USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume VIII > Part 35
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Your very aff: Father.
J BELCHER
1 Felt in New York and surrounding country, November, 1755.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
Letter from Governor Belcher to Richard Partridge- the Assembly then in session.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN (N J) Dec 20 1755
Mr Partridge
My good Brother (Extract.)
* The Assembly of this Province is now sit- ting here deliberating upon Ways and Means for se- curing and protecting the People on our Borders where we are daily expecting the Enemy & for about six Weeks past I have had between two & three thou- sand men traversing & patroling the whole length of our Frontiers & if the Enemy cross the Delaware to this Province I believe they will meet a warm Recep- tion for really, Brother, N. Jersey is well alive & ex- erts to the Honour & Interest of their King & Country & the whole Legislature (Gov', Council, & Assembly) are in great Union & harmony among themselves & for these things God's holy Name be praised-With my kind wishes for your health Ease & Welfare I am Sir, Your Loving Bro:
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Consul Dean-about the progress of the College, etc. [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Decr 20 1755
CONSUL DEAN My Worthy Friend
I wrote you the 21: of Dec' last and which my Brother Partridge writes me was duly forwarded to you and I hope it had the Pleasure of kissing your
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
hands-since that your Favour of 14: Oct. 1754 I recd the 31: of Jan following by the Revd Mr Tennent. Mr Davies on his Return hither told me how kindly you recd him & of your great Friendship for the Interest of our College & for which I send you my most gratefull Acknowledgements. The generous Benefactions We found on your side the Water have enabled Us to get forward with the Building of the College and which I believe will be ready the next Year for receiving a good Number of Students & I hope by the Favour of God this Society will become a great Blessing to the present & future Generations.
My paralytick Disorder (as well as yours) increases upon me, and I am otherwise environed with the In- firmities of 74-a great Age !- I pray God to teach me so to number my Days as to apply my heart unto Wisdom. * * *
I am, My Worthy Friend
Yours in much Love & Affection,
J BELCHER
Message of Governor Belcher to the House of As- sembly-communicating a letter from General Shirley.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Gentlemen of the General Assembly.
I have an Answer from General Shirley to the Let- ter I wrote him at your Request (and which was com- municated to you) several Paragraphs of which Ans™ being coucht in the following Terms "The distin- guished Zeal and Spirit of the Assembly for promoting His Majesty's Service and the General Good of his Colonies on this Continent in what His Majesty es-
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
teems and really is a most essential Part of the Expe- dition he has been pleased to order."
"Nothing shall be wanting in me to represent in a just Light to His Majesty the signal Service which His Province of the New Jerseys hath done at this Critical Conjunction for their King and Country."
"Your Excelly must be sensible how greatly the Success of that will depend upon as early a Campaign as is possible and that it is necessary that the Troops shou'd Imbark for Albany by the first day of March next without fail."
"Col' Schuyler whose Command of the New Jersey Regiment hath made it more beneficial to me than it cou'd otherwise have been to whose Assistance of me in every Part of His Majesty's Service at Oswe- go I am greatly indebted and who wou'd be an Honour to the Service in any Corps will wait upon your Ex- celly & let you particularly into the Circumstances of the Soldiers. I understand they have Cloths & Stores now at Albany or Schenectady but it is impracticable to get them back here at this Season and indeed I be- lieve it wou'd be greatly to their Prejudice if they were to make Use of them before their Imbarkation from Schenectady-they will likewise want Tents & some Muskets & perhaps some other matters as he will inform you."
"I have given Orders to Col' Schuyler to employ the Regiment under His Command as your Excellency shall direct untill the Time of their March to Albany for the next Campaign."
These things Gentlemen of the General Assembly I lay before you that you may see how likely you are to ingratiate yourselves with His Majesty by the In- stances you have given of your Duty & Loyalty to His Service & Interest as well as to the General Safety and Protection of the Provinces & I mention it to your honour you have done it with Alacrity & dispatch.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
You will see, Gentlemen, the General has readily and fully ansd your Request of employing the Regimt of this Province under the Comand of Col' Schuyler for the Defence of our Frontiers but as they are want- ing of Tents, arms and other things & that the time of their being remanded will soon be here you may per- haps upon mature deliberation think it hardly worth while to have them alter'd from their present Situation but rather to make Provision for the Defence of the Province by raising a new Corps of men on which we may have a more lasting dependance.
