USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
The melan. choly acct. of Fort Venture.
Wife and child of Wm. Fran. cis mur. dered and others taken prisoners.
Spanish Indians instructed to invade Darien.
438
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
We have great reason to fear that 2 Men more if not the Four were afterwards destroyed.
Militia mus- tered by Gen. Ogle- thorpe to be in readiness.
On Sautterday Col. Stephens Muster'd the Militia of this place told them the contents of the Generals Letter, and that there was no great canse to fear but willed 'em to hold themselves in readiness in case there should be real danger. Under Arms of all sorts were about 59, and about 12 by standers without Arms.
The Dutch in the new settle- ment more exposed to the barbarians.
If these Barbarians should penetrate farther this way 'tis the poor Dutch people in their new Settlements; or those of Highgate and Hamp- stead that most probably will suffer. Highgate & Hampstead are well form'd for Defence; but alass they are both so Deminished that they have no advantage on the New Settlements in that respect, save that there is arround either of them some Land clear: which ye others as yet have not had time to do: But all that can be expected, or all that is possible, they have done.
A visit to the Dutch set- tlement.
Corn, pease. potatoes, etc., pro. vided for the year round.
On Sautterday the 20 Inst. I walk'd out to the Dutch Settlement next beyond Hampstead but had not time to visit every Settler: Two Family's amongst 'em have been there near a year, these joyn'd together and wrought all that season for one of them: they Clear'd, and Fenced, & Planted, about (as it appears to me) 3 Acres of Land and built thereon a Hut, by this means that Man hath Corn Pease Potatoes & Pumkin to last his Family the Year round, and continues in partnership with the other till his is brought to the same forwardness (which
439
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
without the neglect of planting his own) by the blessing of God will be next Harvest: By this means an Excellent Example is set to the rest, & the others do so well follow after it that 'tis easy to guess how long each one has been on his Land by his improvemts. They are full of Thankfulness that they are free Men & have lands of their own, and seem to entertain no other aspiring thought but who shall be the best Planter.
Michael Burkholder of Hampstead has a Tract of Land of 500 Acres Adjoining to those Dutch Settlements; and very soon he intends to leave Hampstead and settle thereon: This Man of all others in the whole Colony is the best Plan- ter, and if any man in the Colony may be said to live by Planting 'tis this Man: He of all others has made the greatest Prooff of his Skill and Industry, an Honest Man & a regular liver, is Master of several handycraft Trades, such as a Millwright, a Wheelwright a Cooper, and a Carpenter : His Eldest Son is a Shoemaker and Carpenter; his Son in law the same: His Eldest Daughter supplys the place of a Taylor, and his Five other younger Children are daily train'd in those Trades. In all moderate weather they work in the Lands, and when it becomes im- moderate, or in the Heat of the day, they come home and within doors work at their respective Trades: Neither is this Man less careful of observing the Lords day and performing con- tinually Religious duties in his Family, and as
Michael Burkholder of Hamp- stead best planter in the Colony.
Lives by planting.
Master of several handicraft trades.
Eldest son a shoe. maker and carpenter.
Son-in-law a tailor.
440
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
he lives himself, so he brings up his Child": and his Houshold also in the Fear of God.
About the middle of October last Letters ar- rived from Agent Stephens (as some here call him) wherein he writes (as I am well informed, That your Honours have had a Second Petition for Money for the Support of this Place thro his means rejected, and that tho' your Honours had brought him on his Knees, yet he might ven- ture to say that he had Cast you on your Backs and left such a Stigmas upon you as you would never be able to away: That your Honours had failed in your word to St. John Barnard in re- lation to Negroes. That most discerning Men esponsed his Cause, amongst whom were the Rt Honble Horotia Walpole- Pelham- Sandys -- Gibbons Bucannon, [sic] S' John Barnard- Coram, late a Trustee, and others he mentioned. That these of his Party were resolved to push on the Attempt to the utter abolition of the Trustees. That the figure he now made was very formidable, & his Character Sacred, tho your Honours had so Ill'y treated him. He writes desires [sic], that the Materials be speedily forwarded, because he is immediately going to renew the Atttack against your Honours : Warns his Adherents to beware of a Paper M'. Avery would bring with him to Sign. And that he was now going to bend all his Force against him who is the Cause of all their trouble, whom they might soon expect out of the Way.
