USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
There must be a greater Stock of Ammunition, Artillery and Warlike Stores. I should be glad to be informed by the Return of this Post or sooner whether your Government can furnish their Quota of Powder for the great Artillery. I think the Army should be furnished for that Purpose with at least 500 Barrels more than now remains of what was pro-
1 Fort William Henry became a shipbuilding establishment, under the command of Colonel Jonathan Bagley.
-
197
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
vided for the last Expedition, and that every Soldier should be furnished with two Pounds besides for the small Arms. If you cannot provide the Cannon, Mortars Shells &c they may be sent from this Pro- vince, and perhaps you may furnish Powder in Pro- portion, otherwise Consideration must be had for what this Province does more than its Part when the Expedition shall be ended.
The Spring is advancing and We are all too back- ward in our Preparations. It seems necessary that the Forces should be at the Lake by the Middle of April and that every Article of Provisions, Stores and Boats should be ready against their Arrival.
I pray your Honour to give me constant Advices of the Steps taking in your Government relative to the Expedition.
The Commanding Officer of the Detachment of the Royal Regiment of Artillery employed in north America has furnished me with a List of Ordnance Stores necessary for the Expedition which I herewith send you.
I am with great regard and Esteem, Sir,
Your Honour's most Humble and most Obed! Servant
W SHIRLEY.
His Hon! STEPHEN HOPKINS Esq!
-
198
Correspondence of the
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
LONDON 3ª mo : or Mar. 124 1756
Governor Hopkins
I wrote thee last of 12th Ult. since which I have not been favour'd wth any from thee. This may inform thee that the Money granted as a Gift by Parliam! at the Kings Instance to the Several N.E. Governments for their Encouragement is not yet Shipt off but I hear a Warrant1 is made and for it and it's hoped will be sent away pretty soon.
The Bill brought into Parliament for Naturalliz- ing Foreign Protestants Officers to serve in America is now passed the Royal Assent2 the Number of whom is not to exceed 50 and Engineers 20, the rest of the Officers may be supposed (to be double the quantity) and of the Kings natural born Subjects of Great Britain and America, - And as to the Troops, it seems now to be concluded of having Twenty Thousand in America this Year including 2000 to be sent from Europe with the 3 Regiments of Shir- leys, Pepperells and Dunbars, the rest to make up the Compliment to be raised in the Northern Colo- nies - and a New England Gentleman (the Agent for Nova Scotia) has contracted with the Govern- ment here for Supplying the said 20,000 Men with Provisions at £500. Sts a day which I had lately from his own Mouth -and who it's probable will
1 See the following document.
2 See letter of Secretary Fox to the Governor of Rhode Island, March 13, 1756, in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 520.
199
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
set out for New York Speedily, perhaps with Lord Loudon who is to be Commander in Chief.1
There's no War declared yet by the French or English neither do we hear for certain that the former have taken any of our Ships at Sea yet ; But our Men of Warr continue making Reprizals of their Ships still, and of late an Embargo is laid on our English Vessells, and as great a Press for Men as ever ;
People here are in Expectation of an Invasion from the French but where the Storm will fall we know not, tho' others are of Opinion it is but a Feint of theirs to amuse Us in order to cover some other de- sign they have in view which Time must manifest.
Nothing has yet been moved in Parliament relat- ing to the Union of the Colonies,2 I am with due Respects
Thy assured Friend
RP PARTRIDGE
As there is a Packet Boat established to depart hence for N. York once a month I have agreed with a Book seller to send thee a Printed Sheet contain- ing the Substance of a Months News at 12s. for half
1 Shirley was superseded in command, through the intrigues of a hostile faction of New York politicians, on March 13. Shirley was to hand over the command to Colonel Webb, who was to transfer it to General Abercrombie (second in command), from whom it should go to Loudoun upon his arrival in America. See letters in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 485, 520 ; and note to letter of November 8, 1742.
2 The reference is to the Albany Plan of 1754, which met with no favor in Rhode Island.
1
200
Correspondence of the
a Year including the Postage outwards several of which I suppose thou mayst have received
R P
To STEPHEN HOPKINS Esq. Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Royal Warrant.1
GEORGE R.
Whereas the House of Commons have granted unto Us the Sum of £115,000 upon Account to be distributed, to the Colo- nies, of New England, New York and New Jersey in such propor- tions as We should think fit, as a free Gift and Reward for their past Services, and an Encouragement to them to continue to exert themselves with Vigour in defence of Our Just Rights and Posessions.
