Letters & Journals

America and West Indies Colonial Papers: June 1727

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In these papers we see Mr. Popple acknowledging concerns about settling Nova Scotia, promising imminent updates. Another letter stresses the urgency of establishing settlements on Nova Scotia’s coast and building forts for protection, citing the importance of the fishery. The Council of Trade proposes methods to encourage settlement, highlighting Nova Scotia’s natural resources and the need for military defenses against French inhabitants.

Also notable, a mention of “Shebuctoo”, what appears to be an alternative spelling of Chebucto, now Halifax Harbor — “And as nothing can so effectually restrain the disobedience of the French inhabitants remaining in Nova Scotia, who refuse to take the oaths of allegiance to H.M., as the building of two stockadoed barracks, in or near their quarters at Minos and Shebuctoo, we beg leave to recommend this also to your Lordsps. consideration, because we are informed the charge of those baracks will not be considerable.”

Mr. Popple to Lt. Governor Armstrong. Acknow ledges letters of 27th July and 24th Dec. 1726. Continues: — My Lords Commissioners having at present under their consideration the immediate settlement of the Province of Nova Scotia, you may expect shortly to hear from them upon this subject. [C.O. 218, 2. p. 56.]

Ar. Gambell to the Council of Trade and Plantations. Some reasons and proposuals for settleing the main coast of Nova Scotia, with all imaginable speed etc. Urges importance of the Fishery, and the immediate building of forts at the three most commodious harbours,—Port Rossway, Cape Sambra and Owles Head, to be settled by disbanded soldiers, which will serve to protect the Fishery etc., and this valuable neglected country, to which not one subject has ever thought fitt to transport themselves, nor has any publick incouragemt. been given since in the power of great Brittain etc. Offers services. Endorsed, Recd, (from Col. Bladen), Read 1st June, 1727. 3 ¾ pp. [C.O. 217, 4. ff. 344–345v;.]

Council of Trade and Plantations to the Committee of the Privy Council. Representation in obedience to Order of 15th Feb. concerning the settlement and government of Nova Scotia :—We shall not repeat what has been so fully set forth in several of our former reports, relating to the present state, the situation and consequence of Nova Scotia, but as the methods which we shall propose to your Lordsps. for peopling of this country may appear something differt. from those generally practised in the rest of H.M. Colonies, we shall be under a necessity of mentioning some particular facts and observations which have led us into the way of thinking we are now in upon this subject, and which we hope may be inducements to your Lordsps. to be of the same opinion with us. This country is capable of yielding all the necessaries and conveniencies of life, the soil is proper for the production of hemp and other Naval Stores the land abounds with timber of several kinds ; and the sea coast, especially at Canso, with as good fish and in greater quantities, than are to be found in any other part of the American seas.

Yet notwithstanding these natural advantages Nova Scotia instead of being useful, has hitherto been a burthen to Great Britain for want of inhabitants, and the Regiment which has been so many years maintained there at the expence of ye publick has only been able to. keep up H.M. claim to the soil, whilst the French have reaped solid advantages from the produce of this Country: For the French inhabitants who refuse to take the oaths of allegiance to H.M., and still remain in Nova Scotia, contrary to the Treaty of Utrecht have been the great support of all the French Colonies in their neighbourhood, by supplying them with furs, fish, cattle, corn, provisions, and timber of all kinds, and without this assistance in all probability neither Cape Breton nor Isle Madam could in so short a time have established themselves upon so good a footing. Nova Scotia has now been many years in possession of the British Crown, yet there are hitherto few or no British inhabitants there, except the Garrisons of Annapolis and Canco, and some few English families who have settled at the latter of these places for the benefit of the Fishery, which has of late years been carried on there with very great success.

The little progress therefore which we have hitherto been able to make in peopling so fertile a country, whilst the French have so considerably increased their settlement at Cape Breton, in a very barren soil, is a proof that the Government of France have given greater incouragements to their subjects to settle in their Colonies, than has been given for the like purpose by the Government of Great Britain to theirs, and we have been credibly informed, that the French King is at a great expence in encouraging and nursing up his infant Colonies till they are able to support themselves, such as defraying the expence of transportation furnishing ye Adventurers with one years provisions and building strong fortifications for their defence.

Since H.M. accession to the Crown some persons have petition’d for large tracts of land in Nova Scotia, and they have been referred to this board who always thought it their duty upon those occasions to propose such conditions and restrictions as well with respect to quitrents, as to the manner of seating and settling the lands petition’d for they then conceived the most convenient for H.M. service, and most effectual for the peopling of this Province but whether the Petitioners thought the conditions too hard, or whether they have been discouraged by the delays and difficulties they have met with in passing thro’ ye other Offices, or from some other accident, so it has happen’d, that none of these projects have hitherto taken effect, but since lands are to be had upon such easy terms in so many other of H.M. Colonies allready well inhabited and in a reasonable state of security, greater encouragements will be necessary to induce people to settle in Nova Scotia, the most Northern part of the British Dominions upon the Continent of America, a country without defence exposed to the fury of the [Mi’kmaq] and to the encroachments of ye French.

For this reason and from the experience of so many years, we beg leave to say, the publick must be at some expence to make any schemes for this purpose effectual, and that the terms must be more advantageous to the adventurers, than those that are to be met with in Colonies already settled. However as we are sensible how difficult it might be to engage the publick in any new expence we shall propose a fund for this purpose arising from the Plantations, and naturally applicable to their service, that is to say, the produce of the French lands at St. Christophers, or at least so much of it, as may from time to time be thought necessary for this purpose, wherein the Parliament have already made a precedent by addressing H.M. to make some provision out of this fund, for the new Colledge proposed to be erected in the Bermuda Islands. Thus having explained in genl. our thoughts upon the methods we intend to propose for the peopling of Nova Scotia, we shall now proceed to offer to your Ldsps. consideration such particulars as have occurrred to us upon this subject, without entring too minutely into the detail of them as to their execution, which may be the subject of a further report; if our sentiments meet with your Ldsps. approbation.

The preserving of H.M. woods in this Province in our humble opinion should be provided for previous to the granting of lands, and therefore as we had found by long experience upon how bad a foot this matter stands in the Massachusets Bay ; New Hampshire and other Provinces on the Continent of America, where the woods reserved to H.M. are frequently intermix’d with private property and are for that reason the constant subject of debate between the King and his subjects, we thought it for H.M. service in forming the Instructions for Col. Philips to provide etc. Quote his Instructions as to reserving 200,000 acres for masts for the Navy etc. Continue:— And we beg leave again to propose that the Surveyor General or such person as H.M. shall think proper to appoint for this purpose, may forthwith be directed to lay out these woods, that the Govr. may afterwards be at liberty to grant lands under proper restrictions.

The delay of this matter has already been highly prejudicial to H.M. intrest, for the French inhabits, in this Province having erected saw mills, are daily destroying the timber, and the want of a power in the Governor to grant lands would have made it impracticable for planters to settle there even upon any terms had there been no other impediments to the setling of this Province. To encourage Adventurers from Great Britain to engage in the making of large settlements in this country we are humbly of opinion that such petitrs. whose cases have already passed the consideration of this Board, and whose petitns. lye now before H.M. in Council, for the last decission should meet with all reasonable dispatch more particularly that of the Officers, who were actually engaged in the reduction of Nova Scotia and whose services seem justly to entitule them to H.M. favour, and so much the rather because by the conditions of their grant, if they obtain one, they will be obliged within a few years to make a considerable settlement on the lands they petitioned for.

We have already hinted that few people will care to settle in a savage country where there is not a reasonable security against the natives, and this kind of encouragemt. is wanting in the highest degree in Nova Scotia; There was formerly one Fort at Annapolis Royal, but we are inform’d the bastions and curtains, the barracks and the storehouses, are at present in a most ruinous condition in so much that the Garrison have been obliged to secure themselves from surprize, by setting up pallisadoes about the said Fort for want of a better defence ; We presume therefore your Ldsps. will be of opinion, that this Fort, the barracks and storehouses belonging to it should be immediately repaired. The fishing at Canço likewise will deserve your Ldsps. protection ’tis at present the best in America, and a fort there, will be highly necessary for many reasons, but more especially on account of its neighbourhood to Cape Breton.

And as nothing can so effectually restrain the disobedience of the French inhabitants remaining in Nova Scotia, who refuse to take the oaths of allegiance to H.M., as the building of two stockadoed barracks, in or near their quarters at Minos and Shebuctoo, we beg leave to recommend this also to your Lordsps. consideration, because we are informed the charge of those baracks will not be considerable. We shall not at present propose any further expence to your Lordships, upon the head of fortifications tho others may hereafter be needful on different parts of the coast. But we conceive it highly necessary for H.M. service that there should always be a sufficient magazine of arms and working tools lodged in some secure place in this Province for the service of the country. If your Lordps. should agree with us in these particulars, they will certainly be some encouragement for people to resort to Nova Scotia but further inducements will still be wanting, and therefore we would humbly propose. That the publick should be at the expence of transporting such poor people to Nova Scotia as are disposed to settle there together with their wives and families. That 50 acres of land should be granted to each person so transported by the Governor upon his or her arrival in Nova Scotia, free from fines and likewise from quit rents for the first ten years.

That double that quantity of land be granted to Carpenters, Smiths, Masons, Joyners, Brickmakers, Bricklayers and all other artificers necessary for building or husbandry upon the same terms. That the like quantity of land be granted to such soldiers of Col. Philips’s Regiment and their families as are disposed to turn planters and their pay notwithstanding to be continued to them for one year after such grant at which time they may be discharged from the service. That all the recruits to be raised for the future for this Regiment be acquainted that after three years service they may be discharged and have lands granted to them in like manner. And the better to people this country, that every soldier have leave to carry his wife with him, the transport both of the soldier and his wife to be defray’d by H.M., it being impossible for the Regiment otherwise to bear these frequent discharges. That proper encouragement be given to such as shall intermarry with [Mi’kmaq], agreeable to the tenour of H.M. Instructions to Col. Philips. That whereas the Governor is at present restrained from granting any more than 500 acres to any one person he may now be empower’d to grant lands not exceeding 1,000 acres free from fines and likewise free from quit-rents for tenn years under proper restrictions, to such substantial inhabitants, and their families as shall be disposed to settle in Nova Scotia at their own expence.

