Class . l!o»k._JKl43 I'KKSKNTKI) l(Y 6-7 ito NOTES ON THE MASSACHUSETTS ROYAL COMMISSIONS 1681-1775 BY ALBERT MATTHEWS NOTES ON THE MASSACHUSETTS ROYAL COMMISSIONS 1681-1775 JJS^ BY ALBERT MATTHEWS REPRINTED FROM THE PUBLICATIONS OF €l)e Colonial «f>octetp of £r^a0sacbu0ett0 Vol. XVII CAMBRIDGE JOHN WILSON AND SON 23lnibcrsttg '^xzz% 1913 Gift Author OCT :^3 1913 CONTENTS PAGE Prefatory 2 Council for New England, 1685-1686: President 5 Deputy-Presideut 6 Territory and Dominion of New England, 1686-1689: Governor 7 Lieutenant-Governor 9 Secretary 10 Period from April 18, 1689, to May 16, 1692 14 Members of the Council, 1685-1691: Dudley's Council, 1685-1686 29 Andros's Council, 1686-1688 32 Andros's Council, 1688-1689 34 First Council under the Province Charter, 1691 ... . 35 Province of the Massachusetts Bay, 1691-1775: Governors 44 Lieutenant-Governors 88 Secretaries 97 Lists : Chronological List of Commissions, 1681-1774 .... 106 Alphabetical List of Commissions, 1681-1774 107 List of Officials, 1685-1775 109 Sovereigns of England, 1603-1776 110 Index 113 2 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS []March, Mr. Albert Matthews made the following communi- cation: NOTES ON THE MASSACHUSETTS ROYAL COMMISSIONS 1681-1775 1 Volume II of the Society's Publications, soon to be issued, contains, besides the Province Charter (1691) and the Explanatory Charter (1725), the extant Commissions of the President of the Council for New England (1685); of the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and Secretary of the Territory and Dominion of New England (1686- 1688); of the Governors, Lieutenant-Governors, and Secretaries of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay (1691-1774); and of the Col- lector, Surveyor, and Searcher of Customs in the Colonies of New England (1681). It also contains three Commissions not alluded to in these Notes — namely, Lord Willoughby's Commission (1667) as Vice-Admiral of Barbados, etc., and two Commissions (1727-1728) issued to Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London. The following six Commissions, mentioned in these Notes, are not printed in Volume II because no copies are known to be in existence: 1678 July ^ Edward Randolph Collector, etc. 1691 Dec.^ William Stoughton Lieutenant-Governor 1691 Dec* Isaac Addington Secretary 1711 ^ William Tailer Lieutenant-Governor 1715 April 28 ^ William Tailer Lieutenant-Governor 1716 ^ William Dummer Lieutenant-Governor In preparing Volume II for the press, it seemed desirable, indeed necessary, to compile a List of Officials, 1685-1775, giving the date of each Commission, the date of taking office, and the date of leaving * All dates in these Notes, except in some of the quoted passages, are New Style. 2 This date is approximate: see p. 10 note 6, below. 3 This date is approximate: see p. 88, below. ^ This date is approximate: see p. 97, below. ^ This Commission of Tailer was presumably issued in the sunmierof 1711, as he was sworn on October 4: see p. 90, below. ^ The exact date of this Commission has been recovered: see p. 91, below. ^ Dimmier's Commission was presumably issued in the surmner of 1716, as he was sworn on October 5: see pp. 65, 92, below. 1913] MASSACHUSETTS COLONY CIL^RTER VACATED, 1684 3 office. In the course of compiling the List/ a mass of data was col- lected that seemed of sufficient value — since it was largely obtained from manuscript sources, or from printed sources not easily acces- sible — to be put into convenient shape for consultation and reference. Hence these Notes. They are divided into the following six sections: I Council for New England, 1685-1686 II Territory and Dominion of New England, 1686-1689 III Period from April 18, 1689, to May 16, 1692 rV Members of the Council, 1685-1691 V Province of the Massachusetts Bay, 1691-1775 VI Lists It T^-ill be remembered that on June 27, 1683, a quo warranto ^ was issued against the JNIassachusetts Colony Charter which had been granted by Charles I on March 4, 1629. Edward Randolph reached Boston on October 26, 1683,^ and on November 7 — AT the opening of this Court the Governo' ^ acquainted the Court, that since the last sitting of this Court Edward Randolph Esq, arrived, & had presented him w*'^ his maj*jes councils act, & his maj'jes declaration & proclamation, w*'^ the quo warranto issued out ag* the Gouno"^ & CompaAy, &c ^ The Colony Charter was vacated by a decree in the Court of Chancery and judgment entered against it in October, 1G84.® At a General Court held on January 28, 1G85, — ^ The reason for undertaking these Notes was the fact that previous lists (such as those in Palfrey's History of New England, in \Miitmore's Massachusetts Civil List, and in the Massachusetts Court Manual) were found to be both incomplete and inacciu-ate. Innumerable discrepancies occur between these Notes and pre- vious lists, but, except occasionally, it has not been thought worth while to point out the differences. 2 It is printed in Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 421-422. ' On February 14, 1684, Randolph wrote to Sir Lionel Jenkins: "I arriued in Boston vpon y® 26 of Oct'^er late at night and found their Gen" Court that after- noon broake vp" (Toppan's Randolph, iii. 272). For the .sake of convenience, the seven volumes of "Ekiward Randolph" publi.shed by the Prince Society are re- ferred to in these Notes as "Toppan's Randolph," though the last two volumes were edited by the Rev. A. T. S. Goodrick. * Simon Bradstreet. ' Ma.ssachusetta Colony Records, v. 421. • See Toppan's Randolph, i. 242 note 425, iv. 189. 4 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [MARCH, AT the opening of this Court the Gouerno'' ^ declard it, y* on the certeine or general! rumor's in M"" Jenner, lately arrived, y* o'' charter was condemned, & judgment entred vp, &c, they lookt at it as an incumbent duty to acquaint the Court w**^ it, & leaue the considera- tion of what was or might be necessary to them, &c.2 On May 12, 1686, "At a Generall Court for Elections," — O YMON BRADSTREET, Esq, was chosen Gouno' for y« yeare en- '^ suing, & tooke his oath y® same day. Thomas Danforth, Esq, was also chosen Dep* Goii, & tooke his oath at y® Goxino'' house y^ same day. . . . Edward Rawson was chosen Secret, & tooke his oath 13 May.^ On INIay 14 Randolph reached Boston,* bringing with him an Exemplification of the Judgment against the Charter ^ and Dudley's Commission (dated October 8, 1685) ^ as President of the Council for New England. On May 17 Dudley made a speech '' to the Court ^ Simon Bradstreet. James II was proclaimed in Boston on April 20, 1685 (Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 473-474), and in Plymouth on April 24 (Plym- outh Colony Records, vi. 160). 2 Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 465. A copy of the judgment reached Boston July 1, 1685 (Sewall's Diary, i. 85), and was placed in Secretary Rawson's hands on July 2 (Toppan's Randolph, i. 243 note 428, 256; 4 Massachusetts His- torical Collections, v. 142). 3 Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 513. ^ See p. 11 note 3, below. 5 This Exemphfication is printed in 4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, ii. 246-278. ^ A copy of Dudley's Commission had reached Boston more than two months before Randolph's arrival. On March 3, 1686, Sewall wrote: "Mr. Stoughton calls at night and shews me the Names of the Persons in the Commission, telling me that a Copy of the Commission is come to Town. Comes by Eldridge, who bore away to Montserrat" (Diary, i. 123-124). On March 8 Wait Winthrop wrote to Fitz John Winthrop: "Here is little new since my last to you, only Jo. Eldrige, who came out in company with GeSer from England and was blowne off to the Leward Islands, is arived. By Viim came a coppye of the coiiiissio for the Government of this Collony, the Prouince of Maine, New Hampsheir, and lungs Prouince or Nar- rogansett country, which was taken out of the Chancery and sent to M'' Dudley by a freind. The originall was on bord the Rose frigatt with M'' Randolph, and not yet ariued, but expected every day. The comission is to M"" Dudley, as President till the cheife Govern"" come over, and to the rest named as of Coimsell, whereof you are one" (5 IMassachusetts Historical Collections, vih. 459-460). ^ Dudley also made a speech when the Council met on May 25. His two speeches were printed in a broadside and were reprinted in 1 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, vii. 4S7-4S9, 489-490. The speech of May 25 is in the Council Records (ii. 2-4) and is printed in the Dudley Records, pp. 226-227. 1913] JOSEPH DUDLEY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT, 1686 5 and left with it "a true coppy of his maj*^®^ commission," ^ and on May 20 the Court sent its reply to " Joseph Dudley, EscJ, & the rest of the gent"* named in his maj'^''^ comission." ^ On May 21 the Court met for the last time, the final entry in the record being, "This day the whole Court mctt at the Conor's house, & there the Court was adjourned to the seccond Wednesday in October next, at eight of the clocke in y^ morning." ^ COUNCIL FOR NEW ENGLAND, 1685-1686 President Joseph Dudley was commissioned President by James II on October 8, 1685. The government created by this Commission in- cluded the Massachusetts Bay, ISIaine, New Hampshire, and the Narragansett Country or King's Province. On May 25, 1G86: The President and Councill being assembled, the Exemplification of the Judgment against the Charter of the late Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England publickly (in open Court where were present divers of the eminent Ministers, Gentlemen, and Inhabitants of the Town and Country) was Read, with an audible voice. Then His ^Majesties Commission of Government directed to the Presi- dent and Councill was likewise read in open Coiu-t. The President then proceeded and took the Oath of Allegiance and also the Oath conteined in that Commission, which were administered to all the Members of the Councill then present.^ ^ Massachusetts Colony Records, v. 515. 2 V. 516. ' V. 517. The date there given for the final meeting is May 20, but our late associate Mr. Toppan pointed out that the true date was May 21 (Pubhcations of this Society, vi. 81-82). , * Council Records, ii. 1. (In these Notes the marginal entries found in the Coun- cil Records, Court Records, House Journals, etc., are sometimes omitted.) Cf. Dudley Records, p. 226. The records here cited as "Dudley Records" are those printed in November, 1899, by Robert N. Toppan in 2 Proceetlings Massachusetts Historical Society, xiii. 22G-286. They were copied by Mr. Toppan from the Coun- cil Records and from the Massachusetts Archives at the State House, Boston. The following notice appeared in the London Gazette of July 29, 1686: Whitehall, July 25. The Letters from New-England give an Account, That on the 14th of the last Month [an error for May] arriA'cd at Boston Mr. Randolph, Secretary of that Colony, in His Majesties Frigat The Rose, with an Exemplifi- cation of the Judgment given upon a Scire Facias in the High Court of Chancery 6 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, On June 11: Then the President took the following Oath in Councill to observe the Acts of Trade & Navigation: You shall swear that you will to the best of your skill and power so long as you shall continue in the Government or Command of this ter- ritory & Plantation well and truly execute and perform, and cause to be executed and performed all matters and things which by the Statute made in the twelvth year of his late Maj*^'' Reigne intituled an Act for the incourageing and increasing of shipping and Navigation, & by the other Statute made in the fifteenth year of liis s*^ Ma*^^ reigne, Intituled: an Act for the encouragem* of Trade; you are required as President or Commander of this Territory and Dominion to be sworn to the perform- ance of. So help you God.^ Dudley was President from May 25 to December 20, 1686. Deputy-President WiLLL\M Stoughton was appointed Deputy-President by Presi- dent Dudley on May 26, 1686: The President in full Councill declared William Stoughton Esq"" to be Deputy President, which he accordingly accepted, to the great satis- faction of the whole Councill.^ here against their Charter, and with His Majesties Commission to Joseph Dudley Esq; as President, and divers other Gentlemen of those Parts to be of His Majesties Council for the Government of that Territory, until the Arrival of Sir Edmund Andross Governor in chief of New-England. Whereupon His Majesties Commission had been pubUshed by Proclamation with great Solemnity and Demonstrations of Joy, and the President and Coimcil had akeady appointed Justices of the Peace and other Officers throughout the Government, and setled the Militia in His Ma- jesties Name, all things being performed according to His Majesties Directions. There has also been presented to His Majesty by the hands of Robert Mason Esq; One of His Majesties Council there, a very Loyal Address from New-England, expressing their due Sense and Acloiowledgments of His Majesties Grace and Favour in receiving them under His immediate Protection and Government (p. 2/2). 1 CouncU Records, ii. 36. Cf. Dudley Records, pp. 247-248. 2 CoimcU Records, ii. 9. Cf. Dudley Records, p. 231. Writing in 1765 Hutchin- son said: Mr. Dudley's commission made him president of the council for Massachusetts Bay, New-Hampshire and Main, and the Naraganset country, or King's province, Stoughton was named deputy president, Simon Bradstreet, . . . and Edward Tyng were named of the council, not by separate warrants, or by mandamus, but all in one commission (History of Massachusetts, London, 1765, i. 351 note). And Palfrey, writing in 1864, said that "Dudley was appointed President, and Stoughton Deputy-President;" though he added in a footnote, "I have not been 1913] SIR EDMUND ANDROS INAUGURATED GOVERNOR, 16S6 7 Stoiighton was Deputy-President from May 26 to December 20, 1G8G. II TERRITORY AND DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND, 1686-1689 Governor Sir Edmund Andros was commissioned Governor by James II on June 3, 1G86. The government created by this Commission in- ckided tlie ^Massachusetts Bay, INIaine, New PljTnouth, New Hamp- shire, and the Narragansett Country or King's Province. Reaching Nantasket December 19, 1686,^ Andros came to Boston December 20 and was sworn that day: His Ex''® ^ S' Edmond Andros Kn* Governour being landed, repaired forthwith to the Towne house attended hither by a great number of Merchants and others with all the Militia and Foot. able to find the commission," except in part (History of New England, iii. 485 and note.). As a matter of fact, however, no Deputy-President was named in Dudley's Commission, wliich provided "that the said Joseph Dudley and every succee pan from the Massachusetts Archives (Ixi. 2-19), the date clearly reads "the 15^^ day of October in ye 33 yeare of his Raigne," though " lo " might easily be mistaken for "14." * This Commission (which is printed in Publications of this Society, ii. 311-312) might have been considered in section I, but that Commission did not, as did Dud- ley's, terminate with the arri/al of Andros on December 20, 1686; and it seemed best to bring together in section II all the data relating to Randolph. * On May 14 Sewall wrote: "The Rose-Frigot arrives at Nantasket, Mr. Ran- dolph up at Town about 8 mane" (Diarj-, i. 137). * Council Records, ii. 45. Cf . Dudley Records, pp. 252-253. 12 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Maech, The Secry p''seiited a bill to be passed for a Gen Registry as in Ja- maica and read his Maj*'''^ Commission appointeing him Secry and Sole Reg"" of this his Maj*'''^ Territory and Dom. etc. It was p^'posed that the Clerks of the Severall County Courts should Register all Deeds Mortgages etc. and be accountable to the Secry but his Ex'=^ say'd that was makeing the Secry and Reg'' an inferior officer to y^ Clerks of a County Courts and was besides the end of his Maj*'®^ Grant to the Secry. It was Ordered and Assented to That the Secry is the Register of the Government, and do appoint his Depu*^^^ and to have fees according to his Commission.^ On May 3, 1687, Randolph leased his office to John West.^ On May 4 — M"^ Randolph Seer: acquainted the Councill, that hee had deputed John West in his Offices of Secretary & Register, which was approved & allowed of; and the oath of allegiance and that for the faithful Discharge of said offices was administred, to the said John West accordingly.^ On August 9, 1687, Randolph petitioned James II "to Grant him a Commission to bee Secretary and Sole Register of y'' Ma*'®^ Ter- ritory & Dominion of New England as now vnited and Setled." * The desired Commission was granted April 25, 1688.^ It has just been shown that Randolph made John West Deputy-Secretary on May 3 and that West took his oath on May 4, 1687. At Randolph's request. West was again sworn on July 20, 1688: Whereas yo" are by an Indenture made by Edward Randolph Esqr^ his Ma*'''^ Secry & Sole Register of his territory & Dominion of New Eng- land beareing date y^ 3^** day of May 1687 Authorized & Appointed to 1 Andres Records, p. 260. There is no record of this meeting in the Council Records. 2 The lease is printed in Toppan's Randolph, iv. 155-158. 3 Council Records, ii. 117. * Toppan's Randolph, iv. 165-167. s The Commission is printed in Publications of this Society, ii. 313-314. On April 25, 1688, John Povey ■RTote to Randolph: This accompanies Yo"" Patent for y^ Sec''® office of of New England which bearing date after the annexing New York & the Jerseys with the other Colonies of New England Makes You Sec''^ of the whole Govemm* of New England in its p''sent Extent But M"" Spragg will have an Order for You to make him a Deputation of so much as he held before (Massachusetts Archives, cxxviii. 186; printed in Top- pan's Randolph, iv. 221, where "Spragg" and "Deputation" are wrongly printed "Spraug" and "dignitatem." Cf. Toppan's Randolph, iv. 217, vi. 269, 270.). 1913] JOHN WEST SWORN DEPUTY-SECRETARY, 1CS8 13 be Deputy Secry & Register Yo" doe Sweare that yo" ^^^ll faithfully & Carefully manage & p''forme y^ s^ oflfice as Deputy Secrv' & Register Keepeing the Records of all things proper to y^ s"^ office & fairly fileing & Coppving all such Records and papers as are Committed to yo" & in all things to demeane yo' selfe according to y* Charge & Duty of yo' place after yo' best skill & Knowledge & pursuant to y^ s'^ Indenture & deputacon giuen yo". John West tooke y^ aboue Oath in Counclll y"' 20**" July 1688 upon ye Desire of y^ sd Ed. Randolph. ^^ Randolph Secry.^ Randolph was Secretary from Julyl, IGSG, to the overthrow of Andros's government on April 18, 1G89.^ ^ Massachusetts Archives, cxxix. 90; printed in Toppan's Randolph, iv. 231. 2 Randolph had great difficulty in obtaining possession of the records pertain- ing to his office. In a letter to the Committee dated August 23, 1686, he said: His Ma*'^ hailing been Graciously pleased to grant me the Office of Secretary & Register of this Gom* I demanded the Records of the Generall Court & other Bookes of publick Concern, which ought to be lodged in my Office; and had an Order to that purpose; but some of y*' Council' & others looking vpon me as y'^ Onely enemy of their Country- haue encouraged the former Secry to keepe them in his Custody (Toppan's Randolph, iv. 116). In a letter to the Lord Treasurerr (the Earl of Rochester) of the same date (August 23, 1686), Randolph said: His Majestie hath been graciously pleased to make me Secretary of his Councill here, but y'' accounts of y*^ Late Treasurers & w*ever else relates to y^ discovery of his j\Iaj*'^^ Revennue is kept from my knovdedge: The publick Records & all y® Grants & Settlement of Lands in this Country ought to be lodged in my office are otherwise disposed of, not being willing to entrust them with me, who have been, & (as they say) am still y® Grand enemy of their Countrey (Massachusetts Archives, cxxvi. 66^7. Cf. Toppan's Randolph, iv. 121, 123-124). The order referred to in the first of these letters was given June 13, 1686. The record of the Council meeting held that day states that Joseph Dudley, WilHam Stoughton, Edward Randolph, and John Lusher were the only members present; and then continues (Council Records, ii. 39-40; cf. Dudley Records, p. 250): WTio not makeing a full Councill (no business was done that day) only a letter writt by the Presid* to Edward Rawson Esq'"'^ late Seer: of the Massachusetts Colony and accordingly sent (a Copie whereof follows) WTiereas it hath pleased his Maj*^ in the settlem* of the Government of this His Maj*^* Territory & Dominion to appoint and CommLssionate Edward Randolph Esq"^ to be the Secretary and Register of this his Maj*^^ said Govemm* and Dominion. These are therefore in his Maj*^ ^ name to order & require you to deliver into the said M"" Randolphs hands, the Books, Records, Files and other utensells be- longing to the said Office of Secretary late exercised by yourselfe, that they may be 14 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Maiich, III PERIOD FROM APRIL 18, 1689, TO IMAY 16, 1692 Andros's government was overthrown April 18, 1689, on which day the following "Letter to Gov'' Andros requesting his surrendering the government and Fortifications" was sent : safely disposed and managed for his Maj*^ ^ service according to the directions that are or may be given unto the said Edw: Randolph, and hereof you may fail not. J. Dudley P. On September 24 it was "Ordered. That M^ Rawson deUver up the Keys of the Records to M"" Addington and M'' Benj° Bullivant" (Council Records, ii. 77; cf. Dudley Records, p. 271). On October 21 it was "Ordered: That M'' Addington & M'' Bulhvant attended JVP Rawson on Saturday next, to assort, take an account and receive the Records of the late Govemm* and deliver them to the Secretary" (Council Records, ii. 80; cf. Dudley Records, p. 273). On December 8 it was — Ordered: That Wait Winthrope Esq''*' Symon Lynd Esq""** Benjamin Bullivant, M'' Isaac Addington & M'' Daniell Allen, be a Committee with the Secretary, to receive and sort and form the Records of the Country, (now in the hands of M"" Edward Rawson late Secretary) that so they may be apt and ready for service, and that the persons above named be all sworn to the faithfuil discharge of their trust in this matter, and to the end it may be forthwith proceded in, M'' Lynd and M'' Bullivant are empowred and hereby ordered to take the same from M"" Rawson to morrow and to remove them in the posture they are now in, into the Library Chamber, and that there go forth a strict Warrant to M"" Rawson to deUver them accordingly; and it is further Ordered; that two locks be put upon the Office where such papers shall be lodged, and that i\P Bullivant, or such other person as M"^ Randolph shall depute to that service, shall keep the key of one of the Locks, and Cap"^ Winthrop M"" LjTid or M"" Addington the other (Council Records, ii. 94-95; cf. Dudley Records, p. 281). On February 4, 1687, — His Ex'''' Seeing the great necessities of haveing the Records of the Country re- moved from the dwelling house of M'' Rawson late Seciy It was Ordered that the persons Impowered by an order of the late President and CounciU of the 8*^ of December last doe effectually persue the same and that the Office in the Court House in Boston be forthwith enlarged and prepared to receive them accordingly (Andros Records, pp. 249-250. Cf.Toppan'sRandolph.vi. 181,210). In a draft in the Massachusetts Archives this reads: Whereas by an Order of the late President & CounciU dated the 8*'^ day of De- cember last It was ordered That Wait Winthrop, Simon Lynds Esq''^ Benjamin Bulliuent, m'' Isaac Addington, & m"" Daniel Allua be a Com*''" with the Secretary to receiue sort and form the Records of the Country (now in the hands of m'' Raw- son late Secretary,) that they may be ready for Seruice, Enjojoiing the s^ Com*"^ to be Sworn for the faithfuil discharge of their trust impowering, & ordering, m'' Lynd & m' Bulhuent to take the same from m'' Rawson the next day following, & 1913] ANDROS'S GOVERNMENT OVERTHROWN, APRIL, 1689 15 gB At the Town House Boston IS*'' April 16S9 Our Selves as well as many others the Inhabitants of this Town and Places adjacent being Surprised with the Peoples Sudden taking to to remove the same, (in the posture they find them) into the Liberary Chamber. In pursuance whereof it is hereby Ordered That the s'^ Com*^® do forthwith enter upon the effectual execusion thereof, bringing them to ye Office provided for them & j\F Rawson late Secry to be assisting in sorting & disposing them accordingly (cxxvi. 225). A year went by when, on February 3, 16S8, another order was issued (Massa- chusetts Archives, cxxviii. 36) : Att a Councill held at the Councill Chamber in Boston y^ 3*^ day of february 1687. Present His Excye S' Edmund Andros Kn* &c: Joseph Dudley W" Stoughton Rob' Mason Tho: Hinckley John Usher Barth: Gidney Esqrs John Hincks Nath: Clarke Edw'* Randolph ffranc: Nicholson Sam Shrtmpton W" Browne Esqrs Forasmuch as the severall Orders formerly made for taking an account of the pubUcg Records of the late Massachusetts Collony have not been attended that the same might be putt into the Secies Custody and all persons have recourse to them as Occasion Ordered that M'' Isaac Addington and AF Jolm Herbert Coward be and are hereby desired and authorized in the presence of M^ Edward Randolph Seciy and INF Edward Rawson the late Secry or some one on [altered from "in," or "in" altered from "on"] his behaKe to take an account in writeing of all the said Records and that they beginn the same on Tuesday next and continue day by day about the same till compleated and that then the said Records be delivered into the hands of the said Secry and the account thereof by them taken forthwith returned to this board under their hands g^ q^^^^ ^ ^.^^^^j ^^ John West D Secry What is perhaps the final allusion to this matter occurs in the following document (Massachusetts Archives, cxxvi. 238) under date of March 6, 1688: Att a Councill held att y® Councill Chamber in Boston on Tuesday ye 6**^ day of March 1687 p'"sent His Excetty S' Edm'^ Andros Ivn* &c Joseph Dudley ] Jn° Lathrop W"' Stoughton Nath" Clarke Jn° Winthrop ■ Esq" Rich'* Arnold \ Esq"" Waite Winthrop Edw"* Randolph Jn° Usher J ffranc Nicholson Upon Reading this day in Councill ye Report made by Edw** Randolph Secry Edw** Rawson Isaack Addington & Jn° Herbert Coward togather with ye account 16 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Arms; In the first motion whereof we were wholly Ignorant; are driven by the present Exigence and necessity to Acquaint your Excellency, That for the quieting, and Security of the People inhabiting this Coun- trey from the imminent dangers they many ways lye open and exposed unto; And for your own Safety, We judge it necessary, That you forth- with Surrender, and deliver up the Government, and Fortifications to be preserved to be disposed according to Order and direction from the Crown of England; which is Suddenly expected may arrive; promising all Security from Violence to your self; Or any other of your Gentlemen and Souldiers in person or Estate. Or else we are assured they will endeavour the taking of the Fortifications by Storm, if any Opposition be made To S"" Edmund Andros Kn*: William Stoughton Tho^ Danforth Wait Winthrop Sam^ Shrimpton W Browne Barth'^ Gednet S: Bradstreet John Richards Elisha Cook • Is'^ Addington John Foster Peter Sergent David Waterhouse Adam Winthrop Jn° Nelson Thursday April 18*'^ 1689 Sent by M^ Nath' Oliver and M'^ John Eyre i On April 19 a "Letter to Ensign John Pipon to give up the Castle, now under his command," was sent.^ On April 20 a "Council for by them taken of ye publique Records of ye late Massachusetts Collony — pur- suant to an Ord'" of this Board beareing Date ye 3*^ of ffebruary past Ordered that ye s*^ Records be forthwith taken into ye Custody & Charge of ye Secry & Kept ■nath ye other Records of this Dominion in the Secrys office where all psons may haue recourse to them as occasion & that ye Key heitherto Kept by m'' Rawson of ye place where ye s*^ Records are be forthwith dehvered to ye s'^ Secry By Ord'' in Council! ^ Court Records, ^'i. 1. 2 vi. 1-2. By error this letter is dated " 19*^ April 1690." The letter to Andros of April 18 was signed by fifteen persons, of whom three — Wilham Browne, Bar- tholomew Gedney, and John Nelson — did not sign the letter of April 19 to Pipon. The letter to Pipon of April 19 was signed by fourteen persons, of whom two — William Johnson and James RusseU — did not sign the letter to Andros of April 18. 