And whereas We have thought fit to Allot the said Sum of £115,000 to the said Colonies in the proportions following, that is to say.
To Massachusetts Bay
£ 54,000
New Hampshire
8,000
Connecticut
26,000
Rhode Island
7,000 2
New York
15,000
New Jersey
5,000
£115,000
And are pleased to direct that the several Sums Allotted to the Colonies of the Massachusets Bay New Hampshire New York, and New Jersey shall be delivered into the hands of the Governor of each of those Colonies in the presence of the Council, and to be by him forthwith paid over into the hands of the Treasurer of
1 Enclosed in letter of March 12, 1756.
2 See letter of Apthorp and Son of Boston to Governor Hopkins. Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 533.
------
201
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the Province, taking a proper Discharge for the same, and suffi- cient Security for the safe Custody of such Sum, until it shall be disposed of for the Publick Service, by an Act of the Legislature, And that the Sum distined for the Charter Governments of Con- necticut and Rhode Island shall be consigned to the Governor and Company of each Colony, who are to give a Joint Receipt for the same under the Publick Seal of the Colony. Our Will and Pleasure therefore is That out of any the Aids or Supplies granted unto Us for the Service of the Year 1756 You issue and pay or cause to be issued and paid unto John Thomlinson and John Hanbury Merchants or to their Assignes the said Sum of £115,000. by way of Imprest and upon Account to be by them paid over, distributed and applied to the several Colonies aforementioned in the aforegoing proportions, and agreeable to the Directions and Restrictions herein beforementioned in that behalf. And for so doing this shall be your Warrant Given at Our Court at St James's this 3ª day of March 1756 in the 29th Year of Our Reign
To the Comm's of Our Treasury.
By his Majts Command HOLLES NEWCASTLE G. LYTTELTON H. FURNESE
Mess": Thomlinson and Hanbury £115,000 for the Northern Colonies.
GOVERNOR SHIRLEY TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
BOSTON 16th March 1756
Sir
I have received your Honours Letter of the IIth Inst. I have already informed you that this Province hath augmented their Quota of Troops for the Crown Point Expedition to 3500 Men; I have since been informed by Gov: Fitch that the Colony of Connecti- cut have voted to raise 2500 Men as their Quota and
202
Correspondence of the
am in hopes the Province of New York will augment their Number to 2000, and must pray your Honour will urge your Colony to make up their Number to 1000 that we may have a Force sufficient to make sure of effecting what is intended.
The List of Ordnance your Honour sent me, I laid before the Committee of War here, they are quite willing that your Government do provide those Articles and forward them to Albany; whether they will amount to or exceed that exact Quota that Rhode Island ought to supply for the Ordnance Stores, may be settled hereafter.
I must beg leave to recommend it to vour Honour to endeavour to prevail on your Committee to pro- vide a Number of good Ox Teams either out of your own Government or out of Connecticut to be employed between Albany and Lake George and that they be sent thither as soon as possible with a Guard of about 200 of your Troops. the Waggons in the Province, we have in the last year experienced could not be depended on, and they are I am in- formed by Sir Charles Hardy in a much worse Con- dition now than they were then. Also that you would send a Number of Carpenters to be employed in building large flatt bottomed Boats at Lake George and Battoos to be employed between that and Albany.
I can't help repeating it to your Honour to press your Colony to augment their Number of Troops to 1000, and I am in hopes they will the readyer come into it, as we have such favourable hopes of a Reim- bursement to the Colonies for their Expences, So
!
203
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
.
that any nice Scruples about its being their exact Quota or not, seems at present needless.
I am with great Esteem
Your Honours most Obedient Humble Servant
W SHIRLEY.
The Honble STEPHEN HOPKINS Esq:
GOVERNOR SIR CHARLES HARDY TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS. FORT GEORGE NEW YORK 17th March 1756
Sir
I have the favour of yours of the 6th Instant In- forming me of your Assembly's having Voted 500 Men for the General Service in the Expedition against Crownpoint, the Governments of Massachu- sets and Connecticut have greatly increased their Quotas, and will no doubt expect the other Provinces concern'd, will do the same, on this Consideration I moved the Assembly of this Province to Augment their Forces, the Inclosed resolutions will inform you of their determinations upon it. As we have lately had our Western Frontiers Infested with the Dela- wares &c. we judge it necessary to employ 400 in Conjunction with the Neighbouring Governments for the defence of that part of the Province. But as we have reason to hope this matter may be Accomo- dated by the Interposition of the Six Nations,1 I hope
1 The Six Nations were the subject of much anxiety. All through this winter John- son had exerted his extraordinary powers of influencing them with the most unremit- ting assiduity. He was now Crown Agent and "Sole Superintendent of the Six Nations and other Northern Tribes." It was not until summer was well begun that he could venture to regard the Indians as the (at best, uncertain) allies of the English.
