USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 8
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Dated in London the twenty-first Day of October in the Year of our Lord 1742.
BAYNBRIDGE
1The Original Record bears also a note in the margin " Recorded November 16th, 1744."-ED.
81
COMMISSION TO JOHN BARCLAY.
1692]
Commission to John Barclay, (and in case of disability on his part to John Reid,) as Surveyor General of East New Jersey.
[From the Original in the Library of the New Jersey Hist: Soc:]
The Committee of Proprietors of the Province of East New Jersey residing in and about London on behalf of themselves and the rest of the Proprietors of the said Province.
To our trusty and well beloved friends John Barclay1 and John Reid both of the said Province
GREETING
WEE the said Proprieters having good Opinion of your Skill prudence and Integrity have nominated and constituted and appointed and do by these p'sents nominate Constitute and appoint you the said John Barclay to be Surveyor Generall of the said Province of East New Jersey hereby authorizing and impowring you by your Self & such as you shall depute & appoint to lay out bound and Survey all Allotments of land whether Generall or particular publique or private
John Barclay 1JOHN BARCLAY was a brother of Governor Barclay. He first came to the Province about the time of its purchase by the twenty-four proprietaries, but returned to England in 1683 and remained there a year or two. On his return to the Province in 1684 or 1685 he took up his residence at Elizabethtown, but removed thence to Plainfield and subsequently to Perth Amboy. He was deputy Surveyor under George Keith whom he succeeded, being sworn into office under this commission on 1st November, 1692. He continued to hold prominent positions in the province until his death in 1731 at an advanced age, bearing the character through life of a good neighbor and useful citizen .- Smith's New Jersey, p 424, Whitehead's Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy, p 42, For notice of John Reid see Vol. I p 510 .- ED.
82
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
[1692
relating to any person or persons whatsoever accord- ing to such Warrants as you shall receive from the Gov" and Councill of proprieters in the Said Province that are to be grounded on Such orders as hath been sent and are now in force or that shall hereafter be made by us or the Major part of us residing in & about London and sent under the publique Seal of the sd Province and signed by William Dockwra our Secre- tary and Register, or the Secretary and Register for the time being and of all such Surveys of land as shall be made by you or your Deputy from time to time You the said John Barclay are to make true Report by Certificates in Writing mentioning the Scituation and quality quantity lines and bounds of all such tracts of land as particular as conveniently may be, expressing the name of the person for whom each tract is Surveyed and the Warrant you recª for so doing and on what Order of the prop"s it was grounded & the date thereof Which reports or Certificates you are to deliver to the Secretary and Register of the said Province or to his Depty or Depties for the time being that he may enter and file such respective Reports or Certificates of Surveys of land in his Office AND you the sd John Barclay are hereby impowered & author- ized to do all such other act or acts thing or things which do belong or appertain to the Office of Surveyor Generall within the said Province to the best of your Judgement and Skill, and with all Justice care and fidelity, and for your doing the business and duty of your Office you are to receive such Salary fees and perquisites as do already belong to the Office of Sur- veyor Generall or (by the Generall Assembly of the said Province) shall hereafter be appointed for the same And in case of the death or disability of the said John Barclay We the said Proprietors do hereby nominate constitute and appoint you the said John Reid to be our Surveyor Generall with all the like
83
COMMISSION TO JOHN BARCLAY.
1692]
powers and authorities and with the same directions appointments and duty on your part with the like ffees and allowances given and granted to the said John Barclay: This patent & Commission to continue and be in force for one whole year from the date hereof and so long after untill the Committee of Proprietors residing in and about London or the Major part of them Shall appoint some other p'son to be Surveyor Generall in the room of the said John Barclay and the said John Reid or either of them by patent or Com-, mission sent from London under the Seal of [the] said Province & signed by William Dockwra Secretary and Register of the said Province or by the Secretary and Register for the time being [up) on the arrivale of which to the hands of the Governor or Councill of Proprietors for the time being This present Patent or Commission to be [void?] GIVEN in London under the Seale of the said province of East New Jersey the Sixth day of April in the fourth year of the [reign of] William and Mary of England ffrance and Ireland King and Queen Defenders of the ffaith &c: Anno Dom one thousand six hu[ndred and] ninety two.
[Signed] by order [of the] proprietors
Willrocknova.
Agent Secr. & Reg“
84
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. [1692
[On the back of the foregoing document. ]
I the within named John Barclay doe hereby Solemnly promise to beare true alleageance to King William and Queene Marie King & Queen over Eng- land &c theire heires and Successors, and be true and faithfull to the interest of the Lords Proprietors of the Province of East new Jersey and to theire heires Executors & assignes, and I will endeavour the pease and welfaire of the said Province, And I will well and faithfully discharge the office of surveyor generall in the said Province, And doe equall Justice unto all men according to my best skill and Judgement without corruption favour or affection witness my hand this first day of the month called November 1692.
