USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume VIII > Part 36
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We have considered your proposal for settling tem-
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
1756]
porary lines of Jurisdiction, as a means of putting a stop to Acts of Violence and oppression, but as the Crown has by the Charter to the Massachusetts Bay, granted the Jurisdiction as well as the property, it does not appear to us, that such a measure can take place with respect to that part of the dispute. In the case of New York and New Jersey, it undoubtedly may be done; but even that could not be done without in some degree affecting private property, and would be inef- fectual, unless provision be made for the expense of running out and making such a line, when determined upon.
As to the appointing Commissioners here for de- termining the controversy upon a supposition that it depends entirely upon the words of the Grant to the Duke of York, the establishing such a Jurisdiction is altogether without precedent, liable to numberless ob- jections, and might be attended with very bad conse- quences; besides it could not be done without as great, if not much greater, expence than that which has been pro- posed, and therefore upon the whole, we are of opinion, that the only proper and effectual method of determin- ing these disputes will be by a Commission, in the nature of that, upon which the limits between Mas- sachusetts Bay and New Hampshire were settled; and we desire you will acquaint the Assembly that, as this is a matter of high concernment to the peace and quiet of Govern and the lives and properties of His Majesty's subjects, His Majesty does expect, that they will forthwith make a proper provision for the expence of such a Commission, and give their Agent here proper Instructions thereupon, that there may be no further delay upon a matter of so great Importance.
We are Sir
Your most obedient humble servant,
DUNK HALIFAX SOAME JENYNS RICHP RIGBY
13 April 1756
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1756
Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade- informing them of the Death of James Alexander, Esq., one of the Council and recommending his son William Alexander, Esq., as his successor.
[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 26.]
ELIZA TOWN (N J) April 23 1756
My Lords
In Duty to His Majesty, I am to advise You, that the honoble James Alexander Esq' of New York, died the 2ª Inst and as he was one of his Majesty's Council for this Province his death makes a Vacancy; and his only Son William Alexander Esq"1 of N. York, has applyed to me to recommend to Your Lordships his filling up his late Father's Place; and I can with much Freedom say, he is a very worthy Gentleman, & every way qualified according to His Majesty's 8th Royal In- struction to me, in that behalf; but I think his Ap- pointment wou'd militate with the King's 6th Instruc- tion, Copy whereof I have the Honour now to inclose to Your Lordships, and humbly submit the Matter to Your Lordships just and wise Determination, and am with great Regard,
My Lords, Your Lordships most obedient and most humble Servant, J BELCHER
1 WILLIAM ALEXANDER, afterwards known (by courtesy) as Earl of Stirling, became a Major-General in the Continental Army. See his life by his grandson, Wm. Alex- ander Duer, LL. D., in Vol. II, of the "Collections of the New Jersey Historical Society." See also the Stirling Papers, in New York Historical Society Library, and copies in the Library of the New Jersey Historical Society, many of which are printed in the Proceedings of the Society, Vols. V, VI and VII .- ED.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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Letter from the Lords of Trade to Governor Belcher- directing him, in case of his inability to attend any meetings of the Governors appointed by the Earl of Loudoun, to depute Lieut .- Governor Pow- nal to act in his stead.
[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 16, Page 7.]
To Jonathan Belcher Esq: Governor of New Jersey
Sir
As the Earl of Loudoun Commander in Chief of His Majestys Forces in America may have frequent Occa- sion to call together the Governors of His Majestys Colonys to advise and Consult with them upon such measures as may be proper, to be taken for their gen- eral Interest, and Security, and as We are sensible that your Age and Infirmity may make it very pain- full and hazardous if not impractible for you to attend such Meetings, We think it for his Majesty's Service to desire that you will upon all such Occasions when you are unable to attend Yourself authorize and depute Thomas Pownall Esq" His Majestys Lieut' Governor to attend such meetings with full powers to act in every respect as representing the Province of New Jersey. We are, Sir Your most Obedient,
and most humble Servants
DUNK HALIFAX T. PELHAM
I. TALBOT JAMES OSWALD
SOAME JENYNS RICHP RIGBY W G. HAMILTON
WHITEHALL May 11 !! 1756
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1756
Representation of the Lords of Trade to the King on the state of defence of the different colonies.
[From P. R. O. B. T. Plantations General, No. 40, Ent. Book L, p. 41.]
To the King's most Excellent Majesty.