1913] COUN'CIL FOR SAFETY OF PEOPLE APPOINTED, APRIL 20, 1689 17 Council of Safety appointed Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace" was appointed, as follows: April 20*^^ 16S9 A Council for Safety of the People and Conservation of Peace Pursuant to the Advice given unto S"" Edmund Andros Whereupon the Fortifications and Government were Surrendred, And also being constreined by the Mili- tary Forces now in Arms It is Agreed that the Gentlenjen that are present and Subscribed that Advice together with such other of the old Magistrates Or such other Gentlemen as they shall Judge meet to Associate to them, are en- trusted with the Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace untill there be a farther and more Orderly Settlement. to Preside Simon Bradstreet William Stougiiton John Ricil^rds John Foster Peter Sergeant David Waterhouse Isa: Addington Adam Winthrop J Nelson ^ And Simon Bradstreet Esq3 is Chosen Tho° Danforth Elisilv Cooke as declared Wait Winthrop Sa^i Shrimpton W"" Browne Barth° Gedney On the same day (April 20) "IM"" Isaac Addington is nomi- nated and appointed Clerk of the Council, and to officiate as such." 2 On 'Slay 1 the doings of the Council for Safety on April 20 were approved: appro^n^ the °do- We whosc Names are underwritten being in\'ited by o°^Safety ° °'^*' the Gentlemen above named to be added unto them of the Council Do consent to and approve of, what was done by the Said Gentlemen in their Ad\'ice given ^ Court Records, vi. 2. 2 vi. 3. 18 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, unto S'' Edmund Andros, And do Accept of the Said Invitation and will give our Assistance therein John Joyliffe Rich" Sprague Ed** Hutchinson Nath Oliver John Eyre Dudley Bradstreet Jer Dummer W*" Johnson John Hathorne Andrew Belcher John Smith Edmund Quincey Will"* Bond i Ja Russell John Phillips Penn Townsend Joseph Lynde James Parker Sen' Nath Saltonstall Rich" Dummer RoB^ Pike Daniel Peirce May 1^* On the same day (May 1) — There being some agitation in Council of the Necessity of Settling some forms of Government, and Several Gentlemen appearing, out of the Countrey moveing the Same thing, the farther debate there abouts is deferred until the Morrow; and Signification was dispatched to some other Gentlemen of the Council at Salem &c: to desire their Company ^ On May 2, "At the Council for Safety of the People and Conser- vation of the Peace:" Council invited to attend on public business Inhabitants of the several towns di- rected to send Deputies to advise on the present occa- sion. Agreed unto a paper representing the necessity of a farther consultation and Advice of the People for the directing to the exercise of that Power and Authority which is necessary in the present exigence. Signifying the expedience of the Several Towns of this Colony respec- tively to meet, and Choose one or more able, discreet persons (not exceeding two for one town) to convene at Boston upon Thursday the Ninth instant at two a Clock afternoon, (such as then can reach it^ the other Towns as soon as they can) fully impow'red then and there to consult, advise. Join and give their Assistance with the Council now Sitting Ordered to be directed to the Captain and Select Men of the Several Towns, printed and dispersed Boston to send four ^ 1 Court Records, vi. 2-3. 2 vi. 11. 3 vi. 12. 1913] DECLARATION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES, MAY 10, 1689 19 At the same time a fast was appointed for ]\Iay 7. But on ]\Iay 3, — At the Council for Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace . . . Upon farther Consideration, Ordered, that the Signification agreed upon Yesterday, to be sent out to the Several Towns for sending down their Representatives, Also the Recommendation referring to a Fast, be Stopt from any more of them going out Afterwards the Sending out of the Signification of Representatives was Reinforced, & Ordered, that they should go out ^ On May 8 "The President and Council met at the Council Cham- ber, where were present most of those who met Yesterday, and divers Others, waiting if any Thing might be presented by the people."- On May 9 "Representatives appeared from the Severall Towns and Villages hereafter Named." ^ On May 10 the Repre- sentatives drew up a declaration to the effect that the Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Assistants chosen in ^lay, IGSO, were to con- stitute the goverimient. To this the Council replied that the returns from the towns and villages had been inadequate, and that it was necessary for the people to signify their minds more fully and ex- pressly. ^Miereupon May 22 was appointed the day for the meeting of the Representatives, and the Representatives declared that the present Council was continued until that date. The proceedings on May 10 were as follows: Boston May m^^ 16S9 At the Council for Safety of the People, and Conservation of the Peace Sixty Slx persons as Representatives of Forty four Towtis and Villages in the ]\Iassachusets Colony before Named were also present, and pre- sented the following petition Boston May 10*'^ 1689 J/"the ^rTipresin" We the Representatives of the Severall To^tis of GovV''aM'"'Al^fst- the Massachusets Colony in New England ?68o'feThi°G!r/- Do hereby declare in behalf of our Selves, and the emment Several Towns, which we appear for. Viz* That for the HrJ.rof'Reprisen.^ eusuing part of this Year, The Governour deputy Gov- *"^''^ ernour and Assistants chosen and Sworn in jMay one » Court Records, vi. 12. ' vi. 15. ' vi. 15. 20 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [MARCH, • Thousand Six hundred Eighty Six according to our * Charter Rights, And the deputies then sent by the Free- men of the Several Town's to be the Government now Setled in our abovesaid Colony. And that Major Wait Winthrop is Major General of our Forces in New Eng- land until the Freemen renew their Choice And that if the present Government do desire more Assistants; hav- ing enlarged the Freemen, there shall be a Supply ime- diately made according to Charter for the Remaining part of the Year, upon the Day that the General Court shall appoint; Hoping that all people will rest Satisfied till we have Confirmation from the Crown of England which we daily hope for Voted at the Chamber of the Countrey Rep- resentatives, as attest, Clerk of s'^ Company Ebenezer Prout The Representatives applying themselves particularly to the President, and the former Magistrates; After a Considerable Debate they Retiuned them an Answer in Writing as followth Viz* Boston May 10*'> 1689 dedaratioa* by the ^^ Answcr to a declaration drawn up and Signed by members present Ebcnezcr Prout as Clerk to the Company of Representa- tives of the Several Towns of the Massachusets Colony dated at Boston the day, and Year abovenamed. De- claring that the Governour, Deputy Governour, and Assistants chosen and Sworn in May One thousand Six Hundred Eighty Six according to Charter Rights and the deputies then sent by the Freemen of the Several Town, to be the Government now Setled in the Abovesaid Colony There Appearing onely Sixty Six persons, as the Rep- resentatives of Forty four Towns and Villages within the said Colony, And the Returns of some of the Said Towns and places being defective, and incertain in a full Representation of the Mind of the People there- abouts W^e think it Necessary that the People of the Said Several Towns, and Villages do more fully and ex- presly Signify their Minds in that Matter, And that the 1913] COUNCIL FOR SAFETY CONTINUED, iLVT 10, 1689 21 Other Towns, and Places, within the Said Colony (hav- ing no knowledge of the Said Declaration), be Notified to Convene their Respective Inhabitants to manifest their minds relating to the Same; And three of the Late Assistants resident in the Colony, being absent, that there be Oppertunity to Consult them; And the whole Number (if together) being but Thirteen, That the People by themselves or Ripresentatives, chuse such and so many as they shall think Convenient to Join, with them for the Common Safety and Conservation of the Peace, And the Exercise of Such farther Acts of Authority as shall be Necessary according to any Emer- gency until there can be a more Orderly Settlement of Government Signed John Richards Sam^ Appleton Sim: Bradstreet Elisha Cooke W" Johnson Tno^ Daxforth Is"" Addington John Smith John Hathorne Major Pyke vv'as present at the agreeing of this Answer, but gone Home before Signing Agi'eed that Thursday next the Sixteenth of May ?on fnd^^yer' Instaut be Set apart for a Day of Fasting and Prayer io«^ May throughout this whole Colony And Wednesday the twenty Second of May Instant to be the Day for the Meeting of the Representatives of the Several Towns and Villages of the Colony, at Boston at two a Clock ?ed'for*rhe'pr?sent The Representatives declared they Continued the* * present Council for Safety of the People, and Conserva- tion of the Peace in the same Station until Wednesday the Twenty Second of May Instant At which time they Have Agreed to Convene at Boston ^ On May 20 "The Humble Address of the President and Council for Safety of the People, and Conservation of the Peace" to the King and Queen was drawn up, "read and unanimously agreed to." - On ^lay 22 "The Representatives of the Several Town's ard Villages to the Number of fifty four Places, appeared with the Returns from 1 Court Records, vi. 10-18. * vi. 22-24. 22 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, their Several Towns and Villages." ^ On May 23 and 24 the following proceedings took place: 23'^ May Upon perusal of the Returns from the Several Towns and Villages and Divers debates, and Conferences between the President, and Council, and the Representatives of the Tenth of May Instant, for the Settlement of Ci\dl Government, as well this Day as the Day foregoing Viz* the 22 '^ Instant and Several Proposals offered to them Upon the 24*^ of the Same May 1689. The following paper was pre- sented unto them Viz' Boston May 24*'^ 1689 preJc'nf iSe?f ap- ^pou the Occasiou of the Revolution of the Late proved of Government under S^ Edmund Andros; And at the In- stance and Repeated desires or Demand of most of the Towns, and Villages, within the Massachusets Colony, manifested in their Respective Places, and Sent to us by their Representatives. We who are of the Persons chosen Sworn Governour, Deputy Governour, and Assistants (according to Charter) in the Year One thou- sand Six Hundi-ed Eighty Six. From the present Neces- sity, and for Satisfaction of the people do Consent and Accept the Care and Government of the People of this Colony, according to the Rules of the Charter; For the Conservation of the Peace and Safety of the People, and putting forth such farther Acts of Authority Civil, and Military as shall be necessary according to any Emergency until by Direction from England there be an Orderly Settlement of Government. Provided such Addition be made of Fit Persons to Assist us as hath been desired; And farther consent that the Respective Town's and their Representatives for our Assistance so farr as they may be Concerned therein; and as need shall require Expecting that all Encouragement be given by the due and Ready Obe- dience of the People, And that what hath been Acted by the Council for the Safety of the People, and Conserva- tion of the Peace respecting the Management of the ^ Court Records, vi. 25. 1913] ASSUMPTION OF CHARTER GOVERNMENT NOT INTENDED, 1689 23 Pul)Hck Affairs be allowed, and the Present Stewards be Reimbursed in Convenient Time. Signed 24**^ Abovesaid John Richards Sim: Bradstreet Elisha Cooke Tho Danforth W" Johnson Na: Saltonstall John ILvthorne Ja° Russell Is'^ Addington Pe: Tilton Jn° Smith Sam Appleton Voted: This was accepted cheerfully by the Repre- sentatives as an Answer for Settling Civil Govern* with the Massaehusets Colony in New England as attest Eben" Prout Clerk to the Representatives Written on the other Side Upon the Publication here of it was declared by the Gentlemen Subscribing that they do not intend an As- sumption of Charter Government; nor Would be so Understood. Being Ordered to Read the Within wTitten Declaration; was also Ordered to publish what is Above WTitten, Which I accordingly did at the Same time 24*** May 1689 Joseph Webb ^ On IMay 25 " Simon Bradstreet Esqs is desired, and Appointed to be President of this Council," and "ISl" Isaac Addington is Nom- inated, and appointed Clerk of the Council, and is Ordered to Offici- ate as such." - On the same day the following paper was presented: Boston the 25*'' May 1689 Gentlemen Comicii for°S!ifIty We being greatly Sensible of the Necessity of Joyn- Conservation of the i^ig cvcry Good Maus Assistaucc to Your Present, and future Endeavours for the preservation of the peace, of this place, in this dangerous Conjuncture; And Relj'ing on the Integrity of Your Verbal, and printed promises by Inviolably preserving this people, and place in Obe- dience, unto the direction we expect from the Crown of England; And good Treatment to tlie persons of all, and Se\-erally the Gentlemen, as was by us Signifyed Court Records, vi. 26-27. « vi. 28. 24 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, in Our Advice to S"" Edmund Andros, upon the delivery of the Fort. And to take off all Disatisfactions that may have Risen from any Disputes, or Arguments, We shall Endeavour to pacify the Disatisfied in our Regards, and promote the Publick Tranquility, as far as in us Lyes And'* Belcher Dav Waterhouse Pet^ Sergeant Jer Dumer Rich'' Sprague Wait Winthrop Penn Townsend John Foster Sam Shrimpton Nath Oliveb Ad^ Winthrop John Eyre Jn° Nelson ^ On May 29 William and Mary were proclaimed in Boston.^ On Jmie 5, "At the Council for Safety of the People and Conserva- tion of the Peace," "The Representatives also from the Several Towns, according to the Signification Sent. Met," ^ and "M'' Thomas Oakes, was Chosen Speaker." ^ On June 6, "At the Council, and Convention of the Representatives," "The Humble Address, and Petition of the Governour, and Council, and Convention of Representatives of the People of Your Majesties Colony of the Mas- sachusets in New England" was "drawn up Read and agreed to be Sent" to the King and Queen.^ On June 7 the following proceedings occurred: To the Honourable Simon Bradstreet Governour, Tho^ Danforth Deputy Govern'', and Assi^ants now Sitting The Declaration of the Representatives of the Several Towns in the Massachusets Colony Humbly Sheweth. That Whereas your Honours in the Answer to the Declaration given in, to You by the Representatives of 1 Court Records, vi. 28. 2 In an address to William and Mary dated May 20, signed by "Simon Brad- street in the Name and behalf of the Coimcil," it was declared that "We heartily congratulate Your Maj*"^^ happy accession to the Crown" (vi. 24); and in another address drawn up June 6, signed by "Simon Bradstreet in the Name, and behalf of the Council and Convention," it was stated: "Your Majesties happy Accession to the Roy all Throne was most Joj^uUy Congratulated by Your Subjects in this Colony, and the proclamation there of here performed upon the Nine, and Twen- ty'th Day of May last past, with all the Decency, and Solemnity, the Place is Ca- pable of Affording, and aU Imaginable expressions of Joy" (vi. 32-33). 3 vi. 30. ^ vi. 31. 5 vi. 32-34. 1913] CHARTER GOVERNMENT ASSUMED, JUNE 7, 16S9 25 the Several Towns, the 24''^ May 1689 did Consent to Accept the Care, and Government of the People of this Colony, according to the Rules of this Charter, and put- ting forth such farther Acts of Authority Civil, and ISIil- itary, as were Necessary Untill by Direction from England there be an Orderly Setlement of Government, ReprestntrtivL ^'^^ And upou publication there of, were pleased to Declare tow^.*''^ ^""^'"^ you did not, intend Assumption of Charter Government; We do now humbly pray Considering the present Cir- cumstances of this Colony you would be pleased by Vertue of the Authority de^•ol^'ed on You, by us the Representatives of the Several Towns in this Colony to Accept Government according to our Charter Rules by the Names of Govern'' and Council for the Massa- chusets Colony, And exercise such Authority in the Said Colony, as was formally Used by the Laws made by our Charter Government (excepting such as may be Judged repugnant to the Laws of England) until farther Orders from England; And that the Major General, and five Assistants lately Chosen take their Respective Oaths, And pray there may be no Delay in this Matter We cannot proceed in any thing until this foundation be Setled. 7 June 1689 Voted in the Affirmative attest Eb: Prout CI Accepted by the Govern' & Council P Order Thomas Danforth The following Oath was Adminstred unto the Govern' by Tho^ Danforth Escp Deputy Govern' before the whole Assembly form of the oath Whereas you S. B. are chosen to the Place of Gover- taken by the Gov' "^ & Lieut Gov' nouT over this Jurisdiction of the IMassachusets for the Remaining Part of this Year, and till a New be Chosen, and sworn Or until there be a Setlement of Government here from the Crown of England, do Swear Accordingly by the Great and Dreadful Name of the Ever li\ang God that you will be faithful, and bear true Alegiance to their Majesty's King William and Queen Mary, and that You \n\\ in all Things Concerning Your Place, according to Your best Power & Skill Carry, & Demean Yourself for 26 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, the Said Time of Your Government, according to the Laws of God, and the Advancement of His Gospell, the Laws of this Land, and the Good of the People of this Juresdiction, You shall do Justice, to all Men without Partiahty, as much as in You Lyeth, You shall not exceed the Limitations of a Governour in your Place, So help you God The Like Oath Mutatis Mutandis by Simon Brad- street Esq3 Govern"" unto Tho^ Danforth Esqs Deputy Govern"^ ' On June 11 "M' Isaac Addington is Chosen Secretary;" ^ and on June 13 — M"" Isaac Addington took his Oath, as Secretary as followth Viz* Whereas You I: A: are Chosen Secretary for the Remaining part of this Year, Or Until there be a Setlement of Government here by Direc- tion from the Crown of England. You do Swear by the Ever living God; That You will in all Things faithfully Demean Yourself in the Said Office That You will truely, and faithfully According to Your Best Skill and Wisdom frame, all Acts, and Instruments of Public Concernment referring to Your Office, duely Observing such Directions, as Shall from Time, to time be given Unto You by the Government; here; and fairly Record, and Safely Keep the Same. That you will not disclose their Consultations, where you shall have express Charge of Secrecy, That You will Without Delay, Impart to the Governour or Council, Whatever, Letter, or Information shall Come to Your Hands referring to Your Office and of Publick Concernment; That You will not Wittingly or Willingly exceed the Limits of Your Place. — So help You God in Our Lord Jesus Christ ^ On June 22, "At the Convention of the Govern'" and Council and Representatives," — Declaration to en- j^ jg Declared that all the Law's made by the Gov- lorce y* Laws ernour and Company of Said Colony that were in force on the Twelfth Day of May One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Six (Except any that are Repugnant to the Law's of England) are the Law's of this Colony, and Continue in force until farther Setlement; To which all Inhabit*' and Residents here are to Give due Obedience ^ Court Records, vi. 34-35. ^ yi. 37. « yj. 33-39. * vi. 47. 1913] CONVENTION DECLARED A GENERAL COURT, JANUARY 24, 1690 27 On November 9 the Convention "Adjourned to the Second Wednesday of Dec"" next at two a Clock afternoon;" ^ but a letter from King WilHam dated August 12 v^as read "At the Convention of the Govern'' and Council, and Representatives of the Massachusets Colony, in Boston, Tuesday the third of December 1689 convened by Order of the Govern ■■ and Council upon the Arrival of a Ship from London." ^ The letter is in part as follows: And Whereas You give us to Understand, that you have taken upon You the Present Care of the Government until you should receive Our Orders therein; We do hereby Authorise and Impower you to Continue in our Name your Care in the Administration thereof, and Preservation of the Peace, Until We shall have taken such Resolutions, and given such Direction, for the more Orderly Setlem* of the Said Governm* as shall most conduce to Our Service, and the Security and Satisfaction of our Subjects within that Our Colony, . . . the 12*^ day of August 1GS9 . . . By His Majesties Command Superscribed SHREWSBURY To such as for the time being take Care of Presenting the Peace and Administring the Laws in Our Colony of the Massa- chusetts Bay in New England * On December 16 it was declared, in reference to the King's letter of August 12, that "All their Maj*''^« Subjects as well OfBccrs Ci\il, and ]Military; & all Inhabitants and Strangers residing within this Colony are therefore hereby required to take notice there of, and to Yeild Obedience unto the Said Governm* accordingly as they will Answer the Contrary." * On January 24, 1690, it is "Agreed that this Convention be Henceforth termed a General Court, and be Accounted such in all Respects." ^ On May 28, 1690, — Election was made of Governour, Deputy Gov' Assistants, and other Publick Officers, as follow Viz* Simon Bradstreet Esq' Govern' — and Sworn. Thomas Danforth Esq' Deputy Gover' and Sworn. . . . Isaac Adington Secretary Sworn.® » vi. 88. * vi. 88. ' vi. 90. * vi. 97. » vi. 105. « vi. 133. 28 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Maech, On May 20, 1691, — Simon Bradstreet Esq' was Chosen Gov"" & Sworn Tho^ Danforth Esqr was Chosen dep^ Gov"" & Sworn . . . Isaac Addington was chosen Secretary Jur* ^ On May 4, 1692, — Simon Bradstreet Esq' was chosen Govern', and tooke the Oath of Allegiance, and the Oath of His Place, or Office, for this Year, Or until there be a Settlement of Government from the Crown of England. Thomas Danforth Esq"" was chosen Dep^^ Gov'' . . . Isaac Addington Esq' was chosen Secretary Jur: ^ The Court met for the last time on May 6, 1692, when it "Ad- journ'd unto Tuesday the 24th of ]May Curr* at one a Clock After- noon;"^ but before that day came. Sir William Phips had arrived with the Province Charter. The events from April 18, 1689, to May 6, 1692, are given in the following — Summary Andres's government overtlirown Council for Safety of the People and Conservation of the Peace appointed, with Simon Bradstreet as President and Isaac Addington as Clerk Doings of the Council for Safety on April 20 approved Representatives meet A fuller representation declared necessary- Representatives meet Government settled as of May, 1686, but no assumption of Charter government is intended Bradstreet appointed President and Addington Clerk Representatives meet Charter government assumed, Bradstreet and DaPiforth being sworn as Governor and Deputy-Governor Addington chosen Secretary Addington sworn as Secretary The government approved by William III The Convention declared a General Court Bradstreet, Danforth, and Addington reelected Bradstreet, Danforth, and Addington reelected Bradstreet, Danforth, and Addington reelected Last meeting of the Court * 1 Court Records, vi. 183. 2 yi_ 214. 3 yj, 217. * As already stated (p. 7, above) the New Pljrmouth Colony was included in the Territory and Dominion of New England created by Andros's Commission of 1689 AprU 18 April 20 May 1 May 9 May 10 May 22 May 24 May 25 June 5 June 7 June 11 June 13 1689 Aug. 12 1690 Jan. 24 May 28 1691 May 20 1692 May 4 May 6 1913] MEMBERS OF DUDLEY'S COUNCIL, 1685-1686 29 IV MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, 1G85-1691 A Dotuet's Cottxcil, 1685-1686 . In Dudley's Commission (October S, 1C85) as President of the Council for New England, Dudley himself was nominated and ap- June 3, 16S6. A General Court was held at Plymouth in June, 16S6, and Courts of Assistants were held in June, July, and October, 1686 (Plymouth Colony Records, vi. 184-204, vii. 299-304). At the General Court held in June, 1686, Thomas Hincklej-, ^^'illiam Bradford, and Samuel Sprague were chosen respectively Gov- ernor, Deputy-Governor, and Secretary (vi. 185). No Court was held between October 5, 1686, and June, 1689, when Thomas Hinckley, William Bradford, and Samuel Sprague were chosen respectively Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Sec- retary (vi. 205); and the following proceedings took place: At their Ma^^ Generall Court of Election held at Plimouth, for the Colony of New Plimouth, on the first Tuesday in June, 16S9. WHEREAS, through the great changes divine Providence hath ordered out, both in England and in this countrey, we, the loyall subjects of the crown of England, are left in an tmsctled estate, destitute of goverment, and exposed to the ill consequents thereof; and having heretofore enjoyed a quiet settlement of goverment in this their ma*'^^ colony of New Plimouth for more than threescore and six years without any interruption; having also been by the late Kings of Eng- land from time to time, by their royall letters, graciously owned and acknowledged therein, whereby notwithstanding our late unjust interruption and suspention therefrom by the illeagall arbitrary power of S"" Edmond Andros, now ceased, the Generall Court held here in the name of their present ma*'*^^, WilUam and Mary, King and Queen of England, &c., together with the encouragement given by their said ma*"^^ gracious declarations, and in humble confidence of their s'^ ma*"^^ good liking, doe, therefore, hereby resume and declare their reassuming of their said former way of goverment, according to such wholsome constitutions, rules, and orders as were here in force in June, 1686, our title therto being warranted by pre- scription and otherwise as aforesaid, and expect a reddy submission thereunto by all their ma*'''^ good subjects of this colon)', untiU their ma*'*^^ or tliis Court shall otherwise order. And that all our Courts be hereafter held, and all warrants directed, and officers swomc, in the name of their ma*"^^, William and Mary, King and Queen of England, &c. (vi. 208-209). The la.st General Court appears to have been held on July 7, 1691 (vi. 268-269), though a Court of Assistants was held on April 5, 1692, the final record being: The Court . . . adjourn to Thursday y® 9**" day of June next, and all proces and bonds continued to s'' adjoumm*, & parties ordered to attend the same (vii. 312). 30 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Maech, pointed "to be the first President of the said Councell and to con- tinue in the said Office vntill we our Heires or Successors shall otherwise direct;" while the following seventeen persons were nomi- nated and appointed "to be of our Councell:" ^ Bradstreet, Dudley Bradstreet, Simon Bulkley, Peter Champemoon, Francis Gedney, Bartholomew Hinckes, John Mason, Robert Pjmchon, John Randolph, Edward Saltonstall, Nathaniel Stoughton, William Tyng, Edward Tyng, Jonathan Usher, John Wliarton, Richard Winthrop, Fitz John Winthrop, Wait The only provision in Dudley's Commission for the replacing of a Councillor was in case of death, as follows: And if any of the members of the said Councell shall happen to dy Our Will & pleasure is and Wee do hereby direct & appoint the President of our Councell for the time being to elect some other person to be a mem- ber of the said Councell for that time, and to send over the name of such person soe chosen, and the names of two more Wliom our said President shall judge fittly qualified for the said trust that We our heires & succes- sors may nominate & appoint which of the three shall be the member in the place of the member so dying ^ This provision proved unsatisfactory, since at the very beginning a difficulty arose because three members declined to serve, while a fourth member was incapacitated from serving. In a letter to Blathwayt dated May 29, Randolph said: This acquaints you that the 25 following the pres''* and 14 ^ of the Councill mett at Boston and taking the oathes were entred vpon the ^ Publications of this Society, ii. 38. A list, sent by Randolph to the Committee on September 2, 1685, of "The Names of Persons well disposed & humbly offred to be of his Ma*'''^ Councill in the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay & the Provinces in New Eng*^ to consist of One President one Deputy-President & 18 to be of y® Councill," will be found in Toppan's Randolph, iv. 43-47. 2 Pubhcations of tliis Society, ii. 43. 