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 36
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This Assembly therefore, do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that six pence per ton be added to every ton of the shipping which pays by the ton ; and that five shillings be added to the ten shillings which every coaster is by law now obliged to pay ; and that the additions of the duties hereby made, continue and remain until the 1st day of March next.
Whereas, the commissioners, that on the part of this colony attended the late congress at Albany, in the Province of New York, presented the following report,-
Report of the Rhode Island Commissioners at Albany.
" To the Honorable the General Assembly of His Majesty's colony of Rhode Is- land, now sitting :
We, the subscribers, being, by a vote of said Assembly, at their session in June last, appointed commissioners, to represent this colony, at the then approaching congress, at Albany, did, in consequence thereof, receive from His Honor, the Governor, our commission, with the act of Assembly, relative thereto, and did ac- cordingly set out immediately for Albany, where we arrived in good season.
The friendship and alliance with the Six Nations of Indians, being renewed and confirmed, by a treaty, in which this and all the colonies on the continent, united, we, by virtue of the act aforesaid, made a present to the said Indians, of some necessaries, amounting to £40, York currency ; which, considering the lib- erality of His Majesty and the other colonies, in that respect, we judged sufficient, and for which we drew a set of bills of exchange on the general treasurer, direct- ing the payment to Col. John Henry Lydius, of Albany, the gentleman who sup- plied us with that sum.
We herewith present a copy of the proceedings at the said congress,* in which
* The journal of the convention is preserved among the documents in the secretary's office .- J. R. B.
VOL. V. 50
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
[1754.
is contained a representation of the state of the English colonies on this continent, chiefly with relation to the French and Indians, drawn up and approved by the board of commissioners at said congress ; and also, a plan of a proposed union of all the said colonies, which, from the facts set forth in the said representation, was judged absolutely necessary to be speedily effected ; it was therefore a resolution of said board that the respective commissioners should lay the same before the Gen- eral Assemblies of the colonies they severally represented, which for our parts, we accordingly now do, and submit the same, with this our report, to the consideration of this Ilonorable Assembly. STEPHEN HOPKINS,
MARTIN HOWARD, JR.
Newport, August 20th, 1754."
And now this Assembly, having taken the premises into consideration,-
Do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the foregoing report be, and the same is hereby accepted ; this Assembly nevertheless, reserving to themselves a farther con- sideration, whether they will accede to the general plan pro- posed.
Whereas, Messrs. Daniel Jenckes and Thomas Howland, represented unto this Assembly, that they, with sundry other merchants, were concerned in two vessels, that were taken by a Spanish privateer, after the cessation of arms between our sovereign and the king of Spain, and carried into the island of Hispaniola, and from thence to St. Jago de Cuba ; and that they had been at considerable expense in sending Col. William Hopkins, to inquire after the same, but have not hitherto been able to obtain a satisfactory account from that gentleman ; whereupon, they prayed, that an act may be passed, empowering His Honor, the Governor, to grant a com- mission for a vessel to be fitted out at their own proper cost and charge, and sent to Leogan, on the said island of Hispaniola, and from thence, to the aforesaid port of St. Jago de Cuba, in order to recover their own, with the interest of the other parties concerned ;-
And now this Assembly, having duly inquired into, and maturely considered the subject matters of this petition, afore- said,-
Do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the prayer thereof, be, and the same is hereby granted ; and His
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AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
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Honor, the Governor, is desired to make and issue a commis- sion accordingly.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the general treasurer be, and he is hereby directed and fully empowered to hire upon the colony's account, the sum of £4,000, for defraying the charge of building the light house.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that Daniel Updike, James Honeyman, Esqs., and Mr. Augustus Johnston, or the major part of them, have, and take the bill for the relief of insolvent debtors, now lying before this Assembly, and make such amendments and alterations as they shall think fit; that then the same be put in print, and a copy sentto each town clerk in the colony, for the perusal of all per- sons that shall incline to it ; and one copy also to each of the members of this Assembly ; and that the whole be done, per- formed and effected at the charge of the colony.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the assessors or rate-makers of each town in the colony, take an account of the ratable estates in their respec- tive towns, and make return according to law, unto the Gen- eral Assembly, at their next session ; and that a copy of this vote be sent by the secretary, immediately to each town clerk in the colony, to be by him delivered to the assessors or rate- makers of his town; and that every assessor or rate-maker who shall refuse or neglect to do his duty, shall be subject to the same fines and penalties as are mentioned in an act by the General Assembly, made and passed at their session, held in Newport, on the second Tuesday of June, 1747, entitled, " An act directing how the value of ratable estates in this colony shall be known, and each town's proportion thereof."
