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 20
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I refer Your Honor to an extract from Col. Stoddard's letter to me, for a more particular account of this affair ; only I would observe, that Col. Johnson and Mr. Lydius, whose influence on the Indians has brought about this great event, are un-
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der such engagements, as they are not able to fulfill without proper supplies from these governments ; and if for want of that, the Indians should suffer any disap- pointment, it is more than probable that they will be disgusted at their being left in the lurch by us, and will fall entirely into the interests of the French, which will be more fatal to these colonies than any thing that has yet befallen us.
Now, as there is no General Court in being in this Province, we can do nothing, at present, for the furnishing these gentlemen ; though our General Court has en- trusted Mr. Lydius with this affair, and have undertaken to supply him with a con- siderable sum for this service, and he has made his drafts for the payment, which will be done ; but the parties of Indians come so fast upon him and Mr. Johnson, to be fitted out for this service, that what they will receive at present from this gov- ernment, will be a very inconsiderable part of what they are under engagements for; and the gentlemen seem to apprehend that there is great danger of their being ruined, and the common cause suffering the greatest damage that we can conceive of, unless they be relieved from these governments.
I doubt not, sir, but your General Court, will, in this critical conjuncture, readily make proper supplies for the encouragement of the Indians of the Six Nations, for prosecuting this war, and for keeping these gentlemen in heart till an agreement may be made between the governments to apportion the charge that has arisen or may arise in this important affair, among themselves; and I shall lay this matter before our General Court, at their first meeting, and am fully persuaded they will cheerfully fall into all the measures necessary for promoting this important interest.
You will please to lay these matters before your Assembly as soon as possible, and let me know their resolutions on this affair.
I am, with great regard, sir, Your most obedient humble servant,
The Hon. Gideon Wanton, Esq.
W. SHIRLEY.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the second Tues- day in June, 1747.
The Hon. Gideon Wanton, Governor. The Hon. William Robinson, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
It is voted and resolved, that Jeremiah Niles, Esq., Samuel Wickham, Esq., and Mr. John Channing, be, and they are here- by appointed a committee, to draw up the draft of an answer VOL. V. 28
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to the letters written by His Excellency, William Shirley, Esq., Governor of the Massachusetts, to this government, re- questing the colony to bear a part of the charge and expense of encouraging and fitting out the Six Nations of Indians, to prosecute the war against the French ; and therein to insert the reasons why this government declines entering into the same ; which letter, when by the said committee so drawn, His Honor, the Governor, is requested to sign, and expedite to Mr. Shirley.
His Honor, the Governor, is desired by this Assembly, to write and send to Sir William Pepperell, and endeavor to pro- cure of him a certificate of the number of soldiers which were received from this colony into the garrison of Louisbourg ; of the time of their arrival there, and discharge from thence ; and also, how long the colony's sloop Tartar was employed in the expedition against Cape Breton, and retained in the service, after its reduction.
Hlis Honor is also requested to procure all such other certifi- cates and vouchers as can be obtained in this colony, as may be necessary for rendering the accounts of charges the colony hath been at (respecting the aforesaid expedition,) clear and plain ; and when the said certificates, vouchers, &c., are pro- cured, His Honor is requested to transmit the same, duly authenticated, to Mr. Partridge, the colony's agent, in Great Britain, as soon as possible.
And Stephen Hopkins, Esq., is hereby appointed and desired to wait on Sir William Pepperell, with His Honor, the Gov- ernor's letter, and to exert himself to procure the aforemen- tioned certificates.
The commissioners appointed by the General Assembly of this colony, to run and mark out the bounds of the colony, east- ward, toward the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, having performed that service, and made report to the Assembly, of their doings thereon, at a former session, which was accepted, now presented an account of the expense they were at, in per- forming the service, and prayed that they and the persons by them employed therein, might have satisfaction made them, out
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of the general treasury; which account, amounting to £500 18s. 4d., being duly examined, is allowed by this Assembly.
