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 44
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bany, as soon as possibly they can; and take due care that there be no defect or delay in any thing that ought to be pro- vided by this colony for the benefit of the said five hundred men, or for the service of the said expedition.
That the Governor of this colony commissionate all the offi- cers who shall be appointed for the said five hundred men, and give orders for the marching of the said men, either all in one body, or in different companies at different times, as the good of the service may require ; and cause them to join and act in conjuction with such forces as may be raised by the other col- onies concerned in this expedition, and put them under the command and government of such commander in chief as may be agreed upon by all the colonies, and approved by Major General Shirley.
And for a supply of money in the general treasury, for car- rying all the things aforesaid, into execution, there be forth- with emitted, and put into the treasury the sum of £8,000, equal in value to the lawful money of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay and of the colony of Connecticut ; the bills to be printed wholly with types, in the following form, to wit:
TWENTY SHILLINGS.
The possessor of this bill shall be paid by the treasurer of the colony of Rhode Island twenty shillings, lawful money, at the rate of six shillings and eight pence, for one ounce of silver, within two years from the date hereof. By order of Assembly, the 27th of February, 1756.
And that the bills be made of the denomination of twenty- five, twenty, ten, five, three, two and one shilling; and of nine pence and six pence ; and that an equal number be made of each denomination ; and the said bills shall be signed by any three of the gentlemen who signed the last bills made by this colony ; and as soon as made, shall be put into the treasury.
And for the calling in and redeeming said bills,-
VOL. V. 61
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1756.
It is enacted, that all such money as may be received from the crown of Great Britain, for reimbursing the expenses this colony have already or hereafter may be at, in the Crown Point expedition, shall be first appropriated to sinking the bills already made by this colony, called Crown Point bills ; that when the Crown Point bills are sunk, the remainder of all such money that may be received from home, shall be applied towards sinking the bills emitted by this act; and that for sinking the remainder of those bills, or the whole of them, if no money be received from home for that purpose, rates be as- sessed on the inhabitants of this colony, in such time that it may be collected and brought into the treasury, time enough to redeem the whole of the bills now emitted, and that shall be then outstanding within two years from the date of said bills; and that the whole of the rate or rates to be made for this purpose, shall be paid in the bills now emitted, or in silver, at the rate of six shillings and eight pence, for every ounce; or in gold, at a proportionate value ; and the silver and gold, by these means drawn into the treasury, shall be immediately ap- plied to redeem the outstanding bills emitted by this act ; and that for the future, no other bills be burnt by this colony, but those called Crown Point bills, until they be wholly sunk.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the emitting of these bills, nor any thing contained in this act, shall have any effect, or in any measure influence the old or new tenor bills formerly emitted by this colony, and now circulating ; but that all bonds, mortgages, notes, accounts, covenants and contracts, made, given or subsisting in this colony, shall be deemed, construed and adjudged in every respect as they would and ought to have been, if this act had never been made ; any thing therein contained that may seem to be con- trary, notwithstanding.
And that the committee of war have the same power and authority during the recess of the General Assembly, to carry all the matters and things, aforesaid, into execution, as they have at any time heretofore been vested with ; and that each
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commissioned officer shall be allowed three shillings, lawful money, for every soldier he shall enlist.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that £5,000 more be allowed and paid out of the gener- al treasury, towards re-building Fort George ; and that the com- mittee appointed for that service, make use of the stones in the old fort towards building the new one.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the committee of war be allowed two per cent. up- on all the money passed through their hands in paying the ex- penses of the expedition against Crown Point, for their time and trouble respecting that expedition.
Whereas, James Sheffield, Esq., exhibited unto this Assem- bly an account by him charged against the colony, for, sundry disbursements, &c., towards building the light house upon Beaver Tail ; which being duly examined,-
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the said account be, and the same is hereby al- lowed ; and that £133 12s. 10d., the balance thereof, be paid the said James Sheffield, out of the general treasury.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authori- ty thereof it is enacted, that the whole of the £70,000 rate, already assessed upon the inhabitants of this colony, be appro- priated towards sinking the bills of credit emitted by this gov- ernment for carrying on the expedition against Crown Point.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the committee of war prepare an account of the charges this colony hath borne in the late expedition against Crown Point, which His Honor, the Governor, is requested to transmit unto Great Britain.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the sum of £150, be allowed and paid out of the general treasury, unto Mr. James Rhodes, for repairing the great bridge at Pawtuxet Falls, commonly called Pawtuxet Bridge, he charging no commissions.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re-
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solved, that the sum of £200 be allowed and paid unto Job Randall, Esq., out of the general treasury, for building the bridge at Scituate, commonly called the Meeting House Bridge, he charging no commissions.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the sum of £5,143 14s. 6d., be paid out of the general treasury unto Mr. William Read, it being the balance of his account of charges for building the light house at Bea- ver Tail, and the dwelling house thereto belonging, with interest.