May it please your Majesty,
As it appeared to Us to be of the greatest Import- ance, at a time when your Majesty judged it necessary to take vigorous Measures for asserting and maintain- ing your just Rights and Possessions in America, and for protecting your Subjects there against the En- croachments of a foreign Power, that your Majesty should be truly & exactly informed of the State of De- fence of your several Colonies & Plantations, We thought it Our Duty in Sept' last to direct the respec- tive Governors thereof to prepare and transmit to Us, with all possible dispatch, an Account of the actual Quantity and State of the Cannon, Small Arms, Amu- nition and other Ordnance Stores belonging to their respective Governments, either in the publick Maga- zines or in the Possession of the Militia or other private Persons, as also the true State of all Places either al- ready fortified or which they should judge necessary to be fortified, together with their Opinions respec- tively in what manner your Majesty may further con- tribute to the Defence and Security of such Colony: And having lately received Returns from your Maj- esty's Governors of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, and the Vir- gin Islands, We humbly beg leave, without delay, to
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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lay the same before your Majesty, and shall think it Our Duty humbly to represent to your Majesty the State of Defence of the rest of your Majesty's Plan- tations, so soon as we shall have received the like Re- turns from the respective Governors of them.
[ Here follows accounts of the Provinces of New Hampshire, Rhode Island and New York.]
NEW JERSEY.
Your Majesty's Province of New Jersey appears to be in the most naked and defenceless Condition. For Jonathan Belcher Esq', your Majesty's Governor, in his Letter dated the 5th of December last, acquaints Us, That there are no Cannon, Small Arms or other Ordnance or Military Stores, belonging to the said Province, and that there is not, nor (as he is informed) ever was in all the Province, one Fortification or Place of Defence. That he has recommended it to your Maj- esty's Council to consider, what may be necessary to be done for the Defence and Security of the said Province, and in what manner your Majesty may con- tribute thereto; and when he has received their Advice, he shall make a further Representation to Us there- upon.
With respect to the Number of the Inhabitants and of the Militia in your Majesty's said Province, M' Belcher informs Us,
That there may be about 80,000 Whites, of which about 16,00 may be able to bear Arms, and that the Number of Blacks is computed to be between 15 & 1800.
That from the return made the last year by the Colonels of the several Regiments, the Number of the Militia appeared to be about 13,000 effective Men, who are obliged by a Law of the Province to be muster'd
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1756
and train'd every six months, and to appear every Man with a good Firelock, &c. fit to march against an Enemy.
[Here follow accounts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia and Jamaica, &c.]
All which is most humbly submitted.
DUNK HALIFAX. T. PELHAM.
JAMES OSWALD. SOAME JENYNS.
RICHP. RIGBY. W. G. HAMILTON. I. TALBOT.
WHITEHALL, May 11th 1756.
[Under date of June 1st the following additional in- struction was sent to each of the Governors.]
Additional Instruction to Our Trusty and Well- beloved-
Whereas by our Declaration dated the 17th day of May last, We have thought fit to declare War against the French King, His Subjects and Vassals; and whereas We have been informed, that heretofore in times of War Our Subjects in several of Our Colonies and Plantations in America have Corresponded with Our Enemies and supplied them with Provisions and warlike Stores, whereby Our Service has been greatly prejudiced, and the safety of Our Dominions endan- gered; It is therefore Our express Will and Pleasure, that you do with the Advice of Our Council Omitted in take the most speedy and effectual Measures the Instruc- to hinder all Correspondence between any of tion to Govr. & Co of Con- Our Subjects inhabiting Our [Province, necticut- Rhode Island Colony or Island or Island of ] under your Pennsylvania Government and the Subjects of the said Maryland. French King, and to prevent any of the Colonies or Plantations belonging to Our Enemies or other Places possess'd by them in America, being supplied, either
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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by Land or by Sea, from [our said Province Colony or Island] under your Government with Provisions or warlike Stores of any kind.
And in Case you shall find it necessary to have An Act pass'd for the Purposes above mentioned, you are earnestly to recommend it in Our Name to to the Legis- lature of Our Council and to the Representatives of Conn: & Our said [Province Colony or Island] to pre- Rhode Is- pare and pass such Act. land.
Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade -- expressing his gratification that the course of New Jersey is approved.
[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 28.]
ELIZA TOWN (N J) June 15, 1756 My Lords,
The last I had the Honour of writing Your Lord- ships was on the 27. of April past by the Earl of Lei- cester Packet .- and I am now to own the Receipt of Your Lordships Favour of 17. of Feb" which came to my hands 7. Inst by the Packet to N. York.
