USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume VIII > Part 34
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[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN NOV" 30 1755
COL' SCHUYLER
Sir
I have just now recd yours of this Date with a Par- ticular Acct of the number of the Enemy that have done the mischief at Minisinck which exceeds what we imagined I therefore well approve of your taking under your Command the two (or three if you Please) northermost Companies of Essex Regiment that you may go strong & inclosed is my Order to Col' Low in Conformity. I desire you to make all possible Dis- patch & let me be constantly hearing from you. I am, Your assured Frd.
J. BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania-about military movements.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Dec 1 1755
GOVERNOR MORRIS
Sir
My last was the 25th of Nov @ the hands of Doct Shippen since which I have your Honours of 29 of same month with the Papers inclosed giving a Partic- ular Acct of the Motions of the Enemy and I am glad this little Province are in good Spirits and readiness to assist your People who I hope will return it to them as there may be Occasion for their help in this Province where I am daily expecting the Enemy who I doubt
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
not you will have heard have a few days ago burnt a town at Minisinck and put the Inhabitants to Death and by reason of the constant Accounts I have recd I have had between two and three Thousand men the Week past marching & Countermarching towards the Borders of this Province but as yet we have seen none of the Enemy.
I am glad the Proprietors have contributed £5000 towards the Defence of your Province and that the Assembly had passed a Bill for £60,000 for the like Ser- vice and to which you have given your Assent-it is a very handsome Supply and will enable you in this time of Distress to raise a good Body of men for the De- fence of your Frontiers in which I wish you much Success & am
Sir Your Honours Most Obedtt &c.
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary Read -directing him to call a meeting of the Assembly.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Mr Secry Read
ELIZA TOWN Decr 3 1755 Sir
From the Accounts I am daily receiving of the Dis- tress & Danger the Inhabitants of the Frontiers are in from the near approach of the Enemy & of Numbers of them withdrawing from their Habitations on the Frontiers I thought it proper to call the Council who met me here yesterday & in a full Council unani- mously advised me to see the Assembly as soon as possible this is therefore to direct you to summon them to meet me here on Monday the fifteenth day of this month I am Sir
Your ready Frd
J BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Order from Governor Belcher to the Colonels of New Jersey Regiments-relating to the defence of Mor- ris and Sussex Counties.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Dec. 3 1755
Proclamation of Govr Belcher.
To Col' John Low of Essex-you are hereby com- manded to order one Capt and one Subaltern to march forthwith with fifty men to the House of Col' Abra ham VanCampen of Sussex there to put themselves under the Command of such Person as I shall appoint Commander in chief of the Forces to be employed in the immediate Defence of the Frontiers of the Prov- ince in the Counties of Morris and Sussex.
The Same to Col' Vanhorn of Somerset Co. for 40 men Col' Stout of Hunterdon for 60
Col' Johnston of Middlesex for 45
Col' Tuttle of Morris for 40
Col' Schuyler of Bergen for 30
66
Col' Low of Essex for 50
265
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to General Shirley- referring to the Councils held at Oswego.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Dec 4 1755
GENERAL SHIRLEY
Sir
I did my self the Honour of writing you on the 20: of last month and sent it to the Care of Mr Alexander of N. York & to which I ask your Reference.
.
183
1755]
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
I am now to own the Honour of your Excellys of the 2ª Currt. which came to my hands yesterday # Col1 Peter Schuyler with the Minutes of two Councils of Warr your Excell' lately held at Oswego which I have read and the Advices therein seem to be well founded good and rational-had my health allowed I shou'd have been glad to have made one of the Number of the King's Governours at the intended Congress at N. York, but as it will not Lieut Gov" Pownall will attend in my Stead and I wish the best Measures may be pitcht upon for the Success of the next Year's Cam- paign, and if we hope to do any good the taking the Field as early as possible will doubtless be advisable for had the late General Braddock been at Fort Du- quesne a month or six Weeks sooner he & the Troops under him had not met with the fatal Defeat they did.
As to this little Province I am taking all possible Care for the Defence and Protection of the Inhabitants of which Lieut Gov' Pownall who was here with the Governour & Council Yesterday will give Your Excelly the Particulars with my Compliments to the several Governours at the Congress. I am with much Respect Sir, your Excellency8 Most Obedt, &c.
