USA > Georgia > Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Volume 23 > Part 6
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91
CORRESPONDENCE
Thos. Jones to Harman Verelst.
I shall make a poor Farmer at last; which were Attained a great pity, now I have attained to some per-
some per- fection as farmer.
fection. I remain in all Events
ST
Your most assured humble Servt
Will Stephens.
To M'. Harman Verelst.
P. S.
.12 Aug. Having demanded a Coppy of the several Presentments of the Grand Jury at the late Court, for Curiositys sake; the Recorder brought some of em to me this morning; among which I present you with two; the rest, which will require some animadversions on, I defer till my next.
Present- ments of Grand Jury demanded for curios- ity's sake.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM THOS JONES TO MR. HARMAN VERELST AT YE GEORGIA OFFICE-WESTMINSTER DATED AUG. 12 1741 RECD 14 NOVR 1741
- 1 RED WAX SEAL
Savannah 12th. August 1741.
Sir
The Honble The Trustees their Interest in Georgia being at present in a declining Condi-
92
COLONIAL RECORDS
Thos. Jones to Harman Verelst.
Sir Richd. Everard's contentions in regard to the Trustees' power in the Colony.
The Colony in great confusion.
tion; S. Richd Everard having persuaded the Inhabitants that the Trustees have no property, nor power, in this Colony; and that they have forfeited the Charter granted them (as 'tis com- only reported)- The Confusion this part of the Colony is in at present, without any reason- able prospect of affairs altering for the better, gives but a Melacholy View. When his Excelley Gen1 Oglethorpe, (to whom Col" Stephens & self have made our Reiterated Complaints, and Re- quests for Direction and Assistance,) hath not hitherto had Leisure to afford us any- Indeed I have for near twelve Months past seen clouds gathering a pace, (but had still hopes they would blow over) ; As you may find by what I have comunicated to Col" Stephens, by Letters from Frederica, Copies of some of weh I've en- closed sent you
Gen. Ogle- thorpe's letters re. lating to Druchee.
I wait for ye Return of a Boat sent to Frederica and then do intend (God willing) first Oportunity to write unto you. In the mean time have sent enclosed-his Excellency's Let- ters to me. relating to Duche-as also mine to his Excellence; Col" Stephens I suppose may give you a fuller acco'. of that Affair.
I am
Sir
Your very humble Serv. Thos Jones
93
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Hopton to Harman Vereist.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. WM. HOPTON TO MR. HARMAN
VERELST 21 AUGUST 1741 RECD 14 NOVR. 1741
Charles Town. July 224. 1741.
SF.
Since my last to You of ye 25th of April I've reced yo'. favr. of 18 Decr. & 20 ffebry & have from time to time duly forwarded to & from You whatever I've reced for that Purpose, & Col Stephens readily Reimburses me all ye Ex- pences I am at relateing thereto. I am very much Oblig'd & return my Thanks to The Honble. Trustees for their kind Assurance of readiness to serve me express'd in vor. Lre of ye 18th. of Decem'. I've many times waited on Mr. Ham- merton earnestly entreating him to take up his Bill, & am sorry to inform you 'tis hitherto without success, I having not been able to ob- tain any further payment than the £ 36 .. 135 .. 6ª mentioned in mine to You of 18 April last, As Col Stephens signified to me that he approv'd of Mr. Rutledge's opinion not to arrest him without Orders from The Honble. Trustees, & as I've now little hopes of his paying it without he's sued in any Reasonable time, & in case of his mortality it may be totally lost, therefore I desire you Sir to inform their Hon's. hereof & desire they'll please to signifie their pleasure whether I shall sue him or how otherwise.
Unable to collect bill of Mr. Ham- merton.
94
COLONIAL RECORDS
Win. Hopton to Harman Verelst.
A famous narrative or Infamous libel published.
Inclosed I send you by direction of Col Steph- ens a famous Narrative or Rather infamous Libel lately Publish'd here.
As Capt : Thomson the bearer hereof will in- form you of our News here I'll not further en- creass your Trouble, but am with great Respect Sir
Your most Hum Servt. Charles Town 21 August 1741.
Sir,
The foregoing is Copy of my last which went by Capt: Thomson, since which I've reced yo'. favr. of 27th. April with ye. Lre & two parcels for M. Stephens which I shall forward to him to- morrow, I've herewith Inclos'd a Packet I reced from that Gent". two days ago for your good self, As several Persons go Passengers in ye. Vessel by whom this goes that lately came from Georgia, & as W. Stephens directed me not to commit any thing he sent to their Guardianship, & as no other Vessel is imediately going, there- fore I thought proper to put it under Cover to my friend M. Thomas Bond, whom you'l please to Reimburse the Expence he'll be at for Post- age of it I am
S'.
