USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. V > Part 27
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tine then in the said Bay and under Sail, standing for this De- ponent's said Vessel, which was then abreast of the high Lands of Bombo Hook, came along side of the said Schooner & boarded her with Pistols and drawn Cutlasses, and this Deponent not . having any Arms on board to make any resistance was oblig'd to strike to the said Privateer's Men, who having stripp'd all the Crew be- longing to the said Schooner & plunder'd her, they carried this De- ponent & most of his Men on board the said Privateer; that the said Privateer was called the St. Michael of Havannah, commanded by Vincent De Lopez, & mounted with fourteen Carriage Guns, six Pounders, besides as many Swivel Guns; that the Person who commanded the said Boats Crew of Privateer's Men, and took this Deponent as aforesaid, then told this Deponent that there was a large Ship lying at New Castle, outward bound, which they were determined to take before they left the Coast, & that their Boat had been up the River within five Miles of Philadelphia & had learned that there was a Man-of-War heaving down at Philadelphia, & that the Trembleur Privateer was there likewise, but unrigg'd, and said further that they had a Consort Cruizing at the Capes of De- laware, which came with them from Havannah, had 150 Hands on board, & was mounted with fourteen large Guns; That the said Privateer's Crew consisted of Spaniards, French men, many English & Irish, some Dutch Men, many Mulattoes, & some Negroes; That the Day before this Deponent was taken as aforesaid, he was chased by two of the Enemie's Privateers into the said Bay, which he judged to be the Clinton Privateer & her Consort.
"Sworn before me,
" JAMES WHITE.
"JO. TURNER."
Nicholas Eads of the City of Philadelphia, Mariner, being sworn & examined before Joseph Turner, Esqr., one of the Justices, the 30th Day of May, 1748, Saith-
"That this Deponent with his Partner Pyramus Green, being bound from Philadelphia to the Island of Bermuda in a Schooner called the Phenix of Philadelphia, laden with Indian Corn & Bread, was chased & taken on the 15th Instant, about 35 Leagues to the South-Eastward of the Capes of Delaware, by a French Privateer called the Clinton, commanded by Captain De Blane, with about 125 Men, and mounted with 12 Carriage Guns and about 18 Swivels; That whilst this Deponent was a Prisoner on board the said Privateer, viz., On the 16th Instant, the said Privateer took the Brigantine called the Richa, Captain Burke Commander, bound from Philadelphia to London, about 25 Leagues to the South-East & by South of the Said Capes; And on the 17th Instant they also took a Sloop bound from Providence to Philadelphia, Commanded by Captain George Smith, laden with Sugar & Indigo; and on the
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twenty-first Instant the said Privateer took Hermophradite Vessel, Captain Hinsley Commander, bound from Virginia for Bristol, about 25 Leagues to the Eastward of Cape Henry; That on the 25th Instant the said Privateer Clinton coming to an Anchor in Whorekill Road, within the Capes of Delaware, the said Capt De Blane pressed the said Captain Burke & this Deponent very much to Pilot the said Privateer Clinton up to Philadelphia, and they telling him they were not well enough acquainted with the Bay, he grew very angry and insisted they should carry him into the River Delaware, and declared he should then know very well where he was, & could find his way up to Philadelphia himself, having been a Prisoner there; but finding he could not prevail upon them to carry him up into the River, nor get a Pilot from the Shore, he broke out into a violent Passion, and soon after a Sloop heaving in Sight and standing in for the Road, the Clinton weighed Anchor & gave Chase to the said Sloop, and whilst they were in pursuit of her they saw a Large Brig which stood towards them, & coming up with them proved to be a French Privateer, commanded by Cap- tain Bruneau, with 180 Men, and mounted with fourteen Carriage Guns & 30 Swivels, & had been 33 Days out from Cape Francois, & as they then declared, they had in that time taken 6 Prizes ; That the said Sloop which the Clinton was in Chase of getting Clear, they the next day stood in for the Shore, & seeing two Sloops lying at Anchor at a place called Townsand's Inlet, about 16 Miles to the Northward of Cape May, they manned out & sent two Boats to board the said two Sloops, which when they had plundered they left them & took one of their Boats to board the said two Sloops, which when they had plunder'd they left them & took one of their Boats which they gave to this Deponent & 27 more English Pris- oners to carry them to the Jersey Shore.
"NICHOLAS EADES.
"Taken & Sworn before
" JO. TURNER."
