USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 28
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455
CORRESPONDENCE
Rev. Mr. Bolzius and Mr. Gronau to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM THE REVD MR. BOLZIUS AND MR. GRONAU TO THE TRUSTEES ACCOTANT .- RECD 27 APRIL 1743
Ebenezer in Georgia Dec 18th 1742.
Dear Sir,
Your very kind Letter of the 2ª of August last has given us & the people under our charge very great satisfaction, seeing that the Honble Trus- tees, have generously resolved, that the Bounty on the Crop of the year 1739, certify'd by Col- onel Stephens & Mr. Jones should be pay'd as soon as possible. Col. Stephens being not able for the present to afford the Bounty Money, we are in hopes, that His Excellency Gen1: Ogle- thorpe will shortly find out some Means towards the Paying of the said Bounty agreeable to the Order of the Honble. Trustees. May the Lord reward graciously the Honbe. Trustees for this & many more real testimonies of their unde- served Favours to us & our Flock manyfold, & bless them in all their prayseworthy Undertak- ings for the real Good of this Colony. What good things God has done for us this year, what good Crop we have brought in in the Fall, & how well the Works of the outward Call of our people do prospere, will appear to the Honble Trustees out of the written Account of the State of our Settlement, delivered by us to Col. Steph- ens to be inserted into his annual Account of
Bounty on the year's crop.
456
COLONIAL RECORDS
Rev. Mr. Bolzius and Mr. Gronau to the Trustees.
Misrepre- sented in Parliament by Thos. Stephens and Robt. Williams.
the State of the Colony. It surprized us very much, when we saw lately some written and prin- ted Papers of one Tho. Stephens & Robert Wil- liams & some more belonging to their Club, wherein our Name & Conduct as well as our In- habitants were very ill represented even to the Honble. Members of the Parliament. It would be entirely impossible for them to prove by matter of fact, what they had the impudence to alledge against us & our people, if the matter should come to a tryal: however it comforts us more that it grieves us, that they speak ill of us & our Settlers. For we should be very loath to be comended by the Enemies of this Colony & the Honble. Trustees, by which unadvised people in England & Germany could be induced to be- lieve, that we were of their ill natured Mind & Principles. We enjoy under the wise & bounti- ful Government of the Honble. Trustees so many spiritual & temporal Blessings, & see the Works of our Hands, & whatever we begin for God's Honour & our Welfare in our Settlement so well prospered, that our Friends & Favourers here & elsewhere joyn with us in Prayse & Thanks- giving to God, when our Enemies poorly en- deavour to slander & misrepresent the State of our Colony & Settlement. We wish from the bottom of our Hearts, that all Protestants of our Native Contry might live such a comfortable life, as we by the gracious Protection of God live in this Colony, so they had not much reason to complain of Hardships. Not only our con- tinued Journals, but the Letters of our people
Living a comfortable life in the Colony.
457
CORRESPONDENCE
Rev. Mr. Bolzius and Mr. Gronau to the Trustees.
also to their Favourers, Friends, Relations & Contrymen in Germany & Prussia testify it suffi- ciently, what good Things & Preferences they enjoy in Ebenezer, & their Hope is very much strengthened by Experience, that the rest of Difficulties, new Settlers labour under from the Beginning, will be successively overcome & re- moved, & they will eat the fruits of their La- bours in peace & satisfaction : and we hope the same of many more Inhabitants of this Colony, who are not addicted to Idleness, but to labour & Husbandry & its frugal Management. In consideration of which we ought to be censured as ingrateful & wieked people, if we should medle with any of the bad Contrivances of such persons, that lift up their heels & hands against the wholesome Constitutions of the Honble. Trustees & grumble under the Heaps of Bene- factions, bestow'd by them upon the Inhabitants of this Colony. Therefore not only we Minis- ters but all our people, put to our Charge, pro- test herewith against such people & their En- deavours, who presume & style themselves Agents of the People in Georgia : we have noth- ing to do with them & their selfinterested dan- gerous Contrivances. Please to take our free- dom, used in this Letter, in good part : the afore- said Papers have occasioned this Apology & Ab- horrence of all wicked Practices. Wishing the Honble. Trustees & you, Sir, all manner of spirit- ual & temporal Happiness, & eternal Rewards
Those who style themselves agents of the people in Georgia.
