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 48
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AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
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I cannot say but that I have been the more emboldened in taking the liberty of troubling you in this manner, by the knowledge I have of the ready assistance you have always so laudably given His Majesty's forces, on the like occasions, by land ; and as His Majesty has been graciously pleased to give a bounty of thirty shillings, sterling, to every man who shall voluntarily enter into the fleet, by your making it publicly known, may probably induce many to come into the service.
You'll be pleased, in your answer, to mention what hopes we may have from your assistance, that I may judge whether or not it will be necessary to send round a man of war to Newport.
I am, with the utmost respect, sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
To Governor Hopkins.
W. SHIRLEY.
Governor Shirley to Governor Hopkins.
Albany, 12th May, 1756.
Sir :- Before I left Boston, the Massachusetts government passed an act of As- sembly, to subject the troops raised within this Province for the expedition against Crown Point, to the King's articles of war, a copy of which act, I have ordered the Province secretary to send Your Honor ; and I look upon this point to be so essen- tial an one for keeping up a proper command and discipline among the provincial troops, as well as regulars, that I must recommend it to Your Honor in the strong- est terms, as I have to all the other governments concerned in this expedition, to pass a like act with regard to their troops.
The season of the year for opening the campaign, is now far advanced, and Your Honor is sensible how much the success of our operation against the enemy de- pends upon our entering early upon action.
I must therefore beg you would hasten the march of your troops to Albany, as fast as possible ; and take every measure for immediately completing your maga- zines of provisions and stores, at Fort Edward and Fort William Henry, providing a sufficient number of oxen, horses and carriages for transporting them to the latter of these two forts, and of batteaux and other craft, for transporting them from Lake George to Ticonderoga, &c .; all which should be done without the least loss of time. I am, with great regard and esteem, sir,
Your Honor's most humble and most obedient servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq.
I. West to Governor Hopkins.
Treasury Chambers, 13th May, 1756.
Sir :- You receive, enclosed, a copy of the King's warrant, for paying the £115,- 000, granted by Parliament to the colonies of New England, New York and New Jersey, in America, as a free gift and reward for their past services, and an encour- agement to them to continue to exert themselves with vigor in the defence of Ilis Majesty's just rights and possessions.
You will see, by the warrant, the proportion allotted to your government, which
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Messieurs. Thomlinson and Hanburg have shipped on board His Majesty's ship Sterling Castle, Captain Cornish ; of which I acquaint you, by order of the lords commissioners of His Majesty's treasury ; and am, sir,
Your most humble servant, I. WEST.
To the Governor of Rhode Island.
Secretary For to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, 17th May, 1756.
Gentlemen :- His Majesty having found it necessary to declare war against the French King, has been pleased, in a council held this day, at Kensington, for that purpose, to sign the enclosed declaration, and to order that the same be published to-morrow, by the heralds-at-arms, in the usual places, and with the acenstomed formalities.
I am commanded to signify to you, the King's pleasure, that you should cause the said declaration of war to be proclaimed in the colony under your government, that His Majesty's subjects, having this notice, may take care to prevent any mis- chief which otherwise they might suffer from the enemy : and do their duty in their several stations, to distress and annoy the subjects of France.
And His Majesty would have you be very rigorous and severe in preventing any ammunition or stores of any kind, from being carried to them; and you are to use all proper methods that may be most effectual for that purpose.
I am, gentleman, your most obedient humble servant, H. FOX. To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
P. S. His Majesty has been pleased to order letters of marque, or commissions to privateers, to be granted, in the usual manner.
I have received your letters of November 14th.
General Winslow to Governor Hopkins.
Camp at Half Moon, June 14th, 1756.
Sir :- I look upon myself obliged in duty, to acquaint all my constituents, who have reposed trust in me, with the command of the troops raised for the reduc- tion of Crown Point, to give a particular detail of affairs.
