USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 17
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Coming to a Reckoning at last; & knowing that good Part of M' Averys Time for a while past, was mostly employ'd in embellishing his Work only, &c; he was contented to submit to a Reduction of it to the 20th. Feb':, till when, 'twas well known, he had actually been employ'd in making out a Plan of his Work after the Sur- vey was over; & his Demand was Allow'd, in the manner as set forth in the enclosed Paper, where there remain'd due to him £19 .. 14 .. 5: but whereas in that Acco': of his, he had reckoned all Sundays : tho' we knew he had so employ'd himself on many of 'em whilst on the Coast,: yet 'twas thought too much to comply with the whole: & therefore on paying him £15. he acquiesced, & gave his Acquittance in full. The Approval of the whole by the Honourable Trust, as well as with Regard to the Work itself, as the Expence attending it, is what I must now wish for; well knowing that how fond soever many of us here have been to extol it: yet 'tis to
271
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
come before Judges of far different Capacities, whose Penetration may soon discover whatever Defeets are to be found ('Tis hoped they are few) : & as to the Cost; I must confess I have had some Misgivings within me at times, least I should be thought to have run into Extrava- gance, & that it might have been done cheaper : to salve which, & be easy about it in my own Mind, I found none upon Enquiry who have been any Way conversant in those Matters, but what have all agreed that no Artist who is Mas- ter of his Business, will be found to work at it, under the Price given; & most such will expect more. When this Contract was made, there was no Commission existing among us, of a Presi- dent & Assistants, whom to advise with; but I principally consulted M'. Thos: Jones, who con- curr'd with me in all that was done; & sign'd it as a Witness only ; after forbidding me to make any Doubt of having done my Duty and made a good Bargain. Before I leave this Topick, nevertheless, I conceive it farther needfull to say a few Words of this Surveyor of the Coast of Britain (as he styles himself vainly) by Way of Caution therein craving your Patience.
When he was surveying the Coast many Years since near where I lived, That gave me the 1st Occasion of knowing him: part of the Work he then did, was afterwards printed by Mount on Tower Hill, & generally well ap- proved of. Several Years after, I found him in the Highlands of Scotland; where he was look'd on as a great Projector; & undertook divers
Mr. Thos. Jones con. sulted by Col. Stephens.
The Sur- veyor of the Coast of England.
272
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
Employers, men of rank.
Works; being employ'd by some of the prin- cipal Rank in those Parts; among whom were General Ross, Lord Lovat, &c: but how well he acquitted himself under those honble: Employ- ers, I could never learn the Certainty of; & Reports are too slender a Foundation to depend on in search of Truth: after my Return into England from these Parts, & then entering into the Trustees Service; it so happen'd (unknown to me before) that he was Passenger in the same Ship with me to Charles Town, when I under- stood from him that his Wife & Family together with a certain Number of indented Servants had taken Shipping in the North of Scotland, bound to Charles Town, where he expected to meet them : & that he was going to take Possession of no less than a whole Landgravate; being in Partnership with one M' Ragshell, who held it from the Original Grantee; & was to share such certain Profit with Avery as they had agreed on. The Situation of those Lands happening to be not far distant from this Colony, M' Avery made us 2 or 3 occasional Visits; & at length took a House here in Town; with a View, as he said, of looking out some commodious Place for Ship Building (which was his proper Trade that he had been bred to, & was esteem'd a good Master of it) about which Time he put that Paper into my Hands to send to the Trustees, that I did, but thought it of little Import; & in your Letter afterwards, they directed me to get M' Avery to be more explicit in what he had to propose. When I recd their Honours Com-
Some com- modious place for ship. building.
CORRESPONDENCE
273
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
mands to get a Map drawn (which is now done) I thought it a favourable Conjuncture that I could readily find a Person well qualify'd to per- form it-Whereof enough is already said- But I must next make a few Remarks on what I lately learnt; Viz : that the Plantation under his Management, which he has made much Boast of, is in a Measure come to nought; where he has no Servant white or black, to carry it on; that ' M' Ragshell is now come over into Carolina himself, to look into those Things, & is at this Time pursuing Avery &c, who keeps here out of his Reach: & it so happening, that Capt: Pat Mackay has a Snow now loading in this River, bound for England; Avery seems determin'd to take a Passage in her thither: for which, more Reasons may possibly be given than one: for setting aside the Cogency of his present Neces- sities, which relate to himself only; I am well inform'd it has been in his Intention for a while past so to do ; that he might have an Opportunity of waiting on the Honble. Trustees; & opening their Eyes (as he's pleased to term it) in many Cases for the Benefit of the Colony; which no one, yet has been capable of doing, in the Man- ner he can- So far let his Vanity be allow'd : but no farther, where there is such an Appear- ance of intended Craft, as, I was a little alarm'd at lately ; when he made a Proposal to me before the Map was finish'd, that it might be put in a Box with 2 Locks & Keys to it, one for the Trust, & one for himself, who had yet some Property in it; & 'twas at that time (I afterwards under-
Plantation boasted of come to nought.
