New Hampshire, and to take care that her Majesty's pleasure herein be punctually observed. Soe wee bid you heartily fareweli. To our trusty and well beloved Joseph Dudley, Esq. our Capt. General and Commander in Chief of our Province of New Hampshire in New England in America, or to the Commander in Chief of our said Province for the time being. Received 26th July. HERBERT. PH. MEADOWS. J. PUTTENEY. R. MONCKTON. Whereas her Majesty, by her letter under the Privy Seal at Kensington, the 24 May 1707, hath been pleased to appointe the eldest Councellor whose name is first placed in her said Majestys Instructions to the Governour to take upon him the Administration of the Government, in the absence of the Governour and Lieut. Governour, and to execute her Majestys Commission and Instructions and the several powers and authorities therein contained, in the same manner to all intents and purposes as other her Majestys Governours or Commander-in-Chief should or ought to doe, in case of their absence, as by the said letter reference being had will appear: And whereas Peter Coffin, Esq. as wee suppose is the first nominated in her Majestys' Instructions, and living and residing in her Majestys' Province of New Hampshire, his place of abode being at Exeter about fourteen miles distance from the Town of Portsmouth, where the Council generally sits; Ordered, that upon the motion of any two of her Majes tys' Council, the Secretary Imediately send forth his orders to summon the Council together at the usual place accustomed in the Town of Portsmouth. His Excellencys Letter, dated Roxbury, 12th instant, was read at this Board, in hæc verba sequen. Gentlemen "Roxbury, 12th Aug. 1708. I am extremely suspicious that soe great a force as is expected from Canada, most French, doe not intend a small matter; and I often think they intend for Portsmouth; especially if they can come undiscovered. I am therefore desirous that there be a good Scout of twenty men sent to Winnepisioca, who may lye there secretly a few days at their usual landing place, to discover them and their number, and return secretly with intelligence, and if they point that way, and you will send Express, there are of Haverill, a Troop of and Foot, at Kingston, a Troop of Exeter, Troop Foot Cochecho Foot York and Wells 40 80 40 80 40 70 60 40 100 110 Newichawanock Troop Foot all whom if you send for will march to your assistance: let every body be employed forthwith to mend your lines and keep out good Watches where they can approach; give over other business; it will be determined in a weeks time. I pray God preserve you. Y humble servant, J. DUDLEY. The Gentlemen of the Council having considered well about the Scout to Winnepissaocoe, Ordered, that Lieut. Colonel Hilton, imediately [P. 227] draw out twenty proper souldjers from Hampton, Exeter and Dover, to be commanded by Capt. James Davis, if he can be persuaded to take it upon him; otherwise the said Lt. Colonel Hilton to provide a suitable man to command the said souldjers, as a Scout, to march to Winnepissiacoe, pursuant to his Excellency's letter there to lye secretly at the usual landing place of the enemy, and if possible to make a discovery of them, and their number, and upon any discovery forthwith to return secretly and give intelligence; and the Treasurer is to take care to provide eight days provisions for the said Scout, and send the same to Capt. James Davis, his house. Ordered, that Mr. Secretary Story, write to Lieut. Colonel Hilton, that he immediately send to Capt. James Davis to consult with him about the men proper to go the abovesaid Scout. Pursuant to his Excellencys' letter aforesaid, Ordered, that the Line formerly built in Portsmouth, extending from the Mill Dam pond to Major Vaughan's Barn, being most of it down, and the rest much out of repair, be forthwith rebuilt and repaired; and that the Secretary issue forth his warrant in her Majestys' name to the Committee of the Militia of Portsmouth, that without delay they take care to see the same rebuilt and repaired with all expedition. [P. 228.] Province of New Hampshire. At a Council held at Hampton, on The Honourable John Usher, Esq. Lieut. Governour. Peter Coffin, Nathl Weare, Esqs. Saml. Penhallow, Esqs. His Honour was pleased to declare to this Board, that by his Excellency the Governour's commands, he was come into this Province for her Majesty's Service, and that his Excellency had acquainted him there were four hundred soldiers ordered to be quartered in this Province, from the