And it is thereupon voted and resolved, that the said sum shall be paid out of the general treasury, to Mr. James Honey- man, Jr., to, and for the use of himself and the others con- cerned; each of whom, shall have out of the same, the sum set against his name.
God save the King.
Governor Shirley to Governor Wanton.
Boston, June 29th, 1747.
Sir :- This will inform Your Honor that this government, taking into considera- tion the great danger which all His Majesty's colonies in North America are in (as well as their own particular danger,) of being in time destroyed by the French, and Indians, under their influence, without a firm union, between themselves, for their mutual defence, and for weakening and destroying the power of the enemy ; and more especially for driving the French from the borders of the Province of New York ; and this Provinee has appointed commissioners to meet in a congress, to be held at New York, on the 2d day of September next, with such commissioners as may be appointed by all His Majesty's governments, from New Hampshire to Vir- ginia, inclusively ; then and there to treat and agree upon measures for encourag- ing the Indians of the Six Nations vigorously to prosecute their ineursions on the enemy ; as also to agree upon the method and proportion of raising men and money, for carrying on the war, both offensively and defensively ; and to project and settle such enterprises and plans of operation as the common interest shall re- quire.
Your Honor will, I doubt not, duly consider the great importance of this matter, and represent it in the strongest light to your Assembly, that they may see not only how deeply His Majesty's interest in general is concerned, but that their own par- ticular safety will be soon much affected by the growing power of the French ; and more especially the hazard there is, that they will bring the Six Nations into their interest, in case they are not forthwith most vigorously supported by the English, without which, it will be a very little while before the Southern as well as the Northern colonies will be exposed to their fury. And therefore I would earnestly recommend it to the several governments separately to make provision without de- lay, for the encouragement of the Six Nations, till the congress can be held ; this government having already advanced many large sums of money, and still continu- ing to do more for this service. Your Honor will be pleased to give me seasonable advice of the resolution of your government on this most important affair.
I am, sir, Your Honor's most obedient and most humble servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To the Hon. Gideon Wanton, Esq.
P. S. I am to acknowledge the receipt of the favor of your answer to my last letter.
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[1747
Gov. Wanton to Gov. Shirley.
Newport, July 3, 1747.
Sir :- I received your favor of 29th June, and now acquaint Your Excellency, that it is not in my power to do any thing otherwise than to represent the matters therein contained, in as strong terms as I can, to our General Assembly, which will meet by adjournment, the second Tuesday in August ; and then I shall be ca- pable of acquainting Your Excellency of their resolutions thereupon.
I am, sir, your humble servant, GIDEON WANTON.
To Governor Shirley.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the third Tues- day of August, 1747.
The Hon. Gideon Wanton, Governor.
The Hon. William Robinson, Deputy Governor.
With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
An Act for incorporating the north part of the town of Charles- town, in King's county, into a township, the same to be dis- tinguished and known by the name of Richmond.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of this colony, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the town of Charles- town, in the county of Kings county, &c., be divided into two towns, by a river that runs across said town, known by the name of Pawcatuck River; all the lands to the southward of said river, shall retain the name of Charlestown; and that all the lands to the northward of said river, be, and hereby is in- corporated into a township, by the name of Richmond ; and to have and enjoy the like privileges, as other towns in this colony.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that each of said towns shall have, and receive a proportion of the money in, and belonging to the treasury of said Charlestown.
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according to the money for which the lands in each town is mortgaged to the colony ; and that all justices of the peace and military officers, living within the bounds of said new town, called Richmond, retain their authority, and act as such there- in, until the next general election ; and that the eldest justice of each of said towns is hereby empowered to grant forth their warrants to some proper officer, whom they shall appoint, to warn the inhabitants of said towns to assemble and meet to- gether in some proper place, in said town, on Friday, the 28th day of this instant August, in order to choose deputies, to rep- resent them at the October session of this Assembly ; and also, to choose town officers for said towns, agreeably to the laws of this colony ; and that each town shall send one grand juror, and one petit juror, to each of the inferior and superior courts, in Kings county.
