USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 26
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CORRESPONDENCE
421
Mr. Jno. A. Terry to the Earl of Egmont.
Sent my Letters to Charles Town to be forward- ed to London in a Packet Directed to M'. Verelst weh. I hope he hath recd., but have Not yet had Any Account Thereof, Your Lordship and the Honble. Board will see by ye. InClosed the observations I have Made Since I came to this Collony, all which I humbly Submit to the Honble : Board, Your Lordship will Likewise See the improuvements I I [sic] have made in Clear- ing, Planting, & Building And I have Since the Inclosed were writen Laid Out Upwards of forty Pounds Sterling, wch. Sum I have made of Some valuable Things I have disposed off weh. I would Not Otherwise have Done if I could have recd. my Sallery of Mr. Stephens, who Hath wrote me word, that he hath positive Orders to pay No Sallery to the Southward weh. hath been a great Disappointment to me in my Intended progress in Cultivating of Vineyards, As well as a great Concern to me to See my Self quite Distitute of Money in the Middest of my Under- takins, And I so Depended on the Receiving of my Sallery when I should want them that be- fore I drew on Mr. Stephens for half a years Sallery wch. was Due to me Last Midsumer I had stripd my Self of money to the very Last Shilling. Then Please to Judge My Lord what a shocking Thing it was to See my bill protested. Nor have Not Since Recª. a single farthin of sallery. And I am Now My Lord forced to make a full stop in what I intended to have done In Jan'y. & Feb"y. Next in Respects to Vine- yards, And Suffer my Cleared Land to be Again
Observations made since arrival in the Colony.
Obliged to dispose of valuable things because refused payment of salary.
Destitute of money.
422
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jno. A. Terry to the Earl of Egmont.
Over Run'd wth. Permatoes, Brush & other wild weeds wch. are so Difficult to Clear in this Country and what is Again Most Agravating is that all my Small Substance being Gone and Laid out Upon my Plantation to the Amount of abont €:120 -- I have Not a shills. to Support My Self, in a Place where Nothing is had with- out Money-
Never before undergone such hard- ships.
I have in my Life My Lord Undergone Some hardships But Never Such as I now Labour under, And to Mend the matter in the time the Ennemis where here my house on my Plantation has been Robd & stript of Every things that was then in it, weh. may Amount to about £:8-or £:10- sterling if all my Effects had then been removed from my house in town all wou'd have been gone, all these Greavances I humbly Beg your Lordship to Lay before the Honble. Board, And I humbly Submit it to their Generous Con- siderations, As well as the Contents of the In Closed Coppys,
I shall by the first Oppertimity send the Honhie Board Some Proceedings of our Court Since I came to this Place and in Particular that wch. Concerns ye Prize Sloop to wch. my Native Language hath been of Great Use being all the People on board her were french And was the cheif Instrument in finding in my Ex- amining the people Sufficiant proofs to Con- dem her, I Humbly Beg Your Lordships Par- don for having importuned your Lordship So
Proceedings of court concerning the "Prize Sloop."
423
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from Dr. Hawkins.
Long, I therefore conclud with the most pro- found Respect
My Lord Your Lordship's most obediant & Dutyfull Servant to Command John Terry
. for the Right Honble. the Earl of Egmont
Frederica in Georgia 1st. Nov. 1742.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM DR. HAWKINS RECD 3 JANRY 1742 Frederica in Georgia ye 5 November 1742.
We are too Senceable of the Frequent Stop- pages and and [ sic] prevention of Letters from this part of the World which hinders our Inten- ligence With Brittain and Consequently gives great Susspition of Neglect in the Person re- quired to Correspond, and those needfull Rep- resentations are Buried in Obscurity or the Flames which should have reach'd you long ago. I have ben punctual (to the time of my dismis- sion from that Correspondancy) in Sending Just Accounts of the Improvements and other Matters of Moment which the Situation of a
Prevention of letters reaching their des. tination.
Accounts of improve- ments and other matters of moment.
424
COLONIAL RECORDS
Letter from Dr. Hawkins.
Frontier in time of Warr would admit, as to Numbers of People on each distinct Settlement the Discription these might have ben attended with fatal Consequencies therefore on that Con- sederation I thought it more adviseable to be Silent. A Copy of these half yearly Returns were constantly returnd to England at the same time I Sent Colonel Stephens his. and Ive often desired him to inform me in any Particular I might have ben deficient in and his not finding any fault gave me No Satisfaction of haveing descharged my Duty.
