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 37
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This Assembly having maturely considered the form of a letter to be sent to His Excellency, Governor Shirley, do ap- prove thereof.
John Gardner, Deputy Governor, to Governor Shirley.
Providence, January 4th, 1755.
Sir :- Immediately on receipt of the Right Honorable Sir Thomas Robinson's letter of the 26th of October last, to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island (beyond doubt of the same tenor with what Your Excellency has received), His Honor, Governor Greene, summoned the members of both houses, who met in General Assembly, according to appointment ; and notwithstanding Mr. Greene hath, by a bad state of health, been rendered unable to attend and assist with his advice, the Assembly have passed an act to raise a company of one hundred men, including officers, and made suitable provision for all other necessaries, according to the directions of the above mentioned letter.
And this Assembly waits only for the arrival of a set of His Majesty's blank com- missions, to be filled by His Honor, the Governor, for the officers of the company so to be raised.
I have the pleasure to assure Your Excellency, that the Assembly are animated with the laudable zcal of doing every thing in the power of the government to answer effectually and comply with His Majesty's instructions, and have therefore adjourn- ed to the first Monday of February next.
This letter comes by an express from him, may it please Your Excellency.
I am, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,
[JOHN GARDNER, Deputy Governor.] To Governor Shirley.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the secretary procure the act of Parliament, enti- tled " An act to regulate and restrain paper bills of credit in His Majesty's colonies or plantations, of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, the Massachusetts Bay
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and New Hampshire, in America ; and to prevent the same being legal tenders in payment of money ;" to be re-printed in this colony, and send one copy thereof to each town clerk in the government, for the use of said town.
God save the King.
Secretary Robinson to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, 25th October, 1754.
Gentlemen :- His Majesty having been pleased to appoint James Pitcher, Esq., to be commissary of the musters of all His Majesty's forces, that are, or shall be employed in His Majesty's colonies and provinces in North America, I have His Majesty's orders to direct you, or, in your absence, the Lieutenant Governor, or such other person that shall have the chief care of your government, to be aiding and assisting to the said James Pitcher, Esq., in the execution of this duty.
I am, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant, T. ROBINSON.
To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Sceretary Robinson to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, October 26, 1754.
Gentlemen :- Having informed you, in my letter of July 5th, that the King had under his royal consideration, the state of affairs in North America, I am now to ac- quaint you, that, amongst other measures, that are thought proper for the defence of Ilis Majesty's just rights and dominions in those parts, the King has not only been pleased to order two regiments of foot, consisting of five hundred men cach, besides commissioned and non-commissioned officers, commanded by Sir Peter Ilalket,* and Col. Dunbar,t to repair to Virginia, and to be there augmented
* Sir PETER HALKET, of Pitfernan, Fifeshire, a baronet of Nova Scotia, was a son of Sir Peter Wedderburne, of Gosford, who assumed his wife's name. In 1734, he sat in the House of Commons, for Dumferline, and was Lt. Colonel of the 41th, at Sir John Cope's defeat, in 1715. Being released on his parole, by Charles Edward, he was ordered by Cum- berland to rejoin his regiment, and serve against the Jacobites. With great propriety he refused such dishonorable duty, saying, that " His Royal Highness was master of his com- mission, but not of his honor." The King approved of Sir Peter's course, and he retained his rank. On the 26th February, 1751, he succeeded to the colonelcy of his regiment. He was killed at the head of his regiment, in the battle of Monongahela, on the 9th July, 1755; and his bones lay unburied until 1759, when they were discovered by his son and decently interred .- Sargent's Expedition against Fort Du Quesne, pp. 274, 294.
t Col. THOMAS DUNBAR, had been Lt. Colonel of the 18th Royal Irish; and on the 29th April, 1752, was promoted to the coloneley of the 4th regiment of foot. In November, 1755. he was superceded in the command of this regiment, and sent into honorable retire-
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to the number of seven hundred each, but likewise to send orders to Gov. Shir- ley and Sir Wm. Pepperell, to raise two regiments, whereof they are respectively appointed colonels, of one thousand men each ; and also to sign commissions for a number of officers to serve in the said two regiments, and who will forthwith repair to North America, for that purpose.
