USA > Rhode Island > Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England. Printed by order of the General Assembly, Vol. V > Part 11
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Voted and resolved, that the sum of £150 be allowed to the Hon. Gideon Wanton, Esq., Messrs. John Callender, Samuel Wickham and Edward Scott, for revising the colony laws and preparing them for the press ; £30 more to the said John Callender, for correcting the press, and the sum of £6 more to the said Samuel Wickham, for firewood, and the use of his room, the whole to be paid out of the general treasury.
Voted and resolved, that the account of Samuel Fowler amounting to the sum of £14, being for four weeks' board, and extraordinary attendance on John Righton, who received a desperate wound in the service of this colony, when one of the
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sheriff's aid to impress men for the service of His Majesty's ship of war Vigilant, be allowed, and paid out of the general treasury.
Voted and resolved, that the account of Joseph Scott, Esq., sheriff of the county of Newport, amounting to £20, being for stopping the ferries, impressing soldiers and seamen, and ex- penses on his officers and press-gang, be allowed, and paid to the said Joseph Scott, out of the general treasury.
Voted and resolved, that the account of William Dyre, depu- ty sheriff for the county of Newport, amounting to £14 10s., for several journeys by him made to the sheriffs of the other counties, for impressing, &c., and for his time and attendance for impressing men in this county, be allowed, and paid to the said William Dyre, out of the general treasury.
Voted and resolved, that the account of Job Bennett, Jr., amounting to £11, for notifying the general council several times, and for assisting the sheriff in impressing soldiers and seamen, be allowed, and paid to the said Job Bennett, Jr., out of the general treasury.
Whereas, Col. John Cranston, (as late captain of Fort George,) presented to the General Assembly, an account, amounting to ESOS 9s., being for the wages and board of the gunner and eight other men, for six months, and for wood sup- plied them ; also, for his allowance as captain, and for his care and trouble in repairing the south battery, &c., at said fort, craving an allowance for the whole ;-
It is thereupon voted and resolved, that the said sum of £800 9s., be allowed, and paid to the said John Cranston, out of the general treasury, for himself and the other persons men- tioned in said account, and to be in full satisfaction of the same.
God save the King.
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Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the fourth Tuesday in September, 1745.
The Hon. Gideon Wanton, Governor. The Hon. William Robinson, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
An Act for raising recruits to fill up the three companies of soldiers now at Cape Breton, in the pay of this colony, and for continuing the said companies there, and for supplying them with provisions, bedding and other necessaries, until Ilis Majesty shall take the place into his own hands, or till further orders from this government.
Whereas, the securing the important acquisition of the for- tress of Louisbourg, and island of Cape Breton, with its depen- dencies, from falling again into the possession of the French, is of the last consequence to His Majesty, as well as to all the northern colonies in America ; and it being uncertain whether His Majesty can take the place into his own hands, and settle a garrison therein, before the next spring, and lest it should be lost for want of a sufficient force in the mean time, to de- fend it against the attacks of the enemy ;-
Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof, that the said three companies of soldiers, now at the island of Cape Breton, in the pay of this colony, with their officers, shall remain at said place, until His Majesty shall take it into his own hands; or, until they shall receive further orders from this government.
And that Capt. Joshua Champlin, Lieut. Richard Smith and Ensign Joseph Weeden, three of the officers belonging to said companies, be, and they hereby are appointed enlisting officers to enlist a number of able bodied volunteers, not exceeding the
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number of twenty-eight, as recruits, to fill up the said compa- nies, which are diminished by sickness and death ; and that the said recruits be enlisted in the same manner, and entitled to the same bounty and the same pay, and all other advan- tages that were allowed by the law of this colony, to those who were originally enlisted in the said companies ; which recruits shall be enlisted and ready to embark for the said place by the 20th day of October next, at furthest.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the commissary of this colony do forthwith procure a quantity of provisions of all sorts, sufficient for the said three companies, for eight months, according to the allowance stated by the law of this colony ; saving that instead of the full allowance of rum, stated by law, the said commissary shall provide one half thereof in rum, and the other half in molasses ; which provi- sions shall be upon their arrival at Louisbourg, delivered to the captains or commanding officers for the time being, in each of the said companies, to be by them distributed or given out to their respective companies.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the commissary provide two bolts of Osnaburg, in order to be used together with the tents already at said place, in making beds for the said companies of soldiers ; and also, one blanket for each soldier ; which beds and blankets, shall be returned and remain to the use of the colony when the said soldiers are discharged from the service and pay of this government.