The last letter You pleasured me with was Concerning 13 Guineas being paid Capt. Tomson on my Account which was to be in full for the demand of 50 £ for a Boat &c. but as that charge was grounded on Reason and Strengthened with Evediences of the performances, I shall let it remain with Cap' Tomson till I have a Personal Opertunety of representing to the Honble the Lords and Gentlemen the insufficiency of that Sum.
I Continue the Care of the Sick Widows, Ser- vants and Indians and Objects of Charity as well as the Bayliffship but cannot gett Regular payment for Either, and this is the Complaint in general, I rely on You to do us Justice in laying before the Honble Board that this Kind of treatment must make Mankind uneasy and will not Support us while their Agents (con- trary I presume to their Honours Direction) Use the industrious part of the Settlement with
The care of the sic !:. widows, servants and Indians.
425
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from Dr. Hawkins.
such trifleing the Consequence of which must be injurious to the Province in General.
Upon hearing it whisperd that the Honble the Trustees had promised a Premium on Corn &c. A premium on corn promised by the Trustees. in March last I wrote to Colonel Stephens desire. ing to be informed of the Certainty, for the Satisfaction of the People here, and had his Answear Soon after which Confirmd it. which I instantly published (Tho it had ben kept Secret at Savannah from us for 6 months before and the time of Planting almost expired) the People not doubting the Promised Reward and the Hopes of a Crop did what then Lay in their Power and produced more Corn this Year than Ever they had before as well as all other Kinds of Vegetables which will be near enough for the Support of this Part of the Province and would have ben much more if we had not ben plun- dred in the Spannish invasion but now our Crop is made we cannot get one farthing of the Prem- Cannot collect premium. ium & this is the Second time we have ben thus used, as to my own Share I promised it my Servants as being in their last year of their time and it might have ben some help in for- warding them in a Settlement for which I am heartily sory that tis not comply'd with. We shall soon be in the greatest Straits for want of hands and be render'd incapeable of forwarding any improvements on that Account. I have the greatest Reasons to be uneasy on this Account because it must put a Period to my endeavours when things are just brought to Perfection as The produce might be learnt by the Produce of this Year viz of the year
426
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Wheat Oranges Pomegranates of the last two Kinds a Spieemen is sent by the Gentleman who favours me with the conveyance of this I desist from giving any Rehersal of my own affairs or Improvements leaving the whole to Eye Wit- nesses and remain with due regard to the Honble The Trustees and the Future Welfair of this Province
I am St.
Your most Humble Serv. Thos. Hawkins.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.) LETTER FROM MR. T. CAUSTON TO MR. HARMAN VERELST, ACCOMPTANT TO THE HONOBLE THE TRUSTEES FOR ESTABLISHING GEORGIA AT THEIR OFFICE IN, WESTMINSTER.
RED WAX SEAL
Oxted in Georgia Nov. 16th. 1742.
Sir
Your favour of the 21 August last was de- livered me on the 29 of October by Collonel Stephens : I imagine you'l allow me to be much injured, when I find thereby that the Account which I sent 224. Nov. 1739 and was sent back to the Comissioners for examination in May
Accounts of Mr. Causton.
CORRESPONDENCE
427
Mr. T. Causton to Mr. Harman Verelst.
1740 is not yet reported on. If you reced my Letter dated the 20 September 1741. you will find I gave you an Account in wt. manner I was acquainted that such Account was transmitted to them: Since which I continued my Solicita- tions to each Comissioner, and to Mr. Jones more frequent than the rest and in return had many promisses with. one performance among the rest I was promised that Coppys of all the particulars should be sent in the manner I had drawn them out; I have frequently urgd to him and them, that each particular might be ex- amind in my presence, but with' Success; They neither make Objections to the Account nor take any measures to examine it. And if I must suffer for such a neglect of their duty, It is naturall and very reasonable I should have sat- isfaction. Colll. Stephens having read your Letter is of Opinion that M. Thomas Jones ought to be under an Arrest till my Damages in generall are made good; and assures me Mr. Parker will grant his warrant for that purpose; I have wrote to General Oglethorpe desiring his advice; and shod. too late a time elapse wherein I might receive an Answer from the Honoble trustees to my Letter of the St. of April shall act accordingly.
My Concern for the good of the Colony leads me to observe to you that as the Comissioners for Accounts have made so little use of me and at the same time led the Trustees into so many errours I think my personall attendance in Eng- land would do Service; As well with regard to
Col. Steph- ens' opinion that Mr. Jones should be arrested.
Gen. Ogle- thorpe's advice sought.
Commis. słoners for accounts made Ittle use of Mr. Causton.