Whereas, there will be wanting a considerable number of men to make up the designed complement of the said four regiments, it is His Majesty's pleasure, that you should be taking the previous steps towards contributing, as far as you can, to have about three thousand men, in readiness to be enlisted.
And it is His Majesty's intention, that a general officer of rank and capacity to be appointed to command in chief all the King's forces in North America ; a deputy quar- ter master general and a commissary of the muster, shall set out as soon as conven- iently may be, in order to prepare every thing for the arrival of the forces above- mentioned, from Europe, and for the raising of the others in America.
You will receive from that general, and the other officers just mentioned, a full and exact account of the arms, clothing and other necessaries, to be sent upon this important occasion ; as likewise of the ordnance stores, and of the officers, and at- tendants, belonging thereto ; all which, being ordered for this service, are such proofs of His Majesty's regard for the security and welfare of his subjects in those parts, as cannot fail to excite you to exert yourself and those under your care, to take the most vigorous steps to repel your common danger ; and to show that the King's orders, which were sent you last year, by the Earl of Holdernesse, and were renewed to you in my letter of the 5th of July, have at last roused that emulation and spirit, which every man owes, at this time, to His Majesty, the public and himself.
The King will not therefore imagine, that either you, or the rest of his govern- ors, will suffer the least neglect or delay, in the performance of the present service, now strongly recommended to you, particularly with regard to the following points, viz .:
That you should carefully provide a sufficient quantity of fresh victuals, at the expense of your government, to be ready for the use of the troops, at their arrival.
That you should likewise furnish the officers, who may have occasion to go from place to place, with all necessaries for travelling by land, in case there are no means of going by sea.
And that you should use your utmost diligence and authority, in procuring an exact observance of such orders as shall be issued from time to time, by the com- mander in chief, for quartering the troops, impressing carriages and providing all necessaries for such forces as shall arrive, or be raised within your government.
As the articles abovementioned, are of a local and peculiar nature, and arising entirely within your government, it is almost needless for me to acquaint you, that
ment, as lieutenant governor of Gibraltar, in consequence of his injudicious retreat after Braddock's defeat. He became major general on the 18th of January, 1758, and a lieuten- ant general, on December 18th, 1760, but was never again employed in active ser- vice. He died previous to 1778 .- Note of Dr. O' Callaghan, in New York Colonial Docu. ments, Vol. VI. p. 915.
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His Majesty will expect that the charge thereof be defrayed by his subjects be- longing to the same.
But with regard to such other articles, which are of a more general concern, it is the King's pleasure, that the same should be supplied by a common fund, to be established for the benefit of all the colonies collectively, in North America ; for which purpose, you will use your utmost endeavors to induce the Assembly of your province, to raise forthwith as large a sum as can be afforded, as their contribution to this common fund, to be employed provisionally, for the general service of North America (particularly for paying the charge of levying the troops), to make up the complement of the regiments above mentioned, until such time as a plan of general union of Ilis Majesty's northern colonies, for their common defence, can be per- fected.
You will carefully confer, or correspond, as you shall have opportunity, upon every thing relative to the present service, with the said General Sir William Pep- perell, and Governor Shirley, or either of them.
And as it is the King's intention to give all proper encouragement to such per- sons, who shall engage to serve upon this occasion, you will acquaint all such per- sons, in the King's name, that they will receive arms and clothing from hence ; and that they shall be sent back (if desired) to their respective habitations, when the service in America is over.
As the several governors, in all the King's provinces and colonies, in North America, will receive, by this conveyance, a letter to the same effect with this, which I now send you, they will be prepared at the same time, to obey His Majes- ty's command ; and I am to direct you to correspond with all, or either of them, occasionally, as you shall find it expedient for the general service.