Massachusetts Government, and three hundred in the Province of Maine, to be ready to assist any town or place that مت may be set upon by the enemy; And that he received his Excellencys orders of the Sabbath Day, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, and got to Newberry by five in the afternoon, and that night arrived at Hampton in the Province of New Hampshire; and immediately issued forth his order to the Secretary to notify the Council, to meet at Hampton the next day, being Monday, by ten of the clock, in the morning. His Excellencys letter of the 12th instant relating to the Forces and the Line in Portsmouth being asked for by the Lt. Governour, was read at this Board. The Gentlemen of the Council acquainted the Lieut. Governour, that considering the danger the Town of Portsmouth were in to be attacked by the enemy, they had wrote to his Excellency for a supply of fifty or sixty men to be sent to that Town for their defence; and in the meantime prays that his Honour the Lieutenant Governour, would be pleased to order that there may be detached out of the sev eral Companies of soldiers Quartered in this Province, soe many, as his Honour shall see meet for the security of the said Town of Portsmouth. [P. 229.] Upon the application of the Gentlemen of the Council, and considering the danger the Town of Portsmouth is exposed unto by the opportunity the Enemy has to come by water: Ordered, That two Vessels or Shallopps be imprest with men and oars to be sent out as Spy Vessels for discovery of the Enemy, or fires in the woods, and to Cruise along shore from the Harbors mouth at Portsmouth to the Eastward, as far as Winter Harbor, and soe back again, and to continue soe doing till further order. Ordered, that Mr. Treasurer Penhallow, provide proper lodgings, in every respect, at her Majesty's Fort Wm. and Mary, for the Honourable the Lieut. Governour by to-mor row at night. [P. 230.] Province of New Hampshire. At a Council held at Newcastle, the 18th August, 1708. Present. The Honble John Usher, Esq. Lieut. Govern'. Saml. Penhallow, Esqs. John Plaisted, The Selectmen of the Town of Portsmouth, being summoned to appear at this Board to give account of what stock of Powder were in the Town Treasury; and accordingly Thomas Phipps, Esq. Messrs. John Pickerin and James Levitt, three of the Selectmen, appeared and being asked by the Lieut. Governour what stock of powder there were in the said Treasury: Answered-Not half a dozen pounds. Ordered that the present Select men of the said Town of Portsmouth, doe in twenty four hours time, provide a Town stock of powder and ammunition as the law directs. The Petition of Theodore Atkinson, Esq., and owners of the Sloop Newcastle, relating to be Cleared from the Imbargoe, being upon her voyage to New Found Land, &c. The Gentlemen of the Council considering the season of the year and the cattle on Board the said Sloop may want provisions, and that if the said Sloop is detained few days. more it will ruine her intended voyage, it being late in the year; It is the opinion of the Council that his Honour the Lieut. Governour for the reasons aforesaid, may permit the said Sloop to proceed on her voyage with all expedition. Joseph Smith, Esq. took the accustomed oaths appointed by Law, and sworn by the Lt. Governour as a Justice of the Peace, in open Council.* Joseph Smith, son of Robert Smith, was born about 1653, as appears from the record of his death. He died Nov. 15, 1736, æ. 64 years. He was thrice married, but died without offspring. He m. 1, Dorothy, eldest dau. of Rev. Seaborn Cotton, who d. Dec. 20, 1706, æ. 50 years; 2, April 17, 1707, Mary Moore, who d. Oct. 15, 1708;' 3, Feb. 16, 1709, Wid. Elizabeth Marshall, who outlived him. Mr. Smith was not employed in town business as frequently as were some other men, Yet he was many years in public life. He was a Deputy or Representative in 1692, 1708, 316, and perhaps at other times; a Selectman 7 years, viz.: for the years commencing Nov. 10, 1701; Dec. 29, 1708; Dec. 29, 1709; Jan. 1, 1711; 1st Monday in March, 1713; March 1, 1714; March 7, 1715. At all these seven dates he is styled Major. In 1716 he is styled Colonel. How long he was a Justice of the Peace, I do not know. From 1694 to 699, he was a Justice of the Superior Court-Chief Justice in 1698. [see the N. H Repository, Vol. 2, p. 35] from 1703 to 1708, Judge of Probate [idem. 11. In 168, he was a Councillor. He was also about this time Treasurer of the Province. [Com, by Joseph Dow, Esq. Hampton.-ED.] |