Whereas, Jonathan Nichols, of Newport, in the colony, afore- said, Esq., represented unto this Assembly, that having some years ago, negotiated at said Newport, with one Lawrence Cholette, of Cape Francois, in the island of Hispaniola, mer- chant, he trusted him to the amount of £12,000 or £13,000, old tenor, after which the said Choletto, in a very unjust man-
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1754.
ner absconded, and never satisfied or paid the money due, and is gone to Cape Francois, aforesaid, the usual place of his resi- dence, whither the said Jonathan is about to send a suitable person and vessel, in order to prosecute his demands against the said Lawrence Cholette, which may be attended with diffi- culty, unless some protection be granted by the colony ; and thereupon prayed that a commission may be granted to such person as he shall employ for prosecuting the said Lawrence Cholette, and recovering his just right ; and this Assembly having duly weighed the subject matter of the petition afore- said,-
Do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the prayer thereof be, and the same is hereby accepted.
God save the King.
T. Robinson to Governor Shirley.
Whitehall, 21st June, 1754.
Sir :- Having received your despatches of the 19th of April and 1st of May last, with their several enclosures, and having laid the same before the King, I am to acquaint you, that His Majesty extremely approves the resolution which has been taken by the Assembly of your Province, in consequence of the proposal recom- mended by you, to use their best endeavors to drive the French from the river Kennebec.
And I am at the same time to inform you, that His Majesty is graciously pleased to authorize and direct you to proceed upon the plan, and to pursue the measures which appear, by your speeches to the Assembly, and their answer thereto, to have been so well calculated for that purpose.
I am likewise to assure you, as a mark of His Majesty's particular attention to the welfare of his loyal subjects in New England, that every thing recommended by the said Assembly, will be fully considered ; and that immediate directions will be given for promoting the plan of a general concert between His Majesty's colo- nies, in order to prevent or remove any encroachments upon the dominions of the crown of Great Britain.
It is with the greatest pleasure, that I take this early opportunity of giving you the satisfaction to know the very favorable manner in which the account of your prudent and vigorous conduct, as well of the zeal and activity of those under your government, have been received by the King, which cannot fail to excite and en- courage them in taking such further steps as will most effectually provide for their own security, and will give a proper example to His Majesty's neighboring colonies-
I am, &c., T. ROBINSON.
To Governor Shirley
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AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1754.]
Secretary Holdernesse to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, 28th August, 1753.
Gentlemen :- His Majesty having received information of the march of a consid- erable number of Indians, not in alliance with the King, supported by some regular European troops, intending, as it is apprehended, to commit some hostilities on parts of His Majesty's dominions, in America.
I have the King's commands to send you this intelligence, and to direct you to use your utmost diligence, to learn how far the same may be well grounded, and to put you upon your guard, that you may, at all events, be in a condition to resist any hostile attempts that may be made upon any parts of His Majesty's dominions within your government; and to direct you, in the King's name, that in case the subjects of any foreign prince, or state, should presume to make any encroachment on the limits of His Majesty's dominions, or to erect forts on His Majesty's lands, or commit any other act of hostilities you are immediately to represent the injustice of such proceeding, and to require them, forthwith, to desist from any such unlawful undertaking.
But if, notwithstanding your requisition, they should still persist, you are then to draw forth the armed force of the Province, and to use your best endeavors to repel force by force.
But, as it is His Majesty's determination not to be the aggressor, I have the King's commands most strictly to enjoin you not to make use of the armed force under your direction, excepting within the undoubted limits of His Majesty's do- minions.