I am, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,
T. ROBINSON.
To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Secretary Robinson to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, November 4th, 1754.
Gentlemen :- This letter will be put into your hands, by Sir John St. Clair, whom the King has been pleased to appoint deputy quarter master general of his forces in North America ; and has ordered him to repair forthwith to Virginia, to make the necessary preparations for the reception of the troops.
It is therefore the King's pleasure, that you shall be aiding and assisting to Sir John St. Clair, in the execution of this duty, and shall give him the best advice you can, upon all occasions, relating to the King's service ; particularly with regard to those points mentioned to you in my letter of the 26th [October last] past, whereof I have given a copy to Sir John St. Clair, and from whom you will receive a du- plicate of the same.
I am, gentleman, your most obedient humble servant,
T. ROBINSON.
To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
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Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, the first Mon- day in February, 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 the captain of Fort George, enlist, as soon as he shall think it necessary, to the number of fifty men, for a com- pany, to meet at said fort, as often as the captain shall think proper, to practice exercising the cannon ; and to repair to said fort on all occasions to defend the same, without any ex- pense to the government, and be excused from all other milita- ry duties.
The gentlemen that were appointed to make the draught of an answer to His Excellency, Governor Shirley's letter, and to take into consideration what further is necessary to be done by this Assembly, in respect to raising a number of troops for His Majesty's service, made report, which was read and accepted.
Deputy Governor Gardner to Governor Shirley.
Providence, February 8th, 1755.
Sir :- Your Excellency's letter to Governor Greene, came to my hands, and was immediately laid before our General Assembly then sitting, who taking it under consideration, have directed me to assure Your Excellency,-
That they are determined, with the utmost alacrity to perform every thing His Majesty hath been pleased to command, and caused to be signified to them by Sir Thomas Robinson, his secretary of state, in his letter to this colony.
That in order thereto, at their former meeting, they ordered one hundred men to be raised, of which, they then gave Your Excellency notice ; and they have now done all that can be necessary to render their former resolution effectual, so as to have their men ready at any time His Majesty shall direct, and inform them by any channel whatsoever his pleasure, concerning their destination.
That the colony, in obedience to His Majesty's commands, have ordered those men to be raised, and every thing else to be done in conformity thereto, as far as
VOL. V. 52
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they are able to understand them ; and as it is only for want of the knowledge in what manner His Majesty intended the men raised by this colony shall be used, the General Assembly's fully acceding at this time, to Your Excelleney's offer, con- tained in your letter.
That therefore they have only ordered all things to be in readiness, and only wait for such orders or instructions as may justify them in the disposition of the men they raise ; and Your Excellency may rest fully assured, that if the men raised by this colony are destined by His Majesty to make part of Your Excelleney's, Sir William Pepperell's or the Irish regiments, and that blank commissions will not be sent to the Governor of this colony, to be filled up here, for their officers, the Gen- eral Assembly will thankfully accept of Your Excellency's offer; and will have their men ready by such time and in such manner, as you shall direct ; esteeming it a great favor, that the men by them raised may not only be under Your Excel- leney's care and protection as their colonel, but more immediately as their captain, also.
The General Assembly hope for Your Excelleney's favorable interpretation of their doing herein ; and that nothing may be looked upon as dilatory or evasive in them ; and that you will excuse them for waiting His Majesty's directions before they give you a direct answer.
They also return you thanks for your kind offer, and will always think them- selves happy in being favored with your friendly influence.
I am, with great esteem and respect,
Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant, JOHN GARDNER, Deputy Governor.
l'. S. The certificates and beating orders are retained for the present.
