papers publish'd by the publick printer who is in the pay of this government, reflecting in such
a manner on your Excellency's administration, that strangers may be apt to imagine that the
course of the Law is at present shut up, and the Province is subject to military law and
340 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
execution ; than which nothing can be more false, and nothing more effectual to alienate the
minds of tlie people from their duty. I beleive it will be difficult to assign any reason for this
Printer depending on the government, thus daring to publish in open defiance of the
Administration, but the confidence he ha.s in the power of a faction. Please to see the New
York Weekly Post Boys, published since I left the Town, of tiie lo"" and 29"' of December, for
proof of what I now say.
Being informed that tlie last vesel which is to go in this season, for England, is ready to sail
about this time, 1 am oblig'd to luirry my self in making this answer tiiat if possible it may
reach your Excellency's hands before that vessel sails. And therefore I must beg of your
Excellency to excuse any inaccuracy, or other defect, which may appear in it, and which
perhaps I might have avoided had more time been allowed me. With confidence therefore in
your Excellency's candour and justice, this my defence is humbly submitted to your Excellency's
judgement by
Your Excellency's
Most obedient & most humble Servant
(Indorsed) "29 Jan'' 174y (signed) Cadwallader Colden.
" Doctor Coldens Answer to the
" Council's Representation ag" him."
Governor Clinton to the Diike of Newcastle.
[ New-York ( 8. P. O. ) X., 101. ]
New York 1 1'*- May 1747.
May it please Your Grace. (Duplicate )
I understood from your Grace's letter of the g"" April 1746. that I was to endeavour to levy
as great a number of forces within my government, as I could, for an expedition which His
Majesty intended against Canada, that the like orders were given to the Governours of the
neighbouring colonies, and that all the charges of levying those forces, arming cloathing &
paying them &'^ were to be defrayed by the respective Assemblys of the Governm" where they
were levied, or by General S' Clair who was to command in Chief on the said expedition, or
by some other person to be appointed by His Majesty for that purpose. And iho' the rendezvous
of that part of the forces w"^*" was to go by land was directed to be at Albany within my
government, yet I had no other nor more particular directions in this affair, then such as all
the neighbouring Governours had, the command of that part of the forces being given to M'
Gooch, Lieutenant Governour of Virginia ; but Brigadier Gooch having declined to take the
command & the other Governours having declared that they had nothing further to do with
them after they were in my government they having marched to the place of rendezvous, I was
under the necessity to take the Command of them by virtue of His Majesty's Commission to
me, appointing me Captain General of the Province of New York and the territories thereon
depending in America & of the Colony of Connecticut ; & from the necessity of affiiirs I
thought my self obliged in duty to His Majesty to take care of them & by some means or other
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVIII. 341
to defray all tlie necessary expences for tlieir support & good government, I applied to the
Assembly not only at first as the other Governours to their respective Assemblies, for the
charges attending the levying these forces, for provisions & other incidental charges that must
attend this service, & at two several times since they came more immediately under my care
& command, viz' last fall as soon as all hopes of General S' Clair's arrival were given over, &
again this Spring; but they absolutely refused to contribute towards any other expence besides
that of provisions & of transporting the provisions to Albany. I informed Your Grace by
several opportunilys last winter, what sums I had been obliged to advance for that service &
without which the intended expedition must necessarily have fail'd & by what means I had
procured the money.