And for a further encouragement to render the said sol. diers and officers casy in their duty, the commissary shall also provide for their use, one cask of rice, one barrel of sugar, a suitable quantity of hooks and lines for catching of fish, and one hundred pounds weight of shot for fowling.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the sum of £3,000 be remitted by the commissary to the captains or commanding officers of the said companies for the time being, that is to say £1,000 to each company ; which remittance shall be made, the one-fourth part thereof, in bills of public credit, and the other three-fourth parts in coarse
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clothing, stockings, shoes, &c., which shall be purchased at the cheapest wholesale price, and shall, together with the bills of public credit, be consigned to the respective captains or commanding officers, as aforesaid, and shall by them be paid and delivered out to their respective soldiers, towards the pay- ment of their wages ; and no soldier shall pay any greater or higher price for any clothing, which he shall receive towards his wages, as aforesaid, than the prime cost of the said goods, without any advance or charge for transportation.
And the said captains or commanding officers, shall be ac- countable to the government for the said sums of money, and quantities of goods, which they shall respectively receive for the payment of their companies, as aforesaid ; and in case any of the said goods shall remain upon their hands unsold, at their return or discharge from the service of the colony, that then the commissary shall receive them back at the same rates they were delivered, and discount so much out of the sums charged to the said officers.
And be it further enacted, that Messrs. George Wanton and Jonathan Nichols, be a committee to hire a suitable vessel for the transporting of the men, provisions and all other stores and goods mentioned in this act, to the said island of Cape Breton, at the charge of this government, or make use of the colony sloop for that purpose, if they think proper, in case she return timely.
Provided, nevertheless, and it is further enacted by the au- thority aforesaid, that in case advice should come, that His Maj- esty has taken said fortress of Louisbourg, into his own hands, before the recruits, provisions and other necessaries mentioned in this act, are sent from this colony, so that they will thereby be rendered unnecessary, that then in such case, His Honor, the Governor, with the advice of the council, is hereby author- ized to stop the same, and discharge the said recruits ; and His Honor, the Governor, is hereby further directed to give in- structions to the master of the vessel, who shall transport the said men, provisions and other necessaries, to Cape Breton, VOL. V. 17
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that if, at his arrival at said place, it shall be taken into Ilis Majesty's hands, as aforesaid, that then he return back with his said transport vessel, men, provisions, &c., to this colony, with- out delivering any of them for the uses, aforesaid.
An Act for supplying the general treasury with money for de- fraying the charge of supplying the colony sloop, and the three companies of soldiers in the pay of this colony, at Cape Breton.
Whereas, the colony sloop and the soldiers sent to the island of Cape Breton, in the pay of this colony, are obliged to remain at said place much longer than was expected, when they were sent, whereby the money appropriated for that service, falls greatly short of defraying the charge and expense of said ex- pedition, so that a further supply of the general treasury is become absolutely necessary for the making up of the deficiency ;--
Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, that the sum of £5,000, in bills of public credit, of the new tenor, be immediately struck off upon the large plate, that was made for the last bank, and that the same be signed by the grand committee, and delivered to the general treasurer, for the uses abovesaid ; and that the same be called in and sunk by a tax upon the inhabitants of this colony ; one-half thereof, in the year 1747; one-fourth part, in the year 1748; and the remaining fourth part, in the year 1749; which taxes shall be assessed upon the inhabitants of this colony, according to the polls and value of ratable estates in each town.