3 According to the CouncU Records (ii. 1; cf. Dudley Records, p. 226), only the President and eleven members of the Council were present on May 25; yet in their letter to the Committee of June 1 the President and CouncU stated that "Joseph Dudley Esq''^ President haveing first taken the Oathes in his Maj*^^ Commission required, did administer the same Oathes unto fourteen of the Members of his Maj*^^^ CounciU then present and entred upon the exercise of the Government" (Council Records, ii. 23; cf. Dudley Records, pp. 239-240). The two members of the Council not recorded in the Council Records (ii. 1) as present on May 25 were 1913] DIFFICULTIES IN FILLING VACANCIES IN COUNCIL, 1686 31 Gom'' M' Champernoon : was so much indisposed that twas not possible for him to come to Boston: Butt old M'' Bradstreet and his son wholy refused to accept the Commission as a thing contriued to abridge them of their libertye and indeed against Magna Charta: and Mr Saltenstall also diserted vs: in whose places are very proper to bee inserted: Richard Smith of Narragansett : M' William Brown Junior: the third I leaue to INI'' Masons nomination who is coming ouer vpon the next ship which will in a short tyme sayle from hence. ^ On June 1 the President and Council drew up a letter to the Com- mittee which contained the following paragraph: Wee may not omitt humbly to represent to your Lordshipps, that there being no direction for a supply of Members into his Maj*^^ Councill except only in the case of death, whereas by the removall, constant sick- ness, or other avoidance of anj' of the Members, His Majestyes Councill may sometimes faile of a Quorum or more full appearance, needfull for his Maj*y^ service; it is therefore humbly offered, that in such cases wherein there appeares an impossibilitie or refusall of service, His Maj'y would graciously grant that a supply of Members may be ap- pointed as in case of Death.^ On June 19 the President and Council wrote to the Committee as follows: Wee cannot avoid to lay before your Lords^^ the inconvenience hap- ning by y® indispositions & refusall of Severall persons nominated in his Ma*'^^ most Gracious Commission: & the great distance of others from his Ma*'"^^ town of Boston the vsuall place of meeting. ffor avoiding therefore any obstruction in prosecuting his Ma**®^ seuerall commands in that Commission to us directed Its humbly proposed as very necessary for his Ma*'®^ Seruice, and wee do accordingly nominate eight persons, whose names are herevnto an- nexed to Supply those vacancyes. Submitting in all duty & obedience their choice & appointment to his Ma*'% and waite his Ma*'^^ gracious Jonathan Tyng and John Usher. There are curious discrepancies in the records. Thus twelve persons are recorded as present in Council on June 1 (Council Record.'^, ii. 19; Dudley Records, p. 237), yet the letter to the Committee dra\%'n up that day was signed by eleven members (Toppan's Randolph, iv. 82), while the address to the King also drawn up June 1 was signed by fourteen members (iv. 85). ' Toppan's Randolph, vi. 171-172. * Council Records, ii. 23-24. Cf. Dudley Records, p. 240. 32 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Maech, answeare So Soon as it Shall please ^'^our Lords^^ to report the Same vnto his Mat'« They then said that "M' Bradstreet Major Saltenstall Dudley Bradstreet do not accept y^ Commission;" that "M' Champernoon weak & vnable to act in that Commission;" and gave these — Names of persons to Supply their vacancyes Samuell Shrimpton: Wilt Brown ju. James Russell Sam. Pewall SjTnon Linds tho: Graues Nicholas paige Ric*^^ Smith ^ As a matter of fact, no new members were added to Dudley's Council.^ B Andros's Council, 1686-1688 In Andros's first Commission (June 3, 1686) as Governor of the Territory and Dominion of New England, no persons were named for the Council; but in the Instructions issued to him on September 12, 1686, he was directed upon his arrival in Boston "forthwith to call together the members of Our Councill for that Our Territory and Dominion," and the following twenty-seven persons were named: ^ Albro, John Greene, John Smith, Daniel Arnold, Richard Hmckes, John Stoughton, Wilham Bradford, WiUiam Hincldey, Thomas Tyng, Edward Bulkley, Peter Lothrop, Barnabas Tyng, Jonathan Clarke, Nathaniel Mason, Robert Usher, Jolm Clarke, Walter Newbury, Walter Walley, John Coggeshall, John Pynchon, Jolm WTiarton, Richard Dudley, Joseph Randolph, Edward Winthj-op, Fitz John Gedney, Bartholomew Sanford, Jolin Winthrop, Wait Article 6 of the same Instructions reads as follows : And that Wee may alwayes be informed of the names of persons fit to supply the Vacancies of Our Councill you are to transmit unto Us by 1 Toppan's Randolph, iv. 85-86. 2 Randolph is at times strangely confused as to the Council. Thus in a letter to Archbishop Sancroft dated July 7, 1686, he said: "Of a president and eighteen members of the councell, there is onely myselfe, since Mr. Mason's departure for England, that is of the church of England" (Toppan's Randolph, iv. 89). Dudley's government consisted of a President and seventeen members of the Council. * From a transcript (Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 904, pp. 283-296) in the possession of the Editor. 1913] MEMBERS OF ANDROS's COUNCIL, 1686-1688 33 One of Our principal Secretaries of State, and to the Lords of Our Privy Councill appointed a Committee for Trade and Forrein Plantations, with all convenient speed the names and characters of twelve persons In- habitants of Our said Territory, whom you shall esteem the best quali- fied for that Trust and so from time to time when any of them shall dye, depart out of Our said Territory or become otherwise unfit, you are to supply the first number of twelve Persons by nominating others to Us in their stead. ^ Accordingly, on March 25, 1687, the following "Names of persons best qualified to fill vacancies in Council" w^ere transmitted: ^ Brinley, Francis ' Lidgett, Charles Sanford, Peleg ' Browne, William, Jr. Luscombe, Humphrey ^ Sheafe, Sampson Curwin, Jonathan Lynde, Simon Shrimpton, Samuel Hutchinson, EUakim * Russell, James Smith, Richard Before the date of Andros's second Commission (April 7, 1088), at least seven persons had been nominated to the Council of whom four were among the twelve recommended above. On April 25, 1687, Andros was directed "forthwith upon receipt hereof" to cause "Cap- tain Francis Nicholson to be sworne of Our Councill of that Our Colony of New England." "^ On August 24 following, — Pursuant to his Majestyes Command Captaine Francis Nicholson was this day sworne of his Majestyes Councill in this his Territory and Dominion of New England and tooke his place accordingly.^ 1 Ibid. - Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1685-1688, No. 1197 i, p. 351. ' Printed "Francis Brenley" in the Calendar. * Printed "EUakim Hutchison" in the Calendar. ^ Printed "Himaphrey Lusamb" in the Calendar. « Printed "Peter(?) Sandforth" in the Calendar. Miss Lucy Dnicker of Lon- don, who has examined the original at my request, informs me that the name is clearly "Peleg Sandforth," or Peleg Sanford, sometime Governor of Rhode Island. It is stated in the Rhode Island Historical Magazine that on "March 25, 1687, he was appointed one of Andros Council, but would not serve" (vii. 296-297). This is a mistake, the passage in the text showing that Peleg Sanford's name was merely transmitted as one of the persons " best qualified to fill vacancies in Council." Peleg Sanford was a brother of John Sanford, a member of Andros's Council in 16^8: Seep. 41 note 11, below. ' From a transcript (PubUc Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 389, Vol. 9, p. 434) in the possession of the Editor. 8 Council Records, ii. 134. Sewall writes: "Tuesday, Augt. 23. Balston arrives 34 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Maech, On June 18, 1687, Robert Treat and John Allyn were nominated to the Council; ^ and on June 27 Andros was directed to "Cause Our Trusty and welbeloved Robert Treat Esq"^^ the present Governor, and John Allen Esq'® the present Secretary of Conecticutt to be Sworn of Our Councill in New England." ^ On November 1 follow- ing the Council met at Hartford, when, after Connecticut had been "annexed to the Dominion of New England," — Pursuant to his Majestyes Commands Rob* Treat Esq' late Gov' of Connecticott and John Allen Esq' the late Seer*^ were sworne of his Maj*y^^ Councill.3 On November 4, 1687, Samuel Shrimpton, William Browne, Jr., Simon Lynde, and Richard Smith were nominated to the Council; * and on November 10 Andros was directed to cause those four persons "to be sworn of Our Councill of that Our Colony of New England." ^ Lynde did not serve, as he died November 22.^ It is not known ex- actly when Browne, Shrimpton, and Smith were sworn, since, as already stated,'^ no regular Council records after December 29, 1687, are extant; but it must have been at least as early as February 3, 1688, for on that day Browne and Shrimpton were present at a Council meeting.^ C Andros's Council, 1688-1689 In Andros's second Commission (April 7, 1688) as Governor of the Territory and Dominion of New England, no persons were named for the Council; but in the Instructions issued to him on April 16, 1688, and brings Gazetts to June 13, and a Privy Seal whereby Capt. Nicholson is added to the Council, being sworn" (Diary, i. 186). ^ Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, ii. 811. 2 From a transcript (Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 904, pp. 353-354) in the possession of the Editor. ^ Council Records, ii. 150. * Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, ii. 817. ^ From a transcript (PubUc Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 904, p. 365) in the possession of the Editor. * See p. 40, below. ' See p. 8 note 1, above. ^ See p. 15 note, above. 1913] MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, 16SS-1689, 1691 35 he was directed "with all convenient speed" to "call togeather" the following forty-two "Members of the Councill:" ^ Albro, John AlljTi, John Amokl, Richard Baxter, Jarvis Bayard, Nicholas Bradford, WilUam Brocklioles, Anthony Browne, Wilham, Jr. Bulkley, Peter Clarke, Nathaniel Clarke, Walter Coggeshall, Jolin Cortlandt, Stephen van Dudley, Joseph Gedney, Bartholomew Greene, John Hinckes, Jolin Hinckley, Thomas Lothrop, Barnabas Lynde, Simon Mason, Robert Newbury, Walter Nicholson, Francis Palmer, John PhiUpse, Frederick Pynchon, John Randolph, Edward Sanford, John Shrimpton, Samuel Smith, Daniel Smith, Richard Spragg, John Stoughton, William Treat, Robert Tyng, Edward Tyng, Jonathan Usher, John Walley, John \\Tiarton, Richard Winthrop, Fitz John Winthrop, Wait Youngs, John D First Council under the PRO\^NCE Charter, 1691 In the Province Charter (October 7, 1691) the following twenty- eight persons were named for the Council: ^ Alcock, Job Appleton, Samuel Bradford, William Bradstreet, Simon Curwin, Jonathan Da\ds, Silvanus Donnell, Samuel Foster, John Gedney, Bartholomew Hawthorn, John Hayman, Samuel Hinckley, Thomas Hutcliinson, Elisha ' JoyUffe, John Lothrop, Barnabas Lynde, Joseph Mason, Stephen Middlecott, Richard Phillips, John Pike, Robert Richards, John Russell, James Saltonstall, Nathaniel Sergeant, Peter Sewall, Samuel Walley, John Winthrop, Adam Winthrop, Wait 1 From a transcript (Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 855, No. 9.5) in the possession of the Editor. 2 Pubhcations of this Society, ii. 18. ' On September 18, 1691, Sir Henry Ashurst and Increase Mather submitted "names of persons ... as Governor, Deputy-Governor and Assistants for Mas- sachusetts. Governor, Sir William Pliips. Deputy-Governor, William Stoughton. As.sistants," then follow the names of twenty-seven persons only, that of Elisha Hutchinson not being included (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1689-1692, No. 1, 772, p. 545). In the same work appears, under date of October 7, 1691: "Charter of Massachusetts. Herein the Council or Assistants are named as in No. 1,772, and Isaac Addington Ls named Secretar>'" (No. 1,806, p. 550). Hutchinson's name was inadvertently omitted in the printed Calendar, Misa Drucker informing me that it occurs in the original of No. 1,772. 36 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, In the following list these names are brought together under a single alphabet, thus making it possible to tell at a glance to which Council each belonged. Variations in the spelling of names, where important, are noted in footnotes; ^ and to the name of each person is added the colony to which he belonged. The abbreviations here used are ob- vious, with the possible exception of the letters "N. C." and "N. P.," which indicate respectively the Narragansett Country and the New Plymouth Colony. List of Councillors, 1685-1691 A = Named in Commission to Dudley, Oct. 8, 1685 ^ B = Named in Instructions to Andres, Sept. 12, 1686 ^ C = Named in Instructions to Andros, April 16, 1688* D = Named in Province Charter, Oct. 7, 1691 * B G Albro,6 John. R. I. Died 1712.7 D Alcock,8 Job. Me. Died about 1716.9 C Allyn, John. Ct. Died 1696.io D Appleton, Samuel. Mass. Died May 15, 1696." Arnold, Richard. R. I. Died April 22, 1710. ^ Baxter, Jarvis. N. Y. Bayard, Nicholas. ^^ n, y_ Bradford, William. N. P. Died Feb. 20, 1704." 1 The form given in the text is more or less arbitrary. Trifling differences — hive "BrowTi" or "Browne," "Clark" or "Clarke" or "Clerk," "Gedney" or ' ' G idney , " " Winthrop " or " Winthorp ' ' — are not noted. 2 See p. 30 note 1, above. ^ See p. 32 note 3, above. * See p. 35 note 1, above. ^ See p. 35 note 2, above. 6 "Alborough" (B, C). ^ The date is variously given as November 1 (J. N. Arnold, Vital Record of Rhode Island, Newport, iv. 49), November 14 (Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, i. 20), and December 14 (J. 0. Austin, One Hundred and Sixty AUied Famihes, p. 1). 8 "Alcott" (D). 5 His will, dated December 2, 1712, was proved in 1716 (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, xxxvi. 401^02). " Savage says he died November 6, 1696 (Genealogical Dictionary, i. 43). On- February 24, 1697, Wait Winthrop wrote: "I forgot in the other letter to tell you that CoU. All>Ti is dead this winter at Hartford" (5 Massachusetts Historical Col- lections, viii. 525). " Ipswich Vital Records, ii. 483. ^ Savage, i. 66. 13 His will, dated May 9, 1707, was proved April 19, 1711 (Collections New York Historical Society for 1893, pp. 68-69). " "Febr. 20 [1704]. Major WiUiam Bradford dies in the SO*'' of his Age: He was a Right New-England Christian" (SewaU, Diary, ii. 95). B C C C B C D C C A B c A B c B c 1913] LIST OF COUNCILLORS, 1685-1691 37 A Bradstreet, Dudley. Mass. Did not accept. Died Nov. 13, 1702.1 A D Bradstueet, Simon. Mass. Did not accept. Died March 27, 1697.2 Brockholes, Anthony.' N. Y. Browne, Willi.\m, Jr. Mass. Died Feb. 23, 1716.* BuLKLEY,^ Peter. Mass. H. C. 1G60; died May 25, 1688.6 Chasipeunoon, Francis. Me. Did not serve. Died before May 21, 1GS7.' Clarke, Nathaniel. N. P. Died Jan. 31, 1717.8 Clarkje, Walter. R. I. Died May 23, 1714.9 ^ Andover Vital Records, ii. 397. He was a son of Gov. Simon Bradstreet. 2 "About 10. at night Gov'' Bradstreet dyes; which we are told of March, 29*^ at Cambridge" (Sewall, March 27, 1697, Diary, i. 450-451). In saying that "The hst of counciUors [under Andros] in Palfrey's New England, ed. of 1S90, vol. 3, p. G04, includes Smion Bradstreet, Dudley Bradstreet, Nathaniel Saltonstall and Francis Champemo\^Tie " (Laws of New Hampshire, 1904, i. 144 note), Mr. A. S. Batchellor is in error. Palfrey gives a list of the Councillors under Dudley, and then says: "In Andros' s first Commission all the above-named Coun- sellors were included, except the two Bradstreets, Saltonstall, and Champernoon, who had not accepted the trust; and the following were added." Tliis statement is correct, except that the members of Andros's first Council were named not in his Commission but in his Instructions. 2 An extract from a letter WTitten by Randolph on May 21, 16S7, reads: "His Excell, has to do with a per\'erse people. Here is none of the coimcil at hand, Ex- cept Mr Mason, & myself, & M"" B.[rockholt] & M"^ Usher, who appear Uvely for liis Majesty's Interest" (4 Massachusetts Historical Collections, viii. 531). Brock- holes was not a member of the Council at that time, hence a mistake was made in expanding "B." into "B.[rockholt]." Randolph's letter is printed in full in Top- pan's Randolph, where we read: "his Excellence has to do with a pen^erse people here is none of the Councill at hand except M"" Mason and my selfe who and M' Bulkley and M'' Vsher appcare huely for his IMa*'®* interest: Maj Bulkley and M' Hinks are remote and come seldome" (vi. 221). * "P>br. 23, 17l6. The hon*"^ Wilham Brown esqr. died in his house at Salem" (Sewall, Diary, iii. 74). ^ "BuUdey" (A), "Buckly" (B), "Buckley" (C). ® "May 25^*^ 1688. Col. Peter Bulkley of Concord dies, having languished for a long time. Died this Friday about eleven aclock" (Sewall, Diary, i. 215). ^ On May 21, 1687, Randolph wrote: "Twill be for his Majestyes serv^ice to putt Mr. Shrmipton in the place of Capt. Champernoon and Mr. Luscombe in the place of Mr. Jo. Sandford of Rhoad Island, both dead" (Toppan's Randolph, iv. 163). Owing to indisposition, Champernoon cUd not ser\'e in Dudley's Council (see p. 31, above), and was not a member of Andros's first Coimcil; hence C. W.Tuttle was mistaken in saying that Champernoon "was .continued in this otfice under Sir Edmund Andros, the successor of Dudley, and held it until his death in 1687" (Historical Papers, p. 120). 8 Savage, i. 399. 9 "Rfiode-Island, May 28. Last Lord's Day Dyed here Walter Clarke Esq; B C C D D D A B C D A B c D B c 38 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [MARCH, CoGGESHALL,! JoHN. R. I. Died Oct. 1, 1708.2 CoRTLANDT, STEPHEN VAN.' N. Y. Died Nov. 25, 1700.^ CuRWiN, Jonathan. Mass. Died June 9, 1718.^ Davis, Silvanus. Me. Died in 1703. ^ Donnell,^ Samuel. Me. Died March 9, 1718.8 Dudley, Joseph. Mass. H. C. 1665; died April 2, 1720.9 Foster, John. Mass. Died in February, 1711.i° Gedney, Bartholomew. Me. Died March 1, 1698." Greene, John. R. I. Died Nov. 27, 1708.^2 Deputy Govemour of Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantations, in the Seventy Seventh Year of his Age " (Boston News Letter, May 31, 1714, p. 2/2). A document dated June 7, 1714, says that "it hath pleased God, after a long and tedious sick- ness to take our hon'd father, Walter Clarke out of this world by that fatal messen- ger, death, on ye 23d day of May, 1714" (Newport Historical Magazine, iii. 140). 1 "CoxsheU" (B), "Coxhill" (C). 2 Newport Historical Magazine, iii. 186. He was the son of John CoggeshaU, first President of Rhode Island, who died November 27, 1647 (ibid.). 3 "Stephen Courtland" (C). « Bellomont wrote: "P. S. 26*'' Nov. 1700. I intended you Collonel Courtland's Quarterly Book of Entries and Clearings of ships wliich he was providing, but he fell sick about 8 days since and dyed yesterday" (New York Colonial Documents, iv. 779). B " June, 9 [1718]. Mr. Corwin dies about 9. m." (Sewall, Diary, iii. 186). 6 Collections Mame Historical Society, i. 309; Suffolk Probate Files, No. 2806. 7 "Daniell" (D). 8 Savage, ii. 59; Collections Maine Historical Society, i. 310; Maine WiUs, pp. 199-200. 9 "Boston, On Saturday the 2d Currant Dyed the very Honourable JOSEPH DUDLEY, Esq ; at his Seat in Roxbury, in the 73d Year of his Age, being bom September 23d 1647" (Boston News Letter, April 11, 1720, p. 2/1). The letter "A" is placed against Dudley's name for convenience, though it is perhaps a ques- tion whether, strictly spealdng, he was or was not a member of that Council. 10 "Febr. 9 [1711]. Seventh-day, between 11 and 12 m. Col. John Foster ex- pires. His place at the Council Board and Court will hardly be filled up. I have lost a good Left-hand man. The Lrd save New-England! Now just half the Counsellours mention' d in the Charter, are dead; The Lord prepare the rest, and me especially to follow after" (Sewall, Diary, ii. 300). Sewall has made a mistake either in the day of the month or in the day of week, since February 9 was Friday, not Saturday. 11 "March, 1 [1698]. Col. Barthol, Gedney dies" (SewaU, Diary, ii. 8*). 12 O. P. Fuller, History of Waroack (1875), pp. 30-31, 69; H. E. Turner, Greenes of Warwick in Colonial History (1877), p. 44; The Greene Family in England and America with Pedigrees (1901), pp. 43-44. "During the administration of Sir Edmond Andros/' writes H. E. Turner, "the name of Jolm Greene does not appear on the record. He appears as one of those named of the council, but he, probably, never took the engagement, and as the Narragansett petitioners say, sometime in 1686 he was about going to England, probably he was absent a part of that time" 1913] LIST OF COUNCILLORS, 1685-1691 39 D Hawthorn, John. Mass. Died in May, 1717.* D Hayman, Samuel. Mass.^ Died Dec. 14, 1712.» ABC HiNCKEs, John.* N. H. BCD Hinckley, Thomas. Did not serve in D. Died April 16, 1705.^ D Hutchinson, Elisha. Mass. Died Dec. 10, 1717.« (Greenes of Warwick in Colonial History, p. 44). On July 3, 1686, an address from Rhode Island to James II was drawn up (Rhode Island Colonial Records, iii. 193- 194); in two documents without precise date it is stated that Greene "is gone to attend your Majesty" (iv. 208, 209); and Greene was certainly in England in Jan- uary', 1687 (iv. 221-222). Hence it is probable that he carried the address to Eng- land. The following extract is taken from the London Gazette of September 16, 1686: Windsor, Sept. 13. His Majesty has Graciously received the Address of the Colony of Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation in New England, Humbly Representing, that upon the Signification of a Writ of Quo Warrajito against their Charter, They had resolved, in general Assembly, not to stand Suit with His Majesty, but wholly to submit to His Royal Pleasure themselves and their Charter; whereof His ^Majesty has thought fit to accept the Surrender (p. 2/2). Greene and Mason were back in Boston by May 21, 1687, on which day "Robert Mason and John Greene Esq''^ tooke the Oathes of Allegiance, and that for perform- ing the duty of Councellors, being both lately arrived from England" (Council Records, ii. 120). 1 "May, 13.2 [1717]. Set out for Salem . . . Went to the Funeral of Col. Hathome" (Sewall, Diary, iii. 130). ^ In the Massachusetts Province Laws, HajTnan, Alcock, and Donnell are assigned to the Province of Maine, while Davis is assigned as "0/ the inhabitants of, or proprietors of, land loithin the territory lying between the river of the Sagadahoc and Nova Scotia" (vii. 6). But in the list of Coimcillors furnished by Mather and Ashurst on September 18, 1691 (see p. 35 note 3, above), Hayman is assigned to Massachusetts, and Alcock, Davis, and DonneU to Maine. ' "Dec"" IS [1712]. After Lecture, and Diiicr I go to the Funeral of Capt. Sam' Hajinan, aged 70. years. . . . He was at Boston Lecture this day Sehight, and died on the Lords-day night. He was a Lover of New-England" (Sewall, Diary, ii. 369). * For a sketch of Hinckes, see Collections New Hampshire Historical Society, viii. 360-364. * "Barnstaple, April 25. On Monday the 16th Currant, Dyed suddenly here, Thomas Hinkley, Esqr. formerly Govemourof Plimouth-Colony : Aged about 86 Years" (Boston News Letter, April 30, 1705, p. 2/2). * "Boston, On Tuesday last the tenth Currant Died here the Honourable Col. Elisha Hutchinson, Esq; aged Seventy six Years, a true lover of his Count ly, of an Exemplary conversation, a true friend to pure Religion, a Gentleman whose deserts raised [him] to some of the highest Posts in the Government for many Years, he was Colonel of the Regiment, Chief Judge of the Infcriour Court of Common Pleas, and one of His Majesty's Council for this Province" (Boston News Letter, Decem- ber 16, 1717). D B C C D D A B c D D B c c 40 THE COLONLiL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Joyliffe/ John. Mass. Died Nov. 23, 1701.2 LoTHROP, Barnabas.^ N. P. Died in 1715.* Lynde, Joseph. Mass. Died Jan. 29, 1727.* Lynde, Simon. Mass. Did not serve. Died Nov. 22, 1687.^ Mason, Robert. N. H. Died Sept. 6, 1688.^ Mason, Stephen. Mass. Did not sei-ve.^ MiDDLECOTT, RiCHARD. Mass. Died June 13, 1704.' Newbury, Walter. R. I. Died Aug. G, 1097.1" Nicholson, Francis." Mass. Died March 5, 1728. 1 "JoUiffe" (D). 2 "Nov"" 23. 1701. John Joyliffe Esqr. dies. He had been bhnd, and laboured under many Infirmities for a long time" (Sewall, Diary, ii. 48). 3 "Barnaby Lathrop" (B, C), "Barnabas Lothrop" (D). * Savage, iii. 119. 5 "On the last Lord's Day the 29th of January past, Dyed at Charlestown the Honourable Joseph Lynde, Esq; Aged 90 Years, born in that place, formerly one of His Majesty's Council of this Province" (Boston News Letter, Februarj.' 2, 1727, p. 2/2). 6 "Tuesday, Nov. 22 [1687]. I goe to Hog-Island ... on Wednesday came home and hear of Justice Lynda's death yesterday about noon" (SewaU, Diary, i. 195). See p. 34, above. ^ "I . . . send this . . . which serves onely to acquaint you of ye Death of my Cousin Mason, who dyed the 6 instant was buried at Ivingstone \'pon tliis riuer" (Randolph to Blathwayt, September 12, 1688, Massachusetts Archives, cxxix. 181; cf. Toppan's Randolph, iv. 235). 8 "Mason was a merchant in London, a zealous man in the cause of New Eng- land, and I suppose his name was inserted in the charter from mere respect and gratitude, for he never came over to New England" (Hutcliinson, History of Mas- sachusetts, Boston, 1767, ii. 15 note). On this Savage comments as follows: "At the first elect, [in 1693] our people were not prevented by respect or gratitude from leav. him out, as they did sev. others of the creatures of Mather" (Genealogical Dictionary, iii. 170). The fact that Mason was not resident in Massachusetts in 1693 is sufficient to accoimt for his being left out that year. Allusions to him will be found in Sewall's Diary and Letter-Book. It has been asserted, but perhaps on inadequate evidence, that he was in Massachusetts in 1686: see Massachu- setts Province Laws, vii. 5 note; Z. G. Whitman, History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (1842), p. 220; O. A. Roberts, History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (1895), i. 276, 277, 286; C. Robbins, History of the Second Church (1852), p. 263. ^ W. H. Whitmore, Genealogy of the Payne and Gore Families (Prince Society) p. 12; Suffolk Probate Files, No. 2883. ^° J. O. Austin, Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, p. 137. " "John Nicholson" (C). Bom November 12, 1655, Francis Nicholson was commissioned an Ensign on January 16, 1678, and on July 30, 1686, Captain of a Company of Foot for the Colony of New England. He came over in December, 1686, the first allusion to him here by name apparently being an entry in Sewall's Diaiy for May 17, 1687 (i. 177). He was never knighted. See C. Dalton, English Army Lists and Commission Registers, 1661-1714, i. 221, 269, 323, ir. 27, 83, vi. 20, 184, 191, 287, 399-400; Dalton, George the Fu-st's Army, 1714r-1727, ii. 55- 1913] LIST OF COUNCILLORS, 1685-1691 41 C Palmer, John. N. Y. C Philipse,! Frederick. N. Y. Died Nov. 6, 1702.8 D PiiiLUPS, John. Mass. Died March 21, 1725.' D Pike, Robert. Mass. Died Dec, 1706.'» ABC Pynchon, John. Mass. Died Jan. 17, 1703.5 ABC Randolph, Edward. Mass. Died in April, 1703." D Richards, John. Mass. Died April 2, 1694.^ D Russell, J.uies. Mass. Died April 28, 1709.^ A D Saltonstall, Nathaniel. Mass. Did not accept A. H. C. 1659; died May 21, 1707.^ B C Sanford, John. R.I. Did not serve. »" Died before May 21, 1687." D Sergeant, Peter. Mass. Died Feb. 8, 1714.»2 62; Notes and Queries, September 12, 1903, Ninth Series, xii. 201-202; Nation, xcvii. 32. He is sometimes assigned to New York, but he did not go to New York until long after his arrival at Boston. His death was noted in the New England Weekly Journal of April 29, 1728, p. 2/2. 1 "Philhps" (C). The name is found in over a dozen different forms. « E. H. Hall, Phihpse Manor at Yonlcers (1912), pp. 38-39; Collections New York Historical Society for 1892, pp. 369-374. 3 "On the last Lord's Day died at Charlestown the Honourable John Phillips, Esq; formerly of His Majesty's Council in this Pro^'ince, Aged 90 odd Years" (Boston News Letter, March 25, 1725, p. 2/2). * "Salisbury; Major Robert Pike Esq. was Interr'd here on Thursday the 19th. of December last; the Foot Company of the Town, and the Troop, being in Arms. He died iB the 92 year of his Age" (Boston News Letter, January 6, 1707, p. 4/2). 6 "Col. John PjTichon died Jan^ 17. 1703, about Sun-Rise, as Mr. Holyoke tells me Sabbath-Day" (Sewall, Diary, February 6, ii. 73). 6 Toppan's Randolph, ii. 182. ' "April 2, 1694. Monday. ... In the Afternoon, all the Town is filled with the discourse of ALajor Richards's Death, which was extraordinarily suddain; was abroad on the Sabbath, din'd verj^ well on Monday, and after falling into an angry passion with hi.? Ser\-ant Richard Frame, presently after, fell probably mto a Fit of Apoplexy, and died" (Sewall, Diarj-, i. 389-390). 8 "Thorsday, April, 28 [1709]. Mr. Russell dies about 11. a.rn. He was a good Christian, and right New-England Man; is I think the last of them chosen in the year 1680: about 68. years old" (Sewall, Diary, ii. 253). » "May, 22 [1707]. Thorsday, . . . Bro"" Tapm tells me of the death of Col. Saltonstall on Wednesday after Lecture" (Sewall, Diarj', ii. 187). Cf. Haverhill Vital Records, ii. 466. " At least, he is not recorded as present at any meeting of the Council. " Rhode Island Historical Magazine, vii. 294-295. In a letter dated May 21, 1687, Randolph said that Sanford was dead (see p. 37 note 7, above). He is some- times confused with his father, also John Sanford, who was President of Rhode Island in 1653 anfl died between June 22 and November 16 of that year (Rhode Island Historical Magazine, vii. 293-294). ^ "Boston, On Monday last dyed here the Honourable Peter Sargent Esqr. of Her Majesty's Council] for this Province" (Boston News Letter, February 15, 1714, p. 2/2). 