.
204
Correspondence of the
we shall be able to employ this 400 Men with the other Forces, this is the intention and meaning of the Assembly.
I fully agree with you with respect to the Chief Command of the Provincial Army, and should be glad the same Gentleman who had it last Year, would undertake it this, But I do not know if Sir William Johnson would accept of it, I have wrote General Shirley this Day, and have given him my opinion on this Subject.1
I shall use all Dispatch in raising our Forces, and in the mean time send the Provisions &c to Albany to be transported to Lake George
I am Sir
Your most Obedient and Humble Servant
CHAS HARDY
The Honble Gov. HOPKINS.
COLONEL BEMSLEY GLEASIER 2 TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
FORT WILLIAM HENRY Apr. Iº 1756 Sir,
The 14th of March I received Orders from Gen! Shirley to Inlist as many Men for the intend'd Expe- dition against Crownpoint as I could, that now belong to the Garrison, Since that I have inlisted great part of them, the Gen! never made any distinction of Pro-
1 Shirley gave the command to John Winslow of Marshfield, Mass., who had raised and commanded a company in the Cartagena campaign, commanded a battalion in Monckton's attack and capture of Fort Beauséjour (1755), and assisted in the removal of the Acadians.
2 Colonel Gleasier, or Glasier, was an officer of the British army and commander at Fort William Henry.
T
205
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
vinces but in general terms said get what Men you can to inlist, however I have not suffer'd any of the Recruiting Officers to inlist any of your Men tho' when we began I believe all would have inlisted, since that I have thought proper to give Messrs. Jencks 1 and Brown 2 Orders to Inlist as many of your Men as incline too, Inclosed I send you the preamble they inlist too. I don't know whether I have done right or no but am sensible of the difficulty of getting Men and knowing there times to be out the 30th of this Month thought it best to retain as many as I could in the Service, tho' I did not know what pro- portion of Men you are to furnish for the Expedition yet I am sensible it must be near 1000 as Gen! Shir- ley writes me 9000 is to form the Expedition and Massa. Bay furnish's 3000. I have lent your Officer's Money to pay the Bounty and should be glad to know your further Commands about it. I have pro- mised they shall be in a Company Command'd by Capt. Whiting if he goes upon the Expedition as they all seem to incline to go with him.
I wish he could be spared to come up here as his furlow has been out some time, and by the Gens Orders I was Obliged to send down 4 of the Capts out of the Garrison, so that I have only two left, if any thing should happen I might be blame'd as the Gen! knows nothing of Cap: Whitings being being gone from the Garrison besides he is a Man I have great dependance upon as he his a very good Officer.
1 Ebenezer Jenckes was first lieutenant of Captain Richmond's company, enlisted in September, 1755.
2 Joshua Brown, made second lieutenant of Captain John Whiting's company at Fort William Henry. Arnold, History of Rhode Island, II. 196, 198.
1
206
Correspondence of the
You have a Number of Small-Arms here which want to be put in repair if you could send up two or three Armourers they might fitt them up in a little time, I have none here or it shou'd been done before now, I have a Forge ready for them against they come up. Any thing you please to Order shall strictly be adheard too.
By Sir
Your Most Obed! Humble Serv:
B. GLEASIER
To the Honoble STEPHEN HOPKINS Esq! &c
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
LONDON 4 mo. 6th 1756.
Gov'. Hopkins
The foregoing is duplicate of my last to thee per Cap: Smith via Boston of 3ª: Inst. to which I refer. This may now acquaint thee that the Money lately granted by Parliament to the 6 Northern Colonies was sent from hence in Waggons guarded with sol- diers the 3ª Inst. to Portsmouth and I expect will as [on] this day or to morrow be shipt on board the Sterling-Castle Man of War Capt Cornish of 70 Guns, and which will doubtless Sail the first fair Wind for Boston the part allotted for your Colony is £7 or £8000 Sterling in Silver and Gold put up in Chests of about 1000 oz or 1000 Dollars in a Chest marked Rhode Island on them if I'm rightly in- formed 1- the proportion would not have amounted
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 533.
