USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 15
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Ordered thereupon, that Benja. Chambers, ffra. Rawle & Jos. Pigeon, ye persons now principally concerned here be summoned forthwith, to bring in their accots of the sd society, to be inspected & considered by persons to be appointed by this Board for that.
Benja. Chambers presented an Information to ye Board, upon an apprehension of another ferry boat, being intended to be sett up on his ferry Landing place, by two swedes ministers, setting forth yt he had been at very great charge & Trouble in erecting ye sd ferry for ye Publick Good, that by his Diligence & Expenses he had cut through ye Rocks, made long Causeys through ye mudd, & for ye accomoda- tion of ye Countrey, at whose instance he had first sett it up; he had made such conveniences as ye like had never been known before in these parts, and therefore requested that his merits might be consid- ered, & no other persons suffered to enter upon his Labours by oppres- sion, to bereave him of that small benefit wch thought reasonable should accrue to him, & was far short of what those who endeavoured to take part with him imagined.
Order'd, that no Encouragemt should be given to any such attempt & yt while there is no complaint made, that one boat is not sufficient to supply ye ferry, or that that Boat is not well attended, no other be suffered to invade ye profit of his past Labours & projection.
Judge Guest & Jasper Yeats, moved that they being persons deeply interested by their Estates, in ye County of Newcastle, might be ac- quainted what persons ye Governor designed to putt into ye Magis- tracy for that County ; upon wch ye List ye Govr had given to the Secry was read, and they humbly requested that ye Govr would be pleased to take it further into Consideration, and make an addition either of some concerned in ye sd County in their Estates, yt were men of Law, or some others yt had bore that office in ye sd County long before.
Adjourned.
6*
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At a Council held at Philadia, 5th May, 1704, P. M. PRESENT :
JNO. EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Governr.
W. Penn, junr.
Jno. Blunston, Wm. Trent,
Edwd. Shippen, Jno. Guest, James Logan.
Wm. Clark,
A message from ye assembly, requested ye Governr to furnish them wth such ordrs as had come to his hands, concerning the money required to be advanced for ye assistance of N York ; upon wch there was sent to them by Judge Guest and James Logan, a Copy of ye King's Lettr to the Earl of Ballomt, dated 19th of Janry, 1700-1. Lettr from Ld Cornbury to Governr Ham'ton, dated 9th, 9br,1700-2; a Lettr from ye Lds of Trade to ye Propry, dated 21 May, 1703, & a Lettr from ye Ld Cornbury, to ye present Governr, date 15th April last, all wch were delvd and ye assembly Requested a Copy of ye Governrs Commission, wch was ordered.
At a Council held at Philadia, 9th May, 1704, P. M. PRESENT :
JNO. EVANS, Esq., Lieut. Governr.
Roger Mompesson,
Griffith Owen,
Edwd Shippen,
Caleb Pusey,
Jno. Guest,
Wm. Trent,
Wm. Clark,
James Logan,
Edwd. Farmer, acquainted ye Governr that according to his ordr, he had informed ye assembly of what he had heard from ye Trader Nicole Godin, viz : That upon ye Return of ye Carolina Indian, who was taken (as was said) by some of ye five nations last year, & after his escape, went homewards through this Province, some of ye Caro- lina Indians, to ye number of 40, in revenge, were lately come up & had set upon some of those of Potowmock, but they taking to their fastness & being thereby secured, ye others declared to them that they (of Carolina,) had been for many years attacked & Injured by some Indians from ye Northwd, whom they had always hitherto taken to be those of Canada, but now found who they were, viz : ye Senecars & those of Potomock & Conestogoe, & that they were Resolved to be revenged, & that end three nations had Joyned & would shortly come up & either destroy or be destroyed by them.
That upon this Information, ye assembly thanked ye Govr for his care in sending them an accot of it, and upon hearing there were two Indians sent from some of ye five nations to this Governmt, on a message, requested that ye Govr would be pleased to examine ye sd Indians to night, by Ja. Le Tort for an Interpreter, & that ye sd Nicole should be for to night, & ye sd Indians be examined with him to morrow.
Griff. Jones, with 6 members more from ye assembly, presented ye following address to ye Govr in answr to his speech.
To Jno. Evans, Esq., Lieut. Govr of ye Prov. of Pensilvania and Counties annexed :
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
The Humble Address of ye freemen of ye sd Province in assembly mett. May it please ye Govr.
We ye freemen of ye sd Province in assembly, taking into our most serious Consideration thy great care & concern for our welfare, ex- pressed in thy last kind & favourable speech to us, in duty & Grati- tude can do no less than return our thanks to thyself, as also to ye Propr. for his peculiar regards to our interests and happiness in the choice of so worthy a person to rule over us.
