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 24
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It is voted and resolved, that Robert Gibbs, William Hop- kins. Daniel Jenekes. Stephen Hopkins and George Brown, Esqs .. be. and they, or the major part of them, are hereby ap- pointed a committee to take into consideration the queries sent from the board of trade, to this colony, and prepare an answer thereto, and lay the same before this Assembly, at their next session ; that. in the mean time, the town council of each respective town in this colony, be, and they are hereby direct- ed to appoint a proper person to take an account of the inhab- itants of each town. whites, Indians and blacks ; and deliver said account to the said committee ; and that the same com. mittee take into consideration the letter from Chambers Rus- sell, Esq., judge of the vice admiralty, and report thereupon to this Assembly, at their next session ; and that the secretary transmit a copy of this vote to cach town clerk in this colony.
257
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1748.]
Proclamation of Governor Shirley and Admiral Knowles.
His Grace, the Duke of Newcastle, having, in his letter to Governor Shirley, sig- nified that His Majesty, finding it necessary to employ the greatest part of his forces to assist his allies, and defend the liberties of Europe, had thought proper for the present, to lay aside the prosecution of the intended expedition against Cana- da, and commanded him and Governor Knowles to discharge all the forces raised for that service (excepting such as they should judge necessary to be kept in pay for securing the Province of Nova Scotia,) and to thank the officers and men, in His Majesty's name for their readiness and zeal to enter into his service.
In consequence thereof, we do hereby discharge all the said officers and men (ex- cept four hundred,) out of His Majesty's service, from the 31st of October, 1747, and they are hereby discharged, accordingly.
And we do also thank them in His Majesty's royal name, for their readiness to engage in their country's cause against the common enemy ; and though they are prevented at present, of revenging themselves on a cruel, perfidious enemy, it cannot be doubted but the same zeal and spirit will always animate them to serve again whenever they are called upon.
Given under our hands, this 28th day of October, 1747.
.
W. SHIRLEY, CHARLES KNOWLES.
Thomas Hill to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, June 8, 1748.
Gentlemen :- I am directed by my lords commissioners for trade and plantations, to send you the enelosed heads of inquiry, and to desire your particular answer thereto, as soon as may be, together with your observations upon such points as you shall think necessary ; and you are desired to make a return thereto every six months, that their lordships may be apprized of any alterations which may happen in the circumstances of your government.
I am, gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, THOMAS HILL.
To the Governor and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island.
Queries from the Board of Trade, to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
What is the situation of the colony under your government ; the nature of the country, soil and elimate ; the latitudes and longitudes of the most considerable places in it, or the neighboring French or Spanish settlements ? Have those lati- tudes and longitudes been settled by good observations, or only by common compu- tations, and from whence are the longitudes computed ?
What are the reputed boundaries ; and are any parts thereof disputed, what parts, and by whom ?
VOL. V. 33
258
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
[1748.
What is the constitution of the government ?
What is the trade of the colony, the number of shipping, their tonnage, and the number of sea-faring men, with the respective increase or diminution, within ten years past ?
What quantity and sorts of British manufactures do the inhabitants annually take from hence ?
What trade has the colony under your government, with any foreign plantations, or any part of Europe besides Great Britain ? How is that trade carried on ? What commodities do the people under your government send to, or receive from foreign plantations ?
What methods are there used to prevent illegal trade, and are the same effectual ?
What is the natural produce of the country, staple commodities and manufac- tures, and what value thereof in sterling money, may you annually export ?
What mines are there ?
What is the number of inhabitants, whites and blaeks ?
Are the inhabitants increased or decreased within the last ten years, how much and for what reasons ?
What is the number of the militia ?
What forts and places of defence are there within your government, and in what condition ?
What number of Indians have you, and how are they inclined ?
What is the strength of the neighboring Indians ?
What is the strength of your neighboring Europeans, French or Spaniards ?
What effect have the French or Spanish settlements on the continent of Ameri- ca, upon His Majesty's plantations, especially on your colony ?
What is the revenue arising within your government, and how is it ap- propriated ?
What are the ordinary and extraordinary expenses of your government ?
What are the establishments, civil and military, within your government, and by what authority do the officers hold their places ?
Chambers Russell to Gor. Greene.
Charlestown, July 8th, 1748.
