USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. I > Part 7
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As to the other affair1 relating to our Colony here it lyes yet dormant as it has done for some time. I am wth due respects to thy self and the Gent" of the Council and Representatives
Thy faithfull friend
RICHP PARTRIDGE
To Col. WILLIAM WANTON Govern' of Rhoad Island and Providence Plan- tations
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
I mo. the 3. 1733.
Gov'. Wanton
It is realy a hardship upon me that I must loose part of my disburstmts when I appear in opposition to what (as I apprehend is) afoot here Injurious to the Plantations at any time. N. Jersie people owe me already £300. st. and I can get no money from them for a considerable time past : so that now I must drop their Name in my petition and not make use of it at all or else lye still and let the Parliamt do as they think best without my intermedling, wch yet I believe Rhd Island Colony wd not like neither, so that it is some difficulty upon me.
If therefore they wd allow me one hundd pounds a yer Sterl. for Seven Years I will be content with it
1 See note on p. 30.
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for my Salary and also pay all disburstmts Soliciter and Council Fees for Rhd Island Colony for that time out of it, which I pray thou wouldst propose if thou judgst it proper.
RICHP PARTRIDGE
GOVERNOR BELCHER 1 TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
Sir,
I received the Favour of Yours inclosing the Act2 of your Assembly respecting the Gore,3 which I com- municated to this Assembly in their late Session, And with this the Secretary covers the Act past here, agreeable to yours, and I shall be glad this Matter may be amicably Compromis'd.
Inclosed Your Honour has two Letters just as I received them from my Brother Partridge.
I wish you your Health, and am
Honoble Sir, Your most humble Servant
BOSTON April 30 : 1733.
J BELCHER
GOVR WANTON
1 Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts and New Hampshire from 1730 to 1741, and later governor of New Jersey. He was a tenacious upholder of the royal prerogative in the much-vexed questions of supplies, governor's salary, and the emis- sions of bills of credit. A sketch of his life is given in the preface to the Belcher Papers, Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., 6 ser. VI.
2 The Act referred to authorized commissioners to determine the boundary between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 482.
3 The term " gore " signifies a small strip or tract of land lying between larger divisions.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR WANTON TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Gentlemen of the Council and House of Deputies
I am now to acquaint you that the Sudden occa- sion of my calling this Assembly sooner then the next Adjournement, is on the Account of the Death of Abraham Borden Esq: late General Treasurer, And his Decease calling for the speedey Nomination and appointment of A Suitable Person to Succeed him and take Care of the General Treasury, which can't be left without with Safety, Renders me under an Obligation to call this unexpected Convention.
And Since we are now met I think it highly necessary to Represent to you that Fort George 1 Should be supplied with a Suitable number of Can- non as well for the Defence and Safeguard of this Col- ony as the Security of Navigation, wch will be of great Credit and Advantage to both, The Consideration whereof I heartily Recommend to this Assembly, and hope they'l thinke it proper to pass an Act, in Order to make a Suitable provision for the Same
It has been the Custom for the Free Men of each Town of this Colony to choose Deputies to Repre- sent them in the General Assembly twice a Year and the Choice in all the Towns at Different Times, wch · gives great Room for Ill Designing Persons to Create Divisions and Make parties amongst the Inhabitants by goeing from Town to Town to be present at each meeting in Order by their Subtill contrivances to get
1 On Goat Island, at the mouth of Newport harbor. In the session of July, 1733, the Assembly voted an appropriation of £4000 to procure "cannon, carriages and other necessaries, for Fort George." Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 487.
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in Such Persons as will suit their Turn's, Wherefore tis my opinion and I Recommend the Same to this Present Assembly for preventing the like for the Future that they will seriously consider this Matter, and pass an Act1 that the Deputies shall be Chosen but once a Yeare hereafter and In each Town of this Colony on one and the Same Day, in Such convenient Time before the General Election as they Shall thinke most Suitable by which mean's an As- sembly will always be kept in in being and Ready to be called on any Emergent Occasion without making a New Choice and is no wise contrary to the Terms of the Charter
These things and what others may be laid be- fore you I make no Scruple of your best En- deavours for the publick Good. And you may Depend on a Readiness in me to joyn with you for that purpose being always ready and Willing to Shew how much I am the Governments and Your Faithfull Freind,
WM WANTON
[April or May, 1733.]
WILLIAM JENCKS 2 TO DEPUTY-GOVERNOR WANTON.