And whereas, it may be greatly conducive to His Majesty's service, that all his provinces in America, should be aiding and assisting each other, in case of any invasion, I have it particularly in charge from His Majesty, to acquaint you. that it is his royal will and pleasure, that you should keep up an exact correspondence with all His Majesty's governors in the continent ; and, in case you shall be informed by any of them, of any hostile attempts, you are immediately to assemble tlie Gen- eral Assembly within your government, and lay before them the necessity of a mu- tual assistance, and engage them to grant such supplies as the exigency of affairs may require.
I have written by this conveyance to all His Majesty's governors, to the same purpose.
I am, gentlemen, yonr most obedient humble servant,
HOLDERNESSE.
To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
T. Robinson to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, 5th July, 1754.
Gentlemen :- Although you have neglected to give any answer to the Earl of Holdernesse's letter, of the 28th of August last, yet as I cannot doubt your receipt of that letter, wherein the King's orders were signified to you, not only to act vig-
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
[1754.
orously in defence of your government, but to be likewise aiding and assisting His Majesty's other colonies in America, to repel any hostile attempts made against them.
I am now, by the King's express command, to enforce to you, the said directions, in the strongest manner ; and to acquaint you, that His Majesty expects your imme- diate observance of them.
You will see, by the enclosed copy of my letter to Governor Shirley, in what mauner His Majesty's subjects have behaved at Massachusetts Bay, and that their conduct has been entirely approved by the King.
I am, gentlemen, Your most obedient humble servant,
T. ROBINSON.
To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
- -
Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, the last Wednesday in October, 1754.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor. The Hon. John Gardner, Deputy Governor.
An Act for assessing and levying a tax of £35,000.
Whereas, this colony is indebted in a large sum of money, cmitted by acts of Assembly, in bills of public credit, for sup- plying the treasury ; and the time for calling in said bills be- ing near expiring ; and whereas, Fort George is in a bad condi- tion, and wants some necessary repairs ; for the accomplishing of which good ends in part, the last Assembly voted a tax of £25,000 to be assessed, levied and applied towards sinking the colony's outstanding bills of public credit ; and a tax of £5,000, to be applied to repair Fort George; but as the said Assembly did not apportion the said taxes on the several towns of the colony, and as the sum voted for repairing the fort, is not sufficient for that purpose,-
Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is cnacted, that there be £35,000, old tenor. raised by a tax, to be forthwith assessed and levied,
399
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1754.]
agreeably to law, on the estates and polls of the inhabitants of this colony, in the following proportion, viz. : on-
S.
£ S.
Newport
7,000 00
Providence
2,450 00
Portsmouth
1,750 00
Smithfield
1,925 00
New Shoreham
.700 00
Scituate
.766 10
Jamestown
911 15
Glocester
715 15
Middletown
1,043 00
Cumberland.
.514 10
Cranston
1,400 00
Little Compton
980 00
£7,771 15
£13,408 10
Westerly
.
.. 1,820 00
North Kingstown. . 1,977 10
South Kingstown. . 3,045 00
Charlestown
525 00
Exeter
787 10
Richmond
451 10
Warwick
1,606 10
East Greenwich ..
.1,050 00
West Greenwich
.484 15
Coventry
.353 10
£3,494 15
8,606 10
7,771 15
13,408 10
£35,000 00
And that £10,000 thereof, be appropriated towards repair- ing of Fort Fort George, and the remainder be applied to sink- ing the colony's outstanding bills of credit, made to supply the treasury.
And be it further enacted, that the assessors or rate-makers, upon their assessing or apportioning the aforesaid tax, return
£1,718 10
£8,606 10
Bristol
.913 10
Warren
805 00
Tiverton 1,023 15
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1754.
a true bill or list thereof, to the town clerk of the town to which they respectively belong, within fifty days after the ris- ing of this Assembly ; and the town clerk shall send a copy thereof to the general treasurer in ten days; who, upon receipt thereof, shall issue forth his warrants in ten days to the sever- al collectors of rates, of the respective towns, commanding them in His Majesty's name, to collect the several sums to them sev- erally committed, in bills of public credit of this colony, within six months' time after the rising of this Assembly ; and to pay two-seventh parts of said sums to him, or his successor in said office, and the remainder to the treasurer of the grand commit- tee's office, to be burnt, and discharge part of the colony's debt.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that each respective town shall pay all the charges and fees that shall arise in assessing and collecting their respective part of the aforesaid tax.
