USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume VIII > Part 33
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Nov. 7: 1755. James Anderson's Affidavit of an Alarm in the County of Sussex on the Approach of the French & Indians towards Easton in Pennsylva- nia, &c. These things Gentlemen you will carefully deliberate upon & which I think must produce your wise Resolutions of exerting all in Your Power for maintaining the Kings Interest & Honour & for the Safeguard of the good People of this Province & in Aid & Assistance of our poor distress'd Neighbours if it shou'd finally be found absolutely Necessary.
I think it wou'd be highly prudent to appoint with- out Delay a Commissioner to meet the Commissioners of the other Governm's at N. York the 15: Inst
You will see by Admiral Boscawens Letter the Starv- ing Condition of the French at Cape Breton & Canada that I wish the Governments woud still continue their Prohibitions of the Exportation of Provisions & War- like Stores.
I do in Justice to Col' John Anderson of the County of Sussex mention His great Alacrity in raising four Hundred men & marching them to the Defence of
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Easton in Pennsylvania & which I hope will inspirit the other Officers & private men of the Province to exert themselves in defence of their People in Case the Enemy shou'd enter into any Part of this Province & I am glad to say to You that the People in general seem resolved by the Help of God to give the Enemy a warm Reception whereever they may come.
I wou'd inform you that upon the Repeated Advices I recd I sent my Orders per Express last Week to every Col' in the Province to muster his Regiment & to see they be well equipt with Arms & Amunition according to Law & to be ready to march on the first Notice of the Enemys Approach to any Part of our Frontiers & I must not leave this Article without earnestly recom- mending to you the passing a Bill of all possible en- couragement to such Brave men as shall v luntarily engage in the Service of their King & Country.
Altho' it is two months ago since His Majesty's Troops under the Command of the brave Major Gen- eral Johnston and the brave Major General Lyman gave the French & Indians such a Remarkable Defeat yet I must now first of all for this give Praise to the God of Armies & then congratulate you on this happy Occasion & at same time give my thanks to those pru- dent and brave Officers & to the men that Fought under them with so much Courage and Intrepidity.
As the Winter is just at hand which may prevent the further Proceedings on the Plan of Operation for the Troops till towards the Spring I shall not doubt your good and kind Care that the Regiment of this Province be now & always well & seasonably supplied with good Provisions & all warlike Stores to enable them the better to Encounter the Enemy.
God Almighty grant that in the time of this In- creasing Danger that not only the three Parts of the Legislature may act in great Harmony but that all the
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
Private members of the Common Wealth may unit- edly act for the defence of themselves & of their Neighbours. J. B.
ELIZA TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER NOV' 13. 1755.
[Under date of November 14th the Governor re- minded the Assembly that there was no money in the Treasury for Incidental expenses, and that, conse- quently, he was debarred the privilege of sending any intelligence by express, however urgent the necessity. -ED.]
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lieutenant-Governor Morris of Pennsylvania.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN. Nov 13th 1755 L. GOVR MORRIS Sir
I wrote you at large 10: Inst p the Post which I hope got well to your hands-since which I have recd fur- ther Intelligence of the Motions of the Enemy and of the Behaviour of the Moravians - the Particulars whereof Your Honour will find by the Inclosed Peti tion & Affidavit of Josiah Broadwell & others. I have also several Letters confirming these Accounts relating to the Enemy & upon these repeated Intelligences I expressed Orders the 6: Inst to every Col' of this Province to muster His Regiment &c. & repeated them again Yesterday, Copy of which I send you herewith. I hope when your People see the Readiness of this little Governmt to do all in their Power for the Com- mon Safety of the Kings Subjects that they will exert themselves & join in it with the greatest Alacrity- I am
Sir, Your Honours Most Obedient &c.
J. BELCHER.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Letter from Governor Belcher to Rev. Aaron Burr, President of the College.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Nov 17. 1755
MR PREST BURR
Sir
The Situation of the Affairs of the College seems at present to put on an unpleasant Complexion, for we have had & still have considerable demands for Money which I think should stimulate Us to the greatest Care & diligence in Securing and pressing in what Monies are due to Us.
I am a little Surprised that p the Arrival of so many Ships at Boston, Phila & N. York we have no Letters to tell Us what has been collected in Scotland & Ireland.
I think it high time to secure and gather in what is still outstanding on Acct of the Lottery.
