USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 18
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you in write: hope yo': kindley Recive this and grant ye : request Required : I have portition ye: Councle for a track of Land as yo1: see w: a Joy' plot and portion: I had a gront from Esquir Oglethorpe for One Hundered Acres of Land on Tibee which is well know to be nothing but a sandy Soile : and Experiantley known y : it yealds not sufficiant to answer ye: troble thare on Bestoed at ye time I had ye. grant of ye said Land had ye: promiss from Esq' Oglethorpe of a twelve mo (nths) provisions for my self and famely: which as I married one of ye: forty Widows: Consisted of five in famely: And was to a had all manner of work: tools for plantation work : but : never yet Reciv,d Either, for applying after was Refus'd by M': Causton Here, told me he did not know yt. i had Either Title to them or ye Land; Notwithstanding some small time before had Charged me in ye store Book for ye: Expence on survay of ye: said Land: which I ?[torn] Which as I have never yet Had a form and posetive title to aney Land ye Colony hop [ torn] yo1: gront: ye Land I par- titioned ye Councle for : to inable me ye: better to go on ye : said Lands Hope yo1 : grant ye : said provisions : formerly promissed me as I En- ter,d as soon as granted : to go imediately on it my famely and Carrey what stock and improve ye said Land as far as in my power shall Be
We have at a Joynt Expence Run ye: said Lands, which Hope as I have b[torn] at yt Ex- pence and Troble yo1: Be so good as to grant it me: which I am fathfully ashured wt. some
A request for a grant of land.
Married one of the forty widows.
288
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
small incoredgment to make it answer my Ex- pectation and to yr Honours satisfaction
Which Y' Honours most gracious and kind Complyance to ye Above Request : will Oblige y' : Humble Serv: to Be in Duty Eaver Bound to pray
Edwd: Townsend
Savannah
Ap11: ye: 21st 1742
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. THOS JONES TO MR. HARMAN VERELST.
Frederica 26 April 1742
Sir
I sent you, ? Mine of 234 October, a Short Acco' of some Transactions in Georgia, about the Time of our last Midsumer : Moon; and in- tended (as I had Oportunity) to have continued to send you a further Relation of such Matters which Colo" Stephens (to whom I always shewd what I wrote) had not taken Notice of in his Journal, or Letters to the Trust.
The Designs formd by Our Male- Contents, were then in their Infancy, and warily man- aged; But Since that finished Politician, their
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Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
late Manager in England, (M' Thos. Stephens) appeard among Us; they have been more op- enly avowed.
You may remember That I wrote unto you (above Two Years past) Somewhat to this Pur- port; That if that Young Gentleman (whose Be- havior while here, had been very singular) came again to Savannah, I requested (from yt time) to have no further Concerns with Colon11 Stephens in Affairs of the Trust; Having found, That his Son had So great an Influence over him as to oblige him to Say and Do, things contrary to his wonted & Seeming Natural Disposition to Truth and Justice. (The Copy of what I then wrote I have not now by me)
The Solemn Protestations made, & assurances given me, by Colon" Stephens (Soon after, and Since often by him repeated) That he would on all Occasions, for the future, without Reserve, Advise and assist me in every matter (wherein the Interest of the Trust, and Good of the Colony was concerned) so effectually prevail'd on my (perhaps too credulous) Disposition That I would not allow the least Suspitious Thought (whatever Occasion I've had to judge otherwise) of the Colonell's Sincerity-
I think it necessary, (in order to explain Af- ter - Events) for me to relate what hath come to my Knowledge of M'- Tho: Stephens his Tour in America, And of his Adventures there, this last Autumn- M' Stephens had held a Correspondence by Letters (from his first Ar-
Mr. Thos. Stephens spoken of as a finished politician.
Col. Steph- ens' son has great in. fluence over him.
Solemn protesta- tions made by Col. Stephens to Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones' knowledge of Thes. Stephens, his tour in America and his adventures.
