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 8
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It is therefore voted and resolved, that for the future, the grand committee do not draw any money out of the general treasury, for such a service as aforesaid, but by order of the General Assembly.
Upon the petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Providence, in the county of Providence, praying that an ar- tillery company might be incorporated in said town, and a charter granted them in such manner as has been heretofore done ;-
It is thereupon voted and resolved, that this petition be granted ; provided, the company be raised in the county of Providence, aforesaid ; and called by the name of the Artillery Company, of the county of Providence ; and that no person be admitted into said company but by the consent of the pa- tentees or petitioners ; and that a charter be granted to said company, under the colony seal, and signed by the secretary, in the same form as the charter granted to the Artillery Com- any in the town of Newport, in the county of Newport.
Voted and resolved, that William Ellery and Samuel Wick- ham, Esqs., and Mr. John Callender, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to draw a petition to His Majesty, for a number of cannon, and other warlike stores, for the use of this
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colony, to be signed by His Honor, the Governor, in behalf of the General Assembly, and present the same to the next ses- sion of this Assembly.
Voted and resolved, that His Honor, the Governor, write to His Honor, the Governor of Connecticut, and move to him, that, upon any emergent occasion, the two colony sloops may join in their cruises.
Voted and resolved, that the sum of £300 be allowed and paid out of the general treasury, to the Hon. William Greene, Esq., Governor of this colony, for his last year's salary and ex- traordinary service.
Voted and resolved, that the sum of £50 be allowed and paid out of the general treasury, to the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., Deputy Governor of said colony, for his last year's salary and extraordinary service.
Voted and resolved, that the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., Deputy Governor, Stephen Hopkins, Esq., Messrs. Stephen Brownell, Robert Hassard, Job Randall and Samuel Perry, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee, to determine what is ratable estate, and prepare a bill for the same, and present it to the next session of this Assembly.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providenee Plantations, at Newport, the 19th day of June, 1744.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor.
The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
An Act for putting this colony in a proper posture of defence, in the present war.
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authori- ty thereof it is enacted, that the battery under Fort George, be enlarged, so as to mount two cannons more in a complete man- ner, at the south end thereof; and that ten men more be ad- ded to the former twenty soldiers for the defence of said fort ; and that the gunner's pay be augmented to £10 per month, and the men's to ES per month, old tenor; which men may be impressed by the field officers of the county of Newport, in case a sufficient number do not enlist in ten days ; and that a lieutenant be appointed to said fort by the General Assembly, and to receive the pay of £20 per month, old tenor, he con- stantly residing at said fort, till the 10th day of October next ensuing, and finding himself.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that eighty barrels of good gunpowder (including what is already ordered to be purchased), and fifteen hundred pounds weight of musket balls be procured as soon as may be, at the expense of the colony, and for the use thereof, by the commissary ; fifty barrels of said powder to be for the use of said Fort George, and to be delivered to the captain of said fort; twelve barrels there- of to be for the use of the colony sloop Tartar, and to be deliv- ered to the captain of said sloop ; three barrels thereof, for the defence of Block Island, and to be delivered to Capt. Edward Sands ; and the remaining fifteen barrels, with the musket balls, to be divided to the three counties ; that is, five barrels of gun powder and one-third part of the musket balls to each county, to be delivered to the colonel of the regiment, within the same.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the commissary, as he shall purchase any of the aforesaid war- like stores, shall draw money out of the general treasury to pay for the same, as he shall have occasion; and render an annual account of the expenses arising thereon, or sooner, if required thereto by the General Assembly.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the rate ordered to be levied at the last session, be augmented
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to the sum of £10,000, old tenor, to be collected as said act expresseth ; the whole to be done in nine months' time.
But for the present supply of the government with neces- sary stores, £2,500, new tenor, be impressed from the plates, dated 1743, and signed by the grand committee, and deliv- ered to the general treasurer, immediately to be applied to the uses aforesaid, and no other ; and the aforesaid sum to be sunk by said rate, when collected.
