USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume VIII > Part 2
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19 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to his son Andrew_ 196 20 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to Richard Part- ridge, the Assembly then in session 197
66 20 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to Consul Dean- about the progress of the College, etc 197
20 .- Message from Governor Belcher to the House of Assembly-communicating a letter from General Shirley 198
.. 23 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to Lord Halifax- concerning Attorney-General Skinner 200
16 23 .- Message from Governor Belcher to the House of As- sembly-asking for an augmentation to the forces of the Province 201
..
.6 26 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to General Shirley- commenting upon the events of the last compaign, etc 203
1756-Feb. 5 .-- Letter from Secretary Hardinge to the Lords of Trade -relative to the proper division to be made of a cer- tain appropriation of Parliament. 205
17 .-- Letter from the Lords of Trade to Governor Belcher -- commending the services rendered by New Jersey in defending the country. 206
. 66 23 .-- Letter from Governor Hardy to the Lords of Trade -about the questions of boundary between New York and New Jersey 207
March 13 .-- Draft of Circular from the Hon. H. Fox, Secretary of State, to the Governors of the Colonies -- relative to the assistance to be rendered by them to the Earl
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of Loudon, who had been appointed Commander-in- Chief of the North American forces 209
1756-April 13 .- Letter from the Lords of Trade to Governor Hardy -relative to the appointment of a Commission for settling controversies between New York and New Jersey and Massachusetts 212
May
23 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade-informing them of the death of James 'Alex- ander, Esq., one of the Council, and recommending his son, William Alexander, Esq., as his successor __ 214 11 .-- Letter from the Lords of Trade to Governor Belcher -- directing him in case of his inability to at- tend any meetings of the Governors appointed by the Earl of Loudon, to depute Lieutenant-Governor Pownall to act in his stead. 215
11 .-- Representation of the Lords of Trade to the King, on the state of defence of the different Colonies. 216
- June 15 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade-expressing his gratification that the course of New Jersey is approved 219
66 16 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary Fox-commenting on recent proceedings of the Government. 220
Aug.
31 .- The account of Andrew Johnston, Treasurer of East New Jersey, of his receipts and payments from November 21st, 1755, to 21st of August, 1756 223
Sept. 1 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade-relative to the disputed line between New York and New Jersey, and enclosing a petition of the Proprietors of East Jersey 224
Oct. 11 .- Account of Samuel Smith, Treasurer for West New Jersey, of receipts and payments from Nov. 8th, 1755, to Oct. 11th, 1756 228
Nov. 19 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade-recommending Samuel Woodruff for the Council to fill a vacancy caused by the death of John Rodman 236
1757-Jan. 13 .- Proclamation of Governor Belcher-relating to the exportation of provisions 237
Feb. 4 .- Circular Letter from Secretary W. Pitt to the Gov- ernors of the Northern Provinces in America, urging the raising of additional troops 241
9 .- Memorandum received by William Alexander from Ferdinand John Paris, as to the character of the
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Commissioners to determine the boundaries between New York and New Jersey 242
1757-Feb. 12 .- Letter from William Alexander to Robert Hunter Morris-relating to the boundary difficulties between New York and New Jersey 243
66 17 .- Representation from the Lords of Trade to the King, with a warrant appointing William Aynsley, Esq., Chief Justice of New Jersey 247
May 2 .- Letter from the Earl of Holdernesse, Secretary of State, to the Earl of Loudon - removing the em- bargo upon corn 248
11 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary Pitt-had summoned the Council and Assembly to meet as soon as possible in order to carry out the King's views. 249
66 16 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary Pitt-had been informed of the appointment of Rear Admiral Holburn to command the fleet in American waters 251
66 -.- Letter from Captain William Skinner in London, to his father, the Rev. William Skinner, of Perth Amboy. 252
66
July 26 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to the Earl of Hold- ernesse-in relation to the embargo on grain and the imprisonment of two Captains of Privateers 254
66 26 .- Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade-relating to the disputed boundary between New York and New Jersey 256
". Sept. 2 .- Letter from Mr. Secretary Read to Lieutenant- Governor Pownall-informing him of the death of Governor Belcher 257
7 .- Letter from Robert Hunter Morris to the Earl of Loudon-informing him of the death of Governor Belcher, and of the objections of John Reading, President of the Council, to assume the chief au- thority 259
66 10 .- Letter from John Reading, President of the Coun- cil, to Governor Pownall-reasons why he objected to assuming the Government on the death of Gover- nor Belcher 260
22 .- Letter from Thomas Pownall, Lieutenant-Gover- nor of New Jersey, to John Reading, President of the Council, in relation to his having refused to as- sume the chief authority in his absence 261
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1737-July 22 .- Letter from John Reading, President of the Coun- cil, to Governor Pownall, in answer to the foregoing 262 6. 26 .- Letter from Courtland Skinner, Attorney-General, to Governor Pownall-with answers to queries sub- mitted to him by the Council, relative to the au- thority of John Reading as President of that body __ 264 66 - 26 .- Letter from Lieutenant-Governor Pownall to the Lords of Trade, giving an account of his proceedings on the death of Governor Belcher 266
NEW JERSEY Colonial Documents.