And it is with much Satisfaction and Gratitude that I own the kind Sentiments Your Lordships are pleased to express of the Conduct and Behaviour of this Government towards the Support (according to their little Power) of His Majesty: honour & Interest on the present emergent Occasions of his Territories and of His People in N. America, and I do assure Your Lordships they express the most gratefull Sense of His Majesty: great Goodness and Bounty they are expect- ing in the Proportion of a handsome Sum of Money granted by Parliament to several of His Majesty's
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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Colonies, & I hope His Majesty: steady Paternal Care will more & more animate this Province to their Duty in the King's Service.
I observe by your Lordships Letter that His Maj- esty has appointed the Earl of Loudon to be Com- mander in chief of all His Forces in America-the same Account I have from one of His Majesty: Prin- cipal Secretaries of State and that my Lord Loudon with the Troops that are with him may be daily ex- pected at N. York .- and when His Lordship arrives Your Lordships may intirely depend on my using my utmost Endeavours to give His Lordship all the Assist- ance in my Power for the Good of the Kings Service
I am now to advise Your Lordships that I held a Session of the General Assembly of this Province from 20. May to 2. Inst in which they did what I judged necessary to recommend to them with great Alacrity and Unanimity, & I have ordered the Secretary to make a particular Account of their Proceeding to be transmitted to Your Lordships as soon as may be.
I am with great Deference & Respect,
My Lords, Your Lordships Most obedient & Most humble Serv!
J BELCHER
Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary Fox- commenting on recent proceedings of the Govern- ment.
[From P. R. O. America & West Indies, Vol. 70.] ELIZA TOWN (N J) June 16, 1756
To the Right Honourable Mr Secretary Fox Sir,
The 10. Inst I recieved the Honour of your Letters Nº 1. 2. both under the Date of 13. of March last,
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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which were sent me by Col! Webb, from New York, and to these I shall now make the most particular Answer I can.
I see His Majesty has appointed the Earl of Loudon, Commander in chief of all His Forces in N. America, whither he was preparing to set out with all Expedi- tion, and when his Lordship arrives with the King's Troops, I shall endeavour to give him all the Assist- ance in my Power, and shall do myself the honour of corresponding with him, as heretofore with the late General Braddock.
I shall, as soon as conveniently may be, call together the Council and Assembly of this Province, and press them in the strongest Manner, to aid and assist His Majesty's Officers, in raising such Numbers of men, as may be sufficient to recruit the King's Regiments in North America, up to their Establishments; and to this End I shall issue a Proclamation, and therein set forth the Encouragement His Majesty offers to such Recruits.
I have already acquainted the Council & Assembly with His Majesty's great Goodness, in having recom- mended their Case to His Parliament, and who in answer thereto, had granted a considerable Sum of Money, to be distributed as the King should think proper; and among whom this Province might hope to expect a Proportion; and this account they received with great Gratitude to His Majesty,-and have con- tinued the Support of the same Number of men as they raised the last year, and it will certainly be an additional Encouragement that His Majesty takes up- on himself, to supply the Troops raised in America, with Provisions of all kinds.
I shall recommend to the Assembly the repaying the Masters of such indented Servants, as shall engage in His Majesty's Service, the Money paid by them, for such Servants; but in this, I have very little Hope of Success, or of persuading the Assembly, to have any
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of the Moneys they may raise, to be applyed to the General Service, in such Manner as the Commander in chief may direct. In a Session of the Assembly about fourteen Days ago, they passt a Law in Prohibi- tion of the Exportation of Provisions of all kinds, a Copy of which Act I transmit, according to His Maj- estys stated Royal Order to me, to the Lords of Trade and Plantations; and when the Assembly comes to- gether again, I shall tell them the necessity of making this Act still stricter, if it shou'd be thought at all in- sufficient, to answer the good ends proposed thereby.
I take Notice the King has directed, till the Arrival of the Earl of Loudon, or Major General Abercrombie, that Colonel Webb is to take upon him the Command of the King's Forces in North America, & of this also Colonel Webb advises me from N. York; and in an- swer I have assured him of all the Assistance in my Power, for the King's Service.
As His Majesty has directed Troops to be raised from among certain foreign Protestants, settled in North America, if any of the King's Officers of that sort, should come into this Province, I shall do my best for assisting them, in the Execution of the Service they are engaged in.