And it is further voted and resolved, that interest be further allowed the said Wm. Read, until the whole of said sum is paid.
Both houses being resolved into a grand committee, the gen- tlemen those names are set down in the following list, were chosen officers, to command the regiment of this colony, going against Crown Point :
Christopher Harris, Esq., colonel.
Christopher Champlin, Jr., Esq., lieutenant colonel.
Samuel Angel, Esq., major.
Thomas Burkit, first lieutenant of Col. Harris's company.
Elknah Spear, second lieutenant of the same.
William Richmond, Jr., first lieutenant of Lieut. Col. Cham- plin's company.
Benjamin Bosworth, second lieutenant of the same.
Silas Cook, first lieutenant of Major Angel's company.
Mark Noble, second lieutenant of the same.
1st. George Gardner, Jr., first captain.
John Linscomb, his first lieutenant.
James Tew, Jr., second lieutenant of said company.
2d. Henry Babcock, second captain.
Giles Russel, his first lieutenant.
Samuel Hearne, second lieutenant of said company.
3d. Barzillai Richmond, third captain.
Joseph Davis, his first lieutenant.
Nathaniel Peck, second lieutenant of said company 4th. John Potter, Jr., fourth captain.
Grindal Reynolds, his first lieutenant.
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George Shearman, second lieutenant of said company.
5th. Daniel Bosworth, fifth captain.
Christopher Hargil, his first lieutenant.
Edward Talby, second lieutenant of said company.
6th. Amos Hammond, sixth captain. Samuel Champlin, his first lieutenant.
Samuel Rose, second lieutenant of said company.
Joshua Brown, second lieutenant of Capt. John Whiting's company, now at Fort William Henry.
God save the King.
H. Fox to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, 13th March, 1756.
Gentlemen :- The Earl of Loudoun, whom the King has appointed commander in chief of all his forces whatsoever, in North America, being preparing to set out with all possible expedition, together with two regiments of foot, a train of artillery, and a sufficient quantity of warlike stores, which His Majesty has been pleased to order for the public service in those parts ; I am commanded to signify to you the King's pleasure, that you should be ready to give His Lordship, and the troops from England, all the assistance in your power, on their arrival in America, agreeably to the orders sent you in Sir Thomas Robinson's letter of October 26, 1754; and you will correspond with, and apply to the Earl of Loudoun, on all occasions, in the same manner, as you were directed to do with the late General Braddock, and Major General Shirley.
It being of the greatest importance, that the King's regiments already in North America (as well as the three stationed in Nova Scotia, as the four in the Province of New York), should be recruited, as soon as possible to their full complement of one thousand men, each, it is His Majesty's pleasure, that you should forthwith call together the Council and Assembly of the province under your government, and that you should press them in the strongest manner, to make the most early and effect- ual provision for raising, and assisting His Majesty's officers to raise, such a number, of men, as shall be sufficient to recruit the King's regiments now stationed, or to be stationed in North America, up to their establishments.
And you will acquaint them, that the King, in order to encourage his faithful subjects to engage in a service so essential for their own defence and preservation, does consent that such recruits shall not be obliged to serve any where but in North America ; that they shall be discharged when hostilities shall cease ; and that each of them shall have a grant of two hundred acres of land, free from the payment of quit rents for ten years, either in the Province of New York, New Hampshire, or Nova Scotia, at their own choice ; which lands shall be granted them, on producing their discharge from the commander in chief, to the Governor of either of the said provinces, respectively ; and, in case they should be killed in the service, their widows and children shall be entitled to the said lands, in such
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proportions as the Governor and Council of the province wherein such lands lie, shall direct.