Vol. VIII .- Part I.
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
Memorial responsive to the representations made by those concerned in the disturbances in New Jersey.
[From Papers of Robert Hunter Morris in N. J. Hist. Lib., Vol. I, No. 84.]
NEW JERSEY. [1751]
FROM September 1745 that Province has been under the greatest Disorders, and the Infection spreading and gathering Strength, in a Country, where, as the Lords of Trade have reported, "The People are, in a "particular Manner, by Principle, averse to kingly Gov- "ernment, and have, always, taken every Opportunity "of trampling upon the Authority of the Crown."
THE State of that Province is thus reported, by the Lords of Trade; "His Majesty's Province of New Jer- "sey is, at present, in open Rebellion; and, unless "some speedy, and effectual Measures are soon taken, "his Majesty's Government, Laws, and Authority, "not only in this, but in the neighbouring Provinces, "whose Inhabitants, for the most part, are but too "well inclined to receive the Infection, will, in all " Probability, be absolutely destroyed."
AND, again, a second Time; "This Province is in a "State of entire Disobedience to all Authority of " Government and Law, attended with Circumstances " which manifest a Disposition to revolt from their De- "pendance on the Crown of Great Britain,"
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1751
THE Pretences, for the Rebellion on foot there, are, That the Right to the Soil of that Province is in the native Indians, and Persons claiming under them, and not in the Crown or its Grantees; that the Grants of the same, made by the Crown, are fraudulent and void, and that no Title is good, but that from the In- dians ; thus unhinging all Property there, denying the Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown, and setting up the Indians Right, in Opposition thereto.
THIS was a Doctrine broached, near fourscore Years ago, and at that time fully exploded, but now again revived, for the worst of Purposes; It is, in its own Nature, big with every Mischief to the King, and to the Subject: It overthrows all Government, Justice, and Property; and is more particularly dangerous, at this Time, when the natural Enemy so diligently watches for, and improves, every Incident, how min- ute soever, to inflame the Minds and poison the Affec- tions of the Indians against the British Nation.
UNDER this Pretence, the Mob, great Part of whom have no Title or Property at all, either under the Crown, or the Indians, but are meer Freebooters, by Force and Violence, and in great Numbers, of several Hundreds of Persons, in Arms, enter upon, plunder and dispossess, whom they please, appoint Captains and military Officers, form themselves into Companies and Committees, levy and raise Taxes, burn, plunder, and destroy any Person's Property; and, as fast as any of them are sued, or taken up, for the same, break open the Gaols (which they have done a great Number of Times) take out the Prisoners in Triumph (even such as stand charged with high Treason) wound and abuse the King's Officers, and set all Government en- tirely at Defiance.
THIS could not have been done, but that the As- semblies there, have favoured these Rioters, for, after repeated Applications to them, time after time, to strengthen the Hands of his Majesty's Government,
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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and after laying before them the fullest Proofs of these continued Outrages, and the strongest Representa- tions of the apparent, dangerous Consequences of the same, they have constantly refused any Assistance, and resolved, that they could not (in that wealthy Province) raise Money, even to guard the Goals, that some of the Rebels might be secured and brought to Justice, and Peace and Property be thereby restored.
IN December 1748 the Members of his Majesty's Council in New Jersey and also the Council of Propri- etors there, thought it their indispensible Duty, to represent these Matters, by an humble Address, and a Petition, to his Majesty; and the Matter was referred to the Lords of Trade, who carefully examined into the same, and had prepared a full Report and Repre- sentation of the Affair.
