USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 29
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'Twas my Intention to have wrote somewhat more particular than in my former, relating to our New Surveyor and Register; but having ex- tended this Letter already to a greater Length
Anthony Camuse dis- tinguished as a planter.
Relating to the new sur. veyor and register.
472
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
than I was aware of ; I hope 'twill be of no Det- riment, to defer it 'till my next; when I shall fully explain my self concerning those Affairs: in the mean while, as I am every Day now wish- ing for another Packett from you I should be extream glad, if I may therein find those In- structions relating to M' Avery, which he says he expects ; for indeed we are some times doubt- full; least we should exceed due Limits; but no Disagreement has happen'd yet, nor shall if I can prevent it.
The accot. of the produce of the Trust's farms.
The Acco': of the Produce of the Trusts Farms, I now sent, as perfect as I could get it : & likewise a List of the Persons, who raised any Crops during the last Year, with the several Quantities, Value, &c as above Said, whereof I shall send Coppy in my next, pursuant to Order from whence the Honble: Trustees kind Inten- tions towards the Colony 'tis hoped may be ful- fill'd; & those few who have sought it will reap the Benefit. I am
Sir
Your most humble Servant
Signed : Will": Stephens Coppy.
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
List of the Produce of Corn, Pease, and Po- tatoes raised by the underwritten Inhabitants of the Northern Division of the Colony of Geor- gia betwixt Christmas 1741 and Christmas 1742.
Corn, pease and potatoes raised by underwritten inhabitants.
NAMES
Corn Bushis
Pease Bushls
Potatoes! Bushls
Value
At Ebenezer by the Revd:
Mr Bolziua's Accot: ..
3048
537
566
£ 172 .. 18 .. 0
William Stephens Esqre .-
170
20
37
9 .. 14 .. 3
Mr. Henry Parker.
108
20
42
6 .. 8 .. 6
Mr. Samuel Marcer
451%
2 .. 5 .. 6
Orphan House.
18016
391%
532
16 .. 13 .. 3
Anthony Camuse.
301
59
297
20 .. 7 .. 9
Widow Harris
40
12
15
2 .. 9 .. 9
Patrick Houston
6546
3 .. 5 .. 6
V Isaac Gibbs_
60
3 .. 0 .. 0
v John Landry
29
91%
2815
2 .. 0 .. 10%
V James Jensack_
2816!
9
19
1 .. 17 .. 9
V David Kendall.
43
95712 5 2
40
2 .. 15 .. 6
Simon Roviere.
24
4814
1 .. 19 .. 7%
7 Michael Bourghalter.
149
25116
10 .. 12 .. 712
V Ulrick Peltz
18
12
1 .. 2 .. 0
V Ulrick John Haltz
12
12
0 .. 15 .. 0
. Jacob Herback
33
3
3
1 .. 15 .. 3
/ Gaspar Herback
35
2
3
1 .. 16 .. 9
John Erinxman
37
1
16
1 .. 13 .. 6
/ Samuel Lyon Patrick Graham
32
30
411
7 .. 9 .. 9
Mrs. Mathews
62
7
105
4 .. 11 .. 9
Sum Total
4553
76632
24721 26 277 .. 14 .. 416
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. STEPHENS TO MR. HARMAN VERELST RECD 28 APRIL 1742
Savannah 24 Jan: 17435.
I must beg pardon for a long Story yt I wrote you lately concerning my unhappy Son Thoms Marriage; wch I and his Brother who is with me, were both mistaken in; imagining from some circumstances past, that it was to a Sister of Mr. Steed a Refiner : but by a letter y he
Concerning the mar- rlige of Col. Stephens' son.
473
29
14
2 .. 1 .. 6
474
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to Mr. Harman Verelst.
Col. Steph. ens insulted and re- proached by son.
wrote lately to his Brother here (wch as I take it was under your Superscription, by w' means I can't imagine) we are given to understand y the persons maiden Name is Simpson; of what Parentage or Fortune we know not; nor does he in his letter take any farther notice of me, that to insult me with Reproaches, for espousing the Honourable Trustees part against him: wch in Justice as well as Duty I was bound to do; nor is there any one of his Brothers, who has not condemned him for his whole proceedings; wch tho' I can never remember without grief, I hope I shall have no future occasion to make mention of to you. In this Packett you'll find one from me to my eldest Son at All Souls, who has met with the same success as his Father, and noth- ing but abuses for all the good advice he gave him, to act in a different manner from what he did. It was this my eldest Son that I presume you heard was then lately gone into orders when you formerly wrote me; but the misinformation was only as to time; for he has been in Orders 7 or 8 years. Youll be so good to forward the letter wch I have now wrote him.