As I have to this day received no orders or instructions other than those already mentioned,
& did expect that orders would be sent early this Spring in relation to these troops, I thought
it my duty to decline acting in every thing that could be delayed, till such time as such orders
or instructions should arrive, & as the troops at Albany were cloathed & had provisions I
thought the paying of them might be differed till His Majestys pleasure should be known
thereon & of which 1 have daily expectations. But about the 26"" of April last several
companies of the new levies refused to do duty, & afterwards many of them left the places where
they were posted for the security of the Frontiers, & marched in bodies to Albany, & the mutiny
became general throughout the New Levies of all the Colonies, that are now in this Province
on the Frontiers towards Canada. I immediately, by express, acquainted the Governours of
Massachuset's Bay, & Connecticut with what had happened & desired them to send detachments
of the forces in their respective governments to support the garrison at Saraghtoga, where a
train of artillery & warlike stores are lodged & which is most exposed to the enemy. At the
same time I desired them to march what force they could to their own Frontiers towards
Albany to support me on all events & to prevent the ill effects that may happen from any
intelligence the enemy may receive of these disorders among the forces on the frontiers, which
are at no great distance from the French garrison at Crown Point. At the same time I beg
leave to inform your Grace that I have good reason to believe that this mutinous disposition
among the forces was raised and afterwards fomented by falce reports & insinuations made
industriously among them by disaffected persons, particularly that while they received no pay
they were not properly soldiers nor subject to martial law, & that I had received no orders from
His Majesty to pay them. This spread the more because persons in authority here & of great
influence took no care to suppress or otherwise oppose the spreading of such reports, tho' from
the knowledge they had of your Graces letter & of the state of affairs they must be assured
that these reports of my having orders is absolutely false.
Having often consulted and advised with His Majesty's Council of this Province on this
emergency, they were of opinion & advised me to pay forty shillings current money of
this province to each private man of the New Levies including those of the other Colonies w"'''
now are in this Province as well as those levied in it & two montlis pay to the Olficers, & to
promise to pay to the private men twenty shillings a month till such time as I shall receive His
Majesty's orders with respect to the pay of these forces, they were of opinion that there is an
absolute necessity for this at present, & that there is no method for obtaining the money but
by my bills of Exchange on the pay master of the army. I have accordingly drawn Bills of
Exchange for five thousand five hundred pounds sterling, at Ninety days sight.
342 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
Since tlie Assembly had at several times formerly & in their session this Spring absolutely
refused to contribute towards any expence besides that of provision I was under a necessity of
complying with this advice of Council, for if the new levies should continue to mutiny this &
the other Colonies must be in danger not only from the enemy, but exposed to the ravages
& other disorders of mutinous soldiers. As I have now engaged my own fortune for the
payment of these bills entirely for His Majesties service without a possibility of private profit
thereby to my self, I must entreat Your Grace to lay the case in such manner before His Majesty,
that my family may not suffer, as consequently I must be at considerable charges for the
receiving & paying & carriage of this money to the far distant places at which the Companies
are or shall be posted, & other contingent charges — I must likewise beg of your Grace that
some method be taken for the paying of them. That the pay of the officers & men be bona
fide made, & all frauds as much as in my power prevented, 1 have appointed Cadwallader
Colden Jun'' Commissary of the Musters, in whose ability and integrity I have reason to
confide, & I shall order all the methods to be taken which the circumstances of affairs & of the
country will permit for providing proper vouchers according to the directions of the Act of
Parlement. I must therefore desire your Grace to procure his Majesty's orders for the paying
of this Oflicer, since I must advance for him as for the other Officers. The money is already
sent to Albany, but as I have no account of it's arrival, I know not what success may attend
my endeavours towards satisfying the soldiers & bringing them back to their duty.
I have sent such papers to M"' Guerin as I think may be of use for your Graces further
information, together with my speech at the opening of the last sessions of Assembly here & a
message I afterwards sent to them & their resolves thereon; by which Your Grace will be
better enabled to judge of the state of this Province, & I presume your Grace on perusal of
them will be more convinced of the necessity of recommending to His Majesty those alterations
in the Council and appointment of a Lieutenant Governour which I proposed in my letter last
winter, being in my opinion necessary for His Majesty's service & supporting me in my
administration of the government. On this occasion I must inform your Grace that M' Colden
(the elder) continues to assist me chearfully against a most unreasonable as well as ungreatfuU
opposition, notwithstanding that his assistance is with considerable prejudice to his private
afiiiirs, & therefore I must heartily recommend him to his Majesty's favour in some shape or
other, & I must beg your Grace's pardon in saying that if those who distinguish themselves in
support of His Majesty's authority be not likewise distinguished by His Majesty's favour, it
will perhaps become impracticable for those in the administration, to support it in any
of the colonies against the power of a faction that may be formed to the prejudice of the
Royal Prerogative.