And that every part of this country may be informed what is transacting in other quarters of the Colony, that ye small sloop formerly built at ye King’s expence, and now remaining in Nova Scotia, may be refitted and employ’d to attend the service of this Government. It now remains that we shou’d offer our thoughts to your Lordships concerning the form of a Civil Governt. to be erected in this Province, which in our humble opinion is already in some measure provided for by Col. Philips’ Commission and Instructions so far as the present circumstances of this country require, or can admit of till there shall be more inhabitants there, but in the mean time if your Losps. shall think it convenient the Govr. and Council may be impower’d to make such laws or regulations as the emergencys of the Colony may demand till there shall be sufficient numbers to constitute an Assembly: That the Governor may likewise be authorized to make Justices of the Peace and directed to declare in H.M. name by Proclamation or otherwise, that such persons as shall settle in Nova Scotia shall be entituled to all the like privileges, liberties and advantages which are at present enjoy’d by the rest of H.M. subjects in His other American Colonies, and particularly to that of an Assembly so soon as their circumstances will admit of it.

We shall beg leave to conclude this Representation with informing your Lordsps. that what we have proposed upon this occasion is not without a president in many particulars, as to the expence even in one of H.M. own Colonies namely, that of Jamaica, where the inhabitants are so far convinced how much it is their intrest to have their Island well peopled that by certain Acts lately passed their Assembly to encourage people to settle the N.E. quarter of that Government have proposed, to purchase the lands in that quarter from the present Proprietors at 5s. p. acre, to be at the charge of transporting the Adventurers, to furnish them with six months provisions for their families after their arrival, to grant them lands to settle on in proportion to the number of their families free from taxes for three years without any fees to be paid either for the grant or survey with many other privileges and advantages. [C.O. 218, 2. pp. 57–71.]

H.M. Commission for Col. Richard Phillips to be Governor of Nova Scotia and the town and garrison of Annapolis Royal. Countersigned, Townshend. [C.O. 324, 36. p. 55.]

i. Circular Letter from the Council of Trade and Plantations to the Governors of Plantations. We do earnestly recommend to you, that you proceed without loss of time in the execution of above Order for proclaiming the King etc., in the most solemn manner and most proper parts of your Government.Upon this occasion we think it proper to acquaint you, that by an Act passed in the sixth year of Her late Majesty, for the security of H.M. person and Government etc., it is enacted that all publick seals in being, at the time of the demise of H.M., her heirs and successors, shall continue and be made use of as the respective seals of the Successor until such Successor shall give order to the contrary. N.B. This paragraph did not go to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland nor the Propriety Governments. And for your further information we inclose to you, H.M. Proclamation for continuing all Officers etc. [C.O. 324, 11. pp. 46–48.]

“America and West Indies: June 1727.” Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 35, 1726-1727. Eds. Cecil Headlam, and Arthur Percival Newton. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1936. 296-312. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol35/pp296-312.

America and West Indies Colonial Papers: October 1733, 16-31

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The document is a summary of discussions and recommendations regarding the land rights and defense considerations in Nova Scotia and other British colonies in America. It begins with a representation on Mrs. Campbell’s petition regarding land rights in Nova Scotia, tracing back to the original grants by French kings and subsequent confirmations. Despite missing documents, evidence suggests Mrs. Campbell’s rightful claim to lands and quit rents. It proposes compensating her for quit rents and reinstating her possession.

Moving on, it addresses security concerns in British colonies, particularly vulnerability to French attacks. It discusses potential threats to various islands, including the Leeward Islands, Barbados, and Jamaica, highlighting weaknesses in defenses and suggesting reinforcements. It stresses the importance of Jamaica, urging efforts to increase its population and fortify defenses.

The document also discusses defense strategies for the Bahama Islands and the potential threat posed by French settlements surrounding Nova Scotia. It suggests recruiting settlers from Newfoundland and other areas to populate Nova Scotia and strengthen its defense.

Council of Trade and Plantations to Committee of Privy Council. Representation upon petition of Mrs. Campbell. Continue : We have discoursed hereupon with Coll. Philips, H.M. Governour of Nova Scotia, and likewise with Mrs. Campbell the petitioner, who hath laid before us several papers and affidavits relating to her title to the aforesaid lands and quit rents in Nova Scotia, from whence it appears, That in 1631 the Most Christian King Lewis XIII gave the Government of Nova Scotia or Accadie to Monsieur Charles de St. Estienne, Sieur de la Tour, grandfather to the petitioner, who had Letters Patents granted to him thereupon.

What the particulars contained in the said Letters Patent were, does not appear, because no copies of them have been produced to us, but upon the death of Lewis XIII, his son Lewis XIV etc. having been informed of the progress and improvements made in Accadie by the said Sieur de la Tour was pleased by new Letters Patents bearing date February 25th, 1651, to confirm him in the post of Governour and Lieutenant General of Accadie or New France and likewise in the full and free possession of all the lands which had been before granted to him in that Province with full power to dispose of them to whom and in such proportions as he should think proper ; as appears by a printed copy of the said Patent which refers to the former of 1631, and for want of that former Patent it cannot be ascertained whether the whole Province or what part thereof was granted to the said de la Tour.

It would seem that the second Patent of 1651 was issued by way of confirmation of La Tour’s title just after he had been acquitted of certain charges alledged against him ; for the petitioner hath produced to us a decree made for that purpose by the Masters of Requests in the French King’s Court and Chancery bearing date the ninth day of February of the same year 1651, and in this decree mention is likewise made of a former Commission granted to the Sieur de la Tour dated Feb. 8th, 1631, constituting him Lieutenant General for the French King in the said Province of Accadie, Fort St. John, Port de la Tour, and the places dependant upon them.

This decree was confirmed by the French King’s Order in Council dated the 26th of the same month, and the said Sieur de Tour was thereby absolved from all accusations which had been preferred against him for treason or maladministration in his government of Accadie and reinstated and maintained in the full possession and enjoyment of all the lands which had been acquired by him or in his name in the said territory of Accadie or New France. Under the authority of these Letters Patents and of the decree of the Masters of Requests and Chancery confirmed by the French King’s Order in Council Mrs. Campbell alledges that the said De la Tour, her grandfather, for the good of the State and for the encouragement of those who desired to settle in this new colony, as well as in conformity to the intention of the King his master, distributed part of the lands he had acquired in the Province under his government at a very low rate to the new inhabitants, upon certain conditions or Articles made with them in his own name or in the names of his attornies or agents, which contracts were either plundered and taken away from the Petitioner, or burned in the last descent and invasion of the [Mi’kmaq] in Nova Scotia, in which the Petitioner’s first husband was killed.

She supposes however that copies of these contracts might be found in some of the publick offices in Nova Scotia, and that altho’ they should be entirely lost, yet her long possession with the successive and uncontested payments of rents to her, down to the years 1729 and 1730, would be sufficient proofs for the support of her present claim. The aforesaid Charles de St. Estienne de la Tour being dead, the petitioner alledges, that his only son the petitioner’s father succeeded him in all his estates, titles, possessions, honours and privileges, which he continued to enjoy peaceably to the time of his death in the year 1704, leaving several children his heirs who enjoyed his inheritance under the guardianship of their mother until the year 1713, when the Province of Nova Scotia was yielded to Great Britain by the 12th Article of the Treaty of Utrecht.

By the 14th Article of that Treaty, it was expressly provided that the subjects of the King of France in Nova Scotia should have liberty to remove themselves within the term of one year to any other place if they should think fit, with all their moveable effects, but that such as should be willing to remain there and be subject to the Kingdom of Great Britain, should enjoy the free exercise of their religion, according to the usage of the Church of Rome, as far as the laws of Great Britain do allow the same. But her late Majesty Queen Anne was pleased by her letter to General Nicholson bearing date the 23rd day of June, 1713, in consideration of the French King’s having at her request released some of his Protestant subjects from the galleys to allow the French inhabitants in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to hold their lands or dispose of them if they thought fit etc. Letter from Queen to Governor Nicholson quoted. (v. C.S.P. 23rd June, 1713).

Continues: Hereupon soon after the publication of the foregoing letter in Nova Scotia, the several brothers and sisters of the Petitioner’s coheirs of the land and premises in question retired into the neighbouring Provinces under the domination of France, and left the Petitioner who would not abandon her country, sole proprietor in possession of all their lands and rents, under certain conditions agreed upon amongst themselves. The conveyances which were made to the Petitioner upon this occasion have been produced to us and bear date November 9th, 1714. The Petitioner sets forth that notwithstanding the refusal made by the inhabitants of Minis to pay her the rents to which they were engaged by their articles because she durst not go thither to compel them for fear of the [Mi’kmaq] , by whom she was seized about seven years ago, and run a very great hazard of being massacred, the revenue ariseing to her from thence amounted to 80 or 90 pounds sterling p. annum which she offers to confirm by oath, not being able at present to give better evidence of the value of the income arising from the said rents ; and she likewise further avers that her lands are now set for a 20th part of their real value.

To prove her possession and enjoyment of the lands and premises in question, the petitioner produces two orders under the hand of the aforesaid Governor Philipps dated July 5th, 1721, and Sept. 19th, 1722, by which all the inhabitants and landholders are ordered to pay her the rents stipulated in their contracts. She likewise produces a certificate subscribed and sworn to by the Reverend Mr. Robert Cuthbert, sometime minister of Annapolis Royal where the Petitioner resided, as Chaplain to Colonel Philipp’s regiment, who deposes that during his residence at Annapolis he was well acquainted with the Petitioner etc. who was seized and possessed of a large estate of inheritance lying in and about Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia and was reputed and esteemed both by English and French and other the inhabitants thereabouts to be Lady of the Mannor lands and premises situated as aforesaid and to be legally intitled thereto, and as such received the rents and profits thereof during this deponent’s stay there ; and this deponent saith that he hath been present and several times seen the rents and profits of the premises aforesaid paid to her from the French, and believes that in her own name she gave proper and legal receipts and discharges for the same, and that the said Agatha Campbell held and enjoyed the aforesaid lands and premises without any interruption or molestation and free from any claim or demand whatsoever during this deponent’s residence there.

The Petitioner hath likewise produced to us three affidavits of Mary Barton, John Welch and William Tipton, who severally depose that they have lived many years at Annapolis Royal during which time they were well acquainted with the Petitioner etc. and that during their abode in Nova Scotia she was acknowledged sole Lady of the Manour, lands and premises of all the inhabited parts of that Province and that in her own right she received the rents and acknowledgements thereof from the inhabitants enjoying the same without molestation, and that she was a Protestant of the Church of England and greatly beloved by the inhabitants her tenants, as will appear more largely by the said affidavits etc. annexed. Having heard what the petitioner had to alledge in support of her claim, we thought it proper upon this occasion to discourse with Governor Philipps etc., by whom most of the facts alledged by the Petitioner in support of her right have been confirmed, particularly as to the value of the quit rents, and her receipt of them, as the rightful proprietor thereof, and that she would have continued to do so to this day but that a stop was put thereto in 1730 in consequence of H.M. orders upon a representation from the said Colonel Philipps till Mrs. Campbell’s title should be further enquired into and H.M. pleasure be known thereupon.