And that we plead our necessity to have the Boston Subscription remitted us as soon as possible.
From these several Funds I believe we may mod- estly expect upwards of Seventeen hundred Pounds (Proc) we must therefore be alive and exert to the ut- most or we may, before we are aware be plunged and brought to a stand for want of Money, which wou'd be a sad Misfortune. I dont write to you, Sir, as one wanting Care and Concern for Our Welfare and Pros- perity because I know you are always (I thank you) full of Spirit on that Head, & yet we must stirr up ourselves & one another. I salute you very kindly & am Revª Sir
Your Friend & Serv.
J BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1:55]
Letter from Governor Belcher to Governor Hopkins -relating to a Convention of Commissioners for the several Colonies.
GOV® HOPKINS
Nov 20, 1755
Sir
I received the Act of your Assembly relative to a Convention of Commissioners from several of His Maj- estys Governments appointed by General Shirley to be held at N. York the latter End of this Month.
General Shirley notified me of this Matter two months ago. I called the Assembly. I. laid before them the General's Letter & prest upon them the send- ing a Commissioner from this Government, but they wholly declined it yet they otherwise exprest a good Spirit in the Common Cause.
I observe with much satisfaction (tho' a melancholy Detail) the particular good Reasons which make this Convention necessary for most certainly our publick Affairs, after all our fruitless Efforts the Year past wear but a gloomy heavy Complexion & altho' my broken Health will not allow me the Honour of being present at the Congress of the several Gov's yet I have desired Mr. Pownall His Majesty: Lieut Gov" of this Province to represent me at the Congress.
I am with Esteem & Respect
Sir Your Honours Most obedt &c.
J BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Letter from Governor Belcher to General Shirley- about military affairs.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Nov. 20, 1755
General Shirley
Sir
I duly received by way of N. York the Honour of of your Excellencys Letter dated from Albany 11th Inst. and am glad to find you so fully coincide with me as to the Deletion1 of Carthage. I say it, Sir, with great Deference to much wiser heads that I think we are but playing a small Game at a vast expence of Blood & Treasure while we are intending to Attack the Number of the Enemy small Forts certainly we had better at once be at the necessary (and smallest) charge of attempting their Capitol on this Continent and in duty to His Majesty & from a tender Regard to these his Colonies I have wrote the Secry of State my real opinion in this Matter-the People of the Provinces seem so well spirited that I really think it wou'd not be difficult to raise thirty thousand men if the Crown will furnish money to pay them & with Arms & Amu- nition & also send five thousand Regulars to mix with them with Engineers Bombardeers &c. and a Stout Squadron of the Line at same time to go up the Gulph of St Lawrence-if we wou'd hew the Tree down effectually the sacred Pages tell us we must lay the Ax to the root.
Things look to me as if the coming year will be the Criterion whereby we shall be able to conclude whether the French shall drive us into the Sea or whether King George shall be Emperour of N. America which
1 Sic .- ED.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
in Time to come will be a glorious Empire and in the Exigency of the present Affairs well worth the Hard- est and most noble struggle of all the King's North American Subjects.
I observe your Excellency expects a meeting of several of the King® Gov's at N. York the last Week in this Month to consult upon a General Plan of operation for the insueing year where your Excell' desires me to be if my health woud admit of it and did not my par- alytick Disorder forbid I shou'd esteem it an Honour to attend so honourable a Convention. When David invited old Barzillai to his Court he excused himself & desired him to accept of his Son Chimham in his stead. & I hope your Excellency will be pleased to let Mr Pownall Lieut Govr of this Province represent me at the said meeting & I now write him agreeably there- unto.
At your Leisure I shou'd be glad of the Minutes of the Councils of War held at Oswego.
I have no Reason to doubt of bringing the Assembly of this Province into a Continuance of Col Schuyler with His Regiment agreeable to your Desire.
Upon the Accounts I sent Home to the King's Min- isters of what had passt in this Govermt relating to the Common Cause I have lately recd a Letter from White- hall couch'd in very handsome Terms with Respect to this Province.
Agreeable to your Excellys desire I met the Assem- bly of this Province the 12: Inst, when I laid your Letter before them of the 9: of Sept for a Commissioner to be sent from hence to N. York and urged the Matter upon them but they wou'd not come into it and yet I believe they are very well spirited in Gen- eral for the good of the Common Cause altho Penn- sylvania sets them so vile an Example. * * * *
I am Sir your Excellys Most obedient &c.
J. BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lieutenant-Governor
Pownall-requesting his attendance at the Conven- tion of Governors in New York.
Nov 21 1755
Lieut Govr Pownall
Sir
I hope you duly recd mine of the 10: Inst in Answer to your Honours of the 29: of Oct" from Albany since which I have a Letter from General Shirley desiring me if my Health wou'd allow to be at N. York the last Week in this month where a Congress is to be held by the Gov's of several of His Majesty's Colonies but as my paralytick Disorder will not admit of my being personally present at it I very well approve of Your Honours appearing there & representing me as Gov' of His Majesty's Province of N. Jersey and where I doubt not you will do all in your Power for advancing the Kings Honour & Interest and the Welfare & Prosperity of His Majesty's Provinces in General and of this in Particular to which you and I have the Honour to stand so nearly related and these are all the Instruc- tions I can give you till I have from General Shirley a particular Account of the Occasion of this Congress and which he has promised soon to transmit me. I am in the mean time and always with Esteem and Respect
Sir, your Honours assured friend & most humble servì, J. BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
Accounts of the Treasurer of East New Jersey from June 21, 1754, to November 21, 1755.
[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 20.]
Province of New Jersey to Andrew Johnston Treasurer of the Eastern Division.
DR.
To Sundry Payments from the 21st June 1754 to the 21st November 1755. Viz!
His Excellency Gov! Belcher Sundry War- rants £1060. 0.00
Gentlemen of the Council 112.16. 0
Gentlemen of the Assembly. 335. 8. 0
Attorney General. 7.10. 0
Judge of the Supream Court.
16. 5. 0
Eastern Treasurer
60. 0. 0
Clerk of the Council.
7.10. 0
Clerk of the Circuits.
10.0. 0
Clerk of the Assembly.
75. 2.10
Doorkeepers and Serjent at Arms, 21. 3. 0
Accott of Expence for Express &c 23. 0. 72
Hire of Roomes for the Council & for the Assembly. .
20.16. 6
The Commissioners for Paying the Ex-
pence of his Majestys forces Travel- ing through this province. . 300. 0. 0.
£2049.11.11
CR.
By Ballance of Accott on 21st June 1754. £1158. 5. 5 By a tax payable by the Several Countys Eastern, on the 21st November 1754, Vizt.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1755
Middlesex County
£181. 5.5
Monmouth
262.17. 4
Sussex.
155.14. 3
Somerset.
223. 6. 2
Bergen £131.16. 0
Ditto for last Years Deficiency. . 197.13.11
£329. 9.11
£1152.13. 1
£2310.18. 6
Andrew Johnston Treasurer of the Eastern Division of New Jersey Appeared before me Thomas Bartow one of the Aldermen of the City of Perth Amboy and being duely sworn Declares (to the best of his knowl- edge) that the Above Acccott is a True State of the Receipts and Payments by him from 21st June 1754 to the 21st November 1755.
AND" JOHNSTON
Sworn the 26. Nov! 1755 Before me
THOS BARTOW
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lieutenant-Gover- nor Dinwiddie-relating to the military operations.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Nov 251 1755
LIEUT GOV DINWIDDIE
Sir
I was Yesterday favour'd with your Letter of the 12: Currt-if I had had the Honour to have been at the late Councils of War I cou'd by no means have agreed to have order'd Col' Dunbar with sixteen hundred men to have come from Fort Cumberland in long and tedious Marches to parade it all Winter at Albany-
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
when nothing less could be expected by their with- drawing than continual Murders & Depredations on these Southern Colonies and by a Letter I have from Gov' Morris of the 17. Inst the Enemy have past the Sus- quehannah & had fallen upon Tulpichochin one of the finest Settlements in Pennsylvania & I am daily ex- pecting to hear of their coming over the Delaware to harrass & distress the Frontiers of this Poor little Province I have therefore issued Orders to every Col' &c. * * * *
Gov' Sharpe call'd on me about a Fortnight ago and told me the people of Maryland were lulling them- selves into the same stupid false Security [as those of Pennsylvania.] What shall we say Sir,-Quos Deus vult perdere prius dementat.