An Act for fitting out the colony sloop Tartar, in company with the sloop kept by His Majesty's colony of Connecticut, for guarding the coast.
Whereas, it is necessary for the safety of trade on the coast of New England, and the preservation of shipping, to keep some vessels of force cruising, to protect His Majesty's subjects and their effects against foreign enemies now in time of open war ;-
Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the colony sloop Tartar, be forthwith fitted out in a warlike manner, with guns, ammu- nition, and all other stores of war, and other necessary stores, as soon as possible, and be manned with ninety able bodied men (officers included), and proceed forthwith on a cruise, sail- ing as far eastward as Martha's Vineyard, and as far westward as Long Island extends, and to continue said cruise (without any intermission, only to procure necessaries) from the time of sailing, until the 1st day of October next.
And all the soldiers, by act of Assembly ordered to Block Island, for its security, are hereby ordered on board said sloop Tartar, upon her aforesaid cruise, as part of said number of men appointed.
And the officers and men on board said sloop, are hereby allow- ed the following wages and encouragements : the captain, £25 per month ; the lieutenant, £15 per month ; the master, £12 per month ; the gunner, £12 per month ; the mates, £11 per month ; the boatswain, £11 per month ; the carpenter, £11
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per month ; the surgeon, £15 per month ; and to the sailors, or other hands on board said sloop, £8 per month ; which said captain and lieutenant shall be appointed by the General As- sembly ; and the said captain shall appoint all the other offi- cers, and ship the other hands.
And whatever prize or prizes, or part thereof, shall be taken by said sloop, shall be divided among the captors in the follow- ing proportion, viz. : one-eighth part to the captain ; two- eighths equally to be divided among the other officers; and the remaining five-eighths, in equal shares among the men, or their representatives, if any be killed or die.
And during said cruise, the allowance on board said sloop shall be as followeth, viz. : to each man per week, seven pounds of bread, four pounds of beef, two pounds of pork, two quarts of peas or beans, and one pound of butter; and for every day, each man half a pint of rum.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all necessaries for said sloop, shall at all times be procured at the expense of the colony, by the commissary thereof, and delivered by him to the captain of said sloop ; and in case a sufficient number of men shall not have entered voluntarily on board said sloop, when ready to sail, then the Governor or Deputy Gov- ernor, are empowered forthwith to grant a warrant for impress- ing a sufficient number for cruising, as aforesaid.
Provided, nevertheless, that His Honor, the Governor, is re- quested speedily to acquaint Ilis Honor, the Governor of Connec- ticut, with this act of the General Assembly, that said colony of Connecticut may comply with the intent thereof, by fitting out their colony sloop in conjunction, as aforesaid, for guarding the trade, and preserving the interest of both governments, if they shall think fit ; but in case said government of Connec- ticut shall not join force with this colony by fitting out their sloop, as aforesaid, then the said sloop Tartar is not to be sent out on said cruise by virtue of this act; but shall be sent out only upon any emergency, as His Honor, the Governor, shall have intelligence, and judge necessary and proper ; any thing afore written, notwithstanding.
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1744.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the commissary draw money out of the general treasury, for the purposes aforesaid, and pay the aforementioned wages at the end of every cruise, and account annually, or oftener, as the General Assembly shall direct.
Voted and resolved, that a commissary be now chosen, to take care of the colony's arms, war like stores and other stores, and to perform such other duties as properly belong to said office ; and that such commissary shall be hereafter an- nually chosen by the General Assembly, at their session, held on the first Wednesday in May.
Voted and resolved, that the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq-, and Col. John Cranston, being of the former committee, ap- pointed to take care of the colony sloop Tartar, and to fit her out upon a cruise, do deliver to the commissary the said colony sloop Tartar, with the stores and appurtenances thereunto be- longing, taking a receipt for the same ; which is to be lodged> with an inventory of the stores and appurtenances, as aforesaid in the secretary's office.