As I am still receiving fresh Accts of the Distress of our Frontier Inhabitants I hope you will lose no time in making such Determinations as shall best of all ad- vance the King's Honour & Interest & the safety & Quiet of his good Subjects under our Care.
J. BELCHER
ELIZA TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER Dec' 20: 1755
Letter from Governor Belcher to Lord Halifax-con- cerning Attorney-General Courtland Skinner.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
Decr 23 1755
LORD HALIFAX
My Lord
It is with Uneasiness & Regret and with humbly asking Pardon for this Interuption while I make my Petition to Your Lordship in behalf of Courtland Skin- ner Esq' whom I some time since appointed His Maj- estys Attorney General of this Province & who is a Young Gentleman of good Virtue and Understanding & esteemd as good a Master of his Profession as most
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
in these Parts & has served his King & Country in his present Station with Integrity & Honour & much to the Satisfaction of the Government & of the People in General.
These things notwithstanding, my Lord, I am told there are Pains taking to supplant him in his office but which I hope will not succeed-there is no Salary or Allowance made by the Crown nor any from this Province but what the Assembly are pleased to vote from Year to Year, and for several Years past it has not been more than Seventeen Pounds Str. a Year-so that the Character of it is in a Manner all the Benefit an Attorney General reaps from the office & in which I again humbly request Mr Skinner may be continued & Confirmed-This, my Lord, I shall esteem a particu- lar Favour & am with great Esteem & Respect
My Lords
Your Lordships most obedient, &c.
J BELCHER
Message from Governor Belcher to the new Assembly of New Jersey-asking for an augmentation to the forces of New Jersey.
[From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J Hist. Soc.]
Gentlemen of the General Assembly.
His Excelly General Shirley having by his Letter of the 18: Instt informed me that it wou'd be greatly for his Majesty's Service in the Insueing Campaign if his hands cou'd be strengthened by an Augmentation to the Regiment of this Colony under the Com'and of Col' Schuyler I wou'd have you exert yourselves as far as the Circumstances of the Colony will admit as his Majesty proposes to do everything for your Defence &
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
that I may be able to give the Com'ander in Chief of ' His Majesty's Forces Information of what augmenta- tion from this Colony may be depended on. I recom- mend it to your House (with whom all these Supplies take Rise) the making a Provision for raising them when they shall be required.
As the People of this Colony are greatly uneasy at the Neighbourhood of any Indian Familes & suspect the whole of them I must apply to you to provide for the Maintenance of such of them as shall be committed to the Goals either on Suspicion or to secure them from the Outrages of the People.
The Distresses of the unhappy Sufferers on the Fron- tiers are doubtless very great & may be attended with the Ruin of many Families I hope you will make some Conditional Provision for such as cannot support themselves as they cannot be regularly relieved under any Law now in being.
The seasonable Provision which this Province made for the Supply of His Majesty's Regular Troops thro' this Governmt served two very good Purposes as it expedited their March & prevented them from the necessity of supplying themselves with Carriages & other things in a way which wou'd have been ungrate- ful to themselves & greatly distressing to the People of the Colony I cannot omit inserting on this Occa- sion the handsome mention which is made of that Provision in a Letter I had the Pleasure of receiving from the Honoble Col' Dunbar the Commanding Officer of those Troops in the following Words-viz.
" Sir,
It gave me the greatest Concern I cou'd not when in your Governmt have the honour of waiting on your Excell' to make my most grateful Acknowledgments for the great Civilities the Troops under my Command recª in their March thro' your Governmt from every Body when we past from Trenton to Amboy."
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1755]
I earnestly recommend these Interesting Matters to your Consideration that by providing for them at this time I may not be obliged to call you together sooner than the general Business of the Governmt wou'd in- cline me to do.
J. B.
ELIZA TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER Dec' 23 1755.
Letter from Governor Belcher to General Shirley- commenting upon the events of the last cam- paign, etc.
[From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.]
