that what is done thereon might have been procured to be effected for Forty Pounds. If it does, or has produced any thing, there's no Accot of it. His Son's five Acre Lot is well improved, where he also makes Bricks; He has under his Direction, (besides those, he calls his own Servants) These Dutch Servants, whose Names, Ages &c you have enclosed (Nº. C) and who have their Provisions & Cloathing from the Store- Three of the Women Servants are his, or his Son's Servants. Concubines, as commonly reported. One of them lately delivered of, Another big wth. Child. Two Joyners or Carpenters (Servants) have been constantly employd in making Chairs, Buroes, & Decorations for his house as I am told, and have Seen them, when I have been at his house, So employed.
Insults of. fered by Mr. Bradley.
Improve- ments made by Mr. Bradley not in excess of 40 pounds.
His son's five acre lot well im- proved.
54
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
No account of live stock.
The Live Stock delivered into his Care, I can have no Accot of; he Saith, that he gave an Accot. thereof to Col" Stephens, & will not give Another; the Encrease he calls his own.
Mr. Causton and clerks given ac- cess to ac- count books.
The General having judg'd it adviseable. That Mr. Causton and his Clerks, Should have Access to the Books in Order to make out his Accompt, I would not interrupt him therein, tho' there has not one Accot. been attempted to this day, excepting what is called a Cash Accopt, which has been formed from Mr. Caus- ton's Minutes, (not produced) and the Receipt Book-which after three Months close Applica- · tion, is compleated. And a Copy delivered to me, whereby it appears that Mr. Causton has paid £. 800 more than he has received, which affords matter of great Triumph to his new Associates, But the Frauds in that Acco' are too barefac'd, I doubt not but you will readily discover them, only gives me leave to hint. That many of the payments, for which there have been Receipts given as Cash-were Goods delivered. And the persons Acco's. not debited for those Goods, nor any mention of Such Issues in the Day Book- Robert How (who comes over wth. Cap'. Thompson) his Receipt of Novr. 9th. 1737- for £ 6.9 .. 2. Cash pª. him, can inform you, whether he recd Any Mony at that time, it was linen Cloth Sold him at 4/6 ? yd which cost 2/3 an English Ell, ( wch advance on the price of Some Goods issued hath been the comon practise for Sometime past. By which Means a very large Sum of Mony must have yearly accrued to the Trustees, but I find no
Frauds too barefaced.
Specific in- stances.
55
CORRESPONDENCE
Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Accot. kept of Profit & Losse)- Several of the Payments were in discharge of his private Debts, Some for Draughts he had given for the Value recª of Persons, wch. are return'd, pro- tested,- The Accompt, together wth. the other Accots. and Vouchers, I suppose will be trans- mitted you, as soon as the General arrives here, (which I expect daily) : I will not trouble you with any Observations I have made on the Acco's, till I know what Course the General will take, but intend then to give you what light I can into any of the Accots. Only, That the Honble Trustees may not be deceived by the Certifyed Acco's. sent over. I would mention One Instance; you will find the Same practice has been used in most of the other Certified Accots.
In October last, Mr. Causton, (pursuant to the General's Order) delivered me a List of the Debts owing to persons in this Colony, which had not been certifyed (for my Guidance in issuing Effects out of the Store towards their Satisfacon, which I send herewith (Nº D) amº to £ 6673 .. 12 .. 11 (tho' far Short of the Debts incurred.) Mr. John Brownfield, (whose Accot you'll find in that List) who had been at Variance wth. Mr. Causton for a long time, I understood, went often to Oxtead, and lay there Seve'. Nights- In December, (about the time of the Association,) I went to the Compting house, And found the Ballance due to Mr. * Brom- field greatly enlarged; Whereupon I desired to See the Vouchers-the Last Article in that
Directions awaited from Oglethorpe.
List of debts owing to persons in Colony.
*Bownfield.
Mr. Brom- field's bal- ance en- larged.
56
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Other cer. tified false- hoods to defraud Trustees.