JOHN BARCLAY
Coram me AND: HAMILTON
Instructions from the Proprietors of East Jersey in London, to Governor Andrew Hamilton1.
[From the Original among the manuscripts of W. A. Whitehead.]
INSTRUCC'ONS from the Proprietors of East New Jersey Residing in London to Coll. Andrew Hamilton Governor of the said Province- touching their Quit Rents.
1st Some short time after your arrival in the said Province You are to cause the Secretary and Receiver General of the said Province to make true Rent Rolls or Schedules of all the Quit Rents reserved and paya- ble to the Proprietors from any Towne Freeholders
1
1 For notice of Governor Hamilton see Vol. I., p. 509. - ED.
85
INSTRUCTIONS TO GOVERNOR HAMILTON.
1692]
and Inhabitants within the several Counties of the said Province, viz! One distinct Rent Roll or more for every County, and so set down therein what quan- tities of Land Each Town or person holds under those Rents and the dates of their respective Patents and to remit such Rent Rolls to us.
2ły You are to order the said Receiver General to remit to us by the next opportunity an exact account of all Arrears of Rent due to the Proprietors and from whom and for what time such Arrears are Incurred.
3ly You are to take care that the Receiver Generall shall yearly remit to us an Acco! of all new Tenants that shall take up Land upon Quit Rents and of all Quit Rents he shall receive To the Intent the Proprie- tors may take order for the distribution of the said Rents.
4ly You are to cause our Receiver Generall forth- with to demand all arrears of Quit Rents due to the Proprietors from any Towns or particular persons in the Province And if any Town or particular person shall refuse to pay such Quit Rents or to secure the same to your good liking you are to order our Receiver general to distrain upon the goods and Chattels of such Town or Towns and Persons and in default of distress to sue them in due Course of Law for the Recovery of Such Quit Rents. .
51 Whereas our Quit Rents are now payable in the Products of the Country, and it often falls out that the planters have not in readiness such Product of ye Country as will exactly answer the value of their rents, whereby differences sometimes arise betwixt our Receiver general and the Planters, who are apt to think they part with their goods under the Market Prise. For ye prevencon therefore of all misunder- standings which may otherwise arise upon that acco You are to propose to all the Towns Freeholders and Planters within the said Province who do or have their
86
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. [1692
Elec'con to pay us any Quit Rent in the Product of the Country That if they or any of them will pay down or secure. to your good liking all their arrears owing by them and pay their Rents hereafter to grow due on the Five and Twentieth day of March yearly or within One and Twenty days after in money, To our Receiver General for the time being or his deputy at such place or places as he shall appoint, Such persons shall have for the future an abatement or deduccon after the rate of Ten Pounds per Cent of their Quit Rents they shall so pay in And if the Townes Freehold"s and Planters or any of them shall agree to such a Proposall You are to Enter such agreemt upon Record in the public Register of Our Province, or to get it passed into an act by the General Assembly as you and the Persons agreeing shall think fitt. And of this you are to give public notice by causing copies of this to be posted in the public places of all the Principal Towns within Our Province as soon as may be after your arrival there And to enter these Instrucc'ons in the Public Register of the Province. Given under the seal of the Province of East New Jersey in London this ninth day of Aprill. Anno Domim 1692.
Signed by order of the Proprietors
WILL" DOCKWRA, Agent Secr and Reg!
87
ANDREW HAMILTON AS GOVERNOR OF N. J.
1692]
Commission to Colonel Andrew Hamilton, to be Gov- ernor of West Jersey.
[From West Jersey Records in Secretary of State's Office, Trenton, Liber. B1 p 287 (B2 p 657).1
To our trusty and welbeloved friend Colonel An- drew Hamilton.