One of the most glorious Campaigns the great Duke of Marlborough ever made was in a severe Winter and when he did not quit the Field till the Month of Janu- ary-and I shou'd really have thought our little Army of 8 or 10,000 men might have made an Attempt ou Crown Point-but that Matter is over at Present & God Almighty grant Wisdom Spirit & Resolution for better conducting the Operations of the next Cam- paign & to be early in the Field is a most essential thing-I mean to have the Forces at their several Places of Rendezvous so as to be ready to march to the Places of their Destination by the Beginning of May & had it been so this Year Fort Duquesne had in all probability been ours.
By letters to the 911 of last Month from England it was still uncertain when a War wou'd be declared.
I respectfully salute you and am
Sir, Your Honours Most Obedt &c.
J BELCHER.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1755
Letter of Governor Belcher to the Colonels of Regi- ments in New Jersey-directing them to muster their troops, and march to the Delaware river.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
To HIS EXCELLENCY JONATHAN BELCHER ESQ Capt General and Govr in chief in & over His Majestys Province of Nova Cæsarea or New Jersey and Territories thereon depending in America Chancellor & vice Admiral in the same.
To the Honoble Joseph Tuttle Esq" Col' of the Regiment of Militia in the County of Mor- ris in the Province aforesª; or to the Com- manding Officer of the sª Regiment for the Time being
Sir,
Having about an Hour ago recd p Express several Affidavits of the French & Indians burning a town at the Forks of Delaware and murdering all the People- & from which I am in Hourly expectation to hear of their coming into this Province-these are to require you in His Majestys Name forthwith to muster your Regiments & to see they be well furnished with Arms Amunition & Provisions & to march with them imme- diately towards the River Delaware & to endeavour to get the best Information you can where you may meet them either in this Province or Pennsylvania & to repell & destroy them in the best manner you can & for which this shall be your Warrant.
Given under my hand & Seal at Arms at the Borough of Eliza this 26: day of Nov' in the twenty ninth Year of His Majesty8 Reign Annoq Domini 1755.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
(The same to Joseph Stout Esq! Colo of the Regi- ment of Militia in the County of Hunterdon to Honoble John Schuyler Esq. Col' of the Regiment of Militia & also of the Regiment of Horse in the County of Ber- gen .- Also to Col. John Low of the Regiment of Militia in the County of Essex.)
Letter from Governor Belcher to his nephew, P. Oliver.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc. ]
ELIZABETH TOWN NOV! 27, 1755 Mr. P. Oliver
My Dear Nephew,
Sir, I have duly recd your very good Letters of 20: of Sept & of 10:Currt I am too old to accost my Rela- tion & Friends in Compliment or Adulation therefore what drops from my Pen proceeds from the most secret Recesses of my heart in great Integrity and Sincerity.
I have feasted and Regaled myself once & again with your fine ingenious Letter of 20: of Sept too full of Gratitude for the little Instances of Love and Affec- tion I was capable of shewing you and your Wife in your late Visit to your Uncle Broken with Age. The Sacred Pages tell us, the desire of a man is his Kind- ness and altho' I cou'd not entertain you politely in this rustick obscure Part of the Globe yet what I cou'd do I did most heartily & your kind Visit greatly re- fresht my Bowels & rejoiced my heart.
I thank you, Sir, for the Share you are pleased to take in the Pleasure and Comfort God pleases to Grant me in the Ease of my Administration among a People who love me and I love them & I have reason to be- lieve that were this Governmt Elective nineteen in
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
twenty wou'd give me their Voices-indeed I believe it is a Government of the least Profit of any in His Majestys Gift on the English Continent and yet per- haps many a man in my Station wou'd have made much more of it than I dare (and at same time might have thought he did it with a good Conscience) the Publick Records of this Province will always shew to a Shilling what I have received in this Government.
