USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume VIII > Part 24
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My Lords
As to the Dispute, that has been, so long depending, between the Government of N: York, & that of this
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1754
Province, relative to their Boundaries; I believe the Controversey, to be still as strong as ever, & altho' I have been for near twelve Months Past, urging the Government of N: York, from time to time, to coin- cide with this Government upon a Temporary Line, of Jurisdiction. yet I am sorry to say, they seem to shew; no hearty Disposition, towards it :- & I am afraid Riots, & Outrages will still break out, on this Head, even to fatal Consequences, unless His Majesty, shall be pleas'd, to send, His Royal Orders, to the Govern- ment of N: York, in this Matter, for N: Jersey, seems fully inclin'd, to a Temporary Line, untill the true Line of Property, can be ascertained.
I have the Honour, to be with great Respect,
My Lords, Your Lordships, Most obedient, & Most humble Servant,
J. BELCHER
Extract from the Minutes of the New York Assem- bly-referring to the Report of 29th of October.
[From N. Y. Col. MSS. in Secretary State's office, Albany, Vol. LXXIX, p. 74. |
Assembly Chamber.
Die Veneris 9h. A. M. the 8th November, 1754.
The Order of the Day being Read, for taking into Consideration the Report of the Committee on the Memorial of Sundry of the Partowners & proprietors of the Patents of Minisink & Wawayanda and the other Patents within this Province bounded on the Jersey Line in behalf of themselves and other Part owners & proprietors of the said Patents; Complaining of the Hardships the people of this province living near the said Jersey line labour under from the Encroachment of the People of that province"
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And the Said Report being Read;
Ordered that Col' Beekman & Capt Winne wait upon his Honour the Lieu' Gov! and lay before him the said Report with the Evidences, Relating to the Outrages & Insults-Complained of and desire that he will be pleased to use the best means in his power for protecting his Majesties subjects of this Province & their Possessions from such insults & outrages and to Exercise the Jurisdiction of this province as far South- ward as the Bounds described in the said Report untill a final settlement can be made & his majesty shall be pleased to declare his pleasure with Respect to the future Jurisdiction of this Province.
By order of the Gen! Asssembly
ABRM LOTT JUN CIK,
Orders for settling the rank of the Officers of his Majesty's forces, when joined, or serving with the Provincial forces of North America.
[From P. R. O. America & West Indies. Vol. 74.] GEORGE R.
Whereas some Doubts have arisen with regard to the Rank and Command. which Officers and Troops raised by the Governors of Our Provinces in North America, should have, when joined, or serving together with Our Independent Companies of Foot, doing Duty in Our said Provinces. In order to fix the same, and to prevent for the future all Disputes on that Account, We are hereby pleased to declare, that it is Our Will & Pleasure that all Troops serving by Commission signed by Us, or by Our General commanding in Chief in North America; shall take Rank before all Troops, which may serve by Commission from any of the
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1754
Governors, Lieutenant or Deputy Governors, or Presi- dent, for the time being, of Our Provinces in North America: And it is Our farther Pleasure, that the General & Field Officers of the Provincial Troops, shall have no Rank with the General and Field Officers, who serve by Commission from Us; But that all Captains, and other inferior Officers of Our Forces, who are, or may be employed, in North America, are on all Detachments, Courts Martial, or other Duty wherein they may be joined with Officers, serving by Commission from the Governors, Lieutenant or Deputy Governors, or President for the time being of the said Provinces, to command & take Post of the said Provin- cial Officers of the like Rank, tho' the Commissions of the said Provincial Officers of the like Rank, should be of elder Date.
Given at Our Court at St James's this 12th Day of November 1754. in the Twenty Eighth Year of Our Reign.
By His Majesty's Command T: ROBINSON.
Letter from Governor Belcher to the. Lords of Trade- transmitting papers relative to the boundary ques- tion between New Jersey and New York.
[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 7, H. 55.7
Right Honble Lords Commiss's for Trade & Plantas
ELIZA: TOWN (N J) Nov1. 23.ª 1754.
My Lords
I beg leave to inclose to Your Lordships, Copies of two Letters, which I send this day, to the LGov! of N: York; the Propositions whereof, if complied with, on his part, I make no doubt, will preserve the Peace;
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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but if not, it does not appear to me, how its possible, that the Peace can be preserv'd, between the two Provinces.