When inclination joins with duty, as is now the case when writing to Your Honor, the case is still more easy ; and I with pleasure collected the returns en- closed, and give you joy that the colony under your command, comes nearest up to their quota, and hope methods will be taken that not a man of yours will be want- ing, and that soon, as I hope our provisions wilt be up in all, this mouth ; and am determined not to be idle, be our forces more or less ; have no time to write the committee of war. Your Honor will, if you think proper, communicate to those gentlemen. Am, sir, with regards,
Your most obedient and most humble servant, JOHN WINSLOW. To Governor Hopkins.
P. S. Col. Harris is not yet arrived, nor is the act on which your troops are raised. and to be regulated : which, in changeable times, may be necessary.
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Secretary Fox, to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Whitehall, June 18, 1756.
Gentlemen :- I am commanded to signify to you the King's pleasure, that in case any of the commanders of His Majesty's ships shall have occasion to apply to you, to set on shore, in the colony under your government, any French prisoners, you should receive and treat them in the same manner, as was practiced during the last war, or in such other manner, as you shall think most conducive to His Majesty's service. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, H. FOX.
To the Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
Sir Charles Lawrence to Governor Hopkins.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1st July, 1756.
Sir :- I am well informed that many of the French inhabitants transported last year from this Province, and distributed among the different colonies upon the con- tinent, have procured small vessels and embarked on board them, in order to return by coasting from colony to colony ; and that several of them are now actually on their way; and as their success in this enterprise would not only frustrate the design of this government in sending them away at so prodigious an expense, but would also greatly endanger the security of the Province, especially at this juncture ; I think it my indispensable duty to entreat Your Excellency to use your utmost endeavors to prevent the accomplishment of so pernicious an undertaking, by destroying such vessels as those in your colony may have prepared for that purpose ; and all that may attempt to pass through any part of your government, either by land or water in their way hither.
I would by no means have given Your Excellency this trouble, were I not per- fectly well assured how fatal the return of these people is likely to prove to His Majesty's interest in this part of the world.
I am, sır, Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,
CHAS. LAWRENCE.
To Governor Hopkins.
Sir William Johnson to Major General Abercrombie, giving an ac- count of the treaty with the Indians ; transmitted by Sir Chas. Hardy to Governor Hopkins.
Fort Johnson, 12th July, 1756.
Sir :- Last night I concluded all matters with the king, or head of the Shawanese, and with the king or head of the Delaware Indians, who live on the Susquehanna ; the former at Wyoming, the latter at Ieaogo.
The Shawanese chief declares that none of his people were concerned in any of the hostilities committed on the frontiers of the southern provinces; that they have strictly adhered to their treaties and engagements with the English, and are de- termined to continue acting upon the same principles.
VOL. V. 67
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The Delaware chief has confessed that some of his people, deluded by the French and the Indians in their interest, did join with them in their late hostilities and depredations, on the frontiers of the said governments; that they have seen their error, laid down the axe, and do repent of their past misconduct ; will, for the future, govern themselves by the example of their uncle, the Six Nations ; and in conjunction with them, will take up and use the hatchet against the French, and all their adherents. This, he ratified in the most public and solemn manner, before the deputies of the Six Nations, who were present ; and engaged thatall the English pris- oners, who had fallen to the share of his people, should be forthwith delivered up.
I presented the war belt, which was accepted by both these chiefs, who sung the war song (which is a sacred engagement amongst the Indians), with singular zeal and warmth.
I think it proper to lose no time in acquainting Your Excellency with the happy issue of this important affair, in which I have been successful beyond my ex- pectations:
The Delaware chief, who was the principal object, has also promised to use his utmost endeavors to withdraw those of his nation whom the French have seduced to go and live in the neighborhood of Fort Du Quesne.
As I see by the public prints, the Governor of New Jersey hath published a declaration of war against the Delaware Indians, which, as he could not but know they were expected at the Onondaga meeting, with the hopes of bring- ing matters to an accommodation, was, in my humble opinion, a premature and very unadvised measure ; and the Governor of Pennsylvania, he must also have known, had, upon this account, suspended any hostilities in consequence of his declaration of war, some time ago published.
