USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 22
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
The last Assembly 2 appointed a Committee to audit your Accounts who will make a Report the next Sessions which will be about a Fortnight hence 3 and I shall then let you know the Resolution of the Government thereon
The last Letter of yours which I have received is dated 27th Feb! 17624 and as I dont doubt you have wrote since that Time I must desire you to send
1 See letter of February 6, 1762.
3 No report appears.
2 The June Assembly of 1762.
4 Not in the archives.
336
Correspondence of the
me Duplicates of all Letters wrote since that no- thing may be wanting to promote the Governments Interest
The Agent for the Province of the Massachusetts Bay has wrote to them to draw Bills on him for their Part of the Grant for 1760 and they are now draw- ing : I should have been greatly pleased if we could have drawn for ours for there never was a Time when the Colony had more Need of Relief from home. The War has brought on us a most amaz- ing Load of Debt1 and at the same Time by the Loss of the greatest Part of our Trade incapacitated us to pay it ; a most extreme Droughth cutt off most of the Crops last Year, a very severe Winter followed Numbers of Cattle died for Want of Hay and the People themselves must have perished if large Sup- plies had not been procured from the other Colonies : this Year the Droughth is equally or more severe and how the People will be supplied Heaven only knows These peculiar Circumstances of Distress make his Majesty's Favours more immediately necessary I must therefore recommend to you in the strongest Manner the most seasonable and diligent application to the Colony's Business and Interest I am Sir With due Regard
Your most humble Servant
SAM: WARD
P. S With regard to the Men actually enlisted by the Colony the last Year I suppose there was nearly
1 There were outstanding, in 1762, over £93,000 in bills of credit in old tenor, £2300 of Crown Point money, and £66,000 of so-called lawful money. See the Report of the Committee on Bills of Credit, Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 328.
1
337
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the same Deficiency in our Troops as in those of the other Governments but this Year we have been so successfull as to enlist the whole Compliment except about fifteen or twenty and they all seasonably ar- rived at their Places of Destination much to General Amhersts Satisfaction excepting between fifty or sixty sick and Deserters 1
M: JOSEPH SHERWOOD
GOVERNOR WARD TO COLONEL ROSE.
NEWPORT Sep: 6th 1762
Sir
I have had the Pleasure of two Letters from you one dated June 3ª 1762 2 at Albany acquainting me with your Arrival there and that the Billeting Money was ready Your Attention to the Governments In- terest in giving me the earliest Notice of which is very agreeable to me. Your other Letter enclosed me a return of the Regiment 3 but you unhappily forgot to send me the Names of those who deserted on their Passage. I must therefore desire you to write me by the first Opportunity their Names with a description of their Persons that proper Care may be taken to Apprehend them
The Government have ordered a Company of Sixty four Men to be enlisted and with two Officers to be continued in Pay until the first of July next,
1 General Amherst's satisfaction will be best appreciated by reading his letters of May II and August 4, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 318, 333.
2 Not in the archives.
3 See letter of July 5, 1762.
VOL. II.
338
Correspondence of the
Cap: George Cornel by whom you'l receive this Let- ter and also a Blank Commission for the Officer you may appoint is Chosen Captain of the Company and you are empowered to appoint a Lieutenant and for your Direction in the Affair I have enclosed you a Copy of the Act of Government 1 and doubt not from the Regard which I am sensible you have for his Ma- jestys service but you will use your best endeavours to see it carried into Execution
With Regard to the Regiment under your Com- mand I have only to recommend it to you, the other Officers, and Privates to conduct yourselves in such Manner as may be most for his Majestys Service, the Interest and Honor of the Colony, and your own Reputation I am Sir
Your most Obedient Humble Servant
SAM WARD
COLONEL JAMES ROBERTSON 2 TO GENERAL AMHERST. Sir
In obedience to Your Commands I have Endeav- or'd to recollect all the Circumstances that came to my Notice relative to the Demand made for the Bil- letting Money of the Rhode Island Regiment in the Year 1757.
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 331, 332; also Amherst's letter of August 4, Ibid., VI. 333.
2 Robertson was colonel of the 60th or Royal American regiment, and was made deputy quartermaster-general in 1758. In 1762 he went to Martinique, but returned to America and served through the Revolutionary War. In 1780 he received a royal commission as governor of New York.
339
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
I remember I Saw these Rolls at M' Appy's1 office in the Year 1758, As I was not then Employed in the Examination of these Papers, I cannot now Par- ticularize the Exceptions that were then Made to the Payment, the Claims were so totally Inadmissible, and the Errors so gross that M. Appy Show'd them to me as Curiosities.