ELIZA TOWN Dec 26 1755
GENERAL SHIRLEY
Sir
I duly recd the Honour of Your Excellency's Favour of 18 Currt # Mess's Stephens and Johnston with an Extract of the King's Instruction relating to the Coun- cil of War, & since that { the hands of L' Gov" Pownall Copy of the Minutes of a Council of War held by Your Excelly &c. the 12. Inst at the City of N. York which Minutes I have read once & again-it wou'd be too tedious and Unnecessary for me to enter into all the Particulars of the Council of War but as far as I am able to make a Judgment the Plan of Op- eration for the next Campaign seems to be well con- certed in Conformity to His Majesty's Intentions & in the best Manner for His Majesty's Honour & Interest & for the Safety of His Colonies-I believe I have in a Letter formerly said to Your Excelly that had we the last Year been in the Field two Months sooner to have made the several Attempts intended, the Campaign in the Issue had not put on such an Unfortunate Com-
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1755
plexion, but as I see Your Excelly (with the Council of Warr) is resolved that You take the Field as early as possible I need say no more on this head.
I am glad to find your Excy so well pleased wth Col1 Schuyler & as Your Excelly does him great Honour in Your Letter I laid that part of it before the Assembly which may be to his future Service .- I also made a Message to them relating to an Augmentation of the Regiment of this Province under the Comand of Col1 Schuyler Copy of which Message & the Assembly's Ans" I herewith send You & by which your Excy will find there is no Likelyhood at present of any Addition to the Regiment.
I am obliged to you for the Orders you have given Col' Schuyler for employing His Regiment as I shall think proper for the Defence & Protection of this Province till such Time as Your Excelly shall think it necessary to remand him-I lay'd before the Assembly Col' Schuyler® List of what his Regimt wanted in Arms &c. & they have made the necessary Provision that they be supplied therewith.
I am glad the Regiment of New Jersey was of so good Service to His Majesty's Honour & Interest in the past Campaign & wish they may still be more so in the Insueing.
This whole Legislature have a gratefull Sense of the honour Your Excelly does this little Province in their exerting for the Kings Interest & for the Safety & Defence of themselves & of their Neighbours.
I am glad so good a Judge as Your Excell! so fully coincides with me as to any Pretentions the Lieut Gov' of this Province cou'd have of sitting as a Member in the late Congress of Governours held at N. York on the 18: Currt-I should be glad of a Copy of what was done at the sª Congress. * * *
Sir Your Excellys Most Obedient &c.
J BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1756]
Letter from Secretary Hardinge to the Lords of Trade -relative to the proper division to be made of a certain appropriation of Parliament.
[From N. Y. Col. Docts .. Vol. VII, p. 33.]
My Lords
The house of Commons having resolved that the sum of one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds be granted to his Majesty upon account to be distributed in such proportions as his Majesty shall in his wisdom think fit, to his Majesty's Colonies of New England, New York and Jersey in America, as a Free gift and reward for their past services, and an encourage- ment to them to continue to exert themselves with Vigour in Defence of His Majtys Just Rights and Pre- tentions, the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury desire that Your Lordships will be pleased to consider what part of the said sum of one Hundred and Fifteen thousand pounds may be properly allotted to each of the said Colonies, and favour them with Your opinion thereupon, and also that Your Lordships will repeat Your opinion to what persons the same should be consigned: that the respective Colonies may have the full benefit thereof.1 I am My Lords
Your Lordships most Faithful humble Servant
N HARDINGE.
WHITEHALL TREASURER CHAMBERS 5th ffebry 1756
1 On the 12th of February the Lords of Trade designated the Governors of the Colonies as the proper persons to receive the consignments; the sum being divided as follows:
Massachusetts Bay
£54,000
New Hampshire
8,000
Connecticut
2 ,000
Rhode Island
7,000
New York
15,000
New Jersey
5,000
£115,000
-ED.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1756
Letter from the Lords of Trade to Governor Belcher -- commending the services rendered by New Jersey in defending the country.
[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 16, p. 4.]
To Jonathan Belcher Esq Governor of New Jersey.
Sir,
Since Our Letter to you dated the 6th of August last We have received Your Letters to Us dated the 27th of June, and 6th of December last, with the Papers therein referred to.
