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 16
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And that the captain or commanding officer of each respec- tive company or trained band, within this colony, be, and they are hereby empowered and required to enlist as many men as they can, and have them at Newport, by the 13th day of June instant, in order to receive their bounty.
And that His Honor. the Governor, forthwith give orders to
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the several colonels in this colony, to direct the several and re- spective captains or commanding officers of each company, within their regiments, to be as expeditious as possible in their enlisting men in the aforesaid service.
And that the commissary of said colony, forthwith procure said arms, cartouch boxes and clothes, at the expense of the colony ; and provide six months' provisions proper for the sup- port of said soldiers, according to the stated allowance of the colony ; and that said soldiers be immediately after their en- listment, sent to Louisbourg.
And John Cranston and Abraham Redwood, Esqs., Messrs. Jonathan Nichols and George Wanton, are hereby appointed a committee for the procuring proper transports, furnished with mariners and necessaries, upon monthly hire, as they shall agree, for the carrying said forces to Louisbourg, and from thence, up the river of St. Lawrence, to Quebec, or any other place of landing His Majesty's forces ; and they are hereby empowered to draw on the general treasurer for the necessary expense thereof, giving security to the owners of such trans- ports, for the payment of the value of such vessels, if lost; and to be repaid the same, in case by any accident, they are obliged to pay damages.
And till such time as said soldiers as sent off from Louis- bourg, they shall be billeted out at Newport, by the field offi- cers of the said county of Newport, at thirty shillings per week, for which they shall draw money out of the general treasury ; and the necessary charges of enlistment, and bring- ing the said soldiers to Newport, shall be paid to the officers enlisting such men, by the government.
[The remainder of this act, (which is quite long,) contains the oath to be taken by the officers and soldiers ; it also relates to the fitting of the sloop Tartar, which was to accompany the expedition, the expenses of enlisting the soldiers and sailors, their pay, the emission of €11.250, in bills of credit. and the levying of a tax on the polls and ratable estates of the inhabit- ants for the purpose.]
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1746.
Voted and resolved, that any persons, inhabitants of this colony, who are skillful pilots in the navigation in the bay and river of St. Lawrence, and will undertake to serve as pilots in Ilis Majesty's fleet, now going to Canada ; upon applying themselves to the Governor of this colony, and proving them- selves to be such, and that they will go into His Majesty's fleet as pilots, shall receive from the general treasurer of this county, a bounty of £200, old tenor, each, and such wages as shall be allowed by His Majesty.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Istund and Providence Plantations, ut Newport, the 12th day of June, 1746.
The Ion. William Greene, Governor. The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
An Act to prevent soldiers from being rescued or detained, after enlistment, to go in the expedition against Canada.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of this colony, and by the authority thereof, that if any soldier that hath enlisted, or that shall enlist himself to go in the expedition against Can- ada, shall be rescued or detained from His Majesty's said ser- vice, upon information thereof, made to any assistant or justice of the peace, in the county where such offence is, or shall be committed, such assistant or justice of the peace is hereby em- powered and required to grant forth his warrant for apprehend- ing such soldier, and deliver him to the officer who enlisted him ; and for want of such soldier, to apprehend the person or persons that shall rescue or detain such soldier, and commit him or them to His Majesty's jail in the county where such of- fenee shall be committed, there to remain till the next court of
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general sessions of the peace ; who are to take cognizance of said offence, and to fine each offender that shall be committed, the sum of £200, to and for the use of the colony.