We have also examined the Histories of this Country and searched the books of our office with respect to the facts alledged by the Petitioner, from whence it appears amongst other things, that in the year 1621 the country of Nova Scotia was granted by King James 1st to Sir William Alexander, afterwards Earl of Sterling, who took possession thereof, drove out the French who had encroached upon it, and planted a colony there. That in the year 1630 the said Sir William Alexander sold his right to Nova Scotia to Monsieur Claude de la Tour, a French Protestant, to be held by him and his successors under the Crown of Scotland. That about the year 1631 King Charles 1st made some sort of concession of the said country to the Crown of France, reserving nevertheless the right of the Proprietor who had before enjoyed it.

That in 1633 notwithstanding this last mentioned concession the said King Charles 1st by Letters Patents bearing date the 11th of May in the same year granted to Sir Lewis Kirk and others full privilege not only of trade and commerce even in the River of Canada, which is to the northward of Nova Scotia, and places on either side adjacent, but also of planting colonies and building forts and bulwarks where they should think fit, but the said Sir Lewis Kirk and partners were molested by the French in the enjoyment and exercise of their privileges. That several years afterwards in the year 1654 Cromwel having then a fleet at New England caused the country of Nova Scotia to be seized, as being antiently a part of the English Dominions to which the French had no just title, and the proprietor of the said country Sir Charles de St. Estienne, son and heir to the fore-mentioned Monsieur de la Tour, coming thereupon into England and making out his title under the aforesaid Earl of Sterling and the Crown of Scotland, his right was allowed of by Cromwell ; whereupon the said St. Estienne, by his deed bearing date the 20th of November 1656 made over all his right and title to Nova Scotia to Sir Thomas Temple and Mr. William Crown ; one or both of them who did accordingly continue to possess and enjoy the same with the profits thence arising until the year 1667 when Nova Scotia was yielded to the French by the Treaty of Breda, and was accordingly delivered to them in 1670 by virtue of an order from King Charles the Second to Sir Thomas Temple, who then resided as Governor upon the place.

From this time to the Treaty of Utrecht, when N. Scotia was again surrendered by France to the Crown of Great Britain, our books make no mention of the descendants of the abovementioned Monsieur de la Tour ; but as the Petitioner with her brothers and sisters were found in possession of the lands and quit rents abovementioned, we think it highly reasonable to believe that after the surrender of Nova Scotia to France in 1670, the French King did thereupon restore Monsieur de la Tour, the Petitioner’s father, to the enjoyment of his estate, and it appears to us upon the whole that the Petitioner Mrs. Agatha Campbell is daughter to the last mentioned Monsieur de la Tour and grand-daughter to Monsieur Charles Saint Estienne, Sieur de la Tour, whose right to Nova Scotia was allowed by Cromwell, and that partly by right of inheritance and partly by cession from her relations, she is justly entitled to all the possessions and rents belonging to her said father and grandfather not disposed of by them during their respective lives ; but what those rents and possessions were does not appear to us for want of the first Letters Patent to the Sieur de la Tour in 1631, excepting the quit rents abovementioned of eighty or ninety pounds pr. annum. Whereupon we would take leave to propose that H.M. should be graciously pleased to order a valuable consideration to be paid to the Petitioner for her said quit rents, and also for the extinguishment of her claim to any other part of Nova Scotia ; and in the meantime to issue his Royal Orders to Coll. Philipps, the present Governor of Nova Scotia or to the Commander in Chief there for the time being to give the necessary directions in that Province, that all arrears of rents or quit rents due to the Petitioner from the inhabitants of Nimos or others since the year 1730 or from the time of her receiving the last payments be paid to her the said Agatha Campbell without delay ; and that she be re-instated in the possession of such lands and quit rents as she was possessed of before the late orders for stopping the payment of her rents, and to enjoy them without any let or molestation, until the aforesaid consideration shall be paid. [C.O. 218, 2. pp. 273-292]

Some considerations relating to the security of the British Colonies in America. If a war should break out between England and France, it is natural to expect they will attack us where we are weakest, and that is in America. The Leeward Islands may be overrun in a very few days from Guardaloupe or Martinique, etc. Barbados would make but a very poor resistance, having no forces but their own militia, and their fortifications in a very bad condition. Jamaica might possibly be defended by a powerfull sea force against a descent from Hispaniola, but ye French have near 20,000 people in their part of that island, settl’d within ye space of a few years, whereas Jamaica tho’ planted in Oliver Cromwell’s time, and capable of maintaining 200,000 inhabitants by ye last returns from thence had no more than 7,648 white people, including men, women, and children. And is under daily alarms from her runaway black people].

Gives details of numbers of inhabitants : 74,525 slaves etc. Argues that the Leeward Islands being so small are not capable of supporting a sufficient number of inhabitants to defend them against the superior forces of the French in their neighbouring Colonies. There may be between 3 or 4000 in the four islands, but they are dispers’d, and can never be brought together for their common defence : and therefore the Crown has constantly been at the expence of maintaining a regiment of foot there, which has been an expence thrown away to no manner of purpose etc. This Regiment has been so manag’d that ye inhabitants could have expected but very little protection from it, being always vastly deficient in its numbers, and ye few soldiers that were effective, except tradesmen who could earn their own bread, have been almost starv’d for want of subsistance, consequently much fitter for hospital than for service.

Proposes that the Colonel should be immediately ordered to his post and to make, in conjunction with the Governor, a return of the strength of the Regiment : that it be forthwith recruited ; and as it is impossible for the common soldiers to subsist there upon their own pay, that the Governor be instructed to recommend to the people to make the same additional provision for them at least, which the Assembly of Jamaica give to their 2 Independent Companies. But this Regiment compleated to its full establishment will be but of little use without a Naval force etc. The loss of these islands, or even the destruction of their sugar works, would be a great detriment to England, and an irreparable damage to the inhabitants, who have not to this day recovered the losses of the last war etc. The Admiralty have a very good harbour at Antegoa, and we should upon the first apprehension of danger, have two ships of war at the least upon this station.

The property of the King’s subjects in these islands, including their slaves, stock, coffers and buildings is computed at near three millions sterl. Barbados has of late years given so much money to their Governors that they have not been able to lay out any upon their fortifications, but their charge upon that head is at present considerably diminished and therefore their Governor should be instructed to recommend to them to take care of the necessary repairs for their fortifications and supply of their magazine. For I fear the number of their inhabitants is much lessen’d of late. Upon the least umbrage of a war they should have the same number of ships for their defence which were employ’d on that station during the last war. This will be the more necessary at present, because of the French encroachments at Santa Lucia which lies within sight of Barbados, and of the encrease of the French inhabitants in their neighbourhood.

Jamaica has always been deservedly our chief concern, as well upon acct. of its scituation, as of its real value, and if the inhabitants had understood their own interest or had half so much concern for themselves as we have had for them, they would not have been in so bad a condition as they now are. Instead of being a great burthen to us, they might, with good conduct, by this time have been able to stand alone, and have been the terror of the West Indies. But it is too late to look backwards, and some way must be found out effectualy to people this island, or we shall certainly lose it. Our Fleets indeed may do a great deal for the defence of Jamaica ; but it is to be consider’d that the same winds which may bring a force from Hispaniola, may confine our ships in port ; and an Iland upon which we have long valu’d ourselves, be lost, notwithstanding our naval force, in a very few days. It will therefore be highly necessary to send some person of spirit, integrity, and capacity to command this Iand. He should be instructed to send home a full and true state of their condition.

How it comes to pass that they are not better peopled? What impediments there are to the settling of the country? and how they may be removed, either by the Legislature of the Iland, or that of Great Britain? for this is too valuable a jewel in the Crown of England, to be lost by the petulance of the inhabitants, or the exorbitant avarice of a few leading men, who have eat up all their poor neighbours and expelled them the Iland. Something in the nature of an Agrarian law must be made for Jamaica if we intend to keep it. No man should be allow’d to hold more land than he can cultivate, and great encouragment should be given to draw inhabitants thither, for England could not lay out money to a better purpose. In the mean while we should allow them as many ships for their defence in case of danger, as they had any time the last war. And we must not wait till we hear the French are going to send ships into the West Indies ; for we may be undone by the land force they have there already etc. Suggests sending, upon the first apprehension of a rupture a strong land force also into the iland, under the command of some experienced officer. The Bahama Ilands in case of a war would lye greatly expos’d to an invasion from the Spanish Colonies at Porto Rico, Hispaniola or Cuba, but especially from the last. The temptation of attacking them will not arise from the plunder, the inhabitants being hitherto very poor, but their scituation is of very great importance, and therefore they will merit a farther land force for their defence, having only one Company there at present.

And as they have a good harbour at Providence for 20 gun cruisers, two ships of that size may be station’d here to good purpose, to watch the Spanish plate fleets, and be a cheque upon the navigation of the Gulph of Florida. It were to be wished that these were the only British Dominions in America expos’d to danger ; but it is certain that the French may make themselves masters of Nova Scotia whenever they please. It is easie to perceive from one cast of the eyes upon the map, that this Province is surrounded almost on every side by the French settlements of Cape Briton, L’isle Madam, Anticosta, the river of St. Laurence, and Canada, in all which places, the French are very strong and numerous, especialy at Cape Briton and L’isle Madam etc., but we have hardly one civil inhabitant in the whole province of Nova Scotia, and what is still worse, we have upwards of 3000 French Papists settled in the heart of the countrey, who have remained there ever since the Peace ; and tho’ they have with great difficulty been prevail’d on not long since to take the oaths of allegiance to the King ; there is no doubt that they would readily joyn with their countreymen to recover this Province for the Crown of France etc. Something should be done without loss of time. It may not perhaps be adviseable to ask the assistance of Parlt. yet nothing can be done without expence.