PROVIDENCE July 2™ª 1733 Honourable S :
Since I Saw you at Newport I Spake with Cap! Jnº Foster of Attleburough one of the Men appointed
1 Such an Act was passed by the Assembly held the second Monday in June, 1733. Col. Rec. of R. I., IV. 484.
2 One of the committee appointed by the General Assembly to attend the commis- sion at New London "to settle the boundary line of the gore of land adjoining to
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
by the Province to go to New London and he In- forms me that they have appointed nine Gentlemen to Go to New London to oppen their Cause. S. I Judge it Necessary to ad Two or three more to our Committy Least They Should Drown us with a Great Noise and I Should be very Glad if M: Walton and Coll. Abbot Might be added and Such others as the Court may Think Proper. S. I have appointed Coll: Abbot to Run a Line from Sowamset as far North as Pawtucket falls and to Draw a Map of the Same and for that Reason and Sundry others I think it Needfull for them to be there This Being what offers as Needfull from your Humble Servant
WILLIAM JENCKS
To Coll. JNº. WANTON Esq Lieuten: Governour, In Newport
THE COMMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS TO JOHN PEAGRUM. MY Peagrum
Haveing, since our Secretrys Letter of the 4 July last transmitting you an Act1 passed the last Session of Parliament for the better securing and Encouraging the Trade of his Majestys Sugar Colonys in America, receiv'd directions from the Right Honble the Lords Commiss's of his Majesty's Treasury, for appointing Officers (if there be Occasion) at the Several Ports in
Attleborough with the Commissioners appointed by Massachusetts." Col. Rec. of R. 1., IV. 484.
1 The Act of 1733. See note on p. 19.
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the Plantations to Manage, levy, Collect and account for the Dutys Which by the said Act are Laid upon all Rum Mellosses or Sugars of Forreign plantations when Imported into any British Colony or Planta- tion. We direct you if you find there is an Imediate occasion for appointing any Officers at any of the Ports under your Survey for carrying on the Service for the Present, to appoint such propper Persons as are absolutely necessary for that Purpose, and repre- sent to us what additional Number of Officers at Each place will be really wanted to perform the duty for the Future and at what allowances, takeing care to Use all possible good Husbandry. And if you Appoint any Officers you are to take care they be under Oath and Security and acquaint us with their Names, Qualifications, and the Stations you have assign'd them, and what Salarys you think it will be propper to allow them for our further consideration We are
Your Loveing Friends CHARLES PEERS
H HALE ROBERT BAYLIS JOHN HILL
CUSTOM Ho LONDON I Sept. 1733.
CHARLES CARKESSE TO JOHN PEAGRUM.
Sir
The Commiss's having in their Letter of the Ist of last Month acquainted you that they had recieved Directions from the Lords of the Treasury for ap-
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
pointing Officers (if there be occasion) at the Several Ports in the Plantations to manage and Collect the Duties laid by an Act of the last Session upon Sugar1 &c. And directed you in pursuance thereof to appoint such Officers as you found absolutely necessary for that purpose at the several Ports under your Survey. And M! Robert Robinson who for- merly acted as Collector of Salem and Marblehead in New England having sustain'd several vexatious Suits and Suffer'd very much by some Seizures made by him in the Execution of his duty: I am directed by the Commiss's to recommend him to you to be appointed one of the additional Officers at some of the Ports under your Survey if you find there is a necessity for appointing any.
And you are to take care in that case that M. Robinson be appointed to such a Station as shall be Suitable to his qualifications and abilities which I have in Command to signify to you and am Sir Your most humble Serv: CHA: CARKESSE Secry.
CUSTOM Ho LONDON 4th October 1733.
To JOHN PEAGRUM Esq: Survey: General of the Northern part of the Continent of America.
GOVERNOR WANTON TO JOSIAH WILLARD.
I Receive your's per Express, by Order of the Gen- eral Assembly of the Province Respecting a Late Emission of Bills of Creditt in this Government.
1 The Sugar Act of 1733. See note on p. 19.
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The Gen! Assembly of this Colony did at their Sessions held last July, pass an Act for the Emit- ting One hundred thousand pounds upon Loan, at 5 per C: per Annum, on Land Security of Double the Value for a Medium of Trade (as former Banks have been Emitted) and the Interest thereoff to be appropriated towards Discharging the Annual Debts of the Govnt 1
I have Ordered the Sect! to make out a Copy of the Act for your further Satisfaction, And I do assure the Gen! Assembly of the Province we had an Especiale Regard for the good and Welfare of the Publick In said Emission. And I hope that the Gen! Court of the Province will take Due Care that Trade and Business may not be Injured by a private Emission, now coming out without their Sanction, as I am Informed.