Nothing but abuses for good advice given him.
Since my other letter of the 22ª the 2 Petitions here enclosed were deliverd me weh I have no spare time to say more of at present than that I think they are much of a price wth those I sent in my former Packet of the 14 Dec. The Boat wherein I send this will not stay: wherefore I conclude
S' Your oblidged and very humble Servt
Will: Stephens.
475
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Joseph Avery to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. JOSEPH AVERY TO THE TRUS- TEES ACCOTANT. RECD 7 JULY 1743.
Savannah in the Province of Georgia the 31st of JanTy. 1742/3.
S' :
in my last of the 27th: Ober I signefied that I was going to run out the Duch Town at White Bluff upon Vernon River, since that I have done so and have given out the Town and farm lots, and have settled the people upon their farm lots that so they may clear the land and plant a crop this Season, by which they will be supply'd with provision for next year, and therefore be no farther an expence to the Trustees and publick.
between the Crops they will clear the ground build houses and make gardens &c: upon the Town lots there is not at present above Thir- ty familys, which contains about a hund' : peo- ple Men Women and Children but there is room for Eighty or a hund: Familys, the Lots in Town are lay'd out for that Number, and the land is run out for their farm lots all of it ex- cellent for plantations, there is about five thousd: Acres of that kind besides pine barron for feeding there Cattle, As you will see by a Plan that I shall return to the Honble Trustees very soon, which said Plan has in it several other lands adjoining as Con: Stephens; MI
Dutch Town at White Bluff upon Vernon River now settled.
476
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Joseph Avery to the Trustees.
Town laid out ready to receive Dutch and German servants.
Mercer, M' Whitfields, Burgholders a Switz, the Town of Acton inhabit by Switz and Germans, M' : Bradleys M' : Houstons & : as they are upon or near Vernon River, so that whensoever the Honble: Trustees please to send over a Ship with Duch (or German) familys there is a Town and land lay'd out reay to receive them, with some of their Own Country people at it, who will In- struct and supply them with what they are Able, for they are Undoubtedly very kind to one an- other, but not much so to Strangers, It has been to great a fatigue to me to Run out so much Land in so little time but, their was a Nec- essity for it they being to go upon it at Christ- mass, And that being the Season for clearing land, that so they might plant it in time, other- ways they wou'd have no Crop this Summer. which wou'd be a great loss if neglected. The Plan of the Town of Vernonburgh and the land about it, is the form and manner I design to make Use of for all the other different parts of the Colony, one of them to be kept here at my Office for all persons Information, and the Other return to the Honble. Trustees, with Notes and Observations, and all the Land run out, set off upon it, within that bounds,
All persons to whom land is Granted will have perticular Plans (or plots) of their own Ground, which said plans will be annex'd to their Grants for to set forth their Rights,
The whole when done (or what is done year- ly) will be Abridged into one Plan and returnd
The plan of the Town of Vernon. burgh.
CORRESPONDENCE
477
Mr. Joseph Avery to the Trustees.
to the Honble: Trustees and these being General another will be kept here for the (Information and) Use of the Colony,
In my last to the Trustees I gave them an Ac- count of the missarable State of this place, Oc- cationed by the going away, sickness, and death of the people, So that this Town and part of the Country about it is allmost deserted, Unless it be by the Duch. Saltzburghers, some Switz and French and a few Britainers, there will be little or no clearing or planting land this Year, unless it be what is done by the Duch and Saltzburgh- ers, Nor can their be any quantity done as there is no hands to do it with, black Servants not being allow'd, and white Servants not to be got at any Rate, their being very few in this part of the Colony worth hireing, those of them that are the lowest prices for Wages is from Eighteen to Twenty four Ster: yearly besides Victuals, this is so Intollerable an Expence that the people are not able to support it if they was willing, Therefore if to each 500 Acres Lots if a few Negroes was allow'd, if it was but two to the like Number of White Servants and so in proportion, then something might and wou'd be done to keep up the Colony till peace is con- cluded with Spain, so as to Increase them to the proposd Number, But without it I cannot see that any thing can be done so as to keep it up from going back and comeing to nothing, there- fore it cannot be Expected whilst these re- straints remain that any manufactures alltho of ever so much to Advantage can be set up or
An account of the miserable conditions in the Colony.
A discussion about servants.