Sir :- The lords commissioners of the admiralty, having been informed that there was an iniquitous trade subsisting between the colony of Rhode Island and the King's enemies, under color of flags of truce, have directed me to make the most striet inquiry into the truth of it, and it I find the same to be fact, to make proper remonstranees to the government of Rhode Island against such illegal pro- ceedings.
I have, in compliance with their lordships' commands, made inquiry into the same, and find that there were the last year, above twenty sail of vessels commis- sioned as flags of truce, by the government of Rhode Island, to carry prisoners to the French West Indies; which vessels have carried but few prisoners ; but under color of said commissions, have carried cargoes of fish and other provisions to the King's enemies, and in return have brought back the produce of the French sugar plantations.
259
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
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And also, that several French flags of truce came to Rhode Island, with cargoes of molasses, sugar and indigo; for which, they have carried back in return- provisions.
And as said trade is strictly prohibited by His Majesty's proclamation, and is a base prostitution of the King's commission, and has a tendency to distress His Maj- esty's subjects and succor the enemy, I doubt not but that you'll take the utmost care to prevent it ; and will see that those who presume to carry on such illicit trade, for the future, are duly punished.
I am, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
To the Hon. William Greene, Esq.,
CHAMBERS RUSSELL.
to be communicated to the General Court.
Whereas, Josiah Arnold, Esq., and Mr. John Hull, both of Jamestown, and Mr. John Gardner, of South Kingstown, were by the General Assembly, appointed a committee, they, or the major part of them, to purchase for the colony's use, the two ferry places on the west side of Jamestown, with the two ferry boats, and all other appurtenances, if the same might be had at a reasonable rate, and cheaper than to build new, &c., and having undertaken, and gone through that work, made the fol- lowing report of their doings, &c, :
64 Colony of Rhode Island, Jamestown, October 22d, 1748.
Pursuant to an act of the General Assembly of this colony, held at Newport, by adjournment, the 28th of August, A. D., 1748, we, the subscribers, do report as followeth, viz .:
That we having met and duly considered the expense of buildings suitable for fer- rying from the west side of Jamestown to the main, and the season being so far spent that we had no hopes of completing the same, so as to accommodate the country this winter, thought it best to buy those already erected there, and have purchased the same of William Martin, for the consideration of £3,155, in bills of public credit ; and have taken a deed of the same, made to the Governor and Company of the colony of Rhode Island; which deed we have lodged in the clerk's office, in or- der to be recorded; but the same cannot be done at present, there being no money in the treasury to discharge those bonds and mortgages, for which the land is surety, or we should have presented Your Honors with the deed; £155, of the above sum, being in tenth bonds, the remaining sum of £3,000 we have given bond for payment, in two months, with interest at ten per cent. ; which we hope Your Honors will take into consideration, and order the money raised to discharge the same, lest we should be sufferers in the affair.
We also acquaint Your Honors, that we have agreed with Thos. Spencer to keep the ferries two months, at the rate of £200 per annum, he being a person, who we weil know, is capable of tending and taking proper care of the boats in stormy weather ; and as Your Honors are well sensible that the purchasing the ferries was
260
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
[1748.
for the better accommodating the public, we doubt not but Your Honors will be of opinion that not every person who may appear eager to give the greatest rent for the ferries, and perhaps for want of care and judgment in the affair, may lose one or both the boats, will be suitable to serve the public, as one who is capable of carrying passengers with safety, and taking that due care of the boats, which sometimes requires a good deal of judgment in bad storms.
We would further inform Your Honors, that both the wharves want some repairs ; the northernmost not being sufficient to land at low water ; so that all the boats are obliged to come to the south wharf; which oftentimes is attended with a good deal of difficulty, by running each other on shore; and passengers obliged to jump their horses into the water, and oftentimes land, and take on board through two or three boats ; so that travellers' horses are many times lamed by that means ; all which we thought proper to inform Your Honors of.
JOSIAH ARNOLD, JOHN HULL, JOHN GARDNER."
Which report being duly considered, this Assembly do vote and resolve, that the same be, and it is hereby accepted ; and that the committee, aforesaid, be still continued ; that they make such repairs at the aforementioned ferry places, as are necessary at present ; that they let out said ferry places until the session of the Assembly, in May next ; and draw money out of the general treasury, and discharge the aforesaid bonds and mortgage of the premises, as well as the rest of the pur- chase money.