But that which in a more peculiar manner commands our sincere acknowledgments, is ye singular favour of our gracious Queen, who like a tender & Indulgent mother, has extended her affections to us, her poor subjects in this remote part of her Dominions, whereof she has given a most remarkable Demonstration, in favouring thy Lieu- tenancy with her Royal approbation.
We are very sensible of thy concurrent Endeavour with ours to reunite us with ye three lower Counties, & that nothing of that Breach is chargeable upon any but themselves, as we hope our late answer to their proposals for a reunion will sufficiently prove.
And we are also well assured that ye due regulation of ye Legisla- tive powers, is of so great importance to our safty & happiness, that we shall make it our care & Business to settle ye same, so far as we are capable. But for-as-much as thou hast been pleased to acquaint us, that our Propry hath effectually done his part towards Establish- ment, wch we would willingly hope has been in procuring ye Queens Royal Sanction to our Laws. We humbly desire it may be commu- nicated unto us to ye end, our present service may be made ye more easy, and that wee may proceed wth greater alacrity, hoping thou wilt be ready to concur in what may be proposed for that end, in re- lation to each particular Interest concerned.
As for ye Expectations of our presenting ye Queen wth ye sum mentioned in our late Kings Lettr, We refer to ye former assembly's answer thereto, wch we hope ye Propry has so represented at home, that we shall not be justly blamed for not raising money at this time, for servise since we have own back Settlemts to secure, and our friend Indians to engage.
The Proprietaries Expectations have been under our serious Con- sideration, as we hope ye People of this Province have not been wanting in giving ample Testimonies of their affection to him on divers occasions of late. So we shall still continue thankfully to acknowledge his & thy care of us, & of our just rights and Privi- ledges, ye countinuance of wch will ye better enable us to approve ourselves to ye ministry at home, & also to remove that weight & burthen that may be so heavy upon our Proprietary, so far as it re- lates to ye Good & advantage of the People of this Province.
We shall take leave to close this, our address, wth assuring thee of our sincere affection to thy self, & our cordial resolutions to pro- ceed, wth all diligence to ye dispatch of such other business as may be ye subject matter of this present session. Intending carefully to avoid passing any votes, wch may in ye worst sense have a tendency to reflect on ye Lower Counties, on accot of their separation from us,
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& heartly wish them all happiness under thy administration, in y Circumstance & Condition ye Queen has been pleased to putt them & shall be ready when a fit Expedient to reunite, & in ye mean time shall use our Endeavours to preserve amity & friendship wth them, as our ffriends & neighbours United by common Interest, tho' disjunct in Legislation.
Signed in ye behalf & by ordr of ye House by
DA'D. LLOYD, Speaker.
Which address being read and presented in writing, one of ye sd members informed ye Board, of some great abuses that were commit- ed by carring Rum from Newcastle to Conestogoe, & requesting an answer concerning ye Royal sanction to ye Laws, they withdrew.
Capt. George Rocke, being by consent of this Board called to it by ye Govr. took & subscribed the oath ; fidelity to ye Queen, ye abjura- tion of ye Popes Supremacy, ye Test & ye oath of a member of Coun- cil, & thereupon took his place.
Two Indians sent on a message from ye Onondagoes, one of ye five nations, with two Companions presented an otter Skin, & Informed that there were a Company of their nation & of ye Honoyoothacks, coming down to his town in order to trade, & that they had sent them before to acquainte ye Govr of it, requesting him that they might be kindly dealt with in point of trade, & that care should be taken they should not be abused in prices of Goods, but be encour- aged to come yearly & keep up a friendly Correspondence.
Which Message was recevd, & ye sd Indians questioned about se- veral things relating to these nations, & an answer was promised to be given to-morrow. Adjourned. James le Tort, Interpreter.
At a Council held at Philadia, 16th May, 1704, mane.
PRESENT :
JNO. EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Roger Mompesson,
Wm. Trent,
John Guest, Richd. Hill,
Willm. Clark,
George Rocke,
Griffith Owen,
James Logan.
Caleb Pusey,
The Assemblies addressd being taken into consideration, it was ordered, that it should be anwered by a message from this Board, wch ye Secretary was directed to draw up in writing.
A message from ye assembly, requested to know whether ye Govr would be pleased as yet, to give an answer to their address, especially that part of it relating to ye Queens approbation of ye Laws.
Ordered, that an answer be given at 5 in ye afternoon, to which time ye Council is adjourned.