42 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [MakcH, D Sewall, Samuel. Mass. H. C. 1671; died Jan. 1, 1730.1 C Sheimpton, Samuel. Mass. Died Feb. 8, 1698.^ B C Smith, Daniel. N. P. Died April 28, 1692.^ C Smith, Richard. N. C. Died about 1692.* C Spragg, John. N. Y. Did not serve.^ 1 "This Morning about half an hour after Five Died here the very Honourable Samuel Sewall, Esq; in the 78th Year of his Age" (Boston News Letter, January 1, 1730, p. 2/2). 2 "Febr. 9 [1698]. Col. S. Shrimpton dies of an Apoplexy" (Sewall, Diary, ii. 8*). This entry is apparently wrong, as Sewall elsewhere writes: "Fourth-day, Febr. 9. Last night, about nine of the clock, Col. Shrimpton dyes of an Apoplexy " (Diary, i. 470), And on February 9 Wait Winthrop wrote: "I fear the post will be gon, so must end by giueing you the bad news that Coll. Shrimpton dyed about nine of the clock the last night, haueing not bin sick aboue two or three days, tho something indisposed as he use to be longer " (5 Massachusetts Historical Collections viii. 528). * J. N. Arnold, Vital Records of Rehoboth, p. 876. « His will, dated March 16, 1691, was proved July 12, 1692 (Savage, iv. 131; Suffolk Probate Files, No. 1970). ^ Though in the Instructions to Andros the name clearly reads "John Spragg," it has hitherto been assumed that "Spragg" was a variant of "Sprague," and John Sprague has been assigned sometimes to Pthode Island (A. S. BatcheUor, Laws of New Hampshire, 1904, i. 144), and sometimes — on the authority of an old list printed by Hutchinson — to Plymouth Colony (Hutchinson, History of Massachu- setts, London, 1765, i. 354; Bayhes, Historical Memoir of New Plymouth, vol. ii. pt. iv. p. 43; BatcheUor, Laws of New Hampshire, i. 830 and note 1. Cf. Savage, Genealogical Dictionary, iv. 153-154, who challenged this identification). The person was unquestionably John Spragg (Sprag, Spragge), who hved in New York from 1683 to 1687. On January 27, 1683, Spragg was commissioned by the Duke of York Secretary of New York and reached there the following summer or autumn (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1681-1685, Nos. 919, 1415, pp. 378, 555). On August 11, 1685, Governor Dongan wrote Blathwayt that "Mr Sprag the Secretary of this place will goe for England this winter and carry the Lav.'s" (New York Colonial Documents, iii. 364). The Instructions to Dongan issued May 29, 1686, contained this clause: "Wliereupon you are forthwith to call together the members of our Council for that our Province, by name Anthony Brockholes, Frederick Philips, Stephanus van Courtland, Lucas Santen, John Spragg, Jervas Baxter, and John Young Esquires" (ibid. iii. 369). On September 13, 1686, Spragg wrote Blathwayt, "I hope to be myself the bearer of the quarterly returns required by the Lords of Trade and Plantations" (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1685-1688, No. 861, p. 242). On September 14 "Governor Dongan took the oaths on receiving his new Commission and Instruc- tions. Anthony Brockholes, Frederick Flipson, Stephanus van Cortlandt, John Spragge, and Gervis Baxter were sworn of the Council. Agreed that Mr. Santen be not sworn yet" (ibid. No. 862, p. 242). On February 22, 1687, Dongan wrote that "The Council thought fit not to give M'' Santen his Oath, as appears by the Minutes of Council. John Young had his oath given him, but hee hves 150 miles from this, and has noe estate of his own and very old, that it is a thing impossible A B C C A B C A B C A B C B C D 1913] LIST OF COUNCILLORS, 1685-1691 43 Stoughton, William. Mass. H. C. 1650; died July 7, 1701. ^ Treat, Robert. Ct. Died July 12, 1710.2 Tyng, Edward. Me. Died about 1701.^ Tyng, Jonathan. Mass. Died Jan. 19, 1724.* Usher, John. Mass. Died Sept. 1, 1726.* Walley, John. N. P. Died Jan. 11, 1714.8 for him to serve" (New York Colonial Documents, iii. 416). (Notwithstanding this statement, Jolm Youngs did serve and was present at several Council meetings.) On the same day (February 22, 1687), "Names of the new Councillors recommended by Governor Dongan in the letter; with an intimation that he has already appointed Judge Palmer and Nicholas Bayard to the Council" (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Indies, 1685-1688, No. 1140i, p. 322). On March 2, 1687, Dongan wrote to the King, "I send Capt" Baxter and M"" Spragg and humbly beg your Mat^ will discourse them" (New York Colonial Documents, iii. 423). Spragg must have sailed about that time, since various documents were endorsed as "Reed. 9 May 1687, per Mr. J. Spragge" (Calendar of State Papers, America and West Inches, 1685-1688, pp. 322, 335). As stated in the text, Spragg was named a Coun- cillor in the Instructions to Andros of April 16, 1688. In a dociunent dated De- cember, 1689, we read: "List of the Council of New York, with comments against the names. Anthony Brockholes (papist); Frederick Flj'pse; Ger\-ais Ba.xter (a papist); Stephan van Cortlandt; John Sprag (in England); Nicholas Bayard; John Palmer (in custody at Boston)" (ibid. 1689-1692, No. 667, p. 197). Tliis is the last allusion I find to Spragg, and as his name is not included as a Councillor in the Instructions to Governor Sloughter issued January 31, 1690 (ibid. No. 750, p. 215), it may be assumed that he died in London late in 1689. (Many other refer- ences to Spragg are in the Calendars of State Papers, America and West Indies; New York Colonial Documents; Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, 1866, pt. ii. pp. 104, 106, 112, 114, 132, 133, 144, 146, 154, 155, 162; and Journal of the Legislative Council of the Colony of New York, 1861, vol. i. pp. xii, xiv, xv, xvii). 1 See p. 50, below. 2 H. R. Stiles, History of Ancient Wethersfield (1904), ii. 713. » Savage, iv. 357; SufTolk Probate Files, No. 2653. * "Woobum; Lord's Day, .January 19th. We were here entertain'd with a very loud Memento Mori: The Honourable Col. JonatJmn Tyng Esq; walking to the place of Publick Worship in the Afternoon, ex7)ired as soon as he got into his seat, during the time of the first Prayer, and was carried out dead, Mtatis 81. His Faith and Hohness were so apparent that we are perswaded he was convey'd to the Assembly of the First-bom in Heaven, to bear a part with them in glorifying their Creator and Redeemer" (Boston News Letter, January 23, 1724, p. 2/2). In the New England Courant of January' 27, 1724, the date by an obvious misprint is given as "Sunday the 29th Instant" (p. 2/2). ^ "And on the 1st Instant, died at his Seat near Medford, the Honourable John Usher Esq; sometime since Lieut. Governour of the Province of New-Hampshire, in the 79 Year of his Age, & was Honourably Interr'd here on Monday last" (Boston News Letter, September 8, 1726, p. 2/2). • "Boston. On Friday the Eleventh Currant, Dyed here the Honourable John Walley Esq; of Her Majesty's Council, and one of the Judges of the Superiour 44 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, ABC Wharton, Richard. Mass. Died May 14, 1689.^ D WiNTHROP, Adaivi. Mass. Died Aug. 3, 1700.^ ABC WiNTHROP, FiTZ .John. Ct. Died Nov. 27, 1707.3 A B C D WiNTHROP, Wait. Mass. Died Nov. 7, 1717.* C YouNGS,5 John. N. Y. Died about 1698.6 V PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY, 1691-1775 Governors Sir William Phips was commissioned Governor by William and Mary on December 12, 1691. Arriving in Boston on May 14, 1692, he was sworn on May 16. Sewall -^Tites: May 14*^ 1692. Sir William arrives in the Nonsuch Frigat: Candles are lighted before He gets into Town-house. Eight Companies wait on Him to his house, and then on Mr. [Increase] Mather to his. Made no volleys because 'twas Satterday night. . . . Monday, May 16. Eight Companies and two from Charlestown guard Sir William and his Councillors to the Townhouse, where the Comissions were read out and Oaths taken. ^ •Court of tiiis Province, in the Sixty Ninth Year of his Age" (Boston News Letter, January 14, 1712, p. 2/2). 1 "Tuesday, May 14*^ [1689], Mr. Richard Wharton dyes about 10 post merid" (Sewall's Diary, i. 255). 2 "Aug* 3 [1700]. . . . About 2 post merid, Mr. Adam Winthrop dies" (Sewall, Diary, ii. 21). 3 "Boston, Nov. 27. About four a Clock this morning the Honourable John Winthrop Esqr. Govemour of Her Majesties Colony of Connecticut, Departed this Life in the Sixty Ninth Year of his Age; being Born at Ipswich in New England the 14th day of March, Anno 1638" (Boston News Letter, December 1, 1707, p. 2/1). He was the son of Gov. John Winthrop, Jr., of Connecticut. * "Boston, On Thursday the 7th Currant cUed here the Honourable Major Gen- eral WAIT WINTHROP Esq; Aged 76 Years, Justly Dear to his Country for his Honourable Descent . . . but dearer yet for his personal Character and Vertues" (Boston News Letter, November 18, 1717) . He was the son of Gov. John Winthrop, Jr., of Connecticut 6 "Young" (C). 6 His will, dated February 20, 1697, was proved May 28, 1698 (Collections New York Historical Society for 1892, pp. 292-293). On October 17, 1700, Bellomont wrote: "To instance, in some of those false articles, I am accus'd of having remov'd CoU. Young with others from the Council, and Coll: Young was dead two years before my coming into this country" (New York Colonial Documents, iv. 726). Bellomont reached New York April 2, 1698 (see p. 49 note 2, below). 7 Diary, i. 360. 1913] SIR WILLIAM PHIPS INAUGURATED GOVERNOR, 1692 45 The following extracts are from the Council Records of May 16th: Their Majesties Royal Charter for the Erecting Uniting and Incorpo- rating of tlieir Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England, and for settling of Government within the said Province, under the great seal of England, was read and published. Their Majesties Letters Pattents under the great seal of England, for constituting and appointing S'' William Phips kn' to be Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over their Maj"''^ Pro\'ince of the ]\Iassa- chusetts Bay in New England; as also for the Constituting and appoint- ing of the said S'' William Phips to be their Maj''*^^ Lieutenant and Commander in Chief of the Militia Forces, Forts and places of strength within their Maj"''^ several Colonies of Connecticutt, Rhode Lsland & Providence Planta*^'"* the Narragansett Country or Kings Province, & the Pro\'ince of New Hampshire, was read and published. Their Majesties Letters Patents under the great seal of the Supreme Court of Admiralty of England granting unto S'' William Phips kn* the Office of Vice Admiral within the Province and Territory of the Mas- sachusetts Bay, and the sea parts belonging and adjoyning thereto whatsoever, was also shewn forth and published. . . . His Excellency the GoV tooke his oath for the due & faithful perform- ance of his Office or place of Governour; as also the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament made in the first year of their present Maj*'®^ Reign, Entituled an Act for the abrogating of all the Oaths of Supremacy & Allegiance, and appointing other Oaths, being administred unto him, by William Stoughton Esq""" L* Governour. . . . The Members of tlie Council then present: \nz* John Richards Wait Winthrop, John Phillips, James Russell, John Joyliffe, Adam Winthrop, Rich*^ Middlecutt, John Foster, Peter Sergeant, Joseph Lynde, Samuel Hayman, & Silvanus Da\as Esq""' each one severally for himselfe tooke his Oath for the due and faithful performance of his Office or place of a Councellor or Assistant, and the Oaths appointed to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy. Before the Governour & L* Governour.^ The oath taken by the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary, and Councillors is as follows: We S' William Phips K"' Governo' &c=' of their Maj"" Province of the ^Lissachusetts Bay in New England William Stoughton Esq'' Lieutenant Governour And the Counccllors or Assistants of their Ma*'®' 1 Council Records, ii. 166-168. 46 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, said Province, and Secretary, Each one particularly and severally for Our Selves, Do make, repeat and subscribe the following Declaration in the words thereof, — Mutatis Nominibus Viz* I, William Phips, do solemnly and sincerly in the presence of God, profess. Testify and declare. That I do believe. That in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, there is not any Transubstantiation of the Elements of Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, at or after the Consecration thereof by any person whatsoever, and that the Invocation or Adoration of the Virgin Mary, or any other Saint, and the Sacrifice of the Mass as they are now used in the Chm-ch of Rome are Supersti- tious and Idolatrous. And I do solemnly in the presence of God profess, testify and declare. That I do make this Declaration and every part thereof in the plain and Ordinary Sense of the words read unto me, as they are commonly understood by English Protestants, without any Evasion, Equivocation or Mental Reservation whatsoever. And with- out any dispensation already granted me for this purpose by the Pope, or any Authority, or Person whatsoever. Or without any hope of any such dispensation from any Person, or Authority whatsoever, Or without thinking that I am or can be Acquitted before God or man. Or absolved of this Declaration, Or any part thereof. Although the Pope, or any other person or persons whatsoever should dispense with, or annul the same. Or declare that it was Null and void from the begining. Isaac Addington ^ John Hathorne John Richards Job Alcock Samuel Hayman James Russell Sam^^ Appleton Elisha Hutchinson Nath: Saltonstall William Bradford John Joyliffe Jonathan Corwin Barnabas Lathrop Joseph Lynde Richard Middlecutt John Phillips William Phips RoB^ Pike SiLVANUs- Davis Samuel Donnell John Foster Barth*' Gedney Peter Sergeant Samuel Sewall William Stoughton John Walley Adam Wtnthrop Wait Winthrop^ 1 For convenience these names are arranged alphabetically. 2 Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 785, p. 172. (A copy is in Council Records, ii. 16.5-166.) The signatures to tliis document are not auto- graphs, as I am mformed by Miss Lucy Drucker, who also says that "the original ought to be among the Oath Rolls (Chancery Petty Bag), of which however very few have been preserved, and I have found none of the various colonies among them." Nor is the original at the Boston State House. Phips's Commission was approved December 3, and he himself took the oaths in London on December 31, 1691 (Acts of the Privy Council, Colonial, ii. 799). Many oaths, however, have been preserved at the State House. The oath taken by the Representatives on 1913] FOILMS OF OATHS AND ASSOCIATION, 1692-1699 47 On November 15, 1G94, — Upon the motion of his Excell'^^ the Governour that he had some things material to offer, relating to the complaints exliibited against him by June 8, 1692 (Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 188), is written and is like the oath printed in the text. The oaths taken by the Councillors in May, 1693, are printed on a broadside to which the signatures are attached, and read as follows (Massa- chusetts Archives, xlviii. 212) : A TRUE COPY OF THE OATHS That are appointed by Act of Parliament, made in the First Year of Their present Majesties Reign; to be Taken instead of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and the Declaration ap- pointed to be made. Repeated and Subscribed I A. B. do sincerely Promise and Swear, That I wUl be Faithful, and bear true Allegiance to Their Majesties, King W I L L I A M and Queen M A RY. So help me God, &c. I A. B. do Swear, That I do from my Heart Abhor, Detest, and Abjure, as Im- pious and Heretical, that Damnable Doctrine and Position, That Princes Ex- communicated or Deprived by the Pope, or any Authority of the See of Rome, 7nay be Deposed or Murthered by their Subjects, or any other whatsoever. And I do Declare, That no Foreign Prince, Person, Prelate, State, or Potentate, hath, or ought to have any JuriscUction, Power, Superiority, Preeminence, or Au- thority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Reahn. So help me God, &c. Then foUows the Declaration — "I A. B. do solemnly and sincerely . . . null and void from the beginning^' — as printed in the text. To these oaths were added in May, 1699, what was called the Association, which in that year was written (Massachusetts .\rchives, cvi. 450). This, taken from a printed broadside, signed in 1700, reads as follows (Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 317): Association. W[EREAS there has been a horrid and detestable Conspiracy formed and carried on by Papists and other wicked and traiter- ous persons for Assassinating His Majesties Royal Person, in order to encourage an Invasion from France, to subvert our ReUgion, Laws and Liberty. We whose Names are hereunto subscribed, Do heartily, sincerely and solemnly profess, testify and declare. That His present Majesty KING WILLIAM is rightful and lawful KING of the Realms of England, Scotland and Ireland: And we do mutually promise and en- gage to stand by and a.ssi«t each other to the utmost of our power, in the support and defence of His Majesties most Sacred Person and Government, against the 48 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, M"" Brenton & Capt. Short, whereof he was not before ad\'ised, several papers and afEda\ats Avere presented by M'' Benjamin Jackson on that occasion, and sworn unto by him.^ On November 17th, — The Lieut* Gov'' and the members of the Council then in Town waited upon his Ex<=y at his house & accompanied him to the Waterside, who embarqued, and that evening set saile onwards of his Voyage to England.^ Thu*s Phips's term of office lasted only two and a half years — from May 16, 1692, to November 17, 1694, as he did not return to Boston and died suddenly in London on February 18, 1695.^ Upon the departure of Phips, Lieutenant-Governor William Sioughton ^ became Acting Governor on December 4, 1694, on which day tlie following proceedings took place in Council: This being the first sitting of the Council since the Gov""'^ departure, the Lieu* Gov' proposed to have the opinion of the Council, whether it be necessary, that he be sworne to see to the observance of the Acts of « Trade relating to tlie Plantations as the Act of the 12**^ of King Charles the Second directs that all Governours of the Plantations be. The Council Advised it as necessary, whereupon the L* Gov'' was sworn to do his utmost to see to the observance thereof.^ late King James and all his Adherents. And in case His Majesty come to any violent or untimely Death (wliich GOD forbid) We do hereby further freely and unanimously oblige our selves, to unite associate and stand by each other in revenging the same upon His Enemies and their Adlierents, and in supporting and defending the Succession of the Crowm, according to an Act made in the first year of the Reign of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY, Intituled, An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Suhjectjfand settling the Succession of the Crown. (Cf. Pubhcations of this Society, x. 384-386, xiii. 119-126.) It will be observed that the oath iu the text has twenty-eight signatures attached — those of the three Crown officials and of twenty-five Councillors. There were, however, twenty-eight Councillors named in the Province Charter (p. 35, above). Simon Bradstreet, Thomas Hinckley, and Stephen Mason, the remaining three Coimciilors, do not appear to have qualified. ^ Council Records, ii. 293. 2 ii. 293. 3 On INlay 5, 1695, Sewall wrote: "About 3 hours News comes to Town of the death of Sir William Phips, Feb. 18*^ at wliich people are generally sad" (Diary, i. 404). ^ The names of Acting Governors are printed in itaUcs. s Council Records, ii. 294. 1013] EARL OF BELLOMONT INAUGURATED GOVERNOR, 1699 49 On October 20, 1698, — His Maj'y'^ Commission under the Great Seal of England appointing of sundry Gent: therein named, to administer unto the Governour or Commander in Chief of the Pro\'ince of the Massachusetts, the Oath ap- pointed by an Act of Parliament made in the seventh and eighth year of his present Maj'^'^ Reign, Entituled an Act for preventing Frauds and Regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, to be taken by all Governours or Commanders in Chief of any Enghsh Colonies or Plantations, and the forme of the oath in s^ Commission contained were read, and the said oath accordingly administred unto the Hon''^^ ^Yilliam Stoughton Esq""® Lieut* Gov"", and the present Commander in Chief of the said Pro\'ince of the Massachusetts Bay, at the Council Board, before Peter Sergeant, Ehsha Hutchinson, John Phillips, Nathaniel Byfield, Benjamin Bullivant and Lawrence Hammond Esq'^ six of the Commissioners therein named. ^ Stoughton was Acting Governor from December 4, 1694, to May 26, 1699. The Earl of Bellomont was commissioned Governor by William III on June 18, 1697; but did not take office until May 26, 1699,- on which day — His Excellency the Earle of Bellomont arriving this day at Boston, his jMajesty's Royal Commission, constituting and appointing him Cap- tain General and Governour in Chief of this his Majesty's Proxince of the Massachusetts Bay, was read and pubhshed. And his Excellency tooke the Oaths appointed, by Act of Parliament made in the first yeare of the reign of his M*^ and the late Queen Mary, to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and made, repeated and subscribed the Declaration in said Act mentioned, and also tooke an Oath for the due and faithfull performance of his duty in the 1 Council Records, ii. 561. ^ Bellomont arrived in New York on April 2, 1698. In a letter dated August 8 he said: "In my letter of the eighth of January last I gave your Lordships an ac- count of my arrival at Barbadoes. On the ninth of March I left that Island, and on the second of April I landed at the City of New York, and entered on the Govern*" (New Y'ork Colonial Documents, iv. 306). In a letter dated " New- Yorke the 4*** of ApriU 1698," Benjamin Jackson wrote: "His Excellency the Earle of Bellamont, being arrived from Barbadoes, came on shoar at this place, and was Swome on Saturday Last" (Massachusetts Archives, cvi. 421). Cf. Sewall, Diary, i. 476. 50 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Office and place of Governour of the s*^ Province; before the Hon^'^ WiUiam Stoughton Esq'' L* Gov*. • And then tooke the oath appointed by an Act of Parliament made in in the seventh and eighth year of his present Maj*^''^ reign entituled: An Act for preventing frauds and regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, to be taken by all Governours or Commanders in Chief of any English Colonies or Plantations, Before Tho^ Danforth, James Russell, Elisha Cooke, Jonathan Corwin, Peter Sergeant and Lawrence Ham- mond Esq''^ six of the Commissioners appointed to administer the same by his Maj*^'^ Commission under the Great Seal of England. His Excellency also subscribed the Association lately Established by Act of Parliament.^ On July 16, 1700, "His Excellency acquainted the Council of his purpose to embarque to morrow for his Government of the Prov''^ of New York;" and on July 17th, "His Excellency embarqued upon his Maj^y'^ Ship the Arundel and set saile therein towards his Govern- ment of the Province of New York." ^ Upon the departure of Bellomont, who never returned and died suddenly in New York on March 5, 1701,^ the government again devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor Stoughton,'^ who remained Act- ing Governor until his death on July 7, 1701.^ By the death of Stoughton, the government devolved, for the first time, upon the Council. The following proceedings took place in Council on July 10, 1701 : The Hon^ie WilHam Stoughton Esq''^ his Maj*'''' Lieut* Governour & Commander in Chief of this Province being lately deceased, and there being no person within this Province Commissionated by his Maj*^ to be Governour within the same. Resolved and Ordered. That a Proclamation be forthwith emitted 1 Council Records, iii. 20-21. 2 iii. 137. 3 On March 15, 1701, Sewall wrote: "The Town is fiU'd with the News of my Ld Bellomont's death, last Wednesday was senight" (Diary, ii. 33). * There was no meeting of the Council between July 17 and July 22, 1700, and on neither day did Stoughton take any new oaths — no doubt for the reason that, as he had received no new Commission, those which he had previously taken were regarded as sufficient. 5 On July 7, 1701, Sewall wrote: "About the time got thither the L* Gov'' died" (Diary, ii. 38). 1913] GOVERNIVIENT DEVOL^^S UPON THE COUNCIL, 1701 51 for the continuance of all Military Commission Officers until further Order. And a Proclamation being accordingly drawn up was signed by the Members present at the Board and published.^ A Letter to the Right Hon^'^ M' Secretary Vernon to give notice of the death of the llon^^^ William Stoughton Esq'** his Maj'^'^ Lieut* Gov'' of this Province; and another letter of like import to the Right Hon^'^ the Lords Commiss''^ of the Council for Trade and Plantations; being drawn up, were agreed to, and signed by all the members of the Council present at the Board.^ And on July 11th, — For the more easy and ready dispatch of the affairs of the Govern- ment. Resolved. That there be a Council held at the Council Chamber in Boston upon every Wednesday in each week weekly, to meet at ten a clock in the morning, and that all the members of the Council now absent be notified of the said stated time for the Councils sitting, that so they may afford their presence there for his Maj'^ ^ service accordingly with- out expecting further notice.' That the Council felt uneasy in its assumption of power is sufficiently shown by a letter it wrote to Secretary Vernon on July 10th, and by an address sent to King William by the Council and House on August 7th. The letter is in part as foUows: R^ Hoxo'"'^ We lay hold of this first Conveyance to transmit to your Honour the sorrowful tidings of the death of the Hono'"® William Stoughton Esq"" his Ma*''^^ L* Governo'' and Commander in Chief of this Province, who departed this Life on the Seventh instant in the Evening. . . . whereby the Affaires thereof [i. e. of the government] are embarrassed and cannot be managed without greater difficulty. . . . And in the meanwhile we shall Endeavour to observe his Ma'''^^ Commands and Directions in his Royal Charter for Administring of the Government.^ The address of August 7th, in which some of the language employed in the letter of July 10th is practically repeated, is in part as follows: 1 The proclamation was not entered in the Council Records or in the Court Records, and, if printed, apparently no copy has survived. 2 Coimcil Records, iii. 216-217. * iii. 217-218. * Massachusetts Archives, U. 132. 52 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Makch, To the Kings most Excellent Majesty, The humble Address of the Council and Representatives of your Maj"*^^ Pro\ance of the Massachusetts Bay in New- England in General Court assembled. Most Gracious & Dread Soveraign. We crave leave in all humility to express the deep sorrow whercAvith we are very sensibly affected under the awful dispensation of Divine Soveraignty towards us. First in the death of the truely Noble Earl of Bellomont your Ma*'*^^ late Captain General and Governour in Chief of this yo"" Province and soon after in the death of the Hon^^® William Stoughton Esq"" your Maj"®^ late L* Governour and Commander in Chief of the same: Deploring our great unhappiness in being deprived of the conduct of two such Worthy persons — more especially at a time when the present conjuncture makes us stand in the greatest need of all that wisdom skill and prudence for directing the Affairs of the Govern- ment which we had large experience of in them. Our Trust under God is nextly on your Ma*^® Grace towards us; Hope- ing That the same Royal Goodness which inclined yo"" sacred Majesty to be favourable to your good subjects here in the appointing of persons so worthy and desirable to the chief places of Government over us will still dispose your Majesty to have the like Princely care of and Regard to us.^ The government was administered by the Council from July 10, 1701, until the arrival of Governor Dudley on June 11, 1702.^ ^ Massachusetts Archives, xx. 59. 