USA > Rhode Island > The correspondence of the colonial governors of Rhode Island, 1723-1775, Vol. II > Part 25
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By every Motive of Duty and Affection by the sacred Ties of Gratitude and Consciance devoted to your Majesty's Royal Person and Family and Gov- ernment - possessed with the sincerest Veneration for the British Constitution, and convinced that our Connection with and Dependence upon Great Brit- ain are the only sure Foundations of our Happiness We beg Leave to assure your Majesty That it shall be our Study to cultivate the Principles of Loyalty to your Majesty, of due Regard and Submission to that August Body the British Parliament, of Friendship and Filial Affection to Great Britain ; and to pro- mote the true Interest and Felicity of all your Ma- jesty's Subjects.
That your Majesty may long very long sway the Sceptre of Great Britain with Glory and Renown
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Correspondence of the
and continue to be considered as the Father of your People by Millions of Faithful Subjects throughout the British Empire; and that there may never be wanting One of your Illustrious House to transmit to the latest Posterity the Blessings of Your Majestys auspicious Reign are the sincere Wishes and ardent Prayers of
May it please your Majesty, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects THE GOVR AND COMPANY OF THE COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND
June 14th 1766.
To the House of Mag.ts
Gent
Resolved that the Abovewritten form of an Ad- dress be Approved of And that his Hon! the Gov! be requested to order a Fair Copy to be made and trans- mit the same to his Majesty Voted and past per Ord' J LYNDON Cler
In the Upper House
Read the same Day and concurred with this Amendment that the Secretary be directed to give out no Copy of the same until Intelligence is re- ceived of its being presented to His Majesty.1
Read the same Day in the Lower house and con- curred
per ord: J LYNDON Cler By Ord: HENRY WARD Secretary
1 See Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 496.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
GOVERNOR WARD TO THE MERCHANTS IN LONDON.1
NEWPORT 30 June 1766
Gentlemen
In Consequence of the inclosed Resolve of the General Assembly I have the Pleasure to transmit to You the Thanks of this Colony for your generous and unwearied Assistance in promoting the Repeal of the late Act of Parliament for levying certain Stamp Duties in America
This happy Event which hath restored Peace and Tranquility to America with the proposed Regula- tions and Extension of American Commerce will I doubt not be attended with the most advantageous Consequences not only to the Interests of this Coun- try but to the Trade and Manufactures of Great Britain. And for the Promotion of these beneficial Measures All America gratefully acknowledges themselves highly indebted to the Merchants of Great Britain I am With great regard Gentlemen Your most obedient humble Servant
SW
BARLOW TRESOTHICK Esq: and the other Merchts in London
GOVERNOR WARD TO JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
NEWPORT 4th July 1766 Sir
I am now to acknowledge the receiving your Favors of the 11th Jan! the 25th Feb'y and 13th and 29th March last.
1 See instructions of the Assembly in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 494.
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Correspondence of the
The Repeal of the Stamp Act has given the great- est Pleasure to this and all the Colonies and is re- ceived with the most sincere and ardent Gratitude and thankfulness and if the Regulations of our Trade are as favorable as we have Reason from M: Secre- tary Conways Letter 1 to expect there is not the least Doubt but that the most affectionate Intercourse and Harmony will be established between Great Britain and her Colonies to the lasting Benefit of both Countries, And this Colony in particular will take every proper Measure for promoting and perpetuat- ing such a desirable Union
Upon receiving M: Secretary Conways Letter and Copies of the Acts just passed relative to the Stamp Act the Government unanimously voted an humble Address to the King which I have inclosed in my letter to his Excellency and requested the Favor of him to present to his Majesty
I am much pleased that you have obtain'd a hear- ing on our Demands for the Year 1756 2 and hope the Measures You have taken are so judicious that Success may attend them and I must desire that you will spare no Pains in this Matter and that you will write me as soon as Possible what the Event may be. I am obliged to you for your Advices relative to the Progress of the Bill for repealing the Stamp Act and whenever any thing occurs in which the Colonies may have any Interest Your giving us the most early
1 See Secretary Conway's letter of March 31, 1766, in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 486.
2 See letter of May 15, 1766.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
and minute Advice of it will be very agreeable to the Government. I am Sir
Your respectful Friend and humble Servant
SAM : WARD
JOSEPH SHERWOOD Esq"
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR WARD.
Esteemed Frd
By the Polly Capt" Gardiner I sent the Acts of Parliament for opening free Ports and for taking the Dutys off Sundry American Commodities.
