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 21
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An Act directing all the public laws now in force, in the colony, to be put in print. (October.)
Governor Shirley and Admiral Knowles to Governor Wanton.
Boston, October 10th, 1747.
Sir :- The enclosed is an extract from a letter of the Duke of Newcastle, to Gov- ernor Shirley, signifying His Majesty's commands to us, upon the several matters contained in it.
In obedience to which, we must desire you will be pleased to transmit to us, by return of this express, or as soon after as you can, muster rolls, or lists of the several officers and soldiers raised within your government for His Majesty's service, in the late intended expedition against Canada, (which His Majesty has laid aside for the present. ) distinguishing the companies into which they were formed, with the re- spective times of every officer's engaging in His Majesty's service, and days on which the soldiers were enlisted into it, (which last may be best done by attested copies of the enlistments themselves ;) also an account of the deaths of such of the officers and men which have happened since they entered into the service, with the respective times when they happened ; as also of the dismissions and desertions of any of the soldiers, and times of their being discharged or deserting ; together with an account of the furloughs which have been granted from time to time to the soldiers, and for what time ; as also upon what command or duty, the officers and men have been respectively employed since the time of their entering into the ser- vice ; together with a muster roll or list of the officers and effective private soldiers
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now remaining in the service; all which rolls, lists and accounts, we desire may be duly certified by the proper officers, under their hands, upon oath, taken be- fore yourself, and attested by you ; also, that you would transmit to us an account of the charges of the elothing, arms and accoutrements of the soldiers, and of all other expenses which have been incurred ou account of the expedition, and are not to be defrayed by the colony under your government, from the time of their being levied, to the time of your attesting the said accounts ; together with the vouchers thereof, all duly certified, upon oath, by the proper parties before you ; and a copy of the proclamation, issued by you for the encouragement of troops to enlist into the aforesaid service, with copies of the votes of your Assembly, toueh- ing the bounty and subsistence or allowance of provisions granted by them for the troops.
And we must further desire that you would, in pursuance of His Majesty's or- ders, communicate to us, your sentiments and opinion as to the manner of dis- charging these officers and soldiers, and upon what foot it may be best done, hav- ing due regard to His Majesty's command to us, for doing it in the most frugal man- ner, and his expectation in this affair ; and this we desire you will forthwith do, as a great charge is running on, till the soldiers shall be dismissed by us from this serviee.
We must also desire you, in obedience to His Majesty's commands, to recommend it to your Assembly to furnish such sums of money or eredit as may be wanted, to pay off the soldiers ; which you will perceive, by the extraets of the Duke of New- castle's letter, is to be provided for by Parliament, as soon as the accounts of the whole charge incurred by raising the levies, shall be transmitted to His Grace, by us ; and forthwith let us know your opinion of the success of such an application ; as also to let us know whether you have advaneed any, and what sums of money to the officers and soldiers, or any of them, on account of their pay, and after what rate, and to what time they are paid in full.
And as you perceive, we are commanded by His Majesty to retain such a number of the American levies in his pay as we shall judge sufficient for the securing of Nova Scotia, against the enemy's attempts, until a reinforcement ean be sent thither from Great Britain ; the preservation of which colony, is of the greatest importance to the safety and welfare of all His Majesty's northern colonies ; and also, that Mr. Shirley is ordered by His Majesty to complete his own, as well as Sir William Pepperell's, as likewise Lieut. Gen. Phillips's regiment out of those troops, we hope you will assist the officers who should be sent to raise recruits for those purposes, into your government, with your influence and authority, and contribute every- thing in your power to their success, and the promoting of His Majesty's service.
We think it elcar, that the arms and aceoutrements of the soldiers are to be re- turned ; and where the men have lost them, their value must be stopped out of their pay, or rather the several captains are to be called upon for the arms of their respective companies, and are chargeable therewith, which you will be pleased to consider.
And we must desire you will forthwith let us know your opinion of what pay it will be reasonable to allow the officers, as well as men, for their service.
