Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Andrew Johnston-directing him, without delay, to carry out previous orders. COL JOHNSTON Sir ELIZA TOWN Nov 28: 1755 As I am daily receiving Expresses of the near approach of the French and Indians to the Frontiers of this Province you must have recourse to my Order of the 12: Inst. and put it in Execution without any Delay. I mean to detach three hundred effective men out of your Regiment and to march at the Head of them yourself or if you are not able, to put them under the Command of an able and good Officer who must go forward upon the best Intelligence he can get to meet, repel and destroy the Enemy wherever he can find them. The bearer hereof Capt Wm Skinner' offers his Service to go in any Suitable Command upon this Occasion and I desire he may be incouraged as I think him a Young Gentleman very capable of the Service, I am, Honoble Sir Your Friend, &c. J BELCHER 1 WILLIAM SKINNER was the third son of the Rev. William Skinner, of Perth Amboy, and entered into the Provincial service early in life. He was at Oswego in September, 1755, and again in 1756, when the fortress was surrendered to the French. As a prisoner of war Captain Skinner was sent to France, and remained there till the May following, and was exchanged in September. Through many influential friends he was promoted into the regular service. He was gazetted Captain August, 1759, and, as Major of Royal Volunteers, was in the expedition to Belle Isle in 1761. In 1762 he accompanied the army to Port Royal, and in 1763 received his promotion as Lieut.-Colonel; shortly after which he returned to England, and had risen to the rank of Colonel previous to the Revolution. He died in England about 1778. Colonel Skinner married a daughter of Lady Warren, and his only child, Susannah, married Henry, 3d Viscount Gage; and her son, Henry Hall Gage, a few years since was the possessor of the title and estate of the parent. See "Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy and adjoining country," pp. 112-119.-ED. Letter from Governor Belcher to Colonel Joseph Tuttle-relating to the defence of the frontier. Sir [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] COL TUTTLE ELIZA TOWN Nov 29 1755. I have your Letters of 27: and 28 Ins', with what you inclosed from Col' Vancampen informing of the present difficult Situation the Province is in with Respect to the Approach of the Enemy and that you had detacht about three hundred men which were marcht under the Command of Col' Ford. I like well the Proposal of raising a thous Volunteers to be under the Command of such Officers as shall be pleasing to the men to march and scour the Frontiers and even to proceed to Shamokin in Pennsylvania and to captivate kill and destroy all the Indians & French joined with them in the Barbarities & Murders they are daily committing on His Majesty's good Subjects & if men shou'd appear to go at their own Charge I am content they shou'd choose their own Officers. As to Garrisons or Forts, that's a Charge the Assembly must defray which I shall press upon them at their next meeting, in the mean time the sooner this Affair be pusht forward the better & when they are ready to march let me have Expresses with Particular Accounts of their Proceedings & when they go I shall write to the Gov' of Pennsylvania to raise and march a good Number of men to join them. I am Sir, Your ready Friend. J. BELCHER Letter from Governor Belcher to Col. Schuyler—about marching to Minisink. [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] ELIZA TOWN Nov 30 1755 COL SCHUYLER Sir I have just now recd yours of this Date with a Particular Acct of the number of the Enemy that have done the mischief at Minisinck which exceeds what we imagined I therefore well approve of your taking under your Command the two (or three if you Please) northermost Companies of Essex Regiment that you may go strong & inclosed is my Order to Col' Low in Conformity. I desire you to make all possible Dispatch & let me be constantly hearing from you. I am, Your assured Frd. J. BELCHER Letter from Governor Belcher to Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania-about military movements. Sir [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] ELIZA TOWN Dec 1 1755 GOVERNOR MORRIS My last was the 25th of Nov" the hands of Doct Shippen since which I have your Honours of 29 of same month with the Papers inclosed giving a Particular Acct of the Motions of the Enemy and I am glad this little Province are in good Spirits and readiness to assist your People who I hope will return it to them as there may be Occasion for their help in this Province where I am daily expecting the Enemy who I doubt not you will have heard have a few days ago burnt a town at Minisinck and put the Inhabitants to Death and by reason of the constant Accounts I have recd I have had between two and three Thousand men the Week past marching & Countermarching towards the Borders of this Province but as yet we have seen none of the Enemy. I am glad the Proprietors have contributed £5000 towards the Defence of your Province and that the Assembly had passed a Bill for £60,000 for the like Service and to which you have given your Assent--it is a very handsome Supply and will enable you in this time of Distress to raise a good Body of men for the Defence of your Frontiers in which I wish you much Success & am Sir Your Honours Most Obedt: &c. J BELCHER Letter from Governor Belcher to Mr. Secretary Read -directing him to call a meeting of the Assembly. Sir [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] Mr Secry Read ELIZA TOWN Dec' 3 1755 From the Accounts I am daily receiving of the Distress & Danger the Inhabitants of the Frontiers are in from the near approach of the Enemy & of Numbers of them withdrawing from their Habitations on the Frontiers I thought it proper to call the Council who met me here yesterday & in a full Council unanimously advised me to see the Assembly as soon as possible this is therefore to direct you to summon them to meet me here on Monday the fifteenth day of this month I am Sir Your ready Fr J BELCHER Order from Governor Belcher to the Colonels of New Jersey Regiments-relating to the defence of Morris and Sussex Counties. [From Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] Dec. 3 1755 Proclamation of Gov" Belcher. To Col John Low of Essex-you are hereby commanded to order one Cap' and one Subaltern to march forthwith with fifty men to the House of Col1 Abra ham VanCampen of Sussex there to put themselves under the Command of such Person as I shall appoint Commander in chief of the Forces to be employed in the immediate Defence of the Frontiers of the Province in the Counties of Morris and Sussex. The Same to Col' Vanhorn of Somerset Co. for 40 men Col' Johnston of Middlesex for 60 45 66 40 Letter from Governor Belcher to General Shirley— referring to the Councils held at Oswego. Sir [From a copy among the Belcher Papers in Library of N. J. Hist. Soc.] GENERAL SHIRLEY ELIZA TOWN Dec 4 1755 I did my self the Honour of writing you on the 20: of last month and sent it to the Care of Mr Alexander of N. York & to which I ask your Reference. |