I Know Money was advanced by M: Kilby at the Earl of Loudoun's desire, because I Stopt the Amount for M! Kilby's Use out of a Subsequent Account, and I have some faint Notion that a fur- ther Advance was made by the Earl himself, but can't be positive as to this Last.
These Accounts have been twice Lay'd before me, by Your Excellency's Order, with Billetting Rolls for Other Years, the last have all been Examined, and Satisfied, But these of 1757 have been by Your Directions returned, As the Services happened be- fore You Took the Command, and as You had no Access to be Informed of all the Circumstances rela- tive to them.
I have the honor to be Sir, Your Excellency's Most Ob! and most humble Servt JAMES ROBERTSON
NEW YORK, 15th Septem : 1762.
To His Excellency Sir JEFFREY AMHERST.
1 John Appy, who was secretary to General Abercrombie and to General Amherst.
-
340
Correspondence of the
CAPTAIN CORNELL 1 TO GOVERNOR WARD.
ALBANY the 20 September 1762. May it Plese the Honourble Governer,
I take the Libity of informing the Governer that I have Arivid in albany in 8 days from Rhode Island, I also take the Libity of informing his honour the Governer that I am Like to Be detaind heer in town for this ten Days By Reason of mr Davis Beeing from home at Canderhook. on my ARaivil I wrote him, and sent on, Express with it, and he sends me for anser that he Cant Com home untill Next Sat- terday and that he Dose Not Know Wair he Can fur- nish me with money to Reinlist those men with or Not, I am Afraid that my Being Detaind heer will Be of hurt to my Recruting and Likewise to the Government A Boot furnishing their men. how Ever, as soon as I Git money I shall Sett out with the Gratest Expidision for fort stanwix and I shall yoose my utmost indevers to Git what men I Can, altho I am Afraid that the Government has Given me most too heard a task to Reinlist those men onely for 5 Dollers A head in Cash, as I am vary shure that those soldiers would Not Be vary fond of taken Cloathing for parts of thir Bountys, for they Know that the Government is Obliged to Let them have what Cloase they want upon thir Wages. But how- ever I Shall youse my Best indeavors to Raise as
1 George Cornell was appointed a second lieutenant in the Rhode Island regiment of 1759, and was stationed at Fort Stanwix through the spring of 1762. See his let- ter of April 14, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 312. In August he was made captain of the company at Stanwix, which was to be reenlisted for service until July, 1763. Ibid., VI. 332.
-
34I
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
many as I Can with what provisions the Govern- ment has maid so soon as I Receive money from M: Davis, But if the Government would be plese to ALow and order the other 5 Dollers to Be paid in Cash Which is the same Bountey, as what them sol- diers had that stayd the Last wintor, if the Govern- ment will Be plese to ALow that and will send the money time ANouhgt to my assistunce I will Be Bound to Reinlist all the men By the [time ?] Gov- ernmt has orderd
May it Plese the Honourble Governer.
I Dont find as the Government has maid Any provisions for A Doctor to Look after those men in Case any of them should prove sickly I there fore Dont know how to Conduct my self in this Afair and I should take it as A Pertickler favour and as A marke of frindship if his honour the Governer will Be so kind as to send me A Letter and orders how I Shall Conduct my self I am verry shure if the Regular Doctors are imployd, and ALowd to ask as much as they have A mind, they will take Care to Be Vary Exstravacant in thir Accompts.1
I also have the pleasure of informing his honour the Govener that I wated upon his Excellency Sir Jff! Amherst with the Letter from his honour and Likewise from M' Eaton. his Excellancy was vary fond of the soldiers which I Card him and sais he has not seen so many Good men this som time
1 See Ward's letter of December 28, 1762, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 346.
-
342
Correspondence of the
I hope his honour the Governer will Be so kind as to write me, and permit me to stile my self
Your Honours Ever Faithfull Frind and vary Humble servant GEO : CORNELL Capt of the Rhodeislanders
To the Honourble SAMUEL WARD Esq Governer of the Coloney of Rhodeisland
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR WARD.
Respª Fra
Foregoing is Duplicate of my last, since which the House of Commons has been pleased to Vote another sum of £133,000 for the Provinces in North America to be Distributed according to their Active Vigour and Meritt as before.
