the Inhabitants of New York, all the forementioned consequences would evidently follow And that in consequence of these and such like considerations, we conceive it hath come to pass, that the most that ever has been granted (that we can find) unto the said Proprietors, has been by an Order of the late King James dated the 14th of August 1687. whereby the then Gouvernour of New York was requir'd untill further Order; to permit Ships to goe directly to Perth in East new Jersey; Tho' that also upon Condition only, That Officers to be appointed by the said Gov's or the Receiver Generall of New York should be there permitted peaceably & quietly to receive and Collect for his Majesties use, the same Customes and Imposts as are usually paid at N: York. But the Constant Instruction which hath been always given to the Governours of New York upon that Subject both before and since, has been in the following form, which carrying with it the reason of the thing, We humbly crave leave here to insert viz! 66 “AND WHEREAS we are informed y some of y 'Colonies adjoyning to Our said Province, under "Colour of grants from our self or upon some other 'groundless pretences, endeavour all they can to "obstruct the Trade of New York & Albany. Our "Will & Pleasure therefore is, That you do not suffer "any Inovation within the River of New York nor "any goods to pass up the same but what shall have "paid the duties at New York to the end the chief "benefit of that Trade may be preserved to the In"habitants and Traders of New York and Albany, the "same being agreeable to the Laws of our s Province, "and to former practice, as well as necessary for the "Collecting of those Customes & other duties we are "to be raised for the support of Our Governm! there; "And if you find y Inhabitants of E: Jersey have "any other way of Trading with the Indians than by 66 "ye sa Riv! of N: York, you are to use your endeavrs "to prevent ye same, & to give us advice there of "wth yo! opinion wh is proper to do therein. WHEREUPON We humbly crave leave to offer to your Excellencies this one further consideration vizt That the Province of New York being the Frontier of all his Majesties Territories in those parts, the most exposed to the French and their Indians, and upon that account the said Province having been obliged during all the late War to be at a very great charge for the maintaining of his Majesties Forces there, with very little assistance from any of their Neighbours, We are humbly of Opinion that it is reasonable all priviledges of this kind which do not infringe the Rights of others, Should as much as possible be preserved unto the said Province of New York. All which never the less is most humbly submitted. Whitehall October y 27. 1697. J: BRIDGEWATER JOHN POLLEXFEN JOHN LOCKE ABR HILL GEORGE STEPNEY Authority to George Willocks from the Proprietors of both East and West Jersey, to receive Quit Rents. [From Grants and Concessions, p. 214.] Proprietors to George Willocks. A power to receive Quit Rents, also to sell them under certain restrictions. THIS INDENTURE made the first Day of December, in the 9th Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord WILLIAM the Third, of England, &c. King, Anno Domini 1697. Between William Penn, Thomas Hart, Thomas Barker, Walter Benthal, Joseph Ormston, Joseph Wright, Peter Sonmans, William Dockwra, Thomas Cooper, Clement Plumstead, David Lyell, Archibald Campbel, Esq; Walter Riddel, Sir Thomas Lane, Paul Dockminique, Robert Mitchel, John Gro: Willocks 1 originally of Scotland, having inherited the proprietary right of his brother, James Willocks, "Doctor of Medicine in Kennay," came to the province in 1684, bringing with him two servants; but after a few years he returned to England, and nothing is heard of him until his return clothed with the authority vested in him by this commission, and in charge of a vessel and cargo to be disposed of for the benefit of the proprietors. Soon after his arrival he was appointed Chief Ranger, the duties of which office are not definitely known, and also one of the Commissioners for the Court of Small Causes. He made Amboy, at first, his place of residence, but afterward removed to Monmouth County, where he married Mrs. Winder, the widow of Samuel Winder, and daughter of Deputy GovRudyard. In 1701, having been appointed Deputy Surveyor under John Reid, he again made Amboy his place of residence, and with some intermissions,-being stiled of "Elizabethtown" in 1711; of "Philadelphia," in 1724, and of London, in 1726;-he continued to