Greeting
WHEREAS the Hereditary Governmt of the Province of West New Jersey in America by due & Legall Right was lately vested in Daniel Cox Esq" and by Conveyance duely executed hath beene by him as- signed and Transferred to S' Thomas Lane Knight Edmond Harrison Esq" and severall others rightfully thereunto and that by Authority from them under ' their hands & seales toee the underwritten being chosen their Comittee and impowered to nominate Constitute and appoint such Deputy Governo" for the well order- ing and Governing the said Province as to us shall seeme meet And wee haveing great Confidence in the Ability Prudence and integrity of you the said Andrew Hamilton Have nominated Cons ituted and appointed and doe hereby nominate Constitute & appoint You our Com'issioner and Deputy Governor of the said Province. Giving you full power and Authority to order & Governe the same together with all the Isles Islands Rivers and Seas within the same or belonging thereto And to doe all and every thing and things which to the charge and office of a Governo" doth appertayne for the space or Terme of one whole year from the date of these presents and soe long after untill some other person bee nominated and Consti- tuted Deputy Governor in your roome by another Comission sent from London and arrived in the said
88
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
[1692
Province there to be published on which this present Com'issione to be voyd Com'anding all inferiour officers both Civill and Military to obey You the said Andrew Hamilton as our Com'issioner or Deputy Governo" according to this our Com'ission and the powers hereby given you and according to the Laws and Constitutions made or confirmed and to be made or confirmed by us which you the said Deputy Gov- ernour are your selfe to observe and follow as to your duty and office doth appertayne as also to observe & fullfill all such orders as shall be made & sent to you by us or the Com'ttee for the time being under the Public Seale of the said Province And further we do give you the said Andrew Hamilton power to nomi- nate and appoint by Com'ission under your hand and Seale a Com'issione" under you to serve in the said Province during your necessary absence therefrom but noe longer Hee the said Sub Com'ission" observing and fullfilling all such orders as shall be made & sent under the said Publick Seale by us or the Com'ttee for the time being and Governing according to the Lawes & Constitutions of the said Province Given in London under or hands & the Publick Seals of the said Prov- ince of West New Jersey this Eleventh day of Aprill Anno Domini 1692 And in the ffourth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovraigne Lord & Lady William and Mary by the Grace of God of England Scotland ffrance & Ireland King and Queene Defenders of the ffaith &c:
LOCUS PUB SIGILL Provinc
Thos: Lane Rob: Hackshaw James St John Dan: Coxe John Jurin Edm: Harrison John Bridges Mord: Abbott Wm Wightman Rob: Michel
89
WEST JERSEY LETTER TO GOVERNOR FLETCHER.
1692]
Proprietors of West Jersey to Governor Fletcher.
[From N. Y. Col. Docts, Vol. III., p. 838.1
LONDON primo June 1692.
SIR D' Coxe having sold us his interest in West Jersey and together with the land the hereditary gov- ernment thereof; and understanding their Majesties have conferred upon you the governmt of New Yorke: doe think ourselves obliged to congratulate yr accession to that honble imploy. and account ourselves happy in having soe good a neighbour whose prudence and integrity will we are perswaded secure us from appre- hensions of those mean artifices [that] have been employed by preceeding Governors or their ministers to incroach upon our just right and legall privileges.
Sir wee shall realye manifest our respects to your Excellency upon acct of your personal virtues and pay all due reference to the carrecter their Majesties have given you, which all persons who have the hapiness to know you assure themselves and others you will worthily sustain.
We have ordered all persons under our jurisdiction to be assisting to you in promoting the com'on defence in case of general danger; which happening to be soe extraordinary as to call for your personal assistance into our Province, wee have given orders that during your stay there you have the chief co'mand of all our militia And as we believe all the North Continent in America under their Majesties most auspicious government will be benefitted by the happy influences of your good conduct in warr, and administration of justice in time of peace: so we promise ourselves in perticular as being your more immediate neighbours your friendly assistance and advice
90
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. [1692
We are Sir your Excellency's most obedient sarvants
RT HACKSHAW EDM. HARRISON
MORD. ABBOTT JOHN TURIN
WM WIGHTMAN DAN. COXE JAMES ST JOHN
Indorsed. The copy of a letter from the Proprietors of West Jersey in America to Coll. Fletcher received at Deal the 7th June 1692. Recd from Coll. Fletcher from Deal 9 June 1692, with a letter wherein he says he had recd the original by the hands of the Govern" of New Jersey.
Proprietors of East Jersey to the Board of Trade. [From N. Y. Col. Docts, Vol. III., p. 838.]
THE PROPRIETORS OF EAST JERSEY having in obedi- ence to your Lordships co'mand met and considered what force they can raise for defence of their Province and how far they can assist New Yorke in case of an invasion do humbly represent to your Lopps That they have sent Instructions to the Governor of their Province to raise the Militia forthwith, to take care that they have good arms and ammunition, to exercise them often, and to be always in a readiness to guard the sea coasts, and other places of the Province exposed to their enemies.