THE Rioters, and those who acted for them here, well knew that the same was under such Examina- tion, by his Majesty's Command, and therefore, con- trived a Scheme to prevent, or delay, that Enquiry, and any Remedy in Consequence thereof.
FOR that Purpose, the New Jersey Assembly, on 19th October, 1749, framed, and drew up a Petition, directed to his Majesty; the first Use they made thereof was, to print that Petition, at full length, and publish it, in their Votes, of that same Day, in order to keep up the Spirits of the Mob, by shewing that they patronised their Proceedings; and, when that end had been answered there, then, more than two Months after the Petition had been printed, it was sent for England, to be presented at a proper Time ; it arrived here in January 1749; but was not then presented, for the Lords of Trade's Report had not then been fully settled; at length, in April 1750, when the Report was fully prepared, and transcribed for signing, then, the Assembly's Petition was lodged in the Council-Office, and was, soon after, referred to the Lords of Trade.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1751
THE Lords of Trade thereupon stopt their Report, and immediately took the Assembly's Petition into consideration, and called upon the Assembly's Agent to make out any one Matter alledged in that Petition; but he desired to be excused from entering into any Discussion of the Merits, alledging that the Assembly's Instructions to him, were, not to enter into Proofs, but only to present their Petition.
ON 1st June 1750, the Lords of Trade made a very ample, and particular Representation to the Lords of the Committee of Council, of the State of the said Province, wherein the Rise and Progress of these Riots and Disorders, the Pretence for the same, and his Majesty's undoubted Right to the Soil, are most ex- actly set forth; and wherein, they summed up the whole Matter, and stated the Consequences, in the Manner herein beforementioned ; and proposed several Measures to be taken for his Majesty's Service.
AND that Representation now waits the Consider- ation of his Majesty's most honourable Privy-Council.
THE Rioters, then, found themselves under a Ne- cessity of using some other Means to prevent, or delay, the Justice, so long due to their Offences;
AND, in hopes thereof, in October 1750, three long Petitions from New Jersey, (without any Date to them) were lodged in the Council Office, of a most ex- traordinary Nature.
THE first of those Petitions is said to come from Newark, and Parts Adjacent, and (in Order to shew the Numbers of the Rioters) has above four hundred Names put to it: The second Petition is from seven Persons, as a Committee of those same Rioters, repeat- ing much the like Matters; And the third Petition is from one single Person, on a Case which has no Sort of Relation to the present Disturbances.
IT may be necessary to mention, that those Petitions come through the Hands of the Assembly's Agent, who had before presented the former Petition from the
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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Assembly ; That, although these Petitions were pre- sented in October, and referred to the Committee, the Beginning of December last, yet, no Application has been made, to this Hour, to have the same taken into Consideration, or to have any preparatory Order made, nor has any Step been taken on the same; That, amongst the Names of the Petitoners, put thereto, there appear the Names of the Chief Captain, and of all the Heads and Leaders of the Rebellion, and of many Persons who stand legally charged with High Treason for levying War against his Majesty ; such are many of the Persons, who presume thus to Peti- tion his Majesty.
BESIDES which, the Names appear to have been wrote on blank, loose Sheets of Paper, now wafered together, and it may manifestly appear, on Inspection of the original Petition (now on the Council Table) that whole Columns of Names thereto, are all wrote, by one and the self-same Hand.
IN their Petition they acknowledge their Guilt ; but, in Excuse, pretend some Grievances, (which always is the Pretence, made use of, in every Rebellion, and which Grievances, of their own Shewing, come out to be no other, than that his Majesty's oppressed Subjects fly to the Laws and common ordinary Justice of the Country, for relief, against these Invaders); their Pe- tition is full of the greatest Untruths, and Indecencies (for which Reasons they never applied to have it brought on;) they own they did not accept of one Par- don, which the Governor gave them; and they pray, in one and the same Instant, that his Majesty, will give them another Pardon, for their Treasons, and will redress their (general) Grievances ; by which, they mean, that his Majesty would stop the ordinary Course and Administration of Justice, and permit those Rebels to introduce their own Power for deciding of all Property by their Club Law.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1751
AS to their Pretence of Grievances, it may be proper to quote the declared Opinion of the whole Leg- islature in New Jersey, as contained in an Act (men- tioned in the Lords of Trade's Representation,) which the Assembly past, "for avoiding Actions of Slander, "and for Stay of Proceeding in other civil Actions, "against the late Rioters, viz.