When the Earl of Lowdon arrives, I shall, with the Assistance of His Majesty's Council, collect and lay before him the most particular Answer I can, as to the Forces, Cannon, Small-arms, Amunition and other Ordnance and Military Stores, with the Number of the Militia &cª belonging to this Province. I have the Honour to be, with great Deference & Regard,
Honourable Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble Servant,
J BELCHER
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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The Account of Andrew Johnston, Treasurer for East New Jersey, of receipts and payments from 21st of November, 1755, to 21st of August, 1756.
[From P. R. O. B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 35.]
Province of New Jersey to Andw Johnston Treasurer of the Eastern Division.
DR.
To Sundry Payments from ye 21% of Nov! 1755 to ye 21st of Augt 1756,
His Excellency Gov! Belcher Sundry Warrts . £530. 0.0
Gentlemen of the Councill
94.16.0
Gentlemen of the Assembly
190. 4.0
Attorny Generall
15.00.0
Judge of the Supream Court
78.15.0
Eastern Treasurer
30.00.0
Clarke of the Assembly .
34. 2.0
Doorkeepers & Sarjents at arms
33. 5.0
Accott of Expences, Assembly & Coun- cill Chambers
24. 9.0
Printer.
61. 7.0
£1091.18.0
CONTRA CR.
By Balle of Accott ye 21st Nov! 1755 . . £261. 6.62
By a Tax payable by the Several Eastern Countys on the 21 Nov! 1755, viz! .
Middlesex . £271.18.1}
Monmouth
394. 6.0
Essex
233.11.42
Somerset 334.19.3
Bergen 197.14.0
£1432. 8.9
£1693.15.3}
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
[1756
Andrew Johnston Treasurer of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, appeared before me Samuel Nevill Esq" Second Justice of ye Supream Court, and being duly Sworn declares, to the best of his knowledge, that the above Accott is a true State of the receipts & pay- ments by him, from the 21st of Nov! 1755 to ye 21st Aug. 1756, on Account of the Support of Government.
ANDW JOHNSTON
Sworn the 12th Day of October, 1756. Before SAMUEL NEVILL
Letter from Governor Belcher to the Lords of Trade- relative to the disputed line between New York and New Jersey, and enclosing a petition of the Proprietors of East Jersey.
[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 8, I, 31.]
ELIZª TOWN (N J.) September 1 1756 My Lords,
It is now nine years since my Arrival to this Gov- ernment in which Time I have been often writing to your Lordships relative to the disputed Line betwixt this and the Province of New York, and have also often wrote to the Govermt of New York on the same Head, but in which Important Article nothing is yet brought to a Conclusion.
I now at the Request of the General Proprietors of the Eastern Division of this Province cover to Your Lordships Copy of their Petition to the King in which they set forth that not withstanding Sir Charles Hardy, the present Governor of New York laid before that As- sembly the King's especial Instruction respecting this Affair, yet nothing is done in it to this Day .- I there. fore wou'd humbly refer Your Lordships to what I wrote you upon it of 6. of November 1754, as also to
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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the inclosed Petition, & which are so particular for Your Lordships full Information, that I have only to add that the Assembly of New York seems to shew an Indisposition or Aversion to come to a Settlement ac- cording to the King's Instruction.
I do therefore in Duty to His Majesty's as well as from a just Regard to His good People under My Care humbly intreat Your Lordships to give this important Affair the speediest Consideration & Dispatch you can, for if nothing be soon done in it I fear Riots and Out- rages if not Bloodshed will be committed on the Borders between the People of each Province which would be a melancholy Affair especially at this Critical Conjunc- ture, but I hope Your Lordships seasonable Interposi- tion will prevent the fatal Consequences a further Delay may produce.