428
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. T. Causton to Mr. Harman Verelst.
the late expences and progress of the Colony, As also the detecting the Spring to T. Stephens's Agency concerning each of which, so much is to be said and those liable to so many questions that Letters cannot possibly relate it. If my Circumstances had permitted, you had certain- ly seen me long since.
I beg the favour of your dispatches to this, and hope my Letter to the Honoble Trustees of the 8 April last, will recieve a more benign and speedy Answer, than what you seem to intimate.
The late attack by the Spaniards at the south.
Command- ers of militia give no directions for defence.
The late Attack by the Spaniards at the South, gave a very terrible alarm to us in the North; but this was most of all encreast by the Weak and Timorous disposition of the Coman- ders of the Militia, who gave no Directions for Defence, But contrariwise each Comander Majestrate &c equipt for flight; So that this part of the Colony was near being depopulated; The Damages by this Alarm and Sickness of Cattle is inexpressible. Gods mercys inspired General Oglethorpe with Matchless conduct, and thereby preserv'd our Lives and Possessions; May He also provide means to enable our Hon- oble Patrons whereby to repair our shattered Circumstances and Comfort the afflicted; And may He also give us the blessing of Peace within our Selves, and Obedient Hearts.
Gen. Ogle. thorpe in. spired with matchless conduct.
who Am St. Your very humble Servt. T. Causton.
Mr. Harman Verelst.
429
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Hawkins to Mr. Verelst.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. HAWKINS TO MR. VERELST RECD 17 MARCH 1742.
Frederica ye 30 November 1742.
SF.
I was Favourd with yours of the 25 of August Six days ago and Persuant to the Honble. the Trustees demands I answear the Several Queries of Your Letter, it being no small satis- faction to me that the Hon' Lords and Gentle- men endeavour to Secure us the Priviledges of Brittish Subjects, which as far my Small En- deavours would Contribute I have constantly pushed forward but tis my humble Opinion that the discontented Party have injuriously and Scandalously ben representing Falsities behind the Sceenes which they cannot Vindicate on the public Stage.
In answear to the first youl please to represent to the Honte Lords and Gentlemen that during General Oglethorpes Stay at the Settling the Southern Parts of this Province I do not Rem- member any Person desirous of leaving it was on proper Application to his Excellency ever refused going out of it or from one part to Another, who Acting as a Trustee was invested as we apprehend with a Superior Authority to the Majestrates by Virtue of which at his Em-
Endeavors to secure the privi- ledges of British subjects.
Discon- tented party repre. senting falsities.
No proper application to leave Colony refused.
430
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Hawkins to Mr. Verelst.
barkation for England Capt. Horton was de- puted to Act Under his Commission in his Ab- sence and did so till his return so that during the whole we never gave of our Selves any Pass or Permit or hinderd any or have we any thing to do with it to this day.
In regard to the stop- ping of pro- ceedings on a particular present- ment of the Grand Jury.
Most Instru- mental in rectifying grievances.
.\ vile report on Mr. Norris. the min- ister.
The parties in the presentment.
In regard to "the interposing and Stopping "the Proceedings on a Particular Presentment "of the grand Jury against Persons for Im- "moralities." it may be remmemberd that I was the most Instrumental in rectifying grievances of that Nature and if an enquiry was made I fancy no Person has given more exemplary Proofs of their detestation of such Practices, but this as well as many other Accusations is absolutely false. I hope therefore the Honb Lords and Gentlemen will not think me tedious in giving the real State of the Matter. M. Norris was then Minister and reported to have Kept his Servant as his Whore who proving with Child told the same to Several of this Place whereupon the Story supported with many heineous and detestable Circumstances exas- perated many of the Inhabitants and they would have nothing to say to him or Suffer any Cere- mony of marriage to be perford by him in par- ticular the Parties Mentiond in the Presentment whose Declarations of the Veracity of these things are in the hands of the Recorder and I have desired him to forward them to You which I hope you'l receive with this. The Parties in the Presentment were Sam" Lee and Ann Widow of Lev. Bennet for not Living in Wed-
-
CORRESPONDENCE
431
Mr. Hawkins to Mr. Verelst.
lock These Persons were absolutely Married tho with many Objections against the sª. M. Norris by him and only for want of Opertunity would have ben long before for in M. Dysons Life time he publishd the Banns of Matrimony twice but his affairs calld him to Savanah where he died. in the same Presentment John Harding and the Widow Spencer were mentiond who thereupon appeard and declared themselves be- fore God and man to be husband and Wife in the Open Court, but would not be Married by Mr. Norris. The People brought to these terms and Our Authority Questiond in these Points we shoul be glad to know what farther necessary Steps can be taken in cases of this Nature when they Happen we are neither of us Bred to the Law or are we Supported with Instructions Books or Presidents.
