their Giving such a Bond but to gett their vessel free from the prosecution. About ye year 1698. I diputed Coll Basse then the Gov! of the Jerseys to demand the Bond of Coll Hamilton & to putt it in Suit. But he told him that if he had the Bond I should not have it nor would he deliver it to any I should order to receive it. which Coll Basse when demanded will make appear. Coll Hamilton has destroyed a Bond of about 2009 to the King: which he is certainly accountable for to his Matie This I certify as farr as I have discovered out of Cap Meech's Journall & other papers relating to the Brigant William & Mary 18: June 1702 J. RANDOLPH: S: G: Lord Cornbury to the Lords of Trade, giving an account of his proclaiming the Queen in New Jersey. [From N. Y. Col. Docts: Vol. IV, p 960.] To the Rt Honble the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. My Lords. Your Lordships letter of the 19 of March last (by the care of Coll. Blakiston) came safe to my hands on Wednesday the 17 of this instant June and in it I find a letter from the Lords to her Majesty's most Honble Privy Council commanding me to proclaim her most sacred Majesty Queen Anne in the Province of New York and East and West New Jersey On Friday the 19 instant I went over the waters into the Jerseys and went directly for Burlington which is the chief town of West Jersey, but the wayes were so bad I could not get thither till Sunday night late. Coll. Hamilton to whom I had writt from New York met me in East Jersey and conducted me to Burlington where he had (being Governour of the Jerseys for the Proprietors) assembled the Chief Magistrates and Inhabitants of the Place in order to proclaim her Majesty which was done on munday at eleven a clock, where the people shewed great marks of duty and affection to the Queen. I did intend to have gone immediately to Amboy which is the chief town in East Jersey, to proclaim her Majty there but the floods have washed away the bridges so that till the waters are fallen, it will be impossible to travell. I hope two or three fair days will make the wayes passable to Amboy, to which place I will repaire the moment it is passable, I do not doubt but we shall have a good appearance there likewise. Coll Hamilton who intends to conduct me hither having sent beforehand to give notice of my coming In the meantime I have taken this opportunity to come twenty miles down the River De La Ware, to see this place where I find a ship Just ready to saile for London. I thought it my duty to take this opportunity to acquaint your Lord how far I have proceeded in obedience to your commands I shall return this Evening to Burlington and as soon as possible go to Amboy, and from thence to Yorke, from whence I will send your Lordships a farther account in the mean time I remain My Lords Philadelphia June the 23, 1702 Your Lordsps most obedient Comedy 1 EDWARD HYDE, LORD VISCOUNT CORNBURY, having been appointed Governor of New York, arrived there on the 3d of May, 1702. Although it seems to have been intended that he should be Governor also of New Jersey, it will be seen, by the doc Lords of Trade to the Queen, recommending that some one not connected with affairs in New Jersey should be appointed Governor.. [From P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, Vol. 28. page 63.] TY TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCEL MAT May it please your Ma In Obedience to your Majesty's Order in Council of the 14th of May last, upon the respective Petitions of several Proprietors of New Jersey in America, Some of them proposing Andrew Hamilton Esq. to be appointed your Majesty's Governour of that Province, and the others representing their reasons to the Contrary. We have examined the several Petitions, and heard what the parties whom Wee find very much exasperated against each other, could alledge for or against the said Hamilton. And thereupon We humbly report to your Majesty. That the Divisions among the Inhabitants as well as the Proprietors of that Country and the Disorders aris ing from thence and from the want of a due constitution of Government, and of an impartial Governour amongst them, have for some years been so great as to endanger the Lives of several of your Majesty's Subjects and to occasion many other great Mischiefs, particularly the Encouragement of Piracy and illegal Trade. That from the first Intention and Proposal of Surrendring the Government, and whilst the Proprietors had several Conferences before us on that Subject, One party requesting that the said Hamilton might be excluded from the Government as a person chiefly concerned in the mismanagements and Divisions in that Country. The other Party desiring his Nomina uments in the text, that from various causes he was not appointed to that position until the December following, and did not enter upon his duties until August, 1703. Lord Cornbury subsequently (1709) became the Third Earl of Clarendon. tion as a motive of their Surrender; We did always declare to the said Proprietors that Such Surrender ought to be absolute and unconditioned, and that the Choice of a Governour was to depend Solely upon the Royal Pleasure and Authority of the Crown, wherein they Seem'd to Acquiesce. We further humbly represent that The said Hamilton, upon his last Return to the Jerseys went from England, and, upon a Deputation from the Proprietors, assumed that Government without the Approbation or allowance of his late Maj in Contempt of the Act of Parliament made in that behalf and without Staying for Our Report upon his Majesty's Order concerning that matter. That by Certificates of the Surveyor General of the Customs in those parts it appears, he he hath favour'd illegal Trade with Scotland and other parts and he has so far incensed one Party of the Proprietors against him, that they will not (according to all appearance) be ever satisfied with hisAdministration. And upon the whole matter, in Obedience to your Majesty's Commands We humbly propose as the only method of appeasing the animosities of your Majesty's Subjects in that Colony and of Settling the same, that your Majesty be pleased to appoint some person to be Governour thereof who is wholly unconcerned in those Transactions and Disorders & who being duly qualified may be able to bring both parties to a State of Quiet among themselves, and Submission to your Majesty's Authority, and take Care withall that the Laws of Trade and Navigation be for the future punctually observed. All which is most humbly Submitted June 25th 1702 ( Rob Cecill Ph: Meadows Mat: Prior Earl of Nottingham to the Lords of Trade, recommending certain Gentlemen to be of the Council of New Jersey. [From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, A 3, Vol. 1.] Lre from ye Earl of Nottingham with a List of persons to be of the Council of New Jersey. My Lords & Gentlemen WHITEHALL 4th Aug 1702 The Persons, whose names are contained in the enclosed List, being thought proper to be Members of the Council for the province of Nova Cæsarea or New Jersey; I am directed to transmit the same to you, that in case you have no objection against any of the persons therein mentioned, you may cause them to be inserted in the Instructions preparing for the Right Honble the Lord Viscount Cornbury, who is appointed Her Maty Governor of the said province. Councill of Trade. I am Y most humble Servant A List of the Names of persons proper to be of the Councill for the Province of Nova Cæsarea Coll Richard Townely M: Thomas Revell Maj: John Berry Edward Hanlock Cap Andrew Bowne Lewis Morris Esq Thomas Codrington |