Your most Humble Servant Wm. Hopton.
To M'. Harman Verelst.
95
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Ewen to the Trustees.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM WM EWEN, REOD 2 SEPT 1741 ANSWP. 16 Do, To THE HONBLE: TRUSTEES FOR ESTABLISHING THE COLONY OF GEORGIA : AMER- ICA.
Gentlemen.
Having some time agoe lay'd before your Hon's. the losses I have Sustain'd by my plan- tation; the hardships and difficulties I was drove too before I left it : I cannot at this time omitt acquainting your Hon's: with the Unjust proceedings of Mr. Thomas Jones; who without any cause of Offence; has many times too plain- ly Shown me; the Ill will; mallice and Spite he bares me; not only Striving to blast my carrecter. (whereby to prevent my gitting my bread) but also prevents me: Useing those means; whereby I Should Attain: to the bal- lance of my Acco': which is my just due.
I have here inclosed to your Hon's: my Acct. Sworn before one of the Bayliffs; and the Re- corder of Savannah.
I have often waited on Mr. Thomas Jones; and have desired him to Settle my Acco. so that I might have it entred in the Store books; but it was all to no purpose: for he allways had an excuse ready so Soone as he saw me come near him; and in a haughty manner; he would tell me: he was bussy; and that he had other affairs to mind. I apperhend that as your
Ill will, malice and spite shown Wmn. Ewen by Mr. Thos. Jones.
Mr. Ewen's acct. sworn before Bai- liffs and recorder sent to Trustees.
-
96
COLONIAL RECORDS
W'm. Ewen to the Trustees.
Mr. Jones unfriendly to the dis- tressed.
Mr. Ewen unable to collect salary for month's service.
Hon's: thought proper: to apoint M': Thomas Jones; Store keeper; and to Assist in Settling the publiek Acc's; that your Hon': has order'd him a Sufficiant Allowance for the Same: and that he Should Act in a mild manner, and Strive to make the people quiat and easy : under there misfortunes. but in Stead of performing his duty in your Hon's: Service : his time & thought is carryed another way : with the gains he dayly gits in traid with Collo. William Stephens in your Hon": Store. he allways Seems to be ready and willing: to add Affliction; to the Afflicted; but hates to be a friend to the distressed; neither can it be expected from Such men; who makes Interest there only views.
The months Service mentioned in my Acct : was at the time: of M': Thomas Caustons leav- ing the Stores; and M': Thomas Jones receiv- ing them. I was left in Charge of the Stores; by Mr. Caustons; but obey'd Mr. Jones orders most of the time. this months Service Mr. Jones Say'd he did not know of; and therefore could not allow of it : til he had Seen M. Causton and that he Should certifie it to him. Accord- ingly I Desired Mr. Causton to goe with me to Mr. Jones; (which he did) and M' Jones was well Satisfyed : and order M' Pye to enter it in the Store book (and Say he would pay me this Acc': in Cash: at any other time but that In- stant : because he was in haste) this he Said in preasents of M': Thomas Causton; and M' : John Pye; but after I had left Mr. Jones: he order'd M. Pye not to enter it in the books:
L
97
CORRESPONDENCE
Wm. Ewen to the Trustees.
neither has he pay'd me the Money; but denies he ever Said he wou'd.
The next Article in my Acct. is for taking an Inventory of the Stores; at the time when M. Thomas Jones was to receive them; this M' Jones allows to be right but Says he has no orders to pay it: and that I shall be paid; (but how or which way I cannot learn).
The two following Articles is my Servants deliver'd to M'. Thomas Jones .........
When I was making Improvements on my land; and had Used my Utmost endeavours with my self and Servants : all that I could raise from the ground; (tho very good of the kind) was not Sufficient to mentain my Servants in pro- visions; Exclusiv'd of Cloaths; Sickness; tools &c: Thus seeing poverty Approching in the mids of Industry; I wrote a letter to Generall Oglethorpe at Frederica: desireing I have the Liberty to return my Servants to the Store again : Acquainting his Excellency at the Same time: that the produce of the Land: was not enough to mentain them in provisions. his Ex- cellency Agreeable to my letter : Sent orders in writeing to M'. Thomas Jones; to take my Ser- vants and to give me C": for them; According- ly I deliver'd my Servants to M'. Thomas Jones; and they are now in your Hon's: Service. (but Mr. Jones has not paid me nor giving me Creditt for them)
The last Article in my Acc': is the bounty on 90 bushell of Corn in the Year 1739.
Gains from land in- sufficient tu maintain servants.