Whereupon, be it enacted by this Assembly, and by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that a committee of five or more suitable persons, be appointed, to be called a committee of war, with full power and authority during the recess of the General Assembly, to give out orders to such officers as may be ap- pointed by the Assembly, for that purpose, to enlist and raise the hundred men already ordered, at any time as soon as orders are received from the crown, through any channel, for our so doing ; and how they are to be destined.
And be it further enacted, that for those purposes, the said committee of war shall have, and hereby is granted them power to draw out of the general treasury from time to time, such sums of money as may be necessary for paying the bounty given by the Assembly, to those who shall enlist, and the charges of enlisting, billeting and transporting such soldiers, and all other expenses necessarily attending the affair.
And be it further enacted, that the said committee of war
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have power to order and direct in what manner, and what place or places the men shall be subsisted when raised, and to give orders for transporting and sending away the company when raised, to the place, and in such manner as His Majesty may direct the same to be done; and that they have full power and authority to act, transact, and do all and every thing necessary and expedient to be done for effectually carry- ing into execution all such commands as this colony have already had, or hereafter may receive from His Majesty; and that they be at all times accountable to the General Assembly for their doings.
And that the General Assembly, before they rise, appoint one lieutenant and one ensign for the said company ; and also make provision, that the general treasury be sufficiently sup- plied with money for all, and every of the purposes, aforesaid.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that thirteen men more be added to the one hundred already or- dered.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that John Tillinghast, Nicholas Cook, Stephen Hopkins and Daniel Jenckes, Esqs., be, and they, or the major part of them, are hereby constituted a committee to draught a letter immediately, to be signed by His Honor, the Governor, in an- swer to the letter of the Right Honorable Sir Thomas Robin- son, sent to this colony ; and that therein a prayer be made to His Majesty, for a suitable number of cannon, for Fort George; and that a plan of said fort be sent with the said letter; and the secretary is hereby directed to send to said committee a copy of such letters and other papers, as they shall have occasion for; and that a copy of said letter be laid before the General Assembly, at their next session ; and that the same committee, or the major part of them, also draught a letter, to be signed by His Honor, the Governor, to be sent to the agent, directing him to use his best endeavors to obtain said cannon, and lay that also before the General Assembly, at their next session.
God save the King,
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Governor Shirley to Governor Greene.
Boston, February 5th, 1755.
Sir :- A month ago, I received a letter from the Honorable John Gardner, Esq., Deputy Governor of your colony, acquainting me, that the Assembly there " had passed an act to raise a company of an hundred men, including officers, and made suitable provision for all other necessaries, agreeably to the directions of the Right Honorable Sir Thomas Robinson's letter, of the 26th October last; and that the Assembly only waited for the arrival of blank commissions, to be filled by Your Honor."
I had the honor of a letter from Sir Thomas Robinson, of the same tenor and date with that above mentioned, as Governor Gardner observes he imagines I had. It is a circular one, written to the Governors of the several colonies concerned.
I acknowledged the receipt of Mr. Gardner's letter, by Mr. Chace, a few days after I received it, in one to himself, and am now to answer it more fully to Your Honor.
The purport of His Majesty's orders, signified to the several Governors, by Sir Thomas Robinson's letter, is (among other things) that they should recommend it to their respective Assemblies to furnish fresh provisions for the troops that should ar- rive in their colonies ; and to raise among them three thousand men, and a sum of money towards paying their respective quotas of the levy money.
Those three thousand men are (as it seems elear to me) intended to complete mine, and Sir William Pepperell's regiments, now raising in America, which are to consist of one thousand privates each, besides non-commissioned officers, sergeants, corporals and drums, which will amount to one hundred more, for each regiment ; and that the remaining eight hundred men are to complete the two Irish regi- ments, designed for Virginia, from five hundred to seven hundred and fifty privates each ; as also to fill up the number of those which may be lost in the passage.