That they will endeavour and have reco'mended it to the Generall Assembly and inhabitants of their Province, that in case New Yorke shall be invaded by the French, such part of the Militia of East Jersey shall be sent to the assistance of New Yorke as can be spared without exposing East Jersey to a descent of the French by sea, to which by its situation upon large
1692]
COMMISSION TO JEREMIAH BASSE. 91
navigable rivers, it lyes very open; but the said Gov- ernour and Proprietors, being advised by their Councell that they have no power by law to compell any of their Militia to march out of the Province of East Jersey: dare not engage for any certain Quota to assist New Yorke, lest they should be answerable for all the ill consequences that may attend the disappointment of such an undertaking.
DAN. COXE
By the Consent and Order of the other Proprietors [June 1692]
Commission from the Members of the West Jersey Society in England, to Jeremiah Basse 1 as their Agent.
[From West Jersey Records in Secretary of State's Office, Trenton, Liber. B p 301.] St. Thomas Lane Knt. Edward Harrison Esq? and the Rest of the Com'ittee for the West New Jersey Society.
To our Trusty and welbeloved Jeremiah Basse Gentleman.
Greeting.
We reposing especiall Trust and Confidence in the fidelity prudence knowledge and Provident Circum-
Jon Brake 1 What was the precise position held at this time by Mr. Basse is not known. Some years previously he had been an Anabaptist mininter. How long he remained in New Jer- sey after receiving this commission is uncertain, but on the 15th of July 1697, he being then in England, he was appointed Governor of both East and West New Jersey, but did not reach the Provinces until the Spring of 1698. Many of the leading man, particularly in East Jersey, were opposed to Governor
-
92
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS. [1692
spection of you the said Jeremiah Basse have made constituted and ordained and by these presents doe make Constitute and ordaine you to be our Agent in West Jersey aforesaid To take up Lands there To in- spect & direct ye selling & buying of our Goods and to Act observe & doe to the best of your power all such other matters as concerne your respective employmts as aforesaid And we doe hereby com'and you all our ffactors & Servants in West Jersey aforesaid to give you the said Jeremiah Basse due Respects as to our Agent doth appertaine. And you are to observe & followe all such orders & directions as you already have or hereafter shall from time to time receive from us or any ffive of us. In Witness whereof wee have caused our Common Seal to be hereunto affixed this fourth day of June Anno Domini 1692-And in the fourth . yeare of the Reigne of our Sovraigne Lord & Lady William & Mary by the Grace of God King & Queene of England Scotland ffrance & Ireland Defenders of the ffaith &c :
LOCUS SIGILLI PUB :
Thos: Lane John Jurin Rob: Michel Rob Hackshaw James St John.
Basse for various reasons ; and, on the appointment of Andrew Hamilton, in 1699 he returned!to England, and came not again to New Jersey until 1703, when he received the appointment of Secretary to Lord Cornbury and partook of the obloquy of his Lordship's administration. The House of Assembly, in 1710, openly accused him to Governor Hamilton of malversation in office, he then being not only Secretary of the Province, but also Clerk of the Council and Prothonotary of of the Supreme Court. In 1712, he became Surveyor of the Customs at Burlington. In 1716, he was elected a Representative from Cape May County, of which he was then a resident, and, in 1719, was Attorney General of the Province, indicating the possession of greater popularity. Succeeding documents exhibit very clearly his character and attainments, and his influence for good or ill in the administration of his official duties. His relations to the Baptists appear to have been given up, and during his residence in Burlington, he became much interested in St. Mary's Pro- testant Episcopal Church. He died in 1725, leaving a widow, two daughters, (Katherine and Ann), and one son, Burchfield. Katherine married Robert Talbot, son of the Rev. John Talbot, the minister of the parish .- East Jersey Under the, Prop. Govts., 2d Edt .- Hill's History of the Church in Burlington .- Records of Governor and Council of East Jersey, 1682-1703. ED.
93
INSTRUCTIONS TO DEPUTY GOV. OF W. J.
1692]
Instructions to the Deputy Governor of West Jersey.
[From the New Jersey Col. Docts., Vol. III, p 839.]
Instructions from the Govern" and Proprietrs of West Jersey to their Deputy Governour con- cerning the Militia of that Province1.
WHEREAS the security of our said Province in this time of war depends next to the Providence of Al- mighty God upon a well regulated Militia and an union with the neighbour Colonies for their mutual defence against a common enemy in case of an inva- sion made upon any of them .-
1 You are are therefore as soone as these Instructions arrive forthwith to raise the militia of our Province to take care they have good arms and ammunition, and to exercise them often, that they may be expert at the use of their arms, and be ready to march at your summons.
2 That when an invasion of any neighbour Colony shall require assistance from our Province, you shall take care to send a number of our militia proportion- able to the assistance sent by any neighbour Colony, and to retain such number of our militia at home as may be sufficient to preserve our own Province in case of a descent made upon it by sea, to which by its scituation upon navigable rivers it lyes much exposed.