Mr. Ewen delivers servants to Mr. Thos. Jones, but not given credit for.
98
COLONIAL RECORDS
Wm. Ewen to the Trustees.
A good crop of corn raised by Mr. Ewen.
This Year: General Oglethorpe gave orders for all the people that intend'd to plant there lands; to meet him at his house: Accordingly they did; his Excellency in consideration of the peoples bad Crops the year before; did then promise they Should have a bounty on corn; pease; and pottatoes: I raise'd this Year 90 bushells of Corn and had it measured by an Officer as it was order'd; and a Certificate under his hand for the Same. I gave my certificate to Mr. Thomas Jones and desired he would pay me the bounty money: Acquanting him that it would be a great help to me: his Answer was: that he had no money and he could not pay it. I waited on Mr. Jones Severall times from my plantation : being 20 miles by water : and told him my Necessity; but he would not hear : pay me: nor Settle my Acct: the last time I waited on him; he told me I should have come Soonr for now he had payd all the money he had for that purpose. there is few men but my Self ; that he has not pay'd them all there bounty money or half; (but it is to those that he likes best) he told me : he would then enter it in the books for me: Accordingly he did: but it was about 12 months after the time.
Mr. Jones paying those he likes best first.
Mr. Jones trying to prevent Mr. Ewen's account being settled.
I have here also; inclosed a Coppy of my Acc' : as it Stands in the Store books ; which was deliver'd me by William Russell who is M ... Jones book keeper: so that your Hon's. may plainly see : that it is Mr. Jones intent: that he will prevent if he can; that my Acct. Should be Settled
99
CORRESPONDENCE
George Whitefield to Harman Verelst.
Therefore; I Humbly intreat your Hon's : that you will consider this my complaint: and Send me Some Speedy redress; least my wants come on too fast: and Necessity drive me away to some other place to seek my bread.
As I am truly Sencable of your Hon's. justice and goodness, and that it is not your Hon's: in- tention : that any man Should be Oprest : by any of your Officers : whom your Hon's. Confides in to Execute your orders here. Therefore I hope your Hon's. will not impute this my hard case; to proceed from a troublesome; or Disrespect- full disposition, but for want, and Necessity. I shall beg leave to Subscribe my Self; with all dne respect./Your HonT.
Most Obedient Humble. Servant To Command
Complaints not caused from d's- respectful disposition, but want and ne. cessity.
William Ewen.
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM GEORGE WHITEFIELD TO MR. HAR- MAN VERELST-ON BOARD THE SAVANNAH BOUND FROM CHARLESTOWN TO BOSTON
Sepbr. 4th. 1740.
S.
On Monday just as I was leaving Charlestown I recd. Yours dated April 24th. Lest I should not have time when I come to New England, be pleased to accept this acknowledgement of the
An account of expendi- tures re- quested of Mr. White. field by the Trustees.
100
COLONIAL RECORDS
George Whitefield to Harman Verelst.
receipt of it from on board- But D. S. what shall I say? I cannot approve of the stile or drift of Your letter. Be pleased to inform the Honourable Trustees that I never did, & never shall look upon myself under any obligation to give them a Particular account of monies col- lected or expended by me for the use of the poor, or Orphanhouse in Georgia. They know full well that I gave them up my Commission as insignificant & no way suitable to my design. They know also that what has been collected for the Salburghers, Orphan house, & other poor of Georgia has been owing chiefly to my own par- ticular interest. & therefore I have a right to the sole disposal of it, without consulting Colonel Stephens, or any other person whatsoever. When I come to England, the Publick will have an explicite account of every thing & if any thing should be wrong, the Hon: Trustees will do well to set me right, & inform me how to act better for the future. I believe no one has the good of Georgia more at heart than myself. Contributions are dayly encreasing. Every thing goes on surprizingly without any Visible fund. God blesses the Children with health & I often think, as do many others, that the Or- phan house is the Colony in Miniature. People blame me for erecting an Orphan-house there. but God I am persuaded will shew that it is His doing- Be pleased to inform the Hon: Trustees that they need not be jealous of their Power. I never will endeavour to invade it. but yet will always strive to keep my self &
The Orphan house the Colony in Miniature.
101
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
mine as dependent on God alone, as possibly I can- At my return from Boston (whither I am now bound) I hope to receive many more Letters from You, having sent many wch. re- quire an answer. I shall continue my corres- pondence as often as occasion requires, but beg I may be dealt with Simply as becomes the Gospel of Jesus Xt. Your last letter reminds me to give You this hint. You know full well St. I never purposed to give any such account as You require to the Hon: Trustees & therefore why should it be desired? But I have done. Excuse this freedom. I write out of the fulness & simplicity of my heart. I profess myself a Minister of X. & therefore suppose You will always look for nothing but plain dealing & Undisguised truth from St.
