Journal, May 1732

May 2. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Massachusetts.

Mr. Byfield's papers.

Letter to him ordered.

Their Lordships, taking again into consideration Mr. Byfield's papers concerning the fees of his office as Judge of the Admiralty in the Massachusetts Bay, mentioned in the Minutes of the last meeting, gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter to Mr. Byfield upon this subject.

May 3. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Agreed and sent, and papers to Mr. Burchet.

The letter to Mr. Byfield, directed yesterday to be prepared, was agreed and ordered to be sent, and copies of Mr. Byfield's papers, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, were ordered to be sent to Mr. Burchet to be laid before the Lords of the Admiralty.

Pennsylvania.

The Deputy Governor's answer to Mr. Browne's complaints.

A letter from Major Gordon, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, dated the 2nd of August, 1731, with his answer to the complaints of Mr. Browne, Judge of the Admiralty in that province, was read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board.

A letter from Mr. Browne, dated the 12th of August, 1731, relating to the disputes between him and Major Gordon, was read.

A letter from Mr. Browne, dated the 1st of October, 1731, upon the same subject, was read.

Sent to the Committee.

And their Lordships gave directions for inclosing the said papers to the Lords of the Committee, according to their order, read the —.

May 4. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Newfoundland.

Commission and instructions for the Governor.

The draught of a commission and instructions for Captain Falkingham, appointed Governor of Newfoundland, being agreed, ordered that the draught of a representation be prepared thereupon, and of a letter, for inclosing the same to the Duke of Newcastle.

Barbadoes.

Petition of Lord Micklethwait and Colonel Whitworth.

An Order of a Committee of Council, dated the 23rd of November, 1731, referring to this Board the petition of the Lord Micklethwait and Francis Whitworth, Esquires, praying that His Majesty will give directions to the Governor of Barbadoes to lay their accounts before the Assembly of that island, and to recommend to them the immediate payment of what is due to them, was read; ordered that Lord Micklethwait, Mr. Whitworth, Mr. Worseley and Mr. Sharpe be desired to attend the Board on Tuesday next.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Browne, Judge of the Admiralty.

The report, ordered yesterday to be prepared, upon the complaints made by Mr. Browne, Judge of the Admiralty Court in Pennsylvania, against Major Gordon, Deputy Governor of that province, was agreed.

Nova Scotia.

Trade carried on by the French.

A representation from several masters of ships, trading to Canso, relating to a trade carried on by the French to this place, was read.

May 5. Present:—Mr. Docminique, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Newfoundland.

Commission and instructions for the Governor.

The representation and letter to the Duke of Newcastle, with the draughts of a commission and instructions for Captain Falkingham, appointed Governor of Newfoundland, ordered yesterday to be prepared, were signed.

Pennsylvania.

Mr. Browne's remarks on papers.

A letter from Mr. Browne, Judge of the Admiralty of Pennsylvania, to the Secretary, with remarks on the affidavits and other papers received by him from Major Gordon, Deputy Governor of that province, was read.

Report signed.

The report upon the complaints made by Mr. Browne, Judge of the Admiralty Court in Pennsylvania, against Major Gordon, Deputy Governor of that province, agreed yesterday, was signed.

May 9. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Barbadoes.

Lord Micklethwait and Mr. Whitworth's petition.

The Lord Micklethwait, Mr. Whitworth, Mr. Worseley and Mr. Sharpe, attending, as they had been desired, the Board took again into consideration the Order of the Committee of Council upon the petition of the Lord Micklethwait and Mr. Whitworth, mentioned in the Minutes of the 4th instant, and after some discourse with these gentlemen thereupon, gave directions for preparing the draught of a report upon this subject.

May 10. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Brudenell.

Lord Howe appointed Governor.

A letter from the Duke of Newcastle, dated the 9th instant, signifying His Majesty's appointment of the Lord Viscount Howe to be Governor of Barbadoes, and requiring the Board to prepare draughts of a commission and instructions for him, was read; ordered that draughts of a commission and instructions be prepared accordingly.

May 11. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Barbadoes.

Mr. Worseley's arrears.

Mr. Fane's report in relation to arrears of salary due to Mr. Worseley, late Governor of Barbadoes, was read, and their Lordships, taking into consideration the letter from the Duke of Newcastle referring to the Board Mr. Worseley's petition, praying payment of the said arrears, mentioned in the Minutes of the 17th of the last month, gave directions for preparing the draught of a representation thereupon.

New England.

Mr. Waldoe, tract of land.

Their Lordships then took into consideration the draught of a representation, ordered to be prepared the 18th of the last month, upon the petitions of Mr. Waldoe and others, concerning the right to a tract of land between the rivers Kennebeck and St. Croix, and made a progress therein.

May 12. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.

Mr. Waldoe.

The draught of a representation on the petitions of Mr. Waldoe and others, mentioned in yesterday's Minutes, was again considered.

New Hampshire.

Letters from the Lieutenant Governor.

A letter from Colonel Dunbar, Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire, dated the 14th of February, 1731–2, was read.

A letter from him, dated the 11th of March, 1731–2, was likewise read.

May 16. Present:—Mr. H. Walpole, Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman, Sir A. Croft.

Newfoundland.

Heads of inquiry.

A letter from Mr. Burchet, dated the 15th instant, desiring that heads of inquiry for Captain Falkingham, Governor of Newfoundland, may be sent to the Admiralty, was read, and an answer was ordered to be made thereto.