207
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
to so much had not my Friend Peter Bours 1 wrote me particularly what Number of Men at first were raised for the Expedition last year of 400; and also the Reinforcement of 300 Men afterwards which I gave account of to the Lords of Trade and in justice to him I write this as I had not accot in Writing so particularly from any Body else.
I apprehended that it would have been most for the Colonys Interest to have had the Money remain here in the Exechequer or Treasury till it should be drawn for in Bills of Exchange because of saving Commission to the Shipers of it, Insurance of the Risque of the Sea and Freight, all which would amount to a considerable Expence besides coming at Your Money sooner too, and when the matter was under consideration in the House of Commons I got two considerable Members who were distinguished for their abilities in the House to insist upon it and which was done accordingly particularly by Alder- man Beckford2 who urged it very strenuously and that the Money should be sent over free of Turn Pike (as he Termed it) but yet the Ministry after all determined to send it over in specie, but then they have so ordered it that the Gentlemen who have been employd to Ship off the Money have agreed to do it Gratis, and the Expence on it at the Excheq: they have got off to about Id} per { whereas the usual Charge is 6ª per { and the Capt of the Man of War agrees to take it in at I per Cent which I under-
1 A Newport merchant who served on the Committee of War in 1755.
2 William Beckford, a wealthy West India planter and London merchant, was Alder- man of London in 1752, and M. P. in 1754. In 1762 he became Lord Mayor, and is remembered for his official connection with Wilkes and the " North Briton, No. 45" episode. He died in 1770.
208
Correspondence of the
stand is but ¿ the usual price of the Freight: all which savings amount to at least 5 per C: on the whole and which I really apprehend was in great measure owing to the Endeavours I used by engage- ing the Members of the House as afores! the 5 per C: on £7000 amounts to £350 Stº actually saved to Rhode Island, - nay whether the Government here will not pay the Expence of the Premium of Insur- ance also (without deducting it out of the Principal) I know not.
There has been lately a Bill drawn up and pre- pared to be brought into the House of Commons to exclude all Persons whatsoever from sitting and vot- ing in the Assemblys of the Nº Colonies but such as should take the proper Oaths to the King and Governmt which would have been a great hardship and Infraction on the Charter Governments; and had it not been for a Lord or two of Emenency in the Privy Council that was hearty Friends to our So- ciety I am well assured it would have been brought into. the House and possibly have pass'd (tho' not without opposition) but now it is postponed and lays as it may be said pro [word missing]
I am Thy loving Friend
RP PARTRIDGE
Herewith is a Copy of my Memorial to the Lords of Trade.1
To STEPHEN HOPKINS, Esqr.
Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
1 See the following document.
f
209
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
MEMORIAL OF . RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO THE LORDS OF TRADE. 1
To the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Planta- tions
The Memorial of Richard Partridge Agent for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England.
Humbly Sheweth That Some years since the said Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations directed your Memorialist to apply to the King, and to represent that they had built a Fortification at the Enterance of the Harbour of Newport their Prin- cipal Town which cost them upwards of £10,000 Currency, which was more at that time than £3000 Sterling and had purchased Twenty four Cannon for the same which cost between Six and Seven hundred Pounds Sterling all at their own Charge for their Defence against an Enemy. Whereupon your Me- morialist did humbly prefer a Petition to the King Conformable thereto in behalf of the said Colony Signifying their request of being Supplyed with twenty Cannons more from 18 to 24 Pounders, and a quantity of Shot for each Gun, which Petition was referred to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations who after having your Memorialists Allegations in behalf of the said Colony did on the 14 of July 1735 make their Report that they were of Opinion it would be of service to the Colony if his Majesty would be graciously pleased to Grant their
1 Enclosed with letter of April 6, 1756. Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 521. VOL. II.
-
210
Correspondence of the
request, which Report is yet lying in the Council Office.
That upon further application afterwards made by your Memorialist to the then Lords Committee of Council they were pleased on the 20th day of Sep- tember 17441 to referr the consideration of this affair to the Duke of Montague Master General of the Ordnance, and in case he had no objection thereto, then he should Cause an Estimate to be prepared of the Expence thereof, and Report the same to the said Committee.
That thereupon the said Master General of the Ordnance caused an Estimate to be made of the said 20 peices of Cannon with proper Stores appertaining Amounting in the whole to £1812.14.0 And on the 6th November 1744 a Report of the same was Signed by the Duke of Montague and sent to the Lords Committee of Council accordingly.