With my Letter of 15th May I sent a Copy of the second Report of the Pay Master General and Secre- tary at War since which I have with Assiduity and Diligence Sollicited the Lords of the Treasury for the Kings Warrant for the sum Reported due to the Colony It was for some time Postponed by that Board by Occasion of the Multiplicity of their Affairs but at length upon my growing Importunate for the money the Lords have thought proper to give me this Positive Answer " That as a Requisition is gone " from the Crown to the Colony the Treasury Board " thinks fitt to suspend the Payment of the money " untill an Answer comes from the Colony relating to " that Requisition." This I Apprehend clearly to relate to the Depredations Committed by the Mob in your Colony (Encouraged and Animated as is Alledged here by some who ought to have known and acted otherwise) on several Persons for their Attachment to the Stamp Act.1
1 See note to letter of May 15.
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Correspondence of the
This is a very unlucky Circumstance but I do not see that I can Proceed any further at present I hope and Expect soon to receive some Instructions from the Colony and then I shall apply to the Trea- sury again I am with great regard to thy self and the Gent of the General Assembly Their and thy respectfull Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
WARNFORD COURT THROGMORTON STREET. 25th July 1766.
Esq: Pitt is Reported to be Secry of State.1
To The Governor and Comp! of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in America
JOHN ROBINSON AND JOHN NICOLL TO GOVERNOR WARD.
CUSTOM HOUSE 22ª December 1766. Sir.
As it is upwards of a Year since your Honor received a Commission from the Lords of the Trea- sury 2 to examine into the Facts advanced in a Let- ter of ours to the Commissioners of the Customs concerning M: Andrews the Judge and M. Honey- man the Advocate of the Court of Admiralty ; And as M! Andrews has prosecuted us at the Suit of the
1 Rockingham was dismissed in July, 1766, and Pitt made Earl of Chatham and Prime Minister and Lord Privy Seal. The strongest man in the ministry (for Pitt was already incapacitated by ill health) was Charles Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
2 See letter of September 14, 1765, with enclosure. Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 457, 458. Also notes to letter of February 22, 1766.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
Crown by way of Indictment and at his own Suit for Defamation, for the Represention we thereby made of his Conduct, We think ourselves under a Neces- sity of apply to your Honor to know whether any and what Steps have been taken in the Affair; and we are in hopes you'll consider this our Request so reasonable as to induce you to comply with it.
We are, Sir, Y! m! Obed hble Servts
JOHN ROBINSON JOHN NICOLL
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.1
Esteemed Fr.
My last to the Governour was of the 20th of Feb- ruary,2 in which I Informed of the Proceedings in Parliament in Relation to America.
Since that time the House of Commons of Ordered in a Bill to Prohibit the Legislature of New York from Passing any Act of Assembly untill, they shall have Complied with the Act of Parliament Relating to Billeting Soldiers.3
It is also said, and I believe with good Authority, that the Ministry have Resolved upon laying Taxes on Wine, Oil, Fruit, &: Imported into America from
1 The Ward-Hopkins controversy had been renewed, and had resulted in a victory for the Providence faction. This was the last trial of strength. In October arrange- ments were made whereby a compromise candidate was selected. See Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 548-554.
2 Not in the archives.
3 This was a part of Townshend's plan of action which he brought into the House of Commons on May 13, 1767. He also wished to establish a Board of Commissioners of Customs for America, and to tax glass, red and white lead, painters' colors, paper, and tea.
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Correspondence of the
Portugal and the Madeira's, and also on some other Articles, but the Particulars are not yet known.
I have received no Advices from the Colony for sometime, I did hope to be Informed what the As- sembly had done in Relation to the Petitions of Martin Howard Esq: and Doctor Moffat.1 I have not been able to Obtain as yet upon my Application to the Treasury, as mentioned in my last, but hope to be able to write more fully thereon by next Con- veyance.
I am with great Regard to thyself and the Gent of the General Assembly
Their and thy Assured Respectfull Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD.
WARNFORD COURT THROGMORTON STREET 20th May 1767.
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Esteemed Frd
Foregoing is Duplicate of my last.
I have again moved the Treasury for Payment of the Money, But I have the Strongest Authority, to Inform the Colony, that it will not be Paid till a Reasonable Compensation is made to the Sufferers by Riots. The Money was Stopped by the last Treasury Board, not those now in Office, And the Present Lords of the Treasury do not think them- selves Oblidged to Justify, or Account for, every Act of their Predecessors, But however they will not
1 See note to letter of May 15, 1766.
r
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
undo what they found done when they Entered into their Office, Therefore unless the matter is by some Method or other Compromised with them, it is vain to apply for the Money.