2 William III died March 8, 1702. On May 28 " the London Gazette and several other Prints, Papers and letters," brought by Capt. Thomas Burrington, reached Boston confirming "the sorrowful and awful tidings . . . which had been more uncertainly reported several days since from divers parts beyond sea," and it was "Ordered therefore. That the several persons newly chosen Councellors or Assistants for this Province do take the oath of Allegiance to her Said Maj*^ Queen Anne" and that Anne be proclaimed on the following day (Council Records, iii. 311, 313, 315). This extract i? from the London Gazette of July 23: Boston in New-England, June 8. ON the 28th of May last we received Advice of the Death of His late Majesty, and of Her present I'.Iajesty's happy Succession to the Throne: The Council and the General Assembly were then sitting, and the Members of the Council im- mediately took the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty. The next day the Council, attended by the Representatives in the General xlssembly, the Ministers, Justices of the Peace, Gentlemen, Merchants, and other Inhabitants, Proclaimed Her 1913] JOSEPH DUDLEY INAUGURATED GOVERNOR, 1702 53 Joseph Dudley was commissioned Governor by William III on February 13, 1702;^ but this Commission becoming void on the death of the King on JMarch Sth following, he was again commissioned by Anne on April 1, 1702. He reached Boston June 11th, on which day the following proceedings took place in Council: Majesty, the Troop of Guards and the Militia being in Arms, who, when the Proc- lamation was ended, fired three VoUej^s, which were followed with Huzza's, and loud Acclamations of God save Queen Anne, and the Cannon of the Castle and Forts, and of Her Majesty's Ship the Gosport, and the Merchants Ships then in our Port, was discharged. In the evening the Company was entertained at the Town-House, and other Places, and all other Demonstrations of Joy were given suitable to the Occasion. The 31st, the Representatives took the Oath of Allegiance. The 4th Instant, the Members of the Council and other Gentlemen of the Town went into Mourning for the Death of His late Majesty. The Bells were tolled from 8 till 10 in the morning, and from 2 till 4 in the afternoon; Funeral Sermons were preached in all the Churches, and the Guns of the Castle and Forts, and of the Ships in our Port, were all discharged (p. 1/1). * The above passages prove that certain news of the death of WiUiam reached Boston May 28, and that Anne was proclaimed on May 29. In Sewall's Diary, under date of May 28, is a long entry which reads in part as follows: " Burrington from New-found-Land brings Prints of the King's death March, 8. at 8 m. . . . Then we resolv'd to proclaim her Majesty here: Which was done accordingly below the Town-house. . . . Proclamation was made between 3 and 4. At 5 p.m. Madam BeUingham dies " (ii. 56-57). Most of this entry must have been written on May 29; and an examination of the original Diary shows that in the margin, opposite the words " At 5 p.m.," Sewall wrote " May 29," which date is omitted in the printed Diary. Of. p. 63 note 2, below. 1 Dudley's Commission had been approved as early as June 28, 1701 (Acts of the Privy Coimcil, Colonial, ii. 799) ; and on December 11, 1701, Constantine Phipps wrote to the Massachusetts Council and Assembly that "pursuant to yo"" direccons I was to wait on Colt Dudley who hath his Ma*'^® warr* to be y'" Governor" (Mas- sachusetts Archives, U. 137). An Exemplification of Burges's Commission of March 17, 1715, is in the Ubrary of the Massachusetts Historical Society; and in Vol. ii of this Society's Publica- tions it is stated that this Exemplification "is the only document of the sort (among the Commissions printed in this volume) that is now knowTi to be extant" (p. 100 note 1). Since writing that note, I have ascertained that the originals of two other Commissions are in the Harvard College Library, both of which eluded my previous search because neither is entered in the card catalogue under " Manuscripts in this Library." One is Dudley's Commission as Yice- Admiral of February 26, 1701, which is written on a single piece of parchment and signed "Orlando Gee Reg"^." The seal which formerly appended is now missing. It was given to the College Library in 1854 by WiUiam Johnston, who graduated in that year. The other is Shutc's Commission as Governor of June 15, 1716: see p. 63 note 1, below. 54 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, The Gentlemen of the Council receiving Intelligence this morning by an Express from Marblehead of his Excell'''*'^ arrival there yester evening in his Maj*^'^ Ship the Centurion. And the said Ship being now in sight in her way from thence towards this place; Samuel Sewall, El°* Hutchinson & Nath' Byfield Esq''^ with the Secretary were desired and directed forthwith to repair on board her, In the name of the Council to congratulate his Escell^^^ happy arrival, & to wait upon him to Town — And the said Gentlemen accordingly attended that service. The said Ship anchoring about noon in Nantasket Road, his Excell^^ and the Hon''''' the Lieut* Gov' soon after left her, being saluted at their coming off with the discharge of several Canon on board said Ship, and in their passage up to Town by her Maj'^'^ Castle, were again saluted from thence by the discharge of the Canon there, as also by her Maj*^'^ Ship and Merchant Ships in the Port as they passed by them, and by the Forts in the Town. Upon the landing of his Excellency & the Lieut* Gov'' they were re- ceived and attended by her Maj*^'^ Council, the Representatives, Min- isters, Justices and other Gentlemen, with the Troop of Guards and Regiment of Militia in Armes, from the water side to the Council Cham- ber; from whence his Excellency, the Council and Representatives re- moved into the Court Chamber, and being there seated in their places the doors set open and the Gent" and other the Company admitted in. Proclamation was made to command silence, and her Maj*^'^ Royal Commission or Letters Patent, Dated at Westminster the first day of April, in the first year of her Maj*^'^ reign, constituting his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq""^ to be her Majesty's Capf* General and Governour in Chief in and over her Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, as also Captain General and Commander in Chief of the Militia & of all the Forces by Sea and Land within the Colonys of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation and the Narraganset Countrey or Kings Province and of all Forts and places of strength within the same, was read and published. Then his Excell^^ tooke the oaths appointed by Act of Parliament passed in the first year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary to be taken instead of the oaths of allegiance & Supremacy, unto her present Maj*^ Queen Anne, and repeated & subscribed the Declaration appointed by the same Act. Also tooke an oath for the due & faithful performance of his duty in the Office and place of Gov^'of the s^ Province, and the oath by an Act of Parliament made in the seventh and eighth year of the Reign of King William the Third Intituled An act for preventing Frauds and regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, appointed to be taken 1913] CONTROVERSY BETWEEN GOV. DUDLEY AND COUNCIL, 1715 55 by all Governours or Commanders in Chief of any English Colony or Plantations. His Excell'^^^ Commission * of Vice Admiral, granted by the Right Hon"'® Thomas Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Lord high Admiral of England and Ireland, under the great Seal of the Hight Court of Admiralty of England bearing date the twenty sixth day of February 1701. was also shewn forth and published. . . . His Excellency further proposed, that her Majesty's Letters Patent to himselfe as Governour, and his Commiss" for vice Admiral and the Hon*^'® the Lieut* Gov''^ Commission might be made of Record. Which the Council advised accordingly.^ Early in 1715 a controversy took place between Governor Dudley and the Council as to who should administer the government.^ When Anne ascended the throne in 1702, a commission became void upon the demise of the CrowTi. In 1705 the British Parliament passed " An Act for the better Security of her jNIajesty 's Person and Govern- ment, and of the Succession to the Crown of England in the Protestant Line" (4 Anne, Chapter VIII). This provided — VIII. . . . nor shall any Office, Place or Imployment, civil or mili- tary, within the Kingdoms of England or Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, or any of her Majesty's Plantations, become void, by Reason of the Demise or Death of her present Majesty, her Heirs or Successors, Queens or Kings of this Realm ; but . . . every other Person and Persons in any of the Offices, Places and Imployments aforesaid, shall continue in their respective Offices, Places and Imployments, for the Space of six Months next after such Death or Demise, unless sooner removed and discharged by the next in Succession, as aforesaid.^ In 1707 another Act (6 Anne, Chapter VII) of a like tenor was passed.^ Anne died August 1, 1714; the news of her death reached 1 See p. 53 note 1, above. « Council Records, iii. 322-324, 325. ' For an exhaustive treatment of this controversy, see our associate Mr. Worthington C. Ford's "The Governor and Council of the Province of Massachu- setts Bay, August, 1714 — March, 1715" (2 Proceedings Massachusetts Histori- cal Society, xv. 327-362). See also Mr. Ford's Preface to his reprint (1902) of the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1715. * Statutes at Large (1735), iv. 11-12. * Statutes at Large, iv. 110. In some editions of the Statutes, this Act is 6 Anne, Chapter XLI. 56 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Boston September 15; ^ and George I was proclaimed in Boston September 22? On November 22 George I issued "A Proclamation Declaring His Majesties Pleasure for Continuing the Officers in His Majesties Plantations, till his Majesties Pleasure shall be further Declared;" ^ but this proclamation did not reach Boston until March 19, 1715.^ Meanwhile, however, the six months specified in the Act ^ Boston News Letter, September 20, p. 2/2. The London Gazette of August 3, which contained an account of the death of Anne, reached Boston September 17, and was communicated to the Council by Dudley the same day (Council Records, vi. 251). (A copy of that issue is in a file of the Boston Nev\'s Letter owned by the Boston Athenaeimi, between the issues of September 20 and 27.) 2 Boston News Letter, September 27, p. 2/2; printed by Mr. Ford in 2 Proceed- ings Massachusetts Historical Society, xv. 330-332). The following account is taken from the Council Records : According to the Appointment made upon Friday last the 17. Currant The High & Mighty Prince George Elector of Bnmswick Lunenburgh was solemnly proclaimed King of Great Britain France & Ireland Defender of the Faith &'* with loud acclamations & the utmost demonstrations of Joy His Excellency the Gover- nour the Lieut* Gov^ and Council being in the Balcony of the Council Chamber which was hung with Scarlet Cloath The Regiment of the Town & another Regi- ment of Foot being drawn up under annes on the Parade before the Town House with the Troop of Guards and another Troop of Horse many of the Representatives of the General Assembly, Justices of the Peace, Ministers Gentlemen & Merchants (besides a very great concourse of People) in token of their JoyfuU Subjection & Allegiance to His Majesty Iinediately after ending the Proclamation the two troops & the regiments of Foot discharged three volleys and on a signal given the Cannon at His Matys Castle WiUia,m at the Touti Batteries & on board the ships & vessells in the Harbour -mere also discharged, & after a Pubhc Dinner the Govemour & Coimcil with a nmnber of Gentlemen & Officers returned in the evening to the Coun- cil Chamber & dranlc a health to His Majestys the Prince all the Royal Family & the Regency (fe"^ The Town House & particular Houses in several principal streets being finely illuminated. His Excellency took the Oaths ajipointed by Act of Parliament, to be taken in- stead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Declara- tion & took the Oath of Abjuration being administred by the Hon''^® Wait Winthrop in presence of the Lieut* Govemour after which His Excellency administred the same oaths Declaration & Abjxiration to lus Honoiu" the Lieut* Govemour & the other Twenty CounceUours present at the Board (vi. 256-257). 3 Printed in British Royal Proclamations relating to America, 1603-1783 (Transactions and Collections of the American Antiquarian Society, 1911, xii. 174-175), and in the Boston News Letter of March 28, 1715, p. 1/1. * "On the 19th Currant by the Post from New York His Excellency the Gover- nour receiv'd His Majesty's Proclamation for the Continuation of Officers &c. in the Plantations" (Boston News Letter, March 28, 1715, p. 2/2). 1913] CONTROVERSY BETWEEN GOV. DUDLEY AND COUNCIL, 1715 57 of G Anne Chapter VII had expired on February 1, 1715. The fol- lowing proceedings took place in Council on February 3 : Whereas upon the first of this instant, the following message was sent to His Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq"' by Samuel Sewall Joseph Lynde Addington Davenport & Thomas Hutchinson Esq" of His Majestys Council, from the Members of the Council then present: which were twelve in number being so many as could be at that time assembled the s'' message being in these words. That is to say. ]May it please your Excell"^ Whereas the six months given by the Parliament of Great Britain for continu^ persons in their ci\'il & military offices do expire this day; these are humbly to inquire whither your Excell^^ has received orders from our Sovereign Lord King George enabling you to sustain the place of Govern'' of this Pro\'ince longer To which his Excellency was pleased to answer, I have received no orders Which Message with the answer being now communicated to the Council, & debated & consider'^ the Question was then put. Whither the Government be devolved on His Majestys Council, according to the Powers granted in the Charter Which was voted in the affirmative Whereupon Elisha Hutchinson E°* Hutchinson Penn Townsend & Isaac Winslow Esq""^ were imediately sent to wait upon His Excellency & acquaint him therew'** The Council adjourned unto tomorrow at nine in the morning.^ On February 4 — Pursuant to a Vote pass'd yesterday That the Governm* is devolved on His ISIajestys Council according to the powers granted by the Charter A Proclamation was drawn up in the following words, That is to say. By the Honourable the Council of His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England A Proclamation WTiereas in the Royall Charter granted by King William & Queen Mary for incorporating their subjects of the Colonies enumerated in the s'^ Charter into one real ProAince of the name of the INIassachusetts Bay in New England, provision is made for the devolution of the Go^•crnm* upon the Council in these words, That is to say. And we do by these 1 Council Records, vi. 308-309. 58 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, presents for us our heirs & successors constitute and ordain that when & as often as the Gov"^ and Lieut* or Deputy Governour of our s'^ Province or Territory, for the time being shall happen to dye or be displaced by us, our heirs or successors or be absent from our s'^ Province & that there shall be no person within the s*^ Pro\dnce commissionated by us our heirs or successors to be Governour wuthin the same, Then & in every of the s'^ cases, the Council or Assistants of our s"* Province shall have full Power and Authority ; & we do hereby give & grant unto the said Council or Assistants of our s'^ Province for the time being or the major part of them, full power and authority to do & execute all and every such Acts Matters & things which the s'^ governour or Lieutenant or Deputy Governour of our s*^ Province or Territory for the time being might or could lawfully do or exercise if they or either of them were personally present until the return of the Governour or Lieut' or Deputy Governour so absent, or arrival or constitution of such other Governour or lieut* or deputy Governour as shall & may be appointed by us our heirs & succes- sors from time to time. And Whereas the six months from the demise of Her late Majesty Queen Anne limited by the Parliament of Great Britain, for continuing civil & military officers in their respective offices places & imployments, expired the first day of this instant February. And Whereas by reason that there is no person within the s*^ Province corhissionat^ by our Sov- eraign Lord King George, to be Governor within the same; the Govern- ment is now devolved upon the Council, & they are obliged to undertake the administration thereof in obedience to the constitution of the s*^ Charter, & for the welfare & safety of His Majestys subjects within this Province until His Majestys further pleasure be known. Pursuant therefore unto the power & authority to us granted as afore- said We have thought fit & necessary to issue & publish this Proclama- tion & We do in His Majestys name require all officers ci\'il & military within this Province, that have qualified themselves by taking the Oaths appointed in & by the aforesaid Act of Parliament, to attend the duty, & use & exercise the powers & authorities to their respective offices places & employments belonging Until further order. And all His Majestys loving subjects are required in His Matys behalfe to be aiding helping & assisting at the command- ment of the s*^ officers in the discharge of the duty of their respective places & employments, as they & every of them tender His Majest^^ displeasure and will answer their neglect at their peril Given at the Council Chamber in Boston the fourth day of February in the fh'st year of the reign of our Soveraign Lord 1913] COUNCIL ASSmiES THE GOVERNIVIENT, 1715 59 George, by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith &"'* annoque Domini 1714 Elisha Hutchinson Samll Sewa^ Joseph Lynde E™ Hutchinson Penn Townsend John Appleton John Higginson Andrew Belcher Esq' \Y°> Tailer Edward Bromfield Sani^ Appleton Benj* Lynde John Clarke r Esq' A Davenport Isaac Winslow Tho^ Hutchinson Wait ^Yintllrop By order of tlie Council Isaac Addington Secry . God save the King * Wait Winthrop Esq' took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Declaration, & took the oath of Abjuration & then ad- ministered the same to the rest of the Councellours present at the Board After which at the motion of the Secretary upon the question put, The Council declared their opinion that the Secretarys Commission re- mained in force, ha\'ing been so accepted during all the last reign & ordered him to countersign the Proclamaf* and the s'^ Proclamation was then published by beat of Drum sent to the Press & ordered to be dis- persed into the several parts An Oath being digested of the Tenour following was taken by all the Members present this day at the Board absent then only Andrew Belcher Esq' That is to say. "VMiereas for the present untill His Majestys pleasure be further known by the devolution of the Government according to the Royall Charter, full power & authority is granted to the Council of this His Majestys Province to do & execute all & every such Acts IMatters & things which the Governour of this Pro\'ince for the time being might or could lawfully do or execute, if he were personally present You swear that you will well and truly discharge that trust accordingly, to the utmost of your power So help you God ^ 1 This proclamation was issued as a printed broadside and was reproduced in facsimile by Mr. Ford (2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xv. 326- 327). 2 Ck)uncil Records, vi. 30&-313. 60 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, The King's proclamation of November 22, 1714, having, as already stated,^ reached Boston on March 19, 1715, on March 21 — His Excellency communicated to the Council a Proclamation by the King for continuing of all officers Civil & Military in being at the time of the demise of the late Queen, in their respective offices places & im- ployments till further order which was first read in the Council Chamber a great number of the principal Gentlemen of the Country being present and then His Excellency the Governour, the Lieutenant Governour & Council removing into the Balcony of the Council Chamber the same was again read there the Governours Guard & three other Troops of Horse of Suffolk & Middlesex & a great concourse of people attending immedi- ately after ending the Proclamation the People gave three Huzzas, the Troops discharged three volleys & the Cannon at His Majesty's Castle William, at the Town Batterie & on board His Matys Ships Pheenix were also discharged ^ The government, thus reassumed by Dudley, was retained by him until November 9, 1715, though not without a challenge from Lieutenant-Governor Tailer, as will presently be seen. Elizeus Burges was commissioned Governor by George I on March 17, 1715.^ The news of his appointment reached Boston ^ See p. 56, above, 2 Council Records, vi. 334. 3 For a sketch of Burges, about whom little is known, see Publications of this Society, xiv. 360-372, 389 note 1. For the following information, received too late for insertion at the above reference, I am indebted to Mr. Horatio F. Brown of Venice. The dates of Burges's services as " Secretary Resident " are: First, date of credentials, May 8-9, 1719; arrival in Venice, October, 1719; letter of recall, October 31, 1721; departure from Venice, March, 1722. Second, date of credentials, October 25, 1727; arrival in Venice, December 18, 1728. Among the " Inscriptions to English Families in the Old Protestant Cemetery near San Niccolo del Lido, Venice," is the following (Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, Second Series, 1S85, i. 347) : Elizaevs Bvrges A Georgio Primo et Secundo BRITANNIiE ReGIBVS APUD VeNETOS OBIIT XVIII KAL. DECEMBRIS MDCCXXXVI VixiT Annos LXIX. Arms: A chevron between three crescents. 1913] ELIZEUS BURGES COMMISSIONED GOVERNOR, 1715 Gl April 21,^ On April 28 a new Commission was issued to Tailer as Lieutenant-Governor. On June 29 Burges wrote to the Council a letter in which he said : The K. has done me the Honor to make me his Governour of the Prov- inces of the Massachusets Bay, and N-Hampshire in N. England, and I think I canot find a fitter opportunity than this to acquaint 3^ou with His Maj's Goodness to me. ... I propose to leave this place the latter end of the next Moneth, and hope to be with you before the end of Sep- tember. While I continue here, I will do all I can for your Service; and when I have the Honor to see you at Boston, I will give you all the As- surances you your selves can desire, that I have nothing so much at heart, as the Good of Jhe people, and the Glory of GOD.^ On September 6 Burges TVTote a second letter, saying: I had the Honor to write to you by IVIr. Secretary Woodward, and told you then that I had hopes of seeing you at Boston before the end of this Moneth; but since my Affairs in this Country are like to keep me here most part of the Winter, and I am not to be so happy so soon as I ex- pected, It is fit I should let you know it; and beg you will send me your Commands, that I may not be altogether useless to you, though I'm from you; but may do you all the Service I can here, as an Earnest of what I intend when I have the honor to be among you. I have sent you over an Exemplification of my Commission, by which you will see that Col. Dudley's Commission is vacated, and that the Government does necessarily devolve upon Colonel Tailer during my absence. Thus I understand it; but leave it to your greater Wisdom to determin that mat- ter, as you shall see fitting, and tliink most for His Majesties Honor, and the Interest of your Country.^ On September 22 Samuel Woodward, the new Secretary, reached Boston,"* bringing with him Burges's letter of June 29, his own Com- mission as Secretary, and the Commission of Tailer as Lieutenant- Governor. On September 24 — LTpon reading His Majestys Coinission to Lieut* Governour Tailer dated the 28*i» day of April 1715 put to the Question, Whither the Coun ^ Sewall's Diary, iii. 46. » Sewall's Letter-Book, ii. 48^9. Cf. the next note. * Sewall's Letter-Book, ii. 49-50. The originals of these two letters have not been preserved, but Sewall copied them on November 25, 1715. * See p. 100, below. 62 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF jVIASSACHUSETTS [March, cil are of opinion that the Governm* of this Province be thereby devolved upon him, the Commission and Instructions given by His Majesty to His Excellency Col° Burges being not here nor any copy thereof yet arrived in this Pro\ance by which the Government is to be administered Pass'd in the Negative unanimously.^ On November 9 Nathaniel Byfield, who had been in England, reached Boston,- bringing vnth. him the Exemplification of Burges's Commission which Burges, in his letter of September 6, said had been sent. Thereupon, the same day, — An ExempHfication ^ of His Majestys most gracious Letters Patents constituting & appointing Elizeus Burges Esq"" Capf^ General & Gover- nour in chief in & over His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England being presented was ordered to be forthwith read & published which was done accordingly And the Hon*"^ WilHam Tailer Esq"" his Commission as Lieut* Gov' was again read & publish'd and he took the oath referring to the Colonies and Plantations as directed by Act of Parliament he having taken all the other oaths at the former publication of his Commission & the Councellors present were all duly sworn & Advised & consented That a Proclamaf^ for continuing all officers civil & military in their respective offices till further order should be forthw*^ printed & published which was signed in Council accordingly ."^ Thus the purpose of sending over the Exemplification of Burges's Commission was accomplished, and Dudley's long term of office came to an end. Lieutenant-Governor Tailer was acting Governor from November 9, 1715, to October 5, 1716. In spite of repeated rumors^ of his being about to sail, Colonel Burges resigned his Commission and never came to this country. 1 Council Records, vi. 379-380. 2 Sewall's Diary, iii. 65; Boston News Letter, November 14, p. 2/2. ^ This Exemplification is in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society: see PubUcations of this Society, ii. 100 note 1. Cf. p. 53 note 1, above. ^ CouncU Records, vi. 389-390. 5 As late as May 31, 1716, in a speech to the House, Lieutenant-Governor Tailer said he beUeved that Burges "would before this Time have happily Arrived among us, and I am well assured he may be daily expected" (House Journal, p. 3). The news of Shute's appointment, which was made in April, reached Boston June 5 1913] S.^JMUEL SHUTE COIVEVIISSIONED GOVERNOR, 1716 G3 Samuel Shute was commissioned Governor by George I on June 15, 171G.^ He reached Boston Harbor October 4,^ and was sworn (Sewall's Diary, iii. 85). The following notice appeared in the Boston News Letter of June 11: By Letters from London of April 12th we are informed that His Excellency Col. Elizeus B urges Esq; Governoiir of this Province had resign'd his Office. And by Letters and Prints we are also inform'd that His Majesty has been pleased to appoint His Excellency Col. Samuel Shute, Esq; a very worthy Gentleman, and Brother to Mr. Barringlon Shute Esq; Member of ParUament for Berwick, to be Govemour of New-England (p. 2/1). The following letter written by J. Dummer to J. White, but signed by Dummer and Belcher, is copied from the original in the Massachusetts Historical Society (161.J.16): Dear S^ 1 am now Sitting on one Side of his ExcelP^ Col" Shute, & M' Belcher on the Other side with all the Principal Merch*^ & Traders to New England at the Table. We have din'd, & are now drinking a Sober glass to the Prosperity of New England, & the Worthy Gentlemen there, & you may be Sure you can't be forgot among them, especially when M"" Belcher & I are present. Every Merchant is pleas'd with your New Govemour, & you'l certainly be the happyest people in the World under his Easy Administration I cant enlarge for the reason above. I am Y' Very hiunble ®^^ Jer DmwMER London J°^' Belchee 30*'' Apr: 1716 * The original of Shute's Commission of June 15, 1716, is in the Harvard College Library (Cab.E.Dr.l). It is written on two sheets of parchment and has the seal appended, though this is now broken and a part missing, and is enclosed in a wooden box covered with stamped leather. It came to the College Library in 1862 as a bequest from Gen. WiUiam H. Sumner of the Class of 1799. A portion is reproduced in facsimile in the Memorial History of Boston, ii. 50. Cf. p. 53 note 1, above. On the back of the Commission is the following entry: p . f tVi "^ Entred in the Secretary's 5th £ Jos: Marion Dep*^ Sec'' This entry confirms a statement made by the present writer that there was formerly a volume of Crown Commissions which was burned in 1747 (Publica- tions of this Society, vol. ii. p. xviii and note 4; xiv. 397-398 note 1). See also p. 55, above, and pp. 70, 81 note 1, 101, below. 