I hope your Grace will excuse all faults on account of so much business & great hurry I am
in, there being three different opportunitys ofiers at this time for England & obliged to write
by all, to give notice of my drawing those bills, for fear of accidents.
I am, with the greatest regard
My Lord
Your Graces most obedient humble Servant
(signed) G. Clinton.
LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXVIII. 343
Governor Clinton to the Lords of Trade.
[New-Tork Papera. Bundle Gg., No. I6S ]
My Lords,
The General Meeting that has lately happened amongst the New Levies raised in this
Province, & of the Neighbouring provinces now about Albany, occasioned by the want of pay,
and the sudden departure of this Vessell, won't permit me to acquaint Your Lord^s of any
steps lately tai
is soon to sail from Boston, I am in hopes of being able to give a further account of my
proceeding, as also an answer to Your LordP''* quarryes, but at present am in the greatest
hurry imaginable. I am
My Lords,
Your LordP'" most obedient
humble servant.
New York, 12. May, 1747. . G Clinton.
Extract of a Letter from Colonel Johnson to Governor Clinton.
[ New-York Papeis. Bundle Gg., No. 170. ]
24"' April 1747.
" The Party of Indians I sent out under the command of Lieut' Walter Butler Jun'' against
the French are returned, and have met with success, the particulars of which are as follows:
They set out from the Mohawk Castle the third of this instant and went to Crown Point,
where they lay two days upon a hill, from whence they had a good view of the Fort; they
discovered nothing except two large Canoes full of Men, that they saw go from the Fort
towards Albany, and by the shouting the Men in the Canoes made as they left the Fort, it was
concluded that they were going to scalp, the third day the party came down from the Hill and
divided into two parties, one of which consisting of thirteen men came upon the tract of several
persons going towards the Garrison, they pursued them till they got within half a mile of the
Fort, when they discovered a party of the Garrison resting on a fallen Tree, and were
employed in beating and dressing some toutch wood which they had found in the woods where
they had been upon the patrole ; our thirteen Indians took the opportunity of approaching
under a Bank ; by the advantage of the Bank they got very near the French without being
discovered, and found that the Enemy consisted of twenty seven Soldiers and three Indians ;
our Indians fired upon them and killed three whereupon the Enemy flew to their arms and
returned the fire briskly but without any execution, our Indians having loaded again gave
them a second volley killed one more and wounded three, upon which tiie Enemy retreated,
but one of their Officers brought them back to their ground again, and then they fought
smartly and the Chief of our Indians was wounded through the breast and one arm and another
slightly on the knee, upon this it is said our Indians inraged fought more like Devils than Men,
one of our Indians run up (on observing one of the French Indians presenting his piece)
within ten yards of him and discharged his piece loaded with Swan shott into his breast, upon
which he fell down dead, the other two French Indians, on this, run for it ; this discouraged
344 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
the French so much that they all likewise fled towards the Fort, except two Officers and a
Serjeant who continued fighting bravely till they all three fell ; Part of our Indians in the mean
time pursued those that fled, till they came within Musket shot of the Fort and say they saw
nine wounded men carried into the Garrison by the others ; they then returned to the place of
Action, but observing a party from the Garrison coming after them, they had only time to take
six scalps, the Enemy pursued them closely two days, till they came to a lake from whence a
River issues that runs towards the Mohawk Castle. One of the French Officers, the Indians
say was a young Man dressed in blue, with a broad Gold lace who faught with undounted
courage till he was greviously wounded, and then he called out for quarters in the Indian
language ; but perceiving his wounds were mortal they dispatched him ; this is esteemed the
galantest Action performed by the Indians since the commencement of the present War. There
are several other parties of Indians going out against the French, who i'ts hoped will meet
with success."
There is other partyes gone to Canada which I expect in dayly, and I shall continue sending
them out the whole summer which will alarm them so in their different parts, that they won't
know what to do, & I assure your Lord^S the Indians all now begin to be in earnest & mean
well, which, their actions, I hope, will even convince the people of Albany.
G. Clinton.
Mr. Edmund Bainbridge to Mi'. Nathaniel Camp.
[ New-Tork Papers. Bundle Gg., No. n'2. ]
Sir.