The Zeal and Spirit which the Province under your Government has shewn in raising a Regiment of five hundred Men for the Expedition under the Command of Governor Shirley in providing for the Defence of the Frontiers and in supplying the King's Troops with necessarys and Refreshments in their March through New Jersey, is greatly to be commended and We doubt not but that the sense which His Majesty has mani- fested of their past Services by freely giving them so large a Sum of Money in Consideration thereof, will animate them to exert themselves for the future in aiding and assisting all his Measures for the Defence of America and for distressing the Enemy.
We have the satisfaction to acquaint you, that His Majesty has appointed the Earl of Loudoun to be Commander in Chief of all his Forces in America, and has ordered two Battalions of his Troops to be forth- with sent over, and four others to be raised there, and We think it our Duty earnestly to recommend to you
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1756]
to use Your utmost Endeavours to give his Lordship all the Assistance in your Power in whatever may be necessary for the Good of the Kings Service: We are, Sir, Your most Obedient & most humble Servants DUNK HALIFAX FRAN FANE JAMES OSWALD J. TALBOT.
WHITEHALL February 17, 1756.
Letter from Governor Hardy to the Lords of Trade- about the questions of boundary between New York and New Jersey.
[From N. Y. Col. Docts., Vol. VII, p. 37.]
FORT GEORGE NEW YORK 23ª Feby 1756
(Extract.)
My Lords * * I have some time ago laid before the As- sembly his Majestys Instructions for making a provi- sion for defraying the charges of His Matys Commission for determining the Line between this & the Province of New Jersey. They express to me great difficultys they are under to make the Provision directed and urged the great expence it would draw on this Prov- ince (as other Lines are equally disputed but more par- ticularly between us & the Massachusetts) and at this time when they are at such heavy expences for the public Service, I have argued and urged the Point strongly with the Speaker, and many of the Members, but at present nothing has been done in it.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1756
I have endeavored to inform myself of the merits of this dispute, between the two Provinces, and find all · partys agree the determination of the Line depends altogether upon the construction of the Duke of Yorks Grant I beg leave to refer it to your Lordships opinion if this Point may not be better discussed, and more equitably determined by persons under his Matys Commission in England than by Commissioners ap- pointed abroad. On the side of this Province His Matys Interest is greatly concerned should the deter- mination be made in favor of and confirmed [accord- ing] to the Claim of New York by which His Maty would have a great acquisition of ungranted Lands that would be readily taken up-agreeable to His Majestys Instructions, and I am informed might pro- duce Quit Rents to the Crown of near £2000 Sterling per annum; on the other hand should the Claim of New Jersey be confirmed, the acquisition of this un- granted Land would fall to the Proprietors of East New Jersey. As His Matys Interest is so principally concerned in this Dispute, I thought it my duty thus briefly to lay it before your Lordships.
I have the honor to be Your Lordships most obedient & most humble Servant
CHAS: HARDY
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1756]
Draft of a 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 of Loudoun, who had been appointed Commander- in-Chief of all the North American forces.
[From P. R. O. Am. & W. Indies, No. 75.]
WHITEHALL March 13th 1756 Governors of New Hampshire New York Con- necticut Massachusett's Bay New Jersey, Rhode Island.
Sir
The Earl of Loudoun, whom the King has appointed Commander in Chief of all his Forces whatsoever in North America, being preparing to set out with all possible Expedition together with two Regiments of Foot, a Train of Artillery and a sufficient Quantity of Warlike Stores, which His Majesty has been pleased to order for the Public Service in those Parts, I am commanded to signify to you the King's Pleasure; that you should be ready to give His Lordship, and the Troops from England, all the Assistance in Your Power on their Arrival in America, agreable to the Orders sent You in Sir Thos. Robinson's Letter of October 26th 1754, and you will correspond with and apply to the Earl of Loudoun, on all occasions, in the same manner as you were directed to do with the late General Braddock, and Major General Shirley.