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Sir Charles Hardy, Governor of New York-about the Division Line and building of Block Houses.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Dec 4 1755
Gov HARDY
Sir
I have now lying before me your Excellency Fa- vour of the 30. of the last Mo. wherein I find you had received Instructions from the Lords Justices relative
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
to the dispute of the Line between this Province and N. York and that you wou'd recommend to your Assembly their dutiful Complyance with what His Majesty justly expects from them for settling Peace and Tranquility between the two Provinces in bring- ing this long Controversy to a final Issue. I thank your Excellencys good Intention in this Matter assur- ing you I shall do all in my Power that N. Jersey may continue in their good Disposition to have this Matter finisht according to the Rules of right Reason and Justice.
I thank your Excellency for the Account you give me of the Steps you have taken upon the Mischief done by the Enemy at Minisinck upon the first Intelligence whereof I ordered Col' John Schuyler to march with four or five hundred men, which he accordingly did & I am daily expecting to hear from him-this little Province is alive and in about fourteen days past we have had near two thousand men in several Bodies ranging the Woods & Frontiers and Yesterday the Govr & Council came into a Resolution of building Forts and Block houses where it shou'd be judged most proper on this Side the River Delaware into which to distribute about 300 men & this matter I am pursuing with all the dispatch I can as Lieut Govr Pownall was here Yesterday with the Governour and Council I desire to referr your Excelly to him for the more particular Account of these Steps.
As New Jersey is entering into such a measure it will be expected that your Excellency shou'd propose to the other Branches of your Legislature the sending some proper Persons to join with those of this Province to go and view and make report how many Block houses may be necessary to be built and at what Places and Distances and how many to be built in N. York in order to guard down along upon the River Delaware & as this is judged the best Method to be gone into for
185
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
discouraging the Enemy from their Inroads and de- predations on this Province & yours I shall not doubt your good and hearty Concurrence with Us in this Matter. I am with much Esteem, Sir,
Your Excellency's Most Obedt &c.
J BELCHER.
Col' Schuyler is returned from Minissinck & I have just now a message from him informing me that the Affair of Minissinck was a mistaken Alarm that there had been no Mischief done, nor any Enemy seen there.
Queries from the Lords of Trade to Governor Belcher and his answers thereto-relative to the state of defence in New Jersey.
[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 18.]
Queries from the Board of Trade, to Jonathan Belcher Esq! Governour of New Jersey.
1º What is the actual State and Quanity of the Canon, Small arms, Ammunition, and other Ordnance, and Military Stores, belonging to the Province of N. Jersey, either in the Public magazines; or in Posses- sion of the Militia, or other Private Persons, together with the true State of all Places, already fortified, or may be further necessary to be fortified; and in what Manner His Majesty may further Contribute, to the Security and Defence of the Sª Colony ?
Ans" There are no Canon, Small arms or other Ord- nance, or Military Stores, belonging to the Province of N. Jersey, only such as every Private man in the Militia, is obliged by a Law of the Province, to furnish himself with. There is not in all the Province one
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Fortification, or Place of Defence, nor can I find there ever was. I have laid before His Majesty's Council, to consider what may be necessary, to be done in this Article; & in what manner, His Majesty may further contribute, to the Security and Defence of this Province; & as they are to meet me in ten days, I shall therefore give a more particular Answer, to the last Part of this Query.
2ª. What Number of Inhabitants, Whites and Blacks, & how many of the former, are able to bear Arms ?
A. By the nearest Computation, there may be about eighty thousand souls: (Whites,) of which about six- teen thousand, may be able to bear Arms. And of the Blacks, the Number is judged to be from fifteen to eighteen hundred.
3ª Of what Number the Militia is composed ? how armed ? mustered and trained ?
A. From a Return made me the last Year, from the Colle of the several Regiments, the Number appear'd to be about thirteen thousand effective men, who are obliged, by a Law of the Legislature, to be mustered and trained, every six months, and to appear every man, with a good Firelock &c. fit to march against an Enemy.