POST MERIDIEM, Present ye Govr. ho. 5th.
Roger Mompesson, Edwd Shippen, John Guest, Willm. Clark, Caleb Pusey,
Wm. Trent,
Richd. Hill,
Jasper Yeats,
George Rock, James Logan.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
The Subject of ye message, drawn up according to Directions by ye Secretary, was read, but there not being sufficient time this even- ing to finish it, 'tis ordered to be deferr'd till morning.
The two Onondagoe Indians, who were yesterday before this board, were again called to receive their answer, & Peter Bizaillons wife being in town, who understands their Language well, was also called to interpret : the Indian Messenger repeated ye substance of what he had said yesterday, wch appearing to be much ye same, as Interpreted before, he was answered that ye Govr took y message kindly, that his Country Indians should be very welcome, & care should be taken to treat them well. But was told that because ye Ships were not as yet come in, Goods are scarce, but 'tis hoped they may arrive before ye Indians can be here, and some Wampum was given him to carry as a Confirmation.
Nicole Godin, the trader, brought to town to day by Edwd. Far- mer, was examined & repeated ye same, that ye sd E. ffarmer had represented before, adding that Ortyiagh ye Chief now of Conestogoe, requested him to complain to ye Govr of ye great Quantities of Rum, continually brought to their Town, insomuch that they ruined by it, having nothing left but have laid out all, even their Cloaths for Rum, & may now when threatened with war, be surprised by their Enemies when besides themselves with drink, & so utterly be destroyed.
Answer was made that effectual care should now be taken this Assembly, to prevent such practices for ye future.
Adjourned till morning.
At a Council held at Philadia, 11th May, 1704.
PRESENT :
JNO. EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Governr.
Roger Mompesson,
Samll. Finney,
Edwd. Shippen,
Caleb Pusey,
Jno. Guest,
Richd. Hill,
Willm. Clark,
Jasper Yeats,
Griffith Owen,
James Logan.
The message ordered Yesterday being drawn up, it was ordered to be sent in Writing as follows:
A message from ye Govr in Council,
To ye House of Representatives.
The Govr having recvd & considered ye address of ye House, in answer to his speech, returns his thanks for their so hearty Declara- tion of Gratitude & affection to ye Queens Majesty, and the Propry, & those favourable expressions they were pleased to give of himself as he very kindly resents them, so he will endeavour to acquit him- self answerable thereunto, as far as it shall lie in his power.
I answer to ye Houses request relating to ye Royal Sanction, to ye Laws of this Province already past, the Govr is assured yt ye Propry had laid them before ye Queen, & was pressing that matter to an Issue, & ye Secretary will communicate to ye House, some Paragraphs
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in ye Proprs private Lettrs to him upon that subject. But what ye Govr more particularly designed in that clause of his Speech, where he sayes ye Propr had done his part, was by his effectually giving them such an opportunity of securing themselves by Establishmt, as a better can never be expected again, & therefore hopes they will use it accordingly.
But ye Govr is sorry yt he finds himself obliged further to acquaint ye House, yt their answer to ye Queens expectations cannot be taken as satisfactory for ye former answer of ye assembly, to wch this now refers, pleads reasons, ye Edge of wch the space of almost three years has wore off, & yt address requests ye Propry yt ye further Considera- tion of ye Kings Lettr may be referred to another meeting of Assem- bly, or untill more emergent occasions shall require their proceedings therein, so that ye very address referr'd to, turns it now upon this assembly, those demands now being answered by any of ye foregoing : and for ye Emergent occasions there mentioned, it could be wisht yt there were none so urgent, as a dangerous war broke out since yt time, affords us, besides ye Queens further Injunction still pressing it, ffrom which Injunctions it is also evident yt no Representation ye Propr has been able to make of that affair, has been sufficient to secure this province from blame, upon their former failure, seeing they are again pressingly urged to it by ye Queens own commands, above fourteen months after her happy accession to the Crown.