Mr. Avery wanting to leave Colony for more reasons than one.
274
i COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
stood) he was forming his Design of going with it himself : & so much in earnest was he, that he had hasten'd the making of such a Box, even be- fore I had given him my Thoughts of it; for twas a Matter of too great Moment for me to determine in my self, without due Consideration what might be the Consequence: & many Thoughts occurr'd which had a forbidding As. pect. 'Twas hardly credible, that his going for England was, ex mero motu, for advancing the Improvement of the Colony, by delivering some Lacubrations of his to the Honble : Trustees : but 'twas much to be fear'd, that to make Money. which he would stand in Need of, he might at- tempt to sell a Copy of his Work, tho' frilly paid for; & wherein he can pretend no Right, 'till the Trust have first taken their own, & afterwards relinquish'd the Remainder, or agreed with him farther, at their own Option : for these Reasons, I took Care immediately to secure the Map; & hope 'twill come safe under the 2 Locks before mention'd, with both the Keys, to whom they belong: but my Doubts & Fears extending still farther, under some Impression relating to the Comand of this Ship design'd to go hence; I re- solved not to make use of that Conveyance; nor to commit what I had prepared, to the Charge of any Person going in her : but rather to keep my former constant Course, by the Way of Charles Town; hoping 'twill arrive safe, together with this, & all other Papers contain'd in the same Box.
275
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
The Honble: Trustees having been so good to allow me the Liberty of living in their House built by M' Bradley. I most thankfully embrace their Favour, & am preparing to make it my Habitation: wherein I shall be strickly [sic] carefull to put the Trust to as little farther Ex- pence as possible. It was roof'd a good while since by their Order, & well defended against a future Decay : nor shall I think any Ornament wanting in any of the Rooms; the whole consist- ing of Logwork Squar'd & put together; which with a little caulking here & there in a few of the Crannys, may very well serve instead of Wainscott: the principal Expence will be glaz- ing; & in that I shall allow no more to be done than is necessary in some Windows, leaving the Rest to be shash'd with Canvass instead of Glass: & when 'tis all done there will be an Ap- partment of 2 or 3 Rooms left vizt (Dining Room, Bedchamber, &c) which at any time may occasionably serve for the Reception of any Person of Distinction, that may come to transact Affairs relating to the Colony.
That poor Man Antonio Salis, who came here sick, as I wrote you, & was to have paid the Trust by his Labour in the Garden, what they had been so kind to lend him; died lately after a farther Expence; & has thereby cancell'd all Debts.
I thought next to have added a List not only of such as have Lands run out for 'em; but like- wise of such others as have sought for many large Tracts; as will be found in the Minutes of
Col. Steph- ens living in house built by Mr. Bradley.
Death of Antonio Salis.
The minutes of the President.
276
. COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Wm. Stephens to Mr. Verelst.
In regard to land.
the President & Assistants Proceedings; which we thought required Caution least we should run on too fast; especially as we knew most of 'em had not any Design of making due Improve- ments on those Lands ; & not many of 'em were in a Capacity of so doing: but it seem'd to ap- pear to us, that their View was to get Possession of Land at any Rate; in Expectation of what has been long wish'd for by them, that they might buy & sell as they pleas'd: in which Case they would be ready to sell an Estate that cost 'em nothing. I shall therefore in my next, offer my Thoughts freely, on those Matters, & then hope for their Honours Directions about it, which I am hoping also they'll please to favour me with, relating to a certain Time fix'd, for vacating Lots : & the Condition of their Grants not being perform'd since Mich1:mas 1740: till which Time, the Trust has been so indulgent, to pass over all former Forfeitures. But having spun out this Letter too far beyond Measure al- ready. I think it high Time to end it here.
SF
Your very humble Servant Will : Stephens
CORRESPONDENCE
277
John Pye to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM JOHN PYE TO THE HONBLE THE TRUSTEES.
Savannah March : 24th 1741.