If from these, or any of the colonies, any hostilities should be first committed against those said Indians, the Six Nations will, in a body, resent it, and all our In- «lian affairs be put into a fatal confusion, which, I believe, no person will be able to compose ; I hope, therefore, Your Excellency will judge it proper to communi_ cate with the utmost despatch, the general account which I have now given you, to the southern governments. I would have sent the same to Sir Charles Hardy, in order that he might have transmitted it to the neighboring governments to the southward; but as that would have taken up more time, I thought it best to refer it to Your Excellency, who, I hope, will, if your sentiments correspond with mine, enforce them with your own opinion.
I shall only add, that there appears every kind of moral evidence to believe the uprightness and sincerity of the promises and engagements of these chiefs, in be- half of their people ; and that as soon as a copy of the particular proceedings of this congress can be got ready, I shall transmit one to Sir Charles Hardy, to forward to the southern governments.
I hope, some day this week, to have the honor of waiting upon you ; and am, most respectfully,
Your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant,
WILLIAM JOHNSON. To Ilis Excellency Major General Abercrombie.
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Governor Shirley to Governor Hopkins.
New York, July 13th, 1756.
Sir :- Some days ago, I had the honor to receive at Albany, two letters from the Right Honorable Mr. Fox, one of His Majesty's principal secretaries of state, dated the 13th and 31st March last, acquainting me, in the former, with His Maj- esty's appointment of the Earl of Loudoun to be general and commander in chief of his forces in North America ; and in the latter, signifying to me, that it having been represented to the King, that my presence in England may be very useful and necessary, to give many lights and informations relative to the state of affairs in North America, it was His Majesty's pleasure that I should repair to England with all possible expedition ; and that, for this purpose, His Majesty had given di- rections to the lords of the admiralty, who have ordered a frigate to receive me on board, and to proceed with me directly to England.
And I have the pleasure of being acquainted in the former of these letters, " that the disposition His Majesty has thought proper to make of the command of his forces in North America, is not owing to any dissatisfaction with my services ; but on the contrary, it is the King's intention to give me a new mark of his royal favor."
As I think it not improper for me to give Your Honor and the province under your government, notice of my departure for England, so I am desirous of taking this opportunity to acknowledge their exertion of a most ready spirit for the de- fence of His Majesty's just rights and dominions, against the encroachments of the French, upon this continent, ever since I have had the honor to have any share in the command upon it ; to assure them of my best wishes for their welfare, and that of His Majesty's other northern colonies ; and that I shall think myself happy in being able, upon my arrival in England, to give such lights and informations rela- tive to the state of affairs in North America, at this most critical conjuncture, as may best promote His Majesty's service, and the general interest of his subjects there. I am, with great regard and esteem, sir,
Your Honor's most humble and most obedient servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq-
Lord Loudoun to Governor Hopkins.
New York, 23d July, 1756.
Sir :- His Majesty having been graciously pleased to appoint me, by his commis- sion, under the great seal, to be general and commander in chief of all his forces in North America, I take this first opportunity to acquaint you of my arrival this morning. As I have been unfortunately so long detained in my passage, I find it indispensably necessary that I go immediately to the army. I must proceed ac- cordingly.
I herewith send Your Honor the letters of Mr. Fox, His Majesty's secretary of state, and of the Earl of Halifax, His Majesty's first lord commissioner of the board of trade. I do, from your zeal and attachment to His Majesty's service, and from
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1756.
the loyalty and good dispositions of your people, depend upon all assistance that the state and circumstances of your colony is able to give me.
I will beg Your Honor to assure the good people of your colony, that they may depend upon my protection, and my utmost care to avoid and remove (as far as the circumstances of a country become the seat of war, will admit,) every thing that may any way burthen or hurt the interest of any individual.
I shall, on all occasions, and in every thing relative to the service and interest of the colonies, communicate with Your Honor ; and beg at all times to be favored from you, with all matters of advice and intelligence, relative to the same ; and shall impatiently expect the returns you are directed to send.
I beg you to be assured, that I am, with the highest esteem, sir,
Your Honor's most obedient and most humble servant,
LOUDOUN.
To the Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq.
P. S. I must beg Your Honor to send me, forthwith, copies of the acts or resolves of your Assemblies, by which the troops that are to act against Crown Point, have been raised, and of the instructions for their proceeding. L.