2 Under date of " Octob'' 3," 1716, Sewall wrote: "... while they were here, just about Sunset, we hear a Gun which proves a Signal of the Gover- nour's being come" (Diary, iii. 105). A careful examination of the entry under this date shows that it must have been written on " lecture-day " — that is, on Thursday, October 4. As Sewall is so often reUed on for exact dates, -, , ,, T^ I Ofiice in Boston October Massachusetts Bay ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ in New England J 64 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, October 5. As the Council Records from September 11, 171 G, to September 5, 1717, both included, are not extant,^ the following account of the proceedings is taken from the Boston News Letter of October 8, 1716: Boston, /^N Thursday last in the Evening (to the very great Joy \-/ and Satisfaction of all His Majesty's Good Subjects here) Arrived His Excellency SAMUEL SHUTE Esq; Captain I have in several cases pointed out errors, some due (as in this case) to his own carelessness, some due to the fact that entries were actually written later than the dates assigned, and some due (as on p. 53 note, above) to the careless- ness of his editors. See Publications of this Society, xiv. 361 note 2, for an instance where Sewall wrote " Feb. 13," 1716, when he meant to write " April 13." ^ The original Council Records from 1692 to 1747 were practically all destroyed in the fire wlaich devastated the Boston Town House on December 9, 1747 (see Pubhcations of this Society, vol. ii. p. xix note 1), and the Records for those years now at the State House are copies obtained from London. But even in London there are no copies of the Records for the period specified in the^text — September 11, 1716, to September 5, 1717; Miss Drucker informing me that "32 pages are missing in the volume which should contain them at that date." A copy of the following letter is in the Council Records (xi. 765-766) : c Boston November 1. 1748. Sir By William Shirley Jun'' Esquire, who embarks for Great Britain on board one of the Mast ships now bound home, I send you Copies of the Proceedings of the General Court, from the beginning of March 1746, to the end of the Session begun and held May 25. 1748; with the Acts pass'd in those Sessions, certified under the Seal of the Province; as also Copies of the Minutes of Council from December 1747 to the end of August 1748. The Minutes of the Assembly, and the Laws, are a continuation of what were sent you home by his Maj*^ ^ Sliip the Mermaid in the Summer 1747, without any interruption, the General Court Book for that time being accidentally saved out of the Fire when the Court House was burnt; but the Council Book being then destroyed, the Minutes of Council, now sent you, begin after the time of that fire. You will please to lay these Papers before the Lords Commissioners as usual. I shall acknowledge it as a great favour if you wUl please to send me one line to let me know of your receiving these Papers when they come to your hands. I am, with due respect Sir ^ Your very himable Servant (Superscribed) (signed) Josiah Willard. On His Majestys Service. To Thomas Hill Esq"" Secretary to the Right Hon*"^ The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations. • Whitehall. 1913] SAMUEL SHUTE INAUGURATED GOVERNOR, 1716 G5 General and Governour in Chief, in and over His Majesties Pro\'inces of the Massachusetts-Bay and New-Hampshire in New-England, &c. on Board the Lusitania, and was first met and welcomed by the Honourable William Dummer, Esq; with other Gentlemen in Company, and quickly afterwards waited on by the Representatives of the Town of Boston, and several other Gentlemen: but it being late at Night, and the Ship at some distance from the Town, His Excellency was pleas'd to defer his Landing till the next Morning; proving a pleasant fair Day, when His Excellency was early attended by a Committee of the General Assembly, consisting of several Members of His Majesties Council, and the House of Representatives, with several other Gentlemen & Officers. About Nine a Clock His Excellency in coming up to Town was first Saluted by His Majesties Castle William, and afterwards by His ISIajesty's Ship of War the Rose, the Batteries of the Town, the Ships and Vessels in the Harbour, by the Discharge of a great Number of Guns, and their Enseigns displayed. About Ten of the Clock His Excellency Landed at the End of the Pier or Wharff at King-Street, where the Hon. Col. William Tailer, Esq ; the late Lieutenant Governour, &c. with a Number of His ]\Iajesty's Council, Justices of the Peace, and other Gentlemen and Merchants, received His Excellenc}^, and attended him thro' a great Concourse of People, up to the End of King-Street, where His Excellency was received and Saluted by his own Troop of Guards, and after that by the Regi- ment of the Town, under their Arms, and at the Town-House Stairs the Honourable the late Governour Dudley, being attended by the President ^ of Harvard-Colledge in Cambridge, with the ISIinisters. of the Town of Boston, and the Neighbouring Towns, Congratulated His Excellency's safe Arrival, and accompanied him up to the Council-Chaml>er, where His Majesty's Royal Commission to His Excellency for the Government of this Province, (As also a Commission to the Honourable William Dummer Esq; for Lieut. Governour) was Published and Solemnized with great Acclamations of Joy, and the Regiments Discharge of Three Volleys. Upon this happy Occasion, there came in also a Troop of Horse, and Five Companies of Foot, belonging to the South Regiment of Suffolk, and a greater Number had attended, but that His Excellency was pleased to signify his Pleasure against it. Between One and Two a Clock His Excellency was Publickly Entertained at Dinner, in Company with His Majesty's Council, with the Speaker - and many of the House of Repre- sentatives, and a great Number of other Gentlemen, Officers, <£*c. The Joy and Satisfaction of His Majesty's good People of this Country was so much the greater upon this Occasion, because of some Fears we had ^ John Leverett. ^ John Burrill. 66 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, been under; a Ship being Arrived Ten Days ago from London, that came out Sixteen Days after His Excellency: Besides some Advice from the Eastward of Wrecks upon the Coast. Soon after the Publishing His Excellency's Commission, a Proclamation as usual, was Issued for the Continuation of all Officers both Civil and Military, till further Order. His Excellency was pleased to take his Lodgings at Mr. Dudley's till the Province House could be fitted for his Reception, which will be in a few Days (p. 2/1). Late in 1722 Shute determined to go to England. The following proceedings took place in the House on December 28: A Message by Samuel Sewall, Penn Townsend, and Addington Daven- port Esqrs; viz. His Honour the Lieut. Governour having by his Ex- cellency's direction acquainted the Board, That His Excellency the Governour is Embarked on board His Majesty's Ship Sea-Horse Capt. Diircll Commander at Nantaskct, and designs to return early in the Fall. And the Board thinking it a Matter of Importance, have sent to inform the Honourable House thereof.^ ^ost i^critifettt. Ordered, That Mr. Remington, Mr. Fullam, and Mr. Dudley go up to the Board, and Desire of His Honour the Lieut Governour, that if he has any Advice from His Excellency, of his intended Voyage, he would be pleased to communicate it to the House. A Message by Mr. Secretary, His Honour the Lieut. Governour has ordered me to acquaint this Honourable House, That he has no farther Advice of His Excellency's intended Voyage, than that he is embarked on Board His Majesty's Ship Sea-Horse, and that he designs, if G O D please, to return early in the Fall.^ The House being Infomaed this Morning in a Message by Samuel Sewall, Penn Townsend and Addington Davenjyort, Esqrs; That His Honour the Lieut. Governour having by His Excellency's Direction acquainted the Board, that His Excellency the Governour is embarked on Board His Majesty's Ship Sea-Horse, Capt. Durell Commander at Nantashet, and designs to return early in the Fall. And the Board think- ing it a matter of Importance, sent to inform the Honourable House thereof. Which is a very great surprize, and gives this House just ground to suppose. That upon His Excellency's Arrival at the Court of Great- Britain, (if bound there) he may endeavour to Charge this House in ^ House Journal, p. 54. ^ p. 55. 1913] GOVERNOR SHUTE's SUDDEN DEPARTURE, 1723 G7 attempting to encroach upon the Royal Prerogative, or coming into some things they had not a Right to, by their present happy Constitution. Therefore, Resolved, That Mr. Cooke, Mr. Dudley, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Wainwrigkt, be a Conmiittee forthwith to prepare and lay before this House, what they think proper in this critical Juncture for the House to do, in their Just and necessary Vindication at the Court at Home.^ The following notice appeared in the Boston Gazette of Decem- ber 31: His Excellency our Governour having been pleased to Communicate to the Honourable Lieutenant Governour, His Majesty's Leave of Ab- sence, and delivered over to him all His Majesty's Royal Instructions for the management of the Government agreeable to the Royal Charter, and wrote the Lieutenant Governour a Letter to be Communicated to His Majesty's Council; His Excellency imbark'd On Thursday last on board His Majesty's Ship Sea-horse at Nantascot in order to pass by way of the West Indies to Great Britain, but the Weather not inviting to Sail, the Owners of the Ship Ann, Capt. Finch Master (bound for Great Britain) got the said Ship ready with all possible dispatch, and ordering her yesterday from this Harbour to Nantascot, waited on His Excellency and prayed Him to take his passage on board her, which His Excellency kindly accepted, and Sails the first Wind, designing (by GOD's permission) to return to Us Early the next Fall (p. 2/2). ^ ^ House Journal, p. 55. 2 The following letter was printed in the New England Courant of January 14, 1723 (p. 2): Praestat esse Prometheus quam Epimetheus. To the Author of the New-England Courant. SIR, Tile unprecedented and extraordinary Manner of Governour Shite's absent- ing himself from this Government, and embarking for England, has occa- sion'd much Discourse and various Sentiments, which we shall not now go about to recapitulate, but shall only mention what we conceive must be naturally concluded, viz. That any Governour departing from a Government vnth so much Privacy and Dis- pleasure, can't reasonably he supposed to promote the Interest of that Government, when he arrives at the British Court: And therefore we may venture to say, that in general it is the opinion of the Freeholders, &c. of this Province, That it is essentially necessarj' for the Good and Welfare of the People here, at thia critical Juncture, that two Gentlemen at least, Persons bom among us, of known Abilities and Address, be, as soon as possible, sent to the Court of Great Britain, altho' this Province should be at the Charge of liiring a small Vessel on purpose, (seeing Delays are dangerous,) there to vindicate the Proceedings of the Honourable House of Representatives from 68 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, On the Departure of Governor Shute on January 1, 1723/ the government devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor Dummer; and on January 2 — * His Honour William Dummer Esq"" L* Gov"" having the Government devolved upon him by the Absence of His Excellency Samuel Shute time to time, since the Misunderstandings that have arisen betwixt that Honourable House and Governour Shute: W^ch being done we hopeit can't but be thought very expedient for one of those two Gentlemen to reside at the British Court, there to give their Attendance, in soUiciting and negotiating the Affairs of this Province: For sure it is, that no Man of Knowledge and Experience can believe, that an Agent appointed, who is a Resident in England, and was never in this Country, can be a suitable Person to apear at Court for it, since he must be ignorant of the Springs and Motives upon which the original Misunderstandings were grounded, as well as of the Laws, Customs, Trade, and Temper of the People, &c. Besides, who can imagine, that an utter Stranger, and a Person that has no Interest here, will so heartily lay forth himself to serve this Country, as one that is born here, and that has an Interest among us. There is some here that have seen (when in England) great Damage accrue to some Plantations, for want of their Agents knowing the true Interest of the Places they appeared for. We shall conclude this Letter with a Passage out of a learned Author, who has sometime since wrote concerning the Affairs of Barbadoes. Says he. No prudent Man can think, that a Gentleman, who is not bred up in the Business, and has no Interest in the Island, can befit to make an Agent, nor even a Merchant, who has many Commissions; for there is no kind of Affairs that makes a Man so busie, and keeps him in such a continual Hurry as Factorage. 'Tis without doubt proper, the Agent should fully understand the true Interest of Barbadoes ; that he should have full Leisure to carry on his Agency, be a Man of Sense arid Honour, arid one that needs not make use of a borrowed Pen, to set forth its Grievances, and petition for Redress. We are. Yours, &c. Quaere, Whether (pursuant to the Charter) the Ministers of tliis Province, ought now to pray for Samuel Shute Esq; as our immediate Governour, and at the same time pray for the Lieut. Governour as Commander in Chief? Or, ^^^lether their praying for his Success in his Voyage, if he designs to hurt the Province (as some suppose) be not in Effect to pray for our Destruction? Monday. Jan. 7, 1723. ^ "On Tuesday Morning last the first Instant, His Excellency SAMUEL SHUTE, Esq; Our Governour, set sail in the Ship Ann, Capt. Finch Com- mander from Nantasket for Great Britain; as then also did His Majesty's Ship Sea-Horse Capt. Durrel Commander, for Barbadoes" (Boston News Letter, January 7, 1723, p. 2/1). The following notice had appeared in the Boston Gazette of October 15, 1722: MR. John Boydell Secretary to His Excellency the Governour designing for London by Capt. Lethred, Desires that if any Persons have ariy Demand on him {or His Excellency) they would forthwith call at his Office in His Excellency^ s House in order to be paid (p. 4/2). 1913] WILLIAM DinvniER BECOMES ACTING GOVERNOR, 1723 G9 Esq*" ^Yas Sworn to a faithfull discharge of his office of Lieu* Gov' & Command'' in Cheif of this his Majesties Province, and Hkewise took an Oath, that he would do the Utmost in his Power, That all & every the Clauses Matters & things. Contained, in an Act pass'd the Twelfth Year of King Charles the Second Entituled an Act, for the Encouraging & Increasing Shipping and Navigation, & in all other Acts since made & now in force, Relating to this Colony or Plantation, & more particularly in an Act made & pass'd in the Seventh & Eighth Year of King William the third, Entituled An Act for preventing Frauds and Regulating Abuses in the Plantation trade be punctually & Bona fide Observed according , to the true Intent & Meaning thereof.^ Lieutenant-Governor Dummer was Acting Governor from Jan- uary 2, 1723, to July 19, 172S; " for, in spite of frequent rumors ^ of his intended return, Shute never came back. ^ Court Records, xi. 467. 2 During Dummer's term of office as Acting Governor, the Explanatory Charter of 1725 was accepted: see Publications of this Socict}', xiv. 389-400. In 1727 the accession of George I was celebrated in Boston on August 1 (New Enghmd Weekly Journal, August 7, p. 2/1). The news of his death, wliich occurred June 11, reached Boston August 14 (Council Records, viii. 579), and the Council ordered George II to be proclaimed August 16th. At ten o'clock on the morning of the 16th Lieutenant-Governor Dummer, being "confined to his House by a sickness," sent a draft of a proclamation to the Council, which approved it; it was then sent to Dummer, who signed it and returned it to the Council; and at 1 o'clock George II was proclaimed from the Town House. The Council Records then proceed to say: After the Proclamation was ended & the loud & joj'ful acclamations that suc- ceeded it. The Regiments & Troops fired three Volleys, and (upon a signal given) the Cannon at His Majesty's Castle W" at the To\\ti Battery & on Board the Ships & Vessels in the Harbour were discharged, and the Council Ministers, Representatives & other Gentlemen were entertained with a Public Dinner pro- vided tins Occasion. After Dinner the Members of His Maty's Council being returned to the Coun- cil Chamber, W" Tailcr, Nath' Byficld & Addington Davenport Esq" (Members of y® Council) waited on His Honour the Lieut* Govemour at his house to ad- minister to him the oaths of fidelity to His present Majesty King George the second. And in the presence of the s*^ Gentlemen His Honour the Lieut* Govemour took the Oath appoint*^ by Act of Parliam* to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, & repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act with the Oath of Abjuration (xviii. 5S2). * "On Monday last the 23d. arrived here Capt. John Ruggles from London, by whom we have Advice that His Excellency SAMUEL SHUTE Esq; Gover- nour of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, «fec. intends for his Government 70 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, William Burnet was commissioned Governor by George II on March 7, 1728. He reached Boston July 19 and was sworn the same day: This Day his Excellency William Burnet Esq' arrived at Boston, . . , And His Excellency being come to the council Chamber the Doors were set open And Proclamation was made that all Persons keep silence whilst His Majesty's Commission is in reading. And then the Attorney General with an audible voice and ^ His Majestys Commission or Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster the seventh day of March in the first year of His Majestys Reign constituting & appointing His Exc^ WilHam Burnet Esq"" Capf^ Gen^ & Governour in Cheif in and over His Majestys Province of y^ Massachusetts Bay, after which the Secretary in y'= presence of y^ Lieut. Governour administered to His Exceh'^^ the Oaths appointed to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Su- premacy & he repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration contained in the said Act, together with y® Oath of Abjuration as also an oath for the true and faithful discharge of his s^^ Ofiice of Captain General &c.2 On August 12, 1728, — This Day His Majestys Commission bearing date the 14*'' day of March in the first year of His Majestys Reign, appointing His Excellency W™ Burnet Esq"" Vice Admiral of y*" Provinces of the Massachusetts Bay & New Hampshire & y^ Colony of Rhode Island was published in Council the Doors being opened. And the Secretary directed to record it.^ early in the Spring. In whom came the Reverend Dr. Timothy Cutler and the Reverend Mr. Johnson, as also John Boydell Esq; with his Family, Gillam Phillips Esq; and Mr. John Checkley" (Boston Gazette, September 20, 1723, p. 4/1). "London, Nov. 25. Samuel Shufe Esq; Governour of New England & New- Hampshire in America, is preparing to set out for that Government" (Boston News Letter, February 3, 1726, p. 2/2). In a letter to E. Quincy dated May 25, 1727, Jeremiah Dummer said: Col° Shute is expecting a Man of War to transport him to his Government, which [he] may probably now obtain, there being Pacification made between the Powers of Europe which will bring home our Fleets. It looks to me as if Our Assembly would hardly come into his demands, but whatever turn that takes, I depend upon your wisdom & moderation, & the influence You have in both Houses to keep things from coming to an extremity (Massachusetts Historical Society, 81. 1. 28). 1 Error for "read." ^ Council Records, ix. 79-80. 3 ix. 83. 1913] GOVERNOR BURNET DIES, 1729 71 Burnet was Governor from July 19, 1728, to his death on Septem- ber 7, 1729,^ when the government again devolved upon Lieutenant- Governor Diamner. On September 10 the following proceedings took place in Council: Ti;c Government of this Province being by the death of His Excel- lency \Yilliam Burnet Esq'' hite Governour deceas'^ devoh'ed upon the jjQj^bie William Dummer Esq'' Lieut* Governour, as Commander in Chief, His Honor did this day before His Majestys Council, take the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy repeated and subscribed the Test or Declara- tion in the said Act contained together with the Oath of Abjuration & took an Oath for the faithful discharge of his office of Lieut' Governor & Commander in Chief of this Pro^^nce — His Honour likewise took an Oath that he would do the utmost in his power, that all and every the clauses matters & things contain'^ in an Act of Parliam* passed in the twelfth year of the Reign of King Charles the second, entituled, "An Act for the encouraging & encreasing of Shipping & Na\'igation & in all other Acts since made & now in force relating to this Colony or Planta- tion more particularly in an act made & passed in y*^ seventh and eighth years of the Reign of King William the third Entituled an Act for pre- venting of Frauds and regulating abuses in the Plantation Trade, be punctualling^ & Bona Fide observed according to the true intent & mean- ing thereof.^ Bummer remained Acting Governor from September 10, 1729, to June 11, 1730, when he was superseded by Lieutenant-Governor Tailer, who was sworn June 11, 1730: The Hon*"^ W"^ Tailer Esq'' having received His Majestys Commission bearing date at St. James's the fifteenth day of April 1730, appointing him ^ The New England 'Weekly Journal of September 15 said: This Town was excedingly surpriz'd on Monday last with the sad News of the Death of His Excellency our Governour WILLIAM BURNET Esq; He had been verj' ill all the Week before, but on Fryday the sj-mptoms grew threatning; after which he verj^ little rccover'd any LTse of his LTndcrstanding. He oxpir'd about Eleven of the Clock the Lords-day Night; a teaching and monitory Instance to us of the Vanity of Humane Life and Greatness (p. 4/1). * Error for "punctually." ' Council Records, ix. 165-166. 72 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Lieut* Governor of this His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay in the room of the Hon^'^ W"^ Dummer Esq' Which being laid before the Members of His Majestys Council, they together with y^ Gentlemen that had been of the Council, His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, the officers of y^ Militia & other Officers & Gentlemen attended His Honour from the House of Col° Nathan' Byfield to the Council Chamber, And the door being set open and Proclamation made that all Persons keep silence. His Majestys s"^ CoiTiiss'^ was publickly read; And the s** Will"^ Tailer Esq'' in the presence of His Majestys Council took y^ oaths ap- pointed by act of Parliam* to be taken instead of the oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, Repeated & Subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act, together with the Oath of Abjuration and took an Oath for the faith- ful discharge of the said Office of Lieutenant Governour. His Honour likewise took an oath that he would do the utmost in his power, that all and every the clauses matters & things contained in an Act of Parliam* pass'^ in the twelfth year of the reign of King Charles the second, entituled An Act for encouraging & increasing shipping & navigation & in all Acts since made & now in force relating to this Colony or Plantation, more particularly in an Act made and pass'd in the seventh & eighth years of King William the third entituled. An Act for pre- venting of Frauds & regulating of Abuses in y^ Plantation Trade be punctually and bone fide observed according to the true intent and mean^ thereof.^ Tailer was Acting Governor from June 11 to August 10, 1730. Jonathan Belcher was commissioned Governor by George II on January 28, 1730. He reached Boston Harbor August 8,^ and on August 10 the following proceedings took place in Council: 1 Council Records, ix. 215-216. 2 ix. 227-228. The following notice appeared in the New England Weekly Journal of February 9, 1730: By a Letter from a Gentleman in London, Dated London, November 28th 1729. we have the following Advice. fM iHis is just to tell you, That Yesterday His Majesty in Council appointed Mr. -* Belcher Governour of New-England, and to Morrow he is to kiss^ the KING's Hand on that Occasion, attended with several of us. I reckon it ivill be Matter of great Surprize, and hope and believe will be very happy for New-England (p. 2/1). The same paper of April 14, 1730 contained this rumor: By Capt. Homans from London, wc are informed that His Majesty has been pleased to confer the Honour of Knighthood on His Excellency Jonathan 1913] JONATH.\N BELCHER INAUGUIL\TED GOVERNOR, 1730 73 The Signal being given at the Castle on Saturday Evening last that His Excellency Jon^ Belcher Esq' was arrived at the entrance of Boston Harhour, divers Gentlemen . . . waited on him on Board . . . the Blanford, and this morning . . . attended His Excellency on board . . . said ship . . . His Excellency with the other Gentlemen being entered the Coun- cil Chamber & the Doors set open, Proclamation was made that all Persons keep silence while His Majestys Commissions are in reading. And then the Secretary with an audible voice read His Majestys Commission or Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster the 1730 appointing His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq"" Captain Gen' & Gov'' in Chief in and over His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay, as also His Majestys Commission dated in London the 1730, appointing His said Excellency ^'ice Admiral of the s^ Province of the Massachusetts Bay & New Hampshire. His Excellency thereupon took the Oaths appcwnted by Act of Parlia- ment to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, re- peated & subscribed the Test or Declaration in the said Act together with the Oath of Abjuration, & took an Oath for the true and faithfull dis- charge of his said Office of Capt° General and Gov' in Chief of the s'^ Pro^^nce of the Massachusetts Bay. His Excellency likewise took an oath that he would do the utmost in his power that all & every the clauses matters & things containe ernor PoxvnaU. &c. of this Moming, waited upon his Excellency Governor Pownall, to the End of the Long Wharffe and after Leave taken — Mr. Speaker and the House attended his Honour the Lieut. Governour to the Chair. Who v;as pleased to make a SPEECH to both Houses : of which Mr. Speaker obtain'd a Copy: And then ^-ith the House returned to their ovm Chamber. His Honour's SPEECH to both Houses, is as fol- lows, viz. » Council Records, xiii. 283. Cf. Crown Commissions, 1628-1663, p. 155. For an account of the two volumes labelled "Crown Commissions, 1628-1663" and "Cro\\Ti Commissions, 1677-1774," see Publications of this Society, vol. ii. p. x^-ii note 5, p. xviii note 4; and cf. xiv. 397 note. 2 House Journal, p. 17. ' James Otifl. 82 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Gentlemen of the Council, and House of Representatives, HIS Excellency Governor Pownall, having em- barked for Great-Britain, and the Administra- ' tion being devolved upon me, by virtue of his Majesty's 'Commission for Lieut. Governor, I shall etideavour to ' improve what Opportunity may be allowed me, in pro- 'moting his Majesty's Service and the Interest of the 'Province: ^ . . . Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson was Acting Governor from June 3 to August 2, 1760. Francis Bernard was commissioned Governor by George II on January 14, 1760; and was again commissioned Governor by George III on April 4, 1761.^ He reached Boston August 2, 1760, on which day he was sworn: ^ House Journal, p. 20. Presumably Hutchinson, on becoming Acting Gov- ernor, took the oaths, but no mention of them is made in the Council Records, nor in the Court Records, nor in the Massachusetts Archives. The following extract is taken from the Boston Evening Post of June 9, 1760 (p. 3/1): LAST Tuesday, about Noon, His Excellency Governor POWNALL, at- tended by His Honor the Lieut. Governor, the Honorable Gentlemen of His Majesty's Council and House of Representatives, and a great Num- ber of Civil and Military Officers, and other Gentlemen, set out from the Court- House in this Town, and being escorted by the Company of Cadets, under Arms, walk'd in Procession, thro' King-Street, down the Long- Wharf, where the Castle- Barge lay ready for the Reception of His Excellency; And after receiving the most respectful Salutations, upon his Departure from us. His Excellency was received into the Barge; . . . After His Excellency's Departure, his Honor the Lieutenant Governor made the following Speech to both Houses, viz. . . . 2 Rumors of the death of George II, which occurred October 25, 1760, reached Boston December 25 and were confirmed December 27. On the latter day Gov- ernor Bernard communicated the news to the Council, which "Advised that his Excellency cause his most sacred Majesty King George the Third to be pro- claimed on Tuesday the 30**^ day of December Instant at 12 o'Clock at Noon" (Council Records, xiv. 298). On December 29 the House of Representatives was ordered to attend in the Council Chamber, Bernard made a speech, and the com- mittee appointed "to consider what is proper to be done, on that Occasion" made the following report : The Committee appointed on his Excellency's Speech of this Afternoon, relative to the Accession of his majesty King George the Third, are of Opinion that his Honour the late Lieutenant Governor Dummer, all officers Civil and Military, who belong to the Town or may be in it; all the Gentlemen of the 1913] FRANCIS BERNARD INAUGURATED GOVERNOR, 1760 S3 Pro\ance of the Massachusetts Bay Aug* 2. 