Accot was £. 31 .. 18 .. 314 charged to the Trus- tees, as also Sever1. other Articles to ye Amº. of £ 70. and upwards, which I found by his Bills of Parcells to be goods delivered Mr. Causton and charged to his Accot. I found likewise that all those Sums wch Mr. Causton owed him before April last, had been included in the Certificate given him by M. Causton, as for Goods delivered for the Trustees Use into their Magazine at Savannah. I took a Copy of the Certificate, & shew'd it Mr. Brownfield, and askd him, whether he did not then know that Mr. Causton had certifyed a Falshood in order to defraud the Trustees, (he combining with him therein) of a Sum of Mony: He replied that Others who had Dealings wth Mr. Causton had done the Same; Which I find [to] be true- And few, if any, of those Sums were placed to Mr. Caustons Accot, untill of late, which you may discover by the Interlineations in his Accot.
For some time after my Arrival here I found the principal Ini
Loss of friendship.
¡but ass ttook Notice of the Fraudulent Methods used by Mr. Causton in his Accots. wherein the greatest part of them were interested I soon lost their Friendship- And that brought on a Reconciliation of the greatest Enemies to one Another. And a con- tinual Resort to Oxtead (Mr. Causton's Seat) which at length produced their famous Repre- sentation, And other Libels, weh. are pretended to be dropt in the Streets.
+Original indictment.
CORRESPONDENCE
57
Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
There's no person here that I can apply to for any advice or Assistance; besides Col". Stephens. M. Christie, I believe wishes well to the Trustees Interests, but is over awed by M. Parker, who, on all Occasions, acts with the greatest partiality in favor of M. Causton and his friends, He comes Sometimes to the Store reeling, And, (when in that plight) com- plains of the Trustees, their treatment of M. Causton and himself,-He has Seven heads (Dutch Servants) for whom he demands cloth- ing, as well as provisions,- He has had out of the Store since 21° October last in Provisions &c. to the value of 23 £. He stands indebted by his Accot. in the Books £ 239 .. 12 .. 0, if rightly Stated; I have not examind his Accot. but find therein Several of his private Debts paid by Mr. Causton on the Trustees Accot.
The Charles (one of the Transport Ships) Capt Stuart, has taken in her Loading here from Mr. Robert Williams, for St. Christo- pher's- It was generally reported, That M. Causton designed to go with him for St. Xphers, in order to go from thence to Eustatia. I ac- . quainted the General therewith, And the Reasons I had to believe that Report, Vizt. The Rude Language used by Stuart in Some Com- panies, concerning the General and the Trus- tees. The frequent going of Capt. Stewart in Company of M. Parker, Rob. Williams, & Hugh Anderson to Oxtead - Mr. Causton's * continuing at Oxtead a fortnight, having been in Town but Once in that time; And his con- veying his Effects from Oxtead & removing
Trust re- posed in Coll. Steph- ens and Mr. Christie.
Intemper- ance of Mr. Parker.
Several of his private debts paid by Mr. Causton.
Effects re- moved pri- vately in the night.
58
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
.
Mr. Causton prevented from leav- ing the Colony.
them to other places privately in the night time - All which I could make evident - His Excellency, the General, thereupon writ to Mr. Causton. And also to Mr. Fallowfield (the Naval Officer) commanding him to go on board the Charles & there remain until he Saild, and prevent Mr. Causton or any other person under Bail from going out of the Colony. He writ at the Same time to Capt. Stuart, charging him at his peril not to attempt Such things - These Letters came to hand the 4th. instant, Stuart's Ship was loaden and at Tybee, he was to Sail on the Sixth Instant; Fallowfield has been on board ever Since, (tho' unwillingly) And Now Stuart Saies he does not know when he shall Sail.
Explains delay in writing to the Trus- tees.
Being in daily Expectation of the General's coming to Savannah ever Since the beginning of December last I have delayed Writing, having no certain Account to give of any affairs, but shall for the future give Such broken Accots as I am able - I have not time to peruse, what I have written, nor take an exact Copy, Only Some Minutes, that I may not trouble you with the Repetition of the Same again.