Such a stigma as can never be ellm. inated.
Resolved to utterly abolish the Trustees.
441
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jno. Dobell to the Trustees.
This, May it please Your Honours, if I am rightly inform'd, is the Assureance with which Thomas Stephens writes!
The great matter of Speculation here, seems to be, who this person is, which is so shortly to be removed out of the way, which is the cause of all their Trouble?
Some will have it to be the General, Alledg- ing that he is an Enemy to Thos Stephens and his proceedings; Others that 'tis his Father he means, because of the great Variance which they are at: Others Laugh at this and will not believe they are at any.
In his last Letters before those of in [sic] Octo". He made the Good Earl of Egmont (if not the cause of all the Evil) the Obstructor of all Good: For after he had mentioned his Lord- ships Illness, and that he was given over by the Physicians for Death, as a consequent hereupon says to his Clients, that, now they might soon expect Glorious Times !
A Suggestion and Inferrence, so Impudently Wicked, that not many who know ought of his Lordship but what will forever despise, and Abhor-Stephens.
It makes some think that 'tis Hereditary to 'em without Distinction to Stab the Characters of Men!
That M' Jones, who was a man Knowing and Upright, most Zealously affected towards your Honours and a daily seeker of the Publick
Assurance with which Thos. Stephens writes.
A matter of specu- lation.
Who is the target of Thos. Stephens' venom ?
A suggestion and infer. ence impu. dently wicked.
Mr. Jones discharged from the magistracy.
442
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Benjamin Martin.
good, should be discharged from the Majes- tracy, gave many much sorrow. But, I make no doubt because your Honours did it but that it was done for Wise reasons; and was in great hopes that the Loss of him would be supply'd by M' Spencer: But alass, as yet, it is not; for both Him & Mr. Jones continue at Frederica.
I Humbly Pray and Beseech your Honours to Forgive my Faults, particularly this Freedom; And to Accept the most Affectionate Hearty Thanks of your most Dutiful truly Obliged & most Humble Servant
Savannah Novem' the 30. 1742.
John Dobell.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.) LETTER FROM WM. STEPHENS ESQR. TO MR. BENJAMIN MARTYN, SECRETARY TO THE HON- OURABLE THE TRUSTEES FOR ESTABLISHING THE COLONY OF GEORGIA.
1 RED WAX SEAL
- These
Savannah 1 Dec. 1742.
Your Favour of the 26 July ? Capt Cross- thwaite, came to hand the latter end of October ;
CORRESPONDENCE
443
Wm. Stephens to Benjamin Martin.
when I had then newly enclosed, in my Packett of the 27 of that month a letter of mine to you of the 16th. Do, in answer to what you wrote me relating to Thomas Eggerton, with his Grand- father Thomas Young.
I do not conceive y' from what you are pleased to write in your last, concerning Negros, it is expected I should enter into the Argument of their utility comparatively with white men, & take upon me to give reasons why the honble __ Trust have not thought it hitherto expedient to allow the use of 'em in this Colony; since I find That already done so judiciously, & with such clear Strength of Reason publish'd to the World in the Year 1741; y I think it unanswerable: but for as much as I observe from what you write, that several Gentlemen of Eminence in Trade had given to the Trust their Opinion in favour of Negros, under proper Regulations & Restrictions; what they are pleased to expect from me now (I think) is, my opinion how Ne- gros can be admitted here consistently with the safety of the Province: which therefore is the Point I am to stick to.
If tis meant without exception as to time, I apprehend the answer is so obvious, & past all controversy, that twill admit of no disquisition : for during the War we have with the Spaniards, & Augustine remaining in their hands, it is im- practicable with Safety to make use of Negros in Georgia ; which is a Frontier of such a nature. y' I conceive it impossible, even for the General, to prevent their escape to the Enemy; tho' his
Relating to Thos. Eggerton and his grandfather, Thos. Young.
Concerning negroes.
How negroes can be admitted consistently with safety to the Province.
The inad- visability of the use of negroes in Georgia.
-
444
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Benjamin Martin.
A troop of rangers ap- pointed to examine persons passing to and fro.
whole Regiment were appointed to keep a Guard for that purpose; as his Excellence has at this time, divers Troops of Rangers appoint- ed by him, to watch and examine persons of all kinds, passing to, and fro' wherever they are found: nevertheless Negros, seeking for lib- erty, were they now among us, would soon find means, by untrodden paths thro' a Wilderness of thick Woods, to flee to Augustine so near us as tis ; more especially when they will not only obtain their promised freedome, but also have Arms put into their hands, & become a part of their Army to fight against us.
