Journal, December 1716

December 5. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Addison, Mr. Molesworth.

Jamaica.

Bahamas.

Virginia.

Letter from Mr. Secretary Methuen.

Pirates.

A letter from Mr. Secry. Methuen, of the 30th of the last month requiring this Board to consider what may be the most proper course for the Govnt. to take to dislodge any pirates &c., that may have possessed themselves of the island of Providence, as mentioned in the following letters and extract from Mr. Burchet secry. to the Lords of the Admiralty, was read, together with the said letters and extract vizt.:—
Papers therewith.
Letter from Mr. Burchet of the 2nd Novr., 1716, upon what Col. Spotswood Lt. Govr. of Virginia writes relating to some pirates endeavouring to settle at Providence.
Letter from Mr. Burchet, with the extract of one from Capt. Howard of the Shoreham, dated in South Carolina the 15th Septr., 1716, relating to some pirates endeavouring to settle themselves at Providence.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Methuen.

Whereupon the draught of an answer to Mr. Secry. Methuen being prepared, the same was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Carolina.

Virginia.

Boon and Beresford memorial.

Mr. Boon and Mr. Beresford [fos. 96, 161], agents for the Assembly of South Carolina attending, presented to their lordsps. a memorial, relating to the present miserable condition of that province, together with the following papers chiefly upon the same subject, vizt.:—
Papers therewith.
Copy of a letter from a committee of the Assembly of Carolina to Mr. Boon and Mr. Beresford, their agents in England, relating to their Indian war, and the prejudices they receive from the Spaniards and French therein, as likewise from the Virginia Indian traders.
Extracts of several letters from Carolina, relating to the Indian war, and the prejudice that province has received from the Virginia Indian traders.
Copies of certificates from Col. Robert Daniel, deputy Govr. of South Carolina, of two affidavits being made, concerning the Spaniards incouraging the Yamasee Indians against the people of Carolina, and buying plunder from and protecting the said Indians.
Account of the publick charges of the inhabitants of South Carolina, from 1701 to 1715/16.

To be considered.

All which they desired the Board to take into consideration as soon as possible, in order to the speedy relief of Carolina; whereupon the said gentlemen being withdrawn, their memorial was read, and their lordships resolved to take the same again into consideration, with the other papers relating thereto the first opportunity.

December 6. Present:—Earl of Suffolk, Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Addison, Mr. Molesworth.

Jamaica.

Bahamas.

Virginia.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Methuen.

Pirates.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Secry. Methuen, in answer to his of the 30th of the last month, upon several papers from the Admiralty relating to some pirates, endeavouring to possess themselves of the island of Providence (as mentioned in the minutes of yesterday) was signed.

Leeward Islands.

Letter from Mr. Carkesse.

4½ per cent duty.

Representation.

Stores of war.

A letter from Mr. Carkesse secry. to the Commrs. of the Customs, dated 22nd ult. together with an account of the annual net produce of the duty of 4½ per cent. in the Leeward Islands, in answer to the letter writ him the 2nd of the last month, were read; whereupon directions were given for preparing the draught of a repn. upon the Order in Council of the 19th mentioned in the minutes of the 25th July last, relating to a supply of stores of war, for the said islands.

December 12. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Addison.

Leeward Islands.

Representation.

Stores of war.

The draught of a repn. directed to be prepared the 6th instant, upon the Order in Council of the 19th of July last, relating to stores of war, for the Leeward Islands, was laid before the Board, and a progress made in the consideration thereof.

December 13. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Addison, Mr. Molesworth.

St. Christophers.

Mr. Duport, &c. Captain Thauvet's petition about a plantation.

Mr. Stephen Duport, attending with Mr. Pechells, Mr. Meure, Mr. de la Freille, and Captain Brisac in relation to the petition of Capt. Andrew Thauvet concerning a plantation in the late French part of the island of St. Christophers referred to this Board by the Order in Council mentioned in the minutes of the 16th August last, and it being suggested that the said plantation in the late French part of St. Christophers was granted to him in consideration of his good services, as well as being a protestant refugee, that upon the treaty of Ryswick, when the French part of the said island was restored, Colonel Codrington then Govr. of the Leeward Islands, granted Capt. Thauvet another plantation in the English part of St. Christophers, which last plantation had then become forfeited by the rebellion of the proprietor Andrew Bodkin of which one Blake, who married the daughter of the rebel Bodkin has since dispossessed Capt. Thauvet. The said gentlemen present were asked several questions touching those plantations, whereupon Mr. Duport said that the first plantation contained about 110 acres of which Capt. Brisac said Capt. Thauvet had possession in the year 1696, and continued possessed of it until the peace of Ryswick; that as to improvements upon it Capt. Thauvet made as much as the time would permit, considering the war and uncertainties attending it; in relation to Bodkin's plantation Capt. Brisac said he knew it, and believed the same might contain about 100 acres, of which Capt. Thauvet had a grant in perpetuity from Col. Codrington and Mr. Duport promised to bring their lordships a copy thereof; that Capt. Thauvet was possessed of Bodkin's plantation fourteen or fifteen years but about 12 or 18 months ago for want of due prosecution of the rebel Bodkin according to the forms of law was upon a suit brought by one Blake who married Bodkin's daughter dispossessed thereof by a judgment or verdict obtained in the Courts of Common Law, and confirmed by the Govr. and Council, Captain Brisac being present in Court as he said at that determination, and Mr. Duport added, that having consulted Mr. Attorney General here on this point as to an appeal, Mr. Attorney gave him no incouragement to proceed in that matter; that Capt. Thauvet had built a good house and mill with a sugar house, upon the said plantation for which improvement he knows of no allowance made to him by the Court, but as to any arrears which the said Blake might pretend to, he believes that was let fall. Capt. Brisac further acquainted their lordships that he took Bodkin himself in arms with other Irish papists in rebellion, and being time of war in which no other Courts were held but according to Martial Law the rebels could not be then regularly prosecuted at Common Law; it being particularly asked whether Capt. Thauvet did no ways consent or make an agreement to relinquish Bodkin's plantation, he said Capt. Thauvet was turned out of that plantation by force of law and not by any consent or agreement as he believes.