I hope his Excellency will arrive here before Capt. Thomson goes from Charles Town, & Shall have ye Satisfaction of acquainting the Honble the Trustees with greater Certainty how Affairs are in this Colony I am wth Respects
ST. Your very humble Servt.
Tho : Jones.
To Mr. Harman Verelst.
59
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 21.)
MR. T. CAUSTON TO THE HONOBLE THE TRUSTEES FOR ESTABLISHING GEORGIA IN AMERICA.
Savannah, Feb. 14, 1738
Gentlemen,
Your Honours Orders dated the 19th. of May being under Seal of Your Comon Council, I thought myself thereby particularly obligd to give it a Seperate answer, And as Your later Orders are a Continuance of Your Censures, I determin'd (at the same time) to pursue my Defence.
I am Sensible, that the want of Your knowing the necessity of the Expences of the Colony as mention'd in Your Orders dated the 12th of June, which (I now apprehend) far exceed Your Conjectures, must naturally raise a Sur- prize, and some Doubts how farr my Conduct could be justifyed. And I may (by sad experi- ence) be allow'd to say, That tis my great Un- happiness, the Weight of a Discretionall Power was in any Shape laid upon me, before a just Account of the Circumstances of the Colony, both as to Publick and Private Affairs; and especially before a more perfect Calculation of the charge of those things judg'd necessary for it's Defence and Support, was duly explain'd, and by some proper Channell convey'd to You. I hope I may be excus'd from beleiving that such a Calculation, was expected from me, Not
Mr. Causton defends himself against the censures of the Trus. tees.
Expenses of the Colony exceed cal- culations.
60
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
To guard against ac- cidents too difficult a task.
only because the execution was in a great meas- ure to depend on my Conduct, and therefore, (with humble Submission) Improper for me to Attempt, But also, That the events, from the good or bad Success. And from the Accidents, to which such undertakings were lyable, was a Task too difficult for my Explanation Or my Judgmt. to guard against. - Both which reasons being considered, I imagine, that I could con- tribute to such an Explanation, no otherwise, than by directing the Accounts to be properly ploying people for that end, And the transmit- ting them (when done) for Your Honours Ap- probation. To effect this, I made choice of sucli persons as I could find most properly qualifyed, concerning whose neglects, I have frequently complain'd, and I hope, may take the Liberty to say (when I find myself accus'd stated, after the execution of the facts, The em- on that Acct.) That As (in the Course of so many Years Service, under various Approba- tions of my Conduct) It was yearly evident, That those necessary Accounts were not com- pleted, I ought to have been reliev'd, by such an Assistance of more proper Clerks, who might from time to time have shewn to Your Honours in a proper Light, the Nature and extent of such an Expence, from whence a more perfect · Calculation might have been form'd. And Your Honours Unparalell'd goodness forbids me to believe, that you will Censure me for not per- forming what was either thus Improper or Im- possible for me. - Neither can I believe, that altho' my Distresses urg'd me Supplicate Your
Incomplete accounts caused by lack of proper clerks.
CORRESPONDENCE
61
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
favours for my joyning the Colony. I had thereby subjected myself to what Calumny or Envy should (possibly) Suggest without being duly heard or proved. -
As the application of the severall Values mention'd in Your Orders, can be no ways ex- plaind but by the Accounts, no particular Reasons can be given till those Accounts are completed, In doing which, I give my daily Attendance, And if any extraordinary facts has Occasiond those Applications, will as minutely as I can, Sett forth such facts, and transmitt them with the Accounts. - And as the neces- sity of such expences arises from Various Causes, I must confess myself incapable to re- late the whole, But am apt to think, that when you shall see the Accounts, and have considered from them and other Facts, which I am appre- hensive will soon (most necessarily) be laid before you, in the name of the Inhabitants, Such necessity will sufficiently appear; And if it can be beleived, That the Industrious people have hitherto labour'd under Difficultys arising from the nature of the Settlement, and Attend- ed with such Unavoidable, but Fatall Truths; I hope you will grant, That such prudent means, Ought to be used As might Stop the growth of such Discontents As well to preserve the Repu- tation of the Country, As the Safety of those who had courage to continue in it, and Despise those false Representations which ill dispos'd persons were Industrious to publish-Had I in any Shape, taken upon me to Represent what
Complete accounts necessary to an ex. planation.