Whereas, the General Assembly of this colony, did take into consideration several letters received from the Ilon. Jonathan Law, Esq., Governor of the colony of Connecticut, respecting some counterfeit plates for impressing bills in imitation of the bills of public credit of this colony, and the persons concerned therein, requesting a reward, who made a discovery thereof ; and as our bills of public credit pass in the other govern-
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ments, and they having penal laws for punishing persons counterfeiting the bills of this colony, in the same manner as for counterfeiting their own ;-
It is therefore the opinion of this General Assembly, that all charges arising on prosecuting and convicting persons guilty of the aforesaid crimes, should be paid by the govern- ment where such crimes are perpetrated.
And thereupon, it is voted and resolved, that ITis Honor, the Governor, write to the aforesaid Governor Law, informing him of this result ; and that this government has frequently been at the expense of prosecuting offenders that have been accused of making and uttering bills of the neighboring governments.
Voted and resolved, that His Honor, the Governor, be re- quested to send for Messrs. Jos. Harrison and Peter Harrison, who have presented this Assembly with a handsome draught of Fort George, and the harbor of Newport, very ingeniously drawn, and give them the thanks of this Assembly.
Whereas, Daniel Goddard, of Newport, in the county of Newport, did, by petition, set forth to this Assembly, that eight French prisoners of war, viz. : four men, two women and two children, had been boarded by him, and found in provi- sions, fire wood, candles and all other necessaries, for the space of twenty-six weeks, in all for one person ; that is to say, one man and his wife and two children, four weeks; one other man and his wife, two weeks; and the two other men, three weeks ; which amounts in the whole, to twenty-six weeks, and for which he humbly prayed to be allowed a just and reasona- ble satisfaction ;-
It is thereupon voted and resolved, that the said Daniel Goddard be allowed, and paid twenty-five shillings per week for boarding the aforesaid persons ; and that the whole being £32 10s., be paid to the said Daniel Goddard, out of the gen- eral treasury.
Voted and resolved, that the account of John Pearse, amounting to £30 13s. 4d., as deputy sheriff of the county of Providence, for the horse hire, expenses and time of himself and aid in impressing men for the expedition against Cape
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Breton, carrying them to Providence, and from thence bringing them to Newport, be allowed, and paid to the said John Pearse, out of the general treasury.
Voted and resolved, that the committee appointed to build a bridge over Weybosset river, in Providence, in the county of Providence, go on and build said bridge as soon as conveniently may be, and as good an one as they can with the money ap- propriated to that use.
Voted and resolved, that the committee that was appointed to procure a plan of Fort George and the harbor of Newport, procure another draught or plan of said fort and harbor exactly as the same now are, without any alterations, and present the same to the next session of this Assembly.
God save the King.
Order of the Duke of Newcastle, to the respective Governors of the colonies in North America.
Whitehall, January 3d, 1744-5.
Sir :- His Majesty having thought it necessary for the security of the colonies in North America, and particularly of the Province of Nova Scotia, (which has been already invaded by the French, and upon which there is great reason to apprehend that they will early in the spring, renew their attempts 'by the attack of Annapolis Royal,) to employ such a strength of ships of war, in those seas, under the command of Commodore Warren, as may be sufficient to protect the said province, and the other neighboring colonies in North America, and the trade and fishery of Ilis Majesty's subjects in those parts ; and may also, as occasion shall offer, attack and distress the enemy in their settlements, and annoy their fishery and commerce.
I have His Majesty's commands to signify to you his pleasure, that if Mr. Warren shall apply to you for assistance, either of men, provisions, or shipping, to enable him to proceed either to the relief and succor of Annapolis Royal, or of any other of His Majesty's forts or settlements, or for making any attempts on the enemy, you should, in all such cases, to be aiding and assisting to him in the most effectual man_ ner : and according, as upon consultation together, shall be judged proper for car- rying on Ilis Majesty's service ; and you will be ready to concert and advise with Mr. Warren upon all occasions that may arise, which shall have relation to the ser- vices on which he is employed ; and particularly you will procure and communicate to him the best intelligence you shall be able to obtain of the state and condition of the enemy's settlements, and of the ships in their harbors, that he may be enabled to judge whether it may be practicable and advisable to make an attempt upon any of their ports. HIOLLES NEWCASTLE.