Voted and resolved, that the sum of £20, which was allowed to purchase a suit of clothes, for each of the soldiers, be aug- mented to £26; and that every soldier, which has a suit of clothes sufficient for the expedition at the time of his enlist- ment, shall have the liberty of receiving the sum of £26 in lieu of a suit of clothes ; and also, that every soldier, who was part- ly supplied with a sufficiency of clothing for the expedition at his enlisting, shall be supplied by the commissary with what shall be wanting ; and such soldiers shall have the liberty of drawing the surplusage of the &£26, in money ; and that the said commissary, in delivering to said soldiers clothes and money, be governed according to a certificate that shall be given by the captain of such company to which the said soldier or soldiers shall belong; who is hereby appointed to examine and view such soldiers, and their clothing, and to determine what shall be wanting to each soldier ; and that the officers that were appointed to enlist soldiers, be still continued in that service, till Tuesday, the 25th day of June instant, if a suffi- cient number be not enlisted before, and then to make report to the General Assembly.
Voted and resolved, that the sheriff of the county of New- port, upon application to him made by the committee appointed to hire suitable vessels for transporting the soldiers raised, and to be raised for the expedition against Canada, be, and he is hereby directed and fully empowered to impress suitable ves- sels for the purpose aforesaid ; and also, all such workmen as shall be necessary for repairing and fitting said vessels, with all expedition ; and that if said committee and the owners of such vessels as shall be impressed, as aforesaid, cannot agree upon the value thereof, indifferent persons shall be chosen by both parties, to appraise and value the same ; and the said committee shall give security accordingly ; and if they cannot agree for the hire thercof, the same shall be settled by the General Assembly.
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Whereas, instructions have been sent by His Majesty to this government, for raising a number of land forces, and armed vessels to join in the expedition against Canada, and the Gen- eral Assembly have thought fit to send the colony sloop Tartar in said expedition, and passed an act for that purpose ;-
It is thereupon voted and resolved, that the act passed, di- recting said sloop to cruise with the Connecticut colony sloop the ensuing summer season, be repealed ; and that His Honor, the Governor, inform His Honor, the Governor of Connecticut, of this resolution, and the reasons that produced it.
Voted and resolved, that the sheriff of the county of New- port, be, and he is hereby directed and fully empowered to take into custody, as prisoners of war, as many of those freemen subjects of the King of Spain, that were taken by Capt. John Dennis and Capt. Robert Morris, in company, and brought into this colony and sold for slaves, as can be found within the same, to be sent home in a flag of truce, to be commissioned by His Honor, the Governor, as soon as conveniently may be, for the releasement of those of His Majesty's subjects that are prisoners at the IIavana, and were taken from Capt. Dennis ; and that Daniel Denton, (who was one of said prisoners, and was suffered to come away, in order to procure the freemen brought into and sold in this government, as aforesaid, to be sent back for the releasement of the said prisoners in the Ha- vana,) be sent to the Havana, in said flag of truce.
And that the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., Messrs. John Cal- lender, Daniel Updike and Edward Scott, be a committee, to draft a letter for His Honor, the Governor, to sign, and send to the Governor of the Havana, informing him of what this gov- ernment has done, and the reasons why it was not done before ; and also, another letter to be sent to the Governor of New York, requesting him to release so many of the freemen sub- jects of the King of Spain, who were taken with the aforemen. tioned, as can be found within that government.
And that the owners and agents of the brigantine Defiance, and snow, Duke of Marlborough, privateers, reimburse to those persons who bought the said freemen, who shall be released, of
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those brought into this government, as aforesaid, the money which they paid for them; and that the same committee draft another letter, to be signed by His Honor, the Governor, in an- swer to the letter of His Honor, the Governor of Pennsyl- vania.
And that the act passed at the last session of this Assembly, prohibiting said John Dennis having a commission, be, and it is hereby repealed.
And that the speaker of the house of deputies, be empow- ered and requested to treat with any persons within the Prov- ince of the Massachusetts Bay, who are owners of any of the said freemen sold for slaves, as aforesaid, about their releasement ; and that if any of said freemen, who were sold for slaves in this colony, as aforesaid, are dead, that evidences thereof be taken by the aforesaid sheriff, and transmitted to the Havana, with the letter.