And that Messrs. John Tillinghast and Joseph Jacob be a committee to audit the above mentioned committee's accounts, and give them an order upon the general treasurer for the bal- ance that shall appear to be due to them, and make report to the next session of this Assembly.
Whereas, there are sundry of the subjects of the king of Erance, now in His Majesty's jail, in Newport, in the county of Newport ;-
It is therefore voted and resolved, that in case they, or any of them, or any other of the said French king's subjects other- ways confined in Newport, aforesaid, see cause to remove to the town of Providence, in the county of Providence, and there to subsist themselves, they shall be transported there, and shall remain within said town of Providence, till further orders from Ilis Ilonor, the Governor, or the General Assembly ; and that, if they, or any of them, shall be found without the precincts of the said town of Providence, not having liberty for the same, either from the Governor or from the General Assembly, those
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so offending, shall be confined to jail, and there to remain till further orders.
Voted and resolved, that when, and as often as the captain, or lieutenant of the colony sloop Tartar, shall refuse to take their respective offices when chosen, or shall die, His Honor, the Governor, be, and he is hereby fully empowered, in the re- cess of the General Assembly, to appoint others in their room.
Whereas, the committee appointed at the last session of this Assembly, to prepare the draft of a petition to His Majesty, for a supply of cannon and military stores, did now present the same for the consideration of this Assembly ;---
It is thereupon voted and resolved, that the said draft be, and it is hereby approved of and accepted ; and that His Honor, the Governor, sign a fair copy thereof, and transmit it to the agent of this colony, by the first opportunity, in order to be presented to His Majesty ; and that the said agent be directed to solicit this affair in the best manner, so as to get an answer as soon as possible.
Voted and resolved, that His Honor, the Deputy Governor, Messrs. Daniel Updike, John Callender and James Martin, be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to prepare an an- swer to the letter from the lords commissioners of the admiral- ty, in respect to the judge and other officers of the court of vice admiralty, in this colony, and present the same tothis Assembly, at their next session.
God save the King.
Letter from Secretary Willard to Governor Greene.
Province of the Massachusets Bay, Boston, June 5, 1744.
Sir :- This court being apprehensive that nothing will more contribute to the success of the war in these parts, than that the several northern governments in America, shall enter into an agreement with one another, for their mutual assist- ance, and for carrying on the war in the most effectual manner ;--
We have accordingly chosen and appointed five commissioners, to meet at Alba- ny, the 12th of this month, (where the Governor of New York has appointed to meet with the Six Nations,) to treat with commissioners from the other governments in New England, and agree on such measures as may be thought equal and neces-
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[1744.
sary for their mutual safety and defence, and for annoying their enemies ; such agreement to be binding on the respective governments.
We therefore desire Your Honor, that commissioners may be appointed by your government, with the same full power, to transact these important affairs, at the time and place, aforesaid. We pray your excuse for not giving you longer notice of this business. The meeting of the Six Nations of Indians at Albany, on the day above mentioned, gives us such an opportunity of strengthening our interest, which ought not to be lost, and we are but just now apprised of it.
Your Honor's most obedient servants,
In the name and by the order of the Great and General Court of said Province, JOSIAH WILLARD, Secretary.
The Hon'ble William Greene, Esq.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the third Tues- day in August, 1744.
The IIon. William Greene, Governor.
The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor.
With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
Voted and resolved, that all the soldiers which remain at Block Island, and were not taken on board the colony sloop, be forthwith discharged.
Voted and resolved, that the sum of £7 be allowed and paid out of the general treasury, to John Barker, for bringing the packet from Boston, with His Majesty's declaration of war against France.
Voted and resolved, that the account of Messrs. Peter Maw- ny and Jabez Bowen, two of the field officers in the county of Providence, amounting to £5 15s., being the expenses at Providence, in the county of Providence, at the declaration of war against France, be allowed and paid out of the general treasury.