I have Exhibited a Memorial to the Lords of the Treasury for your Share of the Grant for 1761, but when they will think Proper to Distribute the same is totally uncertain as yet, and the more so as the Government has raised but little money this Year (in Comparison with the Levies of former Years)
Peace was Proclaimed in our Streets a few days ago.1 Attempts are making for the Extension of the Excise Laws 2 which gives great Dissatisfaction to the Populace and is likely to meet with great Oppo-
1 The Peace of Paris was signed February 10, 1763.
2 The principal cause of dissatisfaction was a new tax on cider.
Į
343
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
sition of which more may be seen in the Prints sent herewith
I am with great regard to the Gentlemen of the General Assembly and thyself
Their and Thy Assured Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
AUSTIN-FRYERS. 26 March 1763 To SAMUEL WARD Esq' Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island Newport
GOVERNOR WARD TO JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND 6th April 1763
Sir
I have had the Pleasure of receiving your Letter of the 31st July last 1 and am much Pleased with the Measures you have taken to obtain for this Colony a due Proportion of the Parliamentary Grant for the Year 1760 and hope they may have the desired Effect. I wrote to Sir Jeffery Amherst agreeable to your request for a Copy of the Returns of the Men actually raised by the Colonies in 1760 and received for Answer that the Returns for 1760, 61, and 62 were made out and would be transmitted to the Lords of the Treasury by the first Opportunity and that as their Lordships would undoubtedly be gov- erned by the Original a Copy was unnecessary, and as these Returns have or probably will very soon ar- rive I must desire you to take all Proper measures
1 See p. 331.
344
Correspondence of the
to get this Governments full share of the £10 000 of the Grant made in the Year 1760 still to be distrib- uted and also of all the other Grants made to the Colonies as soon as possible. The General Treasurer was directed to draw Bills on You for the Money which you had received for 1760 which I doubt not but you will duly honor.
John Temple 1 Esq: Surveyor General of the North- ern District of America has demanded a Sum of Money of the Colony 2 which arose from the Sale of some forfeited Sugars and as the Government through a Multiplicity of important Business could not imme- diately examine into his Demand He acquainted me that he should write to the Lords of the Treasury to stop the Colonies Part of the Parliamentary Grants for 1760 and 61, Should any thing of this Kind be attempted You may assure their Lordships that the Government have not the least desire of prejudicing his Majesty's Revenue but have only received a Small Quantity of Sugars forfeited (in their Opinion) by the Statute of the 6th Year of the late King, to the Crown, for the Use of the Colony, and that when a State of the Case is sent Home which will be done as soon as possible I doubt not but their Lordships will Approve the Colonys Conduct. In the mean time as this little Government is now loaded with a Debt of upwards of Sixty Thousand Pounds Sterling incurred by a chearful and ready obedience to the Kings Commands and in Expectation of very con- siderable relief from the Parliament, I can't entertain
1 Appointed February 12, 1761, with residence at Boston.
2 See Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 342, 350.
1
345
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
the least Suspicion that the Lords of the Treasury will frustrate the Gracious Intention of the King and Parliament in making those Grants upon the bare Suggestion of M: Temple especially when his whole Demand amounts to but about Three Hundred Pounds Sterling I deferred writing some Time in Hopes of receiving an Answer from you to my last but as I have never received any I now enclose you a Duplicate thereof and must desire you to write me as often as any thing occurs wherein the Colonys Interest is Concerned. And as our distress'd Cir- cumstances make it Absolutely Necessary that we should receive as soon as possible the full Benefit of the Parliamentary Grants I must recommend it to You to make Speedy and diligent Application for this Governments Proportion. M' John Hadwen by whom you'l receive this Dispatch is a Merchant of Reputation of this Town and as he is a most worthy and Honest Gentleman any Civilities you may show him I shall esteem as a Favor
I am with much Regard Sir Your most obed! Hble Serv:
SAM WARD
P S. The Company of Sixty four Men mentioned in my last were very seasonably raised and Compleated and are now upon Duty at Fort Stanwix. I wrote you of the 6th Augst last and also transmitted you a Duplicate thereof As those Letters may have mis- carried I think it proper to inform you that this Col- ony voted the same Number of Men to be raised the present Year as the last and that the whole Number excepting about Twenty Men were actually raised
346
Correspondence of the
and did arrive at the Place of their Destination sea- sonably and much to the satisfaction of Gen! Am- herst excepting about Fifty or Sixty who were sick or deserted 1
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR WARD.