290
,
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
rival in London from hence) with his Father, M' Parker, Marcer, Brownfield- I never could obtain the Knowledge of what he wrote to them about; excepting One Letter of his, which M' Parker shewd me; One Paragraph of weh Let- ter, I recited (as near to his words as I could re- tain them in my Memory) in my Letter to Mr. John Lyde, weh came addressed to you (Please in reading to avoid the Blunder comitted in writing the next page)
A letter from Tom Stephens.
In August last Colon" Stephens acquainted me That he had received a Letter from his Son Tom; And then read unto me a part thereof, `wherein the Young Manager mentions his own Assiduity & Paines in serving the Publice, And That Sir Rob. Walpole was to be discarded. That the House of Comons had voted An Ad- dress to his Majesty for that Purpose
Sir Robert Walpole.
I was told (soon after) That Mr. Tho : Steph- ens was arrived at Charles Town, where he tarried about Six Weeks, and then came to Savanah- His Father (having not room at his own House) provided a Lodging for him at Thomas Upton's.
Persuaded the inhab. itants of the Colony that they were being mistreated by the Trustees.
The next day (after his Arrival) he began (in pursuance of his latent Comission) to visit the Inhabitants, persuading them That they had been injuriously treated by the Trustees, who had kept from them what was their Right, & what had been given them by the Government .- That if they would appoint him their Agent, He would without any Expence or Charge to
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Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
them undertake to redress their Grievances, and procure those Advantages to them from the King and Parliament, which they could not ob- tain of the Trustees, who had Slighted all the Remonstrances made on their Behalf to them.
Within few Days after, The Inhabitants had Notices senthem to meet M'- Thos: Stephens, Matthews, Fallowfield, at Morell's (an Un- licensed Punch house) to represent their Griev- ances, and to consider of Ways and Means to free themselves from the Oppression which they now laboured under from the Trust- The Peo- ple met accordingly; where M': Tho: Stephens (As President of the assembly) recounted their many hardships, for Want of Rum, Negroes, Free Tenures of Land, And their being lyable to repay to the Trust those Sums of money wich. had been advanced to ym,- His Speech met with Applause, And all present Signd a Comis- sion (by him before prepared) Authorizing him to Act for them and in their Names- Then the Assembly (at the President's Instance) elected (by Vote) five of their Number to be his Assis- tants, (under the Stile of Correspondent Mem- bers), Viz'. Andrew Duche William Ewen, Thomas Ormiston, William Woodroffe, and John Syndall- The Comission, nor the Rep- resentation of Grievances then agreed on, and Signed, I could not procure a Copy, or the Sight of, But may have been sent to the Trust by M. Fallowfield (who Signed them) or by Colon" Stephens Parker or Marcer to whom they were
Notices sent out in regard to meeting to be held in an un- licensed punch house.
Mr. Thos. Stephens speech ap- plauded.
292
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Shewn by the Agent, (attended by his Corres- pond' Members.)
This Brief Accot of the Affair; is founded on what has been told me, by one of the Subscrib- ers, (since withdrawn from them) as well as by Comon Report; And also from a Conversa- tion I had with Mr- Tho: Stephens at his Father's House, and in his hearing- When the Young Gentleman (with Rash & Coarse Language) charged the Trustees wth Oppress- ing and defrauding the People of their Rights- That the Trustees had kept from them, and mis- apply'd a great part of the Money given them by Parliament for the People's Use- The Colonell perceiving that I was offended at his Son's Talk, comanded him to be silent. I then told Col" Stephens, (and hinted the Same often to M' Parker) That if he could not pre- vail with his Son, to depart from ye Colony, or to behave otherwise- I could not answer to the Trust. The suffering him thus to disturb the Peace, and to revile the Trustees, And to as- sume an Authority of convening & forming Assemblies, and of appointing Officers contrary to all Good Order & Law; The Colonell replyd with much Warmth, That I might as well then take a Pistol and shoot him thro the Head; For if his Son should be confined or any ways molested in this Colony 'twould Soon end his Days-and further said That his Son tho' (to his Grief) ill advised, and carried his Resent- ments too far; yet would not be guilty of any mean action, or tell a False thing- That he
Thos. Stephens charged Trustees with op- pressing and defrauding the people of their rights.