Palatines or Saltburgers might certainly be had in Holland, and in my humble opinion they ought to be had. But there is one other way which has formerly been recommended as advantageous to the publick in every respect, and that is to engage the straglers, now settled in Newfoundland, where they do a great deal of harm, to transport themselves to Nova Scotia, where they may be of some use to their Mother Countrey. And as these people are already inur’d to the hardships of these cold climates they would be of more service there than a much larger number from any other place. All reasonable encouragements should therefore be given to them, and indeed to any other people that are dispos’d to settle in Nova Scotia, till that Province shall have acquir’d a reasonable defence. It may likewise be for the King’s service, that Col. Philips should be order’d forthwith to recruit his Regt. to the full establishment, and if the men were allow’d to carry wives with them they might in time do something towards peopling the countrey. But this is only one of those gradual expedients to which many more might be added, but which would not save the present emergency etc. The preservation of this Province, and of the Fishery upon its coast, which is preferable to that of Newfoundland, would always deserve a station ship, and more in time of war, with another regiment. Without date or signature. Endorsed, Oct. 28th, 1733. 5 pp. [C.O. 5, 5. No. 2.]

“America and West Indies: October 1733, 16-31.” Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 40, 1733. Eds. Cecil Headlam, and Arthur Percival Newton. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1939. 216-232. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol40/pp216-232.

America and West Indies Colonial Papers: December 1658

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In these papers we see Colonel Thomas Temple acknowledges receiving a letter and cargo from Lord Fienes and Company through Captain Middleton. He expresses gratitude for their support and promises to send the cargo’s produce to London with a suitable profit as soon as trade permits. Nova Scotia, he believes, is valuable to England due to its potential in staple commodities like fishing, furs, minerals, timber, coal, and oil fishing.

Temple refers Lord Fienes and Company to instructions given to Captain Breedon, who represents him. He mentions concluding deals with various parties and outlines the necessity of managing the fishing trade wisely for future settlement success. Temple also discusses the need for a commission to preserve trade in Nova Scotia. He expresses concerns about rival bids from New England merchants and explains his financial situation and dealings with Captain Breedon. Instructions to Breedon include delivering letters, providing information on Temple’s debts and stock, and fitting out a ship for Nova Scotia. The document elaborates on Temple’s claim to Nova Scotia, mentioning its disputed history and his acquisition from Delatour. It also highlights the potential risk to Temple’s title if the dispute between France and England over forts and territory is not resolved.

Col. Thos. Temple to [Lord Fienes and Company]. Has received their letter and cargo by Capt. Middleton. Acknowledges their goodness in taking him and his affairs into their protection. The produce of the cargo, with a suitable profit, shall be sent to London as soon as trade will permit. Capt. Middleton has explored the country in a barque belonging to Col. Temple, with good pilots, but is now dangerously sick. Is emboldened to express his thoughts and knowledge of “this business.” Nova Scotia very considerable to England, from the staple commodities it may produce; the chief, fishing. Furs, all sorts of mines, timber, excellent coals, and oil fishing in great abundance. Refers them to the instructions he has given Capt. Breedon, one of the chief of the New England merchants; has empowered him to contract with the Company on his part. Has concluded with Col. Crowne for a portion of land that formerly belonged to Plymouth patent; paid the New England merchants 5,000l.; also Capt. Leverett and the State, as bound by articles to the Lord Protector, 2,300l.; and Mons. Delatour, the twentieth skin, as by agreement. Concerning Capt. Rea’s 200l. per annum, Capt. Breedon has orders to treat with him about it. Conceives three things necessary to a future settlement: If the fishing trade were wisely managed, thinks the Company would soon be master of much of the King of Spain’s revenues. Hopes his modest propositions will give satisfaction. Begs the [Sparrow] Pink may be speedily made ready.

Col. Temple to [Thos. Povey?] Necessity of obtaining a commission for preservation of trade in Nova Scotia, if again reinstated in his right and title to the country. Fears the merchants of New England will underhand bid money to Mr. Elliott, particularly one Mr. Horwood, “one of our Company.” Is sure they have been great gainers by him; came before knowing how to manage trade, which first cast him into debt. Explains the circumstances. Was at great expense in keeping 150 men the first and second years. Capt. Breedon has promised, if necessary, to lay down 1,000l. for him. [Copy, by Capt. Breedon.]

Instructions of Col. Temple, Lieut. to the Lord Protector “in Acadia or Nova Scotia,” to Capt. Thomas Breedon. To deliver Temple’s letters to Lord Fienes and Company, and inform them fully of the state of affairs in Nova Scotia. To give an account of his debts, amounting to 4,660l. 8s. 11d, and of his stock at St. John’s Fort, Port Royal, and Boston, worth 2,724l. 3s.; of the charges necessary to carry on the trade, and the produce that may be made of a good stock prudently managed; of his willingness to be incorporated with them in a Company, upon certain propositions, either of which he will agree to. To fit out the Sparrow pink, given to him by Cromwell, with all expedition, with goods suitable for his affairs in Nova Scotia. Powers to conclude with the Company on his behalf.

I. State of the case of Col. Temple as to his interest in Nova Scotia. Those parts continually in dispute between the French and English, given up to France by the treaty of 1632 [St. Germain]. Granted by Sir Wil. Alexander and also by the French King to Delatour, who built St. John’s Fort, “now the chief if not the only fort;” Port Royal having been lately demolished. Subsequently taken by Major Sedgwick. Delatour makes over his interest to Col. Temple and Col. Crowne on 20 Sept. 1656. Assaulted and taken by the French, but retaken by Col. Temple. Damages received on either side not yet determined. Whether the Kirkes or any other English have a title to that country. Claim of Col. Temple by a good and valuable consideration from Delatour. This “prudential consideration” is added. The blemishing of Col. Temple’s title before the difference is settled between the two Crowns concerning the forts and country may occasion his soldiers to abandon and sell them to the French.

“America and West Indies: December 1658.” Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Ed. W Noel Sainsbury. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1860. 470-472. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp470-472.

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations; French neutrals that have been transported from Nova Scotia to Virginia

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The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial prepared by Mr. Parker in behalf of Mr. Kilby, agent for the affairs of Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, praying that four thousand, seven hundred and forty six pounds and seven shillings may be issued to him upon account to discharge a warrant directed to him to pay William Baker, Esquire, for provisions supplied the troops there, and to pay bills drawn upon him by the Governor, and the said memorial having been approved, Mr. Parker was ordered to present it to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury for their directions upon it.

Friday, June 4.

Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Hamilton.

Virginia.
Read a letter from Messrs. Lidderdale and Co., merchants of Bristol, dated June 14th, 1756, acquainting the Board with their expectation of the arrival in that port of three hundred of the French neutrals that have been transported from Nova Scotia to Virginia.
A letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, inclosing a copy of the said letter, was signed.

Nova Scotia.
Read a letter from Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated Halifax, April 28th, 1756, relating to the present state of that province, and transmitting:—
List of Bills drawn on Christopher Kilby, Esquire, on account of the Government of Nova Scotia from February 1st, 1755, to April 29th, 1756.
List of accompts, etc., of stores and provisions.
Account of Colonel Hopson’s regiment, victualled between August 11th, 1755, and 21st March, 1756.
General account of provisions received and issued to settlers in the province of Nova Scotia between 21st February and the 30th of November following, 1755.
Thomas Saul, Esquire, his account of provisions with John Cunningham, on account of the settlers at Lunenburg in the province of Nova Scotia between September 8th and November 30th, 1755.
Contingent account for victualling settlers and military in Nova Scotia between February 24th and November 30th, 1755.
Accompt of provisions received from Messrs. Apthorp, etc., of Boston, towards victualling Governor Shirley’s provincial regiment at Chignecto to August 17th, 1755, inclusive.
General account of provisions received and issued on account of the augmentation of Colonel Hopson’s regiment between February 24th and November 30th, 1755.
Account of victualling 360 men at Annapolis Royal, etc., on Mr. Woodford’s contract between February 24th and November 30th, 1755.
General account of dry stores received and issued between February 24th and November 30th, 1755.
Governor’s order for Mr. Saul to receive the provisions found in the French forts at Chignecto, etc.
Account of provisions issued to the French inhabitants shipt out of the province of Nova Scotia, 1755.
Minutes of the Committee of Council appointed to audit Mr. Saul’s accompts, etc., between February 24th and November 30th, 1755.
List of settlers victualled at Halifax and Lunenburg between September 8th and November 30th, 1755.
List of settlers victualled at Halifax and Lunenburg in the province of Nova Scotia between June 30th and September 7th, 1755.
Naval office lists of ships and vessels entred and cleared at the port of Halifax between July 1st and December 31st, 1755.

Ordered, that the draught of a letter in answer to Mr. Lawrence’s letter be prepared.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following memorials prepared by Mr. Parker, in behalf of Mr. Kilby, agent for Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, viz.:—
Memorial of Mr. Parker in behalf of Mr. Kilby, agent for Nova Scotia, praying that the sum of ten thousand pounds may be issued to him to discharge a bill drawn upon the agent by Mr. Lawrence, Governor of Nova Scotia, for his Majesty’s especial service; and that the sum of seventeen thousand, one hundred and fifty five pounds, eighteen shillings and four pence, already received and paid in discharge of former bills drawn for such special services, may be charged in such a manner as not to interfere with the particular appropriation and grant of Parliament for the current service of the year.
Memorial of Mr. Parker in behalf of Mr. Kilby, agent for Nova Scotia, praying that the sum of nine thousand pounds may be issued to him to discharge bills drawn upon the said agent for the ordinary and current service of the year 1756.
The said memorials having been approved of, Mr. Parker was directed to present them to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for their Lordships’ directions thereupon.
Plantations General.
The draught of a circular letter to the governors of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia, acquainting them with Mr. Atkin’s appointment to be agent for Indian affairs to the southward, and recommending to them to give him all proper aid and support, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.
Nova Scotia.
The draught of a letter to Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Governor of Nova Scotia, in answer to one from him, having been prepared pursuant to the preceding minutes, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

“Journal, June 1756: Volume 63.” Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 10, January 1754 – December 1758. Ed. K H Ledward. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1933. 238-246. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol10/pp238-246.

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations; relating to the French inhabitants at Nova Scotia

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Letter from Lord Townshend &c. about the French inhabitants there.
Colonel Vetch summon’d.
Letter from the Lord Viscount Townshend, of the 15th instant [fo. 346], with a copy of one from Monsieur de Ponchartrain to Monsieur D’Iberville, relating to the French inhabitants at Nova Scotia, was read; and thereupon order’d that Colonel Vetch [fo. 336], have notice to attend the Board on Thursday morning next.

Colonel Vetch &c. thoughts on inhabitants removing from Nova Scotia to Cape Briton.