I was Yesterday with One of his Majesty's Minis- ters, who Complained greatly against the Assembly or Magistracy for Prosecuting the Collector Robin- son,1 the Particulars of his Charges I know not, but I have heard from many hands they are very Greivous ; When you know or Expect Complaints of any kind coming over, it would be well to let me have a true State of the Real Facts, for I apprehend they gener- ally come here highly Coloured and aggrevated, and without Information I cannot Contradict and Falsify them.
The Parliament let fall their Design of Taxing the Items mentioned on the other side, But have Passed An Act laying Dutys on Glass, Red lead, Painters Colours, Tea, and Paper, Imported from Great Britain into America, And also another Act Enabling his Majesty to Establish a Board of Customs in America, which two Acts, together with the Prohibition New York Act are all that have Passed this Sessions Relating to America.1
I am with great Respect Thy Assured Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
7th August 1767. To STEPHEN HOPKINS Esq!
Governour of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England America.
1 See notes to letter of December 22, 1766; and for action of the Assembly upon receipt of this letter, Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 532, 533.
2 See note to preceding letter.
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Correspondence of the
LORD SHELBURNE TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.
WHITEHALL October 8th 1767.
Gentlemen
By the Directions of the Earl of Shelburne I sent You the inclosed Copy of an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, Intituled "An Act to enable " His Majesty to put the Customs and other Duties, " in the British Dominions in America, and the Exe- " cution of the Laws relating to Trade there under " the Management of Commissioners to be appointed " for that Purpose, and to be Resident in this said " Dominions." 1
I am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
S. MACLEANE
Governor and Company of Rhode Island
TOBIAS SHATTOCK 2 TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
CHARLESTON the 8 of Decem" A. D. 1767.
To the Committee appointed by the Hon : Assembly at their last Sessions.
Gentlemen. As we have been threatened with ruin for a course of Years, by having our Land Sold from
1 See Sherwood's letter of May 20, 1767.
2 In October the Assembly had required the Narragansett sachem, Ninigret, to deed the lot whereon stood the Indian school-house in Charlestown to the colony, and had appointed a committee to settle the accounts of the sachem, and to sell the lands of the tribe, if necessary, in order to do so. Thereupon the tribe took the advice of Sir William Johnson, and sent Tobias Shattock to England, as their agent, to present their case to the King. Notwithstanding his efforts, the decree of the Assembly was executed in 1773. See Arnold, Rhode Island, II. 279, 328; and Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 534.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
us ; that we have greatly fear'd we must come into Bondage with our Children or hear their lamentable Cry for want of Bread; and be hindred of the blessed Priviledge of worshiping God together as a Ch, also the benefit of our School, that we have been lately favoured with. We have often Solicited the Hon : Assembly for redress, to little Purpose; their last Resolve on Indian affairs, in my sincere Opinion is Grievous. Tho' I wou'd not be understood to reflect upon the Government; but I've tho't certain Gen- tlemen has endeavoured to advance their Interest by the poor Indians, thinking (perhaps) their extream Poverty, may prevent their being called into Ques- tion ; too tho'tless (I fear) that the Supreme God takes cognizance of all their doings.
What I would inform You is, the Indian Tribe has agreed to send me to England for Redress, and have furnish'd me for the Purpose, by Direction of his Excellency S: William Johnston. Which Design is necessary and laudible, the Injuries, Violations, and Frauds done to the Indians being in my sincere Opinion, grievous, inhuman and incredible, that I can in Integrity do no less than undertake in behalf of my Brethren, not doubting, but God, who hates Oppression, will raise me true Friends to lay our Miseries before his most Sacred Majesty, and his most Hon : Privy Council. Which is the earnest Prayer of his Majesties Conscientiously loyal Subject
TOBIAS SHATTOCK
To Colonel JOSEPH HAZSARD at South Kingston CHARLESTON Dec: 29 1767
Recd and read before the Committee Witness F PERRY
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Correspondence of the
MATTHEW ROBINSON TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Sir !