Your humble Ser"t.
George Whitefield
(From B. P. R. O., B. of T., Georgia, Vol. 22.)
LETTER FROM MR. STEPHENS TO THE TRUSTEES SECRETARY 21 SEPT 1741 RECD 1 DECR 1741
Savannahı 21 Sept. 1741.
S.
You'll be so good to pardon me, that for brev- itys sake I begin my letter with begging leave to refer you to my Notes of the 4th instant, in the enclosed Coppy of my Journal; where I have
Never purposed to give such account as desired by the Trustees.
102
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Punctuality of receipt of letters not to be depended upon.
particularly taken Notice of all yt came to my hands, weh I rec' from the Trust that day, that eame by the Merey (Capt Wright) : and as it ap- pears from thence, how long those letters bear. ing date in Apr last, have been on their passage : it shews at the same time, how little can be ex- pected with any certainty in due time, that we send from hence: for which reason I hope the honourable the Trustees will be good not to im- pute blame to me, if they fail of some things from Savannah, punctually before the meeting of the Parliament, which they seemd to expect ; but impossible now to be complyed with in that space of time, as things have happend : whereby their Orders were so long detained. But this I dare promise faithfully ; yt I shall give my self but little Rest in my mind, till I have seen their Commands fully executed, as far as in my pow- er, & without any loss of time yt can be pre- vented : tho' I oserve they are pretty much mul- tiplyd at this time, when so many Debates have arisen, by the Artifice, and ill will of some dis- affected People; who have shewn sufficiently they wishd for the utter Destruction of this Colony.
Utter de- struction of the Colony wished for by some.
One of Col. Stephens' Journals failed to reach the Trustees.
To be as regular as possible in what I write, I chuse to begin according to the priority of date in what letters I have recª: and therein S- your favour of the 24 Ap' stands foremost. It is with great concern I am informed, that the State of the Colony which I sent of the 20th. of Now' last. met with such ill Luck on its way : whether it were intercepted by the Enemy, or
103
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
not deliverd, thro' the neglect of the Bearer, Mr. Colleton ; whom I am unwilling to suspect guilty of so foul an action : the name of the Ship he went in (wch I understood was omitted in the letter of advice) was, the Scudamore from Charles Town, bound to Bristol, in Dec' last, & I would yet hope yt it found its way right at last, tho' late: for notwithstanding ye Coppy of it was recd. afterwards on the Sth of Apr, as you write; yet tis a grievous disappointment to think that all those papers I sent with the original should be lost; wch were of great use in confir- mation of what was therein asserted for truth, most solemnly.
In like manner as above, I must again beg leave yt reference may be had to my notes of the 11th instant, where notice is taken of what came to my hands on that day, wch was sent by the charming Betty (Cap' Wedderburn) but the Chest for the Salzburgers, together with the Box for me, ich Mr. Hopton wrote me his reasons for not sending them, I have not yet receiv'd (for want of a ready conveyance, I must believe, for he is never wanting on his part) and I am daily waiting, as well as wishing for it; presuming the contents are of great Im- portance.
From the time y' I recª the honble Trustees Commands, signifyd in your letter; as also in Mr. Verelsts of the 27 & 28 Apr; I have been making all the preparation I possibly can, to have 'em fulfilld, and shall in my next transmit
A chest for the Salzburgers and box for Col Stephens from the Trustees.
104
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
what I can get perfected in that time. Which I mean not to extend long.
Accounts of dis- bursements.
Chest of silk to be sent to the Trustees.
Since Clerk's death, unable to get another.
The Accompts of Disbursements &c for the year ending at Michas 1740, were sent by Capt Thomson when he went hence in July last; & one cause of their not going sooner, was, wait- ing so long beyond Expectation for his depart- ure. Those for the Year ending at Michas 1741 are getting ready now, & will go very soon after it, or it shall not be my fault: & I shall be glad it may appear to their Honours satisfaction. I would here add something, relating to the carrying on those Accompts : but as tis an affair y' requires much caution in delivering my thoughts on that Head; Time at presents will hardly admit of it; for I had but few hours notice of a Boat accidentally going for Charles Town and as I have no good Opinion of the Patroon, so as to put much confidence in him; being one of those who, I fear, would rather disappoint. than promote, any Good to this Colony; I therefore defer sending the Chest of Silk mentiond in my Journal of the 10th in- stant ; intending it shall go with my next, among divers other things required: as many as I can possibly get ready : and the Contrast which that manufacture stands in, in my Journal, betwixt the 2 last years, I hope will partly shew, by what Steps we are improving : an Attestation where- of will be sent with the Chest. Since the death of my Clerk I am at a great Loss; this place not affording any Choice : for a Bungler would be of little use to me, & a treacherous one of far
CORRESPONDENCE
105
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
worse: such of our Malecontents as yet remain, making it a great part of their Study, to corrupt all about me they can: for wh. reason, I have not been able to get a Coppy transcribed of my Journal, from 6 Oct to 27 Nov" last; (being per- haps a little more copious too than ordinary) wch shall also go wth my next: But by means of coppying my own Journal of late, as I go in once in 3 or 4 days; I have that now ready to the date of this letter, from 7 Augt. incluse. But I am in great Hopes, from wt I find in one of M' Verelsts letters, I shall be supplyd soon, with a proper person to be my Clerk as well as Regis- ter of the Province.