I am with great Respect to the Gen! Court. S. Your very humle Serv:
WM WANTON
NEWPORT 26th Octob. 1733
To JOSIAH WILLARD Esq. Sect! of the Province Boston.
JOHN PEAGRUM TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
Sir
I have the faviour of Yor Hon's letter of the 4th Instant That M: Robinson had Presented a Depu- tation from me to Act at Yor Port as Searcher and
1 Digest of 1744, p. 172.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
landwaiter wch Office I apprehend Necessary at Y! Port tho'. I am So unhappy to Differ in Opinion wth Yo' Hon' and Council but as the Comm's has thot fit to leave it to my Judgmt in My Instruction to appoint Such Officers as I Shall from time to time think Necessary acquainting them of the Same (wch I have done allready.) must Beg leave to insist that M: Robinson be Sworn according. Tho' I am Very Sory any thing I Should do Should Not Meet wth Yo' Hon's Approbation but as I think it my Duty and for the Service of His Majtys Revenue I have Appointed one at this Port at Salem and New Lon- don at New York there was one before. and if I think it Necessary Shall Appoint more or I Should Not Act Agreeable to my Instructions.
I have here Inclosed you an Article of Instruction and likewise an Article of Instruction from his Majty to the Several Govern's where I have the Hon' of Being Surveyor Gen" where his Majty has forbid any Governour to interfere wth the Powers and Authority given by the Comm's of the Custom to the Surveyor Gen !! s.
M: Robinson Bro! me a letter likewise where the Comm's recommended him to be Employ'd In Some Part of my District a Copy of which he has and will Show Yo' Hon' if you incline to See it. I Shall be Very Sory if the revenue Should Suffer for want of his Being Sworn but if you will Not Suffer Officers to do their duty it Do's Not lye at my Door and forgive me in representing of it to the Comm's and
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Correspondence of the
the Lords of the Treasury. Please to favour wth Yo' Answer and Yo11
Oblege Yo' Hon's Most Obedt Humble Svt
JN PEAGRUM
BOSTON 7 Jan' 1734. To the Honble WM WANTON Esq"
INSTRUCTIONS TO JOHN PEAGRUM.1
His Majesty having by an Article in the Instruc- tions given to the Governours in the Plantations Explain'd the Power they have in relation to the Officers of the Customs Enclosed, we send you Copy thereof for your Government in Giving the Officers under your Inspections such Advice and Assistance as the service shall require - and if you Observe any of the Governours in the Plantations neglect Com- plying with His Majestys Pleasure signified therein you are to Represent the Case specially to us and lay before us Affidavit of the facts for our further directions.
And Whereas the Surveyors General of Our Cus- toms in Our Plantations are Impowered in Case of the Vacancy of any of our Officers of the Customs by Death removal or otherwise to Appoint other Persons to Execute such Offices untill they Receive further directions from Our Commns of our Treasury or our high Treasurer or Comm's of our Customs for
1 Enclosed in Peagrum's letter to Governor Wanton, of January 7.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the time being, but in regard the Districts of the said Surveyors Gen11 are very Extensive and that they are required at proper times to visit the Officers in the several Goverm's under their Inspection and that it might happen that some of the Officers of our Cus- toms in Our Province of - may Die in the time that Surveyor General is Absent in some Distant part of his District so that he Cannot receive Advice of such officers Death within a reasonable time and thereby make Provision for Caryin on the Service by Appointing some other Person in the room of the Officer who may happen to Die, therefore that there may be no Delay Given on that Occasion to the Mas- ters of Ships or Merchants in there Dispatches, It is our further will and Pleasure in Case of such absence of the Surveyor General, or if he should happen to Die and in such Cases that you upon the Death of any Collector of our Customs within that our Province
Shall make Choice of a Person of known Loyalty, Experience, Diligence and Fidelity, to be Employ'd in Such Collectors Room for the purposes aforesaid untill the Surveyor General of Our Customs shall be advised thereof and Appoint another to succeed in their Places or that further Directions shall be given therein by our Comm's of our treasury or our high Treasurer or by the Comm".s of our Customs for the time being which shall be signified taking Care that you do not under pretence of this Instruction Inter- fere with the Powers and authorities Given by the Commas of our Customs to the said Surveyors Gen- eral when they are able to put the same in Execution.
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JOHN PEAGRUM TO GOVERNOR WANTON.
SY.