Voted and resolved, that the committee appointed to hire transports, procure a doctor for the land forces, to go against Canada, upon the best terms they can ; and that the commis- sary procure a doctor, for the colony sloop Tartar, upon the best terms he can; and that the commissary provide medicines for both said doctors ; and also tents for the land forces, and a suitable bed and blanket for every two men.
Voted and resolved, that the general treasurer be, and he is hereby directed and fully empowered, to borrow as much money as the government has an immediate necessity for ; and in behalf of the colony to give his note, to pay the same upon demand.
Voted and resolved, that Capt. Joseph Pendleton be, and he is hereby fully empowered to enlist soldiers to go in the expedition against Canada ; and that he have a reasonable al- lowance for the same.
Voted and resolved, that the secretary send an order to each of the ferrymen, who transport persons from Rhode Island, forbid- ding them to carry any of the soldiers, enlisted in the expedi- VOL. V. 23
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tion against Canada, off from said island, without a certificate from their captain, or commanding officer.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the 24th day of June, 1746.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor.
The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor,
With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
Voted and resolved, that the Hon. Jos. Whipple, Esq., Deputy Governor, John Cranston, Esq., Messrs. George Wanton and James Sheffield, be, and they are hereby appointed a commit- tee, to take up a proper vessel for a flag of truce, for transport- ing the Spanish prisoners (brought into this colony by Capt. Morris,) to the Havana; or in case any merchant shall think proper to offer a vessel for that service, they apply to said committee, who are directed to accept the same, if they think proper.
Voted and resolved, that His Honor, the Governor, write to His Excellency, the Governor of the Province of the Massachu- setts Bay, or in his absence, to the Lieutenant Governor of said Province ; and also to His Honor, the Governor of the colony of Connecticut, to know of them when they expect their forces [now] raising, to go in the expedition against Canada, will em- bark ; and whether any convoy will be provided for them.
Voted and resolved, that the sheriff of the county of New- port be, and he is hereby directed and empowered, upon re- quest of the committee appointed to procure vessels to trans- port the soldiers raised and to be raised, to go in the expedi.
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tion against Canada, to impress as many men as the said committee shall think proper, for manning said vessels.
Voted and resolved, that the captains of all the companies in this colony continue enlisting soldiers till the 8th day of July next; and that all the soldiers that shall be enlisted, be brought to Newport, by that day; and that the sum of £1,000, old tenor, be lodged in the hands of each of the colonels of the regiments, in this colony, to be distributed amongst such of their captains as they shall think proper, for paying the boun- ties to such soldiers as shall be enlisted ; and said captains to be accountable to the colonels, and the colonels to be accounta- ble to the General Assembly, for what money they shall receive for the purpose, aforesaid ; and that said captains return what soldiers they shall enlist, to the respective colonels, with their names ; and that the colonels take care of them, and see that they are all at Newport, by the said 8th day of July next.
An Act for stating the ferriage over Weybosset river, in the · town of Providence.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the colony, afore- said, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that Amaziah Waterman, of said Providence, keep a ferry on the east side, and Henry Sweeting, of said Providence, keep a ferry on the west side of said Weybosset river, for transporting persons, horses, chaises, chairs, and other things over said river ; and that they take for ferriage, two pence, for a single person, four pence for a person and horse ; one shilling and sixpence, for a chaise or chair, with a horse, and the persons riding therein ; and so to continue until a bridge be built over said river ; and that no other person presume to ferry over said river for hire.
God save the King.
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1746.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhods Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the Sth day of July, 1746.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor.
The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor.
With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
Voted and resolved, that a lieutenant colonel be appointed to command the land forces, raising in this colony, for the expedi- tion against Canada.
Voted and resolved, that Robert Gibbs, Esq., Messrs. Stephen Hopkins and Daniel Updike, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to draw a letter in answer to the letter from Ad- miral Warren, to His Honor, the Governor, and present the same to this Assembly.