We are, sir, Your Honor's most obedient humble servants
To the Hon. Gideon Wanton.
W. SHIRLEY, CHARLES KNOWLES.
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Gov. Shirley and Admiral Knowles to Gov. Wanton.
Extracts of a letter from His Grace, the Duke of Newcastle, to Governor Shirley, dated Whitehall, May 30th, 1747.
" His Majesty has been pleased to direct me to signify to you his pleasure that you should immediately appoint a meeting with Commodore Knowles, at such place as shall be agreed upon, and consider with him the present state of Nova Scotia and Louisbourg, and take the proper measures for the defence of those places.
" It is His Majesty's pleasure you should endeavor to complete from out of the Americans, who are now raised for His Majesty's service, Sir William Pepperell's regiment and your own.
" Lieut. Gen. Phillips's regiment, is, I am afraid, very weak. I will, however, send His Majesty's orders to send what recruits can be got from heuce ; and you will also endeavor to have his regiment completed out of the Americans.
" As it is His Majesty's intention that the Americans should be immediately dis- charged, except only such few as are mentioned above, the manner of discharging them, the satisfaction of their time, &c., must be left to Commodore Knowles and yourself ; the King, however, is persuaded you will do it as cheap as possible.
" And as these American troops have done little or no service hitherto, it is to be hoped they will not expect to be paid in the manner they would have been, bad they actually been employed on service; and as it seems highly reasonable that such of these troops as have remained in the Provinces, where they were en- listed, should be contented with less pay than such of them as may have marched into other Provinces.
" When you and Mr. Knowles shall have met and fully considered the service to be undertaken, in the manner above directed, and shall have agreed what number of Americans it will be necessary to keep in pay for that purpose, it is His Majes- ty's pleasure that you should procure an account of the whole expense incurred on account of the American troops from the time of their being levied, to the time of their discharge ; and when the same shall be fully adjusted and liquidated, you will transmit it to me, with the proper vouchers, from the several Governors, that it may be laid before Parliament, to the end that provision may be made for the payment ; and in the mean time, in order to prevent any complaint amongst the men that have been enlisted, (as well those that shall be discharged, as those that shall continue in service,) for want of immediate pay, you will recommend it to the Governors of the provinces, where these levies have been made, to procure credit from their respective Assemblies for that purpose, which Ilis Majesty hopes may be done without difficulty.
" It is also His Majesty's pleasure, that Mr. Knowles and you should consider what number of Americans will be really wanted for the service above mentioned ; and the King would have you retain as many as may be absolutely necessary for that service, and no more ; and the King hopes that a small number of Americans, with His Majesty's forces, which you have, may be sufficient for that purpose, as the expense of these Americans is very great ; and as to the Americans in general, except only such as may be wanted for the service above mentioned, it is His Maj- esty's pleasure, that you, in conjunction with Commodore Knowles, should thank them in such manner as you think proper, and immediately discharge them upon
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the best and the cheapest foot yon can ; and in order thereto, you will consult with the respective governors, upon the manner of closing it ; and yon will transmit to His Majesty an immediate account of what you shall do therein."
N. B. This paragraph should have been inserted between the fourth and fifth paragraphs.
W. SIHIRLEY, CHARLES KNOWLES.
To the Hon. Gideon Wanton.
Governor Wanton to Governor Shirley and Admiral Knowles.
Newport, on Rhode Island, 23d October, 1747.
Gentlemen :- When I wrote you, the 14th current, I was in hopes that I should have transmitted to you this week, the papers, accounts, &e., relating to the expedi- tion against Canada, so far as this government hath been concerned therein, but liave been since informed, that they cannot be completed till some time the next week.
I will take dne care to communicate to the General Assembly of this colony, who are to sit on Wednesday next, at South Kingstown, your letter, together with the copy of the extracts that accompanied it; but having been confined at home for several weeks past, with the gout, I fear I shall not be able to meet them there.
At our last choice, in August past, several towns thought fit to change their depu- ties, so that the lower honse will consist of a majority of new members, with whose sentiments concerning the pay of the soldiers, being wholly unacquainted, I cannot possibly tell what they will resolve upon.