John Goodwin, of the City of Philadelphia, Carpenter, being also Sworn & examined the 30th Day of May, 1748, Saith-
"That he was late a Passenger on board the Brigantine Richa, Benj. Burk Commander, & was taken in her on the 16th Instant by the French Privateer called the Clinton, as set forth in the pre- ceding Deposition of Nicholas Eads, which being now read to this Deponent, & he having been a Prisoner with the said Nicholas Eads on board the said Privateer Clinton from the time of this Deponent's being taken as aforesaid till their being put ashore on the Jersey Coast ; he Saith that he likewise was privy to all the Transactions related in the said Deposition from the time of his coming on board the said Privateer Clinton, & that the same are all true as set forth in the said Deposition. And saith further, that
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he was told by some of the Crew belonging to the said Privateer Clinton, whilst he was on board her, that they had been out from Cape Francois between 8 & 9. Weeks, & in that time they had taken Eleven Prizes, Five of which they had cut out of Oericott, in North Carolina, where they went ashore, killed 70 or 80 head of Cattle & plunder'd the Country, and also told this Deponent that there were then 14 Sail of French & Spanish Privateers out Cruising between Sandy Hook & South Carolina, viz., the said Privateer Clinton, the said Brigantine, Commanded by the said Captain Bru- neau, and a Schooner, all from Cape Francois, 3 from St. Domingo, 1 from Petit Guava, 5 from Augustine, but from what place the other two came this Deponent does not now remember.
"JOHN GOODWIN.
" Taken & Sworn before me,
"JO. TURNER."
The French Prisoners, brought in the Trembleur & her Prizes, are order'd to be sent to Bucks County, & the Secretary to write a letter to Collo Graydon to escort them to Newtown Jayl.
Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Taylor, & Mr. Hopkinson are appointed a Committee to consider how to form an Artillery Company, & to confer with the Associators on this Subject, and it is recommended to them to give this Affair all the Expedition possible.
At a Council held at Philada .. Wednesday, 1st June, 1748.
PRESENT :
Thomas Lawrence,
Samuel Hasell,
Abraham Taylor, Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker, Lawrence Growden, Esqrs.
Thomas Hopkinson, William Logan,
The Minutes of the preceeding Council were read & approv'd.
Mr. James Read, Notary Publick, with Captain Isham Randolph, applied for Liberty to read a Protest, & having read a Paper he de- liver'd it to the Board, & it is order'd to be entr'd :
"June 1st, 1748,
" Appear'd Isham Randolph, Commander of the Ship Rachel of London, burthen 250 Tons or thereabouts, and declared that the sd. Ship having been loaded in this Port with Lumber & Provisions & bound on a Voyage from hence to the Island of Jamaica, the said Ship sail'd from this Port on the 20th of this Instant, May, & fell down as far as New Castle, on Delaware, where she was detain'd until yesterday upon account of some of the Enemie's Privateers being Cruising in and about this River; that yesterday - Ballet,
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Esqr., Commander of His Majesty's Sloop of War the Otter, being then at New Castle aforesaid, gave the said Appearer Orders to re- turn with the said Ship to this Port in order (as he alledg'd) to pre- vent her falling into the Enemie's hands, which said Orders the said Capt". Ballet inform'd the appearer he gave him by virtue of direc- tions he had received to that purpose from the Honoble. Anthony Palmer, Esqr., President, &c., and therefore the said Appearer de- clared to Protest against the said Capt". Ballet & all others concern'd in detaining the said Ship Rachel from proceeding on her said in- tended Voyage, & ordering her back to this Port.
"ISHAM RANDOLPH.
"On the 1st June Mr. James Read, Notary Publick, applied to the Council for Liberty to read Capt". Isham Randolph's Protest, & being admitted he read the foregoing Paper & then deliver'd it to the Board.
"RICHARD PETERS, Sec'ry."
Mr. Voyall Chubb sent in a Paper to the Board purporting that he had done his utmost endeavour to promote the Subscription peti- tion'd for on Monday, but despair'd of Success, whereupon the Sec- retary was order'd to tell him that the Council is sorry they & he have had so much trouble to so little purpose.
At a Council held at Philada., Thursday, 2d June, 1748.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Thomas Lawrence, Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell,
Benjamin Shoemaker,
Lawrence Growden,
Esqrs. William Logan,
Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd.
A Letter from Governor Clinton was read & order'd to be en- ter'd :
"NEW YORK, 30th May, 1748.