458
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jo Dobell to the Earl of Egmont.
for all their & your favours to us & all our peo- ple, we take the liberty to subscribe ourselves Dear Sir / Your most obedient very humble Servants John Martin Bolzius. Israel Christian Gronau.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.) LETTER FROM MR. JO DOBELL TO THE RIGHT HONBLE THE EARL OF EGMONT IN PALL MALL, LONDON. 2 THE RICHARD, CAPT. SAMUEL HAL- LIN. RECD 9 MARCH 1742/3.
Savannah, the 5th. January 1742
RED - WAX SEAL
-
My Lord!
It is now whispered about in this place that you have Resign'd the Trusteeship; Whence this News comes I know not, and therefore hope it is not True: However by this I have reason to rejoice in that your Lordship is still Living, and I heartily pray that you may Live to see the State of this Colony in such a Way as you desire and Labour after which I am sure, ac- cording to the present management in this Place (let the Priviledges be what they will) your Lordship never can
The resigna- tion of Lord Egmont to the Trusteeship whispered about the Colony.
459
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jo Dobell to the Earl of Egmont.
In any former Letter, I had forgote to men- tion to your Lordship or the Honble. Board how that of the £25 ' Year, the Salary which your L'Ship mention'd for being Register, the Direc- tors here will pay me but £20. Indeed if they should Deign to pay me with nothing, if I could be of any service to the People and could pos- sibly subsist, I would maintain my Word to your Lordship. But alass! I am not able to do this being entirely denied any Assistance from those to whome the Trustees send me for it, and am continually put off with delusive excuses! Sure those who acts thus cannot be Friends to their Country any more than they are Seekers of the Trustees Honour and Promoters of their In- terest; All which doth too plainly appear and yet by Artful disguises they fail not to make their own Cause good, even to the abuse of the Honourable Confidence reposed in them. And indeed if it was not so, it would [sic] impossible that the State of this Place could be Reduc'd, by any past means, to the Low degree it now is.
I have reason to believe that I am represented to the lonble. Board as a Malecontent; But My Lord if I am so represented, nothing is more False, for this I do humbly affirm that none can have the Trustees Honour & Interest more to heart than I have, altho by the discharge of my Duty I am not able to shew it.
Often do I call to mind the continual attend- ance and incessant Application, the early Hours your Lordship spends in wrestling for
Not friends to their country, but promoters of personal interest.
Represented to the Trustees as a male- content.
The barren product of those noble pains.
460
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jo Dobell to the Earl of Egmont.
the Good of this Colony, and to see Staring in ones Face the Barren product of those Noble Pains, and that too chiefly through the Wicked- ness and Folly of those who cloak all their ac- tions with good pretensions, it makes me abhor the proceedings of such Creatures, and grieve to see Greatness and Goodness so wretchedly abused !
Greatness and good. ness wretch- edly abused.
A public letter of thanks to Gen. Oglethorpe.
After the Alarm or rather the Invasion of the Spaniards a Publick Letter of Thanks to Gen- eral Oglethorpe was (by what Hand I know not) drawn up; which I thought my Duty to Sign, nor could I have thought any Heart would with- hold a Grateful Acknowledgment of so great a Good, such a Signal Deliverance as this was (to him whom under God our Lives are oweing) wherein dwelt one Grain of Grattitude or Hon- our.
For this Cause several shameful Arts have been used to lessen my Esteem amongst the People, such as Scandalous Advertisements against the Pine Trees by one of the Majes- trates, and this manner of Advertizing lasted several Weeks, therefore I infer it was done by the Approbation of the rest. I thank God that tho it had some, yet not the desired Effect: But the Author gate himself despised by every So- ber person who too well knew what Ill conse- quences such Foolish proceedings have for- merly, when the Town was in its prosperity. brought forth; how Fatal to the well-being thereof it has proved, although not then, per- haps, done by a Majestrate, nor with so much
Scandalous advertise- ments fixed to trees by one of the magistrates.
