That whereas they have seen cause to assess a rate and make a levy of money upon the inhabitants of this Collony of two pence upon the pound. But no provision is yet made, that in case those chosen by the town or towns, to levy the said rate on each person in each respective town; it is therefore ordered by this present Assembly, that as to this present rate, and so henceforward for the future, that if any person or persons in any town in this Collony, being by the same unto which he or they belong, chosen to levy or proportion any rate, shall refuse or neglect the same, shall forfeit the sum of ten shillings to each town treasury, and to be taken by distraint by warrant from one Magistrate; and that those persons in each town as aforesaid, to proportion said rate or rates, shall be allowed for their pains two shillings per day while they are in said employ, and that the Constables in each town shall pay the men so chosen out of those rates they shall proportion, and discount the same with the Treasurer; and that the number of persons to proportion such town's part of said rate or rates shall not exceed three persons, and what person or persons shall neglect or refuse as aforesaid, that then any one Magistrate is hereby empowered to put another person or persons in his or their rooms; any former act or clause in this Asssmbly's Acts to the contrary, notwithstanding. It being proposed by this Assembly, that there may be an impost upon all wines, brandy and strong liquors imported into this Collony, from foreign parts, the Assembly do leave the matter to a Committee, to wit: Mr. Walter Newbury, Capt'n Samuel Cranston, Mr. John Coggeshall, Jun'r, Mr. Nicholas Carr, Capt'n Jonathan Holmes and the Recorder, to draw up and present to this Assembly their opinions and proposals therein. The return of the said Committee is, that whereas it is laid before this Assembly that the trade of importing wine and strong waters, &c., are frequently in this Collony by our inhab itants and strangers, and no duty paid out of the same, to defray the Collony charge nor any parts thereof, but only improved to the importers' great advantage: we, the Committee appointed by the Assembly, to consider for the regulating and settling the same in such method as may be convenient towards the support of the government, do agree and return our opinions as followeth, viz.: Fayal or St. George's wine, by the pipe, ten shillings; Madeira or mamsey, by the pipe, twelve shillings, six pence; and all other other wine imported from foreign places, after the same rate; be it in hogsheads, barrells, quarter casks, or any other vessels, pro rata. Brandy, rum, and all other distilled liquors from foreign places, one penny per gallon. Molasses, half penny per gallon. And for the due execution of the premises, it is enacted by this Assembly and the authority thereof, That from and after the publication of these Acts, that Capt'n Samuel Cranston, receive the impost above mentioned, and keep account of all importations of the severall goods, aforesaid, that due account thereof be rendered to authority when thereunto required; and what moneys are received for the impost of said goods, to be improved by the Governor, if occasion [require], for the Collony's use. And for the due performance of this Act, all masters of ships or other vessels, that shall import any such goods, shall give a just account thereof, and to whom it belongs or consigned, to Capt'n Samuel Cranston, before he land any of said goods, upon the forfeiture of any said commodities so landed without information to the said Cranston. And for his care and pains herein, to have ten per cent. for receiving and paying. And this Act to be in force till the Assembly take further order; any Act in this Collony to the contrary, notwithstanding. Voted, We also considering of the many great complaints that several vessels have been fitted out of this Collony, and by all likelihood and circumstances are upon some unlawful design, which is to the great dishonor of his Majesty, and this his Majesty's government; and for the prevention of such proceedings for the future, be it enacted by this Assembly, that there be no person nor persons commissionated from this government but shall first give bond of one thousand pounds, with good securities, that they shall not proceed upon any unlawful act, as aforesaid; except such vessels as shall be sent out by the authority of this Collony, for the defence of his Majesty's interest, against a common enemy; any act to the contrary, notwithstanding. Voted, It is proposed to the Assembly, that considering there is continual great damage done unto the estates of this Collony by wolves, that an act may pass by the Assembly and be it enacted, for the encouragement of persons to destroy them; that for each old wolf that shall be killed in any part of this Collony, the person killing the same, shall be allowed the sum of ten shillings, to be paid out of each town's part of the generall rate, viz.: according to the place where they are killed. But to end all disputes, it is to be understood, that there shall be no discount of any town of any part of the levy allowed for the support of the Collony, by