Colonel Vetch, Mr. Cumings and Mr. Smith attending [fo. 334, 338], their lordships communicated to them the copy of a letter from Monsieur de Ponchartrain to Monsieur D’Iberville, relating to the removing the inhabitants from Nova Scotia to Cape Briton (mention’d in the minutes of the 16th instant); whereupon Colonel Vetch said that the settlement of Cape Britton is incouraged by the French King as much as possible; that he has given the people that will settle there 18 months’ provisions and salt gratis, and has lent them some ships and sloops for carrying on the fishery at his own charge; that they have begun to build two fortifications, in the first of which there are four companys of regular troops, in the other three; that when two French officers were sent to Nova Scotia, they assembled the inhabitants there, and proposed to them to remove with their effects to Cape Briton, and threatn’d them that, in case they did not, the King would look upon them as rebells, and they should be treated accordingly. Whereupon all but one family signed an instrument promising to go thither; that there are about 500 families in Nova Scotia, computed at five persons to a family; that those inhabitants, by having lived many years there, and by their inter-marriages with the Indians, and being accustomed to their way of living, are of greater consequence to the French, if settled at Cape Britton, than any people can be, that are sent from Europe; that there are no English at Nova Scotia, but what belongs to the garrison.
Mr. Cumings then said that he was lately come from Placentia; that upon the surrender of that place there were about 150 families, but that they had been obliged (upon the same threats as abovementioned at Nova Scotia) to go to Cape Britton, so that there now remains about 15 or 16 families there; that there were three or four companies of foot at Placentia, which were sent to Cape Britton, as were likewise others from

Queries deliver’d for their answer.
After some further discourse with those gentlemen upon this subject [fo. 336, 347], their lordships agreed upon several queries, and delivered the same to them for their particular answers in writing, and desired them to add whatever else might occur to them in relation thereto.
The said queries are as follows:—
How many French families are there in Nova Scotia?
How many will remove to Cape Britton?
How many French families are there on Cape Britton? How are they settled, and what incouragement does the French King give them?
What is the consequence of the French removing from Nova Scotia or Newfoundland to Cape Britton?
What fortifications are there at Cape Britton, and how many regular troops?
What number of French is there on Newfoundland, and how many families will remain?
When did the French families desire to remove from Nova Scotia or Newfoundland, and when did they begin to do it, and to convey away their moveable effects?
What quantity of cattle will they carry away, if they have leave? and what will be the consequence thereof?
What will be the consequence of permitting the French at Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to sell their lands, houses, beaches, stages, &c.?
What quantity of fish did the French take at Cape Britton, and parts adjacent, this year?

 

“Journal, November 1714: Journal Book Q.” Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 2, February 1709 – March 1715. Ed. E G Atkinson. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1925. 571-575. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol2/pp571-575.

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations; instruction to the Governor of Nova Scotia, directing him not to grant lands to, or permit any subjects of Ireland to settle in that province

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Mr. Ellis, Governor of Nova Scotia, attended the Board, and acquainted their lordships, that since he had received their commands to go to his government, his state of ill health had been such as to compell him to apply to his Majesty’s Secretary of State, for his Majesty’s leave to be absent from that government for some further time, and that his Majesty had been graciously pleased to grant his request.

fo. 152.
Read an Order of the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs, dated the 29th ultimo, directing this Board to prepare the draught of an instruction to the Governor of Nova Scotia, forbidding him to grant lands in that province to any of his Majesty’s subjects of Ireland, who shall not have resided five years in that, or some other of his Majesty’s colonies.
Ordered, that the draught of an instruction, conformable to the directions of the said order, be prepared.

Wednesday, May 19.

Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice.

fo. 153.
The draught of an instruction to the Governor of Nova Scotia, directing him not to grants lands to, or permit any subjects of Ireland to settle in that province, who have not been resident there, or in some other of the colonies for five years, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed, and a report to the Lords of the Committee of Council was signed.

fo. 158.
Read a letter from Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, dated the 31st of March, 1762, giving an account of the measures he has taken for encourageing settlements upon the forfeited lotts in the new townships; of the state of the Publick accounts, and of the trial, condemnation and reprieve of a soldier convicted of murder; also desiring the Board’s application to Government, for obtaining his Majesty’s pleasure upon the case of Mary Webb, convicted of murdering her bastard child, in the administration of Governor Lawrence, and inclosing,
Business under consideration of the present session of the General Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia begun to be held on the 17th of March, 1762.
Proclamation for compleating the settlement of some of the new townships.
Record of the conviction of William Reach.
Memorial in behalf of William Reach.
Abstract of the state of the civil establishment for Nova Scotia, 1761.

fo. 159.
Abstract of the late Governor Lawrence’s arrears, paid by the Honorable Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
Original vouchers for the payment of publick money from the 1st of July to the 31st of December, 1761.
Ordered, that the foregoing abstracts of accounts and original vouchers be delivered to the agent for the settlement of Nova Scotia, and that he be directed to prepare, as soon as conveniently may be, in order to be laid before Parliament, an account of money paid and charges incurred in maintaining the settlement of Nova Scotia for the year 1761.

fo. 160.
Ordered, that an extract be made of so much of Mr. Belcher’s letter, as relates to the case of Mary Webb, to be laid before his Majesty, and that the draught of a letter to the Earl of Egremont, one of his Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, inclosing the same, be prepared.
Read a memorial of Benjamin Green, Esquire, Treasurer of the Province of Nova Scotia, praying that he may be permitted to place some monies, his own private property, now lying in Nova Scotia, in the Treasury there, and receive the like sum from the agent for the Colony here, out of the grant for the current year, when it shall be in his hands.

fo. 161.
Their lordships, upon consideration of the said memorial, were of opinion, that the subject matter thereof was proper for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury, and that it did not lye within the department of this Board to give any directions upon it.
Wednesday, May 26. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice.

The draught of a letter to the Earl of Egremont, one of his Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, inclosing an extract of a letter from Mr. Belcher, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, relating to the case of Mary Webb, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

fo. 163.
Thursday, May 27.

Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts.
The draught of a report to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, upon Mr. Glen’s memorial, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed; as was also a letter to the Earl of Egremont, inclosing an extract of a letter from Mr. Belcher, concerning the case of Mary Webb. condemned in the administration of Governor Lawrence for the murder of her bastard child, and reprieved by him till his Majesty’s pleasure was known.

fo. 164.
Their lordships then took into consideration, that part of the minutes of the 17th of March last, which contains their resolution with respect to two Acts passed in the first session of the Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, the one entitled, an Act to establish the rate of Spanish dollars, the other, to revive and continue two Acts or resolutions of the Governor and Council, that foreign debts should not be pleadable in that province; and it appearing that by the minutes of the Assembly on the 17th of March last, that the latter of these Acts would have expired by its own limitation, so much of their lordships’ order, as relates thereto, was discharged; and the draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the repeal of the first mentioned Act, having been prepared, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

 

fo. 167.
Friday, May 28.

Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice, Mr. Roberts.

The draught of a representation to his Majesty, proposing the repeal of an Act passed in the Province of Nova Scotia in 1758, for establishing the rate of Spanish dollars, having been transcribed pursuant to order, was signed.

 

“Journal, May 1762: Volume 69.” Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 11, January 1759 – December 1763. Ed. K H Ledward. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1935. 276-282. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol11/pp276-282.

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations; French neutrals..lately removed from Nova Scotia to Carolina

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Read a letter from Mr. Fox, Secretary of State, dated the 3rd of April, 1756, signifying the king’s pleasure that this Board should acquaint him with their opinion, in what way it may be most adviseable to dispose of the French neutrals that have been lately removed from Nova Scotia to Carolina and sent over to England by Governor Glen.

Ordered, that the Secretary do inform himself what number of the said French inhabitants have been sent over by Mr. Glen, and what reasons Mr. Glen has given for so extraordinary a measure.

Read a letter from Mr. Belcher, Chief Justice of Nova Scotia, to Mr. Pownall, dated Elizabeth Town in New Jersey, December 24th, 1755, inclosing the following papers, viz.:—
Proposals for convening an Assembly in Nova Scotia, dated October 24th, 1755.
Opinion in Council as to the removal of the French inhabitants in Nova Scotia, dated Halifax, July 28th, 1755.

The Secretary acquainted the Board that he had pursuant to their lordships’ order, made enquiry what number of French, late inhabitants of Nova Scotia, had been sent over from South Carolina, and what reasons Mr. Glen had given for this measure; and that he was informed that the said inhabitants were six in number, and that the only reasons assigned by Mr. Glen were contained in a certificate transmitted with them, of which he had obtained a copy, and which is to the following effect, viz.:—

 

To all to whom this present writing of certificate shall come, greeting,
I, James Glen, Esquire, Governor, Captain General and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty’s province of South Carolina, do certify that Bernard Goudier and Joseph la Blanc were subjects of his Majesty King George the Second, and were inhabitants of Beau-Bassin in Nova Scotia, and for their misbehaviour were sent to this place by Governor Lawrence, and are by me thought necessary to be sent to Great Britain to be dealt with according to his Majesty’s pleasure.
Given under my hand the 14th day
of January Anno Domini, 1756.
James Glen.

Their lordships after some time spent in the consideration of this affair, ordered the draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, to be prepared in answer to that from him mentioned in the preceding minutes.

Read a memorial of Mr. Ainsley, praying an allowance for his trouble and expences in bringing some dispatches from Dover.
Ordered, that Mr. Kilby, agent for the affairs of the settlement, pay to the memorialist five guineas for his trouble and expence in bringing the abovementioned dispatches from Dover.

Tuesday, April 13.

Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Rigby.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, relating to the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia lately sent over to England by Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, having been prepared pursuant to the minutes of the 7th instant, was agreed to and ordered to be transcribed.

Read a memorial prepared by Mr. Kilby, agent for the affairs of Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, praying that the sum of eight hundred, forty two pounds and tenpence may be issued to him, to be paid to Chauncy Townsend, Esquire, in consequence of his Majesty’s warrants directed to him for tht purpose; and the said memorial having been approved of, Mr. Kilby was ordered to present it to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury for their Lordships’ directions thereupon.

The draught of a letter to Mr. Fox, one of his Majesty’s principal Secretaries of State, relating to the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia lately sent over to England by Mr. Glen, Governor of South Carolina, having been transcribed pursuant to the minutes of yesterday, was signed.

The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial prepared by Mr. Kilby, agent for the settlement of Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, praying that the sum of seventeen thousand, one hundred fifty five pounds, eighteen shillings and four pence may be issued to him to discharge bills drawn upon him by the Governor of the said province for especial services; and the said memorial having been approved, Mr. Kilby was ordered to present it to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for their Lordships’ directions thereupon.