It is undoubtly true, that ye Govrmt of New York lies much exposed to the attacks of the enemy, that their strength & Defence tends to our security, and that the Govmts to ye Eastwd are very deeply engaged in Defences of their own, which also makes for the common safety. While we of this place, whose Lives & ffortunes ought to be equally dear to us, have enjoyed peace & tranquility without contributing any thing considerable in comparison to others, towards the obtaining it, and whatever our neighbours shall find themselves obliged to doe for their own safety. Yet, if we appear resolved to give them no Encouragement, we shall have too little reason to blame them, if when they have opportunities as they fre- quently may, they fail to extend their Regards to our welfare, as concerned in the publick good, seeing we contribute nothing to the Publick Charge. Nor can we ever expect to recommend ourselves to the protection of ye Queen, while we shew no more respect to Her Desires of that kind, that either from herself or Royal Predecessors, have so rarely reached us. These or ye like Reasons, the Govr is credibly Informed have so far prevailed on ye Govmt of Maryland, as that they have raised a good part of what was required of them for this service, notwithstanding they lie much more secure & out of Danger. Nor can ye Govr believe, that this can clash with the Religious persuasions of any man, seeing there are many other vast charges besides the actual making of war, & this is not required for carrying on of any War, as in the acts of Parlmt. in Engld, in such Cases is always mentioned, & yet is there comply'd with to a very high Proportion of their Estates by all persons whatever, without objection on this score; here the Queen only Demands such
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
a sum, which common reason will tell us is exceedingly necessary for the Publick good & safety of all the adjacent parts, & as it is ab- solutely necessary that funds should be raised for the support of Govmt, & answering Publick Exigencies, so if they be made propor- tionable to those Exigencies, of which this is a great one, the Govr will faithfully take care that they shall all to ye utmost of his Power, & this among the rest be duly answered.
The Govr is well assured, that the rot complying with this, will be so great a Clogg to the affairs of this Province at home, & lay the Propry & his whole concerns for the Publick Good, under so great Disadvantages with the ministry, that it will prove the worst of husbandry, & therefore thinks himself obliged further to press, & again propose it to ye Houses most Serious Consideration.
The Govr & Council think it requisite further, to lay before the House a Lettr to their Board from the Propry, because it is of equal Concern to all, & must add, that ye Propry by some of his Lettrs, expects and depends on it; that the Countrey will defray the Charges of Govmt here since his Departure, in relation to Govr Hamilton, whose Salary being two hundred pounds a year, he en- gaged himself to answer, till further Provision should be made.
The Govr is resolved to avoid proposing any thing but what the Honr. Justice & Safety of ye publick may require, & hopes, that those who have ye trust reposed in them to represent ye people, will according to their Declarations, readily & cheerfully concur & pro- mote what ever may prove for ye Common Good & Interest of ye Place.
The Govr thinks it proper, further to recommend to ye House, that as it has been ye Common practice of other Govmts & Commu- nities every where, to address ye Queen upon their first opportunity of meeting, after her happy accession to the Throne, this being now ye first that this Province has had in Assembly, & ye Propry having particularly recommended it. It will be a just Discharge of Duty to present a humble Congratulatory address from this Province, also requesting ye Continuance of that Protection, Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to grant ye subjects of all her Dominions.
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POST MERIDIEM, the Same as before.
The foregoing message was sent by Judge Mompesson, Edward Shippen, and James Logan, & was ordered to be read to ye House, & then delivered to the Speaker.
The Members sent on ye sd message, returning, made Report, yt according to order they had delivered their message, but that there was some appearance of a Dissatisfaction upon it.
And some time being spent in considering affairs relating to the assembly, & those relating to ye Indians, being taken into Conside- ration, It was Resolved, That a Proposal be forthwith made to the House for them, to appoint a Committee to Joyn another Committee of the Council, to confer together about measures, for securing ye Indians in our Interest, & other matters of Importance relating to
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the Publick Safety. Also, that ye assembly should be desired to peruse & Consider ye Lettr from ye Lords of Trade &c., in May last, & that would Convince them of ye necessity ye Govr lay under, of pressing yt affair of a Supply to New York.
And Richard Hill & James Logan, were ordered to carry ye said message, & then adjourned till morning.
At a Council held at Philadia. 12th 3d mo., 1704, A. M.
PRESENT :
JNO. EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Roger Mompesson,
Griffith Owen,
Edwd. Shippen, Caleb Pusey,
Saml. Carpenter,
Richd. Hill,
ยท Wm. Clark,
James Logan.
The Govr Informed ye Board yt this morning a message was brought to him from ye House, signifying that they joyned with the last message from this Board, wch proposed a Conference concerning matters of Importance to ye publick safety, & yt thereupon, he thought it would be proper for ye whole Council to joyn them in a Conference as proposed.
And ye question being putt where ye place of meeting should be and at what time, it was Resolved yt notwthstanding it was not pro- per in itself, for ye Council to meet ye assembly at their own House, but rather yt they should attend this Board. Yet for ye better Con- veniency of Room, & yt all ye members of their House might be pre- sent, & have ye opportunity of knowing what past for this time all ye Council should joyn the assembly at their House, this afternoon, half an hour after three; and James Logan was sent to Inform ye assem- bly accordingly.