this present Assembly. Whereas there is a petition presented by Isabell Morss, that her husband, Ephraim Morss, after long absence from her near three years, and now returned, threatening to take what estate she hath in her custody for her maintenace, the Assembly, upon consideration of her petition, understanding the circumstances of the matter, do enact and it is hereby enacted, that the said Isabell Morss shall have and possess every part of that estate now in her custody, as her proper estate; and the Magistrates of the town of Warwick are to take care that the said Morss do no violence to his said wife, nor take any estate from her. Voted, Ordered, that copies of this Assembly's acts be sent to each town in this Collony; and the Recorder to have ten shillings from each town for copies under the seal of the Collony. This Assembly is dissolved. WESTON CLARKE, Recorder. Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Providence, the 28th day of October, 1696. Voted, That Capt'n Christopher Almy shall have allowed him out of the Generall Treasury for his charge and expense in England, for the Collony's use, the sum of one hundred and thirty-five pounds, ten shillings, eight pence. Voted, This Assembly is adjourned to Newport, the last Tuesday save one, in March next. The Board of Trade to the Governor and Company of Rhode Island. To the Honorable the Governor and Company of his Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island, in America. Gentlemen: His Majesty having been frequently informed of the little regard (which severall of the Collonies concerned) have had to the quota appointed by her late Majesty, of blessed memory, in the year 1694, to be observed during this war, for the defence of the frontiers of the Province of New York, in the following proportions, viz.: And his Majesty being at the same time sensible of the necessity of that contribution, either in men or money, for the general security of his Colonies on the continent of America, has commanded us to signify unto all those above named, that it is his pleasure they should each of them contribute and pay their respective proportions to the government of New York, according to her late Majesty's foresaid regulation. We therefore particularly recommend it to your care, that in relation to the Colony of Rhode Island, his Majesty's pleasure herein, be for the future punctually observed and executed. His Majesty having also been informed by complaints from severall hands of the undue methods practised in some of his Colonies, for seducing the inhabitants from others, and being sensible how much that practice is contrary to the common interest of the whole, has commanded us to write unto the severall Governors or governments of each Colony, that they take care that effectual laws be made in each of their respective governments against the receiving and harboring not only of deserters, but also of such fugitives as leave any of his Plantations contrary to the 29 VOL. III. laws provided for that purpose in each Plantation, respectively; which therefore we also now accordingly recommend to your observations for the Colony of Rhode Island. And whereas his Majesty has also received complaints that the entertainment given to pirates in some of his Colonies, and more particularly in those under distinct proprieties, has occasioned many ill minded persons, seamen and others, to desert their habitations, and apply themselves to such wicked and destructive courses to the great weakening and dispeopling of the Colonies so abandoned by them, and to the great dishonor of the English nation. Whereupon, he has also required us to write to the severall proprietors and Governors of all his Plantations, that due care be taken for the future, that no pirates or sea robbers be any where sheltered or entertained, under the severest penalties, We are obliged, in giving you this notice, to recommend it so much the more particularly to your care, by reason that upon occasion of the late trials of some of Avery's crew here, severall informations have been transmitted to us, wherein mention is made of Rhode Island, as a place where pirates are ordinarily too kindly entertained; some of the expressions in those papers are as follows: "William Mews, a pirate, fitted out at Rhode Island. Thomas Jones is concerned in the Old Bark, with Capt'n Want, and lives in Rhode Island. Want is gone into the Gulf of Persia, and in all probability is either at Rhode Island or Carolina by this time. Want's wife lives there. Want broke up there about three years ago, after a good voyage, and spent his money there, and in Pennsylvania." These, and such like things, we say, obliges us to more strictly require of you that an extraordinary care be henceforwards taken in that Island for the preventing and suppressing such like practices; and particularly that all persons who are any ways involved in that guilt, be sought out and punished, according to the ut most severity of the law; of which we expect a particular account. And are your very affectionate friends.* Whitehall, February the 9th, 1696-7. J. BRIDGEWATER, PH. MEADOWS, WM. BLATHWAYT, * J. Carter Brown's Manuscripts, No. 19, Vol. III. |