Honourable Gentlem" :
Notwithstanding you have been so kind to answer my Request, by Acquainting me what my Duty is, and ordering me Payment for myself Clerk and Servant from Ladyday 1740 it Avails but little for ye : Baylifs Putts a wrong Construc- tion on the Letter Receiv'd from M'. Benjamin Martin, & insists on my Attending upon them when & where they Please, and doeing their Business, as they are and have been paid I humbly Conceive sufficient to Enable them to hire if they are not Capable to do it themselves. I refused them which Prevents me from Receive- ing my full Due, for your Honours Cashire [sic] Pays me but part from time to time, and I can see no other Reason for his so doing .- I have told them and would willingly do all they have to do if they would appoint a time for it & call such meeting Petty Sessions & Permit me to take Minutes of the affairs Transacted by them, for it is not the Trouble nor the time their Busi- ness takes that Occasions my Refuseing them- But the Authority they Use when they ask me, & their Denying my former Services- The Chief Spring of all their Anger against me, I believe is by Reason I Receiv'd so favourable
A wrong construc- tion put on letter from Mr. Benja- min Martin.
278
: COLONIAL RECORDS
John Pye to the Trustees.
Pardon asked for signing the remon- strances.
and kind Letters from your Honours for some of them was so plain as to say I had wrote Lyes to Obtain such Answers: therefore to Sattisfie Collonel Stephens whom I respect and am al- ways Ready to Serve. I show'd a Copy of the Letter sent to your Honours .- I hope you will Pardon me for Signing the Remonstrance for I do Assure your Honours it was not done out of Contempt of You. I have nothing at all to say of your Honours unless it is that you have Acted more Honourably by me than I Deserve & there- fore you may be Assured I will never Sign any thing that may tend to hurt Your Honours or the Colony for the future .-
Thos. Stephens been labor- ing in England to get Colony under King's hand.
A power drawn up.
Thomas Stephens came here in June or July last who soon after he came call'd a Number of the Inhabitants together and told them that he had been Labouring in England to gett the Colony into the Kings hands in order that we might have a free Trade & the use of Negroes & that it was Necessary that he should have an Unlimitted Power from them to Prosecute the said Work .- In Pursuance of which meeting he Drew up a Power from the Inhabitants for him to Act in their behalves, and when they Sign'd it, he told them that he's [sic] Substance was all Spent and unless they would make Contributions he could not goe on with his Design. Upon which the Inhabitants to the Nº: of 60 Sign'd it & Gave him from 24/64 to £5 each. He as well as many others of them that Sign'd the said Power fre- quently ask'd me to Sign if I gave him nothing- he told me that Mr. Fallowfield had Sign'd & if
279
CORRESPONDENCE
John Pye to the Trustees.
I would he would Answer that his father would Use me never the Worse. I still Refused know- ing it to be Unjust and believeing that it was carried on against your Honours under Colours by those you Little Suspect. - The morning M Stephens went away I was at his fathers House doing Business when & where he in presence of his father ask'd me if I would Sign or not, upon my answering in the Negative he call'd me names & Spoke severall untruths of me-upon which I went to Mr. Jones & Parker and desired they would send for him to Clear my Character; the said Stephens tho Sent for by them would not come, but gott into the Boat (haveing a Per- mit from Fallowfield his Particular friend as well as to his Actions) & went away ;-- But be- fore he went away a Council (so call'd) to Cor- rispond with and Transmit to the affairs Trans- acted in this Colony was appointed in Nº. equal to those Appointed by your Honours- M'. Fal- lowfield is not one of them, but is an Instrument (I am inform'd) by whom they know all the affairs Transacted by the President & Assis- tants, which I Really believe they send to Thos: Steph® ..
As I cant prove the above by my own Oath, by Reason I have it from M. Ellis one that Sign'd the Power as afores': I hope it will be kept a Secret till your Honours hears it from other hands, If M' Ellis was in Town I believe he would give his affidavit to Prove it .- A little while agoe I happen'd to Mention to one that Mr. Fallowfield Publish'd the Debates of the
Mr. Pye abused by Mr. Thos. Stephens because he would not sign power drawn up by him.
A council appointed.
An allega. tion in regard to Mr. Fallow field.
280
COLONIAL RECORDS
John Pye to the Trustees.