Presuming what I have so far said, to be un- deniable; it is next to be considerd with what safety they can be admitted in time of Peace. As I have always professd my own natural Aversion to keeping Slaves; & still (were it in my choice) would rather prefer keeping of white Servants, if they might be had for moderate Wages; perhaps I may be lookd on as prejudic- ed in my opinion : but since it has fullyly appea- rd, y' there is little or no likelyhood of supplying this Colony wth a competent number of those, to make such improvement in Cultivation of Land as is to be wishd; & at this very time most of our ablest young people, have rather chosen to go into the Publick Service, (either in Scout boats, or as Rangers &c) than labour in clearing and improving of Land, which too many of 'em shew an aversion to. For these reasons, if the Use of Negros is admitted after the War; tis natural that I should (among others) be dealing
PerŁODAL aversion to keeping slaves.
Progress in improve. ment and cultivation of land impeeded by lack of laborers.
445
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Benjamin Martin.
for a few also : & in such case I am to offer such regulations & restrictions as occurr to me neces- sary to be observd, for the future preservation & advantage of the Colony: which I shall en- deavour, with due deference to better Judg- ments, & with a perfect impartiality.
1. If Augustine remains in the Spaniards hands at the conclusion of this War (the con- trary of which must be wishd for, by all good Englishmen, who have experienced already too much what a Thorn they are in our side in times of Peace) it ought not to be supposed but that due care would be taken in a Treaty of Peace, effectually to prevent any runaway Negros from being receivd or entertaind by the Spaniards, either at Augustine, or in any other of their Settlements on Florida : wherein too much care can not be had to prevent their eluding such an Article again, as has been formerly practiced, & which they are very fond of. But in case of any future Rupture betwixt the two Nations, & Au- gustine still in the hands of the Spaniards; what the consequence then might be, of the Ne- gro's revolting to the Enemy, who by that time might probably be some thousands in Number; I must leave to the consideration of those, whose capacitys reach far beyond mine.
2. As to the proportion necessary for the safety of the Colony, how many Negros may be allowd towards carrying on Plantation Work; I conceive yt any number not exceeding 4 at most will require one white man, of Growth & Stren-
If Augustine remains in the hands of the Spaniards.
Number of negroes allowed.
446
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Benjamin Martin.
gth sufficient for bearing Arms in defence of his King and Country, always to attend; & either work with 'em, or at least constantly inspect 'em: as well to see them properly employd in the Day time, as to secure them at nights: for which reason such white man must make his abode on the Plantation : and in that case, if the Owner himself shall at any time chuse to con- tinue on his Plantation, to see his own Work carried on, he may be understood to be such a White man as here meant; otherwise he must employ one for that purpose: and whether he himself or a Servant under him be so employd; striekt care should be taken, yt Arms of all kinds be kept out of the power of Negros coming at them
The impos. sibility of clearing and cultivating land without negroes.
3. Whereas the reason given for the use of Negros has been principally, if not wholly, an Impossibility of clearing land to any degree, & cultivating it without 'em : it tacitly implys, that they are not wanted on any other occasion: which indeed I think: & therefore they ought not to be allowd in Towns, or any where, but on Plantation work: under which term it is to be understood, that rowing in a Boat on his Mas- ters Service, or going to & from one Town or place to another, on the same, is included; since it may conduce to the improvemt of his Planta- tion : for a greater liberty would be a great dis- couragement to labouring white people coming to live among us; who by such means would find little Room to work; as many of our De- serters to Carolina have sadly experienced, con-
447
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Benjamin Martin.
trary to their Expectations : where Negros take off all occasion of white men being hired : and if the case is so, with respect to Day labourers only; much more then ought there to be here a total prohibition of Negro's occupying or learn- ing any trade; which must inevitably contribute to the unpeopling of this Colony. Nor should the Master of such Negros be permitted to let them out to hire for wages which would confirm the practice of converting them to no other use, yt putting so much money in his pocket, where- with to live idle, and voluptuously; as tis most notorious was the case of too many among us formerly who were the first, that upon their Servts. times expiring, and that Fond failing be- gan to be clamorous, & to perswade the World to believe, they were driven hence thro' fear of starving.