I have the honour to be with great
Deference & Respect, My Lords Your Lordships Most obedient & Most humble Servant
J BELCHER
To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty in Council The Petition of the General Proprietors of the Soil of the Eastern Division of the Province of New Jersey in North America In behalf of themselves and those Claiming Under them
Most Humbly Sheweth
That Whereas their Excellencys the Lords Justices on Account of the Many and Great Outrages which had from Time To Time been Committed on the Front- iers of this and the Neighbouring Province of New York for Want of the Establishment of a Line of property and Jurisdiction between them, were pleased, on the Twelfth Day of August Last to Give an Ad-
15
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1756
ditional Instruction to Sir Charles Hardy your Maj- estys Governour of the Province of New York therein Declaring it to be of the Greatest. Importance To the Tranquility and Welfare of the said Provinces that Such Line of Property and Jurisdiction should be Speedily Settled between them, and that it Could only be Done by a Commission to be Issued by your Majesty for that Purpose, and that their Lordships had Re- ceived from the Agent of your Petitioners Assurances of their Concurance and an Offer of Ample Security to Defray one half of the Expence of Obtaining and Exe- cuting Such a Commission and Therefore Authorizing and Requiring the said Governour of New York Ear- nestly to recommend it in your Majesty's Name To the Assembly of that Province that they would make Speedy and Effectual Provision for Defraying the Other Moiety of such Expence.
And Whereas your Majesty's said Governour Did Lay the said Instruction before the said Assembly, and pressed them to make Immediate provisions that an End might be Speedily and Effectually put to the Out- rages that had been Committed, So much to the preju- dice of your Majesty's Service, and the Disturbance of the Public Peace; yet so it is, may it Please your Maj- esty That the said Assembly have not hitherto Yielded a Due Obedience To the said Instruction, and the Con- duct of the persons Interested In the Lands Lying on the Disputed Line, Gives but too much Reason to be- lieve that they Do not Intend to Concur with us In the Measures prescribed by your Majesty's said Instruc- tion, as the only one that Could Remove the Founda- tion of the said Riots and Disturbances.
Wherefore your Petitioners are put under the Ne- cessity of Imploring Your Majesty's Immediate inter- position for a Temporary Line of Jurisdiction, being Apprehensive that this Disregard of your Majesty's Royal Instruction Will Involve the Two Provinces In
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER.
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Great and Endless Contentions, and Occasion much Bloodshed, at a Time when all your Majestys Subjects should be United and Exert themselves against the Common Enemy: and Most Humbly Pray, that Your Majesty would be Graciously pleased, for the Preserva- tion of the Peace of your Majesty's Subjects Living upon the Borders of the two Provinces, to Issue your Royal Order, that a Streight and Direct Line, Extend- ing from a Place on Hudson's River Eighty Nine Chains and Sixty Links South of the Old house Late belong- ing to John Corbet Deceas'd to the Station point upon the Northermost Branch of Delaware River Settled and Agreed upon by the Commissioners and Surveyors of both Provinces in the Year 1719-Be and Remain the Line of Jurisdiction between this Province and the Province of New York, Untill the True Line of Prop- erty and Jurisdiction shall be finally Settled, Run and Marked under a Commission from your Majesty to be Issued and Carried Into Execution at the Joint and Equal Expence of your Petitioners and the said Prov- ince of New York.
And your Petitioners, further to Induce your Maj- esty to Issue your Order for fixing the said Line for the Temporary Jurisdiction, Humbly beg Leave to set forth, that the said Station Points upon Hudson's River and the Northermost Branch of the River Dela- ware, to and between which the said Temporary Line is Proposed to be Drawn, were In the said Year 1719, After a Variety of Observations made by the Surveyors of both Provinces under the Authority of Acts of As- sembly, Judged to be Very Near, if not Exactly In the Respective Lattitudes on the said Rivers, through which the True Line of Partition must run, and the said Line for Sixteen Miles, has been Run and Acquiesced In many Years by the Owners of the Lands in both Provinces and by far the Greatest part of the Re- mainder thereof has been Surveyed and Marked out
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR BELCHER. [1756
by your Petitioners; and the Lands on the Jersey side thereof have been peaceably Possessed By them and those Claiming under them, Until the Year 1740, when the late Disturbances Concerning that Line began.
And Your Majesty's Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall Ever Pray &c &c ANDY JOHNSTON
ROBT H. MORRIS
RICH? PETERS for
MARY ALEXANDER by
MESSRS PENN-
her Attorney
JOHN STEVENS
SAMUEL NEVILL
SAMUEL LEONARD
JOHN BURNET
LEWIS M. ASHFIELD
JAMES PARKER
WH SKINNER by his At- torney
COURTLAND SKINNER LEWIS JOHNSTON
The foregoing is a true Copy of the Original, being examined and Corrected by me
JOHN SMYTH REG!
Account of Samuel Smith, Treasurer for West New Jersey, of receipts and payments from November 8, 1755, to October 11, 1756.
[From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 8, I. 36.]
Province of New Jersey in the sinking Fund Tax To Sam Smith Treasurer.
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