1760 His Excelk Francis Bernard Esqj took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Suprem- acy, repeated & Subscribed the Test or Declaration therein Contained together with the Oath of Abjuration, and an Oath for the due Observ- ance of the se^•e^aI Laws and Statutes now in force for the regulating Trade & na\'igation in America, likewise the Oath for the due and faith- ful performance of his Duty in the respective offices to which he is ap- pointed. Which Oaths were administred by the Lieu* Gov'' Before his Majesty's Council and the House of Representatives Attest A Oliver See" ^ Clergy, and merchants as aforesaid; all the Kings Officers, and Officers of the Customs as aforesaid the Gentlemen of the Law, and other Gentlemen of Dis- tinction be invited to be present, at the Proclaiming of his majesty to morrow. noon And that Provision be made for his Excellency the Governor, his Honour the Lieutenant Governor, the Gentlemen that are, or have been of his Majesty's Council, the members of the House of Representatives, and the Gentlemen before mentioned, to drink the Kings Health at Faneuil Hall, in the Evening. And that the Court House be illuminated on the Occasion (Court Records, xxiii. 505). The following account appeared in the Boston News Letter of January 1, 1761 : BOSTON, January 1. 1761. LAST Thursday we had a Report from Europe of the Death of His Britannick Majesty King GEORGE the Second; which Report was confirmed on the Saturday folIoTving by the public Prints brought by the Race-Horse, Captain Samuel Partridge, who arrived here that Day from London, but in 40 Days from Portsmouth: — . .' . Tuesday in the Forenoon, His Honour the Lieut. Governor, the Honovuable his Majesty's Council and House of Representatives, and a Number of other Gentlemen, waited upon lus Excellency the Governor at the Province House; from whence they walked in Procession to the Council-Chamber, being escorted by the Company of Cadets, commanded by Colonel Jarvis: The Regiment of Militia, commanded by Colonel Phillips, were mustered on the Occasion, and appeared under Arms in King-Street. — About XII o' Clock the Proclamation (wliich follows in the next Column) was read, and repeated with a loud Voice from the Balcony of the Court-House; and on finishing with GOD save the KING, three Huzzas were given by a vast Concourse of People of all Ranks, assembled on this Occasion; which was followed by three VoUics from the Regi- ment of Militia and Company of Cadets; And upon a Signal given, 63 Pieces of Cannon were discharged at Castle WiUiam, and also a Round at each of the Batteries in this Towti and at Charlestown. — In the Evening there were publick Illuminations, and a handsome Entertainment provided at Faneuil-Hall, where the Health of his Majesty King GEORGE the Third, the Royal Family, and many other loyal Healths were drank. — The whole Ceremony was carried on and concluded vith great Decency and good Decorum (p. 1/1). 1 Crown Commissions, 1628-1663, p. 184. 84 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Bernard was Governor from August 2, 1760,^ to August 1, 17G9. The Boston Evening Post of August 7, 1769, said: On Monday last His Excellency Governor Bernard left his Seat at Roxbury and went to Castle William. The next Morning about Nine o'clock he embarked on board His Majesty's Ship Rippon, then lying in King-Road. The Wind being fair the Ship came the - sail, but soon after the Wind shifting to the East, she anchored again a Mile or two below her former Moorings, where she lay till Friday Morning, when she came to sail again and went out with a fair Wind (p. 3/1).^ With the departure of Governor Bernard, the government again devolved upon Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson; and on August 2 — His Excellency Sir Francis Bernard Bar* Governor of this Province having embarked for Great Britain, His Honor the Lieutenant Governor came into the Council Chamber, and in the presence of the Council took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken, instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy, repeated and subscribed the Test or Declaration therein contained, together with the Oath of Abjuration, as also an Oath that he would do his utmost that all clauses matters and things contained in the Acts of Parliament passed as well since as before the enacting of the Act of the 7*^ and 8'^'' of William, the Third and at this time in force, relating to the Colonies and Plantations, and that all and every the clauses contained in the said Act intitled " An Act for pre- venting Frauds and regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade" be punctually and bona fide observed, according to the true intent and meaning thereof: And that he would faithfully perform the duties of his Office of Commander in chief of said Province, according to the best of his judgment and sldll. After which His Honor took the chair. ^ 1 The Boston Evening Post of August 4, 1760, said (p. 3/1): Saturday last about one o'clock, came to Towti by land from Providence, his Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq; with his Majesty's Royal Commission to be Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over his Ma- jesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay; as also a Commission from the Right Honourable the Lords of the Admiralty, to be Vice-Admiral of the same, &c. 2 Error for "to." ' The same paper of August 7, 1769, said: His Excellency upon his embarldng, having delivered the Province Seal to the Lieutenant Governor, Wednesday last His Honor in Council took the Oaths appointed by Acts of Parliament in order to take upon him the Administration of the Province (p. 3/1). * Council Records, xvi. 431. 1913] THOMAS HUTCHINSON INAUGURATED GOVERNOR, 1771 85 Ilutcliinson was Acting Governor from August 2, 17G9, to jMarcli 14, 1771, when he became actual Governor. Thomas Hutchinson was commissioned Governor by George III on November 28, 1770. On IMarch 11, 1771, — The Lieutenant Governor acquainted the Board that he had received His ]\Iajesty's Commission, appointing him Captain General and Com- mander in Chief of the Province, and had received orders thenvith to cause his Commission to be published in the usual form. That it had been usual on such occasions to have the Regiment of the To\^m of Bos- ton in Arms, but that as the Streets are at this time full of Snow and water, he thinks it would be very inconvenient to assemble such a body of men, as their health must be much exposed by being so long on foot in the Streets at such a time. He therefore thought it Avould be suffi- cient to be attended only by the Troop of Guards and a Company made up of Non-Commissioned Officers of the Regiment, together with a Detachment of the Train of Artillery, which under the present circum- stances, he apprehended might answer all the pm-poses of a Military appearance on this occasion : — Upon which the Board expressed their intire approbation of the proposal, and His Honor signified that he should give orders accordingly. His Honor likewise proposed that instead of ha\ang a Publick Dinner on the day when the Commission should be opened, there should be the usual preparation made as when the King's health is drank, in the Council Chamber, for entertaining the Company that may be then present. To which His Majesty's Council did Advise and Consent. And further Advised, that Thursday next, be appointed for observing the Ceremony aforesaid.^ Accordingly, on March 14 Hutchinson was sworn: Pro^yeofthe 1 ^arch 14. 1771. Massachusetts Bay J His Excellency Thomas Hutchinson Esq' having published his Com"^ from his present Majesty to be Captain General and Governor in Chief of his Province of Mass" Bay, took the Oaths appointed by Act of Par- liament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated and subscribed the Test or declaration therein containe On June 19, 1716, the House granted the petition of Spencer Bennet to 94 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [Maech, The Hon*"® Spencer Phipps Esq' having received his Majesty's Commission bearing date at S* James's the twenty ninth day of April 1732 appointing him Lieutenant Governour of this Province in the room of the late Hon^'^ William Taylor Dec"^ his Excellency ordered the same to be this day published in Council. Which was done in the manner following. The Drums beat and the Trumpets sounded about the Court House, and the Doors of the Council Chamber being set open, the Justices and Military Officers and other Gentlemen attended and the Commission was publicly read at the Board; and then His Honour took the oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the oaths of al- legiance and Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration and the Oath of abjuration, and took an oath for the faithful! discharge of his said Office of Lieut* Governour.^ Phips was Lieutenant-Governor from August 8, 1732, to his death on April 4, 1757.^ He was Acting Governor from September 15, 1749, to August 7, 1753; and again from September 25, 1756, to April 4, 1757.3 Thomas Hutchinson was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on February 10, 1758, and was sworn on June Ist.^ The following extract is from the Boston Gazette of June 5th: Thursday last, a Commission appointing the Hon. Thomas Hutchinson Esq; Lieutenant-Go vernour of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, was publickly read at the Council-Chamber, before his Excellency the Governor, the Honourable his Majesty's Council, and the Honourable House of Representatives. change his name to Spencer Phips, and a bill to that effect was passed June 23: see Massachusetts House Journals, June 19, 22, 23, pp. 19, 23, 24; Massachusetts Province Laws, ii. 66, ix. 476. ^ Council Records, ix. 374. August 8, 1734, is also the date given in Crown Commissions, 1628-1663, p. 35: see PubUcations of this Society, ii. 300. On the other hand there is in the Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 498-499, a printed form containing (on inside pages) the oaths, which bears the autograph signature of " Spen'' Phips " and the endorsement " Sworn the 11*** Day of August 1732. Before me J Belcher," Belcher's signature being in autograph, while the other words are in the hand of Secretary Willard. 2 See p. 78 note 1, above. 3 See pp. 76, 77, above. * See Publications of this Society, ii. 302. In the Council Records (xiii. 404) for June 1, 1758, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Hutchinson. 1913] ANDREW OLIVER INAUGUK\TED LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, 1771 95 As was also, at the same Time and Place, a Commission appointing the Hon. Andrew Oliver, Esq; Secretary of said Province (p. 3/1). Hutchinson was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George III on ]\Iarch 13, 1761, and was sworn November 26: Prov: of Mass" Bayl Nov^26: 1761 J Thomas Hutchinson Esq' appointed by his Majesty to be Lieutenant Governor, and Andrew Oliver Esq"" appointed to be Secretary of the Province aforesaid severally took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parlia- ment to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy re- peated and Subscribed the Test or declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration and an Oath that they would respectively faithfully perform the Duties of the respective offices to which they are appointed as aforesaid according to the best of their Skill and Judgment. before me Fra Bernard * Hutchinson was Lieutenant-Governor from June 1, 1758, to March 14, 1771. He was Acting Governor from June 3 to August 2, 1700; and again from August 2, 1709, to March 14, 1771.^ Andrew Oliver was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George HI on October 19, 1770, and was sworn March 14, 1771: Province of 1 ^arch 14. 1771 Mass" Bay J Andrew Oliver Esq"" appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Province aforesaid, took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated and sub- scribed the Test or declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration, and also an oath that he would faithfully perform the duties of the office aforesaid according to the best of his skill & Judgment Before T. Hutchinson ' 1 Crown Commissions, 1628-1663, pp. 209-210. 2 See pp. 81-82, 8-4-S.5, above. ' Crown Commissions, 1677-1774, pp. 12-4-125. 96 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Andrew. Oliver was Lieutenant-Governor from March 14, 1771, to his death on March 3, 177-4.^ Thomas Oliver was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George III on May 28, 1774.^ He was sworn August 8, as appears from the following extract taken from the Boston Evening Post of August 15 (p. 3/1): Province of , r. I Salem, August 8, 1774. Massachusetts-Bay, ' HIS Majesty having been pleased to appoint the Hon. Thomas Oliver, Esq; to be Lieutenant Governor of this Pro\dnce; his Honor's Commission was accordingly this Day published in the Council Chamber, and the several Oaths administred to him, by his Excellency the Governor.^ After wliich the following Gentlemen took the Oaths necessary to qualify themselves for a Seat in the Coimcil, being appointed by Mandamus from his Majesty. Hon. Thomas Oliver, Esq; Lieut. Governor. Thomas Flucker, Esq; William Brown, Esq; Foster Hutchinson, Esq; James Boutineau, Esq; Harrison Gray, Esq; Joshua Loring, Esq; Joseph Lee, Esq; William Pepperrell, Esq; Isaac Winslow, Esq; John Erving, jun. Esq; Thomas Oliver was the last Royal Lieutenant-Goveirnor, and retired to Halifax when the British fleet left Boston in March, 1776.4 ■' "Last Thursday Morning died here the Honorable Andrew Oli\':er, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor of this Province, in the 6Sth Year of his Age. — His Funeral is to be attended To-Morrow Afternoon, at Half past Three o'Clock, if the Weather permits" (Boston Evening Post, March 7, 1774, p. 3/1). ^ The following extract is taken from the Essex Gazette of January 10, 1775: LONDON, October 25. MR. Thomas Oliver of Boston, was appointed Lieut. Governor of that Province in consequence of Richard Oliver giving the casting vote last year against Mr. Wilkes being Lord Mayor (p. 2/1). ' Appended to Thomas Oliver's Commission as Lieutenant-Governor is the following (Crown Commissions 1677-1774, p. 156): Province of Mass* Bay Sworn before me in Council this 8 day of August 1774 Tho^ Gage Governor. * 1 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xviii. 266. 1913] ISAAC ADDINGTON COADkllSSIONED SECRETARY, 1691 97 Secretaries In the Province Charter it was provided that "there shall be one Governour One Leivten' or Deputy Governour and One Secretary of Our said Province or Territory to be from time to time appointed and Commissionated by Vs Our Heires and Successors," and "Wee doe further by these presents Constitute and appoint Our Trusty and Welbeloved Isaac Addington Esquier to be Our first and present Secretary of Our said Province during Our Pleasure." ^ Of those three officials, Is.^ac Addington was the only one to be mentioned by name in the Charter. The facts that he was so named, that no copy of his Commission is extant, and that his Commission was not read when the Province government was inaugurated on ]May IG, 1692, have apparently given rise to the notion that no Commission was issued to him. It is obvious, however, that Addington must have received a commission from William and ^lary; and if proof of this statement were needed, it is furnished by the following Instructions issued to him on December 11, 1691: To the Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay for Quarterly Accounts After Our hearty Commendations His Majesty having been Graciously pleased, b}' his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, to Grant unto you the Office and Place of Secretary of their Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. These are in his jMajesties name and by his Majesties Express Commands, to direct and require you and the Secretary' of Their Majesties said Province for the time being, to send unto Us a particular Account of all things that shall pass or be Transacted within Your said Office of Secretary. And Coppies of all such Laws Acts of Governm* and Publick Orders as shall be made from time to time, together with Copies of the Journals of y^ Councill and of all such papers as are or ought to be Entred and Register'd in your said Office, to the end We wliom his Majesty hath appointed a Committee of his Privy Councill for Trade and Forreign Plantation, may be the better Enabled to perform the duty incumbent on Us, which Accounts and Copies are to be Transmitted by you unto Us Quarterly, or at such times in the Year as any Oppertunity shall Offer, as also Duplicates thereof, by the next succeeding Conveyance. And that you and others whom it may Concern may at all times give See Publications of this Society, ii. 18. 98 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, due Obedience hereunto, you are to make an Entry of this Our Letter in the Books belonging to the said Office of Secretary. Whereof you are not to fail. And so We bid you farewell from the Councill Chamber at Whitehall this Eleventh day of December 1691. Your loving Friends Carmarthen Presid* John Lowther H: PowLE m /^ T • T7 • J H. GOODRICK To Our Loving Fnend Isaac Addington Esq'' Secretary of Their Maj*^ Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in America.^ Hence Addington must have been commissioned on or before December 11, 1G91. On May 16, 1692, — Isaac Addington Secretary tooke his Oath for the due and faithful performance of his Office or place of Secretary, and the Oaths appointed to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; before the Gov'' and L* Governour.^ It is noteworthy that on the accession of Anne in 1702, no new Commission was issued to Addington; and perhaps this is explained by the fact that Addington was named in the Charter itself. In the controversy that took place early in 1715 as to who should administer the government,^ on a motion put by Addington himself on February 4th, "The Council declared their opinion that the Secretarys Com- mission remained in force, having been so accepted during all the last reign & ordered him to countersign the Proclamaf^ and the said Proclamation was then published by beat of Drum sent to the Press & ordered to be dispersed into the several parts." ^ Addington was Secretary from May 16, 1692, until his death on March 19, 1715.^ 1 Pubhc Record OfRce, Colonial Office, Clasa 5, Volume 906, p. 404. 2 Council Records, ii. 168. 3 See pp. 55-60, above. * Council Records, vi. 312. Cf. p. 59, above. 5 "On Saturday last the 19th Currant, Died here about Eleven a Clock in the Forenoon, the truly Honourable and Very Worthy Isaac Addington, Esq; Secretary for His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New England, 1913] A. DAVENPORT AND P. DUDLEY TO KEEP THE SEALS, 1715 99 Governor Dudley having reassumed the government on March 21, 1715, on March 2Gth — The Governour acquainted the Council that he was purposed to give order to Addington Davenport & Paul Dudley Esq''' to take care of the Seals and the office of the Secretary Isaac Addington Esq'' lately deceased until His Majestys pleasure be known therein.' The order appointing Addington Davenport and Paul Dudley, also dated March 26, 1715, is as follows: Pro\'ince of the By His Excellency Joseph Dudley Massachusetts /^ ^v Esq'' Captain General and Governor Bay / & r 1 ^ Chief in and over His Majesty's y j Pro\'ince of the Massachusetts Bay in \^___^/ New England By Virtue of Her late Majesty's Commission for the Government of this Prov-ince, and the further Continuance thereof by His present Ma- jesty's Most Gracious Proclamation to me Directed I do hereby appoint and Direct Addington Davenport Esq"" and Paul Dudley Esq' Comis- sioners to keep His Majesty's Seal of this Pro\dnce under two locks each of them a key, and to put the Seal to all such Instruments of Publick or other Concern by Warrant under my hand, and no other, upon any pre- tence whatsoever And they shall further forthwith by the Service and Assistance of Joseph Hiller sworn Clerk of the Council, make out and draw forth a particular Accompt of all Books of Record and minute Books files and Records Utensills and other things belonging & apper- taining to His Majesty's Secretarys Office late in the hands and posses- sion of the Honourable Isaac Addington Esq' deceased, and shew the said Accompt to the Governour and Council as soon as may be And this Order to continue until His Majesty's Pleasure may arrive, or other Order taken therein Given under my hand and Seal at Boston this Twenty SLxth day of March Anno Domini 1715 And in the first who had with great Wisdom, Honour and Faithfulness served his Generation by the Will of GOD, in that Office for above Twenty years, being appointed thereto by the Late King William and Queen Mary of Glorious Memory, in their Roj'al Charter. He was born in New-England, and a great Honour to his Coun- try; he Dyed in the Seventy-first Year of his Age" (Boston News Letter, March 21, 1715, p. 2/2). } Council Records, vi. 335-336. 100 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord King George over Great Britain &c J Dudley Boston 29*^ of March 1715 The above named A: Davenport, P: Dudley Esq''^ and J Hiller Gen* were sworne to the faitlifull Discharge of the Trust Committed to the respectively in Pursuance of the Warrant above written before me J Dudley * Samuel Woodward was commissioned Secretary by George I on June 23, 1715. He reached Boston September 22,^ and on Sep- tember 23d — A Letter ^ from His Excellency Col° Burges (appointed Governour of this Province) to the Honourable the President & Council of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay brought by Sam*^ Woodward Esq'' appointed Secretary of this Province was read at the Board & M'' Secretary Wood- ward producing his Commission under the Broad Seal for Secretary of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay the Governour not being present Voted That Andrew Belcher & Addington Davenport Esq""^ be de- sired to wait on His Excellency at Roxbury & desire His Excellencys presence or directions on the affair in the afternoon.^ Woodward's commission was read in Council and he was sworn on September 24, 1715.^ On October 3, — 1 Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 427. The appointment of Davenport and Dudley was noted in the Boston News Letter of April 18, 1715 (p. 2/2). 2 The Boston News Letter of September 26th said : Boston, On Thursday last . . . arrived in Capt. Parnell from London, Samuel Woodward, Esq; with a Commission from His Majesty, for the Secretary's Office of this Province of the Massachusetts-Bay; And on Saturday last, His Excellency the Governour came to Town, and in Council Administred the Oaths to him accordingly (p. 2/2). 3 In this letter (printed in Sewall's Letter-Book, ii. 48-49), dated June 29, 1715, Colonel Burges said: Mr. Woodward, who gives you this, is apointed your Secretary: I take the Liberty to recommend him most earnestly to you, because I know he is a very honest Gentleman, and very capable of doing you Service; and will do all he can to deserve your Friendship, and have your Favour. * Council Records, vi. 378-379. ^ See p. 91, above. 1913] JOSEPH AL\RION DEPUTED DEPUTY-SECRETARY, 1716 101 An Inventory of all the Books Papers and Records Seals & Utensils belonging to the Secretary's Office made & taken by the Hon'''® Adding- ton Davenport Paul Dudley & Samuel Woodward Esq'* was read & signed by the s** M'' Secretary Woodward & the keys of the s*^ office with the aboves'' particulars were delivered by the Governour to the s'' M'' Secretary Woodward in Council Pursuant to His Majestys command in the Commission to him given under the Great Seal of Great Britain of Record in the s'^ Office. Andrew Belcher & Addington Davenport Esq''* are appointed a Com- mittee to give directions about a convenient place in one of the upper rooms in the Town House for the lodging of Files of Papers &°* wliich incumber the Secretarys office.^ On May 10, 1716, — Samuel Woodward Esq' Secretary of this Province humbly moved to the Hon'^'^ Lieut* Gov' and Council That the business of the office was so far behind hand & so mucli dayly encreasing that he could not even with liis utmost application and endeavour bring up the same without further assistance, and that according to the powers grant** in His ]\Ia- jestys Letters Patents to him for Secretary of this ProWnce, he proposed to depute M' Joseph Marion to be deputy Secretary of the said Prov- ince to which the Hon'''® Lieut* Governour & Council unanimously agreed & Ordered That the s^ Deputation should be read at the Board & put in the Secretarys office & s** Joseph Marion took the oaths appointed by act of Parliam* to be taken instead of the oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy repeated & subscribed the Declaration, took the oath of Abjuraf* and an oath for the true & faithfull discharge of his office as Deputy Secretary.^ On July 12, 171G, — ^ Council Records, vi. 380. 2 Council Records, vi. 448. The following extract is from the Boston News Letter of May 14, 1716: Boston, On Thursday the 10th of May Currant, by & with the Approbation and Consent of the Hon. Lieut. Governour, and Council, and by Vertue of the Power and Authority Granted by His Majesty King GEORGE to Mr. Secretary Woodward. Mr. Joseph Marion was by him appointed Deputy Secretary' of this Province; and his Deputation was read at the Council Board, and Ordered to be Recorded; and he then took the Oaths appointed by the Act of Parliament, as also an Oath for the true and faithful Discharge of his Duty in that Office (p. 2/2). (The deputation is not extant.) 102 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, Samuel Woodward Esq'' Secretary of this His Majestys Province produced His Majestys Licence to absent himself e from the s^ Province for & during the term of twelve months which was read at the Board, And the Secretary signified to the Hon'^'^ Lieutenant Governour & Council that he should very speedily leave the Province & that he was ready to receive their commands home.^ Woodward was present at a Council meeting on August 3, 1716,^ after which his name disappears, and no doubt he sailed for England on or immediately after that date.^ JosiAH WiLLARD was commissioned Secretary by George I on June 17, 1717. He reached Boston on the 2d or 3d of December, 1717,^ and took oflSce on the 4th: 1 Council Records, vi. 486-487. In a letter to J. White dated May 9, 1716, Jeremiah Dummer said: "If your Secretary comes over (to whom the King's leave is gone by the last ships) pray tell me who is the fittest man for the Post among you, seeing you are resolved not to accept it yourself" (2 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, iv. 193). 2 Council Records, vi. 494-495. ^ The exact date of his sailing is not recorded in Sewall's Diary or in the Boston News Letter. He took messages from the Lieutenant-Governor to the House, and appeared before the House, on August 3 ; but the announcement of the proro- gation of the House on that day was made to the House by Marion (Massachusetts House Journals, August 3, pp. 31-32); a proclamation issued by Lieutenant- Governor Tailer on August 3 was signed "Joseph Marion, Dep. Seer." (Boston News Letter, August 13, p. 1/1); and a proclamation issued by Tailer on Sep- tember 5 was signed "Jos*^ Marion Dep Secry" (Court Records, x. 91). Many vessels sailed from Boston to London during August and September, but it seems not unlikely that Woodward went by the Dorothy: "Cleared Outwards, . . . The Ship Dorothy, Capt. Josiah Thwaites Com- mander for London" (Boston News Letter, August 6, p. 2/2). " Marblehead, Aug. 18. A Fishing Shallop is come in here who brought Let- ters from Capt. Thwaites bound from Boston to London: The Shallop met him 75 Leagues off" (Boston News Letter, August 20, p. 2/2). 4 The Boston News Letter of December 9, 1717, stated that "On Thursday last arrived here Capt. John Osborne in the Ship Patience and Judeth about Seven Weeks from London, in whom came Josiah Willard Esq; with a Commission from His Majesty for the Secretary's Office of this Province of the Massachusetts Bay: unto whom in CouncU before His Excellency the Governour, the Oaths for the said Post have accordingly been Administred" (p. 2/2). "Thursday last" was December 5th, and hence an error on the part of the news- writer for "Tuesday last," or possibly "Monday last." Under date of December 3d Sewall writes: "Visit Mr. Secretary Willard, who came to Town last night from Cape-Anne, where he arriv'd on the Lord's Day, 7. Weeks from the Downs" (Diary, ii. 151). 