In October past, the committee of war took up about £11,000, in pursuance of an act of Assembly, authorizing them so to do, of some merehants of this town ; which sum being reduced into sterling money, at the rate of £ 750 this currency for £100 sterling, was paid to the officers and soldiers in part of their pay, and for their clothing, a few days before their embarkation for Annapolis.
The committee of war contracted with the said merchants to give them bills of exchange for sterling money, at the rate above mentioned, for the sum they ad- vanced. This, in expectation of directions from Great Britain, was for some time delayed, and hath not yet been complied with.
But in August past, the General Assembly resolved that the accounts of the charges expended by this colony in raising three companies for the expedition against Canada, should be drawn out by the commissary, and sent with proper vouchers, to our agent ; and that the Governor should draw bills for the amount of said accounts, on the lords commissioners of the treasury, or on whom the payment of such bills may concern, payable to our agent ; and likewise bills on the agent for such money as hath been paid to the officers and soldiers of said companies, to- wards their wages, and for clothing, payable to the merchants who advanced it.
This money being paid to the officers and soldiers to induce them willingly to go to succor and relieve Annapolis, whither this government was strongly urged to send them by His Excellency, Governor Shirley, and the Honorable Admiral Warren, and the merchants who advanced it, being highly dissatisfied and uneasy at so long a delay, I beg yon to recommend it in the strongest terms to His Grace, the Duke of Newcastle, that the bills now to be drawn in their favor, be punetually paid. There was another payment made to the officers and soldiers in September
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.
1747.]
past, by order of the General Assembly, for which, not knowing the sum, I must refer to the accounts.
The extreme hardships the officers and soldiers underwent in their voyage to- wards Annapolis, by the shipwreck of the transport vessels, the severity of the sea- son, and the sickness with which they were visited, of which many of them died, do in my opinion, entitle the survivors and the heirs of the deceased, to full pay ; and I hope Your Excellencies will concur with me herein, and likewise that you will do this colony, which hath remarkably distinguished itself by its readiness and zeal to serve His Majesty, in the intended expedition against Canada, in giving a higher bounty to soldiers than any other government did, all the good offices in your pow- er towards getting their charges reimbursed ; and I promise myself you will the more readily do this, as great part of the charge was incurred by that fatal expedi- tion intended for the relief of Annapolis, and undertaken at the instance of, and in deference to the directions of the gentlemen above mentioned.
I request the favor of you to let me know at what rate you fix the exchange be- tween sterling money and New England currency.
As soon as the accounts, &c., are finished, I intend to send them per Col. Kinni - cutt ; and in the mean time, am, gentlemen, &c., G. WANTON.
Wm. Shirley and Charles Knowles, Esqs.
Governor Shirley to Governor Wanton.
Boston October 26, 1747.
Sir :- We are favored with your letter by the last post, and are glad to find there is a probability of our receiving a full answer to every particular part of ours of the 10th instant, because the expense to the crown now running on, is large, and His Majesty's service in the West Indies requires Mr. Knowles's presence there as soon as possible, to take upon him the command of His Majesty's ships at Jamaica, &c.
We must desire you would be pleased, in your next, to inform us when the levies, raised within your government, embarked for Annapolis Royal, and when they returned to Newport ; and are, sir,
Your obedient, humble servants,
W. SHIRLEY. To Governor Wanton.
P. S. Mr. Knowles being gone to Nantasket before this was copied, I am obliged to sign this, in behalf of us both.
Governor Shirley to Governor Wanton.
Boston, October 29th, 1747.
Sir :- Mr. Knowles and I have received your letter, dated the 23d instant, and as very great expense to the crown is running on, whilst the accounts of the forces raised within your government for the expedition against Canada, are preparing and adjusting, we think it our indispensable duty to send you the enclosed dis- charge of them, which we desire you would have published among the levies in such manner as you shall think proper.