As to the two Irish regiments, they being old corps, were both full officered before they left Europe ; and Your Honor must have observed from the publie prints, that five of the captaineies both in mine and Sir William Pepperell's regiments, besides the three field officers' companies in each, were filled up by His Majesty, soon after the revival of the regiments; as were all the lieutenancies, except four ; and ensigncies, except four or five ; so that it seems to be most evident, that it was not His Majesty's intent that the Governors should have the appointment of the officers [of the force] raised within their respective colonies.
Neither Sir William Pepperell nor myself can be certain what commissions will be sent blank, to be filled up by ourselves, until the arrival of our lieutenant colo- nels; we can't possibly have but a very few ; and Your Honor is sensible that it may be expected some at least of those should be distributed among the half-pay of- ficers of our late regiments, now here and unprovided for.
I should be extremely glad, if it was in my power, to oblige Your Honor's As- sembly with blank commissions, for a set of officers, to be filled up by Your Honor, for the company to be raised by them in your colony ; and as that is not in my power, if it would be acceptable to the Assembly, that I should be their captain, I will take them for my own company, and will fill up a lieutenant's and ensign's commissions for it, upon my receiving my blanks, with such persons as Your Honor
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shall be pleased to appoint"; and I shall moreover esteem the company's being raised by the Assembly of the colony of Rhode Island under these terms, to be a great honor done me, which I shall acknowledge upon any occasion in my power, of serving them.
If what I propose, is not agreeable, Your Honor and the Assembly may have the men drafted either into Sir William Pepperell's and mine, or the two Virginia regiments, as the King's service may require, which ever is chosen.
The ready compliance which the Assembly has paid to His Majesty's orders con- tained in Sir Thomas Robinson's letter, according to their act, will be, doubtless, extremely acceptable to His Majesty.
If what I propose to Your Honor, is agreeable, I should be glad if the Assembly would increase the number of the men to one hundred and ten, exclusive of com- missioned officers ; out of which, four may be enlisted as sergeants, four for cor- porals, and two for drums, as Your Honor shall order.
I have likewise sent one hundred and ten blank enlistments, and one hundred and ten certificates, the form of beating orders, some articles of war, and instruc- tions for the officers, whether commissioned or non-commissioned, whom Your Honor shall think fit to choose to proceed to enlisting the men.
I am, with very great respect, sir,
Your Honor's most humble and most obedient servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To the Hon. William Greene, Esq., Governor of the colony of Rhode Island.
P. S. I have ordered the bearer to wait for Your Honor's answer.
Governor Shirley to Governor Greene.
Boston, February 17, 1755.
Sir :- The designs of the French (in which they have so far already succeeded), for invading His Majesty's just rights, in these northern parts of America, contrary to the most solemn treaties, require that these governments, as well for their own safety as in faithfulness to His Majesty, without delay to use all means in their power to frustrate these perfidious aud pernicious practices.
Among other measures, necessary to be taken, especially at this critical conjunc- ture (the present aspect of affairs threatening a speedy rupture), nothing we can do, seems likely to tend more, by the blessing of God, to defeat the schemes of the French, to swallow up all His Majesty's dominions on the continent of America, than that the governments should agree in the most effectual means for stopping all supplies of provision and warlike stores being sent out of any of these colonies, without the enclosed precaution against their being carried to the French.
The General Assembly of this Province, has passed an order for that end (a copy of which I now enclose) ; and have desired me to solicit the Governors of the rest of His Majesty's colonies to join with us in this necessary expedient for our com- mon safety.
Your Honor will observe that the time for the continuance of this prohibition, is restrained to three months; but if the other governments should join with us, I make no doubt of bringing my Assembly to extend it further.
It would give me great pleasure to have Your Honor's concurrence with me
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in sentiments concerning what appears to me so salutary a measure at this conjunc- ture, for the general good of all His Majesty's colonies in North America.
I have the Honor to be, with the greatest respect, sir,
Your Honor's most humble and most obedient servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To the Hon. Governor Greenc.
Governor Shirley to Governor Greene.
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