Read a memorial of Finalia Lockman, wife of Charles Lockman, one of the surgeons in Nova Scotia, praying that directions may be given to the Governor to reimburse to her husband the sum of forty seven pounds, two shillings and six pence paid by him for medicines on account of the settlement.

Ordered, that a copy of the said memorial, and the vouchers thereunto annexed, be transmitted to the Governor of Nova Scotia, with directions to him to examine the same, and if he finds the account to be a reasonable and proper one, to reimburse Mr. Lockman his expences.

 

“Journal, April 1756: Volume 63.” Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 10, January 1754 – December 1758. Ed. K H Ledward. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1933. 225-232. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol10/pp225-232.

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations; Townships, Elections

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Read a letter from Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated at Halifax, November 9th, 1757, transmitting the following papers, and containing his observations on some articles in the estimate for 1758.
Estimate of expence that will arise in supporting and maintaining the province of Nova Scotia in the year 1758.
Minutes of Council from the 3rd of October, 1756, to the 14th December, 1757.
Naval officer’s list of ships and vessels that have entered and cleared at the Port of Halifax between the 1st of July and 31st of December, 1756.
Letter from Mr. Saul, Commissary of Stores, to Governor Lawrence, dated November the 11th, 1757.
Ordered, that the said letter and papers be taken into further consideration on Monday next, and that Mr. Parker, acting as agent for the settlement of the colony of Nova Scotia, have notice to attend the Board on that day.

Monday, January 23.

Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

The Secretary then communicated to the Board a letter he had received from Mr. Parker, acting as agent for the settlement of the colony of Nova Scotia, acquainting him that he was confined to his chamber by a severe fit of the gout, and not able to attend the Board as desired, but hoped to give his attendance in a few days.
Their lordships took into further consideration the letter from the Governor of Nova Scotia and the papers transmitted with it mentioned in yesterday’s minutes and made some further progress therein.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the letter and papers from the Governor of Nova Scotia mentioned in the preceding minutes.

Wednesday, January 25.

Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

Their lordships made a further progress in the consideration of the letter and papers received from the Governor of Nova Scotia mentioned in the preceding minutes.
Ordered, that an extract be made of so much of the said letter as relates to the want of an immediate supply of bedding for the troops and cloathing for the Rangers, and also an account made out of the several particulars contained in the estimate for 1758, of what is represented to be necessary for the further security and defence of the province, and the service of the troops stationed there, for the further consideration of the Board at their next meeting.

Thursday, January 26.

Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper.

The Secretary laid before the Board the following papers prepared pursuant to the preceding day’s minutes, viz.:—
Extract of a letter from Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Governor of Nova Scotia, to the Board, dated November 9th, 1757, relating to the want of an immediate supply of bedding for the troops and cloathings for the Rangers.
Account of several military services, the charge of which is stated in the estimate for Nova Scotia for 1758, transmitted by Governor Lawrence to the Board, and represented by him to be necessary for the further security and defence of that province and the military establishment there.

Friday, January 27.

Present:— Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Stone.
Read a petition of Ferdinando John Paris, gentleman, to this Board, dated the 26th of January, 1758, in behalf of the freeholders at Halifax in Nova Scotia, complaining of several grievances sustained by the inhabitants of the said colony, and inclosing:—
State of facts relating to the complaint of the freeholders in Nova Scotia.
Appendix to the state of facts.
Resolved. that the said memorial and papers be taken into consideration on Tuesday next, the 31st instant; and Mr. Paris. the memorialist. attending without, was called in and acquainted therewith. and that the Board will be ready on that day to hear anything he may have to offer upon it.

Tuesday. January 31.

Present:—Earl of Halifax. Mr. Oswald. Mr. Jenyns. Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Sloper.
Their lordships pursuant to the preceding minutes took into consideration the memorial of Mr. Paris, agent for the freeholders of Nova Scotia. and the papers referred to therein: and Mr. Paris attending as desired with Mr. Forrester, his counsel, they were called in, together with Mr. Bower, an inhabitant of the said province, lately arrived from thence; and Mr. Forrester having opened the nature and effect of the several matters complained of by the said freeholders, and Mr. Bower having been examined touching the alledged declining state of the colony and some particular injury alledged to have been sustained by him from proceedings of the Governor and other officers of government there. Which he stated to be arbitrary and illegal, and several depositions made by persons resident in the said province, touching injurys sustained by them by the proceedings of the Governor and his officers, having also been read, Mr. Forrester then moved their lordships that they would be pleased to advise and recommend to his Majesty to issue his Royal Instruction to the Governor and Commander in Chief in Nova Scotia for the time being, that he do forthwith and without delay proceed to call a General Assembly or House of Representatives in that province under such qualifications and regulations as their lordships shall think fit to offer to his Majesty’s consideration.

That with respect to the plan proposed by the Governor and Council for calling an Assembly in their declaration of the 3rd of January, 1757. Mr. Forrester observed that the freeholders are intitled to such an Assembly as other colonies have, namely to have a free Assembly to be elected by themselves; but the proposition is so framed that the Governor really and in substance may nominate more than two thirds of the members.

 

That the declaration proposes that members should be returned for the province at large 12
For the township of Halifax 4
Lunenburg 2
Dartmouth 1
Lawrence Town 1
Annapolis 1
Cumberland 1
22

That as to the inhabitants of Lunenburg, they are foreigners, such as Germans, Swiss and French Roman Catholicks; the inhabitants at Lunenburg are more than all the other English inhabitants in the colony; many of them have been there seven years, and therefore under the Act of the 13th of his present Majesty, claim to be intitled to the privilege of subjects; but even freeholders, natural born subjects in their circumstances, it’s apprehended ought not yet to vote at all, in electing any members (more especially, not in electing 14 out of the 22 members) because they are upon the foot of poor persons subsisted by charity, indeed by the charity of this nation, though made to believe that they owe it to the Governor’s benevolence, so that to let them at present vote for 14 members would be effectually to give the Governor the power of nominating so many himself.

That as to the inhabitants of Lawrence Town, of Annapolis, and of Cumberland, it is proposed that each of these townships (as called) should elect one member for itself, and join in the election of 12 more, for the province at large; even now, while they are so inconsiderable, as that the inhabitants of Cumberland consist of five old serjeants and soldiers, all sutlers to the garrison there, and subject to military law (for none other was ever heard of in that place); Lawrence Town consists of three sutlers subject to the direction of the proprietors of that tract, and under their influence, and the town decaying every day; and Annapolis is a garrison, of the like sort of inhabitants and a place of no significancy to the Crown.

That it is humbly apprehended that the proposing that those three towns, in such circumstances, should send each their own particular member, and should also join in choosing twelve other members for the province at large, manifestly shews, either one or both of the following matters:—
1st. That the inhabitants are reduced to a very small number,
or
2ndly. That the Governor desires to have the nomination of the greater part of the Assembly.

That as to the qualification and disqualification of the electors and elected, one of the qualifications of the electors and elected is the having a freehold in the place, where voted for, or where elected; but the value of such freehold in either person is not at all limited; so that persons of the very lowest condition, if they have but any such freehold, of ever so mean a value, may elect or be elected, which is conceived not to be agreeable to the British Constitution, nor to the practice in other colonies, and whereby the members may possibly consist of the lowest and most unfit persons to the exclusion of those of the best property and substance; and it is submitted how reasonable or proper it may be to confine the member’s qualification to a freehold in that particular district, for which he is to be chosen, since a more proper person might be chosen, who has a proper freehold though not in that district. It is therefore humbly submitted whether the yearly value of the freehold to intitle a freeholder to elect, and the yearly value of the member’s freehold to make him capable of being elected should not be ascertained, and whether the member’s having a freehold of such value in any part of the province is not a reasonable and proper qualification.

That the declaration excludes non-commissioned officers and private soldiers from voting, by virtue of any dwelling built upon sufferance or by virtue of any possession of freehold, unless the same be registered to him, but it does not exclude even such from being elected members.
That under this head it may be proper to pray that no soldier may at any rate be allowed to vote, there being 3,000 soldiers there, and the inhabitants not more than half that number, so that if soldiers were permitted to vote, and any the smallest freehold (were it but the hundredth part of an acre) was to be a qualification, the other inhabitants can have but little hopes of being represented.

That the declaration provides that the voters, if required, should take the usual State oaths, and declare and subscribe the Test, and take the oath therein mentioned, but, which is very wonderfull, requires no such matter of the candidates or persons to be elected.

That the declaration provided that the precept for convening the first Assembly should be made returnable in sixty days, and the reason given for it in express words is, “On account of the present rigorous season,” from whence persons of plain understanding imagined the precept was to issue instantly during the then present, rigorous season. It is now thirteen months since the date of that declaration, and all the seasons of the year have succeeded, but the precept not issued.

That the freeholders rest assured that his most sacred Majesty and the Lords of Trade intended they should have an Assembly, not in name only, but in reality, to be freely elected by the persons of property settled there, and not to be either directly or consequentially nominated by the Governor or elected by the troops, and are perfectly satisfied that their lordships know what is best and most fit for the service of the province and will advise the Assembly to be constituted under such regulations as to answer his Majesty’s most gracious intentions.
With respect to the other matters complained of in the agent’s memorial, Mr. Forrester moved that their lordships would please to transmit the present petition, and the articles annexed thereto unto the several persons complained of, namely:—
Charles Lawrence, Esquire, the present Governor.

Captain William Cotterell, the Governor’s Secretary, the Overseer of the Works, the Clerk in Chancery, and the Collector of the Rum Duty.
Lieutenant Richard Bulkley, another Overseer of the King’s Works, the Commissary for Rum and Molasses, and a Disposer of Contracts for publick works there.

Benjamin Green, Esquire, one of his Majesty’s Council there, the Treasurer, the Naval Officer, the Receiver of the Rum Duty, and another Disposer of Contracts there, and to

Mr. Thomas Saul, Clerk or Agent to the Contractor, the Commissary of Provisions, the Commissary of Dry Stores and the Supplyer of Dollars,
and require them to return forthwith their answers thereto in writing to their lordships, and also to deliver a true copy of the same so soon as prepared to any agent there in behalf of the petitioners who shall request the same:

That in the meantime the petitioners or their agent may have free liberty to take out a summons from any judge, magistrate or justice in Nova Scotia, for their witnesses, whom they shall name, and to examine or take the affidavits or depositions in writing upon oath or affirmation, of such witnesses before such judge, magistrate or justice, to be attested by such judge, magistrate or justice:
That the petitioners or their agent may also have free liberty to examine, search and take copies of any records, and of the Acts and minutes of any court or of the Council, and also the entries in any books containing publick accounts, and to have the same attested by the respective proper officers upon payment of the legal and accustomed fees only for the same:

That the Governor or Commander in Chief there for the time being do instantly upon request sign and affix the province Seal to the usual testimonials to be affixed to all such papers, that such and such persons before whom the proofs shall be made, are such and such judges, magistrates and justices there, and that such and such persons who shall attest the copies of the records, Acts, minutes and entries, are the respective proper officers to attest the same, and that without the Governor, or any his Secretary, or Deputy Secretary, or other officer demanding, or having the same left with him in order to read over, or consider, or take copys or extracts of any one of the papers to be authenticated:

That their lordships will please to require that the freeholders, their committee and agents and witnesses and the judges, magistrates and justices and others who shall act herein, or any of them, be not any way molested, hindred, prevented or troubled in respect of presenting this complaint, or of any lawfull endeavours used, in order to the prosecution, proving or making out any of the several matters thereby complained of, and that the petitioners may have duplicates in the most authentick manner of their lordships’ orders and directions to be made herein.