These thoughts of mine (such as they are) I have ventured to offer, in Obedience to their Honours commands: humbly submitting it to their Judgment, whether they are of any Val- idity or not: as also what other determination they'll please to come to, in divers circum- stances which will naturally occurr to their con- siderations; such as what age Negro Children must be of, before they are deemd suffcient to be accounted able Slaves &c. &c.
I am
S.
Your very humble Servant
Will: Stephens.
Rules ap- plying to negroes.
Age of negro children before accounted able slaves.
448
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM WM. STEPHENS ESQR TO MR. HAR- MAN VERELST ACCOMPT TO THE HONBLE TRUS- TEES FOR ESTABLISHING THE COLONY OF GEORGIA IN AMERICA. RECD 17 MARCH 1742
Savannah 14 Dec. 1742.
S'.
The pro- ceedings before the House of Cominons occasioned by vile petitions presented.
My last was of the 27 October, enclosing great variety of papers whereof I then sent a Sched- ule, and now a Coppy of the same. In that letter I took notice of the rect of yours of the 11 June & 2ª of July 23 the Minerva (Cap Cload), and the Georgia Packett (Cap' MeClellan) ; wherewith also the Proceedings before the House of Commons, occasiond by those Vile Pe- titions presented, wch you was so kind to send me, displayd that monstrous affair in such a light, as gave great pleasure to all good men here, whom I thought proper to impart it to: and if hearing One side only, could shew us the weakness of their cause, who carried on their Malice with such Venom; what might we expect, if we could come at the Sight of the honourable Trusts Defence ?- but perhaps that is too much to wish.
I am now S' to acknowledge the rect of your several letters of the 9th & 10th of Aug 2 Capt Crossthwaite, & of the 21 Do 3 Capt Rodgers. with divers papers, Coppys of letters, &c that came to hand about the time yt. Capt Avery
449
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
arrivd, the latter end of Oct. (vide Journal 27. 28. & 30 Oct) : and on the 6th of this month I recd your Favour of the 17 June from Cape Thomson at S' Simons: (who I presume might have mislaid it in the late troublesome times :) however long it was in coming, the News you wrote me in it of my unhappy Sons marriage, is the first and only acct I have had of it yet ; none of the Family having for 6 months past given me Advice of any kind; nor was I ever informd, of his having such an affair in hand: but his Brother now tells me here, y' he believes it is a Sister of M' Steed a Refiner in Silver Street near Cripple Gate; which Family having Friends in the Neighbourhood of mine in the Isle of Wight; they sometimes spent a month or 2 there in the Summer Season; & tis pro- bable yt from thence sprung their first acquain- tance; & afterwards such a familiarity, that all letters for him, were by his advice directed to be left at Mr. Steeds in Town. During the time of my affliction at his late Behaviour, it pleased God to add to it by the advice I reed, yt his Brother (my second Son) who had been abroad several years in the E Indies, died there: by wich means a small Estate, y' he held of Win- chester College for Life, then fell to him as next taker: which probably might be an additional means of helping the Match forward. As I have no expectation of ever seeing him; nor will he (tis very likely) think me more worth regard- ing, than I do him; I have one only part of a Father remaining with me; weh is to pray God
The mar. riage of Thos. Stephens.
The death of the second son of Col. Stephens in the East Indies.
450
COLONIAL RECORDS
W'm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Only one sensibility of a father remaining.
yt he may become sensible of his Errours, and find Grace to lead him to repentance; without which, I fear he'll never prosper, whatever his present acquisitions are with his Wife; whose Fortune, my Son here tells me, was reputed to be 2200 £ .- But I ramble-
The Trustees' attitude towards Col. Stephens.
Tis a Comfort to me, I assure you Sr, and a great one to be advised in reading over your letter of the 9th of Aug, that the honourable Trustees are so good to retain the same kind thoughts of me as before; and have sufferd no Impression to be made upon them, by Insinua- tions rendering me capable of so much baseness, as to approve of the unparralleld Conduct of my Son.
In relation to M'. Bosomworth; nothing more needs to be said at present, since it may be sup- posed he is by this time on his way to England from New York, & will best give an acct himself of the occasion.
Mrs. Watts' affair.
Mr. Causton terms him- self a prisoner.