Col. Stephens' reply.
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Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
had faithfully promised to shew unto him what- ever was proposed and concluded on at their Meetings and would conceal nothing from him-
I was at the Colon"'s House, next morning when his Son desired he would give him some money to bear his Expence, For that he was going Up the River; He went accordingly that day for Ebenezer- His Business there, and what Success he had therein Mr. Bolzius assur- ed me, he would give the Trust an Accot of;
As soon as the Agent returned from thence to Savannah, The Inhabitants were again Sun- oned to attend him, at Morell's, where One of the Assistants, represented to them, That as they had good Reason to expect Great Advant- ages, from their Agent's Managem. of their Case in England: But as that Service could not be attended on by him, without a Consider- able Expence & Charge, as well as Trouble -- He therefore hoped that no Person (then pres- ent) would be backward in contributing towards so necessary an Expence- The Motion was approved, some subscribed for Five Pounds, some Four, some Three pounds, others for lesser sums -- The day following, Three of the Agent's Assistants went with the Subscribed Roll about the Town, in Order to collect the sums Subscribed, and to procure Contributions from the other Constituents, who were absent at their last meeting; From some of the poorer sort they took half a Crown, being the least Sum they would Accept of- This Method
Inhabitants again sum- moned to a meeting.
Subscrip- tions made to Mr. Thos. Stephens' cause.
294
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
taken to levy Money (After the Agent had promised, before he had obtain,d his Comission, to manage Gratis,) Occasioned great Murmer- ings, And also strife and Discord în Some Families, whereby many of their Private Con- sultations were made Public,- I could not procure a List of the Subscriptions, But by comon Report, There was above Sixty Pounds collected in Georgia, and a much larger Sum in Carolina. Several among us Contributed who would not sign ye Comission. I can with great Certainty affirm, (If ye accot given me is true) That excepting Seventeen pounds (given by four persons) of that sum- Not one of the other Contributors had, at any One Time, since they resided in Georgia the Comand of so much Money as they then bestowed, and are now in- debted to the Trusts
The Agent (not discouraged at his bad suc- cess in Ebenezer) was now resolved to try what he could do at ye Southward, & hired John Pen- rose's Boat to carry him to the Darien- I ac- quainted the Colonell wth his Son's Design. And told him That I should be obliged to dispatch a Messenger to Frederica, & acquaint the Gen- eral wth his Design. The Colonell (as he in- formed me Since) found much Difficulty in dissuading him from his intended Journey, by representing how dangerous it would be for him to go on Such an Errand, to a place so near to ye General, who would certainly cause him to be aprehended, and confine him, which if the General did, 'twould soon end his Father's
Unsuccess. ful in Ebenezer.
Dangerous to go to a place so near the General.
-
295
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst ..
Days .- Colon" Stephens at length prevailed with him, to desist from that Enterprize, And two Days after he set out for Charles Town-
The Correspond. Members held their fre- quent Meetings at Morell's (after his De- parture) as a Court of Assistants) And, in a fortnight's Time after, dispatchd One of their Members, (Will: Ewen, Servant to Matthews, who Colon" Stephens used to call, Ad-omnia- Paratus,) to Charles Town; He returned from thence wth Letters from ye Agent to his Corres- pond' Members and at the Same time bro't a Letter from Thos. Stephens to his Father, re- comending him (Ewen) to his Favour, and de- siring, his Father, to appoint him his Secre- tary for the Indian Affairs, or otherwise to pro- vide for him -- Ewen Says, The Colonell hath promised to Serve him, and, for some time after, had great Expectance of that Employ -- However That may be, It is observed, That Ewen, whom Colon" Stephens used to Avoid, and even detest for his Vile Behavior, is now lookd on in another Light.