1
President and Assistants, the said Fallowfield hears: of which to Clear himself, Alledged the same things against me, which the President and Assistants took Cognizance of the 19th: Instant, as to my owning the thing as Mencond it is En- tirely false, and the only way to prove the whole Accusation false, is to send for the affidavit of any one ?son here nay even the Oath of the Pre- sident, or any one of the Assistants or all to- gether, I own'd to them that I sent to M' Jones the Inclos'd Letter as also an Indictment of the Grand Jury of this Court against him; and if I did Wrong I humbly ask your Honours Pardon, whether or no that's Publishing the Debate I leave to your Hon": to .Judge .--
Notwithstanding the Act against the Importa- tion of Rum, as your Honours as well as Gen- erall Oglethorpes Particular orders in that Case made and provided Rum is frequently brought in here in Large Quantity's & the Bills of Load- ing carried to the Collector- who instead of Doing his Duty, helps them to Conceal it,- M" Fallowfield told me that Mackays Sloop (that came in here the other Day) had 60 odd Anchors or Board as appear'd by the Bill of Loading and a few days after I was told by a Person (that he the said Fallowfield told it to) that he had helpt or Putt them in away to Conceal it. About 3 Months agoe I apply'd to the President and As- sistants for a Town Lott upon the Bay -- They Refused it me & gave it to Samuel Clee a Single Man -- On the 4th: of this Instant I Petitiond them again for a Tract of 500 Acres of Land on
The act against the importa- tion of rum.
A grant of land refused to Mr. Pye in favor of Samuel Clee.
281
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Elbert, Supposedly to the Trustees.
the North side of Great Ogeechy River (they haveing before given Tracts to Men as undeserv- ing I humbly Conceive as my Self) I could not obtain a Grant or Lease, but prevaild on them, to Indulge me so farr as to Recommend the affair to the Consideration of Your Honours .- As I have a Familly and am not likely to receive any favours from them; I humbly Desire your Honours to Consider of the affair & if you think me worthy of such a Tract, to send me a Grant of the same, & if your Honours will be so Good to send orders for the payment of the Arears due to me: That Money will Enable me to Pur- chase Cattle to Stock the said Land which will Maintain me while I am Cultivating it .- I hope yours Honours will Excuse this freedome and Give me Leave to Subscribe my Self
Your Honos. Most Obliged
& Dutifull Humble Servt.
Jnº .. Pye.
To the Honourable the Trustees
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM WM. ELBERT, SUPPOSED TO BE TO THE TRUSTEES 20 APRIL 1742.
Honourable Gentlemen
As I never gave you aney troble by writ": or Otherwois Hope ye Case here-in mention,d will be kindly recid: & Redress,d by your Hon-
282
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Elbert, Supposedly to the Trustees.
Lieutenant at Fort Argyle under Capt. Jas. Mc- pherson.
ours- I Left my Native Cuntrey, England Veary young staid sometime in Carolina : from thence came to Georgia. in ye : yere 32 About two months after ye: first setlers, some small time after married into one of ye first forty fameleys Obtain,d a Lott of Esq': Oglethorpe, and Bult a house thereon Conformable to ye Honours Charter, I servd: your Honours as Lieutenant at Fort: Argyle under Capt': Jas: Me:pherson, Better then two yeres, Commishon,d by ye: Esq': After which servd: one yere as mesinjer to Chorls: Town in Carolina-
But as it is not posable to please all men kind, so it was w' : M' : Causton : on Acc' : of his neace : which i suppose Gentlemen you have heard of. Accuseing me of bringing Letters Contrary to his or hir Entrust: in which i could not Allow my guilty of : as it was not posable for me to know what Letters I Recived in Carolina; by which mens he became my intire enemy and so has remain,d seeking all Ocations to Ruein Me and mine.
About fore or five years agoe: I Reciv,d an Order on y: Honours for 400 pounds Currencey of Carolina, which is £53: 69: Sª: Sterls: which has Remain,d on paid tell know: at ye: time I Recivedye: said Order. I paid it away in Caro- lina : which has been before your Honours in England : and sent Back: which I haveing had some small Acco's: senes in y : Honours stores here: not Exceeding Ten pounds sterls: M': Causton has charged me wth haveing fraudentley reciv,d y: said Order of 400 pounds Carolina.
Efforts on Mir. Causton's part to ruin.
283
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Elbert, Supposedly to the Trustees.