Expenses arise from various causes.
Prudent means to stop the growth of discontent.
62
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
False rep- resentations published.
Exposed to public re- sentment.
ap- appear'd to be the Real Reasons of those Difficultys, I should naturally have been guilty of presuming to Correct, where my Duty was to Obey. - But such is my Unhappy Fate, That (at present) on the One hand, I undergoe Your Censures for purchasing what I will venture to call necessary Subsistance And as such, was the only means to defend the Industrious under their Difficultys, and preserve their future ex- pectations. And on the other hand, expos'd to the publick Resentments of my Countrymen for perswading them to persevere in planting, and thereby contributing to complete their Destruc- tion.
Provisions not im. properly purchased.
The parcells which Your Honours observe to be purchas'd, and were not the proper species of provisions, or fitt for those whom You con- tracted to provide for, were never so purchas'd, but when the comon Food could not be other- wise obtaind; And have been issued, either upon a proper Value to the Creditors of the Store (or whose necessity might sometimes otherwise require) on such a reasonable Advance, as (ac- cording to the best of my Judgment) was suffi- cient to guard against necessary charges and Unavoidable Waist.
An Account of the severall Sums Certify'd, and to whom due, was with the severall extracts, as mention'd in my Letter of the 14th. of Jan. uary delivered to Generall Oglethorp soon after his Arrivall And as all the Accounts are now bringing to a ballance, Those ballances will soon be exactly taken and transmitted.
CORRESPONDENCE
63
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Captain Thompson inform'd me of Your Honours Objections to his Account certify'd the 21st. of January 1737. agreable to Your above mentiond Orders, And for the better Jus- tification of the Values thereby said to be advanct to the severall people therein men- tiond I beg leave to Observe, that the Reverend Mr. Boltzius had at that time, upwards of 5£ Sterling Value in Account with the Store in his Favour. - That part of Mr. Broadie's Servants being then employ'd on the Western Road, The Value in said Account would thereby be soon repaid, Which if I had not agreed to, he must have Sold those necessary Tools with which (as a Carpenter) he propos'd to get his Bread; And I imagin'd, that the Recomendations which he brought Mr. Provost Hossack, a Coppy of which (having been transmitted) might be judg'd a reasonable Inducement for such a Creditt. - That M. Thomas Upton having de- liver'd me Mr. Verelst's Letter signifying, that the Earl Egmont was certain, that the Sum of £30 Sterling would be paid to the Trust for his Account, I was led to Imagine, that the answer- ing for such a Creditt on his behalf would be approv'd of, and needed no particular reason from me. - That John Moore Mackintosh, Samuel Smallwood, Eneas Mackintosh, Ensign Hugh Mackay and John Rea, being each of them in Your Honour's Service, and thereby entitled to their Severall Establishments, It would be easily suppos'd, That if they had occasion to purchase any thing of M. Thompson, As the Value of such purchase, would stand in Ac-
Objections to Capt. Thompson's acqbunt considered.
Recommen- dations a sufficient ground for credit.
Took ap- proval for granted.
64
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Jno. War. wick recom- mended by Gen. Ogle- thorpe as a planter.
James
Smithers, Robt. Wil.
liams and Patrick
Graham men of value to the Colony.
Must not judge by ap- pearances.