God save the King.
[The following Public Laws, passed during the year 1748, are printed at length in the volume of public laws, published in 1767, unless repealed previous to that time.]
An Act in addition to an act, entitled " An act enabling the town council of each town to grant licenses for the retailing strong liquors," etc. (February.)
An Act enabling the several towns to make such town acts, as may seem to them meet, for the raising of monies to defray the charges of cach town. (February.) An Act in addition to an aet directing the attendance of petit jurors, as witnesses. An Aet dirceting of gaining a legal settlement in any town in the colony, and for the removal of poor persons from their illegal to their legal place of settlement. (June.)
An Act to prevent profane cursing and swearing. (August.)
An Aet to render the session of the General Assembly less precarious than it hatlı been hitherto. (August.)
An additional Aet to prevent the spreading of the small pox, and other contagious sickness in the colony (October.)
261
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1749.]
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, the 3d day of January, 1748-9.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor. The Hon. William Ellery, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
It is voted and resolved, that Robert Gibbs, Stephen Hop- kins, Daniel Jenckes and George Brown, Esqs., be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to take into consideration the letter from His Excellency, Governor Shirley, with the other papers relating to the paper currency, and make report thereon to this Assembly, at their next session.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the 27th day of February, 1748-9.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor. The Hon. William Ellery, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
It is voted and resolved, that the committee, who were ap- pointed to pay off the soldiers raised for the expedition intend- ed against Canada, render an account, upon oath, unto His Honor, the Governor, how much sterling money hath been by them paid to the said soldiers ; and that ITis Honor, the Gov- ernor, draw bills for the same, on the lords of the treasury, payable to the agent of this colony.
262
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1749.
It is voted and resolved, that Stephen Hopkins, Esq., Col. Thomas Haszard, Capt. Job Randall and Mr. Benjamin Brown, be, and they are hereby constituted a committee, to examine into the state and condition of the several bridges in this colo- ny, and make report to this Assembly, at their next session, what bridges ought to be maintained in whole or in part, by the colony, and by what ways and means the other bridges are to be supported.
It is voted and resolved, that the several towns in this colo- ny, pay the persons by them respectively appointed to take an account of the number of polls and rateable estate in cach town in the government, in the year of our Lord, 1747 ; and also the persons by them respectively appointed (in conse- quence of an act passed by the General Assembly, at their ses- sion in Providence, in October last,) to number the inhabitants of each town, whites, Indians and negroes ; and that the ac- count of all and every such person or persons, for his or their time, and so forth, in said affairs, be presented to their con- stituents, the town council, who are hereby empowered to ex- amine the same, and give orders on their town treasurer for the payment of such sum or sums as they shall find justly due to the person or persons presenting his or their accounts, as aforesaid.
Whereas, Peter Bours, Edward Scott and George Wanton, Esqs., Mr. James Sheffield, the speaker and Stephen Hopkins, Esq., or the major part of them, were by this Assembly, at their session in Providence, the last Wednesday of October last, constituted a committee to sell for ready money, and to the best advantage, the bills of exchange then voted and resolved to be drawn by His Honor, the Governor, on Mr. Part- ridge, the colony's agent in Great Britain, for all their money in his hands ; that when they had so done, they should exchange all the bills of credit of the neighboring gov. ernments they receive in pay for bills of credit of this colony, and bring the whole to this Assembly, to be burnt, in order to sink such of this colony's bills, as by acts of Assembly are to be first sunk : and the said committee, or the major part of
263
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1749.]
them, having assumed that province, and gone through the business, made the following report :
" We, the subscribers, appointed in conjunction with Stephen Hopkins, Esq., by the Honorable General Assembly of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England, at their session in October past, to sell the govern- ment's money, in the hands of the agent Mr. Richard Part- ridge, do report, that we have sold bills on the said agent, to the amount of £7,800, at the rate of exchange of £1,050 cur- rency, for £100 sterling; and also, that we have received of Messrs. Oliver and Phillips, the sum of £3,150, old tenor, for the bill of £300, sterling, drawn on them by the said agent, as per account hereunto annexed.
PETER BOURS, EDWARD SCOTT, GEORGE WANTON,
JAMES SHEFFIELD,
THOMAS CRANSTON."