Having waited till now to hear from you though I cant say with patience, tho' I hope you
have not forgot us. Sir, I should be glad to hear what progress was made at Court, and whether
or no M' John Kinsey undertook for you or not, and whether or no, you advised with him if
ours and yours could be joined together ; we also desire if you have drawn your congratulation,
together with your Petition, you will be so good as to favour us with a copy, it may be of
service to us allowing you to be the Elder Brethren, if you have not conipleated it desire it
may be done as soon as possible, you are sensible, one prevention is worth a good many
remedies, would if possible be in readiness, you are sensible our adversaries have little else to do
but to watch all opportunities to oppress us, whenever it lies in their power ettc (Uut abrotll'
as I came home, I called at Perth Amboy to speak with my old Friend as I observed to you,
and he told me a lamentable story, how the Authority chiefly pointed at me in particular, and
that it lay in the Chief Justices power, to issue out his precepts and send us all to New York
Fort and there to be continued till the King's pleasure was known, and then very like, our
lands would fall to the King and we transported ettc ; I answered it did not surprise me, I
chused the King should have it rather than the proprietors, and as toutching the transportation,
I chused it, for if I lost my Estate and could not live in fassion, should chuse an unknown land ;
however, we parted good friends, and he requested for the future, I would keep myself clear of
' ' Sic. Qu ? as Boon. — Ei>.
LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXVIII. 345
any thing of the like king, and he would do his utmost endeavours to clear me of what was
past ettc. However, iu a few days after we got home, there came two Gentl" from Bethieham(*)
to request us to come up to them, to consult with their Committee ; 1 was indisposed and could
not go, but Anderson went, and a vast number mett together who all appeared very hearty in
the affair; it would be to tedious to relate all passages; however on conclusion, the hats went
round to gather pence as its customary for the Irish Priest, satisfy our Committee for going up,
but was not accepted. Sir, humbly beg you will comply with this my request and you will
very much oblige him who is always ready to serve you when you please to command your
Friend and very humble servant.
Edm'' Bainb ridge
P S. Sir, please to give my humble service to all friends as if particularly mentioned and in
particular to M" Wheeler, shall never be able to make her satisfaction for all kindnesses
received ; so conclude yours as before. E. B.
Maidenhead. Apr: 7 1747
To \P Nathaniel Camp living in Newark
ReC* the inclosed iu a letter from W" Chetwood dated 7. May 1747. as p"' certificate thereon.
Rob' H. Morris
Ja: Alexander.
Mr. William Chetwood to Mr. Morris.
[ New- York Papers, Bundle Gg., No. 172. ]
D' Sir,
The inclosed letter I found open in the manner you receive it a few days ago on a table in
one of my Rooms ; in what manner and who left it, there, I cant find out, but as it was open,
I had the curiosity to look into the contents, and as I find it is intended and calculated to
inculcate and encourage the scheme of the rioters and as it comes from Bainbridge, who, I
believe is an Enemy to M'' Coxe and whose hand perhaps he knows, I thought it my duty (as
I found it in the manner I did) to send it to you rather then to the person to whom directed,
for I know him to be one of the Newark Committee and I believe a principal in these seditious
proceedings. I intended to have waited on you myself, but have for some time past and am
still so troubled with a swelled face, and cold I have got, that I cant possibly do it. I am with
all due regard
Dear Sir — Your most obed' serv'
Elizabeth Town, W" Chetwood.
7«' May 1747.
To the Honb'''^ Rob' H. Morris Esq" Chief Justice of the province of New Jersey. — Present. —
(*) Betleham is where the Moravians live.
Vol. VI. 44
346 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.
Received this letter and the inclosed marked with my name at length and the name of
James Alexander, on the S'" day of this instant May 1747. from Anthony White, who informed
me he had it from the above named Wâ„¢ Chetwood.
Robert H. Morris.
May IS'*" reed, this letter and the inclosed marked aa above.
Ja : Alexander.
Affidavit of Solomon Boyle of Morris County^ JV. J.