I thank God who has inabled me to keep my hands empty and clean and my Fingers from all Corruption by the unrighteous Mammon. * * *
I am much pleased with the fine Description you give of the dreadful Storm you met with off New London and I thank God that he who holds the Winde in his Fist & makes His Thunders and his Lightnings exactly fulfill his Pleasure was your Covert in the mighty Tempest & safe guarded you to your Habita- tion, Children and Friends where may you always live as well as speak his Praises. * * * * * * *
I wish you and your Family all the Blessings of this Life and a better and am obliged for all your kind de- sires for me and mine & thus I remain,
Dear Sir, Your aged, loving Uncle
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Anderson- relating to Military requirements.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN NOV 28 1755
COLL ANDERSON
Sir
Yesterday about 4 o'clock in the Afternoon I recd p Express yours of 26: Currt, together with a Particular Account from Mr Russell of the Present distrest Con-
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
dition of the Inhabitants of this Province from the near Approach of the Enemy to our Borders: Upon an Apprehension of this I issued my Orders the 12: Inst to every Col' of this Province to muster his Regiment &c * *
I hear Col' Stout and Col' Vancampen were getting together a Number of men and near three Thousand marcht Yesterday from Morris County and Col' Low of the County of Essex and Col' Schuyler of the County of Bergen are to march on Monday next the first of Decr with five hundred men more, and I am this Morning sending Expresses to several other Colls to march with their Quotas that I hope we shall soon have a Body of two thousand men ready to give the French & Indians a Warm Reception upon their Approach.
As to a Garrison and men to keep it that must be done by the Assembly who must also supply the Fire- locks and Amunition you mention and I shall call them together as soon as possible to lay before them the present deplorable condition of the Province. I am very well pleased & so is every Body else at your good Resolution & Readiness to the Service of your King & Country. May God Almighty keep and pro- tect you & your Neighbours from the Barbarities and Cruelties of the French and Indians who are making their utmost Attempts to drive all the King's Subjects from of this Continent. I am, Sir, your good Friend,
J. BELCHER
12
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [175;
Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Andrew Johnston-directing him, without delay, to carry out previous orders.
ELIZA TOWN NOV 28: 1755
COLE JOHNSTON
Sir
As I am daily receiving Expresses of the near ap- proach of the French and Indians to the Frontiers of this Province you must have recourse to my Order of the 12: Inst. and put it in Execution without any Delay. I mean to detach three hundred effective men out of your Regiment and to march at the Head of them yourself or if you are not able, to put them under the Command of an able and good Officer who must go forward upon the best Intelligence he can get to meet, repel and destroy the Enemy wherever he can find them. The bearer hereof Capt Wm Skinner' offers his Service to go in any Suitable Command upon this Occasion and I desire he may be incouraged as I think him a Young Gentleman very capable of the Service, I am,
Honoble Sir Your Friend, &c. J BELCHER
1 WILLIAM SKINNER was the third son of the Rev. William Skinner, of Perth Am- boy, and entered into the Provincial service early in life. He was at Oswego in September, 1755, and again in 1756, when the fortress was surrendered to the French. As a prisoner of war Captain Skinner was sent to France, and remained there till the May following, and was exchanged in September. Through many in- fluential friends he was promoted into the regular service. He was gazetted Cap- tain August, 1759, and, as Major of Royal Volunteers, was in the expedition to Belle Isle in 1761. In 1762 he accompanied the army to Port Royal, and in 1763 received his promotion as Lieut .- Colonel; shortly after which he returned to England, and had risen to the rank of Colonel previous to the Revolution. He died in England about 1778. Colonel Skinner married a daughter of Lady Warren, and his only child, Susannah, married Henry, 3d Viscount Gage; and her son, Henry Hall Gage, a few years since was the possessor of the title and estate of the parent. See "Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy and adjoining country," pp. 112-119 .- ED.
1
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
¿ 1755]
Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Joseph Tut- tle-relating to the defence of the frontier.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN NOV 29 1755.
COLL TUTTLE
Sir
I have your Letters of 27: and 28 Inst, with what you inclosed from Col' Vancampen informing of the present difficult Situation the Province is in with Re- spect to the Approach of the Enemy and that you had detacht about three hundred men which were marcht under the Command of Col' Ford.
I like well the Proposal of raising a thousd Volun- teers to be under the Command of such Officers as shall be pleasing to the men to march and scour the Frontiers and even to proceed to Shamokin in Penn- sylvania and to captivate kill and destroy all the Indians & French joined with them in the Barbarities & Murders they are daily committing on His Majesty's good Subjects & if men shou'd appear to go at their own Charge I am content they shou'd choose their own Officers. As to Garrisons or Forts, that's a Chargethe Assembly must defray which I shall press upon them at their next meeting, in the mean time the sooner this Affair be pusht forward the better & when they are ready to march let me have Expresses with Par- ticular Accounts of their Proceedings & when they go I shall write to the Gov' of Pennsylvania to raise and march a good Number of men to join them. I am Sir, Your ready Friend. J. BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1755
Letter from Governor Belcher to Col. Schuyler-about marching to Minisink.
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