"WHEREAS, within three Years last past, many "and great Riots and Disorders have been committed, "within this Colony, by Multitudes of People, on " Pretence that they laboured under Grievances and " Oppressions, and whereas the several Branches of "the Legislature, at their present Session met, and " assembled together, heartily disposed to enquire into "the said Grievances and Oppressions, and to give Re- "lief therein, as far as in them lay, upon mature De- "liberation, do not find but the Matters complained of "are remediable in his Majesty's Courts of Justice, of "Law and Equity, which are open to all, and to which "the Complainers might have Recourse."
BUT those Petitioners are still so hardy, that in the same Petition, whereby they would pray the King's Pardon, they have the uncommon Boldness to assert, and maintain their Right to the Soil under the Indians, in Opposition to his Majesty's Right.
IT might reasonably be imagined, from some other Expressions in their Petitions, that the Rioters, when praying for a Pardon, would, at least then, desist from their former Practices, but no such Matter is by them done, or intended; but, very far otherwise, for upon the 1st of December, 1750, (which must, of Necessity, be three Months, at least, after they had sent Home their Petition for a Pardon) the Rioters Collector de- manded Payment, from one Tunis Spire, of a Sum of Eleven Pounds three Shillings, which the Committee of the Rioters had assessed upon him; and upon Spire's refusing Payment, their Collector told him, that the Committee of the Rioters, had agreed, and determined,
1751]
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
that whoever did not pay their Assessments, should be turned out of their possessions, and lose their Lands, and which, he must expect, if he did not pay his Rate.
BUT, not to enter, more minutely, into the Matter of those Petitions, whenever those Petitioners, or their Agent, sent over on Purpose, shall think fit to make any Application on their said Petitions (but which they have not yet done) there is no doubt but his Maj- esty's Privy-Council, will then do what shall be proper, with Respect to the same.
BUT, in the mean Time, for the Sake of extinguish- ing the present Rebellion in New Jersey, saving the Province, and preserving his Majesty's Authority there, and the Laws and Justice, Peace and Govern- ment thereof, and for the Sake of preserving his Maj- esty's loyal Subjects, and their Lives and Properties, which, at present, are at the Mercy of those lawless Rebels,
IT is humbly prayed, that those Petitions, brought in, meerly to obstruct and delay, and never prosecuted, but deserted, by those Petitioners, may not have the intended Effect, to prevent the Applying such speedy and effectual Measures, as may be judged expedient, in a Case of such very high Importance to his Majesty's Sovereignty in America.
Letter from Governor Belcher to Benjamin Franklin about an electrical apparatus.
[From Belcher Papers in Massachusetts Hist Soc. Library.]
ELIZA: TOWN Dec 18: 1751
Sir
I duly recd your kind Letter of 28 Nov with the Direction about the Electrical Operation & the box with the Electrical Apparatus came to my hands the
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1751
16 Currt & I am sorry to Inform you that when I came to open it the Glass Globe was broke all to pieces I suppose by the rough Conveyª of it (in a Waggon) from Burlington hither. This is a great misfortune to me in the delay of what I desired to be done.1 I have tryed to get another at New York without Suc- cess-can you Sir, put me into any method to repair it. * *
* Your assured Friend & Servt
J BELCHER MR FRANKLIN
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lord Halifax, in re- lation to his objections to the appointment of L. M. Ashfield to be one of the Council.
[From Belcher Papers in Massachusetts Hist. Soc. Library.]
ELIZABETH TOWN Dec. 18, 1751
My Lord * *
I have lately wrote to the Lords of Trade &c. (at which Board your Lordship presides) respecting the King's Mandamus for M' L. M. Ashfield being one of the Council here that I hope your Lordship will be perfectly satisfyd with the reasons I have given for not Admitts that young Gent" while he has been so flagrantly fly% in the face of His Majesty & of His Gov !.