1913] JOSIAH WILLARD INAUGURATED SECRETARY, 1717, 1728 103 His Majestys Commission or Letters Pattents dated at Westminster the seventeenth day of June in the third year of His Majestys reign con- stitute Joseph ^ WilJard Esq'' Secretary of this His Majestys Province of the Massachusetts Bay was read & pubUsh"^ Then M'' Secretary took the oaths appointed by Act of ParHament passed in the first year of the reign of King WiUiam & Queen Mary to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremcay unto his present Majesty King George, & repeatetl & subscribed the Declaration by the same Act appointed, also took an oath for the due & faithfull performance of his duty in the office & place of Secretary of the s*^ Province, And the Council advised to the making His Majestys s^ Letters Patent of publick record accordingly Ordered That Joseph IMarion Deputy Secretary to Sam' Woodward Esq'' late Secretary of this Province, with all convenient speed make de- livery of all publick records books & records of the Council & Assembly with the Seal of the Province, enrowlment of the Laws and Files of Papers & all utensils Sc°^ of & belonging to the s'^ Secretarys Office And that the s*^ M' Secretary Willard pass a receipt therefore in dis- charge to the s*^ M"^ Marion accordingly .^ Willard was commissioned Secretary by George II on March 28, 1728, and was sworn on June 18: Josiah Willard Esq'' haveing His Majestys Letters Patents, under the Great Seal of G* Britain bearing date at Westminster the tM^enty eighth of March 1728, constituting him Secretary to His Maty^ Province of the Massachusetts Bay, His Majesty's Commission was read at the Board. And then the s*^ Josiah Willard took the Oaths appointed by Act of Par- liam* to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration in y® said Act, together with the Oath of abjuration and likewise took an oath for the true and faithful performance of his said oflBce of Secretary of this Province.' Willard was Secretary from December 4, 1717, mitil his death on December 7, 1756.^ * Error for "Josiah." 2 Council Records, vi. 526-527. » ix. 58. * "Last Tuesday Morning died here to the great Loss of this Town and Province, in the 76th Year of his Age, that extraordinary, accomplished, pious and publick-spirited Gentleman, the Honourable JOSIAH '\^^ILLARD Esq; Secretary to this Province near 40 Years, and late Judge of Probate for the County of Suffolk, which, on account of his other growing, weighty and laborious Busi- ness, he earnestly resigned some Years since; as also his Place at the Council- 104 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, On December 7, 1756, the Council took the following action: It having pleased Almighty God in his Holy Providence to remove the Hon*''^ Josiah Willard Esq'' the late Worthy and Faithfull Secretary of this Province by Death, whereby that Office is become Vacant, and it being necessary that some meet Person be appointed to officiate as Clerk of the Council until his Majesty shall be pleased to appoint & Commissionate some person to the Office of Secretary agreeable to the Royal Charter Therefore Ordered that M"" Thomas Clarke^ be appointed Clerk of his Majestys Council until a Secretary be appointed as aforesaid or until the further order of this Board, and that he be Impowered & directed forthwith to take into his Custody & care as well the Publick Seal of the Province as the public Records & Papers, and to do & Transact the Business proper to such Office of Clerk of Council, & to be under the Obligation of an Oath for the faithfull Discharge of said Trust. By Order of Council Francis Foxcroft Consented to S Phips ^ On December 13th Lieutenant-Governor Phips, then Acting Gov- ernor, appointed Andrew Oliver Secretary: His Honour the Lieutenant Governour appointed the Hon*"® Andrew Oliver Esq'' to be Secretary of the Province in the Room of the late Hon^^® Josiah Willard Esq'' deced until his IMajestys pleasure should be known.' And on December 15 Andrew Ohver took the oaths of office: The Hon**'^ Andrew Oliver Esq'' Secretary of the Province took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be Taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy Repeated and Subscribed the Test or Dec- laration in the said Act contained, together with the Oath of Abjuration, Board the last Year, on account of his advanc'd Age, to the Reluctance of his Country: . . ." (Boston Gazette, December 13, 1756, p. 2/1). / ^ Thomas Clarke was Deputy-Secretary. ^ Council Records, xiii. 143. ^ Council Records, xiii. 145. The following extract is from the Boston Even- ing Post of December 20, 1756: His Honour the Lieutenant Governor hath, by virtue of his Majesty's Royal Commission, appointed and commissioned the Hon. ANDREW OLIVER, Esq; to be Secretary sf this Province in the room and stead of the Hon. JOSIAH ■WILLARD, Esq.; deceas'd, until his Majesty shall be pleased otherwise to order and appoint; or until the further Order of the Commander in Chief of this Prov- ince for the Time being (p. 2/1), 1913] A. OLIVER AND T. FLUCKER, SECRETARIES, 1758, 1771 105 and an Oath appointed by a Law of the Province respecting the Reciev- ing & paying the Bills of Publick Credit of the neighbouring Govern- ments within this Pro\dnce ^ & entered into the Execution of his Office after having taken an Oath for the faitlifull Discharge of the same.^ Andrew Oliver was commissioned Secretary by George II on March 2, 1758, and was sworn June Ist.^ He was commissioned Secretary by George III on April 10, 1761, and was sworn November 2Gth.^ He retained the office of Secretary until March 11, 1771. Thomas Flucker was commissioned Secretary by George III on November 12, 1770, and was sworn March 11, 1771: J''''^T ""^ 1 Boston IV^ March 1771 Massa^ isay J Thomas Flucker Esq"" %\-ithin named took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of alligiance & supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration therein con- tained, together vvith the Oath of Abjuration ; and also an Oath, that he would faithfully discharge the Duties of the Office of Secretary of the said Provdnce^ Flucker was the last Royal Secretary, and left Boston with General Gage on October 10, 1775.^ 1 An Act for the effectual preventing the Currency of the Bills of Credit of Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, within this Province, passed December 27, 1753, published January 26, 1754 (Massachusetts Province Laws, iii. 714-716). 2 Council Records, xiii. 145-146. ' In the CouncU Records (xiii. 404) for June 1, 1758, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Oliver. Appended to Oliver's Commission as Secretary (Crown Commissions, 162^1663, p. 166) is the following: Province of Mass* Bay — June 1. 1758 Sworn in Council Before T. Pownall Gov'' * See p. 95, above. In the Council Records (xv. 66) for November 2G, 1761, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Oliver. 5 CrowTi Commissions, 1677-1774, p. 118. In the Council Records (xvi. 532-534) for March 11, 1771, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Flucker. * Cf. p. 87 note 1, above. The following paragraph appeared in the Boston Gazette of October 23, 1775: THOM. GAGE, on the Third Instant (5 or 6 Days before hLs Departure for England,) issued a Proclamation, offering a Reward of TEN GUINEAS, to 106 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, VI LISTS In this section the material is summarized in the following lists: A Chronological List of Commissions, 1681-1774 B Alphabetical List of Commissions, 1681-1774 C List of Officials, 1685-1775 D Sovereigns of England, 1603-1776 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COMMISSIONS 1681-1774 1681 Oct. 15 Edward Randolph Collector, etc. 1685 Sept. 21 Edward Randolph Secretary, etc. 1685 Oct. 8 Joseph Dudley President 1685 Nov. 13 Joseph Dudley Vice-Admiral 1686 June 3 Sir Edmund Andros Governor 1686 Sir Edmund Andros Vice-Admiral 1688 April 7 Sir Edmimd Andros Governor j Lieutenant-Governor 1688 April 20 Francis Nicholson 1688 April 25 Edward Randolph Secretary, etc. 1688 April 30 Sir Edmund Andros Vice-Admiral 1691 Dec. 12 Sir William Phips Governor 1691 Dec. 29 Sir Wilham Phips Vice-Admiral 1691 Dec. WUUam Stoughton Lieutenant-Governor 1691 Dec. Isaac Addington Secretary i 1697 June 18 Earl of Bellomont Governor 1698 Oct. 10 Earl of Bellomont Vice-Admiral 1702 Feb. 13 Joseph Dudley Governor 1702 Feb. 26 Joseph Dudley Vice-Admiral 1702 April 1 Joseph Dudley Governor 1702 April 11 Thomas Povey Lieutenant-Governor 1711 Wilham Tailer Lieutenant-Governor 1715 March 17 EUzeus Burges Governor 1715 March 22 Ehzeus Burges Vice-Admiral 1715 April 28 Wilham Tailer Lieutenant-Governor any one who shall discover the Thief or Thieves, that some Time in the Month of September last stole from the Council Chamber in Boston, the Public SEAL, his -private SEAL, and the SEAL of the Supreme Court of Probate of the Prov- ince. — Quere, Whether as he carried his Secretary, T. Flucker, with him, 'tis not as likely that he might have carried them off, as any one else? (p. 3/2). 1913] LIST OF COXmiSSIONS, 1681-1774 107 DATE NAHO OFFICE 1715 June 23 Samuel Woodward Secretary 1716 June 13 Samuel Shute Vice-Admiral 1716 June 15 Samuel Shute Governor 1716 William Dummer Lieutenant-Governor 1717 June 17 Josiah Willard Secretary 1727 Oct. 17 William Dummer Lieutenant-Governor l!'28 March 7 William Burnet Governor 1728 March 14 William Burnet Vice-Admiral 1728 March 28 Josiah Willard Secretary 1730 Jan. 28 Jonathan Belcher Governor 1730 March 2 Jonathan Belcher Vice-Admiral 1730 April 15 WilHam Tailer Lieutenant-Governor 1732 April 29 Spencer Phips Lieutenant-Governor 1741 May 25 William Shirley Governor 1741 Aug. 21 WilUam Shirley Vice-Admiral 1757 Feb. 25 Thomas Pownall Governor 1757 Feb. 28 Thomas Po^NTiali Vice-Admiral 1758 Feb. 10 Thomas Hutchinson Lieutenant-Governor 1758 March 2 Andrew Oliver Secretary 1760 Jan. 14 Francis Bernard Governor 1760 Feb. 12 Francis Bernard Vice-Admiral 1761 March 13 Thomas Hutchinson Lieutenant-Governor 1761 April 4 Francis Bernard Governor 1761 AprU 10 Andrew Oliver Secretary 1761 May 18 Francis Bernard Vice-Admiral 1770 Oct. 19 Andrew OUver Lieutenant-Governor 1770 Nov. 12 Thomas Flucker Secretary 1770 Nov. 28 Thomas Hutchinson Governor 1771 Jan. 4 Thomas Hutchinson Vice-Admiral 1774 April 5 Thomas Gage Vice-Admiral 1774 April 7 Thomas Gage Governor 1774 May 28 Thomas Oliver Lieutena,Tit-Govemor B ALPHABETICAL LIST OF COMMISSIONS 1681-1774 Addington, Isaac Andros, Sir Edmund Belcher, Jonathan Bellomont, Earl of Secretary Governor Vice-Admiral Governor Vice-Admiral Governor Vice-Admiral Governor Vice-Admiral 1691 Dec. 1686 June 3 1686 1688 April 7 1688 April 30 1730 Jan. 28 1730 March 2 1697 June 18 1698 Oct. 10 lOS THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, NAME OFFICE DATE Bernard, Francis Governor 1760 Jan. 14 Vice-Admiral 1760 Feb. 12 Governor 1761 April 4 Vice-Admiral 1761 May 18 Burges, Elizeus Governor 1715 March 17 Vice Admiral 1715 March 22 Burnet, William Governor 1728 March 7 Vice-Admiral 1728 March 14 Dudley, Joseph President 1685 Oct. 8 Vice-Admiral 1685 Nov. 13 Governor 1702 Feb. 13 Vice-Admiral 1702 Feb. 26 Governor 1702 April 1 Dummer, William Lieutenant-Governor 1716 Lieutenant-Governor 1727 Oct. 17 Flucker, Thomas Secretary 1770 Nov. 12 Gage, Thomas Vice-Admiral 1774 April 5 Governor 1774 April 7 Hutchinson, Thomas Lieutenant-Governor 1758 Feb. 10 Lieutenant-Governor 1761 March 13 Governor 1770 Nov. 28 Vice-Admiral 1771 Jan. 4 Nicholson, Francis Lieutenant-Governor 16S8 April 20 Oliver, Andrew- Secretary 1758 March 2 Secretary 1761 April 10 Lieutenant-Governor 1770 Oct. 19 Oliver, Thomas Lieutenant-Governor 1774 May 28 Phips, Spencer Lieutenant-Governor 1732 April 29 Phips, Sir William Governor 1691 Dec. 12 Vice-Admiral 1691 Dec. 29 Povey, Thomas Lieutenant-Governor 1702 April 11 Pownall, Thomas Governor 1757 Feb. 25 Vice-Admiral 1757 Feb. 28 Randolph, Edward Collector, etc. 1681 Oct. 15 Secretary, etc. 1685 Sept. 21 Secretary, etc. 1688 April 25 Shirley, William Governor 1741 May 25 Vice-Admiral 1741 Aug. 21 Shute, Samuel Vice-Admiral 1716 June 13 Governor 1716 June 15 Stoughton, William Lieutenant-Governor 1691 Dec. TaUer, William Lieutenant-Governor 1711 Lieutenant-Governor 1715 April 28 Lieutenant-Governor 1730 April 15 Willard, Josiah Secretary 1717 June 17 Secretary 1728 March 28 Woodward, Samuel Secretary 1715 June 23 1913] LIST OF OFFICIALS, 1685-1775 109 LIST OF OFFICIALS 1685-1775 COUNCIL FOR NEW ENGLAND, 1685-1686 President COMMISSIONED TOOK OFFICE LEFT OFFICE Joseph Dudley 1685 Oct. 8 1686 May 25 1686 Dec. 20 William Stoughton Deputy-President 1686 May 26 1686 Dec. 20 TERRITORY AND DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND, 1686-1689 Governor Sir Edmund Andros 1686 June 3 1686 Dec. 20 16i>S April 7 Lieutenant-Governor Francis Nicholson 1688 April 20 1688 July 19 Secretary Edward Randolph 1685 Sept. 21 1686 July 1 1688 April 25 PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY, 1691-1775 Governors Sir William Phips 1691 Williain Stoughton Earl of Bellomont 1697 William Stoughton The Council Joseph Dudley 1702 The Council Eiizeus Burges 1715 Joseph Dudley Williajn Toiler Samuel Shute 1716 William Dummer William Burnet 1728 Dec. 12 1692 May 16 1694 Nov. 17 1694 Dec. 4 1699 May 26 June 18 1699 May 26 1700 July 17 1700 July 22 1701 July 7 1701 July 10 1702 June 11 April 1 1702 June 11 1715 Feb. 4 ' 1715 Feb. 4 1715 March 21 March 17 1715 March 21 1715 Nov. 9 1715 Nov. 9 1716 Oct. 5 June 15 1716 Oct. 5 1723 Jan. 1 1723 Jan. 2 1728 July 19 March 7 1728 July 19 1729 Sept. 7 110 THE COLONIAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS [March, NAUB COMMISSIONED TOOK OFFICE LEFT OFFICE William Dummer 1729 Sept. 10 1730 June 11 William Tailer 1730 June 11 1730 Aug. 10 Jonathan Belcher 1730 Jan. 28 1730 Aug. 10 1741 Aug. 14 WilUam Shirley 1741 May 25 1741 Aug. 14 1749 Sept. 11 Spencer Phips 1749 Sept. 15 1753 Aug. 7 William Shirley 1753 Aug. 7 1756 Sept. 25 Spencer Phips 1756 Sept. 25 1757 April 4 The Council 1757 April 5 1757 Aug. 3 Thomas Pownall 1757 Feb. 25 1757 Aug. 3 1760 June 3 Thomas Hutchinson 1760 June 3 1760 Aug. 2 Francis Bernard 1760 Jan. 14 1760 Aug. 2 1761 April 4 1769 Aug. 1 Thomas Hutchinson 1769 Aug. 2 1771 March 14 Thomas Hutchinson 1770 Nov. 28 1771 March 14 1774 May 17 Thomas Gage 1774 April 7 1774 May 17 LIEUTENANT-GOVEENOBS William Stoughton 1691 Dec. 1692 May 16 1701 July 7 Thomas Povey 1702 April 11 1702 June 11 1706 Jan. 28 Wilham Tailer 1711 1711 Oct. 4 1715 April 28 1716 Oct. 5 WiUiam Dummer 1716 1716 Oct. 5 1727 Oct. 17 1730 June 11 William TaUer 1730 April 15 1730 June 11 1732 March 1 Spencer Phips 1732 April 29 1732 Aug. 8 1757 April 4 Thomas Hutchinson 1758 Feb. 10 1758 June 1 1761 March 13 1771 March 14 Andrew Oliver 1770 Oct. 19 1771 March 14 1774 March 3 Thomas Oliver 1774 May 28 1774 Aug. 8 Seceetaries Isaac Addington 1691 Dec. 1692 May 16 1715 March 19 Samuel Woodward 1715 June 23 1715 Sept. 24 1716 Aug. 3 Josiah Willard 1717 June 17 1717 Dec. 4 1728 March 28 1756 Dec. 7 Andrew Oliver 1758 March 2 1756 Dec. 15 1761 April 10 1771 March 11 Thomas Flucker 1770 Nov. 12 1771 March 11 D SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND, 1603-1776 James I succeeded 1603 March 24 died 1625 March 27 Charles I succeeded 1625 March 27 executed 1649 Jan. 30 1913] SOVEREIGNS OF ENGL.VXD, 1603-1776 111 Charles II proclaimed in Edinburgh " in Westminster Hall " in PljTiiouth " in Boston died James II sucooeded proclaimed in Boston in Plymouth fled from Whitehall left England died William III and Mart II accepted the crown proclaimed in Boston Wilham landed in England Marj' II died WiUiam III died Anne George I George II George III succeeded proclaimed in Boston died succeeded proclaimed in Boston died succeeded I»rocl:iimed in Boston died succeeded proclaimed in Boston died 1649 Feb. 5 1660 May 8 1661 June 5 ^ 1661 Aug. 8 * 1685 Feb. 6 1685 Feb. 6 1685 April 20 » 1685 April 24 « 1688 Dec. 11 1688 Dec. 23 1701 Sept. 6 1689 Feb. 13 1689 May 29 « 1688 Nov. 5 1694 Dec. 28 1702 March 8 1702 March 8 1702 May 29 « 1714 Aug. 1 1714 Aug. 1 1714 Sept. 22 7 1727 June 11 1727 June 11 1727 Aug. 16 8 1760 Oct. 25 1760 Oct. 25 1760 Dec. 30 » 1820 Jan. 29 * Plymouth Colony Records, xi. 129, 144. 2 Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv. pt. ii. pp. 30-31; Diarj- of John Hull, Transactions and Collections American Antiquarian Society (1857), iii. 203-204; 3 Massachusetts Historical Collections, i. 52-53. ' See p. 4 note 1, above. * See p. 4 note 1, above. ^ See p. 56 note 2, above. ' See p. 24 note 2, above. * See p. 69 note 2, above. * See p. 52 note 2, above. ' See p. 82 note 2, above. INDEX ilDDINGTON, Sec. Isaac, 2, 14 n, 15 /(, 16, 17, 21, 35 n, 46, 54, 59, 89 n, 99, 106, 107, 110; appointed clerk of Council, 1689, 17, 23; chosen and sworn Secretary, 1689, 26; 1690, 27; 1691-1692, 28; named Secretary in Province Charter, 97; instructions to, 1691,97; sworn, 1692, 98; death, 98 n-99 n Alborough, John. See Albro, John Albro John, {d 1712), 32, 35, 36, 36 n Alcock, Job, 35, 36, 36 n, 39 n, 46 Alcott, Job. See Alcock, Job Allen, Daniel, 14 John. See Allyn, John Allin, Daniel. See Allen, Daniel Allyn, John, Sec. of Ct., 34, 35, 36, 36 n Andros, Gov. Sir Edmund, 6 n, 7 «, 9 n, 11 n, 13, 14 n, 15 n, 16 n, 17, 22, *24, 28, 28 n, 29 n, 32, 33, 33 n, 34, 37 n, 38 n, 42 n, 43 n, 106, 107, 109; sworn, 1686, 7-8, 8 n; commissioned, 1688, 9; overthrown, 1689, 14-16; members of his Council, 1686-1688, 32-34; 1688-1689, 34-35 Andros Records, 8 n Anne, Queen, 53, 54, 58, 60, 89, 90, 90 n, 111; proclaimed in Boston, 1702, 52 n-53 n; death, 55-56, 56 n Appleton, John {d 1739), 59 Samuel {d 1696), 21, 23, 35, 36, 46 Samuel (d 1725), son of Samuel (d 1696), 59 Arnold, Richard {d 1710), 15 n, 32, 35, 36 Ashurst, Sir Henry, 35 n B AKER, Thomas, 7 Balston, Capt. John, 33 n Baxter, Jarvis, 35, 36, 42 n, 43 n Bayard, Nicholas, 35, 36, 36 n, 43 n; quoted, 10 n Belcher, Andrew (d 1717), 18, 24, .59, 100, 101 Gov. Jonathan, son of Andrew {d 1717), 63 n, 74, 75, 76, 93 n, 94 n, 107, 110; arrives, 1730, 72; reported to have been knighted, 72 n-73 n; sworn, 73-74 Bellingham, Penelope (Pelham), wife of Gov. Richard, 53 n Bellomont, Earl of. See Coote, Richard Bennet, Spencer. See Phips, Spencer Bernard, Gov. Sir Francis, 82 «, 83 n, 95, 107, 108, 110; arrives, 1760, 82, 84 n; sworn, 83; leaves, 1769, 84, 84 re Bishop, Capt. Thomas, 86 n Blathwayt, William {d 1717), 30, 40 n, 42 n Bond, William (d 1697), 18 Boutineau, James, 96 Bowdoin, Gov. James, 87 Boydell, John {d 1739), 68 n, 70 n Bradford, William {d 1704), Dep.-Gov. of New Plymouth, 29 n, 32, 35, 36, 36 n, 46 Bradstreet, Dudley {d 1702), son of Gov. Simon, 18, 30, 31, 32, 37, 37 n Gov. Simon, 3, 3 n, 4 7), 6 n, 16, 17, 21, 24, 24 n, 26, 30, 31, 32, 35, 37, 37 n, 48 n; chosen Governor, 16S6, 4; 1690-1092, 27-28; President of Council, 1689, 17, 23; sworn Gov- ernor, 1689, 25-26 Brattle, William (d 1775), 79, 86 Brenley. See Brinlev Brenton, Jahleel {d 1732), 48 Brinley, Francis, 33 Brookholes, Anthony, 35, 37,' 37 n, 42 n, 43 n - Bromfield, Edward (d 1734), 59 114 INDEX Brown, Horatio Forbes, 60 n William. See Browne, William Browne, Capt. , 10 n William (d 1716), 15 n, 16, 16 n, 17, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 37 n William {d 1802), 96 Buckley (Buckly). See Bulkley Bulkley, Peter (d 1688), 30, 32, 35, 37, 37 n Bullivant, Dr. Benjamin, 14 n, 49 Burges, Gov. Elizeus, 53 n, 92, 92 n, 106, 108, 109; notice of, 60 ?i; com- missioned, 1715, 60; letters from, 61, . 100 n; resigns, 1716, 62; rumors of his coming, 62 n-63 n Burnet, Gov. William, sworn, 1728, 70; death, 1729, 71, 71 n, 107, 108, 109 Burrill, John (d 1721), 65, 65 n Burrington, Capt. Thomas, 52 n, 53 n Byfield, Nathaniel {d 1733), 49, 54, 69 n Callahan, Capt. John, 86 Campbell, Capt. James, 80 n John, fourth Earl of Loudoun, 80 n Carmarthen, Marquis of. See Osborne, Sir Thomas Champernoon, Francis (d 1687), 30, 31, 32 37 37 n Chandler, John (d 1743), 67 John (d 1762), eon of John (d 1743), 79,80 Charles I, 3, 110 Charles II, 6, 10, 10 n, 11, 11 n, 69, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 111 Checkley, John, 70 n Cheever, Ezekiel (d 1770), 80 Clap, Thomas {d 1774), 81 Clark, John (d 1728), 59 Clarke, , 67 John. See Clark, John - — Nathaniel (d 1717), 15 n, 32, 35, 37 Dep.-Sec. Thomas (d 1760), 104, 104 n Walter {d 1714), 32, 35, 37, 37 n, 38 n Cobham, Lord. See Temple, Richard Coggeshall, John (d 1647), Pres. of R. I., 38 n John (d 1708), son of John (d 1647), 32, 35, 38 Commissions, 1681-1774, chronological list of, 106-107; alphabetical list of, 107-108 Cooke, Elisha (d 1715), 16, 17, 21, 23, 50 ■ Elisha (d 1737), son of Elisha (d 1715), 67, 93 n Coote, Gov. Richard (d 1701), first Earl of Bellomont, 106, 107, 109; quoted, 38 n, 44 n; sworn, 49-50; arrives, 49 n; leaves, 50; death, 50, 50 n, 52 Cortlandt, Stephen van. See Van Cortlandt, Stephen Corwin. See Curwin Council, Dudley's, 1685-1686, 29-32; Andros's, 1686-1688,32-34; Andros's, 1688-1689, 34-35; under Province Charter, 1691, 35; list of, 1685-1691, 36-44 Courtland. See Van Cortlandt, Stephen Coward, John Herbert, 15 n Coxhill (Coxshell). See Coggeshall Curwin, Jonathan (d 1718), 33, 35, 38, 38 n, 46, 50 Cushing, John (d 1778), 80 Cutler, Rev. Timothy (d 1765), 70 n Cutt, Richard, 79, 80 D ANBY, Earl of. See Osborne, Sir Thomas Danforth, Samuel (d 1777), 79, 86, 87 Dep.-Gov. Thomas, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, 50; chosen Dep. -Governor, 1686, 4; 1689, 25; 1690-1692, 27-28 Daniell, Samuel. See Donnell, Samuel Dartmouth, Earl of. See Legge, Wil- liam Davenport, Addington (d 1736), 57, 59, 66, 69 n, 100 n, 101 ; appointed with P. Dudley to keep the Seals, 1715, 99-100; sworn, 100 Davis, Silvanus (d 1703), 35, 38, 39 n, 45, 46 Dongan, Thomas, Gov. of N. Y., 10 n, 42 n, 43 n Donkin, Capt. Robert, 88 n Donnell, Samuel (d 1718), 35, 38, 39 n, 46 Downing, Sir George, 11 n Drucker, Lucy, 33 n, 35 n, 64 n Dudley, Pres. and Gov. Joseph, 4, 4 n, 6 71, 7 n, 11 n, 13 n, 14 n, 15 n, 29, 30, 30 n, 32, 32 n, 35, 37 n, 38, 38 n, 52, 53 n, 56 n, 61, 66, 89 n, 90, 91 n, 92 n, 100, 100 n, 106, 108, 109; sworn President, 1686, 5-6; members of his Council, 1685-1686, 29-32; arrives, INDEX 115 Dudley (continued) 1702, 53; sworn Governor, 54-55; controversy between Council and, 1715, 55-60; superseded, 62, 65; appoints A. Davenport and P. Dud- ley to keep the Seals, 1715, 99 Paul (rf 1751), son of Gov. Joseph, 100 It, 101; appointed with A. Daven- port to keep the Seals, 1715, 99-100; sworn, 100 William (d 1740), son of Gov, Joseph, 67 Dudley Records, 5 n Dummer, Jeremiah (d 1718), son of Richard {d 1639), 18, 24 Jeremiah (d 1739), son of Jeremiah (d 1718), 92 n; quoted, 63 n, 70 n, 91 n, 93 n, 102 n Richard (d 1689), 18 Lt.-Gov. William, son of Jeremiah (d 1718), 2, 2 n, 68, 67, 68 n, 70, 72, 82 n, 88 n, 92 ,-(, 93 n, 107, 108, 109, 110; sworn, 1716, 65; 1728, 93; Act- ing Governor, 68-69, 71, 93; oaths on accession of George II, 69 n Durell, Capt. Thomas, 66, 68 n Dutch, Capt. Samuel, 90 n JiiLDRIDGE, Capt. John, 4 n England, sovereigns of, 1603-1776, 110- 111 Erving, John (d 1786), 79, 80, 86, 87 John id 1816), son of John (d 1786), 96 Evelyn, John, 89 n Excellency (Excellence), his, the title, first used, 1686, 7 n Eyre, John (d 1700), 16, 18, 24 Fulham, Francis, 66 Fullam. See Fulham F INCH, Capt. Jeremiah, 67, 68 n Flipson. See Philipse Flucker, Sec. Thomas, 88 n, 96, 106 n, 107, 108, 110; sworn, 1771, 105; leaves, 1775, 105, 105 n Flypse. See Philipse Ford, Worthington Chauncey, 55 n, 56 n, 59 n Foster, John (d 1711), 16, 17, 24, 35, 38, 38 n, 45, 46 Foxcroft, Francis (d 1768), 104 Foy, Capt. John, 9 n Frame, Richard, 41 n G. TAGE, Gov. Thomas, 96, 96 n, 105, 105 n, 107, lOS, 110; arrives, 1774, 86, 86 n; sworn, 87; leaves, 1775, 87, 87 ;i-88 n Gedney, Bartholomew (d 1698), 15 n, 16, 16 V, 17, 30, 32, 35, 38, 38 n, 46 Gee, Sir Orlando, 53 n Gener. See Jenncr George I, 57, 58, 59, 60, 60 n, 61, 63, 92, 92 n, 99, 100, 101, 101 n, 102, 102 n, 103, 111; proclaimed in Bos- ton, 1714, 56, 56 It] death, 69 n George II, 60 n, 70, 72, 72 ??, 74, 79, 80, 82, 92, 93, 94, 103, 104, 105, 111; proclaimed in Boston, 1727, 69 n; death, 82 n, 83 n. See also Wales, Prince of George III, 82, 85, 86, 86 n, 87 n, 95, 96, 105, 111; proclaimed in Boston, 1760, 82 ?;-83 n Gibson, Edmund, Bishop of London, 2 Gidney. See Gedney Goodricke, Sir Henry (d 1705), 98 Graves, Thomas (d 1697), 32 Gray, Harrison (d 1794), 90, 90 n, 96 Greene, John (d 1708), 32, 35, 38, 38 n, 39 n H .AMMOND, Lawrence (d 1699), 49, 50 Hathome. See Hawthorn Hawthorn, John (d 1717), 18, 21, 23, 35, 39, 39 7t, 46 Hayman, Samuel (d 1712), 35, 39, 39 n, 45, 46 Heathcote, George, 10 n Herbert, Thomas, eighth Earl of Pem- broke and fifth Earl of Montgomery, 55 Higginson, John (d 1720), 59 Hill, John, 79, 80 Thomas, 64 n Hiller, Joseph, 99, 100 Hinokes, John, 15 n, 30, 32, 35, 37 n, 39, 39 n Hinckley, Thomas, Gov. of New Ply- mouth, 15 H, 29 n, 32, 35, 39, 39 n, 48 n Hincks (Hinks). See Hinckea Holyoke, Elizur (ci 1711), 41 n 116 INDEX Homans, Capt. John, 72 n Hutchinson, Edward (d 1692), brother of Elisha {d 1717), 18 EHakim {d 1718), 33, 54, 57, 59 Elisha {d 1717), 35, 35 n, 39, 39 n, 46, 49, 57, 59 Foster (d 1799), son of Thomas (d 1739), 96 Thomas (d 1739), son of Ehsha (d 1717), 57, 59 Gov. and Lt.-Gov. Thomas, son . of Thomas (d 1739), 42 n, 79, 80, 82 n, 83 n, 84 n, 86, 88 n, 95, 107, 108, 110; quoted, 6 n, 40 n; Acting Governor, 81-82, 84, 85, 95; sworn Governor, 1771, 85-86; leaves, 1774, 86 n; sworn Lt.-Governor, 1758, 94, 94 n; 1761, 95 Hutchison. See Hutchinson Hyde, Laurence, first Earl of Rochester, 13 n Jackson, Benjamin, 48; quoted, 49 n James I, 110 James II, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 n, 31 n, 39 n, 43 n, 4S,n, 111; proclaimed in Boston, 1685, 4 n; in Plymouth, 4 n. See also York, Duke of Jarvenin, Capt. John, 90 n Jarvis, Col. Leonard (d 1770), 83 n Jenkins, Sir Lionel, 3 n Jenner, Capt. Thomas, 3, 3 n Johnson, Rev. Samuel (d 1772), 70 n Johnson, William (d 1704), 16 n, 18, 21, 23 Johnston, William (H. C. 1854), 53 n Jolliffe. See Joyliffe Jones, John, 81 Joyliffe, John (d 1701), 18, 35, 40, 40 n, 45, 46 K EMBLE, Stephen, 88 n IjATHROP, Barnabas. See Lothrop, Barnabas John. See Lothrop, Barnabas Lee, Joseph (d 1802*), 96 Legge, William, first Earl of Dartmouth, 91 n; quoted, 90 n-91 n Lethred, Capt. , 68 n Leveret t. Gov. John, 7 n Leverett, Rev. John, President of Har- vard College, son of Gov. John, 65, 65 n Lidgett, Charles (d 1698), 33 Lincoln, Benjamin (d 1771), 79, 80 Linds. See Lynde Loring, Joshua (d 1781), 96 Lothrop, Barnabas (d 1715), 15 n, 32, 35, 40, 46 Loudoim, Lord. *See Campbell, John Lowther, Sir John, Baron Lowther and first Viscount Lonsdale, 98 Lusamb. See Luscombe Luscombe, Humphrey, 33, 37 n Lynde, Benjamin (d 1745), son of Simon {d 1687), 69 Benjamin (d 1781), son of Benja- min (d 1745), 79, 80 Joseph (d 1727), 18, 35, 40, 40 n 45 46 57 59 ^' Simon' (d 1687), 14 n, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 40 n M. .ARION, Dep.-Sec. Joseph, 63 n, 102 n, 103; sworn, 1716, 101, 101 n Mary II, 111. See also WiUiam and Mary Mason, Robert (d 1688), 6 n, 15 n, 30, 31, 32, 32 n, 35, 37 n, 39 n, 40, 40 n Stephen, 35, 40, 40 n, 48 n Massachusetts Bay Province, 1691- 1774, 44-105 Council, members of, 1691, 35; government devolves upon, 1701, 50-52, 109; 1757, 78-80, 110; con- troversy • between Gov. Dudley and, 1715, 55-60 Mather, Rev. Increase, 35 n, 40 n, 44 Middlecott, Richard (d 1704), 35, 40, 45,46 Minot, James (d 1759), 79 Montague, Capt. , 77 n Montgomery, Earl of. See Herbert, Thomas N, ELSON, John (d 1721), 16, 16 n, 17, 24 Newbury, Walter (d 1697), 32, 35, 40 New England, Council for, 1685-1686, 5-7; members of, 2&-32 Territory and Dominion of, 1686- 1689, 7-13; members of Council, 1686-1688, 32-34; 16SS-1689, 34-35 Nicholson, Lt.-Gov. Francis, 15 n, 35, 40, 91/1, 106, 108, 109; commis- INDEX 117 Nicholson {continued) sioned Lt. -Governor, 1688, 9; goes to New York, 1688, 8-9, 8 n; ap- pointed Councillor, 1687, 9 n, 33, 34; quoted, 9 ?t; goes to England, 16S9, 10 n ; notice of, 40 n-41 n; never knighted, 40 n John. See Nicholson, Francis Noble, Capt. , 74 0, 'AKES, Thomas {d 1719), 24 Officials, list of, 1685-1775, 109-110 Oliver, Lt.-Gov. and Sec. Andrew, 79, 80, 83, 88 «, 105 n, 107, 108, 110; sworn Secretary, 1758, 95; 1761, 95; sworn Lt. -Governor, 1771,95; death, 96, 96 n; appointed Secretary, 1757, 104, 104 n; sworn, 104-105; commis- sioned in 1758 and 1761, 105 Nathaniel {d 1704), 16, 18, 24 Richard, 96 n Lt.-Gov. Thomas, 96 n, 107, 108, 110; sworn, 1774, 96, 96 n; leaves, 1776, 96 n Osborne, Capt. John, 102 n John, 79, 80 Sir Thomas, first Earl of Danby, Marquis of Carmarthen, and Duke of Leeds, 10, 10 n, 98 Otis, James {d 1778), 81, 81 n John {d 1758), brother of James (d 1778), 79, 80 X AIGE, Nicholas {d 1717), 32 Palmer, John, 35, 41, 43 n Parker, James {d 1701), 18 Parnell, Capt. Francis, 100 n Partridge, Capt. Samuel, 83 n Peirce. See Pierce Pembroke, Earl of .