These Queries, my Lords, your Lordships will find mostly and more particularly answered, among my Answers to the Queries sent Your Lordships 27: of Dec! last, and which Your Lordships say, in yours of 6: of Aug! past, you had duly received.
I am with great Respect,
My Lords, Your Lordships
Most obedient and Most humble Servant,
J BELCHER
ELIZª TOWN (N. J.) Dec": 5: 1755
187
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade- about New Jersey affairs, Division Line, etc.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELZA TOWN Dec 6: 1755
LORDS OF TRADE
My Lords,
(Extract.)
I believe it must give Your Lordships Pleasure to find the Assembly of this Province have in a good measure fallen into their duty in this time of common Danger by raising a Regiment of five hundred men in defence and Protection of themselves and their Neigh- bours & altho' they had at first provided for their Pay- ment and Subsistance only for six months they have since continued the same Provision for six Months longer.
In a late Session I communicated to the Assembly Your Lordship's Report and the King's Order relative to their Projected Bill of emitting seventy thousand Pounds in Paper Currency which had they drawn con- formable to what I wrote your Lordships of 26: Nov. 1754, I shou'd have thought His Majesty's giving Leave to His Gov' to give his Assent to such a Bill wou'd have been of considerable Service & Ease to His Majesty's Subjects of this Province in this time of com- mon danger & wou'd have led them into His Majesty's Honour and Interest with greater Alacrity and Zeal.
I am humbly thankfull to your Lordships in be- half of this Province for the Good & kind Care Your Lordships have taken in Order to bring the long con- troverted Line between this Province and N. York to a final Settlement, in Consequence of which the Gov! of N. York writes me he had received the Kings Instruc- tion touching the said Affair and that he shou'd soon lay it before the Assembly of that Province. As your
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Lordships observe it is of great Importance that all matters of Dispute shou'd fully subside among the King's Provinces in this time of General Danger when their united Strength is so necessary to be exerted in vindication and defence of His Majestys Rights and Territories. * * * * *
I have the Honour to be with great Respect My Lords, Your Lordships most obedient & most humble Servt
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lord Hardwicke- about the necessity for capturing Canada.
ELIZA TOWN Dec 8 1755
LORD HARDWICKE
My Lord
(Extract.)
* * * As to this little Province where I have the honour (thro' Your Lordships Favour and Kindness) to preside they are alert and have exerted in good Pro- portion for the King's honour and Service and for the Safety and Welfare of themselves and their Neigh- bours, and as to myself I am much obliged to Your Lordship for the Confidence You express of my real disposition & Zeal for His Majesty's Interest and Hon- our and for the good of His N. American Colonies and this I am sure I shall go on to practice as long as God holds me in life and Reason.
And now will your Lordships forgive me and give me Your Patience while I say I think unless Quebeck and the whole Canadian Country be reduced to His Britannick Majesty's Obedience the French will in the Course of a few Years be masters of all N. America (and make it a fine Empire) and if this be the Case to
189
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
prevent it in time why should not the English Provinces from Nova Scotia to Georgia (thirteen) raise thirty thousand effective men and seasonably apply to His Majesty to send six thousand British Regulars to be incorporated with them & so to make the whole Body thirty six thousand men and also to send a suf- ficient Squadron of Ships to the Gulph of St. Lawrence to assist in the Reduction of Quebeck & this whole Armament to be ready by all the month of June next to proceed upon the Business Carthago est delenda and which will be doing the thing effectually & the Prov- inces can with Ease raise and spare the number of men I have mentioned-but I believe this thing will not be effected without the Aid and Assistance of the British Parliament to mark out and ascertain the several Quotas or Proportions of men and Money to be raised by each several Colony or Province and besides the six thousd Regulars Artillery, Small arms & Amu- nition must come from Great Britain for they are not to be had here. I wou'd say it. my Lord with great Deference to the King's Ministers, that I think we are but playing at small Game (at a vast Expence of Blood & Treasure) while we are attempting to attack the Number of the Enemy's small Forts, therefore wou'd it not be better at once to be at the necessary (and smallest) Charge of attacking the Metropolis of Canada; and this Matter I ventured to hint to the Secry of State some Weeks ago-the People of the Provinces seem so well spirited to raise the Troops I have mentioned that I think there wou'd be little Difficulty in it, and, my Lord, if we wou'd hew the tree down effectually the sacred Pages tell us we must lay the Ax to the Root- the present Complexion of Affairs in N. America seem to say 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 is of so great Use and
.