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You will perceive by the extract from the Duke of Newcastle's letter, which we enclosed in our last, that it is His Majesty's pleasure that the levies should be dis- charged in the most frugal manner ; so that it is doubtless his expectation that all such of them as have not marched out of the province or colony where they were raised, should be paid off at the rate of the ordinary establishment for all His Maj- esty's regiments of foot, viz. :
The private men, at the rate of 6d. sterling per day ; out of which, a stoppage must be made of 4d., for their provisions ; so that there will remain to be paid in money, to them, only 2d. per day. The corporals, after the rate of Sd. per day ; ont of which, a stoppage of 4d., for their provisions ; so that 4d. per day will remain to be paid in money, to them. The sergeants, after the rate of 1s. per day ; out of which, a stop- page must be made of 4d., for their provisions ; so that there will remain Sd. per day, to be paid to them ; and this is agreeably to the laws of their enlistment, in which no more is promised than the usual pay of His Majesty's troops, viz. :
Sixpence sterling per day, for a private man ; 8d. for a corporal, and 12d. for a sergeant ; out of which, they find themselves with provisions ; and where provisions are found for them, as in the case of Lieut. Gen. Phillips's regiment, posted in. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, a stoppage of 4d. per day, is made out of their pay for it ; and in this case, it makes no difference with respect to the soldiers, that pro- visions have been generally found for them, at the charge of the colonies, where they were raised, and not the crown's; for that was not given them as the bounty of the several colonies, but was required by His Majesty from those colonies, to be done in ease of the national expense ; and as what was their reasonable part of the charges to be incurred by the late intended expedition, set on foot chiefly for the immediate benefit of the several colonies concerned in it; and considering these troops have not marched out of their respective colonies, they have no pretence to expect more than what was promised them by the terms of their enlistment, and ought to be satisfied with that.
As to all those levies, which have marched out of the several provinces, where they were raised, except those sent to Nova Scotia, an allowance of 2d. per day extraor- dinary, to them, upon that consideration, will be sufficient ; but as to those troops which were sent to Nova Scotia, or embarked for that province, though they had the misfortune, through shipwreck and sickness, not to arrive there, Mr. Knowles and I think they ought to have, on account of their. service and hard duty, which occasioned them a greater expense of clothes and other things, than the rest of the troops had, Gd. over and above their provisions, from the time of their embarka- tion for Nova Scotia, till their return to their respective eclonies ; before and after which times a stoppage must be made out of their pay, for their provisions; and they receive no more in money, than 2d. per day ; and the several levies are to be paid off accordingly, after those rates.
As to the method of paying off the men, when they are discharged ; it appears to Mr. Knowles and me, that there are but two ways of doing it, viz. :
Either by procuring money, or credit from your Assembly, which we are com- manded by His Majesty to recommend to you ; or else, by borrowing money of the merchants, upon publie bills, payable when the Parliament shall make provision for defraying the charges incurred on account of these levies ; which bills, Mr. Knowles and I think should be sold for the highest exchange that can be got, for the bene- fit of the men ; but not at a lower rate than £700 per cent. advance, in bills of the old tenor; or $800 of that currency. for $100 sterling; and if both
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these methods should fail, then we can't see what more can possibly be done, than to give the men certificates of what is due to them, at the time of their being dis- charged, with a promise of paying them as soon as possible ; but we hope there will be no necessity of having recourse to this method.
Mr. Knowles being very much engaged in the business of his squadron, which detains him great part of his time at Nantasket, has desired me to take upon myself the settling of the terms for paying the men off ; and as he is under orders from the lords of admiralty, to repair to Jamaica, to take upon him the command of His Majesty's ships there, and designs to sail in about a fortnight, we shall be glad to proceed as far as possible in the execution of His Majesty's orders committed to our care, before he goes ; and besides, if the accounts are not transmitted home in time to be laid before Parliament this session, it may occasion a delay in raising the money for defraying the charges.