And yet I have no doubt but that his Uncle M' R. H. Morris will endeavour to colour & palliate his Nepws
1 Electricity had been recommended by Dr. Franklin as a cure for the Gov- ernor's paralytic disorder, which was manifested chiefly in tremulousness. He consulted Dr. Cadwallader by letter on the 7th October as to its being advisable, in which letter he informs him that on the succeeding 8th January he would be seventy years old, and giving him some account of his habits, states that he drank " besides water and small beer about half a bottle of old Madeira a day."
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. ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
bold & impudent misconduct but his Arts & colourgs I hope will cast no mist before your Lordships eyes & that I may intirely depend upon your Lordships jus- tice & Candour for Approveing all I have done in that matter.
J. BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Brattle -about the non-success of his electrical cure-Mr. Pemberton's not going to England, etc.
[From Belcher Papers in Mass. Hist. Soc. Library.]
ELIZ: TOWN (N J) Jan 18 1752
My good Frd
I had in due Course Answered yrs of 2ª of Sept but that I was wills first of all to make some trial in the new philosophical Experimt of Electricity weh I have lately done once & again & at present without any success however I intend to persevere in this matter as I find no inconvenience from it and what you say upon it as to braceing the Nerves makes me the more fond [of] it.
You have doubtless long since heard that the design of Mr Pembertons going to great Britain in favr of our Embryo College prov'd abortive and this happend from the strong opposition his people at York made against his going nor wou'd any thing persuade them to part with him & this at present seems to be a great frown of Providence upon our little Seminary for by Let- ters M' Presid' Burr has lately reced from Scotland Our Frds there are daily expecting some such Person from us to make Application for the benevolence of the
1 Under date of January 20th, Gov. Belcher informs Dr. Franklin of his intention to persevere with his electrical remedy, but as he could have the use of an instrument belonging to Mr. Burr, he returned his apparatus with many thanks.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
Kirk of Scotland till our Trustees meet I cant say what may be the next step in this Affair.
If the peace holds with France I doubt not but your Eastern Neighbours will Continue theirs with you but shou'd it be Otherwayes you must expect they will be playing their old game.
I am fully in opinion with you that had the Act of Parliamt intirely Damnd all paper Currency in His Majestys American Dominions it had in the end been a more Salutary Act to all His Majestys good Subjects tho' as it is it has put that matter in a much better Sit- uation than ever it has been since a paper Currency be- came fashionable. * * I am Sir
Your Frd & Most Humble servt
J. BELCHER.
Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel John Alford -about the prospects of the College. [From Belcher Papers in Mass. Hist. Soc. Library.]
Jan 21 1752
MR ALFORD
My worthy Friend
(Extract)
* * * * I thank God & thank you for the gen- erous & Noble Example you have set at the head of a subscription in favour of our poor College1 wch crawls along but very slowly if we can by the favour of Heaven get wherewith to build a proper House & to support the President & two Tutors I am well satis- fyed this Seminary wou'd be a great Blessing to these parts of America & in time would be more probable to furnish Missionaries to the Heathen Nations than any other of our Colleges. * *
Your Friend & seryt
J. BELCHER
1 A donation of £100. (See Stearns' First Church in Newark, pp. 186-188), Note .- ED.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1752]
Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Walley-defi- ciency in the Treasury, the new College, etc.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Mr Walley
ELIZ TOWN Jan 21 1752
[Extract. ]
"Altho' I stand well wth the Assembly & with the people of this Province yet the publick Affairs here are much perplext from a wide difference subsisting between the Council & Assembly about a Tax Bill & one for the Support of Governmt by wch means no money has been supplied to the Treasury for about 2 years & a half past & I wish I was able to guess when those two Branches of the Legislature may coincide upon what I have mentioned.
As to Our poor Infant College the well Concerted design of M' Pembertons going to Great Britain thro' an unaccountable & unreasonable opposition his people made to it has prov'd abortive & this I look upon a Considerable frown of Providence & the more so since M' Prest Burr has lately Let's from thence give us great reason to expect the Charity & bounty of the Kirk of Scotland in Case some suitable person was there to appear in our fav!
And what will be the next step in the matter I can't say till our Trustees have had a meet'g. * *
I am very sorry for the great difficulties & distresses your Trade is reduced to the Accot whereof I have from many of my friends but may it not be some ease for your General Court to make an Emission of paper Currency conformable to the Act of Parliam': indeed considering the wild vagaries the Colonies had
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1752
run into of Stamping paper for money it was doubtless high time for the Legislature of Great Britain to lay some restriction."
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