I send herewith also to Your Lordships, a printed Copy, of the Memorial, of the Proprietors, of East Jersey, of Nov! 20: 1753 with sundry Papers, annex'd from Nº 1: to 17:, inclusive, containing a full Acc!, of the Dispute, concerning the Bounds between N: York, & N: Jersey, which ! beseech Your Lordships, to Consider.
I send Your Lordships also, a Copy of some Remarks, made this Day, by the Council here, on those Papers; & on the Proceedings of N: York, since the Publishing there of; by which Your Lordships will percieve, a further Proof, of the Reality of the Scheme; of N: York, against this Province, set forth in Page 50: of Nº 16:
If Gov. De Lancey, will not agree to the Proposals, in my s. Letter, I expect no less, than an actual War, by N: York, upon this Province, pursuant to the Votes of Credit, by the Assembly of N: York, of the 8: Inst; to their L:Gov! to make it, & I expect much Bloodshed, & Murders, in the carrying it on; & know of nothing, that can so soon, put an end to it, as an Order from His Majesty to LGov! De Lancey, to join in the meas- ures propos'd, to him, in my s. Letters; or otherwise, His Majesty's Order to issue, that the Line run, & mark'd in 1719, (as set forth in Articles 12 & 43, of said Memorial) shall be Temporary Line, or that Your Lordships, will still recommend, the Act mention'd in Article 32, for the royal Assent, which Order I doubt not, will immediately restore Peace, & preserve it, till the Bounds between the two Provinces, be setled by His Majesty: Commission, to be obtaind, for that Pur- pose .- I have the Honour to be, with great Respect,
My Lords,
Your Lordships most obedient, & most humble Serv! J. BELCHER.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1754
Letters from the Governor of New Jersey to the Lieut. Governor of New York inclosed in the Papers.
Sir
On the twelfth day of Sept: last, I wrote to Your Honour, since which I have receiv'd no Answer from you.
I have a Letter before me, from the Lords Com- missioners, for Trade & Plantations, dated the 5: Day of July last, Copy of one Paragraph whereof, I send you, in which their Lordships, recommend the Preser- vation of the Peace, of the Provinces of N: York, & N: Jersey, upon their present Disputes, concerning the Line, of Division: which I shall do my utmost, to comply with, consistent with my Duty, to His Maj- esty, & the Trust he has reposed in me, for the Pro- tection of the People, of this Province, committed to my Care.
I am heartily sorry. that the Agreement of February 2ª last, No: S, annex'd to the Memorial of the Pro- prietors, of East Jersey, was not approv'd off, by you, & the Council of N: York, as it was by me, & the Council of N: Jersey. as appears by Nº 9 :. & that the Irruption of 17: May last, by People of N: York, shoud have been made, into this Province, in Breach of the said Agreement, as appears by Nº 17:, Page 55 :; it also gives me no small Concern, that the People of your Province, still continue, to decline their joining, in Endeavours, to obtain His Majesty Commission, for determining that Dispute, as was requested by Nº 15. which Delay, adds not a little, to the Presumption, that such a Scheme was projected, & is still carrying on as is set forth, in Page 50:, of Nº 16 :.
There seems so much Difference, in Opinion, con- cerning what shall be, the temporary Line, that I have little Hopes, that the Peace of both Provinces, will be
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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preserv'd, without entering into an Agreement, of the Nature of that of February 2: by which both Parties, were to remain in Quiet, under the Laws of their re- spective Provinces, & unless they do, also consent to join, in 'obtaining the Commission, as was propos'd, by Nº 15, both which Matters, as they have been hereto- fore, so they are now ready, to be agreed to, on the Part of N: Jersey, which, with noli prosequis mutually to be granted, & actually carrying Commission, bona Fide, into Execution, seem to me, the most probable Means, of restoring & preserving the Peace, of both Provinces, especially, as the running a streight Line, from either of the disputed Places, on Hudsons River to any part of Delaware, will affect, & greatly injure, many of the honest Purchasers, & Settlers, near the Line, & to run to the southward of Minisinck, on Del- aware, will include may hundreds of Families, in N: York Government, who have long held, & possess'd their Lands, under N: Jersey Title: I beg your Honour, will consider, of the above Matters, & give a speedy Answer to ;-
Sir, Your most humble Servant
J BELCHER
ELZA: TOWN (N J) Nov! 23: 1754 L: Gov! De Lancey-
A Paragraph of the Opinion & Advice of the Council of N: Jersey, to His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq!, Governour &cª Nov. 23: 1754
And whereas the pretences of N: York, as to the Bounds of N: Jersey, on Delaware River, are so various, as by the N: York Attorneyes, to be pretended, to little Minisinck Island, above thirty miles below the Lattitude 41: 40:, discover'd in 1719; by the Council of N: York, to some Place, they know not where, but so that it includes Minisink, a Country of large Extent, whereof the greatest Part of it, in N: Jersey, which smallest Part, extends above 50 Miles, on Delaware, 3
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1754
below the Lattitude 41: 40: discovered in 1719, & they have desired, the L: Gov! of N: York, to exercise the Jurisdiction, of N: York, as far southwards, as those Bounds; as by their Votes, of Oct: 29:, & Nov! 8: last, appears.