Esteemed Frd
At the time of making the Distribution of the Parliamentary Grant for 1760 General Amherst had sent no return of the Troops Levied and raised by the respective Provinces for that Year and several of us who thought our Colonies had Exerted themselves beyond some of the others objected to a Distribu- tion exactly Conformable to that made in the Year 1759, Whereupon the Lords of the Treasury came to a Resolution that unless the Agents would agree among themselves (in regard to such Distribution) the money should remain in the Treasury till the Arrival of the Generals Certificate which they De- termined to make the Rule of their Apportionment. At length the Agents agreed that the Division should be as the preceeding under a Stipulation that in Case upon the Arrival of General Amherst's Cer- tificate any Inequalitys should appear the same should be made good out of the Grant for 1761. You will see by the Minutes that the Province of Pensylvania received more than it's due Share of that Grant and that it is Indebted to several of the Colonies and among others to Rhode Island in the
1 See notes to letter of August 6, 1762.
1
347
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
sum of One Thousand Nine Hundred and ten Pounds three Shillings but they, having no money to receive, have given these Acknowledgments to the respective Agents, to send to their Colonies, in Order for them to apply to the Province of Pennsylvania for payment of that money and for which purpose I Send the Inclosed to thee, not doubting but upon due Application the same will be Complied with.1 As to the {10,000 which was kept back at the Trea- sury it remains Undistributed, and when that, or the Grant for 1761 will be Distributed Remains yet un- certain. I am with great regard to thyself and the Gent of the General Assembly
Their and Thy Ass! Fra JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
21ª May 1763.
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Gent.
Foregoing is Duplicate of my last to Governor Ward and herewith I send a Notarial Copy of the Minutes of the Agents therein ment!
As to the Affair of the Reimbursement of Ex- pences in 1756 which is mentioned to me again,2 I Informed the Colony long ago of the Report made on my Petition by the Pay Master Gen! and Secre- tary at Warr and sent a Copy thereof 3 and another Copy I have now sent herewith
1 See letter of Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania, of October 3, 1763.
2 See Ward's letter of August 6, 1762.
8 See letter of January 31, 1761, and enclosure.
348
Correspondence of the
If the Colony Expects me to Revive that applica- tion they must send me (if they are able) such Vouchers as seem to be required and also the Partic- ulars of the last Article of Land Transportation and an Accot of the Remaining Stores And whe[ther] they were delivered to the King's Magazines and if so the Receipt of the King's Officer for the same ought to be sent.
The Objections appearing on the Face of the Re- port are of such Weight as to carry an Absolute Negative and untill they are Removed and some of the Items Omitted such as Coffee Tea Hams and Sugar a Reimbursement can never be Obtained.
Upon the whole if you will send me Accts cleared (as much as can be) of these Objections I will use my utmost Endeavours to procure a Reimbursemt but the Negative already passed is Conclusive untill these Objections are Removed and if anything is done in this Affair it must be with the utmost Ex- pedition as the length of Time will be Objected to us.
I some time ago got from the Treasury Copys of the return of Gen! Amherst. that for 1760 is In- cluded in the Minutes1 and I have sent a Copy of that for 1761.2 I am with the utmost respect to the Gov. and the Gen' Assembly.
Their Obliged Fra
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
8th June 1763
To The Governor and Company of the Colony of Rhode-Island
1 The minutes are not in the archives.
2 See enclosure.
349
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
[Enclosure.] Sir Jeffrey Amherst's Certificate of the Number of Troops furnished by the Provinces in North America in the Year 1761.
Return of the Troops furnished by the several Provinces in North America for the Public Service in the Year 1761.
Provinces or Colonies
Number of Men Voted to be levyed Cloathed and paid
Number of Men Actually raised and took the Field
Of which there remained during the Winter
New Hampshire
534
438
5I
Massachusetts Bay .
3220
2637
59I
Rhode Island
666
395
64
Connecticutt
2300
2000
323
New York .
1787
1547
I73
New Jersey
600
554
64
Pensylvania
Maryland .
Virginia
1000
1000
North Carolina
500
225
South Carolina
These are to Certify The right Honorable the Lords Com- missioners of his Majesty's Treasury, that the above is a true State of the respective Quota's of Men raised by the several Provinces on the Continent of North America, in Consequence of his Majestys Requisition, for the service of the Year 1761, as nearly as the Numbers can be Ascertained, from the Straggling manner in which the Provincials Generally take the Field. The Province of South Carolina did make Provision for raising One Thousand Men, for the Expedition against the Cherokees under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Grant, of which there were upwards of Five Hundred raised and actually took the Field, exclusive of the Corps of Rangers kept in the pay of the Province and principally employed in Escorting Provisions &c to the Army and Out Posts
JEFF. AMHERST
350
Correspondence of the
CAPTAIN CORNELL TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.1
May it please the Governer
I doubt not but the Generel has Inform'd you of the same Orders, as he has sent to me Concerning the Troops being kept this Summer for Service of this Garrison.2
I have Advenc'd to each Man Ten Dollars as Bounty in Cloaths out of the Colony's Store as the Men were all Naked.