It being of the greatest Importance, that the King's Regiments already in North America, (as well the Three stationed in Nova Scotia, as the Four in the Province of New York should be recruited as soon as possible, to their full Complement of 1.000 Men each,
14
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1756
It is His Majesty's Pleasure that you should forthwith call together, the Council and Assembly, of the Prov- ince under your Government and that you should press them, in the strongest manner, to make the most early, and effectual Provision for raising, and assisting His Majesty's Officers to raise, such a Number of Men, as shall be sufficient to recruit the King's Regiments now stationed, or to be stationed in North America, up to their Establishments, and You will acquaint them, that the King, in order to encourage His Faithfull Subjects to engage in a Service, so essential for their own Defence, and Preservation, does consent, that such Recruits, shall not be obliged to serve any where but in North America :- That they shall be discharged when Hostilities shall cease; And that each of them shall have a Grant of 200 Acres of Land, free from the Payment of Quit Rents for Ten Years, either in the Province of New York, New Hampshire, or Nova Scotia, at their own choice, which Lands shall be granted them, on producing their Discharge from the Commander in Chief, to the Governor of either of the said Provinces respectively. And in case they should be killed in the Service, their Widows, and Children, shall be entitled to the said Lands, in such Proportion as the Governor and Council of the Province, wherein such Lands lye, shall direct. You will acquaint the Council and Assembly, with His Majesty's Great Good- ness, in having recommended their Case to the Con- sideration of His Parliament who have granted the Sum of £115,000, to be distributed in such Proportions, as the King shall think proper, to the four Provinces of New England, and those of New York, and New Jersey, and thereby enabled His Majesty, not only to manifest His Sense of their past Services, but also to encourage them for the future to exert themselves, in the Service, with Spirit and Vigor :- that His Majesty therefore expects, that they will heartily and zealously
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1756]
concur in every Measure, which shall be thought ad- visable for carrying on the War in North America, and that they will forthwith raise the same Number of Men, in each Colony, as were raised last Year (whereof as great a Proportion as may be, to consist of Rangers,) to act in Conjunction with the King's Troops, in such operations, as shall be undertaken for annoying the Enemy, and recovering His Majesty's just Rights: This Service will be the less burthensome to them, as the raising of the Men, their Pay, Arms & Cloathing, will be all that will be required of them, Measures hav- ing been already taken for laying up Magazines of Stores, and Provisions of all kinds at the sole expence of the Crown; and you will use your utmost Endeav- ours to induce the Council and Assembly, to give the necessary Orders for raising their Quota of these Men, with the greatest Expedition, so that they may be ready to march to such Place as the Commander in Chief, shall upon his Arrival direct.
It is also His Majesty's Pleasure that you should par- ticularly recommend it to your Assembly to make Provision out of such Funds as already exist, or may hereafter be raised for the King's Service, for repaying the Master's of such Indented Servants, as shall en- gage in His Majesty's Service the Money paid by the said Masters upon the Original Contract, in propor- tion to the time, such Indented Servants have to serve; And you will at all times discourage the harbouring, concealing, or assisting such as shall desert the Service, and also use all means for discovering, and appre- hending such Deserters, You will likewise use Your best Endeavours to prevail on your Assembly to ap- propriate such part of the Funds now raised, or which shall be raised for the Public Service, to be issued and applied to the General Service, in such manner as the Commander in Chief shall direct.
The King would have you recommend it in the
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1756
strongest manner to your Council and Assembly, to pass effectual Laws for prohibiting all Trade and Com- merce with the French, and for preventing the Expor- tation of Provisions of all kinds to any of their Islands or Colonies.
I am &cª H. Fox.
Letter from Lords of Trade to Governor Hardy-re- lating to the appointment of Commissioners for settling controversies between New York and New Jersey and Massachusetts.
[From N. Y. Col. Docts., Vol. VII, p. 29.]
To Sir Chas Hardy Knt Govr of New York. Sir
(Extract.)
Since our letter to you dated 29th of March we have received your's of the 12th of January, and 23d of Febrry last and the papers transmitted with them * % *
Another circumstance in your letter which gives us great uneasiness is, the refusal of the Assembly to make provision for the expense of a Commission for determining the controversies with New Jersey and Massachusetts Bay concerning their boundaries, the unsettled state of which has already been productive of so much mischief, and is an evil every day increasing. We had hopes that a matter of this nature, and which so essentially concerns the internal peace and quiet of Govern would not have met with any difficulty, and we can not but still be of opinion, that, when they seriously and impartially consider the case, they will comply with what has been so properly recommended to them.
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