God save the King.
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Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the third Tuesday in September, 1744.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor.
The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor.
With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
An Act for ascertaining the quota of the several towns in this colony, to discharge the public rate.
Whereas, the General Assembly of this colony, at their ses- sion, held at Newport, within and for said colony, by virtue of a warrant from His Honor, the Governor, on the 19th day of June last past, among other things passed an act for levying or assessing a rate of £10,000, old tenor, upon the inhabitants of said colony ;-
Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the same be assessed upon the several towns in the colony in the proportion follow- ng, viz. :
S.
48 s.
Newport 1,250 00 Jamestown 162 10
Providence 1,175 00 Smithfield 675 00
Portsmouth 500 00 Scituate .500 00
Warwick . 700 00 Glocester 487 10
Westerly . 600 00 Charlestown 500 00
New Shoreham. 125 00 West Greenwich. 350 00
North Kingstown. 652 10 Coventry 233 00
South Kingstown. S11 05 Exeter 432 10
East Greenwich .. . . 440 00 Middletown 405 00
And that the general treasurer grant out his warrant to the several towns for levying the same.
September 19th, 1744.
In the house of deputies :
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
[1744.
I, the subscriber, beg leave to dissent from the above vote, in respect of the pro- portion of the rate to the several towns ; for that I believe some of the towns, in the outskirts of the government, will be rated at least three or four times as much in proportion to their ratable estate, as some of the frontier towns will in proportion of theirs, who, if any, will receive the most benefit thereby.
RICHARD STEERE.
Whereas, the committee appointed at the last session of this Assembly, to prepare the draught of a letter to the Right Hon- orable the Lords Commissioners, for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, in answer to the com- plaint of Leonard Lockman, Esq., judge of the court of vice ad- miralty, in this colony, did now present the same for the con- sideration of this Assembly ;--
It is thereupon voted and resolved, that the said draught be, and it is hereby approved of, and accepted; and that His Honor, the Governor, sign a fair copy thereof, with a duplicate, and transmit the same to the agent for this colony, by the first opportunities, in order to be by him delivered in London, to Thomas Corbet, Esq., secretary to the said lords commis- sioners.
Voted and resolved, that the' cruise of the colony sloop, be, and it is hereby lengthened out, till the last day of October next ensuing ; and that His Honor, the Governor, inform the Honorable Governor of the colony of Connecticut thereof, and request of him that their colony sloop may cruise also till that time.
God save the King.
Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, the last Wednesday of October, 1744.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor.
The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor. With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
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An Act for supplying the agent of this colony, in Great Brit- ain, with money, for defence of the privileges granted by charter.
Forasmuch, as some attempts have been made against the privileges of this colony, as established by charter, which re- quire the speedy application of some money for opposing the same ;-
Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority thereof it is enacted, that the sum of £550 be remit- ted to the agent of the colony as soon as may be, to be applied and expended in the just defence of the charter privileges of the colony, so as need shall require.
And for the more speedy procuring and remitting the same, it is enacted and ordered by the authority aforesaid, that the sum of £900, in bills of the new tenor, be struck off upon the large plate, made for the last bank, and signed by the grand committee, and put into the general treasury, to be drawn out by the committee, for the remitting said sum ; which sum of £900, shall be sunk by stopping the proportion of the interest money, which is appropriated for the use of the several towns in this colony, arising from the bank emitted Anno 1738, and so much shall be burnt out of said interest money as soon as the same shall become due to said towns.
And it is further ordered and enacted, that the Hon. Joseph Whipple, Esq., Samuel Wickham, Esq., and Jonathan Nichols, merchant, be the committee for drawing said money out of the general treasury, and purchasing bills of exchange, silver or gold, and for making remittance home, according to this act.