Col. Henry Babcock to the Committee of War, Rhode Island.
Albany, 7th August, 1756.
Honored Gentlemen :- Some time last month, Gen. Abercrombie proposed a question to Gen. Winslow, asking him what would be the effect, if the regular troops were ordered to join the provincials, on their intended expedition ?
Gen. Winslow told Gen. Abercrombie, that he would be glad if such a junction could be made ; but said, that he imagined it would be almost an entire dissolution of the provincial forees ; that it would not be in his power to restrain them from quitting the service, but said that he would choose to lay it before his couneil.
He accordingly, when he arrived at Fort Edward, called a council of the field officers, and laid it before them.
They, after reading the question, chose a committee, to draft an answer to Gen. Abercrombie's question, of which I happened to be one. Col. Fiteh was sent down with the answer, to Gen. Abercrombie. My Lord Loudoun arrived at Alba- ny before Col. Fitch got there; My Lord received the answer, and wrote to Gen. Winslow, desiriug of him to come to Albany and confer with him. Gen. Winslow, who was at Fort Wm. Henry, did not come, but wrote an answer to His Lordship's letter, which I was ordered to bring to My Lord Loudoun, who seemed to be somewhat surprised that Gen. Winslow did not think proper to confer with him.
His Lordship told me, with whom I was a good while alone in his private cham- ber, that he had not written home since his arrival ; and that he had delayed writ- ing, in hopes that there might be a happy accommodation betwixt the regulars and the provincials. lle further told me, he had desired Gen. Winslow to come down to Albany, and that he did not at all doubt but that in half an hour, he would ac- commodate affairs to his, and all his officers' satisfaction.
Cols. Gridley and Ruggles are both at the lake, who are very averse to any junction, even upon the best terms that could be proposed ; yet they are averse to it, and say it publicly. .
I imagine that they advised Gen. Winslow not to go down, expecting that My
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Lord would propose such a junction, that Gen. Winslow could not, in honor, refuse.
I have heard that Sir Charles Hardy has subjected (or intends to do it,) his regiment under the immediate command of My Lord Loudoun, and will doubtless thereby save to the government all the expense of his provisions and the transport- ing them, which I imagine would be the best thing you could possibly do with your regiment.
Compliments to all inquiring friends.
I am, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,
HENRY BABCOCK.
To the Committee of War.
Charles Apthorp & Son to Governor Hopkins.
Boston, 31st August, 1756.
Sir :- Herewith you will receive a packet from Messrs. Thomlinson & Hanburg, enclosing an account of the cost and charges on the money purchased by them for the grant of Parliament to your colony, and shipped by the Stirling Castle man of war, which was to have been delivered here ; but by orders from the lords of the admiralty, the captain has landed it at New York, and has left it in the care of Sir Charles Hardy, to whom we have written, and desired it may be delivered to Mr. William Bayard, our agent there ; upon application to whom, and the delivery of the four enclosed receipts, signed to him, it will be delivered to your order.
You will observe Messrs. Thomlinson & Hanburg, out of a sincere regard for the interest of the colonies, have generously given up their commissions, and, as we have an equal regard for them, we beg they will also aecept of ours.
Enclosed, you have our order on Mr. Bayard, for six chests of silver, and one chest of gold, as per Messrs. Thomlinson & Hanburg's account ; amount £6,684 12s 3d., sterling.
We are, Your Honor's most obedient and most humble servants,
CHAS. APTHORP & SON.
To the Honorable the Governor of Rhode Island.
Governor Shurley to Governor Hopkins.
Boston, September 13, 1756.
Sir :- I hereby acquaint Your Honor, that I have caused to be raised within this Province, six hundred men, to make up the deficiency that happens to be of the number of troops this government had agreed to supply for the army of the provin- cial forces, for His Majesty's service, against Crown Point, which are now actually on their march ; as also, that I have issued orders for one thousand men to be drawn out of the regiments of militia, in the western parts of this Province, to hold themselves in readiness to march forthwith to the suecor of the provincial forces, on any emergency, and advices thereof received from the Right Honorable the Farl of Loudoun, or Gen. Winslow, agrceably to the resolution of our General Court, copy whereof, you have herewith.