reside there until his death in 1729. The possession of con. siderable business ability may account for the various stations to which he was appointed, but there is nothing to indicate that any very exalted opinion of him was entertained by his fellow citizens. Influenced by his wife, he left considerable property to St. Peter's Church, Perth Amboy, and a tablet to their joint memories was erected in the church some years since. Mr. Willocks left no children. The bulk of his property went to a nephew and niece, George Leslie, and Anna, wife of John Ritchie, who removed to the province in consequence. See Contributions to the history of Perth Amboy and the Surrounding Country-pp. 80--84.-ED. Bridges, and Thomas Skinner, being a Quorum of the Committee impowered by the Society or reputed Company of West New-Jersey, to transact all the Affairs of the said Society, testified by the common Seal hereunto annexed; Thomas Foulerton, John Burnet Attorney for Robert Burnet, Joseph Ormston Attorney for Charles Ormston, Frances Hancock, Thomas Gordon for himself, and Attorney for Dr. John Gordon and George Alexander, Gilbert Molleson for himself, and Attorney for Robert Barclay, William Bingley Attorney for Anthony Sharp, William Bingley for himself; Proprietors of the Province of East New Jersey in America, of the one Part, and George Willocks, of the said Province of East New Jersey, Gent. of the other Part. Whereas the said Proprietors are seized of and entitled to many Quit-Rents reserved upon Grants and Patents of Lands within the said Province, made by themselves and others, former Proprietors of the said Province, and are likewise eniitled to great Arrears of the said Rents incurred and grown due for several Years last past, more or less. And whereas the said Proprietors have taken a Resolution to gather in the said Arrears, and in order to gratify the Planters and Landholders, are intended to sell their Quit-Rents to such of the said Planters or Landholders who are desirous to purchase the same, and who owe no Arrears of Rent, or will first pay and discharge such Arrears. Now WITNESS these Presents, that the said Proprietors abovesaid for the better putting their said Intentions in Execution have constituted, authorized, impowered and appointed, and by these presents do and every of them doth constitute, authorize, impower and appoint the said George Willocks, to be their true and lawful Attorney, for and in the Names of the said Proprietors to adjust, ask, demand, but if sued for, then at their own Cost and Charge to recover and receive with, of, and from all and every the respective Planters, Tenants or Holders of Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments within the said Province, all such Arrears of QuitRents, and or other Rents, as now are or on the 25th of March, now next ensuing, shall be due and owing to the said Proprietors; and on Payment thereof, or any Part thereof, to sign, seal and execute any proper Receipts and Discharges for what he shall so receive, either in his own Name, or in the Names of the said Proprietors, but for their use: And upon Non payment or refusal of Payment thereof, to destrain or bring Actions for the same as he shall think fit, and to proceed upon such distresses or Actions in due Course of Law, either to sale of the said Distresses or to Tryal, Judgment and Execution, and to acknowledge Satisfaction upon Record of all such Money's as he shall recover and receive in any such Suits; all which Distresses, Proceedings, Receipts and Discharges the said Proprietors, shall and will allow, justify and maintain. And the said Proprietors and every of them, do hereby likewise constitute, authorize, impower and appoint the said George Willocks, their true and lawful Attorney and Commissioner, to treat and contract with all, every and any of the said Planters, Tenants and Holders of Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments within the said Province, for their respective QuitRents and other Rents, according and pursuant to the Directions and Instructions hereunder Written; and from and after such and so many Contracts made according and pursuant to the said Instructions, and Payment of, or sufficient security taken for the Purchase Money, to sign, seal, and deliver in the Names and as the Acts and Deeds of the said Proprietors, any proper and legal Assurances and Conveyances and Releases to the respective Purchasers, for granting the said Quit-Rents, and other Rents as by the said respective Purchasers or their Council shall be reason |