!
461
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Jo Dobell to the Earl of Egmont.
Slander & Scurrility as this was perform'd. And because I seem'd to regard it not, therefore He redoubled his Efforts untill he was wearied with his own Folly.
Wearled with his own folly.
And as One may represent me a Malecontent, so another has, I confess, a far greater reason to represent me a Hypocrite, because I carry Fair towards Col™. Stephens and all those my Superiours ; But My Lord, this I do from a prin- ciple of Duty due to their Persons and Offices, abstracted from their proceedings. But I hope I shall have Honesty enough always to despise Hypocrisy, and such a share of Honour as will produce a willing & lasting Obedience to all whom it is due & requisite.
As to what is done in Frederica I am entirely unacquainted with. We enjoy much Quietness from the publick Enemy, neither have I heard of any Spanish Privateer on our Coast since the Alarm. We are now plentifully supply'd with all sorts of necessary Provisions, but some is at a pretty Dear rate- The prest Prices Whole- sale & Retail are as Follows-
So purchased from the last New York Sloop
Brown Bisquit tr 1b. £0 .. 12 16
Middling Do
White Do Or Cask qt abt 261b
6
Beer # Barrel abt 26 Gallons 1
0 0 2 .. Flour Br Ton 13 .. 10 .. Rum Or Gallon
3
..
S
Butter Or Firkin # 1b. 0 .. 8
Cheese Or lb about
0 ..
7
What is done in Frederica.
Wholesale and retail prices of provisions.
.. 6 0
..
0
462
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Jo Dobell to the Earl of Egmont.
Wholesale
Pork is sold by the whole Hog for 24 23 1b } 11/2 Beef by the Bullock about
Bought at
Mutton is seldom brought but when 'tis its Sold for 5d @ 1b. Mellossus Ar Gal 2 .. 6
SOLD BY RETAIL.
S đ
Brown Bisquit # 1b. 0 .. 2
Middling Do
21/2
Potatoes Ar Do. 1 0 ..
White Do
..
Beer ? Quart
..
6
Pease Ar quart. 0 .. 1
Bread Dr 1b.
2
Rum Or quart 15d,
16d & 1 6 ..
Butter Ar Ib 11
Cheese r 1b S
Pork Er 1b
3
Chocolate 4 .. 0
Bohea Tea
5 ..
0
Mutton Pr 1b.
5
Salt Or Bushel (I
Mellossus Pr Galln. . 2 ..
6
Maderia Wine Ær
Galln. 5 .. 0
I beseech your Lordship to Forgive my Faults, and as I have nothing so much to Heart as the Honour and Interest of the Honourable Trustees and especially your Lordships (for your remembrance is Awful & Dear to me even as an Angel of God) I do Humbly pray your Lordship to Forgive and correct what is amiss in me, who am
My Lord! your Lordships
Dutiful
& most Obliged Servant Jnº. Dobell.
-
Indn Corn Ar Bush. . 1 . 6
8
312
Rice Or 1b.
0 ..
1
Brown Sugr such as is sold in Londn 31%
Fr lb here sold for 0 . 6 Coffee, raw, has been Sold for 1s but now 1 .. 4
Beef @r 1b.
2
think)
3 .. 0
463
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM WM. STEPHENS TO MR. HARMAN
VERELST DATED 22D. JANRY 1742/3 AND LIST OF THE PRODUCE OF CORN PEASE & POTATOES RAISED IN THE NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE COLONY OF GEORGIA BETWIXT XTMAS 1741 & XTMAS 1742
Savannah Jan': 22: 1742/3
Coppy.