It is voted, that the commissary be, and he is hereby ordered to draw up an account of all the charges and expenses the colony hath been at in raising three companies for the expedi- tion intended against Canada, (excepting the bounty of £50 to a man,) and present the same to Edward Scott, Samuel Wick- ham and Peter Bours, Esqs., who are hereby appointed a com- mittee to inspect and examine the same; and that the commis- sary give his affidavit or engagement to said account, and pro- cure all such vouchers and other papers and evidences as shall be necessary, to establish the credit thereof; and that when the business is perfected, the whole shall be sent to the colo- ny's agent in Great Britain.
It is voted and resolved, that His Honor, the Governor, be, and he is hereby empowered to draw bills of exchange, paya- ble to the agent, for the amount of said account, on the lords commissioners of the treasury, or others, on whom the pay. ment thereof shall be incumbent ; and that the money when received, shall remain in the agent's hands until the General Assembly shall order the disposal thereof.
And His Honor, the Governor, is also hereby empowered to draw bills on the agent for so much money as the colony hath advanced to the officers and soldiers of the said three compa-
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nies, towards their wages, and for the soldiers' clothing ; and that said bills be made payable to those merchants in the town of Newport, that lent the colony the said money.
Whereas, Sarah Ninegret, widow of George Ninegret, late sachem of the Narragansett tribe of Indians, deceased, and mother and natural guardian to Thomas Ninegret, an infant the present sachem of said tribe of Indians, with Tobey Co- heys, Samuel Niles, John Trask, William Sachem, Ephraim Coheys, Moses Hammond, James Niles and Harry Copper, who were appointed by the said tribe of Indians, councillors for the present sachem, Thomas Ninegret, in behalf of this sa- chem, themselves and people of said tribe of Indians, represent- ed to this Assembly, that they, at the last sitting of this Assembly, in May last, did prefer a petition to said Assembly, setting forth the deplorable condition they are brought to, by means of some gentlemen, namely : Joseph Whipple, Daniel Coggeshall, Samuel Perry, John Spencer and David Anthony, Esqs., who, as they are informed, were appointed by the Gen- eral Assembly, trustees, at its session, A. D. 1746, for the man- agement of the rents and profits of the estate, said by some to be submitted to this government by the late Ninegret, sachem, deceased, in the year 1713; but without the desire, consent, request or knowledge of the said Sarah, and the said council- lors or sachem, which was always usual, and such appointment was always at the request of the sachem and his council ; and having set forth in said petition, that the said trustees, without the knowledge and consent of the sachem or any of the coun- cillors, have leased out the land, which was always kept and reserved for the tribe of Indians, for planting of corn and rais- ing other necessaries for their support.
And the said Sarah and councillors further declared, that it is not only their fields and improvements that they have fenced, and have been at great labor and charge in making said fences that are rented out from them ; but also, as they are eredibly informed, the wood land, which was always kept and reserved for the tribe of Indians for fire wood ; and also the sachem's cedar swamp is rented out, which was always
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kept and reserved for the tribe of Indians, to cut stuff and sell the same ; and the said Sarah and councillors apprehend that when the General Assembly appointed the above named trus- tees, for the care and management of the rents and profits of the estate submitted to this government, in the year 1713, by the late Ninegret, sachem, deceased, that the General Assembly had no design nor intent to give the said trustees power to lease out the sachem's land without his knowledge and con- sent, and the knowledge and advice of his council ; and they likewise apprehended that the submission made by the sachem in the year 1713, (if any was made by him in that year,) doth not give the said trustees or any others, power to lease out the sachem's land without his knowledge and consent ; they also informed this Assembly that the gentlemen who were trustees to the late sachems, deceased, never leased out any of the said sachems' land without first having the leave and consent of the sachem and his council ; and as this Assembly have it in their power to relieve them in this, their distressed condition, for they know not, as the case is, where to go, nor how to sub- sist themselves, and must be unavoidably starved without relief ;-
Therefore, they humbly prayed that this Assembly would take their circumstances into consideration, and dismiss the above named trustees from their trusteeship, and make void all the leases given by said trustees of the sachem's land; and that the Assembly would allow and accept of their known and trusty friends, Col. Joseph Stanton, Capt. George Wanton and Capt. John Frye, to be trustees for the care and management of the sachem's estate, for the sachem's interest; the last named gentlemen having been trustees to the late sachem ; and the said Sarah and councillors were knowing to the pro- ceedings and management in that affair, and that their pro- ceedings gave good satisfaction to the sachem, and a general satisfaction to the tribe of Indians, &c.