I have to Ask Pardon for a Mestake my Clerk made in a letter Should have been Sent you the 7th Instantt. I cant tell what Paper he inclosed the Articles In whout it was Some looss Draughts
for I found the letter I Design [ed] amongest the Papers in my Office. wch I have here Sent you
Yesterday arrived Capt Wingfield from London and I recd a letter from the Secretary to the Cus- toms that the Lords of the Treasury had appointed me to Put in what Necessary Officers I Should think Proper (in my District) and the Bearer wch came wth Capt Wingfield was recomenda to be Employ'd. I understand by M: Kay1 M: Robinson has not Got Security and he cant be Employ[d] without. I Shall take it a faviour you11 return w Cover'd the Articles and your Answer whether you will Swear an Officer in or Not and yo11 very Much Oblige
Yo' most Humble Set
JN PEAGRUM
BOSTON, 21 Jan' 1734
To the Honble WM WANTON Esq.
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR WILLIAM WANTON.
LOND: 12 m? or feb. 4. 1734.
Col. Wanton
My last to thee was of the 5 : 8ber last per Capt Wingfield, wch hope thou hast recd since which I
1 Collector Nathaniel Kay, appointed by the Commissioners of Customs, at London.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
have none from thee on the Colonys acct. I sent thee per Cap! Draper 20 Medit" passes wch I obtaind of the Lords of the Admiralty the charge thereof for the Instructions &c cost me £2. 8. 3.
I have at length obtaind from the Plantation Office (wch comes herewith) a Copy of the Lords of Trades Report to the King respecting the Com- plaints against the Colony in 17321 which I take to be exactly conformable to the opinion of the Attourney and Solicit! General which I sent thee some time since ; and in as much as no provision was made in the Charter whereby the Crown might interfere in relation to the Laws so as they be not repugnant to the Laws of England, the matter of the sd Complaints lyes dormant nothing being to be done therein by the King : and I am informd it is most prudent for me to let them remain so rather than to make any Stirr in it.
a Motion has been lately made in the House of Lords for putting down the Iron Furnaces2 in the Plantations the matter whereof was referrd to a Committee accordingly.
I hope thy next will bring me some encouraging account of the Colonys doing something towards advancing my Salary.
As for publick news I referr thee to the inclosed prints : we continue yet in a State of tranquility but
1 See note to letter of July 10, 1732.
2 A Representation of the Lords of Trade to the House of Commons on the manu- factures of the colonies, of February 15, 173}, states that the Governor of Rhode Island " informs us, That there are Iron Mines there, but not a 4th Part Iron enough to serve their own Use; but he takes no Notice of any Sort of Manufacture set up there." Historical Register, XVIII. 47 (London, 1733).
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know not how long it will last. I am with kind re- spects to thy self the Gent". of the Council and House of Representatives
Thy faithfull friend
RICHD PARTRIDGE
To WILLIAM WANTON Esq Govern! of Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations.
GOVERNOR BELCHER TO THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND. Sir,
I am sorry I have Occasion to give Your Honour any new Trouble upon the Matters in Difference between the People in your Governmt and ours (before you have answered our last Letter) and espe- cially to complain to you of an Act of such Violence and Barbarity as exceeds every thing that has yet been done or even attempted by any of your People : The Actors of which I am perswaded, you will think, ought not to escape with Impunity. You will see by the inclosed Declaration, that one Jonathan Draper an Under Sheriff of the County of Suffolk within this Province, at his own House, which was never pretended to ly within the Governmt of Rhoad Island, was in the Night Time assaulted by three Ruffians of your Colony; his House broken open, he beaten with Clubs in a most inhuman Manner to the Hazard of his Life, drag'd out of his House by the Hair of the Head. and carried off as a Prisoner, And all for Doing the Duty of his Office, and executing a law-
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
ful Warrant; which he could not have refused with- out great Unfaithfulness and Incurring considerable Loss and Damage. This being an Outrage not to be parallel'd in any regular Governmt and a Violation of the Laws of all humane Society, and committed within the Jurisdiction of this Governm' where the Matter ought to be judicially inquired into; I do now desire and demand of Your Honour and the Governmt of Rhoad Island, That you deliver up to Justice the Authors of this Villany ; viz, Hezediah Comestock,1 Samuel Staples and Alexander Gowdy, that they may be proceeded against in the Courts of Law in the County of Suffolk where the Facts were committed. I desire you would send me an Answer as soon as may be, That I may the better judge what further Methods are to be taken in the Case. There are other Proofs of the Matters of Fact contained in this Declaration, but they cannot be presently had ; But, as soon as they come to Hand, I shall send you Copies, if there be any Need of them.