To the Last in respect of Letters I have now ben in this Province near 6 Years about two Years since I receivd Several Letters in a Box with the Resolutions of the Honb. the Trustees and the Estimate for the Southern Division of the Province the Letters I carefully deliverd Un- opened to the parties to whom they were direc- ted A Letter belonging to One M' Adlan was returnd he being gon from the Regiment to Eng- land, Since which I have had none come to my Hands belonging to any one and during my whole time here I have only receivd 5 Letters from You two from Benj Martyn Esq two from Capt. Horton while in England who declares he wrote me upwards of twenty and three from my
During lifetime of Mr. Dyson the 'Banns of Matrimony" published twice.
Declared themselves husband and wife in open court, but refused to let Mr. Norris marry them.
Resolutions of the Trustees and esti. mate for the southern division of Province.
432
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
Complaint of letters being delayed, universal.
Friends who undoubtedly have wrote as many Score some of these Letters which required im- mediate Answears never reachd my hands till the time was relapsed [sic] that the Answears could not be of any Service or Effect and Com- plaints of this Kind are universal but where the fault lies I cannot determine but on the Honb. Lords and GenIn. Consideration of the Hard- ships many may Suffer by this Stoppage of Communication with our Mother Country it will we hope be soon rectified which would be of great satisfaction to all
I am with due regard to the welfare of this Province the Honble the Trustees most
Obedient Humble Servant
Thos. Hawkins.
To Harman Veralst Esq'.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. JOHN DOBELL TO THE TRUSTEES, 30 NovR. 1742 RECP 11 MARCH 1742.
May it please your Honours !
Required to observe all due obedience to the Revd. Mr. Orton.
The 29th of October 1742 I received a Letter from M'. Verelst bearing date the 2nd. of Aug' UI. Wherein he required me "To observe all "due Obedience to the Revd. M. Orton as I re- "gard y Trustees Favour: And informs me "that M' Joseph Avery is appointed the Land
433
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
"Surveyor, to Set out the Lots and to make out "the Plotts thereof; and that it was my busi- "ness to Register the same: That when the "proper Form of the Grants are Settled, the "People would have one part with a Plott and "the Trustees another, And in the mean time "I should acquaint the Trustees how every Lot "or Plantation taken up is possessed from the "beginning, and what Interest and what In- "terest [sic] the Possessor of each Lot. or "Plantation in the whole Colony claims therein : "And in doing of this (M'. Verelest writes) M'. "Stephens and M'. Avery would instruct me."
This Letter I read to M'. Stephens when I recd it: I also shewed it to M'. Avery two days afterwards: he seemed surprized at the sight of it and said: "It was a Mistake M. Verelst "had mistook the thing. For I (quoth he) am "the person appointed not only to Survey or "Set out the Lands but also to give the people "a Title thereto and to Record the same; for "which purpose I have brought books with me "from England. What then (replyed I) be- "comes of my Office of Register, and Appoint- "ment? He answered I might if I pleased write "under him in his Office: That it could not be "supposed he would deliver up his works to "another: That it could be but one Office, and "accordingly he would write to the Trustees "and shew me what he should write." For this I have forborn writing to your Honours till his Letters are gone, but he neither has shewn, nor- told me what he has writ.
Joseph Avery ap- pointed land surveyor.
Mr. Dobell's business to register lots, etc.
Surprised at tenor of letter.
Mr. Avery's idea upon the subject.
434
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
Col. Steph. ons applied to for instructions.
On Sautterday the 14 Novem". I applyed to Col'. Stephens for Instructions, and again re- peated to him what M. Verelst had wrote. "He replyed he had never heard a word of it before: Why had I not acquainted him of it sooner? (I seems he had forgote it) I assured him I read him the Letter in his own house in the presence of his Son, at the time above mentioned, when I received it of him. On Monday the 16 Inst I gave M' Stephens a Coppy to peruse at his leisure, he then told me That, "what the Trus- "tees required of me he had not fail'd of Doing "a part; twice a year, at least, himself; and "only wanted An Answer from the Board to be "able make things of that sort plain, & added, "that M. Avery was the Person that must in- "struct me: That the Trustees sent me to him "for Instructions but in plain truth he was not "able to instruct me. However sª. he, in Two or "Three days time l'le take an opportunity "and Talk with you and give you my thoughts "about it." But not 'tis the 29 of Nov. and that day is not yet come. Therefore I humbly hope Your Honours will excuse me in that I have not done my Duty.