[ Ncw-Tork Papers, Bundle Gg , No. 178. ]
The Information of Solomon Boyle of Morris County sworn before Robert
Hunter Morris Esq" Chief Justice of the Province of New Jersey. —
This Informant saith, he is settled on a Tract of land upon Pisaick River being part of a
Tract of 2000 acres formerly patented to Robert Barclay about one mile from the house of
Justice Daniel Cooper who is also settled on part of the said 2000 acres ; that about the end
of October last being at the house of Samuel Woodruff Alderman in Elizabeth Town, he was
there desired by several persons, particularly one they called Lawyer Daniel Clarke and one
John Osborn both of Elizabeth Town, to acquaint Daniel Cooper that in a fortnights time the
Mob intended to pay him a visit, and that he heard said Clark say that he would accompany
that Mob, which with the frequent threatnings of the Mob since to turn said Cooper out of
Possesion, has occasioned this Informant as he was settled on the same right with Cooper
to be almost in continual fear ever since. This Inform' saith, that he lived about three miles to
the westward of the house in which Joseph Dalrymple lately lived, the said Deponent having
executed a Bond wherein he stood Bound for James Barclay a person settled on the said place
whereon Dalrymple lately lived, and which Barclay so being in possesion and threatned to
be used by the Elizabeth Town people received a protection from the Council of Proprietors
to defend him at their charge against all such suits ; that the said Barclay should deliver up
posession of the said place to the heirs of William Dochwra to whom the said tract of land
belonged, which M' James Barclay afterwards sold the improvements of the said place to this
informant who settled the said Dalrymple upon it, in order to fulfill the agreement entered
into by the said Barclay with the proprietors; this Informant also says, that he came to said
Dalrymple's place, just after the house was broke open and the said Dalrymple with his wife
and children turned out of doors on the 8"" of April last by a number of persons with Clubs,
that he saw several of the persons concerned in thai Riot, carrying the Man's goods out of the
House, some in particular he remembers to have been present and active therein to witt :
Nath" Davis (who was called their Capl") Abraham Hendricks, Daniel Little of Turkey,
Nath" Rogers, W"" Johnston, W" Breasted, and James Hampton of Morris Town, which late
two was put in posession of said place in Room of Dalrymple ; the said James Hampton at
the time of being put in posession being by them called M" Cross ; that upon this Informant
hearin"- the said Nath" Davies called their Capt" by the said Rioters, it put him in mind of his
having heard on the last training day being the sixth day of April ou Monday, the day appoin"*
LONDON DOCUMENTS: XXVIII. 347
by Act of Assembly, the company at Turkey gave out, that tbey had liberty to chuse new
officers, and that they either chose or were about to chose the said Natii" Davis for their Capt"
and one Badgely Lieutenant, which information this Informant heard delivered to Caleb
Southward Lieut' of the Comp'' of which this informant is Clerk and Jacob Carle is Capt" by
a Constable of Turkey whose name this Informant doth not at present remember, but will
take care to find out. That when the said Dalrymple and his wife and Child and the Cat
were turned and taken out of the house, the said Davis proposed that they might be put in
posession of the place again if he would agree to take it under Cross and Breasted and be
ready to go out upon their summons ; to which this Informant answered that Dalrymple could
not take it on them terms, because, besides the loss he was already like to sustain he was
bound to him and the proprietors to keep the possesion for the heirs of Dochwra to whom that
land has been laid out near sixty years ago; and this Informant also told them that he was
bound to the same purpose; that then they desired to know where his Bonds was, saying that
if he desired it, they would get it if they knew who had it in keeping, to which this Informant
answered, he did not know who had it but if he did he should not apply to them to get it, and
this Inform' further saith that he with the said Joseph Dalrymple on the second day of this
instant, had occasion to go to Turkey, where they saw at Abraham Hendricks house the said
Abr: Hendricks Daniel Little and he thinks Isaac Hendricks and some more that were present
a turning Dalrymple out of possession and as this Informant has been told by Daniel Cooper
and Moses Ayres, that since their turning Dalrymple out of possesion, they said they were
misled and were sorry for it ; he then asked if it was so, and if Dalrymple should again Lawfully
be restored to his possession of the place whether they would disturb him any more, some said