And I would earnestly desire Your Honor to use your utmost endeavors, that
.
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your government might, in all proper ways, without delay, do every thing on their part to answer the present emergency of His Majesty's service, and the expecta tions of the Right Honorable the Earl of Loudoun, signified in the circular letters to the several governments herein concerned.
I am, with truth and regard, sir, Your Honor's most obedient humble servant,
W. SHIRLEY.
To the HIon. Stephen Hopkins, Esq.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the 14th day of October, 1756.
The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor.
The Hon. John Gardner, Deputy Governor.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that a regiment of four hundred men, including the sixty ordered to be raised by this Assembly, at their last ses- sion, and excluding officers, be forthwith raised in this colony, and sent as a reinforcement to the forces already raised by this colony, and gone on the expedition against Crown Point; and that James Honeyman, Jeremiah Lippitt, Job Randall and John Walton, Esqs., with Mr. Samuel Ward, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee, to prepare a bill for that pur- pose, and present the same unto this Assembly, as soon as may be.
This Assembly do vote and resolve, and it is voted and re- solved, that His Honor the Governor be, and he is hereby, re- quested to write a letter by the next post, to His Excellency the Earl of Loudoun, informing Ilis Lordship of the true reasons that his first letter to this government was not an- swered.
An Aet for raising, subsisting and paying four hundred men, to be sent to Albany, as a reinforcement to the army gone upon the expedition against Crown Point.
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Whereas, His Excellency the Earl of Loudoun, general and commander in chief of all His Majesty's forces in North America, hath demanded an aid of men from this colony ; and at the same time acquainted the government that he hath re- ceived information that a large body of French troops were on their march towards the English settlements ; in compliance with His Excellency's demand, and to the and that every thing in the power of this colony may be done, for the defence of the country ;-
Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and; by the au- thority thereof it is enacted, that a regiment of four hundred effective men, exclusive of officers, and including the sixty lately ordered by this Assembly, to be divided into eight com- panies, be forthwith raised, at the expense of the colony, and sent to Albany, with all possible despatch, to be under the command of His Excellency the Earl of Loudoun; and to continue in the service for a term not exceeding two months from the time of their enlistment, unless the exigency of affairs may make their longer continuance necessary.
And for the more easy and expeditious raising of said men,-
Be. it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that His Honor the Governor, forthwith issue his warrants to the proper officers to call together all the companies of horse and foot in this colony, on Thursday, the 21st of this instant October, in order to enlist or draught out of them a sufficient number of men, to complete the aforesaid regiment ; and that all male persons, between the years of sixteen and sixty, in this colony, be, upon this occasion, put into the lists of the several companies within the district of which they respectively dwell, excepting the Governor and Deputy Governor, assistants, house of deputies, justices of the superior and inferior courts, secretary, general treasurer, clerks of the superior and inferior courts, sheriffs, town council men, town clerks, justices of the peace, commis- sioned officers in the several troops and companies, ministers of the gospel, and all those who have sustained the offices of Governor, Deputy Governor, and assistants. and justices of the
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superior courts, together with all those who have made or shall make oath or affirmation that it is against their conscience to bear arms.
And that in case there shall not be a sufficient number of men enlisted timely on Thursday, the commissioned officers are hereby required and directed immediately to make up the said number of four hundred men, by impressing or taking them by lot, out of the several companies, according to the following proportion, that is to say :
Out of the town of Newport, seventy-three effective men ; Portsmouth, ten ; Jamestown, four; Middletown, seven ; Tiver- ton, thirteen ; Little Compton, twelve ; Providence, thirty- five ; Smithfield, twenty ; Scituate, sixteen ; Glocester, six- teen ; Cumberland, ten ; Cranston, sixteen ; Westerly, twenty- four; North Kingstown, seventeen ; South Kingstown, sixteen ; Charlestown, eight ; Exeter, fourteen ; Richmond, nine ; Bris- tol, ten; Warren, eleven ; Warwick, nineteen ; East Green- wich, fifteen ; West Greenwich, twelve; and Coventry, thir- teen.
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