'To the Governor of the colony of Rhode Island.
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['The following letters chiefly relate to the expedition against Louisburg and Cape Breton, and other events growing out of the war with France.]
Governor Shirley of Massachusetts to Governor Greene.
Boston, 28th March, 1745.
Sir :- I am informed that your government have agreed to raise one hundred and fifty men for the expedition against Cape Breton, and to send your colony sloop in the same service ; and as the government of Connecticut will have their forees ready early in the next month, and are solicitous for their getting safe to Cape Breton, I cannot but think it will be for the convenience of both governments, if you could join your forees, and proceed together upon this voyage ; and in ease any thing should hinder your raising the forees proposed, yet I hope you will think it necessary for His Majesty's service, to send your colony sloop for the safeguard of the troops from Connecticut. I am, sir, Your Honor's most humble and obedient servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
P. S. Sir :- I hope, if you can't otherwise man your sloop, you will not scruple, upon this extraordinary occasion, to impress seamen, as this government has done ; and if it should happen that the one hundred and fifty land forees are not raised, pursuant to the vote of your Assembly, Your Honor will at least make up the com- plement of your colony sloop, one hundred and thirty men, as at first voted.
Hon'ble William Greene, Esq., or in his absence,
the Hon'ble Joseph Whipple, Esq.
Governor Clinton, of New York, to Governor Greene.
New York, 15th April, 1745.
Sir :- I have just received an authentie account from the West Indies, of the ar- rival of the Chevalier de Cailus, at Martinique, with seven sail of ships of war ; two of seventy-four guns, two of sixty-four, two of fifty-six, and a frigate of thirty- six guns, with upwards of twenty sail of transports, and thirty-six hundred troops, with an intent to make an attack on some of the British islands there ; and as I find the intelligence of the expedition now earrying on against Cape Breton, is generally spread in these parts, it is very probable that the French commander will not be long without the accourt, which I apprehend may divert the thoughts of his original intentions to come to the defence of that place ; and in ease the English forces should be defeated, it highly behoves all the governments upon this continent to consider well what may be the consequences of such an event.
I have therefore thought it necessary to give you this information, that you may be upon your guard, and in readiness not only to defend yourselves, but to assist your neighbors with your utmost force, both by sea and land, in ease of need.
I am, sir, your very humble servant,
GEO. CLINTON.
The Hon. William Greene, Esq.
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Governor Shirley to Governor Greene.
Boston, May 3, 1745.
Sir :- The occasion of this letter is something that has lately happened in the county of Bristol, which tends much to the obstruction of His Majesty's service in this Province.
I gave orders to Col. Bowen and Col. Willis, to impress a number of men out of their respective regiments, for the defence of the frontiers of this Province ; and the said orders were executed accordingly ; but the greatest number of [the] men that were impressed, absconded after their impressment, which is contrary to the laws of this Province; and many of them are supposed to be retired into your government.
I need not take much pains to show Your Honor of what pernicious consequence it must be, if these men should meet with the least encouragement within your gov- ernment ; a few days delay may cost the lives of many innocent people on the fron- tiers, that now want the protection of this government ; I have enclosed a list of those mens' names belonging to Col. Bowen's regiment, who are supposed to be gotten into your colony ; and I desire that Your Honor would give effectual orders to your officers, forthwith to search for the said persons, and if any of them may be found, to secure them, and convey them safe into this Province, and there deliver them to Col. Thomas Bowen, that so they may be put into His Majesty's service abovementioned, or suffer the penalty of the law, in that case provided.
I am the more earnest in this affair, because if such disobedience to the authority of His Majesty's government, be not discouraged, but the offenders finally escape from justice, these examples will soon be multiplied ; and what detriment will arise to His Majesty's service, thereupon, Your Honor will easily judge.