190
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1755
Importance to the Mother Country it self as well as to all the British Islands.
The Troops being raised on this side the Water will save the vast Expence of Transportation, delay, Sick- ness of the Passage and many other difficulties & Dangers.
May the omniscient all wise Governour of the Uni- verse constantly inspire Your Lordship with the Greatest Degrees of Wisdom and Knowledge to the best advantage of your King and Country-with my highest Compliments of Respect to good and Excellent Lady Hardwicke and with the greatest duty, Deference & Gratitude I am
My Lord Your Lordships Most obliged &c.
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Richard Partridge, London -appointment of Chief Justice Aisleby.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Dec 10 1755
Brother Partridge (Extract.) * * I observe Mr Wm Ailesby is appointed Chief Justice of this Province whither he may be com- ing in the Spring and I hope he has a good Salary from the Crown for the Assembly voted but about £25 Str. a Year in their last Allowance to the Chief Jus- tice of this Province.
* * * * *
* * *
I would have you very vigilant with the Lord C-r and at the Publick Offices that nothing may be done to my Prejudice for I am apprehensive & not without Reason that my Second in this Government' wont
1 Lieutenant-Governor Pownall .- ED.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
scruple to attempt anything he may think for his Ser- vice and Interest.
Yesterday my Son the Chief Justice of Nova Scotia gave me the great Pleasure of imbracing him here where he intends to spend the Winter-he is in good health & Spirits God be thanked & I hear discharges himself in his Station with Reputation and Honour. Sir, Your Lo: Bro
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary Read -about the imprisonment of some Pennsylvania Indians.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Dec 12 1755
MR SEC'RY READ
Sir
(Extract.)
I thank you for the Copy of the Letter you wrote to Mr Salter and Morris respecting the In- dians taken up and confined in the Gaol at Trenton which was a wrong Step as they were belonging to the Province of Pennsylvania not but that under our Present Difficulty with the Indians it wou'd have been prudent enough to have taken them up & sent them under a Safeguard to the Gov' of Pennsylvania who call'd on me two days ago in his Way to N. York & talkt with me relating to those Indians & for which he desired my Order of Releasement and Delivery to him self which I told him he shou'd have on his return But as the time of his Honours Coming from N. York is all together uncertain and that it may be of ill con- sequence to hold the Indians in Goal at Trenton in- closed you have my Order to M' Salter and M' Morris
192
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1755
to deliver them to the Government of Pennsylvania, & say to the chief Magistrate in Phila & to treat them kindly in all Respects-what ever the Charge may be till their getting into Pennsylvania Province will doubtless be paid by our Assembly-the Order to Mr Salter & Morris you must send # Express as soon asit gets to hand.
I have signed an Adjournment for Gloucester Court on the very good Reasons you give therefor & M" Ogden forwards it to you # this Express. I hope the Assembly will come together full of Inclination to the Relief of the Poor distrest People on the Frontiers of this Province otherwise they will all desert their Habi- tations and thereby make every Town a Frontier.
I am well pleased at the Accounts you give me of your having two hundred men of your Regiment in Readiness to march upon my First Orders & that if necessary, you will go and Comand them yourself, but I think the present Face of Affairs does not re- quire the putting the Scheme in Practice wherein they were to assist.
Mr. Ogden orders the Express to ride Night & day that these Matters of so great Importance may the sooner reach you and give you time to be at the As- sembly the first day of their Meeting. I am with kind respects Honoble Sir
Your very good Friend, J BELCHER
193
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
Message of Governor Belcher to Council and Assmbly of New Jersey, December 16, 1755.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Gentlemen of the Council & of the General Assembly.