[Here follows a list of the bills of exchange drawn, amount- ing to £88,725 00 0.]
And forasmuch, as the committee, aforesaid, have delivered the said sum of £88,725, in bills of public credit (old tenor), emitted by this colony, unto the committee, by this Assembly appointed to receive and tell the same, and the said committee having received, told and brought the said bills hither, and they having been burnt in the presence of this Assembly ;---
It is voted and resolved, that the said Peter Bours, Edward Scott, George Wanton, James Sheffield, Thomas Cranston and Stephen Hopkins, be, and they are hereby discharged of the trust aforesaid.
Whereas, Robert Lawton, Jonathan Peck and Matthew Al- len, Esqs., were, by the General Assembly, appointed a commit- tee, to view the several places in Middletown, proposed for lay- ing out a highway ; and having undertaken and performed that service, made report of their doings, on the back of the Assem- bly's vote, which qualified them ; which report, follows in these words :
264
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1749.
" We, the subscribers (the committee within named), having considered the affair to us committed, and pursued the direc- tion to us given, as within written, do report, as follows, viz. :
" 1. That a drift way is sufficient ; and that there be no open highway, as prayed for, by the petitioners.
2. That the southwardmost place proposed to us, that is, from the double gate on the west side, to another gate on the east side of Easton's Neck, being the old accustomed way, is the place where said drift way shall be, in our opinion, with the greatest convenience.
Given under our hands, this 27th day of February, A. D. 1748. ROBERT LAWTON, JONATHAN PECK, MATTHEW ALLEN."
Which report, being duly considered, this Assembly do vote and resolve, that the same be, and it is hereby accepted.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the 2d day of May, 1749.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor.
The Ilon. William Ellery, Deputy Governor.
ASSISTANTS.
Mr. Peter Bours,
Mr. Robert Lawton,
Mr. John Gardner,
Mr. William Richmond,
Mr. William Burton, Mr. Daniel Coggeshall,
Mr. Stephen Brownell,
·
Mr. Stephen Hopkins, speaker, and Mr. Josias Lyndon, clerk.
1749.]
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
265
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the first Wednes- day of May, 1749.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor.
The Hon. William Ellery, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
DEPUTIES.
Newport.
Capt. George Wanton, Mr. Joseph Whipple, Jr., Mr. Thomas Cranston, Mr. John Tillinghast,
Mr. Nicholas Easton, Mr. James Sheffield. Providence. Mr. Jonathan Randall, Mr. Stephen Hopkins, Mr. Elisha Brown,
Mr. Daniel Jenckes. Portsmouth. Mr. Oliver Earl, Mr. Gideon Freeborn, Jr., Mr. John Allen,
Mr. Benjamin Tucker. Warwick. Mr. Philip Greene, Mr. John Holden, Mr. John Greene,
Capt. Amos Lockwood.
Westerly. Capt. Silas Greenman, Mr. Joshua Babcock. New Shoreham. Mr. John Littlefield, Mr. Abel Franklin. North Kingstown. Col. Immanuel Northup, Capt. Daniel Fones. South Kingstown. Capt. Robert Haszard, Mr. Rowland Robinson. East 'Greenuch. Mr. Joseph Nichols, Capt. Thomas Spencer. Jamestown. Mr. Daniel Weeden, Mr. Joseph Clarke. Smithfield. Mr. Thomas Lapham, Mr. John Aldrich. Scituate.
Mr. Thomas Ralph, Mr. Thomas Hudson.
VOL. V.
34
266
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RIIODE ISLAND [1749.
DEPUTIES.
Glocester.
Mr. Richard Steere, Maj. Richard Smith. Charlestown.
Col. Joseph Stanton,
Mr. James Congdon. West Greenwich.
Mr. Jeremiah Ellis, Mr. George Gardner. Coventry.
Mr. James Colvin,
Mr. Benjamin Nichols. Exeter. Capt. John Weight,
Mr. Benoni Gardner. Middletown.
Capt. Robert Barker,
Mr. Jonathan Easton.
Bristol. Mr. Thomas Greene. Tiverton. Mr. John Howland, Mr. Edward Wanton. Little Compton. Mr. William Hall, Mr. Nathaniel Scarle. Warren. Mr. James Smith, Capt. Benjamin Barton. Cumberland. Mr. Israel Whipple, Mr. Job Bartlett. Richmond.