Sir
After sending away my Packett, which was of the 14th Dec": { Cap": Gregory in the Susannah, upon revising your Letters then (as I thought) answered, I found yours of the 25th Augt had some how or other escaped my Notice; which I am therefore now in the first Place to say some- thing to.
Your Letter to M' Hawkins, which you were pleas'd to send me Coppy of, I transmitted to him very soon after it came to my Hand: and I . cannot wonder at the Honble: Trustees making Enquiry into the Proceedings of either of the Town Courts in the Northern or Southern Parts of this Province; whereby any Infringments have been made on the Liberties of the Kings Subjects; or any Abuses in the Administration of Justice; since I observe that in those Pro- ceedings before the House of Commons which you was so kind to send me, of the last Session of Parliament, there appear'd strong Insinua-
Enquiry into pro- ceedings of town courts in northern and southern parts of province.
464
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Complained of being hardly dealt with.
As to pro- ceedings of the court of Savannah.
The mag. istrates at variance among themselves.
tions (not to say downright Charges) from some of the Evidence, of Practices that Way tending. As I should think it my bounden Duty to speak plain, & without Reserve, in all Cases wherein their Honours require any Information from me, so also it behoves me to take Heed, how farr I give Credit to Reports, that may have no good Foundation ; & in so doing, injure a Man's Char- acter undeservedly. It is publickly known here, that divers who left Frederica making this their Way to Charles Town, in order to settle there; came away in ill Humour, & complain'd of being hardly dealt with to such of their Acquaintance as they found in this Town, during their Stay; Two more especially, Perkins & Davison, the former a Magistrate, the latter a Constable, look'd on by most People to be industrious Men, gave themselves much Liberty, in exclaiming against the Doctors Behaviour, as well on the Bench as elsewhere, in the Execution of his Office : but having no such Talk directed to me, I gave the less heed to it; imagining they might possibly quit their Habitations & Freeholds in a sower Temper, after the Example of some of our angry Folks here. As to the Proceedings of this Court of Savannah (which I have sel- dome failed to attend) I profess that I have never seen or known of any illegal, or unwar- rantable Proceedings from the Bench; but with- in few Years past, I could not but observe the Magistrates sometimes at Variance among themselves, & perhaps shewing some indecent Warmth towards one another; particularly
465
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Messrs Fallowfield & Jones; which however never ended in an unjust Determination from the Bench to the Injury of any private Person, or of the Publick. If common Fame were to be regarded, perhaps the Same could not be said always when possibly there might be more Ap- pearance of an arbitrary Disposition in a Person who sate first Bayliff; some of whose Actions are kept yet in Memory, & scann'd by most People to this Day: But those Things were be- fore my Time; & consequently not within the Compass of my Observation, who would by no means exhibit a Charge of Misdemeanour at randome.
To give my Opinion in relation to Tybee, which the Honble: Trust are pleased to expect from me; I must acquaint them that the Beacon there stands on such a Point at the Mouth of the Harbour as to make it evidently conspicuous to all Vessels coming from the North, the East, & 2 or 3 Points to the Southward of the East; from whence to all Vessels going to or from the South, &c, it is intercepted by a small Point of Wood; insomuch that I my self can testify, in coming from the South on the Coast Northward, the Beacon cannot be seen 'till we come near abreast of it to the East. This Wood which cutts off the Benefit of it so farr, is scarcely worth regarding; being to the best of my Judg- ment in the whole, not more than 4 Acres, con- sisting of poor ragged Trees on the Sea Side, of little Value, nor ever likely to be: insomuch that it would hardly deserve any Care of cutting it
Opinion in relation to Tybee.
466
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
A public benefit to all navigators.
into Vistoes, but rather to cutt the whole down smooth: & in Case any Timber is to be found among it fit for Use, it may as easily be con- verted to such, by Water Carriage, as at any other Place. This I humbly conceive would be a great Improvement of what their Honours meant should be a publick Benefit to all Naviga- tors : But at the same Time I must humbly sub- mit it to be considered, whether or not it would be best deferr'd till the Warr is over with Spain; for I have heard it affirm'd, that many of those Enemies who live to the South, are Strangers to this Sea mark, & the Use to make of it in approaching to Land.