And whereas by the Memorial, & other Publications, of the Council of Proprietors, of East N: Jersey, long since published, & particularly by Nº16:, it appears, to be averred, & not hitherto deny'd by N: York, that from the Lattitude 41: 40: discover'd on Delaware, in 1719, along a Line, to the Lattitude 41:, on Hudsons River, by the Observations of 1719, all the Settlements, southwards of that Line, were originally made, under N: Jersey Titles; & so have been, ever held, with a very few Exceptions, & for 45 miles thereof, from Delaware, without any Exception, now but of two Plantations, whereof, one was taken from the N: Jersey Owner, by Force, & the other was settled but last Year, & for other 16: miles, of the s! Line, viz: a Breast of Cheesecocks Patent, without any Exception, which with 45 Miles, makes 61 of the 75 Miles, the whole Length of that Line, & shou'd the Desires of the Assembly, of N: York, be put in Execution, many hundreds, if not Thousands, of Families, of N: Jersey, may be subjected to N: York, to their utter Ruin. And whereas the Protection, of the People settled under the Jurisdiction of N: Jersey, is by His Majesty's Commission, committed to Your Excellency, & there we humbly concieve, (as far as in your Power is,) they ought to receive, that Protection, against the In- vasion, desired, as aforesaid And whereas, we have great Reason, to believe, as well from the above Pro- ceedings, of N: York, as from the Affidavit of Colonel Dekay, of Oct! 24:, that one, or more Invasions, will speedily be upon the People, settled under, & yielding Obedience, to this Province, southwestwards of the s: Line, by the Observations of 1719; wherefore we are
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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humbly of Opinion, that Your Excellency, shoud ac- quaint Abraham Van Camp, Colonel of the Regiment of Militia, & Judge of the County of Sussex, with the Premises, with Orders to him, to acquaint all Officers, civil & Military, within the said County, with the same, & that they be diligent, in their several Duties, for the Protection of the People, settled under, & yielding Obedience, to N: Jersey, southwestwards of the sd Line, by the Observations of 1719; but at the same time, that they be carefull, not to disquiet, any Persons settled under N: York, northeastwards of the said Line, & do yield Obedience, to N: York, tho' within this Province, untill further Orders.
And we are further of Opinion, that your Excel- lency send, to the L: Gov! of N: York, a Copy of Your Excellency Order, to Col. Van Cam, hoping that he will give the like Orders, to Orange County, & that thereby, the Peace of both Provinces, may be pre- serv'd, which in our Opinion, according to the Advice, of the Lords of Trade, to Your Excellency, is the most "prudent & Legal method, to preserve Peace & "Quiet, among His Majesty: Subjects."
ELIZA TOWN NOV! 23: 1754 S.
Above you have a Copy, of the Advice of the Council to me, relative to the Disputed Line, between this, & the Colony of N: York, & I desire, & order you, to conduct yourself agreeable, to the Matters therein recommended, for your Care & Management .-
J. BELCHER
To Abraham Van Camp Esq! Col. of the Regiment for the County of Sussex- SI
Above you have, agreeable to my Letter herewith, to you Honour, a Copy of my Orders, & Directions to Col. Van Camp .-
L Gov! De Lancey
J BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1754
Bill making current £70,000 in Bills of Credit, trans- mitted to the Lords of Trade by Governor Belcher, November 26, 1754.
[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 7, H. 60.]
AN ACT for making current Seventy Thous- and Pounds in Bills of Credit, for Assisting his Majesty and the Neighbouring Colonies to dispossess the French from His Majestys Lands on or near the River Ohio, and for Providing a Fund for the Defence of the Frontiers of this and the Neighbouring Colonies hereafter, and for Sinking the Sum of Thirteen Thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy one pounds Sixteen Shillings & three pence half penny, yet Outstanding in Bills of Credit made Current for his Majes- tys Service in the Late War.