Voted and resolved, that the captains of the three companies which are going in the expedition against Canada, or any two of them, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to view and examine the arms purchased for said companies; and that those which will do for said expedition, be immediately put in good order, and those which are not good, be returned to the persons of whom they were purchased, and others that are good, be procured by the commissary in their room ; and that those arms which were purchased as good arms, and in good order, and are not so, be repaired at the charge of those persons who sold them; and that the committee employ as many gunsmiths to fit said arms as shall be necessary to do the same, with the greatest expedition.
Upon the petition of John Beard, Randall Eldred and Rob- ert Durfey, masters of the three vessels hired by this colony for transporting the soldiers raised for the expedition against Canada, craving an allowance for the necessaries of their cabin, during their continuance in the service ;-
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It is thereupon voted and resolved, that the sum of £20, bc allowed, and paid out of the general treasury, for the cabin expenses of each of the transports which are to carry the sol- diers to Canada, and that the same be paid to each of the cap- tains of said transports.
Voted and resolved, that in case the other governments send their soldiers to Louisbourg, without His Majesty's commissions to their officers, that our officers and soldiers be also sent to Louisbourg ; and that His Honor, the Governor, give commis- sions to our officers to continue till they receive His Majesty's commissions ; and that His Honor, the Governor, write to Gen. St. Clair, or any other person, to whom His Majesty's commis- sions shall be sent, requesting him to deliver commissions to all our officers, agreeably to their respective nominations here.
Voted and resolved, that the commissary procure proper arms for the commissioned officers of the companies raising in this colony, for the expedition against Canada.
Voted and resolved, that the time for enlisting soldiers for the expedition against Canada, be continued till further orders, or advice shall come to this colony for embarking the soldiers, unless the companies be filled up before that time ; and if said companies be not then full, that His Honor, the Governor, forthwith give out a warrant for impressing a sufficient number of soldiers to fill up said companies, in the counties of Newport and Providence, in the following manner, viz. :
Capt. Sayer's company to be filled up in the county of Newport.
Capt. Rice's company in the county of Providence.
Capt. Cole's company to be filled up equally in the counties of Newport and Providence.
And that none of the inhabitants of King's county, be in- pressed ; but that any other persons may be impressed that can be found in any part of the colony ; and that all the sol- diers be ordered to Goat Island, as soon as sufficient beds, blankets and tents are provided for them ; and that from this time, the lieutenant colonel and other officers of the several
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companies, going in the expedition against Canada, be the en- listing officers, and no other.
I, the subscriber, dissent from that part of the vote above, re- specting the impress. CALEB CARR.
Voted, that the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., Deputy Gov- ernor, Daniel Coggeshall, Esq., Messrs. John Spenser, Samuel Perry and David Anthony, be, and they are hereby chosen trustees for the care and management of the rents and profits of the estate submitted to this government by the late Nine- gret, sachem, deceased, in the year 1713, for the use of the proper heir.
Voted and resolved, that the King's attorney draw a proper instrument, to be signed by His Honor, the Governor, under the colony seal, empowering the agent, in behalf of the Gov- ernor and Company of this colony, to apply to His Majesty's ministers and Parliament, to receive the money for the expense of the expedition against Cape Breton, and to give discharge or discharges for the same, in behalf of the colony; and that the same be transmitted to the agent, with a copy of the Duke of Newcastle's letter, to this government the last year, to assist Commodore Warren.
Voted and resolved, that John Cranston and Abraham Red- wood, Esqs., Messrs. Peter Bours, Geo. Wanton and Jonathan Nichols, or the major part of them, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed a committee to act, transact and direct every thing which shall be needful and necessary respecting the expedition against Canada, which shall be left undone by this Assembly at their rising ; and that said committee, or the major part of them, examine the accounts of the officers going in said expe- dition, and order the general treasurer to pay what they think reasonable and just ; and that the commissary provide one more blanket for every two soldiers going in said expedition ; and that if any person who shall be impressed for said expedi- tion, shall afterward enlist and swear as the law directs, he shall
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be entitled to the bounty and all other advantages which the other enlisted soldiers were entitled to.