Upon consideration whereof, it is voted and resolved, that the prayer of the said Sarah and councillors, be, and it is here- by granted ; and that the said Joseph Whipple, Daniel Cog-
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geshall, Samuel Perry, John Spencer and David Anthony, be, and they are hereby removed from their aforesaid office of trus- tees ; and that all the leases by them made, of the sachem's land, be, and they are hereby declared and made null and void ; and the aforesaid Col. Joseph Stanton, Capt. Geo. Wan- ton and Capt. John Frye, are appointed trustees, for the care and management of the sachem's estate, for his interest.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, on the last Monday in August, 1747.
The Hon. Gideon Wanton, Governor. The Hon. William Robinson, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
[There was no business of a public nature, transacted at this session of the Assembly.]
Governor Shirley to Governor Want on.
Boston August 20, 1747.
Sir :- I send now to inform Your Honor, that on the 16th inst. arrived here a flag of truce from Quebec, with one hundred and seventy-one English prisoners, belong- ing to this Province, and divers other of His Majesty's colonies in North America, &c., by which ship I received a letter* from the Marquis Beauharnois, Governor of
* The letter from the Marquis of Beauharnois, transmitted by Gov. Shirley, is very long, and relates to the exchange of prisoners. It is exceedingly courteous in its tone, and ae- knowledges the kind attentions paid to the French prisoners, in Boston, by the authori- ties there. It appears that one of them, Lieut. La Groix, had broken his parole. Speak- ing of him, Gen. Beauharnois says, this gentleman, " by his services and good qualities, had merited some distinction from me; but I cannot but disapprove his having broken his parole, as you assure me he had done. He can blame nobody but himself, that he was put under a more close confinement. I am nevertheless obliged to you for your goodness to him, on my account. This particular he has not failed to inform me of."
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Canada, a copy whereof, I now enclose ; by perusing of which, you will understand that I wrote to him a letter, dated the 18th of March last, therein proposing a gen- eral exchange of prisoners, without having a regard to the inequality of numbers on either side ; and that each Governor should bear the charge of the transportation of their own prisoners.
This I undertook (absolutely) only for myself, yet presuming it would be accept- able to all the rest of the English Governors; and in consequence of which, the said Governor of Canada has now released all the English prisoners with him, ex- cept a few that were not in such health as to allow them to be transported without danger ; and that the said Governor does fully agree to my proposal, expecting that the other Governors will also come into this agreement, desiring that I should let him know their resolutions by the return of this flag of truce, which is limited to the term of fifteen days for his stay here, which will expire the last of this month.
Therefore, I must entreat Your Honor to send me your answer upon these points by this express, that I may forward it to the Governor of Canada, agrecably to his desire expressed to me in his letter ; and as there are now, and may be hereafter, English prisoners belonging to Great Britain and other places, at a distance from these provinces, brought in by the flags of truee, it will be expected that your gov- ernment will bear their part of this charge, so that it may not be wholly thrown up- on this.