Whereas the Currency of the Bills of Credit emitted on Loan in this Colony is now expired According to the Tenor of the Respective Acts which gave them Emis- sion, By which means, and the Exportation of Gold and Silver from Amongst us to Great Britain and Else where, the Inhabitants of this Colony are Reduced to Great extremities for want of a Sufficient Currency to Carry on the Necessary Trade with their Mother Country, to honestly discharge their Contracts, To Improve their Lands, or to Answer Even the Common Necessaries of Life, and it being expedient in this time of Common Danger, from the encroachments of a Powerful Enemy, That a fund be provided to assist his Majesty and the Neighbouring Colonies in Remov-
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. ·
ing the French from his Majestys Dominions. For these Reasons, and for Sinking Such of the Bills of Credit yet outstanding in this Colony as were made for his Majesty's Service in the Late War, against France and Spain, We the House of Representatives do pray that it may be Enacted.
And Be it Enacted by the Governor Council and General Assembly and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the Same, that Bills of Credit to the Value of Seventy Thousand pounds Current money of America, According to an Act of Parliament made in the Sixth year of the Reign of the late Queen Anne, Entitled an Act for Ascertaining the Rates of foraign Coins in her Majestys Plantations in America Shall be printed made and prepared as followeth viz one Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty Bills each of the Value of Six pounds, or Seventeen ounces ten penny weight of Silver, Three Thousand five Hundred Bills each of the Value of Three pounds or Eight ounces fif- teen penny weight of Silver, Seven Thousand Bills each of the Value of one pound Ten Shillings, or four Ounces Seven penny weight Twelve Grains of Silver, fourteen Thousand Bills each of the Value of fifteen Shillings. or two Ounces three penny weight eighteen grains of Silver, Twenty one Thousand Bills each of the Value of Twelve Shillings, or one Ounce fifteen penny weight of Silver Twenty one Thousand Bills each of the Value of Six Shillings or Seventeen penny weight Twelve Granes of Silver, Twenty eight Thousand Bills each of the Value of Three Shillings or Eight penny weight Eighteen Grains of Silver Thirty five Thousand Bills each of the Value of one Shilling & Six-pence, or four penny weight nine Grains of Silver and Forty five Thousand five hundred Bills each of the Value of one Shilling or two penny weight Twenty-two Grains of Silver.
And Be it Further Enacted by the Authority Afore-
R.
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· ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1754
said that the Whole Number of the Bills aforesaid shall be printed on good paper and Impressed with the Arms of Great Britain on the Left Side near the bot- tom thereof, and near the Top and Bottom the Value of Each Bill so hereby made Current shall be Expressed in Proclamation, and the said Bills Shall be Indented and Contain the words following viz This Bill by Law Shall Pass Current in New Jersey for- -Ounces
Penny weight and- Grains of Silver. March 25. And for preventing any fraudulent prac- tice during the Printing of the said Bills the printer thereof, Shall before his printing them have a Copy of the following Oath or Affirmation delivered to him by the Inspectors herein after appointed .- "I, A: B do Declare that from the Time the Letters were Set and fit to be put in the Press for the Printing the Bills of Credit now be me delivered to you untill the Bills were printed, and the Letters unset and put into the Boxes Again, I went at no Time out of the Room in which the said Letters were without Locking them up so as they could not be come at, Without Violence, a false Key, or Other Art then Unknown to me, and there- fore to the best of my Knowledge no Copies were Printed of but in my Presence and that all the Blotters and Other Papers whatsoever Printed by the said Letters whilst set for Printing the said Bills to the best of my Knowledge are here delivered to you to- gether with the Stamps for the Indents & Arms and that I have not at any time been privy or Consenting to any or more Bills being Struck than I now Deliver to you, and that in all things Relating to this Affair I have and Shall Demean my self according to the true intent and meaning of the said Act, to the best of my knowledge and understanding.
And after the said Printer Shall Print the said Bills he shall take the Same Oath or Affirmation if one of the People called Quakers, that he may Govern him-
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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self Accordingly. Provided always that if any Unfor- seen Accident has happened, he may have the Liberty of making an Exception thereof in his Oath he Declar- ing fully how it was, and he is hereby Directed to Con- fine the Bills so to be made not to exceed two Inches in Breadth and four Inches in Length so that there may be no Necessity of folding to wear them out.