478
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Joseph Avery to the Trustees.
carried on to any purpose, yet tryals may be made to know how they will Answer. But if the Trustees will not as yet allow of Negro Ser- vants, but will send over White Servants, tis necessary that they allow them no Advance Money as they did the Switzers that came in Wadham last year but order them support Monthly only as they go on with their Improve- ments, for if they do, when they come to this Town they are shure to be corrupted, And in- steed of going upon land directly and makeing plantations, they stay in it till they have spent all their Money and have none left to support them 'till their Crop comes if they endeavour to make one, this prevents them from being Usefull to the Colony by Improvements the sole inten- tions of their comeing, and keeps them in town where they learn Idle habits, and Contract Vicious customes, which will render them unfit to carry on and live upon Plantations this may make a Garrison and be Expensive to the pub- lick, but never can carry on Usefull Manufac- turs, nor dose it at present produce the neces- sary provisions for the Inhabitants, therefore when the publick Supplys are withdrawn, or shoud they be stop'd it must sink and come to nothing according to its present Constitution this is no small trouble to me to see and that it is not in my power to help it, for I am satisfied was the Honble: Trustees here, and did they really see and know it as I do, the goodness of their Intentions is such that it woud redely put them upon such methods, so as to make it Use-
Idle habits and vicious customs learned in town.
CORRESPONDENCE
479
Mr. Joseph Avery to the Trustees.
full insteed of a burden to the Publick, And therefore I presume once again to Intreat those worthey Gentlemen to weigh and Consider those papers that I left with them when I came from England for I am convine'd from the present State of the Colony, that some such method as is their proposd must be Established before it can florish and be successfull, for as I have no other View but the good and happiness of man- kind, which is the wish and desire of all good men, so I am fully perswaided that those Gentle- men woud think of it with the greatest pleasure to be the happy Instruments of Accomplishing so good and laudable a design, Therefore as a person Intrusted by them that knows the State of the Colony I think it my duty rightly to in- form them, not doubting but they will think favourablely of the freedom I have taken as it proceeds from no other Intention but Zeal for promoting its good and well being, and the satis- faction of those Honble: Gentlemen, who I know has it so much at heart, that they wou'd, be pleas'd to see it in that Situation.
If they shoud think proper to allow a few Negroes, yet it will be necessary that some white people be sent to make a due ballance. But much money need not be spent that way, nor will it need any when peace is made with Spain or Augusteen redust, because every one that is here who's hearts are fix'd upon the good of the Colony, wou'd be glad to pay for their bringing over
Trustees prevalled upon to consider papers left by Mr. Avery.
An allow. ance of negroes wanted badly.
480
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Joseph Avery to the Trustees.
If negroes are allowed a number of substan- tial adven- turers will take up land in the Colony.
When the Number of Negroes are allow'd that was conserted before I left London then their will come into the Colony (as I have full Infor- mation) a great Number of Substantial Adven- turers who when they take up Land and bring in Negroes will also be at the Expence of bring- ing White Servants with them according to the fixd Number, this will save the Trustees that charge and trouble, And yet the Colony will be sufficiently stockd, and thereby will be made strong and benificial to the Publick
Mr. Doble unfit for task as register.
None more fit for the place of register than Mr. Charles Watson.
I saw a Letter from you to M': Doble about keeping the Regester. And I must say that tis my Opinion that he is very unfit for that task, as he is Intirely Unacquainted with the law and Mathematicks, both of which the person that is Regester ought to know something of, besides he must be of a Sound and Solid Understanding and of a teachable temper, that if he is not Urs'd [sic] in the Mathematical part he may be In- structed in it, he wou'd likewise require so much knowledge of the Law, as to know How to form it in proper and suteable termes, that so it may prevent any disputes hereafter. But as it is not a sufficient Sallary to support a Man if he has nothing Else, so it may be given to one that has another Employment and at present I know of none so fit for it in this place as M': Charles Watson one of the present Ballies [sic] who ap- pears to me to be a Man of good Understanding. and sincerely attach'd to the Interest of the Colony whensoever I have redust things into order fit for regestering, then I shall assist the
481
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Joseph Avery to the Trustees.
Regester in doing it as far as is in my power to compleat the whole for the Colony.