Enemies, who live in the south, strangers to sea mark.
The Rec': of your Letters of 7th Sep". & 9th Oct : with the Letters & Packetts therewith sent, being noted in my Journal on the 11th & 18th Ins': require no farther Answer; to which there- fore you'll please to be referr'd.
I am next to lay before you a few Thoughts of mine, on divers Affairs which I conceive need- full for the Information of the honble: Trust, & wherein I must wish to have their Advice.
The ship "Caesar."
'Tis now a Year & some Months, since the Ship Cæsar was brought in here; the Circum- stances & Occasion whereof I laid before the Honble Trustees in my Journal of the 234; 24th. 25th. & 26th Aug: 1741. She has lain safe at her Moorings ever since, but not without some Ex- pence; for 'twas absolutely needfull to hire a Person to attend her & live mostly on board, to prevent Imbezlement's, & take Care that no
CORRESPONDENCE
467
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Damage accrued to the Ship. Nevertheless it cannot but be expected that the Rigging &c which was much shatter'd & of little Worth when she was brought in, must in so long Time become of farr less (I mean the Shrouds only; for her Topmasts were lost at Sea; what An- chors, Cables, or other Cordage, &c, She had on board, were all inventoried, & preserv'd as well as we could. After the Expiration of a full Year that She has so lain, I have frequently look'd on her with Regret; having found no means here to be advised what was proper to be done, or how to proceed with Safety in the Sale of her; often receiving Hints from divers to take Heed what I did; some in a daring Manner, & some giving me friendly Caution. M' Fal- lowfield who acted as Naval Officer whilst he lived here, on his going away, quitted all farther Charge of her; & no body caring to concern themselves about her, it fell to my Share to see that she did not go utterly to Ruin, as farr as I could prevent it. I must humbly beg therefore such Directions as shall be thought proper, what Steps I am to take in Behalf of the Trust, in case they claim any Property (as I apprehend they have a Right to) & what Method to pursue in doing my Duty: Here is no Officer yet appoin- ted by the Trust, or Commisioners of the Cus- toms, to Act in these Naval Affairs; but M' Christie writing me a Letter lately, in a peculiar Style, after being about 3 Months in Charles Town; I have enclosed a Coppy of it: whilst I
Mr. Fallow- field acted as naval officer.
A letter of peculiar style from Mr. Christie.
468
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
hear he lives there as a Clerk or Writer under some Person to mne unknown.
The silk affair.
The Season of the Year for some Months past, has not called on me to write any Thing con- cerning the Silk Affair; but I have not been un- mindfull of doing what I thought incumbent on me towards promoting it; more especially by giving all possible Encouragement for planting Mulberrys; & where ever I found a ready Dis- position for it, but an Inability to get 'em, I provided some Thousands to supply 'em with, which I hope I have put into such Hands as will make a right Use of 'em : In plain Truth it is the only Thing wanting to raise the Reputation of that Affair ; provided Mrs Camuse acts an honest part, as I hope she will : She has for a while past behaved with farr better Temper than she was wont; & appears desirous of pleasing the honble Trustees: She is satisfied of the true Reason why no Answer has yet been returned to those Proposals sent hence in Jan' : last 1741/2; & on my assuring her that I had sent a Coppy of the same, assoon as I knew the other was lost; She hopes 'ere long to know the Trust's Pleasure: 'till then, She seems a little reserved as to the Point of teaching Apprentices, (whereof she has yet only one) but listen'd to me attentively, when I assured her of the Trusts Determination to make a future Provision for her & hers, in Case of her Inability to carry on the Work; provided she instructed others in Behalf of the Trust, so as to be capable to supply her Place. When so much depends on this Woman & (if I am rightly
Mrs. Ca- muse in a better temper.
In regard to teaching apprentices the silk trade.