South Carolina.

Act, quit rents.

Their Lordships then took into consideration and read the Act, passed in South Carolina in 1731, for remission of arrears of quit rents, and for registering of patents, grants or memorials of title deeds for the better ascertaining and regulating the payment of His Majesty's quit rents for the future, and for the supplying the defect of those patents and grants, where any lands have been meted out, etc., and for suspending the Act for calling in and sinking the paper bills and for appropriating the money, etc., and made a progress therein.

May 17. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Brudenell.

Barbadoes.

Commission for the Governor.

The draught of a commission, ordered to be prepared the 10th instant, for appointing the Lord Howe Governor of Barbadoes, being agreed, a representation to His Majesty thereupon was signed, as also a letter, for inclosing the same to the Duke of Newcastle.

New York.

Letter from Colonel Montgomerie.

Letter from the President, with votes.

A letter from Colonel Montgomerie, Governor of New York and New Jersey, dated the 20th of June, 1731, was read.

A letter from Mr. Van Dam, President of the Council of New York, dated there the 11th of September, 1731, was read, and the papers, therewith transmitted, laid before the Board, viz:—
Votes of the Assembly of New York, in August, 1731, with the President's speech.

And their Lordships gave directions for preparing the draught of a letter to Mr. Van Dam in answer to the said letters.

Trade.

Commissaries appointed.

Treaty of commerce, Austrian Netherlands.

A letter from the Lord Harrington, dated this day, requiring the Board to communicate to Martin Bladen, Samuel Tuffnell and William Drummond, Esqs., appointed commissaries to treat with those to be appointed by the Emperor and States General for making a new treaty of commerce for the Austrian Netherlands, such papers, which may be serviceable to them in the execution of their commission, was read, and directions were given for preparing a list of all papers in the office upon this subject.

May 18. Present:—Mr. H. Walpole, Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

South Carolina.

Act, quit rents.

Letter from the Governor excusing his attendance.

Their Lordships taking again into consideration the Acts, passed in South Carolina in 1731, for remission of the arrears of quit rents, etc., read the 16th instant, made a progress therein.

Newfoundland.

Letter from the Governor excusing his attendance.

A letter from Captain Falkingham, Governor of Newfoundland, dated the 17th instant, excusing his attendance on the Board, was read; ordered that an answer be made thereto.

May 19. Present:—Mr. H. Walpole, Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman.

South Carolina.

Act, quit rents.

Their Lordships taking again into consideration the Acts, passed in South Carolina in 1731, for remission of the arrears of quit rents, etc., gave directions that the same should be sent to Mr. Scrope for the observations of the Lords of the Treasury.

May 24. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Brudenell, Sir A. Croft.

Barbadoes.

Petition, Lord Micklethwait and Mr. Whitworth.

New York.

Letter to the President.

The draught of a report, ordered to be prepared the 9th instant, upon the petitions of the Lord Micklethwait and Mr. Whitworth about arrears due to them as Secretaries of Barbadoes, was agreed, as also the letter, ordered to be prepared the 17th instant, to Mr. Van Dam, President of the Council of New York.

May 25. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Mr. Ashe.

New England.

Mr. Waldoe, tract of land.

The draught of a report, mentioned in the Minutes of the 12th instant, upon the petitions of Mr. Waldoe and others concerning the right to a tract of land between the rivers Kennebeck and St. Croix in New England, was again considered, and their Lordships made a progress therein.

Barbadoes.

Report, Lord Micklethwait and Mr. Whitworth, signed.

The report, agreed yesterday, upon the petitions of the Lord Micklethwait and Mr. Whitworth about arrears due to them as Secretaries of Barbaboes, was signed.

May 26. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman.

Trade.

Sweden.

Extracts of letters from Mr. Finch.

A letter from the Lord Harrington, of the 19th of May, 1732, with extracts of two letters from Mr. Finch, His Majesty's minister at Stockholm, relating to a new tax on masters and crews of ships in the ports of Sweden, was read, and their Lordships gave directions that Mr. Norris, a merchant trading to Sweden, should be directed to attend the Board on Thursday sennight.

South Carolina.

Mr. Purry.

Report signed.

The report upon Mr. Vatt's representation in behalf of Mr. Purry, praying for a grant of 48,000 acres of land in South Carolina, ordered to be prepared the 27th of the last month, was agreed and signed.

May 31. Present:—Earl of Westmorland, Mr. Docminique, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen, Sir O. Bridgeman, Mr. Brudenell.

New England.

Mr. Coram about the French being in possession.

Mr. Coram attending, their Lordships desired he would give them what account he could of the French ever having been in possession of the tract of land between Kennebeck and St. Croix in New England; upon which Mr. Coram informed the Board, that from the year 1675 to 1688, several settlements were made thereon, but particularly about Pemaquid by the English, encouraged by King James, but that he could not say these settlements were allowed by the French, although they made no complaint against them: that he does not believe the French were ever in possession of any part of this tract before the latter end of the year 1688, when the revolution was first known in New England: that then the Indians, instigated by the French, seized Sir E. Andros, and drove off the English: that at the time the Massachusetts Bay charter was passed, no English were settled there: but that in the year 1698, the French built a church at Norridgewoke as a mark of their possession.

Mr. Coram being withdrawn, their Lordships resolved to consider further of the report upon the subject of these lands, mentioned in the Minutes of the 25th instant, to-morrow morning.