I should be wanting in due respect to your Honour, and the General Assembly did I not give an Account of my doings in the Comission1 I was charg'd withal the last Session of Assembly in October last relating to drawing and obtaining an ample Deed from Thomas Ninnegret the Indian Sachem and five of his Coun- sellors of a Peice of Land in Charlestown for a School. Which is not yet done: ffor that notwithstanding much pains taken by me this Winter I never could get the Plat of the Land 'til last Fryday Week, and the end of last Week I obtain'd the names of the Sa- chems Counsellors and not before; Wherefore it has not been in my Power to obey the Orders of the Assembly
Be pleas'd Sir ! to lay this before the Assembly and exculpate me for the above Reasons from all blame since I never have had them in my Power to execute their Orders, and assure them that I will improve the first Vacancy I shall have between the Courts to accomplish this Business, and in the interim, am the Assembly's and
Y! Hon's most hble Serv
Sº KINGSTON March 1º 1768
MAT ROBINSON
To his Hon! Gov" HOPKINS
1 See note to preceding letter.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
JOSEPH SHERWOOD TO GOVERNOR HOPKINS.
Gent.
The Parliament is Dissolved by Proclamation and the Nobility Gentry &: are Busy about Electioneering. Nothing passed last Sessions materially Affecting the Colonies.
I received the Governors Letters1 of the 14th 16th and 17th of November the first Containing a very In- telligent Account of the dispute between the Judge of the Admiralty and the late Collector, as the last is removed from the Colony2 I think no further Notice need be taken of that Affair.
As to the Money in the Treasury you are to Ob- serve, that it never has been Voted by Parliament, it stands only upon the Report of the Pay Master Gen- eral and Secretary at War in favour of the Colony, and to which the Commons may Assent or Dissent as they think fit, and there Appears not to be the least Probability of Obtaining it till the Requisition of that House is Complied with.
It is some years since I received any money from, or on Account of the Colony, I was Informed that £200 would be Remitted me on Account of the Ex- pences of the Repeal of the Stamp Act, as I have not yet received it, I have taken the Liberty to draw upon the Governor and Company for that Sum, in favour of Joseph Harrison Esq' of Boston, which I hope will be Honoured, and I propose to send my
1 None of these are in the archives.
2 John Robinson had been appointed a member of the board of Commissioners of Cus- toms under the new act. This board was stationed at Boston. By their appointment Charles Dudley became collector and surveyor of Rhode Island, in place of Robinson. VOL. II.
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Correspondence of the
Account Current with the Colony soon I am with great regard Gent
Your Assured Respectfull Frd
JOSEPH SHERWOOD
WARNFORD COURT THROGMORTON STREET 21 March 1768.
To The Gov. and Company of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in America.
LORD HILLSBOROUGH TO THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF RHODE ISLAND.1
Circular.
WHITEHALL. April the 30th 1768. (Nº 6)
Gentlemen,
I herewith transmit to You Copies of several Papers 2 received from the Lords Comm's of His Majesty's Treasury relative to the Murder of William Odgers, One of the Officers of His Majesty's Cus- toms, charged therein upon Melchisedeck Kinsman, who sailed about three Weeks since from Falmouth, in One of the New York Packets; And I am to signify to You His Majesty's Pleasure, that you take all legal Methods for the apprehending of the said Kinsman, if found within Your Government, to the End that He may be brought to Justice.3
I am, with great Truth and Regard, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servant.
HILLSBOROUGH
Governor and Company of Rhode Island.
1 Printed in Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 555.
2 See the five documents next in order.
8 See, for action of the Assembly, Col. Rec. of R. I., VI. 554.
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
EDWARD STANLEY TO THOMAS BRADSHAW.1
Sir,
I received your Note of the 19th Instant desiring to have Copies of the Informations against Melchise- deck Kinsman, to transmit to the Governors on the Continent of America; I herewith send You the same, together with a Copy of the Surgeon's Affida- vit,2 who attended William Odgers 'till the Time of his Death, which the Solicitor thinks may also be proper to be sent to the Governors on the Continent of America.
I am &c:
EDWP. STANLEY.
CUSTOMHOUSE LONDON 21 April 1768.
[Enclosure.3]
The Voluntary Deposition of Alexander Hampton of the Par- ish of Redruth in the said County Tinner taken on Oath before Us Thomas Glynn and Hugh Rogers Esq"s two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County to wit Cornwall 15th Day of March 1768.
Who saith that on Monday 7th of March Instant, he was hired by one James Nicholls of Redruth aforesaid Tinner to assist in bringing some smuggled Goods from the Parish of Landewednack in the said County to Redruth aforesaid. That he arrived at the Church Town of the Parish of Landewednack aforesaid about three o'Clock in the Afternoon and put up his Horse at a Pub- lick House there soon after which the said James Nicholls, and also Melchesedeck Kinsman Richard Trenear, David Trenear and Rich. Peters all of the Parish of Gwennop in the said County came to the same Place with Intent (as this Deponent appre-