Curencey : of y : Honours : you are senceable ye: Commishonors Certified thirty two pounds some odd mon,y sterls: to be paid by y": Hon- ours in England: which they say i have reciv,d But god and yr. Honours knows I never apply'd home to you for it Thaire is an apperiant mis- take of an Over charge in ye: store Books of fore pounds fore shillings sterls: which was Charg,d twice Over. But how far M': Causton has or may write to y' Honours against me i dont know : but as i am a poor man must rely intirely on y" Bounty and goodness : I could say a greate : Deal more on ye: subject But am not willing to prove teadious to y: Honours there fore shall in as few words as posable relate ye: Remander: I had agreed to Come to England and was to a had twelve pounds sterle: for ye Voige which is more than i can posablely git here in ye : time being no trade which M' : Caus- ton in a Molishious manner Apply,d and Desir,d i mout be stopt and i was obliged to give sucurety to Appere Next Cort: i was willing to a given sucurety for ye : Be : of ye: Order but all my Entreates could not prevale: i further offer,d to oblig,d my self to a paid yt. Honours England : my Hole designe in comeing was to a got a grant from yr Honours for a track of Land. I pertitiond ye Councle here for : which thay pro- miss,d to refar to y' Honours Which i hope you will out of goodness gront : the fifty Acres of Land allready gronted me: Being Land not posable to make aney thing ofe from it: my
Whole designs in coming to the Colony.
284
: COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Elbert, Supposedly to the Trustees.
forty five Acres being Low pine Barron and scruby Bay Bushes: and my five Acres a Deep swamp so deep yt a man must be up to his arm- . pits in clearing it-
My full intent is if yr Honours should be pleased to gront ye said Land to go w my famely on it imediately : and Carry what small mater of stock i posable can git: had i came to England I perposed to a got some small matters of my frinds a Brougt some servts : Back w: me hope- ing y' Honours would a given me thaire paseg and Allowd me some small incoregment to a helped me forword at Begining : As i Live,d some time in Carolina Before i come there had ye: Oppertunety of seeing planting from which I Beleave w': some incoregment: I can make it Answer my Expectation and to yr Honours satisfaction His Exeylencey at ye time I had my Town Lott promiss,d me all Incoregments ye: first forty fameley had a years provisions for self and wife: and all working tools: which I have neaver yet Reciv,d But Hope yr Hon- ours will take it so far into Considration as to gront it me now. which will be puting me for- ward in goeing on ye Lands Before mentioned if grant4: Y' Honours will recive a Joynt porti- tion of fore of us at: a Plot of ye Land we run out at Our Expence and troble. therefore hope (as we have ben Old setlers here : and have been at ye troble and Cost) Y' Honours will be pleas,d to grant : ye request Which for yr gracious and
285
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Harman Verelst.
kind considration on this: y: Honours most Humble Serv: will for Eaver be bound to pray
Will™ : Elbert.
Savannah
Ap11: ye: 20th: 1742
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. WM. STEPHENS TO MR. HAR- MAN VERELST ACCOTANT TO THE HONBLE TRUS- TEES FOR ESTABLISHING THE COLONY OF GEORGIA AT THEIR OFFICE NEAR THE HOUSE OF LORDS AT WESTMINSTER
RED - WAX SEAL
Savannah 20 Apr. 1742.
S'
The Bearer hereof, Mr. Joseph Avery, having some Affairs of his own to transact in England, as he tells me; & being also desirous of waiting on the honourable Trustees, on occasion of the Map that he has lately drawn of the Northern Division of this Province; which I sent + the Loyal Judith (Cap Lemon) directed to you, for the Use of the Trust: he takes this opportunity, of going hence a Passenger in the Snow Hector, -Rogers Commander; which has taken her load- ing of Rice, & other Goods in this River: and at his request I take the liberty of writing a few lines to you, weh he conceives may be a means of
Mr. Avery going to England.
A letter of intro- duction to the Trustees.
286
COLONIAL RECORDS
Edward Townsend to the Trustees.
his being the more readily introduced : when he may also hope to be favourably heard, in var- ious proposals that he has to offer to that hon- ourable Board: which may be much better un- derstood from his own manner of delivery, than from any attempt of mine to unfold, in a short letter. If it is expected that I should enter into his Character: tis natural to imagine that the Duty I owe to the Trust, would not have allow'd me to put that work into his hands; unless I had been fully satisfyd of his abilitys to perform it; which I was the more convinced of, from the knowledge I had of him many years since: & I am in good Hopes the work he has done, will be well approved of. What more he purposes to offer to their honours consideration, must be humbly submitted to their Judgment, I remain S-
.
Your very humble Servant
Will : Stephens.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.) LETTER FROM EDWP. TOWNSEND TO THE HONBLE THE TRUSTEES, FOR ESTABLISHG THE COLONY OF GEORGIA IN AMERICA. A. THAIR OFFICE IN OLD PALLES YARD IN WESTMINSTER, LONDON.
RED WAX SEAL 1
Honourable Gentlemen
As I Have Bin in ye : Colony all most from ye : First setl': and have neaver bin troblesome to
CORRESPONDENCE
287
Edward Townsend to the Trustees.
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