Mr. Forrester having nothing further to offer he withdrew, and their lordships after some time spent in the consideration of this affair resolved to take it into further consideration on Friday next, the 3rd instant, and the Secretary was ordered to give notice thereof to Mr. Paris, and also to Mr. Cotterell, Secretary of the province of Nova Scotia, now in England.

Ordered, that the Secretary do examine the books of this office with respect to any complaints which may have at any time been made of mal-administration and oppression in his Majesty’s colonies in America and make report to the Board thereof and of the proceedings had and orders given thereupon.

 

“Journal, January 1758: Volume 65.” Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 10, January 1754 – December 1758. Ed. K H Ledward. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1933. 360-370. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol10/pp360-370.

Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations, Letters from Colonel Armstrong, Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia

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Letters and papers from Lieut. Governor.
Four letters from Colonel Armstrong, Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia, were read, and the papers, therein referred to, were laid before the Board, viz:—
Letter from Colonel Armstrong, dated October 29th, 1733, giving an account of the state of Nova Scotia and the trade thereof, with some projects for securing and improving the same.
Letter from Colonel Armstrong, dated November 10th, 1733, with
Several papers in French, relating to the pretensions of the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia to lands in that province.
Letter from Colonel Armstrong, dated November 20th, 1733, with
The draught of the river of Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia. which, he says, was difficult to effect, and recommends the surveyor to be paid for the same.
Letter from Colonel Armstrong, dated May the 10th, 1724, with
Extracts of Minutes of Council, between the 25th of September, 1732, and the 10th of April, 1734.
Buttings and boundings, quit rents and terms of payment of patents granted by Colonel Armstrong since 23rd November, 1732, to 10th of August, 1733.
Copy of Colonel Armstrong’s letters to several persons, in relation to the affairs of Nova Scotia, in November, 1732.
Orders issued by Colonel Armstrong, between 4th of January, 1732–3, and the 10th of April, 1734.
Schedule of the seigniorial rents payable yearly by the inhabitants of Annapolis Royal, collected from Minutes of their grants, by order of Colonel Armstrong in 1734.
To be answered.
And directions were given for preparing the draught of an answer to the said letters.
Naval stores and other products.
A letter from Colonel Philipps, dated the 3rd of August, 1734, in answer to some queries sent him, relating to the incouraging naval stores and other products not interfering with the trade of Great Britain.

September 10.

Present:—Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.
Answer to the Lieut. Governor’s letters.
The Board, taking into consideration the draught of an answer to Colonel Armstrong’s letters, read at the last meeting, made a progress therein.
Governor written to for account of presents to the Indians.
Ordered that a letter be written to Colonel Philipps, the Governor of Nova Scotia, to know in what manner the presents, sent by His late Majesty for the Indians of that province, were disposed of, the Indians complaining that they never received them, as represented in Colonel Armstrong’s letter of the 29th of October, 1733, read at the last meeting.

September 11.

Present:–Mr. Pelham, Mr. Bladen.
Letter to Lieut. Governor, signed.
The letter to Colonel Armstrong, Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia, mentioned in yesterday’s Minutes, was agreed and signed.

 

“Journal, September 1734: Journal Book L.L.” Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 6, January 1729 – December 1734. Ed. K H Ledward. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1928. 410-412. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol6/pp410-412.

“Letters and papers received from (Jonathan Belcher) Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia”

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fo. 66.
Nova Scotia.

Read a letter from Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, dated Halifax, the 3rd of November, 1761, containing an account of the state of that province in respect to the new settlements making in different parts of it, the fishery, the publick accounts, the Indian trade and the alteration which it was recommended to him to make in the laws of the first General Assembly, also inclosing, Memorial of Arthur Vance and William Caldwell of the City of Londonderry, merchants, 28th August, 1761, relating to Mr. McNutt’s engagement to carry settlers from Ireland to Nova Scotia.

fo. 67.
Copy of a Bill intitled an Act in addition to and amendment of an Act intitled an Act for the limitation of actions and for avoiding suits of law, which the Commander in Chief was pleased not to assent unto, upon the same being presented to him on the 15th of August, 1761. Lists of Acts passed by the General Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia at their session begun on the 1st day of July and ended on the 15th day of August, 1761.

Nova Scotia.
Read a letter from Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, dated Halifax, the 11th of January, 1762, containing the result of his enquiries into the abuses complained of in the administration of the late Governor, and stating the factious behaviour of several members of the Assembly in refusing to attend at the time appointed by proclamation for the Assembly’s meeting; also inclosing,
Return of grants of land from the Register’s office.
Chief Surveyor’s description and state of the new settlements in Nova Scotia, 9th January, 1762.
Chief Surveyors account of the Common of Halifax.
State of the measures pursued by some members of the Assembly to prevent the meeting of the General Assembly.

fo. 70.
The Reverend Mr. John Breynton’s return of births and burials at Halifax in the year 1761.
Reverend Mr. Robert Vincent’s return of the children in Lunenburg, 4th November, 1761.
Letter from Edmund Crawley, Esquire, one of his Majesty’s Council, relative to the whale fishery, 9th January, 1762.
Ceremonials at concluding a peace with the several districts of the general Mickmack Nation of Indians in his Majesty’s Province of Nova Scotia, and a copy of the treaty, 25th June, 1761.
Votes of the House of Assembly for the Province of Nova Scotia between the 1st of July and 15th August, 1761.

fo. 71.
Records of his Majesty’s Council of the Province of Nova Scotia from the 1st of April to the 28th of November, 1761, exclusive of the records of Council relative to the granting of land after the 15th day of May, 1761.
Journals of his Majesty’s Council of the Province of Nova Scotia in General Assembly at the session, begun the 1st of June and ended the 15th of August, 1761.
Records of his Majesty’s Council of the Province of Nova Scotia, relative to the granting of lands, from the 22nd of May to the 19th of November, 1761.
Do. at their meetings in order to the holding a session in General Assembly, begun the 17th and ended the 30th of November, 1761.

fo. 72.
Vouchers for the payment of money from the 1st of January, 1760, to the 30th of June, 1761.
Abstract of the state of the civil establishment for Nova Scotia, 1760.
Estimate of the stationary required for the publick offices at Halifax for the year 1762.
Nova Scotia.
Read the following letters from Jonathan Belcher, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, to Mr. Pownall, viz.

fo. 74.
Letter dated the 9th of January, 1762, desiring Mr. Pownall to move the Board that the sum of one hundred guineas, formerly subscribed by the inhabitants of Halifax, for erecting an organ and by them paid into the hands of Mr. Davidson, late Secretary and Treasurer of Nova Scotia, may be repaid into the hands of an agent appointed by them, for purchasing an organ; and also inclosing Mr. Hinchelwood’s certificate of subscription money, etc., expended by Mr. Davidson, Secretary for the Province of Nova Scotia.
Letter dated 11th of January, 1762, desiring directions concerning the clause in the grants of land in Nova Scotia that prohibits alienation.
Letter dated the 18th of January, 1762, acknowledging the receipt of his Majesty’s Orders for the repeal of three Acts passed in that province.

fo. 75.
Their lordships proceeded to take into consideration those parts of the letters and papers received from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, which relate to the establishments lately made in that province for carrying on the fishery; and as it appeared to their lordships, that it would be essentially necessary for the encouragement of the said fishery, that the same liberty of importing salt directly from any parts of Europe, which by the Act of the 15th of Charles the Second is given to Newfoundland and New England, should be extended to Nova Scotia, they were of opinion, that it would be proper that a Bill for that purpose should be offered to the consideration of Parliament this session; but, as his Majesty’s Revenue might be in some degree concerned in this matter, the Secretary was ordered to write a letter to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury upon this subject, for their lordships’ sentiments upon it.

fo. 76.
Resolved, that the consideration of what is proposed for the encouragement of the whale fishery be postponed to another opportunity, and that in the meantime the Governor be directed, upon his arrival in Nova Scotia, to transmit to the Board the best information he can procure of the state of the whale fishery upon the coasts of that province, with his opinion in what manner it may be encouraged for the benefit of this kingdom.
It appearing to their lordships, that the proposal contained in the Surveyor’s return of the state of the fishing settlements, that Long Island and its harbour should be reserved for the fishery in general, was reasonable and necessary; it was resolved, that the Governor should be instructed to make such reservation accordingly, and not to make grants of any part of the said island to any person whatever.

fo. 77.
Their lordships then proceeded to take into consideration those parts of Mr. Belcher’s letters and papers which relate to the new settlements in general; and the Secretary having acquainted the Board, that Mr. Alexander McNutt, who had engaged last year to introduce settlers into Nova Scotia from the North of Ireland, upon terms proposed by him to the Board, was now in England, with a view to the further prosecution of his plan; it was ordered, that such parts of the letters as relate to this measure should be taken into consideration tomorrow morning, and that notice should be given to Mr. McNutt to attend.

fo. 78.
Their lordships, upon consideration of the return made by the Register of Nova Scotia of the excessive grants of lands made to particular persons, were of opinion, that for the reasons contained in Mr. Belcher’s letters, that the grants to the Proprietors of Lawrence Town should be confirmed, independent of any other grants which may have been made to them of lands in other parts of the province, but that the Governor should be directed to take special care, in all future grants, not to grant to any one person more than the quantity, which shall be limited by his Majesty’s instructions, and that he do give directions to the Surveyor to make returns from time to time of the progress which shall be made in the cultivation of the grants mentioned in the Register’s return, and, in case of any failure or default in the performance of the conditions of the grant, that he do pursue the most effectual measures for a resumption of the lands, and that he do not upon any pretence whatever make any further grants to the possessors of these lands, until they shall have fully settled and cultivated what they already possess, unless they shall surrender so much as shall reduce the quantity to what is limited by his Majesty’s instructions.

fo. 79.
Resolved, that the Governor be instructed, that in all future grants of townships, one thousand acres of woodland be reserved near the town for the encouragement of the manufacture of pot and pearl ash, to be granted to such person or persons as shall properly erect, and effectually establish and carry on buildings and works necessary for that material.
Resolved, that the Governor be instructed not to make grants of any parts of the lands reserved by the late Governor for the future settlement of disbanded soldiers.

fo. 80.
Ordered, that the Secretary, being a member of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, do communicate to the said Society such parts of Mr. Belcher’s letters, as relate to the appointment of the Reverend Mr. Vincent to officiate as minister and schoolmaster at Lunenburg, and that he do signify to the said society, that the appointment of Mr. Vincent to be their missionary there, would, in their lordships’ opinion, contribute greatly to the advancement of that settlement, and be greatly for the satisfaction of its inhabitants.
Thursday, March 11. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Yorke, Sir Edmund Thomas, Mr. Rice.