From my last parting with you I have been con- tinually receiving accts of the barbarous Murders & Cruelties committed by the Indians on our Neighbours of Pennsylvania & the poor People of this Province living on our Frontiers praying at same Time for De- fence & Protection in this time of Eminent Danger, and in Consideration of these things I directed His Majesty's Council to meet me to have their Advice what was most necessary & expedient to be done, and they were unanimously of Opinion that the As- sembly shou'd meet & the whole Legislature enter into a joint Consultation upon the present Situation of Af- fairs; the Particular Proceedings of the said Council I have ordered to be laid before you together with a Proclamation Issued by their Advice
The poor People living on our Frontiers being in con- tinual Danger and distress fearing soon to be attackt by the Enemy as you will find by many Letters and Petitions which shall be laid before you, it seems ab- solutely necessary that a Number of Blockhouses be built without delay on the River Delaware & to be furnisht with three of four Hundred men & with Arms, Amunition &c. which Provision must be made by you Gentlemen of the General Assembly, & for which charge I believe you will find your Constituents very desirous to be taxt, & since they are willing to part with a Reasonable Share of their estates to save the rest with the Lives of themselves, their Wives &
13
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
Children I think you cannot balance the thing in any delay but immediately grant a Supply for defraying the Charge of doing what I have mentioned.
Gentlemen of the Council and of the General As- sembly,
I hope all the Branches of the Government will act in the best Union and Harmony in the present Emer- gency for maintaining the Safety and Welfare of the Province always considering, if the Inhabitants of the Frontiers are forced to leave their Habitations the Towns that seem now to be in less Danger will soon become Frontiers to the Ruin of the Province, to pre- vent which nothing in our Power shou'd be wanting.
J. BELCHER ELIZA TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER Dec 16 1755.
Letter from Governor Belcher to General Shirley.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
GENERAL SHIRLEY
ELIZA TOWN Dec 17 1755 Sir
(Extract.)
* * * The House of Assembly have just now sent me a Message, Copy whereof I now cover to your Excelly * * * I heartily join with the General As- sembly that the Regiment raised by this Province & paid by them shou'd be employed for the Defence of this Province till such time as Your Excell' shall want them elsewhere & I hope there will be no difficulty about this Reasonable Request for shou'd there, I am afraid it would check and impede the Present Alacrity of this Province in their future Proceedings in the
195
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
General Cause for the Safety & defence of the King's Provinces.
For the better dispatch in this Matter I have desired the Assembly to send two of their Members to wait on Your Excell' & to bring me an Answer to this Letter. I am with great Esteem & Respect
Sir Your Excellys Most Obedient &c.
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Walley-referring to Rev. Mr. Whitefield.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
[ELIZA TOWN] Dec 18. 1755 Mr Walley Sir
I blush and am quite ashamed so late to say that I duly recd your very kind Favour of 11 Nov 1754 which I hope you will forgive while I tell you that the past Year has been full of Motions and Commotions that have crowded me beyond what is common.
And yet I have often regaled myself with the pleas- ing Acct you give me of the extraordinary Reception the dear and admirable Whitefield met with at Boston so contrary to the Fears and Expectations of many of his Friends, tho' I must say I was of a Contrary Opin- ion for God will not forsake those that sincerely put their Trust in him even beyond their Hopes-after he left my House I recd several Letters from him in his Journey to Georgia full of Blessings & Praise to God for the crowded Audiences that attended his Preaching thro' the several Provinces & that he charitably hoped some that were before Strangers to the new Birth were Savingly brought home to Christ, and he writes
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1755
me from London with the same Thanksgiving of such Instances there,-may he go on in the Strength of Christ to pull down the Strong Holds of Sin & Satan to the Honour and Glory of the Redeemer's Kingdom -Amen.
As to myself, Sir, I am feeble and sore-broken and yet God gives me a reasonable measure of Health and Strength &c. * * *
I am, Worthy & Dear Sir your friend &c.
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to his son Andrew.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Dec 19. 1755
Mr Belcher
Son Andrew
(Extract.)
Altho' the Affairs of this Government crou'd upon me very much yet I wou'd own your good Letter of 9: Inst { the Post and am thankfull to God the great Preserver who so kindly preserved you your Wife and Family and Substance in the time of the late awful and amazing Earthquake.1 I pray God to sanctifye to you such a terrible Warning by leading you into a more strict and religious Walk with himself-consid- ering the Horrour and Affright you must have been in at the tremendous agitation I readily over look your not answering my two last Letters so particularly as you intend. *
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