" Sir :
"I have Your favour of the 27th Instant, with several Papers inclos'd, touching the Captures of a French & other Privateers on your Coast, which I am sorry to hear of, and as You inform me that the Spaniard designs a visit to this Port, I have inform'd the Mer- chants thereof, in hopes that they will send out what Privateers are here for the protection of their Trade. In the mean time I hope that when Capt" Ballet is able to go out upon a Cruize he will look in this way, otherwise the Trade of this Port must be obstructed as
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well as your's. I have forwarded Your Letter to Governor Shirley, and am with Respect,
" Sr., Your most obedient humble Servant,
"G. CLINTON.
"P. S .- Your Packets were safely deliver'd by Mr. Franklin. " The Honble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esq."
A Letter from Governor Belcher by Express was read in these words :
" Sir-
" Upon an Express I received this Day from Salem of several French Privateers being come up Delaware River as far as New Castle & the Mouth of Salem Creek, a number of good hearty young Fellows has been with me to offer themselves for the Service of their King & Country, by making a Cruise in one of Your arm'd Vessels, and the bearer, John Jolly, who is very forward in the affair, carries this to Your Honour to be inform'd how forward your Vessels, and on what Terms Men enter upon them, and I hope these brisk young fellows will find Encouragement.
"I am, Sr.,Your Honour's most obedt Servant,
"J. BELCHER.
" Burlington, May 31st, 1748.
" The Honoble. the Presidt."
To which the President return'd the following Answer : "ST. :
" The Spirit shewn by the good People of New Jersey is truly commendable, & the Council is oblig'd to Your Excellency for the dispatch with which You have been pleas'd to impart to us this generous offer; but, alas, on the Assembly's absolutely refusing to furnish Money, we think no Vessels of force are likely to be fitted out. If there shou'd be any alteration of measures, the brave young men of your Province will be the first in our remembrance, & have early notice.
"I am, Your Honour's most obedient Servant,
" ANTHONY PALMER,
" Philada., 2d June, 1748.
" The Honoble. J. BELCHER, Esqr."
The President & four Members sign'd a Commission to Abraham Wiltbank to Command an Intelligence Boat & to wear a Flagg.
" By the Honoble. the President & Council of the Province of Penn- sylvania.
" To Abraham Wiltbank of Lewis Town, Pilot, Greeting :
" Whereas, by reason of the Bay & River Delaware being now
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greatly infested with the Enemie's Privateers, we have judg'd it necessary that some fit & proper Persons shall be forthwith employed & commissioned to observe & give us constant Intelligence of the Motions & Designs of the said Privateers; And We have thought you fitly qualified for that purpose, & confiding in Your Loyalty, Vigilance, & Integrity, Do hereby Grant Commission to authorize and appoint You the said Abraham Wiltbank to fit out & command an Intelligence Boat for the purposes aforesaid, & therewith imme- diately to proceed & continue to pass & repass down & up the said River & Bay (During our Pleasure) in order to discover, observe, & get all the Informations & Intelligence you possibly can of the motions, force, & designs of the said Privateers or other his Majestie's Ene- mies, & from time to time bring or transmit to Us with the utmost Expedition full Accounts and Advice thereof, Hereby giving & granting to You Licence & Authority during your acting & continu- ing in the same Service to hoist & wear in Your said Boat A Red Pendant with two white Cresses, and for your so doing this shall be your Warrant.
" Given under our Hands in Council & the Lesser Seal of the said Province, at Philadelphia, the 3d of June, in the Twenty-first Year of His Majestie's Reign, Annoqz Domini, 1748.
" ANTHONY PALMER.
Another of the same Tenor was Sign'd to John Maule, authoriz- ing him to wear an English Jack.
The Brigantine Chesterfield, Captain Coatam, going to Jamaica, the Board thought proper to take this opportunity of obliging Cap- tain Coatam to take the remainder of the French Prisoners under a Flagg of Truce, & deliver them in some Port in the Island of His- paniola, and Captain Coatam appearing in Council, he agreed to take Eighteen.
A Letter from Collo. Gragdon was read, purporting that he had communicated the Council's Orders to some of his Officers & their Men, & that they chearfully offer'd to meet the Prisoners at Ne- shaming Ferry & conduct them safe to Newtown.
Mr. Lawrence & Mr. Taylor inform'd the Board that at their re- commendation an Artillery Company was form'd & the Officers chosen on the Plan of the Association, & desired that their Return might be read & a Commission issue to Captain Sibbald to com- mand the Batteries. The Return was read & a Commission order'd accordingly for Captain Sibbald, to be drawn by the Attorney Gen- eral.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday 3d June, 1748. PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Thomas Lawrence, Abraham Taylor,
Lawrence Growden, Thomas Hopkinson, Esqrs. William Logan,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd.