If I may be allowed, to declare my own Senti- ments -- I am inclined to believe; That Col" Stephens (who at that time was desirous of having Negroes, & some other Alterations of the then Settlement) had instructed his Son (when he went for England in 1739) to prose- ente that affair, Among other Matters, as par- ticularly, his Resentments towards General Oglethorpe; for not treating him as a Gentle- man which treatment Colonell Stephens often
Wm. Ewen, whom Wm. Stephens once de- tested, now looked upon in another light.
Col. Stephens' attitude towards the use of negroes.
Resentment felt towards Gen. Ogle- thorpe by Col. Stephens.
296
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
declared he could not forget, nor aught his son to forgive Whether I was worthy of that Gen- tleman's Notice, and came in for a share of his Resentments, (I know not) for my having ac- quainted the General, wth- M' Tho: Stephens's Design to Seize the King's Stores (then at Savannah) for his own Use, and of his obtain- ing a Warrant from M. Christie for that pur- pose -- Which was the Occasion of his Excel- leneys sending for M' Stephens and reproving him for his Rash Attempt-
But I never imagined, Colon" Stephens had directed, or in the least countenanced, his Son, in the Opposition made by him to the Trus- tees, having often heard the Colonell declare his Dislike of his Son's Conduct therein, Of his abetting Robert Williams, And of his carry- ing his Resentments to far- Whether Mr- Stephens by his Letters, or in Conference with his Father, at Savannah, hath justified his Conduct, so as to induce the Colon" to approve thereof; Time and Events may discover.
Colonell Stephens told me, (some few Days after M' Tho Stephens's arrival) That his Son had been earnestly persuading him to a Recon- ciliation with Douglas, Anderson, & Associates in Charles Town engaging for them; That they should make him honorable Amends, for the Calumnies they had published against him in their Narrative. But declared, he would not be content with any Retraction they should make of their Falshoods, published against him alone. He told me further, That his Son had a very
Mr. Thos. Stephens' design to seize King's stores.
Col. Stephens shows dis- approval of his son's conduct.
297
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
contemptible Opinion of Doctor Tellfair, As a Proud, Obstinate, Silly Coxcomb -- The Accot I receiv'd (Some time after) of these Overtures made, towards a Reconcilyation, was Somewhat different-That Mr- Thomas Stephens engaging to ye Confederates (at Charles Town) to per- suade his Father to joyn with them to ruin me. They promised, publickly to Acknowledge, by a Writing under their Hands, Their mistake in those Facts which they had in their Narrative charged Colonell Stephens with- But That Doct. Tellfair would not consent to ye Propo- sall, Saying, His Hand should sooner rot off; than he would retract what he had once Signed. (This Acco' I gave little Credit to, not relying on ye Truth of Charles- Town Reports)- What Progress M' Stephens made at Charles Town (after his Return thither) in the Reconcilia- tion : affair I am yet ignoiant of.
I might enlarge, by relating other Instances of M' Stephens his Behavior while among us. which shall defer untill I know the Trustees Pleasure- If what I have mentiond deserves their Honors Notice, and further Enquiry into, I question not, my being able to Support what I have now declared (as to ye Substance) by in- disputable Proofs.
Their Honours have been made acquainted with the Part M' Henry Parker acted (in Con- junction with the Baronet M' Norris, Fallowfield & Associates) in promoting the Scheme. then on foot, to ruin this Colony; but doubting the Success, he Seemed afterwards, for a While, to
A con. temptible opinion of Dr. Tellfair, as a proud, obstinate coxcomb.
All willing to retract facts In narrative charged to Col. Stephens except Dr. Tellfair.