Whereas, the committee appointed to prepare the draught of a letter of instructions to be sent to the agent of this colony, in Great Britain, for him to oppose the taking away our char- ter privileges, did present the same for the consideration of this Assembly ;-
It is thereupon voted and resolved, that the said draught be, and it is hereby accepted and approved of, and that three fair copies thereof, be signed by His Honor, the Governor, and sent VOL. V. 13
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RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND [1744.
in three different vessels, to the said agent, as soon as may be.
Whereas, Col. John Cranston, (as captain of Fort George,) did present to this General Assembly, an account of £1,314 1s., for making an addition to the new battery, and making carriages at said fort, and repairing the platforms there ; and also one other account, amounting to £1,277 15s. 8d., for the wages of the gunner and twenty-nine other men, with their al- lowance of board, from the 1st day of May, A. D. 1744, to the Ist day of November, A. D. 1744, craving an allowance of said ac- counts ;-
Whereupon, Messrs. George Brown, Jeremiah Lippitt and Benoni Hall, were appointed a committee to examine said ac- counts, and make report to this Assembly thereon; 'who ac- cordingly reported-
That they had examined the several vouchers relating to the account for the work done at said fort, and found due the said sum of £1,314 1s. ; and that they al- so found due for the wages and weekly allowance of the gunner, and other soldiers, the sum of £1,277 15s. Sd.
Whereupon, it is voted and resolved, that the aforementioned two sums, amounting to £2,591 16s. Sd., be allowed and paid to the said Col. John Cranston, by John Gardner, Esq., com- missary of this colony, for full satisfaction of the several persons concerned in the aforesaid accounts.
Voted and resolved, that all the soldiers at Fort George be immediately dismissed, excepting eight, who are still to be con- tinued there, in order to guard the same.
Voted and resolved, that Joseph Wanton, John Mason, Allen Brown, Joseph Randall, son of William, and Gideon Manches- ter, all of Providence, in the county of Providence, be admitted freemen of this colony.
Voted and resolved, that Amos Sprague and Thomas Cruff, Jr., of Smithfield, in the county of Providence, be admitted freemen of this colony.
God save the King.
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Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Providence, on 28th day of November, 1744.
The Hon. William Greene, Governor. The Hon. Joseph Whipple, Deputy Governor.
With the assistants and deputies from the several towns.
[The following Public Laws, passed during the year 1744, are printed at length in the volume of laws published in 1747, unless repealed previous to that time.]
An Act for emitting the sum of £40,000, in bills of public credit, of the new tenor to be let upon loan.
An Act ordering the committee men for the several towns, to give bond for the faithful execution of their trust.
An Act directing how mortgages given to the colony's trustees, shall be discharged ; and appointing a person with whom said mortgages shall be deposited.
An Act to prevent the spreading of the small pox, and other contagious sickness in this colony.
An Act establishing the proceedings and trials of actions not exceeding £5.
An Act repealing "an act for erecting a court of equity, to hear and determine al
appeals in personal actions, from the judgments of the superior court, and for granting reviews in personal actions."
An Act empowering the sheriff's of the several counties to call special courts.
An Act to prevent weirs being made across Pettaquamscutt river.
An Act for preventing trespasses.
An Act for altering the time for choosing deputies, and proxing for general officers in the several towns in this colony.
An Act empowering the general treasurer to appoint proper attornies to sue for interest money due from persons that have left the colony.
An Act for settling the allowance of Spanish, or other prisoners of war.
An Act for repealing part of the act passed in 1743, for preventing the counter feiting of bills of public credit.
An Act for the relief of those persons who had brought appeals to the court of equity, and which were not determined before said court was abolished.
An Act for putting the colony in a posture of defence, and for rendering the militia in the several towns thercof more useful in time of an actual invasion.
An Act for, stating the fees on actions not exceeding £5.
An Act for repealing an act entitled " An act prohibiting inn-holders and other retailers, from trusting the inhabitants above twenty shillings."
An Act for enlarging a trooper's fine from ten to twenty shillings, for a day's non- appearance.
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