I shall take all Precaution as far as in my Power lays and agreeable to my Orders from General Am- herst to keep the Men Untill I Receive your further Orders which I shall expect Immediatly
I, am, Sir, your most Humble Servant
GEO : CORNELL
FORT STANWIX 24th June 1763
To the Honble Governer HOPKINS Esq:
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Respd Frª
Sir Jeffery Amherst has made his return whereby he Certifies that the Colony sent into the Field for the Service of the Year 1761 only Three Hundred and Ninety Five Men. We are making Applica- tion to the Treasury for a Distribution of the Par- liamentary Grant for that Year But have received
1 Hopkins was elected governor in May, after a stormy canvass.
2 See Amherst's letter of June 17, 1763; and Cornell's Memorial to the Assembly, Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 364, 365.
35I
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
no Encouragement to expect that it will be soon Distributed which is owing to the want of Cash in the Treasury as a very small Sum was raised last Year in Comparison with the Preceeding Levies.
I know of nothing here that relates to the Colony and for Publick News with us I Inclose the Prints of which I desire thy favourable Acceptance and am Thy Asse respectfull Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
AUSTIN-FRYERS. 7th July 1763.
To STEPHY HOPKINS Esq!
Gov! of the Colony of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations in America
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Esteemed Friend.
I have not had the Pleasure of a Line from thee since the last Sessions.
In relation to the Affair of the £10,000 mentioned in my last,1 It Appearing that a great Number of Troops were supplyed by the Government of Massa- chusetts Bay for Garrison Service, the Agents agreed among themselves to allow the said Province £3000 out of the said £10,000 (the Share of the Massa- chusets in the said {10,000 being Included therein), this was thought a very good Compromise as there was great reason to beleive the Lords of the Treasury would have Allowed them the whole if the matter had been Litigated
1 See letter of August 4, 1763, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 368.
352
Correspondence of the
The Treasury Board is now under an Adjourn- ment but will meet again in about a fortnight, and we hope for a Distribution of the Grant for 1761 soon after.
By the decease of the Earl of Egremont one of the Principal Secretarys of State great Alterations in the Capital Appointments have been and are ex- pected, but the Interest of the two Powerfull Con- tending Parties is so nearly equal that neither has yet Prevailed, the Earl of Sandwich is appointed Secretary of State but most People think it is only to supply the present Vacancy, and that he will not continue long in his Office, but that a Revolution in Politicks will Ensue.1
I have had Intelligence that the West Indian Trad- ers are forming a Scheme to prevent or Abridge the Trade of the American Colonies To the French Islands which they will Endeavour to carry into Exe- cution next Sessions of Parliament, I shall keep a Vigilant look out and whenever any thing of that kind is Attempted will spare no Pains nor Appli- cation to prevent it. I am with great respect
Thy Assª Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
12* Sept: 1763 To STEPHEN HOPKINS Esq: Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island at Provi- dence
1 George Grenville, who became First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer on April 8, 1763, was for the next two years the dominant influence in Eng- lish politics. Halifax became Secretary for the Colonies.
353
Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR HAMILTON 1 TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
PHILAD4 Oct! 3ª 1763.
Sir,
I have received the favour of your letters of the 20th of Sept.,2 inclosing an authenticated Copy, of the transactions of the several Agents of the North- ern Colonies, touching the distribution of the Par- liamentary Grant for the Year 1760; by which it appears, that Pennsylva hath received considerably more than her just proportion of the sª Grant, and in particular, the Sum of £1910.3. sterling which of right belonged to Rhode Island, and which, it was agreed by the said Agents, ought to be repaid to that Colony.
Having, as you rightly judge, received an Account of this affair from Our Agents in England, I failed not to communicate it to the Assembly, at their last sitting about a fortnight ago : desiring them, at the same time, to make provision for the speedy repay- ments, to the other Colonies, of the Monies We had received belonging to them: and this, I doubt not, they would have done, but that it was only a few days before their dissolution, and at a season, when they rarely enter upon the Consideration of any other business than the settlement of their Publick Accounts.
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.