I am, sir, Your Honor's most obedient humble servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To the Governor of Rhode Island.
Governor Shirley to Governor Wanton.
Boston, May 18, 1745.
Sir :- I am obliged once more to make application to you, for the assistance of your government in the immediate raising of some troops for supporting the expe- dition against Cape Breton ; which the general of our land forces, and the commo- dore of the fleet have represented to me very necessary for the reduction of the place.
Ilow far Providence has hitherto favored us in this attempt, and what encourage ment we have to proceed in it, you will find by the enclosed copy of a letter I have just now received, from the general of our forces ; and as I am informed it is pretended, to color the back wardness in some of the colonies and provinces, to join with us in this enterprise, that the undertaking of it without His Majesty's express order, would be so far from recommending us to his favor, that it would tend to incur his displeasure, I am now able to remove that objection, and to acquaint Your Honor, that upon my letter to His Grace, the Duke of Newcastle, informing him of our
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resolution to undertake this affair, and how far we had proceeded therein, (which letters were laid before His Majesty,) His Majesty and his ministers were pleased so far to manifest their approbation of our undertaking, that, without the least loss of time, two ships of war were ordered to proceed directly to Louisbourg, to sup- port us herein ; and as they had before, upon my more general intimation of a de- sign of this nature, ordered commodore Warren to come from the West Indies, and attend this service, who is now before Louisbourg, with five of His Majesty's ships of war; and will, in a few days, be joined with two other of His Majesty's ships ; one of sixty, and the other of forty guns, which are already sailed from hence, upon that service ; and I am fully assured that His Majesty has the success of this expedi- tion much at heart.
And now, sir, as this Province has (in conjunction with the Province of New Hampshire, and the colony of Connecticut,) at an immense charge, undertaken this important expedition, and so far proceeded therein, under the favorable aspects of Divine Providence, and the gracious approbation and assistance of His Majesty, I must desire that your government would maturely consider how great a benefit the acquisition of this place will be to the future safety and tranquillity of all these northern colonies ; and how justly His Majesty may resent a refusal of any of 'cm to join in the common cause, and how much such government may hereafter regret their unseasonable frugality, if by denying at this crisis to contribute their just quota for the carrying on and support of this expedition, which is now brought so near to an happy event, they should prove the means of its fatal miscarriage.
This representation of the state of our case, my duty to His Majesty obliges me to make ; and I must earnestly press your government to give it a full considera- tion, and send me a speedy answer, as to their resolutions thereupon.
I am, sir, Your Honor's humble obedient servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
The Hon'ble Gideon Wanton.
Governor Shirley to Governor Wanton.
Boston, June 5, 1745.
Sir :- I have herewith enclosed two proclamations, which I have just now issued on occasion of the expedition against Cape Breton, with an extract of my letter from Commodore Warren, and a vote of the General Conrt here, for encouraging the enlistment of seamen for manning the ship Vigilant, prize, by which you will know what want there is, both of soldiers and seamen, for this service.
As to the first, I have already written fully to Your Honor thereon ; and you will likewise know what encouragement this government has offered for both. I am persuaded your colony can furnish a good number of seamen, and must therefore desire that you would use your best endeavors for providing as many as can be had in your colony, and that as soon as may be.
I am, sir, Your Honor's obedient humble servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To the Hon'ble Governor Wanton.
In the House of Representatives, June 1, 1745. Voted, that His Excellency, the Captain General, be desired, as soon as may be, to cause to be impressed such seamen as are foreigners, belonging to all inward
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bound vessels, (coasting and provision vessels coming from the northward of South Carolina, on the continent, excepted,) in order for manning the Vigilant, a ship of war, lately taken by the Hon'ble Commodore Warren, from the French; and that there be allowed and paid out of the publie treasury, the sum of £3, to every other able bodied man that shall voluntarily enlist himself in His Majesty's service, for the manning the said ship, the Vigilant, to make up in the whole, with those im- pressed, the number of three hundred men.
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