But as the publick plans of the Colony, and all the privat plans of Land run out as granted, with the Warrants and Grants for runing them will be lodg'd in my Office, so if one of those parts of the Town that are Reserv'd for publick uses was appointed for the Surveyors office and place of Residence, And the Regesters office was Adjoind, it wou'd be very convenient for consulting and settling the Regester This would be satisfactory to the people to whom land is Granted, and According to the Honble: Trustees directions about it, therefore please to let me know whither any of those places so Reserv'd may be applied that way and what is the Trus- tees directions about it,
when I wanted a boat to carry on the publick service of the Colony as their was none to spare, I was oblidg'd to build one with the approbation of the President and assistant, but the difficulty of giting hands to go in her without Extraordi- mary Expence (the General given such high Rates for men) was pretty much but all tho I grudg'd it (very much), yet the thoughts of Nig- licting the publick Service and the bad consi- quences that woud attend it surmounted those difficultys and Oblidg'd me to git them but when you writ to supply me with boats for the publick Service you shoud have Named men to them be- cause some Objections has been made that way but not so as to hinder the same; nor I hope will it when I have an Occation for any that way.
Offices and residences of the surveyors and registers.
A boat to carry on the public service.
482
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Joseph Avery to the Trustees.
The Colony suffers for want of in. spection.
As many things in this Colony suffers for want of a narrow Inspection, and frauds are comnited, some of which has been lately dis- cover'd and punnish'd publiekly, So their are many more that wants to be Enquired into and reformd, but as it is not done tis a loss to the Trustees and Publick, nor can it be otherways as no person is appointed to that office, who business it would be to go amongst them, Veiw and narrowly Inspect them at all times to see and report what they do, but as that is not done every one believes for that Reason that they are not Accountable to any body and therefore as they are more or less honnest they Act accord- ingly.
Commission as inspector necessary.
this shows the necessity of my Commission comeing over as Inspector, because it will not only be of Use to examine all Improvements made in order to report them to the Trustees and Insert them in my Journals, but it will also prevent frauds and be an Aweband upon them for the future. And as my Surveying Oblidges me to travell much and to be perticularly ac- quainted with the Colony so my Inspection will be the easier and therefore it will be much to the purpose of preventing frauds and Misman- agements for the time to come, but this I cannot take upon me to do alltho it woud serve the Colony nor can I prudently meddle in it 'till my Commission comes over which I hope will be soon, I am with Esteem
S': Your most humble Servant Joseph Avery.
483
CORRESPONDENCE
Inhabitants of Vernonburgh to the Trustees.
To Harman Verelst Eq': accountant to the Honble : Trustees for Establishing the Colony of Georgia to be communicated to them
P. S. as soon as the Plan of Vernonburgh is finnishd I shall sent it home to the Trustees and with it writ a long Account of my proceedings and other Matters, And perticular of an Indigo work set up in Carolina by a Gentleman from the West Indias of which I shall fully inform · myself by that time
I have your Birds but know not how to send them as Me.linnen did not call here
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM THE INHABITANTS OF VERNONBURGH TO THE TRUSTEES
Savannah the 6th. Febrna' 1742 Georgia -
May it please your Honours
We whose Names are hereunto subscribed, in the behalf of our Selves and the rest of the In- habitants of Vernonburgh and the Villages ad- jacent, wherein by Divine Providence and the Paternal Care of your Honours we are, we Hope, Happily Settled; Finding our selves at a great Loss for want of a Minister to carry on
The plan of Vernon- burgh.
An indigo work set up in Carolina.
At a great loss for want of a minister.
484
COLONIAL RECORDS
Inhabitants of Vernonburgh to the Trustees.
Calvinistical principles of religion.
the Worship of God, and to Instruct us in our Duty towards Man, that so we may become Use- ful to the Colony and receive on our Endeavours the Blessing of God; do Humbly Request your Honours to give us a Pastor, a Man fearing God and hating Coveteousness; One that is well Grounded & Settled in the Calvinistical prin- ciples of Religion those being them we were brought up in, and which we stedfastly Adhere unto
A request for Revd. John Joachim Zubli of St. Gail for minister of Vernon. burgh.
And whereas the Revª John Joachim Zubli of St. Gall in Switzerland -- (Son of David Zubli of Purrisburgh in Carolina) is well known to many of us to be a truly Pious and Prudent, a Learned and a Conscientious Man, Orthodox in our Religion and very desirous of coming amongst us; We therefore Humbly pray your Honours to Indulge us in this, even to Appoint him the said Revd. John Joachim Zubli of, and now residing at S' Gall in Switzerland to be our Pastor, and to send him to us- The granting this Request will Sweeten all our Comforts,
We daily partake of your Honours Favour, and Enjoy great Blessings from the English nation, which teacheth us that your Honours are Tender of our Welfare have the Good of the Colony to heart. From a due Sense of this, our Hearts are filled with Thankfulness, which we shall endeavour to shew forth by our Dilligence, Love and Dutiful Obedience; being resolved to
485
CORRESPONDENCE
Gen. Oglethorpe to the Trustees' Accotant.