As to Mr. Watts's affair, I already wrote you a little time since, when I sent you her acct, with the poor Ballance in my hands, wch I desired your directions how to transmit; & I think it an insufferable abuse yt I can get nothing more from Mr. Causton than that he is a Prisoner (what he means I know not) and yt he is sure he has accounted for it with the Trust. The favourable Turn weh they have met with in their affairs before the Parliam. has already pro- duced a Change likewise among our people in their Sentiments about the Value of Lots here;
451
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
and we have seen some Instances of it: if it rises. I think 'twould be of most advantage to the Widow, to sell it outright, as I have a Power given me; for, considering the small Rent it has of late been let at, and the continual Deductions for Repairs of an Old House &c, it turns to very little profit; but the Situation of it, being so good, very probably will excite some Purchaser to give a different price for it, than could be hoped for a while since.
Your letter of the 10 Aug is so replete with various matters of great Moment, that I must crave leave to postpone a few of those para- graphs yt will best admit of it, till my next, when possibly I may be less throngd.
Having in my last sent Duplicates of most of those papers yt were unhappily lost with my Packett yt went hence in January last; I hope twill in some measure repair that Breach. The General Expences of the Year from Mich' 1740 to D° 1741 which was also lost. I have again seen made out, & send it now. The 2 next months of Oct' & Nover you wrote came safe; & the monthly Acc's have been sent punctually since, Debr & Cred in the manner you directed, uch you wrote me the Trustees were pleased to approve of : & I have withall now seut the Gen- eral Expences of 10 Months beginning with Dec. & ending with Sept last, under its proper Heads ; wych twas thought needless to sign twice; M. Parker & I having signd 'em monthly.
Various matters of great moment.
The general expenses of the Colony sent the Trustees.
453
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
I am preparing a List of such as are entitled to the Bounty intended them by the Trust, pur- suant to the Directions sent me; weh shall be transmitted wth all convenient Speed; and a Duplicate shall follow it.
James Dormer having been under a great Indisposition for a little while past; assoon as he is in a capacity of talking with, I shall con- sult him, as yon direct, on what additional al- lowance he'll provide himself with one hand, & Provision, as he proposes.
The Determination of the honourable Trus- tees, relating as well to the £150 that M' Haber- sham is to account for; as to some Proceedings touching the Management of the Orphan House, is most undoubtedly founded on Truth & Jus- tice; and will require being complyd with punc- tually. I shall think it no Burthen upon me, to give what Assistance I can, in setting forward the Building our Church; with an Assistant or Assistants of requisite Qualifications.
The Produce of the Trustees Servants labour, wch is now called for, I am making the best En- quiry into yt I can : but upon the whole, I fear there will be room to say Pudet Hoc; & I almost think the Produce of this year last past, will amount to near as much as the several forego- ing years put together: & how the whole has been applyd, must also appear, as well as can be made out.
The Displeasure conceivd against Mr Hawk- ins for his unfair Dealing with the Trust, is not
A list of those entitled to bounty.
James Dormer
Touching on the manage- ment of the Orphan House.
Produce of the Trustees' servants' labor.
454
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Displeasure felt to- wards Mr. Hawkins caused by unfair dealing with the Trustees.
to be wonderd at; but how to make him refund, I must be well advised, before I attempt it; and M. Jones appears to have little inclination to meddle; where he thinks no good is to be gotten.
Surveying instruments
purchased.
Your letter of the 24 Augt relates wholly to the several sorts of Surveying Instruments, bought by the Trust for Cap' Avery to use as occasion requires; weh came all safe and well; and among the rest, there being two of the Cap- tains own purchasing at the ex of 10 Shill- ings; I paid him that, as advised; whereby the Property of the whole is now in the Honourable Trustees.
Minutes of the Council.
Before I close this letter, I must beg leave to refer you to the Minutes of our Council of the 4th of this inst Dec"; wherein you'll find a para- graph relating to Servants out of their time, & craving Assistance to go upon Land; weh occas- iond some doubts among us; and I was there- fore desired to lay it before the Trust for their Directions; which we shall wish for.
I am glad to hear my letter of the 9 June went safe; & hope likewise my former of the 4 May found its way at last, weh. went with my other packett the beginning of Sept : and I wish this may have better Speed, than some of my former December letters have met wth. I remain
S.
Your very humble Servant
Will : Stephens.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.