And be it further enacted, that the secretary send a copy of this act in print, to each town clerk in this colony, within twenty days after the rising of this Assembly, to be by them immediately delivered to the assessors of each respective town.
" We, the subscribers, dissent from the above proportion of the above" rate, by reason that the town of Portsmouth is over- proportioned, with the towns of Middletown and Tiverton.
WM. ANTHONY, JR., THOS. BROWNELL, WM. EARL, JOHN ALLEN."
"I, the subscriber, do dissent from the above proportion of the above rate, by reason of the town of South Kingstown is over-proportioned in proportion to the other towns in the coun- ty of Kings county ; as I am knowing to the value of the es- tates in the other towns in the county.
ROWLAND ROBINSON"
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AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1754.]
" We, the subscribers, dissent from this proportion to the town of Jamestown, it being too high. Number of acres four thousand eight hundred, in said town.
JOSIAH ARNOLD, JR., WM. MARTIN."
Whereas, the inhabitants of the compact part of the town of Providence, represented unto this Assembly, that they con- ceive that there is a great necessity to have a water engine of a large size, purchased, to extinguish fires, that may casually break out in said town ; and that the best way to obtain one, will be by laying a tax on the houses, goods and other things, to be destroyed by fire ; on consideration whereof,-
Be it enacted by this Assembly, and by the authority of the same it is enacted, that Obadiah Brown and James Angel, Esqs., be, and they are hereby empowered to rate the housing and all other things within the compact part of the said town of Providence, which are liable to be destroyed by fire, a sum of money sufficient to purchase an engine as is above describ- ed ; and that the said rate be levied so soon as may be, and the money thereby raised, immediately put into the hands of the said Obadiah Brown and James Angel, for the speedy pur- chasing said engine.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that every house keeper, within the space of three months, be pro- vided with two good leathern buckets, under the penalty of forfeiting the sum of £20; one half to the informer, and the other half, to and for the use of the poor of the said town of Providence.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the money so raised, be, by said Brown and Angel, subject to, and put under the direction of the major part of the voters among the inhabitants of the compact part of the said town of Providence, and appropriated to purchase said engine, in and after such manner as they shall think fit.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that James Sheffield, Esq., and Mr. William Read, be, VOL. V. 51
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OF RECORDS THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1754.
and they are hereby constituted a committee, to repair Fort George, and purchase the materials therefor.
The gentlemen that were appointed to audit the accounts of the committee for building the new jail-house and jail, in Providence, presented this Assembly with the following re- port, to wit :
Report of the Committee on the Providence Jail, &c.
" We, the subscribers, being a committee to audit the com- mittee's accounts, who were appointed to build the new jail in Providence, do report as followeth :
£ s.d.
There is due to Stephen Hopkins, Esq., for the bills charged against him, for the work done about said jail, and stuff, &c .. 916 2 4
To the balance due to Mr. Elisha Brown, on set- tlement of his account. 451 5 4
£1,367 7 8
All which, is humbly submitted by your humble servants,
JABEZ BOWEN, DANIEL JENCKES, NICHOLAS BROWN.
Providence, November 3d, 1754."
. And now, this Assembly, having taken the premises into consideration,-
Do vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that the said report be, and the same is hereby accepted.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that Josiah Arnold, Esq., be requested to attend this Assembly, at their next session, to render a reason, if any he hath, why two acres of land, adjoining to the light house, on Beaver Tail, is not set off for the use of the colony ; and that the secretary send a copy of this vote unto him.
God save the King.
403
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1754.]
[The following Public Laws, passed during the year 1754, are printed at length in the volume of public laws, published in the year 1767, unless repealed previous to that time.]