You will acquaint the Couneil and Assembly with His Majesty's great goodness, in having recommended their case to the consideration of his Parliament, who have granted the sum of £115,000, to be distributed in such proportions as the King shall think proper, to the four provinces of New England ; and those of New York and New Jersey ; and thereby enabled His Majesty not only to manifest his sense of their past services, but also to encourage them for the future to exert themselves in the service with spirit and vigor ; that His Majesty therefore expects that they will heartily and zealously concur in every measure which shall be thought advisable, for carrying on the war in North America; and that they will fortliwith raise the same number of men, in each colony, as were raised last year (whereof as great a proportion as may be, to consist of rangers), to aet in conjune- tion with the King's troops, in such operations as shall be undertaken for annoying the enemy, and recovering His Majesty's just rights.
This service will be the less burthensome to them, as the raising of the men, their pay, arms and clothing, will be all that will be required of them, measures having been already taken for laying up magazines of stores, and provisions of all kinds, at the sole expense of the crown ; and you will use your utmost endeavors to induce the Council and Assembly to give the necessary orders for raising their quota of these men, with the greatest expedition, so that they may be ready to march to such place as the commander in chief shall upon his arrival, direct.
It is also His Majesty's pleasure, that you should particularly recommend it to your Assembly, to make provision out of such funds as already exist, or may here- after be raised for the King's service, for re-paying the masters of such indented servants, as shall engage in IIis Majesty's service, the money paid by the said mas- ters upon the original contract, in proportion to the time such indented servants have to serve.
And you will at all times discourage the harboring, concealing or assisting such as shall desert the service ; and also use all means for discovering, and apprehend- ing such deserters.
You will likewise use your best endeavors to prevail on your Assembly to ap- propriate such part of the funds now raised, or which shall be raised for the pub- lie service, to be issued and applied to the general service in such manner as the commander in chief shall direct.
The King would have you recommend it in the strongest manner to your Council and Assembly, to pass effectual laws for prohibiting all trade and commerce with the French, and for preventing the exportation of provisions of all kinds, to any of heir islands or colonies.
I am, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,
H. FOX.
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 Newport, the first Wednes- day of May, 1756.
The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor. The Hon. Jonathan Nichols, Deputy Governor.
Whereas, all and every the persons whose names hereafter follow, have taken the oath or affirmation, prescribed by the colony law, against bribery and corruption, in the election of officers in this government, as appears by proper returns from the respective town clerks,-
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that all and every of them be, and are hereby made free of the colony, and may therefore lawfully give their votes to choose officers, not only for their respective towns, but also in the choice of general officers.
Newport-Jos. Yeamans, Thos. Teacle Taylor, Wm. Gard- ner Wanton, Robert Stoddard, Daniel Fourtane, James Carter, Joseph Phillips, Isaac Ingraham, Jr., James Collins, Joseph Burrrel, Timothy Balch, Edward Simmonds, Richard Mumford, Joseph Belcher, John Clarke, son of John Smith ; Benjamin Wanton, William Taggart, John Congdon, Robert Pate, John Baggs, Robert Kelly and Nathan Ingraham.
Providence-John Foster, John Potter, Jr., Samuel Tucker, Jr., Edward Dexter, John Peck, Dean Kimball, James Henry, Benjamin Thurber, Knight Dexter, Jabez Whipple, William Aherson, Jr., Nathaniel Wheaton, Richard Borden, Luther Hawkins, Barak M'Donald, Levi Whipple and Nathan Sterry.
Portsmouth-Benjamin Cornell, Isaac Barker and Caleb Cory.
Warwick-Thomas Utter, Seth Chace, Anthony Low, Wm.
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1756.
Gorton, Jr., Oliver Arnold, John Gorton, Elisha Whitman, Zeb- ulon Utter, John Holdon, son of Randal ; and John Budlong.
Westerly-David Lewis, Jr., Simeon Burdick, Jos. Noyes, Na- than Smith, David Hall, John Larkin, Jr., and John Thompson.
New Shoreham -- Nathaniel Lock, Nathaniel Littlefield, the 2d, and Caleb Littlefield, the 2d.
North Kingstown-James Rhodes, Nicholas Gardner, Wil- kinson Browning, Nathaniel Loek, William Caswell, Daniel Weeden, Jeremiah Carpenter, Jeoffrey Watson, Jr., and David Babcock, Jr.
East Greenwich-Caleb Spencer, Josiah Matteson, Silas Ca- sey, Ebenezer Hill, Jeremiah Sweet and Thomas Briggs, son of Benjamin.
Smithfield-James Appleby, Jr., Gideon Paine, Stukely Ar- nold, Enoch Arnold, Joseph Carpenter, Jr., Peter Aldrich, Jr., Thomas Herenden, Joshua Shrife, William Gaskil, Daniel Gal- lom, Joshua Windsor, Jeremiah Ballard, John Angel, Nathan Arnold, Cornelius Walling and Daniel Smith.