Since Mr. Knowles' and my joint letter to you, I am informed by Mr. Secretary Willard, that upon the first raising of troops in this Province, for the expedition against Canada, in Queen Anne's time, Her Majesty expressly promised, (among other things,) as an encouragement for volunteers to enlist, that they should retain their arms, which had been provided for them by the crown ; but as the expedition did not procced that year, and the Queen sent orders to disband those levies, which was donc. This government then thought proper, notwithstanding the Queen's express promise, and those troops had marched out of the Province, to be ready to proceed by land to Canada, to make the soldiers deliver up their arms, as they had not actually procceded to Canada, in order to be kept for the service of the expedition, when it should be prosecuted ; which seems to be a case, where the men had far greater reason to expect to retain their arms, than they have in this ; especially as the Duke of Newcastle, in his letter to me, of the 30th of May, only says that His Majesty had laid aside the design of the expedition for the present.
It was necessary to transmit to you the terms for the payment of the men and non-commissioned officers, together with the enclosed discharge of them.
As to the officers, it may be time enough to send you Mr. Knowles' and my opinion of the terms on which they should be paid off, by the post following, he being now at Nantasket. With regard to myself, I must in the mean time, say, that I think they ought to have the full sterling pay, which the officers of His Majesty's other troops in their ranks receivc.
I am, sir, Your Honor's most obedient humble servant,
To the Hon. Governor Wanton.
W. SHIRLEY.
Governor Wanton to Governor Shirley and Admiral Knowles.
Newport, on Rhode Island, October 31st, 1747.
Gentlemen :- I have received your favor of the 26th current. The forces raised within this government, embarked for Annapolis Royal, on the 31st day of October, 1746, and returned to this place on the 2d of January, following, excepting some, who were left sick, at Martha's Vineyard.
I herewith send yon, by Col. Kinnicutt, the muster rolls, accounts, acts of Assem_ bly and other papers, wrote for in your letter of the 10th current, all duly attested.
VOL. V. 30
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I hope they will be to your satisfaction ; but if you think any one or more articles of the expense not sufficiently proved by proper vouchers, please to let me know it, and I will endeavor to get the defeet supplied.
The soldiers were enlisted into His Majesty's service, according to the method ordered by an act of the General Assembly, made for that purpose; and no one of them received the government's bounty of £50, till he had taken the oath in that act prescribed, and had obtained a certificate thereof from a justice of the peace.
Of this large bonnty, please to observe, the government hath made no charge to His Majesty ; and after their enlistment, were disciplined by their officers, and kept on duty, waiting His Majesty's commands, till they were ordered to embark for Annapolis Royal, in compliance with the pressing instance and direction of Ilis Excellency, Governor Shirley, and the Hon. Admiral Warren, to whom ITis Maj- esty had given power to regulate or order the plan of operations, and the disposi- tion of the forces.
A committee of war was appointed by the General Assembly of this colony, and fully empowered to act in all things relating to the expedition ; they inspected into and andited all the accounts, and gave orders to the general treasurer for the pay- ment thereof; and there has no money been paid by him on account of this expedi- tion, without an order from said committee, or from the General Assembly, or from some person by them duly authorized.
The hire of transports and the misfortune of losing two of them at Martha's Vine- yard, for which the government was by contraet obliged to pay, hath much ang- mented the expense. What could be saved of said transports, and the provisions, stores, &c., that were not expended, have been sold at public auction, and the amount of the sale deducted.
When the forces landed here, on January 3d, in a weak and distressed condition, and many of them siek, the severity of the weather made it very difficult to induce persons to receive them into their houses, to nurse and take care of them ; and that time of the year being wholly unfit for action, they were furlonghed till the 1st of March, excepting the sick, and a few whom the officers could not trust ; and since that time, they have been billeted out till the 22d of August past, except some who choose rather to forego it, than to appear every day before their officers as required.
I fear you will think the account of billeting to be irregular ; but the soldiers be- ing sometimes allowed billeting and sometimes not, I could not get it put into a better form ; and when they were sick, (which many of them were,) it was impos- sible to billet them at the price the government had stated ; and be pleased to ob- serve, that no accounts of billeting were paid, before they had been strictly exam- ined, and allowed.
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