POST MERIDIEM, ye same as before, wth Wm. Trent.
The Council according to ye Resolution of this morning, went all together to hold a Conference wth ye assembly, & returning to ye Board, Judge Mompesson made report to ye Govr. That going to ye House they found them in a grand Committee, wth a Chairman, which tho' irregular in itself upon such an occasion, yet they chose to waive it & take no notice, least they should stumble at ye Thres- hold. That he who filled ye Chair began with a large Discourse, & Informed them That as a Conference had been proposed about mat- ters of importance, so they conceived ye greatest at present to be ye power of Joyning them effectually in Legislation, that ye house had taken it into Consideration, & were under a Dissatisfaction about ye Clause in the Governours Commission, where Propry saves to him & his Heirs their final assent to all such bills as ye Govr should pass into Laws, least by it all their Proceedings should prove ineffectual as they must needs be, if after they had done their best to enact Laws,
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
yet they would be of no use till sent to Engld., where they were either to be past or rejected, & yt ye Difficulties & Inconveniences of this would be such that they had better attempt to pass none at all. That in answer to this several argumts, both in Law and Reason were ad- vanced, to shew that that saving in itself was void, & that ye Kings Charter to ye Propry would allow of no such Reserve. That it was again objected, that commissions were of ye nature of Kings writts, & must be good in all their parts yt ye voiding of one part might void ye whole, upon all which several argumts being used, they came to a Conclusion that both Council & assembly, should take some further time to consider of it, most of this being quite new to ye Council, & that upon an agreemt so to doe they parted. And then ye Council adjourned till to morrow.
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The Assembly meeting in ye morning, sent to advise with ye Govr when a second Conference might be held, & was appointed on 2d day ye 15th, at 3 in ye afternoon, but again they sent and Informed ye Govr that they found ye next week would generally keep ye people of ye town busy, because of ye fair, & therefore wth ye Govrs Leave desired to adjourn till the 22d, being ye next week after.
At a Council held at Philadia, 18th 3 mo., 1704.
PRESENT :
JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Governr.
Roger Mompesson,
Wm. Clark,
Edwd. Shippen,
Wm. Trent,
Saml. Carpenter, James Logan.
Peter Bezalion ye french Trader, coming to town & being sent for informed ye Board That he had heard that those of ye five nations who intended shortly down this way, had a design of carrying off the Shawanah Indians, both those settled near Conestogoe, & those near Lechay, they being colonies of a nation that were their enemies; wch being fully considered, It was Resolved yt it would be necessary to send an Embassy as well in behalf of our frds & allies, as ye Shaw- annahs are as of our selves, & yt all ye Belts of Wampum be pro- cured & sent, up yt were collected among ye Indians three years agoe for that purpose.
At a Council held at Philadia, 22d 3d mo., 1704, P. M.
PRESENT :
JNO, EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Govr.
Roger Mompesson, Richd. Hill,
Willm. Penn, Junr.,
Wm. Trent,
Edwd. Shippen,
James Logan.
Caleb Pusey,
The Govr acquainted ye Board, That a Conference with this Board
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was requested by ye assembly, & yt he had appointed this afternoon at three a Clock, & thereupon all ye members of council, W. P. ex- cepted, went & held a Conference accordingly, & returning, ye Coun- cil was adjourned till ten in ye morning, at which time a report of ye sd Conference is to be made.
At a Council held at Philadia, 23d 3 mo., 1704.
PRESENT :
JOHN EVANS, Esqr., Lieut. Gover.
Wm. Penn, Junr.,
Griffith Owen,
Roger Mompesson,
Caleb Pusey,
Edwd. Shippen,
Richd. Hill,
John Guest,
James Logan.
Wm. Clark,
Four members from ye Assembly brought ye following Resolution ; at an assembly held at Philadia, 22d Day, 3 mo., 1704.
Resolved, that his House shall request ye Council to give their opinion in writing, under their hands, Concerning ye saving or ex- ception in ye Propr., Wm. Penns Commission to ye present Lieut. Govr, to witt : whether ye sd saving is void in it self, and does not vacate ye rest of ye sd Commission, or render it invalid, and whe- ther those Bills wch ye present Lieut. Govr shall think fitt to pass into Laws, and cause ye sd Proprs great Seal to be affixed thereunto, can afterwards be vacuated or annulled by ye sd Proprietor, without assent of ye Assembly of this province. Ordered, that Joseph Grow- don, Isaac Norris, Joseph Wilcox and Joseph Wood, attend ye Govr and Council wth ye sd Resolve, and make Report to this house To morrow morning.
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