3 That when any part of our Militia march into a neighbour Province in case of any invasion you co'm- and them yourself, or put them under the imme- diate command of some other Officers, inhabitants of West Jersey, subject to the Govern' of the Province
1 Similar instructions, mutatis mutandis were given by the Proprietors of East Jersey to Colonel Andrew Hamilton, their Governor there .- J. R. B[rodhead. ]
94
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
[1692
1
into which they shall march: unless their Majtis Gov- ern' of New York with his forces should be there.
In such case you are to observe the orders of their Majtis Govern' of New York during his stay.
4 You are likewise forthwith to call a Generall As- sembly of the said Province to concert such further measures as may be found necessary for the better preservation thereof and in particular to raise a fund for the maintenance of such part of the militia as shall be advised to march into any neighbour Colony where the invasion of our enemies shall require their assistance.
Letter from the West Jersey Society to the Rev. Thomas Bridges.1
[From West Jersey Records in Secretary of State's office, Trenton, Book B.]
A Lre from ye West Jersey Society in England to M. Bridges.
LONDON ye 29th July 1692
S! Wee are informed by D! Coxe that yo" declare yo'selfe inclyned togeather with divers other Inhabi tants of the Bermudas to remove unto & reside in West Jersey Wee are very glad a Person of yo" Principles & pfession should entertaine such thoughts ffor having received an Honoble Character of you from diverse wee expect not onely benefitt should accrue unto the Inhabitants by yor Pious Instructions accon- panied with an Exemplary life But also by yor Pru-
1 REV. THOMAS BRIDGES was of the English Church residing in the Bermuda Islands. Whether he accepted the invitation is not known .- ED.
95
1692]
WEST SERSEY SOCIETY TO REV. THOS. BRIDGES.
dentiall Council in reference to Civill & Secular affairs wherein you have been Providentially necessitated to Exercise yo'salfe And as wee have been assured very successfully: S' if you are confirmed in yo" resolution wee shall give you all ye Encouragemt Countenance & Authority wee are Capable of. Many Persons in diverse Parts of ye Country have frequently exprest their desires of a Minister & assure us they will Con- tribute towards his Comfortable subsistence & pay him all that duty respect & deference his worke deserves And for that D' Coxe hath Conveyed unto us ye Government of the Country with great part of his Lands ffor your Encouragemt upon your Arrival wee will give order that you may in what Scituation you please take up Two Thousand Acres one Thousand to be yor owne in ffee forever The other to be annexed unto ye office & descend unto him who shall Succeed you When ever it shall please God by your death or otherwise to cause a vacancy. Wee are besides con- triveing some other Methods whereby to render your station more comfortable Honourable & Profittable and doubt not but wee shall Conclude to your full satisfaction and all those who accompany you shall find fair dealing Encouragemt Protection and assist- ance from
S! Your affectionate ffriends and Servants
THO: LANE: EDM: HARRISON
E: RICHIER: WM WIGHTMAN
JAMES BODDINGTON: ROB: MICHELL
JOHN JURIN: JAMES ST JOHN.
96
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
[1692
Letter from Daniel Coxe to the Rev. Thomas Bridges. [From West Jersey Records, in the Office of the Secretary of State at Trenton, Book B.]
A. Lre from Dan" Coxe of London Esqr to Mr Thomas Bridges.
Sr
I received yo's & returned an answer ye last Moneth but fearing that should not come seasonably to yo" hands & haveing I hope a safe Conveyance I deter- mined to neglect noe opportunity whereby I might manifest ye friendship I cherish for you & Confirme you in ye designe of favouring a Countrey wherein I am deeply Concerned & whose welfare I would pmote for ye sake of ye Inhabitants abstracted from my owne Interest which will I am very Confident be much advanced by yor presence sound Doctrine & Exemplary life And I hope you will thereby reap not only ye satisfaction of haveing faithfully served our great Master in ye great work of Converting & Confirming precious Immortall Souls: But I verily beleeve you will be rewarded wth ye blessings of a quiet pleasant healthfull residence: And in ye Love & Esteeme of those who shall voluntarily come under yor Pastorall care with due maintenance: Togeather with Civill & Christian Respects from others of different perswa- tions. Besides which you will have ye Authority En- couragemt & assistance of those unto whom I have delegated ye Governmt of West Jersey unto whom I have given a Character of yor Person an Account of yor behavior in diverse parts whither you have beene providentially called they have signified their satisfac- tion in a Letter which you will receive I suppose by ye
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