No ill de- signs prac- ticed.
count against such Establishments, It was not Imediately necessary to give other particular Reasons. - That John Warwick having been recomended by Generall Oglethorpe as one, who had a Genius for planting, and shewing a great desire to employ himself in that manner, I con- fess my zeal for giving the utmost encourag- ment, to so necessary a work led me to Answer for the Value therein mention'd, And as such Value was of small extent, I hope to be excus'd for not assigning particular Reasons. That James Smithers being mention'd to be em- ploy'd in erecting the Saw Mill, Mr. Robert Williams's Servants on the Western Road and Patrick Graham in Attending the Sick, The Values for their uses would stand against their Respective Demands - And altho' it may be erroneously mention'd that the generality of the said Values are advanc't, It will appear that they were no otherwise so, than because the Respective Demands on the Store were not and could not, (by reason, the proper Vouchers were not reced) be then entred to Account or otherwise explain'd. - As M. William Wil- liamson transmitts his own Account to his Re- lations, I apprehend, That such Value, will either be answer'd by them to the Captain or repaid to Your Honours. - And as to the Value on my Own Account, I humbly hope, that neither the Value there mention'd, or any other Value in any other Account, will be judg'd to be done with any ill Design, or unreasonable having allways been Strictly carefull, that the smallest matter, which has in any Shape, been
CORRESPONDENCE
63
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
lyable to a thought for the particular use of self or family, should be exactly entred to my particular Acc. allways confiding, That when Your Honours should think proper to reward my Services you would, (as you are pleas'd to mention in Your above mention'd Orders dated the 19th of May) further reward me for the great Burthen which has lain upon me, for severall Years past. And I must beg leave, so much the more to insist on Your belief in this manner, because I can, and do Defye any Per- son whatever to prove that I have either Spent my time Luxuriously or Idly. But contrari- wise, That all my Actions will demonstrate a Design to promote the Welfare of the Colony. And because of Sundry Malicious and false Re- ports which probably may have reacht Your Ears, I can and do Defye any one to prove or Shew that I have carried on any Secret Trade, or been a Factor for any One, That I have by. any Means or Channell whatever, amassed or procured for my self at any time any unjust gains, Or made any Remittances in money or Goods to England, the West Indies or any other place whatsoever. - As the reasons for all the severall Articles with which my Account stands charged will more properly be laid before you, when I shall transmitt such Account, I beg that nothing will be (in the mean time) construed to my Prejudice, being extreamly anxious, That you should be minutely acquainted As well, with all the Particulars and the Reasons for them As also of the purposes to which they have been apply'd. -
Seeks re- ward for imaginary burdens.
Sundry ma- licious and false re. ports.
Begs an un- prejudiced consid- eration.
66
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to the Trustees.
Concerning Mary Cooper.
M. Henry Parker not having paid me any Rent on Account of Mary Cooper, It has not been in my Power to make her any Remittances pursuant to her Letter of Attorney; And when I do receive any such Rent will not fail to Ac- count for it, agreable to Your Comands .-
Your Honours Orders dated the 4th. of Au- gust last mention'd the Receipt of my Journall to the 24th. of July 1737. And I humbly Appre- hend, That you have since reciev'd a Continu- ance thereof to the 25th. of September, follow- ing. As the business of the Colony would not reasonably permitt myself to transcribe such Journalls, I was oblig'd to employ Samuel Hurst, (one of the Clerks) for that purpose, at such times, As Your other Services would admitt. And as his time (being in no shape an Accountant) was taken up in coppying Letters, Papers, Day Books, and Accounts, the tran- scribing such Journalls was consequently de- lay'd.
Samuel Hurst em. ployed by Mr. Caus- ton as tran- scriber of Journalls.
Perfect diary of proceedings kept.
I have continued to keep as perfect a Diary of my Proceedings as my time would allow, And am sorry, it has not been in my Power to transmitt it to its proper time, being always sensible, that thereby I should (in a great Measure) remove those doubts which ill Dis- pos'd people might have rais'd, And my Con- duct have reced a more favourable construc- tion. As I am certain, I have at all times, duly confin'd myself to those facts which in some Capacity or other came under my Cognizance in discharge of my Duty to Your Honours, free.
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