An Act for naturalizing Ami Decotay, of Newport, merchant, late a subject of the Republic of Genoa. (February.)
An Act for naturalizing Jacob Lund, of Newport, a native of Norway. (February.)
An Act in addition to an act entitled " An act against adultery, polygamy and un- lawfully marrying persons, and for the relief of such persons as are injured by the breaking of marriage contracts." (June.)
An Act empowering the sheriff's to sell and give deeds of land mortgaged and for- feited to the colony. (June.)
An additional Act for preventing the counterfeiting of bills of public credit emitted, or that shall be hereafter emitted by any of the governments in New England, and to prevent defacing the same. (June.)
An Act to incorporate the Fellowship Club, in Newport. (June.)
Governor Sharpe of Maryland, to Governor Greene.
Annapolis, Maryland, November 8th, 1754.
Sir :- I take the liberty to acquaint yon that His Majesty, hoping his good and loyal American subjects will unanimously exert themselves to repel the encroach- ments that the French are and have been making on his dominions, in this part of the continent, has been pleased to honor me with a commission to command all the forces that the several colonies may raise for that purpose, and to entreat you to endeavor to procure us such supplies either of men or money, from the Assembly of your Province as the exigency of affairs does at this time demand.
There is no occasion, I persuade myself, for me to insist on, or even hint at the fatal consequences that must attend our conniving at the encroachments that the French have lately made on His Majesty's American dominions, or suffering them to remain masters of the forts which they have built on the frontiers of these prov- inces ; of this, you are extremely sensible, and I will not doubt but your Assembly, when they meet, will show a just regard to your recommendation of the service to their consideration ; indeed, without assistance from the several governments on . the continent, I despair of answering in the least, His Majesty's expectations and royal intention in honoring me with such a commission, and cannot think of entering on action without such succors as His Majesty, by one of his principal sec- retaries of state, gives me room to expect from his good subjects in that, as well as those provinces.
Should the gentlemen of your Assembly show a disposition to contribute towards the support of the common cause, and encouragement of His Majesty's service, you will be pleased to signify to me in what manner you judge they will be most in- clined to send us assistance, whether by money or troops.
I must beg the favor of you to inform me as soon as possible, what I must expect,
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
[1755.
because the vast progress that the enemy made last summer, makes it absolutely * necessary for us to act offensively *
* very early in the spring.
I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant,
HOR'O SHARPE.
To the Governor of Rhode Island.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, the 1st day of January, 1755.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor. The Hon. John Gardner, Deputy Governor.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that Jeremiah Lippitt, William Richmond, Daniel Coggeshall, Jeoffrey Watson, Joshua Babcock, Job Randall, Daniel Jenckes and Immanuel Northup, Esqs., be, and they are hereby constituted a committee to draw up a scheme for rais- ing a fund of such a body of troops as will effectually answer the King's just expectations from this government, signified in the letter sent hither by the Right Honorable Sir Thomas Robinson, one of His Majesty's principal secretaries of state.
This Assembly do vote and enact, and it is voted and enact- ed, that a fund, not exceeding £4,000, old tenor, be taken up on loan, by the general treasurer, at not exceeding ten per cent. interest, for the uses hereinafter mentioned ; and that a company of one hundred men' (officers included, and to be ap- pointed by this government,) be raised ; and that a commissa- ry be appointed to receive said money from the treasurer, to furnish the King's troops on their arrival, with fresh victuals, and whatever else can be reasonably expected from this gov- ernment, agrecably to His Majesty's pleasure, signified by a letter from Sir Thomas Robinson, of the 26th of October last ; and that each soldier be paid a bounty of £18, old tenor, on
405
AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1755.]
his enlistment, and be entitled, thenceforward, to the King's pay.
And that a letter be draughted and sent to Governor Shir- ley, by His Honor, the Governor, or Deputy Governor, contain- ing the substance of the foregoing resolutions of this Assembly ; and to acquaint His Excellency, that this government waits for the arrival of His Majesty's blank commissions, to be filled up by the Governor of this colony, with the officers' names of the company above mentioned.
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