And I must further desire that you would appoint some agent here, who may from time to time answer for the charge of any English prisoners of your province, that may be released from captivity, in pursuance of this agreement, and brought in hither ; and as there are now brought in this flag of truce six prisoners,* that you would be pleased to take such measures, that in proportion to the number aforesaid, your province may bear their part of the charge of this flag of truce; you will also send me your answer respecting the Governor of Canada's proposal, as to the pur- chasing prisoners out of the Indians' hands.
I have likewise enclosed a copy of the agreement made for the hire of this flag of truce, which you will find to be 10,000 livres.
I am, sir, Your Honor's most obedient and most humble servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at South Kings- town, the last Wednesday in October, 1747.
The Hon. Gideon Wanton, Governor. The IIon. William Robinson, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
* These prisoners were John Pike, Edward Tew, John Years, Gregory Cousins, Jacob Judah, and Samuel Sayers.
VOL. V. 29
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1747.
His Honor, the Governor, is hereby requested to write to Richard Partridge, Esq., the colony's agent in Great Britain, and desire that gentleman to send him over all his accounts with the colony, and the particulars of them, during the time he has been in the colony's service.
This Assembly having taken into consideration the extracts of His Grace, the Duke of Newcastle's letter, to Governor Shir- ley, respecting the dismission of the troops, raised in America, for the expedition intended against Canada, together with the letter from Governor Shirley and Governor Knowles to our Governor, thereupon are of opinion as follows :
1st. Thatit will be proper, and His Honor, the Governor, is here- by requested to send, forthwith, unto their Excellencies, the en- listment and muster rolls of all the soldiers raised in this colo- ny, for the expedition ; and all other papers His Honor may think necessary ; and that the whole be duly authenticated.
2d. That these troops being raised in consequence of a proclamation issued by the Governor, with the advice of the Assembly, they ought to be discharged, according to the tenor of that proclamation, and the true intent and meaning thereof.
3d. That, as it appears by the several extracts from the Duke of Newcastle's letter, the disbanding the troops raised for the aforesaid service, is wholly vested in their Excellencies ; the way and manner of doing it, and paying off the officers and soldiers, must be their proper province ; and His Honor, the Governor, is desired to inform their Excellencies of the senti- ments of this Assembly.
God save the King.
[The following Public Laws, passed during the year 1747, are printed at length in the volume of public laws, published in that year, unless repealed previous to that time.]
An Aet for quieting possessions, and establishing titles of land within the towns of Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton, Warren and Cumberland. (January.)
An Aet for supplying the general treasury with the sum of £15,000, in bills of credit, of the new tenor. (February.)
An Act for the more regular establishing a superior court of judicature, court of assize and general jail delivery, throughout the colony. (February.)
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An Act for regulating appeals to His Majesty, in council, in Great Britain, and for repealing the former act made for that purpose. (February.)
An Act for settling the militia of the towns of Bristol, Tiverton, Little Compton, Warren and Cumberland. (February.)
An Act in emendation of part of an act, passed in 1744, entitled " An act ascertain- ing what estate is ratable, and for proportioning the same in value." (June.) An Act directing how the value of ratable estates in this colony, shall be known, and each town's proportion thereof. (June.)
An Act for the incorporation of Redwood Library, in Newport. (August.) An Act for appointing committees in each town in this colony, for the management
of the colony's money, let, or to be let, on loan, in the several towns. (August.) An Act for the ease of prisoners for debt. (August.)
An Act for increasing the fines and fees of petit jurors, and for punishing the towns which do not return their quota of jurors. (August.)
An additional Act to prevent the spreading of the small pox, and other contagious diseases. (August.)
An Act appointing coroners in each town in this colony. (August.)
An Act apportioning the number of jurors in each town. (August.)
An Act to empower the clerk of the superior courts to appoint a deputy. (August.)
An Act for the better regulating the several ferries in the colony. (August.)
An additional Act for the regulating and mending of highways. (October.)
An Act for printing all the public laws, and acts that shall hereafter be made and passed by the General Assembly. (October.)
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