The President reported the weak & defenceless Condition of the Town of New Castle, that they had but 4 Guns, little or no Pow- der or Ball, & pray'd that some Expedient might be fall'n on to supply them with Cannon & necessary Amunition; & thereupon Mr. Hopkinson & Mr. Strettell were appointed a Committee to ap- ply to the Gentlemen Associators or others for Cannon, &c., for the use of the Fort at New Castle.
Information was given by some Englishmen who were taken by the Enemie's Privateers & put ashore, that there was an Enemy's Privateer off of Cohansy, & that there were two others at the Capes.
Order'd, That the keeper of the Powder House be sent for, & being come and examin'd as to the condition of the Powder House & the number of Men who had watch'd there, & how many were necessary to guard it as a watch, it was order'd by the Board that the Windows shou'd be stopp'd up, & that four or five Men shou'd be kept in Pay at 4s. # Day for a Guard.
The Board took again into consideration whether the Assembly shou'd be call'd, & after a long time spent therein, it was unani- mously agreed to call them to meet on Wednesday next, the 8th Instant, & Writts were accordingly Sign'd to the Sheriff's to Sum- mon the Representatives.
A Petition of John Jones, Convicted for being concern'd with some others in Coining Mill'd Dollars, was read, praying he might be releas'd out of Jayl on his enlisting to serve his Majesty. The Petition was granted. Another of the same Tenor was read from Stephen Barnes his Associate & Granted.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday, 6th June, 1748.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President. Samuel Hasell, Abraham Taylor,
Robert Strettell, Benjamin Shoemaker, Esqrs. Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approv'd.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
The Board taking into Consideration the many Inconveniences arising from the want of a Block house & Magazine at the Grand Battery, order'd the attendance of the Managers for the Associators to-morrow morning, to confer with them on this affair.
Some Vessels having arriv'd safe from Sea, the Board consider'd whether the Emhargo shou'd be taken off, but Mr. Taylor, the Col- lector, saying that one of the Captains told him on delivering his Papers that he was chas'd for several hours by a Privateer Brig about 5 Leagues off of Cape May, & the further Consideration thereof is postpon'd till to-Morrow.
Mr. James Read, Clerk of the Supream Court of Pennsylvania, & Clerk of the Court of Oyer & Terminer & General Goal Delivery, deliver'd into Council an Exemplification of the proceedings of a Court of Oyer & Terminer held at Philadelphia from the 23d to the 28th May, by which it appears that one Alexander Urie of the said County of Philadelphia was convicted & sentenced to Death for the Murther of Arthur McGinins of the said County, & that by order of the Court Execution of the said Sentence was respited for four- teen Days. No Report having as yet been made by the Judges of the Supreme Court, the Council order'd the Exemplification to lye upon the Table.
The standing Committee appointed to confer with Captain Ballet are desir'd to press him to use all the Expedition possible in fitting out this Ship that the Vessels that are now ready to Sail may be no longer detain'd.
Mr. Taylor & Mr. Hopkinson are appointed a Committee to draw a Message to the Assembly.
Order'd, That the Secretary prepare an account of all Moneys disburs'd. & receiv'd on account of Indian Affairs during the Council's Administration.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday, 8th June, 1748.
PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Samuel Hasell, Abraham Taylor, )
Robert Strettell, Joseph Turner, Esqrs.
Thomas Hopkinson, William Logan,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd.
Lieutenant George Cotnam, of the Honoble. Lieutenant General Philips' Regiment of foot at Annapolis Royal, appear'd before the Board, & having produced His Majestie's Letters authorizing Collo- Philips to raise Volunteers in any of the Provinces of North America to fill up the Companies of his Regiment to the numbers allow'd upon the Establishment, he had leave to beat up for Volun- teers in any part of the Province.
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The Committee for drawing the Message to the Assembly de- liver'd in their Draught, which was read the first time entirely thro' and then Paragraph by Paragraph, & after some alterations the Draught was approv'd.
Mr. Hopkinson reported that he had procured an Order for 4 Six-Pounders to be deliver'd to the Presid" or his order for the use of the Town of N. Castle. The Board took further into Considera- tion the taking off the Embargo, & resolv'd to take the sense of the Merchants this Evening, in order to come to a conclusion.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday, 9th June, 1748. PRESENT :
The Honoble. ANTHONY PALMER, Esqr., President.
Samuel Hasell, Abraham Taylor, 1 Robert Strettell, Benjamin Shoemaker, Esqrs.
Joseph Turner, Thomas Hopkinson,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read & approv'd.