CORRESPONDENCE
469
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
informed) 'tis Death for any Piedmontois if taken, who shall divulge the Art in another Country : tis no longer strange that she insists on pretty high Terms. I could wish 'twere the Task of another, to tell you what the Produce of this Manufacture was the last Year, which I have therefore so long postponed; but Truth must not be hid. All that we could make of it was hardly 8" of Spun Silk; for which the Rea- sons to be given were, partly not allowing any Balls to be wound off but such as were truly the Growth of this Colony (very justly to be sure in Obedience to the Commands I receiv'd) never- theless, That would not have occasion'd so great a Disparity from the preceeding Year, had not a worse Reason happen'd as I formerly took notice of in my Journal of the 10th. of May, which was equally complain'd of by our Neigh- bours in Carolina. The Quantity of Silk wrought off from' a Pound of Ball which their Honours of the Trust required to be in- formed of, I formerly wrote in my Journal of the 26th May 1742.
Herewith you'll receive a List of the Persons who make Claim for the Bounty on Corn, Pease & Potatoes, conformable to such Directions as the Trust were pleas'd to send me. You'll please to observe that therein no Notice is taken of the Southern Part of this Colony; whereon I hope no Blame will fall on me; for Notice has been given of it; & possibly it may be judged more proper to send an Acct : of it directly to the Trust thence: or perhaps a different Reason
Mrs. Ca. muse an important factor.
List of persons making claim for bounty.
470
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Devastation and waste of crops spoken of.
may be found; namely, the Inability that such as planted must lie under of sending any Acco': at all, that can be well warranted, of the last Years Increase; when 'tis well known what a Devasta- tion & Waste was made on such growing Crops as they had, by Reason of the Warr coming home to their Doors, & the frequent Avocations they had from preserving 'em; at Darien es- pecially 'twas said all went to Ruin; & their Habitations as well as Plantations left in a Manner desolate for a Time, 'till they return'd to see the Spoils that were made by the Beasts of the Field: wherefore 'tis to be wished they may be rewarded for their Service in such other bountifull Manner as shall be thought they de- serve from the Publick. You'll also find no men- tion of Augusta; as I think it has not been cus- tomary; for their Labour is so very little there, in Comparison with these lower Parts of the Province; & the Crops which they generally have, are so plentifull & extensive; that they want no Encouragement to cultivate Land, which so readily produces Abundance from whatever Seed it receives : & 'tis not easy to con- ceive, what a large Sum of Money 'twould re- quire to pay one Years Bounty there, at the same Rates as intended near the Sea Coast, or within 50 Miles of it. Ebenezer next we see grown to such Maturity as to need no farther Leading Strings hereafter : & I wish it could be said so of Savannah & its Neighbourhood: where I humbly conceive the most usefull Boun- ty to bestow upon 'em hence forward, would be
Ebenezer grown to maturity.
CORRESPONDENCE
471
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
in finding some Expedient how to get a Number of labouring Hands at a moderate Expence; & then 'twill appear how farr they are in Earnest, who now profess a Desire of going on with Im- provements : but even then, what 'twill avail those who must live by their own Labour, not having wherewith to purchase the Help of oth- ers, I cannot see, whilst the same Aversion re- mains with 'em of clearing Land: those in the .present List expecting Bounty, mark'd thus (V) have produced what we see by their own Strength without other Help (among whom we find but one Englishman) but they are mostly of Highgate & Hampstead, together with half a Dozen mark'd thus (X) of the first Settlers about a Year since on those Lands then run out beyond Hampstead, who are since increased to near 20: Among those who stand in the fore Part of the List, Anthony Camuse deserves to be distinguish'd; a sober modest diligent young Man, who built a good Hutt on his Lott about a Mile out of Town; where he got his Father & Mother & Family down with him during good Part of the Seasons when Attendance on the Silk Affair was not required; & with a little more Help, which he paid for out of his Mothers Purse, within two Years past clear'd a part of his 45 Acre Lott sufficient to produce the Crop last Harvest which we now see.
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