And Be it Further Enacted that the said Sum of Seventy Thousand Pounds in Bills of Credit as afore- said when Printed, Shall be by the Printer thereof delivered together with the Stamps for the Indents and Arms. unto John Johnston, John Stevens, Samuel Smith, and Hugh Hartshorne Esq"s or any three of them to be Numberd Signed and Indonted as fast as they are printed of, and the said Signers as Soon as they shall have finished the Sum of Ten Thousand Pounds, shall pay the Same to the Treas- urers of this Colony or Either of them to be applied as his Majesty Shall Direct for the Dispossessing the French from his Lands on or nigh the River Ohio, and for Keeping Possession of the same; and the said Treasurers or Either of them are hereby Impower'd to pay the Same Ten Thousand Pounds (or such part thereof as Shall be drawn for) to any Person or Per- sons Whatsoever, who Shall Produce to them or Either of them his Majestys Order under his Royal Sign Manual, and the Receipt of Such Person so Pro- ducing the said Order, with the said Order Shall be Sufficient to Discharge them the said Treasurers or Either of them their or Either of their Heirs Execu- tors, Administrators or Assigns for the Sum so paid, and the said Treasurers Respectively are hereby Directed and Commanded not to pay the said Ten Thousand Pounds nor any part thereof out of the Treasury without such Order under his Majesty's said Sign Manual together with a Receipt for the said Sum or so much thereof as shall be received being Delivered to him or them,
le
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1754
And Be it further Enacted by the Authority Afore- said that in Case it Should so happen that the said John Johnston or John Stevens should happen to die refuse or Otherwise be disabled before the Bills of Credit Afore- said Should be Signed that then and in that Case John Smith .Esq' is hereby Appointed a Signer in lieu of Such Person so dying refusing or being Disabled and if any two of the said three Signers should refuse die or Otherwise be Disabled, then Thomas Barton Esq" is hereby Appointed a Signer of the said Bills of Credit. And in case of the death refusal or Other Disability of Samuel Smith or Hugh Hartshorne then Abraham Houlings Esq' is hereby Appointed a Signer in the place or Stead of the said Person so dying refusing or being disabled. And if any two of the three last named Signers should refuse die or Otherwise be Dis- abled then Joseph Hollingshead Esq' is hereby Ap- pointed a Signer. Which Signers so Appointed in Case of the Refusal or Disabilities before mentioned hap- pening Shall be and are hereby vested with all the powers and Authorities which by this Act are Vested in the first named Signers.
And Be it further Enacted by the Authority Afore- said that the Printer on delivery of the said Bills to the Signers when printed Shall take the Oath (or Affirmation if a Quaker) herein before directed in the presence of the said Signers or any two of them And Before any of the said Signers Shall begin to Sign any of the Said Bills, they Shall take an Oath (or Affirma- tion if Quakers) before any one or more of the In- spectors hereafter Mentioned (to Administer which Oath or Affirmation the said Inspectors are hereby Im- powered) for the true Signing of the said Bills of Credit, and that they will Sign no more than by this Act is directed; and that to the best of their Skill they will perform what by this Act they are enjoined as their duty.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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And Be it further Enacted by the Authority afore- said that so soon as the said Bills to the Value of Sixty Thousand Pounds (being the Remaining Sum after the Ten Thousand Pounds is Applied as aforesaid) are Signed the said Signers shall deliver to the Commis- sioners of the County of Bergen for the use of the said County the Sum of Three Thousand Nine Hundred and fifty four pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Essex for the use of the said County the Sum of four Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy two Pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Middlesex for the use of the said County the sum of Two Thous- and four Hundred and thirty Eight Pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Monmouth, for the use of the said County the Sum of Seven Thousand Eight Hundred & Eighty Six pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Somerset for the use of the said County the Sum of Six Thous- and Seven Hundred Pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Sussex for the use of the said County the Sum of Eleven Hundred and Twelve pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Morris for the use of the said County the Sum of Two Thousand two hundred and twenty two Pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Hunterdon for the use of the said County the Sum of Eight Thousand five hundred & Six pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Burlington for the use of the said County the Sum of Seven Thousand and five hundred pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Gloucester for the use of the said County the Sum of four Thous- and Six hundred and ninety pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Salem for the use of the said County the Sum of four Thousand One hundred and ninety-two pounds.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1754
To the Commissioners of the County of Cumberland for the use of said County the Sum of two Thousand one Hundred and Twenty Six pounds.
To the Commissioners of the County of Cape May for the use of the said County the Sum of One Thous- and two pounds.
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