From what you wrote me, concerning the Re- solution wch the honble. Trustees are come to, of dividing this Province into 2 Countys, & ap- pointing me to preside, wth 4 Assistants named. in the Jurisdiction of this County : wth a bounti- full Sallary appointed me; I am expecting yt That Constitution, with proper Instructions, among other affairs, will be found in the Box urch I am looking for, from Charles Town; yt came { Capt Wedderburn. How is it possible then for me not to reflect with indignation, upon wt my unhappy Son has been busying himself about so long? At the same time, knowing his Correspondents here, as well as his Associates now at Charles Town, to be men whose conver- sation he once avoided, as the Pest of the place they lived in : whom I have often heard him con- tend wth, even to excessive heat, against the use of Negros, & the pernicious consequence of 'em.
Hopes to be supplied with clerk soon.
Concerning the Reso. lution in regard to the Divi. sion of the Colony.
Impossi- bility of Col. Stephens to reflect without in- dignation upon son.
106
COLONIAL RECORDS
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
Changes of opinions in Col. Stephen's son mon- strous to believe.
That the same men, after such Beneficence too as he has found from the hands of the honour- able Trust, should kick against em; whilst at the same time they are so good to promote his Father; is so monstrous, as perhaps few could believe, tho' I feel it almost to distraction, & words fail me to express my abhorrence of so much Baseness -- But I still assure myself that in a little farther progress, all their mischievous devices will come to Nought, and Shame attend the most harden'd of 'em.
Impartial Enquiry.
The Impartial Enquiry which you were pleased to send me, I thank you very kindly for, but find little room for Emendations : if any thing I can offer, may be thought worth the title of Additions, to be laid before their Honours; I shall make it my Endeavour in my next. to collect such Gleanings as I apprehend will add to the Maintenance of that Cause, weh already has Truth and Justice for its Support, & must surely prevail at last. Had I leisure or capacity to my Wish, I would indeed be glad to make some return to those fine Strokes of Ribaldry and Falshood lately publishd under the title of a Narrative of the State of Georgia, by those 3 Worthys who put their names to it: but if the Authors of it were in England, and dared hold their faces to so infamous a Libel; they might expect a Whipping Post or Pillory for their Reward.
Strokes of Ribaldry and False- hood pub. Mahed en. titled: A Narrative of the State of Georgia.
Upon my sending Orders to M' Hopton a while since, not to be longer triffled with, but to
107
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Stephens to the Trustees.
sue Mr. Hammerton for not paying of that Bill of £200 which he drew on M. Saxby, and was not accepted; M' Hammerton wrote me, that he was making up an Account to send to the Gen- eral, of what Arrears were due from him, for the Kings Quit Rent of Lands holden by his Ex- cellence in Carolina; which would more than pay the Sum required of him by the Trust: I wrote to acquaint his Excellence with it, and am now waiting for his answer. But finding a paragraph in that letter, which I think of no small Import; tho' wrote (as I take it) princi- pally as a meritorious act of the Writer why we should not deal vigorously with him : I here send as Extract of it.
"S' Richard Everard brought to me a long "complaint of M' Parker against M' Jones &c "on issuing out Your Sola Bills, & secreting the "Vouchers; but as I was very busy, & could not "record it, he takes it without. But Capt Mac- "kay has got the Great Seal to several papers "he is sending home by M' Beaufain to sue the "Trustees."
The whole of it is so abstruse to me, especial- ly the latter part, that I am utterly at a Loss what to make of it; not knowing the least tittle of w. complaints Cap' Mackay has to make As to the former part, I have so frequently in my Journal of late, touchd upon a growing differ- ence betwixt Parker & Jones ; particularly when it first appear'd openly, on the 11th of June; Jones. and afterwards gradation from time to time,
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