Nova Scotia.
fo. 83.
Their lordships then took into further consideration those parts of the letters and papers, lately received from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, which relate to the new settlements in general; and Mr. McNutt attending pursuant to order, was desired to acquaint the Board what steps he had taken for introducing settlers into Nova Scotia, in consequence of his proposals offered to the consideration of this Board the last year; whereupon he acquainted their lordships, that he had in the course of the last summer carried over to Nova Scotia from the North of Ireland three hundred persons, chiefly heads of families, and he produced several papers to shew the satisfaction expressed by those people at the reception they had met with, and with the fertility and other advantages of the lands whereon they were to be seated; Mr. McNutt further acquainted their lordships, that besides these settlers from Ireland, he stood engaged for the introduction of one thousand persons from other colonies, of which two hundred families had been actually settled; that he had contracted with persons in Ireland for ten thousand ton of shipping for the transportation of seven or eight thousand persons from that kingdom this summer; that he was preparing to go over into Ireland in order to carry this measure into execution, but previous thereto had some further proposals to make to their lordships; whereupon he was directed to reduce what he had to offer into writing, and to attend the Board therewith on Tuesday next.
Their lordships then took into consideration the Lieutenant Governor’s letter to the Secretary, dated 11th January, 1762, stating the doubts he was under with respect to that clause in the grants of lands which forbids alienation; and the Secretary having laid before the Board a report of his late Majesty’s Attorney and Sollicitor General on the 6th day of May, 1749, upon this matter, the said report was read and considered, and it was ordered, that a copy of it should be delivered to Governor Ellis, for his information and instruction upon this point.

fo. 85.
Nova Scotia.
The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial prepared by Mr. Alexander McNutt pursuant to their lordships’ orders, containing some proposals for further encouraging the introduction of settlers into the Province of Nova Scotia; and the said memorial having been read, it was agreed to postpone the consideration of it to another opportunity.
Their lordships then took into consideration those parts of the letters and papers received from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, which relate to the accounts of expences incurred for the support of the settlement of that colony; and Mr. Benjamin Green, Treasurer of the said colony, attending, their lordships had some discourse with him upon the subject of the said accounts.

fo. 87.
Mr. Green being withdrawn, it was ordered, that the accounts and vouchers for the payment of money for the service of Nova Scotia, from the 1st of January, 1760, to the 30th of June, 1761, together with extracts of such parts of the Lieutenant Governor’s letters as relate thereto, be referred to the Treasurer of the colony and the agent for the settlement; and that they do report to their lordships a state thereof, distinguishing the amount of what has been expended in the year 1760, together with the amount of the bills drawn by the late Governor and by Mr. Belcher, for dollars taken up for the use of the government from the 1st of January, 1760, down to the present time, and the ballance of the monies granted by Parliament for the settlement of this colony, which will remain in his Majesty’s Exchequer, when all the said bills and other present demands shall have been discharged; also what sums were remaining in the hands of the Treasurer on the 1st of January, 1762, including the monies repaid into the Treasury on account of the loans to the Provincial Treasurer and to the Commissary for Indian Affairs.
Ordered, that the agent for the settlement do forthwith prepare, in order to be laid before Parliament, an account of the monies paid and charges incurred for supporting and maintaining the settlement of Nova Scotia for the year 1760.

Nova Scotia.
Their lordships then took into consideration those parts of the letters and papers from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, which relate to the alterations and amendments directed to be made in the laws passed in the first session of General Assembly, by a letter from the late Commissioners of this Board, of the 12th of December, 1760; and, after some time spent therein, it was ordered, that the draught of a representation to his Majesty should be prepared, proposing the repeal of two of the said Acts passed in 1758, the one, for reviving and continuing two Acts or resolutions of the Governor and Council that foreign debts should not be pleadable in that province, the other, for establishing the rate of Spanish dollars.

fo. 91.
Ordered, that the Secretary do write to Governor Ellis to acquaint him that their lordships, having under their consideration several important matters relative to the present state of the Colony of Nova Scotia, desire his attendance as soon as conveniently may be.

Nova Scotia.
fo. 97.
The Secretary acquainted the Board that he had, pursuant to their lordships’ orders, communicated to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts those parts of the letters from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, which relate to the establishment of Mr. Vincent to be a minister at Lunenburg, and that the Society, concurring in opinion with their lordships, had agreed to establish Mr. Vincent as their missionary at Lunenburg, and to appoint Mr. Bennett, who had been before named for that mission, a missionary in the new settlements of Horton, Cornwallis and Falmouth; whereupon it was agreed that the seventy pounds, placed upon the estimate for the year 1762 for the support of a minister at Lunenburg, should be paid to Mr. Vincent, and that a like sum of seventy pounds should be allowed to Mr. Bennett, from the 1st of January, 1762, to the 1st of January, 1763, to be paid out of the money granted upon estimate for contingencies in the service of Nova Scotia for the year 1762.

Nova Scotia.
The Secretary laid before the Board a report of the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, made to the Treasury Board, upon a reference to the said Commissioners of his letter to Mr. West, relating to the importing salt directly from any foreign ports in Europe into Nova Scotia; and the said report having been read and considered, Mr. Eliot was desired to move the House of Commons for leave to bring in a Bill for importing salt from Europe into the Province of Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia.
Read a joint report of the agent and treasurer of Nova Scotia, of the state of the publick accounts of that province for the year 1760 and part of the year 1761, drawn up pursuant to their lordships’ orders of the 16th instant.
Ordered, that the said report do lye by for further consideration, when the remainder of the accounts of the year 1761 shall have been received.

fo. 106.
Their lordships took into consideration the letter from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia to the Secretary, dated the 9th of January last, relating to some money subscribed by the inhabitants of Halifax for purchasing an organ, which money was lodged in the hands of Mr. Davidson, late Secretary and Treasurer of that province.
Ordered, that the said letter be taken into consideration tomorrow morning, and that notice be given to Christopher Kilby, Esquire, late agent for the settlement of Nova Scotia, to attend.

fo. 107.
Their lordships then took into consideration that part of the letter from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia of the 3rd of November last, in which he desires their opinion whether Acts and proceedings had and done under laws repealed by his Majesty in Council, are to be considered as annulled before the publication of such repeal; and their lordships were of opinion, that such acts and proceedings were not to be considered as annulled before the publication of repeal, unless declared to be so by express words in the order of repeal.
The Secretary having acquainted the Board, that Governor Ellis was arrived in town from Bath to attend their lordships, pursuant to their order, the Secretary was directed to desire his attendance at the Board tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, March 31. Present:—Lord Sandys, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Rice.

fo. 108.
Their lordships took into further consideration the letter from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia to the Secretary, dated the 9th of January last, relating to some money subscribed by the inhabitants of Halifax for purchasing an organ, which money was lodged in the hands of Mr. Davidson, late Secretary and Treasurer of that province; and Mr. Kilby, the late agent, who attended pursuant to order, having acquainted their lordships that the money, mentioned to have been subscribed in Mr. Belcher’s letter by the inhabitants of Halifax for purchasing an organ, had been applied to the use of the publick; whereupon it was ordered, that it should be replaced in the hands of such agents, as the said inhabitants should appoint to receive the same.

fo. 110.
Their lordships being informed that Mr. Kilby was well acquainted with the state of the North American fisheries, they had some conversation with him upon that subject, and Mr. Kilby being particularly asked, whether any or what quantities of French salt were used by his Majesty’s subjects in the said fishery, and whether he judged that a supply of salt was necessary for carrying on that branch of commerce, he said, that he apprehended that the greatest quantity of salt used in the British American fisheries, was now imported from Portugal and Spain, but, that in times of peace, considerable quantities of French salt were brought from St. Martin’s and other French ports in the Bay of Biscay; that it was sold cheaper than other foreign salts, but that a greater quantity of it was required to cure the same number of fish than of other sorts; that it was esteemed better for the shoar fishery than the Portugal salt; that the fish cured with it was more acceptable and bore a much better price at Bilbao and other Spanish markets; and that, if we were deprived of the use of it, the French would have great advantage over us in those markets, where the Nova Scotia fish would otherwise have the preference, as the coasts of that province are particularly well situated for the winter fishery, which is the best season for that sort of fish most eligible in the Spanish markets; that the lands of Nova Scotia formerly belonging to the French and now settled by his Majesty’s subjects, have great advantages in the production of cattle, which might open a way for a beneficial trade in the exportation of provisions, but that such trade would labour under great disadvantage, if they were restrained from the importation of French salt, which is preferable to all others in the curing of beef and pork.

fo. 111.
Governor Ellis attending as desired, their lordships acquainted him, that they had had under their consideration several letters and papers lately received from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, relative to the present state of that province, and that it appeared to their lordships to be necessary for his Majesty’s service, that he should prepare, with all possible dispatch, to embark for Nova Scotia, to execute the command his Majesty has conferred upon him.

fo. 112.
The Secretary laid before the Board a memorial prepared by the agent for the settlement of Nova Scotia, to be presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, praying that the sum of four thousand, two hundred and thirty three pounds, nine shillings may be issued to him out of the monies granted by Parliament for the support of that settlement, to discharge bills of exchange drawn and other demands made upon him, for the service of that colony; and the said memorial having been approved, it was ordered, that the agent should present it to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury for their lordships’ directions upon it.

“Journal, March 1762: Volume 69.” Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 11, January 1759 – December 1763. Ed. K H Ledward. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1935. 255-268. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol11/pp255-268.

 

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