maintain your Honours Interest by Unanimous- ly standing up in the Defence of our Country &c Michel Burckhalter
John Berhofter
John Alther Earl John Frederic Kieffer Theobald Kieffer Christian Stonhebel
Michel Swizer John George Usland
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.) LETTER FROM BRIGR. GENL. OGLETHORPE TO THE TRUSTEES ACCOTANT. RECD 24 APRIL 1743
Frederica 12th. Febry. 1742
Gentlemen
I received Yours from Mr. Martin of the 10th of August to be sure it was very right that a Hearing should be had relating to Stephens but I think it was unfortunate that that hearing should be at a time when the necessary defence of the Colony obliged every Man of Worth to be here present and as there was none in England the Folly as well as improbability and falsehood of his Assertions could not appear. A mistake both in the Charge and defence run thro' the whole It was Villiany in him and it was natural for our Council to be incited by making a de-
A hearing relating to Stephens.
Improbabil- ity and falsehood of assertions.
486
COLONIAL RECORDS
Gen. Oglethorpe to the Trustees' Accotant.
Savannah spoken of as being whole Province of Georgia.
fence against his Charge. This mistake is speaking of Savannah as if it was the whole Province of Georgia whereas the District of Savannah is but a small portion of it- The Province extends beyond the Missisippi west- ward & beyond Frederica Southward and the Trustees Orders are obeyed in every part of it except at Savannah.
Trustees' orders obeyed except at Savannah.
Continual complaints between the magistrates and in- habitants.
It was not till after the War obliged me to be upon the Frontier that the Laws for the welfare of the Colony and the Trustees Ordrs. were dis- obeyed at Savannab. There has been since my coming away nothing but continual Complaints between the Magistrates and Inhabitants and between each other. Those disputes have been artfully kept up by the Spanish Emissarys of whom it seems too apparent young Stephens is one. It was near as good to them to draw off a Man from this Colony as to get one to Augus- tine Since this Spirit has been stirring the Town & District of Savannah has decreased daily in Men. 1 find they say at the Barr they drank Rum publickly, I beleive it may at Savannah have been drank plentifully by the great Sick- ness and Mortality there but here there has been no such thing and the People have been healthy.
Rum publickly drank.
Mortality in America chiefly owing to distilled liquors.
The Mortality in America is chiefly owing to distilled liquors the mixing with Water makes them less hurtful but is very far from making them wholesome.
A compari- son in regard to rum.
At St. Andrews where no distilled Liquors were drank they lost out of two Companys of
CORRESPONDENCE
487
Gen. Oglethorpe to the Trustees' Accotant.
100 Men each but three and at Port Royal where Rum was drank we lost out of one Company be- tween 40 & 50 in one Year and I can assure you if Rum is allowed in any shape here the Soldiers will be unfit for Action and the Inhabitants for labour & sicknesses will be as fatal as at Ja- maica which will then be imputed to the Climate
.
As for the Magistrates being unable to eu- force the Laws it is the fault of such Magis- trates I am sure here the Laws are strictly put in execution. Besides the Health of the People the consumption of Beer and Wine is greatly more beneficial to Trade than distilled Liquors they imploy more Shipping Beer is the manu- facture of Britain imploys many hands who pay Rents and Taxes. Wine comes from Madeira and is paid for by English Goods and this im- ploys the poor English Manufacturer and the importing of Molosses which is the material for small Beer here is much more beneficial to the Sugar Colonies than the importing of Rum since Rum is a Comodity that will sell any where as well as in this Colony but Molosses is a Drug of but litle Vent elsewhere.
I am of Opinion that this is the Crisis and upon the measures taken depends the Fate not only of this Colony but in a great measure of North America also the Importance is now proved by the great Armament of the Spaniards disappointed by the resistance they met with here. It is impossible to advise what should be done at the distance between this and Europe
Beer and wine more beneficial than dis- tilled liquors.
Of the opinion that the Colony has reached a crisis.
2
488
COLONIAL RECORDS
Gen. Oglethorpe to the Trustees' Accotant.
before one can send over a proposal have it de- bated and receive an answer the executing of it becomes out of Season. Two Battallions and a small Squadron with Mt. Vernon would at first have taken Carthagena-4000 Men after they were prepared could not do it
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