As to Capt. Thauvet's services, Mr. Duport produced two letters from Col. Codrington, persuading him to come and assist in the expedition against Guardaloope &c., he being a French protestant well acquainted in those parts, and having commanded in the island of Marygalante Capt. Brisac says he saw him in the service as aid du camp to Col. Codrington wherein he behaved himself with great zeal and bravery; and Mr. Duport further promised to bring to their lordships what Capt. Thauvet has written in relation to his case.

It was likewise observed to the Board that several other persons had likewise grants of the estates of Irish papists actually in rebellion in the said island of St. Christophers, and being in the same case with the said Thauvet as to their tenure, the like prosecutions would probably ensue after such a precedent.

Their lordships after these gentlemen were withdrawn gave directions for inserting a clause in their next letter to General Hamilton Govr. of the Leeward Islands relating to the said rebels estates in St. Christophers.

Leeward Islands.

Representation.

Stores of war.

Then the draught of a repn. mentioned in yesterday's minutes relating to stores of war for the Leeward Islands being again considered the same was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

December 14. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Addison, Mr. Molesworth.

Leeward Islands.

Barbadoes.

Representation.

Stores of war.

The draught of a repn. agreed at the last meeting, upon the Order of Council of the 19th of July last, relating to stores of war for the Leeward Islands, was signed.

Jamaica.

Papers.

Disputes and differences.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Methuen.

Then their lordships made a further progress in considering the several papers before them, as mentioned in the minutes of 28th of last month, relating to the differences and disputes [fos. 151, 161] in Jamaica, whereupon directions were given for preparing the draught of a letter, to Mr. Secry. Methuen, relating thereto.

December 17. Present:—Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Addison, Mr. Molesworth.

Jamaica.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Methuen.

Differences &c.

The draught of a letter ordered to be prepared at the last meeting, to Mr. Secry. Methuen, upon the several papers before their lordships relating to the differences and disputes [fos. 160, 162] in Jamaica, was agreed and ordered to be transcribed.

Carolina.

Memorial.

Boon and Beresford.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Methuen.

Their lordships taking again into consideration the memorial from Mr. Boon and Mr. Beresford [fo. 152] and other papers received from them the 5th instant, relating to the present miserable condition of Carolina, and to the injuries his Majesty's subjects have received from the Spaniards in America, the draught of a letter to Mr. Secry. Methuen for inclosing to him extracts of the said memorial and papers, as also of letters from the Govrs. of some of his Majesty's Plantations upon the last mentioned subject was agreed and signed.

Pensylvania.

Certificate.

Deputy remembrancer.

Keith.

Acts of trade &c.

Representation.

Instructions.

Mr. Penn.

A certificate being rec'd. from Mr. Harding deputy remembrancer of security being given in the exchequer for Mr. Keith's observance of the Acts of Trade and Navigation in the govt. of Pennsylvania the same was read, and a repn. signed for laying before his Royal Highness a draught of instructions for Mr. Penn proprietor of the said province to be given by him to Mr. Keith relating to the said Acts of Trade. &c.

December 19. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Addison, Mr. Molesworth.

Jamaica.

Letter to Mr. Secretary Methuen.

Differences &c.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Secry. Methuen agreed at the last meeting upon the several papers before their lordships relating to the differences and disputes [fo. 161] in Jamaica, was signed.

December 20. Present:—Sir Jacob Astley, Mr. Cokburne, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Addison, Mr. Molesworth.

St. Christophers.

Papers about Thauvet's plantation.

Representation.

The copy of a grant from Col. Codrington, Govr. of the Leeward Islands to Capt. Thauvet of a plantation in St. Christophers formerly belonging to one Bodkin an Irish papist and rebel being communicated to the Board by Mr. Duport, as he had promised, together with an abstract of letters from the said Thauvet to him relating to a plantation in the French part of the said island; and Mr. Pechell having comunicated likewise to their lordships the extract of a letter from the said Thauvet to him, relating to the foresaid plantation formerly possessed by Bodkin, their lordships agreed and signed a representation to his Royal Highness upon the Order of Council mentioned in the minutes of the 13th instant relating to Capt. Thauvet.