Scituate-Eliezer Collins, Jabez Wight, Jer. Angel, Moses Colvin, Stephen Smith, son of Thomas ; and Jer. Angel, Jr.
Charlestown-William Greene and Nathan Kinyon.
Coventry-Ezekiel Johnson, James Bates, Jr., Israel Bowen, Caleb Bates and Peter Barker.
West Greenwich-George Reynolds, Robert Campbell, Wm. Davis, Job Spencer, Benjamin Greene, son of James ; James Moon, John Matteson, Jr., Philip Aylsworth, John Straight, Job Jenkins, William Nichols and John King.
Exeter-John Babcock, William Hall, Jr., Jonathan Ayls- worth and George Sweet.
Middletown-Nicholas Easton.
Bristol-Royal Paine, Gamaliel Clarke and Charles Church.
Cumberland-John Goold, Daniel Miller, Beach Cutter, Jo- seph Arnold, Christopher Brown, Henry Richmond, Benoni Studley, John Fisk, John Bartlet and Benj. Batter.
Richmond-William Thomas, Joseph Petty, Barnet Sisson, Benjamin Enos and Andrew Nichols.
Cranston -- Stephen Brown and Nathan Williams.
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The following officers declared elected, were duly engaged.
The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor. The Hon. Jonathan Nichols, Deputy Governor.
ASSISTANTS.
Mr. James Honeyman,
Mr. Nicholas Easton,
Mr. Nicholas Cooke,
Mr. Obadiah Brown,
Mr. Robert Lawton,
Mr. Joseph Brownell, Jr.,
Mr. Jeremiah Lippitt,
Mr. William Richmond,
Mr. John Congdon,
Col. Thomas Hazard.
SECRETARY.
Mr. Thomas Ward.
ATTORNEY GENERAL. Mr. Daniel Updike.
GENERAL TREASURER. Mr. Thomas Richardson.
DEPUTIES.
Newport.
Capt. Benjamin Wickham, Mr. Thomas Cranston,
Mr. Peter Bours,
Capt. Joseph Wanton, Jr., Capt. Wm. Mumford, Mr. William Read. Providence. Mr. Elisha Brown, Mr. Nicholas Brown,
Mr. Henry Harris, Mr. George Brown. Portsmouth.
Mr. William Anthony, Jr., Mr. Jonathan Freeborne, Mr. Thomas Brownell, Mr. William Earl. VOL. V. 62
Warwick. Col. Benoni Waterman, Mr. Daniel Greene, Capt. Randall Rice, Capt. James Greene. Westerly. Major Joseph Clarke, Mr. Samuel Ward. New Shoreham. Mr. Robert Hull, Mr. John Littlefield. North Kingstown.
Mr. Thomas Allen,
Mr. Samuel Albro. South Kingstown. Mr. Henry Gardner, Mr. Joseph Haszard.
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1756.
DEPUTIES.
East Greenwich.
Mr. William Spencer.
Lieut. Col. Isaac Gardner, Jamestown.
Capt. Wm. Haszard.
Mr. Edward Carr. Smithfield.
Mr. Thomas Owens,
Capt. John Sayles, Jr. Scituate.
Capt. Job Randall, Mr. Gideon Harris. Glocester.
Mr. John Walton, Mr. Silas Williams. Charlestown. Col. Christopher Champlin, Capt. Robert Potter. West Greenwich. Mr. Jeremiah Ellis,
Mr. Samuel Dyer. Coventry.
Mr. Caleb Greene.
Mr. Job Greene. Exeter. Capt. John Weight,
Mr. Benoni Gardner.
Middletown. Mr. Thomas Gould, Capt. William Turner. Bristol. Mr. Thomas Greene, Mr. Nathaniel Fales. Tiverton. Mr. Thomas Howland. Mr. John Brown. Little Compton. Mr. Richard Brownell, Mr. Thomas Church. Warren. Capt. Josiah Humphreys, Capt. Benjamin Barton. Cumberland. Mr. John Dexter, Capt. David Whipple. Richmond. Capt. William Clarke, Jr .. Mr. Stephen Richmond. Cranston. Mr. Joseph Harris, Mr. Christopher Lippitt.