As to Highgate and Hampstead.
As to Highgate and Hampstead I have done them as well as I could without Assistance, and have, enclosed with a Draught of them, explica- tions thereof. Tis the daily burden of my mind that I (at present) am not able to acknowledge your Honours Favour towards me, by the per- formance of my Duty. I hope ere long I shall
CORRESPONDENCE
435
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
be able, when your Honours shall have caused your Orders to be executed.
But, as to the former part of M' Verelsts' Let- ter relating to the School, I have the sattisfac- tion of answering your Honours that I have more than fulfilled it; for I took no one step re- lating thereto without the Advice and Consent of the Revª. MIT. Orton: And as I had no par- ticular Instructions about the School I also ap- plyed to M'. Stephens to obtain his approbation and assistance therein: and proposed to the Council, wether those who were able to pay, or had rather pay for their Childrens Schooling than accept your Honours Favour might not be permitted so to do? The Council agreed they might. I further requested that the Council would consider who those poor Children were which should partake of the Trustees Bounty. and accordingly give me an Order to receive them into the School, that I might be free from the clamour of those who are troublesome. This, they also readily comply'd with. But such a Spirit of Pride reigns here, that several who 'tis well known, want Bread through Poverty occas- ioned by Sloth, choose to keep their Children in Ignorance and Wickedness, rather than go to Mr. Stephens for an Order : notwithstanding all the persuasion I am able to use with them; of- fering to go my self to M'. Stephens and Speak for any that choosed not to speak for them- selves. The answer of some has been "We "never were beholden to the Trustees, nor will we now begin." All which I knew to be false,
Relating to the school.
Such a spirit of pride reigning.
"Never were beholden to the Trustees."
436
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
and that some of those, of all others were most beholden. Neither have I been able to get one of the Dutch Children into the School their par- ents entertaining a foolish notion of their having a Dutch Schoolmaster: but for the most part they have not been free, and that was the reason they did not send 'em: And now they are Free, they say its too late, as they intend at Chrismass to go to settle on their Plantations at Silver Bluff &c.
A Dutch school- master.
The Number of Children which at present come to School is 11. The Town in general since the Alarm both Old and Young have been very Siekly, and many have Died, but at pres- ent it stands pretty well to health again. Be- fore the Alarm the Number of Children which came to School was about Twenty.
List of deaths.
I have enclosed a List of the Peoples Names who have Died, in or of this place; since I came over last; or since April 1742.
Savannah suffered in the death of the Revd. Mr. Orton.
An enemy to hypocrisy and guile howsoever gorgeously arrayed.
Savannah in the Death of the Revd. M. Orton hath greatly suffered not only in the loss of a good Minister but also of a Gentleman who had the Good of the Colony to Heart; He laboured daily to promote your Honours Interest and was an Enemy to Hypocrisy and Guile howsoever gorgeously arrayed.
Appointed to read prayers in the absence' of a min- ister.
On his Decease JF. Stephens and the Council appointed me to read Prayers &c. in the absence of another Minister: Also admitted me to dwell in the Parsonage House, which joins as it were the School, being about 20 ffeet distant; Inso-
437
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
much that the School is necessarily under the continual Inspection of the Minister which in M'. Norris's time I found very disagreeable ; In Mr. Ortons time very agreeable And because another Minister may be of such a Temper as M' Norris was of, I therefore humbly pray that some particular Instructions about the School. and what Obedience is due to the Minister may be given me; which I shall be always willing, and ready to Obey.
This day is the 30th of Novem'. 1742 Last Thursday the 26th. M' Stephens received from Gen' Oglethorpe the Melancholy Acct. of a Fort called Fort Venture about 60 Miles distant from Frederica being destroyed by the Spanish In- dians. That the murdered the Wife & Child of Wm. Francis the Commander & Two of the Men and took the rest prisoners (Tis said Wm Francis was at Frederica, and that Six Men, his Wife & Child were in the Fort) one of which was an Indian Slave. This Indian assoon as he was taken began to leap and rejoice for Joy that he was fallen. into the hands of the Spanish In- dians, telling them that the English had dealt Cruelly with him, by this he gained much Lib- erty and they permitted, or sent him to Hunt for them: by this means he gate clear, and came safe to Frederica, being the only person that Escaped. He says the Nº of Spanish Indians which he saw were but 15. That their Design according to their Instructions from the Govr of St. Augustine, was against the Darian, but that they made this in their way.
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