1 Enclosed with letter of April 30, 1768.
2 See the two following documents.
8 Enclosed with letter of April 21, 1768.
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Correspondence of the
hended) to carry off some Smuggled Goods which had been landed for them in the said Parish of Landewednack. That within an hour after their Arrival a Report was spread that the Goods were in danger of being seized by some Custom House Officers ; on which one of them said, " Damn' these Fellows we " shall lose our Goods, come let us go immediately and endea- " vour to save them," or Words to that Effect. That immediately the said Melchesedeck Kinsman, Richard Trenear, David Tre- near and Richard Peters set off from the said House towards a Field about the Distance of an Eighth Part of a Mile, and this Deponent followed them. That on their entering the said Field this Deponent observed one Man standing still and another Man running off. That the said Melchesedeck Kinsman Richard Trenear, David Trenear and Richard Peters immediately took up a Stone each in their Hands and approaching within ten or twelve Yards of the Man who stood still forthwith flung the Stones at him ; And thereupon the said Melchesedeck Kinsman came upon him and closed with him and threw him to the Ground, and then with a Whip, the Head of which was cased with Copper struck him several Violent Blows on the Head Leggs and several Parts of his Body ; during which some of the Company having repre- sented to the said Melchesedeck Kinsman that he had beat the Man enough and desiring him to desist said Kinsman said " By God I'll kill him," or to that Effect, and accordingly continued beating him some time longer. And this Deponent saith that he saw in the said Field several Anchor Casks which he presumes were full of smuggled Liquors, but that after having done the said Mischief the said Melchesedeck Kinsman and the others thought it imprudent to stay in order to bring off the said Casks but got their Horses and rid away as fast as they could. And further saith that he has been informed and believes that the Name of the Person so assaulted and beaten as aforesaid was William Odgers, That he was a Custom House Officer belonging to the Port of Penzance in the said County and that he is since dead of the Wounds received by him as aforesaid.
Sworn before Us THOMAS GLYNN HUGH ROGERS.
ALEXR HAMPTON
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Colonial Governors of Rhode Island
[Enclosure.1] In the King's Bench.
James Smith, of the Parish of Helstone, in the County of Corn- wall, surgeon, maketh Oath, that on Monday the 7th day of March inst about Six OClock in the Afternoon he was sent for and re- quested to attend on W™ Odgers, a Customhouse Officer belong- ing to the Port of Penzance in the sª County at the Parish of Landwednack in the sª County. That he accordingly went to the said Parish and found the sª Wm Odgers at the House of one Joseph Richards there ;
That on examining the sª Wm Odgers he found that he had received several Wounds and Bruizes in several Parts of his Body, and particularly a violent depression upon the Brain and a Fracture in the left side of the skull, and a compound Fracture in his right Leg, and that the said Wm Odgers had lost a very large Quantity of Blood, which, with the other Injuries received by him, reduced him so low as to be scarce able to speak.
That he attended the said W" Odgers daily from the s.ª 7th to the 11th of March instant on which Day he expired. And this Deponent saith, that according to the best of his Apprehension and Belief the said Wm Odgers died of the Wounds and Injuries recª by him.
JAMES SMITH
Sworn at Helstone in the County of Cornwall aforesaid the 20th day March 1768
Before me
R JOHNS Commissioner &c.
THOMAS BRADSHAW TO RICHARD PHELPS.2
Sir,
I am directed by My Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to send You the inclosed Copy 3
1 Enclosed with letter of April 21, 1768.
2 Enclosed with letter of April 30, 1768.
8 See the following document.
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Correspondence of the
of a Letter from M: Stanley Secretary to the Comm's of the Customs, relative to One Melchisedeck Kins- man who lately murdered W" Odgers One of their Officers at Penzance; And who sailed about 3 Weeks since from Falmouth in One of the New York Packets; And to desire You will Move the Earl of Hillsborough to give such Orders to the several Governors on the Continent of Nº America for appre- hending the said Kinsman as His Lordship shall think proper.
I am &c:
THOS BRADSHAW.
TREASURY CHAMBERS 25 April 1768.
RICHARD PHELPS Esq!
EDWARD STANLEY TO THOMAS BRADSHAW.1
Sir,
William Odgers, one of the Officers of the Cus- toms at the Port of Penzance in the County of Corn- wall, having been lately barbarously murdered by Melchisedeck Kinsman and others, in endeavouring to seize and secure a large Quantity of uncustomed Goods; and the Collector of Penryn having informed the Commissioners that the said Kinsman sailed from Falmouth about three Weeks since in one of the New York Packets, and hath carried off with him about £800 in Cash, I am directed to acquaint You therewith and to beg You will move the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, that Orders
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