The Hon. Thomas Cranston, speaker. and Mr. Josias Lyndon, clerk.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that the warrants to the collector of rates, be lengthened ont unto the next session of this Assembly, and no longer.
Whereas. the committee of war have received of His Excel-
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lency, William Shirley, Esq., commander in chief of His Maj- esty's forces in North America, three hundred firelocks, three hundred bayonets, three hundred cartouch boxes, nine barrels of gunpowder, one ton of musket balls, and one cask of flints, for the use of the forces raised in this colony, to be employed in the expedition now carrying on against the French forts and settlements on Lake George, late St. Sacrament, at Crown Point, and on the Lake Iroquois, otherwise called Lake Cham- plain ; and whereas, the said committee of war have, by an in- denture, under their hands and seals, dated the 20th day of April last, promised, in behalf of the colony, to be answerable to the quartermaster general and financial officer of His Maj- esty's ordnance, for all said arms and accoutrements, and that the same shall be returned (such only as shall be lost by in- evitable accidents in actual service, excepted) at the end of the aforesaid expedition, to His Majesty's comptroller of the ord- nance, in North America, at such place as shall be appointed by His Excellency, William Shirley, Esq., or the commander in chief, for the time being ;-
This Assembly do therefore vote and resolve, and it is voted and resolved, that they approve of the conduct of the commit- tee of war, in obligating themselves, as abovesaid, in behalf of the colony ; and that the colony will abide by, and perform the promise contained in said indenture.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that the wages of the first lieuten- ant of each of the field officers' companies going in the expedi- tion against Crown Point, be £90 per month; and that the second lieutenant of each of the said officers, be allowed the monthly wages of £60.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that the committee of war be, and they are hereby directed and fully empowered to issue war- rants unto the colonels of the several regiments in this colony, to cause to be impressed such a number of able bodied men as shall be wanted to fill up the several companies rasing for the
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expedition against Crown Point, in such proportion as the com- mittee of war shall think just; and that said warrants be given ont upon the 10th day of this instant May, if said com- panies are not filled up by that time.
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that the 20th day of this instant May, be set apart and observed as a day of fasting and prayer, throughout this colony ; and that no servile labor be done on said day ; and that His Honor, the Governor, be, and is hereby requested to put out a proclamation for that purpose ; and that this act be forthwith proclaimed.
Published in Newport, May Sth, 1756, by THO. WARD, Secretary.
An Act for regulating and governing the forces raised, and to be raised by this colony, for the intended expedition against Crown Point.
Whereas, this government has been, and are now levying forces for an expedition against Crown Point, and it is neces- sary that they should be under proper government,-
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that the commissioned officers of the forces raised, and to be raised in this colony, for the expe- dition aforesaid, may, by the appointment of their colonel or commanding officer, hold a regimental court martial, for inflict- ing such corporeal punishments as the neglect of duty, disor- ders in quarters, or other such crimes, may deserve; which regimental court martial, shall consist of five commissioned offi- cers, at the least ; two of whom, shall be of the degree of cap- tain ; and the judgment or sentence by them given, shall be always according to the plurality of voices ; but never execut- ed until the commanding officer of the regiment shall have con- firmed and approved the same.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the regiment of this colony, and all the officers and soldiers
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thereto belonging, shall be subject to such general courts mar- tial as may be holden in the army, by order of the commander in chief.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that Mr. Ephraim Starkweather be, and is hereby ap- pointed chaplain of the regiment of this colony, raised for the expedition against Crown Point, and be allowed the monthly wages of £100, old tenor.
Whereas, Messrs. John Wanton, Thomas Rodman, Edward Wanton, Joseph Cozzens, Samuel Dyre, Jr., Edward Calverson, Clothier Pierce, Jr., Matthew Cozzens, Robert Wheatley, Au- gustus Johnston and Israel Brayton, preferred a petition, and represented unto this Assembly, that whereas, there is great danger of an approaching war, and this government is repair- ing the fort, and putting the colony into a posture of defence ; and as the greater part of the petitioners have been used to the exercise of cannon, they proposed an act may be passed that the masters of vessels in the town of Newport, or so many as shall be thought necessary by the captain of the fort, may, in- stead of being obliged to bear arms in the trained bands of said town, be obliged, by an order from the captain of said fort, for the time being, to appear six times every year at the fort, on such days as the captain shall see cause to appoint, in order to exercise the cannon there ; by means whereof, they may gain further knowledge of that exercise, and be the better enabled to defend, in case of an attack of said fort; on consideration whereof ;-
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