Mr. Joseph Clarke, Mr. James Rogers.
The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, speaker, and Mr. Josias Lyn -. don, clerk.
The following officers, declared elected, were duly engaged :
The Hon. William Greene, Governor. The Hon. William Ellery, Deputy Governor.
ASSISTANTS.
Mr. Peter Bours,
Mr. Simon Pease,
Mr. William Burton,
Mr. Edward Kinnicutt,
Mr. Stephen Brownell,
Mr. Robert Lawton,
Mr. James Arnold,
Mr. William Richmond,
Mr. Daniel Coggeshall,
Mr. Jeoffrey Watson.
1749.]
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
267
SECRETARY. GENERAL TREASURER.
Mr. Thomas Ward.
Mr. Thomas Richardson.
ATTORNEY GENERAL. Mr. Daniel Updike.
It is voted and resolved, that the sheriff of the county of Newport, provide liquor, to the amount of £50, to entertain those gentlemen that shall attend the solemnity of proclaiming peace.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the second Mon- day in June, 1749.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor. The Hon. William Ellery, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
It is voted and resolved, that Mr. Richard Partridge, agent for this colony, be allowed the sum of ££100, for his extraordi- nary trouble in the affair of the controversy respecting the affair of the boundary line between the Province of the Mas- sachusetts Bay and this colony ; and that he be allowed two per cent. for receiving the money granted by the crown to this colony, for re-paying the charge of the Canada expedition ; and that the agent give this colony credit for the £400 by him charged the 21st day of November, 1744, for future ser- vices, &c .; and that the charge of ££82, in his account, for the losses in the bills drawn on this colony, in favor of Oliver & Phillips, be not allowed, until it be further explained by the agent ; and that the rest of his whole account be allowed.
. And that Peter Bours, Esq., Messrs. Thomas Cranston and
268
RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1749.
Joseph Whipple, Jr., be, and they are hereby constituted a committee to draught a letter, to be perusec , thi~ A tomhle and signed by His Honor, the Governor, and sent to the agent ; and that he be properly empowered by this colony, to receive the money of the lords of the treasury, or from whomsoever else it may be due, for the bills of exchange that this govern- ment shall have a right to draw, for what they have paid the soldiers raised for the intended expedition against Canada, that hath not been already refunded this colony.
It is voted and resolved, that His Honor, the Governor, write a letter, in behalf of the government, to Sir Peter Warren, re- questing that he would certify to the lords of the treasury, or where else it may be necessary, what may be within his knowl- edge of this government's sending the three companies raised for the intended expedition against Canada, to Annapolis Royal, by his and Governor Shirley's request; and that he would be pleased to use his kind offices in procuring for this government, a reimbursement of their expense.
" We, the subscribers, being appointed by the General As- sembly, to take an inventory of the warlike and other stores, &c., belonging to the colony, do report according to said ap- pointment, as followeth :
We viewed at Fort George, in the lower battery, viz .: twen- ty-five cannon, in carriages, twenty-five sponges with staffs, thirty-six crab handspikes, four ladles for the cannon, and four cannon wormers, eight hundred and seventy-four cannon shot. On the platform, &c., twelve cannon in carriages, etc., etc. etc. JOHN TILLINGHAST, JAMES SHEFFIELD." THOMAS CRANSTON,
[The report contains a minute account of all the military stores possessed by the colony, and of the places where kept ; also, a list of the stores belonging to the sloop-of-war Tartar ; among which, are fourteen carriage and twelve swivel guns. The report was accepted ; the cannon, small arms and ammu- nition appropriated to various parts of the colony.]
269
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1749.]
And now, this Assembly, having duly considered the premis- my dawots and & Ive, and it is hereby voted and resolved, that the aforesaid report be, and it is hereby accepted; and that all the stores therein mentioned, (excepting the musket balls, and also the powder in the cartouch boxes,) be forthwith sold at a public vendue, and the money arising thereby, be lodged in the general treasury ; and that a commissary be ap- pointed to take care of the colony's arms, and get them cleaned, and lodge them in the garret of the colony house, together with all other warlike stores belonging to the colony (except- ing such only as properly belong to the fort, and the cannon and swivel guns, which belonged to the sloop Tartar) ; and that no more than six small arms be left at the fort.
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