Other in- stances of Mr. Stephens' behavior.
The part Mr. Henry Parker played in promoting the scheme to ruin the Colony.
298
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
A better and more advan. tageous scheme produced by Mr. Thos. Stephens.
A revision of the former scheme.
Mr. Parker renews allegiance with Mr. Fallowfield.
Mr. Parker more open in promoting the Stephan- ian scheme.
Mr. Parker related substance of affidavit while drunk.
repent of yt Undertaking, & promising Colonell Stephens to be more circumspect for the future, discovered unto him some of their then In- trigues, as may appear by the Affidavit, drawn by himself, & sworn to before me, which Col" Stephens assured me he hath already trans- mitted to the Trust- but least the same should have miscarried I've herewith sent a Copy- Yet after M'- Tho: Stephens had produced a better - concerted, and more advantageous Scheme; whereby not only the Advantages in ye former Schemes, Of Negroes, Rum and Fee- Simple were to be procured- But also, A Spunge to wipe off all Debts due to ye Trust, And the Benefit of Sharing. what remain'd of the Trusts' Effects in the Colony, among them- selves, was promis'd, Mr. Parker renews his former Alliance with M' Fallowfield, in Novem- ber last, And hath ever Since been more assid- nous & open. in promoting the Stephanian- Scheme, than any other, his Coadjutors .- It may indeed seem inconsistent, That M' Parker should discover, and make Oath of what passed between him & Fallowfield in July last, after this New Alliance had comenced- To explain his Conduct therein- M' Parker, in July last, (lodging One Night at Tisdale's in the same Room with M' Patric Houston) came in Drunk, (at which times he is usually very talkative and free,) and related to M' Houston the Substance of what is contain'd in his Affidavit. M' Hous- ton came (next morning) and acquainted me with what Parker had said- I comunicated what
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Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
I had heard, to Col" Stephens and desired him to enquire of Mr. Parker into the Truth of what he had related-Col". Stephens (some days after) told me, That Mr. Parker had in Writ- ing, what he designed to depose on Oath, before me, concerning that Matter, & which he would bring with him, ye next time he came to Town; I frequently afterwards asked Col" Stephens the Reason of M' Parker's Delay, wch I much wond'red at- About Christmas last I said to Colon" Stephens. That ye Conversation Mr Parker had wth Sr Richd Everard & M' Fallow- field, last Sumer (as related by him to M' Hous- ton & since to him (Col" Stephens), I judged necessary to be made known to the Trustees, But as M' Parker seemd to decline it, I should give an Acco thereof to his Excellency Gen" Oglethorpe and procure M' Houston, (then at Frederica) to testify the Accot of what M' Parker had told him- Soon after M' Parker came to me with his written Deposition, but did not consent I should keep a Copy thereof.
I came from Savannah ye 2ª January- On my way hither I had a message sent me by One of M' Tho: Stephens's Subscribers That ME Fallowfield, (now acting as Vice-President at the Board of Assistants meeting at Morells) had (with his usual profane Eloquence) told them, That, That Old Rogue Jones was short- ly to go for Frederica, to the General, from whence he could not return before the Court appointed to be held in January- That he would promise to get a Grand Jury, to be then
Mr. Parker's written de- position,
A message from one of Thos. Stephens' subscribers.
300
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
The pre- serving of public tranquility recom. mended.
Trust's opinion in reference to the power claimed by Grand Juries.
Mr. Jones indicted for felony.
empanelld, who should go on with that Business, & finish the Enquirys, which Jones had pre- vented the last Grand Jury, in July, from doing.