I am Sir,
Your Honours very humble Serv:
BOSTON, March 5, 1738.
J. BELCHER
1 See note on p. 59.
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Correspondence of the
DEPOSITION OF JONATHAN DRAPER.1
To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq. Captain General and Governour in Cheif in and over His Majestys Province of the Massachusets bay and to the honoble His Majestys Council For the said Province.
The Declaration of Jonathan Draper of Belling- ham in the County of Suffolk and one of the Deputy Sheriffs within the said County :
The said Draper saith, That on the third day of March instant being the Lords day in the Evening there came to the Dwellinghouse of the sª Draper one Hezediah Comestock of Smithfield in the Colony of Rhode Island husbandman who knocked at the door of sª house, when the said Draper asked who is there; the said Comestock said a Friend, then Draper went to the Door and partly opened it to see who was there, and discovering the sª Comestock, he told him he should not come in, he said he came to do him the said Draper no hurt, For he was come to Sea what his demands was concerning Richard Old- ridge (who was committed to prison for not paying his rates) to see if they could make up matters; the said Draper asked him where he came from, he an- swered he came from Boston, to which the sª Draper replied, if he the said Comestock came from Boston, he might have Seen the mittimus by which the said Oldrich was Committed to Goal, which would have satisfied him what was due, and while the said Draper was shifting his Cloaths and putting on his Shoes, the sd Comestock took hold of the Deponent and
1 Enclosed in Belcher's letter of March 5, 1732.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
told him he should go along with him, then Draper asked him to let him dress himself, but Comestock would not let him; Then Draper bid his wife lock the door, and thereupon Comestock run to the door and cryed aloud for help, and then Draper bid his wife run out at the back Door and cry murder that so one Silvanus Scot who lives about thirty rod off might hear her, soon after came Samuel Staples, Alexander Gowdy both of Smithfield aforesª hus- bandmen with Clubbs in their hands to the said Drapers house, and Comestock bid them stave the door open, and the said Draper forbid them, but they Stove the door open and brake the lock of the door and came into the sª Drapers house, then they delivered Comestock a Clubb, and he knockt him down and Struck him with it Several blows on the head and Face and they halled him out of doors, Staples dragging him by the hair of his head and told him he must go along with them, then Draper asked them to let him get his hat, but Stap[1]es forced him away without his hat and knockt him down three Several times, then they bid the said Draper get upon Comestocks horse or else the sª Samuel Staples told him he would knock his brains out, so that the sª Draper rid behind Comestock some considerable time, and as the said Draper rid along Comestock Swore by God Several times that if he the said Draper offered to get off the horse he would be the death of him, and that he would make a Sac- rifice of him For the Devil, notwithstanding the s. Draper took his opportunity and jumpt off the horse, Stap [1]es and Gowdy being on foot behind where-
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upon Comestock said the damn'd Devil was gone, and the sd Draper run through the bushes, and got to the house of one Benjamin Thompson in Bellingham where he Found Benje Thompson, Samuel Darling and Tho: Holbrook who were coming to the assist- ance of the sª Draper and they with Richard Blood Ebenezer Perry and others kept Guard that night, and the next day viz on Munday last he set out from thence with the said Blood for Boston in order to make known to Your Excellency and Honours the truth of the Facts, and to pray for redress in the premisses
JONATHAN DRAPER
A true Copy Examined per J WILLARD Secry.
Richard Blood of Bellingham husbandman saith That on the last Lords Day Evening about Seven a Clock he hearing that Jona Draper was apprehended and carried to the house of Benjamin Thompson, went to the s. Thompsons house and Found the sª Draper very much bruised and his Face very bloody. And the Depont Seing Silvanus Scot who is near Neigh- bour to the sd Draper asked him why he did not go out to help the sª Draper, Scot said the reason was because they threatened to knock him down, and the Depont asked who threatened him he said then Sam! Staples and afterwards the sd Scot told another man he knew not the men that assaulted Draper; altho' he afterwards in talk owned that Comestock came to his house and enquired of him the Sabbath Day Evening, whether Draper was at home; so that the Depont has reason to think that Scot was privy to the sd Comestocks evil Design; And further saith not.
RICHARD BLOOD
WILLIAM
WANTON
VIRT
1732-1733
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Jonª Draper and Richard Blood made oath to the Truth of their respective Depositions before written by them Subscribed in His Majestys Sup! Court of Judicature at Boston March 5th 1733 being taken by the Direction of his Excellency the Governour and Council.
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