God save the King.
Admiral Warren to Governor Greene.
Boston. 29th June, 1746.
Sir :- I came hither from Louisbourg, to concert measures with Gov. Shirley, for carrying on the intended operations against Canada with all possible despatch, as directed by His Majesty's instructions.
Upon looking over the votes of the different colonies interested in the success of this important enterprise, I find the number of men proposed by your government, as their quota, to be much fewer than we hoped from thence, upon this glorious occa- sion given the colonies to extirpate so dangerous an enemy as the French have al- ways been, and will ever prove to them ; by which means, a lasting foundation to latest generations will be laid for the peace and prosperity of all His Majesty's American dominions, in competition with which no expense can be adequate, nor should be once thought of by the colonies or our mother country, as a successful attempt must make them ample amend for the greatest debts that can be the consequence of this great undertaking.
I am of opinion, that all the seamen should be engaged, that you can possibly meet with, to go in the armed vessels from each colony ; and that no time be lost, as the season will very soon render it impracticable to make the attempt this year ; in which case, however, I hope Crown Point, from whence all our frontiers are, and have been annoyed, may be reduced as a proper place of rendezvous, and stores for the army destined to go to Montreal.
Though my health is very much impaired, nothing shall be wanting in me to act the part allotted me in this expedition. The ministry appointing me so sud- denly after I had, with the most earnest application, procured His Majesty's leave to resign the government of Louisbourg, for the recovery of my health, is owing to their opinion of my great regard and attachment to the colonies, in which they do me but common justice ; for no man has their prosperity more at heart ; which shall be manifested by my actions as well as words, when occasion offers, which I hope will be very soon.
I shall be proud to receive your commands ; and any intelligence you can pro- cure about the situation of Canada, or if you have any pilots acquainted with the navigation thither. I am, with very great regard, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
P. WARREN.
To the Hon. William Greene, Esq., Governor of Rhode Island.
Governor Greene to Admiral Sir Peter Warren.
Providence, July -, 1746.
Sir :- I acknowledge the favor of yours, upon your arrival in Boston, and would beg leave to observe to you, that however small the quota of men proposed by
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Rhode Island may seem, when the votes of the several governments for raising men are compared, yet if the smallness of this government be considered, and its present circumstances, the quota of men voted, must be looked upon as many as in reason could be expected from this small colony.
Upon a fair and exact computation, the number of men in the colony of Rhode Island, proper for bearing arms, cannot be computed to be more than three thou- sand ; which number, must be greatly lessened within these few months past by the number of vessels fitted out and cruising against His Majesty's enemies.
There being out of this colony, and fitting out on that account, three ships, of about twenty guns each ; one snow, and four brigantines, of about sixteen guns each ; and four sloops, of about twelve guns each ; which are all manned from this place, and are actually out on their cruise, saving one brigantine and two sloops, now fitting out, and which in this small government, must necessarily greatly ex- haust the number of men fit for His Majesty's service on the present occasion.
However, this government considered the expedition intended for the reduction of Canada, as an undertaking of the utmost consequence to all His Majesty's colo- nies in America; and that they might be aiding and assisting as far as the strength and circumstances of this small government would admit, cheerfully ordered three hundred able bodied soldiers to be raised and sent to join His Majesty's land forces ; and one hundred seamen in the sloop Tartar, lately in His Majesty's ser- vice, at Louisbourg, to attend on the sea force.
And that the soldiers might enter the service with the greater cheerfulness, and resolution, the government ordered a large bounty, and have taken care that they should be well clothed ; by which means, notwithstanding the scarcity of men in the colony, the companies are nearly filled up, and are daily under discipline, and will be ready for embarkation immediately upon the officers' receiving their commission ; and therefore it may be proper that timely notice be given whether it be expected that these forces be sent directly to Louisbourg, or attend a convoy at the Massachusetts.
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