I (by Letter) acquainted Col" Stephens with the Message I had receª, desiring him to Shew what I then wrote to M'. Parker (of which have no Copy) but to the best of my memory, I therein recomended to them the preserving the public Tranquility, And considering the Fer- ment (lately stirred up) the People were now in, And that as there were no Criminal Matters (yet known) to be brot before the Court, which wd. require a Grand Jury to be sumoned -- And also, That we expected 'ere long to Receive the Trust's Opinion in Reference to the Power claimed by our Grand Juries. I was of Opinion That a Grand Jury was not necessary for ve Service, at ye Ensuing Court ; As there had been none, at any other Court held Since July- In which Opinion I hoped M' Parker would con- curr with me ;- I reced no Answer nor a Line from Col" Stephens, untill the 20th February following at weh time his Letter of ye 15th. (Copy of wch you receive) was deliver'd me (tho' Several Boats had arrivd at Frederica, from Savannah in that time, which had brot Letters to his Excellency & to others from Col" Stephens)- About ye 3ª February, I heard, That M' Hawkins reported in Frederica, That Col" Stephens, (by Letter) had informd him, Of ye Grand Jury there, their indieting me for Felony at their last Court- Which Report, I did not regard, nor give any Credit to; Till two
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Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Days after, That other Boats from Savannah arrived, weh confirmed that Report- M' Francis Moor also reced a Letter from Col" Stephens, acquainting him, That his Friend M' Jones Stood indicted for Felony- And soon after, Mr. Habersham (from the Orphan House) came to wait on ye General (who together with M' Barber had been presented by the Same Grand Jury And then tried before the Court, upon two Indictmts, Found Guilty, And had re- ceiv'd Judgmt)- M' Habersham said, That they had been denied Copys of their Indictmts, And of the Proceedings of the Court thereon, & had been menaced by the Court for their de- manding the Same; whereby they were rendr- ed incapable of Appealing to the Trustees .-
I then wrote, to a Friend at Savannah, desir- ing him, in my Name, & Behalf, to demand of the Recorder, a Copy of ye Record of the In- dictment (if any) against me- And to tell the Recorder, His Refusall thereof, would be at his own Peril- The Recorder (tho Straitly charg'd by the Bayliffs to ye Contrary) adven- tured to deliver the enclosed Copy of an In- dictm'; (wch indeed seem'd to me rather a Libell against some person unknown)- I then wrote to Col" Stephens, made Some Remarks on this Paper, I had receivd from ye Recorder, & men- tion'd My Surprize, at ye Court's receiving it from the Jury- I am inform'd, That the Pre- sident & Assistants were greatly offended at ye Recorder's giving the Copy M' Parker said, That it might be a Means for my running away,
Mr. Haber- sham and Mr. Barber aiso indicted.
Denied copies of indict. ment and proceedings of court.
The Presi- dent and assistants indignant at recorder for giving out copy of in- dictment.
302
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Thos. Jones to Mr. Harman Verelst.
and escaping from Justice- This, together with The Recorder's writing to me the Letter, (herewth sent you, to weh I gave no Answer) wth a List of Fees; (by way of Tax on the Inhabi- tants towards better maintaining the Bailiffs) drew upon him, a very heavy Censure, from the President and Assistants, for divulging their Secrets-
I am informd (by a Gentleman lately come from Savannah) That the President and As- sistants have publicly reported, there That they have Sent to the Trust, An Accusation ag- ainst me concerning Facts of a very Criminal Nature, The particulars of which (as he had related to him by some of that Board), he men- tioned to me .- But as I cannot depend upon Hear - Says, and have not heard before of any Such Accusation (as now related) nor hath Colo" Stephens mentiond or hinted any Such matter in any Letter to me (Copys of wch have sent herewith, As also one Letter I sent him) I shall not trouble you on that Subject, untill I have been at Savannah, and am better inform- ed .. Allow me only to add, That Should it appear That there has been Such an Accusation form- ed against me or any Such report Spread abroad; I shall depend, on the President and assistants, their acknowledging their Mis- take: & clearing me from any charge of Guillt therein- Unless (pardon ye Supposition) Men have bid Adieu, to their Reputation & Honour and are void of Shame, on a Consciousness of Doing Evil-
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