That the said Lords Committee did afterwards, viz! on the 5th of February 1744 take into Considera- tion the Report of said Estimate, and made an Order that your Memorialist should write over for an Exact plan of the said Fort and when received to lay the same before the said Lords Committee of Council.
That your Memorialist did Write over to the Governor of Rhode Island accordingly 2 and received from thence a Plan of their Fortification,3 which he laid before the said Lords Committee agreeable to their Order - But this matter notwithstanding your
1 See letter of October 12, 1744, and enclosure.
2 See letter of February 6, 1743.
8 See note to letter of September 10, 1755.
.
2II
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Memorialists endeavours (being delayed), nothing has ever yet been obtained in Consequence of the afore- said application till a Peace was concluded.
That your Memorialist had lately received advice from the Governor of the said Colony dated April 17th 1755 intimating that as now again, they seem to be threatened with a War, and have been strictly Commanded by his Majesty to do every thing in their Power to put their Colony in the best posture of De- fence they can, and that in obedience thereto they have ordered their Fortification to be repaired and enlarged ; And have again directed your Memorialist properly to apply for such a Number of Cannon and stores of such sizes as may render their Fortifications compleat according to its enlargements now making and the said Governor hath also wrote to Sir Thomas Robinson Secretary of State thereabout and sent him a Compleat Plan of their Fortification. a Copy of the Governors letter thereupon is hereunto an- nexed.1
That the General Assembly of the said Colony have lately granted a Tax on the People of £10,000 Currency, and the Town of Newport in the said Col- ony £5000 more to be wholly appropriated to the repairing and enlarging the Fort.2
That Rhode Island is Situated about 70 Miles from Boston in the Massachusets Bay and Separated from the Main Land only by a River of about 2 or three miles over and in case it should be Invaded in the Condition it is at present, it may become (as
1 See note of the Assembly directing these proceedings. Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 411.
2 See for Act of Appropriation, Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 441.
212
Correspondence of the
it is conceived) an easy prey to the Enemy, in which Case they may Cross a narrow River and March an Army into the Heart of the Province of the Massa- chusetts.
And for that as your Memorialist has been lately advised from their Gov: Step" Hopkins Esq! of 10th of Jan! last that in the late expedition undertaken for reducing Crown Point this little Colony has already Expended more than Fifteen Thousand Pounds Sterling, the whole of which Sum lies as a Debt upon it.1
Therefore in regard the said Colony as your Me- morialist apprehends hath done and is now about doing, to the utmost they are able in building and repairing their Fort and formerly purchasing the said 24 Cannon before they would become Charge- able to the Crown.
Your Memorialist most humbly prays that would be pleased to advise the King to Grant the said Colony such a Number as may render their Fortifi- cation compleat from 18 to 24 Pounders with Shot for each Gun and other Stores suitable for them all which is humbly Submitted
LONDON 4 month or April 2ª 1756 R P
1 £240,000 in bills of credit, known as Crown Point money, was issued between March and December of 1755. In October a tax of £80,000 was assessed for its re- demption, and within two years it was all redeemed, part, however, for treasury notes, bearing 5% interest. In February, 1756, an emission of £8000 was made, and provi- sion made for its redemption. Col. Rec. of R. I., V. 481, 482. Rider's Historical Tract No. 8, p. 94.
213
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
RICHARD PARTRIDGE TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
LONDON 5 mo. or May 7. 1756
Gov'. Hopkins
My last to thee was of 6th Ult via Boston. this now comes via New York and serves to advise thee that the Money for the Nº Colonies (of which £7000 Sterl is for Rhode Island) has been Shipt some Time since on board the Sterling castle Men of War in Specie, that she is yet lying at Portsmouth waiting to Convoy some Transport Ships bound to New York,
There is no War declared yet, the Topick of Con- versation now is on the grand Expedition of the French with their Toulon Fleet against Minorca 1 where it is said they have landed 18000 Men and going to besiege Portmahone, - Admiral Byng is gone with a pretty Strong Squadron of Men of War to the Mediteraneum, but we have no advice yet of his getting to Minorca. As to the Invasion talkd of designd against this Kingdom or Ireland that altho' Preparation has been making for Defence there seems now to be little or no great Apprehensions here of any danger about it. The House of Commons has passed a Bill for Recruiting Forces in Nº America which lyes now at the House of Lords, for the Royal Assent, but they have done nothing about a Union of the Northern Colonies, and they say the Parlia- ment will rise in about two Weeks Time.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.