The Message to the Assembly being transcrib'd fair was again read, & it was put to the Vote whether it shou'd be agreed to. It pass'd in the Affirmative, Mr. Shoemaker & Mr. Logan only dis- sentient.
A Message from the President & Council to the Assembly. " Gentlemen :
" The reason for calling You together so soon after your adjourn- ment will appear from the Depositions & Papers herewith laid be- foro You, and tho' You have hitherto refused to grant Money for the protection of the People or the Trade of this Province, yet as we think it our Duty, You must excuse Us if in this time of gen- eral Calamity we again press You on that disagreeable Subject in hopes that the miserable Circumstances to which we are now reduc'd may at length prevail with You to provide a proper Remedy.
" At the time of Your last Sitting our Port was actually block'd up by the Enemy's Privateers; they have since grown more nu- merous and have taken almost all our inward bound Vessels, using our Countrymen with great Barbarity. One of them, a large Spanish Privateer with 160 Men on board, came up the River as high as Elsenborough, where she came to an Anchor without being discovered to be an Enemy, & intended next morning to take a Ship then lying before New Castle & burn the Town, which they had certainly effected had not an Englishman swam on shore in the Night and alarmed the Inhabitants. "Tis true most of the Privateers are now thought to be gone off with their Prizes, but
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'tis reasonable to suppose they will soon return for more, or that others, encouraged by the fame of their Success, will supply their Places.
" During the Enemy's stay in the River they took a great num- ber of small Craft & thereby gained exact Intelligence of what pass'd among us ; and it is not unlikely but that among other things they had learn't the Resolutions of your House, and had a Depend- ance that no Vessel of War would be fitted out against them by this Government, otherwise they might have expected their Inso- lence & Cruelty would not have gone unpunish'd, it being an un- usual thing for Englishmen to bear tamely, & without resistance,, the Insults of so despicable an Enemy-Crews of Negroes, Mulat- toes, & the very Dregs of Mankind.
" Soon after Your adjournment His Majestie's Sloop, the Otter, under the Command of Captain Ballet, arrived here ; but not being in a Condition to proceed immediately on a Cruize, and being be- sides a Vessel of small force insufficient without an Assistant to attack such a number of Enemies, We have hitherto reap'd no ad- vantage from her arrival. She is now Careen'd, & we hope will soon be fit for Service, to which End the Captain assures Us noth- ing in his Power shall be wanting. And we have dispatch'd an Express to Virginia in order to procure, if possible, the Hector Man- of-War to join her; But as the obtaining this Assistance, and its continuence if obtain'd, are on many accounts uncertain, We have thought it absolutely necessary that a Ship of War shou'd be fitted out by this Province to be join'd with the Otter for the protection of our Trade, the Consideration whereof we now earnestly recom- mend to Your House; and that You would accordingly furnish a sufficient Sum of Money, which we assure You shall be applyed faithfully to that purpose, and with the utmost frugality. You will herewith receive an Estimate of what we judge the Charge will amount to by the Month, which we shall endeavour to lesson as much as possible.
" We find that it has been the opinion of Your House that the Keeping a Vessel constantly at our Capes to guard the Coast will be introductive of an Expence too heavy for the Province to bear, and too great a Burthen on the Inhabitants. But if our Port con- tinues block'd up; if not only our inward bound Vessels must be taken, but those in Port dare not venture out, whereby the perish- able Commodities with which they are laden spoil in the hands of the Merchants ; if those Colonies that us'd to take off great part of our produce are discouraged from sending their Vessels hither, & endeavour to be furnish'd, as they may be, with the same Commodi- ties at a safer. Port ; if by these means our Trade diminishes, being turn'd into another Channel, our Produce sinks in value, & every necessary Commodity from abroad is enhanc'd in Price ; if thro' the Decay of Business our Merchants fail, our Tradesmen want Employ- ment, our Farmers are reduced to Poverty, our Inhabitants remove,
1 e
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and our Lands and Houses fall far below their present worth, all natural Consequences of an obstructed Navigation, We beg You would consider whether these will not prove Burthens vastly heavier, and to which that of Keeping a Vessel to protect our Trade bears no proportion. We having good Grounds to assure You that the loss sustained within one week only amounts to a much larger Sum than would be necessary to be expended in guarding our Coast for several Years. We shall only add that if there shou'd not be Money enough at present in the Treasury, a sufficient Sum might readily be raised by way of Loan on the Credit of a Vote of Your House.
" ANTHONY PALMER.
"June 9th, 1748."
The Estimates of the Charge attending the Equipment of a Col- ony Vessel for the protection of Trade was read & approv'd :
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